Mark Wilson/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Casino mogul Steve Wynn has stepped down as finance chairman for the Republican National Committee just over 24 hours after publication of multiple allegations of sexual assault and harassment against him.



"Effective today I am resigning as Finance Chairman of the RNC," the 76-year-old said in a statement on Saturday as pressure mounted on the RNC to address the allegations against him.



"The unbelievable success we have achieved must continue, Wynn said 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."



RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel earlier Saturday issued a statement saying, "Today I accepted Steve Wynn's resignation as Republican National Committee Finance Chair."



The Wall Street Journal on Friday reported that Wynn has been accused of sexual misconduct by dozens of people who shared similar accounts of his alleged pattern of abuse. Interviews conducted by the Journal with people who have worked at Wynn's casinos detailed a decades-long pattern of sexual misconduct by him, with some saying he pressured employees to perform sex acts, the Journal reported.



Wynn's attorneys declined to comment to the Journal. ABC News has not been able to reach a representative for Wynn for comment.



But Wynn said in a statement that the idea that he "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," Wynn said in the statement. "It is deplorable for anyone to find themselves in this situation."



Since publication of the Journal story, the RNC has remained silent on the allegations against its finance chair. Apart from its chairwoman's brief statement Saturday accepting Wynn's resignation, it has not commented on the Journal story or the allegations it contained.



Its silence led some political opponents to accuse the RNC of hypocrisy. In the fall, after reports of alleged sexual assault and harassment by Harvey Weinstein, Republicans called out Democrats who didnt immediately give away political contributions they had received from the disgraced Hollywood producer.



Some liberal publications like Think Progress and Salon called out the RNC for its silence."



President Donald Trump has in the past credited Wynn with helping the RNC rake in a record fundraising haul, saying of him during a July speech announcing new jobs, Another big investor in our country, Steve Wynn, would you stand up? Hes raising so much money for our great Republican Party  Did a great job.



Wynn has himself donated over $1.3 million to the RNC since 2000, according to Federal Election Commission records. He has also previously donated to Democrats such as former Congressman Charlie Rangel of New York and former Nevada Sen. Harry Reid.



On Oct. 5, when The New York Times broke its story on the accusations against Weinstein, at least four Democratic senators -- Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut -- said they would make charitable donations equal to amounts donated to them by Weinstein.



The Democratic National Committee (DNC), which had taken in more than $290,000 from Weinstein, according to the FEC, released a statement on the afternoon of Oct. 6 that said it would donate $30,000 of his contributions to womens advocacy groups.



Still, the RNC was strong in its attack against Democrats whom Weinstein had donated to in the past, blasting out emails featuring a running chart purportedly listing Democrats who had taken money from Weinstein over the years and indicating whether they had returned or donated the money away in light of the allegations.



The DNCs donation of $30,000 to womens groups was derided by RNC spokeswoman Cassie Smedile as Democrats attempting to launder the dirty Harvey Weinstein money to fellow Democratic political organizations."



Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer was among the Republicans who shared a chart alleging to detail which Democrats had received donations from Weinstein, and which had returned or donated them after the allegations broke.



Following the Journal story about Wynn, the DNC sent an email using the same words against the RNC as Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel used after the Weinstein allegations surfaced.



The DNC email read, 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.



Not all Republicans were silent about the Wynn allegations.



Former RNC spokesman Doug Heye sent out a series of tweets Friday afternoon calling on the RNC to cut its ties with Wynn, with one post noting how aggressive the RNC had been in calling out Democrats after the Weinstein allegations.



In the Journal story, former employees of Wynn said their awareness of his power in Las Vegas, as well as the knowledge that positions at his resorts were among the best-paying in the city, caused them to feel dependent on him and intimidated when he made requests of them.



The board of Wynn Resorts meanwhile announced Friday evening that it had formed a committee "to investigate allegations contained in the January 26, 2018 Wall Street Journal article."



The Wynn Resorts statement said, "The Board is deeply committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all of the Companys employees and to operating with the highest ethical standards."

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
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While all the talk revolved around Jaydev Unadkat, who became the most expensive domestic player at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction as he was bought by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 11.5 crore, former India opener Akash Chopra felt the young pacer would have suited more at Chennai Super Kings.

Chennai were one of the three clubs along with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) who showed keen interest in roping in Unadkat's services. The 26-year-old left-armer was bought by the Royals for Rs 11.5 crore.

"Jaydev was best suited for the sluggish Chennai pitch...RR's punt with Unadkat is a little risky. With Buttler, Darcy, Stokes and Tripathi, RR won't make slow surfaces," Chopra tweeted.

Unadkat trended heavily on Twitter with many expressing reservations about his steep price.

Unadkat was the second highest wicket-taker during last year's IPL. Representing Rising Pune Supergiant, the Saurashtra pacer had claimed 24 wickets in 12 games at a strike rate of 11.4.

He was also adjudged the Man of the Series during India's 3-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka in the Twenty20 International (T20I) series last month. He had claimed four wickets over three matches in that series.

Meanwhile, after spending ten years with Mumbai Indians and winning five trophies with them, Harbhajan Singh was roped in by CSK for Rs 2 crore.

The veteran India off-spinner took to social media to thank his former employers.

"Thank you @mipaltan for a wonderful & memorable 10 yrs...it was great playing for you...all the best going forward for IPL 2018," he wrote on his official Twitter handle.

England all-rounder Ben Stokes, who remained the most expensive player at the IPL auction for the second year running when he was taken by Rajasthan for Rs 12.5 crore during the opening day of the auction on Saturday, sounded excited.

"Buzzing to be representing @rajasthanroyals in this years IPL and great to be playing alongside @josbuttler," he tweeted.

CSK-bound South Africa quick Lungi Ngidi, who bowled superbly in the recently-ended India-South Africa Test series, also expressed his happiness. He was bought by Chennai at his base price of Rs 50 lakh.

"Very excited for what is coming ahead all glory to God ??????? @ChennaiIPL," he tweeted.

New Zealand veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum was snapped up by Bangalore after playing for Gujarat Lions last year, and the destructive batsman said he always wanted to play with India and RCB skipper Virat Kohli and South Africa great AB De Villiers.

"Very very happy to be joining up with @RCBTweets. In @imVkohli and @ABdeVilliers17, they are two blokes I have dreamed of playing with!," McCullum said in a tweet.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The death toll in Saturday's horrific terrorist bombing here has risen to 103, with 235 others injured, Afghan Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak told the media on Sunday.

The Taliban group claimed responsibility for the bloody attack, admitting a suicide bomber blew up an ambulance laden with explosives in the central part of Kabul city.

Some 30 police personnel were among the injured, the interior minister added.

"The enemies have resorted to terrorist attacks as they are losing ground in fight against Afghan security forces," Afghan Defence Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami said.

He said the Afghan security forces have intensified cleanup operations across the country, killing 106 terrorists and injuring 65 others over the past 48 hours.

"Four hijacked military vehicles laden with explosive devices were destroyed, 11 command and control centres of the enemies were also smashed over the period," Bahrami said.

He added that the Afghan air force had conducted 19 airstrikes against the militants across the country over the period.

Mohammad Masoom Stanikzai, the country's intelligence chief, told the media that the country's intelligence agency National Directorate of Security arrested 195 terrorists over the past one week.

Earlier in the day, the Afghan government declared Sunday as a national mourning day to pay tribute to those who were killed in recent terrorist attacks in the insurgency-hit country.

The deadliest suicide attack in months by the Taliban has shocked Afghans from all walks of life and also evoked strong condemnation from around the world, including India and Pakistan.

The Saturday attack is not the first and will not be the last one, Afghan analysts say, believing that the hardliner armed group like in the past years would continue to target Afghans in the future.

"Taliban militants by conducting such deadly offensives in Kabul and killing dozens of people, on one hand want to demonstrate their ability of organising bloody attack and on the other, want to lash out at the ongoing peace efforts," political analyst Nazari Pariani told Xinhua news agency on Sunday.

On January 20, Taliban militants stormed the luxury Intercontinental Hotel which has been frequented by foreigners and Afghan officials, killing 22 people including 14 foreigners and injuring over a dozen others.

The rise in the Taliban' deadly attacks is taking place amid an increase in the number of US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan and mounting military crackdowns on the armed insurgents elsewhere in the war-torn country.

Both the Afghan government and the US administration have been calling, some in a warning tone, upon Taliban militants to give up fighting and join the peace process to find a negotiated settlement to the country's lingering crisis.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Its media may change, it may superficially seem to have lost its adherents to lack of time and attention, or not be seen worthwhile in the digital era, but literature is adept at using technology to flourish and will retain its role in shaping civilisation for there is no other better way to express the human condition and create an interconnected world, say experts.

Examining how time is transforming literature or technology influencing it at a session titled "The Written World: The Power of Stories to Shape People, History and Civilisation" at the Jaipur Literary Festival 2018 on Sunday, academicians Martin Puchner and Homi K. Bhabha, also stressed tha it was vital that it remains open to accepting other literary traditions.

Puchner, a Professor at Harvard University and author of "The Written World" which explores the various intersections of storytelling and writing technologies down history, says that these predate the printing press or even invention of paper but were hugely influential.

He cited how orally transmitted epics like "The Epic of Gilgamesh", "The Illiad" and "The Mahabharata" laid the foundation of their civilisations -- Babylonian, Greek and Indian respectively.

He also maintained a crucial milestone was when texts came to be deemed sacred, thus transforming the way literature shaped socio-political structures.

Bhabha and Puchner also dwelt on how storytelling is both spread and transformed through translation, citing even in the 14th century, Johannes Gutenberg, the publisher who introduced the printing press to Europe, realised its importance to forge connections through diverse cultures through literature.

Puchner also contended that translation facilitates democratic dialogue, observing that there exists today, "a complicated, uneven and unfair world literature market in which the lingua franca, English, isn't delivering enough in terms of translation".

On how to introduce translations of world literature into academic syllabi, he emphasised the need to study and develop the humanities, especially world literature, not in a comparative framework, but also through the patterns of the intersections as much as the distinctions. This could illustrate the transformative effect literature has had on history, he said, calling for the scope of literature to extend beyond fiction into the realm of all written material, including sacred texts and significant political texts.

As Bhabha raised the aspect of the "politics" of world literature, Puchner said that this was similar to the politics of post-colonial literature, and "interventionist" in the respect that it discovers and establishes previously unacknowledged texts to add new voices. He gave the example of the recently published African epic "Sundiata", which had so far been previously only transmitted orally. "Storytelling is a profoundly political tool," he said.

He also agreed with Bhabha that a "cacophony of voices" should not drown out moments of reflection in the study of literature, saying new writing technologies also transform factors of circulation and redistribution, consequently creating a new audience, which in turn has the power to transform institutions, such as the recent #MeToo movement.

In conclusion, Bhabha said values are communally negotiated, and it is there that pedagogy, poetics, and language intersect, making world literature emerge as imaginative and interventionist, and putting the spotlight on aesthetics, ethics and representation, as exemplified by the ongoing litfest here where world literature is getting quite a prominent stage.

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)

--IANS

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The tussle between Kerala superstar Mammootty and actor-turned-legislator K.B. Ganesh Kumar over control of the powerful Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) is now out in the open, with the superstar seemingly not keen on allowing the latter to the helm.

While Mammootty, who is himself not keen on the post but wants to play the kingmaker, Ganesh Kumar is adamant about taking charge.

Fifty-two-year-old Kumar, a former minister and four-time legislator, is the son of political veteran R. Balakrishna Pillai, whose Kerala Congress (B), after parting ways with the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), is awaiting the green signal to join the ruling CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front (LDF).

Kumar has had two stints as minister -- both with the UDF: First in 2001, but he stepped down in favour of his father after a while, and then in 2011, when he had to quit as domestic issues surfaced, which eventually led to a divorce.

Ever since the arrest and the incarceration for 85 days of upcoming superstar Dileep last year in a case relating to the kidnapping of an actress, AMMA, which is currently led by popular comedian and Left-supported Lok Sabha member Innocent, has gone into a shell. Dileep was suspended from AMMA soon after his arrest, a move that was criticised by Ganesh Kumar.

AMMA has not been able to convene a meeting of its office-bearers. And, a new generation of stars led by Prithviraj have put their foot down after Innocent, propped up by Mammootty and his fellow superstar Mohanlal and other seniors, wished to revoke Dileep's suspension.

Having headed the AMMA for over a decade now, Innocent has of late been feeling that he was losing clout in the organisation. So, he has announced that he will not be seeking a fresh term as the chief.

Following this, Ganesh Kumar, who is an executive member, decided to throw his hat in the ring. It was then that Mammootty decided to play his cards to ensure that the actor-turned-politician's desire did not see fruition.

A senior actor told IANS on condition of anonymity that the two have never shared good relations since Kumar became a minister in the A.K. Antony cabinet in 2001.

"It is the fat big egos that reign supreme in our industry, and with Mammootty -- the numero uno of our industry and a CPI-M favourite -- the tiff intensified after Ganesh Kumar felt that it was the superstar who stands between him and a Cabinet post (if and when Ganesh Kumar joins the ruling CPI-M)," said the actor.

With the old guard in AMMA, with the lone exception of Mammootty, supporting Ganesh Kumar, and the new guard not keen on him, one will have to wait till July when AMMA selects A new president at its annual general meeting to find out who will emerge victorious in this tussle.

(Sanu George can be contacted at sanu.g@ians.in)

--IANS

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Researchers have found that when the health visitor uses video feedback in accordance with the Marte Meo -- a method of educational counselling -- as part of his/her work with the new mother, it strengthens the relationship between the infant child and the mother.

The study, published in the journal BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, underlines that when the health visitor reviews the video clips with the mother and talks about what is working well, this helps to promote the early establishment of relations.

According to the researchers, this has colossal importance for the development of a strong and healthy relationship between mother and child.

"The study documents that the Marte Meo method has a beneficial effect on the relationship between mothers and children. With video feedback, the health visitor can focus on what works, and on what needs support to improve," said Ingeborg Hedegaard Kristensen from the Section for Nursing at the Department of Public Health at Aarhus University.

For the study, 69 families participated and they had been identified in advance as being particularly vulnerable, either because of a premature birth, an incipient postnatal depression or other conditions which threatened their ability as parents.

During the period, the families received four extra visits from a health visitor with a Marte Meo therapeutic education. At these visits, the mother was video filmed while she was together with her child.

The result showed an improvement in the early mother and child relationship in almost all 69 families who participated in the programme when compared to the 209 families who participated in the control group, the researcher said.

This group received the usual healthcare visits that municipalities make available to vulnerable families.

"Healthy early relationships between parents and children are very, very important for their future health. It is therefore important to know what has the greatest effect, so that help can be quickly provided for those families who need it," Kristensen mentioned.

The researcher also emphasised that in the field of parenting programmes, thoroughly tested and evidence-based studies in a Danish context are important.

--IANS

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make a historic visit to Palestine during a trip to the Middle East from February 9 to 12 that will take him to the UAE and Oman.

This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Palestine and Modi's second visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after August 2015.

"The Prime Minister will hold discussions on matters of mutual interest with their leaders, apart from participating in other events," the External Affairs Ministry said on Saturday night.

The visit to Palestine comes after the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to India this month.

In Dubai, Modi will address the Sixth World Government Summit at which India has been extended 'Guest of Honour' status.

The UAE and Oman are home to large numbers of expatriate Indians whom Modi will meet.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said "woman power" has contributed a lot in the positive transformation seen in the country and that there are no limits to "Nari Shakti".

Addressing this year's first episode of "Mann ki Baat" radio talk, the Prime Minister also lauded the progress women have made in several spheres, saying with resolve and willpower "nothing is impossible".

"A daughter is equivalent to 10 sons. The 'punya' you earn through 10 sons is equalled by one daughter. This underscores the importance given to women in our society. That is why, in our society, women have the status of Shakti.

"This woman power binds together society, the family, on the axis of unity. Be it the erudition of the vidushis of Vedic period. Woman power has always inspired us. They have always brought glory to the nation," he said referring to Gargi, Maitreyee, Meerabai, Ahilyabai Holkar and Rani Lakshmi Bai.

He referred to astronaut Kalpana Chawla.

"It's a matter of sorrow that we lost Kalpana at that early age. Her life, her work is a message to young women across the world, especially in India, that there are no upper limits for Nari Shakti .

"If one possesses will, determination, a firm resolve, nothing is impossible."

The Prime Minister said Matunga in Mumbai was the first railway station in India managed by women.

He also touched upon the daredevil stunts by the BSF women contingent on Republic Day. He said tribal women from Maoist dens in Chhattisgarh were now self reliant by driving e-rickshaws.

Modi lauded the Padma Awardees and said many of them marked themselves out "without any recommendation".

"You will see what a great number of people exist among us. And it is a matter of pride how so many of them are reaching great heights without any recommendation."

Now, he said, anyone can nominate anyone for the award.

"There is transparency now in the selection process... More and more ordinary people are getting the awards. Such people who usually are not seen in metros, newspapers, TVs."

Lauding Sitavaa Jodatti from Karnataka and Kerala's Lakshmikutti, Modi said there were many gifted women and men who remain faceless and failure to recognize them would be a loss to the society.

The Prime Minister said the path of peace preached by Mahatma Gandhi was valid for every individual, family and society.

Lauding the government's Jan Aushadhi Centres, he said medicines available at over 3,000 centres were 50 to 90 per cent cheaper than branded drugs in the market.

"The sole aim behind this step is ensuring availability of quality and affordable health service to the poorest of the poor."

He lauded the efforts of the thousands in Akola who he said were continuing to clean the Morna river in Maharashtra.

"Huge social reforms can be brought about through mass movements. This will inspire other citizens too."

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress on Sunday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "not mentioning" India's first and only woman Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in his monthly radio programme speech while talking of "Nari Shakti" or woman power in the country's transformation.

The Grand Old Party of Indian said no story of women empowerment in the country is complete without the mention of Indira Gandhi.

"There is no truth in the Prime Minister's talks. His talks and the reality are like North and South Poles. Today, he spoke about women empowerment but that too half-heartedly. No story of women empowerment is complete without the mention of Indira Gandhi, who changed the history and geography of the world," Congress Spokesperson Pramod Tiwari told reporters here.

"Late Indira Gandhi saved the country from a major economic and strategic crisis within 14 days. Under her leadership, about 1 lakh Pakistani soldiers surrendered (at the end of the 1971 India-Pakistan war). A country Bangladesh came into existence. There cannot be a bigger example of women empowerment," he said.

Tiwari said it was the Congress which gave the first woman Prime Minister, President and Chief Minister to the country, besides other initiatives to empower women in the country.

Taking a swipe at Modi, he said that while talking about women empowerment in his "Mann ki Baat" programme on Sunday, the Prime Minister should also have spoken about the conditions of women in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states.

"I am expressing my anguish that the Prime Minister is talking about women empowerment but he does not care about what is happening with women in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh," the Congress leader said, asking Modi to ensure action against those involved in atrocities against women in various BJP-ruled states.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
When Canada's young Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits the Golden Temple complex, which is home to the holiest of Sikh shrines, next month, he will carry a political message to a big constituency back home.

With a big Punjabi, especially Sikh, population settled in countries like Canada, Britain and the United States, a visit to the temple by leaders from these countries is becoming a must on their travel itinerary in India.

Trudeau is not the first top Canadian leader to visit the shrine.

Earlier, then Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited the Golden Temple in November 2009. He offered prayers and spent nearly an hour inside the complex. Harper deviated from his itinerary to make sure he visited Amritsar.

Harper followed it up with a visit to Takht Keshgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib, the second-most important shrine for Sikh and the birth place of the Khalsa Panth (April 1699; founded by the 10th Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh), in November 2012.

Premiers (equivalent to a Chief Minister) of Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Ontario, federal ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs) and other leaders have visited Sikh shrines in Punjab in the past.

The Canadian government has recognised Punjabi an official language.

"Countries like United States, Britain and Canada have big populations of migrants from Punjab, especially Sikhs, settled there. Many of them have done well in these countries and carry political clout over there," Rashpal Singh, an educationist based in Amritsar, told IANS.

Prime Minister David Cameron became the first British Prime Minister to visit the Golden Temple in February 2013. In October 1997, the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth, and her husband, Prince Phillip, visited the Golden Temple.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan visited the shrine as recently as December 2017. Ken Livingstone visited the shrine in November 2007 when he was the London Mayor.

US President Barack Obama came close to visiting the Golden Temple in October 2010 during his visit to India. His proposed visit ran into a controversy over the headgear he would wear to enter the shrine. Under Sikh religious traditions, every devotee to the shrine has to keep his head covered.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani had visited the Golden Temple in December 2016 along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi became the first Prime Minister to serve devotees "langar" (community food) at the Golden Temple.

Leaders from several other countries have visited the Golden Temple complex that houses the Harmandir Sahib, Sikhism's holiest shrine that gets millions of visitors annually. The numbers cross 100,000 on weekends and holidays.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had, in April 2016, shot off an angry letter to Trudeau, protesting against the Canadian government's denial of permission for his interactive meetings with Punjabis in the cities of Toronto and Vancouver. He was forced to cancel his political rallies following objections raised by Sikh hardliners with the Canadian government.

An annoyed Amarinder had publicly refused to meet Canada's first Sikh Defence Minister, Harjit Singh Sajjan, when he visited Punjab last April. It is not certain if Amarinder will play host when Trudeau visits Amritsar next month.

(Jaideep Sarin can be contacted at jaideep.s@ians.in)

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Known for his vibrant diction in English, Congress MP and writer Shashi Tharoor has often sent twitteratis looking for dictionaries but the writer of the just-released "Why I Am A Hindu," reinforced his sustained attack on the Hindutva ideology by making a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and maintained that "this is going to be the last Budget" of the Modi government - all of this, bilingually, in Hindi and English.

Tharoor has often been criticised as an "English-speaking elite" and therefore his emphasis on Hindi, the language spoken or understood by a majority in the northern part of India, bears immense political relevance.

A regular at the Jaipur Literature Festival, he addressed a session on his last book "An Era of Darkness," which has, incidentally, also been translated into Hindi and therefore engaged with the audience here in the language. Later, he addressed a press conference and took questions from the visiting media.

Speaking mostly in Hindi, with brief corrections in English where required, the Congress MP who represents Thiruvananthapuram in Parliament said that "this is going to be the last Budget of his (Modi) government," and some desperate measures like creation of jobs may be anticipated from the Budget.

"They must live up to the promises that they had made. So, they may do something on employment to catch attention," he said.

Tharoor made a direct attack on Modi by saying: "Jisne kaha ki na khaunga aur na khane dunga, who aaj pakode ki baat karne lage hain. Woh nahi samajhte ki log chai aur pakode isliye bech rahe hain kyonki jobs nahi hai (The one who said he will neither be corrupt nor tolerate corruption is today talking about pakodas. He does not understand that people are selling tea and pakodas only because there are no jobs)."

Notably, in a recent interview to a television channel, Modi had answered criticism over not creating enough jobs by saying a pakoda seller earning Rs 200 a day should also be considered employed.

Responding to a question on Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Tharoor said that "we must give him time to review" the measure of his party.

"Rahul Gandhi is not a reluctant politician. We saw him in Gujarat -- he was travelling all the time and has shown his work," he said in response to a question that had billed Rahul as a "reluctant politician".

Meanwhile, his sustained attack on the ideology of Hindutva continued on the second-last day of the Jaipur Literature Festival.

He reiterated that there is a need "to take back Hinduism" from the practitioners of Hindutva, while also highlighting that Hindutva and Hinduism are totally different. "Hinduism does not teach violence and people who attack and lynch others cannot be Hindus, they are anti-Hindus," he said.

The fulcrum of Tharoor's latest book rests on an argument which seeks to establish a narrative that an average Indian's belief in Hinduism is not in sync with that of Hindutva.

He ends his book by arguing that there is a need to "take back Hinduism," and has propelled a relentless critique of the ideology in almost each of his recent public appearances.

(Saket Suman can be contacted at saket.s@ians.in)

--IANS

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Three people were injured on Sunday in a mysterious explosion in an apple orchard in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district.

Police said three villagers were injured when they were digging in the orchard in Chermarg village.

"The villagers were digging when some underground device exploded, injuring them," a police officer said. "They have been taken to a hospital."

--IANS

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It's been over half a decade since its founder Osama bin Laden was traced and eliminated but it is too soon to write off his Al Qaeda which has regrouped in a number of places spanning the middle of the Arab heartlands to its periphery as well as north Africa and trying to wrest a hold in the South Asian subcontinent, says an eminent American counter-terrorism expert..

"It's too soon to write off the Al Qaeda... it is present in Syria where it has 10,000 followers and is seen as a legitimate force... it is there in Yemen, in the Maghreb...," Peter L. Bergen, who is CNN's national security analyst as well as author of several books on Islamist terrorism, including "Manhunt: The Ten-Year Search for Bin Laden-from 9/11 to Abbottabad" and "The Longest War" which traces the conflict since 9/11 to bin Laden's killing, said at the Jaipur Literature Festival on Sunday.

On the reason for Al Qaeda's persistence, Bergen, who is a panelist in several discussions at the JLF, said this owes to the terrorist group avoiding the mistakes the Islamic State made in Iraq and Syria.

"Al Qaeda has a long-term plan... they are avoiding the mistakes that the IS did and made a lot of enemies," he said.

However, Bergen ruled out any possibility of the Al Qaeda accomplishing another 9/11-type attack on the US, since the Americans now have much stricter security and the group now lacked the necessary wherewithal, though revealing that bin Laden had dreamt of assassinating US President Barack Obama and CIA chief Gen David Petraeus to mark 9/11's 10th anniversary.

Any further terror outrage in the US could be only on the "lone-wolf" model of the IS, he added.

Bergen opined that the new prospective leader of the Al Qaeda could be bin Laden's son Hamza, 28, who is certainly being groomed for the role and has already appeared in an Al Qaeda video. "Mostly importantly he has a surname and people here certainly know the importance of that."

He also ruled out the possibility of the Al Qaeda and the IS joining forces, since there were too many differences between the two groups even though the latter considers bin Laden an important influence.

On bin Laden, he said the Al Qaeda chief was not naturally an enemy of the US, preferring first to fight against the Soviets in Afghanistan but gradually became one following the arrival of US forces in his homeland in the wake of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.

Bergen, who produced bin Laden's first television interview, in which he declared war against the US to a Western audience for the first time, recalled that he was "very tall and thin, carried himself like a cleric, spoke quietly even though his words were filled with anger for the US" and despite knowing English, preferred Arabic so he could be "precise".

The only journalist given access to bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad before the Pakistani government demolished it, Bergen said that the fugitive Al Qaeda chief spent the last five and a half years of his life hiding there, never leaving the compound, barely stepping out of the building and his presence known only to a handful of trusted aides.

To a question on whether the Pakistani regime was aware of bin Laden's presence in Abbottabad, he said this seemed unlikely and there was no evidence of its complicity.

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)

--IANS

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US President Donald Trump has condemned Saturday's terror attack in the Afghan capital of Kabul that killed at least 102 people, the White House said.

The US is committed to a secure Afghanistan that is free from terrorists, said the White House in a statement on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.

The suicide bombing, claimed by Taliban, has killed at least 102 people and injured 158 others, officials said.

In a statement, Trump called on all the countries to take decisive action against the Taliban and the terrorist infrastructure that supports them.

The attack was the deadliest for months and the fifth major terror attack in the country in January. It followed a Taliban attack on a luxury hotel in Kabul a week ago that killed at least 22 people.

--IANS

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Ahead of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's last full Union Budget, the US-India Business Council (USIBC) has urged him to further reduce tax uncertainty for multinational companies and foreign investors, even as Indian industry has voiced its own areas of concern.

In a memorandum submitted to Jaitley, the USIBC has said that such measures would help improve the country's investment climate and attract more foreign direct investment to India.

"A significant positive step toward improving the investment climate would be to further reduce tax uncertainty for multinational companies and institutional investors in India," said USIBC President Nisha Desai Biswal, who was Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs in the Obama administration.

"Tax uncertainty results in an increase of risk when investing in any given project drives investors to either withhold investments or require a higher rate of return to account for this risk, thus raising the cost of capital in the uncertain market," she said.

The USIBC said India needs to create a more stable and predictable fiscal regime and address retrospective taxation and legacy cases that remain open.

"USIBC members believe that unless resolved, the lack of clarity in the government's approach to taxation risk will undermine progress in other areas of the economy and will continue to damage India's reputation among investors," the memorandum said.

Continued lack of predictability in some Indian tax policies stands as a "major deterrent" for global capital, dampening the effects of any policy and regulatory reforms made to encourage this capital, it added.

The USIBC also said India must ensure that transfer pricing principles are applied in a fair and consistent manner for all taxpayers, as well as allow a reasonable method for determining transfer pricing comparables that support fees on services performed in India for non-Indian affiliated entities and match the nature of the company's services performed.

"To facilitate cross-border trade and investment without the barrier of double taxation, the Governments of India and the US should reaffirm the shared commitment to improving tax dispute resolution.

"To that end, the two governments should work to modernise the US-India Bilateral Tax Treaty to reflect the current business and investment environment," it said.

British consulting multinational Deloitte's Indian arm said in New Delhi that the forthcoming Budget is expected to "address the key challenges facing the economy".

"The government is likely to give special attention on alleviating the stress that has built up in the rural economy while also pushing infrastructural projects. All such measures would be aimed to reviving consumer sentiment and demand, especially in the rural sector," Deloitte India Senior Economist Richa Gupta said in the statement.

Green Energy producer Amplus Solar called for a special push to make rooftop solar power more affordable.

"We recommend to exempt all components used in rooftop projects from custom duty and GST," Amplus Energy CEO Sanjeev Aggarwal said in a statement.

"In April 2017, 10 year income tax holiday was discontinued for renewables. Of all renewable streams, rooftop has taken a severe hit as generation cost is increased by 15-20 paise/unit. We recommend to reinstate 10 years tax holiday for rooftop projects," he added.

"The government has sought to reclassify imported solar panels and modules in a category that attracts 7.5 per cent duty and various kinds of cess whereby the cost of a solar cell, around 30 cents at present, will go up to around 50 cents for Indian developers if 70 per cent safeguard duty is imposed.

"The cost of solar power will accordingly go up to around Rs 7 per unit. We do hope the forthcoming budget will address this issue," said Eastman Auto & Power MD Shekhar Singal.

RICS called for the real estate sector to be brought under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime and tax incentives for first-time home buyers.

"Real estate sector should be brought under the purview of GST. We expect rationalisation of GST rate at 12 per cent and inclusion of stamp duty under GST. GST at the rate of 18 per cent on long term leased land is not healthy for the industry and this anomaly needs to be corrected," said RICS Director Sunil Aggarwal.

"In this year's Budget, we would like to see industry status conferred on the entire real estate sector. This has been a long pending demand of the industry," he added.

--IANS

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A woman injured in Pakistan firing on the international border in Jammu district on January 22, succumbed on Sunday, taking the death toll to 14 in recent Pakistan shelling and firing on the borders.

"Bimla Devi, 35, who was injured in Pakistan shelling on civilian areas in Kanachak area, succumbed in the hospital," police said in Jammu.

Earlier, 13 people including seven civilians and six security personnel had been killed in Pakistan ceasefire violations in the Jammu region between January 18 and 22.

Police also said around 70 other people were injured during this period.

More than 300 schools situated close to the Line of Control and the international border in Rajouri, Poonch, Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts were closed last week as a safety measure.

In addition, hundreds of border residents had abandoned their homes close to the border leaving behind their homes, cattle and agricultural fields.

The Indian Army guards the LoC while the Border Security Force guards the international border in Jammu and Kashmir.

--IANS

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said "woman power" has contributed a lot to the positive transformation seen in the country and that there were no limits to "Nari Shakti".

Addressing his monthly "Mann ki Baat" radio programme, the Prime Minister said that relentless efforts towards self-improvement was a feature of Indian society and there have been unending endeavours against social ills.

Modi spent a considerable part of his speech on the present and past achievements of women in several fields and said that, if one possesses the will, determination and firm resolve, "nothing is impossible".

Quoting a verse from the 'Skand Puran', he said it means: "A daughter is equivalent to 10 sons. The 'punya' you earn through 10 sons amounts to the same as earned through one daughter. This underscores the importance given to women in our society. That is why, women have been accorded the status of Shakti."

Modi referred to astronaut Kalpna Chawla, whose death anniversary falls on February 1, and said her life and work is a message to young women, particularly in India, "that there are no upper limits to Nari Shakti...."

"This woman power binds together society, family, on the axis of unity. Be it the erudition of the 'vidushis' of Vedic period, woman power has always inspired us. They have always brought glory to the nation," he said referring to Gargi, Maitreyee, Meerabai, Ahilyabai Holkar and Rani Lakshmi Bai.

The Prime Minister said respect for women in the country, their status in society and their contribution has "proved to be awe-inspiring to the entire world since ancient times".

He said there were many sectors where women were playing a pioneering role and were establishing milestones and referred to the all-women crew circumnavigating the world, Bhavna Kanth, Mohana Singh and Avani Chaturvedi, who have become fighter pilots and Kshamata Vajpayee who the flew Delhi-San Francisco flight.

He mentioned that Matunga in Mumbai was the first railway station in India managed by women and referred to the daredevil stunts by the BSF women contingent on Republic Day.

The Prime Minister referred to President Ram Nath Kovind meeting a group of women who are pioneers - the "first ladies" in various fields - and said a book has been complied on them so that the entire country derives inspiration.

Modi lauded this year's Padma awardees and said common people were being earlier cited for the awards "without any recommendation."

"There is transparency now in the selection process. More and more ordinary people are getting the awards. You may have noticed many people not visible in big cities, in newspapers or on TV are being awarded Padma citations. Now, the identity of the awardee is not the deciding factor, rather importance of his work is increasing."

He also referred to the contributions of some Padma awardees.

Lauding Sitavaa Jodatti from Karnataka and Kerala's Lakshmikutti, Modi said there were many gifted women and men who remain faceless and failure to recognise them would be a loss to society.

Modi talked of the achievements of overseas Indians and said that the European Union has sent him a calendar which displays contributions of Indians in different countries of Europe.

The Prime Minister said the path preached by Mahatma Gandhi was valid for every individual, family and society.

Lauding the government's Jan Aushadhi Centres, he said medicines available at over 3,000 centres were 50 to 90 per cent cheaper than branded drugs in the market.

"The sole aim is to ensure availability of quality and affordable health service to the poorest of the poor."

Referring to the ecology and Clean India mission, Modi lauded the efforts of the people towards cleaning Morna river in Maharashtra.

"Huge social reforms can be brought about through mass movements," he said.

Modi also appreciated the efforts of the Bihar government in forming the world's longest human chain, spanning over 13,000 km, against social ills in the state.

--IANS

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In a chilling incident, a young man died when he was accidentally sucked into a MRI machine at a government hospital in Mumbai, official sources said on Sunday.

A hospital doctor and two staff, including a woman, have been booked and arrested.

Rajesh Maru, 32, was the sole breadwinner of his family living in Lalbaug, central Mumbai. He was working as a salesman.

The family cried foul and accused the doctors and the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation of gross negligence that led to his death.

Maru had gone to visit his sister's mother-in-law Laxmi Solanki, 62, who was undergoing treatment at the BYL Nair Hospital in Mumbai Central, run by the BMC, on Saturday evening.

"A ward boy asked him to help in taking an oxygen cylinder to the MRI room -- which is strictly prohibited," said Maru's brother-in-law Harish Solanki.

Accusing the hospital administration and doctors of "carelessness", Solanki said there was no security personnel to warn Maru that he should not carry the oxygen cylinder to the Medical Resonance Imaging (MRI) room.

"As soon as he stepped inside, the MRI machine literally sucked him in due to the magnetic force since he was carrying the oxygen cylinder," he added.

Relatives of Solanki and the Maru community members, who hail from Gujarat and Rajasthan, staged a sit-in at Nair Hospital Dean Dr Ramesh Bharmal's chamber on Sunday.

The MRI is a sophisticated test that uses powerful magnets, radio waves, and with the aid of a computer, shows detailed pictures of the internal organs of a patient's body.

However, unlike the traditional X-rays or CT scans, an MRI doesn't use radiation.

The BYL Nair Hospital and T N Medical College, located in Mumbai Central, is among the premier medical institutions of Mumbai run by the BMC.

A case was registered at the Agripada Police Station under Section 304A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against three persons, including a doctor, for various offences, including Dr Siddharth Shah, ward boy Vitthal Chavan and female ward attendant Sunita Surve.

"Investigations are in progress," said Deputy Commissioner of Police Deepak Deoraj, the Mumbai Police Spokesperson, on Sunday evening.

Closed-circuit television footage of the incident and other details were handed over to police by hospital authorities.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced an ex gratia of Rs 500,000 (5 lakh) to Maru's family.

"I spoke to the CM who announced the compensation from CM's Relief Fund," local BJP MLA M.P. Lodha said.

The grieving family and community members plan to meet Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta on Monday.

Maru's body was taken to the government-run Sir JJ Hospital for autopsy.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has taken a step ahead in establishing the Standards of Conduct for its members.

In an email to the AMPAS members, Academy CEO Dawn Hudson detailed the instructions on how individuals can report claims of workplace misconduct in violation of the standards, reported Variety.

The Board of Governors of AMPAS had last month approved the Standards of Conduct for its members after the sexual harassment scandal involving disgraced Hollywood media mogul Harvey Weinstein came into light.

"The Academy's goal is not to be an an investigative body, but rather ensure that when a grievance is made, it will go through a fair and methodical process. This process will determine whether a claim will be brought to the board for possible action regarding membership status," Hudson wrote.

Under the new procedures, claims against a member can be submitted via a secure link on the Academy website or by phone call to the Academy's membership department.

The allegations must supported by evidence such "must be substantiated by clear evidence of behaviour that violates the Academy's Standards of Conduct".

"There is no place in the Academy for people who abuse their status, power or influence in a manner that violates recognised standards of decency," the official document attached in the mail stated.

"If any member is found by the Board of Governors to have violated these standards or to have compromised the integrity of the Academy by their actions, the Board of Governors may take any disciplinary action permitted by the Academys Bylaws, including suspension or expulsion," it added.

After the massive sexual harassment scandal rocked the Hollywood, the Academy had formed a task force headed by Academy Officer David Rubin to draw out a new code of conduct for its members.

The Academy's 54-member board of governors had ousted Weinstein with immediate effect at an emergency session.

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Wildlife activists have expressed concern over what they claim rising number of tiger deaths in Madhya Pradesh, but government officials said the felin's population is on the upswing and poaching incidents are taken seriously.

The activists said Madhya Pradesh has recorded the highest number of tiger deaths among the states, while forest department officials insisted there was no negligence on their part in conserving the national animal.

One of the activists, Ajay Dubey, has now decided to approach the MP High Court seeking a direction for a probe into the tiger deaths reported in the last two years.

Notably, the state lost 32 striped cats due to poaching and other reasons in the last 13 months, as per sources. These included six since January 1, 2018.

According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) data, of the 98 tiger deaths in India in 2017, 26 were reported from Madhya Pradesh.

In 2016, 33 tigers died in the state, as per the MP forest department data.

"We are going to move the high court for a probe into the tiger deaths since 2016. MP recorded the highest number of tiger deaths in 2016, 2017 and now six have died in January alone," Dubey said.

He said a radio-collared tigress was allegedly poached in the Satpura Tiger Reserve in Hoshangabad recently. The feline was found dead near a rest house on January 18.

The forest officials came to know about it three days after it was killed, Dubey claimed.

"Is this how they are keeping a track of the big cats having radio collars which emit signals of their movement?" he asked.

He said "criminal negligence" of authorities was responsible for the steady rise in tiger deaths in MP, which houses half a dozen reserves for the striped animal.

However, the Satpura Tiger Reserve's field director, L Krishnamurthy, said the death of the tigress, aged around 7, was being probed and it was too early to say it was poached.

"We are worried about the feline's death," he said, adding the tigress' radio collar was non-functional since the last one-and-a-half year.

The carcass did not bear any internal or external injury mark, the official said.

A feline in the wild of Seoni district, which houses the Pench Tiger Reserve, was found dead on January 13. The tigress was allegedly poisoned to death and its claws and other external body parts, which fetch a huge price in the international markets, were found missing.

"Five persons had been arrested in connection with the poaching," a forest official said.

A retired official of the MP animal husbandry department maintained the tiger deaths need to be investigated thoroughly. "Something is seriously wrong with tiger conservation in the state."



However, Madhya Pradesh's principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Jitendra Agrawal said they take prompt action when poaching incidents come to light.

"The state does not conceal the death of a tiger. Every death is reported. "We (MP) had 257 big cats in 2010. The number went up to 308, according to the last tiger count of the country," he said.

"From the tiger census, it is clear that their number is swelling in the state," Agrawal said.

Asked about the large number of tiger deaths in MP, Agrawal said farmers were putting electric fences around their fields to protect crops and this was hurting the conservation of the striped animal.

"Electric fencing resulting in the death of wild animals invites jail term of more than two years," he noted.

Agrawal said the tiger population has rapidly increased in MP and the felines are venturing out of the protected areas and dying due to different reasons.

"Wait for the next tiger count in January 2019, Agrawal said, exuding confidence that there would be a "huge" rise in their number in MP in the census.

He said the HC has set up three designated wildlife courts to fast-track the cases of poaching.

"We are prompt in bringing such cases before the court and back them with solid evidence to ensure the offenders are punished," he added.

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The All Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC), a body representing migrant Kashmiri Pandits today termed the setting up of an advisory board for the displaced community as a "good beginning".

"We welcome the statement of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for setting up of an advisory board for Kashmiri migrants, thus fulfilling our long pending demand," APMCC said in a statement here.

On January 24, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had advised the state government to constitute an advisory board to address the grievances of displaced Pandits, Jammu migrants and refugees from PoK, Chhamb and West Pakistan.

At a meeting of the APMCC, chaired by its president Vinod Pandit, the directive of the union minister was hailed with members saying it was heartening to know that the Centre had agreed to its demand and that setting up of an advisory board was a good beginning.

However, it said that all stakeholders must be consulted before its final implementation, besides constituting it, as a duly elected board for mass acceptance rather than making it a toothless tiger.

The APMCC said it had submitted the suggestion for setting up of a Kashmiri Pandit Welfare Board in 2005 to the then prime minister Manmohan Singh.

The demand for setting up of the board was later discussed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he was chief minister of Gujarat at his residence in 2013, they said.

The APMCC has been fighting for various community causes including re-opening of Shardha Mata temple in Pakistan- occupied Kashmir and Kounsar Nag Yatra in Kashmir, Kashmiri Pandit Employees issues besides organizing Gangbal Yatra and Mata Katyayani annual hawan.

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US President Donald today asked countries to take decisive action against the Taliban and the terrorist infrastructure that supports them, in an indirect but obvious reference to Pakistan.

In one of the biggest blasts to rock the war-torn city in recent years, an explosives-packed ambulance blew up in a crowded area of Kabul yesterday, killing at least 95 people and wounding 158 others.

Trump issued a strong statement in the aftermath of the deadly terrorist attack claimed by the Taliban, which is second such assault in the Afghan capital in a week.

"Now, all countries should take decisive action against the Taliban and the terrorist infrastructure that supports them," Trump said.

Both the US and Afghanistan claim that the Taliban has been successful in carrying out such attacks with impunity because of the continued existence of terrorist safe havens inside Pakistan, a charge repeatedly denied by Islamabad.

But the Trump administration early this month suspended nearly USD 2 billion in security assistance to Pakistan alleging that Islamabad is not taking appropriate actions against the Taliban and the Haqqani network.

"I condemn the despicable car bombing attack in Kabul today (Saturday) that has left scores of innocent civilians dead and hundreds injured. This murderous attack renews our resolve and that of our Afghan partners," he said.

"The Taliban's cruelty will not prevail," Trump said as he reiterated his commitment to free Aghanistan from terrorists.

"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," the US President said.

In his address to the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said on Friday 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 said.

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An Indian Navy sailing team out to make history as the first-ever voyage by an all-women crew to circumnavigate the globe is now docked at Port Stanley, the capital of Falkland Islands a British Overseas Territory.

The six crew of the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini started their maiden voyage on September 10 from Goa and is expected to complete it in about eight months.

INSVTarinientered the port earlier this week after covering approximately 15,000 nautical miles since setting off from Goa, crossing the Equator, CapeLeeuwinand Cape Horn.

The vessel is captained by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi, with her crew comprising Lieutenant Commanders Pratibha Jamwal and P Swathi, and Lieutenants S Vijaya Devi, B Aishwarya andPayalGupta.

"It is always a surprise when nature catches you unaware just when you are lost into its mesmerising beauty, such as our awe when we witnessed the Auroras the southern lights only a lucky few get to witness this at sea," said Lt. Aishwarya, who has been maintaining an online blog of the groups experiences.

The indigenously-built INSVTariniis a 56-foot sailing vessel, which was inducted in the Indian Navy last year and the voyage is described as a showcase of the 'Make in India' initiative on an International forum.

The vessel and the crew experienced rough weather and stormy winds during their passage across thePacific Ocean, which spanned 41 days. This coupled with the extremely cold climatic conditions of the region, involved windsin excess of60 knots and wavesof up to7 meters.

The expedition, titled 'NavikaSagarParikrama', was flagged off by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as part of the national initiative to empower women to attain their full potential. It also aims to showcase "NariShakti" on the world platform and help revolutionise societal attitudes and mindset towards women in India, by raising visibility of their participation in challenging environs.

The vessel is scheduled to return to Goa in April, and will set off for Cape Town in South Africa on February 4. The first port halt was at Fremantle, Australia, in October 2017, the second atLyttelton, New Zealand, in November and now Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.

The crew has been collating and updating meteorological, ocean and wave data on a regular basis for accurate weather forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), as also monitoring marine pollution on the high seas. They have been interacting extensively with the locals, especially children, during their port halts to promote ocean sailing and the spirit of adventure.

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The architectural heritage of Kolkata is wonderful and unparallelled, German government's cultural centre, Goethe-Institut Kolkata, director Friso Maecker has said.

He also stressed the need to preserve and put to creative use old mansions in both countries (India and Germany.

"The architectural heritage we have in the city is wonderful and is unparalleled... Two weeks back we (Goethe Institut) moved ourselves into the heritage building Park Mansions, a historic landmark in the city, " Maecker told PTI yesterday night.

"I still believe unless we acknowledge where we come from we cannot progress into our own future," he said.

Maecker was present at 'Response : Installations and New Media Art Exhibition' organised by CIMA art gallery at an abandoned single screen building Gem Cinema here. Gem cinema had previously been a popular destination for cinegoers in the city having screened many blockbusters.

He said the Goethe Institute had already taken many initiatives in using abandoned old structures in the city - like organising shows in jute mills and "We will definitely continue using old spaces." "Here I am here as we support CIMA's initiatives."



The institute had also been holding bilateral exchanges for last 60 years and, "We regularly send artists to Germany for residency programmes," Maecker said.

The director of Goethe-Institut Kolkata said after the fall of Berlin Wall, Germany could preserve many dilapidated old buildings of the city (Berlin) which was earlier not possible because of the border which went through the city.

Many old buildings could not have been put to better use for so many years because of the Berlin wall which existed for years dividing the city and country, he said.

"Now for over 25 years in past, many of these places have found new usage, many have been preserved....old buildings remain and we find new ways of preserving them." he said about the situation in Germany.

British Council East Director Dipanjan Chakrabarti said the initiative to hold the multimedia exhibition of 36 artists from all parts of the country will in future lead to involvement of people in neighbourhood to help preserve the place and it can be a movement.

"We had seen similar things in South Bank of London," he said.

Film maker Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury said, "It is a unique attempt to create an interactive artistic environment, in a closed single screen."



"It is also symbolic since we can see closure of lots of single screens and can ponder how to convert those places as contemporary art hubs," he said.

Painter Samir Aich, whose elephant figure was among the installations, said, "It is interesting to see that a contemporary art show beyond films, theatre is taking place in a single screen using different mediums."



The exhibition showcases installations, video art, graffiti and various non-traditional genre of art.

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"Baywatch" actor Nicole Eggert has accused Scott Baio of molesting her when she was a minor.

In a series of tweets, the 46-year-old actor replied to a Twitter user who mocked Baio for supporting US President Donald Trump.

"Ask @scottbaio what happened in his garage at his house when I was a minor. Creep," she said about her "Charles in Charge" co-star.

In the following replies to Twitter users commenting on her post, Eggert called herself a "molested child" and she was allegedly molested from the age of 14 till 17.

The two actors dated briefly while working on the 1980s show "Charles in Charge".

In Scott's defence, his wife, Renee Baio, tweeted that his legal team had served the actor with two cease-and-desist letters.

While Scott followed it saying, "I'm about to do a Facebook live to prove her claims are 100 per cent lies! #NicoleEggert."



In his video, the actor in turn accused Eggert of seeking publicity for her reality shows when she first made claims against him in 2012-13.

He said he had chosen not to respond to the allegations then. In the clip, Scott produced two letters, dated from last year, to Eggert and "Charles in Charge" co-actor Alexander Polinsky, who he claims "decided to team up against" him, telling both of them to seek police intervention if they had plausible claims.

Eggert has previously said she lost her virginity to Baio at the age of 17.

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Actor Swara Bhasker has criticised director Sanjay Leela Bhansali for "thoughtlessly glorifying" Sati and Jauhar practices in his latest release, "Padmaavat".

The 29-year-old actor wrote a blistering open letter to Bhansali, published on website The Wire, in which she condemned the filmmaker for presenting the criminalised archaic customs in a "breathtakingly shot" manner.

Swara said Bhansali, whom she respects and has worked for in "Guzaarish", had set a dangerous precedent in questioning the laws of the land.

"In independent India, The Indian Sati Prevention Act (1988) further criminalised any type of aiding, abetting, and glorifying of Sati.

"Your act of thoughtlessly glorifying this misogynistic criminal practice is something you ought to answer for, Sir. As your ticket-buying audience, I have the right to ask you how and why you did this," she wrote.

Swara said the climax which shows multitude of women dressed in red marching towards their deaths "seduced the audience into being awestruck and admiring of this act".

"Your cinema particularly is inspiring, evocative and powerful. It can move audiences to emotional highs and lows. It can influence thinking and that, Sir, is why you must be responsible as to what it is you are doing and saying in your film."



The actor said acts like Sati and raping women are two sides of the same coin.

She explained the parallels between the two crimes, saying the depiction of the Sati/Jauhar would have been justified had the director condoned the victim-blaming mindset, which infests the country, in Deepika Padukone-led period drama.

"You will say that you put out a disclaimer at the beginning of the film claiming that the film did not support Sati or Jauhar.

"Sure sir, but you followed that up with a two-hour-45- minute-long paean to Rajput honour, and the bravery of honourable Rajput women who chose happily to sacrifice their lives in raging flames, than to be touched by enemy men who were not their husbands but were incidentally Muslim," Swara said, also calling out the director for painting the Muslim ruler Khilji (Ranveer Singh) as a "monster".

The actor, who watched the film first-day, first-show, said she had defended Bhansali's freedom of expression during the protests by various groups and political leaders, who accused him of "distorting historical facts".

She further said women have the right to live, despite "being raped" and "independent of whether men are living or not".

The actor said a woman's honour and purity do not reside in the vagina and it would be a welcome step "if the vaginas are respected; but in the unfortunate case that they are not, a woman can continue to live".

Swara added she "felt reduced to a vagina - only" after watching "Padmaavat".

She said the film undermined women's achievements and the progress of movements such as the right to vote, the right to own property, the right to education, equal pay for equal work and Vishaka guidelines, among many others.

It was only fair, Swara said, that she took the "liberty" and "temerity" to raise concerns over glorification of Sati and Jauhar after watching the magnum opus after a long wait.

The film, also starring Shahid Kapoor, finally arrived in the theatres on January 25, amid chaos and violence across the country.

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As a large number of Indian HNIs and their representatives went around Swiss ski resort town of Davos for attending the annual WEF summit last week, they also got several pitches on the margins for two new 'safe and promising havens' -- cryptocurrencies and cash vaults.

Cash vaults, which are huge in size unlike the typical bank lockers in India and can contain not just cash but also gold, data, paintings and sculptures, are big business in Switzerland and are not just limited to banks, with several stand-alone entities offering these services.

Some vaults are actually buried deep under the snow with several strong layers of security, multiple executives associated with this business said.

What they want is now to expand their operations to India -- by offering their Swiss vaults to HNIs from India and also by roping in 'strategic partners' to set up similar vaults there, some of the Indians approached by them said.

The Davos meet also saw a number of entities and individuals associated with several cryptocurrencies present in the city -- some were registered for the meet, but most of them remained outside the official programmes to pitch these 'safe' and new-age products.

Again, several Indians were approached not just for investing in these currencies, but to join as partners. Those pitching the two 'safe havens' included several non-resident Indians, as also those from Russia, Germany and China.

All of those making the pitch and receiving such pitches refused to be named, saying they do not want to land in regulatory problems as there are no rules as yet either for cryptocurrencies like bitcoins or cash vaults in India.

However, some top global leaders spoke openly about the risks associated with cryptocurrencies during the official sessions of the World Economic Forum.

IMF Chief Christine Lagarde said that the multilateral financial institution was already looking into the issues relating to cryptocurrencies to analyse potential risks arising out of this new asset class due to the anonymity attached to it and the possible money laundering risks, while the US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin asserted that these currencies would not be allowed at all for any illicit trades.

Lagarde, however, said that the new technologies that have led to creation of cryptocurrencies need to be analysed properly and felt that innovative technologies can help improve the financial inclusion scenario in the world.

Bitcoin's price has increased more than 12-fold in the past four years, and the combined market of crypto-assets is now valued at more than $500 billion. Such valuations have caused many to think that the market is overheated.

"I tend to think of bitcoin as an interesting experiment, not a permanent feature of our lives," said Robert J Shiller, Sterling Professor of Economics, Yale University, USA.

Schiller compared the market to a speculative bubble that rouses public interest. "It involves contagious stories about people making a lot of money," he said.

But beyond the hype of a single cryptocurrency, thousands of other digital currencies have been introduced, and blockchain, the technology underlying bitcoin, carries the potential of providing decentralised, incorruptible ledger, which could be used in a variety of other contexts.

Whether or not cryptocurrencies offer a widespread, scalable alternative to traditional currencies depends greatly on their efficiency of use and on how well they function as a store of value. Volatility in the bitcoin market carries risks for those who hold their savings in the market, and many prefer to see bitcoin as an asset, rather than a replacement for central-bank-created currency, according to the World Economic Forum.

Regulators around the world have raised concern about the way in which cryptocurrencies make it easy to move money anonymously. As such, they provide a useful tool for illicit activities, such as money laundering.

"I do think (cryptocurrency) needs to be regulated, just like anything I would want to become mainstream should be regulated, said Neil Rimer, General Partner and Co-Founder, Index Ventures, Switzerland, adding that regulation could be one way of increasing public trust in the experiment.

Not only are nations seeking to regulate the use of cryptocurrency, many are also seeking to take advantage of the disruptive innovation associated with it. For example, Sweden is considering the creation of its own digital currency, an "e-krona", which would complement traditional notes and coins, said Cecilia Skingsley, Deputy Governor of the Swedish Central Bank.

"Cash is going out of fashion very quickly," she said, while adding that digital currencies could provide consumers greater convenience and, potentially, efficiency.

Some developing nations have also seen the potential of becoming part of the cryptocurrency movement. "A lot of smaller economies now they start to think if we just make our regulation a little bit more crypto-friendly, we can attract a lot of investment and a lot of talent," said Jennifer Zhu Scott, Principal, Radian Partners, Hong Kong SAR.

The staying power and pricing of bitcoin suggest that crypto-assets will continue to have a disruptive impact on global finance, but they raise more questions than answers about what shape that disruption will take.
Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan today said that despite the Shiv Sena declaring that it would fight the 2019 polls alone, its current ally BJP would not allow it.

"The BJP will use its political might to ensure that all its allies, including the Shiv Sena, stay with it. Now with TDP chief and Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also speaking about charting his own course, the challenge before the BJP is to keep the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) flock together," Chavan told PTI.

Chavan said that the BJP's strategy for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls would be to keep its allies together and also ensure that there is no unity among the Opposition ranks.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
UK-based cocktail startup HappyDown is planning to enter India by June this year and will raise about USD 2 million to be used for the launch and expansion of its beverages.

Tipple Brands Ltd, which owns the brand HappyDown, was launched in the UK last year.

The brand, which is focused on craft alcohol, is looking to tap all the major metros of India and will be targeting the millennial.

"Indian consumers are experimental and there are different set of consumers who don't mind paying a premium for any good product. The mindset is we will consume less but will consume better," Tipple Brands co-founder Paritosh Bhandari told PTI.

The company aims to compete with craft brewers like Bira 91 and White Rhino in India and is in talks with distributors.

It is also assessing the market to decide whether to get into home production or import from the UK.

Bhandari said the five-year plan is to make HappyDown a global craft alcohol brand as the next target would be countries like the US, China and Germany.

Craft beer industry has seen a huge traction in the last few years led by youngsters in urban areas with about 100 brewpubs opening in major metros across India.

"The funds we will raise will largely be used for the launch and distribution of the brand in India and we have been in talks with various investors for further investment," Bhandari said.

At present, the drinks come in three flavour combinations with about 4 per cent alcohol content and Bhandari said the company will also enter into newer product categories soon.

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To enhance efficiency, Haryana Town and Country Planning department has formulated policy parameters for capacity building of its officers.

"This was necessitated by the realisation that with the pace of technological advancement, technical knowledge acquired by technical officers like assistant town planners, district town planners, senior town planners, and chief town planners is required to be updated," a spokesman of the department said in a release.

Under the parameters, the capacity of officers would be built in the administration of various Acts required for planned urbanisation in the state.

The department regulates urban development and controls haphazard and unplanned growth in and around towns in accordance with the provisions of various Acts.

The advent of information technology has brought about significant changes in office working, data processing, decision making and overall management. However, optimum use of information technology and latest urban planning techniques can be achieved only by frequent capacity building of technical manpower, he added.

Technical knowledge of officers deputed at departments like Urban Local Bodies, HSIIDC, Urban Estates, Housing Board, HUDA, MC, Gurugram, and Faridabad, GMDA, including Chandigarh Administration, is also required to be supplemented with applied planning, information technology inputs, engineering or architectural and managerial skills, he said.

The fields in which officers are required to be trained include Information Technology, Urban Planning (Building Parameters and Disaster Management), Administrative aspects, Right to Information Act, Drawing and Disbursement Officers (DDO) and Service Rules, he said.

The training programmes could be arranged at entry level, mid-term and at professional level for technical officers that is town planners and architect as well as non-technical or administrative officers, including director, joint director and chief accounts officer to be arranged within the country or abroad, he said.

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China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), the world's largest army, has published an officially approved outline for military training as part of its efforts to emerge as a world-class force.

The Central Military Commission headed by President Xi Jinping has approved the outline for military training.

Since he took over power in 2013 emerging as China's most powerful leader in recent decades, 64-year-old Xi has been firmly advocating live fire drills in real-time war conditions to enhance the 2.3-million strong military to win wars.

As a result, the PLA army, navy and air force have been carrying out massive exercises in Tibet as well as the disputed South Sea and areas close to Taiwan.

Xi also carried out massive reform of PLA's command structure and ordered three lakh troops cut as part of efforts to revamp the military which has an annual budget of over $140 billion, next only to that of US military.

Also over 40 top military officials including two former Vice Chief of the CMC were punished in the massive anti-graft campaign ordered by Xi, the largest purge since the era of Mao Zedong, founder of the ruling Communist Party of (CPC).

Xi also heads the party as general-secretary of the CPC, and the military besides the presidency.

Centring on building a strong army in the new era and building it into a world-class force, the new training outline focuses on the PLA's combat capability, highlighting military training under combat conditions and joint training.

It looks to establish "a system of training content and related mechanisms that are more into combat and joint operations, as well as more scientific and normalised," state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Moreover, the outline sets up a standard system covering personnel at different levels and in different fields that meets the requirements of modern warfare, laying the basis for the PLA's training, while setting a significant rule for military training in the new era.

The latest revision to the outline is the PLA's eighth overall remodelling of the system of the military training content since April 2013, said PLA Daily, the official organ of the military.

The PLA will also develop new combat and support forces, increase military strength and speed up development of an intelligent military, to enable itself to shape its military posture, manage crises, and deter and win wars as per the orders of the once-in-a-five-year congress of held in October last.

It also endorsed a new five-year term for Xi.

The new training outline makes it a mission of the PLA that by 2035, the modernization of the country's national defence and forces should be completed, and that by the mid- 21st century Chinese people's armed forces should have been fully transformed into world-class forces, the report said.
The Congress today demanded an independent judicial probe by a sitting high court judge into violence in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj that erupted after a boy was killed in clashes following stone-pelting on a motorcycle rally taken out to celebrate Republic Day.

Congress leader Pramod Tiwari alleged callousness and mismanagement on the part of the Uttar Pradesh government and local administration led to clashes between two communities in Kasganj.

He said the continuing violence threatened peace in the entire state.

"How did this happen, who did it? The truth will come out only when an independent judicial probe is conducted by a sitting high court judge.

"We demand an independent probe by a sitting high court judge into the incident," he said.

"Till when will incidents of gangrape continue under your rule and in the BJP-ruled states. When will you apprehend the culprits and give them exemplary punishment?" he asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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Days after senior Congressman Ghulam Nabi Azad accused the Centre of having "no policy" to deal with Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir, the state BJP unit today said the opposition needs to shed its "negative attitude".

"The Congress, which remained in power for the most of years at the Centre and at present, is the main opposition party, needs to shed its negative attitude to everything that the government does and adopt a positive approach to deal with the situations the nation is facing," state BJP spokesperson Virender Gupta said in a statement issued here.

Azad had on Wednesday, after visiting the victims of Pakistani ceasefire violations along the International Border here, said the Narendra Modi-led government had "no policy" to deal with Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir.

Azad was replying to questions on the alleged failure of the government to deal with Pakistan and put an end to the ceasefire violations along the Indo-Pak border that has killed 14 people, including eight civilians, and injured over 70 others.

"Azad is hoodwinking the people and trying to exploit the victims affected in the firing from the Pakistan side," the BJP leader said.

Gupta added it was because of the international policy of the present government that Pakistan had been completely isolated in the world forum, and world powers saw it as a "haven of terrorism".

"When the enemy is forcing a war-like situation, there is no option for the government at the Centre but to give it a befitting reply and that is what the Modi-government is doing," he said.

He said the forces had been given free hand to deal the situation both on the borders and internally against the proxy war launched by the enemy.

The decision to construct bunkers for the villagers residing along the borders was taken about 10 years ago when the Congress was in power both at the Centre and the state, but it did nothing, Gupta added.

The prime minister and Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited the state on numerous occasions to assess the situation, and the Centre also appointed an interlocutor to approach the concern groups on its behalf, he said.

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Taking a dig at Narendra Modi, politician-writer Shashi Tharoor has said that while the prime minister describes the country's Constitution as holy, he also hails Hindutva icon Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay as a hero, and asserted that the two stands cannot go hand in hand.

Speaking at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival, the 61-year-old Member of Parliament said there was a dire need for Hindus to stand up and recognise what was being done "in their name" and speak out against it.

"We need to call a spade a spade. We are living in a country where on the one hand the prime minister says the Constitution is his holy book and on the other hand he extols as a hero and instructs his ministries to study the works, writings and teachings of Deen Dayal Upadhyay, who explicitly rejects the Constitution and who shares that the Constitution is fundamentally flawed", the former Union minister said.

The two thoughts, he said, were contradictory.

"You cant have these two thoughts in the same sentence To have it both and to be allowed by our public discourse to get away with it for so long seems to be somewhat troubling to me", he said to thunderous applause from the audience at the packed front lawn, the largest venue at the iconic Diggi Palace where the festival is being held.

Tharoor said Upadhyay believed the Constitution "rests on the flawed premise that the nation is a territory of India and all the people on it".

"Whereas he (Upadhyay) says that is not correct, the nation is not a territory, it is a people and it is, therefore, the Hindu people. Which means you need a Hindu nation, a Hindu Rashtra and that is what the Constitution should reflect, which of course it does not," he said.

That, Tharoor added, was the essential contradiction.

"(You) cannot hail Upadhyay and the Constitution ... at the same time," he said.

The Thiruvananthapuram MP described himself as a devotee of Swami Vivekananda's teachings and said the acceptance of differences was at the heart of Hinduism.

Hinduism is not a faith of absolute certitudes How such a wonderfully capacious faith so open, so classically liberal in that sense can be reduced by some into a badge of identity akin to that of a British hooligan, reducing our wonderful metaphysics to a chauvinistic rampage I don't know, he said.

The time had come, he said, to take Hinduism back to the "real" Hindus.

"There are a lot of people going around expressing thoughts, condoning actions in the name of Hinduism that most Hindus starting with the likes of Swami Vivekananda would not recognise, he said.

Tharoor, who has written 16 books, was in conversation with poet Arundhati Subramaniam and threw light on his new book, Why I Am a Hindu.

He said Hinduism was totally compatible with a modern, liberal and pluralistic society and was in many ways almost the perfect religion of the 21st century.

It is being reduced and traduced into something that it is not. We need to have a serious taking back of Hinduism and facing up to what it teaches because very often the alternatives that are being taught are actually dangerous to our social peace and cohesion, he said.

Some people were not only willing to "advertise their Hinduism" but claimed that it was the only possible way of being a Hindu, he said.

"This is a sort of Hindu Wahabism It is high time that for those of us who believe that we are good Hindus, that we take back our faith from these people who portray it that way and that is what this book seeks to do, Tharoor said.

He said a great deal can be learnt from the Mahatmas of the past, noting that it was not only their teachings but also their lives that offer lessons for today's Hindus.

If indeed people are willing to immolate themselves over a film that they have never seen or burn buses and attack school children to protest somebody else's freedom of expression then there is something wrong with our society and we have to understand that answers need to be found, Tharoor said.

These people, he added, were "anti-Hindus".

Instead of punishing themselves which the likes of Gandhi and Vivekananda would have approved of, the people are going around punishing others, attack others, write against others, lynch others. They are the anti-Hindus, he said.
In a first-of-its-kind tie-up in India's marine sector, COOP Cooperative, one of Switzerland's biggest retail and wholesale companies, has partnered Marine Products Export Development Authority to develop export oriented organic aqua farming to cater to the growing demand for organic seafood products across the EU.

A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed by A Jayathilak, Chairman, MPEDA and Gerard Zurlutter, Member of Management, COOP, at the ongoing India International Seafood Show 2018 at Margao today, an MPEDA release said here.

Under the project, MPEDA will assist in identifying entrepreneurs and providing them with technical advice on the production of high-quality organic shrimp that meet national and international certification protocols.

COOP,which has nearly 2,200 sales outlets in Switzerland and wholesale/production business across Europe,has offered to procure the processed organic shrimp at a premium of upto 15 per cent and with an additional five per cent through financing for development activities, including training.

Jayathilak said the reason why many farmers are hesitant to get into organic production is increased costs involved.

He said the premium price offered will offset the extra cost and incentivize them to explore organic farming.

"Our cooperation with COOP covers the entire value chain and we hope that farmers and entrepreneurs will come forward and take this opportunity to be linked to consumers abroad, he said.

Jayathilak said there is increased awareness across Europe about organic produce and it constitutes a niche market which the Indian aquaculture industry can take advantage of.

The pilot project will be run in Kerala to produce Organic Black Tiger Shrimp initially in 1000 hectares.If successful,it will be extended to other locations across India.

MPEDA and COOP will facilitate certification of a shrimp hatchery for production of organic shrimp seed and similarly certify and empanel a small scale feed mill unit to source the organic feed for the project.

Zurlutter, also Head of Projects and Overseas Buying Frozen Products for COOP, said India would be their second leg in organic farming after Vietnam, where they have had success with similar projects and organic producers who are generating considerably higher revenues than conventional farmers.

COOP, Switzerlands first consumer cooperative with a history of 150 years, is currently celebrating 25 years of organic certification in production.

"For us organic is not just an investment, it is the future. We are retailers with a deep-seated commitment to sustainability and we understand that we have to get farmers into a position where they can readily adopt organic farming practices.So we support them with higher prices," Zurlutter said.

He said COOP also knows from their experience in Vietnam, that though the yields from organic production are relatively low, it is an incredibly simple system, has lower risks than intensive farming and is sustainable over the longer term.

"It is the balance between nature and commerce that appeals to the European consumer, he added.

Kochi-based JASS Ventures and Baby Marine International will collaborate with COOP to organize the supply chain in Kerala and process the produce through organic methods.

B Sreekumar, Secretary, MPEDA and Alex Ninan, CEO, Baby Marine International, were present at the MoC signing.

Ninan said Kerala, with its vast stretches of backwaters and a conducive environment,has enormous potential for organic shrimp farming,which also offers the advantage of putting into commercial use land that might otherwise be unsuitable for farming and agricultural purposes.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ahead of the Budget, corporate America has urged Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for further reduction in tax uncertainty for multinational companies and institutional investors, a step which it said would help attract more foreign direct investments to India.

"A significant positive step toward improving the investment climate would be to further reduce tax uncertainty for multinational companies and institutional investors in India," Nisha Desai Biswal, the president of the US India Business Council (USIBC), said in a memorandum submitted to Jaitley.

Noting that in today's economic environment, scarce capital is allocated to markets offering optimal returns, Biswal said global businesses allocate investments where post-tax returns for a given risk profile are highest.

When tax costs are uncertain, particularly in a foreign country, investors normally provide for them on a most conservative basis, she observed.

"Therefore, tax uncertainty results in an increase of risk when investing in any given project drives investors to either withhold investments or require a higher rate of return to account for this risk, thus raising the cost of capital in the uncertain market," said Biswal, who was the Obama administration's point person for South and Central Asia.

Welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plans to "transform" India's economy and his efforts to promote India as a global investment destination, the USIBC said for India to be successful in attracting the international investors, it needs to create a more stable and predictable fiscal regime and address retrospective taxation and legacy cases that remain open.

"USIBC members believe that unless resolved, the lack of clarity in the government's approach to taxation risk will undermine progress in other areas of the economy and will continue to damage India's reputation among investors," said the memorandum running into 39 pages.

Describing it as a major concern for international investors, including USIBC members, Biswal said by rescinding the historical retrospective tax legislation, India would have an opportunity to proceed to a satisfactory resolution of legacy cases which would be beneficial to both India and the companies involved.

As indicated by the high-profile nature surrounding recent cross-border tax rulings, one of the primary frustrations of foreign multinational companies investing in India is an often inconsistent transfer pricing regime and a lack of a predictable, efficient dispute resolution mechanism, the USIBC rued.

USIBC said it believes India must ensure that transfer pricing principles are applied in a fair and consistent manner for all taxpayers, as well as allow a reasonable method for determining transfer pricing comparables that support fees on services performed in India for non- Indian affiliated entities and match the nature of the company's services performed.

"To facilitate cross-border trade and investment without the barrier of double taxation, the Government of India and the US Government should reaffirm the shared commitment to improving tax dispute resolution. To that end, the two governments should work to modernize the US-India Bilateral Tax Treaty to reflect the current business and investment environment," the memorandum said.

USIBC recommended that the compliance burden should be reduced on service sector by reducing the frequency of return filing. For e.g. instead of monthly returns, service sector companies should be allowed to file tax returns on a half-yearly basis.

Noting that the industry is very pleased to see the significant progress in capital market reforms made over the past several years by the Ministry of Finance and others, USIBC said, however, continued lack of predictability in some tax policy stands as a "major deterrent" to Indian markets for global capital, dampening the effects of any policy and regulatory reforms made to encourage this capital.
Corporate India's deal tally, including M&As as well as private equity, amounted to $60.5 billion driven by big-ticket consolidation and the outlook remains bullish for this year, says a report.

According to assurance, tax and advisory firm Grant Thornton, there were 1,147 deals (M&A and PE) worth $60.54 billion last year.

In 2016, there were 1,485 such transactions worth $57.85 billion.

"This momentum was largely driven by big-ticket consolidation across sectors as divested distressed assets in an effort to reduce debt. On the other hand, corporates with strong balance sheets drove acquisitions to capture the market share and increase competitiveness," Grant Thornton India LLP Partner Prashant Mehra said.

On the merger and acquisition (M&A) front, the year saw 411 deals valued at $40 billion, continuing the declining trend after peaking in 2015. The fall in the deal tally is mainly due to the absence of multi-billion-dollar deals.

The telecom sector led the M&A deal activity in terms of total deal values, with six deals in the $100-million club, which cumulatively contributed to $25 billion, capturing over 60 per cent of total M&A deal values.

While core sectors like banking and pharma also garnered big ticket deals contributing 14 per cent to deal values. Tech sectors, including start-ups and IT & ITeS, witnessed the highest consolidation in 2017, capturing over 40 per cent of volumes.

Meanwhile, Indian PE activities recorded a growth of over 45 per cent over 2016 with deal values clocking $20.3 billion from 736 investments, recording the highest yearly investment value so far with more big-ticket investment rounds as compared to 2016.

"With political stability continuing, economic reforms on a fast pace and macro-economic factors looking positive, 2018 will perhaps be one of the best years for M&A with transaction activity closing at an even higher level than 2017," Mehra said.
The Indian Navy's rescue mission in the aftermath of was the biggest humanitarian and disaster relief operation undertaken by it after the 2004 Tsunami in terms of duration and geographical coverage, with 4.5 lakh sq miles sanitised during the nearly 20-day operation.

The Navy, which reviewed 'Operation Sahayam,' stressed the need to put a mechanism in place to account for fishermen venturing into the sea, carriage of adequate safety gear and positioning systems, and prompt relay of weather warnings to avoid casualties in such situations.

"It is indeed heartening to learn that agencies concerned are moving in that direction", a Defence spokesman said.

The Navy's full scale Search and Rescue Operation continued relentlessly for more than four weeks with naval assets searching more than 4.5 lakh square miles off coasts of Kerala in most adverse weather conditions for missing fishermen, vessels in distress and stranded fishermen requiring assistance.

The cyclone, which had hit coastal states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu on November 30, claimed several lives and caused widespread damage. A large number of fishermen are still missing.

In what has been termed as unprecedented in the last three decades, the weather system rapidly developed into a cyclone and thereafter into a very severe cyclone.

The formation of cyclone over Arabian Sea was declared by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) at 12:00 pm on November 30.

"At this particular time the system was located about 70 km south of Thiruvananthapuram. As was seen, Kanyakumari and adjoining Tamil Nadu coast were impacted even before the weather system intensified to become a cyclone," the Defence spokesman told PTI.

He said a systematic planning methodology was employed for searches based on meteorological and hydrological conditions and also taking into consideration the path of the storm. Concerted efforts therefore resulted in localisation of drifting boats requiring assistance up to 200nm NW of Kavaratti.

He said the Navy also closely coordinated with Indian Coast Guard ships in the area resulting in synergy of operations and thereby better efficiency.

"Indian Navy ships and aircraft undertook searches even in the waters of Maldives and no stranded fishermen were found. The Government of Maldives also deployed their patrol craft and confirmed that no Indian fishermen were stranded in their islands, both, inhabited and uninhabited," the spokesman said.

He said that at the time of this unprecedented natural calamity, the Indian Navy exercised tremendous initiative, courage and resilience and responsibly took on the lead role of carrying out an intensive and systematic search and rescue operation to save stranded fishermen of not only Kerala but also Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands.

"The Indian Navy deployed a total of 16 ships for the Search and Rescue operations across the wide expanse and sanitised a total of more than 4,50,000 square miles," he said.

This resulted in rescue of 136 survivors as also recovery of six bodies and support provided in terms of water, fuel, provisions, medical and technical aid to 172 personnel extending from Kerala coast to all Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands, he said.

"This was the biggest humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) operation carried out by the Navy after Tsunami in terms of duration and the geographical coverage," he said.

Whilst the Navy has contributed in full measure towards the SAR Operation, there is a process set into motion to examine every aspect carefully and seek further improvements, he said.

"It would be the Navy's endeavour to refine further and be better prepared for such missions in future. Similarly, it is hoped that all stakeholders would examine their charter and address issues on priority," the spokesman said.
Former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has dared AAP to face the electorate after 20 of its MLAs were disqualified, and asserted that the Congress would make gains if bypolls took place as there was an "absence of credibility" with the Kejriwal government.

Dikshit, Delhi's longest serving chief minister, alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was trying to "avoid" bypolls as it had not delivered on its promises.

"Obviously, they (AAP) are trying to avoid the election. If they were confident of winning these 20 seats, they would not have done all this (challenging the disqualification). After all, the president of India has signed it (disqualification)," the Congress leader told PTI in an interview here.

Attacking AAP over the disqualification of 20 of its MLAs for holding offices of profit, Dikshit said if the party believes it can break rules and get away with it, it is living under a "fallacy".

"The court has taken a decision, the President of India has endorsed that decision, so it is for them to see what they want to do...Face an election. When you did something like this you should have thought of the consequences also," the 79-year-old leader, who ruled Delhi from 1998 to 2013, said.

AAP was not being victimised but being punished for what it did wrong, said Dikshit.

The Delhi High Court in 2016 had set aside the AAP government's order appointing 21 MLAs as parliamentary secretaries since it lacked the approval of the Lieutenant Governor (LG).

On January 19 this year, the Election Commission (EC) had made the recommendation for the disqualification of the 20 AAP legislators, which was cleared by the President. One of the 21 legislators, who were appointed parliamentary secretaries by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, had resigned earlier.

Hitting out at the AAP governments contention that there was a precedent and nothing wrong in the appointment of 21 parliamentary secretaries, Dikshit said there were at most just three in her government, and they received no perks.

"This was a system which had been started by the previous government and we just carried it on. Whatever was allowed, within the post, that was given, nothing more than that," she said.

On a plea by the disqualified AAP MLAs, the Delhi High Court had last week refused to stay the Centre's notification on their disqualification, but also restrained the EC from taking any "precipitate measures" such as announcing dates for bypolls till January 29.

Dikshit asserted that the bypolls would be a "referendum" on the AAP government's performance as it might not be able to win these seats.

Asked if the bypolls would give the Congress a chance to gain a foothold in Delhi, the three-time chief minister said, "Yes, I think definitely (it will) and I am sure that when it happens, we certainly will improve our position."



The Congress drew a blank in the Assembly polls in 2015.

"Most certainly it is a great opportunity because I think the people have also realised the difference between the government that the Congress gave them and the government that Mr Kejriwal has given them," Dikshit said.

She held that the Congress was better placed than it was in 2015 because people had got a "taste" of the Kejriwal government.

"Where is the governance? Nothing is happening. Even the roads are not being repaired. Nobody knows what is happening to the schools. All those buildings that were there already are being shown as if they have made them. There is an absence of credibility with this government," she asserted.

Dikshit said if the Congress goes to polls with a coordinated strategy, it has a "very good chance" to win some of the seats.

She said if the bypolls take place she would not be interested in contesting but would campaign if the party wanted her to.

Exuding confidence about the party's electoral fortunes in the national capital, Dikshit said, "We have ruled this city for 15 long years. Tell me which of them (parties) have done that. Without any hitch or without any glitch, we did what was our duty and it is for the people to understand that.

"What is Delhi today... Delhi's metro is there because of us, Delhi's CNG is there because of us, Delhis greenery is there because of us. All these flyovers and other things are there because of the then Delhi government of the Congress. What have you given to them," she asked AAP and the BJP.

Asked about the Congress's strategy for the bypolls, she said, "It's too early to say (this) just now. But I think bringing fresh faces and women would be a very good idea."



Dikshit also slammed AAP for its constant run-ins with the Centre, saying it must be understand that Delhi is not a full state, but a Union Territory and, therefore, the laws and the application of laws were different from those in the states.

There is confrontation with the LG, confrontation with the Centre. You are only confronting, you are not doing any work, she said, referring to the AAP government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today invited a number of social groups for a discussion to defuse tension after violence and death of two persons in police firing in Dima Hasao district.

The indefinite curfew clamped at Maibang town of the district, the epicentre of violence, was relaxed for five hours today, even as the 48-hour Dima Hasao bandh ended this morning.

"In order to defuse the tension and bring back normalcy, the Chief Minister has invited a number of social groups, apex bodies and students unions for a discussion. It is basically to find out an amicable way," a senior government official told PTI from Haflong, the district headquarter.

The organisations include Jadikhey Naisho Hosom, All Dimasa Students' Union, Dimasa Students' Union, Dimasa Mothers' Association and Dimasa Women's Association, the official informed.

Meanwhile, the indefinite curfew clamped in Maibang on January 25 was partially lifted from 10 am to 3 pm, officials said.

The 48-hour district bandh called a day later by the people to protest killing of two youths in police firing also ended with no new untoward incident happening.

The government has already announced Rs 5 lakh to each of the deceased, Rs one lakh to the seriously injured and Rs 20,000 for those who received minor injuries in police action at Maibang.

During the day, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti protested against the reported RSS draft and police action at various places across the state by burning effigies of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister, while All Bodo Students Union brought out a candle light march in Kokrajhar.

On January 25, various organisations in the district had called a 12-hour Bandh to protest against a reported Naga Peace Accord draft.

The protesters had blocked trains at Maibang station, broke windowpanes of a train, damaged properties at the station and removed tracks, NF Railway Spokesperson said.

To disperse the mob, police initially lathicharged and fired in the air.

Officials claimed police had to open fire as the mob was unrelenting and continued their violence by damaging vehicles of the Deputy Commissioner's cavalcade.

Later on, the district administration clamped indefinite curfew in Maibang area.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 19-year-old engineering student attempted suicide today by drinking a mosquito repellent in her room here, police said.

The girl was apparently upset with her college authorities as well as the local police for not acting against a male student (19) who had allegedly molested her. However, the police and the college have denied this.

According to police, the girl, who is pursuing B. Arch at P. R. Pote College of Engineering, consumed phenyl and some mosquito repellent while she was alone this morning.

She was spotted lying unconscious by her friend who in turn called up the police and was subsequently rushed to the district hospital, a police official said, adding that the girl is stable now.

The girl had lodged a complaint with Nandgaonpeth police station on January 26, 2018 stating that she was molested twice by Mehul Thakare during their college picnic in Chennai last month.

Following her complaint, police had booked Thakare and two of his friends, also students of the same college, under sections 354-D (Stalking) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC.

However, none of them was arrested by police so far.

The student stated that she was touched inappropriately on December 28 on the train headed towards Chennai and again in a hotel where the group of students and lecturers accompanying them was staying in the Tamil Nadu capital, according to the official.

Thakre had allegedly dragged the complainant inside his room at the hotel and beat her up and when she managed to come out, two of his friends---Shubham Burade and Piyush Bhannare--teased her, the official said quoting the complaint.

"The girl stated that the college authorities only took written apologies from the three students, but did not initiate any action against them," the official said.

The college is run by district guardian minister Pravin Pote.

College principal S D Wakade said the college had cancelled the admissions of the three students.

The minister was unavailable for comment.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Faced with delays in key approvals and sudden change in tariff terms, has decided to surrender the Tokisud North coal block in Jharkhand in which it has already invested Rs 4.9 billion (Rs 490 crore).

The move will cripple the company's 1,200-MW Mahan plant in Madhya Pradesh.

The Ruias-run company has made significant progress in developing the coal block, which has extractable reserves of 52 million tonnes, and won through a competitive bidding process in February 2015 offering Rs 1,100 a tonne, the highest in the industry.

Surrendering the coal block will hit its 1,200-MW, Rs 80-billion (Rs 8,000 crore) Mahan Power Plant, which had been shut between September 2014 and May 2016 after the Supreme Court had cancelled all the 204 coal blocks allotted by the previous Manmohan Singh government citing corruption.

The Mahan plant resumed operations in May 2016 after procured coal through government conducted e-auctions and the company hopes to rework the power purchase agreement with the MP discom accordingly.

"We've written to the coal ministry expressing our interest to surrender the Tokisud North Coal Mines in which we have already invested Rs 490 crore. The block needs over Rs 600 crore more investment," Group vice-chairman Pradeep Mittal told PTI over the weekend here.

Explaining the reasons for the drastic move which will again cripple its Mahan power plant, Mittal said, "Fixed price capping for power projects with coal blocks is arbitrary as it was taken post-facto, well after the bidding process was over."



"The move has completely altered the bidding norms under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003 and if this information was available with the bidders prior to the coal block auctions in 2015, the results would have been very different," he added.

He also noted that this argument was accepted by the Delhi High Court, which was further upheld by the Supreme Court while hearing similar matters.

Mittal said they have moved the Delhi High Court seeking a refund of the investment it has made in the block until date.

The coal block is linked to its 1,200-MW Mahan thermal power project. The first unit of 600 MW of Mahan began operations in April 2013 but was suspended due to non-availability of coal after the SC in September 2014 cancelled the mining licences of some of the attached Mahan coal blocks.

It can be recalled that earlier, Jindal Thermal Power and Monet Ispat had successfully approached the courts and obtained approvals to surrender their share in the block.

"We have asked the government to treat our case on par with Jindal and Monet cases, Mittal said.

He said the decision to surrender the mines follows the delays in some of the final approvals for the mines, which are factors not in their control.

The mine is classified under Schedule 2 of the coal ministry and has extractable reserves of 52 million tonnes.

The decision comes after the company had in September 2016 made a special request to the government to reconsider the decision to terminate the contract for developing mines while agreeing to clear the dues along with penalty of Rs 10.6 million (Rs 1.06 crore) and an upfront payment of Rs 175.8 million (Rs 17.58 crore) for the block.

The coal ministry had issued a termination notice to the Tokisud North coal mines and asked them to forfeit Rs 2.61 billion (Rs 261 crore) bank guarantee for non-payment of an upfront amount for the block.

The trouble started after the company defaulted on two of the three instalments. It paid the first instalment of Rs 330 million (Rs 33 crore) on time but defaulted on the second and third instalments of Rs 175.8 million (Rs 17.58 crore) each.

The Tokisud mines were first with GVK Power, which lost the licence after the apex court cancelled all the 204 mines in September 2014.
The Export Import Bank of India has raised $10 billion with a bond issuance on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

The 10-year dollar bonds were nearly two times oversubscribed.

The proceeds raised will be used by the to support Indian project exports, overseas investment by way of long term credit and its lines of credit portfolio.

"The notes achieved the tightest ever spread over US Treasury for an Indian entity for a 10-year issuance," LSE said in a statement.

The bond has a 3.897 per cent annual yield and secured high investor support from across the world, the exchange said.

David Rasquinha, Managing Director of EXIM Bank, said that the institution is a regular issuer in the international debt capital markets and has a largely dollarised loan book.

He said: "This was our second foray to the 144 A market as part of our constant endeavour to further strengthen and foster long term relationships with global investors".

"Through a well-designed and finely executed marketing strategy, we achieved the tightest ever 10-year US treasury spread by an Indian issuer while simultaneously attracting top quality investors in the order book. Through this issuance the EXIM has yet again created a liquid benchmark 10-year curve out of India," he added.

Debasish Mallick, Deputy Managing Director, EXIM Bank, said roadshows held in Hong Kong, Singapore, London and key US centres were successful in marketing the investment proposition to high quality institutional investors.

"When the bond was launched, these investors responded with encouragingly large orders, enabling the book to build rapidly and enabling a fine pricing," he said.

EXIM Bank, one of the world's premier export finance institution offering a comprehensive range of products and services, becomes the year's largest quasi-sovereign issuance from Asia in the international debt capital markets.

Nikhil Rathi, CEO, London Stock Exchange plc,welcomed EXIM's inaugural bond on the exchange's International Securities Market.

"Through our International Securities Market, issuers benefit from an efficient listing process and access to the deepest pool of internationally oriented capital in the world," he said.

" is global pioneer in export finance supporting Indias global growth and trade agenda. The successful pricing reinforces London Stock Exchange's position as the key destination for Indian and global capital raising," he added.

London Stock Exchange claims to have developed a leading position as the global venue of choice for Indian issuers, including some recent landmark green bonds such as Indian Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) and Axis Green as well as retail bond from Eros International.

It has welcomed 44 Masala bonds and helped supranational and Indian corporates raise over 6.5 billion dollar equivalent in mostly oversubscribed bond offerings.

"London provides unparalleled access to international investors specialising in Indian infrastructure investment," LSE said.

ISM has been designed to meet the demands of issuers and investors to improve the effectiveness and competitiveness of the UK primary debt markets, providing greater choice for a variety of fixed income issuers.
The finance ministry would soon initiate a performance review of heads of public sector banks that are under the RBI's Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) as part of the reform process, official sources said.

So far, the Reserve Bank has put 12 public sector banks (PSBs) under watch in view of lagging on certain performance parameters like unexpected level of high non-performing assets (NPAs), low capital level, low return on assets etc.

These parameters indicate weak financial health of lending institutions and a need to initiate remedial measures to put them on a right course.

Performance review of the top level management of all such banks would be undertaken soon, official sources said.

As far as capital is concerned, the government has committed adequate funds, they said, adding that now these banks have to prove their mettle on the NPA front.

If these lenders "perform extraordinarily", they will be rewarded, sources added.

In the recently announced Reforms Agenda for Responsive & Responsible PSBs, the government committed Rs 523.11 billion for the 12 banks under PCA as against healthy banks which will be Rs 358.28 billion crore by March 31, 2018.

During the current fiscal, IDBI Bank has been committed the highest infusion of Rs 106.10 billion, followed by Bank of India, Rs 92.32 billion and UCO Bank (Rs 65.07 billion).

Among other PCA lenders Central Bank of India was committed Rs 51.58 billion, Indian Overseas Bank - Rs 4694 billion; Oriental Bank of Commerce Rs 35.71 billion; Dena Bank - Rs 30.45 billion; Bank of Maharashtra - Rs 31.73 billion; United Bank of India - Rs 26.34 billion; Corporation Ban Rs 21.87 billion and Allahabad Bank - Rs 15 billion by the end of 2017-18.

Following the revision of the PCA guidelines in April 2017, the RBI first placed IDBI Bank under the watch. The series continued till earlier this month when it placed Allahabad Bank, the last in the series, under PCA.

Last year, RBI said that capital, asset quality and profitability would be the basis of the PCA framework on which the banks would be monitored and has defined three kinds of risk thresholds.

In a notification issued by RBI that time, the mandatory action that would be taken when a bank breaches the risk threshold includes restriction on dividend payment/remittance of profits, restriction on branch expansion, higher provisions, restriction on management compensation and director's fees.
The delay in modernising the fishing harbour here may adversely impact the export of seafood from Andhra Pradesh.

However, the state government has said work on the project will start soon and it has agreed to share 50 per cent of the modernisation cost of the Vizag Fishing Harbour (VFH).

Andhra Pradesh exports seafood mostly to European countries. AP's share in seafood exports was Rs 17,000 crore out of the gross national value of Rs 37,871 crore in 2016-17.

For two years now, the state government has not been able to release its (50 per cent) share of the total Rs 40 crore required to modernise the VFH.

The VFH was set up in 1976 over a 26-acre site and has 11 jetties and about 700 mechanised boats in operation.

Unhygienic conditions in the harbour area, including the fish landing points, bad state of drainage, connecting roads, storage facility and poor street lighting are some of the problems plaguing the VFH.

It suffered damage during the Tsunami in December 2004 and the devastating hurricane Hudhud in October 2014.

The Marine Products Export Development Authority prepared a detailed project report for modernising the VFH at a cost of Rs 40 crore, which includes creation of export cubicles, improvement of drainage facilities, roads and jetties.

"The Centre gave its nod to bear 50 per cent of the cost two years ago under the Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme.

"The state government, instead of releasing its own funds, approached the National Fisheries Development Board and the Visakhapatnam Port Trust to share the remaining portion," a top official involved in the plans said.

While the NFDB rejected the state government proposal, the VPT agreed to spend Rs 20 crore but on the condition that user charges be enhanced considerably. "The state government did not agree to this," the official added.

The plan envisages modernising the VFH on par with global standards. More than two months ago, the state agreed to sanction its share of Rs 20 crore but has not yet formally communicate the matter to the Centre.

"We haven't received any communication yet from the state. Once we receive it, we will take up the project under Sagarmala (a mega port modernisation plan)," a top official attached to the Union Ministry of Shipping said.

Teams from the European Union, during their visits to Visakhapatnam over the years, have reportedly expressed their dissatisfaction over the sanitary conditions at the VFH.

Last year, a group of state ministers conducted a meeting with Visakhapatnam Port Trust Chairman M T Krishna Babu and agreed to take up the issue with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for getting Rs 20 crore released.

"We have agreed to share 50 per cent of the VFH modernisation cost and will soon take up the works," Minister for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Adinarayana Reddy told PTI.

The works could be completed in four-five months once tenders were finalised, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two major bike makers are expected to soon come up with electric and flex engine motorcycles in the Indian markets, according to Union minister

A flex-fuel or dual fuel vehicle is capable of operating on both petrol and ethanol.

Keen to promote electric vehicles fleet, as well as vehicles on alternative fuel like ethanol, Transport and Shipping Minister Gadkari, has also been emphasising the need to enhance ethanol output in a bid to move towards ethanol- based transportation.

"By the end of this month, two two-wheeler manufactures have promised to come up with electric as well as flex-engine motorcycles which can run both on petrol and ethanol," Gadkari told PTI.

He said both bikes are expected to hit the market soon.

"These can be run on 100 per cent petrol and 100 per cent ethanol," the minister said.

Gadkari also emphasised the need to diversify agriculture towards power and energy by producing ethanol.

The country incurs a huge Rs 7 lakh crore on import bills of crude and if "we save even Rs 2 lakh crore out of this by indigenous ethanol, it will turn around the agriculture economy," the minister said.

Gadkari said the government is working towards policies to encourage ethanol, which can be easily produced from wheat straw, rice straw, bamboo and other produce.

"One tonne of rice straw can produce 280 litres of ethanol and give rise to new industries. It is not only import substitute but cost effective, pollution free and clean fuel," he asserted.

There is a need to change the crop pattern if there is surplus crop towards ethanol production, the minister said adding when America, Brazil and Canada can run vehicles like Mercedes, BMW, Ford or Toyota on flex engine, why can't automobile players do the same here.

He said one litre of ethanol would cost about half the petrol price and urged the need for massive bamboo plantation in the North East for this.

The minister said instead of setting up refineries at a cost of Rs 70,000 crore, India could go for massive bamboo plantation to obtain ethanol.

The minister said plans are afoot to gradually convert transport to electric, ethanol, methanol, bio-diesel, bio CNG and other such means.

The minister also said electric buses will be promoted and using super capacitor technology, a charged bus can run for 36 km and will be charged in 3 minutes.

He said about a dozen companies have started manufacturing lithium ion batteries and the prices have dropped by 50 per cent and added that recently in Gurgaon a green transport fleet of 1,000 electric auto-rickshaws was launched.
IT body Nasscom has advocated for a comprehensive review of foreign tax credit norms, while pitching for minimum alternative tax exemption and removal of "differential" tax rates for domestic and foreign start-up investors, as part of its wishlist.

Nasscom President R Chandrashekhar told PTI that the underlying principle for these recommendations is that domestic investors should not be taxed at a higher rate than foreign investors.

Moreover, the tax rate for digital transactions should not be higher than same or similar transactions being conducted offline, he added.

Nasscom has also reiterated its request to address the 'Angel Tax issue' by recognising genuine angel investments in start-ups, he pointed out.

The IT has grown six-fold in revenue terms over a decade and continues to be the largest private sector employer in the organised sector.

The sector has grossed over USD 100 billion in exports, and employs nearly 3.9 million people directly.

Representatives of Nasscom, which is seeking support for the to maintain and enhance its global competitiveness, had met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley last month as part of pre- consultation.

Chandrashekhar said a comprehensive review of the foreign tax credit provisions will ensure efficiency and ease of compliance for exporters from India.

"We have made suggestion on use of foreign tax credit such as allowing an option for carry forward of credit for maximum utilisation.

"...and an option for consolidated filing wherein credit is calculated on clubbed foreign income and total taxes paid abroad, and not on a country-wise basis," he added.

On the long-term gains from sale of unlisted shares in start-ups, Chandrashekhar pointed out that the process attracts a tax of 20 per cent from domestic investors and 10 per cent from non-residents.

"There is an adverse differential between taxation of domestic and foreign investment in start-ups and the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)...the point we made is that we should not have a situation where the domestic investor is disadvantaged viz-a-viz a foreign investor," he said.

Besides, Nasscom has sought MAT exemption for start-ups, saying this would strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country.

"We are saying that any service performed in a digital mode should not end up attracting a higher tax than if it were done manually. If the Government's policy is digital economy, you cannot have a tax structure that works in the opposite direction," he said.

He cited the example of GST being levied on household services like plumbing that are offered through e-commerce platforms, but are otherwise not subject to GST.

"We had urged the government to look into such specific instances and offer relief, and the GST Council has announced a reduction in GST rate from 18 per cent to 5 per cent recently for such services," he said.

He asserted that applying GST to such services, when delivered online, is against the ongoing efforts to promote digital adoption in the country.

He further said the industry is hopeful of continued support from the government in removing such anomalies.

The Session of Parliament is set to commence on January 29 and the Union Budget for 2018-19 will be presented on February 1.
Suspected jihadists killed four Malian soldiers today in the second deadly attack this weekend in the country's troubled north, local and military officials said.

Mali's deteriorating security situation is of growing concern as Al-Qaeda-linked groups mount increasingly ferocious attacks on domestic and foreign forces.

"Terrorists have killed four soldiers in Menaka in an attack," a Malian military source told AFP, adding: "They were not able to overrun the military camp. We are now in control of the situation."



The incident was confirmed by a second Malian military source, who said the armed attackers arrived "this morning on motorbikes and in cars", while a local official said the group had fired rockets.

French helicopters were circling the area, the sources said.

Fourteen soldiers were killed and 18 wounded yesterday when suspected jihadists seized control of their camp in Soumpi, near Timbuktu.

And on Thursday 26 civilians including mothers and babies were killed when their vehicle ran over a landmine in Boni, central Mali, leading President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to cancel plans to attend an African Union summit in order to visit the area.

Keita told victims' families: "All of Mali was in mourning, all of Mali is appalled," over the high death toll among civilians.

"Everyone knows what we are going through... Every day we do what we can," he added.

Islamic extremists linked to Al-Qaeda took control of the desert north of the former French colony in early 2012, but were largely driven out in an ongoing 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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
American auto major is looking to ramp up component exports from India even as it continues to add new global markets for vehicle shipments from the country, a company official said.

The company, which has stopped selling cars in the Indian market, recently started exporting Beat Notchback to Costa Rica.

"Apart from this addition, we also plan on expanding the component exports in 2018," a India spokesperson told PTI.



The company currently exports body panels and engines to Vietnam and Cambodia.

The official, however, declined to specify the markets that the company plans to target for components exports.

Elaborating on the vehicle exports from India, the spokesperson said that the company is focused on ensuring that it produces high-quality vehicles for export markets.

"Our exports have tripled over the past year and we are very pleased with the acceptance of our products in the export markets," the official said.

In 2017, GM ranked 5th in India in terms of passenger vehicle exports. Its hatchback Beat was the highest exported passenger vehicle from India.

When asked about the settlement of issues related to dealerships, the spokesperson said the company has been able to settle all dealer sales agreements as of December, 31,2017.

"GM India worked directly with its dealers to ensure a smooth transition to the Chevrolet Authorised Service Operation (ASO) network and in this process, we have settled the closure of all dealer sales agreements by December 31, 2017," the spokesperson said.

Last year various company dealers had protested on account of inadequate compensation packages being offered to them.

On the availability of service and spare parts for its vehicles in India, the official said the company has a network of 175 ASOs in operation across key locations in the country.

"We continue to operate every function that supports all the aspects of operations of our ASO network; these include the technical assistance centre, field engineers, training organisations and the field team," the spokesperson said.

The company is also maintaining a dedicated customer assistance centre to support its customers, the spokesperson added.

"In addition, we continue to operate parts procurement, warehousing and distribution to ensure smooth parts supply for Chevrolet vehicles in India," the official said.

Based on current planning the automaker is taking all measures to ensure availability of spare parts, generally in the market for at least 10 years, the official added.

Last year in May, announced that it would stop selling its vehicles in India. It now exports vehicles manufactured at its Talegoaon plant in Maharashtra.
Puducheerry government was aiming to promote the union territory as an international tourist destination, Chief Minister V Narayanaswamy today said.

He was speaking after distributing prizes to the winners on the concluding day of the four-day first international sailing competition organised by the French Embassy in India and Puducherry Tourism department here as part of the ongoing 'Bon Jour India' event.

"We are keen to ensure that Puducherry emerges as an international tourist destination," he said.

Narayanaswamy said Puducherry, a former French colony, had been maintaining vivid relationship with France and had been holding several events for some years now and the sailing event was yet another important fixture.

"I visualise that Puducherry will emerge as an international centre for holding several events and specificallya regular sailing competition as an annual event in future also," he said.

French Consul General for Puducherry and Chennai Catherine Suard welcomed those present.

Competitions were held under different categories in which sailors from within the country and from abroad participated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ahead of the Budget session of Parliament beginning tomorrow, representatives of the government and the opposition met here today to discuss the issues and proposed legislations which would come up.

While the government wants to push the bill on instant triple talaq pending in the Rajya Sabha along with the one which seeks to grant constitutional status to the OBC Commission, the opposition plans to counter the government on issues such as rising incidents of rapes, alleged "attack" on constitutional institutions and the plight of traders.

"We want to raise these issues as they are important. The government should adopt a cooperative attitude and allow the opposition to raise these issues," Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said ahead of the meeting.

While Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley are representing the government at the meeting, the opposition is being represented by Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress) Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP), D Raja (CPI), Kanimozhi (DMK), Derek O'Brien and Sudip Bandhopadhyay (TMC) and Tariq Anwar (NCP).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and some other opposition leaders are likely to join the meeting shortly.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The government will make a fresh push for the passage of the contentious in Parliament's Budget Session starting on Monday but is likely to meet strong resistance from the Opposition, which had stalled it in the last session, political leaders here said.

The session will open with the customary address of the president to a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Following the address by President Ram Nath Kovind, the economic survey will be tabled in the two Houses.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present the current BJP-led NDA regime's last full-fledged budget on February 1.

The first spell of the session will end on February 9. Parliament will meet again between March 5 and April 6.

The budget is likely to carry a strong political message with an emphasis on farmers and the poor and an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Besides the budget priorities, it is the government's legislative agenda which is likely to witness strong protests from the Opposition.

It will also seek to corner the government during the debate on the 'Motion of Thanks to the President's Address' over a host of issues, including unemployment, farm distress, and communal clashes, opposition leaders said.

The President's address, which projects the government's points of view, is likely to focus on the Centre's efforts at boosting economic and farm growth, creating employment and empowering the poor and other weaker sections of society.

Besides the triple talaq legislation, which criminalises instant talaq by Muslim men, the government is also likely to make a pitch for the passage of the OBC bill, which seeks to give a constitutional status to the OBC commission.

Both bills are politically significant 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 NDA lacks a majority.

The BJP also hopes to consolidate its support among backward classes by according constitutional status to the OBC commission, which, it believes, will give it more teeth.
To deal with cyber crimes such as financial frauds, circulation of communal and pornographic contents, the Union Home Ministry is planning to set up an apex coordination centre, and has asked states to establish a similar mechanism in every district.

It has also released Rs 83 crore for setting up of a cyber forensic laboratory-cum-training centre for police officials in each state. The funds were given under the Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children Scheme, a Home ministry official told PTI.

The apex centre -- Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) -- would be set up in Delhi.

It would coordinate with state governments and union territories, and closely monitor the cyber space and social media with due emphasis on vernacular content.

The centre would also block those websites which flout India's laws and circulate child porn, and communally and racially sensitive content.

The official, requesting anonymity, said that the centre would maintain a list of suspects and the leads generated during investigations in cybercrime cases would be shared with law enforcement agencies through a "secured internal network".

State governments have also been asked to set up a state cybercrime coordination cell at the headquarter-level and also establish district cyber crime cells.

The ministry has already created a new wing -- Cyber and Information SecurityDivision -- to deal with the new-age challenge.

The move came in the wake of 1,44,496 cyber security attacks observed in the country during 2014-16.

Over a period of time, there has been a phenomenal increase in use of computers, smart phones and internet. With this increase, cyber crimes have emerged as a major challenge for law enforcement agencies, the official said.

"The cybercrime cases are of varied types. These range from defacement of government websites, online financial frauds, online stalking and harassment, and data thefts. Each requires specialised investigative skill sets and forensic tools," another official said.

Cybercrime cases pose technical, legal and administrative challenges in investigation which require strengthening of the institutional mechanism.

Phishing, scanning or probing, website intrusions and defacements, virus or malicious code and denial of service attacks are some types of cyber crimes.

National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) states that 5,693, 9,622 and 11,592 cyber crime cases were registered during 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively, showing a rise of 69 per cent during 2013 to 2014 and 20 per cent increase during 2014 to 2015.

The Home ministry has also advised the states to expedite setting up of cyber and mobile forensic labs, and to identify the need for research and development in specific areas of cyber space.

The states were asked to come up with suggestions for amendments in legal and policy framework dealing with such crimes.
A replica of a hand grenade attached to the poster of a Hollywood war movie was found in a consignment landed at the airport here from Delhi today, police said.

The poster with the replica was found when the screening of goods, landed via a private airline, was underway at the cargo section of the domestic airport.

"During the screening of goods, security officials found the poster of a Hollywood movie based on World War II with a replica of a hand grenade attached to it. It was found in a consignment sent to Mumbai by a Delhi-based firm," a senior police official said.

The replica was handed over to the Airport Police for further investigation, he said.

An Airport Police official said they have seized the replica and are inquiring about the consignee, but didn't elaborate.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Home healthcare service provider HealthCare at Home (HCAH) plans to hire around 4,500 employees by the end of next fiscal as it undertakes aggressive expansion plans across the country.

The company backed by promoters of Dabur, the Burman family, and founders of HealthCare at Home (HAH) UK, has around 1,300 employees at present.

"We plan to hire around 4,500 employees by the end of next financial year, taking our total strength to up to 6,000," HealthCare at Home (HCAH) Co-Founder and CEO Vivek Srivastava told PTI.

This is required to expand the company's presence in more cities and expand its service portfolio, he added.

Highlighting the difference between HCAH and others in the same space, Srivastava said: "All our people are on our rolls and we spend and a lot of time, effort and money on training and up-skilling these people."



Going forward, the company that currently has presence in over 40 cities across the country is also looking at entering new cities and regions.

"Very soon we will be entering Chennai and Pune. The focus is to expand presence in southern and central India," Srivastava said.

The company provides services in two verticals, he added.

"Some of the key services offered by HCAH include setting up ICUs at home, providing cancer treatment at home, home nursing and physiotherapy along with other clinical procedures at home," he said.

The other vertical is providing integrated pharma services, he added.

HCAH works with pharma companies to manage their patient journey right from awareness of therapy to compliance management, Srivastava said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The head priest of a temple was killed and one of his followers seriously injured after unidentified persons opened fire at them at a temple in Vaishali district, police said here today.

The incident happened under the jurisdiction of Raghopur police station yesterday night, the police said.

The head priest, 65-year-old Mauni Baba, was shot dead inside the 'Ram Janaki Mutt' temple while his follower Chhotan Das was seriously injured in the attack, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Raghopur, Rupesh Kumar said.

The incident came to light today morning when another follower of Mauni Baba found his master's body lying in a pool of blood today, the SHO said.

The temple is located in a remote part of the district, he said.

Seriously injured Chhotan Das was also found lying beside the dead priest, he said.

He was taken to NMCH hospital in Patna, the SHO said.

Police was trying to ascertain the motive behind the attack and the identity of the attackers, he said.

Mauni Baba had come to the area 25 years ago, established the 'Ram Janaki Mutt' and temple, and has been holding the post of 'Mahant' since then, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Following are the top stories from the Western Region at 2105 hrs.

BOM 4 MH-DEATH LD HOSPITAL



Mumbai: A man carrying a liquid oxygen cylinder dies as he yanks into the jaws of an MRI machine and inhales the gas that leaked out of the container.

BOM 1 GJ-NARMADA-WATER CRISIS



Ahmedabad: Gujarat is staring at an acute water crisis this summer apparently due to its over dependence on the Narmada Dam to meet all its requirements.

BES 1 MH-SENA-BJP



Mumbai: The Shiv Sena's decision to go solo in the 2019 elections stems from its desire to regain the lost ground and the move is expected to stir the coalition cauldron in Maharashtra, according to political observers.

BCM 2 MH-PUNE AIRPORT



Mumbai: The Maharashtra government receives clearance from the Ministry of Defence for preparing a detailed project report of the proposed international airport near Pune city.

LGB 1 MH-HC-KARKARE-PROBE



Mumbai: The Bombay High Court refuses to order a probe into the death of former state ATS chief Hemant Karkare and disposes of a petition alleging that his killing during the 26/11 terror attack was a conspiracy hatched by Right Wing extremists.

BES 8 MH-TABLEAU-PRIZE-CM



Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis congratulates the team behind the state's tableau which won the first prize at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi.

BES 29 GA-MINERALS



Panaji: Prof Sunil Kumar Singh, Director of CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, launches 'Geology and Mineral Resources of Goa', a book by renowned geologist Prof Ashoka G Dessai.

BES 22 MH-CHAVAN



Mumbai: Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan says despite the Shiv Sena declaring that it would fight the 2019 polls alone, its current ally BJP would not allow it.

BES 28 MH-PATOLE



Mumbai: Former BJP MP Nana Patole says Opposition parties should come together to protect democratic values and save the country from "dictatorship".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Akhil Bharat Hindu Maha Sabha has said it will contest in the forthcoming Assembly elections in Karnataka from 150 seats.

The first list of candidates will be announced by the end of February, its state president N Subrahmanya Raju said on Saturday.

The Maha Sabha did not consider BJP as its ideological or political ally as the saffron party had long abandoned its Hindutva ideology, he said.

He alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was desperately wooing the minority communities to come back to power.

However, the Congress would not win this time just by withdrawing cases against SDPI and PFI activists, Raju said.

Raju said the Sabha would contest all the eight seats in Dakshina Kannada district.

The entry of Hindu Maha Sabha was inevitable at this juncture when the ruling Congress was pursuing anti-Hindu policies, he added.

The Opposition BJP in the state was not effective in opposing these policies, he said adding that majority of Hindus would give a fitting reply to the Congress in the coming elections.
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, 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 yesterday warned that the Nazi genocide must always be a reminder of the evil of which humans are capable.

US 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.

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 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 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.

Ultra-nationalists 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 normalisation 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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Juan Orlando Hernandez has been sworn in for a new term in the Honduran capital, 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 yesterday 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.

"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 recognising 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 November 26 election showed Nasralla with a significant lead with 57 per cent 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 per cent 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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28)  New job opportunities are available for Filipinos abroad - this time in China.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III told CNN Philippines Sunday, there are 300,000 jobs for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there.

The DOLE responded to the statement of President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday that he was considering reaching out to China if foreign employers in Kuwait continue to maltreat overseas Filipino workers.

READ: Duterte mulls sending OFWs to China due to reports of abuse in Kuwait

Bello said a third of the available jobs are for English teachers, who are needed as China's economy grows.

"There is a big demand for English teachers in China, kasi gusto yata ng mga Chinese na matutong mag-Ingles 'yung mga anak nila," he said.

[Translation: There is a big demand for English teachers in China, because it seems the Chinese want their children to learn to speak English.]

Bello added the job could pay up to P60,000 or $1,200 a month.

China's Labor Ministry also seeks musicians, nurses, cooks, household service workers, and caregivers.

Although China has not been a traditional destination for OFWs, the Labor Secretary said the demand is due to the aging population and lack of workers who are able to speak English.

The bilateral agreement between the two countries is set to be signed next month, and this will outline the salaries, work hours, benefits, and other employment rules for OFWs there.

Bello said the agreement also aims to protect the rights of Filipino workers and prevent abuses from being committed against them.

The Labor Department is advising recruitment agencies to include the culture and norms of China in the training of workers who want to work abroad, and they must also look thoroughly at the employers they would be dealing with in China.

Filipinos seeking employment in China must only contact agencies accredited by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

"'Pag mayroong lumapit sa inyo na mag-apply kayo, or work abroad, dumaan muna kayo sa POEA, mayroon naman silang naka-Facebook na listahan ng mga legitimate agencies," Bello said.

[Translation:When you are approached by someone who wants you to apply, go first to the POEA. They also have a list of legitimate agencies on their Facebook page.]

Applicants are also advised to check whether an agency is suspended, and if its license is still valid.

The DOLE earlier suspended the deployment of OFWs to Kuwait after reports of abuse by foreign employers.

READ: DOLE suspends OFW deployment to Kuwait

Under Administrative Order No. 25, Bello directed the POEA to stop the processing and issuance of Overseas Employment Certificates (OEC) to all Kuwait-bound workers as authorities probe the death of seven OFWs in the Gulf State.
A mega cultural festival celebrating India will be held in Egypt in March, India's envoy here said.

The festival titled 'India-by-the-Nile' will be held from March 6-17 in the cities of Cairo, Alexandria and Port Said, focusing on different themes as it hopes to reach out to young people.

"We have a new item this year which is fashion. India's leading fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani will be presenting a particular show with models from both India and Egypt," Indian Ambassador to Egypt Sanjay Bhattacharyya said.

Tahiliani will be showing some of his bridal collection and also some of his daily wear line, he said.

In music, the festival will host a sitar concert while classical dancer Malavika Sarukkai will also be performing during the festival.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An Indian-origin principal atones of the UK's leading state-funded schools has been branded as "Hitler" on social media over her efforts to ban the 'hijab' for very young students.

Neena Lall, the headteacher of St Stephen's School in Newham, east London, was forced to reverse the decision to impose a ban on the hijab or girls aged under eight earlier this month after widespread criticism.

But a video, circulating on social media this weekend, portrays her as the German dictator Adolf Hitler and the school's former chairman of governors as Russian dictator Stalin, with other management team shown as Hitler's acolytes.

"It is a very good school. Neena is a very good headteacher," one of the school's governors told the Sunday Times' in defence of the head teacher.

At a meeting of the parents and the school management on Monday attended by local Labour party MP Stephen Timms



Lall was forced to apologise as she confirmed the reversal of the governing body's previously approved a ban on hijabs for very young pupils.

"The school's uniform policy is based on the health, safety and welfare of our children. The school has taken the decision to make changes to this policy with immediate effect and this follows on from conversations with our school community," the school said in a statement.

"We will work with our school community to continue to review this policy going forward in the best interests of our children," it added.

The school, with a majority of pupils from Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi backgrounds, had earlier urged the UK government to issue clear guidelines on the issue of hijab- wearing and religious fasting relating to very young pupils to prevent a backlash from parents.

Arif Qawi, the chair of governors, had resigned from his post last week following offensive messages posted on social media against him and Lall.

'The Sunday Times' indicated he is prepared to return as chairman if ministers give a clear signal that they will support the school's right to set policy, including a uniform code.Campaigners believe that making very young girls wear the Hijabis wrong because itis traditionally not worn until puberty.

Under the UK's Department for guidelines, uniform policy is a matter for individual head teachers and their governing bodies.But it did express concerns over intimidation via social media.

"Intimidation or bullying towards school staff or pupils is unacceptable. Anyone who feels they are facing either should report it to police," a spokesperson said.

In November 2017, St Stephen's School had topped a prestigious primary schools league table published by the Sunday Times annually.





(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.)
Indian tunes will be the flavour of Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk tomorrow with 26 performances by the bands of armed forces, central police and state police contingents.

The ceremony held on January 29 every year marks the culmination of the four-day-long Republic Day celebrations.

As many as 26 performances will be held by the Army, Navy, Air Force, state police and Central Armed Police Force bands taking turns to enthrall the audience including the president and other dignitaries.

There will be 25 tunes prepared by the Indian musicians, including 'Indian Soldiers', 'Herana Heran', 'Mushkoh Valley', 'Tejas', 'The Great Marshal','Namaste India', among others. The only western tune will be 'Abide with me'. The event will come to a close with the ever-popular tune of 'Sare Jahan se Acha', a statement from Defence Ministry said.

This year, 18 military bands, 15 pipes and drums bands from regimental centres and battalions are participating in the ceremony, it said.

The principal conductor of the Beating Retreat ceremony will be Maj Ashok Kumar.

'Beating Retreat' marks a centuries old military tradition. At the sounding of retreat, the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms and withdrew from the battlefield, returning to their camps at sunset.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Italian male grooming personal care brand 'Depot - The Male Tools and Co' has plans to strengthen its presence in India by taking distribution reach to 120 salons from the current 40 by the end of this fiscal.

The Italian brand had made its foray into India in September last year through an exclusive distribution tie-up with Mumbai-based SSIZ International, which sells its products through premium salons in select cities of the country.

"We are looking at expanding our distribution reach to 120 salons by the end of this financial year. We are also looking at selling our products through premium boutique stores, gyms and designer stores going forward," Rayed Merchant, Director, SSIZ International, said.

Merchant said male grooming is a niche segment in India at present and set to grow at a faster pace in future.

Depot at present sells its products in five categories, including shampoo, conditioners, shaving and styling products, and is also planning to launch fragrances and body care products by early next fiscal, Merchant said.

Depot products are priced in the range of Rs 600-3,250 in India.

Depot at present has presence in cities like Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ludhiana and Hyderabad.

The brand will also soon enter Kolkata and Chennai.

According to an Assocham report, the male grooming industry is expected to touch Rs 35,000 crore in the next three years from current Rs 16,800 crore, helped by rising aspiration among men to look better and rapid urbanisation.

Interestingly, men in the age group of 25-45 outpace women in spending money on grooming and personal care products, the report noted.

Last month, homegrown FMCG major Emami announced it is acquiring 30 per cent stake in Helios Lifestyle that owns male grooming brand 'The Man Company'.

The Man Company offers premium men's grooming products in bath and body, beard management, shaving and perfumes category and are sold online majorly through the company's own website Themancompany.com.

(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.)
Rapper Jay-Z has opened up about the past struggles in his marriage to "soulmate" Beyonce which was on the brink of an end due to his infidelity.

In an interview with CNN's Van Jones, an emotional Jay-Z revealed how it almost "blew up" due to his lies.

Jones asked Jay-Z about his marriage and why it was so special to be worth fighting for.

"That's my soulmate. It's the person I love. If you have and experienced love and if you don't understand it or have the tools to move forward, then you're going to have complications," said Jay-Z.

Jay-Z, who shares three children -- two girls and a boy -- with his Beyonce, said fighting for his marriage meant breaking the cycle of the past.

"You can either address it or pretend until it blows up at some point. For us, we chose to fight for our love, for our family to give our kids a different outcome to break that cycle for black men and women," he added.

Jay-Z's extramarital affairs came into light after Beyonce's autobiographical album 'Lemonade' dropped in 2016, and contained many of her intimate thoughts and feelings towards her cheating husband.

Jones also asked Jay-Z about US President recent comments about the African countries, to which Jay-Z said the remarks were "hurtful".

"Everyone feels anger but after the anger it's really hurtful because he's looking down on a whole population of people and he's so misinformed because these places have beautiful people," he said.

"But on the other side, this has been going on. This is how people on, this has been going on behind closed doors," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The ruling Janata Dal (United) in Bihar today said it favoured, "in principle", simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies as this could lead to lower poll-related expenses.

The party, however, made it clear that it supported such an arrangement "for the entire country" and ruled out the possibility of preponing of Bihar assembly polls, scheduled for 2020, to 2019.

"Our party, in principle, supports holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls as it would lessen expenses involved in the electoral exercise. But such an arrangement must include all states", JD(U) national general secretary Ram Chandra Prasad Singh told reporters here.

"By simultaneous polls we do not mean assembly polls in Bihar should be held in 2019 alongside Lok Sabha elections. The Vidhan Sabha elections would take place in 2020 and we are making our preparations accordingly", Singh said.

Notably, JD(U) national president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had, a few months ago, spoken in favour of simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

His stance had triggered speculations that the JD(U) chief, who is running his government in coalition with the BJP, might be toying with the idea of holding state assembly polls earlier than scheduled.

Kumar had fought the 2015 assembly polls as part of the Grand Alliance comprising the RJD and the Congress. He walked out of the coalition last year and re-joined BJP-led NDA after the name of his then deputy Tejashwi Yadav, son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, cropped in a corruption case.

However, Singh - one of the most trusted aides of Kumar - dismissed such speculations and made it clear that the JD(U)'s efforts at sprucing up its organisational machinery in no way indicated an eagerness for early assembly polls.

Singh was speaking at a press conference held shortly after the party's state executive meeting held at the Chief Minister's official residence.

He spoke in presence of JD(U) state president Bashishth Narain Singh and other party leaders.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Students protesting against a professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University here have given varsity authorities a deadline of 11 am tomorrow to act against him.

The students had accused the professor of sexual harassment while conducting the viva voce tests two days ago and 20 students had submitted a complaint with JNTUK Vice-Chancellor VSS Kumar, protesting students told PTI.

On condition of anonymity, these students said that they wanted the professor transferred to some other college, which authorities declined stating that the professor was appointed to JNTUK and transferring him was beyond their mandate.

Students said that Vice-Chancellor Kumar had offered to remove the professor from conducting viva voce tests but this was rejected by the protesting students, they told PTI.

Students told PTI that they dispersed for the day after giving varsity authorities a deadline of 11 am on Monday to take action against the professor.

Students informed that Kumar had told them that a five member committee had been constituted to look into allegations against the professor and action would be taken based on its recommendations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Days after issuing a circular stating that cases against "innocent minorities" charged with rioting would be withdrawn, the Congress government in Karnataka today said the measure would extend to all "innocent people".

The home department released an amended circular, having faced flak from various quarters including the opposition BJP.

Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the earlier communique, directing police to release innocent minorities, was based on the recommendations of the Rajendra Sachar Committee.

"It will be wrong if only one community's cases are withdrawn. If people from other community too appeal, their cases will also be withdrawn. The previous circular was based on the Sachar Committee's recommendations," he told reporters here yesterday.

The January 25 circular of the home department directed police commissioners of Mangaluru and Belagavi, and Superintendents of Police to release "innocent minorities" arrested on charges of rioting and other cases.

The move drew sharp criticism from various quarters with the opposition BJP calling it "Muslim appeasement" ahead of the assembly polls. The opposition party also targeted Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The BJP tweeted, "In @siddaramaiah's Karnataka, if you are a "Ramesh", you'll be jailed. If you are a "Rafiq", you'll be given bail. #CongBleedsKarnataka #CongKillsHindus."



Besides releasing the amended circular, the department also released data showing that cases against 3,164 accused were withdrawn from 2015 to 2017, of which 2,806 were Hindus and 341 Muslims.

The Congress government had rejected the BJP's charge and said the circular was applicable to all minorities and also involves those arrested during agitations over inter-state water disputes.

The circular was issued by Assistant Inspector General of Police Shivaprakash Devaraju.

Reddy had clarified that the January 25 communique referred to all minorities, including Muslims, Christians, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs.

He had also said that the government brought out such circulars from time to time and this particular one had nothing to do with only Muslims.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A senior Madhesi leader has said his party would be in a position to join the Left alliance government in Nepal if it is prepared to address the demands raised by the Madhesi people through a constitutional amendment.

Chairman of Federal Socialist Party Nepal, Upendra Yadav said the Maoists and the Nepali Congress have already gave their consent to amend the Constitution and he wants to know the view of CPN-UML, one of the members of the Left alliance, in this matter.

The new government is to be formed under the leadership of CPN-UML chairman K P Oli.

Yadav asked the CPN-UML to make clear its view on the issue of amending the constitution before joining the new government.

"The people have mandated the Left alliance, which has got nearly two-thirds majority in the 275-member House of Representatives, to form a new government but if the alliance feels our participation in the government is necessary, we may consider it on the condition that they agree to address our demands through constitutional amendment," he said.

He also claimed that the provincial government would be formed under the leadership of his party in province No 2 situated in southern Nepal.

He said his party will forge alliance with another Madhesi party, Rastriya Janata Party Nepal, to form the provincial government in province No 2.

Nepal's Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin, had launched a prolonged agitation between September, 2015 and February, 2016 against the implementation of the new Constitution which they felt marginalised the community.

The Left alliance of CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) had secured 174 seats in the 275-member Parliament in the recently-concluded historic polls that many hope will bring much-needed political stability to the Himalayan nation.

Meanwhile, all the candidates who filled nomination papers for the National Assembly election from province no 2 have been elected unopposed. Five candidates from the province had already been elected unopposed on nomination day.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The UAE-based retail chain Lulu Group, promoted by NRI businessman Yusuffali MA, has signed three MoUs with the Telangana government, to develop retail and food processing industry in the state.

Lulu is the largest employer across UAE in the non-manufacturing sector.

Under the MoUs, Lulu will invest an amount of USD 400 million (Rs 2,500 crore) to construct 1.8 million square feet area of mega shopping mall, set up food processing plant and a logistics and export processing unit for fruit and vegetables, an official release said here today.

The agreement was signed during the UAE visit of Telangana Industries Minister K T Rama Rao to Lulu group HO in Abu Dhabi, it said.

The foundation stone will be laid within next three months by the Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, it said adding approximately 6,000 people will get employment.

Yusuffali, Chairman, Lulu Group said, "Telangana being the newest state offers great potential for expansions and the kind of support and cooperation we have been receiving from the government has been very encouraging."



"We will begin the work within three months as the Telangana government has already initiated the process to hand over the land to us," added Yusuffali.

KT Rama Rao said, "We have always wanted world-class facilities for our state, especially in the retail and food sector. Being a leader in these sectors, Lulu Group is our natural choice and we have extended our fullest support and look forward to working with them in many more projects in the future".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28)  A human rights lawyer rejected on Saturday President Rodrigo's threat to go after all "legal fronts" of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and New People's Army (NPA).

In a statement, National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) President Edre Olalia said Duterte's threats could possibly stifle democratic processes in the country.

"Such reckless threats are legally questionable and worse, will erupt in even more vicious and wholesale violations and would also constrict whatever democratic breathing space there is left," he said.

The statement comes after Duterte on Saturday said he would finish off the NPA, which he called the "enemies of state."

"I will go after the legal fronts," said the President. "Hindi kami torpe. I was once also handling an organ of the Nationalist Alliance for Justice, Freedom and Democracy. 'Yun 'yung Karapatan ngayon (That's the group Karapatan)."

Karapatan is an alliance of human rights organizations in the Philippines.

Duterte further said he is waiting for the Supreme Court to declare the rebel group as terrorists.

Under the Human Security Act, the Justice Department must first seek clearance from the court before an organization or group of persons can be declared as terrorists.

READ: How peace talks with communist rebels failed

However, Olalia, who also serves as a legal consultant for the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), said Duterte's statements were "disturbing and distressing."

He said what constitutes as "terrorist" under the law is legally problematic.

"It undermines a slew of basic rights. It effectively undermines on vague grounds the political expression of even legal and legitimate organizations and associations," he said.

Olalia added the President's statement could also "penalize" the public's right to free speech, association, and assembly.

"The label 'legal fronts' is such a subjective and malicious description of unarmed legitimate organizations who have their own membership, advocacies, platforms and methods separate and distinct from what they are supposedly 'fronting' for," said Olalia.

Duterte officially terminated peace talks with the communist rebels in November last year, citing violent attacks by the NPA. It was the first time in 18 years that peace talks were terminated.

The communist insurgency in the Philippines is Asia's longest-running armed struggle. It has spanned nearly half a century, since the CPP was founded in 1968 by then student activist and Duterte's former professor, Jose Ma. Sison.
Terming the 2017 cyber-attack as an "extremely difficult" episode, global shipping giant Maersk Line has said it has invested in network to ensure that its operations here do not get impacted by any such global breach in the future.

"We have revised our system architecture to reduce some amount of the risks," it's India managing director Steve Felder told PTI here.

"If there is a future attack, we would be able to contain it locally," he added.

He said the June 2017 ransom-ware attack, which started due to a breach in Ukraine and impacted the systems of parent APM Group's all companies, was "extremely difficult".

The "silver-lining", Felder said, was how all the key stakeholders, including customers, authorities and employees reacted to the attack, he said.

Overnight, the company switched over to operating in a manual way from the computer-based systems, while some customers supported them by increasing their bookings with us, he said.

"We had business continuity plans, we will be revising them again because I think in some markets they could have been better," Felder said.

He said the increased investments will not impact its finances in India, which he termed as a significantly important market that contributes around 8 per cent of the global volume for the company.

At present, the company is the biggest container line operator serving India with a 19 per cent market share of the entire container volume sailing in and out of the domestic shores, he claimed.

"India has both growth and scale, unique for the container market here," he said, adding they do not have any investment plans here.

He said there is a lot of traffic concentration on the country's West Coast, while the East Coast sees lower volumes despite newer assets which have come up there.

When asked about transshipment ambitions of India, and how it is placed vis-a-vis Colombo, the largest such port in the vicinity, Felder said there is considerable work required.

"We are monitoring developments on the South Coast. If there is a viable port built there, obviously, we will consider it," he said.

It can be noted that India is currently developing an international transshipment terminal at Vizhinjam in Kerala which will address this opportunity.

Though the Cochin international transshipment terminal in Kochi has been operational labour issues and lower volumes have ensured that the terminal does not succeed.

While the upcoming Vizhinjam terminal is being developed by the Adani group, the Kochi terminal is a JV between the state-run Cochin port trust and the DP World.

"You have to have the sufficient capacity and draft so that you can cater for the large vessels. Second thing is you have to have the customs framework in place and it should be cost competitive," he said.

Felder said from a margin perspective, India is more favourable.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Maharashtra government has written a letter to three north-eastern states for recovery of pending lottery tax worth nearly Rs 933 crore.

The government has said it will explore legal remedies if Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Mizoram fail to pay the dues.

The letter from the Maharashtra finance department, dated January 3, has been addressed to the chief secretaries of the three states.

Arunachal Pradesh owes Rs 710.96 crore, Sikkim Rs 220.04 crore and Mizoram Rs 1.7 crore (total Rs 932.7 crore) to the Maharashtra government, according to the letter.

The letter said as per provisions of the Maharashtra Tax on Lotteries Act 2006, liability of payment of tax lies with the promoter.

"Promoter is defined as government of any state or Union Territory or any country organising, conducting or promoting a lottery (in Maharashtra) and includes any person appointed as first importer for making lottery tickets in the state of Maharashtra by such government or country," it said.

The promoter is liable to pay the lottery tax and the state government which is organising the lottery comes within the scope of definition of "promoter", it said.

"Hence, assessment order and demand notice have been sent to the respective states," an official in the finance department said.

If the tax is not paid at the earliest, the Maharashtra government will have no option but to take recourse to legal remedies, he said.

The official said the three states have informed Maharashtra that they had deputed private companies to conduct the lottery.

But Maharashtra is not a party to the agreement made by the three governments with their marketing agents to operate and market their state lottery tickets, he said.

"The Maharashtra government did not give any consent to the agreements made by the three states with their marketing agents.

"Hence, the terms and conditions of their agreements are not binding on the Maharashtra government," the official said.

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Overwhelmed with the love and support she gets from Indians, young Pakistani activist has said she wants to visit the country and work for the girls there.

The 20-year-old Malala, who was shot at by Taliban at the age of 15 for defying the ban on girls going to school and went on to get a Nobel peace prize and become the UN Messenger of Peace, said she has already learnt a lot about India and is a big fan of its movies and drama and wants to learn more about its culture and values.

She was here to participate in the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, held from January 22-26, and during her visit met a number of global leaders and CEOs to seek their support for the girl education. She has co-founded Malala Fund that seeks to invest in girl education across the world, while one of its initiative Gulmakai Network -- named on Malala's pen name that she used while writing blogs against Taliban regime -- supports the work of education champions across the world.

In an interview here with PTI, Malala said she is very excited about expanding her Gulmakai Network to India, where she would want to work with the local people as they best understand the local issues and can suggest necessary solutions as well.

Excited to see so much "snow to the level of her height" on her first visit to Davos, the young activist agreed the issues were very much same in India and Pakistan with the two being one country before and having the same culture.

Brimming with excitement while talking about India, Malala said, "The support that I have received from India has been overwhelming and I want to thank everyone in India for their love and support. I get so many letters of support from India".

Recalling one such letter, she said there is one girl who sent her a letter saying she wanted to be Prime Minister of India and that "one day we both will be Prime Ministers and then we will negotiate and bring peace between the two countries".

"That touched my heart that the future generation is not only thinking about education but they, especially girls, want to be leaders as well. They want to be PMs, presidents and this gives me hope for the future," she said.

Stating that she wants to visit India, Malala said, "I have watched so many Indian dramas and films and I know already a lot about the country. I know Hindi as well that I learnt from Indian TV channels. We connect in many ways and there is a lot to learn from each other's culture and values".

As I am concerned about girls in Pakistan, I am also concerned about girls in India and the number is in millions, she said.

"When we talk about the future of India and future of Pakistan then we have to invest in our girls because they are the future. How can we make our future better and brighter when we ignore these millions of girls by not giving them education. When we educate girls, we are not just educating them individually but we are also empowering them and we are giving them opportunity to earn for themselves," she said.
A man carrying a liquid oxygen cylinder was killed when he was yanked into the jaws of an MRI machine and inhaled the gas that leaked out of the container, his family said today.

The police, however, said that Rajesh Maru (32) was killed last evening when he inhaled excessive oxygen that oozed out of the cylinder when he had entered the MRI room with a relative, who was there to undergo the scan.

Metallic objects are not allowed in MRI rooms and the patient's family members said they were made to remove all such items, including mobile phone handsets, before entering inside. They claimed the ward boy said that the oxygen cylinder could be carried in the room as the machine was not switched on.

The police have booked three staffers of Nair Hospital in Central Mumbai for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and arrested a doctor and a wardboy today, a police official said, adding that the role of the third accused, an ayah (sweeper), is being examined.

"The victim, as directed by the doctor, took the patient to the MRI room for the scan. There an oxygen cylinder leaked," a police official said.

The official claimed that the oxygen was in liquid form which is poisonous and the victim inhaled it in an excessive amount and died on the spot.

He said the patient was not affected in the incident.

The victim's brother-in-law, Harish Solanki, who claimed to be an eyewitness to the incident, said, "My mother, Lakshmibai, has been admitted to the ICU of the hospital since Janaury 26 for treatment of viral fever.

"Last evening, the doctor told us to get the MRI done, following which Maru and two other family members approached the MRI room," Solanki said.

He said the wardboy asked the family members to remove all metallic objects, including mobile phone handsets, before entering the MRI room, which they did.

"The wardboy, initially, told them that only two persons can go inside the MRI room, besides the patient, but later said only person will be allowed. Rajesh Maru volunteered," he said.

Solanki said the wardboy told them that the oxygen cylinder could be carried inside the MRI room despite the objection raised by family members of the patient.

"One one of my family members objected saying that the oxygen cylinder should not be allowed inside as it is metallic and can prove dangerous. However, the wardboy told us that the MRI machine was not switched on...," he said.

However, when Maru and the patient entered the MRI room, the machine was already switched on, Solanki claimed.

"The powerful magnetic field of the machine pulled Maru towards it along with the oxygen cylinder. Maru's hand got trapped in the machine while the opening of the oxygen cylinder snapped. After hearing this commotion, we all rushed inside the room and pulled him out of the machine," he said.

Another relative said a doctor, and an ayah were inside the MRI room at the time of the incident.

The doctor was later identified as Saurav Lanjekar.

"Maru's finger got crushed in the machine. By the time he was pulled out, he had inhaled excessive amount of oxygen (which leaked from the cylinder), causing his death on the spot," Solanki said.

Following the incident, Agripada Police registered a case under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC against Lanjekar, the ayah, and the wardboy, identified only as Vitthal.

The Maharashtra government has announced a Rs five lakh compensation to the kin of the victim.

Announcing the compensation, BJP MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha said the three staffers have been suspended and an inquiry has been initiated against them by the hospital.

Lodha said he had sought an assistance and action against the hospital staffers from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tattoo-sporting candidates cannot be guaranteed a job in the Indian Air Force (IAF).

This stipulation has now got judicial stamp with the Delhi High Court upholding the decision of the Air Force cancelling a man's appointment for the post of airman as he had carved a permanent tattoo on the external side of his forearm.

The Air Force grants relaxation and permits certain kind of tattoos, including in case of tribals, which are as per customs and traditions.

A bench of Justice Hima Kohli and Rekha Palli, however, noted the tattoo engraved on the body of the candidate was not in conformity with the relaxation granted by the force and he had also failed to submit a photograph of his tattoo at the time of submitting his application, as prescribed in the advertisement issued by the IAF.

The counsel for the IAF clarified that only a permanent body tattoo on the inner face of fore arms (inside of elbow to the wrist), the back (dorsal) part of the hand /reverse side of palm and in the case of tribals with tattoos, which are as per custom and traditions of their tribes, were permitted.

However, the right to decide on the acceptability or unacceptability of the individual lies with the selection committee, he said.

The man challenged the armed force's decision to cancel his appointment for the post, saying he had duly declared that he had a body tattoo, in terms of a certificate submitted by him when a call letter was issued to him and it is not as if he has concealed anything from authorities.

The bench, however, dismissed his petition, saying "having regard to the fact that tattoos engraved on the body of the petitioner is not in conformity with the relaxation granted in the advertisement, we do not find any infirmity in the impugned order of cancellation of his appointment."



It said the authorities cannot be faulted for cancelling his appointment in December 2017, when he had failed to submit a photograph of his tattoo.

The man had applied for recruitment to the post of Airman with the Air Force on September 29, 2016 and after clearing the written and physical examination in February 2017, he was called for a medical test which was also cleared.

In November last year, he was issued a call letter to report on December 24, 2017. On the very next day of reporting to authorities, he was handed over a letter cancelling his enrolment on the ground that the permanent body tattoo on his body was not permissible for selection to the armed forces.

He was also informed that non-permissibility of body tattoos for enrolment in the Indian Air Force was published in the advertisement for the recruitment.
A day after political parties in Nagaland lent support to the demand that a solution to the Naga issue be found ahead of elections, seven Naga nationalist political groups (NNPGs) today cautioned people against filing nominations for the February 27 polls.

A joint declaration regarding it was issued by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) and the working committee of 6 other Naga national political groups.

The other groups are: NSCN (Unification), National National Council (NNC/FGN), NNC (Parent Body), NPGN/NNC (NA), NSCN (R) and NNC/GDRN (NA).

The decision came at a meeting organised by the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations in Dimapur.

A copy of the declaration was made available to the media this evening.

"When Naga people as a whole have made the collective decision to forgo election, we caution vested interest and unscrupulous persons not to sabotage the historical processes of negotiations by filing nominations and indulging in election process," the joint declaration read.

"Following the intensive negotiations going on between the Union government and the Naga Political Groups, the negotiating groups are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that an honourable and acceptable solution is evolved on time in the interest of the Naga people," it read.

They also lauded all political parties, both national and regional, for responding positively to the campaign "Solution, Not Election" for finding answers to the several decade old naga political problem before elections.

"The negotiators are indeed overwhelmed by the unstinted support of our people, particularly at this juncture when the Nagas are once again put to test," the groups said.

"We also express our appreciation to all the tribal hohos and civil society organisations for their immeasurable services rendered towards building oneness," the declaration read.

The core committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations appreciated the two negotiating groups the NSCN (IM) and the NNPGs Working Committee- for coming together and issuing the joint statement on "Solution, Not Election".

Core Committee convener Theja Therie in a statement urged all the political parties to attend the joint meeting to be held at Hotel Japfu, Kohima, tomorrow at 11 am.

The negotiating groups - NSCN (IM) and NNPGs - would also participate in the joint meeting, he informed.

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A new thermal spray coating technology used for gas turbine engine in spacecrafts developed by a Rajasthan-based researcher has caught the attention of a NASA scientist, an official said.

Expressing his interest in the research, James L Smialek, a scientist from NASA wrote to Dr Satish Tailor after it was published in the journal Ceramics International and Thermal Spray Bulletin, said SC Modi, the chairman of a Jodhpur-based Metallizing Equipment Company (MEC).

While working at MEC as a chief scientist, Research and Development, (R&D), Dr Tailor developed the controlled segmented Yttria Stabilised Zirconia (YSZ)-Plasma sprayed coating technology, which according to him could reduce the thermal spray coating cost by almost 50 per cent.

"In simple language, vertical cracks (segmentation) in the coating are beneficial for gas turbine engine application used in spacecrafts," Dr Tailor said.

"At present, researchers are developing such cracks through very expensive processes (in several crore) and cracks are generated during the coating deposition process, and crack generation is not controllable," he told PTI.

He said he has shared his research papers with the NASA scientist who had written him an email regarding this.

Scientists working at the country's leading research organisations - the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO)- are equally impressed with the new technology.

Dr RM Mohanty, the chief scientist at the CSIR headquarters in New Delhi, said that indeed the outcome of the reported R&D presents an inexpensive solution for superior survival of current YSZ thermal barrier coatings produced by atmospheric plasma sprayed (APS) technique, and has a potential of wider industrial/strategic acceptability.

Mohanty said this novel APS linked process has an advantage over current, costlytechniques such as SPS or EB- PVD deposited coatings which came into picture gradually, as the reported advantage in the research was not possible with convectional APS techniques.

He said the innovatorsshouldpatent the process/equipment or bothinternationally for bringing benefits to the APS based business.

Another scientist at the DRDO, Dr RK Satpathy said the generation of vertical cracks holds great promise, if the research process can be industrially adopted in making a strain tolerant coating then it will definitely be more economical compared to its expensive counterparts techniques.

Dr Tailor is the deputy editor-in-chief of the Journal of Materials Science and Surface Engineering, and chief editor of the Journal of Thermal Spray and Engineering.

He is associated with the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Russia as a visiting young scientist.

Hailing from Jaipur, Dr Tailor completed his PhD in metallurgical engineering with specialisation in plasma spray coatings from the Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT), Jaipur.

He has published over 25 national and international research papers in reputed journals on thermal spray technology.

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Russian police today detained opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow as thousands rallied across the country against a March election expected to extend Vladimir Putin's Kremlin term.

Heeding a call by Putin's bete noire, thousands braved freezing temperatures to stage rallies in dozens of cities to protest upcoming "pseudo-elections," as Navalny and his supporters refer to them.

In Moscow, Navalny chanted "Swindlers and thieves" at a rally in the city centre before several police officers pounced on the 41-year-old opposition politician, knocking him to the ground and dragging him on to a bus.

Authorities said Navalny would be charged with organising an unpermitted protest, adding he had been taken to a police station.

The opposition leader urged Muscovites not to give up.

"You are not rallying for me, but for yourselves and your future," he tweeted.

About 4,000 people turned up for the unsanctioned rally in Moscow, with many chanting "Down with the czar" and brandishing placards saying "Voters' strike."



Authorities beefed up security, dispatching police vans and passenger buses to the city centre, but police largely refrained from arresting protesters. A crowd of protesters was later allowed to walk down to Red Square.

One group of protesters walked several kilometres and reached the government headquarters as police watched on.

Authorities estimated the Moscow turnout at around 1,000 people.

Ahead of the Moscow rally police broke into Navalny's headquarters using a power saw, interrupting a live broadcast covering protests in the east of the country.

Police also detained several members of Navalny's team.

More than 250 people were detained across the country, according to OVD-Info, an independent monitor.

Today's turnout paled in comparison to last year's protests when tens of thousands demonstrated against corruption among Russia's elite in March and June, 2017.

Police unleashed a severe crackdown afterwards, arresting more than 1,000 people including schoolchildren.

Navalny himself served three jail sentences of 15 days, 25 days and 20 days for organising unauthorised protests last year.

But many protesters said Sunday authorities would not intimidate them.

"These are not elections because we already know the result," Elena Ruzhe, 62, told AFP in Moscow.

"I'm not scared to protest," added the former culture ministry worker.

Protester Alexandra Fedorova, who wore a fur coat, said it was wrong not to let Navalny take part in the vote.

"I don't see a future. There is nobody to vote for," the 27-year-old said.

Protesters expressed similar sentiments in the second city of Saint Petersburg where around 1,500 people rallied, some chanting "Russia without Putin" and "Putin is a thief."



"I want change," Andrei Petrov, 20, told AFP in the former imperial capital. "We are tired of living in this quagmire."Earlier in the day opposition supporters protested in far eastern Russia and Siberia, including in the northern city of Yakutsk where people rallied despite temperatures of around minus 45 Celsius (minus 49 Fahrenheit).

In the Ural city of Yekaterinburg, around 1,000 people turned up, with the city's mayor joining the crowd.

"What we are being offered now is not an election," the outspoken mayor, Yevgeny Roizman, told the gathering.

Navalny -- seen as the only politician with enough stamina to take on Putin -- has built a robust protest movement, tapping into the anger of a younger generation yearning for change.

He says the upcoming election will be little more than a coronation of Putin who is expected to win a fourth presidential term, becoming the longest-serving Russian leader since Stalin.

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over from Delhi Police the case of absconding Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Nasir Safi Mir, who is accused of funding Hurriyat leaders and is believed to have fled the country after jumping bail, officials said here.

The officials said the case was re-registered by the NIA recently and it has initiated investigations into it.

The NIA probe is likely to ascertain how Mir, alias "Babul", managed to secure a passport from a southern state which he allegedly used in Nepal in October 2008 to leave for Europe.

Mir, a resident of North Kashmir who allegedly used carpet trade and later a money exchange business in Dubai for sending hawala money to separatist leaders in Kashmir, was arrested from Lajpat Nagar by the elite Special Cell of Delhi Police on February 3, 2006. The police seized Rs 55 lakh in cash and explosives from him.

During his trial, Mir managed to secure bail on the plea that his mother was ill.

The 48-year-old Mir, who the investigators believe was based in Dubai and owns a carpet showroom and money exchange firms in the Gulf, regularly reported to the nearest police station while on bail till early October, 2008.

But after that, he failed to turn up at police stations or in the court for hearings.

According to intelligence inputs, Mir reached Dubai in 2011, making a detour through countries in Europe and Libya. However, he is believed to have now left Dubai.

Mir, against whom a non-bailable warrant was issued in 2009, travelled to Nepal from India, and then used the forged passport to fly out, the officials said.

A resident of Lal Bazar on the outskirts of Srinagar city, Mir dropped out of school in 1983 to get into the carpet business. He continued with the trade till 1990 after which he shifted to the national capital and started living in the Lajpat Nagar area of South Delhi.

In the late 1990s, he went to Dubai after his father was arrested for alleged links with terrorists.

Mir had also told investigators that in Delhi he first opened a firm, Kashmir Master Computers, after which he set up a company, Failala, but closed it in 1998.

In 1999, he started a firm called Idekas and then opened an information technology company, he had said.

Police found that in 2002, Mir had opened two money exchange companies, Reems Exchange and Cash Express, in Dubai, which were allegedly used as a stopover for money being pushed in from Pakistan for terrorist funding in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Enforcement Directorate had in 2014 attached the Rs 55 lakh that had been seized from Mir.

Mir was subjected to extensive interrogation by central security agencies during which he allegedly spoke about his links with separatists groups and banned terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen.

According to the ED attachment order, the cash which was in the custody of the Special Cell was "proceeds of crime of terrorist funding and money laundering and hence stands attached."



This is the first major action against terror funding in the country under the stringent provisions of money laundering laws where the onus is on the accused to prove that he or she is "not guilty".

The attachment of cash or properties under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) is aimed at depriving the accused of the benefits of the assets earned unlawfully.

The NIA had filed a charge sheet in a separate case against 12 people including chiefs of the Lashker-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen Hafeez Saeed and Syed Salahuddin earlier for providing funds to separatists in the Kashmir Valley and waging a war against the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for appreciating, in the "Mann Ki Baat" broadcast, the human chain formed in the state last week to send across a message against dowry and child marriage.

"Thanks to the Prime Minister for appreciating the people of the state who formed the wonderful human chain in support of the drive to eradicate dowry and child marriage", Kumar said in a tweet.

"A few days ago, Bihar came up with an interesting initiative. For eradicating social evils, a 13,000-km-long human chain was formed and through this drive people were sensitized towards social ills like dowry and child marriage", Modi had said in the radio broadcast earlier in the day.

The prime minister had praised the human chain formed against social evils against dowry and child marriage and said flexibility and continuous efforts for self-correction are a hallmark of society.

"The entire state took the pledge to fight these social evils. Children, the elderly, enthusiastic youngsters, mothers and sisters, all joined. The human chain that began at Patna's historic Gandhi Maidan extended, without a break, to the borders of the state", the prime minister had said.

The human chain was formed on January 21, exactly a year after a similar endeavour was undertaken in support of the state's prohibition drive.

Kumar had launched campaigns against dowry and child marriage on October 2 last.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28)  The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) confirmed it spotted lahar or volcanic mudflows in Mi-isi and Budiao channel traversing two towns in Albay.

"'Yung Mi-isi channel, 'yun 'yung pinakamaraming pyroclastic density channel o pyroclastic flow na deposito since the beginning of the eruption. So doon kami talaga nage-expect na magkaka-lahar ng most significant," PHIVOLCS Executive Director Renato Solidum said in a press briefing, Sunday.

[Translation: Mi-isi channel has the most pyroclastic density channel or pyroclastic flow since the start of the eruption. That's where we expect the most significant amount of lahar.]

Mi-isi-Budiao channel straddles the borders of Daraga and Camalig, areas closes to the volcano.

The PHIVOLCS earlier warned residents of lahar as heavy rains started to hit the province.

On Saturday, the PHIVOLCS said the volume of pyroclastic density current material was around 9 million cubic meters, excluding unverified deposits.

Four recorded eruptions on Sunday

Meanwhile, Mayon has spewed roughly 1.5 million cubic meters of ashfall in the western section of the volcano.

"These deposits can be remobilized by rainwater and generate lahars by themselves and/or by incorporating existing erodible material on channel banks," the PHIVOLCS said in a Saturday advisory.

There have been four eruptions since midnight  at 12:45 a.m., 5:36 a.m., 10:33 a.m., and 3:25 p.m.

The strongest one was recorded at 12:45 a.m. where lava shot up to 400 meters.

The longest one  lasting more than an hour  happened at 5:36 a.m.

Intervals between eruptions are now up to five to six hours and Solidum said this affects the strength of eruptions.

"Ang eruptions ng Mayon pag humahaba ang pagitan, ibig sabihin wala pang masyadong pressure ang magma sa taas, kung mataas ang pressure pwede na naman siyang lumalabas at sumabog," he said.

[Translation: When the intervals between Mayon's eruptions become longer, this means there is not much pressure from magma above, if the pressure is high, it may erupt and come out.]

Solidum added longer intervals between eruptions could result in more gas collecting and could lead to a stronger eruption.

As of Sunday morning, 21,000 families or 81,200 individuals have sought shelter in evacuation centers due to the activities of the volcano.

However, authorities said it is unclear when they can return to their homes as Mayon remains unpredictable.

The volcano is currently under alert level 4, which warns of an imminent hazardous eruption.

Mayon had its first phreatic eruption on January 13.

Kanlaon, Bulusan

The PHIVOLCS on Sunday also said five volcanic earthquakes recorded in Kanlaon Volcano in Negros during the past 24 hours.

"Moderate emission of white steam-laden plumes that rose 500 meters from the summit before drifting southwest was observed during times when the crater is visible," PHIVOLCS said in an advisory on Sunday.

Kanlaon is currently under alert level 2, which means the volcano is experiencing a moderate level of unrest.

Meanwhile, Bulusan in Sorsogon  more than 100 kilometers of southeast of Mayon  is under alert level 1 or abnormal. It means the volcano is under "a state of unrest probably driven by hydrothermal processes that could generate steam-driven or phreatic eruptions."

Solidum, however, said these activities are not connected with Mayon as the PHIVOLCS has always been monitoring the most active volcanoes in the country.

CNN Philippines correspondent Makoi Popioco, and digital producer Yvette Morales contributed to this report.
Former BJP MP Nana Patole today said the Opposition parties should come together to protect democratic values and save the country from "dictatorship".

Patole, who represents Bhandara-Gondia seat in east Maharashtra, rejoined the Congress early this month after falling out with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.

"The need of the hour is that the opposition parties should come together to uphold democratic values. Whatever happening in the country today shows that we are on the path to dictatorship," Patole told PTI.

Patole said the unprecedented press conference of four senior-most Supreme Court judges earlier this month was a disturbing incident.

He hailed the "Save Constitution" march held by opposition leaders in Mumbai on January 26.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) Sharad Yadav (rebel JD-U leader), D Raja (CPI), Hardik Patel (Gujarat's Patidar leader), Dinesh Trivedi (Trinamool Congress), Omar Abdullah (National Conference) and Sushilkumar Shinde (Congress) among others had attended the march in south Mumbai.

"The 'Save Constitution' march held on Republic Day was significant. People and opposition parties should come together to uphold democratic values," he told PTI.

Patole was the first BJP MP to openly criticise Prime Minister Narendra Modi and had claimed that the PM got angry with him "for raising problems faced by farmers", during a meeting of MPs early last year.

"I represented my constituency and have the right to put forward grievances of people to the Prime Minister," he said.

Patole claimed that many members of the BJP are "upset" over the prevailing situation, but not all can take a "daring step" like him.

Addressing a function in Shirdi, Patole said he was "warned" that he would have to face the same situation like Chhagan Bhujbal (NCP) and Lalu Prasad Yadav (RJD)--both in jail in money laundering and corruption cases--if he speaks against Modi as a Congress member.

When asked to clarify, Patole only said that what he meant was that "Bahujan" leaders are being selectively targetted. He didn't elaborate on who "warned" him of consequences.

To a question if any BJP leader contacted him after he quit the party, the MP replied in negative.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said his government had transformed the process for selecting Padma award winners and common people were now being honoured because the emphasis was no longer on the name of a nominee, but on the work done.

In the year's first 'Mann ki Baat' address, Modi said the awards are being bestowed on people "who do not live in big cities and are not visible in newspapers and TV".

"Making the (nomination) process online has led to transparency. The selection process for these awards has undergone a transformation," he said.

People were being honoured without a recommendation, he stressed in his monthly radio programme.

"If you look at these winners, you will feel proud that such kind of people live in society and will also naturally feel proud that they are getting this recognition without any 'sifarish' (recommendation)," he said.

"Now the identity of the awardee is not the deciding factor of the award, rather the importance of his work is increasing," he said.

The prime minister also highlighted the works of some of this year's winners, whose names were announced on the eve of Republic Day, and said they should be invited to schools and colleges so that they could share their experiences and inspire others.

He mentioned that this year's Padma awardees include Lakshmikutty, a tribal woman from Kerala who prepares herbal medicines, and Arvind Gupta, an IIT Kanpur alumnus who inspired generations of students to learn science from trash.

Society should also go beyond these awards and make efforts to recognise people working selflessly, he said.

Modi began his address by noting that for the first time heads of 10 countries were present as guests during the Republic Day parade in the national capital on January 26.

Lauding woman power and highlighting a letter posted on his app by a citizen, he pointed out that astronaut Kalpana Chawla's death anniversary falls on February 1 and her life had inspired lakhs of young people.

She gave the message that there is no limit to woman power, he said, adding that women in India were moving forward in every field and making the country proud.

Modi said women's achievements and place in society in ancient India had surprised the world and quoted a 'shloka' which said one daughter was equal to 10 sons.

Quoting the letter, which also mentioned Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's sortie in fighter aircraft Sukhoi 30, he said women were not only moving ahead in every field but leading there as well.

In this context, the prime minister also referred to President Ram Nath Kovind's initiative to meet a group of "extraordinary" women, who were all path-breakers, and said women had broken through orthodoxy to achieve "extraordinary success".

Kovind had recently met India's first woman merchant navy captain, the first woman passenger train driver and fire fighter, among others, he said, calling them the "first ladies" in their respective fields.

A book on these woman achievers was available on his website, he said.

"Women are playing a significant role in the positive changes happening in the country," he said, and referred to the performance of an all-woman BSF biker contingent at the Republic Day parade, which, he said, "surprised" guests from India and abroad.

Modi highlighted woman e-rickshaw drivers working in a naxalite-hit district of Chhattisgarh, saying they were helping transform the troubled region. He also referred to the Matunga Railway Station in Mumbai which had an all-woman staff.

In the radio broadcast, the prime minister spoke about the strength of the Indian civilisation and praised its qualities of flexibility, self-correction and ability for transformation.

"Our society has always made efforts to get rid of its ills," he said.

The prime minister referred to the world's longest human chain of 13,000km formed in Bihar against dowry and child marriage and said it was imperative that society was rid of such ills.

Modi also recalled Mahatma Gandhi, whose death anniversary is on January 30, and said his path of peace and non-violence was applicable to all, just as his ideals were as relevant as ever.

"What can be a bigger tribute than taking a vow that we shall tread the path of Bapu and walk, as far as possible," he said.

Moving on to health, Modi said medicines at the government's 'Jan Aushadhi Centres' were 50-90 per cent cheaper than market rates, and said these were making healthcare more affordable.

Noting the participation of people of Indian origin who were elected representatives in various countries at an event here to mark 'Pravasi Bharatiya Divas', he said people of Indian origin served their adopted countries and at the same time maintained a strong bond with India.

The European Union, he said, has sent him a calendar in which contributions by Indians living in different parts of Europe in various fields of life had been highlighted.

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The Gurgaon police today arrested four people, including a Karni Sena leader, in connection with the attack on a school bus and torching of a state roadways bus here during protests against 'Padmaavat', taking the total number of arrests to 46.

PRO of the Gurgaon police Ravinder Kumar told PTI that a special investigation team probing last week's violence here arrested Harinder, the Karni Sena's Rewari district president, and his two supporters from Kurthla in neighbouring Nuh district.

One more accused, identified as Rohit of Begampur Khatola village in Gurgaon district, surrendered before the police this evening.

"A total of 46 people have been arrested so far... Thirty-two of the 46 people have been arrested in criminal cases registered in different police stations of Gurgaon, while 14 were arrested as part of preventive actions," Kumar said.

Among those arrested is the national secretary of the Karni Sena, Suraj Pal Amu.

"Strenuous efforts are being made to arrest the remaining hooligans who were involved in the violent incidents which occurred in different locations," the Gurgaon police PRO said.

Meanwhile, a group of angry villagers of Bhondsi, who had called a 'mahapanchayat' today against the Gurgaon police's action against "innocent" people, was denied permission to hold the meet by the district administration on account of prohibitory orders in force in the area.

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 filmmaker has denied the allegations.

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Pakistan today condemned the killing of three people in alleged use of force by Indian forces in a village in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement that the three civilians were killed by in the Ganowpora village of Shopian district in "Indian-occupied Kashmir" on January 27.

It said that "countering peaceful, unarmed protesters with lethal weapons and direct bullets is another manifestation of the state-terrorism being perpetrated by India against Kashmiris on a daily basis".

The FO said Pakistan expresses its complete solidarity with the people of Kashmir and urged the international community to take cognisance of the "systematic violations" of human rights taking place in Kashmir.

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A Polish climber was presumed dead after rescuers called off efforts to recover him from Nanga Parbat, one of the highest mountains in the world, a Pakistani official said today.

Tomasz Mackiewicz of Poland and Elisabeth Revol of France were trying to climb the 8,126-metre-tall Himalayan peak located in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan and known as the 'killer mountain' among the mountaineer community.

The two went missing on Thursday after sending a message that they were reportedly stuck at more than 7,500 metres altitude in freezing temperature.

Two Pakistan Army helicopters started operation yesterday on the request of the Polish and French embassies with the help of climbers from Poland, who separately were trying to scale K-2 in the same region.

Karrar Haidri, a top official in the Pakistan Alpine Federation, said the four volunteer were airlifted to the Nanga Parbat and dropped as close to the two climbers as the helicopters could go.

"They were able to rescue Elisabeth Revol but could not reach Tomasz Mackiewicz," Haidri said.

Later, Haidri said that Mackiewicz has been "presumed dead". He said the rescuers left the body at 7,400 meters as they could not bring it down.

"The rescue of Tomasz is unfortunately not possible because of the weather and altitude it would put the life of the rescuers in extreme danger," wrote Ludovic Giambiasi, a friend who is posting regular updates on Facebook, "It's a terrible and painful decision. We are in deep sadness. All our thoughts go out to Tomek's family and friends. We are crying."



Revol was later shifted to Islamabad and local TV footage showed her in a good condition.

Mackiewicz had tried to climb it on winter for six times but could not succeed, according to Haidri.

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An elite group of climbers saved a French mountaineer in a daring high-altitude rescue mission on Pakistan's Nanga Parbat, one of the highest mountains in the world, as officials called off the search for a second missing alpinist today.

The group of Polish climbers with support from the Pakistani military launched the effort Saturday afternoon to rescue stranded French mountaineer Elisabeth Revol, but were unable to reach Polish national Tomek Mackiewicz on Nanga Parbat, nicknamed "killer mountain".

"The rescue for Tomasz is unfortunately not possible - because of the weather and altitude it would put the life of rescuers in extreme danger," wrote Ludovic Giambiasi, a friend of Revol, in a series of updates on Facebook.

"It's a terrible and painful decision." The rescue mission involved four mountaineers who were flown by the Pakistani military from the base camp of K2: the world's second-highest peak to reach the stranded climbers.

"The K2 climbers who stopped their historic effort for a winter K2 summit will descend with Elisabeth Revol - one life saved," said Karar Haideri, spokesman for the Alpine Club of Pakistan. The team is in the process of being evacuated by helicopter after a five and a half hour descent down the mountain to Nanga Parbat's camp one early today, where they are set to airlifted to a hospital in nearby Skardu.

"Revol has frostbite and some snow blindness," said Asghar Ali Porik from Jasmine Tours who helped organise the K2 expedition.

Pakistani climber Karim Shah, who was in contact with the expedition, said the rescue effort was unmatched in the history of mountaineering, with the team ascending 1,200 metres in complete darkness along a treacherous route without a fixed rope.

"No one did such a climb before," Shah said. "Most people it takes two or three days and they did it in eight hours in the darkness." The rescue mission was launched after the missing alpinists were located on Friday when fellow mountaineers using binoculars spotted Revol attempting to climb down while Mackiewicz appeared to be crawling due to frostbite.

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

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Pakistan laid claim to being the best Twenty20 side in the world today after beating New Zealand in the series-deciding third Twenty20 match here.

The 18-run victory gave Pakistan a come-from-behind 2-1 series win that will see them overtake New Zealand at the top of the world rankings.

Captain Sarfraz Ahmed leapt with delight after the final ball as Pakistan pulled off back-to-back wins over the hosts.

Batting first on a friendly wicket, Pakistan reached 181 for six with Fakhar Zaman making 46 off 36 at the top of the innings. Umar Amin led a late charge that saw 58 runs scored in the final four overs.

New Zealand, in reply, were never up with the run chase, and managed 163 for six in their 20 overs.

The defeat followed a 48-run loss in the second game, after New Zealand swept the one-day series and won the first T20.

The consecutive defeats, following an unbeaten 13-match winning streak across all formats against the West Indies and Pakistan, put a dampener on New Zealand's preparation for next month's triangular series with Australia and England.

Zaman was the architect at the start of the Pakistan innings with a sharp 46 before being dismissed in a debatable decision when Tom Bruce took a catch at ground level.

Television replays were inconclusive on whether the ball touched the grass, and after lengthy deliberations the third umpire ruled in favour of the on-field decision.

New Zealand managed to arrest Pakistan's brisk early run rate in the middle of the innings before Amin ensured a competitive total at the end.

The 28-year-old left-hander smacked his 21 off the first five balls in an over from Ish Sodhi before the New Zealand spinner claimed the wicket off his final delivery.

Haris Sohail chipped in with 20 off 12 balls while Aamer Yamin, replacing the injured Hasan Ali, faced six deliveries for his 15.

New Zealand struggled from the start of their reply to get near the required run rate of more than nine an over, and were in early trouble when Faheem Ashraf claimed Kane Williamson for nine.

Martin Guptill attempted to bully the bowlers but it was primarily a lone stand. When he was removed for 59 off 43 balls in the 13th over, the required run rate had shot up to 13.57.

Ross Taylor put the ball over the boundary fence three times in his 25 off 10 balls.

But with his dismissal in the 17th over, New Zealand were 128 for five and their hopes of a miraculous comeback were over.

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A Pakistani UN peacekeeper was killed by "members of an armed group" in the Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday, a United Nations spokesman said.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres "condemns the killing of a peacekeeper from Pakistan... following an ambush" in the troubled eastern province of South Kivu, a UN spokesman said.

He reaffirmed the UN's willingness to continue to address the country's security challenges, despite tensions with the government.

On Friday Congolese President Joseph Kabila claimed the UN's peacekeeping mission in the country MONUSCO had "eradicated" no armed group in nearly 20 years.

He warned the mission not to consider the country "under the care of the United Nations" and said he would "clarify in the coming days our relations" with the world body.

MONUSCO, the largest of the UN missions, has been present in the country since 1999.

Sprawling, mineral-rich but mired in poverty, DR Congo is in the grip of overlapping political and ethnic crises, and much of the country's east is in the hands of rival militia groups competing over resources.

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Punjab government will start career counselling programmes in all state-run high and senior secondary schools, technical minister Charanjit Singh Channi said.

In a meeting with senior officials of the Union Ministry for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, he stressed on the need of career counselling programme in the state.

Channi said the National Skill Development Corporation has agreed to set up counselors training centre in the state, a press release stated.

This centre would train the trainers from across the state and these counselors would provide career counseling in all schools and other institutes of the state, he said.

The minister also said that the Punjab government would run self-employment training courses for agriculture and allied services under the skill development mission.

Punjab Skill Development mission would provide training to farmers and others, he said, adding skill training in agriculture and allied services would be provided by Punjab Agricultural University and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University.

Channi said the Secretary in Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has, in principle, given approval to setting up Indian Institute of Skills in the Punjab Skill University at Sri Chamkaur Sahib.

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Union Minister Jitendra Singh said today that concerns expressed by security forces had forced the BJP to give up its plan for providing plots of land at safer places to the border residents in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Security forces raised a genuine concern that it will leave border hamlets empty. We raised this demand for many years, but when the time came, we have to shun the plan," Singh, the Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office, said.

Addressing a 'Shakti Kendra Pramukh Sammelan' of the party here, he said a list of such beneficiaries was still lying in the Deputy Commissioner's office at Kathua as the BJP had started the process to provide the plots.

"The concern of security forces was genuine...Our perception was based on emotions. We respect the security forces and if they had any concern, it is our concern as well," he said adding that they suggested chalking out alternative plans for the safety of the people.

He said the Centre had promptly sanctioned construction of over 14,400 underground bunkers at a cost of Rs 415.73 crore for the safety of people living along the LoC and the IB in Jammu division.

"Pakistani firing on the borders is going on for decades and people are questioning where the bunkers had gone. Nothing was done for the people of the border residents for the last 70 years and it is BJP which has sanctioned the bunkers and transferred the amount to the state government," he said.

He lauded the response of the state administration to the intense shelling.

He asked party activists to prepare for the next years general elections.

"We are living in the times of facts and figures and also there is an ever increasing need to counter the negative propaganda of the opposition promptly," he said.

Terming elections as the festival of democracy, he urged all to take the public welfare schemes of the Modi government to the masses.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28)  President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday said he wants to do away with public bidding on government projects, and instead prefers the Swiss challenge system.

Huwag na tayong mag-bidding. Pag mag-bidding ganun rin. Mas lalo nang matagal...All projects of the Philippines would be something like a Swiss challenge...ito gawain mo, pagkatapos niyan, if you do it correctly at walang corruption, I will pay you, Duterte said upon his arrival from India.

[Translation: Lets not have biddings anymore, because its slow. All projects of the Philippines would be something like a Swiss challenge. You do this, and when you do it properly without corruption, I will pay you.]

Under the Republic Act No. 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act, the government awards the contract to the lowest bidder.

The Swiss challenge system, meanwhile, allows a private group to send a proposal to the government, then third parties can either match or surpass the proposal.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Sunday said Duterte wanted to implement the Swiss challenge system to avoid corruption through the bidding process.

Alam naman niya iyong hocus-pocus na nangyayari diyan sa mga government bidding na yan. Sa totoo lang kaya may tongpats, kasi wala namang honest-to-goodness bidding na nangyayari. Kasi kung talagang may lowest bidder diyan, walang kita, Roque said.

[Translation: He knows the hocus-pocus happening during government biddings. In reality, bribery happens because there are no honest-to-goodness biddings. Lowest bidders dont earn profit.]

Roque added the government will implement the Swiss challenge system for rebuilding the war-torn city of Marawi.
Stressing that three former chief ministers were "rotting in jail", Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said no one would be spared in the government's anti- graft drive as he urged the youth to join him in the fight against corruption and black money.

Speaking at an NCC rally here, he also made a strong pitch for the use of Aadhaar, saying it had added great strength to India's development by curbing leakages and helping government money reach targeted beneficiaries.

Aadhaar's legality has been challenged in the Supreme Court and a Constitution bench is hearing the matter.

Modi said people used to believe that the rich and powerful were not affected by anti-corruption drives and asserted that it was no longer true.

Getting rid of this "termite" of corruption would help the poor the most, he told the cadets.

"Sometimes, there was a sense of disappointment that there is big talk about (combating) corruption but the big and mighty go scot-free. Today, you are going through a phase when three former chief ministers are rotting in jail," he said.

Former Bihar chief ministers Lalu Prasad and Jagannath Mishra were recently convicted and sentenced in a fodder scam case. Former Haryana Chief Minister O P Chautala is also in jail in connection with a corruption case.

"Who says there is no God? Who says there is no justice at the hands of God? Now no one is going to escape," the prime minister asserted.

Modi said the youth of India did not accept corruption but the fight against graft and black money would be a long one.

"Will merely expressing anger and hatred (towards corruption) work? ...We have to wage a long battle. The fight is not going to stop. This fight against corruption and black money is to make the future of youngsters. And if this makes the future of my youngsters then this also makes the future of my country," he said.

He sought the help of NCC cadets and other youngsters in promoting digital transaction, saying it would curb graft.

Modi also made a strong pitch for the use of Aadhaar, saying it had helped save Rs 60,000 crore as money earlier went into the "wrong hands".

"These days you keep hearing about Aadhaar. I want to say Aadhaar has added great strength to India's development. What would earlier get into wrong hands is now going to the intended beneficiaries," he said.

Modi added that when money was spent at the right place, it helped in building good education infrastructure for poor children, built roads in villages and opened up the scope to work for under-privileged people.

Exhorting the youth to promote the use to digital transactions, he said, "My young friends, I am here to ask for something. No, I am not here for seeking votes or politics. My appeal is -- please further digital transactions through (the BHIM App). Please also get others on that platform. This is a step towards transparency and accountability."



He also appealed to the cadets to connect with at least 100 families in this mission which would further the cause of transparency and accountability.

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A 25-year-old man, carrying a reward of Rs one lakh, was arrested for illegally supplying arms as a member of an interstate arms syndicate, police said today.

The police arrested Delhi-based Shiv Pratap Singh under the Arms Act and seized one loaded sophisticated illegal pistol along with five live cartridges from him.

A press note issued by the Special Cell of Delhi Police said he was arrested as a part of the special drive launched by it to cut supply of illegal firearms and ammunitions in the Delhi and NCR.

"In the recent past, Special Cell busted a syndicate which was supplying arms and ammunition to the criminals of the Delhi-NCR. Some of its members were arrested and 68 illegal sophisticated pistols, one carbine and some ammunition seized from them," Deputy Commissioner of Police P S Kushwah said.

The police said it was on the lookout for Singh from a long time but he was in hiding. It had then announced a reward of Rs one lakh for his arrest.

A team of sub-inspectors and constables acted on a tip off about the members of the syndicate and nabbed him from Karol Bagh here.

An FIR was registered under the relevant provisions of the Arms Act, the police said.

The police claimed to have recovered over 60 semi- automatic pistol from this gang of arms suppliers and 109 live cartridges.

"Further investigation is in progress," the police officer said.

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The United Democratic Party (UDP) in Meghalaya has exuded confidence that regional outfits would form the next government in the state.

People in Meghalaya had enough of the Congress and the BJP is yet to gain ground in the state, a senior UDP leader said. Meghalaya is set to go to polls on February 27 and the results will be announced on March 3.

"We are forming the next government and there is no doubt about it. We are leaving no stone unturned to cross the magic number 31 in the 60-member House," said UDP's Working President Paul Lyngdoh. The Congress, which is in power in Meghalaya for about 15 years, is facing anti-incumbency problem while the BJP is struggling to win the hearts of people here, Lyngdoh said.

The UDP had secured the second spot with 8 seats in the 2013 assembly election. The Congress that bagged 29 seats in the polls had formed the government with the support of 13 independents and two NCP MLAs. This time, the UDP has forged pre-poll alliances with regional parties Hills State Peoples Democratic Party (HSPDP) and Garo Council(GNC).

Although the UDP happens to be a constituent of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), led by the BJP, Lyngdoh feels it NEDA a political platform for the development of North East and not pre-poll alliances. He said that the UDP-HSPDP combine would field candidates in at least 36 seats in the Khasi Jaintia Hills region with an agreed seat-sharing formula.

"The UDP will contest 17 seats in the region and the HSPDP 10. In the remaining nine seats, both parties can have a friendly contest," Lyngdoh proposed. In the Garo Hills region, which has 24 seats, six constituencies have been allotted to the GNC, the UDP chief said.

It is yet to be decided whether the UDP would contest the remaining 18 seats in the region, he added. GNC president Kalpana D Sangma has said she expects her party to win at least five of the six seats in the three districts of South Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills and West Garo Hills.

Despite losing five senior sitting MLAs to the BJP, NPP and PDF earlier this month, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has also expressed confidence in securing at least 38 seats on its own. "The Congress will win 38 seats and form the government once again," he said at a party meeting here recently.

The BJP, on the other hand, dismissed the claims of the Congress and regional parties and stated that the party will spring a surprise in the assembly polls. State BJP president Shibun Lyngdoh said, "Our mantra of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas'(collective efforts, inclusive growth) is reverberating in poll-bound Meghalaya with people coming in huge numbers to support the party," he claimed.

Four sitting legislators, including former cabinet minister A L Hek and NCP's former state president Sanbor Shullai, had joined the saffron party early this month. The Khun Hynniewtrep Awakening Movement (KHNAM), another regional outfit, said it would support any party that wins the maximum number of seats on conditions that issues identified by it in the state get addressed.

"Any party which needs our support will have to understand our issues and agree in principle that they will take it up as its government's agenda," KHNAM Working President Adelbert Nongrum said, adding that his party is likely to contest nine seats.

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There is "nothing new" in the recent decision of the ministry, which talks about taking a new approach for conservation and rejuvenation of rivers, a network of organisation working in the water sector has claimed.

It also alleged that the government had made no efforts to learn from its failures.

Union minister Harsh Vardhan, in a recent meeting, had said that a new strategy would be brought for conservation and rejuvenation of major rivers in which water and management would be taken up to restore the lost ecology along polluted stretches.

"We need to try it (plan) out on a few stretches in the country covering a sub-basin or a catchment area of a river," the minister had said.

The ministry had also said that independent institutions such as IITs would be entrusted with the study for preparation and finalisation of river basin management and rejuvenation plan for nine selected stretches.

"It (the decision) has been termed as new, but one does not find anything much new here. While talking about rejuvenation of river and ensuring flow, the word environment flow does not figure here.

"It talks about catchment approach, but mentions only five states, when Ganga catchment includes 11, besides Nepal, China and Bangaldesh. Talking of sewage treatment, the word governance does not figure here," Himanshu Thakkar of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers & People (SANDRP) said.

The environment ministry had said that it would call a meeting soon of all the five states to work out an implementation plan for the Ganga river basin at the earliest.

Thakkar said that if rivers are to be rejuvenated through the catchment approach, use of water in agriculture, cities, industries and villages would need to be regulated. This also includes the use of groundwater, he said.

The approach would be to include all users and uses to see how rivers can have water flow all round the year, Thakkar said.

"There was also no mention of any attempt to learn lessons for past failures. The meeting only had bureaucrats, and the FRI (Forest Research Institute (FRI) Director and no one else.

"The environment ministry should bring in more stakeholeders and people who have newer ideas and take their views along in order to go ahead with such programmes," Thakkar said.

He said that the government would also need to assess how its various projects and policies affect the rivers.

"For example, the dredging, river front development, river linking and waterways is likely to have adverse impacts on the Ganga.

"Today we are not even properly assessing them. As far as sewage treatment is concerned, we need to go for decentralised and natural process based sewage treatment rather than just big centralised Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) as done now," he said.

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Seafood industry stakeholders today voiced the need for a common standard certification to reduce the cost of acquiring multiple ones which is the current requirement.

They were speaking during the technical session of the 21stedition of the biennial India International Seafood Show, organized by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and the Seafood Export Association of India (SEAI).

"Certificationensures quality, credibility and brand awareness, which in turn can bring several positive outcomes such as improved client relationship and rise in prices for the company," said Chandrajith, Director, Wimpey Laboratories, Kuwait, during the session.

He listed various certifications required like Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), a standard approach to food safety from biological, chemical, and physical hazards, the ISO 9001: 2015, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and others.

Chandrajith added that certifications such as ISO 9001: 2008, which were no longer valid, needed to be removed from the products and related materials.

Yoshiyuki Shige, Senior Executive and Managing Director, Japan Fisheries Association, spoke about the importance of eco-labelling in a separate session.

"Marine eco-labels are marks attached to fishery products to indicate that they have been caught by a method that gives consideration to the sustainability of the ecosystem and resources. This is done with an aim to promote customer understanding of resource management," he explained.

Shige further noted that the purpose of the label was to support conservation efforts of fish producers by promoting their products.

"Their efforts are essential to ensure sustainable fisheries into the future," he said.

The three day long event was inaugurated yesterday by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and has delegates from several countries participating.

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Seven people were found drifting in a dinghy today near the remote Pacific island nation of Kiribati where a ferry with 50 people on board went missing 10 days ago.

The dinghy was spotted in an area of the central Pacific where a New Zealand military aircraft is searching for the MV Butiraoi.

According to New Zealand Rescue Coordination Centre officer John Ashby, the dinghy was believed to be one of two carried on the Butiraoi.

"The group seem very relieved to have been found when the NZ Air Force Orion dropped supplies, including water and a radio, to them," Ashby said in a statement.

A fishing vessel was diverted to pick up the seven while the aerial search continued for more survivors.

The New Zealand Defence Force said today the fishing vessel was 92 kms northeast of the dinghy's location and expected to reach the survivors mid-afternoon.

The Butiraoi was last heard from on January 18 when it set out on an expected two-day voyage from the island of Nonouti to Betio Tarawa.

The 17.5-metre (57-foot) wooden catamaran had undergone repairs to its propeller shaft before departure and rescue officials believe this may have contributed to navigation problems.

New Zealand sent a military aircraft to conduct sweeps of the area after being called in to help late on Friday by Fiji authorities who are coordinating the search.

Ashby said the sea conditions are "moderate to rough".

Kiribati, a nation of 33 atolls and reefs with a total population of about 110,000, lies some 3,460 kms northeast of Fiji.

It is listed as one of the nations most at risk from rising sea levels.

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Senior Congress leaders should now act as "mentors and not tormentors" and the party should ensure that young leaders take over the reins before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, party leader Jairam Ramesh has said.

He said the Gujarat Assembly poll results was an indication that the party was making a comeback and observed that Rahul Gandhi is a "full-time politician" post-Gujarat.

"The old people in the Congress should now act as mentors and not tormentors. These are the people who can advice, guide. They have seen the world and have a role in Parliament, but you have to get younger people too..." he told PTI in an interview.

The former Union environment minister was here to attend the Tata Steel Kolkata Literary meet.

Asked if senior leaders in the party should bow out before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he said, "There are young leaders like Sachin Pilot, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Gaurav Gogoi, Sushmita Dev, we should project them."



Lauding the performance of his party in the Gujarat assembly elections, Ramesh said the results were a sign that the party is making a comeback.

"We have made a big comeback in Gujarat with 41 per cent votes. Gujarat has been the first sign of revival and there is no doubt about it. The party should have formed government in Goa and Manipur too. We could not win the polls due to under- the-table dealings of the BJP," Ramesh said.

"Rahul Gandhi, post Gujarat, is dramatically different from Rahul Gandhi pre-Gujarat. He is now a full time politician," Ramesh said.

"The fact that Prime Minister Modi had to spend so much time in Gujarat was an indication that they were nervous and stopping them at 99 seats, when the BJP was targeting 150, was a big morale booster," he said.

The BJP had won 99 seats in the 182-member Assembly, its tally dipping from 115 in the last elections.

"Rahul Gandhi's campaign was good, the organisational campaign was good. I expect the party to do well in Karnataka assembly polls. I also don't see any reason why we cannot form government in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh (where assembly polls are due this year)," he asserted.

Observing that the Congress is facing leaders like Modi and Amit Shah, who have "killer instincts", he said the Congress needs to deal with them in the language they understand.

"The BJP led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee is totally different from the BJP led by Modi and Amit Shah. Both Modi and Shah are hitting at the very root of our culture and society," he charged.

Terming Modi as the "biggest showman the world has ever seen", Ramesh said the substance of Modi's speech is "mostly bogus" but is presented in a very convincing manner.

"In 2014 the superior campaigner won, but the superior human being lost. Rahul Gandhi, any day, is a finer human being than Modi," he asserted.

The former Union minister feels the Congress is yet to learn to act as an opposition party in Parliament as the party had been in power for many years, he said.

"The Congress has been in power for many years at the Centre. Being in opposition is different... Being in the opposition means we have to be more nimble-footed, we have to be more visible on streets. We have to learn to be in the opposition to hold the government accountable. We have to be more aggressive," he said.

Admitting that the Congress had faced a "serious crisis" after the 2014 Union elections, he said the party should try to bring together all secular and progressive forces, this time, to counter the BJP.
The Indian-American adoptive parents of Sherin Mathews, the girl found dead in a culvert in Dallas, have forfeited their parental rights to their 4-year- old biological child, who now has to live with family members with both her parents in jail ahead of their sentencing.

Wesley and Sini Mathews signed relinquishment paperwork for their biological child on Friday during their scheduled final Child Protective Service (CPS) hearing, according to US media reports.

CPS officials had removed her from the Mathews' Richardson home on October 9, two days after her sister Sherin was reported missing.

Sherin's decomposed body was found two weeks later in a culvert close to her home. An autopsy concluded Sherin died of homicidal violence, but how she died could not be determined by the Dallas Medical Examiner's Office due to the decomposition of the body.

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.

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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Authorities in Syria's Kurdish autonomous region said today they would not attend peace talks in Russia's Sochi next week because of Turkey's offensive against the Kurdish enclave of Afrin.

"We said before that if the situation remained the same in Afrin we could not attend Sochi," regional official Fawza al-Yussef said.

Rebel backer Turkey is one of the sponsors of the talks in the Black Sea resort on Monday and Tuesday, along with Damascus allies Russia and Iran.

Turkey's military offensive in Afrin "contradicts the principle of political dialogue", Yussef said.

Turkey launched operation "Olive Branch" on January 20 against the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia in Afrin, supporting Syrian opposition fighters with ground troops and air strikes.

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 Sochi talks come after multiple failed rounds of UN- brokered talks to end Syria's seven-year war.

Yesterday, Syria's main opposition group, the Syrian Negotiation Commission, also said it would not attend the negotiations.

More than 340,000 people have been killed and millions displaced since Syria's war began in 2011.

The conflict began with the brutal repression of anti- government protests, but has since evolved into a complex war including jihadists and foreign powers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Tamil Nadu government today revised bus fares, reducing them marginally, following protests by opposition parties and public, especially students, over the recent "steep" hike.

The revision, which will be to a maximum of Re one, will come into effect from tomorrow, an official release said.

The DMK, which was among the opposition parties demanding a full rollback, dubbed the revision as a "eyewash" and said it would go ahead with tomorrow's plan of holding state-wide agitations along with other parties to press for their demand.

"We have demanded complete rollback of increase in bus fares. Tomorrow we will stage agitation pressing for our demand," DMK Working President M K Stalin told reporters here.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami said in Madurai that the government reduced the bus fares after demands from opposition parties and the public.

He said the government had increased the fares due to various reasons like hike in fuel prices, procurement prices of new buses, rise in salaries and other "unavoidable circumstances".

The government had on January 19 hiked ticket prices of buses operated by transport corporations by about 20 to 54.54 per cent, drawing criticism from all.

According to a government release, reduction of fares was between two paise to 10 paise per km for various categories of buses and routes such as city, districts, express and ordinary services.

In Chennai city, bus fares have been cut by Re one across various stages. The minimum fare would now be Rs 4 and the maximum would be Rs 18.

Explaining the reasons behind the earlier hike in bus fares, the chief minister said the price of diesel, which was Rs 43.10 a litre during the DMK dispensation, has shot up to Rs 67.23, while the cost of procurement of various types of buses has also gone up since 2011.

An ordinary bus which used to cost Rs 15.72 lakh then, was now available for Rs 18.77 lakh while ultra-modern buses now cost Rs 34.28 lakh as against Rs 24.06 earlier.

The amount given as salaries to employees of state transport corporations has also increased from Rs 252.37 crore a month in 2011 to Rs 492.96 crore in 2017, Palaniswami said, adding the recent wage pact signed with transport unions would entail an additional expenditure of Rs 996 crore a year.

He said the state transport corporations make a loss of Rs 12 crore daily, while the government spent Rs 12,059 crore between 2011 and 2017 in forms of subsidy and for maintenance of buses.

The current debt of transport corporations was Rs 18,012 crore, the chief minister said.

Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation workers owing allegiance to 17 trade unions, including those affiliated to the DMK and Left parties, had launched a stir on January 4 after talks with the state government on wage revision failed.

While the unions demanded a 2.57 times hike in salary, the government offered only 2.44, resulting in a stalemate.

Transport workers had withdrawn their eight-day-old long strike on January 11 after the Madras High Court appointed an arbitrator to settle their wage-related dispute with the government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(CNN)  An attacker driving an ambulance packed with explosives detonated them Saturday in the Afghan capital of Kabul, leaving 95 people dead and 158 others injured, Afghan officials said.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mojahid claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes a week after militants stormed a Kabul hotel.

The blast occurred around 12:45 p.m. local time after the vehicle passed through a security checkpoint, Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi told CNN.

Police identified the attacker at a second checkpoint but couldn't stop him before he detonated the explosives near the old Ministry of the Interior building, Rahimi said.

The injured have been taken to hospitals across the Afghan capital, said spokesman Wahid Majrooh of the Ministry of Public Health, who confirmed the casualties. He said the toll was likely to rise.

Afghanistan's Chief Executive, Abdullah Abdullah, condemned the attack, describing it as "insane, inhuman, heinous and a warcrime," via his official Twitter account.

He also called on the international community to "take further action" against "state-sponsored terrorism."

"Our priority and focus right now is to help those in need and provide the best treatment for those wounded," he wrote. "This is the moment when we all need to stand together and punch our enemy hard. This is enough!"

The blast comes a week after gunmen attacked the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, killing at least 22 people during a 12-hour standoff with security forces.

Of those killed, 14 were foreign nationals -- including four Americans -- and eight were Afghans, according to the Ministry of Interior. Six gunmen were killed by Afghan security forces. The Taliban also claimed responsibility for the assault.

ISIS militants on Wednesday attacked the offices of British aid agency Save the Children in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, killing at least four people and injuring dozens.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Taliban attacker driving ambulance packed with explosives kills 95 in Kabul."
Territorial integrity of Assam and other northeastern states will not be compromised when the final Naga peace accord is inked, Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today.

Sonowal apprised Singh about the situation in the state's Dima Hasao district where protests against the demand for a "Greater Nagalim" claimed two lives.

"The home minister assured that not a single inch of Assam's land will be parted with any state. He (Singh) said that the territorial integrity of Assam and other states will be fully protected, and there should be no apprehension in anyone's mind," Sonowal told PTI.

The situation in Dima Hasao district continued to be tense for a week following protests over an RSS leader's reported statement that the district would be included in "Greater Nagalim" or Greater Nagaland as part of the Centre's proposed solution for the ongoing peace talks with the NSCN- IM.

Two people were killed and about a dozen others injured when police opened fire to disperse a mob at Maibang in the district on Thursday.

During a visit to Nagaland on December 8, 2017, the home minister had said that there should be no apprehension or worry as the territorial integrity of no northeastern state would be affected by the final Naga accord.

He was replying to a question about the possibility of hampering the territorial integrity of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur by the impending peace agreement between the central government and Naga insurgency group NSCN-IM.

The insurgent group NSCN-IM's key demand is to integrate the Naga-inhabited areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur, which has been strongly opposed by the three states, currently ruled by the BJP.

The expectations for a lasting peace have soared in Nagaland, which had been hit by insurgency for decades, after the Centre and the NSCN(IM) signed a framework agreement in 2015.

The NSCN-IM has been engaged with peace talks with the interlocutor of the central government since 1997 when it announced a ceasefire agreement after a bloody insurgency movement which started in Nagaland soon after the country's Independence.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three persons, including two women, were arrested for peddling Fortwin (pentazocine) injections to addicts, police said today.

Vadodara Police Commissioner Manoj Shashidhar told PTI that the three were arrested yesterday by a Special Operations Group team led by Inspector HM Chauhan and 720 ampoules of these injections were seized from them.

He identified the three arrested persons as Naynaben Devendrabhai Pathak, her son Samarth and Samarth's wife Monali.

Naynaben told police that she got the injections from a person in Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh.

Police said that the arrests were made when Samarth and Monali came to Vadodara railway station last night to receive Naynaben who was returning by train from Farrukhabad.

Commissioner Shashidhar said a team would be leaving for UP to investigate the trail.

He explained that the injections, an anaesthetic used during surgery and to be sold strictly by prescription, was being used by addicts as a drug.

"It is being used as a drug by addicts. The target group is mostly students and others in the age group of 16-35 years. The normal price of one ampoule is Rs 5 but the accused were selling them at a much higher price," he informed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Time has not come for any rethink on or making some of its provisions milder, Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat has said, asserting that the Army has been taking adequate precautions in protecting human rights while operating in disturb areas like Jammu and Kashmir.

Rawat's remarks assume significance as they come against the backdrop of reports that several rounds of high-level discussions have taken place between the defence and home ministries on the "need to remove or dilute at least some provisions" of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

The act gives the security forces special rights and immunity in carrying out various operations in disturbed areas. There has been a long-standing demand from various quarters in J-K and the Northeast to withdraw it.

"I do not think time has come to even rethink on at the moment," Gen Rawat told PTI in a recent interview when asked about reports that government was re-examining the demand for a milder version of in these states.

The Army chief said though AFSPA has certain strong provisions, the Army is concerned about collateral damages and ensuring that its operations under the law do not inconvenience the local people.

"We have never been strong in applying the force the way it could be applied (under AFSPA). We are very concerned about human rights. We are absolutely concerned about collateral damage. So do not get too much concerned because we are taking adequate measures and precautions," he said.

Gen Rawat said the Army has rules of engagements for various operations at every level to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to the people while it is operating under AFSPA.

"The AFSPA is an enabling provision which allows the Army, in particular, to operate in such difficult areas and let me assure you that the Army has got quite a good human rights record," he said.

Asked whether the time has come to adopt a combined approach involving all three services to deal with Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in J-K, the Army Chief did not give a direct reply but added that the armed forces have "options available" to conduct various kinds of operations.

"Yes, we have options available to conduct various kind of operations but these cannot be divulged because of the nature of the operations we have to conduct will only alert the other side," he said.

Gen. Rawat added that "when you do operational planning, these are best left to the armed forces in the manner in which they have to conduct their operations. And the manner in which the operations are conducted and the way they are planned and the way they are executed are never put in open domain."



To question on whether there was room for synergy among external and internal intelligence gathering to effectively contain cross border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, he said the armed forces and all other agencies have been operating in unison.

"At this juncture, the kind of cooperation we are having among the intelligence agencies is of a very high order. Today all the intelligence agencies and the security forces are operating in unison. There is an excellent synergy among all of us and I do not think we can take it to the next higher level from what is happening at the moment. I think this is the best way and right way," the Army chief said.

Since the beginning of last year, the Army pursued an aggressive anti-terror policy in J-K and, at the same time, forcefully responded to all ceasefire violations by the Pakistani troops along the Line of Control with a tit-for-tat approach.

The LoC remained volatile last year. According to official figures, 860 incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops were reported in 2017 as against 221 the year before.
The tourism boom driven by the annual Rann Utsav being celebrated since 2005 has changed the financial landscape of the 25-odd villages in this barren salt pans of the Rann of Kutch.

These barren villages bordering the Pakistani sand dunes on the West and the marshy coastal patches to the East leading to the town of Bhuj in Gujarat, were reduced to heaps of debris after the January 26, 2001 earthquake that left over 12,000 people dead and tens of thousands maimed.

And the steady rise in the number of tourists reflects the increasing economic well-being of these sparsely populated villages.

In 2017, as many as 2.23 lakh tourists visited the Rann Utsav compared to 2.01 lakh in 2016, recording a decent 11 per cent growth, according to data from the Gujarat Tourism.

The festival, celebrated from November 1 till mid- February every year, has helped rejuvenate the nearby 25-odd tiny villages, mainly housing culturally rich semi-nomadic tribes who were hit hard after the deadly tremor.

But thanks to their arts, these villagers who are very good craftsmen, are a better lot today and make a decent living from selling their wares to the milling tourists.

One such village is Nirona, known for its Rogan art and the copper bells.

"We are thankful to the tourism department for organising the Rann Utsav, which has popularised our Rogan art globally and brought our village onto the world map," Rogan artist Abdulgafar Khatri told PTI.

The Khatri family, comprising four brothers and several nephews, is the only one in the Nirona village that has kept this ancient traditional art form alive.

Even when the family faced hard times, he said, they worked as labourers but did not give up on their art.

"This art, believed to have originated in Persia some 300 years back and existing only in our village today, is passed on from generation to generation and we have kept it alive even through the hard times," Khatri said.

"Things started to improve after the Rann Utsav, which has brought in many tourists from across the country and the world to our non-descript village," he said.

Even as they have trained outsiders on the art form, the family has kept the colour mixing a secret which, Khatri said, they will reveal to the world only after they get some recognition in the form of a world record.

The village is also famous for its art of copper bells, which are made without any welding and shouldering and done in three parts.

Artist Luhar Husen Sidhik, whose family has been into the copper bell art for decades, said these bells were initially made to tie around the neck of the cattle.

However, later on it took the form of a handicraft and his family began to make wall hangings, candle holders, key chains, showpieces, among others.

While the bells are made by the men, the glazing and final touches are given by the women of the house, he added.

"We sell these items to tourists, who come for the Rann Utsav. We also show them how these bells are made to give a first-hand experience of the hard work involved in making these unique pieces," he said.

Another village that has prospered from tourism is Ludiya, famous for its textiles, embroideries, wood furniture, mud and clay works.

In this village, Aachar Maya Marvada and his family live. The entire family consists of around 200 members living in 20 houses.

"Our village was completely destroyed in the 2001 earthquake but was rebuilt. We sell our textiles, embroideries, wooden furniture products mainly to tourists and we also take part in the exhibitions and fairs across the country. A lot of tourists come here and buy our works," Marvada said.

For the mud work, the family members travel to the sites to do the work on walls, ceilings, pillars, among others.

"The annual fair has increased the visibility of our work and we are getting orders from across the country," he added.

Another village is Dhamadka where over 90 families are into block printing and screen printing. The printing is done with both natural and chemical colours, said Khatri Suleman Mohammad, who is mainly into block printing.

"We usually take bulk orders from companies and designers. We also stock up some materials as lots of tourists visit us and buy directly from us after seeing live demo. Our business has improved a lot after the Rann festival," he says smilingly.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The European Union trades with America "very unfairly", President said in an interview, warning that his many problems with Brussels "may morph into something very big".

"The European Union has treated the United States very unfairly when it came to trade," Trump told Britain's ITV channel in the interview conducted Thursday and aired yesterday.

"I've had a lot of problems with (the) European Union, and it may morph into something very big from that standpoint -- from a trade standpoint."



Trump delivered the warning during a wide-ranging interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he took his "America First" agenda to the global business elite.

In a speech on Friday he told the forum that his mantra "does not mean America alone" and hinted that the US could rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a deal he withdrew from a year ago.

But earlier this month the Trump Administration imposed steep tariffs on imported washing machines and solar panels, and his interview comments may cause alarm in European capitals over future trade relations with the US.

Last year it vowed to impose nearly 300 per cent punitive tariffs on airplanes manufactured by Canada's Bombardier.

A bipartisan US trade panel blocked that decision on Friday but the dispute, which has inflamed relations with Ottawa -- and to a lesser degree Britain, where Bombardier has a large workforce -- could be a harbinger for the EU.

"We cannot get our product in. It's very, very tough. And yet, they send their product to us -- no taxes, very little taxes. It's very unfair," Trump added.

"They're not the only one, by the way, and I could name many countries and places that do (the same).

"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."



In other remarks aired yesterday, Trump appeared to slight British Prime Minister Theresa May's handling of fraught Brexit negotiations, declaring that he would have "negotiated it differently".

"I would have had a different attitude," he said of the talks, which have followed Britain's June 2016 referendum vote to leave the EU, and will continue through to its planned departure in March 2019.

"I think I would have said that the European Union is not cracked up to what it's supposed to be. And I would have taken a tougher stand in getting out," Trump added.

But May will welcome his prediction -- reinforced by US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in Davos -- that the US could swiftly strike a post-Brexit trade deal with London.

"We are going to make a deal with (the) UK that'll be great," he said, noting constraints imposed by the Brexit process.

"When that restriction is up we're going to be your great trading partner."



The US president also apologised for the first time for retweeting a British far-right group's videos apparently showing Islamist violence.
President Donald Trump says Britain's Prince Harry and his fiancee, American actress Meghan Markle, look like a "lovely couple" and he doesn't know if he's been invited to their May wedding.

Trump also told Britain's ITV in an interview to be broadcast today that his administration might not withdraw from the Paris climate accord if terms more favourable to the United States are reached, in part because he likes French President Emmanuel Macron.

The interviewer, veteran British journalist Piers Morgan, told the US leader that Markle backed Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election and has described Trump as "divisive." "Well, I still hope they're happy," Trump said.

The interview was conducted on Thursday during Trump's brief visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

In excerpts released earlier by ITV, the president apologised for retweeting videos made by a British far-right group and said he looked forward to visiting Britain, where he has been invited to make a state visit hosted by Queen Elizabeth II.

The guest list for Harry and Markle's May 19 wedding at Windsor Castle has not been made public. The prince's press team said invitations have not been sent out yet. It is not clear if a final list has been drawn up.

The British press has been filled with speculation that Harry might snub Trump and invite former US President Barack Obama as a wedding guest. The prince and Obama have met on several occasions, and Obama gave Harry a rare interview last year that was broadcast on the BBC.

Trump, in contrast, has angered many people in Britain with his crackdown on immigration and his climate change policies.

During his interview with Morgan, Trump deflected a question asking if he would like to attend the wedding festivities at St. George's Chapel, saying only that he hoped the couple is happy.

He seemed open to revisiting his pledge to withdraw from 2015 Paris climate accord if the deal could be substantially revised. Under the pact, nations set their own goals to reduce the emissions of heat-trapping gases. Because of legal technicalities America can't get out until November of 2020.

"If somebody said, go back into the Paris accord, it would have to be a completely different deal because we had a horrible deal," Trump said in the interview.

"Would I go back in? Yeah, I'd go back in. I like, as you know, I like Emmanuel (Macron). I would love to, but it's got to be a good deal for the United States."



Trump said the climate has been cooling as well as warming and asserted that ice caps have not been shrinking as predicted.

"The ice caps were going to melt, they were going to be gone by now, but now they're setting records," he said.

However, those remarks don't quite match what data shows and scientists say. The world hasn't been cooling except for normal day-to-day weather variations; it has been just the opposite. And there have been far more records for shrinking ice on the top and the bottom of the world than growing, despite what the president claimed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two women died and many others are presumed drowned after a migrant boat carrying dozens of people sank in the Mediterranean, rescue services in Italy said.

Among the 83 people rescued were three babies who were revived by medical teams.

"A tragic day in the Mediterranean. The Aquarius was mobilised for a rescue of a deflated boat," the rescue charity SOS Mediterranean said on Twitter.

"People were already in the water, 83 people saved and safely on board. Two women could not be revived, leaving two children orphaned."



Doctors Without Borders (MSF), who also helped in the rescue operation, said "many people are missing and presumed drowned, including children."



Italian coast guards yesterday said a total of 800 people were rescued in five separate operations.

According to the Italian home office, around 2,730 migrants from Libya have landed on the Italian coast since the start of the year.

The numbers have dropped significantly since Italy forged a controversial Brussels-backed deal last summer with forces in Libya to block migrants from setting out for Europe.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the powerful Security Council have strongly condemned the "senseless and cowardly bombing" in Kabul which claimed at least 95 lives, calling for the need to bring to justice perpetrators of the reprehensible acts of terrorism.

Strongly condemning the Taliban-claimed assault - the second carried out by the militant group in the Afghan capital in a week, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in a statement underlined the "need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice."



It urged all countries to cooperate actively with the Government of Afghanistan and all other relevant authorities in this regard.

Reiterating that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed, the Security Council reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means.

UN Secretary General 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.

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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The budget session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature is set to begin on February 8 with the Governor's address to a joint sitting of both the Houses.

In view of the opposition's protest during the governor's address at the current Assembly's first session last year, Speaker H N Dixit had recently warned the MLAs of disciplinary action if they carry out "planned obstructions" during the address.

According to Principal Secretary of the Legislative Assembly Pradeep Kumar Dubey, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik has summoned the Vidhan Sabha's first session of this year on February 8.

Naik will address a joint sitting of both the Houses at Vidhan Bhawan to mark the opening of the budget session. The tentative agenda of the Assembly is likely to be issued tomorrow.

The state Cabinet, in its last meeting on January 23, had decided to convene the budget session of the Assembly from February 8. The business advisory committee of the two Houses will decide on the number of sittings.

This will be the Yogi Adityanath government's second budget which is likely to focus on measures to ensure a spurt in economic activities besides providing respite to farmers in distress.

The budget will be keenly watched by financial as well as political experts as it will reveal the roadmap of development in the state during the financial year 2018-19.

The budget assumes significance as development, job creation and public expenditure in the state in next financial will build public opinion ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The government will have to allocate funds for Poorvanchal Expressway project and the new metro projects announced by the it.

Besides, since the state government has declared 2018 as the year of empowerment of youth, budgetary provisions would be required to fulfil commitments for job creation, education, health, startups and sports.

The Vidhan Sabha is also expected to send the UP Control of Organised Crimes (UPCOC) Bill to the Legislative Council again for passage after a select committee, to which the bill was sent for scrutiny, refused to consider the proposed amendments.

During the Winter session of the state legislature, the UPCOC Bill, drafted on the lines of the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), hit a roadblock in the Legislative Council, where a determined Opposition stalled its passage.

Sensing the sentiments of members, Chairman Ramesh Yadav referred the bill to the Select Committee of the Legislative Council for scrutiny.

The budget session is likely to see the opposition MLAs and the Speaker at loggerheads as he has already stated that members of the House might face disciplinary action if they carry out "planned obstructions" during the address of the Governor.

For nearly two decades, it has become a practice for the opposition to disrupt the governor's customary address.

Last year, in the first session of the present Assembly, the opposition Samajwadi Party had obstructed the Governor's address by raising slogans and throwing paper balls at the podium.

Dixit had recently said it was the responsibility of the MLAs to maintain discipline inside the Assembly, saying, "It is expected that this year they will listen to the Governor's address quietly."



"Bringing banners and posters and blowing whistles... clearly show that such things have been done in a planned manner. So, if anyone takes such (pre-planned) steps (to derail the address), action might be taken," the speaker had said recently.

Last time, apart from throwing paper balls, the opposition members had blown whistles and held up banners to interrupt the address.

The Opposition members had held a 'parallel Assembly' in the central hall of Vidhan Bhawan to protest against the Yogi Adityanath government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The budget session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature is set to begin on February 8 with the Governor's address to a joint sitting of both the Houses.

In view of the opposition's protest during the governor's address at the Assembly's first session last year, Speaker H N Dixit had recently warned the MLAs of disciplinary action if they carry out "planned obstructions" during the address.

According to Principal Secretary of the Legislative Assembly Pradeep Kumar Dubey, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik has summoned the Vidhan Sabha's first session of this year on February 8.

Naik will address a joint sitting of both the Houses at Vidhan Bhawan to mark the opening of the budget session. The tentative agenda of the Assembly is likely to be issued tomorrow.

The state cabinet, in its last meeting on January 23, had decided to convene the budget session of the Assembly from February 8. The business advisory committee of the two Houses will decide on the number of sittings.

The budget session is likely to see the opposition and Assembly Speaker H N Dixit at loggerheads as he has already stated that members of the House might face disciplinary action if they carry out "planned obstructions" during the address of the Governor.

For nearly two decades it has become a practice for the opposition to disrupt the governor's address.

Last year, in the first session of the present Assembly, the opposition Samajwadi Party had obstructed the Governor's address by raising slogans and throwing paper balls at the podium.

Dixit had recently said that it was the responsibility of the MLAs to maintain discipline inside the Assembly, saying "It is expected that this year they will listen to the Governor's address quietly."



"Bringing banners and posters and blowing whistles... clearly show that such things have been done in a planned manner. So, if anyone takes such (pre-planned) steps (to derail the address), action might be taken," the speaker had said recently.

Last time, apart from throwing paper balls, the opposition members had blown whistles and held up banners to interrupt the address.

The Opposition members had held a 'parallel Assembly' in the central hall of Vidhan Bhawan to protest against the Yogi Adityanath government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(CNN)  A billionaire and influential Saudi prince arrested in an anti-corruption sweep nearly three months ago was released Saturday, a source close to the prince told CNN.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal was among 17 princes and top officials arrested November 4 in the Saudi government crackdown.

Alwaleed, a grandson of Saudi Arabia's founder, King Abdulaziz Al Saud, was being held at the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh during his detention.

The prince does not hold a government position.

But his personal fortune is estimated at more than $17 billion, according to Forbes, and his investment portfolio has made him an important voice inside his home country.

It is not known why and under what circumstances he was released.

Three weeks after the sweep, senior Saudi Prince Miteb bin Abdullah was released, a source close to the government told CNN. An undisclosed financial settlement was agreed to secure the powerful prince's release, the source said. Prince Miteb is the son of Saudi King Salman's predecessor, the late King Abdullah.

Alwaleed got his start in business in 1979, making investments in Saudi real estate and construction. But he quickly turned to banking.

The prince captured Wall Street's attention by becoming one of Citigroup's major shareholders in 1991, a bet that would pay off handsomely. Later, when the global financial crisis caused the bank's shares to plummet, the prince increased his stake in a show of confidence. Citigroup survived.

Alwaleed has courted controversy on occasion, suing Forbes for libel in 2013 after it said he was worth only $20 billion.

In 2015, he urged Donald Trump to drop out of the presidential race, calling him a "disgrace" over threats to ban Muslims from entering the United States. In response, Trump called the prince "dopey."

In Saudi Arabia, Alwaleed advocated for giving women more freedoms, including calling for an end to a ban on driving.

The ban was lifted in September following a royal decree.

King Salman ordered the anti-corruption initiative as part of an "active reform agenda aimed at tackling a persistent problem that has hindered development efforts in the Kingdom in recent decades," a Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology statement said.

After the anti-corruption arrests, the kingdom's top legal official said investigations had revealed that "at least $100 billion has been misused through systematic corruption and embezzlement over several decades."

Saudi Arabia is using cash recovered from officials and princes arrested in the crackdown to ease the pain of austerity.

The kingdom's anti-corruption committee, headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, carried out the arrests. He is seen as a power behind the King and a supporter of reforms.

Saudi Arabia is experiencing rapid change as part of its Vision 2030 program to diversify the economy away from oil. The corruption clampdown is part of that.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Billionaire Saudi prince freed from detention."
Las Vegas casino billionaire Steve Wynn stepped down today 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 US media 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.

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 centred on the CEO and founder of a major publicly held company -- whose shares tumbled 7.8 per cent following the report's publication.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
It's a big relief for many students who fail to write an exam owing to illness and fear that his second attempt could deprive him of a gold medal.

The Delhi High Court has held that sitting for an exam by a student in the successive academic year owing to illness or other such circumstances in the first year will still be considered the "first attempt", and that this is no ground for denying any recognition to the student.

Justice Indermeet Kaur observed that the university could not deprive the student of the award for achieving the highest score in the batch on the ground that he took the examination in respect of two papers in the following year.

The petitioner, through his advocate Amit George, informed the high court that he was enrolled in the five-year course of BA LLB in 2010 at Amity Law School, affiliated to Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University.

For his 6th semester examination, out of five papers he could not appear in two papers, the paper of Code of Civil Procedure and the paper of Code of Criminal Procedure. These two examinations were scheduled for May, 2013.

The petitioner could not appear in the examinations as he was suffering from chicken pox.

The petitioner wrote his examination in the two papers in 2014 and passed with flying colours. He graduated from the university with the highest score/cumulative performance index (CPI) for his course i.e. 80.56.

In February, 2016, the petitioner was shocked to learn that he was not being considered for the award of Gold Medal in spite of him having achieved the highest score in his course.

Advocate George, during the course of arguments, further said that his client in 2014 had appeared for five examinations for his 8th semester.

"He had also appeared in the two examinations of his 6th semester examination...This was a telling experience and highly burdensome to the petitioner as in that year he had to give seven papers and the papers of the Code of Civil Procedure and the Code of Criminal Procedure were conducted on the same day when the papers of the 8th Semester were scheduled," the counsel said.

The university opposed the prayer of the petitioner and said that under the governing ordinance, any student who fails to appear in examinations at the first time and thereafter appears in the said examinations on a subsequent date would qualify as a "second attempt" on his part.

The court agreed with the student's counsel's submission and observed the student's "extra one year did not work to his advantage but in fact worked to his disadvantage".

"The petitioner having qualified his papers in the first attempt with the highest CPI (Cumulative Performance Index) was thus entitled to the award of the Gold Medal," the court said.

The court relied on the judgements of various high courts and the Supreme Court to arrive at the conclusion that examinations taken by the present petitioner in 2014 shall be regarded as his "first attempt" and directed the respondent university to confer the Gold Medal on him.

The court, however, refused to disturb the status of the co-student, also impleaded as a respondent in the present writ petition, who, having sat for the examinations in 2013 and securing the second highest CPI, was awarded the Gold Medal by the university.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BJP MP Varun Gandhi has urged Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to initiate a "movement" to encourage economically advantaged Lok Sabha members to forego their remunerations for the remaining term of the Lower House.

The move would reinforce people's faith in their representatives, he said.

"A voluntary exercise such as this would send a positive message across the nation regarding the level of sensitivity we possess as elected representatives," he wrote in a letter to Mahajan.

He also suggested creating an independent, statutory body to ascertain the affordability of the move and the need for an increase in fiscal compensation for MPs.

The Sultanpur MP expressed concern over the widening inequality in the country, saying it was "detrimental" to democracy.

"India's inequality gap is widening further every day. A growing divide is detrimental to our democracy and we as public representatives must be seen to be more responsive to the socio-economic realities of our country," the letter read.

Gandhi underlined that the move may trouble a few MPs.

The remuneration of an MP include a basic salary of Rs 50,000 per month, Rs 45,000 as constituency allowance, among other allowances. The government spends roughly Rs 2.7 lakh per MP per month, he wrote in the letter.

The number of MPs with assets worth over Rs 1 crore rose sharply from 319 in 2009 to 449 at present. Roughly 24 per cent or 132 Lok Sabha members have declared assets worth over Rs 10 crore. According to a report, the average value of MPs' assets in the 16th Lok Sabha is Rs 14.61 crore.

Over the last decade, salaries of parliamentarians have increased by 400 per cent, a rise that is unlikely even in the profit driven private sector, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Seasoned diplomat Vijay Keshav Gokhale, who played a key role in resolving the Doklam standoff with China, will take charge as the next foreign secretary tomorrow, succeeding S Jaishankar.

A 1981-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Gokhale is currently serving as the secretary (economic relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Gokhale will take charge tomorrow, a senior MEA official said.

Gokhale, considered an expert on China, had played a key role in negotiations to resolve the 73-day-long Doklam standoff between Indian and Chinese armies last year.

He was India's Ambassador to China from January 20, 2016 to October 21, 2017, before moving back to the MEA headquarters here.

Gokhale will have a two-year tenure as the foreign secretary. He has also served as India's top envoy to Germany between October 2013 and January 2016. He has worked in Indian missions in Hong Kong, Hanoi and in New York.

He has held the posts of director (China and East Asia) and then joint secretary (East Asia) in the MEA.

Earlier this month, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the appointment of Gokhale to the post of foreign secretary.

Jaishankar was appointed foreign secretary in January 2015, for two years, just a few days before his retirement, replacing Sujata Singh, whose term was abruptly curtailed by the government.

A 1977-batch IFS officer, Jaishankar was given a one-year extension in January last year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee has called a meeting of Calcutta University vice-chancellor and Higher department officials in the wake of the sharp dip in the pass percentage in the 2017 BA and BSc Part I (honours and general) exams.

Chatterjee said he had been informed that the Part I results of the university were not "upto expectations" due to some change in rules.

"I have called a meeting very soon, where the CU VC, Controller of Examinations and Higher department officials will also be present," the minister said today.

To a question, if he was aware of the change in rules, Chatterjee said, "As minister, it is not necessary that they (university) will apprise me before effecting any change of rule."



"But the Higher Education department is also not aware of the changes," he added.

A University official told reporters after publication of the results on Thursday that in BA Part I (Honours and general stream) 28,000 candidates among the total 64,000 candidates, had passed - which is 43 per cent.

In BSc, an estimated 11,000 passed of the total 15,000 candidates - which is 70 per cent.

In both BA and BSc Part I, of the 79,000 candidates a total of 39,000 passed, he had said.

The official had attributed the fall in pass percentage to a change in certain rules which resulted in results of some candidates being incomplete.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Children take keen interest in stories and writers and story tellers must churn out tales which can entertain and enthuse young ones, says noted writer Ramendra Kumar.

This will wean away the young minds from the distractions of the virtual world, said the well-known award winning children's writer.

"The notion that children are not interested in stories is incorrect," Kumar said while narrating his experience at Jaipur Literature Festival, where he was invited to participate.

Author of at least 33 books, Kumar said he conducted story telling sessions in several schools as part of the Jaipur Literature Festival Outreach.

Kumar, who happens to be the Chief of Communications of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), visited a number of schools and interacted with the students in the age group 7 to 14 years and in numbers ranging from 100 to more than 400.

The students were from various backgrounds and were comfortable in different languages, the author said adding for the first time he even took a session in Urdu.

"But one thing that seemed common was their love for unadulterated masti and pristine madness," he said.

"Apart from telling tales I also discussed the various aspects of writing fiction," said Kumar adding he showcased his three most popular books Paplu the Giant, A Perfect Match from Pratham and Against All Odds.

Ramendra is the only childrens writer and performance storyteller from Odisha to have been invited to JLF, a statement from RSP said.

The writer has so far won 31 prizes in the competition for writers of childrens literature organised by Childrens Book Trust (CBT), the highest by any author.

His writings have been translated into 27 languages and published in school text books and anthologies, both in India and abroad, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Simon JohnsonSTOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Billionaire IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad, who turned a business he launched as a teenager into one of the world's best known furniture brands, has died at the age of 91, the Swedish company said on Sunday.IKEA's simple but sturdy designs and self-assembly products are now familiar in homes around the globe and the retailer is aiming to generate 50 billion euros ($62 billion) in annual revenues by 2020. Kamprad started IKEA in 1943 when he was just 17, but his big break came in 1956, when the company pioneered flat-pack furniture.He got the idea when he ...
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Digital Editor
(CNN)  Manfred Goldberg is pessimistic.

As nationalism reverberates across the world and the power of social media grows, he fears that the warnings of the past have fallen on deaf ears.

The 87-year-old Holocaust survivor sees a world that has failed to learn from its history, from a past that saw 6 million Jews die at the hands of the Nazis. And in social media, he sees a machine so powerful in spreading hate that it is difficult to see a happy ending. The rise of social media has left Holocaust survivors facing what Goldberg calls "a losing battle."

"Instant communication now means that any single person who wants to propagate his race hatred-infected views can do so much, much, much more effectively than the Nazis back then could ever do," he says.

"Many years before they gained political power the Nazis initiated and maintained a vicious anti-Semitic propaganda campaign against Jews mainly by the printed word but also by speech railing against Jews at mass meetings.

"They did so in the belief that any lie, no matter how vile or abhorrent, would eventually be accepted as truth if it was repeated often enough and powerfully enough.

"Unfortunately, they were proved correct. The result, as we know, was the Holocaust. And what worries me, tremendously, is that in the name of the freedom of speech, we appear to ignore this lesson of history."

Read: Facebook, Twitter face fines up to $53 million over hate speech

Story of survival

Sitting in his London home, surrounded by photographs of his four children and 12 grandchildren, Goldberg recounts his tale of survival.

It is a story he has told many times, especially in recent years with the help of the Holocaust Educational Trust, which educates thousands of students and teachers across the UK.

Born into a German Orthodox Jewish family, Goldberg was deported from his hometown of Kassel in central Germany to the Riga ghetto in Latvia before being moved on to a number of different labor camps in German-occupied Poland.

It was there that he worked laying railway tracks while facing selections where Nazi guards would choose which inmates would live, and who would be murdered.

He survived eight months of slave labor in Stutthof concentration camp, where gas chambers were used to kill prisoners and their remains were burned in the nearby crematorium.

When Stutthof was abandoned, Goldberg had to endure a death march through awful conditions. He was liberated in Neustadt, Germany, in 1945.

His mother, another survivor, traveled with him in 1946 to the UK, where they were reunited with his father, who had escaped Germany just weeks before the war broke out. But his younger brother perished, murdered by the Nazis.

'Holocaust denial'

Last year, Goldberg returned to Stutthof for the first time since the end of the Holocaust, accompanying the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on a tour of the camp where 65,000 people lost their lives.

As survivors of the Holocaust grow older, he feels a sense of responsibility to share his story before he leaves this world.

And it is a responsibility that grows with each passing day, he says, as those who seek to deny the Holocaust attempt to spread their messages online.

"Decades ago when I was young, I did not dream that in my lifetime I would witness a thriving industry of Holocaust denial," Goldberg says.

"Despite all our efforts to make people aware of the horrors of the Holocaust, I feel under present conditions, with the freedom granted to these race-hating views, we are fighting a losing battle.

"How can people deny the Holocaust existed?

"Anyone can pay a visit to Stutthof -- the museum is open to the public -- and can see with their own eyes a gas chamber and crematorium as they were 70-odd years ago and yet there are tens, if not, hundreds of thousands, who believe this lie that the Holocaust is a lie from beginning to end, that there never were any gas chambers. It is beyond comprehension but nevertheless it's a fact.

"The numbers of people infected by these views can only grow. Once someone has that attitude of mind, facts are irrelevant."

'We must not let them get to the top'

A five-minute drive from Goldberg's home, fellow survivor Freda Wineman also fears for the future.

A survivor of Auschwitz, where over a million Jews were murdered including her own mother and brother, she too has traveled far and wide to share her story.

Even now, at 94, she is as keen as ever to talk, ensuring the lessons of the Holocaust are heeded by future generations.

"We have to be aware there are some right-wing movements that have to be stopped and eliminated," she says.

"We must not let them get to the top because they are evil. Let's hope somebody will fight them. In several countries it has been happening and it is very worrying indeed."

Read: Twitter blocks far-right leader as Germany tightens hate speech law

But Wineman, who knows Goldberg through the Holocaust Educational Trust, is more positive.

Wineman says her meetings with the younger generation have given her hope that her story and those of her fellow survivors will live on.

"If we don't live with hope we are finished," says Wineman, who moved to London from her native France in 1950.

"We have testimonies in many museums and we hope that some of these young people will look up some of these and learn from them.

"Of course it won't be the same because they won't hear us speak about it and tell our own experiences. It will be different but we have to trust the future generation," she says.

"As long as they learn that tolerance is important, look out for evil and not let it happen, that will be a very good message to us if they can take a lesson from that."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Death camp survivor fears Holocaust deniers are winning."
| BY Ricki Green |

Clemenger BBDO Melbourne and Carlton & United Breweries has launched Victoria Bitters New Knock Off Times campaign, expanding its brand positioning to celebrate Australias changing workforce.

Marking its 50th anniversary of TV advertising, New Knock Off Times celebrates the change in Australias workforce thats taken place over the half century. These days, theres no one time that people knock off. 4.00pm might still be the end of the day for some, but for others, it might very well be the beginning of their day.

The campaign features real hard working Australians, not actors, in their occupations including the traditional tradespeople, miners, firefighters, right through to a local bands gig taking their workday through to the early hours of the morning  showcasing that no matter what time you knock off, a hard earned thirst needs a big cold beer and the best cold beer is Victoria Bitter

Says Tim Ovadia, head of classic brands at Carlton & United Breweries: What we love about these ads are they have all the best bits of iconic VB advertising but with a modern insight that acknowledges the changing nature of the knock off occasion. Most importantly they make you want to grab an ice cold VB and remind us how much we love beer.

Says Russell Fox and Jonty Bell, senior creatives, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne: This iconic Australian brand doesnt need reinventing. Instead, were incrementally giving it a modern feel while staying true to its historic tone.

The campaign features TV, out of home and radio over a six week period.

Client: Carlton United Breweries, Victoria Bitter

Head of Classic Brands: Tim Ovadia

VB Marketing and Sponsorship Manager: Hugh Jellie

Assistant Brand Manager  VB: Tessa Whittaker

Agency: Clemenger BBDO Melbourne

Creative Chairman: James McGrath

Executive Creative Director: Evan Roberts

Senior Art Director: Adam Barnes

Senior Art Director: Russel Fox

Senior Copywriter: Jonty Bell

Senior Producer: Karolina Bozajkovska

General Manager, CUB: Jonny Berger

Project Director: Katya Urlwin

Production Company: FINCH

Director: Chris Nelius

COP/Cinematoprapher: Tim Tregonning

Editor: Michael Houlihan

Producer: Kate Merrin
news, latest-news

The ACT Human Rights Commission is concerned a yet-to-be developed app for Canberrans to report crime to ACT police won't meet the territory's privacy and human rights obligations. The Australian Federal Police have called on developers for a smart phone app allowing Australians to upload photos, videos, emails, location data and other materials for terrorism tip offs. The app would also be made for ACT Policing to "meet its need for a self-service online reporting capability", according to documents. Neither the ACT government, ACT Policing nor the AFP would confirm if there had been any consultation with the ACT government on how the app would meet the ACT's human rights charter. Acting ACT Human Rights commissioner Karen Toohey said the commission had not been consulted and the app could interfere with the territory's privacy legislation. "We would obviously seek some assurance that basic privacy obligations, but also the obligations that come with the Human Rights Act in the ACT, are being complied with by the developers," Ms Toohey said. "It appears that the power to collect, use, disclose and retain data is to occur under current [federal] laws, and so we query whether there are adequate safeguards under those laws to ensure that the capability will be a proportionate limitation on the right to privacy as it exists in the ACT." Ms Toohey said an app with an open-ended, blanket retention of user data could limit a person's right to privacy. In a statement, the AFP said it "adheres to both state and federal legislation regarding personal information and human rights". But Ms Toohey said compliance with Australian Privacy Principles and the Commonwealth Privacy Act didn't necessarily mean the right to privacy in the ACT's human rights act was being maintained. "In the absence of detailed information we are not able to make that assessment. It is also not clear whether [federal Privacy Commissioner Timothy Pilgrim] has been consulted on the proposal," Ms Toohey said. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner would not confirm whether it had been consulted but said all government agencies had to comply with federal privacy laws and principles. Whilst the tender documents also say developers must meet federal privacy laws, they made no mention of the ACT's Human Rights Act. The ACT government said it had "full confidence" the AFP and ACT police would meet their privacy and human rights obligations with the app. The AFP would not indicate which developers had approached them so far but documents said they were looking for an off-the-shelf app which had been "demonstrably effective elsewhere". Ms Toohey said this meant it was not apparent how developers would be including relevant accompanying safeguards for ACT law if the AFP was looking for an off-the-shelf option. In Queensland, the police app Policelink was rubbished by the state's privacy watchdog. The Queensland Information Commissioner found Queensland police hadn't considered their legal obligations when protecting the privacy of the app's users. Tender documents said the app would work in tandem with the terrorism tip off phone line, the national security hotline. The documents reflect heavily on international terror attacks as the reasons the AFP required the app. ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr was the only state or territory leader in Australia to raise privacy concerns about the federal government's new facial recognition technology and sought assurance it would meet the ACT's human rights obligations.
news, latest-news

A leading cybersecurity expert is concerned a new scheme by ACT Policing to email speeding tickets is "ripe for scammers". Centre for Internet Safety director Nigel Phair said scammers could impersonate official ACT police emails, fooling Canberrans into paying fake tickets. "I applaud them using technology. The problem is [they] said it will come from a real [Australian Federal Police] address. The average person out there doesn't know what a real AFP address is," Mr Phair said. "It is ripe for scammers. Their [communication] hasn't been sufficient just by saying it'll come from an AFP email address." An ACT police spokeswoman said it had engaged in a media campaign including TV coverage on Monday, a radio interview and posts on Facebook and Twitter. More information is also available on the ACT Policing and Access Canberra websites. Mr Phair said one of the most popular email scams in Australia was the fake speeding ticket, along with the fake tax return or fake Australia Post "you've got a parcel" email. He said it would be "a lot smarter" and secure to issue the tickets via MyGov. Speeding tickets would only be emailed if recipients choose the option but Mr Phair said experts had spent years warning Australians about email "phishing" scams. Mr Phair explained a phishing scam was the use of an email impersonating a trusted brand to make you click a link or send personal details, with one of the biggest phishing scams being a fake speeding ticket. "It started off with the banks, it went through your eBays and your PayPals, and now it's just any world recognised trusted brand," he said. The ACT Policing spokeswoman said emailing speeding tickets was part of their efforts to modernise the ACT police and give officers "access to the best tools to do their job". "The AFP's Technical Security Team was involved in a review of the process and provided their expert advice to ACT Policing," the spokeswoman said. Queensland police began trialling emailed "e-tickets" in 2016 with recipients only issued tickets via email if they chose to do so. According to Scamwatch, Australians lost over $7 million to scams in 2017, with Canberrans losing over $1 million. Email was the second-most popular method used to deliver scams.
To the editor:

I read in the Miami Herald that there is legislation pending to require In God We Trust to be displayed on every school and administration building in Florida. I strongly oppose this religious advertising on or in our public schools and buildings. It is an abridgment of the separation of church and state doctrine and is particularly odious because it is aimed at impressionable children.

A belief and trust in God is something to be taught at home, not plastered all over our schools. It is not the states place to provide religious education and impose God on every one, especially through the public schools. I urge our legislators to respect the spirit of the Constitution and vote NO.

loria Garber

Naples
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 city likes to be known as a tech centre yet we still cant get Uber or Lyft service.



The citys proposal is laughable. Seriously, Uber and Lyft are disruptive technologies that service the marketplace and the City wants to clone them into the existing taxi framework?



This is a sad proposal from our town and makes a mockery of the title of the Silicon Vineyard

Glenn Rousseau
Photo: Contributed

There is one winning ticket for the $23 million jackpot in Saturday night's Lotto 649 draw, and it was sold in Ontario.

A ticket purchased in Ontario also claimed the draw's guaranteed $1 million prize.

The jackpot for the next Lotto 649 draw on Jan. 31 will be approximately $5 million.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Important decisions about NAFTA's future are now in the hands of the Trump administration.

After major discussions about autos, dispute resolution and a five-year review clause, American negotiators have requested political guidance about what to do next.

The nearly concluded round in Montreal featured a new back-and-forth dialogue on autos and other major sticking points.

Sources close to the talks say lengthy conversations were prompted by ideas Canada put on the table  including about three hours of talks over two days about the autos proposal.

Those sources say the U.S. negotiators concluded those discussions by declaring they would need to seek political guidance on what to do next.

More clarity could come tomorrow: the politicians leading the process for all three countries will be in Montreal to close the round, and will make public statements.
Photo: The Canadian Press

A long-awaited public inquiry into the death of an Afghan war veteran who killed his family and himself in rural Nova Scotia last year could be derailed by jurisdictional squabbling, a leading expert on judicial probes says.

The problem: the provincial inquiry is looking at issues that may go deep into federal jurisdiction.

"There may be limits on what the province can look into," said Ed Ratushny, a professor emeritus at the University of Ottawa's law school.

"It's a question of constitutional law, as to what the boundaries are between the province and the federal government ... It could be a significant barrier to fully exploring the issue."

Almost a year after Lionel Desmond fatally shot himself and his mother, wife and 10-year-old daughter in Upper Big Tracadie, N.S., the Nova Scotia government bowed to public pressure last month when it confirmed a judicial fatality inquiry would be held under the Fatality Investigations Act.

The inquiry's terms of reference  the legally binding rules that govern what the inquiry can do  are still being drafted by the provincial Justice Department. They were expected to be completed by the end of this month.

Ratushny, author of the 2009 book "The Conduct of Public Inquiries," said even if the inquiry is given a broad mandate, the judge's work will be complicated by the fact that he or she will be investigating matters of federal jurisdiction.

Family members have repeatedly complained that Desmond, who served two tours in Afghanistan in 2007 and was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, did not get the help he needed from the federal Defence Department or the federal Veterans Affairs Department.

The issues have resonance well beyond the Desmond killings.

More than 130 serving military personnel have taken their own lives since 2010, according to National Defence, including eight between January and August 2017. Officials have not been able to determine the number of suicides among veterans, but previous studies have suggested former service members are more at risk than those still in uniform.

Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O'Regan has pledged full co-operation with the provincial inquiry, but that might not be enough, Ratushny said.

"If the province wanted to go into subject areas that are exclusively federal jurisdiction, the federal Justice Department will take issue with that and say, 'You can't do that,'" he said. "The (federal) minister can co-operate fully but he can't change the Constitution of Canada in terms of jurisdiction."

Ratushny said the two levels of government could have avoided this problem by agreeing to conduct a joint inquiry. This kind of approach was used in 1993 when Justice Horace Krever investigated Canada's worst public health tragedy, in which 1,200 people were infected with HIV and many thousands with hepatitis C through infected blood and blood products.

And in 1982, the Newfoundland and Labrador government set up a joint commission with Ottawa to look into one of Canada's worst marine disasters: the sinking of the Ocean Ranger offshore drilling rig, which claimed 84 lives.

Peter Stoffer, a longtime veterans advocate and former Nova Scotia MP, said a joint inquiry should have been called in the Desmond case.

"I'm hoping the federal government doesn't hide behind any kind of jurisdiction to not provide information," he said. "You have to be suspicious as to why the federal government wouldn't call this inquiry because, maybe, they don't want to know the truth."

Stoffer said the terms of reference should require the inquiry to look into what treatment Desmond received before he was medically released from the military in 2015.

As well, the investigation should look at Desmond's transition to civilian life, the assistance he received from Veterans Affairs and what interaction he had with the provincial health-care system, he said.

Nova Scotia Justice Minister Mark Furey declined a request for an interview.

Archie Kaiser, a law professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax, said the inquiry should also explore issues regarding gender-based family violence and mental-health issues.

"Those kind of issues need to be explored thoroughly," he said."I hope that the (provincial) minister will try to ensure that we use this opportunity to effectively explore these complex and interrelated issues ... That's the real nexus here."
Photo: Dan Loewen

Emily Loewen is finally home after battling a severe case of bacterial meningitis since early December 2017.

"So as some already know Em and I got home this afternoon!," Emily's mother said in a Facebook post. "We are so glad to be back! I can't tell you what it is like to be home with her!"

The 16-year-old Vernon teen was rushed to Vernon Jubilee Hospital on Dec. 6 for what she thought was a serious flu.

Since then she has been battling meningococcal meningitis at the Vancouver General Hospital, where she was put into a medically induced coma for three and a half weeks.

The road to recovery will be long, says her mother, but Loewen has made great progress.

"Em still has a long road ahead with rehab and rest and healing so somewhere down the road we are hoping to have a get together for her so she can thank all of you for your support," her mother said.

Despite all odds the strong young woman impressed doctors, friends and family, by conquering meningococcal meningitis, walking and speaking long before anticipated.

The Kalamalka Secondary student has received an abundance of online and community support.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says change is needed to ensure more women enter politics.

Trudeau made the comment as he rallied his party caucus at a meeting in advance of tomorrow's resumption of Parliament.

The remarks also came just days after one of Trudeau's cabinet ministers, Kent Hehr, and Ontario Progressive Conservative party leader Patrick Brown resigned over allegations of sexual misconduct.

Trudeau told the roomful of Liberal MPs that making workplaces safer and more welcoming will result in more women entering politics.

And that, he says, will change the country.

The prime minister also boasted about last week's signing of a new, comprehensive international trade agreement  known as the CP-TPP  that Trudeau said included significant gains for Canada over the previous Trans-Pacific Partnership approved by the previous Conservative government.

Trudeau said his government hopes to make similar gains during negotiations of a new North American Free Trade Agreement with the United States and Mexico.

He also criticized the Opposition Conservatives over NAFTA, saying the Tories would give in to American demands for a new trade pact.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Errol Greene's widow says she listened on the phone as her husband, an epileptic, suffered a seizure while telling her he was being denied medication inside the Winnipeg Remand Centre.

Greene let the phone drop, fell to the floor, and later died in hospital.

His widow, Rochelle Pranteau, is hoping an inquest scheduled to start Monday will find out what happened and prevent other deaths.

"I want justice for other families going through the same thing as my family. I want to expose the truth about what really happens on the inside, how poorly people are treated," Pranteau said in a brief written statement provided by her lawyer.

Greene, 26, was one of five people who died after being taken to the remand centre in 2016. He had been arrested for breaching a probation order not to drink alcohol.

Waiting for a bail hearing, Greene was on the phone with Pranteau May 1, 2016, when he complained that he wasn't being allowed access to his epilepsy medication, the family's lawyer, Corey Shefman, said.

"He told Rochelle that he hadn't been given his medication ... and during that conversation, he did in fact start having a seizure," Shefman said.

"Rochelle was forced to listen as he had a seizure and at first the inmates responded to help him and then eventually the guards responded to help him as well."

An autopsy showed Greene had a low, or "subtherapeutic," level of anti-convulsion medication in his system.

Pranteau was left to raise the couple's four children on her own.

One area of focus for the inquest, which will be guided by a provincial court judge, is how inmate medication is handled.

The John Howard Society has said inmates cannot keep medication they have on them when they enter the facility, and must see a member of the remand centre's medical team to get a new prescription.

The union that represents Manitoba correctional officers has said there are shortcomings that need to be addressed, including overcrowding at facilities across the province. A legislature committee was told recently that the jail population had jumped by seven per cent since the spring.

Unlike public inquiries, inquests are limited in scope and examine individual cases. The mandate for this inquest has been expanded slightly, Shefman said, to look at whether racism was a factor. Greene was Indigenous.

"It's certainly Rochelle's belief  and it's our position  that the systemic racism that infuses our entire justice system played a role," Shefman said.

"Nobody is going to be convicted here. There's no blame that's going to be laid, but what we are going to get, hopefully, is the truth."
Photo: The Canadian Press

A woman who accused former federal cabinet minister Kent Hehr of making inappropriate sexual remarks says she's been receiving threats.

The sport and disabilities minister was ousted from cabinet on Thursday  less than 24 hours after the allegations were made on social media.

In the statement, Hehr did not directly address the allegations, but said he believes harassment is never acceptable and everyone deserves to have their voice heard.

Kristin Raworth alleged that Hehr made the inappropriate comments  which included calling her "yummy"  when he was an Alberta MLA a decade ago and she was an employee at the legislature.

Early on Saturday, Raworth tweeted that since coming forward, she's been threatened and called names.

She says she's afraid to leave her house.

"The last 48 hours has shown me the best of people and certainly the worst," she wrote.

"This is why people don't speak up."
The East Texas Historical Association provides this column as a public service. Scott Sosebee is an associate professor of history at SFA and the executive director of the association. He can be contacted at sosebeem@sfasu.edu; www.easttexashistorical.org.
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Sitting just outside the relegation zone, Alaves surprisingly went ahead with forward John Guidetti scoring midway through the first half. The visitors threatened constantly on the counterattack until Suarez evened the score with a volley from inside the area in the 72nd minute after a cross by Andre Iniesta.
West is a colossal Chicago talent with a formidable intellect and a mass of swirling ideas in her brain  she is on the edge, I think, of a major breakout play, although not necessarily with this particular play, which is dense to the point of being very difficult to follow. I think the issue here is that West is taking too much knowledge on the part of the audience for granted; she wants to explore the various implications of the murders (apropos of gender, class and so on) without sufficiently telling the story of the murders themselves. Thus unless you have the details of the funky Hinterkaifeck business already top of mind, youre in a bit of a fog for the first part of the night.
The trio then rode to the Sangamon address where the transaction was supposed to take place. After one of the officers handed cash to Jackson, the Nissan pulled up to the scene, with both Sharp and Jones, approaching with handguns and announcing a robbery, according to prosecutors. Sharp pointed his weapon at the officer in the passenger seat, while Jones aimed his at the driver, Coelho said.
On Thursday, Woo was arguing with his two female roommates, both 23, by text message when he sent them a photo of an electronic device that he called Mr. C4, the famous explosive device, prosecutors said during a bail hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. Woo then told his roommates that if they left the apartment, the door and windows would be wired to explode, prosecutors said.
One of the males was described as between 17 and 19 years old, black Hispanic, about 5 feet 6 inches tall and 150 pounds, police said. One was described as white Hispanic, 20 to 25 years old, 5 feet 5 inches and 200 pounds. A third robber was described as white Hispanic, 20 to 25 years old, 6 feet 2 inches, 180 pounds.
Marilyn Hartman, 66, was barred by a Cook County judge from entering the airport after she was charged earlier this month with felony theft after allegedly sneaking onto a British Airways jet at O'Hare and flying to the United Kingdom without a $2,400 plane ticket. Hartman, who is notorious for stowing away on commercial airplanes, also was charged in that incident with misdemeanor criminal trespassing for allegedly entering O'Hare illegally.
"Those who see themselves as defenders of Poland's good name are often quick to point out that in Poland there was no Quisling regime comparable to that which existed in other countries occupied by Germany - and that the Polish underground fought the Germans tooth and nail," Weinbaum wrote. "The truth is that local authorities were often left intact in occupied Poland, and many officials exploited their power in ways that proved fatal to their Jewish constituents."
"We're all in," said Tim Phillips, president of Americans for Prosperity, the main political arm of the network led by billionaire industrialist Charles Koch. "We know the challenges out there, at the state and federal level. ... We're all in to try to protect those in what we know is going to be a challenging year."
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois recent labeled President Donald Trump a draft dodger and implied that not serving in the military renders one incapable of insight on budgetary matters related to the Defense Department. Yes, Trump was deferred from military service when we had a draft, as were erstwhile President Bill Clinton and Vice President Dick Cheney. Our immediate past president, also from the Land of Lincoln, chose not to serve. Does Duckworth believe then that we should amend the Constitution so that only presidents who have worn the uniform can bear the commander-in-chief title?
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.
Avoid the Resume Black Hole and Get Noticed: If you are looking to enhance your chances of being noticed in the digital arena of resume submittal, then join in for a highly interactive session where you will learn tips and tricks for having your resume matched with that perfect role. This is presented by Tywnia Brewton, senior manager, business HR, Baxter. 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Career Resource Center , 40 E. Old Mill Road, Lake Forest, Free CRC Members; $20 non-members, 847-295-5626.
"It may sound trite, but the reason I run for office is I love you, the taxpayer," said the 74-year-old Lindenhurst resident. "If I don't run because I love you, then I'm in the business for myself. I'm in it for personal gain. Everything I've run for, there's no gain there."
Brown acknowledged that he still is working to determine what the verification process will look like, but suggested that it may include a representative of the city making a home visit. There will also be a new form that residents will have to review and sign, and residents will be required to indicate that they are checking the trap daily, Brown said.
"My grandfather was in this union in the 1950s. He came from Yugoslavia and he was in this union. It was a family thing. We were raised a certain way," he said, adding his father was a 50-year worker at Bethlehem Steel, now ArcelorMittal in Burns Harbor.
The latest increase would help pay for a project, funded with a $100 million bond issue, to improve safety with positive train control (PTC), an automated system to warn an engineer about a hazard ahead and to stop the train if the engineer doesn't. The Federal Railroad Administration is requiring railroads to install PTC by the end of this year, though some railroads have received extensions.
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.
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 ($10.2 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.




Beijing will shut down 1,000 manufacturing companies and 300 markets and logistics centers by 2020, to further move its non-capital functions out of the city, according to a press conference from the ongoing local legislative session Saturday.

In 2018, Beijing will close 500 manufacturing companies and 176 markets and logistics centers, and relocate several universities and hospitals to suburban areas, Liu Bozheng, deputy director of the Beijing office overseeing the integration of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, said at the press conference.

Beijing plans to inject 12.2 billion yuan (1.9 billion U.S. dollars) into moving its non-capital functions, according to the capital's 2018 draft budget report distributed at the legislative session.

In 2015, China released a three-year plan for the integrated development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, a national strategy to balance the development of the three regions. Beijing has completed about 990 tasks to promote integrated development in the regions.




Harvard University [File photo]





French antropologist and demographer Emmanuel Todd explains, in his last book Where are we?, right-wing populist movements in Europe and United States, in light of new educational stratification in Western countries. It's persuasive and inspiring theory helps us understand contemporary ideological and political dynamics in Europe and abroad.

After the Second World War, in 1945, United States and Europe, explains Todd, had more or less homogenous populations, in terms of educational levels. But, already in the 1960s, and especially in the 1970s and 1980s, that homogenity was undermined with an increasing number of the population obtaining tertiary education. That process was followed with economical and technological transition in the West from modern industrial to post-industrial economic structures.

In that post industrial and post-modern constelation, Western societies are divided into three groups: people with primary education (10 percent), people with secondary education (45-70 percent) and people with tertiary education (30-45 percent). That is a rough demarcation.

Precisely, in the period spanning from 2000 to 2016, the highly educated population (24-64 year-olds) in the United States enlarged from 36 percent up to 46 percent. In United Kingdom, in the same period, that group had increased from 25 percent up to 46 percent of the total population, and in France from 21 percent up to 35 percent. The most progressive countries in that sense are Canada with 56 percent highly educated citizens, and Germany with only 28 percent in 2016.

New educational stratifaction produce new economical and financial stratification. For example, in the U.S. people without a high school diploma have the lowest median earning of 23,500 dollars per year (food cooker, dishwasher, shampoer at hair salon, etc.).

Those with high school diplomas and an associate degree earn about 33,000-44,000 dollars. That includs physical therapists, police officers or loan officers; dental hygienists, diagnostic medical sonographers and others.

Americans with bachelor's (aerospace engineers, computer and information system managers and financial analysts) have median salaries of 55,000; and those with masters degree (marriage and family therapists, physician's assistants, many CEO's) have median salaries of 65,000 dollars per year.

Those with professional degrees (doctors such as general internists, lawyers and pharmacists) have the highest median earnings of 86,000 dollars per year. And those with doctoral degree (physicists, computer and information research scientists, college professors, etc.) earn a median salary of 80,000 per year.

Educational development is a source of rising inequality over the last decades. The Keynesian world, which was dominated by secondary education, in the years after the Second World War, had a stronger foundation for egalitarian policies. Today, with a 40-50 percent highly educated workforce, the situation is totally different and the main characteristic of contemporary ideological conscious is the view that is natural for the more educated to have bigger earnings, even in communitarian cultures like France.

Educational stratification was  according to the author of Where we are?  the basis for populist movements, like Trump or Brexit, which were impossible in the U.S. or U.K. in the morn of the new millenium, when the procent of the highly educated was 10-20 percent smaller than it was in 2016.

It would be a blunder to say that an increasing rate of highly educated population is a "bad" thing, in terms that it produces room for financial inequality. (Not only because you can't stop that process.) Before you think something like that, you must remember that educational and scientific development saved a myriad of lives and lifted them of poverty.

But, in educational and economically divided societies of the West there are lot of people, without high education and well payed jobs, who hold a contemptous attitude toward science, acedemic discourse and a scientific way of thinking, which they identify with the privileged "liberal elite." We saw a lot of that in Trump's and Brexit's campaign: things like denying and minimizing climate change, politically incorrect statements on women, immigrants, muslims or African countries, and other things contrary to the academic politeness and scientific discourse of Hillary Clinton.

That is kind of aggressive defensive mechanism employed by part of the population, which is financially weak, more exposed to unemployment, and is getting smaller. In their eyes "knowledge, " "science, " "reason, " "logic, " "political correctness" and those kind of things are symbols of their lack of power; those phrases are smybols of the power of highly educated with whom they can't compete in the market. Their last harborage are elections and populist movements, as an instrument through which they can impose their will, and fight against certainties.

Like the phenomena which occured in the process of modernization and industrialization (mass literacy; decline of the fertility rate) which always resulted with some kind of "transitional violence, " this process of new educational restructuring is traumatic for some social groups, and that friction is producing unstabilty. But the populist movement, like Trump and Brexit, are temporary phenomema. Every year, in the U.S., France and U.K., the percentage of the highly educated population will increase by 1 percent, and in 8 to 10 years both countries will have an educated majority of 55-60 percent like nowdays in Canada or Russia (sic!), and that would remove ideological polarisation and guarentee certain level of political unity.

In conditions of (creating) new educational stratifaction in the Western countries, China has a very good position, with its poor percentage of highly educated people, which is bellow 20 percent. As a communitarian culture, China functions well with that educational homogeneity, as it shows Chinese economic indicators. The low percentage of highly educated people in China compensates with its demographical mass. By 2020, China aims for 20 percent of its citizens (195 million people) to have higher education degrees, and when that happens, China will have a population of tertiary graduates that is roughly equal in size to the entire projected population of 25-64 year-olds in the United States in 2020.

Germany, as a central European power, has only 28 percent of highly educated in its population which is, as we witness, often enough for technological superiority. But, what will in a social and political sense happen, when it reaches 40 or 45 percent like the U.S. and Britain? In Austria, the percent of highly educated is arround 32 percent and that populist parties are already (partly) in power, having capacities now to implement their disturbing xenophobic policies. But Austria is still secondary; most important will be to see how Germany will react to its 40 percent moment, because even now there is strong populist movements headed by Alternative fur Deutschland, whose success in the last German elections in 2016 was ominous.

Countries with inegalitarian traditions, like Germany or Japan (with already 51 percent)  in Emmanuel Todd's interpretation  bear much with challenges of new educational stratification (and economic inequality) than communitarian cultures like those in France, CEE countries or Russia. In other words, when global, inevitable and only semi-controlled process divides a society, it is much easier for people with inegalitarian mentalities to face it and adjust, than for people with egalitarian and communitarian tradition and mentality. Because of that, Germany's economy works very well nowdays, in contrast to communitarian France, but economic prosperity unfortunately isn't enough for maintaining political stability.





Haris Imamovic (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina) is a political analyst, media consultant and a literary critic. He is an editor of magazine SIC (https://sic.ba/) based in Sarajevo.





Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.




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U.S. President Donald Trump condemned a deadly car bombing attack which took place in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Saturday, said the White House.

The United States is committed to a secure Afghanistan that is free from terrorists, said the White House in a statement released later in the day.

The attack was claimed by the Taliban.

In the statement, Trump called on all the countries to take decisive action against the Taliban and the terrorist infrastructure that supports them.

The suicide bombing has killed 95 people and injured at least 158 others in central Kabul, officials said.

The attack was the deadliest for months and the fifth major terror attack in the country in January. It followed a Taliban attack on a luxury hotel in Kabul a week ago which killed 22 people.
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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 a 300-member electoral college chosen in a popular election. The parties usually nominated their own presidential candidates. 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.

Since the popular presidential vote was introduced in 1988, Finnish presidents have enjoyed such wide popular support that people somewhat tend to forget the presidential powers have been reduced.

For example, during a recent presidential election debate, one of the candidates actually believed that as president she would be appointing the bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. But she was told that prerogative was cancelled in 2000 and the church now elects its bishops on its own.

The current president Sauli Niinisto has also earlier mentioned that the president handles foreign policy "in cooperation with the cabinet", he always makes a small pause before the latter part of the explanation. He thus indicated he considered the president having the upper-hand in the foreign policy sector.
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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.
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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.




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The United Nations (UN) and various countries have strongly condemned Saturday's terrorist attack in the Afghan capital of Kabul, which left at least 95 people dead and 163 others injured.

In a press statement released on Saturday, the UN Security Council said it condemned the attack "in the strongest terms," expressing deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the government of Afghanistan.

Terrorists blew up an ambulance laden with explosives in central Kabul in the deadliest attack for months. The attack, claimed by the Taliban, followed an assault by Taliban militants on a luxury hotel in Kabul a week ago that killed 22 people.

The blast occurred roughly at 12:50 p.m. local time (0820 GMT) in front of Jamhoriat Hospital, where several government offices are located.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah strongly condemned the deadly attack, the fifth major terror attack in the country in January.

The Security Council underlined the need to hold the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice, and urged all states to cooperate actively with the Afghan government as well as all other relevant authorities in this regard.

The council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and reaffirmed the need for all states to combat by all means threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

Earlier Saturday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack in central Kabul, said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric in a statement, expressing solidarity with the government and people of Afghanistan.

"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.

U.S. President Donald Trump has also condemned the attack, saying that the United States is committed to a secure Afghanistan that is free from terrorists, said the White House in a statement released Saturday.

In the statement, Trump called on all the countries to take decisive action against the Taliban and the terrorist infrastructure that supports them.

The French people are trying to show their support by turning off lights on the Eiffel Tower, the country's iconic construction. The tower will have its lights turned off to show solidarity with the victims of the deadly attack, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said Saturday.

"Tonight, at midnight, Eiffel Tower will turn its lights off to pay tribute to the victims of the despicable attack that struck the heart of Kabul," Hidalgo wrote on Twitter.

"Paris city, the Parisians are alongside Afghan people who face again the terrorist barbarism," she added.

Pakistan and India have also strongly condemned the deadliest car bomb attack.

"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," Pakistan's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Muhammad Faisal said Saturday.

"Terrorism is not the way forward," the spokesman wrote on his official Twitter account.

India has described the terrorist attack in Kabul as "barbaric and dastardly."

"There can be no justification for such reprehensible attacks. The perpetrators of these attacks and their supporters should be brought to justice," said a statement issued by India's external affairs ministry.
Thank you, but as I've mentioned before, I have no special, formal education other than high school and the necessary course work needed for apprenticeships in machining and tool&diemaking. Although the introduction of CNC(computerized) machines starting in the 80's requires regular upgrading and has changed a lot of the work from manual to programming/though this is all dumb technology, and manual adjustments still have to be made.



But, I work to live/not live to work! So, on my own time...even back when I was in high school, I was always interested in exploring deeper into history and social and physical sciences than any course work offered. I just wanted to know stuff and have questions answered...the part about making any of this a career choice wasn't really on my radar cause I couldn't envision sitting in a classroom after grade 12 or pursuing an academic career...which was a lot easier back then than it is today, where even major scientists and researchers have turned into prostitutes to try to scare up the funding necessary to pursue any work they consider important. Instead of working for institutions, they're really working for corporate sponsors today!



What's sad is that if I go back a previous generation or two, my father...who came of age just as the Great Depression was starting, only had a grade 5 education...like most farm kids on the east coast; yet he had no trouble reading newspapers(that have actually been dumbed down in recent decades) or important papers, do his own income tax, and when WWII broke out, nearly all the men of conscription age who had that similar grade school education were deemed literate enough and sufficient in basic math to pass the induction tests as enlisted men for the Army or Navy. But, most important, people of my father and mother's generation(who was a little younger) seemed to have a greater desire to learn new things than any generation after the TV age that us boomers grew up in. Educators worried that TV was making us less literate and turning children into passive consumers. All this "smart" technology we have today is even worse! The 'smarter' the technology gets/ the dumber the people become!





Most of us...especially outside the Chicago area didn't know about a certain billionheiress named Penny Pritzker, who has been the power behind the scene of Chicago Democratic Party politics. For reasons that nobody really understood when the 08 campaign got going, she got behind an essentially green candidate, who was brand new on the national scene..just arriving at the right time and providing the fresh face the Party wanted for a Senate candidate. And within a year, he's running for president. And it's not a throwaway campaign to build his name nationally, it's a really serious campaign that gathers big donors on Wall Street in a year when it was assumed to be "Her Turn!" That, and all the big money...so big that Obama opted out of the old, inadequate campaign finance reform for matching funds, and just pocketed twice the money the McCain Campaign could take in in the General Election.



With all that, it was pretty damn obvious that Obama would never prosecute fraud on Wall Street, nor bailout mortgageholders with 'liar loans.' And a Democratic Party that failed to take on Wall Street or help mortgageholders had nothing to offer when the fake "Tea Party" got kicked off by CNBC with attacks on those who were bankrupted by this fraud...not to mention their neighbors likewise ruined as foreclosed houses were abandoned and left for arsonists...destroying property values in neighborhoods consigned for gentrification. America discovered it had a rightwing pro-business party and a do-nothing pro-business party!



Yeah, the worst thing about Trump is that he pretended to be something of an FDR or at least a Teddy Roosevelt- who went after the monopolists directly back at the turn of the century. Part of it was Trump has always been faking how much he is actually worth, and he was looking at achieving high political office as a business opportunity above all else! So, he is even more tightly constrained than the usual opportunist seeking high office, since he doesn't seem to care about anything outside of his own personal needs and he is at least as dumb as Reagan if not stupider!




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.
Christians are united by the recognition of God's grace working in their lives and their baptisms despite the vast differences in their respective churches, Pope Francis said at the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

During an ecumenical evening prayer service on Jan. 25, Pope Francis stood in front of what is thought to be the tomb of St. Paul, together with Anglican Archbishop Bernard Ntahoturi and Orthodox Metropolitan Gennadios of Italy. The pontiff delivered a homily derived from the story about how God had parted the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to pass safely across but later drowned the Pharaoh's troops, the Catholic News Service reported.

Pope Francis said early church theologians saw the miraculous parting of the Red Sea as an image of baptism and explained that sin would have enslaved humanity forever, but the power of God's love drowned out man's sins.

In addition, Pope Francis said believers could learn about the importance of being involved in a community from the story of the Red Sea. Just as St. Paul was pushed by God's grace to seek communion with other Christians when he was converted, modern-day believers also need the same kind of experience in order to grow spiritually.

"When we say we recognize the baptism of Christians from other traditions, we are confessing that they, too, have received the forgiveness of the Lord and his grace is working in them," said Pope Francis. "And we accept their worship as an authentic expression of praise for what God has accomplished."

Earlier this month, Pope Francis taught the faithful about the importance of dialogue in a community where differences exist. He said dialogues help people develop humility and respect toward a community and prevent fear, hatred and violence from being propagated, CNS relayed in a separate report.

In a previous speech, Pope Francis said the only way to cultivate an inclusive society would be to develop understanding and acceptance of the people who come from a different background. He said this applied not only to one's identity but also to religion.
Egypt's Ministry of Housing has allowed unlicensed churches to continue operating while they attempt to obtain their official permits, a decision that was welcomed by many Christians in the country.

In a statement, the Ministry of Housing said the decision intended to make it easier for Christians to have access to places of worship and to ensure that they are able to practice their rights enshrined in the constitution. It is also part of a bid to decrease religiously motivated violence, as some extremist groups in the country have used the churches' lack of official permits as a reason for violent attacks, Al Monitor detailed.

"I have an overall feeling that the Egyptian leadership is paying due attention to Christians and is seeking in every possible way to facilitate their access to places of worship and give them their legal and constitutional rights," former parliamentarian Assad Gamal told Al-Monitor.

However, Gamal also said the culture in Egypt must change to become more tolerant toward others. He said people should learn to support the government efforts to accept others' beliefs so that the sectarian violence in the country would significantly decrease.

As of now, there are at least 250 churches in Egypt that are closed, and some have been shut because of security reasons. Church officials have requested that these churches be allowed to reopen.

Earlier this month, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi showed solidary with the country's persecuted Christians by attending an Orthodox Christmas Liturgy at their new cathedral in the new Administrative Capital. Tens of thousands of soldiers guarded churches across the country during that occasion to ward off possible terror attacks, The Catholic Herald reported.

Sissi, who is a Muslim, delivered a speech conveying a message of love and peace to all people. He emphasized the power of goodness over destruction and violence and told Christians that they were part of Egypt's family.
Agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently arrested two Indonesian Christians seeking sanctuary at a church in New Jersey in a renewed crackdown on illegal immigrants.

According to Reformed Highland Church of Highland Park's Rev. Seth Kaper Dale, the ICE agents arrested the two Indonesian Christians when they brought their kids to school on Thursday, Jan. 25. Harry Pangemanan, a church leader, also called the pastor after seeing a car with tinted windows parked outside his home at 5:45 a.m., WNYC relayed.

Kaper-Dale, who took a live video of some ICE agents knocking on the door before driving away, said he had to take Pangemanan back to the church to seek sanctuary. The latter had previously spent 11 months at the church together with his fellow Indonesian Christians during the Obama administration.

Pangemanan admitted that he had overstayed his visa 25 years ago and that some of his friends who had been in the same situation had already been deported. ICE confirmed that they had arrested two Indonesian Christians recently in New Jersey but did not give more information.

On Jan. 26, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen about the arrest of the two Indonesian Christians. He noted that immigration policies prevent federal agents from executing immigration actions in schools, The Associated Press reported.

"Schools are deemed to be sensitive locations under the policy," Grewal told Kirstjen in his letter. "Here, the fact that ICE arrested two parents as they were driving away from their children's school is deeply upsetting. I am not aware of any exigent or unique circumstances here that would justify such a departure from ICE's settled policy on sensitive locations."

During a news conference on Friday, Gov. Phil Murphy talked about the issue and gave his support to the people who were the subject of ICE's renewed crackdown. He said everyone ought to be reminded that these people had fled from the religious persecution in their home country and were not just in the U.S. for the economic opportunity.
Christians in New Zealand are set to come together in a rally on Jan. 30 to call on the Speaker of the House to bring back Jesus' name in the Parliamentary prayer after it was removed last year.

On Tuesday, Christians will meet at the Parliament building in a lunchtime rally to ask the Speaker of the House to reinstate the name of Jesus in its opening prayer or Te Reo karakia. Speaker Trevor Mallard had implemented a consultation period for the new prayer, which no longer mentions Jesus and the Queen, but the change had already been adopted last year, Jesus for New Zealand detailed in a press release.

"We feel that the church does not have a voice in this change and we are here to change that," said Jesus for New Zealand spokesperson Pastor Ross Smith. "Numbers speak to Parliament and this rally may be the only way to keep Jesus in the prayer, that is why we are calling for all Christians to be a part of this movement."

Pastor Smith, who serves at the Celebration Church Wellington, said Tuesday's event was not a protest against the new Parliament prayer. However, he said they are aiming to gather as many Christians together and urge them to make a stand on the issue.

Some opposition MPs have expressed concern over Mallard's decision to use the new Parliamentary prayer even though the period of consultation is not yet over. The Speaker, on the other hand, said he was still gathering feedback from MPs before making a final decision, Radio New Zealand reported in November.

Abundant Life Church pastor Rasik Ranchord said many of them have made appeals to the Parliament to have the name of Jesus Christ reinstated in the prayer. Hosanna World Outreach pastor Merita Lau Young said the upcoming rally was an opportunity for believers to let their voices be heard.

The Christian rally on Jan. 30 will take place on Parliament grounds. It will run from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The U.S. laws on physician-assisted suicide could later mimic those in Canada or other European countries if Christians do not move and fight back, an evangelical author and disabilities advocate has warned.

In an interview with The Christian Post last week, Joni Eareckson Tada noted that the majority of Americans including evangelicals now consider physician-assisted suicide as a "morally acceptable" choice in the face of terminal illnesses. The 68-year-old founder of Joni and Friends International Disability Center, who was paralyzed at age 17 because of a diving accident, said the U.S. could easily take after other socially progressive countries in the next decade or so.

Tada cited a 2016 LifeWay Research poll which showed that 38 percent of evangelicals thought physician-assisted suicide was morally permissible. For her, this implied that Americans merely want to escape suffering since they "don't know how to deal with it."

Instead of channeling resources into formulating laws on people's right to die, Tada suggested increasing efforts to come up with better pain management and therapies. Terminally ill people, she said, should also be taken out of social isolation. She added that Christians have a special task in the fight against the progression of the laws on physician-assisted suicide.

"If Christians don't [push back], then I see for sure us going the way of certainly Canada or England, hopefully not Belgium or Switzerland, where you can euthanize just if you are depressed," Tada noted.

In a blog post last year for the Gospel Coalition, Tada reflected on God's faithfulness in her life in the middle of her suffering due to her paralysis. She recalled how she used to repeatedly bang her wheelchair into walls because she hated her situation and simply wanted to die, but she ended up triumphing over stage III breast cancer in 2015, the Gospel Herald relayed.

Tada emphasized the power of prayer and the impact of friends who are focused on God. She marveled at how she was able to appreciate the things in life that are more important than walking and using one's hands.

She added: "I really would rather be in this wheelchair knowing Jesus as I do than be on my feet without him."
Comedian John Crist is going to be one of the performers during Winter Jam's Fort Wayne stop that will be held at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 8. It is the first time for the event to include a comedian in its lineup.

For the first time, the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular will feature a comedian in its lineup of performers. Crist does not know how the audience at the contemporary Christian music concert will receive his performance, but he considers it an honor to be part of the event, The News Sentinel relayed.

"This is the first time they've ever had a comedian on the tour," said Crist in a recent phone interview. "It's an honor for me."

Crist admitted that he was challenged by the fact that many of the people at Winter Jam would be there to watch a certain music artist but also said he has to tell the audience about himself --- including his history as a Christian, pastor's son, and worship leader --- so that the listeners will be able to know him. He said he could work a lot of comedy material into all of those stories, plus talk a bit about his faith journey as well.

NewSong vocalist and Winter Jam co-creator Eddie Carswell told the Des Moines Register a few things about the artists featured in this year's event. He said the 2018 tour was their largest event so far, and they are trying to make sure that they cater to the taste of their broad Christian audience.

Carswell also noted that the Winter Jam grows bigger every year, and he expressed interest into seeing the big thing that God was going to do in their tour this year.

The Winter Jam Tour Spectacular on Feb. 8 will headline Skillet and feature other artists including Kari Jobe and Building 429. The ticket to the event will cost $15 per person.

The tour has already passed through several other areas in the United States. Meanwhile, after the show at Fort Wayne, Winter Jam's next stop will be at Cleveland, Ohio.
A good Samaritan chased down and caught a fleeing suspect after a fatal hit-and-run Saturday night in southeast Harris County.

The driver of a four-door silver car was turning left onto West Southmore around 10:15 p.m., when a man in a speeding pickup on Allen Genoa barreled into the intersection, causing a wreck.

The car was mangled and nearly flattened from the impact of the crash, and the driver was reportedly decapitated and died at the scene.

Though the pickup had the right-of-way, the driver hopped out and started running away, witnesses later told Houston police.

Two witnesses chased after the fleeing man and one tackled him to the ground, then held him till police showed up.

Officers arrested the man, who showed "signs and clues of intoxication," according to Houston police Sgt. Robert Klementich.

The surviving driver was not immediately identified, and authorities did not say what charges he might face.
More than 2,500 students, teachers and parents gathered at Minute Maid Park on Saturday morning to raise awareness of the diverse school choices in Houston.

The event, titled Stronger Together, A Celebration of School Choice marks the end of National School Choice Week, a public campaign to make K-12 students and their parents aware of options in education. Kids met Astros mascot Orbit, danced to music from a live DJ and participated in other activities while their parents visited the 30 school booths that were featured.

The only way that we can be free is to be educated in the way in which we believe, said Dr. Steve Perry, a national voice for education reform and the events guest speaker. The root in every revolution is education.

Perry began his speech by saying he was honored because he was in a hall of champions. He said it was not the World Series-winning Astros he was referring to, but the gathering of teachers, parents and kids supporting school choice.

You have an obligation as champions to rise up, to stand with something, Perry said. When we put our hands on our hearts and we play the music to the flag of the United States of America and the republic for which it stands, that republic should be for every single child, not just kids who have money.

Perry said he believes preparation for college is a necessity for all students, and an expectation for all parents. Perry said over 65 percent of all jobs by 2020 will require a college degree.

Some speakers at the event were parents of children who have been benefited from Houstons many school options. Shree Medlock, director of parent and community engagement for Texans for Quality Public Charter Schools, delivered her story of where her passion for education originated.

Medlocks son was about to enter the sixth grade, but struggled in public school with his reading skills. Medlock had just joined the Black Alliance for Educational Options, and the group discussed becoming more engaged in a childs education. After realizing her potential, Medlock was able to quit her job and got all the support she could to help her son.

She refused to put her son in alternative classes, helped him catch up in reading lessons, and today he is a college graduate. Medlock then sought to help other families going through similar struggles with education.

We need to have all types of options and parents need to understand what they are, Medlock said. Kids fail everyday in the best private school and do very well at the worst public school.

Many families at the rally were either representing their Houston schools or searching for a new school for their children. Patricia Jasso, the proud mother of a KIPP Polaris Academy for Boys student, wants other Houston parents to know they have many education options.

I am grateful that when I started my research for my son I found KIPP, Jasso said. Hes doing wonderful there and Im excited about bringing more awareness to it.

Jasso said her son Jacob is a typical 10-year-old boy, but his old school was not the best for his education. She says at KIPP his teachers are much more dedicated to him, which helps cater to Jacobs strengths.

They know what he likes to do, they know what bores him, they know what inspires him," Jasso said. "Its something that I wasnt able to have before.

James McIngvale, better known as the Houston icon Mattress Mack, was honored for his frequent city philanthropy work and received the 2018 Champion for Choice award. McIngvale said he was very lucky to receive a great education in Texas and believes that is one of the reasons he is successful.

We need competition so your child can go to the best possible school, Mcingvale said. We need to make the public schools better. We need to make the private schools better. We need to make the charter schools better.

Margot Balanos, a junior at Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory of Houston, spoke about the advantages switching schools have given her. Balanos attended a small charter school till the eighth grade, and was faced with the decision of which high school to choose. A college fair introduced her to Cristo Rey, and she says that becoming part of their 2019 class has brought success to her life.

I learned how to use my knowledge far beyond the classroom and in the corporate world, Balanos said. I have to learn how to shake hands, dress professionally and have a work etiquette."

Balanos thanked her schools work study program, which has helped her work at Texas Childrens Hospital and get into a summer program through the Council on International Educational Exchange, where she will be studying in Tokyo.

Make the educational choice that is right for you and will help you grow as the best version of yourself, Balanos.
A juvenile male shot himself in the leg Saturday evening in southwest Houston, according to the Houston police department.



Near 9 p.m. Saturday, HPD reported via a tweet that a preliminary investigation determined the wounded youth was not shot by someone else, but had reportedly found the gun, which accidentally discharged. The investigation is ongoing.



Police initially responded to a 5:50 p.m. call about an unidentified suspect shooting a young man's leg in the 4400 block of West Airport Boulevard near a convenience store. The victim sustained no life-threatening injuries and was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital. Authorities had been searching for three men in a black car, according to police.








The Houston Symphony won its first ever Grammy Award on Sunday for a critically lauded recording of Alban Berg's "Wozzeck." "Berg: Wozzeck" won best opera recording. Not only was it the symphony's first ever Grammy win, it was its first ever nomination.

The album is credited to conductor Hans Graf, who also produced along with engineer Brad Sayles. Also credited are soloists Anne Schwanewilms & Roman Trekel, and the Houston Grand Opera Children's Chorus.
Three young children were found early Monday after being kidnapped in a stolen vehicle overnight, Houston police said.

About 2 a.m., the black Honda CR-V was stolen from a Shell gas station at Beechnut and Beltway 8, in Houston's Chinatown area, when a mother left the car running to go inside to pay for gas, said Houston Police Department Lt. Larry Crowson. The children inside the car were 4, 7 and 8 years old.
A would-be burglar was shot in northern Harris County early Sunday when he was allegedly caught breaking into a ballroom.

A worker inside the Matamoros Ballroom in the 10300 block of Jensen heard someone trying to force their way into the building around 1:30 a.m., according to authorities.
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.
More than 150 women and girls came forward in a Michigan courtroom to confront Larry Nassar, the former gymnastics doctor who was sentenced Wednesday to 40 to 175 years in prison for molesting people under the guise of medical treatment. Nassar worked at Michigan State and USA Gymnastics, the governing body that also trains Olympians. Nassar pleaded guilty to assaulting seven people in the Lansing area, but the sentencing hearing was open to all of his accusers. Here are excerpts of some victims' statements from his seven-day sentencing hearing.

Sterling Riethman, 25, saw Nassar at the age of 20 when she was a diver at Dennison University in Ohio. She told Nassar that he might not fully grasp what he has caused.

"You've created an army of warrior women. This army doesn't have a white flag to wave. There is no white flag to wave when it comes to protecting little girls and their future."

She also talked about how the molestation has affected her.

"What people don't realize is the sheer muscle it takes in order to face the world with a smile on. To stay focused with the task at hand on any given day and to try and hold on to even a shred of the former me that my friends and family know and love. Those people see the fleeting good moments from what an otherwise ugly reality that has been this past year of my life. They don't see the frustrating the exhaustion, the sadness, the emotional and physical trauma that haunts my every day and every move."

Gymnast Rachael Denhollander was among the first victims in September 2016 to publicly accuse Nassar of molesting her. She was the last of Nassar's accusers to speak at his sentencing hearing. She said at 15 she went to him suffering from back pain and was sexually assaulted for a year under the guise of medical treatment. During her statement she at times spoke directly to Nassar.

"You have become a man ruled by selfish and perverted desires, a man defined by his daily choices over and over again to feed that selfishness and perversion. You chose to pursue your wickedness no matter what it cost others."

The first victim to speak was Kyle Stephens, who said Nassar repeatedly abused her from age 6 until age 12 during family visits to his home in Holt, Michigan.

"I testified to let the world know that you are a repulsive liar and those 'treatments' were pathetically veiled sexual abuse," she said. "Perhaps you have figured it out by now, but little girls don't stay little forever. They grow into strong women that return to destroy your world."

A 2000 Olympian, Jamie Dantzscher, looked at Nassar as she said: "How dare you ask any of us for forgiveness."

"Your days of manipulation are over," she added. "We have a voice. We have the power now."

Clasina Syrovy, who competed as a gymnast for 15 years, fought back tears as she confronted him.

"Larry, how many of us are there? Do you even know?" she said. "You preyed on me, on us. You saw a way to take advantage of your position - the almighty and trusted gymnastics doctor. Shame on you, Larry. Shame on you."

Syrovy said speaking up will allow her to move forward.

"After today, I will not cry anymore," she told Nassar. "I am done. ... You are a disaster."

Physical therapist and former gymnast Marta Stern spoke on the fifth day of the hearing, saying she originally wanted to remain anonymous "out of fear of how it would affect my life, my loved ones and my career."

"However, I will no longer let you have control over me. I will not let you win," she told Nassar.

Melissa Imrie said she was assaulted in 1997, when she was 12, after breaking her tailbone. She described the severe depression, sleeplessness and other issues that plagued her for years.

"Everybody's story that I listened to today is just an echo of everything that I've went through. They're just speaking like it's my voice."

She said she wants young athletes "to be safe from sexual predators, from this kind of abuse."

Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman initially said she wouldn't attend the hearing because it would be too traumatic, but the 23-year-old later showed up in court and spoke directly to Nassar.

"You have not taken gymnastics away from me. I love this sport, and that love is stronger than the evil that resides in you, in those who enabled you to hurt many people," Raisman said.

Emma Ann Miller, 15, said Michigan State University was still billing her mother for medical appointments in which Nassar molested Miller as recently as August 2016 - a week before he was fired.

In her statement to the court, Miller directly addressed Michigan State.

"I, like all those that have spoken, didn't choose this circumstance to have the right to be standing in front of this podium today. Nassar made that choice for us - your 20-year child-molesting employee."

Former gymnast Lindsey Lemke, 22, was among the victims criticizing USA Gymnastics and Michigan State president Lou Anna Simon. The school is being sued by dozens of women who say campus officials wrote off complaints about Nassar.

Referring to Simon, she said: "Guess what? You're a coward, too."

And to Nassar: "You sit up here shake your head back and forth. You abused us and you don't even remember. That's sickening."

Marion Siebert described the ordeal that victims like herself will face going forward.

"Every time someone Googles them, for the rest of their lives, they will see the sickening things we're talking about here today. When they apply for a job, when they go on a first date, they won't be able to be the ones to fully make the choice on when to talk about what happened."

Sisters Maddie and Kara Johnson both gave statements about being abused by Nassar.

"He was the doctor. I was the child. I had no idea what to think," Maddie Johnson said. "For the longest time, you deprived me of my happiness. Because of you, every time I hear someone call me, 'Kiddo,' I think of the face you made when you were abusing me."

Her sister said: "I will never be able to get back what you have so effortlessly taken. ... After this is all over, I can be a senior in high school again."

Oklahoma gymnast Maggie Nichols' mother read her statement. Gina Nichols said it would be too painful for her 20-year-old daughter to attend. The young woman went to Nassar for treatment of back pain when she was 15.

"I remember he took me into the training room, closed the door and closed the blinds. At the time I thought this was kind of weird but figured it must be OK. I trusted what he was doing at first, but then he started touching me in places I really didn't think he should.

"He didn't have gloves on and he didn't tell me what he was doing. There was no one else in the room and I accepted what he was doing because I was told by adults that he was the best doctor and he could help relieve my pain."

Nicole Reeb said she sought treatment from Nassar, hoping that he would help her compete as a dancer in high school and college.

"I have spent my entire adult life crawling my way through the aftermath of being sexually abused."

Gymnast Katie Rasmussen said she was abused when she went to Nassar for treatment of a hamstring injury.

"No one did anything because no one believed me. They didn't understand how such a respectable doctor would do something like that. And I don't understand how a 14-year-old could make that up."

Alexis Alvarado said she was abused by Nassar in her first session with him when she was 12. In her statement, she referenced statements Nassar made in a letter to Judge Rosemarie Aquilina that were critical of her handling of the case.

"This is not Judge Aquilina's so-called 'circus' that you called it. This is your hell. And I hope you burn in it."
Reportable criminal incidents at the Conroe Independent School District rose by 46 percent in 2016-17 over the previous school year, according to district officials.

Of the 57 incidents, 36 of them involved a felony controlled substance, statistics provided by the district revealed.

During the annual performance report presentation at the Jan. 18 Conroe ISD Board of Trustees meeting, Dr. Curtis Null, deputy superintendent of schools, said that the majority of the drugs found were "coming straight out of mom and dad's medicine cabinet."

"(Prescription drugs) Continues to be our number one incident," Null said. "It's prescription drugs that students are bringing from home."

While the district boasts mostly high academic achievement across its campuses, Null said, "Occasionally students make a bad choice and find themselves in a little bit of trouble."

The 57 total incidents reported took place across 13 campuses, including the five high schools, seven junior high and intermediate schools and at least one elementary school.

At Houser Elementary School, the district reported one aggravated assault on a student.

More Information Conroe ISD 2016-17 Campus Criminal Incident Report High Schools Conroe High School - Firearm: 2 - Prohibited Weapon: 1 - Felony Controlled Substance: 5 The Woodlands High School - Indecency with a child: 1 - Sexual assault of student: 1 - Felony controlled substance: 5 Oak Ridge High School - Sexual assault of student: 1 - Felony controlled substance: 13 Caney Creek High School - Prohibited Weapon: 1 - Indecency withy a child: 1 - Felony controlled substance: 6 College Park High School - Firearm: 1 - Arson: 1 - Aggravated assault on student: 1 - Felony controlled substance: 3 Junior High Schools Peet JHS Illegal knife: 1 Indecency with a child: 1 Aggravated assault on student: 1 Felony controlled substance: 2 Washington JHS Prohibited weapon: 1 Indecency with a child: 1 York JHS Aggravated assault on student: 1 Moorhead JHS Indecency with a child: 1 McCullough JHS Firearm: 1 Felony controlled substance: 1 Irons: JHS Indecency with a child: 1 * Other campuses: Cryar Intermediate had one felony controlled substance report. Houser Elementary School reported one aggravated assault on a student. See More Collapse

Twenty-one of the incidents ranged from reports of a prohibited weapon, illegal knives or firearms to six reports of indecency with a child and two instances of sexual assault of a student, according to the 2016-17 report.

At least one of the incidents on this year's report was a transfer-in from another district that showed up on the report when a student moved, Null added.

The total number of reportable incidents this year rose from 39 incidents in 2015-16, according to information from the district.

During that school year, 32 of the cases involved felony controlled substances.

Reportable criminal incidents were 33 percent higher in 2014-2015 than in the next year, sitting at 59 total, where 48 of the incidents involved drug use, district data showed.

Conroe ISD police Sgt. Matthew Blakelock said fluctuations in criminal incidents over time is fairly common.

"You're going to see that," Blakelock said. "There are different times of the year where activity is down. For instance, with drug incidents, kids very often with a lot of their behavior, it comes in waves."

That can happen when a new type of illicit drug starts getting pushed toward children, Blakelock said.

"You will see more instances of kids getting involved in that in the community and odds are that you are going to see an increase in the schools," Blakelock added.

Other times, it can be as simple as a child bringing his prescription mood medication in a plastic baggie to school, he said.

Either way, the district will conduct an investigation to determine whether the child should be in possession of that drug, Blakelock said.

And while incidents of sexual assault on a student or indecency with a child are rare, the district and the police department do take them seriously, Blakelock said.

"Anytime that something like that is reported, it is automatically something that the police department is involved in," he said, adding that victims go through Children's Safe Harbor for assessment and, depending on the case, a suspect-whether that is an adult or another student-could be charged with a crime.

Last year, the district reported a total of four firearm offenses.

"We immediately investigate any report of weapons on campus," he said. "Whether it's solid or just a tip. We go to great lengths to make sure the schools are safe."

From interviewing students and reviewing camera footage to bringing in Clara, the district police department's explosive-sniffing K9 dog unit, "we are going to act very fast to determine whether or not that weapon exists on campus," Blakelock said.

"The caveat to that is that it's an extremely rare occurrence," Blakelock said.
Two men were shot when one allegedly tried robbing the other Saturday night in the Spring Branch area, according to police.

Houston police rushed to the 10500 block of Hammerly around 10 p.m. and found two wounded men in the parking lot outside the Spring Woods Village apartments.
A convicted killer allegedly admitted to slaying his cellmate this month in a Texas prison outside of Houston.

Alfred Brosig was already doing a life sentence for capital murder when officials say he confessed to murdering 57-year-old Kenneth Johnson at the Ramsey I Unit, according to Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jason Clark.

Around 9 p.m. on Jan. 17, the 48-year-old Bexar County man approached staff at the Rosharon lock-up to tell them that he'd murdered his cellmate, Clark said.

It was the first inmate homicide of the year in Texas prisons.

Afterward, as Brosig was escorted out of the cell, he blew "farewell kisses to an imaginary audience," according to a letter another inmate housed on the same unit sent to activists on the outside.

Staff called 911 and paramedics tried saving the slain man, authorities said. He still had a radio cord wrapped around his neck, fellow prisoner Jason Renard Walker wrote.

Brosig, who has since been transferred to the Jester IV psychiatric unit, has a slew of prior convictions including four others that netted prison stays. His most recent charge, for a 2002 capital murder, brought him back to TDCJ in 2004.

Johnson, who came to prison from Navarro County in 2013, was serving an 18-year sentence for engaging in organized criminal activity.

TDCJ's Office of the Inspector General is investigating, Clark said.

Note: This story has been updated to clarify information attributed to Jason Walker.
Authorities have issued a warrant for the suspect in a shooting that killed one man and injured two others outside a northwest Houston food store Friday night.

Judas Deluna, 21, was charged Saturday for the capital murder of Rahman Rupani, 30, the Harris County Sheriff's Office said.

Deluna is still at large, the department said, and should be considered armed and dangerous.

Investigators say Deluna began firing after a fight broke out near a taco stand by the DJ Food Store on the corner of Veterans Memorial Drive and Bammel North Houston Road.

Lt. Joe Ambriz said at a news conference Friday evening that the incident began as an altercation between several men at the stand.

Ambriz said Rupani, whose father owns the food store, was inside the store and heard the commotion, investigators said. He ventured outside, was struck by gunfire, and later died. The third victim also came out of the store and was struck in the leg.

Court records show Deluna was indicted for aggravated assault in 2015, a charge that was later dropped to a misdemeanor terroristic threat charge. Court records show he threatened a woman with a firearm in that incident.

He was sentenced to 60 days in Harris County jail for that offense.

The same year, he received community supervision after pleading guilty to evading a Harris County deputy in his car. That case was re-opened last year after Deluna violated the terms of his plea agreement, court records show.

He posted a $10,000 bond for that offense on Dec. 12.

Anyone with information on the incident is urged to call Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).
More people than ever were watching when the Space Shuttle Challenger launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., 32 years ago today.

Jan. 28, 1986, marked a day when space flight truly was open to any civilian with a dream, stirring excitement in children across America: Christa McAuliffe, a teacher and mother of two, was strapped into the Challenger, with plans of giving lessons in orbit.

But she and her six crewmembers never made it. Just 73 seconds into its flight, Challenger exploded over the Atlantic Ocean, killing the entire crew and rocking America to its core.

The accident, traced back to the day's unusually cold temperatures degrading the seals on the boosters, grounded the Space Shuttle program for three years as the country grappled with what had happened.

Technical and culture changes were recommended to NASA in those three years, but America's love affair with space flight was harder to repair, according to a Jan. 25 post on the History Channel's website.

"Challenger was the beginning of the end in a lot of ways. The nation that had watched NASA land men on the moon just 11 years after its inception expected a space station, Mars missions and even space tourism in short order," the post states. "Instead it got a problematic vehicle that failed to deliver on its promises and a harsh reminder that spaceflight isn't air travel. It may never be truly routine, and the average person may never have a chance to see the Earth from orbit."

But three decades later, the Challenger's seven crewmembers are remembered and honored for their bravery and service to their country -- and regular civilians have returned to spaceflight.

On Thursday, NASA held its annual day of remembrance at Cape Canaveral for all astronauts killed in the line of duty, including those who died during the Challenger disaster. In Houston, a tree was planted in memorial on Johnson Space Center grounds.

Today, there are two teachers-turned-astronauts living on the International Space Station. Like McAuliffe had planned to do, they are teaching lessons from the space station.

And those two astronauts, Joe Acaba and Ricky Arnold, will honor McAuliffe over the next few months by carrying out some of her original lesson plans on the space station, according to the Challenger Center, a nonprofit founded by the families of those who died during the accident.

"Filming Christa McAuliffe's lessons in orbit this year is an incredible way to honor and remember her and the Challenger crew," said Mike Kincaid, associate administrator for NASA's Office of Education, in a center news release. "Developed with such care and expertise by Christa, the value these lessons will have as new tools available for educators to engage and inspire students in STEM is what will continue to advance a true legacy of Challenger's mission."

Alex Stuckey covers NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The existence of an FBI/DOJ Secret Society plotting to bring down President Trump has been debunked. But by promoting the conspiracy theory, some Republican members of Congress did prove there exists a Tin Hat-Trump Toady Society, to which they belong.

The Republican office holders had seized on an FBI lawyer's email reference to a "secret society," and news of missing FBI emails, as smoking gun evidence of the FBI plotting against Trump in collusion with Democrats.

The "secret society" reference was made by FBI lawyer Lisa Page to FBI agent Peter Strzok in an email exchange.

"Are you even going to give out your calendars? Seems kind of depressing. Maybe it should just be the first meeting of the secret society," Page asked Strzok.

It was a stand alone message, singled out by a member of Congress from hundreds of messages the FBI had released to Congress. No context was given, so it was unknown if the comment was made in jest.

Simultaneously, it was revealed several months-worth of FBI emails belonging to Page, Strzok and other agents had turned up missing. A recent technical upgrade/change over was suspected as the culprit.

Sen. Ron Johnson,Chairman of the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee, saw smoke and sounded like he took a long toke of conspiracy cannabis.

"What this is all about is further evidence of corruption, more than bias, but corruption at the highest levels of the FBI. And that secret society, we have -- we have an informant that's talking about a group they were holding secret meetings off- site. There's so much smoke here. There so much suspicion," Johnson told Fox News.

Turns out the "secret society" comment in the email was made in jest, as suspected. Page was referencing a calendar featuring the photos of a bare-chested Vladimir Putin in the outdoors, given as a gag gift to agents working on the Russian investigation.

Johnson dropped his tin foil sword and quickly retreated. He no longer mentioned the "informant" he had been citing. Was it Alex Jones, Sean Hannity or one of the "Fox and Friends" co-hosts?

The true context of the email was learned after the Inspector General for the Department of Justice had recovered the months of missing emails from Page, Strzok and other members of the DOJ.

The same DOJ Inspector General had uncovered the initial Page-Strzok emails in which they derided Trump, alerting Robert Mueller, who promptly removed Strzok from the investigation. Page had already left, if she hadn't, Mueller would have removed her as well.

Republican members of Congress have been recklessly demeaning the FBI and Department of Justice. But it was the DOJ's own Inspector General who exposed Page and Strzok misconduct, and upon learning of it, Robert Mueller, a life-long Republican himself, immediately removed Strzok.

Allegations that the FBI is biased against Trump in favor of Hillary Clinton are ludicrous when Hillary Clinton and her Democratic supporters have repeatedly blamed the FBI and James Comey for her loss.

Sen Johnson has justifiably been ridiculed for the "secret society" claims. But Johnson isn't the Chairman of the Congressional Tin Hat-Trump Toady Society, that dishonor belongs to Rep. Devin Nunes.

This cartoon was first posted in March, 2017

Nunes supposedly had recused himself from the House Russian Investigation. But instead, he's been the main Trump tool in the House to try and discredit the FBI, DOJ and Mueller to protect 'Stormy Donald.'

House Speaker Paul Ryan gets an honorary Co-Chairman Tin Hat for allowing Nunes to make a mockery of House ethics rules and the Intelligence Committee, all in an effort to protect the President who is quickly becoming the worst in U.S. history.

Rep. Joe Kennedy III is going to give the Democratic response to Tuesday's State of the Union address. How long after he speaks will the Nunes Nuts in Congress claim President Kennedy faked the moon landing?
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Brian O'Connell, Live Nation's head of country touring and creator of the Country Megaticket, likes to speak in metaphors.

"When you go to your favorite steakhouse, and they have nine different steaks on the menu, you usually get just one,'' said O'Connell, calling from his Nashville office.

That's O'Connell's way of explaining why this year's installment of the Country Megaticket in Cleveland includes only six shows, as it was in 2017. Just two years ago, that number was 13.

To extend O'Connell's metaphor, as it were, while the menu may have been pared, the entrees are just as tasty.

That they are. This year's feast begins with Kenny Chesney on June 6, followed by Brad Paisley and Hank Williams Jr. as co-headliners on July 5. Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker share headliner chores on July 20, Keith Urban is in the top spot on Aug. 10, Rascal Flatts is back to Blossom after a one-year hiatus on Aug. 17, and Jason Aldean closes out the Megaticket season on Aug. 23.

Of course, those aren't all the country shows at Blossom or in the area. The Zac Brown Band is due at Blossom on Aug. 2, for example. Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell and Dierks Bentley are the big three in June's multiday Countryfest in North Lawrence, and some other Nashville-based regulars have yet to announce their summertime gigs or are taking a little time off.

"Zac has always marched to his own drum and likes to put his shows on sale all at once,'' O'Connell said. That meant his gigs were revealed before the Megaticket announcement last week.

This smaller menu is both "a consideration and a calculated accident,'' said O'Connell.

"Three or four years ago, we had more, and it was just too much,'' he said. "We still sold fine, but we kind of found the sweet spot with not overcrowding the market and still having plenty of value.''

That's true. Those six shows - technically featuring eight headliners, plus some opening acts that have real potential to be headliners in a year or two - mean it's easier on a ticket buyer's wallet.

"What really gets the volume driving is the lawn,'' said O'Connell. "The lawn at Blossom is a special experience when you're hanging out in the summertime. It can be great and memorable.''

A single lawn ticket, on sale now at ticketmaster.com and by phone at 1-800-745-3000, is $175 plus fees. That's about $30 per ticket, pretty reasonable considering the average price of concert ticket is $84.63, according to statista.com.

One thing that's NOT a factor in the "shrinkage'' of the Megaticket bill is the resurgence of rock concerts in Cleveland, said both O'Connell and his local colleague, Live Nation's Cleveland-based Barry Gabel.

Yes, we did manage to score shows by U2, Guns N' Roses and Kanye West in 2017, and the area is on tap for gigs by the Foo Fighters, Lady Gaga and other big-draw non-country acts this year.

"[It has] nothing to do with other genres,'' said O'Connell. "You've got some acts in country that are spacing tours out a little bit wider. Florida Georgia Line is not working that much, but this year we get Keith Urban back.

"The overarching conversation has nothing to do with Cleveland as a bigger rock town,'' he said. "Cleveland's always been a giant rock town.''

That doesn't necessarily mean something like a rock 'n' roll Megaticket would work here, nor is it likely that a winter or fall version of an indoor Megaticket would be as successful.

"The biggest problem I have is content,'' said O'Connell. "We make hay in the sunshine [and] summer tours lend themselves to this.

"In country, we kind of work from January to the ACMs (Academy of Country Music Awards), take a break and hit it in May, getting outdoors in mid-May, then buttoning it up around the CMAs (Country Music Association Awards),'' he said.

So, to return to the steak metaphor, think of the Megaticket as paralleling a barbecue pitmaster's season. Sure, you can cook outside in 20-degree weather, but it's not the peak season.

"We can count,'' O'Connell joked. "We know that there's 13 weeks between Memorial and Labor Day. "Six out of the 13 weeks, we've got these shows.''

Just in time to break out the grill.



2018 Country Megaticket

Acts: Kenny Chesney, with Old Dominion, Wednesday, June 6; Brad Paisley and Hank Williams Jr., with Dan Tyminski, Thursday, July 5; Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker, with Russell Dickerson, Friday, July 20; Keith Urban, with Kelsea Ballerini, Friday, Aug. 10; Rascal Flatts, with Dan + Shay, Carly Pearce, Friday, Aug. 17; and Jason Aldean, with Luke Combs, Lauren Alaina, Thursday, Aug. 23.

Tickets/Levels: Lawn, $175; bronze, upper reserved pavilion seat, $375; gold, reserved covered upper pavilion seat, $495; platinum, $795, reserved covered lower pavilion seat (includes premier parking pass), available online at ticketmaster.com and by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Information: megaticket.com.


CLEVELAND, Ohio-- Hospitals that follow common practices for hiring and credentialing new doctors can still fail to uncover previous allegations of sexual assault.

Dr. Ryan Williams

Williams, who left the Clinic in June, was accused by two women of anal rape during medical procedures at the hospital's Westlake offices, according to police and court records. The women told police the assaults happened over a nine-month period in 2008 and 2009. Williams has not been charged with a crime and faced no discipline by the Clinic. A civil claim of assault, battery and negligence against the doctor and the Clinic stemming from the first case was confidentially settled in 2009.

OSU says it learned of the allegations from a USA Today reporter who spoke with one of Williams' accusers, not from the Clinic or from the Williams during hiring or credentialing, the process that grants privileges to doctors to practice within an institution. There have not been any complaints against Williams since he's been at OSU, according to records from the state medical board.

OSU's hiring of Williams, and its apparent lack of knowledge about his past, comes amid a broader national reckoning over how sexual misconduct allegations are handled in every profession. And it illuminates the many ways the existing disciplinary, legal and hiring systems keep such allegations out of the public eye.

Even when physician sexual assault or accusations of assault are reported to police or employers the cases often don't trigger one of the outcomes that would end up on a doctor's employment record or in the national databases that hospitals consult to complete background checks. That leaves employers free to pass along their problems, accusers feeling betrayed and patients with no assurance of safety.

Outcomes after allegations

Allegations of sexual assault against a doctor can trigger a number of outcomes that would show up during most hiring and credentialing processes that hospitals use to grant privileges to practice in their facilities. These include formal disciplinary action by the employer or medical board, action on a medical license, criminal charges, or a malpractice payment.

In the case of Williams, though, none of the typical employment checks would have unearthed the rape allegations against him, despite the multiple investigations, the civil lawsuit and the complaints to police and the hospital's ombudsman.

In 2008, when Lachelle Duncan reported that Williams raped her during a medical procedure, Westlake police investigated, in cooperation with the Clinic's police department. Duncan completed a rape kit, which along with other DNA evidence taken, was inconclusive, according to police reports.

Williams was not disciplined by the Clinic, the hospital said, because he passed a polygraph test, which was used as evidence presented to the Cuyahoga County grand jury, and because the grand jury declined to indict Williams on criminal charges.

In the course of an interview with the Clinic's police department, Williams volunteered that there may be semen in the exam room where he treated Duncan because he sometimes masturbated there and in other parts of the office "in order to relieve stress," according to a police report.

Williams could not recall any hospital discipline for this behavior, he told The Plain Dealer. The Clinic declined to comment.

Williams said that after the Duncan investigation, a hospital staff member counseled him that "it was helpful to [Williams]" to have a chaperone in the room during every exam and procedure. Duncan had been alone with Williams. Williams said he could not recall which Clinic staff member had this conversation with him. After that, he said he was never alone with patients, though he doesn't remember if there were any formal written guidelines prescribing this.

Kristin Fehr, who went to see Williams for a procedure 10 months after Duncan and later told police she was raped in a similar manner, disputes this. Williams brought her into an exam room alone in February of 2009, she told police, gave her two white pills, and told her to take them right away.

Fehr filed a complaint with the Clinic's ombudsman in 2014 when memories of what happened in the office returned to her, she said. She expected Williams would be fired.

Fehr's case was referred to Westlake police and the county prosecutor's office declined to present the cases together to a grand jury, saying they would have to be separated at trial and were not strong enough on their own, according to a police report. The hospital did not discipline Williams.

National Practitioner Data Bank

When criminal charges aren't filed and a hospital's internal peer review system doesn't take disciplinary action against a doctor, there are only a handful of other ways a new employer would automatically find out about sexual misconduct.

One is the National Practitioner Data Bank , a database of medical malpractice payments, adverse licensure, clinical privileges and professional society membership actions taken against doctors and other healthcare providers. Hospitals are required by federal law to check the data bank when their medical staffs are considering granting privileges to a new doctor.

The same law also requires all medical malpractice payments, whether paid by a hospital's insurance or a doctor's, to be reported to the data bank, even if they're settled confidentially. Suits settled with private payments by doctors themselves do not have to be reported.



There are very few sexual assault-related malpractice payments made on behalf of healthcare practitioners, according to data provided by the government's Health Resources and Services Administration.

Since the data bank has been available in 1990, only 490 have been reported, less than one-tenth of a percent of the more than 438,400 malpractice payments recorded. The same is true for adverse actions taken against practitioners by their hospitals or state medical boards: 7,147 cases of 769,080 reported in the same time period.

Malpractice attorneys say they seldom see these cases because malpractice insurance doesn't pay on claims for intentional harm such as rape and assault, and because they're "absolutely, without a doubt underreported," said Cleveland trial attorney Romney Cullers

Cullers said that when patients do seek compensation in civil court, attorneys often turn them away because malpractice cases are expensive to litigate, sometimes more than $150,000 per case. It can be risky for a patient to sue for intentional harm without the doctor's or hospital's insurance available to pay for a potential verdict or settlement for the victim.

"I might think a lawsuit should be brought, but I can't take it on principle," he said. "It would put me out of business. And most people don't have $100,000 of litigation money lying around."

Even when malpractice claims are brought in sexual assault cases due to the negligence of the doctor or the hospital, the statute of limitations is short, from one year to 10 years, depending on the state, and sexual assault and rape reporting is often delayed.

Both women who accused Williams of rape ran into this obstacle in Ohio, where patients only have a year to file a malpractice claim. Duncan was able to sue Williams and the Clinic however, by filing a tort, or intentional harm, claim, for assault, battery and negligence, according to court records. The statute of limitations on these claims is two years.

Duncan declined to comment due to the confidentiality agreement she signed with the Clinic. Federal law did not require her case to be reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank because it was a tort claim, not a malpractice payment.

Fehr, who came forward years later, could no longer file a malpractice or tort claim.

She did, though, file a complaint with the State Medical Board of Ohio shortly after contacting the Clinic in 2014. She received an emailed response from the board in May of 2016 saying it was not taking action based on her complaint due to insufficient evidence, but that the board sometimes uses "education, training or other non-disciplinary means as an opportunity for the licensee to improve his/her practice." The board also said in the email that it may take future action if other complaints were received and that it would retain Fehr's complaint.

Complaints that do not result in board action are not reported to the data bank and remain confidential. Williams has had no state medical board actions against his license to date, a fact that OSU or any other employer would have found during the hiring and credentialing process.

Peers and previous employers

Hospitals can uncover some of the allegations of sexual assault and misconduct that manage to escape the national data bank, but only if they dig a little deeper than most.

Hospital credentialing committees, which are typically composed of a representative swath of specialist doctors, are allowed to dig further when reviewing an applicant's experience and education.

Dr. E. Luke Bold, chair of Lake Health's credentialing committee, said the hospital's credentialing committee routinely checks civil and criminal court records in the counties where the applicant has worked to see if there are cases or settlements that may not have shown up in the national data bank. The data bank, he said, "is not totally comprehensive."

"We scour the dockets. We want to make sure we're not missing something and that the candidate is not withholding something from us," said Bold, an ENT specialist.

It's up to each hospital how deeply they delve, said Michael Shroge , head of the medical malpractice group at Plevin & Gallucci in Cleveland and former Cleveland Clinic associate general counsel.

Probing beyond the basics of malpractice payments, formal disciplinary actions and criminal background checks probably isn't the norm, said Ann Bittinger , a Florida-based healthcare attorney who also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Health Lawyers Association.

"It is not reasonable to expect Hospital #2 to know via its credentialing process that there was a confidential sexual assault settlement between patient and physician for an alleged assault at Hospital #1 or elsewhere," Bittinger said.

Hospitals can consult with previous employers and colleagues, Shroge said, but answering questions beyond a doctor's employment dates, position and any sanctions could open a previous employer up to a defamation lawsuit. In the U.S., employers aren't legally required to reveal misconduct when a prospective employer calls.

"That's very dangerous territory for an employer, because a former employee could potentially sue for providing information that has nothing to do with the hard facts of their employment," Shroge said.

The Clinic says it provides dates of employment, any clinical restrictions, and position held to organizations seeking background information on its doctors. It also says it never received a request from Williams for any documentation of the allegations against him that could be provided to potential employers. OSU, for its part, said it followed all legal background check requirements and requested three peer review evaluations from Williams' former colleagues at the Clinic.

"Our preliminary review indicates that our hiring processes were followed appropriately in the hiring of Dr. Williams," Dr. Andrew Thomas, chief clinical officer of OSU's Wexner Medical Center, told The Plain Dealer.

Where this leaves patients

When OSU hired Williams, Fehr learned of the doctor's new position when a friend alerted her to the doctor's updated LinkedIn employment profile.

She had hoped when Williams left the Clinic a few months earlier that he had been finally been disciplined and forced to leave. The Clinic has said the move was unrelated.

"I felt angry and a little hopeless, knowing that they weren't taking such a basic step to protect others," Fehr said. "I was horrified that Williams got another job so easily."

Fehr's frustration is shared by others who told The Plain Dealer they have reported their sexual assault by doctors and watched while the doctors continue to practice, often moving to different facilities.

"It raises the question of how people know that a doctor is a potential concern for these types of behavior," said Case Western Reserve University School of Law professor Max Mehlman . Mehlman believes the state medical board is, in theory, a better place for patients seeking information about sexual misconduct among doctors than the civil court system, but said the board is "not particularly good at letting the public know what is going on."

"You can get a list of who's been disciplined and for what, but you have to do that on your own, and how many people are going to do that before they go see a new doctor," he asked.

Attorney Bittinger suggested that mandating the report of civil tort sexual assault settlements to the National Practitioner Data Bank, which would have put the Duncan case under the nose of OSU's medical staff, could help increase awareness of potential patterns of abuse.

For now, Williams remains on paid leave while OSU decides what steps to take next.

Fehr said she would like Williams to lose his medical license and "be thrown in jail." She also wants the Clinic and other healthcare systems to face consequences for their actions.

"People need to be able to find out if their doctors have ever been accused of something like this," she said.


OLMSTED TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- A man and a woman are in police custody after a stabbing and fight at an Olmsted Township bar where a man was found dead.

Police have not said if charges have been filed.

The incident happened Saturday about 1 a.m. at Falls Lounge on Bagley Road near Stearns Road, according to a news release from Olmsted Township police.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office identified the man as 28-year-old Frank Castrucci. Police found him in the front parking area of the bar dead, the release says.

Officers responded to the bar on a report of a fight in progress.

Investigators found a woman stabbed. She was taken to Southwest General Health Center with non-life threatening injuries, the release says.

The cause of Castrucci's death is unclear at this time, police say, as well as his involvement.

Anyone with information is asked to call Olmsted Township police at 440-235-3335.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Saturday's crime and courts comments section.
Ohio mayor's courts are a relic of days gone by, with this modern twist: Functionally, they might as well be tollgates, collecting cash for the roughly 300 Ohio cities and villages that maintain them. That includes more than 30 municipalities in Cuyahoga County.

The conflicts of interest are apparent; so is the way these courts rob municipal courts of needed revenue to handle costlier and more complicated cases that, under Ohio law, mayor's courts can't.

Ohio mayor's courts serve as little more than cash cows for their communities, and, sometimes, extra pay for the mayors who preside over them. They need to go.

The Ohio General Assembly should move with all due speed to dismantle mayor's courts in Ohio, helped along by some pointed advocacy from an Ohio Supreme Court that understands all too well the judicial deficiencies of mayor's courts, but that in recent years has failed to prod the legislature to do what's right.

Mayor's courts serve more like mayor's clubs. Since they "are not courts of record," as the Ohio Supreme Court notes, under Ohio law, they can't adjudicate anything beyond violations of local ordinances and minor state traffic laws. Ohio's mayor's courts heard about 300,000 cases in 2016 -- more than 80 percent of them traffic cases, the state supreme court reports.

In fact, even the word "court" is a stretch. Some cities and villages do hire lawyers to serve as magistrates in mayor's court, but mayors without a scintilla of legal training can and do preside -- collecting extra pay if authorized to do so by their city or village council. Those who stand before them are somehow supposed to ignore the built-in conflict between a mayor's role in balancing a city's or village's budget and his or her competing role as a supposedly impartial assessor of fines in mayor's court.

As cleveland.com's Peter Krouse recently reported, "for mayors dealing with tight budgets, [mayor's courts] seem indispensable." But there's a cost for redirecting those fees into individual city and village coffers.

North Olmsted's case is instructive. After getting into the mayor's court business in 2013, the city has raked in more than $1.4 million in profits. Yet that's money essentially siphoned from Rocky River Municipal Court, which also serves Bay Village, Fairview Park, Rocky River and Westlake along with parts of the Cleveland Metroparks. Since the end of 2012, the Rocky River court has raised its court costs by about 18 percent, in part to make up for the lost revenue.

And some mayor's courts, known as "waiver bureaus," don't even hold court: Offenders waive trials, plead guilty to a clerk and pay fines and costs at what amount to pay windows. In Cuyahoga County, Krouse reports, such pay windows masquerading as mayor's courts can be found in Bedford Heights, Bentleyville, Chagrin Falls, Moreland Hills, Orange and Warrensville Heights -- all within the district of Bedford Heights Municipal Court.

The late Thomas J. Moyer, chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, wanted the General Assembly to abolish mayor's courts. Legislators wouldn't. They were wrong, and Moyer was right. The retirement of these Ohio antiques is way overdue.

About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization.

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The software used to create "Morpha" up there began as a 1987 side project of Thomas Knoll. He was a doctoral candidate who needed a break from his thesis, and rather than play video games and masturbate like the rest of us, he wrote up a program called Display, which could project "grayscale images on a black-white bitmap monitor." The implications of that are so obvious that we won't even bother explaining them, but he thought it was a mostly useless novelty. Then it caught the attention of his brother John, who worked at special effects studio Industrial Light and Magic. Together, they used Display as the basis of a new special effects program for The Abyss, and that program was in turn refined and demoed to Adobe.

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Adobe was blown away, and in 1990, they published the first edition of Photoshop -- a program so ubiquitous today that its name has become a verb. So let this be a lesson, kids: If you neglect your schoolwork to tinker with side projects, you too might create something that millions of people use to edit walrus penises onto SpongeBob SquarePants screenshots.

Mark is on Twitter and has a book.

If you can't get an adorable Direwolf cookie, you can at least get an adorable Direwolf plush toy. Maybe that will fill the void until next season.

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For more check out 5 Celebrities You Had No Idea Quit Fame For Normal Jobs and 6 Insane Celebrity Side Project Fails (You Never Knew About).

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Among Broadway fans, Debbie Gravitte is a household name.

The Tony Award-winner comes to the Ridgefield Playhouse on Saturday, Feb. 3, to celebrate the release of her latest studio album, Big Band Broadway! And shes bringing with her the RK Big Band led by Russ Kassoff.

Audiences can expect: Swinging orchestrations, blaring brass, and as the Associated Press says one of the best voices on Broadway,  the theater said in its news release.

The concert is part of the theaters Ridgefield Magazine Broadway and Cabaret Series.

Gravitte won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance in Jerome Robbins Broadway, along with a Drama Desk Award nomination and New York Showstopper Award.

After making her Broadway debut in the original cast of Theyre Playing Our Song, she went on to appear in Perfectly Frank, for which she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award, Blues in the Night, Aint Broadway Grand, Zorba, Chicago and Les Miserables, among others. She has also taken her nightclub act around the United States and abroad, and has sung with more than 175 symphony orchestras around the world.

Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge. Saturday, Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m. $47.50. An additional $25 VIP ticket includes priority parking and wine and beer from 6:30 to 7 p.m. 203-438-5795.
BRIDGEPORT  Jayson Negron knew he was badly wounded in the moments after a city police officer shot him.

I think you got my heart, he said, according to an eyewitness account.

A few minutes later, Negron was dead at 15, from bullets fired by Bridgeport Police Officer James Boulay last May 9. The incident led to a Connecticut State Police investigation that culminated in the release Friday afternoon of a report from Waterbury States Attorney Maureen Platt.

Boulay was cleared of criminal responsibility by Platts report, setting off protests in Waterbury and Bridgeport that lasted into the night.

Demonstrators said Boulay was guilty of murder, that Negron was deprived of adequate medical attention after he was shot, and that he was left to die on the street.

Platts report told a different story of the shooting and its aftermath.

The document detailed how Negron was driving a stolen Subaru Forester accompanied by Julian Fyffe, then 21, when he led officers on a brief pursuit that ended on Fairfield Avenue. After failed attempts to get Negron out of the car, Boulay was struck behind the open drivers-side door as Negron put the car in reverse and hit the gas pedal, the report said.

Boulay fired into the car, fatally wounding Negron and injuring Fyffe, who recovered from his injuries.

For Negron to survive his wounds, he would have needed surgery within minutes of being shot, a doctor said in the report.

Assistant Medical Examiner Gregory A. Vincent, of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Farmington, performed the autopsy on Negron, details of which were included in Platts report.

A fatal wound

The cause of death was stated as gunshot wounds to the torso and upper extremities. The manner of death was ruled a homicide. Negron was shot four times.

One bullet passed through Jayson Negrons ribcage, through his left lung, the heart, the right lung and struck the right side of the ribcage, Platts report said.

Vincent said that was likely the bullet that killed Negron, who was also shot in his right upper arm, the left upper quadrant of his abdomen and in his left forearm, according to the report.

American Civil Liberties Union Connecticut Executive Director David McGuire said those findings dont change his belief that Boulay didnt have to fire.

It was completely avoidable, McGuire said Saturday.

Platts report, however, said 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.

McGuire said the facts dont prove Boulay had no other option.

The officer should have never put himself in the position to have to do that, McGuire said. Theres really no reason it should have played out the way that it did.

Bleeding out

Detective John Kimball  who Platt said worked full-time on the State Police investigation  met with Vincent twice to discuss the autopsy.

Given the nature and severity of the injuries suffered by Jayson Negron, in order to survive, Mr. Negron would have required surgical intervention within minutes of the shooting, the report said Vincent indicated.

Since Negron suffered theses injures on a congested city street, more than 2 miles from the closest hospital, his probability of surviving his injuries was low, Vincent is quoted as saying in the report.

American Medical Response Paramedic Supervisor Robert Calzone, the first medic on scene, arrived at 5:09 p.m., the report said  seven minutes after the shooting was called in.

Calzone described Negrons skin as gray and ashen, indications of a large amount of blood loss, the paramedic supervisors statement said.

The only way to stem the type of bleeding experienced by Jayson Negron would have involved surgical intervention which fell well beyond the scope of the first responders, Vincent told Kimball.

Calls for help

A minute-long video posted on social media shortly after the shooting  and included in Platts report  showed Negron face down but moving on the pavement before medics arrived.

Numerous postings online have concluded that this video demonstrates that Bridgeport police officers callously failed to call for medical assistance in a timely fashion, Platt said in her report.

But for eight minutes after the shooting, Bridgeport police officers at the scene called for medics to step it up at least five times, an audio recording in Platts report indicated.

It should also be noted it appears that medical assistance was called for within twelve seconds of the report of shots fired,  the report said.

Mark Blackwell was one of the officers at the scene, shortly after the shooting. He said in a written statement that he heard Negron softly moaning, and that he put on latex gloves to try to assess the teens injuries.

I now noticed he had blood coming from underneath him and I told him to hang on, Blackwell wrote. He said Negrons shirt was soaked with blood.

Soon after, Blackwell said, Negron began gurgling and became completely unresponsive. That is when Blackwell requested that medics be expedited, the report said.

I then asked Sgt. Morales if I could un-handcuff (Negron) due to him being unresponsive, and he advised me to wait for the medics, due to the severity of the wounds, Blackwell wrote in his witness statement.

Negron was pronounced dead at 5:15 p.m., as he lay on Fairfield Avenue.
Why does the Prime Minister think it does her good to be seen with that global embarrassment, Donald Trump? Why do politicians and media commentators in Britain prattle about how the Special Relationship between Britain and the USA is still flourishing?

This is dangerous fantasy. The United States is not, and never has been, our special friend. Sometimes it has been our ally. Sometimes it has been very close to being our enemy, especially in Ireland (almost all the time) and during the Suez Crisis in 1956, when the US Navys chiefs discussed opening fire on the Royal Navy.

I dont complain about this. The USA does what we should do. It looks after itself first. It is a separate country with different interests from ours. It is not a Big England. We owe them a lot of money. We defaulted on our enormous First World War debts to the US (866 million at the time, worth about 225 billion at todays values) back in 1934. Contrary to popular belief, we have never paid this back. We only very recently paid our Second World War debts to America.

For the best explanation of the relations between the two countries, read what President Woodrow Wilson said at a banquet at Buckingham Palace on December 27, 1918, soon after our joint victory over Germany six weeks before.

If we told Donald Trump we were in fact not very keen to host a visit by him, he would give us more than if we abased ourselves before him

You must not speak of us who come over here as cousins, still less as brothers; we are neither. Neither must you think of us as Anglo-Saxons, for that term can no longer be rightly applied to the people of the US. Nor must too much importance in this connection be attached to the fact that English is our common language no, there are only two things which can establish and maintain closer relations between your country and mine: they are community of ideals and interests.

I do wish that everyone in British politics, journalism and diplomacy would read and remember these words. Wilson was a fairly nasty piece of work who made a terrible mess of Europe and pretty much caused the Second World War. But he spoke the truth.

And it seems to me that Frances Charles de Gaulle, who was always prickly and unhelpful to the USA, and who was disliked by them in return, did a far better job for his country than our post-war leaders did for ours.

Our endless sucking up to Washington gets us very little worth having. If we told Donald Trump we were in fact not very keen to host a visit by him, he would give us more than if we abased ourselves before him. Doormat diplomacy, such as we now engage in with the USA, will always end with them wiping their feet on us.

Who'd be brave enough to tell this story today?

The Vietnam War was the background noise of my young manhood, and I am now amazed to find that I, a poorly informed teenage troublemaker, had a better idea of what was going on than the US governments official spokesmen. Mind you, they were lying, as governments so often do.

I can also remember when the newspaper business was still in its raucous prime. I loved the gleaming process by which words were set in metal, forged into huge curved plates, clamped on to enormous presses and sent out into the world by fleets of midnight vans. I can remember my desk beginning to tremble as those presses accelerated to top speed, many floors beneath.

Tom Hanks portrays Ben Bradlee (left) while Meryl Streep plays Katharine Graham (right) in The Post

And I once had the great privilege of living in Washington DC, that beautiful white marble graveyard of ideals. Plus, I could happily watch Meryl Streep doing the dusting, she is so good at what she does.

So I am perhaps the ideal audience for the new film The Post, about The Washington Posts very brave decision in 1971 to publish the truth about Vietnam in face of a real danger that they might be shut down for ever by a vindictive Richard Nixon. But even if you dont share my taste in films, consider this.

The days when newspapers had that sort of concentrated power to defy authority are coming to an end. The internet, all too easily censored and manipulated, is taking over. Without strong newspapers, all the forces of liberty and law are weaker. Is it nostalgia to wish their decline hadnt happened?

Wandering through a world of silent tragedy

Are old people our real underclass? I am distressed by the small coverage given last week to an all-party parliamentary report on hunger. It dwells on the plight of the old, lonely and poor, and suggests that 1.3 million older people in this country are malnourished. This isnt always caused by poverty alone. Sometimes it is the result of loneliness.

The report tells of one woman who was found by a visitor not to have eaten a proper meal for nine weeks, another who had shrunk to 6st over months of quiet suffering. It says some pensioners are turning off their lights and heating, except when they know they are about to have visitors. A Meals on Wheels volunteer recorded the case of one old man who switched off his Christmas tree lights as soon as the meal service staff left his flat.

Are old people our real underclass? I am distressed by the small coverage given last week to an all-party parliamentary report on hunger

Perhaps most distressing of all is the case of a man in his 90s, banned from his local supermarket because he had twice suffered falls there. They said he was too much of a threat to their liability insurance.

This last case is a study in miniature of the institutional callousness of much of modern Britain, and the general terror of lawsuits caused by the Thatcher and Major governments shameful licensing of ambulance-chasing lawyers.

But the whole report made me wonder how often I pass people in the street who are concealing this sort of desperation, and how close I myself might be living to such silent tragedies. We tend to assume that we have some sort of safety net for all. Increasingly, I think this is no longer true.

The Russians are coming! Theyre going to make us all starve! Or theyre going to cut all our cables! Are they?

Im glad if this stuff makes people think about our neglected conventional defences, which badly need money. But the Russian threat is a foolish bogeyman. Despite irresponsible headlines, which give this impression, Russian planes do not fly into our airspace, and Russian warships dont violate our waters, nor do the RAF or the Navy scramble to intercept them. They just go and look at them, going about their legal business.

Unless we cause it by provoking it, there is no conceivable reason for a war between this country and Russia, which couldnt afford to be an aggressive power even it wanted to.

On a visit to the fascinating historic dockyard in Chatham, I stopped for a cup of tea and had one of those moments when only a KitKat would do to accompany it.

Whod have thought this would be a problem in such a thoroughly British place? But no, there were no KitKats  just a selection of quinoa bars, which I have only just learned to pronounce (keen-wah) and did not want. A word to whoevers fault this was. Im very happy to try to be reasonably healthy, but you can keep your quinoa bars. I bought and consumed a revenge KitKat as soon as I could, just to spite the health police.

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Deciding how much to spend on a co-worker's leaving present can be tricky - especially if you aren't close or you haven't known them for a long time.

A British 19-year-old supermarket worker asked users of Mumsnet for their views after revealing she had spent 72.34 on a colleague.

Speaking under the handle 'LilacBearberry', she shared that the woman had racked up the sum after she offered to pay for a few items of shopping as a leaving present.

She wrote: 'I told her to grab a few bits and I'll treat her. The shopping came to 72.34, she then goes "thanks so much".

'Maybe it was my fault for doing what I did, but don't you think that's quite rude?'

A 19-year-old supermarket worker revealed she had spent 72.34 on a co-worker's leaving present (file image)

Users of Mumsnet were asked if they thought it was rude that a co-worker racked up a large bill when offered to choose items in a supermarket as a leaving treat

The supermarket worker asked if it was rude for her colleague to rack up the arguably hefty bill knowing she's a student.

She also later revealed they hadn't been close but she felt it was necessary to buy a gift as everyone else did.

Most responses to the thread slammed her for agreeing to pay the amount and questioned why she didn't give the woman a maximum spend.

One person wrote: 'I'm sorry when the bill came to over 70, I don't get why you didn't say something, no one is that spineless.'

Another said: 'I would've refused to pay for it. Sorry but think 10-15 max would've been more reasonable. 70 odd quid? cheek'.

The teen received a wave of responses questioning why she agreed to pay for all the shopping

One person shared they had been in a similar situation where they felt compelled to give someone money.

Others gave advice on how to stop people taking advantage.

A user with the handle 'Glumglowworm' wrote: 'That's a ridiculous amount to have spent on someone's generosity, but you really need to learn to say no.

'You should have simply said 'oh I didn't know today was your last day! I have a gift for you at home, when would be good to meet up so I can give it to you.

'Work on saying no, it'll do you good and stop CFs taking advantage of you'.

Some people questioned why the teen felt a need to buy a gift at all and advised against doing it again

Others debated over if it's strange to offer to pay for someone's shopping and suggested the teen could have bought wine and chocolate to give.

One person said: 'It was a bizarre offer. All you needed to do was buy a bottle of wine yourself if you really felt the need to buy a gift. But you hardly knew her so buying a gift anyway was unnecessary'.

Another speaking under the handle 'Emmageddon' wrote: 'She must have realised you meant for her to get a bottle of wine and some chocs, not a full trolley of groceries'.
They are the words I have heard countless times in my two decades as a divorce lawyer: My marriage is over.

The voice of the well-spoken fortysomething businessman and father-of-three cracked over the phone as he explained how his wife had betrayed him.

To make matters worse, when Greg discovered what Helena, a florist, had been up to, first of all she claimed it was just a bit of fun and then said: Nothing happened it was nonsense.

But her actions were, he insisted, unforgivable.

And as soon as Greg mentioned he had proof of his wifes duplicitous behaviour, I had a hunch about what might be coming next.

It was not an envelope stuffed with grainy photos of some seedy tryst. Instead, he had the very modern and very real equivalent: a screen-shot of his wifes profile on a dating website. Their marriage was the latest victim of what I now describe as Generation Swipe.

In the past six months, our department has seen an almost 50 per cent increase in enquiries triggered by married people who have caught their spouses browsing dating apps such as Tinder

As head of family law at a solicitors firm, Gorvin's Solicitors, I have become used to being handed computer printouts and hard drives packed with website screen-shots from clients who have been deeply wounded by their partners social-media activity.

In the past six months, our department has seen an almost 50 per cent increase in enquiries triggered by married people who have caught their spouses browsing dating apps such as Tinder.

And, judging by the cases Ive handled, its not only husbands who are straying  its the wives too.

Greg had discovered Helenas secret one afternoon when she was distracted away from her iPad by the doorbell. Glancing over at the tablet, he saw a picture of an attractive man  and on closer inspection he realised that it was a profile on a dating app.

Horrified, he confronted his wife and she came clean.

She tearfully confessed to having signed up because she was curious after some single girlfriends mentioned it, but that as soon as the approaches from other users came flooding in, she became hooked on the attention and how being desired  even in a virtual way  made her feel.

She said she didnt want to leave me, or even cheat, says Greg. And she hadnt met any other men. But I suppose our own marriage was in a bit of a rut. Sex had become functional and we were both absorbed with work and the kids. I know she hadnt physically been with another man but it was the secretive way it had gone on for months, and the fact that on some level she was looking for that kind of attention from someone else that I just couldnt get over.

As head of family law at a solicitors firm, I have become used to being handed computer printouts and hard drives packed with website screen-shots from clients who have been deeply wounded by their partners social-media activity

There may well be some people who believe such behaviour, although regrettable, is hardly a reason to call time on a relationship. And some might not even consider it cheating.

But it is, says Ammanda Major, head of service quality and clinical practice at marriage counselling service Relate.

People do it behind their partners back, perhaps when bored, in need some comfort, or after a row with their partner, she says.

So it is underhanded. We are seeing so many people now whose relationships are in trouble because one of them has been browsing dating sites. Even if the browser says it was fun, or they had no intention of looking for sex, it is still a form of cheating.

While infidelity is as old as time itself, it is the emergence of dating apps including Tinder, Hinge, Bumble and Happn, which exist in the relative privacy of a smartphone rather than on, say, the family computer, that has become a real relationship hazard and given rise to Generation Swipe.

According to a study by London firm GlobalWebIndex, more than four in ten people who use Tinder are already in a relationship.

The app, like many of its ilk, allows users to flick through hundreds of dating profiles  you simply swipe right if you like the look of someone, and left if you are not interested.

Its not only husbands who are straying  its the wives too

If someone you have swiped right on has done the same with your profile, you are matched, allowing you to start sending each other messages.

Of the women who are signed up to Tinder, more than 40 per cent are married. Few realise the potentially explosive consequences of such virtual window-shopping. Take Siobhan, for example, who realised she had let things go too far when she found herself sitting in a coffee shop just outside Leeds with a man she had started swapping messages with via an app.

Married with three children, the 38-year-old hospital administrator had taken a look online during a night out with girlfriends.

Wed been talking about signing up for a laugh and seeing what all these men looked like, she says. And I just did it.

It was so funny looking at all these people  it felt safe and fun.

However, one particular man caught her eye and Siobhan found herself exchanging messages with him over the following weeks.

Even if people say it is just a bit of fun, it is still a form of cheating

Its all such a cliche but he had twinkly blue eyes and a lovely smile in his photograph, she says.

And when we chatted we really seemed to get each other.

It really made me question my own life. I was nearly 40 and was this all there was ahead of me?

After four months, she agreed to meet the man at a coffee shop. It felt like a first date. I really liked him. I came away with my head all over the place.

In fact she readily agreed to meet him again, only for matters to come to an abrupt halt when his wife discovered what was happening.

Of the women who are signed up to Tinder, more than 40 per cent are married

It was New Years Eve and while I was out, I got about 30 calls from this mobile number I didnt recognise, says Siobhan. When I called back the following day, it was a woman warning me to stay away from her husband. I was petrified. My husband could so easily have found out and that would have been the end of things.

Even though many women do not get caught out, the impact on their marriage can be long-lasting.

Karen got a terrible shock when a friend rang her to say he had spotted her profile picture on Tinder.

Id signed up to the site because my husband works away a lot and I was just at home, fed up, she says. I had absolutely no intention of doing anything. Im just not like that. I would never cheat on him. But it became a form of recreation. But when one of my male friends  who as a single man was on Tinder legitimately  warned me he had seen my picture, I got the shock of my life.

His wife rang me and told me to stay away

The problem was I didnt know how to get it down, so I got into a real tizz. In the end I had to get him to do it for me. But it was huge wake-up call. I kept telling myself what could have happened. The only problem is that it has made me realise how unhappy I am in my marriage. I have a husband who isnt here, and there are so many men out there who I could enjoy a much more fulfilling relationship with.

So why do people continue to take the risk? Louise Tyler, relationship counsellor with Personal Resilience Clinic in Cheshire, says that married people  especially women  do browse internet dating sites for the ego boost.

Even though many women do not get caught out, the impact on their marriage can be long-lasting

If youve got low self-esteem, when someone swipes right on your profile, the ego boost may mean the app becomes habit-forming.

But is that ego boost worth the price of your marriage?

I know from my bulging case files that many people rush to see a divorce lawyer at the first hint of infidelity.

But any responsible solicitor should always advise couples to try to find a way to reconcile their differences, perhaps through counselling or just talking to one another.

Equally it is important to remember that what you see online and what happens in reality are two different things. People only post the best bits.

The reality of Generation Swipe and the inexorable slide towards divorce is fathomlessly painful.

I know from my bulging case files that many people rush to see a divorce lawyer at the first hint of infidelity

Its best to make your phone a no browse zone and the people in your life the ones most deserving of your attention.

As for Greg and Helena, they are still together  as a family lawyer, I always urge any potential client to first sit down with their partner and try to find some resolution. Yet Helenas dabble with Generation Swipe has left its mark.

Things are still not right, Greg admitted to me. Theres a barrier between us  and however routine things were before this is far worse.

Im just questioning everything now. I cant help wondering if Im the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with.

How to protect your marriage from Generation Swipe Of course the best way is not to look in the first place. But if you do get caught out, how can you salvage your relationship? 1ADMIT YOUR MISTAKE Own up to the fact that it is a form of cheating, says Relates Ammanda Major. Your actions have created fear, anxiety and mistrust. Dont try to justify what youve done by saying you were only looking. Affairs arent just defined by having sex. Trust has been broken and you have to acknowledge that if you are going to move on. 2 SIT DOWN AND TALK Dont get caught in a shouting match or slink away and say nothing. You need to have a considered conversation. But it shouldnt be a date night, says Ammanda. This is not the time for a nice meal. You need to sit down quietly and talk. 3 RESPECT THEIR VIEW Acknowledge that you have a different opinion when it comes to what has happened. While the guilty party may think it was harmless, the other clearly doesnt. Respect that difference of opinion. 4 ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS Ask yourself why you did it? Were you bored or feeling neglected? Those are the issues which you need to address, maybe by changing jobs or being honest about how your partner treats you. 5 TAKE IT SLOWLY Regain intimacy slowly, advises marriage counsellor Andrew G. Marshall. Women talk about wanting to be touched, and men often want sex  which will be the end result for women  but you have to rediscover the pathway to that. It can just be making the time to kiss and cuddle on the sofa  it doesnt have to be all or nothing. Its about having contact, reintroducing some fun and pleasure into the relationship. 6 ITS NOT ALL ABOUT LIKES Stop measuring your life in social-media likes because this isnt reality, says relationship counsellor Louise Tyler. Ask yourself why your self-esteem needs such a boost. 7 ITS TIME FOR A REBOOT Use the discovery as a wake-up call to reboot your relationship, not call time on your marriage. You have a home, perhaps even children, so there is so much you have invested in each other over the years. Make time to sit down and remember why it was that you came together in the first place. 8 DON'T FOCUS ON THE PAST Dont keep bringing up what has happened. Yes, it was a terrible mistake. But when you have talked through it all and addressed honestly the issues, now agree that it is time to move on. Advertisement

:: Some names have been changed.
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark rarely puts a foot wrong when it comes to her sartorial style.

And it was no different on Friday when the royal arrived at the 2018 Women's Board Award in an effortlessly elegant yet edgy get-up.

The 45-year-old was all smiles as she arrived at the Copenhagen ceremony before presenting the prestigious award to the 2018 winner and addressing the attendees.

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark rarely puts a foot wrong when it comes to her sartorial style - and it was no different on Friday when the royal arrived at the 2018 Women's Board Award

The 45-year-old was all smiles as she arrived at the Copenhagen ceremony before presenting the prestigious award to the 2018 winner and addressing the attendees

Always one to experiment with her style, the Princess donned a chic camo blouse believed to be from Proenza Schouler and a striking new knee-length leather skirt.

The skirt featured a sheer panel along the hem and its A-line shape balanced the high neck blouse and flattered her shape.

Mary completed her look with a pair of snakeskin Prada pumps and understated jewellery by her favourite jeweller, Ole Lynggaard Copenhagen.

Always one to experiment with her style, the Princess donned a chic camo blouse believed to be from Proenza Schouler and a striking new knee-length leather skirt

The look divided the online fashion community, however, with style bloggers debating the royal's outfit on various royal style forums.

'Leather can be very elegant, but this is not how it's done. Leather needs simple, no-fuss items... Mary's outfit is guilty of that,' one blogger wrote.

'I think she looks good, and appropriate for the event. I think the skirt is interesting and the hem treatment lightens it up,' another argued.

Despite her increasingly demanding schedule, the mother-of-four appeared relaxed and cheerful as she mingled with attendees and posed for snaps with fellow presenters

Despite her increasingly demanding schedule, the mother-of-four appeared relaxed and cheerful as she mingled with attendees and posed for snaps with fellow presenters.

The Women's Board Award, of which Princess Mary is a patron, has been held annually since 2014 and was established to put a focus on the achievements of women in management and on boards.

The partners behind the Women's Board Award are among the companies that have chosen to place a positive focus on the challenge of putting diversity on the strategic agenda.

This year, Princess Mary awarded the prize to Marianne Kirkegaard, the CEO of CSM Bakery Solutions in Atlanta, USA.

The Women's Board Award , of which Princess Mary is a patron, has been held annually since 2014 and was established to put a focus on the achievements of women in management

This year, Princess Mary awarded the prize to Marianne Kirkegaard (right), the CEO of CSM Bakery Solutions in Atlanta, USA

The 49-year-old 49-year-old joined CSM Bakery Solutions, one of the world's leading bakery companies in 2011.

In 2016 she was appointed CEO of the company and the same year she was admitted on Insight Success' recognised list of the 30 most influential women in American business.

'As a female leader in a still-man-dominated business world, I have experienced that in many contexts extra effort is required to be considered for the most exciting jobs in the management and management context,' she said.

'On the other hand, I have also experienced that due to the debate about women in management, we get extra attention and in many contexts benefits when we get the jobs in question.'
Last October, I attended Liverpool Fashion Week. Unlike its London counterpart, it was billed as an inclusive and diverse event, with female models of all shapes, ages, colours and sizes.

Rather less PC was the fact that those of us in the front row were served prosecco and muffins by muscular, tattooed male waiters wearing nothing but an apron, exposing their naked, hairy bottoms. Goodness! We were never served up anything like that in Milan.

Unlike the female reporter who last week exposed the skimpy clothes worn by hostesses at the Presidents Club charity dinner, I had no need to go undercover to report on this blatant sexism: there it was, laid bare, inches from my nose.

Liz Jones says women do use looks to get ahead and says that she attended Liverpool Fashion Week where muscular men wearing only aprons acted as waiters

The yawning chasm between Liverpool Fashion Week and the dinner at The Dorchester is that nobody (as far as I could tell) groped the mens behinds, but we did giggle a lot.

There were no outraged front-page headlines, but the bare bottoms were posted on social media to much cackling. I thought the stunt tacky, wondered what on earth the mothers of these young men must think, but the boys clearly enjoyed exposing bodies that took months to hone in the gym. No one, after all, was forcing them to take part.

I assume, too, that none of the women who signed up as hostess last week was forced to do so. It must have been clear early on that this was no vicars tea party: the non-disclosure agreements, the dress code, the fact that only the skinny, pretty and young need apply. Youd have to be wildly naive to have no idea of the sort of environment you were stepping into.

But heres a fact as uncomfy as a thong: some women enjoy using their bodies to get ahead. Many women (not me, I hasten to add, though I do admire those with the confidence to put themselves out there) enjoy flirting, and relish male attention. Not all women are unsmiling, defenceless, fragile.

Though I have only the greatest sympathy for any woman who finds herself harassed, or worse, its wildly patronising to assume that all the women at dinner were victims.

Carla Bellucci poses in dress that hostess wore at Presidents Club function at the Dorchester Hotel

Doubtless, the feminists wailing in the press and on social media are far too principled to deploy their looks as part of their armoury. Having said that, I know two high-flying female journalists who, despite their Oxbridge educations, used their breasts and much perching-on-the-male-bosss-desk to get promoted. Twas ever thus, and always will be, no matter how many #MeToo hashtags clog Twitter.

Dont take my word for it. A young woman I know takes occasional work hostessing at London events not unlike the Presidents Club. She explained: Its a type of girl who applies for those jobs. They arent idiots and they like being paid to look pretty and flirt.

Yes, they may bitch and moan with the other girls. But they go back because they enjoy the attention, the nice venues the better pay than most other shift work.

Youd be moronic not to know what was coming. I was warned the dresses on one job would be microscopic; shorts were recommended underneath, but no one wore them because they didnt want to ruin their look.

This is not to justify sexual harassment, ever. Its only to say that for all the talk of men abusing their power, never underestimate the ability of women to manipulate male desire to get what they want.

Remember a young Berkshire beauty who sashayed down a catwalk years back wearing a sheer negligee in the hope of catching the eye (so its said) of one particular wealthy attendee. Didnt turn out too badly for Kate Middleton, did it?

Or consider Meghan Markle in her underwear in Suits: shes a feminist, but still flashed flesh for cash. Must we condemn all women who use their youth and beauty for personal gain?

Of course men who use violence, physical strength or positions of power to grope women or worse against their will need to be exposed, stopped and prosecuted. But as my young gap-year friend writes of her boyfriends experience as a barman/waiter: Women can be much more predatory than men: they grab the waiters c***s and slap their bums.

Hell, as a boss myself I once employed a teen called Laurent for work experience because he was French and handsome. I never acted on my desire, but I favoured him because, well, how do you snuff out attraction? Was it an abuse of power?

As Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaids Tale, observed last week: Women are human beings, with the full range of saintly and demonic behaviour that entails. To deny it is to deny a part of ourselves.
Princess Charlene, pictured, leaving Monaco Cathedral during the Sainte Devote festivities

Princess Charlene stunned crowds during the ongoing Sainte Devote festivities in Monaco, one of the Mediterranean state's more important public holidays that has seen the royals out in their most stylish.

Charlene, 39, was seen leaving Monaco Cathedral during festivities yesterday, which celebrates one of the country's patron saints every 27 January.

Dressed in a chic tartan jacket, Charlene was there with husband, Prince Albert II of Monaco, who was dressed in a smart blue suit.

The couple's children Princess Gabriella and her twin brother Jacques also took part, having apparently perfected the art of public engagements.

The youngsters were polite and well-behaved as they attended the annual Sainte Devote procession in Monaco on Friday night.

Smartly dressed and smiling to the crowds, the children appeared to be model versions of their parents who accompanied them to the event.

While most siblings begin to bicker during their toddler years, the twins showed a display of unity as they held one another's hand and even shared an adorable hug.

Prince Albert of Monaco, pictured, leaving Monaco Cathedral during the Sainte Devote festivities in Monaco

Princess Charlene, pictured, leaving Monaco Cathedral during the Sainte Devote festivities in Monaco

Pictured, Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II of Monaco seen during the procession of Sainte Devote from the Princely Palace in Monaco

Pictured, Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II raise a hand to their hearts during the Sainte Devote parade celebrating one of Monaco's patron saints

Princess Gabriella was dressed in black boots and a black button-down coat while her blonde hair was pulled into a top-knot.

Her mother Princess Charlene looked every inch the glamorous royal in a checkered coat and a wide-legged trouser.

Slicking back her short crop of blonde hair, the royal opted for a fresh faced look with a hint of lipgloss and eye shadow.

Her husband the Prince looked smart with a long black coat and cashmere grey scarf.

Just like mother! Princess Gabriella looked strikingly similar to her 39-year-old parent Princess Charlene as they attended the Sainte Devote procession in Monaco

Sibling love: Princess Gabriella and her twin brother Jacques looked adorable as they hugged one another during the celebration

Family affair: Prince Albert II of Monaco and his wife held the hands of their little ones during the evening event

And little Prince Jacques added a modern touch to the royal family's image, wearing a smart blue puffa jacket and a pair of trainers.

The three-year-old's long white-blonde hair had been brushed over into a side-parting for the occasion.

Her mother Princess Charlene looked every inch the glamorous royal in a checkered coat and a wide-legged trouser

Prince Jacques added a modern touch to the royal family's image, wearing a smart blue puffa jacket and a pair of trainers

Sainte devote is the patron saint of Monaco and France's Mediterranean Corsica island.

Each year the royal family attend and Prince Albert II of Monaco uses a torch to burn a small fisherman's boat to mark the beginning of the festivities.

The twins celebrated their third birthday in early December 2017.

It is thought their parents threw a wintry-themed party.

Although no pictures of the celebrations have emerged Albert, 59, opened up to People magazine about the party held at the Oceanographic Museum with friends they've made at kids club and nursery.

'Its kind of a Polar Arctic setting. Theres stuff like mechanized polar bears that move their hands and arms - it was really fun,' he said.

'Then we had a little celebration up at Roc Agel with Charlenes family, and that was nice.'

He also revealed that Prince Jacques had received a Hot Wheels launcher and truck for his birthday, while Princess Gabriella Barbie doll and the Barbie Dream Horse.

There's also an exciting year ahead for the young pair who will take a 'halfway-around-the-world' trip with their parents.

In another interview with People magazine, Prince Albert revealed the family is planning a trip to Polynesia in summer 2018.

'We did a cruise with them this summer and that was fine. We'll have to break up so it's not so long for them.'

He added that while he's eager for the twins to see the world, he is not planning any official visits with them until they're a little older.
A mother-of-two has become an Instagram star with candid posts revealing how her daughters taught her to love her post-baby body.

Lisa Wilson, 28, from Green Rapids, Michigan, initially struggled to accept the 'stretch marks, cellulite and squishy tummy' that she was left with after giving birth to five-year-old Brielle and Vienna, three.

When her daughters 'poked' and 'kneaded' the 'saggy areas', Lisa grew self-conscious and would try to hide her figure beneath high-waisted clothes.

However she later learnt to embrace her figure because she wanted to set a positive example for her daughters - and her empowering message has won her more than 17,000 Instagram followers.

Lisa Wilson, 28, from Green Rapids, Michigan, has won thousands of Instagram followers with her body positive posts. In the caption for this image, the mother-of-two wrote that she realised she needed to set a good example for daughters Brielle, five, right, and Vienna, three

The mother-of-two initially struggled to accept the 'stretch marks, cellulite and squishy tummy' she was left with following the birth of her daughters, pictured kissing her stomach

One image shows Lisa and her daughters sitting on the sofa wearing matching bikinis. The mother-of-two revealed it's her favourite post to date.

The caption read: 'One day a few years ago my daughter was squeezing my stomach saying squishy tummy and proceeding to knead my stomach like pizza dough.

'At the time I told her to stop she asked why I said I just don't like it. Thinking to myself that it made me self conscious.

'I got to thinking you know what how am I supposed to expect my girls to embrace their squishy tummies if I can't love mine. So I decided to. Now we all love our squishy tummies.'

The message struck a chord with hundreds of other mothers. One posted: 'Had a similar situation last night. Thank you for this. I will do my best to never react as I did with my daughter again. I don't want to teach her body shaming or insecurity.'

Lisa celebrates her stomach by decorating it with glitter - and gave Brielle a matching heart

Lisa encourages mothers to embrace the beauty of a body that has grown their children

Another added: 'I appreciate this so much, thank you for making squishy tummies less taboo, and helping me on my journey to love mine.'

A third fan gushed: 'You are a great role model for your children and others. Keep spreading the message!'

Lisa regularly flaunts her figure in underwear and swimwear snaps, encouraging other mothers to celebrate their natural beauty.

Lisa, who works at YMCA, said: 'I chose to be proud of it and embrace the belly that grew to fit them inside. As a society we think of it as a bad thing, we shouldn't look at it in that way.

'I knew I needed to look at the stretch marks on my stomach with pride instead of with disdain and anger, from then on I started taking more pictures with them showing.

Lisa, pictured on her birthday, celebrates her figure in underwear and swimsuit shots

The 28-year-old, pictured while pregnant with eldest daughter Brielle in December 2011

Daughter Brielle, now five, kisses her mother's belly while she was pregnant with Vienna, three

'I also wanted to show you can still be sexy as a mom, you can have flaws and insecurities because it's real and authentic.

'So I put myself and my stretchmarks out there for the world to see, which has also been a way for me to accept it myself.

'Now I see my stomach in a different light, instead of considering it as ugly skin and my ruined tummy, I see it as what gave me my two beautiful daughters.'

Lisa's first post in April last year, attracted over 1,000 likes on Instagram when she spoke about defying other people's perception of 'beauty' in favour of showing how a real woman looks.

Lisa once saw her 'saggy' stomach as 'ugly' but says she now sees it in a 'different light'

The mother-of-two used to hide her stomach but now proudly shows it off in bikinis, pictured

She celebrated the 'stretchmarks, cellulite, squishy tummies' and 'new generation of women' she hopes to inspire that can embrace and love themselves.

Lisa said: 'When I started the page I had a lot of insecurities, I used to miss my old tummy before it has marks on it and a round belly button.

'I had to come to terms with that being gone and learn that to love the body I have now, I needed to appreciate that my body is not any less valuable now.

'I want my girls to grow-up seeing different types of people and body types, for them to know they are beautiful for their differences and qualities like being kind, brave and more.

'It's been well received, I had messages from one person who told me that since seeing how proud I was with my body shape, she is also learning to love herself too.'

The YMCA worker said she 'mourned' the loss of her 'round belly button', pictured now
A financially savvy woman who bought her first home at the age of just 20 has revealed how she managed to do it.

Jennie Crockart, from Yate, Gloucestershire, credits leaving school at 17 to pursue an apprenticeship and finding a 120,000 property that she had to renovate with being able to get a foot on the housing ladder.

The now 21-year-old said she had to make sacrifices such as not going out - as well as buy in 'not the most expensive part of town' - to get her first home, but claims it has been worth it to 'not be reliant on anyone else'.

Jennie Crockart, now 21, from Yate, Gloucestershire, began saving money from the age of 16, by which point she was working five part-time jobs alongside studying for AS Levels

Before and after: The property that Jennie bought needed to be completely renovated, but she said she wasn't put off by the work. Top, her living room after she had revamped it. Bottom, what it looked like before

How to buy a house by the age of 21 Began saving money when aged just 16 Saved 50 'here and there' while working five part-time jobs and studying for her AS Levels Left school aged 17 and got a job as a sales apprentice Earned enough to save 500 a month for three years - 18,000 Paid a 10 per cent - 12,000 - deposit for her new property when she was 20 Home is now worth 150,000 - 30,000 more Advertisement

Jennie began saving money when she was 16, by which point she was working five part-time jobs - as a cleaner, a waitress, a cafe manager, a gym assistant and in business development - and studying for her AS Levels.

By 17, Jennie decided to leave school to pursue a career in sales - and was quickly able to save up to 500 a month from her apprenticeship.

And just after her 20th birthday, she picked up the keys to her very own 120,000 two-bedroom apartment after putting down a 10 per cent deposit of 12,000.

Jennie, a Level 3 Advanced Sales apprentice at commercial furnishings company Furnished Homes in Yate, said: 'Owning my own home has always been important to me.

'In my opinion, when you're renting, you are just paying someone else's mortgage.

'At 20, I'm in the fortunate position of having no debt, and I've become a homeowner at a time when many young people are struggling to get on the property ladder.'

Jennie added that financial independence was hard-wired into her from a young age.

'Growing up, my parents didn't have lots of spare money but they always told me that when I had my own job I could afford to buy whatever I liked,' she said.

Jennie said she found a two-bedroom fixer-upper which 'didn't faze' her, despite needing complete renovation throughout. She said she didn't

By 16, ambitious Jennie was working five part-time jobs all whilst working towards her AS Levels.

She revealed to the City Of Bristol College: 'I started off selling chocolate and cans in my lunch break in school.

'I was taking home about 40 profit a week! It was brilliant as it meant I could go out and buy sweets and go bowling - whatever I wanted to do. Later on I sold hair extensions and false eyelashes.'

She said: 'As soon as I started earning I started putting 50 aside here and there - or more if I could manage it.

'I didn't have a career plan or want to go to university, as my main goal was to become a salesperson or work in the business sector.

It was 'eyes on the prize'. Admittedly at that point I didn't go out that much - but I certainly don't feel like I've missed out on anything

'I knew that I enjoyed sales and the confidence you feel when you're doing well, and I knew that I didn't need a degree to prove I could sell.'

At 17, Jennie made the tough decision to leave school before her A-Levels, and enrolled on a sales apprenticeship scheme with Furnished Homes.

And success came quickly, with the young apprentice generating 500,000 in new business during her first three years.

She said: 'At 17, it was a great way to start out. It's a brilliant way to start a career in sales.

'At that point I started saving a lot more, around 500 per month. I also saw my bonuses as just that - a bonus - so I put the money away.

'My savings quickly started to mount up.'

At 18, Jennie sat down with a mortgage consultant for the first time to get an idea of what she could borrow and the sort of deposit she would need to buy her first home.

At 18, Jennie - pictured at her home in Gloucestershire - sat down with a mortgage consultant for the first time to get an idea of what she could borrow and the sort of deposit she would need to buy her first home

And by 19, she found a home she wanted to buy and put all her efforts into raising the remainder of her ten per cent deposit.

She said: 'It was "eyes on the prize". Admittedly at that point I didn't go out that much - but I certainly don't feel like I've missed out on anything.'

Jennie said her two-bedroom apartment needed complete renovation throughout.

But this didn't faze her - instead, she saw it as a 'good opportunity', and put all her free time off work into painting and decorating.

And now, proud Jennie believes her flat is worth in excess of 150,000 - some 30,000 more than she paid for it.

She said: 'I see where I'm living as a start. It needed work; it's not in the most expensive part of town, but I made those sacrifices because I'd rather own than rent.

'I'd like to think I'll move on in a couple of years.'

Jennie said: 'I see where I'm living as a start. It needed work; it's not in the most expensive part of town, but I made those sacrifices because I'd rather own than rent'. Pictured her bathroom in the middle of the renovations

And despite her tender age and her frugal saving, Jennie has managed to fit in a decent amount of travelling, with visits to India, New York, Norway, Paris and Austria in the past few years.

She is currently saving to fund a trip around America's west coast later this year.

And she encourages any youngsters considering an apprenticeship to 'go for it'.

'Starting my career at such a young age has taught me a lot about life, and I'm exactly where I want to be at the moment,' she said.

'I never wanted to be reliant on anyone else, and knowing I've achieved all this on my own is a brilliant feeling.

'With an apprenticeship they'll take you on, teach you how to sell, show you the ropes.

All finished: Jennie says her property (pictured, her new kitchen) is now worth 150,000 - 30,000 more than what she paid for it

'It's acknowledged you are learning and so you can progress from the bottom up without the pressure to perform amazingly from the word go.

'I enjoy something new every single day. It's very challenging as you're constantly on your feet, quoting, driving around, making new sales and finding new business.'

She adds she is now considering progressing onto higher education, and pursuing a degree in interior design.

And her Operations and Development Manager, Liz Parsons, says Jennie is 'the definition of a 'self-starter''.

'Jennie is a perfect example of how giving young people a chance to shine can really pay off,' said Liz.

'Her work ethic and energy supersedes our expectations and we feel privileged to have staff of her calibre working for our company.'
A new mother was left screaming in pain when her bowel 'pushed through' her C-section stitches just 24 hours after giving birth.

Kelly Maynard, 31, was rushed back to Royal Bolton Hospital within hours of returning home with daughter Rosie-Anne after her bowel 'fell out of her body', leaving her in 'indescribable pain'.

The mother-of-four, from Bolton, believes the excruciating complication was the result of a botched procedure and claims her C-section scar was not stitched up correctly.

Kelly Maynard, 31, was rushed back to hospital within hours of returning home with daughter Rosie-Anne, right after her bowel 'pushed through' her C-section stitches. Left, daughter Daisy

Royal Bolton Hospital is now conducting an investigation into Ms Maynard's case.

She said: 'I have got a scar like you would not believe, it's disgusting because it's been opened three times, it's vile. It's permanent damage - all because my perineum wall wasn't sewn.

'I know there are complications to a procedure but your bowel coming out of your body is not a complication of a C-section - it' s unheard of, it never happens.

'Scars can open up, that's fine, but my bowel was moving around inside me and pushed its way out of the opening.'

Ms Maynard, who runs a mobile beauty business, was taken for an emergency C-section on September 28 after she suffered complications with her placenta. Just six days earlier she had been sent home from an ante-natal appointment in pain.

Ms Maynard, who is also mother to Kayden, 12, Mia, four, and Daisy, three, returned home with Rosie-Anne on September 30 but soon found herself in 'indescribable pain' and husband Ray Maynard, 31, helped get her to hospital.

The mother-of-four, pictured with Rosie-Anne, believes the excruciating complication was the result of a botched procedure and claims her C-section scar was not stitched up correctly

Can internal organs really pop out of a C-section scar? Dr Mike Savvas, Consultant Gynaecologist at King Edward VIIs Hospital and King's College Hospital, London, said that while such incidents are rare, 'they can happen'. He told MailOnline: 'With any time of abdominal incision, this can happen - it's not unheard of. However it's particularly rare with horizontal incisions, as made during C-sections.' He continued: 'If there is a bit of a gape (of the wound) then a bit of the bowel bulges out. It's not just a case of the wound popping open and everything spilling out.' Another issue is that while new mothers have traditionally been in hospital for five days, shorter hospital stays mean women are increasingly discharged sooner. 'If such an incident happens while a woman is on the ward, it is a lot quicker and easier - and less alarming - to deal with than at home,' he explained. Advertisement

She said: 'At the time my bowel was prolapsing, all I could feel was crushing inside my body until it got so bad I said, "I'm going to have to go back in".

'My husband was told there was no ambulance and to get me in the car, but when he checked, my bowel had collapsed and it was outside my body.

'If he had taken me in the car I would have ended up with a colostomy bag, because my bowel would have died.

When you have a C-section the scar is supposed to be a tiny straight line. Mine looks like Frankenstein has got hold of it, it looks like a smiley face. It's a mess. I will probably never go abroad because of my stomach Kelly Maynard

'When I got there I had to wait for four hours to see a surgeon. I was there screaming in pain, I can't describe it. All the nerves are open and no painkiller was taking the pain away.'

Ms Maynard says she will now constantly feel conscious about her body and her 'Frankenstein' scar following the operation.

She said: 'When you have a C-section the scar is supposed to be a tiny straight line. Mine looks like Frankenstein has got hold of it, it looks like a smiley face.

'It's a mess. I will probably never go abroad because of my stomach.'

The Royal Bolton Hospital has now launched an investigation, with Ms Maynard attending a meeting with hospital bosses and Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).

However, a recording that she informed was being made of the conversation was not successful. She also claims has not received a written report which the hospital says it has sent to her.

Royal Bolton Hospital, pictured, where Ms Maynard gave birth and returned for the emergency procedure, is now conducting an investigation into Ms Maynard's case

She added: 'I'm just getting fobbed off - for this to happen to me is not right.'

A spokesman for Bolton NHS Foundation Trust said: 'We are sorry that Ms Maynard is in this situation when she should be enjoying her new baby.

'We can assure her that the only reason the tape recording of our meeting with her was not available was because it did not record properly due to a technical issue. This has been rectified.

'However, we did write to her with a detailed account of the meeting. We are making contact with Ms Maynard to arrange a further meeting to answer her questions relating to her care.

'We recognise that her treatment was not as she would have hoped, and apologise for the upset and distress this has caused.'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could be set to fill the shoes of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHGM).

The week-long event, due to be attended by William and Kate, takes place in April, which will coincide with the time that the Duchess of Cambridge is due to give birth to her third child.

The engagement this year is regarded as a particularly crucial one, with around 52 heads of state flying in for what is expected to be the largest summit in the event's 25-year history.

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Could Meghan join the Queen and Prince Harry at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April? It's thought the Duchess of Cambridge won't attend the event due to it taking place close to her

With Brexit edging ever closer, it's thought that the presence of the royals will help ease the UK into better trade talks with non-Brexit countries.

Meghan, 36, now has a string of royal engagements under her belt and this could prove the last major event before the couple wed on the 19th May in Windsor.

The couple are already expected to attend the Commonwealth Day service on 12th March.

The grand event, which includes formal dinners galore, is also a chance for the former Suits star to fully immerse herself in the Commonwealth, which remains a key talking point for the British monarchy.

The Duchess of Cambridge is due to give birth to her third child in April and is expected to reduce her royal engagements in the coming weeks

The 36-year-old duchess, pictured on a recent visit to Bethlem Royal Hospital in London, is set to reduce the number of engagements she carries out ahead of her April due date

The CHGM was originally scheduled to take place in the South Pacific Ocean island of Vanuatu but cyclone pam saw it relocated to UK shores.

Already in attendance are the Queen and Prince Charles, who will host several events during the week.

The Prime Minister has already expressed how vital the conference could be for the UK's relations with the rest of the world.

A natural! Meghan has slotted into royal life with ease, with several engagements already under her belt

Suits you: Meghan pictured meeting well-wishers on a recent royal visit with Prince Harry to Cardiff

Theresa May said: 'As we look to create a truly global Britain, the deep partnerships that we share through a 21st century Commonwealth can help us strengthen the prosperity and security of our own citizens, and those of our many friends and allies across the world.'

MailOnline has contacted Kensington Palace for comment.
When Lady Sandra Abbott (Imelda Staunton) discovers that her husband of 40 years is having an affair with her best friend, she seeks refuge with her estranged, bohemian elder sister Bif (Celia Imrie).

Sandra couldnt be more different to her outspoken, serial-dating, free-spirited sibling. But it turns out different is just what Sandra needs and she reluctantly lets Bif take her to a dance class, where she starts to find her feetand romance.

Finding Your Feet is a hilarious and heart-warming comedy that proves its never too late to start again

Featuring a star-studded cast including Timothy Spall, Joanna Lumley and David Hayman, Finding Your Feet is a hilarious and heart-warming comedy that proves its never too late to start again.

Finding Your Feet will be in cinemas from 23 February, but YOU readers can see it first and for free with screenings taking place at a selection of 15 cinemas nationwide on 15 February.

To book tickets visit seeitfirst.com and enter the code V2BVPH

Finding Your Feet will be in cinemas from 23 February, but YOU readers can see it first and for free (see above)

TERMS AND CONDITIONS Offer open to UK residents. There will be 3,000 tickets in total, which are subject to availability and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis via the website. Maximum two tickets per reader. Screenings will take place on the date and at the times and locations specified on seeitfirst.com. Tickets are strictly non-transferable. No cash alternative. For full terms and conditions, go to showfilmfirst.com.  Finding Your Feet Limited 2017
Broken fences can be a frustration for farmers, trying to keep livestock from straying. But they are a serious problem for the railways too, as wandering sheep or cattle substantially increase the risk of train derailment.

Nottingham-based software business Ideagen helps to reduce that risk with a neat little product that allows anyone working on the railways  from train drivers to station managers  to report incidents when they spot them.

Around 70,000 people employed in and around the UK rail network can log these incidents on mobile phones or laptops. The information is sent to a central site and handled accordingly.

Rolling ahead: Ideagen has a neat little product that allows anyone working on the railways to report wandering livestock whenever spotted

Clever ideas like this have helped Ideagen to more than triple in size since Midas first recommended the firm in 2014. Then, shares were 33p, turnover was 9 million and profit was 2.6 million.

Today, the shares are 118p and brokers expect turnover of 36 million and profit of 9.7 million for the year to this April.

Chief executive David Hornsby has transformed the business since taking up his post in 2009 and is highly optimistic about the future, confident that sales and profits can double over the next three years. If all goes according to plan, the shares should continue to deliver for investors.

The rail industry is a significant customer for Ideagen but the business works with clients in sectors from aerospace to food and drink to banking. In each case, the companys software helps firms to manage risk, comply with regulations and improve the way employees work.

Airlines such as British Airways and Ryanair use Ideagen to enhance safety procedures, while BAE Systems uses Ideagens software to ensure Typhoon fighter jets are fit to fly.

Ideagen also works with 125 of the 165 NHS Acute Trusts, helping to digitalise their mountains of paperwork. Once, this was a lucrative contract but shortage of cash has slowed business down considerably, even though moving paperwork online would have a huge long-term effect on productivity.

To reduce his reliance on Britain, Hornsby is increasing Ideagens international presence so 70 per cent of new contracts come from outside the UK, primarily from the US but also Europe and Asia. The European Central Bank, for example, uses Ideagen software to help compile internal audits.

Interim results last week showed strong growth, with half-year profits to October 31 up 56 per cent to 4.1 million.

The dividend rose 15 per cent year-on-year to 0.078p and a full-year payout of 0.2p is pencilled in  a small figure as most of Ideagens spare cash is reinvested in the business.

Midas verdict: Ideagen has performed well over the past four years but the shares have further to go. At 118p, the stock is a strong hold. New investors may also be tempted to grab a few shares.
A too-trusting Instagram generation is falling victim to get rich quick scams  costing victims a staggering 87,400 a day.

Research by regulator the Financial Conduct Authority has found that under-25s are increasingly being duped online by fraudsters promising juicy payouts from so-called binary options trading  a form of betting on financial markets.

The watchdog is sounding an urgent warning to would-be investors in the latest phase of its ScamSmart campaign, designed to strengthen consumers resolve against the scourge of financial fraudsters.

Bling tone: Slick websites offer easy riches to young investors in binary options

Young people are being lured into fraudulent deals via social media, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Traders reel in victims by posting glamorous profiles showing how they are living the high life of fast cars and luxury watches  all because they bet on binary options.

But these posts are scams. Once a purchase is made, prices are distorted on the fraudsters website and the victims are tied in with complicated escape clauses  or even have their accounts shut down with no money returned.

Five tactics to fend off fraud BAT away unsolicited approaches whether made online, on social media or over the phone. CHECK the Financial Conduct Authority register to confirm a firm or individual is authorised. INSPECT the list of offenders at fca.org.uk/scamsmart/warning-list. SEEK impartial advice before investing. Find an adviser at unbiased.co.uk or financialplanning.org.uk REPORT a scam at fca.org.uk/scamsmart or phone 0800 111 6768.

New research from the regulator reveals that young adults are six times more likely than the over-55s to succumb to a scam on social media. Its findings also confirm the internet has overtaken the phone as the most common method used by investment crooks.

Similar deceptions involve crypto-currencies where victims are persuaded to back bets on the rise and fall in prices of the likes of Bitcoin or Ethereum.

Cash-strapped students struggling to stretch tight budgets are among those who have become easy prey.

Izzy Lenga, vice president of welfare at the National Union of Students, says: University students are forced to take on an enormous debt burden from the moment they begin studying and are often given insufficient financial support to survive throughout their studies.

Warning: Izzy Lenga, vice president of welfare at the National Union of Students, says students are at risk

No wonder we are seeing people seeking financial opportunities. It is disgusting that investment scammers are taking advantage through false or fraudulent advertising.

She adds: We would urge students to be aware that fake posts are widespread. They must do their research before signing up to anything online.

Until recently the over-55s were most at risk of investment fraud. But the new research by the regulator shows that older people are getting wise. Now, some 13 per cent of under-25s would trust an investment offer received via social media compared to just 2 per cent of over-55s. Figures from Action Fraud, which collects data on fraud nationally, confirm the age profile of victims is falling. It found a third of under-50s are more likely to fall for binary option fraud than any other type of investment scam. Just one in five over-50s would fall for such a scam.

Victims are drawn in by slick websites and glowing  but bogus  reviews about how investors can profit.

Research reveals that young adults are six times more likely than the over-55s to succumb to a scam on social media

Binary options involve making a bet on the expected value or price of a stock, commodity or even a currency or index. The bet might be on the price being higher or lower over a period of just a couple of minutes. Promised returns can be massive. The methods used to ensnare victims are similar.

Small businessman Steve, from Kent, is ruing the day he first handed over 1,000 to a binary options firm. The salesman quickly persuaded him to up his bet to 10,000.

After five months, the 45-year-old was told his initial investment had grown to 40,000. He was delighted and decided to withdraw the money while the going was good.

But in a classic scammers ploy the firm told him he would first need to invest more. His calls were not returned and his online login details stopped working. Eventually he discovered to his horror the company had gone into liquidation, taking his money with it.

The sting did not end there. Steve was then contacted by a company that promised to get back his money  for a fee of 1,500. He paid, but it was just another trick.

Many victims, like Steve, max out their credit cards to pay hoaxers, pushing themselves into serious debt.

Binary options trading is not a fraudulent activity. But many legitimate operations sail close to the wind. Tony Hetherington, The Mail on Sundays Readers Champion, regularly reports on these dubious operations.

Up until this year many binary options firms were able to make fanciful claims about returns because they were not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. But they now come under its wing.

Patrick Connolly, of Bath-based investment adviser Chase de Vere, says: This form of trading is akin to betting on slot machines. Even those who put bets on legitimate binary options are likely to lose more often than they win. I would warn people against getting involved in such risky trades.

Buyers of binary options now have recourse to compensation under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. They can also

take unresolved complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service  but only if the firm is authorised by the regulator.

The Financial Conduct Authority already lists on its website 94 firms that have no such authorisation, some abroad but posing as UK based.

Worries about the impact on investors are growing. The regulator is working closely with The European Securities and Markets Authority, which is investigating whether to ban the sale of binary options to retail investors altogether.

Cryptocurrencies remain unregulated although derivatives such as futures and contracts for difference linked to these digital currencies may be covered.

Mark Steward, director of enforcement at the regulator, says: As people have become more sceptical of investment-related cold calls and consumer habits have changed, we have seen investment fraud moving online and on to social media.

While their websites and profiles appear professional, they are all too often run by fraudsters. They fix prices and pay-outs, or in some instances do not place trades at all, before disappearing with innocent investors money.

The latest wave of the Scam-Smart campaign, backed by Nick Hewer, former adviser to Lord Sugar on TVs The Apprentice, begins today on radio and online. Hewer says: If you get an email or message about an investment from someone you do not know, just delete it.
Alice Temperleys designer fashion label  favoured by the Duchess of Cambridge  has raised 1.8 million as part of plans to boost the fortunes of the loss-making business.

Temperley London raised the money from existing shareholders, who include banker Rupert Hambro and founder Temperley herself.

Backers have previously invested more than 3 million since 2015.

Alice Temperleys designer fashion label has raised 1.8 million as part of plans to boost the fortunes of the loss-making business

A spokesman said the latest fundraising will be used to support significant growth at the fashion retailers online shopping and wholesale businesses.

The company, which sells a popular budget range through John Lewis, has attracted a celebrity following since it was launched in West London in 2000.

The Duchess of Cambridge has been seen wearing Temperley numerous times

But it admits there has been material uncertainty about the future of the brand since losses slumped to 2.8 million in 2014.

The firm is now striving to make Temperley a more coherent luxury lifestyle brand.

The group closed its underperforming Los Angeles store, ended unprofitable contracts with distributors and ensured that more of its products were sourced in Europe rather than the Far East.

Temperleys action plan helped revenues to climb by 5 per cent in 2016 to 11.7 million.

Growth almost doubled to 9 per cent last year and losses before tax and other exceptional costs narrowed significantly to about 200,000.
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.

The large cats, also known as mountain lions, pumas or panthers, historically roamed every state east of the Mississippi River (stock)

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.

In 2015, federal wildlife biologists concluded that pumas elsewhere in the Eastern United States were beyond recovery (stock)

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 (stock)

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.

In Maine, the state has already decided to put the animals on their extinct list.

'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.
A Californian woman sued supermarket chain Walmart on Friday, accusing the company of implementing extra security measures on products marketed toward black people.

Essie Grundy, 43, says all beauty products marketed for black people are placed in a locked glass case, while cosmetics targeting other ethnicities are freely available at the Walmart near her Perris home, about an hour southeast of Los Angeles.

When she asked a shop employee why the products were under lock and key, Grundy was told it 'was a directive from corporate headquarters,' longtime women's rights attorney Gloria Allred told reporters.

Scroll down for video

Essie Grundy (L) sits beside attorney Gloria Allred as they announce their race discrimination lawsuit against retail giant Walmart in Los Angeles, California

And when Grundy - a mother of five - wanted to choose a lotion to purchase she wasn't allowed to touch it. The employee carried it to the register.

The employee also told Grundy 'she would need to be escorted to the cash register with the product so she could purchase it,' Allred added.

Grundy added that she felt like a 'criminal' as people watched her be escorted to the front of the store.

When Grundy raised the issue with a store manager, she says she did not receive a clear response, and no action was taken.

Grundy wanted to buy a lotion but had to get an employee in order to get it. The employee told Grundy 'she would need to be escorted to the cash register with the product so she could purchase it'

Grundy says she also visited two other Walmarts close to her home, and in one, cosmetics marketed for African Americans were freely available, but monitored with security surveillance, unlike other products.

'As a result of this discriminatory business practice and policy, we filed a lawsuit this morning against Walmart,' Allred said, without specifying the damages being sought.

'It perpetuates a racial stereotytpe that African Americans are thieves.'

She added that specifically Californias Unruh Civil Rights Act was being violated. The act prohibitis businesses from discriminating against customers based on race.

The lawsuit demands an immediate stop to the practice - noting the humiliation and psychological trauma Grundy was made to feel.

'We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind at Walmart. We serve more than 140 million customers weekly, crossing all demographics,' the retail giant told AFP in a statement

Grundy, a 43-year-old mother who owns an online clothing business, returned to the shop after the initial incident and filmed the beauty department.

The video was played during the press conference - showing men's and women's shampoos, body creams and combs of little retail value among other products with labels featuring black models, all arranged in a locked glass case.

'We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind at Walmart. We serve more than 140 million customers weekly, crossing all demographics,' the retail giant told AFP in a statement.

'Some products such as electronics, automotive, cosmetics and other personal care products are subject to additional security,' which Walmart said individual stores determined 'using data.'

The issue of Walmart securing beauty products marketed toward black people has already been a topic of controversy in the US - most notably in Virginia, where the practice was denounced by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.
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.
President Trump allegedly launched a campaign to discredit senior FBI officials after learning they might testify against him in Robert Mueller's obstruction of justice investigation.

On June 8, 2017, former FBI Director James Comey testified in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee that he and other senior bureau officials had spoken about the potentially improper efforts by Trump to impede the FBI's investigation into alleged collusion between his campaign and Russia in the 2016 election.

And just after, Trump's lawyer allegedly warned Trump that those other senior bureau officials could corroborate Comey's testimony in the coming months.

Trump allegedly shared that information with other high ranking White House officials and used it to launch a campaign to discredit those officials so they would be less believable as witnesses, sources close to the president told Foreign Policy.

President Trump allegedly launched a campaign to discredit senior FBI officials after learning they might testify against him in Robert Mueller's obstruction of justice investigation

On June 8, 2017, former FBI Director James Comey testified in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee that he and other senior bureau officials had spoken about the potentially improper efforts by Trump to impede the FBI's investigation into alleged collusion between his campaign and Russia in the 2016 election

And just after, Trump's lawyer John Dowd (pictured) allegedly warned Trump that those other senior bureau officials could corroborate Comey's testimony in the coming months. Trump then allegedly used that information to start a campaign to discredit those officials so they would not be believed as witnesses

Just after Comey's testimony in June, Trump hired veteran criminal defense attorney John Dowd to represent him in Mueller's investigation.

Dowd warned Trump that if those FBI officials substantiated Comey's testimony when they were called to give a statement -it would likely play a key role in Mueller's conclusion, sources close to the matter told FP.

And in discussions with at least two senior White House officials - Trump allegedly repeated Dowd's warning.

He use the warning as the reason why he and his supporters needed to 'fight back harder' against the coming investigation, one of the officials claimed.

Dowd denied those allegations and said those accounts are 'flat out wrong.'

He wouldn't say what was incorrect about the statement, but told the outlet 'my advice to the president is confidential.'

'You don't know me,' Dowd told FP.

'You don't know how I lawyer, and you don't know what I communicated to the president and what I did not.'

Dowd's private advice to the president is protected under attorney-client privilege.

However, because Trump allegedly shared it with other White House officials, Mueller may be able to find out what was said by asking the president what he shared while he is under oath.

He can also ask the people he allegedly shared the information with what Trump told them.

A source close to the matter told FP that Dowd's advice to Trump wasn't improper - but instead a duty. The source explained that a lawyer is hired to tell a client how they are at risks.

But it might be improper if Trump shared that advice with others.

Just after Comey's testimony in June Trump hired veteran criminal defense attorney John Dowd to represent him in Mueller's investigation. Dowd warned Trump that if those FBI officials substantiated Comey's testimony when they were called to give a statement -it would likely play a key role in Mueller's conclusion, sources close to the matter told FP

Since Dowd allegedly gave Trump that piece of advice - the president and his aides, surrogates, and Republican members of congress have attempted to discredit senior bureau officials and the FBI as a whole

Trump has also targeted deputy FBI director Andrew McCabe (left), who briefly acted as director after Trump fired Comey, Comey's chief of staff and senior counselor Jim Rybicki (right) and the former FBI general counsel James Baker

It would also be improper if Trump used that advice to put together a scheme to discredit senior FBI officials, which he has been accused of doing.

Since Dowd allegedly gave Trump that piece of advice - the president and his aides, surrogates, and Republican members of congress have attempted to discredit senior bureau officials and the FBI as a whole.

Trump has lashed out at the FBI specifically on Twitter - claiming its reputation is in 'tatters' and that it is 'worse than ever.'

He has also targeted deputy FBI director Andrew McCabe, who briefly acted as director after Trump fired Comey, Comey's chief of staff and senior counselor Jim Rybicki and the former FBI general counsel James Baker.

Those three officials were identified as Comey's potential corroborating witnesses on June 7 by Vox.

The next day Comey confirmed that he confided in those three men during his congressional testimony.

It is not unprecedented for presidents to attack special counsels or prosecutors investigating them - and in the past multiple have called them partisan or unfair.

But up until this administration a president has never attacked the FBI or any other long-standing American institution. A president has also never before attacked specific FBI agents or law enforcement officials.

In recent months Mueller has asked senior White House officials questions suggesting prosecutors think Trump is attempting to intimidate FBI officials and keep them from testifying against him

On Thursday the New York Times claimed that Trump ordered Mueller to be fired in June 2017. He allegedly backed down only after White House counsel Donald McGahn (pictured June 9) threatened to quit

In recent months Mueller has asked senior White House officials questions suggesting prosecutors think Trump is attempting to intimidate FBI officials and keep them from testifying against him.

On Thursday the New York Times claimed that Trump ordered Mueller to be fired in June 2017.

He allegedly backed down only after White House counsel Donald McGahn threatened to quit.

Two of his aides also reportedly warned him that the move could have devastating effects on his presidency.

Reports suggest Mueller may have already been investigating Trump for obstruction of justice at that point - though he had just been hired so it is not clear.

A judge will only confirm obstruction of justice if a prosecutor can prove intent or motivation of the person being charged, FP explained.

It isn't obstruction of justice just if the person charged attempts to impede an ongoing investigation - there has to be corrupt purpose.

If Trump attacked specific FBI officials in an attempt to discredit them just because he thought they were going to testify against him - it could prove intent and bolster Mueller's case.
Thousands of women Labour Party members will quit if men who believe they are female are allowed to join all-women shortlists, a leading party figure has warned.

Labour veteran Linda Bellos  once notorious as the far-Left leader of Lambeth Council  spoke out as The Mail on Sunday revealed that her name was on a secret hit list of 32 party members targeted by transgender activists.

Transgender teenager Lily Madigan, who was controversially appointed as women's officer for her local Labour Party last year, is an administrator of a secret Facebook group called Labour Against Transphobia which drew up the list.

A Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist hit list has been drawn up by a number of Labour activists including trans teen Lily Madigan (pictured with Jeremy Corbyn)

Amid reports of an escalating battle raging in the party between feminists and transgender activists, it can also be revealed:

Two women have been suspended from the party after being named on the 'hit list'

Sources on the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) say its ruling council is passionately divided over the issue

Leader Jeremy Corbyn is paralysed with indecision, torn between traditional feminists and a fear of offending the transgender movement

Labour's plans to open up female-only parliamentary shortlists to 'self-identifying' transgender women  which have yet to be ratified  have been met with a bitter backlash from feminists.

Stephanie Davies-Arai (pictured) formed a parents' group concerned about the number of children being allowed to change gender

They in turn have been branded Terfs  Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists  by transgender activists.

The Labour Against Transphobia Facebook page invites members to name anyone in the party they believe to be 'transphobic', and to supply evidence of their supposedly anti-transgender views.

The damning dossier has been passed on to Labour officials with the aim of having the accused members expelled. Two women on the list  Jennifer James and Venice Allan  have been suspended.

Ms James said: 'Labour has, essentially, a secret police group with a hit list. I have been suspended for saying women don't have penises and men don't have vaginas.'

She has launched a crowdfunding campaign which has raised more than 20,000 for a legal challenge against transgender women on the shortlists.

Ms Allan said claims she had harassed transgender women in person and through social media were 'ridiculous'. It can also be revealed that Ms Bellos  a friend of Mr Corbyn  is on the list.

Condemning the list as 'Stalinist', she said last night: 'If Labour is foolish enough to allow trans women to be selected for all-women shortlists they will lose thousands of women members who will resign from the party.

Jennifer James launched a campaign to stop men who self-identify as female being accepted on all-women shortlists

Linda Bellos is a renowned activist. She was barred from speaking at Cambridge for 'questioning trans politics'

People who grow up with the privileges of being boys or men are not women.'

Another woman on the list, Stephanie Davies-Arai  who runs Transgender Trend, a parents' group concerned about the rising number of children being diagnosed as transgender  said she was shocked at being called transphobic, adding: 'I'm not even a Labour member. I'm furious to be put on that list.'

One Labour insider said: 'This self-ID situation is problematic for Corbyn. With the advent of Momentum, the biggest growth in party membership has been from young people.

'Self-identification and safe spaces are very much part of the millennials demands, and he is held hostage to that.'

Ms Madigan, the women's officer in Rochester and Stroud, says she is only 'vaguely aware of a list', but it is reported that there are screenshots of her discussing it in detail with other group members.

A party spokeswoman said: 'All-women shortlists are and always have been open to all women, which of course includes trans women.'
John Nichol was beaten by Hussein's henchmen and paraded on Iraqi television, with his picture flashing across the world

Twenty-seven years ago I was shot down over Iraq, captured, tortured and forced by Saddam Husseins henchmen to appear on television to denounce my actions as an RAF officer.

Images of my bruised face flashed across the world and became a lasting image of the horrors of the 1991 Gulf War.

As a prisoner of war, I felt like the most insignificant, terrified human being on Earth.

The memories of my abuse and brushes with death are still with me. Dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has become part of my life.

For this reason I am backing The Mail on Sundays campaign to improve mental healthcare for serving troops, including the introduction of a 24/7 helpline.

I feel the pain of those worst affected by PTSD. As someone who has experienced it myself, I understand what they are going through and the confusion they can face. I can be enjoying a perfectly normal day or night when a sensory stimulus, or trigger, fires me back into my past.

For me it is primarily noise  loud bangs, fireworks going off, trains going past, all these sound like the Coalition jets that flew missions over Baghdad attacking several of the buildings we were held in.

War airman John Nichols was flying in a Tornado (pictured - a stock image of the model) when he was shot down over Iraq

On one truly terrifying occasion, we were hit by four American stealth bombers. The prison we were held in, the headquarters of Saddams brutal secret police, was destroyed. We were dragged from the shattered building by enraged guards and were lucky to live.

My experiences have also made me a much more emotional person and tears can flow at the simplest of triggers such as Remembrance Sunday, when I recall the friends I have lost. In those moments I take solace that at least I understand what is happening to me  the processes of PTSD and how it shows its teeth.

For this precious knowledge I am indebted to the psychiatrist who treated me while I was still a serving RAF officer. I did not believe Dr Gordon Turnbull when he warned my memories might return to haunt me many years later when I was a civilian. I was completely dismissive of suggestions I might suffer any mental or emotional legacy as a result of my captivity, even though Id endured mock executions and been set on fire by my interrogators.

Like so many military personnel of my generation, I thought a few beers and a curry with my mates would ensure I was not adversely affected by my experiences of war.

John Nichol dismissed claims his interrogation would leave mental scars after he was shot down while flying in a Tornado

How wrong I was  and thank God Dr Turnbull took the time to explain what could happen and how any symptoms of PTSD might present themselves. Every member of todays Armed Forces  in the Army, the Royal Navy and the RAF  deserves the same expert care I received.

It is heartbreaking to think there could be so many combat-hardened serving military personnel, including air crews, who suffer in silence due to a lack of round-the-clock care and the stigma that still surrounds mental health issues.

I was recently phoned by a serviceman who was in tears talking about his struggles with his demons after seeing so much horror on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan.

He had been affected by his combat experiences but did not feel he could seek help inside the military system.

He spoke to me in confidence so I cannot disclose his identity. But I know there are many other men and women across the Forces who have been similarly affected because of the courage they showed serving the country they love.

A 24/7 helpline, connecting these people to mental health experts, would apparently cost 2 million.

That is a bargain given the thousands of troops suffering from PTSD and other related conditions.

The British public and the Armed Forces need to get to the same point of understanding and acceptance of troops with mental illness as they are with physically injured personnel.

There is a long way to go. It is indicative of the lack of emphasis placed on mental healthcare that at night and at weekends, troops suffering from any of these issues are forced to rely on A&E departments.

When, in the case of personnel in Northern Ireland, this could put them in danger, it is an absolute disgrace. It is cruelty.

That soldiers have waited longer for mental health treatment than civilians  a situation that the Ministry of Defence was forced to admit last week  is also indefensible. Plainly, when it comes to how the MoD allocates its budget, mental healthcare is very low on the priorities list. Our serving men and women deserve much better care than they get now.

The defence chiefs can buy as many rocket systems, jets and aircraft carriers as they like, but without the highly skilled people to operate them, such equipment is useless.

We have a fine tradition in the British military of not leaving anyone on the battlefield. We should not be leaving them to rot in a pit of despair if they suffer a mental illness.

Veteran: We're an army of zombies Corporal Phil Gater, 38, warns that drugs prescribed by well-meaning GPs are creating a 'Zombie Army' An ex-soldier has warned that heavy doses of drugs prescribed to troops with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder are turning them into a Zombie Army. Iraq veteran Corporal Phil Gater, 38, said well-meaning but naive GPs were making life worse for troops suffering from trauma conditions  more than 2,500 personnel have been diagnosed with PTSD. Cpl Gater, from Lancashire, said: The dosages of anti-depressants and sleeping tablets given by doctors who dont really understand PTSD are far too high. 'Theres got to be more therapy and fewer pills as a means of tackling the increasing numbers of troops with mental health issues. At the moment theres a zombie army of soldiers across Britain whose quality of life is being reduced due to over-medication. 'You cant work properly or do any strenuous physical activity when youre drugged up to your eyeballs. The father-of-three has now stopped taking medication in a bid to become more active. Cpl Gater, who served in the Mercian Regiment, added that the stigma in infantry units about mental illness meant he did not seek medical help until he left the Army. The MoD said it took the mental health of personnel extremely seriously and was improving training and education. Advertisement

Harry's mentor joins growing army behind MoS campaign

By Mark Nicol

A former SAS general who tutored Prince Harry is backing The Mail on Sundays campaign with Lord Dannatt for better mental health care for troops.

Major General Arthur Denaro mentored Harry before he started Army officer training.

And last night he said he hoped our bid to introduce a 24/7 helpline would help save lives.

Pictured, left, former SAS General Major General Arthur Denaro and, right, General Sir Richard Shirreff, former deputy head of Nato

The Mail on Sunday and Lord Dannatt are calling for round- the-clock care to combat the rise of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among serving soldiers, with more than 2,500 cases confirmed in 2017.

The campaign follows the suicide this month of PTSD sufferer Nathan Hunt  a Royal Engineer Warrant Officer who fought alongside Prince Harry in Afghanistan.

Maj Gen Denaro said: This campaign is most timely. Alongside equipment and professionalism, defence chiefs should prioritise troops welfare. We simply cannot afford to ignore the pressures of modern warfare.

Ex-Special Forces Commander Major General Jonathan Shaw has joined the growing army behind the MoS campaign

Our move also won support from ex-deputy head of Nato General Sir Richard Shirreff. And former Special Forces commander Major General Jonathan Shaw described mental health issues in the military as the iceberg approaching us. Several MPs including Julian Lewis, chair of the Commons Defence Select Committee, are also backing the campaign.

THEY JOIN...

Lord Dannatt: Former head of the British Army

General Sir Mike Jackson: Former head of the British Army

Field Marshal Lord Guthrie: Former commander of UK Armed Forces

Admiral Lord West: Former head of the Naval Staff

Colonel Tim Collins: Former SAS officer who served in 2003 Iraq War

Dan Jarvis MP: Ex-British Army officer who served in Afghanistan

Johnny Mercer MP: Ex-British Army officer who served in Afghanistan

Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon: Chemical weapons expert

Soldiers put at risk as more mental health units close Mentally ill troops based in Northern Ireland are suffering anxiety attacks because they are forced to visit an NHS hospital in a Republican area to seek help, it was claimed last night. Due to cuts, soldiers needing treatment for PTSD must attend Belfasts Royal Victoria Hospital  less than a mile from an IRA memorial. A source said: The threat level remains severe due to dissident Republicans. So there is a security issue with soldiers using that hospital. The Mail on Sunday has also been told that two specialist military wards in Aldergrove and Edinburgh will close outside office hours to save money. Advertisement

Have you been affected by the MoD's provision of mental healthcare to troops? If you wish to support our campaign, please email mark.nicol@mailonsunday.co.uk or make contact on Twitter: @MarkNicolMoS
A bed and breakfast owner says he will battle on against a direction to build an 'impossible' childproof fence around his swimming pool, which could cost up to $80,000.

Experts say the fence around the unique pool at Andrew MacDonald's country retreat in the Blue Mountains would be almost impossible to construct costing around 40 times more than a typical pool fence.

Mr MacDonald, 66, who owns the Studio Cottages in Faulconbridge, New South Wales, claims he may be forced to drain the pool which he says could put lives at risk during bushfires.

Experts say constructing a fence around the unique pool would be almost impossible to do

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Mr MacDonald said: 'The swimming pool in the event of a significant fire is really the only refuge for me and my guests.

'But it's also a water supply for firefighting.

'If it was to be removed and I was unable to satisfy the court or get an exemption, I would have to drain it.

'It would place me, my property and my guests at significant risk.'

Mr MacDonald took the decision by the Blue Mountains City Council to appeal at the state Land and Environment Court in Sydney.

Mr MacDonald claims he may be forced to drain the pool risking lives should bushfires hit

A court ruling this week gave Mr MacDonald 120 days to build a fence around his pool after a council direction was issued in 2016.

Rosemary Martin, the senior commissioner of the Land and Environment Court in New South Wales, said Mr MacDonald could apply for an exemption notice and amendment to the council direction.

The pool was built between natural sandstone rocks 50 years ago and is a 'major attraction' for visitors taking a holiday in the summer, Mr MacDonald said.

A court ruling this week gave Mr MacDonald 120 days to comply with the direction or seek an exemption

Mr MacDonald said: 'It's quite frustrating alright, it's gone on for more than two years. I'm not very impressed by the whole matter.

'I've had on site meetings with the commissioner and numerous telephone conferences.

'It's never been an issue of not trying to protect children's safety. I've always maintained if I could [build a fence] I would have.

'I've had a number of inspections over a number of years because of building work. All those have been satisfactory and been given the certificate.'

Andrew MacDonald bought the property in 1987 and believes the pool is a major attraction

The work required is unprecedented, Mr MacDonald said, adding he had consulted six independent specialist pool fencing firms.

'I've had quotes of $80,000 and even then they said wouldn't comply [with pool regulations],' he said. 'Every single one said it was impossible to do or can't or won't attempt to do it.'

Court papers show the council estimates the cost of installing a fence would be around $30,000.

Rules say accommodation properties must have pool inspections every three years, and at the last inspection in 2015, Mr MacDonald said he was given verbal assurance by a council officer his compliance would be issued.

Pictures supplied by Blue Mountains City Council to the court show how a fence could look

But court documents say the council had changed its position - despite it being unable to produce evidence of the inspection taking place - overturning the 'verbal agreement' that a compliance certificate would be issued.

Mr MacDonald, who bought the property in 1987, told the court he installed new child safety measures such as alterations to window openings and new locks on doors.

He stressed because the work has not been done before it was impossible to predict the cost and feasibility of installing a fence.

In evidence, Adam Cole, a fencing expert speaking on behalf of Mr MacDonald, told the court the materials would be 'astronomical in price' and had 'never been designed or engineered for the type of terrain and natural sandstone' around the pool.

The work would be unprecedented and could cost around $80,000, some experts have said

'I'm very careful of what I do and protective of the environment,' Mr MacDonald said. 'The last thing I want to do is destroy the aesthetics. It's a very special area with environmentally protected wildlife and fauna. '

Plans put forward by the council in the court documents showed how the fencing could look around the pool.

'It was the most disgusting thing I've ever seen and totally disregarding the aesthetics and any heritage value of it,' Mr MacDonald added. 'It would be totally out of keeping.'


President Trump caused outrage when he pulled America out of the Paris Accord on tackling climate change.

Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron said it was impossible for any country, including the US, to now try to renegotiate the terms.

But Trump told me hed love to go back in, if the deal can be renegotiated. For you, is it about the science or about the money? I asked. I think its about everything, Trump replied. Im a believer in clean air and clean water. The Paris Accord, for us, would have been a disaster.

Are you completely out of that?

Im completely out of it.

President Trump caused outrage when he pulled America out of the Paris Accord on tackling climate change, but told Piers Morgan he would 'love' to rejoin a renegotiated deal

No way back?

It could be a way back. First of all, it was a terrible deal for the United States. If they made a good deal, theres always a chance wed get back. But it was a terrible deal for the United States. It was unfair to the United States.

Do you believe in climate change? Do you think it exists?

There is a cooling and theres a heating. I mean, look, it used to not be climate change, it used to be global warming. That wasnt working too well because it was getting too cold all over the place.

The icecaps were going to melt, there were going to be gone by now, but now theyre setting records, OK? Theyre at a record level. Ill tell you what I believe in. I believe in clean air. I believe in crystal-clear, beautiful water. I believe in just having good cleanliness in all.

Now, with that being said, if somebody said go back into the Paris Accord, it would have to be a completely different deal because we had a horrible deal. As usual, they took advantage of the United States. We were in a terrible deal.

Would I go back in? Yeah, Id go back in. I like as you know I like Emmanuel [Macron]. I would love to, but its got to be a good deal for the United States.
Primary school teacher Matthew Sephton, (pictured) 42, was convicted at Manchester Crown Court of possessing and distributing indecent child images

New Tory chairman Brandon Lewis was urged last night to investigate claims that the party's lesbian and gay rights group was infiltrated by a paedophile ring.

The allegation was made after the former chairman of the Conservatives' LGBT group was jailed on Friday for sharing the 'most horrendous child abuse images imaginable'.

Primary school teacher Matthew Sephton, 42, was convicted at Manchester Crown Court of possessing and distributing indecent child images.

The court was told that Mr Sephton, also an ex-Conservative Parliamentary candidate and Trafford councillor, was a member of groups that shared child abuse images.

Ben Harris-Quinney, chairman of the Tory Bow Group, said yesterday he had told Conservative chiefs three years ago of fears that its gay rights group, formerly known as LGBTory, was linked to a wider paedophile scandal.

Sephton, who worked at Westmorland Primary School in Brinnington, Stockport, claimed a man named 'Tom' was responsible for downloading the images and sending the messages

Mr Harris-Quinney, who is also a director of Grassroots Conservatives, told The Mail on Sunday: 'I raised concerns with senior party figures in 2015 about the behaviour of a group that had connections with LGBTory but I was ignored.

I believe there is substantial evidence that it involved sexual abuse with underage boys, date-rape and paedophilia. It is essential that Mr Lewis investigates.'

Mr Sephton was chairman of LGBTory, now rebranded as LGBT+Conservatives, until 2014 and played a key role in the campaign to win Tory support for gay marriage.

He will be on the national sex offenders' register for life.

A party spokesman said: 'These are serious allegations which the party is urgently investigating.'
Horrific images emerged on Saturday showing the lifeless body of a 16-year-old girl who was starved to death by her adoptive mother.

The graphic pictures show the girl's frail body covered in blood with scratches and marks.

There is also a photograph of the desperate handwritten note written by one of the five children under the care of Nicole Finn, the 43-year-old Iowa woman who received three life sentences for starving her adopted daughter, Natalie, 16, to death.

'Can't open window, mom nailed it shut!' the note reads.

Scroll down for video

A note written by one of the five children under the care of Nicole Finn, the Iowa woman who received three life sentences for starving her adopted daughter, Natalie, 16, to death, is seen above. 'Can't open window, mom nailed it shut!' the note reads

Natalie's lifeless body is seen above in this graphic image where you can see bloody marks and scratches on her legs

The consecutive sentences were handed down on Friday to Nicole .

She was found guilty last month of first-degree murder of Natalie and three counts of kidnapping for confining Natalie's siblings.

Finn said after Friday's hearing that she intends to appeal the verdict but made no other comment after hearing the sentences.

Locked up for life: Nicole Finn, 43 (pictured left in court Friday) was sentenced to three consecutive life terms for the starvation death of her 16-year-old daughter, Natalie (right)

A judge on Friday called Finn's actions inexcusable and ordered her to not have any contact with her surviving adopted children

Seeking a do-over: Finn said after Friday's hearing that she intends to appeal the verdict

House of horrors: Nicole boarded up some of windows inside the family's home in West Des Moines to stop Natalie and her siblings from going looking for food

Natalie weighed only 85lbs when she died in October 2016, authorities have said.

The teen was found lying on a linoleum floor of their cat-filled home wearing an adult diaper. Her body was covered in bed sore and had almost no fat or muscle left, reported the Des Moines Register.

Skeletal: When Natalie died form cardiac arrest in October 2016, she weighed just 85lbs and hardly had any fat or muscle

Experts testified that her siblings, Mikayla, 14, and Jaden, 15, were at risk of starving to death as well and spent months recovering after Natalie suffered cardiac arrest.

Mikayla testified in court that she had resorted to drinking from a toilet because she was so thirsty.

Judge Karen Romano called Finn's actions inexcusable and ordered her to not have any contact with her surviving adopted children.

'The court cannot imagine what kind of mental trauma these children have suffered,' Romano said.

Finn's ex-husband, Joe Finn II, has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, neglect or abandonment and child endangerment.

He wasn't living with the rest of the family when Natalie died. His trial is scheduled to begin April 30.

During trial, prosecutors described Nicole as more concerned about her cats, kittens and dogs than her children.

The mother-of-five kept three of her children locked in a filthy bedroom without furniture and didn't allow them regular access to food or a bathroom for months.

Nicole and her husband Joseph (left) were estranged when Natalie died. He was charged with child endangerment and kidnapping and will stand trial in April

The children would at times climb out a window of their home and beg for food from neighbors, prompting Nicole and Joseph to board up the windows.

Neighbors and school officials reported their concerns about Natalie's treatment to state child welfare authorities.

After obtaining a court order and visiting the home, the officials declined to remove the girl or her siblings. A child protective worker was later fired amid inquiries by the Department of Human Services, legislators and the Iowa Office of Ombudsman.

In final arguments, the defense said Nicole was detached from reality and overwhelmed by her parenting duties.
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President Donald Trump vowed to not let terrorists win after a suicide bomber used an ambulance to kill 95 people and wound at least 191 others in the Afghan capital Kabul.

Trump, who returned to the White House Friday night from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, tweeted on Saturday night: 'Taliban targeted innocent Afghans, brave police in Kabul today. Our thoughts and prayers go to the victims, and first responders. We will not allow the Taliban to win!'

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.

Trump tweeted on Saturday night: 'Taliban targeted innocent Afghans, brave police in Kabul today. Our thoughts and prayers go to the victims, and first responders. We will not allow the Taliban to win!'

Trump waves as he returns to the White House Friday night from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland

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 191 wounded is taken to hospital. The High Peace Council said its checkpoint was targetted

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.

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

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.
At the festival (Photo: VNA)



The festival, with the theme Holding Hands Tightly, is the opening of a year-long cultural programme to celebrate the 45th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties (September 21st), said Tsutomu Takebe, head of the organising board.

The festival will include a Bon dance to honour the spirits of the ancestors. Visitors will receive instructions on how to join the dance and pray for peace for the two countries.

Several seminars on agriculture and education were also organised at the festival, helping visitors to learn more about the two countries culture.

Chairman of the HCM City Peoples Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong affirmed that Japan is one of the most important partners of the city. He voiced his belief that cultural exchange will help Vietnam and Japan foster development in all fields.

The festival will run until January 28th, expected to draw 300,000 visitors./.
A sheriff broke down in tears after it was revealed a body found on Saturday in a pond is likely that of a four-year-old North Carolina boy who disappeared several days ago.

While assisting local authorities in the search for Raul Gonzalez Johnson, the FBI said a body was discovered in a pond off a road near the boy's home in Laurinburg on Saturday afternoon.

The Scotland County Medical Examiner's Office is currently working to confirm the identity and cause of death.

Authorities began draining the pond on Saturday, one day after the FBI took over the investigation.

The pond, located just 800 yards from Raul's home, had been a top area of interest since three separate K9 units individually 'took the same course' from Raul's home to the pond, Scotland County Sheriff Ralph Kersey said.

A body found on Saturday in a pond is likely that of missing four-year-old Raul Gonzalez Johnson (pictured, left and right) of Laurinburg, North Carolina, who disappeared on Wednesday

In an emotional press conference on Saturday, Sheriff Kersey (pictured) was reduced to tears when he recalled meeting Raul very recently and then being tasked with leading the effort to return him home

The pond (pictured) had been a top area of interest since three separate K9 units individually 'took the same course' from Raul's home to the pond, Scotland County Sheriff Ralph Kersey said

Authorities began draining the pond on Saturday, one day after the FBI took over the investigation

'Sadly, investigators believe we have found the body of 4-year-old Raul Gonzalez Johnson in a pond off Peabridge Road,' the FBI tweeted on Saturday.

'We ask the media to be respectful & not go to the scene during the recovery process.'

Sheriff Kersey said the cause of death currently appears to be accidental.

'We have prayed, but this the outcome everyone feared and it is heartbreaking,' he said during an emotional press conference on Saturday evening.

Kersey was reduced to tears when he recalled meeting Raul very recently and then being tasked with leading the effort to return him home.

'I would guess it's abnormal to meet a child and then later you're looking for him,' he said. 'I consider it a blessing to have had that opportunity.'

The pond was located just 800 yards from Raul's home on Village drive (map view)

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 Scotland County Medical Examiner's Office is currently working to confirm the identity and cause of death (Pictured, Raul)

Video courtesy WMBF

Raul was last seen as he was being watched by his grandfather on Wednesday at his mobile home on Village Drive when he walked next door to visit one of his neighbors.

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 pond was drained after a dive team came up with nothing on Thursday.

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

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 was described as 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.

Raul's mother, Annie Johnson (pictured), told WRAL that she was trying to keep it together for the sake of her other children

Raul's sister, Cheyenne Johnson (left) and his aunt, Kasey Locklear, hold posters of him

Sheriff Kersey said that about 200 people had 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, assisted in the effort.

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.

Raul's mother, Annie Johnson, told WRAL that she was 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.'

About 200 people were involved in the search for Raul, which has involved people on the ground and in the air. K-9 and dive units were also employed in the search
A US Marine veteran who became famous after he was photographed nursing a kitten back to health during the Korean War has died.

Family members of Frank Praytor confirmed that the 90-year-old passed away at his Albuquerque, New Mexico home on January 10, 2018 after battling a number of health problems for several years.

Sent to the front lines as a combat correspondent with the 1st Marine Division in 1952, Praytor gained national attention after a photograph of him feeding a small kitten with a medicine dropper became syndicated in over 1,700 newspapers across the US.

Frank Praytor (pictured) was sent to the front lines as a combat correspondent with the 1st Marine Division in 1952

'I got letters from girls all over the country who wanted to marry me,' Praytor told the U.S. Naval Institute in a 2009 interview. 'I even got a few offers from men,' he joked.

Praytor would later credit the kitten, who he named 'Mis Hap,' from a military court martial when he returned home from the war, according to USNI News.

Although officially assigned to cover the war as a writer, Praytor also snapped pictures of the Korean conflict with his own camera.

One snapshot of a wounded Marine being treated by Navy corpsman would later win first place in a competition held by Photography Magazine.

Family members of Praytor confirmed that the 90-year-old passed away at his Albuquerque, New Mexico home on January 10, 2018

But upon returning home from the war-torn peninsula to accept his prize, the Marines told Praytor he would be facing a court martial, explaining he failed to get permission from military censors before publishing the image.

His fears were assuaged, however, after the commandant of the Marine Corps decided to throw out the case and cease proceedings into the matter indefinitely.

'I assume the commandant realized I was a celebrity at the time and he let me off the hook, and for that I attribute to the cat,' Praytor said. 'That little kitten saved me from the brig.'

Born on September 24, 1927, Praytor began working in journalism as a police reporter for the Birmingham News, and later joined the Marines in 1950.

After nearly escaping his court-martial, Praytor returned to Korea as a writer for Stars and Stripes, later reuniting with 'Mis Hap' who had by then become the spoiled mascot of the Division's Public Information Office, USNI News reported.

'Frank was, first and foremost, a good human being,' friend and fellow Marine Chas Henry told Stars and Stripes earlier this month.

'That picture of him caring for a kitten lost on the battlefield wasn't just cute; it captured his character. Beyond that, he was an elegant writer and master communication strategist. I was fortunate to be able to count him both a mentor and friend.'

After receiving his discharge in 1954, Praytor took a series of communication jobs a a number of private companies around the Midwest, eventually launching his own advertising and public relations firm based in Houston.

In 1992, Praytor moved to Albuquerque and worked as a freelance journalist for a number of local publications.

He is survived by Katherine Praytor, his wife of more than 46 years; granddaughter Nicole; grandson Jacob; great-grandsons, Landon, Brantley and Brendyn; and great-granddaughter Preslie, according to USNI News.

The nature of his health condition was not disclosed to the public.

He became famous across the US after a picture of him feeding a small kitten with a medicine dropper became nationally syndicated in over 1,700 papers
Theresa May faced a fresh Tory sleaze row last night over claims that a former Cabinet Minister boasted he was in line for a peerage during a cash for Brexit sting.

Ex-Trade Secretary Peter Lilley told an undercover reporter posing as a Chinese businesswoman that he would consider offering paid advice on our EU withdrawal.

Senior Conservatives fear that if reports of 74-year-old Mr Lilleys alleged comments are accurate, Mrs May might even consider abandoning plans to give him a peerage in the next few weeks.

The peerage rumoured to be conferred on former Trade Secretary Peter Lilley (seen here with his wife Gail) may now be abandoned

Mr Lilley - seen here at the Conservative party conference in Bournemouth in 1998  is also accused of trying to stop Channel 4 airing the Dispatches film

Peter Lilley has strongly rejected any claim that he had behaved improperly in any way

Mr Lilley is said to have boasted:

He expected to receive a peerage in the next honours round.

He had close links to Brexit Minister Steve Baker and privileged access to International Trade Secretary Liam Foxs department.

He held regular meetings with hardline Brexit MP Jacob Rees-Moggs powerful Tory European Research Group (ERG).

Mr Lilley  who stepped down as an MP at last years Election  is also accused of trying to stop Channel 4 airing the Dispatches film.

Sources claim he rang former Treasury mandarin Lord Burns, the chairman of the broadcasting watchdog Ofcom, to persuade him to raise his concerns with his successor as Channel 4 chairman, Charles Gurassa. Mr Lilley worked with Burns in the Thatcher administration as a Treasury Minister between 1987 and 1990, when Burns was Chief Economic Adviser.

Mr Lilley is alleged to have boasted that he had close links to Brexit Minister Steve Baker (above)

Sources claim Mr Lilley rang former Treasury mandarin Lord Burns (above), the chairman of the broadcasting watchdog Ofcom

The programme, which had been due to air last Monday, was postponed at the last minute but is now scheduled to appear this evening.

Ofcom last night strongly denied exerting any influence over Channel 4 ahead of the broadcast.

Ex-Health Secretary Lord Lansley and former Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell were also targeted by the show in which a woman claimed to represent Chinese millionaires.

All three were told they were ideal candidates to join the advisory board of Tianfen Consulting, a strategic communications firm which advised high net worth individuals in Hong Kong and China.

Ex-Health Secretary Lord Lansley (left) and former Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell (right) were also targeted by the Channel 4 Dispatches programme - they deny any wrongdoing

The Mail on Sunday revealed last week how Mr Mitchell claimed to have launched his own probe into Tianfen with the help of MI5, fearing Parliament was being targeted by Chinese or Russian agents.

It is understood that Mr Lilley told the undercover reporter he maintained links with the ERG  a group which exerts a growing influence over the party  including visits to Parliament to take part in meetings which included Steve Baker.

He is said to have joked that the meetings were a chance to tell Baker what he was getting right and wrong with Brexit policy.

Mr Lilley also said he is part of a committee which advises Dr Foxs department on post-Brexit trade.

Last night, Mr Lilley admitted mentioning the peerage but only in the context of the convention that Cabinet Ministers receive one  and also confirmed that he had mentioned his links to Dr Foxs department, Steve Baker and the ERG.

Mr Lilley was a senior member of the Conservative party from 1983 onwards

But he strongly rejected any claim that he had behaved improperly in any way. He confirmed that he had called Lord Burns but said it was only to obtain the number for the right person to complain to at Channel 4. Mr Lilley said that he did not attempt to stop the broadcast  he just wanted to prevent falsehoods from being aired.

Last night he said: This was an attempt at entrapment which failed. Channel 4 acknowledges that I made it crystal clear that I would not disclose secret or confidential information. I refused to lobby Ministers or civil servants. Any suggestion I would be willing to use confidential information for gain would be grossly defamatory.

I said I was no longer an MP but mentioned the well-known convention that former Cabinet Ministers are usually offered a peerage.

Rather than using this to sell myself, I said that if I went to the Lords I could not attend board meetings when Parliament was sitting  which might well have disqualified me from joining a genuine board.

Lord Lansley, who was undergoing treatment for cancer at the time, reportedly told the undercover reporter he could offer help to Tianfen.

Like Mr Lilley, Lord Lansley and Mr Mitchell were offered a highly attractive remuneration package.

All three deny any wrongdoing and any breach of parliamentary rules.

A Channel 4 spokesman said: We have been clear that those featured maintain they have not breached the code on parliamentary standards  and the programme does not allege that they have  but their activities raise important questions.
Scotland Yard set up the Sapphire unit nearly a decade ago after a series of failures in high-profile cases including Worboys (pictured)

Britain's biggest police force is secretly disbanding its central rape investigations unit, raising fears that serial rapists such as John Worboys will escape justice.

Scotland Yard set up the Sapphire unit nearly a decade ago after a series of failures in high-profile cases including Worboys, who attacked up to 100 women while working as a London cabbie.

But The Mail on Sunday can reveal that sex crime detectives covering the whole of London are being reassigned to small teams in the 32 boroughs.

The Metropolitan Police claims that the move, never publicly announced, will improve its handling of rape cases because officers can work more closely with domestic abuse teams.

But insiders and campaigners for victims fear another Worboys could slip through the net if those local units fail to spot a serial rapist is attacking women across the capital.

Last night, Harry Fletcher of the Victims Rights Campaign said: The decision to run the Sapphire unit down in the light of the decision to release Worboys from jail is astonishing, given its history. The confidence of victims of rape and sexual assault has been seriously eroded by recent events. A mix of Worboys and rape trial collapses has made matters even worse. The decision to deploy specialist officers back locally will reduce morale among victims even further.

The Parole Board provoked anger earlier this month after announcing Worboys would be released from jail. This is now on hold ahead of a court challenge by victims. The Met is also investigating a fresh claim of sexual assault dating back to 1997.

Worboys attacked women in the back of his cab by giving them champagne laced with sedatives after falsely claiming he had won the lottery. He was finally jailed in April 2009 but a report by the independent police watchdog criticised individual and system failures by the Met, including officers not believing complainants and missed chances to secure evidence.

Worboys was a cabbie who also worked as a stripper called 'Terry the Minder', above. But insiders and campaigners for victims fear another Worboys could slip through the net

A separate review by Dame Elish Angiolini into the Mets handling of rape cases said the Worboys scandal was one of the main reasons behind the decision to centralise 32 borough sexual offences units into one Sapphire command in September 2009. Sapphire is now part of a Child Abuse and Sexual Offences (CASO) command at the Met.

A Met spokesman told this newspaper: Around 85 per cent of rape allegations involve parties already known to one another, with individuals who experience domestic abuse often at higher risk of rape or sexual offences.

Bringing sexual offences officers into local policing teams means rape investigators will work closely alongside colleagues specialising in domestic abuse.

There will be no change to the working remits of sexual offences officers  and there is no change to staffing levels. These cases will continue to be overseen centrally and actively monitored via intelligence hubs to establish if there are any linked series of offences.

A police insider said that officers in CASO were told about the move by bosses only last week and that they received it in stunned, shocked silence.

The source said officers fear the decision could result in another Warboys. If a serial rapist moved about, he could be missed because each attack would be looked at by individuals in different boroughs and not be linked as quickly as by the central unit.
A British woman has been found dead in a roadside ditch in Spain.

Police suspect she was the victim of a hit-and-run and have arrested a man whose car was found burnt out near the spot where her body was found.

The woman, thought to be 39, was discovered unconscious in the early hours of Saturday morning in a roadside irrigation canal near the village of Los Ramos close to Murcia, south east Spain.

Several Civil Guard officers investigate the area after the body of a 39-year-old woman with a British passport was found in a ditch

She was already dead by the time paramedics arrived.

A vehicle found gutted near the scene was traced to a man who police have already sought to question.

Local reports said he had refused to give a statement to local police after being arrested and has now been released pending an ongoing investigation.

The woman's body was found near the village of Los Ramos, close to Murcia and she was found by police in the early hours of Saturday morning

Civil Guard officers have taken over the probe but have so far refused to make any official comment.

They are understood to be focusing on the theory the unnamed British woman was hurled over a knee-high fence separating the ditch from the road by the force of an impact with a car - or was thrown over the fence by a hit-and-run driver who stopped and saw she was dying.

A spokesman for the central government delegation in Murcia said in a tweet: 'This morning the body of a woman has been found by the RM-301 road between Los Ramos and Torreaguera.

Spanish authorities are thought to be focusing on the theory that the unnamed British woman was hurled over a knee-high fence separating the ditch from the road

'The dead woman was a British passport holder.

'A burnt-out vehicle was found less than a mile away. A link between the two has not been ruled out.'

A spokesman for a local emergency service coordination centre said: 'The emergency services have not been able to do anything to save the life of a woman found unconscious in an irrigation canal near the village of Los Ramos close to Murcia.

The woman was unconscious when police found her but she had died by the time that the paramedics had arrived

'Two ambulances were sent to the scene along with local police and Civil Guard officers. Firefighters were also informed.

'All they could do was confirm the woman, who was approximately 39 years old, was already dead after they reached the scene.'

The alarm was raised around 12.40am yesterday.

MailOnline has contacted the Foreign Office for comment.
The NHS is refusing to give teenage boys an inexpensive vaccine that grants long-term protection against Britain's fastest-growing form of cancer  on the grounds that it is cheaper to treat deadly tumours later in life.

The jab grants immunity to the human papillomavirus (HPV), and has been provided free to all girls aged 12 to 13 since 2008 because HPV causes cervical cancer.

But it is now known it also causes 'oropharyngeal' cancer of the tongue, mouth and throat, whose incidence is rocketing, as well as tumours of the genitals and anus.

The NHS is refusing to give teenage boys an inexpensive vaccine that grants long-term protection against Britain's fastest-growing form of cancer

Vaccinating boys would cost an additional 22million a year  against a total NHS UK budget of 148billion. But according to Treasury rules, vaccinating boys is not thought 'cost-effective', even though HPV cancer patients face months of expensive, agonising treatment.

HPV is spread through genital and oral sex, but can also be transmitted by saliva exchanged by kissing. Studies show some people who contract it are virgins, while 80 per cent of all UK adults have been infected. Only a minority will develop cancer, often decades after they got the virus.

Professor Margaret Stanley, of Cambridge University's pathology department, the incoming president of the International Papillomavirus Society, said: 'You cannot protect against these cancers by only vaccinating half the population. Not to immunise boys is classic Treasury short-termism. You may not spend so much now, but it will cost far more years later.'

She said that in other countries such as Canada, Australia, Italy and the US, boys were already being vaccinated. She added: 'We are in the midst of an HPV pandemic.'

Prof Christopher Nutting, a mouth and throat cancer specialist at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, said: 'My patients are being struck down by a preventable cancer that will affect them for the rest of their lives. It's unfair that women are protected but men are not. The vaccine will work. It is starting to make cervical cancer incredibly rare. Why wouldn't we do the same for cancer of the throat?'

HPV oropharyngeal cancers already afflict four times as many men as women. The Mail on Sunday has learned that a decision on whether to recommend vaccination for boys by the NHS Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI)  the first step towards a boys' immunisation programme  has been delayed indefinitely.

CASE STUDY: 'I felt massive anger. It took over a year to recover' Actor Steve Bergman (pictured below) was treated for HPV cancer in 2015. 'I started feeling lethargic and tired,' he says. By the time he was diagnosed, his tumour was 'enormous'  necessitating a three-hour operation and a tracheotomy.' After days in intensive care, then 12 weeks of chemo and radiotherapy, he was given the all-clear. 'But it took a year to get close to recovery,' says the 58-year-old. 'I lost 4st. 'I had a feeding tube and forgot how to swallow. I felt massive anger  and intense anxiety. It also put a huge strain on my marriage.' Advertisement

Having pondered the matter since 2013, last summer the JCVI issued an interim statement saying that immunising boys 'does not meet the economic cost-effectiveness criteria for the introduction of a new vaccine'. The statement sets out a brutal logic: that the 'net monetary benefit per vaccinated person' was too low to justify vaccinating boys against a disease that might not strike until after many years. This triggered calls for a change of heart from Professor Harald zur Hausen, who won the Nobel Prize for discovering that HPV causes cancer. Top health organisations including the Royal Society for Public Health, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the British Dental Association are supporting a campaign, Jabs For The Boys, led by a group called HPV Action. Campaign co-ordinator Peter Baker said: 'The decision is too important to be left to accountants.'

The JCVI is now investigating whether feeding new data into its computer models will permit a change of mind. A final decision had been expected next month, but the JCVI chairman, Andrew Pollard, Oxford University's professor of paediatric infection, last night admitted it may not happen this year. It will take another two years after such a decision for boys' vaccination to start.

Prof Pollard said: 'There are clear benefits from vaccinating boys as well as girls. We're all very aware this is an awful disease, not only for patients and their families, but for society.' But the committee could only recommend this if it 'represents a good use of NHS resources' as defined by Treasury rules.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal:

In 2011, the last year for which figures are available, HPV caused 1,400 mouth, tongue and throat cancers in men and 450 in women, while head and neck tumours are men's fourth most common type of cancer;

Projections show the incidence of these cancers is set to rise by a staggering 229 per cent by 2025  more than any other type;

Seven hundred men develop HPV cancers of the anus and penis each year;

Wealthier families are already having their teenage boys vaccinated privately, paying 300 for a two-dose course  an enormous mark-up from the 17 each shot costs the NHS.

The prognosis for HPV oropharyngeal cancers is good with intensive treatment. Prof Nutting said more than 80 per cent will survive five years or longer from diagnosis. However, the physical and emotional tolls are immense.

Prof Stanley said: 'The treatment is so frightening that many survivors can't talk about it. You may be unable to work again, and you will certainly be off work a long time. And many of these patients are people who should have a terrific amount of life, who have children, who are at their peak.'

Unfortunately, most oropharyngeal tumours are diagnosed at a late stage. This means many patients need surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy  and suffer appalling side effects.

The jab grants immunity to the human papillomavirus (HPV), and has been provided free to all girls aged 12 to 13 since 2008 (stock image)

Like several patients who spoke to the MoS, Chris Curtis, 59, said the first symptom he noticed was a lump on the side of his neck. A successful businessman from Blackpool, he was told he had a tumour at the base of his tongue, and two secondaries on each side of his throat.

After chemo and radiotherapy and two operations to remove cancerous cells, he had to be fed through a tube into his stomach for three years: 'Special mush to keep my calorie intake up, as well as all my morphine, all my meds.'

He added: 'I couldn't pay my mortgage, couldn't pay bills. I was a bag of bones: I went from 22st to 10st. I didn't go out. My family would eat in the dining room and I would be stuck being fed through my tube by machine. I planned suicide twice. All that stopped me was the thought of my kids.'

Seven years after diagnosis, Mr Curtis has no saliva glands and barely any sense of taste. 'You've seen the cream-cracker challenge?' he says. 'I live with that every minute of every day. I look at a burger and chips and I see cardboard. If I eat a tomato, it feels like it's exploding in my mouth  it's intolerable.'

After his partial recovery, he founded and runs The Swallows, a charity that supports oropharyngeal cancer survivors. 'Since this is the UK's fastest-growing cancer, we're getting busier and busier. And yet there is something out there that can stop this happening. We've got to use it.'

Female HPV oropharyngeal cancer patients may be rarer but their ordeals are no less gruelling. Nicola Holt, 56, a mother-of-two and the former director of an engineering recruitment firm, said she started feeling ill and coughing frequently in 2012, but it was not until 2014 that she was referred to the Royal Marsden and diagnosed. By then her cancer was advanced.

'Telling my children was the hardest thing,' she said.

After two courses of chemotherapy, she had to undergo radiotherapy five days a week for six weeks. She wore a close-fitting mask and was strapped to a table to render her immobile and so ensure that the radiation was directed accurately.

'I was very sick from the chemo, bringing up blood and green bile and projectile-vomiting,' she said. 'The whole of my mouth was ulcerated and it burned every time I was sick. What scared me most was the thought of being sick inside that mask and choking.

Vaccinating boys would cost an additional 22million a year  against a total NHS UK budget of 148billion (stock image)

'For months the cancer takes over your life, and there is no respite. It tests you to breaking point.'

Prof Stanley pointed out that vaccinating boys would also increase protection for girls and women  because many girls are not vaccinated now, although it is available.

Indeed, the patchy coverage of vaccine for girls is one of the major criticisms made by experts of the JCVI's current policy.

Underpinning the claim that vaccinating boys would not be cost-effective is the notion that treating girls creates a 'herd immunity', so that heterosexual males are unlikely to catch the virus. But in practice, there are huge variations.

Dr Peter Greenhouse, a consultant in sexual health, said that in Swindon, for example, more than 90 per cent of girls get the vaccine. However, in West Sussex, the figure is 50 per cent  hugely increasing the chances of infection from a kiss or sexual encounter.

In large parts of London, the girls' rate is only 70 per cent.

Professor Giampiero Favato, a health economist at Kingston University, led the study that persuaded the Italian government that vaccinating boys would be cost-effective.

He said: 'Twenty years from now, we will laugh at this model. Its conclusions are wrong because treatment has changed and become much more expensive.'

He said it also failed to take account of the altered sexual behaviour of the 'Tinder generation', and the fact that many British males have relationships with women from countries where girls are not vaccinated. He added: 'A boy will only be protected if he is with a vaccinated girl. A girl will be protected regardless of her choice. This is profoundly unequal. As for the indirect costs  the loss of earnings, tax paid, the sheer human suffering  this is a big black hole.'

Prof Pollard, of the JCVI, said the committee could only recommend vaccinating boys if it found this conformed with the 'health technology assessment methodology', which is derived from the Treasury's 'Green book'. That meant the wider social costs had to be disregarded: 'Under the rules we are only looking at cost-effectiveness from the health providers' [ie NHS's] perspective.'

Each possible vaccine had to be considered in the context of the NHS as a whole, he said. 'We've seen the recent pressure on emergency departments and cancer therapies. Each new drug or vaccine has to be looked at under the same rules.'

The reason for the delay in reaching a decision was that 'there is additional work to do: there are some areas where there is new information that has to be assessed'  including the rising cost of treatment and the increase in HPV cancers.

Equality was also important, he said. 'There is an equity issue, and when making a recommendation on giving HPV vaccination to boys we will ask the DoH to consider it.'
Fiften To One quiz show host William G. Stewart left more than 2.4 million in his will  but nothing to his eldest son, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Stewart died aged 84 in September last year after a short illness. He left most of his fortune and his Surrey mansion to third wife Laura, 60, and four of his five children will inherit the estate once Laura passes away. But his first child, Nick, a media consultant, will not receive a penny, according to official records.

William G. Stewart left more than 2.4 million in his will  but nothing to his eldest son

Stewart produced and directed a string of programmes including Bless This House, Love Thy Neighbour and The Price Is Right before going on to pose the questions on Fifteen To One from 1988 to 2003. He initially wanted Jonathan Ross to host it but stepped into the limelight himself when Ross turned down the role.

Last night, Nicks wife Christine said he was not aware he had been left out of his fathers will.

Stewarts family declined to comment yesterday.
Things are spiralling out of control. Its like the start of World War One, a Tory MP told me on Friday. The German railway timetables meant once the plan had reached a certain point there was no way of calling off the invasion. Thats whats happening over the leadership. Youve got Boris throwing his hat in the ring. Then Gavin Williamson and Jacob Rees-Mogg. Soon all the contenders will be out there. And then you wont be able to pull it back.

A number of his colleagues have no intention of pulling anything back. Its time to get on with it, one explained. We can say, Theresa, youve delivered the first stage of the Brexit negotiations. Now you can leave, with the thanks of the party and the nation. 

Within Downing Street there is a growing mood of despair. They just dont know what to do, one Cabinet Minister laments.

There is no clear sense of direction. No one knows what the strategy is meant to be.

At the start of the year the chances of Theresa May being forced out by her party were remote

At the start of the year the chances of Theresa May being forced out by her party were remote. She had broken the Brexit impasse, successfully landed a tricky Budget and stabilised the Conservatives position in the polls. But in the space of a Commons Minute, all that has been forgotten. This weekend the Prime Minister is again fighting for her political life.

Partly this is a result of her recent disastrous reshuffle. As one MP put it: People blamed the Election catastrophe on her advisers. They blamed the conference speech debacle on the party. But the reshuffle is on her.

As well as signalling to her party that she has no intention of voluntarily handing over the reins of power, it also gave licence to her rivals to begin openly mobilising against her. Boris Johnson has now formed the view that he could turn up to Cabinet and moon at Mrs May without being sacked. And hes formed that view because he could. She darent touch him  and he knows it, one Minister told me.

But the biggest issue is the realisation from MPs that the premiership of Theresa May has already effectively ended. Watching her administration since the turn of the year has been like watching a re-run of the cult 1980s film Weekend At Bernies, in which the two protagonists carry their bosss corpse around in an effort to trick people into believing he is still alive. Theres nothing there, one backbencher said. Its basically just her staff propping her up.

It is this power vacuum that is now being filled by just about anyone with a pulse. Normally MPs would be narrowing down likely leadership contenders to two or three favoured candidates. But in the current feverish atmosphere it would be easier to list those Tories who arent in contention.

And even the most fantastical scenarios are becoming plausible. There is talk of a fresh alliance between Boris Johnson and Michael Gove. Gove allies try to dampen such speculation, while simultaneously pointing out the Environment Secretary spoke in support of Johnson at last weeks Cabinet.

Then there is chatter among some on the modernising wing of the party of a dream ticket built around Jeremy Hunt, with support from Amber Rudd and Gove (again). Other modernisers point to what is being dubbed The House Of Cards Scenario, citing the Michael Dobbs book in which a Machiavellian Chief Whip schemes his way into Downing Street. This is a reference to Gavin Williamson  former Chief Whip, fireplace salesman and now Defence Secretary  who has made no secret of his ambition to replace his former mentor.

Overshadowing everything is the spectre of Mr Rees-Mogg, an unlikely leader who could sweep to victory if he harnessed his grass roots support in the same way as Jeremy Corbyn. Anything can happen now.

Boris Johnson (left) has now formed the view that he could turn up to Cabinet and moon at Mrs May without being sacked. And Jacob Rees-Mogg (right) could also sweep to power with his grassroots support

Once the idea of Johnson and Gove burying the hatchet into anything other than each others backs was laughable. As was the idea of Jeremy Hunt unifying his party and the nation. Or a House Of Cards plot coming to life. Or Prime Minister Mogg. But not this morning.

In the absence of leadership from the top, the Conservative Party  and the Government  is careening across the political landscape. No one is at the wheel. And an entire nation is trapped in the back.

Brexit. The Russia threat. The deficit. Rising crime. A surge in rough sleeping. The social care crisis. The pensions time-bomb. Britain is facing its greatest set of challenges since the war. Yet we are doing so without a leader, or any idea when we will get a leader, or who will be that leader, or if that leader will in any way be competent to lead. All we do know is that waiting in the wings is Jeremy Corbyn  a man whose own fitness for leadership is underlined by the repeated attempts to remove him by his own MPs.

Things are spiralling out of control. And there is nothing anyone can do except tighten their seatbelts, take a firm grip on the seat in front, and wait for an almighty crash.
US president Donald Trump has said he is not aware of any invitation for him to attend Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle.

In a wide-ranging interview with Piers Morgan, Mr Trump replied 'not that I know of' when asked if he was given an invite.

Harry's nuptials with the American actress have captured the imagination of her compatriots and will be seen to strengthen the bond between the UK and the US.

But Markle has been a vocal critic of former reality star Mr Trump, backing his rival Hillary Clinton and suggesting before the 2016 election she would leave the US if he won.

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US president Donald Trump has said he is not aware of any invitation for him to attend Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle

Asked if he would like to go to the royal wedding in May at Windsor Castle's St George's Chapel, Mr Trump simply said: 'I want them to be happy. I really want them to be happy.

'They look like a lovely couple.'

When Morgan pointed out she had labelled the billionaire 'divisive' and a 'misogynist', he said: 'Well, I still hope they're happy.'

Embattled Theresa May also 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.

Meghan Markle has been critical of Donald Trump and endorsed his opponent Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election but the President says she and Prince Harry are a 'lovely couple'

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

In an interview with Piers Morgan, to be broadcast on ITV tomorrow, the President said he would have taken a much tougher stance than Mrs May towards Brussels.

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 wouldn't negotiate it the way it's [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 it's supposed to be. I would have taken a tougher stand in getting out.'

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 don't want people coming from all over the world into Britain, they don't know anything about these people.'

However, Mrs May can draw comfort from the President's 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 we're 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, I'll be there. She [Mrs May] just invited me. Twice.'

Trump told Piers Morgan he was not surprised when Brexit won the EU referendum and cited trade and immigration as major drivers

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 Trump's 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 May's 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: 'We'll 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.
Seven survivors from a ferry which disappeared more than a week ago have been picked up after they were spotted in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

The boat was found drifting in the search area on Sunday morning, eight days after the MV Buitraoi ferry, carrying around 50 people, went missing off the coast of Kiribati.

A fishing vessel located 92km away by the crew of a New Zealand airforce search and rescue plane was sent to rendezvous with the boat for the miraculous rescue.

Seven survivors from a ferry which disappeared more than a week ago have been picked up

The MV Butiraoi went missing more than a week ago off the coast of Kiribati in the central Pacific

But 43 people are feared dead with the ferry still missing and more than half of the search area already covered.

The crew of a Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion plane located the boat two hours into the search on Sunday morning for the MV Butiraoi, a 17.5 metre wooden catamaran.

The New Zealand Defence Force confirmed the seven people found were on board the vessel after an air force plane spotted the small boat.

Authorities believe it was one of two boats carried on the side of the ferry.

All the people who were on board the ferry are thought to be locals.

Efforts are now being coordinated with a fishing vessel 92km away to pick up the survivors.

The FV Lomalo is expected to rendezvous with the survivors on Sunday afternoon, Air Commodore Darryn Webb, the Air Component Commander for the NZDF said.

'The Orion will continue to search the area, making every effort to locate any more survivors, while awaiting the rendezvous with the fishing vessel,' Air Commodore Webb added.

The missing ferry, which had 50 passengers on board, was due to arrive in Betio, the country's captial, on January 20 after departing Nonouiti Island.

The group seem very relieved to have been found when the NZ Airforce Orion dropped supplies, including water and a radio, to them about 10am today, said John Ashby, senior search and rescue officer of the Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand.

Local authorities said the boat ran aground and underwent repairs to its propeller shaft before it left Nonouti Island.

It has a high frequency radio but it is not known whether it has enough fuel and emergency supplies on board.

The 240km inter-island voyage was due to take two days to complete.

Seven people are on board the small five metre boat and teams from the NZ Orion aircraft have dropped emergency aid including a radio into the water.

A spokesman from the New Zealand Defence Force said they could not confirm whether the people are from the missing ferry.

Crews have attempted to reach communication with the boat but say they have not been able to ascertain its origin.

Crews from the Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion drop emergency supplies to the survivors

Rescue efforts are being co-ordinated between New Zealand, Fiji and Kiribati authorities.

The ferry is described as having a dark blue hull and yellow cabin fixed on top.

The Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand (RCCNZ) has so far scoured more than half of the possible search area - estimated to be the size of New Zealand.

Radio transmissions have been broadcast along the coastline and contact has been made with each island for sightings.

Search and rescue teams have been scouring an area the size of New Zealand in hunt for ferry

John Ashby, a senior search and rescue officer with the RCCNZ, said earlier: 'We are doing everything we can to locate this ferry and its passengers.

'We understand the vessel underwent repairs to its propeller shaft just before it departed. This may have contributed to problems navigating the journey.'

Kiribati is a collection of 33 islands with a population of 110,000 people, with the largest group located 1,500km north of Fiji.




Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Citys Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan

plants tree at Cho Ray  Phnom Penh Hospital (Source: VNA)



During a working session with the university on January 27th, 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 six 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 26th, 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 27th afternoon, the Vietnamese delegation concluded two-day visit to Cambodia./.
Grant Shapps writes: Theresa May's loss of authority makes it excruciatingly difficult for her to demand obedience from her Cabinet  as this months reshuffle demonstrated

I have never hidden my view that after Theresa Mays botched General Election, and her resulting collapse in credibility, another leader might be better placed to serve the party and country.

Her loss of authority makes it excruciatingly difficult for the Prime Minister to demand obedience from her Cabinet  as this months reshuffle demonstrated.

Some Ministers simply refused to accept the jobs she tried to give them; others routinely ignore agreed policies.

Yet despite these forthright views, I had not contemplated submitting a letter to Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the partys 1922 Committee, calling for a leadership election.

So what on earth has held me back?

Previously, I had thought Mrs May herself should decide when to stand down. Forcing a contest  through the mechanism of 48 Tory MPs writing to Sir Graham  would create an unpredictable timetable for a leadership election.

It could be triggered at any moment. And since country comes before party, I held the view that instability should be avoided at all costs.

After all, there is a far more existential threat than a sub-optimal Conservative Government, and that is an extreme Marxist one under comrades- in-arms Corbyn and McDonnell.

That is why I argued that MPs who had concerns about leadership should be listened to  but not mobilised into a rebellious force, which could lead to a haphazard leadership challenge.

But it is becoming increasingly clear that we cannot continue to muddle along like this.

This uninspiring leadership manifests itself not only through the lens of Cabinet disarray, but through a void in big and bold ideas capable of projecting Britain beyond the trials and tribulations of Brexit.

So while I have not submitted a leadership letter to the 1922 Committee, an increasing number of my colleagues have. More are going in this weekend.

Theresa May is pictured with her husband Philip in Downing Street in July 2016

No one knows quite how many. But when the figure represents 15 per cent of the parliamentary party, Sir Graham has no choice but to spark that leadership election; no matter how deleterious the timing.

Which is why the moment has come for the Prime Minister to wrest back control of that timetable. And to do so before it is too late. Mrs May should name a date.

In truth, it doesnt need to be an exact day. Merely making it clear that she wont fight the next Election as leader would utterly transform the political landscape and her premiership.

By removing uncertainty, she would instantly create political space to pursue and achieve some of her very laudable objectives, such as those she first outlined on the steps of Downing Street.

Many colleagues, including some in government, privately admit her effective leadership deadline is the day we leave the EU  little more than a year away.

However, establishing now that Mrs May wont contest the next Election would effectively extend her premiership until much closer to the 2022 General Election, still more than four years away. And it would give the party time to calmly contemplate a successor.

It is often said there is a great deal of talent in the Conservative Parliamentary Party.

This is true, but too many of the brightest and best remain on the backbenches. And where ministerial appointments have been made, too often they look like square pegs in round holes.

Acknowledging that Mrs May fighting the next election is off the table would allow an open and healthy examination of the leadership potential of others.

Grant Shapps, pictured, writes: 'This uninspiring leadership manifests itself not only through the lens of Cabinet disarray, but through a void in big and bold ideas capable of projecting Britain beyond the trials and tribulations of Brexit'

Putting the best in the right ministerial posts would give individuals an opportunity to be tested in order to shine or fail. But either way, to answer the question  whos next?

And on this point, I should be clear. When I called for a change at the top, it wasnt  as some might assume  a Trojan horse for a leadership candidate that I was quietly backing.

Nor was it a negative response to the kind of Brexit being pursued, either too hard or too soft.

Rather, it was due to a recognition that we are unlikely to resolve the current lacklustre performance through wishful thinking alone. And that we urgently owe it to the country to provide strong leadership during these complex times.

Some will say we cannot change leader while Brexit negotiations are in full swing. Maybe.

But Britain changed Prime Minister during the war, when Neville Chamberlain was ousted in favour of Winston Churchill: not a decision the country had cause to regret.

Either way, making the leadership timetable clear would stabilise this premiership and provide our European partners with certainty about who will complete these Brexit negotiations beyond next year.

Others say that by conceding she wont fight the next Election, Mrs May is as good as declaring her premiership a lame duck.

Yet, despite misgivings in 2015 when David Cameron let slip he wouldnt fight the following Election, it did not hamper his power once back in No 10.

Finally, it isnt as if the status quo is actually working. Even during this relatively quiet month of January, without Brexit talks in full swing, speculation surrounding the leadership has been in danger of smothering the good work this Government is doing elsewhere, such as helping to get more people in work than ever before and reducing public borrowing to the lowest figure since the turn of the century.

The Prime Minister still has the opportunity to write her own timetable. By speaking up now she can regain the initiative, put herself back in control of her Cabinet and achieve some of her wider programme.

Clarifying her intentions will help Mrs May regain control of the levers of power, gain some time and  most importantly  stop the flow of those letters to Sir Graham.
The Duchess of Cambridge has donated some of her hair to go towards making wigs for young patients suffering from cancer.

The 36-year-old's hairdresser is believed to have trimmed more than seven inches from her usual length.

An aide is believed to have picked up the hair which is thought to have been sent to the Little Princess Trust.

The organisation helps make wigs for children who have lost their own hair after receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is believed to have donated seven inches of hair to the Little Princess Trust

The idea is believed to have come to the Duchess after she had her hair cut at Kensington Palace by hairdresser Joey, 30, who works for Richard Ward Hair in Chelsea.

'Four months ago Joey persuaded her it was time to take off some of her hair; he said it was just getting too long,' a royal source told the Daily Express.

The idea came to her of doing some good with it rather than throwing it away

'While Joey was snipping away the idea came to her of doing some good with it rather than throwing it away.

'She mentioned it to Joey, who thought it was a brilliant idea.

'It was sent using someone else's name, so that the trust didn't know it was from a royal source  they just thought it was from a female donor in the Kensington area.'

The source added: 'It's lovely to think somewhere a little girl is happily wearing a wig made from a real princess's hair. It's a very heartwarming thing for Kate to have done, and very thoughtful to use hair that would have otherwise just been thrown away.'

The Duchess is not the first public figure to donate their locks to the Trust, with One Direction star Harry Styles sending his ponytail to the organisation in 2016.

A picture which Styles posted onto social media managed to amass more than two million likes on Instagram.

The Little Princess Trust has been running for 12 years and was set up by the parents of Hannah Tarplee.

The young girl who attended Hereford Cathedral Junior School passed away aged just five from a cancerous tumour, despite chemotherapy treatment to help save her.

A spokesperson for the charity said: 'Losing her hair was traumatic for Hannah but finding high quality wigs for children was difficult and only after a long search was a firm found which made a wig for her.

'She enjoyed wearing her wig, particularly on special occasions.

'After Hannah died, her parents, Wendy and Simon, set up a charity providing free children's wigs.'

Hannah's mother, Wendy Tarplee-Morris, says: 'We have given away 5,500 real hair wigs to sick children which is astonishing. We've also been able to fund research into finding causes and cures for paediatric cancer and research on less toxic treatments.'

The Duchess (left) is not the first public figure to donate their locks to the Trust, with One Direction star Harry Styles (right) sending his ponytail to the organisation in 2016

Since the charity was established in 2006, it now also helps fund research into minimising the effects of chemotherapy on children.

The charity, who boasts Olympic gold medal winner Joanna Rowsell-Shand and ballet dancer Jennie Harrington among its patrons, said it was not aware of a donation from the Duchess of Cambridge - but added it did accept anonymous donations.

A spokesperson for the charity said: 'We are not aware of having any donation made by the Duchess of Cambridge, but if she had sent us some hair, she may have decided to make it anonymously, understandably after the attention given to the donation made by Harry Styles.'

MailOnline has contacted Kensington Palace for comment.
A British woman has regrown her ovaries three years after their removal in what she described as a 'one-in-a-million' case.

Emma Getvoldsen, 36, had the operation to remove her ovaries after suffering from chronic pelvic inflammatory disease.

But after finding that her body was 'full of oestrogen' three years later, doctors found an ovary had managed to grow back in the first such case recorded in Britain, the Sun on Sunday has reported.

The consultant, from Bath, had the hysterectomy in 2013 but had to get a letter to prove it after doctors could not believe the ovary had grown back.

Emma Getvoldsen, 36, had the operation to remove her ovaries after suffering from chronic pelvic inflammatory disease

The consultant, from Bath, had the hysterectomy in 2013 but had to get a letter to prove it after doctors could not believe the ovary had grown back

Ms Getvoldsen decided to have the new ovary removed as well, but was told the treatment had failed and that a cancerous tumour was growing in her appendix.

On a fundraising page to raise 30,000 for treatment in Atlanta, Georgia, it was stated that ovarian remnant syndrome affects only one in a million people.

The page said: 'This created a pelvic mass causing immense pain that was only eased with a concoction of pain medications including morphine. '

'Emma's internal organs were fused together due to all of the scar tissue from her previous operations which also caused pain and complications.'

Ms Getvoldsen said: 'If they hadn't removed [the tumour] I would have been dead last Christmas.

'My advice for all women would be to push for answers if you feel something's not right.'
Residents are calling on police for help as their community continues to be terrorised by 'tinny rats' hooning through their canals.

The Gold Coast's many waterways have become the setting of a battle between terrified locals and reckless youths who fly through areas in tin dinghies above the speed limit and driving dangerously.

'They've got no respect for anyone else around,' resident Karen Barnes told Nine.

'They're a danger to themselves and others.'

Residents are calling on police for help as their community continues to be terrorised by 'tinny rats' hooning through their canals

'They've got no respect for anyone else around,' resident Karen Barnes told Nine . 'They're a danger to themselves and others'

The issue has become increasingly worrying for locals and law enforcement alike, with Gold Coast Police admitting they have a problem with 'tinny bashing'.

Footage of people, mostly young men, driving through the narrow canals at a high-rate of speed, performing tricks and splashing stationary boats and scaring families.

The limit in the residential areas of the inlets is 6 knots, but the 'tinny rats' can be seen travelling much faster.

'There's a fine line between having fun and being dangerous,' a resident said.

The Gold Coast's waterways have become the setting of a battle between locals and reckless youths who fly through areas in tin dinghies above the speed limit and driving dangerously

Footage of people, mostly young men, driving through the narrow canals at a high-rate of speed, performing tricks and splashing stationary boats and scaring families

People are calling for police to address the growing concern and stop the trend before someone gets injured.

There are several Facebook pages dedicated to 'tinny bashing' with people sharing their stunts with other 'rats'.

Many of the images and videos shared appear to be in the Gold Coast's canals.
Scott Baio has responded to allegations that he molested his former co-star Nicole Eggert when she was 14 years old.

Eggert had tweeted on Saturday that he assaulted her while they worked together on the show 'Charles in Charge'.

'Ask @scottbaio what happened in his garage at his house when I was a minor. Creep,' she wrote.

She then accused Baio of digitally penetrating her beginning at age 14.

Baio issued a statement calling her claims were '100% lies', before appearing in a Facebook live video filmed by his wife.

Scott Baio responded to allegations that he molested his former co-star Nicole Eggert when she was 14 years old in a Facebook Live video filmed by his wife (left and right)

Eggert had tweeted on Saturday, referring to a mention of the actor on Twitter, that he assaulted her while they worked together on the show 'Charles in Charge'

Baio acknowledged that the pair did have sex, but claims it was consensual, and that Eggert would have been at least 18-years-old at the time of the encounter

He played an audio recording of an interview Eggert gave to TheDirty.com, in which she described losing her virginity to Baio 'way after' 'Charles in Charge' was done (Baio, left, and Eggert on 'Charles in Charge')

The actor is coached by his wife - Renee Sloan, a stunt woman, as they show to the camera what they claim is evidence of Eggert's lie.

Baio acknowledged that the pair did have sex, but claims it was consensual, and that Eggert would have been at least 18 years old at the time of the encounter.

'I remember her calling me and asking me to come over and coming in my house one time, and seducing me,' Baio says in the video.

'Any normal heterosexual, red-blooded American guy, the outcome would have been the same,' he said.

He played an audio recording of an interview Eggert gave to TheDirty.com, in which she described losing her virginity to Baio 'way after' 'Charles in Charge' was done.

'It was years later,' Eggert can be heard saying.

Baio argued in the video and in a tweet that because Eggert was born in 1972, and the show was completed in 1990, she would have no longer been a minor.

The actor and his wife also reveal that his legal team had served Eggert with two cease-and-desist letters in November ahead of the video.

Baio says that when Eggert's first claims against him came up, she was promoting her reality shows - but he kept his 'mouth shut' because they eventually go away.

However, he said that she 'just won't let them go.'

Baio says that when Eggert's first claims against him came up, she was promoting her reality shows - but he kept his 'mouth shut' because they eventually go away (Pictured, Eggert in 2014, left, and in 2017, right)

'If you have a claim, go to the police. There is a special unit there that handles this kind of stuff,' Baio said (Pictured, Baio at the Republican National Convention, July 2016)

Baio also insisted he would not have had unsupervised access to Eggert while filming 'Charles In Charge' (Pictured, the cast of 'Charles in Charge' including Eggert, seated far right, and Baio, standing in red)

Baio is pictured with his stuntwoman wife Renee Sloan at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 14, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California

'If you have a claim, go to the police. There is a special unit there that handles this kind of stuff,' Baio said

'If you have a real claim, you go to the real people, not to social media where people like me get beat up,' he added.

Baio also insisted he would not have had unsupervised access to Eggert while filming 'Charles In Charge'.

'When you have minors on the set, when they are not on the set working, they are in the classroom with the teacher, the teacher brings them to the set, and on the set is their parents, their teachers...' he said.
Three more women have come forward with allegations that actor Jeremy Piven made unwanted sexual advances toward them  making it a total of eight women who accused the former Entourage star of inappropriate behavior.

The three women  two of whom went on the record and one who chose to remain anonymous  told BuzzFeed News that Piven became physically aggressive with each of them during separate encounters in the 1980s and 90s.

One woman said that Piven was 21 years and she was 17 when he became physical with her in a trailer on the set of his first-ever movie role in 1986.

The news site reported that eight different people said they heard of the incidents from the women who shared it shortly after they took place or in the years since.

Piven vehemently denied all of the allegations, which his attorneys describe as works of fiction.

Three more women have come forward with allegations that actor Jeremy Piven made unwanted sexual advances toward them  making it a total of eight women who accused the former Entourage star of inappropriate behavior

Pivens lawyers are saying that the accusations are conjured up in an opportunistic effort to capitalize on the current media storm in order to obtain attention and/or money.

The attorneys for Piven say that the actor provided BuzzFeed with the results of a lie detector test that he says he passed, proving that he never groped women or used force against women to gain sexual pleasure.

These allegations, which in one case goes back more than 30 years and the two others more than 20 years ago, are false, Piven said in a written statement given to BuzzFeed News.

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.

One of his accusers, Susan McCain Olson, who had just finished her junior year of high school in the Chicago area, was an extra in Lucas, the 1986 film which was Pivens first ever movie role

To the contrary, if any woman ever said no, I stopped.

The actors lawyers even threatened to sue BuzzFeed News  the second time they have issued a threat of litigation in response to a story about Pivens alleged sexual misconduct.

Susan McCain Olson, who had just finished her junior year of high school in the Chicago area, was an extra in a film that was Pivens first ever movie role.

He was just 21 years old when he was cast for a role in Lucas, the 1986 film which starred Charlie Sheen, Winona Ryder, Kerri Green, and Corey Haim.

McCain Olson, 51, told BuzzFeed News that she had a number of scenes in the film and that the environment on set was casual and friendly.

During filming, McCain Olson said she was asked to go into a trailer to retrieve something, which was not an unusual thing to happen.

He was just 17 years old when he was cast for a role in Lucas, the 1986 film which starred Charlie Sheen (far left), Winona Ryder (right), Kerri Green (middle), and Corey Haim. McCain Olson alleges that Piven followed her into a trailer and forced himself on her

McCain Olson said that Piven followed her into the trailer. She alleged that he then pinned her down on the sofa, climbed on top of her, and started to kiss her.

Piven is also alleged to have run his hands up and down her body and inside her shirt.

At one point I kind of was like, This is it, this is where Im going to get raped, McCain Olson said.

I kept trying to push him away. I was like, No, get off me.

McCain Olson said she managed to nudge Piven off of her and get away.

She said she feared telling others because she thought it might cost her job as an extra.

Piven also did not approach her for the remainder of their time together on set.

I saw him around after because we were on the same set but he never spoke to me, she said.

BuzzFeed News said it spoke to four people close to McCain Olson who said that they heard the same story from her in the years after it allegedly happened.

She said she chose not to go public since the culture surrounding sexual harassment was different in those days than it is now.

In those days, sexual assault was rape and I was like, Well, he didnt rape me, McCain Olson said.

I didnt talk much about it at all just because I guess it was embarrassing. Who was going to believe me?

An anonymous woman alleges that while Piven was in Montreal filming Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde in or around 1994, he pinned her against the wall in his hotel room and tried to kiss her, but that she rejected his advances. Piven is seen above in the film alongside co-star Sean Young

BuzzFeed News also spoke to another woman, a 46-year-old executive at a major international organization, about an encounter she says she had with Piven in Montreal in or around 1994.

Piven was in Montreal to film Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde, a movie which was released in 1995.

The accuser says she met the actor at a hair salon where she was working at the time.

She told BuzzFeed News that she agreed to show Piven around town, though she says she made it clear to him that she had no romantic interest in the actor.

When she went to meet Piven at his hotel, the front desk told her that he wasnt ready and that she should go up to his room.

She said she went up to the room because she had no reason to suspect Piven, who was a nice enough guy.

When she entered Pivens room, the actor pinned her against the wall and tried to kiss her, she alleged.

She said she pushed him off of her and asked him what he was doing.

He then replied by asking her why she came up to his room.

At that point, she said she left.

I didnt want to stick around to find out what else was going to happen, the woman said.

I guess he thinks hes this actor and he can do whatever the hell he wants to people.

As a woman  you deal with this kind of thing all the time. But this was a little more violent than the other things that have happened to me.

To have somebody force themselves on you like that  it made me feel very uncomfortable and grossed out.

In the mid-1990s, Piven landed a recurring role on the hit ABC sitcom Ellen. Diane Gonzalez, an extra on the set of Ellen, alleges that Piven became increasingly violent during a romantic encounter that she abruptly ended. Piven (far right) is seen with the cast of Ellen in 1995

Gonzalez alleged that the incident took place after a night out of drinks with cast and crew. Piven is seen above with co-star Ellen Degeneres in this 1995 image

She said she decided to come forward after reading Pivens denials of sexual misconduct against other women.

I was like, you would never force yourself on a woman? Yes, you would, because you did that to me, she said.

Piven, for his part, denied ever meeting a woman at a salon in Montreal.

BuzzFeed News spoke to two people who said the woman told them about the alleged incident.

By 1996, Piven had a recurring role on the hit ABC sitcom Ellen.

In February of that year, Diane Gonzalez was hired as an extra on the set, where she met Piven.

The two became involved in a consensual romantic encounter.

But Gonzalez said that things turned physically aggressive and left her feeling threatened.

After one night of taping, the cast and crew went out for drinks. Piven invited Gonzalez to join.

After the gathering ended, Piven asked Gonzalez to follow him to his house.

He escorted Gonzalez to her car. As the two were on a sidewalk outside, Piven started to kiss her, she said.

"I was taken aback, but I kind of just went with it, she said.

Anastasia Taneie says Piven invited her to talk with him and his manager, then pushed her against a wall and groped her breasts and genitals while on the set of HBO's Entourage

At Pivens home, the actor gave Gonzalez a tour. As she looked at pictures of Piven on his refrigerator, she turned around and saw him.

Piven, at this point, is alleged to have pulled down his pants and exposed his genitals to her.

I really was surprised  I guess I was naive and I just didnt have sex on the brain, Gonzalez said.

I kind of just laughed it off  and then quickly thought, What am I doing? This could go really wrong. So, just kind of play it cool.

Gonzalez alleged that Piven grabbed her and started to kiss her.

He then allegedly picked her up, wrapped her legs around his waist, and took her into the bedroom.

Gonzalez alleged that when they got to the bedroom, Piven threw her onto his bed and straddled himself on top of her.

She claimed that Piven pinned her arms behind her head and kissed her.

Piven escalated matters and kept using more force, Gonzalez alleged.

She said this made her uncomfortable and she told Piven she wanted to go home.

The kissing was very intense and at this point his penis is still exposed, so thats when I  [thought], No, no, this isnt right, Gonzalez said.

I was just starting to get very cautious to how I was going to react to this.

What I was saying out loud was, I think its time for me to go. I should go now, she said.

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 said.

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.

Gonzalez said that Piven also tried to unbutton her pants, but she managed to get away.

I was trying to be somewhat playful and not freak out because I was alone, of course, and I was just surprised at how quickly things were advancing, Gonzalez said.

So I kept saying, Okay, you know what, I think I need to go, its best that I leave. But he kept resisting.

Piven (right, with the cast of Entourage) denies the claim, which has been supported by Taneie's mom and others who were on the set at the time

She said she purposefully fell off the bed in order to get away from Piven. She then told the actor that she really needed to go.

Piven reacted angrily, she said. He then told her to leave and belittled her.

I'm just thankful I kind of got out there when I did, she said.

Two friends of Gonzalez told BuzzFeed News that they heard the story of the alleged encounter with Piven.

Gonzalez said that in retrospect she became more convinced that she was the victim of an alleged assault.

The way I explained it at the time was like, Oh, things got a little out of control.

But now as an older person looking back, that couldve been really bad.

I just want him to be accountable for what he did.

Any interaction that may have occurred between [Piven and Gonzalez], if any, was a consensual encounter, the actors attorneys said.

Piven also addressed the allegations, writing in a statement: Some of the assertions, as related to be by BuzzFeed, 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.

Actress Ariane Bellamar, (left) 38, last month accused the actor of groping her breasts. Porn star Isis Taylor (right) is among other women who claimed Piven harassed her

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.

Last year, a total of five other women accused Piven of sexual impropriety.

Anastasia Taneie told BuzzFeed News she was working as a 23-year-old background actress on Entourage in 2009 when Piven, then 44, cornered her in a darkened corridor and groped her breasts and genitals.

'I was scared at the time nobody was going to believe me. I didn't want to make a scene. I just wanted to go home,' she said this past November.

'It was the most horrible thing I've ever experienced.'

Piven denied the accusations and pointed to a lie detector test from November 13 which found him innocent of groping anyone after four other women including actress Ariane Bellamar accused him.

In October, Bellamar accused Piven of groping her twice, once in his trailer on the Entourage set and the other at the Playboy mansion.

Advertising executive Tiffany Bacon Scourby (left) says Piven attacked her in 2003 in his hotel room and actress Cassidy Freeman (right) also accused him of engaging in 'predatory behavior' against her when she was 'far too young'

Piven was accused on Twitter of sexual harassment and assault by 38-year-old Bellamar at the end of October.

She was followed by actress Cassidy Freeman who said on her Instagram page that Piven engaged in 'predatory behavior' against her when she was 'far too young.'

More women have since come forward accusing the Emmy winning actor of sexual assault and harassment.

Washington-based advertising executive Tiffany Bacon Scourby, 39, and Hawaii-based porn star Isis Taylor both say Piven attacked or harassed them.

Piven has denied all allegations of sexual assault saying they 'are absolutely false and completely fabricated.'
Jimmy Carr allegedly 'ogled at hostesses and entered their dressing rooms' after presenting an event hosted by the scandal-hit Presidents Club in 2015.

The comedian hosted the annual fundraiser at the Dorchester Hotel three years ago.

Former workers have described the 8 Out Of 10 Cats star as 'creepy' for his behaviour at the event.

Accusations: Jimmy Carr allegedly 'ogled at hostesses and entered their dressing rooms' after presenting a Presidents Club event in 2015

Speaking to The Sun, hostesses said they felt they were 'ogled' after he entered their dressing room.

One said: 'I kept saying, 'Why does he keep walking through, this is obviously where girls are getting changed?'

'I felt uncomfortable around him and his behaviour made me think to myself that it was a bit weird.'

The woman, who has remained anonymous, claimed she even reported the comic to security in an attempt to stop him entering her dressing room.

The allegations come just days after it was claimed hostesses were groped and sexually harassed at the men-only fundraising dinner.

The furore has seen customers turn on online grocery delivery service Ocado after its boss admitted attending the scandal-hit charity gala.

Ocado boss Tim Steiner, pictured with his lingerie model girlfriend Patrycja Pyka, was thought to be one of the business world's 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

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 has also 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 .

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 Walliams's 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 club's 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 London's 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 Steiner's involvement with the charity event. 'We don't march for this,' she said.

Harini Iyengar, of the Women's Equality Party, said: 'I and many other loyal Ocado customers have been dismayed by its silence on the Presidents Club story.

'Instead of addressing people's concerns and denouncing the appalling treatment of women at the event, they have ducked questions about Tim Steiner's 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 wasn't just the men behaving badly. She added: 'I saw girls on the men's 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. 'It's 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 hotel's 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 company's website, she has worked for major corporate clients including Breitling, Moet Hennessy and Bentley.

Among the testimonials on its website is one from Mr Ritchie's property company Residential Land. It says: 'Artista clearly understands the diverse requirements of a corporate client however obscure and demanding they may be.'
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The Trump sisters headed out for a glamorous night on the town on Saturday wearing stylish full-length dresses.

Ivanka Trump, 36, and her husband, Jared Kushner, were seen decked out in evening formal wear as they stepped out from their Washington, DC home.

Jared opted for a simple black tuxedo and bow tie while his wife donned an elegant black dress with a shawl-like attachment.

The First Daughter opted out of wearing a coat despite the chill and had her blonde hair swept up in an elegant up-do.

Younger sister Tiffany, 24, was also dressed to impress in a formal white and gold floor-length dress. The Georgetown Law's students gown featured cut-out shoulder sleeves and cut-out in the midriff.

Her hair was also in an upsweep with curls framing her face. She also posted a video of her and a friend walking down the hallway of the Trump International Hotel in their evening wear.

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Ivanka Trump, 36, and her husband, Jared Kushner, were seen decked out in evening formal wear as they stepped out from their Washington, DC home (left and right). Jared opted for a simple black tuxedo and bow tie while his wife donned an elegant black dress with a shawl-like attachment

Younger sister Tiffany was also dressed to impress in a formal white and gold floor-length dress (left). The Georgetown law's students gown featured cut-out shoulder sleeves and cut-out in the midriff. Her hair was also in an upsweep with curls framing her face. She posted a boomerang video of her and a friend walking down the hallway in their evening wear (right)

Earlier this week, Ivanka remained in the nation's capital while her husband and fellow White House adviser, Jared, 37, accompanied her father to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Instead she headed to Greenville, South Carolina, with Republican Senator Tim Scott to talk about the tax reform passed by the Trump administration last month, and how it affects families.

Ivanka's visit to South Carolina came as Jared was heading back to the US along with the rest of the US delegation in Davos.

Jared and White House communications director Hope Hicks were seen together on the tarmac Friday, getting ready to leave Switzerland at the close after Trump's address.

Trump's son-in-law has appeared in high spirits throughout the visit, and was seen smiling widely among the crowd, including before a meeting between President Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May.

While her husband was in Davos, Ivanka has remained at home in Washington, DC and was seen leaving her home in a blazer and black pants on Friday morning (left and right)

White House communications director Hope Hicks was seen preparing to leave Switzerland alongside special adviser Jared Kushner, whose wife Ivanka did not make the trip to Davos

Hope and Jared walked side by side on the tarmac as their Davos visit to the World Economic Forum ended on Friday

Meanwhile Tiffany's last big public outing was at the Playboy Mansion's New Year's Eve party, held at the Culver Hotel in Los Angeles, where fellow party-goer Candace Jordan snapped some pics of the A-list attendee, showing the blonde smiling happily while posing with other guests.

The First Daughter was the guest of honor at the Playboy event, which was hosted by Cooper Hefner and his fiancee, former Harry Potter star Scarlett Byrne.

It marked the first New Year's Eve party since the death of the magazine's founder and Cooper's dad, Hugh Hefner, who back in 1990 had been hoping to get Tiffany's mom Marla Maples as one of his bare-all bunnies.

Tiffany managed to steal the show in the room packed full of bodacious beauties thanks to her high-hemmed and low-cut sequin mini dress, which fit her like a second skin and showed off her enviable figure.

Following her stay in Los Angeles, Tiffany then embarked on a wild weekend in Las Vegas, where she celebrated the birthday of her close friend Andrew Warren, and also served as a flower girl at the surprise wedding of two of her close friends, NYC Prep reality star Peter Carey Peterson and Hamptons royalty Quentin Esme Brown.

Tiffany, on the other hand, made her last big public appearance in Los Angeles, where she spent New Year's Eve at the Playboy Mansion as a guest of Cooper Hefner and his fiancee Scarlett Byrne (right)
A teenage girl is the victim of a violent assault at a house party that spun out of control.

Police were called to a home in Sydney's west early on Sunday morning after a 15-year-old suffered head injuries.

She was taken to hospital in a stable condition while a man was restrained by officers at the scene.

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A teenage girl is the victim of a violent assault at a house party that spun out of control

Police were called to a home in Sydney's west early on Sunday morning after a 15-year-old suffered head injuries

The incident occurred on Kirkman Street in Bankstown at about 12:30am on Sunday morning after reports of an assault.

Riot squad was required as the masses of youths at the party spilled onto the streets.

The teenagers were quickly cleared out of the area and police inspected the property.

Riot squad was required as the masses of youths at the party spilled onto the streets. The teenagers were quickly cleared out of the area and police inspected the property

The 15-year-old girl was taken to Westmead Hospital where she remains.

Confronting images have been released of a young woman being led out of the house, helped by emergency services and friends.

The assault is currently being investigated.
A motocross champion has tragically died competing in the event he heroically won last year with a broken hand.

Australian Daymon Stokie suffered fatal injuries after coming off his motorbike during the Deep Well Enduro Race in Alice Springs on Saturday.

Tributes have poured in for the 28-year-old local, who won his home event last year despite having the badly injured limb.

A motocross champion has tragically died competing in the event he heroically won last year with a broken hand

Australian Daymon Stokie suffered fatal injuries after coming off his motorbike during the Deep Well Enduro Race in Alice Springs on Saturday

Tributes have poured in for the 28-year-old local, who won his home event last year despite having a fractured hand

The two-day, 452 kilometre race spans large stretches of the harsh Australian outback and finishing in the remote Aboriginal town of Finke.

More than 650 riders and drivers from around the world attend the even every year.

Stokie, who became the first local rider to win the Finke Desert Race in 11 years, came off his bike during the event and was treated by emergency staff.

He was unable to be revived and died at the scene.

Stokie, who became the first local rider to win the Finke Desert Race in 11 years, came off his bike during the event and was treated by emergency staff. He died at the scene

Australian Daymon Stokie suffered fatal injuries after coming off his motorbike during the Deep Well Enduro Race in Alice Springs on Saturday

Tributes have poured in online for the fallen 28-year-old, who was described by fellow rider Kadin Guard as a 'great racer but an even better person'

Tributes have poured in online for the fallen 28-year-old, who was described by fellow rider Kadin Guard as a 'great racer but an even better person'.

'I'm grateful to have had the chance to know Daymon and watch him conquer some big races. Everyday in the shop, at the races or just at home, he was always a positive energy that we all loved having around,' Guard posted to Facebook.

'One of a kind and I know he'll be deeply missed by many but always remember (sic) for his big and energetic smile!'

Toby Price, a past winner of the Finke event and the Dakar Rally, bemoaned the dangers of competing in the enduro events.

'It's sometimes the sh***est sport in the world with news like this, but in one way you truly went out on top, winning everything here in Aust and overseas man,' he posted to social media.

'Many thoughts are with family and friends and we will see you one day mate - start building some sweet tracks up there and we will shred again.'
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.

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Dennis Peron, an activist who was among the first people to argue for the benefits of marijuana for AIDS patients and helped legalize medical pot in California, died Saturday at 72.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Peron died in a hospital in the city and had been battling with lung cancer.

'A man that changed the world,' Jeffrey Peron said of his brother in a Facebook post showing Dennis dressed in a suit. 'This is the Dennis I want to remember.'

Peron was a driving force behind a San Francisco ordinance allowing medical marijuana - a move that later aided the 1996 passage of Proposition 215 that legalized medical use in the entire state.

Dennis Peron (left), an activist who was among the first people to argue for the benefits of marijuana for AIDS patients and helped legalize medical pot in California, died Saturday at 72

He argued for the benefits of medicinal marijuana for AIDS patients as the health crisis overtook San Francisco. The Chronicle said the epidemic took his partner, Jonathan West, in 1990.

San Francisco's Board of Supervisors recognized Peron, suffering with late-stage lung cancer, with a certificate of honor last year.

'The father of medical marijuana,' one supervisor called him in the meeting.

'I came to San Francisco to find love and to change the world,' Peron said in reply. 'I found love, only to lose him through AIDS. We changed the world.'

Dennis Peron was a force behind a San Francisco ordinance allowing medical marijuana. The ordinance would later set the framework for Proposition 215, legalizing medical use for the whole state

A Vietnam War veteran, Peron spent some of his last years on a farm in Lake County, growing and giving away medical marijuana.

Dennis Peron wrote in his 2012 book, 'Memoirs of Dennis Peron,' that he was just a 'gay kid from Long Island who joined the Air Force to get away from home'.

The Chronicle said he then moved to a commune in San Francisco where he befriended Supervisor Harvey Milk and began selling marijuana.

He argued for the benefits of medicinal marijuana for AIDS patients as the health crisis overtook San Francisco

In 1991, Peron founded the first public cannabis dispensary in the country during the height of the U.S. drug war.

He and a friend distributed pot to AIDS patients, got busted several times and was shot in the leg by a police officer, the newspaper said.

The pot club served 9,000 clients before it was closed by a judge.

'The city and the country has lost a cannabis leader who lived life on the edge,' Terrance Alan, a member of the city's Cannabis Commission, told the Chronicle, 'He lived his whole life on the edge, and that's what allowed us to lead in cannabis.'
An eight-year-old girl was injured after 'a friend of a friend's' pit bull 'jumped up and bit her on the face' during Australia Day celebrations.

Perth girl Cordelia Ehrhardt was 'just standing' with her family and friends when the dog attacked her on Friday afternoon.

The dog, believed to be an American Staffordshire bull terrier cross, bit down on the right side of the young girl's face leaving deep gauges near her mouth and eye.

Perth girl Cordelia Ehrhardt was 'just standing' with her family and friends when the dog attacked her on Friday afternoon

Her mother, Catherine Ehrhardt, told Daily Mail Australia she blames the dog's owner for the attack.

'It's the owners fault. The dog was being a dog,' she said.

'A dog owner has a responsibility to know the capabilities of their pet, to put the dogs needs above their own, to not put their pets in a position where they are unfamiliar, could be stressed or overexcited and could be subject to sounds or smells that may potentially trigger them.

'A responsible dog owner does not take their pet to a crowded event, at a venue it has never been to, with a loud band to watch fireworks.'

Her mother, Catherine Ehrhardt, told Daily Mail Australia she blames the dog's owner for the attack

Cordelia had reconstructive surgery on Saturday afternoon hoping to correct damage caused by the random, unprovoked attack.

Her mother claims the dog's owner was not present when it jumped up and latched on to the young girl's face.

'The owner of dog was in the toilet and had given the leash to someone else,' she said.

Her daughter had just moved over to be with a group of her cousins when she was attacked.
An Australian fighter jet burst into flames during takeoff while on a military training exercise in the USA.

The pilots and ground crew were uninjured when the Royal Australian Air Force twin-engine jet caught fire on the tarmac at the Nellis Air Base in Nevada on Saturday.

The EA-18G Growler is thought to have suffered a catastrophic engine failure while attempting to take off but an investigation is under way to find the exact cause.

Australian fighter jet bursts into flames on runway during takeoff in Nevada training exercise

The attack aircraft is one of four based at RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland to deploy to America last week.

The Department of Defence confirmed the incident happened during Exercise Red Flag, a training exercise involving the RAAF, US Air Force and the British Royal Air Force.

Neither the pilots or any of the ground grew were seriously injured, a defence spokesman said.

'Royal Australian Air Force personnel are safe and no serious injuries have been sustained,' they added.

'Defence is currently working with the United States Air Force to investigate and will provide an update with further details once known.'

The RAAF has four Growler aircraft in the USA with eight more based at RAAF Amberley in Queensland

The extent of the damage to the aircraft has not been revealed by the authorities.

A statement released by the US Air Force said: 'At approximately 10.45am [on Saturday], a military aircraft experienced an incident during takeoff on the Nellis Air Force Base flight line.

'The aircraft was required to abort its take-off and subsequently caught fire. However all personnel are safe.

'The cause of the incident is unknown and is under investigation. Details on the incident will be released as they become available.'

As well as the four Growlers, the RAAF has sent an AP-3C Orion, an E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft along with a Control and Reporting Centre from 41 Wing and 340 personnel.

The Growler entered service with the RAAF in 2017 and the air force currently has 12 aircraft based at RAAF Amberley. It is powered by two General Electric engines and capable of reaching 1,960km/h.
Two men are on the run after escaping from a prison farm in central Queensland with the help of a wheelie bin and a doona.

Prison authorities say the pair, Jermaine Lee Anderson, 30, and Brian Illington Trent Tapim, 23, left the Capricornia Correctional Centre some time on Saturday night and were missed at roll call Sunday morning.

The Rockhampton Morning Bulletin reports the pair used a wheelie bin and a doona to scale the razor-wire perimeter fence of the facility.

Tapim is serving six-and-a-half years for assault, having spent much of his life since he was 14 in jails for a range of offences.

Anderson is serving six years in jail for assaulting two taxi drivers in separate incidents in Rockhampton last year, during which he held a knife to their throats.

He's described as 178cm tall of regular build with brown hair, a short beard and a southern cross tattoo on his neck.

Tapim is serving six-and-a-half years for assault, having spent much of his life since he was 14 in jails for a range of offences.

The 23 year old has been assaulted multiple times while behind bars, needing two metal plates to mend a broken jaw and on another occasion needing skin grafts after having his ear and neck bitten.

He's described as 180cm tall of regular build with short brown hair.

A prison spokeswoman said both men still had some time left to serve on their sentences, however they may have been assigned to the low-security farm as part of rehabilitation programs.

Anyone with information about the pair is urged not to approach them but to call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
Sherman Lackland (pictured), 21, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and unlawful possession of a weapon

A 17-year-old boy is fighting for his life at a Tennessee hospital Saturday night after a botched attempt at an Internet craze left him in a critical condition.

Sherman Lackland, 21, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and unlawful possession of a weapon after he accidentally shot his friend in the head while enacting his rendition of the 'No Lackin Challenge.'

The fad, which has been popping up on social media with greater frequency over the past several months, shows young people pulling guns on one another and filming the response.

Participants are not suppose to fire on one another.

The term refers to 'lacking' a gun or fire arm, a way to test the readiness of an individual should they need a firearm to protect themselves or use for a more sinister purpose.

The 'no lackin' fad shows young people pulling guns on one another and filming the response. A video uploaded to YouTube (not of the Memphis incident) is seen above

The term refers to 'lacking' a gun or fire arm, a way to test the readiness of an individual should they need a firearm. A still from a video uploaded to YouTube is seen above

The pair were sitting in a booth at E's Cafe in Memphis around 5.15pm Thursday evening when the incident occurred, local police told CBS affiliate WREG 13.

'All young kids,' said Ron Eanes, area manager at E's Cafe. 'They were sitting there talking, and they started showing each other a gun and it accidentally went off.'

Eanes added: 'Such stupidity. Anybody could get hurt.'

Luckily for the wounded teenager, a doctor happened to be eating inside the restaurant when the gun went off, and immediately tended to the boy's care.

The 17-year-old was then taken to Methodist University Hospital, situated across the street from the diner, and treated inside the ER. The boy remains in critical condition.

Witness Thomas Fitzpatrick told the broadcaster: '[There was] a real loud bang, then I see the guy across from [Lackland] fall in the floor.

'He started grabbing him and telling him to get up and then he was kind of mad and was swinging stools and stuff.'

Other dangerous fads have been sweeping the internet including the Tide Pod challenge, where teenagers dare each other to eat laundry detergent pouches, and the Ice and Salt challenge where young people have been left suffering from extreme burns similar to frostbite.
A frustrated Noosa family has finally discovered the cause of their 'haunted' bathroom thanks to a local snake catcher.

The toilet in their Queensland home had been randomly flushing itself for days when they opened the cistern to find four-metre brown tree snake inside the mechanism.

Luke was called to the property on Sunday afternoon to relocate their slippery and 'pretty grumpy' house guest.

Luke the snake catcher pulls a four-metre brown tree snake from a toilet flushing mechanism

Luke threads the hook through the snake's curled body and is able to pull the long reptile out

'We've got ourselves a brown tree snake in behind where the toilet flushes,' Luke explains in the video of himself capturing the reptile under the title 'The Tale of the Toilet Flushing Snake.

'Hopefully, he's going to be able to come straight out...But he's a little bit grumpy.'

The snake then lunges at Luke, prompting screams from the family watching on. Finally, Luke is able to pull the long reptile from the wall and drop him into a black bag as the family claps and cheers.

Finally, Luke is able to drop the snake into a black bag and turn around to give the thumbs up

'It was a quick catch but but it needed to be,' Luke wrote on his Facebook page. 'It was that or putting my hand down into the toilet water.'

Several impressed viewers flocked to the page to heap praise upon Luke for his quick, clean catch in such an unusual space.

'Can't believe how quick your reaction time is!' wrote one, while another commented, 'Cant believe what strange places these snakes hide in....How the hell did he get in there?'

The video had been viewed almost 3000 times in two hours and attracted hundreds of reactions. The snake has now been safely relocated into the bush.
Shocking footage shows a 16-year-old boy being pinned to the ground by police, as other officers pepper sprayed bystanders.

The video, filmed by the boy's mother, shows police attempting to pin him to the ground as he struggled to get away and yelled at the men.

Officers are seen grabbing at his arms to restrict his movement as a large group watching on scream and throw things towards the police.

A spokesman from NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia officers were called to Tomerong Street in Huskisson, on NSW's south coast, to intervene in 'a number of altercations involving youths'.

Police were filmed arresting a 16-year-old boy at Huskisson Carnival on Saturday evening. His mother, who filmed the event, says officers used too much force on her son, who she claims did nothing wrong

'Officers from Shoalhaven Local Area Command attended and dispersed the large crowd,' he said.

'As police were attempting to quell the disturbance, a 16-year-old boy allegedly attempted to head butt an officer, and as a result he was arrested.

'A 14-year-old boy then threw a can of drink striking an officer in the head. At the same location, but in an unrelated incident, a 15-year-old girl kicked another officer in the stomach.

'All were arrested and taken to Nowra Police Station. All three will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act for assault police and other offences relating to this incident.'

The mother of the young boy arrested alleged in a Facebook post her son was arrested 'for being at the wrong place at Huskisson Carnival'.

'He was simply standing with his mates, this footage shows the absolute disgusting actions of husky [sic] police,' she wrote in the post, which accompanied two videos of her son's arrest.

'What it doesn't show is at the start he turned to walk away only to be king hit to the ground and pepper sprayed.'

In the video, she is heard screaming: 'You're hurting his neck!'. The woman further alleges police punched her son in the jaw.

Five youths were arrested on Saturday at the carnival, but were released without charge.

The video, which was shared to social media provoked a mixed response, with some claiming the boy was resisting arrest and others agreeing with the mother and saying the arrest was too forceful

Social media users who claimed to be present portrayed a different side of the story, alleging groups of kids were 'throwing bottles and rocks at families using rides', and also at the operators.

Many pointed out the video does not show the start of the police response, or what caused it, and questioned why officers would need to use any force if the young boy hadn't done anything wrong.

Others suggested the actions of police were racially motivated and labelled it 'a gross misuse of power and force'.
The Australian Open men's final will go ahead on Sunday night as Melbourne sweats through the back end of an unbearably hot Australia Day long weekend.

As Roger Federer and Marin Cilic make their way onto Rod Laver Arena at 7.30pm in front of a crowd of 15,000 spectators, the temperature will be sitting at a sticky 38C.

'(It will be) extremely uncomfortable conditions, particularly on Sunday night,' Weatherzone forecaster Stuart Coombs told the ABC.

'You don't really get the chance to recover after the 39 degrees very well so it does make it very stressful on the body.'

Temperatures are set to hit 38C at 8pm on Sunday night in Melbourne as the Australian Open men's final gets underway

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 said.

'It's unusual that you'll have high temperatures combined with the very high humidity,' he told AAP.

'It doesn't often get this humid when you've got temperatures around 40C.'

Forecasters warn the temperatures will be 'extremely uncomfortable' for the 15,000 spectators watching Roger Federer (pictured) and Marin Cilic play

Australian Open officials have confirmed they will review the extreme heat policy at the end of the tournament after a number of players made complaints.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic said the conditions were on the verge of being unplayable and France's Gaels Monfils said he felt like he was dying on court.

France's Alize Cornet needed treatment after lying down on the court in her defeat by Elise Mertens.

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.
A homeowner has gone through every landlord's worst nightmare after her house was trashed and abandoned by rental tenants in south Queensland.

Kathy Beerens' tidy three bedroom home was anything but when she attended the Ipswich home for a rental inspection just three months after tenants moved in.

The carpet was burnt, there was rubbish everywhere and the bathroom was covered in human faeces all around the outside of the toilet and shower curtain, Queensland Times reports.

A landword was left distressed when she found her house had been trashed by the tenants, with an above ground swimming pool unfenced and filled with green water left behind

It's understood a child set the curtains alight while playing with sparklers in the house.

Mrs Beerens has been left to foot the bill of not only $2000 worth of damages but also three weeks of unpaid rent after the tenants abandoned their lease.

The tenants were a middle aged couple with an eight-year-old, according to the Queensland Times.

Around $2000 of damage was caused, which isn't covered under rental insurance

'The yard is awful and they have a 900mm high swimming pool full of green water, unfenced,' Mrs Beerens said.

'As an owner, I'm angry. I'm really really angry. It disappoints me that children are dragged up in that sort of squalor. Imagine that child having friends over to play and you've got poo everywhere through the house.'

The property has been inspected by police and reported to the authorities.

The toilet and bathroom was covered in human faeces. The owner was disgusted an eight-year-old was living in such conditions

Mrs Beerens can't be compensated under rental insurance because the damage was classified as 'normal wear and tear'.

On top of that, Mrs Beerens will be forced clean the house herself and must keep everything left behind for a month before she can throw it away.

She is undecided what to do with the house.

'There's kittens in there somewhere too,' she said.
Patients will be given a key ingredient from magic mushrooms in a new trial to beat depression.

The hallucinogenic powers of the psychedelic mushrooms are well known, but now they could be used to combat particularly severe forms of the condition.

British start-up Compass Pathways is poised to put this theory to the test with hundreds of patients who have untreatable depression.

British start-up Compass Pathways, based in London, is poised to test whether a key ingredient from magic mushrooms can be used to help people with untreatable depression

It will hold a 400-patient trial aims to find out if psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, can help them.

A third of the 300million depression patients worldwide have a condition which is resistant to existing treatment.

In a study involving 20 patients last year, researchers at Imperial College London found that sufferers described a sense of their brains 'rebooting' after just two psilocybin experiences.

The 400-patient trial aims to see if psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms (dried mushrooms pictured right), could be a breakthrough treatment for the condition

Ekaterina Malievskaia, co-founder and chief medical officer of the London-based start-up, started the business with her husband George Goldsmith.

They wanted to find a new way of treating depression after seeing a close family member suffer from the condition.

She told The Sunday Times: 'Based on previous trials, psilocybin provides an immediate and sustained relief from depression, instils a sense of wellbeing, and improves quality of life.'

Mr Goldsmith added: 'We need a new approach to tackling mental health.

'There is still a significant unmet need for a large number of patients living with this very challenging condition.'
At the meeting with PM Hun Sen, the two sides agreed to direct their ministries and sectors to effectively implement the agreements reached during the ninth Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam (CLV) Development Triangle Summit in Siem Reap, Cambodia in November 2016. Deals will be priorities in the fields of economics, tourism, environmental protection, sustainable management and the exploitation of natural resources, the attraction of investment for development, and combating cross-border crimes.

They will work together to prepare for the 10th CLV Summit that will take place in Hanoi in March 2018.

PM Phuc asked his Cambodian counterpart to direct the authorised Cambodian agencies to flexibly deal with any issues related to legal documents and the property of Vietnamese people in Cambodia, helping them to lead a stable life and contribute to the host countrys growth.

The two PMs also declared to coordinate closely at the upcoming senior ASEAN meetings, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

PM Phuc invited PM Hun Sen to attend the sixth Great Mekong Subregion Summit (GMS-6) and the GMS Business Forum scheduled for Hanoi in March 2018.

During his meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, PM Phuc showed his satisfaction at the growing ties between the two countries, especially after the Indonesia visit by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong in August 2017.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets Indonesian President Joko Widodo in New Delhi, India, on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit marking the 25th Anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations.

The two sides agreed to focus on completing the delimitation of economic exclusive zones at sea. PM Phuc thanked the Indonesian government for their collaboration in returning Vietnamese fishermen captured by Indonesian forces, expressing his hope that Indonesia would continue dealing with the issue in the spirit of friendship, humanity and solidarity in line with the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The two PMs also pledged to work closely at the upcoming ASEAN meetings to contribute to strengthening intra-bloc solidarity and the groups central role in the region.
Celebrities, politicians and activists are hoping to put on the biggest protest in British history when US president Donald Trump visits the country later this year.

A Facebook group promising 'the most incredible protest in our history' has already been created, with over 20,000 so far signing up to attend.

It comes after President Trump and Theresa May ordered officials to hammer out plans for a trip as the duo put on an extraordinary show of unity at the Davos conference on Thursday.

A Facebook group promising 'the most incredible protest in our history' has already been created by activist and author Owen Jones, with over 20,000 so far signing up to attend. Pictured: Trump and May in Davos last week

Now an anti-Trump coalition has vowed to make the protest against Trump the largest in British history - topping 2003's protest against the removal of Saddam Hussein, estimated to have attracted between 750,000 and 1 million people (pictured)

Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy is among the supporters of the Top Trump Targets campaign to donate to what activists consider Trump's victims

An anti-Trump coalition has vowed to make the protest against Trump the largest in British history - topping 2003's protest against the removal of Saddam Hussein, estimated to have attracted between 750,000 and 1 million people. Pictured: Owen Jones' call for action

Classicist Mary Beard (right) and comic David Baddiel (left) have also expresses support for the movement

A plan for him to come to London to open the new US embassy next month was dramatically dropped, fuelling concerns about a breakdown in the historic alliance. Pictured: Mary Beard's callout to people 'worried about Mr Trump descending on this green and pleasant land'

The Stop Trump has called for 'huge opposition' to the US president on the streets of Britain when he visits this year

But plans for a red-carpet state visit - including a grand evening with the Queen - are still on ice amid concerns about mass protests.

Now an anti-Trump coalition has vowed to make the protest against Trump the largest in British history - topping 2003's protest against the removal of Saddam Hussein, estimated to have attracted between 750,000 and 1 million people.

Meanwhile the likes of Stephen Fry, Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy and activist Paul Mason have all backed a related group aimed at funneling support to organisations Trump is thought to dislike

Reacting to news of the visit, Tottenham MP David Lammy was among those calling for 'the biggest protest this country has ever seen'.

His tweet ended: 'Who's in?'

Meanwhile the likes of Stephen Fry, Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy and activist Paul Mason have all backed a related group aimed at funneling support to organisations Trump is thought to dislike.

Classicist Mary Beard and comic David Baddiel have also expresses support for the movement.

Top Trump Targets explains that when the president visits the UK, they want to 'put our money where our marching is' - by donating to 'groups working with those he has sought to exclude or marginalise'.

Among the organisations championed by Top Trump Targets are the Abortion Support Network, Help Refugees and Operation Black Vote.

In May last year, an official petition against the government over plans to provide a state welcome to Trump was signed by more than 1.8 million people.

Top Trump Targets explains that when the president visits the UK, they want to 'put our money where our marching is' - by donating to 'groups working with those he has sought to exclude or marginalise'

Tottenham MP David Lammy (pictured) has already tried to get people on board for the biggest protest Britain 'has ever seen' in response to President Donald Trump's visit

Among the organisations championed by Top Trump Targets are the Abortion Support Network, Help Refugees and Operation Black Vote

Reacting to news of the visit, Tottenham MP David Lammy was among those calling for 'the biggest protest this country has ever seen'

The schedule for the visit is now being worked out by officials after Trump and May reaffirmed their commitment to the Special Relationship during talks at the World Economic Forum. Pictured: LGBT charity Stonewall backing the Top Trump Targets campaign

It was debated in Parliament in February last year but the government responded with defiance, stressing: 'This invitation reflects the importance of the relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom'.

But despite talk of a downgrade, Trump could still get his wish of meeting the Queen.

The schedule for the visit is now being worked out by officials after Trump and May reaffirmed their commitment to the Special Relationship during talks at the World Economic Forum.

The show of unity came after claims of rising tensions, with reports Mr Trump keeps interrupting the PM on the phone and his state visit invite has turned into a 'nightmare'

The encounter - their first face-to-face meeting since September - was closely scrutinised for signs of friction, after insiders suggested relations have soured. As Mrs May nodded in agreement, Mr Trump said: 'We love your country.'

They heaped praise on each other in a bid to kill off claims of rising tensions, with reports Mr Trump keeps interrupting the PM on the phone and his state visit invite has turned into a 'nightmare'.

There was an extraordinary public row last year after Mr Trump retweeted posts by a British far-right group. The leaders have also disagreed about the Iran nuclear deal and the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

A plan for him to come to London to open the new US embassy next month was dramatically dropped, fuelling concerns about a breakdown in the historic alliance.

As the pair posed for photographs at the Swiss ski resort on Thursday, Mrs May nodded along when Mr Trump said he wanted to correct 'false rumours' that they did not get on.

'I think the feeling is mutual from the standpoint of liking each other a lot,' he said. 'We love your country.'

He added: 'There is nothing that would happen to you that we won't be there to fight for you  you know that.'

MAY 'CAT THAT GOT THE CREAM' AS TRUMP TURNS ON THE CHARM Donald Trump arrived like a prize fighter before 'manspreading' in front of Prime Minister Theresa May, a body language expert has said. Judi James said she was surprised to see the US President displaying 'normal body language' in Davos for the first time in the year she has been studying him. She said that Mr Trump spoke in an 'almost romantic tone' when he referred to supporting Britain's military - and Mrs May looked like 'the cat that got the cream'. Ms James added that Mr Trump displayed 'no underlying signals of impatience' while listening to Mrs May - and noted that he turned to look at her speak. Advertisement

Mrs May replied: 'As you say we had a great discussion today and we continue to have that really special relationship with the United States.

'We stand shoulder to shoulder because we face the same challenges around the world.'

Mrs May said the 'special relationship' continued to matter because 'we are facing the same challenges across the world'.

She said: 'We are working together to defeat those challenges.

'We are working for a good trade relationship in the future that will be to both our benefit.'

Mrs May said it was 'great to see' the President as they shook hands, with Mr Trump returning the compliment.

He said: 'The Prime Minister and myself have had a really great relationship, although some people don't necessarily believe that but I can tell you I have tremendous respect for the Prime Minster and the job she is doing.

'And I think the feeling is mutual from the standpoint of liking each other a lot.

'So there was a little bit of a false rumour out there and I just wanted to correct it frankly.'

Mr Trump said there would be a 'tremendous increase in trade between our two countries, great for both in terms of jobs'.

'We look forward to that, we are starting that process pretty much as we speak.'

The PM and President were bombarded with questions about when Mr Trump would take up his state visit invite, but he just said they would be 'talking about' the issue.

Downing Street said the visit would be in the 'second half of the year'.

A read-out issued by No 10 revealed that in their private discussions the leaders discussed Bombardier, the aircraft firm that is facing punitive tariffs in a dispute with the US authorities. The PM 'reiterated the importance of the company's jobs in Northern Ireland', according to a spokesman.

The leaders and their teams posed for photographs after they held talks at the World Economic Forum in Davos

They also spoke about Iran, where the governments differ on whether to support the deal to stop it developing nuclear weapons.

'The Prime Minister updated the President on the good progress which had been made in the Brexit negotiations so far,' No 10 said.

'The two leaders reiterated their desire for a strong trading relationship post-Brexit, which would be in the interests of both countries.'
Meghan Markle is planning to break with tradition by making a speech at her own wedding to Prince Harry in May.

The future royal intends to deliver a speech at her reception after the wedding ceremony on May 19, upturning normal practice which sees speeches given by the bride's father, the groom and the best man.

Meghan, 36, plans to deliver an affectionate tribute to her new husband, Prince Harry, 33, as well as thanking the Queen along with her friends and family, revealed the Sunday Times.

Prince Harry and Meghan will marry at St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle in front of around 800 guests. The future royal intends to break from tradition by delivering a speech at her reception after the wedding ceremony on May 19

Prince Harry and Meghan will marry at St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle in front of around 800 guests.

Yet the former actress is use to the spotlight of public speaking - she delivered a speech on International Womens Day in 2015 to the UN which discussed gender equality.

The brides father, Thomas, 73, isnt expected to speak at the reception and it is said that Meghan will instead take the chance to show her gratitude to those who have supported her.

Meghan, 36, plans to deliver an affectionate tribute to her new husband, Prince Harry, 33, as well as thanking the Queen along with her friends and family

She wants to have the chance to thank her husband and everyone who has supported them. Harry thinks it's a great idea. a source told the Sunday Times.

Harry and Meghan have been more involved in the planning of their wedding than most royal couples.

They have made it clear to royal staff that while normal protocol will be respected in terms of seating, invitations and the guest list, they want their nuptials to be a toned-down affair.

The couple are said to want their wedding to mirror their own tastes and personalities instead of the institution of the Royal Family.
Police in Hong Kong battled for over 12 hours to defuse a 1,000lb US World War Two bomb found on a building site after 1,300 people were evacuated from the area.

The explosive device was found 15 metres underground at a construction site for Hong Kong's new 7.88billion ($11.17billion) Sha Tin Central rail link yesterday morning.

It is believed to have been dropped by US forces in the Second World War, during the Japanese occupation of the islands sometime between 1941 and 1945.

Experts claim it contained 225kg (496lb) of explosives and worked overnight to secure the area before beginning the delicate task of dismantling it.

It was successfully defused at 1pm local time today (5am GMT). No one was injured.

A policeman checks a 1,000lb World War Two bomb unearthed in Wan Chai District of Hong Kong island yesterday. It was successfully defused at 1pm today (5am GMT)

Senior bomb disposal officer Tony Chow Shek-kin told the South China Morning Post the device was highly dangerous.

He said: 'It could have caused extensive damage. If the bomb exploded the force could have affected the surrounding area within 200 metres, with fragments flying as far as 2,000 metres.

'The whole process was quite complicated. It took a bit longer than we expected.

'Once we cut the first hole, we realised it would be difficult to cut holes in other areas ... as some angles were harder to approach.

'Because the bomb was so big, we had to cut several holes to burn off the explosives inside. The space was tight and the bomb was also slanted at an angle.'

The large cylinder ANM-65 device is 140cm-long, 45cm in diameter and weighs around 450kg (1,000lb).

After a construction worker first reported the device at 7.40am on Saturday, officers worked to clear the surrounding area - closing roads and evacuating 1,300 people from nearby.

Police spent five hours protecting the 400-metre area with sand bags yesterday, closing Hong Kong island's Harbour Road around the famous Convention and Exhibition Centre at Wan Chai.

Blockade forms at construction site for Hong Kong's new 7.88billion ($11.17billion) Sha Tin Central rail link in the Wan Chai district of the island as bomb squad get to work

Ferry routes across Hong Kong's iconic harbour to Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai were also suspended.

Work began burning off explosive material from the device at around 11am local time (3am GMT) and was completed by 1pm (5am GMT).

The empty shell was then taken to the bomb squad's headquarters for examination.

Specialist officers burned holes in either side of its casing to burn off explosive material inside.

A plume of smoke was seen coming from the work site, reported the South China Morning Post.

This was not the first time an unexploded wartime bomb has been found in Hong Kong.

It is believed to have been dropped by US forces during the Second World War, during the Japanese occupation of the islands sometime between 1941 and 1945. Police are pictured guiding people away from the area

In January last year a 220kg (485lb) explosive device was found on a construction site at Pok Fu Lam on Hong Kong island.

The AN-64 model was smaller than this weekend's bomb, containing 120kg (264lb) of TNT explosives.

Police said at the time they also believed it to be a remnant of World War Two.

According to bomb disposal expert Mr Chow, another one was found, this time an ANM-65-model, believed to be American, in 2004.

It weighed a staggering 900kg (1,984lb) and was found at the exclusive residential district Happy Valley in Wan Chai.

Senior bomb disposal officer Tony Chow Shek-kin told the South China Morning Post the device was highly dangerous. His team worked through the night to secure the area near Hong Kong's famous Victoria Harbour before successfully defusing it at 1pm today

This weekend's bomb was believed to have been dropped by US forces between 1941 and 1945 when Hong Kong and its surrounding islands were occupied by the Japanese.

With Nazi Germany at the height of its power, US-backed China battled the Japanese, who were allied with them and Mussolini's Italy.

America embargoed the sale of oil to Japan and desperately tried to fight off the enemy with other economic sanctions - but to no avail.

On December 7 1961 Japan launched a broad offensive across the Pacific Ocean and Southeast Asia, which included attacking the US naval base Pearl Harbour.

As part of the wider Pacific campaign, Imperialist Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong the day after on December 8 1941.

British, Canadian and Indian forces backed the Hong Kong Volunteer Defense Forces in a bid to resist a Japanese invasion.

Fierce fighting ensued through the New Territories, Kowloon and eventually Hong Kong itself.

On Christmas Day 1941, known as 'Black Christmas' to locals, British officials surrendered, at the Japanese headquarters.

Three years and eight months of Japanese occupation followed, until they surrendered on September 2 1945, bringing World War Two to an end.
The Defence Secretary today furiously denied suggestion he used secret information to make lurid threats about Russia.

Gavin Williamson told the Telegraph this week that Russia was plotting to kill thousands of Britons in a cyber attack.

Anonymous sources claimed bosses at GCHQ were angry at his statement but it was denied by the Ministry of Defence.

The Government has made a series of announcements - including today - about protecting Britain from cyber threats to its infrastructure.

Defence chiefs, including the head of the Army General Sir Nick Carter, have also issued public warnings about the Kremlin threat.

Security chiefs have accused the Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured heading to No10 for a Brexit wae Cabinet meeting) of leaking secret intelligence about the threat from Russia to distract from his admission of an affair

The Defence Secretary's warning about emerged on the same day Mr Williamson separately issued a statement to the Mail admitting to an old affair.

But the sources today said it was a coincidence because the Telegraph interview had been long planned and the confession prompted by media questions.

The claims - made in the Sunday Times - have prompted allegations allies of Boris Johnson are attempting to 'smear' Mr Williamson and knock him out of the Tory race.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'We can confirm that the Secretary of State did not release any classified material at any point during discussions with the media, and there has been no leak of intelligence on this subject from either the Secretary of State or the Ministry of Defence.'

Mr Williamson's confession of infidelity was widely seen in Westminster as 'clearing the decks' for a future leadership challenge when Theresa May stands aside.

The Prime Minister has handed him two huge promotions since entering No 10 and is thought to back him as her successor.

Mr Williamson's confession of infidelity was widely seen in Westminster as 'clearing the decks' for a future leadership challenge when Theresa May (pictured in Maidenhead today) stands asid

Russian president Vladimir Putin (above) could target interconnectors - linking power between countries - potentially leaving millions of homes without electricity, Mr Williamson said

The Russian defence ministry ridiculed the claims as Major General Igor Konashenkov said the comments were like something of a Monty Python sketch.

The general told Russian news agency Tass: 'Gavin Williamson in his fiery crusade for military budget money appears to have lost his grasp on reason.

'His fears about Russia getting pictures of power plants and studying the routes of British pipelines are worthy of a comic plot or a Monty Python's Flying Circus sketch.'

In his warning to the Telegraph, Mr Williamson said just because the Russian would not land troops in Brighton or Scarborough the threat had not diminished.

He said: 'They are going to be thinking, 'How can we just cause so much pain to Britain?'

'Damage its economy, rip its infrastructure apart, actually cause thousands and thousands and thousands of deaths, but actually have an element of creating total chaos within the country.'

Britain has three gas and four electricity interconnectors. It is believed up to eight million homes will be reliant on the international connections in the next few years.
Theresa May's deputy pleaded with warring Tories to show each other 'mutual respect' today amid claims she is about to be ousted.

David Lidington, the newly installed Cabinet Office minster and Mrs May's de facto deputy appealed for calm today after a former Tory chairman demanded the PM set a departure date.

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr 'the Conservative family, left, right and centre needs to come together in a spirit of mutual respect'.

Rivals for the Tory crown are jostling for the lead in a shadow race to replace Mrs May and Westminster is rife without rumours backbench MPs could start an official contest at any moment.

Mr Lidington called on Brexiteer such as Jacob Rees-Mogg to give Mrs May time and 'see how the negotiations go'.

He insisted critics should 'look at the big picture' and appreciate the Tories are still neck and neck in the polls after eight years in power.

Theresa May's deputy David Lidington (pictured today on the Marr show) has pleaded with warring Tories to show each other 'mutual respect' today amid claims she is about to be ousted

David Lidington, the newly installed Cabinet Office minster and Mrs May's de facto deputy appealed for calm today after a former Tory chairman demanded the PM set a departure date

Theresa May (pictured today in Maidenhead) has been told to set a departure date or face being removed from her post

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.

Mr Lidington told Marr: 'I think what I say to all my colleagues is the Conservative family - left, right and centre, because we're a broad church - needs to come together in a spirit of mutual respect, there are differences in any broad church, and look at what the bigger picture is showing.

'The bigger picture is showing that after eight years in Government, we are still neck and neck with the Labour Party in the polls, we're taking seats off them in places like Bolton in local government elections last week.

'And the other thing my colleagues need to remember is look at last week's news - unemployment, lowest level for 40 years... new borrowing figures lower than expected, new growth figures higher than expected.'

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.'

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

Former Tory chairman Grant Shapps today that several Tory MPs are this weekend sending letters to Sir Graham Brady, the Chairman of the party's 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.

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 May's reshuffle earlier this month  notable for Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt's refusal to move jobs  Mr Shapps' stance is shifting.
Ritchie (left) was joint chairman of the charity that organised the scandal-hit gala dinner at the Dorchester hotel in London this month. He is pictured with his wife Shadi Ritchie

A company run by Bruce Ritchie has lost its key financial backer over the groping and sexual harassment scandal at the Presidents Club party.

Ivanhoe Cambridge confirmed yesterday that it has cut ties with projects run by the chief executive of Residential Land.

Ritchie was joint chairman of the charity that organised the scandal-hit gala dinner at the Dorchester hotel in London this month.

The Presidents Club was shut down last week after an undercover Financial Times reporter working as a hostess exposed drunken businessmen molesting and propositioning women working at the event.

Ivanhoe Cambridge, a property firm owned by La Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, is the main backer of Ritchie's portfolio.

'We are deeply troubled by the events and behaviours as reported by the media. They are clearly unacceptable and contrary to our core values as a global institutional investor,' it told Property Week.

'We have stopped future investments with the company.'

Businessmen outside the secretive Presidents Club charity dinner, at which more than 100 'hostesses' were brought in, with some reportedly being groped and propositioned. It not suggested those in this image took part in any impropriety

The firm is the first to cut ties to companies run by those caught up in the scandal.

Among the 360 high-profile guests were Sir Philip Green, the billionaire owner of Topshop and Tim Steiner, chief executive of Ocado.

Ritchie, 52, is reportedly well-known on Mayfair's party scene and often seen with an entourage of women.

Madison Marriage, the reporter who went undercover, said she was groped 'several times'

'Bruce is often seen about town, and this is not a secret, with an entourage of girls. He hangs out with the Mayfair crowd, and they're often surrounded by girls,' A property tycoon who was not at the event told The Sunday Times.

Homes for Scotland CEO Nicola Barclay revealed she had stopped attending a yearly property conference in Wales because of 'Bruce Ritchie and his gaggle of girls'.

Residential Land owns about 1,200 rented homes in London. Ritchie went into business with Ivanhoe Cambridge in 2012.

Three years ago, the fund committed to provide three instalments of 90m for new deals, although a source close to Ritchie estimated the total value of properties jointly owned by the companies to be about 1bn.
Gintautas Urbonas, 51, was serving a 12-year sentence at the privately-run HMP Peterborough for crimes including attempted rape, battery and sexual assault

A sex attacker who has escaped from HMP Peterborough could be trying to return to Lithuania, police have said.

Gintautas Urbonas, 51, was serving a 12-year sentence at the privately-run HMP Peterborough for crimes including attempted rape, battery and sexual assault.

Cambridge Police urged people not to approach the 'dangerous' criminal but to contact them immediately.

The force warned that anyone hiding the Lithuanian national, who reportedly made his getaway on a prison van roof, could be prosecuted.

Urbonas apparently scaled a fence after giving guards the slip while returning from a gym session at 3.30pm on Friday, before fleeing on the roof of a prison van.

The 51-year-old is serving time at the Category B jail and police said he needed to be put 'back behind bars'.

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Birchall said: 'He could be heading for Lithuania...we are looking at ports and other travel.

'It is likely he has left the area, but he could still be in Peterborough.

'I would ask lorry drivers picking up hitch-hikers to be aware that this gentleman is at large and if they see anything suspicious to phone us.

'He is somebody we want to capture very soon so we can put him back behind bars where he needs to be.'

Cambridgeshire police urged people not to approach the 'dangerous' Lithuanian national who escaped from HMP Peterborough (pictured)

A spokesman for prison operator Sodexo said it would not comment on how the inmate fled as it was a 'live police investigation'.

In a statement, the company said it was 'supporting the police with their ongoing operation' and 'investigating' the incident.

Concerns were raised by the prison watchdog earlier this week about the women's site at HMP Peterborough.

Inspectors rated the women's jail as 'not sufficiently good' on safety.
Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad has died, the company has confirmed.

The 91-year-old billionaire passed away on Saturday at his mansion in Smaland, Sweden.

Multinational Ikea, which has hundreds of stores across dozens of countries, has long been the world's largest furniture retailer.

In a statement, the company described Mr Kamprad as 'one of the greatest entrepreneurs of the 20th century' and said his end was peaceful.

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Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad, described as 'one of the greatest entrepreneurs of the 20th century', has died

Mr Kamprad was 17 when he founded Ikea, now one of the world's most recognisable brands, in 1943.

The name came from his initials, IK, with an E for Elmtaryd, the family farm where he grew up, and an A for Agunnaryd, his home village.

He came up with the idea of flat-packed furniture when he was trying to fit a table into the boot of his car.

A friend suggested he should take the legs off.

Mr Kamprad (pictured left as a child) was 17 when he founded Ikea, now one of the world's most recognisable brands, in 1943

In his early years, Mr Kamprad sold matchboxes to neighbours from his bicycle, finding out he could buy them in bulk very cheaply from Stockholm

He came up with the idea of flat-packed furniture when he was trying to fit a table into the boot of his car and a friend suggested he remove the legs

The billionaire opened his first store in 1965, only to see the wind smash the neon sign and cause a fire which burned the place down.

In his early years, Mr Kamprad sold matchboxes to neighbours from his bicycle, finding out he could buy them in bulk very cheaply from Stockholm.

He went on to sell fish, Christmas tree decorations, seeds, and ball-point pens and pencils.

In 1950, he introduced furniture into his mail-order catalogue for the first time and later decided to discontinue all other products

Mr Kamprad - who was once listed as the world's fourth richest man and accumulated a fortune of about 51billion - is renowned for his frugality

The industrious young man began advertising in local newspapers and operating a makeshift mail-order catalogue.

Who runs Ikea? The company is run jointly by Mr Kamprad's three sons: Peter, 44, Jonas, 41, and Mathias, 39. The three brothers are co-owners of Ikano - the company that manages the family fortune and runs several Ikea stores. Peter also serves as chairman of Ikano. Mathias is chairman of Inter IKEA Holding, which owns the retailer's brand and intellectual property. His father stepped down from the role in 2013 aged 87. Advertisement

He distributed his products via the local milk van, which delivered them to the nearby train station.

In 1950, he introduced furniture, produced by local manufacturers in the forests close to his home, into his catalogue for the first time.

After getting positive responses from clients, he decided to focus on low-priced furniture and discontinue all other products.

And so the Ikea concept was born: affordable furniture which customers can assemble themselves.

The magnate is now estimated to have an accumulated fortune of about 51billion.

But it is difficult to separate what belongs to him, what belongs to his children and what is held in a family foundation in one of Europe's most infamous tax havens, Liechtenstein.

The billionaire once took a bus to a gala evening to collect a businessman of the year award - prompting security to refuse to let him in

In 1973, he fled Sweden's higher tax structure for Denmark, before seeking even lower taxes in Switzerland.

He decided to return home only after his wife Margaretha died in 2011.

From 2010 onward, Kamprad progressively retired from the family company to make way for his three sons, finally returning to live in Sweden in 2014.

Ikea babies make up 10% of Europeans Think you know everything about the Swedish giant? Think again. 1. An estimated one in 10 European babies are conceived on Ikea beds 2. Fake buttocks are used to test the durability of sofas and chairs 3. Robots operate switches in the Ikea testing lab 4. Temperature-controlled rooms in the lab simulate climates from around the world to see how furniture copes 5. You can stay at the Ikea hotel in Almhult, Sweden, for 100 a night 6. Moose meatballs are on the menu in the hotel restaurant 7. Just one per cent of prototypes made by designers end up in stores 8. Nearly half of all store managers worldwide are women 9. The company visits thousands of homes to get inspiration for products 10. Its photo studio for shooting the iconic catalogue images is one of the biggest in Europe: a whopping 8,000 square meters Source: This is Money Advertisement

But Mr Kamprad - who was once listed as the world's fourth richest man - is renowned for his frugality.

And his modest spending habits have made headlines over the years.

He admitted buying all his clothes from flea markets in the hope of setting a good example to others.

The billionaire took easyJet flights, drove himself around in a 15-year-old Volvo and furnished his modest house almost entirely with Ikea items - which he assembled himself.

His eagerness to save money extended to his visits to London, where he shunned taxis and preferred to use the Tube or buses.

He once took a bus to a gala evening to collect a businessman of the year award - prompting security to refuse to let him in.

In 2008, he told newspaper Sydsvenskan that a 22-euro bill in the Netherlands had broken his barbering budget.

'Normally, I try to get my haircut when I'm in a developing country. Last time it was in Vietnam,' he explained.

Mr Kamprad was said to be a former Nazi sympathiser following the Second World War.

In 1994, Swedish newspaper Expressen reported that Mr Kamprad had contacts with Swedish fascist leader Per Engdahl in the 1940s and 1950s.

In a letter to employees, he admitted that he once had sympathies for the far-right leader and called it 'a part of my life which I bitterly regret'.

The Ikea founder (pictured after winning the Global Economy Prize in 2007) faced questions about his alleged Nazi past in 2011 after author Elisabeth Asbrink said he was an active recruiter for a Swedish Nazi group

In a 1998 book he co-authored about Ikea's history, he claimed he had been influenced as child by his German grandmother's strong support for Hitler.

The Ikea founder faced questions about his past again in 2011 after author Elisabeth Asbrink said he had been an active recruiter for a Swedish Nazi group.

She also claimed he remained close to sympathisers well after the Second World War.

Mr Kamprad lived in semi-retirement with his wife Margaretha before her death in 2011. The furniture magnate passed away on Saturday at his mansion in Smaland, Sweden (pictured)

The couple (pictured) were often seen dining out in cheap restaurants and haggling over prices in their local market

Mr Kampard took easyJet flights, drove himself around in a 15-year-old Volvo (pictured) and furnished his modest house almost entirely with Ikea items - which he assembled himself

The Swedish billionaire said his involvement was youthful 'stupidity' and the 'greatest mistake' of his life.

A self-confessed alcoholic, the Ikea founder admitted he had an ongoing problem with drink.

But he said he has it under control and that he 'dries out' three times a year.

He lived in semi-retirement with his wife Margaretha and the couple were often seen dining out in cheap restaurants and haggling over prices at their local market.

When a statue of him was erected in his Swedish home town, he was invited to cut the ribbon.

He instead untied it, folded it, then gave it back to the mayor, telling him he could use it again.

A self-confessed alcoholic, Mr Kamprad admitted he had an ongoing problem with drink

Explaining his frugal nature, he said: 'I am a bit tight with money, a sort of Swedish Scotsman. But so what?

'If I start to acquire luxurious things then this will only incite others to follow suit. It's important that leaders set an example.

'I look at the money I'm about to spend on myself and ask if Ikea's customers could afford it.

'From time to time I like to buy a nice shirt and cravat - and eat Swedish fish roe.'

Multinational Ikea, with hundreds of stores, has long been the world's largest furniture retailer.

Multinational Ikea is run jointly by Mr Kamprad's three sons Peter, 44, Jonas, 41, and Mathias, 39 (latter pictured left with his dad)

The company is run jointly by Mr Kamprad's three sons Peter, 44, Jonas, 41, and Mathias, 39.

Excerpts from a book published in the Swedish business newspaper Dagens Industri in 2013 claimed that Mr Kamprad fought bitterly with his children over his fortune.

The authors of 'Ikea: Moving to the Future' alleged that a row broke out after Mr Kamprad handed the company over to a group of Netherlands-based foundations in the 1980s.

They claimed there was a clause in the agreement which allowed him to claim funds for intellectual property rights, which his sons hired a lawyer to contest.

Ikea said the billionaire (pictured outside his first store in Stockholm) would be missed and warmly remembered by his family and staff all around the world

A book of condolences (pictured) was placed at the entrance of an Ikea store in Stockholm

After news of his death was announced, celebrities came forward to pay tribute to the furniture magnate.

Furniture designer Jeff Banks said the Ikea boss's creations radically changed how people made and designed products for homes.

In an eery foretelling, Mr Kamprad was declared dead by a Swedish radio station in December last year.

The Twitter message sent out in error said: 'Not ready UPDATE TIME Ingvar Kamprad dead.'

Ikea said in a statement: 'The founder of IKEA and Ikano, and one of the greatest entrepreneurs of the 20th century, Ingvar Kamprad, has peacefully passed away, at his home in Smaland, Sweden, on the 27th of January.'

The company added: 'He will be much missed and warmly remembered by his family and IKEA staff all around the world.'
Some Victorians could be without power for hours as more than 48,000 homes struggle with no electricity as a heatwave continues to grip the state.

Temperatures have soared to over 45C, sending homes into blackouts across the afternoon, with numbers peaking from 6pm.

The outage stretches to the Mornington Peninsula and Geelong.

The Bellarine Peninsula is one of the hardest hit, with more than 15,000 homes in beachside towns down, the Herald Sun reports.

People have had to use candles as they struggle with no power across most of Sunday evening because if Victoria's heatwave

Many have taken to social media calling for more to be done on their power being restored. Some towns have reached temperatures of 45C

Customers east of Melbourne could be waiting longer and those in Geelong might be waiting until the morning.

Spectators at the Australian Open men's final on Sunday night have also had to endure a stick game as Melbourne sweats through the back end of an unbearably hot Australia Day long weekend.

'(It will be) extremely uncomfortable conditions, particularly on Sunday night,' Weatherzone forecaster Stuart Coombs told the ABC.

'You don't really get the chance to recover after the 39 degrees very well so it does make it very stressful on the body.'

Temperatures soared about 40C on Sunday evening, causing more than 48,000 people to lose power and 15,000 spectators to sweat through the Australian Open men's final

Fuse faults, the extreme heat and increased demand are to blame for the power outage.

Walpeup had the highest temperature in Victoria at 5.25pm with 45.7C.

Conditions will remain unseasonally humid until late Monday, Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Dean Stewart said.

'It's unusual that you'll have high temperatures combined with the very high humidity,' he told AAP.

Towns without power stretch across the state, with the Bellarine Peninsula one of the hardest hit

'It doesn't often get this humid when you've got temperatures around 40C.'

Australian Open officials have confirmed they will review the extreme heat policy at the end of the tournament after a number of players made complaints.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic said the conditions were on the verge of being unplayable and France's Gaels Monfils said he felt like he was dying on court.

France's Alize Cornet needed treatment after lying down on the court in her defeat by Elise Mertens.

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.
A mother was sexually assaulted in front of her two young children in an horrendous daylight attack in Milton Keynes.

The victim was walking in a park with her two young children just after 2pm on Thursday when the attacker grabbed her and groped her over her clothing after dragging her to the ground.

The pervert is described as in his early to mid-twenties, slim with light colored eyes and short cropped black hair.

Police are hunting the man and said he spoke in an accent which is 'possibly Romanian'. They also believe he may have approached others in the park before the attack.

Investigating officer, detective inspector Ian Jarvis of Milton Keynes CID, said: 'I am appealing to anyone who may have any information about this serious offence to contact police as soon as possible.

'I believe the offender may have approached other members of the public prior to the attack.

'If you saw a man acting suspiciously...please come forward.'

Anyone with information should call police on 101.
At a reception for Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Sen. Lieut. Gen. To Lam in Vientiane on January 27, the Lao leader highly valued cooperation outcomes between the two ministries over the past time.

For his part, Minister Lam said Vietnamese people and the police force in particular always keep in mind the valuable support of the Lao side in the past struggle for national liberation as well as the present cause of national defence and the countrys efforts to ensure social order and safety.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security will do its utmost to promote the comprehensive cooperation with its Lao counterpart, meeting requirements and tasks in the new situation, in order to consolidate the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, for the sake of the two countries people, and for peace, stability and development in the region and the world at large.

Minister Lam called on the Lao leader to create favourable conditions for competent agencies of the two ministries to intensify their collaboration in fighting crimes and protecting national security and safety in each nation.

Earlier the same day, Minister Lam and his Lao counterpart Somkeo Silavong reviewed the close and effective cooperation between the two sides in 2017, including the celebration of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year.

They signed a cooperation plan for 2018, under which the two sides will maintain high-level meetings between leaders of the two ministries, partner with each other to fight hostile forces who aim to undermine the bilateral friendship, implement international agreements and treaties to which both are members, and consult and support each other at regional and international forums on crime combat.
The US drone strike which killed the British jihadist known as the 'White Widow' also killed her 12-year-old son, western intelligence sources have confirmed for the first time.

Onetime punk rocker Sally Jones, from Kent, was killed by a Predator missile near the border of Iraq and Syria in June last year.

Sources have confirmed the blast that eliminated the former L'Oreal saleswoman also killed her 12-year-old son JoJo Dixon.

It had previously been claimed JoJo was at a training camp 35 miles away when his mother's convoy was hit as she and other jihadists fled ISIS's fallen stronghold in Raqqa.

But a source told the Sunday Times: 'It's 99.9 per cent certain they were both killed.'

The onetime punk rocker from Kent went to Syria with her son in 2013. A former L'Oreal saleswoman, she lived in a council house in Chatham before fleeing to Syria in 2013, after falling for hacker jihadi Junaid Hussain online. She was killed by by an American drone in June. Pictured: A composite image of Jones, which first appeared on her Twitter account, showing her dressed as a nun while pointing a gun at the camera and holding a dog  a direct copy of the front cover of the novel Divorcing Jack

Jones was a high priority on the Pentagon's 'kill list' because she was believed to have masterminded dozens of terror plots. Pictured: The propagandist with her son JoJo, who Western intelligence sources have now confirmed was killed in the strike

The tiny remaining doubt is due to the difficult in collecting DNA samples from a war zone.

JoJo's death, the first by a coalition airstrike involving a western child in Syria, will raise fears for other British children taken to Syria by extremist parents.

Last week Londoner Siddhartha Dhar, 34, a bouncy castle salesman nicknamed Jihadi Sid, was put on America's 'most wanted' list of global terrorists.

This effectively puts Dhar, who is believed to have taken over as the chief executioner of ISIS in Syria, who is in the war-torn country with his wife and four children, on the Pentagon's 'kill list'.

Another British child in Syria is Isa Dare, six, who was taken to the warzone by his mother Grace 'Khadijah' Dare, 26, from Lewisham, south London, who is thought to have joined ISIS in 2012.

The child became known as 'Jihadi Junior' after appearing in an execution video.

Dare had a second child with a jihadist from Sweden who was killed in battle.

JoJo was believed to have been forced to execute prisoners during his time in Syria after being brainwashed by jihadis. A nine-minute ISIS video issued in 2016 appeared to show the boy executing a captured prisoner in a firing squad

Jones, a mother-of-two, was Britain's most wanted woman after leaving her home in Chatham, in Kent, alongside toyboy lover and jihadi hacker Junaid Hussain, taking her then-nine-year-old son JoJo with her in 2013.

The couple married on the day she arrived in Syria and Jojo adopted Islam.

Jones was a high priority on the Pentagon's 'kill list' because she was believed to have masterminded dozens of terror plots.

She was believed to be the leader of the secret Anwar al-Awlaki battalion's female wing and was said to be responsible for training European female terror recruits.

Jones had used her Twitter account to spread propaganda for the group, and tweeted of her wish to behead a Western prisoner in Syria and behead Christians with a 'blunt knife'.

In May 2016 an account claiming to be Jones posted: 'To be honest I wouldn't go into Central London through June. Or even July. Well to be honest I wouldn't go there at all, especially by Tube.'

According to the Counter-Extremism Project, Jones issued terror threats against Britain as recently as May 2016.

She has previously called on Muslim women to launch attacks during Ramadan in London, Glasgow and Wales.

Jones even threatened one of the Navy SEALs who helped kill Osama bin Laden.

The Muslim convert fled Britain to join ISIS back in 2013 alongside toyboy lover Junaid Hussain (pictured), taking her then-nine-year-old son JoJo with her

Born Joe Dixon, Jojo (pictured as a baby) was the younger of Jones's two sons by different men

Jones is believed to have been travelling in a convoy of vehicles close to Syria's border with Iraq when the airstrike was ordered by the Pentagon last June

Born Joe Dixon, Jojo was the younger of Jones's two sons by different men.

His father, Darren Dixon, separated from Jones many years ago. The father of her elder son, Jonathan, 21, died of cirrhosis of the liver two years after he was born.

JoJo was believed to have been forced to execute prisoners during his time in Syria after being brainwashed by jihadis.

A nine-minute ISIS video issued in 2016 appeared to show the boy executing a captured prisoner in a firing squad.

Jones' husband Hussain - who was leader of the ISIS 'digi-jihad' computer hacking brigade, was killed in 2015 aged 21 in a US drone strike.

In July a friend said Jones was desperate to return to the UK but she was apparently being forced to stay by her husband's comrades.

'Aisha', the wife of another ISIS fighter, said: 'She was crying and wants to get back to Britain but ISIS is preventing her because she is now a military wife. She told me she wished to go to her country.'
Critics of Donald Trump should stop trying to block his state visit and 'hold their nose' for the greater good of Britain's national interest, Piers Morgan claimed today.

Morgan, who secured the first international TV interview with the President, said Mr Trump was expected in Britain twice this year.

He said a working visit would likely happen close to the Nato summit in Brussels in July and the long-awaited state visit was pencilled in for the autumn.

Protesters have vowed to try and disrupt any visit by the US President to Britain amid calls for him to be banned form the country.

Critics of Donald Trump should stop trying to block his state visit and 'hold their nose' for the greater good of Britain's national interest, Piers Morgan claimed today

Morgan, who secured the first international TV interview with the President (pictured), said Mr Trump was expected in Britain twice this year

Morgan called out the 'Labour' figures organising protests against Mr Trump - minutes after posing for a selfie with Jeremy Corbyn back stage at the Marr show today

Morgan told the BBC Andrew Marr show: 'I really think we have to work out in this country - we have given state visits to Vladimir Putin, King Salman, President Xi, President Mugabe, Bashar al-Assad.

'Are we really saying Donald Trump is the one we actually end up banning?

'This is a man who this week has gone on a remarkable charm offensive to Britain. He has said every time we need him militarily he'll be there. We've had all the scare stories about Russia.

'On trade, he's said he's going to do a great trade deal.

'Hold your nose if you don't like him and put Britain's interests first.'

Mr Trump and Theresa May held their first face to face talks in months in Davos this week.

The US president stressed the warmth of ties insisting he and Mrs May 'respect each other a lot' and were on the 'same wavelength'.

Donald Trump's working visit is likely happen close to the Nato summit in Brussels in July and the long-awaited state visit was pencilled in for the autumn, Morgan said today

As Mrs May nodded, Mr Trump said he wanted to correct 'false rumours' that they did not get on.

Heaping praise on Mrs May, Mr Trump said: 'I think the feeling is mutual from the standpoint of liking each other a lot,' he said. 'We love your country.'

He added: 'There is nothing that would happen to you that we won't be there to fight for you  you know that.'

Mrs May replied: 'As you say we had a great discussion today and we continue to have that really special relationship with the United States.

'We stand shoulder to shoulder because we face the same challenges around the world.'

The effusive exchange came despite claims of rising tensions, with reports Mr Trump keeps interrupting the PM on the phone and his state visit invite has turned into a 'nightmare'.

There was an extraordinary public row last year after Mr Trump retweeted anti-Muslim posts by a British Far Right group.
A man was shot dead by police as he tried to rob a bottle shop at gunpoint in Melbourne's sleepy eastern suburbs.

Witnesses said up to six shots were fired as officers converged on Park Orchards Cellars on Park Road about 9pm on Sunday.

Plain-clothes officers stumbled upon the terrifying hold-up when they showed up as part of an investigation into violent crime in the area.

A person was shot dead by police as they tried to rob a bottle shop at gunpoint in Melbourne's sleepy eastern suburbs

Detectives opened fire when they saw the man point a sawn-off shotgun at one of the workers inside the family-run shop.

'As a result they thought the attendant's life was endangered and took the action they did,' Acting Deputy Commissioner Ross Guenther told reporters at the scene.

The robber, who was known to police, died at the scene and another person who allegedly held up the shop was arrested moments later.

'I think [as they have] been actively involved in the investigation, they had some knowledge of where the offenders were working,' Commissioner Guenther said.

'This though, from my understanding, was very opportunistic. They didn't have previous knowledge that this premise was going to be targeted.'

The robber died at the scene and another person who allegedly held up the family-run shop was arrested moments later

Terrified workers ran screaming from the scene and the shop owner reportedly checked his chest for bullets after the shooting was over.

No one else was injured despite the pair, at least one of whom was armed with a gun, allegedly confronting workers.

The shop is on a small strip with a car park in front and next door to a cafe and a pharmacy along with other businesses.

Homicide Squad detectives will investigate the incident on behalf of the coroner, police said.

As per standard protocol following a police shooting, Professional Standards Command members will oversee the investigation.
The mother of one of five Britons among a group of ten people charged in Cambodia over a Twister-style 'sex position game' says she is 'in pieces' after speaking to him on the phone from his prison cell.

The group was arrested on Thursday at a rented villa in the tourist hotspot of Siem Reap and last night charged with producing pornographic pictures of scantily clad couples in racy positions and sharing them online.

The detained group also includes Canadian citizen Eden Kazoleas, 19, who was described by her aunt as 'a very, very good kid' who doesn't drink or smoke.

Speaking from her home in Wadhurst, East Sussex, Marci Harbour, 47, mother of Billy Stevens 21, told MailOnline: 'We are just in pieces, and the frustrating part is that we don't really know what to do.

'My son had been working so wanted to go out and spend his money like any other young man. He had become good friends with the group he was with, as you do when you are travelling together.'

It came as the five British men charged insisted they were 'innocent', claiming they are not even pictured in the 'pornographic dancing' pictures.

It has also been suggested by the mother of another of those charged that those arrested were pressured into a confession by the Khmer authorities.

The five Britons among a group of five people charged in Cambodia over a Twister-style 'sex position game' include Daniel Jones, 30, (left, with an unknown woman) and Billy Stevens, 21

Vincent Hook, 35, who is one of the men arrested by police after a raid on a villa in the tourist hotspot of Seim Reap

Among those detained was Eden Kazoleas (pictured), 20, from Drayton Valley, near Edmonton, Alberta. Her aunt, Donna Kazoleas, said the detentions were 'really, really concerning'

Police released these pictures which they claim show the tourists. However, a member of the group currently being held insists do not show any of those arrested

Pictures posted on social media show Mr Stevens lying on a bean bag surrounded by three women with their legs wrapped around him and another man.

His mother said: 'He was doing nothing wrong, just having a good time and a drink. That's what he said when I managed to speak to him on the phone.

'The embassy has been in touch and we are hearing more from them tomorrow. It is terrible to think of him being stuck out there and completely innocent.'

In a separate interview with the Daily Mail, she said: 'Were all devastated by this. It's dreadful.

'I've managed to speak to him but he's had his phone taken off him now. We've been advised not to say anything at the moment because obviously theyre out there and we don't want to make it worse for them. There's a lot of us parents on it and I'm in touch with them but it's difficult.'

Another mother, whose nationality is not known, claimed the men were told to sign court documents in the Khmer language without the help of a translator.

She said she had lost contact with her son by Sunday afternoon and was trying to liaise with the parents of others in the group for further news.

She said: 'They are scared out of their brains. They just did what they were told in the hope they (Khmer authorities) would say "oh, well we'll get you all to sign these papers and nothing will happen". They've signed these papers not knowing what they are.'

Police posted a picture of the ten defendants lined up outside court, dressed in casual summer clothing. The photo is understood to include Britons Billy Stevens (left), Paul Harris (fourth from left), Daniel Jones (centre in white T-shirt) and Vincent Hook (fourth from the right)

Two of the men arrested in Cambodia. The man on the left is thought to be Daniel Jones

The group were shown using their phones as they sat in a police station in Cambodia

The mother also said her son told of an arrested woman being pressured by Khmer authorities to confess that she was pictured in a photo, which he described as depicting a young woman bending over and exposing her breast. She repeatedly denied the photo was of her.

'I'm getting to the stage where I'm just laughing about it... I'm just so damn tired. I haven't slept since this all started. I'm worried about their state of mind,' she said.

Among the eight men and two women arrested were Britons Vincent Harley Robert Hook, 35, Daniel Richard Leeming Jones, 30, Thomas Alexander Jeffries, 22, Billy Stevens, 21, and Paul Francis Harris, 32.

Also detained were Dutchman Job Robertus van der Wel, 22, Canadians Jessica Drolet, 25, and Eden Koazoleas, 19, along with Norwegian David Nikolaus Aleksandr Ballovarre, 22, and 32-year-old New Zealander Paul Martin Brasch.

The group were charged yesterday as prosecutors warned that they could face a year in jail for a 'breach of Cambodian traditions'.

These photographs were taken at the Lets Get Wet event, which police raided on Thursday. However, it is not clear whether any of the people seen were arrested

In Cambodia, it is illegal to make pornographic images under the country's 2007 Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation.

Most of the men are believed to live in the Asian country and could face up to six months behind bars before the case comes to court.

Police released images appearing to show clothed and laughing tourists, some in sexually suggestive positions, at the party before Thursdays raid.

Some 30 officers are believed to have stormed the venue in what is regarded as a crackdown on inappropriate behaviour.

Up to 90 revellers were initially detained but all but ten were released. The party is believed to have been hosted by an events group called Lets Get Wet.

A poster for Thursdays gathering advertised tickets for 5 on the door including a free drink. Photographs of previous parties show women in tiny bikinis and revellers drinking in a pool.

One of the group later said they were confused because none of them featured in the alleged sexual pictures.

The man, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: 'Honestly, it was really confusing. Everyone was confused. They raided, rounded us up, there were about 80 to 100 people at this party, some of them were tourists. There were about 30 of them [police officers].'

Their families were 'worried sick', he said, adding: 'Our parents are doing what they can. Its really just trying to keep a good vibe until we know the outcome.'

The alleged offences took place near to the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, in the north west of Cambodia

Among those detained was Eden Kazoleas, from Drayton Valley, near Edmonton, Alberta.

Her aunt, Donna Kazoleas, told CTV: 'Eden is a very, very good kid. She is very outgoing. She doesnt smoke. She doesnt drink. This is really, really concerning.'

Samrith Sokhon, the prosecutor of the Siem Reap provincial court, said the group could face up to a year in prison if convicted.

'Any people producing pornography is contrary to Cambodia's traditions,' he said.

One prisoner said they were 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.'

Another prisoner said they saw one man vomit in shock after being taken by police.

The group are believed to have been sleeping on the floor of an office at a police station in Siem Reap for three days, but have insisted they have been treated well by their captors - saying officers were friendly and had brought them pizza.

Events group Lets Get Wet has used a series of other racy photos to publicise previous parties. Mr Hook, who attended Weymouth College according to his Facebook profile, features in one image wearing just trousers and earphones as women lie on floats in a pool below. Above him a poster reads: 'Girls dress as boys, boys dress as girls'.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in a statement: 'We are assisting five British men arrested in Cambodia and are providing support to their families.'

A local authority spokesman added: 'The competent authorities are preparing a case to submit to the provincial court.'
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been dragged to the ground and thrown into a van by police in Moscow after appearing at a rally.

Video footage posted on social media showed Navalny appear on the Russian capital's main thoroughfare, a few hundred yards from the Kremlin, to join several hundred supporters taking part in a protest authorities said was illegal.

Navalny was arrested late on Sunday, according to his lawyer, Olga Mikhailova, who said her client had been released without charge but would have to face court at a later date.

The campaigner has been urging voters to boycott what he said would be a rigged presidential election in March.

UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has called on Russia to comply with its international commitments to freedom after Navalny was surrounded by helmet-clad police officers.

Moments after he appeared at the rally - which was urging voters to boycott what Navalny said would be a rigged presidential election in March - he was wrestled to the ground

Navalny can be seen being wrestled to the ground by police during rally in Moscow today

People gather in a square during a rally, held by supporters of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny today

The Russian opposition leader was dragged to the floor (left) before being thrown into a waiting police wagon (right)

Navalny's personal Twitter feed carried a post to his followers saying he had been arrested. Pictured: Navalny before his arrest

A man holds up a rubber mask depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin with the word 'Thief' on it during an opposition rally calling for a boycott of March 18 presidential elections in Moscow

Supporters of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny shout slogans near the State Historical Museum during a rally against the March elections

People gather as police stand next to the protesters during the rally in Moscow today

Navalny has been barred from running in the March 18 election, which polls show incumbent president Vladimir Putin is on track to easily win

The officers pulled him to the pavement and then dragged him feet first into the patrol wagon, video footage showed.

Navalny's personal Twitter feed carried a post to his followers saying he had been arrested.

'That does not matter. Come to Tverskaya. You're not coming out for me, but for your future,' the post said.

He now is expected to be charged with a public-order violation. That charge could bring a punishment of 20 days in jail.

Boris Johnson urged Russia to stand by its commitments made to international bodies to allow freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

Mr Johnson tweeted: 'Very concerned about detention of large numbers of Russian citizens during demonstrations today.

'We call on the Russian govt to comply with its international commitments in the Council of Europe and OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe], to allow freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.'

A crowd that police estimated at 1,000 people assembled in central Moscow's Pushkin Square, brandishing placards reading 'They've stolen the election from us' and 'Elections without Navalny are fake.'

Local news reports, meanwhile, said about 1,000 Navalny supporters were marching in St. Petersburg.

Earlier today, police forced their way into Navalny's campaign headquarters using power tools, citing reports of a bomb threat, an online feed run by Navalny's supporters showed.

They pulled Navalny to the pavement and then dragged him feet first into the patrol wagon, video footage showed. Pictured: The rally in Moscow attended by Navalny

Supporters of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny shout slogans during the protest in Moscow today

The Kremlin says the election will be fair. They say Navalny and his supporters have minimal support and are irresponsibly trying to foment social anger which could lead to turmoil. Pictured: Today's protest in Moscow

Though Navalny says he knows Putin will be re-elected, his boycott campaign is aimed at lowering voter turnout to try to take the shine off a Putin win

Supporters of Navalny chant during the demonstration in Moscow against the March elections today

Earlier today, police forced their way into Navalny's campaign headquarters using power tools, citing reports of a bomb threat, an online feed run by Navalny's supporters showed

Servicemen gather at Triumfalnaya Square ahead of an opposition rally organised with Alexei Navalny

Young protesters hold a Russian flag during a rally at Pushkin square in Moscow during the rally today

Navalny has been barred from running in the March 18 election, which polls show incumbent president Vladimir Putin is on track to easily win.

Though Navalny says he knows Putin will be re-elected, his boycott campaign is aimed at lowering voter turnout to try to take the shine off a Putin win.

The Kremlin says the election will be fair. They say Navalny and his supporters have minimal support and are irresponsibly trying to foment social anger which could lead to turmoil.

One news anchor, Dmitri Nizovtsev, was detained by police during the raid on Navalny's headquarters today, according to a video.

A demonstrator with a Russian national flag wrapped in his shoulders shouts slogans during a rally in Vladivostok, Russia today

Sizeable gatherings have been reported Sunday in the Far East and Siberia, including one in remote Yakutsk where the temperature reportedly was minus-45C. Pictured: A rally Vladivostok

A demonstrator holds a poster which reads 'I have no one to choose!! Strike.' Several hundred demonstrators assembled on the center square of the Pacific port city of Vladivostok, complaining both of President Vladimir Putin, who is running for a fourth term, and of the exclusion of Navalny

Navalny's Moscow coordinator, Nikolai Lyaskin, was also detained on Sunday, the Interfax news agency quoted him as saying.

Sizeable gatherings have been reported Sunday in the Far East and Siberia, including one in remote Yakutsk where the temperature reportedly was minus-45C . More are set for Moscow and St. Petersburg in the afternoon.

Several hundred demonstrators assembled on the center square of the Pacific port city of Vladivostok, complaining both of President Vladimir Putin, who is running for a fourth term, and of the exclusion of Navalny.

Navalny was prevented from running because of his conviction on an embezzlement charge in a case widely seen as politically motivated.

Navalny was prevented from running because of his conviction on an embezzlement charge in a case widely seen as politically motivated. Pictured: Demonstrators shout slogans with posters which read 'I do not recognize Putin's election' and 'Putin devours the future of Russia' during a rally in Vladivostok

Police guard outside the office of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow

Police guard outside the office of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow today

'They took these elections away from us, they took away our votes. Our candidate was not allowed to run,' said Vladivostok demonstrator Dmitri Kutyaev.

Navalny rose to prominence with detailed reports about corruption among top Russian officials, which he popularized on social media to circumvent state control of television.

Last year, he called for two demonstrations which attracted people throughout the country, undermining critics' claims that he appeals only to a narrow segment of prosperous urbanites.
Furious locals have compared a headteacher at one of Britain's top primary schools to Adolf Hitler after she tried to ban young girls from wearing a hijab in class.

Neena Lall, 50, banned the Islamic headscarf and fasting for pupils aged under eight who attend St Stephen's Primary in Newham, east London.

Her decision angered parents and members of the local community so much so that a video was made portraying her as the Nazi leader.

The clip of Hitler's famous rant was taken from the 2004 war film, Downfall, and the subtitles were edited to make it relevant to controversial ban at the school.

The subtitles on the clip from the film Downfall have been changed to make it sound like Adolf Hitler

One of the subtitles during the three-minute clip read: 'Why don't they all just go and join ISIS'

The subtitles while Hitler was speaking read: 'This is my school! This is MY primary school! But they want their scarves. Why don't they all just go and join ISIS!

'You were supposed to make them all British. In tops hats, sipping tea, twirling their moustaches.'

He is then interrupted by one of his assistants who said: 'Sir, they're just kids. They are British.'

Hitler replied: 'British like me. Like me you imbecile!' But he was then told: 'Mein Fuhrer, you're Panjabi.'

Neena Lall, 50, banned the Islamic headscarf and fasting for pupils at her school

The video, which portrays some of the school's staff as Hitler's assistants, began with a man pointing at a map and speaking to the leader.

But the subtitles read: 'Parents are mobilising along the school entrances here and here.

'They're demanding your resignation. Thousands have signed petitions.'

The clip has been retweeted by a number of men who live in the local community.

Both Miss Lall and Arif Qawi, who was chair of the governers, also introduced a new rule at the school which prevented children from fasting during Ramadan for 'health and safety reasons'.

An insider at the school, which was ranked number one in The Sunday Times league tables, 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 hijab ban resulted in a former mayor being investigated over claims he called her an 'evil racist'.

Salim Mulla was accused of being part of a hate campaign that targeted Miss Lall.

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.

One of Hitler's associates hit back and reminded Hitler that they are 'just British children'

Another one of Hitler's associates said: 'Mein Fuher' during the video which has been watched thousands of times

St Stephen's Primary in Newham, east London, (pictured) is one of the UK's top primary schools

Mr Mulla, a serving Labour councillor in Blackburn was 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 council's leader Mohammed Khan said Mr Mulla's 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 year's local election.

Miss Lall apologised to parents on Tuesday and chairman of governors Mr Qawi resigned.

He has now accused the Government of leaving staff exposed to bullying from 'extremists' over the hijab ban.
THE CASE AGAINST DAVE LEE TRAVIS - THE THREE CHARGES HE FACED AND THE JURY'S VERDICTS

INDECENT ASSAULT ON MRS MERTON SHOW CREW MEMBER - GUILTY

A TV personality told how Dave Lee Travis groped her for his 'weird sexual thrill' backstage at the Mrs Merton Show.

She fled to her boss, BBC producer Peter Kessler, and told him: 'Oh my God, Dave Lee Travis just grabbed my t*ts'.

Comedian Dave Gorman, who was a writer on the show, said he remembered hearing that the incident was 'aggressive' and not a 'playful' act

But no official complaint was ever lodged at the corporation which has come under fire for turning a blind eye to Jimmy Savile's abuse of girls and boys on their premises.

Travis had a reputation for being a 'bit of an octopus' at the BBC studios in Manchester because he had 'hands that go everywhere', the woman said.

She was working on the spoof chat show when the 'Hairy Cornflake' cornered her in the corridor in the mid-1990s.

Seeing the victim, who was in her early 20s at the time, Travis chastised her for smoking.

He told her: 'You shouldn't be smoking think about what it is doing to your poor little lungs'.

Travis then touched her ribcage before sliding his hands up to her breasts in a 'squeezing grope'.

The assault which 'felt like ages' lasted for 10-15 seconds before the 'shaking' victim escaped his clutches.

'It was the weirdest thing that had happened to me,' she said.

Comedian Dave Gorman said he had later heard that Travis had 'grabbed' the woman's breasts.

He told the court: 'My feeling was, if you think back to that time, the idea we'd call the police and say 'Dave Lee Travis grabbed (the woman's) t***', it wouldn't have gone anywhere.'

INDECENT ASSAULT ON PANTOMIME STAGE HAND - NOT GUILTY

Travis was accused of assaulting a stage hand at the Hawth theatre in Crawley, West Sussex, where he was playing Aladdin's evil uncle, Abanazar, in a pantomime in 1990.

The crew member said he pinned her to a door and 'engulfed' her, touching her 'from top to toe' as he towered over her.

She told how she felt 'shaken up', 'humiliated' and 'scared' after being cornered by the former DJ.

The Chuckle Brothers, real names are Paul and Barry Elliott, said they had not heard about the claims

The Chuckle Brothers, who shared the bill alongside Travis in the production, said they had never heard about the alleged attack.

The comedy duo, whose real names are Paul and Barry Elliott, said it was a complete shock when the allegations later emerged.

Paul Elliott told the jury: 'The first that I heard about it was in the newspapers and it was a complete shock.'

He also dismissed claims that female staff had to be chaperoned around the venue and were advised to stay away from Travis's room.

He said: '[I] never saw anything like that. We were sharing the bill and we would have been told of anything that was going on.'

Travis was cleared by the jury of this charge.

The pair starred alongside Travis at the Hawth theatre in Crawley, West Sussex, at the time of one alleged assault, which Travis was cleared of today

SEXUAL ASSAULT ON A NATIONAL NEWSPAPER REPORTER - JURY FAILED TO REACH A VERDICT, NOT GUILTY VERDICT RECORDED

A national newspaper reporter told the how Travis grabbed her breasts after pestering her strip off for a photo shoot at his home.

Travis was said to have invited the 24-year-old to his home to reminisce about a Radio 1 Christmas party with stars including Jimmy Savile and John Peel, for a nostalgia feature.

He allegedly told the young woman she had a 'good figure' during his first attempt at persuading her to pose for a 'tacky' picture.

When Travis again tried to talk her into a photo shoot, she desperately tried to put him off by blurting out 'my boobs are not big enough'.

The woman claimed Travis then kept his hands on her breasts for four seconds before pulling them away and carried on as if nothing had happened.

She added that she could 'see it in his eyes' before Travis groped her, and that he 'took his chance'.
Celebrity chef Dominique Ansel altered the culinary scene forever with his Instagram-ready Cronut, which debuted in New York City in 2013.

But that northeastern city's cross-country rival, San Francisco, appears to have stolen the culinary fusion spotlight with one of it's bakery's latest creations: the tacro.

The tacro is a portmanteau of taco and croissant, and the foodstuff is basically a taco inside an opened-up croissant.

Intrigued eaters may find the tacro at Vive La Tarte in San Francisco's Ferry Building.

The tacro is a portmanteau of taco and croissant and is the latest culinary fusion creation at Vive La Tarte, a bakery in San Francisco

This Instagram user says she was the first person to order a chicken tacro at the bakery

The tacro may be found at the bakery's kiosk (left) in the California' city's Ferry Building (right)

Consumers are able to choose from three fillings: chile chicken and avocado; pulled pork and pineapple; and barbecued jackfruit. For curious carnivores, jackfruit is a fruit native to South Asia that is high in fiber.

All three offerings are garnished with vegetables and mango salsa.

The bakery's creative director explained to Tasting Table that the tacro is the result of around two months of trial and error.

At first, for example, the bakery's typically sweet croissant dough did not pair well with the tangy ingredients.

But the bakery's culinary team persevered and debuted the tacro at its Ferry Building location, which opened this month.

'One of the things we're trying to do with Vive La Tarte is to find that balance between tradition, doing things right... and making things fun and interesting,' co-owner Arnaud Goethals, who is originally from Belgium, told Eater SF.

Tweeters expressed delight and astonishment at the existence of the tacro

The tacro is the result of two months of trial and error. At first, the dough was too sweet

'One of the things we're trying to do with Vive La Tarte is to find that balance between tradition, doing things right... and making things fun and interesting,' co owner Arnaud Goethals, who is originally from Belgium, told Eater SF

Tweeters appear to both love and misunderstand the Belgian-Mexican fusion creation.

Liza de Guia wrote: 'Another day, another mashup. Wonder how long until this makes it to NYC from SF.'

Matthiew Lief speculated: 'I'm assuming Taco Bell will release a dorito supreme tacro any day now.'

Meanwhile, Sarah Vandivier chided: 'No a tacro is a blood test done after an organ transplant.'

The bakery even created a special pork belly crobun in honor of Chinese New Year

Tacro is an abbreviation of tacrolimus, a drug used for people who have undergone an organ transplant.

Goethals and his partner, Julie Vandermeersch, opened Vive La Tarte out of a VW van in 2011 and just sold tarts. They moved to a brick-and-mortar location in the industrial chic SoMa neighborhood in 2015.

The SoMa location has an average rating of 4.5 on Yelp and 4.7 on Google. Reviewers seem particularly keen on the bakery's croissants.

Meanwhile, the bakery even debuted a pork belly crobun - croissant/bun - in honor of the Chinese New Year.

The Ferry Building is both a major touristic hotspot and a transportation center for commuters from elsewhere in the Bay Area.

Bakers work in the shop's brick-and-mortar location in SoMa, or South of Market




Five people were shot - two fatally - during an incident that started inside an Indianapolis bar.

Police were patrolling the area when they responded to a call of shots fired outside Samwill Saloon on the east side of Indianapolis, Indiana, at about 2.15am on Sunday.

When they arrived, they found multiple gunshot victims. EMS workers declared one male dead at the scene, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said in a media alert.

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A shooting outside a bar in Indianapolis, Indiana, left two dead and three others wounded

The shooting took place outside the Sawmill Saloon at about 2.15am on Sunday

The four additional shooting victims were taken to nearby hospitals. A second victim was then pronounced dead, while two others were listed in critical condition and the fifth was declared to be in stable condition.

One of the people shot was a security guard, according to WISH-TV.

Investigating homicide detectives said that a 'disturbance' had occurred at the bar before the shooting took place.

While authorities have not named a suspect in the shooting, they confirmed any shooting suspects or people of interest in the shooting have been accounted for.

The IndyStar reported that about 30 witnesses were being interviewed by investigators.
Three people who fell overboard and spent almost three hours in rough weather conditions off the Western Australian coast are lucky to be alive, police say.

Two women aged 24 and a man, 30, were on a boat returning from a day trip at Rottnest Island when they fell overboard four nautical miles west of Swanbourne on about 8pm Saturday.

Police said the trio were not wearing life jackets, despite the vessel being equipped with all required safety equipment.

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Rough weather conditions and limited visibility hampered the large scale search and rescue operation off the Western Australia coast on Saturday night. Three people who fell overboard spent almost three hours treading water

Three aircraft and nine vessels were involved in the large scale search and rescue operation, which took two-and-a half hours.

The trio were rescued and taken to Fremantle, and then to hospital where they were treated for exhaustion and hypothermia.

'It could have quite easily gone very tragic, I guess one of their saving graces was they were quite young and fit,' Water Police Acting Sergeant Alan Trist told the ABC.

Three aircraft and nine vessels were involved in the large scale search and rescue operation, which took two-and-a half hours

Western Australian Police posted video footage on its Facebook page from the Police Air Wing's helicopter, which captures the final moments of the operation as the rescued trio climbed aboard one of the vessels that was searching for them.

'The weather conditions were rough, and the three people are lucky to have survived for the 2.5 hours it took to find them,' the police post states.

Two women and a man were rescued and taken to Fremantle, and then to hospital where they were treated for exhaustion and hypothermia

The rescue operation renewed calls for the wearing life jackets to be made mandatory in Western Australia.

'While the vessel they were on was equipped with all the required safety gear, no one was wearing a life jacket. The life jackets would have made them easier to see, and would have helped them stay afloat longer if needed,' the police post stated.

The public paid tribute to the rescuers.

'Do these three realise how freaking lucky they are ? Well done all involved in finding them and saving an awful knock on families' doors,' one woman posted on the Western Australia Police Facebook page.

Another added: 'Well done to all rescue teams - a happy ending for what quite easily could have been a triple tragedy.'

The Department of Transport and Marine Safety will investigate the incident.
Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has telephoned Ethiopian counterpart Workneh Gebeyehu to express Cairo's concerns over reports that Addis Ababa rejects Egypt's proposal to involve the World Bank in the stalled technical negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Speaking to the Egyptian ONTV talk-show Everyday on Sunday evening, Egyptian foreign ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid said Shoukry called Gebeyehu to check the veracity of a report by the official Ethiopian news agency in which Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn was quoted as saying the World Bank should not play the role of arbiter in GERD negotiations.

Shoukry also enquired about the timing of Desalegn's alleged statements ahead of agreed upon tripartite talks between between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian FM told Shoukry that Desalegn's statements were taken out of context, Abu Zeid said.

On Friday, a day after his return from an official visit to Egypt where he held talks with Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on the dam dispute, Desalegn was quoted by the Ethiopian news agency as saying that Ethiopia rejects Egypts proposal to allow the World Bank to take part in the technical talks over the impact of the GERD on the Nile water share of downstream countries.

"Seeking professional support is one thing. Transferring [arbitration] to an institution is another thing. So we told them that this is not acceptable to our side," Desalegn said according to the agency.

It is possible to reach agreement through cooperation and with the spirit of trust," the Ethiopian PM added.

Ethiopia's PM Desalegn had told Egypt's El-Sisi during their meeting in Cairo on Thursday that Addis Ababa understands "the necessity of overcoming any current obstacles in ongoing negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam."

President El-Sisi explained to the Ethiopian PM that Egypt's recent proposal to include the World Bank as a neutral mediator in GERD negotiations was aimed at overcoming the delays in technical negotiations and to reassure all involved countries.

The Ethiopian PM said the Egyptian proposal "would be discussed on the level of the tripartite committee during their upcoming meeting."

"We stress the necessity of further studying the Egyptian proposal and carrying on cooperation in good faith and trust among our countries. I am confident that we will overcome these problems soon," Desalegn added in Cairo.

In December, Egypt proposed that the World Bank be allowed to help settle the dispute between the two countries over the hydroelectric dam that Addis Ababa is building and which Egypt fears will affect its share of Nile water.

For the past several months, talks between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan over the dam and technical studies on its environmental impact have been deadlocked.

Abu Zeid told Everyday that Egypt chose the World Bank to act as arbiter because of its experience in such matters and because it is neutral.

The technical talks [over the dam] cannot be subject to political interpretations. Those who reject the Egyptian proposal should present logical reasons, because the situation does not need any more procrastination, Abu Zeid said.

"Egypt will wait till it receives a clear official response from Ethiopia and Sudan to its proposal at the trilateral meeting then decide on the course of action we will take," the spokesperson said.

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Tory darling Jacob Rees-Mogg hinted today that Theresa May should fire her Chancellor to end Remain resistance inside the Cabinet.

Mr Rees-Mogg, the newly elected chairman of backbench Eurosceptic Tories, accused Philip Hammond of speaking out in defiance of official Brexit policy.

He admitted today he was 'biting my tongue' over the Chancellor's future because only the PM could hire and fire in the Cabinet.

Mr Hammond enraged Eurosceptic backbenchers in Davos this week by talking up a 'very modest' Brexit that left Britain as close to Europe as possible.

Backbencher Nadine Dorries repeated her public calls for Mr Hammond to be fired today as pressure grew on the right of the party.

David Lidington, the newly installed Cabinet Office minister and Mrs May's de facto deputy, appealed for calm this morning and said Tory MPs should show 'mutual respect'.

The new clashes come against a febrile background and rumours of an imminent attempt to oust Mrs May as Tory leader and Prime Minister.

Former party chairman Grant Shapps said Mrs May should set a departure date or face being forced out.

Tory darling Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured on ITV today) had hinted that Theresa May should fire her Chancellor to end Remain resistance inside the Cabinet

Mr Rees-Mogg told ITV's Robert Peston (pictured) he was 'biting my tongue' over the Chancellor's future because only the PM could hire and fire in the Cabinet.

The new clashes come against a febrile background and rumours of an imminent attempt to oust Theresa May (pictured today in Maidenhead) as Tory leader and Prime Minister

Chancellor Philip Hammond enraged Eurosceptic backbenchers in Davos this week (Mr Hammond is pictured at the summit) by talking up a 'very modest' Brexit that left Britain as close to Europe as possible

Rumours are swirling around Westminster that Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, has received almost enough letters from backbench Tories to trigger a contest.

If 48 MPs independently write to Mr Brady he must call a leadership election. Only he knows how many letters he has received and he refuses to comment publicly.

Mr Rees-Mogg told Peston on Sunday: 'I tend to disagree with the Chancellor on many things but on this issue he seems to be disagreeing with Government policy, the Conservative party's manifesto and Mrs May's speeches.

'This is real trouble for the Government. The history of chancellors being in opposition to prime ministers is not a good one or an encouraging one.'

Asked whether he agreed with some pro-leave MPs that Mr Hammond should be fired, he said it was not him to direct the Prime Minister.

'Of course I've got a view, but I think it's not for me to give that view publicly. I think this really is a matter for the Prime Minister,' he said.

'I'm being as loyal as I could possibly be on the policy question and I am biting my tongue on the personality question.'

David Lidington, the newly installed Cabinet Office minister and Mrs May's de facto deputy, appealed for calm this morning and said Tory MPs should show 'mutual respect'

Ms Dorries said: 'He has to go. The Chancellor needs to be singing off the Lancaster House hymn sheet along with the Prime Minister, he needs to have the Prime Minister's back and he doesn't.'

Former cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith told the Sunday Express: 'The Prime Minister cannot govern with Philip Hammond sniping from the sidelines.

'She has got a serious negotiation on and she does not need the Chancellor contradicting government policy. She needs to say to him: 'You do that again and it will be your last comment as a cabinet minister'.'

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.'

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

Mr Shapps reveals that several Tory MPs are this weekend sending letters to Sir Graham Brady, the Chairman of the party's 1922 Committee, calling for a leadership contest.

Captain Mercer, a former Army captain who entered the Commons in 2015, warned that unless the Government's performance improved the party could face electoral wipeout

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 May's reshuffle earlier this month  notable for Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt's refusal to move jobs  Mr Shapps' stance is shifting.

Writing in this newspaper, he says that Mrs May's loss of authority was making it 'excruciatingly difficult' for her to 'demand obedience from her own Cabinet'.

Captain Mercer, a former Army captain who entered the Commons in 2015, warned that unless the Government's 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 May's performance, he stopped short of calling for Mrs May to step down, saying: 'I'm 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.

Conservative former minister Rob Halfon, who was sacked by Mrs May, suggested the Government resembled a 'tortoise' because it was too slow to bring forward policies.

He told the World At One: 'We need to have less policy-making by tortoise and (more) policy-making by lion. Because we have to be radical. We have to stop seeing politics in transactional terms.'

He added: 'Unless we deal with social injustice, it won't just be Labour that carries on getting a lot of support from the public, we will lose support from the public because they will feel that we don't have an answer to the issues that they care about.'

Normally loyal Tory backbencher Nigel Mills said Mrs May has not delivered on her promises to tackle 'burning injustices' and that MPs are concerned about the Government's lack of direction.

He told BBC Radio 4's World At One: 'I think the frustration is the Prime Minister had what I thought was exactly the right drive and the right belief when she first came into office and it's hard to see exactly how we're making progress on that.

'We need to show a sense of what our values are, where we're going, where we want to get to, and if that timeframe has to be 18 months or two years to deliver something, well then that's fine, we can explain why that is.'
A 14-year-old girl is among three teenagers arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm after a 'gun was pointed directly at a police officer's head'.

The teenagers - including two 17-year-old boys - were arrested after one of them allegedly pointed a firearm at an officer who stopped a youth in Lewisham, south London, Scotland Yard said.

Two male officers on routine patrol sought to stop a man in Longbridge Way at just before 8.15pm on Saturday.

Police said a 17-year-old boy pointed a firearm directly at the head of one of the officers before making off on foot. He was later found near Lewisham Park (pictured) having attempted to alter his appearance by changing his clothing, it is claimed

Police said the 17-year-old boy pointed a firearm directly at the head of one of the officers before making off on foot.

He was later found near Lewisham Park having attempted to alter his appearance by changing his clothing, it is claimed.

The teenager was arrested along with another 17-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl on suspicion of possession of a firearm.

All three remain in custody at a south London police station.

The officers were not injured in the incident, and the weapon was recovered by police to be examined by specialist officers.
An outspoken internet activist killed himself in a New York hotel in eerily similar circumstances to fellow hacker and Reddit co- founder Aaron Swartz.

James Dolan, 36, took his own life at a newly opened hotel, Gowanus Inn and Yard, in Brooklyn just after Christmas.

He is the second developer of the whistle-blower submission system SecureDrop to commit suicide by hanging in the same area.

Soon after his death, the internet started drawing similarities between Dolan's suicide and that of Swartz who hanged himself in his Brooklyn apartment in 2013 as he was being pursued by federal agents.

SecureDrop co-founder James Dolan, 36, took his own life at a newly opened hotel, Gowanus Inn and Yard, in Brooklyn just after Christmas

Among those was WikiLeaks, who tweeted: 'Second developer of WikiLeaks inspired submission system 'SecureDrop' security expert James Dolan, aged 36, has tragically died. He is said to have committed suicide. The first, Aaron Swartz, is said to have taken his own life at age 26, after being persecuted by US prosecutors.'

While Swartz's suicide brought about small rallies as his family blamed the government for his death, Dolan's went virtually unnoticed.

Dolan was insanely private and had gone to lengths to make himself invisible online.

'He was very humble and very private,' a source told the New York Post this week.

'He wouldn't have wanted anyone to talk about him, so we are respecting that now.'

Those close to Dolan dismissed the similarities between the two SecureDrop suicides, saying any talk of it was 'totally unfounded and false conspiracies'.

He was back in New York for the holidays when he committed suicide by hanging at the newly opened Gowanus Inn and Yard hotel in Brooklyn

He is the second developer of the whistle-blower system SecureDrop to commit suicide by hanging in the same area after Reddit founder Aaron Swartz (pictured) took his own life in 2013

Some say he suffered depression and post traumatic stress disorder after two deployments to Iraq.

When Dolan returned from his final deployment in 2005 he worked as a cyber security expert.

He developed SecureDrop with Swartz and journalist Kevin Poulsen in 2012.

The system allows media organizations to safety accept whistle-blower documents from anonymous sources.

It was taken over by non-profit Freedom of the Press Foundation after Swartz's death.

Trevor Timm, executive director of the foundation, reiterated Dolan's desire for privacy when he wrote a tribute to him earlier this month.

Soon after Dolan's death, the internet started drawing similarities between to the two deaths, including WikiLeaks

Swartz's suicide in 2013 brought about small rallies as his family blamed the government for his death. Pictured above is a rally in Boston

'James was an intensely private and modest person, and despite the fact the SecureDrop soon got a lot of attention when Freedom of the Press Foundation took the project over, he constantly insisted that Aaron deserved all the credit,' Timm said.

'Yet SecureDrop would not currently exist without James, and he deserves all the commendation in the world for making it what it is today.

'We don't know why James took his own life; we do know, however, he long suffered from PTSD from his time serving in the Marines during the Iraq War. It was an experience that affected him in multiple ways.

'He often cited the Iraq War as his inspiration for wanting to help journalists and whistle-blowers; it made him realize governments needed to be much more transparent and accountable.'

Dolan, who had moved to San Diego in 2015 to work as a security head for the charity website Classy, was back in New York for the holidays when he died.

For those seeking help, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255.




Liverpool's top judge, Clement Goldstone, QC pointed out that the hit-and-run motorist, Patrick Smeda, won't serve a single day of the sentence

A hit-and-run motorist who ploughed into a 16-year-old boy and left him dying alone after racing another high powered car has been jailed for eight years.

But an angry judge has pointed out that the driver, Patrick Smeda, won't serve a single day of the sentence.

The 34-year-old was on licence when he committed the offence and so has been recalled to continue his previous 14 year sentence for an armed robbery.

Thomas Edwards sustained a serious head injury when he was struck by a black Audi car driven by Smeda, in Mossley Hill Drive near Sefton Park, Liverpool.

Liverpool's top judge, Clement Goldstone, QC explained to Thomas' grieving family how the law no longer permits him to order the sentence to run consecutively along Smeda's current term.

He said: 'It is my task and my duty to apply the law as it stands; it is for parliament to alter it if it is, as it would appear, unjust and contrary to the principles of punishment, deterrence and rehabilitation.'

The judge told the defendant, who is not due for release until November 2022, that he will be released at the end of his previous sentence 'having served not a single day in prison preferable solely to this offence.

'That restriction on the court's sentencing powers may well be said by many right-thinking people to be adding a gross insult to the incalculable injury already suffered and to be suffered by Thomas Edward's grieving family.

'Believe me if I had the power and the law was different your sentence would start not now but at the conclusion of your period of licence.

Police arrested Smeda, of Alderson Road, Wavertree, three days after the collision on November 13.

Smeda, father-of-three, gave himself up and admitted he was the driver though he initially falsely claimed he had only left the scene after trying to summon assistance for Thomas.

Smeda, father-of-three (pictured right), gave himself up and admitted he was the driver though he initially falsely claimed he had only left the scene after trying to summon assistance for Thomas (pictured left)

On Friday, the defendant was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court after he pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop after an accident.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Thomas was on his way to see a friend when he was struck by the Audi at up to three times the speed limit, at around 7pm on November 13 last year.

'He had the whole of a very promising life ahead of him; you snuffed out that young life in a piece of driving which was as dangerous as it was arrogant,' said Judge Goldstone, the Recorder of Liverpool.

Smeda, who had been released on licence two years previous, had been spotted earlier that evening speeding in a friend's Audi S3.

'You were treating the the road as a race track and your driving was described as an accident waiting to happen. How sadly prophetic that description was,' said Judge Goldstone.

Thomas' father said: 'We now know Patrick Smeda left our son to die all alone in the cold. We never had the opportunity to comfort him and hold his hand, that is something that will haunt us forever.'

Liverpool Crown Court (pictured) heard that Thomas was on his way to see a friend when he was struck by the Audi at up to three times the speed limit

Mr Edwards said that his family will never get over losing Thomas, whom he described as 'one in a million. His gorgeous smile would brighten the darkest day.'

The grieving parents added: 'He was a loving brother to his three sisters, we couldn't have asked for a better son. He made us proud every day.

'He was so excited to become an uncle for the first time, he's already got a gift ready for when she arrives, but now he'll never have the opportunity to meet his niece.

The court heard that Smeda has a previous conviction for dangerous driving in 2002 and was disqualified and ordered to take a re-test before getting back behind the wheel. He never took a re-test but the DVLA had 'lost sight' of that and he had declared the offence when he later obtained driving insurance.

Judge Goldstone banned him from driving for 11 years nine months.

John Rowan, defending, said that Smeda had to decide whether to crash into the back of the other Audi when it suddenly braked or overtake it and regrettably he went round it.

Mr Rowan added that Smeda was disgusted at his actions and 'that disgust will remain with him for the rest of his life. He will never forgive himself.'
ATM manufacturers in the US are warning clients that their machines are being targeted by hackers.

Diebold Nixdorf Inc and NCR Corp, two of the world's largest ATM makers, have cautioned that cyber criminals are targeting US cash machines with tools that force them to spit out money via hacking schemes.

The schemes are known as 'jackpotting'. The companies did not disclose how much money has been lost to jackpotting nor did they identify any victims.

NCR and Diebold Nixdorf sent out alerts to clients warning of the trend on Saturday.

The first cases of 'jackpotting' in the US have now been confirmed (file photo)

NCR said that the cases were the first confirmed jackpotting losses in the US. The company added that its equipment has not yet been targeted.

'This should be treated by all ATM deployers as a call to action to take appropriate steps to protect their ATMs against these forms of attack,' the company said.



Jackpotting has been rising worldwide in recent years, though it is unclear how much cash has been stolen because victims and police often do not disclose details.

The attacks in the US were reported by security news website Krebs on Security, which said they began last year in Mexico.

Diebold Nixdorf said US authorities had warned it that hackers were targeting one of its ATM models called Opteva, which went out of production several years ago.

A confidential US Secret Service alert sent to banks said the hackers targeted stand-alone ATMs typically located in pharmacies and big-box retailers as well as drive-thru ATMs, Krebs on Security reported.

Diebold Nixdorfs alert described steps that criminals had used to compromise ATMs.

They include gaining physical access, replacing the hard drive and using an industrial endoscope to depress an internal button required to reset the device.

Russian cyber security firm Group IB has reported that cyber criminals remotely attacked cash machines in more than a dozen countries across Europe in 2016.

Similar attacks were also reported that year in Thailand and Taiwan.
A woman has claimed she was kicked out of a UPS store for speaking only in Spanish.

Cuban native Rebecca Prinstein, 47, has been in the US since 1992 and speaks some English, but prefers to communicate in Spanish, as she did at the Miami UPS store while seeking a $25 refund, the Miami Herald reported.

'F**king Spanish,' the clerk says in English, before adding in Spanish, 'I know how to speak, but you can't speak English.'

'Why are you talking to me so nasty? Look, I am recording you because of your lack of respect,' the woman tells the clerk in Spanish.

'No, you dont have respect for anyone, and I am not going to give you any respect,' the clerk responds in Spanish, which the Herald chides as 'faulty'.

Some moments later, the clerk says: 'Out of my store. You're disrupting my business.'

Ernesto Fernandez said his wife Rebecca Prinstein had been 'very stressed' and 'cries often' following the incident in the UPS store in suburban Miami

The full context of the interaction, which occurred in the Kendall suburb of Miami, is not entirely clear from the video.

Prinstein's husband Ernesto Fernandez, who was waiting in the car outside the store, blames the incident on President Donald Trump.

'[These things] are happening because this president has given free rein to racism in this country,' he told El Nuevo Herald.

'They feel they have the right and the power to do and say anything. There was no reason for this to happen. She simply went there to do a transaction,' said Fernandez.

Prinstein was at the store with her mother, who only speaks Spanish, seeking a $25 refund for a package she sent that was returned to her after it couldn't be delivered, according to Fernandez.

The clerk ordered Prinstein out of the store, saying she was being disruptive. UPS says he is no longer employed at the company after the incident

The husband said his wife was an intelligent woman of Jewish descent who worked for a satellite television company in Miami, but had struggled mastering English.

He claims the UPS employee confronted him 'with a screwdriver in his hand' when he went back into the store after his wife left.

UPS said in a statement that the employee in the video no longer works for the company.

'We value diversity,' the company said in an apology over the incident.

Fernandez said that his wife had been 'very stressed' and 'cries often' following the incident.

'Shes been feeling bad, doesnt sleep. At first she was afraid of going near the store. That guy was very violent,' he said.
Protestors surrounded the constituency office of Conservative MP and minister Nadhim Zahawi who has come under fire for attending the notorious Presidents Club dinner where women were groped and harassed - despite claims he 'left early'.

A group of 50 demonstrators congregated outside Mr Zahawi's office in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire today demanding answers about the scandal-hit male-only gala.

The MP and children's minister, 50, has faced calls to resign and been reprimanded by the Prime Minister after it was revealed he attended the charity dinner at London's Dorchester Hotel on January 18.

The annual event was shut down after an undercover sting by the Financial Times revealed hostesses were handpicked for their good looks and 'treated like prostitutes', groped and harassed by wealthy businessmen.

A group of 50 demonstrators congregated outside Nadhim Zahawi's office in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire today demanding answers about the scandal-hit male-only gala

The MP and children's minister, 50, has faced calls to resign and been reprimanded by the Prime Minister after it was revealed he attended the charity dinner at London's Dorchester Hotel on January 18

Pictured: Mr Zahawi has been Conservative MP for Stratford-upon-Avon since 2010 and was recently promoted to Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education

Mr Zahawai, who was promoted to Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education in the recent cabinet reshuffle, condemned the behaviour of his fellow dinner guests.

He tweeted: 'I do unequivocally condemn this behaviour. The report is truly shocking. I will never attend a men only function ever.'

But protesters today claimed they have not seen the Stratford-upon-Avon MP since news of the scandal broke and want an explanation from their elected representative.

Delivering an open letter written by Labour MP and Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner, they maintained 'serious questions remained unanswered'.

They held signs saying 'No ifs, no buts, we want answers' and 'Size up your life, how do you measure up?'

Protesters today claimed they have not seen the Stratford-upon-Avon MP since news of the scandal broke and want an explanation from their elected representative

Resident Anne Blackman, 59, of Alcester, Warkshire who attended the protest, said: 'As a constituent I want to know why he was there.

'He has not been seen since the scandal broke and I want answers.

'We deserve to hear from him and coming to his office on a Sunday seemed the only way to get his attention.'

Another protester fumed: 'Zahawi is treating his constituents with utter contempt. If he's a man of integrity he should meet with us and explain himself.

'The longer he gives us, the people who voted for him, the cold shoulder the more he drags this wonderful town through the mud with him.'

Mr Zahawai, who was promoted to Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education in the recent cabinet reshuffle, condemned the behaviour of his fellow dinner guests

The 'Women's Protest' was organised by local mother-of-two Emma Bradley, 35, who is also the vice chairman of Stratford Labour Women.

She said: 'Mr Zahawi needs to answer these questions. In true fashion he has gone to ground.

'We posted Angela Rayner's letter through the letterbox so hopefully it will be on his desk tomorrow morning.

'We understand someone was in his office but they chose not to engage with us.

'This is not a political issue, we are constituents who are demanding answers.'

MailOnline has contacted Mr Zahawi's office for comment.

This week two online petitions have emerged calling for his resignation.

This week two online petitions (pictured) have emerged calling for his resignation

Delivering an open letter (pictured) written by Labour MP and Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner, they maintained 'serious questions remained unanswered'

One reads: 'Nadhim Zahawi attended the Presidents Club event in his capacity as Minister and front bench Conservative MP.

'An event where women were sexually abused and threatened to be fired if they spoke out. He has failed to hold the high expectations we expect from a Minister.

'We demand his resignation and if that fails, we demand Theresa May to fire him as a Minister for Children and Families.

'It is unacceptable that a Minister just stayed quiet at such a event. It is beyond us, that he failed to question the logic behind such a 'men only' event.

'You can raise money for charity INCLUDING women and exclusion of women from such events is unacceptable.'

Theresa May resisted calls to sack the Stratford MP, saying he 'probably regretted his decision to go'.

Businessmen outside the secretive Presidents Club charity dinner, at which more than 100 'hostesses' were brought in, with some reportedly being groped and propositioned. It not suggested those in this image took part in any impropriety

Madison Marriage, the reporter who went undercover, said she was groped 'several times'

Speaking to the BBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday she said: 'I understand that Nadhim Zahawi left early from that particular event.

'But when I read the report of that event that took place, frankly, I was appalled.

'I thought that sort of approach to women, that objectification of women was something that we were leaving behind.'

Environment Secretary and close friend Michael Gove was quick to defend him, tweeting: 'My friend Nadhim Zahawi is a really decent and honourable guy who's in public life to help others - part of a great team at DFE'

Labour peer Lord Mendelsohn, the party's spokesman on business and international trade in the House of Lords, was probed by officials after it emerged that he had been on the guest list.

He was then ordered to step down from the front bench by leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Sen. Marco Rubio traveled from Florida to Washington, D.C., Saturday to fire his Chief of Staff Clint Reed for misconduct, sharing few details about what actually occurred.

In a carefully worded statement released shortly before midnight Saturday, Rubio explained that he was made aware 'for the first time' Friday of allegations of 'improper conduct' by his chief of staff.

The individual had 'violated office policies regarding proper relations between a supervisor and their subordinates.'

'I further concluded that this led to actions which in my judgement amounted to threats to withhold employment benefits,' the statement also read.

Rubio's office said that they were following the 'wishes of those victimized' by not providing details beyond that.

'We will not be disclosing any further details about the incidents which occurred,' the statement read.

Sen. Marco Rubio (left) announced Saturday night that he had traveled from Florida to D.C. to fire his chief of staff after investigating misconduct allegations. Politico identified the individual as Clint Reed (right)

Sen. Marco Rubio said he first heard about the allegations on Friday. By midnight on Saturday Rubio's office had put a statement out saying the Florida Republican's chief of staff was gone

The Florida Republican said the allegations were told to him personally and he traveled from Florida to D.C. Saturday night and terminated his chief of staff's employment 'effective immediately.'

The statement didn't name Reed as the offender, but Politico named the Arkansas native in its report on the matter.

Reed hasn't spoken to the press.

Reed began working for Rubio as part of the senator's 2016 presidential campaign, including efforts to win the Iowa caucuses, according to Politico.

Rubio came in a strong third after Sen. Ted Cruz and businessman Donald Trump, a performance that kept him in the Republican primaries until mid-March.

Reed stayed on with the senator once he pulled out of the presidential race and then assisted with his re-election bid, Politico said.

Rubio had originally said he wasn't going to retain his Senate seat beyond the 2016 race, but bowed to pressure from the party and launched a re-election race, which he won soundly.

The fired aide also previously held positions with the Republican National Committee and the Republican Party of Arkansas.

SEN. MARCO RUBIO'S STATEMENT ON THE FIRING OF HIS CHIEF OF STAFF Yesterday afternoon, I was made aware, for the first time, of allegations of improper conduct by my Chief of Staff while under the employment of my office. These allegations were reported directly to me instead of our General Counsel or the Congressional Office of Compliance. Immediately upon receiving this complaint, I along with our General Counsel, began an investigation of this matter. By early this afternoon, I had sufficient evidence to conclude that while employed by this office, my Chief of Staff had violated office policies regarding proper relations between a supervisor and their subordinates. I further concluded that this led to actions which in my judgement amounted to threats to withhold employment benefits. This evening, I traveled from Florida to Washington D.C. and terminated his employment effective immediately. We have taken steps to ensure that those impacted by this conduct have access to any services they may require now or in the future. Pursuant to the wishes of those victimized by this conduct, we will not be disclosing any further details about the incidents which occurred. We will be formally notifying the appropriate Congressional and Senate administrative offices of this matter when they return to work Monday morning. Advertisement

In 2004, Reed oversaw the grassroots operation in Arkansas to get President George W. Bush re-elected. He also worked on Sen. Saxby Chambliss' re-election campaign in 2008, tasked to help the Georgia Republican win his run-off race.

Reed attended Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas, where he has been inducted in the school's Basketball Hall of Fame.

Reed was promoted to the role of Rubio's chief of staff once Albert Martinez, a longtime Rubio aide, had moved on to a senior adviser role.

In the release noting the staff changes, Rubio called Reed a 'superb manager who loves Florida, has earned my trust, and relishes the challenge of solving tough problems.'

Reed's deputy, Jessica Fernandez, will take over his job. She's the senator's longtime scheduler.

Rubio's office said it would notify the appropriate Congressional and Senate offices, come Monday, about what occurred.

'We have taken steps to ensure that those impacted by this conduct have access to any services they may require now or in the future,' the statement said.
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Hundreds of history fans today dressed up in traditional 17th century clothing to re-enact King Charles I's walk to the Banqueting House in 1649.

Men and women gathered in central London on Sunday morning and marched towards the famous building in Whitehall - just 500 yards from Big Ben.

Many of the members of the King's Army of the English Civil War Society were on horseback as they left St James' Palace before making the one mile trip down The Mall towards the River Thames.

They marched together in commemoration of his death at the hands of Parliament in 1649 after he was convicted of treason.

Charles I was born in Fife, Scotland, on November 19 1600 and became king when he was 24 years old but his conflicts with parliament led to a civil war.

He tried to make the country use a new prayer book and MPs, including Oliver Cromwell, put him on trial for treason before he was found guilty and later executed on January 30.

Members of King's Army of the English Civil War Society march as they retrace the route taken by King Charles I from St James' Palace to the place of his execution at the Banqueting House in Whitehall

Men and women gathered in London for the march on Sunday to trace the footsteps taken by Charles I before he was beheaded at Banqueting House in the 17th century

History fans dressed up in 17th century clothing to re-enact the path taken by the former monarch whose coronation took place on February 2, 1626

One woman was banging a large drum (left) while hundreds of people marched together holding wreaths (right) to remember his death almost 400 years ago

Charles I was born in Fife, Scotland, on November 19, 1600 and became king aged 25 following the death of his popular older brother, Henry. Men and women were seen on horseback on Sunday in commemoration of his 'horrid murder' at the hands of Parliament in 1649

But because of the king's conflicts with parliament a civil war broke out and the events following resulted in his eventual execution in 1649

Members of the King's Army of the English Civil War Society wore traditional outfits from the 17th century to celebrate the life of Charles I, who favoured a High Anglican form of worship while he was on the throne

Members of the King's Army of the English Civil War Society all dressed up and made the one mile walk down The Mall on Sunday to celebrate the life King Charles I

Charles I wanted the country to use a new prayer book which made be unpopular with the British public. A civil war broke out and the monarch was eventually executed after he was found guilty of treason

A woman was wearing white gloves and purple clothing on Sunday as she joined hundreds of other history fans to mark the life of Charles I

Hundreds of King Charles I fans dressed up on Sunday morning to celebrate the former monarch's life, which ended when he was executed in 1649 after he was convicted of treason

Charles I tried to get the country to use a new prayer book and he was eventually put on trial for treason and later executed in Whitehall, London, on January 30, 1649

A woman had dressed up in beige clothing and a blue hat and was photographed holding a baby on Sunday morning before people marched to Whitehall in London

A group of men were holding replica rifles and bayonets as they left St James' Palace in central London before making their way down The Mall

Men and women wearing beige jackets and dark hats were carrying replica firearms while walking towards Whitehall on Sunday

This group of members were wearing black and red colours when they made their way down The Mall (Buckingham Palace is pictured in the background)
President Donald Trump lashed out at Jay-Z with misleading claims his policies have lowered unemployment for African Americans after the rapper shared that he was 'disappointed and hurt' by Trump's alleged 's***hole countries' comment.

The president used Twitter on Sunday morning to respond to the hip-hop icon's CNN interview with Van Jones on Saturday.

'Somebody please inform Jay-Z that because of my policies, Black Unemployment has just been reported to be at the LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED!' Trump tweeted.

He added: 'Our economy is better than it has been in many decades. Businesses are coming back to America like never before. Chrysler, as an example, is leaving Mexico and coming back to the USA. Unemployment is nearing record lows. We are on the right track!'

President Donald Trump used Twitter on Sunday morning to respond to Jay-Z's CNN interview with Van Jones

'Somebody please inform Jay-Z that because of my policies, Black Unemployment has just been reported to be at the lowest rate ever recorded!' Trump tweeted

His tweets come after the rapper stated that even if Trump was responsible for putting more money in African American pockets, it's 'not about money at the end of the day.'

'Money doesn't equate to happiness,' he explained.

'That's missing the point. Treat people like human beings. If we're going back to "you treat me really bad but pay me well," that's not going to lead to happiness, it's going to lead to, like, the same thing.

'Everyone's going to be sick.'

Trump's tweet highlights reporting from the Associated Press detailing how the black unemployment rate has reached a record low in December, at 6.8 per cent.

He added: 'Our economy is better than it has been in many decades. Businesses are coming back to America like never before. Chrysler, as an example, is leaving Mexico and coming back to the USA. Unemployment is nearing record lows. We are on the right track!'

But the assertion is a stretch as NPR reported that long before Trump took office, the rate of black unemployment was already decreasing.

In fact, it was reported that as early as 2010 - well within Barack Obama's first tenure in office - the rate had been falling.

NPR reports that the rates not having dropped at a faster pace since Trump took office implies that nothing he has done has actually impacted the unemployment rate for African Americans.

Jared Bernstein, a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and a former economic adviser to Vice President Joe Biden, told Vox that Trump can't take credit for the trend.

'Trump has had nothing to do with the decline in African-American jobless rates, or any other group's rates,' Bernstein said. 'He's completely riding a trend he inherited.'

And while the unemployment rate for African Americans may be at 6.8 per cent, it is still almost double that of the white unemployment - which is at 3.7 per cent.

Hiring discrimination, inadequate educational resources, and racism exhibited through the prison industrial complex system are contributing factors to why the number has been so high in the past.

Trump's tweets come after Jay-Z told CNN's Van Jones that he wasn't surprised by the president's alleged 's***hole countries' comments.

On Saturday, Jay-Z said he was 'disappointed and hurt' by President Trump's alleged 's***hole countries' comments - but not surprised

'Everyone feels anger but after the anger it's really hurtful because he's looking down on a whole population of people and he's so misinformed because these places have beautiful people,' the hip-hop legend told CNN's Van Jones Saturday evening.

'But on the other side, this has been going on. This is how people on, this has been going on behind closed doors.'

He said that the comments just show the underlying problem of racism that exists in America - and how, even though it's widely condemned, it's still active behind closed doors.

Jay-Z said that the way we treat it is like 'spraying perfume on a trash can and creating a superbug.'

That superbug, he said, is Donald Trump.

'Everyone feels anger but after the anger it's really hurtful because he's looking down on a whole population of people and he's so misinformed because these places have beautiful people,' the hip-hop legend told CNN 's Van Jones

Jay Z also said that racist comments have existed for a long time, and said how America handles it is like trying to kill bugs with pesticide. He continued, explaining that using pesticide creates a superbug, and how America deals with racism created Donald Trump

As an example he spoke about the former owner of the Los Angeles Clippers Donald Sterling, who was outed as a racist on a private phone conversation in 2014.

'They took the team from him, and OK that's one way to do it,' he explained.

'But another way to do it is let him have his team and then let's talk about it together... Maybe some penalties.

'Because once you do that, all the other closet racists run back in the hole. You haven't fixed anything. What you've done is spray perfume on the trash can.'

He explained that more spray attracts more bugs - as you aren't actually dealing with the trash itself. The trash in this analogy is racism.

He then backtracked for a moment to explain that Trump is a human being too, saying that Trump expresses himself in the way he does because of something that happened to him during his past

'You don't take the trash out. You keep spraying whatever over it to make it acceptable and as those things grow, you create a superbug.

'And now we have Donald Trump, the superbug.'

He then backtracked for a moment to explain that Trump is a human being too, saying that Trump expresses himself in the way he does because of something that happened to him during his past.

And on when Jay-Z, whose family frequently visited the Obama White House, would be visiting the Trump White House, the rapper chuckled.

'We won't be invited, first of all,' he said.

And on when Jay-Z, whose family frequently visited the Obama White House, would be visiting the Trump White House, the rapper chuckled. 'We won't be invited, first of all,' he said

Jay-Z then addressed Trump's remarks that he's putting more money in African American's pockets, and his claims that he's lowered the African American unemployment rate more than ever before.

He said that even if that's true, it doesn't matter, because it's 'not about money at the end of the day.'

'Money doesn't equate to happiness,' he explained.

'That's missing the point. Treat people like human beings. If we're going back to "you treat me really bad but pay me well," that's not going to lead to happiness, it's going to lead to, like, the same thing.

'Everyone's going to be sick.'

He said he thinks the government 'forgets it's real people behind these decisions that they're making.'

The rapper also briefly mentioned the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements when speaking about his daughters. He is pictured with Beyonce and Blue Ivy in 2017. He said that he thinks the movements had to happen so the world can correct itself

Jay-Z said that if the government keeps ignoring the pain of real people, they're going to act out.

'That opens the door to what we're seeing now,' he said. 'Now, politics has become about votes and not about people.'

The rapper also briefly mentioned the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements when speaking about his daughters.

'Everything happens for a reason, everything is a learning experience. This had to happen to purge itself,' he said.

He said that humans will seek power if they go unchecked, so this kind of movement has to happen in order to flip the script.

'This movement, ad everything that's going on, and what we're finding, it's like everything else, it's like racism, it existed the whole time,' he explained.

'It's almost like we've normalized it. The normalization of the things we have to do to survive. It's been going on, an I'm looking forward to it being uncovered for the world to correct itself. It's what has to happen.'
Egypt has condemned "in the strongest terms" a terror suicide bombing that killed at least 95 people and injured 158 others in the centre of Afghanistans capital Kabul on Saturday.

In an official statement on Sunday, Egypts foreign ministry offered its sincere condolences to the families of the victims, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

The ministry added that Egypt stands side by side with the people and government of Afghanistan in combating "brute terrorism".

Such terror acts carried out by groups that claim an Islamic affiliation are far from moderate Islam and its tolerant principles, Egypts foreign ministry said, stressing that the attempts by such groups to undermine security and stability will not be successful.

On Saturday, militants drove an ambulance laden with explosives towards a police checkpoint in a neighborhood that hosts several government offices and foreign embassies, killing at least 95 people and injuring 158 others.

The Taliban have said they carried out the attack, which is considered the deadliest in Kabul in several months.



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British patients left waiting for months for crucial NHS operations are increasingly travelling to France, where they can get them done for free in days.

Serge Orlov, a 62-year-old from Deal, Kent, is among scores of people taking advantage of a little publicised arrangement with the main hospital in Calais.

'What would take seven months in England took three months here,' said Mr Orlov, adding: 'It's like winning the lottery'.

He was at the French port town on Saturday, where he will receive vital knee surgery in a few days.

British patients - including Serge Orlov, pictured - left waiting for months for crucial NHS operations are increasingly travelling to France, where they can get them done for free in days

Mr Orlov is one of around 140 UK nationals who have approached the French hospital over the past two weeks.

It follows a 2015 agreement between the South Kent Coast Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which covers Deal, Sandwich and Dover, and the French.

Under the terms of the partnership, NHS patients who need routine surgery are allowed to be seen in Calais, where there are zero waiting lists.

The hospital has even installed signs in English, and redesigned its website to help prospective patients in the UK.

There was a slow take up from Britain to begin with, mainly because of a lack of publicity, but now the response is huge.

Mr Orlov described his NHS saga in the UK as 'an obstacle course', and said the France made everything far easier.

Describing what happened in England, Mr Orlov said: 'At no time did the doctors and surgeons tell me that I had the option of coming to France for treatment in a much shorter time.

'That's the main point of this whole story: during these seven months you wait, you suffer physically and mentally.

Mr Orlov is among scores of people taking advantage of a little publicised arrangement with the main hospital in Calais

'I was very sporty before and I can't do anything anymore. I need to have both knees replaced.'

After months of anguish, including being put 47th on a list of 97 patients waiting, Mr Orlov was told about the Calais option earlier this month.

He said: 'I was told that I was the 15th English patient to get treatment in Calais. It's the best-kept secret. I was never told about this option. Why didn't I hear anything?'

Speaking to French media, Mr Orlov said: 'That's why I let myself be filmed and interviewed, I want to help other English patients, so they know they have this option.

Mr Orlov, whose knee surgery is now scheduled for February 7, said: 'I'm very happy and a little stressed that it's going so fast.'

Martin Trelcat, the manager of the Calais hospital, said last summer: 'We signed the agreement in January 2016 and planned to welcome around 100 patients in two years and within four years, 400 patients.

'Instead we saw one last year and one this year. We have done everything to welcome NHS patients with a high standard of care.

'Patients can be seen next week if they want to be. Appointments are based around patient availability. We are ready to take them now.'

The French health service regularly receives accolades for being among the best in the world.

It is not known if the Calais partnership will continue after Brexit.
Nelly (pictured) denies the allegations, which have emerged in a lawsuit filed in Seattle, Washington

Police will attempt to contact a woman mentioned in a US lawsuit alleging the rapper Nelly sexually assaulted her after a gig in the UK.

Essex Police said they would try to obtain a report from the unnamed woman by contacting the Seattle-based lawyer bringing the claim after officers were alerted by US media reports.

The new allegation, that a woman was sexually assaulted by the rapper after a gig at Cliffs Pavilion in Southend last December, is included in the lawsuit of an American woman who alleges the rapper raped her on his tour bus in the US.

An Essex Police spokesman said: 'We have checked our records and don't appear to have received a report of this incident.

'Specially trained officers are now making contact with the solicitors in a bid to contact the victim to take a report.'

Nelly, real name Cornell Iral Haynes Jr, denies the allegations and has filed a counter-suit, while his lawyer Scott Rosenblum said the claim was 'deceitful' and 'motivated by money'.

University student Monique Greene, 22, is suing the 43-year-old in Washington, USA, after prosecutors dropped a criminal case against him because she would not testify.

Nelly, real name Cornell Iral Haynes Jr, denies the allegations and has filed a counter-suit, while his lawyer Scott Rosenblum said the claim was 'deceitful' and 'motivated by money'

According to court documents, the lawsuit also says a third woman alleges she was sexually assaulted after a show at Koko, in Camden, north London, in June 2016.

The two women who allege attacks in the UK are referred to only as Jane Doe one and Jane Doe two in the document.

It adds the woman involved in the alleged attack in Essex did not report it to police because she feared not being believed.

Ms Greene's lawyer Karen Koehler said that the other two women contacted her after reading about her client's case.

Monique Greene, 22, is suing Nelly after prosecutors dropped a criminal case against him because she would not testify

One of the women is British and another is an American who was stationed in England with the military at the time.

Mr Roseblum said in an email: 'Nelly is sensitive to women that have been victimised and marginalised. This is not the case here. He will not stand silent.

'The recent addition of 'Jane Doe 1 and 2' is completely fabricated and an attempt to give credibility to his accuser's far fetched story.

'Nelly welcomes the opportunity to litigate this case in court. He is not looking for any monetary gain. He does not expect any monetary gain.

'He expects an apology and recognition that he did no wrong.'
A Maryland child called police to say he heard his parents fighting and might have heard gunshots. When police arrived, they found the boy's parents dead in an apparent murder-suicide.

Police say Calvin Carnathan, 33, fatally shot his wife Candace, also 33, before turning the gun on himself around 7.30am on Saturday in the White Plains home they share with their three children, all of whom were apparently in the house at the time.

The children, who have not been identified, are currently staying with family. They are a 12-year-old girl and 10- and 7-year-old boys, WJLA reports.

One of the boys called police. He was instructed to take his siblings to the home's basement to hide.

Police found divorcing couple Calvin and Candace Carnathan, both 33, dead in an upstairs bedroom of their White Plains, Maryland home

One of the couple's three children called police because he heard gunshots, police say. The children were instructed to hide in the basement

Police say officers arrived within minutes and took the children to safety.

Investigators found the bodies of their parents in an upstairs bedroom of the home on Amberton Court.

Police say they served Calvin with a temporary protective order ordering him to stay away from his wife and children 'within an hour of receiving it' from Candace on Friday afternoon.

But Calvin did not abide by the protective order and returned to the home early Saturday.

The protective order was issued by the sheriff office's Domestic Violence Unit, police said in a press release.

'We can't foresee what's going to happen once a protective order is served. I mean, ideally, they work in the way they're intended and that is that the person who is served that order, respects the order,' Charles County Polices spokesperson Diane Richardson said at a press conference.

'Sometimes that doesn't happen and it can be a very dangerous time.'

Neighbors told WUSA9 that Calvin and Candace were going through a nasty divorce.

Neighbor Nichola Rollins told WUSA9: 'Beautiful kids, that lost their mom and dad. It's heartbreaking, it's very heartbreaking.'
A host of Hollywood celebrities are planning to attend a People's State of the Union protest as a 'public alternative' to President Donald Trump's first State of the Union address.

Mark Ruffalo, Lee Daniels, Michael Moore, Alyssa Milano and Whoopi Goldberg are among the A-listers who will attend the evening of speeches and music in New York in what is being billed as a way to celebrate the 'resistance' movement against Trump.

The star-studded event is set to take place Monday night, the day before Trump's speech at the Town Hall, which is the historic venue in Manhattan founded as a meeting spot for suffragists more than 90 years ago.

Mark Ruffalo and Michael Moore are among the host of celebrities who will attend a People's State of the Union protest in New York on Monday night. They are pictured above protesting at Trump Tower in August

'In essence it's a better reflection of our state of the union based on a more populist point of view, based on the people's point of view,' Ruffalo told People.

'I think it's important because we have a president who has a difficult time with the truth, who has a radical, divisive agenda, and spends an enormous amount of time focusing on the negative and hopelessness and despair.

'We want to celebrate this moment that we're in of what is now probably one of the most influential and powerful and really beautiful movements to come into play in the United States since the civil rights movement.'

He added that the event was 'a celebration of the power and the beauty of this movement, but also of our accomplishments and to focus on what's to come in the immediate future.'

Among those slated to perform at the protest are Andra Day and Common, who will sing their Grammy- and Oscar-nominated song Stand Up for Something from the film Marshall.

Whoopi Goldberg, pictured at New York's Woman's March, will attend the evening of speeches and music in what is being billed as a way to celebrate the 'resistance' against Trump

Alyssa Milano is also planning to attend. She revealed online that she will launch an initiative, #StateOfTheDream, on Tuesday to support immigrants and raise money for United We Dream

Ruffalo, a vocal progressive, said the evening will be an 'inspirational event where activists and influencers join together to articulate a positive vision for our future, and how we're going to win our country back.'

Host organizations include unions, organizers of the Women's March and Planned Parenthood.

The event will be livestreamed at peoplessotu.org.

Online, Alyssa Milano on Tuesday will launch an initiative, #StateOfTheDream, to support immigrants and raise money for United We Dream, an immigrant youth-led organization.

In a statement, Milano called for social media users to create brief videos describing 'your dream for America' and post them at the same time, 9 p.m. EST, with the effort's hashtag.

She urged on Twitter: 'Please join us! Resist and persist with digital counter-programming to Trump's #SOTU.'
At least five people were killed in a shooting at a car wash in rural Pennsylvania, state police say.

The shooting occurred around 2.45am Sunday at Ed's Car Wash in Melcroft, Fayette County, WPXI-TV reports. Melcroft is about 55 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

The victims were identified only as three men and two women. WPXI reports that the victims were in their 20s and 30s.

Three men and two women are dead after a shooting at Ed's Car Wash in Melcroft, Pennsylvania at around 2.45am Sunday. One person is in a hospital

Local media reports that the shooter was a man, was shot during the shooting and wore body armor

The shooter used a semi-automatic rifle, local media outlets reported

At least one other person was wounded and was taken to a hospital, but further details on that person's condition were not immediately released.

Authorities were trying to determine if the shooter was among those found at the scene.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the shooter was a man, was shot during the shooting and wore body armor.

The shooter used a semi-automatic rifle, KDKA reports.

Four of the fatalities were pronounced dead at the scene, police told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. One died at a hospital.

Two of the deceased were found inside a pick-up truck, police said. Another pick-up truck and a sedan were also at the scene.

A motive for the shooting remains under investigation. Family members of the victims told WPXI the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute.

Police said in a statement that there is 'no threat to the community, no imminent danger'.

An officer stands guard as people comfort each other near the scene of the shooting

Four people were pronounced dead the scene and a fifth was wounded

Police said in a statement that there is 'no threat to the community, no imminent danger'
A woman has died in a house fire in Trafford, Manchester, which is being investigated by police.

Firefighters were called out to tackle a blaze at a property on Priory Road, Sale, in the early hours of Sunday morning and the woman's body was found during a search of the property just after 8am.

Detectives have now launched a joint investigation with the fire service to try and establish the circumstances surrounding her death.

There is not believed to have been anyone else inside at the house at the time of the incident.

A woman has died in a house fire in Trafford, Manchester, which is being investigated by police

Nearby resident, Alan Cooney said: 'It's bad if someone has passed away and we don't know what circumstances are. It's very strange.

'Everyone will be shocked there's a fatality. A fire is bad enough but a fatality as well is really bad.

It's not what people expect. It's a quiet area an we don't usually have any problems.'

The woman is thought to be in her 70s, officers report.

Greater Manchester Police said the woman's next of kin have been informed and are that they 'keeping an open mind in relation to the cause of the fire'.

Firefighters were called out to tackle a blaze at a property (pictured) on Priory Road, Sale, in the early hours of Sunday morning and the woman's body was found during a search of the property just after 8am

Detective Chief Inspector Gwynn Dodd, from GMP, said: 'Just after 8am this morning we received a call from Greater Manchester Fire Service in relation to the property just behind me which was on fire.

'Tragically the initial investigation has found the body of what's likely to be a woman in her mid-70s.

'She hasn't been positively identified yet however the family of the occupant have been spoken to by police and we have specialist officers supporting them as we speak.

'My heart and feelings go out to her family. This is a tragic incident and not something any family would ever want to face at any time.

Detectives have now launched a joint investigation with the fire service to try and establish the circumstances surrounding her death

'I am keeping an open mind in relation to the cause of the fire and there will be a joint investigation with partners to understand that.

'So far the information I have doesn't lead me to have any concerns for the wider community. There are no warnings to provide.

'However if anybody does have any information or has seen or heard anything they think might be relevant then I would encourage them to come forward and contact GMP.

'There is nothing to suggest that there was anybody else in the house or anybody else that has been injured or died as a result of this.

'To the best of my knowledge she did live alone in the property but she was supported by her family.

Greater Manchester Police said the woman's next of kin have been informed and are that they 'keeping an open mind in relation to the cause of the fire'

'It does appear to be quite an extensive fire and has caused fire throughout the property. It's going to take time to make sure it's safe and that there are no risks.'

Damian O'Rourke, area manager for Trafford and Salford at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said: 'Our firefighters were on the scene within minutes and wearing breathing apparatus went into the house to extinguish the fire and look for any casualties.

'A joint investigation with the police has begun to determine the cause of the fire.'

Three crews from Altrincham, Wythenshawe and Streford attended and found a fire on the ground floor.

Anyone with information are asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
White House Counsel Don McGahn threatened to resign from his post in June, but then decided to stay on.

There are conflicting reports on how much President Trump's plot to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller had to do with McGahn's decision to possibly leave.

CBS News reported Saturday that McGahn's motivations for resigning were the 'accumulation of stress and frustrations with the president,' not because Trump had threatened to remove the special counsel.

White House Counsel Don McGahn threatened to quit in June, but there are conflicting reports on how much President Trump's own threat to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller inspired McGahn's behavior

Don McGahn, seen in the elevator lobby at Trump Tower shortly after the president's 2016 election win, almost quit his White House job last June, on the heels of the president talking to senior staff about removing Special Counsel Robert Mueller

The New York Times wrote on Thursday that McGahn had received the president's order to fire Mueller and refused to take it to the Justice Department.

Instead McGahn said he would quit.

CBS's account suggests that the president never issued Mueller's firing in writing, but instead talked about it with senior staff, including then Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and ex-Chief Strategist Steve Bannon.

This was chatter that the top aides viewed 'skeptically,' CBS noted, as the president has the propensity to talk about firing people, 'but often quickly forgets about it.'

In Mueller's case, aides never took action, hoping that the president would 'simmer down.'

McGahn, along with other White House lawyers, and with senior aides, eventually talked Trump into keeping Mueller  who had been appointed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein a month before  in place.

CBS said McGahn's primary issue at the White House was having to tell the president 'no,' often having to explain the legal limits of presidential power.

The network said that McGahn never personally threatened Trump with his resignation, and instead communicated his intentions to Priebus and Bannon.

The New York Times characterized what happened more dramatically, calling the episode a 'West Wing confrontation.'

On Friday, while in Davos, Switzerland, the president denied that he ever pondered firing the special counsel, who is looking into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and whether there was collusion with the Trump campaign.

'Fake news, folks,' the president said. 'Fake news. A typical New York Times fake story.'

Marc Short, the White House director of Legislative Affairs, sang a similar tune on Face the Nation today.

'I think that there's been a lot of sensational reporting on that,' Short said. 'Let's keep in mind a few things: that report dates to some June conversation allegedly. We're now in January. Mueller's still special counsel. Don McGahn is still running the White House Counsel's Office.'

'Millions of dollars, of taxpayer dollars, have been wasted on an investigation that so far has proven no collusion with the Russians,' Short said.

On Wednesday, the president had told reporters that he was 'looking forward' to speaking with Mueller in the coming weeks.

Because of McGahn's role in Trump's firing of both National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and FBI Director James Comey, the lawyer has had to limit his interactions with the president because of the special counsel's probe, CBS has learned.

Mueller is looking into both of the firings.

A trio of other Trump lawyers  Ty Cobb, John Dowd and Jay Sekulow  have persuaded the president to keep Mueller in place and are the ones negotiating the president's forthcoming interview with Mueller.
Celebrity Chef Jose Andres, whom the president once sued for $10million over a scuttled restaurant deal, has backpedaled his suggestion that he was thrown out of a party because Ivanka Trump was in attendance.

Shortly after midnight on Saturday night, Andres posted a forlorn photo of himself standing outside of Cafe Milano in Washington DC.

The ritzy Italian restaurant in Georgetown was playing host to an after-party for the Alfalfa Club's annual dinner and Andres said Milano owner Franco Nuschese ensured he was not allowed in, asking on Twitter: 'Is because @IvankaTrump told you so?'.

On Sunday, the matter was cleared up after the restaurant contacted Andres and apologized.

'I am sorry for the misunderstanding. Last night the restaurant was closed for a private Alfalfa Dinner after party,' Cafe Milano tweeted. 'Of note, the dinner and after party are different guest lists. Also, Ivanka Trump had no role on determining event attendees.'

Andres responded: 'Thank you @CafeMilanoDC and Franco for the apology. I understand was a misunderstanding. Still hard to understand why I was the only person not allowed in!... Now let's all be friends.'

Jose Andres posted a forlorn photo of himself standing outside of Cafe Milano shorty after midnight on Saturday. He suggested he was not allowed in because Ivanka Trump was is attendance (pictured right with husband Saturday)

The high-profile chef also retracted his claims regarding Ivanka Trump, writing: 'Thank you @IvankaTrump for reaching out. I believe now that you personally had nothing to do.'

Andres included in his message to Ivanka Trump an appeal for 'undocumented citizens' to be granted amnesty under immigration reform.

The brouhaha began with a late-night tweet from Andres posted shortly after midnight on Saturday night.

'Thank you @CafeMilanoDC Franco Nuschese! I was a guest of the #alfalfaclubdinner2018 'everyone' welcome to the after party, but I'm the only individual not allow in? Is because @IvankaTrump told you so? You should be ashamed of yourself Franco,' Andress wrote.

Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner were spotted by Politico at the Alfalfa Club dinner at the Capitol Hilton, an annual event for the elite social club.

Mexican diplomat Jorge Guajardo, who previously served as ambassador to China, chimed in on Twitter to back up Andres, though it was unclear if he was present at the dinner or the party.

The exterior of Cafe Milano in Georgetown is seen in a file photo. The ritzy DC eatery was hosting an after-party for the Alfalfa Club's annual dinner on Saturday night

'In a new low for Washington, yesterday @chefjoseandres was asked to leave the Alfalfa dinner after-party at @CafeMilanoDC by its owner, Franco Nuschesse, apparently because his presence made Ivanka Trump uncomfortable,' Guajardo wrote.

Guajardo claimed that Ivanka Trump walked into the restaurant ahead of Andres and was 'not comfortable with his presence'.

'Hes approached and asked to come outside where Franco, who he knows perfectly well for many years, wants to talk to him. Once outside, hes not allowed back in,' Guajardo wrote.

'At the Alfalfa dinner, Franco came up to Jose Andres and gave him a friendly kiss. A little later he would be asked to do the Trumps dirty work and, like Judas, betray an old friend,' he continued.

Ivanka Trump and and Jared Kushner are seen leaving their home in DC on Saturday night on their way to dinner. The alleged incident occurred later in the evening, around midnight

Andres (seen in 2008) owns restaurants in Washington DC, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Florida and Puerto Rico

The incident comes less than a year after President Donald Trump settled his $10million lawsuit against Andres for an undisclosed amount in April.

The lawsuit dates to 2015 when Andres backed out of a plan to open a restaurant in the Trump International Hotel in Washington DC, citing then-candidate Donald Trump's statements 'disparaging immigrants.'

Trump made the remark in June 2015 that some Mexican immigrants bring drugs and crime to the US, and some are rapists.

Andres, who has several restaurants in the city, is an immigrant from Spain who was naturalized as a US citizen in 2013.

The Trump Organization, while Donald was still in charge, then sued in July of 2015 for breach of contract, seeking $10million.

Andres counter-sued for $8million, and his firm argued that comments made by the now-President made it difficult to hire Hispanic staff or attract Hispanic patrons.
David Cameron has been spotted sporting a flat cap for the second time this week.

The former Prime Minister was pictured enjoying an afternoon at the Heythrop Hunt Point to Point in Cocklebarrow, Gloucestershire with his wife Samantha.

Earlier this week the former Tory leader was seen at Disneyland Paris, again donning an oversized flat cap, as he enjoyed rides with his family.

Mr Cameron wore a green flat cap, dark navy trousers and walking boots under a black North Face jacket as he enjoyed a day at the races.

Mr Cameron wore a green flat cap, dark navy trousers and walking boots under a black North Face jacket as he enjoyed a day at the races

The former Prime Minister was pictured enjoying an afternoon at the Heythrop Hunt Point to Point in Cocklebarrow, Gloucestershire with his wife Samantha

The Former Witney MP, who is currently at the Davos summit, was spotted in Paris last weekend by social media users.

One tourist wrote on Twitter: 'Currently eating in the same restaurant as David Cameron in Paris kmttt.'

Another claimed to have see him in the French capital on Saturday, writing: 'Just seen David Cameron up the Eiffel Tower.'

A twitter user posted a picture of her at the happiest place on earth with the former PM in the background sporting a flat cap, a North Face waterproof jacket and a slightly glum expression.

She wrote: 'As if I was just stood next to David Cameron at Disneyland and I bottled it.

'Glad to see hes still enjoying free movement of people in the EU.'

Wife of Former Prime Minister David Cameron,Samantha Cameron places a bet on a horse at the Heythrop Hunt Point to Point at Cocklebarrow,Gloucestershire

Sam Cam places a bet on the horses as husband David wears a flat cap to the races

Charlie Brooks was also spotted enjoying an afternoon at the Heythrop Hunt Point to Point in Cocklebarrow, Gloucestershire, also sporting a questionable hat

The former Prime Minister left Number 10 in July 2016 after losing the referendum on leaving the European Union.

Earlier this week, he was caught admitting that his doom-laden predictions about the impact of Brexit had been proved wrong.

The former prime minister appeared to disown Project Fear, saying that leaving the EU had not proved a disaster and had turned out less badly than we first thought.

Dozens of people have taken to social media to say they have spotted the former Tory party leader in and around Paris over the weekend

A Twitter user posted a picture of her at the happiest place on earth with the former PM in the background sporting a flat cap,a North Face waterproof jacket and a glum expression

His comments came at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, where his conversation with the billionaire steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal was caught on camera.

During the referendum campaign in 2016 Mr Cameron and his Chancellor, George Osborne, issued a string of warnings about the consequences of a Leave vote.

Mr Cameron was caught on camera at the Davos summit speaking billionaire steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal saying Brexit 'was not as bad as we thought

In October 2016 he landed a job with the US electronic payments firm First Data Corporation, working for two or three days a month for the company.

His second job, announced in December, is leading a billion-dollar investment initiative agreed between the UK and China.

He is also currently writing his memoirs.
Angelina Jolie has called on the international community to end the 'senseless' Syrian conflict as the war enters its eighth year.

The Hollywood A-lister criticised the lack of a 'credible political and diplomatic process' to bring the violence to an end.

Speaking in her role as special envoy of UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the actress also met Syrian children displaced by the war at the Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan.

Children crowded around as she spoke in a patch of muddy space between hundreds of rows of caravans in the cold desert camp, less than an hour's drive from the Syrian border.

The Hollywood A-lister today met Syrian children displaced by the war at the Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan

The special envoy of the U.N. refugee agency spoke today with refugee families in a UN-run community program

It was Jolie's fifth visit to Jordan and third to the Zaatari refugee camp.

She also visited in September 2012 and June 2013 to mark world refugee day. Her visit in 2013 was her first public appearance with the UN refugee agency since her double mastectomy.

Speaking today she said: 'It is heartbreaking to return to Jordan and witness the levels of hardship and trauma among Syrian refugees as the war enters its eighth year.

'We in UNHCR are deeply grateful to the Jordanian people, for their generosity and humanity towards the victims of the conflict. Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq now host nearly 5  million Syrian refugees between them.

'They really are an example to the world, at a time when solidarity with refugees is in short supply.

'We should be under no illusions that this is a crisis that has been out of control for years.'

Jolie called on world powers to find a 'viable political settlement' to end Syria's civil war

The actress said most Syrian refugees had exhausted any savings they had and the vast majority were surviving on less than three dollars a day.

She said: 'This means families going without sufficient food, children unable to get medical treatment, young girls vulnerable to early marriage and many Syrians facing their seventh winter without proper shelter.'

The 42-year-old movie star then called on world powers to find a 'viable political settlement' to end Syria's civil war saying that was the only way to 'end the human suffering and the strain on host countries'.

'Humanitarian aid is not a long-term solution', she explained.

'And to be clear, no one wants to get off aid relief more than Syrian families. For such an educated, capable people, it is soul-destroying to be made this dependent.'

Jolie told the refugees she was very proud of them and that 'you're very strong, all of you'

She added: 'We should never forget that the war began with demands by Syrians for greater human rights. Peace in their country has to be built on that.

'It cannot be built on impunity for the targeting of civilians by all sides, the bombing of schools and hospitals, barrel bombs, torture, chemical weapons and rape used as a weapon of war.

'It must be built on accountability  for instance, justice and recognition for the years of violence that women in Syria have faced.

'So that is my message to the international community today: yes, of course, please do more to help meet the needs of desperate Syrian families, and the countries hosting them.

'But above all please provide the leadership and strength needed to negotiate a principled end to this senseless war  without sacrificing the dignity and human rights of Syrian families.

'That is non-negotiable.'

The Zaatari refugee camp opened in 2012, one year after the anti-government protests turned violent in Syria.

It is the largest refugee camp in Jordan housing almost 80,000 Syrian refugees.

Many of the residents have been living there for several years.

Jordan hosts more than 650,000 registered Syrian refugees, according to the UN refugee agency.

The actress said most Syrian refugees had exhausted any savings they had and the vast majority were surviving on less than three dollars a day
Egypt's President Abdel El-Sisi met with his Sudanese counterpart President Omar Al-Bashir in Addis Ababa on Saturday evening on the sidelines of African Union summit, the Egyptian president's office said.

The two presidents discussed recent developments in the region, as well the ways to boost bilateral relations between Egypt and Sudan, according to a press release.

During the meeting, El-Sisi and El-Bashir agreed to form a joint ministerial committee to deal with all outstanding bilateral issues and challenges.

On Friday, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with his Sudanese counterpart Ibrahim El-Ghandour, also in Addis Ababa.

According to the Egyptian foreign ministry, Shoukry and El-Ghandour aimed to clear up any "misunderstandings" that had resulted in tensions in recent months.

Sudan recently recalled its ambassador to Egypt for consultations without citing an official reason or revealing when he might return.

Relations between the two countries have been strained in recent months due to 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.

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.

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Jonathan Worsley, 45, was made to pay a 64 fare after boarding the same train he had bought a ticket for one stop closer to his final destination

A businessman has spoken out after being forced to pay 64 for a second train ticket, despite travelling a shorter distance on the same line.

Jonathan Worsley, 45, had paid 19 for an advance ticket to travel from Nottingham to London St Pancras on Wednesday January 24.

Yet he decided to board the train at East Midlands Parkway, which is 10 minutes away from Nottingham and a stop closer to his final destination.

But a ticket inspector demanded that Mr Worsley buy another ticket for the journey as he had 'broken the terms and conditions' of his advance ticket.

'There were two attendants and they both said I had to buy another ticket,' he told the Derby Telegraph.

He added: 'I said "surely that can't be right?" but they both stood their ground and insisted I pay again.

'I'm a pretty calm guy so didn't get angry with them, but two other passengers picked up the fight for me because they were disgusted at what they were hearing. They kept saying how utterly ridiculous it was and that the world had gone mad.

'Eventually a third member of staff came and showed me the terms and conditions on a phone. Legally speaking, they were in the right so I paid the 64. I was left a little bit aghast. I just thought it was bonkers.'

Mr Worsley, who works in Chesterfield and lives in Nottingham, shared his experience on Facebook.

He wrote: 'Absolutely livid. East Midlands Trains have just presented themselves as the worst kind of money-first, customers-second kind of company.'

Mr Worsley said that he boarded the train at East Midlands Parkway as his plans to have drinks in Nottingham and then walk to the station were scuppered due to poor weather.

He said: 'I was looking to have a couple of drinks so planned to get the bus to Nottingham and then walk to the train station.

Mr Worsley took to Facebook to complain about the service of East Midlands Trains

Mr Worsley has since been refunded 64 and has received an apology from East Midlands Trains

'But it was raining hard. Rather than get soaked, I decided to drive to East Midlands Parkway and forgo having some drinks.'

He wrote a letter for to East Midlands Trains and was given a full refund on the 64 ticket.

A spokesman for East Midlands Trains said: 'We are very sorry to hear of Mr Worsley's experience in travelling with us.

'The ticket he had already purchased was valid to board at East Midlands Parkway and he should not have been charged a new ticket.

'We are already in touch with Mr Worsley and confirmed we will refund the full cost of ticket as swiftly as possible.'
A teacher who died in the NASA space shuttle Challenger disaster 32 years ago has been honored with a day named after her in New Hampshire.

January 28 will now be known as Christa McAuliffe Day in honor of the Concord woman selected to become the first educator in space out of 11,000 applicants, Republican Governor Chris Sununu said on Sunday.

Per the Concord Monitor, Sununu said in a statement that McAuliffe's 'purpose as an educator to open minds and put emphasis on exceptional learning, in her own words, "I touch the future, I teach," and these profound words continue to guide educational programs today.'

Christa McAuliffe (pictured with family at left and solo at right) was selected as the first teacher-in-space in for NASA. She was selected from more than 11,000 applicants for the program, which was designed to help stimulate student's interest in STEM fields

McAuliffe would have filmed part of her lessons in space and later would have educated children about her experience upon her return to Earth

McAuliffe was part of the Challenger's seven-member passenger crew (left to right: McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnik, Francis Scobee, Ronald McNair, Mike Smith and Ellison Onizuka). All seven died in the spaceship's 1986 disaster

McAuliffe never made it to orbit because she and six crewmates were killed when the Challenger broke apart shortly after takeoff on January 28, 1986.

The Challenger disaster, witnessed on television by nearly one-fifth of the U.S. population at the time, occurred after the spaceship broke apart a bit more than a minute after takeoff.

McAuliffe would have been NASA's first designated teacher in space. She was going to experiment with fluids and demonstrate Newton's laws of motion for schoolchildren.

Astronauts Joe Acaba and Ricky Arnold said this month they will pay tribute to McAuliffe by carrying out her science classes on the International Space Station.

They will perform some of her lessons over the next several months.

Four lessons - on effervescence or bubbles, chromatography, liquids and Newton's laws - will be filmed by Acaba and Arnold, then posted online by the Challenger Center, a not-for-profit organization supporting science, technology, engineering and math education.

A thick cloud of engine exhaust, solid rocket booster plume and expanding gas fills the sky above Florida's Kennedy Space Center after the explosion of the Challenger

McAuliffe is pictured riding in a T-38 jet trainer over Galveston Bay, Texas

New Hampshire governor Chris Sununu declared January 28 Christa McAuliffe Day. McAuliffe lived in Concord

NASA's associate administrator for education, Mike Kincaid, said the lessons are 'an incredible way to honor and remember' McAuliffe as well as the entire Challenger crew.

The two were teaching middle school math and science on opposite sides of the world - Acaba in Florida and Arnold in Romania - when NASA picked them as educator-astronauts in 2004. The idea to complete McAuliffe's lesson plans came about last year.

McAuliffe was teaching history, law and economics at Concord High School in New Hampshire when she was selected as the primary candidate for NASA's teacher in space project in 1985.

She was selected out of more than 11,000 applicants for the program, a service designed to spur interest in STEM education for children. McAuliffe, had she lived, would have educated children about her experience upon her return to Earth.

Her backup, Barbara Morgan, is on the Challenger Center's board of directors.

Morgan was NASA's first educator-astronaut, flying on shuttle Endeavour in 2007 and helping to build the space station.

McAuliffe is pictured with her children Caroline and Scott. She taught history, law and economics at Concord High School in New Hampshire when she was selected for the position
Seeking to move past the shadow of the Russia investigation, President Donald Trump intends to use his first State of the Union address to cite economic progress under his watch while pushing for bipartisanship with Democrats on issues such as rebuilding roads and bridges.

The White House said Sunday that the president would point to a robust economy and low unemployment during his first year and the benefits of a tax overhaul during Tuesday's address to Congress and the nation.

Aides have said Trump, who stayed at the White House over the weekend as he prepared, is expected to set aside his more combative tone for one of compromise and bipartisanship.

'The president is going to talk about how America's back,' said White House legislative director Marc Short.

'The president is also going to make an appeal to Democrats ... to say we need to rebuild our country. And to make an appeal that to do infrastructure, we need to do it in a bipartisan way,' Short added.

President Trump stayed in Washington this weekend to prepare for his first State of the Union address. Here he's photographed giving his first joint address for Congress last February. Now having have served a year in office, the speech is officially called a State of the Union

President Trump addresses a joint session of Congress last year. Trump will deliver his first State of the Union address on Tuesday, January 30

Marc Short (center), White House director for legislative affairs, said Sunday the president will 'talk about how America's back' during Tuesday's State of the Union

President Trump is expected to tout a strong economy in Tuesday's State of the Union address. He sang a similar tune in a Sunday morning tweet, proclaiming, 'We are on the right track!'

Short said Trump would urge Democrats to support additional military spending in light of 'dramatic threats on the global scene.'

White House officials have said the theme of the annual address will be 'building a safe, strong and proud America' and that Trump was looking to showcase the accomplishments of his first year while setting the tone for the second.

'Our economy is better than it has been in many decades. Businesses are coming back to America like never before,' Trump tweeted Sunday morning. 'Chrysler, as an example, is leaving Mexico and coming back to the USA. Unemployment is nearing record lows.'

'We are on the right track!' the president added.

As Trump looks ahead, special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible obstruction of justice and Trump campaign ties to Russian meddling in the 2016 election grinds on.

It often has distracted from the president's message.

For example, Trump's address to financial and global leaders in Davos, Switzerland, last week followed reports that he ordered a top White House lawyer to fire Mueller last June but backed off when the lawyer threatened to resign. Trump called the report 'fake news.'

On the policy front, immigration is an immediate flashpoint for Trump and Congress.

In the prime-time speech Tuesday, the president plans to promote his proposal for $25 billion for a wall along the Mexican border and for a path to citizenship for nearly 2 million young people brought to the U.S. illegally as children.

Trump's plan includes billions for border security and significant changes to legal immigration long sought by hard-liners within the Republican Party.

But some conservatives have warned that the deal would amount to 'amnesty' for the young immigrants known as Dreamers, and many Democrats and immigration activists have outright rejected it.

'I think all of us realize that it's going to take a compromise on this issue for us to get something done and to protect the Dreamer population, which is certainly a goal of mine,' said Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine. 'But I think the president is also right about border security, that we do need to beef up our border security.'

Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, called Trump's proposal 'a good starting point.'

'Let's see if it's something that we can agree on, something we need to adjust, something we can negotiate with,' he said.

Part of Trump's goal in the speech is to set the course of the debate as Republicans look to retain their majority in Congress.

He is expected to say the tax overhaul will unleash economic growth and he will point to companies that have provided their employees with $1,000 bonuses and other benefits.

Trump plans to outline a nearly $2 trillion plan that his administration contends will trigger $1 trillion or more in public and private spending on roads, bridges and other public works projects.

On trade, Trump will note his preference for one-on-one deals instead of multilateral agreements, building on his speech at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

And he will offer an update on the fight against terrorism and his view of international threats, including North Korea.

A senior administration official providing a preview of the speech said Trump probably would avoid the taunts of 'Little Rocket Man' for Kim Jong Un and 'fire and fury' that he used before. The official wasn't authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The address comes at a critical point for the president.

He is battling poor approval ratings and is trying to move past the government shutdown that coincided with the anniversary of his inauguration.

He's also preparing for a grueling midterm election season that has tripped up other first-term presidents.

Trump was not expected to embark on an extensive sales pitch around the country after the speech.

He plans to address a Republican congressional retreat in West Virginia on Thursday.

Vice President Mike Pence will attend a tax overhaul event in West Virginia on Wednesday and speak to the GOP congressional retreat later in the day.

Pence will hold events in the Pittsburgh area Friday.

Short spoke on 'Fox News Sunday' and CBS' 'Face the Nation.'

Collins spoke on CNN's 'State of the Union,' and Manchin spoke on CNN's 'State of the Union' and NBC's 'Meet the Press.'
Salad-mad Britons could be forced to forego their favourite greens after Spanish frosts and an unusually dry year left the country's crop down by a quarter.

Lack of rainfall and an especially cold Christmas have left southern Spain, the world's largest exporter of lettuce, in a stitch.

Lettuce, artichoke and broccoli are among the vegetables worst effected by the recent harsh conditions.

Lack of rainfall and an especially cold Christmas have left southern Spain, the world's largest exporter of lettuce, with 25 per cent less crop

Supermarkets and salad wholesaler across Europe have been left scrambling to find alternative sources in a bid to avoid a repeat of last year's vegetable crisis in which farmers in Italy, Greece and Turkey were also affected.

ASAJA Alicante, the body that represents growers in the Spanish Alicante region, said lack of rainfall had left vegetable crops vulnerable to frost.

The association's members say they have lost as many as 1,000 hectares of valuable greens. This meant the region's total harvest fell by a quarter.

As the ubiquitous vegetable became more scarce the wholesale price of iceberg lettuce from Alicante, Murcia and Algeria rocketed by 50 per cent in just four weeks over the Christmas period.

Lettuce, artichoke and broccoli are among the vegetables worst effected by the recent harsh conditions

Analyst Rutika Ghodekar said poor growing conditions had 'resulted in a shortage of lettuce in most EU countries, making the situation equal or even worse than the year before.'

Jonathan Olins, managing director of Poupart Imports, told The Grocer his business was already feeling the effect of the lettuce drought.

'From our side, there is resistance from buyers to paying the higher prices so we have had to reduce the volumes were are bringing in ' he said.

But there is a glimmer of hope for avid salad fans.

The wholesale price of the green vegetables have increased by around 50 per cent

Unlike last year, frost and snow have not spread across the Mediterranean.

With cold conditions contained in southern Spain, salad brand Florette said it had begun to enact its contingency plan - and had begun sourcing from other regions.

A Florette spokesman said: 'To mitigate the risk in southern Spain we have moved some supply to other areas of our grower network including north Africa, southern France and northern Spain.'

But wholesaler Reynolds warned that that things may still get worse.

The company's marketing director Andy Weir said: 'Market prices are high and overall availability is reduced.

'It is quite likely that as we approach the end of the Spanish leaf season that, if rainfall levels do not improve, availability will tighten further,' he predicted.
Australian soap legend Moya O'Sullivan has died aged 91.

The actress who was best known for playing Marlene Kratz in Neighbours passed away earlier this month.

Australia's 'favourite mum and grandmother' was paid tribute to today by the shows executive producer Jason Herbison.

He said: 'Moya was a legend of the Australian film and television industry.

Moya O'Sullivan has died aged 91: Best known as Australia's favourite 'mum and grandmother' for her role as Marlene Kratz in Neighbours. Moya left the show in 1997 in a taxi off on a three month cruise (pictured)

'Australia's favourite mum and grandmother.

'Everyone at Neighbours has fond memories of her and we are saddened to hear of her passing.'

He also confirmed that she died on January 16 in his statement.

A tribute in The Sydney Morning Herald read: 'Much loved by all, especially by her brother Peter, sister-in-law Karen, aunt to Mark, Cait and Bridget, great aunt to Phoebe and Ursela, grandmother to Harriet and James.

Following her Neighbours stint Moya also appeared in in Home and Away, Sons and Daughters, A Country Practice, All Saints and Cop Shop

'Also Andrew and Sarah. Bless her eternal soul.'

Moya joined Neighbours in 1994 as Marlene Kratz and played the role for three years before leaving in 1997.

Her character went off on a three-month cruise but didn't return to Ramsay Street until 2005 to mark Neighbours 20th anniversary.

Following her Neighbours stint Moya also appeared in in Home and Away, Sons and Daughters, A Country Practice, All Saints and Cop Shop.

A funeral was held yesterday at a church in Edgecliff, New South Wales yesterday to celebrate her life.
She was charged with misdemeanor trespassing on state land and violating the conditions of her bail bond on Sunday

Hartman has been detained all over the country for similar crimes

She had been released from custody on Thursday after she boarded a flight from Chicago to London without a passport or boarding pass two weeks ago

Marilyn Hartman, 66, from Illinois was arrested and taken into custody at O'Hare International Airport Sunday

Marilyn Hartman, pictured here in January 2018, was arrested in Chicago's O'Hare International Airport Sunday

The 'serial stowaway' who was arrested just weeks ago for sneaking onto a flight from Chicago to London has been arrested again after being caught at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

Marilyn Hartman, 66, of Illinois was caught by authorities Sunday morning in O'Hare - the week after a judge ordered her to avoid airports.

She was taken into custody and charged with misdemeanor trespassing on state land and violating the conditions of her bail bond, which were set last week.

Police responded to a call about someone causing a disturbance at O'Hare because Hartman had refused to leave the airport, where she was subsequently arrested.

Police arrested Hartman at O'Hare (pictured) while responding to a call about a disturbance at the airport

Just two weeks ago Hartman was arrested after she boarded a flight from Chicago to London without a boarding pass or a passport

Hartman's most recent arrest, prior to today, came after she slipped past a security checkpoint at O'Hare and boarded a flight to London without a ticket or passport.

She was arrested in London and flown back to Chicago.

Following that incident she was charged with felony theft and a misdemeanor count of criminal trespassing.

Hartman has been detained all over the country because of similar crimes

NBC reported that Hartman was released from custody Thursday even though the county sheriff's office protested the move.

Authorities said they thought Hartman got through a federal TSA checkpoint at a domestic terminal without a ticket before taking a shuttle to the international terminal.

It's believed she spent nearly 24 hours inside the airport before boarding the British Airways flight to London.

According to NBC5, police thought Hartman was able to get on the plane by mixing in with a large group.

Once on the plane, flight attendants realized she didn't have a ticket and alerted authorities. British Customs officials refused to let her enter London and made arrangements for her to fly back to Chicago.

TSA said it was investigating how she was able to get through security.

During the initial investigation it was determined that the passenger was screened at the security checkpoint before boarding a flight, a statement read.

Upon learning of the incident TSA, and its aviation partners took immediate action to review security practices throughout the airport.

Hartman has been detained several times across the country for trying to board flights without a boarding pass. In December 2015, she told NBC5 that she 'may have' boarded planes without a ticket eight times.

She has been ordered to stay away from Los Angeles International airport.
Horrific images have emerged from a Syrian hospital where dead and injured children were taken after Turkey seized a strategic outpost from Kurdish militia in Syria on Sunday.

Turkish warplanes and artillery seized Mount Barsaya in the Kurdish region of Afrin in northwestern Syria, the military command said, pressing ahead with an operation against Kurdish forces it regards as 'terrorists'.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 51 civilians including 17 children were killed in the offensive on Sunday, including eight from one family, with badly injured victims pictured at an Afrin hospital.

Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on January 20 against the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in Afrin, supporting Syrian opposition fighters with ground troops and air strikes.

A child wounded following a Turkish airstrike is pictured receiving treatment in Syria as Operation Olive Branch continued. 51 civilians including 17 children were reported dead

The hill is significant because it overlooks the towns of Kilis and Azaz, either side of the Turkish-Syrian border.

While Turkey brands the YPG a 'terror' group, the militia has received support from the US.

Despite souring relations with Washington, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to expand the offensive against the YPG to Manbij, east of Afrin.

It was reported last week that 34 civilians had died and had their bodies taken to the Afrin hospital in another Turkish airstrike.

The hospital said that more than 70 Turkish jets had fired on Kurdish militias, while a Turkish news agency merely said that barracks and equipment were attacked, according to the Independent.

The Observatory said 66 YPG fighters and 69 Turkey-backed Syrian fighters were also killed, while Turkey said five of its soldiers and 16 allied fighters were killed in the fighting.

In a sign the Turkish campaign has rendered prospects for peace in Syria even fainter, authorities in the war-torn country's Kurdish autonomous region said they will not attend peace talks in Russia.

'We said before that if the situation remained the same in Afrin we could not attend,' regional official Fawza al-Yussef said.

A Kurdish man wounded in the Turkish airstrike is pictured in hospital. Turkey is supporting Syrian opposition fighters with ground troops and air strikes

A child wounded following a Turkish airstrike is pictured receiving treatment as Operation Olive Branch continued

A truck arrives at the Afrin hospital carrying a family which was wounded in the airstrikes

Rebel backer Turkey is one of the sponsors of the talks in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Monday and Tuesday, along with Damascus allies Russia and Iran.

Turkish channel NTV broadcast live footage Sunday showing rocket fire targeting Mount Barsaya, located to the north of Afrin.

Turkish troops and their Syrian opposition allies said last Monday they had captured the hill, before losing it again a few hours later.

Syria's antiquities department said on Sunday that Turkish air strikes have damaged a 3,000-year-old temple in the country's north.

Turkish soldiers are pictured at Burseya Mountain after military aircraft hit Kurdish targets and secured the hill as part of the Olive Branch operations

Smoke rises from Burseya Mountain amid the airstrikes. The hill is significant because it overlooks the towns of Kilis and Azaz, either side of the Turkish-Syrian border

A Turkish special forces soldier takes aim on the mountain on the Syrian-Turkish border, as Turkey moved to support Syrian opposition fighters

A Turkish tank is seen at Burseya Mountain after military aircraft secured the mountain, having gained it but then lost it again last week

Members of the Free Syrian Army, which is backed by Turkey, are pictured at Burseya Mountain after it was recaptured by Turkish forces

In a sign the Turkish campaign has rendered prospects for peace even fainter, authorities in the Kurdish autonomous region said they will not attend peace talks in Russia

Turkish troops and their Syrian opposition allies said last Monday they had captured the hill, before losing it again a few hours later

A picture taken from Turkey's Hatay province shows smoke rising as Turkish armed forces hit Kurdish targets in Afrin

Turkish soldiers look out over the Syrian territory after airstrikes in the northwestern Kurdish region of Afrin

Despite souring relations with Washington, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to expand the offensive against the YPG to Manbij, east of Afrin

Turkish soldiers and members of the Free Syrian Army are pictured together at Burseya Mountain during the operation against a group Turkey regards as 'terrorists'

While Turkish soldiers fight against the YPG which its government brands a 'terror' group, the militia has received support from the US
Brandy Taylor, 38, of Albertville, Missouri, was convicted of third degree assault Wednesday. She is said to have beaten, punched and bitten a 12-year-old boy

A Missouri teacher has been ordered to serve a 30-day sentence for assaulting a 12-year-old boy.

Special education teacher Brandy Taylor, 38, of Albertville, Missouri, was convicted of third degree assault in Guntersville Municipal Court on Wednesday.

Taylor has been on paid leave from Albertville High School since the complaint was filed on December 1, WAFF reported.

In the complaint, Taylor was said to have hit and punched the 12-year-old. She was also said to have bitten his face and beaten him with a belt.

According to the court document, a police officer claimed to have seen welt marks on the child's leg and back, as well as bruising on his thighs, marks on his face and redness around his eyes.

Following her conviction, the Albertville school district is said to be consulting with their lawyers regarding next steps.

The judge said that he would consider giving her a $500,000 bond for an appeal, although no appeals appear to have been filed yet.

Taylor was put on paid leave from Albertville High School, where she taught, following the complaint which was lodged on December 1

Taylor (pictured in 2016) was previously arrested on domestic abuse charges against her ex-husband in 2016, after pepper spraying him at an amusement park following an argument

Taylor had previously been arrested on domestic violence charges against her ex-husband, WAFF reported.

In 2016, she allegedly pepper sprayed her ex, James Dan Sims, in the eyes while at an amusement park in Boaz, Missouri. The two had been having a fight about their child.

Sims filed an order of protection against Taylor after the incident.

Taylor is due to stand before a Boaz judge on February 15 for a review hearing over the domestic violence charges.
A 33-year-old has slammed Ryanair for it's 'ludicrous' refusal to refund him for a trip to see his son at Christmas after cancer surgery forced him to cancel his flight.

John Bigland from Urmston in Greater Manchester booked three return flights to Dublin to see three-year-old Sonny over the holidays.

The father, who was diagnosed with rectal cancer in December 2015, had forked out to spend three days with ex-girlfriend Amy and their child.

Mr Bigland, pictured with Sonny, was denied a full refund despite sending the airline a surgeon's letter

He booked tickets on November 17 to fly out on Christmas Eve and return on December 27.

That same day he also booked to fly out on January 2 and bring the toddler home to see his grandparents the following day.

His final trip was booked for January 6, when he had hoped to take Sonny home after three days with his family in the north-west. Mr Bigland planned to travel back to England on January 7.

Sonny was unable to see his father over the Christmas period because the 33-year-old was offered emergency treatment

He claims to have paid for his final trip home separately to the one on which he planned to be with his son.

But weeks after he bought his tickets, Mr Bigland was told by Christie cancer hospital he could have emergency treatment on December 18.

He needed the operation to remove tissue in his pelvis that built up after radiation burns to his bowels.

The 33-year-old applied for a refund on all three trips, sending the airline a surgeon's letter explaining that he was discharged on Christmas Eve.

He also sent a photo of the scar his operation left to prove he was not fit to fly and explained the final flight was just two weeks after he was discharged.

But he was reimbursed for only the first two bookings - including his solo flight on January 7 - and was rejected his 65 refund for the middle flights with his son.

Mr Bigland, pictured with his three-year-old son, says it breaks his heart that he can't see his child

'To be treated the way I have is just out of order,' he said.

'It's not like I had a cold or a bad back - and I've sent the evidence to prove that.

'I really don't know where they're coming from, it doesn't make any sense. It really got to me.'

Mr Bigland says he got a final response from Ryanair on Friday which said the airline sympathised with his view but refused to alter the decision.

Mr Bigland says his world fell apart when he realised that he'd never have another child with his partner

Ryanair later said that claims must be accompanied by 'appropriate medical documentation' and said Mr Bigland did not provide it for his third claim.

The airline says if the required documentation is provided it will be reviewed and a refund will be offered if the claim is found to be valid.

A spokeswoman for the airline said: 'Any claim like this must be accompanied by the appropriate medical documentation.

'That documentation was provided for two different claims for this customer but not the third and the two valid claims were processed.

'When the required documentation is provided, we will review it and provide a refund if the claim is valid.

'Our customer service team work hard to process all claims fairly and quickly but all claims must be supported with the required documentation.'

Mr Bigland says his refund money would be used to pay for another flight with the airliner, which he claims to have used to see his son at least once a month since the boy was born.

'They won't even be losing out,' he said. 'To some people 65 is a drop in the ocean, but it's not when you're on disability living allowance.

'It's not like I'm out partying with my money at the moment - I only use it to see my son.

'Me and my ex-partner are loyal customers who've been going back and forth for the best part of five years.'

In January 2015 Mr Bigland moved to Dublin with eight-month-old Sonny and Amy.

The new father worked as a security guard at Dublin airport to provide for his family before he was diagnosed with cancer eleven months later.

He says the stress caused by his diagnosis and illness put a strain on his relationship with Amy, leading them to split.

'When I was diagnosed, everything changed,' he said. 'I was concentrating on getting better and dealing with depression.'

His situation worsened further when his grandfather and father died within two weeks of one another.

'I buried my dad on January 5 and on January 6 I started my chemotherapy,' he said.

After his latest round of surgery, Mr Bigland is concentrating on getting fit so he can see Sonny as soon as possible.

'I'm off my walking stick now and trying my best to get about,' he said. 'I'm still very fatigued but I'm just glad I'm still here.'
James Anthony Lawlor, 35, was charged with attempted murder, arson, assault and making terrorist threats for the early January attack

A victim's sketch has helped Southern California police track down and arrest a man who allegedly set a homeless couple's tent on fire.

James Anthony Lawlor, 35, was charged with attempted murder, arson, assault and making terrorist threats for the early January attack, according to Santa Ana Police.

Lawlor was said to have approached the couple on a vacant lot they lived on around 8.30am and told them to leave in 15 minutes otherwise he would come back with his Glock handgun.

Police assert that when the man looked out to confront Lawlor, he was kicked twice in the head.

Then leaving the couple, the perpetrator returned moments later with a red gas container. Pouring gasoline on the tent, Lawlor allegedly set it on fire before leaving in a black truck.

'He was upset by, as many people are, the homeless issue, but taking it out by lighting somebody on fire is not the answer,' Santa Ana Police Cpl Anthony Bertagna explained to CBS2 News.

A witness snapped a picture of Lawlor and his license plate which allowed police to locate the man for his assault on a homeless couple

The victim's sketch of Lawlor also helped Santa Ana police identify the suspect

Arson investigators where able to pinpoint the suspect with the help of a witness's photo showing Lawlor and his pickup truck's license plate.

The man who was kicked in the face also drew a sketch of Lawlor.

'They drew  not a professional  it may look a little cartoonish, but when you put the suspect's picture next to the drawing, looks pretty good,' said Bertagna.

The man living in the tent hasn't had his name released.

He only suffered minor burns but would not take treatment at the hospital.
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The Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA) has issued a fog warning from midnight on Sunday to Tuesday, with reduced visibility expected in various locations nationwide.The head of the EMA, Ahmed Abdel Aal, said that fog is set to hit the northern coast, Nile Delta cities, Cairo, Central Sinai, and northern Upper Egypt.Abdel Aal called on the ambulance and traffic police authorities to take the necessary measures to avoid accidents on highways during the foggy weather.Despite the foggy conditions, the EMA said Egypt's weather will be stable over the coming days, marking the end of period of bad weather that hit various parts of Egypt in the past two weeks.Last week, parts of the country experienced sandstorms accompanied by heavy rain, resulting in property damage and a number of deaths due to road accidents.
Sen. Lindsey Graham repeated a warning he first delivered last fall: President Trump cannot fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

'We know that if he tried to, it would be the end of his presidency,' Graham said.

Graham, a South Carolina Republican, appeared on ABC's This Week on Sunday and was asked by co-anchor Martha Raddatz if he still believed that firing Mueller, who's in charge of the Russia probe, would be a 'red line.'

'Oh, yeah, if he fired Mueller without cause,' Graham replied.

Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday on ABC's This Week that if President Trump decided to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller it 'would be the end of his presidency'

Sen. Lindsey Graham (right) expressed confidence in Special Counsel Robert Mueller to ABC's Martha Raddatz (left), saying he would pass legislation to protect Mueller's job if he had to

Graham, who had been a critic of Trump's during the 2016 presidential campaign, but has since come around to often stand on the president's side, expressed confidence in Mueller's ability to 'get to the bottom of all things Russia.'

'And Don McGahn, if the story is true in The New York Times, did the right thing, and good news is the president listened,' Graham said.

The New York Times reported on Thursday that President Trump (pictured) mulled firing Special Counsel Robert Mueller last June

The Times reported Thursday that Trump had mulled firing Mueller last June, a month after he was appointed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

As the Times' account goes, McGahn, the White House counsel, threatened to quit if Trump fired Mueller.

CBS News reported that McGahn was fed up with other aspects of his job, which is why he thought about quitting, and it wasn't a direct result of Trump's Mueller chatter.

Either way, he and Trump's other attorneys encouraged the president to keep Mueller in place.

'I don't know if the story is true or not, but I know this, Mueller should look at it,' Graham advised, referring to the story that Trump had wanted Mueller gone.

When Raddatz reminded the senator that Trump had said he had never considered firing Mueller, Graham said the special counsel should look into that as well.

Graham expressed 'complete confidence' in Mueller and poured some water on any attempts on the right to taint the investigation over the behavior of two biased FBI employees, Pete Strzok, who was removed from the Russia probe, and his mistress Lisa Page, an FBI lawyer.

Strzok was reassigned from the probe after he was found to have sent anti-Trump text messages.

'When [Mueller] found two FBI agents had a bias against President Trump, he fired them,' Graham pointed out. 'So, all this stuff about the FBI and DOJ having a bias against Trump and for Clinton needs to be looked at.'

'But I have never believed it affected Mr. Mueller,' Graham added.

The South Carolina senator also said he would pass legislation to protect Mueller's job, if needed.

'I think Mr. Mueller is the perfect guy to get to the bottom of all of this. And he will. And I think my job, among others, is to give him the space to do it,' Graham said. 'I intend to do that. I have got legislation protecting Mr. Mueller. And I'll be glad to pass it tomorrow.'
Baquer Namazi, 81, who was detained in February 2016 and later convicted of espionage charges that he denied, was taken to the hospital earlier this month for the fourth time in the past year

An 81-year-old Iranian-American man imprisoned in Iran has received a four-day leave from the government until Thursday after being discharged from a hospital, his lawyer said on Sunday.

Earlier this month, Baquer Namazi, who was detained in February 2016 and later convicted of espionage charges that he denied, was taken to the hospital for the fourth time in the past year.

He had a severe drop in his blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat and depletion of energy, his lawyer Jared Genser said in a statement.

Namazi, who was a UNICEF representative, had emergency heart surgery in September to install a pacemaker, Genser said, adding that Namazi's doctors had said prison conditions were 'dangerous' for him and would worsen his health.

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Both Baquer and his son Siamak (pictured) have US-Iran dual citizenship. Siamak was a businessman and his father was a UNICEF representative

In October 2015, the Revolutionary Guards detained Namazi's son Siamak as he was visiting family in Tehran. The father and son are pictured above

'I beg the Iranian authorities to show compassion and grant my father a permanent release so he can spend his remaining time with his family before we face an irreversible tragedy,' his son Babak Namazi said in a statement.

In October 2015, the Revolutionary Guards detained Namazi's son Siamak, a businessman in his mid-40s who also has dual U.S.-Iranian citizenship, as he was visiting family in Tehran.

Both Babak and Siamak Namazi were sentenced in Fall 2016 to 10 years in prison for spying and cooperating with the U.S. government. They denied the charges.

'We welcome the release of Baquer Namazi given his deteriorating health but we note that his release is only temporary,' said Heather Nauert, U.S. State Department spokeswoman.

She added that the United States urged the full release of Namazi and his son 'as well as other Americans unjustly held by the Iranian government.'

Iran does not recognize dual citizenship and judiciary officials have said both men would be treated as Iranian citizens in the legal process.
Fitness enthusiast and Instagram model Jen Selter was kicked off an American Airlines flight when she and her sister got into a verbal altercation with flight crew.

The 24-year-old and her sibling were waiting on a flight from Miami to La Guardia in New York but it was delayed for 90 minutes because of a mechanical issues.

While another passenger went to the bathroom, TMZ reports that Selter decided to stand and reach for something in the overhead compartment.

The 24-year-old and her sister were waiting on a flight from Miami to La Guardia in New York but it was delayed for 90 minutes because of a mechanical issues

But when a flight attendant asked her to sit down, arguing ensued.

And when the flight attendant asked Selter if she wanted to get off the plane, the woman replied 'Yes.'

Setler later asserted that she was being sarcastic when she confirmed that she wanted to be taken off the flight.

Selter got in an argument with staff after a flight attendant asked if she would sit

Police removed the fitness enthusiast, her sister and an additional passenger

And when the flight attendant asked the pilot to come over, more arguing ensued.

Police came onto the plane and removed Setler, her sister and an additional passenger.

But the social media personality took a later American Airlines flight on Sunday morning to New York.

Video shows part of the confrontation where a man can be heard yelling: 'You're harrassing her.'

Another clip shows the woman and her sister exiting the plane.

Selter is known for her curves which she flaunts on social media to her 11.7million Instagram followers.

She would take a later flight with American Airlines on Sunday
Woody Allen's new film Rainy Day in New York may not even make it to the big screen, as stars start distancing themselves from the director and Amazon tosses up whether to end their relationship.

It comes after Allen's adopted daughter Dylan Farrow gave her first TV interview this month insisting that she was telling the truth about being molested by him when she was just seven years old.

Farrow, now 32, first publicly accused him of abuse in 2014 but brought the claims to light once again this year when the #MeToo movement was thrust into the spotlight.

Now, there are reports that Hollywood could be turning their back on the director as a result of the widespread movement.

Woody Allen's new film Rainy Day in New York may not even make it to the big screen. Timothee Chalamet (above on set), one of the stars of the upcoming film, has already said he will donate his salary to charity

The New York Times reports that Amazon is seriously considering ending its relationship with Allen ahead of the release of his upcoming movie Rainy Day in New York.

Amazon financed the film but ending the relationship could leave the film without distribution, sources say.

An Amazon spokesperson wouldn't comment, saying there was no release date yet for the film.

Farrow has publicly called out actors for working with or supporting Allen in the past.

Some stars associated with Rainy Day, including Timothee Chalamet, Selena Gomez and Rebecca Hall, have reportedly said they will donate their salaries from the movie to the Time's Up sex harassment campaign or other charities.

It comes after Allen's adopted daughter Dylan Farrow (left) gave her first TV interview this month saying she was telling the truth about being molested by him when she was seven

Allen has repeatedly denied the abuse claims made by Farrow and he was never charged

Allen, who has repeatedly denied the abuse claims made by Farrow, said she was was 'cynically' aligning herself with Time's Up movement. The director's sister and producer, Letty Armstrong, suggested Farrow was capitalizing on the movement.

Farrow hit back, telling the Times: 'If Woody Allen and his surrogates' response to this is that I'm capitalizing on a moment in which it is in vogue to carefully look at the facts, rather than rely on thin defenses from powerful men without question - a moment in which the truth is in fashion - I'd say they're right.'

Allen was never charged in relation to the allegations and has long denied them.

But Hollywood stars are continuing to distance themselves from the director.

Farrow has publicly called out actors for working with or supporting Allen in the past

Colin Firth was the latest to refuse to ever work with Allen again in light of the sex abuse claims made by Farrow.

Firth starred in Allen's 2014 film 'Magic in the Moonlight,' shot before Farrow detailed the alleged abuse for the first time in her own words in an open letter published on a New York Times blog in 2014.

However he has now told the Guardian newspaper: 'I wouldn't work with him again.'

In recent weeks, actresses including Greta Gerwig, Rebecca Hall, Ellen Page and Mira Sorvino, have announced they regret working with Allen.

Oscar-winner Natalie Portman also told Oprah Winfrey in a televised interview with other actresses that she believed Farrow.
Classroom weigh-ins could become part of the school routine as a way to combat childhood obesity.

Scales would be provided in classrooms and fitness levels would be included in school reports under a new NSW health program, according to Daily Telegraph.

The new program would mean students must be active for at least half of their physical education classes.

Classroom weigh-ins could become part of the school routine as part of a new program to be implement in schools across NSW to combat obesity (stock image)

Scales would be provided in classrooms and fitness levels would be included in school reports under a new NSW health program dubbed Physical Activity For Everyone (stock image)

Already trialed in ten schools, the physical activity program has been endorsed by Health Minister Brad Hazzard.

Mr Hazzard said the idea was to get young children active like society was 50 years ago.

'You don't have to be Einstein to know that exercise heads off a whole range of disease including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular,' he told the publication.

With physical activity reducing the most between the ages of 13 and 18, the new program dubbed Physical Activity For Everyone will be introduced into 76 schools across the state and is aimed at students in Years 7-9.

According to NSW Government, the program was successfully rolled out in Hunter New England, Mid North Coast and Central Coast regions where students participated in an hour more of physical activity each week.

Schools will be given $3000 worth of physical activity equipment for students to use in their breaks while single-sex PE classes will also be an option to combat anxiety.
Two British skiers died in the French Alps on Sunday after jumping off a rocky ledge on to a notoriously difficult off-piste slope.

The men, who have not yet been named, were both aged 25, and attempted to descend the Hat Corridor - Couloir du Chapeau - in the resort of Chamonix with a third friend who escaped unharmed.

A source in the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc area said: 'He's being interviewed about the accident at length, but it appears the skiers died instantly after dropping off the ledge and tumbling down.'

The two men who died fell 'several hundred metres' to their deaths, according to local police.

'Both were experienced skiers, but got into difficult in the very steep corridor by the Grands Montets slopes,' the source said.

The men were from Cambridge, according to the Cambridge News.

High mountain police believe that the men had seen tracks in the snow, and thought they were safe to follow them.

In fact officers had carried out a rescue of other skiers in exactly the same area on Saturday, saving those involved from any injury.

The Foreign Office said: 'We are in touch with the French authorities following the death of two British people in France and are providing support to their families.'

Two British skiers died in the French Alps on Sunday after jumping off a rocky ledge on to a notoriously difficult off-piste slope (file photo of Chamonix)

A spokesman for Le Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne (PGHM) told the said: 'The 25-year-old British men were skiing in a group of three when they were killed.

'A third man, who was also British, raised the alarm just after 11am and mountain rescue services arrived within 10 minutes but the two victims were pronounced dead at the scene.

'It is understood that the three men were all on holiday in the region.'

The descent is very popular with off piste skiers and snowboarders, who can easily reach it via the Grands Montets ski lifts.

In places, there is a 40-degree slope covered in trees and rocks - obstacles which become particularly dangerous during the kind of poor weather conditions Chamonix experienced on Sunday.

The bodies of the two British nationals were taken off the mountain by a police helicopter, while Chamonix officers working to state prosecutors opened an investigation.

Early enquiries suggest both men fell independently of each other, while taking the same route late on Sunday morning.

High mountain police believe that the men had seen tracks in the snow, and thought they were safe to follow them (file photo of a different part of Chamonix)

The third skier was able to raise the alarm at around 11.40am using his mobile phone, and is believed to be unhurt but in a state of extreme shock.

On January 7, British skier John Promell, 39, went missing in the French Alpine resort of Tignes after heading off for 'one last run alone' during severe weather.

Worried family and friends have not been able to reach him since, despite the possibility of his ski pass technically being used by the authorities to track down his exact location.

Numerous searches on the ground and using helicopters have not led to Mr Promell being found.

The tragedy followed the death of a young Englishman in similarly poor conditions after he went missing from the French Alpine resort of Risoul on January 2.

Owen Lewis, 22, and originally from Coventry, froze to death after getting lost as he tried to find his holiday apartment.

His body was found by a mountain stream, and footprints pointed to him getting lost, and then freezing in the snow.

Chamonix, which hosted the first Winter Olympics in 1924, is one of the oldest ski resorts in France, and hugely popular with the thousands of Britons who holiday in the French Alps every year.
A Southern California high school teacher was caught on camera denigrating the intelligence of people serving in the US military.

In the videos, which were stealthily recorded in class by a student at El Rancho High in Pico Rivera, California, history teacher Gregory Salcido, 49, can be heard making a variety of unflattering remarks about service people, at one point calling them the 'lowest of the low.'

The videos went viral after being posted on Facebook by a Connecticut woman claiming to be the anonymous student's mother's friend.

A woman posted clips of high school teacher Gregory Salcido, in which he could be heard denigrating the intelligence of US military members serving overseas

Salcido made the comments in the middle of a history class he was teaching at El Rancho High in Pico Rivera, California, where he is also an elected councilman

'My friends son was sporting his marine sweater while this liberal douche teacher rants about the military,' Kimberlie Flauto wrote on Facebook on Friday, while exhorting people to 'help me make this go viral.'

Although the videos - shot from under a desk on January 19 - do not show Salcido's face, El Rancho High officials confirmed to The Orange County Register that the person speaking in the video is in fact Salcido and that the video was shot in a school classroom.

In one of the clips, Salcido can be heard saying, 'Think about the people who you know are over there. Your freakin' stupid Uncle Louie or whatever. They're dumb s***ts. They're not like high-level thinkers. They're not academic people. They're not intellectual people.'

He then says that overseas service people are 'the freakin lowest of our low. Not morally - I'm not saying they make bad moral decisions - they're not talented people.'

As he speaks, students can be heard laughing in the background.

It's unclear why exactly Salcido began spouting off about the military, but the video does capture him expressing disbelief over the fact that the military - with all of it's technology - can't control people 'wearing robes.'

It is unclear what sparked Salcido's comments about the military, although he did say he objected to presidential declarations that the US military is the best in the world

El Rancho High officials confirmed the voice in the video belonged to Salcido and said that thy would be conducting an investigation into what happened

After the videos went viral, Salcido posted a message on his personal Facebook account

He also disagrees with President Trump and other prior presidents' claims that the US military is the best military in the world. 'The data is in, we don't have a good military,' Salcido says.

The 17-year-old high school senior who shot the videos, told The OC Register that he never intended for the videos to go viral. He merely showed it to his mother, who then sent it on to her friends.

The student, who wished to remain anonymous to avoid retribution, said that his brother and uncles were Marines who fought in Afghanistan, Desert Storm and Vietnam, and that Salcido's comments were 'so disrespectful.'

The school said that they have not been able to reach Salcido because he was not in town, however school officials would be conducting an investigation.

In a message on his personal Facebook page, posted on Friday from New York, Salcido wrote that: 'I don't think it's wise for me to make any specific comments, but I want my friends, family, and students to know we are fine and we respect the rights of free expression for all individuals.'

Salcido has allegedly had previous issues with students.

He was placed on paid administrative leave after police received a complaint that he had hit a student in 2012.

Before that, in 2010, a parent alleged that Salcido threatened his daughter, insulted other students and parents and made inappropriate comments about race during a summer school class.

Salcido denied the claims, but was suspended from teaching until the fall semester started.

In addition to being a teacher, Salcido is also a Pico Rivera councilman.
A butler created a fake personality in a 'cynical' bid to avoid a driving ban after he was caught speeding in his Range Rover Vogue 14 times in one year.

Nathan McIntosh from Graiseley, Wolverhampton, admitted to attempting to pervert the course of justice and was jailed for 11 months.

The would-be conman, who was on licence from prison after firing a gun in the street, was also slapped with a four year driving ban.

Nathan McIntosh from Graiseley, Wolverhampton, admitted to attempting to pervert the course of justice and was jailed for 11 months

McIntosh had fabricated a man named Simon Atkinson, who he claimed was a resident of St Anne's Road in Oxley.

When he received a notice of intent to prosecute through his letterbox he said Atkinson was in fact driving at the time, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

He claimed on 14 occasions in 2016 that the non-existent Atkinson had been driving when offences were committed across the UK but mainly in the West Midlands.

In the worst of those incidents, McIntosh's Range Rover was caught doing 84mph in a 50mph zone.

The 33-year-old pleaded with the judge, saying he would lose his job if he was banned from driving, told the Wolverhampton Express & Star.

But Judge Barry Berlin banned him for four years, saying: 'You committed these offences in a cynical, deliberate and persistent way.'

By the time the defendant's came to court he had been banned from driving after admitting to two other speeding offences.

On another occasion his car was snapped doing 83mph in a 50mph zone.

Other infractions included McIntosh regularly driving ten to 20mph above the speed limit.

McIntosh had fabricated a man named Simon Atkinson, who he claimed was a resident of St Anne's Road in Oxley. Pictured: Stock image of a Range Rover Vogue

Officials launched an 'exhaustive' investigation into the man named Simon Atkinson after they noticed his name and address appeared on numerous unpaid fines.

Checks revealed nobody of that name had ever lived in St Anne's Road.

Further investigation confirmed McIntosh's work as a butler had taken him to the same areas where the offences were omitted, at oddly similar times.

Forensics experts tested paperwork from the alleged Mr Atkinson and found them riddled with McIntosh's fingerprints.

Mr David Isles, defending, suggested McIntosh had repeatedly broken speed limits because his job demanded it of him.

'His work as a butler required his presence in different parts of the country. He had limited time to get there and drove faster than he should,' he said.

He has risked his liberty in an effort to avoid being banned and fined.'
Bottle shop workers 'screamed for help' before an armed robber was shot dead by police in Melbourne's east, witnesses have revealed.

Police opened fire after the man, 48, pointed a sawed-off shotgun at Xueqiang 'Sean' Wang at his Park Orchards Cellars store at about 9pm on Sunday.

'Someone is not going home tonight,' said a witness who uploaded pictures of the scene to social media.

A bottle shop attendant 'screamed for help' before an armed robber was shot dead by police in Melbourne's east

Police opened fire after the man, 48, pointed a sawed-off shotgun at Xueqiang 'Sean' Wang at his Park Orchards Cellars store (pictured)

The witness said up to six shots were fired, while another revealed they heard a worker run from the shop 'screaming for help'.

'The shop owner's son ran to my friend's place - he was yelling ''help, help call police'',' the witness told the Herald Sun.

Mr Wang said on Monday he was a 'lucky man' and thanked police, as well as his son Kevin.

'I thank Victoria Police, I so thank them... My son is very good. He is a very good boy,' he said.

Police are seen at Orchards & Grocers store in Melbourne following an attempted armed robbery

The scene of the fatal shooting on Sunday night is pictured the following morning

Acting Deputy Commissioner Guenther said police shot the man in fear he would open fire on the innocent worker.

'My understanding is that they've appeared at the bottle shop and they were in fear of the life of the attendant who was having a weapon pointed at him [so] they've discharged their firearm,' he said.

The man died at the scene.

Victoria Police detectives were in the area investigating a number of armed hold-ups when they reportedly stumbled across the attempted robbery.

Victoria Police detectives were in the area investigating a number of armed hold-ups

Police are seen speaking to a witness after the fatal shooting at the Park Orchards store (right)

The homicide squad and the professional standards unit are investigating the incident.

The officer involved is receiving departmental support.

Police have urged anyone with any information to contact Crime Stoppers.

Police opened fire after the man pointed a sawed-off shotgun at an employee at Park Orchards Cellars
Donald Trump has revealed he tweets from bed, does not know who Jeremy Corbyn is and gets 'so much' fan mail from Britons in an interview with Piers Morgan.

The US President insisted he was 'very popular' in the UK, despite vows from opponents that his visit to the country will be greeted with huge protests.

In his first international TV interview, Trump insisted: 'I think I'm very popular in your country. I get so much fan mail from people in your country, they love my sense of security and what I'm saying about many different things. We get tremendous support from people in the UK.'

When Morgan mentioned the leader of the opposition, Labour's Jeremy Corbyn, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan - both of whom have been critical of Trump - the President replied 'I don't know the man'.

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Donald Trump said he usually tweets at breakfast or over lunch before getting down to the work of government in the day

When Morgan mentioned the leader of the opposition, Labour's Jeremy Corbyn, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan - both of whom have been critical of Trump - the President replied 'I don't know the man'. He tweeted Mr Khan (pictured) during a feud between the pair in June last year

The US President claimed there are a lot of Britons who respect him and like what he stands for

Trump said he usually tweets at breakfast or over lunch before getting down to the work of government in the day.

Speaking to Morgan on ITV from the World Economic Forum in Davos, the President said: 'Perhaps [I tweet] in bed, perhaps sometimes at breakfast and lunch.

'Generally speaking during the early morning I can do that then I am busy during the day. I sometimes just dictate out things to my people.'

Mr Trump also mentioned that his mother, Mary, was born in Scotland and said he 'loves' the UK.

'The real me is somebody that loves Britain, loves the UK. I love Scotland,' he said. 'One of the biggest problems I have in winning, I won't be able to get back there so often. I would love to go there.'

Morgan came to the issue of Jeremy Corbyn and Sadiq Khan when discussing Mr Trump's biggest critics in the UK.

When the presenter mentioned that both politicians wanted him to stay away from the UK Mr Trump said, 'I don't know the man, I don't know the man.'

The President has a long running enmity with Mr Khan. Last year he was scathing about the London Mayor response to the terror attacks in Westminster and London Bridge.

He tweeted: 'At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is 'no reason to be alarmed!'

President Trump also defended his diet. Asked if he planned to switch away from fast food, which he has regularly been pictured eating, he said: 'No don't want to change it.

'I eat fine food, some from the finest chefs in the world. I am healthy, I have some of that [fast food] on occasion. I think I eat actually quite well.'

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 the interview, Mr Trump also 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.

And in a snub to Mrs May, the President said he would have taken a much tougher stance than Mrs May towards Brussels.

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 wouldn't negotiate it the way it's [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 it's supposed to be. I would have taken a tougher stand in getting out.'

In his first international television interview, the President told Piers Morgan that May's negotiations should have been tougher

I've not been invited to Harry's wedding... When President Trump was asked if he had received an invitation to the Royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May he said: 'Not that I know of. 'I want them to be happy. I really want them to be happy. They look like a lovely couple.' ...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?' Piers Morgan asked him 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 Morgan 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?' Advertisement

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 don't want people coming from all over the world into Britain, they don't know anything about these people.'

However, Mrs May can draw comfort from the President's 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 we're 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, I'll be there. She [Mrs May] just invited me. Twice.'

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 Trump's 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 May's 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 wide-scale public opposition.

Donald Trump said he would have taken a tougher stance during EU negotiations in an interview with Piers Morgan

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.

The President said he would apologise if the far-right group is seen as being 'horrible and racist'.

The videos were initially posted by British nationalist Jayda Fransen, who has been convicted of hate crimes, and Theresa May publicly condemned the President.

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

Asked about a State visit during a joint appearance with Mrs May at the Davos economic summit on Friday, Mr Trump said: 'We'll 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.

The President also answered once and for all the question of whether or not he is a feminist. His answer was a clear 'no'.

Trump said: 'No, I wouldn't say I'm a feminist. I mean, I think that would be, maybe, going too far. I'm for women, I'm for men, I'm 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 I'm happy about that.'
The leaders of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan will meet on Monday on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa to discuss disagreements over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), as well as regional issues.

The meeting is aimed at breaking the deadlock in negotiations over disputes in the construction of theGER and its impact on downstream Nile basin countries.

Ethiopia and Sudan have not accepted the results of a report issued in March 2017 by European consultancy on the potential impact of the dam on downstream countries, which concluded that the speed of construction could negatively affect Egypt's water share.

Ethiopia has so far opposed a recent proposal by Cairo to involve the World Bank in the stalled technical negotiations.

Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has been in Addis Ababa since 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.

On Saturday, El-Sisi chaired a meeting by the Peace and Security Council (PSC), the AU body in charge of maintaining continental peace and security, which Egypt is heading in January.

The Egyptian president also met on Saturday with his Sudanese counterpart, Omar Al-Bashir, to discuss bilateral relations.

Earlier this month, El-Sisi received Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in Cairo and stressed the necessity of overcoming any current obstacles in negotiations over the dam.

El-Sisi expressed to the Ethiopian PM his "extreme concern" over the lack of progress in the negotiations over the building of Ethiopia's massive dam, though he did convey understanding of the developmental goals the east African country aims to achieve via the GERD.

The dam, situated near Ethiopia's border with Sudan, is slated for completion this year and expected to generate 6,000 megawatts of electricity.



Ethiopia hopes to be able to export electricity generated by the dam, which will be the largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa.

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A naked Canadian tourist has been arrested in Byron Bay for headbutting the windscreen of police car in Byron Bay.

Officers were sitting in their patrol car when the 23-year-old man allegedly charged toward them and threw himself at the vehicle around 11pm on Christmas night.

The tourist allegedly began kicking the windshield before headbutting the front passengers window repeatedly, according to the Gold Coast Bulletin.

A naked Canadian tourist, 23, was arrested on Christmas night for headbutting and kicking the windscreen of a police car (pictured) in Byron Bay

Officers were sitting in their patrol car (pictured) when the man allegedly charged toward them and threw himself at the vehicle around 11pm

Police claim he then pulled open the police car door, forcing officers to taser the man.

The taser appeared to have no effect on the Canadian, who promptly arose before allegedly punching an officer, according to The Daily Telegraph.

A group of officers and the mans friends helped subdue him and place him under arrest.

Police claim methamphetamines were responsible for the 23-year-olds alleged attack.
An eight part TV series has been commissioned by the BBC and will air on the BBC and Netflix telling the tale of the fall of the ancient city of Troy following a 10 year siege believed to have taken place in 1184 BCE.

On April 24, 1184 BCE, Greek armies invaded the city of Troy, in modern day Turkey marking the end of the Trojan War.

The war had been sparked a decade prior when Helen, left her husband Menelaus, king of Sparta for Paris of Troy after Goddess Aphrodite made her 'fall in love' with him.

The face that launched a thousand ships: The story of Troy has been adapted many times. Left, Sheila Allen plays Helen of Troy. Right: Elizabeth Taylor, plays Helen of Troy opposite her husband, Welsh actor Richard Burton

Menelaus convinced his brother Agamemnon, king of Mycenae, to travel to Troy to retrieve Helen. The pair were joined by Odysseus, Nestor and Ajax, and accompanied by a fleet of more than a thousand ships.

The siege lasted 10 years and was interspersed with battles, fights and deaths of legendary figures.

It ended when the Greek armies retreated from their camp, and left a large wooden horse outside the gates of Troy. Bemused Trojans pulled the 'gift' into the city, but when night fell, a group of Greek warriors climbed out and seiged Troy from within.

The tale has been retold through time, most famously in Homer's Iliad, which recounts the story of Odysseus' journey home to Itchaca.

For centuries, it was widely believed that both war and the city were mythological. However, now most scholars believe Troy was real in what is now Hissarlik in Turkey.
The strangest invasion took place last week at Whites, Britains oldest gentlemens club, when pranksters smuggled in a woman in a luggage trunk before being promptly ejected.

The police were called to the Piccadilly club, I can reveal, after BBC prankster Heydon Prowse, who infamously once tricked Theresa Mays Downing Street staff, entered with two women and a fellow prankster, Nimrod Kamer.

They were not difficult to spot at the ties-must-be-worn establishment. One of the women wore an orange boiler suit while the other leapt out of the trunk, also not wearing a tie.

Prowse was making a point about women being banned but, as one member pointed out, the Queen has famously dined there

They were instantly asked by Whites staff to leave and after they did Prowse was issued by the police with a community protection notice under anti-social behaviour laws.

The provocateurs aimed to cause maximum disruption at a time when all attention was on another men-only establishment - the now-notorious Presidents Club. Prowse was making a point about women being banned but, as one member pointed out, the Queen has famously dined there.

It is, in fact, a favourite relaxation spot for senior Royals  Prince Charles held his stag night at Whites and Princes William and Harry are also members.

One member tells me: These cheap tricksters were politely ejected, somewhat effortlessly from what I hear, and in a far more gentlemanly manner than they deserved after being asked to leave a private establishment to which they had not been invited.

The women were actress Jess-Luisa Flynn and documentary maker Gemma Perlin, who said of their abrupt exit: They seemed horrified to have their all-male safe-space infiltrated by a woman who isnt a waitress.

The women were actress Jess-Luisa Flynn and documentary maker Gemma Perlin, who said of their abrupt exit: They seemed horrified to have their all-male safe-space infiltrated by a woman who isnt a waitress.

Whites declined to comment on Kamers claims that security staff tried to wrestle camera phones from the intruders hands.

What would former Prime Ministers including Robert Walpole, Robert Peel and David Cameron  all once Whites members, though the latter resigned before he entered Downing Street  think of such a scene?

You might have expected Lady Astor to be out celebrating after the sale of her company OKA for a cool 40 million. But far from rewarding herself for 20 years of hard work with a fabulous party, she is instead putting herself through a brutal regime of fasting. My spies spotted Annabel, who is Samantha Camerons mother, at the Palace Merano and Espace Henri Chenot in Italy where celebrities pay 2,536 per week to be half starved and deprived of booze in the name of health.

Lucian Freuds favourite muse Sue Tilley, below, is to star in a film about her life. Known as Big Sue, the one-time Job Centre worker met Freud in 1990 and became the subject of a series of nudes.

The most famous  Benefits Supervisor Sleeping, painted in 1995  was sold to Roman Abramovich for 17 million in 2008. Extraordinarily, while billionaires fought for her portrait, Sue, 60, kept her admin job until she was made redundant in 2015.

Meghan Markle is facing her toughest test yet as she adjusts to life this side of the pond  learning to drive on Londons loopy roads. Prince Harrys fiancee is taking lessons near Kensington Palace in order to get a UK licence as her US version is only valid for a year. She may also be getting to grips with a manual gearbox as  like most Americans  she probably doesnt drive stick.

The BBCs experienced World At One presenter Martha Kearney has been travelling to the Antarctic  and huffily reflecting on her future at Radio 4, Im told.

The BBCs experienced World At One presenter Martha Kearney has been travelling to the Antarctic  and huffily reflecting on her future at Radio 4, Im told

Martha isnt yet ready to hand in her notice, and will return on Monday, but is feeling frozen out by the Corporation over a hoped-for move to the Today programme. She was due to swap jobs with Today stalwart Sarah Montague but the plan has so far come to nothing. Martha couldnt have chosen a better holiday destination for cooling off!

Although male BBC stars have been reported to be taking pay cuts of up to 30 per cent in the wake of the gender pay row, I can reveal that Today host Nick Robinson looks set to give up only a fraction of his 250,000-plus salary.

Nicks agent told me the BBC asked if he would be willing to take a cut, and he agreed. But they asked him to give up only one per cent, which has got his male colleagues grumbling.

John Humphrys is believed to have taken total cuts of up to 120,000, while TV news anchor Huw Edwards took a cut too.

The BBC said: The final details are still being discussed.
Despite postponing their own wedding last year, James Henderson and Heather Kerzner were still in the mood to celebrate nuptial news on Friday night when they took the Duchess of York out for a night on the town at Lou Lous nightclub in Mayfair to celebrate her daughter Princess Eugenies engagement.

Though Eugenie wasnt there, Princess Beatrice, who has been in Davos for the World Economic Forum, put in a brief appearance and excitedly told her mother that Eugenie has set a date.

But Bea wouldnt let slip when it will be  even to her mother - as she has been sworn to secrecy by the bride-to-be and her fiance Jack Brooksbank, until next week.

James and Heather  ex wife of hotelier Sol Kerzner  put off their Claridges wedding in November after PR firm Bell Pottinger, where James was CEO, collapsed into administration when a deal initiated by company founder Tim Bell caused a South African race row.

James Henderson and Heather Kerzner were still in the mood to celebrate nuptial news on Friday night when they took the Duchess of York out for a night on the town at Lou Lous nightclub in Mayfair to celebrate her daughter Princess Eugenies engagement
He and his wife Kim Kardashian West welcomed their third child - daughter Chicago - just 12 days ago via surrogate.

But Kanye West jetted off to Berlin this week, cutting a lonely figure as he dined by himself at the riverside restaurant Grill Royal on Saturday.

That same day, the 40-year-old designer/rapper browsed the 'new arrivals' at The Store inside Soho House Berlin.

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Solo mission: 12 days after welcoming his third child (daughter Chicago), Kanye West cut a lonely figure as he dined by himself at the riverside restaurant Grill Royal in Berlin on Saturday

The 21-time Grammy winner could be seen sporting a grey knit beanie while gazing at a tan purse and red shorts while strolling through the boutique.

Kanye dropped his Yeezy Season 6 collection last month through a paparazzi pictorial starring his 36-year-old wife/muse, with whom he also has daughter North, 4; and son Saint, 2.

West - who did a nine-day stint for 'temporary psychosis' at UCLA Medical Center in 2016 - even flashed a rare hint of a smile as he chatted with a blonde woman in the store.

The Atlanta-born, Chicago-raised star bundled up in a black North Face puffer jacket, chambray shirt, and black jeans for his outing - which included a stop inside fast-food joint McDonald's.

Out and about: That same day, the 40-year-old designer/rapper browsed the 'new arrivals' at The Store inside Soho House Berlin

Checking out the goods: The 21-time Grammy winner could be seen sporting a grey knit beanie while gazing at a tan purse and red shorts while strolling through the boutique

Ich bin ein Berliner: Kanye dropped his Yeezy Season 6 collection last month through a paparazzi pictorial starring his 36-year-old wife/muse, with whom he also has daughter North, 4; and son Saint, 2.

May I help you? West - who did a nine-day stint for 'temporary psychosis' at UCLA Medical Center in 2016 - even flashed a rare smile as he chatted with a blonde woman in the store

Fast food: The Atlanta-born, Chicago-raised star bundled up in a black North Face puffer jacket, chambray shirt, and black jeans for his outing - which included a stop at McDonald's

Perhaps the frequent Adidas collaborator was in Germany to visit the sneaker company's Herzogenaurach headquarters.

Adidas CEO Kasper Rrsted just gave Kanye a shout-out while discussing American influence on his company with President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

'Kanye West is building one of the most sought after shoes in the world,' the Danish 55-year-old gushed, which prompted the 71-year-old reality star-turned-politician to reply: 'Good job.'

West famously met with newly-elected Donald at Trump Tower in 2016 to discuss 'multicultural issues, bullying, supporting teachers, modernizing curriculums, and violence in Chicago.'

Business meeting? Perhaps the frequent Adidas collaborator was in Germany to visit the sneaker company's Herzogenaurach headquarters (2015 stock shot)

'One of the most sought after shoes in the world': Adidas CEO Kasper Rrsted (R) just gave Kanye a shout-out while discussing American influence on his company with President Donald Trump (L) at the World Economic Forum in Davos

Still running for POTUS in 2020? West met with newly-elected Donald at Trump Tower in 2016 to discuss 'multicultural issues, bullying, supporting teachers, modernizing curriculums, and violence in Chicago'

Music-wise, the Dat Side rapper was credited as 'composer, lyricist, and producer' of Migos' new single BBO (Bad B****es Only) on their third studio album Culture II onTidal.

'He's got a crazy, different feel,' Migos rapper Quavo told Real 92.3 LA on January 18.

'He's got all his old s*** that he had from coming in, making beats, and he still use his original box and his original keyboards. He's still got his old hard drives, and all his samples and all the beat. Just to see that he still cherish the old stuff that he came in with, know that he still respect the grind.'

However, the hot-tempered hip-hop star hasn't performed live since November 4 when he joined Kid Cudi onstage the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.

Third studio album: Music-wise, the Dat Side rapper was credited as 'composer, lyricist, and producer' of Migos' new single BBO (Bad B****es Only)
She's the former Big Brother star who regularly flaunts her ample bust and pert derriere in barely-there bikinis.

But Skye Wheatley set tongues wagging on Instagram for different reason this week, after calling herself a 'devoted wife' to beau Lachlan Waugh in her bio.

Meanwhile, her tattooed beau also updated his bio to read 'happily married to Skye Wheatley.'

Wedding bells? Skye Wheatley set tongues wagging on Instagram for different reason this week, after calling herself a 'devoted wife' to beau Lachlan Waugh in her bio

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Skye for comment.

The pair have been hot and heavy since they first got together in November, after Skye ended her relationship with her hunky on-again, off-again boyfriend Cameron McCristal.

Having been in Bali, It comes after the social media star shared another sizzling bikini snap of herself, this time in a nude-coloured, high-cut bikini, flaunting her envious curves.

Devoted wife: The social media star recently updated her bio as 'devoted wife to Lachlan Waugh,' hinting the pair are making things more official

Engaged: It comes after boyfriend Lachlan Waugh updated his Instagram bio saying he was 'happily married to Skye Wheatley'

Hot and heavy! The new couple have barely left each other since they first got together in November

In the snap, the blonde bronzed reality star is standing at the Le Pirate beach club on the holiday Island, showing off her washboard abs and ample cleavage.

The caption again reflecting the deepening nature of her relationship with Lachlan: 'When you post the photo bae tells you to because you trust his opinion.'

The post eliciting the response from Lachlan: ' Always, always, always listen to bae Xxx.'

New love: With even hunky Lachlan posting happy snaps of the pair together, even one of them passionately kissing at a party

It comes as the young starlet enjoys her last few days in Bali, uploading a number of skimpy bikini snaps showing off her surgically-blessed body.

On Thursday, the former Big Brother star enjoyed a stretch while on holiday, with the 24-year-old flaunting her tanned physique and tiny waist.

'Waiting for the sun to come out like,' she captioned the post.

Another day, another bikini! Last Thursday, Skye Wheatley took to Instagram to flaunt her peachy posterior in a skimpy G-string bikini during her Bali holiday

With minimal coverage, Skye donned a yellow Brazilian bottom with a strappy top bikini retailing for $80.

Ensuring all attention was on her ample posterior, the socialite kept her blonde hair tied up in a bun.

Earlier in the week, Skye also shared a selfie which had been taken in front of a teal-framed mirror, in which she was wearing the same bikini.

Why so shy? While her surgically enhanced assets were accentuated by the bikini top, the former reality star had obscured her face with her iPhone

While her surgically-enhanced assets were accentuated by the bikini top, the former reality star had obscured her face with her iPhone.

The photo saw the tanned Skye ensure all eyes were on her surgically enhanced assets and tiny waist.

In 2015, the makeup artist traveled to Bangkok for a $3,800 breast augmentation, despite her families pleas for her not to go.

Skye later revealed the surgery was botched and had left her with a 'double bubble' in one breast. In 2016, Skye paid a Sydney surgeon $28,000 to fix the surgical error.
They're thick as thieves and have been practically inseparable these last few days.

And Kendall Jenner, 22, and Hailey Baldwin, 21, braved icy New York City together in style as they stepped out in the Big Apple on Saturday.

The ladies were bundled up from head to toe in chic ensembles as they enjoyed another day out together.

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Daring duo: Kendall Jenner, 22, and Hailey Baldwin, 21, braved icy New York City together in style as they stepped out in the Big Apple on Saturday

Kendall wrapped up in a fur trimmed black coat with intricate gold star designs that cut at mid thigh.

She paired the the daring look with a grey sweatshirt, matching jeans, and leather ankle boots.

Her trademark raven tresses were pulled back in a messy ponytail as her youthful face was covered by a pair of retro sunglasses.

Bundled up: Kendall wrapped up in a fur trimmed black coat with intricate gold star designs that cut at mid thigh

Hailey dared to impress in a fashion forward white cropped jacket that included several zippers and built-in belt.

The baggy light blue denim pants belied her statuesque pins underneath as she stomped around in white high tops.

She rocked a grey hoodie and kept her classic blonde locks swept back in a ponytail with loose strands tucked behind black sunglasses.

Hairy story: Her trademark raven tresses were pulled back in a messy ponytail as her youthful face was covered by a pair of retro sunglasses

Meanwhile, the steadfast friends had an enjoyable dinner date with their other BFF, Bella Hadid, the night before.

The three supermodels all sported revealing wardrobes as they met up at the celebrity hot spot Carbone.

The gal pals celebrated reuniting following Paris Fashion Week, and undoubtedly are preparing for the upcoming New York Fashion Week.
Neighbours actor Ryan Thomas appeared to be in a 'heated row' with Michelle Keegan's ex Brad Howard in Manchester on Friday.

The 33-year-old soap star, who was on a night out with his two brothers, looked irked as onlookers watched him engage in a war of words with the X Factor reject.

Throughout the animated confrontation, the actor was pictured squaring up to the 30-year-old in the street, before Brad grabbed his arm.

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Fracas: Neighbours star Ryan Thomas appeared to be in a 'heated row' with Michelle Keegan's ex Brad Howard in Manchester on Friday

Ryan's younger brother Scott appeared concerned with the argument, stepping in at one point when the former Coronation Street star rested his hands on Brad's chest.

Gesturing for Ryan to move away, Scott tried to put an end to the volatile situation.

Brad, who made it through to the Six Chair Challenge on last year's X Factor, looked riled up during the alleged fracas.

Irritated: The 33-year-old, who was on a night out with his two brothers, looked irked as onlookers watched him engage in a war of words with the X Factor reject

Onlookers told The Sun Online that the two had to be restrained by security after the row quickly escalated following them both attending a launch at Mahiki.

Following the argument, the pair appeared to settle their differences, as they headed off together.

MailOnline has contacted Ryan's and Brad's representatives for comment.

Argumentative: Throughout the animated confrontation, the actor was pictured squaring up to the 30-year-old in the street, before Brad grabbed his arm

Sporting a tartan flat cap and camel coat, the father-of-one cut a dapper appearance for his night on the town.

Meanwhile his brother Scott, 29, who starred in Love Island two years ago, showed off his muscular physique in a white t-shirt and denim jeans but their brother Adam was nowhere to be seen.

The night out comes as the television hunk is preparing his debut as newcomer Rafael Humphrey in Neighbours next month.

Stepping in: Ryan's younger brother Scott appeared concerned with the argument, stepping in at one point when the former Coronation Street star rested his hands on Brad's chest

Heated: Gesturing for Ryan to move away, Scott tried to put an end to the volatile situation while Brad looked riled up as he clung to Ryan's arm

Ryan will play the English tourist, who is harbouring a dark secret and a taste for bitter sweet revenge.

Rafael's arrival on the scene and motives remain an enigma but when he begins to fall in love with a resident, it could throw his revenge plans into chaos.

Ryan's latest role is worlds away from the cheeky character and mechanic Jason Grimshaw who made him famous on Coronation Street.

Breaking up the fight: According to onlookers, the two had to be restrained by security after the row quickly escalated following them both attending a launch at Mahiki

It was time for the soap star to master a new role as he finally decided to make the advantageous move after 16 years on the cobbles.

The hunk and his Corrie co-star Tina O'Brien, who plays Sarah Platt, share their eight-year-old daughter Scarlet but the pair called it quits on their six-year romance.

In recent months, Ryan made the move to Australia despite finding love with Essex girl Lucy Mecklenburgh in 2017.

Row: The pair appeared deep in discussion during the fierce debate as a concerned Scott watched on

Former flames: Brad Howard previously dated Michelle Keegan - who is now married to former TOWIE star, Mark Wright

But the couple proved they were still going strong when the former TOWIE star joined his family for New Year's celebrations.

They found love on Bear Grylls' Celebrity Island where they were in the midst of water shortages, extreme hunger and tropical storms.

Keen to keep the flames of their passionate romance going after the show, they continued seeing each other on home turf.
She's the loved-up former Bachelorette star, who is currently lapping-up the height of luxury in Dubai.

And it appears Georgia Love is having no trouble fitting in after the 28-year-old took to Instagram on Sunday to share a snap of herself in an ornate white one-piece.

Taking a dip at Nasimi Beach, which fronts the iconic five-star Atlantis hotel, the former reality star cut a dazzling figure in the middle east hot spot.

White hot! Bachelorette star Georgia Love, 28, flaunted her slender arms and toned thighs while taking a dip at luxurious Nasimi Beach in Dubai on Sunday

The brunette beauty showed off her slender arms and toned legs in the partly transparent garment by JETS swimwear, which retails for about $120.

'Just having a dip in front of a totally understated hotel on a man-made island shaped like a palm tree. Standard,' she wrote.

Georgia, and her hunky boyfriend Lee Elliott, 37, landed in the Middle East destination only a day ago, but have been busy taking in the high-priced tourist hot spot.

Top of the world! The reality star has been taking in the sights and sounds of the city, with the brunette beauty sharing a snap of her at the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa

On Saturday, Georgia uploaded an image of herself sitting at a viewing deck of the Burj Khalifa, which is currently the tallest building in the world.

'On top of the world,' the leggy reality star posted under the picture.

Meanwhile, the stylish Channel Ten reported took to her Instagram story to share a number of luxurious images of herself and Lee.

Lavish! Georgia shared a snap of boyfriend Lee Elliott sun-bathing at Nasimi Beach, captioning the snap, 'is this even real life'

Taking happy snaps of themselves at the famous Burj Al Arab hotel and the Renaissance Downtown Hotel.

It comes after the Channel Ten reporter posted a snap of herself and Lee Elliott almost running into trouble at customs in the Middle Eastern country, when the brunette beauty went to give her boyfriend a smooch.

'Just went to kiss him and he reminded me I legally can't do that in public and now it suddenly makes sense why he was so keen to come here,' Georgia captioned a photo of themselves at the airport.

Busting out! The Melbourne-based reality star shared a selfie of herself in a luxurious white swimsuit by JETS swimwear, which features a gold clip at the bust

Leggy lady! The Channel Ten reporter snapped herself relaxing at the five star Atlantis Beach resort

Adventure: The excitable couple have snapped themselves taking in the sights and sounds of the city, including the Burj al Arab

Dubai is the largest city in the United Arab Emirates and according to smarttraveller.gov.au, public displays of affection, including kissing, are frowned upon, with the portal suggesting authorities can arrest amorous couples.

In May 2017, Gulf News reported that an unnamed Egyptian man and Moroccan woman were sentenced to one month jail after they were discovered kissing in a service station restroom.

Despite the lack of affection, fans recently speculated that Lee would pop the question on New Year's Eve.

The lux life! The couple have been living it up while in the city, captioning a visit to a day spa, 'this'll do me just fine'

Alongside a photo of the pair posing on the red carpet the night prior, Lee wrote: 'Cheers to New Years my dears! Here's to ringing in the new year with my queen Georgia Love at @togethereventsNYE!'

A follower chimed in with a similarly hopeful: 'Will we or not see a ring?'

No PDA: Georgia Love found herself somewhat unlucky in the world of amour on Friday, after she discovered she was forbidden to kiss boyfriend Lee Elliott on the cheek during a trip to Dubai.

Lips are sealed: 'Just went to kiss him and he reminded me I legally can't do that in public and now it suddenly makes sense why he was so keen to come here,' Georgia captioned the photo

Disgruntled: Georgia was sporting a look of mild annoyance in the photo while, conversely, Lee beamed from ear to ear.
Sofia Richie and Scott Disick have been spending a lot of time together.

And the Instagram model, 19, and her reality star beau, 34, were spotted out together again in Malibu on Saturday night.

However, this was the first time Sofia has been seen publicly with Scott's three children - Mason, eight, Penelope, five, and Reign, three - whom he shares with Kourtney Kardashian.

Out and about: Sofia Richie and Scott Disick he Instagram model, 19, and her reality star beau, 34, were spotted out together again in Malibu on Saturday night; Sofia pictured with his kids Penelope and Mason

Sofia was effortlessly chic as she showcased her gorgeous gams in a pair of skintight black leggings.

The daughter of Lionel Richie tucked the pants into high heeled black boots as she bundled up in a warm pink sweater.

Daring to impress, she left her newly dyed brunette locks long and loose as they cascaded over her shoulders.

She left the trendy eatery Nobu first with Penelope and Mason in tow.

Fancy: However, this was the first time Sofia has been seen publicly with Scott's three children - Mason, seven, Penelope, four, and Reign, two - whom he shares with Kourtney Kardashian

Good times: She left the trendy eatery Nobu first with Penelope and Mason in tow

The doting dad soon followed carrying the youngest of the brood, Reign, as the stylish troop jumped into a black luxury Cadillac SUV.

Scott and Sofia went public with their romance in September, although they were linked as far back as May.

The jet-setting couple have taken numerous trips together in the short time they've been dating including Colorado, Miami, Italy and Los Cabos.

Fun: Sofia was effortlessly chic as she showcased her gorgeous gams in a pair of skintight black leggings

Devoted The doting dad soon followed carrying the youngest of the brood, Reign, as the stylish troop jumped into a black luxury Cadillac SUV

Close: Mason stayed close to his little sister, Penelope

After nine years together, Scott and Kourtney called it off in 2015.

Since they broke up however, the PrettyLittleThings designer has been besotted with boxer Younes Bendjima.

Kourtney met Younes in October 2016, just before her sister Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in Paris.

The pair were then spotted on holiday together in Cannes, France in May, and have only gone from strength to strength since.

Family time: Scott and Sofia went public with their romance in September, although they were linked as far back as May

Home bound: The jet-setting couple have taken numerous trips together in the short time they've been dating including Colorado, Miami, Italy and Los Cabos
The Egyptian prosecution released Hisham Geneina and ordered the detention of three other people on Sunday, pending national security investigations into an alleged assault on the former head of the states Central Auditing Organization.

On Saturday, the interior ministry released a statement on the incident saying it was a street fight involving Geneina that took place after his car hit the vehicle of a coffee shop owner in New Cairo's First Settlement area.

The former top auditor was riding in the car with his wife, daughter and a guard, and tried to flee the scene of the accident, the ministry said, when two other people stopped them until the police had been called.

"Geneina was injured, and has several abrasions on his hands and feet," the statement said.

"Three people, the owner of the coffee shop, an unemployed man, and a restaurant owner were found injured with leg fractures and scalp wounds, and were treated at New Cairo Hospital," it added.

"The police seized a piece of iron that was used as a weapon by Geneina's guard."

Other people involved in the incident also accused Geneina's wife and daughter of assault.

''Upon interrogating the parties involved, they all denied the claims. The police have referred the incident to the prosecution for investigation," said the statement.

Geneina's family and his lawyer denied the incident was a street fight, describing it as a failed kidnapping and assassination attempt on Geneina, who was a leading member of the halted presidential campaign of former military chief-of-staff Lieutenant General Sami Anan.

Geneina sparked controversy by saying in December 2015 that government corruption had cost the country billions of dollars.

The former top auditor has been referred to criminal court for his remarks, while a misdemeanour court endorsed in December a first-degree one-year suspended prison sentence for him for "disseminating false news".

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It has been promised as a season full of 'huge personalities'.

And one of the new stars of Married At First Sight, Alycia Galbraith, has given her experience on the controversial dating show a resounding thumbs up.

The 28-year-old appeared on Weekend Today on Sunday alongside relationship expert John Aiken to fawn over her televised journey as a newlywed.

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Hopeful: Alycia Galbraith appeared on Weekend Today on Sunday alongside relationship expert John Aiken to fawn over her televised journey as a newlywed on Married At First Sight

The Adelaide-based student explained how being 'unlucky in love' lead her to apply for the fifth cycle in the reality experiment.

'I'd been single for four years and dating, trying to meet someone and hadn't found that spark with anyone. I thought maybe the science would work for me,' she said.

'Alycia is the perfect person for this type of series, because she's very genuine, down to earth, sweet and she's tried different avenues to find love,' John offered.

'I'd been single for four years and dating, trying to meet someone and hadn't found that spark with anyone. I thought maybe the science would work for me,' she said

'It was a great experience, I'm so glad I did it,' she enthused.

Co-hosts Allison Langdon and Peter Stefanovic and newsreader Jane Azzopardi asked what Alycia thought she was doing wrong in relationships before the show.

'Alycia, when she meets someone, falls pretty fast by her own admission. As a result of that, it can kind of get intense and burn out,' John chimed in.

'Alycia, when she meets someone, falls pretty fast by her own admission. As a result of that, it can kind of get intense and burn out,' John chimed in

'One of her real goals in this experiment is to kind of try and pace herself,' he added.

The panelists asked Alycia if she had found the 'spark' she was seeking on the show.

'You'll just have to wait and see!' she quipped, after saying she believed in 'trusting the process'.

'One of her real goals in this experiment is to kind of try and pace herself,' he added of Alycia

She acknowledged getting married to a stranger 'was quite an odd feeling, but really exciting as well'.

'It was bizarre and wonderful and fits in with my quirky life. My friends and family were shocked [but] they weren't surprised I'd do something like this,' she stated.

Only one couple who met on MAFS has stayed together - Alex Garner and Zoe Hendrix - and they recently welcomed their first born child, Harper Rose.
He has been enjoying a number of holiday romances during his trip to Bali, following his split from Charlotte Crosby last year.

But Stephen Bear, 28, appeared to be reminiscing on his past romance as he watched his ex-girlfriend on TV while cuddling up to his latest squeeze on Saturday.

It comes as Charlotte, 27, was pictured sobbing her heart out in the streets of Sydney, as insiders reveal she is struggling to move on from the break-up.

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Awkward: Stephen Bear, 28, appeared to be reminiscing on his past romance as he watched his ex-girlfriend on TV while cuddling up to his latest squeeze on Saturday

Former flame: Tuning into an old episode of Just Tattoo Of Us, the Ex On The Beach star made no reference to watching his ex-girlfriend in the Instagram story

Tuning into an old episode of Just Tattoo Of Us, the Ex On The Beach star made no reference to watching his ex-girlfriend in the Instagram story.

Filming his TV, Charlotte can be heard saying 'Do you wanna explain what happened when you got that tattoo?'in the show, while Bear's mystery woman giggled, unperturbed by any potential awkwardness.

He told her to 'turn it up' before saying 'Who's that sexy f****r?' when his face appeared on screen.

Upsetting: It comes as Charlotte Crosby, 27, was pictured sobbing her heart out in the streets of Sydney, as insiders reveal she is struggling to move on from the break-up (stock photo)

New lady? Stephen has been enjoying a number of holiday romances during his trip to Bali, following his split from Charlotte last year

Just hours earlier, the Lothario revealed he had planned to stay in Bali for a year, but kept fans guessing over his relationship status.

He said: 'Just an update for everyone, I'm now Balian. Balision? I'm staying here for a year, just got a villa today.

'Going to start my new life over here. Not saying with who, going to see how it goes.'

Demands: Bear is seen asking the mystery blonde to 'turn it up' when he sees himself on Just Tattoo Of Us before saying 'Who's that sexy f****r?' when his face appeared on screen

Stephen has been keeping his followers updated with his string of holiday romances during his fun trip.

Earlier this month, the reality star posted three pictures of himself cosying up to a mystery brunette on the tropical island.

However, Bear has since deleted these photos in favour of his latest squeeze, posing in a number of amorous shots with the blonde beauty.

Meanwhile, Stephen's ex Charlotte was pictured crying in the streets of Sydney, in Australia with insiders saying she is still heartbroken over Stephen.

Loving it: Filming his TV, Charlotte can be heard in the show, while Bear's mystery woman giggled, unperturbed by any potential awkwardness

In pictures obtained by The Sun, the fitness guru can be seen sobbing with her head in her hands.

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 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 wouldn't of done the things I did and say. Life's about making mistakes. I've 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 isn't 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.

'I've done my best and put it out there. I don't 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.
They're back together nearly one decade after their smash-hit reality television show aired on MTV.

And Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi showed off her fit figure in a pair of tiny shorts while heading to The Clevelander Bar in Miami, Florida, on Saturday afternoon to film Jersey Shore: Family Vacation.

The 30-year-old social media maven walked alongside co-star Deena Cortese, 31, as the pair flaunted their toned and tanned legs wearing thigh-grazing shorts, while Jennifer 'JWoww' Farley, 31, followed closely behind.

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Fashion: Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi showed off her fit figure in a pair of tiny shorts while heading to The Clevelander Bar in Miami, Florida, on Saturday afternoon

Snooki dared to bare in minuscule dark denim shorts paired with towering black gladiator-style heels.

She showed off her tanned arms wearing a tight black tank top with a black-and-white check jacket wrapped around her waist.

Pieces of Polizzi's caramel-colored hair were worn half up, with tendrils cascading down past her shoulders.

Walk it out: The 30-year-old social media maven walked alongside co-star Deena Cortese, 31, as the pair flaunted their toned and tanned legs wearing thigh-grazing shorts, while Jennifer 'JWoww' Farley, 31, followed closely behind

Thigh's the limit! Snooki dared to bare in minuscule dark denim shorts paired with towering black gladiator-style heels

Friends! Co-stars DJ Pauly D, Vinny Guadagnino and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro followed closely behind the ladies as they walked into the bar

Co-stars DJ Pauly D, Vinny Guadagnino and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro followed closely behind the ladies as they walked into the bar.

Deena Cortes showed off her tanned legs in darling denim shorts paired with a camouflaged shirt.

Earlier in the day, Cortes flaunted her fit while catching some rays in the backyard of the Miami home wearing a mismatched bikini.

Cutie: Earlier in the day, Cortes flaunted her fit while catching some rays in the backyard of the Miami home wearing a mismatched bikini

Tanning: Deena relaxed in the sun before heading out for an afternoon adventure

Not pictured on the afternoon adventure was housemate Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino as he recently pleaded guilty to cheating on his taxes.

The star and his brother/manager Marc were charged in 2014 and again last year with multiple counts related to nearly $9 million in income from the show.

Both brothers were charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, which is punishable by a maximum potential prison sentence of five years upon conviction.

Sorrentino was allowed to leave the state to film the reboot under a judge's condition to abstain from alcohol.

The hit MTV reality series hit airwaves in 2009 and ran for six seasons, focusing on a group of wild roommates and their summer adventures along the famed Jersey Shore.
She's faced a number of challenges recently, and Roxy Jacenko has admitted that she 'fell to bits' during her trying times.

After she was diagnosed with breast cancer just three weeks after her husband, Oliver Curtis, was sent to prison, the 37-year-old admitted she was on a 'path to destruction.'

Roxy told Daily Mail Australia that at the time, her weight plummeted to a dangerously low 49kgs.

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EXCLUSIVE: 'I was on a path to destruction': Roxy Jacenko admits her weight plummeted to a dangerously low 49kg and she 'fell to bits' when she was diagnosed with cancer and her husband Oliver Curtis was sent to jail (seen in June 2016)

'I dropped to 49kg at one point in 2016 -2017, it was a bad time for me, I was having personal issues, had been diagnosed with cancer, managing my businesses (Ministry of Talent, Sweaty Betty PR and Pixies Bows), had the two kids and a husband that was in jail,' Roxy began, as she promoted her new salad range for Chargrill Charlies.

'I didn't for a period eat properly or live a healthy life  I look back now and see that I was on a path to destruction  and I did fall to bits.'

'Fortunately that was the reality check I needed to get myself back into order, asses my life and future and make some decisions personally and professionally,' she said.

Trim: Roxy is pictured around the time. She admitted this week: 'I didn't for a period eat properly or live a healthy life'

Survivor: Roxy is pictured when she battled cancer

Roxy added that Oliver - who was released from prison last June after serving 12 months of a two-year sentence for conspiracy to commit insider trading - is her biggest support.

Roxy said that Oliver only mentioned her weight when she began to look 'unhealthy.'

She added that the pair are back on track and better then ever, and she now has her weight under control and is at a healthy weight.

'He doesn't comment on weight really, he only mentioned it when I began looking a little unhealthy during his incarceration  I thought I looked great!,' Roxy said of her weight loss at the time.

Struggles: Roxy said that Oliver only mentioned her weight when she began to look 'unhealthy'

A picture of health: Roxy is pictured recently, as she promotes her new salad range with Chargrill Charlies

'One thing about Oli is that he is happy if I am happy  he doesn't try and control me or what I do, just simply, he has my back.'

'It's now the perfect relationship and family  something until the chapter closed on his overhanging legal issues was far from perfect. 2018 is set to be wonderful.'

In July last year, Roxy revealed that Oliver had proposed again, after his release from prison.

He popped the question for the second time, at the luxurious Four Seasons in Sydney.

Sharing an Instagram snap, balloons were set up in the hotel room, which read: 'Marry me? Again.'

The pair share two young children together, daughter Pixie, six, and son Hunter, three.
It's been seven decades since at least six million people were exterminated under the Nazi regime.

And Gal Gadot was just one of the people on Saturday who wanted to make sure nobody ever forgets.

The Wonder Woman star posted a tribute on Instagram to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

'May we never forget': Gal Gadot led the tributes on Holocaust Remembrance Day on Saturday

'Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day. A day to honor the victims of the Holocaust, she wrote. May we never forget. #WeRemember.'

Josh Gad shared a picture of his grandparents, Evelyn and Joseph Greenblatt.

'They were children in Poland, when they were taken from their homes and separated from their parents and their siblings,' he explained. 'All of them were sent to Concentration Camps.'

Descendant : Josh Gad shared a picture of his grandparents, Evelyn and Joseph Greenblatt

Survivors: 'They were children in Poland, when they were taken from their homes and separated from their parents and their siblings,' he explained. 'All of them were sent to Concentration Camps.'

'Those who werent killed were forced into slave labor by the Nazis. Their innocence was lost. Their families destroyed. All because of their faith.

'At the end of the war, they came to New York, immigrants in search of a new start.

'The lessons of #holocaustmemorialday are not simply to memorialize the past, but to makes sure we dont repeat the same mistakes in the future,' he concluded. 'Now, more than ever, we must never forget.'

Tribute: Troye Sivan shared on Twitter: Today is #HolocaustMemorialDay. Spending it thinking about the 6 million Jews, millions of Slavs, Roma, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and countless others who all perished and suffered at the hands of pure evil

Love: He called on followers to 'Spread some love today'

Troye Sivan shared on Twitter: Today is #HolocaustMemorialDay. Spending it thinking about the 6 million Jews, millions of Slavs, Roma, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and countless others who all perished and suffered at the hands of pure evil. Never forget, and never again. Spread some love today

Meanwhile Guardians Of The Galaxy director James Gunn took to Twitter to proclaim 'The seeds that Trump is planting today are the same seeds Hitler planted long before he began murdering innocent people.'

While he insisted he was not saying Trump and Hitler were the same, he went on to point out a list of similarities.

Similarities: Meanwhile Guardians Of The Galaxy director James Gunn took to Twitter to proclaim 'The seeds that Trump is planting today are the same seeds Hitler planted long before he began murdering innocent people.'
She recently embarked on her a fitness regime after cruel body-shamers mocked pictures of her in a bikini.

And Jessica Wright showed off her impressively toned physique as she enjoyed a night out with friends in Manchester on Saturday.

Dressed to impress, the former TOWIE star, 32, ensured all eyes would be on her for the evening.

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Tanned and toned: Jessica Wright showed off her impressively toned physique as she enjoyed a night out with friends in Manchester on Saturday

Showing off her enviably toned abs, the brunette beauty donned a skimpy cream bandeau top that she layered beneath a black bomber jacket.

Rocking a noughties vibe, the starlet teamed the garment with camouflage print trousers whilst she boosted her frame with a pair of heeled open toe boots.

The elder sister of Mark Wright finished off the look by slicking her glossy chestnut locks in a slick high ponytail to show off her flawless features.

A touch of glamour: Dressed to impress, the former TOWIE star, 32, ensured all eyes would be on her for the evening in a skimpy cream bandeau top layered beneath a black bomber jacket

In good company: Jessica was joined by her hairdresser as she stepped out on Saturday night

Jess' outing came after her ex-boyfriend Ricky Rayment confessed he regrets the way he left things with Jess.

Their high profile romance and break-up played out in front of the cameras of The Only Way is Essex.

And when the former TOWIE star was quizzed about their split by Lizzie Cundy on FUBAR radio he admitted: 'Yeah, it wasn't good'.

Ricky and Jess split after two years of dating in 2014 after she said she had found flirty Twitter messages sent by him to other girls.

Leggy lady! Rocking a noughties vibe, the starlet teamed the garment with camouflage print trousers whilst she boosted her frame with a pair of heeled open toe boots

Striking: Jessica was hard to miss in her latest outfit while out in Manchester

Stunning: The elder sister of Mark Wright finished off the look by slicking her glossy chestnut locks in a slick high ponytail to show off her flawless features

He said: 'I was young and stupid and made a few mistakes' - referring to the incident which left his relationship with Jess in tatters - airing on the show in October 2014.

However, Ricky said he bumped into his former love on the red carpet at the National Television Awards on Tuesday night.

He said: 'I saw Jess at the NTA's - At first I didn't want to get in her way. I didn't want to make her feel awkward but then she was like "It's all good!"

'We started chatting about our dogs, because obviously I bought her her dog and she's still got it.'
He's the American actor who has just arrived Down Under for his national comedy tour.

And just before his first performance at The Astor Theatre in Perth on Saturday Adam DeVine was spotted walking to the beach with a group of male friends.

The trio were seen with minimal possessions and white towels, walking in the summer sun together.

Surf's up! Pitch Perfect's Adam DeVine spotted walking to the beach in Perth ahead of his Australian comedy tour

The 34-year-old funnyman looked pensive as he wandered along the pavement, wearing a khaki green t-shirt and matching green shorts with a pair of Vans sneakers.

His friends appeared to be enjoying his company, cracking faint smiles as they walked side-by-side.

Adam announced mid last year he would be touring in January, bringing his iconic show Weird Life to the south.

Smile and wave boys: His friends appeared to be enjoying his company, cracking faint smiles as they walked side-by-side

Standing tall: 'Australia Im bringing my weird, my funk, my nasty (stand up comedy) down under! I only have a few tickets left in Melbourne and Sydney. Cop them tickets! Gonna sell out,' he wrote on Instagram on Thursday

'Australia Im bringing my weird, my funk, my nasty (stand up comedy) down under! I only have a few tickets left in Melbourne and Sydney. Cop them tickets! Gonna sell out,' he wrote on Instagram on Thursday.

It will be the first comedy show for the star in Australia, with dates set in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

Adam was in Sydney with Zac Efron in 2016 to promote Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates.

And it seems the city left a positive impression on the comedian.

'We have the best time, so much fun,' he said during his visit.

Taking over! It will be the first comedy show for the star in Australia, with dates set in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney

The boys are back! His show opened in Perth at The Astor Theatre on January 27, and he will head to Brisbane where he will perform at The Tivoli on January 29

The Workaholics actor is used to working with Australians, filming Rebel Wilson's comedy, Isn't It Romantic?, alongside Liam Hemsworth.

His show opened in Perth at The Astor Theatre on January 27, and he will head to Brisbane where he will perform at The Tivoli on January 29.

Melbourne's Antheneaum Theatre will host his third show on February 1, before his final show at the Sydney Opera House on February 3.

Adam has been dating Pretty Little Liars star Chloe Bridges and admitted late last year she expected a proposal when they were in Europe last.

The tour: Melbourne's Antheneaum Theatre will host his third show on February 1, before his final show at the Sydney Opera House on February 3

Proposal bust: 'So I think she was having some grandiose ideas, meanwhile I'm too dumb to pick up on any clues,' he said

'I think we had been dating long enough that maybe she thought I was going to propose. I haven't thought about that,' he told Hit 105's Stav, Abby and Matt with Osher.

'I didn't realise I [was] taking her to the most romantic places in the world. I'm taking her to Venice, Paris, and we had honeymoon suites because they're the nicest rooms.

'So I think she was having some grandiose ideas, meanwhile I'm too dumb to pick up on any clues.'

At the time Adam mentioned Chloe may join him on the comedy tour but he hasn't posted a picture with her as yet.
She's set to give birth to a baby girl any day now.

And Camilla Franks, 41, looked ready to pop while showcasing her burgeoning baby bump in a bikini snap shared to Instagram on Saturday.

The acclaimed fashion designer cradled her tummy while sporting a black and grey two-piece in a poolside photo - and it was clear by her captions that she's eager to give birth.

Ready to pop! Camilla Franks, 41, looked ready to pop while showcasing her burgeoning baby bump in a bikini snap shared to Instagram on Saturday

'Due date... where are you?' she wrote.

'Guess we'll just have to enjoy this pool party without you.'

She added: 'Come jump into this world and into our arms ... Feeling huge and hot, but so in love and riddled with excitement to meet you little girl.'

'Feeling hot and huge': The acclaimed fashion designer cradled her tummy while sporting a black and grey two-piece in a poolside photo and it was clear by her captions that she's eager to give birth

Despite being in her final trimester, Camilla, whose fans include superstar Beyonce, is showing no signs of slowing down.

Last week, the beauty was seen working out with her fiance JP Jones.

Taken through her paces by trainer Christina Waite, Camilla showed off her belly in a grey top scrunched under the bust, teamed with three-quarter length purple leggings.

Taking the plunge: Camilla was seen leaping into a swimming pool as she soaked up some sunshine

The kaftan queen ensured she was light on her feet, opting for a pair of black trainers and swept her brunette locks into a high ponytail.

Working up a sweat, the mother-to-be completed a series of squats while pulling down on resistance bands, later performing lunges holding a kettlebell in one hand.

No slowing down: Last week, the heavily pregnant beauty was seen working out with her fiance JP Jones

Focused: The kaftan queen performed a series of squats while pulling down on resistance ropes

Camilla, who postponed her wedding to JP until after the birth, spoke to 9Honey last October, about discovering she was pregnant with her first child, at age 41.

'It started off as an unpredictable emotional rollercoaster of happy, excited, terrified and everything in between,' she said.

'But as January comes closer, I'm beginning to learn how to relax and enjoy this sacred time.'

Looking fit: Camilla later performed lunges holding onto a kettlebell with one hand

'I've always said my business was my first love child. She has been the centre of my everything for nearly 15 years - it was time to bring her a sibling.'

Camilla and JP met over 20 years ago, before an expired visa forced the pair to separate, however they reunited in 2015.

'We met and fell in love at first sight when I was 19 or 20. We were together for three years, living in the UK, but my visa ran out and I had to go back to Australia,' the businesswoman told news.com.au in May 2016.
She's the larger-than-life Australian comedian who struck it big with her turn in Bridesmaids.

And Rebel Wilson, 37, looked every inch the Hollywood star as she attended the G'Day USA Australian Film Industry Showcase in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The blonde actress cut a sparkling figure at the black tie event in a shimmering wrap dress, which she paired with a classic black pumps.

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All that glitters! Comedian Rebel Wilson, 37, cut a dazzling figure in a shimmering dress on the red carpet of the G'Day USA Australian Film Industry Showcase in Los Angeles on Saturday

Posing for cameras on the red carpet, the comedy queen wore her blonde hair looking and lightly curled for the event, which was held at the Saban Media Centre.

The actress chose to keep things simple next to her sequins and wore no accessories.

Although she walked the red carpet solo, the Pitch Perfect star was joined at certain points by House Husbands actor and friend Hugh Sheridan.

Razzle, dazzle! The Pitch Perfect star wore her trademark blonde hair down at the black tie event

Earlier in the evening, comedian Rebel posted a number of short clips to her Twitter account.

Hitting a somewhat political tone, the pair performed a song called DREAMERS together during a sound check prior to the event.

With the pair singing the lyrics: 'The spirit rise up. We're always been the dreamers,' the lyrics, which appeared to be a double entendre, started.

Friendly support! At points on the red carpet, the star was joined by actor and friend, Hugh Sheridan

'I've dreaming of a bigger world, I'm dreaming of a better life...Going to the land of young and free. Going to the Earth, the sky and sea.'

The lyrics continued: 'Travel hard to come back home. Coming to the place we call our home.'

Meanwhile, in a second short clip posted to Twitter, the pair appear to be messing around with each other in a Los Angeles hotel room prior to the event.

Blonde bombshell! The star put on a leggy display matching her dress with a pair of suede look heels

Rebel starts the video: 'Here we are at G'Day USA.'

Hugh, wearing a robe with a towel elaborately wrapped around his short hair, starts stretching his leg while he bangs the keys of the piano, then he started practicing a vocal scale, hitting a particularly high note.

'Tell 'em we need the car there by 7,' he said in a theatrical voice.

According to the G'DAY USA website, the event was billed as a celebration of the Australian film industry and innovative film and television talent, bringing together a mix of executives and talent.
She's performing on Sunday's Grammy Awards.

And Lady Gaga took some time for herself before the big performance as she was spotted with her beau Christian Carino in New York on Saturday.

The 31-year-old songstress rocked an electric blue coat as she held hands with Christian in the Big Apple.

Loved up: Lady Gaga took some time for herself before the big performance as she was spotted with her beau Christian Carino in New York on Saturday

Daring to impress, the Born This Way songstress covered her enviable figure in the bright latex coat.

Underneath the fashion forward wrap, Lady Gaga sported a mustard colored velvet bodysuit with a high collar.

Her trademark blonde tresses were swept back in a tight bun allowing her youthful face to shine.

Throwing caution to the wind, the superstar went virtually makeup free with a slight smokey eye and dab of berry lip.

Electric: The songstress rocked an electric blue coat as she held hands with her boyfriend traipsing around the Big Apple

Stunner: Daring to impress, the Born This Way songstress covered her enviable figure in the bright latex coat

Her simple yet chic accessories included a pair of Jimmy Smith high heels and a set of retro glasses.

Her main squeeze sported a dark blue over coat and grey tee as he stomped around in brown leather boots.

Meanwhile, the six-time Grammy winner is kicked off the third leg of her 59-date Joanne World Tour on January 14 at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona.

Her year is already stacking up to be busy as she recently announced a residency at the MGM in Las Vegas, and will earn an estimated $14.4 million, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Undercover: Underneath the fashion forward wrap, Lady Gaga sported a mustard colored velvet bodysuit with a high collar

She wrote: 'The rumors are true I will have my own residency in Las Vegas at MGMs Park Theater. I am SO HAPPY and excited beyond belief to make my own brand new show here with my new Vegas family.

'And I couldnt have done it without my amazing fans, little monsters and team. We love you so much. Meet me in Las Vegas!! This is just the beginning of a new era!'

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, she will earn an estimated $14.4 million, meaning Gaga will rake in around $400,000 per performance.

Hair game: Her trademark blonde tresses were swept back in a tight bun allowing her youthful face to shine

Chic style: Her simple yet chic accessories included a pair of Jimmy Smith high heels and a set of retro glasses

A source familiar with her contract told the publication that claims she is in line for $100 million for 60 shows are 'way, way, way, off'.

The Beautiful Dirty Rich hitmaker will 'perform 36 shows at The Park Theater at Monte Carlo,' beginning next Autumn.

It was revealed earlier this month that Gaga and CAA talent agent Christain Carino, who have been dating since the beginning of the year, had become engaged over the summer after Carino first asked her father's permission.

Look at me: Gaga took to social media to show off eclectic style

Boot it: She rocked the gold boots
Turkey will clean its entire border with Syria of terrorists, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday, in a sign that a nine-day-old Turkish offensive into northern Syria's Afrin region could be extended further.

Speaking at a congress of his ruling AK Party in the northern province of Amasya, Erdogan said Turkey would make sure the Syrian refugees it hosts can return to their homes once the border is cleared of militants.

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She has been making glamorous appearances on the Essex night scene since her star-studded TOWIE days.

But Lydia Bright was bleary eyed when she climbed into the taxi with a Ricky Rayment lookalike on the way home from Faces nightclub, in Essex on Saturday.

Glamorous Lydia, 28, looked worse for wear as she reclined in the back of the vehicle after her wild night out on the party scene with friends.

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Not feeling so Bright? Former TOWIE's Lydia was worse-for-wear as leggy star climbed into taxi with Ricky Rayment lookalike on way home from night out at Faces, in Essex on Saturday

The former TOWIE beauty had pulled out all the stops on her sleek looks for the evening on the tiles as she slipped her enviable curves into a tiny PVC miniskirt.

TV personality Lydia put the focus on her slender legs in her racy fishnet tights which caught the eye with their pearl embellishments.

The Only Way Is Essex star swept her tresses into a half up-do hairstyle and she drew attention to her cleavage in her plunging Bardot top which was cut across the bust.

Hunky pal: The former TOWIE star, 28, was joined by a Ricky Rayment lookalike dressed in a smart black shirt for their night on the tiles

Lydia's sky-scraper high heels polished off her sleek look as she joined her dapper male companion in the taxi in the early hours of Sunday morning.

MailOnline has approached Lydia Bright's representatives to identify her friend.

Despite being one of the longest running stars in The Only Way Is Essex, she bowed out of the reality series in 2017.

In June, she discussed how her time on the show had come to a 'natural end' but she didn't rule out returning to TOWIE in the future.

Pin-credible scenes: The former TOWIE beauty had pulled out all the stops on her sleek looks for the evening on the tiles as she slipped her enviable curves into a tiny PVC miniskirt

She explained: 'My time has naturally come to an end. Life is about taking chances and moving on to new things.

'I never say never (to returning to TOWIE), but for now I need to take some time out.'

Lydia has gone onto establish herself as an author, made a string of TV appearances and continued with her boutique clothing brand Bella Sorella.

She Shore knows how to party! Vicky Pattison, 30, partied up a storm when she joined her friends at Stables Market in Camden, in London on Saturday

The television personality's decision to leave the show come after her on/off relationship with her co-star James 'Arg' Argent came to a final end.

Lydia and Arg had weathered a rocky romance ever since they appeared in the first TOWIE series together back in 2010.

In October, she revealed she was single again after she enjoyed a brief three-month love affair with Lee Cronin since leaving TOWIE.

Of the relationship, she revealed: 'I didn't want it to go everywhere because it was still early days. It fizzled out but we're still friends.'

Leggy lady: The former Geordie Shore star gave a glimpse of her bronze limbs in her thigh-split silk pink dress where her coat gaped open

Three's a party! The reality star wrapped up in her cream bathrobe-style coat to keep warm in the chilly conditions out in the rainy streets of London, flanked by her pals

The golden-haired beauty divulged she found the dating scene difficult to navigate as a public figure.

She explained: 'I would find it hard to use something like Tinder of Bumble. I'm quite lucky in the sense that all of my girl-friends are single, just because they are all absolute nuts, but they all do Tinder and Bumble and things.

'But I feel like I couldn't do that because if I did, it would be straight all over the press. So I have to meet people the old-fashioned way.'
They got together during the Christmas period of 2016, following the breakdown of his relationship with Danielle Armstrong.

But Yazmin Oukhellou and James Lock certainly looked stronger than ever on Saturday, as they enjoyed another night out in their stomping ground of Essex.

The 24-year-old proved her glamorous sense of style in a slinky black jumpsuit, as she packed on the PDA with James, 31, on their way home from Faces nightclub.

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Pucker up! Yazmin Oukhellou and James Lock certainly looked stronger than ever on Saturday, as they packed on the PDA after a night out at Faces nightclub in Essex

The brunette showed off her sensational figure in the one-piece, which plunged into a daring V neckline to display much of her cleavage to all.

Cinching in at her slim waist, the jumpsuit then clung to her long and slender legs to the floor, where it met sky-high glittering silver heels.

Keeping all eyes on her show-stopping look, Yazmin accessorised with a simple grey clutch bag and slicked her hair back into a tight ponytail.

Taking the plunge: The brunette showed off her sensational figure in the one-piece, which plunged into a daring V neckline to display much of her cleavage to all

Legs for days: Cinching in at her slim waist, the jumpsuit then clung to her long and slender legs to the floor, where it met sky-high glittering silver heels

James meanwhile kept things more simple in an all-black ensemble, but added a quirky farmer's cap to conceal his healing hair transplant as he headed out.

The pair were unable to keep their hands off each other as they headed home from the club - indulging in plenty of kisses on the way to their taxi.

Yaz and James got together last year, after the breakdown of his four-year relationship with fellow TOWIE star Danielle Armstrong.

The pair have been going strong ever since, and even celebrated Christmas as well as their anniversary at her father's villa in Marrakech last month.

Close: The pair were unable to keep their hands off each other as they headed home from the club arm-in-arm

Yaz recently revealed their romance first began in Morocco as she 'started talking' to James, after meeting him through her brother, during a month-long visit in 2016.

She told the Daily Star: 'Last year my family and I went out there for a month and that's when I started speaking to James.

'I'd known him a long time as he was close to my brother but we'd always been off-limits out of respect to my brother and because he had a girlfriend. We spoke everyday for a month. And look at us now!'

However, the brunette went on to admit a proposal was still 'a couple of years' away, and would only occur if he were to ask her father's permission.
She championed the 'power of women' when she scooped her fourth Golden Globe win for her show-stopping performance in Big Little Lies in recent weeks.

And Nicole Kidman was back to work on the set of her latest crime thriller movie Destroyer in Culver City, California on Saturday.

Recognised for her golden locks, the 50-year-old actress donned a mousy coloured wig as she got into character during filming.

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Worlds away: Nicole Kidman, 50, was unrecognisable in a wig and shirt as she transformed into character for filming her latest thriller Destroyer, in California on Saturday

After finding Golden Globe success in her role as domestic violence victim Celeste Wright in Big Little Lies, she decidedly turned her hand at a very different role.

In Destroyer, Nicole slips into the shoes of police detective Erin Bell who reconnects with people from an undercover assignment in her distant past to make peace.

The award-winner looked worlds away from her quirky sense of style when she donned a shirt and brogues on set.

Although a woman of many talents as she has proved herself a master of a number of film genres, it is no surprise the star has chosen to return to the thriller genre.

Storytelling: In Destroyer, Nicole slips into the shoes of police detective Erin Bell who reconnects with people from an undercover assignment in her distant past to make peace

Dramatically different: The award-winner looked worlds away from her quirky sense of style (L - pictured in Los Angeles, January 2018) when she donned a shirt and brogues on set (R)

Nicole wowed in a series of thriller films and television shows including Big Little Lies, Top of the Lake, The Others, Before I Go To Sleep and many more.

The Australian born beauty, who joined Instagram following the Golden Globes award ceremony, announced she was back at work on social media on January 13.

Nicole used it as an opportunity to champion women as she declared she was working with her female director and cinematographer for the Destroyer.

'Back at work with my female director and female cinematographer. #Destroyer #womeninfilm,' she penned on social media.

All about women: Nicole used Instagram as an opportunity to champion women as she declared she was working with her female director and cinematographer for the Destroyer

The Oscar-winner hailed women in her speech when she lifted her fourth Golden Globe in recent weeks.

'My momma was an advocate for the womens movement when I was growing up, and because of her Im standing here. My achievements are her achievements,' she told the audience.

Nicole joined forces with Reese Witherspoon, Zoe Kravitz, Laura Dern and Shailene Woodley in the award-winning HBO series of Big Little Lies.

Strong women: Nicole joined forces with Reese Witherspoon, Zoe Kravitz and Shailene Woodley (pictured in Big Little Lies) in the award-winning HBO series of Big Little Lies

Her character Celeste suffers the devastating trauma of domestic abuse at the hands of her husband Perry Wright (Alexander Skarsgard).

She explained: 'This character (Celeste) that I played represents something that is the center of our conversation right now: abuse. I do believe and I hope that we can elicit change through the stories we tell and the way we tell them.

'Reese, Zoe, Laura, Shailene  we pledged allegiance to each other, and this is ours to share.'
Their relationship was finally sealed with a kiss when they were spotted smooching in the back of a taxi in Milan in January 2017.

And Stella Maxwell cosied up to Kristen Stewart in the back of the vehicle after they left Madeo Ristorante, in West Hollywood on Saturday.

The sleepy Victoria's Secret Angel, 27, closed her eyes as she leaned in closer to her Hollywood actress girlfriend, 27, on the way home from their date night.

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Partying after Twilight! Sleepy Stella Maxwell cosied up to her girlfriend Kristen Stewart in the taxi on the way home after date night out

Lovebirds Stella and Kristen proved they were going stronger than ever as they showed they were comfortable in each other's company.

As a Victoria's Secret Angel ever since 2015, of course catwalk queen Stella was on trend with her distressed jeans which were ripped at the knee.

Meanwhile, Kristen layered up in a stylish denim jacket worn over a simple white T-shirt and she enhanced her beautiful features with deftly touches of make-up.

Stylish Stella: As a Victoria's Secret Angel ever since 2015, of course the catwalk queen was on trend with her distressed jeans which were ripped at the knee

Rumours started swirling that the gorgeous duo were lovers back in 2016 but they weren't officially public until pictures of them kissing were published in 2017.

Kristen poured her heart out in an interview with Harper's Bazaar magazine when she confessed she has been 'deeply in love' with everyone she has dated.

'I've been deeply in love with everyone I've dated,' Kristen told the publication back in September 2017.

'Did you think I was faking it? I've always really embraced a duality. And really, truly, believed in it and never felt confused or struggling. I just didn't like getting made fun of.'

Home time: The sleepy Victoria's Secret Angel, 27, closed her eyes as she leaned in closer to her Hollywood actress girlfriend, 27, on the way home from their date night

Despite being unlucky in love with men in the past, Kristen didn't rule out dating hunks in the future.

She told the publication: 'Yeah, totally. Definitely Some people aren't like that. Some people know that they like grilled cheese and they'll eat it every day for the rest of their lives. I want to try everything. If I have grilled cheese once I'm like, "That was cool, what's next?"

Kristen's love story with Stella followed the break-up with Hollywood heartthrob and Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson.

Former flames Kristen and Robert, who fell madly in love on the set of teenage vampire series Twilight, were together for almost four years from 2008 until 2012.

Their romance came to a dramatic end soon after she was pictured kissing Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders.

In March 2017, Kristen told The Sunday Times: 'When I was dating Rob, the public were the enemyand that is no way to live.

'I didn't talk about my first relationships that went public because I wanted things that are mine to be mine.

'I would have kept my life private for ever. But then I can't walk outside holding somebody's hand, as I'm followed everywhere.'
She's expecting her first child with NRL star husband Benji Marshall in the next few weeks.

And on Saturday, Zoe Marshall's friends threw her a last-minute baby blessing party.

Looking as stylish in a green silk-like ensemble, the 33-year-old mother-to-be was all smiles at the event where she named her baby's soon-to-be godparents.

Not long to go: On Saturday, mother-to-be Zoe Marshall had a baby blessing party where she unveiled the names of the soon-to-be godparents

Zoe sported a maxi wrap dress for the special day, which featured a plunging neckline.

With her brunette locks loose, the radio host had that pregnancy glow - evident in her radiant complexion and sparkling eyes.

Zoe unveiled to her 32,800 Instagram followers who she and Benji had chosen to act as the baby's godparents.

Recognise the guy on the left? Zoe unveiled to her 32,800 Instagram followers who she and Benji had chosen to act as the baby's godparents

His new role! Standing alongside the couple, Zoe chose friend Nina Karnikowski to act as godmother while internationally-renowned designer Steven Kahill was named as godfather

'These two. What can I say..they are baby Marshall's new guides...life, love, travel, ethics, kindness, strength, compassion

'They will guide and help navigate this baby in their own ways,' she wrote in the caption.

Standing alongside the pair, Zoe chose friend Nina Karnikowski to act as godmother while internationally-renowned designer Steven Kahill was named as godfather.

And it seemed as though Zoe's fans were on board with her well-known pick, as many revealed they'd like Steven to also their godfather.

Get in line! 'I think everyone needs an awesome godpappa like @steven_khalil he will do an amazing job,' wrote one fan

'I think everyone needs an awesome godpappa like @steven_khalil he will do an amazing job,' wrote one fan.

The couple announced they were expecting their first child together at the beginning of September.

'I was so shocked I fell on the floor crying,' Zoe told Woman's Day about the moment she found out the happy news - which was on her birthday.

The brunette beauty also added that her battle with stage-four endometriosis was the reason the couple had taken a while to conceive.

She told the publication she was worried that they would never fall pregnant.

'We always knew we wanted a baby, so living with that uncertainty was tough,' she said.

The pair married in 2013, tying the knot in a lavish ceremony in Byron Bay.
She broke up with her Just Tattoo of Us co-star Stephen Bear for the last time in December, and hinted at a new romance with Ex On The Beach's Joshua Ritchie.

But lovelorn Charlotte Crosby, 27, was reportedly completely inconsolable as she walked tearfully through Sydney after visiting the Australian MTV offices on Friday.

In pictures obtained by The Sun, The Geordie Shore star buried her crying eyes with her hands, while insiders told the paper that no one was able to ease Charlotte's emotional breakdown.

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'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 upset starlet dressed in a simple black t-shirts and shorts for her day in Sydney, where she's filming her latest reality show.

Trying to find comfort with her friend beside her, Charlotte rubbed her face of tears while trying to calm down following her visit to the MTV Australia offices.

Tying her hair up into a messy bun, Charlotte was unable to stop the emotional moment - potentially caused by former flame Stephen bear, according to the newspaper.

Forlorn: The Geordie Shore star buried her crying eyes with her hands, while insiders telling told the paper that no one was able to ease Charlotte's emotional breakdown

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.

Breakdown: The upset starlet dressed in a simple black t-shirts and shorts for her day in Sydney, where she's filming her latest reality show

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.
She's one of Australia's brightest stars.

And on Saturday, Margot Robbie was honoured by her home country with an Excellence In Film award at the G'Day USA gala in Los Angeles.

The 27-year-old was presented the accolade by five-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams at the annual event, which celebrates the relationship between Australia and the United States.

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Overwhelmed: Margot Robbie was taken aback as she was honoured with an Excellence In Film award at the G'Day USA gala in Los Angeles Saturday

G'Day US-Amy! Margot's award was presented by five-time Oscar nominee, Amy Adams

Appearing overwhelmed by the honour, Margot hugged Amy as she took to the stage.

'As a girl from the lucky country living in the land of opportunity, I can say with absolute certainty when you have opportunity combined with luck, incredible things can happen',she said according to The Herald Sun.

The star also stated that she was a 'very proud and humbled Aussie' as she stood at the podium.

What an introduction! Amy took to the podium to describe Margot's achievements

Leading ladies! The two Hollywood heavyweights embraced on the stage

It was no doubt a privilege to receive the award from Amy Adams, a five-time Oscar nominee who has appeared in hits including Julie & Julia and The Fighter.

It comes fresh off Margot's own Academy Award nomination for her role as disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding in the black comedy I, Tonya.

The talented blonde also produced the film, which has additionally been nominated for two other Oscars.

'Incredible things can happen': Modest Margot said her success was the result of luck and opportunity

Margot's rise in Hollywood has been swift and momentous, following her breakout role in 2014's Wolf of Wall Street.

However, the Queensland native who starred on Neighbours for three years before moving to the US hasn't turned her back on her roots.

Speaking to Who Magazine last week, the beauty said she 'would totally' reprise her as Donna Freedman on the popular soap.
He was spotted without his tag for the first time on Saturday morning, one month after his release from prison.

And Jeremy McConnell was keen to celebrate the milestone that evening, as he embarked on a very rowdy night out in Manchester.

Sporting his new sprawling skull tattoo, the 27-year-old could not contain his delight as he headed out on the town - and even stripped to his boxers with excitement, upon arrival at a swanky bar.

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Raucous: Jeremy McConnell embarked on a very wild night out in Manchester on Saturday, to celebrate the removal of his electronic tag

Carefree: The 27-year-old could not contain his delight as he headed out on the town - and even stripped to his boxers in excitement, upon arrival at a swanky bar

Jeremy appeared to be in very good spirits as he headed out in Manchester, after a troubled year.

The former Celebrity Big Brother star kept things simple in a black shirt and ripped jeans, which both gave a flash of his heavily tattooed frame underneath.

Becoming more rowdy as the night went on, Jeremy was then seen unbuttoning his shirt as he headed to the bar, cheering and chanting with his company.

Ready and raring to go: Jeremy appeared to be in very good spirits as he headed out in Manchester

Casual: The former Celebrity Big Brother star kept things simple in a black shirt and ripped jeans, which both gave a flash of his heavily tattooed frame underneath

Rowdy: Becoming more rowdy as the night went on, Jeremy was then seen unbuttoning his shirt as he headed to the bar, cheering and chanting with his company

Stripping off: The reality star even proceeded to drop his trousers in the street, and playfully pose for cameras in nothing but his white boxers

Clearly excited for a big night out, the reality star even proceeded to drop his trousers in the street, and playfully pose for cameras in nothing but his white boxers.

However he soon collected himself once again and headed into the bar with his lawyer Katie McCreath and his friends - who appeared equally keen to celebrate, by jumping on his back and pulling him in for hugs outside.

Jeremy also debuted the huge inking across his skull the outing - having spent 12 hours under the needle getting the tattoo, which covers one side of his head.

Pulling it together: However he soon collected himself once again and headed into the bar with his lawyer Katie McCreath and his friends

Feeling good: Jeremy had arrived in Manchester earlier this day without his tag for the first time

Having a ball: His friends appeared equally keen to celebrate, and were seen jumping on his back on their way to the bar

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.

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.

Debut: Jeremy also debuted the huge inking across his skull the outing - having spent 12 hours under the needle getting the tattoo, which covers one side of his head

Personal: Jeremy went to a tattooist with the design for an angel on one side of his scalp, a locket and a key on the other and a skull on the back, which has a secret meaning to him

Adding more: His next bid is to transform his whole body into a living artwork over the next couple of months, following his release from prison

'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.'

Irish star Jeremy was released from prison 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.

New man: It was Jeremy's first night out without his tag or curfew, following his stint in prison

Guilty: Irish star Jeremy was released from prison after battering his ex and the mother of his child, former Hollyoaks star Stephanie Davis

Behind bars: He was originally sentenced to 200 hours community service and a 20 week suspended sentence last August. but was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison late last year

He was originally sentenced to 200 hours community service and a 20 week suspended sentence last August over the attack on his ex.

However 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.

Jet-setter: The prison sentence was due to Jeremy (L) missing eight community service sessions to jet off to Turkey for a hair and beard transplant

Freedom: 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
He's set to make his debut on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! on Monday night.

And Anthony Mundine is sure to ruffle some serious feathers with his controversial views when he enters the South African jungle.

In an explosive interview with the Daily Telegraph, the 42-year-old, who converted to Islam in 1999, has condemned abortion, contraception, and homosexuality, while voicing support for polygamy.

Controversial: Anthony Mundine has condemned homosexuality and abortion whilst supporting polygamy ahead of his entrance on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

'You can have up to four wives done justly,' he said, crediting both his Islamic faith and 'aboriginal culture' for allowing such a thing.

The former pro boxer, who is rumoured to have fathered seven children to four different women according to the Daily Telegraph, also said that he doesn't believe in contraception, and that abortion is a 'big no-no.'

On the subject of homosexuality, Anthony said yet again that his Islamic faith is against it.

'You can have up to four wives done justly,' he said, crediting both his Islamic faith and 'aboriginal culture' for allowing such a thing

'That is what the creator (Allah) has set,' he said. 'These are his perimeters, not mine, and I follow them.'

The outspoken athlete plans to follow his devout Muslim beliefs while on I'm a Celeb, which includes praying five times a day and only eating halal food.

Anthony also said that he's currently toying with a potential run for Prime Minister of Australia after seeing Donald Trump become the 45th President of the United States.

The boxer said he'd run as an independent with his own party, and that his main goal is to 'improve indigenous Australia.'

'That is what the creator (Allah) has set': The 42-year-old, who is rumoured to have fathered seven children to four different women, is also against homosexuality and contraception

The Sydney-born Aboriginal has made countless headlines for his controversial comments over the years, most notably in 2001 regarding the 9/11 terror attacks.

At the time, he said: 'They call it an act of terrorism, but if you can understand religion, and our way of life, it's not about terrorism. It's about fighting for God's law, and America's brought it upon themselves.'

He later apologised for the remarks, claiming that they were taken out of context and clarifying that he was simply trying to make an anti-war statement that was then misconstrued.
She's getting ready to storm the runway at the upcoming New York Fashion Week.

And before the festivities kick off on 8th February, catwalk queen Winnie Harlow, 23, took some much needed time off, as she headed out to NYC hotspot 1OAK on Saturday night.

The America's Next Top Model star commanded attention in her strikingly bold blue faux-fur jacket, perfect for keeping the chilly temperature at bay.

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Fur-ocious style! Winnie Harlow, 23, turned heads in a striking blue faux-fur jacket and sheer camisole during a night out in NYC

Winnie - real name Chantelle Brown-Young - draped the decadent multi-tonal fur jacket over her slender physique as she made quite an entrance to the celebrity haunt.

Making the pavement her catwalk, she proved her model prowess with her effortless beauty and supermodel strut.

The activist flaunted her impeccable pins in baby blue acid wash distressed jeans, giving a glimpse of her enviable figure with large cutouts.

Sultry look: The America's Next Top Model star commanded attention in her strikingly bold blue faux-fur jacket, perfect for keeping the chilly temperature at bay

The wintry evening didn't stop the Canadian beauty from rocking a sheer lace Gooseberry Intimates bodysuit, giving a teasing look at her stunning toned figure.

Adding height to her 5'9 statuesque build, she sauntered to the hotspot in chic patent leather boots.

With her hood all the way up, her trademark glossy raven tresses felt beautifully past chest, while she threw her best model pout with a glossy pink lip and dramatic smokey eye.

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.

True fashionista: Winnie - real name Chantelle Brown-Young - draped the decadent multi-tonal fur jacket over her slender physique as she made quite an entrance to the celebrity haunt

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.

Winnie has a skin condition called vitiligo - in which pale white patches form on the skin and she has garnered praise for her striking beauty.

Regularly posting on Instagram to her 2.8 million followers, Winnie has become an spokesperson for the condition as she frequently addresses the topic.

In an interview with Cosmopolitan magazine, she revealed: 'Kids called me a cow and mooed at me. I remember sitting by my window wishing upon the stars that my skin condition would go away.'

Using her model platform to educate on the matter, Winnie's natural beauty and up-front manner has made her a fashion icon.
The United States delivered another two Black Hawk helicopters to key Arab ally Jordan on Sunday to help protect the kingdom's borders and counter the threat from Islamist militants.

The helicopters were handed over at the King Abdullah II Air Base in northeast Jordan.

They were the last batch of 12 Black Hawks delivered to Jordan since March 2017.

An American embassy statement said the aircraft "will strengthen the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF), its Quick Reaction Force and Jordan's security".

"The United States is committed to supporting the JAF's efforts to protect Jordan's borders, counter-terrorism, assist in civil defence operations, and defeat ISIS through the international coalition," it said, using an acronym for the Islamic State group.

Jordan is a key recipient of American financial aid and a partner in the US-led coalition battling the Islamist militants in neighbouring Syria and Iraq.

"The United States and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan have a historic and enduring relationship, built on shared values and shared interests," said US embassy charge d'affaires Henry Wooster.

"Our military partnership epitomises our mutual goals for a secure and stable region.

"Today's ceremony marks the beginning of a new JAF capability in the form of a state-of-the-art UH-60 Black Hawk fleet."

Wooster attended the ceremony with US Central Command chief General Joseph Votel and King Abdullah's brother, Prince Faisal bin Hussein.

Black Hawks overflew the base while the Jordanian armed forces conducted a live fire and infiltration demonstration.

Last year, the United States allocated $470 million to Jordan's army and air force, the American embassy said.

This included pilot and maintenance training, spares, ground equipment, weapons, ammunition and shelters for the Black Hawks, it added.

Three years ago, Washington said it would increase overall US assistance to Jordan from $660 million to $1 billion annually for between 2015 and 2017.

Planning Minister Imad al-Fakhoury said in December that US economic aid to Jordan in 2017 was around $812 million.

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She left Made In Chelsea to focus on her blossoming romance with James Dunmore in September 2016.

And it seems to have paid off as Lucy Watson showed she was going stronger than ever with her man when they enjoyed a romantic getaway to Australia on Thursday.

The 26-year-old reality star and her former co-star, who fell in love on the set of the E4 reality series, arrived back at their hotel after their shopping spree.



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Made In Chelsea couple goals: Former MIC star Lucy Watson flaunted her enviable figure in a bra as she enjoyed a romantic getaway with beau James Dunmore, in Australia on Thursday

The brunette beauty showed off her ample cleavage in a skimpy striped tie-front bra that teased a look at her tan lines.

Lucy drew attention to her incredibly minuscule waistline with her thigh-skimming shorts, which featured a pleated hem and a belt tied in a bow at the waist.

Meanwhile, her beau James donned a pair of thigh-grazing shorts and a slim-fit T-shirt to best showcase his hunky physique.

The Made In Chelsea golden couple had just touched down in Australia following their sun-drenched trip to Dubai.

Fabulous figure: Lucy drew attention to her incredibly minuscule waistline with her thigh-skimming shorts, which featured a pleated hem and a belt tied in a bow at the waist

On arrival Down Under, the ex-MIC beauty penned on Instagram: '(It) feels good to be back.' (sic)

Although the pair haven't been seen out together since they were holidaying in August, they showed they had gone from strength to strength out of the public eye.

Despite meeting on the set of the E4 series in early 2015, Lucy decided to bow out of the show because she was consumed by their romance.

The television personality announced her decision in September 2016 following her four-year stint on the series that propelled her to fame back in 2012.

Couple goals: The Made In Chelsea golden couple had just touched down in Australia following their sun-drenched trip to Dubai

A spokesperson told MailOnline: 'After four amazing years on Made In Chelsea, Lucy feels that now is the right time to explore some other exciting opportunities and projects that she is passionate about.

'Being part of such a successful show has been an incredible experience for her, and she wishes everyone involved all the very best for the future.'

Her friend and co-star on the show Frankie Gaff then revealed the brunette was taking time away from the spotlight to concentrate on her relationship with James.

Revealed: The Made In Chelsea star left the E4 reality series to focus on her blossoming romance with James Dunmore in September 2016

The Made in Chelsea star told BANG Showbiz: 'Lucy's not going to be in the next series. At the moment she's decided not to because she's loved up.'

Lovebirds Lucy and James are madly in love and have even taken their relationship to the next stage by purchasing a house together in August 2017.

Tiffany Watson's sister mended her heartache following her dramatic split from Made In Chelsea's now-reformed Lothario Spencer Matthews in 2015.

Before meeting James, the beauty confessed she found it hard to move on initially because she had her guard up to protect herself from getting hurt again.

Moving on: The television personality announced her decision in September 2016 following her four-year stint on the series that propelled her to fame back in 2012

Lucy told MailOnline in March 2015: 'Spencer was my last boyfriend. I've seen people and dated since but I've not had a boyfriend.

'Since Spencer, I've been more cautious about who I let into my life. I'm still young and I'm so busy with my job that I don't want to invest time in someone if I don't think they are right for me.'

Made In Chelsea hunk Spencer is now completely smitten with model Vogue Williams who he once claimed was better looking than supermodel Cindy Crawford.
Nick Knowles' estranged wife Jessica Rose Moor has retaliated against her ex husband's response to her 'open letter about my divorce' posted on Twitter on Friday.

In the long diatribe, she alleged 'years of emotional cruelty, physical abuse' by her husband as well as reportedly withdrawing their three year-old son Eddie from private education, but sources close to the DIY SOS presenter, 55, denied the allegations - saying he 'only wants the best for his son'.

However, Jessica, who split from her husband last year, has hit back at his reaction in a new statement on the micro-blogging site on Sunday, where she denounced his denials of 'cruelty' and continued to suggest that he has withdrawn his financial support for their son.

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Hitting back: Nick Knowles' estranged wife Jessica Rose Moor has retaliated against her ex husband's response to her 'open letter about my divorce' posted on Twitter on Friday

In the equally emotional letter captioned: 'In response', Jessica responded to Nick's apparent shock at the 'horrendous' allegations made, saying:

'Nick may be intelligent but he is not smart. He is now denying that he withdrew his promise to send Eddie to private school but it was sent by his solicitor to mine.

'He as also denied years of cruelty but I do have diaries and photographic proof'.

Jessica then alleged that the presenter 'abandoned' her with young son Eddie in Spain for a 'string of girlfriends', and that she wants Nick to 'keep his promises' or she may publish 'witness statements' that could confirm her allegations.

She continued: 'All I want is for him to keep all the promises he made to me and Eddie when he walked out of our lives to have a string of girlfriends after abandoning us in Spain.

'If he does not keep his promises, my only option (since I can't afford to fight it legally - which he knows) is to publish all that I have including witness statements because at that point I will have nothing to lose.

MailOnline have contacted representatives for Nick Knowles for comment.

Meanwhile, Nick is reportedly stunned by his estranged wife's accusations that he physically and emotionally abused her for years.



Friends close to Nick hit back that her allegations made her look 'very bitter' - as sources claimed he doesn't want to be drawn into a 'public slanging match'.

'Nick can't believe Jess has done this and can't understand why she'd accuse him of such horrendous things,' a source told The Mirror.

Horror: Nick Knowles is reportedly stunned by his estranged wife Jessica Rose Moor's 'horrendous' accusations that he physically and emotionally abused her for years

'He'd never do anything to harm Jess and only wants the best for their son. He took Jess to Barbados, got her set up with a magazine blog  and she has sold stories.'

The insider added: 'This shows her being very bitter. He wants a dignified silence.'

His friends also claimed he is already paying Jessica 'thousands a month' and paying her 'more than double' of most people's monthly wages.

It comes after sources claimed Nick was 'extremely hurt' by Jessica's accusations. An insider told The Sun: 'He won't be drawn into a public slanging match with Jess and wishes her nothing but the best.

Not impressed: Friends of the DIY SOS presenter, 55, hit back that her allegations made her look 'very bitter' - as sources claimed he doesn't want to be drawn into a 'public slanging match' (seen in 2014)

'For heaven's sake, he took her and Eddie on a fantastic luxury holiday to Barbados just a month ago as friends - hardly the actions of a selfish man who won't pay the bills.'

The source added: 'I am 100 per cent sure that he will find a way of paying those school fees, although he will pay them direct to the school rather than increasing her allowance.'

The insider also claimed Nick put his three other children through private school and will do the same for Eddie, who he 'absolutely adores'.

They alleged that he has made 'substantial financial provision' for Jessica and Eddie and claimed she's 'just angry' because he refused to increase his payments to her.

Nick's spokesman told the Sunday Mirror: 'These allegations are not true but Nick will not be responding publicly in an attempt to minimise the negative impact on his son.' MailOnline was unable to reach Jessica for comment.

Claims: The insider also claimed Nick put his three other children through private school and will do the same for Eddie, who he 'absolutely adores' (pictured with Jessica and Eddie in Barbados last month)

The blonde beauty, who has battled cervical cancer, called out her soon-to-be ex-beau in an explosive Twitter statement - explaining she has chosen to speak out about the TV star in a bid to fight for her son's schooling rights.

Jessica shared a lengthy statement - an open letter about her divorce - to the micro-blogging site, claiming: 'It takes a lot to break me, but he's done it.'

She penned: 'As all parents can relate, children starting school is an incredibly emotional and happy time.

'It takes a lot to break me': It comes after Jessica accused Nick of subjecting her to years of 'intimidation, emotional cruelty and physical abuse' amid their divorce battle

'This year parents, including myself, were invited to make their state school preferences for Gloucestershire by 15 by January 2018 for their child's chosen school.

'I did not submit a submission for Eddie as as it has been long agreed by my (soon to be ex) husband that Eddie would be privately educated - a luxury he is in the position to afford, as he has done for all his other children.

'As such, Eddie is enrolled to start private school this September (a school that me and my husband visited and chose together) except that he won't as I was advised by my husband's solicitor that this offer has been withdrawn.

Drama: She and the DIY SOS presenter split a year ago, but while their parting appeared to be amicable, Jessica, 30, has now 'broken her silence' on the duo's relationship, as she claims Nick, 55, has 'refused to pay' for their son Eddie's (above) private education

Explosive: Jessica shared a lengthy statement - an open letter about her divorce - to the micro-blogging site, claiming: 'It takes a lot to break me, but he's done it.'

'After years of intimidation, emotional cruelty, physical abuse and eventually isolation (that I have kept silent about - of which I have diaries and images), this is the straw that broke the camels back.

'To add insult to injury - like many men in his position of wealth and power he has advised he will not pay any legal fees meaning that I cannot afford to fight for our son's education.

'My husband has also said he will not purchase a house or give a settlement of any kind for us, this is disappointing but not unexpected - some people's generosity is only present in front of the TV cameras.

'Since he was born my sole priority has been Eddie's well being and I felt my silence was in his best interest but now I have to fight, which isn't in my nature, but I'm fighting for my son. What mother wouldn't.'

A representative for Nick declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.

Accusing: She penned: 'After years of intimidation, emotional cruelty, physical abuse and eventually isolation (that I have kept silent about - of which I have diaries and images), this is the straw that broke the camels back'

Upset: Jessica claims Nick is 'refusing to pay' for their son Eddie's private schooling, as promised, and 'won't purchase a house or give a settlement of any kind for us'

Amicable: Jessica's statement may come as a shock to fans, as she and Nick appeared to have an amicable divorce, despite the breakdown of their marriage - a representative for Nick declined to comment when approached by MailOnline

Jessica's statement may come as a shock to fans, as she and Nick appeared to have an amicable divorce, despite the breakdown of their marriage. Just last month, the former couple had enjoyed a holiday to Barbados with their son Eddie, three.

Nick and Jessica - who share a 26 year age gap - had married in a ceremony in Rome in 2012, but announced their separation in January 2016, following almost four years of marriage.

He is father to three other children; sons Charlie and Tyrian-J and daughter Tuesday.

Their split was muddied by his fling with Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten and Jessica's shock cancer diagnosis earlier in the year, but he insisted they were happily working on their marriage again and are ensuring their three-year-old son remains their priority.

Jessica had previously credited Nick for 'saving her life' following her cancer battle. In June 2016, Jessica had been diagnosed with stage one cervical cancer and had to have her cervix and pelvic lymph nodes removed.

Separated: Nick and Jessica had married in a ceremony in Rome in 2012, but announced their separation in January 2016, following almost four years of marriage

Following her surgery, Jessica was given the 'all clear', but she had voiced her concerns that her cancer could return.

In an interview with the Sunday Mirror in August 2016, she said: 'I wonder if I'm on borrowed time. I have this really morbid feeling. I might have been given the all-clear but it's still at the back of my mind it could come back.'

Despite it taking just two months after her diagnosis for her surgery to go ahead, Jessica described her ordeal as 'two months of hell', adding: 'Everyone thinks because you've been given the all-clear it's amazing, when actually you're struggling with all these emotions, the physical changes to your body, coming off heavy painkillers and worried about your own mortality still.'

Following her recovery, however, she and Nick had decided to give their marriage another shot, but finally ended things for good last December - nearly a year after she and Nick initially announced their split.

In an interview with Fabulous magazine last year, Jessica had insisted there was 'no hostility' between herself and Nick, as she addressed their separation, explaining: 'We were married and very in love, but communication broke down.

'The important thing is we really tried to make it work, so when we came out of it there wasn't anger or resentment.'

Split: Jessica had insisted there was 'no hostility' between herself and Nick, as she addressed their separation, explaining: 'We were married and very in love, but communication broke down'

Nick, meanwhile, had nothing but praise when it came to speaking about his estranged wife Jessica and gushed about their 'fantastic relationship' during an appearance on ITV's Lorraine in November.

He said: 'I can't say enough about Jess. She's the most amazing mum, she's the most amazingly calm human being.'

Since their split, Nick has been linked to string of beauties, including Lark Rise to Candleford actress Olivia Hallinan and former TOWIE star Pascal Craymer, 30- their romance came to an abrupt end and Pascal accused the star of having a 'midlife crisis'.



'I think Pascal got it right when she said I was having a midlife crisis,' Nick joked. 'Look, my relationship with my wife [Jessica Moor] ended two years ago now.

'We made sure we now have the best relationship we can have for our son. But we are both single. And I am dating. I just get on with it on my own.'
Earlier this month, she was seen touching down in South Africa, as she prepared to shoot scenes for her upcoming ITV drama The Widow.

And Kate Beckinsale was spotted getting into the swing of things on Friday, when she shot scenes for the show on the sweltering streets of Cape Town.

Opting to forgo makeup, the 44-year-old British beauty held an electronic cigarette as she enjoyed a chat with her co-star Jacky Ido during a break from filming.

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Ready for her close-up: Kate Beckinsale was spotted shooting scenes for her upcoming ITV drama The Widow in Cape Town, South Africa, on Friday

The star looked casually cool for her day in front of cameras, sporting a form-fitting navy top under a beige blouse, with blue skinny jeans and rugged brown boots.

Wearing her wavy brunette tresses in a high ponytail, the Total Recall star - who toted a large cropper brown bag - also opted not to sport any jewellery.

Eight-part series The Widow, set to hit screens next year, is the newest project from screenwriting brothers Harry and Jack Williams - responsible for hits Liar and The Missing.

Taking a break: Opting to forgo makeup, the 44-year-old British beauty held an electronic cigarette as she enjoyed a chat with her co-star Jacky Ido during a break from filming

Kate plays Georgia Wells, who attempts to uncover the truth behind her husband's disappearance, after he is reported dead following a plane crash in the Congo.

Meanwhile the actress was seen jetting to the sun-soaked location with her mother Judy - clearly spending time away from rumoured comedian beau Matt Rife, 22.

The pair were last pictured sharing an embrace at the Westfield Century City mall in Santa Monica in November - three months after Us Weekly reported their romance had 'fizzled out'.

Role: Kate plays Georgia Wells, who attempts to uncover the truth behind her husband's disappearance, after he is reported dead following a plane crash in the Congo. Pictured in 2017

An insider said at the time: 'They went on a couple of fun dates. It fizzled out weeks ago. She's happily single and has a lot going on.'

The stunning SAG Award nominee began dating the TRL host sometime around March after reportedly meeting through a mutual friend.

Kate is reportedly two years older than his mother and Matt is only four years older than her New York University-attending daughter Lily, who she shares with ex-partner Michael Sheen.
She's no stranger to the lavish lifestyle, being worth an estimated 232million.

And Tamara Ecclestone continued to enjoy the finer things in life as she visited upscale Japanese eatery Zuma in West London's Knightsbridge.

The 33-year-old F1 heiress wrapped up in a wintry ensemble as she joined husband Jay Rutland, 36, and their daughter Sophia, 3.

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Lavish lifestyle! Tamara Ecclestone continued to enjoy the finer things in life as she visited upscale eatery Zuma in West London's Knightsbridge

Layering up against the January chill, Tamara slipped into a pair of black skinny jeans and grey sweater, accentuating her stature with a pair of brown over-the-knee boots.

The brunette, who is daughter to F1 billionaire Bernie Ecclestone, completed her look with a padded teddy coat, opting for bold brows and perfectly blow-dried hair.

Meanwhile little Sophia looked adorable in a sparkling blue dress and sequin-embellished tights, holding her parents' hands as they arrived at the restaurant.

Joining his leading ladies was Essex-born Jay, who kept his look casual in jeans and a zipped hoodie.

Cosy: The 33-year-old F1 heiress wrapped up in a wintry ensemble as she joined husband Jay Rutland, 36, and their daughter Sophia, 3

Suave: Joining his leading ladies was Essex-born Jay, who kept his look casual in jeans and a zipped hoodie

The trio enjoyed a family dinner out, making the most of their relaxed Sunday.

In November Tamara remained defiant in the face of the backlash she faced for her expensive lifestyle.

Along with admitting Sophia has 'never flown economy', Tamara also spoke candidly of her relationship with husband, Jay Rutland confessing that she wasn't even 'that into' him ahead of their blind date.

Speaking to Heat about their privileged life, Tamara - who lives in a 70million 57-room home in Kensington with husband of four years Jay and Sophia - appeared unfazed by some of the backlash she has found herself subject to recently.

Turning heads! The brunette, who is daughter to F1 billionaire Bernie Ecclestone, completed her look with a padded teddy coat, opting for bold brows and perfectly blow-dried hair

Understated: Layering up against the January chill, Tamara slipped into a pair of black skinny jeans and grey sweater, accentuating her stature with a pair of brown over-the-knee boots

Of her daughter, she admitted: 'No she hasn't ever traveled economy. Her favourite way to travel is by private jet with a Happy Meal. It's really is a beautiful life.'

Although the beauty did admit that being rich isn't all plain sailing and can come with its difficulties, especially as she likes to give people the benefit of the doubt, with Tamara having her trust broken on multiple occasions in past relationships.

But having found her happily ever after, Tamara, who was at the centre of a blackmail plot in 2013 when her ex Derek Rose tried to extort her of 200,000, revealed: 'I met Jay, but there were tons of bad relationships before that'.

Cutie: Little Sophia looked adorable in a sparkling blue dress and sequin-embellished tights, holding her parents' hands as they arrived at the restaurant

Family time: The trio enjoyed a dinner out, making the most of their relaxed Sunday

Standing strong: In November Tamara remained defiant in the face of the backlash she faced for her expensive lifestyle

Speaking about her first meeting with Jay, who she married in 2013 before they welcomed daughter Sophia in 2014, Tamara admitted that she wasn't 'that into' her beau at first.

'I'd seen a picture and I wasn't that into him. I was like "No, no, no!" But then we met and he was so much more handsome in real life, and so funny and he was really charming,' she gushed.

'He takes the p*** out of me all the time. We have a really fun relationship and he isn't scared to tell me what he thinks. He also makes sure I don't spoil Fifi too much, but it's hard!'

Tamara is the daughter of billionaire Bernie, the former chief executive of Formula One. His involvement in the sport is thought to have resulted in an estimated fortune of 2.5billion.

Frank: Tamara also spoke candidly of her relationship with husband, Jay Rutland confessing that she wasn't even 'that into' him ahead of their blind date

Silver spoon: Tamara is the daughter of billionaire Bernie, the former chief executive of Formula One
Two years after being fired off Castle, Stana Katic is still mystified as to why she was let go a month before ABC decided to cancel the entire Moonlighting-style romantic dramedy procedural.

'It hurt and it was a harsh ending,' the Canadian-American 39-year-old admitted to EW on Saturday. 'I'm actually still not clear on the thought process behind the way that it went down.'

The former Bond girl played NYPD homicide detective Kate Beckett for seven years alongside Nathan Fillion's mystery novelist Richard Castle, and there were rumors of a rift.

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Retrospect: Two years after being fired off Castle, Stana Katic is still mystified as to why she was let go a month before ABC decided to cancel the entire series (pictured June 16)

The Canadian-American 39-year-old admitted to EW on Saturday: 'It hurt and it was a harsh ending. I'm actually still not clear on the thought process behind the way that it went down'

At the time, the 46-year-old SAG Award nominee - who signed a contract for season nine - wished his 'partner' well via Twitter and thanked her for creating 'one of the greatest police officers on TV.'

But a day later, Us Weekly claimed the Canadian heartthrob had been a 'bully' who frequently made Stana 'cry in her trailer on set.'

In the dismally-reviewed, rushed series finale - titled 'Crossfire' - Kate and Richard were depicted 'seven years later' still happily married playing with their three children.

'I hope it remains something special in viewers' minds forever,' Katic continued.

Rumors of a rift: The former Bond girl played NYPD homicide detective Kate Beckett for seven years alongside Nathan Fillion's (R) mystery novelist Richard Castle

At the time, the 46-year-old SAG Award nominee - who signed a contract for season nine - wished his 'partner' well via Twitter and thanked her for creating 'one of the greatest police officers on TV'

Warring castmates? But a day later, Us Weekly claimed the Canadian heartthrob had been a 'bully' who frequently made Stana 'cry in her trailer on set'

'Crossfire': In the dismally-reviewed, rushed series finale, Kate and Richard were depicted 'seven years later' still happily married playing with their three children

Katic continued: 'I hope it remains something special in viewers' minds forever...It was a formative experience, and we told a love story that I feel moved people, touched people, and I can't be anything but glad that I was a part of something like that' (pictured January 8)

'I met so many beautiful people on that project, and we collaborated on something really unique in that it's not every day that you get a show, or a series, that has eight seasons and that it was a hit for the network.

'It would be a disservice to those people, to the work that we did together, and to my work, which I feel contributed, in part, to the success of the show, to be anything but grateful because, at the end of the day, that was a fantastic platform. It was a formative experience, and we told a love story that I feel moved people, touched people, and I can't be anything but glad that I was a part of something like that.'

The University of Toronto alum next executive produces and stars as FBI Agent-turned-fugitive Emily Byrne in the 10-episode serial killer series Absentia, which premieres next Friday on Amazon.

Premieres next Friday! The University of Toronto alum next executive produces and stars as FBI Agent-turned-fugitive Emily Byrne in Amazon's 10-episode serial killer series Absentia

'Emily is an active member in the storytelling': The Rendezvous actress took the part because she wanted to avoid 'the mom thing' where a character is only there to serve as backdrop for the lead (pictured January 19)

'Travel buddy for life!' On the personal front, Katic will celebrate her third wedding anniversary with business efficiency consultant husband Kris Brkljac this April (pictured December 28)

The Rendezvous actress took the part because she wanted to avoid 'the mom thing' where a character is only there to serve as backdrop for the lead.

'Often times, in the past, characters that have had that kind of role in a story, the main quality is that they worry. That's it,' Stana explained.

'And then I read [Absentia], and I thought, "Oh, this is really interesting," because Emily had all of those roles packaged into one person, and shes still a badass, and she's still an active member in storytelling.'

Joss Whedon players: Meanwhile, Nathan will next reunite with his Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog nemesis Neil Patrick Harris (L) for the second season of A Series of Unfortunate Events, which starts streaming March 30 on Netflix (pictured in 2008)

Pictured May 31: In it, Fillion (R) plays Lemony Snicket's (Patrick Warburton, M) doomed big brother Jacques, who's described as having a unibrow and a tattoo of an eye on his ankle

On the personal front, Katic - who's fluent in six languages - will celebrate her third wedding anniversary with business efficiency consultant husband Kris Brkljac this April.

Meanwhile, Nathan will next reunite with his Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog nemesis Neil Patrick Harris for the second season of A Series of Unfortunate Events, which starts streaming March 30 on Netflix.

In it, Fillion plays Lemony Snicket's (Patrick Warburton) doomed big brother Jacques, who's described as having a unibrow and a tattoo of an eye on his ankle, like Count Olaf (Harris).
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He is already a proud father to four children by two women, and is now at the centre of rumours that his girlfriend is expecting their third child.

And Hugh Grant certainly put on a cheerful display as he cosied up to girlfriend Anna Eberstein at the star-studded London Film Critics' Circle Awards 2018 on Sunday, where he won an award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Paddington 2.

The dapper actor, 57, beamed as he posed with the former TV producer, 37, at the glitzy event at the Mayfair hotel, where they were joined by an array of stars.

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Proud father-to-be? Hugh Grant certainly put on a cheerful display as he cosied up to girlfriend Anna Eberstein at the star-studded London Film Critics' Circle Awards 2018 where he won an award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Paddington 2

Paddington 2 scooped British/ Irish Actress of The Year (Sally Hawkins for her role as Mary Brown) and Best Supporting actor (Hugh Grant for his role as Phoenix Buchanan, a faded and narcissistic actor).

Paul King returns as director and co-writer for the sequel which finds Paddington (voiced again by Ben Whishaw) living happily with the Brown family, Mary (Sally Hawkins), Henry (Hugh Bonneville), Jonathan (Samuel Joslin), Judy (Madeleine Harris) and Mrs. Bird (Julie Walters).

Paddington gets a mission when he spots a London pop-up book at an antique store that he thinks would be perfect to buy his Aunt Lucy (voiced by Imelda Staunton), who is still in Peru and has always dreamed of going to London, and he embarks on a mission to afford the shop- mistakenly landing in prison on the way.

Putting on a suave display, Hugh slipped into crisp white shirt and a well-cut grey suit, completing his ensemble with a grey tie.

Star-studded: The dapper actor, 57, beamed as he posed with the former TV producer, 37, at the glitzy event at the Mayfair hotel, where they were joined by an array of stars

He grinned as he placed his arm lovingly around girlfriend Anna, who cut a chic figure in a black lace LBD, teaming it with tights and ankle boots.

Completing her look with a blazer and tousled blonde locks, the Swedish mother-of-two smiled happily at cameras as the posed ahead of the event.

Hugh's kept quiet about swirling rumours that he's expecting his fifth child with his girlfriend Anna Eberstein.

Father-of-five? He is already a proud father to four children by two women, and is now at the centre of rumours that his girlfriend is expecting their third child

Despite keeping mum about any pregnancy news, Anna's mother reportedly confirmed the news to a Swedish news outlet Aftonbladet when she said: 'I'm very happy to be getting another grandchild. She's due rather soon.'

Hugh and Anna have two young children together - a son John, six, and a second child born in December 2017, aged two.

He also has two other children - a daughter Tabitha, six, and son Felix, four, with Chinese beauty Tinglan Hong, 36, who he was initially thought to be dating before he met Anna.

The Four Weddings and a Funeral recently opened up about being dad to his four children during a Jess Cagle Interview.

Sizzling: He grinned as he placed his arm lovingly around girlfriend Anna, who cut a chic figure in a black lace LBD, teaming it with tights and ankle boots

Turning up the glamour! Florence Pugh (left) cut a stylish figure in a Gothic-inspired floor-length gown as she joined the party, while Emma Willis (right) slipped into a feathered strappy dress

Dapper: Back at the event Hugh Grant was joined by handsome actor Jude Law, who put on a suave appearance in a crisp white shirt and well-cut suit

Stylishly late: Jude completed his look with a black tie and shiny shoes as he made his way into the event

The Love Actually star said his favourite trick to entertain his four children is to put his underpants on his head and flash his 'a**e' to them.

Giving a rare insight into his family life, he added that John performs his entire nativity play to him naked every morning.

Talking about the birth of Tabitha, he admitted: 'We were all surprised. It's the nicest thing that's ever happened to me, it sounds cliched but it happens to be true.'

He said: 'You cant help it. It's lovely to have all that love around. Suddenly you love someone more than yourself - it's unheard of in my case - and they love you. It's enchanting.'

Dapper: Timothee Chalamet (L) and Armie Hammer cut suave figures in well-cut suits (left) and were joined by Elizabeth Chambers who turned heads in a satin mustard gown and floral-print boots

Magnificent! Malificent actress Lesley Manville rocked a black chiffon blouse dress and velvet boots

Asked about his relationship with the mothers of his children, he remained tight-lipped, replying simply: 'Good. It's all nice.'

The two women were pregnant at the same time for five months in 2014, and at the time even both lived within walking distance of the actor's Fulham townhouse.

Meanwhile back at the event Hugh Grant was joined by handsome actor Jude Law, who put on a suave appearance in a crisp white shirt and well-cut suit.

Also joining the pool of talent was Lady Macbeth actress Florence Pugh, who cut a stylish figure in a Gothic-inspired floor-length gown.

The semi-transparent frock teased a glimpse of her strappy camisole dress underneath, and she completed the look with a velvet belt and clutch, accentuating her fiery hair with a bold red lip.

All that glitters! Joining the flame-haired ladies was Emily Beecham, who stood out in a plunging gold suit ensemble embellished with an orange bow

(L to R) Florence Pugh, Anna Smith and Rich Cline attend the London Film Critics' Circle Awards 2018

(Left) Anna Smith, President of The London Critics' Circle and (right) Jessica Barden, English Tamara Drew actress

At the beginning of the month the 22-year-old, who stars in the British crime series Marcella and appeared in 2016's Lady Macbeth, was nominated for the 2018 EE Bafta Rising Star award.

Reflecting on her nomination, Florence revealed: 'The journey to get to this rewarding moment has been exhilarating, and so to feel recognition for doing something I love and the hard work many have put in feels very touching.'

Joining the flame-haired ladies was Emily Beecham, who stood out in a plunging gold suit ensemble embellished with an orange bow.

Accessorising with a pair of strappy sandals, the English-American Hail! Caesar actress posed up a storm for cameras.

They were joined by a whole host of stars at the coveted awards ceremony.

Leggy lady! Yasmine Alice put on a sizzling display in a plunging black dress slashed high on the thigh

Red-hot! Scottish Braveheart actress Mhairi Calvey put on a daring display in a high neck gown, showing off a glimpse of leg

Suave: Dunkirk actor Fionn Whitehead put on a dapper display in a grey suit

Young stars: Surburbicon actor Noah Jupe, 12, and Logan actress Dafne Keen, 12, opted for Dr Martens and a silver dress, posed on the red carpet
Her shock split from husband Karl Stefanovic was announced in September 2016.

And with their divorce finalised 16 months later, Cassandra Thorburn says she's looking forward to having a 'second chance' at the life she 'truly deserves.'

'I'm unstoppable and I've never felt more empowered,' the 46-year-old journalist told Woman's Day magazine.

'I'm unstoppable': Cassandra Thorburn reveals she's looking forward to having a 'second chance' at the life she 'truly deserves' following her nasty split with ex-Karl Stefanovic

'This is my second chance to have the life I truly deserve,' Cassandra said of her future sans Karl, 43.

'I've really turned a corner - I often look back and am comforted at just how far I've come. I'm unstoppable, and I've never felt more empowered.'

The mother-of-three added: 'There's a light always at the end of some pretty dark tunnels - trust me, there really is!'

The journalist said: 'This is my second chance to have the life I truly deserve. I've really turned a corner - I often look back and am comforted at just how far I've come. I'm unstoppable, and I've never felt more empowered'

Cassandra made headlines in December 2016, with the announcement she had split from husband of 21 years, Karl Stefanovic.

The former couple share three children together, Jackson, 18, Ava, 12, and River, 11.

Karl reportedly met new girlfriend Jasmine Yarbrough, 33, in December 2016, at a boat party on Sydney Harbour.

Things are said to be going so well for the pair, with New Idea alleging in their Monday issue that they celebrated 'their engagement in private' with close family and friends.

Shock split:Cassandra made headlines in December 2016, with the announcement she had split from husband of 21 years, Karl Stefanovic

Sources were claimed to have told the publication that the 'engaged' couple threw a 'nine-hour party' at Peter Stefanovic's Double Bay mansion in Sydney.

New Idea alleged that 'well-wishers and partygoers were heard cheering, applauding and offering congratulations during the nine-hour party on January 20', held at Peter's luxury abode.

The lavish bash is said to have occurred after 'Karl got down on bended knee on January 14, asking Jasmine to marry him in a romantic proposal, before returning to Australia on January 19'.

It's also been claimed that Jasmine went to 'extreme lengths' to hide her sparkling engagement ring from view.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Karl and Jasmine for comment.
They've barely spent a minute apart on Bachelor in Paradise earlier this year.

But their love might not be as strong as it seems with claims by NW Magazine

former Bachelor star Keira Maguire is 'worried' her new man, Bachelorette reject Jarrod Woodgate, may want to try his luck with a newly single Sophie Monk

The pair met while filming the series earlier this year and since then have been spotted packing on the PDA.

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What would Kiera say? Keira Maguire 'terrified' her new love Jarrod Woodgate will leave her and try his luck with newly single Sophie Monk

In fact, their union appeared so rock solid that Woman's Day even reported the duo were 'all but engaged' after Keira introduced Jarrod, 31, to her family and is even considering a moving down to Melbourne for him.

However, according to claims by NW Keira is 'terrified' her new love may want to up and leave her and run back to the newly single Sophie, who has just split with Stu Laundy.

'Jarrod thought he'd never get over Sophie until he met Keira, but deep down he still has a soft spot for Sophie,' a insider told the magazine.

'He still has a soft spot for Soph  he loved her so much, which Keira has always known.'

Hearts around the nation broke for Jarrod when he was brutally rejected by Sophie on the Bachelorette finale in favour of Stu.

Accept this rose? 'Jarrod thought he'd never get over Sophie until he met Keira, but deep down her still has a soft spot for Sophie,' a insider told the magazine

So painful: Hearts around the nation broke for Jarrod when he was brutally rejected by Sophie on the Bachelroette finale in favour of Stu

Please don't go: According to NW Keira is 'terrified' her new love will up and leave her and run back to the newly single Sophie

During the emotional finale episode, Jarrod was left sobbing after Sophie told him her heart 'belonged to someone else'. Sighing, sniffling and clearing his throat, Jarrod tried to keep his tears at bay as he walked into the sunset alone.

The camera followed the suited reality star for a noticeably lengthy time, highlighting the emotional state of the scene as he tread the shoreline without looking back at his former flame.

Speaking to News Corp at the time Jarrod said that despite the heartbreak he will 'always' be there for Sophie.

Getting serious? In fact, their union appeared so rock solid that Woman's Day even reported the duo were 'all but engaged' after Keira introduced Jarrod, 31, to her family.

'Right now if Sophie was to call me and say, 'let's catch up for a drink?' I'd do it. Because I'm always going to be there for Soph, even if it works out or if it doesn't,' he confessed.

'Just because we say 'goodbye' doesn't mean we say 'goodbye' to our friendship,' he said.
Four years ago Will Hodgman lead Tasmania's Liberal Party out of the political wilderness and to convincing victory.

With a 12 per cent swing, it was the first time in 16 years the Liberals had formed government on the island state.

It ended eight long years in opposition for Mr Hodgman in his third election tilt.

It was also the largest majority for any government since the establishment of the 25-member parliament in 1998.

The son of a Fraser government minister and grandson of a state politician it was a career coming-of-age for Mr Hodgman.

The past 12 months though haven't been as rosy.

Significantly, the Liberals plan to takeover council-operated water network TasWater and introduce mandatory sentences for assault on off-duty police didn't get through parliament.

Mr Hodgman's approval rating has dropped 15 points from the start of last year to 35 per cent, according to a EMRS poll released in December.

Labor opposition leader Rebecca White's popularity sits at 48 per cent, with the two major parties neck-and-neck at 34 points.

But throughout, the father-of-three has stayed publicly upbeat.

In January, he took the stage with American folk punk rockers Violent Femmes in Launceston wearing a pink jumpsuit.

"I've played guitar for years and this particular song I've been hassling Brian Ritchie from the Violent Femmes for years, saying please I would love to just jam with you guys. It was great fun," Mr Hodgman told local media.

Mr Hodgman was born in 1969 and grew up in a Catholic family in Hobart before attending elite private Hutchins School and the University of Tasmania.

He spent a year in England with his family in 1995, working for the Wiltshire County Council, prosecuting cases of child abuse and neglect.

He was elected in 2002 in Franklin where he paid tribute to his father Michael, who died in 2013 the year before Mr Hodgman became premier after two previous attempts.

"(He was a) tremendous role model and a great source of love and motivation," Mr Hodgman said.

"He has not sought to intrude or influence or to play any greater role than that of a supportive and proud father, and for that I am extremely fortunate and immensely grateful."

Mr Hodgman has three children with English wife, Nicky, who he met working in Britain.
Restricted in the field on his Big Bash League return, injury-plagued Chris Lynn has joked that he will stock up on cotton wool so he can cash in a "life-changing" Indian Premier League deal.

But Lynn said he didn't want to be "someone like Bernard Tomic" and get too ahead of himself after being snapped up for a staggering $1.86 million at the IPL auction on Saturday.

Lynn admitted to some anxious moments in the field upon his return from a four-week calf injury in Brisbane Heat's 26-run BBL loss to Melbourne Renegades at the Gabba on Saturday night.

He also admitted a shoulder issue that warranted surgery last year would not be 100 per cent for 12 months.

Lynn backs himself to be ready for Australia's upcoming Twenty20 international tri-series against England and New Zealand - and hopefully a mammoth IPL payday.

Lynn was the highest-paid Australian in Saturday's IPL auction after being bought by Kolkata Knight Riders, eclipsing speedster Mitchell Starc ($1.8 million).

"I have got to keep my body right because you don't get paid if you don't go," Lynn said of his IPL deal.

"I might go to Bunnings and get a crapload of cotton wool."

The 11th IPL tournament starts in April.

"It's not all about the money but it is life-changing," Lynn said of his potential IPL windfall.

"You never want to get too far ahead of yourself because if you are someone like Bernard Tomic you get shot down pretty quickly don't you?"

Lynn looked good with the bat upon his injury return for Brisbane, thrashing 21 off 13 balls with two sixes and two fours before being brilliantly caught by Marcus Harris.

But Lynn wasn't so convincing in the field.

Mindful of his recovering calf and the shoulder issue, Lynn at one stage aborted his pursuit of the ball as it headed toward the boundary in the Renegades' innings.

"I thought about diving, then I thought about my shoulder, then my calf," Lynn said.

"Obviously I was a bit apprehensive out there but to get through that was the first step of hopefully a good stint on the field."

Lynn said he had kept in touch with Australian selectors and they were comfortable with his potential limitations in the field ahead of the T20 series.

"They are comfortable with me not throwing or diving in the field - they know where my body is at," he said.

"I would have loved to have played a few more games to build confidence but it wasn't to be.

"But whether I am playing for Brisbane or Australia I will still be giving 100 per cent."
Related Iraqi court sentences German woman of Arab descent to death for joining Islamic State group

France would intervene if a French jihadist were condemned to death in Iraq or Syria, the country's justice minister Nicole Belloubet said on Sunday.

The possibility of such an event has arisen after an Iraqi court this month sentenced to death a German woman of Moroccan origin for membership of Islamic State.

The European Union has a long-standing policy against capital punishment and all member nations have abandoned the practice.

Asked in a television interview on Sunday about how France would react if a French jihadist were condemned to death, Belloubet said: "The French state would intervene, by negotiating with the other state in question."

Any such negotiations could involve requests for extradition, though Belloubet emphasised that these situations would be considered case by case.

French public prosecutor Francois Molins said this month that an estimated 676 French nationals, including 295 women, were in the Iraq-Syria region.

France remains on high alert after suffering a wave of attacks commissioned or inspired by Islamic State militants in 2015 and 2016, which killed more than 200 people.

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A man is on the run following a police pursuit which stretched from Brisbane to the Gold Coast.

Police spotted a stolen Volkswagen at MacGregor on Brisbane's southside at around 8:50pm on Saturday.

A chase followed with the vehicle fleeing down the M1 before tyre spikes were deployed on the motorway near Reedy Creek.

The three people in the vehicle fled, with police arresting two of the men and a third getting away.

A handgun was also found in nearby bushland which police allege came from the car.

Police allege one of the men arrested, a 19-year-old from Wynnum, was also involved in several incidents over the last month, including assaulting a 63-year-old man at his Maryborough home and stealing his car.

He's been charged with multiple offences and will face Southport Magistrates Court on Monday.

The other man, an 18-year-old from Sunnybank Hills, has been charged with possessing a knife in a public place and unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and will face Southport court next month.
WHO WON'T BE STANDING AGAIN AT THE TASMANIAN ELECTION

Lara Giddings (Labor) - Franklin

Tasmania's first and only female premier won't contest the 2018 election. Ms Giddings, who joined the Labor party in 1990, served in the state's top job from 2011-14. The 45-year-old made an emotional speech to parliament in November where she implored opposition leader Rebecca White to follow the trail she blazed.

Matthew Groom (Liberal) - Denison

The father-of-three stepped down from his role as energy minister and other portfolios in September to spend more time with his wife Ruth and young family. Mr Groom presided over the state's energy crisis in early 2016 but said he had no regrets about entering politics.

David Llewellyn (Labor) - Lyons

The long-serving Labor MP farewells politics for a second time after making a comeback in Lyons at the 2014 election. The 75-year-old served as deputy premier from 2002-2006.
A year after taking Labor party leadership, self-described "farm-girl" Rebecca White could become Tasmania's second female premier.

Ms White, in her second term as an MP, was elected unopposed in March after Bryan Green stepped down.

The 34-year-old was expected to spark a surge in Labor's approval ratings which were in dire straits when the Liberal party romped to power in 2014.

According to an EMRS poll released in December, Ms White is peaking at the right time.

Her popular support is at 48 per cent compared to Premier Will Hodgman's 35 per cent, as the two major parties' primary vote sits neck-and-neck at 34 points.

Ms White could become the state's second woman to lead, following colleague Lara Giddings, who served a four year term from 2011.

Ms White entered politics as a party staffer but is without the union ties common among Labor MPs.

"One of the motivations I had for joining the political movement in the first place was the passion I felt about representing my community and being a voice for my community," she said in March last year after being elected party leader.

"I didn't come up through the Labor movement, through a political family or through the union movement.

"I joined this party because I believe in the values of the Labor party."

Ms White grew up on the land at Nugent, northeast of Hobart and went to a public school in Sorell before studying commerce and arts, majoring in journalism and political science.

She used her inaugural address to parliament in 2010 to outline a commitment to farming and rural and regional Tasmania.

A nod to Australian writer and World War I veteran Albert Facey's autobiography A Fortunate Life concluded her speech.

"His disposition towards life was both pragmatic and optimistic," she said after being elected to the lower house in the seat of Lyons.

"I think we in this place could do well to replicate his attitude and keep in mind that we are indeed fortunate."

Ms White's deep connection with kin was evident when she called for a more family-friendly parliament on the day she became Labor leader.

She took time off to have daughter Mia in 2016 and tied the knot on farmland with partner Rodney Dann in November.

Ms Giddings, who has stepped down from politics and won't contest the March 3 election, has backed her colleague to follow the trail she blazed.

"No longer will there be one female portrait up but two, and many many more to come," Ms Giddings said in a farewell speech to parliament in November.
Officials are keeping an open mind in regards to the location of next year's Sydney 7s, given Allianz Stadium's impending rebuild.

The World Rugby Sevens Series venue as well as the Olympic stadium at Homebush are due to be torn down later this year as part of a $2 billion NSW government overhaul.

There is one year to run on the current four-year Sydney 7s contract, but World Rugby boss Brett Gosper says there is a chance next year's event could be moved from the NSW capital.

Newcastle has been mooted as a possible destination for the three-day event, with stakeholders mindful of shifting the tournament to a suitably-sized arena that will best capture the famous party atmosphere.

Gosper will discuss the options with new Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle on Monday and said he'd be open to any ideas.

"It seems likely that it's (Allianz Stadium) not going to be here next year," he said.

"We'll take into consideration that they'll have to move elsewhere and they won't be penalised in this current tender contract unless they move it somewhere really strange.

"Whether they move it around NSW, or Australia, we'll be open-minded to those propositions."

The men's tournament heads to Hamilton next weekend, in a change of venue from Wellington.

Gosper said a similar change in Australia could breathe new life into the event, which was previously held on the Gold Coast.

"We've seen a rebirth in New Zealand with the Hamilton event sold out and certainly Wellington seemed to do it's time but was incredibly successful," he said.

"It's good to see you can reboot that in another part of the country, so it's up to the host to decide whether moving it around is a good thing or it's worth sustaining."

Gosper also said future venues would be financially rewarded for combining the men's and women's event, like the Sydney leg has done successfully for the first time this weekend.

New Zealand's world player of the year Portia Woodman is pushing for a leg in her home country and the CEO said they were on the same page.

"I think the fans want to see the women play, certainly the sponsors are very keen," Gosper said.

"There's a commercial push, not just a moral desire to get the women out there, a commercial belief that it's good for business."
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says she's not aware any Australians were caught up in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan that killed 95 people and injured 150 others.

Ms Bishop described Saturday's attack, in which an explosives packed ambulance exploded at a checkpoint in Kabul, as "cowardly" and says the Australian government have strongly condemned the action, for which the Taliban have claimed responsibility.

"The Australian Embassy in Kabul is not aware, at this stage, of any Australians having been affected," Ms Bishop said in a statement on Sunday.

"It highlights the continued threat posed by terrorist and insurgent groups to the people of Afghanistan.

"We will continue to work with the government of Afghanistan and other members of the international community to assist their efforts to build a safer and more prosperous future for the Afghan people."

Federal Labor joined the government in offering support to build a country where people can live their lives free from the constant threat of violence.

In a joint statement, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and his foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong described the attack as "despicable and cowardly".

"Labor again pays tribute to the bravery and dedication of Australian diplomats working in Afghanistan, and their swift work in assuring friends and family back home that no Australians appear to have been caught up in these tragic events," they said.
Detectives are hunting for a man who hitched a ride away from an Australia Day boat explosion off Victoria's coast.

The man was seen swimming to a unoccupied boat moored at the Blairgowrie Yacht Club on the Morning Peninsula on Friday before there was an explosion on the vessel and the man swam away, police say.

The man, described as Caucasian, aged in his 30s, and with multiple chest tattoos, was then picked up by a passing boat and dropped at the shore, and police would like to speak with him about the incident.
A man has been charged with stabbing a dog in the head during a heated confrontation with the pet's owner in Perth.

Police were called to a house in Redcliffe at 2am on Saturday and arrested a 39-year-old man.

The dog had been temporarily staying at a neighbour's property and when the owner went to pick it up the man armed with the knife approached him aggressively, police say.

The dog moved in between the two and it will be alleged the man stabbed the dog several times, before two other people intervened.

Police later took the injured dog to a vet for emergency treatment, where it was stabilised and treated for stab wound injuries to its head, left shoulder and left torso.

The man has been charged with animal cruelty, being armed in a way that may cause fear, and breach of bail.

He is next due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on February 15.
A fishing boat has collected seven people in a dingy found in the search for a Kiribati ferry that's been missing in the Pacific for more than a week.

A New Zealand Air Force Orion aircraft located the four to five-metre dinghy on Sunday and took images as the boat diverted to the scene to pick up the group.

"The group seem very relieved to have been found when the New Zealand Air Force Orion dropped supplies, including water and a radio, to them about 10am today," says Rescue Co-ordination Centre of New Zealand (RCCNZ) Senior Search and Rescue Officer John Ashby.

Mr Ashby said the dinghy was understood to be one of two carried on the missing ferry, MV Butiraoi, and was located within a search area in the Pacific as large as New Zealand in size.

Local authorities were alerted to the missing 17m wooden catamaran after it failed to arrive in Betio on January 20, having left Nonouti island two days prior.

The RCCNZ received a request for aerial assistance on Friday.

Kiribati authorities say the ferry underwent repairs to its propeller shaft before leaving Nonouti.
Today's birthday, January 28: Australian scientist, explorer, author and climate change activist Tim Flannery (1956 - )

Scientist Tim Flannery was named Australian of the Year in 2007 in recognition of his role in bringing environmental and climate change issues to the attention of the Australian public.

He was born in Melbourne in 1956 and grew up in the suburb of Sandringham.

At university, Flannery studied English literature, then geology, zoology and palaeontology, completing a PhD on the evolution of kangaroos. As part of this work, he described 29 new kangaroo species.

In 1985 the young scientist had a role in the ground-breaking discovery of Cretaceous mammal fossils in Australia. This find extended the Australian mammal fossil record back 80 million years.

Flannery worked as principal mammal research scientist at the Australian Museum from 1984 to 1999. During this period he surveyed the mammals of Melanesia and helped to discover 21 new species.

His pioneering work in New Guinea prompted Sir David Attenborough to put him in the league of the world's great explorers.

Flannery has held various academic positions including Professor at the University of Adelaide, director of the South Australian Museum in Adelaide, and Visiting Chair in Australian Studies at Harvard University.

In 2003 he wrote a defining work on climate change, The Weather Makers, and argued for drastic measures to address the rise in greenhouse gases. Following his stint as Australian of the Year in 2007 he was appointed chairman of the Federal Government's Australian Climate Commission in 2011 and then leader of its replacement body, the Climate Council, in 2013.

Some of Flannery's positions on global warming have been controversial, including his views on shutting down conventional coal-fired power stations for electricity generation.

A well-known presenter on ABC Radio and the BBC for more than a decade, he has also written and presented several series on the Documentary Channel including The Future Eaters in 1998 and Wild Australasia in 2003.

Flannery's most recent books include Here on Earth and Sunlight and Seaweed, the latter of which provides a more optimistic view of the fight against climate change.
Pakistan have given themselves a solid chance of toppling New Zealand in the Twenty20 decider, notching a total of 6-181 in Tauranga.

While far from the sizzling best they showcased in Thursday's second-T20 victory, Pakistan still managed to produce the goods.

Winning the toss and opting to bat on Sunday, Pakistan's batters managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over without going on for big innings.

Opener Fakhar Zaman struck a clinical 46 from 36 deliveries, while captain Sarfraz Ahmed battled through a hamstring niggle to score 29.

Umar Amin also hit a quickfire 21 from seven balls.

With the ball, the Kiwis again proved expensive, with star pacemen Trent Boult and Tim Southee managing just one wicket between them.

They were hardly helped out by their fielders, with Ish Sodhi, Colin de Grandhomme and Tom Bruce dropping straightforward catches.

Instead, the spinners stood out.

Leading T20 tweaker Sodhi secured figures of 2-47, while Mitch Santner took 2-24, including the key wicket of Ahmed.

New Zealand, missing key man Colin Munro, needs a run rate of 9.1 to win.

Skipper Kane Williamson fills in for Munro as opener, partnering Martin Guptill, and Anaru Kitchen goes in as first drop.

The winner of Sunday's match will also be the top-ranked world T20 side.
Czech President Milos Zeman won a second term in a presidential election on Saturday, gaining the backing of voters for his tough stance against immigration and his courtship of Russia and China.

In the run-off against strongly pro-European Union academic Jiri Drahos, Zeman scored 51.4 percent to 48.6 percent for his challenger.

Zeman, 73, is the last prominent figure among active politicians from the country's post-communist transitional period in the 1990s, and has shifted from being a centre-left prime minister 16 years ago to being a president with leanings toward the far-right.

The vote showed Czech voters' concerns over security despite a period of fast economic growth and rising wages. Immigration was a key issue, more than two years after the European Union first faced a major influx of refugees - almost none of whom ever appeared in the Czech Republic.

The result will also influence the formation of the next Czech government, with Zeman one of the few political backers of Prime Minister Andrej Babis, whose minority cabinet lost a confidence vote this month due to fraud allegations hanging over the billionaire businessman.

Zeman has been a polarising force, publicly belittling opponents and sniping at intellectual elites and the media. He was one of the few European politicians to back Donald Trump in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

He has upset many with his warm relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and calls to end EU sanctions against Moscow imposed over its annexation of Crimea.

His stance toward Brussels has been lukewarm. He calls himself a federalist and supports membership of the EU while also favouring holding an in-or-out referendum, like the one that led to Britain's impending exit.

Speaking to supporters after claiming victory, Zeman said he would continue travelling the country to meet citizens and hear their worries.

"This is my last political victory, there will be no political defeats," he told the crowd, flanked by advisers and the leaders of the far-right, anti-EU and anti-NATO SPD party and the Social Democrat party that he once led.

Clash Of Personalities

Zeman has benefited from rising hostility to immigration, especially to people coming from Muslim states, although the country of 10.6 million received just 116 asylum applications between January and November last year and has only a tiny Muslim community.

Both candidates rejected the EU's refugee quotas, but Drahos was labelled weaker on the issue in attack ads in the last week by Zeman supporters.

"People around Milos Zeman ... managed to incite fear, a very strong emotion, which is much more important than reason," political analyst Tomas Lebeda said.

The two presidential candidates were as different personally as politically. Zeman has a self-advertised appetite for alcohol and tobacco and his health is a concern - he suffers from diabetes, and walks with a stick.

Drahos is a soft-spoken chemistry professor who promised a stronger voice in the EU, reversing the country's aloofness that has put it closer to Poland and Hungary - two states often at loggerheads with the bloc's executive.

"We did not win, but we didn't lose either. I am terribly happy for this huge wave of energy," Drahos told supporters.

"I am convinced this energy will not disappear."

Zeman's victory is good news for Babis, who was a runaway winner in parliamentary elections in October with pledges to fight political corruption and run the state better.

But police charges that Babis illegally obtained subsidies as a businessman a decade ago - which he denies - have left his party without ruling partners.

Zeman has pledged to give Babis a second chance to form a government and repeated on Saturday that he would let him have ample time.

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The start of the school year in Western Australia this week will be marred by strike action involving education department public servants protesting against job cuts.

More than 100 staff recently took voluntary redundancies.

The Community and Public Sector rejects Premier Mark McGowan's assurances there will not be hundreds of forced job losses in education to meet the wider target of 3000 cuts across the public service to repair a budget facing record debt.

The WA government's failure to get support in parliament for a mining gold royalty hike has led to tougher budget cuts, including a $41 million target for education.

The strike action will take place on Thursday when a rally will be held with schools opening for the year on Wednesday.

Despite the Labor government's recent backflip on plans to close the School of the Air and the Gifted and Talented programs, there were still hundreds of jobs on the line and the quality of education will be damaged, the CPSU and teachers' union say.

Aboriginal education staff and truancy support staff will still be cut.

Mr McGowan said he was urging unions to accept the government's offers of voluntary redundancies.

"We are putting more resources into the classroom and into schools and taking people out of those office jobs, head office and the like," he told reporters on Sunday.

The premier said his government had "done everything that you would think a union would want" by offering support for workers in getting new jobs.

The government announced on Sunday it would invest more than $55 million in three new primary schools in Baldivis, Banksia Grove and Caversham to cater for 1400 students and open over the next two years.
There have been worse starts to a grand slam final, but not many than Marin Cilic's opening against Roger Federer on Sunday night.

The Croatian had a serious case of butterflies before switching on in the decider, eventually lost 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 3-6 6-1.

He dumped his first two service games including a woeful overhead smash to gift Federer his start, described by John McEnroe as a "true brick".

"That's one that will feel sick in his stomach," McEnroe said on ESPN.

After 24 minutes, fans at Rod Laver Arena through they were in for a similar procession to his semi-final passage against Hyeon Chung.

Then Cilic flicked the switch.

His serve was working. The groundstrokes began to stretch Federer. The forehands would beat him.

After an hour of grind, the 29-year-old claimed a tiebreak to become the first man to claim a set off Federer all fortnight.

Fittingly, it came with an overhead smash, delivered with conviction.

Cilic was working over the Swiss once more in the fourth set, carrying all the momentum in the decider.

He had two break points in the fifth set, but just like last year, Federer turned it on when it matter most to claim his

On the dias to receive his runners-up plate, Cilic was despondent.

"I had a slight chance at the start of the fifth but Roger played a great set," he said.

"It was an amazing journey for me to come here to the final.

"It could have been the best two weeks of my life.

"Big congratulations to Roger and his team. It's amazing what you guys do year after year."

There are certainly consolations for Cilic.

He rises to a career-high world No.3, behind only Rafael Nadal and Federer, and picks up a cheque for $2 million.

He fell a set shy of joining Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro as the only players to beat the Swiss legend in a grand slam final.
Today's Birthday, January 29: Jessica Marais, Australian actor, (1985 - ).

Most actors face a gruelling circuit of auditions and rejections, often years before their first big break, but Jessica Marais was boosted into national stardom while still in acting school when she landed her first job on Australian television's Packed To The Rafters.

In its 2008 debut year the show took out Seven Network's top spot for ratings, and remained within the top five over its five-year run.

Marais was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and moved with her family to Canada and New Zealand before settling in Perth, Western Australia. While in her final year at NIDA in 2007 Marais nabbed the role of Rachel Rafter in Packed to the Rafters, alongside fellow NIDA colleague Hugh Sheridan.

Marais played the popular character in the hit Aussie show for four seasons between 2008-2012.

In between, she appeared in the 2009 Perth film Two Fists, One Heart alongside comedian and musician Tim Minchin, and guest-starred in American series Legend of the Seeker in 2008.

In 2011 Marais announced she would be leaving her Rafters family, relocating to Los Angeles to further pursue career opportunities. She landed a role in Magic City playing a mobster's wife. The show lasted for two seasons between 2012 and 2013.

Marais then returned home for her role as Dr Joan Millar in the Nine Network's Love Child, which ran from 2014 to 2017. She also led the cast of the 2016 Network Ten show The Wrong Girl, based on a book by Zoe Foster Blake.

After dating former Rafters co-star James Stewart for six years, with whom she has a daughter, their split in 2015 was highly publicised.

"There have been a lot of stories about us this past week which have been hurtful at what is a very difficult time," the statement from Marais and Stewart read.

The couple continue to co-parent Scout.

Marais has won four Logies for her work on Australian television, two for Packed to the Rafters in 2009, followed by Best Actress in 2016 for Love Child and 2017 for The Wrong Girl.
Roger Federer feared he'd blown his chance to land a magical 20th grand slam crown when he "couldn't stop the bleeding" during a stunning mid-match collapse in Sunday night's Australian Open final.

From a commanding position two sets to one and a service break up in the fourth, Federer dropped five of the next six games to allow Marin Cilic the opportunity to steal the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup from under his nose.

The Swiss ace eventually regained his composure to thwart the Croat's comeback and claim a record-equalling sixth Open title with a tension-filled 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 3-6 6-1 triumph on Rod Laver Arena.

"I had my chance and Marin played well and at the end of the second I got nervous and that is the reason I lost the second set. I couldn't take control of the match," Federer said.

"It got tight and Marin held me out in the third and the fifth. I got lucky tonight.

"I couldn't stop the bleeding almost. It was terrible. It was a bad feeling to have.

"He was in control. He was the one calling the shots all of a sudden."

Federer said his "mind was all over the place" in the fourth set.

"I was telling myself: 'I'm so close right now. Don't mess it up.' That is exactly actually when you mess it up. It is crazy.

"I am happy that I got a chance in the fifth set and I got lucky in the beginning of the fifth."

In a huge turning point, Federer staved off two break points in the first game of the deciding set, before running away with the match.

"He was feeling it he had the second serves on the break point. I personally I don't come back if he breaks me first," Federer said.

Federer broke down during the trophy ceremony before revealing it was pure relief, rather than tears of joy, that triggered the outpouring.

"This one here tonight reminded me more of maybe 2006 win when I beat (Marcos) Baghdatis in the finals. I had a great run to the finals and a huge favourite going in," he said.

"I kept my composure and made the finals. I was just so relieved when everything was said and done, I think I felt the same way tonight.

"That is why I couldn't speak. It was terrible."
A man has been shot dead by police during an alleged armed robbery in Melbourne's east.

The man, yet to be formally identified, was shot dead by police at about 9pm on Sunday night in Park Orchards, according to police.

Police were in the area responding to reports of a hold up, when there was allegedly an armed confrontation and the man was shot.

A witness, who uploaded photographs of the scene, said he heard five or six shots fired.

"Someone is not going home tonight," Michael Featherston tweeted.

The homicide squad and the professional standards unit are investigating the shooting.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will discuss measures with her cabinet on Monday to address the problem of cyberbullying.

Ms Palaszczuk is also set to meet with stakeholders following the cabinet meeting, including child welfare experts and legal advisers, to help draft a proposal to take to COAG next month.

The premier said there needed to be holistic approach to the issue, similar to her government's response to domestic violence.

"(The meeting) is the start of a national conversation which I hope will culminate in a national summit down the track," she told reporters on Sunday.

Queensland's opposition has offered bipartisan support on the issue, with LNP leader Deb Frecklington saying it's "above politics."

"I feel strongly that we as politicians, parents, carers and everyday Queenslanders must work together to protect our kids from this insidious threat," Ms Frecklington said.

It's understood cabinet will consider a five-point action plan, which will be amended based on stakeholder advice, to create a detailed proposal to take to COAG on February 9.
Authorities are continuing to search for two men who escaped from a prison farm in central Queensland over the weekend.

Jermaine Lee Anderson, 30, and Brian Illington Trent Tapim, 23, are believed to have vaulted over the low-security compound's fence late on Saturday night or early Sunday morning using a wheelie bin and a doona.

Anderson is serving six years in jail for assaulting two taxi drivers in separate incidents in Rockhampton last year, during which he held a knife to their throats.

Tapim is serving six-and-a-half years for assault, having spent much of his life since he was 14 in jails for a range of offences.

A text alert has been sent to residents in the local area.

Anyone with information about the pair is urged not to approach them but to call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
A man has been charged after a pedestrian died in a crash in Sydney's southwest.

Shortly before 6pm on Sunday a car left the road in Cecil Hills and struck an 80-year-old man on the footpath. He suffered serious injuries and died in hospital.

The 18-year-old male driver, as well as his female passenger, were both uninjured.

He was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death and negligent driving occasioning death.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday 14 February 2018.
American beef producers and wheat farmers are furious US President Donald Trump's abandonment of the Trans-Pacific Partnership has given Australia and other nations major advantages in key markets including Japan.

The US National Cattlemen's Beef Association branded the move by Australia, New Zealand, Japan and eight other Pacific Rim nations to move ahead to form the TPP without America as "a missed opportunity" for US farmers.

US Wheat Associates and the National Association of Wheat Growers warned Mr Trump's TPP withdrawal "puts overseas demand for US wheat at serious risk".

The pressure appears to be working with Mr Trump last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, making the shock announcement he might consider re-joining TPP.

"Withdrawing from TPP was a missed opportunity for the United States to gain greater access to some of the world's most vibrant and growing markets," Kent Bacus, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's director of international trade and market access, said.

"As we now enter a pivotal round of NAFTA negotiations, the last thing we need is to take a step backwards in our relationships with Canada and Mexico."

US beef producers have repeatedly warned America's lack of a free trade agreement with Japan put it at a disadvantage with Australia.

US beef is hit with a 38.5 per cent tariff in Japan.

Wheat growers want the heat turned up on the Trump administration.

"As expected, the remaining members of TPP are moving forward without the United States," NAWG president Gordon Stoner said.

"If nothing else, this announcement should serve as a rallying cry for farmers, ranchers and dairy producers calling for the new trade deals we were promised when the president walked away from TPP.

"The heat needs to be turned up on the administration and on trade negotiations with Japan.

"An already stressed agriculture sector needs the benefit of free and fair trade now."

US wheat growers estimate after full implementation of the new TPP Japan's import tariffs on Canadian and Australian wheat would drop by about $US65 per tonne.

Mr Trump rode into the White House on a campaign that slammed the TPP as a "catastrophe" and on his third day in office withdrew the US from the proposed pact.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said in Los Angeles on Friday a way to make the TPP look "like a win-win" for Mr Trump would be to rename it.

"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."
Other countries - including the United States - would be welcome to join a new cross-Pacific trade deal that includes Australia but they'll have to abide by the ground rules already laid out.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says the 11 member countries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership - agreed to last week and due to be signed in March - would negotiate with anyone else who wanted to join.

"It is an agreement structured in a way that would enable other countries to join," she told Sky News on Monday.

"Obviously we've set the ground rules, we've set the guidelines, the standard, the benchmark for the trade deal and it would be on a case-by-case basis to negotiate with any potential incoming member."

There had already been interest from South Korea, Thailand and the UK, she said.

The US was originally part of negotiations for the pact but President Donald Trump made pulling out one of his first acts upon taking office a year ago.

Now he's indicated he may consider re-joining if the US could get a better deal.

American beef producers and wheat farmers are furious Mr Trump's abandonment of the deal will give Australia and other nations major advantages in key markets including Japan.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said on Sunday the deal wasn't yet finalised and if minor changes were needed to bring the US back on board that should be done.

But Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said he wouldn't expect the US to re-join any time soon.
Incumbent Nicos Anastasiades will face leftist-backed candidate Stavros Malas in a presidential runoff on Feb. 4, election results showed on Sunday, in a race that could define whether peace talks with Turkish Cypriots can resume this year.

With all cast ballots counted, Anastasiades led with 35.5 percent of votes, against 30.25 percent for Malas. Centrist Nikolas Papadopoulos was third on 25.75 percent.

The top two will have a week to win over the trailing candidates, who have taken a harder line on negotiations for a peace deal to end a conflict that has outlived the Cold War and strained relations between NATO allies Greece and Turkey.

Election campaigns are typically dominated by the division of Cyprus in 1974 between its Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot population after a Turkish invasion triggered by a brief coup engineered by Greece.

The Cyprus president represents the Greek Cypriot community in reunification talks with the Turkish Cypriot side.

Those talks, which also included Greece, Turkey and former colonial power Britain, collapsed in acrimony last year amid disagreement over the role Turkey would play in a future reunited country.

"It seems that there will be another initiative, or at least an attempt by the international community to jump-start the peace talks again," said Ahmet Sozen, professor of political science and international relations at Eastern Mediterranean University in northern Cyprus.

No leader in either the Turkish or Greek Cypriot community could afford the luxury of rebuffing a call from the United Nations, Sozen said.

Bitter

This campaign's tone has been particularly bitter. Third-placed Papadopoulos had accused Anastasiades of making too many concessions to Turkish Cypriots in talks last year. Malas was portrayed as too malleable in seeking to resume talks as soon as possible.

The parties backing both Anastasiades and Malas have previously forged alliances with Papadopoulos and the party backing him in past elections.

Although both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides have agreed in principle to unite Cyprus as a two-state federation, there are profound differences on how it will work in practice, even among the same community.

At issue are geographical boundaries, property rights of thousands who were forced to leave their homes in conflict, rights to physical settlement, voting processes and whether other countries should maintain troops on the island.

At present, Cyprus's two main ethnic groups are separated by a United Nations peacekeeping force, one of the oldest in the world. Many worry that the present status quo is unsustainable.

"Things might look stable, but things are not static," said Sozen.

The Turkish Cypriot community in the north was rattled last week by an attack by individuals on a Turkish Cypriot newspaper critical of Turkey's campaign in northern Syria.

Separately, up to 5,000 Turkish Cypriots demonstrated in freezing rain on Friday to protest against that attack and perceived Turkish interference in their affairs.

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SA-Best leader Nick Xenophon has defended the decision to shield some of his new candidates from wider media scrutiny after their unveiling.

The party announced another batch of candidates for the March election over the weekend, but Mr Xenophon says the father and son, who will run against the premier and opposition leader, are not available for media commitments until they officially launch their campaigns.

"I think that we have to do what is best for the campaign, the candidates and for SA-Best," Mr Xenophon told ABC radio on Monday.
Billionaire Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal has been released nearly three months after his arrest in an anti-corruption drive targeting the kingdom's elite

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.

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.

Detainees in the Saudi graft probe were held at Riyadh's Ritz-Carlton hotel, shown here on November 5, 2017

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.
President Donald Trump says the US 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"

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.
Longtime oil stalwart and corporate raider T. Boone Pickens, 89, shut down his hedge fund but says he has no intention of fading away

T. Boone Pickens has long cast an outsized shadow in American business, but the 89-year-old oil industry stalwart recently faced a reckoning of sorts, as health challenges forced him to rethink his activities.

He said good-bye this week to the corporate rough-and-tumble, but "with fingers crossed, I have no intention of fading away."

Pickens, a veteran of boardroom brawls and an oil industry gadfly who has seen it all as far as booms and busts, announced on January 12 that he was shutting his energy hedge fund, BP Capital.

The move effectively ends a more than 60-year business career that was in many respects ahead of its time.

"Health-wise, I'm still recovering from a series of strokes I suffered late last year, and a major fall over the summer," he wrote earlier this month on LinkedIn.

"If you are lucky enough to make it to 89 years of age like I have, those things tend to put life in perspective."

Born in Oklahoma but more closely identified with his adopted Texas, Pickens vaulted to prominence in the 1980s, along with other brass-knuckles corporate titans such as Carl Icahn.

Pickens made the cover of Time Magazine in 1985 as a "corporate raider" after his Mesa Petroleum bought shares in Gulf Oil and began pressuring the company to restructure itself and boost shareholder returns. Gulf was later sold to Chevron, netting Mesa a huge payday.

The strategy has since become commonplace on Wall Street, though today's billionaire shareholder critics are usually called "activists" and not "raiders" because there is less talk of completely taking over a company.

Pickens founded BP Capital in 1997 and rode the fund to great riches in oil and gas price movements.

Other bets were less successful, such as an early wind energy investment, and he wrongly predicted oil supply would soon peter out, an idea known as "peak oil."

Pickens has been a longtime Republican political donor, although some of his positions have been difficult to pigeonhole as falling in one political camp or another.

He championed natural gas as "bridge fuel" to a non-fossil fuel future, in part to reduce the flow of funds to OPEC nations, but also as a nod to environmental concerns.

"I don't believe climate change is as certain or as dangerous as many fear, but it's worth worrying about," he said on Twitter in 2016.

Despite his retirement, he signaled he will not ride off into the Texas sunset entirely.

"I am creating a new plan that will include turning my full attention to recovering my health and continuing to invest in personal passions like promoting unbridled entrepreneurship and philanthropic and political endeavors" he said.

"I fully intend to continue to provide my perspective on energy and cultural commentary."
Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad was picked as the opposition coalition's prime ministerial candidate this month, in a political volte-face that shook up a race that long looked like an easy win for the government

He may be 92 but Malaysia's ex-strongman Mahathir Mohamad has brushed aside the constraints of age to hit the campaign trail for upcoming polls, as he takes on scandal-plagued premier Najib Razak.

Mahathir was welcomed by cheering voters at a fishing village on Friday, in a late-night stop as he seeks to woo voters crucial to victory in polls that must be called by August.

Such a scene would have been unthinkable until recently -- Mahathir was addressing an event organised by an opposition party that fought against his rule during his 22 years in power.

"This time, we have a chance to change the Barisan Nasional (BN) government," the elderly politician thundered, referring to the coalition that has ruled Malaysia since independence in 1957, and which he himself once led.

Mahathir was picked as the opposition coalition's prime ministerial candidate this month, in a political volte-face that shook up a race that long looked like an easy win for the government.

His coalition hopes he will win rural votes, particularly those of the Muslim Malay majority, who have long supported the government in exchange for policies favouring them but have become disillusioned due to the rising cost of living and a financial scandal ensnaring Najib.

"The critical factor in this election would be Malay voters that are disgruntled," said Ibrahim Suffian, head of independent polling firm Merdeka Centre, told AFP.

Mahathir is himself Malay, and has long championed the Malay cause. The opposition hopes the votes he peels away from the government will complement their traditional support base of people in the cities and minorities, particularly the ethnic Chinese.

Analysts do not expect the opposition to win due to BN's dominance of the political system, but if the unlikely happens, Mahathir will become the world's oldest prime minister.

- Rapid return -

Mahathir stepped down as premier in 2003, but he did not stay away from politics for long.

He came out of retirement to challenge his ex-protege Najib over allegations state fund 1MDB had been plundered, formed a party in 2016 and aligned with the opposition.

The most remarkable aspect of his political rebirth has been a reconciliation with former nemesis Anwar Ibrahim. The pair met for the first time in 18 years in 2016 when Mahathir turned up to show support for Anwar at a court appearance.

There is little sign that age is slowing down former Malaysian prime minister and opposition candidate Mahathir Mohamad, 92

Anwar was heir apparent to Mahathir until the premier sacked him in 1998 over political differences, and he was then jailed on sodomy and corruption charges.

The opposition Coalition of Hope had qualms about making Mahathir their candidate for the top job but observers say there was ultimately little choice.

Anwar was the only other figure well-known enough, and he is in jail after being convicted of sodomy again in 2015 in a case his supporters say was politically-motivated.

There is little sign that age is slowing Mahathir down.

He arrived at Friday's dinner event in the east coast fishing village of Sekinchan at around 10:00 pm, smiling broadly as he walked through an applauding crowd.

During his speech, the slight, bespectacled man with white, slicked back hair, repeatedly attacked Najib over allegations huge sums were stolen from 1MDB.

"Since Najib became prime minister, he's lost billions of ringgit," Mahathir told the 3,000-strong group at the event organised by the Democratic Action Party, part of the opposition coalition.

Najib and 1MDB deny any wrongdoing.

- Generational divide -

Mahathir has faced much criticism for his authoritarian rule. Opposition figures were jailed without trial in the 1980s, and he was accused of attacking the judiciary.

But he is also credited with transforming a sleepy Southeast Asian backwater into an economic success story, and his candidacy is appealing to voters longing for better times and angry at rising living costs.

"He is someone who can return the country to how it was before," said Jamiah Mansor, 64, a Malay housewife who attended Friday's dinner.

Mahathir Mohamad is credited with transforming a sleepy Southeast Asian backwater into an economic success story, and his candidacy is appealing to voters longing for better times and angry at rising living costs

But his candidacy has also proved controversial, with the ruling coalition accusing the opposition of hypocrisy and many furious at the prospect of his return.

"Bringing back Mahathir is a betrayal of (the opposition's) supporters," Abdul Rahman Dahlan, minister in the prime minister's department, told AFP.

His bid for the top job has left many younger voters disillusioned, and a campaign calling for votes to be spoiled has gone viral.

Hafidz Baharom, 35, a former opposition supporter who plans not to vote, told AFP that "the younger generation needs to move up, the older generation has to resign and move from the front lines".

The opposition are "not even promising hope -- they're promising the lesser of two evils," he said.
Firefighters search the debris after a fire broke out at a hospital building in Miryang, killing at least 38 people including 35 patients

Defective wiring is suspected to have caused the deadly South Korean hospital fire that killed dozens and injured more than 150, police said, as public anger swelled over the country's worst fire disaster in a decade.

The huge blaze that erupted at the hospital in the southeastern city of Miryang Friday killed at least 38 people including 35 patients -- mostly elderly women -- and three medical staff.

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 building materials and illegally parked cars blocking access for emergency vehicles.

Authorities are still investigating the exact cause of the hospital fire but preliminary on-site inspection has suggested possible defects in the wiring in the first-floor ceiling of what used to be an office pantry.

"There were no traces of burns on the floor, but clear signs of fire spreading toward the bottom from the top," an official told a joint press briefing on Saturday evening.

"All the wires will be collected from the ceiling for a detailed analysis," the official said, a process which may take more than two weeks.

The hospital did not have fire sprinklers as it was not large enough to be required to install them under local safety rules.

A memorial was set up at a city gymnasium for the victims, where more than 3,340 had come to pay their respects as of early Sunday.

President Moon Jae-In visited the memorial 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.

The tragedy has rattled residents of the sleepy city of Miryang, with black banners carrying messages of mourning 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.

At least six bereaved families have yet to find a funeral home two days since the accident, and the Miryang City Hall said it would provide space by Monday.
An Indonesian military medical team arrives in Agats, West Papua, as the impoverished region grapples with a deadly measles-and-malnutrition outbreak

Indonesia's battle to stem a deadly measles outbreak striking malnourished children in Papua is doomed to be repeated unless the government helps lift the isolated region out of grinding poverty, observers said.

Some 800 children have fallen ill and as many as 100 others, mostly toddlers, are feared to have died in what Jakarta called an "extraordinary" outbreak that was first made public this month.

AFP reporters obtained rare access to an overwhelmed hospital in Agats, one of the worst-affected communities, witnessed rail-thin children with exposed rib cages lying on rickety beds or wandering foul-smelling hallways.

One malnourished girl, hooked up to an IV drip, was seen lying on the floor of an under equipped hospital.

The disease has proven especially deadly here as malnutrition makes children more susceptible, weakening their immune systems.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has ordered military and medical teams to bring supplies to remote villages in the far-flung province.

Observers blame the crisis on a complex mix of government inaction, lack of jobs, logistical hurdles in reaching remote communities and resettlement efforts that pose a serious threat to traditional hunting-based lifestyles.

A low-level separatist insurgency is also simmering in the region, fuelled by resentment over poor conditions and a fight for a bigger share of Papua's rich natural resources.

Many Papuans live a semi-nomadic life in hard-to-reach areas of the jungle with almost no proper medical care, schools or other services, including access to clean water.

Papuan fishermen use a net to fish in Agats, Asmat district, in West Papua

In Ayam village, a ten-hour boat ride from the nearest major city, a tiny clinic lacked almost everything -- including doctors -- as its few nurses struggled to treat more than two dozen measles cases.

Some locals worry what will happen when the medics leave.

"What we really need is medicine and food so our children here can be healthy again," said 28-year-old father Yunus Komenemar, whose one-year-old son has measles.

"The government is paying more attention, aid is coming in and there are (positive) changes, but we want it to last."

Some 12,000 children with no symptoms have been treated, including with vaccinations, according to the health ministry, but in the past many Papuans have refused the shots that are seen as key to preventing outbreaks.

- 'Isolation' -

Indonesia has opened new district governments across Papua and tried to settle locals into permanent villages, but many of the new offices are not equipped to handle the huge task ahead.

And resettlement forces locals to adapt to a new lifestyle including adjusting to imported foods that are often already expired by the time they arrive on the island shared with Papua New Guinea, observers said.

Complicating matters, many Papuans avoid the province's few medical clinics because they do not think they need treatment, while some avoid larger communities for fear of coming into contact with Indonesia's military, which has been blamed for human rights abuses.

Two Papuan boys play with a phone in Agats, Asmat district, in West Papua, where a few nurses are struggling to treat more than two dozen measles cases

Natalius Pigai, a former senior official at Indonesia's government-backed National Human Rights Commission, warned that the future of Papua and its people was at stake.

"To stop (crises) from happening again in the future, we need to stop Papua's isolation," he said.

While some new plantations offer hope for the local economy, most workers are not native Papuans, experts said.

Jakarta took control of western Papua after hundreds of years of Dutch colonial rule and a UN-backed self-determination referendum in 1969 that was regarded by many historians as a sham, leading to long-simmering tensions.

When Widodo took office in 2014, he vowed to speed up infrastructure development and services, bolstering hopes for the region, observers said.

"What the government is saying is what we think is important to do (for Papua) is in fact not being done," said Richard Chauvel, a Papua expert at the University of Melbourne's Asia Institute.

"The question is whether these newly established (district) governments have the human resources, experience and skills to provide these sorts of services," he added.

- 'Lack of leadership' -

Much of the blame lies with regional politicians and their "lack of leadership", according to Freddy Numberi, a former governor of Papua.

The poverty-stricken region gets ample central government funding but much of it does not get used for improving health and education, among other services, owing to corruption and wasteful spending, he added.

"You could say it's a paradox actually -- they have everything but they blame the central government," Numberi said.

Three Papuan boys watch an Indonesian military Mi17 helicopter at Erwer airport in Agats, Asmat district, in West Papua

Widodo lifted a travel ban on foreign journalists visiting Papua in 2015.

But unofficial restrictions on access have allowed Indonesia to govern a region wracked by regular public health crises without accountability, said Andreas Harsono, an Indonesia-based campaigner for Human Rights Watch.

"As measles is easily prevented with a safe and inexpensive vaccine, these deaths should never have happened," he said, adding that Papua has Indonesia's lowest life expectancy and highest infant, child and maternal mortality rates.

"I hope this crisis will help some people here -- at least those in power -- to change their minds, but if they choose business as usual another crisis will appear next year as well."
Actress Chloe Grace Moretz attends "The Miseducation Of Cameron Post" And "I Like Girls" premieres during the 2018 Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Center Theatre on January 22, 2018 in Park City, Utah

"The Miseducation of Cameron Post," a powerful drama about the real-life controversial practice of gay conversion therapy, came away with the top prize as the Sundance Film Festival wrapped Saturday.

Starring Chloe Grace Moretz, it delighted and shocked audiences at its world premiere in the Utah mountains with its story of a teenage girl forced into therapy after being caught having a sexual encounter with the prom queen.

"On behalf of the entire 'Cameron Post' team we want to dedicate this to the LGBTQ survivors of sexual conversion therapy," said Moretz.

"We just wanted to make this movie to shine a light onto the fact that it is only illegal in nine states out of the 50 states in this country to practice sexual conversion therapy."

Its director Desiree Akhavan had pre-recorded an acceptance speech for the grand jury prize in Sundance's "US dramatic competition" section but it could not be played on a night beset by technical difficulties.

"Kailash," about one man's crusade to end child slavery, won best US documentary while the US dramatic audience award -- the second prize to the grand jury award -- went to Andrew Heckler's "Burden."

The US documentary directing prize went to Alexandria Bombach for "On Her Shoulders," -- a portrait of a Yazidi girl who survived sexual slavery at the hands of the Islamic State group -- while the US documentary audience award went to "The Sentence."

"Butterflies" came away with the grand jury prize for world drama while "Of Fathers and Sons," a study of jihadi radicalization in the home, from celebrated Syrian filmmaker Talal Derki, won the world cinema documentary competition.

The Sundance Film Festival, founded by actor Robert Redford, is considered a showcase for independent and documentary films, and festival winners often go on to receive critical acclaim and Hollywood awards season glory.

Among the titles from the 2017 edition of the festival picking up trophies at Hollywood's various ceremonies are Jordan Peele's "Get Out," which played out of competition as a midnight screening.

The dark comedy has four Oscar nominations, including best film, director and screenplay.

"Call Me by Your Name," which director Luca Guadagnino took to last year's Sundance, also has four Oscar nominations, including best picture.

Dee Rees's "Mudbound," picked up by Netflix for a considerable $12.5 million at last year's festival, has Academy nods for adapted screenplay, supporting actress, cinematography and original song.

"I love really how the entire community here at the festival is curious, adventurous and so eager to engage with one another in the dialogue," said Sundance Institute executive Keri Putnam.

"But it all starts with the work. It's the work we see on the screens coming from such fresh, creative and independent perspectives."

Here is a full list of prizewinners from Saturday's awards:

- US DRAMA -

Grand Jury Prize: "The Miseducation of Cameron Post"

Audience Award: "Burden"

Directing: Sara Colangelo, "The Kindergarten Teacher"

Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: Christina Choe, "Nancy"

Special Jury Award for Outstanding First Feature: Reinaldo Marcus Green, "Monsters and Men"

Special Jury Award for Excellence in Filmmaking: Reed Morano, "I Think We're Alone Now"

Special Jury Award for Acting: Benjamin Dickey, "Blaze"

- US DOCUMENTARY-

Grand Jury Prize: "Kailash"

Audience Award: "The Sentence"

Directing: Alexandria Bombach, "On Her Shoulders"

Special Jury Award for Social Impact Filmmaking: "Crime + Punishment"

Special Jury Award for Creative Vision: "Hale County This Morning, This Evening"

Special Jury Award for Storytelling: "Three Identical Strangers"

Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Filmmaking: "Minding the Gap"

- WORLD CINEMA DRAMA -

Grand Jury Prize: "Butterflies"

Audience Award: "The Guilty"

Directing Award: Isold Uggadottir, "And Breathe Normally"

Special Jury Award for Acting: Valeria Bertuccelli, "The Queen of Fear"

Special Jury Award for Screenwriting: Julio Chavezmontes and Sebastian Hofmann, "Time Share"

Special Jury Award for Ensemble Acting: "Dead Pigs"

- WORLD CINEMA DOCUMENTARY -

Grand Jury Prize: "Of Fathers and Sons"

Audience Award: "This is Home"

Directing Award: Sandi Tan, "Shirkers"

Special Jury Award for Masterful Storytelling: Steven Loveridge, "M.I.A."

Special Jury Award for Editing: "Our New President"

Special Jury Award for Cinematography: Maxim Arbugaev, Peter Indergand "Genesis 2.0"
A herd of elephants cross the road in Pendjari National Park, one of the last sanctuaries of untamed wildlife in West Africa

Jean-Marc Froment leant against a railing at the lodge in Pendjari National Park in Benin's far north, and spotted about 40 elephants drinking at a large water hole.

Almost in slow motion, a group of adults -- their trunks and ears pointing forward -- chased away two female lions watching nearby and stood in the way of other predators so their young could quench their thirst in safety.

"See how they're arriving calmly? That was unthinkable a couple of months ago. They were still very nervous," said Froment, the head of conservation for African Parks.

Froment, who is originally from Belgium, moved to Benin four months ago and has spent his working life across Africa, helping countries to protect their national parks, which have often been destroyed by decades of conflict.

Benin isn't at war. But Pendjari, situated more than 12 hours by road from the economic capital Cotonou on the Atlantic coast, has suffered years of political and economic neglect.

The 4,700-square-kilometre (1,814-square-mile) park is one of three straddling the borders of northern Benin and neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.

It's one of the last sanctuaries of untamed wildlife in West Africa, whose flora and fauna have been forgotten since French colonial days.

Pendjari has suffered poaching of elephants for ivory, illegal hunting and tree felling.

A ranger stands guard on top of a vehicle during an elephant collaring exercise at Pendjari National Park

Jose Pliya, the director of Benin's National Agency for the Promotion of Heritage and Tourism Development (ANPT), said the park was "dying a slow death".

The government set up the ANPT to speed up the implementation of new projects, with President Patrice Talon having made tourism a key priority of his five-year tenure.

"The head of state often compares Benin's rich heritage and culture to untapped oil deposits," said Pliya.

Only about 200,000 visitors came to Benin in 2014-15 but Talon has an ambitious aim to attract one million between now and 2021 and create 100,000 jobs in the next decade.

"We're working on six projects across the country and at the moment Pendjari is the furthest forward," said Pliya.

- 'It's all to do' -

To bring a park of such a size back to life, Benin has needed to find investors willing to put in $26 million (21 million euros) over 10 years.

The government has committed itself to up to $6 million.

In Rwanda, gorilla conservation programmes have made tourism a leading money-spinner, bringing in $400 million in revenue in 2016. Benin wants to follow suit.

A waterbuck bull stands in the morning sun at Pendjari National Park, one of three straddling the borders of northern Benin and neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger

"The increase in wildlife will be our sign of success," said Froment, whose non-profit employer has been given the task of managing Pendjari.

There are currently only estimates of the number of lions, buffalo and hippos but a census is being undertaken, using a microlight plane flying at low altitude.

"There was no way of flying in the park before. But it's a must. From the sky you can see carcasses, forest fires, poachers," said pilot Stephane Carre.

The habits and movements of the wild animals also need to be understood.

Collars with satellite tracking devices have been fitted onto a number of elephants and lions.

That will help determine where to deploy some of the 60 or so new rangers who have been trained to protect the animals, and also where to build lodges and new airstrips for tourists.

Whether the park will aim at travellers from the luxury market or a younger, backpacker clientele is unclear at the moment, said park director James Terjanian.

"It's all to do, that's what's exciting about it," he said.

- 'Minister for Pendjari' -

The biggest challenge in an impoverished, densely populated region is acceptance from people in surrounding villages, whose residents already suffer restrictions.

"They can't go to farm or fish" in the park, said Djaleni Djatto, who handles relations between the park and local communities.

Benin wants to follow the example of Rwanda, where gorilla conservation programmes have made tourism a leading money-spinner

Development will be a non-starter if locals don't benefit economically.

As well as creating direct employment in tourism, African Parks is looking at developing beekeeping to export honey and also making shea butter for the cosmetics industry.

About 1,000 children from villages around the park have visited since May last year.

Among the latest were about 30 primary school pupils, who arrived in a minibus in early January, their eyes fixed on the bush.

The sun had only been up for about two hours and the hot, dry air was falling on a large pool where a heron was hunting fish from the back of a hippopotamus.

The children, in worn clothing and mismatched sandals, climbed onto a wooden platform and passed around binoculars to witness the scene.

They lived just a few kilometres away but had never seen such animals.

Abel, 13, said he had already decided what he wants to be when he grows up.

"Minister for Pendjari," he announced.

"That's what's going to have an impact," said Djatto. "Children who will now grow up with the idea that they can find other jobs and not just work in the fields."
An Afghan man holds a wounded child after the bombing

Anger was growing in Kabul Sunday, a day after a huge bomb hidden in an ambulance killed nearly 100 people and wounded scores more, highlighting the ability of insurgents to strike at the heart of Afghanistan.

At least 95 people were killed and 191 wounded in the lunchtime attack claimed by the Taliban, which caused panic in the war-torn capital and overwhelmed its hospitals.

US President Donald Trump called for "decisive action" against the Taliban over the assault -- the second it has carried out in the city in a week -- as other international leaders also condemned the attack.

"We have 95 dead and 191 wounded from yesterday's attack in Kabul," health ministry spokesman Waheed Majroh told reporters on Sunday.

Most of the injured were men, he added.

Ordinary Afghans took to social media to express their anguish and sorrow at rapidly worsening security, as the Taliban and the Islamic State group step up attacks on Kabul, turning it into one of the deadliest places in Afghanistan for civilians.

"We are so heartbroken in Kabul that we don't know how to start our new day," Freshta Karim wrote on Twitter.

"Shall we stay home or go to work, shall we meet our friends and cry or shall we force ourselves to create an illusion of hope? How are you starting your day in Kabul?"

Naser Danesh tweeted: "In Kabul starting a day without explosion, it would be a surprise. One could only imagine that kind of a day."

On Facebook, Naweed Qaderi wrote: "It is a big shame for the government, they repeatedly fail to protect people. The leaders must lose a son or daughter to feel the pain of poor people."

The blast happened in a crowded area of the city where several high-profile organisations including the European Union have offices.

The force of the explosion shook the windows of buildings hundreds of metres away and caused some low-rise structures in the immediate vicinity to collapse.

The scene of the attack was scattered with body parts, blood and debris. Children were among the wounded.

- Security alert -

The government has blamed the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani Network, which Afghan and Western officials suspect of involvement in at least some of the recent attacks in the capital.

The suicide bomber passed through at least one checkpoint in the ambulance, saying he was taking a patient to Jamhuriat hospital, an interior ministry spokesman told AFP on Saturday.

"At the second checkpoint he was recognised and blew (up) his explosive-laden car," Nasrat Rahimi said.

Rahimi told a news conference later that most of the victims were civilians. Four suspects had been arrested.

The attack came exactly a week after Taliban insurgents stormed Kabul's landmark Intercontinental hotel and killed at least 25 people, the majority foreigners.

But there is still confusion over the true toll with conflicting figures given by officials and Afghan media reporting higher numbers.

A security alert issued on Sunday warned that IS militants were planning to attack supermarkets and shops in Kabul frequented by foreigners.

Some foreign organisations are reassessing their presence in Afghanistan following the spate of deadly violence, with at least one moving its foreign staff out of Kabul, a Western source told AFP.
Egypt has signed an agreement for a third $500 million tranche of a $1.5 billion loan package from the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Sahar Nasr, minister for investment and international cooperation, signed the deal on Sunday with AfDB's Egypt manager Malinne Blomberg.

The funding is intended to support Egypt's economic reform programme, according to a minstry press release.

Nasr said the deal sends a strong message, affirming that the Egyptian economy is moving firmly long the path to sustainable and comprehensive development.

She said the $500 million would be used to fund the country's social-security system, which does not currently meet the needs of citizens.

Blomberg said the AfDB's funding package was designed to support sustainable growth in Egypt, to help enhance governance and offer direct job opportunities.

She pointed out that the Egyptian government has already shown a commitment to carrying out reforms, as well as investments, growth, and energy sustainability.

She highlighted that AfDB currently heads 40 projects worth $2.4 billion in Egypt.

Nasr signed the deal to receive the first $500 million tranche of the AfDB package in December 2015, while the deal for the second tranche was signed in December 2016.

Egypt is also receiving a three-year funding package of $12 billion from the IMFs Extended Fund Facility (EFF). Half that sum has already been disbursed since the flotation of the Egyptian currency in November 2016.

Last week, the IMF released its staff report on the second review of Egypts economic reform programme, identifying the outlook for the Egyptian economy as largely positive.

It commended the government for taking ownership of the reform programme and for its "strong track record in policy implementation since the start of the programme and political support at the highest level.

The IMF's third review is due in March 2018.

Egypt's economy has been struggling since 2011 due to a sharp drop in tourism and foreign investment, two main sources of hard currency for the import-dependent country.

The country's foreign reserves stood at $37.019 billion by the end of December 2017.



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This file picture taken on January 3, 2016 shows Hong Kong police walking past a missing person notice of Gui Minhai (L), posted on top of the sign for China's Liaison Office in Hong Kong, before Gui resurfaced only to be snatched for a second time

The United States on Saturday expressed deep concern about the case of Hong Kong book publisher Gui Minhai, allegedly snatched by Chinese police while being accompanied by Swedish diplomats.

His disappearance has sparked a diplomatic row between Stockholm and Beijing.

"We are deeply concerned that Swedish citizen Gui Minhai was detained on January 20," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

"We call on Chinese authorities to explain the reasons and legal basis for Mr Gui's arrest and detention, disclose his whereabouts, and allow him freedom of movement and the freedom to leave China."

Gui's daughter Angela Gui has said he was detained by around 10 plainclothes police while on a train to Beijing from the eastern city of Ningbo, where he was living, while accompanied by two Swedish diplomats.

He was going to see a Swedish doctor, she said.

On Wednesday the European Union ambassador to China called for Gui's immediate release.

"The United States and our European partners are bound by shared principles of liberty, equality, and human dignity," Nauert said.

Gui was one of five Hong Kong-based booksellers known for salacious titles about the lives of China's political elite.

This is the second time he has been snatched.

He first went missing in 2015 while on vacation in Thailand and later resurfaced at an undisclosed location in China. Chinese authorities said they had released Gui in October.

Amnesty International has called his latest disappearance "absolutely appalling."
China is tightening controls on social media

Chinese authorities have ordered a major social media platform to curb "harmful content" more effectively as they intensify oversight of online expression -- even taking aim at rap music, crude cartoons, dirty jokes and celebrity gossip.

The campaign is intended not just to stamp out dissent but to ensure that all media "serves the direction of socialism".

Sina Weibo has failed to comply, Beijing's Cyberspace Administration said Saturday on its official WeChat social media account, berating the site for letting users post "content of wrong public opinion orientation, obscenity, low taste and ethnic discrimination".

The company "has violated the country's laws and regulations, led online public opinions to wrong direction and left a very bad influence," it said.

In another case announced Friday, China's securities watchdog said it had punished a blogger on WeChat with a 200,000 yuan ($31,000) fine for posting market-moving "misinformation" about meetings between corporations and regulators.

China has some of the world's tightest controls over web content, protected by what is called "The Great Firewall". Restrictions on free speech have increased since President Xi Jinping assumed power in 2012.

A controversial cybersecurity law, which took effect last June, has given authorities even more leeway to regulate a wide variety of information.

At the time, the cyberspace administrator told major internet companies to obey the provisions of the new law requiring online news and information services to "serve the direction of socialism and correctly guide public opinion".

Since then they have taken aim at not just explicit depictions of sex and violence, but anything the authorities consider low brow: from crude cartoons and dirty jokes to celebrity gossip.

Earlier in January, social media began circulating a government order apparently issued to Chinese broadcasters banning them from giving air time to "artists with tattoos, hip hop music" and other performers who are "in conflict with the party's core values and morals".

In punishment for Weibo's failure to toe the lengthening party line, regulators have demanded a week-long shutdown of the site's offending features, including one that allows users to pay to ask celebrities questions, as well as a function to search trending topics.

It was far from the first time the authorities have expressed concern over content on the social media giant, which is owned by internet behemoth Sina.

The company has tried to counter criticism by banning keywords and hiring thousands of censors to laboriously take down posts that violate the party's ever stricter dictums.

On Weibo, China's Twitter-like platform, commenters were quick to take issue with the government's decision.

"This is just an excuse to better control the trending topics search," said one user.

"From now on, the things you see on the page will be what (the government) wants to make you see."
Iranians walk in the snow in the capital Tehran on January 28, 2018

After months of waiting for the snow to arrive, Tehranis were hit by massive snowfall overnight on Sunday that shut airports and schools but delighted the ski community.

The capital's Imam Khomeini International and Mehrabad airports were shut due to poor visibility "until further notice", state television said.

Some 20 provinces in the west and north of Iran were affected by the snowfall that began on Thursday and peaked on Saturday night, with some mountainous areas receiving as much 1.3 metres (more than four feet) of snow according to official news agency IRNA.

With many schools closed and offices delaying their opening times, Tehrani families made the most of the blizzard.

"This past year we have had very bad news and this is the first good news we have had, and we are happy," Hadi, a transportation worker who had taken the day off to make snowmen with his children, told AFP.

Iran's skiiers, who have been denied much action in recent months due to an uncommonly warm winter, were also pleased.

"It's incredible. There's been a metre of powder today, and it's still snowing. My car is buried up to its side mirror," said a Western diplomat, waiting for the lifts to open at Dizin ski resort, an hour north of the capital.

Iran's drivers were having less fun, with thousands blocked on motorways out of the capital.

An Iranian woman and a child pose for a photograph during a snowstorm in the capital Tehran on January 28, 2018

Mohammad Ali Abtahi, who served as cabinet chief under ex-president Mohammad Khatami, posted a message on social media showing his car stuck on the motorway to the religious centre of Qom, around 150 kilometres south of the capital.

"It's been nine hours that we are stuck out here with hundreds of other cars. We haven't budged one metre," he wrote.

Hundreds of Red Crescent teams were mobilised to bring help to the stranded motorists, with many having run out of petrol after hours of keeping their cars heated.

A Red Crescent spokesman told the official IRNA news agency that 6,600 people had been put up in emergency accommodation.

The state gas company said it was bracing for a major surge in demand as temperatures were set to drop to minus-20 Celsius (minus-4 Fahrenheit) in certain northern regions.

In Tehran, local media said several cars and electricity cables had been damaged when trees collapsed on to cars under the weight of the snow.

Mayor Mohammad Ali Najafi asked young Tehranis to help municipality workers to shake trees and dislodge the snow in order to avoid further accidents.
An Afghan man holds a wounded child after the bombing

Afghanistan Sunday declared a day of national mourning as the toll for those killed by a huge bomb hidden in an ambulance in Kabul topped 100 people and tensions remained high after insurgents struck in the city for the second time in a week.

At least 103 people were killed and 235 wounded in Saturday's lunchtime attack claimed by the Taliban, which caused panic in the war-torn capital and overwhelmed its hospitals.

Kabul remained on high alert as the presidential palace declared a national day of mourning for Sunday, with flags flying at half-mast. The attack was one of the worst to strike the capital in recent years.

Central Kabul was unusually quiet on Sunday, a normal workday in Afghanistan, with little traffic and few people on the streets.

In contrast, security checkpoints have been beefed up, particularly near the blast scene, as the city braced for the possibility of further violence.

A security alert issued on Sunday warned that the Islamic State group -- which claimed a deadly attack on Save the Children's office in Afghanistan's east on Wednesday -- was planning to attack supermarkets and shops in Kabul frequented by foreigners.

US President Donald Trump called for "decisive action" against the Taliban over the assault as other international leaders also condemned the attack.

Afghan authorities gave an updated toll Sunday for those killed and maimed in the huge blast.

"Unfortunately a number of wounded people have died in hospital. The number of martyrs is now 103 and wounded is 235," Interior Minister Wais Barmak told reporters.

Most of the victims were relatives of patients at a nearby hospital, said Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai, the head of Afghanistan's spy agency, describing the attack as a reaction by the Taliban to losses on the battlefield.

"It does not mean a lapse (in security). We have foiled many attacks, but some are difficult to control," the head of National Directorate of Security told reporters.

- 'We are so heartbroken' -

Ordinary Afghans took to social media to express their anguish and sorrow at rapidly worsening security as the Taliban and IS militants step up attacks on Kabul, turning it into one of the deadliest places in Afghanistan for civilians.

"We are so heartbroken in Kabul that we don't know how to start our new day," Freshta Karim wrote on Twitter.

"Shall we stay home or go to work, shall we meet our friends and cry or shall we force ourselves to create an illusion of hope? How are you starting your day in Kabul?"

Naser Danesh tweeted: "In Kabul starting a day without explosion, it would be a surprise. One could only imagine that kind of a day."

On Facebook, Naweed Qaderi wrote: "It is a big shame for the government, they repeatedly fail to protect people. The leaders must lose a son or daughter to feel the pain of poor people."

The blast happened in a crowded area of the city where several high-profile organisations including the European Union have offices.

The force of the explosion shook the windows of buildings hundreds of metres away and caused some low-rise structures in the immediate vicinity to collapse.

The scene of the attack was scattered with body parts, blood and debris. Children were among the wounded.

- Foreigners leaving -

The government has blamed the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani Network, which Afghan and Western officials suspect of involvement in at least some of the recent attacks in the capital.

Aerial footage showed two ambulances -- the second one driven by the suicide attacker -- approaching the first checkpoint, Barmak told reporters.

Police checked the first vehicle and, assuming the two ambulances were together, waved them through, he said.

Both ambulances went to the parking lot of the Jamhuriat hospital. After 20 minutes the suicide attacker drove on to the second checkpoint.

"At the second checkpoint he was recognised and blew (up) his explosive-laden car," interior ministry deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said earlier. He said four suspects had been arrested.

The attack came exactly a week after Taliban insurgents stormed Kabul's landmark Intercontinental hotel and killed at least 25 people, the majority foreigners.

Volunteers carry a body at the scene of the car bombing

But there is still confusion over the true toll from that attack with conflicting figures given by officials and Afghan media reporting higher numbers.

Stanekzai said five people had been arrested so far over the hotel raid.

Some foreign organisations are reassessing their presence in Afghanistan following the spate of deadly violence.

The Aga Khan Foundation is moving its foreign staff out of the country, several sources told AFP.

At least one Western humanitarian group is relocating its foreign staff to other cities in Afghanistan, a source said.
Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher attends a conference to raise funds for war-ravaged Yemen at the Unites Nations Office in Geneva on April 25, 2017

Yemen's Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher on Sunday accused southern separatists of attempting a coup in the interim capital of Aden after they took over the government headquarters.

The premier called on the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed Huthi rebels to intervene, hours after fierce clashes erupted between military units loyal to the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and separatist security forces.

At least six people, including four from pro-government forces, were killed and dozens wounded in the clashes that spread to most of Aden, security sources said.

"A coup is ongoing here in Aden against legitimacy and the country's unity," Dagher said in the statement.

Security sources told AFP that pro-separatist units trained and backed by the United Arab Emirates had taken over the government headquarters in Aden after clashes.

The clashes erupted after separatist protestors were prevented from entering Aden where supporters of secessionists were gathering for a rally to demand the ouster of Dagher's government.

Aden serves as a temporary base for Hadi's Saudi-backed government as Iran-backed rebels took over the capital Sanaa more than three years ago.

A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in 2015 to back Hadi's government in its war against the Huthi rebels.

Ahead of the planned protest, the coalition called for calm and restraint from "all Yemeni political and social" parties.

It urged all sides to "adhere to the language of calm dialogue", according to a statement cited late Saturday by Saudi state news agency SPA.

Military and security units from both sides were deployed in the city amid high tension.

Universities, schools and the only international airport in the city had all been closed, according to witnesses.

Dagher said that events in Aden were headed towards "total military confrontation" and urged members of the coalition, in particular the UAE, to take action.

He also warned that separating south Yemen from the rest of the country would benefit Iran and the Huthis.

"Iran is trying to consolidate its presence in Yemen through the Huthis and by splitting Yemen, we are giving them one-third of the land and three-quarters of the population," Dagher said.

Sunday's rally was called by the South Transition Council, an autonomous body aimed at overseeing self-governance among southern provinces.

The 26-member council, which is not recognised by Hadi's government, includes the governors of five southern provinces and two cabinet ministers.

Former Aden governor Aidarous al-Zoubeidi formed the council in May after Hadi fired him the previous month.
Members of the Polish K2 expedition heading to take part in the rescue

An elite group of climbers saved a French mountaineer in a daring night-time rescue on a Pakistan peak nicknamed "killer mountain", but officials Sunday called off the search for a second missing climber.

The team of Polish climbers with support from the Pakistani military launched the attempt Saturday afternoon to rescue stranded French mountaineer Elisabeth Revol, but were unable to reach Polish national Tomek (Tomasz) Mackiewicz on Nanga Parbat.

"The rescue for Tomasz is unfortunately not possible -- because of the weather and altitude it would put the life of rescuers in extreme danger," wrote Ludovic Giambiasi, a friend of Revol, in a series of updates on Facebook.

"It's a terrible and painful decision."

The four rescuers were flown by the Pakistani military from the base camp of K2 -- the world's second-highest peak -- to reach the stranded climbers.

They were part of a Polish expedition seeking to become the first mountaineers to summit K2's peak during the winter, when good climbing days are rare.

"The K2 climbers who stopped their historic effort for a winter K2 summit will descend with Elisabeth Revol -- one life saved," said Karar Haideri, spokesman for the Alpine Club of Pakistan, in a statement on Sunday.

- Frostbite and snow blindness -

The team was evacuated by helicopter after a five and a half hour descent down the mountain to Nanga Parbat's Camp One early Sunday.

Following the rescue operation the Polish team are set to return to K2 base camp where they will continue their summit attempt

The group were then airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in nearby Skardu, where Revol was set to be treated for a number of injuries.

"(Revol) has frostbite and some (snow) blindness," said Asghar Ali Porik from Jasmine Tours, who helped organise the K2 expedition.

Revol was later flown to Pakistan's capital and admitted to hospital.

"Elisabeth is in the hospital in Islamabad. She has severe frostbite on her hands and feet," Giambiasi said. Television footages showed Revol walking into hospital.

Pakistani climber Karim Shah, who was in contact with the expedition, said the rescue effort was unmatched in the climbing world, with the team ascending 1,200 metres in complete darkness along a treacherous route without a fixed rope.

"No one did such a climb before," Shah told AFP.

"Most people, it takes two or three days, and they did it in eight hours in the darkness."

Following the operation the Polish team are set to return to K2 base camp where they will continue their summit attempt.

"This operation hasnt affected the K2 (expedition)," Michal Leksinski, a spokesman for the team, told AFP.

"This will go into the history of mountaineering. It was one of the greatest rescue attempts in history."

The rescue mission was launched after the missing alpinists were located Friday by fellow mountaineers using binoculars, who spotted Revol attempting to climb down while Mackiewicz appeared to be crawling due to frostbite.

The pair ran into trouble after making a late descent to a camp Thursday. They were trapped on the side of the mountain for the night without a tent, battered by frigid temperatures and high winds, said Shah.

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 climb it before the first successful summit in 1953.

The mountain was first summited in the winter in February 2016 by Italian alpinst Simone Moro and his team -- Alex Txikon of Spain and Pakistani climber Ali Sadpara -- who overcame frostbite and pummelling winds to reach the peak.

In July last year a Spaniard and an Argentinian were presumed dead after they went missing while trying to summit Nanga Parbat.
A southern separatist fighter holds a position in Yemen's second city Aden on January 28, 2018

Yemen's government accused southern separatists of an attempted coup on Sunday after they took over its headquarters amid fierce clashes in the city of Aden.

The fighting, which killed at least 15 people, threw war-torn Yemen into further chaos and threatened to undermine President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who ordered his forces to stand down.

Security sources and residents said clashes appeared to have spread to most of the city.

The government urged the Saudi-led military coalition, which has been supporting Hadi against Iran-backed Huthi rebels who control much of the north, to intervene.

The southern separatists -- who want the return of an independent state that ended with Yemen's unification in 1990 -- backed Hadi's government against the Huthis but tensions between them had been rising.

Yemen: Government HQ seized

"A coup is ongoing here in Aden against legitimacy and the country's unity," Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher said in a statement.

Shortly afterwards, it was reported loyalist commanders had received orders from Hadi to disengage.

"After talks with the Arab coalition... you must order all military units to cease fire immediately," a government statement said.

On Sunday afternoon, coalition planes flew over the city.

Security sources told AFP that pro-separatist units trained and backed by the United Arab Emirates had taken over the government headquarters in Aden after clashes.

The 15 dead included three civilians, hospital sources said. Dozens were wounded.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) tweeted that one of its facilities in Aden had received 50 wounded and four dead.

The fighting erupted after separatist protesters were prevented from entering the city for a rally to demand the government's ouster from Aden, which became its de facto capital after the Huthis seized Sanaa in 2014.

The separatists accused the prime minister of ordering his troops to open fire at the protesters.

Separatist fighters and supporters danced at an intersection as truckloads of armed men drove through the streets.

By early evening, separatists took control of two roads leading to the presidential palace where several members of the government were staying, security sources said, adding that fighting had receded.

- Schools, airport closed -

Saudi and Emirati troops present in Aden did not intervene when the clashes first broke out, security sources said.

Smoke billows from a hilltop during clashes between fighters from Yemen's southern separatist movement and forces loyal to the Saudi-backed president in Aden on January 28, 2018

The coalition, which launched its intervention against the rebels in March 2015, had urged restraint ahead of the planned protest.

It called on all sides to "adhere to the language of calm dialogue", the Saudi state news agency SPA said late Saturday.

The UAE also called for restraint and reiterated its support for the coalition's mission in Yemen and its rejection of "any act of sedition", Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said in a tweet.

Universities, schools and Aden's only international airport had all been closed, witnesses said.

Dagher warned that separating south Yemen from the rest of the country would benefit the rebels and Iran, and said the situation in Aden was headed towards "total military confrontation".

Sunday's rally was called by the Southern Transitional Council, an autonomous body aimed at overseeing self-governance among southern provinces.

The 26-member council, which is not recognised by Hadi's government, includes the governors of five southern provinces and two cabinet ministers.

A fighter from Yemen's southern separatist movement stands on a street of the country's second city of Aden on January 28, 2018, during clashes with forces loyal to the Saudi-backed president

Former Aden governor Aidarous al-Zoubeidi formed the council in May after Hadi fired him.

The council had asked Hadi to make changes in the government and gave him one week to do so -- a deadline that expired on Sunday.

- Long campaign for secession -

It had warned that if Hadi did not accept the demand, its supporters would begin a protest campaign to oust Dagher's government.

The separatists have long campaigned for the secession of southern Yemen.

South Yemen was independent -- with former British colony Aden as its capital -- from its formation in 1967 until 1990, when it was unified with North Yemen under northern leader Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Four years later, it launched a separatist rebellion that culminated in its occupation by northern forces.

The Huthis, a northern Shiite minority, seized Sanaa in September 2014 with the help of Saleh and army units loyal to him.

Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher attends a conference to raise funds for war-ravaged Yemen at the Unites Nations Office in Geneva on April 25, 2017

In March 2015, the rebels advanced on Aden, where Hadi took refuge after escaping from Sanaa.

But the Saudi-led coalition helped pro-Hadi forces oust the rebels from Aden and four other provinces in July that year.

Hadi loyalists have been boosted by the Popular Resistance alliance of southern separatists and tribesmen after the rebels advanced on their regions.

Years of UN-backed peace efforts have failed to resolve Yemen's conflict, which has killed more than 9,200 people and devastated a country already among the region's poorest.

The Huthis have increasingly consolidated their grip on Sanaa and the north, especially since rebels killed Saleh in December after their alliance collapsed.
A boy, his face painted in the colours of the Yemen southern separatist movement, flashes the V-sign at a rally in Aden in November 2016

Yemen's Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher on Sunday accused southern separatists of attempting a coup in the interim capital of Aden after they took over the government headquarters.

The premier called on the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed Huthi rebels to intervene after fierce clashes.

Here is some background on the latest twist in Yemen's tangled conflict:

- Two become one -

A British helicopter delivers supplies in the Radfan Hills, part of a British protectorate of Dhala, in Aden in May 1964

South Yemen was an independent state -- with former British colony Aden as its capital -- from its formation in 1967 until 1990, when it was unified with North Yemen under northern leader Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Four years later, it launched a separatist rebellion which culminated in its occupation by northern forces.

The scars of that war are still widely felt, feeding separatist sentiment.

- Power vacuum -

In the chaos that has followed the ouster of Saleh by protests in 2011, southern separatists have bolstered the forces of internationally recognised President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi in the battle against the Huthis and loyalists of the now-dead strongman.

A tank flies the flag of the southern separatist movement in Aden on March 30, 2015 during clashes with the Huthis

In March 2015, the Huthis advanced on second city Aden, where Hadi had taken refuge after escaping house arrest in the capital Sanaa.

But the Saudi-led coalition helped pro-Hadi forces push the rebels out of Aden in July that year, as well as from four other provinces.

Hadi loyalists have been boosted by the Popular Resistance alliance of southern separatists and tribesmen who took up arms after the rebels advanced on their regions.

The separatists have long called for the secession of the formerly independent South Yemen, and their support for Hadi has been far from unconditional.

- South Transition Council -

Sunday's violence came after protests called by the South Transition Council, an autonomous body aimed at overseeing self-governance among southern provinces.

The 26-member council, which is not recognised by Hadi's government, includes the governors of five southern provinces and two cabinet ministers.

Former Aden governor Aidarous al-Zoubeidi formed the council last May after Hadi fired him the previous month.

Hadi sacked Zoubeidi along with cabinet minister Hani bin Breik, in a move widely seen as reflecting divisions among his supporters.

The two men played key roles in restoring security to Aden and adjacent provinces after the Huthi push.

The sidelined southern leaders are supported by the United Arab Emirates, a key member of the Saudi-led coalition that backs Hadi.

The UAE has financed, armed and trained southern security forces that fought against jihadists in the region and which have also been accused by rights groups of a raft of abuses.

The Saudi-led coalition has called for calm and restraint from "all Yemeni political and social components".
Pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow led protests after authorities banned her from standing in an upcoming by-election

Protesters in Hong Kong gathered outside the government's headquarters Sunday evening after a leading pro-democracy activist was barred from standing as a candidate in upcoming elections.

The ban on 21-year-old Agnes Chow, who was at the forefront of mass 2014 Umbrella Movement rallies calling for political reform, is the latest blow for the democracy camp and another sign that Beijing is tightening its grip on the semi-autonomous city.

It reflects China's increasing anger over what it sees as any challenge to its sovereignty from activists, some of whom advocate a full split from the mainland.

The government Saturday rejected Chow's application to stand in a by-election in March because her party Demosisto supports self-determination for Hong Kong.

Chow was among leading activists, lawmakers, academics and students who addressed around 2,000 protesters packed onto pavements outside the government offices.

"The government is trying to get rid of all the political parties who are against them," said Chow who was greeted with applause.

"But even though we are under pressure and are suppressed, we still insist on human rights and freedoms," she added.

Co-founded by high-profile democracy activist Joshua Wong, Demosisto does not campaign for independence but advocates self-determination and a referendum for Hong Kong people to decide how they want to be governed.

The ban on Chow has wide-scale implications for other similar activists wanting to stand for office, including Wong, who is currently out on bail after being jailed for his role in the 2014 protests.

The pro-Beijing Hong Kong government has previously barred independence activists from standing for office, but Chow's ban is the first against a more moderate campaigner.

Since the Umbrella Movement ended with no concessions on reform there have been increasing signs the city's cherished freedoms are under threat.

The jailing of democracy activists, the disqualification of opposition lawmakers from the legislature at Beijing's request and the lack of answers over the disappearance of five Hong Kong booksellers who resurfaced in the mainland has fuelled concern.

Hong Kong was handed back to China by Britain in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" deal that grants it a partially elected legislature and rights unseen on the mainland, including freedom of speech and the right to protest.

The agreement is supposed to last until 2047. But retiree Johnson Lui, who protested Sunday, said he felt the handover deal was dead.

"The Beijing government is meddling in every aspect of Hong Kong affairs. It's not fair and it contradicts the Sino-British declaration," Lui told AFP.

He called on the international community to pay more attention to the erosion of freedoms in the city.

"Western countries just want to do business with Beijing. That's what they care for -- they don't care about what happens in Hong Kong," Lui said.

Concerns over the erosion of rights in Hong Kong were raised in the British parliament's House of Commons and House of Lords last week.
A picture from January 25, 2015 shows the entrance to the former Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau with its infamous 'Arbeit macht frei' ('Work makes you free') above the gate

Israel summoned a top Polish diplomat on Sunday to express concerns over legislation Warsaw was advancing regarding the Holocaust and the definition of Nazi death camps.

Poland's rightwing-dominated parliament adopted legislation on Friday setting a maximum three-year jail term for anyone who accuses the Polish nation or state of complicity with Nazi crimes, or who refers to Nazi German death camps as being Polish.

The measure, intended to apply to both Poles and foreigners, must still pass the Senate before being signed by the president.

The charge d'affaires for Poland's embassy in Israel, Piotr Kozlowski, was summoned to the foreign ministry for a "clarification" with senior officials, a statement read.

"Israel's opposition to the wording of the bill was expressed to him," the ministry said.

"The timing of the bill -- the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day -- was particularly surprising and unfortunate."

It added that "the legislation will not help further the exposure of historical truth and may harm freedom of research, as well as prevent discussion of the historical message and legacy of World War II".

Late on Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Poland of seeking to deny history with the bill, sentiments he repeated at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.

"We have no tolerance for the distortion of the truth and rewriting history or denying the Holocaust," Netanyahu said on Sunday.

Noting that the bill must go through two more stages before being finalised, Netanyahu said he had expressed "our position that it must be changed".

"Over the week our ambassador (to Poland) and her team will have talks about this with the Polish leadership, including the prime minister, president and Polish senate," Netanyahu said.

- 'Not a Polish phrase' -

Faced with the criticism, Poland's President Andrzej Duda on Sunday vowed to review the bill.

He said he would present his "final evaluation of procedural legal provisions after the completion of parliament's work and a careful analysis of the final shape of the act."

Israel's ambassador to Poland Anna Azari told the Polish PAP news agency that Israel believes the legislation could open the door to Holocaust survivors being prosecuted for their testimony should it concern the involvement of Poles in war crimes.

Duda appeared to address the concerns, saying that "everyone whose personal memory or historical research speaks the truth about the crimes and shameful behaviour that occurred in the past with the participation of Poles has full right to this truth."

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" former death camps such as Auschwitz set up by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland.

On Saturday night, Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki wrote on Twitter that "Auschwitz-Birkenau is not a Polish name, and Arbeit Macht Frei is not a Polish phrase".

He was referring to the words on the Nazi camp's infamous wrought-iron gate that mean "Work makes you free" in German.

Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, said it opposed the new legislation, but also noted there was "no doubt that the term 'Polish death camps' is a historical misrepresentation".

"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," it said.

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On Saturday, 27 January, Hani Al-Behairi's Spring and Summer 2018 haute couture soiree collection, titled Oriental Fashion Show, received great acclaim by celebrities attending Paris Fashion Week at the Crillon Palace.

The show marked another triumphant cooperation of Al-Behairi and his partner, beauty expert Mohamed Al-Sagheer, who styled the hair and did the make up for 25 French models who adorned Al-Behairi's 35 soiree designs, a bridal gown, and a Pharaonic gown on the runway.

Al-Behairi used shimmering fabrics like taffeta, silk and lace, adding to that golden, sun-like embroidery where East meets West.

The surprise was French actress Elisa Bey, who decided to walk on the ramp in Al-Behairi couture, refusing to make an appearance at any other fashion show during Fashion Week.

Al-Behairi received many nods of admiration from the organisers and the praise of an Italian organiser labelling his show as the best in 2018, matched by media coverage and interviews with top haut fashion magazines that included photo shoots with top French models in Parisian streets.



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American rapper Jay-Z is leading nominations for the Grammys

Jay-Z is leading nominations Sunday for the Grammys, was feted Saturday by music industry heavyweights -- and, in between, was taken to task by the president of the United States.

President Donald Trump criticized Jay-Z on his Twitter feed, likely in response to the rap mogul's denunciations of the US leader in an interview.

"Somebody please inform Jay-Z that because of my policies, Black Unemployment has just been reported to be at the LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED!" Trump tweeted.

Trump was accurately pointing to record-low unemployment for US minorities, although critics note that the US economic expansion began well before under his predecessor Barack Obama.

Jay-Z, who along with his wife Beyonce became friends and political allies of Obama, in the interview broadcast Saturday on CNN said that Trump's belittling remarks toward people of color overshadowed any employment data.

"Money doesn't equate to happiness. It doesn't. That's missing the whole point," said Jay-Z, no stranger to flashing his material wealth.

"You treat people like human beings, then that's the main point," he told host Van Jones, a former aide to Obama.

Jay-Z said that Trump's election laid bare the persistence of racism in the United States and voiced dismay at the president's reported quip that he did not want immigrants coming from "shithole" countries in Africa or predominantly black Haiti.

"It's real hurtful. Because it's looking down at a whole population of people and it's so misinformed because these places have beautiful people and beautiful everything," Jay-Z said.

Jay-Z is in the running for eight Grammys on Sunday amid acclaim for his latest album "4:44," a strikingly introspective work in which he addresses institutional racism, apologizes to Beyonce for infidelity and supports his mother as she comes out as a lesbian.

Jay-Z on Saturday night received an award as an "industry icon" at a pre-Grammy gala, where the rapper voiced contrition for boycotting the music industry's prize night two decades earlier.
The conflict in South Sudan has caused the deaths of tens of thousands of people while nearly four million have been driven from their homes

African Union chief Moussa Faki Mahamat said Sunday that "the time has come" to slap sanctions on those blocking peace in South Sudan, one of the most intractable wars facing African leaders as they meet in Ethiopia.

At the opening of the 30th annual African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Faki deplored the "unbelievable cruelty" and "senseless violence" of warring parties in South Sudan, which has been torn apart by conflict since December 2013, just two years after gaining independence.

Tens of thousands have died and nearly four million South Sudanese have been driven from their homes, while millions are going hungry in a humanitarian crisis expected to worsen as the lean season sets in.

Efforts 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 time has come to sanction those who are blocking peace," said Faki, chairman of the AU commission.

United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres pledged his support for "any African initiative for a more robust response" to the disregard of the truce.

Referring to a closed-door meeting on Saturday night of the AU's Peace and Security Council, Guterres said that if "the ceasefire ... is not respected, we all agreed that stronger measures are required to guarantee it is respected."

The United States, the main backer of South Sudanese independence and biggest aid donor to the country, again called for an arms embargo last week in front of the UN Security Council.

Previous efforts to impose a weapons embargo and wider sanctions have failed with some member states arguing this would be counterproductive to peace efforts.

The US slapped sanctions on three senior officials in September last year.

South Sudan's cabinet affairs minister Martin Elia Lomoro -- who is charged with overseeing the peace process -- said "reports that come from South Sudan do not reflect the current truth on the ground."

"Sanctions cannot just be levied without reasons," he said.

- 'Clear consequences' -

However patience from South Sudan's foreign allies has worn out after countless failed peace efforts.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres pledged his support for a "robust response" to the disregard of the truce in South Sudan

Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, told the Security Council on Wednesday that President Salva Kiir's government was "increasingly proving itself to be an unfit partner" in efforts to restore peace.

She urged African leaders gathered for the summit to "consider seriously the accountability measures it pledged for those who refuse to pursue peace."

Festus Mogae, a former president of Botswana who leads an international ceasefire monitoring team, on Saturday called for "clear consequences" for those who violate the truce and urged regional trade bloc IGAD not to "maintain a unified approach".

"For the revitalisation process to be successful there must be a clear understanding among all South Sudanese leaders of the consequences of non-compliance and the determination of IGAD to ensure that agreements are complied with," he said.

South Sudan descended into war in December 2013 when 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, and numerous new armed opposition groups have formed, further complicating peace efforts.
Cartoonist Mort Walker, second from left, receiving a State Department award in 2002 from Secretary of State Colin Powell, center, for his 'Beetle Bailey' comic strip. Walker died on Saturday.

Cartoonist Mort Walker, whose lovable Beetle Bailey character survived decades of military life at dysfunctional Camp Swampy without ever doing any real work, has died, news media reported.

Walker was 94 and died Saturday at his home in Stamford, Connecticut, the National Cartoonists Society reported on its website. He died of complications from pneumonia.

Walker created the "Beetle Bailey" comic strip in 1950. Bailey was originally cast as a slacker college student, but with the outbreak of the Korean War, he enlisted in the military -- and never left.

Walker said he drew decades of material from his own army service during World War II -- "four years of free research," he called it.

The strip, originally published in 12 newspapers, proved immensely popular with its mockery of mindless bureaucracy and pompous authority figures. It was ultimately carried by 1,800 papers in 50 countries, making Walker one of the most read cartoonists in history.

- Banned, then celebrated -

Walker was also co-creator of the popular "Hi and Lois" strip, and he founded the International Museum of Cartoon Art, now part of a collection at Ohio State University.

But he was best known for creating Bailey, the perennially hapless private -- whose motto was to never stand when he could sit -- and his supporting cast, from Bailey's perpetually frustrated Sarge up through martini-loving General Amos T. Halftrack.

For years, the Pentagon publicly pooh-poohed the strip, feeling Walker was encouraging disrespect for officers. "Bailey" was even banned for a time by the Stars and Stripes military newspaper.

But in 2000, army brass acknowledged that they too had long secretly enjoyed Bailey's antics, awarding Walker the branch's highest civilian award.

"Boy, how times have changed," Walker said after receiving the Distinguished Civilian Service Award. "I was persona non grata around here for many, many years."

Cartooning was a lifelong passion. By age 18, Walker had been drawing for years and was already chief designer for the Hallmark gift card company.

Walker's sons Brian and Greg, long-time collaborators on the strip, said they plan to keep it alive.

"Old cartoonists never retire," Mort Walker once said. "They just erase away."
A replica of an equestrian statue of Cuban independence hero Jose Marti is unveiled in Havana, an initiative of the Bronx Museum of the Arts

A replica of a statue in New York's Central Park of Cuban independence hero Jose Marti was unveiled Sunday in a plaza in Havana, a gesture of friendship in a time of strained US-Cuban relations.

Cuban President Raul Castro was present at the unveiling ceremony in what is likely to be one of his last public appearances before he steps down April 19.

Funds for the statue were raised by the Bronx Museum of the Arts with the help of the Friends of Jose Marti, a US-based group.

It is a replica of a mid-20th-century work by American sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington, the only bronze equestrian statue in existence of Marti.

The ceremony marked the 165th anniversary of the birth of Marti, a writer and activist who championed the island's independence from Spain. He was killed May 19, 1895 fighting the Spanish in Cuba.

- 'A difficult time' -

US-Cuban relations are at their lowest point since the two Cold War foes restored diplomatic relations in 2015 after a half-century break.

"The idea is that Cubans in exile and those here should work together to continue lifting up Cuba," Carlos Gutierrez, former US commerce secretary, told AFP at the ceremony.

Gutierrez, whose family fled Cuba in 1960 when he was six, expressed hope that the gains made under former US president Barack Obama will not be lost under his successor Donald Trump.

"We are going to have to wait a bit with President Trump," he said. "We're going through a difficult time."

The State Department last year cut its US embassy staff in Havana by half and expelled 17 Cuban diplomats from Washington after a series of unexplained incidents in which US and Canadian diplomats in Cuba suffered mysterious illnesses that appeared to be related to brain trauma.

In November, Washington tightened rules on travel to Cuba that had been loosened under Obama.

Among other things, the new rules bar Americans from doing business with a host of Cuban entities linked to the military and interior ministry.
United Nations refugee agency special envoy Angelina Jolie holds a press conference during a visit to Jordan's Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees on January 28, 2018

UN goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie urged the UN Security Council to "find a way" to solve Syria's nearly eight-year war during a tour Sunday of a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan.

"It is heartbreaking to return to Jordan and witness the levels of hardship and trauma among the Syrian refugees as this war enters its eighth year," the Hollywood star said at the Zaatari camp.

Jolie, a special envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said Syria's neighbours Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq now host around 5.5 million refugees from the conflict.

"They really are an example to the world at a time that solidarity with the refugees is in short supply," she told reporters after meeting with families living in the camp which is home to about 80,000 people.

"Humanitarian aid is not a long term solution," she said, urging Security Council members to take action and solve the war which broke out in March 2011.

"This is a crisis that has been out of control for years. UNHCR does not have the funds to provide in full even the most basic necessities," she said.

The UNHCR response for the Syria conflict was "only 50 percent funded" last year and only seven percent since the start of 2018, she said.

Jolie, who was on her fifth trip to Jordan, said "it is soul-destroying" for Syrian refugees "to be made this dependent".

"So I would urge the Security Council members to come to the region, to visit the camps and the urban refugees, and find a way to finally bring the full weight of the UN and international community to bear to solve this conflict," she told reporters.

"My message to the international community today... please do more to help meet the needs of desperate Syrian families, and the countries hosting them.

"But above all please provide the leadership and strength needed to negotiate a principled end to this senseless war, without sacrificing the dignity and human rights of Syrian families. That is non-negotiable," she said.

The UN refugee agency says it has registered more than 650,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan since the conflict in Syria began in March 2011 with anti-government protests.

However, Amman says it is hosting 1.3 million Syrian refugees, and has repeatedly called for more assistance to do so.
"The French state will intervene," said French Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet, pictured on January 22, 2018

France said Sunday it "will intervene" in cases of its nationals sentenced to death in Iraq and Syria for belonging to jihadist organisations.

"Of course if there was a question of the death penalty, the French state will intervene," justice minister Nicole Belloubet told a host of French media outlets.

Pressed on what this meant, Belloubet said France would "negotiate with the state in question... on a case by case basis".

An Iraqi court sparked controversy last week after condemning to death by hanging a German woman of Moroccan origin after finding her guilty of belonging to the Islamic State jihadist group.

The group has carried out scores of atrocities in Iraq and Syria since proclaiming a "caliphate" there in 2014 and has also been behind a string of attacks in Europe, including the 2015 Paris carnage that left 130 people dead.

Several dozen French nationals are believed to currently be held in detention in Iraq and Syria after an international military coalition rolled back the jihadists' advances.
A member of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's campaign flicks through the signatures needed to support his candidacy for re-election in this picture taken on January 24, 2018

Five Egyptian public figures, including two former presidential hopefuls, called Sunday for voters to boycott the March presidential election after the withdrawal of all candidates but the incumbent Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Sisi, who has been in power since 2014, appears set to run unopposed after all other presidential hopefuls were either jailed or announced they would not take part in the election on March 26-28.

Nominations for candidates remain open until Monday.

The undersigned "condemn all security and administrative practices that the current regime took to prevent any fair competition against it in the upcoming elections," they said in the statement.

The document was signed by a barred presidential hopeful's top aides -- Hisham Geneina, a former anti-corruption chief, and Hazem Hosni, a political science professor at Cairo University.

They had been part of the team campaigning for General Sami Anan, a former armed forces chief of staff.

Anan was accused of illegally announcing, on January 20, his intention to run for president before getting the military's approval.

Sunday's call for voters to boycott the election was also signed by 2012 presidential candidate Mohamed Anwar Sadat, a dissident and nephew of the former president of the same name.

On January 15, Sadat said he would not throw his hat into the ring this time because the climate was not conducive to free and fair elections.

The boycott call was also signed by moderate Islamist and 2012 presidential candidate Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh, a former senior leader of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The fifth signatory was Essam Heggy, a NASA space scientist who worked as an adviser to former interim president Adly Mansour.

Mansour had served as acting president after Sisi led the 2013 military ouster of former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi prior to being elected president the next year.

The five signatories cited "the vicious attack against Justice Hisham Geneina", who was stabbed and seriously wounded by assailants on Saturday.

Lawyer Ali Taha said three men stabbed Geneina in the face and beat him near his home in Cairo, breaking one of his legs. He was admitted to hospital for treatment.

Geneina was sacked by Sisi as head of the Central Auditing Authority in 2016 after he was accused of exaggerating the cost of corruption.

They said "obstacles to the elections had started early with the spreading of a climate of fear over security and media and government bias."

The five also complained of a "tight timetable which did not give competitors a real chance to present themselves."

The National Election Authority announced on January 8 that the deadline for applications would be January 29.

They requested the elections be halted, and for the authority's work to cease, accusing it of covering up bias.
A New Zealand Air Force Orion plane located seven survivors drifting in a dinghy late Sunday after the sinking of the MV Butiraoi, which set off from the island nation of Kiribati on January 18

Australian and US aircraft will join the search for survivors from a ferry which sank with 50 people aboard in the remote Pacific, rescue officials said Monday.

A New Zealand Air Force Orion plane, which on Sunday found seven survivors drifting in a dinghy, is already combing a search area larger than Italy.

The survivors -- three men, three women and a 14-year-old girl -- had been aboard the MV Butiraoi, which set off from Kiribati on January 18.

Officials in the island nation raised the alarm on Friday after hearing nothing from the vessel since its departure.

An Australian Maritime Safety Authority jet and a US Coast Guard Hercules agreed to join the search on Monday, Rescue Coordination Centre NZ said.

The centre's senior search and rescue officer Greg Johnston said the remote area where the ferry went missing made it a challenging operation.

He said 385,000 square kilometres (150,000 sq miles) had already been searched and the area was constantly expanding as current modelling was used to estimate where survivors could have drifted.

NZDF Air Commodore Darryn Webb said anyone who was still alive would have been adrift for about a week.

"There's a thought that there could be a liferaft with other survivors on it... we remain optimistic that we may find more survivors," he told Radio New Zealand.

He said the seven people found aboard the dinghy were safely picked up by a nearby fishing vessel and a Kiribati patrol boat would transfer them back to land.

Two commercial vessels are also assisting with the search.

The Butiraoi was last heard from on January 18 when it left Nonouti on a 250-kilometre (155-mile) trip to Betio, the largest township of Kiribati's capital city, South Tarawa.

Local authorities said the 17.5-metre wooden catamaran ran aground and underwent repairs to its propeller shaft before it left Nonouti.

New Zealand sent a military aircraft to conduct sweeps of the area after being called in to help late Friday by Fiji authorities who are coordinating the search.

Kiribati, a nation of 33 atolls and reefs with a total population of about 110,000, lies some 3,460 kilometres northeast of Fiji.
PARIS (AP) - French authorities are taking another look at a woman's rape accusation against the government's budget chief, who denies the allegation.

The prime minister's office expressed support Saturday for Budget Minister Gerald Darmanin and said it would be up to the justice system to investigate.

Darmanin is the highest-ranking French official accused of sexual misconduct since the scandals that started with Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein in October snowballed into a movement affecting numerous industries and countries.

The Paris prosecutor's office said an investigation of the allegation that Darmanin, 35, raped a woman in 2009 was opened last year and closed because the accuser didn't show up for questioning,

A new preliminary investigation was launched after the woman filed a new lawsuit and answered investigators' questions this week, the prosecutor's office said Saturday.

The accuser's lawyer, Elodie Tuaillon-Hibon, said the alleged rape took place when her client sought legal from Darmanin, at the time an up-and-coming official in France's conservative Republicans party.

The woman is a former prostitute who was convicted in 2004 for blackmail, according to Tuaillon-Hibon. She maintained she was wrongfully convicted and wanted Darmanin's help with the case when he allegedly forced her into sex, the lawyer said.

Darmanin vigorously contests wrongdoing and has filed a countersuit alleging false denunciation. Speaking on radio network France-Info earlier this month, he acknowledged receiving a letter accusing him of abuse of power and possibly rape. He called the accusations "false."

"I was nothing, I was a young man," he said of the time period in which the assault allegedly occurred.

France has seen widespread outrage over sexual violence and harassment in recent months, as well as an increasing number of police reports for sexual misconduct. Unlike in the U.S., no powerful French figures have lost their jobs as a result.

Some famous French women, notably actress Catherine Deneuve, also have denounced the mounting "denunciations" as a form of puritanism that threatens sexual freedom.

Lawyer Tuaillon-Hibon, who specializes in sexual misconduct cases, told The Associated Press that she has received "a lot more requests" for help in recent months and observed a growing sensitivity among police and prosecutors toward victims of alleged sexual abuse.

But she said France needs clearer laws on what constitutes sexual consent.

"That's the heart of this case," she said.
LONDON (AP) - President Donald Trump says Britain's Prince Harry and his fiancee, American actress Meghan Markle, look like a "lovely couple" and he doesn't know if he's been invited to their May wedding.

Trump also told Britain's ITV News in an interview to be broadcast Sunday that his administration might not withdraw from the Paris climate accord if terms more favorable to the United States are reached, in part because he likes French President Emmanuel Macron.

The interviewer, veteran British journalist Piers Morgan, told the U.S. leader that Markle backed Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election and has described Trump as "divisive."

FILE - In this April 22, 2016 file photo, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are greeted by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and His Royal Highness Prince Harry of Wales, shaking hands with the president, as they arrive at Kensington Palace in London. US President Donald Trump has wished Prince Harry and fiancee Meghan Markle well and says he is not aware of having received an invitation to their royal wedding in May. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

"Well, I still hope they're happy," Trump said.

The interview was conducted Thursday during Trump's brief visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In excerpts released earlier by ITV, the president apologized for retweeting videos made by a British far-right group and said he looked forward to visiting Britain, where he has been invited to make a state visit hosted by Queen Elizabeth II.

The guest list for Harry and Markle's May 19 wedding at Windsor Castle has not been made public. The prince's press team said invitations have not been sent out yet. It is not clear if a final list has been drawn up.

The British press has been filled with speculation that Harry might snub Trump and invite former U.S. President Barack Obama as a wedding guest. The prince and Obama have met on several occasions, and Obama gave Harry a rare interview last year that was broadcast on the BBC.

Trump, in contrast, has angered many people in Britain with his crackdown on immigration and his climate change policies.

During his interview with Morgan, Trump deflected a question asking if he would like to attend the wedding festivities at St. George's Chapel, saying only that he hoped the couple is happy.

He seemed open to revisiting his pledge to withdraw from 2015 Paris climate accord if the deal could be substantially revised. Under the pact, nations set their own goals to reduce the emissions of heat-trapping gases. Because of legal technicalities America can't get out until November of 2020

"If somebody said, go back into the Paris accord, it would have to be a completely different deal because we had a horrible deal," Trump said in the interview.

"Would I go back in? Yeah, I'd go back in. I like, as you know, I like Emmanuel (Macron). I would love to, but it's got to be a good deal for the United States."

Trump said the climate has been cooling as well as warming and asserted that ice caps have not been shrinking as predicted.

"The ice caps were going to melt, they were going to be gone by now, but now they're setting records," he said.

However, those remarks don't quite match what data shows and scientists say. The world hasn't been cooling except for normal day-to-day weather variations; it has been just the opposite. And there have been far more records for shrinking ice on the top and the bottom of the world than growing, despite what the president claimed.
A senior official from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) took a tour of conservation facilities at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on Sunday afternoon, observing restoration work being conducted on King Khufus second solar boat.

Miyahara Chie, the deputy director-general of JICA's Middle East and Europe Department, visited the GEM's conservation laboratories and was updated on work to restore the ancient wooden boat, a project that is partly funded by the Japanese government.

Eissa Zidan, supervisor-general of boat restoration work, told Ahram Online that Chie was very enthusiastic about the restoration project and hopes to see the craft reassembled and put on display at the GEM soon.

Two boats belonging to Pharaoh Khufu were discovered inside two pits in 1954 as Egyptian archaeologists Kamal El-Mallakh and Zaki Nour were carrying out routine cleaning on the southern side of the Great Pyramid of Giza.

After its initial discovery, the first boat was removed piece by piece under the supervision of restoration expert Ahmed Youssef, who spent more than 20 years restoring and reassembling it. The boat is now on display at Khufus Solar Boat Museum on the Giza Plateau.

The second boat remained sealed in the neighbouring pit until 1987 when it was examined by the American National Geographic Society in association with the Egyptian Office for Historical Monuments.

In 2009, a Japanese scientific and archaeological team from Waseda University headed by Sakuji Yoshimura offered to remove the boat from the pit, restore and reassemble it, and put it on show to the public. The launch of the project involved a $10 million grant from the Japanese government.

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SAN DIEGO (AP) - Alex Noren of Sweden has all the credentials to be on the fringe of the elite in golf. He is a nine-time winner on the European Tour, including the flagship BMW PGA Championship, and he cracked the top 10 in the world when he won four times in 2016.

Now he has a chance to make his mark in America.

Noren surged on the closing stretch as so many challengers crumbled Saturday in the Farmers Insurance Open. He bounced back from a double bogey with three birdies over the final six holes for a 3-under 69 and a one-shot lead going into the final round at Torrey Pines.

Fans record with cell phones as Tiger Woods hits from the rough on the 14th hole of the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course during the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

"To win would be very, very big for my confidence, I think," Noren said. "And playing around these courses ... we're going to have the U.S. Open here in a few years, so it would be massive."

But even as he took his first 54-hole lead in his first PGA Tour event as a member, it was easy to overlook the 35-year-old Swede.

For starters, Tiger Woods takes up almost all the attention. Woods was at his scrambling best in the third round, and he had to be. He hit only three fairways, only had a birdie putt on nine holes and still managed a 70. Woods was eight shots behind.

Beyond golf's top attraction was the long list of players chasing Noren.

Two dozen players were separated by five shots going into the final round. That started with Ryan Palmer, who lost momentum from his 45-foot eagle by making two late bogeys and a lazy swing with a wedge that kept him from a good chance at birdie on the 18th.

And it still includes Jon Rahm, who hit into the water front the green on the par-5 closing hole and took double bogey for a 75. He was still just four shots back - Rahm was three behind when he won last year - and still in range of a victory that would give the 23-year-old Spaniard the No. 1 ranking.

It most likely doesn't include Woods, who was no less entertaining.

Woods was so wild off the tee that he hit only one fairway on the back nine at the start of his round. Without a deft short game, Woods figures he might have shot something in the 80s.

"It's not the driver, it's my swing," said Woods, who has hit only six fairways since Thursday. "Some of my go-to shots aren't there. Some of the shots I like to hit under certain circumstances aren't there, either. The only thing I have is my short game and my heart, and that got me through today."

Noren, who played his college golf at Oklahoma State, ran in a long eagle at the par-5 sixth and closed out his round by drilling his second shot over the pond and to the back fringe on the 18th for a two-putt birdie. He was at 11-under 205.

Not being as well known in these parts was the least of his concerns.

"All I'm trying to do is play some good golf and my goal is to win a tournament," Noren said. "I don't care too much if they know me or not. It's quite nice if they don't know me. But they're very nice to me."

Palmer began the third round with a one-shot lead and had two bad stretches. He made consecutive bogeys late on the front nine, and then after stretching his lead to two shots with his eagle, he made two bogeys over the next three holes.

Even so, he'll be in the final group Sunday going for his first victory in eight years. He is in a good place, on the leaderboard and at home, with his wife getting clean scans in her battle with breast cancer and Palmer taking off the fall to get bone spurs removed from his shoulder.

"Wasn't the best year last year, and taking the fall off, but my game is in good shape," Palmer said. "It's ready. If we hit the ball a little bit better, a little more consistent, we're going to have a chance."

J.B. Holmes had a 65 to reach 9-under 207 and joins Palmer and Noren in the last group. Michael Kim also was two shots behind and has some course knowledge from going to Torrey Pines High School and playing the South more times than he can remember.

Left out of the mix was Phil Mickelson, who was three shots out of the lead until he shot 41 on the back nine. Mickelson had a 4-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole that would have put him in the same group as Woods on Sunday. He missed.

Woods again tees off on the back nine for the final round and is too many shots behind with too many players ahead of him to have a realistic chance. But it's been a good week for someone playing the PGA Tour for only the second time since August 2015 because of his three back surgeries. And he certainly gave his back a good test as many times as he was thrashing out of the rough.

"A good 12 months away from playing out of the rough, I don't know what this body is going to do," he said. "But I think it did great today."

One goal for Sunday is to give his back a rest, and maybe even try to break 70.

"See if I can shoot something in the 60s," he said with a smile, "but make it a little bit easier on myself than today."

Alex Noren, of Sweden, watches his tee shot on the 14th hole of the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course during the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Tiger Woods reacts after making a putt on the 13th hole of the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course during the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Ryan Palmer reacts after making his putt for eagle on the 13th hole of the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course during the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Jon Rahm, of Spain, hits out of a bunker on the 13th hole of the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course during the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump's description of the climate on planet Earth doesn't quite match what data show and scientists say.

In an interview with Piers Morgan airing Sunday on Britain's ITV News, the president said the world was cooling and warming at the same time and that claims of melting ice caps haven't come true.

TRUMP: "There is a cooling, and there's a heating. I mean, look, it used to not be climate change, it used to be global warming. That wasn't working too well because it was getting too cold all over the place."

FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2017 file photo, icebergs float in a fjord after calving off from glaciers on the Greenland ice sheet in southeastern Greenland. President Donald Trump seems to be describing another planet's climate because the Earth he described doesn't quite match what data shows and scientists say. In an interview with Piers Morgan airing Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, on Britain's ITV News, the president said the world was cooling and warming at the same time and that claims of melting ice caps haven't come true. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

Ten different climate scientists contacted by The Associated Press said the president was not accurate about climate change. Rutgers University climate scientist Jennifer Francis responded in an email: "Clearly President Trump is relying on alternative facts to inform his views on climate change. Ice on the ocean and on land are both disappearing rapidly, and we know why: increasing greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels that trap more heat and melt the ice. "

THE FACTS: The world hasn't had a cooler than average year since 1976 and hasn't had a cooler than normal month since the end of 1985, according to more than 135 years of temperature records kept by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The last four years have been the four hottest years on record globally, with 2010 the fifth hottest year, according to NOAA. Every year in the 21st century has been at least three quarters of a degree (0.4 degrees Celsius) warmer than the 20th century average and in the top 25 hottest years on record, NOAA records show.

And while a good chunk of the United States had a frigid snap recently, most of the rest of the world was far warmer than normal, according to temperature records.

Zeke Hausfather of the Berkeley Earth temperature monitoring program - initially funded by non-scientists who doubt that the world is warming - said in an email: "The world has been warming steadily over the past 50 years, with 17 of the past 18 years being the warmest since records began in the 1850s. It is not accurate to say that the climate has been 'cooling as well as warming'."

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TRUMP: "The ice caps were going to melt, they were going to be gone by now, but now they're setting records. They're at a record level."

THE FACTS: It is a bit more nuanced, but not quite right.

While a small number of experts a decade ago had predicted that Arctic would be free of summer sea ice by now, most mainstream scientists and the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change did not, instead they said Arctic sea ice would shrink, which it has, said Pennsylvania State University ice scientist Richard Alley. Most scientists, including the director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center, are predicting that the Arctic will be free of summer sea ice sometime around the 2040s.

The Arctic set a https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/sea-ice-extent-sinks-to-record-lows-at-both-poles record for the lowest amount of sea ice in the winter, when sea ice usually grows to its maximum levels, in March 2017. In 2012, the Arctic set a record for lowest sea ice levels. Sea ice recovered slightly from that record and in 2017 in September, the annual low was only the eighth lowest on record, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. But the 10 lowest years of sea ice have been all in the last 11 years. Arctic sea ice is declining at a rate of 13.2 percent per decade, according to NASA.

Princeton University climate scientist Michael Oppenheimer said the Antarctic sea ice pack, less directly influenced by global climate change, varies from year to year. Antarctica hit a record low for sea ice in March 2017, the same month the Arctic hit a record winter low. Antarctic sea ice also reached a record high in 2014.

"Both of the large ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica are losing hundreds of billions of tons of ice per year. Sea ice continues to decline significantly in the Arctic decade by decade, and the thickness of Arctic ice is now less than 50 percent of what it was 40 years ago," National Snow and Ice Data Center scientist Ted Scambos said in an email.

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Associated Press writer Gregory Katz in London contributed to this report.

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Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears . His work can be found here .
COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh (AP) - Hollywood star Michelle Yeoh says she's appalled by the plight of the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled violence in Myanmar into Bangladesh.

Yeoh, a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. Development Program, visited sprawling refugee camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar on Saturday as part of a Malaysian delegation led by the Southeast Asian nation's military chief. The team visited a hospital set up by Malaysia and distributed relief goods in another camp.

"It is very important that we're here, because what the Rohingya people are going through is despicable and it's very, very tragic. It should not be allowed," she said. "Every single one of them deserves to have the human rights that should be given to them."

Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, right, distributes blanket to a Rohingya refugee at Balukhali refugee camp near Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. A special delegation led by Michelle Yeoh and Malaysian Armed Forces Chief Gen. Raja Mohamad Affandi Saturday visited Rohingya refugee camp and distributed relief material items apart from evaluating the impact of the aid. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar since August in what the U.N. has described as ethnic cleansing. Myanmar's military has denied the charges, saying they were conducting "clearance operations" following attacks by Rohingya insurgents on police posts.

Yeoh was most recently seen in sci-fi TV series "Star Trek: Discovery." She also played Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in "The Lady," a 2011 biopic about the Nobel Peace laureate struggle to bring democracy to her country.

Suu Kyi has faced widespread international criticism for not speaking out in defense of the Rohingya. Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson resigned from an advisory panel on the crisis this past week, calling it a "whitewash and a cheerleading operation" for Suu Kyi.

Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, holds a Rohingya refugee child during her visit to the Malaysia field hospital at Kutupalong refugee camp near Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. A special delegation led by Michelle Yeoh and Malaysian Armed Forces Chief Gen. Raja Mohamad Affandi Saturday visited Rohingya refugee camp and distributed relief material items apart from evaluating the impact of the aid. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, right, with Malaysian Armed Forces Chief Gen. Raja Mohamad Affandi, second right, distribute relief material to a Rohingya refugee girl during their visit to Balukhali refugee camp near Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. A special delegation led by Michelle Yeoh and Gen. Raja Mohamad Affandi Saturday visited Rohingya refugee camp and distributed relief material items apart from evaluating the impact of the aid. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh talks to a Rohingya refugee child during her visit to Balukhali refugee camp near Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. A special delegation led by Michelle Yeoh and Malaysian Armed Forces Chief Gen. Raja Mohamad Affandi Saturday visited Rohingya refugee camp and distributed relief material items apart from evaluating the impact of the aid. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, right, with Malaysian Armed Forces Chief Gen. Raja Mohamad Affandi, talk to a Rohingya refugee during their visit at Balukhali refugee camp near Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. A special delegation led by Michelle Yeoh and Gen. Raja Mohamad Affandi Saturday visited Rohingya refugee camp and distributed relief material items apart from evaluating the impact of the aid. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, distributes sweets to Rohingya refugee boys in a school at Balukhali refugee camp near Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. A special delegation led by Michelle Yeoh and Malaysian Armed Forces Chief Gen. Raja Mohamad Affandi Saturday visited Rohingya refugee camp and distributed relief material items apart from evaluating the impact of the aid. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Six adults and an unconscious baby were rescued Sunday from a life raft in the Pacific Ocean after drifting for four days in the blazing sun without water. The survivors had scrambled onto the small wooden dinghy after the ferry they were aboard sank, according to authorities.

New Zealand Defence Force Air Commodore Darryn Webb said the crew on a military Orion plane had used radar to locate the dinghy while searching for survivors. He said the ferry had been carrying at least 50 people while traveling between two islands in the remote nation of Kiribati.

Webb said there has been no sign of any other survivors. He said it wasn't clear yet what caused the ferry to sink.

This photo released by the New Zealand Defence Force shows a wooden dinghy, left, carrying seven survivors from a missing ferry and a fishing boat in the Pacific Ocean Sunday, Jan 28, 2018. Six adults and an unconscious baby were rescued Sunday from a life raft in the Pacific Ocean after drifting for four days in the blazing sun without water. The survivors had scrambled onto the small wooden dinghy after the ferry they were aboard sank, according to authorities. (New Zealand Defence Force via AP)

The plane dropped supplies to the survivors including food, water and a radio, Webb said. The survivors used the radio to tell rescuers they'd managed to get off the ferry when it capsized and climb aboard the dinghy, he said.

Webb said the survivors had very little time to react and found themselves adrift without water or an engine. He said they did have a blanket or tarpaulin which they may have been able to use to get some relief from the sun.

Webb said a fishing boat had changed its course and picked up the survivors Sunday afternoon. He said the dinghy was drifting more than 180 kilometers (112 miles) from the nearest major island when it was found.

"Our heart goes out to the baby and to all those remaining of the 50-plus people," he said.

While thankful the life raft was found, Webb said it was also heartbreaking the ferry had sunk and the others were still missing. He said there was a lot of debris near the dinghy, which may have been from the ferry.

Searchers planned to regroup and interview the survivors before deciding whether to continue the search, he added.

Questions remain as to why it took Kiribati authorities so long to tell New Zealand officials the ferry was missing. Webb said a Kiribati plane had earlier searched for the ferry but didn't have sophisticated radar equipment.

Named the MV Butiraoi, the 17.5-metre (57-foot) wooden catamaran left Nonouti Island bound for South Tarawa on Jan. 18, according to authorities. The journey was supposed to take two days. New Zealand rescuers say they weren't told about the missing boat until Friday, eight days after the ferry had left.

Senior Search and Rescue Officer John Ashby said they'd been told the ferry underwent repairs to its propeller shaft just before leaving, which may have contributed to navigation problems.

Kiribati is a remote, impoverished nation of 33 atolls that is home to about 108,000 people.
BEIJING (AP) - Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono expressed hopes for improved relations with China during talks Sunday in Beijing that also touched on joint efforts to counter North Korea's nuclear program.

In opening remarks to his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, Kono said that as the world's second and third largest economies, China and Japan "have a major responsibility in safeguarding the stability and prosperity of Asia and the world at large."

Wang said China had noted positive remarks about the relationship from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but that difficulties still remain.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, left, shakes hands with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi before their meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, Pool)

"At present, the Sino-Japanese relations are at a crucial stage. There is positive progress, but many disturbances and obstacles remain," Wang said.

Japan has pushed for stricter measures against North Korea, which fired a ballistic missile over the Japanese island of Hokkaido in August. In his remarks, Kono stressed the need for a united front against Pyongyang.

"Not only do we need to manage our bilateral relations, but we also need to work together to deal with issues facing the entire globe, in particular the issue of North Korea, which is the matter at hand for the international community as a whole," Kono said.

The sides were working to arrange a trilateral summit in Tokyo between leaders from China, South Korea and Japan, followed by a visit by Abe to China and a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Japan, said Norio Maruyama, a spokesman for Japan's Foreign Ministry.

Following the talks, Kono met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and senior foreign policy adviser State Councilor Yang Jiechi.

The official Xinhua News Agency quoted Yang as saying the sides should "set aside interferences, consolidate and expand beneficial factors and further the continued development and improvement of China-Japan relations."

China and Japan experienced a major break in relations in 2012, after Beijing responded furiously to Japan's nationalization of uninhabited East China Sea islands that Tokyo controls but which China claims.

They moved toward normalization with Abe's visit to Beijing in 2014, however, mutual distrust continues to run high, especially over the islands, known in Japan as the Senkakus and in China as the Diaoyus. Taiwan also claims the islands, referring to them as Diaoyutai.

Maruyama said Kono stressed the importance of a coordinated approach to North Korea, but said japan also raised the issue of recent Chinese incursions into its territorial waters.

"We don't want to see anything that can undermine the improving relationship," Maruyama said.

Earlier this month, Tokyo expressed concern when a Chinese nuclear powered attack submarine was found operating just outside Japan's territorial waters. The sub later surfaced in the high seas flying the Chinese flag.

Japanese media quoted Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera telling reporters after the incident that Japan was "seriously concerned over acts that unilaterally raise tensions" and would "respond swiftly if a similar incident happens."

Also this month, three Chinese coast guard vessels passed through what Japan considers its territorial waters surrounding the East China Sea islands in the third such intrusion this month.

Both incidents have been viewed as attempts by China to probe Japan's ability to patrol the area and detect intrusions.

Animosity between the sides owes largely to Chinese resentment over Japan's brutal invasion and occupation of large parts of China. Many Chinese feel Japan has never shown adequate contrition for its acts, a sentiment fueled by the ruling Communist Party's use of heavy-handed nationalistic propaganda in schools and entirely state-controlled media.

Yet, the Japan-U.S. military alliance remains stronger than ever and Japan has responded to China's territorial claims by recently opening a museum in Tokyo to present evidence intended to support its position.

China's generally positive relationship with South Korea, another close U.S. ally, has also soured over Beijing's demands that Seoul remove a sophisticated anti-missile system intended to counter the threat from Pyongyang.

South Korea has refused to do so and Beijing has lately softened its position by accepting a commitment to not expand the system, known as THAAD.

Hopes for further reconciliation rose in November when officials from Japan, South Korea and China met in the Philippines to discuss the possibility of again holding a trilateral summit between them. The last one was held in 2015.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, left, and Chinese counterpart Wang Yi pose for photographs before their meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, Pool)

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, left, and Chinese counterpart Wang Yi pose for photographs before their meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, Pool)

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, second left, speaks during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, fifth left, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, Pool)
BEIJING (AP) - President Donald Trump's administration has joined European governments in urging China to release a Swedish citizen who sold gossipy books about Chinese leaders.

A U.S. State Department spokeswoman called on China to disclose Gui Minhai's whereabouts and allow him to leave China if he wishes.

"We call on Chinese authorities to explain the reasons and legal basis for Mr. Gui's arrest and detention, disclose his whereabouts, and allow him freedom of movement and the freedom to leave China," spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

FILE - In this June 18, 2016, file photo, freed Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kee stands next to a placard with picture of missing bookseller Gui Minhai, in front of his book store in Hong Kong as the protesters are marching to the Chinese central government's liaison office. Gui, who was secretly detained in China has been taken away by Chinese authorities again after being released into house arrest last October, his daughter said Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

The U.S. "will continue to coordinate with our partners, allies and regional organizations on promoting greater respect for human rights in China," Nauert said.

Around 10 Chinese police officers surrounded Gui and Swedish diplomats on Jan. 20 as they traveled by train to Beijing. Gui, a naturalized Swedish citizen, was seized and his whereabouts remain unknown.

Gui had disappeared from his home in Thailand in 2015 and reappeared months later in China after being sentenced for a decade-old traffic violation.

In a videotaped confession that supporters believe was coerced, Gui stated that he had turned himself in to mainland authorities over a hit-and-run accident.

That spurred suspicions that he had been abducted by the Chinese security services. He remained closely supervised even after his release from prison.

His latest detention has particularly rattled Western governments after it unfolded in the presence of diplomats.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry says it has no information about Gui's whereabouts, but has suggested that he may have been breaking the terms of his release. The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.

Gui was one of five Hong Kong booksellers whose disappearances symbolized China's determination to enforce its hard line on squelching political dissent and a free press __ despite international criticism.

He was released into house arrest in October in the eastern city of Ningbo, living in what his daughter Angela called a police-managed apartment.

Under Chinese law, those convicted of a crime generally have their civil rights suspended for a period of time, although it wasn't clear whether that applied in Gui's case. The prohibitions, which are often not made public, can also include restrictions on travel.

The office of EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has said it "fully supports the public statement and efforts of the Swedish government" on Gui's behalf.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Viola Davis knows how to make an audience see into the heart of a character, whether a burdened mother in "Doubt" or the flawed attorney in "How to Get Away with Murder."

She hopes the same holds true for the critical issue examined by the documentary series "Two Sides," the deaths of African-American men and women in confrontations with law enforcement.

It takes more than a video clip to understand a violent encounter, said Davis, an executive producer and narrator of the TV One program airing at 10 p.m. EST on consecutive Mondays through Feb. 12.

FILE - In this Nov. 19, 2017 file photo, actress Viola Davis poses in the press room at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles. Davis Davis produced and narrates the documentary series "Two Sides," airing on TV One. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

"Despite the fact that so many were caught on camera and so much in the public consciousness, it caused a divisiveness" instead of a determination to find common ground and solutions, Davis said. "We actually need to do something, but it never got to that point."

As the series' title suggests and Davis contends, the crisis demands an understanding of what officers and citizens face and, beyond that, the system enveloping them.

Among the cases examined in "Two Sides": Ezell Ford, 25, fatally shot during a 2016 struggle with two Los Angeles police officers; John Crawford III, 22, shot by officers while carrying an air rifle at a Wal-Mart store in a Dayton, Ohio, suburb; Sandra Bland, 28, who hanged herself in a Hempstead, Texas, jail cell after being arrested during a traffic stop and whose family disagreed with the ruling of suicide.

In each episode, law enforcement experts and independent observers discuss the circumstances of the deaths, including explanations of police regulations and procedures, and relatives and friends share memories of those who died and the impact of their loss.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters of California and Christopher Darden, a prosecutor in O.J. Simpson's murder trial, are among those offering commentary along with law enforcement agency representatives.

What officers face in the line of duty and what they risk must be taken into account, Davis said.

They have families and they want to go home safely at the end of their shift, she said. And, like any other citizen, Davis said, she herself depends on law enforcement for protection.

"Listen, if I'm in trouble I'm going to call 911, I'm going to need the police," she said. But society tends to believe that police and others in positions of authority should not be questioned and that if "you're on the other side, then you're wrong."

"Whereas I believe on both sides there is room for growth, and to be challenged and questioned," said Davis, who produced the docu-series with her husband, Julius Tennon, and Lemuel Plummer.

She has the visibility and clout to throw behind such a project: She was Oscar-nominated for 2008's "Doubt" and 2011's "The Help," won the trophy last year for "Fences," and received an Emmy for her role in the ABC legal drama "How to Get Away with Murder."

Davis dismisses the idea she has solutions to stop the repetitive violence - "I'm an actor. It's not my skill set" - but she has hope.

"We have to come to some kind of middle ground," she said. "It just hasn't happened."

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Lynn Elber can be reached at lelber@ap.org and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lynnelber.

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This story has been corrected to say title of the series is 'Two Sides' not 'Both Sides'
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Afghan authorities have raised the death toll from Saturday's suicide bombing in Kabul to 103, as hundreds of people gathered for funerals or awaited word of loved ones outside hospitals and morgues.

The attacker, driving an ambulance filled with explosives, was able to race through a security checkpoint by saying he was transferring a patient to a hospital. The explosion damaged or destroyed dozens of shops and vehicles in the heart of the city, near government buildings.

Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak provided the updated death toll on Sunday, saying another 235 people were wounded in the attack. He said police were among those killed and wounded.

An Afghan shopkeeper removes the shuttered glasses of his shop in the aftermath of Saturday's suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. U.S. President Donald Trump is condemning "the despicable car bombing attack" in the Afghan capital of Kabul. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

He said the attackers drove two ambulances, both of which made it past the checkpoint before one of them turned around and left the area, indicating some of the attackers escaped.

The Taliban claimed the attack, which dealt a major blow to the U.S.-backed Afghan government. Afghan security forces have struggled to combat the Taliban since the U.S. and NATO formally concluded their combat mission at the end of 2014.

Saturday's bombing took place in the heavily-guarded city center, near a number of foreign embassies and the office of the High Peace Council, which is charged with promoting peace efforts with the Taliban and other groups. The Interior Ministry, which is in charge of the police, also has offices in the area.

Ahmad Fahim, a shopkeeper who survived Saturday's attack, said several fellow merchants were wounded or killed. He said he had seen many victims who lost arms or legs in the blast.

The government declared a day of mourning, with shops closed and flags at half-staff.

Officials at the Public Health Ministry said the forensic medicine department is still trying to identify a number of bodies before releasing them to families.

The powerful explosion could be felt across the city and left the surrounding area blanketed in dust and smoke. It came a week after Taliban militants stormed a luxury hotel in Kabul, killing 22 people, including 14 foreigners, and setting off a 13-hour battle with security forces.

Masoom Stanekzai, the head of Afghanistan's intelligence service, said five suspects have been arrested for their involvement in the attack on the Intercontinental Hotel and that another had fled the country. He said four people have been arrested in connection with Saturday's attack.

An Afghan shopkeeper removes the shuttered glasses of his shop in the aftermath of Saturday's suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. U.S. President Donald Trump is condemning "the despicable car bombing attack" in the Afghan capital of Kabul. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Glasses from a shuttered window at a photography shop are scattered near the site of Saturday's attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. U.S. President Donald Trump is condemning "the despicable car bombing attack" in the Afghan capital of Kabul. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Members of Afghan security forces stand guard at the site of Saturday's suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. U.S. President Donald Trump is condemning "the despicable car bombing attack" in the Afghan capital of Kabul. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
ZEERIJP, Netherlands (AP) - When Nienke Bastiaans fell in love with and bought a 17th-century thatched house in a rural Dutch village, there was one person who warned about possible earthquakes due to gas extraction.

"Nobody listened to him," she said.

Now, 20 years later, thousands of homes in the northeastern Groningen province are facing reinforcement or even demolition because of hundreds of small tremors caused by decades of gas extraction. The scope of the problem is forcing the Dutch government to confront the prospect of a future without locally produced gas and lucrative gas tax revenue years earlier than previously expected.

A crack in the wall of a farm in Hunzinge, northern Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. More than 3,000 homes in Groningen province are facing reinforcement or even in some cases demolition because of a series of small tremors caused by decades of gas extraction and the Dutch government is being forced to confront the possibility of a future without locally produced gas years earlier than expected. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Bastiaans and her husband Tom Robinson just had the entire front wall of their home reinforced - paid for by the gas extraction company - and two chimneys replaced because of fears that another tremor could send them crashing through the roof.

The work was completed shortly before a shallow 3.4-magnitude earthquake on Jan. 8 directly under their village jolted the region and rekindled calls for the government to end gas extraction. The quake - the most powerful to hit the region in five years - triggered nearly 3,000 reports of property damage, including a long vertical crack in Zeerijp's historic church tower.

Thousands marched in Groningen on Jan. 19 to protest the gas extraction-caused earthquakes.

The quakes occur because gas extraction lowers the pressure in a layer of porous sandstone about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) below the Earth's surface. This causes layers in the sandstone to be squashed together. If this happens along natural fault lines in the rock, it can cause tension and lead to sudden shifts.

"(The January quake) makes crystal clear the deep impact of the downside of gas extraction on Groningen and Groningers. The damage to their houses, the concerns, the feelings of insecurity, but also the lack clarity about when their damage will be dealt with," Gerald Schotman, director of the Netherlands Petroleum Company, known by its Dutch acronym NAM, said.

But the government can't just order NAM to turn off the gas extraction machinery that dots the flat Groningen landscape. Some 90 percent of Dutch homes use the gas and the government has long-term contracts to sell gas to neighboring countries.

"They call our gas extraction 'the Dutch disease,'" said Jorien de Lege of Friends of the Earth. "(Gas) gave us great wealth, because our governments ... got the revenue from all the gas and so our cities have blossomed because of the gas money. And now we've gotten sort of lazy, because every time that we want to change something we realize that our whole society is made out of gas."

Energy giants Shell and Esso - now ExxonMobil - set up NAM in 1947. In 1959, NAM discovered the Groningen gas field, one of the world's largest, with 2,800 billion cubic meters (98,870 billion cubic feet) of reserves. It has been incredibly lucrative for NAM and the Dutch government. In the 2016 financial year, NAM paid just over 3 billion euros ($3.7 billion) to the Dutch government and made a net profit of 526 million euros ($654 million).

But faced with growing unrest in the earthquake region, the Dutch government has in recent years cut the amount of gas extracted. And after the Zeerijp quake, Economic Affairs Minister Eric Wiebes wrote to Parliament to say "gas production levels have to come down" even more.

Professor Tom Postmes of Groningen University says the effects of the quakes on public health are serious.

"It revolves around stress," he said. "We discovered (that people) who have damage to their home initially are not too badly affected. But over time - and especially if they have multiple instances of damage to their home - they tend to get very upset."

He said some 10,000 people have serious health issues caused by the stress.

Hans Warink, whose 25-year-old house in the village of Loppersum has undergone repeated repairs, is one such victim.

"There is so much stress and tension," he said. "The sadness - it's no longer the cracks in the walls, it's the cracks in my soul."

Just around the corner from Warink's house is an empty lot where weakened houses have been demolished. An adjoining street is fenced off so workers can chip away the houses' outer brick wall, strengthen the interior walls and build another exterior wall due to the earthquakes.

On the legal front, an appeals court just upheld a ruling that NAM must compensate residents for the drop in the value of their homes even if the owners do not sell.

Thijs Jurgens, NAM's manager of the Groningen Earthquakes Organization, said the company believes such compensation should be paid only when a house is sold.

"The court ruled otherwise, and we are going to take a serious look at that," he said.

NAM has been compensating home sellers in the earthquake zone for housing value drops since 2013.

An earlier court ruling ordered NAM to pay compensation for "immaterial damages" such as psychological suffering but that is under appeal.

Residents believe their concerns are taking a back seat.

"I think we should close the tap," said Robinson. "But telling that to a multinational is difficult, I think. We're just a series of villages here in northeast Groningen. I don't think we've got a lot of powerful clout."

"People aren't listening to us, haven't done that for some time," he said.

Peter Koetsier looks up at the support beams that were put in place to stabilize his house in Onderdendam, northern Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. More than 3,000 homes in Groningen province are facing reinforcement or even in some cases demolition because of a series of small tremors caused by decades of gas extraction and the Dutch government is being forced to confront the possibility of a future without locally produced gas years earlier than expected. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Gas extraction in Amsweer, northern Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. Energy giants Shell and Esso, now ExxonMobil, set up the joint venture Netherlands Petroleum Company, known by its Dutch acronym NAM, in 1947. In 1959, NAM discovered the Groningen gas field, one of the world's largest, with 2,800 billion cubic meters (98,870 billion cubic feet) of reserves. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Houses under renovation after sustaining damage from gas extraction related earthquakes in Appingedam, northern Netherlands, Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. The building work is just part of the costly efforts being undertaken by the NAM, the Dutch Petroleum Company, to tackle the effects of the earthquakes. This week, an appeals court upheld a lower court's ruling that the company must pay compensation to residents for the drop in value of their homes, even if the owners do not intend to sell. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

The Church and bell tower affected by the most recent quake in Zeerijp, Groningen province, Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. Thousands of homes in the country's northeastern Groningen province are facing reinforcement or even demolition because of hundreds of small tremors caused by decades of gas extraction. The scope of the problem is forcing the Dutch government to confront the prospect of a future without locally produced gas and lucrative gas tax revenue years earlier than previously expected. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

A crack in the wall of a farm in Hunzinge, northern Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. More than 3,000 homes in Groningen province are facing reinforcement or even in some cases demolition because of a series of small tremors caused by decades of gas extraction and the Dutch government is being forced to confront the possibility of a future without locally produced gas years earlier than expected. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Gas extraction in Slochteren, northern Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. Energy giants Shell and Esso, now ExxonMobil, set up the joint venture Netherlands Petroleum Company, known by its Dutch acronym NAM, in 1947. In 1959, NAM discovered the Groningen gas field, one of the world's largest, with 2,800 billion cubic meters (98,870 billion cubic feet) of reserves. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Gas extraction in Slochteren, northern Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. Energy giants Shell and Esso, now ExxonMobil, set up the joint venture Netherlands Petroleum Company, known by its Dutch acronym NAM, in 1947. In 1959, NAM discovered the Groningen gas field, one of the world's largest, with 2,800 billion cubic meters (98,870 billion cubic feet) of reserves. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

A woman holds a placard that reads: "Foot off the Gas. It's Possible" as thousands took to the streets in Groningen, northern Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018, to protest against gas extraction and related earthquakes. Thousands of homes in the country's northeastern Groningen province are facing reinforcement or even demolition because of hundreds of small tremors caused by decades of gas extraction. The scope of the problem is forcing the Dutch government to confront the prospect of a future without locally produced gas and lucrative gas tax revenue years earlier than previously expected. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

A banner reads "The Hague Billions, Groningen To Shreds" referring to the seat of the government, as thousands of people take to the streets in Groningen, northern Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018, to protest against gas extraction and related earthquakes. Thousands of homes in the country's northeastern Groningen province are facing reinforcement or even demolition because of hundreds of small tremors caused by decades of gas extraction. The scope of the problem is forcing the Dutch government to confront the prospect of a future without locally produced gas and lucrative gas tax revenue years earlier than previously expected. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Thousands of people took to the streets for a flaming torch parade in Groningen, northern Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018, to protest against gas extraction and related earthquakes. Thousands of homes in the country's northeastern Groningen province are facing reinforcement or even demolition because of hundreds of small tremors caused by decades of gas extraction. The scope of the problem is forcing the Dutch government to confront the prospect of a future without locally produced gas and lucrative gas tax revenue years earlier than previously expected. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Thousands of people took to the streets for a flaming torch parade in Groningen, northern Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018, to protest against gas extraction and related earthquakes. Thousands of homes in the country's northeastern Groningen province are facing reinforcement or even demolition because of hundreds of small tremors caused by decades of gas extraction. The scope of the problem is forcing the Dutch government to confront the prospect of a future without locally produced gas and lucrative gas tax revenue years earlier than previously expected. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Support beams stabilize an historic farm in Hunzinge, northern Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. More than 3,000 homes in Groningen province are facing reinforcement or even in some cases demolition because of a series of small tremors caused by decades of gas extraction and the Dutch government is being forced to confront the possibility of a future without locally produced gas years earlier than expected. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Support beams stabilize an historic farm in Hunzinge, northern Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. More than 3,000 homes in Groningen province are facing reinforcement or even in some cases demolition because of a series of small tremors caused by decades of gas extraction and the Dutch government is being forced to confront the possibility of a future without locally produced gas years earlier than expected. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
JERUSALEM (AP) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday night that Israel and Poland have agreed to hold talks seeking to resolve the uproar over proposed Polish legislation that would outlaw blaming Poland for any crimes committed during the Holocaust.

Earlier, Israel's Foreign Ministry had summoned a Polish envoy to express its displeasure at the bill. But Polish officials dug in their heels, saying the measure was being misinterpreted and its wording would not be changed.

Netanyahu then spoke by phone with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki late Sunday.

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 two agreed that teams from the two countries would open an immediate dialogue in order to try to reach understandings regarding the legislation," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

The prime minister said at his weekly Cabinet meeting earlier Sunday that Israel has "no tolerance for the distortion of the truth, the rewriting of history and the denial of the Holocaust."

The lower house of the Polish parliament's bill calls for prison time for referring to "Polish death camps" and criminalizes the mention of Polish complicity.

The bill still needs approval from Poland's Senate and president. Still, it marks a dramatic step by the nationalist government to enforce its official stance that the vast majority in Poland - a country that was terrorized by Nazi Germany's occupation - acted heroically under those conditions. Historians say many Poles collaborated with the Nazis and committed heinous crimes.

The bill has sparked outrage in Israel and suddenly raised tensions with a close European ally. Israel declared independence in 1948 in the wake of the Holocaust and is home to the world's largest community of Holocaust survivors.

On Sunday, the Foreign Ministry summoned Poland's deputy ambassador, Piotr Kozlowski, to express Israel's opposition to the bill.

It called the timing of the bill, passed on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, "particularly surprising and unfortunate" and said it expected the draft to be amended before final approval.

"The legislation will not help further the exposure of historical truth and may harm freedom of research, as well as prevent discussion of the historical message and legacy of World War II," a ministry statement said.

Speaking to reporters after his meeting, Kozlowski said the intent of the legislation is not to "whitewash" history. It is already a crime in Poland to deny that the Holocaust happened.

"It is to safeguard it, to safeguard the truth about the Holocaust and to prevent its distortion," he said of the proposed legislation.

Polish authorities insisted they would not give in to the Israeli demands.

"We will not change any provisions in the bill," said Beata Mazurek, spokeswoman for the ruling conservative-nationalist Law and Justice party, "We have had enough of Poland and Poles being blamed for German crimes."

Mark Weitzman, the director of government affairs for the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a U.S.-based group that battles anti-Semitism, called the law "an obscene whitewashing" of history.

He said its wording could be used against Holocaust survivors talking about their personal experiences as well as researchers, teachers or anyone else documenting the Holocaust.

He urged Poland to "immediately terminate this law and put an end to all attempts to distort the history of the Holocaust for political purposes."

The Polish prime minister on Sunday night compared Poles and Jews to two families who lived in the same house - Poland - before the war and were both victimized by the Nazis.

In a post on Twitter, Morawiecki said: "A gang of professional thugs enters a two-family house. They kill the first family almost entirely. They kill the parents of the second, torturing the kids. They loot and raze the house. Could one, in good conscience, say that the second family is guilty for the murder of the first?"

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Associated Press writer Vanessa Gera in Warsaw contributed to this report.
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) - Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee for a breach the ICC code of conduct during the tri-nation one-day tournament final against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka opener Danushka Gunathilaka was given an official reprimand for another incident during the same game.

While this was Gunathilaka's first offence, Mashrafe has been sanctioned for the second time since the introduction of the revised code in September 2016.

Sri Lanka's players celebrating with the trophy after winning the final match against Bangladesh of the Tri-Nation one-day international cricket series in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/A.M. Ahad)

The incident involving Mortaza took place during Sri Lanka's sixth over when the captain ran close to Kusal Mendis after he fell to Mehidy Hasan, yelling loudly and looking directly at the opener in a manner that could have provoked an aggressive reaction, an ICC press release said.

The incident involving Gunathilaka happened in the sixth over of Bangladesh's innings when, following the dismissal of Tamim Iqbal, he yelled loudly at the departing batsman, which prompted the opener to turn and face him.

Both players admitted the offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by David Boon of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees. Consequently, there was no need for a formal hearing.

Sri Lanka's players and team officials pose for a group photo while celebrating with the trophy after winning the final match against Bangladesh of the Tri-Nation one-day international cricket series in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/A.M. Ahad)

Sri Lanka's players pose for a group photo while celebrating with the trophy after winning the final match against Bangladesh of the Tri-Nation one-day international cricket series in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/A.M. Ahad)
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - Cambodian prosecutors charged 10 foreigners Sunday with producing pornographic pictures after they were arrested at a party in Siem Reap town, near the country's famed Angkor Wat temple complex.

Police said they raided a rented villa on Thursday where the foreigners were taking part in what organizers billed as a pub crawl and found people "dancing pornographically." While almost 90 foreigners were detained, all but 10 were released.

The 10 arrested are five British nationals, two Canadians, one Norwegian, one New Zealander and one from the Netherlands. A statement on the arrests posted on the National Police website Sunday included photos showing clothed young adults rolling around together on a dance floor.

The prosecutor of the Siem Reap provincial court, Samrith Sokhon, told The Associated Press by phone that those charged face up to a year in prison if convicted.

He said after producing the photos, the foreigners shared them on social media.

"Any people producing pornography is contrary to Cambodia's traditions," he said.

The United Kingdom's Foreign Office confirmed they were in contact with British nationals in Cambodia.

"We are assisting five British men arrested in Cambodia and are providing support to their families," the office said in an emailed response to questions from the AP.
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump is urging his followers to inform rapper Jay-Z that "because of my policies," unemployment among black Americans is at the "LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED!"

The president's tweet Sunday appears to be in response to a CNN interview in which the rapper said the president's vulgar comments about African countries and Haiti were "disappointing" and "hurtful."

Jay-Z said on the debut episode of "The Van Jones Show" on Saturday that lower unemployment among blacks doesn't make up for the president's attitude. Jay-Z says, "It's not about money at the end of the day," and it "doesn't equate to happiness."

Honoree Jay-Z speaks onstage at the 2018 Pre-Grammy Gala And Salute To Industry Icons at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Michael Zorn/Invision/AP)

The black unemployment rate of 6.8 percent is the lowest on record and has reached levels not seen since the end of President Bill Clinton's administration.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - The case of a white former Connecticut university student accused of smearing body fluids on her black roommate's belongings returns to court.

A pretrial conference is scheduled Tuesday in Hartford Superior Court in the case of 18-year-old Brianna Brochu. The Harwinton resident has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor criminal mischief and breach of peace charges.

Police say the former University of Hartford student wrote on Instagram in October about rubbing used tampons on her roommate's backpack and putting her roommate's toothbrush "where the sun doesn't shine." Her roommate says she developed throat pain.

Representatives of the state NAACP and other civil rights advocates have called on prosecutors to charge Brochu with a hate crime. Her lawyer says the roommates had a falling out and Brochu's actions were not racially motivated.
STOCKHOLM (AP) - The Latest on the death of IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad (all times local):

3:55 p.m.

Sweden's royal house, politicians and business leaders are praising the work and entrepreneurial spirit of IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad, who died at age 91.

FILE --- In this Dec. 3, 2012 file photo, Ingvar Kamprad, founder of Swedish multinational furniture retailer IKEA, is pictured in Lausanne, Switzerland. IKEA confirmed Sunday Jan. 28, 2018 Ingvar Kamprad, the IKEA founder who created a global furniture empire, has died at 91. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP,file)

Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf said Sunday in an emailed statement to news agency TT that Kamprad was "a true entrepreneur" who brought the Scandinavian country "out to the world" while remaining "a down-to-earth person with a great commitment."

Prime Minister Stefan Lofven called Kamprad "a unique entrepreneur" who made home furnishing available to millions of people. Swedish industrialist and investor Jacob Wallenberg praised him as "a fantastic example for us all" and an inspiration.

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2:00 p.m.

The president and chief executive of Swedish homewares retailer IKEA says the company's founder will be remembered and admired for working "to create a better everyday life for many people."

IKEA Group CEO Jesper Brodin said founder Ingvar Kamprad's vision will continue to guide and inspire" the company.

Kamprad died Saturday at age 91. His life story is intimately linked to the company he founded on the family farm when he was 17 years old.

His work ethic, frugality and down-to-earth style remain at the core of IKEA's corporate identity. His missteps, including early flirtations with Nazism, never rubbed off on I one of the world's most recognizable brands.

Kamprad formed the company's name from his own initials and the first letters of the family farm, Elmtaryd, and the parish of Agunnaryd where it is located.

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12:15 p.m.

IKEA says Ingvar Kamprad, the IKEA founder who turned a small-scale mail order business into a global furniture empire, has died at 91.

IKEA Sverige, the chain's Swedish unit, said on Twitter that Kamprad died Saturday at his home in Smaland, Sweden.

IKEA says "he will be much missed and warmly remembered by his family and IKEA staff all around the world."
ZARQA, Jordan (AP) - Jordan has marked the U.S. delivery of 12 Black Hawk helicopters over the past nine months with a military ceremony, including a hostage rescue drill and a flyover.

The helicopters are meant to help secure the borders of Jordan against external threats, including from Islamic State extremists in neighboring Syria and Iraq.

IS militants have been pushed back from large swaths of territory by a U.S.-led military coalition in which Jordan plays a key role.

Black Hawk helicopters were featured in a hostage rescue drill at a Jordanian military base near the town of Zarqa, Jordan, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Jordan marked the delivery of 12 U.S. Black Hawk helicopters over the past nine months with a military ceremony, including a drill and a flyover. (AP Photo/Muntasser Akour)

Sunday's ceremony at a Jordanian military base was attended by Gen. Joseph Votel, commander of the U.S. Central Command.

The Royal Jordanian Air Force and its Quick Reaction Force showcased the Black Hawks in a drill showing the rescue of a wounded hostage.

The aircraft were delivered between March and December 2017.
PARIS (AP) - Lyon's inconsistent defending resurfaced again in a 3-1 defeat at Bordeaux on Sunday, opening the door for Marseille or Monaco to take second place in the French league.

They were facing each other later Sunday in Marseille, where a win for either team would secure second place and knock Lyon down to third.

Lyon entered the game full of confidence after beating league leader Paris Saint-Germain last Sunday and following that up with a midweek French Cup win at Monaco.

But for all of its potency in attack, Lyon remains prone to lapses in defense.

Bordeaux took an 11th-minute lead through striker Nicolas De Preville, who lofted the ball over goalkeeper Anthony Lopes following some fine work from Brazilian forward Malcom down the right.

Malcom, a reported target for Premier League team Arsenal, doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 27th after being fouled.

Lyon replied in the 44th when Brazilian center back Marcelo headed in Nabil Fekir's corner, but Lopes then rushed needlessly off his line and forced over Bordeaux defender Maxime Poundje in first-half injury time. Striker Gaetan Laborde took this penalty instead of Malcom, coolly clipping the ball down the middle as Lopes dived to his left.

Bordeaux played the last 15 minutes with 10 men after Brazilian defender Otavio was sent off for a second yellow card, hacking down Fekir.

It was a successful first game in charge for Gus Poyet, the former Chelsea and Tottenham midfielder.

Bordeaux moved up to ninth.

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LATE WINNER

Lille moved out of the relegation zone after beating Strasbourg 2-1 with Portuguese defender Edgar Ie scoring an injury-time winner with a neat half-volley.

Anwar El Ghazi put Lille ahead in the 76th minute but striker Idriss Saadi equalized two minutes later for midtable Strasbourg.

The win lifted Lille to 17th.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Authorities are investigating a delivery of raw, unwrapped pork that was hauled into a Northern California grocery store in shopping carts.

The Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health says it received complaints Friday about an "unauthorized delivery of pork" to the 99 Ranch Market in San Jose.

The agency says it is "taking immediate steps to conduct a thorough investigation and appropriate actions to ensure food safety for the public."

Department officials are looking into the delivery after San Jose resident Loretta Seto posted images of the delivery to Facebook.

Jim's Farm Meat Co. office manager Maria Moon confirms to the Modesto Bee the meat came from her company.

She says the two employees seen pushing the carts into the store have been fired.

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Information from: San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News, http://www.mercurynews.com
HAVANA (AP) - President Raul Castro and his expected successor attended the formal unveiling of a U.S.-sponsored statue of independence hero Jose Marti on Sunday in a sign of Cuba's focus on maintaining ties with the United States despite a chill in relations under President Donald Trump.

Castro and Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel sat in the front row of the sunrise ceremony along with Democratic members of Congress Barbara Lee and Karen Bass of California and Kansas Republic Roger Marshall, who were the highest-ranking Americans at the ceremony. Castro makes relatively few public appearances, endowing the ceremony with a stamp of particular importance in a country where the movements of high officials are closely scrutinized for clues to government plans and intentions.

The bronze statue of Marti on a rearing horse was funded with $2.5 million raised in the United States in a project started by the Bronx Museum of the Arts, which has longstanding ties with Cuban state cultural institutions. The 18.5-foot (5.6-meter) long, 8-ton work is an exact copy of a sculpture installed on the south end of New York's Central Park in 1965.

Joseph Mizzi, the chairman of the Bronx museum's board of trustees, speaks at the ceremony to unveil a replica of a New York statue of Cuba's independence hero Jose Marti in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. The monument was unveiled on the 165th anniversary of the birth of the Cuban independence hero in a ceremony attended by a delegation of U.S. organizers of the event and top officials of the Cuban Government, including President Raul Castro. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Sunday was the 165th anniversary of the birth of Marti, a renowned poet, journalist and fighter for Cuban independence who was fatally wounded in an 1895 battle for independence from the Spanish.

Marti, who spent years in exile in New York City, is almost universally revered by Cubans on the island and overseas despite their political differences, making him a potent symbol of attempts at reconciliation between the U.S. and Cuba.

"I'm extraordinarily overjoyed that we in Havana can on this day enjoy such a beautiful work of poetic inspiration, "Havana City Historian Eusebio Leal said in an address to the crowd that was also broadcast on state-run media.

Bronx Museum Chairman of the Board Joseph Mizzi also addressed the audience and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio sent a letter read aloud by an assistant.

The statue has been placed in a prominent site in Havana, near the Museum of the Revolution and facing out toward the Florida Straits and the United States.

The binational sculpture project began shortly after Castro and President Barack Obama announced in December 2014 that they were moving to re-establish diplomatic ties and begin normalizing relations. Obama made a triumphal 2016 visit along with much of his cabinet and dozens of U.S. business leaders looking to do business here, but the relationship has chilled dramatically since then.

The Trump administration accuses Cuba of responsibility for what U.S. officials call mysterious attacks affecting the hearing, vision and cognitive functions of American Embassy staff in Havana. The U.S. has pulled most of its staff from the embassy and issued warnings on travel to the island despite Cuban insistence that there is no evidence of attacks and that the island remains one of the world's safest destinations for tourists.

Despite the controversy, Cuba last year hosted more than a million U.S. residents - both tourists and Cuban-Americans visiting family - an increasing important source of income for the island's near-stagnant economy.

Cuba's President Raul Castro, center, walks with Cuba's Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel, upon his arrival for the ceremony to unveil a replica of a New York statue of Cuba's independence hero Jose Marti in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. The monument was unveiled on the 165th anniversary of the birth of the Cuban independence hero. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

People attend a ceremony to unveil a replica of a New York statue of Cuba's independence hero Jose Marti in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. The monument was unveiled on the 165th anniversary of the birth of the Cuban independence hero. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Cuba's President Raul Castro, center, looks at his watch while he walks with Cuba's Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel and the President of the National Assembly of People's Power, Esteban Lazo Hernandez, left, upon his arrival for a ceremony to unveil a replica of a statue of Cuba's independence hero Jose Marti in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. The monument was unveiled on the 165th anniversary of the birth of the Cuban independence hero in a ceremony. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Members of an honor guard attend a ceremony of an unveiled replica of a statue of Cuba's independence hero Jose Marti in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. The monument was unveiled on the 165th anniversary of the birth of the Cuban independence hero. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
HELSINKI (AP) - Finnish President Sauli Niinisto crushed his competition with a landslide election victory Sunday that saw him receiving more than five times as much voter support than his closest challenger.

With all ballots counted, Niinisto had 62.7 percent of the vote, while his leading rival, Pekka Haavisto of the Greens, had 12.4 percent.

Haavisto, the runner-up in the 2012 election, conceded the race long before the vote-count was completed, telling Finnish national broadcaster Niinisto "is the republic's new president with this result."

The independent presidential candidate Sauli Niinisto arrives at his election reception in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Finns were casting ballots in a presidential election, with incumbent Sauli Niinisto considered the favorite to win the first round of voting in the Nordic nation. (Jussi Nukari/Lehtikuva via AP)

None of the other six candidates received more than 7 percent of the vote.

Niinisto, 69, a former finance minister and parliament speaker, has been a highly popular president since he took office in 2012. He needed a majority to prevent a runoff and to win re-election outright.

He ran as an independent with no association to the conservative National Coalition Party that he earlier chaired.

Finland's president designs the blueprint for the country's foreign and security policy together with the government. As head of state, the president is the key foreign policy player, particularly on issues outside the European Union.

The president also acts as the supreme commander of military forces and can veto legislation.

To most Finns, the president's key task is to assure friendly ties with both neighboring Russia, which shares a 1,340 kilometer (833-mile) border with Finland, and the West, particularly the United States.

Judged by his vast popularity, Niinisto seemingly handled the balancing act well. Finland joined the EU in 1995, but doesn't belong to NATO.

Recent polls predicted Niinisto would get between 58 and 63 percent of the vote and Haavisto of the Greens would garner some 14 percent.

From left: Independent candidate Paavo V'yrynen, Finns party's candidate Laura Huhtasaari, Green Party's candidate Pekka Haavisto and independent candidate and current president Sauli Niinisto at an election night rally in House of the Estates in Helsinki, Finland on Sunday Jan. 28, 2018. Finns were casting ballots in a presidential election, with incumbent Sauli Niinisto considered the favorite to win the first round of voting in the Nordic nation. (Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva via AP)

The independent presidential candidate Sauli Niinisto at his election reception in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Finns were casting ballots in a presidential election, with incumbent Sauli Niinisto considered the favorite to win the first round of voting in the Nordic nation. (Jussi Nukari/Lehtikuva via AP)

Campaign posters of Finnish presidential candidates are displayed in front of the presidential palace in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Finns are voting for a new president in the election that's expected to see the highly popular incumbent score a win during Sunday's first round. (Heikki Saukkomaa/Lehtikuva via AP)

The Green Party's candidate Pekka Haavisto attends an election night rally in House of the Estates in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Finns were casting ballots in a presidential election, with incumbent Sauli Niinisto considered the favorite to win the first round of voting in the Nordic nation. (Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva via AP)

Green Party's presidential candidate Pekka Haavisto, right, and his partner Antonio Flores arrive to cast their votes for the presidential elections in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday Jan. 28, 2018. Finns are casting ballots in a presidential election, with incumbent Sauli Niinisto considered the favorite to win the first round of voting. (Heikki Saukkomaa/Lehtikuva via AP)

People wait to vote during the presidential election at the Helsinki City Hall in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Finns are voting for a new president in the election that's expected to see the highly popular incumbent score a win during Sunday's first round. (Heikki Saukkomaa/Lehtikuva via AP)

Campaign posters of Finnish presidential candidates are displayed in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Finns are voting for a new president in the election that's expected to see the highly popular incumbent score a win during Sunday's first round. (Heikki Saukkomaa/Lehtikuva via AP)
NEW YORK (AP) - The mother of a 16-year-old Long Island girl who was beaten to death by alleged MS-13 gang members was invited by the White House to sit in the audience as President Donald Trump gives his State of the Union address.

Evelyn Rodriguez also was invited to meet with the Republican president before Tuesday's speech.

Her daughter, Kayla Cuevas, and her 15-year-old friend, Nisa Mickens, were killed in a Long Island neighborhood that has become the epicenter in the fight against MS-13 violence. The gang is blamed for 25 killings on Long Island since January 2016. Trump has blamed the violence on lax immigration policies.

Rodriguez told The New York Times that she was honored to be invited and said it wasn't about immigration.

"I'm not here for anybody's political gain," Rodriguez said. "I just want what's right to be done. Everybody should put their political agenda aside and think about what's going on in our country."

MS-13, or the Mara Salvatrucha, is believed by federal prosecutors to have thousands of members across the U.S., primarily immigrants from Central America. It has a stronghold in Los Angeles, where it emerged in the 1980s as a neighborhood street gang, but it also has wreaked violence in cities and suburbs across the U.S.

Prosecutors said Kayla was targeted because of ongoing disputes with gang members at her school. They said her lifelong friend, Nisa, was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The girls' alleged killers were facing murder charges that could result in the death penalty.

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Information from: The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com
BENTON, Ky. (AP) - Friends and relatives of the two 15-year-old students gunned down at a western Kentucky high school have mourned their deaths at separate funeral services.

Student Bailey Nicole Holt died Tuesday at Marshall County High School in Benton, a small rural community. The other student, Preston Ryan Cope, was airlifted to a Nashville, Tennessee, hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Holt's funeral was held Sunday at an area church, Twin Lakes Worship Center, and Cope's funeral at the high school's gymnasium.

Tracy Tubbs, left, aunt of Marshall County High School shooting victim Bailey Holt, holds up a drawing of Holt as Tubbs and Jackie Reid, right, principal of Sharpe Elementary School in Benton, Ky., read statements from Holt and Preston Cope's families at the Marshall County Board of Education in Benton, Ky., Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (Ryan Hermens/The Paducah Sun via AP)

The teens were in kindergarten together and grew up side by side in their tight-knit community.

A 15-year-old boy is being held on murder and assault charges in the shooting. Police said 14 students were wounded by gunfire and seven others suffered other injuries when the boy opened fire before classes began.
Police in Toronto say they believe Canadian billionaire businessman Barry Sherman and his wife were both murdered.

Detective Sergeant Susan Gomes said 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 mansion on December 15.

Police crime scene tape marking off the property belonging to Barry and Honey Sherman (Rob Gillies/AP)

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.

However, that theory was never publicly confirmed by authorities.
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.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

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.
Jose Mourinho insists Alexis Sanchezs missed drugs test was no ones mistake.

Sanchez failed to inform drugs testers of his whereabouts on Monday, as his transfer from Arsenal to Manchester United was pushed through.

UK Anti-Doping officers were unable to locate him despite a trip to Arsenals training ground, and on Friday Arsene Wenger admitted Arsenal should

bear responsibility for not informing the authorities the Chile forward would not be at the clubs Colney base.

Alexis Sanchez (left) celebrates with Scott McTominay (right) after Ander Herrera scored Manchester Uniteds second goal against Yeovil (Nick Potts/PA)

Sanchez laid on two goals on his United debut as Mourinhos side overwhelmed Yeovil 4-0 at Huish Park on Friday night to move into the FA Cup fifth round, before Mourinho insisted the drugs test issue was an honest mix-up.

I think Arsenal were very honest in the way they approached the situation, said Mourinho, of Sanchezs missed drugs test.

We all know we must tell the whereabouts, our players where they are 24 hours a day.

Nobody knew where he was going to be, it was just a period of his transfer.

So I think its easily understandable, no ones mistake and just a consequence of the moment.

Sanchez teed up Marcus Rashford and Ander Herrera as United took control at Yeovil, before replacements Jesse Lingard and Romelu Lukaku glossed

the score late on.

The 29-year-old Chile forwards transfer from Arsenal has proved one of the highest-profile deals of the January transfer window.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan moved to Arsenal to push the Sanchez deal through, leaving Mourinho pleased with the net gain for United.

He was cheap wasnt he? A free transfer, thats good, joked Mourinho, over signing Sanchez.

For that price its fantastic.

I think everybody thinks the same in this country. Everybody has to agree hes a fantastic player and its a plus.

We have a group of attacking players; Lingard, Lukaku on the bench, Zlatan, Martial at home.

We have good quality in the group.
US president Donald Trump has said he is not aware of any invitation for him to attend Prince Harrys wedding to Meghan Markle.

In a wide-ranging interview with Piers Morgan, Mr Trump replied not that I know of when asked if he was given an invite.

Harrys nuptials with the American actress have captured the imagination of her compatriots and will be seen to strengthen the bond between the UK and the US.

But Markle has been a vocal critic of former reality star Mr Trump, backing his rival Hillary Clinton and suggesting before the 2016 election she would leave the US if he won.

Meghan Markle was a vocal critic of President Trump before his election in 2016 (Ben Birchall/PA)

Asked if he would like to go to the royal wedding in May at Windsor Castles St Georges Chapel, Mr Trump simply said: I want them to be happy. I really want them to be happy.

They look like a lovely couple.

When Morgan pointed out she had labelled the billionaire divisive and a misogynist, he said: Well, I still hope theyre happy.

Morgan also pressed the president on his social media habit, confirming he often tweets himself but will delegate if he is busy.

*ALERT*

Prepare for some more BIG news stories to emerge later from my interview with President Trump.

It airs tomorrow night, ITV, 10pm. pic.twitter.com/Ccf9r3JJcM  Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 27, 2018

He said: Well, perhaps sometimes in bed, and perhaps sometimes at breakfast, or lunch, or whatever.

But generally speaking, during the early morning or during the evening, I can do that.

But if Im very busy during the day  and Ill sometimes just dictate out something really quickly, and Ill give it to one of my people to put it on.

The president also offered hope that the US could come back in from the cold after opting out of the Paris Accord on climate change, a decision that drew scorn from the international community and disappointment from Prime Minister Theresa May.

He said: The Paris Accord, for us, would have been a disaster.

Im completely out of it.

First of all, it was a terrible deal for the United States. If they made a good deal  theres always a chance wed get back.

But, it was a terrible deal for the United States. It was unfair to the United States.

If somebody said, go back into the Paris Accord, it would have to be a completely different deal because we had a horrible deal.

Would I go back in? Yeah, Id go back in. I like, as you know, I like Emmanuel (Macron, French president). I would love to, but its got to be a good deal for the United States.

Mr Trump also gave his views on climate change, saying he believes in clean air and good cleanliness generally.

He said: There is a cooling, and theres a heating. I mean, look, it used to not be climate change, it used to be global warming.

That wasnt working too well because it was getting too cold all over the place.

The ice caps were going to melt, they were going to be gone by now, but now theyre setting records. Theyre at a record level.

According to a Nasa analysis in March last year, the sea ice levels in the Arctic reached a record lowest extent during winter and in the same month the sea ice around Antarctica reached its lowest extent ever recorded by satellites at the end of the Southern Hemisphere summer.

President Trump  The Piers Morgan Interview airs on Sunday on ITV at 10pm.
Sixteen and 17-year-olds in Wales will be given the right to vote in council elections under plans announced by the Welsh Labour Government.

Cabinet Secretary for local government Alun Davies said the proposals were designed to boost participation as he was concerned that young people were being disengaged from the political process.

Labours national party seized on the plans to urge the Tories to give 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote in UK general elections, arguing that the current rules which only allow those aged and 18 and over to participate were inconsistent and unsustainable.

The Welsh Government has announced that 16 and 17-year-olds will be allowed to vote in council elections in an effort to boost participation (Danny Lawson/PA)

Shadow voter engagement minister Cat Smith said: The Welsh Labour Government is leading the way by giving 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote in local elections in Wales.

However, we are now in an inconsistent and unsustainable position where a 16-year-old living in Wales and Scotland can vote in local elections, yet they are denied the right to vote in UK general elections.

The Conservative Party is quickly finding themselves on the wrong side of history, while Labour is yet again showing that they are the party of the many.

The time has now come for the UK Government to extend the franchise to all 16 and 17-year-olds, and ensure equal voting rights across the United Kingdom.

Mr Davies said: I am concerned we are still seeing far too many people, particularly young people, disengaged from the political process.

There are many reasons for this but we must do more to make the process more attractive, welcoming and transparent.

The proposals will be formally announced on Tuesday.
Donald Trump has said he would have negotiated Brexit with a different and tougher attitude to Theresa May.

The US president said the European Union was not cracked up to what its supposed to be and claimed he was unsurprised by the result of the Brexit referendum because Britons dont want people coming from all over the world into Britain.

The comments could be seized on by Brexiteers to urge the Prime Minister to be harder in Brexit talks, but Remainers could attack Leavers for sharing views with the controversial and divisive president.

They could also be seen as a blow for Mrs May following her largely successful meeting with Mr Trump in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday.

In an interview to be broadcast on ITV on Sunday night, Piers Morgan asked Mr Trump if Mrs May was in a good position in Brexit talks.

The president 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.

In extracts released to the Mail on Sunday, he went on: 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.

Mr Trump also suggested he predicted Brexit.

Downing Street refused to comment on suggestions Donald Trump would visit the UK in July and October, amid expectations it would spark widespread protests. (Victoria Jones/PA)

The president said: 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.

Mr Trump also claimed Mrs May invited him to the UK twice this year during their meeting at the Swiss ski resort.

But Downing Street did not confirm the newspapers claim that an informal visit in July would be followed by a state visit in October.

A Number 10 source said: An invitation has been extended and accepted and details will be set out in due course.

Meanwhile, anxiety among Leavers that Brexit may be delivered in name only continued following Chancellor Philip Hammonds remark on Thursday that the UKs trade relations with the EU would change only very modestly after Brexit.

Countdown to Brexit: key events. (PA Graphics)

Mr Hammond was rebuked by Number 10 but stoked Tory divisions further by saying the UK should seek a middle way in negotiations in order to maximise access to EU markets.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, chair of the influential European Research Group of backbench Tory Eurosceptics, accused him of obstructing Brexit.

And former cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith told the Sunday Express: The Prime Minister cannot govern with Philip Hammond sniping from the sidelines. She has got a serious negotiation on and she does not need the Chancellor contradicting government policy. She needs to say to him: You do that again and it will be your last comment as a cabinet minister.

Amid reports that Eurosceptics are also worried that Mrs May was being bounced into a soft Brexit by civil servants as she lacks authority, a Number 10 source said: The PM triggered Article 50, she set direction of the Brexit negotiations in her Lancaster House and Florence speeches and personally secured the deal that led to sufficient progress.

David Davis has supported her at every step and they are both supported by a very able Civil Service team.

The Leave Means Leave campaign has written to the PM urging her to call the EUs bluff and accept a limited off the shelf Canada-style free trade deal.

In a letter signed by former chancellor Lord Lawson, former Brexit minister David Jones, and Labour Leave chair John Mills, they said a deal like Canadas would cover 98% of goods and 92% of agriculture and would remove the need for a status quo transition, so the UK could reap Brexits benefits from exit day in March 2019.
Britain is heading towards a dilution of Brexit, with the country in danger of remaining in the EU in all but name, former Cabinet minister Theresa Villiers has said.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, the MP, who was Northern Ireland Secretary from 2012 to 2016, said she felt compelled to speak out amid recent controversy over Brexit negotiations.

Chancellor Philip Hammond was criticised this week for saying the UKs trade relations with the EU would change only very modestly after Brexit, sparking anxiety among Leavers that Brexit may be delivered in name only.

Mr Hammond was rebuked by Number 10 but stoked Tory divisions further by saying the UK should seek a middle way in negotiations in order to maximise access to EU markets.

Ms Villiers, who backed the Leave campaign in the EU referendum, said she had long been a supporter of compromise and moderation in the negotiations of the UKs departure from the EU.

Countdown to Brexit: key events. (PA Graphics)

But she wrote: That said, I understand why some are becoming nervous about the current situation.

Since the Prime Minister set out a bold vision in her Lancaster House speech, the direction of travel seems to have gone in only one single direction: towards a dilution of Brexit.

She added: If the Government goes too much further down that path, there is a real danger that it will sign up to an agreement which could keep us in the EU in all but name and which would therefore fail to respect the referendum result.

Referring to Prime Minister Theresa Mays Lancaster House speech, Ms Villiers said it was that optimistic vision that needed to be at the forefront of the negotiations.

She called on the PM to resist the immense pressure from a range of quarters to water it down.

Ms Villiers is the latest senior Conservative to voice concerns about the direction of negotiations, with leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg warning Theresa May earlier this week that if she delivers Brexit in name only with a status quo transition period, the Conservatives will lose the next election.
Actor Jeremy Piven is facing more sexual misconduct accusations, according to an online news site.

He previously denied allegations by at least three other women.

BuzzFeed News reported on Saturday that the latest accusations date back decades and involve three women who claim Piven acted in a physically aggressive or threatening manner.

The story included a rebuttal from the actor calling the claims false. Pivens representative did not immediately respond to a request from the Associated Press for additional comment.

Jeremy Piven denied the allegations in a statement to BuzzFeed (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP, File)

BuzzFeed says the latest women were speaking out because of frustration over Pivens previous denials.

The news site said one incident allegedly involved a high school student working as an extra on Pivens first film in 1985, when he was 17, and the other encounters were alleged to have taken place in the 1990s.

Two of the women are identified in the BuzzFeed story. It said the third asked that her name be withheld.
Six adults and an unconscious baby were rescued on Sunday from a life raft in the Pacific Ocean after drifting for four days in the blazing sun without water.

The survivors had scrambled onto the small wooden dinghy after the ferry they were aboard sank, according to authorities.

New Zealand Defence Force Air Commodore Darryn Webb said the crew on a military Orion plane had used radar to locate the dinghy while searching for survivors.

He said the ferry had been carrying at least 50 people while travelling between two islands in the remote nation of Kiribati.

Webb said there had been no sign of any other survivors. He said it was not yet clear what caused the ferry to sink.

The plane dropped supplies to the survivors including food, water and a radio, Webb said. The survivors used the radio to tell rescuers they had managed to get off the ferry when it capsized and climb aboard the dinghy, he said.

Webb said the survivors had very little time to react and found themselves adrift without water or an engine. He said they did have a blanket or tarpaulin which they may have been able to use to get some relief from the sun.

Webb said a fishing boat had changed its course and picked up the survivors on Sunday afternoon. He said the dinghy was drifting more than 112 miles from the nearest major island when it was found.

Six adults and an unconscious baby were rescued (New Zealand Defence Force via AP)

Our heart goes out to the baby and to all those remaining of the 50-plus people, he said.

While thankful the life raft was found, Webb said it was also heartbreaking the ferry had sunk and the others were still missing. He said there was a lot of debris near the dinghy, which may have been from the ferry.

Searchers planned to regroup and interview the survivors before deciding whether to continue the search, he added.

Questions remain as to why it took Kiribati authorities so long to tell New Zealand officials the ferry was missing. Webb said a Kiribati plane had earlier searched for the ferry but didnt have sophisticated radar equipment.

Named the MV Butiraoi, the 57-foot wooden catamaran left Nonouti Island bound for South Tarawa on January 18, according to authorities. The journey was supposed to take two days. New Zealand rescuers say they were not told about the missing boat until Friday, eight days after the ferry had left.

Senior Search and Rescue Officer John Ashby said they had been told the ferry underwent repairs to its propeller shaft just before leaving, which may have contributed to navigation problems.

Kiribati is a remote, impoverished nation of 33 atolls that is home to about 108,000 people.
Eoin Morgan executed a superb run out to lift Englands spirits after a strong start by Australia in pursuit of 260 in the fifth and final one-day international.

The home side were well placed at 86 for one in the 14th over but Morgan threw down the stumps to dismiss Travis Head for 22 and end a 62-run partnership with Marcus Stoinis, who was in ominous touch on 45 off 44 balls.

Tom Curran made an early breakthrough by bowling David Warner with a yorker after England had been bowled out for 259 with 2.2 overs to spare at Perths new Optus Stadium.

Eoin Morgans run out hauled England back into the contest (Simon Cooper/PA)

Jason Roy (49), Jonny Bairstow (44) and Alex Hales (35) all failed to convert promising starts into major contributions, leaving Joe Root (62) to shepherd the lower order.

He provided a steadying hand as he anchored the innings on a two-paced surface but the tourists, who hold an unassailable 3-1 series lead, never regained their early momentum.

David Willey and Jake Ball were both given their first chance of the campaign having been recalled for the rested new-ball pair of Mark Wood and Chris Woakes.
Nicola Sturgeon has challenged Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard to clarify his feeble position on Brexit.

The First Minister and SNP leader said the partys stance on leaving the European Union (EU) was bizarre and inexcusable, adding they were doing literally nothing to challenge the Tories on the issue.

Since taking over as leader, Mr Leonard has aligned with UK leader Jeremy Corbyn on Brexit, pledging to respect the result of the EU referendum but warning that permanent membership of the single market without being a member of the EU would leave the UK having to take its rules with no say.

Ms Sturgeon, who backs remaining in the single market, told the Sunday Herald: Scottish Labours position  in line with that of their London bosses  is utterly bizarre and inexcusable.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard with UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (John Linton/PA)

They are effectively backing the Tories extreme Brexit plans, which threaten many thousands of Scottish jobs and risk doing huge damage to our economy and society.

Labour have already taken a hit in the polls as people realise they are doing literally nothing to fight the Tories chaotic Brexit plans.

That trend is only likely to grow as more and more people across Scotland, including Labour supporters who oppose Brexit, see just how feeble the party is on the biggest single issue facing the country.

A spokesman for Scottish Labour said: This is typical posturing from Nicola Sturgeon, which is as much about opportunistically pursuing her own constitutional obsession and using Brexit as the means to achieve that.

In the meantime, Labour will get on with fighting the shambolic Tories bargain basement Brexit at every opportunity.

The reality is that only the next Labour government will deliver the investment our stagnating economy is crying out for and a jobs-first Brexit that retains the benefits of the single market and protects our economy.
Will Ferrell has reprised his impression of George W Bush to make fun of people favourably comparing the former president to Donald Trump.

The Anchorman star returned to US sketch show Saturday Night Live to sit behind the desk in the Oval Office.

He explained: I had this built in my basement in Texas so I can still pretend to be president sometimes.

Will Ferrell on SNL (NBC)

Live from New York, it's George W. Bush! #SNL pic.twitter.com/PhI1B4BOpP  Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) January 28, 2018

He addded: I dont know if youve seen the news but according to a new poll, my approval rating is at an an all-time high.

Thats right Donnie Q Trump came in and suddenly Im looking pretty sweet by comparison.

He added: The point is, Im suddenly popular AF.

The point is Im suddenly popular AF. - George W. Bush #SNL pic.twitter.com/azu3DzCzsP  Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) January 28, 2018

He continued: I want to remind you guys that I was really bad, like historically not good, so I get why you dont like this current guy, but please dont look back at my presidency and think this is how we do it.

Dont forget we are still in two different wars that I started. What has two thumbs and created Isis? This guy.

Making fun of Mr Bushs mispronunciation of words, he added: I feel for Donnie I really do, Im not a Trump synethsizer or anything, but we have a lot in common.

Cue the slide whistle sound effect. #SNL pic.twitter.com/5Tt9Yon9tW  Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) January 28, 2018

Se are both the exact same age even though I was president like 40 years ago.

We both won the election despite losing the popular vote, though back in my day we didnt let Russians rig our elections, we used the Supreme Court like Americans.

He was later joined by Ghostbusters star Leslie Jones as former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice to sing a spoof of Those Were The Days, reminiscing on times such as when former vice president Dick Cheney shot someone.

They sang: The housing market went to hell. Nazis kept it to themselves. Bin Laden was alive and well, those were the days.
Jeremy Corbyn has ruled out a second referendum on Brexit amid fresh calls for a new poll.

The Labour leader also appeared to distance himself from the so-called Norway model of remaining in the European single market outside the EU.

He highlighted the importance of influencing regulations in trade deals, adding that Norway had no ability to influence those in the single market.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (Jeff Overs/BBC)

A significant amount of Labour MPs and members support the UK staying in the single market, as well as a second Brexit referendum.

So much for listening to @UKLabour members. Whatever cost, chaos whatever the dreadful deal May brings back, no chance another referendum  ALASTAIR CAMPBELL (@campbellclaret) January 28, 2018

A Guardian/ICM poll this week found 65% of Labour backers want the public to have the final say on leaving once negotiations are complete, compared with 19% who oppose the idea.

When pressed on BBC Ones Andrew Marr Show, Mr Corbyn said: Were not asking for a second referendum.

Asked directly and youre not going to? he replied: No.

Norway is part of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which operates alongside the European Union and participates in the single market.

Mr Corbyn said Norways model was not an exact one, adding: Norway accepts all the rules of the single market, doesnt have any ability to influence them whatsoever, and is a rather different economy to ours, because its heavily dependent on mainly oil. Were not.

Labour Leader @jeremycorbyn rejects the Norway model of being in the single market while outside the EU #marr pic.twitter.com/LItj3sFOy9  The Andrew Marr Show (@MarrShow) January 28, 2018

He earlier said Britain should be able to influence the regulations in its future trading relationship with Europe.

The point has to be about the regulatory environment, but above all, able to influence those regulations that come, so that means a trading relationship with Europe that gives us the opportunity to negotiate with Europe, said Mr Corbyn.

He said Labour could work with EFTA countries on that relationship, adding: The principle has to be the trade relationship, and thats what were focused on, and whatever we need to negotiate, we will.

Mr Corbyn called for a commensurate regulatory environment with Europe, as well as potentially remaining in a form of customs union.

He also appeared to back easy movement of people after Brexit, providing efforts were made to tackle the undercutting of pay and conditions.

The usual 'clarity' from Corbyn again on Brexit. We're now getting 'easy' movement of people in the mix now. Tories there for the taking and we get this.  Pete Wishart (@PeteWishart) January 28, 2018

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said: As has long been suspected, Labours leadership is moving closer and closer to the Conservatives hard Brexit, which would damage the economy and cost jobs.

They are betraying their own members and parliamentary base, who want to remain part of the customs union and single market.

Rather than ruling out the Liberal Democrats increasingly popular call for a vote on the terms of any deal  which would include an exit from Brexit  they should be doing their job as the official opposition and backing the public to have the final say.

Brexit minister Steve Baker said: Jeremy Corbyn confirmed today that Labour would not take control of our borders when we leave the EU.

Labour are not interested in getting the best Brexit deal for Britain, and simply want to frustrate the process.
Police will attempt to contact a woman mentioned in a US lawsuit alleging the rapper Nelly sexually assaulted her after a gig in the UK.

Essex Police said they would try to obtain a report from the unnamed woman by contacting the Seattle-based lawyer bringing the claim after officers were alerted by US media reports.

The new allegation, that a woman was sexually assaulted by the rapper after a gig at Cliffs Pavilion in Southend last December, is included in the lawsuit of an American woman who alleges the rapper raped her on his tour bus in the US.

Nelly denies the allegations, which have emerged in a lawsuit filed in Seattle, Washington. (Yui Mok/PA)

An Essex Police spokesman said: We have checked our records and dont appear to have received a report of this incident.

Specially trained officers are now making contact with the solicitors in a bid to contact the victim to take a report.

Nelly, real name Cornell Iral Haynes Jr, denies the allegations and has filed a counter-suit, while his lawyer Scott Rosenblum said the claim was deceitful and motivated by money.

University student Monique Greene, 22, is suing the 43-year-old in Washington, USA, after prosecutors dropped a criminal case against him because she would not testify.

Let me say that I am beyond shocked that I have been targeted with this false allegation. I am completely innocent. I am confident that once the facts are looked at , it will be very clear that I am the victim of a false allegation.  Nelly_Mo (@Nelly_Mo) October 7, 2017

In court documents obtained by the Press Association, the lawsuit also says a third woman alleges she was sexually assaulted after a show at Koko, in Camden, north London, in June 2016.

The two women who allege attacks in the UK are referred to only as Jane Doe one and Jane Doe two in the document.

It adds the woman involved in the alleged attack in Essex did not report it to police because she feared not being believed.

Ms Greenes lawyer Karen Koehler said that the other two women contacted her after reading about her clients case.

One of the women is British and another is an American who was stationed in England with the military at the time.

Mr Rosenblum, in an email to the Press Association, said: Nelly is sensitive to women that have been victimised and marginalised. This is not the case here. He will not stand silent.

The recent addition of Jane Doe 1 and 2 is completely fabricated and an attempt to give credibility to his accusers far fetched story.

Nelly welcomes the opportunity to litigate this case in court. He is not looking for any monetary gain. He does not expect any monetary gain.

He expects an apology and recognition that he did no wrong.
Survivors of terrorist atrocities committed on British soil and elsewhere will launch a new group to lobby the Government on counter-terror policies and improved support for victims.

The Survivors Against Terror group, which is being founded by survivors and bereaved relatives of victims of Islamist bombings, IRA attacks and far-right extremist murders, has urged others to join as it begins life on Monday.

Brendan Cox, the widower of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox, and Mike Haines, whose brother David was beheaded on camera after being held captive by Islamic State in Syria, are among the founders.

Dan Hett and Figen Murray, the brother and mother of Manchester bombing victim Martyn Hett, Paralympian and 7/7 survivor Martine Wiltshire and Tunisia resort shooting victim Gina Van Dort are also involved.

They said: Our collective view is that terrorism can be defeated  but only if we pull together as a country to fight it more effectively.

We will work to build a voice for survivors.

The group aims to campaign for more effective policies to combat terror and identify gaps in support for victims and the bereaved, as well as help the public tackle hate speech and the terror threat.

The founders said: As a group of survivors and family members we have had mixed experiences of support from the government and other service providers.

In some cases this has been exemplary, in other cases families and survivors have been left with no support at all.

We will be reaching out to other survivors and bereaved families to build a better picture of what is and isnt working and will be talking to the government and other service providers about the gaps we identify.

Martine Wiltshire is among the founding members of the new group (Steffan Rousseau/PA)

The new group also called on social media companies to take stronger action and urged traditional media to treat survivors more respectfully.

Survivors Against Terror plans to survey a wide group of victims and go into schools to talk about the impact of hatred.

They added: Terrorism is not a new phenomenon but it continues to cause huge pain and anguish.

Our country has taken on and defeated bigger threats in the past, and we believe if we work together as a country and look after those bereaved or injured, we can and will defeat this as well.

Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, welcomed the creation of the new group.

She said: I have incredible admiration for the courage and dedication of everyone involved.

Their ambition to bring positive change as a response to their horrific experiences is truly inspiring.

We are committed to providing the best support for victims of terrorism, and that is why last year we set up the Victims of Terrorism Unit which will make sure that support, both in the UK and overseas, is comprehensive and made swiftly available to those who need it.

I look forward to working with Survivors Against Terror to ensure that their experiences help shape the work we do.

More details can be found at www.survivorsagainstterror.org.
Repealing the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution instead of replacing it with a revised version will leave too much uncertainty around Irelands future laws on abortion, a minister of state has warned.

Patrick ODonovan said he will not support the repeal of the Eighth Amendment in this summers anticipated referendum.

Outlining his position on the contentious issue, the minister of state at the Department of Finance expressed concern about removing the article without knowledge of how the law might change as a consequence.

The Government is set to imminently outline proposals to amend abortion laws if the Eighth Amendment were to fall in the referendum, potentially paving the way for a dramatic liberalisation of the current position.

But any draft legislation would only become law if the Dail voted for it, and the outcome of the referendum could also prompt a Supreme Court challenge as to whether the Constitution as a whole contains an implied fundamental right for the unborn, on top of the specific terms of the Eighth Amendment.

Department of Finance minister of state Patrick ODonovan said he will not support the repeal of the Eighth Amendment (Brian Lawless/PA Archive)

Mr ODonovan said the current state of the law was not tolerable, but he warned a vote to repeal could have unintended consequences.

My own view is that when I go to the polling booth  and I accept the fact that there is going to be a referendum  I wont support a referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment, based on the fact I believe it leaves too much uncertainty in relation to whats going to happen, he said.

The Fine Gael TD told RTEs The Week in Politics: So I have too much uncertainty in my own head at the moment. I am not asking people to support me, I am not asking people to agree with me, I am not disagreeing with other people and I am respecting what other peoples views are  this is my view and I have been tormented actually to come to this decision.

Mr ODonovan said he was not going to actively campaign on the issue.

However, his remarks emphasis how the abortion debate is set to divide opinion across Ireland. His boss, Finance Minister Pascal Donohoe, has indicated support for repeal and allowing unrestricted abortion up to 12 weeks.

On Saturday, the Taosieach said he would campaign to liberalise the abortion laws.

Leo Varadkar is due to announce details on the Governments position on the referendum after a cabinet meeting in Dublin on Monday evening.

Mr Varadkar has said ministers will be free to oppose the Government on the referendum even though the Cabinet would have a collective position on the issue.

A referendum on the Eighth Amendment is expected in late May or early June.

Last December, a report by a specially convened Oireachtas committee found that Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution  which was passed in 1983 and is referred to as the Eighth Amendment  was not fit for purpose and should be repealed.

That followed recommendations from members of Irelands Citizens Assembly to liberalise the law on terminations.

The committee also 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.
Theresa May was facing mounting pressure as a string of Tory MPs criticised her leadership and Government, with one saying the party was letting this country down.

The Prime Minister was urged to get a grip and give some direction to her promises to tackle burning injustices while one MP compared the speed of the Governments policy-making to a tortoise.

Tory discontent over Mrs Mays leadership and Brexit has led to reports that the number of MPs who have written to the backbench 1922 Committee calling for a contest is close to the trigger point needed to force a battle aimed at toppling the PM.

And a briefing war appeared to play out at the weekend between potential contenders, Boris Johnson and Gavin Williamson.

Sources said the Defence Secretary was the victim of smears following anonymous and incorrect briefings that he leaked intelligence, but an unnamed Foreign Office official criticised the tone of an interview he gave warning Russia could kill many thousands of Britons.

How a Conservative leadership election works (PA Graphics)

The PMs deputy, Cabinet Office minister David Lidington, urged Tories to come together in mutual respect.

He told BBC Ones Andrew Marr Show: I think what I say to all my colleagues is the Conservative family  left, right and centre, because were a broad church  needs to come together in a spirit of mutual respect, there are differences in any broad church, and look at what the bigger picture is showing.

The bigger picture is showing that after eight years in Government, we are still neck and neck with the Labour Party in the polls, were taking seats off them in places like Bolton in local government elections last week.

And the other thing my colleagues need to remember is look at last weeks news  unemployment, lowest level for 40 years new borrowing figures lower than expected, new growth figures higher than expected.

But several Tories appeared exasperated.

Heidi Allen, known as an independent voice on the backbenches, said the party needs to get a grip and lead.

She tweeted a photo of the Sunday Times front page which carried the headline Tories in turmoil, adding: And yet the old guard hangs on in and doesnt understand why we need to change, saying MPs like me arent proper Torys. Good God we need to get a grip and lead. We are letting this country down.

And yet the old guard hangs on in and doesnt understand why we need to change, saying MPs like me arent proper Torys. Good God we need to get a grip and lead. We are letting this country down. pic.twitter.com/p1wANY4gpU  Heidi Allen (@heidiallen75) January 28, 2018

Normally loyal backbencher Nigel Mills said the PM has not delivered on her early promises to tackle burning injustices and that MPs are concerned about the Governments lack of direction.

He told BBC Radio 4s World At One: I think the frustration is the Prime Minister had what I thought was exactly the right drive and the right belief when she first came into office and its hard to see exactly how were making progress on that.

We need to show a sense of what our values are, where were going, where we want to get to, and if that timeframe has to be 18 months or two years to deliver something, well then thats fine, we can explain why that is.

But I think where people are perhaps just a little concerned is perhaps we dont quite know what that direction is, what those policies are going to look like or where theyre going to perhaps come from in that situation.

I think weve perhaps lost some of that reforming zeal when we came into office that Michael Gove had in education, that Iain Duncan Smith had in welfare.

Meanwhile, Mr Lidingtons predecessor Damian Green, who was sacked from his role following allegations about pornography on his office computer, denied liking a tweet in which Jewish Chronicle editor Stephen Pollard described Mrs May as hopeless, claiming it was a mistake.

For the avoidance of any doubt I did not mean to like this tweet and if I did it was a mistake as I was scrolling through. I dont agree with it at all. https://t.co/yTIi1dFqZK  Damian Green MP (@DamianGreen) January 28, 2018

Conservative former minister Rob Halfon, who was sacked by Mrs May, warned that Labour would profit unless the party tackled injustice.

He told World At One: We need to have less policy-making by tortoise and (more) policy-making by lion. Because we have to be radical. We have to stop seeing politics in transactional terms.

Respected backbencher Johnny Mercer refused to comment on the PMs future but told the Mail on Sunday she must face down domestic challenges such as the NHS as well as dealing with Brexit or we will pay the price with voters.

Grant Shapps, who led a botched coup attempt after Mrs Mays mishap-strewn conference speech in October, urged the PM to name a date when she will stand down and warned more letters were being sent to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady at the weekend.
Philippe Coutinho was handed his first Barcelona start in their 2-1 win over Alaves at the Nou Camp on Sunday night.

The 142million January signing from Liverpool came on as a second-half substitute in the Copa del Rey clash with Espanyol in midweek, but how did he fare on his LaLiga bow?

Role

Coutinho showed some moments of class (Manu Fernandez/AP)

The Brazilian started on the right of a front three alongside fellow South Americans Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. However, he drifted over to the left more frequently in the second half  the role he was accustomed to at Liverpool.

Link-up play

Coutinho was neat and tidy in possession and played defence-splitting passes to Nelson Semedo and Paulinho in the first half and substitute Jordi Alba after the break. He linked up well with former Liverpool team-mate Suarez on occasion and there were promising signs that the duo could rekindle the partnership that flourished at Anfield. He made plenty of intelligent runs but passes were over-hit and had plenty of tricks to keep the crowd entertained.

Goal threat

32: Good combination end with a shot from Coutinho! Deflected wide! (0-1) #BarcaAlaves pic.twitter.com/iVnqoWceyi  FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 28, 2018

The 25-year-old would have been celebrating a debut goal in the 33rd minute had his shot not cannoned off Ruben Duarte. The ball fell to the forward in space on the edge of the area and replays suggested it would have nestled in the corner had the defender not thrown himself in front of the shot. At times he was perhaps too eager to impress and tried to be too clever, with potential openings wasted.

Work-rate

His work-rate could not be faulted. He was always busy, wanted the ball and tracked back when needed. He was on the receiving end of a crunching early tackle and a couple more followed, but he showed good strength to keep hold of the ball before laying off a pass to Andres Iniesta with the outside of his boot in the early stages of the first half.

Overall

Theres plenty more to come from the playmaker. He lasted 66 minutes before being taken off for Paco Alcacer, but once he is fully fit the signs were there that he will light up the Nou Camp.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri was the big winner at the London Critics Circle Film Awards, taking home three accolades including the coveted film of the year.

Frances McDormand won the actress prize for her powerful performance in the moving drama, which follows a grieving mother who puts up billboards asking police why they have not arrested anyone for the murder of her daughter.

Its director and writer Martin McDonagh picked up screenwriter of the year.

Other winners at the glittering ceremony at The May Fair Hotel in London included Timothee Chalamet, who was named actor of the year for Call Me By Your Name, and Hugh Grant, who won the supporting actor prize for his turn in Paddington 2.

Hugh Grant and Anna Eberstein arriving for the London Critics Circle Film Awards (Matt Crossick/PA)

Lesley Manville won supporting actress for Phantom Thread and Gods Own Country writer-director Francis Lee took the Philip French Award for Breakthrough British/Irish filmmaker.

Sally Hawkins, whose recent projects include Maudie, Paddington 2 and Oscar-tipped The Shape Of Water, was named British/Irish actress.

The male prize went to Daniel Kaluuya for his performance in US horror film Get Out.

Timothee Chalamet (left) and Armie Hammer at the awards (Matt Crossick/PA)

Sean Baker was named best director for The Florida Project.

One of the highlights of the ceremony was Hollywood star Jude Law presenting the Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film to Kate Winslet, his friend and former co-star.

Kate Winslet wins the Dilys Powelll Excellence in Film @londoncritics award, presented by Jude Law pic.twitter.com/bXIRDJvZzH  Kate Muir (@muirkate) January 28, 2018

The critics voted for Paul Verhoevens Elle as foreign language film of the year, Raoul Pecks I Am Not Your Negro as documentary of the year and Christopher Nolans Dunkirk as recipient of the Attenborough Award as British/Irish film of the year.
Turkish troops and allied Syrian fighters have captured a strategic hill in north western Syria as their offensive to root out Kurdish fighters entered a second week.

Reporters in the Turkish border town of Kilis heard constant shelling and clashes as Turkish aircraft flew overhead and plumes of smoke rose in the distance.

The Turkey-backed forces have been trying to capture the hill, which separates the Kurdish-held enclave of Afrin from the Turkey-controlled town of Azaz, since the start of their offensive on January 20, but have been met with stiff resistance.

The Kurdish militia known as the Peoples Defence Units, or YPG, said Turkey sent reinforcements to the area following intense airstrikes on Sunday.

It disputed the claim that the Turkish troops and allied fighters were in full control of the hill, saying its forces had redeployed and will fight to reclaim the strategic area.

The Turkish military said in a statement its soldiers and allied Syrian opposition fighters captured Bursayah hill assisted by air strikes, attack helicopters, armed drones and howitzers.

Pro-Turkey Syrian fighters pray after capturing Bursayah hill (AP)

Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, confirmed the Turkish troops seized control of the strategic hill, which overlooks northeastern Afrin, after intense battles.

Mr Abdurrahman said the airstrikes also targeted the area around Afrins main dam for the second time since the offensive began.

There were no immediate reports of damage to the April 17 Dam, which provides water and electricity to the Kurdish enclave, home to hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom have fled from other parts of Syria.

The Observatory said at least 51 civilians, including 17 children, were killed in the offensive on Sunday, including eight people from the same family.

It said 66 YPG fighters and 69 Turkey-backed Syrian fighters were also killed. Turkey says five of its soldiers and 16 allied fighters were killed in the fighting.

The YPG said one of its female fighters blew herself up, destroying a Turkish tank in southwestern Afrin.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a speech on Sunday that there were reports that the YPG was holding Turkish soldiers captive, adding that Turkey was taking steps to try to bring them back.

Mr Erdogans statement did not make clear the number of soldiers who were missing or whether they were alive.

Reports also emerged that an ancient temple in Afrin was badly damaged in Turkish airstrikes that struck its courtyard late on Friday, according to the Observatory, the YPG and the Syrian government.
A 47-year-old German national was arrested on charges of operating a cannabis cultivation project at a villa, in guise of a greenhouse, at Katukurunda in Habaraduwa yesterday.

The German national was taken into custody and was due to be produced in the Galle Magistrate's Court.

Police said the type of cannabis which was found during the raid has not been found in Sri Lanka before.

Cannabis seed plots, bottles of dried cannabis were found in rooms of the villa.

The police is suspicious that the foreigner who maintained the villa in the guise of a greenhouse might have been selling these cannabis to foreigners at a higher price.

The raid was conducted by a police team led by Habaraduwa OIC Chief Inspector Chandana Prasad Jayathilaka on the instructions of Galle ASP Gamini Ihalawela. (D.G. Sugathapala)
In a shocking case of child sexual abuse, a Karnataka man has been arrested for luring a Sri Lankan minor to India on the promise of a modelling career, and sexually assaulting her and looting Rs 2 lakh from her and her mother.

The man  Satish  the son of a Haveri based businessman, has been booked under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Indian media reported.

The minor and her mother have now returned to Sri Lanka after their nightmarish experience.

When Mallika(not her real name) began talking to Bengaluru-based Satish in 2015, the Sri Lanka-based girl thought she finally had a chance at a better life.

Only 12 at the time, the young girl believed Satish when he told her, after seeing her photos on Facebook, that she had a career in modeling. And Satish offered to get her a gig himself  he said he had contacts in Bollywood.

On November 28, 2017, Mallikas mother arranged for Rs 2 lakh and the mother-daughter duo flew to India to meet Satish.

The duo met Satish on December 1, after which he told them to stay at a hotel in Andheri, Mumbai.

That afternoon, Satish called Mallika to his room. He offered her some juice, after which, Mallika says in her statement, she fell unconscious. When she woke up a few hours later, experiencing severe pain in her lower abdomen, she realised she had been sexually assaulted.

While Mallika and her mother were grappling with what had happened, Satish took them to Haveri in Karnataka, and then brought them to Bengaluru.

According to a report, Satish allegedly tried to push Mallika into flesh trade and had lodged her and her mother at a hotel in Bengaluru against their wishes.

On December 7, the two of them were made to board a Mumbai-bound bus. Satish had stepped down to buy tea and didnt return.

When he didnt return, we realised that he had disappeared with our money, Mallikas mother said.

Mallika and her mother then approached the Upparpet police. The police swung into action quickly and arrested Satish.

After the arrest, Mallika and her mother were sent to an NGO for counseling and have now been sent back to Sri Lanka.

The police said that they are waiting for the forensic report before filing the chargesheet. Satish has confessed that he duped the child for sex and trafficking, and did not expect the mother to come along, a senior officer said.
Re-export of tea and pepper would be stopped completely and the 50-percent concession given to farmers on seed potatoes would be increased to 100 percent, President Maithripala Sirisena said today.

Addressing a public rally held in Badulla today, the President said re-export of tea had damaged the reputation of Sri Lankan tea.

He said pepper re-exportation had resulted in low prices of peppers in the local market. Re-exporting of pepper will be stopped to protect our farmers," he said.
Singapore Trade and Industry Minister S. Iswaran and Minister for Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama are signing the FTA in the presence of Singapore Premier Lee Hsien Loong and President Maithripala Sirisena -file photo

Last week saw back-to-back visits to Sri Lanka by two South East Asian leaders, Singapores Prime Minister Lee Hsieng Loong and Indonesias President Joko Widodo. Both visits were described in terms of strengthening bilateral relations, promoting trade and investment and a desire to develop ties with ASEAN. In fact the identical language was used in the two joint statements on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding these visits, each saying that the respective head of state encouraged Sri Lanka to enhance its engagements with ASEAN and the ASEAN Regional Forum.

During Lees visit Sri Lanka signed a Free Trade Agreement with Singapore, said to be the first ever inked with a South East Asian country. It was showcased as being part of a broader Look East strategy of the government.This description was used in statements from the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade and in subject minister Malik Samarawickremas public remarks. What could Looking East mean for Sri Lanka?

Looking East is terminology generally associated with India in its economic relations with South East Asia, and had its origins in the early 1990s. More recently it includes also the more strategic objectives associated with countering Chinese influence in the region, according to analysts.The US supports Indias Look East policy, particularly in the context of developments in the South China Sea which has become a flashpoint.

 Since 2014, India has been working not only to Look East but to Act East as well. And it appears the government has taken substantial positive steps towards building close relationships with Indias East partners, says a comment on the London School of Economics blog site from two months ago. According to Vaishnavy Mulay: When looked at, with regard to China, the Act East policy appears to be a whole different ball game. The Act East policy goals then appears to be two-pronged: boost Indias standing as a regional power by initiating increased cooperation in the region, and act as a counterweight to the increasing strategic influence of China.

The fact that India means business when it comes to Acting East, was on full display last Friday (26) in New Delhi where all ten ASEAN leaders were present as chief guests at Indias Republic Day parade. This was preceded by a summit with the ASEAN leaders to celebrate 25 years of India-ASEAN relations.

Notwithstanding the tensions, Indias relations with its giant neighbour and rival cannot be seen as hostile, given the significant trade relationship between the two, and Indias collaboration with China in projects like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the BRICS group of

emerging economies.

FTA - part of a broader Look East strategy of the government

Singapores investment in SL amounted to only $658 million from 2015 to 2017

SLs relationship with China is not comparable with that of India

Indias relations with its giant neighbour and rival cannot be seen as hostile

As for the Sri LankaSingapore FTA, by all accounts there seems to have been little public discussion on it ahead of the signing

All of these factors including developments in the external strategic environment set out above, leave many unanswered questions



Mulay points to ASEAN states complex responses to tensions in the their region when she says:The states in Chinas vicinity can be said to be seeking to expand their strategic space by reaching out to other regional and global powers. In this case, smaller states in the region, such as Vietnam and the Philippines, look to India to act as a vital actor to counter increasing Chinese hegemony. Strategically this is a clever move as officially India does not follow a policy of containing China, cloaked by the Act East policy, India is able to assert its presence in the region while at the same time this goes hand in hand with Indias efforts to strengthen ties with ASEAN.

However Sri Lankas relationship with China is not comparable with that of India, or that of the ASEAN states. Sri Lanka has no border disputes with China nor has it faced any type of aggression from this all-weather friend, who supports Sri Lanka in international forums.China has now become the biggest investor in Sri Lankas post-war infrastructure development. China cannot very well be blamed for the problems resulting from excessive debts voluntarily incurred by Sri Lanka, or for the domestic anger over government give-aways of freehold property rights. Was it not Sri Lankas prerogative as a sovereign state, and the duty of Sri Lankas political leadership, to negotiate more skilfully in the

national interest?

There would seem to be no clear explanation for Sri Lanka Looking or Acting East  if the term is taken to mean pursuing ties with ASEAN in order to counter Chinese influence. If Sri Lanka seeks to engage more closely with ASEAN it would be for the intrinsic benefits of strengthening those relationships, and not as part of any counterbalancing strategy.

"Sri Lanka signed a FTA with Singapore, said to be the first ever inked with a South East Asian country"



So what does the government mean by Looking East? Is it simply a buzz-word thrown in for good measure, in the process of marketing the Singapore FTA to the public? Does it point to some confusion at a policy level? Or is it terminology advised by external forces guiding policy?

It is perhaps relevant to note that US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis in Washington on 19th Jan. revealed the Trump administrations new national defense strategy,marking a shift in emphasis from terrorism to great power rivalry. Mattis flagged China and Russia as the main threats, reportedly noting that China is using predatory economics to intimidate its neighbours, while militarising features in the South China Sea.The speech came ahead of his visit to Indonesia and Vietnam.Mattis wants to increase maritime cooperation in the region, and Indonesia - the connection point between the Indian and Pacific oceans - is key to that said a US defence department news report. The state visit to Sri Lanka by Indonesias president and the calls for Sri Lanka to enhance engagement with ASEAN countries, come against this background.

"There would seem to be no clear explanation for SL Looking or Acting East  if the term is taken to mean pursuing ties with ASEAN in order to counter Chinese influence"



As for the Sri LankaSingapore FTA, by all accounts there seems to have been little public discussion on it ahead of the signing. Although the government says there have been consultations with all stakeholders, a large collective of trade unions and professional associations has publicly opposed it, alleging corrupt processes and conflicts of interest. By the governments own admission, Singapore is not a significant export market for Sri Lankan goods, and Singapores investment in Sri Lanka amounted to only $658 million from 2015 to 2017. The government seems set to introduce a raft of new laws and amendments to existing laws in the near future, to enable the FTA to be implemented. It would appear that once these changes (that the government has committed itself to) are in place, the newly liberalized policies will become applicable to all comers.

All of these factors including developments in the external strategic environment set out above, leave many unanswered questions regarding the nature and purpose of the much-hyped Sri Lanka-Singapore FTA.
While a balanced and country-first insight is vital for the people to make the correct verdict at the February 10th Elections to Local Councils, physical eye sight is also essential for an active and healthy lifestyle and the situation relating to it appears to be in a blind corner.

According to a survey, Sri Lanka urgently needs more eye surgeons and there are questions as to who is blocking it and whether there is some sort of mafia behind it. Sri Lankas population today is more than 21 million in 25 districts. The survey shows that more than 150000 people are blind, while another 500000 people have impaired eye sight. The survey also shows that more than 1.2 million people await a cataract operation in the next five years.



In Sri Lanka, there are about 60 eye surgeons working in the public sector and about another 20 are working in private hospitals. Most of these eye surgeons work in Colombo or suburbs. The number of eye surgeons has been increasing too slowly in recent years. We had 51 eye surgeons in the public sector in 2007 and the number increased only to 61 last year. There is an increase of only one eye surgeon a year and the authorities have been blind or blinded to this crisis.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, the required number of eye surgeons for Sri Lanka is about 200. Some districts never had eye surgeons.



The premier Colombo Eye Hospital is always overcrowded. Patients come from distant areas of the country and the facilities provided for them are far from the enlightened situation we should see in such an important hospital. According to reports, some of these patients are being harassed by various people and sometimes even their little money is being stolen. Most patients waste their precious time and money to come to the Colombo Eye Hospital, but often they get little or no treatment at the eye clinics threre.



What is the reason for this? Why is the Health Ministry not taking action on this, though the Minister Rajitha Senarathne regularly boasts about reducing the prices of essential drugs, providing stents free of charge at public hospitals and overall about the huge allocation made for public health sector?

Why are eye surgeons not posted to distant or rural areas? The reason is the number of doctors is not adequate.

A large number of diploma-qualified eye surgeons passed out of the Post Graduate Institute of Medicine [PGIM]. Most of those doctors served in remote areas. This programme was started by the widely respected eye physician Dr. Reggie Seimon, but it was stopped.



The PGIM annually conducts examinations to select doctors to be trained as eye surgeons. It is reported that 24 were selected in 2016 and 12 last year. This year, the PGIM has selected only 13 and it is reported that the institute is planning to reduce the number of trainees.

In any events, not everyone who passes will enter the public health service. Most are likely to go to private hospitals and poor patients will continue to suffer without proper treatment at the Colombo Eye Hospital or a few other district hospitals.

Most health experts believe the main reason for this is private practice. Some eye surgeons believe the increase in the number of specialists will reduce the huge amounts they earn in private hospitals, but it is not so.



Even after seeing an eye surgeon at a public hospital, most cataract patients are forced to wait 10-12 months for their surgery. Most of these patients are elderly and it is a crime to let them go blind.

We call upon the Health Minister to act fast and reduce the prices of cataract lenses. Indeed, he has given lenses to public hospitals. But, we need eye surgeons to put these lenses into patients eyes.

In 2016, about 80000 eye surgeries took place in public hospitals. Last year, the number came down to about 25000. We believe the reason is that wrong insights have been given to the minister by some eye specialists. So, the poor people suffer with little or no opportunity to get the surgeries done. Humanitarian eye doctors request the minister to look at this crisis in an enlightened way and take urgent steps to increase the number of eye physicians and surgeons.
Mumbai: Actor Swara Bhasker has criticised director Sanjay Leela Bhansali for "thoughtlessly glorifying" Sati and Jauhar practices in his latest release, 'Padmaavat'.

The 29-year-old actor wrote a blistering open letter to Bhansali, published on news website The Wire, in which she condemned the filmmaker for presenting the criminalised archaic customs in a "breathtakingly shot" manner.

Swara said Bhansali, whom she respects and has worked for in 'Guzaarish', had set a dangerous precedent in questioning the laws of the land.

Also read: Padmaavat movie review: Bigotry, biases ki beauteous raas-leela

"In independent India, The Indian Sati Prevention Act (1988) further criminalised any type of aiding, abetting, and glorifying of Sati.

"Your act of thoughtlessly glorifying this misogynistic criminal practice is something you ought to answer for, Sir. As your ticket-buying audience, I have the right to ask you how and why you did this," she wrote.

Swara said the climax which shows multitude of women dressed in red marching towards their deaths "seduced the audience into being awestruck and admiring of this act".

Also read: Swara makes shocking revelations of being groped by mob, harassed by drunk filmmaker

"Your cinema particularly is inspiring, evocative and powerful. It can move audiences to emotional highs and lows. It can influence thinking and that, Sir, is why you must be responsible as to what it is you are doing and saying in your film."

The actor said acts like Sati and raping women are two sides of the same coin.

She explained the parallels between the two crimes, saying the depiction of the Sati/Jauhar would have been justified had the director condoned the victim-blaming mindset, which infests the country, in Deepika Padukone-led period drama.

"You will say that you put out a disclaimer at the beginning of the film claiming that the film did not support Sati or Jauhar.

Also read: Bhansali has to commit Jauhar if Padmaavat releases, warn Rajput Women community

"Sure sir, but you followed that up with a two-hour-45-minute-long paean to Rajput honour, and the bravery of honourable Rajput women who chose happily to sacrifice their lives in raging flames, than to be touched by enemy men who were not their husbands but were incidentally Muslim," Swara said, also calling out the director for painting the Muslim ruler Khilji (Ranveer Singh) as a "monster".

The actor, who watched the film first-day, first-show, said she had defended Bhansali's freedom of expression during the protests by various groups and political leaders, who accused him of "distorting historical facts".

She further said women have the right to live, despite "being raped" and "independent of whether men are living or not".

The actor said a woman's honour and purity do not reside in the vagina and it would be a welcome step "if the vaginas are respected; but in the unfortunate case that they are not, a woman can continue to live".

Swara added she "felt reduced to a vagina - only" after watching "Padmaavat".

She said the film undermined women's achievements and the progress of movements such as the right to vote, the right to own property, the right to education, equal pay for equal work and Vishaka guidelines, among many others.

It was only fair, Swara said, that she took the "liberty" and "temerity" to raise concerns over glorification of Sati and Jauhar after watching the magnum opus after a long wait.

The film, also starring Shahid Kapoor, finally arrived in the theatres on January 25, amid chaos and violence across the country.

Read the full letter here:
A tyrant and a despot, Allaudin Khiljis character huffs and puffs his way to many conquests throughout Padmaavat. Be it kingdoms, the throne, or women, Khilji wont stop at getting hold of anything. His features soften only around his slave-general Malik Kafur, who is willing to walk the ends of the Earth for him. From helping Khilji attempt to acquire Padmavati, to tending to his wounds, and caring for his birds, Kafur will stop at nothing for the ruler.

And Ranveer Singhs Khilji and Jim Sarbhs Kafurs scenes are perhaps one of the high points of the much-troubled Padmaavat, which released on Thursday. Filmmaker Onir sure seems to think so.

I thought Khilji had more chemistry with Kafur in the movie than anyone else, he opines. The slave-general is shown as someone brave and sensitive. I did not find him caricaturish. The character also has a lot of depth.

And while many may think Sanjay Leela Bhansali made sure Khilji and his Man Friday were black, against Padmavati and Raja Rawal Ratan Singhs white, Onir believes Jims portrayal of Kafur was as shaded as they come.

For me, Kafur was very grey, he adds. He was in love with Khilji and did everything to make this person happy. He has a softer side, but was driven by jealousy.

Filmmaker Faraz Ansari, however, is less than amused by SLBs portrayal of Khilji and Kafur. Im absolutely against putting stereotypes on the big screen, because it reaches out to such a large audience, and it leads to a lot of subconscious changes that happen to us, he says. I had major problems with Kafurs description; gay men are always considered  in Indian cinema  as comic relief. The entire theatre was laughing in a derogatory manner at his character. To give them a feeling that Kafur only wanted to get a hold of Khilji, in a sexual way, was demeaningly done. When we were walking out of the cinema, I remember people passing really nasty comments like Woh gay tha na, kaisa chakka tha; these words that one tries to carefully negotiate about gender. Its such a fragile concept, gender.

While Hollywood has made movies like Brokeback Mountain, Call Me By Your Name, and Moonlight, where mainstream characters deal with homosexuality in a nuanced manner, Bollywood still plays out stereotypes on-screen. In recent times, only Madhuri Dixit Nene and Huma Qureshis queer act in Dedh Ishqiya comes close to an honest portrayal. Faraz sighs, I was very annoyed with the way that Bhansali had such a brilliant opportunity, but he ended up causing more damage. If Section 377 still exists in this society, part of the blame lies with movies too.

Sonal Giani, an LGBTQ activist and actor, shares the same reservations against the portrayal. The disappointment is that they have been shown as characters who believe in debauchery, and so homosexuality is represented in that vein. When you leave no scope of grey in your character, its a problem. And in a large-scale film, when you equate homosexuality with the villain, thats what the audience takes home. It would help if SLB had stuck to the persona of Khilji that the historians showed, and not portrayed him as a madman, she asserts.

But while many may be torn over Bhansalis depiction of Khilji and Kafurs relationship, theyre in consensus over one thing  Ranveer gave the role his all.

I absolutely love Ranveer Singh, smiles actor and model Sushant Digvikar. Hes a chilled out guy, and does what he wants. Hes already broken many stereotypes, including dressing up in a gender-neutral fashion. I think him and Jim are beautiful actors, good-looking men and extremely talented artistes. Younger actors will take cues from them, and more people should indeed work on characters that normalise the LGBTQ community.
Eminem has often taken digs at Donald Trump in his videos. (Photo: AFP/ AP)

Washington D.C.: Eminem, who has repeatedly criticised US President Donald Trump, has no regrets if he loses half his fan base.

Also read: Selena Gomez wants to collaborate with Eminem

"I know that Hillary (Clinton) had her flaws, but you know what? Anything would have been better. A f***ing turd would have been better as a president," the rapper told Billboard in an interview published recently.

Also read: Eminem tears into Donald Trump in new rap song 'Campaign Speech'

"At the end of the day, if I did lose half my fan base, then so be it, because I feel like I stood up for what was right and I'm on the right side of this," he said.

"I don't see how somebody could be middle class, busting their a** every single day, paycheck to paycheck, who thinks that a f***ing billionaire is gonna help you."

Also read: Eminem takes down Donald Trump

This isn't the first time the 45-year-old has spoken up about Trump. He lashed out at the president in a fiery freestyle rap, 'The Storm', that debuted during the BET Hip Hop Awards in October, and called him out in an interview with the New York Times in December.
The search for the leading lady in Venkateshs forthcoming film, directed by Teja, continues. After it was reported that Aditi Rao Hydari will be paired opposite Venky in the breezy entertainer, we have reliably learnt that the Bhoomi star will not be a part of the project.

Apparently, the actress had a chock-a-block schedule, apart from being in talks for Mani Ratnams film, to which she had already committed. Unable to accommodate any dates, in hindsight, she couldnt come on board.

A source in the know says, Aditi was kicked to do her second Telugu film and was looking forward to the project. However, she had to back out citing date issues.

As a result, director Teja has already begun scouting for the female lead.

Meanwhile, the makers have roped in Naara Rohith for an important role in the film. Apparently, theres a pivotal role that sets up the narrative, and when Teja approached Rohith for the character, he was more than pleased to come on board. This would be the first time the young actor would share screen space with Venky.
The conclusion was that that 'thin and toned' is now the most desired physique. (Photo: Pixabay)

Turns out, long-held beauty standards are changing as thin is no longer considered to be the most attractive body shape for a woman.

A new study has found that time is changing with increasing emphasis on fit bodies that are toned and healthy. The shift has been coinciding with the raising awareness among women about benefits of weight-training in the gym.

The University of Missouri-Kansas City-study was led by Frances Bozsik. The conclusion was that that 'thin and toned' is now the most desired physique.

Bozsik and team assessed several photos of contenders participating in beauty pageant, Miss USA. Besides that, 78 undergraduate women also participated in the research. The researchers established that winners have become more muscular in recent years.

In the second phase of the study, 64 undergraduate students were shown various pictures of 14 women. The pictures had two variations - one depicting her real body i.e. thin and toned image, and one where muscular definition has been digitally removed i.e. thin only image - for every contender.

On analysis, the muscular and toned versions were deemed more attractive and pleasing.

Bozsik explained, "There is a shift in the thin ideal female figure to one that now includes the appearance of physical fitness via muscularity". However raised concerns about thinness and muscularity becoming congruent for female celebrities.

The social media has also been facilitating the rise of body positivity. According to The Independent, it is encouraging people to embrace their bodies as it is.
Bengaluru: An alert mobile technician exposed the brutality of a man, who mercilessly thrashes and kicks and throws his nine-year-old son against the bed for telling "lies".

The video was in the mobile phone of the boy's mother Shilpa that was given to the technician for repairs. After watching the shocking video, the technician leaked it to the media on Saturday.

The police arrested the father and rescued the boy, a class four student at a private school, after child rights activists filed a complaint. The father, Mahendra (32), a resident of Kengeri, worked in an IT firm.

The video that went viral on social media circles showed the father thrashing his son for lying to him. Mahendra first hits the son with a phone charger repeatedly and keeps asking him, "Will you lie again? Will you lie again?" He then lifts the boy up and throws him on the bed over and over again.

The video was shot by his mother, Shilpa and her voice is heard in the background, saying, "He did it again".

The boy keeps pleading, saying he will not lie again, but the father continues to slap the boy, lift him up and throw him on the floor. He then starts kicking the nine-year-old. Though the mother tries to intervene and stop the father saying, "It's enough, leave him...," he continues to kick the boy.

The police said that the brutality occurred about five months ago and it came to light on Saturday morning when it was aired on several news channels.

"We received a call from the police, who informed us about the video of a child who was physically abused by his father. We saw the video and immediately filed a complaint against the father and he was arrested. We spoke to the child and he is fine.

We will hand him over to his mother," said Kavitha, a social worker with Bosco and attached to the Special Juvenile Police.

DCP (West) Anucheth said that the police immediately acted against the father and arrested him under the IPC Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), IPC 506 (criminal intimidation) and Section 82 in the Juvenile Justice Act (Care and Protection of Children).

A few days ago, the mother had given her phone for repairs and had asked the technician to have a backup of all the photos and videos. The man repaired the phone and recovered the photos and videos. That is when he saw the video of the man brutally thrashing his son and gave the video to media channels, the police said.
Hyderabad: Eight persons allegedly involved in the brutal murder of Boddula Srinivas, close aide of Congress MLA Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, and husband of Nalgonda municipality chairperson Boddula Lakshmi, were arrested by the Nalgonda police on Sunday.

Superintendent of police D.V. Srinivas Rao ruled out political motives behind the murder and said that an argument between at a roadside eatery developed into a quarrel and when Boddula Srinivas tried to pacify them, they attacked him in a fit of rage and killed him.

He added that during the argument, Srinivas himself tried to assault the suspects. The arrested persons were identified as Chintakunta Rambabu, M. Mallesh, A. Sharathraj, B. Durgaiah, K. Kalyan Sam-rat alias Chakri, D. Satish alias Satti, M. Gopi and M. Mohan. Three others, M. Mahesh, M. Sai and Prasad are absconding.

SP Srinivas Rao said at a press meet on Wednesday, that when Boddula Sriniv-as associate Maheshs brother, Rambabu, died of cancer, Srinivas went to his home to convey his condolences. After the final rites in the evening, Rambabu and Sharathraj went to a mirchi point where they got into an argument with the owner for not adding enough onions, and they damaged the material at the eatery. Mallesh tried to smooth things over by agreeing to pay compensation for the loss.

Inquiry reveals Srinivas was murdered with boulders

Around 11.30 pm, Gopi called his friend Rambabu and told him to come to the mirchi point. The two had an argument. Chakri, who was also present, managed to get Gopi to leave.

Gopi left but called up Boddula Srinivas and told him about the argument. This brought Boddula Srinivas to the spot along with Mohan and they questioned Rambabu about the fight. Rambabu got angry with Mohan but Srinivas tried to pacify them.

This led to an argument and Srinivas slapped Mahesh who had just come, followed by Rambabu assaulting Srinivas. When Srinivas tried to attack Rambabu with a boulder, Sharath intervened to stop Srinivas and injured his neck. Later, Srinivas and Rambabu had a fight and fell into a canal along with Chakri. They were pulled out but continued to fight and again fell into another canal. In this process, Srinivas caught Rambabus throat and Rambabu raised an alarm. Mallesh hit Srinivas with a boulder. When Srinivas threatened Mallesh, he picked up another boulder and threw it at Srinivass head.

Later, Rambabu and Mallesh threw two boulders at Srinivas. They made sure he was dead and fled from the spot, the SP said, adding that all of them were friends in the past.

Sources said that the suspects fled to Hyderabad. The arrested persons were sent to remand.
The bull owned by the Sri Lankan Education minister, Senthil Thondaimaan participated in the event and it was adjudged the best performing bull.

Salem: As many as 33 persons including 23 spectators and ten bull-tamers were injured in a jallikattu in Thampatti near Salem on Saturday as some bulls there ran amok.

The Salem district collector, Ms. Rohini Bhajibhakare inaugurated the jallikattu in Gengavalli taluk in which 573 bulls from nearby places participated and 500 bull-tamers were on the field to take them on.

However, after medical tests, only 500 bulls were allowed to participate in the sport, sources told DC. Among the members of the public who were injured in the sudden bull-run attacks, an armed reserve police constable, Sekar, and a spectator, Natesan, 50, who suffered severe injuries were admitted to Salem government hospital.

The bull owned by the Sri Lankan Education minister, Senthil Thondaimaan participated in the event and it was adjudged the best performing bull. A car was handed over as prize to the ministers brother Thiru. Rajesh.
COIMBATORE: District special team police investigating the gruesome murder of elderly woman Rajamani, 48, whowas killed in early hours of Friday near Annur on outskirts of Coimbatore, released the photographs of three suspects in the case on Saturday.

Police said, three workers from West Bengal deployed for flooring work in a newly built house near Kanuvakarai in Annur, had fled away with eight sovereigns jewels and Rs 1 lakh cash after attacking the farmer house owner, Mr. Myilsamy, and strangling his wife to death.

Five special teams deployed to investigate the case released the pictures of three suspects on Saturday who were identified as Ajay 18, Bindu, 18, and Samrat, 25.

Following the incident the gang had escaped on a bike. Tracking their mobile network signals, police say they may be hiding in Sennimalai area near Erode.

On receiving information from Coimbatore district police, a team of 10 police led by Perundurai DSP had launched a search for the offenders.

Special team police have also rushed to Chennai, Avinashi, Tirupur, Puliyampatti and Sathi, while the pictures of the suspects have been sent to railway police in Tirupur, Erode, Coimbatore and Salem to avoid the gang escaping through trains.
Speaking at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival, the 61-year-old Member of Parliament said there was a dire need for Hindus to stand up and recognise what was being done 'in their name' and speak out against it. (Photo: DC/File)

Jaipur: Taking a dig at Narendra Modi, politician-writer Shashi Tharoor has said that while the prime minister describes the country's Constitution as holy, he

also hails Hindutva icon Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay as a hero, and asserted that the two stands cannot go hand in hand.

Speaking at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival, the 61-year-old Member of Parliament said there was a dire need for Hindus to stand up and recognise what was being done "in their name" and speak out against it.

"We need to call a spade a spade. We are living in a country where on the one hand the prime minister says the Constitution is his holy book and on the other hand he extols as a hero and instructs his ministries to study the works, writings and teachings of Deen Dayal Upadhyay, who explicitly rejects the Constitution and who shares that the Constitution is fundamentally flawed," the former Union minister said.

The two thoughts, he said, were contradictory.

"You can't have these two thoughts in the same sentence. To have it both and to be allowed by our public discourse to get away with it for so long seems to me somewhat troubling," he said to thunderous applause from the audience at the packed front lawn, the largest venue at the iconic Diggi Palace where the festival is being held.

Tharoor said Upadhyay believed the Constitution "rests on the flawed premise that the nation is a territory of India and all the people on it".

"Whereas he (Upadhyay) says that is not correct, the nation is not a territory, it is a people and it is therefore the Hindu people. Which means you need a Hindu nation, a Hindu rashtra and that is what the Constitution should reflect, which of course it does not," he said.

That, Tharoor added, was the essential contradiction.

"(You) cannot hail Upadhyay and the Constitution ... at the same time," he said.

The Thiruvananthapuram MP described himself as a devotee of Swami Vivekananda's teachings, and said the acceptance of differences was at the heart of Hinduism.

"Hinduism is not a faith of absolute certitudes. How such a wonderfully capacious faith so open, so classically liberal in that sense can be reduced by some into a badge of identity akin to that of a British hooligan, reducing our wonderful metaphysics to a chauvinistic rampage, I don't know," he said.

The time has come, he said, to take Hinduism back to the "real" Hindus.

"There are a lot of people going around expressing thoughts, condoning actions in the name of Hinduism that most Hindus starting with the likes of Swami Vivekananda would not recognise," he said.

Tharoor, who has written 16 books, was in conversation with poet Arundhati Subramaniam, and threw light on his new book, "Why I Am a Hindu".

He said Hinduism was totally compatible with a modern, liberal and pluralistic society and was in many ways almost the perfect religion of the 21st century.

"It is being reduced and traduced into something that it is not. We need to have a serious taking back of Hinduism and facing up to what it teaches because very often the alternatives that are being taught are actually dangerous to our social peace and cohesion," he said.

Some people were not only willing to "advertise their Hinduism", but claimed that it was the only possible way of being a Hindu, he said.

"This is a sort of Hindu 'wahabism'. It is high time that for those of us who believe that we are good Hindus, that we take back our faith from these people who portray it that way and that is what this book seeks to do," Tharoor said.

He said a great deal can be learnt from the Mahatmas of the past, noting that it was not only their teachings but also their lives that offer lessons for today's Hindus.

"If indeed people are willing to immolate themselves over a film that they have never seen or burn buses and attack school children to protest somebody else's freedom of expression then there is something wrong with our society and we have to understand that answers need to be found," Tharoor said.

These people, he added, were "anti-Hindus". "Instead of punishing themselves which the likes of Gandhi and Vivekananda would have approved of, the people are going around punishing others, attack others, write against others, lynch others. They are the anti-Hindus," he said.
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court has taken up the alleged excavations in Chennampalli fort of Kurnool district in search of treasure as a PIL.

Dr V Brahma Reddy of Kurnool had written to the Chief Justice of the High Court referring to news reports of excavations in the fort in the presence of government officials despite resentment from the villagers. He sought the intervention of the High Court.

He brought to the notice of the court that the authorities had taken up excavation in the fort belonging to the Sri Krishnadevaraya regime in the name of a government order to search for hidden treasure.

The Chief Justice referred the letter to the PIL Committee comprising of judges, which recommended that the court take up the case in the public interest.
Chennai: Coming to the rescue of a woman, denied family pension after the death of her husband by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) on the ground that she is already receiving pension from the defence department, the Madras high court has held that she is also entitled to get family pension from the TNSTC, besides the pension she is receiving from the defence department and directed the TNSTC to pay the family pension to her within 4 weeks.

Disposing of a petition from Amalorpavam alias Amalorpava Mary, Justice T. Raja made it clear that the TNSTC is directed to release the arrears from the date of death of the petitioners husband, namely C. Gabriel on March 2, 2012, failing which, interest at the rate of 10 per cent per annum will be calculated.

According to petitioner, being the wife of late Gabriel, who was a defence personnel and after retiring from defence services, subsequently, he joined the TNSTC, Dharmapuri region as a driver and retired from service on October 30, 2003, although, receiving pension for his defence service at the time of joining the TNSTC, after his retirement from the transport corporation also, he was granted pension. All of a sudden, from the date of death of her husband, the TNSTC alone refused to pay the pension, when the defence department continued to pay the same to her.

Aggrieved, she gave a representation and she was orally informed that on account of receiving pension from the defence department, she was not entitled to receive yet another pension from the TNSTC.

The judge said by various orders passed by this court, this issue has already been settled by this court. One such order had been passed by him in which, he had held that a freedom fighter who served in civil service is entitled for pension from the Central and state governments in addition to the civil service tenure, the petitioner therein was paid three pensions. Therefore, it was held that after his death, his wife was also entitled to get all the 3 pensions, the judge added.

The judge said in that judgment, when it was held that a pensioner receiving three types of pensions cannot be restricted to one pension and the same analogy will also equally apply to the present case in as much as the petitioners husband having employed in the Indian Army, retired there from and received a pension as an ex-serviceman.

After his retirement from the Army, he joined in the TNSTC and again retired from service and for his services rendered he was also paid with pension. Therefore, the petitioner while receiving her family pension from Indian Army, there was no bar for her to receive the pension from the TNSTC, the judge added.
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. (Photo: File)

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."

"America has its policies according to its own interests which includes the stand it took against China. India holds a pro-American stand, decides its foreign policies in accordance with interest of America in every move made by America 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 in Thiruvananthapuram.

CPI(M) state Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had triggered a row earlier in January 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.

This is not the first time Vijayan has stirred a controversy.

Earlier, the Kerala chief minister had lauded North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for his "tough" stance against the United States.

"North Korea has been following tough anti-USA agenda. North Korea has successfully defended the pressure imposed by the US," he had 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 the city.

JR Anuraj, District president of the morcha, said they would observe a 'protest day' throughout Kerala on Sunday.
Modi further said the selection process for picking Padma award winners has been transformed under his government and more significance has now been given to the nominee's work than name. (Photo: PTI/File)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the selection process for picking Padma award winners has been transformed under his government, asserting that more significance has now been given to the nominee's work than name.

In his monthly and this year's first 'Mann ki Baat' address, Modi highlighted works of some winners whose names were announced on the eve of Republic Day, and said common people, who are not living in big cities and not seen in newspapers and TV, have received it.

In the last 3 years, he said, the selection process has been made online, which has led to transparency and anybody can now nominate people for the honours.

Read Also: Meet Padma Shri awardee Lakshmikutty, a traditional medicine practitioner in Kerala

He called upon society to hear the stories of these winners so that they could enrich and inspire others.

Modi also spoke at length about the issue of women empowerment and said women are now moving ahead in all fields.

Read Also: Modi praises women achievers, says no upper limits for Nari Shakti

"Woman power is playing a pioneering role and establishing milestones and there are no upper limits for Nari Shakti," he added

The performance of an all-woman BSF team during the Republic Day parade surprised guests, he further said.

He also praised the "human chain" formed in Bihar against social evils such as dowry and child marriage and said flexibility and continuous efforts for self-correction are a hallmark of society.

Prime Minister further lauded the 'Mission Clean Morna River', and congratulated people for making it a 'mass movement'.

He said, "Mission Clean Morna' shows that if a person is determined to do something, then nothing is impossible. In this noble work of 'Mission Clean Morna', more than six thousand citizens of Akola, more than 100 NGOs, colleges, students, children, elderly, mothers and sisters participated."

With Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary falling on January 30, he said no tribute to him can be bigger than following the path shown by him.
'Till today people believed that nothing can happen to the rich, but things are different now,' Modi says. (Photo: PTI/File)

New Delhi: In a veiled attack on jailed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said, "till today people believed that nothing can happen to the rich, but things are different now".

"Ex-chief ministers are rotting in jail for corruption," he said.

Speaking at a NCC rally, Modi on Sunday sought youths' cooperation in his fight against corruption, saying none will be spared in his anti-graft exercise.

Special CBI court in Ranchi on Wednesday sentenced the RJD chief and former chief minister of Bihar, Lalu Prasad Yadav to 5 years in jail in the third fodder scam case.

Along with Lalu, another former Bihar chief minister Jagannath Mishra, was also sentenced to five years in prison in the case.

Both Lalu and Mishra were also fined Rs 5 lakh each by the Ranchi court.

The conviction and the quantum of punishment was delivered in a case related to the Chaibasa Treasury from which Rs 33.67 crore were siphoned off against the actual allocation of just Rs 7.10 lakh in 1992-93.

Lalu Yadav was named the main conspirator in this case.

Lalu Prasad is already convicted in another fodder scam case and was sentenced to three and a half years in jail earlier in January.

The last case dealt with fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 89 lakh from the Deoghar district treasury between 1990 and 1994.

Former Haryana Chief Minister O P Chautala is also in jail in connection with a corruption case.

(With inputs from PTI)
The Prime Minister also praised tribal women of Maoist-hit Chattisgarh's Dantewada, who are becoming self reliant by driving e-rickshaws. (Photo: File/Twitter)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lauded the women achievers who have contributed immensely to the positive transformation of the country.

Addressing the nation in his monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat', the Prime Minister said that "women power has contributed a lot in the positive transformation being witnessed in our country and society."

"Woman power is playing a pioneering role and establishing milestones and there are no upper limits for Nari Shakti," he added.

Expressing happiness over soaring women power, the Prime minister said that women in India are taking long strides of advancement in all fields.

"Matunga station in Mumbai is the first station in the country which is run by all woman staff which is commendable," the Prime minister said.

The Prime Minister also praised tribal women of Maoist-hit Chattisgarh's Dantewada, who are becoming self reliant by driving e-rickshaws.

"I want to appreciate the women of Dantewada in Chhattisgarh. This is a Maoist affected area but the women there are operating e-rickshaws. This is creating opportunities, it is also changing the face of the region and it is also environment friendly," he said.

He also lauded the daredevil stunts performed by the BSF biker contingent comprising women participants on Republic Day parade.

Remembering astronaut Kalpana Chawla, he said "it's a matter of sorrow for all of us that we lost her at the early age, but her life, her work is a message to young women across the world."

He also appreciated three women Bhavna Kanth, Mohana Singh and Avani Chaturvedi who have become fighter pilots and are undergoing training on Sukhoi- 30.
Targeting the state government for selling liquor through TASMAC shops, Haasan said the government should instead focus on education and sanitation. (Photo: DC)

Chennai: Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan on Saturday exhorted students to find out who was robbing the country.

Addressing students of a college at 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."

He also said if the change has to take place, it is possible only through you (youth power).

"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.

He also told the students to show their anger at why are other students in the state were not getting the atmosphere that the students of this college were getting.

Targeting the state government for selling liquor through Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) shops, Haasan said the government should instead focus on education and sanitation.

"That's not their job. It's enough if the government supervises liquor trade. No need to get waist or neck deep in liquor. They must take a similar plunge in health and education," Haasan was quoted as saying by NDTV.

Earlier in January, Kamal Haasan announced that he will undertake a state-wide tour of Tamil Nadu from February 21 and will also announce the name of his political party and its ideology on the same day.

The tour will mark Haasan's official entry into politics about which he has been making overtures since last year.
Amma, whose husband died two years back, stays alone in the forest and grows medicinal plants around her house; her two sons passed away and the third one is working in the Railways. (Photo: ANI)

Kallar (Kerala): A 75-year-old tribal woman from Kallar forest area has received the country's fourth highest civilian honours Padma Shri Award for her breakthrough in practising traditional medicine.

Lakshmikutty Amma, who is a famous poison healer practicing traditional medicine, said, "I feel happy that my country accepted me. I haven't felt happier. The District Collector called and informed me that I was selected for Padma Shri. I am in this field for last 50 years and the Kerala government recognized my work and awarded me as well. A few of the people had claimed that I would win the Padma Shri award.

Amma, who also writes poems, dramas and is a teacher in folklore academy, revealed that she got this knowledge from her mother who was a traditional midwife.

She belongs to Kaani tribe and can remember more than 500 varieties of medicine.

She has attained the education of 3rd forum and knows Sanskrit.

Amma, whose husband died two years back, stays alone in the forest and grows medicinal plants around her house. Her two sons passed away and the third one is working in the Railways.

"My mother was also a traditional medicine practitioner. She was a midwife. My mother passed down the knowledge to me. I keenly watch the nature, it has all the remedies. Even animals and fish have medicinal power, she added.

However, Amma who has been awarded so many honours lives in difficult circumstances.

"There is no road to my home. It was approved in 1952, but the work hasn't started till now, she said.

Amma said she hopes the government will consider it.

"We have to travel many kilometres through the forest. There are wild animals including elephants. People cannot bring patients in time. Hence, I request the government to do something about it, she added.

Amma said that she can treat snake poison as well.

"My son died due to snake poison, so I gained all the knowledge I could on it. When one is injected with poison it is important to suck it out at the earliest, but with no roads and no hospitals nearby, it is a dangerous issue in the village as we live amidst wild animals, she said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar at an all-party meeting, ahead of the Budget Session, at Parliament House in New Delhi on Sunday. (Photo: PTI/File)

New Delhi: Ahead of the Budget session of Parliament beginning on Monday, representatives of the Government and the opposition met in Parliament House on Sunday to discuss the issues and proposed legislations which would come up.

The session was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who urged the political leaders to ensure success of the Budget session.

The PM said the budget session is very important and the Government takes very sincerely the suggestions given about it by opposition during discussion, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar told reporters after the meet.

Speaking on the issue of triple talaq, the minister said that the Government would do everything to ensure passage of triple talaq bill in the Budget session.

He also said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will leave no stone unturned in talking to and convincing the political parties on the issue.

We hope the Triple Talaq Bill is passed in Rajya Sabha too. My colleagues and I will leave no stone unturned in talking to and convincing the political parties. The way they have passed GST unanimously, we request them to pass this too unanimously, Ananth Kumar said.

Rashtriya Janata Dal and other opposition parties raised issues related to Dalits, farmer suicides, unemployment, and Koregaon violence, among many others in the all-party meeting.

The Budget session of the Parliament will be conducted from January 29 to April 6, with phase 1 to be held from January 29 to February 9 and the second phase from March 5 to April 6.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present the Budget 2018 for the fiscal year 2018-19 on February 1.

On January 29, President Ramnath Kovind will address the joint sitting of the two Houses while the Economic Survey will be tabled on the same day. This will be the first Budget in the post- GST (Goods and Services Tax) era and the last full budget from Jaitley ahead of the general election in 2019.

The session is likely to see important bills, including one for the commission for backward classes and another on Triple Talaq.

The triple talaq bill which was passed in the Lok Sabha was stalled in the Rajya Sabha by a united opposition.

The instant triple talaq bill criminalises the practice of instant divorce among the Muslim community, with up to three years in jail for the husband.

(With inputs from PTI)
Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami felicitates Baebhen Sutke, 20-year-old law student from Ireland, on Saturday during the inaugural of an international summit on liver transplants.(Photo: DC)

Chennai: Tamil Nadu leads in the country when it comes to the number of organ transplant surgeries and the state continues to excel in transplant surgery due to initiatives taken by former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said on Saturday.

Pointing out that TN is the only state which spends up to `35 lakh per patient for rare organ transplant surgeries, the CM during his inaugural speech at the 8th edition of the Master Class in Liver Disease Ceremony here recalled that TN was the first to have a dedicated department at Stanley Hospital to perform complicated liver surgeries.

Felicitating a 20-year-old law student from Ireland Baebhen Sutke, who underwent liver transplantation when she was a five-day baby by TN based surgeon Dr Mohamad Rela in London.

Palaniswami commended Dr Rela for bringing laurels to the state of Tamil Nadu. The young Irish girl is a living example of medical development and the contribution by a TN doctor, he said, urging the doctors to continue the medical advancements in the state.

So far 6,097 organ transplants have been done after harvesting organs from 1,082 brain dead patients. A brain dead donor can give organs to nine beneficiaries, Palaniswami emphasised and noted that the state was ready to extend all its support. TN is also providing all life saving medicines and antibiotics free of cost for rare surgeries and a dedicated Green Corridors are formed to transplant organs during the time of surgeries, he added.

Tamil Nadu is the trendsetter in all forms of high end surgeries and diagnosis. When it comes to liver transplants TN had performed 24 rare surgeries, health minister C. Vijayabhaskar said. Renowned liver surgeon Dr Rela and health secretary Dr. J. Radhakrishnan also spoke and interacted with the liver transplant patients who had lived to tell the tale of rare surgeries.
Chennai: In a move to accommodate more of the homeless poor of Chennai, the Greater Chennai Corporation has accorded administrative sanction to build 12 more special shelters in different parts of the city at a cost of Rs 9.43 crore.

According to a Chennai Corporation official, the central government would assist the civic body by providing funds to build 33 special shelters for the urban homeless.

The funds will be sanctioned through the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM). The state government had earlier directed us to draft estimations to build the shelters, the official added.

Following government directions, the Chennai Corporation building department had drafted a cost estimation to build 12 shelters.

The special shelters would come up at Kodungaiyur, New Washermenpet, near Valluvar Kottam, Noor Veerasamy street, TTK road, KB Dasan road, Gurupuram, Saiva Muthaiah street, Begam street, West Mambalam and other places at `9.43 crore. Each special shelter would cost Rs 78.60 lakh to build.

According to a Supreme Court direction, all the city corporations in the country should have one night shelter for homeless to one lakh population.

Chennai Corporation has been running 43 urban homeless shelters in the city, of which 4 are for the mentally ill patients.

Now, the administrative sanction has been given to the estimates. The tenders for commencing construction work would be floated once the NULM accepts the estimation and releases the funds, the officials said. The officials also added that the preparing estimation for other 21 special shelters would be taken up soon.

It may be noted that the Chennai Corporation also runs 8 night shelters at government hospitals like Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Kilpauk Medical College Hospital and Stanley Government Hospital.

The civic body is also on the verge of identifying the urban homeless by a

third-party survey and survey is expected to complete before March 31, said an official.
Mumbai: A man got sucked into an MRI machine and died at Mumbais civic-run Nair Hospital on Saturday. In a case of alleged medical negligence, the incident occurred minutes after he walked into the room carrying an oxygen cylinder, even though metal objects are not allowed inside MRI-testing rooms because of the magnetic field it creates when operational. The family alleged that the ward boy attached to the MRI section had allegedly asked them to carry the oxygen cylinder inside, assuring that it was safe as the machine was switched off, only it wasnt.

Rajesh Shyamji Maru, 32, died as he had inhaled excess oxygen after the cylinders knob accidentally opened even as his body got sucked inside the MRI machine. Maru was attending to an elderly relative who had come for a scan.

The Agripada police has filed a case under section 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC and arrested three hospital staff members, including the ward boy. DCP Virendra Mishra of Zone 3 said, An FIR was registered against the hospital and they have arrested the doctor, Saurabh Lanjeka, 24, ward boy Vitthal Chavan, 35, and ward attendant Sunita Surve under Section 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC.

The hospital authorities have also handed over the CCTV footage to the police. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the family of the victim.

When asked about alleged negligence on the part of the hospitals staff, that resulted in the oxygen cylinder being allowed inside the MRI room, Nair Hospital Dean Dr Ramesh Bharmal said, There was no place meant for the oxygen cylinder. Accidentally, the oxygen cylinder also went inside along with the person and he died.

Ward boy told man to carry cylinder

Maru was a resident of Lalbaug and the sole bread earner of his family. He had gone to the hospital to visit his sisters mother-in-law Laxmiben Solanki, 62, who was ailing with fever. Maru, who worked as a salesman, was helping Solanki get inside the MRI room, when a ward boy asked him to take her oxygen cylinder inside.

Talking to this newspaper, the deceaseds uncle Jaysingh Maru said, As Laxmiben was on oxygen, the technician-cum-ward boy present inside the MRI ward, told him to carry the oxygen cylinder inside the MRI scan room due to which Maru died.

He also said, As Maru entered the MRI room, the machine sucked him in due to the magnetic force as he had oxygen cylinder with him. His relatives and other ward boys came there after hearing the sound and pulled him out. He also mentioned that Maru was rushed to the emergency ward as he was bleeding copiously, but he died there. No hospital authority has approached us accepting their mistake.

How to use MRI machine properly

Safety aspects that must be followed by medical team, patients and also relatives of patients during MRI scans.

MRI is a strong, static magnetic field attracting magnetic objects.

Keep keys, cellphones, oxygen cylinders, tanks and floor buffers away from an MRI unit. They can can become projectiles and can injure, harm or kill a person.

Relatives should not be allowed inside during the time of MRI diagnosis.

Patients with implants like stents, cochlear implants, knee implants are not to go for MRI diagnosis.

These devices implanted must have no metal and must be MRI Safe or MRI conditional.

External implants like pacemakers, insulin pumps and other devices like ventilator or patient monitor can also affect the MRI diagnosis.

The patients and the medical team must be aware of the effect of MRI on implants.

Inputs from Indian Radiology and Imaging Association member Dr B. Ahuja
Union HRD ministry has conducted in November last to assess the level of learning of students of Classes 3, 5 and 8. It was conducted on 22 lakh students from 110,000 schools across India.

Chennai: The National Achievement Survey conducted by NCERT (National Council for Educational Research and Training) has revealed that the rural students are more aware of the election and democratic process than the students from Chennai district.

The Union HRD ministry has conducted in November last to assess the level of learning of students of Classes 3, 5 and 8. It was conducted on 22 lakh students from 110,000 schools across India.

A district wise report card showed that the Chennai students have fared poorly in environmental science and social science subjects compared to the students from rural districts like Dharmapuri, Dindigul and Perambalur. Out of 1,214 students studying in class 8 from Perambalur district, 45% of them describe the process of election to the legislative assembly and 53.34% of students explain the significance of equality in democracy.

But, of 1,076 students in Chennai district, only 34.31% knows the election process and 27.92% of them alone explain the significance of equality in democracy, according to the details of the NAS.

Students from backward districts like Dharmapuri (39.39%), Villupuram (43.33%), Dindigul (37.95%) and Thiruvannamalai (40%) know the election process. They are also more aware of the equality in democracy as 53.34% in Perambalur district, 45.81% in Dharmapuri and 43.15% in Dindigul district were able to explain the significance of it. B.Oliver, state head, Pratham Education Foundation, TN said, The rural students are more connected and their families discuss these issues in their interactions whereas the urban students are occupied with their school and tuitions. Urban students gain their political knowledge only through media.

P.B. Prince Gajendrababu, general secretary, State Platform for Common School System said the rural students able to understand democracy better due to their critical thinking and they should get equitable access to schools. Rural students exposed to democratic system at young age as they are living in a close knit society compared to the urban students, he added.

Chennai students also fare poorly in disaster awareness and preventive measures. Despite having the major disaster like tsunami only around 21.75% students alone in Chennai are aware of preventive actions taken in the event of disasters. The disaster awareness remains more or less same in all the districts.

The students' skills in locating the important and historic sites on India map also remained poor as only around 16% alone correctly located the sites, the study revealed.

One of the positives from the NAS is that the class 3 students from the districts were able to read the simple texts (61.93%) and simple calculations (58.86%).
Hyderabad: A techie hailing from Siddipet district was found dead under suspicious circumstances in his room in Dallas, US.

Venkannagari Krishna Chaitanya, a former Cognizant employee, had left for the US three years ago for an onsite project with Southeast Airlines. On Thursday, when the landlord in Dallas found Chaitanyas room locked from inside and received no response, he alerted the local police. The Arlington police arrived on the spot, broke open the doors and found Chaitanya lying unconscious. He was later declared dead and his body was shifted for an autopsy. Chaitanya was the son of Mr V. Srinivas Chary of Prasanthnagar in Siddipet district. A family member at Siddipet said they were trying to keep the information of Chaitanyas death from his mother who is ailing.

Harish talks to Indian Embassy in US

The family received a communication on Fri-day about Chaitanyas death and approached minister T. Harish Rao to speed up the process of bringing his body back home. Mr Harish Rao is coordinating with the Indian embassy.

The government has written to the Consulate General in Houston and the ministry of external affairs to complete the formalities and documentation work and to pursue the transportation of Chaitanyas body to India at the earliest. The body is expected to arrive in Hyderabad by Thursday.
New Delhi: Underlining the fact that three former chief ministers were rotting in jail, Prime Minister Narendra Modi signalled a zero-tolerance attitude towards corruption as he said on Sunday that no one would be spared in the governments anti- graft drive.

Speaking at an NCC rally here, he urged the countrys youth to join him in the battle against corruption and black money. The PM also made a strong pitch for the use of Aadhaar, saying it added great strength to Indias development by curbing leakages and helping funds from the government reach the targeted beneficiaries.

Aadhaars legality has been challenged in the Supreme Court and a Constitution Bench is hearing the matter.

Mr Modi said people used to believe that the rich and powerful were not affected by anti-corruption drives, and asserted that this was no longer true. Getting rid of this termite of corruption would help the poor the most, he told the NCC cadets.

Sometimes, there was a sense of disappointment that there is big talk about (combating) corruption, but the big and mighty go scot-free. Today you are going through a phase when three former chief ministers are rotting in jail, he said.

Former Bihar CMs Lalu Prasad Yadav and Jagannath Mishra were recently convicted and sentenced in a fodder scam case. Former Haryana CM O.P. Chautala is also in jail over a corruption case.

Who says there is no God? Who says there is no justice at the hands of God? Now no one is going to escape, the PM said.

Will merely expressing anger and hatred (towards corruption) work? ...We have to wage a long battle. The fight is not going to stop. And if this makes the future of my youngsters, then this also makes the future of my country, he added.
According to Pollachi FRO Kasilingam, a team of Forest officials during routine patrolling on Saturday noticed a female elephant lying dead near Kovil Kaadu beat.

POLLACHI: The wild animal world knows no niceties. A female elephant who refused to mate was killed by her male counterpart late on Friday night at Pollachi forest range in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR).

According to Pollachi FRO Kasilingam, a team of Forest officials during routine patrolling on Saturday noticed a female elephant lying dead near Kovil Kaadu beat, the elephant's stomach portion was opened and its intestine lying outside.

On receiving information, Field director Ganesan, DFO Subiah along with FRO Kasilingam and veterinary doctor rushed to the spot.

After doing the post-mortem, the veterinary doctor said this would have happened in a conflict between a male and the female, after the latter apparently refused to mate, possibly forcing the angry tusker to stab the female with his tusks.
Chennai: DMK working president M.K. Stalin has called upon Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami to immediately rollback the hike in bus fare, saying it affected all sections of the society.

He dismissed as mere excuse the government's defence that the increase was effected due to a host of factors including rise in fuel price, maintenance cost, salaries and pension and purchase of new buses to increase efficiency.

Protesting against the hike in bus fares in Tamil Nadu, in his letter to the Chief Minister, a copy of which was released to the media here on Tuesday, Stalin said his DMK has proposed to state jail bharo (voluntary arrest to fill jails) on January 28 at all district headquarters demanding the withdrawal of the increased fares.

After a hiatus of six years, the State government had on January 19 hiked ticket fares of buses operated by state-run transport corporations and private entities by about 20 to 54.54 per cent. Commuters continued to throng railway stations as several felt travel by trains was cheaper compared to bus fares. Public also demanded that more trains be operated on various shorter distance routes connecting local junctions.

Mr Stalin suggested measures such as streamlining the administration of transport corporations, operating buses on profitable routes and using advertisement for revenue generation to make them economically viable. Instead of using such 'practical' measures, hiking fares would not ensure stability of transport corporations, he added.

The hike in fare had severely impacted various sections of the society including office-goers and it would further affect people already facing general price rise, the DMK leader said.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the chief judicial magistrate court scrapping the case against A.K. Saseendran, decks have been cleared for his return to LDF ministry.

NCP state president T.P. Peethambaran told media persons that Mr Saseendran's name will have to be proposed by central leadership for the Cabinet berth. Once the central leadership proposes his name, the state NCP will submit a formal letter to Chief Minister requesting him to induct Mr Saseendran in the ministry, he added.

However, it is just a formality as the party had announced earlier that Mr Sassendran would be made minister again once he is cleared of all charges.

Mr Saseendran said he was happy over the court verdict. "Our leadership is competent to take the right decision, particularly the national president Sharad Pawar and state president Peethambaran master. We have always abided by their decisions and directions. It will be so in future as well," he said.

The party leadership had reiterated that the first right to the Cabinet berth would be of Mr Saseendran as and when he is cleared of the charges. Even Thomas Chandy who was sworn in on April 1, 2017, had made it clear that he would quit the moment Mr Saseendran comes clean on the charges.

However, Mr Chandy was forced to quit on November 15 on the charges of reclaiming paddy field and lake. Since then the Cabinet slot of the party was lying vacant. With pressure mounting from CPM to fill up the vacant slot, NCP state leadership explored several possibilities including merger with Kerala Congress (B) of R. Balakrishna Pillai and RSP (L) led by Kovoor Kujumon, MLA. A section of NCP leaders even came out with a proposal of merger with RSP (L) to grant Cabinet berth to Mr Kujumon. However, the move led to serious differences in both the parties with the RSP (L) finally abandoning the decision to merge with NCP.
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 Parmeshwara 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 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 recent Gujarat 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, 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 CM Siddaramaiah and state unit chief Dr G. Parmeshwar.
Warangal: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao would spend the rest of his life in jail if lying to people for votes is made a punishable offence.

Mr Reddy was speaking at a public meeting in Geesugonda on Sunday while admitting 2,000 Telugu Desam and YSRC members from Parkal constituency into the Congress fold.

Mr Reddy condemned the Chief Minister for proposing to change the provisions for the application of IPC Sections 506 and 507 to enable the police to book cases without taking the courts permission. He said that the move was to throttle criticism and muzzle Opposition parties.

He said if the rule was applied on Mr Rao, the CM would spend his life in jail for repeatedly cheating the people with his fake promises.

Mr Reddy said Mr Rao would not have need to change laws if only he had fulfilled the promises made to the people.
Chennai: With several parties including DMK and few pro-Tamil organisations opposing the spiritual politics announced by budding politician and Tamil film Superstar Rajinikanth, the BJP on Sunday came to his support saying opposition to spiritual politics is unacceptable.

Belief in God is purely a personal issue. Similarly, atheism or theism are separate issues. But claiming (that) atheistic politics is fine and opposing spiritual politics cannot be accepted, BJP national secretary H. Raja said. The senior BJP leader took to twitter to censure those parties objecting to Rajinis spiritual politics.

The saffron party has time and again been either endorsing or supporting Rajinis views in the hope that the veteran actor would support BJP. His decision to float his own party did not dishearten BJP, which found a new opportunity to make overtures towards Rajini. BJP, however, has been cold shouldering actor Kamal Haasans foray into politics as the party does not view him as a natural ally.

Both the actors have been maintaining equidistance from the Dravidian majors and have disclosed their ambition to carve out a niche for themselves in the political space in TN, leaving many wondering if this twain shall meet to dispense good governance. BJP hopes that its political ambitions could be realised if Rajini extends his support to the party.

Meanwhile, BJP state president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan has lauded the government for honouring talented personalities with the Padma awards. In the past, during the Congress rule, hectic lobbying was needed to get such awards. But now, the government spots talents and rewards them, she said.
Vijayawada: The Telugu Desam is looking at alternative measures to compensate for loss of vote share after the alliance with the BJP breaks before the elections. The BJP won two per cent of the vote in 2014, and the TD expects that it may have five per cent now.

A section of the BJP has become highly critical of the TD, and YSR Congress chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has stated that he is ready to tie up with the BJP if it gives the state Special Category Status.

At least thrice after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has spoken about the alliance and asked his cadres to keep mum despite provocation from the BJP.

The ace in Mr Naidus sleeve is Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan. His siding with Mr Naidu, it is expected, will more than make up for the loss of the BJP alliance.

In an effort to shore up its vote share, the TD started concentrating on Dalits and minorities, said agriculture minister Somireddy Chandramo-han Reddy. The TD had ignored these two sections due to its alliance with the BJP. The Dalita Tejam, which the TD launched on Republic Day soon after Mr Naidu returned from Davos, is part of this scheme. Sources said a few more such programmes can be expected in the run-up to the polls.

TD had wooed minorities with Council seat

The Telugu Desam is looking at alternative measures to compensate for loss of vote share after the alliance with the BJP breaks before the elections.

To woo the minorities, the TD took its first steps in this direction during the Nandyal Assembly byelection last year when it nominated N.M.D. Farooq to the legislative council and subsequently had him elected as chairman.

The TD believes Muslims had voted for the party in large numbers in the Nandyal bypoll; their vote was for the YSRC in last general elections.

Another section, the dalit Christians, are against the BJP and thus the TD-BJP alliance have become a strong vote bank of the YSR Congress. This section shifted its allegiance from the Congress and followed Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy after the death of his father and Chief Minister Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy.

Minister Chandramohan Reddy said programmes are being initiated by the state government to empower the dalits with more funds, but this in no way concerns the BJP alliance.
Team India won a remarkable Test on a pitch that played devilish tricks on batsmens mind and body. The series may have been over as India lost the first two Tests to South Africa before the third Test in Johannesburg. The worlds top-ranked side, feeling hounded after two insipid batting performances, showed grit and guts as a team in very difficult situations. While one performance is no guarantee things may have turned around for good in away series, the triumph holds the promise that the team is ready to dig in and fight their way in tough situations. This may also have showed up deficiencies in preparing for the series in South African conditions.

The greatest facet was India finding a pace attack potent enough to go into a Test for the first time in 86 years with four fast bowlers, plus a fifth in all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Indias pacers injected so much fear in opposing batsmen that there was even a suggestion that the Test be called off as the treacherous pitch may be injurious to batsmens health. If the roles were reversed, India may have been chastised for pusillanimity before aggressive fast bowling. To Dean Elgars credit, the South African opener carried his bat after being brutalised by Indian pacers, although he too did suggest that the Test be discontinued. Never in their history would Team India have had a pace battery capable of shaking up the opposition. Going forward, progress can be made only if the captain accepts he can be at fault in selection matters, and his batsmen back him up with courageous performances.
The presentation of the Union Budget is more of a media event than a realistic statement of objectives and goals, and ways and means. The Budget is the basic blueprint that specifies what the government intends to do in the financial year to come, and how it intends to spend and raise the resources to do that. It doesnt use the occasion to tell us what it did with the announced Budget the previous year.

Quite clearly a Budget is an imperative; otherwise a government will drift along aimlessly, though it often seems to be the case even with the most minutely-specified Budget. Having said that, one must wonder why there is such a fuss each year when Indias finance minister is about to present the Budget.

If one analyses each of the 65-odd Budgets that finance ministers have presented over the years, little seems to be changing in how they propose to raise and spend each year. This is not to say that the first Budget raised and spent revenues in the same way as this weeks Budget will. The first Budget presented by R.K. Shanmukham in 1947 was one that stayed within the means that were available, and did not rely very much on borrowings. The pattern of taxing and borrowing changed hugely over the years. The incidence of taxes has come down and the extent of borrowing has risen. So much so that the national debt has burgeoned and the interest burden become heavier. Let it not be forgotten that at the time of Independence India was debt-free and was owed a mountain of money by Britain.

Indias national debt now is a gargantuan and burdensome Rs 70,450,136,500,510  or Rs 70 lakh crores. The interest burden each year now is Rs 4,577,329,694,115, and growing. Consequently, the debt per citizen is Rs 58,954. Debt as a percentage of GDP is 49.02 per cent. So, one thing is for sure, interest has to be provided for. This is the second-biggest provision, accounting for 18 per cent of the Budget. Transfers to the states account for about 24 per cent. This now determined by GST collections, and the element of discretion or flexibility too has gone with it.

Next come the items labelled Other Expenditures, Central Sector Schemes and Centrally-sponsored Schemes, that draw away 13 per cent, 11 per cent and 10 per cent respectively. Hidden in them are Central government salaries and pensions, that account for almost Rs 3 lakh crores. This doesnt include military and railway salaries and pensions. In fact, salaries at the Centre and states account for 10.4 per cent of the GDP of about Rs 150 lakh crores, or about Rs 16 lakh crores. Two big items follow  subsidies and defence take 10 per cent and nine per cent respectively. They are untouchables. With an election year looming, subsidies will only increase, and considering the combined challenges posed by China and Pakistan, the provision for defence and security will increase not just in absolute terms but in proportion too.

Effectively, this Budget too will have around 11 per cent to allocate for development and capital expenditures. Which simply means that the government, from every Rs 100, has Rs 11 to give to the people in terms of benefits, and it consumes Rs 89 by itself. Usually, this figure too drops as historically the revenue and other collections are far below target. This year GST collections are showing a declining trend from its inception and indirect taxes collections, as of November 30, are Rs 7.35 crores, out a target of Rs 9.27 crores. As of December 19, direct tax collections were only Rs 6.49 crores, out of a target of Rs 9.8 lakh crores.

So much so, it is really the extent of the governments borrowings to pay for what is beyond its means that will be the most important aspect of this weeks Budget. This year the fiscal deficit can be expected to be well over the budgeted 3.2 per cent, as like all other addictions going for a cold turkey is not the most palatable of options. Therefore, the interest provision will at best retain the same share of expenditure. Salaries are sacrosanct, and it will retain its prime place as the nations single largest expenditure. Given the current regional environment, defence is a sacred cow and will brook no change. And when it comes to subsidies, deserved and undeserved, open and hidden, and especially in a pre-election year, it is the government that is the sacred cow. Plan expenditures brook little change and have to be provided for.

Direct and indirect taxes also offer scope for little change, specially when you see how beholden the government is to the members of CII, Ficci and Assocham, particularly in a pre-election year. A back of the envelope calculation shows that over 95 per cent of the Budget is chiselled on stone. Besides, most of the tax increases and revenue enhancement steps like raising or reducing oil subsidies and prices are taken well before the Budget announcements. Then whats all the hoopla over the Budget about?

The challenges India needs to cope up with starting now was made explicit by the World Economic Forum in its Inclusive Development Index. It makes sad reading. India, with a score of only 3.38, ranks 62nd among 79 developing economies on the IDI, despite the fact that its growth in GDP per capita is among the top 10 and labour productivity growth has been strong. Poverty has also been falling, albeit from a high level. On the other hand, its debt-to-GDP ratio is high, raising some questions about the sustainability of government spending.

The WEF IDI also states that framework indicators such as educational enrolment rates are relatively low across all levels, and quality varies greatly, leading to notable differences in performance among students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. While unemployment is not as high as in some other countries, the labour force participation rate is low, the informal economy is large, and many workers are in vulnerable employment situations with little room for social mobility.

More than budgetary announcements, which are quite full of empty promises, the Budget presentation gives the government a rare opportunity to announce policy changes. Dr Manmohan Singh, as finance minister in his first term, was persuaded by the then Prime Minister to announce the junking of the pernicious Industrial Licensing Policy and its prime rent collecting agency, the Directorate-General of Technical Development (DGTD). This earned him lasting glory as a reformer, though he never really showed any interest in liberating society from the straitjacket of government regulation. He even rested on this laurel for 10 long years as Prime Minister. What then can Arun Jaitley do? Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi direct him to announce a universal basic income (UBI)? Or the transfer of a basic income in place of the many misdirected subsidies, most of which gets stolen on the way down?
Sources say Dell is also considering a sale or initial public offering (IPO) of its one of its fast-growing divisions, Pivotal Software.

Dell is exploring a range of options that could see the worlds largest privately held technology company grow further through acquisitions or go public, people familiar with the matter said on January 25. Dells board of directors will meet later this month to consider the biggest shakeup in the companys 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 profitability after the EMC deal failed to deliver the cost savings and performance it projected, while higher component costs and a challenging data storage market have eroded its margins. Dell is reviewing a list of several possible acquisition targets that would boost its cash flow and expand its offerings, the sources said.

Dells review is at its very early stages and no deal is certain, according to the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss the deliberations. The company did not respond to a request for comment outside of regular US. business hours. The news of Dells review was first reported by Bloomberg.

Dell is also considering a sale or initial public offering (IPO) of its one of its fast-growing divisions, Pivotal Software, the sources said. It may also consider a transaction with its majority-owned VMware, a virtualization software maker. VMware shares, which have gained more than 62 per cent in the past 12 months, touched an all-time high on January 25. Dell, whose technology portfolio spans servers, displays, workstations and gaming PCs, also has a security unit, RSA, and a cloud platform called Boomi.

The company has struggled with fierce competition in the storage market, as cloud-based rivals such as Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure put pressure on prices. Dells infrastructure chief, former EMC executive David Goulden, departed last fall, and the firm has since been working to reorganize its storage operations. The PC market, which Michael Dell helped shape by founding Dell in 1984 as a University pre-med freshman with $1,000 in savings, has remained stagnant due to the popularity of smartphones and tablets, shrinking by 0.2 per cent in 2017, according to International Data Corporation.

A bright spot in Dells business has been its servers, helping its total net revenue grow to $56.7 billion in the nine months to November 3, from $41.6 billion a year earlier. However, the companys operating expenses soared from $10 billion to $17.3 billion, leading to an operating loss of $3 billion, up from a $1.6 billion operating loss a year ago.

An exit route for silver lake

Another consideration for Dell in its deliberations is offering a path to private equity firm Silver Lake to cash out on its investment in the company. Silver Lake helped bankroll Michael Dells $24.9 billion deal in 2013 to take the company private and owns about 18 percent of the company.

A stock market listing for Dell would allow Silver Lake to gradually begin selling down its stake. What is more, an IPO of Dell, or a divestiture of one or more of its assets, would help it pay down debt faster, saving it money on expensive interest payments, for which it currently pays about $2 billion annually. Dells $52.5 billion debt pile is expected to become more burdensome this year because the US tax reform enacted last month caps a companys ability to deduct interest expense to 30 per cent of its annual earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation.

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Exterior view of the building complex which houses the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service in Zoetermeer, Netherlands. The Netherlands spy services AIVD and MIVD broke into the computers used by a powerful Russian hacking group and may be sitting on evidence relating to the breach of the U.S. Democratic National Committee, a Dutch newspaper and television show jointly reported. (Photo: AP)

The Netherlands' spy service broke into the computers used by a powerful Russian hacking group and may be sitting on evidence relating to the breach of the US. Democratic National Committee, a Dutch newspaper and television show jointly reported on January 26.

Reports carried in the respected daily Volkskrant and by the current affairs show Nieuwsuur said hackers working for the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service penetrated the computers used by the group, often nicknamed Cozy Bear, in mid-2014 and watched them for at least a year, even managing to catch the hackers on camera.

Dutch Interior Minister Kajsa Ollongren, interviewed by reporters in The Hague before the government's weekly Cabinet meeting, declined to address the report, 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.

"If the Dutch media want to fuel anti-Russian hysteria in the US, it's an activity that can't be called honorable," he added.

Volkskrant and Nieuwsuur said that the Dutch spies used their access to help oust Cozy Bear from US State Department computers in late 2014. Volkskrant said American spies were so grateful they sent the Dutch cake and flowers. Ko Colijn, a researcher at Clingendael, the Netherlands Institute of International Relations, said the report may indicate a leveling trend in which small but tech-savvy countries like the Netherlands "can compensate their military inferiority with cyber quality surpluses."

The news drew particular attention in Washington, where Cozy Bear has been identified as one of two Russian government-linked hacking groups that broke in to the DNC ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The other group is usually called Fancy Bear.

Unmasking the Cozy Bear hackers would provide key evidence for investigators trying to unravel the DNC breach, but it may not dispel the mystery surrounding the leaks that followed. A recent AP 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 Fancy Bear, which cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike said operated independently from Cozy Bear. The Kremlin has denied meddling in the US presidential vote.

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As leaders from all walks of life gather in Davos to discuss how to create "a shared future" in a fractured world, they are moving a step closer to finding a common remedy for the world's ills.

Lighting the way is Chinese President Xi Jinping's vision of "a community with a shared future," which, one year ago, he took to the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting at Davos, the bellwether of the global economy, and the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG), the cradle of modern multilateralism.

Fast forward one year and the idea has appeared in a number of UN resolutions and is the talk of the town in Davos.

"SWISS ARMY KNIFE"

In his UNOG speech last January, Xi called on the international community to jointly make a multi-functional "Swiss army knife" to solve the various problems troubling the current world.

Analyzing the root causes of the sluggish global economy, Xi pointed to a lack of robust driving forces for global growth, inadequate global economic governance, and uneven global development.

Arousing the economy from its slumbers would require a dynamic, innovation-driven growth model; well coordinated and interconnected win-win cooperation; fair, equitable governance in keeping with the times; and balanced, equitable, inclusive development.

Xi's message on globalization and cooperation struck a chord last year that was echoed at this year's Davos forum by 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.

As China opens up wider to the outside world, this transition to a new model of development will create huge opportunities for many new industries, said Liu. "It means opportunities for businesses not just in China but across the world."

Michael Moller, director general of the UN Office at Geneva, said Xi's vision was a new movement and new positioning of China that was extremely welcome at a time when the world was fragmented and beset by problems of every kind.

The vision of a community with a shared future has led to a major geo-political shift in the world, with the rest of the global community now following the concept, Moller said.

ACTION FOR A SHARED FUTURE

Key to this shared future is translating the vision into action.

China's economy is the bedrock of global stability and economic expansion, with GDP over 82.7 trillion yuan (about 13 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, an increase of 6.9 percent.

Through such multilateral cooperation platforms as the G20, BRICS and APEC, China demonstrates a strong preference for an open world economy, making best use of technology and innovation, advancing regional cooperation and FTAs, to bring lasting improvements to people's quality of life.

The Belt and Road Initiative, an infrastructure and trade network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes, began life in China, but has delivered benefits far beyond its borders.

Trade between China and countries along the Belt and Road amounted to 7.4 trillion yuan in 2017, an increase of 17.8 percent, outpacing the 14.2-percent increase in China's foreign trade last year.

The strides China has made in poverty reduction have contributed to inclusive global growth, and progress in reform and opening-up has lent much momentum to an open world economy.

As president of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly Peter Thomson said, Xi's vision of the future is "the only future for humanity on this planet."
The Chinese smartphone manufacturer OnePlus is again accused of collecting user data from its Clipboard app. A French Security researcher named Elliot Anderson, discovered this breach from a file named badwords.text in the Clipboard app of OnePlus. Elliot claims that the text file had various keywords, which indicates that the company is sending users data to its servers in China.

The file called badwords.text included several keywords such as Chairman, Vice President, Deputy Director, Associate Professor, Deputy Heads, General, Private Message, shipping, Address and email among others. The file also included a method to monitor bank accounts. Elliot claims this breached user data is being sent to a company called TeddyMobile and further, the data is allegedly transmitted without users permission.

Reacting to these claims the company responded, Theres been a false claim that the Clipboard app has been sending user data to a server. The code is entirely inactive in the open beta for OxygenOS, our global operating system. No user data is being sent to any server without consent in OxygenOS, said the company.

In addition to that, the company added, In the open beta for HydrogenOS, our operating system for the China market, the identified folder exists in order to filter out what data to not upload. Local data in this folder is skipped over and not sent to any server.

Further, this justification from the company isn't satisfactory since it recently acknowledged the data breach of 40,000 consumers, who bought products from the company's official website. Due to this breach, the company also disabled the credit card payment system on their website as of now.

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The smartphone was rumoured to come with an iPhone X-like notch but it has been busted.

Rumours of Xiaomis flagship smartphone  the Mi Mix 2S have started flowing and the latest report suggests that the phone might be launched before the MWC 2018 event. If rumours are to be believed, Xiaomi will apparently launch the refreshed version of Mi Mix 2 with a design similar to that of the iPhone X.

According to a Chinese social media website Weibo, Xiaomi is working on Mi Mix 2S and might launch it even before the MWC 2018 that will kick-start from February 26th in Barcelona.

According to Slashleaks, the Mi Mix 2S could come with nearly 100 per cent bezel-less display. The photos leaked on the website suggests that the smartphone could have a front camera on the top right corner, creating a notch on the top right corner. The rear of the handset might remain the same, featuring a fingerprint scanner, along with a single camera, retaining the ceramic back on the phone. The smartphone was rumoured to come with an iPhone X-like notch but it has been busted.

Moreover, the Chinese company is rumoured to launch its next flagship, the Mi 7, at MWC 2018 event. Xiaomi has confirmed that Mi 7 will come with a wireless charging option. Previous reports suggested that Xiaomi might ditch the fingerprint sensor and incorporate an iPhone X-like Face ID authentication system.

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Sandeep Rehal, who was Harvey Weinstein's personal assistant for two years from 2013 to 2015, has sought trial by jury in an 11-page lawsuit. (Photo: AP)

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 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.

Read: Harvey Weinstein on indefinite leave post multiple sexual harassment allegations

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.

Read Also: #Metoo takes social media by storm, highlights magnitude of sexual abuse

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.
Walker died at his home in Stamford, Connecticut, said Greg Walker, his eldest son and a collaborator. His fathers advanced age was the cause of death, he said. (Photo: AP)

Los Angeles: Comic strip artist Mort Walker, a World War II veteran who satirized the Army and tickled millions of newspaper readers with the antics of the lazy private Beetle Bailey, died on Saturday. He was 94.

Walker died at his home in Stamford, Connecticut, said Greg Walker, his eldest son and a collaborator. His fathers advanced age was the cause of death, he said.

Walker began publishing cartoons at age 11 and was involved with more than a half-dozen comic strips in his career, including Hi and Lois, Boners Ark and Sam & Silo. But he found his greatest success drawing slacker Beetle, his hot-tempered sergeant and the rest of the gang at fictional Camp Swampy for nearly 70 years.

The character that was to become Beetle Bailey made his debut as Spider in Walkers cartoons published by the Saturday Evening Post in the late 1940s. Walker changed Spiders name and launched Beetle Bailey as a college humour strip in 1950.

At first the strip failed to attract readers and King Features Syndicate considered dropping it after just six months, Walker said in a 2000 interview with The Associated Press. The syndicate suggested Beetle joined the Army after the start of the Korean War, Walker said.

I was kind of against it because after World War II, Bill Mauldin and Sad Sack were fading away, he said. But his misgivings were overcome and Beetle enlisted in 1951.

Walker attributed the success of the strip to Beetles indolence and reluctance to follow authority.

Most people are sort of against authority, he said. Heres Beetle always challenging authority. I think people relate to it.

Beetle Bailey led to spin-off comic strip Hi and Lois, which he created with Dik Browne, in 1954. The premise was that Beetle went home on furlough to visit his sister Lois and brother-in-law Hi.

Fellow cartoonists remembered Walker on Saturday as a pleasant man who adored his fans. Bill Morrison, president of the National Cartoonists Society, called Walker the definition of cartoonist in a post on the societys website.

He lived and breathed the art every day of his life. He will be sorely missed by his friends in the NCS and by a world of comic strip fans, Morrison said.

Fellow cartoonist Mark Evanier said on his website that Walker was delightful to be around and always willing to draw Beetle or Sarge for any of his fans. He sure had a lot of them.

Beetle Bailey, which appeared in as many as 1,800 newspapers, sometimes sparked controversy. The Tokyo editions of the military newspaper Stars & Stripes dropped it in 1954 for fear that it would encourage disrespect of its officers. But ensuing media coverage spurred more than 100 newspapers to add the strip.

Shortly after President Bill Clinton took office, Walker drew a strip suggesting that the draft be retroactive in order to send Clinton to Vietnam. Walker said he received hundreds of angry letters from Clinton supporters.

For years, Walker drew Camp Swampys highest-ranking officer, Gen Amos Halftrack, ogling his secretary, Miss Buxley. Feminist groups claimed the strip made light of sexual harassment, and Walker said the syndicate wanted him to write out the lecherous general.

That wasnt feasible because the general was such a fixture in the strip, Greg Walker said on Saturday. His father solved the problem in 1997 by sending Halftrack to sensitivity training.

That became a whole theme that we could use, said Greg Walker, who with his brother, Brian, intends to carry on his fathers work. Both have worked in the family business for decades.

Beetle Bailey also featured one of the first African-American characters to be added to a white cast in an established comic strip. (Peanuts had added the character of Franklin in 1968.) Lt Jack Flap debuted in the comic strips panels in 1970.

In a 2002 interview, Walker said that comics are filled with stereotypes and he likes to find humour in all characters.

I like to keep doing something new and different, so people cant say Im doing the same thing all the time. I like to challenge myself, he said.

Walker also created Boners Ark in 1968 using his given first name, Addison, as his pen name, and Sam & Silo with Jerry Dumas in 1977. He was the writer of Mrs Fitzs Flats with Frank Roberge.

In 1974, he founded the Museum of Cartoon Art in Connecticut to preserve and honour the art of comics. It moved twice before closing in 2002 in Boca Raton, Florida, as the International Museum of Cartoon Art. Walker changed the name to the National Cartoon Museum and announced in 2005 plans to relocate to the Empire State Building in New York. But the following year, the deal to use that space fell through.

In 2000, Walker was honoured at the Pentagon with the Armys highest civilian award  the Distinguished Civilian Service award  for his work, his military service and his contribution to a new military memorial.

He also developed a reputation for helping aspiring cartoonists with advice. I make friends for people, he said.

Addison Morton Walker was born on Sept 3, 1923, in El Dorado, Kansas, and grew up in Kansas City, Missouri.

In 1943 he was drafted into the US Army, serving in Europe during World War II. He was discharged as a first lieutenant, graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia and pursued a career as a cartoonist in New York.

Walker most recently oversaw the work of the staff at his Stamford studio, Comicana.

Besides sons Greg and Brian, Walker is survived by his second wife, Catherine; daughters Polly Blackstock and Margie Walker Hauer; sons Neal and Roger Walker; stepchildren Whitney Prentice and Priscilla Prentice Campbell and several grandchildren.

Funeral services will be private.
At a meeting of the parents and the school management, attended by local Labour party MP Stephen Timms, Lall was forced to apologise as she confirmed the reversal of the governing body's previously approved ban on hijabs for very young pupils. (Photo: Representational Image)

London: An Indian-origin principal at one of the UK's leading state-funded schools has been branded as "Hitler" on social media over her efforts to ban the 'hijab' for very young students.

Neena Lall, head teacher of St Stephen's School in Newham, east London, was forced to reverse the decision to impose a ban on the hijab for girls below the age of eight earlier this month after widespread criticism.

But a video, circulating on social media this weekend, portrays her as the German dictator Adolf Hitler and the school's former chairman of governors as Russian dictator Stalin, with other management team shown as Hitler's acolytes.

"It is a very good school. Neena is a very good head teacher," one of the school's governors told the Sunday Times' in defence of the head teacher.

At a meeting of the parents and the school management on Monday, attended by local Labour party MP Stephen Timms, Lall was forced to apologise as she confirmed the reversal of the governing body's previously approved ban on hijabs for very young pupils.

"The school's uniform policy is based on the health, safety and welfare of our children. The school has taken the decision to make changes to this policy with immediate effect and this follows on from conversations with our school community," the school said in a statement.

"We will work with our school community to continue to review this policy going forward in the best interests of our children," it added.

The school, with a majority of pupils from Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi backgrounds, had earlier urged the UK government to issue clear guidelines on the issue of hijab wearing and religious fasting relating to very young pupils to prevent a backlash from parents.

Arif Qawi, the chair of governors, had resigned from his post last week following offensive messages posted on social media against him and Lall.

'The Sunday Times' indicated he is prepared to return as chairman if ministers give a clear signal that they will support the school's right to set policy, including a uniform code. Campaigners believe that making very young girls wear the hijab is wrong because it is traditionally not worn until puberty.

Under the UK's Department for Education guidelines, uniform policy is a matter for individual head teachers and their governing bodies. But it did express concerns over intimidation via social media.

"Intimidation or bullying towards school staff or pupils is unacceptable. Anyone who feels they are facing either should report it to police," a spokesperson said.

In November 2017, St Stephen's School had topped a prestigious primary schools league table published by the Sunday Times annually.

It was listed as the best school in England in the 'Schools Guide 2018' for a strong teaching record.
While the president remains firm in his criticism of the historic accord, which was signed by his predecessor Barack Obama, he said he would be willing to sign up to a revamped deal. (Photo: AFP)

London: President Donald Trump would be willing to sign the US back up to the Paris climate accord, but only if the treaty undergoes major change, he said in comments published on Sunday.

Trump was met with global condemnation when he announced in June 2017 that the United States was pulling out of the Paris climate agreement, painting it a "bad deal" for the US economy.

While the president remains firm in his criticism of the historic accord, which was signed by his predecessor Barack Obama, he said he would be willing to sign up to a revamped deal.

Read: Trump quits Paris accord, tilts America First towards America Alone

"The Paris accord, for us, would have been a disaster," he told Britain's ITV channel in an interview to be aired late on Sunday.

"If they made a good deal... there's always a chance we'd get back," Trump added, describing the current agreement as "terrible" and "unfair" to the US.

The landmark treaty was agreed by 197 nations in 2015 after intense negotiations in Paris, where all countries made voluntary carbon-cutting pledges running to 2030.

"If somebody said, go back into the Paris accord, it would have to be a completely different deal because we had a horrible deal," Trump said, according to extracts of the interview. "Would I go back in? Yeah, I'd go back in... I would love to," the president added.

Read also: Trump pulling out of Paris climate deal could push Earth over brink: Hawking

Earlier in January, Trump said the US could "conceivably" return to the deal under more favourable terms, raising questions about whether he was bluffing about pulling out of the Paris deal in a bid for easier emissions targets.
In an attempt to set on fire a cinema hall showing the controversial film "Padmaavat", two unidentified persons threw a petrol bomb inside it, police said today.



The incident took place on Saturday evening at the Chandra Talkies. The theatre is one of the three cinema halls here showing the movie, Circle Officer Harish Bhadhoria said.

The perpetrators are yet to be identified. They came on a motorcycle and tried to set the hall on fire by throwing a petrol bomb, he said.

No major damage was reported by the theatre's owners, police said.

Security was tightened at the three cinema halls - Chandra, Maya and Karniwal - screening the film after the incident, the officer said.

The Sanjay Leela Bansali-directed period drama has been marred by controversies since the time it went into production.

Fringe Rajput groups, including the Karni Sena, have protested against the movie alleging that it distorts history and shows Queen Padmini in "poor light".

The filmmakers have repeatedly denied the allegations.

Similar incident at Mumbai:

Unidentified people hurled a petrol bomb outside a cinema hall, at Kalyan in Thane district, on Saturday night.

The incident took place outside Bhanu Sagar theatre at 9.10 pm, where Padmaavat was being screened.

There were no reports of any injuries and No arrests have been made so far.
Cyprus votes in a presidential election on Sunday with incumbent Nicos Anastasiades ahead as he pledges a fresh push to reunify the divided island after talks collapsed last year.



Following a low-key campaign in the European Union's most easterly member, polls put the conservative in the lead as he claims credit for an economic recovery from a debilitating crisis in 2013.

But Anastasiades (71) looks unlikely to win a first round outright.

He is expected to face a February 4 run-off against either Communist-backed Stavros Malas or Nikolas Papadopoulos, a former president's son who takes a tougher line on peace efforts.

Apathy among the roughly 5,50,000 registered voters appears high and opponents have failed to land a major blow on the former lawyer as he seeks a second five-year term.

There is set to be intense horse-trading if the first round is not decisive and a backroom deal could still thwart Anastasiades.

"He is the likely winner according to the polls," said analyst Christophoros Christophorou.

As always, the nearly 44-year division of the island between the internationally recognised Greek-majority Republic of Cyprus and a Turkish Cypriot statelet in the north looms large.

In July, two years of UN-backed talks between Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci came closer than ever to reunifying the island but collapsed in acrimony before a deal.

Despite the failure to bridge key issues, including the future of tens of thousands of Turkish troops in the north, Anastasiades insists he wants talks with Akinci to restart soon.

But there is deep scepticism over whether there is the political will to make a breakthrough.

At the only televised debate before the vote, opponents laid into Anastasiades for being either too pliant or not determined enough to reach a deal last year.

Signs are that the road to reunification will only get tougher as fatigue mounts after decades of failure.

Ultra-nationalist party ELAM - fiercely opposed to the proposed reunification - is fielding a candidate for the first time.

In the north, parliamentary elections this month saw parties opposed to reunification perform strongly.

While the "national problem" is ever present, this time around the economy has been a dominant issue.

"The economy has featured more than the Cyprus problem in this campaign," said Fiona Mullen, director of Nicosia-based Sapienta Economics.

When Anastasiades took over, the banking sector was in meltdown and he took a 10 billion Euro (more $12 billion) bailout that entailed biting austerity measures.

That included a drastic haircut on accounts of over 1,00,000 Euros held in the country's biggest lender, Bank of Cyprus.

Since then the economy has rebounded faster than many expected and growth has been steady since 2015.

Tourism reached a record high last year and explorations are going on for oil and gas offshore.

But the economy is still smaller than it was before the crisis, unemployment is around 11% and banks are awash with bad loans.

"The recovery is relative," Mullen said.
An employee at an environmental monitoring station in Central China's Hunan province has died after being shot with an air gun in a freak accident, thepaper.cn reported.

The victim, identified as Xie, 40, was killed in her office in Shaoyang city around 9 am on Friday.

According to her brother, she was struck by a pellet that was fired accidentally while two colleagues were playing with an air gun.

Two suspects, surnamed Wang and Yi, are in police custody while another man, surnamed Li, has been placed in administrative detention for illegal possession of a firearm, Shaoyang police said on Sina Weibo.

Xie, who had a 17-year-old son, worked for the environmental protection bureau in Shaoyang county, which is part of the city. Her brother told thepaper.cn she had not been involved in any conflicts at work.

Shaoyang police said they are treating the incident as a wrongful death.
Russian Opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his supporters geared up for a showdown with authorities ton Sunday as Vladimir Putin's top enemy urged nationwide rallies to protest "pseudo-elections".



The 41-year-old charismatic politician called on Russians across the country to defy authorities and stage rallies calling for an active boycott of March 18 presidential elections despite the prospect of mass arrests.

Ratcheting up tensions, Navalny urged Russians to show up at unsanctioned rallies in the centre of Moscow and Saint Petersburg with placards and leaflets, a move that will likely lead to confrontations with police.

Rallies were planned in more than 100 cities across the country. In most cities, permission to stage rallies had been received, Navalny said.

"Your life is at stake," he told supporters in a video address.

Navalny also warned that authorities planned to clamp down on his youngest supporters, tweeting a screenshot of a text message sent around ahead of the rallies.

The message urged parents to make sure their children do not attend the Sunday protests. "Raids are possible," it said.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that unsanctioned rallies would lead to "certain consequences", a thinly-veiled promise of punishment.

Ahead of the rallies, police raided Navalny's Moscow headquarters and regional campaign offices and detained members of his staff and supporters.

Navalny, seen as the only politician with enough stamina to take on Putin, has built a robust protest movement despite constant police harassment, tapping into the anger of a younger generation yearning for change.

He says the upcoming election will be little more than a coronation of Putin who is widely expected to win a fourth presidential term and extend his Kremlin power until 2024.

Last year, Navalny mounted a forceful bid to run for president but officials ruled him ineligible due to a criminal conviction which he says is politically motivated.

Navalny has said he would use the full force of his campaign, including more than 2,00,000 volunteers, to organise "voters' strikes" and encourage Russians to stay away from polling stations on election day.

After 18 years of leadership - both as president and prime minister - Putin fatigue is spreading across the country.

The Kremlin's biggest headache is the possibility of a low turnout which will harm Putin's hopes for a strong new mandate, analysts say.

Navalny seeks to take the shine off Putin's expected victory and highlight voter apathy in his crusade against the 65-year-old Russian leader.

"Turnout at these elections is extremely important for Putin," said Lev Gudkov, head of the Levada Centre, an independent polling group.

"He needs to create the impression of not just a convincing victory but unanimous nationwide support, a plebiscite."

In a November poll by the Levada Centre, just 58 % of respondents said they planned to vote, down from 69% before the 2012 election and 75% before the 2008 vote.

Putin won the previous election in 2012 on a turnout of 65% and authorities are pulling out all the stops to boost the figures this year.

"People's readiness to go to polls was low before the New Year but it's increasing now," said Gudkov, speaking after receiving new data which the pollster would not publicise.

Labelled a "foreign agent," the Levada Centre has announced it would not be publishing pre-election surveys for fear of running into trouble with the authorities.

"The propaganda machine is moving into high gear," Gudkov said. "People's readiness to vote will significantly increase by March, that's for sure."

Navalny insists that electoral officials plan to report false turnout figures.
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 Kremlin was quick to offer its congratulations in a statement, saying that "Vladimir Putin emphasised Russia's appreciation for Mr. Zeman's stance favouring friendly Russian-Czech relations."



The populist ex-communist Zeman took 51.36 % of the vote against 48.63% for Drahos, Czech Television reported quoting full official results.



Czech TV pegged turnout for round two at 66.6%, the highest figure since parliamentary elections in 1998.



Political analyst Jiri Pehe said 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.



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, 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 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."



Zeman has repeatedly called on the EU to lift its sanctions on Russia over its 2014 takeover of Crimea from Ukraine.



Europe's fifth-biggest carmaker is dependent on auto exports, mainly to the eurozone, and its economy is expected to expand by 3.4% 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 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 as well as judges and sign bills passed by Parliament into law.
Karnataka Water Resource Minister M B Patil accused Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and other ministers in his Cabinet of disregarding protocol and visiting the Kanakumbi Mahadayi watershed areas on the sly.



"There is no necessity to sneak in. They could have informed our government of the visit as per protocol. We would have provided them adequate security," Patil said.

The minister said that secrecy was unnecessary because the Karnataka government is not carrying out any illegal work in the area, especially those related to disputes pending before the court.

"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that it was okay for Goa ministers to visit Kanakumbi Mahadayi watersheds because we don't want Goa to later claim that we denied them a visit," Patil said.

"While we will continue to remain transparent. The Goa government is trying to fool people," he added.



Goa Chief Minister did not visit

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was not part of the group that visited Kanakumbi watershed areas in Khanapur taluk, Belagavi district at about 12.45 pm on Sunday.

A group of 40 people led by Goa Speaker (of the Legislative Assembly), two MLAs, former MLAs and their supporters visited these areas.

Belagavi Superintendent of Police Sudhir Kumar Reddy has ascertained that Goa CM Parrikar did not visit Kanakumbi on Sunday.
The Bombay High Court has refused to order a probe into the death of former state ATS chief Hemant Karkare and disposed of a petition claiming that his killing during the 26/11 terror attacks was a conspiracy hatched by Right Wing extremists.

A division bench of Justices S C Dharmadhikari and Bharti Dangri said nothing survives in the public interest litigation filed by one Radhakant Yadav, a former MLA from Bihar, seeking setting up of a special investigation team to probe this angle.

"The PIL is pending since 2010...nothing survives in it...we cannot direct investigation. The petition is disposed of," the court said in a recent order.

Yadav had approached the high court in August 2010 claiming that Karkare was not killed by Pakistani terrorists Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismail.

The petition claimed that Karkare was, in fact, killed by Right Wing extremists after the former Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief arrested several members of the Right Wing group Abhinav Bharat in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case.

The PIL relied on a book written by Maharashtra's former Inspector General of Police S M Mushrif, titled 'Who Killed Karkare'.

Karkare, along with senior police officials Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar, were killed outside Cama Hospital in south Mumbai after Kasab and his partner Ismail opened fire at their police van during the terror attack in Mumbai on November 26, 2008.
Bypolls to Lok Sabha seats in Alwar and Ajmer and the Assembly seat of Mandalgarh will be held on Monday.



The campaign trail for all three seats concluded on Saturday with both parties giving their best shots.

In Ajmer, the BJP's candidate is Ramswarup Lamba, a Jat and son of deceased MP Sanwar Lal Jat. The Congress has fielded Raghu Sharma, a Brahmin.

To woo the Gujjar community in Ajmer, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's daughter-in-law Niharka, who belongs to the community was seen campaigning actively.

Similarly, Congress chief Sachin Pilot, who also hails from the Gujjar community, was seen actively on the ground.

In Alwar, there is a direct fight between BJP candidate Jaswant Singh Yadav (64) and Congress candidate Karan Singh Yadav (72).

Surprisingly, both the parties chose to field Yadav candidates as the community has maximum voters and is said to be among the most politically active ones.

The bypolls were necessitated after the death of two BJP parliamentarians, Sanwar Lal Jat and Mahant Chandnath (from Alwar seat) last year.

The Assembly seat in Mandalgarh fell vacant after MLA Kirti Kumari died after suffering from swine flu in 2017

This will be for the first time in any Lok Sabha elections that EVMs in bypolls will have the photographs of candidates contesting elections.

It was recently used in the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls.

'Padmavat' a defying issue:

The dynamics are slightly varying this time, following which Rajput organisations are extending support to the Congress.

The Rajputs, who have been known for being hardcore BJP supporters in Rajasthan, have withdrawn their support from the saffron party, owing to the release of the movie 'Padmaavat' across India.

The Rajput community is upset with Centre's leadership for allowing Padmavaat's release nationwide.

"We agree that the saffron party in Rajasthan has condemned the film and supported the ban but we were expecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban the film. We also wrote to him and I & B minister Smriti Irani but our woes remained unheard," a member of the Rajput Sabha told DH.

The BJP, which had held all the three seats, is also fighting with the deceived Gujjars community after they failed to meet the latter's demand for 5% reservation.
A 35-year-old woman, critically injured in Pakistani firing along the International Border (IB), succumbed to injuries today, rising to 14, the number of deaths due to cross-border shelling since January 18, police said.



Bimla Devi of Kana Chak in Jammu was critically injured in Pakistani shelling on January 22 and was undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College hospital here.

"She died this morning and after postmortem, the body was handed over to her relatives for last rites," a police officer said.

He said barring ceasefire violations in Krishna Ghati and Mankote sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district last evening, there was no report of more ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

Earlier, six security personnel and seven civilians were killed and over 70 others injured in intense shelling by Pakistan along the IB in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts and the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and Rajouri districts from January 18 to 22, leading to the displacement of thousands of border residents.

While there were no ceasefire violations by Pakistan reported along the IB since January 22, two mortar shells fired by Pakistan exploded in the premises of the government high school in Nowshera sector of Rajouri on January 24 and small arms fire in the same sector on January 26.

Over 300 schools along LoC and IB were closed last week as a precautionary measure in view of the firing.
Time has not come for any rethink on AFSPA or making some of its provisions milder, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat has said, asserting that the army has been taking adequate precautions in protecting human rights while operating in disturbed areas like Jammu and Kashmir.



Rawat's remarks assume significance as they come against the backdrop of reports that several rounds of high-level discussions have taken place between the defence and home ministries on the "need to remove or dilute at least some provisions" of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

The act gives the security forces special rights and immunity in carrying out various operations in disturbed areas.

There has been a long-standing demand from various quarters in J&K and the Northeast to withdraw it.

"I do not think time has come to even rethink on AFSPA at the moment," said Gen Rawat when asked about reports that government was re-examining the demand for a milder version of AFSPA in these states.

The army chief said though AFSPA has certain strong provisions, the army is concerned about collateral damages and ensuring that its operations under the law do not inconvenience the local people.

"We have never been strong in applying the force the way it could be applied (under AFSPA). We are very concerned about human rights. We are absolutely concerned about collateral damage. So do not get too much concerned because we are taking adequate measures and precautions," he said.

Gen Rawat said the army has rules of engagements for various operations at every level to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to the people while it is operating under AFSPA.

"The AFSPA is an enabling provision which allows the army, in particular, to operate in such difficult areas and let me assure you that the Army has got quite a good human rights record," he said.

Asked whether time has come to adopt a combined approach involving all three services to deal with Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in J&K, the army chief did not give a direct reply but added that the armed forces have "options available" to conduct various kinds of operations.

"Yes, we have options available to conduct various kind of operations but these cannot be divulged because of the nature of the operations we have to conduct will only alert the other side," he said.

To a question on whether there was room for synergy among external and internal intelligence gathering to effectively contain cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, he said the armed forces and all other agencies have been operating in unison.

"At this juncture, the kind of cooperation we are having among the intelligence agencies is of a very high order. Today all the intelligence agencies and the security forces are operating in unison. There is an excellent synergy among all of us and I do not think we can take it to the next higher level from what is happening at the moment. I think this is the best way and right way," the army chief said.


Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during an award ceremony in Ankara, Turkey, Jan. 22, 2017. Turkey will not take a step back from its operation against the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria's Afrin, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday. (Xinhua file photo/Mustafa Kaya)

ISTANBUL, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that arms have been piling up in Syria under the pretext of fighting the Islamic State (IS) "although there were no jihadists left in the country."

Turkey has long blasted the United States for supplying arms to the People's Protection Units (YPG), the armed wing of Syria's Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), as Ankara treats both as the Syrian branches of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) outlawed for its continued armed struggle against the Turkish state.

"Whenever we expressed this, they reacted by saying 'these are our partners'," Erdogan said in a televised speech in Istanbul, referring to Washington using the YPG as an ally in its fight against the IS.

"Although the whole world has seen that the boss of the terrorist organization in Syria is Qandil, it is only our ally who is not accepting this," Erdogan added, as the PKK is based in Iraq's Qandil Mountains.

The president stressed that it does not matter whether the terror group is called the IS, PKK, PYD or YPG.

Meanwhile, the Turkish presidency confirmed in a statement on Saturday that the U.S. would no longer provide the YPG with weapons, an irritant in U.S.-Turkey ties.

The Turkish military launched an operation against YPG-held Afrin in northwestern Syria on Jan. 20.

"When Turkey is doing its part for its own security and the peace of its brothers, it, of course, wants to realize this together with its allies," added Erdogan.
Police have registered a case against a Congress MLA and his four associates for reportedly grabbing the land of a 55-year-old tribal in Chhattisgarh's Korba district, following the direction from a local court.



Dukhlal Kanwar, a resident of Chuiya village, had filed a petition in a local court seeking action against the MLA, Jaisingh Agrawal, who represents the Korba constituency, and four others for reportedly capturing 0.45 hectare of his land.

The court of Special Judge under Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Yogesh Pareek, had on January 15 directed the Anusuchit Janjati Kalyan (AJK) police station in Korba to lodge an FIR against the five people.

The AJK police on Saturday evening registered the case against the 48-year-old legislator and his associates - Surendra Jaiswal (52), Bhola Soni (38), Vijay Singh (48) and Darshan Manikpuri (45) - under various sections of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, station house officer R S Mandavi said.

They were also booked under IPC sections, including 506 (B) (criminal intimidation), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy), he said.

No one has been arrested so far, he said adding that further probe was on.

According to Kanwar's petition, Agrawal had purchased a piece of land in Chuiya village from one Abdul Gaffar in 2010.

When the boundary wall construction was underway on that plot in 2012, Kanwar had raised an objection saying that his land adjacent to it was captured in the process.

Later, when the measurement of the plot was done by revenue inspector and patwari, it was found that besides 45 decimal belonging to Kanwar, the land of two other villagers was also illegally captured by Agrawal.

Subsequently, Kanwar lodged a complaint with police but no action was taken, the petition said.

Last November, Kanwar filed the application under Section 156(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code in the court seeking action against the MLA and his associates.
Concerned over future of the sunrise industry which is facing threat due to the proposed imposition of 70 percent safeguard duty on import of solar power equipment, sector experts are expecting some breather from the Union Budget 2018-19.



Industry experts believe that the imposition will not only increase the tariff by almost Re 1 but it will put the projects under execution in deep trouble resulting in making them unviable, turning them into non-performing assets.

As per industry estimates, nearly 3000-4000 MW of solar projects worth over Rs 15,000 crore are at high risk, especially when solar cells and modules that account for 60 percent of the total project cost are either in transit or have been tied-up for.

"The sudden imposition of the duty will put a number of projects that are currently under various stages of development under risk in the near term. More than 10,000 MW of capacity is imported annually and this duty will adversely impact the project's viability," CleanMax Solar Managing Director Kuldeep Jain said.

According to Crisil, the projects auctioned in the year 2017 were bidded at low tariffs, so any rise in equipment cost after the safeguard duty would crimp the cushion that developers have to service debt.

"The proposed 70 percent safeguard duty will also inflate project costs by 25 percent and crank up viable tariff to Rs 3.75 per unit from around Rs 3 estimated earlier, making solar power less attractive to discoms. That would also be more than the average power purchase cost of 10 out of 14 discoms last fiscal," Crisil Ratings Senior Director Subodh Rai said.

Solar solutions provider Eastman Auto and Power Managing Director Shekhar Singal said the imports from countries like China, which is around 80 percent, needs to be curbed, but it is important to see the projects are not affected due to the unreasonably high duty.

"The Central Board of Excise and Customs has sought to reclassify imported solar panels and modules in a category that attracts 7.5 percent duty. Besides, various kinds of cess with the cost of a solar cell, around 30 cents at present, will go up to around 50 cents for Indian developers if 70 percent safeguard duty is imposed. We do hope the forthcoming budget will address this issue," he added.

According to Indian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturing Association (IEEMA), imposing safeguard duties in current form, which applies to manufacturers based in SEZ units, would be counter-productive and will lead to increase in the cost of power without any positive impact on the domestic manufacturing industry.

"Under the Customs laws, SEZ units are considered to be outside Indian Customs territories and goods manufactured in SEZ, if sold in India, are considered to be exported under Customs laws. So the purpose of imposing the duty to protect domestic industry from goods which are being dumped at below market prices is yielding counterproductive results in the case domestic manufacturers situated on SEZs safeguard," it said.

Rating agency ICRA has also sought clarity on the import duty for PV modules, especially when the government is targetting 175 GW capacity by 2022.

Industry experts also believe that since most of the projects have achieved financial closure, with nearly 70 percent of the cost being funded through debt, the high duty may lead to NPAs.

"This may further lead projects going into litigations, delaying them and making them unviable. We hope the government addresses these concerns in the Budget," an industry expert said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a veiled attack on RJD supremo Lalu Prasad over a recent court verdict convicting him in the multi-crore fodder scam case, saying no one guilty of corruption will be "spared".



Addressing NCC cadets here, he reiterated his government's commitment towards fighting corruption and black money, saying "the rich and the powerful" were being brought to book.

"Earlier, people believed that nothing happens to the rich and powerful. But, things are different today. People who served as chief ministers are in jail for corruption," he said, in a veiled reference to the special CBI court verdict against Lalu as well as former Bihar chief minister Jagannath Mishra.

The court had convicted Lalu and Mishra in one of the cases of the Rs 950-crore fodder scam last week, awarding the duo five-year imprisonment for involvement in the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 33.67 crore from the Chaibasa Treasury in 1992-1993.

The prime minister said that his government's fight against corruption and black money will not stop.

"The youth of India refuse to accept corruption. The fight against corruption and black money will not stop. This is a fight for the future of India's youth," Modi said.

On Aadhaar

Modi said Aadhaar enrollment has added "great strength" to India's development by curbing leakages and helping government money reach its target beneficiaries.

"What would earlier get into wrong hands is now going to the intended beneficiaries," he said.

Lalu has been attacking Modi and the BJP since JD(U) chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar dumped a grand alliance with the RJD last year over accusations of corruption against Lalu's son Tejashwi Yadav.

Lalu put the blame of his conviction in the fodder scam cases on "political vendetta" by the BJP and Bihar chief minister.
A senior Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV) leader was booked for reportedly delivering a highly provocative speech in Uttar Pradesh's communally sensitive Muzaffarnagar district.



According to the sources, Nagendra Pratap Tomar, the organisational secretary of HYV, allegedly asked Hindus for a counter to 'love jihad - according to saffron outfits, Muslim youths trapping hindu girls by pretending to be Hindus - against Muslims.

''Woh love jehad karte hain...Unke yehan ladkiyan bahut hain....hamare ladke baithen hain'' (they indulge in love jehad...they have many girls...our boys are waiting), Tomar said apparently referring to the Muslim community while addressing a meeting at Badhana area in the district on Republic Day.

Asking the Hindu youths to be ready to marry Muslim girls, Tomar also said that the community members should be ready to fight, if required.

''Apne lathi mein jaan paida kijiye'' (put force in your lathis), he said.

The matter came to light after a video of Tomar speech went viral on social networking sites.

Police officials in Muzaffarnagar said that a case had been lodged against Tomar for trying to incite communal hatred.

''We are in possession of the videotape....we are examining it....action will be taken after the probe,'' said a senior police official.

Earlier, members of the HYV - founded by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath- had indulged in Muslim bashing and had taken law into their hands.

A few months back Vahini members had reportedly lynched an old Muslim man in state's Bulandshahar district for helping two lovers of different communities elope.

The HYV activists had also last year barged into a church in Maharajganj district during a prayer and assaulted the priests there alleging that they were ''forcing'' people to convert to Christianity.

The Vahini members have also been accused of threatening and assaulting cops on several occasions.
Among the 'dignitaries' occupying prominent space at a Republic Day function in Haryana, was SPS Rathore, the tainted former state director general of police (DGP) who was convicted in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case.



The development has left many astonished over what is being seen as a completely insensitive attitude of the administration to have accorded "VIP status" for the convicted former top cop at the Republic Day function in Panchkula - the place which saw violence over Dera Sacha Sauda chief's arrest last year.

Rathore's presence on stage triggered strong reactions from members of the civil society, including the family of Anand Prakash - the crusader who led an unflinching struggle for decades to ensure justice for Ruchika Girhotra.

Ruchika had committed suicide three years after the incident in 1990.

Rathore stood up along with other officials while the chief guest, a divisional commissioner rank official, saluted the tri-color that was ceremoniously hoisted. Rathore left the venue thereafter.

The developments unfolded a week after Anand Prakash passed away.

Prakash's daughter Anuradha, who is based in US reached here a few days ago for her father's last rites, said the move underlines the callous response of the government towards women's safety and rights.

"It's shameless. It's an insult," she said.

Anurandha said Rathore must have been formally invited for the event, without which it was not possible for him to be present on stage with top government functionaries.

Ironically, on the day Rathore was being accorded VIP treatment by the local administration, flanked by top government functionaries, prominent personalities in Panchkula held a remembrance meeting to underline the contribution of Anand Prakash.

They were ignorant of Rathore being treated as a VIP at a close by location on Republic Day.

Prakash's family is seeking answers from the administration, but to no avail. Officials are tight-lipped on the issue. Some are citing it as an oversight.
The names of delegation members accompanying Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his foreign visits should be disclosed, Chief Information Commissioner R K Mathur directed the PMO.



Mathur rejected the objection by PMO in disclosing the information on grounds of "national security".

Deciding two separate cases, Mathur, however, exempted the PMO from disclosing the names of security personnel and people linked to the security details of the prime minister.

"The commission is of the view that the name/list of non-government persons (having no connection with the security) who had accompanied the prime minister on his international visits... should be provided to the appellant," he said.

The cases came before the Central Information Commission - the final appellate authority in matters related to Right to Information - after applicants Neeraj Sharma and Ayub Ali did not receive a proper response to their applications seeking details of delegation members accompanying the prime minister on his foreign visits.

Sharma had sought the list of CEOs of private business, owners or partners, private business officials etc who accompanied Prime Minister Modi on his international visits.

Ali wanted to know the details of monthly expenses of Modi's residence and office; procedure for meeting him; number of meetings held by the prime minister with public at his residence and office; number of electoral public meetings addressed by him and the government expenditure on them.

Sharma filed the RTI application in July, 2017, while Ali's application was filed before the PMO in April, 2016.

In a recent order, Mathur directed the country's top office to provide information within 30 days.

During the hearing, Sharma told Mathur that he has been informed that the list of members of delegation accompanying the prime minister on domestic and foreign tours cannot be disclosed on security grounds as the same is exempted under Section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act.

"(Sharma) stated that this same information was available on the website during the tenure of former prime minister Manmohan Singh," Mathur noted.

The PMO stated that details of the PM's visits are available on their website, he pointed out.

However, the names of the delegation members accompanying the prime minister on domestic and foreign visits cannot be disclosed due to security reasons as the threats differ from person to person, it said.
A jewellery salesman was robbed of 2.01 kg of gold and Rs 4.9 lakh in cash in Cubbonpet, Central Bengaluru.



Santosh Kumar Khatri was attacked in his home by a four-member gang on Wednesday shortly after returning from a business trip to Mumbai and Hyderabad.

A woman posing as a salesperson approached him. When he tried to send her away, three of her accomplices attacked and dragged him.

They gagged him, tied his legs and hands and took away the bag containing the valuables. The gang locked the house from the outside before escaping.

Santosh managed to untie himself later and raised an alarm.

Neighbours rescued him and called Manish Kumar Khatri, the owner of the jewellery shop where Santosh worked.

The police have taken up a case of robbery, and suspect it to be an inside job.
Commuters from BMTC and KSRTC bus stations as well as the railway station at Majestic need not walk amid speeding vehicles to reach the Metro station as work has begun to connect the existing subway.



The Kempegowda Metro station sees a footfall of over one lakh every day. Besides being an interchange station allowing people to switch between Green Line (Nagasandra-Yelachenahalli) and Purple Line (Baiyappanahalli-Mysuru Road), it also gets commuters who come from buses and trains.

However, more than two years since it became operational, the Metro station did not have a safe access. Commuters had to walk more than 150 metres on the busy Gubbi Thotadappa Road to reach the Metro station.

Now, work has begun to connect the western entrance of the Metro station to the existing subway from the BMTC and railway station.

The BMRCL will also open another entrance in the southeast to connect the KSRTC terminal 1.

Foot overbridge

"By February 10, the work on connecting the subway will be completed. We will also provide a regular foot overbridge from the Metro station to the BMTC in the next month. The cost of both the projects is estimated at Rs 70 lakh," Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited Public Relations Officer U A Vasanth Rao told DH.

Sanjay Sahu, the contractor working on the subway, said a three-metre-wide pathway from the Metro station would be barricaded for the convenience of commuters.

"We have already finished the work on the reinforcement of the wall (abutting Gubbi Thotadappa Road). We are confident of finishing the project much earlier, by February 6," he said.

Reaching the Kempegowda Metro station is still a walk of nearly 600 metres for those coming from the railway station.

The City Railway Metro station is about 200 metres from the railway station's Platform Number 10. A foot overbridge to connect both stations is yet to be completed.

"The BMRCL's part of the work has been completed. The railways will have to take up the work from their side," Rao said.

Inset

BBMP has to clear Majestic subway



While work is on to provide safe access to the Metro station from the subway at the Majestic, it is yet to be seen whether the BBMP will open its eyes and remove hawkers and prostitutes, who have converted the subway into their den.

The poorly lit subway is filled with the foul smell. Pedestrians who take the subway have to find their way amid filth and garbage strewn across the floor.

There are nearly 50 hawkers, who sell a range of products from footwear and clothes to watches and smartphones. They occupy the subway almost blocking the entrance/exit, except for small passages.

"I earn Rs 200 to Rs 300 if I work from early morning to 11 pm. There is no other place to go. The police will seize all my product if I sit on a street," said a vendor who sells clothes.

The commuters hassled by the vendors blamed the BBMP for not coming up with an alternative. "Those who have to remove these vendors actually collect money from them every day. Why not make an alternative arrangement," asked Ramanath A G.

The stretch of the subway leading to KSRTC bus station and the Metro station is occupied by prostitutes and transgenders.

"It is a complicated matter. We can't arrest them. We only warn them not to harass commuters. But they come back anyway," the police said.
By Wei Liping

US Defense Secretary James Mattis met Indonesia's Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu and President Joko Widodo during his week-long trip to Indonesia and Vietnam starting January 22. They talked about the North Korean nuclear issue, anti-terrorism and maritime cooperation.

Anti-terrorism has been one of the important subjects during Mattis' overseas visits since he took office. However, Western media has focused more on sovereignty-related issues, saying that the priority of Mattis' visit is maritime defense cooperation and "free navigation," which obviously targets China.

It is no secret that the focus of US' Asia-Pacific strategy is not anti-terrorism, but the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region. The Donald Trump administration's new National Security Strategy released in late 2017 cites China and Russia as "strategic competitors." It accuses China of threatening the sovereignty of other countries in the Indo-Pacific region with hard-line steps and resisting US intervention in an attempt to build a non-democratic and oppressive world alien to American values and interests.

The US National Defense Strategy released days before Mattis' trip makes it clear that "Inter-state strategic competition, not terrorism, is now the primary concern in US national security." It outlines 11 defense objectives, such as sustaining Joint Force military advantages, both globally and in key regions (Indo-Pacific); maintaining favorable regional balances of power in key regions and establishing an unmatched National Security Innovation Base. The report drew worldwide attention. It's clear to all that Mattis' Southeast Asia trip, as part of the US national defense plan, intends to counter China's strategic weight.

The US under Trump has not been conservative in its military and diplomatic strategies. The US "Indo-Pacific Strategy" steadily strengthened the country's military influence in the Asia-Pacific region last year.

As China becomes the primary competitor of the US today, Washington conducts multilateral deployment and keeps the Asia-Pacific issue alive, forming a network to contain China.

On military affairs and economic development, Trump and Mattis are not as reckless as they appear to be. Instead, they are cautious in dealing with China.

While Chinese Ministry of National Defense had said in April 2017 that it will welcome Mattis to China as early as possible, it was until this month that the US defense department spokesman disclosed that Mattis would visit China during spring in an interview with Japan's Kyodo News Agency.

China is at the core of US' Indo-Pacific strategy. Faced with differences in Sino-US defense strategy, Trump and Mattis applied the trading mind-set in dealing with Beijing in an attempt to have an upper hand in negotiations. As long as Trump keeps the focus on the Indo-Pacific, Mattis would make extensive deployments to muddy the waters and prepare for negotiating with China.

While lashing out at Beijing, Trump and Mattis still intended to maximize cooperation with China given the two countries' complex common interests. Ryacudu told the Raisina Dialogue 2018 in New Delhi that tensions in the South China Sea are easing and should continue to be so for the sake of common interests. He added that they need to appreciate China's readiness to work together in strengthening regional security in Asia.

In the circumstances, avoiding a zero-sum game and realizing dynamic strategic balance and cooperation in the future is the real concern of both countries.

Mattis' visit to China during the spring will be an opportunity for pushing forward Sino-US defense exchanges. To keep pace with the Trump administration in the "smart war" with the US, China needs to stay focused in its strategy, protect its fundamental interests and help in development of the region and the world.

China needs to make the US realize that both countries are the beneficiaries, contributors and participants in the current international system, rather than geopolitical manipulators and saboteurs.

The author is a research fellow with the Pangoal Institution.
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Business moves fast these days. But if business is quick, social media is Usain Bolt. One little post spirals out of control and within a few hours, you have a full-on brand crisis.

Dont believe me? Just ask H&M. The fashion retailer recently found itself under fire for an ad that featured a black child modeling a jumper with the words Coolest monkey in the jungle written on the front.

Style blogger Stephanie Yeboah originally shared the advert on Twitter, writing: Whose idea was it @hm to have this little sweet black boy wear a jumper that says coolest monkey in the jungle? Within a day, the post had been shared nearly 14,000 times.

H&M reacted quickly, pulling the ad as well as the jumper at the center of the controversy and issuing an apology. But the damage had already been done. They lost collaboration deals with artists like The Weeknd and protestors even trashed a few of their stores in South Africa. The social media storm had blown off the feed and into the real world.

So, how can businesses prevent a social media storm of their own or minimise the impact of a crisis?

Know where your brand stands

With todays decisive political climate, brand values have been put into the spotlight. From Keurig to Starbucks to Pepsi, weve seen how difficult it is for businesses to sit on the fence. Consumers want to support brands that align with their personal views and theyre not afraid to use their wallets to show favour or disdain. It is more important than ever that brands know and live their values.

For instance, when US President Donald Trump issued a controversial immigration ban, Airbnb said it would provide free housing for refugees and anyone not allowed in the US. Uber, on the other hand, was criticised for advertising their rates in the middle of a taxi strike in response to the ban. Brands should stand for something bigger than their products or services. This shouldnt be confused, however, with taking a moral stance simply for marketing purposes.

Be proactive in monitoring conversations and mentions

If you dont know whats being said about you, how can you respond? Invest in social media monitoring tools and services that enable you to keep a close eye on conversations that are important to your brand. Misinformation or negative coverage can spread like wildfire, so its important to get on the front-foot as quickly as possible.

Social media monitoring also allows you to better understand where and how your customers get their information and what is trending within your target audience. This insight allows you to get closer to your customers and provides more context around whats important to them.

Focus on quality instead of vanity metrics

Many brands still prioritise vanity metrics such as clicks and impressions over quality metrics, such as engagement, comments, shares, retweets and conversions. Engagement metrics offer a much clearer picture of how consumers are interacting with your brand and their feelings towards it. This makes it easier to stop trouble before it starts.

You might have a post or ad that appears to be going viral but no one wants to go viral for the wrong reasons. Monitoring consumers sentiment and importantly, changes in sentiment will help you keep an eye on potential problems.

Make building organic communities a priority

If you find your brand dealing with an unwarranted negative post, you might be happily surprised to see your most loyal customers coming to your rescue (if its deserved!). I love seeing consumers correct misinformation or defend brands they love. That only, happens, however, when theyre invested in it. Thats why its more important than ever to strive for authentic, relevant social communities that prioritise relationships.

Be positive and interactive with your social media channels. And never, ever pay to grow your following or youll be left to face your social media battles alone.

Be authenticalways

The H&M scandal became worse once journalists noted it wasnt the first culturally tone-deaf misstep for the retailer. If you can build a bank of brand goodwill, you may be able to mitigate the impact of negative stories.

Look for opportunities to increase the number of high-quality positive stories about your brand. Be proactive about seeking and publishing reviews from happy customers and contribute valuable content to trustworthy media publications. You may not be able to make the negative stories go away, but you can at least give customers other stories to read that demonstrate what your brand is all about!

The best way to avoid a social media storm is to be real with your customers. Ensure that your content adds value to their lives and dont trick or mislead them. And remember that while your brand might be local, social media is global. Prioritising diverse perspectives within your business will help ensure your messages are inclusive, nuanced and interpreted as they were meant.

About the author

Lauren Trucksess is an independent content marketing and social media consultant. She founded Latitude Content as a way to help brands create content that drives stronger business results. Originally from the US, Lauren has worked in Australias best integrated communications and public relations agencies and has led content-driven campaigns for some of the worlds top B2B and B2C technology brands.
The media needs to focus on the bonuses the radical robber barons are giving their workforce  the Republican Party

A new report from Americans for Tax Fairness finds that it turns out a tax cut that gives 83 percent of its total benefits to the richest 1 percent with three-quarters of its individual tax cuts going to those earning over $200,000 will help our pals the Koch brothers.

International Business Times reports:

A new analysis has found that political mega-donors Charles and David Koch and/or the business they operate could make between $1 billion and $1.4 billion more money each year, thanks to the tax breaks in legislation passed in December by Republican members of Congress. The two brothers are currently worth a combined $104.4 billion.

In related news, CNBC reports:

The network of advocacy groups tied to billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch pledged to spend close to $400 million on campaign contributions and policy initiatives in the lead-up to the vote in November, a 60 percent jump in spending from the 2016 election cycle, officials said. One of the hallmarks of that effort is a fresh influx of support for the Republican tax plan, with up to $20 million devoted to selling its benefits to voters this year.

Of all the effects of the giant tax cuts for those who need them the least, this is the one we need to pay the most attention to because, as Twitter must-follow @JesseCharlesLee notes:

Since the 2016 election, Ive been haunted by how a doof like Ron Johnson, who has recently been possessed by former Wisconsin Senator Joe McCarthy, beat a genuine American statesman like Russ Feingold, again, after the national GOP had written Johnson off, by a much larger margin than Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton in the same state.

And Feingold actually visited Wisconsin  a lot. Like daily.

Some of Johnsons advantage can be accounted to incumbency bias but the efforts of the GOPs radical robber barons have made since 2011 to turn Wisconsin into their petri dish for plutocracy (combined with the conservative Supreme Courts gutting of the Voting Rights Act and any semblance of a fair campaign finance system) likely pushed him over the line. And he may have pulled Trump with him.

In Rolling Stone, Ari Berman lays out many of the efforts that have increasingly turned a key swing state like Wisconsin red, namely the explosion voter suppression and dark money. Some of the worst gerrymandering in the nation plays a key role Wisconsins House and state legislature races, too, and perhaps helped depress Democratic voters who have gotten used to their votes being almost meaningless.

For months, Ive been mulling over something Ari noted during one of his many visits to The Sit and Spin Room. From the Wisconsin State Journal on November 1, 2016:

Republican mega-donor Diane Hendricks, an Afton billionaire, is bankrolling a push to provide cover on Wisconsin airwaves to Trump and Johnson. Hendricks has given more than $5.4 million to a super PAC, Reform America Fund, airing ads in Wisconsin that oppose Feingold and Clinton, recently released Federal Election Commission reports show.

This helped feed my pet theory that it was the Koch-backed effort to save the Senate that help drag Trump over the finish line in states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida.

Its a theory now backed up by someone with a PhD. But it wasnt just Diane Hendricks who saved Johnson.

Political scientist Thomas Ferguson rejects the notion that the Comey letter alone swung the election. Instead, he connects the demise of the Clinton campaign to an effort by Mitch McConnell to prevent Armageddon by convincing large donors to help save the GOP Senate:

What happened in the final weeks of the campaign was extraordinary. Firstly, a giant wave of dark money poured into Trumps own campaign  one that towered over anything in 2016 or even Mitt Romneys munificently financed 2012 effort  to say nothing of any Russian Facebook experiments. The gushing torrent, along with all the other funds from identifiable donors that flowed in in the campaigns final stages should refocus debates about that period. (See Figure 1, below.) Maybe all that happened is that money talked, not least in the famous last ad invoking Soros, Blankfein, and Yellin apparently focused on the battleground states. Bolstering suspicions that a wave of last minute money might actually be the most basic explanation for the Clinton collapse is a fact that virtually no analysts have reflected upon: Her late October fall in the polls was not unique. Democratic chances of taking the Senate unraveled virtually in lock step.

Figure 1:



Yes, I am trying to freak you out.

So is Ari who warns that a a beleaguered Republican Party tainted by Trump could still retain majorities in 2018 and 2020, desperate vast unpopularity, criminality and graft. Republicans just need to follow the Wisconsin model. Or, as we now see, the 2016 model.

[Image by Gage Skidmore | Flickr]
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To build the largest and most complete Amateur Radio community site on the Internet - a "portal" that hams think of as the first place to go for information, to exchange ideas, and be part of whats happening with ham radio on the Internet. eHam.net provides recognition and enjoyment to the people who use, contribute, and build the site. This project involves a management team of volunteers who each take a topic of interest and manage it with passion. The site will stand above all other ham radio sites by employing the latest technology and professional design/programming standards, developed by a team of community programmers who contribute their skills to the effort. The site will be something of which everyone involved can be proud to say they were a part. We welcome your comments. The eHam.net Team, Revision 07/2020.
Teresa Giudice and her family are facing hardships as her husband, Joe Giudice, remains incarcerated at a prison in Pennsylvania.

As fans of The Real Housewives of New Jersey may know, Joe was not a citizen of the United States when he was charged with bank and wire fraud and thrown behind bars. So, upon his release, he is said to be in jeopardy of being deported after being flagged by the United States Department of Homeland Security.

According to a new report, Giudice is doing what she can to help prevent her husband from being sent back to Italy and recently asked President Donald Trump to help her out.

Teresa has reached out to Donald Trump to stop Joe from getting deported after hes released from prison, an insider told Radar Online on Jan. 26. She is hopeful Donald will intervene and help.

As fans of The Real Housewives of New Jersey star may know, Giudice and Trump are close to one another due to her past appearance on NBC's The Celebrity Apprentice. As the insider explained, Giudice got to know Trump when he served as her boss during filming on the show's 12th season.

She voted for Trump and she really needs his help, the source explained.

While Giudice has been doing her best to stay brave and positive for the sake of her family and four children, including daughters Gia, 17, Gabriella, 12, Milania 11, and Audriana, 8, the Radar Online source claims she is secretly struggling with fears about Joe's possible deportation.

As for Teresa and Joe Giudice's marriage, another Radar Online insider claimed the couple's relationship is not where it used to be and when it comes to their future, it may just crumble.

Teresa said she still hasnt forgiven him for this whole mess! the source explained.

The insider went on to say that if Joe does end up being deported back to Italy, Giudice and their four daughters may remain in the United States.

Teresa doesnt think shes going with him. At least not how she feels today, the insider added.

To see more of Teresa Giudice, her family, and her co-stars, including Dolores Catania, Siggy Flicker, Melissa Gorga, Danielle Staub, and Margaret Josephs, tune in to new episodes of the eighth season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey on Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. on Bravo TV.
1- Is the account with a bank or utility company for which you have supplied information and supporting documentation held jointly by you and other people?

2- Does the account with the bank or utility company for which you have supplied information and supporting documentation relate to another person who is to provide you financial support?

i only have the council tax bill its jointly in my name and my wife is name and the water bill its jointly in my name and my wife name . also my wife own the house wher im at jointly with her sister .

i dont understand the question sorry i dont know wat to put in both question yes or no ??

thank u all
sanakhan146 said: Aoa everyone,

I just want to know I am a Muslim Pakistani girl, divorced, 28 years of age. I want to visit dubai but I have no one to sponsor me there and travel agent said my visa will be rejected because I need a blood relative there.

Kindly help me in this regard. Is there any way I can get visit visa? Click to expand...

If you have a return ticket through Emirates, Etihad (and I am sure there may be more such airlines) then you can apply for the visit visa through them. No sponsor in UAE needed. The airline will sponsor you. At least for Emirates you can apply for the visa online once you have booked the ticket. They will need other documents like proof of income etc.
Hi everyone. I just joined the forums and I'd love to get some feedback. I've been trying to apply for a general work permit but I'm still waiting for DHA to process my waiver application for the DoL requirement. I submitted by waiver application in Jul 2017 and in Dec 2017 the application was sent to management for a decision. I still haven't heard anything and they can't give me a timeline. Has anyone applied for a waiver during the past year and how long did it take? Thanks!
I have asked this question before but was advised to ask here so i hope this time someone can help, i find it hard to ask for help as it is .



To cut a log story very short, i married an american in florida 3 years ago, we split later that year during the immigration process to bring him to the uk. He filed for divorce in late 2016 i sent the papers back to him which he received and he sent me proof of the filing to the court in jan 2017, somehow i have lost that piece of paper which would have had a court name and number. fast forward all this time later i have never received my divorce paper i assume its because i live other seas the court wouldnt send it and its down to my ex to do so?



I have emailed my ex which is the only information i have for him and he has not responded to any of them , i called the court house where we married to see if they could help they couldnt . I have spent so much time looking on online to find out where to start i cant find anything i even asked our citizen advice bureau people here and they didnt know!



Im surely divorced by now it was a simple divorce we had no kids no equity, but how do i find out ? who do i call is there a main number in florda to find out ? I want to change my name back on official paperwork i cant without this piece of paper, what if i re marry? i cant without this . Im frustrated .



Please help if you can. thank you for reading
One of the history teachers at Jackson Middle School is looking for information on our namesake, Will W. Jackson. We have quite a bit of information about him, but one of the best articles we have is a copy of a magazine article from a publication that I can only identify by the date and the town. Unfortunately, we don't have the original, and the copy has cut off the top two or three sentences of each page. The article was titled Dr. W. W. Jackson: A Heritage of Creativity and Devotion, and was written by Pamela Smisek. At the bottom of each page is the footer September: San Antonio. I have contacted the archives at the San Antonio Public Library, done an extensive Google search and even tried to track down the author to no avail. I am hoping that with your excellent search skills in San Antonio history and your access to San Antonio newspaper archives, that you may be able to help me locate a copy of this article. The article would have been written for the September edition in 1969 or 1970. Our school opened in 1970. Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.

 Dana Hutchins, Librarian, Jackson Middle School

This is another stumper from the 2017 mailbag. Well go with an educated guess and hope some reader will be able to make a positive identification, maybe with a matching copy of your article.

Its subject, Tennessee-born Will Woodward Jackson (1890-1975) was a 1916 graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, also the source of his honorary doctorate. Jackson came to San Antonio in 1921 and became the head of the Wesleyan Institute (covered here March 11, 2017), a descendant of the Marshall Training School that taught English and other academic subjects to Spanish-speaking boys and young men under the auspices of the Methodist Home Mission Board, in hopes that some might become missionaries in Mexico.

He became president in 1936 of the University of San Antonio, after Wesleyan closed and Westmoorland College, which had absorbed the old Wesleyan site, had gone coeducational and changed its name to rebrand itself as a new institution. Westmoorland was a descendant of the former San Antonio Female Institute, an all-girls neighbor of the all-boys Marshall school.

As the University of San Antonio, the school continued its evolution when it merged in 1942 with Presbyterian-founded Trinity University when the latter, also coed, moved from Waxahachie to its first Woodlawn campus  some of which was built for the earlier two single-sex secondary schools.

Jackson continued his focus on education as an appointed member of the Texas state Board of Education for 20 years, serving as its chairman for half that time. He was also the first chairman of the board of public-television station KLRN, then called educational television.

It appears Jackson was much lauded for his work in education but never taught in public schools. In the article, he was asked what he thought of courses in Latino cultural history, and he said they were fine as long as similar courses were taught about the French, Germans, Swedes and English.

The article also said that Jackson served as director of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and was on the board of directors of American Life and Hospital.

Pamela Smisek, whose byline is on the story, is mentioned as a public relations employee of American Life in the San Antonio Express, Aug. 31, 1970  around the time your story would have been published. American Life was probably the same insurance company Jackson was associated with, one that relocated, was renamed and later closed, according to Texas Department of Insurance records.

Although there have been several publications named San Antonio magazine, your clipping probably comes from the monthly magazine of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce (now San Antonio Chamber of Commerce). The chamber started publishing its magazine with its January 1967 issue; the editor until 1974 was Zane Chastain, formerly of the Houston Post, who died in 2014.

It stands to reason that the young magazine would profile a former chamber director who had been on the board of a local company, perhaps a chamber member, and that the company would choose a public-relations staffer to write the story.

Smisek, whose married name was Pamela S. Norwood, was from San Antonio and still had family here when she died in 2003. According to her obituary in the Decatur (Alabama) Daily, Norwood worked in various media throughout her career, including newspapers, radio, video and magazines and most recently had been staff writer at the Moulton (Alabama) Advertiser.

A current San Antonio chamber staffer, Breanna Garcia, looked through the organizations archives and could not find this clipping.

Anyone who recognizes the storys headline and subject and knows its source may contact this column. All responses will be forwarded and may be published in a future column.

historycolumn@yahoo.com | Twitter: @sahistorycolumn | Facebook: SanAntoniohistorycolumn
As the Eagle Ford Shale boomed four years ago, state Sen. Carlos Uresti was pitched an opportunity by a slick-talking ex-Marine named Stan Bates: There were millions of dollars to be made, and the legislator could make a cut by joining Bates in his upstart fracking sand business.

Uresti agreed to be a part of Bates FourWinds Logistics to supplement his earnings as an attorney  the day job he had while earning $600 a month as a public servant.

In May 2014, Uresti joined FourWinds, a company that soon collapsed in bankruptcy and a raft of criminal complaints against its leadership and Uresti, who is accused in federal charges of conning wealthy clients to invest in the shaky operation.

Bates and three other principles of the company pleaded guilty to fraud charges. But Uresti is fighting for his political future, his livelihood and his freedom in a trial that began last week.

Also on trial with Uresti is Gary Cain, a consultant who was acquitted in an unrelated fraud case and was brought on board by FourWinds on the recommendation of Uresti and his friend, Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood.

Because Urestis Senate District 19 covers a large swath of the Eagle Ford, Uresti recognized the shales potential.

He knew full well that this fracking industry was crazy good at the time, one of Urestis lawyers, Michael McCrum, told jurors in opening statements. So when a fracking company came along and said, You want to get involved? he said yes.

Uresti did business with Bates despite warnings from a lawyer friend, Alexander Begum, who testified he told Uresti to get away from this guy, and to run from Bates deals.

Uresti agreed to help bring in clients who had about $1 million or more to invest. He was given a 1 percent ownership stake, and an agreement that he would get a commission on any investment he brought in. Uresti also became FourWinds general counsel, on a $3,000-a-month retainer.

During the first week of trial, lead prosecutor Joseph Blackwell argued that Uresti and Cain became knowing and willing participants in FourWinds fraud.

Prosecutors argue Uresti acted as a broker to recruit investors for FourWinds, and never disclosed to investors that he would receive a commission and share in the profits on their investment.

The investors and FourWinds entered into joint ventures, which prosecutors say were securities. As such, the feds say Uresti should have been registered as a securities broker to recruit investors.

Government witnesses testified that among the investors Uresti lied to was Denise Cantu, a Harlingen woman whom Uresti helped obtain a large settlement in a 2010 crash that killed two of her children. She invested $900,000 of her settlement money in FourWinds, and lost $800,000 of it.

Cain, according to testimony so far, willingly provided Cantu with a false accounting of her investment, knowing the documentation of Cantus account that he was provided at FourWinds contained false information.

Urestis lawyers, McCrum and Tab Turner, countered that Uresti was unaware of FourWinds scams on investors because he was not part of the inner circle at FourWinds, didnt have access to its computers and didnt even have a key to its office, which was in the 17000 block of San Pedro Avenue.

McCrum also told jurors that Uresti was a finder who simply looked for investors.

If you are a broker, then there are requirements to register, McCrum argued. But if youre a finder, then you don't.

Cains lawyers, Charles Chad Muller and John Muller, have argued that Cain wasnt part of the alleged fraud conspiracy, but was brought in toward the latter phases of FourWinds existence and tried to first help find capital to grow the company. Cain later tried to keep it from imploding by battling Bates over his raiding of the company till, according to the lawyers.

If you're going to commit a crime, hes going to get some money out of it, Chad Muller argued. Mr. Cain did not raise any funds from any investors.  Mr. Cain had no authority over the FourWinds bank accounts.

Run like a brothel

Missing from the high-profile trial is Bates. He pleaded guilty Jan. 8 to eight felonies rather than sit at the same defense table with Uresti and Cain.

With the first week of testimony in the books, its clear to see why. Not only has the government pointed the finger at Bates for defrauding investors and depleting FourWinds funds, but Uresti and Cain blame him as well.

Some of his former employees and a few visitors who saw Bates sales pitches or attended company parties described the office as full of provocatively dressed, surgically enhanced women who brought FourWinds the reputation of a brothel.

Bates put up a facade for potential clients, buying $60,000 apiece Ford Raptor pickups, pictures of sand piles he falsely claimed to belong to FourWinds and its investors, only to lure investors on board so he could use their funds to rent exotic cars or on personal expenses like child support, his sons college tuition and fraternity dues, and vices including prostitutes and drugs.

Shannon Smith, who was FourWinds chief operating officer from May 2014 to May 2015 and also pleaded guilty, testified it appeared Bates was using cocaine because Smith saw him sniffling real bad or just looking hung over.

Bates denied using cocaine.

He told me he was fake snorting cocaine in front of people, Smith testified. I never heard of fake snorting, drawing chuckles from jurors and trial observers.

Bates came up with a plan 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 at FourWinds.

Smith agreed to help Bates find investors, bringing him two contacts that led to investments, including an initial $1.4 million that was used for company operations instead of to buy sand.

At the time, we didnt even have sand, Smith testified. This is after these guys had invested and we didnt have sand yet.

Smith said Bates pitches included all kinds of false statements, claiming to potential investors, for example, that he would put in his own money, that they had sand sitting in warehouses ready to go, and that they had several contracts with big players in the oil and gas industry.

Smith and ex-FourWinds office manager Desiree Talley also testified that some investors were given a bank statement that had been altered to hide the fact that FourWinds had less than $100,000 in the bank. The statement was changed to show FourWinds had nearly $19 million.

Smith also testified that Bates claimed in at least one pitch meeting that he had investment deals in the works with Tim Duncan and actor Matthew McConaughey, something at least one other witness confirmed during his testimony.

You have to understand Stans psyche and how he sold, Smith said. It was just a way to pitch wind.

Marines connection

Also in spring 2014, clothing salesman Margarito Alonzo, who had known Bates had been a Marine recruiter, took Uresti to meet Bates. Uresti, who like Bates had served in the Marine Corps, hit it off with Bates.

In Uresti, Bates saw an opportunity to pump up FourWinds.

What do you think when you see a senator come into your office? attorney McCrum asked the jury in openings. Stan Bates used Sen. Urestis name every time he could.

Alonzo and Uresti agreed to help bring investors to FourWinds in exchange for commissions.

But Alonzo testified he didnt trust Bates because of Bates shady history that included bouncing checks in a venture years before FourWinds.

What I told Carlos is that this had to work or you have to monitor Stan Bates, Alonzo said.

Begum testified that Bates was evasive when Begum pressed him for details.

It was like talking to a politician; you ask one thing and they answer another, Begum told FBI agents during their joint investigation with the IRS.

Begum later met with Uresti and told him Bates was a complete con man.

Bates was able to bamboozle people who had experience in investing, and who vetted FourWinds deals, McCrum told the jury.

For example, he swindled a group of Mexican businessmen, who had two accountants, including one who set up shop inside FourWinds offices to keep an eye on the groups investment.

They were very experienced, smart people, (and) had invested millions of dollars in other projects, McCrum said.

McCrum also argued that prosecutors wrongly charged Uresti and Cain, when Stan Bates and a few of his employees in his inner circle, who had control of their own bank accounts and in the secrecy of their computers, misused these people's money.

Still to testify in the trial are Cantu, investors Richard and Sharlene Thum and Eric Nelson, FourWinds marketing director.

The trial isnt moving along as quickly as U.S. Senior District Judge David Ezra would like. At the end of testimony Friday, he instructed the lawyers to pick up the pace.

I dont want to be presiding over this case seven weeks from now, Ezra said. The trial was expected to take three weeks.

This article has been updated to correct Alexander Begums first name.

gcontreras@express-news.net
Dan Mesa sat transfixed as an old 8mm film shot by his father spun images of another era before his eyes  Big Spring in the late 1950s, of the young boy he once was, of relatives long since gone.

Oh, thats me! he said, as much to himself as his wife, Linda. Thats Frank. Thats grandpa. Thats me and Frank.

The trip into a distant past came at a family reunion that Mesa joined Saturday at a church hall just west of San Antonio International Airport. But this event was more than a reunion and the family film footage was not only personal but a slice of Texas history, one that was sparked by an incident that saw 15 Mexicans, ages 16-72, massacred in the village of Porvenir, a West Texas town in Presidio County, on this day a century ago.

A man in some of the footage, Rosendo Mesa, held a special place in the heart of Dan Mesa, an alternative school principal in the Edgewood school district. The elder Mesa, his grandfather, survived the massacre, which is still raising questions today. The killings occurred at a time of revolution in Mexico and violence along the Rio Grande fueled by bandits, vigilantes and men wearing badges.

More Information How to help Those interested in contacting the descendants of the 1918 Porvenir Massacre or helping them in researching the incident should contact Arlinda Mesa Valencia at arlyn52@yahoo.com or (915) 203-0072 and Yolanda Mesa at (510) 395-0027. See More Collapse

Most of the 300 or so on hand at Covenant Presbyterian Church on Saturday were descendants of Rosendo Mesa, Juan Flores and Benita Flores Mesa, all of whom survived the Porvenir Massacre. Rosendo Mesa was spared because he was on a grocery shopping trip in Van Horn. Juan Flores, a native of Mexico who was then 12, either lived because the killers separated him from the group of men and boys that were killed or because several women hid him in a water well.

Recollections can be as different as the many descendants whove heard old stories passed down by others now dead, but the water well version is how Dan Mesa remembers it.

My grandfather would talk about it, but I didnt believe him, said Mesa, 71, of San Antonio. He was up in age, I was a kid and I had other things to do, so I didnt pay much attention to it. And thats all I remembered.

There were more than a few who had never even heard of the massacre, which is part of a bloody era that coincided with the Mexican Revolution, and some relatives of those who came out of Porvenir conceded to knowing little or nothing about it at Saturdays event. Juan Mesa, 64, of Washington state, said he only learned of the massacre five years ago. Cheri Gomez, 35, of Elkhart, Kansas, said she listened to tales during her childhood from her great-uncle, Juanito Flores, but paid little attention to them.

All Mexicans tell stories, she said. I didnt know if it was true or not, so I didnt pay attention when I was younger.

Yolanda Mesa, one of the reunions organizers, knows many of the stories but had trouble talking about the one that sticks with her the most.

Its very hard to speak about even though its been 100 years ago, being our grandfather, and being massacred in that form and fashion definitely takes a toll on you, she said of Longino Flores, who died at 47 in the massacre.

We know that they were brutally murdered. In the court documents  also in the Texas Ranger file 1919, it says that the bodies were not only shot but there were stab wounds in them, she said, citing the volume and page numbers of the documents. I think thats something that gets missed.

The story is getting out and people across the nation who dont know of it yet soon will.

Historian and author Glenn Justice on Saturday recounted his decades-long journey to research the massacre and pinpoint where it occurred, a brushy area downriver from Porvenir on the Rio Grande. Hes got a book in the works. A documentary film that dramatizes the incident is being made and will air sometime in the future on PBS. The history that has been written will change.

At least some of it, as told decades ago, is wrong.

A once fuzzy picture of just who killed the villagers is coming into focus, thanks to Justices research and an archaeological dig thats yielded valuable clues. Its known that around six Rangers, soldiers and local cattlemen descended on Porvenir on Jan. 28, 1918, the night of the killings, and that they visited the town after a bloody Christmas day attack by bandits at the Brite Ranch 40 miles away.

The Rangers insisted they were shot at in the darkness when they approached Porvenir and returned fire. The U.S. Cavalry said it had nothing to do with the killings, but found the bodies the following morning. Only women and males who were elderly or very young, were spared.

They call it a massacre. I call it premeditated murder. They went in three days before and disarmed every man in that village, said Arlinda Mesa Valencia, 65, of El Paso, a descendant of Juan Flores and Longino Flores. They came back three days later and killed most of the men.

By sunrise, Porvenir was all but a ghost town, most of the surviving women and children having fled across the river to Mexico. Days later, the village was sacked, reputedly by the Cavalry. There would be no justice for the dead or their families, but the incident sparked changes in Texas and would not be forgotten.

The archaeological dig in 2015 cast doubt on the Cavalrys claims of innocence. Bullets and casings uncovered at the site suggest that at least a half-dozen gunmen fired military ammunition while three others fired rounds typically used by civilians.

There could have been as many as 10 shooters that night.

Porvenirs descendants now live across the country. Relatives coming to this weekends reunion in San Antonio and Austin reside in Rhode Island, Florida, Washington, Kansas, Missouri, Alabama, Colorado, Arizona, Oklahoma and Texas. Theyll meet at 1 p.m. today at the Texas State Capitol Extension Auditorium to salute the massacre victims and state Rep. Jose Canales, a key figure in the early 1900s.

The only Mexican-American lawmaker in the Legislature at the time, Canales held hearings into the Rangers as a result of the deaths in Porvenir, but ultimately no one faced criminal charges for what happened there. Some Rangers were fired or quit, but Valencia said the organization was reorganized.

I feel that our family did not die in vain, she said.

The question of why it happened is perhaps hardest of all to explain. Some think the incident was driven by the racism of that era and violence that often targeted Mexicans, but Yolanda Mesa has another theory.

The town was taking root. It had a school, with a teacher, and was starting a cemetery for its residents.

For the families, we talk and we believe it was jealousy. We dont believe it was a race issue, we dont believe that there was a raid at the Brite Ranch, said Mesa, 39, of San Francisco. It was some Mexicans that were doing very well. They have vegetables, fruits, a wheat mill and cotton gin, and they (killers) couldnt handle that. They didnt want to see that come about so they killed them and took their land.

sigc@express-news.net
ALAMO  The Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge is at an ecological crossroads, where the coast meets the desert and the endangered ocelot roams among Sabal palms and prickly pear cactus.

Its also in the crosshairs of a political tug of war over President Donald Trumps border wall.

Hundreds of wildlife enthusiasts and community organizers, indigenous groups and concerned citizens turned out Saturday for the 75th anniversary of the 2,088-acre refuge situated along the Rio Grande to oppose a towering barrier that would be built through it and their communities.

A lot of people from the outside try to tell the story of whats going on around the border, said Edward Vidaurre, McAllens poet laureate and a member of #PoetsAgainstWalls. We deal with the stash houses and ICE agent raids, we have the immigration detention centers, its all here.

The Rio Grande Valley is at the confluence of many hot button issues of the day: illegal immigration, border security and the so-called Dreamers chief among them. Yet voices from deep South Texas often are drowned out by the shouting in Washington over policies that most affect border communities.

Were trying to change the perception of the Rio Grande Valley, said Amanda Elise Salas, a community organizer in the Valley. This is about Santa Ana, this is also about a monument of racism constructed right in the middle of a culturally different place.

Now Playing: Protesters flocked to the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 to protest the construction of a U.S.-Mexico border wall through the property. Video: Lindsey Carnett, San Antonio Express-News

Over Trump's first year in office, a hard-line approach to immigration has largely defined his presidency. He asked Congress for $1.6 billion to fund 60 miles of border wall in the Rio Grande Valley, and 14 miles of replacement wall in San Diego, Calif.

Amid heated negotiations, Democratic congressional leaders offered to support the $1.6 billion for a wall at the Mexican border, then came to an impasse earlier this month over the fate of Dreamers, sending the government into a three-day shutdown.

Building a big, beautiful wall from San Diego to Brownsville has been Trumps signature campaign promise, yet White House chief of staff John Kelly recently suggested the presidents views on a wall had since evolved.

Trump now wants to open a path to citizenship for as many as 1.8 million young unauthorized immigrants brought to the United States as children in exchange for $25 billion in wall funding. But Trumps latest plan, while praised by some, was blasted by Democrats and some Republicans. Even Breitbart News, a faithful media ally of the president, attacked him as Amnesty Don.

Its a really inhumane thing, U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela Jr., D-Brownsville, said outside the refuge, to trade off something thats deeply personal to a lot of people for what at the end of the day is a campaign promise that by some accounts (Trump) didnt really believe in.

Velas district covers Santa Ana.

In September, Trump announced an end to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, created by his predecessor, Barack Obama. Congress was given until March to find a permanent solution for the Dreamers; however, a federal judge this month temporarily blocked the program from ending to allow lawsuits challenging the administrations decision play out in court.

About 700,000 people are enrolled in DACA, which shields them from deportation and gives them the right to work legally.

For the nearly 30,000 DACA-eligible people in Cameron and Hidalgo counties, the program opened the possibility of a life beyond the border region. It allowed Dreamers such as Abraham Diaz, 24, to travel through one of the interior immigration checkpoints located along highways miles north of the border with Mexico.

Though DACA has afforded him the opportunities his parents hoped for when they brought him from Mexico as a child, Diaz said, the tradeoff of increased immigration enforcement of border communities isnt worth making.

Even with a pathway to citizenship, getting the border wall 10 miles south of my house and more agents puts more pressure on my family, Diaz said. Im not willing to throw my parents under the bus.

Visitors from across Texas and the country descended on Santa Ana for Saturdays rally donning No Border Wall T-shirts and carrying signs calling for protection of the ecosystem.

On a swath of farmland gone fallow adjacent to the refuge, DACA recipients, activists and members of the Carrizo-Comecrudo Tribe of Texas spoke of the legacy of hardship that border communities have endured even as farmworkers harvested vegetables on neighboring farms under the watchful eye of Border Patrol.

Dozens of organizations sponsored Saturdays rally, including ACLU Texas, Frontera Audubon, Sierra Club Borderlands and Humane Borders.

Kay Smith, 69, of Austin held a sign that read, The Only Wall We Need Is Around Trump. She was joined by her sister, Sharon Spencer, 71, of Marble Falls.

I think a wall is a waste, said Smith, a retired special education teacher. I think we can use technology better.

They are not alone with that line of reasoning. Before retiring earlier this month, Gil Kerlikowske, the Customs and Border Protection commissioner under Obama, said building a wall along the entire Southwest border would not prove effective.

Still, the agency maintains that threats at the border are substantial, and efforts to thwart illegal activity would be greatly aided by a physical barrier, in addition to beefed-up manpower and technology.

Just this month, border agents arrested a Mara Salvatrucha gang member wanted in El Salvador in the slayings of a Salvadoran police officer and the officers daughter. Agents also caught four sex offenders and one convicted killer, recovered $2.4 million worth of marijuana and 80 pounds of cocaine and apprehended dozens of immigrants crossing the border illegally

Border walls create an enforcement zone, which includes patrol roads, lights and surveillance technology which allow agents the best possible conditions to secure the border, the Rio Grande Valley sector of Border Patrol said in a statement. Infrastructure, technology, and personnel coupled with strong law enforcement partnerships will make for safer communities.

During a visit to the refuge in December, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said construction of a wall between the U.S. and Mexico would begin with 2.9 miles of levee wall and bollard fencing and clearing a 150-foot enforcement zone around the barrier in Santa Ana.

Despite considerable opposition to the wall, stopping it from being built through Santa Ana is an uphill struggle.

Last August, homeland security waived environmental and other laws to take land near San Diego for replacement wall and to test wall prototypes. Last week, the agency announced it will sidestep 30 laws on a 20-mile stretch in New Mexico. Many anticipate homeland security will exercise its waiver authority to build the wall through Santa Ana, too.

Passed by Congress in 2005, the Real ID Act provides sweeping authority to the homeland security secretary to waive laws as he or she deems necessary. The following year, the department used its newfound waiver authority to seize land to build 650 miles of barrier under the 2006 Secure Fence Act.

Of that, about 54 miles of border wall and fence cut through communities, farmland and parts of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge corridor.

Congress said, We want you to build this border wall very quick, and heres how you can get rid of the lawsuits, said Brian, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, an Arizona-based environmental group challenging the limits of homeland security waiver authority in federal court. Congress didnt say provide DHS with the authority to do away with all of these laws forever.

For local businesses that depend on the money ecotourism provides, walling off Santa Ana in a no mans land threatens to eat away at the more than $463 million visitors spend across the Valley.

The wall is an even greater threat to the fragile ecosystem it took years to cobble together, said Jim Chapman, the vice president of nonprofit Friends Wildlife Corridor.

Nearly all of the Valleys native habitat had been cleared for farming until conservationists in 1979 started buying back land from willing landowners, stretching from Falcon Dam at Zapata to the Gulf of Mexico.

Today there are around 100 tracts of refuge land up and down the Rio Grande. With 400 bird species and 300 butterfly species found at Santa Ana, the refuge is the crown jewel of them all.

When the Rio Grande floods, refuge lands along the river become inundated. The last time the river surged beyond its banks, back in 2010, Santa Ana was submerged for six months. At the time, many animals escaped the rising water over the earthen levee. Next time, Chapman says, many terrestrial animals might be facing a different fate.

The consequences are known, its more like acceptable collateral damage, Chapman said of a wall through Santa Ana. When the next flood comes, nothing will get out. It will be almost biblical.

anelsen@express-news.net
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, seeking re-election, entered 2018 by warning on his campaigns Facebook page that criminal aliens committed more than 500,000 Texas crimes in recent years.

We wondered about Patricks declaration in part because wed just found scant data about Texas crimes committed by individuals living illegally in the United States. Also, research rooted in U.S. Census Bureau data suggests that nationally, unauthorized immigrants commit few crimes.

For that other fact-check, we calculated from annual state-posted crime reports that the 170,000 arrests of "criminal immigrants" proclaimed by a Texas House member at a 2015 hearing represented about 4 percent of all the adult arrests in the state from 2011 through 2015. But absent expert analysis, we wouldn't brandish that percentage as a fact.

Heres Patricks statement on Facebook, which he presented against the backdrop of a wire fence: "566,000 crimes made in Texas by criminal aliens in the last 6 years."

We took that to mean that criminal aliens were found guilty of 566,000 crimes over six years. Then again, text in smaller print to the right of Patricks fence-backdropped statement offers a different interpretation. That text says: In the past six years, criminal aliens have been charged with more than 566,000 crimes in Texas including kidnapping, homicide, burglary, and much more. There is no excuse for endangering our communities by allowing criminal aliens who have committed a crime to go free.

Some perspective: We estimate, starting from Texas Department of Public Safety annual crime reports for 2011 through 2016, that there were 5,513,663 adult criminal arrests in the state in the six-plus years referenced by Patrick. If the 566,000 figure offered by Patrick solely reflects arrests, he was referring to about 10 percent of adult arrests in the state.

We asked Patrick, a Houston Republican who touts his support for a secure U.S.-Mexico border in a fresh video ad, about the basis of his 566,000 crimes made statement.

A spokesman, Alejandro Garcia, replied by email: We have answered this question many times.

Garcia provided a link to a familiar DPS web page, "Historical Arrest and Conviction Data for Select Offenses Associated with Criminal Aliens:"

Adding up the charts tallied arrests, covering 11 crime categories, gets you to 638,411 arrests associated with criminal aliens.

And did all those arrests occur in the six-plus years noted by Patrick on Facebook?

Not so.

A related DPS web page noted by Garcia, "Texas Criminal Alien Arrest Data," says that according to Department of Homeland Security status indicators, over 240,000 criminal aliens have been booked into local Texas jails between June 1, 2011 and December 31, 2017. During their criminal careers, it says, these criminal aliens were charged with more than 638,000 criminal offenses. We read criminal careers to refer to the booked individuals lifetime rap sheets.

More from the DPS page about those career arrests: Those arrests include 1,300 homicide charges; 76,044 assault charges; 18,126 burglary charges; 76,660 drug charges; 774 kidnapping charges; 43,591 theft charges; 49,154 obstructing police charges; 4,180 robbery charges; 6,878 sexual assault charges; and 9,561 weapon charges.

Unmentioned in that text: 352,143 of all the tallied arrests, 55 percent, were for all other offenses, according to the DPS.

According to DPS criminal history records, the agency says, those 638,000-plus criminal charges have thus far resulted in over 286,000 convictions. The conviction count presented on the chart offered as Patricks backup indicates 286,101 convictions.

The DPS page says the convictions break out to 547 homicide convictions; 28,592 assault convictions; 8,915 burglary convictions; 37,581 drug convictions; 268 kidnapping convictions; 19,803 theft convictions; 24,084 obstructing police convictions; 2,153 robbery convictions; 3,164 sexual assault convictions; and 3,973 weapon convictions." Its text on the web page doesnt mention the 157,021 included convictions for other offenses accounting for 55 percent of the total convictions.

We spotted a couple other wrinkles.

DPS web page indirectly reminds that a criminal alien isnt necessarily someone living in the country without documentation. Of the total criminal aliens arrested in that timeframe, the page says, "over 160,000 or 66% were identified by DHS status as being in the U.S. illegally at the time of their last arrest."

We noticed, too, that the DPS doesnt specify how many of the noted arrests or convictions through criminal careers tie to the 160,000-plus people believed to be living here illegally at the time of their latest arrest.

Our requests to the DPS to corroborate Patricks 566,000 figure didnt yield additional information.

Our ruling

Patrick said that 566,000 crimes were made in Texas by criminal aliens in the last 6 years.

We didnt find a factual path to this figure and, in fact, spotted no state-posted information specifying a relevant count of criminal arrests or convictions for the six-plus years singled out by Patrick.

The DPS has said that more than 638,000 charges and over 286,000 convictions were accumulated through their criminal careers by more than 240,000 criminal aliens booked into Texas jails in the six-plus years. Unsaid: Some of those people were living in the U.S. with legal authorization.

We find Patricks statement inaccurate and ridiculous. Pants on Fire!
San Antonians stood in long lines on newly paved asphalt at a South Side parking lot Saturday morning, sometimes even as rain poured down on them, waiting for free tacos at Bexar Countys second annual breakfast to usher in the rodeo season.

We need something like this to bring community together, especially today when people are divided, said Yolanda Paredes, 68, who came to the event with her husband, Clem.

About 2,000 people gathered for the breakfast, held in the parking lot of BibilioTech, 3035 Pleasanton Road, where Precinct 1 County Commissioner Sergio Rodriguez has a satellite office.

New and returning attendees of the Bexar County Rodeo Breakfast were surprised but pleased to see this years amenities, including a larger stage with live music, door prizes and more than 20 community sponsors presenting information and freebies.

In welcoming the crowd, Rodriguez thanked the community and county sponsors alike. Among other speakers were District Attorney Nico LaHood and County Judge Nelson Wolff.

We really wanted to give back to the community, Rodriguez said. I cant thank my colleagues enough for helping with this. Its really good to give back.

Wolff noted the larger turnout, compared with last year. Even the threatening weather didnt discourage participation, he pointed out.

Its our second annual, I think its going to continue to grow, Wolff said. Its a great way to pull the South Side together and have people visit and talk with each other.

From 9 to 11 a.m., about 5,000 tacos were served by five vendors and several dozen volunteers. While it may not be the same extensive fare as that of the better-known Cowboy Breakfast, which took place Friday at Cowboys Dancehall to kick off the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, the South Siders enjoyed five kinds of breakfast tacos. There was also free coffee and orange juice.

Among the organizations at the event was the San Antonio Food Bank, which brought its Mobile Mercado, offering fresh produce at affordable prices, cooking tips and healthy suggestions.

Michael Garza, 32, was glad to be volunteering at the event, saying the Rodeo Breakfast was, in his view, more accommodating to families.

Its just awesome to do this today. People can bring their kids. We came in for the rodeo, but (because) the Cowboy Breakfast is on a Friday, most people are working, Garza said, adding that his group planned to serve 1,500 sausage and bean tacos at Saturdays event.

We were worried about the weather, but look at this  weve got a good crowd, Garza said.

Like others at Saturdays event, Paredes was pleased with improvements over last years event, which she also attended.

Its more organized. There is even parking across the street, she said. Community is brought together by events like this.

aluna@express-news.net
AUSTIN  One of the enduring lessons in politics is to make sure you dont take anyones support for granted, and the Texas AFL-CIO taught it afresh to U.S. Senate candidate Beto ORourke.

The charismatic congressman from El Paso  who has been riding high among Democrats as he seeks his partys nod for an uphill challenge to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz  skipped a chance to appear at the Texas AFL-CIO COPE (Committee on Political Education) convention.

Because he wasnt there to answer questions from convention-goers about his voting record and positions, he didnt win the endorsement of the labor groups political arm.

The labor group, a key Democratic force, made no endorsement even though ORourke has a 95 percent lifetime voting record with labor, and even though its president calls the Republican Cruz an abomination.

ORourke, who faces two Democratic primary opponents, has been working to make it up ever since.

He said he had a really good meeting with the AFL-CIO in Dallas on Friday, an event scheduled after he failed to snag Sundays endorsement. He has meetings coming up with labor groups in Houston and Austin. And he has continued speaking with Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy, who says their talks have been respectful and in the spirit of friendship.

Well continue to ensure that we are meeting with everybody in this state. Everyone is important. Every voice matters. No one can be taken for granted, or overlooked, or counted out, ORourke said, adding that he didnt take labor for granted.

ORourke said that he regularly talks with working people even when hes not meeting with unions.

Ive traveled to 205 of the 254 counties in Texas, and so I am meeting labor every single day in their communities, in town halls, where I get a chance to listen and learn and make their fight my fight  every Texan, including members of unions, he said.

ORourke said he had given convention planners a heads up that he already had scheduled other campaign stops before receiving his convention invitation.

He said he wanted to come. He wasnt able to work it out schedule-wise, Levy said.

ORourke said he didnt want to let down other supporters who were expecting him. As it turned out, he ended up canceling his Texas plans on the convention weekend, because he was in Washington for the government shutdown battle.

Levy emphasized that convention-goers didnt withhold their endorsement in a fit of pique sparked by ORourkes absence. Levy said that enough people had questions about some of ORourkes positions that an endorsement wasnt considered appropriate until they got answers. Its board recommended against an endorsement; backing a candidate required a two-thirds vote of convention-goers.

What is really going on here is we have realized that just because somebody has a D or an R by their names doesnt tell the story of whether they are going to be fighting for us, Levy said. Its just people wanting to check, is he really going to be there for us? People didnt have an opportunity to do that.

Some affiliate unions had questions about ORourkes support for giving then-President Obama the authority to fast-track negotiations with other countries for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Levy said. Some wanted to know about the preservation of employees rights in reforming the federal agency overseeing veterans issues.

People wanted an opportunity to talk to him, Levy said. He expressed surprise that the lack of an endorsement was portrayed as, The AFL-CIO was snubbed, and they are wounded. It was so not that way.

The COPE board still can make an endorsement even though there wasnt action taken at the convention, Levy added.

People are also aware that Ted Cruz is an abomination. Thats kind of looming there, Levy said. Cruz has a lifetime record of voting with the AFL-CIO just 12 percent of the time.

The labor endorsement can translate to important help in getting out the vote for candidates. Levy said the Texas AFL-CIO has about 240,000 affiliated members. In a state where a Democrat hasnt been elected to statewide office in more than two decades, ORourke can use all the support he can get.

Ive been traveling the last 14 months listening to working Texans all across this state, trying to find out how we can do a better job of representing their interests, ORourke said. Im confident were going to be able to earn the AFL-CIOs endorsement sooner rather than later.




Banja Luka Airport aims to handle some 100.000 passengers and offer flights to up to five destinations by the end of next year in a bid to turn around its fortunes. Following another disappointing year in 2017, during which it handled 20.867 passengers, representing a decrease of 3.8%, Banja Luka Airport's newly appointed General Manager, Dusko Kovacevic, is seeking assistance from Belgrade Airport's management in attracting low cost airlines. The two signed a strategic partnership agreement last year. "Our goal is to introduce at least three to five new routes over the next two years with at least two weekly services to western Europe. We expect some 100.000 passengers at Banja Luka Airport in 2019", the General Manager of Belgrade Airport, Sasa Vlaisavljevic said.





Banja Luka Airport has struggled to attract travellers over the past few years with Air Serbia being its only customer at the moment, maintaining two to three weekly flights from Belgrade during the winter and five over the summer. Last year, the government of the entity of Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina suggested for Air Serbia to station an aircraft at Banja Luka Airport and open a subsidiary in the city, however, the airline rejected the offer. Mr Vlaisavljevic noted that Belgrade Airport will provide assistance to Banja Luka during talks with foreign carriers, representation at global route development forums, relevant data on passenger and diaspora flow in the region, as well as cooperation in stimulating carriers to fly to Bosnia and Herzegovina's second largest city.





The Entity Ministry for Transport has said it will facilitate talks between Banja Luka Airport and budget airlines, signifying a major turnaround from last year when it noted that low cost carriers are not our future". General Manager Kovacevic noted, "We must maintain flights operated by Air Serbia. They are very important for us and we will work towards increasing frequencies on this route. Of course, in addition to Air Serbia, we are determined to enter into talks with any low cost airline interested in flying to Banja Luka". Negotiations with Wizz Air over potential services began in 2013 but collapsed later on as the two sides were unable to reach an agreement over fees.
A growing number of prosecutors and politicians accuse Purdue Pharma of fueling the national opioid crisis. The maker of the maligned opioid OxyContin says there is another side to the story.

Amid an avalanche of Oxy-related lawsuits in recent months, the Stamford-based pharmaceutical company has mounted several major campaigns aimed at showing a commitment to combatting the epidemic of opioid abuse. But many medical professionals and public officials are responding to the PR push with deep skepticism, saying the company needs to do much more to back up its claims.

It strikes me as very hypocritical that these companies that have made billions off selling opioids and have been involved in the overmarketing of these drugs for years now say they want to be part of the solution, said Dr. Jeff Gordon, immediate past president of the Connecticut State Medical Society. However, if they are being serious, I welcome them now coming on board. But one has to be very realistic about what their past is.

Major campaigns

Last month, Purdue ran a full-page ad across print and digital platforms in The Hill, The New York Times, Politico, Roll Call, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and Hearst Connecticut Medias daily newspapers.

The ad says the company has made its opioids more difficult to abuse, worked on non-opioid pain medications, and distributed to prescribers and pharmacists federal prescribing guidelines. It also says there are too many prescription opioid pills in medicine cabinets and expresses support for initiatives that limit the length of initial opioid prescriptions. In addition, it calls for doctors to check prescription drug monitoring programs before writing prescriptions.

No one solution will end the crisis, but multiple, overlapping efforts will. We want everyone engaged to know you have a partner in Purdue Pharma, the ad says. This is our fight, too.

The company also includes a pop-up link to the letter on its websites homepage.

Similar ads are scheduled to run in the first quarter of this year, according to Purdue officials. They declined to disclose the cost of the campaign. Several estimates peg the cost of such ads in publications like The New York Times at more than $150,000.

Its an advertising technique that is trying to reframe their image in the community and their association with the opioid crisis, said Debbie Danowski, an associate professor of communications and media arts at Sacred Heart University. From what I can see in this ad, its kind of a lot of talk and not any real concrete action. Imagine the number of people they could be helping by using the money theyre spending on those ads on treatment centers for those who have become addicted to their drugs.

Among other recent campaigns, the company teamed last fall with the public-private agency The Governors Prevention Partnership to launch a series of spots about the opioid crisis on iHeartRadio stations.

The partnership marked the latest chapter in a two-decade alliance between Purdue and The Governors Prevention Partnership, which focuses on education about youth issues, including substance abuse. In addition to a base of $50,000 Purdue contributed last year to the Partnership, the company paid approximately $250,000 for the PSA spots.

Weve done our due diligence and have been in a relationship with them for 20 years, Jill Spineti, president and CEO of The Governors Prevention Partnership, said in an interview last year. We know they use a scientific approach to prevention. Theyve put a lot of resources into prevention to do the right thing.

Last June, Purdue and the National Sheriffs Association announced the second round of a program that gives officers across the country overdose kits and training for the naloxone drug, which can reverse opioid overdoses.

NSA officials credit the Purdue-funded initiative with helping to save some 120 lives since its late 2015 pilot-phase launch. In the first stage, NSA officers distributed 500 naloxone kits to 12 local law enforcement agencies in several states.

But other groups, like the Connecticut State Medical Society, said they have not received much support from Purdue and other opioid makers.

The ball is in their court, Gordon said. If they want to reach out to us physicians in Connecticut to find ways to work with us and reach out to the public, I think we would welcome that opportunity. I think it would be a plus all around. Its a team approach.

Despite the increased PR, Purdue executives continue to shy away from speaking beyond prepared statements about the opioid crisis. The company has not made CEO and President Craig Landau available for an interview with Hearst Connecticut Media since he started in the position last June.

Legal pressure continues

So far, the PR initiatives have not stanched the torrent of litigation the company faces from local and state prosecutors across the country for alleged deceptive marketing and irresponsible distribution of OxyContin.

New York City last week sued the company and several other pharmaceutical firms, seeking $500 million in damages. Earlier this month, 18 Connecticut municipalities  including Bridgeport, Fairfield and Newtown  filed a similar lawsuit.

If successful, the (ad) campaign could soften the hardest positions against Purdue, said Robert Bird, a professor of business law in the University of Connecticuts business school. And softening public sentiment may reduce public pressure on the folks who are aggressively pursuing this litigation.

But Ohio Attorney Gen. Mike DeWine said he was unmoved by the full-page ads. He cited his disappointment in the companys response to the lawsuit he filed last May.

They can put as many ads as they want to out there, but thats not dealing with the problem, DeWine said in an interview last week. Theyve refused our invitation to come forward and talk. I find that really speaks for itself. Why dont we take this opportunity to start talking and try to reach an agreement, so that Purdue Pharma can be part of the solution instead of just being the creator of the problem?

pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; Twitter: @paulschott
Catherine Avalone / Hearst Connecticut Media

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) will lead a rally at 11 a.m. on Monday, in room 1B of the Hartford Legislative Office Building, ahead of a scheduled Senate abortion ban vote. The bill, which already passed along largely party lines in the House, would deny women the right to an abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, even in cases where severe or fatal anomalies are detected in the fetus or the health of the mother is threatened.

The bill comes in the wake of an announcement from President Donald Trumps administration last week that would make it easier for healthcare providers to refuse treatment to patients on their own, personal religious beliefs, and allowing states to limit access to Medicaid for healthcare providers, including Planned Parenthood.
BRIDGEPORT  State Sen. Marilyn Moore still has questions about building a casino in town, but insisted she is not anti-gaming.

I go to casinos, Moore said. I go to Foxwoods. I do the slots. I know how to shoot craps.

The Bridgeport Democrat is worried about the potential negative impacts on the city, such as creating more problem gamblers and potential traffic congestion. Moore is also not sure Connecticut needs more gaming destinations, noting the drop in revenue over the years at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, the two casinos operated by Indian tribes in the southeastern part of the state.

Meanwhile, state Rep. Ezequiel Santiago, also a Bridgeport Democrat, sees an opportunity for Connecticut to play offense and allow a casino to be built in the city and attract customers from New York City and Long Island  markets that are still up for grabs

We should be proactive before someone else corners this market and we say, How do we keep people from leaving southwestern Connecticut (to gamble elsewhere)? he said.

The Legislature reconvenes in Hartford on Feb. 7 for its regular session, and MGM Resorts International, which last summer proposed a casino for Bridgeport, is with its allies readying a bill to move that project forward. A press conference unveiling the proposed legislation has been scheduled for Wednesday in Hartford.

Varying lawmaker views

Moore, Santiago and the rest of Bridgeports state lawmakers, all Democrats, are expected to play key roles in the debate. But they are not yet all on the same side about having a casino here.

There are various viewpoints on it, said state Rep. Christopher Rosario.

And so Uri Clinton, MGMs senior vice president, has been meeting one-on-one with local lawmakers. He declined to comment, other than to say it is no secret MGM was going to be working hard lobbying for its project.

Rosario and Santiago were unsuccessful last year in getting the General Assembly to consider a casino in Bridgeport. The pair will again be on the front lines, pushing the new casino bill that would establish an open process through which not only MGM but the Mashantucket Pequots, who run Foxwoods, Mohegan Suns Mohegan Tribe and other interested parties could submit proposals.

Its not MGM specific, insisted Santiago, adding: I have no favorites in this game. Im trying to get the best deal for Bridgeport and the state.

Still, MGM wants the state to no longer deal with only the tribes in exchange for revenues from Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. MGM has expressed confidence it would prevail in open competition, given the companys deal with the Christophs, the father-and-son developers for the East End waterfront property in Bridgeport where MGM intends to build.

We have an opportunity to have a Fortune 500 company come in and invest in our city, said Rosario. I dont want to let go of that opportunity.

Divided constituents

State Rep. Andre Baker and state Senator Ed Gomes represent the East End neighborhood where MGM would break ground, and in separate interviews they said they were still making up their minds.

I probably live closer to the casino than anybody (among the other legislators), Baker said. I could walk there before you could start your car up.

Baker said he recently polled his constituents and they were split 50-50 over wanting a casino.

Im torn, Baker said, citing concerns about traffic and a casinos impact on small businesses. Id like to see it enhance the whole East End, not just this one particular area.

Baker is also bothered that MGM, in announcing its Bridgeport plan, proposed a jobs training center for New Haven, a tactical move to garner support from New Haven lawmakers.

Gomes said hes been wary all along of breaking the compact the state has with the Mashantuckets and Mohegans  the homeboys.

The General Assembly agreed last year to allow the tribes to partner on a third casino in East Windsor in an effort to compete with MGMs new gambling destination being built 17 miles away in Springfield, Mass.

MGM has argued its Bridgeport casino would more than make up for any state revenue lost by breaking the deal with the tribes.

They (MGM) talk about this competitive process. It might mean breaking the compact, Gomes said. Im not at that point yet.

And while Gomes wants the 7,000 jobs MGM is promising to create in Bridgeport, he said he also wants to ensure the preservation of the 9,000 jobs at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods.

Weighing tax prospects

State Rep. Charlie Stallworth is a pastor at the East End Tabernacle Church. Stallworth said Bridgeport deserves a piece of MGMs job training proposed for New Haven  at least a satellite (program) in Bridgeport.

But in general, Stallworth said, he is for the casino.

Of course it would be great for the city  the extra revenue, he said.

State Rep. Steven Stafstrom focused on that money during a forum on the upcoming legislative session that he hosted last week in the high-taxed Black Rock neighborhood.

Stafstrom estimated Bridgeport could receive around $30 million annually from MGM through taxes and other payments  money he insisted would go a long way toward reducing constituents property taxes.

When Stafstrom broached the casino topic, it immediately received a mixed reaction.

We have enough corruption in Bridgeport, interjected one person in attendance.

We need the money, countered another audience member.

To dismiss the (revenue) numbers being thrown around out of hand, I think, would be irresponsible, Stafstrom said. Im very supportive of the Legislature having a conversation about an open and competitive gaming process.

Later during the forum, Stafstrom praised the ability of Bridgeports legislators to collaborate in Hartford on the citys behalf.

We as a Bridgeport delegation work better together than most in a long time, he said.

Whether that will apply to a casino remains to be seen.
GREENWICH  Its not about switching from plastic to paper, its about getting people to change their habits. Thats what organizers of BYOGreenwich said when they pushed for a ban on single-use plastic bags in town.

The grassroots group is working on a Reusable Checkout Bag Initiative  or RCBI  to present to the RTM in March.

We all really should be bringing our own bags and reusing our own bags, said BYO member Jeanine Behr Getz. Similar bans are in place in Westport and in the New York towns of Harrison, Rye, Mamaroneck and Larchmont.

Westport initiated their ordinance 10 years ago, she said. Greenwich should be a leader in this.

The initiative would ban single-use plastic bags  not the thicker plastic bags that some retailers use  and add a 25 cent charge on customers who want paper bags. That money would go back to the stores. The ban, which would encourage shoppers to bring your own bags, would be phased in over six months under the proposal.

To grow support, BYOGreenwich hosted a screening of Bag It at Greenwich Library last week, the same life-changing film that inspired the group. The crowd included students from a Greenwich High School science class and members of the Greenwich Conservation Advocates.

I fully support this, said RTM member Abbe Large, who brought her two children. We arent just doing this for us. Its for future generations. Im completely blown away.

Molly Saleeby, another RTM member, said she was concerned about the 25 cent charge for paper bags.

BYO organizer Anne Ogilvy said charging less than 25 cents for paper bags does not change habits. The goal is not to just to switch bags from plastic to paper, she said.

More for you Greenwich organization urges shoppers to 'BagIt'

We are trying to get people to change their behavior, Ogilvy said.

Paper has a very large carbon footprint as well, said BYO member Mary Shaw Halsey. At least it is biodegradable  but thats the origin of our charge for paper. You can go shop on Greenwich Avenue with your (reusable) bags. When a merchant asks you, it becomes a matter of pride.

BYOGreenwich has teamed with Greenwich Academy student Sutton Mock, to spread awareness. Mock has designed reusable bags for BYO and they are being sold for a $10 donation, which will go towards making more bags.

For anyone who cant afford to buy reusable bags, free ones would be available around town. BYO plans to donate bags to organizations such as Neighbor-to-Neighbor and to hand them out at Town Hall events to ensure everyone can participate.

Saleeby also asked how businesses and retailers would be affected by the ordinance.

Businesses would use up their inventories of the single-use plastic bags during the phaseout, organizers said, but the switchover for many stores would be handled at the corporate level. CVS Pharmacy in Westport handled it that way, they said.

In doing research, BYO members spoke to groups in 17 cities in the United States with successful bans. The result: After people adjust to life without single-use plastic bags, it becomes the new normal.

Kathryn Gregory, 14, said her family has already stopped using the single-use plastic bags offered at stores  even when they forget to bring a reusable one.

When we go to stores my mom will be like, No, no, we dont need a bag,  Kathryn said. And we will go out looking like we are shoplifting with all this stuff.

For more information on BYOGreenwich and the Reusable Checkout Bag Initiative visit www.byogreenwich.org.

e: jturiano@greenwichtime.com; t: @jturianoGT; ig: @greenwichgreen.
In the early morning of Monday, Jan. 22, the weather appeared fairly pleasant in south central Minnesota. It took just a matter of hours for all of that to drastically change.

In less than 24 hours, a severe winter snowstorm engulfed the region and dumped over a foot of snow in various areas within the North Star State.

Conditions were so bad, Faribault County public works director Mark Daly says this was the worst weather emergency he has ever seen in his seven-year career as a county engineer.

Once the wind intensity picked up, it made visibility very poor for our plow trucks, Daly explains. Some drivers were at the end of their routes, and they couldnt even see what they were plowing. The weight of the snow was pretty amazing.

Citing road safety concerns, Daly decided to remove all 12 of the countys snow plows off the road by 1 p.m. on Monday. County plowing resumed by 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan 23. With just traces of snow left to contend with on Tuesday morning, Daly estimates all plowing work of county roads was completed by 11 a.m. that morning.

The treacherous driving conditions were problematic for local motorists. From the beginning of the storm on Monday, through 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, on Jan. 23, the Faribault County Sheriffs Department responded to 28 off-road vehicle incidents. However, the sheriffs department confirmed there were no reported injuries in these cases.

As Daly explains, road traffic poses one of the greatest safety risks during snow emergencies. Excess vehicle traffic during snow plowing can be a recipe for disaster.

One of the biggest challenges is getting people to stay off the road, Daly says. You dont want to hit anybody while youre plowing the roads, so any extra traffic definitely makes it harder.

While the closings of local schools on Tuesday helped alleviate some traffic concerns, mild winter temperatures before and after the snowstorm has prevented large accumulations of ice.

Despite dealing with this most recent wrath of Mother Nature, Daly believes Faribault County is no worse for wear moving forward.

If the air temperatures stay decent and the wind isnt a factor, salt will work in this situation to help melt the snow, Daly says.

If there was freezing rain Monday evening, and then the temperatures dropped to 10 degrees or lower, then it would have been very difficult for us to scrape off all the ice. I think the worst of it is over, he continued.

The storms impact was also felt in the Twin Cities. The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport reported 12.4 inches of snowfall by midnight. This was the largest single-day snowfall recorded at the airport since 2010.

As a result of the wide sweeping snowstorm, 511mn.orgs mobile app indicated travel was not advised along I-90 for as far east as Alden, to as far west as Beaver Creek. Along Highway 169, travel advisory warnings were placed as far north as St. Peter, and as far south as Elmore.

By midday on Monday, the storm had reached its peak, producing approximately three inches of snowfall per hour according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
There is a friendly new face in the Faribault County Courthouse these days.

On Jan. 15, Kathryn Karjala-Curtis began her new role as the county attorney. She replaced former county attorney Troy Timmerman, who has moved on to become the judge for the Faribault County District Court.

Karjala-Curtis originally hails from Glenwood, Iowa, a town of just under 5,300 people. Her father, Jim, a computer engineer, and mother, Lorrie, a high school clerk, still live in Glenwood. Karjala-Curtis also has a sister, Sarah, who currently lives in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The precocious attorney says she has always had an innate interest in criminal justice. The idea of pursuing a career in law intensified once she reached high school.

Because of her interest in law, the Midwestern native not only found a career, but she also found the love of her life. Karjala-Curtis met her husband, Ken, who interestingly enough, worked as a local attorney in her hometown of Glenwood.

Married in 2012, the pair met while enrolled in classes at Missouri Western State University. Karjala-Curtis was pursuing a criminal justice degree as an undergraduate student at the time.

When I started thinking about what I wanted to do, I knew Ken, and I thought to myself well hes got a really cool job, so maybe I should give that a try,' Karjala-Curtis laughs.

After graduating from Missouri Western, Karjala-Curtis enrolled into the University of Minnesotas law school in Minneapolis.

Currently among the top 25 law programs in the United States, Karjala-Curtis received her law degree from Minnesota in May, 2015. She says Minnesotas clinical law program was vital in her preparation to become a lawyer.

When you go to the University of Minnesota, they have a really impressive clinical program where you can get a lot of experience actually practicing law, she says.

Within one years time following her graduation, Karjala-Curtis had ascended to the role of Martin Countys assistant attorney.

One of her major assignments in Martin County turned out to be a termination of parental rights case. Ironically, the opposing council in the case happened to be none other than former Faribault County attorney Brian Roverud.

Having just started her new position, Karjala-Curtis says the larger felony case load is what initially attracted her to make the transition to Faribault County.

In Martin County, the case load was primarily juvenile work, so I did a lot of child protection and juvenile delinquency cases, Karjala-Curtis explains. I helped out with the felony cases as needed, but I really enjoy criminal law, so Im excited about this opportunity.

Every county does things differently, so just learning the process has been the biggest adjustment, she added.

The remaining term Karjala-Curtis is serving will expire on Dec. 31. Interestingly enough, the November election is already on her mind. The young attorney remains hopeful she can continue at her new position into 2019.

It feels like its a long ways away, but its really not. I dont know whether or not it will be contested, says Karjala-Cutis. Its going to be another new process that I get to learn about.

Moving forward, Karjala-Curtis believes her outgoing demeanor will be her best asset in her new role.

I get along pretty well with everybody and I treat people with respect and compassion, she smiles.
Blue Earth Ina V. Runyon, age 87, of Blue Earth, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 at United Hospital District in Blue Earth. Funeral Services were held on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018 at Hope United Methodist Church of Blue Earth, Rev. Russ Jacobsen presided. Burial took place at Lake Belt Cemetery in Ceylon. Online condolences may be left at www.pattonfh.com.

Ina was born on Feb. 17, 1930 to Ira and Olive (Kately) Earll in Boone County, Iowa.

Ina was raised and educated in Boone County, Iowa. She farmed near Ogden and was married to LuVerne Runyon on Feb. 22, 1946 in Ogden, Iowa. The couple farmed near Ogden until moving to Elk River in 1967 where Ina, along with LuVerne, worked at the Cargill Research Farm. She later began working as a metal fabricator at several fabricator companies in the Twin Cities area. In 1972, they returned to farming in Zimmerman, where they retired in 1986. The couple moved to Blue Earth in 2006. Ina had been a member of the Methodist Church in each community where she resided.

Ina is survived by her two sons, Sonny (Leona) and Daniel (Marlene); six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; sisters, LuLubel Kelley and Rosie (Darrel) Hacklander; sister-in-law, Donna Foust; and many loving nieces, nephews and friends.

Ina is preceded in death by her husband, LuVerne; son, Wendell; brothers, Silas, Alfred, John, Ira, Louie, and Fred; sisters, Ann McKoy, Elsie Van Cannon, Mary Runyon, and Alice Tilley.
Market Check data shows feed barley prices exceeded APW wheat in South Australia in 2014-15.

AFTER a disappointing run of seasons, Australias barley sector is proving to be the star pricing performer.

Market Check manager of strategy and managed programs Nick Crundall said barley prices were a whopping $60 a tonne higher at a local level compared with the same time last year.

As usual, demand from the worlds largest buyer of grain, China, has been a major factor in the rally.

Mr Crundall said China took advantage of the cheap prices and abundant tonnages available last year, taking 65 per cent (6.2 million tonnes) of Australias record barley export program.

China was the major source of demand for Australian barley in the 2016-17 marketing year, according to Market Check data.

But in good news for Australian barley growers, this demand has not dried up in line with appreciating prices and a tightening balance sheet, meaning competition for barley is strong between the export and domestic markets.

Mr Crundall said China was still chasing Aussie barley due to its quality, meaning it could be used for malting and high Chinese corn prices, making it affordable for stockfeed purposes.

Market Check data shows feed barley prices exceeded that of APW wheat in South Australia in 2014-15.

He said the tight world global balance sheet meant China was also happy to keep buying while stocks are readily available.

As a result, Mr Crundall said there had been strong forward sales into China.

Weve already booked about 2-3mt of barley into China alone for 2017/18 which is a strong start to the export program, he said.

But Mr Crundall said a lack of supply would eventually halt the export program.

Unfortunately for China, we dont have anything like the exportable surplus we did last season, which means that our price is going to have to continue to rally to ensure we dont export too much that our domestic market is left hanging, he said.

It is a welcome tonic for those who stuck fast with barley in their rotations this year.

Barley plantings were well down year-on-year, with the sour taste of the extremely low 2016-17 prices meaning many farmers looked to other cereal crop options.

The low plantings exacerbated the dip in production, caused by a decline in average yields from the 2016-17 bin buster.

Aussie farmers were not the only ones to move away from barley this year.

Mr Crundall said globally there had been lower plantings and lower production of barley.

He said the rally in Australian prices was the best since a similar China-based spike in 2014-15.

That season, F1 prices were up to $15/t higher than APW wheat prices in South Australia, but a regulatory change in China stifled Chinese demand, sending F1 down to $60-70/t below APW, where it stayed for some time.

Feed barley prices are about $225/t in South Australia, where the focus is on the export market, ranging up to $280/t on the Darling Downs, Queensland, where domestic users are trying to attract tonnage.
THE first Goldacres G8 self-propelled boomsprayer on tracks has arrived in WA.

It has been sold to an Esperance farmer by Goldacres dealer Staines Esperance, with Goldacres national sales manager Ashley Dinning saying it is stimulating the thinking of a lot of controlled traffic farmers.

The G8 tracked model is based on the Goldacres G8 8000 litre Super Cruiser.

The self-propelled sprayer has been adapted with four independent Soucy tracks and a new 48 metre (158 foot) tri-fold boom.

According to Goldacres marketing operations manager Steven Richards, the boom had been under development for about 18 months.

Its an all new design with three bi-folding spray widths of 20, 36 and 48m (66ft, 120ft, 158ft), he said.

Our machines are pretty unique in that they are mechanical drive and the G8 is a full-time 4WD, which enabled a pretty simple fitment of the tracks.

Mr Richards said that it was a logical choice to develop the G8 for control traffic systems.

It is a big capacity machine that weighs in at about 20 tonnes loaded, so to have it on tracks with twice the contact area makes sense, he said.

After last years wet harvest, growers were interested in the increased flotation tracks offered.

The Goldacres-designed undercarriage allows the fitment of the Soucy S-Tech 7016 track system.

The Soucy system has a 406 millimetre (16 inch)-wide belt with contact length of 2150mm (7ft).

This will provide twice the ground contact area compared to a 520/85R46 tyre, Mr Richards said.

The track width is 3000mm (10ft) and ground clearance of the prototype is 940mm (3ft).

While the prototype has steering arms on the bottom, the commercial models will have steering arms at the top for increased clearance.

Mr Richards said the G8CT could travel up to 40 kilometres an hour, though like all track systems, operators will need to manage potential overheating and wear.

The 48m Tritech boom on the prototype is a product of 18 months development by Goldacres, aiming to ensure maximum strength, function and boom ride.

Design features include construction from mild steel on the inner wing with aluminium on middle, outer and breakaway wings.

The design aims to provide strength where needed while maintaining weight savings.

The truss structure is designed deep and wide to reduce stress and increase boom strength.

The outer wing features unique hydraulic break-back and break-forward functions and the inner wings feature forward and rearward dampening as well as full yaw control.

With the 48 metre boom due for release this year, the G8 on tracks offers farmers something unique, Mr Dinning said.

Anybody wanting more information can contact their local dealer or Goldacres for more information.

Goldacres is holding its 40th year celebrations Expo in Ballarat on February 21 and 22 and this will be a great opportunity to see first-hand everything Goldacres has to offer.

You can register through your local dealer or direct on line at goldacres.com.au/ expo.
The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike.

We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve.
James Corden has compared home life to a zoo after becoming a father for a third time.

James Corden and wife Julia

The 39-year-old actor and television personality and his wife Julia - who have son Max, six, and daughter Carey, three - welcomed daughter Charlotte six weeks ago and the 'Late Late Show' host admits having three little ones is "so difficult" and exhausting, with feeding time at restaurants a particular nightmare experience.

Corden told the Mirror newspaper: "With two it was like we had two really, really great pets, and now it feels like we've bought a zoo. I'm exhausted.

It is so difficult with three children.

"We went to a little food place at the end of our street in LA and we looked like we were fleeing the country. I had a daughter, a backpack, a bag and then a bag on the wrist and the stroller, another child.

"My wife's got another bag and our son. I was like this is not worth it, the food is not that good in this place, this is not worth...we've got a fridge."

Despite comparing his home to an animal park, Corden recently admitted he "can't bear being away" from his family.

The former "Gavin and Stacey' star will find it tough being away from his wife and children when he hosts the Grammys in New York City this weekend.

He said: "I sort of can't bear being away from everybody. We just had a daughter and it feels a little soon to try and travel as a family. So unfortunately they will be in Los Angeles and I will be in New York. I think there will be a lot of FaceTiming before the show, with my wife saying, 'Breathe, shut up, get over yourself, it's not about you.' She's an incredible sort of calming presence for me."

The 'Into The Woods' star feels "so lucky" to have three wonderful offspring.

He gushed: "It's so far beyond anything that we ever thought really. I also don't know if my wife and I would've gone for a third if we didn't live in California because you don't have any space in London. I feel so lucky that we have three healthy children. I just feel really blessed with all of it."
Asking Alexandria's James Cassells says Download Festival will be "f**king crazy" this year.

Asking Alexandria

The British metallers - completed by Danny Worsnop, Ben Bruce, Cameron Liddell and Sam Bettley - are on the bill along with their idols Guns N' Roses, who they've supported a few times, and they are looking forward to catching up with their peers backstage.

Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz before their sold-out O2 Academy Brixton gig with Black Veil Brides in London on Saturday night (27.01.18), James - who was looking forward to playing six new songs from their latest self-titled album - said: "Download is going to be "f**king crazy. Not to mention the whole touring season at that point is going to be insane."

Asked what his experience of meeting his heroes has been like, the sticksman said: "A lot of the people I've looked up to have been really humble and cool.

"There are people that have their entourages backstage, but most of them you just hang around and have a beer with."

The 'Into The Fire' rockers were picked by the 'Paradise City' hitmakers to be their sole support at the Izod Center in New Jersey in 2011, and though they got to mingle with the rest of the band - which includes Slash, Duff McKagan, Dizzy Reed and Richard Fortus - the infamously diva-like frontman, Axl Rose, kept to himself.

James said: "I've not met him, but we've been lucky enough to meet his band. He's a bit of a diva."

Download Festival takes place between June 8 and June 10 at Donington Park, Leicestershire, and also sees Ozzy Osbourne and Avenged Sevenfold headline.
There are now just eight celebrities left in this years edition of Celebrity Big Brother: Year of the Woman  five women and three men  and with less than a week to go until the final on Friday, February 2, weve decided to take a look at everybody still inside the compound and rank them from worst to best!

8) Ann Widdecombe

In Year of the Woman, its hard to see somebody like former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe make such an impact with the viewing and voting public of Celebrity Big Brother. Her anti-equality views go against absolutely everything the theme in this series should be about, and shes proven time and again shes only willing to give opportunity to people to speak when they conform. In Saturday nights (January 27) episode, we saw Courtney Act having a close moment with Wayne Sleep, chatting about sexuality and kinship. Ann sat rolling her eyes at the conversation, taking away from the moment and then playing the victim as soon as she was confronted by Courtney. Shes a nasty woman with narrow-minded views and should not be celebrated.

7) Ashley James

Ashleys fallen into the role of background character ever since Ginuwine left the house, and has on occasion proven to be a little hypocritical. She stereotyped the men for example, saying that they would all know how to start fires, before slamming one of the male housemates for suggesting that if they had a task where they had to sew, she may have more experience than them. Shes gone on the show to represent feminists in all their glory, and shes done a good job most of the time, but hasnt provided enough of a challenge to people like Ann to really earn her stripes.

6) Amanda Barrie

Unfortunately, Amandas protection of a woman (Ann) who would rip away the right she currently enjoys to be married to her wife is something that has left a very sour taste in the mouth. Shes got somebody around her age in the house which we imagine is a must-have in something as brutally raw as Celebrity Big Brother, but she should be more challenging when it comes to tough topics being brought up in the house. Shes always ready to protect Ann at any given point, but that is something never reciprocated.

5) Shane Lynch

Whilst Shane is a lovely man and somebody wed love to be friends with, he hasnt provided enough content to go further up on the list! Theres not much to say about his time in the house, other than applauding him for being able to keep a level head at all times and, early on, educating himself on the differences between the trans community and drag artists.

4) Jess Impiazzi

Whilst Jess has been quiet in the house from time to time, the moments she steps up and says something have either been incredibly intelligent and emotional, or downright hilarious. Shes not made a single enemy throughout the show and has proven herself to be a classy young girl, tearing away any reputation she may have had due to her time on shows like Ex On The Beach. We cant wait to see what the future holds for Jess.

3) Wayne Sleep

Wayne is one hilarious character! Hes hidden 12 cans of booze on his body whilst running from the storeroom to the bathroom, choreographed synchronised swimming in the hot tub and had some brilliant moments with his real-life friend Amanda Barrie. His nomination against Shane J was seen as a sly moment, but when it comes down to it, this OBE-holder is without a doubt one of the most switched on and entertaining housemates of the year. Just dont interrupt him when hes name dropping and telling one of his fascinating stories!

2) Malika Haqq

Out of all of the women, Mailka has made the best overall impression. Shes shown that shes not the stereotypical American woman we usually get a show of this type, keeping a level head throughout, apart from when she was nearly forced to eat sardines and porridge! Shes got Anns personality down to a tee, claiming that misery loves company, and has been a brilliant shoulder for people to lean on whenever they need her, from first evictee India Willoughby to current housemate Shane Janek.

1) Shane Janek aka Courtney Act

What can we say about Shake, aka Courtney that hasnt already been said? Hes an intelligent, emotional, entertaining, compelling, non-judgemental, non-patronising, perfect example of how the world could be if everybody accepted one another for their differences and their quirks. Shane is the embodiment of this years theme, despite being a man. Hes opened up his heart to everybody in the Celebrity Big Brother house, allowing fellow housemates to have their own opinions whilst offering his own without appearing confrontational. He would make a fine winner for this years edition of Celebrity Big Brother, and we hope he can manage to go all the way. Especially when his biggest competition seems to be coming from somebody like Ann Widdecombe.

Celebrity Big Brother continues each night on Channel 5, with the final airing on Friday, February 2, 2018.

by Daniel Falconer for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / January 27, 2018 / While the recent trend of leaking private financial information does provide newsworthy insight into some questionable actions of a few high-profile individuals, thousands of other individuals are subjected to having their personal dealings exposed to the world, despite the lack of any wrongdoing. CEO of Redbed Investments LLE, Reda Bedjaoui emphasizes that privacy and authentic transparency are separate aspects that can and should be strictly maintained in the modern finance market, but not at the expense of each other. Meaningful safeguards should be implemented as future international agreements and guidelines adapt to a new era in data availability and access, existing alongside increased calls for transparency.

Significant changes in the organized sharing of an individual's financial information have occurred over the last several years. In 2014, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) established the Common Reporting Standard (CRS), setting the rules for a new global network of tax reporting. It calls on the tax authorities of participating countries to obtain information from their respective financial institutions, and automatically exchange that information with other member countries annually. To its credit, the CRS does impose privacy and data protection obligations on every tax authority involved in the exchanges. It is required to safeguard financial data, limit use of data to strictly relevant purposes, and disclose any breaches of confidentiality to the OECD.

Although this improved cohesion has streamlined data-sharing between nations for the right purposes, Reda Bedjaoui notes that certain privacy protections may risk being overlooked during such a rapid implementation of an internationally-recognized system with numerous members. "This sprint towards the automatic exchange of financial account information is understandable, but very little attention seems to have been put towards the glaring need to provide effective safeguards for confidentiality, privacy and data protection," he says. "Both transparency and accountability are needed, but so is privacy and the ability to obtain confidential legal advice."

Bedjaoui sees confidentiality as merely a starting point; data protection laws should give the subject much more extensive rights. For example, any misuse of the data should be challenged. The individual in question has the right to be notified and given access to the information pertaining to themselves, providing the opportunity to correct any inaccuracies. Legal remedies should exist to protect the rights of the data subject, and compensation must be paid for improper processing and use of data, which includes any leaks to the general public. By implementing these measures, nations can properly ensure compliance, while protecting the rights to privacy of the countless people who use offshore financial opportunities in a lawful manner.

Reda Bedjaoui is an internationally recognized expert in corporate governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance. As the CEO of Redbed Investments LLE, he routinely manages commodity risk exposure while providing governance guidance to businesses around the world. Raised in Paris, France, Mr. Bedjaoui studied at Universite de Montreal, earning a Bachelor in Law degree. He continued his education at Hague Academy of International Law in the Netherlands, and was subsequently admitted to the Bar of Quebec, Canada (Montreal Section) in 1995. Reda has honed his practice and knowledge of commercial law, corporate law, and international arbitration in positions at renowned law firms in both Montreal and Paris.

Reda Bedjaoui - Expert Investor and CEO of Redbed Investments: http://www.redabedjaouinews.com

Reda Bedjaoui Discloses High Performance Alternative Investments within Alcoholic Beverage Market: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/reda-bedjaoui-discloses-high-performance-232200944.html

Reda Bedjaoui On How Privacy Issues Affect Modern Financial Market: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/reda-bedjaoui-privacy-issues-affect-212200039.html

Contact Information



RedaBedjaouiNews.com

http://www.redabedjaouinews.com

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SOURCE: ControlPR.com
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The EQT Mid Market fund has, together with co-investors, entered into an agreement to sell I-MED Radiology Network to a company backed by the Permira funds. I-MED is a diagnostic imaging service provider in Australia with 204 clinics and performs almost five million procedures per year. During EQT Mid Market's ownership, the Company has grown the number of fully owned clinics with more than 30% and the number of radiologist by more than 25%. I-MED has during the last three years further strengthened its market position in Australia and for 2017 generated revenues of almost AUD 700 million. I-MED has a strong and dedicated staff with over 3,500 employees, including more than 300 radiologists who serve over 30,000 referrers in the growing healthcare market in Australia. The transaction is expected to close in the first-quarter 2018. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
The latest market research report by Technavio on the global potassium permanganate marketpredicts a CAGR of above 3% during the period 2018-2022.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180128005020/en/

Technavio has published a new market research report on the global potassium permanganate market 2018-2022 under their chemicals and materials library. (Graphic: Business Wire)

The report segments the global potassium permanganate market by application (water treatment and industrial and pharmaceutical) and by geography (the Americas, EMEA, and APAC). It provides a detailed illustration of the major factors influencing the market, including drivers, opportunities, trends, and industry-specific challenges.

Here are some key findings of the global potassium permanganate market, according to Technavio chemicals and materials researchers:

Growing demand from textiles: a major market driver

In 2017, the water treatment segment dominated the market by occupying almost 67% share

APAC dominated the global potassium permanganate market with 48% share in 2017

Carus Group, jialingchemical, GROUPSTARS CHEMICAL (YUNNAN) CHINA, In-Situ Oxidative Technologies, Libox Chem (India), and ORGANIC INDUSTRIES are the leading players in the market

Save more with Technavio. Buy 2 reports and get the third for free View Technavio's latest discounts and promotions

Growing demand from textiles: a major market driver

In the textiles industry, potassium permanganate is extensively used as a bleaching agent. It is used in the bleaching process of polyester fabrics, cotton fabrics, and jeans. It is used to provide denim effects in the fabric. Also, due to its powerful oxidation property, it is preferred in the textiles industry. When compared to conventional bleaching agents, potassium permanganate is considered economical. Also, potassium permanganate does not affect the dye uptake values adversely like other conventional bleaching agents. Due to the increase in the demand for fabrics, changing fashion trends, affordability of buying clothes due to the rise in the disposable income, and the rise in the standard of living the global textiles market is anticipated to grow significantly. Growing demand from the emerging countries such as China and India are also driving the growth in the global textile market.

According to a senior analyst at Technavio for research on metals and minerals, "In countries such as China and India, growth is attributed to the availability of cheap labor and the low-cost of establishing manufacturing setups. These are the factors that are generating the demand for different grades of polyester and cotton fabrics, which in-turn, is augmenting the consumption of potassium permanganate in the textiles segment."

Looking for more information on this market? Request a free sample report

Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more.

APAC: largest potassium permanganate market

With incremental growth accounting to 54.30% during the forecast period, APAC is the prime driver of the potassium permanganate market. In APAC, China is the key contributing country. The increase in the demand from textiles, aquaculture, and water treatment is driving the growth for potassium permanganate in China.

Competitive vendor landscape

The global potassium permanganate market is fragmented with a number of players in the market. Through innovation, quality, and price, players are trying to compete in the market. The competition is expected to intensify with players investing heavily in R&D activities. The market players are expected to increase their global footprint with mergers and acquisitions and collaboration with various regional or local players in the market.

Get a sample copy of the global potassium permanganate market report free of cost

Access Technavio's continuously growing metals and minerals research library and find expert analysis on hundreds of markets.

About Technavio

Technaviois a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 10,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com

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MUNICH (dpa-AFX) - Volkswagen AG (VKW.L, VLKAF.PK, VOW.BE) apologized for a test that exposed monkeys to engine fumes to study effects of the exhaust. The company said the study, conducted by a research and lobby group set up by VW, Daimler AG, BMW AG and Robert Bosch GmbH, was a mistake. The New York Times reported earlier about a 2014 trial in a U.S. laboratory in which 10 monkeys inhaled diesel emissions from a VW Beetle. 'We apologize for the misconduct and the lack of judgment of individuals. We're convinced the scientific methods chosen then were wrong. It would have been better to do without such a study in the first place,' Volkswagen said. Daimler said separately it would start an investigation into the study ordered by the European Scientific Study Group for the Environment, Health and Transport Sector. BMW too distanced itself from the trial, saying it had taken no part in its design and methods. Bosch said it left the group in 2013. The study group, financed equally by the three carmakers, ceased activities last year and the project wasn't completed, VW said. 'We believe the animal tests in this study were unnecessary and repulsive,' Daimler said in a statement. 'We explicitly distance ourselves from the study.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
ChartMogul, a Berlin, Germany-based subscription business analytics platform provider, raised an additional $2.2m in venture capital funding.

The round, announced in November 2017, was led by Alven Capital, with participation from existing investors Point Nine Capital and angels.

The company intends to use the funds expand its product and engineering teams and accelerate product development.

Led by CEO and Founder Nick Franklin, ChartMogul specializes in subscription analytics software which enables more than 1,000 subscription businesses  ranging from global SaaS companies to monthly gift box subscriptions  to centralize and analyze their critical business data to extract decision- informing insights.

The solution offers more than 25 integrations to allow customers to import, enrich, segment and export their data.

In September 2017, the company launched its Revenue Recognition product, which enables finance teams to automate much of the work needed to comply with new ASC 606 revenue reporting requirements.

FinSMEs

28/01/2018
Vroomly, a Paris, France-based developer of an online price comparison tool for car maintenance, closed a 2m funding round.

Backers included mobility focused startup accelerator Via ID.

The company will use the funds to expand operations and business reach through France.

Launched in October 2016 by Alexis Frerejean and Jean-Philippe Coutard, Vroomly provides customers with a comparison tool for car repair/maintenance services which leverages an algorithm that calculates the fair price of a service close to the custumers home.

The company has created a system of verified reviews to certify the garages in each region.

FinSMEs

28/01/2018
The Bombay High Court has refused to order a probe into the death of former state ATS chief Hemant Karkare and disposed of a petition alleging that his killing was a conspiracy hatched by right wing extremists.

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has refused to order a probe into the death of former state ATS chief Hemant Karkare and disposed of a petition alleging that his killing during the 26/11 terror attack was a conspiracy hatched by right wing extremists.

A division bench of Justices SC Dharmadhikari and Bharti Dangri said nothing survives in the public interest litigation filed by one Radhakant Yadav, a former MLA from Bihar, seeking setting up of a special investigation team to probe this angle.

"The PIL is pending since 2010...nothing survives in it...we cannot direct investigation. The petition is disposed of," the court said in a recent order.

Yadav had approached the high court in August 2010 claiming that Karkare was not killed by Pakistani terrorists Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismail.

The petition claimed that Karkare was, in fact, killed by right wing extremists after the former Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief arrested several members of the right wing group Abhinav Bharat in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case.

The PIL relied on a book written by Maharashtra's former Inspector General of Police SM Mushrif, titled Who Killed Karkare.

Karkare, along with senior police officials Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar, were killed outside Cama Hospital in south Mumbai after Kasab and his partner Ismail opened fire at their police van during the terror attack in Mumbai on 26 November, 2008.
AAP councillors, leaders of the opposition in three MCD Houses and nominated Councillors on Saturday marched from the party office to the Civic Center protesting the ongoing sealing drive in different markets in New Delhi.

New Delhi: AAP councillors, leaders of the opposition in three MCD Houses and nominated Councillors on Saturday marched from the party office to the Civic Center protesting the ongoing sealing drive in different markets in New Delhi.

The march was led by AAP MLAs Jarnail Singh and Anil Bajpai. They announced that the party leaders would march to Parliament on Monday, demanding urgent and concrete action by the Centre to immediately put an end to the "completely unjustified" sealing of markets.

"The AAP is of the clear view that traders of Delhi cannot be denied their right to livelihood due to the utter incompetence and prevalent corruption in the MCDs which is the main reason behind the ongoing sealing," the AAP said in a statement.

The MCDs should immediately withdraw conversion charges which is the sole reason behind the ongoing sealing, it said. The party alleged that the BJP, which has been ruling the MCDs since more than 10 years, has diverted nearly Rs 2,700 crore, collected as conversion charges since 2006
The Gurugram police on Sunday arrested Karni Sena Chief of Rewari in Haryana, Harvinder also known as Tinku, for instigating anti-Padmaavat violence on 25 January, News 18 Hindi reported.

The Gurugram police on Sunday arrested the chief of Karni Sena in Rewari in Haryana, Harinder also known as Tinku, along with two others for instigating anti-Padmaavat violence on 25 January, News 18 Hindi reported.

3 more miscreants, including Rewari Karni Sena President Harinder, arrested in connection with incidents of violence in Gurugram. So far 45 miscreants arrested. Best efforts being made to identify remaining miscreants involved in the incidents.: Gurugram Police #Padmaavat  ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2018

Earlier on Saturday, Gurugram police had detained the chief of Shri Rajput Karni Sena Thakur Kushalpal over the recent violent incidents, including the attack on a school bus and the torching of a state roadways bus in Gurugram, a senior police officer said.

However, while addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi said he had "evidence" to prove that none of their volunteers was 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 motorcycles 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.

On 26 January, the national secretary of the Shree Karni Sena, Suraj Pal Amu, was arrested by the Gurugram police for the anti-Padmaavat violence, a police official said. The outfit's leader was detained for questioning on 25 January along with 31 agitators and placed under arrest this morning on charges of breaching peace in the city. He has been sent to a four-day judicial custody, Gurugram Police Public Relations Officer Ravinder Kumar said.

The arrests took place after a school bus with 20-25 children inside it was attacked by a mob in Gurugram. Hundreds of violent protesters descended on roads in the city torching buses, destroying public property and disrupting traffic to oppose the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmaavat". The Karni Sena has been alleging that history had been tampered with in the period drama.

With inputs from agencies
As media becomes more fragmented, people in India should have access to more authentication sources. However, lack of interest in real news could be our real problem.

I am writing this from Kolkata, where I am speaking at the literature festival. In the last ten years, many such events have sprung up across India and we have more litfests (as they are called) than any other country. I find this remarkable because as a culture generally, we may be drawn to writing and literature but the writer has not much influence on Indian society.

There is no chance that someone like Vaclav Havel, a writer who became the first president of the Czech Republic, could emerge in India. Writers, like teachers, are respected but not emulated in our parts. So why do we have so many literature festivals, to each of which tens of thousands of people, many of them young, throng? My observation is that such a gathering offers the space to discuss things that cannot be discussed elsewhere, especially in public.

This is one reason why many of the biggest events at such litfests have nothing to do with books or authors but about current events and the changing nature of society. One panel I was in this week was about fake news. This phenomenon can be described in two different ways. One is the way the US president Donald Trump understands it. His reference is to mainstream media, like the New York Times, Washington Post and CNN.

The rest of the world, especially global journalists, might find these newspapers and channels admirable and authoritative, but for Trump what they produce is 'fake news' because they often report material critical of him. The other way of describing fake news is material that is mischievously introduced, mainly through social media, though it is patently false and made up.

An example of this is a photograph showing a violent event in one part of the world and representing it as being from another part. Or it could be a set of 'facts' that purport to explain a situation or profile an individual, but these are not facts at all and are totally made up. All of us receive such material as WhatsApp forwards and so on and I dont want to delve into this further.

The panel I was on also included the editor of altnews.in, from Ahmedabad. His website looks at such material being spread maliciously and either authenticates it or shows that it is false. It does very good work, particularly in exposing fake news that is meant to polarise Indians through unconfirmed and wild reports. One such fake news report about child kidnappers in Jharkhand led to the lynching of seven people in May last year.

He offered some interesting numbers, such as the fact that data consumption in India had gone up more than five times in only a couple of years. This showed that many people had moved to smart phones and so such WhatsApp forwards were becoming even more widespread with time.

As media becomes more and more fragmented, meaning as more independent and small organisations and individuals become publishers, it is vital that Indians also have access to more such authentication sources. However I wonder if our larger problem is not so much fake news but our lack of interest in real news.

For example, we spend ten times as much on defence as we do on health (about Rs 4 lakh crore versus about Rs 40,000 crore). This is not a recent development: we have always spent far too much on buying new tanks and planes and ships than we have on hospitals, doctors and medicines. All governments have done this and no party opposes it.

This year, 2018, will mark 60 years since the armed forces have been deployed on internal security duties in the North East. Should we not ask why Indian citizens are being subjected to military rule for so long? And let us not mince words, any population that is forced to live under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act is under military rule. But again, this is not seen as something that interests either political parties or Indians who are not from the North East.

A third example, this one more recent. We have a ruling party that claims it stands for nationalism but is practising a kind of political apartheid. In states that the Bharatiya Janata Party is ruling, the number of its Muslim MLAs is: in Gujarat: zero, in Uttar Pradesh: zero, in Maharashtra: zero, in Madhya Pradesh: zero, in Chhattisgarh: zero, in Jharkhand: zero. Elsewhere, it has done the same tokenism that it accuses other parties of.

This division of Indians by religion is happening in front of us but it is ignored and not discussed. It is not news. Why? It happens because the voices of dissent are not heard, and are raised only at gatherings like litfests.

For Trump and the West, the problem of fake news is not as important, meaning as consequential, as it is for us. Fake news can get you killed in India. However we should accept that even in the total absence of fake news, our problems would remain.
Even if a public authority has the power to call for certain information, it is not mandatorily required to seek the data to provide it to anb applicant under the RTI Act, the Delhi High Court has held.

New Delhi: Even if a public authority has the power to call for certain information, it is not mandatorily required to seek the data to provide it to an applicant under the RTI Act, the Delhi High Court has held.

The court said that the authority can only provide information which is available with it to an applicant under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

"The Act is available to make transparent any information that they have. You cannot ask a public authority to mandatorily procure an information, even if they have the power to do so," Justice Vibhu Bakhru observed.

The observations by the court came while disposing of a plea challenging an order of the Central Information Commission (CIC) which had declined to direct the Delhi government to call for further information from a private unaided school regarding terms and conditions of service of its employees.

The CIC had disposed of the plea of the RTI applicant, who was employed in the private school, with a direction to the Delhi government to provide him an audit report of affairs of the school which the institution would have submitted under the Delhi School Education Rules, 1973.

Upholding the CIC's 21 September, 2017 decision, the high court said there was "no infirmity" in it and added that private unaided schools are open to scrutiny by the Delhi government, but not the general public.

It also said," The fact that the public authority has the power to call for certain information does not make it mandatory for the said authority to seek that information and provide the same to any information seeker under the provisions of the RTI Act.

"The public authority can only provide the information as is available with it, provided disclosure of such information is not exempt under section 8 of the Act."

The court, in its order, however, said that if the Delhi government has any information other than the audit report pertaining to the affairs of the private school, the petitioner-RTI applicant can seek the same.

"Needless to mention that such information would be provided to the petitioner subject to the provisions of the Act," it said.
Amid growing criticism, the Karnataka government has decided to amend its earlier circular and replace the words 'innocent minorities' with 'all innocent'.

Facing growing criticism and fearing a political backlash, the Karnataka government on Saturday withdrew a circular sent to top police officials about withdrawing cases against members of minority community involved in communal clashes and issued a fresh one, according to several media reports.

According to a report in The New Indian Express, the home department sources told the newspaper the words "minority community" were dropped in the fresh circular.

ANI reported that a revised circular had been issued, tweeting:

Karnataka government replaced the word 'minorities' with 'all innocent' in its revised circular to take back cases filed in last five years against those who were involved in communal clashes.  ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2018

Karnataka home minister Ramalinga Reddy told ANI: "There was some error in the notice, which has been rectified. In the last three years, we have withdrawn around 400 cases that involve more than 2,800 Hindus and 301 Muslims. We are not biased."

Reddy told Deccan Herald: "The words, 'all innocent minorities', were added by oversight. It should have been innocent people.''

Reddy 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, Deccan Herald reported.

News18 reported that the government was under pressure after the BJP alleged the move aimed at helping Muslims facing rioting cases, a charge the Congress dismissed as false propaganda. Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the states Upper House KS Eshwarappa called it Congress government's "double game communal politics", reported News18.

Siddaramaiah hit back, saying his government was also trying to withdraw cases against farmers and Kannada activists. "We are withdrawing cases against all innocent people, not just innocent Muslims. We are also withdrawing cases against farmers and Kannada activists," The Indian Express quoted him as saying.

According to News18, the circular was sent by Inspector General Police (IGP) Shivaprakash at the state police headquarters to 22 Superintendents of Police (SPs) and a few police commissioners. The Hindu reported that the circular was first sent to the police heads on 2 January, 2018, followed by a reminder on 25 January.
Union minister of state Giriraj Singh on Sunday lashed out at film director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, asking if anyone would dare to make a movie on Prophet Mohammed.

Union minister of state Giriraj Singh on Sunday lashed out at film director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, asking if anyone would dare to make a movie on Prophet Mohammed. Since the release of the movie, several political leaders have voiced their opinion on the film and the strident protests against it.

Jab Rajasthan me #Padmaavat ki shooting ho rhi thi tab Bhansali ne kyon nahi ise band kiya.Gandhi ji par film bane or unko katthak or bhangra mein dikhaye to main maaf nahi karunga.Kya himmat hai kisi ko ki Mohd. Saheb par film banake unka charitra dikhaye:Union Min Giriraj Singh pic.twitter.com/WVSYkYmgva  ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2018

On Saturday, senior 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, PTI reported. 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".

On 25 January, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh remarked that "films that hurt the sentiments of people of a particular religion or caste and which are not based on historical facts should not be made." Singh's comments came after he was asked about the controversy over the film "Padmaavat", which was released the same day.

In November, Haryana BJP leader Suraj Pal Amu offered a bounty of Rs 10 crore bounty for anyone who would behead Bhansali and actor Deepika Padukone. If someone insults our ancestors and our history, we will not tolerate that, he had said.

With inputs from agencies
In a significant step to New Delhi's quest for influence in the Indo-Pacific region, India has signed an agreement with the Indian Ocean archipelago nation of Seychelles for the development, management, operation and maintenance of facilities on Assumption Island.

Victoria/New Delhi: In a significant step to New Delhi's quest for influence in the Indo-Pacific region, India has signed an agreement with the Indian Ocean archipelago nation of Seychelles for the development, management, operation and maintenance of facilities on Assumption Island.

The island in Seychelles is leased to India for the operation of a naval base and air strip by the Indian Navy. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and Seychelles secretary of state Barry Faure signed the agreement on Saturday.

"Relations with countries in the Indian Ocean Region and nurturing a climate of peace and stability are important cornerstones of India's foreign policy," Jaishankar said following the signing of the agreement.

"Our vision for the region is based on cooperation and collective action to tackle maritime security challenges."

Jaishankar referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks during his visit to the Seychelles in March 2015 when the latter said that India's goal was to seek a climate of trust and transparency, respect for international maritime rules and norms by all countries, sensitivity to each other's interests, peaceful resolution of maritime issues, and increase in maritime cooperation.

"We seek a future for Indian Ocean that lives up to the name of SAGAR - an acronym that stands for Security And Growth for All in the Region", Jaishankar said.

SAGAR is an Indian initiative to have a positive effect on sea-borne trade.

India, after leasing Assumption Island, began preparations for infrastructure development, including quarters for the Seychelles Coast Guard and fixing the airstrip on the remote island where there is very little human activity.

India and Seychelles have had cooperation in the field of defence and maritime security for many years, which has seen India helping to patrol the Seychelles waters and gifting several equipment to the Seychelles People's Defence Forces (SPDF).

During Modi's 2015 visit, India announced gifting of a second Dornier surveillance aircraft to the Seychelles Coast Guard to increase maritime security. India gifted Seychelles its first Dornier in 2013.

India and the Seychelles had inked an agreement in the course of that visit to develop infrastructure on Assumption Island, which lies 1,140 km southwest of the mainland of Mahe, and is one of the 115 islands that constitute Seychelles.

Jaishankar said that India and Seychelles have over the years built an elaborate architecture of defence and security cooperation.

"As two maritime neighbours, we have a stake in each other's security and safety. Seychelles with its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) spread over 1.3 million square km is particularly vulnerable," he stated.

"Recognising this, India and Seychelles have drawn up a cooperation agenda that covers within its purview shared efforts in anti-piracy operations, and enhanced EEZ surveillance and monitoring to prevent intrusions by potential economic offenders indulging in illegal fishing, poaching, drug and human trafficking."

The foreign secretary said that the India-Seychelles cooperation was further exemplified by the operationalisation of the Coastal Surveillance Radar System in March 2016, "and our commitment to augment defence assets and capability of Seychelles".

"We are proud of the role played by patrol ships Topaz, Constant and Hermes and the Dornier aircraft in securing the resource rich waters of Seychelles," he stated.

"In recognition of our strategic convergence in the Indian Ocean region, the agreement that we sign today is an important step forward in the further deepening of our cooperation in the spirit of our unique bilateral ties," he added.
In the first 'Mann ki Baat' of 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the achievements of women in various fields, saying that nothing is impossible for women if they have a strong will. Following is the full text of Modi's 40th edition of the monthly radio address:

In the first 'Mann Ki Baat' address of 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the achievements of women in various fields, saying that nothing is impossible for them if they have a strong will. Following is the full-text of Modi's 40th edition of the monthly radio address:

My dear countrymen, Namaskar. This is the first episode of Mann Ki Baat in the year 2018. Just a couple of days ago, we celebrated our Republic Day festival with gaiety & fervour. This is the very first time in history that heads of 10 Nations attended the ceremony.

My dear countrymen, Shriman Prakash Tripathi has written a rather long letter on the Narendra Modi App, urging me to touch upon the subjects he has referred to. He writes, The 1st of February is the death anniversary of astronaut Kalpana Chawla. She left us in the Columbia space shuttle mishap, but not without becoming a source of inspiration for millions of young people the world over. I am thankful to Bhai Prakash ji for beginning his long letter with the sad departure of Kalpana Chawla. Its a matter of sorrow for all of us that we lost Kalpana Chawla at that early age, but her life, her work is a message to young women across the world, especially to those in India, that there are no upper limits for Nari Shakti . the power of women. If one possesses the will & the determination, a firm resolve to achieve something, nothing is impossible. Its a matter of joy that women in India are taking rapid strides of advancement in all fields, bringing glory to the Nation.

In our country, respect for women, their status in society and their contribution has proved to be awe inspiring to the entire world, since ancient times. There has been a long tradition of Vidushis women exponents or women champions. Many Vidushis of India have contributed in composing the verses of the Vedas. Lopamudra, Gargi, Maitreyeeits a long list of names. Today, we talk about Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, save the girl child, educate her. But centuries ago, it has been mentioned in our ancient texts, in the Skand Puran :

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This means, a daughter is the equivalent of ten sons. The Punya that you earn through ten sons amounts to the same earned through just one daughter. This underscores the importance that has been given to women in our society. And that is why, in our society, women have been accorded the status of Shakti. This woman power binds closely together society as a whole, the family as a whole, on the axis of unity & oneness. Be it the erudition of the Vidushis of the Vedic Period Lopamudra, Gargi, Maitreyee; be it the learning & devotion of Akka Mahadevi or Meerabai, be it the governance of Ahilyabai Holkar or the valour of Rani Lakshmibai, woman power has always inspired us. They have always brought glory to the Nation.

Shriman Prakash Tripathi has further cited some examples. He writes that the flight of our courageous Defence Minister Nirmala Seetharaman in a Sukhoi 30 fighter plane is inspirational for him. He also refers to INSV Tarini, with an all women crew on board under the command of Vartika Joshi, which is currently circumnavigating the globe. Three braveheart women Bhavna Kanth, Mohana Singh and Avani Chaturvedi have become fighter pilots and are undergoing training on the Sukhoi- 30. An Air India Boeing jet with an all woman crew led by Kshamata Vajpayee flew from Delhi to San Francisco, USA and back. These are all women achievers. You are absolutely right. Today women are not just advancing in myriad fields; they are leaders. Today there are many sectors where our woman power is playing a pioneering role, establishing milestones.

A few days ago, Honble President took an initiative. He met a group of extraordinary women who have achieved something significanty new in their respective fields. Women achievers of our country the first female Merchant Navy Captain, the first female passenger train driver, the first female fire fighter, the first female Bus Driver, the first woman to set foot on Antarctica, the first woman to reach Mount Everest First Ladies in every field. Our woman power achieved extraordinary feats, breaking the age old shackles of social mores, creating new records. They proved that through perseverance, grit and a firm resolve, all kinds of obstacles and barriers can be broken & crossed, to chart out an all new path a path that could act as a beacon of inspiration not just to their contemporaries, but for generations to come. It will infuse a fresh energy, newer enthusiasm into them. A book has been compiled on these women achievers, first ladies, so that, the entire country comes to know about the power of these women and derive inspiration from their life & work. This is also available as an e-book on the Narendra Modi Website.

The countrys woman power has contributed a lot in the positive transformation being witnessed in our country & society these days. Today, as we speak of women empowerment, I would like to refer to a railway station. You must be wondering what a railway station has got to do with women empowerment. Matunga station in Mumbai is the first station in India which is run by an all woman staff. All departments have women performing duties the commercial department, Railway Police, Ticket checking, Announcing, Point persons, its a staff comprising over 40 women.

This time, after watching the Republic Day Parade, many people wrote on Twitter and other social media that a major highlight of the parade was the BSF biker contingent comprising women participants. Daredevil stunts performed by them was awe inspiring for our foreign guests. Empowerment is another form of self reliance. Today our Nari Shakti is assuming leadership roles. It is becoming self reliant. By the way, this also reminds me of tribal women of Chattisgarh, who have done something extraordinary and set a remarkable example. When we refer to Adivasi women, a stereotypical image comes to our minds, comprising jungles, pathways in the woods and women carrying kindlewood on their heads.But the woman power of Chattisgarh, the tribal women there broke this stereotype & presented an all new picture of themselves. Dantewada in Chattisgarh is a Maoist infested region. Violence, torture, explosives, guns, pistols the Maoists have created a scary reign of terror. In this dangerous atmosphere, Adivasi women are becoming self reliant by driving e-rickshaws. In a short span of time, a number of women have become part of this phenomenon. This has three benefits- on the one hand self-employment has empowered them; on the other, the Maoist infested region is witnessing a transformation. And simultaneously as a consequence, it is strengthening efforts towards protecting the environment. I laud the efforts of the District Administration which has played a significant role in the successful endeavour of these women by ensuring availability of grants & imparting training to them.

Time and again we keep hearing people utter There is something special that we as a people possess no threat is big enough to annihilate our existence. What is that Special Something? That Something is flexibility, the ability of transformation. Leaving out things that are beyond the constraints of time and accepting betterment in things wherever necessary. And this is a salient feature of our society relentless efforts towards self-improvement, self correction. We have inherited this Indian tradition as a cultural legacy. The benchmark of any living society is its self correcting mechanism. In our country, there have been unending endeavours against social ills and evil practices, both individually & collectively. Just a while ago, Bihar launched an interesting initiative. In order to uproot social ills in the state, the worlds longest human chain spanning over thirteen thousand kilometers was formed.

This campaign made people aware of social maladies such as child-marriage and the dowry system. The entire state thus resolved to fight against these social evils. Children, the elderly, the youth full of energy and enthusiasm, women, girls turned out to participate in this battle. The human chain that commenced formation from Gandhi Maidan in Patna gained momentum, touching the state borders. In order to ensure that the fruits of progress rightly reach all sections of society, it is imperative that our society is freed of these ills. Come, let us pledge to come together to wipe out these evil customs from our social fabric let us build an empowered, capable New India. I appreciate the people of Bihar, the Chief Minister, the administration, in fact every member of the human chain for this massive, special initiative towards social welfare.

My dear countrymen, Shriman Darshan from Mysore, Karnataka has written on My gov. He was undergoing an expenditure of six thousand rupees a month on medicines alone for the treatment of his father. Earlier, he wasnt aware of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana. But now that hes come to know of the Jan Aushadhi Kendra, he has begun purchasing medicines from there and his expenses have been reduced by about 75%. He has expressed his wish that I mention this in Mann Ki Baat, so that it reaches the maximum number of people and they can benefit from it. Over some time lately, many have written on this subject; many of them have been telling me about it. I too have seen videos put up on social media by beneficiaries of this scheme. It is a matter of joy learning about happenings like these. It gives you inner satisfaction. I felt good to see Shriman Darshan ji think about sharing with others what he gained from it. The motive behind this scheme is making healthcare affordable and encouraging Ease of Living. Medicines available at the Jan Aushadhi Centres are 50% to 90% cheaper than branded drugs available in the market. This is great help for the common man, especially for senior citizens who require medicines on a daily basis and results in a lot of savings. Generic medicines sold under this scheme strictly conform to prescribed standards set by the World Health Organisation. That is why good quality medicines are made available at affordable prices. Today, over three thousand Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been set up across the country. This has led to not only availability of cheaper medicines, but also new employment opportunities for individual entrepreneurs. Affordable medicines are now available at Amrit Stores at Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Centres & at hospitals. The sole aim behind this step is ensuring availability of Quality & affordable health service to the poorest of the poor, so that a healthy & prosperous India comes into being.

My dear countrymen, Shri Mangesh from Maharashtra has shared a photo on the Narendra Modi Mobile App. It was such a striking photo that my attention was magnetically drawn towards it. The photo showed that a grandson was participating in the 'Clean Morna River' along with his grandfather. I came to know that the citizens of Akola had organized a cleanliness campaign to clean the Morna river under the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'. The Morna river was a perennial river flowing throughout the twelve months of the year but now it has become seasonal. The second painful fact was that the river was completely filled with wild grass and hyacinth. A lot of garbage was being dumped into the river and along its banks. An action plan was chalked out and on January 13th a day before Makar-Sankranti, in the first phase of 'Mission Clean Morna' sanitation of the two sides of the bank of the Morna river at fourteen places spread over an area of four kilometers, was carried out.

This noble and grand task named 'Mission Clean Morna', involved more than six thousand denizens of Akola, more than 100 NGOs, Colleges, Students, children, the elderly, mothers, sisters, almost everybody participated in this task. On January 20th, 2018, this Sanitation Campaign continued in the same vein and Ive been told that this campaign will continue every Saturday morning till the Morna river is completely cleaned. 'Mission Clean Morna' shows that if a person is determined to do something, then nothing is impossible. Huge social reforms can be brought about through mass movements. I congratulate the people of Akola, the district and the municipal corporations administration, all the citizens who were associated with this mass movement, I laud your efforts which are not only very much appreciated but this will inspire the other citizens of the country.

My dear countrymen, these days you must be hearing a lot about the Padma Awards. These awards also attract attention in newspapers and television also. But if you scrutinize, then you will be proud of the fact that there many loftier personalities amidst us and you will naturally be proud of the very fact that today the common man is being cited for Padma awards without any recommendations. There was a certain methodology of awarding Padma Awards every year, but this entire process has been changed for the past three years. Now any citizen can nominate any person in our country. Transparency has been brought about in the entire process by making it operable online. In a way, the selection of these awards has been transformed completely. You may have noticed that many ordinary people not visible in big cities, in newspapers or on TV are being awarded with Padma citations. Now the identity of the awardee is not the deciding factor of the award, rather the importance of his work is increasing. You must have heard the name of Arvind Gupta ji. It will gladden your heart to know, that Arvind ji, a student of IIT Kanpur, spent all his life creating toys for children. He has been making toys from garbage for over four decades so that children can increase their curiosity towards science.

He has been trying to get children inspired to conduct scientific experiments using waste; towards this end he has been encouraging children by showing them films made in 18 languages in three thousand schools across the country. What a wonderful life, what a dedicated mission! A similar story is that of Sitavaa Jodatti from Karnataka. She has not been hailed as 'Goddess of women empowerment' just for nothing! For the past three decades, in Belagavi, she has made a great contribution towards changing the lives of countless women. At the age of seven she had dedicated herself as a Devadasi but in a turnaround, for the welfare of the Devdasis, she has spent her entire life. Not only this, she has done unprecedented work for the welfare of Dalit women too. You must have heard the name of Bhajju Shyam of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Bhajju Shyam was born in a very poor tribal family. He was employed in a small job for eking out his living, but he was also fond of painting in the traditional tribal art form. Today, due to this hobby, he garnered respect not only in India but the entire world. He has exhibited his paintings in many countries like Netherlands, Germany, England and Italy. The talent of Bhajju Shyam ji, who made India proud in many nations abroad, was also recognized and he was awarded the Padma Shri.

You will be pleasantly surprised listening to the story of Kerala's tribal lady Lakshmikutti. Laxmikutty is a teacher in Kallar and still resides in a hut made of palm leaves in a tribal tract amidst dense forests. She has created five hundred herbal medicines relying solely on her memory. She has mastery in synthesizing medicines used for treatment of snake bites. Lakshmi Ji is continuously serving society with her knowledge of herbal medicines. Identifying her anonymous persona, she has been honoured with the Padma Shri for her contribution to society.

I would like to mention another name today, that of 75 year old Subhasini Mistri, hailing from West Bengal, who was selected for the award. Subhasini Mistri is a woman who, in order to construct a hospital, cleaned utensils in the homes of others and also sold vegetables. At the age of 23 she lost her husband due to lack of proper treatment, and this incident inspired her to build a hospital for the poor. Today, thousands of poor people are treated free of cost in this hospital that has come up through hard-work. I am convinced that there are many men and women in our land filled with gems, Bahuratna-Vasundhara, many gifted women and men who remain faceless or unknown. The failure to identify such people is also a loss to the society, the Padma awards are only a medium of acknowledgement, but I would also like to tell the countrymen that people serving the society around us, people giving up all that they have got for the sake of society, millions of people who have worked for a life time for us bestowed with one or the other useful attribute should be acknowledged in our midst. They do not labour for any honor, but their work inspires us. These people should be invited to schools and colleges to share their experiences. Beyond awards, there should be some more efforts from our society in acknowledging their contribution.

My dear countrymen, we celebrate Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on January 9th every year. It was on the 9th of January, when our revered Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa. On this day, we celebrate the unbreakable bond that exists between Indians in India and Indians living around the globe. This year we organized a program on Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, where all MPs and Mayors of Indian origin were invited. You will be pleased to know that in this programme, Malaysia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Portugal, Mauritius, Fiji, Tanzania, Kenya, Canada, Britain, Surinam, South Africa and America, and many other countries wherever our Mayors or MPs of Indian Origin exist, all of them participated. I am happy that the people of Indian origin who live in different countries continue to serve those countries and at the same time they have maintained their strong relationship with India as well

This time, the European Union, has sent me a calendar, in which they have displayed the contributions by Indians in various fields of life living in different countries of Europe; whether working in the field of cyber security, or dedicated to Ayurveda, entertaining the society through music, or through poetry; someone researching on climate change or working on ancient Indian texts, someone driving a truck for livelihood, who went on to construct a Gurudwara or has built a mosque  wherever our people are, they have in their own way embellished or adorned the land of their adoption. I would thus like to thank the European Union, for recognizing the people of Indian origin and through them in making people in India and people the world over aware of their exemplary work.

The 30th of January is the death anniversary of our revered Bapu, who showed us a new path. On that day we also observe 'martyrs day' in solemn memory of the great martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the defense of the country and pay our homage at 11 in the morning. The path of peace and non-violence, is the path of Bapu and this is applicable not only for India or the world, but also for a person or a family or a society. The ideals which Bapu practiced in his life, things that he imparted are relevant even today. They were not just mere theories. At present we witness at every step how accurate Bapu's words were. What can be a bigger tribute than taking a vow that we shall tread the path of Bapu - and walk, as far as possible?

My dear countrymen, with my best wishes to all of you for 2018, my speech draws to a close. Thank you very much. Namaskar.

The entire text has been taken exactly as posted in a press release by Narendra Modi's official website and has not been edited by Firstpost for style or content.
The Congress demanded an independent judicial probe by a sitting high court judge into violence in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj that erupted after a boy was killed in clashes following stone-pelting on a motorcycle rally taken out to celebrate Republic Day.

New Delhi: The Congress demanded an independent judicial probe by a sitting high court judge into violence in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj that erupted after a boy was killed in clashes following stone-pelting on a motorcycle rally taken out to celebrate Republic Day.

Congress leader Pramod Tiwari alleged callousness and mismanagement on the part of the Uttar Pradesh government and local administration led to clashes between two communities in Kasganj.

He said the continuing violence threatened peace in the entire state.

"How did this happen, who did it? The truth will come out only when an independent judicial probe is conducted by a sitting high court judge.

"We demand an independent probe by a sitting high court judge into the incident," he said. "Till when will incidents of gangrape continue under your rule and in the BJP-ruled states. When will you apprehend the culprits and give them exemplary punishment?" he asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Internet services have also been suspended till 10 pm on Sunday in trouble-torn areas in western Uttar Pradesh, including Kasganj

Kasganj (Uttar Pradesh): At least three shops, two private buses and a car were torched 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 stone-pelting on a motorcycle rally taken out to celebrate the Republic Day.

Internet services have also been suspended till 10 pm on Sunday in trouble-torn areas in western Uttar Pradesh, where a curfew was imposed after clashes on Friday, 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. In the evening, the seats of an abandoned car were set ablaze."

He claimed that no violence took place on Saturday, and "violence took place only yesterday (Friday)".

The ADG added, "Some anti-social elements had tried to break into the gate of a mosque yesterday (Friday), but were unable to do so, as police chased them away."

Meanwhile, District Magistrate RP Singh said, "Internet services were also suspended in trouble-torn area till 10 pm on 28 January."

Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar said, "Two cases were registered yesterday (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 (Friday), an IG-level officer, DK Thakur, has reached there from Lucknow and camping since yesterday night."

He added, "Five companies of PAC and 1 RAF company had reached there (Kasganj) yesterday (Friday) along with additional civil police officers/policemen from the zone. One more company of RAF has been provided today (Saturday)."

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 (Saturday)."

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 on Saturday 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 on Saturday, Additional DG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said, "Anti-social elements today (Saturday) 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 Uttar Pradesh government must act tough on the anti-social elements, so that this acts as a deterrent for others."

Uttar Pradesh 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.
The Maharashtra government has received clearance from the Ministry of Defence for preparing a detailed project report of the proposed international airport near Pune city.

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has received clearance from the Ministry of Defence for preparing a detailed project report of the proposed international airport near Pune city, a state revenue official has said.

German company Dorsch is preparing the detailed project report (DPR) and will also develop the new airport at Purandar in Pune district, he said.

"The work was slow as necessary permissions from the defence ministry were pending. The permissions have been received a couple of days back and now the company can complete its DPR," the official said. "The primary estimated cost of the airport is Rs 14,000 crore. Once the report is completed, we will come to know the actual cost," he said.

According to Pune district collector Saurabh Rao, the land acquisition cost for the airport will be as high as Rs 2,000 crore.

The German company, which had prepared the DPR and developed airports in cities like Berlin, Munich, Kuwait and Frankfurt, had been given the contract for the Pune project in March last year.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced the new airport project, to be named after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje, in October 2016. The airport, which is expected to take around five years to complete, will be spread across an area of 2,400 hectares. The acquisition of land will take place in seven villages of Purandare tehsil.
Narendra Modi in Mann Ki Baat on Sunday said that for the first in history heads of 10 ASEAN countries joined India's Republic Day celebration

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat on Sunday lauded women power while highlighting personalities who made significant contribution to the world.

Modi, while paying a tribute to late NASA astronaut Kalpana Chawla, whose death anniversary falls on 1 February, said that her life is an example to the entire world. "Her life demonstrated Nari Shakti, that if you have an aim and a spirit to accomplish something, then there is nothing impossible," he said.

The prime minister also said that women are leading on every front and are making the country proud.

"Women are advancing in many fields, they are emerging as leaders. Today there are many sectors where nari shakti is playing a pioneering role and establishing milestones," said Modi.

The prime minister also highlighted Indian women's contribution to the Vedas. "Women like Lopamudra, Gargi, Maitreyee the list is long," he said, while also stressing that it's in our culture to respect women.

Citing Skanda Purana, the largest Mahapurana, a genre of eighteen Hindu religious texts, Modi said that "one daughter is equal to 10 sons".

"This shows how much our society, our culture respects women. The power of woman bonds the society together," said the prime minister.

Apprenticing the work of women of Dantewada in Chhattisgarh, who are driving e-rickshaws for livelihood, Modi said that these woman have shown that with hard work, a new path can be laid out which will inspire people.

"I want to appreciate the efforts of women of Dantewada. This is a Maoist affected area but the women there are operating e-rickshaws. This is creating opportunities, it is also changing the face of the region and is also environment friendly," he added.

Talking about Mumbai's Matunga Railway Station, which recently found its way into the Limca Book of Records for having an all-woman staff, Modi said that Indian women have contributed a lot in the positive transformation being witnessed in our country and society.

He said in our country, there have been unending endeavours against social ills and evil practices, both individually and collectively. He mentioned how the worlds longest human chain was formed in Bihar in order to create awareness about dowry and child marriages.

Speaking about the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana, an initiative by the government to make quality medicines available at affordable prices, the prime minister said that scheme has been very helpful for a number of people. He claimed that around 3,000 Jan Aushadhi stores across the country are creating employment.

Modi also spoke about the efforts undertaken by the people of Akola in Maharashtra to clean the Morna river under the Swacch Bharat Abhiyan. "On 13 January, Mission Clean Morna was initiated and 6,000 people of Akola came together to clean the river. This shows that when people come together for good cause nothing is impossible," he said.

The prime minister also said that the procedure to choose Padma awardees has been changed by the government. "Importance of work and not name has now increased for receiving the Padma awards. The selection process for Padma awardees has been transformed and made transparent," said Modi.

The prime minister also mentioned how for the first time in the history of India, heads of 10 ASEAN countries joined India's Republic Day celebration.

Read here the full text of Modi's 40th edition of Mann Ki Baat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation in his first Mann Ki Baat radio address of 2018 on Sunday at 11 am

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation in his monthly radio programme "Mann Ki Baat", the first in 2018, on Sunday at 11 am.

The 40th radio programme aired on All India Radio as well as on DD News channel. It was also treamed on the prime minister's official website, the YouTube channel and the Narendra Modi mobile application.

According to The Economic Times, All India Radio will broadcast the programme in regional languages immediately after the Hindi broadcast.

The 40th edition of Mann Ki Baat had received several suggestions from across the country including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who had asked the prime minister to come out with plans to create jobs and push the Chinese out of Doka La in a tweet on 19 January.

Dear @narendramodi, since you've requested some ideas for your #MannKiBaat monologue, tell us about how you plan to: 1. Get our youth JOBS 2. Get the Chinese out of DHOKA-LAM 3. Stop the RAPES in Haryana. pic.twitter.com/pwexqxKrTQ  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) January 19, 2018

With at least 44 deaths of homeless people reported in the national capital in the first week of January, some of the homeless on 10 January had also written to the prime minister asking him to include their issues in his monthly radio address.

"Through this letter, we want to draw your attention to the rising number of homeless people in the city, who help in the functioning of the city," Ikram, a homeless man residing near Kashmere Gate in New Delhi, wrote in his letter to the prime minister.

He had said that in the absence of a roof over their head, the homeless people were forced to die on the streets. "In the last one week over 45 people have died on the streets during this winter season," he had said.

"Mann Ki Baat" radio programme was the most trending hashtag on Twitter in 2017 in the news and governance category, followed by #jallikattu and #GST, the micro-blogging platform had said.

Mann Ki Baat sparked a great deal of commentary all over the year.

"Mann Ki Baat" is a radio programme hosted by Modi on the last Sunday of every month to addresses people of the nation on All India Radio, DD National and DD News.

With inputs from agencies
Head priest of a temple was killed and one of his followers seriously injured after unidentified persons opened fire at them at a temple in Bihar's Vaishali

Hajipur (Bihar): The head priest of a temple was killed and one of his followers seriously injured after unidentified persons opened fire at them at a temple in Vaishali district, police said in Hajipur on Sunday.

The incident happened under the jurisdiction of Raghopur police station on Saturday night, the police said.

The head priest, 65-year-old Mauni Baba, was shot dead inside the 'Ram Janaki Mutt' temple while his follower Chhotan Das was seriously injured in the attack, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Raghopur, Rupesh Kumar said.

The incident came to light on Sunday morning when another follower of Mauni Baba found his master's body lying in a pool of blood, the SHO said.

The temple is located in a remote part of the district, he said.

Seriously injured Chhotan Das was also found lying beside the dead priest, he said.

He was taken to NMCH hospital in Patna, the SHO said.

Police was trying to ascertain the motive behind the attack and the identity of the attackers, he said.

Mauni Baba had come to the area 25 years ago, established the 'Ram Janaki Mutt' and temple, and has been holding the post of 'Mahant' since then, he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make a historic visit to Palestine during a trip to the West Asia from 9-12 February that will take him to the UAE and Oman.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make a historic visit to Palestine during a trip to the West Asia from 9-12 February that will take him to the UAE and Oman.

This will be the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Palestine and Modi's second visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after August 2015.

"The prime minister will hold discussions on matters of mutual interest with their leaders, apart from participating in other events," the external affairs ministry said on Saturday night.

The visit to Palestine comes after the visit of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to India in January this year.

In Dubai, Modi will address the Sixth World Government Summit at which India has been extended 'Guest of Honour' status.

The UAE and Oman are home to large numbers of expatriate Indians whom Modi will meet.
'The truth is India is witnessing a three-year spell of modest, but jobless, growth and the government is clueless about how to create jobs,' P Chidambaram said about job creation

Congress leader P Chidambaram hit out at the Centre for their "wild claims" on job creation, a day before Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is set to present the Economic Survey in the Parliament.

The former finance minister took to Twitter to vent out his frustration, saying that the nation has seen a three-year spell of "modest, but jobless growth" and that the government is "clueless about how to create jobs".

Chidambaram said that the BJP-led government at the Centre was not taking the right steps to foster real job creation. Chidambaram also warned people of the govt making several claims on job creation.

"Earlier it was claimed that a Mudra loan of Rs 43,000 (average loan size) created at least one new job. Show me one person who can 'create' a new job out of Rs 43,000 investment," Chidambaram said highlighting flaws in the NDA govt's policies.

In another tweet, he said, "Another minister wanted MGNREGA workers to be counted as holding jobs. So they are 'job' holders for 100 days and jobless for 265 days."

Chidambaram made these comments after penning an article in The Indian Express critiquing a study conducted by Professor Pulak Ghosh and Dr Soumya Kanti Ghosh.

The study claimed that 70 lakh new payroll jobs will be created in India in the organised sector in 2017-2018. In the article, Chidambaram asserts that the 70 lakh jobs claim will "remain a boast" and will eventually be regarded as a bluff.

The former finance minister observed that real job creation will be reflected by a "robust increase in private investment, private consumption, exports and credit demand", none of which, he said are "happening yet".

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interview with Zee News, where the prime minister said, "If a man selling pakodas outside the Zee TV office takes home Rs 200 at the end of the day, is that not employment?" Chidambaram said that based on the prime minister's logic even begging should be considered as a job.

"Let's count poor or disabled persons who are forced to beg for a living as 'employed' people," Chidambaram tweeted.

Chidambaram trashes Centre's "wild claims" on job creation

"In the debate on jobs, it is important to keep the distinction between 'job' and 'self-employment'. A 'job' is certain, regular and reasonably secure. We want to know how many such jobs have been created," Chidambaram added in another tweet.

He went on to say, "The truth is India is witnessing a three-year spell of modest, but jobless, growth and the government is clueless about how to create jobs."

BJP posted a tweet in reaction to Chidambaram's comments. "The Congress has once again insulted every poor person, labourer, farmer, and worker by comparing people who earn an honest living with beggars," the tweet said.

                     --       pic.twitter.com/jfKyrzX1mC  BJP (@BJP4India) January 28, 2018

With inputs from agencies
Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks that selling 'pakodas' was a kind of employment, Chidambaram tweeted, 'Even selling pakodas is a 'job', said PM. By that logic, even begging is a job. Let's count poor or disabled persons who are forced to beg for a living as 'employed' people.'

New Delhi: The BJP accused the Congress of "insulting the poor and aspirational Indians" over its leader P Chidambaram's dig at the prime minister that if selling 'pakodas' is a job, even begging is a job.

Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks that selling 'pakodas' was a kind of employment, Chidambaram tweeted, "Even selling pakodas is a 'job', said PM. By that logic, even begging is a job. Let's count poor or disabled persons who are forced to beg for a living as 'employed' people."

"The Congress party insults poor and aspirational Indians again...Comparing livelihood means of millions of hardworking Indians from humble background to begging betrays Congress party's perpetual disdain for the poor," the ruling party said on Twitter.

Referring to Modi's humble beginning as a tea-seller, it said that the Congress had still not come to terms with the "historic" mandate for an honest and hardworking 'chaiwallah' (tea-seller) over the corrupt and dynasts.

Modi, in a recent interview to a television channel, reportedly said, "If a person selling pakodas (snacks) earns Rs 200 at the end of the day, will it be considered employment or not?"
City police on Saturday detained Gurugram chief of Karni Sena Thakur Kushalpal over the recent violent incidents, including attack on a school bus

Gurugram: 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 in Gurugram, 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".
Authorities on Sunday imposed restrictions in Sringar to prevent separatist-called protests against the death of two civilians in army firing on Saturday.

Srinagar: Authorities on Sunday imposed restrictions in Sringar to prevent separatist-called protests against the death of two civilians in army firing on Saturday.

Two youths were killed and eight other protestors injured in an army firing when a mob attacked an army convoy in Ganowpora village of Shopian district on Saturday.

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti spoke to defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who assured the chief minister that she will seek a detailed report about the incident.

A magisterial probe has been ordered into the youths' killings. Police have also registered an FIR into the incident.

Separatist conglomerate, Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) headed by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, has called for a Kashmir Valley-wide protest on Sunday over the killing of youths.

District Magistrate Srinagar has imposed restrictions in areas under Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta and MR Gunj police stations of old city Srinagar.

Police said partial restrictions have also been imposed in some areas in Srinagar.

Rail services between Baramulla and Bannihal towns have also been suspended as a precautionary measure.
Twelve Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested on Sunday by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing in their waters near Talaimannar, a fishermen association office-bearer said

Rameswaram: Twelve Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested on Sunday by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing in their waters near Talaimannar, a fishermen association office-bearer said. The arrest comes shortly after the island nation proposed a draconian legislation banning fishing in its territorial waters by foreign trawlers.

The Lankan Navy personnel also seized two boats used by them and snapped the nets of around 50 boats, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Fishermen's Association general secretary NJ Bose said. The arrested fishermen were from this island and have been taken to nearby Mannar, he added.

The fishermen have been charged with fishing not only in Lankan territory but using banned fishing nets which destroyed the sea wealth of their nation, according to information reaching the police in Rameswaram.

Police officials said Lankan Navy men were keeping a strict vigil in the Katchatheevu area for the past one week and chased away hundreds of fishermen who were fishing near the islet.

Nearly 2,000 Tamil Nadu fishermen had been chased away on 23 January by the Lankan Navy which hurled stones and snapped fishing nets of 50 boats for allegedly fishing close to their territorial waters off Katchatheevu islet.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made the announcement while addressing the Start-Up Master Class programme held at IIT Kanpur.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on 28 January 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 nations 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 7,876.17 crore.
Sandwiched between the armies of India and Pakistan, villages like Jora Farm in Jammu and Kashmir, live on the edge and at the mercy of the soldiers

Fozia Bi ran frantically between what would have been a cluster of houses in the Jora Farm village, searching for her lost goat. The sudden escalation at the border last week forced the family to abandon their house and their livestock.

The guns are comparably silent as she forces her husband to join the search.

The road leading to the village is deserted. Only the clip-clop of horseshoes ringing against the road breaks the eerie silence. Few kilometers ahead, a group of village children are celebrating the Republic Day. One takes a picture wrapped in a tricolour while others try to unfurl another flag on a treetop. Passing by the group is Haji Saifullah, on a horse cart, along with his daughter, and wife Fozia Bi, slowly driving back to their village for the first time since guns started roaring along the International Border in Jammu.

The destruction in Jora Farm is visible from afar. The silhouettes of woven-grass roofs reduced to ashes by the shelling give the small village a look of a collection of grey mounds of earth. As they saw their home, the Hajis jumped out and began a collective dirge. "This was our home," Saifullah, 68, said pointing to a mound with tears in his eyes.

Saifullah searched for a trunk within the rubble in which he had kept some important documents. He keeps looking frantically from one corner to another, turning over and over the piles of ash. All that we earned and cared for has now been turned into ashes, he told Firstpost.

Although mortar shelling of villages by Pakistani troops has subsided, the exchange of gunshots continues.

But even when guns go silent, it doesn't necessarily mean peace has arrived along the nearly 200 kilometers of border, and 770 kilometers of Line of Control that divides Kashmir.

It is a state of mind when you eat the evening meal with your children at home knowing that a shell may anytime land on you and all of us will be dead. That is what peace means for us," says Saifullah. There has been no real peace for the family, particularly after the war of 1962.

"We must be the only people in the world who hope and pray that the house they build in the morning is not brought drought down by a shell in the evening. That is the story of our lives. We have a home without a home, he says.

Jora Farm is located less than 500 metres from the working international border with a population of at least 250 Muslim Gujjar families, sandwiched between the armies of India and Pakistan, the village lives on the edge and at the mercy of the soldiers. The situation is same in hundreds of villages along the International Border and the Line of Control whose inhabitants' peace of mind and their savings get turned into ashes with a single shot fired from either Indian or Pakistani side.

The village falls within the range of small arms firing by Pakistani rangers. In bad times, authorities often evacuate residents to bulletproof bunkers, while a majority of them crawl out and abandon their homes. A whitewashed wall of a residential house, pockmarked with bullet holes, at the entrance of the village is a testimony of how tension unfolds in the village when soldiers of the two countries pound each others locations. The walls of the houses face the Indian posts on one side and Pakistani posts on the other.

Curiously, the side of the wall facing the Pakistani location is less damaged than the wall which faces the Indian posts. "When they (forces from the Indian side) fire, it is not guaranteed that the bullets and shells will land in Pakistan. They may land in adjoining homes too," Saifullah explains.

A ceasefire between India and Pakistan in late November 2003 provided a much-needed relief to the residents living along the LoC and International Border. On 26 November, 2003, both nations had agreed to the ceasefire, coinciding with Eid festival. This was the first formal truce between the two armies since the start of militancy. Guns along LoC, International Border and in Siachen Glacier fell silent on the very next day.

But the border areas have witnessed a massive escalation in the last few years. In 2014, according to the home ministry, there were 430 ceasefire violations along the International Border under the operational control of BSF, in 2017, there were 771 violations till 10 December along the LoC which is under operational control of the Indian Army, and 110 along the International Border.

The firing, which generally takes place during the night or in the wee hours, leaves a trail of death and destruction. Residents leave their homes and return to ruins. Their farms are destroyed and livestock has perished. And most of them have to start rebuilding their lives from scratch, only to see everything destroyed once again when a new incident of firing happens.

On Friday, the BSF refused to exchange sweets and greetings with their Pakistani counterparts on the occasion of Republic Day. As Haji Saifullah searched the ruins of his home, he couldnt find anything retrievable. All that was left were some half-burnt utensils and charred bedding. The entire neighborhood was reduced to ashes and smoke was still billowing out of few mounds of ash.

Behind the house, as Saifullah joined his wife in the search, their goat lay charred under the rubble of mud and a half-burnt window frame. Fozia Bi is visibly shocked by the discovery and she instantly breaks down. "She was our only source of income," Fozia told Firstpost. I used to run my house by selling her milk. What will we do now? she asks.
Photographer Gauri Gills most recent body of work, Acts of Appearance, is a series of vivid colour photographs for which the artist worked closely with members of an Adivasi community in Jawhar district, Maharashtra | #FirstCulture

Photographer Gauri Gills most recent body of work, Acts of Appearance, a series of vivid colour photographs for which the artist worked closely with members of an Adivasi community in Jawhar district, Maharashtra, is on view until 27 February at Nature Morte gallery in Delhi. The exhibition will then travel to the Museum of Modern Art PS1 in New York City. Projects 108: Gauri Gill, curated by Lucy Gallun, will be on display from 15 April to 3 September 2018.

This will be the North American premiere of the series.

Renowned for their papier-mache objects, including traditional sacred masks, Gills collaborator-subjects wear new masks, made to represent living individuals, as they engage in everyday village activities, across dreaming and waking states.

Acts of Appearance is presented alongside a selection of Gills older photographs from the series Notes from the Desert, reflecting upon the echoes between works made over several years in different locations across India, and emphasising her sustained engagement with rural communities and local artists.

For more details, click here and here.

View the complete gallery of photos here.
From Pico Iyer's advice on staying away from bucket lists when travelling to Mira Nair talking about adapting Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake for the big screen, here's a look at Day 3's highlights at the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival | #FirstCulture

Its one of those slightly windy winter days where its a bit too cold if you are in the shade or indoors but when out in the sun, the heat just stings you like a thousand needles as your bones melt away.

Its also the third day of the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival. The morning crowd slowly shuffles in at the Diggi Palace Hotel, as I wait for travel session to kick off. With all the sitting space already occupied, the standing bunch keep shifting a few feet every now and then with the moving shadows of the trees and the tents as the sun climbs up in the sky.

The Travel Session is one of those which takes place every year, with six or so authors joining William Dalrymple on the stage. The format is simple enough  each author gets about seven or so minutes to give some context about his/her writing and then read a travel passage from their books or articles.

This years lineup included Hugh Thomson, Pico Iyer, Raja Shehadeh, Redmond OHanlon, Bee Rowlatt and Robert Dessaix.

Dessaix kicked the procession off, discussing what travelling means to him, his most essential considerations when looking for a travel destination and finally reading a passage from his book The Pleasure of Leisure, where he talks about a surreal moment of finding a shrine in Thar desert and how in that moment, his idea of home just falls away.

Shehadeh read from his book Palestinian Walks: Forays into a Vanishing Landscape. The particular passages talked about walking through the unspoilt hills of Palestinian which would be gone one day and contemplating on what that would mean. The book also talks about his desire to preserve, in his writing, what has been lost forever.

Next up was Rowlatt, the only female author on the panel who duly started with proclaiming that women travellers do exist. She read a part from her book, In Search of Mary: The Mother of all Journeys, where she writes about awkwardly finding herself naked in a pool in California, but ending up feeling just like a baby at the end of the day (buy the book for the entire chain of events that include a not so trusty looking gentleman and an equally naked, large breasted woman).

Dalrymple, for the umpteenth time over the years, read the same passage from his From the Holy Mountain, involving a monastery, a Father, the devil, the Pope and the 35th President of the United States.

Thomson read from Nanda Devi: A Journey to the Last Sanctuary, a book published more than a decade ago, but only now set to release in India. The reasons for the book not to release in the country for so long, you ask? Well, the answer involves the 1962 India-China war, a bonkers CIA plan, a so-called Operation Blue Mountain and a lost nuclear-powered spying device. The result? One of the earthly paradises being sealed off the government forever.

Iyer read from one of his travel articles, talking about the notion of bucket lists, but more importantly, why one should stay away from those. And lastly, O'Hanlon read a passage from his book, No Mercy: A Journey to the Heart of the Congo, where a tribesman, rather furiously, denounces the Catholic practices of the author and preaches his own lands chief spirit.

I shuffled along through a crowd in the process of filling into the various drinking spots (the clock had barely hit the 12 o'clock mark) into to the next session  Armed and Dangerous: Of Words and Lovers featuring Amitava Kumar and Manu Joseph, talking about their latest works.

Although the conversation was interesting, and at times, even insightful, a bit too much of the time was spent by both the authors complimenting each other and what came off as scripted banter.

Joseph talked about drawing inspiration for his work and characters from the going ons in the country, the political establishment, and more specifically, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While Kumar talked about deriving his from Mahinder Watsas (Ask the Sexpert) columns, among other things.

The duo also discussed how reality can often be stranger than fiction, so much so that there is, at times, even a need to tone it down in writing to make a story more believable. The subjects of researching for a book, love and sex were also talked over at some length.

The lunch break was mostly spent in trying to figure whats the best place to eat (the criteria included where one could sit, not get robbed by the overpriced menus and avoid food poisoning at all costs). The consensus soon was there existed no such place.

But soon hunger was the last thing on my mind because after the lunch break was arguably the stellar session of the festival with an all-star lineup of Amy Tan, Michael Ondaatje, Mira Nair, Nicholas Shakespeare and Tom Stoppard, in conversation with Chiki Sarkar.

On Day 2 of Jaipur Literature Festival 2018, big ideas jostle for space with crowds

The panel discussed the adaptations of books and plays into movies and how the pages of a screenplay finally makes it to the silver screens.

Ondaatje talked about how his Booker Prize-winning book, The English Patient, was turned into a nine Academy Awards winning movie by director Anthony Minghella, while Nair, on the other side of the coin, talked about turning author Jhumpa Lahiris The Namesake into a movie.

Stoppard, perhaps the most familiar with the screenplays of all, talked about walking the fine line between being loyal to an authors text and the duty toward a director. He also expressed his utter irritation over the use of formulastic and risk-free methods of writing screenplays for the movies.

Tan and Shakespeare, both who have adapted their own books, The Joy Luck Club and The Dancer Upstairs, respectively, talked about what they had to let go, add or change for the translation; and what they learnt from the experience.

The panel also talked about the sudden revelations while watching their works on the screen, and the experience of working with film directors and screenwriters.

The day was concluded with a taste of utopia, leaving yours truly a bit disoriented. The session was called, Nordic Lights and had a panel consisting Carin Gerhardsen, Gerur Kristny, Josefine Klougart, Minna Lindgren and Zac OYeah in conversation with Odd Harald Hauge.

The lineup of authors and poets representing some of the happiest countries in the world talked about their rarely tested faith and trust in their government, universal health care, clean air, and the generally high standards of living.

The biggest problems it seems the region is facing are the debates over immigration (although most are in favour of, and need of immigrants) and eroding family values as people are too self-sure as the government takes care of everyone. So, yeah.

The final hour of the day was spent experiencing the poor mans Music Night at a venue restaurant itself where a band sang the covers of popular '90s songs to an exceptionally elated crowd of 40 or so.

Finally, with the chill in the air becoming unbearable, the approach for the exit was made.
Prithviraj Chavan on Sunday said that despite the Shiv Sena declaring that it would fight the 2019 polls alone, its current ally BJP would not allow it.

Mumbai: Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan on Sunday said that despite the Shiv Sena declaring that it would fight the 2019 polls alone, its current ally BJP would not allow it.

"The BJP will use its political might to ensure that all its allies, including the Shiv Sena, stay with it. Now with TDP

chief and Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also speaking about charting his own course, the challenge before the BJP is to keep the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) flock together," Chavan said.

Chavan said that the BJP's strategy for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls would be to keep its allies together and also ensure that there is no unity among the Opposition ranks.
In another public outburst in a week, sulking BJP leader Eknath Khadse on Sunday said his patience has limits though he clarified that he had no inclination to quit the saffron party

Mumbai: In another public outburst in a week, sulking BJP leader Eknath Khadse on Sunday said his patience has limits though he clarified that he had no inclination to quit the saffron party.

The former revenue minister, who resigned in the year 2016 on allegations of corruption and impropriety in a land deal, had recently said he should not be compelled to quit the BJP.

"I have been meeting my party leaders, asking them to place facts about all allegations against me in the public domain at the earliest. If there is proof, put me in jail but the truth should come out," Khadse told PTI in Mumbai.

The senior BJP leader also said he had not met the state leadership to make him minister again.

"For the last 20 months (since he quit as a minister), I remained quiet. There is a limit to my patience. I don't wish to quit the party with which I have a 40-year-old relation. But if I am insulted and sidelined on the basis of frivolous charges then what I am supposed to do. What should I do if attempts are made to push me out of the party? Is discipline only for me?" Khadse asked.

Addressing a function in his home district Jalgaon, Khadse had said he should not be compelled to quit the BJP.

To a question regarding he sharing the dais with Congress leaders at the programme, Khadse played down the incident and said these were birthday functions of leaders from his district.

"If (chief minister) Devendra Fadnavis can attend the birthday function of (NCP chief) Sharad Pawar, can't I go to birthday functions of leaders from my district?" he asked.

Khadse alleged that many development-related issues in Jalgaon district are being neglected and delayed.

"I have been pursuing the issues through correspondence with the concerned authorities. Should I now take the role of opposition leader despite being from the ruling dispensation?" he asked.

Khadse's reentry in the state Cabinet has been delayed with Fadnavis telling the Legislative Assembly last year that the probe report of a judicial committee against Khadse had become infructuous after the Bombay High Court instructing the ACB to register an FIR in the matter.
The United Democratic Party (UDP) in Meghalaya has exuded confidence that regional outfits would form the next government in the state.

Shillong: The United Democratic Party (UDP) in Meghalaya has exuded confidence that regional outfits would form the next government in the state.

People in Meghalaya had enough of the Congress and the BJP is yet to gain ground in the state, a senior UDP leader said.

Meghalaya is set to go to polls on 27 February and the results will be announced on 3 March.

"We are forming the next government and there is no doubt about it. We are leaving no stone unturned to cross the magic number 31 in the 60-member House," UDP Working President Paul Lyngdoh told PTI in Shillong.

The Congress, which has been in power in Meghalaya for about 15 years, is facing anti-incumbency problem while the BJP is struggling to win the hearts of people here, Lyngdoh said.

The UDP had secured the second spot with 8 seats in the 2013 assembly election. The Congress that bagged 29 seats in the polls had formed government with the support of 13 independents and two NCP MLAs.

This time, the UDP has forged pre-poll alliances with regional parties Hills State Peoples Democratic Party (HSPDP) and Garo National Council (GNC).

Although the UDP happens to be a constituent of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), led by the BJP, Lyngdoh feels it NEDA a political platform for the development of North East and not pre-poll alliances.

He said that the UDP-HSPDP combine would field candidates in at least 36 seats in the Khasi Jaintia Hills region with an agreed seat-sharing formula.

"The UDP will contest 17 seats in the region and the HSPDP 10. In the remaining nine seats, both parties can have friendly contest," Lyngdoh proposed.

In the Garo Hills region, which has 24 seats, six constituencies have been allotted to the GNC, the UDP chief said.

It is yet to be decided whether the UDP would contest the remaining 18 seats in the region, he added.

GNC president Kalpana D Sangma has said she expects her party to win at least five of the six seats in the three districts of South Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills and West Garo Hills.

Despite losing five senior sitting MLAs to the BJP, NPP and PDF earlier this month, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has also expressed confidence in securing at least 38 seats on its own.

"The Congress will win 38 seats and form the government once again," he said at a party meeting in Shillong recently.

The BJP, on the other hand, dismissed the claims of the Congress and regional parties and stated that the party will spring a surprise in the Assembly polls.

State BJP president Shibun Lyngdoh said, "Our mantra of 'sabka saath sabka vikas' (collective efforts, inclusive growth) is reverberating in poll-bound Meghalaya with people coming in huge numbers to support the party," he claimed.

Four sitting legislators, including former cabinet minister AL Hek and NCP's former state president Sanbor Shullai, had joined the saffron party early in January.

The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), another regional outfit, said it would support any party that wins maximum number of seats on conditions that issues identified by it in the state get addressed.

"Any party which needs our support will have to understand our issues and agree in principle that they will take it up as its government's agenda," KHNAM Working President Adelbert Nongrum said, adding that his party is likely to contest nine seats.
The Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTCHOC) on Saturday appealed to the Election Commission (EC) to defer 27 February assembly elections

Kohima: The Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTCHOC) on Saturday appealed to the Election Commission (EC) to defer 27 February 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 OP 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 RN 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 memorandum and written appeals to the Election Commission seeking deferment of elections even before the poll dates were announced on 18 January.

"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.
Reuters

Diebold Nixdorf Inc and NCR Corp, two of the worlds largest ATM makers, have warned that cyber criminals are targeting US cash machines with tools that force them to spit out cash in hacking schemes known as jackpotting.

The two ATM makers did not identify any victims or say how much money had been lost. Jackpotting has been rising worldwide in recent years, though it is unclear how much cash has been stolen because victims and police often do not disclose details.

The attacks were reported earlier on 27 January by the security news website Krebs on Security, which said they had begun last year in Mexico.

The companies confirmed to Reuters on 27 January they had sent out the alerts to clients.

NCR said in a 26 January alert that the cases were the first confirmed jackpotting losses in the United States. It said its equipment had not been targeted in the recent attacks, but that it was still a concern for the entire ATM industry.

This should be treated by all ATM deployers as a call to action to take appropriate steps to protect their ATMs against these forms of attack, the alert said.

Diebold Nixdorf said in a separate 26 January alert that US authorities had warned the company that hackers were targeting one of its ATM models, known as Opteva, which went out of production several years ago.

A confidential US Secret Service alert sent to banks said the hackers targeted stand-alone ATMs typically located in pharmacies, big box retailers and drive-thru ATMs, Krebs on Security reported.

Diebold Nixdorfs alert described steps that criminals had used to compromise ATMs. They include gaining physical access, replacing the hard drive and using an industrial endoscope to depress an internal button required to reset the device.

Reuters was unable to obtain a copy of the Secret Service report and an agency representative declined comment. Officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation could not immediately be reached.

Russian cyber security firm Group IB has reported that cyber criminals remotely attacked cash machines in more than a dozen countries across Europe in 2016. Similar attacks were also reported that year in Thailand and Taiwan.
Overwhelmed with the love and support she gets from Indians, young Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai has said she wants to visit the country and work for the girls in India

Davos: Overwhelmed with the love and support she gets from Indians, young Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai has said she wants to visit the country and work for the girls in India.

The 20-year-old Malala, who was shot at by Taliban at the age of 15 for defying the ban on girls going to school and went on to get a Nobel peace prize and become the UN Messenger of Peace, said she has already learnt a lot about India and is a big fan of its movies and drama and wants to learn more about its culture and values.

She was here to participate in the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, held from 22-26 January, and during her visit met a number of global leaders and CEOs to seek their support for the girl education. She has co-founded Malala Fund that seeks to invest in girl education across the world, while one of its initiative Gulmakai Network  named on Malala's pen name that she used while writing blogs against Taliban regime  supports the work of education champions across the world.

In an interview in Davos with PTI, Malala said she is very excited about expanding her Gulmakai Network to India, where she would want to work with the local people as they best understand the local issues and can suggest necessary solutions as well.

Excited to see so much "snow to the level of her height" on her first visit to Davos, the young activist agreed the issues were very much same in India and Pakistan with the two being one country before and having the same culture.

Brimming with excitement while talking about India, Malala said, "The support that I have received from India has been overwhelming and I want to thank everyone in India for their love and support. I get so many letters of support from India".

Recalling one such letter, she said there is one girl who sent her a letter saying she wanted to be prime minister of India and that "one day we both will be prime ministers and then we will negotiate and bring peace between the two countries".

"That touched my heart that the future generation is not only thinking about education but they, especially girls, want to be leaders as well. They want to be PMs, presidents and this gives me hope for the future," she said.

Stating that she wants to visit India, Malala said, "I have watched so many Indian dramas and films and I know already a lot about the country. I know Hindi as well that I learnt from Indian TV channels. We connect in many ways and there is a lot to learn from each other's culture and values".

As I am concerned about girls in Pakistan, I am also concerned about girls in India and the number is in millions, she said.

"When we talk about the future of India and future of Pakistan then we have to invest in our girls because they are the future. How can we make our future better and brighter when we ignore these millions of girls by not giving them education. When we educate girls, we are not just educating them individually but we are also empowering them and we are giving them an opportunity to earn for themselves," she said.
China hopes to work with Japan to get relations back onto a normal track, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi told his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono on Sunday during a meeting in Beijing.

Beijing: China hopes to work with Japan to get relations back onto a normal track, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi told his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono on Sunday during a meeting in Beijing.

China and Japan have long sparred over their painful history, with Beijing frequently accusing Tokyo of not properly atoning for Japans invasion of China before and during World War Two.

Ties between China and Japan, the worlds second- and third-largest economies, have also been plagued by a long-running territorial dispute over a cluster of East China Sea islets and suspicion in China about efforts by Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe to amend Japans pacifist constitution.

However, the two countries have sought to improve ties, and Abe and Chinese president Xi Jinping met in November on the sidelines of a regional summit in Vietnam.

Wang told Kono that his trip, coming so early in the year, showed Japans strong wish to improve relations, and China approves of this as improved ties are in both nations interests, according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry.

However, while there has been positive progress there are also many disturbances and obstructions, Wang said, while also noting comments from Abe on wanting to improve relations.

China-Japan relations have always been like a boat going against a current, and if there is no progress then things go backwards, he added.

China hopes that Japan does not slacken its efforts and puts its words into action, and works with China to get ties back onto a normal, healthy track as soon as possible, Wang said.
An elite group of climbers saved a French mountaineer in a daring high-altitude rescue mission on Pakistan's Nanga Parbat, one of the highest mountains in the world

Islamabad: An elite group of climbers saved a French mountaineer in a daring high-altitude rescue mission on Pakistan's Nanga Parbat, one of the highest mountains in the world, as officials called off the search for a second missing alpinist on Sunday.

The group of Polish climbers with support from the Pakistani military launched the effort Saturday afternoon to rescue stranded French mountaineer Elisabeth Revol, but were unable to reach Polish national Tomek Mackiewicz on Nanga Parbat, nicknamed "killer mountain".

"The rescue for Tomasz is unfortunately not possible because of the weather and altitude it would put the life of rescuers in extreme danger," wrote Ludovic Giambiasi, a friend of Revol, in a series of updates on Facebook. "It's a terrible and painful decision."

The rescue mission involved four mountaineers who were flown by the Pakistani military from the base camp of K2

the world's second-highest peak to reach the stranded climbers.

"The K2 climbers who stopped their historic effort for a winter K2 summit will descend with Elisabeth Revol one life saved," said Karar Haideri, spokesman for the Alpine Club of Pakistan, in a statement.

The team is in the process of being evacuated by helicopter after a five and a half hour descent down the mountain to Nanga Parbat's camp one early on Sunday where they are set to airlifted to a hospital in nearby Skardu. "(Revol) has frostbite and some (snow) blindness," said Asghar Ali Porik from Jasmine Tours who helped organise the K2 expedition.

Pakistani climber Karim Shah, who was in contact with the expedition, said the rescue effort was unmatched in the

history of mountaineering, with the team ascending 1,200 metres in complete darkness along a treacherous route without a fixed rope.

"No one did such a climb before," Shah told AFP. "Most people it takes two or three days and they did it

in eight hours in the darkness."

The rescue mission was launched after the missing alpinists were located on Friday when fellow mountaineers

using binoculars spotted Revol attempting to climb down while Mackiewicz appeared to be crawling due to frostbite.

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.
Japan's foreign minister called on China to increase cooperation on curbing North Korea's nuclear weapons programme Sunday during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing.

Beijing: Japan's foreign minister called on China to increase cooperation on curbing North Korea's nuclear weapons programme during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing on Sunday.

The meeting between Japan's Taro Kono and China's Wang Yi comes as the rival nations aim to improve relations held back by longstanding and seemingly intractable disputes over territory and Japan's war-time legacy.

While ties between Asia's two largest economies have shown signs of warming, China's president Xi Jinping and Japan's PM Shinzo Abe have yet to meet on their own soil.

In remarks at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guest House, Kono praised the progress between the countries towards improving ties, while calling on Beijing to do more to curb Pyongyang's weapons programme.

"I believe it is important not only to discuss issues related to our two countries, but for Japan and China to stand side by side to deal with global issues," he said.

"In particular, the North Korea issue is now an urgent issue for the whole of international society."

Tokyo has been wooing China with official visits and business delegations, but an exchange of state visits has remained a hard sell.

Japan is hoping that will change this year as the two countries prepare to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the signing of a Japan-China friendship treaty.

Relations between the two countries are at a "crucial stage," Chinese foreign minister Wang told Kono.

"There is positive progress, but many disturbances and obstacles remain," he said, adding he hoped that the two sides could work together to push ties "toward the track of normal and sound development at an early date."

A major source of tensions is a long-standing dispute over islands in the East China Sea, known as "Senkaku" in Japanese and "Diaoyu" by the Chinese side.

Tokyo's decision to "nationalise" some of the islets in 2012 led to a major falling out between the two countries, and the fragile relationship has been slow to recover.

Chinese coastguard vessels routinely travel around the disputed islands, a practice that has elicited regular objections from Japan, which controls the region.

Although the issue was not mentioned publicly, it was likely a subject of conversation behind closed doors, as the disagreement heated up earlier this month when Tokyo revealed that Beijing had sent a nuclear-powered submarine to the area for the first time.

Japan is also pushing to host a trilateral summit with leaders from China and South Korea to discuss a broad range of regional issues, including North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.

The meeting, which was scheduled for last December, was postponed following the impeachment of former South Korean president Park Geun-Hye.
President Juan Orlando Hernandez has been sworn in for a new term in the Honduran capital, 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

Tegucigalpa: President Juan Orlando Hernandez has been sworn in for a new term in the Honduran capital, 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 on Saturday 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.

"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 recognising 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 26 November 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 per cent 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.
Kabul was in despair on Sunday, a day after a Taliban suicide bomber killed more than 100 people and wounded at least 235 in the worst attack in the Afghan capital in months

Kabul: Kabul was in despair on Sunday, a day after a Taliban suicide bomber killed more than 100 people and wounded at least 235 in the worst attack in the Afghan capital in months.

A week ago, the Taliban killed more than 20 people in a siege of the citys Intercontinental Hotel. Another six people were killed in an assault claimed by Islamic State on the office of aid group Save the Children in the eastern city of Jalalabad.

Despite pressure on President Ashraf Ghanis Western-backed government to improve security, the attacks show no sign of abating, giving rise to helpless anger among residents.

How are we to live? Where should we go? asked shopkeeper Mohammad Hanif, who was in his shop near the site of the explosion when it went off.

Interior Minister Wais Barmak said the casualty toll had risen to at least 103 dead and 235 wounded. He said at least two vehicles painted as ambulances were involved in the attack, one of which blew up at when it was stopped at a police checkpoint.

Security officials have warned of possible further attacks.

The Taliban said their attack was intended as a message to US president Donald Trump who last year sent more American troops to Afghanistan and ordered an increase in air strikes and other assistance to Afghan forces.

The Islamic Emirate has a clear message for Trump and his hand kissers that if you go ahead with a policy of aggression and speak from the barrel of a gun, dont expect Afghans to grow flowers in response, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement, using the term they use to describe themselves.

The attack in one of the most heavily protected parts of the city, close to foreign embassies and government buildings, was the worst seen in the Afghan capital since a truck bomb near the German embassy killed 150 people in May.

People were running everywhere to escape, there were wounded people lying on the ground, people with wounds to their arms, legs, heads, Hanif said.

Despite a major tightening in checks following the 31 May attack, the ambulance was able to get through the checkpoints, apparently without difficulty.

People dont have work. Theres no life for people in Afghanistan. People have to look for a life somewhere else, theres nowhere, said shopkeeper Sameem.

With Ghani embroiled in a confrontation with provincial powerbrokers defying central rule, the pressure is mounting on the government to set aside political divisions and focus on security.

The situation is absolutely unacceptable to the people, said a former government minister, Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal.

The government spends a lot of time and energy in political rivalry and infighting at a time when it has to pay more attention to security.

Terrorist War

Former US ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad called for Ghanis government and its main political rival, powerful northern leader Atta Mohammad Noor, to come together and resolve their differences.

Fighting terrorism and protecting the people is job one. I hope they rise to the occasion, Khalilzad said on Twitter.

1/3 The terrorists backed by #Pakistan have declared war against the Afghan people. #Afghanistan and its allies need an effective plan to protect civlians and go after their enemies. This should be the number 1 priority. President Ghani should invite political leaders, seek...  Zalmay Khalilzad (@realZalmayMK) January 28, 2018

2/3 their advice and involvement behind a strong plan. It cannot be business as usual. Afghan leaders must unite to mobilize the people and other assets to confront and defeat the barbaric threat. Politics should be put aside for now. Afghans should press their leaders to ....  Zalmay Khalilzad (@realZalmayMK) January 28, 2018

3/3 rise to the occasion and stop their little games. Afghanistan's future is on the line. @ashrafghani @realDonaldTrump  Zalmay Khalilzad (@realZalmayMK) January 28, 2018

Saturdays attack, described as an atrocity by the head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, drew universal condemnation from neighbouring countries and allies who had expressed confidence that the new US strategy was producing results.

Following a recent visit to Kabul, the US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said the strategy was working and pushing the insurgents closer to peace talks.

However, the Taliban have dismissed any suggestion that they have been weakened by the US approach and say they will only agree to talks when international forces leave Afghanistan.

The United States, which has accused Pakistan of helping the Taliban and has cut off some aid, urged all countries to take decisive action to stop the violence.

Afghan officials also say the insurgency is being directed from outside their country.

This is not a civil war, this is a terrorist war imposed on the Afghan people, said Masoom Stanekzai, head of Afghanistans main intelligence agency.

This is a war in which the Afghan people are being used as tools and burned like firewood every day.

Pakistan, which denies accusations it fosters the Afghan war to undermine old rival Indias growing influence there, condemned the attack and called for concerted efforts and effective cooperation...to eradicate the scourge of terrorism.

Afghanistan declared Sunday a day of mourning and said Monday would be a day off to allow care of the victims families. Joko Widodo, president of Indonesia, which has the worlds biggest Muslim population, was due to visit Kabul on Monday, Ghanis office said.

Widodo has proposed that Indonesian Islamic scholars could help promote Afghan peace, media reported recently.
Authorities in Syria's Kurdish autonomous region said on Sunday they would not attend peace talks in Russia's Sochi next week because of Turkey's offensive against the Kurdish enclave of Afrin

Beirut: Authorities in Syria's Kurdish autonomous region said on Sunday they would not attend peace talks in Russia's Sochi next week because of Turkey's offensive against the Kurdish enclave of Afrin.

"We said before that if the situation remained the same in Afrin we could not attend Sochi," regional official Fawza al-Yussef said. Rebel backer Turkey is one of the sponsors of the talks in the Black Sea resort on Monday and Tuesday, along with Damascus allies Russia and Iran.

Turkey's military offensive in Afrin "contradicts the principle of political dialogue", Yussef said.

Turkey launched operation "Olive Branch" on 20 January against the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia in Afrin, supporting Syrian opposition fighters with ground troops and air strikes.

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 Sochi talks come after multiple failed rounds of UN-brokered talks to end Syria's seven-year war.

On Saturday, Syria's main opposition group, the Syrian Negotiation Commission, also said it would not attend the negotiations. More than 340,000 people have been killed and millions displaced since Syria's war began in 2011.

The conflict began with the brutal repression of anti-government protests, but has since evolved into a complex war including jihadists and foreign powers.
Russian police broke into the Moscow headquarters of top Opposition leader Alexei Navalny using a saw, and detained several members of his team, his aides said.

Moscow: Russian police broke into the Moscow headquarters of top Opposition leader Alexei Navalny using a saw, and detained several members of his team, his aides said.

The 41-year-old Opposition politician had called on Russians across the country to defy authorities and stage rallies calling for an active boycott of 18 March presidential elections despite the prospect of mass arrests.

Police broke into Navalny's headquarters in the Russian capital using a saw, to interrupt a live broadcast covering a series of protests in the east of the country.

Police also detained several employees of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation as well as supporters in the regions, Navalny's team said.

Earlier, Opposition supporters rallied in far eastern Russia and Siberia, with main protests expected to begin in Moscow and Saint Petersburg at 1100 GMT.
The Indian-American adoptive parents of Sherin Mathews, the girl found dead in a culvert in Dallas, have forfeited their parental rights to their four-year-old biological child, who now has to live with family members with both her parents in jail ahead of their sentencing.

Houston: The Indian-American adoptive parents of Sherin Mathews, the girl found dead in a culvert in Dallas, have forfeited their parental rights to their four-year-old biological child, who now has to live with family members with both her parents in jail ahead of their sentencing.

Wesley and Sini Mathews signed relinquishment paperwork for their biological child on Friday during their scheduled final Child Protective Service (CPS) hearing, according to US media reports.

CPS officials had removed her from the Mathews' Richardson home on 9 October, two days after her sister Sherin was reported missing.

Sherin's decomposed body was found two weeks later in a culvert close to her home. An autopsy concluded Sherin died of homicidal violence, but how she died could not be determined by the Dallas Medical Examiner's Office due to the decomposition of the body.

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.

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 7 October 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.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the powerful Security Council have strongly condemned the 'senseless and cowardly bombing' in Kabul which claimed at least 95 lives

Washington: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the powerful Security Council have strongly condemned the "senseless and cowardly bombing" in Kabul which claimed at least 95 lives, calling for the need to bring to justice perpetrators of the reprehensible acts of terrorism.

Strongly condemning the Taliban-claimed assault  the second carried out by the militant group in the Afghan capital in a week  the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in a statement underlined the "need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice."

It urged all countries to cooperate actively with the Government of Afghanistan and all other relevant authorities in this regard.

Reiterating that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed, the Security Council reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means.

UN Secretary General 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.

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.
The fighting, which killed at least 15 people, threw war-torn Yemen into further chaos and threatened to undermine president Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who ordered his forces to stand down

Aden: Yemen's government accused southern separatists of an attempted coup on Sunday after they took over its headquarters amid fierce clashes in the city of Aden.

The fighting, which killed at least 15 people, threw war-torn Yemen into further chaos and threatened to undermine president Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who ordered his forces to stand down.

Security sources and residents said clashes appeared to have spread to most of the city, with reports of running gun battles.

The government urged the Saudi-led military coalition, which has been supporting Hadi against Iran-backed Huthi rebels in control of much of the north, to intervene.

The southern separatists  who want the return of an independent state that ended with Yemen's unification in 1990  backed Hadi's government against the Huthis but tensions between the two sides had been on the rise.

"A coup is ongoing here in Aden against legitimacy and the country's unity," Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher said in a statement.

Shortly afterwards, it was reported loyalist commanders had received orders from the president to put down their weapons.

"After talks with the Arab coalition... you must order all military units to cease fire immediately," a government statement said.

On Sunday afternoon, coalition planes were seen flying over the city.

Security sources told AFP that pro-separatist units trained and backed by the United Arab Emirates had taken over the government headquarters in Aden after clashes.

The 15 people killed included three civilians, hospital sources said. Dozens more were wounded.

Saudi and Emirati troops present in Aden did not intervene in the clashes, security sources said.

The fighting erupted after separatist protestors were prevented from entering the city for a rally to demand the government's ouster in Aden, established as its interim base after the Iran-backed Huthis seized control of the capital Sanaa in 2014.

Schools, airport closed

The coalition, which launched its intervention against the rebels in March 2015, had urged restraint ahead of the planned protest.

It called on all sides to "adhere to the language of calm dialogue", according to a statement cited late Saturday by Saudi state news agency SPA.

Universities, schools and the only international airport in the city had all been closed, according to witnesses.

The UN children's agency UNICEF said on Twitter it was "very concerned about the situation in Aden."

Dagher said that events in Aden were headed towards "total military confrontation" and urged members of the coalition, in particular, the United Arab Emirates, to take action.

The premier also warned that separating south Yemen from the rest of the country would benefit Iran and the Huthis.

"Iran is trying to consolidate its presence in Yemen through the Huthis and by splitting Yemen, we are giving them one-third of the land and three-quarters of the population," Dagher said.

Sunday's rally was called by the Southern Transitional Council, an autonomous body aimed at overseeing self-governance among southern provinces.

The 26-member council, which is not recognised by Hadi's government, includes the governors of five southern provinces and two cabinet ministers.

Former Aden governor Aidarous al-Zoubeidi formed the council in May after Hadi fired him the previous month.

The council had asked Hadi to make changes in the government and gave him one week to do so  a deadline that expired on Sunday.

Long campaign for secession

It had warned that if Hadi did not accept the demand, its supporters would begin a protest campaign to oust Dagher's government.

The separatists have long campaigned for the secession of southern Yemen.

South Yemen was an independent state  with former British colony Aden as its capital  from its formation in 1967 until 1990, when it was unified with North Yemen under northern leader Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Four years later, it launched a separatist rebellion that culminated in its occupation by northern forces.

The Huthis, a northern Shiite minority, seized Sanaa in September 2014 with the help of Saleh and army units loyal to him.

In March 2015, the rebels advanced on Aden, where Hadi took refuge after escaping house arrest in the capital.

But the Saudi-led coalition helped pro-Hadi forces push the rebels out of Aden in July that year, as well as from four other provinces.

Hadi loyalists have been boosted by the Popular Resistance alliance of southern separatists and tribesmen who took up arms after the rebels advanced on their regions.

Years of UN-backed peace efforts have failed to resolve Yemen's conflict, which has killed more than 9,200 people and devastated a country already among the poorest in the region.

The Huthis have increasingly consolidated their grip on Sanaa and the north, especially since rebel gunmen killed Saleh in December after their alliance collapsed.
Tens of millions of retirees receive Social Security benefits, and that money provides a substantial portion of the retirement income that older Americans receive. Statistics from the Social Security Administration have suggested that a huge portion of the population of senior citizens in the U.S. relies on Social Security for most or nearly all of their income after they stop working.

A new study casts some new light on just how much older Americans rely on Social Security for their income. Although the numbers don't completely contradict earlier findings, they nevertheless provide a different perspective that could point to the ways that retirees are adapting to handle the retirement savings crisis.

SSA stats have always painted a dreary picture of retirement

The Social Security Administration has repeatedly stated that Social Security benefits are the major source of income for most elderly Americans. Nearly 90% of those who are age 65 or older receive Social Security, according to the SSA's most recent basic facts sheet, and overall, those benefits make up about a third of the income that the elderly have.

Among Social Security beneficiaries, the SSA says that half of married couples and more than 70% of unmarried people get at least half of their retirement income from Social Security. Almost a quarter of married couples and more than 40% of unmarried senior citizens rely on Social Security for fully 90% of their income in retirement.

Are things really that bad for retirees?

Yet a more recent study from SmartAsset paints a slightly different picture of the state of financial health for America's older generation. The study looked at the 100 cities that had the largest populations of residents 65 or older, focusing on families where the head of the household was 65 or older. It used Census data on income from Social Security and compared it to data on income from pension plans, annuities, insurance, and IRAs. By figuring out how much total retirement-related income these households received, the study then looked at the percentage of that total income that Social Security payments provided.

The study's main purpose was to identify those communities in which seniors relied the most on Social Security. In that vein, its findings showed that the neediest seniors often gravitated toward lower-cost areas, with many top locations scattered across the Midwest and Plains states. Even for communities in popular destinations like Florida and Arizona, there were places where those of limited means could find ways to stretch their dollars further.

Yet the most surprising statistic in the survey was that in only three cities did Social Security income exceed what retirees brought in from other sources. The numbers for the top 10 cities on the list ranged from 54% of total retirement income coming from Social Security to 48%. In the 99th-ranked city on the list, meanwhile, just 33% of total retirement income came from Social Security. Those numbers suggest that retirees aren't nearly as reliant on Social Security as the SSA stats would indicate.

Reconciling the two studies

Despite initial appearances, there are a few reasons why the findings of the two studies aren't necessarily inconsistent. The SmartAsset survey looked only at average numbers, and drawing conclusions solely from averages can lead to misleading findings if the distributions of individual results aren't normal. For example, if a single billionaire receives $200 million in annual retirement income, it would skew the averages enough to offset 10,000 other town residents who rely entirely on $20,000 per year in Social Security benefits. In that case, the SmartAsset survey would show an average reliance on Social Security of 50%, but the SSA would still find that 99.99% of residents relied entirely on Social Security for their retirement income.

Regardless of which study you believe paints the more accurate picture of the financial health of retired Americans, the key takeaway is that it's important to make sure that you have the outside retirement income sources you'll need to support yourself in retirement. The financial flexibility from having a retirement nest egg will give you options that those who rely entirely on Social Security simply don't have.

The $16,122 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $16,122 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies.

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Talk about a mixed bag. Just as Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) has its application to sell its iQOS heat-not-burn electronic cigarette as a reduced-risk product under review by the FDA, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) releases its study that e-cigs are a safer alternative than a traditional combustible cigarette and can be quite useful in helping people quit smoking.

Sounds good, except it also said e-cigs can't be considered "safe," they can be addicting, and they can lead teens to start smoking. That's hardly the kind of finding Philip Morris wants to hear at this point.

Where there's smoke

The headline data points from the NASEM report really aren't all that earth-shattering. Considering most of the toxic chemicals and harm they cause originate in cigarette smoke, an electronic cigarette generating a vapor was already considered a safer option for smokers, and most people were using them to try to quit smoking anyway.

And the manufacturers of e-cigs already acknowledge that e-cigs aren't safe, per se, but rather are a "less risky" alternative, as British American Tobacco (NYSE: BTI) points out on its website.

And in Philip Morris International's dramatic New Year's Day full-page ads, where it declared it wanted to quit smoking for good, it also said it would be best if people just stopped smoking, too, and that its electronic cigarettes and heat-not-burn alternatives were geared toward those who wouldn't otherwise give up combustible cigarettes.

Of course, much of this is marketing language necessary to perform the dance with regulators and hold off on injurious rules and regulations that could snuff out the nascent industry, which is still in a large growth phase.

This is why the study's findings that e-cigs can be addicting and can lure teens into smoking is problematic.

Regulatory cues

The NASEM study was commissioned by the FDA in 2016 after Congress gave the agency the authority to regulate e-cigs like regular cigarettes. While most e-cigs at the time used a nicotine-infused e-liquid to deliver the flavor and satisfaction smokers get from combustibles, advances have developed alternatives that draw the e-liquid vapor through a tobacco-filled cartridge, such as British American's iFuse e-cig, or the latest heat-not-burn technology that heats tobacco leaf just enough to create a vapor.

Philip Morris is pushing its iQOS that it wants to market under Altria's (NYSE: MO) Marlboro brand, while British American says it wants to market its similar iFuse glo brand in the U.S. and will submit its own application this year.

The study is important because the FDA will likely be guided by its findings as it decides just how to regulate the industry. While it originally proposed draconian rules that promised to virtually wipe out the industry by making it possible for only the largest, most financially secure manufacturers to comply, last year, it gave the industry a four-year reprieve.

But the clock is ticking down, and the Philip Morris application could be the first real look into how the FDA will ultimately come down on the players. It's important because it will decide just what options in nicotine delivery and sources will be available to consumers. It's beneficial for the industry as a whole that NASEM recognized that the devices can save lives.

Teen usage a concern

The biggest problem, then, may be the finding of "substantial evidence that e-cigarette use by youth and young adults increases their risk of ever using conventional cigarettes." It said youths are the biggest users of e-cigs, and there's a heavy probability of them transitioning to using combustible cigarettes as a result.

The FDA's head of its tobacco division told The New York Times, "For kids who initiate on e-cigarettes, there's a great chance of intensive use of cigarettes. As the regulator, we've got to factor all that in."

Philip Morris International is the first to go under the microscope, and the FDA's ruling may ultimately determine whether British American Tobacco moves forward with its own plan. There seems to be something for everyone in this report, advocates and critics alike. One the whole, it looks favorable to the iQOS's chance for approval, but it may come at a cost of heavy regulation to keep them out of the hands of teens.

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U.S. President Donald Trump says he would take a "tougher" attitude toward Brexit negotiations than the approach now being used by British Prime Minister Theresa May.

"Would it be the way I negotiate? No, I wouldn't negotiate it the way it's (being) negotiated... I would have had a different attitude," he says in an ITV interview.

He says: "I would have said that the European Union is not cracked up to what it's supposed to be."

Britain is preparing to leave the European Union in March 2019. The complex negotiations have moved slowly and May's Cabinet seems deeply divided over how best to separate Britain from the 28-nation bloc.

Trump expressed annoyance with EU trade policy: "We cannot get our product in," he said. "It's very, very tough. And yet, they send their product to us  no taxes, very little taxes."

He says his problems with the EU "may morph into something very big" from a trade standpoint.

In the interview with journalist Piers Morgan, Trump has high praise for French President Emmanuel Macron.

"He's a great guy," Trump says. "His wife is fantastic. I like them a lot. You know, we had dinner at the top of the Eiffel Tower, and everything was closed."

He says he looks forward to visiting Britain, where he has been invited for a state visit to be hosted by Queen Elizabeth II, and says he doesn't care that some Britons want him to stay away.

He even joked about his hair: "It's hanging in, barely," he says.

Discussing the upcoming royal wedding that will feature an American bride, he says Britain's Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle, look like a "lovely couple" and says he doesn't know if he's been invited to their May 19 nuptials.

Told by Morgan that Markle had called him a "divisive misogynist," the president struck a friendly note: "Well, I still hope they're happy," he says.

Trump also says that his administration might not withdraw from the Paris climate accord if terms more favorable to the United States are reached, in part because he likes Macron.

Asked about his treatment of women, Trump says he has "tremendous respect" for women but does not consider himself a feminist.

"I think that would be, maybe, going too far," he says.

The interview was conducted Thursday during Trump's brief visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The guest list for Harry and Markle's May 19 wedding at Windsor Castle has not been made public. The prince's press team said invitations have not been sent out yet. It is not clear if a final list has been drawn up.

The British press has been filled with speculation that Harry and Markle might snub Trump and invite former U.S. President Barack Obama as a wedding guest. The prince and Obama have met on several occasions, and Obama gave Harry a rare interview last year that was broadcast on the BBC.

Trump, in contrast, has angered many people in Britain with his crackdown on immigration and his climate change policies.

During the interview, he seemed open to revisiting his pledge to withdraw from 2015 Paris climate accord if the deal could be substantially revised. Under the pact, nations set their own goals to reduce the emissions of heat-trapping gases. Because of legal technicalities America can't get out until November of 2020.

"If somebody said, go back into the Paris accord, it would have to be a completely different deal because we had a horrible deal," Trump says.

"Would I go back in? Yeah, I'd go back in. I like, as you know, I like Emmanuel (Macron). I would love to, but it's got to be a good deal for the United States."

Trump said the climate has been cooling as well as warming and asserted that ice caps have not been shrinking as predicted.

"The ice caps were going to melt, they were going to be gone by now, but now they're setting records," he said.

However, those remarks don't quite match what data shows and scientists say. The world hasn't been cooling except for normal day-to-day weather variations; it has been just the opposite. And there have been far more records for shrinking ice on the top and the bottom of the world than growing, despite what the president claimed.
MONTREAL (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday set aside the nation's nonpartisan efforts to defend NAFTA, accusing his main rivals in Parliament of wanting to give in to hard-line U.S. demands for revamping the treaty.

Officials from the United States, Canada and Mexico will wrap up the sixth of seven planned rounds of talks on the North American Free Trade Agreement in Montreal on Monday, with little sign of agreement on U.S. proposals to overhaul the $1.2 trillion pact.

Opinion polls show Trudeau's Liberals are still in the lead ahead of an October 2019 election, but the right-of-center Conservatives are narrowing the gap. The House of Commons lower chamber of Parliament resumes on Monday after a winter break.

Trudeau told a televised meeting of Liberal legislators in Ottawa that the government was working hard to get a better NAFTA deal and took a swipe at the Conservatives, who have generally backed his approach.

"If they had their way, we'd give in to American demands on NAFTA," he said. "We have a different way of doing things. We will always stand up for Canadians."

Representatives for the Conservatives were not immediately available for comment.

A Canadian government official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Trudeau was pressing for trade deals to have progressive elements such as protection of women's and indigenous rights. The Conservatives oppose that idea, the official added.

Conservative leader Andrew Scheer, who in the past has accused Trudeau of not having a plan on NAFTA, visited Washington on Jan. 17 and said his party and the Liberals were united.

Canadian politicians and officials have traveled across the United States for 18 months to sell the benefits of free trade.

Despite those efforts, NAFTA's future is in doubt. U.S. President Donald Trump, who blames the 1994 treaty for job losses and a big trade deficit with Mexico, has repeatedly threatened to withdraw.

Chief negotiators had the day off on Sunday. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland and Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo will meet in Montreal on Sunday and Monday to review progress so far.

Officials say if the three conclude the process should continue, an additional round of talks will start in Mexico on Feb. 26.

The talks are scheduled to finish by the end of March to avoid clashing with Mexico's presidential election in July. Mexican officials now suggest the deadline could be extended.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)
Mort Walker, the artist and author of the Beetle Bailey comic strip, died Saturday at age 94, his family confirmed.

Beetle Bailey comic strip artist Mort Walker died Saturday at age 94, his family said.

According to his oldest son, Greg, who partnered with his father on that venerable cartoon take on the military life, the elder Walker died of old age at his home in Stanford, Conn.

Walker was part of more than a half-dozen comic strips in his career, including "Hi and Lois," ''Boner's Ark" and "Sam & Silo." But his greatest success came from Beetle, his hot-tempered sergeant and the rest of the gang at fictional Camp Swampy, which he drew for nearly 70 years.

After an initial lack of popularity, the cartoon eventually succeeded, which Walker attributed to Beetles indolence and reluctance to follow authority.

"Most people are sort of against authority," Walker said once during an interview with the Associated Press. "Here's Beetle always challenging authority. I think people relate to it."

Addison Morton Walker was born Sept. 3, 1923, in Kansas and began publishing cartoons by the time he hit age 11. Before eventually heading to New York to pursue a career as a cartoonist, Walker was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1943 and served in Europe during World War II.

A file photo of "Beetle Bailey" comic strips seen at Morton's home in Connecticut.

His signature strip was first released in the late 1940s by the Saturday Evening Post. Beetles character originally appeared as Spider before Walker eventually changed it and launched Beetle Bailey as a college humor strip in 1950.

"Beetle Bailey" led to spin-off comic strip "Hi and Lois," which he created with Dik Browne, in 1954. The premise was that Beetle went home on leave to visit his sister, Lois, and brother-in-law, Hi.

The comic strip endured despite a number of controversies, including when feminist groups claimed the cartoon made light of sexual harassment due to Walkers character Gen. Amos Halftrack, who had a tendency to ogle his well-endowed secretary, Miss Buxley. Instead of writing him out of the strip, Walker resolved the issue by send Halftrack to sensitivity training.

Walkers sons Greg and Brian plan to carry on their fathers work. The pair have worked in the family business for decades.

Besides his sons, Walker is survived by his second wife, Catherine; daughters Polly Blackstock and Margie Walker Hauer; sons Neal and Roger Walker; stepdaughters Whitney Prentice and Priscilla Prentice Campbell; and several grandchildren.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Princess Stephanie of Monaco (R) gives a banana to a giraffe as Merrylu Richter and Jozsef Richter perform during the Gala evening of the 42th Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival in Monaco.

Princess Stephanie of Monaco, the daughter of princess and American actress Grace Kelly, defended animals being used in circuses, saying its become a fashion to criticize the shows and not acknowledge the change in the industry.

Stephanie told AFP that circus animals are part of the cultural heritage and that not all animals used in the shows were unhappy. She also supported greater industry regulation.

The time has come to act! Not all circus animals are unhappy, the princess said, according to People. The circus was born with animals, horses at the start.

She added, This is part of our cultural heritage. Its a whole, with clowns and acrobats.

Stephanie, who is the President of the Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo, said critics who attack circuses and issue death threats against owners are going too far. She added that those who attack the circus are a minority who wish to impose their will upon others.

Princess Stephanie is the President of the Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo.

She also said critics are so stuck in their ways that they refuse to negotiate[or] see how the industry has evolved, according to People.

Its become a fashion, she told AFP. Its like being vegetarian, vegan.

When you see the numbers who come to the circus, you understand that we dont get that by abusing animals, she said.

Stephanie also launched a petition to have UNESCO designate the traditional circus as a world heritage site. The princess has been extremely involved with preserving the circus tradition. Her father, Prince Rainier III, created the Festival International de Cirque de Monte-Carlo, according to the festivals website.

Stephanie, who also owns two rescued elephants, previously defended circus animals, telling People it is a tradition that people remember form their childhood.
Scandalous chronicles the sequence of events that led to the impeachment of President Bill Clinton during the 1990s.

The second episode of Scandalous, Fox News Channels new addition to its Sunday night lineup, will debut on Jan. 28 at 8 p.m. ET.

The documentary-style series chronicles the sequence of events that led to the impeachment of President Bill Clinton during the 1990s with one-hour episodes to coincide with the 20-year anniversary of the scandal.

Last weeks premiere episode focused on the investigations of then-President Clinton by the Office of the Independent Counsel. The second episode dives into Arkansas state employee Paula Jones suing of Clinton, focusing on key events that unfolded from February 1994 through January 1996.

Paula Jones, Kathleen Willey, Juanita Broaddrick and Kathy Shelton (L-R) sit at the presidential town hall debate between Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S., October 9, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson - HT1ECAA035B1L

This episode spotlights the public outcry surrounding various controversies related to the Clinton administration and also captures the reaction of then-First Lady Hillary Clinton, who found herself increasingly in the public eye as her husband campaigned for re-election.

Network insiders hope the series will become a franchise, with future installments focusing on other moments and scandals that made a lasting impact on America's history. The Clinton-themed debut of Scandalous is narrated by actor Bruce McGill and features interviews with more than 45 people who were involved on both sides of the Clinton investigation and subsequent impeachment trial.

Scandalous, which was filmed in cinematic style, covers everything from the failed 1980s Whitewater land deal in the Ozarks of Arkansas to Clintons last day in office and all of the controversy in between. The series will revisit the daily twists and turns of the investigation 20 years after White House intern Monica Lewinsky was revealed and first captivated the world.

Linda Tripp, who secretly recorded conversations with Lewinsky about the young intern's relationship with the president, will also be part of the seven-part series, along with Susan McDougal, who served prison time for contempt and fraud related to the Whitewater controversy.

Clinton famously was caught having an affair with Lewinsky in January 1998, and the House Judiciary Committee approved articles of impeachment by December of that year  charging him with perjury and obstruction of justice. Clinton eventually was acquitted by the Senate and allowed to finish out his second term in the White House.

Scandalous is scheduled to air every Sunday at 8 p.m. ET until the seven-episode season wraps up.
The White House communications director stunned in a pair of taupe suede, thigh-high Stuart Weitzman boots, priced at $798, and a navy blue wrap dress.

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.

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.

Looking like a pro, tweeted one person.

Hope Hicks has wowed in the past, like when she wore a form-fitting tuxedo and bow tie at a Japanese state dinner.

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.

Hope steals the show, a Twitter user wrote at the time. Wow impressive suit ..gorgeous.

With Post wires

This article originally appeared on the New York Post.
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Opinion poll after opinion poll shows that a Democratic wave is building. If the November midterm elections were held today, Republican control of the House and the Senate would be in jeopardy.

Make no mistake about it, conservatives should not underestimate what a complete and total disaster it would be to lose one or both houses of Congress. Not only would President Trumps conservative agenda come to a screeching halt; we could look forward to two years of non-stop partisan witch hunts by Democrats thoroughly committed to destroying President Trump.



All is not lost. Ten months is an eternity in politics. The truth is, however, that there is only one person who can turn back this impending blue wave  President Trump himself.



We have been in this predicament before. Months before the 2016 election, the polls showed Donald Trump would lose and that the Republican Senate majority might go down in flames with him.



President Trump proved the pollsters and the pundits wrong last time and he can do it again.



The president didnt defy the odds and capture the White House (and save the Senate) by following the failed establishment playbook  and he wont save Republican majorities in Congress by following the establishment playbook this year either.



To save Republican majorities in both chambers, President Trump must rally the coalition that swept him into office. To do so he must refocus on the issues that motivated his working-class base  and he can start with his State of the Union address Tuesday night.



First, and most importantly, the president must deliver on immigration. If you asked Trump voters to name just one of his campaign promises they would say build a wall.

There are hard-core immigration hawks who want the moon and who wont be satisfied with anything less than everything. The good news is that President Trump doesnt have to deliver on every immigration issue but he absolutely must deliver on a wall.

The president needs to make it clear that there will be no deal to allow the roughly 700,000 illegal immigrants brought here as children  and are now protected from deportation under DACA  to stay in the U.S if it doesnt include funding for the wall. Period.



Secondly, the president must focus now on infrastructure. President Trumps tax reform package was a tremendous victory for conservatives and for American workers, and its long-lasting positive impacts on the economy cannot be understated. However, if the president really wants to deliver on his promise to Make America Great Again then he absolutely must prioritize an infrastructure plan to rebuild American roads, bridges, railways and airports.



Investing in Americas infrastructure is an investment in the working-class voters who are the backbone of the Trump base.

Infrastructure isnt just some campaign pledge. President Trump knows infrastructure. He has made a career out of building things and it is something he is passionate about.

For far too long, the battle over infrastructure has been between Democrats who propose spending mountains of federal dollars and Republicans who simply oppose the effort. There is another way forward, which President Trump should embrace  free-market approaches that will rebuild our crumbling infrastructure without bankrupting us.

Take, for instance, airport infrastructure. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., has a proposal in the House that would remove the federally imposed cap on the passenger facility charge (PFC), thereby allowing airports to raise the revenue necessary to meet more than $100 billion in infrastructure needs and creating tens of thousands of new jobs.

Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, has a proposal in the Senate that would simply modernize, rather than eliminate the federally mandated cap on the PFC. Either of these proposals would allow airports to become more financially self-sufficient, enabling them to meet their own infrastructure needs without costing taxpayers a single penny.

Third, President Trump should remind voters that he has broken from the disastrous Bush-Obama foreign policy approach. The president should remind Americans that his foreign policy isnt about isolationism and it doesnt represent an abdication of Americas responsibility. At the same time, it does end the failed foreign policy adventurism of his predecessors.

Finally, almost as important as laying out what he will do, President Trump should lay out what he wont do  namely, he and his administration will not be just another tool for establishment elites to achieve their policy goals.

The very people who opposed President Trump in the general election, who refused to vote for him, and who ridiculed him and his voters are now pushing him to do the bidding of the establishment on issues like dismantling our public lands.

During the campaign, President Trump was the lone Republican willing to stand up for our public lands and he should resist the efforts by his one-time opponents to slide back on that commitment. Recent polling in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin shows that Trump voters in those critical states that were so key to his election overwhelmingly oppose such an effort.

There will be pundits and other Washington insiders who will tell you that the key to retaining Republican control of the House and Senate in November is to run away from President Trump. They are flat out wrong. The ash heap of political history is full of candidates and campaigns who tried unsuccessfully to run away from their president in midterm elections.

The key to retaining Republican control is to reassemble the coalition that prevailed in the last election. President Trump can and should begin that process Tuesday in his State of the Union address.




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Its true that the Russians are meddling in U.S. politics  they have been since the Cold War. This is important to remember as we examine the current furor over our last presidential election and the ongoing use by Russians of social media to stir the pot.

Sadly, the Democrats and the #Resistance are falling for the ploy of the Russians and helping their cause. Russian propaganda efforts are highly effective and they have been working exactly as planned.

Yes, the Russians tried to discredit Hillary Clinton by attacking her many glaring weaknesses. But the idea that they intended to help Donald Trump become president and then use him as their puppet is almost comical to anyone familiar with their actual methods and strategy.

The Russians are not deluded enough to believe they can control a U.S. president, so their actual goal is to sow discord and create infighting among the American people. They have certainly succeed in accomplishing this mission.

The deluge of news stories and attention focused on supposed collusion between the Trump presidential campaign and the Russians grew out of the need by Hillary Clinton and her supporters to have an excuse for losing  blame it all on those nasty, meddling Russians!

Pinning the blame on the Russians actually played right into their hands. First, it inflated their influence well beyond reality. Second, it began to weaken President Trump before he even took office.

The Russians were actually playing against the efforts of both candidates and against America and our electoral process overall. The more divided Americans are against each other, the happier the Russians are.

And the divisions continue. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Rep. Adam Schiff, another California Democrat, have taken the bait a second time by calling for an investigation Tuesday into Russian bots promoting the hashtag #ReleaseTheMemo.

This #ReleaseTheMemo hashtag started as an organic effort on Twitter to get Congress to release the memo written by Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., about allegations of malfeasance by the FBI in using foreign intelligence sources to spy on the Trump campaign.

Seeing an opportunity, the Russians released the bots to muddy the waters. And lo and behold, it worked. The gullible Pelosi and Schiff  to all of our disadvantage  turned an uprising of Americans demanding accountability for dirty tricks by the Democrats into a supposed Kremlin dirty trick.

The terms for such actors in the Cold War days  when the Soviet Union was openly working against us were Fellow Traveler or Useful Idiots. Ill give these two the benefit of the doubt and assume they arent actively supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin, so that makes them useful idiots.

But the damage that Democrats and others pushing the Russia, Russia, Russia narrative have caused is as real as the charges are false. The Russians arent supporting President Trump. They are weakening America and infecting our public discourse and body politic. The efforts by the left to tie this to President Trump and his campaign have contributed to Russian success.

A study at the University of Washington, notably not a hotbed of Trump support, looked at the actions of Russian bots on social media. The study found equal efforts against the right and the left to foment misinformation, generate arguments and generally cause problems.

It is good for us as American citizens and certainly for our government to be aware of these efforts by the Russians, Chinese and others. It is unhelpful to spread the unfair and inaccurate idea that the Trump administration supports or benefits from them. None of us do, and that is why those on the left should stop helping the Russians in their pursuit of harming and weakening the United States.
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Every time I think Democrats in California state government cant stoop any lower, they outdo themselves. Some of their greatest hits in recent years include a gasoline tax hike that cant be used to expand our roads; a sanctuary state policy that protects criminal illegal immigrants; and a new law to soften the penalty for knowingly exposing people to HIV.

The latest madness to come out of Sacramento is an effort by Assemblyman Ian Calderon to make it illegal for restaurants to offer plastic straws to customers who dont ask for them.

Thats right  in a state where the criminal illegal immigrant who admitted to killing a young woman on the San Francisco Pier was acquitted of murder, California Democrats want to throw people in prison for up to six months for letting folks drink from a plastic straw.

We Californians are blessed by our states natural beauty and year-round perfect weather. We are lucky to live near the ocean but still have mountains in view. There is nowhere on Earth I would rather call home.

People across California are beginning to wake up to the fact that the more government grows, the more our freedom recedes.

But some say the price we pay for this bounty is having to live under the thumb of an over-indulgent, in-your-face state government. They say Sacramento Democrats know we dont want to leave the Golden State, so they are free to impose outlandish laws that seek to control every aspect of our lives.

First the Democrats came after your plastic bags. Now they want your plastic straws. I worry about what else theyll try.

Will they ban those lids that keep your morning coffee from spilling all over your car and burning your hand? Criminalize smoking in your backyard? Hit you with a big fine if you let go of a helium balloon outdoors? Impose a curfew on adult drivers? Actually, if you can believe it, Democrats in Sacramento have already tried to pass laws to do all of those things.

Enough is enough. Call me an optimist, but I think we can have both a world-class state and a world-class state government. People across California are beginning to wake up to the fact that the more government grows, the more our freedom recedes.

Thankfully, elections give us a chance to reverse the course Sacramento has charted. The California Democratic Party has become an enemy of freedom that can only be defeated at the ballot box.
Illegal immigrant Andres Castaneda-Guzman, 24, of Mexico, was arrested for allegedly taking a 15-year-old from Texas to Georgia for sex.

A report based on conviction data suggests that illegal immigrants in Arizona commit crimes at twice the rate of other residents.

According to the report from the Crime Prevention Research Center, illegal immigrants between ages 15 and 35 account for 3 percent of Arizonas population but make up approximately 8 percent of the prison population, the Washington Times reported.

John R. Lott Jr., CPRC president and the report's author, said the crimes of which these illegal immigrants were convicted tended to be more serious. His findings challenge previous assertions that illegal immigrants commit fewer crimes.

Previous studies on the topic usually don't compare conviction data between legal and illegal populations, Lott said.

There appears to be a huge difference between the two groups, he said. The type of person who goes through the process to legally immigrate in the United States appears to be very law-abiding versus even the U.S.-born population."

John Lott is an economist, political commentator, and long-time gun rights advocate.

Click here for more from the Washington Times.
The House Republicans top investigator, Rep. Trey Gowdy, said Sunday that text messages between FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page show they hated then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, but the South Carolina lawmaker suggested the two testify to settle concerns on whether they were powerful enough to take down Trump or protect Democratic rival Hillary Clinton from criminal charges over her emails.

I cant prove that they were the final decision makers, Gowdy, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Affairs, told Fox News Sunday. But I dont have to. Two really important people hated (Trump); would have done anything to protect Clinton.

Gowdy pointed out that Strzok interviewed Clinton about her use, as secretary of state, of private servers on which emails with classified information were discovered. And Strzok scrubbed language about Clintons grossly negligent behavior from the final FBI report on the server-email investigation, he said.

Did they have the power to protect her? Gowdy asked. The decision not to charge (Clinton) was made even before they interviewed her. How would you like that deal?

Gowdy also pointed out that Strzok and Page, who were allegedly having an affair at the time, were removed from the Justice Departments Russia-collusion investigation when special counsel Robert Mueller, he said, learned of their insidious political bias.

However, he declined to make a conclusion about whether a text between them regarding a secret society of FBI agents was a joke or real, as Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., has suggested.

Republicans are better served by letting the texts speak for themselves, Gowdy said. These witnesses need to come in and tell us what they meant by it.

Gowdy also said that he supports the release of a memo drafted by congressional Republicans about the Mueller investigation and that alleges abuse and bias within the FBI and Justice Department.

I do, he said.

The four-page memo in part focuses on the controversial, so-called Trump Dossier used in the Russia collusion investigations.

If youre interested in who paid for the dossier  , then, yes, youll want the memo to come out, Gowdy said.

Trump also wants the memo released, according to a Washington Post story Sunday.

Gowdy suggested that Democrats dont want the memo released because it would point to them financing the dossier. And he said that Justice knows whats in the memo because it supplied the documents, but that federal officials should nevertheless review it before its release.

The House Intelligence Committee could vote as early as this week on whether to release the memo.

I want to play face-up poker, Gowdy said. It is not a hit piece on the department and the FBI.
New sex harassment allegations have surfaced against a campaign aide Hillary Clinton reportedly refused to fire in 2008 following a similar complaint that he harassed a young subordinate with inappropriate kisses and suggestive emails.

The report Saturday on the BuzzFeed News website accuses the aide, Burns Strider, 52, of sexually harassing two young subordinates at a pro-Clinton super PAC during an 18-month span that began in November 2013.

BuzzFeeds report comes on the heels of a New York Times article Friday reporting that Clinton kept Strider on her 2008 campaign team as faith adviser even after a 30-year-old campaign staffer charged him with sexually harassing her.

Strider was retained despite the campaign chairmans recommendation that he be fired, according to the report. He was ordered to receive counseling and lost several weeks of pay, while his accuser was shifted to a new role.

HILLARY CLINTON RESPONDS TO REPORT SHE SHIELDED AIDE ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Clinton responded to the accusations on Twitter, in which she said she was dismayed when it occurred, but also that she was heartened that the woman came forward and had her concerns "taken seriously and addressed.

Additionally, Clinton said that she called the woman in question to tell her that all women deserve to be heard.

BuzzFeed reported that the two new accusers include a woman who said that Strider began harassing her when she started working for him at Correct the Record in Washington, launched by Clinton nemesis-turned-ally David Brock.

She told the website Strider repeatedly commented on her looks, engaged in constant touching, and sought to closely monitor and control her activity inside and outside the office.

She said he sent her texts, including one in November 2015 that said, Your love for me is so palpable. Poor thing. Hang in there.

The woman said Strider would refer to her as honey or "baby and when she complained he told her that was how he spoke to all of his female friends.

The second woman told BuzzFeed that after she went to work for Strider they shared an Uber ride after a networking dinner in early 2015, and that when he got out of the car he kissed her on the tip of her nose.

HILLARY CLINTON PROTECTED '08 CAMPAIGN ADVISER ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT: REPORT

She said she told Strider the next day what he did was inappropriate. She said he apologized and told her that he adored her and thought of her as a little sister.

Strider was fired in the summer of 2015 after an investigation at Correct the Record into his conduct, including around issues of sexual harassment, BuzzFeed reported.

The website also reported that in a 45-minute interview Saturday, Strider did not deny that his behavior had been inappropriate. He said he did not remember the kiss after the Uber ride. He said he struggled with depression and was in therapy.
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.


Even at a gathering of conservatives in the California desert, there was no denying among attendees the successes of Democratic candidates in recent elections and their likelihood of even more victories in the November races. Still, the roughly 500 donors to the influential Koch network of non-profit groups at the gathering appeared committed to spending as much as $400 million in support of the candidates and free-market policies backed by the influential group.

Were all in. We know the challenges, Tim Phillips, president of Americans for Prosperity, said Saturday. Weve seen the results that these policies are having on Americans.

The argument Philips and others at the event made against the projected Democratic tide is that the policies coming from Washington this past year, especially the recently passed tax reform law, are good for America, even if Americans dont yet know it.

Im delighted the network is going to be able to help tell us that story, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Saturday night, because were going to have to continue to combat misinformation from the naysayers and the people who want us to fail.

That commitment to selling the tax law -- $20 million alone -- will be similar to the efforts last year by Americans for Prosperity to tout the hallmark tax legislation in town halls and through advertising and phone banks.

These are serious and important improvements in our lives, Phillips said. And part of our job is to make sure that those benefits are going through a lot of the clutter and a lot of the normal give and take of American politics.

Beyond the tax bill, the policies and political-agenda priorities highlighted at the event included reforms at veterans hospitals, touting President Trumps judicial appointments and undoing Obama-era regulations.

Still, such measures may not be enough for Republicans to maintain their majorities on Capitol Hill and statehouses across the country if Democratic voters remain energized. In recent months, Democrats retook control of the New Jersey governorship, kept the Virginia governors seat and won a Senate seat in conservative-leaning Alabama.

That same desire for change still exists, Jared Leopold, communications director for the Democratic Governors Association, told Fox News.

He also said Democratic candidates across the country will be on the offense this year and that voters who tend to want to balance out power will be looking to put a check on Trump.

The White House says the president is expected to take an active role in campaigning later this year.

Leopold questions how much help the president can offer Republican candidates, while the latest Fox News poll shows Trumps approval rating increasing to 45 percent, near his record high since taking office last year.

A so-called generic poll of congressional races, which is essentially a Democrat vs. a Republican for all 435 House seats and 33 Senate seats up for reelection, now gives Democrats a 7.9 percentage point lead, according to nonpartisan RealClearPolitics.com.

Historically, the first midterm election goes poorly for the sitting president. Presidents Reagan, Clinton and Obama each lost considerable support in Congress after two years in office -- a fact Cornyn noted.

Yet he still predicts Republicans will gain seats this fall, which the GOP did in 2002 during President George W. Bushs first term.

Beyond politics, the Koch network event also served as a semi-annual status report on the groups public-policy efforts including reforms in education, criminal justice and poverty.

Founder Charles Koch sounded pleased with the groups accomplishments, telling attendees: There are many more Americans now looking for a different way -- a way that would enable everybody to enjoy the promise in the Declaration of Independence of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler's Missouri office was the target of a terror threat Wednesday, authorities said.

A man called in a terrorist threat to U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzlers Missouri office last week  his second threat against the government in the past two months, police said.

The suspect, identified as Jeffery OLaughlin, called the Republican congresswoman's office in Columbia on Wednesday and threatened to use gun powder and put some people in the grave, the Columbia Daily Tribune reported, citing a police statement.

OLaughlin, an Ashland resident, was charged with making a terrorist threat, which is a felony.

Last month he was charged with the same crime after allegedly pledging to kill people at the Missouri Supreme Court building and at a dentists office using explosives or an AR-15 rifle, the report said.

There will be blood in the streets, he allegedly said, KMIZ-TV reported.

Missouri Capitol Police arrested him in the Professional Registration Building, the Kansas City Star reported.

OLaughlin reportedly thought that multiple dentists and the Dental Board had conspired to track his movements using a bio-mechanical transmitter in his tooth filling and wanted Hartzlers office to acknowledge it, the Tribune reported.

His bond was set at $1,000 last month.

As of Saturday afternoon, he was not in police custody, Matt Long, a corrections officer with the Boone County Sheriffs Office, said to the Star.

His bond was set at $50,000 for the most recent alleged threat on Wednesday.

Hartzler, 57, has been a member of Congress since 2011. She represents Missouri's 4th Congressional District.
Amid calls for Republicans to return money given or raised by Steve Wynn, Fox News has learned that the embattled Las Vegas casino mogul also gave big donations to Democrats and their political groups -- including a fund connected to former Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid.

A review of Nevada state records shows Wynn personally contributed $10,000 to a former Democratic secretary of state and $2,500 to the Searchlight Leadership Fund, associated with the retired Reid, a Nevada Democrat.

The Leadership Fund in 2016 gave $201,500 to 31 federal candidates, all of them Democrats, including party presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which identifies itself as a nonpartisan, independent nonprofit group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy.

Wynn resigned Saturday as finance chairman of the Republican National Committee amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

From 2006 to 2017, Wynn's various business groups, all using the address of his namesake casino, contributed more than $700,000 to Nevada Democrats and Democrat-related groups, according to state records.

The Democratic state party has yet to return calls or emails seeking comment.

When contacted this weekend about Wynns contributions to Democratic candidates, Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said the group hadn't accepted a dollar from Wynn and would wait to comment until the RNC decided what it will do with the millions Wynn raised as their national finance chair.

Meanwhile, the DNC on Sunday attacked President Trump over the Wynn matter.

A reminder that almost 48 hours after allegations against Steve Wynn surfaced, who raised millions for Trump and the RNC, Trump remains silent but goes after Jay-Z. RNC also remains silent on Wynn allegations," Singh tweeted.

Wynn resigned after The Wall Street Journal late last week reported about multiple accusations of sexual misconduct by Wynn and a $7.5 million payout he made to settle one case. Wynn has called the allegations a smear campaign during his divorce.

The DNC has also suggested the RNC should follow its own advice and give back the Wynn money, as RNC spokeswoman Rona McDaniel suggested when wealthy Democratic donor Harvey Weinstein was accused last year of decades of sexual harassment.

Fox News' Andrew Davis contributed to this report.
Two Republican senators said Sunday that President Trump should keep quiet about special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged collusion between Trump's campaign and Russian officials.

The comments by Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine came after it emerged last week that Trump discussed firing Mueller this past June, but was talked out of doing so by White House counsel Don McGahn and other officials.

"Mueller is the best person to look at it," said Graham, who has co-sponsored legislation that would protect Mueller from being dismissed without legal basis. "I'm sure that there will be an investigation around whether or not President Trump did try to fire Mr. Mueller."

Graham insisted that Mueller's job appeared to be in no immediate danger, pointing to the political costs if Trump did remove him.

"It's pretty clear to me that everybody in the White House knows it would be the end of President Trump's presidency if he fired Mr. Mueller," he told ABC's "This Week."

Collins told CNN's "State of the Union" that it would "not hurt" for Congress to approve added protections for Mueller, but she didn't offer a timeline.

"I think the president would be best served by never discussing the investigation, ever, whether in tweets, except in private conversations with his attorney," she said.

Lawmakers from both parties praised Mueller's impartiality Sunday and expressed confidence that he would be able to conduct a full, wide-ranging investigation.

"I have complete confidence in Mr. Mueller," Graham said. "I haven't yet seen any evidence of collusion between President Trump and the Russians, but the investigation needs to go forward without political interference, and I'm sure it will."

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer indicated that Democrats would try to add legislation to protect Mueller as part of an upcoming spending bill.

"The most important thing Congress can do right now is to ensure that special counsel Mueller's investigation continues uninterrupted and unimpeded," the New York senator said in a statement Sunday. "No one - whether it be Administration officials, Republicans or the president himself - should get in the way and undermine the investigation, and so Democrats will seek to add protections for Mueller in the ongoing budget negotiations."

White House legislative director Marc Short told "Fox News Sunday" that he was "not aware of [Trump] ever intimating that he wanted to fire Robert Mueller."

"I know that the president has been frustrated by this investigation," Short added. "He feels like there's been millions of dollars of taxpayers' dollars spent and no evidence yet of collusion ... The White House continues to cooperate in every manner providing any document the special counsel has asked for."

Short added that Trump favors releasing a classified memo produced by the House Intelligence Committee that Republicans say alleges FBI misconduct. Trump's position is in contrast to that of the Justice Department, which has warned that the memo's public release could be "extraordinarily reckless" and has asked to review it.

"I think the president sides on the side of transparency," Short said, "and so, yes, I think he believes that should be put out."

Some lawmakers said the memo's review instead should be done by impartial third parties "outside of the Republican-led Congress."

"I want somebody who is without a political bias to come in and look at the allegations that I have seen," Graham said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This is a rush transcript from "Fox News Sunday," January 28, 2018. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

CHRIS WALLACE, "FOX NEWS SUNDAY" HOST: I'm Chris Wallace.

President Trump gets set to announce his 2018 agenda in the State of the Union Address, while the Russia investigation closes in.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REPORTER: Did you want to fire Robert Mueller?

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Fake news, folks. Fake news. Typical New York Times fake stories.

WALLACE: The president pushes back from Davos, where he makes his case for

America first.

TRUMP: America is open for business and we are competitive once again. But America first does not mean America alone.

WALLACE: We'll get a preview of the president's plans for year two from White House director of legislative affairs, Marc Short.

Then --

TRUMP: I'm looking forward to it actually. There's been no collusion whatsoever.

WALLACE: Will the president really sit down for an interview with special counsel Robert Mueller? We'll discuss that, the Republican secret memo about FBI misconduct, and those pro Clinton text messages with House Oversight Chair Trey Gowdy, only on "Fox News Sunday."

Plus, President Trump offers to help the Dreamers. We'll ask our Sunday panel about the president's new immigration plan. Is it the basis for a compromise?

And our "Power Player of the Week." Paying back those in Iraq and Afghanistan who risked their lives to help U.S. troops.

All, right now, on "Fox News Sunday."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: And hello again from Fox News in Washington.

Tuesday night, President Trump will lay out his vision for 2018 in his State of the Union Address. He will say his policies have created a stronger American economy and he will announce plans he thinks will boost growth even more.

Joining us now for a preview, Marc Short, the White House director of legislative affairs.

Marc, welcome back to "Fox News Sunday."

MARC SHORT, WHITE HOUSE DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS: Chris, thanks for having me back.

WALLACE: What is the major theme of the president's State of the Union Address Tuesday night? What's going to be the headline, what are the two or three major priorities?

SHORT: I think the president is going to talk about how America is back. He's going to talk about where we are today as far as growing an economy, an economy that now has grown at a 3 percent clip over the last three quarters. An economy that now has the lowest unemployment rate in 17 years, an economy that has the lowest unemployment rate among African-Americans and Hispanic Americans, in the history of collecting data that's broken demographically that way.

I think he's going to talk about the fact that America is open for business. And the president is also going to make an appeal to Democrats, to make an appeal to say, we need to rebuild our country and to make an appeal that to do infrastructure, we need to do it in a bipartisan way. And he will also talk about American strength, the fact that we are continuing to wipe out ISIS, but that we have growing threats, such as North Korea.

And one of our concerns is that we have these dramatic threats on the global scene, yet where we are in Congress is we still can't even pass the spending bill that funds our military because Democrats are continuing to hold the military hostage to pursue other agenda. And he will ask that it's time that we rebuild our military to keep America strong.

WALLACE: I'm not saying that it's all his fault, but you talked about reaching out to Democrats and a push for bipartisanship. When he sends out tweets about Crying Chuck Schumer and he bashes Nancy Pelosi, is that the best way to do that?

SHORT: Well, look at just this week, Chris. I think that the president made an enormous appeal and showed enormous leadership in putting forward a plan to resolve the DACA situation, an issue that has plagued our country for decades. And yet, the outcry from Democrats, he went further than I think many people thought he would in providing not just permanent residents, but also pathway to citizenship for roughly 1.8 million of people that have been living in this country.

And yet so far, the Democrats have continued to cry that they don't want to solve the problem. We are anxious to solve the problem. The question is, do Democrats, will Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi show the same leadership and protect their constituency from their radical left-wing base or they could continue to play politics with this issue.

WALLACE: You know, let's drill down on immigration. It's actually the first question I was going to ask you about. Let's put up the president's framework that was announced this week. A path to citizenship as you said for 1.8 million people eligible for Dreamer status, $25 billion for a wall, limiting chain migration to nuclear families, in other words Dreamers can't sponsor their parents, and an end to the visa lottery.

The blowback was fierce from both sides.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI, D-CALI., HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: That plan is a campaign to make America white again.

ANN COULTER, CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR: You may be able to roll over the never Trumpers, but if you continue down this line, former Trumper is going to be a much more difficult category for him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: I mean, and you've got to admit it, it wasn't just backlash from Democrats. There was also backlash from conservative hardliners. What makes you think you can get a deal through Congress on all of this? It's a big ambitious plan, before the DACA deadline expires in March, or do you think because the court has blocked the rescission of DACA, that you have more time than just March?

SHORT: Well, Chris, I've heard a lot of outrage over former Speaker Pelosi's comments when she makes racist allegation like that. I've heard a lot of members even in moderate Democrats say that that was over the top.

The reality is what the president has done is he's met with dozens -- hosted dozens of meetings at the White House, some with Republicans, some Democrats, some bipartisan. Some just House, some just Senate, some bicameral. A lot of rational compromise plan that I think is something Democrats ask for.

We started by saying we want to protect the 690,000 people who have permits under DACA, meaning people age 16 to 36, who have work permits who are in this country, producing, contributing to our economy. We, of course, want to protect them. We don't want to send them away.

But Democrats said that population should be larger. We should consider those who are eligible but were afraid to apply. We should also go back to 2012, which is when Obama put in place his unconstitutional order.

The president did all of those things because he saying it's time that we fix the other issues too. Americans want to keep our border secure, end chain migration and the visa lottery program.

WALLACE: Do you think you can get a deal by March or do you think because of the court action that you have actually more time than March 5th?

SHORT: Chris, we're anxious to get a deal. We've been trying to get a deal. I think that question really belongs to the Democrats in Congress. We believe that right now, you're right, the courts have said that the March 5th is not there, but if another court overrules, they are not going to have the six-month grace period that this president offered Congress to fix it. If the courts overrule, that program will end immediately.

WALLACE: But as I pointed out, it isn't -- and you are quite right, there is backlash from Democrats. There's also backlash from Republicans and one of the biggest issues is something that the president said this week, take a look.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

TRUMP: Whatever they're doing, if they do a great job, I think it's a nice thing to have the incentive of after a period of years being able to become citizens.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

WALLACE: But when President Obama issued his executive order in 2012, he did not give Dreamers a path to citizenship. He simply said they could renew their status. In a sense -- and this is what some conservatives are saying -- isn't what you are offering, the president offering, isn't it more lenient? Isn't it softer in terms of what it gives Dreamers that what President Obama was willing to do?

SHORT: Two points. One is that we feel that is certainly worth it if we can help to fix this problem once and for all, which is the other parts of the proposal the president has forward. But second, in that meeting that you televised, at the White House, when the president had 20 members of Congress over, he said, I will provide cover from our side on this issue. The question is, are Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi going to provide cover for their members from the radical left-leaning base? So far, they are not showing the same leadership, Chris.

WALLACE: So, you think you can get conservatives who may not like the idea of citizenship to go along?

SHORT: So far, we've had positive reinforcements from Senator David Perdue, Senator Tom Cotton. These are not exactly doves on the immigration -- on the issue of immigration. They are pretty hawkish on it. I think conservatives recognize the benefit to really securing our border and helping to fix these long term problems.

So, yes, I think we're going to get widespread support on our side. The question is politically -- it's not a policy issue, Chris. Policy -- this policy flatly -- polls, 70 percent of American supported. When you say that you are going to secure the border, end chain migration and the visa lottery and provide this pathway and fix it, 70 percent of Americans agree.

It's not a policy issue. It's a politics question.

WALLACE: The president will also push his infrastructure plan on Thursday night. And here is the outline of that, $200 billion in federal money to leverage at least $1.5 trillion in state and local and private investment.

Here's the problem, infrastructure has traditionally been an 80/20 split, 80 percent federal money, 20 percent state and local and private money. But what you are proposing is a 20/80 split, 20 percent federal money, 80 percent from other sources. Why is that going to work?

SHORT: We think it's going to work for several reasons. I think there's a growing some consensus that the infrastructure needs to be fixed. It's part of the central parts of the president's campaign and we think that there is bipartisan support for it. There's no doubt that I think Democrats in Congress will want more federal dollars for that issue.

But we also have to recognize, Chris, that we have a significant debt problem in our country. And so, this can't just be all federal largess that pays for this. So, a partnership is what makes sense.

The other thing that the administration has pledged to do is continue to roll back the regulatory constraints that I think has also limited some of the private investment. When you do that, they'll be additional private investment coming in to make these projects real.

WALLACE: I want to pick up on that because there was a report this weekend that the White House wants to scale back, when you say regulations, environmental regulations, and critics say the effect is that in order to get these projects going, you would gut the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.

SHORT: The administration has no plans to gut the Clean Air Act or the Clean Water Act, Chris. But what you've seen really over the last year is by rolling back the burdensome regulations the previous administration had put in place, the economy has taken off. That's what we want to make sure that our economy continues to grow.

When you see 3 percent growth over the last three quarters and compare that to eight years of 1.8 percent growth in the Obama years, much of that has been because of rolling back the regulatory burden and allowing the free enterprise system to begin to work again.

WALLACE: For all of your plans for 2018, for all of the victory lap the president is going to take for the economy and what was accomplished in 2017, I think it's fair to say that there is a cloud that continues to hang over this White House, and that's the Russian investigation.

Direct question, did President Trump want to fire special counsel Robert Mueller last summer?

SHORT: I'm not aware of the president ever intimating that he wanted to fire Robert Mueller. Let's keep in mind a couple things. Robert Mueller is still the special counsel. Don McGahn is still head of White House counsel office. Taxpayers have spent millions and millions of dollars on investigations that have not proven any collusion thus far with Russia.

The White House continues to cooperate in every manner providing any document that the special counsel has asked for. So, we have continued to comply fully. Robert Mueller is still the special counsel. I'm not familiar in any conversation I've had with the president ever intimating he wanted to fire Robert Mueller.

WALLACE: Would the White House object if Congress decided on his own to pass a bill to protect the status of the special counsel, to make it harder or impossible to fire him? Is that something the president would sign?

SHORT: I don't know, hypothetically, Chris.

WALLACE: The president responded this week to reports that the special counsel is investigating him on the issue of obstruction of justice. Here he is.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

TRUMP: There's no collusion. Now they're saying, oh, well, did he fight back? Fight back, Jon, fight back, oh, it's obstruction.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

WALLACE: What does the president think the difference is between obstruction and fighting back?

SHORT: Honestly, Chris, I don't know. Unfortunately, I'm not often involved in those conversations regarding that investigation. But I know that the president has been frustrated by this investigation. He feels like there's been millions of dollars in taxpayer dollars spent and no evidence yet of collusion.

I think he also recognizes that, you know, I think it's been underreported, is that the day before he accepted a position of special counsel, Robert Mueller interviewed to be FBI director and never mentioned that to the president. So, I'm sure there's concern that here was -- obviously, he was going to be named special counsel. He came in to be interviewed to be FBI director and never mention the con -- potential conflict there.

WALLACE: Finally, let's look at this from the other side because some top Republicans in Congress talked about bias and corruption at the highest levels of the FBI and the Justice Department in their investigation both of Hillary Clinton and of Donald Trump. One, does the president believe that's true, that there has been abuse, that there has been bias in the investigations, and two, as The Washington Post reports today, does he want to see that four-page memo to that effect coming out of the House Intelligence Committee, does he want to see that release to the public?

SHORT: Well, one, we don't know what's in the memo. It's classified, I haven't seen it. But I think the president generally is on the side of transparency.

And so, yes, I think he believes that that should be put out. But on the first question, I think that where we stand is that -- again, there has been significant investigation so far and no evidence of any sort of collusion.

WALLACE: When he hears things like the text between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, does that concern (ph) --

SHORT: Sure. Of course, that frustrates him. I think something else that he's continually mentioned is the fact that McCabe's wife received $700,000 in political contributions from one of the Clinton's close personal friends in Terry McAuliffe, and yet was leading the investigation into Hillary Clinton. So, yes, I think he's concerned about several appearances of conflict of interest there.

At the same time, he is going down to the FBI Academy in Quantico and spoke into the agents and talks about how much he appreciates their work in their efforts. But, yes, I'm sure he's very concerned about some of the appearances of conflict of interest at the very top of the agency in the last administration.

WALLACE: I just want to button up one question about the release of the memo, because the assistant attorney general sent a note to the special -- to the House Intelligence Committee saying it would be, quote, extraordinarily reckless to release that memo because it may reveal sources and methods. Is that a concern of the president?

SHORT: Well, sure. I think we have to have -- those are rational concerns. But at the same time, I think the president is more inclined for transparency in this investigation. And so, to the extent that the House I think has advocated that it's publicly (ph) released, I think the president is receptive to that.

WALLACE: Marc, thank you. Thanks for your time this week, and always good to talk with you. And we'll all be watching the president's speech on Tuesday.

SHORT: Great. Thanks, Chris. Thanks for having me.

WALLACE: Up next, we'll bring in our Sunday group to take a closer look at the president's agenda.

Plus, what would you like to ask the panel about the Trump plan to trade citizenship for Dreamers for tough new measures on legal and illegal immigration? Just go to Facebook or Twitter, @FoxNewsSunday, and we may use your question on the air.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The world is witnessing the resurgence of a strong and prosperous America. I'm here to deliver a simple message. There has never been a better term to higher, to build, to invest and to grow in the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: President Trump at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland this week, telling leaders America is open for business.

And it's time now for our Sunday group: GOP strategist Karl Rove, columnist for The Hill, Juan Williams, Catherine Lucey, who covers the White House for The Associated Press, and former Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz.

Well, Catherine, you were on the Davos trip with the president. How was he received there and how much are they counting on the strong economic recovery, the good numbers from 2017 continuing to 2018 to help Republicans in the 2018 midterms?

CATHERINE LUCEY, WHITE HOUSE REPORTER, ASSOCIATED PRESS: Yes. So, the big question going into the trip was the American first president versus the Davos globalist, and he was quite cordially received. He had a reception, he held a dinner business leaders. The speech got, you know, a polite response.

And the president clearly was there to bring his economic message, as he said and kind of take a victory lap. He talked about the booming economy. He talked about tax cut. He talked about regulation changes. And I think this clearly going to be part of his pitch on Tuesday in the State of the Union and something Republicans are going to try to emphasize, you know, over the coming months.

WALLACE: Karl, let's pick up on that. When you hear what we just heard from Marc Short about what the president is going to say in his State of the Union speech, that he's going to take a victory lap for a strong economic numbers, he's going to talk about infrastructure and creating jobs, he's going to talk about immigration reform, how strong a message for this year and how strong a message for Republicans to run on in November?

KARL ROVE, FORMER BUSH WHITE HOUSE ADVISER: Well, it depends on how much he says and what he says on Tuesday night, but it also depends on what he does in the months following that. First of all, I think he's got to be very careful about it, appearing to be too self-congratulatory. This is a moment to compliment the American people and to compliment the Congress for their cooperation with him on tax reform and regulatory relief.

But this is a moment where he can reset, but the reset depends upon him following through in the weeks and months ahead. He needs to make the case and the case can be made that people are going to feel this tax cut. They are beginning to in their own lives.

But in February when the withholding tables kick in and everybody gets a bigger paycheck, that's going to be the moment where he needs to be driving home not only is it affecting you in that way, but it's affecting you in the money that's being pumped into the American money by American businesses to build new plants and equipment, to refurbish their stores, to create and build and buy new things that are going to require at the end of the line and somebody in the factory, somebody in a farm, somebody in a ranch to create whatever it is they need.

WALLACE: So, I'm saying (ph), the key isn't how it's going to go on Tuesday night, it's how he's going to do on Wednesday and Thursday.

ROVE: Sure.

WALLACE: But he did great in his speech to Congress last February but then he got back into tweets and needless arguments right afterwards.

ROVE: And, look, this is also a moment of optimism. Look, people are starting to feel optimistic about the economy. This is the moment to strike that note of optimism that he missed in his inaugural address when he talked about that dark and gloomy place called America.

(LAUGHTER)

WALLACE: Your boss didn't like that, Bush 43.

We ask you for questions for the panel, and we got this on Facebook from Al Drennan on the president's new framework for immigration. Al writes: It seems as though the president is going against many in his own party to extend the olive branch to appease Democrats and strike a deal. How is it possible for all Democrats in the House and Senate to not be jumping all over this proposal?

Congressman Chaffetz, how do you answer Al and the concern from some conservatives that the president is giving away too much to the Dreamers when he gives them a path to citizenship, which is, again, more than Barack Obama did?

JASON CHAFFETZ, R-UTAH, FORMER U.S. CONGRESSMAN: Yes, viva, Trump. I mean, I think a lot of people are very surprised, particularly in conservative circles, that he added a component that allows that pathway to citizenship. I don't like that component but it really puts the Democrats in a box.

And for Nancy Pelosi to go out and try to claim that this is some sort of racist plan, I -- I don't know that the Democrats can actually say yes to anything. And this is something they are really going to have to contemplate. And when you have people like Senator Perdue as Marc Short pointed out, and you have Senator Cotton in particular saying this is a good solid framework --

WALLACE: Yes, we just pointed out, two Republican really strong hardliners on immigration issues.

CHAFFETZ: Yes. No, it puts the ball squarely back in the Democrats' court and we will see if they can pass it out of the Senate. I don't know that I can pass in the House quite as smoothly, but if all the Democrats get behind it in the House that I think there are enough in the House on the Republican side of the aisle that they could actually pass this.

WALLACE: On the other hand, you talk about the Democrats, they are saying that the president is caving to the right wing of his party. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER, D-NY, SENATE MINORITY LEADER: The White House, unfortunately, has proven unreliable and wildly unpredictable. Within the course of hours, they say different things. Every time the president moves forward on one thing, his staff pulls him back and undoes what he says.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: But, Juan, isn't citizenship for 2 million, not only Dreamers but people eligible for Dreamer status who hadn't signed up yet, isn't that a huge concession?

JUAN WILLIAMS, FOX NEWS POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes, that would be terrific. I mean, the first point to say is, it's run into position as you pointed out your interview with Marc Short, from people like Ted Cruz, the senator who is hardliner, said, gosh, DACA didn't have a pathway to citizenship. Then you have right wing media like Breitbart calling the president "Amnesty Don". Heritage saying this is a nonstarter.

Why are they saying this, Chris? Because in addition to providing a pathway, he goes after legal immigration, severe cuts in terms of legal immigration, attacks the idea of a diversity lottery, says that wrong. So, therefore, he's also opposed to family reunification which had been the premise for our immigration policies in the past.

And when you think about this, this is not comprehensive reform. This is not dealing with the 11 million that are already here. So, this is the president's presentation at a moment when the Democrats are saying $25 billion, you just got a huge tax cut, now, you want to $25 billion for a wall that essentially is symbolic --

WALLACE: So, are using the Democrats -- I mean, on the other hand, 2 million people in this country illegally, even the Dreamers, as sympathetic as they are, are in the country illegally, you are saying Democrats shouldn't jump on this deal?

WILLIAMS: I don't -- why would you jump? Look, the president set a phony deadline, this March thing. He's the one that try to undo DACA and he said, this is going to be a bargaining chip. In exchange for this, I'm going to demand concessions. I want my wall.

OK. The Democrats are willing to give added money for security on the border. The thing is are you willing to give $25 billion, are you willing not to address comprehensive immigration? Meanwhile, the real pressure and the president has said this, he's going to have to take heat from his right, from the conservative media, from Heritage from the Freedom Caucus in the House. Will Paul Ryan even call this?

WALLACE: Congressman --

WILLIAMS: Because I think to your point, Paul Ryan called that he has enough votes from Democrats to get it passed.

CHAFFETZ: They could potentially get it passed, but the reason I think the Democrats are fighting so hard against the wall is the wall will actually work. And 

WILLIAMS: We are at a 45-year low in terms of crossings, Congressman.

CHAFFETZ: Yes, and we've got still a long ways to go. And I -- there is no way that you can give the pathway to citizenship to dreamers if you don't also solve the nightmare that is down on the border. And to secure and locked down that border is a fair compromise.

WILLIAMS: I think we have --

CHAFFETZ: I don't like the amnesty part. I don't know that I could vote for that.

WILLIAMS: Well, that's the real issue here. Will Paul Ryan --

WALLACE: Well, there's two issues. There is the right wing of the Republican Party, there is also the left wing of the Democratic Party.

Let me just for a final word go to you, Karl, because you broke your lamps (ph) on immigration reform in the Bush 43 White House. Do they get a deal by March 5th or not?

ROVE: Well, first of all, they don't need to because the court, as you pointed out in your interview with Marc Short, has basically put this all on hold. But could they get a deal by March? Yes.

This is a good opening framework. And let's be clear about it. The president has gone a long way with giving a path to citizenship to the Dreamers.

But it's already being distorted on the other side. This is not $25 billion for a wall, it's $25 billion for a wall, additional agents, technology and infrastructure along the border. It's not just a wall. It's all these other kind of things that had been talked about in order to secure the border.

Yes, crossings are down, but we still don't have secure control of our border.

One thing that Juan touched on that was absolutely right, the Democrats, particularly the Congressional Black Caucus are going to fight hard to defend the diversity lottery because lotteries are weird, but diversity means we draw people from countries that don't normally flow in to the normal immigration flow, largely African countries.

WALLACE: Yes or no, they're going to get a deal or not?

ROVE: I -- you know, I think this all depends upon the goodwill of people on both sides. The president doesn't help by tweeting about Schumer, but Schumer doesn't help by going to the floor and Nancy Pelosi's comment was so over-the-top, I'm for immigration reform. I am in favor of robust immigration, but everybody who is adult ought to start acting like an adult in this conversation.

WALLACE: Well, that sounds like a definite no to me.

(LAUGHTER)

WALLACE: Goodwill -- if we are depending on goodwill, we are in real trouble.

Panel, I'll have to take a break here. We'll see you a little later.

Up next, President Trump dismisses reports he wanted to fire special counsel Robert Mueller. And has the FBI tried to protect Hillary Clinton and get Donald Trump?

House Oversight Committee Trey Gowdy joins us next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: Coming up, has the FBI been against Donald Trump even before he became president?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. TREY GOWDY, R-SOUTH CAROLINA: I saw today, it was a text about not keeping texts. We saw more manifest bias against President Trump, all the way through the election and to the transition.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: We'll ask House Oversight Chair Trey Gowdy about alleged abuses, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: There have been two competing narratives in the Russia probe this week. First, that President Trump is getting closer to an interview with Special Counsel Robert Mueller amid reports he wanted to fire Mueller last summer. And, second, that the FBI has been biased all along for Hillary Clinton and against Donald Trump.

Joining me now from Greenville, South Carolina, Congressman Trey Gowdy, House Oversight chair and a member of the House Intelligence Committee.

Congressman, we'll get to your concerns about the FBI and the Department of Justice in a moment. But -- but let me begin first with this. Do you still trust, after all you've heard, do you still trust Special Counsel Robert Mueller to conduct a fair and unbiased investigation?

REP. TREY GOWDY, R-SC, OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: One hundred percent, particularly if he's given the time, the resources and the independence to do his job. Chris, he didn't apply for the job. He's where he is because we have an attorney general who had to recuse himself. So Mueller didn't raise his hand and say, hey, pick me. We, as a country, asked him to do this.

And, by the way, he's got two -- there are two components to his jurisdiction. There is a criminal component. But there's also a counterintelligence component that no one ever talks about because it's not sexy and interesting. But he's also going to tell us definitively what Russia tried to do in 2016. So the last time you and I were together, I told my Republican colleagues, leave him the hell alone, and that's still my advice.

WALLACE: President Trump said this week that he wants to sit down with Mueller and conduct an interview. Here's the president.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUESTION: Are you going to talk to Mueller?

TRUMP: I'm looking forward to it, actually.

QUESTION: Do you have a day set?

TRUMP: I don't know. No, I guess they're talking about two or three weeks, but I would love to do it.

(CROSS TALK)

TRUMP: You know, again, it's -- I have to say, subject to my lawyers and all of that, but I would love to do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: As a practical matter, does the president have any choice, doesn't he really, in effect, have to sit down with a special counsel for an interview? And let me ask you this, as a former federal prosecutor, when he does that interview, how dangerous is that legally for the president?

GOWDY: Well, I don't know what he's going to say. And I don't know what he knows. So I can't address how dangerous it is. If there's no collusion and if there's no obstruction of justice, there's not much danger.

There are two aspects to this, Chris. There's the legal aspect. And the former prosecutor in me wants him to testify because he is uniquely well situated to answer certain questions. The conversations between he and Comey, there are only two people in those conversations. We've already heard Director Comey's side of it. If there's another side, we need to hear it. That's the legal part. So I wanted him to testify from a legal standpoint.

But let's don't kid ourselves. There is a political component to it. Twice now, over 50 of my House Democratic colleagues have voted to move forward with impeachment. Twice, before he's answered a single, solitary question from Bob Mueller. Over 50 twice and said he should be impeached, and that's without answering a single question.

Adam Schiff, who's the ranking member on the Intelligence Committee, said he had evidence of collusion before we even began the investigation. So the politics of it is, I don't think he's got a fair jury. I do think he has a fair investigator. I think he's got a fair prosecutor in Bob Mueller, but he doesn't have a fair jury and he's going to have to decide whether the legal part outweighs the political part.

WALLACE: The House Intelligence Committee is expected to vote this week on whether to release that four-page memo that you had a big hand in writing that alleges abuse and bias inside the FBI and the Justice Department. As I discussed with Marc Short, The Washington Post reports today the president wants to have the memo released. Do you agree with that?

GOWDY: I do. I'm sorry that we're to this point.

This memo is nothing but a -- a -- the distilling, the reducing of thousands of pages of documents provided to us by the department and the bureau. So there's nothing in this memo that the department is not already aware of.

If you think your viewers want to know whether or not the dossier was used in court proceedings, whether or not it was vetted before it was used, whether or not it's ever been vetted. If you are interested in who paid for the dossier. If you're interested in Christopher Steele's relationship with Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee, then, yes, you'll want the memo to come out.

If you're Adam Schiff, who is consistently wrong when it comes to issues of disclosure -- he didn't want us to find out any of this information, Chris. He -- he fought. In fact, GPS went to court -- Fusion GPS went to court to keep us from finding out that the Democrats paid for the dossier. So if you're Adam Schiff, of course you don't want the information to come out. You didn't want us to find it in the first place.

This memo answers what I think are really legitimate questions and I do think the FBI should look at it before -- before it is released. And I have provided that counsel to Chairman Nunes. And I think that he has taken that under advisement.

So I want to play face-off poker. I want the bureau to know everything that's in the memo. I think you'll be surprised. It is not a hit piece on the department and the FBI. I would not have participated in it if that's what it was.

WALLACE: But let me -- let me -- let me pick up on this because the reports are, and you kind of indicated that in your answer, that the memo centers on this question of the FISA application, the Department of Justice FBI application in 2016 for a warrant to conduct electronic surveillance against this fellow, then Trump campaign manager Carter Page. Your complaint, according to reports, is that you say that when they made that application, they didn't talk about the role of the Russia dossier and especially the fact that it was opposition research paid for by the Clinton campaign.

The Democrats, and, yes, Adam Schiff is leading a charge, say you're cherry picking the information. One, that -- that the FISA warrant on Carter Page is not as central as you're making it. And, two, that there was a lot more in the application than just the dossier, that the FBI did not rely just on the dossier to get the warrant.

GOWDY: Well, I can't even confirm for you that there is a FISA warrant and I can't confirm for you who it's on because that is classified and I'm not going to disseminate classified information. I will just ask you again, are you interested in whether or not the world's premier law enforcement agency relied on a work product produced, paid for by the Democratic National Committee? Are you interested in whether or not all --

WALLACE: But -- but -- but I guess the question -- the question I'm just asking is this, sir. And -- and, yes, I can understand you're not going to confirm it, but we're talking about the FISA warrant of Carter Page. Did they rely just on the dossier or did they rely on a lot of other material?

GOWDY: Well, for me to answer the question is confirmation that there is one.

I will -- let me ask you this, Chris. If they relied on it half, is that significant enough for the American people to know? If they're relied on it at all, do you want to know that? If you're the judge, do you want to know if a third of what you're providing to the court was paid for by a political opponent?

So whether they -- whether it was relied upon 80 percent or 20 percent, do you want to know that the Democratic National Committee paid for material that was never vetted, that was included in the court proceeding? Do you want to know whether or not the primary source in these court proceedings had a bias against one candidate? Do you want to know whether or not he said he'd do anything to keep that candidate from becoming elected president?

WALLACE: I want to -- I want to -- I want to -- and I don't mean to interrupt, sir, but I've got two more questions I want to get to and we're running out of time, because I want to address those texts between Lisa Page and Peter Strzok, who were two key figures in both the Clinton and Trump investigations.

In February of 2016, during the Clinton e-mail probe, Page sends this text. One more thing, she, Clinton, might be our next president. The last thing you need, us going in there loaded for bear. You think she's going to remember or care that it was more DOJ, Department of Justice, than FBI?

Strzok responds, agreed. I called Bill and relayed what we discussed. He agrees. I will e-mail you and redacted same.

The real question I have is that -- there's no question that is a deeply troubling, political bias expressed by two FBI officials. I guess the question I have is, did Strzok and Page have the power to protect Clinton on the one hand and to get Trump on the other?

GOWDY: Well, they -- they -- did they have the power to protect her? The decision not to charger her was made before she was ever interviewed. How would you like that deal, Chris? I mean how -- how would you like to go --

WALLACE: No, I'd like that deal.

GOWDY: Yes.

WALLACE: But I guess the question is, was that just Peter Strzok or was that a lot of other people who weren't party to these clearly biased and outrageous texts?

GOWDY: Well, I think what you'll see, and-- and one reason the Judiciary Committee and Oversight is investigating is, there was tension between the Department of Justice and the FBI. But Peter Struck was the lead investigator. That's who interviewed Hillary Clinton.

So these same two people, whose bias was so insidious that Bob Mueller fired them the second he found out about it, there bias existed the entire time. These same two people who were so biased they should be kicked to the curb immediately were the ones interviewing Hillary Clinton, editing the memo to take out references to President Obama, editing the memo to take out the reference to grossly negligent. So I --

WALLACE: Right.

GOWDY: No, I can't prove to you that they were the final decision makers, nor do I have to. What I have to prove to you is, two really important people hated him, would have done anything to protect her and thank God Michael Horowitz found out about them while they were investigating the president.

WALLACE: I want to ask you one last question. We're running out of time here. There's clearly some troubling evidence and clearly the Strzok-Page memos are deeply troubling. And, you know, go to it and investigating that.

There are -- also have been some issues of potential hype by Republicans. And I want to give you an example. This week, Senator Ron Johnson brought up the issue of a secret society inside the Justice Department. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RON JOHNSON, R-WISCONSIN SENATOR: What this is all about is further evidence of corruption, more than bias, but corruption at the highest levels of the FBI in that secret society.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: But then we saw the only text on this that Page wrote to Strzok the day after the election, are you even going to give out your calendars? He had apparently bought Russian calendars as a gag. It seems kind of depressing. Maybe it should just be the first meeting of the secret society, which led to this exchange.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUESTION: This text message seems to be -- the comment about secret society was in jest. Do you agree that it appears to be in was in jest?

JOHNSON: It's a real possibility.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Question, congressman, final question, I'm going to have to ask you to answer briefly, don't Republicans hurt their credibility on real issues of bias when they make such a big deal about secret societies and palace coups?

GOWDY: Yes. Republicans are the best I've ever seen at taking good facts and overstating them and therefore changing the narrative.

I don't know what they meant by secret society. I didn't use the phrase. It is fair to ask them.

But if it were a joke, Chris, then was it also a joke to mention the insurance policy? Was it also a joke to talk about impeachment the morning after President Trump won? Was it also a joke to say, I have no interest in participating in an investigation if he's going to be cleared.

There's a pattern. And Republicans are better served by letting the texts speak for themselves. I have no idea what they meant by that. I don't know if it was a joke or not. It's not my job to figure it out.

These two witnesses need to come in and tell us what they meant by it and everything else they said over the course of 18 months. Republicans would be well served, let the texts speak for themselves. Let the jury make up their mind and quit engaging in hyperbole, which we seem to do a lot.

WALLACE: And we look forward to the investigation continuing. There are a lot of legitimate issues here.

Congressman Gowdy, thank you. Thanks for sharing your weekend with us. We'll follow all the developments this weekend and in the future.

GOWDY: Yes, sir. Thank you.

WALLACE: Coming up, the special counsel gets closer to an interview with the president, while questions grow about bias inside the FBI. The panel returns next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MARK MEADOWS, R-NC, FREEDOM CAUCUS CHAIRMAN: I am shocked to read exactly what has taken place. I would think that it would never happen in a country that loves freedom and democracy like this country.

CHUCK SCHUMER, D-NY, SENATE MINORITY LEADER: Conspiracy theories with virtually no fact, paranoia, delusion. Why? Are they afraid of the truth of the Mueller investigation?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: House Freedom Caucus Chair Mark Meadows and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer at odds over allegations of bias inside the FBI and the Justice Department.

And we're back now with the panel.

Well, congressman, you were the former head of the committee that Trey Gowdy now chairs. How convinced are you that there was bias inside both the Clinton and the Trump investigations?

CHAFFETZ, R-UTAH: Well, based on the surface, what we've seen so far, there is clearly bias. But, remember, they Hillary Clinton investigation is a closed investigation. We should be looking at that. That's what we do as a country. We are self-critical. We do go after these things.

I think the most definitive report, though, will be what Michael Horowitz, the inspector general for the Department of Justice, that report will probably come out of the next 60 days. An Obama appointee with 450 employees. I think when he comes and testifies before the Oversight Committee, that will be the most definitive word.

WALLACE: Juan, you have to admit that some of the Strzok, Page texts that we've been reading over the last few weeks are troubling, especially when Peter Strzok was the lead FBI investigator, both in the Clinton case and in the Trump case.

WILLIAMS: Come on, Chris, they -- people have personal opinions. You and I have personal opinions. I think we come out here and try to do an honest job.

WALLACE: Wait, wait, you're not at all troubled by those texts?

WILLIAMS: Well, first of all -- no, be -- remember, they're lovers. So this is like pillow talk between two people who have personal opinions. I don't know that it has impacted their capacity to lead at investigation.

What I see here is a repeated effort coming from the right. They throw spitballs at the wall trying to somehow disparage the FBI, discredit Robert Mueller. Don't forget, they're --

WALLACE: How -- how about when Peter Strzok --

WILLIAMS: Trump -- Trump not only tried --

WALLACE: How about when Peter Strzok --

WILLIAMS: Has fired Comey --

WALLACE: Well, wait --

WILLIAMS: Gone after these people.

WALLACE: OK, I'm not talking about that. How about when Peter --

WILLIAMS: Now, this week, he's trying to fire Mueller.

WALLACE: How about when Peter Strzok and Lisa Page are saying, well, let's not go into that Clinton investigation loaded for bear.

WILLIAMS: Well, wait a second, they're talking. It's like you and me joking saying, hey, Chris, President Trump, we wish, would come on -- and on this show and then --

WALLACE: I'm not joking, I'm serious.

WILLIAMS: I know. I know. But I'm saying we wish. But I'm saying -- and I say, Chris, well, you know what, if you want him to come back, maybe we shouldn't ravage him this time. That's a joke between Juan and Chris. That's not an indication of how you're actually going to conduct the interview.

But this is, again, discredit the FBI because they're worried that Mueller, in fact, it's going to find something. That's what's going on --

CHAFFETZ: He started to draft the memo before they'd interviewed 16 people.

WILLIAMS: There was no basis at that point to charge her. So they go into the interview and they say, well, this is what we know at this point. But you guys want to make it into some paranoid -- I mean I got to --

CHAFFETZ: Trey Gowdy was crystal clear about his feelings.

WALLACE: All right.

ROVE: If those e-mails had been referencing defending Donald Trump in the same way that they were defending Hillary Clinton, if the roles were reversed, Juan would be rational and reasonable and understanding exactly what is at play here.

Look, Robert Mueller let -- the test of this is, the day that Robert Mueller found out about these e-mails and read them, he fired Strzok. He did --

WILLIAMS: Yes.

ROVE: He couldn't -- he couldn't fire him from the FBI, but he could demote him and sent him to human resources to end his career. That's how bad this was.

Now, I don't think it's the FBI, but I do think two bad actors in this -- and I agree with the congressman, when Horowitz's report comes out --

WALLACE: And, again, this is the inspector general.

ROVE: The inspector general.

WALLACE: An independent person in the Justice Department.

ROVE: Independent general -- independent official with the -- with powers to subpoena and powers to observe and interrogate and we're going to be, as a nation, shocked at the behavior of these two individuals, not the FBI, let's be clear about that, but these two individuals.

WALLACE: Catherine, meanwhile, the president, in comments just before he went to Davos, left the door wide open to sitting down for an interview with Special Counsel Robert Mueller. How upset were his lawyers that he gave away a lot of negotiating power. And in the end, though, do they really think they have any choice that he's going to just both politically and legally have to sit down and -- and talk to the special counsel?

LUCEY: Well, certainly the White House tried to walk it back a little bit after he said he'd love to do this. But, yes, he -- he could refuse a voluntary interview. That's something he could do. But, ultimately, to your point, Mueller has subpoena power, so he could use that.

WALLACE: And --

LUCEY: And --

WALLACE: And, we should point out, if he subpoena's him --

LUCEY: Then he --

WALLACE: Then he testifies before the grand jury --

LUCEY: Absolutely and --

WALLACE: And he doesn't have lawyers alongside of him.

LUCEY: And -- and could prompt, you know, a legal fight, which seems not helpful.

So, yes, I think what we're looking at right now is the president has made his intentions quite clear. What's not clear is what the scope of his questioning might be, what the setting will be, how exactly this might come together.

WALLACE: Congressman Chaffetz, how much legal jeopardy for the president when he sits down in this interview, given the fact that he has told different stories about why he fired Comey, questions about, you know, when -- when he kicked everybody else out of the room, did he tell him to go easy on Mike Flynn or not? I mean it would strike me --

CHAFFETZ: Look --

WALLACE: This is kind of tension city.

CHAFFETZ: Well, it's fraught with peril, but you don't know exactly what the president's going to say or what sort of evidence they might present to him that may be a year or two old. But I think his temperament is such that, yes, bring it on. He's been very definitive that there was no collusion. And I think he'll stand by that.

WILLIAMS: I just worry that he -- you know, this week it came out that he's asking his deputy FBI director who'd you vote for? And it also comes out this week that we have been misled as an American people about his interest in firing Mueller almost a year ago. I think this guy thinks there's something to hide. That's what he's trying to obstruct this investigation.

CHAFFETZ: Democrats take -- took that point before he was even sworn in. They got to pick their battles. They scream about everything. And I don't think they have a case with this.

WALLACE: Thank you, panel. See you next Sunday. To be continued.

Up next, our "Power Player of the Week." How one American soldier kept his promise to the combat translator who saved his life.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: We're still arguing about the texts.

During our long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, we've heard a lot about the bonds among American soldiers. But there's another special bond between U.S. forces and their local combat translators. Here's our "Power Player of the Week."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATT ZELLER, CO-FOUNDER, NO ONE LEFT BEHIND: I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you today if it hadn't been for my Afghan translator.

WALLACE (voice over): In 2008, Matt Zeller was on his fourth day serving in Afghanistan when he was knocked out by a Taliban mortar. As he came to, an Afghan translator rushed to his rescue.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I focused, there were two Taliban crawling in the bushes.

ZELLER: He decided at that moment to run across the battlefield, knock me down and shoot them at the same time, killing them instantly and saving my life.

WALLACE: Zeller promised Janis Shinwari he would help if the translator ever wanted to come to the U.S. Months later, Shinwari called.

JANIS SHINWARI, CO-FOUNDER, NO ONE LEFT BEHIND: I found out that my name was added to the Taliban kill list and they were trying to hunt me down or one of my member family.

ZELLER: And I said, sure, thinking it might take six months, maybe a year at the most. And it ended up taking four years.

WALLACE: Out of that experience, Zeller started No One Left Behind. A group devoted to saving Afghan and Iraqi translators who have risked their lives protecting American soldiers.

ZELLER: If we don't keep that promise, that prevailing narrative around the world I feel will be that the U.S. will simply abandon you if you choose to partner with us.

WALLACE: Started in 2013, NOLB first helps translators and their families get special immigration visas. Going through a rigorous background check.

ZELLER: The average time it takes to get through the security screening is three and a half years.

WALLACE: Once they arrive, the group, which now has chapters in ten cities, meets them at the airport, finds them housing, and helps them get a job.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much for your donation.

WALLACE: AJ was a translator for American forces in Afghanistan for nine years, including a visit by then Defense Secretary Robert Gates. He talks about how helpless you feel coming to a strange country.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's no one to help them, no one to welcome them and they don't know what to do. Everything in the country is different.

WALLACE: Starbucks and Lyft (ph) partner with NOLB. Four years later, Shinwari has a steady job and owns his home. Since 2013, Zeller's group has helped 5,000 translators and family members come to the U.S., but he says more than 50,000 more are trapped.

WALLACE (on camera): For those folks that are still waiting in Afghanistan and Iraq, is this a matter of life and death?

ZELLER: This is absolutely a matter of life and death. If we don't keep this promise, the people that we ask them to help us fight against going to murder them.

WALLACE (voice over): Zeller says whether we keep faith with combat translators will send a message, will this country protect or abandon people who help us in future conflicts?

ZELLER: If Janis had not believed that we would have kept our promise, he wouldn't have served with us and I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you today. I've got PTS and as far as I'm concerned, helping my brother come home and start his new life in America was the most healing thing I've ever done.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thanks, brother.

WALLACE: To learn more about Zeller's group, No One Left Behind, please go to our website, foxnewssunday.com.

Now, this program note. Be sure to tune to your local Fox station Tuesday night for President Trump's State of the Union Address, anchored by Shepherd Smith. And I'll see you on Fox News Channel for special coverage with Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum.

And that's it for today. Have a great week. And we'll see you next "Fox News Sunday."

END

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In this Jan. 2018, photo provided by the Chicago Police Department, Marilyn Hartman is seen posing for a mugshot in Chicago. (Chicago Police Department via AP)

A woman known as the serial stowaway was arrested again on Sunday at Chicago OHare International Airport, just three days after she was released from jail after being nabbed for flying ticketless from the Illinois city to London.

Marilyn Hartman, 66, of Grayslake, was arrested just before 1:30 a.m. after police received a disturbance call about a woman refusing to leave the airport, police said in a statement sent to Fox News. She was nowhere to be found when officers arrived.

Hartman was later found in OHares Terminal 3 and was taken into custody. She was charged with a misdemeanor criminal trespass and is expected to appear in court later Sunday.

The 66-year-olds latest arrest is one of the string of airport crimes that spans for years. Hartman was released Thursday after she was arrested last week for bypassing Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at OHare airport and boarded a British Airways flight without a ticket or boarding pass.

'SERIAL STOWAWAY' ARRESTED FOR 10TH TIME AFTER SLIPPING PAST AIRPORT SECURITY IN CHICAGO, POLICE SAY

Police eventually caught Hartman, but not until she landed in London and returned on a flight back to Chicago.

Hartman was released on her own recognizance and warned by the judge to stay away from airports three times, the Chicago Sun Times reported.

Can you stay away from the airports? the judge asked Hartman in court, to which she replied: Yes  yes, Your Honor.

Marilyn Hartman, 66, has a history of sneaking aboard planes.

But she couldnt follow through with her promise.

Hartman has pulled a similar stunt at least eight times in 2014. In one incident, she slipped past TSA agents and boarded a flight at Mineta San Jose International Airport to Los Angeles, according to WLS. She was eventually caught after landing in Los Angeles.

She was also arrested two times in 2015 within two months at OHare and Chicagos Midway Airport.

Several other times Hartman was taken into custody for wandering airport terminals without a boarding pass, raising suspicions on whether she was preparing for another attempt to board a flight ticketless.

In 2016, Hartman was sentenced in Chicago to six months of house arrest and placed on two years of mental health probation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
United Airlines has apologized to the passenger involved and given her a $500 travel voucher.

A woman flying from Pueblo, Colo., to visit her dying mother one last time in Minnesota was removed from the plane over a ticketing issue.

Carrol Amrich was sitting on a United Airlines flight, waiting for the plane to take off when she says a flight attendant approached her and told her she had to leave.

Amrich was informed that her ticket had been canceled and she was escorted off the plane. Amrich pleaded with the attendants to let her stay on the plane, but she was allegedly told, nobody flies for free, The New York Times reported.

Once back in the terminal, Amrich called her landlord, Ms. Prelas, who had purchased the ticket for her because Amrich did not have the money for the last minute flight.

I said: Take my credit card. Well straighten this out later, but get her on that plane, Ms. Prelas said to The New York Times. The agent denied her request. United claims because the flight had already left by then.

UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT DIVERTED AFTER 'TOILETS REACH CAPACITY'

I drove 1,000 miles, and she was gone before I got here.  Carrol Amrich

Desperate, Amrich jumped in her car to drive to Minnesota. She traveled through the night, not even stopping to use the bathroom, she told the Times, but she didnt make it in time. Her mother had died.

I drove 1,000 miles, and she was gone before I got here, she said to the Times. I never stopped to rest. I went straight through. And she was gone.

I cried the whole way from Pueblo, Amrich said. Ive been awake for two days. I havent had anything to eat in two days.

Amrich had learned her mother was ill when she approached her landlord for help purchasing a plane ticket to visit her. Prelas bought the ticket through Traveler Help Desk, an online agency.

Later, Amrich was told her mother was experiencing heart failure and would likely not live through the night. Prelas called United directly and changed the ticket to an earlier flight  an action which Traveler Help Desk claims prompted the ticket cancelation.

Prelas claims United Airlines told her she could make the change through the airline directly and not through Traveler Help Desk.

Carolyn Gallant, a customer service supervisor at Traveler Help Desk told the Times that they had no way of knowing her ticket had been changed and voided it to help guard against fraud. Gallant claims they reached out to her numerous times after the change appeared in the system.

The ticket was canceled and refunded.

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.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

A United representative reportedly reached out to Prelas to ask where they could send flowers.

What are the flowers going to do? she said. 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 has reportedly referred questions regarding the incident to Traveler Help Desk, and offered its condolences to Amrich for the situation.

United Airlines has come under public scrutiny for its seat policies recently when a woman claimed the airline bumped her first class seat for a congresswoman.

United Airlines released a statement that it was changing its seat policy and that crew would no longer be able to displace customers already onboard the plane after the violent removal of Dr. David Dao went viral.
Blaze Bernstein, right, was reportedly stabbed at least 20 times before he was found dead in a California park on Jan. 9. Sam Woodward, left, was arrested as a suspect in his death.

A California man accused of killing 19-year-old Blaze Bernstein and burying him in a shallow grave is allegedly a self-proclaimed neo-Nazi with ties to an armed fascist group, according to a report.

Samuel Woodward, 20, was arrested earlier this month on charges that he stabbed high school friend Bernstein at least 20 times and then buried him at a park near his parents' Lake Forest Home.

Bernstein was home on winter break from the University of Pennsylvania when his parents reported him missing.

According to three sources that spoke to ProPublica, Woodward was an active member of the extremist group Atomwaffen Division and referred to himself as a Nazi on social media posts and chats.

The website describes the group as being an armed fascist organization that celebrates Hitler and Charles Manson and whose ultimate aim is to overthrow the government by means of guerrilla warfare and terrorism. There are reportedly 80 known members nationwide.

The group is also tied to four other murders, including two of its own members, and a bomb plot in the last eight months, The Daily News reported.

One of the three sources was a member of Atomwaffen at the time Woodward was allegedly involved.

The former member told ProPublica that Woodward, who joined in 2016, took part in a training camp where he was taught how to use firearms and trained in hand-to-hand combat.

The other two sources, who claimed to be friends of the accused, shared social media posts and chat logs with the website that depict Woodward calling himself a Nazi and National Socialist.

The report could be of interest to investigators who say they are looking at potential hate crime charges.

Woodward told investigators that Bernstein  who was Jewish and openly gay  kissed him on the lips.

He is set to appear in court on Feb. 2 and has yet to enter a plea.

Fox News Amy Lieu contributed to this report.
Authorities charged Daniel Scott, Jr. with aggravated menacing.

Police in Ohio arrested a man after he allegedly threatened to kill a house full of people, including his cousin and a 3-year-old boy, with a knife, Fox 8 Cleveland reported.

Daniel Scott, Jr., 36, arrived at an Elyria residence Thursday evening looking for his cousin, whom he believed owed him money, the outlet said, citing a news release from the Elyria Police Department.

REPORTER AT KENTUCKY SHOOTING LEARNED THAT SUSPECT WAS HER SON

The family member reportedly didnt agree, at which point Scott allegedly brandished a knife aimed at his cousins abdomen and said hed kill him.

After being told to leave the premises, Scott allegedly threatened his cousins 3-year-old stepson, pulling the weapon up to the boys throat, Fox 8 said. He also reportedly threatened to kill all of the people at the residence.

PREACHER WHO CHEATED USING ASHLEY MADISON TRIED HIRING HIT MAN ON DARK WEB IN BID TO MURDER WIFE, COPS SAY

No one was harmed during the incident, according to Fox 8, and authorities arrested Scott.

He was booked in the Lorain County Jail Friday morning, according to online police records. He was charged with aggravated menacing and released on bond later that day.

He is expected to appear in court Feb. 9, Fox 8 reported.
A 7-year-old boy is taken from school after allegedly punching a teacher.

A 7-year-old boy was handcuffed last week following an alleged incident involving a teacher at his Miami, Fla., school.

The youngster was taken out of the cafeteria on Thursday for playing with his food, according to WSVN, and reportedly attacked the teacher by repeatedly punching her on her back, in the hallway as he was escorted from the lunch room.

Once the teacher restrained the juvenile from attacking her, the juvenile continued to fight her with his fists and legs, causing both the teacher and the juvenile to fall to the ground, it claimed, and that he kept up the attack while down on the ground.

The teacher restrained the child, who was able to calm down on his own, the report said.

CALIFORNIA TEACHER CAUGHT SLAMMING THE US MILITARY

He was held via the Florida Mental Health Act or Baker Act and put in a hospital for a psychiatric assessment before he was discharged, el Nuevo Herald reports.

The boy began behaving erratically and hit a teacher, public schools spokeswoman Jackie Calzadilla told the newspaper. Due to a great concern for the student and to ensure his safety and that of those around him, he was restricted according to the Baker Act and transported to the hospital to be evaluated.

Mother Mercy Alvarez told the paper that her son does not have a mental disorder.

KINDERGARTNER SUSPENDED FOR 10 DAYS AFTER BRINGING MELATONIN PILL TO SCHOOL

The boys' parents think handcuffing went too far, WSVN reports.

This action was warranted to prevent his erratic and violent behavior from bringing further harm to others or himself, Miami-Dade Schools Police Ian Moffett told the station in a statement. The manner in which he was transported to the receiving facility was done in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures.
David Romesburg and his mother Fay Romesburg allegedly ran a prositution business in Sonoma County, Calif.

A mother and son in Northern California were busted Friday for allegedly running a prostitution ring.

David Romesburg, 37, and his mom Fay Romesburg, 59, allegedly operated their business out of an apartment in Rohnert Park and a home in Santa Rosa  both about an hour's drive from San Francisco, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The Romesburgs allegedly recruited women, arranged "appointments" with men at both properties, and took a cut of the money. David Romesburg allegedly refused to allow one woman to leave the premise until she paid back her debt, the Chronicle reported.

Police said they were tipped off by managers of the apartment complex that one of the units was being used for prostitution. Authorities received similar complaints about the Romesburgs' home in Santa Rosa.

After obtaining search warrants, police searched the two properties and discovered enough evidence to arrest the Romesburgs. The mother and son have been charged with pimping and pandering. David Romesburg faces additional charges of human trafficking.

The Romesburgs were booked into Sonoma County Jail with bails set at $245,000 and $250,000.

Click here for more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
James Anthony Lawlor (left) and a sketch by a homeless person he is accused of attacking (right).

A man accused of threatening and setting a homeless couple's tent on fire in Southern California was arrested Thursday after police were able to track him down thanks to a sketch drawn by one of the victims.

The Santa Ana Police Department said in a news release that James Anthony Lawlor, 35, was charged with attempted murder, arson, assault and making terrorist threats in connection with the attack earlier this month.

In that incident, Lawlor allegedly approached the couple, who were living on a vacant lot around 8:30 a.m., and told them they had 15 minutes to clear out or he would return with his Glock handgun. When the man stuck his head out of the tent to talk to the suspect, he was kicked twice in the head, police said.

After leaving the couple, Lawlor then returned a few minutes later holding a red gas container, poured gasoline on the occupied tent and set it on fire before leaving in his black truck, according to police.

He was upset by, as many people are, the homeless issue, but taking it out by lighting somebody on fire is not the answer, Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna told CBS2 News.

DEPUTIES MOVE TO CLEAR BIG CALIFORNIA HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT

The couple was able to get out of the tent safely, and the male victim only had minor injuries from the earlier assault along with minor burns.

A picture taking by a witness showing Anthony Lawlor allegedly setting homeless couples tent on fire.

Police were able to track down Lawlor after a witness took a photo of his truck leaving the scene, and the male victim drew a crude sketch of his attacker.

It may look a little cartoonish, but when you put the suspects picture next to the drawing, looks pretty good, Bertagna told CBS2 News.
Jordan has marked the U.S. delivery of 12 Black Hawk helicopters over the past nine months with a military ceremony, including a hostage rescue drill and a flyover.

The helicopters are meant to help secure the borders of Jordan against external threats, including from Islamic State extremists in neighboring Syria and Iraq.

IS militants have been pushed back from large swaths of territory by a U.S.-led military coalition in which Jordan plays a key role.

Sunday's ceremony at a Jordanian military base was attended by Gen. Joseph Votel, commander of the U.S. Central Command.

The Royal Jordanian Air Force and its Quick Reaction Force showcased the Black Hawks in a drill showing the rescue of a wounded hostage.

The aircraft were delivered between March and December 2017.
Four people were killed after a shooting at a Pennsylvania car wash early Sunday morning that family members said stemmed from a domestic dispute.

Pennsylvania State Police earlier said five people died from the shooting, but it was later clarified four people died. One woman was not shot and only suffered minor injuries from broken glass as she was able to hide in the back of a car during the attack.

Shots were fired around 3 a.m. at Ed's Car Wash in Melcroft, about 55 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Police said the gunman, identified as 28-year-old Timothy O'Brien Smith, killed William Porterfield, 27; Chelsie Cline, 25; Courtney Snyder, 23; and Seth Cline, 21.

State Trooper Robert Broadwater said two of the victims were found inside a pickup truck and two others were found outside in the car wash's parking lot.

An officer stands guard as people comfort each other near the scene of a fatal shooting at a car wash in Melcroft, Pa., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018.

Three vehicles were towed from the location, two of which were pickup trucks  including the one that two of the victims were found in  and the other was a sedan.

Smith  who officials said was armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, .308-caliber rifle and 9mm handgun and was wearing a body armor carrier without the ballistic panels inserted  remained in a hospital on life support as of late Sunday afternoon, and isn't expected to survive.

Pennsylvania State Police said four people were killed at a car wash in Melcroft Sunday morning by suspected gunman Timothy O'Brien Smith, who remains on life support.

Police said it was possible that Smith's gunshot wound was self-inflicted.

Officials have not released a motive or revealed how Smith knew the victims, but Sierra Kolarik, half-sister of victim Chelsie Cline, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that Cline and Smith knew each other, and he developed an obsession over her. WTAE reported the gunman was "heartbroken and jealous."

"I don't understand," Kolarik told the newspaper. "I still don't believe it."

Evidence markers sit on the scene of a fatal shooting at a car wash in Melcroft, Pa., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018.

The owner of the car wash, Ed Bukovac, told the Tribune-Review that a neighbor called him around 4 a.m. on Sunday, saying something was wrong at the business. He said by the time he arrived, police were already at the scene.

A man who lives nearby told the newspaper he heard nearly 30 gunshots over the course of several minutes.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf tweeted Sunday afternoon he and his wife "are praying for the families of these victims. @PAStatePolice and law enforcement in Fayette County have had a long week already and we thank them for their service."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
To many, Bundy is a folk hero who stood up to the federal government

Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who was recently cleared of federal charges and freed from jail, is now turning his sights on state and county government.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Bundys lawsuit filed Thursday in Clark County District Court claims that former President Barack Obamas late 2016 establishment of Gold Butte National Monument was as illegal as it is unlawful and would preclude him from continuing to function on his land and destroy his livelihood.

Bureau of Land Management officials in Las Vegas put off discussion of the monument at meetings this month until the Trump administration decides on possible changes to the Obama-era land designation.

Recognizing that the land is not owned by the United States of America, (Bundy) has avoided erroneously giving money to an entity which does not actually own the land and has been careful not to give money erroneously to a stranger to the land, according to the ranchers lawsuit, as reported by the Review-Journal.

PENNSYLVANIA CAR WASH SHOOTING LEAVES 5 DEAD, POLICE SAY

Thus, there is an actual, significant legal controversy of great consequence not only to petitioner in terms of as to whom has ownership and jurisdiction of the land but to People of Nevada and Clark county, the rightful owners of Nevada land, the lawsuit states.

A sign is shown outside the federal courthouse during the trial for Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy in Las Vegas, Oct. 30, 2017.

Bundys lawsuit seeks a declaration that public lands in the state are owned by the residents.

The current leaders and government officials of the State of Nevada and its subdivision, Clark County, refuse to defend its or the Peoples rights to all lands within Nevadas and Clark Countys borders, reads the complaint, which does not directly name any county or state officials.

Navarros decision ended a trial over the April 2014 armed standoff in Bunkerville, which happened after federal agents tried to execute a court order to round up the ranchers cattle. Their effort stemmed from a decades-long dispute over grazing fees.

Bundy has long claimed that the land on which he grazes his cattle should not be claimed by the federal government. In his lawsuit, Bundy states that he lawfully acquired grazing, water and other rights to the lands in question.

After charges against him were thrown out, Bundy noted that the court order remained in effect and the cattle were still being grazed on land around his ranch. The suit estimates Bundys livestock at 1,000 head, which graze on 160 acres of private land, along with 300,000 acres of unclaimed land belonging to the People of Nevada and Clark County.

The suit continues: Nevada owes a duty to vindicate and defend its rights, its peoples rights, and the petitioners right to the land, including petitioners right of quiet enjoyment of Nevadas land use lawfully by the petitioner for grazing rights.
A Texas woman who called 911 on Saturday saying she was being stalked was shot and killed by a San Antonio police officer during a brief struggle in a home, authorities said.

The unidentified woman, said to be in her 40s, also called police saying her computer was being interfered with, FOX29 San Antonio reported. Police conducted a welfare check about 3 p.m. and found the woman locked in her bedroom.

Two police officers and a cadet then asked the woman if she had a weapon. She responded no and police officers forced their way through the door. Police Chief William McManus said in the news conference he did not know how long the officers were speaking to the woman before entering the room.

"When they got in the room, she was standing there with a Glock pistol in her hand," McManus said at a news conference.

Police officers attempted to disarm the woman, getting into a brief struggle with the woman. At one point, the woman began aiming the pistol at one of the officers head.

A female officer fired her gun, striking the woman. She was taken to the hospital where she later died.

The officers were not injured. McManus added that the officer who fired her weapon has been on the force for six years. She was placed on administrative leave during the investigation into the incident.

I was told [the woman killed] has been in this neighborhood for quite a long time. She has a history of mental illness and shes had some issues with other folks on the block, McManus said.

McManus said the womans claims that she was being stalked were unfounded.

Saturdays incident was the second fatal police shooting in San Antonio in a week. A police officer shot and killed a robbery suspect Thursday night after being stabbed in the hand.
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Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono has expressed hopes for improved relations with China during talks in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

Japan is making efforts to further a gradual thaw in relations dogged by history and a territorial dispute.

Concerns about North Korea's nuclear weapons program also featured prominently in the Sunday discussions. Japan has pushed for stricter measures against the North, which fired a ballistic missile over the Japanese island of Hokkaido in August.

Kono was also expected to discuss possible arrangements for a trilateral summit this spring in Tokyo between leaders from China, South Korea and Japan.

Following the talks, Kono is due to meet with senior foreign policy adviser Vice Premier Yang Jiechi, and visit top leaders, possibly including President Xi Jinping.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Saturday that Americas European counterparts in the Iranian nuclear deal have finally begun talks, trying to determine what changes need to be made to meet with the president's approval.

Speaking to reporters in Warsaw, Tillerson confirmed that Britain, France and Germany have all agreed to work on the 2015 agreement. Tilllerson ended his weeklong European trip in Poland, a trip intended to bolster the support needed to prevent the deal from collapsing.

Working groups, he said, have already begun to meet on efforts to agree on principles: "What is the scope of what we attempt to address and also how much we engage Iran on discussions to address these issues."

President Donald Trump has been outspoken on the issue, threatening to withdraw the United States from the deal unless the terms of the agreement are strengthened.

Earlier this month, Trump vowed to stop waiving U.S. sanctions unless the Europeans agreed to strengthen its terms by consenting to a side deal 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 renegotiation and has said that it has complied with all of the original terms of the deal, which was reached in 2015 under the Obama administration.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A group of unidentified foreigners was accused of "dancing pornographically" at a party in Siem Reap town, near Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat temple complex.

A sex-charged crash of cultures has landed 10 Westerners in jail in Cambodia.

Cambodian prosecutors charged 10 foreigners Sunday with producing pornographic pictures after they were arrested at a party in Siem Reap town, near the countrys famed Angkor Wat temple complex.

Police said they raided a rented villa Thursday where the foreigners were taking part in what organizers billed as a pub crawl and found people dancing pornographically.

A statement on the arrests posted on the National Police website Sunday included photos showing clothed young adults rolling around together on a dance floor.

The prosecutor of the Siem Reap provincial court, Samrith Sokhon, said that those charged face up to a year in prison if convicted.

In this photo dated Jan. 27, 2018, issued by Cambodian National Police, a group of foreigners stand after they were arrested for "dancing pornographically" at a party in Siem Reap town, near the country's famed Angkor Wat temple complex.

He said after producing the photos, the foreigners shared them on social media.

Any people producing pornography is contrary to Cambodias traditions, he said.

While almost 90 foreigners were detained, all but 10 were released. The 10 arrested are five British nationals, two Canadians, one Norwegian, one New Zealander and one from the Netherlands.

According to The Guardian, one of the prisoners, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the group believed police were cracking down on foreign tourists and ex-pats breaking local customs in Siem Reap.

Were innocent, said the prisoner. We dont know why weve been arrested, were getting different stories from different people.

They said their families were worried sick, adding: Our parents are doing what they can. Its really just trying to keep a good vibe until we know the outcome.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Roger Federer has won his 20th Grand Slam singles title with a 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Marin Cilic in the Australian Open final.

Back where his career resurgence began last year with an unexpected run to the title following a six-month injury layoff, Federer had an almost perfect title defense until he reached the second set of the final.

After going through four years without winning a major, Federer has now won three of the last five.

The 36-year-old Federer started with an intensity that stunned Cilic, getting service breaks in the first and third games and forcing his Croatian rival to go for a new racket after just 12 points. Federer only conceded two points on his serve in the opening set, which lasted just 24 minutes and was played under a closed roof on Rod Laver Arena because of the heat outside.

But Cilic rallied in the second, getting his big forehand working and, after missing a set point on Federer's serve in the 10th game, leveled the match in the tiebreaker.

Federer won the third set in 29 minutes and was up a break in the fourth but momentum swung fully again, with Cilic going on a roll to level the match. Federer's first-serve percentage plummeted from above 80 in the third set to 36 in the fourth as Cilic attacked.

The fifth started with Federer fending off two break points to hold, then breaking Cilic for a 2-0 lead.

Federer upped his level when it counted most, breaking Cilic again in the sixth game and then closing out love  including an unsuccessful challenge from Cilic on match point  to start his celebrations.

Federer had won eight of their previous nine matches  his only defeat coming in the semifinals of the U.S. Open in 2014, where Cilic claimed his first major title.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in January.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday night that Israel and Poland have agreed to hold talks seeking to resolve the uproar over proposed Polish legislation that would outlaw blaming Poland for any crimes committed during the Holocaust.



Earlier, Israel's Foreign Ministry had summoned a Polish envoy to express its displeasure at the bill. But Polish officials dug in their heels, saying the measure was being misinterpreted and its wording would not be changed.



Netanyahu then spoke by phone with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki late Sunday.



"The two agreed that teams from the two countries would open an immediate dialogue in order to try to reach understandings regarding the legislation," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.



The prime minister said at his weekly Cabinet meeting earlier Sunday that Israel has "no tolerance for the distortion of the truth, the rewriting of history and the denial of the Holocaust."



The lower house of the Polish parliament's bill calls for prison time for referring to "Polish death camps" and criminalizes the mention of Polish complicity.



The bill still needs approval from Poland's Senate and president. Still, it marks a dramatic step by the nationalist government to enforce its official stance that the vast majority in Poland -- a country that was terrorized by Nazi Germany's occupation -- acted heroically under those conditions. Historians say many Poles collaborated with the Nazis and committed heinous crimes.



The bill has sparked outrage in Israel and suddenly raised tensions with a close European ally. Israel declared independence in 1948 in the wake of the Holocaust and is home to the world's largest community of Holocaust survivors.



On Sunday, the Foreign Ministry summoned Poland's deputy ambassador, Piotr Kozlowski, to express Israel's opposition to the bill.



It called the timing of the bill, passed on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, "particularly surprising and unfortunate" and said it expected the draft to be amended before final approval.



"The legislation will not help further the exposure of historical truth and may harm freedom of research, as well as prevent discussion of the historical message and legacy of World War II," a ministry statement said.



Speaking to reporters after his meeting, Kozlowski said the intent of the legislation is not to "whitewash" history. It is already a crime in Poland to deny that the Holocaust happened.



"It is to safeguard it, to safeguard the truth about the Holocaust and to prevent its distortion," he said of the proposed legislation.

Polish authorities insisted they would not give in to the Israeli demands.



"We will not change any provisions in the bill," said Beata Mazurek, spokeswoman for the ruling conservative-nationalist Law and Justice party, "We have had enough of Poland and Poles being blamed for German crimes."



Mark Weitzman, the director of government affairs for the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a U.S.-based group that battles anti-Semitism, called the law "an obscene whitewashing" of history.



He said its wording could be used against Holocaust survivors talking about their personal experiences as well as researchers, teachers or anyone else documenting the Holocaust.



He urged Poland to "immediately terminate this law and put an end to all attempts to distort the history of the Holocaust for political purposes."



The Polish prime minister on Sunday night compared Poles and Jews to two families who lived in the same house -- Poland -- before the war and were both victimized by the Nazis.



In a post on Twitter, Morawiecki said: "A gang of professional thugs enters a two-family house. They kill the first family almost entirely. They kill the parents of the second, torturing the kids. They loot and raze the house. Could one, in good conscience, say that the second family is guilty for the murder of the first?"
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The Latest on Afghanistan, where a suicide bombing in the capital on Saturday killed more than 100 people (all times local):

2:30 p.m.

Afghanistan's interior minister says at least 103 people were killed in a suicide bombing carried out by the Taliban in Kabul on Saturday, updating an earlier toll.

Wais Ahmad Barmak said Sunday that another 235 people were wounded in the attack. Barmak said police were among those killed and wounded.

The attacker drove an ambulance filled with explosives and was able to race through a security checkpoint by saying he was transferring a patient to a hospital. The explosion damaged or destroyed dozens of shops and vehicles.

___

11:30 a.m.

An Afghan official has updated the number of wounded from Saturday's suicide bombing in Kabul to 191, saying the death toll from the Taliban attack remains at 95.

The attacker drove an ambulance filled with explosives and was able to race through a security checkpoint by saying he was transferring a patient to a hospital. The explosion damaged or destroyed dozens of shops and vehicles.

Wahid Majroh, a spokesman for the Public Health Ministry, gave the updated toll Sunday, after officials had earlier said 158 people were wounded.

The Taliban claimed the attack, which dealt a major blow to the U.S.-backed Afghan government. Afghan security forces have struggled to combat the Taliban since the U.S. and NATO formally concluded their combat mission at the end of 2014.
Six adults and an unconscious baby were rescued Sunday from a life raft in the Pacific Ocean after drifting for four days in the blazing sun without water.

The survivors had scrambled onto the small wooden dinghy after their ferry sank, authorities said.

While aboard the dinghy, they drifted for more than 110 miles from the nearest major island when they were found, and debris likely from the ferry was floating around the raft, officials said.

The ferry had been carrying at least 50 people while traveling between two islands in the remote nation of Kiribati, said Darryn Webb, New Zealand Defence Force air commodore. It was not yet clear what caused the ferry to sink, authorities said.

The search crew on a military plane had used radar to locate the dinghy while searching for survivors.

A wooden dinghy, left, carrying seven survivors from a missing ferry and a fishing boat in the Pacific Ocean, Jan 28, 2018.

The plane dropped supplies to the survivors -- including food, water and a radio -- while a fishing boat had changed its course to pick up the survivors Sunday afternoon.

"Our heart goes out to the baby and to all those remaining of the 50-plus people," he said.

While thankful the life raft was found, Webb said it was also heartbreaking the ferry had sunk and the others were still missing, as there has been no sign of any other survivors.

Questions remain as to why it took Kiribati authorities so long to tell New Zealand officials the ferry was missing.

New Zealand rescuers say they weren't told about the missing boat until Friday, eight days after the ferry had left. Webb said a Kiribati plane had earlier searched for the ferry but didn't have sophisticated radar equipment.

Kiribati is a remote, impoverished nation of 33 atolls that is home to about 108,000 people.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
#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...
Polish climber Tomasz Mackiewicz during his trip on Nanga Parbat mountain in Pakistan January 2014.

A French mountaineer was rescued off the slopes of Pakistans treacherous Killer Mountain  but a Polish climber who had been with her did not make it off and was declared deceased, officials disclosed Sunday.

Karrar Haidri, a top official in the Pakistan Alpine Federation, told the Associated Press the four volunteer rescuers from a separate Polish expedition were not able to reach Tomasz Mackiewicz of Poland, who was suffering from snow blindness and altitude sickness, because of poor weather. The two were attempting to summit Nanga Parbat, the ninth highest peak in the world at 26,660 feet.

The rescuers, a team of elite Polish climbers who had been attempting the first winter ascent of the nearby K2 mountain, are now in the process of transferring Elisabeth Revol, who has frostbite on her feet and cannot walk, to a nearby town.

Revol and Mackiewicz had first called for help on Friday about 24,000 feet up Pakistans second highest peak, according to Reuters.

Nanga Parbat, the ninth highest mountain in the world, is seen in Pakistan's northern area.

!!! Elisabeth #Revol found !!! the Polish winter climbing team said on Facebook.

TRAGEDY AS FAMOUS DAREDEVIL CLIMBER PLUNGES TO DEATH FROM WELL-KNOWN SKYSCRAPER

Ludovic Giambiasi, Revols partner, wrote on Facebook that two team members would descend with Revol after resting in the open for a couple of hours. They were not able to find Mackiewicz, he said, and would have to leave without him.

"The rescue for Tomasz is unfortunately not possible  because of the weather and altitude it would put the life of rescuers in extreme danger," he wrote. "It's a terrible and painful decision. We are in deep saddeness [sic]. All our thoughts go out to Tomek's family and friends. We are crying."

Rescuers brought Revol down the mountain to a helicopter Sunday, and she will be taken to Skardu and then Islamabad for medical treatment, according Giambiasi.

The French consul in Islamabad is following the rescue operation closely and is in touch with Revol's family, who are currently in France, a French official told the AP on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to be named publicly.

CLIMBER WHO DIED IN SOUTH AFRICA SAID TO BE FROM HONG KONG

Revol's friends raised nearly $100,000 as of Sunday morning to help with the rescue operation on a GoFundMe rescue page. Mackiewicz had made six previous attempts to scale the peak in winter, Reuters reported.

Pakistan rivals Nepal for the number of peaks over 23,000 feet and is considered a climbers paradise, but fatalities are also common, according to Reuters.

Nanga Parbat obtained its Killer Mountain moniker due to the high number of lives it has claimed. A Spanish man and an Argentinian perished in an avalanche in June while trying to scale its peak.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A street lamp and a tree are seen on the flooded banks of the River Seine in Paris, France, after days of almost non-stop rain, Jan. 27, 2018.

More than 240 French towns have suffered damage as the swollen Seine River continued to rise on Sunday in the wake of massive flooding prompted by weeks of heavy rain.

The river is expected to reach its peak late Sunday or early Monday, but floodwaters have already halted boat traffic in Paris, closed roads and schools and prompted the evacuation of hospitals.

In Villennes-sur-Seine, west of Paris, the ground floor of some buildings has disappeared under water and residents are using boats instead of cars.

Around 1,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in the greater Paris region, according to police, while around 1,500 homes were without electricity.

In Paris, cruise boat companies are suffering losses because all river traffic has been banned for days.

KOREAS TRY OUT OLYMPIC DIPLOMACY AT NORTH KOREAN SKI RESORT

Police reportedly fined people who took a canoe Saturday into the Seine in central Paris, and sternly ordered others in a tweet against such actions, calling them "totally irresponsible."

People use a dinghy boat to reach a barge on the river Seine in Paris, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018.

The famous river had risen 4.3 inches in 24 hours by Saturday evening, more than 13 feet (4 meters) above its normal height, causing headaches for commuters as well as people living near its overflowing banks.

Tourists also suffered with the capital's famous Bateaux Mouches rivercraft out of service, and only emergency services were authorized to navigate the Seine.

France 24 reports that the Vigicrues flooding agency forecasts the river will peak at 19.3 feet overnight, not quite reaching the 2016 high, when the Louvre museum was forced to shut for four days.

However, the world's most visited museum was on high alert Sunday, along with the Musee d'Orsay and Orangerie galleries, with the lower level of the Louvre's Islamic arts wing closed to visitors at least until Monday.

JORDAN KING CALLS FOR PALESTINIAN CAPITAL IN EAST JERUSALEM

A woman walks along a low wall on the flooded banks of the river Seine in Paris, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018.

Police again warned Parisians against swimming or canoeing in the river, saying it was "forbidden and extremely dangerous."

Better weather is expected for the week ahead. But even once the water levels recede, forecasters and officials say it will be a slow process, since much of the ground is already waterlogged.

"If we're talking about things getting completely back to normal, that's going to take weeks," said Jerome Goellner, regional head of environmental services, according to the Associated Press.

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 just over 24 feet, shutting down much of Paris' basic infrastructure, appeared unfounded.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, in the background, is detained by police officers in Moscow, Russia, Sunday.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was released from police custody on Sunday after he was arrested during a day of nationwide protests against President Vladimir Putin.

Navalny, 41, was "released without charge," his lawyer, Olga Mikhailova, told Reuters. She noted her client would have to face court at another time.

Russian police reportedly wrestled Navalny into a patrol car in Moscow on Sunday moments after the anti-corruption campaigner appeared at a rally urging voters to boycott what he said would be a rigged presidential election in March. Putin is running for a fourth term.

Video showed Navalny walking a short distance when he was surrounded by helmet-clad police officers, according to Reuters. They wrestled him to the ground on the pavement, and then dragged him feet first into the patrol wagon.

Navalny urged supporters to continue the demonstrations despite his arrest.

He said on Twitter, "they have detained me. This doesn't mean anything ... you didn't come out for me, but for your future."

Russian police arrested Putin foe Alexei Navalny at a protest in Moscow Sunday.

Navalny was denied permission to be a presidential candidate because of an embezzlement conviction in a case widely seen as politically motivated.

Earlier on Sunday police raided Navalnys campaign office in Moscow.

Protesters shout slogans during a rally in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018 against Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban the opposition leader Alexei Navalny presidential candidacy.

A video stream Sunday morning from Navalny's headquarters showed police entering the office. One broadcaster on the stream said police apparently were using a grinder to try to get access to the broadcast studio.

The anchors said police say they had come because of a bomb threat.

Thousands of people braving the cold demonstrated in Moscow and other cities, including St. Petersburg.

The OVD-Info group, which monitors political arrests, reported scores of demonstrators had been detained at protests in cities including Murmansk, Ufa and Kemerovo.

Several hundred demonstrators assembled in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok, complaining both of Putin's rule and of Navalny's exclusion from the March 18 presidential election.

"They took these elections away from us, they took away our votes. Our candidate was not allowed to run," said Vladivostok demonstrator Dmitri Kutyaev.

Fox News' Nicole Darrah and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Irish farmers are set to benefit from a haulage subsidy, to help keep the cost of fodder down for producers who have suffered from a prolonged period of bad weather.

The scheme, announced by Irish agriculture minister Michael Creed this week, will pay 8 (7.20) for a bale of straw, and 12 (10.80) for a bale of hay or silage.

It will only apply for fodder moved from the south and east of the country to farmers in the west and north-west, and will only be paid if the journey distance exceeds 100km.

See also: 6 alternative bedding options to straw compared

Wet weather

Farmers in the west and north-west of the Irish Republic were especially hard hit by prolonged wet weather last autumn.

In many of these cases, the inability to conserve fodder was compounded by the need to house livestock much earlier than normal owing the very poor ground conditions.

This ate into existing supplies far earlier than would normally be the case, and prices for hay and straw have rocketed since September.

Fodder remains available across the country, but I am conscious of the significant additional cost to farmers where fodder has to be transported over significant distance to areas where it is most needed, said Mr Creed.

This measure builds on my early supports to farmers through prioritisation of farm payments last autumn.

To qualify, farmers must have completed a fodder budgeting exercise with their agricultural adviser. Only the shortfall in fodder will be eligible to receive support under the transport measure.

Not enough

The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) said the transport subsidy would help to alleviate fodder problems, but more is needed.

In particular, the 100km rule  introduced to ensure the normal local trade in fodder is not disrupted  was too inflexible and should be revisited, said IFA president, Joe Healy.

The IFA would prefer a meal voucher system as the best and most efficient means of providing support.
Newsom's campaign confirmed that the governor and Biden will appear together in Long Beach Monday, for what will be the campaign's "final rally against the Republican recall."
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Obasanjo and Buhari Spotted Laughing and Cuddling At AU Summit In Ethiopia After Deceiving Everyone

nametalkam at 28-01-2018 05:53 PM (3 years ago) (m)

President Buhari and former president Olusegun Obasanjo are both attending the 30th general summit of the African Union holding in Addis Ababa. See more photos of them laughing heartily following the explosive letter Obasanjo sent to Buhari...

President Buhari and former president Olusegun Obasanjo are both attending the 30th general summit of the African Union holding in Addis Ababa. See more photos of them laughing heartily following the explosive letter Obasanjo sent to Buhari...







Peep the video below:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4H-PxgFWRY



A post shared by LIB - Linda Ikeji Blog (@lindaikejiblog) on Jan 28, 2018 at 4:58am PST

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 28-01-2018 05:53 PM (3 years ago) | Hero

ehudomalt at 28-01-2018 06:12 PM (3 years ago)

(m) wosapen? Na d poor masses dem d laugh Posted: at 28-01-2018 06:12 PM (3 years ago) | Upcoming wosapen? Na d poor masses dem d laugh Reply

angesco at 28-01-2018 07:04 PM (3 years ago)

(f) They ALL wore BLUE to be able to RECOGNISE each other.



When African leaders get together I wonder what they discuss. Is it the CONTINENTS PROBLEMS in education, medicine, life expectancy, continuing civil wars, infant deaths, corruption, election rigging, poor infrastructure, fraud, ETC.



Did they CONFRONT the LIBYAN DELEGATION about the treatment of BLACK AFRICANS in Libya.



Did they discuss Donald Trumps SH*THOLE comment about THEIR HOMELAND?



Or was it just another holiday trip to another African nation? Posted: at 28-01-2018 07:04 PM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac They ALL wore BLUE to be able to RECOGNISE each other.When African leaders get together I wonder what they discuss. Is it the CONTINENTS PROBLEMS in education, medicine, life expectancy, continuing civil wars, infant deaths, corruption, election rigging, poor infrastructure, fraud, ETC.Did they CONFRONT the LIBYAN DELEGATION about the treatment of BLACK AFRICANS in Libya.Did they discuss Donald Trumps SH*THOLE comment about THEIR HOMELAND?Or was it just another holiday trip to another African nation? Reply

kacylee at 28-01-2018 07:18 PM (3 years ago)

(f) that is how stinking Naija politics is 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 28-01-2018 07:18 PM (3 years ago) | Addicted Hero that is how stinking Naija politics is Reply

angesco at 28-01-2018 07:25 PM (3 years ago)

(f) Quote from: kacylee on 28-01-2018 07:18 PM that is how stinking Naija politics is



Its called DIPLOMACY!



Or a photo opportunity!



In the front of others you put on a UNITED FRONT.



Thats POLITICS for you. Posted: at 28-01-2018 07:25 PM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac Its called DIPLOMACY!Or a photo opportunity!In the front of others you put on a UNITED FRONT.Thats POLITICS for you. Reply

slimber at 28-01-2018 10:16 PM (3 years ago)

(f) See them who is fooling who hisssss Posted: at 28-01-2018 10:16 PM (3 years ago) | Hero See them who is fooling who hisssss Reply

xspraise at 28-01-2018 10:52 PM (3 years ago)

(m) dey deceive una self I am Victor, I write reportage on sport news and latest metro happenings in Nigeria. Posted: at 28-01-2018 10:52 PM (3 years ago) | Hero dey deceive una self Reply

maxzy277 at 29-01-2018 12:06 AM (3 years ago)

(m) Almighty God will see us through. It is well Posted: at 29-01-2018 12:06 AM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac Almighty God will see us through. It is well Reply

Asterimou at 29-01-2018 12:39 AM (3 years ago)

(m) So Una be dey expect say them go fight when they meet abi? What a childish reasoning. Grow up Nigerians. Salutation is not love. Posted: at 29-01-2018 12:39 AM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac So Una be dey expect say them go fight when they meet abi? What a childish reasoning. Grow up Nigerians. Salutation is not love. Reply

johnnychuks2 at 29-01-2018 12:40 AM (3 years ago)

(m) Stop callig God, God is not an african Posted: at 29-01-2018 12:40 AM (3 years ago) | Upcoming Stop callig God, God is not an african Reply

james987 at 29-01-2018 12:44 AM (3 years ago)

(m) After all the write ups Baba even be like who dey fear Posted: at 29-01-2018 12:44 AM (3 years ago) | Hero After all the write upsBaba even be like who dey fear Reply

DavidDaveson at 29-01-2018 04:24 AM (3 years ago)

(m) IT IS HIGH TIME ALL NIGERIA AND AFRICAN NEED TO RISE UP,ALL THESE OUR LEADERS ARE EVIL MEN CRIMINALS WHO HAS NO SOLUTION TO NIGERIA AND AFRICAN PROBLEM EVERY YEAR WE ARE ALL THE SAME AND EVEN BACKWARDS Posted: at 29-01-2018 04:24 AM (3 years ago) | Newbie IT IS HIGH TIME ALL NIGERIA AND AFRICAN NEED TO RISE UP,ALL THESE OUR LEADERS ARE EVIL MEN CRIMINALS WHO HAS NO SOLUTION TO NIGERIA AND AFRICAN PROBLEM EVERY YEAR WE ARE ALL THE SAME AND EVEN BACKWARDS Reply

dleg at 29-01-2018 05:39 AM (3 years ago)

(m) THAT IS THE GAME CALLED POLITICS Posted: at 29-01-2018 05:39 AM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac THAT IS THE GAME CALLED POLITICS Reply

suraj247 at 29-01-2018 02:25 PM (3 years ago)

(m) DO YOU EXPECT THEM TO FROWN AT EACHOTHER, HAVING DIFFERENT OPINIONS DOES NOT NECCESSARILY MEAN THAT THEY ARE FIGHTING Posted: at 29-01-2018 02:25 PM (3 years ago) | Newbie DO YOU EXPECT THEM TO FROWN AT EACHOTHER, HAVING DIFFERENT OPINIONS DOES NOT NECCESSARILY MEAN THAT THEY ARE FIGHTING Reply

fancy315 at 29-01-2018 11:21 PM (3 years ago)

(f) OLD GOATS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO LEAD THIS COUNTRY. THEY WILL DIE A SHAMEFUL DEATH. LOOK AT THAT CHIMPANZEE CALLED OBASANJO. HIS EXCELLENCY, "UGLINESS". TUFIAKWA. GOD PUNISH ALL OF YOU Posted: at 29-01-2018 11:21 PM (3 years ago) | Newbie OLD GOATS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO LEAD THIS COUNTRY. THEY WILL DIE A SHAMEFUL DEATH. LOOK AT THAT CHIMPANZEE CALLED OBASANJO. HIS EXCELLENCY, "UGLINESS". TUFIAKWA. GOD PUNISH ALL OF YOU Reply

mjyabah2 at 30-01-2018 06:53 AM (3 years ago)

(m) Both of them have the responsibility to represent Nigeria in the meeting they attended. I do not expect them to frown at each other outside Nigeria, because, that will make them look immature. OBJ may not be the best ex-president Nigeria ever had, but his position on the present condition of Nigeria is very well accepted. We need more bold men and women to speak up to denounce the deplorable condition of Nigerian. Posted: at 30-01-2018 06:53 AM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac Both of them have the responsibility to represent Nigeria in the meeting they attended. I do not expect them to frown at each other outside Nigeria, because, that will make them look immature. OBJ may not be the best ex-president Nigeria ever had, but his position on the present condition of Nigeria is very well accepted. We need more bold men and women to speak up to denounce the deplorable condition of Nigerian. Reply

ruthie at 30-01-2018 10:41 AM (3 years ago)

(f) so make them kill themselves ni...of course, they will laugh...fake Posted: at 30-01-2018 10:41 AM (3 years ago) | Hero so make them kill themselves ni...of course, they will laugh...fake Reply
Julia Rendleman/ABC News(NORTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va.) -- Every night before she goes to sleep, Deborah Crowder prays that her two daughters are still alive when she wakes up in the morning.



There have been many mornings when she wasn't sure, she said.



Maybe a john decided to kill them. Or maybe they froze to death while they slept outside. But more likely, maybe they couldnt be revived from their latest heroin overdose.



Sisters Tera Crowder, 33, and Stephanie Crowder, 25, have followed similar paths to their opioid addiction, despite being almost a decade apart in age. They began taking pills when they were teens. Then they got hooked on heroin and relied on prostitution to sustain the expensive, destructive and demanding habit.



"It started with pills, and then prostitution. I didnt want to believe that," Deborah said. "They were beautiful girls."



Growing up in central Virginia, the two sisters weren't always close. But they started getting high together and using a classified advertising website to sell their bodies for drug money. Their addiction brought them together in another way in the Chesterfield County Jail late last year, when Tera and Stephanie both entered the Heroin Addiction Recovery Program (HARP) there while serving time for probation violations and grand larceny.



"Inside this program is the first time Ive been sober with my sister in 12 years," Stephanie said.



The 'Harpettes' of Chesterfield County Jail



Two cell blocks at the Chesterfield County Jail are reserved for female inmates seeking help with overcoming opioid addiction. HARP offers medical, clinical, peer-to-peer and mental health services with group support meetings that take up most of the day.



Some women in the program who have been released from jail return daily for the meetings. They can even spend the night there if they fear the temptation and insecurity of the streets outside.



HARP participants, or "Harpettes" as the women are called, form a circle of chairs in the center of the cell block every morning at 9 a.m. They sit there until 3:30 p.m. -- apart from a half-hour break for lunch -- sharing their experiences and offering advice as they work through the 12-step program.



Every time one of the 40 women speaks, they begin in the same way.



"Im Tera. Im an addict," Tera states, before talking about her failings as a mother of four boys.



"Thanks for sharing," the group responds back.



"We love you and support you," someone adds.



For Harpettes, every hour of the day revolves around recovery and peer-to-peer support based on shared experiences and addiction. Every facilitator, or group leader, who comes into the program each afternoon is a recovering addict.



"Weve been running jails now for 200 years. What we've been doing is not effective. Anyone who tells you it is, is lying to themselves. We have the same people coming in and out, in and out. I just reached the point of absolute frustration with the system," said Chesterfield County Sheriff Karl Leonard, who started HARP for men in 2016 and for women later that year.



"I think we're dealing with an issue head-on, and we're trying to break a cycle and save people thousands and thousands of dollars on incarcerating people," Leonard added.



Capt. Eric Jones, who oversees the inmate programs unit at the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office, said theres been some pushback from "old-school" deputies and officials.



"Were breaking all the rules," Jones said, "as a result of the [opioid] epidemic."



The majority of drug overdose deaths in the United States involve an opioid. On average, 115 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose. That number has been on the rise. The amount of overdose deaths involving opioids, including heroin and prescription opioids, in 2016 was five times higher than in 1999, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.



The rates of relapse for opioid addicts is 72 to 88 percent in 12 to 36 months following detoxification, according to the National Institutes of Health.



In November 2016, Virginia's health commissioner declared the state's opioid addiction crisis a public health emergency. Emergency department visits for heroin overdose had increased 89 percent from January to September 2016, compared to the same period in 2015. In 2014, for the first time in Virginia, more people died from opioid overdoses than in car accidents, according to the Virginia Department of Health.



'Heroin tears families apart'



Deborah Crowder will tell you plainly: "Heroin tears families apart." But she's doing everything she can to keep hers together.



Deborah has legal custody of Teras four children: 16-year-old twins Jeremy and Jacob, 7-year-old James and 5-month-old Jaydain. Deborah lives with her grandsons as well as her 31-year-old daughter Brandi, Brandi's fiance and her three children in Chesterfield County near the town of Ettrick, some 30 miles south of Richmond. Portraits of Tera and Stephanie, when they were young and fresh-faced, hang on a wall in the crowded, three-bedroom home.



"Nanny is basically our mother," Jacob said of his grandmother.



Stephanie has a 6-year-old son, Jayson, whom she hasn't seen in two years. The boy lives with his father's mother, who has legal custody.



Deborah admitted that the emotional and financial strain of raising four grandchildren is breaking her. The youngest was born while Tera was in jail. Tera, who received methadone during the pregnancy to combat her heroin addiction, held the newborn in her arms for two days until handing him over to the nurses, who then gave him to Deborah.



Jaydain shows some symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome, which occur in a baby who was exposed to addictive opiate drugs while in the mother's womb. He has trouble sleeping at night, Deborah said.



Deborah struggles to hold down a job while taking care of the kids. She lost her truck after signing it over in a title loan and now relies on family and friends for rides. She receives money from the state government to make ends meet, she said.



"They shouldn't have to pay me to raise these kids," Deborah said. "They should be raising their own kids."



Tera's eldest boys are ashamed of her addiction, and they say it's up to her to prove to them that she's doing better.



"Im not having kids," Jeremy said. "I dont want to tell them their grandmother died of a heroin overdose."



Jacob has refused to visit his mother in jail, except for a face-to-face visit on Thanksgiving.



"You're lucky with the twins. Jacob takes it a little harder," Deborah tells Tera during a video visit. "They don't say nothing bad about you. They just don't expect much."



Tera said she's finally focused on her recovery for the sake of her boys. She cries when she thinks about them. She fears it's too late, that she has spent too much of their lives behind bars, absent and strung-out on heroin.



"My No. 1 goal is to become a good mother," Tera said.



Tera's middle child, James, was born early and severely addicted to heroin. He spent several months in a neonatal intensive care unit. Deborah said she started planning the baby's funeral at the time because she didn't think he would survive.



While her newborn son fought for his life, Tera would shoot up heroin in the parking lot of the hospital with James' father before coming in to visit.



At a recent HARP meeting, Tera shared an "impact letter" she wrote from the perspective of her eldest son recalling James' birth.



"Your water broke after shooting an eight ball of dope and you were taken to St. Francis," Tera reads in between tears. "When Nanny got there and you finally pushed James out, you seen that he looked blue and noticed he wasn't moving."



'The dope man looks up your release date'



Tera has battled opioid addiction since she was 20. She didn't start using heroin until she was 22.



Though she's never overdosed, Tera said she reached a point in her addiction where she was seeking the strongest high -- the kind that would nearly kill you.



"If I die of an overdose, what would people say looking at my body in the casket? Theres a f-----g whore. Theres a f-----g junkie. Theres a f-----g piece of s--t mom." Tera said tearfully. "I realize now Im selfish. My mom and my kids dont have anything to cope, and Im out here wallowing in my needle."



Stephanie's addiction stems from stealing her father's pain medication when he was critically injured in a motorcycle accident. Stephanie, who was a teenager then, would give the pills to her boyfriend but began using herself around the time her father died. She moved on to dope by the time she was 20.



Stephanie said she's addicted to inserting the needle in her arm the same way a cigarette smoker is addicted to inhaling the smoke. She has overdosed four times and has been revived with Naloxone at Southside Regional Medical Center in Petersburg.



Stephanie struggled to adhere to HARP's strict rules and she resisted her "pull-ups," or consequences for actions deemed destructive by the group or deputies overseeing the program. She was kicked out of the program just before Thanksgiving and then transferred to Riverside Regional Jail about 30 minutes away in North Prince George.



Tera also was booted from HARP on Jan. 12.



"It was just a lot of drama, and Tera stirs the pot. She has to make changes in here so she can make them out there," said Deputy Celeste Walters, who works closely with the women in the program. "The plan is to bring her back after 30 days."



Tera was transferred to Riverside Regional Jail on Thursday. It was unclear why she was moved, whether she'll be allowed back in the program after her transfer out of the county jail or when she'll be released.



She said she already misses Stephanie and also worries about her sister's recovery outside of jail.



"She's not ready yet," Tera said. "The dope man looks up your release date and is waiting for you in your driveway when you get out."



Stephanie was released from jail Saturday morning. Deborah borrowed Brandi's car, fastened Jaydain into his car seat and drove the familiar route to Riverside Regional Jail to pick up Stephanie.



"I'm so nervous right now. I just want my family back together," Deborah said in the car.



Deborah fears she will relapse. The last time Stephanie left jail, she used heroin that same day, according to Deborah.



"I worry about Stephanie," Deborah said. "Teras the one I think can get clean."



Stephanie received a yearlong scholarship at an addiction recovery home for women in Richmond called The Mercy House. But she decided to hold off on going and return to Deborah's house instead.



"Mercy House is Plan B," Stephanie said. "I know what I have to do this time. I know if I go with the wrong people, then I will use. As long as I stay here, I'm OK."



By noon, Stephanie had changed out of her jail clothes and into a borrowed bright green hoodie. She walked to a nearby library, got into a car with a man and drove away.



Julia Rendleman's reporting on women and the opioid crisis is supported, in part, by the International Women's Media Foundation's Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists.



Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
New York City this week added a new dimension to the legal crisis facing Purdue Pharma.

The nations largest city is suing several pharmaceutical firms including Stamfords Purdue, one of the most prominent of the many lawsuits that blame the company for fueling the opioid crisis.

Announced Tuesday, the complaint alleges Purdue and the other defendants have deceptively marketed and flooded prescription painkillers into the city, placing a substantial burden on the city through increased health, law enforcement and judicial costs. The litigation seeks $500 million in damages to respond to an epidemic that led to more than 1,000 deaths last year from opioid-related overdoses, the highest such total on record, according to city officials.

More New Yorkers have died from opioid overdoses than car crashes and homicides combined in recent years. Big Pharma helped to fuel this epidemic by deceptively peddling these dangerous drugs and hooking millions of Americans in exchange for profit, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement. Its time (to) hold the companies accountable for what theyve done to our city, and help save more lives.

Purdue denied the allegations, re-issuing a statement it has given in response to other, similar lawsuits. We are deeply troubled by the prescription and illicit opioid abuse crisis, and are dedicated to being part of the solution, the statement said. As a company grounded in science, we must balance patient access to FDA-approved medicines, while working collaboratively to solve this public health challenge.

Legal experts said it will take time to assess the impact of the countrys largest city joining the long list of plaintiffs suing Purdue. State attorneys general from Alaska, Louisiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Washington, as well as many municipal and county prosecutors, have filed lawsuits against the company in the past year.

Given that many other states and cities have filed suit, that New York City would join them is not especially surprising, Robert Bird, a professor of business law in the University of Connecticuts business school, said in an email. NYC has had to contend with the opioid epidemic just as any large city has. Perhaps the only surprise is that it hasnt filed earlier. A large city filing could certainly grab the attention of smaller cities who might follow NYCs lead.

Other companies named in the complaint include Teva, Cephalon, Johnson & Johnson and Janssen.

Law firm Simmons Hanly Conroy is handling the lawsuit. The firm is also representing 18 Connecticut cities and towns  including Bridgeport, Fairfield and Newtown  that filed a similar complaint earlier this month against Purdue and other drugmakers. SHC has so far filed litigation against opioid makers on behalf of more than 140 municipalities in New York, Connecticut and other states.

Officials are using other strategies to pressure opioid makers. A bipartisan group, including Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen, recently launched an investigation of whether pharmaceutical firms have illegally marketed or sold opioids.

Purdue officials have said they are willing to cooperate with the multistate inquiry. The company has proposed a comprehensive settlement to resolve opioid-related claims against itself and other drugmakers, according to Bloomberg. Company officials have declined to comment on whether the firm is seeking such a settlement.

pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott




Haiti - DR : Quisqueya University signs with a Dominican University





On Friday, Rector Jacky Lumarke of Quisqueya University in Haiti, and Rector Alberto Ramirez Cabral of the "Universidad Federico Henriquez y Carvajal" (UFHEC), signed a bilateral collaboration agreement for the exchange of students and the joint implementation of research projects, seminars, courses, workshops and other actions for the improvement of the quality of education in both Universities.



The agreement is for a period of 5 years and also includes an exchange of teachers.



Ramirez Cabral said that with Quisqueya University, they will carry out a joint 2-year health technology development project, which will focus on maternal and child health and care quality. Note that the UFHEC had 17,582 students enrolled (in 2015) and provides education in many sectors: Business Administration, Tourism, Accounting, Law, Education, Nursing, Computer Science, Agronomy, Electrical Engineering and Ontology.



Rector Lumarke recalled that Quisqueya University had 3,500 students, including two Dominicans, and that his institution offered careers in the fields of medicine, law, political science, economics, agriculture, the environment, engineering, informatics and science.



SL/ HaitiLibre


















1 / 10 David Revilla, the lead designer at the Daily Herald, laughs during a portrait in the studio at the offices of the Daily Herald on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018, in Provo. Evan Cobb, Daily Herald 2 / 10 David Revilla's checks in at the naturalization ceremony at the U.S. District Court on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017 in Salt Lake City. Evan Cobb Daily Herald 3 / 10 David Revilla stands for the pledge of allegiance as the American flag is brought to the front of the room during the naturalization ceremony at the U.S. District Court on Weds., Dec. 6, 2017 in Salt Lake City. Students from Morningside Elementary were in attendance for a short presentation during the ceremony. Evan Cobb Daily Herald 4 / 10 David Revilla fills out final paperwork before being naturalized at the naturalization ceremony at the U.S. District Court on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017 in Salt Lake City. Evan Cobb Daily Herald 5 / 10 David Revilla swears in with 49 other advocates to become a United States citizen during the naturalization ceremony at the U.S. District Court on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017 in Salt Lake City. Evan Cobb Daily Herald 6 / 10 The 11:30 am naturalization ceremony had 50 advocates be sworn in as new United States citizens at the U.S. District Court on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017 in Salt Lake City. There were 50 individuals from 25 different countries were sworn in as new U.S. citizens. Evan Cobb Daily Herald 7 / 10 David Revilla addresses the audience during the naturalization ceremony at the U.S. District Court on Weds., Dec. 6, 2017 in Salt Lake City. The judge presiding over the ceremony asked for volunteers to come forward if they wanted to say anything to those in attendance. Evan Cobb Daily Herald 8 / 10 Eva Minano stands after her grandson, David Revilla, thanks her during the naturalization ceremony at the U.S. District Court on Weds., Dec. 6, 2017 in Salt Lake City. Evan Cobb Daily Herald 9 / 10 David Revilla hugs his grandmother, Eva Minano, after the naturalization ceremony at the U.S. District Court on Weds., Dec. 6, 2017 in Salt Lake City. Revilla's wife, mother, father, grandmother and other family members were in attendance for the ceremony. Evan Cobb Daily Herald 10 / 10 David Revilla, the lead designer at the Daily Herald, poses for a portrait in the studio at the offices of the Daily Herald on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018, in Provo. The backdrop is a collage of some of Revilla's favorite pieces he has made while working at the newspaper. Evan Cobb, Daily Herald  

The front covers and centerfolds of the Daily Heralds Ticket section have been a lot more animated lately, and that is due in part to the newspapers lead designer, David Revilla.

Whether its a Justice League or Star Wars illustration, or a splicing of art and photography, Revillas master hand is behind it. He started with the Herald two years ago as a graphic designer in the advertising department, but recently moved over to the editorial side of the building. And hes brightened the newsroom in more than one way.

Im happy they are letting me introduce my personal style into our everyday sections. Illustration is what I really love to do. I get lost illustrating and drawing on the computer. I can do it for hours, he said. Thats where my passion really lives.

Revilla is quiet and intense when hes working on a cover or insert for the paper, but when he comes up for air, he jumps on any chance to discuss pop culture, science fiction or other fandom. His quick smile and even quicker humorous quips lighten up the newsroom as print deadlines creep closer. From his artistic spin splashing throughout the pages of the newspaper, to the colorful tattoos symbolizing family members tracing up his right arm, Revilla is full of color.

While growing up in Peru, Revilla started illustrating and designing at a very young age, spurred on by his grandfather. At age 17, he was a semester into art school in Lima, when his family made the decision to emigrate to the United States. Sponsored by his aunt and grandmother, the family moved to Utah in 2010.

Since I was still 17 when we came here, I was made to go to high school for senior year, to get a high school diploma, he said. He took English, history, government and a financial class to help him incorporate into the new culture.

After time at Utah Valley University to further his art education, Revilla landed at the Daily Herald. While at the Daily Herald, he also took the next step to become an American citizen.

Revilla and his family left Peru because of its instability and violence. But it wasnt an overnight decision. It took Revilla and his family 12 years to get to America, and that was without his two older brothers, who are still petitioning to come.

It is hard to get them here, we are still trying, he said.

Revilla, now 24, became a U.S. citizen Dec. 6. That process lasted almost a full year itself, and included an application, documentation with his current green card and passport, fingerprinting and completing various other documents. He had his final pre-citizenship interview and test in October.

I heard it (becoming a citizen) regularly takes only about six to eight months, but with everything happening with the country, things are taking longer, he said.

The swearing-in citizenship ceremony was very cool, very simple, he said, but very important to him. He was the first in his immediate family to become a U.S. citizen. During the ceremony, he was slightly surprised that he was one of the younger ones there.

There was one moment that was really emotional , he said. I was very surprised how many people who were over 65, and were just becoming citizens. There even was a Nazi survivor there that day from the Netherlands, I think. It gave a nice tone to the ceremony.

He said he feels changed since becoming a citizen.

Its very different being a resident and a citizen. Its huge, he said. 2020 marks the year when I can vote in a presidential election, and my responsibility as an American is to lead by example. Thats a neat responsibility.

Voting is important. Its your voice. Voting is your voice being heard, your opinion being counted. And people take it for granted, he said. Just saying something out loud is not it. Voting is how you make change happen.

Revilla married his wife, Valeria, in September, presided over by then-Mayor John Curtis. The couple met as teens in Peru, and weathered a long-term, long-distance relationship for about seven years. They live in American Fork, and are going through the process towards citizenship for Valeria. His mother and father are also currently going through the citizenship process. Due to the current political climate, they expect it to take even longer than his experience.

Revilla still visits family and friends in Peru, and said he really misses the food. He doesnt miss Limas traffic.

It is worse than California, he said with a laugh.
Elder Von G. Keetch, general authority seventy for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, died Friday evening. He was 57.

According to Mormon Newsroom, Keetch was born March 17, 1960, in Provo. He married Bernice Pymm in November 1981. They are the parents of six children.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement Saturday explaining that Keetch died Friday evening following a brief and sudden illness.

His loss is deeply felt, and we extend our love and prayers to his wife Bernice, his children and loved ones, and pray for the Lords blessings of peace to be with them at this tender time, the statement says.

Keetch had been serving as a seventy since April 4, 2015. At the time of that call, he had been serving as a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy in the Salt Lake City Area and as chief outside counsel to the church. At the time of his death, he was serving as the executive director of the Public Affairs Department.

Over his life, he held many other callings in the LDS Church, including time as a stake president. He served his mission in the Germany Dusseldorf Mission.

In his professional life, he served as a judicial clerk to Chief Justice Warren E. Burger and Justice Antonin Scalia of the U.S. Supreme Court.
The motto of this years Sundance Film Festival is the story lives in you. While many of the films screened at the festival touch far-flung subjects or locales, two documentaries focused on Utah underscore the fact that we sometimes actually live the story.

Look at the documentary Believer, which provides a detailed look at how Imagine Dragons front man Dan Reynolds organized last summers LoveLoud festival to call for unconditional love for children and young adults who are gay or lesbian. The Orem event appeared to be a wild success at the time, but the film shows some of the uncertainty in the four months that led up to the festival.

The people who packed the then-Brent Brown Ballpark at Utah Valley University for LoveLoud may be surprised to learn that just 40 percent of the tickets had been sold two weeks before the event.

One of the core facets of LoveLoud is to address the fact that LGBTQ+ youth are at greater risk of suicide and drug use if they come from unaccepting homes and communities. Youth in Utah are particularly vulnerable with numerous reports showing the overall youth suicide rate in Utah increasing 141 percent since 2011.

The statistic is alarming, which surely was a contributing factor in Gov. Gary Herbert forming a task force this month to address the issue. Locally, leaders such as county Commissioner Nathan Ivie are backing the work by groups such as the Encircle home.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is among the organizations taking part in the governors task force. Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stressed that people who feel alone, rejected or marginalized should know they are loved.

Talk to someone. You dont need to suffer alone. We love you and we need you, Rasband said, according to Mormon Newsroom.

To be sure, Believer is critical of the LDS Churchs policies regarding homosexuality and its potentially contributing factor to Utahs high youth suicide rate. However, the film begins with a thesis statement from Reynolds during a radio interview.

I dont feel a need to denounce Mormonism, Reynolds says, adding that he feels a need to speak out against things that are harming people.

In an overly polarized world where people can argue over the color of the sky, the film shows the conflict in Reynolds and others in reconciling their faith with either being gay or accepting those who are gay. The film spends time with Neon Trees Tyler Glenn and his experience coming out. He laments that, because he is gay, he wouldnt be able to get his son baptized.

In one touching scene, Glenn and Reynolds visit Pioneer Park in Salt Lake City  an early proposed site for LoveLoud  and spontaneously break into the Primary song Love One Another. After, they reflect about how children learn this universal message at an early age.

Reynolds comes off as a nuanced person in the film. He fully admits that, as a straight man, he doesnt know everything about the issue, but also appears to feel remorse about denouncing homosexuality while serving as an LDS missionary in the Midwest. Reynolds also appears to be humbled by the fact that, although he is part of a wildly popular band, the LDS Church can reach far more people across the world.

When it comes to LoveLoud, the film shows the care that Reynolds took to ensure the event promoted an open conversation and not offend half of the attendees.

It needs to be  everybody come to the table and see whats happening, Reynolds tells his wife, Aja Volkman, in one scene.

This complicated balance is also seen as Reynolds is seen hoping for some statement from the LDS Church endorsing LoveLoud  something that comes 10 days before the show.

The film doesnt feature anyone from church leadership, but it does include archived footage of elders speaking at general conferences on homosexuality.

The documentary is centered on Reynolds, but it also takes time to speak with others, including a couple of families who lost either their son or brother to suicide. Reynolds also stops by the Encircle home to listen as LGBT youth share their experiences. These were local teenagers relating their experiences in local communities.

The film ends on dual notes of disappointment and hope. Disappointment on Reynolds part that the LDS Church leadership maintains its prior stances as affirmed in its proclamation on family. However, there is hope from the youth and families who appeared to be touched by the greater love and acceptance that events like LoveLoud helped build.

Reynolds is also hopeful for change, explaining that his optimism comes from his Mormon faith and a desire from that faith to pursue whats right.

I will continue to knock this door until someone answers, he said.

Ultimately, theres a reason why the documentary is called Believer and not Radioactive. Although there may be no easy solution regarding people who are LGBT and the LDS Church, there are some areas where many can find agreement and work together on  importantly, showing Utahs LGBT youth, and all youth, that they are loved and offer alternatives to drugs and suicide.
The most colorful stretch of U.S. 59 lit up again on Saturday evening, more than a week after Reliant Energy had to cut power to the lights that bathed the highway's arched bridges in purple, green and blue for almost a year.

The Montrose Management District, entangled in a legal dispute with local residents, couldn't pay electricity bills for the lights for three months while under temporary court order. Reliant shut off the lights on Jan. 19.

But as the sun set on Saturday, the programmable LED lights came back on, shining over the arches that span the Southwest Freeway -- powered by a public charity fund the district set up to collect donations for the overdue bills.

THE BACK STORY: Here's why Southwest Freeway's colorful bridges are no longer lit up

"The bridge lights are a powerful symbol of Houston's unity, diversity and ingenuity and we are beyond delighted to turn them back on," Ben Brewer, executive director of the Montrose Management District, said in a statement, thanking local donors for contributions, including local business owners and residents.

The lights sprang to life last February during the Super Bowl, and lit the bridges in orange and white while the Astros played in the World Series last fall.

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More than 1,000 local property signed a petition to dissolve the Montrose Management District. A state district court judge is expected to hand down a ruling on Tuesday on the legitimacy of the petition.

On Friday, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said on Twitter he'd pay the light bill "from my own campaign account until we can find a permanent solution."

The district said it set up the fund, a 501(c)3 account, on the recommendation of a local commercial property owner. The city said Reliant also supported the initiative.

"The lights, while relatively new, have been used to celebrate some of the city's biggest moments -- Super Bowl 51 and the Houston Astro's World Series win," Elizabeth Killinger, president of Reliant and NRG Retail, in a statement. "We look forward to them lighting up the night again."
(Bloomberg) -- Billionaire Steve Wynn has stepped down as Republican National Committee finance chair, the RNC's chairwoman said, a day after reports that the casino magnate had engaged in multiple instances of sexual harassment.

The decision may be a blow to the Republican Party's fundraising as it gears up for midterm elections in November with an unpopular president as its standard-bearer.

"Today I accepted Steve Wynn's resignation as Republican National Committee finance chair," the RNC's Ronna Romney McDaniel said in a statement that didn't reference the harassment allegations.

Wynn, the founder of Wynn Resorts Ltd., paid $7.5 million to settle claims brought by a former manicurist at his Las Vegas resort who said he pressured her to have sex with him, the Wall Street Journal said Friday. The report contained numerous other allegations of harassment and coercion by other women.

Wynn's departure was first reported by Politico. In a statement on Saturday, Wynn, whose fortune is estimated by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index at about $3.5 billion, noted the "distraction" caused by allegations he termed "preposterous" a day earlier.

"The work we are doing to make America a better place is too important to be impaired by this distraction," Wynn said in the statement. "I thank the president for the opportunity to serve."

The board of directors of Wynn Resorts met and formed a special committee comprised of independent directors to investigate the allegations, according to a statement issued by the board.

"The board is deeply committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all of the company's employees and to operating with the highest ethical standards," it said in the statement.

Committee members contacted by Bloomberg said they first learned of the allegations from news reports. One, who asked not to be identified because he wasn't authorized to speak for the party, said that in his view the Republican Party couldn't keep Wynn in such a high-profile position given the nature of the accusations.

Under Wynn, the RNC set a fundraising record in 2017 for a non-election year. It ended November with $33.5 million more in the bank than its Democratic counterpart, thanks in part to the big donors Wynn can attract.

"Most of the credit for the cash on hand advantage goes to chairwoman McDaniel and her team. But Wynn was certainly a part of the success. He will be hard to replace, especially mid-cycle," said Dan Eberhart, chief executive officer of oilfield services firm Canary LLC and a Republican fundraiser. "It's another worry the Republicans don't need."

The allegations come at a delicate time for the party, which needs to maintain its financial edge as it faces a wave of retiring House incumbents and an expensive Senate race in Florida.

The party is also struggling to improve its standing with women after its reputation was bruised last year in Alabama. Roy Moore, the party's candidate for what had been one of its safest Senate seats, lost after allegations arose that he had sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl when he was in his mid-30s and had pursued other teenagers.

Republicans also have to contend with the fact that President Donald Trump, who personally asked Wynn to be the party's top fundraiser, came under fire in 2016 for a video in which he made lewd comments while taping the television program "Access Hollywood" in 2005. Separately, 19 women have accused the president of sexual misconduct.

More recently were revelations this month that one of Trump's lawyers paid adult-film actress Stephanie Clifford, known as Stormy Daniels, $130,000 before the 2016 election to keep quiet about an alleged affair with Trump that started in 2006.

As powerful men across an array of industries have been accused of harassing and abusing women, both parties have had to deal with misconduct allegations in their ranks. Democrats forced high-profile incumbents, including Senator Al Franken of Minnesota and Representative John Conyers of Michigan, to resign.

Among Republics, Representative Blake Farenthold of Texas decided not to seek re-election after a report surfaced that he used $84,000 of taxpayer money to settle a sexual-harassment complaint brought by a former aide.

Republicans have been critical of Democrats for accepting money from the movie producer Harvey Weinstein, who was a prolific fundraiser for the party as well. In response to the allegations of sexual misconduct against Weinstein, the RNC's McDaniel tweeted that returning his money "would be a no-brainer."

According to the Journal, which said it had contacted more than 150 people who worked with Wynn, he coerced the manicurist and massage therapists to perform sex acts for $1,000 tips.

In his statement denying the allegations, Wynn told the Journal that it was "deplorable for anyone to find themselves in this situation."

Democrats were quick to pounce. "They remain silent amid sexual assault allegations involving Steve Wynn, one of their party's most senior officials," spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said in a statement on Friday. "We believe that women must be empowered and respected."

Wynn and Trump have a long history. They competed in the Atlantic City casino market two decades ago -- a period that included a fierce court battle. They have since made amends, though Wynn has said he didn't fully embrace Trump until he had already won.

Wynn said Trump asked him to be the committee's finance chairman before the inauguration. His duties include building a national network of fundraisers and courting major donors, who increasingly have more options amid the rise of outside groups that can raise and spend unlimited sums.

- - -

With assistance from Klaus Wille and Sahil Kapur.
Deep in the night, when the presses rumbled and only a handful of workers peopled the Houston Chronicle's venerable downtown office and printing plant, ghostly music filled the dimly lit building's sleeping hallways.

Some swore the melodies wafted from the top floor, once the opulent home of a select businessman's club; others, just as adamant, insisted they came from the old gilded and mirrored vaudeville palace, now vanished without a trace beneath the building's inscrutable white marble facade.

Ghosts don't exist, of course. Nor, for that matter, do giants.

Both, though, likely would have been right at home at 801 Texas Ave.

For more than a century, legions of men and women - some gifted, some outrageous, many both - labored in the big white building to condense the day's happenings into 12-point type.

They filled the paper's pages with tales of calamity - and a generous measure of joy and human warmth. Along the way, they garnered accolades, most notably a 2015 Pulitzer Prize. Above all, they helped their readers understand and cope with change.

More Information ON THE BAYOU Scrawled on this slip of paper is a bet between M.E. Foster and Jesse Jones on whether the Chronicle's new building would be ready by the contracted date. If it wasn't, Jones, giving 10-1 odds, was to pay Foster $1,000. Jones won. The building was completed in 1909, but changes delayed the move-in date to 1910. See More Collapse

Now the Chronicle, at 115 years old, the city's oldest continually published newspaper, is itself in the midst of change.

In March, the newspaper completed its move to its new southwest Houston home - a state-of-the-art center for print and digital journalism in the 21st century.

The new complex, formerly the home of the Houston Post, provides more than 440,000 square feet in seven buildings. The plant at 4747 Southwest Freeway was acquired after the Post closed in 1995 and has for a number of years been the site of the Chronicle's production departments.

The Chronicle's block-sized downtown headquarters and a nearby parking garage were purchased for an undisclosed sum by a partnership led by development giant Hines in October.

Plans call for demolition.

A kind of paradise

As arrangements to relocate reporting, photography and art staffs - among the last to leave the downtown building - moved into high gear, the editorial rooms were charged with an uncommon level of chaos.

Tubs materialized for the transport of valuable files; garbage cans overflowed as paper-piled desktops - a literary archaeologist's paradise - were swept clean. Pyramids of outdated reference books, "Guiness Book of Records 1995," "The Complete Directory of Prime Time TV Stars 1946-Present (1987)," mysteriously grew on any available vacant surface. Former employees, perhaps dabbing at a too-moist eye, came by for one last look. "Yes, yes, there is a sense of loss," lamented one.

Down in the art department, a rose-colored heart topped by a "Chronicle star" appeared on the wall with the legend: "801 Texas. We love you!"

The Chronicle's new home bears little resemblance to the old. With stark vertical components, the 1970-vintage, four-story New Brutalist-styled building seems like a modern concrete castle suitable for knights of the pen.

By contrast, 801 Texas, at least in recent decades, offered viewers an architectural visage of unadorned boxiness.

An accretion of four buildings made into one, it featured a maze of corridors, cul-de-sacs and steps that seemed to spring on strollers at the most unexpected times.

Beverly Harris, who joined the newspaper in 1960 and retired almost a quarter-century later as Lifestyle editor, doubtless spoke for many when she confessed: "I often didn't know which building I was in."

Founded in 1901 by former Houston Post reporter Marcellus Foster, who parlayed an investment in the Spindletop oil field into his own newspaper, the Chronicle first occupied the building in 1910.

Spittoons no longer

Erected by Houston builder-banker Jesse H. Jones for a share in the business, the new building on the northwest corner of Texas Avenue and Travis Street was long and narrow.

The exterior featured a base of polished Texas granite, set off by a border of dark-green enameled brick. The upper portion was white brick ornamented with belt courses.

Inside, the hallways featured floors of pink marble and wainscoting of white Italian marble with a black marble base.

"The entire building is steam heated, has a system of ice drinking water fountains, electric ceiling fans, electric and gas lights, mail chutes, telegraph and telephone facilities, hot and cold water and a vacuum cleaning system," a promotional brochure boasted.

An early photograph of the newsroom shows a surprisingly neat tile-floored room furnished with shaded lamps suspended from the ceiling and spittoons.

Contemporary editors frown on public expectoration.

On the 10th floor was the Houston Club, a businessman's social club equipped with dining facilities, a billiard room and a cozy fireplace.

A second Jones-built building, the Majestic Theater, opened immediately to the west of the Chronicle building the same year.

David Welling, author of "Cinema Houston: From Nickelodeon to Megaplex," said the theater, lavish but not as ostentatious as later movie palaces, initially was a vaudeville venue that featured film shorts.

Known as the "Theater Beautiful," the Majestic borrowed architectural stylings from Pompeii for its lobby, 17th century France for its "ladies' parlour," and Holland for its men's smoking room. The multibalconied auditorium seated 1,500, not counting box seats that featured chandeliers.

Expansions

By the mid-1940s, the theater was defunct; within a few years, the building had been incorporated into the Chronicle complex.

A third Jones structure, the Milam Building, rising immediately west of the theater in 1919, also became part of the newspaper's expanding plant. In 1938, an annex fronting Travis was added to the main building's north side.

For a time, photographs reveal, the distinct presence of four individual buildings combined into one easily could be discerned.

The building assumed its current form during extensive renovation in the late 1960s.

A fifth floor - a new home for the editorial department - was added to the 1938 annex. A production plant was built at Travis and Prairie streets, immediately north of the older buildings. The entire primary structure was clad in white marble.

Spirit of the Chronicle

For a certain generation of Houstonians - journalists included - the spiritual home of the Houston Chronicle forever will be 801 Texas Ave.

And for many, memories billow and swell like the clouds of tobacco smoke that once filled its offices.

"It was rough and tumble," recalled Fernando Dovalina, one of the former employees who visited the building in its final days as Chronicle headquarters.

He joined the newspaper as a copy editor in 1968 and left 31 years later as an assistant managing editor.

Reporters in his first years were boisterous, editors formidable, and everyone loud.

Weaned on a "very civilized" North Texas newspaper, Dovalina hit Houston - once dubbed a whiskey and trombone town - to find a newsroom brimming with larger-than-life characters.

Burning cigarettes dangled precariously from desk edges; desk drawers accumulated empty whiskey bottles; editors deliberated at lawn-mower volume.

"I thought to myself, 'What have I gotten myself into?' " he recalled.

Added longtime home-design editor Madeleine Hamm, "It was just like 'The Front Page.' "

"In the city room, a cloud hung over the ceiling. Everybody smoked," said Hamm, who retired in 2003 after almost four decades with the paper. "There were these old wooden desks that had been there forever. The teletype machines were clacking. When I went to work there, we had manual typewriters. We had copy paper, rubber cement and carbon paper. Oh my gosh! It was terrible."

Hamm and Dovalina's earliest years reflected a period of growing decorum in the news business; the most colorful staff members were relics of decades past.

"They harked back to the 1930s and '40s," Dovalina said. "They had a tabloidish, very florid style. The younger reporters made fun of them, but, at some level, they were jealous. These guys did it very well."

At a distance of almost half a century, Dovalina still recalled one two-fingered typist's lead into a mundane story about an unseasonable cold snap: "There will be frost on the jonquils tonight."

"I wish I had written that one," Dovalina said, "and many others."
The combined talents of the team at Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight and the Cook Political Report have performed a valuable service. With a new study that is creative in design and rich in data, they have cast doubt on the idea that there is a straightforward solution to the controversy over the partisan gerrymandering of congressional district boundaries.

The gerrymandering issue is currently front and center in the courts.

The Supreme Court has taken two cases: one challenging a Republican-drawn map in Wisconsin, the other a Democratic-drawn map in Maryland. The justices will rule later this year on the constitutionality of district boundaries that appear to unduly favor the party that drew them.

Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court just ruled that the congressional boundaries there violate the state constitution by giving Republicans more districts than the partisan split of the state should allow. The state court ordered that the lines be redrawn by early next month. In North Carolina, a federal court tossed out the boundaries there for the same reason. That ruling was stayed by the Supreme Court as the justices deliberate over the cases already before it.

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Partisan gerrymandering is often seen as the root of much that is wrong with current politics, from the lack of competitive districts to the rise of ideological extremes, particularly on the right, and the ensuing gridlock in Washington. Most Americans recoil at the contorted shape of some districts and see malevolent hands at work.

The authors of the Gerrymandering Project at FiveThirtyEight acknowledge the problems. But they are candid - and back it up with multiple demonstrations - that if partisan gerrymandering is eliminated, the question of what comes next is not easy to answer.

"It's easy for opponents of gerrymandering . . . to argue what districts shouldn't look like," writes David Wasserman, who oversees House elections at the Cook Political Report. He adds, "But it's much more difficult to say what districts should look like, because reformers can disagree on what priorities should govern our political cartography."

Harry Enten of FiveThirtyEight, another member of the team that spent months on the project, writes that gerrymandering "is a far more complex topic than some analysts and partisans care to acknowledge. . . . There's no 'right' way to draw a district. Prioritize one goal - competitiveness or nonwhite representation, for example-and you have to sacrifice others."

The team set out to show how different goals produce dramatically different maps. In all they drew 258 different state congressional district maps and a total of 2,568 district maps, using a free, Web-based application. The results are all available for viewing at the FiveThirtyEight.com website.

They produced maps that heavily favored Democrats, with 263 districts where that party would have a clear advantage. They did another that heavily favored Republicans. In that case, there were 275 districts tilted toward the GOP. In both cases, fewer than 30 districts of the 538 were considered competitive.

But then they showed what the breakdown between the parties would look like if the mapmaking process sought to closely match the distribution of seats to the allegiances of the electorate. In another case, they drew boundaries to produce the maximum number of closely competitive districts, or in another to maximize the number of majority-minority districts. They produced one set of maps with districts that followed county boundaries as much as possible. In one case, they turned the process over to an algorithm designed to produce the most compact districts possible.

Redistricting is inherently a political process, and in most states it remains in the hands of politicians. After the 2010 elections, Republicans held the upper hand in far more state legislatures than the Democrats, which is one reason the GOP has the advantage in the House. But Democrats have not been exactly pure in their approach, either. In states where they controlled the process, they sometimes produced districts that were similarly designed to give them an advantage.

However, were Democrats to control more state legislatures and governorships after the 2020 census, and therefore have a freer hand in many states to draw new boundaries, they would face some obstacles that Republicans have not faced, according to the study.

Democratic voters are far more clustered in and around urban areas than are Republicans, making it easier to pack them into districts. Republicans are more spread out. This geography of politics favors Republicans in the construction of congressional districts.

Another factor is the role of the Voting Rights Act. Democrats can't maneuver their voters into particular districts so easily because that could reduce the number of majority-minority districts. In the past, Republicans have worked with minority (and Democratic) legislators to create more majority-minority districts, reaping the benefit of making surrounding districts more Republican in their leanings.

When the FiveThirtyEight team sought to make districts as compact as possible - and they note that there are scores of measures of what constitutes compactness - they ended up reducing the number of majority-minority districts. When they sought to draw maps proportionate to the breakdown of the electorate, they had to engage in some partisan gerrymandering to get there.

When they sought to produce the maximum number of competitive districts, geography again became a factor. "In an era when Democrats and Republicans are choosing to live next to like-minded neighbors, drawing lots of competitive districts can be tricky," Wasserman writes. "In fact, in some cases, it requires conscious, pro-competitive gerrymandering."

That particular effort produced a map with 242 competitive districts: a remarkable number that would put the political parties on the edge of breakdowns and enrich a new class of political operatives. It also could result, for better or worse, in a House whose members were reactive to the mood swings of an electorate influenced by 24/7 cable and the power of social media. The "competitive" map also ended up with non-compact districts and a reduced number of majority-minority districts.

The lack of competitiveness in House districts has come gradually and steadily and not simply as a result of partisan gerrymandering. The Cook Political Report has calculated that the number of competitive districts declined from 164 after the 1996 election to just 72 after the 2016 election. Cook's team earlier concluded that less than a fifth of that decline was caused by redistricting.

One factor in reducing the number of competitive House districts is that fewer and fewer counties are balanced politically. Enten cites statistics showing that in the 1996 presidential election, 1,111 counties - about a third of the total nationally - were decided by margins of 10 percentage points or fewer. In 2016, "that number had plummeted to just 310." That makes it all the more difficult to produce competitive House districts without trampling on the goal of keeping counties and communities as intact as possible.

All of this may be a bit wonky for the average person. But there's a larger message in all the data. As people judge the current state of politics, more than partisan gerrymandering, as distasteful as that might be, is at fault. As Wasserman puts it: "Gerrymandering is a really easy practice to condemn and a really complex problem to solve. And just as there are not permanent majorities in American politics, there may never be such a thing as a perfect map."
Theresa Beerman walked into a gun store in north Houston about a week before Christmas.

The Woodlands woman wanted to buy a handgun, and she did. She took the offered free training, then climbed into her vehicle, drove around the block and used the gun to kill herself.

Beerman, 26, was one of the tens of thousands of Americans who used a firearm to end their lives in recent years.

It's not how her father wants to remember her. When John Beerman thinks of Theresa, he recalls a smart, vibrant woman who loved the outdoors, loved reading and who dreamed of working as a psychologist.

But he remembers, too, her battle with mental illness, the ups and downs that began when she was 16. There were suicide threats and interventions over the years.

Now, more than a month after his daughter's death, John Beerman is speaking up because he says more needs to be done.

"It's just unthinkable," said Beerman, who lives in Windsor, Co.

More Information If you need help If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. See More Collapse

Advocates against gun violence say no measure would necessarily have prevented Theresa's death, though several measures could substantially curb similar incidents.

'Her mind wasn't right'

Theresa Beerman's death - which came amid other high-profile gun deaths in recent months - draws attention to gaps in the gun purchasing and federal background check process, her father said.

"If there could have been some kind of way they could have held her for 48 hours, to do a little more research on her, to find out," he said. "She had a history of mental illness in Montgomery County and Colorado Springs. ... I don't think she knew what she was doing; I think she didn't realize the permanency of her decision. Her mind wasn't right."

RELATED: Amid church shooting fallout, data shows DoD reported only 1 domestic violence conviction in 2016

According to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 40,000 Americans killed themselves in 2013, the most recent year for which data is available. Of that number, more than half were performed with a gun.

Beerman's death is the latest to raise concerns about guns falling into the hands of people who shouldn't have them, with fatal consequences.

After the Sutherland Springs shooting - in which a former U.S. Airman shot up a church, killing 26 - officials with the U.S. Air Force said they had failed to report Devin Patrick Kelley's previous record of domestic violence to a federal database used for background checks.

And earlier this month, after a murder-suicide in Galveston, friends of the shooter, Flor de Maria Pineda Canas, said she had committed the act after a long and troubling history of mental illness.

At Spring Guns & Ammo, the shop where Beerman bought her gun, a spokesman said the 26-year-old Montgomery County woman had filled out a required federal 4473 form, passed a background check and given no indication she planned to use the gun to end her life.

"We followed every ounce of the law, to the letter," the spokesman said, declining to be identified. "We're really sorry about the whole thing. It's obviously something we never want to happen ever again, but as far as our standpoint, we 120 percent followed the letter of the law."

MORE: Strategies aim to steer mentally ill to treatment, not jail

The form Beerman filled out has specific parameters detailing when stores licensed to sell firearms must deny the sale to potential customers, said Nicole Strong, special agent and spokeswoman for the Houston field office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

For a potential customer to be barred from buying a gun because of past problems with mental illness, that person would have had to have been labelled "mentally defective" by a judge, she said. An involuntary mental health commitment or other past encounters with law enforcement would not necessarily bar that person from purchasing a gun.

The names are then run through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS, database.

"If she filled out a 4473 and they did a background check and she passed, she gets to leave with a gun," Strong said. "That's how the system works ... The only fix would be for Congress to change the law. As it stands now, she was not in violation. She was allowed to legally buy and possess a gun."

More checks needed

To curb gun suicides, mental health advocates say the federal background check system should be expanded to include broader prohibitions against those with mental illness. State and federal laws should also be expanded, they say, so that family members of those seeking to purchase firearms can weigh in if they are concerned their loved ones may harm themselves.

"Guns are very easy to use and very highly lethal," said Liza Gold, clinical professor of psychiatry at the Georgetown University School of Medicine and editor and contributing writer of the book, "Gun Violence and Mental Illness."

"Any step you take that delays or postpones or restricts someone's access to guns creates an opportunity for someone else and intervene to prevent a suicide," Gold said.

MORE: Tracking weapons stolen in Houston during Hurricane Harvey

Current law prohibits only the most severely mentally ill from purchasing firearms and fails to identify or restrict other at-risk people from getting access to guns. Instituting temporary bans on people who have been placed on emergency psychiatric holds or temporary psychiatric detentions could help prevent or lower gun suicides, she said.

Gun control advocates said laws that include waiting periods for gun purchases and "gun violence restraining orders" could also help curb gun deaths.

"Access to a gun during a period of crisis is often the difference between life and death," said Amanda Johnson, a volunteer with the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America whose sister killed herself. "We can prevent many of these deaths by making sure that law enforcement officials and family members are empowered to make it more difficult for family members to harm themselves with guns."

The National Rifle Association did not respond to a request for comment.

Still grieving

John Beerman, a minister with the Unity Church, continues to grieve for his daughter.

After talking to the detective who investigated his daughter's death and the gun shop that sold her the gun, he still can't believe how easily she obtained it.

He thinks the 4473 form and background check should be strengthened to include more disqualifiers involving psychiatric treatment.

His daughter had gone to Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Az., graduating early after receiving a full scholarship. She'd had dreams of being a psychologist.

In college, her symptoms worsened, he said. She later moved to The Woodlands and began to isolate herself. She started threatening suicide and sometimes became abusive, he said.

Family members tried to get her into mental health clinics and staged an intervention around Thanksgiving. Soon after she arrived at the hospital, she talked her way out, he said.

She loved being outside, being in nature, meditating and studying human nature, he said. She loved to laugh, to joke and to listen to music.

"The world wasn't there for her," Beerman said. "The people of the world weren't giving her what she felt she needed. I tried my best to love her as much as I could and nurture her as much as I could."
AUSTIN - Facing thousands of anti-abortion supporters in front of the State Capitol, Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday spoke about how, 21 years ago, he held a tiny baby in his arms and marveled at the new life.

"The mother decided against a abortion, giving the baby a chance at life," Abbott told the hushed crowd at the Texas Rally for Life.

The child is now on the dean's list in college - and is his daughter, Audrey, Abbott explained.

"It's been 45 years since Roe v. Wade, and since then, Texas has become the national leader in defending life," Abbott said, referring to the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. "As governor, I will fight for every child to have a chance at life."

In a GOP-controlled state that has some of the strongest anti-abortion laws - 10 of which were enacted last year, including a ban on dismemberment abortions and the sale of fetal tissue to a requirement that fetal remains be given a proper burial and a continued cutoff of Planned Parenthood funding from the state - Abbott and other speakers drew loud applause from the crowd when they talked about a goal of eventually outlawing all abortions in Texas.

'Stand my ground'

Thousands of pro-abortion rights advocates rallied in earlier parades here and in other Texas cities, calling for a Blue Wave of Democrats to sweep Republicans from office in elections this year to thwart the anti-abortion movement.

Placard-waving anti-abortion supporters who attended Saturday's parade and rally in downtown Austin - including elected officials and religious leaders from across Texas - said they would have no part of that, urging an even larger turnout of anti-abortion voters. Abbott at one point warned that pro-abortion rights advocates "are marshaling their forces to take over this capitol and reverse" the state's tough anti-abortion laws.

"Working together, we will keep Texas the most pro-life state," the governor said.

At a time when immigration reforms, a border wall, curbing skyrocketing property taxes and boosting public school funding are the top issues most campaigning politicians are talking about, before the March 6 primary elections, participants in both rallies make it clear that abortion remains a hot-button issue with many Texans.

It is also an issue that could drive turnout among the GOP base on a key issue, at a time when continued political wrangling in Washington could cause some Republicans to stay home.

"I intend to vote. I intend to vote Republican. I intend to stand my ground against abortion," said San Antonio resident Marianna Sanchez, 38, who attended the rally with her three children and members of her church.

'We are saving lives'

Echoing the sentiments of Kathy Seastrunk, a San Antonio mother of four who told the crowd that her youngest son, Isaac, was adopted from a mother who rejected an abortion, Sanchez said: "We can't let up. Our fight is not over."

Pro-abortion rights supporters who have seen a series of anti-abortion bills sail through the GOP controlled legislature, and then be signed into law, hope that a backlash against President Donald Trump will fuel a turnout of angry Democrats that will give many Republicans in Texas the boot.

Republicans seem just as convinced that most Texans agree with their party's anti-abortion stance and that will drive a turnout of GOP voters to keep them in office.

"Now is an important time in our movement," said state Sen. Charles Schwertner, a Georgetown Republican who authored key anti-abortion legislation last year that became law.

Schwertner, 47, an orthopedic surgeon, told the crowd his own mother was counseled to consider an abortion when she was carrying him, after she contracted rubella. "My mother and father walked out of that doctor's office and never turned back," he said, bringing tears to some in the audience.

He then recalled how he held his son in his arms for the first time and the special feelings he had from that experience. "It's like a bell that can't be un-rung if you see life up close and personal like that," he said.

In the years since Roe v. Wade took effect, speakers said, more than 60 million unborn children have died. In Texas, 9,000 fewer abortions were performed in Texas in 2017 than the year before thanks to new laws that state Rep. Cindy Burkett, a Sunnyvale Republican who authored key anti-abortion legislation, helped create, which closed 31 of 45 abortion clinics.

"We are saving lives," said Burkett, who is now running for a state Senate seat.
Why is it that, according to Jesus, faith is better than proof? That's a question I've struggled to answer ever since I began my pilgrimage of faith as a young man. Sometimes it seemed more pressing, other times less so. It can intensify during periods of grief and pain, when faith may not offer much consolation or even make much sense in a world that seems random and cruel.

This question is compounded during periods like this one, when faith seems to distort reality rather than clarify it, when it's easily manipulated for low rather than high purpose and when some of those who claim to be people of faith act in ways that bring dishonor to it and themselves.

Why take a leap of faith, given all that? Insisting on a little more empirical evidence before you make the leap seems pretty reasonable.

The apostle Thomas clearly thought so. According to the Gospel of John, the other disciples told Thomas that they had seen the risen Lord, to which Thomas replied he wouldn't believe until he put his fingers in the nail marks in Jesus' hands and put his hand into Jesus' side.

Fast-forward a week, when Thomas encounters Jesus, who tells him, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas does, to which Jesus replies, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Not seeing and still believing is held up by Jesus as a greater thing than seeing and believing. But I'm not sure I have ever fully grasped what it is about faith that makes it precious in the eyes of God. Recently, with the help of friends - pastors, theologians, authors, fellow believers - I've tried to deepen my understanding on that subject.

To start out, it's worth noting that treating Christian faith as different from proof doesn't mean it's antithetical to evidence and reason. Christianity is a faith that claims to be rooted in history, not abstract philosophy. St. Paul wrote that if Jesus was not resurrected from the dead, the Christian faith is "futile" and followers of Jesus are "of all people most to be pitied."

Christians would say, in fact, that reason is affirmed in Scripture - "Come now, and let us reason together," is how the prophet Isaiah puts it - and that faith properly understood is consistent with and deepens our understanding of reality.

"Reason purifies faith," George Weigel, my colleague at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, told me. "Faith without reason risks descending into superstition; reason without faith builds a world without windows, doors or skylights."

But faith itself, while not the converse of reason, is still distinct from it. If it seems like that's asking too much - if you think leaps of faith are for children rather than adults - consider this: Materialists, rationalists and atheists ultimately place their trust in certain propositions that require faith. To say that truth is only intelligible through reason is itself a statement of faith. Denying the existence of God is as much a leap of faith as asserting it. As the pastor Tim Keller told me, "Most of the things we most deeply believe in - for example, human rights and human equality - are not empirically provable."

"The supreme function of reason is to show man that some things are beyond reason," is how Blaise Pascal put it. Something would not require faith if the proof of it was absolute. According to Philip Yancey, the author of "The Jesus I Never Knew," "Faith requires the possibility of rejection, or it is not faith."

Perhaps the key to understanding why faith is prized within the Christian tradition is that it involves trust that would not be needed if the existence of God were subject to a mathematical proof. What God is seeking is not our intellectual assent so much as a relationship with us. That is, after all, one of the purposes of the incarnation of God in Jesus.

Every meaningful relationship - parent-child, spouse to spouse, friend to friend - involves some degree of trust. It is better and more vivifying to be the object of someone's trust rather than the last person standing after a series of logical deductions. That's true for us as individuals, and it can be true for God as well.

Faith demonstrates human trust in him - and, according to James Forsyth, pastor at McLean Presbyterian Church in Virginia, which my family attends, it demonstrates that we accept God's love for us. "There is a force within love that longs to be received," he says.

Craig Barnes, the president of Princeton Theological Seminary, told me, "Faith is a greater blessing than proof because it gives us a relationship with Jesus. All good relationships are bound together by love. And love is always an expression of faith." He also pointed out that proofs don't necessarily inspire belief. Toward the end of his Gospel, Matthew mentions that some still doubted after they looked right at the risen Christ. ("When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.")

Some of those who witnessed the miracles of Jesus eventually sought to kill him. And Judas, one of Jesus' original disciples, betrayed him with a kiss. So sensory experience isn't enough to compel belief and allegiance.

Our most important forms of knowledge rarely come from logic or proof, according to Cherie Harder, the president of the Trinity Forum. Citing the work of the theologian Lesslie Newbigin, she says it comes through a more personal knowledge. For example, I know my wife loves me because I know her, I know her heart, I know her character, and because I trust her. "Your knowledge of her is less about physical certainty," Harder wrote to me, "and more about a well-placed confidence in who she is (a faith in her that is qualitatively different, and far more personal and holistic, than intellectual certainty)."

"Faith," Harder added, "is tied to love in a way that logical deduction and reason are not. We are changed by what we love more than what we think."

Faith can allow us to understand things in a different way than reason does, in a manner similar to what J.R.R. Tolkien meant when he said that pagan myths weren't lies but rather pointed toward deep truths. The imagination could be integrated into reason, he believed, in a way that helped us to see reality a bit more clearly. Reason is one way to perceive reality; faith - rooted not in partisan ideology but in grace and a sense of the sacred - is another.

There's one other difference between faith and reason. The latter can analyze things like quantum physics and modern cosmology. But what faith can do is to put our lives in an unfolding narrative in ways reason cannot. It gives us a role in a gripping drama, of which the Christmas story is one defining scene. It's a drama that includes sin and betrayal, redemption and grace; and ultimately it gives purpose to our lives despite the brokenness and pain we experience. This may mean nothing to you, but to people of faith, it can mean everything. If God is real, perhaps it should.

It's notable that when Thomas makes his request to Jesus, he's not condemned. Rather, Jesus gives Thomas what he needed - in his case, proof - and in doing so makes it clear that Jesus is willing to meet us where we are. Some need proof, at least as a start; for others, faith alone is enough.

According to Christian tradition, Thomas eventually would go on to serve as a missionary in India, where he was martyred. I imagine his faithfulness had less to do with putting his hand in the side of Jesus than what transpired within his heart. His intellectual doubts gave way to calm trust. In my experience, at least, that journey hasn't always been an easy one. For many of us, shadows of doubt coexist with faith.

To emphasize faith is not to cast out doubt. In fact, it is precisely to take doubt seriously, but also to understand the doubter more completely - not just as a reasoning mind but as a full person, possessed of a divine spark that lets us see, now and then, right through the walls we have built between faith and reason.

Peter Wehner, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, served in the previous three Republican administrations.
Birth defects strongly linked to the Zika virus during pregnancy increased in Puerto Rico, southern Florida and one southern Texas county where mosquitoes infected women in 2016, according to a new report.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday a 21 percent increase in neurological defects such as abnormally small heads, or microcephaly, during the second half of 2016 in a grouping of those three areas. It included Texas' Cameron County in the grouping despite the fact local spread of Zika was not detected there until late 2016.

"That suggests Zika might have been introduced into Texas, as well as Florida and Puerto Rico, earlier than thought," said Dr. Peter Hotez, founding dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital. "It also suggests we're likely in store for an even more dramatic rise in 2017."

But Hotez, a renowned Zika expert, acknowledged that the increase in the CDC report might mostly reflect the 2016 epidemic in Puerto Rico, where about 36,000 cases of locally transmitted cases were reported. There were 218 such cases reported in south Florida in summer and fall 2016 and six in Cameron County in November 2016. None of the reported cases in Texas involved pregnant women.

The CDC did not break down the number or rate of birth defects by area.

Doubling back urged

Hotez said it would be good if Texas public health officials doubled back to test the mothers of such babies for the virus, given Zika antibodies should still be present if the women were infected at the time. But a Texas Department of State Health Services spokesman said there are no such plans.

The spokesman said that in 2016, there were 1,708 birth defects in Texas consistent with Zika infection, only 10 of which were among mothers with evidence of Zika infection while pregnant. Because of privacy concerns, he said, the department doesn't provide breakdowns of the cases by region or county.

CDC researchers said they do not know if the increase is due to the local spread of Zika or other factors because of a lack of laboratory evidence of infection in 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.

Zika is not considered fatal, but it has been linked to thousands of babies born with microcephaly. It also can result in seizures, developmental delays with speech or motor function, intellectual disability, feeding problems, and hearing and vision problems.

'Critically important'

"The takeaway here is that it's critically important for public health officials to continue monitoring for Zika," said Peggy Honein, a lead author on the report and the acting director of congenital and developmental disorders at the CDC. "It remains a serious threat to pregnant women and their babies."

Honein said CDC officials anticipate another increase when 2017 data is analyzed because many pregnant women exposed to Zika in late 2016 gave birth in 2017.

Zika emerged as a global threat in 2007, then started spreading extensively in 2015 and 2016, reaching at least 58 countries and territories, most in the southern hemisphere. Local transmission was reported in the U.S. in the second half of 2016, first in Florida, then in Texas.

There were two Zika-related birth defects in Harris County in 2016, both involving women who had contracted the disease while traveling outside the U.S. But the CDC report didn't find a statistically significant increase in defects in such travel-related cases.

'More extensive'

CDC researchers, who analyzed nearly 1 million births from 2016 in 15 states and territories, compared the numbers of defects in three categories -- areas where there was little Zika infection reported; those where there was a significant number of travel-related cases; and those where there was local transmission of the virus. The last was the only category to show a statistically significant increase.

In the 15 state or territories, the researchers found about three of every 1,000 babies 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.

Hotez said the report vindicated the alarm he sounded in 2016, when he advocated vocally for federal funding. He said then that "transmission might have been more extensive than we know" and that "it could take years before pediatric neurologists fully comprehend the long-term neurological effects of Zika."

In all, there were 315 reported Zika cases in Texas in 2016, all travel-related except for the six in Cameron County. There were 48 cases in 2017, including 11 in Harris County. Only two of the 48, in Cameron and Hidalgo counties, were locally transmitted.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions apparently thinks he's living in a very dangerous place. We'd like to invite him to visit Houston, so that our police officers might show him around a city where he can feel safer.

Our nation's highest ranking law enforcement officer recently was responsible for a news release in which he was quoted commenting on "a staggering increase in homicides." A few days ago, the FBI released new statistics indicating homicides rose in the first half of last year by 1.5 percent - hardly "staggering" - and overall violent crime declined about 1 percent.

RELATED: Houston police chief wants more cops even as crime dips

ALSO: Houston murders drop 11 percent in 2017

Maybe this disconnect from reality shouldn't have been surprising, given the fact that Sessions' boss delivered a bizarrely dark inaugural address decrying "American carnage." But the AG should drop his scare-mongering rhetoric, because homicide rates are actually falling dramatically in many American cities, including Houston.

Our city registered an 11 percent decline in homicides in 2017, compared to the previous year. Police Chief Art Acevedo recently reported that the city's overall crime rate declined about 2 percent in 2017. Criminologists caution against reading too much into a single year of crime data, because the numbers can inexplicably rise or fall in any given 12 months. But what happened in 2017 dovetails with a broader pattern of falling Houston homicide statistics that dates back decades. Last year's 269 homicides represent a dramatic drop from 1981's record of 701 killings.

NOSTALGIA?: Jeff Sessions wants to bring back DARE  but the program doesn't work

Why homicide rates are dropping in Houston is unclear. Some sociologists credit demographics, pointing out that violent crime tends to decline when there are fewer teenaged boys and young men in the nation's populace. Meanwhile, improved emergency medical care is saving the lives of more gunshot and stabbing victims, who in earlier decades would've become murder statistics. A succession of mayors has credited contemporary law enforcement initiatives such as computer analysis of crime patterns, gang task forces and community oriented policing.

But by claiming that homicides are rising at a "staggering" rate, the attorney general denigrates the strides made by police and emergency medical personnel in cities such as Houston. Even though our police officers are overworked and their chief says his department is severely understaffed, the number of murders in our city continues to drop.

SANCTUARY CITIES: Any law that tears apart those families is a law that needs to be changed

Bear in mind that the national FBI statistics released a few days ago reflect only the first six months of last year. The Brennan Center for Justice estimates that when the final numbers are tallied, the nation's 30 largest cities will show overall crime rates down 2.7 percent and murder rates down 5.6 percent. That would be the second-lowest overall crime rate since 1990

"These findings directly undercut any claim that the nation is experiencing a crime wave," the Brennan Center report said.

Sessions' promotion of a mythical crime wave isn't just a public relations issue. As attorney general, he makes top level decisions about what the Department of Justice does and how it deploys its resources. His false impression that America is suffering an epidemic of violent crime will almost certainly affect how his department sets its priorities. The DOJ operating under such misguided leadership could give short shrift to more pressing issues as Sessions pursues an alarmist agenda.

Maybe the attorney general is watching too many prime time police procedurals. Maybe he's just one of those politicians who plays the crime card without giving it a second thought. Whatever the reason, Sessions should stop painting a false picture of crime in America.
Negotiating with President Donald Trump is "like negotiating with Jell-O," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer grumbled recently, after discussions with the president on preventing a government shutdown. Trump is known to parrot the last person to whom he's talked, particularly on issues he knows little about, but Jell-O - no doubt orange - is not as bad as negotiating with other metaphorical substances. For example, try negotiating with the hard metal container that holds the quivery gelatin. Jell-O puddles when the heat's on; with hard metal, there's no give whatsoever.

When it comes to more than a million young Dreamers - whom the president professes to love - it's the hard, unforgiving metal in the person of presidential adviser Stephen Miller who seems to control their fate, not Trump. All of 31-years-old, a true-believing anti-immigrant nativist who has trumpeted a straitened, xenophobic agenda since high school, Miller is the author of Trump's plan to resolve the years-long Dreamer dilemma. His anti-immigrant ally in the White House is Chief of Staff John Kelly, briefly Trump's head of Homeland Security.

ATTACK DOG: Miller appears conversant and apparently comfortable with the anti-immigrant bias of America's white nationalists

EDITORIAL: Trump poses a threat to our national ideals

Trump wants Congress to commit $25 billion to fund his "big, beautiful" border wall. He wants to limit family-sponsored immigration to spouses, green-card holders and children of U.S. citizens and to end the diversity lottery that allows some 50,000 people to seek immigration visas each year. And, he wants money for more border guards, even though we have enough guys in dark green that they resemble hand-holding paper-doll cutouts along the Rio Grande and points west. No matter that an inspector general's report last year couldn't document a need for the 150,000 additional immigration agents Trump wanted to hire.

In return for all that - in return, basically, for reordering America's immigration regime along anti-immigration lines - Trump says he'll agree to let 1.8 million undocumented immigrants who have lived here since childhood attain status and seek citizenship. The process would take them 10 to 12 years.

IN LIMBO: Lawmakers need to help these ambitious young people onto a path to citizenship

According to Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice, an immigrant advocacy group, the Trump/Miller's plan would reduce legal immigration by 50 percent and would "destroy what has been the cornerstone of our immigration system." Dreamers, in essence, are being held hostage to the cruel nativist designs of a xenophobic White House.

Far-right members of Congress don't like Trump's plan any more than immigration advocates do. Breitbart.com has labeled Trump "Amnesty Don," and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz calls his proposal to help Dreamers "amnesty for illegals." Trump/Miller is probably going nowhere.

GRIEDER: Dreamers don't need forgiveness, they need and deserve documents

ALSO: Most Americans agree with Trump about letting Dreamers stay

That means Dreamers, whose lives are in limbo, have to look toward the ongoing work of a bipartisan group of senate moderates under the direction of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. The group hopes to craft legislation before a self-imposed Feb. 8 deadline.

Collins told reporters last week that she had discussed the issue with Trump earlier in the week and urged him to protect Dreamers.

"I told him I thought a path to citizenship was the right way to go for these young people who were brought to this country through no decision of their own, and that we also did need to beef up border security because of the flow of drugs into this county that have ravaged so many communities," she said.

"He listened very carefully," she added.

(Jell-O anyone?)

However admirable the good senator's effort, we are not hopeful. Any legislation her group manages to develop would have to navigate the perennial graveyard of sensible immigration proposals: the House of Representatives.

DEPORTING DOCTORS: Houston Dreamers in health care despair about DACA debate

Ideally, Congress would carve out the relatively simple Dreamer solution, solve it, and then move on to the much more difficult task of comprehensive immigration reform. Lawmakers seeking to solve the Dreamer dilemma would have the backing of the public; polls consistently show overwhelming support.

If Congress remains unwilling or unable to take that sensible approach, then Dreamers will have to look toward a potential wave election this fall, even as their lives remain in limbo. Jell-O will still be on the post-election table, but a team of new cooks might be able to drastically change the menu of anti-immigrant proposals.
Texans who participate in the March 6 Democratic and Republican primaries will decide who takes elected office in an overwhelming majority of contested posts in the Lone Star State, as well as play a pivotal role in charting the ideological path their party follows over the next biennium and beyond. Texans who fail to participate will be letting others choose - both who represents them and the ideological profile of their party.

Unfortunately, a majority of Texans normally do not vote in party primaries, especially in non-presidential election years. In 2014 only 1.9 million Texans cast a primary ballot, comparable to 2010 when 2.2 million voted. In percentage terms, a modest 14 percent and 10 percent of registered voters and voting-age residents respectively turned out in 2014 (approximately two-thirds in the Republican primary and one-third in the Democratic primary).

HEY HOUSTON: Register to vote now!

This anemic turnout occurred despite the fact that for most partisan offices in Texas, the de facto winner is decided in the primary, not the general election. In the general election, the partisan composition of the jurisdictions from which most Texas officials are elected is naturally or artificially skewed to a Republican or Democratic advantage to such an extent that, when combined with the continued use of straight-ticket voting (at least through 2018), the winner of the advantaged party's primary is all but guaranteed victory in November. As a result, Texans who neglect to participate in the primaries are largely letting the select few who do turn out decide who represents them in the U.S. Capitol, the Texas Capitol and the state's 254 county courthouses.

ENDORSEMENTS: See who the editorial board supports in the Democratic and Republican primaries

The Texas Republican Party has been engaged in a civil war throughout this decade, pitting tea party conservatives against their centrist conservative brethren. The former faction has seen its power and influence grow considerably over the past four years, while the latter is increasingly on the defensive. The GOP today finds itself at a critical juncture, with the centrist forces increasingly isolated in a political Pusan Perimeter that could contract or expand in size and influence depending on the outcome of the 2018 primaries. In March, Texas Republicans can pick a side in the GOP civil war and signal, either by voting for the more centrist candidates to show they believe the party has shifted too far to the right; or they can back more conservative candidates in a show support for their belief that the party's shift to the right is the correct direction.

SHE'S READY: Celebrate the women, including more than 50 in Texas, running for a congressional seat

Texas Democrats are in the rare position of being able to go on the offensive in 2018, with dozens of competitive primary races being held across the state to determine the party's nominee in contests where it has high hopes of flipping Republican-held seats. The outcome of these primaries will help shape the future ideological profile of the Texas Democratic Party, as well as influence the prospect of victory for Democrats in these contests. The Democratic candidates range from ardent and uncompromising progressives to objective and pragmatic moderates. The success or failure of these distinct candidates will provide important signals regarding rank-and-file support for a broader party strategy: Whether the party veers left as a sharp contrast to the GOP, or whether it steers toward the center to win the support of disaffected Republican centrists and independents.

SELECTING JUDGES: Texas needs to rethink our elected judiciary

In a general election, even when voters know nothing about candidates, they can use the valuable informational cue provided by the candidates' partisan affiliations listed on the ballot. In a primary, however, every candidate has the same partisan affiliation, so voters need to do some homework before heading out to vote.

One option is to research all of the candidates using resources provided by the media and independent groups, along with the material on the candidates' websites and social media pages. Another option is to employ a series of informational shortcuts for some or most races by relying on the endorsements of organizations and individuals (elected officials, faith leaders, public figures) whom voters trust and believe share their political positions and values. While the former method is optimal, the latter generally works quite well and is more practical for people who have neither the time nor inclination to devote to candidate research.

To participate in the March primary, Texans must be registered to vote by Feb. 5. Anyone who is registered can vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary (but not both). Early voting begins on Feb. 20 and runs through March 2. Election Day is March 6. There is still ample time for Texans to do their research and make their voice heard this spring, but the clock is ticking.

Jones is the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy's political science fellow at Rice University and an author of "Texas Politics Today: 2017-2018 Edition."
What if Donald Trump were smart?

It is likely not a question you've given a lot of thought. After all, the urgency of our ongoing disaster leaves little time for speculation. One is too busy tallying up the damage that's happening to worry about the damage that could.

But maybe it's time we did.

Tyrannies, we tend to think, are things that happen in other places at other times to other people. We like to believe the strength of our institutions, of our character as a people, ensure that "it can't happen here."

CAN IT HAPPEN HERE?: Lewis' cautionary tale now seems eerie

Well, if Trump's rise proves nothing else, it proves that it could happen here. It even shows how. Meaning that, more than any other single event, his presidency has forced us to see our vulnerability to new media manipulation and disinformation. Tweet by agonizing tweet, he has embodied the frightening possibilities of this new idea that truth can be whatever you need it to be.

As Stanford University law professor Nathaniel Persily put it last year in an essay published in the Journal of Democracy, Trump has "figured out that incendiary language could command attention or shift the narrative." The title of Persily's piece was fitting: "Can Democracy Survive the Internet?"

Kristof: Trump's threat to democracy

The saving grace in all of this - relatively speaking, at least - is that Trump has no fixed ideological moorings. He doesn't believe in any particular thing outside of his own underappreciated greatness. Even his bigotry is lazy and unfocused, producing - with the exception of the ill-fated Muslim ban - no hard-and-fast policy proscriptions.

But what if Trump were smart?

More to the point, what if there arose some future demagogue who combined Trump's new media savvy with a toxic ideology? It's not far-fetched to wonder if Trump is not simply writing that individual's playbook, showing her or him how easily a stable democracy can be subverted.

BIZARRE FLUKE: A tie in Virginia bodes poorly for democracy

So, even as we grapple with the daily outrages of this presidency, it would be smart to begin inoculating future generations against one that could be worse. Now would be an excellent time to push even harder for internet giants like Facebook and Twitter to find better ways of purging their platforms of false news and hate.

Now would also be an excellent time for schools to beef up their teaching of philosophy, history, civics and social studies. Teach those things as a means of helping people to think critically, value truth and internalize the ideals that are supposed to make America America.

DEMOCRACY SPEAKS: Critics should not "shut up" about this nation's broken immigration system

The hope - in the end, the only real hope we have - is that people who do all that will be less susceptible to toxic ideologies.

Consider that, even lacking a real ideology, toxic or otherwise, Trump has already inflicted damage. It is hardly coincidental that the New York City Anti-Violence Project just reported that 2017 saw an 86 percent spike in hate-crime killings of LGBTQ people. Or that the FBI arrested a Michigan man a few days ago after he allegedly threatened to murder CNN reporters for reporting, as Trump calls it, "fake news." Or that the Pew Research Center found that the percentage of nations expressing confidence in America sank from 64 percent to 22 percent in the first months of the Trump regime. Or that the percentage of Americans expressing confidence in their government has dropped 14 percentage points to just 33 percent over the last year, according to an annual survey by Edelman, a communications marketing firm.

All this and much more has been done to us by someone who is not smart.

What do you suppose might be done to us by someone who was?

Pitts is a columnist for the Miami Herald. Readers may contact him at lpitts@miamiherald.com.
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iciHaiti - Tourism : 69 new graduates of the Hotel School of Haiti





Friday, January 26, took place he graduation ceremony of 69 young students of the Hotel School of Haiti (EHH). These young people who received their parchment in the sectors such as Food and Bar, Reception, Cooking and Pastry were fellows of a sponsorship program of the "Center for Study and International Cooperation" (CECI-Haiti) that encourages employment among women.



Program officials took the opportunity to award a plaque to the EHH for the work done over the years making it a benchmark in hospitality education in Haiti.



IH/ iciHaiti


















Steven Spielberg has confirmed his next project will be the fifth instalment of the Indiana Jones franchise.

The director, whose latest film The Post just earned a Best Picture nomination at the 2018 Oscars, will bring Harrison Ford's whip-cracking character back to cinema screens in 2020 with production scheduled to begin in 2019.

Despite the as-of-yet untitled Indiana Jones film's confirmation, doubts were cast over whether fans would be seeing it in the near future due to a casting call for Spielberg's planned remake of West Side Story.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the filmmaker will shoot the musical following the release of Indiana Jones.

Indy's most recent adventure, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, was released in 2008 to middling reviews 19 years after the concluding part of the original trilogy.

George Lucas - who helped create the character - will executive produce while John Williams will, once again, be on composing duties.

 Ready Player One - Trailer

There's currently no word on who will co-star alongside Ford, however screenwriter David Koepp assured fans that Shia LaBeouf will not be returning as Jones Jr, Mutt Williams.

Indiana Jones 5 will be released 10 July 2020. Spielberg's next film, Ready Player One, will be released 30 March 2018.

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Marbella Aguilar keeps her collection of used books tucked into a hidden shelf in her room at Casa Xochiquetzal, a big yellow colonial house in the heart of Mexico Citys bustling downtown.

I love reading and writing, said Aguilar, 61. Poetry, prose, anything. I cant go to sleep without my books next to me. She mentions Les Miserables and Lolita and the works of Pablo Neruda and Leo Tolstoy.

But her own experiences could fill a book, because she has not had an ordinary life. And Casa Xochiquetzal is no ordinary house: it is a shelter for retired or semi-retired prostitutes.

Casa Xochiquetzal, named after the Aztec goddess of beauty and sexual love, opened its doors in 2006 after Carmen Munoz, a former prostitute, discovered some of her former colleagues sleeping under cardboard in La Merced, a popular red-light district nearby. After a lifetime spent working the streets, the women were destitute and alone, and had nowhere to go.

Munoz took them in and began looking for allies. A group of prominent Mexican feminists offered to help, and with private and public money, plus a building lent free of charge by the Mexico City mayors office, they founded Casa Xochiquetzal, a haven where older prostitutes rescued from the streets could live with dignity.

It is a recurrent fact that family members, even their children, abandon them, even hurt them, when they find out they are sex workers, said Jesica Vargas Gonzalez, the shelters director. It is still a very stigmatised occupation.

Former prostitute Canelita in her room in Casa Xochiquetzal (AFP/Getty)

It is not easy to find the house. It is hidden behind a maze of street vendors. The large wooden doors to the entrance are usually locked. Visitors are only allowed with a previous appointment made by email, says a sign out front.

During a visit one recent morning, one of the residents, who asked to be called Sol, yelled, Breakfast is ready! from the patio, hands around her mouth and looking up to the wraparound balcony on the second floor.

The 16 current residents, ages 53-87, are responsible for cooking all their meals and cleaning their rooms and all the public areas. They follow a schedule that details mandatory tasks, but individual approaches to assigned work can cause bickering among them.

I like it all sparkling clean, said Rosa Belen Calderon Velazquez, 68, who seemed always busy mopping the floors or dusting. My mother used to say, Do it well or do not do it at all, she said with an exasperated look on her face.

Residents also have to take part in the two daily crafts and cooking workshops. The single television, in the patio, is turned on only after 6pm; there is a rotating schedule for who gets the remote control. No drugs are allowed in the house.

Sometimes women who are not retired prostitutes are temporarily taken in, usually homeless women who are victims of abuse. All the women receive medical and psychological treatment.

These are women who need much love, who feel much loneliness, said Karla Romero Tellez, 29, the shelters volunteer psychologist. But they are very strong. They are survivors. That is what defines them.

Violence and abuse, damage and loss, are the threads that link all the stories in the house. Maria Norma Ruiz Sanchez, 65, was raped when she was 9, while walking back from school in a small rural town in Jalisco. The scar on her left thigh from the knife ripping off her school uniform is still there.

She ran away from home at 14, to escape her abusive brother. A truck driver gave her a ride to San Francisco. There, she spent her 15th birthday alone in a bedroom, eating chicken sandwiches and drinking beers.

But before long she returned to Mexico. She had the first of her four children at 16, worked in the fields, owned a cabaret, became a professional wrestler and had countless lovers but only one real love. She also tried to kill herself four times, the last time in a rented room at the Bar Nebraska on the outskirts of Guadalajara.

The 16 current residents are responsible for cooking all their meals and cleaning their rooms and all the public areas (AFP/Getty)

Sanchez still occasionally goes to her office, as she calls it, a park by the Hidalgo subway station where new clients and old memories converge in a haze. Im very tired, everything hurts, she said. I make jokes about my life so I can live day to day, but my sadness has no end.

In the afternoon, the winter sun poured in, a yellow pleasant light filling the patio. It was quiet. The thick walls filtered the noise outside. The residents, once so familiar with the frenetic, overwhelming pace of the streets around them, now quietly watched life on those streets unfolding from a distance, peeking out from behind the houses tall windows.

Aguilar works across the street, at a doll shop. She does not like to talk about her past, and every time she starts her story she cannot hold back the tears. Instead, she recited part of a poem she wrote:

I am the one who loves you

I am the one that listens to you when you are sad

I am the one that comforts you in your nights of pain

I am the one that warms you when you are cold

And even when you ignore me

Ill always be there for you.

 New York Times
A young man who sexually assaulted a four-year-old girl and then claimed he believed she was "the 18-year-old babysitter" has been jailed.

Conrad Asa Pritchard,22, of Isaac Close, Salford, attacked the young girl during a house party in Salford after having been drinking in a pub.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Pritchard was found naked to the waist and lying next to the child, pretending to be asleep, by the girl's mother.

Following his arrest, Pritchard told the police he thought the girl was the 18-year-old babysitter.

But DC Paul Davies, of Greater Manchester Police, said Pritchard had targetted the girl to "satisfy his appalling urges".

He described his explanation as "absurd" and added "he is now where he deserves to be".

Pritchard was convicted and sentenced to 32 months in jail after pleading guilty to sexual assault at Manchester Crown Court.
The family of British actor Howard Lew Lewis has claimed the Blackadder star was killed by a drug overdose administrated by the NHS.

The 76-year-old, also known as "Lewy", died on 20 January in a community hospital in Edinburgh where he was being treated for dementia.

But his family has accused the hospital of unexpectedly changing his medication just before Christmas.

Mr Lewis' daughter, Deborah Milazzo, told the Mail on Sunday: "My dad was killed by the NHS."

"My father didn't have cancer, he didn't have heart disease. They suddenly just changed his medication and it was the new medication that killed him," she said.

According to the Sunday paper, Mr Lewis was being administrated a combination of Alfentanil, an opiate about 30 times stronger than oral morphine, and Midazolam, a sedative used in end-of-life care.

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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

A former NHS executive told the Mail the drug combination would only be appropriate for a patient in "the terminal phase of a malignant disease" but Ms Milazzo insisted her father had not received a terminal diagnosis.

Scottish police are reportedly investigating Mr Lewis' death but no-one was able to confirm an investigation was underway at time of publication.

Alongside Blackadder, Mr Lewis appeared in Maid Marian, Her Merry Men and Brush Strokes.

Dr Tracey Gillies, medical director of NHS Lothian Trust, told the Mail on Sunday: "It would not be appropriate to discuss any details from his medical record.

"If the family have concerns or questions, they should contact us."
Meghan Markle is expected to deliver her own speech at her wedding to Prince Harry  breaking centuries of tradition.

The former actress is understood to be ready to speak during a reception at Windsor Castle following the weeding ceremony on May 19 which is expected to be attended by 800 guests, The Sunday Times reports.

It is understood that Ms Markles 73-year-old father Thomas, a former Hollywood lighting director, is likely to walk his daughter down the aisle but is less likely to make a speech at the reception.

If her father will not speak for her, Ms Markle is understood to want to have the opportunity to thank Prince Harry, the Queen, her family and friends in an affectionate tribute  a move which breaks with regal customs.

Ms Markle, who is expected to be made a Duchess on the day, might even dare to make a couple of jokes, the paper reports, and is said to have Prince Harrys full support.

Although this is no small feat for the American who will have to deliver the speech in front of hundreds of guests including the Queen, Ms Markle has some practice in public speaking.

A UN womens advocate, Ms Markle promoted gender equality and publicly supported Emma Watsons He For She campaign.

In 2015, she gave a speech before the UN secretary general ban Ki Moon saying: I am proud to be a woman and a feminist.... A wife is equal to her husband.

Prince Harry is still to announce his best man and his brother Prince William is widely tipped to be among his top choices.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures Show all 55 1 /55 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures September 2017 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada. The Invictus Games is an international sport event for wounded, injured and sick (WIS) servicemen and women, both serving and veteran. It was created by the Duke of Sussex and aims to use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding of all those who serve their country Invictus Games Foundation/Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures November 2017 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for a photograph in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace following the announcement of their engagement AFP/Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures November 2017 Meghan Markle shows off her engagement ring AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures December 2017 Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene in King's Lynn Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures January 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan during a visit to Reprezent 107.3FM in Pop Brixton. The Reprezent training programme was established in Peckham in 2008, in response to the alarming rise in knife crime, to help young people develop and socialise through radio Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures January 2018 Meghan Markle greets well-wishers on arrival at Cardiff Castle for a day showcasing the rich culture and heritage of Wales AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures January 2018 The couple watching a dance performance by Jukebox Collective during their to Cardiff Castle AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures February 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle walk through the corridors of the Palace of Holyroodhouse on their way to a reception for young people in Edinburgh. The reception celebrated youth achievements, marking Scotlands Year of Young People 2018, an initiative that aims to inspire Scotland through its young people: celebrating their achievements, strengthening their voice on social issues and creating new opportunities for them to shine AFP Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures February 2018 Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William at the first annual Royal Foundation Forum in London. Under the theme 'Making a Difference Together', the event showcased the programmes run or initiated by The Royal Foundation Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures March 2018 Prince William, Kate, Meghan and Prince Harry attend a Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures March 2018 Meghan Markle greets well-wishers after a visit to one of Belfast's most historic buildings, The Crown Liquor Saloon, a former Victorian gin palace, now run by the National Trust. It was the Royal couple's first joint visit to Northern Ireland AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures April 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle meet participants as they attend the UK team trials for the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 at the University of Bath AFP via Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures May 2018 Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland arriving at Cliveden House Hotel the night before her wedding to Prince Harry Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures May 2018 Royal fans sing for the television in Windsor the day before the Royal wedding AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures May 2018 Meghan Markle walks down the aisle in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, during her wedding AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures May 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stand facing each other hand-in-hand before Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby during their wedding ceremony AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures May 2018 Prince Harry kisses the Duchess of Sussex, as they pass through the Cambridge Gate into the grounds of Windsor Castle at the end of their carriage procession AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures May 2018 The newly married royals leave Windsor Castle after their wedding to attend an evening reception at Frogmore House AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures June 2018 Queen Elizabeth II sitts and laughs with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex during a ceremony to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge in the town of Widnes in Halton, Cheshire Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures June 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan return in a horse-drawn carriage after attending the Queen's Birthday Parade, 'Trooping the Colour' on Horseguards parade AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures July 2018 Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watch the RAF flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, as members of the Royal Family attend events to mark the centenary of the RAF Chris Jackson/Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures July 2018 Meghan and Prince Harry kiss after the Sentebale Polo event that was held at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures August 2018 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meet the cast and crew of "Hamilton" backstage after the gala performance in support of Sentebale at Victoria Palace Theatre Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures September 2018 Meghan meets 7-year-old Matilda Booth during the annual WellChild awards at Royal Lancaster Hotel in London Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan meet 98-year-old Daphne Dunne during a meet and greet at the Sydney Opera House during an official 16-day Autumn tour visiting cities in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan meet a koala named Ruby and its koala joey named Meghan after the Duchess of Sussex during a visit to Taronga Zoo in Sydney AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry looks on as his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is hugged by student Luke Vincent of Buninyong Public School following the couple's arrival at Dubbo Regional Airport in Dubbo AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures October 2018 Harry and his wife Meghan watch aboriginal dances at Victoria Park in Dubbo AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures October 2018 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meet with lifeguards at South Melbourne Beach. BeachPatrol is a network of volunteers who are passionate about keeping Melbourne's beaches and foreshores clear of litter to reduce the negative impact of litter on the marine environment and food chain, and provide a safe environment for the public to enjoy their local beach Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan join a circle during a "Fluro Friday" session run by OneWave, a local surfing community group who raise awareness for mental health and wellbeing, at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach AFP Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures October 2018 The British royals kicked off their shoes and donned tropical garlands on Bondi Beach AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan visit an exhibition of Tongan handicrafts, mats and tapa cloths at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre in Nuku'alofa, Tonga Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and Meghan laying a wreath at the National War Memorial in Wellington, New Zealand Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures October 2018 Prince Harry and his wife Meghan visit Redwoods Tree Walk in Rotorua AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures November 2018 Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at a service marking the centenary of WW1 armistice at Westminster Abbey Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures February 2019 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, visit the Kasbah of the Udayas near the Moroccan capital Rabat AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures March 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan speak on stage during WE Day UK 2019 at The SSE Arena in London Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures March 2019 Meghan and Prince Harry react as they are presented with baby gifts by Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Janice Charette, at Canada House, during an event to mark Commonwealth Day, in central London AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures May 2019 A congratulatory banner message circling the BT Tower reading "Congratulations Harry and Meghan It's a Baby Boy!" AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures May 2019 Footmen Stephen Kelly and Sarah Thompson set up an official notice on an easel at the gates of Buckingham Palace on May 6, announcing the birth of a son to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures May 2019 Pround parents pose with their newborn son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle. The Duchess of Sussex gave birth at 5:26 on 6 May Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures May 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan walk away after posing for photographs with their newborn son AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures June 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan join the New York Yankees in their clubhouse and receive gifts for Archie ahead of their match against the Boston Red Sox at the London Stadium. The historic two-game series marked the sport's first games ever played in Europe and The Invictus Games Foundation was selected as the official charity of Mitel and MLB London Series 2019 Invictus Games Foundation/Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures July 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan meet cast and crew, including US singer-songwriter Beyonce and her husband, US rapper Jay-Z as they attend the European premiere of the film The Lion King in London AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures September 2019 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex dance as they arrive for a visit to the "Justice desk", an NGO in the township of Nyanga in Cape Town, as they begin their tour of the region. Their first official family visit in the coastal city AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures September 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan pose with members of "Waves For Change" NGO at Monwabisi Beach outside of Cape Town. "Waves For Change" NGO fuses surfing with child-friendly mind and body therapy to provide mental health services to vulnerable young people living in challenging communities AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures September 2019 The royals arrive to visit the oldest mosque of Cape Town in Dorp Street in Bo Kaap district AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures September 2019 The Duchess of Sussex visits Auwal Mosque on Heritage Day with the Duke of Sussex during their royal tour of South Africa. Auwal Mosque is the first and oldest mosque in South Africa and for the Muslim community, this mosque symbolises the freedom of former slaves to worship Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures September 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan hold their baby son Archie as they meet with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his wife Leah at the Tutu Legacy Foundation in Cape Town AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures September 2019 The British royal couple were on a 10-day tour of southern Africa -- their first official visit as a family since their son Archie was born AFP via Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures October 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan meet Graca Machel, widow of the late Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Duke last met with Mrs Machel during his visit to South Africa in 2015 Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures October 2019 Meghan and Prince Harry attend a roundtable discussion on gender equality with The Queens Commonwealth Trust (QCT) and One Young World at Windsor Castle Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures December 2019 Prince Harry holding his son Archie. The photo was used on Instagram to wish their followers a happy new year SussexRoyal/PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures January 2020 Duke and Duchess of Sussex depart Canada House in London after visiting to show thanks for the warm hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  in pictures January 2020 Front page headlines, from UK daily papers, reporting on the news that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, plan to step back as "senior" members of the Royal Family AFP via Getty

Asked by Piers Morgan in an interview set to air tonight whether he had received an invitation to the wedding, Donald Trump replied Not that I know of, ending speculation the US President might visit the UK at the time of the royal wedding.

In a 2016 interview, Ms Markle described Mr Trump as divisive and misogynistic. Confronted with her comments, the US President said: Well, I still hope theyre happy.
Survivors of terrorist atrocities committed on British soil and elsewhere will launch a new group to lobby the Government on counter-terror policies and improved support for victims.

The Survivors Against Terror group, which is being founded by survivors and bereaved relatives of victims of Islamist bombings, IRA attacks and far-right extremist murders, has urged others to join as it begins on Monday.

Brendan Cox, the widower of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox, and Mike Haines, whose brother David was beheaded on camera after being held captive by Isis, are among the founders.

Dan Hett and Figen Murray, the brother and mother of Manchester bombing victim Martyn Hett, Paralympian and 7/7 survivor Martine Wiltshire and Tunisia resort shooting victim Gina Van Dort are also involved.

They said: Our collective view is that terrorism can be defeated  but only if we pull together as a country to fight it more effectively.

We will work to build a voice for survivors.

The group aims to campaign for more effective policies to combat terror and identify gaps in support for victims and the bereaved, as well as help the public tackle hate speech and the terror threat.

The founders said: As a group of survivors and family members we have had mixed experiences of support from the government and other service providers.

In some cases this has been exemplary, in other cases families and survivors have been left with no support at all.

We will be reaching out to other survivors and bereaved families to build a better picture of what is and isnt working and will be talking to the government and other service providers about the gaps we identify.

The new group also called on social media companies to take stronger action and urged traditional media to treat survivors more respectfully.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. 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

Survivors Against Terror plans to survey a wide group of victims and go into schools to talk about the impact of hatred.

They added: Terrorism is not a new phenomenon but it continues to cause huge pain and anguish.

Our country has taken on and defeated bigger threats in the past, and we believe if we work together as a country and look after those bereaved or injured, we can and will defeat this as well.

More details can be found on their website.

PA
A transgender woman in an all-male prison has gone on hunger strike after she accused the government of failing to recognise her chosen gender.

In a letter to her friends sent from HMP Preston prison, Marie Dean, 50, said she would rather die than be denied recognition as a woman.

The letter, dated January 17 and seen by The Observer, makes reference to Bobby Sands, the IRA hunger striker who died in the Maze prison in 1981.

Ms Dean's letter comes after at least three transgender women in all-male prisons are reported to have committed suicide in the past year.

In the letter, Ms Dean said: "I decided yesterday that I don't want to be alive anymore. I stopped eating and drinking and should die in three, maybe four weeks."

She added the three transgender women who killed themselves this year "did it too quickly".

The Observer reports that Ms Dean was serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection after being convicted for more than 30 offences, including repeated burglary and filming herself wearing underwear belonging to teenage girls.

An online petition is now calling on the Ministry of Justice to recognise Ms Dean as a woman and respect the rights of transgender people.

In a statement, supporters of Ms Dean said: "We specifically request that Ms Marie Dean has her identity as a woman immediately returned to her and that it is respected by all staff, to be given back her clothes and her makeup to allow her to maintain her dignity and to be moved into the female estate as quickly as possible.

"Leaving her in the male estate will subject her to yet more abuse, distress and transphobic behaviour.

"In Marie Deans case her harrowing ordeal has been both long and traumatising, she has now given up and wants to die and its 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."

The statement adds imprisonment means "the loss of liberty" but should not imply that people are "stripped from their liberty" .

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. 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Ms Dean's case comes shortly after Jenny Swift, a transgender woman remanded in a male prison on an attempted murder charge was found dead in her cell at the male prison HMP Doncaster in December.

The BBC reported Ms Swift killed herself days after puling out of a suicide pact with three other transgender inmates.

In 2016, the Ministry of Justice introduced new guidelines for the treatment of transgender prisoners which state "all transgender prisoners (irrespective of prison location) must be allowed to express the gender with which they identify.

According to the new guidelines, if a transgender offender expresses a desire for a prison location inconsistent 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 before a decision is made. Whilst that process takes place, transgender prisoners are allowed to live in prisons reflecting the gender with which they identify.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman 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.
A police officer has described the moment his dog was stabbed with a 10-inch knife but still refused to let go of the suspect, helping to protect his handler and leading to an arrest and subsequent conviction.

In a new book about the 2016 incident, PC Dave Wardell speaks warmly about the way his canine partner Finn protected him from an armed attacker during a police chase.

The loyal actions of Finn, a German shepherd from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire dog unit, were widely praised at the time and inspired PC Wardell to write Fabulous Finn, recalling the moments leading up to the 16-year-old suspects arrest.

PC Wardell writes how he was chasing a suspect in Stevenage in October 2016 when the teenager ignored his warnings to stop, so he sent the dog after him.

I let Finn go. As the man tried to scramble over a fence, Finn took hold of his lower leg in his mouth and pulled until the suspect was face down on the grass, he writes, in an extract published by the Mail on Sunday.

Suddenly, something caught my eye. It was a massive piece of dark metal which he appeared to be pulling from Finns chest. It was covered in blood. It was a knife  as thick as a ruler. It was ridiculously huge, like a hunting knife  the blade alone must have been 10in long.

Finn was left with wounds to his head and chest (@BCHPoliceDogs)

PC Wardell, who was 32 at the time, recalled: The vision of the knife, that flash of metal as it slid out of Finns chest. Then another flash as the suspect lunged a second time, aiming for my upper body, and Finn moving to protect me and blocking the weapon with his head.

He said the suspect also managed to slice open Finns head, and as my hand was close by, he sliced that open too. But PC Wardell said the dog held on until back-up arrived.

Finn was left covered in blood with a huge wound across his chest, struggling to breathe with air being sucked into his body through a hole that shouldnt be there. He recalled the 20-minute drive to the care centre where his life could be saved, which felt like a lifetime as he was expecting Finn to die.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. PA UK news in pictures 26 July 2021 A woman is helped by Border Force officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, following a small boat incident in the Channel PA UK news in pictures 25 July 2021 Vehicles drive through deep water on a flooded road in Nine Elms, London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 July 2021 Utilities workers inspect a 15x20ft sinkhole on Green Lane, Liverpool, which is suspected to have been caused by ruptured water main PA UK news in pictures 23 July 2021 Children interact with Mega Please Draw Freely by artist Ei Arakawa inside the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern in London, part of UNIQLO Tate Play the gallery's new free programme of art-inspired activities for families PA UK news in pictures 22 July 2021 Festivalgoers in the campsite at the Latitude festival in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk PA UK news in pictures 21 July 2021 A man walks past an artwork by Will Blood on the end of a property in Bedminster, Bristol, as the 75 murals project reaches the halfway point and various graffiti pieces are sprayed onto walls and buildings across the city over the Summer PA UK news in pictures 20 July 2021 People during morning prayer during Eid ul-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice, in Southall Park, Uxbridge, London PA UK news in pictures 19 July 2021 Commuters, some not wearing facemasks, at Westminster Underground station, at 08:38 in London after the final legal Coronavirus restrictions were lifted in England PA UK news in pictures 18 July 2021 A view of spectators by the 2nd green during day four of The Open at The Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 July 2021 Cyclists ride over the Hammersmith Bridge in London. 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But miraculously the dog survived, after hours of lifesaving surgery. The blade had missed Finns heart, but he was left with enormous surgical wounds.

Eventually, Finn was able to return to work just before Christmas in 2016 and continued until his retirement last March.

Finns attacker, who was 16 at the time, was found guilty of criminal damage against the dog. PC Wardell spoke of his despair that in the eyes of the law attacking a service animal while they are at work was of no more consequence than [damaging] a piece of inanimate property. He was also convicted of actual bodily harm against PC Wardell.

Finns plight and the lack of legal protection for service animals garnered much attention on social media after pictures of the injured animal were widely shared. A campaign for Finns Law is urging for legislation be changed to offer greater protection for service animals.

In October 2017, Finn was crowned Animal of the Year at the Animal Action Awards hosted by the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Fabulous Finn: The Brave Police Dog Who Was Stabbed And Came Back From The Brink, by Dave Wardell with Lynne Barrett-Lee, published by Quercus, is out on 8 February.
Donald Trump has criticised Theresa Mays handling of Brexit negotiations, stating he would have taken a tougher stand over how Britain exits the EU.

In an interview with Piers Morgan, which will be broadcast on ITV on Sunday, the US President also claimed he had been invited to make two visits to the UK this year by the Prime Minister.

When asked if Ms May was in a good position regarding the ongoing 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, he added, in footage seen by the Daily Mail ahead of its broadcast.

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.

Mr Trump also told Mr Morgan he had not been surprised by the result of the EU referendum in 2016.

I said [that] because of trade, but mostly immigration, Brexit is going to be a big upset. And I was right, he said. 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.

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. 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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. 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The US President also said he had been invited to make two trips to the UK this year, a working visit likely to take place in July following a Nato summit in Brussels, as well as a state visit in October.

When asked if he would be making the trip, Mr Trump replied: Yeah, Ill be there. She [Ms May] just invited me. Twice.

The Presidents visit to Britain will go ahead later this year it was reported this week, after Mr Trump met Ms May at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Following their joint conference, a Downing Street spokesman said the two leaders reiterated their desire for a strong trading relationship after Britains exit from the European Union.

The spokesman added: The Prime Minister and President concluded by asking officials to work together on finalising the details of a visit by the President to the UK later this year.
Claims Gavin Williamson leaked intelligence during an interview in which he said Russia could cause thousands and thousands and thousands of deaths in an attack on Britains energy supply have been rejected by the Ministry of Defence.

Allies of the Defence Secretary also suggested Mr Williamson has been the victim of smears after speculation was raised last week that he was on leadership manoeuvres.

On the same day he made the comments about Russia, Mr Williamson also admitted having a flirtatious relationship with a former colleague while working for a fireplace manufacturing firm in Yorkshire in 2004.

But responding to claims in the Sunday Times that he had leaked intelligence, a Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said: The Secretary of State did not release any classified material at any point during discussions with the media.

There has been no leak of intelligence on the subject from either the Secretary of State or the Ministry of Defence.

Responding to the claims, one of Mr Williamsons allies told the newspaper: This is an attempt to promote the leadership campaign of someone else.

Speaking to The Telegraph last week the Defence Secretary said Russia had been looking at the UKs critical infrastructure such as power stations and interconnections that allow the transfer of electricity across borders.

Russia's actions are not limited to Europe's eastern borders  the threat to British livelihoods is severe and real, he said.

But the Russian defence ministry dismissed the claims - and suggested Mr Williamson had lost his grasp on reason.

Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said Mr Williamson's comments were like something from Monty Python.

Gavin Williamson in his fiery crusade for military budget money appears to have lost his grasp on reason, Russian news agency Tass reported Maj Gen Konashenkov as saying.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. 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

His fears about Russia getting pictures of power plants and studying the routes of British pipelines are worthy of a comic plot or a Monty Python's Flying Circus sketch.

The extraordinary row follows heightened speculation that Mr Williamson could be preparing for a leadership bid should Theresa May step down as Prime Minister. One senior Conservative source told the i newspaper on Friday: Gavin wants to be leader  thats clear.

Mr Williamson, who is also in the spotlight for a series of unanswered questions regarding a relationship with a former colleague, got his big break in 2013 as parliamentary private secretary to David Cameron, serving in the post for three years. He was selected by Ms May as her parliamentary campaign manager for the Conservative leadership contest triggered by Mr Cameron's resignation following the EU referendum.

He was promoted from chief whip  responsible for party discipline  to Defence Secretary when Michael Fallon resigned from the position late last year after being accused of making inappropriate advances towards a journalist in 2002.
Jeremy Corbyn has announced that a Labour government would immediately purchase 8,000 homes for rough sleepers in an effort to combat rising homelessness levels in England.

The Labour leader also said he would give new powers to local authorities in order to seize properties that are deliberately kept empty as he hit out at luxury tower blocks sold off to overseas investors.

The commitment follows officials government data, released last week, detailing how the number of people sleeping rough in England has hit a record high  after a 73 per cent increase over the last three years.

The new information showed that on any given night in autumn last year, 4,751 people were recorded sleeping on the streets, a figure that has more than doubled since 2010.

Describing homelessness as disgraceful and wholly unnecessary on the BBCs Andrew Marr Show, Mr Corbyn said a Labour government would immediately purchase 8,000 properties across the country to give immediate housing to those people who are currently homeless.

He continued: And at the same time, require local authorities to build far more.

We would give local authorities the power to take over deliberately kept vacant properties. Where you have in the middle of an area where there is a lot of housing stress, many people rough sleeping, you get some luxury, glossy, glistening block built, sold off plan to overseas investors.

Recommended Number of rough sleepers in England hits highest level on record

The commitment to purchase 8,000 homes doubles the previous commitment from the party. At the 2017 general election, the Labour manifesto said: You cant help people who are homeless if you wont provide the homes so well transform our capacity to get people off the streets for good by making available 4,000 new homes for people with a history of rough sleeping.

Also addressing the issue of homelessness on the same programme, David Lidington, the newly-appointed cabinet secretary, said: Homelessness has gone up for a number of different reasons. Part of it is to do with the complexity of the people who often end up sleeping rough.

Thats why the Government has set up a very ambitious target  we have pledged to half rough sleeping by 2022 and eliminate it by 2027.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. 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

John Healey, the shadow housing minister, said that the rising numbers of people sleeping on the streets shames us all. He added: There can be no excuses  we can end it and we must end it.

Under the last Labour government, years of sustained action cut rough sleeping by three-quarters, but it has more than doubled since 2010.

If Theresa May is serious about fixing our rough sleeping crisis, she should back Labours plans to make more homes available for the homeless.

The number of rough sleepers increased by 15 per cent in just one year, up 617 since autumn 2016. London represented nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of all rough sleepers in England, at 1,140 on any given night  up from 23 per cent the previous year.

A fifth of those sleeping rough last year were non-UK nationals, while 14 per cent were women and 8 per cent were under 25-years-old, the figures show.

Crisis, the national charity for homeless people, urged that the true number of rough sleepers was far greater after its own research found that more than 8,000 people were currently sleeping rough across England.

This is on top of an additional 9,000 homeless people sleeping in tents, cars, trains and buses, the charity warned.




The island that switches countries every six months

Spain will hand it back once more - unless it suddenly decides to renege on that 350-year-old treaty.





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From Our Own Correspondent has insight and analysis from BBC journalists, correspondents and writers from around the world

Listen on iPlayer , get the podcast or listen on the BBC World Service, or on Radio 4 on Thursdays at 11:00 and Saturdays at 11:30 BST

28 January 2018BBC NewsThe French Basque beach resort of Hendaye is the last town before the border with Spain. Out of season, its beautiful curved sandy bay seems to be occupied by hundreds of seals. But look more closely and they are, in fact, defiant winter surfers in wetsuits.Just beyond a long breakwater is the historic Spanish town of Hondarribia and its sprawling, built-up neighbour Irun. The natural border is the river Bidassoa, which flows into an estuary dividing the two countries.As you go upstream from the river mouth, the view changes. Imposing and colourful Basque buildings give way to industrial warehouses on the French side, and unappealing residential tower blocks on the Spanish.But what I have come to see is the Island of Faisans. It's not easy to find. When I ask for directions, nobody understands why I want to go there. They tell me there is nothing to see and warn me you can't visit it - no-one lives there, it's not a tourist destination like Mont St Michel.But there it is - a peaceful, inaccessible island in the middle of the river, with tree cover and neatly trimmed grass, and an old monument which pays tribute to a remarkable historical event that happened here in 1659.For three months, the Spanish and French negotiated the end to their long war on the island, as it was considered neutral territory. Wooden bridges were extended from both sides. The armies stood ready as the negotiations began.A peace agreement was signed - the Treaty of the Pyrenees. Territory was swapped and the border demarcated. And the deal was sealed with a royal wedding, as the French King Louis XIV married the daughter of the Spanish King Philippe IV.One other detail was that the island itself was to be shared between the two countries, with control rotating from one to the other. For six months of the year, from February 1 to 31 July, it's under Spanish rule - and for the following six months it's French. This sort of joint sovereignty is called a condominium, and Faisans Island is one of the oldest in existence.The naval commander in the Spanish town of San Sebastian and his French counterpart in Bayonne act as governors or viceroys of the island. In reality they have bigger fish to deal with, so it's up to the Mayors of Irun and Hendaye to take turns looking after the island.Benoit Ugartemendia runs the parks division for the local council in Hendaye. He told me he sends a small team once a year by boat to the island to cut the grass, trim the tree branches and that's about it. The river is tidal - you can sometimes reach the island by foot from Spain - so as well as cutting the grass, the Spanish police chase off illegal campers.The island is tiny - just over 200m long and 40m wide. Very occasionally, the public is invited to visit on heritage open days, but Benoit says it only interests older people and younger people know nothing of its historical importance.These days, crossing from France to Spain by land is a seamless experience except for the gridlocked traffic - but under the Franco dictatorship, the border was heavily policed. The Mayor of Hendaye, Kotte Ecenarro, told me there used to be sentry points every 100m along the river facing the island to prevent opponents getting in or out.These days, the mayors of Irun and Hendaye meet about a dozen times a year to discuss issues like water quality and fishing rights.In the past, Spanish fishermen have complained about the shape of French boats and lately have been upset with French holiday makers in canoes disrupting their business.The island itself is a low priority. It's being eroded - it has lost nearly half of its size over the centuries, as snow melt rushes down from the Pyrenees and into the river. But neither country wants to spend money building up the island's defences.This year, there will be no ceremony marking the handover. There was an idea to fly the flag of whichever country was currently in - but Mr Ecenarro the mayor told me that until recently, that would only have encouraged the Basque Separatists to take it down or replace it with their own. So in a few days' time - perhaps the world's most undisputed border island will change ownership again. And in August
Tory infighting has descended to new lows as Theresa May was urged to name a date for her departure, anonymous briefings about the Defence Secretary leaking sensitive information emerged and fresh calls appeared for the Chancellors resignation.

Following a week of rumours regarding an increasing number of letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister being to sent to the chair of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, politicians in the party traded public blows, once again exposing the fragility of Ms Mays administration.

One senior Conservative MP told The Independent: This is happening because there is a vacuum of leadership at the top which allows everyone else to say what they think.

Former minister Grant Shapps, who led the ultimately unsuccessful coup attempt after the Prime Ministers infamous conference speech in October, called on the PM to name her departure date, arguing it would remove uncertainty and give her space to pursue her laudable objectives.

While he said he had not submitted a letter to the 1922 Committee  48 are needed from Tory MPs to trigger a leadership contest  Mr Shapps said: An increasing number of my colleagues have. More are going in this weekend. No one knows quite how many.

He wrote in The Mail on Sunday: This uninspiring leadership manifests itself not only through the lens of Cabinet disarray, but through a void in big and bold ideas capable of projecting Britain beyond the trials and tribulations of Brexit.

The Sunday Times added that one cabinet minister vowed to launch a suicide bombing resignation demanding the Prime Minister stand down if colleagues followed their lead. The newspaper added that two former ministers and eight younger MPs privately agreed to submit letters of no confidence.

Respected Conservative backbencher Jonny Mercer also urged the Prime Minister to face down domestic challenges such as the NHS, adding: We need to be doing better, or we will pay the price with the electorate.

And Heidi Allen, the Tory MP for South Cambridgeshire, tweeted a photo of the Sunday Times front page which carried the headline "Tories in turmoil", adding: "And yet the old guard hangs on in and doesn't understand why we need to change, saying MPs like me aren't 'proper Tories'.

"Good God we need to get a grip and lead. We are letting this country down."

But David Lidington, the newly appointed cabinet minister, sought to calm tensions in the party by highlighting the partys record in government and urging his colleagues to come together and treat each other with mutual respect.

Speaking to the BBCs Andrew Marr Show, Mr Lidington said: I think what I say to all my colleagues is the Conservative family  left, right and centre, because were a broad church  needs to come together in a spirit of mutual respect, there are differences in any broad church, and look at what the bigger picture is showing.

Recommended Theresa May to hold crunch talks as pollster warns of election losses

The bigger picture is showing that after eight years in government, we are still neck and neck with the Labour Party in the polls, were taking seats off them in places like Bolton in local government elections last week.

It also came as anonymous briefings emerged in The Sunday Times that Gavin Williamson had leaked intelligence during an interview with The Telegraph, in which he claimed that Russia could cause thousands and thousands and thousands of deaths in an attack on Britains energy supply.

The claim was immediately rejected by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and allies of the Defence Secretary said it was evidence of smears after speculation over his future leadership ambitions.

Rumours circulated Westminster that Mr Williamson was on manoeuvres for the top job after his extraordinary claim about Russia appeared on the same day he admitted to having a flirtatious relationship with a former colleague while working for a fireplace manufacturing firm in Yorkshire in 2004.

But Tory backbencher and ally of Boris Johnson, Nadine Dorries, told ITVs Peston on Sunday that she could say almost categorically that Mr Johnson was not behind the briefings after the newspaper said Mr Williamsons friends indicated so.

If I were Gavin Id be looking closer to within his own office within the MoD, its not something that Boris would ever do, he wouldnt dare do it because if he was ever discovered to have categorically done that that would end all his political ambition, she said.

Its nonsense to say that Boris Johnson has done this.

But responding to articles on Sunday, the Conservative MP George Freeman wrote on Twitter: Just when we thought it couldnt get any worse. Stories of salon sleaze, spin and vendetta leaking from Cabinet let us all down. The PM is trying to do an almost impossible job and deserves better from people at the top of our party.

On Sunday, fresh calls were also made from pro-Leave Tory backbenchers for Ms May to sack her Chancellor, Philip Hammond, after he enraged Eurosceptics last week with his claim that UK-EU trade relations would only change very modestly after Brexit.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. 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

Ms Dorries added: He has to go, the Chancellor needs to be singing off the Lancaster House hymn sheet along with the Prime Minister, he needs to have the Prime Ministers back and he doesnt.

There is a tactic amongst the Remain-supporting Conservatives and that is to cause as much chaos as possible and they do that by bowling this curveball every now and then, or a hand grenade right into the middle of proceedings whenever we have a lull.

The Chancellor has not been loyal, he hasnt got the Prime Ministers back, what we need is stability.

And the former cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith told the Sunday Express that the Prime Minister cannot govern with Mr Hammond sniping from the sidelines.

He said: She has got a serious negotiation on and she does not need the Chancellor contradicting government policy. She needs to say to him: You do that again and it will be your last comment as a Cabinet minister.

Attempting to reassure discontented backbenchers, Mr Lidington said that the UK will have the option to diverge from EU rules during the two-year transition period, adding it would still see big, big difference to the current relationship. The cabinet minister insisted Mr Hammond is fully onboard with Ms Mays strategy.
Theresa May is facing a Conservative revolt over the indefinite detention of immigrants, ahead of an expected Commons attempt to end the stain on our democracy.

Two former cabinet ministers have told The Independent they are ready to vote to scrap a practice blamed for inflicting mental breakdown on people charged with no crime  and given no release date.

There is growing criticism of Britain for being the only EU country without a statutory time limit for the detention of immigrants, including by the UN Human Rights Council.

Survivors of torture, trafficking and rape are among the tens of thousands held in overcrowded centres  for months, or even years  where a recent investigation uncovered widespread self-harm and attempted suicides.

The Home Office has paid 21.2m to migrants it unlawfully detained over the past five years, laying bare its chaotic decisions it was alleged.

Now campaigners believe a looming immigration bill offers a fresh opportunity for MPs to pass an amendment to impose a strict 28-day limit.

Andrew Mitchell, the former International Development Secretary  who has described indefinite detention as a stain on our democracy  told The Independent: I am warm towards this proposal.

 Amber Rudd criticised by asylum seeker who was sent back to Afghanistan

I dont think its right to hold people in detention indefinitely. Its wrong in principle and this is an issue that really matters.

And whats even more wrong is that, when we have held people wrongly indefinitely, is that we have to use taxpayers money to get the Government off the hook.

Caroline Spelman, a former Tory Environment Secretary, described the immigration bill  which is needed to prepare for a new post-Brexit system  as an opportunity to act.

Recommended Asylum seeker describes alleged abuse at G4S detention centre

She will back a 28-day limit if it is supported by a fresh independent review into the welfare of immigration detainees, to be published in June by Stephen Shaw, a former prisons and probation ombudsman.

Most British people would be surprised to find out it is possible to be detained indefinitely in this country  something that goes back to habeas corpus, Dame Caroline said.

I would like to see Britain use methods that have proven to be effective in other countries  such as Sweden  if Stephen Shaw says any consequences with a 28-day limit can be overcome.

The Democratic Unionist Party, which is propping up Mrs May in power, is also likely to apply pressure on the Government to act on the controversy.

Two of its 10 MPs, Gavin Robinson and Jim Shannon, have signed a Parliamentary motion calling for a 28-day time limit and greater use of community-based alternatives.

Samim Bigzad, an Afghan asylum seeker who the Home Office attempted to deport to Kabul, is among those giving accounts of abuse in detention centres (Lizzie Dearden)

A previous attempt to end indefinite detention failed two years ago  but, since then, the Conservatives have lost their Commons majority, making the Government vulnerable to revolts.

The civil liberties group Liberty said it was confident there were principled voices across all parties ready to act when the immigration bill is brought forward.

Every year the Home Office locks up tens of thousands of people  including survivors of torture, trafficking and rape  and gives them no idea when they will be freed, said its director Martha Spurrier.

No judge authorises their incarceration. Many are held for months  even years  in chaotic, overcrowded centres that are rife with abuse.

The lack of a time limit destroys mental health. Self-harm, suicide attempts and deaths are common. This is state-sanctioned suffering on a vast scale.

Almost 30,000 people are detained each year in the centres, with several hundred held for longer than one year. One was held for more than four years.

Half of immigrants leaving detention centres end up being released into the community  rather than deported  where monitoring them cost 80 per cent less, critics say.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. 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

There was outrage last year, when a BBC Panorama undercover investigation recorded staff at Brook House, near Gatwick Airport, mocking, abusing and assaulting inmates.

In November, then-Home Office minister Brandon Lewis sparked protests in the Commons when he claimed there was no indefinite detention  because immigrants are held for no longer than is necessary.

The minister also ducked a plea to meet campaigners pushing for a time limit, arguing 93 per cent of immigrants left detention within four months

Labour has joined the Liberal Democrats in calling for change. Afzal Khan, the partys shadow immigration minister, said indefinite detention was not only cruel, but costs hundreds of millions of pounds.

The UK is the only country in Europe to have no time limit on detention, yet the majority of detainees are actually released into the community, he argued.

But, answering Home Office questions in November, Mr Lewis insisted: We do not have indefinite detention in this country

In our policies is always a presumption of liberty. Individuals are detained for no longer than is necessary.

On the 21.2m payouts, the Home Office added: The fact that a court may subsequently rule that an individual has been unlawfully detained does not necessarily mean the original decision was taken in bad faith.
Donald Trump has said he is not aware of any invite to Prince Harry and Meghan Markles royal wedding later this year.

In an interview due to be aired on Sunday with ITVs Good Morning Britain, the US President was also confronted with comments about him being divisive" and "misogynistic by Ms Markle in 2016.

Well, I still hope theyre happy," he replied.

 Donald Trump apologises for anti-Muslim video retweets

Asked by presenter Piers Morgan whether he had an invited to the royal wedding, he added: Not that I know of...I want them to be happy. I really want them to be happy. They look like a lovely couple.

In late 2017 it was claimed that the Government was concerned Mr Trump may feel snubbed if Barack Obama was invited to the wedding in spring.

But Prince Harry  appearing as the guest editor on Radio 4s Today programme in December  said he and Meghan Markle were yet to workout their wedding guest-list.

Asked whether the ex-Democrat president Mr Obama, who is close to Prince Harry following their collaboration at the Invictus Games, would be invited to the wedding, he said: I dont know about that. We havent put the invites or the guestlist together yet.

So who knows whether hes going to be invited or not? I wouldnt want to ruin that surprise.

It came after the Sun newspaper  quoting a senior Government source  said the royal had made clear his desire to invite Barack and Michelle Obama to his wedding later this year.

Recommended Harry sidesteps question over Obama wedding invite amid Trump concern

But the source added: Trump could react very badly if the Obamas get to a royal wedding before he has had a chance to meet the Queen.

After a meeting with Theresa May in Davos last week, Mr Trump is now expected to come to Britain on his first official meeting later this year.

A senior government source said the visit is likely to take place in the second half of 2018 but were yet to confirm whether it would be a state visit  an offer extended to the President just days after he was inaugurated in January 2017.

The PM and the President agreed that theyll get their people and our people to talk about the plans and there wasnt any discussion beyond that, they added.
Sixteen and 17-year-olds in Wales will be given the right to vote in council elections, under plans announced by the Welsh Labour government.

In a move that will heap pressure on Theresa May to extend the right to younger voters in England the proposals  due to be announced on Tuesday  are designed to boost participation in the region.

The Welsh Cabinet Secretary for local government Alun Davies said: I am concerned we are still seeing far too many people, particularly young people, disengaged from the political process.

There are many reasons for this but we must do more to make the process more attractive, welcoming and transparent.

And Labours national party seized on the plans, reiterating the call to give 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote in UK general elections, arguing that the current rules which only allow those aged 18 and over to participate were inconsistent and unsustainable.

The proposals by the Welsh administration will bring them in line with the Scottish government, who decided to extend the franchise to 16 and 17-year-olds in all Scottish parliamentary and council elections. The countries will now be at odds with England and Northern Ireland.

Recommended The 88 constituencies where votes at 16 could change the result

Cat Smith, the shadow voter engagement minister, said the Welsh Labour administration is leading the way by extending the right to vote.

But, she added: We are now in an inconsistent and unsustainable position where a 16-year-old living in Wales and Scotland can vote in local elections, yet they are denied the right to vote in UK general elections. The Conservative Party is quickly finding themselves on the wrong side of history, while Labour is yet again showing that they are the party of the many.

The time has now come for the UK Government to extend the franchise to all 16 and 17-year-olds, and ensure equal voting rights across the United Kingdom.

The Electoral Reform Society, who have lobbied for votes at 16, said there will now be a glaring constitutional injustice with 16 and 17-year-olds being able to vote in local elections in Scotland and Wales while around a million people of the same age will be denied the right in England and Northern Ireland.

The Welsh government is setting a positive example for Westminster  its time the UK Government followed suit in backing a franchise fit for the 21st century, said the ERSs chief executive Darren Hughes.

He added: This is now in Theresa Mays ballpark  and if she wants to show she is committed to a stronger and less divided country she should get behind the movement for a fairer franchise. This is about being on the right side of history and we hope the UK government now come forward with proposals for reform in line with Wales and Scotland.

But following Ms Mays decision to call a general election in 2017, the Prime Minister argued votes at 16 was a question where you have to draw a line.

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

She added: You have to pick a point at which you think it is right for the voting age to be. I continue to think it is right for it to be 18.

While the Conservative Party has historically opposed reducing the voting age a pamphlet written by the Prime Ministers former deputy Damian Green, the Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, and the senior Tory MP Sarah Wollaston, argued for lowering the age in September 2015.

In her section Ms Davidson  commenting on the impact of lowering the voting age for the Scottish independence referendum  wrote: The political motives for the decision may have been questionable but the democratic effect turned out to be entirely positive.

The move by the Welsh government comes after Labour accused the Conservatives late last year of sabotaging an attempt by Labour MP Jim McMahon to lower the voting age through his private members bill.
The city of Sacramento is offering a $12,000 reward for information about the person or people who beat, shot, and hanged a puppy, in what animal control officers are calling the worst case of animal abuse theyve ever seen.

A local resident discovered the 4-month-old dogs body hanging from a tree near a bike path in the California capital. Chief Animal Control Officer Jase Huggins told KTXL that the puppy had sustained fractures from nose to tail before being shot with a BB gun and hanged from her leash.

He added that veterinarians had described the dogs liver as looking like hamburger meat.

Recommended Growing number of US states introduce animal abusers registry

"It's a horrific case. It's probably the worst one I've seen since I've been here working for the city," Mr Huggins said.

Authorities were concerned about the risk the abuser posed to other animals, and even humans. Mr Huggins told the Sacramento Bee that research has linked animal cruelty to other forms of violence, like child abuse and domestic violence.

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

Officials initially offered a $7,000 reward for the identity of the perpetrator, but have since raised it to $12,000.

"We have to catch this person ... We have a really high concern when we see this amount of violence perpetrated against a defenseless animal like that," Mr Huggins told KTXL. "That that person is capable of committing violence against another person, another child and another animal."

The maiming, mutilation or torture of an animal in California can be prosecuted as a felony, and is punishable by up to three years in jail or a $20,000 fine.
Donald Trump told Piers Morgan he "wouldn't call himself" a feminist, the ITV host said.

Morgan interviewed the US President at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week and tweeted out quotes ahead of the full interview being aired on Sunday night.

Writing on Twitter, Morgan said: "President Trump has declared he is NOT a feminist."

He added: "He tells me: 'No, I wouldn't say I'm a feminist. I mean, I think that would be, maybe, going too far. I'm for women, I'm for men, I'm for everyone'."

Mr Morgan's tweet sparked a deluge of reaction on the social media platform and the hashtag #TrumpMorgan started trending.

Many social media users used sarcasm to suggest Mr Trump's comment came as no surprise.

One woman tweeted: "We know".

Taniel also tweeted: "Incisive journalism: asking a man who has said that changing diapers is 'up to the women' and who advised husbands to not 'act like the wife' if he's a feminist."

"I'm sorry. I might not recover from the shock," wrote Jared Yates Sexton, adding: "Distribute my possessions fairly. Remember me fondly."

Morgan also joked about the reaction to his own tweet.

"Massive global outrage and mockery over President Trump telling me he's not a feminist. Just imagine how much worse it would have been if he'd say he WAS...," he said.

Mr Trump's comments come amid an international discussion about sexual harassment and attitudes towards women.

 Donald Trump says "I would have negotiated Brexit differently"

In the UK, a Financial Times undercover investigation into the men-only President's Club charity dinner revealing sexual harassment against young hostesses has sent shockwaves through the business and political world.

In the interview with Morgan, the US President also expressed doubts over the existence of climate change, as it is understood by the vast majority of scientists.

He also repeated previous statements that he could "go back" into the Paris Agreement, but said he would only make such a decision if he could get "a good deal" for the US.

The full interview, President Trump  The Piers Morgan Interview is set to air on ITV at 10pm on Sunday.
Donald Trump has expressed doubts over the existence of climate change, as it is understood by the vast majority of scientists.

After proclaiming his belief in clean air and clean water, the US President questioned some of the central tenets of climate science in an interview with Piers Morgan.

Mr Trump also repeated previous statements that he could go back into the Paris climate agreement, but said that he would only make such a decision if he could get a good deal for the US.

 Donald Trump doesn't believe in climate change

When asked if he believed in the existence of climate change, however, Mr Trumps answer did not chime with the scientific consensus.

There is a cooling, and theres a heating. I mean, look, it used to not be climate change, it used to be global warming. That wasnt working too well because it was getting too cold all over the place, he said.

Global warming and climate change are often used interchangeably, but in fact refer to slightly different things. The two are not mutually exclusive.

While global warming refers only to the Earths rising surface temperature, climate change is a broader term that includes the other effects of carbon pollution, such as changing weather patterns.

There have been several studies gauging the consensus among climate scientists on human-caused global warming, with 97 per cent emerging as an accurate estimate of the proportion who accept it.

Recommended New global temperature figures show 2017 was one of hottest years ever

The ice caps were going to melt, they were going to be gone by now, but now theyre setting records. Theyre at a record level, Mr Trump continued.

Mr Trumps comments echo arguments often made by climate change sceptics that global warming has stopped, or even reversed, in recent years.

Recent figures from the Met Office, Nasa and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration showed 2017 was one of the hottest years ever recorded.

These temperatures came as little surprise to climate scientists, as they are a continuation of the upward temperature trend that has been on-going for decades.

(AFP/Getty (AFP/Getty)

Forget what the sceptics will tell you, climate change is real and is happening right now, said Professor Martin Siegert, a climate change expert at Imperial College London, in response to the new figures.

As for polar ice levels, data shows that they are indeed  as Mr Trump stated  at a record level, although not the level he had in mind. Last year Nasa reported record lows in sea ice extent in both the Arctic and the Antarctic.

Though as with global temperature data, there are always fluctuations in sea ice levels from year to year, scientists always consider long-term trends when analysing climate data, and these are what they base their conclusions on.

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

The Paris climate agreement was set up in order to stop global temperatures rising 1.5C above pre-industrial times, a target that is likely to be missed by the middle of the century unless there is an unprecedented shift away from global fossil fuel consumption.

Mr Trump opted to pull the US out of the agreement, as he felt restrictions on fossil fuel use were unfair for the country.

He described the agreement as a disaster.

If somebody said go back into the Paris accord, it would have to be a completely different deal because we had a horrible deal. As usual, they took advantage of the US, Mr Trump said.

Would I go back in? Yeah, Id go back in  but its got to be a good deal for the US.

 Donald Trump says "I would have negotiated Brexit differently"

Mr Trump noted his liking for French President Emmanuel Macron, who last year said he would offer grants to US-based climate scientists to replace the funding lost under the Trump administration as part of a Make Our Planet Great Again scheme.

Emmanuel Macron stated at the One Planet summit in Paris last year that the world is losing the battle against climate change.

Were not moving quick enough. We all need to act, he said.

President Trump  The Piers Morgan Interview was set to air on ITV at 10pm on Sunday.
A reporter who rushed to the scene of a deadly school shooting in Kentucky discovered when she arrived that the alleged gunman was her son, according to local news outlets.

Mary Garrison Minyard, the editor of the Marshall County Daily Online, dashed to a local high school after hearing reports of shots fired. It was only after she arrived that she learned police had arrested her 15-year-old son on suspicion of committing the deadly rampage.

One of Ms Minyards colleagues told the Louisville Courier Journal that she went to comfort the editor and take over the story. Multiple people with knowledge of the incident confirmed the suspects identity to the Courier Journal.

Recommended Two dead and 17 injured at Kentucky school shooting

Ms Minyard has made no public statements on the issue, and appears to have deleted her Facebook account. The Marshall County Daily did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Prosecutors say the suspect opened fire in the common area of Marshall County High School on Tuesday morning, injuring 16 students and killing two. All of the victims were aged between 14 and 18.

 Kentucky school shooting at Marshall County High

The suspect appeared to fire his handgun at random, prosecutors said. Students reportedly tried to break down fences and gates to escape the building, and local business owner Mitchell Garland said students were crying and screaming while running out of the school.

To walk in, the backpacks laying around, the phones laying around, going off  its indescribable, Marshall County Attorney Jeffrey Edwards told reporters after reviewing the scene. Ive been doing this for 25 years. Its not like anything Ive experienced in my life.

The suspect was arrested at the scene and charged as a minor with two counts of murder and 12 counts of first degree assault. Assistant County Attorney Jason Darnall told reporters that his office would move to have the 15-year-old tried as an adult.

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

In a small town like this you dont think anything like this would ever happen here, Marshall County school board chairman Randy Travis said of the 4,500-person community in southwestern Kentucky. But it did. Everybody here is in shock.

The boys parents attended a closed detention hearing on Wednesday, along with the parents of the two victims who were killed, attorney Mark Blankenship told Reuters.

They seemed to be suffering as bad as the parents of the victims, Mr Blankenship said of the suspects parents.

The suspects parents divorced in 2007, according to the Courier Journal. Both later remarried.
Elizabeth Ariadne Lagesse and Michael Webermann had been engaged for all of nine days when they were arrested and charged with six felonies for protesting Donald Trumps inauguration. Now, instead of planning their wedding, theyre crafting a legal strategy to avoid up to 60 years in prison.

Ms Lagesse, a chemical engineering student, and Mr Webermann, the founder of a non-profit, made their two-year courtship official on 11 January 2017, in the shadow of Mr Trumps election victory. They exchanged gifts  a ring for Elizabeth, and a pocket watch for Michael  at the cocktail bar where they had their first date. Nine days later, they  like hundreds of thousands of other outraged Americans  headed to Washington DC to protest the inauguration.

We had the same problems with Trump that everyone else did, Ms Lagesse said. His particularly cruel brand of racism, sexism, and hate was just too much.

Recommended All you need to know about the people on trial for protesting Trump

Ms Lagesse and Mr Webermann participated in the Disrupt J20 march, an anti-fascist, anti-capitalist protest in the heart of Washington. The protest went smoothly until about 10:30am, when some of the marchers broke off from the group and began breaking windows and throwing rocks. Police later claimed that a small group of protesters had created an estimated $100,000 (70,600) worth of property damage.

DC Metropolitan Police surrounded more than 200 of the marchers in a formation known as a kettle, and held them for hours while they shipped participants to local jails in small batches. The protesters  some of whom were journalists, medics and legal observers  were held overnight. The majority of them would eventually be charged with six felonies, ranging from conspiracy to riot to destruction of property.

In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Show all 30 1 /30 In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President-elect Donald Trump acknowledges guests as he arrives on the platform at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump looks on during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump shakes hands with Justice John Roberts after taking the oath at inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump President Donald Trump raises his fists after his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President-elect Donald Trump greets outgoing President Barack Obama before Trump is inaugurated during ceremonies on the Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump resident-elect Donald Trump arrives on the platform of the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Attendees partake in the inauguration ceremonies to swear in Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump US President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address during ceremonies at the US Capitol in Washington DC Getty In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. President Donald Trump waves with wife Melania during the Inaugural Parade in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters registered their rage against the new president Friday in a chaotic confrontation with police who used pepper spray and stun grenades in a melee just blocks from Donald Trump's inaugural parade route. Scores were arrested for trashing property and attacking officers AP In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A woman holds a sign before the start of the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Anti-Trump protesters prepare banners for a protest against the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, in Berlin REUTERS In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators shout slogans against US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators march, block foot traffic and clash with U.S. Capitol Police at the entry checkpoints for the Inauguration of Donald Trump Alamy Live News In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators display a banner as people arrive for US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A man displays a placard as people lineup to get into the National Mall for the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump raise their hands as they are surrounded by police on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A demonstrator wearing a mask depicting Donald Trump protests outside the US Embassy in London Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Demonstrators hold placards as they protest outside the US Embassy in London Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Former US President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush arrive for the Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden share an umbrella as President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address at the inauguration in Washington DC Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton arrive on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump U.S. Vice President Mike Pence takes the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC Getty Images In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Advisors to President-elect Donald Trump, Kellyanne Conway and Steve Bannon depart from services at St. John's Church during the Presidential Inauguration in Washington Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump take cover as they are hit by pepper spray by police on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump An activist demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump is helped after being hit by pepper spray on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A police officer tries to tackle a protester demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump Reuters/Adrees Latif In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump Police arrest and detain a protester in the street in Washington DC Rex In pictures: Protests, pomp and Donald Trump A police officer falls to the ground as another shoots pepper spray at protesters demonstrating against U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the inauguration in Washington DC Reuters

In the year following the arrests, the number of people charged dropped dramatically. When the first six defendants stood trial last month, prosecutors admitted they had no evidence these people had actually broken any windows, or thrown any rocks. Instead, they argued the defendants were guilty for participating in a protest in which property was destroyed.

We dont believe the evidence is going to show that any of these six individuals personally took that crowbar or that hammer and hit the limo, or personally bashed those windows of that Starbucks in, Assistant US Attorney Jennifer Kerkhoff told the jury in her opening statement. You dont personally have to be the one that breaks the window to be guilty of rioting.

The jury cleared all six defendants of all charges.

Weeks later, the prosecutors office dropped the charges against 129 of the remaining defendants, saying they would refocus their efforts on a core group of protestors they felt were most responsible for the destruction and violence that took place on Inauguration Day. The attorneys office declined to comment further for this article.

Many of the 59 remaining defendants in this core group say they had little to nothing to do with the planning of the protest, and nothing at all to do with the property destruction that occurred. Instead, they say, the state is using them as an example of what happens to dissenters.

Even if the state fails to earn a conviction, the defendants argue, they will still have spent more than a year in limbo  waiting to get married, wondering if they will ever attend their childrens graduations  for protesting an American president.

Protestors face off with police in Washington DC on the day of Donald Trumps election (Getty) (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

In the year since their arrests, Ms Lagesse and Mr Webermann have dropped their plans to move to California and moved into a small apartment in Washington, in order to be closer to the courthouse. Ms Lagesse  the first person in her family to attend college  has put her dream of working in tech on hold while they await the decision. Michael supports both of them on his non-profit salary so his fiance can focus on fighting the charges.

Its been a really frustrating and kind of disempowering and hopeless feeling, Ms Lagesse said. I was enjoying the work I was doing; enjoying feeling like I was on a path where I was accomplishing things I cared about... Its a real mental blow to feel like Im not getting to use any of the skills I worked so hard to build.

Another defendant, a university professor in his 30s, has struggled to find a new job  something he has to do every three to four years, because he works on a contingent contract. When he applied for new positions in the past, he said, he received two or three responses for every 10 applications. He has sent out applications to 15 universities in the last five months. None have responded.

While he cant be sure, the professor  who asked not to be named for fear of further damage to his job prospects  believes the lack of response is due to his felony charges. The universities he applied to were well within his prospects, he said, including one application to the institution where he is currently teaching.

His trial is not scheduled to take place until the end of this year, meaning his job search will have stalled for nearly two years while he awaits an outcome.

For two years I am accused but not convicted, and for two years I will be treated, at least bureaucratically, like I have been convicted, he said.

 Presidential inauguration day round-up

In the meantime, conservative detractors have been trying to alert his employer of the charges against him. The right-wing trolls managed to target the wrong university, the professor said, and his current employer is aware of the charges. But the message is still clear: his political opponents are coming after him.

Almost all of the defendants have faced some kind of internet harassment this year, after a right-wing news site published a police document containing their names, dates of birth and addresses. Mr Webermann said his non-profits Facebook page has been swamped with comments asking whether its followers know about his felony charges.

Other harassment has been more serious: So all these people are going to die soon, right? a right-wing message board commenter recently wrote below a list of the defendants names.

Olivia Alsip, a 24-year-old defendant, said she had received similar death threats against both herself and her family.

I dont just fear for me but I also fear for the people around me, she said. I think it would be easier to deal with if it was a matter of violence against me. Thats still really scary, but it makes me a lot more concerned that people I care about might get hurt because of this  because of me.

Police and demonstrators clash in downtown Washington DC following the inauguration of President Trump (Getty) (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Isaac Dalto, a 27-year-old defendant, knows this feeling well. He was arrested and charged last year alongside his younger sister, who he encouraged to attend the protest. Mr Dalto said he told his friends and sister not to worry about the threat of arrest that day. Now feels he may have mislead them.

I didnt know that I was misrepresenting the truth to people, he said. And then we showed up [at the protest] and they treated us more brutally than Ive ever seen police treat a demonstration anywhere.

The police department declined to comment.

Adding to Mr Daltos unease is the fact that the prosecution has identified him as an organiser of the protest. (He says he was not). Even as he and his sister carpooled to their court dates in Washington, and grew closer than ever before, he worried that her proximity to him would be used against her in court.

Earlier this month, Mr Dalto got an unexpected break: While his charges still stood, his sister was among the 129 defendants whose charges were dropped. Thrilled, he called his sister and told her to sit down  he had some good news.

His sister, he recalled, seemed less excited than he was.

I kind of think she had survivors guilt about it a little bit, Mr Dalto said. She was obviously really happy for herself, but I think she was confused and thought it was unfair that me and 58 other people were still in this position.

An anti-Trump protester holds her hands up as police officers line up in Washington DC, (Getty) (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

Other defendants families have been less supportive. Ms Alsip has not spoken to her father  an ardent Trump supporter  since she was charged. She said her father got most of his information about the trial from Fox News, whose reporters described the protesters as provoking the riot police and the officers as fighting to take the street back.

After seeing the coverage, Ms Alsip said her father flipped out and told her to stop associating with the causes she had protested for  not an acceptable option to Ms Alsip, a community organiser by trade.

I would really love to have a fruitful conversation with him  or anyone else, honestly, who wonders about what we do, and what we care about and what were fighting for, she said. But I just think most people arent open to that unfortunately.

She added: It takes two people to have a conversation.

The university professor, meanwhile, said he is struggling to imagine a life without his own family  especially his three young children. When they start talking about the future  birthdays, graduations, performances  he sometimes has to leave the room to cry.

Ive done that a number of times, he confessed, because Ive always lived under the assumption that Id be there for my kids lives.

This is perhaps one small, silver lining for Ms Lagesse and Mr Webermann: Daunting though it is, they are able to face their uncertain futures together. They have lost friends over the last year  When you have no money and the main thing going on in your life sucks, slowly the invites really do decline, Mr Webermann joked  and their families have struggled to grasp the enormity of their charges. But in each other, they have someone who truly understands.

The couple plans on getting married no matter the outcome of their trials. (Its not like we could hold our criminal record against each other, Ms Lagesse pointed out). In fact, they think the whole process has brought them closer together.

I think we have more pride in each other, Mr Webermann said of their relationship over the past year. My awe for Elizabeth has increased dramatically.

To his fiance, he added: I think its sexy to see you fighting injustice.
A Democratic Senator has dismissed reports that Donald Trump tried to fire the special counsel charged with investigating his campaign as simply New York talk.

Mr Trump told White House counsel Don McGahn this summer to fire Robert Mueller, the special counsel probing his campaign's possible ties to Russia, according to multiple outlets. Mr McGahn reportedly threatened to quit if Mr Trump went through with the idea, warning that it would be catastrophic for his presidency.

Mr Trump has dismissed these reports as "fake news".

Meet the Press host Chuck Todd questioned Democratic Senator Joe Manchin about the reports on Sunday, asking him how much the information concerned him.

Thats New York talk, Mr Manchin responded. I look at it strictly as the New York language they have thats different than most other people.

Some viewers reacted with confusion on Twitter, asking what, exactly, the Senator meant by "New York talk".

"One starts to believe that people who call things New York talk might never have been to New York," tweeted ProPublica reporter Jessica Huseman.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

Mr Todd attempted to parse the Democrats motives for brushing aside the news, noting that Mr Manchin is up for re-election in a traditionally red state.

I get what youre trying to do there  its a re-election year, I get that, you have to be anti-New York in West Virginia  but explain this to me, the host said.

Mr Manchin explained the President's behaviour by saying that Mr Trump was having a difficult time adjusting from life as a New York businessman to life as a Washington politician.

All of a sudden he understands theres equal branches and theres equal powers, Mr Manchin said. Hes having a hard time with that. Hopefully, I think that will come.

Lets see if he moves on [Rod] Rosenstein, he added, referring to the Deputy Attorney General overseeing Mr Muellers investigation.

 Donald Trump calls Robert Mueller story 'fake news' and compliments 'tremendous crowd' in Davos

Mr Trump has reportedly complained about Mr Rosenstein in recent weeks, and even told aides he wanted the Deputy Attorney General fired, according to CNN.

Multiple Democrats have said they would consider it an impeachable offence if Mr Trump fired any of the the team leading the Russia probe. Even Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on Sunday that firing Mr Mueller would be the end of the Trump presidency.

Mr Trump has said as recently as December that he is not considering firing Mr Mueller. White House special counsel Ty Cobb responded to reports that the President wanted to fire Mr Rosenstein by saying: "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.

He added: We continue to cooperate with the Special counsel and out of respect for that process will not weigh in further."




Bureaucats: The felines with official positions

Post Office cats

Police cats

Showbiz cats

Museum cats

Military cats

By Bethan BellBBC News28 January 2018Here are some of England's cats that do more than snooze, eat and sidle around while looking superior.In 1868 three cats were formally employed as mousers at the Money Order Office in London. They were "paid" a wage of one shilling a week - which went towards their upkeep - and were given a six-month probationary period.They obviously did their job efficiently as in 1873 they were awarded an increase of 6d a week. The official use of cats soon spread to other post offices.According to the Postal Museum, the most popular cat of all was Tibs. Born in November 1950, at his biggest he weighed 23lbs (10.4kg) and lived in the Post Office headquarters' refreshment club in the basement of the building in central London. During his 14 years' service he kept the building rodent-free.The last Post Office HQ cat, Blackie, died in June 1984, and since then there have been no further felines employed there.An honourable mention must go to the Belgian authorities, who in the 1870s recruited 37 cats to deliver mail via waterproof bags attached to their collars. It was an idea posited by the Belgian Society for the Elevation of the Domestic Cat, which felt cats' natural sense of direction was not being fully exploited.During a trial, the cats were rounded up from their villages near Liege, taken a few miles away and burdened with a note in a bag - with the idea the cat would return home complete with missive.Although all the cats - and notes - eventually turned up, the feline disposition unsurprisingly proved unsuited to providing a swift or reliable postal service and the idea was dropped.Dogs have long been part of the police force, but cats rarely got a look-in - unless they were being arrested for burglary. But in the summer of 2016, Durham Constabulary recruited Mittens.The appointment stemmed from a letter written by five-year-old Eliza Adamson-Hopper, who suggested the force add a puss to its plods."A police cat would be good as they have good ears and can listen out for danger. Cats are good at finding their way home and could show policemen the way," she said.Mittens is not the only police cat. Oscar lives at Holmfirth Police Station in Huddersfield, where his job involves being "a therapeutic source of support for my officers", and Smokey is a volunteer welfare officer at Skegness Police Station.As a spokesman from the station said, "being a police officer can be very fast-paced and stressful job so when we need to take a break or grab some air now, many of us pop outside a spend a few minutes with Smokey".Whether it's showing off in feature films, flogging luxury pet food to besotted owners, or chilling out on the set of Blue Peter, there has long been a place for cats in front of the camera.Arthur was the furry face of Spillers cat food for nearly 10 years from 1966, scooping Kattomeat from the tin into his mouth. He was such a star the brand was later renamed Arthur's in his honour. There were rumours that Arthur was made to use his paw to eat because advertisers removed his teeth - but the allegation proved to be untrue. He was just a natural paw-dipper.Arthur II and Arthur III followed the original. Blue Peter's Jason , a seal point Siamese, was the first in a long line of presenter pusses on the popular BBC children's programme.Others included Jack and Jill, who became known as the disappearing cats, because of their habit of leaping out of whichever lap they were in whenever they appeared on screen, and Willow , who was the first Blue Peter cat to be neutered or spayed.Two red Persians played the role of Crookshanks in the Harry Potter film franchise - Crackerjack was a male and Pumpkin a female - while Mrs Norris was played by three Maine Coons named Maximus, Alanis and Cornilus - each was trained to perform a specific act, such as jumping on to actors' shoulders or lying still.At some point before 1960, a colony of stray cats found its way to the British Museum and established itself there. Unneutered and untamed, it's estimated that at one point there may have been as many as 100 moggies roaming around.Records in the British Museum's archive contain reports of kittens being born in the loading docks and running through the bookshelves of the museum library.The museum eventually decided enough was enough. The invaders were set to be exterminated, but were saved by the museum's cleaner, Rex Shepherd, who set up the Cat Welfare Society and had the strays safely neutered and adopted, until the population was brought down to a more manageable six.Under the guidance of Mr Shepherd, some of the cats, which were kept to control the vermin population, featured in newspaper articles - including a feature on them having their Christmas dinner - and became internationally famous. Suzie could snatch pigeons out of the air to eat them, while Pippin and Poppet were trained to roll over on command.There are no living cats at the museum today - although there are some mummified ones in the displays. If you're after a live one, try the London Water and Steam Museum, which has Maudslay , a black and white fellow named after an engine, or the Jane Austen Museum in Chawton, Hampshire, where Marmite is on hand (or paw) to greet visitors.As far back as 9,500 years ago, cats were used on naval ships and in rat-infested trenches. During World War One, the British Army and Royal Navy deployed nearly half a million to fend off pests on land and at sea.By World War Two, nearly every vessel had at least one ship's cat.One of them, Simon, became the only cat to be awarded the Dickin Medal - the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross - for helping to save the lives of naval officers during the Chinese Civil War in 1949.While the ship was under siege for 101 days , he was credited with saving the lives of the crew by protecting the ship's stores from an infestation of rats.The brave chap suffered severe shrapnel wounds when the ship came under fire and was given a hero's welcome when it eventually returned to dock in Plymouth. Simon lived long enough to get back to England, but died in quarantine three weeks later. He was buried in Ilford, Essex, with full military honours Another wartime hero was Crimean Tom, also known as Sevastopol Tom, who saved British and French troops from starvation during the Crimean War in 1854.The regiments were occupying the port of Sevastopol and could not find food. Tom could. He led them to hidden caches of supplies stored by Russian soldiers and civilians.Tom, who was taken back to England when the war was over, died in 1856, whereupon he was stuffed. He is now a permanent part of the National Army Museum in London.
Republican Senator Marco Rubio has fired his chief of staff, Clint Reed, after finding he violated office policies regarding proper relations between a supervisor and their subordinates.

A statement released overnight on Saturday said he was made aware for the first time of allegations of improper conduct on Friday.

He immediately began an investigation into the matter, he said, and by early afternoon on Saturday decided he had sufficient evidence to conclude Mr Reed acted improperly.

Recommended Marco Rubio reveals his presidential campaign staffers were hacked

On Saturday afternoon, he travelled from Florida to Washington DC and terminated his employment, effective immediately, he said.

We have taken steps to ensure that those impacted by this conduct have access of any services they may require now or in the future, he added.

The Florida Senators office would provide no further details about the incidents that led to Mr Reeds firing pursuant to the wishes of those victimised by this conduct, he added.

The statement did not name Mr Reed, but he is listed as Mr Rubios chief of staff in the Washington Information Directory. On Sunday morning, his Twitter account also said he held the position .

Mr Rubio rose to prominence during his successful tea party-backed Senate bid in 2010. He ran to become the Republican Presidential-nominee in the 2016 election, but stood down his campaign weeks before Donald Trump became the GOP's presumptive nominee.

Mr Reed managed the Senators presidential primary campaigns in Iowa and Florida. After Mr Rubios hopes of becoming US President were dashed, he took control of Mr Rubios successful re-election campaign for the Senate. He became Mr Rubios chief of staff later that year.

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

Mr Reed formerly held a number of positions in the Republican party, and has worked as regional political director for the Republican National Committee. Contact information for Mr Reed was not available

Mr Rubios deputy chief of staff Jessica Fernandez will replace Mr Reed as interim chief of staff, Politico reported.
Donald Trumps extravagant hotel in Washington, DC was reportedly more expensive and emptier than its peers in 2017.

The establishment  a popular hangout for administration officials and the Presidents supporters  had an average monthly occupancy rate of about 50 per cent from January through November 2017, according to data provided to CNN.

That occupancy rate is about 33 per cent below an industry average for a wide group of luxury hotels in the nations capital over the same period, the outlet reported.

At the same time, the Trump hotel charged nightly room rates that were 40 per cent higher on average than comparable hotels in the area.

In January, before being inaugurated into office, Mr Trump said he would maintain ownership of his global business empire but hand off control to his two oldest sons while president.

It was reported in August that the Mr Trumps company took home nearly $2m in profits this year at its Washington DC property  amid ethics concerns stemming from the Presidents refusal to fully divest from his businesses while he is in office.

The Trump Organization had predicted that the Trump International Hotel  located just blocks from the White House  would lose $2.1m during the first quarter of 2017, according to the Washington Post. Instead, the company turned a 1.97m profit during that period at the property.

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 hotel, which opened last fall, is in the Old Post Office building on Pennsylvania Avenue, the same road on which the White House is located. The Trump Organization rents the property from the federal government.

Government ethics experts and congressional Democrats have admonished the governments lease, with Representative Peter DeFazio calling it a highly unethical arrangement.

Because Mr Trump has retained ownership of his real estate empire while serving in the White House, he can still financially benefit from his business interests. Ethics experts have also asserted that several of Mr Trumps businesses present ways by which foreign governments could seek to influence the President by, for example, booking stays at one of his hotels.

The hotels expensive nightly rates are believed to have likely contributed to the propertys profitability. But the Wall Street Journal reported that the hotel also received a higher-than-normal part of its revenue from food and beverages  possibly from all the Trump-supporting tourists that want to stop in and have a drink.

Members of Mr Trumps inner circle and other Republican leaders have also often been spotted in the hotels bar and restaurant.

The President is not one to dine around town. But on rare nights when he does decide to venture out of the White House, he likes to head to his hotel, likely for a steak.
Russian bots retweeted Donald Trump nearly 500,000 times in the 10 weeks leading up to and directly following the US presidential election  10 times more than they retweeted his rival, Hillary Clinton.

The findings come from Twitters latest report to the Senate Judiciary Committee, as Congress attempts to assess the effect of Russian social media activity on the 2016 election.

Twitter found that Russia-connected, automated accounts sent more than 2m election-related tweets between 1 September and 15 November 2016. The tweets came from more than 50,000 Russian bots, and accounted for approximately one per cent of all tweets sent at the time.

The bots engaged more heavily with Mr Trump than his opponent, accounting for more than 4 percent of the retweets he received. They accounted for less than 1 per cent of retweets received by Ms Clinton.

The bots also engaged heavily with Wikileaks, the organisation that first released emails hacked from Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta. Russian bot accounts retweeted Wikileaks some 200,000 times over the 10-week timespan. They were responsible for nearly 5 per cent of tweets using #PodestaEmails.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

Twitter said this month that it will notify nearly 700,000 of its users that they had liked, followed, or retweeted a Russian bot during this time period. Many of these accounts were disguised to look like American accounts, and racked up tens of thousands of followers.

To determine if an account was an automated bot, Twitter examined things like the timing of the tweets and of other users engagement with them.

Twitter also took note of whether the account was created in Russia, whether it was associated with a Russian phone carrier or email address, whether the users display name contained a significant number of Cyrillic characters, or whether they had ever logged in from any Russian IP address. Any one of these criteria would be enough to deem the bot Russia-connected.

 Departing Twitter employee deactivates Donald Trump's account

Twitter is not the first company to submit such findings to Congress. Facebook and Google have also been called to testify, as legislators investigate what US intelligence agencies have called an influence campaign ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the election.

Facebook revealed in September that it had discovered 3,000 ads from 470 accounts connected to a Russian bot manufacturer. These accounts collectively created 80,000 pieces of content that were shared with an estimated 126m people.

"Youve created these platforms, and now, theyre being misused, and you have to be the ones to do something about it, Senator Dianne Feinstein told the three tech giants in November. Or we will."
Walmart is being sued by a customer alleging racial discrimination.

The customer who has filed a lawsuit against the retailer claims that it is segregating products by the race of the people who use them, CBS Los Angeles reported.

Essie Grundy was shopping for a comb in her local store when she found it was locked in a cabinet.

"That's when I noticed that all of the African-American products were locked up under lock and key," Grundy told reporters at a news conference on Friday, according to CBS.

Walmart said in a statement that it does "not tolerate discrimination of any kind."

"We're sensitive to this situation and also understand, like other retailers, that some products such as electronics, automotive, cosmetics and other personal care products are subject to additional security. Those determinations are made on a store-by-store basis using data supporting the need for the heightened measures," a Walmart spokesperson said.

Other customers have posted videos online, claiming that the store is inconveniencing African-American customers while leaving other products out in the open:

.@Walmart Do you want to explain why one of your stores has locks on ONLY the black hair care products?



In case you weren't aware, this is racist and wrong. pic.twitter.com/T59cjr1bbT  Detrick Manning  (@DetrickManning) January 25, 2018

Certain products are locked in cabinets and can only be accessed by employees at the store:

One customer has publicly called for customers to boycott the store on Facebook.

Others have come to Walmart's defence, claiming that it only locks up products that are frequently stolen.

A store manager confirmed this and said that these products are kept under lock and key due to "high theft issues," and it is not a racist act by the company.

Walmart said:

"We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind at Walmart. We serve more than 140 million customers weekly, crossing all demographics, and are focused on meeting their needs while providing the best shopping experience at each store. Were sensitive to this situation and also understand, like other retailers, that some products such as electronics, automotive, cosmetics and other personal care products are subject to additional security. Those determinations are made on a store-by-store basis using data supporting the need for the heightened measures. While weve yet to review a complaint, we take this situation seriously and look forward to addressing it with the court."

Read more:

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Read the original article on Business Insider UK.  2018. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.
Kabul reacted in despair and fear on Sunday, a day after a suicide bomb killed 103 people and injured 235 in the worst attack seen in the Afghan capital in months.

There was a mix of helpless anger at the seemingly endless wave of attacks after an ambulance packed with explosives blew up in a crowded city street, with security officials warning that more attacks were possible.

"How are we to live? Where should we go?" asked shopkeeper Mohammad Hanif, who was in his shop near the site of the explosion when it went off.

"We have no security, we don't have no proper government, what should we do?"

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At least 95 people were killed and 158 wounded in the blast, claimed by the Taliban, a week after their deadly attack on the city's Intercontinental Hotel, in a calculated answer to President Donald Trump's new strategy in Afghanistan.

"The Islamic Emirate has a clear message for Trump and his hand kissers that if you go ahead with a policy of aggression and speak from the barrel of a gun, don't expect Afghans to grow flowers in response," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement, using the term the use to describe themselves.

Trump, who last year sent more American troops to Afghanistan and ordered an increase in air strikes and other assistance to Afghan forces, said the attack "renews our resolve and that of our Afghan partners".

The attack was the worst seen in the Afghan capital since a truck bomb near the German embassy killed 150 people in May.

"People were running everywhere to escape, there were wounded people lying on the ground, people with wounds to their arms, legs, heads," Hanif said.

After a deadly week in which an office of the aid group Save the Children in the eastern city of Jalalabad was also attacked, President Ashraf Ghani's western-backed government has faced growing pressure to improve security.

Despite a major tightening in checks following the 31 May attack, the ambulance was able to get through the checkpoints, apparently without difficulty.

"People don't have work. There's no life for people in Afghanistan. People have to look for a life somewhere else, there's nowhere," said shopkeeper Sameem.

Pressure is likely to mount on President Ashraf Ghani to resolve political confrontation with his opponents, in particular with provincial powerbrokers defying central rule, and focus on security.

"People think the government is working very badly and security is no good," said Najib Mahmood, political science professor at Kabul University.

"The government can control the situation but the president has to share power with others, he needs unity with other parties so they can fight the Taliban together," Mahmood told Reuters.

Former US ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad called for Ghani's government and its main political rival, powerful northern leader Atta Mohammad Noor, to "come together and resolve their differences".

"Fighting terrorism and protecting the people is job one. I hope they rise to the occasion," Khalilzad said on Twitter.

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

Saturday's attack, described as "an atrocity" by the head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, drew universal condemnation from neighbouring countries and allies who had expressed confidence that the new US strategy is producing results.

Following a recent visit to Kabul, the US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said the strategy was working and pushing the insurgents closer to peace talks.

However, the Taliban have dismissed any suggestion that they have been weakened by the US approach and say they will only agree to talks when international forces leave Afghanistan.

The United States, which has accused Pakistan of giving assistance to the Taliban and has cut off some aid, urged all countries to take "decisive action" to stop the violence.

Pakistan, which denies the US accusations, condemned the attack and called for "concerted efforts and effective cooperation ... to eradicate the scourge of terrorism".

The attack, in one of the most heavily protected parts of the city, close to foreign embassies and government buildings, demonstrated that the ability of the Taliban to mount deadly high-profile attacks that undermine confidence in the government remains undiminished.

The president's office declared Sunday a day of mourning and said Monday would be a day off to allow care of the victims' families.

The office also said Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia, which has the world's biggest Muslim population, was due to visit Kabul on Monday.

Widodo has proposed that Indonesian Islamic scholars could help promote Afghan peace, media reported recently.

Reuters
Hackers have stolen 380m worth of a lesser-known cryptocurrency from one of Japans largest digital exchanges.

Coincheck, based in Tokyo, said around 523 million of the exchanges NEM coins were sent to another account at around 3am local time on Friday morning.

The exchange has suspended deposits and withdrawals for all cryptocurrencies except Bitcoin.

 What is Bitcoin and why is its price so high?

The stolen assets were reported to have been kept in a hot wallet, a digital storage option connected to the internet, as opposed to a cold wallet, where assets are kept offline.

Coincheck says it has the digital address of where the stolen cryptocurrency was sent and is looking into whether it is possible to recover the assets.

A representative of the exchange who was not named said Coincheck may not be able to refund the losses, Japans Kyodo news agency reported.

The company is examining how many customers may have been affected by the theft.

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

Japanese broadcaster NHK said Coincheck has reported the incident to the police and to Japans Financial Service Agency.

Coincheck, which is headquartered in Shibuya, was founded in 2012 by Yusuke Otsuka and Koichiro Wada.

The incident is believed to be the largest case of cryptocurrency theft.

Another exchange, MtGox, collapsed in 2014 following a theft of $460m.
Afghanistan's interior minister says at least 103 people were killed in a suicide bombing carried out by the Taliban in Kabul on Saturday, updating an earlier toll.

Wais Ahmad Barmak said Sunday that another 235 people were wounded in the attack. Barmak said police were among those killed and wounded.

The attacker drove an ambulance filled with explosives and was able to race through a security checkpoint by saying he was transferring a patient to a hospital. The explosion damaged and destroyed dozens of shops and vehicles.

Afghanistan has endured a month of relentless attacks claimed by the Taliban and a rival Isis affiliate, capped by Saturday's assault.

The usually quiet winter fighting season has been shattered by the brutality and frequency of the attacks, including a late December Isis assault on a Shiite Muslim cultural centre in the capital that killed more than 40 people.

The attacks brutally underscore the weaknesses of Afghan security forces more than 16 years after the US-led invasion toppled the Taliban and raise questions about President Donald Trump's strategy for winning America's longest war.

Who is doing this and what do they want?

The Taliban have been waging an insurgency since they were driven from power by US and Afghan forces after the 11 September attacks. In recent years they have seized districts across the country and carried out near-daily attacks, mainly targeting security forces and the US-backed government.

The Isis affiliate emerged in 2014, as the US and Nato were winding down their combat mission and has clashed with both Afghan forces and the Taliban. The group consists largely of Uzbek militants driven out of Pakistan and disillusioned former Taliban fighters. They bear particular animosity toward Afghanistan's Shiite minority, which they view as apostates deserving of death.

Both groups want to overthrow the Afghan government and drive out foreign forces, but the Taliban have a more narrow focus on Afghanistan. They have met with Afghan officials in the past and say they are open to direct peace talks with the United States, an offer Washington has refused. The more radical group, Isis, views Afghanistan as a province in a worldwide Islamic caliphate headquartered in Syria and Iraq.

Both groups hope their attacks will "delegitimise" the government and "create a distance" between the authorities and the people they rule, says Andrew Wilder, Asia Programs vice president at the US Institute of Peace.

Why is it so hard to stop?

Afghanistan's special forces have distinguished themselves with high-profile raids, some carried out alongside their US counterparts. But other units, including many of those charged with securing areas after the insurgents have been driven out, are notoriously corrupt and incompetent.

This is in part a legacy of the 2001 invasion, when US-led forces quickly cobbled together an Afghan army and police force from an array of ethnic and tribal militias, many of which had fought each other in the 1990s. Today the different units have widely varying loyalties and abilities.

Training is often hurried, with many fighters rushed to the front lines after less than two months. Hundreds of soldiers and police have gone home on leave and never returned, with many still getting paid because they are falsely registered.

To make matters worse, the Taliban have become adept at infiltrating the ranks of Afghan forces, allowing them to carry out so-called insider attacks and to further pry open the gaps in security.

"These groups stage these attacks because they can," said Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the US-based Wilson Center's Asia Program. "Security measures are often lax in Afghan cities, Afghan intelligence gathering capacities are poor, and the terrorists are clever."

Wilder says another factor is the redeployment of US intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance assets from Afghanistan to the war against Isis in Iraq and Syria. Recent victories against the extremists in those two countries could allow those assets to be brought back.

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

Can the west do more?

The war in Afghanistan has bedevilled three US presidents, none of whom were able to find a way to stabilise the country and bring American troops home.

In August, Trump announced a new strategy, based on sending more troops and ramping up pressure on the Taliban to force them into peace talks with the government. His speech gave Afghan forces a temporary morale boost, but little has changed on the ground.

Analysts say the government must convince Afghans that it can protect them and provide some semblance of good governance. One major obstacle is the tense power-sharing arrangement that emerged after the disputed 2014 elections between President Ashraf Ghani and his erstwhile rival, chief executive Abdullah Abdullah.

Wilder fears a repeat next year. "Disastrous presidential elections scheduled for 2019 that don't result in a legitimate executive branch of government would be a major victory for the Taliban," he says.

What about Pakistan?

The Afghan government and the US have long accused Pakistan of turning a blind eye or even openly supporting militants that operate along the two countries' porous border, charges denied by Islamabad, which has levelled similar accusations against Kabul.

Pakistan has held on-again, off-again talks with the Taliban for years, and officials met with the insurgents in Qatar earlier this month. Pakistan has defended those efforts as an attempt to restart the peace process and says its control over the Taliban has been overstated.

Trump has repeatedly accused Pakistan of harbouring militants who attack US and Afghan forces, and announced the suspension of up to $2bn (1m) in military aid earlier this month after lashing out on Twitter.

It's unclear whether the mounting pressure will have any impact on the violence.

Pakistan has long chafed under what it portrays as US meddling and bias in favour of India, its regional rival. It has historically close ties with China and is currently partnering with Beijing to build new regional transport links. China has an interest in regional stability, but appears reluctant to press Pakistan too hard, and Pakistan has said it views Beijing as a more reliable ally than Washington.

Further complicating matters, Russia is believed to be providing covert aid to the Taliban in their fight against Isis. And Iran has recruited Afghan Shiites to fight in Syria alongside President Bashar Assad's forces, aggravating sectarian tensions across the region.

AP
Seven survivors have been rescued from a life raft in the Pacific Ocean after drifting for four days in the blazing sun without water.

The six adults and a baby had scrambled onto the small wooden dinghy after the MV Butairaoi ferry they were aboard sank.

The New Zealand Defence Force said the crew of a military Orion plane had used radar to locate the dinghy while searching for survivors.

Air Commodore Darryn Webb said the ferry had been carrying at least 50 people while travelling between two islands in the remote Pacific nation of Kiribati.

Mr Webb said there had been no sign of any other survivors.

Six adults and an unconscious baby were rescued from the life raft (New Zealand Defence Force via AP)

The plane dropped supplies to the survivors, including food, water and a radio. The survivors spoke to officials using the radio, describing how they managed to get off the ferry as it capsized, he added.

Mr Webb said the survivors had very little time to react and found themselves adrift without water or an engine. He said they had a blanket or tarpaulin which they may have been able to use to get some relief from the sun.

A fishing boat had changed its course and picked up the survivors on Sunday afternoon, he said.

The dinghy was drifting more than 112 miles (180km) from the nearest major island when it was found.

"Our heart goes out to the baby and to all those remaining of the 50-plus people," Mr Webb said.

The Orion plane dropped urgent supplies to the seven and a nearby fishing vessel was diverted to rescue them (New Zealand Defence Force/AFP/Getty Images)

While thankful the life raft was found, Mr Webb said it was also heartbreaking the ferry had sunk and the others were still missing. He said there was a lot of debris near the dinghy, which may have been from the ferry. He also said it wasn't clear yet what caused the ferry to sink.

Searchers planned to regroup and interview the survivors before deciding whether to continue the search, he added.

Questions remain as to why it took Kiribati authorities so long to tell New Zealand officials the ferry was missing.

Mr Webb said a Kiribati plane had earlier searched for the ferry but didn't have sophisticated radar equipment.

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 MV Butiraoi, a 17.5-metre (57-foot) wooden catamaran, left Nonouti Island bound for South Tarawa on 18 January. The journey of 149 miles was supposed to take two days.

New Zealand rescuers say they weren't told about the missing boat until Friday, eight days after the ferry had left.

Senior Search and Rescue Officer John Ashby said they'd been told the ferry underwent repairs to its propeller shaft just before leaving, which may have contributed to navigation problems.

Kiribati is a remote, impoverished nation of 33 atolls that is home to about 108,000 people.

Additional reporting by AP
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been released from police custody without charge.

He was arrested in Moscow on Sunday as protest demonstrations against Vladimir Putin called by him took place across the country.

Mr Navalny's lawyer, Olga Mikhailova, told Reuters that although her client had been released, he would still have to face court at a later date.

If charged with violating laws on holding demonstrations, Mr Navalny could face up to 30 days in jail.

Police wrestled the opposition leader into a patrol wagon moments after he appeared at a rally to urge voters to boycott what he claimed would be a rigged presidential election in March.

Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Show all 20 1 /20 Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Vladimir Putin is pictured with a horse during his vacation outside the town of Kyzyl in Southern Siberia on August 3, 2009. Getty Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Vladimir Putin aims at a whale with an arbalest to take a piece of its skin for analysis on the Olga Bay, some 240 kilometres north-east of Nakhodka on August 25, 2010. Getty Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Vladimir Putin plunges into the icy waters of lake Seliger during the celebration of the Epiphany holiday in Russia's Tver region AFP/Getty Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Vladimir Putin (top) takes part in a judo training session at the "Moscow" sports complex in St. Petersburg, on December 22, 2010. Getty Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Vladimir Putin works out at a gym at the Bocharov Ruchei state residence in Sochi on August 30, 2015. Getty Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Vladimir Putin fishes in the remote Tuva region in southern Siberia. The picture taken between August 1 and 3, 2017. Getty Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Vladimir Putin (L) and the leader of the Night Wolves biker group, Alexander Zaldostanov (R), also known as the Surgeon, ride motorcycles on August 29, 2011 at a bikers' festival in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, Russia. Putin described leather-clad bikers as brothers and boasted of the "indivisible Russian nation" after roaring into a biking rally on a Harley Davidson. Getty Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Vladimir Putin wears glasses as he visits the Technology Park of the Novosibirsk Academic Town in Novosibirsk on February 17, 2012. Getty Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Vladimir Putin rides a horse during his vacation outside the town of Kyzyl in Southern Siberia on August 3, 2009. Getty Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Vladimir Putin holds a pistol during his visit to a newly-built headquarters of the Russian General Staff's Main Intelligence Department (GRU) in Moscow, 08 November 2006. ?Some countries are seeking to untie their hands in order to take weapons to outer space, including nuclear weapons,? Putin said at the Chief Military Intelligence Department on Wednesday. Getty Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Vladimir Putin sits inside a T-90AM tank during a visit to an arms exhibition in the Urals town of Nizhny Tagil on September 9, 2011 Getty Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Vladimir Putin wears a helmet and the uniform of the Renault Formula One team before driving a F1 race car on a special track in Leningrad region outside St. Petersburg on November 7, 2010. Getty Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Vladimir Putin guides a boat during his vacation in the remote Tuva region in southern Siberia. The picture taken between August 1 and 3, 2017. Getty Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Vladimir Putin hunts fish underwater in the remote Tuva region in southern Siberia. The picture taken between August 1 and 3, 2017. Getty Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Vladimir Putin is seen at the Russian boxing team training club after casting his vote for the Russian Presidential election, 14 March 2004 in Moscow. Putin coasted to a landslide victory with 69.0 percent of the vote in Sunday's election, according to the first exit poll aired on Russian television moments after voting ended across the country's 11 time zones. AFP/Getty Images Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Russian President Vladimir Putin poses for a picture inside the Tupolev-160 strategic bomber jet at the Moscow's Chkalovsky military airport, 16 August 2005. President Vladimir Putin took off from Moscow for a supersonic flight in a cruise-missile carrying Tupolev-160 bomber jet, the latest in the Russian leader's action-packed public appearances. After a health check, Putin donned a flight suit and took the commander's position in the strategic bomber, which was piloted by Major General Anatoly Zhikharev, with a colonel and a lieutenant colonel in charge of navigation, Russian media reported. Getty Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? A picture released on March 6, 2010 shows Vladimir Putin look through binoculars in the Karatash area, near the town of Abakan, during his working trip to Khakassia, on February 25, 2010. Getty Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Vladimir Putin measuring a polar bear on the island Alexandra Land, part of the Franz Josef Land archipalego in the Arctic Ocean. Putin, better known in the West for his tough-guy image, expressed concern for the fate of Arctic polar bears threatened by climate change. "The polar bear is under threat. Their population is currently only 25,000 individuals," Putin was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying Getty Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Vladimir Putin carries a hunting rifle during his trip in Ubsunur Hollow Biosphere Reserve in Tuva Republic in this undated picture released on October 30, 2010 by RIA Novosti news agency. Getty Vladimir Putin's Photo ops  Russia's Man of Steel? Russian President Vladimir Putin pilots a motorized hang glider while flying with cranes as he takes part in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of - cranes on September 5, 2012. At the helm of a motorized hang glider that the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar with the process, and two others with the birds. AFP/Getty

Mr Navalny had only walked a short distance when he was surrounded by helmet-clad police officers.

They wrestled him to the ground on the pavement and then dragged him feet first into the patrol wagon, video footage has showed.

Before his release, he called upon his supporters to continue the demonstrations.

He said on Twitter: "They have detained me. This doesn't mean anything ... you didn't come out for me, but for your future."

Protests against Mr Putin were reported up and down the country, ranging from a dozen to several hundred people.

Mr Navalny has been barred from running in the upcoming presidential election on 18 March, which polls show Mr Putin is on track to easily win.

Though Mr Navalny says he knows Mr Putin will be re-elected, his boycott campaign is aimed at lowering voter turnout to try to take the shine off a Putin win.

AP and Reuters.
German police are suing an American tourist after she allegedly called officers Nazis during a dispute at the country's biggest airport.

Police said 49-year-old academic Carol Christine Fair became unreasonable and irritated when they told her she could not take the liquids in her luggage through security.

After a row broke out about whether her deodorant constituted a liquid, officers said Ms Fair called them f***ing bastards and f***ing German Nazi police.

Ms Fair, who is a professor of political science at Georgetown University, has denied referring to the officers as Nazis during the incident at Frankfurt International Airport. She said she was mistaken when she pointed out that officer had "impounded her deodorant, while allowing a Nazi-looking dude with a Hitler Youth haircut nearby to pass through security.

Following the incident, officer took Ms Fair to the police station, where local police started a preliminary investigation on suspicion of slander.

She had to make a deposit of $260 (183) for the anticipated costs of the legal proceedings and was told that she could continue on her trip to Istanbul, Turkey.

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 police statement said that claims Ms Fair made on her Twitter account about the police officers being bullies and thugs in uniform had also become evidence in the preliminary investigations.
This map shows how the huge, complicated network of undersea cables which keep the internet running is spread around the world.

The map, by telecom analytics company Telegeography, uses coloured lines to show how there are many hundreds of fibre optic cables running under the world's oceans.

It shows the sheer scale of the infrastructure which keeps the internet running. It's built up over decades, mainly as a result of private enterprise rather than coordinated state infrastructure projects, like road or water networks.

Lines shown on the map above are not exactly geographically correct, but they show the broad path of the cables and which territories they connect.

If Russia were to cut the cables many countries could go offline Telegeography

According to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, 97 per cent of all intercontinental data is carried via such cables.

Although they are of obvious strategic importance to the countries involved, relatively little is done to guard them. In recent months, defence authorities have started to warn that state aggressors  Russia in particular  could cut them.

A US admiral, one of Britain's most senior military commanders, the former head of GCHQ and a London-based think-tank all made similar warnings in a matter of days late last year.

Rishi Sunak, a Conservative MP, produced a report for the Policy Exchange think-tank in which he warned that Russia is "aggressively operating" in the Atlantic, where cables link Europe and the US.

In the foreword to the report, retired US Navy Admiral James Stavridis claimed: "Russian submarine forces have undertaken detailed monitoring and targeting activities in the vicinity of North Atlantic deep-sea cable infrastructure."

He said they have the capacity to make a concentrated hit, causing "potentially catastrophic" damage.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, the UK's most senior military officer, gave a speech in December in which he said: "There is a new risk to our way of life, which is the vulnerability of the cables that criss-cross the seabeds.

"Can you imagine a scenario where those cables are cut or disrupted, which would immediately and potentially catastrophically affect both our economy and other ways of living."

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

At the start of December, former GCHQ director Robert Hannigan told The Times newspaper: "In hybrid warfare you could tweak the UK economy, even without bringing it to its knees, by just cutting a few [fibre-optic cables]."

"It could slow things down and with automated trading you could make life pretty difficult if you wanted to without going for full conflict."

Russia has responded to the threat by suggesting it is not serious. Its embassy in London ran a Twitter poll in response to the Times interview, where most respondents seemed not to take the prospect seriously.

Read more:

 May tackles new Brexit Rebellion

 Philip Hammond and Mark Carney are in China to secure 1 billion of trade deals

 Facebook admits that social media can be bad for you

Read the original article on Business Insider UK.  2018. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.
Israel has criticised Poland for plans to outlaw statements describing Nazi death camps as Polish.

Under the bill, which is an amendment to an existing law, the use of phrases such as Polish death camps could be punished by up to three years in prison or a fine.

The proposals were voted through by the Polish lower house last week and are expected to pass the Senate, before being signed into law by the president.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday that Israel had no tolerance for the distortion of truth, the rewriting of history and the denial of the Holocaust.

Poles have long objected to phrases such as Polish death camps, which suggest Poland was responsible for the genocide.

The death camps were built and operated by German Nazis after they invaded Poland in 1939.

But historical accounts show some Poles collaborated with the Nazis and committed heinous crimes against the Jews during the war.

The proposed bill sparked outrage in Israel, which is home to the worlds largest community of Holocaust survivors.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry on Sunday said it had summoned Polands deputy ambassador to express Israels opposition to the legislation.

It also expressed concern over the timing of the bill, which passed the lower house on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The ministry said it expected the draft to be amended before final approval.

The legislation will not help continue exposing the historical truth and can impede the freedom of research, it said in a statement.

Israels Education and Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett said: 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.

But he acknowledged phrases such as Polish camps gave a misleading impression of who was responsible for the genocide.

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, he said.

Holocaust remembrance centre Yad Vashem opposed the new law, saying it was liable to blur the historical truths about the help Germans received from the Polish population during the Holocaust.

Restrictions on statements by scholars and others regarding the Polish peoples direct or indirect complicity with the crimes committed on their land during the Holocaust are a serious distortion, it said.

The centre added it would continue to support research aimed at exposing the complex truth about the treatment of the Jews during the Holocaust.

Polands deputy chief of mission, Piotr Kozowski, told Israeli media the laws purpose is not to whitewash history, but to safeguard it and safeguard the truth about the Holocaust and prevent its distortion.

Polands Deputy Justice Minister Patryk Jaki, who authored the bill, said Israels objections were proof it was needed.

Important Israeli politicians and media are attacking us for the bill. On top of that they claim that Poles are co-responsible for the Holocaust. This is proof how necessary this bill is, he said.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Polands ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has sought to protect the countrys image since it came to power in 2015. It has invoked Poles suffering during the Nazi occupation, which included the death penalty for those who helped Jews, to respond to accounts of Poles committing crimes against Jews during the war.

Critics have accused PiS, a right-wing nationalist party, of encouraging the far-right. Tens of thousands of people marched through Warsaw in November last year in an annual gathering of Europes neo-Nazi groups.

Agencies contributed to this report
Russian police arrived at the Moscow headquarters of opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Sunday morning and started to try to force their way in by using an angle grinder, Kira Yarmysh, a spokeswoman for Mr Navalny said.

Photographs posted on the internet by Mr Navalnys supporters showed about 14 policemen gathered outside his office door. Yarmysh said she thought the raid was designed to shut down the work of a TV studio inside.

Hundreds of supporters of Mr Navalny began a nationwide day of protests against the authorities on Sunday, calling on voters to boycott what they said was a rigged presidential election on 18 March.

Beneath bright blue skies, young people gathered in the main square of the port of Vladivostok in the Russian Far East. Speakers called the election, which polls show incumbent Vladimir Putin should easily win, a farce.

I will go to the elections when theres a choice, read one placard in Vladivostok, a reference to the fact that Mr Navalny has been barred from running over what he says is a trumped up suspended prison sentence. Putin is gobbling up Russias future, read another.

Other protests took place in Novosibirsk, Kurgan, Omsk, Magadan, Kemerovo and Yakutsk. Mr Navalnys supporters said they expected thousands of people to take part in similar demonstrations in 118 towns and cities.

Your own life is at stake, Mr Navalny, who organised the boycott protests, said in a pre-protest video.

How many more years to do you want to live with these thieves, bigots and creeps?

In Moscow, where a protest is expected later on Sunday, police forced their way into Mr Navalnys office and started questioning and searching people, citing reports of a bomb, an online feed run by Mr Navalnys supporters showed.

Police shut down a TV studio at the office which had been broadcasting online news bulletins, but another studio in a different location continued to operate.

Police detained six of Mr Navalnys supporters at the Moscow studio and around 16 protesters in other parts of Russia, OVD-Info, an independent monitoring group, said.

It was unclear where Mr Navalny was, but a group of police officers was stationed near his home. Mr Navalny said he planned to attend the Moscow protest later on Sunday.

Police warned beforehand they would harshly suppress any illegal protest activity and authorities refused to authorise events in Moscow and St Petersburg, the countrys two biggest cities, raising the possibility of possible violence.

Mr Navalny, a lawyer who has campaigned against official corruption, was barred from running in the election by the central election commission in December over what he said was a trumped up suspended prison sentence.

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 United States and the EU criticised the decision.

Mr Putin, who has dominated the Russian political landscape for the past 18 years, described US criticism of the elections commissions decision as crude interference in Russias internal affairs and suggested Navalny was Washingtons pick for the presidency.

Polls show Mr Navalny had scant chance of beating Mr Putin, but Mr Navalny says the system is rigged against political opponents like himself which makes polls meaningless.

Whilst there is little suspense about the outcome of the election, there is keen interest in voter turnout as media reports say the Kremlin wants to ensure Mr Putin is re-elected on a turnout of around 70 per cent or more as it sees high turnout as lending him greater legitimacy.

Reuters
It was supposed to take everyone by surprise: a campaign trip to Chechnya and Ingushetia, volatile republics at Russias southern border that are considered political no-go areas to all but the invited.

Ahead of presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchaks trip, the few details of the journey were discussed in conspiratorial tones. Journalists were sworn to secrecy  after all, there was no guarantee a visit by the liberal, pro-gay celebrity candidate would be welcomed.

The reality on the ground, of course, was somewhat less undercover. Every step of the way, police were waiting, checking passports and filming the proceedings. Meetings were cancelled before they began. On one occasion, lights were even turned out in the middle of a discussion. By the time Ms Sobchak arrived in the Chechen capital, Grozny, midday on Sunday, it was already clear she would not be getting the scoop she had hoped for  a showdown with the most irascible leader in the region, Ramzan Kadyrov.

Recommended Dramatic video shows Russian police detaining opposition leader

With her visit now looking decidedly chaotic, the celebrity presidential candidate spent barely an hour in the Chechen capital before leaving for the airport. In the absence of meetings, she settled on two media narratives. First, she presented herself as a one-woman picket in protest at the trial of local activist Oyub Titiev, 60, who was detained on dubious drugs charges two weeks ago. Second, she staged a walkabout of the Vladimir Putin Prospect, a showcase avenue in a zany city centre devoted to Putin and the Kadyrov family.

On Sunday, however, Vladimir Putin Prospect was deserted. Stores were shut, despite advertising to the contrary. It seemed no accident. One of the only signs of life was a man minding an espresso van, and Ms Sobchak duly made her way to speak to him. This was where the first call went out.

Why are you drinking coffee, a bearded man of angry, veined features and furry teeth shouted. Coffee is bad for horses."

The coarse joke referred to an internet meme, now several years old, which unfavourably compared Ms Sobchaks facial features to those of a horse. The candidate took the prepared slight in her stride: surely a self-respecting Chechen man would not dare to be so rude to women, she asked?

Push off, leave, said the man. My home is no place for you.

The man was one of a group of a dozen broad-set individuals, aged 25 to 30, all of whom appeared to be communicating their actions via mobile or walkie talkie tucked inside coats. They behaved aggressively and shouted go home, horsey, and Dom-2, in reference to the trashy Big Brother reality show she once fronted.

Once it transpired the chants were getting nowhere, the apparent leader of the group, who had been hiding under a hood, made the final confrontation.

Why have you come now? Youre a failed journalist!

I came here to talk about Titiev.

Titiev is a nobody.

He was investigating missing people.

No one goes missing here in Chechnya.

You think its normal that people come here to be attacked like this?

You have a reputation here.

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

By the end of the day, Ms Sobchak had, in fact, met with the Chechen leader. He had not, it seems, been able to hold back from the offence of seeing an enemy in his kingdom. His notoriously short fuse had ensured Ms Sobchaks visit made the headlines across Russia  and saved it from being a totally limp failure.

Ms Sobchaks decision to come to the region was controversial not only with local strongmen. Coinciding as it did with a nationwide day of protests called by Alexei Navalny, some suggested that she was looking to undermine her opposition rival. Mr Navalny, a presidential hopeful who has been barred from running, has been increasingly critical of Ms Sobchaks campaign. He described her candidature as unserious and compromised, and called for a boycott of the elections to scupper the governments hopes of a strong turnout.

Mr Navalny was one of the 240 estimated arrested nationwide in protests as of 5pm Moscow time today. The numbers attending the unsanctioned rallies were significantly less than demonstrations last year. Part of the reason for that, no doubt, was an active police operation. In the run-up to the event, they targetted Navalnys regional headquarters with searches and arrests, and they closed down the charitable foundation that funds them. On the day of the protests, one of his YouTube channel presenters was arrested live on air. His alleged crime? Making a hoax bomb threat to Navalnys office... where he was broadcasting.

Ms Sobchak told The Independent that she had not planned her dates to coincide with the protests. It was prepared a long time ago  perhaps four weeks ago, she said in frustrated tones. Granted, this was about the same time that Mr Navalny declared his boycott, but that was a detail: Im not here to talk about other opposition candidates. My competitor is not Navalny, but Putin!

Eventually, she relents somewhat: You know, Alexei and I just believe in different things. I respect his work  I just dont believe that it will lead to positive changes. Ive always been against unsanctioned protest. I think you should only attend demonstrations that have been agreed in advance. Like Bolotnaya. (The Bolotnaya protests of 2011-12 were the last major opposition protests to have been given a green light from above. Since then, authorities have rarely granted permission to rallies in major city centres.)

Ms Sobchak said the aim of her trip was to highlight human rights issues in a region that is usually ignored by the media. Certainly, her visit was well-received by some locals, who expressed hope her arrival might signal change to their often hopeless lives. During meetings she held with activists in Ingushetia on Saturday, raw emotion often pierced through. Many complained of pressure from the local authorities, who, they said, were unaccountable to anyone but Moscow. They were the one who were brave enough to meet her. Others, they said, had decided it was not worth the risk.

As the evening drew to a close, a man rose to address the audience. I have three sons. One of them was killed. No one said anything about it  no information about the investigation, he said. Then my second son disappeared two years ago Its the truth  Vakha, who is my relative, will back me up.

Vakha, who turned out to be one of Ms Sobchaks local organisers, confirmed the tale and before too long he was in tears and asked for water. When I said I wanted to help Sobchak, they started to threaten me and my family. I hope that this publicity will protect us.

I will be your microphone, Ms Sobchak offered in return.

It was, of course, hardly a security guarantee.
When Taha Mustafa al-Khatr, his wife Amina, his two daughters Zakia and Safa and son Sulieman went to bed in the tiny village of Maabatli, they placed their shoes outside the door. Most Middle Eastern families do the same.

Its a tradition and a sign of cleanliness in the home. The cheap plastic slippers were still there, of course, when the Turkish shell hit their house at one in the morning  and when I arrived a few hours later, I found the same shoes, a few blown down the stairs but most still neatly lined up next to each other. Did one of the daughters choose the slippers with the plastic bows? Even the rescue workers  such as they are in the Kurdish province of Afrin  didnt touch the shoes. They left one of the blood-soaked bedspreads where it was in the rain under the collapsed roof of the cheap breeze-block house. The bodies, of course, had gone.

The familys plastic shoes remain after four members of the al-Khater family died when a Turkish shell hit their home in Maabatli, Kurdish Syria (Robert Fisk)

Since the identities of the victims are known  not, of course, that of the Turkish gunner who slaughtered this family  we should, perhaps, be better acquainted with them. Taha was 40 years old, his wife Amina the same age, Zakia was 17 and her bother Suliemann just 14. Safa, who is 19, survived  miraculously, with only wounds to her hands  but of course she is now an orphan.

Ironically, since the Turks are supposedly aiming at Kurdish YPG fighters, the very name of their military assault on Kurdish Syria, Operation Olive Branch, makes ones gorge rise in the stone village of Mabeta, surrounded as it is by olive orchards  and the al-Khatr family were not Kurds but Arabs, refugees from the village of Tel-Krah further north.

Wreckage of the house struck by a Turkish shell that killed four members of the same refugee Arab family in the Syrian Kurdish village of Mabeta on Friday (Yara Ismail)

They were so new to Maabatli that Kurdish neighbours I spoke to did not even know their names, but in the Kurdish province  the village is about 10 miles from the city of Afrin  populations are mixed (there are Alawites, too) and no one was surprised when the al-Khatrs arrived on Thursday night.

Tahas uncle already lived in the hilltop village and he seems to have put his refugee relatives in his storeroom  it was filled with the wreckage of sacks of grain, a fridge and frozen vegetables. The bodies must have been unimaginable.

You come to our hospital here in Afrin to find out what happened, Dr Jawan Palot, director of the Afrin Hospital, remarked to me with cynicism, well aware that The Independent was the first Western news organisation to visit Afrin since the Turkish attack. You should see the dead when they come in  and the state of the wounded with the blood on them. And there came forth the usual photographs of ferociously broken corpses.

Lying in the Afrin hospital, 15-year old Dananda Sido, wounded in the legs and chest running in the street from a Turkish air attack in the Kurdish village of Adamo (Yara Ismail)

And there followed, too, in the Afrin Hospital, a maudlin tour of the wards where the survivors of Turkeys assault on the terrorists of Afrin, which began on 20 January, lay in their beds. There was Mohamed Hussein, a 58-year old farmer from Jendeeres, with head wounds and a closed eye, almost killed when the roof of his house caved in under air attack on 22 January. And Ahmad Kindy, eight years younger, who took his family out of the village when Turkeys Olive Branch first cast its shadow over the land early on 21 January, but who unwisely returned and was hit in the back by shrapnel. There were no YPG fighters there, he said.

Ahmad Kindy, 50. was wounded at his home in Jundeires on the first night of the attack (Yara Ismail)

But what if there were? Does that justify the pain of 15-year old Dananda Sido from the village of Adamo, terribly wounded in the chest and legs who turns from us in tears when we try to speak to her in the Afrin Hospital? Or that of 20-year old Kifah Moussa, who was working in her familys chicken farm at Maryameen when Turkish planes dropped a bomb on the building at midday, killing an entire family of eight people beside her? She was hit in the chest. She smiles bravely at Dr Palot and myself, although it is unclear if she knows that her brother is among the dead.

Kifah al-Moussa, a Syrian Arab woman living among the Kurds of Afrin province, was working on a chicken farm in the village of Maryameen when a Turkish aircraft bombed the building (Yara Ismail)

Then there is the eighth-grade Kurdish schoolboy Mustafa Khaluf, also from Jendeeres, who heard the Turkish planes coming above his home and suffered severe leg wounds in the air strike. Close to him lies seven-year old Aya Nabo, with severe chest wounds, and who turns towards the wall beside her bed rather than talk to her doctor. Her sister says she was hit in the street on 22 January. After a while, it becomes a kind of obscenity to demand, constantly, the circumstances of this suffering. We all know who did this.

Eight-grade schoolboy Mustafa Khaluf heard the Turkish plane that, moments later, bombed his home and wounded him in the leg, also badly injuring his sister (Yara Ismail)

It is, however, almost equally obscene to recall the official Turkish version of this little massacre  for that is what it was for 34 civilians whose bodies were taken to the Afrin Hospital alone  which states that more than 70 Turkish jets bombed YPG Kurdish militias in Syria on 21 January. The Turkish news agency Anadolu stated blandly that Turkish aircraft bombed more than 100 targets  including an airfield (mysteriously unnamed)  on the first day of the attacks. The operations supposedly targeted YPG barracks, shelters, positions, weapons, vehicles and equipment.

Where, I wondered as I walked through the wards of Afrin Hospital, had I heard all this stuff before? Was this not a replay of every Israeli air assault on terrorists in southern Lebanon, of every Nato air strike on Serb forces in ex-Yugoslavia, of every US attack on Iraqi forces in 1991 and 2003 and on Afghanistan and on Mosul last year? All were surgical operations  carried out with absolute precision to avoid collateral damage, of course  and all left a litter of tens or hundreds or thousands of dead and wounded. Our air assaults  Israeli, Nato, American, Turkish  feed off each other in lies and victims.

To make his own calculated point, Dr Polat, who says he was studying medicine in the Russian city of Krasnoyarsk when he decided to return to Afrin in 2014 to help my people in the war, prints out his entire hospital records from the 21 January to midday on the 26 January and gives them to The Independent. According to Dr Polat, he had received only four YPG fighters dead and two wounded on the first day of the Turkish assaults, another seven fighters and nine wounded later in the week. Because these are real people, not just statistics, there is probably a journalistic duty to record at least some of the lives -- and deaths -- of these poor civilians.

Dipping into the hospital files  and taking names at random  I find that among the 49 civilian wounded brought here, were three-year-old Hamida Brahim al-Hussein, from Maryameen, who was wounded in the head in the chicken farm attack in which Kifah Moussa was injured. And two-year-old Hassan al-Hassan (wounded in the head). Then there was 70-year-old Asia Sheikh Murad from Shiya  with head wounds on 23 January. And 46-year-old Khaled Mohamed Ali Abdul Qadr with head wounds  again, for houses collapsed on their owners  in Maryameen. And Hamid Battal, aged 30, from Fkeiro and Ghengis Ahmad Khalil, whose warrior name did not prevent the 20-year-old from suffering stomach wounds at Midan Ekbes. Sudqi Abdul Rahman, who is 47, was wounded in the leg by shrapnel at Ruzio-Jendeeres on 25 January. A 75-year-old, Shamsa Moussa, is listed as receiving multiple broken bones in the village of Rajow on 23 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

The list of the dead  10 children, seven women, 17 men  is bleaker, for the hospital had not bothered to catalogue their wounds. They include infants. One-year old Wael al-Hussein, a refugee (who surely could not have known it) from the village of Jebbarah, was killed on 21 January, six-year old Moussab al-Hussein from Idlib (clearly from another refugee family) on the same day. 60-year-old Fatima Mohamed from the village of Arabo was killed in Jendeeres on 23 January. Abdulkader Menam Hamo from Jamo was killed on 24 January.

There will be no war memorials for them  as there are for Kurdish fighters in the military graveyard some miles from Afrin, most of them killed fighting Isis  and no record of their deaths, save, perhaps, for the cold lists in Dr Polats files -- each stamped, in Kurdish, Avrin Hospital. There is no mention of Syria.
Poisoned toothpaste that takes a month to end its target's life. Armed drones. Exploding mobile phones. Spare tyres with remote-control bombs. Assassinating enemy scientists and discovering the secret lovers of Muslim clerics.

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.

The 45-year-old has authored previous books about Israeli politics which have been well-received Ronen Bergman/Wikipedia

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 long-time Palestinian leader an act its officials have consistently denied.

Mr Bergman writes that Mr 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." Mr 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, Mr 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 US has tighter constraints on its agents than does Israel, President George W Bush adopted many Israeli techniques after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 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," Mr 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.

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

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, Mr Bergman notes.

Mr 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, Mr Dagan fell out with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu partly over launching a military attack on Iran. Mr Netanyahu said intelligence techniques such as selling the country faulty parts for its reactors - which Israel and the US were doing - weren't enough.

Mr 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."

Bloomberg
Several people were killed as Yemeni armed groups allied to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates fought in the southern city of Aden on Sunday, local medical staff said, deepening a rift between forces that had been on the same side.

The worst clashes yet between UAE-backed southern separatists and forces loyal to the Saudi-based government risk crippling their once united war effort against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen's north.

An unprecedented military adventure for the usually cautious Gulf states, the campaign in their much poorer and less politically stable neighbour was aimed at sending a decisive signal that they would oppose Iranian expansion in their midst.

But Yemen has been torn apart by three years of conflict and the factional fighting in the south compounds the misery.

Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher denounced moves by southern separatists as a coup, saying the situation was moving toward "a comprehensive military confrontation ... (which is) a direct gift to the Houthis and Iran".

Gunmen were deployed throughout most districts of Aden on Sunday and there was heavy automatic gunfire and explosions in the southern port city, according to witnesses.

Armed separatists wrested a key military base and several government buildings from soldiers loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi as residents reported that hundreds of pro-Southern demonstrators had gathered in a main square.

The clashes come as a deadline imposed by the separatists for the government to resign expired on Sunday.

Although Mr Hadi remains in exile in Saudi Arabia, his administration nominally controls about four-fifths of Yemen's territory, but political and military leaders in Aden now want to revive the former independent state of South Yemen.

The southern separatists  the Southern Resistance Forces  last week accused Mr Hadi's cabinet of corruption and inefficiency and demanded they quit.

A top military adviser to President Hadi, Mohammed Ali al-Miqdashi, said any move towards rebellion would render the southerners an enemy.

"There is no difference between the Houthis and anyone else who rebels against the legitimate government, no matter who they are  left, right, south, east," said Mr Miqdashi, speaking at a remote military base near the central Yemeni city of Marib, late on Saturday.

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 senior southern political source accused the government of pushing the dispute towards an armed showdown.

"The Hadi government was nervous about any demonstration by the people, so they tried to stop it by force thinking that if there were a battle, the coalition would intervene and save them," the source said.

In a statement late on Saturday before the clashes began, the Saudi-led coalition urged all parties to seek "calm and restraint, adhering to the language of a calm dialogue".

Reuters
Forget Norway-minus, or Canada-plus, or even Canada-plus-plus-plus. If the UK wants jobs, trade and living standards to prosper after Brexit, it should aim for Melilla-max. Without it, British business could topple over the dreaded cliff edge, not in 2021, but on 30 March 2019.

Melilla? Let me explain. In some places, the edges of the European Union are blurred. Liechtenstein, Andorra and San Marino are the small change from some of the more exotic episodes in Europes history. They are not fully in the EU or fully out. Melilla, and nearby Ceuta, belong to the list. They are Spanish enclaves on the Moroccan coast. Madrid considers them part of Spain: they elect their own members of Spains parliament.

However, they have a special economic status in the EU. The common agricultural policy does not apply to them. Nor do VAT rules or fishing quotas. Crucially, Ceuta and Melilla do not belong to the customs union  but enjoy the same trading rights as if they did.

This is roughly what the ministers advocating a soft Brexit say they want, at least for the two-year transition phase and, in some cases, permanently. The UK would still be able to export to, and import from, the EU and the rest of the world, exactly as we do now. Among other advantages, continued trading on customs union rules would allow Irish border to remain open.

 Bill to stay in EU customs union fails despite support of 60 rebel Labour MPs

The problem is this. Even if Theresa Mays Cabinet agreed on this objective, and even if the rest of the EU agreed with it too, a UK-EU deal along these lines will not be enough. On the day the UK leaves the EU, it will leave the customs union, because EU membership is a formal condition of customs union membership. These are the rules. Maybe one day an EU treaty will change those rules. But thats a long and tortuous process. The current rules cant simply be waived or modified in a negotiation between David Davis and Michel Barnier, or even between Theresa May and Donald Tusk.

That is why we now hear talk not of Britain staying in the customs union but a customs union: something that walks like a duck and quacks like a duck but isnt legally the duck. The problem is not trade between UK and the EU. Subject to squaring the arrangement with the World Trade Organisation, we may continue to have regional friction-free arrangements to sell whisky to Germany and buy Prosecco from Italy. But the customs union does not just facilitate trade within Europe. Importantly, it also sets the rules for trade with the rest of the world.

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This is where Ceuta and Melilla enter the picture. The EU is perfectly happy with tariff-free trade between the two Spanish enclaves and the rest of Europe. The tricky bit is their ability to trade with the rest of the world. It is not enough for Brussels to approve the trading status of the two enclaves. The EUs trading partners in the rest of the world must approve it, too.

That is precisely what has happened in the EUs trade deals with Canada (page 583, since you ask) and Korea (page 1,353). Canada and Korea accept that Ceuta and Melilla, though not part of the EU customs union, can be treated as if they were. The point is not that this was a bone of contention: the governments in Ottawa and Seoul are unlikely to have felt threatened by the economic clout of the 170,000 residents of the two enclaves. The point, rather, is that, legally, Ceuta and Melilla would not have been allowed to trade on customs union terms without explicit approval from Canada and Korea.

As far as the UK is concerned, the precedent is clear. On 30 March next year, if Brexit takes place on schedule, the UK will find itself outside the customs union. It will not be able to apply customs union rules to trade with the rest of the world. Thus the 80 countries such as Canada and Korea with which the EU has trade agreements or pending agreements (such as Japan) will have to change the way they trade with the UK  unless each of them goes through the formal, legal process of amending their agreements.

 Jeremy Corbyn to Robert Peston: 'We are not calling for a second referendum'

That is bad enough, but it gets worse. One of the main elements of any trade deal are the rules of origin. The EU-Korea trade deal is typical. Korean cars have duty-free access to the EU market, and vice versa. But what exactly is a Korean car? Most contain Chinese components, as well as steel imported from elsewhere. At what point does a Korean car cease to be Korean? The rules of origin determine which products are eligible for preferential trade treatment. Thus the EU-Korea agreement stipulates that at least 55 per cent of the value of cars must originate in Korea (to sell duty free to us) or in the EU (to sell duty free to them).

Now consider what will happen after Brexit. European car-making is an integrated business, with components crossing internal EU borders at will. Imagine a car assembled in the UK with components entering the UK from other EU countries. Suppose 30 per cent of the value is generated in the UK, and another 40 per cent in the rest of the EU. At the moment, the total EU value-added is 70 per cent. It passes the 55 per cent rules-of-origin hurdle.

After Brexit that will cease to apply. Only 40 per cent of the car will be EU. The car will not be able to enter Korea duty free. In order to meet the rules of origin, the European car-maker will have to cut back or close its UK operation, and transfer much or all of its work to the remaining members of the EU.

That is not all. The problem will arise immediately, not at the end of two years of transition. Moreover, this issue alone would be enough to scupper hopes of the Irish border continuing to remain completely open, for the rules of origin system is one reason for customs checks between EU and non-EU countries. (For example, Norway has a single market arrangement with the EU, but remains outside the customs union. That is why there continue to be border-checks on the Norway-Sweden border.)

What if the UK agrees a customs union agreement with the EU, like Turkey? This will not solve the Irish border problem. The border between Turkey and its EU neighbour, Bulgaria, is far from open. It has customs checks and a three-metre fence topped with razor wire. Nor does the arrangement give Turkey unfettered access to markets in countries such as Canada, Korea and, prospectively, Japan. Indeed, the relationship is asymmetrical. Turkeys agreement with the EU requires it to accept EU-wide tariffs and free trade rules for importing goods from the rest of the world  but as it does not belong to the customs union, the rest of the world is free to impose WTO tariffs on goods their citizens import from Turkey.

Imagine a post-Brexit future in which the UK had a similar agreement: forced to allow Korean and Japanese cars into Britain duty free, but facing the competitive disadvantage of a tariff wall when trying to sell British cars to the Far East.

Heres the rub. To have a no-change transition, let alone a bright long-term future for British jobs and investment, we need not just a customs union agreement with the EU. We  together with the EU  need to amend every agreement between the EU and other countries such as Canada, Korea and Japan. This process will entail around 80 triangular negotiations, requiring approval in each case by the UK, the EU and the country in question  and all within the next few months.

This is why the Ceuta and Melilla precedent matters. They are not members of the EUs customs union, but they have a customs union-like arrangement with the EU. In this respect their position is identical to the one that some UK ministers say they want, at least during the transition phase. But, unlike Turkey, the two enclaves can enjoy the benefits of free trade with Canada, Korea and the other countries only because those third countries have explicitly agreed to vary the rules.

What, then, are the UKs options  apart from abandoning Brexit altogether? A rational answer depends on turning conventional wisdom about transition on its head. The normal argument is that it is relatively simple to keep things as they are for two years or so; and that this buys the time to solve the more complex problems of our long-term relations with the outside world.

The opposite is nearer the truth. The big challenge is to do all the deals with the rest of the world before Brexit, not afterwards. And given that we will rely on the EU to do these deals, we shall need agreements with the other 27 EU member states before these external negotiations can begin. This could be quite a challenge. (Other countries may be relaxed about competition from Ceuta and Melilla, but they might want to look hard at their relationship with post-Brexit Britain.)

There is an alternative. Instead of seeking a transitional deal, the UK could apply for an extension of EU membership for two more years. This is permitted under Article 50, although it needs need the unanimous agreement of the rest of the EU. Then the short-term problems of our relationship with the customs union and the Single Market would melt away. And there would be more time to sort out suitable long-term arrangement, with Melilla-max a far better model for British business (and the aim of an open Irish border) than Norway-minus or Canada-plus.

Politically, of course, that is anathema to Brexiteers. They would suspect that one extension of membership would lead to another, and then another  until we decide that Brexit is a bad idea after all. Better to go ahead with Brexit next year and then deal with the consequences. But economically, those consequences could be even worse, and hit the UK even earlier, than ministers say or, perhaps, even realise.

Peter Kellner is a political journalist, former president of YouGov and a former weekly columnist for The Independent
Dr. Austin Prabhu DSouza will have a street named in his honor in his city of Forest Park, Ill. Mayor Anthony Calderone approved the honor for the Indian American, which will take place sometime this spring. (photo provided)
Budding actress and producer, Aisha Ibrahim reveals it is hard for an actress to find a husband because no one is ready to trust them.

In a question and answer session with Potpourri, when asked the reason behind delayed marriages for some-make believe stars, the Kano-born actress said it is not easy for an actress to find a husband, most times we come across men who do not want us for wives, they only want us for a fling. They believe so many people are after us and cant bring themselves to trust an actress and settle down with her. So, even if a man gets together with an actress, it doesnt last because not every man is comfortable with a person that is always away on set.

It takes only a man that understands the nature of the job and is ready to support, but then as an actress you have to make your man trust you no matter what.

Revealing also that she is off the market and is willing to tie the knots soon, she went further to say Im in a relationship and I see myself getting married soon by the grace of God.

source: Stargist
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.

Source: ( Premium Times )
Boko Haram terrorists have returned to Sambisa Forest, Borno State, with troops of the Nigerian Army killing seven of them in their latest encounter, while scores escaped with gunshot injuries.

The troops also recovered 11 gun trucks, 12 Hilux vehicles, two double-barrelled rifles and 30 bicycles abandoned by the fleeing terrorists.

The military said a workshop used by the insurgents for making Improvised Explosive Device was also sighted and destroyed.

According to the army, the joint operation with the air force on Friday in the Sambisa area also left two soldiers injured after the gun battle.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Sani Usman, said residents of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states should be on the lookout for the fleeing Boko Haram terrorists.

Usman noted that any suspected terrorist seen with gun injuries should be reported at the nearest military location or police station.

He said, Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole involved in Operation Deep Punch II dealt decisively with some remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists hibernating in the Sambisa Forest.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
The Federal 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.

Source: (NAN)
The Inspector-General 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.

Source : (NAN)
The Katsina State Police Command has arrested three suspects for allegedly kidnapping an eight-year-old girl, Sayyaba Ishiye.

They are Isah Sani 25; Abdullahi Salisu, 30 and Babangida Bello, 22, all of Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The trio were alleged to have kidnapped the girl at Dadanya village, also in Danmusa LGA.

A statement by the command spokesman, DSP Gambo Isah, on Sunday said the suspects were arrested on 12, January 2018, adding, Suspects have confessed to the crime and are making useful statements assisting the police in their investigation.

The statement was, however, silent on the condition of the girl; while the police spokesman could not be reached for comments as at the time of filing this report.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper)
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.

Source: (NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo met briefly on Sunday, just days after the open letter saga, in which Obasanjo asked the President not to re-contest in 2019.

The two leaders met at the opening session of the 30th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. On sighting Buhari at the venue, Obasanjo who ruled Nigeria as a democratically elected President between 1999 and 2007 approached the President and shook hands with him.

The two leaders exchanged pleasantries and engaged each other in a short discussion that lasted about two minutes. While the discussion was going on, a former military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), joined them.

The three of them thereafter posed for photographs. Both Buhari and Obasanjo are also retired generals.

Obasanjo had in a widely publicised press statement last week gave a damning verdict on the administration led by Buhari.

The former President while urging Buhari not to seek re-election also ruled out both the ruling All Progressives Congress and the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party.

Obasanjo made a case for what is now known as Third Force. It is not certain that the issue of the press statement could have come up considering the brief nature of the leaders interaction.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
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.

Source : (NAN)
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says it is set for the conduct of its newly introduced January/February West African Senior School certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates.

The councils Head, National Office (HNO), Olu Adenipekun, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

With the development, the first series of the examination for private candidates would be holding in January/February, while the second series would hold in the second half of the year

According to Mr. Adenipekun, the January/February examination, which is the first of its kind in Nigeria, will take place in major cities across the country this year from January 29 to February 12.

We are fully ready to go. This examination is the first of its kind in the country for private candidates only, and is to be administered for now only in major cities and towns.

The result of this examination might likely be released within 30 days, and once we are able to do that, then we will be free to go into the main examination, which will now be the conduct of the May/June WASSCE for school candidates.

After this, we then also have the opportunity to prepare also for the conduct of the second series of the WASSCE for private candidates in August, popularly known as November/December WASSCE.

So, in a nutshell, we are fully prepared to win over the confidence of the general public, especially the Nigerian children, to the fact that they have an examination body that is ready and prepared to meet their academic needs, he said.

Mr. Adenipekun said the new arrangement was to ensure that those who are unable to pass were given the opportunity to get better prepared and try again.

He said that efforts had also been stepped up in the area of computer and application of hardware for the councils operation, to impact the activities of the organisation positively.

According to the HNO, council seeks to continually improve on its operation in the new year in order to be able to conduct leakage-free as well as credible examinations and release result s promptly.

The councils Head, Test Development Division, (TDD), Frances Iweha-Onukwu, told NAN that some 12,000 candidates had registered and were expected to sit for the examination across the various centres in the country.

For the fact that such number of candidates registered for this first series of the examination is a positive sign for the council.

We only need more sensitisation and awareness for subsequent outings.

I am sure that with time, more candidates will key in, and I know with time, it is going to get better, she told NAN.

Source :(NAN)
Austrias conservative chancellor Sebastian Kurz, slammed by critics for forming a ruling coalition with the far right, marked Holocaust Day on Saturday by recalling his countrys historic responsibility in the genocide of Jews during World War II.

Kurz has repeatedly harked back to Austrias past as the 80th anniversary approaches of the countrys annexation by Nazi Germany, urging citizens not to forget the sad and shameful days of March 1938, when Nazi troops marched in to a rapturous welcome.

On Saturday he posted a hard-hitting tweet that read: Austrians were also actors and were associated with atrocious crimes of the Holocaust.

We bear a clear historic responsibility that the new government clearly recognises, he said.

Six million Jews were killed in the Holocaust during World War II, many of them in gas chambers in Nazi death camps.

Kurzs comments come against the backdrop of an rise in anti-Semitic acts and speech in Austria.

This week, prosecutors charged four members of a student fraternity behind a songbook containing lyrics celebrating the Holocaust and other Nazi atrocities.

The lyrics of one song ran: Step on the gas, old Germanics, we can make it to seven million.

The fraternitys members include Udo Landbauer, a candidate from the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) who is contesting in a state election on Sunday in Lower Austria.

Landbauer, who has come under political pressure, denied all knowledge of the texts and said he had been a child when they were published.

The revelations sparked a wave of indignation across the country.

On Friday a protest against the far-right saw demonstrators in Vienna brandishing images of Kurz and FPOe chairman Heinz-Christian Strache in Stop signs and placards decrying Nazis and racism.

Recent incidents within the FPOe are a reminder that International Holocaust Remembrance Day has not lost its meaning, said former Chancellor Christian Kern, leader of the opposition Social Democratic Party.

Vice-Chancellor and FPOe leader Heinz-Christian Strache on Friday condemned any form of anti-Semitism.

The United Nations in 2007 designated January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day to mark the 1945 liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest of the Nazi death camps.

Austrias Jewish community has boycotted the official ceremony of commemoration in parliament, not wanting to meet leaders of the FPOe, which was founded by former Nazis.
Israel summoned a top Polish diplomat on Sunday to express concerns over legislation Warsaw was advancing regarding the Holocaust and the definition of Nazi death camps.

Polands rightwing-dominated parliament adopted legislation on Friday setting a maximum three-year jail term for anyone who accuses the Polish nation or state of complicity with Nazi crimes, or who refers to Nazi German death camps as being Polish.

The measure, intended to apply to both Poles and foreigners, must still pass the Senate before being signed by the president.

The charge daffaires for Polands embassy in Israel, Piotr Kozlowski, was summoned to the foreign ministry for a clarification with senior officials, a statement read.

Israels opposition to the wording of the bill was expressed to him, the ministry said.

The timing of the bill  the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day  was particularly surprising and unfortunate.

It added that the legislation will not help further the exposure of historical truth and may harm freedom of research, as well as prevent discussion of the historical message and legacy of World War II.

Late on Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Poland of seeking to deny history with the bill, sentiments he repeated at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.

We have no tolerance for the distortion of the truth and rewriting history or denying the Holocaust, Netanyahu said on Sunday.

Noting that the bill must go through two more stages before being finalised, Netanyahu said he had expressed our position that it must be changed.

Over the week our ambassador (to Poland) and her team will have talks about this with the Polish leadership, including the prime minister, president and Polish senate, Netanyahu said.

 Not a Polish phrase 

Faced with the criticism, Polands President Andrzej Duda on Sunday vowed to review the bill.

He said he would present his final evaluation of procedural legal provisions after the completion of parliaments work and a careful analysis of the final shape of the act.

Israels ambassador to Poland Anna Azari told the Polish PAP news agency that Israel believes the legislation could open the door to Holocaust survivors being prosecuted for their testimony should it concern the involvement of Poles in war crimes.

Duda appeared to address the concerns, saying that everyone whose personal memory or historical research speaks the truth about the crimes and shameful behaviour that occurred in the past with the participation of Poles has full right to this truth.

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 former death camps such as Auschwitz set up by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland.

On Saturday night, Polands Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki wrote on Twitter that Auschwitz-Birkenau is not a Polish name, and Arbeit Macht Frei is not a Polish phrase.

He was referring to the words on the Nazi camps infamous wrought-iron gate that mean Work makes you free in German.

Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, said it opposed the new legislation, but also noted there was no doubt that the term Polish death camps is a historical misrepresentation.

However, restrictions on statements by scholars and others regarding the Polish peoples direct or indirect complicity with the crimes committed on their land during the Holocaust are a serious distortion, it said.

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NEAR ROGUE RIVER, Ore. -- Oregon State Police said a woman crashed into the Rogue River Thursday night. OSP said Troopers did not get any reports of a crash until Friday evening.

OSP with the help of Jackson County Search and Rescue, Star Towing and ODOT spent Saturday morning trying to pull this car, and a deceased woman, out of the Rogue River. OSP Sergeant Stephanie Bigman said Friday afternoon, OSP got a report that someone hit a mailbox so a trooper went to investigate a hit and run.

When he arrived on scene, he noticed that there was vehicle tracks leading into the river. We immediately began searching for the vehicle. Jackson County Search and Rescue provided a boat and they located the vehicle about a quarter mile from the crash scene in the river," Sgt. Bigman said.

The driver was Melinda Fluck Sgt. Bigman said Fluck was driving on Rogue River Highway 99, lost control, slid off the roadway and into the river.

10 inches in either direction and she probably would have hit a tree that would have stopped her," Sgt. Bigman said. She added Fluck crashed about a mile and half from where she lived.

This is an on-going investigation. Right now, OSP is investigating what caused the driver to veer-off into the river Thursday night.
FILE - In this May 4, 2004 file photo, Nanga Parbat, the ninth highest mountain in the world, is seen in Pakistan's northern area. A Pakistani official said Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, that volunteers were able to rescue Elisabeth Revol, a French mountaineer from the Himalayan peak but because of poor weather called off efforts to retrieve a Polish climber, Tomasz Mackiewicz, who was suffering from snow blindness and altitude sickness. (AP Photo/Musaf Zaman Kazmi, File)
FILE - A Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018 file photo of US President Donald Trump meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. President Donald Trump has wished Prince Harry and fiancee Meghan Markle well and says he is not aware of having received an invitation to their royal wedding in May. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
Protesters gather during a rally in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018 against Russia's Central Election Commission's decision to ban the opposition leader Alexei Navalny presidential candidacy. Navalny has been arrested in Moscow as protests demonstrations called by him took place across the country. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Rohingya refugee children watch a foreign delegation arriving at the Malaysian field hospital at Kutopalong refugee camp near Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. A special delegation led by Michelle Yeoh and Malaysian Armed Forces Chief Gen. Raja Mohamad Affandi Saturday visited Rohingya refugee camp and distributed relief material items apart from evaluating the impact of the aid. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Glasses from a shuttered window at a photography shop are scattered near the site of Saturday's attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. U.S. President Donald Trump is condemning "the despicable car bombing attack" in the Afghan capital of Kabul. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
FILE - In this Feb. 4, 2014 file photo, Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, waves as he arrives at the headquarters of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Alwaleed bin Talal was released on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, from the luxury hotel where he has been held since November, according to three of his associates, marking the end of a chapter in a wide-reaching anti-corruption probe that has been shrouded in secrecy and intrigue. The prince, 62, had been the most well-known and prominent detainee held at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, since Nov. 4, when his much younger cousin, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ordered the surprise raids against prominent princes, businessmen, ministers and military officers. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed, File)
CHARLES CITY, Iowa  A woman is accused of embezzling from First Security Bank & Trust.

33-year-old Cassandra Marie Lane of Charles City has been charged with counts of 1st and 2nd degree theft. Authorities say that while workingat First Security Bank & Trust between October 2016 and August 2017, Lane took $17,287.78 from other accounts and transferred the money to her husbands checking or savings accounts.

The criminal complaint states that Lane was not authorized to make any such transfers.

She was arrested on Friday.
MASON CITY, Iowa - The Iowa Voters for Companion Animals, in conjunction with the North Iowa Humane Society, hosted a discussion forum at Mason City brewery Saturday afternoon.

The goal? To change the way the state deals with animal welfare laws and puppy mills.

Animal cruelty is illegal, but the law is less comprehensive and weaker than comparable laws in other states. Iowa has the second worst cruelty laws in the country after Kentucky, according to a 2016 study done by the Animal Legal Defense Fund. And with the exception of 23 counties, puppy mills can be found all across the state, with one in nearly every county. Sioux and Lee counties have the most.

Mary LaHay, founder of the Iowa VCA and guest speaker at today's event, became interested in changing the laws about ten years ago.

"I was in the market for a puppy myself, and I accidentally stumbled upon a puppy mill. When I saw how bad the conditions were, I went in search of someone who might be able to help. I couldn't find anyone, so then we started this organization and we haven't looked back," LaHay says.

The organization has had a bill in the legislature since 2009, but it has been a very slow process to make headway. The biggest proposal, 2014's SF 2254, which would have provided better protections for the over 15,000 adult breeding dogs in the state, did not pass. But it may change soon.

SF 421, which seeks to clarify torture and minimum standards of care, and include the option of mental health evaluation and treatment to abusers, was introduced in March 2017 and passed through the subcommittee last week.

SF 454 aims to create more oversight of federally licensed breeders, ending renewals for those who violate the Animal Welfare Act, having the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardships (IDALS) inspect federal licensees in addition to state licensees, and provide funding and adjusting fee inequities.

These measures will not apply to livestock, nor to those who are small-scale breeders with less than three dogs. And any change go a long way for these furry friends.

"We can do better. And obviously, we have a long way to go," supporter Robert Eschrich says.

The Iowa VCA will be a part of Lobby Day 2018 at the Forte Conference Center in Des Moines on February 28th.
NORTHWOOD, Iowa  A Mason City man stands accused of vandalizing a gaming machine at the Diamond Jo Casino.

The Worth County Sheriffs Office says it was called to the casino around 2:15 am on Saturday. A deputy took a report and viewed the damage done to the machine.

55-year-old Dion King was arrested and charged with 2nd degree criminal mischief, a crime involving between $1,000 and $10,000 in damage to property. Hes been booked into the Worth County Jail.
ELDORA, Iowa  A man pleading guilty to lascivious acts with a child has won a $100,000 lottery prize.

61-year-old Dean Edward Hilpipre of Alden was arrested in August 2017 for two counts of 2nd degree sexual abuse. The Hardin County man was accused of committing sex acts on a child under 12 sometime between January 2012 and November 2016. Hilpipre pleaded guilty on January 4 to one count of lascivious acts with a child as part of a plea deal.

His sentencing is scheduled for February 23.

On January 24, Hilpipre claimed one of the remaining grand prizes in the Iowa Lotterys $100,000 Mega Crossword scratch game. He bought his winning ticket at the Caseys store in Alden.
BEIRUT, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Oil production from the West Karoun oilfields in southwest Iran nearly doubled in the past year, oil minister Bijan Zanganeh said in an interview broadcast live on state TV Saturday.

Oil production for the West Karoun oilfields for the Iranian month of Dey, which runs from late December until late January, was 161,000 bpd last year.

The West Karoun oilfields produced 305,000 bpd for the same time period this year, Zanganeh said.

Also, OPEC members are likely to stick to production limits through the end of 2018, Zanganeh said. OPEC and non-OPEC producers led by Russia agreed last November to extend oil output cuts until the end of 2018.

Separately, Zanganeh said in the state TV interview that Iran's daily gas production at South Pars, the world's largest gas field, has increased by 83 million cubic meters in the past year.

The daily gas production for the Iranian month of Dey was approximately 470 million cubic meters at South Pars last year. The daily gas production for the same time period this year was 553 million cubic meters, Zanganeh said in the interview.

France's Total signed a deal with Tehran last July to develop phase 11 of South Pars marking the first major Western energy investment in the Islamic Republic since the lifting of sanctions against it.

Total will be the operator with a 50.1 percent stake, alongside Chinese state-owned oil and gas company CNPC with 30 percent, and National Iranian Oil Co subsidiary Petropars with 19.9 percent.

(Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh, editingby Louise Heavens)
DHAKA, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Bangladesh signed an agreement with Indonesia on Sunday to import liquefied natural gas (LNG), as the South Asian country turns to the supercooled fuel to fill a shortfall of domestic natural gas.

A letter of intent was signed between two state energy companies, Petrobangla and Pertamina, after a meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who arrived in Dhaka on Saturday.

Bangladesh, a country of more than 160 million people, may import as much as 17.5 million tonnes of LNG a year by 2025, as its domestic gas reserves dwindle and demand grows. Petrobangla is finalising several floating storage and regasification units, the first of which is expected to commence operations in April 2018. In September, Bangladesh signed its first ever LNG import deal with Qatar, underscoring the rise of South Asia as a new market for the fuel. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ South Asia becomes global LNG hotspot as Bangladesh enters market ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Reporting by Ruma Paul; Editing by Stephen Coates)
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Malaysia is reviewing its trade with the European Union following the bloc's move to back a ban on using palm oil to make biofuels, the Deputy Prime Minister was reported as saying on Sunday.

European lawmakers approved draft measures this month to reform the power market there and reduce energy consumption to meet more ambitious climate goals. The plan includes a ban on the use of palm oil in motor fuels from 2021. Indonesia and Malaysia, which produce nearly 90 percent of the world's palm oil, called the move discriminatory and said there should be fair treatment for all vegetable oils.

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malaysia was reviewing the purchase of products from EU nations, state news agency Bernama reported.

The matter was decided during a cabinet meeting last week chaired by Prime Minister Najib Razak, he was quoted as saying in his speech given to community members in the northwestern state of Perak.

"If we import trade products from any country, and if that country makes the decision to boycott palm oil, then our government will also stop buying from that country," Zahid said.

"They carried out various marketing efforts so that we buy their products, but (they) don't want to buy our products. Malaysia is not a country that can be manipulated."

A large portion of European palm oil imports is used to make biofuels, giving Malaysia and Indonesia cause for concern.

Malaysia, the world's second-largest palm producer, said last week that it would work with other producing countries to voice "strong concerns" to the World Trade Organization. Zahid said the EU proposal threatens the income of some 500,000 planters across the country.

(Reporting by Praveen Menon; Editing by Nick Macfie)
While Seoul taxi fares are set to increase this year, taxi drivers, companies and the city are at crossroads about how much the rise should be and when it should be introduced. / Korea Times file



By Ko Dong-hwan



Seoul's first taxi fare increase in five years looks inevitable, with the city unions agreeing to an increase within this year. It remains to be seen how much the increase will be and when exactly it will begin.



The Korean Taxi Workers' Union and the Seoul Private Taxi Association say the rise in the starting fare should be no more than 1,000 won ($0.94). They are worried that increasing the fare too much will cause the industry to lose passengers.



"In October 2013, when the starting fare increased by rather an affordable amount from 2,400 to 3,000 won, the outcome caused only a brief public outcry, which soon dissipated," says the Korean Taxi Workers' Union Seoul Office.



"If the increase gets out of proportion this time, the repercussions could be serious. It will be worse than not having initiated the measure at the first place."



While those asking for the fare increase to be kept small are concerned about passengers, the opposing group is tilted toward improving drivers' working conditions.



Korea Taxi Union wants the starting fare to increase by at least 1,500 won, saying any rise of 20 percent or less will not be enough.



"Taxi drivers who work for companies return part of their earnings to their operators at the end of every shift," the union says. "The amounts returned to companies go up when there is a rate increase. If the fare increased is not enough, the drivers will return the increased proportion to the companies while there will be not enough money to improve working conditions. In fact, it will worsen the situation for the drivers."



The increase will take effect some time after March, when the city's research on the necessity for an increase and how rises in the price of LPG taxi fuel and in the minimum hourly wage for workers nationwide will affect the industry is due to close. The outcome of the research will determine the level of the fare increase.



People involved in issue mostly agree that an increase is inevitable, because the starting fare has been frozen for five years while 40 percent of corporate taxi companies are short of drivers.



Drivers argue that the increase should be introduced before April, because any delay will be overshadowed by the general election in June and prolong the increase indefinitely.



But the city says discussion among every involved party  including the drivers unions, companies, civic groups and experts  must be a priority. It predicts there will be no increase before April.


Safeguard measures to be discussed at second round of FTA talks



By Park Jae-hyuk



The government is expected to file a petition with the World Trade Organization (WTO) after Feb. 7 over U.S. safeguard measures against Korean washing machines and solar panels, a trade ministry official said Sunday.



According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Korea is considering notifying the WTO of a request for consultation, based on article 4 of the organization's dispute settlement understanding. Notification of a request is the first step toward settlement of a dispute.



By submitting a request to the WTO dispute settlement body, the government will indicate problems in the import regulations and explain how the measures violate WTO agreements.



The move seems to be one way Korea can strengthen its position before the second round of talks on the amendment of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).



The two countries will hold a two-day meeting regarding the issue in Seoul this week.



Korea is set to express its doubts about the safeguard tariffs, and the U.S. will likely talk about automobiles.



Although the petition against the safeguard measures and the revisions of the KORUS FTA are officially different matters, Korea will cite the import regulations as an example of the US's breach of article 10.5 of the KORUS FTA.



The article reads that the agreement does not confer any additional rights or obligations on the parties with regard to actions taken under the safeguards agreement, except that a party taking a global safeguard measure may exclude imports of an originating good of the other party if such imports are not a substantial cause of serious injury or threat thereof.



The Donald Trump administration imposed safeguard tariffs on Korean washers, despite the U.S. International Trade Commission's suggestion that the administration exclude the products from goods subject to safeguard measures.



Korea will ask the U.S. to guarantee the definite exemption of non-threatening products from safeguard tariffs.



However, the outlook for meaningful consensus in the FTA talks this week is gloomy, as is the outlook for a WTO dispute settlement.



If the countries fail to agree in the bilateral consultation, Korea can ask the WTO to establish a dispute settlement panel.



In the 11 previous filings of WTO petitions against the U.S., Korea could only reach an outcome in 1997 before the formation of a panel, when Korea was in conflict with the U.S. over color television receivers.



The trade ministry does not expect an easy settlement of the dispute.



The government asked the U.S. Trade Representative for a meeting last week about the country's imposition of a safeguard measure, but the U.S. has yet to respond, according to Seoul's trade ministry.



Against this backdrop, Trade Minister Kim Hyun-jong met government officials from Canada, Mexico and the European Union during the World Economic Forum last week, to cooperate with them against U.S. protectionist policies.


Gov't urged to play bigger role in tender preparations



By Kim Jae-kyoung



SINGAPORE  South Korea's bidding for the Malaysia-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) deal hit a major snag as its consortium lost a couple of key participants amid the government's lukewarm attitude toward the multi-billion-dollar project.



The setback comes after the governments of the two Southeast Asian nations began a bidding process in December for the railway project that Japan, China and France are also eagerly jostling for.



The project, which will develop a 350km-rail link to cut travel time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to 90 minutes, is estimated to cost around $10 billion.



"We are looking for some new key players to join our consortium, as some, including LSIS, have left," Sohn Myung-soo, director general for the Railway Bureau at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, told The Korea Times.



"I don't know the details about why they left. It was their decision."



According to industry sources, along with LSIS in charge of "signaling," KT and Sampyo E&C, which were supposed to take charge, respectively, of "telecommunications" and "trackwork," decided to leave. Also, Hyosung and Hyundai Electric are considering an exit.



On Jan. 23, Malaysia's MyHSR Corp. and Singapore's SG HSR jointly held the briefing for the assets company (AssetsCo) tender for the HSR project in Kuala Lumpur. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2026.



On Dec. 20, they announced they would start accepting bids for AssetsCo, which will be responsible for designing, building, financing and maintaining all rolling stock and rail assets.



While the government has disagreed, it is believed the key culprit behind the ongoing trouble was a lack of leadership and of government willpower.



The exits by some key players came after the heads of the Korea Rail Network Authority (KRNA) and Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL)  the two state-run organizations that have led the consortium  resigned after President Moon Jae-in took office.



The top posts have remained vacant for the past several months, so many Korean private firms, which showed keen interest under the previous administration, are reconsidering their participation.



The ministry's three key officials who initiated the nation's efforts to win the rail deal from the beginning in 2016  vice minister, director general for the railway bureau and director for the railway policy division  were all replaced around the same time in September and October, which many believe is hampering the consortium's bidding preparation.



This has raised speculation that the Moon administration has pushed the HSR project down on its priority list.



It is comparable to the governments of Japan and China that are taking the initiative to win the mega deal. It is also a major shift from the previous Park Geun-hye administration that took it as one of the top priorities.



The Moon administration has no plans to take a lead in the bidding process, leaving it totally up to the consortium and the private sector.



"Since bidding requirements have been introduced, it is now all up to the consortium and private sector," said Son of the land ministry.



"Private firms now can make their decisions according to their own interests. We will provide support if necessary but won't get involved in the bidding preparation and will not do any lobbying."



Regarding concerns of the government's lukewarm attitude, a ranking official from the KRNA said on condition of anonymity, "It is not proper to share details of the consortium and the government's attitude."



He added, "All I can say is we are doing our best to prepare for the bidding," declining to comment on how supportive the Moon administration has been.



In contrast, the Japanese government is closely cooperating with the private sector for the deal.



According to a report by the Nikkei Asian Review, the Japanese government, through its public-private fund Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corp. for Transport and Urban Development, will provide financial backing for the country's consortium.



Japanese diplomats have also joined the government-initiated lobbying activities.



"The setting up of a railway such as the HSR will open a window for massive local participation, especially in the construction of large-scale infrastructure. We welcome cooperation with local companies in Malaysia and Singapore," Malaysia's national news agency Bernama recently quoted Japan's ambassador to Malaysia, Mr. Makio Miyagawa, as saying.



Experts say the Korean government should play a more active role in the bidding process.



"It is true Korea is behind China and Japan in the bidding race but that does not necessarily mean we should give up," said a Singapore-based executive at a Korean builder, asking not to be named.



"In this kind of mega project deal, the government's support and lobbying ability is crucial."




By Kim Jae-kyoung



It appears that the government is determined to scrap its plan to shut down exchanges of cryptocurrencies in the face of strong opposition from individual investors.



On Jan. 23, the financial authorities announced that banks will begin issuing new trading accounts for digital coins Tuesday under a new real-name account trading system. Under the plan, current anonymous accounts for virtual coins will be banned.



This can be taken as a sign that the government will continue to allow transactions of decentralized currencies with a minimum of restrictions and regulations.



Now, attention is being paid to whether cryptocurrencies should be subject to taxation. Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon reiterated Thursday that the ministry is mulling over the imposition of taxes on capital gains from such trading.



There is no consensus on the issue but most analysts believe that taxing gains on cryptocurrencies will be a step in the right direction. They expect taxation to help reduce speculative investment.



"Right now cryptocurrencies are mostly stores of value, not means of exchange. They are not primarily used for payments, but rather to speculate on and try to make money with," Mauro Guillen, director of the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, told The Korea Times.



"Therefore, the government should regulate them as a way to protect investors," he added. "And if someone makes a profit by buying and then selling bitcoins, it should be taxed just like any other capital gain."



The analysts think that cryptocurrencies should be viewed as new investment products just like any other financial asset, such as stocks, so any move to tax gains on them sounds reasonable.



"Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are a new, growing asset class," Moody's Analytics economist Katrina Ell said.



"It makes sense to treat its earnings just like other assets, which include capital gains tax."



Troy Stangarone, senior director of congressional affairs and trade at the Korea Economic Institute of America, concurred.



In Stangarone's view, while digital currencies have helped to ease transaction costs for international purchases, for many they have become an alternative investment vehicle.



"The United States, for example, taxes capital gains on trading in international currencies, so taxing or crediting the gains or losses from what is becoming a new investment vehicle is a natural step," he said.



"Additionally, placing cryptocurrencies into the same category as traditional currencies and taxing gains may also help reduce some of the speculative bubble that is taking place."





Fair treatment



On the other hand, opponents to the taxation idea claim that the government should apply "fair and equal treatment" to transactions of digital coins.



James Rooney, vice chairman of the Seoul Financial Forum, said that taxing them is foolish and unnecessary, and just makes society even more complicated.



"We do not apply taxes to capital gains or losses on stock investing in Korea, and we should not tax capital gains or other forms of income and losses due to valuation effects from cryptocurrencies," he said.



Currently, small investors in the KOSPI and Kosdaq markets are exempt from taxation on gains from stock trading. Only those who trade non-listed shares or KOSPI- and Kosdaq-listed shares on the over-the-counter markets are subject to taxation.



"Taxes should only be applied where you need to generate social revenue to support useful social development and human welfare, and should not be used as an attempt to distort human behavior from its natural course," he said.



Massimo Massa, professor of finance at INSEAD's Singapore Campus, said, "If capital gains are not charged on other transactions or on wins at local casinos, I do not see why they should be applied there."



In casino, any gains from table games, such as roulette and blackjack, are not taxed, while profits from slot machines are subject to taxation.



"If they are already applied on other asset classes, they should be applied as well. Fair and equal treatment."



David Drake, chairman of The Soho Loft and LDJ Capital, a New York City-based family office that invests in bitcoins for clients, said that it is inevitable that governments are going to want to earn capital gains revenue from cryptocurrency trading.



"In response to this I think we will start seeing more decentralized autonomous exchanges where governments will not be able to tax capital gains," he said.



"The taxation may be used to the mass market but to the original users of cryptocurrencies we pursued this for freedom from centralization."






By Laurence D. Fink

Laurence D. Fink

As BlackRock approaches its 30th anniversary this year, I have had the opportunity to reflect on the most pressing issues facing investors today and how BlackRock must adapt to serve our clients more effectively.

It is a great privilege and responsibility to manage the assets clients have entrusted to us, most of which are invested for long-term goals such as retirement. As a fiduciary, BlackRock engages with companies to drive the sustainable, long-term growth that our clients need to meet their goals.

In 2017, equities enjoyed an extraordinary run, and yet popular frustration and apprehension about the future simultaneously reached new heights. Many individuals across the world are facing a combination of low rates, low wage growth, and inadequate retirement systems. I believe these trends are a major source of the anxiety and polarization that we see across the world today.

We also see many governments failing to prepare for the future, on issues ranging from retirement and infrastructure to automation and worker retraining. As a result, society increasingly is turning to the private sector and asking that companies respond to broader societal challenges.

Indeed, the public expectations of your company have never been greater. To prosper over time, every company must not only deliver financial performance, but also show how it makes a positive contribution to society.

New model for corporate governance

Globally, investors' increasing use of index funds is driving a transformation in BlackRock's fiduciary responsibility and the wider landscape of corporate governance. In the $1.7 trillion in active funds we manage, BlackRock can choose to sell the securities of a company if we are doubtful about its strategic direction or long-term growth.

In managing our index funds, however, BlackRock cannot express its disapproval by selling the company's securities, as long as that company remains in the relevant index. As a result, our responsibility to engage and vote is more important than ever. In this sense, index investors are the ultimate long-term investors -- providing patient capital for companies to grow and prosper.

The time has come for a new model of shareholder engagement -- one that strengthens and deepens communication between shareholders and the companies that they own. If engagement is to be meaningful and productive -- if we collectively are going to focus on benefitting shareholders instead of wasting time and money in proxy fights -- then engagement needs to be a year-round conversation about improving long-term value.

BlackRock recognizes and embraces our responsibility to help drive this change. We intend to double the size of our investment stewardship team over the next three years. The growth of the team will help foster even more effective engagement with your company by building a framework for deeper, more frequent, and more productive conversations.

Your strategy, your board, your purpose

In order to make engagement with shareholders as productive as possible, companies must be able to describe their strategy for long-term growth. Such statement is essential to understanding a company's actions and policies, its preparation for potential challenges, and the context of its shorter-term decisions. These strategy statements are not meant to be set in stone -- rather, they should continue to evolve along with the business environment and explicitly recognize possible areas of investor dissatisfaction.

In the United States, for example, companies should explain to investors how the significant changes to tax law fit into their long-term strategy. It is your responsibility to explain to shareholders how major legislative or regulatory changes will impact not just next year's balance sheet, but also your long-term strategy for growth.

And we encourage companies to begin discussions early, to engage with shareholders like BlackRock, and bring other critical stakeholders to the table. When a company waits until a proxy proposal to engage or fails to express its long-term strategy in a compelling manner, we believe the opportunity for meaningful dialogue has often already been missed.

The board's engagement in developing your long-term strategy is essential because an engaged board and a long-term approach are valuable indicators of a company's ability to create long-term value for shareholders. Boards meet only periodically, but their responsibility is continuous. Directors whose knowledge is derived only from sporadic meetings are not fulfilling their duty to shareholders. Likewise, executives who view boards as a nuisance only undermine themselves and the company's prospects for long-term growth.

We also will continue to emphasize the importance of a diverse board. Boards with a diverse mix of genders, ethnicities, career experiences, and ways of thinking have, as a result, a more diverse and aware mindset. They are less likely to succumb to groupthink or miss new threats to a company's business model. And they are better able to identify opportunities that promote long-term growth.

As we enter 2018, BlackRock is eager to participate in discussions about long-term value creation and work to build a better framework for serving all your stakeholders. Today, our clients -- who are your company's owners -- are asking you to demonstrate the leadership and clarity that will drive not only their own investment returns, but also the prosperity and security of their fellow citizens. We look forward to engaging with you on these issues.

The writer is chairman & CEO of BlackRock. The above article is an abridged version of the chairman's annual letter to CEOs in 2018.


By Lee Kyung-min



A woman in her 20s surnamed Lee said she would get frustrated thinking about a recent visit to an obstetricians and gynecologists (ob/gyn) clinic for an emergency contraceptive pill. "I went there because I needed the pill, nothing else," she said with her boyfriend of six months. "The doctor started asking questions including whether I used a condom and wanted other details about sexual intercourse I didn't want to share. Isn't it my right to take a pill if I felt uncertain whether the condom worked or not?"



Lee said she did use a condom, but her boyfriend removed it during intercourse. She thought whether it was rape for him to do so after she repeatedly told him earlier that she didn't want sex without it. "I was and still am angry and I even thought of calling the police, but I ended up doing nothing. All I could think of was that I cannot get pregnant, otherwise I would have no choice but to have an abortion." "I needed the pill to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. Why do I have to explain the details of my private life when I know what I need is the pill, not the patronizing look or a talking to from a doctor?"



The quiet _ oftentimes scolding _ stares from older women in the waiting room is another reason many young women feel uncomfortable going to ob/gyn clinics. "Women there are either pregnant or seeking consultation for other gynecologic issues, but not me. I don't understand why I should go through all this unpleasant experience just to get what I need. I felt I was somehow being punished for having what an adult relationship entails."



Women in Korea, which claims to be advanced in all other aspects otherwise, are denied easy access to emergency contraceptive pills. Data from the European Consortium for Emergency Contraception shows pills containing up to 1.5 milligrams of levonorgestrel are available without a doctor's prescription in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, France and Germany, as well as many other advanced countries. In Korea, however, out of 14 emergency contraceptive pills currently available on the market, six have only 0.75 milligrams of levonorgestrel per pill and seven have 1.5 milligrams per pill, all of which are impossible to purchase without a doctor's prescription. Even for ellaOne 30, containing 30 milligrams of ulipristal acetate per pill, the intake of which requires more caution, a committee for medicinal products for human use under the European Medicines Agency advised that it "can be used safely and effectively without medical prescription" in 2014.



Such a lack of easy access to emergency contraceptive pills leaves women with no choice but to have an abortion, an illegal-yet-common medical practice in Korea. Women who have abortions here are subject to a prison term of up to one year or a fine of up to 2 million won ($1,900). Abortion-performing doctors in theory could face up to two years in prison, but they usually get a 1 to 2 million won fine or a suspended prison sentence. Exceptions include cases of rape, incest, or when a severe hereditary defect is found in the fetus or the woman's health could be in danger. Ministry of Health and Welfare 2010 data estimated that about 168,000 abortions are carried out a year, but doctors say the number is at least 500,000 and possibly up to 800,000.








By Jung Min-ho







Starting Feb 1, buying, possessing and using e-cigarettes will be illegal in Singapore.





Anyone caught buying, possessing or using e-cigarettes can be fined up to $S2,000 (1,630,000 won). Foreign tourists will not be exempt.





Other tobacco products like hookah, also known as shisha, and chewing tobacco will also be illegal.





Citizens and foreign tourists alike are being urged to pay attention to the new policy.





"(Members of) the public are encouraged to discard any prohibited tobacco products in their possession," local media quoted the ministry as saying.





According to the Singapore Tourism Board, 16 million people visited the country in 2016, including more than 560,000 Koreans.





With the ban, Singapore will have one of the world's toughest stances against e-cigarettes.





The ban is part of the first phase of amendments to the Tobacco Act, which were passed two months ago in Parliament.





The government will take further steps later, including gradually raising the minimum legal age for the purchase, use, possession, sale and supply of tobacco products from 18 to 21.






Mexican Senate Speaker Ernesto Cordero speaks with The Korea Times at the Embassy of Mexico in Seoul, Jan. 24.

/ Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



By Yi Whan-woo



Mexico and Korea should consider resuming talks on bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), after they conclude their respective renegotiations on trade treaties with the United States, the head of the Mexican Senate says.

"I think the smartest thing to do is wait until Mexico and the U.S. renegotiate our treaty," Ernesto Cordero, speaker of the Senate of Mexico, told The Korea Times during his visit to Korea last week. "Korea has also begun to renegotiate its free trade agreement with the U.S. We'll have much better conditions to engage again in negotiations and that's what's going to happen."

The FTA talks have been among pending issues between Korea and Mexico since 2008.

Presidents Moon Jae-in and Enrique Pena Nieto promised to make efforts to resume the talks in May 2017 when Moon took office.

But the two countries have made little progress since then amid renegotiations of the Korea-U.S. FTA and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in line with U.S. President Donald Trump's demands.

Meanwhile, Cordero travelled to Korea at the invitation of National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun.

According to the Embassy of Mexico in Korea, Cordero met Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, Mexico-Korea Parliamentary Friendship Group President Lee Sang-hee, Samsung Electronics Executive Vice President Kim Won-kyong and Hyundai Motor Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun and discussed a wide range of issues, such as security and foreign affairs, as well as Korean businesses in Mexico.

He said he supports Korea joining the Pacific Alliance, a Latin American trade bloc formed in 2011 among Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

He said Mexico is considering having an inter-parliamentary meeting with Korea every year as part of efforts to enhance their relations. Mexico holds such meetings only with Spain and the U.S.

Regarding meetings with Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor executives, Cordero said they "show strong commitment to Mexico" amid growing U.S. protectionist policies against Mexico and Korea.

Samsung has home appliances plants in Mexico, and Hyundai Motor also has a plant there.

"I had a very good conversation. As far I understand, they are very pleased to be working in Mexico and they show strong commitment to keep investing in Mexico," Cordero said.

Mexico and Korea are members of MIKTA, a group named after the first letters of the five middle powers including Indonesia, Turkey and Australia.

Cordero said MIKTA has been a very good platform for its members to "share a common vision" on international cooperation, such as a ban on North Korea's nuclear weapons.

Cordero also delivered a speech on "Mexico in changing times: Challenges and opportunities" at Sungkyunkwan University and visited Busan, where the Korean company Highland Foods will set up a distribution center for Mexican fruit.
By Yi Whan-woo



The University of Costa Rica has invited Korea University students to visit as part of an exchange program between the two universities, according to the Embassy of Costa Rica in Seoul.

Twenty-three Korea University students will leave for Costa Rica on Jan. 31 and join the program for the next four weeks.

They will study Spanish and visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship, the University for Peace, mandated by the United Nations, coffee co-operatives and tourist attractions, including national parks.

The program will help the students "broaden their knowledge about this democratic and peaceful Central American nation," the embassy said.

This will be the second round of visits to Costa Rica by Korea University students.
By Yi Whan-woo



The Seoul branch of the French Institute will host its first "Night of Ideas," an evening debate among intellectuals, on Jan. 29.

Supported by the French Embassy in Korea, the debate will take place in line with the Paris-based institute's annual project aimed at nurturing debate worldwide.

It will also mark the publication of a special issue of The Critique magazine here.

The 2018 edition of the "Night of Ideas" will deal with the theme "Power to Imagination."

The institute's branch offices are running their respective sessions from Jan. 18 to 31 at bookstores, cultural centers, universities and other institutions associated with learning.

The Seoul session will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Kyobo Bookstore in Gwanghwamun, downtown Seoul.

Four invited scholars will conduct a debate on the removal of Park Geun-hye from the presidency in March 2017 and other events that changed the course of Korean politics.

Simultaneous Korean-to-French interpretation will be available.

The session is free.
By Yi Whan-woo





Matilda Masuka

Tanzania will open its first embassy in Korea on Jan. 31, according to diplomatic sources.

The Embassy of Tanzania in Japan has been dealing with relations involving Korea so far.

The diplomatic mission in Seoul will be led by Matilda Masuka, who presented credentials to President Moon Jae-in in November 2017.

The opening ceremony will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

On Jan. 31, the embassy will also host a business forum at 9 a.m. to mark its establishment and the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Tanzania and Korea.

The forum will take place at the Grand Hall of Hana Financial Group in Seoul.

"For the past 25 years, our two counties have been in close collaboration," Masuka said in a press release.

"A lot has been accomplished in both government and private levels in sectors such as health, infrastructure, information and communication technology, trade and tourism.

"This is therefore another opportunity to explore more avenues and achieve new milestones."

The forum will be in collaboration with the Tanzania Investment Center, the Tanzania Tourism Board, the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation and the Tanzania Development Authority.

From the Korean side the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Korea International Trade Association and the Korea Importers Association will participate.
Members of the People's Party who oppose the party's merger with the Bareun Party hold hands after announcing their plan to create a new party, during a meeting at the National Assembly, Sunday. They are, from left, former lawmakers Chung Dae-chul, Kwon No-gap, and Reps. Cho Bae-sook, Park Jie-won and Chun Jung-bae. / Yonhap



By Choi Ha-young



A People's Party faction on Sunday officially declared its plan to break away and launch a new party in protest against the People's Party's plan to merge with the Bareun Party.



Its declaration confirms the factional disputes between those supporting People's Party Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo, who wants to decide officially on the merger with the conservative Bareun Party at a convention on Feb. 4, and more liberal members based in Gwangju and the Jeolla provinces.



The envisioned new party, primarily formed with lawmakers from the Jeolla regions, is to be named the Party for Democracy and Peace (PDP). It will be officially launched on Feb. 6, according to preparatory committee leader Rep. Cho Bae-sook.



As of Sunday, 16 lawmakers registered to defect to the new party, including Cho, Reps. Park Jie-won, Chun Jung-bae and Chung Dong-young. Along with the lawmakers, about 2,400 party members have signed in support of the new party.



"The envisioned party will focus on policies to improve people's lives and oppose collusion with conservatives," the PDP promoters said in a statement. "The party will devote itself to social justice and equality."



They also said they would make efforts to make the Korean Peninsula peaceful and free from nuclear threats from North Korea, a goal set in respect for former President Kim Dae-jung's Sunshine Policy.



Most of the lawmakers planning to join the new party are those who carry on Kim's legacy. Kim, a former democracy activist, is a symbolic figure in the liberal Jeolla area.



The PDP promoters also touted a "powerful minor party," the same slogan as the People's Party, by breaking the dominance of two larger parties  the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP).



The PDP is likely to become the fourth-largest party, following the DPK, LKP and the merged party between the People's Party and the Bareun Party. But it is unclear if the PDP can form a negotiating body, which requires at least 20 parliamentary seats.



Also, two of the 16 lawmakers were elected by proportional representation, so they will lose their seats if they leave their party voluntarily.



"We believe more lawmakers, particularly those based in the Jeolla regions, will join our move soon, because they can't ignore Jeolla residents' opinions," Rep. Choi Gyung-hwan said.



The motion promptly drew fire from Ahn.



"The anti-merger faction is obviously undermining the People's Party," Ahn said, adding the move was a challenge to 280,000 party members.



"I urge them to leave the party right away, instead of interrupting the party convention," Ahn said. "If they remain within the People's Party and keep interrupting it, I'll take special countermeasures."



Later in the day, Ahn convened a party committee on disciplinary actions against the rival faction members. The committee decided to suspend party membership of 179 people, including the 16 lawmakers, for two years. "They have been actively engaged in the move to create a new party, which has undermined the People's Party," Ahn said.



Rep. Lee Sang-don, chairman of the party convention and a vocal critic of Ahn, was included in the list, although he did not register to join the new party because he wanted to chair the convention. But with the membership suspension, he can't do so.



The anti-merger faction claims the membership suspension is aimed at reducing the number of eligible voters of the convention who are against the merger, so the party leadership can get approval for the merger easily.




A fire in a hospital that did not have a sprinkler system has killed at least 39 people (as of 9 a.m. Monday) and injured scores more in the South Korean city of Miryang on Friday.


















By Trudy Rubin





As 3,000 top businessmen 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 held in a local high school that debated issues like "Can globalization be ethical?" and "Alternatives to free trade."



No one could have imagined a man who championed "America first" and disdained multilateral anything would become the most-awaited speaker of Davos 2018 _ where he eagerly proclaimed the virtues of "America first."



Yet the outlook of those early anti-globalists and Trump's "America first message  while superficially similar  could not be more different.



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 inequalities in wages.



But those are not 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. Instead, he kept touting his corporate tax cuts.



He also bragged endlessly about stock market gains and massive deregulation; this reminded me of grim Davos Forums 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 populist, his speech was sorely lacking any mention of growing income inequality, with the United States a top offender. The Davos 2018 Risks Report rightly named income inequality as one of the industrial world's biggest economic challenges.



In the United States, in 2016, 20 percent of national income was taken in by top 1 percent of the population while the bottom 50 percent garnered around 13 percent. This disparity was far lower in Europe.



Moreover, the tax cut that Trump touted for much of his speech will do little to address that gap. One-time bonuses which some U.S. companies are offering and attributing to the cut, and which the president bragged about, 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 for the working poor, but I won't even go there.



But inequality was not on Trump's mind at Davos. He did cite U.S. job growth gains during 2017. In fact, however, according to Federal Reserve figures, job creation last year was lower than it was during each year of President Obama's second term.



The Trump speech had the slippery quality of a huckster who ignores anything that contradicts the pitch. "America is open for business," he proclaimed, as if that alone could resolve the structural problems that have created massive income disparities.



If repatriated U.S. business profits go to stock buybacks and further enrich the 1 percent, Trump's base will see few benefits. No doubt Trump will deflect responsibility by blaming Hillary Clinton. His bizarre claim in his Davos 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 he couldn't resist taking a swipe at the U.S. press.



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 that 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 of the discontent of those who feel bruised by technology, trade, and rapid societal change. Both are thinking serious about job training, education and cooperation to cope with the fallout.



On the other hand, Trump appeared confident that deal making (and bilateral trade deals) were all that was needed to ensure prosperity. His pitch was the perfect blend of globalist and populist, claiming he meant to "raise hopes and empower dreams" in America. At Davos, he embraced business deals for the one percent while assuring the 50 percent he is on their side.



Trudy Rubin (trubin@phillynews.com) is a columnist and editorial-board member for the Philadelphia Inquirer. The above article was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


By Joschka Fischer





BERLIN  In the first year of Donald Trump's presidency, the damage wrought by his administration's foreign policy fell well short of what had been feared.



Despite his thundering rhetoric and tweets dubbing North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un "little rocket man," the new U.S. president did not start any wars, whether on the Korean Peninsula or in the South China Sea. There was no conflict over Taiwan, either, following Trump's questioning of America's longstanding "one China" policy.



In fact, rather than clashing with China, Trump seems to have forged a close personal relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. China's leaders could hardly believe their luck when one of Trump's first official acts was to withdraw the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which would have excluded China and shored up Western trade rules in the Asia-Pacific region. It was as if Trump wanted to make China, not America, great again.



Moreover, Trump did not start a trade war by imposing high tariffs on imports from major U.S. trade partners such as China, Germany, and Japan. Despite his refusal to recertify the Iran nuclear deal, it remains in place. And the long-term consequences of his unilateral decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital remain to be seen.



Trump's hope of cooperating more closely with Russia at the expense of U.S. allies also went unrealized, and the official U.S. position in the Ukrainian conflict has not changed. Of course, that is largely due to Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, which has made it impossible for Trump to reorient America's Russia policy without triggering a domestic political firestorm.



Similarly, despite having been deemed "obsolete" by Trump, NATO has actually gained strength and legitimacy during the past year, owing to Russia's military buildup and continued war in Eastern Ukraine. To be sure, Europeans will have to see to their own defense more than in the past. But that would have been no different under a Hillary Clinton presidency (though the message would have been couched in friendlier terms).



All told, the White House "adults in uniform"  Secretary of Defense James Mattis, National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster, and Chief of Staff John Kelly  have ensured continuity in U.S. foreign policy. And the same seems to be true for economic and trade policy.



Does that mean the world can rest easy? Of course not. There is still a big question mark hovering over U.S. foreign policy in the form of Trump himself. It is entirely unclear what the president wants, what he actually knows, and what his advisers are and are not telling him. A coherent foreign policy may not withstand Trump's mood swings and spontaneous decisions.



Making matters worse, the administration's shrinking of the U.S. State Department has weakened the institutional base for implementing official foreign policy to an almost mission-critical degree. And the White House's recently published National Security Strategy is no more reassuring. In a departure from America's official position since September 11, 2001, the U.S. will now view its global power rivalry with China and Russia, rather than terrorism by non-state actors, as the primary threat to national security and world peace.



So, looking back at 2017, one gets the impression that while U.S. foreign policy remained largely intact, it has also become completely unpredictable. To that extent, 2018 seems likely to be a year of substantially increased risks, especially given the tensions in the Persian Gulf and Lebanon, the war in Syria, the hegemonic struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and the nuclear brinkmanship on the Korean Peninsula.



On the Korean Peninsula and in the Persian Gulf, the central aim must be to prevent the nuclear armament of dictatorships that threaten regional stability and the prevailing balance of power. As matters stand, the risk of a military confrontation with either North Korea or Iran cannot be discounted.



In the case of North Korea, which is quickly working toward an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the mainland U.S., such a conflict could even entail the use of nuclear weapons. Nothing about this situation inspires optimism, especially now that the U.S. is led by a president whom few can trust, and whose policies must be divined from the muddle of his tweets.



In fact, the Trump factor could be the single most significant source of uncertainty in international politics this year. The U.S. is still the world's foremost power, and it plays an indispensable role in preserving global norms. If America's policies are difficult to predict, and if Trump's behavior undermines the reliability of the U.S. government, the international order will be vulnerable to immense turmoil.



As the U.S. approaches its midterm elections in November, it will be important to consider how domestic political events might shape the country's foreign policy. If the Republicans lose their majorities in either or both houses of Congress, and if Robert Mueller, the special counsel in the Russia investigation, presents his findings around the same time, then Trump will feel his power quickly eroding.



The critical question for 2018, then, is what Trump will do if he finds himself threatened domestically at the same time that a foreign-policy crisis erupts. Will the "adults in the room" still be able to handle their charge? One need not be a doomsayer to regard the coming months with considerable skepticism and concern.



Joschka Fischer, Germany's foreign minister and vice chancellor from 1998 to 2005, was a leader of the German Green Party for almost 20 years. Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org).


Hospital fire shows total failure of safety system



A hospital blaze in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, only proved how poor fire prevention and safety systems the country has. The fire killed 38 people _ 35 patients, a doctor and two nurses _ and injured 150 others, mostly elderly, after it broke out in the emergency room of Sejong Hospital in the southeastern city, 280 kilometers southeast of Seoul, Friday.



The fire was the deadliest since 2008 when a warehouse blaze in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, claimed the lives of 40 workers. It came just about one month after 29 were killed in a fitness center fire in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province. But it is no surprise given the country's shameful safety track record.



As with the cases of Jecheon and other deadly fires, the tragedy in Miryang could have been prevented if proper precautions had been in place. In this sense, the hospital blaze was certainly a manmade disaster.



At the time of the accident, nearly 180 patients, most of them elderly, were in the five-story hospital building and a nursing home next door. Such a hospital should have had proper anti-fire devices and conducted evacuation training regularly in case of emergency.



Regrettably, however, the building had no sprinklers. Nurses and other medical staff in the emergency room ran out after crying out fire. This indicated they had little or no training on how to fight a fire and help evacuate patients. No doubt this lack of fire prevention measures and a quick repose to emergencies must have led to mass casualties.



Loopholes in the fire-prevention and firefighting regulations are also blamed for the tragedy. The government has toughened the regulations since 2014 when a fire killed 21 people in a nursing home in Jangseong, South Jeolla Province. But the stricter rules are only applied to general hospitals, mental hospitals and nursing homes, of which their floor space is more than 1,000 square meters.



Technically, Sejong Hospital has no obligation to equip its building with sprinklers and other firefighting devices because its floor space totals 224.69 square meters. The hospital building is classified the same as a commercial building. It is nonsense for this hospital structure with an emergency room and an intensive care unit to fall under such loose classification.



One fire after another has demonstrated the country has changed little since the 2014 sinking of the Sewol ferry which claimed more than 300 lives, mostly high school students on a field trip to Jeju Island. Right after the shipwreck, then-President Park Geun-hye vowed to strengthen safety regulations and root out corrupt ties among businesspeople, regulators and bureaucrats.



To the dismay of the public, Park only proved she made an empty promise. She was impeached over a massive corruption and influence-peddling scandal early last year. She did nothing to ensure safe living for Koreans, let alone fight rampant corruption.



Her successor, President Moon Jae-in, has committed to make Korea safe, particularly since the Jecheon fire. However, the hospital blaze seems to snub his commitment and send a message that the country has a long way to go before learning a true lesson from a series of painful experiences. The question now is how many more people have to fall victim to shoddy construction, lack of safety standards and disregard for life.




Blind love for children goes too far



It is shocking news that professors at 29 universities were found to have named their children as co-authors in dissertations over the past 10 years. The Ministry of Education disclosed the finding last week, implying many professors violated research ethics to help their children, mostly high school juniors and seniors, boost their academic profiles for university admissions.



The ministry should investigate further to confirm if any children of the professors actually received admissions with the undue help of their parents. In all likelihood, professors listed their children as co-authors even though their offspring did not participate in or contribute to research. Thus it can be inferred professors have done so only to get their children admitted to prestigious universities.



The finding showed professors inserted their children as co-authors of dissertations in 82 cases between February 2007 and October 2017. Thirty-nine of the cases took place at 16 universities as part of a joint program with high schools. Under the so-called Research and Education Project, professors are allowed to supervise paper writing of middle or high school students. Eight cases occurred in Sungkyunkwan University, seven in Yonsei University, and six each in Seoul National University and Kookmin University.



The original purpose of the project is to encourage teen students to contribute to research activities of professors. But no one can rule out the possibility of professors abusing the program to benefit their own children in the college admissions process. Now it's time to ferret out those who used the program in an illegal way.



Professors must have gone too far in parental love for their children. If they were found to have unfairly included their children as authors in dissertations, they have no choice but to face criminal charges. Such an act is a betrayal of conscience and the breach of research ethics. Violators should be subject to stern punishment.




An image of the 53 Buddhas, circa 1892 / Courtesy of Brother Anthony, An Sonjae



By Robert Neff





Nine Dragon Waterfall, circa 1930-1940s

Images of modern North Korea always generate a fair amount of interest mainly due to the relative inaccessibility of that country. But even before the division of the Korean Peninsula, images of the North were rare for the same reason  it was generally inaccessible due to the terrain.



One of the early Westerners to travel in the Diamond Mountains (Geumgangsan) was William Scranton, an American missionary, who was there in the mid-1890s.



He visited one of the greatest temple complexes in northern Korea and while he apparently didn't take pictures of it, he did write about the legend surrounding its foundation. It should be noted that there are several variations of this tale but I will confine myself to using only Scranton's.



According to him, some 3000 years ago there were 53 Buddhas residing in India quietly contemplating where they should go and dwell. They sent their spirits in all directions and eventually decided on the Diamond Mountains of Korea.



They set out in a great stone boat. The journey passed quickly without incident until they were about 40 li (20 kilometers) off the Korean coast near Ko-seung village when their boat foundered due to the negligence of its captain.



"Unharmed, the Buddhas walked ashore on the surface of the water, and summoned, judged and condemned the boatman to perpetual imprisonment in a massive rock nearby," Scranton wrote. Of course, an event like this did not go unnoticed and No Chon-si (the magistrate of Ko-seung) and his wife quickly arrived and offered their help to the Buddhas.





One of the many streams and valleys of the Diamond Mountains, circa 1920s



The Buddhas agreed to allow them to join in the "momentous undertaking of the planting of Buddhism in Korea," only if they "lay aside and leave behind all worldliness and the care for worldly things."



They readily agreed and set out for the peak that the Buddhas had seen in their vision. Despite her eagerness to please not only the Buddhas but her husband, No Chon-si's wife was unable to abide by the terms.



As soon as the party arrived at the base of the mountain, a great thunderstorm began and the falling rain caused her to remember the cotton she had left at home drying in the open.



"Thus, like Lot's wife, her faith in the things before was tried and found wanting" and she was not permitted to accompany her husband, but she was "granted the honor of a way-side shrine"  known as Chang-go. Scranton observed that her spirit was still worshipped at the shrine.



Forced to leave his wife behind, No Chon-si and the 53 Buddhas continued up the mountain until they reached a great lake. The Buddhas decided that this would be their new home but the lake was already occupied by nine great dragons.





A rustic view of the mountain range, circa 1920s (054b)



The Buddhas summoned the dragons and offered what "inducements" they could but the dragons refused to give up their home.



They flew into the heavens and summoned a great storm, and raindrops  the size of a human's fist  pelted the Buddhas. The dragons were beseeched to return to their lake and dwell in peace, and for a time the region was calm.



The Buddhas, however, were not content. They had a symbol written "bold and large" and secretly slipped into the lake.



This caused the water to grow warmer and warmer and steam began to arise in dense blinding clouds, "and for the time that lake became one of the 84,000 Buddhistic bells, which even dragons of miraculous power cannot endure. They precipitately fled. Some, in their agonized anger, leaped over the mountain tops" while others went through the mountain. As evidence of their passage, there is a large hole in the mountain's side.



The region was devastated with broken peaks and boulders thrown about. But the dragons were no match for the 53 Buddhas and they were forced to flee to a spot some 30 li (15 kilometers) away that came to be known as the Pool of Nine Dragons.



"Having the lake now at their own pleasure, the Buddhas proceeded, with premeditated zeal, to fill in the beautiful lake; first, with charcoal, and little by little with soil" and upon this was built the large temple complex of Yujeomsa.



"The original Buddhas were all of solid gold, but knowing the avarice of men, and fearing lest their benign intention should be thwarted and they be made into rings, hairpins and vain and valueless ornaments only, they took their abode in the center of the stone pagoda in front of the chief shrine, and you can see only their facsimiles today," Scranton wrote.



"They are of all sizes, from a few inches in height, to a foot, gilt if not golden - and they still sit and contemplate as of yore."





Yujeomsa Temple, circa 1920s-1940s
Hundreds of South Koreans braved bitterly cold weather Saturday as they waited hours for the opening of Apple Korea's first store in southern Seoul.

About 300 people lined up to be among the first in the country to get inside Apple Garosugil in the affluent southern district of Gangnam.

Choi Ji-eon, an 18-year-old who is preparing to study abroad, said he arrived in front of the new store around 3 p.m. on Friday and later waited in a sleeping bag as he was shivering with cold at night.





Photo by Yonhap

Photo by Yonhap







Photo by Yonhap





"I would like to join this monumental moment, though I did not intend to buy any specific product," Choi said.

Apple said the new store features its full line of products and offers in-store programming and services together so people can experience them for the first time all in one place.

Angela Ahrendts, Apple's senior vice president of Retail, tweeted Saturday, "Awestruck by the Apple fans in Seoul who braved beyond freezing temperatures to join us at Apple Garosugil this morning!"












POSCO Daewoo CEO Kim Young-sang speaks at an investors meeting held at Federation of Korean Industries headquarters building in Seoul, Friday / Courtesy of POSCO Daewoo



By Kwak Yeon-soo



POSCO Daewoo seeks to expand its businesses and establish an integrated energy value chain aimed to grow as a general operating firm beyond trading.



At the investors meeting held at Yeouido on Friday, POSCO Daewoo CEO Kim Young-sang shared the company's mid- and long-term plans for structural changes and ways to create new value. The trading firm deals with a range of products including steel, auto components and machinery.



"We need to keep our eyes on higher profitability and make structural changes in our businesses accordingly," Kim said. "By implementing new strategies, we will be able to position ourselves as a general operating firm beyond trading."



The company announced its "2 Core + 3 Expansion" strategy referring to the company's plan to focus on steel and resource development as its two core businesses while expanding into three businesses: food, auto components, and Independent Power Production (IPP).



Bolstered by the booming steel industry, its trading sector will remain solid. The steelmaker plans to increase steel sales to 35 million metric tons by 2020. The company will set up a distribution office in the United States by the second quarter of this year to battle about trade barriers and respond quickly to market demands.



It also plans to build a distributor for rebars in Myanmar and a stainless steel processing center in Turkey.



In terms of resource development, POSCO Daewoo will establish an integrated energy value chain that stretches from gas mining to trading and power generation. It will also partake in 10 new gas mining projects in the next five years with an aim to become a global exploration and production firm.



POSCO Daewoo rounded out 2017 with all-time high records as its consolidated sales rose 36 percent to 22.6 trillion won ($21.2 billion) while its annual operating profit jumped 26 percent to 401.3 billion won.



These figures set new goals for the company, pushing forth to seek new businesses. Among them, Kim highlighted the importance of the food business.



POSCO Daewoo plans to acquire a grain export terminal in Ukraine and initiate its operation in the first half of 2019. Furthermore, the company is currently running a palm oil farm in Indonesia and building a rice processing center in Myanmar.



POSCO Daewoo will partner with automakers to expand local supply and develop new business related to cars including electric cars.



It also plans to expand IPP business across Myanmar, Uzbekistan and Honduras, mainly focusing on trading renewable energy centered on solar power.


Seen left is Lotte's ZIPSA pet shop at its department store in Seoul. The country's pet store owners are protesting against the conglomerate's opening of the pet shop brand. / Graphic by Cho Sang-won



Pet shop owners protest conglomerate's decision



By Park Jae-hyuk



Lotte has been criticized by the nation's pet store owners for launching its own pet shop brand recently.



The Korea Companion Animal Association, which consists of owners of small- and medium-sized stores selling pet-related products, issued a statement of protest this month against the retail giant's opening of ZIPSA brand shop at its department store in Gangnam, southeastern Seoul.



"When we held rallies last October to protest Lotte's pet business, the conglomerate denied its plan for the business," the association said in a statement. "The opening of ZIPSA shows Lotte deceived us."



Lotte Department Store established a taskforce for its pet business last August under immediate control of the company's representative director. Lotte Mart, the conglomerate's discount store unit, also decided to carry out a campaign for adopting abandoned animals at that time.



Urging Lotte to disband the taskforce and not enter the pet business, the association held rallies last October in front of Lotte World Tower in Seoul, Lotte Department Store's Daegu and Busan branches, Busan City Hall and the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Korea.



Against this backdrop, Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo of the ruling Liberty Korea Party backed the small businesses.



"Conglomerates are threatening small store owners with their expansions in the pet industry," the lawmaker said last October. "The government should reform the system for small store owners to do business without worries."



However, Lotte said the decision was made for the convenience of customers owning pets.



According to the nation's fifth-largest conglomerate, pet consultants at the new shop suggest customers buy products appropriate for the age and characteristics of their pets. Lotte also said it will cooperate with small- and medium-sized partner companies for the business.



In addition to Lotte, Shinsegae runs Molly's Pet Shop named after a dog owned by Vice Chairman Chung Yong-jin. At Shinsegae's discount stores and outlets nationwide, the pet shop not only sells pets, but also offers kennels and a salon for pets.



CJ also opened an online mall specializing in pets this month. According to the company, the mall named All Pet Club sells food and clothes for pets, as well as offering animal hotel and funeral services for them.



Unlike the pet store owners, consumers have been favorable to large companies' pet businesses.



"Big firms can operate their businesses more systematically and legally than small enterprises," a pet owner in Seoul said. "Given the pet industry deals with living things, I think conglomerates are better for the industry."



According to industry officials, one in five Koreans has pets. Also, the size of the nation's pet-related market is expected to surpass 5 trillion won ($4.7 billion) in 2020.


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.

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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.

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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 )

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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.

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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

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Twitter: @katelinthicum

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This years Sundance Film Festival has seemed relatively quiet, with no breakout hits and fewer high-dollar acquisitions than usual, but there has still been a steady energy throughout the 10-day event centered in Park City, Utah.

There was certainly plenty of enthusiasm in the room as the festivals jury and audience award winners were being announced on Saturday night in a ceremony hosted by comedian and actor Jason Mantzoukas.

On Saturday night the U.S. dramatic grand jury prize went to The Miseducation of Cameron Post, directed by Desiree Akhavan. Adapted from the novel by Emily M. Danforth, the movie is a tale of gay conversion therapy starring Chloe Grace Moretz and Sasha Lane.

In presenting the award to Cameron Post, jury member Octavia Spencer said, It effortlessly displayed and represented a broad array of society struggling for acceptance.

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FULL COVERAGE: Sundance Film Festival 2018 

The U.S. dramatic audience award went to Burden, the real-life story of a Southern Klansman (played by Garrett Hedlund) who turns against his beliefs, directed by Andrew Heckler.

Garrett Hedlund in the drama Burden, which won the audience award in the US dramatic competition at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival (Sundance )

The awards celebrated a wide range of films and filmmakers, representing the diversity that had become a common point of conversation throughout this years fest.

Speaking early in the ceremony, Keri Putnam, director of the Sundance Institute said, I would just like to encourage all of us to take this energy that we feel here at the festival and continue to advocate together as a community on behalf of the diverse stories, the independent artists and the bold, creative visions we all want to see in the culture all year long.

Id love to think of us going out here and amplifying all of these stories weve heard and making sure theyre seen long after, Putnam said.

The directing prize for the U.S. dramatic section went to Sara Colangelo for The Kindergarten Teacher, which starred Maggie Gyllenhaal as a woman comes to believe one of her students is a poetry prodigy.

The Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award went to Nancy, written and directed by Christina Choe.

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A special jury award for achievement in acting went to Benjamin Dickey in Blaze, directed by Ethan Hawke. A special jury award for excellence in filmmaking went to I Think Were Alone Now, directed by Reed Morano. A special jury award for outstanding first feature went to Monsters and Men, directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green.

Monsters and Men was the only U.S. dramatic prize winner to have a distribution deal announced before the awards ceremony. The well-received drama was acquired by promising upstart Neon, which last year acquired Beach Rats and Ingrid Goes West at Sundance and has seen awards season success with its Toronto International Film Festival acquisition I, Tonya.

Whether it was intentional or not, the jury avoided giving any prizes to four U.S. dramatic competition titles that did secure distribution: sexual abuse survivor drama The Tale (acquired by HBO), quirky social satire Sorry to Bother You (acquired by Annapurna), fact-based heist drama American Animals (acquired by The Orchard and MoviePass Ventures) and race relations tale Blindspotting (acquired by Lionsgate).

Many had wondered throughout the festival which films from the competition would appeal to the unusual mix of the jury, actresses Jada Pinkett Smith and Spencer, cinematographer Rachel Morrison, filmmaker Joe Swanberg and actor Michael Stuhlbarg. (Morrison and Spencer were both nominated for Academy Awards during Sundance.)

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The winner of the inaugural Next Innovator Award was decided by a jury of just one, entertainer RuPaul, who surprisingly came to a tie.

Writer Angelica Nwandu, actress Tatum Hall, actress Dominique Fishback, and director Joreana Spiro from the film Night Comes On, photographed in the L.A. Times Studio at Chase Sapphire on Main, during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, Jan. 19, 2018. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times )

I fought long and hard with myself over this, RuPaul said in presenting the awards.

The prize went to Jordana Spiros Night Comes On, an intimate story of young sisters in a troubled home, and Jeremiah Zagars We the Animals, a coming-of-age story based on the novel by Justin Torres.

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The Next Audience Award was given to Aneesh Chagantys Search, starring John Cho.

On the documentary side, the U.S. documentary grand jury award winner was Kailash, directed by Derek Doneen, the story of Nobel Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi.

The Audience Award went to Rudy Valdezs The Sentence, the story of his sisters incarceration and its impact on the family, which was acquired by HBO.

In the evenings most emotional speech, Valdez said, All my life I felt like I didnt have a voice. I felt like my community was underserved. I kept waiting I decided I wasnt going to wait any longer for someone to give me a voice. I was going to be that voice and I was going to give her a voice.

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Valdez thanked the audiences who came out for the movie, adding, You are the fighters, we are all the fighters. It is in all of us.

Cindy Shank, Annalis Shank, Armida Mireles, Adam Shank, director Rudy Valdez, Autumn Shank, Ava Shank, Teofilo Valdez, and Valentin Valdez from the film, The Sentence, photographed in the L.A. Times Studio at Chase Sapphire on Main, during the Sundance Film Festival. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times )

The U.S. documentary directing prize went to Alexandria Bombach for On Her Shoulders.

A special jury award for storytelling went to Three Identical Strangers, directed by Tim Wardle. A special jury award for breakthrough filmmaking went to Bing Liu for Minding the Gap. A special jury award for creative vision went to RaMell Ross for Hale County This Morning, This Evening. A special jury award for social impact went to Stephen Maing for Crime + Punishment.

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In the World Cinema Documentary competition, the grand jury award went to Of Fathers and Sons, a story of jihadism in Syria directed by Talal Derki.

Sundance is my family and cinema is my religion, Derki said in accepting the prize.

The audience award went to This Is Home, directed by Alexandria Shiva, for a story of Syrian refugees in contemporary America.

The directing award went to Sandi Tan for Shirkers, the story of an unfinished film project she was involved with as a teenager and her attempt to discover what become of its missing footage.

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I think cinema is magic, and youve just got to keep believing in it, Tan said.

Shirkers filmmaker Sandi Tan won the directing prize in the world cinema documentary competition at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. (Sundance )

A special jury award for editing went Maxim Pozdorovkin and Matvey Kulakov to Our New President, a look at the portrayal of the 2016 presidential race from the perspective of how it was depicted via Russian TV. A special jury award for cinematography went to Peter Indergand and Maxim Arbugaev for Genesis 2.0 A special jury award went to Stephen Loveridge and M.I.A. for Matangi/Maya/M.I.A., an intimate look at the career of the controversial musical artist M.I.A.

In the World Cinema Dramatic competition, the grand jury award went to the Turkish film Butterflies and writer-director Tolga Karacelik. The audience award went to the Danish film The Guilty, directed by Gustav Moller, which was acquired by Magnolia.

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A special jury award for screenwriting went to Time Share, written by Julio Chavezmontes and Sebastian Hoffmann.

Specifically referencing the pairs native Mexico, Hoffmann said, Culture is very important in these crazy political times. We combat the horrific things that are happening with this film.

A special jury award for ensemble acting went to the Chinese film Dead Pigs, directed by Cathy Yan. A special jury award for acting went to Valeria Bertuccelli for Queen of Fear.

Actor John Cho and director Aneesh Chaganty, from the film, Search, photographed in the L.A. Times Studio at Chase Sapphire on Main, during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, Jan. 22, 2018. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times )

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As previously announced, the Alfred P. Sloan feature film prize for a film that focuses on science or technology went to Search, directed by Aneesh Chaganty and starring Cho and Debra Messing.

Sundance awards historically have little correlation with a films commercial or awards season performance. Last years U.S. dramatic grand jury prize winner I Dont Feel At Home in This World Anymore bypassed theaters entirely and was available on the Netflix streaming service barely a month later.

But three of the five documentaries recently nominated for an Academy Award premiered at the festival last year. With other features such as Get Out, Mudbound, The Big Sick and Call Me by Your name all premiering at the 2017 festival (though not in competition sections), a total of 16 Oscar nominations went to films at Sundance a year ago.

The fates of many of this years winners remain uncertain, but the overall talk through the festival is that they will not lead to the same haul of award nominations even as they make their way into the world.

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2018 Sundance Film Festival  On Now Video: Adapting 'Hamlet' for a woman's point of view in 'Ophelia' On Now Video: 2018 Sundance Film Festival Boomerangs On Now Video: A behind-the-scenes look at the 2018 Sundance L.A. Times photo/video studio On Now Video: The makers of 'Half the Picture' discuss women's tenacious quest for visibility as directors 2:21 On Now Video: Franchesca Ramsey on her new digital series 'Franchesca' 1:24 On Now Video: Chris Elliot on passing down humor to his children 2:41 On Now Video: The Kronos Quartet premieres its live documentary On Now "The Kindergarten Teacher" shows something many movies don't On Now Video: Filmmakers share thoughts on the future of women in film, the U.S. and storytelling On Now Video: The filmmakers of "Madeline's Madeline" on women directors 2:22

Mark.Olsen@latimes.com

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trevell.anderson@latimes.com

Follow on Twitter: @TrevellAnderson
UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman has plenty of experience with free speech issues. His campus has been rocked by controversial appearances of right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, a dust-up with College Republicans and annual skirmishes between supporters of Israel and Palestinian rights. Gillman has taught U.S. constitutional law for 30 years and launched a course on free speech three years ago. Now hes written a new book, Free Speech on Campus, with Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley law school.

Is student support for free speech eroding?

There has been a change. Ive been teaching constitutional law for 30 years, but the last five years have felt like a very different environment. When I was growing up it was the antiwar movement and the civil rights movement and Lenny Bruce and George Carlin, and we saw the social benefit of protecting even controversial or offensive speech. This generation hasnt lived through that experience of why broad protections of free speech are helpful for social progress. Theyve seen it mostly in terms of the internet and the terrible dynamic of social media, so I think they have more appreciation for the psychological harm  of people saying offensive things and less appreciation of the historic value of free speech for a free society.

Some critics say too many students today are fragile snowflakes.

Its a very unfair assessment. I spent the last few years teaching undergraduates a course on free speech on campus. These students were fantastic. Theyve overcome a lot. They are incredibly resilient. Hate speech is incredibly harmful. I dont think were going to make any progress deepening the conversation by dismissing those concerns or criticizing these students. Their legitimate concerns have to be acknowledged, and then we see if we can come to some deeper understanding of how you cope both with issues of inclusion and diversity and with issues of the free expression of ideas.

You say hate speech is harmful. Should it be banned?

Hate speech is the real flashpoint in these contemporary debates. The arguments for how hate speech is traumatizing to people are absolutely legitimate. But in the 80s and 90s, 350 colleges and universities passed hate speech codes, and every single one of them that was looked at by a federal court was struck down as unconstitutional. The main concerns have to do with coming up with a definition of hate speech that is not so broad and vague as to allow mere censorship because of a disagreement with ideas. No one has been able to devise that definition.

What should campuses know about free speech?

You cant punish or censor someone merely for expressing an idea. But you can censor or punish if speech becomes harassment, a true threat or incitement. You must allow students to have a right to express their views, including through protests. But campuses can pass time, place and manner restrictions that prevent those kinds of protests from occurring in a way that disrupts campus activities. We believe that campuses can take stronger stands to regulate the kind of speech that occurs in dorms and other places of repose as long as those regulations are viewpoint-neutral. We believe that campuses must allow students to have places where they feel especially comfortable, but not in ways that transform the entire campus into a zone that protects them from the expression of ideas.

Some campuses restrict speech to free speech zones. Your thoughts?

Free speech zones are a troubling concept when they are designed to limit speakers to relatively small and isolated parts of campus. People have a right to express themselves in ways that find an audience.

Trigger warnings?

Trigger warnings are legitimate if they are the choice of a faculty member to help students prepare for what might be a challenging set of topics in a class.... Whats inappropriate is for universities to require faculty members to label certain content, even against their best judgment, as being offensive or hateful.

Safe spaces?

The one way the concept is used that is problematic is to treat the campus as a place where people should be safe so theyre not exposed to ideas they find distressing. As the great UC President Clark Kerr said, we are here not to make ideas safe for students but to make students safe for ideas.

What is your books biggest message?

The concerns that students are expressing are legitimate, and universities must commit themselves to the creation of safe and inclusive learning environments. But part of the learning environment you are creating in higher ed is one where any idea can be expressed, evaluated, contested and engaged. If universities are not fundamentally safe spaces for the exchange of ideas, they will become institutions of indoctrination rather than true education.

teresa.watanabe@latimes.com

Twitter: @teresawatanabe
Kate Linthicum is a foreign correspondent based in Mexico City. Since joining the Los Angeles Times in 2008, she has covered immigration, local and national politics, and reported from Asia, Africa and the Middle East. A series of stories she wrote about Mexicos homicide crisis earned her the 2019 Sigma Delta Chi Award for Foreign Correspondence. She has won two Overseas Press Club awards, is a two-time Livingston Awards finalist and was part of a team of journalists that won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news. She was born in Texas, raised in New Mexico and graduated from Barnard College.


Kate Mather covered crime, policing and breaking news across Southern California before leaving The Times in 2018 to attend law school. A native of Lawrence, Kan., she studied journalism at USC before first joining The Times in 2011. Mather was part of the team of reporters that received a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the 2015 terrorist attack in San Bernardino, as well as the team that was a Pulitzer finalist for its reporting on a deadly 2014 rampage in Isla Vista, Calif.
Hello! Im Mark Olsen. Welcome to another edition of your regular field guide to a world of Only Good Movies.

As you are reading this, the L.A. Times team covering the Sundance Film Festival already has disassembled and scattered like Voltron or the Wu-Tang Clan. But thats not to say we dont have one more round of missives and movies for you.

The festivals awards were given out Saturday night with top honors going to Desiree Akhavans The Miseducation of Cameron Post for the U.S. dramatic competition and Derek Doneens Kalish for U.S. documentary. The U.S dramatic audience award went to Andrew Hecklers Burden, while the audience award for U.S. documentary went to Rudy Valdezs The Sentence.

Times critics Kenneth Turan and Justin Chang surveyed their favorites while also taking stock of the festival as a whole. As Justin put it, Its been a good year, though maybe not a banner one.  Certainly I saw many more good-to-decent films than awful ones, which is not the worst place to wind up.

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I spoke to director Reed Morano, screenwriter Mike Makowsky and actors Peter Dinklage and Elle Fanning about the post-apocalyptic story I Think Were Alone Now. The story is about two people who seem to be the last on Earth, one a loner who is oddly OK with it (Dinklage) and the other (Fanning) someone who needs connection to get through the day.

The movie is beautifully shot by Morano, also an acclaimed cinematographer, and crafts a delicate mood. As Moran said, I think if you can make something that gives you almost everything in a weird way  its emotional, its scary, its tense, its funny and its surreal and impressionistic  it felt like it had the opportunity to be all those things, so it would be fun.

RaMell Ross directs Hale County This Morning, This Evening. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times )

Trevell Anderson spoke to RaMell Ross about his documentary Hale County This Morning, This Evening. Set in Alabama, the film follows two young black men, Daniel and Quincy, and their families to create an intimate portrait of their lives.

As Ross said, My goal is to create an experience of the historic South, the experience of the centrality of the black experience, the experience of Quincy and Daniels lives. Let that experience meet [the audience] where they are in their life and then hopefully change the trajectory of the way that they experience black people in the future.

The interview for the movie Claras Ghost was easily among my favorites at this years festival, with writer-director Bridey Elliott and her parents, Chris Elliott and Paula Niedert Elliott, and sister Abby Elliott, all of whom also star in the film. They talk about an Elliott family comedic sensibility while putting it on full display. A delight.

Louise Chevillotte and Esther Garrel appear in a scene from Lover for a Day. (courtesy of MUBI )

Lover for a Day

A different artistic family sensibility is that of the filmmaking legacy of French filmmaker Philippe Garrel. His son Louis Garrel has become a fascinating actor in his own right, and now daughter Esther Garrel has emerged as a bright screen presence as well. Aside from her pivotal supporting turn in Call Me by Your Name, Esther stars in her fathers new film, Lover for a Day.

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In the film, Esther Garrel plays a young woman who, distraught after breaking up with her boyfriend, goes to the apartment of her father, played by Eric Caravaca. He is there with a young woman (Louise Chevillotte) whom he has been dating who is not much older than his daughter. The two women strike up an unlikely friendship that has increasingly complicated ramifications.

I spoke to Esther Garrel by phone recently when she was in New York City. Aside from adjusting to his preference for shooting only one take whenever possible, Esther said of working with her father, He knows how to get what he wants from me.  I could say its like the continuity of our own lifes work together. Every day at home, he is talking about his work a lot; hes completely immersed in his work. We speak about cinema as much as we speak about food. So it felt like a continuity to take that to our work, and I felt very open in my relationship with him as a director.

In his review for The Times, Justin Chang celebrated the low-key, unvarnished realism that has become Philippe Garrels aesthetic signature, while adding, That realism keeps this story grounded, even when its characters give soaring voice to their deepest hopes and frustrations. Having established an emotional triangle that would seem to lend itself to all manner of angsty contrivance, Lover for a Day seems content simply to follow its characters as they navigate their own personal confusion.

At the New York Times, Manohla Dargis added of Garrels filmmaking, Every image looks harmonious without being fastidious, which means that you see the picture rather than the intention. Yet even when you see the thought behind his images, the gentle disorder of his characters lives, with their patched walls and messes, creates an inviting informality that strengthens his realism. Hes a master of near-perfection, of dazzlingly lit and shot wisps of hair and tear-streaked cheeks.

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Working Girls: Americas Career Women Onscreen at UCLA

The new series Working Girls: Americas Career Women Onscreen, opening at the UCLA Film and Television Archive on Friday and running through March 24, is exactly the kind of imaginative and innovative programming that makes the Los Angeles rep scene so exciting and vital. The series looks at depictions of women in the workplace across decades of movies.

The series kicks off with a 35 mm screening of Mike Nichols Working Girl followed by a conversation between one of the films stars, Sigourney Weaver, and The Times own Jen Yamato. Other films in the program include 9 to 5, Working Girls, Losing Ground, Norma Rae, Swing Shift, Girl 6 and Dont Tell Mom the Babysitters Dead. Just about every film is a rare treat to see projected on the big screen, making this program a series of dont-miss nights.

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For Los Angeles Magazine, April Wolfe spoke to programmer KJ Relth about the series. Of the films unlikely pairings and seemingly off-beat selections, Relth said, In diving into independent productions or even Dimension films  the one-offs from larger studios  thats where I was able to find a more representative depiction of a more diverse range of women.

Email me if you have questions, comments or suggestions, and follow me on Twitter @IndieFocus
Casino mogul Steve Wynn has resigned his position as finance chair of the Republican National Committee amid allegations that he sexually harassed multiple employees at his resorts.

The resignation, first reported by Politico, refocuses the spotlight on the Republican Party as it has struggled to respond to the #MeToo movement, and reckon with President Trumps own history of alleged unwanted sexual advances.

Wynn has been a major donor for Republicans in recent years and a rainmaker for the party. Earlier in his career, he also gave heavily to Democrats. But like Trump, he abandoned the Democratic Party in recent years and focused his efforts almost exclusively on helping Republicans.

Today I accepted Steve Wynns resignation as Republican National Committee Finance Chair, said a statement from RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.

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The announcement comes after the Wall Street Journal reported that dozens of people recounted a pattern of sexual misconduct by Wynn that spanned decades. In one case, Wynn was reported to have paid a $7.5-million settlement to a company manicurist who accused him of pressuring her to have sex with him despite her rejecting his advances.

Trump has referred to Wynn, who took over as RNC finance chairman after Trumps election, as a great friend. As two of the nations biggest gambling titans, they competed against each other in business. Wynn sat on Trumps inaugural committee, and his company donated more than $729,000 to the event.

On Friday night, the Wynn Resorts Board of Directors announced that it had formed a special committee to investigate allegations contained in the Wall Street Journal article. The committee will be chaired by Patricia Mulroy, a member of the boards corporate governance and compliance committees and a former member of the Nevada Gaming Commission.

In a statement, the board said it is deeply committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all of the companys employees and to operating with the highest ethical standards.

evan.halper@latimes.com

Follow me: @evanhalper
It was another warm January day, the afternoon sun sailing across a blue sky, the air thick with the scent of urine, rotting trash and human misery.

Beginning at Central Avenue and heading west, I counted 16 tents on the south side of 5th Street. My longtime traveling companion, Times photographer Francine Orr, counted 15 tents on the north side of the street.

One block, 31 tents.

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On skid row, this is the norm, and it has been for years. On a recent day, it was not possible to walk on the sidewalk in the one-block stretch of 6th Street between San Julian and Wall streets. Rows of tents and blue tarp shanties lined the entire stretch, extending all the way to the curb, so you had to walk in the street.

I spent quite a bit of time in this area 13 years ago, when Orr and I first covered skid row and the thousands of homeless people who lived there. Back then, I never got past a sense of disbelief that this could exist, without an immediate crisis response, a few blocks from the halls of power and the towers of success.

I recall the two prostitutes who conducted business in port-a-potties at the corner of 6th and San Julian streets, just a block from the police station. I recall the wheelchair brigades, the haunted faces of those tortured by mental illness, the cruising drug dealers and the heroin addict who died of an overdose before our eyes in the ambulance on the way to the emergency room.

I recall former Los Angeles Police Chief Bill Bratton calling it the worst situation in America.

But millions of tax dollars and dozens of speeches and political promises later, the situation is no better.

Its worse, Orr said as we counted tents and people  the unemployed, the addicted, the sick, the destitute.

But whats most alarming is that we have a growing constellation of skid rows across greater Los Angeles, from Burbank to Bel-Air and Pasadena to Pacific Palisades. Los Angeles, rich beyond dreams, is a refugee camp, its riverbeds and alleys draped in blue tarpaulin.

So here is my question  a question that taxpayers, merchants, sympathetic observers, disillusioned critics and the homeless themselves have every right to ask:

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When, if ever, will the situation get better?

Tents line up along South Beaudry Avenue. Homelessness across greater L.A. stretches in skid rows from Burbank to Bel-Air. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times )

We can bring these numbers down, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in 2016, when the countys homeless number rose to 47,000, with 28,000 in the city alone. This could be the year that we bring the numbers down.

Can and could.

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But didnt.

Here we are now in 2018, hopes dashed, and this could be the year Garcettis presidential pipe dream ruptures under a shantytown in the homeless capital of the United States.

To understand why Los Angeles always seems to be playing catch-up, you need to go back to a time when there was open contempt and little cooperation between city and county officials, and little in the way of comprehensive planning or coherent execution.

It was not even known, until 2015, how much the city of Los Angeles was spending to curb homelessness. The answer, contained in a blistering report from the city administrative officer, was more than $100 million. But the money was not well spent.

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There appears to be no consistent process across city departments for dealing with the homeless or with homeless encampments, said the report by City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana, who added that the city was managing rather than solving the problem.

Things have changed for the better since then, especially on the cooperation front, with Garcetti and L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas working closely together.

When I called the mayor a few days ago to talk about the slow slog, Ridley-Thomas joined him on the line, and both argued that they have never worked harder on this issue, from championing bond measures and building more housing to finding better formulas for homeless prevention.

Mayor Eric Garcetti, left, visits a homeless encampment near the Sepulveda Basin in Encino in 2016. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times )

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Garcetti said he doesnt see failure; he sees progress and hope.

Theres never been a point, said Ridley-Thomas, where Ive seen more energy, more focus and more resources aimed at this crisis, and it is a crisis.

For all that, Ridley-Thomas said, local officials got a late start.

The real problem is that we were not proactive enough in the face of what might very well be described as an onslaught, the supervisor said. We just didnt make it the kind of priority it needed to be.

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But that isnt the only problem.

For all the progress thats being made, some frustrated homeless advocates still see a disjointed silo system, with various city and county agencies forging ahead independently, with no unifying structure or clear leadership. I cant tell you how many times Ive heard people in the system groan about the confounding difficulty of getting simple things done, thanks to jurisdictional boundaries and bureaucratic impediments.

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority is a joint city-county agency that manages money and projects. But its more of an administrative body than a policy and strategy concern, the way, say, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board governs regional transportation issues.

Ridley-Thomas said he thinks its time for a change. The homeless authority was established 25 years ago, he said, when the needs were different.

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That structure is not well suited for what were dealing with, Ridley-Thomas said, adding that theres a growing consensus on that.

Garcetti agreed that an agency with more authority is needed, possibly with elected officials as board members, as in the MTA model.

Id gladly give it the authority to jointly coordinate housing, law enforcement, sanitation, health and human services, he said.

That might help, because both the city and county now have detailed long-term strategies, but theres no buck-stops-here authority.

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Taxpayers have stepped up, and have a right to expect more progress. City residents approved Proposition HHH in 2016 to generate $1.2 billion for new housing over 10 years. A few months later, county voters approved Measure H, which will produce about $350 million of services each year.

But this brings us back to the central question of when and whether well see any progress or be lucky to maintain status quo. After all, its not as if the number of homeless people is finite, especially not in a region where housing costs have soared and gentrification has unsettled one neighborhood after another, pushing more people into their cars and onto the streets.

On skid row, I asked a social worker if numbers are up.

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Yes, he said.

And whats the biggest reason?

Evictions, he said.

HHH contemplated building 10,000 units over 10 years, said Philip Mangano, former homeless czar for President George W. Bush and chief executive of the American Round Table to Abolish Homelessness. Thats 1,000 units a year, but we know from data that you have way more than 1,000 people coming through the front door. So youre not even bailing a leaking boat.

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I first met Mangano in 2006 at a skid row news conference at which local leaders dramatically unveiled a plan to end homelessness in 10 years. A few years later, with major objectives unmet, yet another plan was rolled out.

Over the years, thousands of housing units have been built and many, many people rescued and rehabilitated. There is no denying those successes. But demand has repeatedly swamped supply, and goals have remained out of reach. All the while, sensible housing projects have been stalled or abandoned because residents  despite voting for more housing  have opposed any such developments in their neighborhoods.

Last year, for instance, a plan to convert a motel near Temple City into supportive housing for veterans and formerly homeless people was derailed when hundreds of residents objected, raising fears of skid row conditions.

We won the war, said a representative of San Gabriel Valley Concerned Residents.

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People take refuge from the street and sleep in the entrance of the Midnight Mission in downtown Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times )

There is no better way to lose the war than for one community after another to shun responsibility and foist social and economic failures onto someone else.

In Santa Ana, about 1,000 homeless people have just been rousted from their camps along the river, but there is nowhere to house and rehabilitate the majority of them, so they will simply end up scattered around the region.

Yes, there are drug addicts, dealers and predators on the streets of greater Los Angeles, and no resident or merchant wants lawlessness, trash and disease on their doorstep. But we already have those conditions in hundreds of locations, and the solution is to police the predators while assisting those afflicted by poverty, the scars of combat and the ravages of mental illness and addiction, which often are intertwined.

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We know what works in most cases, Mangano said. We know that supportive housing is the best long-term solution, but we continue to bail a sinking boat with a teaspoon.

We know what to do and how to do it, and that leaves one issue, which is scaling, said Mangano, who believes government alone cannot meet the challenge. Of course, the logical place, where the deepest resources are, is the private sector. So we need to mobilize the private sector to join in layering on top of what government can do  to approximate the scaling necessary to respond to the magnitude of the problem.

Manganos pitch is that private financiers can do well and do good at the same, getting a return on their investment while addressing a great social need.

He has been talking up this strategy for years, with support from Garcetti, Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer and other local officials, and there are models of success. Los Angeles film producer and real estate developer Steve Bings construction company has worked with the citys housing authority, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and nonprofit service providers such as Step Up on Second to convert blighted motels into efficiency apartments for veterans.

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Instead of allowing blighted properties to decay, lets use them to make powerful change in our communities by giving veterans the access to the services and housing they need and deserve, Garcetti said in 2016, when the housing authority awarded 400 rent vouchers to the Bing-Step Up venture.

A man climbs into the garbage bin in an alley in Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times )

Tod Lipka of Step Up on Second said motel conversions run about half the cost of new affordable housing construction per unit and can be completed in half the time. But progress sometimes gets slowed by the bureaucratic process.

Four recent applications by Step Up for partial HHH funding of motel conversions were rejected by the citys Housing and Community Investment Department. I met up with Lipka at City Hall, where he contested the decision at a meeting of the HHH citizen oversight committee, whose chair is Santana, the former city administrative officer who spotlighted the citys inefficient spending on homelessness.

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Lipka brought several veterans with him, all of them formerly homeless, and they told me how their lives had been transformed by housing and supportive services provided by Step Up.

The agencys staff reported that the Step Up applications were rejected because they were incomplete, an assessment Lipka disputed. Santana and others argued that the need for housing is critical and urgent and the staff needs to help applicants meet requirements for approval. Board member Kerry Morrison recommended that the motel conversion applications be approved pending completion of the process, and the vote was unanimous.

Private investment is not the ultimate answer, but we have to think about how to develop innovative solutions, because what we have now doesnt create housing quickly enough, Lipka said. It can take three to five years to get affordable housing up and running, so we need to  generate housing less expensively or more quickly, or both.

A woman washes her hands with hand sanitizer as she sits outside the Midnight Mission in L.A.'s skid row. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times )

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In recent weeks, Garcetti and other city officials have celebrated the opening of toilets and showers on skid row, and announced plans for 67 temporary housing units in trailers on a downtown city parking lot as a pilot project.

Thats fine, but its nothing anyone should be taking bows for as the boat takes on more water.

Ive been to Venice, where residents step out of their homes and over the blanketed, huddled masses.

Ive seen Mid-City merchants clear homeless people from the entrances to their shops.

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Ive seen homeless colonies on the shores of the L.A. River, where storm drains are toilets and people bathe in the water.

Ive seen San Fernando Valley parks with more sleeping bags than kids at play.

Ive seen veterans asleep at the gates of the VA property in Westwood.

Ive been to skid row and to Hollywood with a doctor and social worker who share notes on who among the most desperately ill might die next before help arrives.

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This is not a disaster movie, nor a dystopian dream in which rules and social contracts do not apply.

This is real.

This is Los Angeles.

Theodore Neubauer, a Vietnam War veteran, lives in a tent on South Beaudry Avenue (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times )

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Former Mayor Jim Hahn once told me that as a kid, he went on rides with his dad, Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, and his job was to look for potholes that needed to be fixed.

If I were king for a day, Id demand that every council member and supervisor do the same with homeless encampments, and report back monthly, with details about whos living in them and a plan to get them off the streets.

Id be on the phone to faith leaders and ask why, 18 months into the foot-dragging over a plan to copy a highly successful program in Santa Barbara, nobody has stepped up to offer church parking lots as safe overnight havens for people living in their cars.

Id visit every proposed affordable housing site where residents stand in the way, and explain why thats short-sighted and maybe even more costly in the long run.

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Id be ashamed of the fact that a few blocks from City Hall, you can find 31 tents on one street, and Id explain what I intended to do about it.

Getting people off the street is not easy in every case, and I know this from personal experience, having worked for an entire year with the help of mental health professionals to bring a friend indoors.

But were not trying hard enough, and that goes for every City Council member and every county supervisor, and for every resident who says fix this problem, but whatever you do, dont let them get back on their feet in my neighborhood.

At the kickoff for the latest homeless count, Garcetti offered his take on whats possible.

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We can cut this problem in half in five years, he said. And in 10 yearswe can end life on the street.

It sounded very familiar.

Get more of Steve Lopezs work and follow him on Twitter @LATstevelopez
Beverly Hills plans to add to the more than 600 closed-circuit television cameras in the city.

The expansion plans include placing cameras in residential neighborhoods in an attempt to thwart crime, apprehend suspects and increase public safety, Beverly Hills Police Department Lt. Elisabeth Albanese said.

Signs promoting the increased use of closed-circuit cameras will installed, Albanese said.

The City Council is in full support of this absolutely essential technology, Mayor Lili Bosse said. We must send a clear message that the city of Beverly Hills is watching, and criminals will be caught and prosecuted.
A memorial and paddle-out ceremony is set to take place in Imperial Beach in San Diego County on Monday to honor a city official who was killed last month during an apparent robbery attempt while he was 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, organizers said. 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 loved by all who knew him.

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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. He was shot three times, according to a Mexican official.

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.

david,hernandez@sduniontribune.com
You calling about the ad? a mans deep voice inquired of the caller who had just rung.

The man at the other end hesitated, maybe because he expected to hear a womans voice answer the call, then responded: Yeah.

The ad he was calling about had been posted on Backpage.com on a recent Friday night. It didnt say much  and it didnt need to. Just a phone number and a photo of a half-naked woman.

But rather than setting up a sexual rendezvous with the half-naked woman, the caller got an earful from the man on the other end. Most of the women who advertised for sex were victims of human trafficking, the caller was told, and many were underage.

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What now? the caller responded, taken aback. Then he added: Is Mark there?

Dude, I know youre not calling for Mark, the call-taker said.

I think I have the wrong number.

I think you need to stay off Backpage.

The exchange was one of 84 that night, part of an effort by a group of San Diego-based male volunteers to educate callers about the realities of human trafficking.

They call it the Bunch of Guys Cyber Patrol.

The fight against human trafficking has evolved significantly around the nation over recent years, with the most tangible efforts aimed at rescuing victims and prosecuting traffickers. Reducing demand for paid sex is a trickier proposition, one that takes a cultural shift and calls for a long-term commitment.

Public awareness campaigns are now common  in airports, at conventions, on freeway billboards  but the Cyber Patrol hopes it can be effective in another way: by appealing to individuals in a one-on-one conversation.

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On the recent Friday night patrol, six volunteers gathered around a large table ready to take incoming calls and text messages from johns. They invited the San Diego Union-Tribune to sit in as long as the volunteers werent identified and their location kept secret, because every so often they catch the ire of johns and pimps.

The group posted fake ads that night on Backpage, a marketplace notorious for prostitution, sensual massage and hook-ups.

The website is in the middle of a legal battle with the state of California, which has accused executives of laundering millions of dollars and fronting an illicit sex trade, including offering the services of children, so it can be the worlds top online brothel, according to then-Attorney General Kamala Harris.

The website claims the third-party postings are protected free speech and that its ads are closely monitored for human trafficking. The site shut down its adult services section last year, although many erotic ads moved to the dating and massage sections. Credit cards stopped working with the site, so posters must use digital currency such as Bitcoin to place ads.

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The Cyber Patrol used to include racy wording in the ads to entice johns, but the volunteers found that the website had been removing the overt references to prostitution, leaving only the number, posters age and photos up. Thats how many of the ads in the women-seeking-men section appear, along with links to social media profiles that are usually private.

The patrols ads that night were for nonexistent women  Katelyn, Gina and Destiny. The women depicted in the patrols ads are models and other women who have given consent for their bodies to be shown for the cause. (Early on, the patrol used tamer photos but found that they werent attracting customers.)

It didnt take long for the text messages and calls to start pouring in. That night, it averaged one every two minutes.

The calls unfold fairly quickly. The volunteer asks if the person is calling about the ad on Backpage, and if the caller doesnt hang up right away, the volunteer begins reading a script that asks whether the caller is aware of the painful toll of human trafficking. The message goes on to say that many of the women advertising their services are underage or were coerced into the business as minors, and that their pimps often keep all of the money for themselves.

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They are warned that a conviction for solicitation of a minor could turn them into registered sex offenders.

If the volunteer makes it all the way to the end of the script, he offers the caller resources for help for sexual issues.

The volunteers are often met with silence. Some callers engage, saying they werent aware of the harm.

And some call back, hoping to reach a real girl.

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Youve called us a couple times today, a volunteer chided one caller, who was trying to reach Katelyn.

OK, OK, the caller responded. Im not going to call anymore.

Thats a great idea, the volunteer said.

The conversations get more graphic, and the dialogues often more meaningful, over text messages.

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The volunteers answer the messages and ask the caller what he is looking for.

Sex, one john responded candidly.

Im married, another buyer said, looking for something clean  and can be trusted. He added: decent with nice body.

Johns often send photos, sometimes pornographic. One sent a picture of a pile of money on a bed.

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Once it is clear the man is looking for sex, the volunteer begins to engage with the human-trafficking message.

The patrols will turn over especially concerning cases to the Human Trafficking Task Force for follow-up, including frequent callers and cases when solicitation of children is suspected. One time, a pimp tried to recruit a girl in their fake ad, and he sent a selfie with his car and license plate number in the background. That photo went to the task force.

The project was born in Portland, Ore., when a group of men asked police how they could contribute to the fight against trafficking.

San Diego was the second region to try it out in 2015, and it has since spread to Detroit, the Bay Area, Dallas, Boston and other places.

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Here, the patrols have logged more than 9,200 solicitationssince November 2015, with about 3,600 of those unique callers, according to Project Concern International, which helps coordinate the patrols.

While the program is run by civilians and is not affiliated with law enforcement, it has its fans in government agencies who are fighting the same battles.

I think this problem of human trafficking and problem of demand is a social issue, said San Diego County Dist. Atty. Summer Stephan, an expert on the issue who helped vet the program in an unofficial capacity.

There are years of misinformation to men that buying is something thats consensual, that these women, girls and boys want this, that this is a life they chose, that they somehow become rich and famous and live in mansions from this industry. The whole Pretty Woman model.

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Cyber Patrol, they are disrupting the demand, but actually at its core its providing accurate information about the damage and the harm that buying does.

kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com
After authorities determined that last months Skirball fire in Bel-Air was caused by a cooking fire at a homeless encampment, Mayor Eric Garcetti and fire officials unveiled a plan to clear tent clusters in hillside areas.

But the announcement frustrated downtown business leaders, who say that fires on or near skid row are a daily problem that City Hall has not adequately addressed.

The city did the right thing after the Skirball fire, Estela Lopez, executive director of Downtown Industrial Business Improvement District, said at a neighborhood council meeting earlier this month. But human life and property should have the same value [everywhere].

Homeless encampment fires are endangering human lives and businesses in skid row, community leaders say. The fires start when homeless residents cook, try to keep warm or use drugs. Other blazes are intentionally set.

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In December, a fire engulfed a sidewalk tent on skid row and quickly spread to a seafood warehouse. The nighttime blaze, captured on video, destroyed a homeless camp and caused an estimated $25,000 in damage to the warehouse.

According to the Downtown Industrial Business Improvement District, there were 60 fires last year in the skid row neighborhood. The Fire Departments numbers are even higher, with three to five fires reported a day in or near skid row  a mix of trash, encampment and building fires, according to LAFD Battalion Chief Mike Castillo.

After hearing from Lopez and discussing the fires, the Downtown L.A. Neighborhood Council voted earlier this month to ask Garcetti and Los Angeles Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas for appropriate funds and manpower to deal with the fire risk.

Lopez said she has met twice with Garcettis office in the last two years to discuss skid row fires, but hasnt seen additional resources from the Fire Department.

Skid row tents rest against buildings or are tied to warehouses, creating potentially dangerous fire conditions, Lopez said. The tents sit closely against one another, and in some cases, near piles of trash.

More than 4,600 homeless people live on skid row, a 50-block neighborhood that is also home to the downtown industrial district. Warehouses loom over sidewalks filled with rows of tents, as food wholesalers and distributors work in an area that police say is rife with human trafficking and drug dealing.

Garcetti spokesman Alex Comisar said that after last months Skirball and Creek fires, the mayor formed a task force to reduce the fire risks posed by encampments citywide. The task force, which has already met twice, is designed to address fire prevention across the city, including on skid row, Comisar said.

I understand the argument that youre suddenly paying attention to the hillside encampments, said Castillo, supervisor for the LAFDs arson counterterrorism section. But we take every homeless encampment seriously.

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There have been 75 fires involving buildings in the skid row area in the last five years, he said. Additionally, the overall number of neighborhood fires has increased as the homeless population has grown, Castillo said.

Its gotten worse, he said. Ive been on the job for 34 years, and Ive worked primarily in the downtown area and Ive seen an increase in these types of fires.

Trespassing laws make it easier to remove hillside encampments on private land, but court rulings and city laws complicate efforts to clear sidewalk tents, Castillo said.

Te, a homeless man who lives in an encampment on 7th Street, near the site of the December fire, pointed to a waxy hole in a laundry basket caused by an overturned candle.

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People light fires to stay warm, people light candles to stay warm, said Te, who declined to give his last name. Theres also drug activity, people being paranoid and burning stuff up.

Lisa Rich stands outside her fire-damaged property on East 7th Street. A December blaze engulfed a tent on skid row and spread to her warehouse. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times )

Lisa Rich, who owns the warehouse that caught fire in December, led a reporter around her charred building last week. Part of the warehouse smelled like smoke, and electricity was still out in some rooms.

I pay a city business tax, I pay property taxes, I shouldnt have to pay for this, she said.

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Ernie Doizaki, who runs a food storage and distribution business for cruise ships, said his Kohler Street building has been damaged by two encampment fires in the last 18 months. There are still burn marks on his building.

You look at the news reports with humor, he said. The city is going after all these encampments in mountain areas, but weve been reporting these fires for the past four years.

The Union Rescue Mission on San Pedro Street was charred last summer after a fire was intentionally set, said Andy Bales, the missions president. He said an angry woman lit a pile of clothing and debris to start the blaze.

Bales, who has been critical of city officials for not offering temporary housing, said the skid row fires are the result of leaving such a vast amount of people on the streets.

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A skid row resident on Gladys Avenue is seen with a fire pit Thursday. A security camera showed there was a blaze the night before. (Photo courtesy of Mutual Wholesale Liquor )

Harvey Monastirskys beer warehouse on Gladys Avenue was damaged in a 2012 fire, which started when a man grew angry during an encounter with a prostitute and torched a nearby tent.

Monastirsky said his insurance company dropped him after he filed the claim. When rebuilding, Monastirsky said he used aluminum siding to prevent damage from any future blazes.

Still, the fire risk remains. A security camera on Monastirskys building captured the glow of flames Wednesday night and showed a man cleaning a fire pit the next morning.

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dakota.smith@latimes.com

Twitter: @dakotacdsmith
Five people were hit by gunfire in an apparent gang-related shooting Saturday in South Los Angeles, police said.

The shootings occurred about 5:50 p.m. in the 200 block of East 119th Street, just south of the 105 Freeway, said Los Angeles police Lt. Ray Garvin.

The shooting appeared to be gang-related,' Garvin said.

All five people, some of whom were critically wounded, were transported to a hospital for treatment, said Brian Humphrey, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

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Garvin said investigators are at the hospital and we are still trying to put together the details of what happened.'

No suspect information was immediately available, he said.
The sun set over the Santa Monica Pier as Ana Ortiz sold fresh fruit to tourists and kept an eye out for police.

The 21-year-old and her mother, uncle, cousin and other family members earned a living in the city as street vendors.

Its like a regular job, she said. But you get paid the same day.

But because its most often illegal, street vending comes with a virtual guarantee that sooner or later city code enforcement officers or the police will show up and youll have to make an escape or end up getting fined up to $1,000.

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For me, its fun because I like to run, Ortiz said with a smile. You meet new people.

Santa Monica has wrestled with street vending for years. On the one hand, the coastal city wants to curtail the activity, arguing that the sale of unregulated food can cause health risks.

If someone wants to vend food products, state law and local law requires that the vendor obtain a Los Angeles County health permit, said Yibin Shen, Santa Monicas chief deputy city attorney. Folks could easily eat that food and be ill, especially in light of the current hepatitis outbreak.

But Santa Monica officials say they share some of the worries of those in Los Angeles, which decriminalized sidewalk vending out of concern that convictions could make immigrants who ply their trade vulnerable to deportation under the Trump administration.

Santa Monica is not decriminalizing street vending like L.A., but officials say they are rolling out an enforcement program that relies largely on administrative citations rather than criminal ones.

Very few vending cases end up in the prosecutorial world. Its extremely uncommon, Shen said. I dont know if weve ever had a prosecution thats resulted in jail time.

In an email, Santa Monica Mayor Ted Winterer said, Its my hope we can come up with street vending policy which provides opportunity while balancing the interest of our residents, local businesses and visitors.

Armando Rangel, left, a code enforcement supervisor for the city of Santa Monica, points to the cart of a street vendor on the Santa Monica Pier this month. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times )

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In L.A., street vendors often work in the heart of residential neighborhoods, but those who work in Santa Monica concentrate on the citys beaches and pier, where tourists and large crowds of visitors from throughout Southern California gather. Some vendors, including those selling fruits and ice cream, will often push carts directly into the sand.

A dense fog settled over the pier on a recent weekday as visitors filed in and out over its narrow bridge. Standing at the piers entrance, code enforcement supervisor Armando Rangel surveyed the scene, taking note of street performers and vendors.

Although vending enforcement makes up only a small percentage of Rangels duties, he said hes noticed an increase in street vending along the beach and pier in the last year.

First-time violators are generally not cited, and vendors may be warned multiple times before receiving a citation, he said.

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We may educate the person and let them know their vending is in violation, Rangel said.

Rangel keeps an eye on a pier parking lot, where hes observed plastic-wrapped fruit trays stored in vehicles for hours. Hes also seen some street vendors bury their goods in the sand or occasionally store them in a Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. trash enclosure for safekeeping.

Vendors hoping to ply their trade legally must go through a rigorous selection process.

In addition to a $1,000 security deposit, the monthly license fee for vendor carts on the pier ranges from $669.33 during off-peak season to $1,338.65 during the summer. Currently, the city licenses nearly 150 vendors that comply with existing rules, but it is not accepting new applications for the pier.

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For many street vendors, those costs are beyond their means. So they take a chance.

If [police] dont see us with the churros, theyll pass us by, said Sofia, a 49-year old vendor from the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Almost every day, Sofia and her three sisters travel an hour by bus to work together in Santa Monica. On a good day, they earn $50 to $60 each.

Pressed against the railing on the bridge to the pier, she sells the churros she bought for 50 cents each in downtown L.A. for a dollar out of an insulated Whole Foods bag.

The sisters, who are in the country illegally, are in constant fear that their work could get them in serious trouble. When they spot a police officer, they quickly cover up their goods and begin walking, hoping to disappear into the crowd.

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Sofia began selling at the pier in 2016, after work in downtown L.A.s Fashion District dried up. She said vending is one of the few jobs, besides cleaning houses and working in the garment industry, that she can do with little to no scrutiny given her legal status.

Its the reality of the immigrant workers, said street vending activist Tony Bernabe. Thats why they see street vending is an option for them to get money in a different way. Basically they have more freedom.

Last March, Sofias sister, Barbara, received an administrative citation and was charged with two different Santa Monica municipal code violations. The fines totaled $575.

With the help of pro-bono attorney Cynthia Anderson-Barker, her fines were reduced to $150. She was also asked to write a letter of apology to the city of Santa Monica for her crime as part of the agreement.

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I apologize [for] not having enough money and selling churros for $1.00 in the City of Santa Monica where this is not allowed, she wrote in the letter addressed to two city attorneys.

Ortiz says her fruit is cheaper than the licensed cart on the pier, where prices range from $7 to $10. She initially offers her product for $7 and sometimes barters down to $5.

Michelle Ramirez, 15, watched the sunset while eating pieces of mango with chili powder she bought from Ortizs uncle.

I was really hungry, and theyre usually cheaper, she said. I dont think it should be illegal. But people should be cautious about what theyre buying from random people.

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Its my hope we can come up with street vending policy which provides opportunity while balancing the interest of our residents, local businesses and visitors. Santa Monica Mayor Ted Winterer

Anderson-Barker believes that Santa Monica should help put vendors on the path to becoming legal entrepreneurs. She referenced a pilot program in the MacArthur Park area.

They purchased booths for the vendors, gave them infrastructure and now  they can sell on their own spaces, Anderson-Barker said. I think the city of Santa Monica needs to explore options so that vendors can sell legally.

Nearly 30 years ago, Santa Monica implemented its own experimental program to permit outdoor food vendors. A city spokeswoman said the program marked the beginning of the existing ordinance.

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But until recently, other issues in the city, such as street performers and homelessness, have taken priority over vending.

It really hasnt been much of an issue in the last two decades, said Rick Cole, Santa Monicas city manager.

Over the next year, the city plans to assess its street performer lottery program, in which performers are assigned and rotated through spots on the pier, to see if it could also work for street vendors.

Meanwhile, officials will monitor and evaluate the administrative citation program.

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We want to see how this works, said Deputy City Manager Anuj Gupta. Like everything we do in Santa Monica, well be looking at feedback we get from the community.

makeda.easter@latimes.com

@makedaeaster
Comic strip artist Mort Walker, a World War II veteran who satirized the Army and tickled millions of newspaper readers with the antics of the lazy private Beetle Bailey, died Saturday. He was 94.

Walker died at his home in Stamford, Conn., said Greg Walker, his eldest son and a collaborator. His fathers advanced age was the cause of death, he said.

Walker began publishing cartoons at age 11 and was involved with more than half a dozen comic strips in his career, including Hi and Lois, 'Boners Ark and Sam & Silo. But he found his greatest success drawing slacker Beetle, his hot-tempered sergeant and the rest of the gang at fictional Camp Swampy for nearly 70 years.

The character that was to become Beetle Bailey made his debut as Spider in Walkers cartoons published by the Saturday Evening Post in the late 1940s. Walker changed Spiders name and launched Beetle Bailey as a college humor strip in 1950.

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At first the strip failed to attract readers, and King Features Syndicate considered dropping it after just six months, Walker said in a 2000 interview with the Associated Press. The syndicate suggested Beetle join the Army after the start of the Korean War, Walker said.

I was kind of against it because after World War II, Bill Mauldin and Sad Sack were fading away, he said. But his misgivings were overcome and Beetle enlisted in 1951.

Walker attributed the success of the strip to Beetles indolence and reluctance to follow authority.

Most people are sort of against authority, he said. Heres Beetle always challenging authority. I think people relate to it.

In this comic panel, Dagwood from Blondie makes a guest appearance in Beetle Bailey. (King Features Syndicate, Inc. )

Beetle Bailey led to spin-off comic strip Hi and Lois, which he created with Dik Browne, in 1954. The premise was that Beetle went home on furlough to visit his sister Lois and brother-in-law Hi.

Fellow cartoonists remembered Walker on Saturday as a pleasant man who adored his fans. Bill Morrison, president of the National Cartoonists Society, called Walker the definition of cartoonist in a post on the societys website.

He lived and breathed the art every day of his life. He will be sorely missed by his friends in the NCS and by a world of comic strip fans, Morrison said.

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Fellow cartoonist Mark Evanier said on his website that Walker was delightful to be around and always willing to draw Beetle or Sarge for any of his fans. He sure had a lot of them.

Beetle Bailey, which appeared in as many as 1,800 newspapers, sometimes sparked controversy. The Tokyo editions of the military newspaper Stars & Stripes dropped it in 1954 for fear that it would encourage disrespect of its officers. But ensuing media coverage spurred more than 100 newspapers to add the strip.

Shortly after President Clinton took office, Walker drew a strip suggesting that the draft be retroactive in order to send Clinton to Vietnam. Walker said he received hundreds of angry letters from Clinton supporters.

For years, Walker drew Camp Swampys highest-ranking officer, Gen. Amos Halftrack, ogling his secretary, Miss Buxley. Feminist groups claimed the strip made light of sexual harassment, and Walker said the syndicate wanted him to write out the lecherous general.

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That wasnt feasible because the general was such a fixture in the strip, Greg Walker said Saturday. His father solved the problem in 1997 by sending Halftrack to sensitivity training.

That became a whole theme that we could use, said Greg Walker, who with his brother, Brian, intends to carry on his fathers work. Both have worked in the family business for decades.

Beetle Bailey also featured one of the first African American characters to be added to a white cast in an established comic strip. (Peanuts had added the character of Franklin in 1968.) Lt. Jack Flap debuted in the comic strips panels in 1970.

In a 2002 interview, Walker said that comics are filled with stereotypes and he likes to find humor in all characters.

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I like to keep doing something new and different, so people cant say Im doing the same thing all the time, he said. I like to challenge myself.

Walker also created Boners Ark in 1968 using his given first name, Addison, as his pen name, and Sam & Silo with Jerry Dumas in 1977. He was the writer of Mrs. Fitzs Flats with Frank Roberge.

In 1974, he founded the Museum of Cartoon Art in Connecticut to preserve and honor the art of comics. It moved twice before closing in 2002 in Boca Raton, Fla., as the International Museum of Cartoon Art. Walker changed the name to the National Cartoon Museum and announced in 2005 plans to relocate to the Empire State Building in New York. But the following year, the deal to use that space fell through.

In 2000, Walker was honored at the Pentagon with the Armys highest civilian award  the Distinguished Civilian Service Award  for his work, his military service and his contribution to a new military memorial.

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He also developed a reputation for helping aspiring cartoonists with advice.

I make friends for people, he said.

Addison Morton Walker was born Sept. 3, 1923, in El Dorado, Kan., and grew up in Kansas City, Mo.

In 1943 he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving in Europe during World II. He was discharged as a first lieutenant, graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia and pursued a career as a cartoonist in New York.

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Walker most recently oversaw the work of the staff at his Stamford studio, Comicana.

Besides sons Greg and Brian, Walker is survived by his second wife, Catherine; daughters Polly Blackstock and Margie Walker Hauer; sons Neal and Roger Walker; stepchildren Whitney Prentice and Priscilla Prentice Campbell and several grandchildren.

Funeral services will be private.
Before the police shot and killed her husband, Jeanette Finicum didnt know anything about ranching.

Since then, shes learned how to castrate cattle, drive a backhoe and a forklift  the kind of work her husband, Robert LaVoy Finicum, used to do, before he joined the ill-fated armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon in January 2016.

She now oversees 80 head of cattle on her familys 16,000-acre allotment of federal grazing land, called Tuckup, in remote northern Arizona.

Perhaps 16,000 acres sounds like a lot. (Its 25 square miles, slightly larger than Manhattan, or triple the size of Santa Monica.) But Finicum, 57, calls herself a very small rancher  not some big shot.

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Its actually quite a lot of fun, and I enjoy being out on horseback up on the mountains, Finicum said in an interview on Friday, the two-year anniversary of her husbands death. Its peaceful. You can just feel Gods hand in nature up there.

We are not leaving: The final days of an Oregon occupier 

Finicum sounded at ease on the phone. But she had just filed a wrongful-death lawsuit seeking at least $5 million in damages on behalf of her family against huge swaths of government  specifically, the United States; the FBI; the Bureau of Land Management; Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.); the Oregon State Police; the governor of Oregon; Harney County, Ore.; a variety of other officials; an ecological activist group; and John Does 1-100.

Like LaVoy Finicum, Jeanette Finicum has gotten a taste for fighting the system.

We want justice and accountability for the death of my husband, LaVoy, Finicum said. Our government planned a kill stop out on a remote piece of road where there was no cellphone access; they had planned many days in advance; they had called in a special unit team from D.C., a SEAL team; they had snipers in the trees; they clearly, from their actions, had planned to harm and hurt someone that day, if not everyone.

Actually, it was an elite FBI Hostage Rescue Team, not Navy SEALs, that had been lying in wait.

On Jan. 26, 2016, LaVoy Finicum, 54, a spokesman for the occupiers, was leading a two-car convoy on a remote stretch of highway near Burns, Ore., with some of the leaders of the Malheur occupation.

The occupation started as an armed protest of the nations federal wildlands policies. No violence had broken out, but the protesters had occupied the refuges facilities with pistols and rifles, alarming many observers and government officials. And on that day, after waiting more than three weeks, officials decided to put an end to the affair.

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Police pulled up from behind and pulled over Finicum and the driver of the vehicle behind him. Soon, Finicum, driving the lead vehicle, raced away from the traffic stop. But waiting around a curve in the road ahead was a roadblock with armed Oregon State Police and FBI special agents.

One Oregon State Police trooper fired three shots at Finicums truck as the rancher sped toward a law enforcement roadblock at 70 mph and crashed into a snowbank on a rural Oregon highway.

Then, after Finicum got out of the truck, the rancher reached for a loaded gun in his jacket, and two state troopers shot him three times, according to investigators who reviewed the shooting, which was deemed justifiable and, in fact, necessary, by Malheur County Dist. Atty. Dan Norris.

The chase and the shooting were also captured by aerial footage that officials soon released, which did little to mollify Finicums supporters, who were angered by the trap and the fact that Finicum was shot in the back, without a gun in his hand.

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Their skepticism only grew when a federal grand jury indicted a member of the FBIs Hostage Rescue Team, W. Joseph Astarita, on suspicion of shooting twice at Finicum during the encounter, and missing him, but then lying about it to state and federal investigators. (Astarita pleaded not guilty and recently requested that the case be dismissed before trial, claiming the allegations identifying him as the mystery shooter were based on junk science by forensic experts.)

Astaritas indictment was far from the federal governments only black eye involving the occupiers.

In October 2016, an Oregon jury acquitted seven occupiers of weapons charges and conspiracy to intimidate federal workers. Three had represented themselves. A year later, a Nevada jury acquitted four supporters of the Bundy family, which was involved in a similar armed standoff near Bunkerville, Nev., in 2014.

Why cant the federal government win convictions against Cliven Bundy and his family? 

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Then, a month ago, a federal judge declared a mistrial in a case against ranch patriarch Cliven Bundy and two of his sons after she found that prosecutors willfully failed to turn over evidence involving the Nevada standoff.

So given the governments track record, when Jeannette Finicum files a lawsuit against seemingly everybody on the other side, its hard to say that the case doesnt have a shot, even though the law often gives ample protections to law enforcement officials accused of wrongful shootings  and even though her complaint starts by comparing the U.S. to North Korea.

I dont believe he was repeatedly reaching for a gun, Jeannette Finicum said, responding to the governments account of why Oregon state police shot Finicum. My husband didnt carry his weapons recklessly like that. He was responsible. He always had been; so I dont believe that theory.

An FBI spokeswoman declined to comment on the pending litigation.

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Finicum was far from alone after her husbands death. The couple had 12 children, and her advocacy on his behalf  which includes traveling to speaking engagements with ideological supporters  has also attracted an army of well-meaning strangers into her life.

I had these two young boys come all the way down from Washington state, stayed two weeks and built three miles of fence, Finicum said. Another gentleman helped her fix her truck. A couple spent their honeymoon with me, just wanted to come out and meet us, went looking for cows. It was just really wonderful.

She lost a husband, but, Finicum said, I feel like my family has grown by thousands.

matt.pearce@latimes.com

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Matt Pearce is a national reporter for The Times. Follow him on Twitter at @mattdpearce.

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Despite new protestations from the White House that President Trump has no plans to fire Robert S. Mueller III, two leading Republican senators on Sunday called for legislation to protect the special counsel leading the Russia investigation.

Ive got legislation protecting Mr. Mueller, and Ill be glad to pass it tomorrow, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on ABCs This Week, adding that Mr. Mueller is the perfect guy to get to the bottom of all this, and he will.

Graham also appeared to brush aside the White House campaign to dismiss the probe as politically motivated and the presidents denial that he tried to fire Mueller last year, as was reported by the New York Times and subsequently confirmed by other news organizations.

Were not going to say its fake news and move on, Graham said.

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Maine Sen. Susan Collins, another prominent Republican, said she had faith in Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein, to whom the special counsel reports and who would have to sign off on any attempt to dismiss him.

But she said on CNNs State of the Union that it certainly wouldnt hurt to pass a bill that would block any move by Trump to fire Mueller.

Collins, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, also added that in her opinion, Trump, who has tweeted prolifically about the investigation for months, should never talk about the probe except in private with legal counsel.

Both bills put forward in the Senate to protect Mueller are bipartisan. Grahams version was crafted with Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey; a similar proposal is being co-sponsored by Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.).

But GOP leaders have called attempts to prevent the president from trying to derail the investigation unnecessary.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), repeated that view Sunday even in the face of last weeks reports. On NBCs Meet the Press, he said, I dont think theres a need for legislation right now to protect Mueller.

Pressed by interviewer Chuck Todd, McCarthy declared that Trump and his staff had fully cooperated with the probe. I think well just continue this investigation to see where it goes, he said.

McCarthy said he had confidence in Mueller, but said there are questions about others within the FBI and the Justice Department, echoing allegations by other Trump allies.

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A senior White House aide, meanwhile, sought to cast fresh doubt on reports that Trump tried to fire Mueller but was stopped by White House counsel Donald McGahn.

Im not aware the president ever intimated he wanted to fire Robert Mueller, legislative director Marc Short told Fox News Sunday.

Robert Mueller is still the special counsel; Don McGahn is still head of White House counsel; the White House continues to cooperate in every manner, providing every document the special counsel has asked for, Short said. But he conceded that the president has been frustrated by this investigation.

Trump has consistently denied any collusion between his campaign and the Russian government, and he said last week he is willing to be interviewed by Mueller, although his lawyers quickly interceded to say that the details were still being worked out.

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While in Davos, Switzerland, last week for the World Economic Forum, Trump again dismissed reports that he tried to fire Mueller.

One prominent former official warned against making assumptions about Muellers ultimate findings. Interviewed on NBC, former Defense Secretary and CIA Director Robert Gates said he had total confidence in Mueller, a storied federal law enforcement veteran.

But Gates added: People need to be prepared that a guy like Bob Mueller may come to a different conclusion that will elate some people and anger some people.

Heading into this weeks State of the Union address, the White House is touting Trumps economic accomplishments, making a case for his immigration policies and generally hoping to burnish a stately presidential image with Tuesdays speech.

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laura.king@latimes.com

@laurakingLAT
The inside of the strip club looked festive with red, white and blue balloons tied to golden handrails. A few USA placards had been set up on tables. Patriotism and porn were about to hook up in Sin City.

For hours, the crowd inside waited. Outside, the Little Darlings marquee burned bright in the black sky: See The Mistress Live, the clubs electronic sign promised. It flashed again: XXX Star Stormy Daniels This Friday 11 pm.

Beyond its glow, just two miles away, the Trump Hotel loomed.

Friday soon dissolved into early Saturday morning. A loud emcee teased Daniels appearance between calls for two-for-one private dances with strippers. Dont forget, the presidents mistress, Stormy Daniels, will be here, he said. As if anyone would  or could  forget this.

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The president has denied the affair. Fake news. But the economy of fame needs fuel, so America is watching the story of the porn star and the president unfold. It now seems inevitable that a chapter would take place in Las Vegas, land of the improbable becoming possible  and anything seems possible in politics these days.

This saga may crescendo on Tuesday, when Trump delivers the State of the Union address and a Daniels interview with Jimmy Kimmel airs later that night. A denouement in tweets is always a possibility.

But for now, the story is rooted in a Wall Street Journal report that alleged Trump paid Daniels $130,000 late in the 2016 campaign to stay quiet about an affair they had a decade earlier, shortly after his wife, Melania, gave birth to their son, Barron. The stories have included such details as her slapping Trump with a Forbes magazine  which may have blazed a pioneering moment of kink in the porn industry.

There were no copies of Forbes visible at Little Darlings, however. Nobody there came to read. There were plenty of other distractions to keep them occupied as they waited for Daniels to appear. (And no, she couldnt do an interview, she would say politely when she arrived later.)

Dozens of women dressed in lingerie  or less  walked the clubs floor in heels that made them look like giraffes carefully navigating an icy sidewalk. Television screens flashed X-rated puns and advertisements. Free bags of Cheetos  a nod to a derogatory nickname for Trump  were handed out and devoured.

Little Darlings manager Johnny Terlitsky  who goes by Johnny T  delivered some bad news to a local television news crew around midnight: They wouldnt be allowed to take pictures or shoot video of Daniels when she came out. Johnny T was crestfallen.

It was last-minute, he said. Contractual obligations and things like that.

The manager said a fortuitous confluence of events had led Daniels to Little Darlings. He said shed performed at the club before and was already going to be in town for the Adult Video News Awards. Toss in the controversy, and a personal appearance made business sense.

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But he said because it was a last-minute scheduling, she couldnt do a performance.

Performances require costumes and planning, and she didnt have the time to pull that all together, Johnny T said. An appearance means she signs autographs and poses with fans for pictures. It was a good chance for her to meet her fans.

If Twitter is any indication, Daniels has plenty, with 417,000 followers. She was promoting her appearances on what was billed as the Make America Horny Again 2018 Tour; she had a kickoff gig in South Carolina a week before the Las Vegas stop.

The start of her appearance caught several patrons off guard when she finally took the stage around 1 a.m. The emcee  Donny  introduced her again as the presidents mistress, and the 38-year-old Daniels, wearing a black, low-cut dress, smiled and flashed her breasts. The whole thing took a few minutes and was downright chaste compared with the performances by Annie Cruz and Cindy Starfall, the featured performers in Little Darlings Asian Invasion event about an hour later.

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A club dancer known as Harmony said the crowd was much bigger than a week earlier, and figured Daniels had something to do with it. Aura, another dancer, was vaguely aware of Daniels presence: Shes the Trump girl, right? She was smiley backstage. She seemed nice.

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, was soon ensconced in large, red leather-trimmed booth in the corner of the club, and a small line began to form to pose for pictures with her. She allowed several men to stand behind her as she took off her top and let them put their hands on her breasts. She was all smiles. So were the men.

Well, we didnt talk politics. Fan of Stormy Daniels

Well, we didnt talk politics, said one of the men, who sized up the photo on his smartphone and got a nod of approval from his friends.

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A younger man did the same with his hands and pulled out his phone to look at the moment several times throughout the evening. Unsurprisingly, people demurred when asked to provide their names.

Daniels stayed in the corner until a little after 3 a.m. She said she was simply waiting for Cruz and Starfall to finish another X-rated encore performance before leaving. Next to her a few DVDs were stacked at the ready in case a fan wanted an autographed copy.

But for several stretches, no one focused on the adult film star whos been the talk of social media  hailed or vilified, depending on the point of view. She often was left alone. She didnt seem to mind, joking with a few friends in the corner while the strip club powered on. Get to know Chloe VIP! Donny suggested with all the subtlety, softness and nuance of an emcee at a monster truck rally.

When Daniels left, her departure barely registered among the thinned-out crowd. She slid on a jacket and slipped out a back door  the familiar strains of Average White Bands Pick Up the Pieces thumping through the club. No wave. No splashy goodbye.

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A few new arrivals at the club paid their $40 entry fee  $20 for locals  unaware theyd missed Daniels. Outside, the marquee still advertised her upcoming appearance, which had now become history.

To read this article in Spanish, Click here

david.montero@latimes.com

Twitter: @davemontero
It is a sadly predictable facet of American life that whenever a high-profile rape sentence is handed down, the first instinct of many people is not to celebrate the triumph of justice or applaud the courage of survivors. Instead, their response is to express a desire for the perpetrator to be sexually assaulted in prison.

This revenge-rape fantasy was on full display after former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar was convicted of sexual assault. The shocking part, however, is that it was Rosemarie Aquilina, the judge in Nassars case, who explicitly promoted this form of vigilante justice.

During sentencing, Aquilina stated that if the Constitution did not forbid cruel and unusual punishment, she would allow some or many people to do to him what he did to others.

In some ways, of course, the sentiments of the judge and legions of like-minded internet commenters are understandable. No person, even a judge, can be expected to remain unmoved by Nassars monstrous behavior toward hundreds of young women, and to the institutional indifference that allowed his abuse to continue as long as it did.

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And yet, by sharing her hope that Nassar be raped in prison, Aquilina did more than breach judicial ethics. She undermined the very fight against sexual violence that she purports to champion  and utterly failed the young women whose voices she was trying to elevate.

Rape apologists have long drawn distinctions between people who deserve to be assaulted and those who do not. For centuries, rape victims have been told that they had it coming because of what they wore, or how much they drank or because of their sexual orientation. These same arguments are made about people in prison. Dont do the crime if you cant do the time, as the saying goes, implying that you deserve  and should expect  to be abused while in the governments custody.

Aquilinias defenders have pointed out that Nassar is a special case. This is true: The overwhelming majority of prisoners in America are not serial rapists of young girls, not to mention Olympic heroes. Whats the harm in carving out an exception for a hideous person like Nassar?

Prisons where bad people get raped tend to be places where good people get raped, too.

The obvious answer is that rape is wrong and unacceptable. Always. Period. Sexual violence against any person, in any setting, makes all of us unsafe.

Imagine if corrections officials responsible for Nassars custody were to take the judge at her word and allow some or many people to do to him what he did to others. Does Aquilina really believe that a detention facility that condones the gang rape of one inmate would succeed at protecting others whose crimes were less severe?

Prisons where bad people get raped tend to be places where good people get raped, too.

You cannot condemn rape in one breath and then endorse it in the next. To do so is to promote the idea that there are places in the world where sexual abuse is OK, even encouraged.

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Rape is never OK  not when the victims are young girls and not when they are hardened criminals. Not even when its Larry Nassar.

Lovisa Stannow is the executive director of Just Detention International.

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

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Failed California housing bill was not a bad idea, Gov. Jerry Brown says By Liam Dillon Gov. Jerry Brown (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Earlier this month, high-profile housing legislation that would have allowed for four- to five-story apartments and condominiums near transit stops failed to advance in the state Legislature. But had it reached his desk, would Gov. Jerry Brown have signed it? Maybe. I think that was not a bad idea, Brown said of Senate Bill 827 at a meeting with business leaders from the Bay Area Council on Monday afternoon. The bill, written by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), attracted national attention and a maelstrom of opposition in part because it would have eliminated single-family zoning near transit stops in favor of apartments or condominiums. Brown said that a relative of his who lives in West Portal, a low-density neighborhood in San Francisco, told the governor he was horrified by the bill. Brown also lamented dramatically rising housing costs. He said he bought his first house in Los Angeles in 1973 for $75,000 at a time when his salary as secretary of state was $35,000. Now, he said, buying a house for a little over twice ones annual salary is virtually impossible anywhere in the state. FOR THE RECORD

May 1, 9:32 a.m.: This post originally misstated the year Brown purchased his house as 1970. It was 1973. Facebook

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John Cox begins California barnstorm with the delivery of gas tax repeal signatures By Javier Panzar Gubernatorial candidate John Cox, left, and Assembly candidate Bill Essayli load boxes of signatures for the gas tax repeal initiative. (Francine Orr) GOP gubernatorial candidate John Cox strolled up to the stack of 12 boxes in front of the Los Angeles County registrar-recorders offices in Norwalk on Monday and placed his hands on top of his partys hope for success in 2018. The boxes, stacked four across and three high, contained 211,000 signatures for an initiative to repeal recent increases in Californias gas tax and vehicle fees. Cox says the effort has gathered more than 940,000 signatures from registered voters to put the measure on the ballot  far more than the 585,407 signatures that are required. The aim: to bring out the partys base to the polls this November and help candidates in tough congressional and legislative races down the ticket. A USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll in November found 54.2% of registered voters surveyed said they would repeal the tax and fee hike, but a survey a month earlier by another group said a majority would vote to keep the higher taxes. Cox was flanked by Bill Essayli, a former federal prosecutor who is challenging Democratic Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes of Riverside in the June primary. Cervantes voted for the gas tax and Essayli plans to use that vote against her. He even launched his campaign at a 76 gas station in Norco. This is a central issue in my campaign, he said. Cox also submitted signatures in San Diego on Monday and is headed to Bakersfield, Fresno and Sacramento, as well as Shasta and Butte counties in coming days. We are going all across the state, Cox said. The whole state is paying this tax and the whole state wants it gone. Facebook

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All Californians would be able to serve on state boards  even people in the U.S. illegally  under new bill By Jazmine Ulloa Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) State lawmakers on Monday introduced legislation that would allow all Californians to serve on state boards and commissions regardless of immigration status. Senate Bill 174, by Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) and Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles), comes as the state is locked in a broader legal battle with the Trump administration over state immigration laws and his call for mass deportations. Lawmakers point to what they say is the states own discriminatory history as their basis for introducing the legislation. The proposal would amend an 1872 provision that was first adopted to exclude Chinese immigrants and other transient aliens from holding appointed civil positions. At the time, antipathy toward the Chinese had been building in California, though, Chinese immigrants opened hundreds of businesses across the state and would play a critical role in building the transcontinental railroad. The Senate bill would delete the phrase transient aliens from the government code and make clear that any person, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, can hold an appointed civil office if they are at least 18 years old and a resident of the state. That would allow any Californian to serve on hundreds of boards and commissions that advice in an array of policy areas, including farm labor, history and employment development. Californias two million undocumented immigrants are a source of energy for our state, Lara said in a statement. It is shocking to read the words of fear and exclusion that are still in California law but belong in historys trash can. Facebook

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Tony Mendozas fundraising dries up after resignation amid harassment inquiry By Patrick McGreevy Former state Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia). (Steve Yeater / Associated Press) Political contributions to Tony Mendoza, who resigned from the state Senate under pressure amid sexual harassment allegations, have nearly dried up. New documents he filed with the state in his bid to reclaim the seat he once held show that his support has eroded. As a result, five other candidates for the 32nd District senate seat in the June 5 election have raised more than Mendoza so far this year. With the June 5 election approaching, Mendoza has reported raising just $7,750 in cash from six supporters during the nearly four-month period from Jan. 1 to April 21. Mendoza, a Democrat from Artesia, went on a leave of absence from the Senate Jan. 3 and resigned a month later under the threat of expulsion from colleagues. An investigation ordered by the Senate found a pattern of unwanted flirtatious or sexually suggestive behavior based on testimony from six women. Mendoza has denied wrongdoing. Last year, Mendozas reelection campaign raised $412,600, or an average of about $34,000 per month, from more than 350 supporters. Most of Mendozas 2018 total was contributed by the political arm of the Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16 on Jan. 22, a month before Mendoza resigned. Mendoza also reported that his campaign loaned $125,000 this year to his legal defense fund. That left him with $446,600 in his campaign account at the end of April. Mendoza is running against eight Democrats and two Republicans. Democrat Bob J. Archuleta, a Pico Rivera city councilman, raised the most, $210,000, during the period. On Monday, Mendoza suffered another setback when the State Legislative Womens Caucus endorsed Democrat Vicky Santana, a member of the Rio Hondo College Board. Facebook

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Newsom and Villaraigosa affairs coming to TV ads in California By Phil Willon An independent political committee backing Republican John Cox for governor released an ad blasting both Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for their past sexual affairs. The California Deserves Better ad, which was first reported by Politico, criticizes Newsom for having an affair with a woman on his staff in 2005 while he served as mayor of San Francisco. It also goes after Villaraigosa for having an extramarital affair with a television reporter in 2007 while he was mayor of Los Angeles. The ad, which begins airing on Fox stations in the states top media markets Monday, links Newsom and Villaraigosa to the men accused of sexual impropriety in the #MeToo movement, including movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and disgraced Today show veteran Matt Lauer. Powerful men are finally being held to account, punished for inappropriate sexual conduct with women over whom they exercise power, the ad begins. Newsom and Villaraigosa think the rules shouldnt apply to them. The independent campaign committee, called Restore Our Values, already has raised more than $100,000, said Leigh Teece of Emeryville in Northern California, co-founder of the group. Teece, the CEO of a nonprofit that helps line up students with professional mentors, said the campaign will actively support Cox. She called him a true conservative and noted that he supports cutting taxes and opposes Californias sanctuary state policy. John is a business person who has demonstrated integrity, Teece said. Facebook

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Was that Cisneros in the voicemail? Dispute is latest espisode of Democratic infighting in crowded primary races By Christine Mai-Duc Gil Cisneros speaks during a forum at Fullerton College in January. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) With less than five weeks to go before Californias primary, insults and accusations are flying with abandon in the most crowded races Democrats hope to ultimately win. The latest example of this is in the 39th Congressional District, where a half dozen Democrats are vying for a chance to replace Rep. Ed Royce, whos retiring. Its one of several California contests where Democratic leaders are already worried that divisions could ultimately split votes and shut Democrats out of key pickup opportunities. In that race, millionaires Gil Cisneros and Andy Thorburn are going negative  about going negative. Cisneros was recently elevated to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees Red to Blue program in hopes it would serve as a signal to Democratic activists and donors that his campaign was the most viable. But both Cisneros and Thorburn have poured millions into the race, which promises to be a knock down, drag out fight through June 5. At the center of the latest controversy is a voicemail, allegedly left by Cisneros on Thorburns home answering machine earlier this month. The recording, which the Thorburn campaign turned over to media outlet The Intercept, lasts less than 10 seconds. Hi Andy, its Gil Cisneros. Im gonna go negative on you, a mans voice is heard saying. Cisneros campaign manager Orrin Evans denied the candidate made the call, posting a cease and desist letter to The Intercept on Twitter. The letter, sent by a Cisneros campaign attorney, called the voicemail fabricated and demanded that the story be taken down, calling it defamatory. It gave the publication until 3 p.m. Friday to take down the story before they pursue all legal rights and remedies. An attorney for The Intercept, in a letter to Cisneros, said the publication confirmed with multiple sources familiar with Mr. Cisneros that his voice was on the recording, and that it stands by its reporting. Thorburns camp says it flatly rejects Cisneros denial, and that the timing of a negative website filled with unflattering background on Thorburn, released three days later, suggests it was him. Track the California races that could flip the House According to The Intercepts report, Cisneros campaign manager did not respond to initial inquiries about the voicemail, calling its questions ridiculous. In a follow-up statement Friday, Evans said called the episode a dirty, desperate trick by the Thorburn campaign and said they are readying to pursue legal action for defamation and false light against both him and the publication. It sounded like him to me! said Thorburns wife, Karen, in a statement released by the campaign. She was the one who first heard the voicemail, they said. Thorburn campaign manager Nancy Leeds called Cisneros threats Trump-like tactics and accused the candidate of trying to harass and intimidate anyone who stands in his way. Its not the first time candidates from the same party have clashed in the lead-up to the June 5 primary, and its all but certain to not be the last. Cisneros sued two of his opponents, Thorburn and Sam Jammal, over their ballot descriptions until they had to change them. Earlier this month, Democrat Bryan Caforio asked his opponent, Katie Hill, to sign a pledge rejecting the use of independent expenditure committees, entities that neither of them can legally coordinate with, in the race to unseat Rep. Steve Knight (R-Lancaster). Hill refused and called the attempt hollow and likened it to political theater, while Caforio accused her of empty campaign promises. Facebook

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California Politics Podcast: The money raised in the race for governor hints at a race thats now red hot By John Myers With less than six weeks before election day, the cash raised in the California governors race mirrors the overall dynamics: one major front-runner and a heated race for second place. This weeks podcast episode offers a glimpse into those cash reports and how the Republican field seems more settled in a new statewide poll than the battle between Democrats. We also examine the reasons why a nationally talked-about housing bill in Sacramento was killed by the Democratic authors own allies. Im joined by Times staff writers Melanie Mason and Liam Dillon. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud and Stitcher. Facebook

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L.A. County politician sexually assaulted woman when she was 16, lawsuit claims By Dakota Smith A woman sued an unnamed politician in Los Angeles County on Friday, alleging the man sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager after he gave her an unusual-tasting drink. The politician, identified as John Doe, was in his early 40s and a public figure at the time of the 2007 assault, according to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. The man is an elected official today and lives in Los Angeles, said attorney Lisa Bloom, who is representing the woman identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe. Bloom declined to say what branch of government the man represents. Read More Facebook

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Villaraigosa touts his working-class upbringing, accomplishments as mayor in first TV ad By Phil Willon Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa released his first TV ad in the governors race Friday, touting his record and accomplishments as mayor of Los Angeles when up against the economic downturn during the recession. The 30-second television spot opens with a sweeping shot of Los Angeles and cuts to Villaraigosa sitting on a bus. In kindergarten, my sister and I took three buses to get to school. As mayor, I remembered that, Villaraigosa says into the camera. And despite the recession, we built more new schools and rail lines than any city in America, added 200,000 living wage jobs, built 20,000 units of affordable housing and nearly doubled graduation rates. Campaign spokesman Luis Vizcaino said the ad will air statewide over the next week at a cost of approximately $1 million. The commercial will being airing Saturday. Two Democratic rivals in Californias race for governor, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Treasurer John Chiang, also launched ads this week, signaling the biggest ramp-up of the campaign as the June 5 primary approaches. Newsom is the front-runner, while Villaraigosa is battling for second place with Republican John Cox. One recent poll has Villaraigosa trailing both Cox and Republican Assemblyman Travis Allen of Huntington Beach. Chiang has been stuck in the single digits in almost all polling in the race. Last week, an independent expenditure group called Families and Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor, funded largely by a trio of wealthy charter school backers, launched a spot in support of the former mayor of Los Angeles. That ad campaign is focused on increasing Villaraigosas chances of coming in second in the June 5 primary and moving on to the general election. Villaraigosas ad, titled Three Buses, emphasizes the struggles he faced growing up in East Los Angeles and addresses one of his central campaign themes  that hes the candidate best suited to help working-class Californians. I know how far a bus can take you, Villaraigosa says in the ad. Facebook

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Sen. Dianne Feinstein wont participate in pre-primary debate By Sarah D. Wire (Tom Williams / CQ Roll Call) California Sen. Dianne Feinstein will not participate in a proposed pre-primary debate because there are too many candidates in the race, her campaign spokesman said Thursday. Political activists with the group Indivisible Los Angeles said they had a venue and date  May 5  reserved for a debate with four of the Senate candidates. But they said if Feinstein does not participate, it will be canceled. Feinstein faces 31 primary opponents in her bid for a fifth full term representing California in the Senate. Feinstein staffers initially said she had a prior commitment on May 5 in San Francisco. When organizers offered to let her campaign pick another date, her campaign said it wasnt fair for the group to invite only some of the candidates when there is such a big field, said Tudor Popescu, volunteer community organizer with Indivisible Los Angeles. The invited candidates, all Democrats, were Feinstein, state Sen. Kevin de Leon, political action committee director Alison Hartson and lawyer Pat Harris. They were selected based on fundraising and poll numbers. There are 11 Republicans, 10 Democrats, nine independents and 2 third-party candidates running for Senate on the June ballot. Indivisible Los Angeles is still hoping Feinstein will pick another date, Popescu said. Feinstein spokesman Jeff Millman pointed to a San Francisco Chronicle endorsement of Feinstein, which indicates that she told the editorial board she would be willing to have a debate ahead of Novembers general election. Senator Feinstein looks forward to debating her opponent in the general election, Millman said in an email. Feinstein holds a substantial lead in both fundraising and in the polls. Front-runners in statewide races have routinely declined to debate their challengers, knowing that its free publicity for candidates who dont have the cash to increase their name recognition on their own. De Leon spokesman Jonathan Underland said the state senator has done candidate forums before, but planned to attend the May 5 debate only if Feinstein did. We basically said well clear his calendar 100%, well clear his calendar if Feinstein shows up, Underland said. Wed love to make it happen, but we want her to be there. Facebook

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NRA, Olympic shooter sue California over its restrictions on ammunition sales By Patrick McGreevy Olympian Kim Rhode is a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by the NRA and its state affiliate against California. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) The National Rifle Assn. and its state affiliate have filed a fourth lawsuit against California over its gun control laws, this time challenging new restrictions on the sale and transfer of ammunition. The NRA and the California Rifle and Pistol Assn. filed a challenge in federal court to a requirement that ammunition sales and transfers be conducted face to face with California firearms dealers or licensed vendors, ending purchases made directly from out-of-state sellers on the internet. The lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California also challenged a requirement starting next year for background checks for people buying ammunition. The lawsuit was filed in the name of Kim Rhode, a six-time Olympic medal-winning shooter, and others. It challenges Californias new ammunition sales restrictions as a violation of the 2nd Amendment and the commerce clause of the United States Constitution. Restrictions on ammunition purchases were included in Proposition 63, approved by voters in 2016, and in bills approved by the Legislature. As a result of these laws, millions of constitutionally protected ammunition transfers are banned in California, Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRAs Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement. Californias law-abiding gun owners are sick of being treated like criminals and the NRA is proud to assist in this fight. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is running for governor, defended his initiative and vowed to fight the NRA lawsuit. We wrote Proposition 63 on solid legal ground and principle: If youre a felon banned from possessing guns in California, then you should not be able to purchase the ammunition that makes a firearm deadly, Newsom said in a statement. California voters said loudly and clearly that guns and ammunition do not belong in the hands of dangerous individuals  but once again, the NRA has prioritized gun industry profits over the lives of law-abiding Californians. Facebook

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Republicans hope to ride a gas-tax repeal to victory By Patrick McGreevy In a Central Valley barn decked out in red, white and blue, dairyman and state Senate candidate Johnny Tacherra drew cheers from a crowd of fellow farmers when he said he opposes the California Legislatures hike on gas taxes and vehicle fees. I would not have voted for that. It is not the time to be voting on (raising) the gas tax, said Tacherra, a Republican running against Democratic Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, who voted for the tax increase last year. Three hundred miles away the same week, a campaign mailer arrived at homes in Orange County from an Assembly candidate with a message blaring from the cover in bold type: Republican Greg Haskin  tough enough to stand up to Jerry Brown and repeal the gas tax. Read More Facebook

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Treasurer John Chiang launches ad in governors race touting his record as a fiscal steward By Seema Mehta In his first television ad in the governors race, state Treasurer John Chiang touts his record on fiscal issues as California faced the recession. Some thought we were done, Chiang says in a voiceover in the 30-second spot he released Thursday, with images of him standing seriously at a lectern and complimentary headlines about his work as controller and treasurer. But I knew better. I made the tough calls. And brought California back from the brink of financial disaster because you trusted me to manage our economy. Chiangs campaign is spending about $500,000 to air the ad in Los Angeles and San Diego in coming days. That buy is dwarfed by seven-figure purchases for ads supporting Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Newsom is the front-runner, while Villaraigosa is battling for second place with Republican businessman John Cox. Chiang has been mired in the single digits in almost all polling in the race. His ad, called Quiet Storm, tries to portray Chiang as a progressive who is effective and can move policy in Sacramento. Chiang points to his work challenging Wells Fargo before arguing that he could accomplish what doubters say is impossible to improve the states healthcare, housing and schools. I say, we got this, Chiang concludes. Facebook

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Been ignoring the race for California governor? Thats OK, in some ways its just starting By Mark Z. Barabak On a recent trip to Iowa, Eric Garcetti  the mayor of Los Angeles and a possible 2020 White House contestant  raised eyebrows with a bit of exuberant outreach. Los Angeles and Iowa, Garcetti insisted, have a ton in common, and he didnt simply mean both are inhabited by carbon-based life forms needing oxygen to survive. Urban or rural, farmer or fashion plate, all of us harbor the same hopes and dreams, the mayor suggested, and if it wasnt a terribly original thought it also wasnt the most egregious sort of political pandering  like, say, ordering that every home in Los Angeles be powered by Iowa-produced ethanol. Read More Facebook

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California voters should expect to decide on an $8.9-billion water bond in November By Liam Dillon (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) A proposal to borrow $8.9 billion for improvements to Californias water quality systems and watersheds and protection of natural habitats is eligible for the statewide ballot in November, Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced in a press release Wednesday. Padilla said the measure, which is backed by agricultural interests, had exceeded the 365,800 valid signatures it needed to qualify for the general election ballot. The bond measure will appear on the ballot unless proponents withdraw it by June 28, the release said. The bond is one of many voters could decide on in 2018. A $4-billion bond for parks and water infrastructure improvements will appear on the June 5 ballot. State lawmakers approved it last year. Facebook

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They came for Darrell Issa. They stayed with their inflatable chicken, blue wall and signs for political therapy By Christine Mai-Duc (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) A mother of two turned ringleader of the resistance and more than a hundred of her faithful followers gathered on Tuesday morning outside Rep. Darrell Issas office in a northern San Diego County suburb. Across the street was her foil, a wedding DJ in a red Make American Great Again cap, setting up hefty speakers for an upcoming war of words. For about 65 weeks the deep divide in America played out along this 100-yard stretch of road in Vista. Here, at 10 a.m. every Tuesday, passersby found signs, chants, songs and, if they were lucky, sometimes a 20-foot-tall inflatable chicken with a Trump-esque coif. Theyd also glimpse the state of the body politic in 2018, a time when shock has turned to anger and post-2016 calls for reconciliation have morphed into grudging acceptance that each side might be better off in their respective corners. Or in this case, their sides of the street. On Tuesday, the anti-Issa, anti-Trump contingent fought this particular battle for the last time, declaring it their final protest at the congressmans office. They said they planned to use their energy to knock on doors and get out the vote, with an occasional protest on the side. Their pro-Trump rivals vowed to show up wherever they do. Read More Facebook

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Efforts to regulate bail companies have some unlikely allies: bail agents By Jazmine Ulloa Jane Un, chief executive and founder of Abba Bail Bonds, works with a client. ( Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) In recent years, the seriousness and number of official complaints related to the bail industry in California have significantly increased while bail agents and bounty hunters face limited oversight, putting vulnerable communities at risk of fraud, embezzlement and other forms of victimization. This year, as Gov. Jerry Brown has pledged to work with lawmakers in a push to overhaul how courts assign defendants bail and to better regulate bail agencies, even some who profit from the court practice admit its time for regulation. These bail and bail-recovery agents could become unlikely allies, saying they advocate for change because theyve seen the system abuse the poor. Read More Facebook

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California voters: Get ready for an onslaught of television ads By Seema Mehta After a sleepy campaign, California voters are now being bombarded with television advertisements in the governors race, an onslaught that is expected to ramp up in coming weeks. The ads most frequently seen on television are those promoting Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the front-runner in the race, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is trying to secure the second spot in the June primary. Newsoms campaign and an outside group backing Villaraigosa are spending seven figures weekly on these efforts, according to filings with the California secretary of states office and a media buyer who asked not to be identified in order to freely discuss the ads. Other gubernatorial candidates are expected to hit the airwaves soon, the media buyer said. State Treasurer John Chiang has reserved a half-million dollars in the coming days in the Los Angeles and San Diego markets, and Villaraigosas campaign has requested availability in at least five of the states biggest TV markets. The GOP candidates in the race, who will be seeking the state Republican Partys endorsement at its convention next weekend, have been much less active. Businessman John Cox in recent weeks has been spending about $90,000 per week, but doubled that this week in Los Angeles and added small buys on KFI-AM radio and cable in markets including Fresno, Bakersfield and Salinas. State Assemblyman Travis Allen of Huntington Beach, who has been scooping up Republican Party endorsements across the state, has yet to make a notable television or radio buy, though he and Cox have received some attention as commentators on Fox News. Facebook

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Republicans ready to turn in signatures for ballot measure to repeal California gas-tax increase By Patrick McGreevy A Chevron gas station in Sacramento shows prices last year. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Republican activists said Tuesday that they have collected at least 830,000 signatures for an initiative to repeal recent increases in Californias gas tax and vehicle fees, more than enough to qualify the measure for the November ballot. The activists need 585,407 signatures of registered voters to qualify the ballot measure. Because signatures are still being processed and counted by the campaign, backers hope to have 900,000 by the time they begin turning them in to the counties on Friday, according to Carl DeMaio, a former San Diego City Council member and organizer of the drive. The breadth and depth of voter anger over the car and gas tax hikes is just amazing, said DeMaio, who hosts a radio talk show. We are seeing Democrats, independents and Republicans sign the petition and volunteering to carry the petition, people from all walks of life. The initiative targets a law approved in April 2017 by the Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown that is expected to raise $5.4 billion annually for road and bridge repairs and improvements to mass transit. The money comes from a recent 12-cents-per-gallon increase in the gas tax, a 20-cent increase in the diesel fuel excise tax and a new annual vehicle fee ranging from $25 for cars valued at under $5,000, to $175 for cars worth $60,000 or more. The petition drive raised more than $2 million with significant contributions from the California Republican Party and Republican members of Congress from California, including House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield and Reps. Ken Calvert of Corona and Mimi Walters of Irvine. Republicans hope the issue will help their candidates for office in this years election and hurt Democrats who support the higher taxes. I think this is going to put Democrats in real bad spot, DeMaio said. A spokesman for Brown declined to comment until the signatures are filed. DeMaio said there were approximately 20,000 volunteer petition circulators who brought in more than 250,000 signatures, with the rest collected by paid circulators who received $1 to $2.50 per signature. Its a pretty comfortable margin [of signatures] that we have been able to hit here, DeMaio said. Opposition will grow, he said, as more Californians get their annual vehicle registration notice. The repeal campaign hopes to raise $5 million for the campaign to pass the constitutional amendment, which would not only repeal the increase in the gas tax and vehicle fees but require future increases to be submitted to voters. We know that Gov. Brown and his cohorts are going to spend an amazing amount of money to mislead voters, DeMaio said. But I feel pretty confident that we will repeal the gas tax. Read More Facebook

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Rep. Duncan Hunter sets up trust to raise money for legal expenses amid ongoing criminal investigation By Morgan Cook Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, has filed paperwork to establish a legal expense fund amid an ongoing federal criminal investigation into misused campaign cash. Hunter filed the required paperwork March 27, seeking a rarely granted Legal Expense Fund through which members of Congress under investigation or being sued in connection with doing their jobs or running for office can raise money for their legal expenses. Such funds are administered by an independent trustee and allow donors to give above the maximum amount they can contribute a candidates campaign. Hunter has spent more than $600,000 of campaign money on lawyers. Read More Facebook

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Kamala Harris says she wont take corporate donations anymore By Sarah D. Wire (Jose Luis Magana / Associated Press) California Sen. Kamala Harris says she will no longer accept money from corporate political action committees. In an interview with WWPM-FMs The Breakfast Club, in New York that aired Monday, the senator said she wasnt expecting a question at a town hall this month about whether she would accept money for corporations or corporate lobbyists. At the time, Harris said it depends, but she said on Monday that she had reflected on the matter and changed her mind. Money has had such an outside influence on politics, and especially with the Supreme Court determining Citizens United, which basically means that big corporations can spend unlimited amounts of money influencing a campaign, right? Harris said. Were all supposed to have an equal vote, but money has now really tipped the balance between an individual having equal power in an election to a corporation. So Ive actually made a decision since I had that conversation that Im not going to accept corporate PAC checks. I just  Im not. You can watch the video of the interview here. (Harris corporate money comments come about 30 minutes in.) Harris wouldnt be on the ballot for a second Senate term until 2022, though its widely believed that she is planning a presidential bid in 2020. Other potential 2020 presidential candidates, including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), have also ruled out taking corporate PAC money. Soon after Mondays show aired, Harris campaign sent out a fundraising request noting her new stance. As corporate PACs continue to corrupt our politics and twist Congress priorities at your expense, were going to focus on raising money from small-dollar, individual donors like you, the email says. Facebook

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With money tied up in court, California lawmakers try again with new plan to spend $2 billion on homeless housing By Liam Dillon A man sleeps on the sidewalk in front of the Union Rescue Mission in the skid row neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) A measure to spend $2 billion on housing homeless Californians could be on the November statewide ballot. State Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) is pushing the idea to deal with what he said was a burgeoning humanitarian crisis whose epicenter is here in California. De Leons new measure is a do-over for a 2016 plan passed by the Legislature to redirect $2 billion toward building homeless housing from a voter-approved 1% income tax surcharge on millionaires that funds mental health services. A Sacramento attorney sued over that decision, arguing that the move violated constitutional rules on approving loans without a public vote and that lawmakers shouldnt take money away from mental health treatment. The case remains active in Sacramento Superior Court and its unclear when, or if, the state will be able to spend the $2 billion. De Leons Senate Bill 1206 would put the $2-billion loan on the ballot in November, freeing up the money if voters approve the measure. De Leon said had he been able to predict the 2016 plan would end up in court, he would have sought a ballot measure at the time. We thought this was like apple pie and baseball and puppies, De Leon said. Who would oppose the idea of repurposing the dollars to build immediate housing as a permanent solution for homelessness? Obviously with a crystal ball, had I anticipated the litigation, I would have worked to place it on the ballot. De Leon noted that the 2016 plan had bipartisan supermajority support in the Legislature, something his new bill also will need to get on the ballot. Sen. John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa) is a coauthor of the plan. SB 1206 is scheduled for its first hearing in the Legislature on Wednesday. Should De Leons measure be approved, it will join a crowded list of housing issues before voters in November. Californians will decide on a separate $4-billion bond to help finance new low-income housing and home loans for veterans. De Leon said hes not worried those two measures will compete against each other because voters are aware of the scale of the states housing problems and the proposed homeless housing bond redirects existing dollars instead of raising taxes. Once [voters] know that the impact on their pocketbook is not existent, Im confident that theyll join me and my colleague John Moorlach in support of this measure, De Leon said. Facebook

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California lawmakers say too many former felons are being denied professional licenses By John Myers Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco) along with supporters of bills to allow more former felons to receive professional licenses. (John Myers/Los Angeles Times) A trio of California Assembly members urged colleagues on Monday to pass legislation that would prohibit state commissions and agencies from rejecting a professional license for those who were once convicted of less serious crimes. We cant say we want to rehabilitate people, and then block them from getting the jobs that they need when theyre released, said Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco). That leads to more recidivism and to more crime. The bills, scheduled to be heard in Assembly committees Tuesday, would ban the use of arrest or conviction records as the reason for denying a professional license. The bill would not apply to Californians who served time for any of the offenses on the states list of violent crimes. The authors, all Democrats, said that a government-issued professional license is required for some 30% of all jobs in the state. Their bills would change the licensing process at the California departments of Consumer Affairs and Social Services and agencies that certify emergency medical technicians. The bills would block prior convictions from leading to the delay or denial of a license unless that crime is directly related to the profession the person intends to pursue. Two of the bills also specifically say convictions less than 5 years old could continue to play a role in licensing decisions. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law that keeps private sector employers from inquiring about a job applicants conviction history prior to an offer of employment. Advocates joined the lawmakers at a press conference in Sacramento to point out that limits on awarding licenses should focus only on those whose prior criminal activity could pose a threat to consumers. Continuing to hold people back for crimes that are 6, 7, 8, 10, 20 years old does not actually make sense if youre looking at public safety, said Jael Myrick of the East Bay Community Law Center. One of the proposals, Assembly Bill 2293, seeks to make it easier for ex-felons to get a license allowing a job with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection  the same agency that often uses prison inmates to battle blazes around the state. If a person is good enough to risk their life fighting fires for the state of California as an inmate, said Assemblywoman Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-Grand Terrace), their previous actions should not prevent from having a job utilizing the skill set that they learned. Facebook

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Assembly speaker rebukes building trades union after it targets Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia By John Myers ( (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) The decision by a politically powerful labor group to openly campaign against an embattled Los Angeles-area lawmaker drew a sharp rebuke on Friday from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. The Lakewood Democrat lashed out hours after the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California filed paperwork for a political action committee to defeat Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens). Garcia, whos seeking her fourth term, took an unpaid leave of absence in February following allegations of sexual misconduct. She has denied the reports and an Assembly investigation remains underway. Rendon didnt criticize the labor group by name, insisting instead that the decision was driven by oil and gas industry interests. This is a thinly veiled attempt by Big Oil and polluters to intimidate me and my members. It is an affront to my speakership, Rendon said in a statement. We are proud of the work that the Assembly has done to increase jobs and wages while defending our environment. We will vigorously defend the members of our caucus from any ill-advised political attack. A statement from the labor group, which sparred with Garcia last year on her effort to link new climate change policies with a crackdown on air pollution, said it had decided to reverse past support for her. The Trades have thousands of hard working members in Garcias district, and we look forward to lifting up another Democrat in the 58th Assembly to better represent them and their families, said the statement. The political action committees campaign finance filing on Friday listed nonmonetary in kind contributions from Erin Lehane, a public affairs consultant aligned with the building labor group. Lehane said she had begun researching Garcia in November. In January, a former legislative staffer accused her of groping him in 2014. Lehane, who identified herself as a spokesperson for the labor groups political action committee, said on Friday that she believed Garcias hypocrisy threatened a movement that will dictate how much harassment and abuse my daughter will face in her work life. Garcia, who has been an outspoken advocate for women in the #MeToo movement, has complained that her political opponents helped fan the flames of the accusations. Through a campaign consultant, she declined to comment on Friday. Rendons critique came on the heels of a full-page ad in The Times on Friday, partly paid for by the Trades Council, that criticized well-funded ivory tower elites who push proposals that hurt the oil and gas industry. We are the real jobs that fuel the real California economy, read the advertisement. Facebook

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Legal tiff breaks out over independent committees ad backing Antonio Villaraigosa for governor By Phil Willon An attorney representing Gavin Newsoms campaign for governor is demanding that California television stations cease airing an ad by an independent political committee supporting his Democratic rival Antonio Villaraigosa. Attorney Thomas A. Willis, in a letter to the stations, said the ad is false and misleading and violates California law because it uses snippets of video footage from Villaraigosas own campaign ads. Willis called that illegal coordination between the campaign and PAC. Under California law, advertisements made by entities other than a candidate are presumed to be coordinated  and thus not independent expenditures  when the advertisement replicates, reproduces or disseminates substantial parts of a communication, including video footage, created and paid for by the candidate, the letter states. A representative for the independent expenditure committee  Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor  fired back. Attorney Brian T. Hildreth says those allegations have no merit and accused the Newsom campaign of being misleading. Hildreth sent a letter to the television stations in response, urging them to ignore the Newsom campaigns accusations. He said the Newsom camp appears to intentionally misrepresent the law and that the video use was permissible. He said only six seconds of video from Villaraigosas campaign ads was used, which is well within the legal limits. The independent committee is sponsored by the group California Charter Schools Assn. Advocates, according to the California secretary of states office. The ad is airing on broadcast and cable stations statewide. The committees ad is focused on Villaraigosas record as Assembly speaker and as mayor of Los Angeles when there was a drop in crime. Facebook

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Governors race snapshot: Californians are generally upbeat but not focused on the campaign By Mark Z. Barabak Armand Werden, a 29-year-old community college student who works the taps at Dust Bowl Brewery in Turlock, said the state is on the upswing. (Phil Willon / Los Angeles Times) As California chooses a new governor  one of just a handful in the last 40 years not named Jerry Brown  the state seems to be enjoying something unusual in these tumultuous political times: a feeling of relative contentment. Not to say things are perfect. Still, more than 100 random interviews conducted over the length and breadth of the state  from Redding in the north to Santee in the south, from the Pacific coastline to the edge of the Sierra Nevada  found most saying things are looking up, at least so far as Californias direction is concerned. Read More Facebook

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Sierra Club backs Gavin Newsom for California governor By Phil Willon Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks with members of the public following a debate at USC in January. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) The Sierra Club endorsed Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom in the race for California governor, with officials in the established environmental group praising the Democrats record on climate change and clean energy. He has a proven record for leading on environmental protection, public health and clean energy, Kathryn Phillips, director of Sierra Club California, said in a statement released by the Newsom campaign. He understands that we are feeling the effects of climate change and that California must reduce carbon emissions and reach 100% renewable energy to achieve our climate goals. Phillips said the Sierra Clubs extensive network of volunteers will campaign for Newsom as the June 5 primary approaches. Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune also praised the Democrat, saying he will protect California from Donald Trumps attacks on our clean air and water. The Sierra Club joins a series of other influential groups in California that have backed Newsom. The California Medical Assn., the powerful state doctors lobby, announced its endorsement of Newsom on Thursday. The California Nurses Assn. and the Service Employees International Union, one of the most powerful labor unions in the state, also support Newsom. Newsom is the races front-runner in polls and fundraising. A poll released earlier this month by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found that 26% of likely voters backed Newsom. John Cox, a Republican from Rancho Santa Fe, was favored by 15% of likely voters and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a Democrat, by 13%. Facebook

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Californias GOP House members are taking their challengers more seriously and the numbers show it By Christine Mai-Duc For much of last year, consultants and campaign managers for some of Californias most vulnerable Republican incumbents maintained a bullish tone on the prospect that the GOP would hold the House in this years midterms. The National Republican Congressional Committee insisted that longtime Republican incumbents in California had built up reputations as effective champions of local issues that would help them weather a flood of Democratic enthusiasm. Since then Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) have decided not to seek reelection and the NRCC has opened a West Coast headquarters in Orange County. Read More Facebook

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California officials say Pentagon has confirmed National Guard funding despite Trump threat By John Myers (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) The awkward dance between Gov. Jerry Brown and the federal government over the National Guard jerked back toward discord on Thursday, when Trump said he would refuse to pay for a new deployment of troops  just hours after his administration said otherwise. And a few hours later, California officials said they had received written confirmation from the Pentagon that the mission would indeed be funded. Trump had earlier called Browns decision to approve 400 troops for a mission focused on combating transnational crime and drug smuggling a charade in a tweet. We need border security and action, not words! the president wrote. Governor Jerry Brown announced he will deploy up to 400 National Guard Troops to do nothing. The crime rate in California is high enough, and the Federal Government will not be paying for Governor Browns charade. We need border security and action, not words!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 19, 2018 A spokesman for Brown pointed to a tweet written Wednesday night by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, thanking the California governor for his efforts. Trump was meeting on Thursday with Nielsen at his Mar-a-Lago estate not long after his tweet was posted. A tweet later posted by the California National Guard said that almost three hours after Trumps comment, the state received written confirmation from the Pentagon to fund the mission as outlined by Brown the day before. In short, nothing has changed today, said a subsequent Guard tweet. Just spoke w @JerryBrownGov about deploying the @USNationalGuard in California. Final details are being worked out but we are looking forward to the support. Thank you Gov Brown!  Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen (@SecNielsen) April 19, 2018 Brown was the last of the nations border governors to respond to Trumps insistence earlier this month that National Guard troops were needed to assist with immigration-related duties at the U.S.-Mexico border. And he has consistently refused to allow California troops to engage in any mission related to federal immigration law. This will not be a mission to build a new wall, Brown wrote last week to Nielsen and Defense Secretary James N. Mattis. It will not be a mission to round up women and children or detain people escaping violence and seeking a better life. Exactly what the California operations will cost remains unclear, as state officials have said it will depend on decisions made once the mission begins. The funds would not be transferred to the state, but instead would be paid directly by the Department of Defense. Trump has critiqued California several times over the past few days, often writing tweets that embrace the actions by some cities and counties to join his administrations lawsuit against the states sanctuary immigration law. He made similar comments to reporters on Thursday afternoon. If you look at whats happening in California with sanctuary cities  people are really going the opposite way, Trump said. They dont want sanctuary cities. Theres a little bit of a revolution going on in California. 2:26 p.m.:This article was updated with additional information from the California National Guard and with remarks from Trump. This article was originally published at 9:51 a.m. Facebook

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Gay conversion therapy services would be banned under measure advancing in California By John Myers (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) The California Assembly voted Thursday to add gay conversion therapy to the states list of deceptive business practices, following a debate that focused on the personal experiences of several lawmakers and hinted at potential lawsuits to come. It is harmful and it is unnecessary, Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell), the bills author and one of the Legislatures most vocal LGBTQ members, said of the practice. Low, who told Assembly members that he explored conversion therapy as a teenager and suffered depression over his sexual orientation, insisted that the bill would be limited to efforts that involve the exchange of money. Theres nothing wrong with me, he said in an emotional speech on the Assembly floor. Theres nothing that needs to be changed. The bill, which now heads to the Senate, has become the focal point of intense debate on social media. Some religious groups have said that such a law would be a violation of their constitutional rights, while advocates insist the provisions are narrow and theres no credible evidence that the services work. One key part of the debate centers on whether Assembly Bill 2943 would stretch beyond businesses that charge for these programs and extend to printed documents, even Bibles. An analysis by the Assembly Judiciary Committee says the bill would apply only to services that purport to change a persons sexual orientation and offered on a commercial basis, as well as the advertising and offering of such services. Lawmakers who spoke in support of AB 2943 also made clear that they believe those kinds of services have been discredited. This is fraudulent, it should not be occurring, said Assemblywoman Susan Eggman (D-Stockton). But you can still try to pray the gay away, if you like. Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City), who said the bill addresses a difficult issue, nonetheless said that its important to ensure laws dont tamper with religious freedom. We have to think about the legitimate experience of people who have gone through conversion therapy and said this was a good thing for them, Gallagher told his colleagues. California law already bans the use of conversion therapy by mental health professionals on those under age 18. Lows bill would expand the states efforts beyond minors. It would join a list of commercial activities deemed unfair or deceptive acts or practices and therefore banned under state law. Facebook

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Gavin Newsom gets backing from doctors group, despite differences over single-payer healthcare By Melanie Mason Gavin Newsom speaks at the California Democrats State Convention in San Diego on Feb. 24. (Kent Nishimura) Californias doctors are siding with Gavin Newsom in the governors race, even though they dont see eye-to-eye on a defining issue of the campaign: single-payer healthcare. The California Medical Assn., the state doctors lobby and a political heavyweight, announced its endorsement of the lieutenant governor on Thursday. Gavin is a lifelong champion for health care in California, and we know he will continue to fight for pragmatic solutions to our most crucial health care challenges, including working to achieve universal access and tackling our states physician shortage, CMA President Theodore M. Mazer said in a statement. Newsom has made his support for state-financed healthcare a centerpiece of his campaign, and he earned the early backing of the most ardent single-payer supporters, the state nurses union. The doctors, meanwhile, oppose the nurses bill, SB 562, which emerged as a flashpoint in the healthcare debate last year. The CMA said the bill would dismantle the healthcare marketplace and destabilize Californias economy. Newsom has said SB 562 should advance in the Legislature, but also said it has open-ended issues that still need to be addressed. The doctors group is also battling with another prominent Newsom endorser, the Service Employees International Union, over a new measure that would impose price caps on an array of medical services paid for by commercial health insurers in the state. The SEIU is a leading sponsor of the proposal; the doctors fiercely oppose it. Newsom and the physicians group have a history of political alignment. Newsom was the first statewide official to support Proposition 56, a 2016 tobacco tax pushed by the CMA that raised revenue in part to increase money for doctors who saw Medi-Cal patients. That year, the association also endorsed two initiatives championed by Newsom: Proposition 63, which imposed new gun control measures, and Proposition 64, which legalized recreational marijuana. Facebook

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Independent committee backing Antonio Villaraigosa for governor hits the airwaves with first ad By Phil Willon Antonio Villaraigosa speaks at the 2018 California Democratic Party Convention in San Diego in February.. (Denis Poroy / Associated Press) A well-financed independent committee backing Antonio Villaraigosas bid to be Californias next governor released its first television ad Thursday, praising his record for working with Republicans and as a candidate for all of California. The ad, which is to air statewide on broadcast and cable stations, is focused on Villaraigosas record as Assembly speaker and mayor of Los Angeles, including on education and a drop in crime while he was at City Hall. To move California forward, we need to help more Californians get ahead, the ad says. Thats why Antonio Villaraigosa brought both parties together to balance the state budget with record investments in public schools and new career training programs. The independent expenditure committee behind the ad campaign, Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor 2018, is sponsored by the California Charter Schools Assn. Advocates, according to the California secretary of states office. The committee is spending seven figures per week on the ad buy, said Josh Pulliam, a political consultant for the committee. As mayor of Los Angeles, Villaraigosa clashed with teachers unions, starting with his failed attempt to take political control of the Los Angeles Unified School District. His fight with those unions continued after he left office in 2013. Money has poured into the committee this month from wealthy charter schools supporters: Reed Hastings, chief executive of Netflix, donated $7 million, and Los Angeles billionaire and philanthropist Eli Broad donated $1.5 million. On Wednesday, former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan donated $1 million. The independent expenditure committee is expected to provide a boost to Villaraigosas campaign. Democratic front-runner Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom has a major advantage in fundraising over all other candidates in the race and has received the backing of the California Teachers Assn. and other education unions. A recent Public Policy Institute of California poll also showed Villaraigosa lagging in third place in the race, trailing Newsom and Republican businessman John Cox. The candidates who finish in the top two in the June 5 primary will advance to the November general election, regardless of their party affiliation. Facebook

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Gov. Jerry Brown says Trump administration will fund his National Guard mission  without immigration duties By John Myers (Alex Wong / Getty Images) Gov. Jerry Brown formally mobilized 400 California National Guard members Wednesday for transnational crime-fighting duties, thus preventing any effort by President Trump to have the troops focus on immigration enforcement on the Mexican border. The governor announced that federal officials have agreed to fund the plan he announced last week  a mission to combat criminal gangs, human traffickers and illegal firearm and drug smugglers in locations around California, including near the border. The order Brown signed makes clear that the troops will not be allowed to perform a broader set of duties as envisioned by Trumps recent comments. California National Guard service members shall not engage in any direct law enforcement role nor enforce immigration laws, arrest people for immigration law violations, guard people taken into custody for alleged immigration violations, or support immigration law enforcement activities, the order read. The cost of the mission, a spokesman for Brown said, will be paid directly by the federal government. No initial estimate has been made, as the exact amount will depend on exactly how the troops will be used. Though the duties of California Guard members were outlined last week, the state had been waiting for an agreement by federal officials to pay for the operations. Since that time, the president has taken Brown and the state to task over its decision to avoid any immigration-related duties at the border. On Wednesday morning, Trump tweeted, Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy. Want Security & Safety NOW! There is a Revolution going on in California. Soooo many Sanctuary areas want OUT of this ridiculous, crime infested & breeding concept. Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy. Want Security & Safety NOW!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2018 Looks like Jerry Brown and California are not looking for safety and security along their very porous Border. He cannot come to terms for the National Guard to patrol and protect the Border, Trump tweeted Tuesday. There was no immediate reaction from the White House to Browns announcement. On Tuesday, Brown told reporters in Washington that his plan was consistent with a safer border. That sounds to me like fighting crime, the governor said. Trying to catch some desperate mothers and children, or unaccompanied minors coming from Central America, that sounds like something else. The order Brown issued Wednesday after returning from a brief trip to talk climate change in Toronto and to speak to a national trade union and visit with reporters in Washington is set to expire at the end of September. It specifically says no Guard service member may participate in a mission that would exceed the mission scope and limitations related to transnational crime activity. It also says troops cannot help build any new border barrier. 5:27 p.m.: This article was updated with information related to the cost of the Guard mission and Browns trip to Washington. This article was originally published at 5:13 p.m. Facebook

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California bill aims to end practice that keeps workplace misconduct cases out of court By Melanie Mason A California bill would prohibit employers from requiring workers to use private arbitration to settle disputes, a practice that critics say shields improper workplace conduct from public view. The bill by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego) would bar businesses from making employees, when they are hired, waive their future rights to take any harassment, discrimination or other claims to court. Arbitration can be a highly effective dispute resolution method when both parties can choose it freely, when both parties are equal, Gonzalez Fletcher said at a news conference on Wednesday. It is far less successful when the more powerful party forces the other to accept those terms, especially as a condition of employment. Forced arbitration has come under increasing scrutiny since the #MeToo movement, with high-profile figures such as former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson pointing to the practice as shielding workplace abusers from public disclosure because arbitration resolutions often include nondisclosure agreements. Last year, a bipartisan bill was introduced in Congress to end mandatory arbitration in employment agreements. Gonzalez Fletcher said she was pursuing an unusual tool to draw attention to the issue  a subpoena issued by the Legislature to compel testimony from a worker bound by a nondisclosure agreement as a result of arbitration. The Legislature has subpoena power but it is rarely used. The bills sponsors believe lawmakers last issued a subpoena in 2001 while investigating price manipulation by Enron. Gonzalez Fletcher said she has requested Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) to issue the subpoena to require Tara Zoumer, who sued the company WeWork in 2016 for overtime pay, to testify before the Assembly Judiciary Committee next week. Zoumers suit was moved to arbitration and resolved. She is now subject to a nondisclosure agreement and could face a financial penalty for speaking publicly about her case. A spokesman for Rendon said the subpoena request is under consideration. Business groups oppose the bill, AB 3080. The California Chamber of Commerce has dubbed it a job biller, claiming it would dramatically increase legal costs for businesses. Banning such agreements benefits the trial attorneys, not the employer or employee, the group said. The bill must first advance from the Assembly Labor Committee on Wednesday. Facebook

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At least 240 House lawmakers want a vote on immigration. California supporters say they arent ready to force one By Sarah D. Wire Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock), flanked by Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands) and Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) speak about DACA legislation (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) Rep. Jeff Denham says at least 240 of the 430 current House members have signed onto his resolution to hold votes on four immigration bills, and he hopes House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and President Trump are paying attention to the show of support. But, the Republican from Turlock and his allies said Wednesday that they are not yet willing to commit to forcing Ryans hand through a little-used procedural move called a discharge petition; they acknowledged theres no guarantee that all of 47 Republicans and 193 Democrats House co-signers will back them up if they try to force the issue. Im sure that it is something that will be discussed in the coming weeks. You should not need a discharge petition. When you can show the overwhelming majority of the House, the support of it, you should not need a discharge petition, but it is something we would talk about in the future, Denham said. It is far too early to talk about next steps. Ryan said last week that he opposes Denhams effort, saying its a waste of time for the House to vote on bills the president might veto. Denhams resolution would prompt debate and votes on four very different immigration bills: one favored by the Trump administration, one preferred by Democrats, one bipartisan proposal and another immigration bill of Ryans choice. Whichever got the most votes would move forward to the Senate. All four bills would help Dreamers to differing degrees and include varying levels of border security or immigration enforcement. For example, the Trump-backed bill would also dramatically reduce legal immigration, while the Democrats would only deal with legal status for Dreamers. Democrats say they dont expect the show of support will sway Ryan. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) said Tuesday night she expects Ryan will have to be forced into allowing a vote. It doesnt matter how many signatures we get. We could have every signature, technically, except his, on the floor of the House and... if he doesnt want to, it doesnt happen, Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) said. Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands), who gathered the Democratic co-sponsors for Denham, also wouldnt give a deadline for House leaders to act, but said the co-sponsors are only willing to wait weeks not months. We do want to give them an opportunity to bring up the rule and to use whatever process they want, Aguilar said. They do have options, but I think they need to understand that we have options too. Facebook

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Billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer endorses Kevin de Leon in his insurgent bid against Sen. Dianne Feinstein By Seema Mehta Tom Steyer, left, and California state Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles). (Getty Images; Los Angeles Times) Billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer is endorsing state Sen. Kevin de Leon in his insurgent challenge to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and did not rule out funding an outside effort to boost De Leons chances. I think hes the kind of young progressive that reflects California and would be a very strong advocate for our state nationally, Steyer said in an interview on Tuesday, pointing to De Leons efforts on issues such as immigration, climate change and gun control while he was the state Senate leader. I know him well and hes a friend. We share a lot of values. Steyer, who flirted with running for the Senate seat, did not criticize Feinstein as he has in the past. Sen. Feinstein has been an outstanding public servant who has dedicated the bulk of her adult life to the service of our state and the country, he said. These are two strong, very good Democrats. I just believe Kevin is the true progressive and he reflects something we need representing California going forward. I have nothing bad to say about Dianne Feinstein. I have a lot of good to say about Kevin de Leon. De Leon faces enormous odds as he tries to oust Feinstein, who has served in the Senate for a quarter-century, is well known to the states voters and has daunting leads in polls and fundraising. But De Leon has gained notable endorsements, most recently from the 2.1-million-member California Labor Federation last week. Campaign finance reports released this week show that Feinstein has more than $10 million in the bank, while De Leon has just more than $670,000. Feinstein, a multimillionaire and one of the wealthiest members of the Senate, has already lent her campaign $5 million and could easily write another check. But Steyer, a billionaire former hedge fund manager, could write a larger one. He is among the largest Democratic donors in the nation and has already committed more than $50 million to push for the impeachment of President Trump and to register young voters. He was noncommittal when asked if he would fund an independent expenditure group on behalf of De Leon. I dont have any concrete plans for that, he said. Read More Facebook

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Californias largest pension fund sends next years invoice to state government: $6.3 billion By John Myers The California Public Employees Retirement System building (Max Whittaker / Getty Images) As part of a shift toward less optimistic expectations for investment returns to pay for government worker pensions, board members of the California Public Employees Retirement System voted Tuesday to require an almost $6.3-billion payment from the state budget in the fiscal year that begins on July 1. The action, which could receive final approval on Wednesday, reflects a gradually higher annual contribution to public employee pensions by the state and from local governments across California. In 2016, CalPERS approved a half-percentage point decrease in its official estimate of the long-term investment return on its $353.3-billion portfolio. That shift was designed to happen over several years, in hopes it would lessen the financial shock of shifting more of the costs onto government employers. The highest costs are also, in part, a reflection of increases in the size of the states payroll. The states CalPERS payment will be about $450 million more than the total paid in the current fiscal year and more than double what it was only a decade ago. CalPERS board members voted on Tuesdays staff proposal with little discussion, save for a question about the increase in contributions also required from workers hired after a pension overhaul that took effect in June. It seems like it will be a ding on peoples salaries, said Theresa Taylor, the chairwoman of CalPERS finance committee and a member of SEIU Local 1000, the union that represents some 96,000 state employees. The $6.299-billion payment required from Californias state government must now be factored into the budget crafted by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in late June. Brown had already assumed a similarly sized payment in his budget proposal unveiled in January. In February, a coalition representing city governments warned about the effects of rising pension costs under the expectations of less money from Wall Street investments. The report issued by the League of California Cities projected an average increase of more than 50% in annual pension payments made by the states largest cities over the next seven years. A CalPERS staff report notes that the net return on all of the funds investments for the fiscal year that ended in July was 11.2%. But expectations on profits over the next 30 years remain significantly more modest, and theres long been a robust debate about how to properly set those future expectations. The lower the rate of projected investment return, the larger the share of pension costs that must be covered by taxpayers and some employees. Overall, CalPERS officials believe the system has assets to cover 71% of its long-term obligations. Facebook

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California warns legal pot sellers not to participate in unlicensed 4/20 events By Patrick McGreevy Marijuana on display at a dispensary in Los Angeles. ( (Frederic J. Brown / AFP/Getty Images)) The state issued a warning Tuesday that businesses holding licenses to sell marijuana could face penalties if they participate in unlicensed temporary events away from their stores, including on Friday, April 20, which has become an annual celebration for counterculture groups. The warning was issued ahead of 4/20 by the state Bureau of Cannabis Control. Since Jan. 1, the bureau has issued more than 700 state licenses to sell marijuana for medical or recreational use. The bureau has issued 47 temporary event licenses to groups that are limited to holding the marijuana celebrations on county fairgrounds that have authorized such events with city approval. Any bureau licensee participating in an unlicensed cannabis event may be subject to disciplinary action, the warning said, adding that lawful participation by bureau licensees in any temporary cannabis event that allows sales and/or consumption is dependent upon issuance of the appropriate licenses from the bureau. While many Californians have been issued medical approval to sell or use marijuana, the law does not allow them to participate in unlicensed events, also referred to as Proposition 215 events after the ballot measure that legalized medical pot two decades ago in the state. Participation in such events may lead to civil penalties for unlicensed commercial cannabis activity, the warning said. Meanwhile, a survey of some 1,000 marijuana users that was released Tuesday by the firm LendEDU found that the average 4/20 participant plans to spend $71 on marijuana to celebrate the unofficial holiday, and about 35% of respondents are planning to take off work Friday. Facebook

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California police groups shift position on officer discipline records, now consider support for making some of them public By Liam Dillon Los Angeles Police Department recruits at a graduation ceremony in April (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Some major law enforcement groups signaled Tuesday they are willing to support making part of police officer disciplinary records public, a dramatic departure from their past positions. Local and national attention on police shootings and misconduct has led law enforcement organizations to reconsider their blanket opposition to proposals that would give public access to some internal disciplinary investigations of officers. Were going to be open to supporting efforts that would allow for some records to be released, said Ryan Sherman, a lobbyist with the Riverside Sheriffs Assn. Debate over secrecy provisions in officer disciplinary files came during a legislative hearing on Senate Bill 1421 from Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley). Skinners bill, which advanced out of the Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, would require public disclosure of all internal officer shooting investigations and confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. Currently, all police discipline information is confidential outside of a courtroom in California, which has some of the nations strictest standards against public disclosure. Unfortunately, the fact that we have such strict restrictions on any access to public records has affected certain communities trust towards our law enforcement, Skinner said during the hearing. Prior to Skinners effort, other have tried to loosen these rules, some of which date back 40 years. Most recently in 2016, a bid by then-Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) failed in a Senate committee. In debate two years ago, no major law enforcement groups indicated they would accept changes to state laws that would make individual internal investigations public, saying they were essential to protect officer privacy and safety. But Tuesday, Sherman and other lobbyists including those representing the states largest police labor organization, signaled they might be willing to entertain changes. They said they were negotiating with Skinner on the bills details. Law enforcement groups still have major concerns about SB 1421 as written. Ed Fishman, an attorney for the Police Officers Research Assn., told legislators that the bill would wrongfully expose police officers who acted within departmental policy to invasions of their privacy. It has unintended consequences that are extreme and will hurt the public, Fishman said. Tuesdays hearing featured testimony from many who have had relatives killed by police officers in recent years advocating for the bill. Senators on the Public Safety Committee also gave public rebukes to law enforcement lobbyists, criticizing them for a lack of diversity and insensitivity to concerns raised by communities of color. I think that you are completely and utterly out of touch with the realities of how those you are representing are perceived by major segments of California, said Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles). You are not going to be able to continue to lobby your way out of it. The bill faces at least one more committee hearing in the Senate before reaching the floor. It will have to pass both houses of the Legislature by the end of August. Facebook

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Newest member of the California Assembly arrives ready to work on criminal justice issues By John Myers Assemblywoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove prepares for the oath of office from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon with her husband, Austin Dove. (California Assembly Democrats) Two weeks after winning a Los Angeles special election, the newest member of the California Assembly says she hopes to focus on reforms to the states criminal justice system during her time in Sacramento. Assemblywoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) took the oath of office on Monday, filling one of three vacant seats representing Los Angeles County in the lower house. The Democrat, a former community college trustee and legislative staffer, thanked her mentors in remarks from the Assembly rostrum. So many women, and in my life so many black women, have paid in giving me the kind of morals and integrity and grit that is required to fight on behalf of people that you know, and people that you dont know, she said. Kamlager-Dove won handily on April 3, receiving 70% of the votes cast in the 54th Assembly District which encompasses communities west of downtown Los Angeles, from Crenshaw to Culver City and as far north as Westwood. She will serve the remaining eight months of the term of former Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, who resigned last year citing health concerns. She has said she hopes to focus her attention on poverty issues and on reform of the states criminal justice system. I think we have an opportunity to really push the needle in terms of how we look at rehabilitation, how we look at incarceration, and how we look at changing the lives oftentimes of poor men and women of color, Kamalager-Dove said on Monday in a video released by Assembly Democrats. Facebook

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Survivors of violent crime raise their voices in California to call for a new approach to criminal justice By Jazmine Ulloa Aaliyah Smith marches with her cousins. (Jazmine Ulloa / Los Angeles Times) Her father, uncle, a cousin and two older brothers. Those are some of the family members 16-year-old Aaliyah Smith has lost to gun violence. Then there are her friends. Jermaine Jackson Jr., 27, was shot and killed in 2016 while he painted over graffiti in San Francisco. Toriano Tito Adger, 18, was shot there a year later at a bus stop. He called Smith, who was nearby, and warned her to run. She made it inside a library moments before the crack of gunfire. Last week, Smith was among hundreds who gathered in Sacramento for annual National Crime Victims Rights Week events, where calls were issued for a new approach to criminal justice and public safety in California, one that puts survivors at the center of policy. But a debate is brewing over what that entails. Read More Facebook

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California expects $14 billion in tax payments this month By John Myers State workers handle income tax returns at the California Franchise Tax Board offices. (Laura Morton / For The Times) Gov. Jerry Browns proposed state budget is built on what taxpayers might find an audacious assumption: almost $14 billion in tax payments in the month of April, an average of $83 million collected per hour on every business day of the month. Most of that money will come from the taxes Californians pay in advance of Tuesday nights filing deadline for income tax returns. If history is any guide, the rate of payment could quadruple by weeks end. While tax rules have shifted some of the payment schedules to other months, April remains a vitally important month to the fiscal health of state government. The state controllers office reports more than 15% of all personal income tax revenues in 2017 were collected in April. In the recession years of a decade ago, tax revenue predictions were frequently off the mark by hundreds of millions of dollars. The last two state budgets have seen significant windfalls of personal income tax revenue, thanks in part both to an improving economy and to the continuation of a temporary surcharge on the wealthiest taxpayers  extended by voters in 2016. In the budget plan he sent to lawmakers in January, Brown projected a $6.1-billion windfall and proposed using a sizable amount to top off Californias rainy-day fund ahead of schedule. The independent Legislative Analysts Office reports that through the end of last week, the months income tax tally stood at $3 billion, slightly ahead of projections. By the end of the current week, a single days total could be almost that large. Lawmakers began reviewing the governors $190.3-billion spending plan during the winter, but few decisions are made until they get a look at Aprils tax revenues. The governor will release a revised plan based on the new data next month; lawmakers are required to send him a completed budget no later than June 15. Facebook

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Feinstein war chest tops $10 million while Kevin de Leon struggles to keep pace By Sarah D. Wire Sen. Dianne Feinstein widened her already-massive fundraising advantage in the run-up to Junes primary, raising twice as much in the first quarter than her strongest Senate challenger has sitting in the bank. Feinstein raised $1.3 million between January and March, bringing her war chest to just over $10 million as Californias U.S. Senate race begins in earnest, according Federal Election Commission reports. Former state Senate leader Kevin De Leon, the best known of the more than 30 people who will appear with Feinstein on the June primary ballot, raised just $575,991 in that same period, bringing his cash on hand to $672,331, according to his quarterly FEC report. Read More Facebook

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Trump has met his match, says Gov. Jerry Brown in promoting climate action on a quick trip to Canada By John Myers (Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press) Gov. Jerry Brown told a Canadian audience Monday that he believes President Trumps efforts to reverse course on climate change policy are a momentary deviation as others in the United States seek limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Thats very temporary, I can assure you, Brown said at a joint event in Toronto with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne. The governors quick international trip, announced only late last week, comes as Wynnes Liberal Party faces a stiff challenge in Junes election from the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and its leader, Doug Ford. Critics of Wynnes party have called for Ontario to pull out of the Western Climate Initiative, a cooperative agreement between three Canadian provinces and California on efforts to limit greenhouse gases. Brown sought to link the efforts of Canadian conservatives with Republicans in the United States who oppose existing climate change programs. In contrast, he told the audience, several GOP lawmakers voted last summer to renew Californias cap-and-trade program. I would say to the conservatives of Canada, wake up and see what your friends in California are doing, he said. The Democrat took particular notice of Trumps efforts to shift away from climate change policies from the administration of former President Obama, as well as a push by the Environmental Protection Agency to cancel Californias strict limits on automobile emissions. If Trump tries to change that, well have litigation well beyond his term in office, Brown said while also noting Chinese government efforts to produce more low-emissions vehicles. Between California and China, Trump has met his match. What hes saying is not going to happen. Many of the governors remarks, though, were aimed at the tough political situation in which Wynne finds herself with seven weeks to go before Ontarios parliamentary elections. Dangers abound, but success is right in our hands, Brown said. So dont blow it! Facebook

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California voters are getting to know the states attorney general through his aggressive stance challenging Trump By Patrick McGreevy Less than two months from his first statewide election, California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra has become adept not only at challenging President Trump but at using the bully pulpit of his office to raise his profile with voters. The aggressive effort may help boost the former Los Angeles congressmans chances at winning a full term in office this fall, almost two years after he was appointed to replace Sen. Kamala Harris in 2017. Appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown, Becerra took office as attorney general four days after Trumps inauguration. Thats afforded him an opportunity to get in front of Californians  and potential voters  on an array of issues including immigration, healthcare and the environment. Read More Facebook

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Gov. Jerry Brown forms commission for 2020 census outreach By Melanie Mason In an effort to make sure California has a strong showing in the next national census, Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday established a state commission to prepare outreach for the decennial count. It is vitally important for California to do everything it can to ensure that every Californian is counted in the upcoming census, Brown said in a prepared statement. The commissions formation comes on the heels of a Trump administration plan to ask about citizenship status as a part of the census. State officials fear that such a question, which has not been asked in a census since 1950, could chill participation among California residents. That could result in the state losing billions of dollars in federal funds and a seat in Congress. The 23-member panel, appointed largely by Brown as well as picks by legislative leaders, comes from private- and public-sector backgrounds, including civil rights groups, religious institutions and educational institutions. Facebook

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Garcetti kicks off Iowa visit with 2020 on his mind and a hardhat on his head LA Mayor - and 2020 prospect - Eric Garcetti makes his Iowa debut at the Carpenters Union Training Center. Fearlessly flaunts the never be photographed in head gear/safety glasses rule. pic.twitter.com/14bUOPXMvF  Mark Z. Barabak (@markzbarabak) April 13, 2018 Facebook

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Asm. Rocky Chavez takes the lead in race to replace Issa, while Doug Applegate slips By Joshua Stewart A new poll shows that Republican Assemblyman Rocky Chavez has taken a clear lead over 15 other candidates running to replace Rep. Darrell Issa in Congress and has overtaken Democrat Doug Applegate, the previous frontrunner. In a SurveyUSA poll by 10News and The San Diego Union-Tribune, Chavez, R-Oceanside, has support of 16 percent of likely voters, putting him ahead of Applegate, a lawyer, who was favored by 12 percent of voters and is in second place. The top two vote-getters in June, regardless of party, will proceed to a November runoff election. Competing with Applegate for the No. 2 spot is Democrat Mike Levin, also a lawyer, with support of 9 percent of voters. Several other candidates were right at his heels. Democratic Businessman Paul Kerr and Board of Equalization Member Diane Harkey, R-Dana Point, were tied for fourth at 8 percent each. Read More Facebook

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Pro-Kevin de Leon group launches ad castigating Dianne Feinstein By Seema Mehta A group that is supporting Kevin de Leons bid for the U.S. Senate launched a blistering ad against Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Thursday, questioning her progressive principles and tying her to President Trump. The ad buy from A Progressive California is minuscule  $10,000 to air it in Los Angeles for one day on CNN and MSNBC during programming such as The Rachel Maddow Show, Hardball with Chris Matthews and Anderson Cooper 360. The minute-long ad features news clips about Feinstein not getting the California Democratic Party endorsement earlier this year, as well as footage of Feinstein saying that Trump can be a good president and appearing to share a laugh with Trump. That moment actually came during a White House meeting in the aftermath of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting when the president suggested an assault weapons ban should be included in a bipartisan bill to expand gun background checks. It also features extensive clips of de Leons speech at the state partys convention. De Leon, who just ended his final term as leader of the state Senate, announced last year he would run against fellow Democrat Feinstein as she seeks her fifth full term. Feinsteins longtime political advisor dismissed the ad, noting the size of the buy. Its not really a buy, said Bill Carrick. Ten thousand dollars in cable in L.A. Poof, its gone. Still, he said he planned to have the campaigns lawyers review the ad to see if it violates campaign law that limits what outside groups like A Progressive California can do. Such groups cannot coordinate with campaigns or candidates, and are limited in how much their messages can support a candidate. Ann Ravel, the former chair of the Federal Election Commission and the California Fair Political Practices Commission, said if the ad was in a state race, she is certain that the state commission would open an investigation into potential coordination with de Leons campaign because of the messaging and the types of footage in the ad. But the bipartisan federal commission cant agree on how to enforce the federal regulations, she said. The problem is [outside groups] understand that given the lack of very strong enforcement at the federal level, theres the ability to stretch the law, she said. A spokeswoman for the FEC declined to comment. Dave Jacobson, a spokesman for A Progressive California, disputed the suggestion that the ad violated campaign law. This frivolous allegation shows that Sen. Feinstein is afraid of the public seeing an ad which showcases her own words, that Donald Trump can be a good president, he said. Facebook

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Dispute over money emerges in campaign to repeal Californias gas tax increase By Patrick McGreevy A motorist prepares to gas up her vehicle in San Rafael, Calif., in 2015. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) A proposed initiative to repeal hikes to Californias gas tax has been caught in the middle of a dispute involving Republican rivals in the governors race. Assemblyman Travis Allen, a Republican candidate for governor, decided in January to drop plans for his own initiative and said he would urge supporters to sign a separate petition being supported by several Republican members of Congress. Then last week, the committee Allen formed to finance his ballot measure reported a $300,000 contribution from PISF Inc., a Novato, Calif., real estate firm. Now, an organizer of the still active Give Voters a Voice committee is urging the Allen committee to immediately donate their funds in support of the ongoing signature gathering efforts. There is only one gas tax repeal measure currently in circulation and that is the measure sponsored by the Give Voters a Voice Committee, said Dave Gilliard, a consultant to the group. PISF Inc., he said, gave to repeal taxes a
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

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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

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Watch Live: White House holds surprise news briefing amid government shutdown Facebook

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Watch live: Vice President Pence and lawmakers honor George H.W. Bush at the U.S. Capitol before he lies in state Facebook

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Watch live: White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders holds a media briefing amid tensions at the border By Los Angeles Times Staff Facebook

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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
In the midst of strong debate over the removal of historic statues deemed offensive by some members of the public, vandals in August painted the word murder on a statue of California Mission founder Junipero Serra in the Mission Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The recent incident was not the first act of vandalism against representations of Serra, who was named a saint by Pope Francis in September 2015. A monument dating from 1891 was beheaded in Monterey in October 2015, and Saint of Genocide was scrawled on a headstone at the mission in Carmel that year.

Activists accuse the Roman Catholic missionary of leading an oppressive charge against Native Americans during Spanish exploration of California, but others, including historian Dennis Copeland, view Serra as an important historical leader and a man who worked to help the native inhabitants of the region.

Its really unfortunate because Father Serra, aside from being a religious figure, was also the co-founder of Monterey, Copeland said.

Similar differences in opinion regarding statues of Confederate and other leaders have brought national attention, and many cities have agreed to remove longstanding monuments under pressure from community members who claim they cause offense.

Q. Where do you stand on the debate over monuments to controversial historic figures, in particular to religious leaders like Serra?

..

I believe its wrong to rewrite history, whether by inventing people or events that never existed, or by denying those that really did.

Monuments commemorate history. Let the statues stand and learn from history. A person who made a significant contribution to the welfare of a nation, or a region, should not be made a pariah simply because he or she was a person of faith. Intellectually, thats sticking ones head in the sand. And those whose contribution was more notorious than noble can stand as a warning that evil is sometimes tolerated by the majority and must always be guarded against.

In the end, right always stands out as right, and the statues of negative examples dont tempt us to follow. They make us recoil in disgust. They remind us that people can be grossly misguided and cruel. They also expose the darkness in the hearts of those who consider them worthy of praise.

Interesting, isnt it, and telling that so much effort has been made lately to remove the symbol of the cross from public view. The cross endures as a testimony of the greatest love and the greatest act of compassion ever accomplished. No matter what monument men construct or tear down, eternity will resound in praise of the one who bore the cross for our sakes.

Pastor Jon Barta

Burbank

..

These lawless vandals of public property shouldnt be respected. Most arent educated enough to make pronouncements regarding Serras morals or crimes. Neither do they know the hearts of other historic note-worthies who followed a path taking moral cues from scripture.

In our current, perpetually offended environment, fools are desecrating their own history. Consider the Civil War combatants, for instance. There were myriad reasons for taking opposing sides, even though officers graduated from the same West Point. Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee wrote, slavery as an institution is a moral and political evil in any country, yet he fought for states rights on the losing side. Vandals see only a Confederate and clamor for his likeness to be toppled.

Columbus sailed the ocean blue in fourteen hundred and ninety two, and ever since, Americans commemorate his discovery. Suddenly, hes called a devil, when in reality he was a man of conscience who voyaged for the increase and glory of the Christian religion, according to his own journal. Recently, the Los Angeles City Council trashed everyones Columbus Day observance for their own Indigenous Peoples Day! Now, instead of celebrating the coming of civilization and salvation, were forced to commemorate a hunter-gatherer-stone-age peoples day. Great.

Then theres Junipero Serra. While Im no Roman Catholic, Ive read enough to know that Serras intention was to save the naked natives, and to bring their illiterate culture out of superstition and into the light. How history pans out is often painful, and back-seat revisionists love it to exploit. But how many today, of Mexican and otherwise native descent, would curse God for their salvation? Would they really want to go back to the days of ignorance and darkness? Certainly their ancestors bore the brunt of their cultures transition, but all of our cultures have done no less. Fact is, Serra was a religious figure who had in mind to aid the indigenous, and he did so as a fatherly figure because his mission field was rife with idolatry, human sacrifice, polytheism and generally ignorant paganism.

Look, were all one people sired by the same couple that the Bible reveals. Deny it, and you reopen a can of worms regarding degrees of humanness while further inflaming the racial supremacists. Our historic monuments represent us all, and they invite discussion and remembrance, but vandals today are of different sorts: those illegal, and those who collude to ramrod political correctness while sitting in session. I think they should leave our monuments and memorials alone, lest everything imaginable comes tumbling down and we no longer share a common history that peacefully unites us.

Rev. Bryan A. Griem

Tujunga

..

Standing before a monument memorializing any historic figure, I like to see actual history presented. I see no need for heroic renderings of a general who led a war for a despicable, failed cause. Lies and omissions of facts do not serve us well or honor our past.

Monuments in public spaces belong to the community, and it is in the finest American tradition for people to organize to press for community standards on those spaces. We have had an exemplary local case recently here in La Crescenta. Contextual and factual signage was agreed to by the community and added at Crescenta Valley Community Regional Park, explaining the history of the section formerly named Hindenburg Park.

Father Junipero Serra founded major church outposts and a California city, so say that, but also say he played an important part in a conquest that set out deliberately to eliminate the native population. A recent New York Times piece has a good summary of the attempted genocide of Californias native people.

We must acknowledge this murderous history, which puts vandalism of statutes in historic perspective.

Roberta Medford

Atheist

Montrose

..

Its been a long time coming. The current fervor to remove statues that celebrate colonialism, racism and those who fought in defense of slavery has been brewing for decades. Such efforts are the result of changed interpretations of history that have created a sharper understanding of the crimes committed by some who were once lionized as icons of regional versions of American civil religion.

The American Historical Assn.s recent Statement on Confederate Monuments argues that monuments and commemorations represent one interpretation of the past. The AHA states, A monument is not history itself; a monument commemorates an aspect of history, representing a moment in the past when a public or private decision defined who would be honored in a communitys public spaces. The AHA also advocates the preservation of monuments, away from sites that give them a place of honor, as artifacts that can help the public understand how interpretation of the past has changed over time.

I think the same principles apply to statues of Father Serra. Whereas the Catholic Church considers him as a saint because he helped spread Catholicism in Spanish-controlled territories, his legacy is not worthy of honor on public property. Not only did Serra have a hand in the oppression of the native inhabitants he encountered, his penchant for self-flagellation raises questions about his mental stability. Continuing to honor such a self-destructive person in public spaces should certainly be the subject of debate.

Vandalism is not usually the best way to make a point because, much like erecting statues that ignore the sentiments of many citizens, it is not accountable to democratic process. There have been many campaigns to shape historical commemoration that have achieved positive results through debate and collaboration. Then again, the Boston Tea Party was a form of vandalism that is rightly celebrated in history textbooks as an effective act of civil disobedience. When individuals take destructive actions to make a point, it is up to the rest of us to build a process in which such concerns can be constructively addressed.

David L. Hostetter, Ph.D.

President, Unitarian Universalist Church of the Verdugo Hills (UUVerdugo)
We spent the morning hiking the rugged canyons and ridges of Espiritu Santo Island, a protected marine park off the eastern coast of Baja. In the afternoon we snorkeled and kayaked the turquoise waters of its bay. Finally, in the evening, 40 of us, all passengers sailing aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird, sat around a beach campfire roasting marshmallows and listening to gentle waves lap the shore. Millions of stars shone overhead.

Was this a cruise? Or a scout camp?

Sometimes its hard to tell the difference when youre on an expedition ship, which may explore the waters off Latin America or still more remote areas such as the Arctic or Antarctic.

If you dislike the idea of cruising because you fear youll be rubbing shoulders with 4,000 people on a passenger ship thats equipped with giant water slides, climbing walls and ice rinks, maybe you should check out expedition or adventure cruising, which is growing by leaps and bounds.

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Expedition cruise lines cater to adventure-seeking travelers who enjoy wildlife viewing in far-flung places, whether Ecuadors Galapagos Islands or here Espiritu Santo in the Sea of Cortez, also known as the Gulf of California.

Other ships sail port to port, said the Sea Birds captain, David Kay, explaining the difference. We dont. We stop to see wildlife, to take hikes and to have experiences rather than take you to souvenir shops.

Sea lions rest at Los Islotes in Baja California, Mexico. (Jeff Litton )

The cruise I took earlier this month, Lindblad Expeditions Base Camp Baja, held in alliance with National Geographic Expeditions, was only four days long, a rarity among expedition voyages.

Most are at least a week; some are much longer because they explore far-away destinations. But it gave me a taste of the genre.

I flew from LAX to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, then hopped on a bus with other passengers for a 2 1/2-hour trip to La Paz, where we set sail.

The Sea Bird has little in common with large cruise ships. The vessel, built in 1982, is elderly compared to many passenger ships  National Geographic calls it a tried-and-true expedition ship.

Its just 164 feet long, carries only 62 passengers and has none of the bells and whistles found on big ships: Theres no casino, no pools and just one restaurant. No cabin is larger than 120 square feet; all are equipped with tiny, awkward-to-use combination toilet-shower stalls.

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But most passengers dont care; theyre not interested in mega-ship trappings.

The caliber of the staff is high, and the company has a strong environmental ethic. I like that, said Jennifer Howse, a Brooklyn, N.Y., resident who was on the Sea Bird voyage. This was the third Lindblad/National Geographic trip for Howse, who also has been on expeditions to the Galapagos Islands and Costa Rica. I like the places these ships go, she said.

A campfire on Bonanza Beach in Baja California, Mexico is part of Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographics Sea Bird cruises. (Jeff Litton )

Indeed, many passengers said they choose expedition cruises because of interesting destinations that big ships cant access. They also like the educational aspects of the cruises, which focus on the history, culture, geology and wildlife of the area. In addition, there are usually staff photographers onboard who offer lots of one-on-one tips.

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The uninhabited islands of Isla Espiritu Santo, a protected World Heritage site, are a prime example of a typical expedition cruise destination. Although hundreds of mega-ships call annually at Cabo San Lucas, only small ships like the Sea Bird visit the Sea of Cortez. The islands of this protected marine park feel worlds away from the tourist beaches of Cabo.

When you go on this kind of trip, you dont get the amenities you do on a big cruise ship, said Randy Malcolm of San Diego. But you get to see places you would never be able to reach. And you dont have to stand in lines.

A lack of lines is also important to Anne and Bob Johnson of Long Beach, who have been on multiple expedition cruises, most recently on trips visiting the Antarctic and the Arctic with One Ocean Expeditions, a Canadian company that specializes in polar excursions.

A key for us, said Anne Johnson, is to be able to take advantage of everything thats offered. We dont want to get shut out because there are too many people aboard who want to do an activity.

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Gentoo penguins waddle in Antarctica as the ship Akademik Ioffe sails behind them in the Errera Channel. (Daisy Gilardini / One Ocean Expeditions )

Expedition cruises also draw praise from passengers because theyre more social. Malcolm likes that aspect too. No one knows who you are on a big ship; on this kind of trip everyone is friendly, everyone knows your name.

Because of the growing popularity of expedition trips, more cruise companies are testing the waters, building smaller ships and trying to challenge longtime favorites such as Lindblad, which has a 51-year history of expedition travel.

Fifteen new vessels are being constructed over the next two years, including a mega-yacht from Crystal Cruises, which will launch in 2019 and be equipped with two mini-subs and two helicopters.

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Other mainstream cruise companies offering small-ship sailings to places such as the Galapagos Islands are Celebrity Cruises and Seabourn Cruise Line, which will cruise the Arctic Ocean this summer on a 24-night voyage from Reykjavik, Iceland, to Montreal.

Lindblad has geared up too, launching its first new ship, the National Geographic Quest, last July. A sister ship, the National Geographic Venture, will launch later this year. Lindblads first new polar vessel will arrive in 2020.

Expedition/adventure cruises usually are pricier than standard big-ship cruises, due in part to the remote destinations. An expedition cruise to Antarctica, for instance, ranges from about $4,000 to $16,000 per person, double occupancy, if you boarded in Argentina or Chile. Add to that the cost of airfare from Los Angeles to South America.

Lindblads Baja Base Camp trip was $1,990 per person, double occupancy. When its offered again in December and January 2019, it will be four nights instead of three and be on the new ship Venture. Rates will begin at $2,650 per person, double occupancy.

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The Sea Bird is currently doing nine-day Baja whale-watching cruises with rates from $6,590 per person, double occupancy.

Id love to go on one of those trips too, but I enjoyed the Baja Base Camp trip. It varied a bit from most cruises because it had a wellness component, offering yoga and massage from Exhale, a boutique fitness company.

We did yoga on the top deck every morning and yoga on the beach every afternoon. Some people even did yoga on paddleboards floating in the gulf.

I passed on that class and went swimming instead. I figured that was what Id end up doing, one way or another.

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travel@latimes.com

@latimestravel
Hours before a mass anti-Kremlin rally was to begin here Sunday, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny appeared in a live-streamed video to assure his followers that he had a cunning plan to avoid arrest.

Because his building in central Moscow was surrounded by police, Navalny said, he had moved to another apartment in Russias capital. He then gave the address: Zelinsky Street 6, Apartment 84. A prominent Russian newspaper last year reported that the address was used by Russian President Vladimir Putin for his official registration.

Im waiting for all you policemen here, Navalny, 41, said as he assured his hundreds of thousands of YouTube channel followers with a smirk. Come arrest me.

Hours later, they did. Putins most prominent political opponent was briefly detained after being arrested  not at Putins registration address, but as he made his way toward the demonstrations on Tverskaya Street, the famous central boulevard that ends at the red brick walls of the Kremlin. Within seconds of his arrest, video of officers wrestling him into a police bus along with a few of his supporters was posted online.

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From the police bus, Navalny posted to his Twitter account: I was detained. It doesnt matter. Come out to Tverskaya. Dont go for me, but for yourself and your future.

Navalny called for Sundays rallies to support a nationwide boycott of what he calls a rigged presidential election.

The anti-corruption crusader turned presidential hopeful organized protests against the Kremlin government across Russia in March, June and October. Police have arrested him each time for orchestrating unsanctioned rallies.

The demonstrations have seen hundreds of young protesters detained in cities across the country. Demonstrations in June saw the highest number of detentions as police arrested more than 1,000 people.

Though Navalny has gathered enough signatures to support his registration as a candidate in the March 18 election, Russias Central Election Commission has barred him from running because of a conviction in a 2013 embezzlement case. Navalny has said the case against him was politically motivated.

The Kremlin insists that Russian elections are free and fair, but in reality Putins system of managed democracy prevents most opposition candidates from running. Putins image shepherding daily events dominates the state-run media, which largely ignore candidates opposing the Kremlin.

Navalnys popularity has grown as his campaign stretches across Russias 11 time zones, particularly with a young generation that follows his YouTube channel and social media accounts while ignoring the government-controlled television news. Video investigations by Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation have exposed what his campaign claims are Kremlin-linked corruption schemes. The most popular investigation into Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, which claims the prime minister embezzled about $1.2 billion, has been viewed more than 26 million times.

Putin does not mention Navalnys name in public. Police have embarked on a harassment campaign against Navalnys regional campaign headquarters through raids and detentions of local volunteers who are organizing protests and meetings in support of Navalnys election bid. Parents of young participants in Navalny events have been threatened with firings at work, and students who have attended his rallies have been expelled from government universities.

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Sundays protests again saw thousands of young Russians coming out to support Navalnys election day voters strike, in which voters are urged to come to the polls but mark their ballots without voting for Putin.

Putin has been either prime minister or president since 1999. If he wins March 18 as widely expected, it will be the 65-year-old Kremlin leaders fourth presidential term. Putins approval ratings have hovered around 80% since 2014, when Russia illegally annexed Crimea from Ukraine. The move was seen by Putins supporters as a huge win for returning Russia to its former glory, despite the international criticism and Western sanctions that followed.

A successful voters strike could be significant if it shows high turnout but diminished support for Putin. Russian media have reported widely that the Kremlin is hoping for a 70/70 at the polls this year, meaning 70% turnout with 70% support for Putins reelection.

Sundays protests started in Russias Far East and Siberia and continued across up to 100 towns and cities. Police reported that nearly 1,000 turned out in both Moscow and St. Petersburg. At each rally, protesters shouted, Russia without Putin, and held signs that read Putin is the thief! and Down with the czar!

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In the Siberian town of Yakutsk, demonstrators braved temperatures of minus 49 degrees. There were also protests in remote cities such as Murmansk near the Arctic Circle and the eastern port city of Vladivostok, where an estimated 800 people turned out.

I came out not because I support Navalny or dont support Navalny, but because I want to live in a country where I can believe in the results of our elections, said Alla Naumcheva, a 29-year old finance worker from Moscow. Im going to vote, but Im not going to vote for anyone, Ill just mark my ballot with some curse words.

Police on Sunday raided Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation office, where his team was doing live, online video broadcasts. Social media posts showed police using a grinder saw to cut down the door of the studio during the broadcast.

          pic.twitter.com/OUPEMIKVou  Alexey Navalny (@navalny) January 28, 2018

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They are sawing the doors of the federal headquarters right now, Navalny tweeted, with a photo of the drama.

Once inside, the police detained one of the shows hosts, Dmitry Nizovtsev, who they said was accused of trying to plant a bomb in the office. After entering the office, police seized computers and cameras, Navalnys staff reported.

Meanwhile, other members of Navalnys team were using another studio at an undisclosed location to continue the live-streamed broadcast and avoid detention.

Navalny was released without charges late Sunday night on condition that he appear in court at a later date, his lawyer Olga Mikhailova told Interfax news agency.

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If convicted of organizing an unsanctioned protest, Navalny faces 30 days in jail.

sabra.ayres@latimes.com

Twitter: @sabraayres

Ayres is a special correspondent.

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1:55 p.m.: This article has been updated with Navalny released pending a court date.

This article was originally posted at 9:45 a.m.
Colombias demobilized rebel group known as the FARC unveiled its new look as a political organization on Saturday with its presidential candidate promising followers at a rally in Bogota to fight corruption, address social iniquities and fight for the interests of the poor.

Gone were the FARCs combat fatigues and weapons. At an event attended by an estimated 2,500 in the impoverished and crime-ridden Ciudad Bolivar barrio, the once hyperviolent guerrilla group showed off its new symbol, a rose against a white background. Its slate of candidates appeared on a stage dressed in white long-sleeve shirts.

Colombia needs a true democracy, said Rodrigo Londono Echeverri, the onetime rebel leader and now presidential candidate. The oppressed and millions of poor who have never counted must be heard and be able to decide their future.

He had long been known by his nom de guerre, Timochenko, and posters nodded to that name, referring to him simply as Timo.

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Former rebel leader Rodrigo Londono Echeverri, known as Timochenko, speaks at a campaign rally Saturday in Bogota, Colombia. (Ricardo Mazalan / AP )

Londono, 59, was also the leader of the rebel group during four years of peace negotiations with the Colombian government that culminated in the peace deal that he and President Juan Manuel Santos signed in late 2016. He will face off against other candidates in the first round of voting May 27. If no one scores 50% of votes cast, the top two finishers will then vie in a runoff on June 17.

The rebel group turned political party also introduced candidates for the Senate and the House of Representatives in legislative elections that will take place March 11.

Although terms of the peace deal guaranteed the leftist group five seats in the Senate and five in the lower house in the next two sessions of congress, the FARC is hoping for a good showing in both presidential and congressional balloting to prove its viability as a political party.

We hope we get votes that at least reflect that number of senators and representatives offered to us by the peace agreement, said Carlos Alberto Marin, FARC candidate for the house to represent Bogota. If we get 500,000 votes in March, it means we would have won three or four Senate seats, and we can live with that.

But some analysts expect the FARC will have a difficult time garnering a half-million votes, which will probably equate to about 3% of the 15 million votes expected to be cast, assuming that voter turnout is 50% of the 30 million eligible to cast ballots. It may seem a modest goal, but the former rebels are hampered by serious image problems. FARC battled the government for more than 50 years, and many Colombians have not forgiven the group for innumerable killings and kidnappings.

As part of the peace accord, FARC admitted committing horrendous crimes, while also insisting that Colombian armed forces committed equally horrible violence. The military has been accused by human rights groups of cooperating with paramilitary death squads and of killing innocent civilian youths and identifying them as guerrillas killed in action to inflate body counts.

Many observers questioned the wisdom of the groups decision to keep the acronym FARC as the letters of its new political party. Instead of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the initials now stand for a moniker that in English translates as Common Alternative Revolutionary Force.

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The speeches by Londono and his vice presidential running mate, Imelda Daza, on Saturday gave clear indications that the partys campaign will seek to exploit widespread disaffection with the ruling class. Both promised to attack corruption, which has disillusioned many Colombians, and to address poverty in a country that has been described as Latin Americas most economically unequal after Haiti.

Roses, a new emblem for the former Colombian rebel group FARC, were on wide display at a political rally Saturday in Bogota. (Raul Arboleda / AFP/Getty Images )

Our country has always been governed by a powerful, indolent, mean-spirited, insensitive and egotistical elite that without any scruple has put everything at its service and concentrated our main means of production  land  in the hands of a few, Daza said. She returned to Colombia from 26 years of exile in Sweden to enter politics under the FARC banner.

It was no coincidence that the FARC staged its first major rally in the Ciudad Bolivar barrio. It is mainly a teeming, crime-ridden shantytown that has quickly grown over the last 20 years to house an influx of poor farm families fleeing violence in Colombias countryside and mountainous areas.

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Its for this identity we feel with the common people that we chose this locality to launch our political struggle, Londono said. We know how much you have struggled to obtain water, electricity, streets, health services and transport. Nothing has been given to you, not even schools built by different mayors.Its been the product of communal effort, an anxious struggle to overcome.

To read this article in Spanish, click here

Kraul is a special correspondent.
"We are doing [the UX]. It's not so far away," Yoshihiro Sawa, Lexus' executive vice president, said last year.

The UX is an important model because it will steer Lexus into an expanding segment that it has never competed in before. However, Sawa explained it's not just looking to satisfy its dealers by launching more crossovers. Cars like the UX are needed in order to lure younger buyers into the company's showrooms.

"Except IS and CT, Lexus owners are aged," he explained, adding the company wants to become more youth-focused.

The UX's imminent arrival, reported by Car, could spell the end of the CT. Lexus dropped the model in the United States last year but it carries on with minor updates in other markets. Developing a successor on Toyota's modular platform is possible, but the CT's problem is a global one.

As a four-door hatchback, it should appeal to buyers in Europe. The problem is that Lexus suffers from a near-complete lack of an image across the pond; rivals like the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, the BMW 1 Series and the Audi A3 outsell the CT by a substantial margin. Buyers in Lexus' biggest markets, America and China, have traditionally shunned hatchbacks in favor of crossovers.

In that light, it's difficult for decision-makers to put together a business case for a next-generation CT. It's also easy for them to justify adding another crossover to the Lexus catalog. If the rumors are accurate, we'll see the first-ever Lexus UX in the metal on March 6th, the Geneva show's opening day.
The president of the Easton Area School District Parent Teacher Association Council thinks the school board should consider building an elevator at Forks Elementary School.

But the school district's chief operating officer said the district already considered the elevator and it's too expensive.

The school district is renovating Forks Elementary School as part of more than $100 million in capital improvements across the district. Work is slated to start this spring on Forks Elementary.

Forks Elementary School will get chair lifts for most of its stairwells and its bathrooms will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. An elevator isn't included in the plans even though one is included in plans for a new Cheston Elementary School. Although the Forks project was estimated to cost $9 million, the low bid came in around $7.5 million.

"It seemed fair to ask if the district could just take another look and perhaps consult on ways that access can be improved even further," PTA President Lynn Alexander told the school board at a meeting Wednesday.

School district Chief Operating Officer Michael Simonetta said the elevator at Forks would have to be installed outside of the school and would cost a lot more than the one approved at Cheston.

He said fees and contingencies could drive up the $7.5 million cost at Forks. Even if they don't, the district needs to save what it can on each of its construction projects. Saving money on the Forks project means the district won't have to borrow as much money on future projects.

"The less I can borrow, the better it is for future debt and increases in taxes without jeopardizing the safety and well being of students and staff," Simonetta said.

Simonetta said the needs of handicapped students are met under the current renovation plans.

Alexander thanked the school board for taking parents' feedback seriously.

"My request was simply to acknowledge the positive steps that have already been taken and continue efforts to revisit our buildings through the lens of students and visitors who have special needs to try to meet those needs as much as possible," she said.

It's unclear whether work at Forks will start in March or after school lets out.

Forks' start date hinges on renovations at Tracy Elementary School. The Tracy students are temporarily housed in extra space at the middle school. Forks kids will move into that space after the work at Tracy is complete.

Simonetta said the Palmer Township code inspector recommends fire rating the ceiling and some hallways at Tracy Elementary. The work isn't required under code, but the school district has agreed to complete it. The school board will get a progress update in early February. If the work is on track, then Tracy kids will move back into the school in early March and the Forks kids will move out of their school and into the extra space at the middle school.

If not, the Tracy kids will stay where they are, work will continue at Tracy and the Forks work will wait until students are dismissed for the summer.

The Forks Elementary renovations should take about five months, Simonetta said.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
A drunk driver with a blood-alcohol level more than three times the legal limit caused a three-vehicle crash in Bath, according to Colonial Regional police.

Police identified Timothy Heffner, 50, of High Street, in Bethlehem, as the suspect.

Heffner was headed north on Chestnut Street at 9:10 p.m. Jan. 19 when he crashed into a pickup truck stopped at a red light, police said.

The impact pushed the pickup truck forward, causing its driver to crash into another car stopped at the light in front of him, police said.

No one was reported injured in the accident. An officer at the scene detected the presence of alcohol on Heffner and conduced field sobriety tests, which police said Heffner failed.

He was taken to the Bethlehem DUI Center for testing. Police said Heffner was determined to have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.29 at the time of the test; penalties for most drivers in Pennsylvania start at 0.08.

Aside from DUI, Heffner was charged with having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle and driving at an unsafe speed, authorities said.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
People in the news business understand tight deadlines. So it was natural for some us to look at the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's decision to order a new map of Congressional districts for the entire state by Feb. 15, and say:

Wow.

The process of redistricting normally follows a leisurely pace, riffling through the possibilities after each U.S. Census, before being approved by state legislative leaders.

In contrast, this week's order by the state's highest court -- demanding fairer, ungerrymandered districts in time for this year's elections -- juiced the atmosphere in Harrisburg like a lightning bolt in an open field.

No need to shed any tears for the cartographers. Today's redistricting is a computer-driven methodology that can spit out any number of maps in an eye blink, using voter-registration data to Crayola-fill congressional districts a crimson red or deep-sea blue.

That's the skullduggery that has driven Pennsylvania and other states into a litigious mess over partisan gerrymandering. We're thankful the state Supreme Court finally called someone's bluff -- in this case, GOP leaders in the Legislature, who devised an overtly Republican-buffed congressional map in 2012.

That map defies any rationale of fairness. It ignores the constitution's "compact and contiguous" advisory, ripping apart natural communities of interest, such as the Lehigh Valley, which was severed into "safe" Republican and Democratic districts on either end. It created jagged monstrosities, such as the 7th District's "Goofy kicking Donald Duck" caricature in suburban Philadelphia to protect a Republican incumbent.

This decision could still be hijacked. State Republican leaders have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking a stay. The high court is already considering gerrymandering appeals, one from Wisconsin alleging Republicans stacked the deck, another from Maryland accusing Democrats of the same. Lower federal courts have differed on the issue.

While the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has been accused of partisanship (it voted 5-2, along party lines), its ruling is a plaintive cry to reassign to the people the power to choose their representatives, rather than the other way around. We hope the ruling stands, even with the confusion it creates. This year's mid-term elections already were guaranteed to be course-shifting, given reaction to the Trump administration and a large number of resignations, including U.S. Reps. Charlie Dent and Pat Meehan.

Pennsylvania voters could end up in all new congressional districts for the 2018 and 2020 elections. We'll see if the Lehigh Valley is restored as the nucleus of one district. Even that could be a temporary victory.

The real goal is reforming the redistricting process, replacing the heavy hand of majority partisans with the broader outlook of an independent citizens commission. Other states have proven this can be done.

House Bill 722 and Senate Bill 22 would facilitate this change, but it requires a constitutional amendment; the Legislature must pass a bill in two consecutive sessions, after which voters must give their blessing in a statewide referendum. The clock is ticking down to the next census.

One bit of good news: State Rep. Steve Samuelson, D-Northampton, reported last week that his bill, HB 722, picked up its 101st sponsor, meaning a majority of the House is now behind redistricting reform. It's critical that voters urge their state senators and representatives to sign on, if they haven't done so, to pressure committee chairs and legislative leaders to bring these bills to a vote.
As a health teacher for the Shenendehowa school district, Dustin Verga sees firsthand the pressures today's youth are under.

They've grown up in an era of over-testing, jam-packed schedules, high expectations to get into a top college, and dual lives  one in the real world and one online, where the pressure to curate a picture-perfect life and rack up "likes" is ever-present.

That's why the introduction of mental health literacy in New York schools this coming fall is such a big deal, Verga said. For as long as anyone can remember, schools have taught children about physical health  food and nutrition, accidents and disease, mood-altering substances  but conspicuously absent has been the role mental health plays in a person's overall well-being.

"I think my students can identify when they're feeling stress or anxiety or something else, but I don't think they understand how to cope with it," he said. "They don't know that, just like you might need to rest if you're sick with the flu, you might need to take care of yourself if you're not feeling right mentally."

That could change starting July 1, when a hard-fought-for 2016 law to add mental health to the school curriculum goes into effect. The law makes New York the first state to require, not just encourage, schools to teach mental health, said Glenn Liebman, CEO of the Mental Health Association in New York, a lead advocate behind the law.

What took so long?

The idea of teaching young people about mental health is not a new one.

More Information Youth and mental health  One in four people are diagnosed with mental illness over the course of a year in the U.S.  Half of all chronic mental health conditions begin by age 14.  Half of all lifetime cases of anxiety disorders begin as early as age 8.  22 percent of youth ages 13-18 experience serious mental disorders in a given year.  More than 60 percent of young adults with a mental illness were unable to complete high school  Young people ages 16-24 with mental illness are four times less likely to be involved in gainful activities, like employment, college or trade school.  Those with a psychiatric disability are three times more likely to be involved in criminal justice activities.  Each year, 157,000 children and young adults, ages 10-24, are treated at emergency departments for self-inflicted injuries.  One in 12 high school students have attempted suicide. Sources: American Psychiatric Association, National Institute of Mental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention See More Collapse

The mental hygiene movement of the early 1900s introduced society to the concept that mental wellness could be just as important as physical wellness.,

In 1928, a nationwide group of superintendents recommended that mental hygiene be included in the teaching of health education, but it was not.

"When you talk about mental health and mental illness, people are still, because of the stigma, in the closet about it," Liebman said. "People just don't talk about it like they talk about physical illness."

Social media has strengthened the movement to de-stigmatize mental illness, he said. "People are being more candid about their mental health issues and seeking support and using social media as kind of a fulcrum for gaining support, peers and friends in their recovery," Liebman said.

Making the case

Advocates of the law want people to know they are not pushing for students or schoolteachers to become diagnosticians. They say that is best left to professionals.

Adding mental health literacy to the curriculum will provide youth with the knowledge of how to prevent mental disorders, recognize when a disorder is developing, know how and where to seek help and treatment, strategies for dealing with milder issues, and strategies for supporting others who are struggling.

"This is a real opportunity to educate youth about mental health and wellness, and to do it in a positive and comprehensive way," Liebman said. "It's really about empowering youth."

Misconceptions about mental illness, experts say, include believing individuals who suffer from it are more likely to commit violence than those who do not (the opposite, actually: they are more likely to be the victims of violence), or that recovery from mental illness is not possible (it is). Or, more broadly, the belief that mental illness only presents in obvious ways, such as behaving strangely, hearing voices or hallucinating. On the contrary, the most common mental illnesses are anxiety disorders.

The onset of mental illness often begins at a young age, advocates say, so early education is crucial.

Half of all chronic mental health conditions begin by age 14, according to the American Psychiatric Association, and half of all lifetime cases of anxiety disorders begin as early as age 8.

In addition, 22 percent of youth ages 13 to 18 experience serious mental disorders in a given year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

"If these statistics seem startling, it's because the reality of when most mental illnesses begin is obscured from our view because most of us don't recognize the signs and symptoms when they appear, ignore them or mistakenly confuse them with other characteristics of adolescent such as changes associated with puberty," reads an October 2017 white paper by the Mental Health Association in New York State.

Teaching young people how to identify signs and symptoms early on, or prevent them altogether, will only serve to benefit the populace at large, advocates say.

Untreated mental illness can have a devastating impact on individuals and society, according to research and statistics kept by the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and others.

The leading cause of disability worldwide? Depression.

The common link among the nine out of 10 people who die by suicide? They suffer from depression and other mental or substance abuse disorders.

The economic cost of untreated mental illness in America is more than $100 billion a year. Depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses cost the world upward of $1 trillion a year.

The next steps

In a survey last summer, superintendents identified the issue of student mental health as one of their top concerns going into the current school year.

Local school districts will be in charge of developing their own curriculum and lesson plans, but the state Education Department is in the process of developing guidance from its Mental Health Education Advisory Council, of which both Liebman's group and Verga are a part.

The concepts should appear in health education curriculum being taught in grades K-12, and must be age-appropriate, a state Education Department official said. Advocates hope the state will pay to help train teachers in the new curriculum, but it appears unlikely in a tight budget year.

Verga, who has been teaching health at Shenendehowa for four years, recalled seeing something click with his students when one day, he implored his students to remember that just like a broken arm is a physical injury, mental disorders and illnesses are a neurological injury  not a failing of character or willpower.

"We happily give people a cast to fix their broken arm, but we don't necessarily give people who have mental health issues the same kind of treatment or understanding," Verga said. "We look at them differently, and that really needs to change."

bbump@timesunion.com  518-454-5387  @bethanybump
Four people are dead after an overnight shooting at a Pennsylvania carwash, authorities said.

The incident took place about 3 a.m. Sunday at Ed's Car Wash in Melcroft, Pa., about 50 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, police told WPXI News.

Four of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while the alleged shooter is reportedly on life support at a hospital; all the victims were in their 20s and 30s, the news station reported.

Police, who had originally reported five dead, have not yet released the names of the victims.

It was not immediately clear whether the shooter was among the dead, but authorities told local media outlets there was "no threat to the community, no imminent danger."

Details were scarce Sunday, as police and other emergency vehicles swarmed the tiny carwash throughout the morning. By Sunday afternoon, the question of what sparked the shooting was still unanswered.

"There is no indication of drug activity at this point," Pennsylvania State Police spokesman Robert Broadwater told the Pittsburgh News-Gazette. "But we have no motive, no reason."

Broadwater also told the newspaper that two of the victims were discovered inside a green pickup truck, while two others were found dead outside in the carwash parking lot.

Later Saturday, WPXI News reported the shooting had stemmed from a domestic dispute, according to interviews with family members of the victims.

Shari Bukovac, who owns the carwash with her husband, Ed, told The Washington Post Sunday that, although the automated carwash is open 24 hours a day, no employees were on the property when the shooting took place.

A neighbor called them in the middle of the night to inform them of the shooting, Bukovac said, adding that they still didn't know much more than what was being reported on television.

Bukovac characterized Melcroft, an unincorporated community in western Pennsylvania's Fayette County, as "fairly quiet," and said nothing of this magnitude has happened at the carwash in the roughly two decades they've owned it.

"I guess at night there's been some people hanging out there," she said. "We've been broken into a time or two. But otherwise, people are just hanging out down there, I guess."
JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Polish Prime Minister Matusz Moravitsky spoke by phone Sunday agreeing to open a dialogue to avoid further diplomatic fallout following Poland's initial approval of a law making it a criminal offence to mention Polish complicity in crimes committed during the Holocaust.

The crisis between the two countries appeared to be deepening on Sunday as Poland's deputy chief of mission, Piotr Kozlowski, was summoned to Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem to explain why his country would promote such legislation.

Polish lawmakers voted Friday for a bill that would fine or jail people who blame Poland or Poles for Nazi atrocities committed on its soil during World War II, including the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Jews at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. The law still needs final approval from the Polish Senate and the country's president.

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It comes as the country has become more nationalistic. Tens of thousands of people chanted and marched through Warsaw last year in an annual gathering of Europe's far-right movements, and the majority party has sought to protect Poland's image.

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Kozowski the vote's timing was "particularly surprising and miserable," pointing out that Friday was the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It was also the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp in southern Poland.

VIDEO: Poland commemorates Holocaust Remembrance Day

Czarek Sokolowski/Associated Press

Conveying a message from the Israeli government, the ministry said the "legislation will not help further the exposure of historical truth and may harm the freedom of research, as well as prevent discussion of the historical message and the legacy of World War II."

Following the meeting, Kozowski told Israeli reporters that the goal of the law "is not to whitewash history, but to safeguard it and safeguard the truth about the Holocaust and prevent its distortion." According to Reuters, Polish officials say the law would not limit Holocaust research or the freedom of expression.

Even though several death camps, including the notorious Auschwitz-Birkenau, were built on Polish soil, Poles say they should be referred to as Nazi extermination camps or camps in occupied Poland, disassociating Poland from the Nazi crimes committed there.

Israelis, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reacted furiously to the law, seeing it as an attempt by Poland to re-write history and even deny the Holocaust.

"One cannot change history and the Holocaust cannot be denied," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement.

In a heated Twitter argument with the Polish embassy, Yair Lapid, a popular opposition leader in the Israeli parliament, tweeted that "there were Polish death camps and no law can ever change that."

The bill, which would jail even foreigners for up to three years for using terms such as "Polish extermination camps," passed the lower legislature overwhelmingly. For the country's ruling Law and Justice Party, it's part of a years-long effort to prevent people from "slandering the good name of Poland," as officials once put it.

Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust Remembrance Center, which last week hosted Vice President Mike Pence, said the law was "liable to blur the historical truths regarding the assistance the Germans received from the Polish population during the Holocaust."

The center said it agreed that the term "Polish death camps" was a historical misrepresentation -- the extermination camps were set up in Nazi-occupied Poland in order to murder the Jewish people within the framework of the "Final Solution."

"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," read the Yad Vashem statement.

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Many historians warn against trying to simplify Poland's role in the Holocaust.

The country was occupied for years by the forces of Nazi Germany, who herded Jews into ghettos, shot at least 200,000 of them and killed an additional million in Auschwitz, according to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Throughout the occupation, Poles fought back through underground movements and resistance armies. A quarter-million Polish civilians died during a 1944 uprising against the German army in Warsaw, according to the museum.

But between these broad strokes of Nazi genocide and Polish heroism, some Poles also turned on Jews - or at least helped Germans kill them.

Villagers in Jedwabne, for example, reportedly locked about 300 Jewish residents in a barn and burned them alive in 1941, the BBC wrote. Some modern-day Poles deny the story or blame Germans for pressuring the villagers, but others see evidence of willing complicity throughout the occupation.

Jan Karski, a famed Polish resistance fighter, once told an interviewer of the "ruthless, often without pity" attitude some of his countrymen held for Poland's large Jewish population.

The director of the Israel Council on Foreign Relations, Laurence Weinbaum, once wrote for The Washington Post about documented examples of Poles willingly abetting the persecution of Jews.

"Those who see themselves as defenders of Poland's good name are often quick to point out that in Poland there was no Quisling regime comparable to that which existed in other countries occupied by Germany - and that the Polish underground fought the Germans tooth and nail," Weinbaum wrote. "The truth is that local authorities were often left intact in occupied Poland, and many officials exploited their power in ways that proved fatal to their Jewish constituents."

Some Poles welcomed the forced removal of their Jewish neighbors from their homes, he wrote. Some happily enriched themselves at the expense of their dispossessed neighbors, and some "did not recoil from committing acts of murder, rape and larceny - not always orchestrated by the Germans."

That said, Weinbaum thought then-FBI Director James Comey went too far when he spoke of Poland's "murderers and accomplices" during a 2015 speech at the Holocaust Memorial Museum - rhetorically equating the country to Germany.

A few years earlier, President Barack Obama incensed many Poles when, during a speech honoring Karski, he spoke of "Polish death camps." The White House later apologized.

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As The Washington Post noted, Obama's statement helped spur Polish lawmakers' efforts to ban the term and prosecute people who confuse their country with the Nazi regime. They tried to pass a bill in 2013 and failed. But Poland has turned toward nationalism since then, and in 2016, the conservative Law and Justice Party won the first parliamentary majority since the end of communism.

The party has aggressively protected Poland's image. After a massive right-wing march through Warsaw in November, with banners and chants of "white Europe" and "pure blood," some government officials defended the event as a simple independence day rally. One minister even called it "beautiful."

"Poland is being unfairly attack by hostile media," the founder of the Polish League Against Defamation complained after the rally, according to Radio Poland.

Three months later, at least in regard to Nazis, attacking Poland could soon become a crime.

If the bill passes Poland's senate and becomes law, which Haaretz reports seems likely, it will apply not just to Poles but to anyone in any country who blames the Polish state for Nazi crimes.

Since the initial vote, Reuters reported, Holocaust survivors have been giving interviews about Poles refusing to help them or turning them over to Nazis.

"When they came to round us up and put us in the ghetto, father said to run away quickly," Esther Lieber told the daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. "We were very scared and fled into the woods. The Poles threw stones at us and cursed us."

Another newspaper, Haaretz, wrote that given the proposed law's breadth, survivors could soon face prosecution in Poland for giving such testimony.

"The implication of the new law means that in theory, a Jewish Holocaust survivor from Poland who lives in Israel, who may make a statement such as 'the Polish people were involved in the murder of my grandfather in the Holocaust' or 'my mother was murdered in a Polish extermination camp,' would be liable for imprisonment in Poland," Haaretz wrote.
(Bloomberg) - Czech President Milos Zeman, an ardent supporter of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, won a second term in an election victory after warning voters that sheltering Muslim immigrants could lead to terrorist attacks.

Zeman, 73, who was also an early fan of U.S. President Donald Trump, took 51.4 percent of votes in a two-day ballot that ended Saturday, according results published by the Statistics Office. His challenger for the largely ceremonial post, 68-year-old chemistry professor Jiri Drahos, pledged to anchor the nation of 10.6 million more firmly in the European Union and NATO. He conceded after getting 48.6 percent.

The victory represents a win for anti-establishment political forces who are fighting against the EU's liberal, multi-cultural values including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Poland's ruling Law & Justice Party. It also extends an alliance with billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babis, with whom he shares opposition to further European integration and acceptance of refugees from Africa and the Middle East in a country that has an almost non-existent Muslim minority.

"Zeman very clearly established his anti-immigration position and that decided the election," said Jakub Charvat, political scientist at the Metropolitan University in Prague. "He appealed to voters with lower income and lower education levels who felt they finally had someone in the highest echelons of politics who defends them."

The Czech Republic boasts one of the EU's fastest growing economies, its lowest unemployment and the highest living standards among the bloc's post-communist members. But the election showed a division between those reaping the benefits of the post-communist transition toward an economy integrated with richer western neighbors and poorer people who feel the country's economic success has passed them by.

Zeman's critics say his efforts to strengthen ties with Russia and China have undermined Czech relations with western allies. The veteran politician -- who's three-decade career includes stints as prime minister and speaker of parliament -- rejects the idea, saying he's trying to help exporters. He derides his opponents as part of a "Prague coffee-house society" detached from the lives of ordinary people.

Zeman's win changes the timetable for Babis's efforts to build another cabinet after his minority administration was forced to resign when lawmakers rejected it in a confidence motion this month. Zeman, who calls himself the "president of the lower 10 million" Czechs, said after the election that he will give Babis more time to negotiate support before naming him premier for the second time. Babis backed the president in the election.

Zeman calls himself a euro-federalist, but he also suggested that Czech Republic should hold a Brexit-style referendum to leave the EU. He said he'd vote to stay in although people should have a choice.

Surrounded by allies during his acceptance speech, including Tomio Okamura, leader of anti-Muslim party Freedom and Direct Democracy that wants take the Czech Republic out of the EU, the president called for allowing the public more decisions via popular votes.

"I promise I will keep working the way I have so far," he told supporters in Prague. "I want to fight for something I call active citizenship."
JERUSALEM - For many, the beaming smiles on both sides during Vice President Mike Pence's visit to Jerusalem this past week embodied the love affair between American evangelicals and Israel.

The Trump administration's recent decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and the subsequent visit of the evangelical vice president to Israel mark the culmination of a long, complicated and sometimes uneasy alliance between Israeli leaders and Christian evangelicals that dates back to before the establishment of the state.

But the high-water mark, ironically, comes just as younger American evangelicals are growing less attached to Israel. Recent polls have sparked anxiety among Israeli officials and Christian Zionist groups, which are trying to reverse the decline.

Faced with the dip in support, Israel is increasingly looking to evangelical communities in Latin America, Africa and elsewhere to build international support. Guatemala, where President Jimmy Morales is an avowed evangelical, was the first country to follow suit after the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem.

"I find it funny because it took me 20 or 25 years to get the Jewish community to see the benefits of working with the evangelical community, and now (Jews) are so concerned with the diminishing commitment they have to Israel," said Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, an American Israeli who played a key role in fostering the relationship between American evangelicals and Israel.

Pence's speech to the Knesset last week, deeply steeped in biblical references, was a testament to the spiritually rooted support for Israel in President Donald Trump's White House. Pence himself has said he is "an evangelical Catholic."

America stands with Israel, he told the lawmakers, because it supports good over evil, and he described the Jewish state as Abraham's "promised land," which, as it grows, reaches closer to heaven.

Education Minister Naftali Bennett, leader of the right-wing Jewish Home party in Israel's ruling coalition, said the Israeli right is "very happy" with the relationship with U.S. evangelicals, explaining that evangelical influence on the White House has created an "era of opportunity" for Israel.

"We need to use the opportunity to the best of Israel's national interests and security," he said.

In the eyes of most Palestinians, however, the influence of evangelicalism on the White House has been disastrous for their relations with the United States. Saeb Erekat, the Palestinians' chief negotiator, slammed the "messianic discourse" of Pence during his visit.

The idea of a Palestinian state conflicts with the belief of some evangelicals that the entire territory - from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, including the West Bank - was promised by God to the Jewish people.

And those voices are becoming louder. Evangelical lobbying groups such as Christians United for Israel (CUFI), advocating views that align more tightly with the Israeli right, now rival the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in their influence on behalf of Israel. While AIPAC backs a two-state solution, CUFI does not.

To welcome Pence, Mike Evans, an American Christian Zionist, arranged to display 110 congratulatory billboards around Jerusalem. After a long romance, he said, the visit was like a formal engagement between evangelicals and Israel.

"When the friendship began there was suspicion," he said, adding that it was justified given the "bloodstained" history of Christianity. "Then there was a little bit of a courtship. But the time has come."

During a recent interview in an office suite above the Friends of Zion Museum, which he founded to highlight Christian support for Israel, Evans said that the White House decision on Jerusalem "100 percent happened because of the evangelicals. No question."

Evans met with Trump in the Oval Office two days after the decision and personally presented him with a "Friends of Zion" award - a silver menorah.

Israel's ties to evangelicals dates back to the turn of the 19th century, when British evangelical leader William Hechler worked with Theodor Herzl - known as the father of Zionism - to advocate for a Jewish homeland.

But it has been a conflicted relationship.

Over the past half-century, many American evangelicals came to support Israel through an end-of-days theology. The idea - popularized in the 1970 book "The Late Great Planet Earth," which later became a movie with Orson Welles, and the Left Behind series, which began in the 1990s - is that the establishment of Israel was part of a preordained divine plan preparing for the return of the Messiah.

Many Jews, for their part, have long viewed the missionary work of evangelicals and their messianic, prophetic beliefs with suspicion. Christian proselytizing, although allowed in Israel, is frowned upon by many Israelis, and Messianic Jews, who believe in Jesus, are largely shunned.

Eckstein says his efforts to foster a closer relationship and raise evangelical money for Israel came under attack for many years. Eventually, however, evangelicals became "kosher," he said.

"Jews started to realize that they were friends of Israel, and then the Jewish community by and large became very myopic in their thinking," he added. "They are good for Israel, they are giving them money for their projects. ... For a lot of Jews it was, let's call it utilitarian."

Eckstein says his organization, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, has become the largest philanthropy in Israel. The group has pulled in $1.5 billion in donations from the United States since it was founded in the 1980s, spending the money primarily on social programs and helping Jews around the world to immigrate to Israel. The supporters are largely ordinary Americans, with the average donation $76.

Still, some ultra-Orthodox Jewish groups in Israel refuse to take the money.

The situation for Israel's own tiny evangelical population illustrates the paradox of the Israeli relationship with evangelicals.

Pastor Steven Khoury, whose Holy Land Missions has six affiliated churches, said Israel has not officially recognized the evangelical church, even though its mission's "calling" is toward Arabs rather than Jews. The evangelical church does not qualify for tax benefits given to religious institutions and lacks "legitimacy," he said.

Among American evangelicals, the views toward Israel are also not monolithic.

Johnnie Moore, a pastor and marketing executive who serves as unofficial spokesman for Trump's evangelical advisory board, said evangelicals are more sophisticated about the Middle East than they are given credit for.

In the case of evangelical leaders who urged the White House to recognize Jerusalem, he said, "It's not like they feel: 'The Trump administration should make this decision because the Bible says it.' But they do think if they do this, (America) will be blessed."

The roots of evangelical views on Israel run deep, he said. "Outside of the U.S., of all countries, evangelicals probably have the closest relationship with Israelis and the state of Israel. If an evangelical goes to one country, it's probably Israel. Secondly, the shared experience of persecution has been at the heart of that."

While white evangelicals, who make up three-quarters of American evangelicals, overwhelmingly back Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians, polls show that younger ones are less attached to Israel.

A poll released last month by the evangelical research firm LifeWay asked American evangelicals about their overall perception of Israel. Among people over 65, 76 percent said it was positive, compared with 58 percent among those ages 18 to 34. About 30 percent of the people in the younger group said they were "not sure," nearly double the figure for the older group.

Falling support among U.S. evangelicals under 30 "ought to keep every Israeli awake at night," said Yoav Fromer, who teaches politics at Tel Aviv University. Writing last week in Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel's largest newspaper, he said: "Don't let the vice president's immaculate hair and white smile blind you: Pence is the old America. The more one looks at the breakdown of that support for Israel, the more one sees a troubling trend."

Fromer added, "Even if Trump is prepared to tolerate Israel's continued control of the Palestinians - his successors are unlikely to follow suit."

With polls showing younger evangelicals increasingly exploring the Palestinian perspective, more evangelical groups have popped up in the past few years to win over those young hearts and minds.

The Hobby Lobby-backed Museum of the Bible Foundation in Washington runs a program called Passages, which - like the Jewish "Birthright" - takes young Christians to the Holy Land.

Aware that support among American evangelicals may be peaking, Israel is looking for evangelical backing elsewhere, in countries where these communities are on the rise.

"It's been an important element in our diplomacy for some years," said Emmanuel Nahshon, a spokesman for Israel's foreign ministry. "We do work with them on a very, very close basis. It's something that's been going on for some years, but those evangelical movements are becoming increasingly big."

Countries in Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia all have rapidly expanding evangelical communities.

"Now, you have a situation where all the stars are aligned beautifully," Eckstein said. "You have evangelicals in the White House, you have Trump who is susceptible to their influence and their constituency, you have a right-wing prime minister in government in Israel, and everything is good."

"But," he said, "that can change tomorrow, literally, in both cases. Israel and America, that whole thing, so it's important to have eggs in all the baskets."

---

Boorstein reported from Washington.
Warsaw, Poland

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 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."
The use of illegal narcotics in the United States has varied over the years, but by many accounts - including the president's - the nation has never been so high on drugs.

Seizures of methamphetamine and heroin at the Mexican border have surged. Cocaine use is spiking again. The opioid epidemic has pushed overdose deaths past 60,000 per year, a record.

"We used to have the 'Age of Aquarius.' Everyone thought that was a big drug age," President Donald Trump said this month, evoking the 1960s counterculture. "That was nothing compared to this."

Attorney General Jeff Sessions is set to deliver a speech Monday in Pittsburgh on two of his signature issues: violent crime and the opioid epidemic. He has implemented a tough new charging and sentencing policy, urging federal prosecutors to use every available tool to crack down on violence. And late last year he announced that anyone who possesses, imports, distributes or manufactures fentanyl - a powerful synthetic opioid - can face criminal prosecution.

The president and his attorney general have blamed the drug boom for "American carnage," but the latest crime statistics suggest that the relationship between illegal narcotics and violence in U.S. cities is not so clear.

In Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles and other hubs of the drug trade, the homicide rate decreased last year. Major American cities appear to be getting safer even as they are flooding with dope.

Nowhere is this trend more pronounced than in New York City. Inundated with heroin and fentanyl, the city tallied nearly 1,400 fatal overdose deaths in 2016, a record. But police reported just 290 homicides last year, the lowest total since 1951 and an 87 percent drop from 1990, when there were 2,245 killings.

The odds of being killed in New York City are about the same today as they are in Montana or Wyoming, even at a time of record-breaking narcotics seizures.

In Los Angeles, the biggest West Coast hub for heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, homicides fell 6 percent in 2017 and 20 percent in Los Angeles County. The homicide rate also dropped by double digits last year in Houston, Washington and even Chicago, where violence was so bad a year ago that Trump threatened to "send in the Feds."

These statistics present what appears to be a broad, long-term decoupling of homicide rates and the illegal drug trade in many U.S. cities, a trend that upends conventional wisdom about the origins of urban violence.

Criminologists see many potential factors, but one may play the biggest role in reducing drug-related killings: smartphones.

Just as mobile technology has transformed ordinary commerce, it has revolutionized illicit markets, too, making the drug trade more predictable and less lethal. GPS mapping, encrypted communications and messaging apps have vastly reduced the need for drug dealers to physically control urban spaces and defend them with deadly force, experts say.

"The technology of retail drug dealing has shifted radically, especially over the past 10 years," said Mark Kleiman, a criminologist at New York University. "It's no longer people standing on street corners. It's hand-to-hand transactions between people with cellphones, and they're not vulnerable in the same way."

Added Kleiman: "It's also harder for police to disrupt."

There are many U.S. cities where the drug trade still largely operates in traditional ways, including Baltimore, whose 343 killings last year were an all-time high. Open-air drug markets remain engines of violence in St. Louis, New Orleans and other cities with elevated homicide rates.

But that business model is no longer dominant everywhere, and certainly not in cities with large numbers of middle-class drug users who can arrange deliveries on iPhones instead of driving into high-crime neighborhoods.

Federal narcotics agents last month busted a heroin distribution ring in Southern California dubbed "Manny's Delivery Business," whose dispatchers took hundreds of orders per day for heroin and cocaine, sending couriers to meet customers at designated spots. The Drug Enforcement Administration called it "a heroin distribution machine."

In Houston, where the homicide rate decreased 11 percent in 2017, narcotics officers have learned to watch online commerce such as EC21. A search for "fentanyl" on the site will show zero results. But spelling it "fentanylll" reveals a thumbnail photo of white powder with a phone number and an email address, possibly from a shipper in China.

"When I first started in narcotics in 1998, you'd drive into an apartment complex and have people reaching in your window," said Lt. Stephen Casko, a Houston narcotics officer. "Now you can just order drugs through the mail and never have to deal with another person."

Postal inspectors at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport seized nearly 80 fentanyl shipments last year, a threefold increase from 2016. Federal agents in Atlanta last summer arrested 16 postal workers, accusing them of taking bribes to deliver kilo-sized loads of cocaine with their mail trucks.

Sanho Tree, an advocate of drug decriminalization at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, said there is "no organic link" between drugs and violence. "But there is one between illegal drug markets and violence," he said.

Drug dealing in the 1960s and 1970s was relatively nonviolent, Tree said: "Usually it was a dealer with a backpack going door to door to make private deliveries."

That changed with the introduction of mandatory minimum sentencing, he said, which left street-level dealers facing long prison terms. "It made it too risky to hold a backpack full of drugs, so that created a market incentive for an open-air drug market model operated by minors - lookouts, runners and so forth" - who would not face the same harsh penalties.

Dominating and defending physical space were the key to big profits. "That's why street corners became so valuable" Tree said.

Rates of violent crime in the United States - homicides in particular - peaked in the 1980s and early 1990s, when cities were besieged by crack cocaine. But when use of the drug waned, along with falling levels of cocaine and heroin consumption, homicide rates also receded.

Today, the nation's per capita homicide rate is about half what it was in 1985. Criminologists attribute the drop to a range of factors, including better policing, more job opportunities and even the possibility of declining lead exposure.

After reaching historic lows in 2014, homicide rates in many U.S. cities rose abruptly in 2015 and 2016. Experts have noted that even with these increases, violent crime levels remained near historically low levels and were much higher a quarter-century ago, but the sudden rebound became a focal point for Trump and his administration's law-and-order initiatives. "Violent crime is back with a vengeance," Sessions declared, promising to remedy it with tougher prison sentences, a crackdown on illegal immigration and the transfer of more military hardware to police departments.

Nationwide, the number of homicides rose 1.5 percent during the first six months of 2017, compared to the same period a year prior, while violent crime overall - including rape, robbery and aggravated assault - was down slightly, according to FBI data released in late-January. Homicides were up in the South and Midwest. They were down significantly in the Northeast and slightly in the West.

Sessions, writing in USA Today, characterized the new statistics as evidence of the administration's early success. "When President Trump was inaugurated, he made the American people a promise: 'This American carnage stops right here and stops right now,' " Sessions wrote, quoting from Trump's inaugural address. "It is a promise that he has kept."

But in many U.S. cities, the violence didn't come back very far. Some places that had the biggest spikes, including Chicago and Washington, once more have declining homicide rates.

The psychotic effects of narcotics also may be a factor, criminologists say. Whereas crack cocaine often produces a rush of manic energy and supreme confidence, opioids leave users sedated and perhaps less prone to violent behavior.

Unlike the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s, which hit poor African-Americans hardest, the demographics of the opioid crisis cut across geographic and class divides. Many of today's addicts are middle-class users "who don't live in neighborhoods plagued by violence," said Volkan Topalli, a professor of criminal justice at Georgia State University.

"There isn't a high baseline level of violence in those places," he said, "and the distribution networks are not primarily controlled by large gangs."

Richard Rosenfeld, a criminologist at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, said the opioid crisis appears to be the biggest factor behind rising homicide levels among white Americans since 2014. But he said the increase probably would be far higher "if we still had as many of the street-level drug markets that were widespread 25 years ago."

There appears to be another element to the new era of American narcotics trafficking that also may explain the homicide trends: a deliberate effort by Mexican drug cartels to minimize the use of violence on the U.S. side of the border.

The same smuggling organizations that have pushed Mexico's homicide rate to its highest-ever levels operate by a different logic in the United States, just like the large corporations that leverage economic advantages afforded by the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Diverging levels of violence along the U.S.-Mexico border illustrate the pattern. Cities such as El Paso and San Diego have some of the lowest homicide rates in the United States, despite sitting opposite Ciudad Juarez and Tijuana, two of Mexico's most murderous places.

The lack of a "spillover" effect is thought to be at least partly the result of a disciplined business strategy that seeks to avoid the attention of U.S. law enforcement, said Sam Quinones, author of "Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic."

Unlike the Colombian trafficking groups whose attempt to take over drug markets in Miami, New York and other American cities produced a wave of homicides a generation ago, modern Mexican traffickers largely eschew violence on the U.S. side.

"They have a very acute sense for the enormous difference between the criminal justice in Mexico and criminal justice in the United States," he said. Fearful of a long sentence in an austere U.S. federal prison, the gangsters prefer to settle scores and adjudicate disputes with rivals in Mexico, where fewer than 5 percent of crimes lead to criminal convictions.

Quinones's book describes a group of Mexican heroin dealers in the Denver area, the "Xalisco Boys," whose couriers would drive around delivering drugs in little balloons. The drivers kept the balloons in their mouths and carried water bottles to gulp down the dope if pulled over by police.

The heroin dealers rarely remained in one U.S. city for long, and would cycle back and forth to Mexico often. They cared so little about their street reputations that they would sell to customers who had robbed or cheated them, treating the losses as business write-offs rather than personal insults to be avenged. They avoided high-crime areas and didn't carry guns.

"A lot of these guys were just shy farm boys," Quinones said. "They were intimidated by the United States, and definitely not interested in getting into internecine wars."

And if the dealers felt threatened by law enforcement officials, or rival traffickers, they would simply pick up and move their mobile heroin business to another U.S. town or city. They believed the violence wasn't worth the risk, Quinones said, "and the market in the United States was big enough for everyone."

High-volume Mexican traffickers appear to operate similarly. When DEA agents in New York raided an apartment in Queens last year and found 141 pounds of pure fentanyl, they arrested a middle-aged couple who had arrived from Mexico a few weeks earlier.

It was the largest seizure of the drug in U.S. history, worth tens of millions of dollars, the DEA said. But the couple didn't even have a weapon.

---

The Washington Post's Mark Berman and Sari Horwitz contributed to this report.
Last week, a poll indicated House Democrats hold an 11-point advantage over Republicans in the upcoming 2018 midterm election.

The poll, conducted by the Los Angeles Times and the University of Southern California, found that 51 percent of Americans would vote for a Democratic candidate while 40 percent would choose a Republican candidate.

Even in deep-red Texas, Republicans and Democrats are gearing up for a fight. For the first time in 25 years, Democrats are running a candidate in all of Texas' 36 congressional districts, according to the Austin-American Statesman.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT: U.S. moves down in latest U.S News & World Report's 'best countries' rankings

Of course, that doesn't mean Texas will turn blue in 2018, it just means midterms will be more competitive, which is always fun.

On Thursday, James Henson, a political science professor at the University of Texas, told PBS: "Republicans are still in almost every sense the superior party here. Democrats still have a big hill to climb. It's an off-year election, and the electorate here and elsewhere is much more Republican in terms of who turns out."

To see which states might hold some surprises in the upcoming election, Chron.com gathered data on the 2016 presidential election and found the top 20 counties with the slimmest margin of victory.

See Texas' most competitive counties above.
Our Back Pages

Issue #145

Issue Date: Winter 2003

Editor: Marlene Cookshaw

Pages: 132

Number of contributors: 35

Buy Issue 145: Print Edition

With issue 145, the second epoch of Malahats long and hearty life comes to a close, or at least by my reckoning it does. Constance Rooke, Derk Wynand, and Marlene Cookshaw put their individual marks on the magazine, but in many ways, they had the same idea about what Malahat was and Marlene was a consistent presence through all of those years. This issue is Marlenes last and, as she says in her Editors Note, she was editor for only five years but had a much longer association with the magazine than thateighteen years, most of them as assistant editor for Connie and then Derk.

This issue features some fine fiction, beginning with a story by Craig Boyko called If Clark Died. The story makes excellent use of the future tense and is, as the title suggests, a wilder and wilder imagining of the titles initial If. Keith Fraser is a writer who ought to be better known than he is. He has steadily been writing very good fiction for years but hasnt received the recognition he deserves. His story, The American Caller explores complex relationships, culture, and entitlement in his usual, well-crafted way. There is a story by Amelia DeFalcoSummer, Crook Lake which begins, Mark was wearing nothing but a fluorescent green bathing suit when I met him, and only gets better from there. The issue closes with one of Patricia Youngs early forays into fiction, but the story seems like the work of someone who has been practising the craft of fiction for a very long time. Seattle will encourage you to never use the word panties in a sentence again. It is a wonderfully character-driven piece that somehow deftly manages to include vermouth, arts criticism, and Reveen, while being clever and moving.

As for poetry, there is a good batch in this issue. Starting with four poems from Jan Zwicky, including a lovely long-ish poem called Nostalgia. The poem begins with an image of a mother in a nursing home and explores memory and love. There are also poems by Anne Compton, Barry Dempster, Jan Conn, and Naomi Guttman. If youre a Stephanie Bolster fan, youll see some familiar work here, including Brussels Zoo and Girl with a Pearl by Vermeer at the Zoo, and there are two excellent poems by Sina Queyras.

Perhaps there is some synchronicity in the fact that, as I write this look back at Marlene Cookshaws final issue, John Barton, the editor to whom Marlene passed the baton (an orchestral baton or magic wand more than a runners bar) and who has carried it marvellously these fourteen years, is about to pass the baton on as well. He gets an epoch all to himself. Who knows what the fourth epoch of Malahat will bring?

 Jay Ruzesky

About Our Back Pages
The officials at the Solomon R Guggenheim Museum were tight lipped on last day night about the unusual email exchange with their chief curator and White House officials.

As per the report of 'The Washington Post', the Chief Curator of the Museum had turned down the White House's request to borrow Van Gogh's Landscape with snow, which officials had hoped they could use to decorate President and Melania Trump's living quarters.

As an alternative, in an reply email Ms Specter offered up what one might call a 'participatory sculpture', a fully functional, solid 18-karat-gold copy of Kohler toilet titled America that more than 100,000 people had already used in a museum restroom. However, White House has not responded to the offer.
Kabul: A bomb hidden in an ambulance killed at least 95 people and injured 163 at a police checkpoint in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday, in an area near foreign embassies and government buildings, officials said.

The death toll was confirmed by the spokesperson of Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan as reported by TOLO news. The Taliban 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. However, the Afghanistan government said that Haqqani Network is behind Saturdays suicide attack in Kabul.

A statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "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."

"India stands in solidarity with government and people of Afghanistan at this difficult time of mindless violence and terror imposed on them. We convey our heartfelt condolences to next of kins of victims of these terror attacks and pray for speedy recovery to those injured," added MEA.
SPRINGFIELD-- Crowds gathered at Robyn Newhouse Hall in the Community Music School of Springfield on Friday to welcome home Westfield native turned jazz vocalist/composer Sarah Elizabeth Charles.

Charles was back in Western Mass. from New York City to celebrate the release of her latest album, "Free of Form." She performed selections from the album at the gathering, in the school on State Street in downtown Springfield.

"Free of Form," released on the Stretch Music/Ropeadope label, is available on itunes and Bandcamp. Charles is currently touring across the United States, but folks in the Pioneer Valley can catch her at UMass Amherst on April 3, according to the schedule on her website.

Check out photos from the party above, and see a video single from the album below.
VegWorcester, a not-for-profit, community organization that advocates vegetarian and vegan living to the Central Massachusetts region is hosted their annual "Mac Daddy" competition on Saturday, Jan. 27.

The "Mac Daddy" competition is held with the hopes of the best homemade vegan mac and cheese with various entries from locals who were willing to be judged.

Contestants were allowed to put their own spin on the classic dish as long as it was 100% vegan - recipes included things like buffalo seitan mac & cheese to mac & cheese nacho bites.

Some attendees, also known as judges, drove from Rhode Island and parts of Connecticut to get a bite of the "cheesiest" vegan mac & cheese.

The event was held at Technocopia, located at 44 Portland Street in Worcester.

For more information on VegWorcester and upcoming events, visit www.vegworcester.com.
A New Bedford man wanted on a cruelty to children charge in Georgia was caught by police in Massachusetts on Sunday.

Dartmouth Police Officer Josh Fredette saw 22-year-old Lamondaryl Payne outside the King's Inn in Dartmouth around 2:15 a.m. and learned Payne had a warrant for his arrest.

Payne was arrested for being a fugitive from justice. Police said there is a warrant for Payne's arrest out of Fulton County, Georgia on a second degree cruelty to children charge.

Police did not have any further information about the case in Georgia.
EAST LONGMEADOW -- Revelations about former U.S. Olympic Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar's sexual abuse of young gymnasts shocked and unsettled Laurie Hernandez, a member of the Olympic gold medal-winning 2016 team.

As reporters at a gymnastics clinic and fundraiser at Pioneer Gymnastics in East Longmeadow asked Hernandez questions about Nassar, gymnasts as young as 4 scurried around the gym, waiting for a planned autograph signing and Q&A session.

Hernandez was not among Nassar's victims, she said. But she supports all those victimized by him, and hopes his actions don't stain the entire sport.

"I think the biggest thing right now is to separate (Nassar's crimes) from gymnastics," Hernandez, 17, told reporters. "I hope something positive can come out of this."

Judge Rosemarie Aquilina on Wednesday sentenced Nassar to up to 175 years in prison. He had pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting seven females in the Lansing, Michigan, area between 1998 and 2015.

His accusers said he would molest them while they were on a table seeking help for various injuries. Nassar also has a 60-year federal prison sentence for child pornography crimes.

Nassar's victims included several good friends of Hernandez, and their allegations against someone she knew as a respected doctor left her bewildered.

"At first ... I was confused," Hernandez said. "Every single (victim) was a friend ... I support all the girls."
A 48-year-old man who authorities say attacked his father then barricaded himself inside his Massachusetts home told police the dwelling was rigged with explosives and any officer "who tried to come inside would be killed."

Lancaster police were called to 423 Langen Road in town Saturday around 12:36 p.m. for a report of a domestic situation.

Officers arrived at the home to find Karl Amrhein inside, according to police. Investigators described him as "emotionally disturbed" and said he claimed to have a hostage.

Amrhein also claimed to have rigged the home with explosives, although after the roughly five-hour standoff, no explosives were found.

"The suspect was making these claims from a second story window, all the while brandishing a butterfly style knife," police said. "He made numerous threats against police, and numerous indications of booby traps and hidden explosives."

The Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad and S.T.O.P. Teams were called to the scene along with negotiators. One nearby home was evacuated as a precaution.

Authorities deployed tear gas into the home around 5:30 p.m. and took Amrhein into custody, police said. He was taken to a Worcester hospital for treatment.

Amrhein was charged with domestic assault and battery, assault and battery on a person over 65, resisting arrest, threats, assault with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Police said more charges may be filed.
Educators and political figures gathered in Springfield Friday for a conference that was partly to celebrate success but mostly to pledge for more.

Three years into a four-year grant, the Springfield Cooperative Preschool Program is delivering what parents, educators and all citizens want most: results. Vocabulary and early literacy scores are rising while early math scores are holding steady in Springfield (where they began at a higher plateau) and going up in Holyoke.

These cities, along with Boston, Lawrence and Lowell were targeted for PEG (Preschool Education Grant). They address what 21st Century educators uniformly understand, which is that early education pays big dividends down the road -- just as neglect of a child's early years comes with a big, irrevocable price.

"I know as a former elementary school teacher that if you don't have this type of program coming in (at the beginning of a child's education), a lot of people don't experience (high school) graduation,'' Springfield School Superintendent Daniel Warwick said.

The program especially lifts children from low-income families, those with no prior early education and dual-language learners. These are the children most likely to struggle during elementary, middle school and high school years, so putting them on the right track at the outset could make all the difference.

For much of the 20th Century, focus on high school education was about preparation for college and then the outside world. While the importance of those teenage years has not changed, modern educators have come to realize that students who fall behind in the early years of age 3 to 5 may never catch up in reading skills, math ability and basic learning techniques.

Grants such as PEG have begun to address the urgent need for more attention and more funding for preschool and early education. The business community is coming to understand its importance as well.

What sometimes makes the corporate community hesitate is time. Business leaders want a qualified, educated workforce, so it's natural they look to the high schools, where the next wave of employees is only a few years away.

Preschool and early education is a long-term investment. The reward of giving a child a head start will be felt in meaningful ways, but the business community won't reap those benefits with any individual student for a decade or more.

Yet it's that type of long-term vision that can guarantee not just success for the student but for the workforce as well. Beyond the future of the employment sector is something inherent to public education -- the belief that every child deserves a fair chance.

That's been a principle of Massachusetts public education since the pioneering days of educator Horace Mann in the first half of the 19th Century. From that point, this state has been a leader in pursuing ways to provide a level playing field for every child, not just those of advantaged means.

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno says that goal must still exist.

"No matter what creed, color or economic background, we won't let a child's zip code determine their future,'' Sarno said Friday.

That's a substantial challenge but the most admirable of all educational goals. It must be a community goal as well, which Sarno says is true in Springfield, where he says education remains a high priority and always will.

It must also be a team effort. Public schools, Square One, the YMCA Early Learning Center and JCS Head Start have collaborated to make the first three years of the PEG program a success.

The performance difference of children based on family income and circumstances still exists. Because the levels in the lower-income bracket are rising, however, the gap has begun to narrow.

Governor Charlie Baker understands the need for more serious support of early education. Last year, Baker okayed $28 million in fresh money to the cause, a commitment that caught some observers by surprise as it came during an otherwise tight budgetary time.

Baker knows what anyone in the educational field already does: that preschool teachers and early-years instructors are essential elements of the entire educational process. For too long, they were considered as something less than "real" teachers, and their pay has suffered accordingly.

As a result, too many skilled early instructors have had to leave the field for economic reasons. Not only are these teachers every bit as crucial as those working with older students, but they must offer unique abilities that include conventional teaching skills but also go beyond.

If Friday's gathering sounded like a time of mutual congratulation - and at times it did - it was well-earned. Sheafs of detailed information illustrated the success being shown in just a short few years, and that's an important message for citizens who have a right to ask one basic question of any such program: does it work?

It does work, and it is working, but the strengthened emphasis on early education is a long-term goal whose mission has only just begun. For students to fall behind at the very outset of their lives is not a problem to be solved with one beginning-to-end program.

It's a challenge to be overcome as part of an overall philosophy that assigns the same importance to the early stages of education as it does to the last. That challenge is finally being undertaken. The early results in Springfield and Holyoke lend encouragement to the ultimate results -- if legislators, communities and business leaders keep their eye on the ball and understand the rewards to be felt down the road.
Any Republican politicians who received campaign donations from now former Republican National Committee finance chair Steve Wynn should return the money after allegations of sexual misconduct against him were recently revealed, state Attorney General Maura Healey told the Boston Herald.

Healey, a Democrat, told the newspaper the money should be given back and questioned why anyone would want Wynn's cash in light of the allegations.

"I certainly wouldn't want him to be chair of my party," Healey told the Boston Herald before Wynn resigned from his RNC position.

Wynn, the CEO of Wynn Resorts, is currently building a $2.4 billion casino in Everett. He resigned from his RNC position on Saturday after the Wall Street Journal reported the allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

President Donald Trump appointed Wynn as RNC finance chair in January 2017. Wynn is a major donor to the Republican party.

Wynn has denied any allegations and said the accusations were created by his ex-wife Elaine Wynn as they go through a divorce settlement.

The Wall Street Journal reports 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.

Workers at Wynn's casinos reported Wynn made sexual advances toward female workers, exposed himself and requested sexual services from massage therapists at his casinos, the newspaper reported.
THREE FORKS  Gene Townsend likes to talk about railroads.

Seated at his kitchen table, the longtime Three Forks mayor and current city council member takes a sip of coffee  his third cup of the day. Its not yet noon.

Townsend has lived nearly all of his 67 years in the area. Hes had a hand in most civic organizations and community-centered efforts in town, making him the perfect person with whom to talk about the past, present and future of Three Forks. Perched on the edge of the states fastest growing county, the town has managed, so far at least, to keep its expansion moderate, its economy strong and beloved identity mostly intact.

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By Lewis Kendall Chronicle Staff Writer

https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/home-at-the-headwaters-after-recovering-from-the-loss-of/article_b1fa9603-64dd-5224-9013-8487e3016244.html
Almost Ready for the Shelf!

Missoula Fresh Market on Broadway Coming Soon

New packaging and labels; partnership with Clark Fork Custom Meats.

***

Charcuterie; northern French: or southern French: , from chair "meat" and cuit "cooked") is the branch of cooking devoted to prepared meat products, such as bacon, ham, sausage, terrines, galantines, ballotines, pates, and confit, primarily from pork.

Charcuterie is part of the garde manger chefs repertoire. Originally intended as a way to preserve meat before the advent of refrigeration, they are prepared today for their flavors derived from the preservation processes.

***

We recently spent the day with Clark Fork Custom Meats in Plains, MT making sausage and testing out labels and packages. CFCM has a very nice, well kept, full service meat shop with excellent equipment and a great staff. In the interest of bringing Clark Fork Charcuterie https://www.clarkforkcharcuterie.com/ products to grocery stores and restaurants, we have begun a partnership with CFCM. This arrangement will allow us to greatly increase production efficiency while remaining true to our values of local, humanely raised sausage and charcuterie.

Importantly, because CFCM is certified by the Montana Department of Livestock, we will now be able to sell to wholesale customers such as grocery stores and restaurants. We expect to be available at Missoula Fresh Market on Broadway by the second or third week of February, and will be sure to keep you all posted; more Missoula stores, restaurants and other outlets to follow shortly after our initial roll-out.

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During a recent assembly at the elementary school my two daughters attend, a visitor asked how many children planned to go to college. Nearly every hand in the room shot up.

Colleges better hope those kids were being honest because, a decade from now when they are applying to school, the outlook for enrollment in higher education is dire. The number of high school graduates nationwide is projected to remain relatively flat for the next several years before rising a bit in the middle of next decade. But between 2026 and 2031 - a period of graduating classes that includes both of my daughters - the ranks of high school graduates are expected to drop by 9 percent.

Beyond the overall numbers shifting, high school graduating classes will become more diverse. Those classes will have fewer white students and more Hispanic students, according to demographers, and a greater range of academic abilities. Family incomes remain stagnant, so student financial need will increase. In other words, the decade ahead will be tumultuous for college enrollment.

Already, we're beginning to see the impact of demographic changes in higher education. A survey released last week by the Chronicle of Higher Education found that 52 percent of private colleges and 44 percent of public colleges didn't meet their enrollment goals this past fall.

"We're an expensive product," Kathryn Coffman, vice president and dean of admissions and financial aid at Franklin College in Indiana, told the Chronicle. "Now more than ever, outcomes are critical, and people want to know that the investment they're making is going to result in something."

For the last year, I've been studying projections regarding high school graduates nationwide. What I found is the country is heading into a lengthy period of significant differences in growth by region. The South and to a certain extent the West will account for nearly all the growth in the high school population over the next decade-plus. At the same time, the Northeast and Midwest - home to the highest density of colleges in the United States with a history of student migration between states -show a continued and steady decline.

The South, which accounted for one-third of the nation's high school graduates around the turn of this century, will be responsible for nearly half at the peak of its growth in 2025. The West will account for 30 percent of the nation's graduates by the midpoint of the 2020s.

As a result, the question I've been wrestling with is whether the next generation of college students will make the same choices as their predecessors and travel far distances to attend college. Evidence based on demographics and traditional student migration suggests they won't. Even as more schools expand their search areas for admissions - Northeast universities, for instance, setting up shop in California -many indications suggest the market for students willing to get on a plane or drive several hours to college is not growing at the same rate.

The raw numbers are sobering. But then a new book landed on my desk a few weeks ago that put the figures in a new, and disturbing, light. In "Demographics and the Demand for Higher Education," Nathan D. Grawe, an economics professor at Carleton College, in Minnesota, explores the overall decline in high school graduates in greater detail.

As he notes early in the book, just because someone graduates from high school doesn't mean she will go to college. The past two decades in higher education have been about expansion as the percentage of high school graduates going to college has increased even when high school enrollments plateaued. Higher education leaders have generally assumed that the college-going rate in the United States, now just shy of 70 percent, would continue to inch up. Few have considered it could move in the opposite direction.

In researching his book, Grawe created something he calls the "Higher Education Demand Index." It attempts to adapt population trends into college-attendance forecasts, using federal education data to estimate the probability that different populations from different cities and states will go to college.

"Unless something unexpected intervenes, the confluence of current demographic changes foretells an unprecedented reduction in postsecondary demand about a decade ahead," Grawe writes.

The overall number of high school graduates, he argues, is not sufficient in determining the future for colleges. For the most part, higher education is a local market. Most students, especially those with average academic records, go to schools close to home that have a reputation for attracting close-by applicants. Far fewer potential students means these regional schools are likely to struggle to fill seats.

According to Grawe's demand index, several historically large markets of students, such as New York, Philadelphia and Boston, will post "dramatic losses of 15 percent or more" in college-going students. Overall, he estimates that four-year colleges nationwide in just one four-year period at the end of the 2020s stand to lose almost 280,000 students.

Not all schools will be affected equally, Grawe argues. Elite colleges- those ranked in the top 50 in U.S. News & World Report nationally - will have about half the drop-off in student demand as those outside the top 100 because household brand names attract students willing to travel far distances.

That presents interesting opportunities for those schools ranked 50 to 100, Grawe writes, because they could benefit from a spillover of students who can't get in to top 50 schools (historically, the top schools haven't expanded the number of spots to accommodate demand).

The consequences of what is about to happen will have an impact on schools and applicants. For a few schools in certain pockets of the country, it certainly means closure. While we're unlikely to see massive numbers of colleges going out of business - just look how difficult it was for Sweet Briar College to close in 2015 - many colleges will need to merge or form deeper partnerships with schools in equally tough situations.

For students, the changes in demand will mean even more competition to get them to enroll. If schools can afford it, students with solid academic records and the means to pay something toward tuition are likely to get showered with financial incentives. So for parents such as me lucky enough to have kids born in the middle of the demographic trough that arrives at the end of the next decade, perhaps saving for higher education won't be so worrisome as it sometimes seems.
A Michigan-based restaurant chain is blaming industry pressures for the recent closing of one-third of its remaining locations.

Bagger Dave's, headquartered in Berkley, closed five of its 15 restaurants in mid-January.

"We have worked diligently over our 10 years in business to operate efficiently and aim to continue to strengthen our brand, despite the challenges of a recession impacting the casual dining industry," said CEO Michael Ansley in a news release.

The affected locations are:

Canton Township, west of Detroit

Shelby Township, north of Detroit

East Lansing

Knapp's Corner, north of Grand Rapids

Traverse City

The closings follow the shuttering of several additional Bagger Dave's in Michigan in 2017, including locations in Ann Arbor, Brighton and downtown Grand Rapids.

The same reasons were cited in those closings, as well.

Affected employees may be placed with some of the remaining restaurants, according to the company.

Officials said Bagger Dave's locations will remain open in Novi, Chesterfield Township, Berkley, Bloomfield, Cascade Township, Birch Run and Grand Blanc in Michigan; as well as West Chester and Centerville in Ohio and in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

The company was split off from parent company Diversified Restaurant Holdings Inc. According to a corporate statement from late 2016, that was done because its other brand, Buffalo Wild Wings, was suited to a franchise concept while Bagger Dave's was still a startup brand "with high growth potential."

The concept is built around locally sourced burgers and craft beers, as well as hand-cut fries.

As of late 2016, the chain operated 19 restaurants. It closed 15 in 2015, "so that we could focus on those locations with the best opportunity for growth," according to corporate filings. "We will not be in a position to open and operate additional restaurants unless we are successful in improving the operations of our current locations."

Bagger Dave's trades as BDVB on OTC trading. It closed at 4.6 cents per share on Thursday, compared to a 52-week high of 75 cents.

Other restaurant chains also have closed locations within the past two years due to the saturation in the market. Some names include Joe's Crab Shack, Max and Erma's and Macaroni Grill.

Bagger Dave's officials said they plan to continue to operate the existing locations, despite more than two years of closures to focus on the more successful restaurants.

"We believe strongly in the Bagger Dave's brand," said Ansley.
UPDATE: This incident has been cleared and all lanes are reopened as of 12:15 p.m.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - A crash closed all lanes along westbound l-94 after the Wiard Road exit in Washtenaw County.

The Michigan Department of Transportation reported the incident at 11:46 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 28.

The crash happened just after Wiard Road -- exit 186.

It is unknown if anyone was injured or how long the lanes will be closed for.
CANTON TOWNSHIP, MI - The FBI has identified the suspect arrested in connection with an attempted bank robbery-turned-hostage situation Thursday, Jan. 25, in Canton Township.

The suspect is Devin Rodriguez, according to WXYZ.

Rodriguez appeared in federal court on Friday, Jan. 26, and is facing charges of attempted bank robbery and brandishing a firearm, according to Local 4.

Rodriguez appeared before a judge Friday at the Theodore Levin United States Courthouse. His detention hearing is for 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan 29.

Authorities did not release Rodriguez's age or where he is from.

It is unknown if he was involved in a previous robbery of a Huntington Bank on Thursday, Jan. 18, in Canton Township.

Police Discuss Canton Bank Robbery Director of Public Safety Josh Meier discusses the bank-robbery-turned hostage situation Thursday at the Citizens Bank in Canton, Michigan: Posted by The Ann Arbor News on Thursday, January 25, 2018

Canton Township police were called to the scene of a robbery in progress about 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the Citizens Bank branch on Canton Center Road, just north of Cherry Hill, said Director of Public Safety Joshua Meier in a press conference after the tense standoff came to a peaceful conclusion.

When officers arrived, Rodriguez had barricaded himself inside the bank along with three hostages, all bank employees, Meier said.

Witness told police one male suspect entered the bank with a handgun and announced a robbery. The witnesses also believed several hostages were being held inside, Meier said.

Members of the FBI, Western-Wayne Special Operations and the Hostage Negotiation Team assisted in communicating with Rodriguez.

Police at about 7 p.m. said two hostages had been released and one remained inside.

By 7:45 p.m., all of the hostages had been freed, and police negotiated the peaceful surrender of the suspect, Meier said.

The Citizens Bank branch remains closed until Monday due to the incident.
Update provided on Officer Doss's condition. We are sad to announce the passing of Detroit Police Officer Glenn Doss Jr., a true hero indeed. He will always be remembered for his bravery and dedication of service to the Detroit Police Department and the residents of the City of Detroit. Posted by Detroit Police Department on Sunday, January 28, 2018

Detroit Police Officer Glenn A. Doss Jr., 25, who was shot in the head while responding to a domestic incident Wednesday night, died about 12:45 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28.

"He loved the job and he died doing something that he loved," his father Glenn Doss Sr., who is also a career Detroit police officer. "I can live with that."

The slain officer, a 2-year veteran of the department, was the passenger in a scout car initially responding to 5500 block of McDougal after police believe the suspect called 911 and said he'd assaulted his wife.

"As they were pulling up to the location, they noticed a man outside who appeared to have a weapon," First Assistant Chief Lashinda Stair said Thursday following the shooting. "It appeared that he took a stance, whereby he was ready to fire a shot.

"The next thing you know, they see the muzzle flash, hear the gunfire ... the driver of the scout car looked over, noticed that his partner had been injured."

Doss's partner, Officer Samuel Anderson, rushed Doss to the hospital in the patrol car, where Doss underwent emergency surgery. Detroit Police Chief James Craig said, had it not been for Anderson's fast action, Doss likely would have died at the scene.

"I worked with him a lot," Anderson said. "To this day I still remain ambitious, I still remain courageous to get out here and do this job."

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan on Sunday called Doss "everything that is good about the city of Detroit."

"He was born here, got his education, could have gone anyplace, but he came home because he wanted to make the city a better place," Duggan said. " ... The young people joining the Detroit Police Department today are coming in with a spirit to make this city better, but there has not been a time it has been more dangerous to be a Detroit police officer than the last year and a half.

" ... I would say to the folks of this city, when you see a police officer, thank them for their courage and their service. What they are doing is remarkable."

Detroit Police Chief James Craig called Doss Jr. an "American hero."

"He fought a good fight," Craig said. "He did what we expect each and every officer to do, to go out and service this community with distinction and honor, and he did that."

Decharlos O. Brooks, 43, the suspected killer of Doss Jr., was arrested after a standoff stemming from the shooting and charged with eight counts of attempted murder Saturday.

He was also charged with seven counts of resisting or obstructing police, one count of carrying a dangerous weapon and 17 counts of possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony, Prosecutor Kym Worthy's office announced.

It's likely he will now face a murder charge in the wake of the officer's death.

A GoFundMe page has been started to assist Doss's family with funeral costs. Funeral arrangements haven't been announced.

Doss became a father to his son, Eli, nearly nine months ago.

Duggan asked the public to keep another Detroit police officer, Officer Johnson, who is currently battling for his own life, in their thoughts.

Another Detroit police officer has been hospitalized and unconscious since he was shot responding to a domestic situation in April 2017.

The officer and his partner, a rookie then six months out of the training academy, responded to a domestic assault at an apartment building on Joy Road on Detroit's west side about 10:45 p.m. Sunday, April 30.

Police said a tenant in the building, who was not the suspect, opened the apartment door and opened fire on the officer, striking Johnson in the head. Johnson's partner dragged him to safety and exchanged gunfire with the shooter, whom he shot and killed.
FLINT, MI -- A Flint pastor whose taken on the task of helping families cope with the loss of their loved ones to gun violence is set to attend Tuesday's State of the Union address.

Pastor Jeffery Hawkins of Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church plans to attend the Jan. 30 address by President Donald Trump after accepting an invitation from U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township.

Hawkins, along with his wife April, have held events and formed groups that allow families to share their stories and brought stakeholders in the community together to try and figure out how to combat gun violence in the city.

The pastor has lost two sons to violent crimes -- in 2007 and 2010 -- pushing him to become involved in programs, including the Cease Fire initiative that brought faith leaders together with police and other officials to try and deter violence.

"Violence has a terrible impact on youth in the community. We must do more to prevent senseless gun deaths in communities like Flint," Hawkins said. "I am honored to attend the State of the Union address with Congressman Kildee, and my family appreciates his work in Congress to prevent gun violence and provide more opportunity for young people in our community."

Kildee called Hawkins "an important leader and role model in our community."

"He has turned his family's grief over the loss of their two sons into action because he does not want another family to experience similar tragedy," commented Kildee. "I am honored to have Pastor Hawkins as my guest this year to help highlight the need for more action by Congress to prevent gun violence."

Kildee has worked in recent months on a bipartisan bill to try and pass gun safety measures including the regulation of bump stocks following the October 2017 Las Vegas shooting that left 58 people dead and hundreds wounded.

He has also introduced legislation in recent years aimed at reducing violence and creating summer jobs for youth in mid-Michigan. Kildee represents the state's 5th Congressional District which includes Flint, Saginaw, and Bay City.

The Help Communities Fight Violent Crime Act would provide an additional $25 million a year in funding for the next five years for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to conduct "surge" programs to root out criminals and violent crime, Kildee previously said.

The Empowering Youth Through Summer Employment Act would invest $50 million annually for five years to help expand summer youth employment programs, with federal grants awarded to states to fund community programs that give young adults opportunities for summer employment that is directly linked to academic or occupational learning.
LAKE ODESSA, MI -- More than a dozen goats were killed in a fire that destroyed a barn Sunday morning.

Lake Odessa Fire Chief Jeff Sanderson said crews were called to 9212 Tasker Rd. around 10 a.m. on Jan. 28. Flames were showing when the call came in but the barn was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.

The property owner raises goats, and 13 were killed in the fire. Sanderson said most were adults, but a few were younger goats.

(Photo provided to MLive.com by Lyndsey Possehn)

Sanderson said the fire is believed to have been caused by heat lamps that were used to keep younger goats warm in the winter. When the homeowner tried to rescue the animals, the origin of the flames appeared to be where the lamps were run.

Firefighters attacked the blaze from outside, and received assistance from Clarksville, Berlin-Orange and Woodland Township Fire Departments, Life EMS and Michigan State Police. There were around 30 officials at the scene.

Sanderson said it took around 30 minutes to knockdown the flames, but the old barn burned quickly and was totally destroyed.

No humans were harmed in the fire.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Grand Rapids Community College will honor and celebrate influential leaders in the African American community at its annual Giants Awards program.

The event is 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at DeVos Place's Steelcase Ballroom, 303 Monroe Ave. NW.

While the Giant Among Giants Award winner remains a closely-held secret until that night, the following 11 people are among others who will be honored this year:

Huemartin Robinson II, 49, of Grand Rapids

Floyd Skinner Justice Award winner

Assistant superintendent, Kent County Juvenile Detention Center

Inspiration: "I have drawn inspiration from people doing great things to advance culture on a personal, local and national level. Personally I'm inspired by the single mothers in our community, especially my own Ms. Joycelyn Joseph, who do their best to educate their children, many of them of the opposite sex, on how to be productive members of society. I've drawn inspiration from the local strugglers/activists who have with their voices as well as deeds fought for diversity, equity, and inclusion by creating inroads in their various professions. Nationally I've been inspired by historical figures such as Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, MLK, Dr. Huey P. Newton, and President Obama who sought to intellectually inspire a nation of people."

Life Lesson: "I have two. The first is don't let your mistakes define you. I've made many and expect to make some more. Everyone fails, and failure should be viewed as a great opportunity to make some improvements so that you may move forward with an enhanced vigor to accomplish your goals. One of my favorite rap lyrics is, "I might stumble, but I still won't lose!" - MC Ren. The second is to keep your mind, body, and soul in tune and always ready for whatever life may throw your way, because if you try and get ready, it will be too late."

Challenge: "Ensuring that fairness is appropriated to all people involved with the justice system and beyond. Being a black criminal justice professional has been very challenging as the views within our country's legal system don't always align with my personal beliefs. Disproportionate incarceration and sentencing coupled with my community's conflictual relationship with police are at the forefront of my thoughts and actions. My struggle has been how to best position myself so that I can make an impact for those effected most. Moving the needle of equity, bringing awareness to human rights, building skills with our youth, while serving the community have been my primary focus."

Christina Y. Johnson, 58, of Kentwood

Walter Coe Public Service Award winner

Public safety department sergeant, Grand Rapids Public Schools

Inspiration: "When I was 12 I had a brother at the age of 15 killed by a police officer, and this inspired me to want to become involved in law enforcement so others could see how faith in God not only healed me, but it gave me the courage and the strength to help others. Inspiring and helping others to look beyond themselves and find a good outcome in any situation brings joy to my heart."

Life Lesson: "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthen me."

Challenge: "Getting others to understand the critical nature of this work. We are impacting lives, and it is how we deal with the youth in our schools today that will make a difference in how their lives turn out tomorrow. Parents do not always look at Public Safety and Security in a positive manner; many have a negative stereotype of what the job entails. I want to help change that role and get our students and parents to understand that we are here to help them and will always support them and do all we can to keep them on track to graduate."

Valencia L. Agnew, 53, of Grand Rapids

Eugene Browning Medical Service Award winner

Owner, Adolescent and Family Behavioral Health Services

Inspiration: "I am inspired every day by clients who are willing to face their struggles and challenges, head on, even when there is stigma, even when they feel helpless and hopeless. They show up in session after session trusting me to help them in their journey. It makes me want to do better and provide them with the best. I am inspired by my faith and relationship with God; when things get tough, I know that I am following my calling and purpose. In addition, my mother has been my inspiration as long as I can remember. She helped others tirelessly. She gave her time, money, cooking, prayers, encouragement, and other resources to most anyone who needed help even if she did not know them."

Life Lesson: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue. We have the ability to speak words of life to others that cause them to change their focus. And if we change someone's focus, we can change their direction. Sometimes, people just need to have someone speak life so that there is hope. Someone focused can accomplish most anything."

Challenge: "Stigma is one of the biggest challenges, while things are better, it still stands in the way of people getting available help. The other challenge is a lack of knowledge about treatment options available. I wish I had more opportunities to educate people who self-injure and people who have emotional dysregulation as well as those who treat them and those who love and support them."

Renee Williams of Grand Rapids

W.W. Plummer Humanitarian Award winner

Vice president - community development manager, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin at Huntington Bank

Inspiration: "I am inspired by people who work tirelessly to eliminate economic disparities, people who are willing to put themselves out there as change agents, not just illuminate, but advocate for real equity. I look to individuals who selflessly give their time and talent to pull others up. I was raised with deep roots in Christian values and principles. I believe God has a plan for each of us, but challenges us to implement His plan daily in our personal and professional lives. I'm inspired by individuals who without notoriety go about doing everything they can to build the world God intends."

Life Lesson: "To be willing to pause and celebrate others success before your own."

Challenge: "How to find more time to dedicate to helping inspire and grow young people of color to consider a career in the financial services and or banking industry. Continue to have confidence, and to convene others to reach out and speak up to grow our efforts aimed at building a community of fairness and justice."

Wayne D. Wilson, 56, of Ada

Milo Brown Business Award winner

Senior vice president of government markets, Priority Health

Inspiration: "My parents instilled in me a strong work ethic, a commitment to education and most importantly having a relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. These principals have served me well in my professional life as a health care executive. However, what I am proudest of is the opportunity that I have had to use my knowledge and influence in healthcare to serve the community. Health care is a necessity, my mission is to make sure our community receives the very best available."

Life Lesson: "We often settle for less because we allow the perception of others to limit our belief in ourselves. Don't let doubters or your surrounding environment steal your dream, instead learn to transform their doubt into your strength. This is particularly important in the African American community because we seldom see leaders or executives that look like us."

Challenge: "Disparities in health care are real and finding ways to solve them is very challenging. It takes compassion but also business smarts. I constantly think about how I can improve access to excellent health care when resource constraints are a significant challenge. One thing is for sure, it will take a village and I am determined not only to find ways to bring this village together, but ensure that it is successful."

Rhondo Cooper, 47, of Grand Rapids

Phyllis Scott Activist Award

Social emotional learning consultant, Grand Rapids Public Schools

Inspiration: "I am immensely inspired by the awesome blessing and revolutionary responsibility of being both a father and a husband. I am also an old-fashioned story teller in that I am amazingly inspired by the age-old story of good versus evil. I enjoy the modern-day stories involving David and Goliath. My wife is a modern-day superhero with an indomitable spirit! She is the glue that holds our family together. Simply put ... They are my everything."

Life Lesson: "Throughout my life two recurring themes have served as pivotal lessons: Seek first to understand then to be understood; and the African phrase Umbutu meaning, "I am because we are." Both have served me towards my goal of becoming more "selfless" in my interactions and service for others."

Challenge: "My biggest challenge is understanding that I can't do everything for everyone. In my pursuit towards being an agent for change, I have ultimately had to face the painful reality that I don't have all the answers and that supporting others is a communal process."

Bill Manns, 51, of Grand Rapids

William Glenn Trailblazer Award winner

President, Mercy Health Saint Mary's

Inspiration: "I have been inspired by my parents. My father always encouraged me to be my own man but to remember that I was put on earth to give back to my community and make a difference. My mom, who dedicated her life to being an educator, has always stressed the importance of not only obtaining an education but also ensuring a strong connection with God. She constantly reminds me that while education opens doors, being a lifelong learner helps ensure you remain relevant, but it's my connection with God that matters most. When I think of her I can see her saying, '... no matter how smart you think you are, He is in charge.'

"I am also inspired by the work that both my wife and son have done in addressing the issues of race and equity in West Michigan. We moved here from one of the most diverse places in America--the Bay area of California. In California we saw the positive impact that diversity has on all aspects of life. West Michigan proved to be a stark contrast to our life in California but rather than complaining they both started working to make a positive difference in our community. I am both amazed and humbled by their work."

Life Lesson: "I have learned that only one person can make a huge difference but he or she can only do so with a team. I am blessed to have many who support me in my life."

Challenge: "Healthcare as an industry is complex and constantly evolving but the paucity of people of color in leadership and board positions in healthcare is deeply disturbing.

"I believe the vast majority of us who go into healthcare do so because we have a strong desire to help others. That said, when you look at healthcare outcome data African American men are in the cohort that typically have the worst outcomes. Again, I do not think this is because of an active desire to ensure poor outcomes for us but rather this is an unintended outcome of people who look like me not being at the table to provide our perspectives."

Gertrude G. Croom, 71, of Grand Rapids

Raymond Tardy Community Service Award winner

Retired Grand Rapids Community College professor of political science and anthropology

Inspiration: "My inspiration has come primarily from my mother's confidence in me at a young age. Also, the opportunity to work as a youth leader with Dr. M.L. King, Jr. in my home city of Birmingham, Alabama, and in St. Augustine, Florida in the late 1960s."

Life Lesson: "From my studies and teaching about various cultures around the world, I learned that intelligence is not limited to large-scale societies or to any one ethnic group."

Challenge: "I am a retired GRCC professor of Political Science. When I was teaching, I felt challenged when trying to impress upon my students the very delicate nature of a democratic society. I often quoted British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, who said, 'Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time ...'"

Lois Jene Thomas, 68, of Grand Rapids

H.C. Toliver Religious Life Award winner

Retired public schools educator

Inspiration: "Ministering to others whether teaching or singing provides personal satisfaction and spiritual fulfillment in helping people grow in their faith. This compassion of commitment and dedication to serving God's people began early in my life under the pastoral leadership of the late Rev. W.L. Patterson, pastor of True Light Baptist church and his wife the late Ruth Patterson.

"As an evangelist it is my desire to encourage and guide people to trust God's provision in his word for solutions to problems, strength to face difficulties, and courage to overcome obstacles and faith to believe with God all things are possible."

Life Lesson: "The Power of Focus through studying the bible, prayer and attending a church to help you grow spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically."

Challenge: "To continue striving to reach and inspire people how to transform their lives to fulfill their purpose in life."

Carolyn J. Evans, 67, of Caledonia

Hattie Beverly Education Award winner

Assistant superintendent of instruction, Grand Rapids Public Schools

Inspiration: "I give honor and I am inspired by the many individuals in my life who have gone before me, who withstood and endured social and economic injustices to become educated, contributing members of society. They were individuals who stood firmly behind moral imperatives, who fought for what is just and right, and were never weary in well doing because they believed in their hearts that in due time they will reap what they sowed.

"I am also inspired by the faces of students past and present that I have been indelibly and eternally planted in my memory. I am convinced that each of them possesses a unique purpose and gift needed to make this world a better place in which to reside. These young individuals represent the hope of our families, communities, nation and world. I humbly acknowledge that they have taught me immensely and continue to teach me daily. They have blessed me and continue to bless me. They have been my inspiration."

Life Lesson: "The Bible urges each of us to be the salt of the earth. In fact, it begs the question: 'If we do not salt the earth, how can it be salted?' It goes on to make the claim that if the earth is not salted it will lose its flavor. Thousands of years later, at critical junctures of their earthly journey, some of our greatest thinkers and radical leaders, (Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Ghandi and Malcolm X), concluded and have urged us to 'Respect every man.' I have learned that each of us has the undeniable responsibility and right to give and receive respect and to assert the importance of respect as it pertains to weaker members of humankind who do not have a voice. It is the basis of the 'salting' of which the Bible speaks; an essential lens to use when examining our service."

Challenge: "I believe that one of the greatest challenges facing education are embedded within the construct of equity and the challenge of creating equitable conditions and opportunities for all. We now know that equity profoundly influences the social, educational and economic opportunities and capitol that a child experiences and acquires and has an impact on his/her development even before the child enters the world. It is at the heart of social justice and can only be addressed through our courageous and collective efforts driven by a theory of action that assumes the innate value of each and every child."

The late Deborah A. McMillan of East Lansing, represented by her sister-in-law of 44 years, Diane McMillan

Martha Reynolds Labor Award winner

Vivian Riddle Elementary School kindergarten teacher in Lansing

Inspiration: "Debbie had a passion for Early Childhood education. She firmly believed that all students deserved the best start as they began their educational career. She also knew that teachers needed to be supported in their work. Growing up in the projects on the east side of Detroit, Debbie witnessed the effects race and poverty on student achievement and resolved to become an early childhood teacher to fight for quality education for students and support for the educators who teach them."

Life Lesson: "Debbie stood up for what she believed was right. She abhorred injustice. When the Michigan teachers' unions decided to file suit against the state, Debbie courageously stepped forward to sign her name as lead plaintiff. For seven years she never lost faith in the cause and stayed committed to pursuing justice for educators, even delaying her retirement to remain an active employee. Michigan educators gained a major victory on December 20, 2017 when the Michigan Supreme Court unanimously ordered that $554 million dollars be returned to school employees. Debbie leaves a legacy of leadership, sacrifice, and perseverance that provide us all with a life lesson of how to live a principled life of service."

Challenge: "Debbie faced dwindling resources for students during her years of service, but she didn't let that deter her. In addition to advocating for her students to receive the resources they needed at the district and state levels, her classroom became a smorgasbord of school items such as coats, mittens, clothing, school supplies, and reading materials that she along with her school staff personally collected often at their own expense. Debbie and other school staff sought out partnerships with community groups to take students to plays, field trips, and other events. Debbie was a fierce advocate for quality teaching and spent most summers in classes and workshops, honing her instructional skills to ensure that her students always benefitted from the school best practices research."

The Giants Awards & Banquet XXXVl

* When: Saturday, Feb. 3; social gathering at 6 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7:15 p.m.

* Where: DeVos Place, Steelcase Ballroom, 303 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

2018 Honorees

Huemartin Robinson, II - Floyd Skinner Justice Award

Christina Y. Johnson - Walter Coe Public Service Award

Valencia L. Agnew - Eugene Browning Medical Service Award

Renee Williams - W.W. Plummer Humanitarian Award

Wayne D. Wilson

Rhondo Cooper - Phyllis Scott Activist Award

Bill Mans - William Glenn Trailblazer Award

Gertrude G. Croom - Raymond Tardy Community Service Award

Lois Jene Thomas - H.C. Toliver Religious Life Award

Carolyn J. Evans - Hattie Beverly Education Award

Deborah A. McMillan - Martha Reynolds Labor Award

Giant Among Giants - to be announced on Feb. 3

Contributions for the Giants banquet support the Grand Rapids Community College Foundation's Milo Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Junior Giants Fund.

For more info. including tickets: Call 616-234-3390 or email grcc.edu/giants
NORTHERN MICHIGAN -- A 22-year-old father was arrested after a hospital staff discovered his infant showed signs of child abuse.

According to a release from the Escanaba Department of Public Safety, police were notified that an infant who had been treated in OSF St. Francis Hospital emergency room in Escanaba showed signs of being physically abused. Police began investigating on Jan. 26.

The 21-year-old mother and 22-year-old father were questioned by police. The father was arrested for child abuse and lodged at the Delta County Correctional Facility.

He is being held on a $500,000 cash bond. Police did not identify the man in a Sunday release.

The mother was released.

Their child was transferred to St. Vincent Children's Hospital in Green Bay, Wisc. to be treated for non-life threatening injuries, police said.

The state Department of Human Services, Child Protective Services and the Delta County Prosecutor's Office assisted in this investigation.
LANSING, MI -- Is the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality overly zealous about protecting the environment and beholden to green group ideology, or too deferential to businesses that promise jobs in exchange for pollution permits?

That debate sits at the heart of a bill package the Michigan Senate passed this week. The trio of bills would, among other things, create a governor-appointed panel within DEQ to hear permit appeals and a powerful oversight committee with the authority to review, amend or kill all proposed environmental regulations.

The business community likes the idea, which the Michigan Chamber of Commerce says will ensure decisions are "focused on the science rather than personal opinions or politics."

Environmental groups and Senate Democrats are aghast, warning that companies like Enbridge could, in essence, be allowed to vote on regulatory decisions affecting their business -- a major interest conflict on a powerful oversight committee.

They worry foreign interests could have major sway over state environmental policy because the legislation doesn't require panel members live in Michigan.

The 11-member review panel includes five obvious business and industry seats with few restrictions on who could fill them. Among the rest, environmental groups would get one seat, which the bill sponsor considers more than adequate.

Decisions would require a simple majority.

"For far too long we've listened to everything environmental groups say as the truth," said Sen. Tom Casperson, a Republican who represents the western Upper Peninsula.

Sen. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba.

Casperson thinks environmental groups have too much sway over state regulators and conflates what he considers an onerous permitting process that drives away business with the influence of those groups, which, he says "are flat out lying."

The animosity for environmental activism hearkens from Casperson's past in the logging business, where, in floor remarks this week, he said such groups vilified his father and grandfather.

"They need to be challenged," Casperson told MLive. "So, that's what we're trying to do here."

On Thursday, Jan. 25, all 26 Republican senators voted to advance SBs 652, 653, and 654 to the state House of Representatives, where they were referred to the natural resources committee.

Committee chair Rep. Gary Howell, R-North Branch, a sponsor of a companion bill introduced in December, said he plans to hold a hearing after the committee finishes with another Casperson bill that would let counties veto state land purchases.

Democrats spent hours Thursday trying to poke holes in the legislation's impact by adding language that would make individual panel members civilly liable for injury or environmental damage resulting from a decision less health protective than the DEQ director's, or require any panel member be a Michigan resident.

All amendment attempts were voted down.

In floor statement, Sens. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, and Steve Bieda, D-Warren, said the bills amend the Administrative Procedures and Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Acts to essentially hand regulatory authority to private industry.

"With a name like the 'Environmental Rules Review Committee,' the bills before us sound like the reforms we've been waiting for years to implement," said Bieda.

"It sounds like we can finally get a chance to review and modernize the outdated PFAS regulations to protect the residents of Kent County."

But Bieda said the devil is in the details. Eleven voting members of the rules review panel would include:

- One person representing the solid waste industry.

- One person representing a statewide manufacturing group.

- One person representing a statewide small business group.

- One person representing the oil and gas industry.

- One person representing a statewide agricultural group.

- One person representing public electric utilities.

- One person representing local governments.

- One person representing a statewide environmental group.

- One person representing a land conservancy group.

- One person representing the general public.

- One person who is a medical professional.

Rules panel members would be appointed to 4-year terms by the governor and subject to Senate approval. Directors of the DEQ, Department of Health and Human Services and Michigan Economic Development Corporation would be non-voting members.

The legislation would prohibit anyone who previously worked for the DEQ within the last three years from serving on the committee.

Decisions would be made by majority vote. Nine members is a quorum. Meetings would be held in public and hearings would be held on proposed rules. The panel would get a year to make a decision about proposed regulations.

"If you actually read the bills, you will find that this so-called review committee is actually a ploy to implode our most trusted protections and make it easier for businesses to exploit our lands," Bieda said.

The legislation "packs the committee with biased members from the very industries that seek to profit from our natural resources -- effectively, and I hate to use the cliche -- putting the fox in charge of the hen house," he said.

Gov. Rick Snyder's office and the DEQ declined to take a position on the bills this week, both saying they planned to continue working with legislators.

"DEQ staff have recently met with stakeholders who are encouraging the passage of this package of bills to gain a better understanding of the intent of the legislation, the perceived issues the bills are focused on addressing and to have our questions answered," said agency spokesperson Tiffany Brown.

The Michigan Chamber said the legislation expands "openness, accountability and transparency in DEQ rule-making."

"It's time to reinvent the top-down regulatory culture at the DEQ and we believe this legislation will get the job done," said Michigan Chamber CEO Rich Studley.

James Clift, MEC policy director, says the bills undermine the accountability of current or future administrations by allowing regulators to wipe their hands of decision making and argue that final authority over rule-making and permits is out of their hands.

Snyder or successors would have to demonstrate cause for any panel member's removal, unlike other appointed positions which serve at the governor's will. Appointees could overrule a new administration's rule-making.

Clift argues that taxpayers would likely bear the burden of any litigation arising from challenged panel decisions, for which panel members would not be accountable.

While the DEQ wouldn't necessarily cede quite as much authority with the permit appeal committee, Clift said the public would not be allowed to appeal a permitting decision, only the permit applicant.

Clift is not aware of any such panel for other state departments.

"This is taking executive branch authority and giving to the regulated community," Clift said -- in essence, "demoting the governor" much the same way the "no stricter than federal" legislation would prohibit state regulations more stringent than federal rules.

The DEQ already "bend over backwards trying to get to 'yes' to give people a permit to do what they want to do, within the law," Clift said. "If anything, we have a department that's already in industry's corner, but this seals the deal."

Clift says the DEQ already issues the vast majority of permits, but Casperson calls that misleading because the numbers don't account for people or businesses who quit the process because it's convoluted and expensive. He claims the DEQ puts regular folk through the wringer for trying to build a culvert or fill wetlands.

He claims the DEQ routinely steps outside statutory boundaries with permit reviews, citing as example alleged scrutiny on emergency roads around the proposed Aquila Resources Back Forty gold mine in Menominee County, which is nearing final approval to remove acres of wetlands as part of plans to build 700-foot deep, 83-acre open pit mine on the Menominee River banks.

Permitting for the mine has taken several years. It's vociferously opposed by local tribes and environmental groups, who've sued to force the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to take over the process.

Casperson said he was "pulled into" the fight by Toronto-based Aquila as the company seeks clearance of the final hurdle. He said scrutiny on existing roads has nothing to do with permit requirements.

"There is zero reason to have that included in questioning to get a wetlands permit, yet that's part of the stuff the company is having to deal with," he said.

Conversely, Clift says legislators need to consider the wider implications of what they're proposing. Should an industry-stacked panel get final say in how much of the carcinogenic 1,4-dioxane plume under Ann Arbor gets cleaned up?

"Basically this is an effort by industry to be put in charge of regulating themselves," he said.
CASS COUNTY, MI -- A 23-year-old Marcellus man was airlifted to the hospital after an early morning crash Sunday.

According to a release from the Cass County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called at 1:49 a.m. on Jan. 28 to a crash on Lawrence Road, near Marcellus Highway in Wayne Township. Terance Hartzell, 23, was driving south on Lawrence Road when he swerved to avoid a small animal that ran into his path.

The maneuver caused Hartzell to lose control. His vehicle left the road and struck a tree.

Hartzell was airlifted to Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo.

Police said Hartzell was wearing a seat belt during the crash, and alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the incident. It remains under investigation.
The following reflects the opinion of The Grand Rapids Press Editorial Board.

There are no easy answers to solving the troubling lack of trust that exists between Grand Rapids police and residents in some neighborhoods, especially citizens of color.

But it's time city commissioners expedite action before escalating tensions bubble over.

Perceived racial disparities, along with evidence suggesting intentional discrimination have eroded trust. A study released in 2017 found blacks were twice as likely to be stopped by Grand Rapids police.

In December, emotions ran high at a city meeting after video showed an 11-year-old girl briefly handcuffed and put in a police cruiser, during the search for an attempted murder suspect.

In March, there was similar tension following the release of video of five black boys, ages 12 to 14, being detained by police at gunpoint.

In both circumstances, the officers followed policy and procedure, and the children were innocent.

In this contentious environment, an emotional firestorm can easily be ignited. That's why it is encouraging police union leaders and neighborhood pastors have met for a frank discussion of issues.

Regular dialogue is wise.

Citizens shouldn't fear harassment or unfair treatment from officers. And the police should be able to do their jobs -- protecting the public -- without feeling like they are the enemy because of the misconduct of some bad actors.

In this year's budget, $1 million of the $5 million earmarked to improve police-community relations was allocated. But practically nothing has been spent or designated halfway through the fiscal year.

The city commission should quickly put that money to work. Measured, responsible efforts are necessary, including the four additional lieutenants requested.

Police Chief David Rahinsky wants to ensure more senior officers are available to respond to dynamic, rapidly evolving situations. The lieutenants would also play a helpful role as community liaisons.

Public outcry has prompted plans for more youth outreach and specialized training such as cultural competency.

As police work to effectively combat crime while building trust in communities, Rahinksy and the unions must improve their communication and repair relations strained by reaction to intense scrutiny.

This simmering trust issue requires deliberate and consistent attention from city commissioners to prevent this situation from escalating into a full-blown crisis.
DETROIT -- Former Detroit Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez is getting another chance in the big leagues.

Rodriguez, 36, has signed a minor-league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, according to reporter Jon Heyman. He will make $2.5 million if he makes the club and can earn another $1.25 million in incentives.

Rodriguez entered last spring as the Tigers' closer but he lost his job after a miserable start and then was released in June after griping about his role.

He finished 2-5 with a 7.82 ERA in 25 1/3 innings in 2017.

Rodriguez briefly signed with the Washington Nationals but was released after subpar minor-league outings.

He attempted a comeback this spring and worked out for several teams, promising more velocity on a fastball that dipped below 90 mph at times in 2017. The Phillies saw enough to give him a chance in spring training.

Rodriguez has 437 saves, making him the active leader in the category. He's fourth all-time behind Mariano Rivera (652), Trevor Hoffman (601) and Lee Smith (478).

Hector Neris was the Phillies closer in 2017 and is expected to handle the job again this year.
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1947-48 | Independent Indias first budget, presented by finance minister RK Shanmukham Chetty, earmarked a total expenditure of Rs 197.39 crore. Nearly half of this (46 percent) or Rs 92.74 crore was allocated for just one department. Which department was this? Ans: Defence Services (In image, Shanmukham Chetty, Finance Minister broadcasting on the Budget presented by him in the Indian Parliament in November 1947; Wikimedia Commons)

1948-49 | Finance minister R.K. Shanmukham Chetty, in independent Indias second budget, used a term that later became an institutional process for every year the Lok Sabha elections are held. What is this term? Ans: Interim Budget. This was the first time Chetty introduced it in his budget speech for 1948-49. Subsequently, Interim Budget began to mean a budget for a short period, usually presented just ahead of Lok Sabha elections. (Finance Minister P Chidambaram arrives at the parliament to present the interim budget in 2014: Reuters)

1949-50 |This budget abolished a tax that is currently very prevalent and is closely monitored by tax authorities to prevent evasion? What tax is this? Ans: Capital Gains Tax (Reuters)

1950-51 | This budget formally announced a new body headed by the Prime Minister that was entrusted with the task of steering a defined development programme. What is the name of this body? Ans: Planning Commission (In image, Govind Ballabh Pant with TT Krishnamachari and members of Planning commission in 1957; Wikimedia Commons)

1951-52 | This budget doubled the surcharge to 100 percent in a group of widely consumed agro-based items. Which are these products? Ans: Ale, beer, spirits, and other fermented liquor (Reuters)

1952-53 | This budget announced the receipt of assistance from a very popular US-based philanthropic organization. Which organization is this? Ans: Ford Foundation (In image, 1956 Ford Continental Mark II; Wikimedia Commons)

1953-54 | This budget raised the minimum income tax exemption limit for individuals by nearly 17 percent, offering relief to thousands of taxpayers. What was the new limit? Ans: It was raised to Rs 4,200 a year from Rs 3,600 earlier (In image, taxpayers line up to submit their income tax returns in New Delhi; Reuters)

1954-55 | This budget announced plans to set up a specialized financial institution to offer loans to the industry. Which institution was this? Ans: ICICI (Reuters)

1955-56 | A highly significant income tax change was proposed in this budget. What was it? Ans: It proposed different tax-exempt slabs for married and unmarried persons as part of a plan to create a suitable scheme of family allowances. (Reuters)
N Chandrababu Naidu | Andhra Pradesh | Total cases: 3 | Serious IPC: Nil

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, refusing to be drawn into a duel with ally BJP, today said he would speak out if, and when, the latter did not want to continue with the alliance.

Naidu was responding to a question on the critical remarks made by some BJP leaders against his government over the last few days.

The Telugu Desam Party supremo told a press conference here this afternoon that it was for the BJP leadership to think about the issue.

"I will not say anything owing to "mitrapaksha dharmam" (conformity to friendship). Their leadership should think about it," he said.

Naidu added, "I am controlling my people as well and I will continue to control them. I even warned one of our leaders yesterday when he tried to raise the Tadepalligudem issue (related to a dispute between Endowments Minister P Manikyala Rao of the BJP and local TDP leaders)."

"If they dont want an alliance, then we will say namaskar and then talk," Chandrababu remarked.

The BJP is part of the Chandrababu government and has two ministers in the Cabinet.

The skirmishes between the allies are nothing new, with both sides hitting out at each other, and Naidu has had to personally intervene to restrain his party colleagues.

The BJP's floor leader in the AP Assembly, Vishnu Kumar Raju, recently found fault with Naidu for inducting four legislators of the opposition YSR Congress, who defected to the TDP, into the state Cabinet.

Former Union Minister BJP leader Daggubati Purandeswari, Naidus sister-in-law, has also been critical of the state government over several issues, particularly the Polavaram multipurpose project.

BJP national executive member and MLC Somu Veerraju said his party would like to strengthen itself in the state and be in a "commanding position" by 2019 elections and not a junior partner to the TDP.
That's all for today, readers. Thanks for staying on with our coverage of the day's action. Your enthusiasm encourages us to better our coverage every day. Do come back tomorrow for more news, views and insights.

19:56 EXIM Bank raises $10 billion in London Stock Exchange bond issue

The

Export Import Bank of India has raised USD 10 billion with a bond issuance on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

The 10-year dollar bonds were nearly two times oversubscribed.

The proceeds raised will be used by the EXIM Bank to support Indian project exports, overseas investment by way of long-term credit and its lines of credit portfolio.

"The notes achieved the tightest ever spread over US Treasury for an Indian entity for a 10-year issuance," LSE said in a statement, reports PTI.

The bond has a 3.897 percent annual yield and secured high investor support from across the world, the exchange said.

19:52 Sealing drive: AAP leaders to march to Parliament on Monday

AAP leaders will march to Parliament on Monday, demanding urgent and concrete action by the Centre to immediately put an end to sealing of markets in the national capital, a senior party leader said on Sunday.

The Budget session of Parliament starts on Monday.

Chief spokesperson of AAP's Delhi unit Saurabh Bharadwaj said his party kept on saying that the ongoing sealing drive in Delhi was to due to conversion charges and changes are required in the Delhi Master Plan 2021.

Both of these (conversion charges and Delhi Master Plan 2021) are under the purview of the three municipal corporations, being ruled by the BJP, and the Delhi Development Authority, Bharadwaj said, reports PTI.

19:25 Smart cards for all ration card holders before March 1

Smart cards would be issued to all ration card holders before March 1, state food minister K Kamaraj said in Tiruvarur today.

Speaking to reporters here, he said ration items would be given only through Smart cards from that date, reports PTI.

He said 20 Metric tonnes of paddy would be procured during the current harvest season.

"That is our target," he said.

19:04 Prime Minister Narendra Modi urges political leaders at all-party meeting to ensure success of Budget session, said Minister Ananth Kumar, reports News18.

17:58 Govt, Opposition discuss issues, legislations to be taken up in Budget session

Ahead of the Budget session of Parliament beginning tomorrow, representatives of the government and the opposition met in Delhi today to discuss the issues and proposed legislations which would come up.

While the government wants to push the bill on instant triple talaq pending in the Rajya Sabha along with the one which seeks to grant constitutional status to the OBC Commission, the opposition plans to counter the government on issues such as rising incidents of rapes, alleged "attack" on constitutional institutions and the plight of traders.

"We want to raise these issues as they are important. The government should adopt a cooperative attitude and allow the opposition to raise these issues," Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said ahead of the meeting, reports PTI.

17:08 FinMin to conduct performance review of heads of 12 banks under PCA

The finance ministry would soon initiate a performance review of heads of public sector banks that are under the RBI's Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) as part of the reform process, official sources said.

So far, the Reserve Bank has put 12 public sector banks (PSBs) under watch in view of lagging on certain performance parameters like unexpected level of high non-performing assets (NPAs), low capital level, low return on assets, etc.

These parameters indicate weak financial health of lending institutions and a need to initiate remedial measures to put them on a right course.

Performance review of the top level management of all such banks would be undertaken soon, official sources said, reports PTI.

16:29 Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley arrived for pre-budget session all-party meeting in Delhi, reports News 18

16:16 Time has not come for any rethink on AFSPA: Army Chief Gen Rawat

Time has not come for any rethink on AFSPA or making some of its provisions milder, Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat has said, asserting that the Army has been taking adequate precautions in protecting human rights while operating in disturbed areas like Jammu and Kashmir.

Rawat's remarks assume significance as they come against the backdrop of reports that several rounds of high-level discussions have taken place between the defence and home ministries on the "need to remove or dilute at least some provisions" of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), reports PTI.

The act gives the security forces special rights and immunity in carrying out various operations in disturbed areas. There has been a long-standing demand from various quarters in J-K and the Northeast to withdraw it.

1:39 pm Andhra Pradesh CM cites friendship, refuses to talk on TDP-BJP spats

N Chandrababu Naidu, refusing to be drawn into a duel with ally BJP, today said he would speak out if, and when, the latter did not want to continue with the alliance.

Naidu was responding to a question on the critical remarks made by some BJP leaders against his government over the last few days.

The Telugu Desam Party supremo told a press conference here this afternoon that it was for the BJP leadership to think about the issue.

1:28 pm Saudi billionaire Prince Al-Waleed freed after 'settlement'

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. Click here to read the full story.

12:37 pm India cheapest country to live in after South Africa: Survey



India is ranked second only to South Africa as the cheapest country to live or retire, according to a recent survey of 112 countries. The survey by GoBankingRates ranked nations on the bases of four key affordability metrics provided by online pricing database Numbeo. The metrics are: Local purchasing power index, rent index, Groceries index, and Consumer price index. Click here to read the full story.



10:53 am FPIs net inflow at USD 3-bn in Indian markets in Jan so far



Foreign investors have pumped in a staggering USD 3 billion (nearly Rs 18,000 crore) into the country's capital markets this month so far on expectation of recovery in corporate earnings and attractive yields. This comes following an outflow of over Rs 3,500 crore by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) from the capital markets (equity and debt) in December, depositories data showed.



10:40 am 'Padmaavat' violence: 42 arrested so far, Karni Sena leader detained in Gurgaon

A total of 42 people have been arrested so far and Karni Sena leader Thakur Kushalpal detained in connection with the attack on a school bus and torching of a state roadways bus here during protests against 'Padmaavat' earlier this week, a police officer said today.

Twenty-eight of the 42 people have been arrested in criminal cases registered in different police stations of Gurgaon, while 14 were arrested as part of preventive actions, a police spokesman said.

Click here to read the full story.



Latest visuals from Kasganj's Nadrai gate area #KasganjClashes pic.twitter.com/yqmsJgXnZj

 ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 28, 2018

Violence in UP's Kasganj continues:

09:43 AM Ahead of the Budget, corporate America has urged Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for further reduction in tax uncertainty for multinational companies and institutional investors, a step which it said would help attract more foreign direct investments to India.

"A significant positive step toward improving the investment climate would be to further reduce tax uncertainty for multinational companies and institutional investors in India," Nisha Desai Biswal, the president of the US-India Business Council (USIBC), said in a memorandum submitted to Jaitley.
A total of 42 people have been arrested so far and Karni Sena leader Thakur Kushalpal detained in connection with the attack on a school bus and torching of a state roadways bus here during protests against 'Padmaavat' earlier this week, a police officer said today.

Twenty-eight of the 42 people have been arrested in criminal cases registered in different police stations of Gurgaon, while 14 were arrested as part of preventive actions, a police spokesman said.

Earlier today, the special investigation team of Gurgaon Police probing the violence arrested four people from Silani Mod in Sohna, Gurgaon Police PRO Ravinder Kumar said, adding that they were residents of village Uleta Roz ka Mev in Mewat.

"A total of 42 accused have been arrested so far by Gurgaon Police in connection with the agitation against the film," Kumar added.

"Strenuous efforts are being made to arrest the remaining hooligans who were involved in the violent incidents which occurred in different locations," he said.

The special investigation team (SIT) also detained Karni Sena leader Thakur Kushalpal for questioning him for his suspected role in the violence, Kumar said.

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.

He said the SIT, headed by a DCP-rank officer, Ashok Bakshi, has been formed to probe the incidents.

The SIT would 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's action against "innocent" people who had nothing to do with the violence.
FILE PHOTO: Ingvar Kamprad, founder of Swedish multinational furniture retailer IKEA, is seen during an award ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden November 25, 2004. TT News Agency/Anders Wiklund via REUTERS/File photo ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. SWEDEN OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SWEDEN. - RC19DB9C8B90

Billionaire IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad, who turned a business he launched as a teenager into one of the world's best known furniture brands, has died at the age of 91, the Swedish company said on Sunday.

IKEA's simple but sturdy designs and self-assembly products are now familiar in homes around the globe and the retailer is aiming to generate 50 billion euros ($62 billion) in annual revenues by 2020.

Kamprad started IKEA in 1943 when he was just 17, but his big break came in 1956, when the company pioneered flat-pack furniture.

He got the idea when he watched an employee taking the legs off a table to fit it into a customer's car and realised that it could be developed to save money on transport, storage and sales space.

The business now has around 400 stores, many of them cavernous warehouses in out-of-town malls and roughly 1 billion people visited them last year.

"One of the greatest entrepreneurs of the 20th century, Ingvar Kamprad, has peacefully passed away, at his home in Smaland, Sweden, on the 27th of January," the company said.

Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven praised Kamprad as an inspirational figure whose influence had reached far beyond his native land.

"Ingvar Kamprad was a unique entrepreneur who had a big impact on Swedish business and who made home design a possibility for the many not just the few," national news agency TT quoted Lofven saying.

Born on March 30, 1926, in southern Sweden, Kamprad started off selling matches to neighbours at the age of five and soon diversified his inventory to include seeds, Christmas tree decorations, pencils and ball-point pens.

Despite his wealth, Kamprad prided himself on being frugal, driving an old car and encouraging staff to write on both sides of a sheet of paper to avoid waste.

Kamprad was also controversial figure.

He was forced to apologise for his time as a member of the New Swedish Movement, a nationalist, far-right group that supported fascist parties around Europe, in the 1940s.

His decision to live abroad, mainly in Switzerland, to avoid Sweden's high income taxes was also widely criticised.

In recent years, Kamprad had stepped away from the day-to-say running of the empire he created, though he remained an advisor.

His sons -- Peter, Jonas and Mathias -- still sit on the boards of various IKEA entities, but the family is no longer at the helm.

"Ingvar Kamprad was a great entrepreneur of the typical southern Swedish kind - hardworking and stubborn, with a lot of warmth and a playful twinkle in his eye," the company said.

"He worked until the very end of his life, staying true to his own motto that most things remain to be done."
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.
The Midland and Delaware basins are getting a lions share of publicity in the oil and gas world, but some companies see opportunities in other areas of the prolific Permian Basin.

Energy Hunter Resources, for example, is in the process of putting together a portfolio of horizontal San Andres acreage. The company in early December completed the acquisition of 9,413 net acres in Cochran County and is under contract to close an additional 9,600-acre acquisition adjacent to the original purchase in February and is in negotations on three other acquisitions.

Our goal is to put together a 40,000- to 50,00-gross acreage position in that area, Gary Evans, Energy Hunter chairman and chief executive officer, said in a phone interview from his Dallas office.

The economics of the horizontal San Andres appeal to a company such as Energy Hunter, but the fact the acreage has existing infrastructure is also a draw, he said.

The existence of infrastructure such as electric lines, injection lines and disposal wells gives Energy Hunter the ability to get new wells online easily, he said.

Another plus is the lack of competition from larger operators. While larger companies are seeking multi-million barrel reserves, the 400,000- to 600,000-barrel reserves are attractive to smaller companies such as Energy Hunter. He estimates there are about 20 private equity-backed companies active in the horizontal San Andres.

The rates of return are attractive because the costs are so low, Evans said. The horizontal San Andres may hold a third of the amount of reserves, but the costs are a quarter of the Midland or Delaware.

Thats because the wells are shallower, at about 5,000 feet, and require smaller equipment that isnt as much in demand as in the Midland and Delaware basins, he said.

Our frac jobs are a tenth of the normal Spraberry or Wolfcanp wells, he said.

Energy Hunters initial acquisition contains 180 existing wells, which the company will begin reworking in the next 30 days, cleaning scale and replacing pumps, Evans said. The acquisition also contains about 45 identified horizontal locations, and in late spring  probably April or May  the company plans to drill two horizontal wells with one-mile laterals.

Well put them online, check the geology, the engineering, and proceed from there, Evans said.

The acquisition is economic at $40 a barrel, so the current $65 means extra cash flow, he said.

Energy Hunter is interested in other areas of the Permian Basin, he said.

But the entry costs are so great, we found this is a nice niche area for us.

The company is also active in the Eagle Ford, having just put a new well online. Evans said the company will probably develop that acreage and then sell it.

We want to be a Permian player only, he said.

Energy Hunter is in the process of going public, launching an initial public offering last October. Evans estimates the company will be public in the next 30 days.

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Energy Hunter Resources appoints vice president, land

IRVING -- Energy Hunter Resources Inc. has appointed Gregory L. Jessup as vice president of the Land Department.

For more than 30 years, Greg Jessup has been actively involved in all phases of land operations , said Gary C. Evans, chairman and chief executive officer. His operational, financial and legal experience will prove especially important as we continue to acquire, develop and exploit our existing, and pending portfolio of properties.

Moreover, I can personally attest to Gregs capabilities and accomplishments as he formerly served as my vice president of Land at Magnum Hunter Resources, Evans said. Greg assisted in the purchase of both onshore and offshore properties at Magnum Hunter which were valued in excess of $1 billion.

Before joining Energy Hunter Resources, Jessup served as CEO of Jessup Energy Land LLC, a petroleum land service company that was specifically created to target and advise in the areas of land, exploration & development, legal, finance and mineral rights aspects of the oil and gas industry.
Even as oil producers celebrate prices that have risen above $65 a barrel, market analysts are flashing yellow caution lights.

Morningstar analysts are among those warning that crude supplies will again outstrip demand growth, sending prices lower.

The firms analysts say crude fundamentals look healthier in 2018 than they have in years, and they credit the production cuts from members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and their partners. Those moves have taken 1.8 million barrels off the market, helping realign global supplies before those cuts expire at the end of this year.

The analysts also point to several months of stagnant growth from shale basins  driven by a sharp increase in the number of drilled, uncompleted wells  and the impact of Hurricane Harvey. Those factors have lulled the markets into a false sense of security, Morningstar analysts said.

Supplies will rise amid resumption of production growth in the U.S. and expanded production from Libya and Nigeria, even if OPEC continues complying with its production cut agreements. Because of the expectations of renewed oversupply, Morningstars 2018 and mid-cycle price forecasts for West Texas Intermediate remain $48 a barrel and $55 a barrel, respectively.

Jeff Stafford, director, energy and utilities equity research at Morningstar, expanded on the firms outlook in an email interview with the Reporter-Telegram.

Q. Oil prices are now over $60 a barrel. Does this make your outlook less bearish?

A. We think oil prices have room to fall considerably in the second half of 2018, as we think crude inventories will likely stabilize during this period and could even increase as we exit 2018.

Q. Or do oil prices above $60 make you more bearish because U.S. shale producers can use those stronger prices to ramp up activity?

A. Yes, this is the view we take. The recent runup in oil prices has allowed U.S. shale producers to lock in attractive prices through derivatives. Rig counts have stabilized after showing a touch of weakness late in 2017, and we think U.S. production is set to increase meaningfully from here.

Q. The EIA is forecasting U.S. output will hit a record 10 million barrels a day early this year, rising to 11 million barrels a day next year. Where do you think all that output will go?

A. For 2018, were slightly more bullish on U.S. output than the EIA. Wed note that the EIA has been increasing its near-term estimates of late, moving them closer to our outlook. For 2019, were more or less in line with the 11 million barrels a day forecast from the EIA.

Q. You say despite your bearish outlook, you see pockets of opportunity in the oil and gas space. Where are these pockets?

A. When we wrote the article, Midstream stocks looked pretty attractive. Midstream companies are generally toll takers, and stock prices dont fluctuate nearly as much with oil and gas prices. Given our forecast for healthy U.S. production, we expect U.S. midstream volumes will be strong. But since our article, midstream stock prices have already somewhat converged to our valuations. We also see some value in a few of the lowest-cost US shale producers.
Whats it like selling a home in todays market?

Todays seller is likely going to receive multiple offers -- potentially offers above the asking price and the possibility of offers higher than even what the appraisal district will certify the house.

In 23 years, I have not seen anything quite like this, Realtor Victoria Printz told the Reporter-Telegram last week. We have been through booms before, but we are busy and it is January. Typically I dont get busy until February.

Busy has been a Realtors life for basically the last 12 months. In fact, 2017 will go down in the record books in categories that favor the seller, according to statistics from the Permian Basin Board of Realtors. The number of homes sold was 2,426, which was about 20 percent higher than the previous high mark (2,048 in 2014). The average price for a home sold was $294,126, which was higher than the $287,005 spent on the average home in 2014.

RELATED: PBBOR: Housing supply in Midland drops dramatically in December

Lastly, the total volume spent on homes, according to the PBBOR, was $724.13 million, which buried the previous record -- $587.78 million in 2014.

Midland County real estate markets experienced a record year in all aspects of the tracked targets, said Carroll Nall, MLS director for the PBBOR. We were able to accomplish this even with less than ideal inventory numbers and continue to maintain steady growth. All in all, the state of the real estate community remains strong.

What 2018 can do for an encore is about the only question left. If the start of the year is any indication, the answer is that 2018 will continue where 2017 left off. Printz said Thursday that there were 235 homes on the market in Midland County  less than a two-month supply. The Texas A&M Real Estate Center reports the Midland market has 1.4 the months of inventory. Realtors have previously told the Reporter-Telegram a balanced market between the buyer and seller is closer to six to eight months inventory.

I dont see a break coming, Printz said.

She said her real estate company has been on the phone with those representing companies looking to move hundreds of families to Midland. She said during one recent call, the company hoped to move about 200 families and asked how many homes were within a certain price range. The number I came up with was 36, she said.

In the $250,000 to $400,000 price range, there are about 56 homes, she said. That number drops to 43 if a buyer wants a half-acre of land or less.

RELATED: Panel highlights affordable housing resources

New residents to Midland want homes that are less than 10 years old, she said. That is proving difficult in this market because even people who recently moved to Midland in the latest wave of hiring are stuck in apartments while builders finish new construction, Printz said.

But workforce housing  if there is such a thing in Midland these days  isnt the only thing going off the market. Higher-priced homes are selling, even those in the highest brackets. Printz said she can remember when there were more than 23 homes costing an excess of $1 million. She said Thursday there were only five on the market listed between $1 million and $2 million.

It is an amazing time to sell, Printz said. Every day we have homes coming on the market, and every day, we have more homes going into contract.

2017 statistics

Average total on the market: 372

Homes sold: 2,462

Average days on the market: 46

Average sold price: $294,126

Average list price: $302,946

Median sold price: $255,375

Medial list price: $261,854

Average number of houses on market

2012: 277

2013: 271

2014: 312

2015: 506

2016: 581

2017: 372

Total houses sold

2012: 1,919

2013: 1,833

2014: 2,048

2015: 1,864

2016: 1,882

2017: 2,462

Average days on market

2012: 41

2013: 39.75

2014: 37.1

2015: 42.3

2016: 54

2017: 46

Average sold price

2012: $236,688

2013: $254,680

2014: $287,005

2015: $275,042

2016: $276,688

2017: 294,126

Total Volume

2012: $454.35 million

2013: $466.82 million

2014: $587.78 million

2015: $512.67 million

2016: $520.72 million

2017: $724.13 million

Source: Permian Basin Board of Realtors
The approach the federal government will use for the undocumented-workers issue in the U.S. remains to be seen, but U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway is fighting to make sure workers in agriculture are handled with care.

During a meeting Wednesday with the Reporter-Telegram editorial board, Conaway said that if someone is here legally, they should be able to work; if theyre here illegally, they should not be able to work. He wants a stronger E-Verify system to determine who qualifies and who does not. But the background check cant be implemented all at once.

The problem is we have millions working in production agriculture  in dairies, on farms, in fields  that if we went to immediate E-Verify and (workers) tried to move to different employers, they couldnt work, the congressmen from Midland said. We need a transition period to 100 percent E-Verify.

Conaway, who is chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, said some of his colleagues want to make everybody leave the country, apply to work in the U.S. and come back. Doing this to agriculture laborers could threaten the food supply because so many undocumented workers are employed in that industry.

I dont know what you get public policy-wise if youre talking about guys who are dismembering cow bodies, chickens or whatever. Whats the public policy you get that is worthy by making someone go back to Mexico and then come back, he said. If what you want is to know whos here, theyre legal and you know they can work, thats the endgame, so make that as least difficult as you can.

Plus, forcing people out of the country en masse isnt wise.

Flushing people out wont yield a lot of voluntary compliance because these people had too hard of a time getting here. There just wont be any trust, Conaway said. Lets assume its 3 million people. Do you think we have the consular capacity in Mexico to run 3 million people through background checks and all this stuff we want to get done while crops rot and cows dont get milked? Its not in our best interest to cut our nose off to spite our face.

Conaway proposes staggering the E-Verify requirement under Rep. Bob Goodlattes immigration bill for the agriculture industry to reduce its impact.

I think theres a way to handle the ag worker piece thats not amnesty but is efficient and allows our producers to continue to produce and allow us to eat at the costs that are currently there, he said. What we dont want to have happen is run all of these producers out of business because they dont have workers or raise the cost of food for the average American. Half the country is living paycheck to paycheck, and the cost of food is a really big deal.

When asked if there was any way for undocumented workers to get all of their paperwork done without leaving the country, he replied: Not under Goodlattes bill.

As for President Donald Trumps proposed wall between the U.S. and Mexico, Funding for the wall is in the spending plan, at least the initial part, Conaway said. You dont need to fund the whole wall right off the bat because you cant get it all built right off the bat. I think weve got $1.6 billion to $1.8 billion in the 2018 spending plan right now. That should be plenty of money to complete what they physically can get done in the next eight months.

Budget deal

The recent budget deal, which only extended funding the government for three weeks, was snarled by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) issue, which allows some who entered the country illegally as minors be able to have a work permit and have their cases delayed. Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, used DACA as a tool to hold up a budget deal. What resulted was a short government shutdown.

Conaway wasnt pleased.

There are no winners in that deal, he said. Republicans look less bad than the Democrats. Schumer is awful; he picked a fight he never should have picked. Hes typically been a better politician than that.

Conaway criticized Democrats for picking DACA, for as important of an issue as that is, and pinning it against everything else in the bill. The congressman added that DACA was all Democrats had in their arsenal.

(Republicans) did a good job of not putting anything in the bill that was a poison pill, he said. We didnt make them gag down anything at all because that would have allowed Schumer to point to that instead of DACA. He was stuck; he could only point to DACA.

Conaway said Trump did not weaponize the shutdown like (President Barack) Obama did.

(Trump) tried to make it as low-key as possible, he said. I dare say, other than certain non-essential folks getting a day off, on my money you couldnt really find any real impact on what happened. Thats the right thing.
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.
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.
For most, leaving college with student loan debt is the norm.

But just how much are students saddled with once they cross the stage?

A LendEDU study found how much debt Texas students are left with after graduating. Texas was ranked 37th in the country for states with the most debt, with an average of $26,236. In Texas, the university that, on average, leaves students with the most debt is Baylor University in Waco.

RELATED: Former Spur caught up in college basketball bribery, corruption scandal

At Baylor, 53 percent of the class of 2016 took on an average of $44,540 in debt, according to LendEDU.

Click through the slideshow to see where San Antonio-area universities landed on the list.

kbradshaw@express-news.net | Twitter: @kbrad5
Dennis Peron, an activist who helped legalize medical marijuana in California, died Saturday afternoon in a San Francisco hospital. He was 71.

Peron was a force behind a San Francisco ordinance allowing medical marijuana, a win that later helped propel the 1996 passage of Prop. 215, which legalized medical use for the entire state. A Vietnam War veteran, Peron spent some of the last years his life on a 20-acre farm in the rolling hills of Lake County, growing and giving away what he once sold: medical marijuana.

A man that changed the world, Jeffrey Peron wrote in a Facebook post, along with a photo of his brother  impish and good-looking  dressed in a gray suit and a blue striped tie. This is the Dennis I want to remember.

Throughout his long and checkered career, Peron was a gay activist, pot enthusiast and sometimes-vigilante at odds with the law. He was among the first to argue for the benefits of medicinal marijuana for AIDS patients as the health crisis overtook San Francisco. The epidemic also took his partner, Jonathan West, in 1990.

San Franciscos Board of Supervisors recognized Peron, suffering with late-stage lung cancer, with a certificate of honor last year.

The father of medical marijuana, one supervisor called him in the meeting.

I came to San Francisco to find love and to change the world, Peron said in reply, leaning on his walker. I found love, only to lose him through AIDS. We changed the world.

But once, Peron was just a gay kid from Long Island who joined the Air Force to get away from home, as he described it in his 2012 book, Memoirs of Dennis Peron. He then moved to a commune in the Haight, where he befriended Supervisor Harvey Milk and began selling marijuana in the Castro.

In 1991, Peron founded the first public cannabis dispensary in the country  originally called the San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club  during the height of the U.S. drug war.

He, along with Brownie Mary Rathbun, formed a resistance, doling out the herb to AIDS patients and shifting the public conversation about how it should be used. He was busted more than four times for illegally dealing the drug, spent time in jail and was once shot in the leg by a police officer. The club, which served 9,000 clients, was closed by a San Francisco Superior Court judge in 1998.

The city and the country has lost a cannabis leader who lived life on the edge, said Terrance Alan, a member of the citys Cannabis Commission. He lived his whole life on the edge, and thats what allowed us to lead in cannabis. Not many people would have had the courage at the time that he took up the mantle.

After the club was shut down, Peron moved to the country. He changed his business model and began providing living plants to patients. Eventually, after being diagnosed with lung cancer, he moved back to the Castro Castle, a former bed-and-breakfast he owned with his husband, John Entwistle.

Lizzie Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LizzieJohnsonnnn
HARTFORD  Gov. Dannel P. Malloy says the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development is now accepting applications for a second round of grant funding under a recently created state grant program designed to help remediate and redevelop blighted properties known as "Brownfields."

"Connecticut continues to be a national leader in Brownfield remediation, having cleaned up hundreds of sites and put them back to use for people to live, work and raise their families," Malloy said.

"These strategic investments have brought new life to our communities and resulted in the creation of more than 3,000 permanent jobs and over 15,000 construction jobs in the state," the governor said.

Established in 2015 by a unanimous, bipartisan vote of the General Assembly, the Brownfield Area-Wide Revitalization (BAR) Planning Grant Program encourages communities to consider for redevelopment areas of municipalities such as neighborhoods, downtowns, waterfront districts, or other sections that contain multiple parcels of Brownfields.

Up to $1 million is being made available to eligible entities to help develop strategies that will assess, clean up, and reuse the blighted parcels for business, housing, and public amenities with the goal of generating jobs, spurring revenue, and revitalizing the entire area. Local governments can create long-range plans for the prioritization of multiple sites.

DECD Commissioner Catherine Smith said rebuilding and remediating Brownfields is a priority.

More for you State's new cleanup program raises questions

Our states comprehensive approach to the remediation revitalization of Brownfields has shown to have a substantial impact on communities across the state" Smith said.

"For every dollar the state has invested in Brownfield redevelopment, non-state partners have invested or will invest $11.41," Smith said.

"Since 2012, Connecticut has invested more than $225 million in Brownfield redevelopment, spurring economic growth and allowing dilapidated land to be put back into use," she said.

Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Robert J. Klee said Brownfield redevelopment are an important investment.

"Brownfields Area Revitalization grants are an investment that will allow communities burdened by contaminated properties to consider the best way to turn them into community assets," Klee said.

"These grants will provide an incentive for our cities and towns to look beyond the cleanup of a specific site - to carefully consider how multiple sites in a given area can be put back into reuse in a way that best benefits the surrounding neighborhood, redeveloping in a sustainable manner and leveraging past significant investments in water, sewer, transportation, and energy infrastructure," Klee said.

Project areas can either be already designated areas such as a neighborhood, district, corridor, downtown, or waterfront zone - all with multiple Brownfields - or an area newly defined by the applicant with multiple brownfield sites connected by blighted conditions, shared infrastructure, and other economic, social or environmental considerations.

The first round of funding under the BAR program was awarded in January 2016 to redevelopment projects within six municipalities, including East Hartford, Meriden, New Britain, Old Say Brook, Torrington, and Waterbury.

The projects are being used for multiple purposes, such as the development of retail, arts, and cultural plans around transit-oriented development districts, and the renovation of multiple parcels of properties within a downtown neighborhood.

Applications for the second round of funding under the program are now being accepted and must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, 2018.
Two high-achieving scholars with ambitious hopes for bright futures were crowned Mr. and Miss Pasadena High School Saturday at the 56th annual Emerald Pageant.

Helios Trevino, 17, said that winning the king title was "very empowering," while Donna Chang, also a 17-year-old senior, said she was "extremely surprised" to be chosen queen of the pageant.

"I'm not your typical girl who dresses up and does makeup every day; so it was fun to feel beautiful and express myself before an audience," said Chang, who aspires to become an engineer, like her grandfather in Cuba.

The daughter of Francisco Chang and Lizaida Ferrer is a member of the Pasadena High robotics team. She also mentors younger students in science, technology, engineering and math studies.

Trevino, who will graduate in May with both a high school diploma from Pasadena and an associate degree in life sciences from San Jacinto College, is the son of Delia Trevino.

He also works as a manager at Strawberry Water Park. His ambition is to become a cardiothoracic surgeon.

Eleven girls and five boys began the competition June 26 with five-minute interviews conducted by the panel of judges that included educator Shelia Milton, hairstylist Desi Guerra and the students' guidance counselor Christina Flores.

"I have had these kids for four years, beginning when they were freshmen," Flores said.

"It is neat to see how they have grown," she said. "Next year, I will start with a new class of freshmen."

The pageant was held in the school's auditorium, with all 16 contestants appearing in formal wear or their Sunday best on a grand staircase.

Masters of ceremony for the pageant were the Class of 2018's homecoming royalty, Michael Flores and Adriana Cavazos, who quickly announced that the judges had narrowed the girls' lineup to the top eight contestants.

In addition to Chang, they were: Marlene Moran, Jennifer Palacios, Alexis Tovar, Hannah Smith, Alexa Perez, Samantha Garza and Kiara Lopez.

Each girl answered an onstage question which the announcers drew from a bowl of random questions.

Chang, Garza, Palacios, Lopez and Perez advanced to the Top 5, along with five male contestants.

In addition to Trevino, they were Jose Rodriguez, Kevin Luna, Edward Medina and Alfredo Vasquez.

The top 10 students answered two questions apiece, with their responses meeting with cheers from the audience.

The top three girls were announced as Chang, Palacios and Garza, while Medina and Vasquez joined Trevino in the male Top 3.

Garza told the crowd about her experiences as an ROTC member, including traveling to Parris Island, South Carolina, and participating in simulated Marine training.

Palacios voiced her admiration for Lady Gaga, whose Born This Way Foundation focuses on empowering young people.

Medina replied that, if stranded on a desert island, he would like these three things: "an unlimited supply of food, a mansion and a boat."

Vasquez said that, with $10,000 to spend on himself, he would fund his higher education, including medical school, where he hopes to become a doctor.

The pageant was produced by Stephanie Jones, a health science instructor who serves as the faculty sponsor for the senior class.

Ruby Garcia was the event's student organizer. She was assisted by class president Davian Guerra, who said that proceeds from the pageant would help support the senior prom.

During intervals in which the judges' votes were tallied, senior choir member Rudy Martinez sang "Hallelujah," "Say You Won't Let Go" and "Dancing On My Own."

Trevino, who appeared dapper in a gray suit and tie, was presented with a gold-colored crown and flowers.

Chang, who was crowned with a jeweled tiara, said, "I got my evening gown at Ross. I'm a girl on a budget."
Washington

The Trump administration's newly released plan to resolve the fate of young immigrants who arrived in the country illegally as children would constitute the biggest change to immigration policy in decades, putting Democrats and their allies in a painful vise.

The proposal would provide 1.8 million young immigrants a path to citizenship, many more than the 690,000 currently enrolled under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA.

In exchange, the administration wants major new border and interior immigration enforcement, and a commitment for a $25 billion "trust fund" for President Donald Trump's promised wall on the southern border to Mexico as part of the deal.

But the biggest battleground may be Trump's proposal to limit future family-based visas to spouses and young children, eliminating an immigrant's ability to sponsor parents, siblings and adult children.

These family visas have formed the foundation of U.S. immigration policy since 1965, were reaffirmed in the last major immigration overhaul in 1990, and profoundly altered the nation's ethnic composition.

Eliminating future family visas could eventually cut legal immigration  now 1.2 million people each year  in half.

Democrats are under intense political pressure to protect immigrants who arrived in the country as children and were raised as Americans, including those who were eligible for DACA but did not enroll, some out of fear of revealing themselves to federal authorities.

But the party also deeply opposes limits on legal migration, especially based on family ties. If the young immigrants get a reprieve, experts said, it could come at a dear cost to others who come from other nations to live in the U.S.

"The administration intended DACA to be a chip that they were going to play from the very beginning to extract other concessions on immigration," said Tony Payan, director of the Mexico Center at Rice University's Baker Institute.

Having canceled the DACA program last fall, Trump set a March 5 deadline for Congress to replace it. Although a federal judge issued an injunction to keep the program alive pending higher court review, the young immigrants stand to lose their right to work, travel and attend school. They could eventually face deportation. Lawmakers in both parties, fearing an adverse court ruling either way, insist on a permanent legislative fix.

"I think the Trump administration is perfectly capable of arriving to March 5 and not having a deal," Payan said.

Payan compared the DACA fight to a game of chicken in which Democrats keep swerving to avoid a crash. He said the administration's willingness to use the young immigrants as leverage to get what it wants and the Democrats' desperation to provide them legal status means Democrats "will get very little in exchange and the administration will get quite a lot."

The extended-family visas are vitally important to many Asian and Latino Americans, said John Trasvina, dean of the University of San Francisco Law School and former president of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

"The major reason we have had growth in the Asian American population in the United States and here in San Francisco is because of the brother and sister preference," Trasvina said.

In exchange for 1.8 million visas for the young immigrants already in the country, he said, the White House plan would be "cutting off family members forever." It would "change the demographics of immigration, more so than any other change we've had in the last 50 years."

The Trump plan appears designed to unify Republicans and peel off enough Democrats to navigate its way through the GOP-dominated House and the narrowly divided Senate, where Republicans would need nine Democratic votes for passage.
A recent study found that over half of employees in Texas have unused vacation days.

In fact way too many people across Texas are sitting on unused time off for one reason or another, according to AAA, working in collaboration with Project: Time Off.

RELATED: Unique places to vacation in Texas

Those entities think that the main reason many don't take time off is that the stress of planning is too great. In America in 2018, we are simply too stressed to relax it seems.

Accordingly, Jan. 30 is National Plan for Vacation Day, proving there is a special day for everything.

"In Texas, 55 percent of employees have unused vacation time with a total of more than 67 million unused vacation days, which is worth more than $7.7 billion in untapped economic benefit," AAA Texas/AAA New Mexico spokesman Daniel Armbruster said in a release. "By planning, we can all reap the benefits of taking a break while giving yourself something to look forward to."

Project: Time Off explained how they were able to compile their data on the group's website.

RELATED: Now is the time to buy a vacation home

Houstonians racked up some 16,575,213 vacation hours in 2017. In all, Texans left some 67,145,175 unused days on the table.

"By forfeiting vacation days, American workers gave up $66.4 billion in 2016 benefits alone," wrote Project: Time Off. "That means that employees effectively donated an average of $604 in work time to their employer."

Project: Time Off also suggests that taking time off is good for the economy, pumping money into leisure activities and tourism along the way.

No one needs a study to explain that taking time off is good for the soul. Even if your idea of a vacation is staying at home and catching up on sleep.

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.
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.
San Antonio Police are searching for a man they say opened fire on a convenience store clerk who attempted to intervene in a physical altercation between a couple Sunday morning on the North Side.

The incident occurred about 3 a.m. at the 7-Eleven at 12011 San Pedro Ave., near Nakoma Road and U.S. 281, when a couple at the gas pumps began to argue, according to police.
A woman who called San Antonio police for assistance Saturday afternoon ended up shot dead after an altercation with officers, according San Antonio police.

The unidentified was woman was in her 40s and according to SAPD Chief William McManus, had a history of mental illness.

During a briefing on the shooting McManus reported the woman was taken to University Hospital in critical, but stable condition. San Antonio police later reported on social media that the woman had died.

Officers responded to the 13600 block of Bluff Circle, in an upscale North Side neighborhood, for a welfare check about 3 p.m. after a woman called and reported someone was stalking her and "her computer use was being interfered with," McManus said.

When they arrived police found the woman's front door open. McManus said two officers and one cadet went inside and discovered the woman locked in an upstairs bedroom.

RELATED: Bicycle theft ends with police fatally shooting teen near North Star Mall

After talking to the woman through the door they asked if she was armed. The woman responded no. Officers then forced the door with the intention of performing an emergency detention, according to McManus.

"When they got in the room she was standing there with a Glock pistol in her hand," McManus said.

The woman put the gun to her head and officers grabbed her and tried to disarm her. McManus reports the woman was shot during the struggle when the gun began working its way up toward one of the officer's head.

At that point an unidentified, six-year female veteran of the force fired a single shot hitting the the woman in the abdomen, McManus said.

This is the second fatal SAPD officer-involved shooting in a week.

The officer in Saturday's shooting has been placed on administrative leave, McManus said. No officers were injured.

McManus said he did not know how long the officers were speaking with the woman before breaking into the room, but that "they asked the right questions" before they forced the door.

According to Christopher Herring, president of the Bluffview at Camino Real Homeowners Association, the neighborhood where the shooting occured has about 440 residences.

McManus reported the woman had been a resident of the neighborhood for "quite a long time," and that she has had issues with other neighbors in the past.

Staff Writer Alexandro Luna contributed to this report.
A woman had to be cut out of her car Saturday night after the driver of a Ford pickup truck struck her vehicle on the East Side, San Antonio police said.

According to officers, a 43-year-old man was headed east on the 1600 block of Rigsby Avenue around 7:50 p.m. when he veered into the westbound lane, crashing into the woman's four-door Mitsubishi.
KABUL, Afghanistan - The Taliban drove an ambulance packed with explosives into a crowded Kabul street Saturday, setting off an enormous blast that killed at least 95 people and injured 158 others, adding to the grim toll in what has been one of the most violent stretches of the long war, Afghan officials said.

The attack came days after a 15-hour siege by militants at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul that left 22 dead, including 14 foreigners.

On Saturday, hospitals overflowed with the wounded, and forensic workers at the morgue struggled to identify the dead.

Over the past year, about 10,000 members of Afghanistan's security forces have been killed and more than 16,000 others wounded, according to a senior Afghan government official. The Taliban losses are believed to be about the same.

And about 10 civilians were killed every day on average over the first nine months of 2017, U.N. data suggest.

The surge in violence across the country, particularly deadly attacks that have shut down large parts of Afghan cities, comes as the government is in disarray.

President Ashraf Ghani has struggled to build consensus and has recently found himself in a protracted showdown with a regional strongman.

The recent carnage is also tied, analysts said, to President Donald Trump's decision last month to increase pressure on Pakistan, long seen as supporting the Taliban as a proxy force in Afghanistan. Trump made a gamble to try to tilt the war in Afghanistan toward a resolution, holding back security aid to Pakistan.

At the time of the announcement, many Afghan officials feared an immediate escalation in violence in retaliation.

Saturday's explosion occurred on a guarded street that leads to an old Interior Ministry building and several embassies, officials said.

"It's a massacre," said Dejan Panic, coordinator in Afghanistan for the Italian aid group Emergency.

Baseer Mujahid, a spokesman for the Kabul police, said the bomber drove past the first checkpoint, at the entrance to the street.

"Police stopped the vehicle at the second checkpoint," Mujahid said. "Then he tried to drive in from the wrong lane. Again, the police tried to stop him. But he detonated the explosive-laden vehicle."
The Harlandale Independent School Districts divestiture of its contractual obligations with Jasmine Engineering is great news for taxpayers in this low property-wealth school district.

At a special meeting last week, trustees voted 4-3 to invoke a no cause termination clause in their contract, allowing the district to end its relationship with the engineering firm without giving notice.

The company was managing renovation projects at Carroll Bell and Vestal elementary schools. The five to seven months of work left on the projects will be handled in-house, school district officials told the Express-News.

The contractors strong foothold in this low property-wealth district has divided boards and created controversy for more than a decade. In 2012 it contributed to the departure of Superintendent Robert Jaklich, who was one of the best things the district had going for it at the time.

Jaklichs sudden resignation prompted then Mayor Julian Castro to make an appearance at a school board meeting.

My hope is that the board will be collaborative in its efforts in always putting the interest of the students first and the education that happens here, not on who gets a contract or anything else as you all go forward, Castro told the board.

But the board kept giving its controversial vendor votes of confidence, though the districts bond management was often brought up as a campaign issue in school board elections.

Defenders of the engineering firm are quick to point out that the company saved the district money and brought projects in under budget.

No one is taking issue with the quality of the work the firm has done, but it is important to note the 6 percent commission fees paid the firm were higher than hiring in-house staff, a registered architect or a project manager to do the work. The board also regularly authorized more work for the firm without seeking competitive bids.

Relying on longtime contractors without seeking competitive bids makes it impossible to evaluate and compare what else is available in the marketplace to determine if there are cost-cutting options.

Last summer, the Texas Education Agency launched an investigation into the districts procurement practices. The investigation is ongoing, and details of that probe have not been made public. District officials have refused to comment on nature of the investigation.

Harlandale is one of the poorest school districts in the city and has one of the highest property tax rate. Competitive bidding for all contracts is a no-brainer.
Never again.

No San Antonio police officer should ever again disregard evidence in sexual assault and family violence cases.

That is the aim of new policies the Police Department has adopted  policies an outside law enforcement expert, hired by the city, has described as the strongest he has ever seen. Notable among the revisions is ensuring that only supervisors can close cases.

There also will be additional monthly reporting and audits to track cases and caseloads.

These revisions, and others, follow the firing of a detective who botched more than 130 sexual assault and family violence cases.

Kenneth Valdez, a detective in the Special Victims Unit, is accused of disregarding DNA evidence, failing to properly handle evidence and closing cases without supervisor approval.

Some of these cases involved minors.

Valdez was twice suspended indefinitely, which is the equivalent of being fired. He has appealed those suspensions.

By no means do we believe Valdezs action reflect the officers serving this community. Quite the opposite  as shown by this serious administrative response. But his actions, much like the officer who admitted to serving a feces sandwich to a homeless man, has the potential to mar an entire department.

No organization is infallible. Mistakes happen. Bad actors will circumvent the best policies. But in response to this tragic situation  botched cases are the embodiment of injustice  the San Antonio Police Department has instituted some of the best policies.

The cases should never have been botched, and hopefully with these changes, this type of situation will never happen again.
I went to a San Antonio event recently that ended with at least three enthusiastic standing ovations. This event did not take place in a stadium.

I was sitting inside the Tobin, listening to the San Antonio Symphony and Classical Mystery Tour, featuring pop tunes by the Beatles. It was wonderful to see an audience engaged, up on their feet, dancing and singing along with the guest performers. More important, it was heartwarming to see how much fun the musicians were having, too.

Noam Aviel, our recently appointed assistant conductor, did a fabulous job leading the orchestra and engaging the audience. Her artistic passion shined that night. I found it especially moving when our talented musicians started to dance along with the crowd.

Simply put, the night was a high note for the audience and the symphony. We need to keep our symphony playing in the Alamo City. I encourage everyone to attend more San Antonio Symphony concerts! You will be glad you did.

Lainey Berkus

Bard had it right

The essence of despotism is to exercise power over another person by setting into motion an action that does not affect ones self.

During the three-day shutdown, the U.S. Congress has told our military and furloughed employees that they would not be paid until adolescent behavior among the representatives and senators ceases.

Im the alpha dog! they all declare, while the rest of the pack goes hungry.

Ah, judgement thou art fled to brutish beasts, and men have lost their reason ...

Its time for every action of the U.S. Congress to be applied first to that body.

Bill Gisler

Get on board

Re: President is stoking racial rifts  again, Editorial, Jan. 16:

Do you long for America to step in the doldrums of racism?

You must, as you spew ugly words in your editorial to sell newspapers, to hold progress down. You should pray for Hillary Clinton to re-emerge. She and the last administration, President Barack Obama, certainly did not help America.

Your spread of racism, in all matters, is hurting America and, specifically, those working to make things better. You and your ilk are destroying America with your words. What you are doing is splitting the nation, with no effort to bring all of us together. You just toot your horn, saying things you believe are important. You are not positive; you are not promoting solutions.

You are dead-set on hurting President Donald Trump and those who promote an agenda to make things better. Maybe, if you work to move America forward, you could help us come together. America will improve, and our people will have better living conditions.

Until you work for the betterment of America, conditions will not improve. Support the president, and you may see progress, instead of trying to destroy the president and the nation.

Henry C. Holder
Drain the Oceans dives deep into the unknown; a truly epic, truly original series that exposes hidden evidence of the most amazing undersea mysteries, as never seen before. The first episode is the Great Barrier Reef.

Thursdays from 9:30pm AEST.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Congress today demanded an independent judicial probe by a sitting high court judge into violence in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj that erupted after a boy was killed in clashes following stone-pelting on a motorcycle rally taken out to celebrate Republic Day.

Congress leader Pramod Tiwari alleged callousness and mismanagement on the part of the Uttar Pradesh government and local administration led to clashes between two communities in Kasganj.

ALSO READ | Section 144, internet shutdown continue in UP district

He said the continuing violence threatened peace in the entire state.

"How did this happen, who did it? The truth will come out only when an independent judicial probe is conducted by a sitting high court judge.

"We demand an independent probe by a sitting high court judge into the incident," he said.

"Till when will incidents of gangrape continue under your rule and in the BJP-ruled states. When will you apprehend the culprits and give them exemplary punishment?" he asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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
To the Editor:

On Dec. 9, the Washington Volunteer Fire Department sponsored the 10th annual Slices with Santa to raise funds for Washington individuals and families in need.

The event, held at the Washington Depot firehouse, raised $16,781, despite less than perfect weather conditions.

Slices with Santa has become a holiday tradition in Washington, offering an all-you-can-eat pizza dinner.

Its success is a result of the donations made, not only by the fire department, but also by area restaurants, markets, businesses and individuals, and the many, many people who attend or who contribute financially even if not able to attend.

The funds raised will be used to offset the cost of Washingtons holiday baskets given at Thanksgiving and Christmas that provided food and gifts to over 30 families.

They will continue to be used throughout the coming months for Washington families and individuals who are faced with unforeseen emergencies and who will require assistance with such things as heating and utility bills, rent or mortgage payments, food, clothing and medical bills.

On behalf of those who benefited from, and those who will continue to benefit from Slices with Santa, I would like to extend sincere appreciation and gratitude to all who made this event so overwhelmingly successful.

Mary Anne Greene

Selectmans secretary

Town of Washington

Secretary

Washington Community Fund
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.
Hear from Aimy Wissa, director of the Bio-inspired Adaptive Morphology Laboratory (BAM lab) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering.
New Delhi: IT industry body Nasscom has advocated for a comprehensive review of foreign tax credit norms, while pitching for minimum alternative tax exemption and removal of "differential" tax rates for domestic and foreign start-up investors, as part of its budget wishlist.

Nasscom President R Chandrashekhar told PTI that the underlying principle for these recommendations is that domestic investors should not be taxed at a higher rate than foreign investors.

Moreover, the tax rate for digital transactions should not be higher than same or similar transactions being conducted offline, he added.

Nasscom has also reiterated its request to address the 'Angel Tax issue' by recognising genuine angel investments in start-ups, he pointed out.

The IT industry has grown six-fold in revenue terms over a decade and continues to be the largest private sector employer in the organised sector.

The sector has grossed over USD 100 billion in exports, and employs nearly 3.9 million people directly.

Representatives of Nasscom, which is seeking support for the industry to maintain and enhance its global competitiveness, had met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley last month as part of pre-budget consultation.

Chandrashekhar said a comprehensive review of the foreign tax credit provisions will ensure efficiency and ease of compliance for exporters from India.

"We have made suggestion on use of foreign tax credit such as allowing an option for carry forward of credit for maximum utilisation.

"...and an option for consolidated filing wherein credit is calculated on clubbed foreign income and total taxes paid abroad, and not on a country-wise basis," he added.

On the long-term gains from sale of unlisted shares in start-ups, Chandrashekhar pointed out that the process attracts a tax of 20 per cent from domestic investors and 10 per cent from non-residents.

"There is an adverse differential between taxation of domestic and foreign investment in start-ups and the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)...the point we made is that we should not have a situation where the domestic investor is disadvantaged viz-a-viz a foreign investor," he said.

Besides, Nasscom has sought MAT exemption for start-ups, saying this would strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country.

"We are saying that any service performed in a digital mode should not end up attracting a higher tax than if it were done manually. If the Government's policy is digital economy, you cannot have a tax structure that works in the opposite direction," he said.

He cited the example of GST being levied on household services like plumbing that are offered through e-commerce platforms, but are otherwise not subject to GST.

"We had urged the government to look into such specific instances and offer relief, and the GST Council has announced a reduction in GST rate from 18 per cent to 5 per cent recently for such services," he said.

He asserted that applying GST to such services, when delivered online, is against the ongoing efforts to promote digital adoption in the country.

He further said the industry is hopeful of continued support from the government in removing such anomalies. The Budget Session of Parliament is set to commence on January 29 and the Union Budget for 2018-19 will be presented on February 1.
New Delhi: After years of deliberations and closed door meetings, the nearly two-decade old plan of Air India disinvestment is finally taking shape. Union Civil Aviation Minister Gajapathi Raju is at the helm of turning around this massive debt trap.

In an interview to News18, Raju talks in detail about the major disinvestment process, disclosing that an international player has expressed interest in buying out the national carriers foreign operations. He also admits that Air Indias debt may, after close scrutiny, come out to be substantially higher than the popularly believed Rs 50,000 crore sum.

Edited Excerpts:

Lets begin with Air Indias disinvestment process. So far, it seems that only IndiGo has formally expressed interest in the disinvestment.

Yes, Indigo submitted a letter to me the day we announced Air India disinvestment. They gave me a letter saying they are interested in the foreign operations. Another foreign operator has also shown interest in buying 49% stake. So there is certainly a lot of interest.

How much do you think will disinvestment help in getting rid of Air Indias huge debt?

When our exercise of calculating Air Indias debt began, we found that the sum was hovering around the Rs 50,000-mark. But I wont be surprised if the total debt reaches Rs 70,000 crore. Since people are looking at the books carefully, they may find more.

According to me, Air India is a debt trap. I said as much in Parliament as well.

As far as our account books are concerned, we held an internal meeting where we saw that this accounting year is sorted for us as a part of our own dividends which we get that will be used up. Next accounting year needs to be looked into.

One of your ministrys big schemes is the UDAAN. It seems to have generated quite a lot of interest as far as regional connectivity is concerned. And now youve launched UDAAN II as well. How much financial backup will you need for this? Have you spoken to the Finance Minister to accommodate funds for this in his upcoming Budget?

UDAAN is a scheme that the government is proud of. In the political context, hardly anybodys manifesto talked about these issues  about increasing regional air connectivity. But for us, it has become an expression of good intent.

Regional players have also come forward to help boost regional air connectivity. For instance, I mooted a proposal to several Chief Ministers and asked them to bring the rate of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) down, but a lot of them seemed skeptical.

As I was discussing this with the Andhra Chief Minister, I told him that the ATF needs to be taxed maximum at 2% and minimum at 1%. So he went at 1%. The result was sudden spurt of activity there. Now most states have come on board to keep ATF at 1% under regional connectivity, and look at how the aviation sector is buzzing with activity now.

Now as far as UDAAN itself is concerned, in the first phase we started expanding with 36 airports and helipads and now we have added 56 airports and helipads to that number. So yes we will need money.

We are looking at Rs 620 crore for UDAANs Phase 2, and we feel that of that sum we will need Rs 200 crore for this accounting year. For that, Finance Ministry has allowed to take the dividends that is normally paid by the Airports Authority of India. It is actually government money only filed as a return. The budgetary angle is not there. Next year, what to do is the question.

You see, these are things that require viability gap funding. Now a viability gap funding is not for eternity, it takes about 2+ years to stabilise the route, so the maximum that is given is three years. What is encouraging is that in round 1 and 2 of UDAAN, no airline asked for a viability gap funding.

Operations at a lot of airports under the UDAAN scheme are ready to take off, but in a lot of cases, critics have pointed out environmental concerns.

Yes, there are airports like Mopa in Goa, Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh, Navi Mumbai and Kannnur in Kerala that are almost ready.

But some people are simply opposed to airports. True, it is a polluting activity, that needs to come down, but ultimately its a trade-off. You cannot stop the economy and say that we cannot undertake any developmental activities and take the country back to the Stone Age.

Environmentalists will also not approve of this. We are a signatory to the Paris climate accord and are very serious about environmental concerns.

Till the time operations begin at the new airports, some of the airports in metropolitan cities are beset with congestion problems. How are you planning to deal with this situation?

Our basic problem today is the congestion at Mumbai and Delhi. As far as regional connectivity goes, Hindon airport has been offered by the Ministry of Defence, but that is only a temporary solution.

Navi Mumbai is a real problem. We need to see if we can develop some temporary decongestion strategy which will not affect passengers. That will mean bigger aircraft. What are the routes that can support it, we need to see because Navi Mumbai will take time. But it is a premier city and we cant ignore it.

Here in Delhi, the problem is a little different.

Transition from T2 to T1 was supposed to happen in February last year. Internationally, its the airport operator that takes these decisions. We have had extensive talks lasting four months, which I think is ridiculous. We had given them a last deadline of January 4, post which IndiGo had moved court. The court gave them a deadline of February 15. They have filed a review petition. The court has reserved orders on the review petition. So now, were involved with legal wrangles. Lets hope we dont see a repeat of Mumbai stampede because of all this dilly dallying.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has come to rescue of a woman who fought for almost 14 years to get a job in the central government after the sudden death of her husband.

A bench headed by Justice Kurian Joseph has ordered the Ministry of Coal to not only appoint her son to a suitable post but also cough up more than Rs 10 lakh in compensation.

The court directed the ministry to shell out Rs 5 lakh "on account of the loss of employment for the last 13 years", besides paying up Rs 3,000 per month, along with an interest of 7.5 per cent, since February 2004 as compensatory allowance.

Subhadra's husband died in July 2003, leaving behind a 13-year-old son. She was 35 at that time.

She applied for a job on compassionate basis in the Coal Ministry, but her request was turned down. She was told that the department was agreeable to pay her Rs 3,000 in monthly compensation, apart from keeping her son on the live roster so he could be given a job as per his qualification once he turned major.

In October 2004, Subhadra declined the offer and submitted her plea yet again to be considered for a job on compassionate basis. Her request met the same fate in January 2005 when the department answered in the negative.

Citing the pertinent rules, Subhadra wrote again in February 2005, but the ministry rejected her claim through a letter the following month.

In September 2005, she submitted another request, referring to some other women who had been given employment under similar circumstances. Subhadra clarified that she did not want to keep her son on the live roster, but wanted a job for herself instead. This letter also failed to yield any respite for her.

She then moved the Bombay High Court with a writ petition, but to no avail. The HC took the view that she was only entitled to monetary compensation of Rs 3,000 per month till she attains the age of 60.

Unwilling to give up her claim, Subhadra filed an appeal in the Supreme Court where the Coal Ministry defended its decision by relying upon rulings that compassionate appointment is not a matter of right and there is a discretion available to the employer.

The bench accepted this proposition, but pointed out that the employment in question was covered by a 2000 agreement, which had very specific terms and no room was left for any discretion by any of the parties to this bipartite contract.

"In paragraph 9.5.0(ii) of the Agreement, it is very clearly and specifically mentioned that a female dependant, if below 45 years of age, has an option either to accept the monetary compensation or employment. It is not an option reserved to the employer, but an option is given to the employee. It was in terms of the Agreement only that the appellant had been insisting that she should be given employment if she is otherwise eligible," noted the bench.

It maintained that if the female dependant opts for employment, there is no further discretion left to the employer unless she is otherwise ineligible.

At this stage, the lawyer for the Coal Ministry submitted that employment to Subhadra at this stage and age may not be a workable relief and hence, it would be more proper if her son were to be employed.

The court accepted the ministry's suggestion and directed it to appoint Subhadras son within two months as per his qualification and entitlement.

It also decided to compensate the family for its monetary loss since 2004 on account of rejection of their lawful claims and thus ordered a total compensation of more than Rs 10 lakh.
Guwahati: Thousands of train passengers continue to remain stranded in Dima Hasao district in Assam for three days straight, as protests over the inclusion of the hill district in Naga Peace Accord entered its third day on Saturday.

Tension is running high in Dima Hasao district as the locals continue with their protests and railway mechanics with their repair work of a damaged stretch of a railway track.

Passengers aboard the 56615 Silchar-Guwahati passenger train and the 55616 Guwahati-Silchar fast passenger train are stranded at the New Halflong Railway station and Maibang over the past three days as repair work of the damaged railway tracks is still underway.

Two persons were killed and over 15 injured as protesters clashed with police during a 12-hour bandh called by tribal organizations on Thursday. The protests were triggered by a rumour that the Naga Peace Accord will include the hill district of Assam.

Dima Hasao Deputy Commissioner, Dibyajyoti Hazarika said that 30 buses have been brought in from Guwahati to rescue the stranded passengers, but protesters have stopped the vehicles at Manderdisa, 118 km from Halflong.

More than 800 passengers have been given shelter at a security camp in Maibang Higher Secondary School. Senior ministers Keshab Mahanta and Parimal Suklabaidya rushed to Halflong but were stopped by protesters at the Lumding railway station.

The situation is limping back to normal in Dima Hasao and we appeal to the agitators to end their protests. Most of their demands have already been agreed upon by the state government, Hazarika said.

Earlier, protesters had damaged a 100-metre railway track between Detokchera and New Harangajao by removing fish plates. They had also damaged property in the station masters room at New Halflong Railway Station.

Northeast Frontier Railway spokesperson, Nripen Bhattacharjee told News18, All lines along the Lumding-Badarpur hill section remain closed. Train services will resume only when the repair work is completed. Movement of several trains have been suspended along this hill stretch.

Meanwhile, railway patrolling has been intensified and the 119 Territorial Army has taken possession of the railway tracks in the hill section.

Also, Assam Rifles is assisting the state police in bringing the situation under control. The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the two persons who were killed in police firing and Rs 1 lakh for the seriously injured victims. Those with minor injuries would get Rs 20 thousand.
Lucknow: OP Singh is facing his first big challenge as the police chief of Uttar Pradesh but insists that all is calm in communally sensitive Kasganj where two days of violence resulted in the loss of one life, torching of shops and buses, and attack on a religious structure.

Singhs assurances notwithstanding, the ground reality is different. Tension continued to simmer in the area, with a few shops being attacked on Sunday morning despite curfew.

To ease the tension, security forces carried out flag marches in the area, while DGP Singh said the police were conducting intensive patrolling and surveillance through drones to keep peace.

We are doing intensive patrolling and surveillance through drones. The situation is under control. Arrests have also been made and adequate security forces have been deployed, he told reporters.

Internet services have been suspended in the trouble-hit area.

The area first witnessed violence on Republic Day when a few people riding motorcycles and carrying Tricolours were pelted with stones. One person was killed in the clashes that ensued. Fresh violence broke out on Saturday when a group returning from the funeral attacked shops and a religious structure. Few more shops and buses were torched in the evening.

Police on Saturday also stopped firebrand leader Sadhvi Prachi in Aligarh and prevented her from visiting Kasganj.

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?"

(With PTI inputs)
Kasganj: Shakir Ali grew up in Kasganj, a small town in western Uttar Pradesh. In 58 years, he had never witnessed a communal riot. The only time a curfew was imposed here, he tells, was for some days in 1992, when the rest of the country was burning. "But even then, this area never suffered one violent episode," he says.

All that changed on Friday, when Ali saw communal tensions flare first-hand and became its victim. Rioters broke into his house and set it and his car on fire. Since then, he, along with his family, has been holed up in his brother's house.

Along with Ali's house, half a dozen other houses and shops belonging to Muslims have been vandalized in violence in the last two days. And accounting of the damage hasn't even begun.

On Sunday afternoon, the administration relaxed the curfew in the area for the first time since Friday's clashes in which one young boy had died. More than 80 persons have been arrested, vigil has been intensified and politicians have started trading blame.

The shop that was set on fire by rioters in Kasganj. (Photo: News 18)

Residents, on the other hand, are only now beginning to realize the full extent of arson and looting that took place over the past two days.

Several families, living in areas like Baddu Nagar that bore the brunt of the riots, have fled the area fearing for their lives and many haven't stepped out of their homes at all.

"I along with my wife and children, saw the rioters come here on the morning of January 26, when our neighbours were celebrating Republic Day. We saw that the road was full of a mob on around 50-60 motorcycles," says Asif Khan, who runs an NGO on HIV awareness.

Khan said that soon, the mob started beating everyone up. "Then we heard about the death of a Hindu boy. We haven't stepped out of our house since," he says.

He says that local residents always hold two small ceremonies  one on Republic Day and the other on Independence Day - to salute the national flag and honour some children studying in a government school. They distribute sweets to the kids and go home.

"We saw these mobsters last Independence Day too. But that time they had made their rounds before we had even started preparations, so nothing untoward happened that day," he says.

Hashim, who lives in Baddu Nagar, eagerly shows the way to his bedroom from where he scanned video footage from CCTVs he had installed to check theft in the area. "Some people have been trying to pour petrol on communal fire by claiming that we had raised Pakistani flag. Look at this footage and see for yourself," he says.

Hashim says footage from CCTVs installed outside his house can prove they did not raise Pakistani flags. (Photo: News 18)

For now, Kasganj is buzzing with talks, in hushed tones, at grocery stores and at tea stalls, about what transpired here as workers of various political parties made rounds of the main market.

Police and paramilitary forces also conducted flag marches, but the general public, not used to curfew, was still trying to make up its mind on the sort of liberty they can take with temporary suspension of curfew.

"Don't get the whole crowd outside the shop, section 144 is still in place," an owner of a tea shop says while berating his assistant.

At another place down the main market road, a boy was immediately shut up by his mother when he, looking at smoke coming out of a shop asks, "Is this the shop that was set on fire?"

On Kasganj's Dhan Mill Road, Rampal Singh, a teacher took stock of his neighbourhood. His is the only Hindu house in the area.

"Around here things aren't bad. It is good that nobody around here is hurt. I was scared initially while coming to my house on Friday. But a lot of neighbours came to check after us. For me nothing much has changed," he says standing next to his friend, Mohammad Amaruddin.
Thiruvananthapuram: As 34-year-old Jamida K, popularly known as Jamida Teacher, led a group of 50 odd men and women to the Friday prayers on January 26 at Wandoor Cherukod in Malappuram district of Kerala, she was demolishing a male bastion as well as setting a record as the first woman to lead jumma prayers in the country.

Some even believe she is the first Asian woman to lead namaaz as the Imam (leader) and deliver a Qutuba (sermon). Though women were allowed to lead prayers for other women, delivering a Qutuba was almost impossible.

Soon after her 20-minute Qutuba on gender justice and the namaaz, a small crowd who were on their way to nearby mosques for the Friday prayers, reached the Central Committee office of the Quran Sunnat Society (QSS) where she performed the jumma.

Jamida narrates how many were left shocked and refused to accept the change.

This is the beginning of the end of the world, said one while another added that all the societies which had women leaders, were doomed. Most of them were in shock and agitated. However, it did not turn violent, maybe because of the media presence, Jamida told News18.

A woman is not expected to deliver the Qutuba, the customary speech of the sermon. Moreover, men and women also do not take part in the jumma prayers together. This is historical and will lead to gender equality in the Muslim community. Jamida Teacher is bold and I stand by her, said Mohiyuddin Nadukkandiyil Karassery, a renowned scholar and social critic.

Mohiyuddin said that Jamida has been threatened on two occasions and the response from the believers has not been quite heartening.

"I am receiving phone calls from mosque committees that I have defied Islam. There are people who are speaking against me on social media too, saying I am trying to destroy the religion, said Jamida, who is also the general secretary of QSS.

Founded by scholar Chekannur P K Mohammed Abul Hassan Maulavi, better known as Chekannur Maulavi, QSS follows the Quran and discards the Hadith (sayings and acts of Prophet Muhammad).

The Maulavi, who himself has received threats from religious extremists, went missing under mysterious circumstances some 24 years ago. Incidentally, Karassery in his Facebook post, referred to Jamida as 'Vanitha Chekannoor', which means 'Lady Chekannoor.

Jamida points out that the Quran doesnt stop a woman from being an Imam and that the holy text is usually interpreted according to the convenience of the men, only to discriminate against women.

"The Quran is divine while the Hadith is human. The Quran is not discriminatory towards women as it addresses both men and women as 'believers'. Hadith was written almost 200 years after the the Quran emerged," explained Jamida, whose source of inspiration is the US-based scholar Amina Wadud, the first Muslim woman in the world to have led the jumma prayers.

Jamida, whose name was until now limited to the community, has reached the mainstream with the debates on triple talaq and love jihad.

After a bitter marriage, the mother of two kids, a boy and a girl, moved towards the north of Kerala. She started working with the QSS as she found its ideals close to hers.

"The religious heads usually treat women as second grade citizens while the Holy Quran considers both men and women as equals. A transformation will not come instantly but gradually. Allah enjoins justice and right judgment in all matters, and devotion to doing good, and generosity towards relatives," she stated.

Jamida's support to Ashokan, father of Hadiya alias Akhila, who entered a controversial deadlock after being converted to Islam, however, raised many eyebrows.

"I have evidence to prove that there are marriages with vested interests. They are taking women from their husbands and parents by misleading them about Islam. The government should ban such religious conversions," she said.

Declaring that the Left parties did not support her cause, she alleged that they lack a stance.

"The Kerala government did not submit their opinion on triple talaq while their counterparts in Tripura did. The state government is having a policy of Sikhandis, she criticised.

Born in Konni in Pathanamthitta as the youngest among 13 children of Shahul Hameed, a former soldier, Jamida graduated in Arabic (Afzal-Ul-Ulama).

"I have faced several death threats in the past and I am sure that this move of mine has upset the high and mighty. Yet, I do not fear for my life," said Jamida.
Sweta Yadav, a popular, fiery 30-year-old independent journalist who regularly reports on Dalit atrocities is disadvantaged thrice over. Being a Yadav who talks about Dalits makes her a suspect in the eyes of both communities, she says. Plus being a woman, she's often subjected to a lot of sexual abuse.

Yadav has previously worked with news websites like National Dastak that talk of Bahujan samaj. Recently, she started her own YouTube channel and website focusing on Dalit and women's issues, provocatively titled 'Tedhi Ungli'.

She's part of a growing community of solo journalists who've found in YouTube and other social media platforms a medium to talk of issues that mainstream didn't allow her.

"Just having your own YouTube channel isn't enough. There are a lot of other challenges I have to face as a journalist. Identity being one of them. Those from my community call me a blot on Yadavs, those from Dalit community suspect me of working for an ulterior motive," she told News18.

Pointing towards the rise in awareness towards feminism, she says that the medium has become indispensable.

"I don't think many young people knew what feminism was before 2009. This concept was restricted to certain academic circles and elites only. But now there is a transformation setting in. Women are beginning to object to the manner in which they're spoken to. This has happened because of the internet and online portals that spoke about minority issues," Yadav says.

She adds that Dalit men and women are increasingly gravitating towards online portals to exchange their views and discuss issues that affect them. "If you observe closely, you'll inadvertently find Dalit women talk incessantly about politics on Facebook and Dalit portals because an awareness is setting in. Maybe you won't find those views palatable but tell me how many mainstream publications will publish such subversive stuff? she asks.

Portals that focus exclusively on Dalit atrocities, Yadav says, are getting bigger audiences than ever before.

"I get calls from people I don't know asking me to write about such and such atrocity. The other day a couple called me to inform me about rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl in Madhya Pradesh. When I see such things, it empowers me. I feel that the importance of web journalism is only going to increase. And this is the right time to claim one's space and find audiences that one never had through television," she says.

But to some, these portals are more than just a means of exchanging views and information. People like Ashok Das, who runs Dalit Dastak, thinks that online portals have become tools of applying pressure on mainstream media. He feels that growing audiences of such portals are forcing big media houses to take note of issues they would otherwise have ignored.

"A lot now depends on what's going viral on Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter groups. Dalit oriented groups have started applying pressure here. Whenever some big incident happens, these groups ensure that the event gets talked about and eventually news organisations are forced to take notice," he says, adding, "Our web portal, that earlier was not read by many people, now has its every article shared at least five to six thousand times."

The increasing coverage of Dalit related issues in mainstream publications has also led to more curiosity among the general public about Dalit icons and their contribution to the society.

"Take the case of Savitri Bai Phule, for instance. Very few people had heard her name till a few years ago. Now Google was also made to take notice of her and on her birth anniversary dedicate their doodle to her. Our medium is spreading awareness and changing the discourse on a very fundamental level," said Das.

But news and opinions, at least in the traditional form in which we understand them, aren't the only ways in which the internet-age Dalit activists express themselves.

In a tiny corner of cyberspace, a website gives space to Sumeet Samos, a rapper who regularly sings about Dalit atrocities. He covers centuries of anger and anguish in under two-and-a-half minutes.

"we grow up with casteist slurs ringing in our ears

have you ever thought it cost us our tears

I'm sure it sounds very normal

'cause you've been doing it for years

...when sati was a norm, women studying a taboo

then did Savitri mai fight with savarna babu

...you claim yourself progressive, it stinks of Brahminism

there are no Dalits in your radical feminism

...you keep blaming us doing politics of identity

this is to transform the social reality

a battle to reclaim human personality"

This is a sample of his song. Round Table India, the website, uses not just such performances, which have been viewed several thousand times, but editorials, unreported atrocity stories and documentaries to highlight the plight of Dalits in India. It is one of the many websites dedicated run by activists to provide 'space for the widest expression of Dalit-Bahuan samaj'.

With ever-increasing penetration of mobile phones, increasing literacy rates, and an active social media, such projects  like Dalit web portals, YouTube channels, news websites - and their audiences are increasingly rapidly.

"The Dalit and marginalised consciousness is rising, and writers and artists are deeply involved in its evolution. Their writings reflect the mood of the moment. Whether it be Una beatings, Rohith Vemula incident, anti-reservation campaigns or issue over beef, only spaces like these portals provide a space to discuss such issues," says Kuffir, who runs Round Table India.

Kuffir is not the first, but he is one of the most experienced editors of web portals oriented towards Dalit issues. He started his portal in 2009 when the only other thing of this kind were a few online archives documenting the writings of BR Ambedkar.

"It was not question of lack of resources, but lack of social acceptance. Mainstream media had consistently been ignoring our issues. Then we realised that there was this area, an unorganised media on the internet, that we could stake claim to," Kuffir says.

When he started out, Kuffir was alone. But the 53-year-old now has over 500 contributors to help him. "There are Sikhs, tribals, Christians, Dalits, Brahmins and Khatris from ages 18 to 80, who now work with us. We have brought this online Dalit consciousness movement to a point where our voices cannot be ignored anymore," says Kuffir.

But while activists like Kuffir have established an online presence, the ever-changing, chaotic online world, is also preparing to accommodate voices such as those of Sweta Yadav.

HL Dusaad who has written dozens of books on BSP and on Dalit politics doesn't think that one should measure the relevance of online Dalit awareness with the yardstick of UP polls, in which the Bahujan Samaj Party was trounced.

"A lot of people had seen Mayawati's fall coming. She had abandoned caste-based politics altogether and was punished for it. She gave people reasons for not voting for SP or BJP but did not claim her space among Dalits and OBCs, she took them for granted. But this doesn't mean that Dalits have started losing interest in their identity. They have started reading more and grouping together on the internet," he says.

And this phenomenon will only give rise to many more Dalit voices, which may be placed thousands of miles away geographically, but will find a common platform online.

Dharma's case is a classic illustration of this. He had never met Ravi Chandran, the founder of Dalit Camera  a YouTube channel documenting Dalit voices and stories, personally. But he found a connection after watching the work done by Chandran and his team.

"I wrote an email to Chandran, offering to volunteer for Dalit Camera. He accepted it immediately and eventually I began going outdoors, interviewing victims of caste violence and documenting such cases," says the 28-year-old software engineer.

The Rohith Vemula incident, Dharma, says was not just a life changing moment for him, because he got to spend a lot of time on the ground and observing the movement up close, it was also an eye-opener for the society.

"It was only after portals such as ours started talking about this case that many people in privileged positions found out what being a Dalit was like. It was a big moment. Many people suddenly realised that an anti-caste struggle had been going on since independence. English media took notice of Dalit atrocities in a way it never had," he says.

To the question of who is listening to or reading news stories and opinions on such online portals, Dharma has an answer.

"Dalit Camera wasn't as popular as it is now. But after all this time we never observed a dip or even a stagnation in our subscriptions. Our readers and followers have been steadily increasing. More young people are engaging with our portal than ever before. Student population at large is taking notice of our work and discussing it. All this is quite encouraging," he says.

(#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.)
India Post Recruitment 2018 for Gramin Dak Sevaks in Madhya Pradesh circle has been opened to recruit 2411 candidates. The application process has begun on the official website of India Post, Ministry of Communications and the interested candidates must follow the instructions below and apply before February 19, 2018.

Heres how to apply for India Post Recruitment 2018 for Gramin Dak Sevaks in Madhya Pradesh Circle:

Step 1  Visit the official recruitment webpage for Gramin Dak Sevaks - http://appost.in/gdsonline/

Step 2  If you are new registrant, click on Registration hyperlink, given at the left hand side.

Or

If you had already registered for this recruitment in April 2017, then you neither need to register again nor pay the fee.

Step 3  Click on Apply Online, Enter your Registration Number and complete the application process

Step 4  Download the confirmation page and take a print out for further reference

Direct Link - http://117.239.178.144/gdsonline/reference.aspx

The India Post had earlier in April 2017 released a notification for recruitment of Gramin Dak Sevaks in the Madhya Pradesh circle, however it was cancelled at that time. Candidates can now again apply online for this latest recruitment drive.

Academic Qualification:

1. The applicant must possess a Matriculate or Class 10th Certificate from a recognized State or Education board.

2. The applicant must have basic computer knowledge.

Age Limit:

The applicant must fall in the age bracket of 18 to 40 years, age relaxation rules apply as per state governments rules.

Selection Process:

The candidates would be selected on the basis of merit list based on their Class 10 Scores and submitted documents. Candidates who had passed matriculation in the first attempt will be given preference over those who passed the exam after compartment.
London: An Indian Navy sailing team out to make history as the first-ever voyage by an all-women crew to circumnavigate the globe is now docked at Port Stanley, the capital of Falkland Islands a British Overseas Territory.

The six crew of the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini started their maiden voyage on September 10 from Goa and is expected to complete it in about eight months.

INSV Tarini entered the port earlier this week after covering approximately 15,000 nautical miles since setting off from Goa, crossing the Equator, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn.

The vessel is captained by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi, with her crew comprising Lieutenant Commanders Pratibha Jamwal and P Swathi, and Lieutenants S Vijaya Devi, B Aishwarya and Payal Gupta.

"It is always a surprise when nature catches you unaware just when you are lost into its mesmerising beauty, such as our awe when we witnessed the Auroras the southern lights only a lucky few get to witness this at sea," said Lt.

Aishwarya, who has been maintaining an online blog of the group s experiences.

Wonderful news! Delighted that INSV Tarini has rounded Cape Horn in the last few hours. We are extremely proud of their accomplishments. pic.twitter.com/edmCvfecDN Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 19, 2018

The indigenously-built INSV Tarini is a 56-foot sailing vessel, which was inducted in the Indian Navy last year and the voyage is described as a showcase of the 'Make in India' initiative on an International forum.

The vessel and the crew experienced rough weather and stormy winds during their passage across the Pacific Ocean, which spanned 41 days. This coupled with the extremely cold climatic conditions of the region, involved winds in excess of 60 knots and waves of up to 7 meters.

The expedition, titled 'Navika Sagar Parikrama', was flagged off by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as part of the national initiative to empower women to attain their full potential. It also aims to showcase "Nari Shakti" on the world platform and help revolutionise societal attitudes and mindset towards women in India, by raising the visibility of their participation in challenging environs.

The vessel is scheduled to return to Goa in April and will set off for Cape Town in South Africa on February 4. The first port halt was at Fremantle, Australia, in October 2017, the second at Lyttelton, New Zealand, in November and now Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.

The crew has been collating and updating meteorological, ocean and wave data on a regular basis for accurate weather forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), as also monitoring marine pollution on the high seas. They have been interacting extensively with the locals, especially children, during their port halts to promote ocean sailing and the spirit of adventure.
Davos: Overwhelmed with the love and support she gets from Indians, young Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai has said she wants to visit the country and work for the girls in the country.

The 20-year-old Malala, who was shot at by Taliban at the age of 15 for defying the ban on girls going to school and went on to get a Nobel peace prize and become the UN Messenger of Peace, said she has already learnt a lot about India and is a big fan of its movies and drama and wants to learn more about its culture and values.

She was in Davos to participate in the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, held from January 22-26, and during her visit met a number of global leaders and CEOs to seek their support for the girl education. She has co-founded Malala Fund that seeks to invest in girl education across the world, while one of its initiative Gulmakai Network -- named on Malala's pen name that she used while writing blogs against Taliban regime -- supports the work of education champions across the world.

In an interview with PTI, Malala said she is very excited about expanding her Gulmakai Network to India, where she would want to work with the local people as they best understand the local issues and can suggest necessary solutions as well.

Excited to see so much "snow to the level of her height" on her first visit to Davos, the young activist agreed the issues were very much same in India and Pakistan with the two being one country before and having the same culture.

Brimming with excitement while talking about India, Malala said, "The support that I have received from India has been overwhelming and I want to thank everyone in India for their love and support. I get so many letters of support from India".

Recalling one such letter, she said there is one girl who sent her a letter saying she wanted to be Prime Minister of India and that "one day we both will be Prime Ministers and then we will negotiate and bring peace between the two countries".

"That touched my heart that the future generation is not only thinking about education but they, especially girls, want to be leaders as well. They want to be PMs, presidents and this gives me hope for the future," she said.

Stating that she wants to visit India, Malala said, "I have watched so many Indian dramas and films and I know already a lot about the country. I know Hindi as well that I learnt from Indian TV channels. We connect in many ways and there is a lot to learn from each other's culture and values". As I am concerned about girls in Pakistan, I am also concerned about girls in India and the number is in millions, she said.

"When we talk about the future of India and future of Pakistan then we have to invest in our girls because they are the future. How can we make our future better and brighter when we ignore these millions of girls by not giving them education. When we educate girls, we are not just educating them individually but we are also empowering them and we are giving them opportunity to earn for themselves," she said.
Mumbai: A 32-year-old man was killed in a freak accident after being pulled into an MRI machine at a Mumbai hospital whose staff allegedly allowed him to enter the room with a metal oxygen cylinder.

According to reports, Rajesh Maru had accompanied an elderly relative to the MRI room at BYL Nair Hospital. His relatives said a ward boy standing outside the room told him it was okay to carry the oxygen cylinder, which was helping the patient breathe, inside.

As soon as he entered the room, the MRI machines powerful magnetic pull sucked in Maru, who was still holding the cylinder. Marus hand was wedged between the MRI machine and the cylinder, with the magnetic field making it impossible to pull away.

A doctor and ward boy at the hospital have now been arrested.

#BREAKING - Mumbai: Man gets sucked into MRI machine, dies. The name of the deceased is Rajesh Maru. pic.twitter.com/XOPzL0f3rx News18 (@CNNnews18) January 28, 2018

When the patient accompanying Maru cried for help, few ward boys rushed in and managed to pull him out. A bleeding Maru was rushed to the emergency ward, but succumbed to his injuries within minutes.

He went there to visit my ailing mother, but we did not know he would meet such a fate. We all are in shock. A ward boy told him to carry an oxygen cylinder with him to MRI room which is prohibited. It all happened because of the carelessness of hospital's doctors and administration, Marus brother-in-law Harish Solanki told news agency ANI.

He was admitted into MRI room with an oxygen tank when no metal items are allowed. Hospital attendant at MRI room said that the MRI machine was not switched on,he could go in but he was pulled in by magnetic force of the machine,he was shifted to trauma but died later: Relative pic.twitter.com/DErawK6PQk ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2018

An FIR under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code was registered at the Agripada police station, while Marus body was kept for post-mortem at JJ Hospital.

The hospital has denied wrongdoing and claimed that Maru was instructed against carrying the cylinder inside. It, however, suspended the concerned doctor, a ward boy and a sweeper.

He was accompanying a patient. He took the patient to the MRI room where metal is not allowed. He took the oxygen cylinder. The magnetic force was heavy so he got pulled in. There are boards and signs put up that say you cannot carry metal inside. Instructions are given. We are conducting an inquiry. If anyone is found to be at fault, action will be taken. It seems like an accident. All instructions were given, hospital dean Dr Ramesh Bharmal told CNN-News18.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the family.
New Delhi: Ramayana has always been popular in Indonesia, with Bali, Java and Jakarta having their own interpretations of it.

The Hindu epic will now reach a larger audience in Indonesia through Legong, the historical Bali dance traditionally performed by young girls.

Seven dancers from Indonesia picked Ramayana as the theme for their Legong performance at the ASEAN Summit.

At the heart of this departure from tradition is Ayu Bulan, a dance troupe from Bali. Reframing the narratives of masculinity and challenging the patriarchal hegemony by retelling characters through feminist lens, the troupe members relate to the strength of Sita and philosophy of the legend.

The troupe counts Muslims, Buddhists, Christians and Hindus among its members, who also lead diverse professional lives  doctors, painters, poets and some are architects.

The role of Sita is played by troupe leader Bulan Trisna Djelantik, a Muslim. Ramayana goes beyond these barriers of religion and ethnicities. In Indonesia, it is a philosophy of life. It is integral to every household. We teach our children about Rama and Sita and tell them they are our heroes, Bulan said.

A lecturer at the Padjadjaran University in Indonesia, Bulan traces her roots to the royal family of Indonesia. But for her, being a Muslim doesnt mean she cant celebrate Ramayana.

The seven-member troupe she leads has four Muslims and their love for dance and storytelling is not just limited to Ramayana.

The legend is part of our culture and we celebrate Mahabharata as well, Bulan says.

A large Indian diaspora living and working in Indonesia share an important cultural bond with India.

Over the past two decades, Indias Look East policy has been complemented by Indonesias Look West policy in bringing the two countries closer.

The Novel Dance Form

The troupe put up a splendid slow at Delhis Kamani Auditorium on January 22.

As the lights poured in, the dancers moved to the tune of Gamelan music  traditional ensemble notes from Java and Bali by percussive artists.

They depict the ferocious fight between Subali and Sugriwa (Vali and Sugreeva), the young lads in combat jumping into Nirmala Lake. Legend has it that their father cursed the two brothers. Soon, they surfaced with their bodies transformed as Vanara  half human, half monkeys.

The intricate finger movements and complicated footwork, masks of monkeys and legendary heroes worn by the seven artistes, is woven together with ethereal choreography. The dance form is divided into three parts: Pengawit (opening), Pengawak (body of dance), and Pekaad (epilogue).

The Other Version of Ramayana

The Indian Ramayana is the original Ramayana authored by Valmiki.

The Indonesian Ramayana is the Sri Lankan version of Ramayana, authored by Rishi Kamban and titled Ramavataram. It was written in Tamil.

But there is a major difference in how Sita is depicted in Indonesian culture. Indian Ramayana portrays Sita as a soft and beautiful woman, whereas the Indonesian Ramayana depicts her as bold, strong and powerful. She fights with Asuras and Asuris in Ravanas Lanka, not waiting for her husband to arrive and free her from captivity.

Sita: The Original Hero

The artistes, who were part of the performance, are impressed by Sitas strength.

She had her chin up and head set high even in her darkest hour and did not fall on her knees. Sitas anger had patience and weakness in her strength, and that is because above everything else she is a woman, said Minangsari, a troupe member.

It is a story of imperfections. Sita wanted the golden deer that was her imperfection and Rama trusted people over Sita; that was his imperfection. Both are very real and tell us about the conflicts we see in life, Bulan troupe leader said.

Revival in Times of Superheroes

Adrienna Wallis, an architect who plays Rama, believes that another reason to embrace Ramayana today is the relevance it brings to the modern world.

There are suddenly so many superheroes coming from the western countries that it has become all the more important for us to celebrate Ramayana in as many ways as possible. I tell children and youngsters back home that before giving into the charms of Superman and Batman, dont forget Rama, Sita and Hanuman, said Adrienna.
New Delhi: Territorial integrity of Assam and other northeastern states will not be compromised when the final Naga peace accord is inked, Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday.

Sonowal apprised Singh about the situation in the state's Dima Hasao district where protests against the demand for a "Greater Nagalim" claimed two lives.

"The home minister assured that not a single inch of Assam's land will be parted with any state. He (Singh) said that the territorial integrity of Assam and other states will be fully protected, and there should be no apprehension in anyone's mind," Sonowal told PTI.

The situation in Dima Hasao district continued to be tense for a week following protests over an RSS leader's reported statement that the district would be included in "Greater Nagalim" or Greater Nagaland as part of the Centre's proposed solution for the ongoing peace talks with the NSCN- IM.

Two people were killed and about a dozen others injured when police opened fire to disperse a mob at Maibang in the district on Thursday.

During a visit to Nagaland on December 8, 2017, the home minister had said that there should be no apprehension or worry as the territorial integrity of no northeastern state would be affected by the final Naga accord.

He was replying to a question about the possibility of hampering the territorial integrity of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur by the impending peace agreement between the central government and Naga insurgency group NSCN-IM.

The insurgent group NSCN-IM's key demand is to integrate the Naga-inhabited areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur, which has been strongly opposed by the three states, currently ruled by the BJP.

The expectations for a lasting peace have soared in Nagaland, which had been hit by insurgency for decades, after the Centre and the NSCN(IM) signed a framework agreement in 2015.

The NSCN-IM has been engaged with peace talks with the interlocutor of the central government since 1997 when it announced a ceasefire agreement after a bloody insurgency movement which started in Nagaland soon after the country's Independence.
New Delhi: Former Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on Sunday said the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) must be scrapped.

"In my respectful opinion, Prasoon Joshi should have attended Jaipur Lit Fest. For tyranny to triumph, all that good men have to do is nothing. I believe CBFC should be abolished. As I&B Ministry appointed Mudgal Committee to that end. Till CBFC exists, chief and I&B Ministry should defend its remit," Tewari tweeted.

In my respectful opinion @prasoonjoshi_ should have attended Jaipur Lit Fest.For tyranny to triumph all that good men have to do is nothing. I believe CBFC should be abolished.AsI&B Min appointed Mudgal Committee to that end.Till CBFC exists Chief &I&B Min should defend its Remit Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) January 28, 2018

The Congress leader made the comment in context of CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi's decision to skip the ongoing Zee Jaipur Literature Festival in the wake of repeated threats to him by the Shri Rajput Karni Sena over certification of Padmaavat.

Joshi, in an earlier statement, said on 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."

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat has been in the news over a long-standing row, due to which it did not release in a few states despite the Supreme Court's decision green-signalling an all-India release.
London: Actor Maisie Williams says Hollywood is a "shallow industry" as she is only offered stereotypical roles based on her looks.

The Game of Thrones star said she has realised what parts she can and cannot play as a result of the Hollywood's unrealistic beauty standards.

"It's only now I'm starting to realise the characters that are available to me because of the way I look and the characters that aren't available to me. It's a very shallow industry," Maisie said in an interview with the Irish Times.

The 20-year-old actor also feels that it is time for different types of beauty to be showcased on screen.

"I don't look like someone who is cast in roles that are, well, sexualised. Don't get me wrong. I'm completely in awe of Hollywood's leading ladies," Maisie said.

"I love looking at those totally jaw-droppingly beautiful women. But I think it's sad that you only get to see one type of beautiful on-screen," she added.
New Delhi: 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.
New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram slammed the Narendra Modi government on Sunday for its wild claims on job creation, and said that if selling pakodas counts as job, begging should also be considered a job.

In a series of tweets, Chidambaram said that the government is clueless about creating employment and the truth is that India has been witnessing a three-year spell of modest, but jobless growth.

Even selling pakodas is a 'job' said PM. By that logic, even begging is a job. Let's count poor or disabled persons who are forced to beg for a living as 'employed' people, he tweeted.

5. Even selling pakodas is a 'job' said PM. By that logic, even begging is a job. Let's count poor or disabled persons who are forced to beg for a living as 'employed' people.  P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 28, 2018

The dig at the PM comes a few days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in an interview to a TV channel, "If a person selling pakodas (snacks) earns Rs. 200 at the end of the day, will it be considered employment or not?" The Congress leader said that the public should get prepared to face an assault on its common sense by the governments claims about job growth in the coming days. In the coming week, the Centre will present the Union Budget and the Economic Survey, which reviews the overall state of the economy in the last 12 months and highlights the policy initiatives of the government. To beat hollow the governments claims on creating jobs, Chidambaram also pointed out that a minister in the Modi government wanted MGNREGA jobs to be counted as employment. So they are 'job' holders for 100 days and jobless for 265 days, he retorted.

7. Real job creation will be reflected by robust increase in private investment, private consumption, exports and credit demand. Not happening yet.  P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 28, 2018

He also refuted that 70 lakh new jobs were created in the last year, a claim based on the number of enrollments in the Employees Provident Fund Organisation. A new registration in any year did not mean a new job was created in that year; it could mean that an informal job was formalised and a non-subscriber became a subscriber in that year, he wrote.

Real job creation will be reflected by robust increase in private investment, private consumption, exports and credit demand. Not happening yet, he added.

Demanding that government be more transparent about the figures, the Congress leader said, In the debate on jobs, it is important to keep the distinction between 'job' and 'self employment'. A 'job' is certain, regular and reasonably secure. We want to know how many such jobs have been created.
Shillong: The United Democratic Party (UDP) in Meghalaya has exuded confidence that regional outfits would form the next government in the state.

People in Meghalaya had enough of the Congress and the BJP is yet to gain ground in the state, a senior UDP leader said.

Meghalaya is set to go to polls on February 27 and the results will be announced on March 3.

"We are forming the next government and there is no doubt about it. We are leaving no stone unturned to cross the magic number 31 in the 60-member House," UDP Working President Paul Lyngdoh told PTI in Shillong.

The Congress, which is in power in Meghalaya for about 15 years, is facing anti-incumbency problem while the BJP is struggling to win the hearts of people here, Lyngdoh said.

The UDP had secured the second spot with 8 seats in the 2013 assembly election. The Congress that bagged 29 seats in the polls had formed government with the support of 13 independents and two NCP MLAs.

This time, the UDP has forged pre-poll alliances with regional parties Hills State Peoples Democratic Party (HSPDP) and Garo National Council(GNC).

Although the UDP happens to be a constituent of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), led by the BJP, Lyngdoh feels it NEDA a political platform for the development of North East and not pre-poll alliances.

He said that the UDP-HSPDP combine would field candidates in at least 36 seats in the Khasi Jaintia Hills region with an agreed seat-sharing formula.

"The UDP will contest 17 seats in the region and the HSPDP 10. In the remaining nine seats, both parties can have friendly contest," Lyngdoh proposed.

In the Garo Hills region, which has 24 seats, six constituencies have been allotted to the GNC, the UDP chief said.

It is yet to be decided whether the UDP would contest the remaining 18 seats in the region, he added.

GNC president Kalpana D Sangma has said she expects her party to win at least five of the six seats in the three districts of South Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills and West Garo Hills.

Despite losing five senior sitting MLAs to the BJP, NPP and PDF earlier this month, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has also expressed confidence in securing at least 38 seats on its own.

"The Congress will win 38 seats and form the government once again," he said at a party meeting here recently.

The BJP, on the other hand, dismissed the claims of the Congress and regional parties and stated that the party will spring a surprise in the assembly polls.

State BJP president Shibun Lyngdoh said, "Our mantra of 'sabka saath sabka vikas'(collective efforts, inclusive growth) is reverberating in poll-bound Meghalaya with people coming in huge numbers to support the party," he claimed.

Four sitting legislators, including former cabinet minister A L Hek and NCP's former state president Sanbor Shullai, had joined the saffron party early this month.

The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), another regional outfit, said it would support any party that wins maximum number of seats on conditions that issues identified by it in the state get addressed.

"Any party which needs our support will have to understand our issues and agree in principle that they will take it up as its government's agenda," KHNAM Working President Adelbert Nongrum said, adding that his party is likely to contest nine seats.
Jaipur: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor today said the BJP government would try to send out a political message by giving tax rebates or investment initiatives in the upcoming Union Budget as it will be their last one.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the Jaipur Literature Festival. "This is anyway their last budget, and they will try to send out a political message. If you look at our economy which is in a bad condition, they would want to give some incentives for investments, maybe there will be some tax rebates, they will have to do something for farmers as stagnant agriculture sector has put farmers in a very bad state," he said.

The Union minister said if they wanted people to vote for them, they would do something about employment opportunities for the youth as well.

Tharoor also criticised the government for not taking "preventive action" in the light of violent protests against the release of "Padmaavat" film.

"The truth is that sometime these (violence) will erupt, but where there are foreseeable problems, where problems have been advertised in advance, where groups have taken a particular stand, some preventive action can deter such behaviour. It should be the standard playbook of the government," he said.

The minister urged the people to "demand their government of more effective law and order". "It is our human right for all of us to live with peace in our neighbourhood," he said.
Bengaluru: The Congress government in Karnataka has amended a police circular that stated cases against "innocent minorities" charged with rioting would be withdrawn and extended the measure to all "innocent people" after coming under fire from various quarters, including the opposition BJP.

Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Sunday said the earlier communique, directing police to release innocent minorities, was based on the recommendations of the Rajendra Sachar Committee.

"It will be wrong if only one community's cases are withdrawn. If people from other community too appeal, their cases will also be withdrawn. The previous circular was based on the Sachar Committee's recommendations," he told reporters.

The January 25 circular of the home department directed police commissioners of Mangaluru and Belagavi, and Superintendents of Police to release "innocent minorities" arrested on charges of rioting and other cases.

The move drew sharp criticism from various quarters with the opposition BJP calling it "Muslim appeasement" ahead of the assembly polls. The opposition party also targeted Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The BJP tweeted, "In @siddaramaiah's Karnataka, if you are a "Ramesh", you'll be jailed. If you are a "Rafiq", you'll be given bail. #CongBleedsKarnataka #CongKillsHindus."

BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje also attacked the chief minister. CM Siddaramaiah, why are you not withdrawing cases of innocent Hindu youths? Why only minorities? I request all the police officers in the state, please dont yield to vote bank politics of this government, she tweeted.

Besides releasing the amended circular, the department also released data showing that cases against 3,164 accused were withdrawn from 2015 to 2017, of which 2,806 were Hindus and 341 Muslims.

The Congress government had rejected the BJP's charge and said the circular was applicable to all minorities and also involves those arrested during agitations over inter-state water disputes.

The circular was issued by Assistant Inspector General of Police Shivaprakash Devaraju.

Reddy had clarified that the January 25 communique referred to all minorities, including Muslims, Christians, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs. He had also said that the government brought out such circulars from time to time and this particular one had nothing to do with only Muslims.
New Delhi: The government on Sunday said it will do everything in its power to ensure the passage of triple talaq bill in the Budget Session of Parliament, which starts from Monday, and said it would talk to various parties for a consensus on the issue.

The government met leaders of political parties at a meeting in Parliament House and sought their cooperation to ensure the success of the crucial session where the Union Budget will be presented.

The all-party meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and Ananth Kumar, as well as leaders of opposition and other parties.

Speaking to reporters after an all-party meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar described the meeting as "fruitful", and said the Prime Minister urged the leaders of the parties to make the session successful.

"We will leave no stone unturned for the passage of the triple talaq bill in the Rajya Sabha... We will approach various political parties to evolve a consensus for its passage. Like GST was passed by consensus, this bill seeking to ban the practice of instant triple talaq (Talaq-e-Biddat) among Muslims will be passed," he said when asked about the bill after the meeting.

To a question about the demands of various parties during the last session that the bill be referred to a select committee, he said it was now the property of the Rajya Sabha. "Let the House decide," Kumar said.

While the government wants to push the passage of the triple talaq bill during the session, it will present the Economic Survey on Monday after a joint address by the President. The General Budget will be presented by the finance minister on February 1.

The opposition, however, said it planned to counter the government on issues such as incidents of rape and other atrocities on women, alleged attacks on the Constitution and constitutional institutions and the plight of traders, besides the recent incident of communal violence in Uttar Pradesh.

The opposition has also asked the government to allow a discussion on these issues during the Budget session. Leaders of the opposition parties are likely to meet Monday to push for unity and to discuss ways to together corner the government.

The BJP Parliamentary Party executive will also hold a meeting Monday, which will be followed by one of NDA constituents who will also deliberate on their strategy for the session.

"We want to raise these issues as they are important. The government should adopt a cooperative attitude and allow the opposition to raise these issues," Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said.

RJD leader Jaiprakash Narain Yadav also said the opposition would want the government to speak in Parliament on issues of public importance including communal violence and atrocities on women.

The opposition was represented at the meeting by Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge and Jyotiraditya Scindia, Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP), D Raja (CPI), Kanimozhi (DMK), Derek O'Brien and Sudip Bandhopadhyay (TMC), Tariq Anwar (NCP) and Dushyant Chautala (INLD).
Beijing: China hopes to work with Japan to establish more cordial relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Japanese counterpart on Sunday, aiming to move on from a series of disputes, some dating back to before World War Two.

China and Japan have sparred frequently about their painful history, with Beijing often accusing Tokyo of not properly atoning for Japan's invasion of China before and during the war.

Ties between China and Japan, the world's second and third-largest economies, have also been plagued by a long-running territorial dispute over a cluster of East China Sea islets and suspicion in China about Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's efforts to amend Japan's pacifist constitution.

The two nations have, however, sought to improve ties more recently, with Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping having met in November on the sidelines of a regional summit in Vietnam.

Wang told Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono that his trip to Beijing, coming so early in the year, showed Japan's strong wish to improve relations and that China approves of this because better ties would be in both nations' interests.

Though there has been positive progress, there are also many "disturbances and obstacles", Wang said, but the minister also pointed to comments from Abe on wanting to improve relations.

"China-Japan ties always sail against the current, either forging ahead or drifting backward," Wang said in front of reporters at the start of talks with his counterpart.

"We hope that the Japanese side will neither relax in its efforts nor fall back, and turn the spoken statements into concrete actions."

Kono, who later met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, said that the two countries shared a major responsibility in safeguarding the stability and prosperity of Asia and the world at large.

"Not only do we need to manage our bilateral relations, but we also need to work together to deal with issues facing the entire globe, in particular the issue of North Korea," Kono said. "We desire to extend mutual cooperation between our two countries in working towards resolving this issue."

Japan has repeatedly pressed China to do more to help rein in North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes. China says it is committed to enforcing U.N. sanctions but that all parties need to do more to reduce tensions and restart talks.

Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Norio Maruyama told reporters that China and Japan are aiming to hold several high-level visits this year. These would include Abe visiting China and Xi going to Japan, he said, though no dates have been set.

"Let's see. It's all a question of the schedule," he said.
Islamabad: 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.

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.
London: 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.

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 with 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 reserve his judgement on whether 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.
Washington: Newly sworn in Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has said he wants to take his first trade mission to India as part of his efforts to increase business relationship and strengthen people-to-people ties with the country.

Northam, who was sworn in less than a fortnight ago, said this in his address to the Republic Day celebrations organised by the India Association of Virginia in Richmond.

"I look forward to a trade mission to India. In fact, I want to take my first trade mission to India," Northam told several hundred Indian-Americans gathered at a high school in Richmond, in his first address to the Indian-American community after being sworn in as the State Governor.

Later he told reporters that the dates of his trip have not been finalised yet and it is still in the planning stage.

"India is an important trading partner for Virginia and there are a number of areas where there is great scope for co-operation," Northam said.

Senator Tim Kaine, who was the Governor of Virginia between 2006-2010, welcomed the decision of Northam, saying he is "looking forward" to his next visit to India.

Rajbans Joshi, President of the India Association of Virginia (IAVA), saw the move as a step towards improving the India-US relationship.

"The Governor's decision to take a trade mission to India is reflective of his desire to improve India US relationship.

Indian-Americans in Virginia can play an important role in enhancing this trade ties," Joshi said.

Dr Bimaljit Singh Sandhu, who was recently given a key role by Northam in his new State administration, identified agro-industries, and defence as the two important areas of collaboration between India and Virginia.

The trade relationship between India and Virginia has seen an upswing for the past several years. In 2016, India ranked 18th among US export destinations and 14th among Virginia export destinations.

Some of the top opportunities for US exporters in India include defence, environment and water, franchising, healthcare and medical equipment, mining and mineral processing equipment, supply chain/logistics, power and renewable energy and travel and tourism.

In 2015, the then Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe had taken a trade mission to India.

Virginia has a thriving Indian-American population. Last year, Air India started direct flights between New Delhi and Dulles International Airport in the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC.
London: President Donald Trump says Britain's Prince Harry and his fiancee, American actress Meghan Markle, look like a "lovely couple" and he doesn't know if he's been invited to their May wedding.

Trump also told Britain's ITV News in an interview to be broadcast Sunday that his administration might not withdraw from the Paris climate accord if terms more favorable to the United States are reached, in part because he likes French President Emmanuel Macron.

The interviewer, veteran British journalist Piers Morgan, told the U.S. leader that Markle backed Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election and has described Trump as "divisive."

"Well, I still hope they're happy," Trump said.

The interview was conducted Thursday during Trump's brief visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In excerpts released earlier by ITV, the president apologized for retweeting videos made by a British far-right group and said he looked forward to visiting Britain, where he has been invited to make a state visit hosted by Queen Elizabeth II.

The guest list for Harry and Markle's May 19 wedding at Windsor Castle has not been made public. The prince's press team said invitations have not been sent out yet. It is not clear if a final list has been drawn up.

The British press has been filled with speculation that Harry might snub Trump and invite former U.S. President Barack Obama as a wedding guest. The prince and Obama have met on several occasions, and Obama gave Harry a rare interview last year that was broadcast on the BBC.

Trump, in contrast, has angered many people in Britain with his crackdown on immigration and his climate change policies.

During his interview with Morgan, Trump deflected a question asking if he would like to attend the wedding festivities at St. George's Chapel, saying only that he hoped the couple is happy.

He seemed open to revisiting his pledge to withdraw from 2015 Paris climate accord if the deal could be substantially revised. Under the pact, nations set their own goals to reduce the emissions of heat-trapping gases. Because of legal technicalities America can't get out until November of 2020

"If somebody said, go back into the Paris accord, it would have to be a completely different deal because we had a horrible deal," Trump said in the interview.

"Would I go back in? Yeah, I'd go back in. I like, as you know, I like Emmanuel (Macron). I would love to, but it's got to be a good deal for the United States."

Trump said the climate has been cooling as well as warming and asserted that ice caps have not been shrinking as predicted.

"The ice caps were going to melt, they were going to be gone by now, but now they're setting records," he said.

However, those remarks don't quite match what data shows and scientists say. The world hasn't been cooling except for normal day-to-day weather variations; it has been just the opposite. And there have been far more records for shrinking ice on the top and the bottom of the world than growing, despite what the president claimed.
Washington: Las Vegas casino billionaire Steve Wynn stepped down on 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 US media 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.

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 centred on the CEO and founder of a major publicly held company -- whose shares tumbled 7.8 per cent following the report's publication.
A critically endangered electric blue gecko, which was hatched at the Singapore Zoo, is seen in its enclosure during a media tour. (Image: Reuters)
2. I have always been open about the fact that I was once a police officer with the BSAP. At age 17, I was conscripted and joined the police force and served for just over 2 years. It was a legal requirement for all white men to do national service in the security forces, but as Ive admitted before, as a teenager I was caught up by the propaganda that it was a war to preserve Christianity and willingly joined. However, even before I left the police I had begun to see through the propaganda. For example, I wrote on the 24th October 1977, in the aftermath of Steve Bikos murder, about my concern that the South Africans were so blind to the consequences of their actions and that when I went to University I would do all I could to help South Africans see the light. I was never at any time part of the Selous Scouts as alleged by some. I am grateful to God that I was never involved in any direct combat and have never killed anyone. There was, however, one extremely horrible incident where I was required to dispose of the dead body of a guerrilla (who had been shot and killed in a gunfight with Rhodesian forces) down a mineshaft. I disclosed this incident in my book precisely because I believe we all have an obligation to share the truth and to not spare ourselves in doing so.
POLITICKING has reached fever pitch in Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe ahead of elections for the churchs leadership.



Sources said the churchs president, Dr Aspher Madziyire and his deputy, Reverend Cossum Chiangwa, are at loggerheads as the former is against the latters intention to stand for presidency.



Rev Chiangwa is said to have altered his birthday in order to qualify for the presidency.

At the moment, Rev Amon Chinyemba is said to be the favourite for the post.





Dr Madziyire, who has led the church for the past 15 years, is said to be irked by the fact that he is of the same age as his deputy who intends to succeed him.





The churchs election, which are conducted after three years, were due this month but have since been postponed pending the amendment of the churchs constitution.

Leading the amendment process is lawyer Mr Tawanda Nyambirai, who leads AFMs constitutional reforms and is believed to be Rev Chiangwas cover.





Sources say Dr Madziyire threatened to expose bad files of misbehaving people backing Rev Chiangwa if they continue to pursue their vendetta.

In an audio recording in possession of The Sunday Mail Society, Dr Madziyire, speaking to Togarepi Mapingure, said he was fighting a court case and paying lawyers to access court information so that when the election dates are announced, they will stand unchallenged.





In the audio clip, Dr Madziyire said he advised Rev Chinyemba not to campaign for presidency and wait patiently for the post as campaigning is only done in the political world.





Right now I am calling the senior elders that I may have audience with them, then I will talk to them. I am meeting them on Friday. Then after that I will have the backing of people who we call the real AFM.





If you just rush as you are rushing with your youngsters you wont bring out anything because you will bring out immature things. I should have ground that I know I have from the legal side, court, church wherever (sic). You are challenging a person who is a lawyer who knows what he is doing.





Because if we are going to be fighting with (Mr) Nyambirai we wont be fighting Nyambirai, we will be fighting Beatrice, Dr Madziyire said.





So you must know that we must have good standing. Now when I tell you all this you then reveal it on social media that father (Dr Madziyire) is doing this. We dont do that





What I just want to tell you is I am fighting for you that the person you want to be overseer will stay there. Leave me to sort out your road for you. I know you dont like me, just be patient and allow me to sort out your things to go well, added Dr Madziyire.





Some of the national pastors want to do away with the Workers Council and proceed with the elections.





AFM is led by a president and Apostolic Council which is elected for a three-year term and can be extended upon re-election.





The Apostolic Council run the church on behalf of the Supreme Board, which is the National Workers Council. Both the National Workers Council and Apostolic Councils are chaired by the president.





Reports are that plans are to ensure that Rev Chiangwa does not contest for the overseers seat, which will grant him an opportunity to contest for the presidency.





In the audio clip, Dr Madziyire flexes his muscle as he pledges to assist the interested candidate (Rev Nyemba) by highlighting that if he didnt set the platform for him, he would just light a fire and leave the house (AFM) burning.





You will suffer with your president who is not stable. What I just want to tell you Mapingure is that trust me, I know what I am doing. By Monday I will have an answer.





I cannot tell you where I was having troubles because if you are fighting with inside people, those who are overseers, those who say they stand with you, I cant reveal all my cards. I want to advise you when you become an overseer how to handle the office when you are now grown. Not to just run revealing everything, you will be killed before you have done anything, Dr Madziyire warned.





I am a pastor so as a pastor I cannot put a policy that kills a person, thats all you know. If I was evil I was going to expose all your friends long back. You know their stories starting from Mutaka, there are women from Rusape with his children, you know it. So if I was evil I was going to expose it. All those boys that you work with, you are the only one I dont have files about from overseas.





Gwaendepi was writing bad about me, fighting me and I saw it. Writing all the things he had been sent to write. He said it was the overseer he was talking to. Then I said reveal who it is you were talking to, there is no one else but Chinyemba.





Chinyemba persuaded me saying please give Gwaendepi a place after he had proposed to a married woman and he was chased out of the ministry. And we said we wont discipline him lets find him a place in Mvuma. Now you wake up tomorrow selling me out.





Dr Madziyire continued with his exposes, saying he was left with only a year before leaving, and that he is benefiting nothing from the national position.

Right now Nyambira is not talking to me. I blocked him on my phone because we dont agree. What I want to tell you is do not fight for everyone, what do you get from fighting for everyone and your family is destroyed?





Even if you were not there, God had a plan that we will get out of the trap that had been set for us by Nyambirai. But you want to take Gods place and fight yourself. Do you know people are laughing at you? You dont create things that will be a curse to your children. What Nyambirai did was murderous and it destroys our childrens church.





Nyambirai and his fellows did things at the wrong time. The method they are using is wrong.. If I see you being cheeky I will leave you to continue. My name was smeared long back. So I will just abandon everything but it destroys the church as a whole. If you hadnt married my daughter, I would leave you to be cursed, Dr Madziyire warned Pastor Mapingure.





Dr Madziyire seems to have considerable supporty in the church.

A source said all the pastors who had been demanding for Rev Chiangwas original birthday had been summoned to his provincial offices.





He has become a dictator in our church and is power hungry to the extent of sponsoring other junior pastors to rise against current president, Dr Madziyire.





Dr Madziyire is being accused of trying to hold on to power but the issue of amending the constitution was supposed to have been done in February last year.





Dr Madziyire agreed to it so that elections would be held smoothly but Rev Chiangwa suggested they be held last month to create an impression that (Dr) Madziyire does not want to leave the post. Dr Madziyire did not see the resistance coming and agreed to the move.





It was politics at play to ensure he appears to be the good person. He is now saying he is against the timing of the new constitution, which could delay elections, the source said.





There are also allegations that Rev Chiangwa has been spreading rumours and information about Harare East overseer, Rev Amon Chinyemba, who is reportedly the front runner to be the next president.





He has been spreading bad rumors and information about Harare East overseer Amon Chinyemba, who is the front runner to be the next AFM president (with) allegations ranging from fraud, abuse of office and being a womaniser.





As pastors from Harare West and East, all we want is for things to be done properly with qualifying candidates contesting, not old man wanting to remain young, the source added.

Dr Madziyire and Rev Chiangwas phones where unavailable at the time of going to print.





In December last year, AFM secretary-general, Rev Amon Madawo confirmed there were amendments to be done to the constitution, saying it was vague.





This, he said, had resulted in several court contests emanating from differing interpretations of the constitution.





The Apostolic Council decides when the elections will be held. It also approves any amendments to the constitution.





Infighting has rocked the AFM church for years. In December last year, national pastors convened at Living Waters Theological Seminary, objecting to the fast tracking of the churchs constitutional reforms.





Canvassing for support and smear campaigns seem to have gone a gear up in the church, possibly inspired by material gain and control of systems.





It is said overseers receive offerings from as many as 35 churches during provincial meetings at Holy Communion. There is also an honorary event held for the pastors on Christmas. In addition, allowances of $500 are paid to the pastors and their wives during meetings. Some of the overseers are known to lead luxurious lives with various properties locally and abroad.





Pastors who dare to raise their voices are reportedly sent to rural assemblies while budding pastors are brought into the cities. Sunday Mail
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa will soon engage Zanu-PF youths to map out how they can fully participate in economic activities as the President reaffirms commitment to make the young generation the cornerstone of Zimbabwes development.



This was said by the ruling partys National Secretary for Youth Affairs Cde Pupurai Togarepi at the launch of the Zanu-PF Youth Leagues 2018 election campaign under the #EDhasMYVOTE banner. The campaign is an aggressive online movement to drum up support for the partys 2018 Presidential election candidate. Zimbabwe is due to hold harmonised elections in the first half of this year.



At yesterdays campaign launch in Harare, Cde Togarepi told youths to abandon hateful slogans including the down with/pasi na chant. Said Cde Togarepi; President Mnangagwa is somebody you can talk to. We are going to have interactions with our President very soon. And these interactions are not going to be like those interface rallies. The President is ready to hear you; what you want and what you think will develop Zimbabwe. We will not have rallies when we interact with the President.



We will be seated in one room like we are doing now; exchanging ideas and you will be telling him what you think will develop the country, giving him proposals on how we can transform the Zimbabwean economy. That is what we plan to do. He is our President, so he must be among us interacting with us.



Cde Togarepi said the online campaign will give the Youth League wide, instantaneous reach to millions of people. He said the main campaign message will centre on economic development, while insults and name-calling will be shunned.





The reason why we have launched the hashtag is to defend our revolution, he said. As the Youth League leadership, we decided that we should communicate what Zanu-PF is, what ED Mnangagwa is through those online platforms.





Our opponents are also on those platforms. We then agreed that we should engage them, we are not going to use social media as a tool of hate, enmity and insults but we want to use these platforms to communicate our message as Zanu-PF  the beauty of our party and ideology and the principles of our revolution.





We want to communicate that and I beg you to take this challenge. I know there will be those who will wage war to insult you; dont insult them back but tell them the truth. Tell them the truth and defend the revolution. There is no reason whatsoever to hate or insult a member of the opposition for example, engage them. Fortunately they have nothing to sell and we have everything to prove that we are the true representatives of our people. So we engage them and liberate their minds and Zimbabwe will prosper.





On slogans he said the party leaders had decided to break from the past. Cde (Godfrey) Tsenengamu has said there is no reason now to enjoy saying down with this person or down with that. That position has already been adopted by the party leadership. They have said no to that, those words must go. We need to unite our people, to inspire them to contribute to development of Zimbabwe.





Cde Togarepi encouraged young people to be business-minded. We dont want to just chant slogans; we want to go into the business sector  we already have land, we will be entering the mining sector as well and we will be processing gold too. We are in the process of acquiring a very big number of hammer mills, stamp mills to go and process gold as youths.





There is no industry where youths cant operate in as well. He added that the Youth League would soon launch a competitive public transport company. Present at yesterdays launch were all national and provincial ruling party youth leaders. Sunday Mail
One of President Emmerson Mnangagwas sons, Emmerson Junior, and a nephew of his  Tongai  are readying themselves to enter the political fray by running for National Assembly seats at the forthcoming polls.



Informed sources told the Daily News on Sunday that Emmerson Jr is preparing to run for the Chirumhanzu-Zibagwe seat  currently held by his mother and First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa.



The seat has become more of a family jewel for the Mnangagwas since it was created prior to 2008 general elections.



Auxillia inherited the constituency from her husband in 2015 after he was appointed vice president in the wake of Joice Mujurus dismissal from Zanu PF and government on unproven charges of plotting to unseat former president Robert Mugabe.



Mnangagwa became the first Member of Parliament for Chirumanzu-Zibagwe  an offshoot of the old Chirumanzu constituency  after winning the 2008 parliamentary vote and proceeded to retain the seat in 2013.



After he became vice president in 2014, a by-election won by his wife followed. The first lady had won the Zanu PF primary poll uncontested.



Emmerson Jrs interest in the Chirumhanzu-Zibagwe seat is being interpreted to mean that Auxillia could be weighing her options  torn between focusing on her demanding duties as wife of the president or continuing to play dual roles of being MP and first lady.



Relinquishing the seat would contradict her pledge late last year when she told her audience during one of her visits to the constituency that despite the changed circumstances that followed her husbands ascendancy to power, she will not abandon the constituency.



Please, when I am here I am your MP and one of you. The only time that I become first lady and mother of the nation is when I am away from this constituency. We have gone through difficulties but I will never abandon you.



We are still together despite the changes that happened in the past few days. I am still your MP and I am still your mother. Please, separate me from the presidents business. When I am here, I am your MP and when I am out there, I am the first lady and mother to all, the first lady was quoted saying in December.



Efforts to get a comment from her were fruitless. While Emmerson Jr was not immediately available for comment, sources in the Midlands Province told the Daily News on Sunday that he was already on the ground canvassing for support.



Initially, we thought he was doing it for his mother who is the Member of Parliament for the area but we have since established that the first lady will not be standing so he is actually preparing his own ground, a senior party official said.



Even the language he uses now shows that he is his own man. His foot soldiers in the constituency now refer to him as honourable. We have even noticed that the first lady no longer visits the constituency as frequently as she used to do.



Emmerson Jr was born on December 20, 1984.

He is regarded as the closest child to the president and is often seen at all events close to his father, even during the time when former first lady Grace Mugabe was on a charade attacking Mnangagwa at rallies.



Although he is always with his father, Emmerson Jr is averse to prying cameras.

He rarely comments in the media and is not on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

Emmerson Jr started his degree in Australia 2004, majoring business finance and marketing but was subsequently deported in 2007 due to pressure from the opposition.



He managed to complete his studies in 2009 at the University of East London and has had a hand in politics after being voted secretary for information and publicity for the Midlands Zanu PF youth league in 2013.



While Emmerson Jr might have it easy in Chirumanzu-Zibagwe, Tongai Mnangagwa faces a stiffer challenge in wresting the Harare South seat left vacant after sitting legislator Shadreck Mashayamombe was recalled from Parliament following his dismissal from Zanu PF.



Tongai will have to battle it out with other aspiring lawmakers in the party primary elections to be held anytime soon among them Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association spokesperson Douglas Mahiya and Leonard Tarwirei, a former soldier, who have so far declared their interest to contest the seat.



Tongai confirmed his wish to contest the Harare South Constituency.

I can confirm that I have a desire to represent Harare South constituency in Parliament, he said curtly before hanging up.



Mahiya told the Daily News on Sunday that he was aware of Tongais interest in the seat but feels he should be the sole Zanu PF candidate on account of the role he played in Mugabes ouster when ZNLWVA mobilised Zimbabweans to come out of their homes in huge numbers and demonstrate against the despot.



I am working in this constituency and I am aware that Tongai is also canvassing for support here using the presidents name, he said.



I am senior and we did not get what we had hoped for in the party and I decided to come down and work for the people here. It will not be fair to disqualify me again in favour of the young man, said Mahiya, who is also Zanu PF Harare provinces political commissar.



Meanwhile, Tongai got away with a four-month wholly-suspended prison term on condition that he settles his $5 120 maintenance arrears last week.



Last year, Tongai, 39, was dragged to court by his ex-wife Shuvai Murumbi  a public relations executive  for failing to pay $5 120 maintenance for their two children.



He pleaded guilty to contravening Section 23 of the Maintenance Act when he appeared before Harare magistrate Annia Ndiraya and was ordered to pay $1 500 immediately and settle the balance later.



Prosecutor Devoted Nyagano had asked the court to impose a stiffer penalty after Tongai had mentioned that he runs an engineering firm.



Tongai had been ordered by the courts on June 9, 2014, to pay $250 per month to Murumbi in child support.



The court heard that Mnangagwa made part payments and failed to settle the maintenance in full from June 2014 to May 2017, resulting in arrears of $5 120. Daily News




In an interview yesterday, Home Affairs and Culture Minister Dr Obert Mpofu said already the reduction of roadblocks on the countrys highways has seen positive reviews especially from tourists who are now enjoying hassle-free travel.



The number of police roadblocks on the countrys roads had previously been viewed as one of the major factors that tourists had complained about in Zimbabwe .



There has been a national outcry over the number of police roadblocks on the countrys roads. Therefore, as part of the Governments 100-day plan, we are working on swiftly improving the image of our country. We want to ensure that tourists are never again subjected to harassment from any Government departments, in particular the police force. I have also since directed all institutions within the ministry to professionally interface with tourists, said Dr Mpofu.

He said there were already some positive reviews from tourists who are excited by the new arrangement on Zimbabwes roads.



There is quite some excitement about Zimbabwe. Many tourists have been positively complimenting and recommending Zimbabwe as a destination. I may not have the figures off my head but I will assure you that they are good, he said.



The Government is working with various communities throughout the country on tourism projects and enterprises in order to achieve sustainable socio-economic growth, employment creation and poverty reduction.



Before the new Government dispensation, players in the tourism sector had over the years complained about the harassment that tourists were subjected to by police on the countrys roads. This was cited as one of the major factors that was affecting tourists movement and arrivals in the country.



Locals had also complained of numerous roadblocks, some in the city centre and robots, with the police insisting on spot fines for any offence detected. Sunday News THE Government has put in place various measures to ensure that the Zimbabwe Republic Police continue to improve its operations and professionalism as part of cleaning the organisations image.In an interview yesterday, Home Affairs and Culture Minister Dr Obert Mpofu said already the reduction of roadblocks on the countrys highways has seen positive reviews especially from tourists who are now enjoying hassle-free travel.The number of police roadblocks on the countrys roads had previously been viewed as one of the major factors that tourists had complained about in Zimbabwe .There has been a national outcry over the number of police roadblocks on the countrys roads. Therefore, as part of the Governments 100-day plan, we are working on swiftly improving the image of our country. We want to ensure that tourists are never again subjected to harassment from any Government departments, in particular the police force. I have also since directed all institutions within the ministry to professionally interface with tourists, said Dr Mpofu.He said there were already some positive reviews from tourists who are excited by the new arrangement on Zimbabwes roads.There is quite some excitement about Zimbabwe. Many tourists have been positively complimenting and recommending Zimbabwe as a destination. I may not have the figures off my head but I will assure you that they are good, he said.The Government is working with various communities throughout the country on tourism projects and enterprises in order to achieve sustainable socio-economic growth, employment creation and poverty reduction.Before the new Government dispensation, players in the tourism sector had over the years complained about the harassment that tourists were subjected to by police on the countrys roads. This was cited as one of the major factors that was affecting tourists movement and arrivals in the country.Locals had also complained of numerous roadblocks, some in the city centre and robots, with the police insisting on spot fines for any offence detected. Sunday News
(Newser)  Finland says it will lobby for the abolition of daylight saving time within the European Union after more than 70,000 Finns signed a petition last year. Anne Berner, Finland's transportation and communications minister, said Friday on Twitter that the government's goal "would be to abandon (the practice) in a uniform manner within the EU." No EU member can independently end the practice of advancing clocks by an hour during summer months so that evening daylight lasts longer, reports the AP. All 27 member states must make the change together.

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A parliamentary committee in Finland has concluded that changing the clocks causes short-term sleeping disorders, reduced performance at work, and could also lead to serious health problems. In Finland, parliament must consider a petition containing at least 50,000 signatures. The Finns may be particularly irritated by daylight savings because they see little benefit from it. One of the world's northernmost countries stretching some 720 miles from north to south, the sun does not set for 73 consecutive days during summer at Finland's northernmost point. During the winter months, the sun doesn't rise at all for 51 days in Lapland, northern Finland.

(Read more Finland stories.)
(Newser)  Ingvar Kamprad, the IKEA founder who turned a small-scale mail order business into a global furniture empire, has died at 91, reports the AP. IKEA said that Kamprad died Saturday at his home in Smaland, Sweden. "He will be much missed and warmly remembered by his family and IKEA staff all around the world," the company said. Kamprad's life story is intimately linked to the company he founded at 17 on the family farm. His work ethic, frugality, and down-to-earth style remain at the core of its corporate identity. But his missteps in life, including early flirtations with Nazism that the BBC notes he referred to as the "greatest mistake" of his life, never rubbed off on IKEA. In a 1998 book, he gave more details about his youthful "delusions," saying he had been influenced by his German grandmother's strong support for Hitler. "Now I have told all I can," he said. "Can one ever get forgiveness for such stupidity?"

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Kamprad formed the company's name from his own initials and the first letters of the family farm, Elmtaryd, and its parish of Agunnaryd. It's in the heart of Smaland, a forested province whose people are known for thrift and ingenuity. Kamprad possessed both. His name often appeared on lists of the world's richest men, but he drove a modest Volvo and dressed unassumingly, shopping for his clothes at flea markets. Kamprad's personal wealth was established at $113 million, a considerable amount, but IKEA officials have said that lists comparing his wealth to that of Warren Buffet or Bill Gates erroneously considered IKEA's assets as his own. IKEA is owned by foundation that Kamprad created, whose statutes require profits to be reinvested in the company or donated to charity. The estate inventory showed that Kamprad donated more than $20 million in 2012 alone. (Read more Ingvar Kamprad stories.)
(Newser)  Jurors got a taste of some hot courtroom beef Thursday in Pennsylvania as a lawyer for a mayor charged with bribery, fraud, and conspiracy argued over the definition of "meatballs" with a former finance director, the New York Times reports. Allentown Mayor Ed Pawloski is on trial for allegedly accepting over $150,000 in campaign donations in exchange for city contracts. His lawyer, Jack McMahon, is trying to show that the scheme was actually carried out by underlings like former Allentown finance director Garret Strathearn and political consultant Mike Fleck. And that's where the meatballs come in. In wiretap recordings made of phone calls between Fleck and Strathearn, phrases like "how I want my meatballs cooked" and "needs to go make some meatballs" are heard frequently, WFMZ reports.

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McMahon said it's clear "meatballs" refers to bribes. But Strathearn and federal prosecutor Michelle Morgan said that's not the case. Under questioning from Morgan, Strathearn said he was single at the time and carried Tupperware in his car to take home hot meals from friends, the Morning Call reports. He said he had some of Fleck's meatballs at a Christmas party, and Fleck's wife offered to make more of them. In fact, Strathearn said, he was disappointed he only got four meatballs from Fleck's wife when he went to pick them up. Things got testy when McMahon said everyone knows "it's a payoff." "The meatballs were the meatballs were the meatballs," Strathearn responded. "And don't laugh, because that tells me that you don't believe me." The judge instructed jurors to ignore the meatball argument. (Read more Pennsylvania stories.)
(Newser)  Will Ferrell made a joyful return to Saturday Night Live, trotting out old standby character former President George W. Bush and using him to swipe at the current president, one "Donny Q. Trump." Per Ferrell's Bush in the Cold Open, "suddenly I'm looking pretty sweet by comparison. At this rate I might even end up on Mount Rushmore, right next to Washington, Lincolnand I want to say, uh, Kensington? I don't know." Denying he's "a Trump synthesizer," Ferrell says of "Donny" that "we have a lot in common: Were both the exact same age, even though I was president like 40 years ago. We both won the election despite losing the popular vote. Though back in my day we didnt let Russians rig our electionswe used the Supreme Court like Americans."

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But the good old days weren't so good, Ferrell says, saying "I just wanted to remind you guys that I was really badlike historically not good. ... Dont forget: Were still in two different wars that I started. What has two thumbs and created ISIS? This guy!" Catch the full clip, which includes Leslie Jones as Condoleezza Rice, in the gallery. (Read more Saturday Night Live stories.)
(Newser)  An 18-year-old southern Indiana man has been arrested on charges alleging he molested 17 children ages 3 to 7 while he worked at a YMCA and as an elementary school teaching assistant, the AP reports. Michael Begin Jr., of Jeffersonville, was charged with two counts of child molestation in October. Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull said Friday that he was filing another 20 counts against him.

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Authorities say the received reports of more victims after Begin was initially charged. Begin pleaded not guilty to the original charges. His attorney, Jennifer Culotta, says Begin maintains his innocence. Some victims say they were molested more than once. The abuse allegedly occurred at a YMCA and at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in Jeffersonville. YMCA of Greater Louisville President and CEO Steve Tarver says Begin has been fired. A Greater Clark County Schools representative referred questions to police.

(Read more child molestation stories.)
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New Delhi:

70 years ago, at the time of World War II, a new automotive company named Porsche entered the auto world. Ferdinand Porsche, the man responsible for the Volkswagen Beetle, started his own motor company and introduced a new trend in the world.

German automobile manufacturer Porsche AG is now 70 and will celebrate its 70th anniversary on June 8, 2018, which marks the day when the first ever Porsche 356 No. 1 Roadster was registered as an automobile. Porsche 356 is regarded as a legendary sportscar to be made ever with a tiny engine.

The legacy of the company continued with other models like the 550, and obviously the Porsche 911. As per rumours, to mark its 70th anniversary, the company might launch its production version of Mission E Sedan, which will be the first fully electric production car by Porsche.

Also Read| Auto Expo 2018: 10 stunning bikes to watch out for this year

Way back in 1900, an all-electric and all-wheel-drive motor was designed by Dr. Ferdinand with four individual hub motors. Named as the Lohner-Porsche, it gave rise to hybrid versions which had a mixture of electric motors and conventional petrol engines.

The Porsche 356 gave birth to the Porsche 911. Then came the Cayenne, which gave the term SUV a whole new meaning with both luxury and performance.

Porsche has planned a line-up of activities for its 70th anniversary. From a display of card at the famous Petersen Museum in Los Angeles to special events in Zuffenhausen and California, the automobile giant has big plans to celebrate its 70 th birthday with great pomp and show.
New Delhi:

In a shocking case of gross medical negligence reported from Mumbai, a 32-year old man was sucked inside an MRI machine at BYL Nair Charitable Hospital on Saturday night.

The victims family has alleged that Rajesh Maru died due to negligence on the part of the hospital staff after he was admitted inside the MRI room with an oxygen tank when metal items are strictly not allowed in MRI rooms.

A hospital attendant at MRI room said that the MRI machine was not switched on when Maru was brought in the MRI room.

Eyewitnesses say that Maru entered the MRI room carrying an oxygen cylinder which he was carrying for his relative and the metal in the cylinder triggered the machine's massive magnetic field, pulling in both Maru and the cylinder with great force. His hand got stuck in the machine along with the cylinder triggering a massive oxygen leak.

The leaked oxygen entered his stomach and he bloated like a balloon, his eyes popped out and within no time he died.

The family said Maru had gone inside the machine but he had to be pulled out by force due to the strong magnetic power of the machine. He was shifted to trauma but it was too late.

Family members, along with local people and BJP MLA MP Lodha on Sunday protested inside the dean's cabin demanding immediate action against the culprit and compensation.

One ward boy who had given the oxygen cylinder containing metal to Rajesh Maru has been suspended by the hospital Dean.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakhs for the family of the victim.

An FIR has been registered against Doctor Siddhant Shah, ward boy Vitthal Chavan and one lady ward attendant Sunita Surve under Section 304 A (causing death by negligence). CCTV footage of the incident has been handed over to the police by hospital authorities. Further investigation is underway.
New Delhi:

Bollywood star Akshay Kumar is gearing up for the release of PadMan which is slated to hit the screens on February 9. The Airlift actor has taken some time off his jam-packed schedule to go to Goa for a mini vacation.

Khiladi Kumar is soaking up some sun in the beach state along with his wife Twinkle Khanna and kids Aarav and Nitara.

Twinkle recently shared a picture on social media where the Toilet: Ek Prem Katha star can be seen staring at his daughter Nitara while she is playing on the beach.

The Mrs Funnybones author captioned the picture by writing, ''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 colours and flavours of my beloved Goa''.

PadMan has been making waves ever since the makers shared the trailer of the movie last year. The flick which also stars Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte in key roles is highly awaited by the movie buffs.

The R Balki directorial is based on the life of Arunachalam Muruganantham who invented low-cost sanitary napkins machine for women in rural India. The movie which marks the debut of Twinkle Khanna as a producer will clash with Sidharth Malhotra starrer Aiyaary.

Read- Gauri Khan shares picture of her KNIGHT RIDER AbRam and it's too CUTE to be missed

For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

A group of students from Cochin University College of Engineering Kuttanad has written a letter to the District Magistrate of Alappuzha in Kerala complaining against their Principal.

The letter states that the students from North India were served Beef Cutlets in a deliberate attempt to offend their religious sentiments.

In the letter, the students also added that the Principal of their institute had earlier sent a notice to stop Saraswati Puja event when it coincided with Kerala Strike called by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation through his monthly radio talk "Mann Ki Baat". This is PM Modi's 40th edition of the Mann Ki Baat programme, and the first in 2018, which is being broadcast on All India Radio (AIR), Doordarshan and also on the Narendra Modi mobile application.

Highlights

# With my best wishes to all of you for 2018, my speech draws to a close

# On 30th January we observe the Punya Tithi of Bapu. Peace and non-violence is what Bapu taught us. His ideals are extremely relevant today

# Subhasini Mistri is a woman who, in order to construct a hospital, cleaned utensils in the homes of others and also sold vegetables

# Laxmikutty is a teacher in Kallar and still resides in a hut made of palm leaves in a tribal tract amidst dense forests

Meet Padmashree 'Poison Healer' from Kerala



# Sitavaa Jodatti from Karnataka has not been hailed as 'Goddess of women empowerment' just for nothing

# You must have heard the name of Arvind Gupta ji who was conferred with Padma Shree award. He spent all his life creating toys for children from waste. We have honoured those who may not be seen in big cities but have done transformative work for the society

# I am sure you all felt proud after reading about the Padma Awards. We have honoured those who may not be seen in big cities but have done transformative work for society

# Mission Clean Morna River is a wonderful initiative, where people came together to clean the river

# Mangesh from Maharashtra shared a touching photograph on the NM Mobile App, of an elderly person and a young child taking part in the movement to clean the Morna river

# Towards affordable healthcare and 'Ease of Living

# But now that hes come to know of the Jan Aushadhi Kendra, he has begun purchasing medicines from there and expenses have been reduced by about 75%. He has expressed that I mention this in Mann Ki Baat so that it reaches the maximum number of people and they can benefit

# Darshan from Mysore, Karnataka has written on My Gov. He was undergoing an expenditure of six thousand rupees a month on medicines for the treatment of his father. Earlier, he wasnt aware of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana



# In order to uproot social ills in Bihar, worlds longest human chain spanning over 13,000 kilometers was formed

# I want to talk about something very unique in Bihar. A human chain was formed to spread awareness about evils of Dowry and child marriage. So many people joined the chain

# Our society has always been flexible

# I want to appreciate the women of Dantewada in Chhattisgarh. This is a Maoist affected area but the women there are operating e-rickshaws. This is creating opportunities, it is also changing the face of the region and is also environment-friendly

# India's Nari Shakti has contributed a lot to the positive transformation being witnessed in our country and society

# Here, I would like to mention the Matunga Railway station which is an all-women station. All leading officials there are women. It is commendable

# A few days ago, the Honourable President of India met women achievers, who distinguished themselves in various fields

# Women are advancing in many fields, emerging as leaders. Today there are many sectors where our Nari Shakti is playing a pioneering role, establishing milestones

# It is in our culture to respect women

# Prakash Tripathi wrote on the NM App: "1st February is the death anniversary of Kalpana Chawla. She left us in the Columbia space shuttle mishap, but not without becoming a source of inspiration for millions of young people the world over

# This is the first time in history that heads of 10 Nations attended the ceremony

# Just a few days ago, we celebrated our Republic Day with great fervour.

# This is the first episode of Mann Ki Baat in the year 2018. # February 1 is the death anniversary of Kalpana Chawla

# My dear countrymen, Namaskar.

What can be expected in PM Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat'?

# PM Modi may address issue about Padmaavat violence.

# Greet nation on 69th Republic Day.

# Speak about Budget Session of Parliament which will be tabled on February 1.

Mann ki Baat is a unique initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reach out to masses across the country through the medium of radio. The Prime Minister, through his radio address, aims to connect with the common man on a regular basis, inform them about government initiatives, and also seek their support in nation-building and governance.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Days after the latest UFO video, showcasing a few spooky artefacts have sparked several debates over the existence of aliens, a group of researchers has warned those alien-hunters to be careful about their expeditions.

Yes! According to Lucianne Walkowicz, an astrophysicist at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, making contact with those extra-terrestrial life could be catastrophic for the human race.

"There's a possibility that if we actively message, with the intention of getting the attention of an intelligent civilization, that the civilization we contact would not necessarily have our best interests in mind," she said.

"On the other hand, there might be great benefits. It could be something that ends life on Earth, and it might be something that accelerates the ability to live quality lives on Earth"

"We have no way of knowing."

Also Read: Alien lived on Earth 5000 years ago? Newly discovered sculptures leave UFO scientists amazed! (Watch Video)

Stephen Hawking, the world-famous physicist and cosmologist also warned people of the consequences of trying to contact those small lives around the cosmos.

He believes that alien seekers are playing a dangerous game that may challenge the existence of our planet. Aliens would like to conquer and colonise Earth whenever they will be able to discover the planet.

"If aliens visit us, the outcome could be much like when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans," he said in a recent interview.

However, confusions are still prevailing regarding this one single theory and different groups of scientists made different kind of revelations about the same.

Moreover, a small group of people believe that, American space agency NASA has been hiding the real information of those extra-terrestrials lives and is expected to announce something big anytime soon.

Also Read: Alien microbes successfully identified by International Space Station astronauts

For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

National Aeronautics and Space Administrations (NASA) research scientist James L Smialek has written to Rajasthan-based researcher Dr. Satish Tailor for a new thermal spray coating technology developed by the researcher which is used for gas turbine engine in spacecraft.

Smialek wrote to Tailor after the study was published in the journal Ceramics International and Thermal Spray Bulletin, said SC Modi, the chairman of Jodhpur-based Metallizing Equipment Company (MEC).

While working at the MEC as a chief scientist, Dr. Tailor developed the control segmented Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ)- Plasma sprayed coating technology, which could reduce the thermal spray coating cost almost by 50 per cent according to him.

Dr. Tailor said, In simple language, vertical cracks (segmentation) in the coating are beneficial for gas turbine engine application used in spacecraft. At present, researchers are developing such cracks through very expensive processes (in several crores) and cracks are generated during the coating deposition process, and crack generation is not controllable.

Dr. Tailor said his research papers had been shared with NASA scientist who had written an email to him regarding this.

Scientists at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CISR) are equally impressed with the new technology. Dr. RM Mohanty, chief scientist at the CSIR, said, Indeed the outcome of the reported R&D presents an inexpensive solution for the superior survival of current YSZ thermal barrier coatings produced by atmospheric plasma sprayed (APS) technique, and has a potential of wider industrial/strategic acceptability.

Mohanty said, The new technology has an advantage over current, costly techniques such as SPS or EB- PVD deposited coatings which came into picture gradually, as the reported advantage in the research was not possible with conventional APS techniques.

Also Read| Mars moon Phobos: THEMIS Camera onboard NASA's Mars Odyssey captures first picture and it's amazing

He added, The innovators should patent the process/equipment or both internationally for bringing benefits to the APS based business.

Another scientist, Dr. RK Sampathy, of the DRDO, said, The generation of vertical cracks holds great promise, if the research process can be industrially adopted in making a strain-tolerant coating then it will definitely be more economical compared to its expensive counter-parts techniques.

Dr. Tailor is the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Materials Science and Surface Engineering and chief editor of the Journal of Thermal Spray and Engineering. He is also a visiting young scientist at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST)in Russia.

Dr. Tailor has his Ph.D. in metallurgical engineering with specialization in plasma spray coatings from the Malaviya Institute of Technology (MNIT), Jaipur. He has published over 25 national and international research papers on thermal spray technology in reputed journals.

(With PTI Inputs)

For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media

Brookfield  The Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut is encouraging residents to love their hearts throughout February, American Heart Month.

There are many factors in keeping your heart healthy and having a handle on your blood pressure and sodium intake are effective tools in preventing heart disease, Maureen Farrell, community wellness director said in a release. Whether you have high blood pressure, are at risk for heart disease or want to keep your heart healthy, the Y has resources that can help achieve better health.
STAMFORD  Its a home away from home, a peaceful place families can call their own for however short a time.

Thats what the founders of Fairfield County Hospice House committed to as their vision for the states only hospice facility modeled after a home.

In the states eyes, its an assisted-living facility. But to those who worked for a decade to get the one-of-a-kind hospice house off the ground, its a special place for families to gather while receiving end-of-life care.

The rooms are designed to provide a comfy, warm environment, so the focus isnt distracted from meaningful life experiences and joyful memories, said Colleen Harkey, hospice houses development director.

Harkey and Greenwich board member Donna Farber spent months tweaking designs and choosing furniture for the 10,000-square-foot house set in Westover on the corner of Den and Roxbury roads. The home was designed by Perkins Eastman, the firm behind the University of Connecticuts Stamford campus.

Im so happy weve been able to create this home, Farber said. It provides a warm and inviting space for families so they can make the most of their time together instead of focusing on the illness and caregiving.

The women are putting the finishing touches on the decor just as the hospice house welcomes its first guest. The house can accommodate six residents who may not be able or choose to receive hospice care in their own homes. Guests use their own hospice agencies, such as Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County, that provide care alongside the facilitys nurses.

Each bedroom has a private bathroom, storage, nightstand with built-in refrigerator and ground-level patio. The second floor has a break room for volunteers and spaces for families to rest during visits.

Unlike a typical hospital or assisted-living facility, attention to detail went into every element, from the paint color and wainscoting to the seating and rugs. Before the house was ready to receive guests, Harkey changed the walls in the great room from putty to light sage. Its these kinds of details that set the mood throughout the home, in areas such as the den, meditation room and communal kitchen.

Your home reflects the story you want to tell about your family, Harkey said. We want this furniture, this composition of the house, to tell the story of warmth, welcoming, care and life.

The resulting style is clean and simple, without being sterile. The new furniture  leather sofas, plush armchairs and throw pillows  comes from Lillian August and Safavieh. The walls are decorated with bright paintings by local artists Julie Leff and Elaine Clayton.

We didnt want anything that you wouldnt have in your own home, Harkey said. Literally, every single thing was independently chosen; a few things were donated.

In the great room, which features a two-story-high ceiling and fireplace, theres a painting of two cranes that once hung in Stamfords Richard L. Rosenthal Hospice, which closed in 2011.

Fairfield County Hospice House is one of few residences statewide dedicated solely to end-of-life care. Theres also Connecticut Hospice based in Branford and Regional Hospice and Palliative Care in Danbury.

The project was spearheaded by Rick Redniss, of the land surveying, engineering and planning firm Redniss & Mead, hospice nurse Lynda Tucker and attorney Larry Weisman.

Between private fundraising, money from the state and in-kind donations, the founding board members raised $3 million to build the house on land donated by the Roxbury Community Association.

After years of planning and setbacks, Executive Director Terry Robustelli now has an office beside the main entrance and is able to monitor everyone who comes and goes from the house  another example of purposeful design.

I wanted to create a variety of spaces, not a continuum of consistency, Harkey said. You wouldnt have everything the same in your own home, so that was the goal here.

eskalka@stamfordadvocate.com
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.






While the country anxiously awaits word on the extent of Russias manipulation of our last general election, its immediately clear that former Soviets have directly influenced our recent theater. Last years Natasha, Pierre, and The Great Comet of 1912, an improbable yet impressive musical drawn from Leo Tolstoys epic novel War and Peace, proved that Broadway audiences would embrace a stylish, musically complex adaptation, if not sustain it for a multiyear run.

On Feb. 1, Yale Repertory Theatre officially opens its world-premiere production of Field Guide, created by Rude Mechs, clearly toiling under the influence of Fyodor Dostoevskys magnum opus The Brothers Karamazov. For the company members of Rude Mechs, a collective based in Austin, Texas, opening night is the payoff for a commission Yale Rep granted in 2014.

Its been a long three years, said director Shawn Sides, punctuating her comment with laughter. In the beginning, we just start doing things not knowing that we cant.

We adapted Lipstick Traces in 1999, she said, referencing Greil Marcus 500-page history of the last century through art. That was also harrowing, but it was pretty fast.

Since 1996, Rude Mechs has created 30 works, many of them inspired by or genuinely adapted from source material. Its fair to say that Field Guide, which began previews Jan. 26 and continues at Yale Rep through Feb. 17, is the companys most ambitious creation yet. Considering that Dostoyevsky reportedly took two years to complete his tome, it would seem that Rude Mechs encountered some rough sledding during its three-year endeavor to bring the novel  considered by many the greatest accomplishment in world literature  to the stage.

Though we started working on the piece in 2015, we worked on other projects, too, said Lana Lesley, who plays Dmitri. We put things down and pick them up again, over and over.

While Rude Mechs duly credits company member Hannah Kenah for the text of the piece (Hannah is boss of the script, said Lesley), Field Guide evolved as the creation of Mari Akita, Lowell Bartholomee, Kenny Chilton, Madge Darlington, Eric Dyer, Robert Fisher, Aaron Flynn, Thomas Graves, Kevin Jacaman, Kirk Lynn, Graham Reynolds, Brian H Scott, Dallas Tate, Sides and Lesley.

In addition to Lesley, the cast consists of Akita (Alyosha), Bartholomee (Fyodor), Fisher (Smerdyakov), Graves (Ivan), and Kenah (Grushenka, Katya, Grigory).

Sarah Woodham (costumes), Scott (lighting), Reynolds (original music) and Fisher (sound) comprise the design/creative team.

Lesley says Rude Mechs doesnt have a set process for developing a project. Or, as Sides quipped: We often say that every time we start a new process, its a matter of apologizing for the last one. We address all of the things we messed up the last time we worked together.

In this case, Lesley said, the company members started by reading The Brothers Karamazov, for the first time in many cases.

We then divided the book up, Lesley said. We all did our own adaptations. We found an adaptation and we all rewrote that. We normally dont do text improvisation when adapting, but we did on this. Were a physical company and we do lots of physical improvisations to help us figure out the staging of the piece.

Sides agreed: Thats sort of how our company rolls generally, but in this one in particular, its very physical. Id say that the story we tell is about 90 percent physical. Maybe 80. Ill back it down to 80.

The company uses its source material more for structure than transposing text verbatim from the page to the stage.

Well use the skeleton and put our own stuff on it, and, hopefully, the skeleton will disappear, Lesley said. With Brothers Karamazov, it never disappeared. Its obviously Brothers Karamazov  we do not shy away from the fact that were playing Dmitri and Ivan and Alyosha. (Yet) its not an adaptation, per se.

And then we threw in some stand-up comedy, Sides said. Nothing says heavy Russian Lit like stand-up comedy!

The stiffest challenge the company faced, Sides said, was trying to be minimal with the words. That, and the sheer length of the book. Were still developing the piece right up until the first performance.

Now that Lesley and Sides can see the opening at the end of the tunnel, would they hop this mile-long freight train again?

If I knew what the end would be, Id definitely do it again, said Lesley. Id just do it more efficiently.

No! said Sides with another laugh. I know Im supposed to say yes, but if I go back in time, Ill just tell myself, ya know, maybe not. Maybe not The Brothers K.

Though, she said, Lord knows its taken us on a very long and interesting journey nonetheless.
NEW HAVEN  Storms can leave extensive damage in a matter of hours.

Correcting that destruction, however, is on an entirely different time table.

More than five years after Superstorm Sandy barreled through in October 2012, work to restore the shoreline off Long Wharf Drive is finally underway.

Complicating the workload, Sandys destruction added to the damage that had already been left by Hurricane Irene when it made landfall in August 2011.

Contractors with heavy equipment can now be seen moving 2,522 tons of stone to fill in gaps in the riprap, as well as replace 1,400 feet of the material that once provided some protection along the harbors edge.

Riprap is rock or other material used to armor shorelines against erosion.

The unpredictable weather, as well as federal bureaucracy and a need to protect utilities, combined to make for this long recovery.

The federal government works on a different time schedule than the rest of us, Giovanni Zinn, the city engineer, said of the process.

David Moser, the citys landscape architect, designed the restoration, got it out to bid, chased grants to fund it and kept up with the endless revisions for the $400,000 restoration project.

Simultaneously, Donna Hall, senior project manager at City Plan, is advancing a living shoreline proposal where plantings will further strengthen the compromised area, an idea that is moving along quickly.

Hall said the consultants hired by the city have done a good job modeling storm events and sea level rise, looking out over a century.

Included in the study was the potential serious impact on Interstate 95, as well as the businesses along Sargent Drive, Long Wharf Drive and further northwest through the Metro-North rail yard, if nothing is done to harden the area against storm damage.

She said the city wants to undertake marsh restoration and, if possible, create a dune environment along the shoreline with a boardwalk that would extend for a short distance over the water. An expensive element, the boardwalk would depend on how much funding they can attract.

Hall said they will take their plans to the permitting and regulatory agencies first and then bring it to final design as they pursue several funding sources, some of which they have already identified.

Rebecca Bombero, director of Parks, Recreation and Trees, whose purview covers Long Wharf Park and the Vietnam War Memorial, was also in on the discussions with FEMA.

FEMA permitting is very, very time consuming, she said of her experience.

Given that FEMAs job is to respond to emergencies, Hall said every time a disaster took place elsewhere, the staff assigned to New Haven would pick up and report to the latest hot spot.

The replacements from FEMA would then have to become acquainted with the plans and do their own assessments.

That was a huge issue, Hall said.

She said all along it was Moser who kept it moving forward.

Dave Moser endured and persevered and just tracked it even when some of our consultants gave up on it because it was such a moving target, she said. He did a phenomenal job.

Hall said city staffers were in a conference room with FEMA engineers signing onto the specifics of an agreement for repairs due to Irene, when the agents had to bail out of New Haven in response to the dire warnings coming in on Superstorm Sandy.

That started the clock running on the additional five-year-plus wait for a comprehensive agreement covering both storms.

Moser said they originally were supposed to start the restoration work in April 2016, but they then realized that a major sanitary sewer line, carrying raw sewage, runs along Long Wharf Drive.

The Water Pollution Control Authority had to get involved with the changes in the work going back to FEMA for approval.

We have been lucky we havent had any more Sandys, Moser said of the various delays since 2012.

Moser said the FEMA funds can only cover the restoration work and no additional amenities. He said Halls work looking at sustainability, future flooding and ways to really enhance the area environmentally goes to the bigger picture.

Another study, in terms of the 400-acre area at and around Long Wharf in general, is under way. That comprehensive $400,000 look at the businesses, topography and potential growth, is being funded by the states Office of Policy and Management.

An initial community meeting was held earlier this month by the consultant hired for that review, Perkins/Eastman . The next session will be in March with a completion date set for the end of 2018.

Zinn said while everyone thinks of the water rising through climate change, it also impacts the frequency and intensity of storms.

A 100-year design storm now, in 2050, may be a 25-year design storm, if the frequency of dangerous storms increases, Zinn said.

Not only did the city have to think about restoring what it had, but also plan for the park, the road and the entire Long Wharf district to be resilient in the future, he said.

Bombero said contractors are also restoring sections of the walking path that had been washed away along the shore.

It is part of a layered approach. Whenever you look at resiliency, there are two sides. One is the actual flood waters, protecting against that, and keeping the water out. But you also want to make sure that when the water comes up, it doesnt take away your shoreline, Zinn said.

He said Long Wharf Drive also has a lot of utilities under it. The city found that erosion from Irene and Sandy got to within 10 to 15 feet of some of those utilities.

Nature does a very good job of protecting shorelines with intertidal marshes and other systems. We want to create infrastructure that works not only that one day when you have a hurricane, but also works for the community the other 999 days out of a 1,000, Zinn said.

He said using natural systems not only help absorb water, they create habitat and add more wildlife diversity.

Lets face it. The reason New Haven was established here is because there was such a nice natural harbor. Connecting us not only to the natural element, but to our past, I think is important, Zinn said.

Other work covered by the FEMA funds included restoration of the flagpole and a lighting upgrade at the Vietnam Memorial, Bombero said.

Bombero said across the harbor, her department is looking forward to working on the shoreline at the East Shore Park to increase access to that area. Zinn said they are going into final design on it, which helps when the city looks for funders.

He said it is still pretty fluid at this point and not yet ready for the public.

The aim would be to protect against erosion and create habitat, while reconnecting that park to the water.

Zinn said they are looking to create a much gentler slope to the water from the park, which now has three steep paths through the phragmites. They also envision a walking path above the living shoreline area and one that would go through it.

In certain spots you can now see some intertidal wetlands that have been established there. Zinn said his favorite is one that grew up behind an eroded timber bulkhead. It doesnt take much, he said for a marsh to get started.

If you put rocks along the water, create an intertidal marsh behind it, grade the land back behind that, put in some native marsh and dune plantings, it creates resilience, the engineer said. This dissipates the wave energy, which is what really erodes and destroys shorelines.

mary.oleary@hearstmedia

ct.com Call 203-641-2577.
NEW HAVEN  They wont cringe if you call them idealistic, but the Yale University students who have launched Campaign for America are on a mission thats as down to earth as knocking on doors.

This past week, 10 fellows supported by Campaign for America attended a six-day campaign school to learn how to get political candidates elected to office.

The fellows, chosen from more than 120 diverse applicants, are in their 20s, largely men and women of color, and they were mentored by veterans of political campaigns from across the country.

What unites us is an idea, said Peter Hwang, 21, of Corpus Christi, Texas, a junior at Yale majoring in economics who is executive director of Campaign for America. The more voices that have a say about what issues they care about, the better democracy well have.

If we can empower others; if we can empower everybody to trust that they can make a difference, then were all better off.

The nonprofit group, launched in October by students from Yale and the University of Pennsylvania, isnt focused on finding candidates but on recruiting the grass-roots staffers who help put those candidates in office.

More of those campaigners are needed this year than ever. According to the Campaign Finance Institute, 462 challengers for House seats had raised at least $5,000 by Sept. 30, 2017  391 of them Democrats  compared with 137 at the same point two years earlier.

The last midterm election in a presidents first term was 2010. Barack Obamas election brought out 255 House challengers  184 of them Republicans, who had raised at least $5,000 as of Sept. 30, 2009.

Akhil Rajan, 19, a first-year political science major, said theres something of a staffing crisis in American campaigns and yet its still difficult for minorities to make their way onto candidates staffs. Its a lot harder to come by these campaigns and networks if youre from a marginalized community, he said.

I grew up in Chicago, my state senator was Barack Obama, so Ive always seen this face of politics that was responsive to all kinds of identities  and was representative of the demographics of their constituents as a whole, he said.

I started trying to get involved in as many campaigns as I could. As I progressed I realized, from a sheer policy perspective, campaigns cant work effectively if they arent representative of their constituents. They cant get the votes of people they dont understand. Campaigns dont serve a lot of people of color.

Rajan worked for Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire, for Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, with the Fight Back Connecticut effort led by U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and with local campaigns in Chicago and Bombay, India.

Comparing the two cities, Rajan said, There were some  definite major cultural differences that made it difficult to adapt to  but there were definite commonalities. Young people in Bombay want the same things that people in America want  jobs, education, a better economy.

Many people are shut out and that goes beyond race, that goes beyond color, Hwang said. 2018 is the wakeup call for a lot of folks. We cant abrogate our opportunity to be involved in politics.

Friends of friends of friends

Hwang started working on campaigns at age 13 and spent last summer working on City Council campaigns in Boston while recovering from a back injury he suffered during Marine ROTC training.

Over the years, he had been introduced to people such as John Brougher, former digital director for Wendy Davis, who ran for governor of Texas in 2014, and Hannah Kim, former chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y. There were just a lot of folks that I had come to know over the past few years  friends of friends and then later friends of friends of friends, Hwang said.

He realized that thats not just how politics works, its how the world works and that young people of color or from lower-income families needed support to learn concrete technical advice such as, This is how you build out a field strategy. This is how you build out an online fundraising plan.

None of us are campaign experts on our end but one thing were good at is asking for advice, Hwang said.

Campaign for America was born as a way to connect the professionals with up-and-coming campaigners to learn whats it going to be like when Im knocking on doors and Im a young Muslim American woman in Iowa, he said.

One of the realities the students found was that neither the Democrats nor the Republicans paid much attention to getting out the votes of people of color  the Republicans because nonwhites tend to vote Democratic and the Democrats because they assume they have those votes.

Its a problem that transcends parties, because everyone assumes that marginalized voters are either in their pocket or already lost, Rajan said.

Esul Burton, 19, a sophomore from Arlington, Virginia, majors in political science but her interest is not the nuts and bolts of campaigning.

Ive always cared about issues, Ive always cared about policy, because at the end of the day thats what makes a difference in peoples lives, response to problems that are persistent but never addressed, she said.

People who have an urge to vote  it always comes back to issues  a better criminal justice policy in the state or improved health care or education. Burton said she is most interested in criminal justice and urban policy.

Politics is a cycle, she said. Issues dont come out of a vacuum, and you need really good legislators who can speak to experiences that you dont often see expressed in the halls of Congress, in your legislature or your city council.

This is what we need right now, [to] build up campaign teams that can help lead to a democracy that can meet peoples needs.

Senior Isaak Cuenco, 22, also a political science major, lives in San Diego after having immigrated from the Philippines. I feel like Im kind of weird because Im the only person on the team who cant vote, he said. But that hasnt deterred him.

Theres more than one way to effect change in your community than to vote, he said. I know that theres other ways I can make an impact.

I grew up in a country where you were raised to be disillusioned in government  Theres no point in voting. Your vote doesnt matter.

He was told that it was the same in the United States but he didnt find that to be the case.

Theres this myth that my generation doesnt care about politics  and at the same time all of my circles, all of my friends were saying that they care about the issues but they dont know how to get involved.

I got asked a lot of questions, he said. Where do I go? What do I do?  Nobody seemed to have the answers. Campaign for America is a way to find those answers.

Campaign workers are the backbone of American democracy  and I think its too important to leave in the hands of luck, Cuenco said. While lawyers and doctors have a clear path to their profession, theres no established infrastructure or vocational school or  on-campus recruitment to become a campaign worker. Theres no systematic way of find these campaigns. If I want to work in a campaign I have to know somebody who knows somebody.

Camp for 10 fellows

More than 120 different candidates reached out about wanting to work on a campaign, Hwang said, and the first group of 10 fellows attended training camp at Penn before being placed on campaigns across the country as paid senior staffers. Hwang said the majority were people of color, particularly women of color, and students who qualify for limited-income Pell grants.

A second group will begin in May and after Election Day will be placed in nonprofit or advocacy groups through April 2019.

They are supported by a Yale-based political action committee, Students for a New American Politics PAC, and the organization has partnerships with Run for Something, the Yale Womens Campaign School and Inclusv, whose aim is to encourage people of color to work in politics.

Hwang said Campaign for Americas target is 100 fellows this year. The organization will recruit them, train them in field finance and digital skills and place them onto campaigns by the end of 2018 and by doing so build a community, build a network that didnt exist before. They might be the only person who looks like them on the campaign.

This story has been edited to correct where Peter Hwang worked on political campaigns.

Contact Ed Stannard at edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com or 203-680-9382.
Former Anambra Governor Peter Obi has called on Nigerians in Diaspora to develop full interest in what happens in the nation.

Former Anambra Governor Peter Obi has called on Nigerians in Diaspora to develop full interest in what happens in the nation.He stated the task of developing Nigeria is for all Nigerians, whether home or abroad.Obi who spoke yesterday at the inaugural investment conference with the theme of Investing in Nigeria from the Diaspora: Challenges and Opportunities  by the Nigerian American Business Forum at Tampa, Florida.The former governor compared the economies of China, Indonesia, India, Philippines, South Korea and Malaysia with Nigeria, submitting with empirical examples how the nations problem emanates from leadership failure over the years.Obi said that nothing those countries did was rocket science, pointing out leaders and followers understood set goals and pursued them without distractions.He thanked the organisers for thinking about Nigeria, saying that he was satisfied since the very act of thinking about the rot in the country is a proof that Nigerians are becoming aware of the missing link in the development of the country.Once a people start re-orientating their consciousness towards developmental needs, their salvation could be said to be at sight.Using the history of Indians and Jews as examples, he said it was the history of a people whose Diasporas never forgot homes.According to him: Nigeria Diaspora remittances estimated at nearly $23 billion per annum are second only to oil as source of national revenue.Incidentally, most of these remittances are informal and uncategorised. Yet we cannot discount its value and the good it can do to nation-building if properly leveraged.Nigeria as it is, offers a huge demographic and consumer market.
The National Emergency Manage-ment Agency (NEMA) is currently enmeshed in a massive scandal after the Economic and Financial Crimes Comm...

The National Emergency Manage-ment Agency (NEMA) is currently enmeshed in a massive scandal after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) uncovered an alleged N2.5billion fraud in the operations of the organisation.The scandal was perpetrated through incorporation of fake companies, creation of fake IDPs camps and award of frivolous contracts.The EFCC may invite a former Director-General of NEMA and some serving directors for interrogation on the fraud.Some of the companies engaged by NEMA are alleged to have failed to remit N354,905,000 as accumulated taxes to the Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS).Besides, the anti-graft agency is probing alleged diversion of foods and relief materials meant for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East to Chad and Niger Republic.The Nation gathered that the EFCC launched the probe following intelligence that the ex-DG of NEMA and some directors siphoned, misappropriated and diverted public funds to the tune of over N2.5billion.A source familiar with the investigation said: Preliminary investigation indicated that fake companies were incorporated and fake way bills were used in securing contracts in NEMA.Funds were diverted under the guise of some purported training of some staff which was never conducted. Some of the directors involved had incorporated personal companies and secured contracts with the agency.Some of the companies engaged by NEMA have also failed to remit N354,905,000 as accumulated taxes to the Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS). The unpaid taxes were from 2014 to date.There are cases of some directors, who are civil servants, owning about five to 10 companies in order to corner contracts in NEMA. There is an instance of a director with about 20 accounts in which fake contract sums were paid into.A well-placed source said: As part of our investigation, we are looking into alleged diversion of foods and relief materials meant for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East to neighbouring countries, especially Chad and Niger Republic.We have discovered instances where trucks loaded with relief materials were diverted to these neighbouring countries for sale.There is also a case of inflated household for phantom purchase and delivery of relief materials. At a point, they even created three to four fake IDP communities where relief materials were diverted.Another dimension to the scandal in NEMA is alleged frivolous and overtime claims by some directors and workers of the agency.Some of the vouchers showed some staff, who are civil servants, demanding refund of N20million as claims they spent on behalf of NEMA. How did a civil servant incur N20million debt on behalf of his or her agency?Responding to a question, the source added: The EFCC will soon invite a former Director-General of NEMA, some directors, staff, companies and contractors for questioning.Already, the detectives handling the case have retrieved relevant vouchers and documents relevant to the ongoing investigation.
Suspected Fulani Herdsmen who turned robbers have attacked and injured two female primary school teachers at the serene Onigbedu commun...

Suspected Fulani Herdsmen who turned robbers have attacked and injured two female primary school teachers at the serene Onigbedu community in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.The teachers were going to their school located on Thursday at Atola village in the same Local Government on commercial motorcycle when two herdsmen bearing sticks accosted them, and withIt was learnt that when the robber  herdsmen stopped the the commercial motorcyclist, his female passengers fell off his motorcycle during a struggle, he escaped, leaving the female teachers at the mercy of the attackers.According to a source close to the victims, when they could not provide money to the assailants, the herdsmen turned robbers began to beat them with sticks until they bled from all over their body.The teachers were first given medical attention at Onigbedu health centre, and later transfered to the state General Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta.They said those who attacked them with sticks were herdsmen but they were robbers.When they accosted them, they were saying bring money, bring money, and the teachers said they said they had no money on them. And it was this that infuriated them and hit them with the sticks on their heads, a source said.Confirming the incident, the state Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Mr. Titi Adebanjo said: Yes, it is true that robbers attacked two teachers on Thursday while on their way to the school in Atola village in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state. They are currently at the state General Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, where they are receiving treatment. They are responding to treatment.Also, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident, said two were arrested but later set free upon discovery that the supposedly suspects were known faces among the residents of the area.It is true that herdsmen attacked two teachers with sticks. Investigations had commenced into the matter.Some herdsmen were arrested but we later discovered they were not the ones who attacked the teachers, because they reside and were known in that environment. However, the Commissioner of Police, has given an order that those two herdsmen must be arrested and brought to face the wrath of the law, Abimbola said.
A 100-year-old man Ahmadu Hwie and two others were killed by gunmen that attacked Huke, a rural settlement in Bassa Local Government of Pl...

File Photo: Young herdsmen

A 100-year-old man Ahmadu Hwie and two others were killed by gunmen that attacked Huke, a rural settlement in Bassa Local Government of Plateau yesterday.The gunmen that burnt 10 houses also killed Hwie Odo, 90, and Gado Kondo, 70.Spokesmen of Plateau Police Command TernaTyopev confirmed the deceased were killed in their houses by the invaders that stormed the village in the night.He said that a Police patrol team was moving around Rafi-Bauna in Jebbu-Miango area when it received a distress call from Huke village.The team received a report that a gang of armed men, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, were killing people and burning down houses at Huke village in Miango Chiefdom of Bassa Local Government Area.On receipt of the information, the patrol team rushed to the area but could not apprehend the attackers as they took to their heels on sighting our patrol vehicle.Tyopev said that more security men had been deployed to the area to forestall further attacks.The attackers have adopted Guerrilla tactics; they hit and run. What we have done is to deploy more men to ensure a more robust patrol in the affected areas, he said.Tyopev said that State Investigation Bureau (SIB) operatives had been deployed to the area to source for information that would lead to the arrest of perpetrators of the persistent attacks.
President Donald Trump of the United States has sent a letter to African leaders, saying he deeply respects the people of Africa He ...

President Donald Trump of the United States has sent a letter to African leaders, saying he deeply respects the people of AfricaHe also says Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will make an extended visit to the continent in March, his first in that role.The letter dated January 25 came as the continents leaders gathered for the African Union summit this weekend in Ethiopias capital.U.S. diplomats have scrambled for days to address shock and condemnation after Trumps reported comparison of African nations to a dirty toilet.Trump has said he didnt use such language while others present say he did.Many in Africa were taken aback by the comments after nearly a year of little attention to Africa by the Trump administration.On Friday, Trump met with Rwandas president and new African Union chair Paul Kagame at the World Economic Forum, calling Kagame a friend.The 55-nation continental bodys summit is expected to respond to 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 U.S. diplomats to explain.Trump, in the letter, claims the U.S. profoundly respects the partnerships and values shared by the U.S. and Africans and that the presidents commitment to strong relationships with African nations is firm.The letter offers Trumps 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.
President Muhammadu Buhari has emphasised the need to curb the flow of terrorism financing.

President Muhammadu Buhari has emphasised the need to curb the flow of terrorism financing.Malam Garba Shehu, the Presidents Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in a statement issued in Abuja, said Buhari was speaking at the meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.He said the President spoke under the theme, Towards a Comprehensive Approach to Combat the Transnational Threat to Terrorism, on Saturday.The President maintained that concerted efforts must be made to not only dismantle the network between transnational organised crimes and terrorist organisations, but also to block the payment of ransom to terrorist groups.While recalling the UN Resolution 1373 which stressed that any person who participates in the financing, planning, preparation or perpetration of terrorist acts should be brought to justice, he said Nigeria remained committed to supporting counter terrorism efforts within the African Union and the United Nations.The Nigerian leader called for resolute and coordinated initiatives by developing an AU data base of persons or groups and entities involved in terrorist acts for use by law enforcement agents.Nigeria believes that the timely establishment of this tool at the continental level will be strategic in this fight, he added.President Buhari expressed Nigerias grave concern over the increasing threats posed by transnational terrorism and the attendant humanitarian crisis.He also condemned in the strongest terms the continued activities of the terrorist groups in Africa, and around the world and called for more concerted action by the African body and the international community to address the global scourge.According to him, in doing that, the conditions that are conducive to the spread of extremism, radicalisation and terrorism must first be addressed.He added that collaborative measures must be taken to disrupt the recruitment of terrorists, their financing networks and the movement of foreign fighters.President Buhari disclosed that Nigeria had enacted domestic anti-terrorism laws that also deal with related issues such as kidnapping, drug peddling and gun-running.He, however, noted that, terrorism cannot be defeated only through military force and law enforcement measures.We need to adopt a multifaceted approach of good governance, economic development and creation of job opportunities for our youth.Linking terrorist activities to climate change, the President reiterated Nigerias important call for global action to support the recharging of the Lake Chad Basin, which had shrunk by over 80 per cent.He noted that this had impacted negatively on the livelihood of millions of people in the countries of the Basin.There is considerable evidence that the environmental state of the Lake contributed to the radicalisation of jobless youth who joined Boko Haram, he further stated.In their submissions, the Chairperson of the AU Peace and Security Council, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, the African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, agreed on the real threat of transnational terrorism.They therefore stressed the need for global efforts to curb the negative trend.
UPDATE: 'Things like this shouldn't happen', friends say of Khalla Nguyen's death

JERSEY CITY -- A 24-year-old woman was killed in a one car crash on Newark Avenue early Saturday morning, authorities said.

Khalla Nguyen was the backseat passenger of a Honda Accord when the car crashed into a metal guardrail near Seventh Street, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said in a statement.

At about 3 a.m., police were called to the area on reports of a crash. Officers found Nguyen with "apparent injuries from the crash." She was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.

Few details have been released surrounding the crash. Reports following the deadly collision earlier indicated the driver and other passengers in the vehicle had fled on foot.

Asked whether any arrests were made or if the driver stayed at the scene, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office could only say the incident remains under investigation.

Saturday's wreck is the third deadly collision the newly formed Regional Fatal Collision Unit has investigated since its inception on Jan. 15. A woman was killed in a hit-and-run crash on Grand Street on Jan. 17. No arrests have been announced in that investigation.

Then on Jan. 23, a deaf man was on his way home when an SUV crashed into a bus stop. The 19-year-old driver fled on foot and was arrested two days later.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office at 201-915-1345 or leave an anonymous tip on the Hudson County Prosecutor's website. All information will be kept confidential.

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
Hoboken's new mayor and his chief rival in November's municipal contest are battling over whether city voters should get a chance to re-instate runoff elections, which were eliminated six years ago.

Mayor Ravi Bhalla on Thursday vetoed a council measure that would have placed a referendum on November's ballot asking voters whether runoffs should return. The bill's sponsor was Councilman Michael DeFusco, who narrowly lost the mayor's race to Bhalla and who says the veto illustrates Bhalla's fear that he could not get re-elected with majority support.

A runoff election -- forced when no candidate in a race gets over 50 percent of the vote -- could have led to a different result in November. In the six-way mayor's race, Bhalla won 33 percent of the 15,394 votes cast to DeFusco's 30 percent.

Bhalla's Jan. 25 veto statement does not mention his minority-share of the vote two months ago. Instead, Bhalla focuses on allegations of "vote buying" that he said makes low-turnout races like runoffs less democratic. Bhalla said it's an "open secret" among council members that campaigns trade cash for votes in city elections.

"Vote buying is an existing threat to our democracy -- a threat which becomes even more pronounced during lower turnout elections, where the same number of purchased votes can more easily override the will of the people," Bhalla said.

DeFusco told The Jersey Journal that Bhalla's veto statement is a "smokescreen" intended to distract voters. Bhalla has no proof that vote buying would affect a runoff any more than it would a general election, DeFusco said.

"This is a gravely important issue," he said. "Voters should decide whether they want a mayor elected by a plurality or a mayor elected by the majority of voters."

DeFusco said he hopes to override Bhalla's veto, an action that would require six council votes. The measure Bhalla vetoed was approved by the council on Jan. 17 by a 6-2 vote. DeFusco said he does not anticipate any of its supporters voting against an override.

This is the second time DeFusco has tried to make this referendum happen. In December, after losing November's mayoral race, he introduced an identical measure that the council supported 7-2. Bhalla, who was still a councilman, voted against it. In Dawn Zimmer's final days as mayor, she vetoed the measure, saying all its supporters either lost a race in November or had supported a losing candidate.

Bhalla's veto cites the low number of voters who return to the polls for runoffs, mentioning the recent municipal contest in Jersey City. That city's mayor, Steve Fulop, has said he will ask voters in November whether runoffs should be eliminated.

In November four of Jersey City's nine council races ended in runoffs. A total of 20,241 voters cast ballots on Election Day in those four races. 8,210 fewer voters showed up at the polls for the second round of voting.

In three of those races, the first-place finisher on Election Day also won the runoff. Councilman James Solomon was the one exception: he came in second place on Election Day, then won the runoff four weeks later.

Solomon, who represents Jersey City's Downtown, said he would prefer to have an instant runoff system, which Bhalla said he also supports. In instant runoffs, voters rank candidates in the voting booth. If no candidate surpasses the 50 percent threshold, the last-place finisher is eliminated, and those votes are redistributed according to the preferences on the ballots. This process continues until there is a winner.

Solomon said until the state approves an instant-runoff system, traditional runoffs are preferable because they allow for supporters of losing candidates in multi-candidate fields to "exercise their voice" by changing their allegiance for the second round. Runoffs also dull the impact of ballot position, he said.

"Ballot position really matters, and that's not really a function of the candidate, it's pure luck," Solomon said. "The runoff allows for a correction to that."

A bill to allow instant runoffs in towns with nonpartisan elections was introduced in the Legislature this month by Bergen County Assemblyman Tim Eustace, a Democrat. It has been referred to an Assembly committee.

Bhalla said any referendum on runoffs in Hoboken should wait until the next presidential election year, 2020, to maximize voter turnout.

DeFusco said it's a "misnomer" to suggest voter turnout is always low in elections without a presidential race at the top of the ballot. The last time Hoboken held a runoff, in 2009, 1,740 more voters turned out for the mayoral runoff than the first round of balloting, he noted.

Hoboken voters approved eliminating runoffs in 2012, the same year they supported a referendum that moved the city's elections from May to November.

At the time Zimmer said the changes would increase voter participation and lower costs for the city. Getting rid of runoffs also benefitted Zimmer, who did not win more than 50 percent of the vote in either of her mayoral victories.

Hoboken's council meets next on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at City Hall, 94 Washington St.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
Delaware Valley High School will be adding two new career-path "academies" this fall - Agriculture and Visual & Performing Arts.

There are already three academies up and running at Del Val - Engineering, Biomedical Science, and Computer Science & Software Engineering. An International Studies Academy is being developed to debut in 2019-20.

As it was explained at the Jan. 22 school board meeting by Superintendent Daria Wasserbach, this initiative aligns with the Delaware Valley's vision, mission and strategic plan.

"As the only district in the county to be certified as a Future Ready School - NJ, we continue to seek innovative learning opportunities for our students.

These academies are part of Del Val's commitment to best prepare students for life after high school, whether they are entering the workforce or continuing on to higher education. In fact, some of the academy courses can yield college credit," she said.

About three dozen teachers served on an ad hoc academy committee, which was divided into several subcommittees. Their efforts reflect the results of a poll done last fall on the interests of students in grades 9-11.

The first step on the Agriculture career path will be Intro to Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources.

Math teacher Judy Warmingham, who chairs the ag subcommittee, explained that as students progress, their interests will influence whether Del Val will teach "farming from the plant side, or from the animal side or from the agribusiness or from the technology, there are so many different options to choose from."

In response to a question from board member Sandra Howell, Warmingham said that during senior year students would participate in a capstone project and be "encouraged to go out and work with the resources in the area."

The Arts academy chairman Kyle Tinnes outlined the three arts pathways -- Music, Theater, and Visual Art.

Music would offer four years of Concert Band or Concert Choir, plus Intro to Music History & Theory, AP Music Theory, and Music Technology.

Theater will start with Intro to Musical Theater, and go on to Stagecraft (building sets), Dance, American Drama, Advanced Musical Theater, and a Senior Seminar.

Visual Arts will begin with Fundamentals of Art, and also offer 2D and 3D Design, Wood I, Graphic Design, AP Studio Art, and AP Art History.

The Engineering Academy got underway this school year with Principles of Engineering Design, and will add Civil Engineering & Architecture for next year.

Biomedical Science began this year with an introductory course and is adding Human Body Systems for next year.

The computer academy was developed in conjunction with Hunterdon Polytech, but starting next year Del Val will launch its own program, beginning with the first course in the program sequence, Computer Science & Software Engineering. Del Val will roll out the remaining three courses in the sequence one at a time as a new offering each year.

Under Del Val's academy model, students won't necessarily have to commit to a career path while still in eighth grade; they can decide to take academy courses later on.

The academies are designed to help students discover and pursue rewarding careers. In order to make these opportunities more widely available Del Val has set tuition for out-of-district students that takes advantage of the synergy achieved by sharing already-fixed costs. The 2017-18 annual cost for parents is $8,000 for the first student and $6,000 for any additional student.

Submitted by Delaware Valley High School
Three Indonesians facing deportation who took refuge in a New Jersey church this past week are looking for a safe haven to shelter them from arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Legal experts, though, say their haven may be illusory, offering little protection.

"This Middle Ages notion of the church sanctuary knocker went out the window a long, long time ago," said former criminal prosecutor Dennis Kearney, who advises religious and non-profits on the propriety of housing and employing illegal aliens.

Under medieval English law, the ornamental sanctuary knocker on a cathedral door supposedly afforded the right of asylum to those who touched it.

But while churches and other houses of worship in the United States generally remain "sensitive locations" for law enforcement today, there is no right of sanctuary under U.S. law for those who may retreat inside. And that applies to people here legally or illegally.

That was graphically demonstrated in a series of early morning arrests in New Jersey by the FBI in 2009, in a case that had targeted crooked politicians and money laundering rabbis in the biggest undercover corruption sting in the state's history. Some of those rabbis were taken out of their synagogues that morning in handcuffs.

For the enforcers of the nation's immigration laws, the Department of Homeland Security has an operations policy that regards churches, synagogues and mosques as sensitive locations, where arrests are avoided.

Other sensitive locations under that policy include schools, day-care centers and pre-schools, school bus stops, hospitals and medical facilities, and religious or civil ceremonies or observances, such as funerals and weddings.

ICE officials say they don't target houses of worship to arrest undocumented immigrants, even though churches, mosques and synagogues are considered public spaces.

"As far as I'm aware, ICE has never arrested anyone in a church or place of worship, said spokesman Emilio Dabul.

There are exceptions under the guidelines, though, including "exigent circumstances," cases where other law enforcement actions have led officers to a sensitive location, or "prior approval from a designated supervisory official."

On Friday, state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal questioned whether the Department of Homeland Security violated those prohibitions on immigration enforcement actions at sensitive locations, following the arrests on Thursday of Gunawan Liem of Franklin Park and Roby Sanger of Metuchen by ICE agents while they were reportedly dropping their daughters off for school.

"I am not aware of any exigent or unique circumstances here that would justify such a departure from ICE's settled policy on sensitive locations," stated Grewal in a letter to Kirstjen Nielsen, the Secretary of Homeland Security. "Undoubtedly, this creates a chilling environment for parents, who were simply ensuring that their children arrived to school safely."

The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to questions about the issue raised by Grewal.

, said there was no legal impediment to stop ICE from arresting people

In churches or synagogues or mosques.

"ICE can go anywhere it wishes to," said Joyce Phipps, an immigration lawyer from Bound Brook and director of Casa de Esperanza, a nonprofit group serving immigrants and refugees.

Kearney, an attorney with Day Pitney in Parsippany, added there is also no way for religious groups and others to legally avoid federal prohibitions on harboring illegal aliens.

"Black letter law under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act prohibits organizations from this conduct," Kearney said.

The Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale, who has long sought to help immigrants at his Reformed Church of Highland Park Church, continues to offer protection to the three Indonesian nationals who fled there following the arrests on Thursday of Liem and Sanger. He remained defiant on Friday.

"I don't care," Kaper-Dale declared. "We don't aid and abet. We're highlighting, not hiding. Is the risk standing up for what's right or not standing up? If we were hiding mass murderers, that's one thing. All we're trying to do is protect our neighbors from the onslaught of the government's policies."

Staff writer Sophie Nieto-Munoz contributed to this report.

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A day after Gov. Phil Murphy rushed to a Highland Park church to pray with a group of undocumented Indonesian immigrants seeking sanctuary from deportation, two of their homes were burglarized, the church's pastor said.

The homes of Arthur Jemmy, of Edison, and Harry Pangemanan, of Highland Park, were broken into between Friday night and early Saturday morning, the Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale of the Reformed Church of Highland Park said. Cash and gold were taken from both homes, he said.

"We refuse to live in fear as a community especially as leadership. It is not our job to bend to the powers of evil," Kaper-Dale said.

Highland Park Police Chief Stephen Rizco told NJ Advance Media police were investigating a burglary at Pangemanan's home but did not release additional details. The Edison police department did not immediately confirm whether they were investigating the other incident.

In a Facebook post, Kaper-Dale suggested that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was behind the incidents, a suggestion the agency vehemently denied. "If true, these reports of vandalism are unfortunate; however, to suggest that ICE law enforcement officers were involved in such an incident is patently false," ICE press secretary Jennifer D. Elzea said.

So, friends. I wrote this am to tell you about Harry and Yana's house being vandalized. I am writing now to tell you... Posted by Seth Kaper-Dale on Saturday, January 27, 2018

Jemmy's neighbors sent him a video of what his home looked like after they were vandalized. The church has fixed the door, which Kaper-Dale said had crowbar marks and was off the hinges. The home looked ransacked -- items were strewn on the floor, including inside the children's bedrooms, the video shows.

Jemmy, a Christian who said he fled religious persecution in Indonesia, has been staying at the church since October, when he was expected to check in with immigration officials.

"I'm doing my best. I want to be a citizen," Jemmy, who has applied for asylum multiple times, only to have it denied, previously said.

Pangemanan sought sanctuary at the church on Thursday after ICE officials knocked on his door as he was getting ready to take his 15-year-old daughter to school.

"They didn't just do the damage to me, they did the damage to an American's life, my children," Pangemanan said of his burglarized home. "They have started destroying my children's lives."

Pangemanan, a Christian, left Makassar, Indonesia, in 1993 at age 21 to flee religious persecution, he said. He met his Indonesian wife in America, who also escaped from religious persecution in 1998 and is also not here legally. Together, the pair have two children, 11 and 15, who were born in America.

Kaper-Dale said he spoke Saturday with Gov. Phil Murphy, who said he would provide security for Sunday's services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. On Sunday, a Highland Park officer was seen inside the church while a patrol car circled the church a few times.

Murphy's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

At 1 p.m., activists will rally in Metuchen to denounce the crackdown on undocumented immigrant communities. U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., is expected to attend.

In addition to both of the immigrants' homes being broken into, the church itself has increasingly been vandalized throughout the week with sayings such as "build the wall" that were found in the the men's bathroom, Kaper-Dale said.

"The Civil Rights Revolution did not come without Bull O'Connor turning a hose on children," Kaper-Dale said. "It seems that often the good comes from true exposure of that which is vicious and wrong. While I hate that we are at the center of this right now, I believe that God is up to something bigger."

The church made headlines on Thursday when Murphy raced there to visit with immigrants after two Indonesians were arrested by ICE and Pangemanan sought refuge in the church.

Gunawan Liem, of Franklin Park, and Roby Sanger, of Metuchen, were detained as they dropped their kids off at school Thursday morning.

"We're trying to provide safety but they're attacking our family and their personal homes," said Kaper-Dale. "What's next?"

Staff writer Karen Yi and Ed Murray contributed to this report.

Taylor Tiamoyo Harris may be reached at tharris@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ladytiamoyo.

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Matt Gray | For NJ.com

The New Jersey Sex Offender Internet Registry includes more than 4,300 offenders convicted of sex crimes. More than 80 of those offenders are currently listed as "non-complaint" because they failed to register under Megan's Law. The non-compliant list includes dozens of offenders who cannot be located by police.

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Keeping track of sex offenders

Sex offenders subject to Megan's Law are required to register for life. The online registry includes photos, physical descriptions, current addresses and the charges that landed them on the list. Depending on their sentence, offenders must notify police of their address either every 90 days or once a year, and must register any change of address at least 10 days prior to moving. Offenders convicted in another state are required to register in New Jersey within 10 days of moving to the state.

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If offenders fail to meet these requirements, they are deemed non-compliant. If police cannot locate the offender at their last-known address, an arrest warrant is issued.

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Offenders classified in 3 tiers

Offenders are broken down into three tiers. Tier 3 offenders are those who pose a high risk of re-offense, while those in Tier 2 are deemed a moderate risk. Tier 1 offenders are those who pose a low risk for committing new sex crimes. Efforts to locate non-compliant offenders depend on the threat they pose, officials in Gloucester County explained.

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Who was Megan?

Megan's Law was inspired by the case of Megan Kanka, a Mercer County 7-year-old who was raped and murdered by a neighbor in 1994. The case drew national attention and led to a law requiring police to notify the public about the location and status of registered sex offenders.

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Police are looking for these men

While the non-compliant list currently contains 84 names, it's not clear that all of them are actively on the loose and unaccounted for. Some are incarcerated. Below are the names of 17 offenders convicted of aggravated sexual assault who are listed as "active absconders."

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New Jersey State Police

Ronald P. Blackwell

Ronald P. Blackwell, 49, is a Tier 3 - High Risk offender. He was convicted of criminal sexual contact in 2001 and sexual assault in 2006. His last known address was in Egg Harbor Township.

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New Jersey State Police

Diaquan I. Downing

Diaquan I. Downing, 48, is a Tier 2 - Moderate Risk offender. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 1993. His last known address was in Newark.

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New Jersey State Police

Arturo Duardopulido

Arturo Duardopulido, 67, is a Tier 3 - High Risk offender. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in North Carolina in 2000. His last known address was in West New York.

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New Jersey State Police

Scott J. Forbes

Scott J. Forbes, 34, is a Tier 3 - High Risk offender. Forbes was convicted in 1998 of sexually assaulting several children over a 2-year period while offering to watch over them, according to details included on the registry. The victims ranged from 5 to 16 years of age. His last known address was in Paterson.

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New Jersey State Police

Carl J. Gooden

Carl J. Gooden, 56, is a Tier 2 - Moderate Risk offender. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in Massachusetts in 1987. His last known address was in Hamilton Township, Mercer County.

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New Jersey State Police

Theadore Green

Theadore Green, 50, is a Tier 3 - High Risk offender. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 1987. The victim was a 16-year-old female acquaintance, according to the sex offender registry. His last known address was in Winslow.

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New Jersey State Police

Lawrence I. James

Lawrence I. James, 56, is a Tier 2 - Moderate Risk offender. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual contact in 1990. His last known address was in Linden.

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New Jersey State Police

Clyde G. Jameson

Clyde G. Jameson, 45, is a Tier 3 - High Risk offender. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault, criminal restraint and endangering the welfare of a child in Illinois in 1995. His last known address is in Rockaway Township.

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New Jersey State Police

John R. Logan

John R. Logan, 59, is a Tier 3 - High Risk offender. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault, criminal sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child in 1990. His last known address is in Elizabeth.

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New Jersey State Police

Frederick Mayo

Frederick Mayo, 52, is a Tier 2 - Moderate Risk offender. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 1990. His last known address was in Camden.

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New Jersey State Police

William B. Montgomery

William B. Montgomery, 58, is a Tier 2 - Moderate Risk offender. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child in 1993. His last known address was in Somerset.

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New Jersey State Police

Michael T. Nelson

Michael T. Nelson, 49, is a Tier 2 - Moderate Risk offender. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 1990 after assaulting a female stranger, according to information on the sex offender registry. His last known address was in Asbury Park.

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New Jersey State Police

Gabriel J. Osoria

Gabriel J. Osoria, 40, is a Tier 2 - Moderate Risk offender. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 1997. His last known address was in Wildwood.

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New Jersey State Police

Nelson A. Perez

Nelson A. Perez, 73, is a Tier 2 - Moderate Risk offender. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 1987. His last known address was in Elizabeth.

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New Jersey State Police

Eugene D. Ragland

Eugene D. Ragland, 50, is a Tier 2 - Moderate Risk offender. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 1986. His last known address was in Atlantic City.

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New Jersey State Police

Miguel A. Rodriguez

Miguel A. Rodriguez, 54, is a Tier 2 - Moderate Risk offender. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child in 1992. His last known address was in Plainfield.

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New Jersey State Police

Rodney H. Shepperson

Rodney H. Shepperson, 50, is a Tier 2 - Moderate Risk offender. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 1996. The victims were two juvenile females and the crimes occurred over a six-year period, according to information on the sex offender registry.

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A small percentage don't comply

In Ocean County, which has about 700 registered sex offenders and 11 active absconders, efforts are made to always keep track of where offenders are living. Officials with the Megan's Law unit in the county prosecutor's office will conduct periodic spot checks on offenders to ensure they are following the rules.

Through these checks, detectives might learn that an offender isn't living at the address they had registered. From there, work begins to track them down. "Eventually, we find everyone," said Sgt. Sandra Rodriguez, head of the county's Megan's Law unit.

She noted that most offenders are fulfilling their obligations. "You only have a handful of people who don't comply with what they are supposed to be doing," Rodriguez said.

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Here's how you can help

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of a non-compliant sex offender is asked to submit a tip on the online registry. They can also contact local police.

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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips.

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More stories about Megan's Law

-- Sex offenders get branded passports under International Megan's Law

--Sex offender can be charged for volunteering at church youth group, N.J. court rules

-- From winning coach to disgraced child abuser: the downfall of Bart McInerney

--Man living under false identity indicted on child porn charges
Flemington's Ted Resnick has installed red carpets for two popes and three U.S. presidents, and this Sunday, he'll be walking on the Grammy Awards red carpet in a tux himself.

Resnick and his crew of about 150 at Event Carpets are the force behind this year's Grammys being held in New York City. The 70-year-old has also been invited to attend the awards ceremony and the after-party.

"I mean, it's the first time (The Grammy Awards have) been in New York in almost 15 years. I usually get tickets when I do the MTV Awards, but I give them to my grandkids," said Resnick. "The whole key to it is service, service, service but then reliability. What if you start the job and don't finish and TV comes on? What happens then?"

About four months ago Resnick said he got the call to do the Grammys red carpet, and he and his team soon went to work on the 2,200 square yards of carpet that will be used.

The family-owned business only has one store, known as Flemington Department Store, which has been in Hunterdon County since 1963. However, according to Resnick, business started booming about 17 years ago.

One of his most memorable events was when he met President Barack Obama in 2016.

"I walked into the White House and almost right into Obama," Resnick said. "I thought I was dreaming."

In addition to the White House, he's the man behind the carpet for the Rockefeller Christmas Tree lighting, The Met Gala (which, at about 7,500 yards, is one of the longest carpets) and New York's Fashion Week.

His company travels to Miami, Dallas and Los Angeles to work events and to international locations including Dubai, Colombia and China.

The secret to his success? Resnick says he doesn't compromise quality for any reason.

"It looks easy, but it's a very specialized business. There's a flow, a certain texture to the carpet. You have to run it a certain way so the carpet looks good on camera," Resnick said. "No one will remember what they pay for. All they will remember (is) what it looks like."

Taylor Tiamoyo Harris may be reached at tharris@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ladytiamoyo.

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There's no question that seat belts save lives. So why would anyone get in a car and not buckle up?

Unfortunately, it happens all too often, particularly for passengers sitting in the back of a vehicle. And those most at risk tend to be children and senior citizens who often take a back seat.

This situation was highlighted by a report issued recently by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, a coalition of consumer groups and insurance companies. The report pointed out that New Jersey has passed 12 of 16 laws the group said are needed to fully protect drivers and passengers.

One glaring shortcoming the Washington-based group faulted New Jersey for was that the state does not allow police to pull over vehicles if rear-seat occupants are not buckled up. Only if a car is stopped for another reason, such as speeding, can an officer issue a ticket to a driver for unbuckled back-seat passengers.

That's a loophole the legislature should plug as soon as possible, particularly in light of the jump in traffic fatalities New Jersey has experienced.

Last year, 629 people died in crashes, 30 more than 2016, according to State Police. It was the worst year for vehicle deaths since 2007, when 724 people died.

The report estimated these accidents cost the state $12.8 billion a year. Only California, New York and Texas racked up higher damages.

One thing the report could not quantify is the enormous grief fatal traffic accidents can inflict on the families and friends of the victims.

Would allowing police to stop a car for unbelted back-seat passengers help cut down on fatalities?

Cathy Chase, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, said more people buckle up if the law requires it.

So, it's a no-brainer that New Jersey should pay more attention to buckling up people sitting in the back seat of a car or truck.

Signs saying "Click It or Ticket" are posted on many roads in New Jersey, reminding drivers and passenger to buckle up or pay up. This roadside ad campaign has been credited by the state Department of Law and Public Safety with playing a critical role in the effort to keep people safe on our roads and highways.

New Jersey needs to toughen its law to allow police to enforce seat-belt use for back-seat passengers.

And while they're at it, state officials should also heed two other suggestions the report made.

One calls for additional restrictions on newly licensed drivers under age 18 and the other recommends enactment of an ignition interlock law for everyone convicted of drunken driving.

Keeping our roads and travelers as safe as possible always makes good sense.

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It was almost as if the judge was reading the mind of the guy who sat next to me at U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez's trial last fall.

I'm talking about the guy who kept falling asleep during the testimony.

There was way too much of it. And a lot of it was about trivial matters with no clear connection to the charges of corruption against Menendez and his co-defendant, Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen.

I suspect that's among the reasons the trial ended in a hung jury after 11 weeks.

Menendez celebrated as he walked out of the courtroom that afternoon. He even went so far as to tell reporters that he had been found "innocent as is determined by our laws."

Innocent? Well, a man is innocent until he is proven guilty.

And as of last week, the prosecutors will get another chance at proving that.

After the mistrial, one juror told reporters that the panel was deadlocked 10-2 for acquittal. That had great influence on the Menendez camp. They were hopeful that Judge William Walls would dismiss the charges and let the senator get on with his work - and his campaign for re-election this November.

The senator's attorney, highly talented Washington lawyer Abbe Lowell, had filed a motion to have all 18 counts against the pair dismissed.

But last week Walls issued a ruling that kept most of the strongest charges against the senator intact while dismissing some of the weaker charges.

Walls threw out the charges most likely to induce sleep in courtroom observers. They concerned some big political contributions that Melgen directed to groups supporting the senator.

A lot of that sounded like politics as usual, not criminal activity.

But then there are the charges that Walls retained. These focus on freebies such as luxury hotel rooms and flights to the doctor's Caribbean villa that the senator enjoyed, allegedly in return for political favors.

The judge's 50-page brief had headings that were short and to the point, such as: "A rational juror could find that Melgen gave Menendez gifts intending that Menendez take official actions he would not otherwise take."

The lawyers I talked to were of the opinion that judge did the prosecution a favor by tightening up what was an overbroad case. Among them was former New Jersey Superior Court Judge and current Fox News legal analyst Andrew Napolitano.

Napolitano said of the judge, "He really helped the government by sharpening and focusing the case. He really did what the government should have done on it own: Get rid of the fluff and boring political stuff that politicians always do."

The result, said Napolitano, is that Menendez is "back to square one with a stronger, more streamlined case against him."

Perhaps the strongest charge against the senator is that he failed to report the flights on his Senate financial disclosure form as required by law.

The defense argued that this failure was not material to the case. But after detailing the evidence, the judge wrote that "a rational juror could infer that Menendez knew that he had received the gifts, and knew that he was required to report them."

Most legal experts say this represents the most difficult charge to defend. Yet the prosecution in the first trial largely overlooked it amid the flood of allegations against Menendez.

No date has yet been announced for the new trial, but Napolitano said he expects it to begin relatively soon. All of the pretrial motions have been settled and the next judge just has to follow the playbook left him by Walls, he said.

That's bad news for the Democrats, and more specifically for the Democrat who said at an impromptu press conference at the end of the last trial:"To those who were digging my political grave so they could jump into my seat, I know who you are and I won't forget you."

"My seat?"

In fact, that seat is the property of the primary-election voters who on June 5 will decide who gets to run for it in the November election.

Unless that new trial begins almost immediately, it's unlikely to be over by the primary. Do the Democratic voters want to risk nominating a candidate who could end up getting convicted of a crime by the time of the general election, Nov. 6?

My Republican friends say they like that scenario. They haven't won a U.S. Senate election in New Jersey since 1972. But a successful prosecution of a sitting senator mid-campaign could change all that.

I suspect Menendez's fellow Democrats haven't put those shovels away just yet.

There may be more digging to be done.

PLUS: Judge Walls has taken himself off this case and won't be presiding over the retrial.

He will be sorely missed by those watching the trial. The 84-year-old Walls had a very dry sense of humor and he employed it often against both sides as they tried to drag the proceedings out.

At one point he asked a lawyer who was about to file yet another motion, "Do you have stock in a paper company?"

And as Napolitano noted, the prosecution would have been wise to streamline its case from the very beginning. During the trial, Walls kept suggesting that, and they ignored him at their peril.

Meanwhile there is absolutely nothing good that can come up of this trial for either the Democrats or Menendez. As I noted in this column, at one point the senator was so desperate to explain away the shady behavior that got him into this mess that he actually suggested he may have been outsmarted by Cuban Intelligence agents.

If so, he should keep that to himself.

Now the question is whether he can outsmart the Democratic Party establishment that has to be pondering the simple fact that Menendez is the only Democratic candidate capable of losing this November.

As I've written in the past, there's a good reason the Democrats almost never nominate Hudson County politicians for statewide office. Read this column of mine for a quick history lesson on why it's not a good idea.
Try to envision Sen. Robert Menendez trying to manage his daily calendar when he's juggling his second trial on corruption charges with his campaign for re-election.

Will he march in parades? Or will he attend the trial every day to save his neck?

Folks, this is ridiculous. And it's dangerous in the Trump era, when a single Senate seat can tip the balance of power.

New Jersey voters haven't sent a Republican senator to Washington for half a century, and with Trump soiling the brand so badly, Democrats could win by picking a name out of the phone book.

Their only chance to lose this seat is to do exactly what they are doing -- rallying around Menendez with a unanimity that virtually ensures he will win the primary race on June 5, provided he's not sent to prison first.

Could Menendez win in November if he escapes conviction? Probably. The Cook Political Report rates him as the favorite today, even with the baggage. But that could change.

"It's a risky proposition certainly," says Jennifer Duffy of the Cook Political Report.

Republicans have not chosen a candidate yet, but they are giddy about the prospects of Bob Hugin, a self-made millionaire and former Marine who told county chairmen recently that he would start the bidding by spending $20 million of his own money, and hopes to raise $40 million more, according to reliable sources in the GOP.

Imagine the flood of 30-second TV spots that money will buy. Menendez on a private jet to a luxury resort in the Caribbean, no charge. Menendez at a luxury hotel in Paris with a young woman, also gratis. Menendez hiding these gifts, despite the rules. Menendez doing favors for the man who paid for it all, his best pal, Salomon Melgen, a rich old man with a fondness for stray models, and now a convicted felon.

"Right now, a sitting Senator is vulnerable, and that creates an opportunity for us," says the state GOP chairman, Doug Steinhardt.

Think about the stakes. The repeal of Obamacare failed by one vote in the Senate, and the horrific tax bill passed by just three. Are Democratic leaders really that reckless?

Maybe not. Because there is a Plan B floating out there.

It goes like this: If Menendez is convicted, or so damaged that he's likely to lose, they will replace him, just as they replaced Sen. Bob Torricelli when he was under federal investigation during his 2002 re-election campaign.

Who would replace Menendez? Here's the leading theory among a long list of Democrats I asked over several weeks:

Rep. Donald Norcross (D-1st) would replace Menendez, answering a top priority of his brother George Norcross, who controls the biggest Democratic faction in the state Legislature.

Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester) would leave the Statehouse to fill that vacant seat in Congress.

That would open Sweeney's top spot in the state Senate, which would go to someone loyal to Murphy, probably from northern New Jersey, for regional balance.

"I've heard that 100 times," Sweeney says. "People are saying that. But it's putting the cart before the horse. Right now, we have a Senate candidate."

It's early, and I'm sure there are 10 other plots afoot in this game of musical chairs. But I'm hoping Democrats settle on some Plan B before the deadline to switch candidates arrives on Sept. 13.

Menendez has been an effective senator, is respected by his colleagues, and is smart and tough. When the jury declined to convict him, he gave a hint of that when he issued a barely-veiled threat against Torricelli, who has made no secret of his ambition to return to the Senate if Menendez gets out of the way.

"To those who were digging my political grave, so they could jump into my seat, I know who you are, and I won't forget you," Menendez said.

It's his toughness that worries me today. Because once Menendez is nominated, the decision on whether to step aside is entirely his own. If he survives the trial, but is politically hobbled, he could stay in the race and lose.

For Donald Trump, that would be a victory beyond the imagination, snagging a Senate seat in a state as blue as New Jersey.

For Menendez, it would make for one spectacularly awful legacy. Here's hoping that he doesn't make it to November.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or call (973) 836-4909. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
New Jersey finally should pass a law protecting patients from "out-of-network" insurance bills that often surprise patients, and help families by creating a child care tax credit and a universal health care program for children, advisers to Gov. Phil Murphy say.

The 11-day-old Murphy administration released reports submitted by the 14 transition teams that studied various state programs and departments and recommended improvements. What Murphy will do with these suggestions is an open question.

The Murphy administration thanked the members of the governor's transition teams in a press release on Friday but made no other comment on the recommendations.

"These reports are purely advisory and do not reflect the positions of the Governor-Elect or any other elected official," the reports said.

State lawmakers are wasting no time moving ahead on some of the proposals.

The Assembly Insurance and Financial Institutions Committee is scheduled to meet Monday morning to discuss how the state should address the problem of surprise billing that can happen when patients get teams of doctors and some may not be in their insurance networks.

Newly-appointed Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, the former chairman of the committee, is the sponsor of the stalled legislation.

"This has been a top priority of mine for years," Coughlin said Friday. "I have every intention of moving this bill as quickly as possible so we get it to the governor's desk and it can become law. The people of New Jersey have waited way too long for this relief."

The Health Transition Committee also recommended the creation of a child care tax credit, modeling it after the laws in 23 states that offer the benefit.

"Over 400,000 children under the age of six live in families in which all parents work, yet child care is out of reach for the majority of these families in New Jersey," according to the report. "A typical family in New Jersey with two children pays over $21,000 annually in child care costs, or a quarter of the average family's pre-tax income."

The $1.8 billion child care industry in New Jersey deserves the state's support, the report said. It employs some 51,000 people.

The health transition committee also urged Murphy to develop a plan within 100 days to extend health coverage to New Jersey's 70,000 uninsured children within four years. Half of those children are not legal immigrants, the report noted.

"The uninsured rate for Latino children is three times higher than for white children. Eliminating health disparities for children in our state is critical to ensuring long-term health, education and economic opportunity," according to the report. "There are clear benefits to insuring children, as it increases graduation rates, creates better health outcomes, including lower obesity and high-blood pressure rates, lowers teen pregnancy rates, and increases economic security for children and their families."

The proposal will cost the state money, but the authors do not estimate how much.

Sen. Joseph Vitale D-Middlesex, chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, endorsed the recommendation. The state should jump-start the effort by enrolling every uninsured newborn into Medicaid, he said.

"We would catch many more children that way," he added.

The Human and Children Services Transition Advisory Committee also recommended:

* Returning the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services from the Department of Health to the Department of Human Services. Former Gov. Chris Christie made this move months before he left, arguing drug addiction is a disease and the state should manage it like one. The team did recommend, however, the health department keep the licensing responsibilities for mental health providers.

* Studying and recommending changes to the 21-year-old welfare reform law.

* Distributing the $20 million in the budget intended to raise the pay of people from community agencies who work with children and people with developmental disabilities. The average worker earns $10.50 to $11 an hour.

The Healthcare Transition Advisory Committee also recommended:

* Restoring the $7.5 million in grants Christie eliminated for family planning clinics, including a prorated amount for the current fiscal year. Murphy has pledged to restore this funding. A bill restoring the money was approved by the Senate health committee Thursday, and is on the Assembly Health Committee's agenda Monday.

The committee also suggested paying back the $56 million that clinics lost during Christie's "as budget allows."

* Using state money to operate syringe exchange programs in municipalities that want them. Local governments and private donations have supported programs, although Camden's program closed and Paterson's was struggling until new management took over, Vitale said.

"This would be big. A lot of them struggle," Vitale said.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
Five people were displaced when a fast moving blaze tore through one home and spread to another in Hackettstown.

Firefighters were called just before 3:30 p.m. Saturday to the house where the fire started at 311 Grand Avenue. Crews found flames and smoke billowing from the roof and right side of the home and starting to spread to neighboring 313 Grand Avenue, police said.

All occupants from both homes quickly evacuated; there were no reported injuries. It's unclear what led to the fire and officials continue to investigate. Police had temporarily shut down Grand Avenue as crews battled the blaze and the roadway has since been reopened.

The Hackettstown Office of Emergency Management along with the American Red Cross are helping both families with temporary housing, police said.

Aside from the police, responding to the call were the Hackettstown Fire Police, Hackettstown Department of Public Works, Mansfield Township Police Department, Warren County Fire Marshal, Mount Olive Township Fire Marshal, Mansfield Township Rescue Squad, Independence Township Fire Dept., Tri-County Fire Company, Washington Boro Fire Dept., Budd Lake Fire Dept., Netcong Fire Dept., Jersey Central Power and Light and Elizabethtown Gas.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
The Times-Picayune is marking the tricentennial of New Orleans with its ongoing 300 for 300 project, running through 2018 and highlighting 300 people who have made New Orleans New Orleans, featuring original artwork commissioned by NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune with Where Y'Art gallery. Today: merchant and philanthropist Judah Touro.

The icon: Judah Touro.

The legacy: One theory is that lost love drove Judah Touro from his native Rhode Island. Whatever the reason, New Orleanians are fortunate that he chose our city as refuge. Touro, who arrived shortly before the Louisiana Purchase, thrived as a merchant in the growing port city. He lived frugally and used his wealth to help others. He funded the city's first synagogue, which is now named for him. He also built a free public library, founded a home for the poor and bequeathed the money for what became Touro Infirmary, among dozens of other causes.

The artist: D. Lammie-Hanson, WhereYart.net.

The quote: "I have saved a fortune by strict economy, while others had spent one by their liberal expenditures." -- Judah Touro

Explore more of D. Lammie-Hanson's work online at WhereYart.net and in person at the Where Y'Art gallery, 1901 Royal Street in the Marigny.

Touro was born in Newport, Rhode Island, on June 16, 1775 -- the day before the battle of Bunker Hill.

Source: The Times-Picayune archive

More on 300 for 300:
New Orleans police are investigating two robberies and an attempted holdup reported in the city since Saturday morning, according to the NOPD Sunday (Jan. 28).

At 9:35 a.m. Saturday, police received a call about a robbery on Canal Street at Carondelet Street (map), according to a preliminary police report. A 22-year-old woman told police she was approached by a man who snatched her purse from her right shoulder before he fled the scene.

In another incident, officers apprehended a 40-year-old man accused of trying to rob three people Saturday night. At 7:49 p.m., police received to an attempted robbery call in the 1600 block of St. Charles Avenue (map), a police report stated.

The report said Paul Wright approached two 28-year-old men and a 30-year-old woman and demanded money from the trio. However, Wright was unsuccessful in getting the money, and the report stated he fled the scene. He was arrested a short time later, according to the report.

Jail records from the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office show Wright was being held without bond after he was booked with multiple counts of attempted armed robbery, illegal carrying of weapons and domestic abuse battery. No further information was available about the weapon Wright allegedly used during the incident.

At 12:01 a.m. Sunday, police received an armed robbery call for an incident in the 5400 block of Tullis Drive (map) in Algiers. A 37-year-old man told police he was exiting his vehicle when an unknown armed man approached him, according to a police report. The victim told police the man demanded his property, and the victim complied before the robber fled the scene.
If you love king cakes, Champions Square is the place to be Sunday (Jan. 28).

The fifth annual King Cake Festival continues through 4 p.m. The free event raises money for Ochsner Hospital for Children, which treats children throughout the country.

Two dozen bakeries from throughout South Louisiana are competing and selling samples to festival-goers. The festival also features live music, a "Gladiator Rep Run & Fun Run" as well as a Kids' Zone.

At the festival, a panel of judges selects the best king cakes, picking winners in the categories, such as best presentation, best traditional and most unique. Attendees taste and vote for their favorite cakes as well. Read about the 2017 winning cakes here.
SRINAGAR: Indian Army on Saturday shot dead two youth and injured several one in criyical condition in Shopian village after locals resisted armys move to remove the banners of the slain HizbulMujahideen militants.

A witness told Greater Kashmir that army opened fire on the people in Gawanpora village when locals resisted the army move to remove the banners of recently killed Hizbul Mujahideen militants. Army fired for around 25 minutes, the witness added.

Another witness termed the armys action horrifying and said that the bodies were lying in a pool of blood and people were screaming for help. The injured were moved to district hospital Pulwama and community health centreRajpora, he added.

One person was brought dead to the Pulwama hospital and another one who had sustained critical injuries was referred to SKIMS Srinagar, medical superintendent of Pulwama district hospital Dr Abdul Rashid Parra told Greater Kashmir.

He identified the deceased as Javid Ahmad Bhat, 23, of Balpora

Shopian. The injured Rayees Ahmad Ganai, 21, of Nadpora village was referred to SKIMS Srinagar.

Dr Parra said that both the youth had received bullet injuries on their heads.

Medical superintendent SKIMS said that one person with head injury was brought to the institute for treatment. He has critical wounds on head and will be operated upon immediately, the MS said.

Another youth Suhail Javaid son of Javaid Ahmad Lone of Ganowpora was moved to Primary Health Centre Rajpora, where doctors declared him as brought dead, an official said.

He too had suffered bullet injuries on his head, the official added.

Another witness Farooq Ahmed said, The army firing was unprovoked. Soldiers of armys 44 Rashtriya Rifles opened the fire on mourners who had come to Gawanpora village to express sympathies with the bereaved family of recently killed HizbulMujahideen militant Firdous Ahmad Lone.

He said, Army personnel on Saturday repeatedly entered into our village and ordered us to remove the banners of slain Hizb militants from the streets. The locals refused and amicably requested army to leave the village. By late afternoon dozens of army vehicles again appeared and started removing the banners themselves. The people mostly mourners from various villages took to the streets and pelted army vehicles with stones. The army retaliated by resorting to indiscriminate firing leaving two persons dead and another injured.

FIR AGAINST ARMY

A senior police said, After Chaigund gunfight we controlled the situation across the district. However, on Saturday army without taking police into the confidence went into Gawanpora village, which led to the stone pelting.

Meanwhile, senior superintendent of police, Shopian, AmbarkarShriramDinkar said they have registered an FIR against the army.

Additional deputy general of police, Muneer Ahmed Khan said the incident took place when an army battalion was crossing Gawanpora and their vehicles came under stone pelting.

The ADGP rejected the army version of dispersing youths with aerial firing. Army has not fired aerial rounds as all three have suffered head bullet injuries, he said.

PROBE ORDERED

Divisional commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan ordered a magisterial inquiry into the killings.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Khan said, We have appointed deputy commissioner Shopian, Muhammad Aijaz as the inquiry officer to ascertain the facts about the deaths. He has been directed to submit the report within 20 days.

PROTESTS

Thousands of people brought the bodies of Javaid Bhat and Suhail Javaid Lone to their native villages amid massive protests.

Massive protests rocked Balpora and Gawanpora villages against the killings till late in the evening. The people were raising anti-India and pro-freedom slogans.

Following the killings, the authorities blocked the high speed internet service across the district.

ARMY VERSION

Armys Srinagar based spokesman in a statement said: At about 3 PM, an army administrative convoy was passing through GawanporaChowk in Shopian when it came under unprovoked and intense stone pelting by a group of 100-120 stone pelters. 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.

He 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. A total of seven army men suffered injuries and extensive damage was caused to eleven vehicles. In the process two civilians succumbed to the bullet injuries.

POLICE SPEAK

An army convoy of 10 Gadwal of Army on its way from 12 Sector HqBalporaShopian to Maspora, came under heavy stone pelting at village Ganowpora. Pertinently, Ganowpora is the village of militant Firdous Ahmad, who was recently killed in an encounter on January 24, 2018 at Cheegund, Shopian, a police spokesman said in a statement.

He said, Due to this stone pelting reportedly some army personnel were injured and army personnel retaliated by firing, in which three individuals Javaid Ahmad Bhat, 29, of BalporaShopian, Rayees Ahmad Ganaie, 24 of NadporaShopian and SuhailJavaid of Ganowpora sustained bullet injuries. Javaid Ahmad and SuhailJavaid succumbed to the injuries at District Hospital Pulwama and at Rajpora respectively. Rayees Ahmad Ganaie was referred to SKIMS Soura where he is being operated upon.

The spokesman said, In this connection a case FIR 26/2018 under relevant sections of law stands registered in Police Station Shopian and investigation has been set into motion.

Courtesy: GK
The Mexican Navy called off their search late Friday (Jan. 26) for the Lafayette woman who went overboard from a Carnival Triumph cruise ship last week, KFLY-TV reported.

Juwanna Brooks, 44, went overboard Sunday night while sailing on the ship that left from New Orleans two days earlier and was making its way to Cozumel, Mexico.

She fell into the Gulf of Mexico near the Mexican coast. After over four days the Mexican Navy called off their search.

Brooks was traveling with her husband of 13 years, Scott Brooks, who bought his wife the cruise tickets for Christmas, according to KFLY. Passengers returning to New Orleans Thursday said Brooks and her husband were fighting shortly before Brooks fell overboard, KFLY reported.

Read the full report here.
Constitution unlikely to be revised soon: UML leaders

The CPN-UML has said that chances of amending the constitution to address the demands of the Madhes-based parties are slim in the near future.
Dalits, single women to get pay earlier too

The day the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government made a controversial decision to lower the age bar for elderly allowance, the caretaker government also brought down the minimum age of Dalits and single women to claim the social security allowance, it has come to light.
Deuba faces ire in party over govt decisions

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who is under fire from the left alliance for a series of controversial decisions and political appointments, also faces a barrage of criticism within his own Nepali Congress party.
Govts controversial decisions will be revoked, says Dahal

CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that some serious decisions made by the caretaker government going beyond its jurisdiction would be revoked.
India drags feet in building new cross-border power line

The fate of 400kV New Butwal-Gorakhpur cross-border transmission line hangs in balance, as India is dragging its feet to build the crucial infrastructure that can further stimulate electricity trading between Nepal and the neighbouring country.
BACK TO SCHOOL BACK TO SCHOOL  Students at Windom Elementary returned to school Wednesday morning to begin the 2021-22 school year. In the top photo, as buses arrive, many of the students...

Committee says no to marijuana dispensaries, licenses Following calls from a number of residents for the Town of Orchard Park to opt out of marijuana dispensaries and onsite consumption licenses, the Orchard Park Economic Development Committee has...

Ethics Board chair confirms many individuals have not filed financial disclosure forms for the year According to Ethics Board Chairman James Morse, 40 town employees, committee or board members have not filed their financial disclosure forms for the year. Morse  speaking to the town...
Supporters of a tax package for Medicaid have reason to celebrate after Tuesday's special election. The passage of Measure 101, which sought voters' approval of controversial provisions in the package, saves legislators from having to find some other way to fill a $210 million to $320 million gap in its Medicaid budget.

But supporters would be wise to curb their cockiness, such as childish social-media taunts, and consider what comes next. The Measure 101 provisions, which include a 1.5 percent tax on certain insurance premiums and a 0.7 percent hospital tax, will expire in 2019. That's also when the state's share of the cost for an expanded Medicaid program increases as part of a long-standing agreement with the federal government. And next time, Oregonians may not be so forgiving of the deeply inequitable manner in which the state has chosen to fill the budget gap.

Make no mistake, these taxes are deeply inequitable. They apply to those Oregonians who have the misfortune of buying their own health insurance through the marketplace, including self-employed individuals, small businesses and even thousands of college students who are required to buy coverage through their school if they lack their own plans. Cash strapped K-12 school districts must also shell out additional millions under these assessments.

At the same time, hundreds of thousands of Oregonians who get their health coverage through self-insured employers like Nike and Intel (as well as The Oregonian), escape the 1.5 percent tax. Why? Because, legislators say, federal law blocks the state from taxing such self-insured plans.

That is a terrible basis upon which to decide who to tax and who not to tax. Legislators shouldn't craft policy based on who lacks the wherewithal or legal protection to defend themselves from new burdens. Oregonians as a whole, across the state, party affiliation and income levels, believe Medicaid is an essential program. Oregonians as a whole should be paying for it.

And some legislators seem ready to acknowledge that. Both House Speaker Tina Kotek and Rep. Mitch Greenlick, who heads the House Committee on Health Care, told The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board that legislators should look at new funding mechanisms that tap a broader base. While not an admission of the unfairness of Measure 101, it's a concession that Measure 101 is not the kind of policy that Oregon should routinely pursue.

Oregonian editorials

Editorials reflect the collective opinion of The Oregonian/OregonLive editorial board, which operates independently of the newsroom. Members of the editorial board are Laura Gunderson, Helen Jung, Mark Katches and John Maher.

To respond to this editorial, post your comment below, submit an OpEd or a letter to the editor.

If you have questions about the opinion section, email Laura Gunderson, editorial pages editor, or call 503-221-8378.

And Kotek, D-Portland, said she is committed to getting health industry and other groups together soon to start work on a long-term plan to replace Measure 101's short-term fix. That's also a good sign. Lawmakers passed the controversial funding package in part because they had little time to put something more thoughtful together.

While Measure 101 supporters have vilified Reps. Julie Parrish and Cedric Hayden for challenging the fairness of the tax, their anger is misplaced. (And entirely appalling in the case of Clackamas County Chairman Jim Bernard, who told Parrish "screw you" in a nasty and now-deleted rant on his public official Facebook page. He has since apologized). Oregon leaders never should have gotten to a point where they had to cobble together a blatantly unfair tax in order to fund a program of such importance. They have known since 2012 that a five-year federal grant for Medicaid would expire. They have known since 2014 that the state's share of Medicaid would increase. This funding strategy reflects a failure of leadership, attention and follow-through from those we elect to provide it.

Rather than go along with the path of least resistance, Parrish and Hayden rightly recognized that the new tax was burdening some Oregonians while exempting others - simply based on who could be easily targeted. They worked relentlessly to educate Oregonians on a topic of mind-numbing complexity, gaining 90,000 signatures from Oregonians to put Measure 101 on the ballot. They were hampered by Democratic legislative actions that stacked the deck against them and were outspent 34-1 by the "yes" campaign.

So while Measure 101 supporters can claim the victory, they should recognize that the bigger battle lies ahead. The sustainability of Medicaid in the face of federal threats and state mismanagement needs champions like Parrish and Hayden who continue to offer funding proposals to help secure Medicaid's future. It underscores, once again, that Medicaid is a program we all support. It's a program we all should pay for.

The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board
Expansion Plan: Kaligandaki road corridor set for upgrade

North-South Kaligandaki Corridor will soon be upgraded into a 10-metre wide road. In the first phase of the expansion project, 36 km of the corridor, which falls in Baglung, will be widened and drainage facilities will be built. The corridor will be upgraded by the Nepal Army.
In 1946, Percy Bridgman won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Physics. Years later, as a dwindling cancer patient, Bridgman unsuccessfully sought aid in dying. When he ended his life in 1961, his note registered a complaint Oregonians should consider: "It isn't decent for society to make a man do this thing himself. Probably this is the last day I will be able to do it myself."

Though Death with Dignity has been with us for many years, we forfeit this power if we lose the ability to request or self-administer drugs. This exclusion is neither necessary nor just.

We are advised to draft instructions guiding end-of-life medical care. Doctors generally honor these. But consider this instruction: "If I am dying and unable to take appropriate drugs on my own or participate in medical treatment decisions, I hereby direct my agent to authorize or administer measures necessary to end my life." Had a thoughtful Bridgman written this today, honoring it would not be lawful here.

Oregon law prohibits others from honoring these ultimate choices. Why should something I can lawfully do myself become a crime when, upon my disability, another person, acting on my instructions, does it for me? We don't build prisons for those demonstrating compassion toward the dying.

How much longer might dying loved ones remain with us if they could rely on promises of timely assistance? The Oregon Legislature should take the lead in honoring these final instructions and correcting the present law.

Kenneth Kipnis, Northeast Portland
By Sam Adams

Vera Katz, whose memorial is today, became one of the most influential political leaders in Oregon history. I had the honor of being her campaign manager, then her mayoral chief of staff for 11 years, giving me a behind-the-scenes view of her legacy.

She was born in Dusseldorf, Germany, to Russian parents and her Jewish family escaped the Nazis by hiking over the Pyrenees mountains. They eventually landed in Brooklyn, as refuge immigrants, making Vera someone we might today consider to be a type of Dreamer.

Vera often told me that public schools and New York's embrace of immigrants are what set her up to have a good life. Her degree in sociology from Brooklyn College, a public university, cemented her belief that government can do great things, especially for underdogs. Her dance improvisation training by Martha Graham trained her to think fast.

When she became speaker of the Oregon House, she had no greater policy passion than education, which she viewed as a great equalizer. She authored a far-reaching education reform bill. When she ran for mayor, she campaigned on bringing her school reforms to Portland.

Some thought her plans were unrealistic -- after all, the city isn't responsible for schools. Making matters more dicey, the same election that swept her into office also brought Measure 5, the law that devastated funding for education and other services.

Thankfully, Vera didn't let critics or tradition hold her back. Instead of letting class sizes balloon and school years contract, she made a controversial and unprecedented decision: To use city money to help schools. It was the right call. Without the decade of support, Portland's public schools would be in much worse shape today.

A feminist, she had an allergic reaction to nonsense, and she negotiated with skill. Often the only woman at the table, she took advantage of the fact that people sometimes underestimated her. Out-of-state developers were the worst. When they met a diminutive woman dressed in bright colors at the head of the table, they often misdiagnosed the meeting Vera had asked for as courtesy call. Nope.

For any major development project, Vera called in the investors and let them know what she thought of their plans. She frequently schooled them on how their projects needed to improve the city, not just extract profits from it. She then sometimes put the developers on remedial improvement plans that included personal follow-up meetings with her. It worked. Her vigilance helped turned many ugly developments into beautiful ones that contributed to the city and made housing more affordable.

To Vera, smart city growth also included greater investments in the arts, which she considered key strands of a city's DNA. With leaders like City Commissioner Mike Lindberg, Vera brought new respect -- and funding -- to organizations such as the Oregon Symphony, Oregon Ballet Theatre, the Portland Art Museum, White Bird and Portland Center Stage. She also wanted to make sure more people enjoyed Portland, leading the lightrail expansion and negotiating the public-private deal to bring MAX to the airport. She also found the money for the streetcar track between the Pearl District and Portland State University.

With police, she took it personally. Perhaps because of the danger and mayhem of her early years, Vera considered it her responsibility to keep the peace. She stayed up late listening to the the scanner, worrying about about the safety of officers and residents. And she spent many nights on police ride-alongs.

Her close watch of the bureau spurred her to make big changes. She demanded the bureau improve its real-time data collection. She asked for performance measures to address racial disparities and interactions between citizens and police. Some in the department and the union questioned whether Vera had the qualifications to push for these reforms. They accused her of micromanaging. The police chief retired. But Vera did not back down.

She found a new chief, Charles Moose, Portland's first African American to lead the department. Every Friday at 10 a.m., she chaired the Gang Group meeting in Northeast Portland, where residents, police and businesses teamed up to reduce violence and improve community policing.

I'll especially miss her New York sense of humor. She teased and needled people close to her with warmth and affection. And she rarely withheld her opinions. One year, I asked her what she wanted for her birthday. She said, "I haven't had a homemade red velvet cake in years."

I spent most of one Saturday preparing a meal, working hard on the cake. But when Vera bit into it, she blurted out, "This tastes like a brick with frosting on it." With a cackle, she excoriated my baking "skills," pretended to be horrified by how little I'd learned from my years working at Mr. Steak, and said she hoped I was better at helping to negotiate the River District plan than at following a cake recipe.

If pressed to reflect on her life of public service, I suspect Vera would have referred to the adapted George Bernard Shaw quote that was framed and hanging in her city hall office. "The reasonable woman adapts herself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to herself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable woman." Indeed.

Thank you, Vera for being so wonderfully "unreasonable."

Sam Adams worked as Mayor Vera Katz's chief of staff for 11 years and later, served a term as Portland's mayor from 2009 to 2012.
Four Salem police officers were involved in an on-duty shooting after a motorhome struck two patrol cars, officials said late Saturday.

Sgt. James Welsh, Cpl. Andrew Connolly, Cpl. Mark Seyfried and Officer Pence Hodges fired at Roy Victor Devoursney, 61, of Salem, during the incident, according to the agency's account.

Devoursney was not hit, though he was tased after refusing to comply with the officers' requests. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment of other injuries he received during the incident, police said. His condition was not known early Sunday.

None of the officers was seriously hurt. They were placed on paid leave during the investigation, a standard procedure in officer-involved shootings.

The incident began before 1 p.m. on Saturday on Oregon 22, near Lancaster Drive SE. A witness told police the driver of a large motorhome was operating the vehicle in a "dangerous and erratic manner" and was cutting off other vehicles and speeding, officials said.

Police encountered the motorhome on Kansas Street NE. It hit Connolly's vehicle, causing his airbags to deploy, and later struck Seyfried's patrol car in the area of D Street NE before taking off.

Police used spike strips to disable the motorhome, which came to a stop near Hawthorne Avenue NE, south of Market Street NE.

Police closed roads in the area, but all have since been reopened.

The Oregon State Police are investigating the incident.

Anyone with information about what happened is asked to call the OSP at 503-375-3555.

-- The Oregonian
JERUASALEM -- A diplomatic crisis between Israel and Poland appeared to be deepening on Sunday as Poland's deputy chief of mission, Piotr Kozlowski, was summoned to Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem over a law approved by the Polish parliament making it a criminal offense to mention Polish complicity in crimes committed during the Holocaust.



Polish lawmakers voted Friday for a bill that would fine or jail people who blame Poland or Poles for Nazi atrocities committed on its soil during World War II, including the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Jews at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. The law still needs final approval from the Polish Senate and the country's president.



It comes as the country has become more nationalistic. Tens of thousands of people chanted and marched through Warsaw last year in an annual gathering of Europe's far-right movements, and the majority party has sought to protect Poland's image.



Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed to Kozlowski the "particularly surprising and miserable" timing of the law, pointing out that Friday was the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It was also the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp in southern Poland.



Conveying a message from the Israeli government, the ministry said the "legislation will not help further the exposure of historical truth and may harm the freedom of research, as well as prevent discussion of the historical message and the legacy of World War II."



Following the meeting, Kozlowski told Israeli reporters that the goal of the law "is not to whitewash history, but to safeguard it and safeguard the truth about the Holocaust and prevent its distortion." According to Reuters, Polish officials say the law would not limit Holocaust research or the freedom of expression.



Even though several death camps, including the notorious Auschwitz-Birkenau, were built on Polish soil, Poles say they should be referred to as Nazi extermination camps or camps in occupied Poland, disassociating Poland from the Nazi crimes committed there.



Israelis, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reacted furiously to the law, seeing it as an attempt by Poland to re-write history and even deny the Holocaust.



"One cannot change history and the Holocaust cannot be denied," said Netanyahu in a statement.



In a heated Twitter argument with the Polish embassy, Yair Lapid, a popular opposition leader in the Israeli parliament, tweeted that "there were Polish death camps and no law can ever change that."



The bill, which would jail even foreigners for up to three years for using terms such as "Polish extermination camps," passed the lower legislature overwhelmingly. For the country's ruling Law and Justice Party, it's part of a years-long effort to prevent people from "slandering the good name of Poland," as officials once put it.



Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust Remembrance Center, which last week hosted U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, said the law was "liable to blur the historical truths regarding the assistance the Germans received from the Polish population during the Holocaust."



The center said it agreed that the term "Polish death camps" was a historical misrepresentation -- the extermination camps were set up in Nazi-occupied Poland in order to murder the Jewish people within the framework of the "Final Solution."



"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," read the Yad Vashem statement.



Many historians warn against trying to simplify Poland's role in the Holocaust.



The country was occupied for years by the forces of Nazi Germany, who herded Jews into ghettos, shot at least 200,000 of them and killed an additional million in Auschwitz, according to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.



Throughout the occupation, Poles fought back through underground movements and resistance armies. A quarter-million Polish civilians died during a 1944 uprising against the German army in Warsaw, according to the museum.



But between these broad strokes of Nazi genocide and Polish heroism, some Poles also turned on Jews - or at least helped Germans kill them.



Villagers in Jedwabne, for example, reportedly locked about 300 Jewish residents in a barn and burned them alive in 1941, the BBC wrote. Some modern-day Poles deny the story or blame Germans for pressuring the villagers, but others see evidence of willing complicity throughout the occupation.



Jan Karski, a famed Polish resistance fighter, once told an interviewer of the "ruthless, often without pity" attitude some of his countrymen held for Poland's large Jewish population.



The director of the Israel Council on Foreign Relations, Laurence Weinbaum, once wrote for The Washington Post about documented examples of Poles willingly abetting the persecution of Jews.



"Those who see themselves as defenders of Poland's good name are often quick to point out that in Poland there was no Quisling regime comparable to that which existed in other countries occupied by Germany - and that the Polish underground fought the Germans tooth and nail," Weinbaum wrote. "The truth is that local authorities were often left intact in occupied Poland, and many officials exploited their power in ways that proved fatal to their Jewish constituents."



Some Poles welcomed the forced removal of their Jewish neighbors from their homes, he wrote. Some happily enriched themselves at the expense of their dispossessed neighbors, and some "did not recoil from committing acts of murder, rape and larceny - not always orchestrated by the Germans."



That said, Weinbaum thought then-FBI director James Comey went too far when he spoke of Poland's "murderers and accomplices" during a 2015 speech at the Holocaust Memorial Museum - rhetorically equating the country to Germany.



A few years earlier, President Barack Obama incensed many Poles when, during a speech honoring Karski, he spoke of "Polish death camps." The White House later apologized.



Obama's statement helped spur Polish lawmakers' efforts to ban the term and prosecute people who confuse their country with the Nazi regime. They tried to pass a bill in 2013 and failed. But Poland has turned toward nationalism since then, and in 2016, the conservative Law and Justice Party won the first parliamentary majority since the end of communism.



The party has aggressively protected Poland's image. After a massive right-wing march through Warsaw in November, with banners and chants of "white Europe" and "pure blood," some government officials defended the event as a simple independence day rally. One minister even called it "beautiful."



"Poland is being unfairly attack by hostile media," the founder of the Polish League Against Defamation complained after the rally, according to Radio Poland.



Three months later, at least in regard to Nazis, attacking Poland could soon become a crime.



If the bill passes Poland's senate and becomes law, which Haaretz reports seems likely, it will apply not just to Poles but to anyone in any country who blames the Polish state for Nazi crimes.



Since the initial vote, Reuters reported, Holocaust survivors have been giving interviews about Poles refusing to help them or turning them over to Nazis.



"When they came to round us up and put us in the ghetto, father said to run away quickly," Esther Lieber told the daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. "We were very scared and fled into the woods. The Poles threw stones at us and cursed us."



Another newspaper, Haaretz, wrote that given the proposed law's breadth, survivors could soon face prosecution in Poland for giving such testimony.



"The implication of the new law means that in theory, a Jewish Holocaust survivor from Poland who lives in Israel, who may make a statement such as 'the Polish people were involved in the murder of my grandfather in the Holocaust' or 'my mother was murdered in a Polish extermination camp,' would be liable for imprisonment in Poland," Haaretz wrote.

-- The Washington Post
MURMANSK, Russia - From central Moscow to the Arctic, thousands of Russian protesters on Sunday called for a boycott of the upcoming presidential election even as the authorities detained organizers and raided the office of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.



Police detained Navalny, who branded the boycott a "voters' strike" against Russian President Vladimir Putin's government, shortly after the protests began. But more than 1,000 people took to one of Moscow's central thoroughfares nevertheless. Thousands more turned out on squares and streets in St. Petersburg, in Siberia, and in places as remote as Murmansk, a port city in the far north where the temperature Sunday afternoon was 8 degrees below zero Fahrenheit.



"By sitting at home on our couch and talking to friends, nothing will change," said Alexandra Sokolova, a 31-year-old financial adviser who joined the Moscow protest. "Maybe my kids will live in a better country."



The protests Sunday were unusual in their scope, with Navalny supporters organizing some 115 events across the country. But they appeared smaller than his demonstrations last June, when Russian news media estimated that at least 50,000 people protested nationwide.



The protests are unlikely to have an immediate political impact in Russia, where voters will go to the polls in the March 18 presidential election and deliver what is expected to be a resounding endorsement of a fourth term for Putin. But they showed the resilience of a vocal minority of Navalny supporters, even in Russia's far-flung regions, who are willing to risk arrest to back his grass-roots campaign to unseat Putin.



"I support Navalny because I want something to change," said Vita, a 19-year-old protester in Murmansk who declined to give her last name. "It may be for better, it may be for worse. I totally understand that."



While some Putin critics will be on the March presidential ballot, the most prominent one - Navalny - will not. The anti-corruption activist launched the campaign for a boycott of the vote after Russian officials rejected his bid to run for president last month because of a past fraud conviction that he deems politically motivated. Navalny's camp says that without their man on the ballot, the Russian elections are a sham, and they hope to embarrass the Kremlin by depressing turnout.



Navalny, analysts say, is playing a long game this election season, continuing to build up the infrastructure for a fight against Putin that could last years. He is using his call for a boycott to expand a nationwide network of supporters. And he is honing his use of social media to get around the state-controlled television channels, which largely ignore him.



"I have been detained. But that doesn't matter," Navalny's Twitter feed said Sunday afternoon alongside a video showing him being pulled into a police bus. "You are coming out not for me but for yourself and your future."



Police appeared to be focused on disrupting Navalny's efforts without detaining protesters en masse or using a great deal of force. In Murmansk, the local Navalny chapter reported that its two top staffers were detained Sunday before the protest began. In Moscow, police detained Navalny and sawed through the doors of his Fund to Fight Corruption, where a YouTube live stream about the protests was being produced.



In Moscow, police lined the route of the protest but made few arrests. Sokolova held up a sign that used a diminutive form of Vladimir: "Stop reigning, Vovka, our choice is protest."



"I'm most of afraid of what could come over the next six years if I don't change something and if we as a whole don't change something," said Paulina Gruseva, 22. "If we don't come out then nothing will change, for sure."



In Murmansk, a city of 300,000 more than 150 miles north of the Arctic Circle, about 100 people gathered in front of a New Year's tree in the center of town even though the city didn't grant permission for the demonstration. Police dragged some of the Navalny backers into a bus and tried to talk some schoolchildren into leaving.



Watching from the fringe, 50-year-old Natalia, who said she worked in the education sector, said she was attending the first protest of her life because Russian media coverage was so one-sided.



"When people keep prodding you in one direction, then you don't want to do what they are forcing you to do out of spite," she said.



The head of the local Navalny office, 28-year-old Violetta Grudina, said in an interview before she was detained that her team's mobilization efforts represented one small step toward breaking through the political apathy that reigns in this remote region. Grudina said she initially got involved in activism by campaigning against higher public-transit costs in 2016.



"People aren't used to taking a stand," she said. "They'd rather sit at home in the kitchen and talk about how bad the authorities are."

-- The Washington Post
Forensic investigators were collecting evidence Saturday at a Aloha home in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found Thursday in the trunk of a car, decapitated and dismembered.

Washington County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Deputy Shannon Wilde said the home on Southwest 166th Place was associated with a man taken into custody in connection with the death. Police have not named the suspect publicly.

She declined to say whether the one-story home is a crime scene, but said that investigators were collecting evidence there.

"Forensics is going to be out there at least the rest of the day," Wilde said.

The cul-de-sac was otherwise quiet Saturday afternoon. Police tape and marked forensics vans surrounded the home. A red Ford Expedition was parked in the driveway.

The home is not far from where the body of Sara Zghoul, 28, of Aloha, was found stuffed into two suitcases in the trunk of a black BMW late Thursday night. Police found the body after receiving word of a possible homicide.

Police late Thursday tracked a suspect in her death to a ravine near Southwest Murray Boulevard and Southwest Teal Boulevard, where he tried unsuccessfully to kill himself by slashing his throat and wrists, sources told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

The man was taken into custody by Beaverton police. Police have said they believe there is no threat to the public.

-- Elliot Njus

enjus@oregonian.com

503-294-5034

@enjus
Parsa National Park welcomes baby elephant

Chitrasenkali, an elephant aged 12, gave birth to a female calf at the Parsa National Park (PNP) in Amalekhgunj on Saturday.
People in remote Humla face hardships to buy salt

The residents of four remote rural municipalities in southern Humla have been compelled to trek for two weeks to buy iodised salt.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says the ruling government can deport the two Guantanamo Bay ex-detainees because their refugee status is not irrevocable.



Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, told parliament on Wednesday, 24 January 2018 that the two ex-detainees, Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby, have become Ghanas responsibility because no exit plan was made by the Mahama-led administration.



According to her, the hands of the Government are tied now considering the bilateral agreement the Mahama-led Government entered into with the United States of America.



For now, we are saying that our hands are tied because they have been granted a legal status for them to stay here. On our side, I am going ahead to explore optionsthey will not be leaving Ghana and, that they are now the responsibility of the state. It is to be noted that no exit arrangements were originally discussed between the two governments to end the bilateral arrangement at the time of negotiation. The US has also been clear in our discussions with them that per the agreement, returning them to the United States is not an option open to discussion or negotiation. This means that all obligations relating to the two have now become the responsibility of Ghana, she said.



However, Ablakwa who is also the Ranking Member on Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament claims it is wrong for government to say their hands are tied because the agreement between the two countries was not cast in stone.



There was no specific exit arrangementand so within the two year period, discussions ought to continueThey were given refugee status because they were being hosted in Ghana; you need to give them some legal cover. Moreover, as a government it (refugee status) can be revoked at any time; it is nothing binding and so the government saying that their hands are tied is neither here nor there he told Kwami Sefa Kayi in an interview on PeaceFM's "Kokrokoo" Morning Show, Thursday.



The North Tongu MP further indicated that for the two ex-detainees not to become a burden on the ruling government, they can be allowed to work to take care of themselves.



After two years, they are adults, they can work if they are properly integrated; that was the understanding



According to him, if we dont feel comfortable with them, we can revoke the refugee status; tell them that we are deporting them; if we are no longer a compassionate country or give them an option of a third country like Morocco.



We all have to be responsible as far as this issue is concerned and so I would have wished that the ruling government would not have politicized this issue; we dont need politics to be at the center stagelets find a bi-partisan; matured nationalistic approach he added.

Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The man accused of assaulting and kidnapping a child in Chambersburg is in custody.

Chambersburg police say they arrested Luis R. Cortes-Rosario, 31, on Sunday without incident.

An arrest warrant had been issued after police say on Saturday he forced a boy into his car, threatened to shoot the child, and punched him in the face several times. Cortes-Rosario displayed a handgun during the incident, police say.

After the state police and Chambersburg police got word that he was staying at the Budget Inn on the 2300 block of Molly Pritcher Highway, they took him into custody today.

Cortes-Rosario is facing charges of kidnapping a minor, simple assault and terroristic threats.

There is no word yet on the condition of the child.
Police in Chambersburg are searching for a man who is accused of kidnapping a boy.

Luis Ruben Cortes-Rosario, 31, is wanted on charges of felony kidnapping of a minor, misdemeanor simple assault and misdemeanor terroristic threats.

Cortes-Rosario is accused of forcing a boy into his car, and threatening to shoot him, sometime on Saturday, according police. Police also say Cortes-Rosario punched the boy in the face several times.

Cortes-Rosario was reported to have a gun on him at the time of the incident, and is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with any information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact the Chambersburg Police Department at 717-264-4131.
Prez calls for action to harness Nepals huge hydro potential

President Bidhya Devi Bahandari called on both local and foreign investors for active involvement in harnessing the huge hydropower potential in the country.
A former Susquehanna Township resident just announced from one of the world's unlikeliest locations that he and his wife are going to be parents, using social media to get the word out from a beach in Antarctica. A penguin stood by as witness.

Ross McGraw and Jordi Lippe-McGraw "promised each other they would visit all seven continents before having children," according to a report from The New York Post.

The couple posted the announcement on Facebook and Instagram on Jan. 26.

"In our wedding vows @jordimcgraw and I promised each-other a life of adventure. More specifically, we decided to travel to all seven continents together before having kids. As we step foot onto our final continent, Antarctica, I could not be more excited to announce that we are expecting a baby boy in late May," McGraw posted.

The couple currently lives on Upper West Side of Manhattan, according to the report.

Lippe-McGraw, 31, works as a travel writer, and McGraw, 32, is an executive at Nickelodeon, the report states. He's a Susquehanna Township High School graduate.

The high school sweethearts got married in 2015, according to the report.
What one might expect during the State of the Union (SOTU) address isn't really difficult, but with President Donald J. Trump at the helm, it may be different than the run of the mill annual speech.

Kirstin Snow (PennLive file)

For the novice, here's a small primer on the logistics of the annual event. It will take place on Tuesday at 9 p.m. and will be aired live on every major television network. It will likely last for as long as an hour to 90 minutes.

Rising star Representative Joseph P. Kennedy III has been tapped to deliver the Democratic response, slated to begin at 1030 p.m..

Historically speaking, the president is required to address Congress once a year to share his thoughts and vision on the condition of the country. Other than that, he has free rein to speak on whatever he wants. The first president to deliver a televised SOTU was Harry Truman in 1947.

In addition, every year there is one person in the line of succession to the office of the president that must remain away from the festivities- the designated survivor- should there be a bombing or attack rendering all of Congress, the president, vice president, and remaining cabinet members incapacitated or dead. That person has not been identified publicly, yet.

As far as content, well, I'll go with the old line, "It's the economy, stupid."

There is absolutely no way Trump won't revel in the current economy and the stock market, and take sole credit for both.

Many will still hold the opinion that the current state of our economy is really a result President Barack Obama's tenure in office, which may indeed be true, however if I were Trump, I'd take credit too.

I predict as well, that he will tout his one legislative accomplishment thus far- historic tax reform.

Expect to hear about the slew of companies returning to America to do business as a result of the slash in the corporate tax rate and deregulation. Don't expect, however, to hear anything about Carrier Corp from Indiana.

There will also be talk about badly needed investment in our infrastructure, investment in our military, the border wall and DACA. I'll give you a vague path to citizenship for 1.8 million people if you give me $25 billion for a wall that Mexico was supposed to pay for.

The content of the SOTU isn't rocket science. What will be interesting to those on the floor of Congress and those watching from home, will be how Trump handles his first address.

Trump tends to get himself into hot water when he's off the cuff, and this address is anything but an off the cuff moment.

Expect him to stick to exactly what's on the teleprompter (at least that's what everyone in the GOP and his press shop will be wishing for) instead of winging it here and there by going off script. When using a prompter, he's really not a bad speaker.

Also of note will be not only the president's demeanor and behavior, but the decorum of Congress during the address. It will be interesting to watch and listen to body language, timing of applause, possible groans or boos and the President's reaction to them.

This is of particular note as we're only days away from ending a government shutdown and possibly days away from another one. Responsibility for that will be plopped squarely at the feet of Democrats and Chuck Schumer.

Gotta blame someone...

What you're surely not to hear, is anything about the #metoo movement. In fact, I doubt there will be much talk of women's issues in general on Tuesday evening.

Expect to see many in the audience dressed in black and donning pins inn solidarity against sexual harassment. Another important item that you can expect to hear very little of is specificity on any plan or topic Trump brings up in his address.

This is an enormous opportunity for Trump. Many Americans and lawmakers are weary of the flip-flopping on promises and policies as well as his un-presidential antics. He has an opportunity to redirect his administration and lay out a path to progress and finally fully step into a Presidential role. Otherwise, this will be another empty, hollow speech to which we've become accustomed.

Finally, expect a thorough and painful dissection of each and every pronunciation, gesture and sip of water the president takes, in the post- SOTU recaps.

If you've had enough of the whole event when the speech is over, and don't want to hear from any more pundits, then you're in luck as Stormy Daniels is booked on Jimmy Kimmel Live following the speech and is sure to provide interesting commentary.

PennLive Opinion contributor Kirstin Snow is an associate at Triad Strategies in Harrisburg. Her "Elephants & Donkeys" column appears weekly opposite conservative commentator Charlie Gerow.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump will appear before a joint session of Congress to deliver his first State of the Union Address.

Republican strategist Charlie Gerow (PennLive file)

The run-up to the State of the Union generally exceeds the main event as the media hypes it for days beforehand. There's more pre-game commentary than on Super Bowl Sunday.

But when the hall of the House of Representatives open and the sergeant-at-arms booms, "Mr. Speaker, the President of the United States," the eyes of the world turn to a single man and all distractions are put aside.

The president will walk a gauntlet of members of Congress, many of whom arrived hours earlier to grab a seat on the aisle in order to catch a second with the commander in chief and provide a glimpse of themselves and their momentary glory to the folks back at home.

He'll be greeted by the vice president and the speaker of the House and will stand before both House and Senate members, his cabinet (except the one left behind in case of national emergency), the Supreme Court, Joint Chiefs of Staff and a gallery packed with dignitaries.

All of the trappings of presidential power are on full display and provide a made-for-television backdrop for the president's speech.

The State of the Union Address is always the president's night and an unchallenged opportunity to shine.

The Constitution requires two things: a report to Congress on the state of the union and recommendations the president wants to make to congress.

The State of the Union is strong. The economy is soaring, our foreign policy is succeeding and for the first time in years, the "right direction" poll numbers are moving upward.

Trump administration policies are passing The Reagan Test. The country is better off than it was a year ago.

The stock market is closing at record highs on a daily basis, virtually every sector of the economy is growing dramatically and billions of dollars are pouring back into our economy generating tens of thousands of new jobs. Unemployment is at record lows, especially in the minority community, millions of workers are getting big bonuses and just about every working American is seeing a fatter paycheck thanks to the recent tax cuts.

Despite rising consumer confidence and belief, by better than 2:1 margins, that things are getting better, President Trump isn't getting the share of the credit most presidents would get in similar circumstances.

There are several reasons for that, including some self-inflicted language choices, tactics and a media that doesn't want to give him a break. The State of the Union Address is an opportunity to begin to change that.

There are three specific things he can do.

First, he needs to shine the brightest possible light on the accomplishments of his first year in office.

The media hasn't hailed many of his positive achievements, including his scaling back of regulatory overreaches of the Obama administration.

Those were job-crushing, growth-stifling executive actions, made as an end run of congressional authority. Reversing them helped stimulate the economy and get it growing at rates never seen during the previous eight years.

Donald Trump has never shied from bragging about his successes. The State of the Union is no place to start.

Second, he should build on the successes of the past year by clearly setting forth his legislative priorities and specific proposals to continue fueling economic growth. Look for him to detail his plans to rebuild our roads, bridges and ports and to get comprehensive immigration reform.

He has the opportunity to rally the nation behind his agenda. Using the bully pulpit and appealing directly to the American people in a speech watched by so many is every bit as valuable as daily tweets.

Finally, he can speak to the hopes and aspirations of all Americans and how his vision for our future aligns with theirs. The president is renown for his skills as a pitchman. He needs to put them on full display Tuesday night.

Americans are optimistic even when times are tough. They look for us to be the "shining city on a hill." They want a future of prosperity and peace. They will rally behind a president who speaks in language that unites us and says that our best days lie ahead.

The specific language of any State of the Union Address is not long remembered. The impressions that it leaves are lasting.

A focus on a thriving economy and what it means to ordinary working Americans to keep more of what they earn, to have stable good-paying jobs and hope for a better tomorrow are the keys.

On the eve of Super Bowl LII, a little Philadelphia Eagles garb might not be a bad idea.

PennLive Opinion contributor Charlie Gerow is the CEO of Quantum Communications in Harrisburg. His "Donkeys & Elephants" column appears weekly opposite progressive commentator Kirstin Snow.
Outgoing Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, left, lifts the arm of Scott Moe who won the party leadership and becomes the new Saskatchewan Premier during the Saskatchewan Party Leadership Convention in Saskatoon, Saturday, January 27, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Liam Richards
Rukumkot folk protest over district HQ pick

The residents of Rukumkot in East Rukum have been started protest after the Cabinet on Thursday decided to shift the district headquarters to Golkhara in Puthauttarganga Rural Municipality-12.
FILE  In this Thursday, April 13, 2017, file photo, a man uses a Wells Fargo ATM in Charlotte, N.C. Read more

Hackers able to make ATMs spit cash like winning slot machines are now operating inside the United States, marking the arrival of "jackpotting" attacks after widespread heists in Europe and Asia, according to security news website Krebs on Security.

Thieves have used skimming devices on ATM machines to steal debit card information, but "jackpotting" augurs more sophisticated technological challenges that American financial firms will face in coming years.

"This is the first instance of jackpotting in the United States," said digital security reporter Brian Krebs, a former Washington Post reporter. "It's safe to assume that these are here to stay at this point."

On his website, Krebs reported Saturday that the Secret Service has warned financial institutions about "jackpotting" attacks in the past few days, though specifics have not been revealed.

He cites an alert sent by ATM maker NCR Corp. to its customers:

"This represents the first confirmed cases of losses due to logical attacks in the U.S.," the alert read. "This should be treated as a call to action to take appropriate steps to protect their ATMs against these forms of attack and mitigate any consequences."

Krebs reported that criminal gangs are targeting Diebold Nixdorfmachines  the stand-alone kind you might see in a drive-through or pharmacy. He shared the ATM giant's security notice. It described similar attacks in Mexico, in which criminals used a modified medical endoscope to access a port inside the machines and install malware.

Diebold Nixdorf spokesman Mike Jacobsen declined to provide the number of banks targeted in Mexico and the United States or comment on losses, according to Reuters.

Hackers have also been reported to remotely infect ATMs or completely swap out their hard drives. The Secret Service could not be immediately reached for comment about the nature of the reported U.S. attacks.

Whichever method is used, the results are about the same. At a hacker conference in 2010, Wired reported, a researcher brought two infected ATMs to the stage and gave a demonstration.

In the first example, a volunteer from the audience swiped a card through the ATM, and the researcher instantly brought up his credit card number and personal information on a computer spreadsheet.

In the second, the researcher gave the machine a command. "Jackpot!!" flashed on the ATM's screen, and it began spitting bills onto the floor as the crowd cheered.

Small-scale jackpotting attacks were reported sporadically in many countries over the next few years, according to Reuters. They finally went big time in 2016.

A gang stole $13 million from Japanese ATMs in three hours that spring, Fortune wrote. In the summer, loose cash was spotted fluttering around dozens of First Commercial Bank ATMs in Taipei, Taiwan.

First Commercial subsequently froze withdrawals at more than 1,000 ATMs, according to the BBC. A police investigation revealed masked thieves had been waiting in front of the hacked machines and carried cash away by the bag load  more than $2 million across the country.

The Government Savings Bank in Thailand was hit with a similar attack the next month, the Wall Street Journal reported. As it warned of the potential for attacks in the U.S., the FBI said the jackpotters impersonated ATM vendor employees in phishing emails to gain security access.

A security alert from Visa on the Asian attacks outlined an even more elaborate scheme. The hackers had dialed in to an unsecured telephone system, Visa wrote, to gain network access to the bank. From there, they explored and mapped the bank's secure networks and uploaded a malware program disguised as a routine software update for the ATMs.

When the update was sent out, the hackers had remote access to every infected machine, Visa wrote. "There was no action required at the ATM except the collection of the money."

At least three suspects were arrested in the Taiwan attacks. They were believed to be a small part of Eastern European or Russian criminal gangs who orchestrated the attacks in the Asia-Pacific region, the BCC wrote.

"Most likely the culprits are not the same," Diebold wrote on its website after the Taiwan and Thailand attacks, "which makes one particular similarity between the two incidents even more striking  and a harbinger of things to come."

By the end of 2016, jackpotters had struck more than a dozen countries across Europe, too, Reuters reported.

The FBI warned American banks at the time that they could be the next victims.

If Krebs is correct, at least one U.S. bank now is.

  

The Washington Post's Craig Timberg contributed to this report.
Milton and Connie Rock with Wilson Nieves at the 2017 Rock School for Dance Education gala. Read more

Milton L. Rock, 96, who built a small Philadelphia consulting firm into a global powerhouse and lent his leadership skills and financial support to local educational and cultural institutions, died at home in Center City on Saturday, Jan. 27, of natural causes.

Mr. Rock was the largest shareholder of Hay Associates, a leading compensation and human resources consulting firm that was sold in 1985. In addition, he owned several business publications, a chain of 15 newspapers in the Philadelphia suburbs, and Philadelphia City Paper. The newspaper chain was sold in 2001. City Paper was sold four years ago.

Among the nonprofits Mr. Rock supported as a benefactor and board member were the Curtis Institute, the Pennsylvania Ballet, the Rock School for Dance Education, Temple University, and Temple's health system.

"Philadelphia is much the better for his being part of the community," said Roberto Diaz, president and chief executive of Curtis, whose orchestra in Mr. Rock's honor added Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings" to the program for Sunday's concert at Verizon Hall.

Born in Philadelphia's Logan neighborhood, Mr. Rock joined Hay Associates in 1949. The company's founder had developed a numerical system for benchmarking compensation for executives and other employees based on the nature and demands of specific jobs.

"He took that system and sold it to Corporate America and built a worldwide consulting company out of it," said Jim Kristie, a former editor of Directors & Boards, a quarterly journal that the Rock family still publishes. "I don't think it would have been nearly as impactful without Milt's genius in marketing and business development. He had a way with CEOs."

A 2013 academic article that summarized the history of compensation benchmarking described Mr. Rock's influence: "All paths eventually led to Milton L. Rock, the former managing partner of the Hay Group consulting firm  one of the original compensation consultancies."

By the time Mr. Rock, who was Hay's largest shareholder with 30 percent of the stock, agreed to sell the company, it served 5,000 clients from 94 offices in 27 countries.

Mr. Rock spent most of his life in Philadelphia, attending school in North Philadelphia and then graduating from Temple. After serving in the Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945, he earned a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Rochester.

His ties to Temple were strong. He joined the Temple University Health System board in 1974 and was its chairman from 1985 until 1992. In 1979, he joined the Temple University board, where he remained an honorary life trustee. A gift he made in 1986 helped establish Rock Hall at Temple's Boyer College of Music.

"He was one of the natural leaders that everyone looked to on all the big issues. He was remarkably involved," said Joseph W. "Chip" Marshall III, a former chairman and chief executive of Temple University Health System.

A longtime trustee of the Pennsylvania Ballet, Mr. Rock helped the organization out of a difficult financial position by providing $1.5 million in 1999. With that money, the Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet purchased the ballet's building at Broad and Washington Streets. The school is now known as the Rock School for Dance Education.

At Curtis, Mr. Rock was "a transformational leader," Diaz said. "Certainly so many wonderful things happened at school as a result of his leadership and his care for the students and his care for the faculty and the institution."

As examples, Diaz named the school's library, the Rock Resource Center, the Rock Family Chair in Composition held by Jennifer Higdon, and an annual collaboration between Curtis and the Rock School that allows a Curtis student to compose a piece of music that is choreographed by students at the Rock School.

Mr. Rock's first wife, Shirley, died in 1988.

He is survived by his wife, Connie Benoliel-Rock, son Robert, daughter Susan, three grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at the Temple Performing Arts Center (1837 N. Broad St.) on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Rock School for Dance Education, Temple University, or the Curtis Institute of Music.
The problem with Pat Meehan, and with other men caught in the net of sexual harassment, is that he believed that he and his needs  including non-workplace needs  were the higher purpose. From there, we can imagine an easy leap into thinking an assistant dedicated and committed to her job must be dedicated and committed to him personally. And maybe even be a soul mate. Read more

Dear Men in Power:

You may have been wondering A) why you've seen so many women lying on the ground in the last few days, and B) whether their trembling meant they were crying or laughing.

The answers are: B) Both, and A) They're lying on the ground after reading a creepy account about Rep. Pat Meehan trying to explain his relationship to a staffer who felt sexually harassed, and an especially outrageous quote from him about what it was like working in his office: "There's no hierarchy  we call it Team Meehan."

Women are sobbing or laughing (or both) because Meehan's statement stands out as a crystallization of cluelessness that is at the heart of men, power, and harassment. It's like saying, "I know all my subjects are loyal because I am king."

And that goes to the heart of power dynamics in the workplace and beyond that have opened the floodgates of the #MeToo movement. In Meehan, who announced he won't seek reelection but remains in office, we have an older powerful man who is surrounded by younger staffers. He forms an attachment, perhaps even a bit of an obsession, with a woman staffer decades younger than himself. The basis of this attachment is how much she does for him, keeping his office running, keeping the world at bay, perhaps anticipating his needs and fulfilling them before he even has to ask. In other words, doing her job. In his mind, this attentiveness to his needs makes them "soul mates."

Poor, pathetic Pat.

Maybe this young assistant truly liked and admired him, and got job satisfaction from making the life of a powerful man easier. So many women, after all, are trained to be supportive and helpful, and often derive their own sense of power and worth from this role.

I feel safe in conjecturing this because this, after all, is the workplace, and it plays out on every floor of every office building in the universe. The human dynamics between the powerful and those who serve them are complicated enough even without throwing gender into the mix. Laughing at the unfunny jokes of your boss, doing something on his or her behalf that is odious or against your better judgment, or pretending to think their ideas are good when they're not: we all have done this at least once in our lives, and some have to do it every day.

What's especially egregious about Meehan's story is that he was too stupid, too vain, too deluded to understand that the job this assistant was performing was her job: to make his life easier, to help this powerful man maintain his own sense of his power.

If Meehan wasn't so blinded by delusion, he would not have fallen prey to thinking that members of his staff perform their tasks not because he is Beloved King, but because it is their job and he pays them to do it.

The workplace has its intimacies. Many people joke about having "work wives" and "work husbands"  mates and partners and colleagues who share common goals (and enemies) and are able to communicate so well they don't need words. The basis of a highly effective office is often a common vision and sense of purpose. And it's actually the boss' job to foster that sense, to build a team that will work together and be motivated by that sense of purpose.

The problem with Meehan, and with other men caught in the net of sexual harassment, is that he believed that he and his needs  including non-workplace needs  were the higher purpose. From there, we can imagine an easy leap into thinking an assistant dedicated and committed to her job must be dedicated and committed to him personally. And maybe even be a soul mate.

This is further borne out by the fact that he paid the assistant a settlement out of his own congressional funds, as if there were no separation between himself and his office.

There are many other lawmakers who never manage to make that separation. Some of them are in jail.

Meehan's problem is not his power. It's his narcissism. Narcissists lash out when they feel betrayed, like Meehan's anger at the fact his assistant had a boyfriend. Narcissists believe they are the center of the universe, and make statements like "there's no hierarchy  we call it Team Meehan."

Since this is addressed to men in power, here's what you should know if you happen to be one: It may not be easy to step away from encouraging adoration and total personal commitment from your staffers. It might shore up some of your own insecurities, especially if you don't get the same sense of importance and adoration from those who live in your house. But you pay them, and that means they can't always be honest with you  about how your attention creeps them out or your demands make them uncomfortable. It's your job to be the grown-up. If you have power, know that part of the price is that you have to use it to get things done, not to make yourself feel better.

If you find yourself mistaking that teamwork with "family" or that service with "love," it's time for you to step down.

And that includes Meehan.
Kensington resident David Wollmar, who has a home and has lived in the are for over twenty-five years, walks through an area where people are camped out in Kensington, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. JESSICA GRIFFIN / Staff Photographer Read more

Laticia Rios, a 62-year-old homemaker, waved to some rowhouse neighbors in the city's Kensington area the other evening. Soon enough, people who share walls and worries were arguing about the neighborhood's newest controversy: a proposed city-sanctioned safe injection site for people in addiction.

With a skyrocketing overdose rate  an estimated 1,200 people in the city died of drug overdoses last year  advocates say the sites could help save lives. But on Rios' block, residents of this long-neglected neighborhood doubted the plan would help.

"That place would be an open invitation for people to get high," said Nikki Rosario, 35, a newlywed who works as an administrative assistant in the city.

"And more people will come here to do it," said Victor Rodriguez, 63, a retired accountant on a block whose residents have negotiated to keep drug dealers away, and so don't want their street identified. "Everybody's scared of that."

Just blocks away, some parents fetching their children from school voiced similar fears. Others were open to the idea.

Ebony Smith's 5-year-old son has watched his mom dial 911 to report a person overdose on the street, and waited with her for help to arrive. She's OK with a site in Kensington  if it's not the only one in the city.

"We don't want to get stuck with it," she said. "The site is cool. It's good they won't be outside  you can at least offer them [treatment] options."

Residents of this area  the epicenter of the crisis in Philadelphia, which has the highest overdose death rate of any major American city  say they've shouldered a heavy burden already. They are frustrated they have few details on the sites, where people would be able to use drugs under medical supervision, be revived if they overdose, and access treatment and other services.

Philadelphia would be the first U.S. city with an officially sanctioned site. No specific locations have been identified, other than to say they need to be close to people in addiction.

And that list would be led by Kensington, which draws people in addiction from several states  many of them white interlopers in a community deserted long ago by white residents  who camp out under bridges and in abandoned buildings.

It is a community where people remember an earlier drug plague, one where people of color were sent to prison, not cared for with safe injection sites.

Yet reactions here do not line up neatly in us-against-them order. The one unifying belief: Whatever else happens, Kensington needs much more than a safe injection site.

Jessie Alejandro-Cruz, director of Mothers Mission, a local advocacy group, was checking on the well-being of drug users with her friend Charito Morales, a nurse and activist. She wants something different for the community than sanctioned places to inject drugs. "We've suffered enough. Kensington doesn't deserve this."

Sterling Johnson, a member of another helping group, the Save Our Lives Collective, believes a site could be the start of investing in the community to address the harm that has been done in the past to Kensington.

"We will be here again if we don't take that context into account," said Johnson, whose group distributes clean needles and food and provides wound care.

"The racist drug laws of the 1970s are still here. [Safe injection sites] are the beginning of unraveling that."

Protecting the children

At Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Elementary School on Thursday afternoon, parents walked up Lehigh Avenue to get their kids.

On the south side of the avenue sits the school playground. On the north side, heroin users have set up tents and mattresses and cardboard shelters under a train bridge, a camp that sprang up after the city and Conrail blocked access to the notorious  but hidden  trackside zone known as El Campamento.

Some parents take the long way around to avoid the bridge camp, or tell their kids not to look out the car windows. Meanwhile, people in the encampment call out, "Kids on the block!" as a warning not to shoot up in sight of children walking by.

"It's next to a school," emphasized Jose Santana, waiting for his daughter outside Visitation. He was not convinced by public health officials' evidence that safe injection sites in other countries have cut down on public injections and the piles of discarded needles that litter these streets.

Inside the office, Lourdes Terreforte, the parish secretary, sighed. Her son, who's 34, has been addicted to heroin for three years and is in prison.

She understands that a safe injection site would likely decrease public drug use. But she can't get past the idea of a city-sanctioned space to use drugs, even in a neighborhood where drug use is already so visible: "That's giving them more right to shoot up heroin."

But Marilyn Montes, who has two children at Visitation, said she supports the idea. Last year, she said she called the city for months about an abandoned house on her block where people were using drugs, and a man eventually died of an overdose.

To her, a safe injection site "is fine," she said. "I think that's better than having them out there in the street."

A library gets back to the books

Last summer, the lawn of the McPherson Square library was the closest thing to a safe injection site in Philadelphia. Young people set up camp outside the historic building just beyond the El tracks above Kensington Avenue, using heroin on the lawn. When they overdosed, the librarians would rush outside with Narcan.

"It was a pseudo safe injection site," said librarian Chera Kowalski, who saved six people on the lawn last summer. "But we were a space that also had kids and families  a community space. It was an exhausting balance."

These days, thanks to an extended police presence, the lawn is quiet. A mother played with her children on the gleaming new playground outside; residents tapped at computers and asked Kowalski for help scanning library cards inside.

She was relieved, she said, that the city had announced plans to open a site. But much more needs to be done.

"There's a lot of misinformation out there," she said. "You have to assure the community that this is going to impact the quality of life. They can't just make this choice and assume people understand. They can't [only] speak to audiences who already agree with it."

Two pastors, two viewpoints

The Rev. Richard Harris, pastor at Firm Hope Baptist Church on Auburn Street, is a member of the neighborhood group Somerset Neighbors for Better Living, which has been organizing street cleanups around Kensington. Many in his group are adamantly opposed to a safe injection site.

"You're going to a street dealer to buy drugs and to a government site to do it?" he said. "My mind just can't wrap around it right yet."

Yet he's coming around.

"At the end of the day, I have to put my personal feelings aside and support the safe site, because the drug usage is going to continue," he said. "And I see the need, of trying to save a life."

Juan Marrero, pastor of Christ Centered Church on North Broad Street, offers another perspective: that of a man in recovery from cocaine addiction.

"An injection site may keep users off the street, but my faith tells me it may contribute to addiction," said Marerro. "For me, that's confliction, brother."

Like a lot of people, Marerro is stunned by the irony that a once-white neighborhood that rioted in the 1960s because brown and black people moved in could be asked to accommodate injection sites for white drug users.

"We're one of the poorest neighborhoods in the nation, and we have white addicts from Oregon panhandling," Marerro said. "It's a dynamic I've never seen before. Still, that people here give money shows the hospitality they have."

In addiction, wanting a way out

Under a Conrail bridge on Emerald Street, 15 tents and 10 mattresses were lined against the cold wall. It's an impromptu setup that feels more permanent by the day, where the denizens stuff foil roasting pans into the sewer to keep rats from overrunning them as they sleep. In the camps on Lehigh Avenue  there are two more under the bridges on Frankford Avenue and Kensington Avenue  more than a dozen people in addiction said they supported having a safe injection site.

There was an outlier: Jessica Bradshaw, 40, pushing her blond hair out of her eyes as she plopped onto a discarded office chair, said she needed a "place to get my [stuff together], not a place to shoot up  why not build a shelter?"

Shannon Hurley, walking by, said she and her husband left their house in Wilmington on Dec. 29 to celebrate his birthday and had been in Kensington ever since. The 39-year-old mother of two children, aged 20 and 19, said that she'd be in favor of an injection site, simply for the safety it would provide.

Others said they would welcome the medical supervision. "I wouldn't destroy my veins," said Marlyn Glover, referring to the dangerous abscesses that drug use can create.

Many spoke of not having to inject publicly, especially in front of children.

And it would save their lives, they said.

"It's better than sitting out here," said a woman named Tonya, who has lived in a tent on Kensington Avenue for several months. "People are going to do it anyway. And so many people have died already."

Some, she said, were her friends.
Steve Martin gets applause after playing the banjo during the 161st Academy of Music Anniversary Concert and Ball. Read more

In its time, the Academy of Music Anniversary Concert and Ball has hosted comedians (Harpo Marx), rock stars of a certain age (Rod Stewart), and transcendent divas (Maria Callas).

But if you really want to goose up the energy, what you obviously need is a banjo act. Not just any banjo act, but a high-class one, which is exactly what the event's white-tie crowd got Saturday night.

The formula worked. In arrangements written especially for this 61st iteration of the event, Steve Martin and the Philadelphia Orchestra skillfully married banjo and the Western symphonic tradition. The concert and ball, to raise money for the 161-year-old opera house, was sold out for the first time in more than a decade, and nearly $2 million was raised (before expenses).

Call it the sweet twang of success.

The night in fact raised more money than in any previous year, Martin told the Academy audience, which applauded his report loudly  "had it not been for my fee."

Martin and Yannick Nezet-Seguin, the orchestra's music director who led the concert, had some chemistry going on stage, with the comedian submitting to a listening test at one point on what he called "esoteric, atonal symphonic music."

Then the stage lighting turned green, and the orchestra bled green in a quick blast of "Fly, Eagles, Fly" that yielded clapping, singing, and a near-explosion from the audience.

More than 2,100 bought tickets to Saturday night's concert, with 1,500 expected for the dinner and ball at the Bellevue, an orchestra spokeswoman said. Attending was a lively mix of local leaders from the arts, business, government, and philanthropic sectors. Among them: Gov. Wolf; Sen. Bob Casey; Wolfgang Waldner, Austrian ambassador to the U.S.; philanthropists Carole Haas Gravagno, John and Leigh Middleton, and Carol Shanis; Kimmel Center president Anne Ewers; and Philadelphia Museum of Art president Gail M. Harrity.

At the reception before the concert, a few, in response to some leading questions from the music critic, wondered if banjo was really the best choice to go with Philadelphia's famously velvety strings.

Others, though, waved away skepticism.

"It's the Academy of Music, and banjo is music," said R. Anderson "Andy" Pew, who ought to know, as one of the building's most ardent supporters.

Music there was. Soprano Laquita Mitchell and bass-baritone Kevin Short sang excerpts from Porgy and Bess, and Martin played four pieces arranged for banjo and orchestra. Martin plays well and fast, though his pieces were brief and light.

The best was the last, "So Familiar," a moderately paced and meditative work that had the orchestra layering on various colors at points.

Martin's talent is obvious, and he presented a good case for his instrument as a convivial companion to a great orchestra. After all, he told Nezet-Seguin, he's played with lots of orchestras before.

But he said: "You're the first conductor to say the word banjo without cursing."
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents gather before serving a employment audit notice at a 7-Eleven convenience store in Los Angeles earlier this month. Agents said they targeted about 100 7-Eleven stores nationwide Wednesday to open employment audits and interview workers. Read more

In the moral sense of the word, you'd be hard pressed to find a better American citizen than Harry Pangemanan. After Superstorm Sandy ravaged North Jersey in 2012, Pangemanan  a 46-year-old father of two who heads a church-based nonprofit in Highland Park, N.J.  organized other foreign-born refugees like himself to rebuild some 200 homes, while cooking meals for his army of volunteers and learning to hang drywall.

There's just one problem: Pangemanan  a Christian who came to America undocumented about 25 years ago, fleeing persecution in Muslim-majority Indonesia  is not a citizen in the legal sense of the word. After dodging deportation in 2009 by seeking church sanctuary, and then risking arrest as he traveled to work on storm-ravaged homes, he had reached an uneasy but seemingly humane truce with U.S. immigration officials. They asked Pangemanan to regularly check in with them while allowing him to continue his good works in Highland Park.

But everything has changed for Pangemanan and a small but thriving Indonesian Christian community in North Jersey in the year since Donald Trump became president  and changed immigration procedures to "take the shackles off" officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Border Patrol and other federal and police agencies that deal with migrants.

On Thursday, two Indonesian immigrants were arrested by ICE officers as they dropped their children at school  the type of setting that that immigration agents used to avoid before Trump and his attorney general Jeff Sessions "took the shackles off." And agents came looking for Pangemanan, who once again has taken refuge in the Reformed Highland Church  just a week after receiving a humanitarian award inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. To make matters worse, the homes of Pangemanan and another nearby Indonesian family were ransacked.

The incident is one more chapter in a slow-motion American human-rights catastrophe that has been hiding in plain sight for the last 12 months. It's part of a series of scattered incidents and policy changes targeting undocumented immigrants from Southern California to the Canadian border, spreading fear and panic throughout immigrant communities and is now targeting immigration activists for their beliefs. It's created unthinkable scenes like families scrambling across snowdrifts to escape the United States for Canada, the kind of thing that used to happen at the Berlin Wall.

And the worst may be yet to come. In the weeks ahead, at least 800,000 so-called "Dreamers"  young adults who were brought here, undocumented, as children and who since then have obeyed the law and worked their way through college or even joined the military  could lose their protected status and face deportation.

Late last week, Trump offered those in Congress and others who support the Dreamers a horrible deal, using 1.8 million undocumented immigrants as a bargaining chip to otherwise abandon what were once America's best ideals  erecting a giant, obscenely overpriced wall around the nation and making the United States unwelcoming to refugees seeking political or economic freedom. It's a scheme carefully crafted to, in the words of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, "make America white again."

In Tuesday night's State of the Union address, Trump reportedly intends to tout the immigration deal as part of a reboot of his dismal presidency  seeking to recast himself as a master of "the art of the deal," even as a humanitarian willing to buck the right-wing extremists in his Republican Party. Don't fall for it.

To the contrary, Trump's broader immigration plan is a cruel scheme that would end a time-honored tradition of "family reunification" (which the right prefers to call by the creepier sounding "chain migration") and reduce legal immigration (and thus hurt the economy) in ways that target non-whites. That would reflect the xenophobia that Trump rode to the Oval Office and the racist views of adviser Stephen Miller, who has the president's ear on these matters, and of Trump himself, who lacks moral authority after calling for fewer immigrants from "shithole countries" in Africa and embracing stereotypes about Haitians with AIDS and Nigerians in huts while hailing blue-eyed Norwegians as the ideal migrants.

Just days after the racism of the American president was laid bare for the world to see, Trump is asking us to embrace what is essentially his s-hole immigration plan  but that's not all. How can the Trump administration try, with a straight face, to claim the high ground on this issue when the police-state tactics of ICE, Border Patrol and other agencies unleashed by Trump and Sessions have led to some of the worst human-rights abuses in this country in decades? For example:

 Earlier this month, an outspoken immigration-rights advocate, the Trinidad native Ravi Ragbir, who fights for his fellow migrants as leader of the New Sanctuary Coalition, showed up for his routine immigration check-in in New York City, only to be arrested  one more sign that the Trump administration may begin to single out the most outspoken. Fainting at the news of his arrest, Ragbir was whisked away by an ambulance  only to resurface in a detention center in Florida, 1,000 miles from his family and activists who've been protesting his detention.

 Near the U.S.-Mexico border outside of Tucson, Ariz., nine members of an activist group called No More Deaths  a faith-based humanitarian outfit that leaves water stations in the desert, seeking a halt to the scores of migrants who've died of thirst after walking across the border  have been charged with felonies and misdemeanors by federal authorities in recent weeks. Earlier this month, an activist with the group published a report accusing Border Patrol agents of systematically destroying water jugs  and was arrested the day the report came out.

 Across the country, local TV reports or newspapers are regularly carrying stories like this one out of Southern California, where a 30-year-old youth football coach and father of two who was brought to the United States when he was just 2 years old and doesn't even speak Spanish was pulled over at a traffic stop by ICE agents, arrested and ticketed for deportation to a country that is not his own.

Look, people will say that American immigration policy  to the extent that we even have a policy  was a mess during Barack Obama's years, and they'd be right. Unable to get comprehensive immigration reform through Congress, Obama increased the pace of deportations  both justified and dubious  and earned the nickname "Deporter-in-Chief." But he also took executive action  under controversial legal authority  to protect Dreamers under the program known as DACA, as well as others who've established a stable home in America.. The regular check-ins by undocumented immigrants like Ragbir and Pangemanan were a solution that was imperfect; but that policy was at least rooted in common sense and, most importantly, humane.

Trump  who issued an executive order that allows for much more deportation, even for those who'd been allowed to check in  and his administration have tossed any humanity out the window. Immigrants who've seen their neighbors targeted by ICE's aggressive police-state tactics and arrested outside schools and churches or inside courthouses now live in a state of fear, afraid to leave their homes, or to cooperate with police or prosecutors on reducing crime in their communities. There is fear of showing up for work at 7-Eleven or checking into a Motel 6. People who've fled drug gangs in El Salvador or dangerous conditions in Haiti have been told the lamp of American liberty no longer shines for them, which is why some are fleeing by way of the Canadian border. Much of this has been fueled by a president's racist stereotypes and his willingness to not only play to the worst prejudices of voters but to bring xenophobes like Miller into the White House.

The danger to America's moral fiber cannot be understated here. Appealing to the masses through racism, and adopting cruel policies that target The Other is a loud echo of the very worst that civilization has seen over the last century  a slippery slope that can get much, much worse before it gets better.

Democrats in Congress would be foolish to rule out any dealing with Trump and the GOP on the DACA program; some improved border security would be reasonable. But when it comes to fundamental human rights, any compromise is simply not moral. The 800,000 Dreamers in the DACA program  which is strongly supported by the American public  deserve a straight up or down vote, while many of the changes proposed by Trump in his so-called deal would fundamentally end the idea of America as a beacon of hope in the world.

Some leaders are standing up  most notably New Jersey's new governor Phil Murphy, who visited Mangenanan to show his support and has vowed to fight the federal government on DACA deportations. We need more people in the political arena to follow his lead. Trump wants to prove (despite all evidence) he can master "the art of the deal?" Then he needs to call off his goons and tell ICE and Border Patrol to honor the American ideal of protecting basic human rights  or else there's nothing to talk about.
When the blockbuster podcast Serial took up the case of Adnan Syed, the Baltimore man convicted of the 1999 murder of high school student Hae Min Lee, the investigation opened up a path for Syed's case to get back into court.

Now, Undisclosed, a popular podcast created by the lawyer who first brought attention to Syed's story, may likewise provide fresh evidence and a spark of hope for several Philadelphia men who also have strong innocence claims.

Monday marks the final episode of a season of Undisclosed dedicated to the case of Terrance Lewis, whose story the Inquirer and Daily News first highlighted last May. It's been eight years since a federal judge found that Lewis  a 39-year-old man serving life in prison for participating in the 1996 murder of Hulon Bernard Howard  appeared to be actually innocent. But, because of legal procedure, that was not enough to free him.

To Susan Simpson, a lawyer who hosts the podcast with lawyers Rabia Chaudry and Colin Miller, the case was striking.

"Terrance Lewis' case is about as simple a case as you can imagine: They found someone who can point at Terrance, and called it a day," Simpson said. That person was a single eyewitness who conceded she had used crack not long before the murder took place, and who identified Lewis only by his nickname, Stink.

Now, though, Lewis has a new chance at exoneration. His case is a top priority for review by the Philadelphia District Attorney's Conviction Review Unit, according to a spokesman. And, evidence uncovered by the podcasters could help his cause.

One key document they found in files Lewis' lawyer obtained from the District Attorney was a page of investigatory notes that appear to document the recollections of the eyewitness. It says Stink was a man named Hakim Muhammad who was wearing an electronic-monitoring bracelet.

"They never disclosed that. The fact that it's a one-witness ID case and that witness initially identified someone else who could not be Terrance? That's huge. That's everything," Simpson said. From police records, it appears police did some follow-up, but never pursued the lead.

Miller, who is also a University of South Carolina law professor, said the case shocked listeners of Undisclosed mostly because of how clear-cut it seems.

Numerous people were out on the 6100 block of Sansom Street the night Howard, an addict who let drug dealers conduct business from his home, was killed. But they didn't testify at Lewis' trial.

"The surprising thing here is the number of witnesses who have come forward and said Terrance is innocent and the fact they were never contacted either by the prosecution or the defense," he said. "Our listeners have been shocked by the amount of evidence showing Terrance is innocent, and the fact that he has not been released based on it."

For Lewis, who remains at Huntingdon state prison, the attention to his case has been a great relief.

"My cries were no longer falling on deaf ears," he said. "Look at what's just been unearthed."

Undisclosed  which counts 236 million downloads so far  is also digging into several other Philadelphia cases. The hosts first focused here on the case of Shaurn Thomas, who was serving a life sentence for a role in the 1990 murder of a Puerto Rican businessman. Records showed that Thomas was actually in juvenile court at the time. Only, Thomas, who was assisted by the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, was released in May, before the episodes could air.

So, the hosts turned their focus to a series of other local cases being pursued by the Innocence Project and other lawyers.

One was Willie Veasy, who was convicted in a 1992 murder and, with help from the Innocence Project, recently got back into court on a post-conviction petition after exculpatory records came to light. They showed that information contradicting an eyewitness statement had been obtained by police but never disclosed to defense lawyers.

Next up is Chester Hollman III, convicted in the 1993 murder of University of Pennsylvania student Tae Jung Ho. A key witness recanted her testimony against Hollman in 2012, saying she had felt pressured to lie, but it was not enough to sway the judge.

Simpson said she's noticed some common threads among these cases.

"We've been to a few cities so far, and each place has its own version of wrongness going on," she said.

"Baltimore has got some serious corruption problems and they're really efficient at that. In Georgia, the cases I worked on were way more disorganized. In Philly  and it's a very small sample  they just seem so quick, such thin cases, nothing very complex. It seems like they just wanted to get it done quickly more than anything."

As for Lewis, his lawyer, David Laigaie of Eckert Seamans, is hopeful he could come home soon  whether through the DA's office, via a new post-conviction hearing or under a new sentencing agreement. The latter would be pursuant to a 2012 Supreme Court ruling that automatic life-without-parole sentences for juveniles are unconstitutional; it triggered resentencing proceedings for about 300 lifers from Philadelphia.

Such an agreement would appear to reflect a turnaround from the administration of DA Seth Williams, which said innocence claims could not be contemplated in new sentencing offers because the underlying conviction stands.

For Lewis, it feels as if now, for the first time, freedom may be within reach.

"It's so overwhelming," said Lewis, who had no criminal record before his arrest in the slaying of Howard. "My fantasies are broader now. I am starting to make plans, but my mind is just racing. What I do know and I'm certain of is, I'm about to live life to the fullest. I'm no longer going to be one that's doing a life sentence. I'm about to live life on the other side."
Ten die in separate road accidents in past 24 hours

Ten people died in separate road accidents in various districts in the past 24 hours.
On Wednesday, as Republicans were clamoring to make public a secret document that they think will undercut the investigation into Russian meddling, President Donald Trump made clear his desire: release the memo.

Trump's directive was at odds with his own Justice Department, which had warned that releasing the classified memo written by congressional Republicans would be "extraordinarily reckless" without an official review. Nevertheless, White House chief of staff John Kelly relayed the president's view to Attorney General Jeff Sessions  though the decision to release the document ultimately lies with Congress.

Kelly and Sessions spoke twice that day  in person during a small-group afternoon meeting and in a phone call later that evening, and Kelly conveyed Trump's desire, a senior administration official said.

Trump and his Republican allies have placed special emphasis on the classified memo, which was written by staff for House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., and suggests that the FBI may have relied on politically motivated or questionable sources to justify its request for a secret surveillance warrant in the investigation's early phase. Democrats have characterized the memo as misleading talking points designed to smear the FBI and said it inaccurately summarizes investigative materials that are also classified.

Trump "is inclined to have that released just because it will shed light," said a senior administration official who was speaking on the condition of anonymity to recount private conversations. "Apparently all the rumors are that it will shed light, it will help the investigators come to a conclusion."

The intervention with Sessions, which has not previously been reported, marked another example of the president's yearlong attempts to shape and influence an investigation that is fundamentally outside his control. Trump, appearing frustrated and at times angry, has complained to confidants and aides in recent weeks that he does not understand why he cannot simply give orders to "my guys" at what he sometimes calls the "Trump Justice Department," two people familiar with the president's comments said.

Such complaints, and Trump's repeated attempts to pressure senior law enforcement officials through firings or other means, has now become one of the main focuses of the investigation  including an order last summer to fire special counsel Robert Mueller that prompted White House counsel Donald McGahn to threaten to quit before Trump backed down.

Trump recently revived his complaints that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was not properly supervising Mueller's probe and suggested he should fire Rosenstein  a highly controversial action against the person officially overseeing the special counsel's investigation, an adviser who speaks frequently with Trump said.

The president also made clear in recent days that he hopes new questions facing the investigation allow him or his associates to make changes at the Justice Department, two people familiar with Trump's comments said.

The president has told close advisers that the memo is starting to make people realize how the FBI and the Mueller probe is biased against him and that it could provide him with grounds for either firing or forcing Rosenstein to leave, according to one person familiar with his remarks. He has privately derided Rosenstein as "the Democrat from Baltimore." Rosenstein is not a Democrat. He was appointed as a U.S. attorney in Maryland by President George W. Bush and later renominated for that post by President Barack Obama.

One senior White House official said he personally had not heard the president make comments about getting rid of Rosenstein, which were first reported by CNN.

A spokesman for the Justice Department declined to comment.

As Mueller narrows his probe  homing in on the ways Trump may have tried to impede the Russia investigation  a common thread ties many of the incidents together: a president accustomed to functioning as the executive of a private family business who does not seem to understand that his subordinates have sworn an oath to the Constitution rather than to him.

On Wednesday, speaking briefly to reporters, Trump defended his actions in the probe as "fighting back" against unfair allegations. "Oh, well, 'Did he fight back?' " Trump said. "You fight back, 'Oh, it's obstruction.' "

The Russia probe has also figured prominently in Trump's souring relationships with some former allies and confidants. Trump first became enraged with Sessions after the attorney general recused himself from overseeing the Russia investigation, which Trump thinks led to the appointment of Mueller. Later, after his former chief strategist, Stephen Bannon, accused Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, of a "treasonous" and "unpatriotic" meeting with a Russian lawyer in a new book, the furious president cast Bannon out of his orbit, as well.

Sally Yates, the acting attorney general whom Trump fired early last year for failing to enforce his travel ban, said in an interview that Trump's behavior  from his June decision to call for Mueller's firing to other meddling throughout the year  is "beyond unusual" and "really dangerous."

"If you get to what's most essential and important and, I think, really damaging to our country, beyond just the confines of this administration, it's this attack on our democratic institutions and particularly the Department of Justice," she said. "It is a firm tradition at the Department of Justice that the White House just has absolutely no involvement in criminal investigations or prosecutions, period."

She added: "It seems like there are almost weekly efforts to try to get DOJ to open up a case on his former political rival . . . to the near daily attacks on the FBI. We've never seen anything anywhere close to this before."

Indeed, Trump has shown a repeated pattern of attempting to regain control of the Russia investigation and trying to deploy the Justice Department for his own protection and personal gain  comments and actions that Mueller's team could include in the obstruction-of-justice portion of their probe.

The problem, said Barry Bennett, a former senior adviser on the Trump campaign, is that subordinates sometimes confuse Trump's angry venting for actual administration directives.

"Some people still either don't understand the difference between the president's bark and his bite or they're more than willing to take advantage of the bark to assume that it was a bite," Bennett said. "Trust me, everybody on the campaign was 'fired' more than once but it never really happened."

The arc of a potential obstruction-of-justice case stretches back to the earliest days of Trump's presidency.

In January 2017, at a one-on-one dinner, then-FBI Director James Comey said Trump told him, "I need loyalty. I expect loyalty." A month later, in February, Trump dismissed others from the Oval Office and told Comey that Michael Flynn  Trump's former national security adviser who was fired for misleading Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with the Russians  had done nothing wrong, according to Comey's testimony to Congress.

"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," Trump said at the time, according to Comey. "He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go."

Then, in phone calls in March and April, Trump told Comey he needed him to lift the "cloud" of the Russia investigation and "get out" that Trump personally was not under investigation.

And then on May 9, an angry Trump finally fired the FBI director.

Shortly after dismissing Comey, the president asked Andrew McCabe, his acting FBI director, who he voted for in the 2016 election, according to people with knowledge of the conversation. Later in December, when The Washington Post reported that McCabe intended to retire in early 2018 after he becomes fully eligible for his pension benefits, Trump took to Twitter to criticize him.

A person who has spoken with Mueller's team said investigators' questions seemed at least partially designed to probe potential obstruction from Trump.

"The questions are about who was where in every meeting, what happened before and after, what the president was saying as he made decisions," this person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to recount a private session.

This person added that while it seemed unlikely Mueller's team would yield any evidence of a coordinated effort to aid the Russians  "If you were on the campaign, you know we couldn't even collude with ourselves," he said  the investigators might find more details to support obstruction of justice.

In June, Trump had so openly begun discussing firing Mueller that Bannon and Reince Priebus, who was then chief of staff, grew "incredibly concerned," huddling to strategize about how to dissuade the president and enlisting others to intervene with him.

In mid-June, Christopher Ruddy, the chief executive of the conservative Newsmax Media and a longtime Trump confidant, voiced those concerns publicly, telling PBS "NewsHour," "I think he's perhaps terminating the special counsel."

And that same month Trump did, in fact, order McGahn to fire Mueller, a directive first reported Thursday by The New York Times. But McGahn told West Wing staff  though not the president  that he would quit before carrying out Trump's directive, and the president ultimately backed down, people familiar with the events said.

Allies of the president said his demands for absolute loyalty are not unreasonable  and not indicative of any attempts to obstruct justice. "Of course the president ought to be able to expect loyalty," said Newt Gingrich, an unofficial Trump adviser. "He is the chosen president of the United States by the American people, and he is the chief executive. If they're not loyal to him, who the hell are they supposed to be loyal to?"

In recent weeks, Mueller's team has questioned White House staff about the June episode in which Trump expressed interest in firing Mueller, a person familiar with those interviews said.

Mueller has also asked about Trump's repeated outbursts against his attorney general, including a moment in late July when Trump nearly ousted Sessions out of anger at the Russia probe. Although McGahn had called Sessions at Trump's request in early March to urge him not to recuse himself, Sessions had stepped aside that same day  and the president was furious.

By July 19, Trump was venting publicly, telling the Times it was "very unfair" of Sessions to recuse himself from the Russia investigation and that he would not have nominated Sessions to be attorney general if he had known of his plans.

The next day, facing Trump's public criticism, Sessions announced that he would remain attorney general "as long as it is appropriate." That same day, a White House adviser told a Post reporter that Trump was "stunned" that Sessions had not yet quit. The president, this adviser added, has been hoping that Sessions would be embarrassed enough by Trump's scathing public remarks to leave on his own.

Shortly after, Trump issued a directive to Priebus: Go to Sessions and secure his resignation, according to two people with knowledge of the episode.

But Priebus hesitated, declining to outright ask Sessions to quit and instead working to manage Trump's anger, those two people said. In the following days, Republicans rallied to Sessions's defense and Trump backed off.

A person who has interacted with Mueller's team said the prosecutors seem to be pursuing a theory that Trump's actions over months have followed a consistent pattern. "Their theory appears to be that he goes after people who are not loyal," this person said. "He wants in place people who are loyal, to make sure he doesn't get in trouble in the investigation."

This person added that key episodes in this narrative include Trump ordering that Sessions not recuse himself from the investigation; the firing of Comey; his efforts to intervene to get the Flynn investigation dropped; and then, above all, Trump's dictation aboard Air Force One in July of a misleading statement to be released by his son, Don Jr., about his meeting with the Russian lawyer at Trump Tower during the campaign  "the most obvious obstructive act," this person said.

To prove obstruction of justice, Mueller would have to show that Trump didn't just act to derail the investigation but did so with a corrupt motive, such as an effort to hide his own misdeeds. Legal experts are divided over whether the Constitution allows for the president to be indicted while in office. As a result, Mueller might seek to outline his findings about Trump's actions in a written report rather than bring them in court through criminal charges. It would probably fall to Rosenstein to decide whether to submit the report to Congress, which has the power to open impeachment proceedings.

As Trump faced growing questions about everything from his June directive to fire Mueller to his more recent grousing about Rosenstein, the White House was largely silent. In response to several specific queries, White House spokesman Hogan Gidley offered a written statement that addressed few of them.

"The president has been clear publicly and privately that he wants absolute transparency throughout this process," Gidley said in the statement. "Based on numerous news reports, top officials at the FBI have engaged in conduct that shows show bias against President Trump and bias for Hillary Clinton. The president has said repeatedly for months there is no consideration of terminating the special counsel."

  

The Washington Post's Philip Rucker and Matt Zapotosky contributed to this report.
Rep. Pat Meehan, R-Pa., works on the GOPs tax overhaul in November. Last week he announced he would not seek another term after a news report revealed he had used taxpayer money to settle a sexual harassment claim brought by an aide. Read more

WASHINGTON  Rep. Pat Meehan's sudden fall last week began with a revelation that he used taxpayer money to quietly settle a sexual-harassment claim brought by an aide  but it was his stunning public response that accelerated his drive off the political cliff.

Meehan's decision to do wrenching interviews with nine news outlets Tuesday bucked the advice of congressional and campaign aides who argued against it, according to two people with direct knowledge of his planning and three others briefed on the situation.

Usually cautious in his public comments and often clumsy in his syntax, the Delaware County Republican also declined offers to help prepare for the high-pressure interviews, according to one of the sources. Two said that even some of his closest advisers were surprised by what he revealed.

By the end of it, Meehan's own words  especially his use of the phrase soul mate to describe the younger aide who had accused him of harassment  turned the story from another Washington scandal into a viral moment ridiculed on cable news and late-night talk shows.

Many Republicans believed Meehan's political career was doomed no matter what in an election year when sexual harassment has dominated the public discourse.

But his public explanation sped up the process.

"It's a difference of dying from an incurable disease, and committing hari-kari," said Dan Fee, a Democratic media consultant based in Philadelphia.

By the end of the week, Republicans throughout the Philadelphia region were shaking their heads at how a guarded former prosecutor had allowed alleged harassment, a secret legal settlement, and his own statements to implode his congressional career.

One person close to the situation said Meehan may have been influenced by his time as a federal prosecutor, when he learned the power of public perception and how damaging it could be for people accused of wrongdoing to remain silent as news reports mounted. Old political friends advised him to get ahead of the story, the source said.

Meehan, conscious of how the report might affect his straight-arrow public image after a long career as a Delaware County district attorney and U.S. attorney in Philadelphia, wanted to tell his side of the story, argue that he had not crossed any lines, and particularly make clear he had remained loyal to his wife. He also said he felt an obligation to answer questions as a public official.

In a series of interviews Meehan said he did not act inappropriately, but described his affection for his former aide, saying it grew from their close working relationship, and called her his "soul mate."

"It was sort of a confessional," said one person involved in the response. "He knew what he wanted to say and he said it."

Most people interviewed for this story would only speak about the congressman's internal deliberations on the condition they not be named.

One who did talk on the record, Delaware County GOP Chairman Andy Reilly, said he first learned of the New York Times report about the harassment accusation and settlement when the story was posted online Jan. 20, though Meehan knew it was coming.

Reilly heard from Meehan's campaign staff that the subsequent interviews were "Pat's decision." As of Friday, he still had not spoken to Meehan about the allegations.

"People were waiting to see how Pat would react and at some point he would have had to come and address the leadership of the county Republican parties," Reilly said. "But we never got to that point."

Instead, the situation unraveled quickly.

The Times reported that Meehan, 62, had acted hostile and expressed romantic desires to an aide decades younger than him after she began a serious relationship with someone else.

An initial statement from his office denied any harassment.

But he didn't leave it there. Meehan had to be talked out of doing a full news conference  which advisers feared would turn into a media frenzy  but insisted on a series of one-on-one interviews. He spoke to the Inquirer alone for 40 minutes Tuesday, answering nearly every question and elaborating more about his feelings toward his aide than he usually did on policy.

His congressional spokesman, John Elizandro, who wrote the initial response to the Times story, was not involved. Instead, Meehan turned to a politically connected public relations firm, Bellevue Communications, to set up the interviews  though by all accounts the congressman had already decided his tactics and message.

It wasn't clear from interviews Friday what alternative strategies Meehan's aides might have offered. He would have eventually faced reporters, whether at public appearances or on Capitol Hill.

As it was, Meehan on Tuesday said he was running for reelection. But two days later, as the damage settled in, he announced his decision not to run for a fifth term.

It was a swift ending that may reshape both parties' calculations as they battle for control of the House this fall. Meehan's swing district, the Seventh, also may be reconfigured in Democrats' favor after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered new maps for the state's 18 congressional districts.

It now represents a major opportunity for Democrats  who began the year with serious doubts about whether they could unseat Meehan, armed with a $2.5 million campaign fund, labor backing, and a moderate image that fit his battleground district.

Meehan did not respond to a message seeking a comment on this story. But he tried to explain his words and actions again in his letter Thursday announcing that he would drop his reelection bid.

"To me a soul-mate means a uniquely close person who is joined with you on a daily basis, in which you both share the routine successes and strains of a work day," he wrote. He concluded, "I acted, at all times, within the appropriate boundaries of the close relationship I shared with the former employee."

An attorney for the former aide has described the accusations against Meehan as "well-grounded allegations" of "a serious sexual harassment claim."

A House Ethics Committee is investigating. Its conclusions could grant Meehan belated vindication or leave a further stain on his tenure.

As he waits, liberal groups are calling for his immediate resignation, rather than letting Meehan serve out the remaining 11 months of a term that began with much more promise.
Samuel Lincoln Woodward, 20, of Newport Beach, Calif., a suspect in the murder of 19-year-old Blaze Bernstein, appears in court at the Orange County Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018. Read more

The California man charged with fatally stabbing a University of Pennsylvania sophomore at least 20 times is "an avowed neo-Nazi and a member of one of the most notorious extremist groups in the country," according to a report by ProPublica.

Samuel Lincoln Woodward, 20, is suspected of killing Blaze Bernstein, a 19-year-old psychology student, who disappeared the night of Jan. 2 while visiting his Southern California hometown on winter break. Bernstein went missing after driving to Borrego Park in Lake Forest with Woodward, the last person to see him alive, authorities said. The two had attended school together at the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, Calif.

Prosecutors in Orange County say they are investigating whether the killing was a hate crime. Bernstein, whose body was found in a shallow grave one week after going missing, was Jewish and openly gay. Recent news reports uncovered alarming details from the alleged killer's social media accounts that point to far-right or even white supremacist political beliefs.

Even those who knew Woodward spotted red flags. Jake Chustz, a former student who attended the same high school as the young men, said in an interview that Woodward "had a reputation for being very strange and for rubbing people the wrong way." ProPublica obtained social media posts and chat logs shared by Woodward's friends, showing that he openly described himself as a "National Socialist" or Nazi.

Its report, published Friday, cites three people with detailed knowledge of Woodward's recent past, who expose his affiliation with the Atomwaffen Division, an armed Fascist group that aims to overthrow the U.S. government through terrorism and guerrilla warfare.

The organization, which holds Hitler and Charles Manson in high regard, started in 2015 and has grown to around 80 members scattered around the country in small cells. Atomwaffen Division, meaning "Atomic Weapons Division" in German, is said to be a radical leader of the white supremacist movement, one of the more dangerous groups to emerge from the new wave of white supremacists.

Characterized by a penchant for violence, members of the militant neo-Nazi group have been connected to four other murders and an elaborate bomb plot over the past eight months. According to the group's website, members must be white; they must not be married or dating a person of another race; they must be physically fit or willing to improve their fitness; and they are given a required reading list starting with Hitler's "Mein Kampf."

Revelations about Woodward's extremist activities come from two of his friends and a former member of Atomwaffen Division. "Woodward joined the organization in early 2016 and later traveled to Texas to attend Atomwaffen meetings and a three-day training camp, which involved instruction in firearms, hand-to-hand combat, camping and survival skills," ProPublica reported. Photographs it obtained show Woodward at an outdoor Atomwaffen meeting in Texas. "One of the photos depicts Woodward and other members making straight-armed Nazi salutes while wearing skull masks. In other pictures, Woodward is unmasked and easily identifiable," the report said.

According to one person who participated in the Texas training and watched Woodward shoot handguns and assault rifles, the young man is a proficient marksman. The source also disclosed Woodward's involvement in helping to organize a number of Atomwaffen members in California.

Woodward is set to be arraigned on Feb. 2 and has not yet entered a plea.
In season three of The Wire, rouge police Major Howard Bunny Colvin decides to try legalizing drugs in certain areas of Baltimore. The area became known as Hamsterdam. Read more

The third season of the classic HBO show The Wire introduced an approach to drug crime that sparked people's imaginations. In response to the toll of homicide and crime the drug trade is taking on the community in Baltimore, rogue Police Maj. Howard "Bunny" Colvin decides to try something new. Inspired by the brown paper bag that effectively decriminalized drinking in public, Colvin decides to try the approach with drugs. "There has never been a brown paper bag for drugs," Colvin tells his officers, "until now."

Hamsterdam was born.

On Tuesday, Philadelphia city officials gave the green light to a Comprehensive User Engagement Site, commonly known as a safe injection site, in Philadelphia. This site will be the first formal one in the United States.

Almost immediately, Twitter buzzed with users who jokingly corrected the headlines on the announcement: Philadelphia isn't the first city in America to have a safe injection site! Baltimore had Hamsterdam.

In The Wire, Hamsterdam was a law-enforcement-free zone, located over a couple of vacant blocks, in which  aside from violence  everything goes. The goal was to move the drug trade away from the community and create a physical marketplace for all things illegal.

That's not what is happening in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia's safe injection site is going to be much duller than Hamsterdam. It is also going to save many lives.

A safe injection site is a harm-reduction measure to treat drug abuse. The premise is based on the evidence-backed notions that illicit drug use is a reality that is not going away anytime soon and that drug-use disorder is an acquired disease of the brain and should be treated as such. Given these two notions, it is worthwhile to pursue measures that reduce the harm associated with drug use, such as transmission of HIV/AIDS, wound infection, and overdose death.

The first harm-reduction efforts were the establishment of syringe-exchange programs for the injection drug user in the 1980s as HIV/AIDS was spreading to epidemic proportions. These attempts were considered niche and the research to evaluate them faced fierce opposition. By 2016, 17 states and the District of Columbia explicitly authorized syringe-exchange programs in their law.

The next big battle that the harm reductionists faced was over Naloxone, a low-risk lifesaving medication, also known as Narcan, that quickly reverses opioid overdose. Allowing bystanders to use Naloxone was also highly objected to in its early days of the 1990s and 2000s as some feared that access to the drug would encourage drug use (a claim that has been debunked multiple times). Currently there are Naloxone programs in over 200 communities throughout the U.S. and almost every state law provides bystanders with immunity from liability when administering Naloxone.

The current big frontier for harm reduction is safe injection sites: a site in which a drug user gets access to sterile needles and has a clean place to use, can get medical care for wounds, and if the user overdoses (which now with the extra-potent fentanyl happens more frequently than ever), he or she can be revived with Naloxone immediately, and hopefully at some point be referred to addiction treatment.

The alternative for using drugs in a site as described above? The best-case scenario is enrollment in a treatment program that provides medications such as methadone, but given the lack of treatment slots nationally and in the Philadelphia area, it is more than likely that a person will wind up using in one of the many unsafe injection sites that exist in Philadelphia organically.

While there are a few underground safe injection sites in the U.S., the Philadelphia site will be the first of its kind. Evaluation of similar sites in other countries can shed light on what Philadelphia can expect. Research mainly from Australia and Canada suggests that the Philadelphia site will be a facility that is utilized by high-risk users, change injection practices to less harmful ones, increase enrollment to treatment due to contact with consumers, and decrease overdose deaths with no increase in crime.

It is worth taking a look at pictures from Vancouver's sites to realize how different they are from Hamsterdam. These are the sites Police Commissioner Richard Ross visited and helped change his mind from "being adamantly against [the sites], to having an open mind."

Every city in America has a Hamsterdam, an area that is neglected by law enforcement and social services. Some called Kensington Avenue Philadelphia's Hamsterdam. But these are areas with more harm, not less.

It is our job to set the record straight about safe injection sites: This isn't Hamsterdam, it's harm reduction.

Abraham Gutman is an Israeli independent writer and economist based in Philadelphia. He currently works as a senior data and policy analyst at the Center for Public Health Law Research at Temple University. @abgutman.
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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) warned the White House that if Trump fires Special Counsel Robert Mueller without cause, his presidency will be finished.

Video:

Transcript via ABCs This Week:

RADDATZ: So, Senator Graham, you believe the stories about McGahn, about President Trump?

GRAHAM: I dont know. I believe its something that Mueller should look at. Were not just going to say its fake news and move on. Mueller is the best person to look at it, not me opine about something I dont know. Im sure that there will be an investigation around whether or not President Trump did try to fire Mr. Mueller. We know that he didnt fire Mr. Mueller. We know that if he tried to, it would be the end of his presidency.

So, at the end of the day, let Mr. Mueller do his job and see if we can fix a broken immigration system.

If Trump fires Mueller, he will lose the moderates

Grahams belief that Trump is toast along with fellow Republican moderate Sen. Susan Collins of Maine shifting toward supporting a bill to protect the Special Counsel shows that Trump area of concern is with the middle. Trump is increasingly pushing away the moderates who are all that stands between him and removal from office. If the Senate moderates leave Trump, its over.

Sen. Graham was correct. The Congress will have no choice but to act if Trump fires Mueller, and being that the midterm election is coming up quickly, Trump is running out of time. If Trump removes Mueller before the midterms, Republicans who are trying to save their seats will move to restore the Special Counsel, or else they will be the first ones to go down with the Trump ship.

The moment that Trump fires Mueller, he will be a dead president walking, and his presidency will be toast.
WASHINGTON (Reuters)  In a surprise move, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reversed itself on Friday and maintained restrictions on the proposed Pebble Mine copper and gold mine project in southwest Alaskas Bristol Bay region.

It is my judgment at this time that any mining projects in the region likely pose a risk to the abundant natural resources that exist there, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said in a statement.

President Donald Trump has championed increased domestic mining and the EPAs decision to maintain restrictions on the Pebble Mines approval process comes as a surprise.

Until we know the full extent of that risk, those natural resources and world-class fisheries deserve the utmost protection, Pruitt said.

The Obama administration blocked the proposed mine in 2014 over environmental concerns. Last year, Pruitt started a process to reverse that decision. The Canadian company behind the mine project then applied for a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Pebble Limited Partnership, comprising Canadian miners Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd and First Quantum Minerals Ltd, is planning to mine 1.2 billion tons of material, including 287 million pounds of copper.

Northern Dynasty Minerals said in a statement the permitting process for the mine being overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would continue.

We expect the permitting process for Pebble to advance expeditiously over the next few years, and that a draft and final (Environmental Impact Statement) will be completed upon which final permitting decisions for the Pebble Project will be made, Northern Dynasty Chief Executive Officer Ron Thiessen said.

Environmentalists, commercial and sport fishermen, many Alaska Native tribal organizations and even some Republican politicians have all criticized the project, which would be built on land near Lake Clark National Park.

Alaska Governor Bill Walker, an independent, applauded the decision and thanked Pruitt for listening to my input and that of thousands of Alaskans who oppose the mine.

Pruitt indicated the mine could ultimately be approved.

This decision neither deters nor derails the application process of Pebble Limited Partnerships proposed project, he said.

The project proponents continue to enjoy the protection of due process and the right to proceed. However, their permit application must clear a high bar, because EPA believes the risk to Bristol Bay may be unacceptable, he said.

(Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Eric Walsh and Cynthia Osterman)
While the Democratic Party press tries to pump life into Bob Muellers going-nowhere-fast Russia investigation, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley continues to burrow into the real scandal: the corruption of the Department of Justice and the FBI by Barack Obama, the Democratic National Committee and the Hillary Clinton campaign. Yesterday he and Lindsey Graham sent letters to the Democratic National Committee, Hillary for America (HFA), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former DNC Chairman Donna Brazile, HFA Chairman John Podesta, and HFAs Chief Strategist, Joel Benenson. These letters request documents and information about the individuals and organizations relationship to the Fusion GPS fake dossier on Donald Trump.

This letter to Tom Perez, Chairman of the DNC, by way of Marc Elias at Perkins Coie, the law firm the DNC and HFA used to hire Fusion GPS, is typical:

This is the list of information requested:

1. Prior to the Washington Posts article in October of 2017, who at the DNC was aware of Mr. Steeles efforts on behalf of the DNC to compile and distribute allegations about Mr. Trump and the Russian government? Please list each individual who knew, when he or she first learned of his efforts, and how he or she learned. Please also provide all related documents. 2. Did anyone at the DNC receive copies of any of the memoranda comprising Mr. Steeles dossier prior to its publication by Buzzfeed in January of 2017? If so, how and when? Please provide all related documents. 3. Regardless of whether they received copies of the actual memoranda, did anyone at the DNC otherwise receive information contained in the dossier prior to Buzzfeed publishing the dossier in January of 2017? If so, how and when? Please provide all related documents. 4. Did anyone at the DNC receive other memoranda written or forwarded by Mr. Steele regarding Mr. Trump and his associates that were not published as part ofthe Buzzfeed dossier? Ifso, how and when? Please provide all related documents. 5. Did anyone at the DNC distribute outside of the organization any of the dossier memoranda, information contained therein, or other information obtained by Mr. Steele? If so, please list who distributed the information, what was distributed, and to whom it was distributed. Please provide all related documents. 6. Did anyone at the DNC communicate with any government officialswhether in the executive, legislative or judicial branchesregarding the dossier memoranda, information contained therein, or other information obtained by Mr. Steele? If so, please list the parties involved in the communication, the content of the communication, and the date and means of the communication. Please provide all related documents. 7. Did anyone at the DNC instruct, request, suggest, or imply that any individuals should pass along information to Mr. Steele or his intermediaries? Please provide all related documents. 8. Did anyone at the DNC communicate with members of the press regarding the dossier memoranda, information contained therein, or other information obtained by Mr. Steele? If so, please list the parties involved in the communication, the content of the communication, and the date and means of the communication. Please provide all related documents. 9. Did anyone at the DNC inform Secretary Clinton of Mr. Steeles efforts, whether by name or not, or of the allegations he was spreading? If so, who and when? Please provide all related documents. 10. Was anyone at the DNC aware of Mr. Steeles contacts with the FBI or other government agencies prior to the 2016 election? If so, who? When and how did they become aware? Please provide all related documents. 11. Did anyone at the DNC encourage, whether directly or through intermediaries, Mr. Steele to initiate or continue contacts with the FBI or other government agencies? If so, who and when? Please provide all related documents. 12. For the period from March 2016 through January 2017, please provide all communications to, from, copying, or relating to: Fusion GPS; Bean LLC; Glenn Simpson; Mary Jacoby; Peter Fritsch; Tom Catan; Jason Felch; Neil King; David Michaels; Taylor Sears; Patrick Corcoran; Laura Sego; Jay Bagwell; Erica Castro; Nellie Ohr; Rinat Akhmetshin; Ed Lieberman; Edward Baumgartner; Orbis Business Intelligence Limited; Orbis Business International Limited.; Walsingham Training Limited; Walsingham Partners Limited; Christopher Steele; Christopher Burrows; Sir Andrew Wood, Paul Hauser;4 Oleg Deripaska; Cody Shearer; Sidney Blumenthal; Jon Winer; Kathleen Kavalec; Victoria Nuland; Daniel Jones; Bruce Ohr; Peter Strzok; Andrew McCabe; James Baker; Sally Yates; Loretta Lynch; John Brennan.

Grassley and Graham request responses to these questions by February 8. They are, obviously, good questions, but there is no way they will be answered. The DNC and the other parties to whom they were sent will stonewall, evade, obfuscate and lie. Congressional investigations are pretty much useless, not because the investigators are incompetentthey generally arentbut because they have no realistic way to compel truthful responses. Serving interrogatories and document requests in litigation, which is essentially what Grassley is doing here, works because the rules of civil procedure compel parties to respond, and a judge presides over every civil lawsuit. If a party refuses to answer, provides evasive and inadequate responses, or lies, the judge can impose a variety of meaningful sanctions.

Here, we simply have a letter requesting information. The Democrats to whom it is addressed will either ignore it, respond in risibly inadequate fashion, or lie. And there probably isnt anything the Senate Judiciary Committee can do about it. Still, it is good to see that Grassley and Graham are at least trying to get at the truth with regard to what shapes up as the biggest scandal in American political history.
We noted the case of Minnesota man Mahad Abdiaziz Abdiraham (or Abdirahman) this past November 14 and November 15. Abdiraham was charged with first-degree assault in connection with the stabbings of two customers at the Macys Mall of Americas Macy store on Sunday evening, November 12. The second of the two linked posts quotes the charges.

The stabbing victims were brothers Alexander Sanchez (19 years old) and John Sanchez (25). It was reported that the younger brother suffered injuries to his head that will leave scars, and cuts to his arms that went to the bone, according to the charges. His brother needed dozens of stitches, the court filing revealed.

The Star Tribune article on the charges noted that no motive for the stabbings was offered in the complaint, but that it did suggest Abdirahman has had psychological difficulties. In 2016, he was arrested on suspicion of stabbing two staff members with a pen at an inpatient psychiatric unit. That case apparently went nowhere.

This past Thursday Abdiraham pleaded guilty to the assault charges. The Star Tribune story by Paul Walsh continues to suggest that the motive for the assaults was psychological.

At the plea hearing, however, Abdiraham issued a statement clarifying the motive for his assaults. Abdiraham explained that he was waging jihad in support of ISIS. KSTP-TV Eyewitness News reported:

At the plea hearing Thursday, Abdirahams attorney read a statement  which is public record  to the courtroom, which explained why he attacked the two men. In the statement, Abdiraham said he went to the Mall of America to answer the call for jihad by the Chief of Believer, Abu-bakr Al-baghdadi, may Allah protect him, and by the Mujahiden of the Islamic State. The statement added, I understand that the two men I stabbed know and have explained the reason for my attack, and I am here reaffirming that it was indeed an act of Jihad in the way of Allah. Abdiraham also said in the statement that Americans will not be safe as long as your country is at war with Islam.

Eyewitness News reporter Beth McDonough didnt leave it at that. She also sought comment from interested parties. Twin Cities Somali community spokesman Omar Jamal suggested that Abdirahman is not simply the basket case presented by the Star Tribune. This is a widespread sentiment with Somali youth, he said. Jamal said the federal governments effort to make it difficult for would-be jihadists to travel abroad and join a terrorist group has had unintended consequences locally.

Translation: they are talking about waging jihad here in Minnesota. Lest there be any doubt of his meaning, Jamal explained: What is very concerning in this instance, is the fact that youth are exploring more How can I do something here, what weapons are accessible.'

If you dont know about it, however, you wont find Abdirahams statement concerning. Readers of the Star Tribune can persist undisturbed in their blissful ignorance.

Via Kristinn Taylor/Gateway Pundit.
The fake news slogan may be overused and stretched sometimes, but good catch by Glenn Reynolds to note that USA Today ran a news story that President Trump May Be Giving a Speech to an Empty Room in Davos. It was based on nothing more than a few unnamed sources saying that there had been a call for a boycott by some no-name figures from Africa, and that a number of people would walk out. This truly is fake news. Especially since it turned out to be completely wrong.

Instead of a walkout or a half-empty hall, Trump spoke to a packed house, many of whom did in fact walk outafter he finished the speech, mostly because they wanted to be around him. Prime Minister Theresa May then spoke to a half empty room. Heh.

I suspect that a lot of the Davos crowd secretly admires Trump, even if they personally dislike him or his policies. And they may resent him at the same time, too. After all, hes president and theyre not. Foreign politicians and business leaders alike cant conceive of reaching the summit of politics in the manner Trump did. Deep down I think they know they cant match Trump. Love him or hate him, Trump is the worlds rock star these days.* Pay no attention to what Davos Man says to reporters; they all want to be part of the Trump show.

But not to worry: the Davoisie is plenty resilient, and has many stages of denial, such as this from Time:

America No Longer Matters. Davos Isnt Worried About President Trump By weeks end, Donald Trump would be joining the gatheringa neat symbol of his ingestion by the globalist class. A year ago, this group had been mortified by Trumps election and the rise of populism around the world. But the destabilizing President who once seemed like an existential threat now seems more like a harmless diversion. A year after Trumps election raised the prospect of revolution, the elites have regained their confidence. The revolt had been put down, stock markets are up, and globalism is making a comeback.

Yeahsure theyre not worried about Trump. More fake news. (Though Im confused: isnt this what the liberal establishment denounces as normalizing Trump?) I hope they keep going with this line.

Meanwhile, what the heck???

* UPDATE: Lo and behold, CNN actually gets it for a change:
With regard to the opinions and assessments presented in connection with the adoption by the Polish Sejm of the Act amending the Act on the Institute of National Remembrance - Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation and some other Acts, the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland wishes to make the following statement:

1. The works conducted by the Polish Parliament on the above-mentioned law have not been completed, therefore the President of the Republic of Poland shall present his final assessment of the currently proceeded provisions after the parliamentary procedure has been completed and following a detailed analysis of the final form of the Act. The President of the Republic of Poland respects in this case the autonomy of the legislative procedure in the Polish Parliament.

2. With regard to the voices heard in the public space we wish to point out that the Act is aimed at preventing lies and false accusations against the Polish Nation and the Polish State, as directly reflected by the provision of the draft law. Therefore, if the voices of those criticizing the draft result exclusively from their care for the truth about the Holocaust, then the Act meets their expectations and is not contradictory to them. The search and documentation of the truth, as well as prosecution and stigmatization of lies are

concurrent actions and have the same goal. We have common, Polish-Jewish significant achievements in this area, like ensuring that the proper historical name be given by UNESCO to the German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. We acted together in that case and together we managed to confirm that truth. Hence today anyone who uses the false term Polish death camp to describe this and other camps, not only desecrates the memory of the victims but also poisons the awareness with the lie, which should be stigmatized and punished. At the same time, anyone whose personal memory or historical research conveys a true message about the crimes and actions of contemptible nature, is fully entitled to that truth.

3. We regret that the critical voices about the draft law appeared in Poland and abroad on the day commemorating the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau. The commemoration ceremonies were held in the presence of the survivors of this German camp, including Poles and Jews. Whereas the content and the form of some of the comments in particular were not conducive to rational clarification of the situation but stirred unnecessary, emotional reactions instead.

4. We also wish to call upon the politicians and commentators who are discussing this matter in Poland, to keep the intellectual discipline and jointly contribute to the clarification of the real intentions underpinning the proceeded law and, by doing that, to serve the truth and care for the good opinion about Poland and Poles.

Krzysztof Szczerski

Chief of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Poland
UML disabled members candidacy revoked

The Election Commission on Saturday annulled the nomination of Ram Bahadur Thapa, the CPN-UML Province 4 candidate for National Assembly, under the disabled and minority category.
Equity Research is published in the framework of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) Analysis Program

TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The TASE analysis project was launched in 2016 in order to raise investors' level of knowledge of TASE-listed technology and life science companies, and the markets in which they operate. This enables the creation of appropriate pricing and increases the exposure of investors from Israel and abroad. The goal of the equity analysis project is to encourage investments in these companies by removing the barrier of a lack of understanding in the market.

In order to maintain professional, independent and unbiased analysis, the companies signed an agreement with the TASE to receive the analysis services for an obligatory period of two years. The companies cannot withdraw from the project during this period. The analysis is funded by the companies surveyed with funding from the Chief Scientist and the TASE.

Summary of Highlights

Frost & Sullivan forecasts that by 2019, Enlight's project revenues will be NIS 291.7 million (double the 2017 estimated revenues) with 41% of its revenues generated from new wind projects.

(double the 2017 estimated revenues) with 41% of its revenues generated from new wind projects. Enlight operates on a large scale both locally and globally, having successfully executed over 150 projects in Israel and in Europe at a capacity exceeding 200 MW, encompassing a total construction cost of over $500 million .

and in at a capacity exceeding 200 MW, encompassing a total construction cost of over . The company aims to create value by leveraging its expertise and experience in identifying and quickly evaluating and exploiting market opportunities.

The company's strategy is to select and operate in markets that demonstrate a combination of factors: a supportive policy and regulations, favourable market conditions, an opportunity to optimise technology and increase installed capacity. In international markets, the company partners with local entities that provide advantages in the initiation and early stage development phases.

Our valuation encompasses 20 current and ongoing projects (totaling 800 MW). Frost & Sullivan evaluates the company's equity value at NIS 1.07 billion / $ 311 million . This valuation does not include additional, unidentified projects in the company's pipeline, which may have an additional financial upside. The price target is in the range of NIS 2.17 - NIS 2.45 , with a mean of NIS 2.30 .

About the company. Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd is an Israeli company founded in 2008 and publicly traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. The company specialises in the initiation, development, financing, construction, management, and operation of projects involving the generation of electricity from renewable energy sources. It is currently active in the fields of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and Wind Energies. For more information on this analysis, please click here.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion

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Srinagar, Jan 28 : Authorities on Sunday imposed restrictions here to prevent separatist-called protests against the death of two civilians in army firing on Saturday.

Two youths were killed and eight other protestors injured in an army firing when a mob attacked an army convoy in Ganowpora village of Shopian district on Saturday.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti spoke to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who assured the Chief Minister that she will seek a detailed report about the incident.

A magisterial probe has been ordered into the youths' killings. Police have also registered an FIR into the incident.

Separatist conglomerate, Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) headed by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, has called for a Kashmir Valley-wide protest on Sunday over the killing of youths.

District Magistrate Srinagar has imposed restrictions in areas under Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta and M.R. Gunj police stations of old city Srinagar.

Police said partial restrictions have also been imposed in some areas in Srinagar.

Rail services between Baramulla and Bannihal towns have also been suspended as a precautionary measure.
Chandigarh, Jan 28 : When Canada's young Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits the Golden Temple complex, which is home to the holiest of Sikh shrines, next month, he will carry a political message to a big constituency back home.

With a big Punjabi, especially Sikh, population settled in countries like Canada, Britain and the United States, a visit to the temple by leaders from these countries is becoming a must on their travel itinerary in India.

Trudeau is not the first top Canadian leader to visit the shrine.

Earlier, then Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited the Golden Temple in November 2009. He offered prayers and spent nearly an hour inside the complex. Harper deviated from his itinerary to make sure he visited Amritsar.

Harper followed it up with a visit to Takht Keshgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib, the second-most important shrine for Sikh religion and the birth place of the Khalsa Panth (April 1699; founded by the 10th Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh), in November 2012.

Premiers (equivalent to a Chief Minister) of Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Ontario, federal ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs) and other leaders have visited Sikh shrines in Punjab in the past.

The Canadian government has recognised Punjabi an official language.

"Countries like United States, Britain and Canada have big populations of migrants from Punjab, especially Sikhs, settled there. Many of them have done well in these countries and carry political clout over there," Rashpal Singh, an educationist based in Amritsar, told IANS.

Prime Minister David Cameron became the first British Prime Minister to visit the Golden Temple in February 2013. In October 1997, the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth, and her husband, Prince Phillip, visited the Golden Temple.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan visited the shrine as recently as December 2017. Ken Livingstone visited the shrine in November 2007 when he was the London Mayor.

US President Barack Obama came close to visiting the Golden Temple in October 2010 during his visit to India. His proposed visit ran into a controversy over the headgear he would wear to enter the shrine. Under Sikh religious traditions, every devotee to the shrine has to keep his head covered.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani had visited the Golden Temple in December 2016 along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi became the first Prime Minister to serve devotees "langar" (community food) at the Golden Temple.

Leaders from several other countries have visited the Golden Temple complex that houses the Harmandir Sahib, Sikhism's holiest shrine that gets millions of visitors annually. The numbers cross 100,000 on weekends and holidays.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had, in April 2016, shot off an angry letter to Trudeau, protesting against the Canadian government's denial of permission for his interactive meetings with Punjabis in the cities of Toronto and Vancouver. He was forced to cancel his political rallies following objections raised by Sikh hardliners with the Canadian government.

An annoyed Amarinder had publicly refused to meet Canada's first Sikh Defence Minister, Harjit Singh Sajjan, when he visited Punjab last April. It is not certain if Amarinder will play host when Trudeau visits Amritsar next month.

(Jaideep Sarin can be contacted at jaideep.s@ians.in)
New Delhi, Jan 28 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the Budget Session of Parliament from Monday was "very important" and that the government takes suggestions given by all political parties "very seriously."

Modi was speaking at a meeting of leaders of various political parties ahead of the Parliament session, convened by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar.

Talking to reporters later, Kumar said the meeting was "fruitful" and discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere.

Kumar quoted the Prime Minister as saying that the "session is very important" and "the government takes suggestions from all political parties very seriously."

Modi told the meeting that Parliament's Standing Committees, which work in a non-partisan manner to analyse bills, can be used as a model for creating similar committees in state Assemblies.

The Prime Minister said the Standing Committees work away from the media glare and members give their views without political bias, with only national interest in mind.

Kumar said the government was hopeful that the Triple Talaq Bill will be passed in the Budget Session. The bill has not been passed in the Rajya Sabha where the government lacks a majority.

Asked about the issues raised by the opposition, he said members indicated their intention to raise several issues, including those concerning farmers, jobs and economy.
New Delhi, Jan 28 : The Congress on Sunday demanded a judicial probe into the clash between two communities on Republic Day in Kasganj district of Uttar Pradesh and said that the state government failed to tackle the situation.

"This will come out only when a judicial probe under a sitting judge of the High Court takes place. We demand the probe and appeal for peace," Congress leader Pramod Tiwari told the media here.

Referring to the fresh incidents of violence, Tiwari, a Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh, hit out at the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government and blamed its failure to tackle the situation.

"Despite forces being deputed, how such incident took place. This shows the negligence and failure on the part of the state government," he said.

The incident took place on Republic Day when a "Tiranga Yatra" in the form of a bike rally was taken out by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and some other Hindu organisations in the town. As they were passing through the Hulka locality -- a Muslim majority area -- some youths pelted stones at the bikers.

After that, it became a free for all and the bikers also retaliated with stones. Soon there was firing from the locality in which two persons received gun shot wounds and one succumbed in the hospital later.

An irate mob attacked vehicles on the highway, targeted public property and torched some other vehicles. Over half-a-dozen persons, including some policemen, were also been injured in the clashes.
Goa, Jan 28 : In a first-of-its-kind tie-up in India's marine sector, COOP Cooperative, one of Switzerland's biggest retail and wholesale companies, will partner the government of India's Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) to develop export-oriented organic aqua farming in India to cater to the growing demand for organic seafood products across the EU.

A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed here on Sunday by A. Jayathilak, Chairman, MPEDA, and Gerard Zurlutter, Member of Management, COOP, at the ongoing India International Seafood Show 2018 at Margao.

Under the project, MPEDA will assist in identifying entrepreneurs and providing them with technical advice on the production of high-quality organic shrimp that meet national and international certification protocols.

COOP, which has nearly 2,200 sales outlets throughout Switzerland and wholesale/production business active across Europe, has offered to procure the processed organic shrimp at a premium of up to 15 per cent with an additional five per cent through financing for development activities, including training.

"The reason why many farmers are hesitant to get into organic production is the increased costs involved. The premium price offered will offset the extra cost and incentivise them to explore organic farming. Our cooperation with COOP covers the entire value chain and we hope that farmers and entrepreneurs will come forward and take this opportunity to be linked to consumers abroad," said Jayathilak.

"There is increased awareness across Europe about organic produce and it constitutes a niche market which the Indian aquaculture industry can take advantage of," he added.

The pilot project will be run in Kerala to produce Organic Black Tiger Shrimp (Penaeus monodon) initially in about 1000 hectares, and if successful, extended to other locations across India.

MPEDA and COOP will facilitate the certification of a shrimp hatchery for the production of organic shrimp seed and similarly certify and empanel a small-scale feed mill unit to source the organic feed for the project.

Cochin-based companies JASS Ventures and Baby Marine International will collaborate with COOP to organise the supply chain in Kerala and process the produce through organic methods.

Alex Ninan, CEO, Baby Marine International, said that Kerala, with its vast stretches of backwaters and a conducive environment, has enormous potential for organic shrimp farming, which also offers the advantage of putting into commercial use land that might otherwise be unsuitable for farming and agricultural purposes.
Jaipur, Jan 28 : How do great novels come up? Do they reside in the imagination of their writer only, awaiting time and opportunity to achieve expression, are stimulated by events, experiences and other stimuli in the creators' lives or is there some other unique mechanism?

It differs from writer to writer, said an ecletic panel of five acclaimed authors drawn from four continents at a session entitled "The Art of the Novel: On Writing Fiction" at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2018 on Sunday, citing inspirations spanning illness of loved ones to demands of work to an attempt to discover themselves in not only the subject, but the style and treatment.

Calling a novel a most distinctive human creation, Indian author Chandrahas Choudhury said that it "feeds a feeling for life, for language and a need to tell a story", as he sought inputs on what it takes to create a novel, one page at a time.

Chinese-American writer Amy Tan, of "The Joy Luck Club" fame which deals with the mother-daughter relationship in Chinese American society, said that she had begun writing it when her mother had a heart attack scare, and it focused her writing on realizing the deeper characters of the mothers, and their authentic voices. She said that she wrote it "intuitively", with no thought of publication, terming it a freedom especially important for the first-time novelist.

British author Helen Fielding of the hugely-popular "Bridget Jones' Diary" series however had a different trigger. A serious journalist and novelist already, she was asked by "The Independent" to write a column on herself as a single woman in London and began it without her name so she could be more frank, but decided to disclose it when it began attracting a committed readership. It later metamorphosed into the series.

American writer Joshua Ferris, whose debut novel "Then We Came To An End" about the crisis in a Chicago ad agency in the wake of the dotcom industry crash, said he was inspired by his father's habit of using the first-person plural 'we' to use the same in his book.. Citing his father, who decided to use "We voice" to lend himself authority given he was the only one in his work, Ferris said that "it seemed structurally accurate to tell the story" that way, and it was only as his story moves towards it end, he replaces "we" with "I" to compare this section with the earlier.

Nigerian author Chika Unigwe, whose "On Black Sisters' Street" stories is about four female Nigerian sex workers, chose to make thir story not one of "victimization," but rather, of their "agency" to make their own decisions. Having grown up in a conservative atmosphere, she said that on moving to Belgium she was flabbergasted with "the culture shock of sex being in the open". For the book, she said she met Nigerian sex workers and talked to them directly to research her book, and unlearned everything she "had learnt about sex and prostitution.

On the other hand, Sri Lankan-born Canadian poet and Booker Prize awardee for his acclaimed "The English Patient", Michael Ondaatje, believes that the "process of writing is discoverya. He revealed that he discovers the story as he writes it and acewelcomes in all the possibilities, the voices and the situations.a He equated encountering his characters as similar to the way "an archaeologist discovers bones" and then enjoys assembling them.

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)
Helsinki, Jan 29 : With half of the total ballots counted, Finnish incumbent president Sauli Niinisto was projected to win in the first round of presidential election.

Niinisto won 64 per cent in the advance polling published on Sunday.

Finnish analysts say a level of over 60 increases the possibility of being elected in the first round.

As ballots continued to be counted, Niinisto's backing is likely to decline, but all commentators say it is very unlikely that his support would recede down below fifty per cent.
Posted Tuesday, January 23, 2018 7:00 pm

When The New York Times broke a story Dec. 16 about how the U.S. Department of Defense had funded a $22 million program to investigate unidentified flying objects from 2007 to 2012, the Washington state members of the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) regarded the Times as late to the party.

Port Townsends Maurene Morgan has served as the Washington state director of MUFON since the middle of June 2017.

Morgan said MUFON of Washington received five new reports within 24 hours of its already scheduled Jan. 20 Olympic UFO Meet-up at the Port Townsend Friends Meetinghouse. During that meeting, at least two to three dozen attendees discussed The New York Times news article on UFOs with a level of skepticism that one might not expect from a group that pop culture has associated with the motto I Want to Believe.

Although MUFON has roughly 5,000 members across the United States, Morgan explained that the group has 12 investigators to cover the entire state of Washington.

Those investigators have been kept busy. MUFON of Washington has received 135 reports since Morgan took over as state director. She only has three days to assign a report to each investigator, and they have only 90 days to complete their investigation.

NOT CRAZY

As UFOs get more mainstream coverage, I think were getting more sightings, because people are saying, Im not crazy after all, said Morgan, who is quick to point out that MUFON of Washington has the third- or fourth-highest rate of reported sightings in the United States.

At the same time, Morgan freely acknowledges that, with the number of high-value military installations in Washington, it can be a challenging state to do UFO investigations in.

Morgan hopes to get three new field investigators trained soon. However, their manuals are still in transit, and shes assigned eight cases to herself in the meantime.

Morgan was heartened to see the Times devote such coverage to UFOs, especially with published UFO investigator Leslie Kean as one of the journalists credited with writing the piece.

Those who attended MUFON of Washingtons Jan. 20 meeting were far from feeling credulous or validated by the Times coverage, and instead expressed concerns that this seeming bombshell of disclosure might merely represent an even deeper conspiracy by the government.

While the attendees of the meeting requested not to be photographed or identified by name, in keeping with Morgans pledge that such meetings would serve as a safe space, where you can say what you want without other people rolling their eyes, they freely exchanged theories about the possible nature of UFOs, as well as what might motivate the mainstream press and government to release such a story.

A frequently voiced suspicion was that the government might be laying the groundwork to present extraterrestrials as the next threat to national security, requiring further increases in military spending and curtailments of civil liberties.

CONCERNS EXPRESSED

One woman alluded to the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II as an example of how such fears of aliens have been used against the populace. Morgan herself condemned the enactment of the Patriot Act in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The powers that be are so far removed from the rest of us that they think the United States would fall apart if we disclosed that these things exist, and that theyve been here for years, said a retired military member whos retained his regulation crewcut. The only people who would really have to worry would be the power elites in politics and religion.

Even as multiple attendees floated the idea that UFOs could be manifestations of extra-dimensional forces, rather than merely extraterrestrial intelligences, they sought to do a sanity check on their own theories, with Al Thompson, a field investigator for MUFON of Washington for the past two years, drawing self-aware chuckles from the crowd as he framed their discussions as dueling conspiracy theories.

Why do we need conspiracy theories? Thompson said. Because the answers are unknown. Were operating in a vacuum, because the government isnt telling us anything, but even if they did, we wouldnt necessarily believe them. That being said, no one came here because we believe that any one of us has the definitive answer.

Thompson conceded that, as a MUFON field investigator, his inquiries are slightly less rigorous than one based on the strict scientific method.

Were all writing our own mystery books, Thompson said. Im there to hear these peoples histories, so that if and when E.T. walks through the door, you can say, I told you so!

Morgan echoed Thompsons priority of expressing empathy over obtaining clinical details in MUFON field investigations.

Your most important job as an investigator is not getting the exact nuts-and-bolts details, but letting people know that youve heard them and theyre not crazy, Morgan said. Even if theyve misidentified Venus or [the International Space Station], thank them for their report. Ive had so many people start by telling me, Youre going to think Im crazy, until I remind them who theyre talking to.

One man, a fan of UFO researcher Jacques Vallee, warned his fellow attendees against assuming that all such phenomena stems from the same causes. Even if UFOs do turn out to be manifestations of alien intelligences, he said, they could belong to different factions and be driven by conflicting motivations.

I am so glad you said that, a woman told him. She was one of a half dozen in the crowd who identified themselves as firsthand experiencers of such phenomena. There are tons of things Ive come across that I cant prove, but I know what I experienced, because it happened to me. There are a lot of us who dont want to talk about it in public, because we dont want to be shuffled off to the margins of society. I like that this group is open to allowing us to express ourselves.

As is her typical practice, Morgan invited those who wanted to talk further to come to her house, and welcomed anyone interested in joining MUFON of Washington, or in becoming one of its field investigators, to contact her by phone at 360-344-2991 or via email at:

olympic.ufo@gmail.com
The man allegedly said he did that because he had no money to organise naming ceremony for the child.

The arrest happened as a septuagenarian, Joseph Adetunji, who allegedly bathed his sons face with acid, yesterday appeared before an Ojo Magistrates Court, Lagos.

Confirming the arrest of Bala, Bauchi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kamal Abubakar, while briefing journalists on the successful operations carried out within the week. Abubakar, who is a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said on January 21, the suspects brother, one Musa Bala, reported at the Ningi Police Station that on the same date about 2:30p.m., his younger brother poisoned his newborn son by feeding him insecticide.
The statement, signed by ACP David Eklu, says the suspects were arrested in Kasoa in the Central Region in the early hours of Saturday, January 27, 2018.

The police gave the names of the suspects as Kofi Seshie,28, Sarba George,23, George Asante,33, Theophilus Banda and Elvis Owusu, 31, were arrested at Kasoa Saturday, a police statement noted.

Kofi Seshie is believed to have shot and killed the Police Inspector. All five suspects were arrested by the Accra Police Command in the early hours of today Saturday 27th January,2018, the said.

READ MORE: Residents attack police for preventing them to lynch robbery suspects
READ MORE: All five Kwabenya police station attackers arrested

Speaking to Accra-based Citi FM, Robert Normesinu Ashilevi, who speaks for the family noted: Taking into account the circumstances leading to his death, the family will highly appreciate it if the state can accord him a state burial. We will appreciate it.

The ceremony saw in attendance top police officers such as the Director General of Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Police Service, DCOP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah and the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP George Alex Mensah.

The Minister of Interior Ambrose Dery and the Greater Accra Regional Minister Ishmael Ashitey were also present.

Earlier this week, a brother of the slain police officer, Mawuli Ashilevi, had asked for a fund to be established to cater for the children Inspector Ashilevi left behind.

"My brother is a government worker or a nation saver, so we know that because he is doing the job to save mother Ghana they government will treat his family better. So if they can put some amount aside to help the children in the future to further their education, it will be a very good thing to do. So we are hoping to get something from government, they promised so we are looking up to them, he said.

READ MORE: Kasoa police arrest 3 men over sale of guns to criminals

Inspector Ashilevi was gunned down by armed men who stormed the Kwabenya Police Station last week Sunday to free seven criminals who were in police custody.
They were forced to disembark after the plane carrying them developed a technical fault, he disclosed in a Facebook post Saturday.

The latest development comes on the heels of warning from the Minister of Aviation, Cecilia Dapaah, for them to improve upon their services.

Early this month, many Ghanaian passengers were left frustrated after finding bed bugs in their British Airways flights.

A report by The Sun claimed that a British Airways flight bound to Accra was delayed for at least four hours at London's Heathrow Airport after bed bugs were found crawling on the seats.

The bed bugs incident drew fire and fury from the Aviation Minister who summoned officials of British Airways to her office to register he displeasure.

"We have appealed to them, to make sure all flights that are deemed to come to the KIA are all fumigated. If we ever see one bedbug or any untoward thing on their flight, we will take a drastic action. It should not have happened in the first place, and it should never happen again, she said at the meeting with British Airways officials.

She stated that the Ministry had received several complaints from passengers, describing how airline handled passengers with disdain.

The one that broke the camels back was the bedbug-infested flight that was being scheduled to fly to KIA, with our cherished royals, many Ghanaians, and other cherished passengers, she said.

READ MORE: Aviation Minister orders demolition of illegal structures for airstrip
READ MORE: Trainee nurses to receive allowances by the end of this week

It follows complains by the trainee nurses that they have not been paid their allowances, after they received the first payment in September, following the restoration of the allowance.

In December 2017, a group of nursing students in the Northern Region demonstrated against the delayed payment of their allowance.

The payment of an allowance to teacher and nursing students was cancelled by the Mahama administration on the excuse that it was preventing more qualified students from getting admission.

However, the then candidate Nana Akufo-Addo promised to restore the allowance when he is voted into office on the basis that some deprived nursing students rely on the allowance to pay their fees.

READ MORE: Trainee nurses cry for unpaid allowances
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.
Now, she is becoming a force to be reckoned with as she takes the gospel to Sweden, CBN News reports.

The change from Islam to Christianity began after Parsan and her family left Iran in 1984. As a refugee, she was in an abusive marriage, living in Denmark, a totally new country for her.

How Parsan went from being a Muslim to a Christian convert

It was in this strange place that she found God. She describes her experience with Fox News.

She says: In about the first or second month there, a woman came to the door to speak about God. But it was not in my interest.

I was so angry, I was so unhappy. But she came back the next day with a small Bible, so this time I asked Jesus to help me.

Everything I had learned about serving God in the mosque had always involved serving the mullahs, and those men were cruel and not to be trusted.

Could I really trust God the way that she did? Could I hope to find the kind of peace that lived within her? After so many years of giving up on God, could it be that he had not given up on me?

These questions led her to read the Bible. The next year brought her sense of peace and Gods love as she continued to read the scriptures.

Despite this new found feeling, she was still abused by her husband, who did not know about her new journey with God.

Eventually, she decided to commit suicide after a particularly brutal attack during Christmas in 1989.

In her words, I was too scared to go home and the police came to the hospital to talk to me. Many people were helping me find a safe place to live, and I knew it was Jesus.

And soon, the police called to tell me that they had uncovered a plot in which my abusive husband had planned to kidnap the children back to Iran. After that, we moved to Sweden, and the policeman told me that I have an angel on my shoulder.

Parsan is currently leading other Muslims to God

This took her even closer to God. Parsan later gave her life to Christ two years after that experience.

By 2012, Parsan was a minister in the Church of Sweden. Five years later, she has succeeded in not just reaching out to the Muslim community but leading over 1,500 Muslims to Christ.

She is currently in charge of two congregations in Sweden as she trains other churches on what it takes to share the Gospel in the Muslim community.

In her words, I work specifically with the Muslim community, many are also Farsi-speaking. Sometimes they come to the church because they are curious.

Sometimes they are asylum seekers and sometimes they are just visiting from places like Iran and Afghanistan, so they secretly get baptized and then they go back.

I have serious threats at least a couple of times per year, a threat of a knife attack or a bomb attack. I have a police officer attached to my case I can always call, and we have security during our services.

I have other threats from my own distant family members. But for me, what I do is worth it. I hope people out there who have lost their faith, will maybe hear my story and be inspired to come back.

Despite the threat, the 47-year-old says, My life is completely different since coming to Jesus.
World Religion News reports that the Virginia Senate has passed a new bill that permits Christians and the public, in general, to carry arms everywhere including the church.

This new bill was passed after senators voted 2118 in favor of SB 372. It was sponsored by Republican Sen. Ben Chafin of Russell County.

The previous state law says, If any person carries any gun, pistol, bowie knife, dagger or other dangerous weapons, without good and sufficient reason, to a place of worship while a meeting for religious purposes is being held at such place he shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.

ALSO READ: Las Vegas shooting proves many Americans worship guns as their one true god

To take a gun to church or not?

Supporters of this new bill say they passed the bill because of incidents like the mass shooting at a Baptist church at Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Nov. 5, 2017. 26 people were reportedly killed in that attack.

This is why supporters argue that congregants should have the right to carry weapons in case they need to defend themselves.

In 2011, Sen. Ben Chafin made an argument for the need for Virginians to carry arms into churches.

He said, Its a private property rights issue. In the communities that I represent, there are a whole lot of first Baptist churches.

The sponsor added that this should be allowed as long as they have permission from their place of worship.

Not everyone is happy with this new bill. Jeremy McPike, the Democratic Senator argues that there should be more specifications in the Republican bill.

He said, Those who are voting for this measure are voting for guns over God, adding that there are better solutions.
The media personality has come out to say that some men who are looking to get into Big Brother Naija send him eggplant photos of themselves.

In an interview on the YouTube show 'House Rules', Denrele spoke about the kind of pictures he get from men. "Instead of approaching me...when they get my number, the first thing pictures...are correct eggplants, nestled rightly in the boys quarters" he said.

Confirming that he has both male and female admirers, Denrele said some male musicians would hit on him just so they could get their videos on TV.

ALSO READ: Denrele Edun needs not explain himself

Over the years, Denrele Edun has shocked Nigerians with his effeminate appearance and bizarre looks. These have led to speculations about his sexuality. The media personality is an individual who prefers not to be kept in a box.

During the interview, Denrele Edun once again stated that he is a sexual outlaw. "Well I 'm going to say that I am a sexual outlaw" he said before adding that he isn't seeing anyone now but has had female lovers in the past.

This is not the first time Denrele has said he is a sexual outlaw. In October 2015, Denrele first used the term to describe his sexuality.

"So what about my sexuality? What about it? I have been labeled bi-sexual, heterosexual, asexual, pseudo-sexual, sexual-sexual, homosexual, hip-sexual, new-sexual and all of that. I just narrow it down to two words- I am a sexual outlaw. Take it or take it" he said during an interview with Hip TV.
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesHe's not a businessman...he's a business, man. JAY Z may be a multi-platinum, chart-topping rap legend, but at the annual Clive Davis pre-Grammy party Saturday night in New York City -- where Jay was the honoree -- his fellow stars praised his business smarts as much as his artistic talent.

No less an authority than Martha Stewart told ABC Radio of Jay, who's going into tonight's Grammys with the most nominations, "Oh, he's the greatest entrepreneur, he is so smart. He doesn't forget a thing, he's brilliant, I love him!"

Faith Evans was equally impressed by Jay's business acumen. "He went from being a rapper to a real hip hop movement to a mogul and I think that's awesome," she told ABC Radio. "He's so intelligent. I love it!

But Jay's music was praised as well. Asked who deserves the Album of the Year -- Jay or fellow nominee Kendrick Lamar -- hip-hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash went for Hova.

"His records have had the versatility of fun, love, hate, being vulnerable, being masculine," Flash told ABC Radio. "But this last record, he took a right turn, and it's like, all of it was straight up serious serious, knowledge."

After receiving the The Recording Academy President's Merit Award, Jay told the crowd that he'd boycotted the Grammys for six years, because he was upset that DMX didn't receive any nominations in 1998. He returned in 2004 because "the beautiful Miss Beyonce" was nominated for her album Crazy In Love, and then realized that boycotting the awards wasn't the answer.

"Art is super subjective...and The Academy, theyre human like we are and they're voting on things that they like," he explained. "We can pretend that we don't care but we really care...'cause we see the most incredible artists stand on that stage and we aspire to be that, so I was like, I have to be here.'"

"That is the idea, for all of us to get involved and to push this thing further," he added.

At the event, Jay teamed with Alicia Keys to performed a medley of his hits, including "Can't Knock the Hustle," "Hard Knock Life," "Encore," "Run This Town" and "Empire State of Mind." Other performers included Migos, Khalid, Jennifer Hudson, Luis Fonsi, Logic and Gladys Knight.

Tune into the 60th Grammy Awards on CBS tonight at 7:30 p.m. to see if Jay can finally capture the long-elusive Album of the Year trophy.

Tune into the 60th Grammy Awards on CBS tonight at 7:30 p.m. to see if Jay can finally capture the long-elusive Album of the Year trophy.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
The duo were apprehended at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, with illicit drugs.

The suspects have been identified as Harriet Bolatito Solabi, a 34-year old Higher National Diploma holder, and Victor Chukwu, a school drop-out.

ALSO READ: Agency arrests 86 people for alleged drug trafficking in Edo

Instablog9ja reports that Solabi was arrested on board an Ethiopian Airways aircraft that was set to leave the country with 3.9kg of ephedrine and 1.6kg of methamphetamine.

After checking in two big bags she had claimed was filled with personal items and boarded the flight No.910 to Addis Ababa while awaiting take-off, Solabi was recalled and searched.

The drugs were discovered in the false bottom of the bags.

Following her arrest, she lied that she was unaware of the drugs which she claimed was requested by her contact in Pretoria, South Africa, to collect from an unknown person in Lagos.

She also claimed to have arrived Abuja from Lagos on a local flight for an onward flight to Johannesburg.

However, NDLEA found that she had made several trips to South Africa numerous times without any issues until her arrest.

The suspect who is a single mother of a 10-year old daughter, attended Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta.

She disclosed to the NDLEA during interrogation that she trades in fabrics, which she goes to bring from South Africa to Nigeria and distribute them to her customers.

ALSO READ: NDLEA arrests 59 drug dealers in Bayelsa

The second suspect, Chukwu, was also arrested after ingesting 59 wraps of heroin weighing 865 grammes.

He confessed to the NDLEA that a black woman met him in a restaurant in Malawi and talked him into bringing the illicit substance to Nigeria.

Chukwu claimed that he was to call her upon arrival in Nigeria for her to direct the receiver to him.
The event, which held on Thursday, Jan. 25, was organised by the Cultural Office of the French Embassy and held at the Quai DOrsay, a stone platform on the edge of the Seine river in Paris.

Chimamanda Adichie, who is most known as for her work as a novelist and social commentator, was interviewed regarding culture and ideas in her home country, Nigeria.

During the event, she was asked if Nigerians read her books to which she replied in the affirmative.

Although Chimamanda admits that the interviewer, Caroline Broue was intelligent, she was taken aback when she sprayed some ignorance on the podium.

WAIT, WHAT?!!

Do they have libraries in Nigeria, the interviewer asked.

What?, was the writers response.

The interviewer returned, I ask because people in France dont know about Nigeria. They only know about Boko Haram.

Chimamanda, never one to shy away from setting the record straight, responded, I think it reflects poorly on France that you asked that question.

Adichie has since said that it appeared the French word Librairie was translated to libraries, when it actually means bookshops. Still, the baseless ignorant suggestion of Nigeria as a country of illiterates with no reading culture is painfully demeaning.

No-one expects the interviewer to know everything about Nigeria; it is the same way that few Nigerians can boast of knowing everything about France, but to suggest that Nigeria has no bookshops is utterly debasing.

Africa is not a country

Chimamanda has since addressed the matter in a recently released statement.

In response to what the questions insinuate, she said ... 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.

The gulf between how African nations are perceived and the reality on the ground is so distant.

The sad truth is that these differences in perception are not affected by a lack of resources or the fact that there is no information about Africa. It comes mostly from an ignorant, lazy view of the African reality.

Chimamanda echoes this view.

Bookshops are in decline all over the world. And that is worth discussing and mourning and hopefully changing. But the question, are here bookshops in Nigeria are not about that. . And I do not have the patience for that.

Perhaps French people cannot indeed conceive of Nigeria as a place that might have bookshops. And this, in 2018, in our age of interconnectedness and the Internet, is a shame.
Okorocha said this while addressing a some residents of Imo state.

The Governor, in a video released online, was seen talking to the people in Igbo language.

He said You all know what the law says about Marijuana(weed)? Weed has killed my Children in Imo state. Anybody selling weed or consuming it, that persons house will be demolished.

Where we are now, it is better for someone to be an Armed Robber than to Smoke weed, Daily Post reports.

Critics slam Okorocha

Governor Rochas Okorocha was recently criticised by some Nigerians on social media, for erecting statues in honour of President Jacob Zuma of South Africa and ex-President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia.

In his reaction, the Governor said that he will erect more statues in Imo state.

OBJ calls for decriminalization of marijuana

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is the chairman of the West Africa Drugs Commission, recently called for the decriminalization of marijuana.
Iyabo said that she totally supports her fathers views, which he expressed in a letter to the President.

The former Senator also told Buhari to consider the advise of her father, who she described as one of modern Africas brilliant leaders.

Cable News reports that Iyabo said To say that Nigeria has problems is to make an understatement.

The wise should listen, wherever help and advice come from. Those who republished the old letter should have spent time to respond to the content of the said statement which, among other things, called on President Buhari to join the rank of retired elder statesmen in 2019.

I would think this was appropriate and even unnecessary advice, given the serious medical problems he has had over the last few years.

I have had no connection with his administration or to the previous one after I left the Senate in 2011, and to try and use me and my name as some excuse is shameful.

I agree with the contents of the open letter and like all people that wish Africa well, hope that Nigeria someday comes out of its death spiral to become a leading nation in the world.

It is tiring to continue to be part of the Nigerian conversation when there is no positive impact to it.

I really do not want to be part of it, as I have found over and over again that speech and words are wasted on people who have no understanding of the responsibility on us as black people on this planet.

Obasanjos letter is just a distraction

The minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, in his reaction to OBJs letter, said that the former President has not been keeping track of Buharis achievements, because of his busy schedule.
According to the groups spokesman, Sunday Okereafor, there is nowhere in the world where cattle ranches are established in a military base.

Okereafor also alleged that the idea is aimed at giving Fulani herdsmen the opportunity to attack the South-East and South-South without hindrance, Punch reports.

He also said Forget what they are saying; it is the same plot. From sharia, grazing bill to cattle colonies and now to military cattle ranches, we have what it takes to protect our people. We cannot be in churches and our homes and allow any person to come and kill us there. Whether grazing bill, cattle colonies or military cattle ranches, they are all the same.

What will happen is that when the Fulani herdsmen kill, they will run to the barracks for protection. But we know how to protect ourselves.

We must protect ourselves. The Igbo must protect themselves because the navy, the army and the police cant protect them.

Britain has cows; they dont have military cattle ranches; Canada also has cows, they dont have military cattle ranches. Even Ghana has cattle, but they have never talked about military cattle ranches, Okereafor added.

Fulanis are unbeatable

The National Chairman of Fulbe Development Association of Nigeria (FULDAN), Mallam Ahmad Usman Bellohas said that no ethnic group can defeat the Fulanis.
Daily Trust reports that the two leaders exchanged pleasantries at the sidelines of the meeting.

According to NAN, the President departed Abuja on Friday, January 26, 2018, for Addis Ababa.

You will recall that OBJ wrote a letter to Buhari, criticising him for not doing anything to stop the Fulani herdsmen killings.

The former President also said that the President lacks a proper understanding of the Nigerian economy.

In the letter,Obasanjo advised Buhari not to contest in 2019.

Iyabo Obasanjo asks Buhari to resign

OBJs daughter, Iyabo Obasanjohas also asked President Buhari to listen to her fathers advise and resign.
Describing the PDP as a dead party that cannot resurrect, the former Governor said President Buhari saved Nigeria from ruin, Vanguard reoprts.

Oshiomhole also said "I know that the PDP leaders will not sleep today. APC represents the forces of life. The Bible said he or she who dies in sin will never resurrect. I said it before, PDP died in sin and it cannot resurrect."

He also said That is why when I read sponsored write ups, I say that, even in our confusion, our imperfection, our moment of deep reflection, there can be no argument that there is no bringing back the armed robbers of yesteryears.

"No man or woman will allow thieves come to his house. PDP cannot come back in 2019. Nigerians are not fools; they will not be swayed by hired writers.

"If not for our President today, there would have been no Nigeria. The money voted for the police, they put it in their pockets. The money earmarked to fight Boko Haram, they put in their pockets.

"They money voted for security, they used to secure their pockets. All of a sudden, if you produced two barrels of crude, one barrel was missing. I want to assure you, we are building a party that is founded on the principle of social democracy.

"The whole idea is to transfer power to the people and remember, in 2006, we started with the slogan, Let the people lead. And once the people began to lead, the godfathers began to collapse.

"How can the elephants leg be missing in a pot of soup they did not take into the kitchen? When the time comes, we will reopen yesteryears to be able to appreciate today so that we can see where we are going to tomorrow. I want to assure you that with what the governor is doing in Edo, sustaining the tradition of infrastructural development, to attract investors to the state, we are on the right path.

Buhari has never been accused of corruption

Lauretta Onochie, the personal assistant to President Buhari on Social Media, recently said that her boss is the only leader in Nigeria who has not been accused of corruption.

This is coming after a letter written to Buhari by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Analysts saw the election as a tug-of-war between East and West in Czech society, which is also rather eurosceptic with fewer than one in five Czechs happy with EU membership 13 years after the former communist country joined the pan-European bloc.

"Zeman's election threatens to weaken our ties to the West and boost our Eastern ties," Josef Mlejnek, a political analyst at Charles University in Prague, told AFP.

"Its... also about possible closer cooperation with Hungary and Poland, which are at odds with the European Union over a range of issues, Mlejnek added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was among the first to congratulate the 73-year-old Zeman, with Putin's Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping quick to follow suit.

Good for youngsters?

The election campaign centred on migration, which is practically non-existent in the economically successful country of 10.6 million people, and on character issues, with Zeman's critics saying the outspoken president lacks decorum.

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 has received only 12 migrants under the EU quota system, migration was a key campaign issue with a majority of Czechs against taking in asylum-seekers.

Zeman's narrow victory highlights a deep split in the Czech Republic, similar to those seen in other countries with nationalist and populist leaders including the United States, Poland and Hungary.

A former leftist prime minister, Zeman attracted poorer rural voters with a lower education level, while the academic Drahos, 68, is a political novice who appealed to wealthier, well-educated urbanites.

"The election was fantastic, my entire family expected Mr Zeman to win," Prague sales representative Josef Jelinek beamed on a sleepy Sunday morning in central Prague.

"He often meets with the people and doesn't travel abroad so much. He has taken good care of the country and I expect him to continue like this."

But Ondrej Balik, a young shop assistant, was upset with the result, saying Czechs picked a leader who "hasn't been a good president."

"I suppose I'll be upset for the next five years. I was also upset with the (October) parliamentary elections. I think this isn't good for young people like myself," he told AFP.

Greater say?

Zeman's re-election to the largely ceremonial post came amid a political crisis as billionaire populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis -- dubbed the "Czech Trump" -- is fighting police charges of EU subsidy fraud.

Babis's ANO took October's general election by storm, winning 78 of parliaments' 200 seats with its anti-corruption campaign, but is now struggling to form a government.

Potential coalition partners turned their backs on the Slovak-born chemicals, food and media tycoon over the fraud charges, forcing him to form a minority cabinet of ANO members and non-partisan technocrats.

The cabinet had to resign after losing a parliamentary confidence vote on January 16, and lawmakers also stripped Babis of his immunity as an MP, leaving him vulnerable to prosecution.

Days before the presidential election, Zeman gave Babis a second shot at forming the cabinet, which will require another vote of confidence.

He also promised to give him plenty of time to cobble together a government.

Babis in turn endorsed the incumbent before both rounds of the presidential election.

But analysts are cautious about their camaraderie.

"Milos Zeman has achieved his goal and he won't need Andrej Babis any more. If I were in Babis's place, I would be careful rather than happy," said independent analyst Jiri Pehe.

Babis's potential partners include the Social Democrats, the Communists and the far-right SPD party whose Tokyo-born leader Tomio Okamura celebrated Zeman's victory at his election headquarters.
As part of its vision to create the railway of the future, Banedanmark is building Denmarks first high-speed railway between Copenhagen and Ringsted. The 60-kilometer new line crosses 88 bridges and passes through four tunnels to connect 10 municipalities, with a new station at Kge Nord and new platforms at Ny Ellebjerg Station for regional and long-distance connections.

Making It Buildable

A state-owned enterprise under the Ministry of Transport and Building, Banedanmark provides 24/7 train service throughout Denmark, with 3,000 trains running on 3,102 kilometers of railway each day. The network transports more than 197 million passengers and 8 million tons of freight annually. In 2010, the Danish parliament authorized the development of a dual-track electrified high-speed railway from Copenhagen to Ringsted via Kge. Banedanmark was tasked with building the railway, which will handle passenger trains traveling at 250 kilometers per hour.

Scheduled for completion in 2018, the new line is one of Denmarks largest rail projects in recent years. In the 60-kilometer corridor, the railway required four tunnels totaling 1,750 meters as well as 88 bridges. The track passes through 10 municipalities, where Banedanmark had to expropriate 717 acres of land with approximately 200 buildings, and relocate more than 600 utilities. The earthworks alone were massive, moving an estimated 3.3 million cubic meters of dug earth.

Given the scope, Banedanmark was challenged to ensure the buildability of the line. The project was divided into 20 tender packages, which made it imperative to have traceable engineering content and collaborative data sharing. Interface coordination between contracts would depend upon the handover of necessary data from one contract to another. These and other design processes needed to be resolved in innovative ways for the project to proceed on schedule and within budget.

Banedanmarks goal was to use best-in-class purchasing practices, economies of scale and state-of-the-art technology to deliver the $1.5 billion design-build project within budget by 2018. Using Bentley Rail Track and other Bentley Systems civil design applications enabled Banedanmark to provide contractors with intelligent 3D models throughout the projects lifecycle, resulting in tender packages that were 9.3% lower than estimated.

Comprehensive Modeling Environment

ProjectWise, Bentleys design coordination and content management workhorse, served as the collaboration platform for contractors working on different aspects of the project. The platform allowed relevant CAD data to be shared with various parties at pre-tender, post-tender, and as-built stages while maintaining a connected data environment (CDE). With ProjectWise, team members knew that they were always using up-to-date data.

Early in the project, Banedanmark issued a CAD manual that defined standards and procedures for producing documentation, structuring CAD files, creating 3D models, exchanging files and preparing deliverables. Using intelligent 3D models as the basis for design and construction ensured that all documentation had the information required for quality assurance and accountability. ProjectWise design check routines automatically verified that models conformed to standards at each stage of the project.

Standardizing on Bentleys civil design software ensured powerful interoperability among applications. Within the CDE, data from project team members, contractors and vendors could easily be read, referenced and shared among disciplines. The applications provided consistency and clash detection, as well as performed quality checks on CAD data. Data could also be exchanged between non-Bentley applications, such as ArcGIS, Banedanmarks GIS platform.

To confirm that bidders fully understood their contract requirements, Banedanmark requested 3D models from all disciplines. MicroStation was used to collect the models, perform quality control and produce evaluation reports. Instead of using 2D drawings in meetings, i-models were used to collect and distribute 3D models for discussion and troubleshooting. MicroStation made it possible to get an overview of the project and optimize the design. Eliminating errors and preventing conflicts helped to reduce costs and avoid construction delays.

Solutions, Not Problems

Bentley software was instrumental in resolving situations that could have caused significant delays and escalated costs. When civil works had to be approved with incomplete information regarding signaling and overhead lines, the project team used Bentley Rail Track to create a 3D model of the minimum infrastructure gauge (MIG). Using MicroStation together with Navigator for clash detection, the team produced reports that indicated conformance with MIG requirements for ensuring safe passage of the trains. This provided the basis for securing timely approvals from the Independent Safety Assessor and Notified Body.

In the case of discrepancies between design data and the work performed on-site, Banedanmark used PowerCivil for Denmark to document the situations and close contractor claims. Questions about quantities were addressed by surveying the work, generating point-cloud data, comparing design against work quantities, and documenting the differences. PowerCivil also provided the tools necessary to model existing and relocated utilities when the owners had insufficient information about their locations, reducing the risk of damage during construction.

To gain support for the project from regulators, stakeholders and the public, Banedanmark created photorealistic animations using MicroStation, Descartes and Bentley Pointools. The visualizations revealed how the railway would impact the local environment, and helped the stakeholders to understand and accept the project. MicroStations animation capabilities also generated visuals that were essential for placing signs and signals, and testing visibility for drivers.

The process for generating and rendering animations was time-consuming, so the team developed a workaround. By converting a model into a point cloud, combining it with the original point cloud and creating an animation from the resulting point cloud, the team was able to work 10 times faster than by traditional methods. Generating animations in 3D and viewing them with 3D glasses made them more realistic.

Intelligent Data ROI

Banedanmarks well-coordinated design process helped the project stay on schedule and achieve overall budget savings of 10% to 15%. The bold move to require the use of intelligent 3D models resulted in contract tenders that were 9.3% lower than expected. Contractors reported that the 3D models lent a design clarity to the project that reduced risk. The models provided solid data for preparing realistic budgets and accurate quantity estimates. The right software in the right hands helped to make possible the buildable, traceable project that Banedanmark envisioned.

The successful use of Bentleys state-of-the-art technology on the Copenhagen-Ringsted project resulted in the introduction of a new initiative, the Digital Railway of the Future. Running from 2015-2017, the initiative aimed to implement BIM methods throughout the lifecycle of ongoing construction projects. The program called for using the same methodologies that were proven on the new line, as well as investigating how to use 3D models and intelligent data in asset management.

The project will be the first stage of Denmarks One Hour Target, a plan to shorten travel time between major cities to one hour or less. Upon completion, the high-speed rail will reduce travel time between Copenhagen and its suburbs by 14-24 minutes per trip. The new line will address overcrowding on existing lines by providing more departures, shorter travel times and fewer delays. As part of the Trans-European Network, it will also link Scandinavia to the rest of Europe and expand freight traffic along this corridor.

Bentleys commitment to providing the tools necessary to support the whole lifecycle of assets and interoperability with other design and construction software means that Banedanmarks CAD data is usable, well coordinated and well documented, said Gita Mohshizadeh, CAD Manager, Banedanmark.

About the Author

Steve Cockerell joined Bentley Systems in 2002 through the companys acquisition of Infrasoft, and has since worked as part of a team delivering knowledge and expertise to its users in the transportation industry, speaking at international conferences in the U.K., U.S., Middle East, China, Japan and Australia. More recently, he has focused on rail and transit, helping to establish Bentley as a leading supplier of software and services to the global rail infrastructure community.

Cockerell has more than 20 years of industry experience, which he began by studying civil engineering and working as a highway designer for local government in the U.K. He joined MOSS Systems in 1990 as an application engineer demonstrating functionality and highlighting the benefits delivered by CAD-based design applications for highways, railways and land development projects.

Following Infrasofts acquisition of MOSS Systems, Cockerell served as channel marketing director, where he helped develop and launch Arenium, an engineering collaboration product that enabled multi-user access to MX 3D design models. This paved the way for technology that supports building information modelling processes now demanded by industry and governments around the world.
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More then 80 persons were arrested while Rapid Action Force and Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel intensified vigil on Sunday in strife-torn Kasganj which continued to be tense on Sunday.

Explosives were found during house to house searches following which the state police chief said that the stringent National Security Act would be invoked against the culprits.

The Yogi Adityanath government, meanwhile, emphasised that none of the mischief mongers would be spared.

Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma said that neither the criminals nor conspirators would get away even as the opposition Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party targeted the state government on the law and order front.

At least three shops, two private buses and a car were torched in Kasganj on Saturday, after a young boy was killed in clashes following stone-pelting by a mob on a motorcycle rally taken out to celebrate the Republic Day.

A person injured in the violence was blinded in one of his eyes despite efforts by doctors at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital in Kasganj.

31-year-old Mohamed Akram was injured in the eye when he was caught in the violence while travelling from Aligarh to Lakhimpur Khiri on Friday night.

Uttar Pradesh Police, meanwhile, claimed that the situation was now again turning normal.

"We are speaking to the people, the guilty are being arrested, intensive checking and house-to-house searches were undertaken. And this is the reason why the situation is absolutely under control," DGP O P Singh said in Lucknow.

Referring to the incidents that led to the violence, he said that there was stone pelting between two groups resulting in the death of one person and injury to another.

"The police acted swiftly and controlled the situation, and we have intensified patrolling since the outbreak of the tension," the DGP said.

Asked whether any permission was taken for a 'Tiranga Yatra', the director general of police said that no such nod was required.

"January 26 (Republic Day) is a national festival, and no permission is needed. This was a 'prabhat pheri' (morning event)...Some anti-social elements started pelting stones. Police immediately reached the spot and controlled the situation by arresting a few persons. Since then, we are keeping a close watch. Today, there has been no worrisome incident," he said.

DGP Singh said stringent action will be taken against the guilty.

"So far more than 80 persons have been arrested. House-to-house searches are going on. During the searches explosives were found. National Security Act (NSA) will be slapped on the criminals for vitiating the atmosphere," he said.

The administration also organised a meeting of the district peace committee this morning to restore normalcy.

"At the meeting of the peace committee, whose members include prominent citizens of the district, it was decided that shopkeepers will open their shops and commercial establishments," Additional Director General Agra, Ajay Anand, said.

Divisional Commissioner, Aligarh, Subhash Chandra Sharma, said the peace committee meeting was held at the nagar panchayat office. He said that shops selling tea, snacks, vegetables, milk and medicine were already allowed to remain open and normalcy would when others open their shops.

"The administration is acting tough on those who had indulged in the violence, based on the video evidence," Sharma said.

Terming the Kasganj violence as unfortunate, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma on Sunday said that not even a single guilty person will be spared.

Speaking to reporters in Kanpur, he said, "...let me tell you that not a single person responsible for this incident, will be spared. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is himself monitoring the developments, and stringent punishment will be meted out to the guilty, no matter how big the guilty is or how strong his political connections are".

Sharma said that a criminal was a criminal irrespective of his caste, creed or religion. Such incidents will not be allowed to happen in any other place, he stressed.

"Now we have strong laws. It is a warning to criminals that if they conspire to create riots, rifts in the society, or indulge in dacoity, then all those indulge in these acts will be punished and also their conspirators," he said.

The BSP, meanwhile, targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party over the incident.

In a statement issued, BSP chief Mayawati claimed that in the entire country and especially in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Maharashtra, development and public welfare activities had taken a back seat while a poor law and order situation prevailed.

This proves that there has been a criminalisation of the ruling BJP at every level, she said.

"In UP, there no rule of the Constitution, but a jungle raj-like atmosphere is prevailing. The latest example is that of Kasganj district, where on January 26 there was tension. The tension is still prevailing, and the state government seems to be failing here," Mayawati said.

She said the BSP condemned the violence and demands that stringent punishment be given to the guilty persons.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Sunil Singh Sajan alleged, "The government is staging riots in Kasganj. We do not want the resignation of chief minister. We simply want peace and normalcy to return to the trouble-torn place, which is synonymous with the Ganga-Jamuni culture of the state".

He alleged that for the past three days volunteers of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Vishva Hindu Parishad and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parsihad were threatening people and an atmosphere of fear prevailed.

"And the government is quiet. The police is helpless," he claimed.

Photograph: PTI Photo
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said his government had transformed the process for selecting Padma award winners and common people were now being honoured because the emphasis was no longer on the name of a nominee, but on the work done.

In the year's first 'Mann ki Baat' address, Modi said the awards are being bestowed on people 'who do not live in big cities and are not visible in newspapers and TV'.

"Making the (nomination) process online has led to transparency. The selection process for these awards has undergone a transformation," he said.

People were being honoured without a recommendation, he stressed in his monthly radio programme.

"If you look at these winners, you will feel proud that such kind of people live in society and will also naturally feel proud that they are getting this recognition without any 'sifarish' (recommendation)," he said.

"Now the identity of the awardee is not the deciding factor of the award, rather the importance of his work is increasing," he said.

The prime minister also highlighted the works of some of this year's winners, whose names were announced on the eve of Republic Day, and said they should be invited to schools and colleges so that they could share their experiences and inspire others.

He mentioned that this year's Padma awardees include Lakshmikutty, a tribal woman from Kerala who prepares herbal medicines, and Arvind Gupta, an Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur alumnus who inspired generations of students to learn science from trash.

Society should also go beyond these awards and make efforts to recognise people working selflessly, he said.

Modi began his address by noting that for the first time heads of 10 countries were present as guests during the Republic Day parade in the national capital on January 26.

Lauding woman power and highlighting a letter posted on his app by a citizen, he pointed out that astronaut Kalpana Chawla's death anniversary falls on February 1 and her life had inspired lakhs of young people.

She gave the message that there is no limit to woman power, he said, adding that women in India were moving forward in every field and making the country proud.

Modi said women's achievements and place in society in ancient India had surprised the world and quoted a 'shloka' which said one daughter was equal to 10 sons.

Quoting the letter, which also mentioned Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's sortie in fighter aircraft Sukhoi 30, he said women were not only moving ahead in every field but leading there as well.

In this context, the prime minister also referred to President Ram Nath Kovind's initiative to meet a group of 'extraordinary' women, who were all path-breakers, and said women had broken through orthodoxy to achieve 'extraordinary success'.

Kovind had recently met India's first woman merchant navy captain, the first woman passenger train driver and fire fighter, among others, he said, calling them the 'first ladies' in their respective fields.

A book on these woman achievers was available on his website, he said.

"Women are playing a significant role in the positive changes happening in the country," he said, and referred to the performance of an all-woman BSF biker contingent at the Republic Day parade, which, he said, 'surprised' guests from India and abroad.

Modi highlighted woman e-rickshaw drivers working in a Naxalite-hit district of Chhattisgarh, saying they were helping transform the troubled region.

He also referred to the Matunga Railway Station in Mumbai which had an all-woman staff.

In the radio broadcast, the prime minister spoke about the strength of the Indian civilisation and praised its qualities of flexibility, self-correction and ability for transformation.

"Our society has always made efforts to get rid of its ills," he said.

The prime minister referred to the world's longest human chain of 13,000km formed in Bihar against dowry and child marriage and said it was imperative that society was rid of such ills.

Modi also recalled Mahatma Gandhi, whose death anniversary is on January 30, and said his path of peace and non-violence was applicable to all, just as his ideals were as relevant as ever.

"What can be a bigger tribute than taking a vow that we shall tread the path of Bapu and walk, as far as possible," he said.

Moving on to health, Modi said medicines at the government's 'Jan Aushadhi Centres' were 50-90 per cent cheaper than market rates, and said these were making healthcare more affordable.

Noting the participation of people of Indian origin who were elected representatives in various countries at an event in New Delhi to mark 'Pravasi Bharatiya Divas', he said people of Indian origin served their adopted countries and at the same time maintained a strong bond with India.

The European Union, he said, has sent him a calendar in which contributions by Indians living in different parts of Europe in various fields of life had been highlighted.

Photograph: PTI Photo
Students can apply for scholarships

The Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation is awarding scholarships for the 2018-2019 academic year. Scholarship applications are now available for the more than $150,000 available to area students. Scholarship guidelines, requirements and applications are available on the Community Foundation website.

Scholarship applications for the 2018-19 academic year must be submitted by April 1, 2018. The Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation serves Litchfield County with a collection of more than 270 funds from local donors. These funds support nonprofit organizations and provide scholarships to area students throughout the Northwest Corner.

Most scholarships are awarded to residents of the Foundations 20-town service area. The Foundation serves the towns of Barkhamsted, Bethlehem, Canaan/Falls Village, Colebrook, Cornwall, Goshen, Hartland, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, New Hartford, Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, Torrington, Warren, Washington and Winsted/Winchester. For a complete list of scholarships, visit northwestcf.org/scholarships.

Established in 1969, the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation serves 20 towns in Northwest Connecticut. Its total endowment, comprised of more than 250 funds, has grown from initial assets of $15,000 to more than $94 million. Last year, combined grants and scholarships totaled more than $3 million.

Nursing scholarships available

The Wethersfield-Rocky Hill Professional Nurses Association (WRHPNA) is pleased to announce its 2018 nursing scholarships program.

These scholarships are available to qualified nursing students currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree in nursing and to registered nurses currently enrolled in RN to BSN programs. For further information or for an application packet, contact Judith Sartucci, WRHPNA Scholarship Committee Chairman at nursescholarships@cox.net. Deadline for submission of applications is March 16.

Kenny scholarship applications available

NEW BRITAIN  The Robert T. Kenney Scholarship Program at the American Savings Foundation is currently accepting applications from current high school seniors, current college students, and nontraditional adult students who will be enrolled in college for the 2018-19 academic year. Applications are due by March 31.

In 2018, the Foundation expects to award over $750,000 in support to nearly 400 new and renewing scholars who will be studying at a wide range of 4-year colleges and universities, 2-year colleges, and at accredited technical/vocational programs. Students can apply online at www.asfdn.org. The website also has links to other area scholarship programs as well as resources for learning about financial aid.

This scholarship is renewable, and most of our scholars receive support for all four years of college, said Maria Falvo, President and CEO of the American Savings Foundation. Our goal is to help reduce some of the financial stress that can keep hard-working students from achieving their dream of a college education.

Scholarships are awarded primarily based on financial need, with consideration given to academic performance, community involvement, and other indications of a strong desire to achieve goals through education. Applicants must live in one of the 64 Connecticut towns served by American Savings Foundation. Current high school seniors must be ranked in the top 1/3 of their graduating class or have a 2.5 GPA or higher. Current college students must be maintaining a 2.5 GPA or higher.

Throughout its history, the Foundation has provided over $11 million to 2,229 students through its scholarship program. The American Savings Foundation is a permanent charitable endowment that also awards grants to area nonprofit organizations.

The foundation accepts scholarship applications from residents of any of the following 64 Connecticut towns: Andover, Ashford, Avon, Barkhamsted, Beacon Falls, Berlin, Bethlehem, Bloomfield, Bolton, Bristol, Burlington, Canton, Chaplin, Chester, Clinton, Colebrook, Columbia, Coventry, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Granby, East Hampton,

East Hartford, Essex, Farmington, Glastonbury, Granby, Haddam, Hebron, Killingworth, Madison, Manchester, Mansfield, Marlborough, Meriden, Middlebury, Middletown, Naugatuck, New Britain, Newington, Old Saybrook, Oxford, Plainville, Portland, Prospect, Rocky Hill, Seymour, Simsbury, Southbury, Southington, Thomaston, Tolland, Torrington, Waterbury, Watertown, West Hartford, Westbrook, Wethersfield, Willington, Winchester, Windham, Wolcott, and Woodbury.

For more information and to apply, students and parents can visit www.asfdn.org or call the foundation at 860-827-2556.

Applying for college detailed in program

WASHINGTON  College counselor Francesca Morrissey, of Independent College Counseling Services in New Milford, will lead a workshop, Winning the College Admissions Game. This interactive program will take place Feb. 6, 6 p.m. at Gunn Memorial Library in Washington. The snow date is Feb. 13.

Do you ever wonder who gets in and why? Not all things carry equal weight, importance or value when it comes to the college admissions process. College admissions reps love to talk about their holistic approach to assessing a students application materials, but what does that really mean and why does it differ from school to school? In this interactive program, Francesca will share her wit and wisdom on such critical issues as the complexities and nuances of the application and admissions process, the hidden agendas of colleges and provide insight into how decisions are made. Participants will gain insight to help find the colleges that fit them best and to make decisions that help them compete for admission.

Whether planning for college, applying to college, or just thinking about college, this workshop is a must attend for high school students (grades 9-11) and their parents.

Francesca Morrissey has a B.A. from Loyola University Maryland and an M.A. in English Literature from Iona College and has worked in various industries over the past 25 years. Currently, in addition to working as an Independent College Consultant who guides high school students and their parents through the college admissions process, Francesca continues to teach a wide range of classes (including history, language arts, American sign language and AP English) to students of varying ages at Education Without Walls, a community resource sharing center located in downtown New Milford. She also hosts workshops and seminars on specific college topics, works with middle schoolers and their parents on researching and applying to independent private secondary schools, and regularly offers one-on-one and group standardized test prep. Francesca is the mother of four great kids  3 of whom are currently in college and the youngest of whom she homeschools. Visit www.highschool2collegeassist.org.

The program is free and open to the public. Registration is requested. Call the Library for further information at 860-868-7586 or visit www.gunnlibrary.org The Gunn Memorial Library is located at 5 Wykeham Road at Route 47 on the Green.
It was a sweltering summer day when Taronica White first stepped foot into the yard as a new correctional officer at a maximum security federal prison in Coleman, Florida. Before she started her shift, her supervisor gave her an oversized jacket to wear on top of her uniform. "In this facility, females cover up," she said she was told.

She quickly came to understand why, she said recently: In those early days, she got catcalled, received sexual threats, and saw inmates exposing themselves and masturbating in front of her, she recalled. "It was in the hallways, in the cells, on the compound. It was everywhere," she said. She wrote up 10 incident reports for sexual misconduct in her first week. During the previous decade working in federal corrections, she recalled writing up only two incidents.

"Why is this acceptable?" she remembered thinking.

White, who now lives in Laurel, Maryland, and works for the Federal Bureau of Prisons in the District of Columbia, would go on to become the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit alleging sex discrimination and a hostile work environment at what is the nation's largest federal prison complex. The federal government last year agreed to settle for $20 million and signed on to more than 20 pages of procedural changes to improve employees' safety, including improved training about sexual harassment, better monitoring for processing incident reports and new prison uniforms without front pockets to deter inmates from masturbating under their clothes.

Attorneys for the women say it is one of the largest settlement agreements to date for a class- action lawsuit alleging sexual harassment. At a time when the country has become more attuned to the problem of sexual harassment in the workplace, the case also serves to highlight the harsh conditions that women often face in the traditionally male-dominated field of corrections, particularly in male prisons, as well as the potential for change, they say.

"These women walked into a high-security prison every day, knowing that they were going to be harassed by inmates and told by male colleagues and supervisors that they shouldn't be there," said Heidi Burakiewicz, lead attorney for the plaintiffs and a partner at the District-based firm Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch.

"If this group of women can stand up and fight and win and turn the workplace into a better place, I can't imagine a workplace anywhere where it couldn't happen," she said.

The Bureau of Prisons did not respond to several requests for information over four days about how the terms of the settlement agreement are being implemented. Tammy Padgett, a unit manager at the prison and a class representative overseeing the settlement, said sexual misconduct by inmates remains a serious problem, but she said management is slowly making changes. "The awareness is there; that has been half of the battle," she said.

- - -

For decades, women were employed only in women's prisons. That started to change in the 1970s as legal barriers broke down and more women entered the workforce. Now they represent nearly 30 percent of correctional employees, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The category includes officers in prisons, jails, juvenile facilities and community-based facilities.

"Women are drawn to these jobs for the same reason anyone would be - they are stable government jobs with low entry requirements," said Dana Britton, director of the Center for Women and Work at Rutgers University and the author of "At Work in the Iron Cage," for which she interviewed dozens of male and female prison guards.

Prisons can provide some of the most attractive jobs in rural, economically depressed areas. But women's increasing presence in men's prisons has often sparked conflict with the men who have traditionally held those jobs. "If even a girl can do it, it's not very masculine," Britton said.

Lawsuits around the country have alleged hostile work environments in corrections settings.

The District's Department of Corrections in 1999 agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit for $8.5 million brought by female employees who alleged a pattern of rampant sexual harassment, often by male supervisors, that included unwanted touching, sexual propositions and lewd comments, and retaliatory behavior against those who resisted.

More recently, a lawsuit brought in 2015 by female correctional officers at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility alleges that male employees regularly harassed their female colleagues by urinating and masturbating in front of them, propositioning them and physically threatening them.

Female correctional officers at both the Denver and Cook County, Illinois, jails filed suit against their government employers in the past two years for not intervening as they experienced sexual harassment from inmates, including rape threats and masturbation.

The lead plaintiffs in the Coleman lawsuit represented more than 500 women who were employed as correctional officers, teachers, nurses or office workers at the prison. In hundreds of pages of legal documents, female officers detailed often-daily harassment they endured in the course of their jobs.

One woman said she was on an evening patrol in a secure housing unit where she saw 25 to 30 inmates masturbating in one night. "It felt like a free for all . . . I was afraid for my safety."

The women alleged management did little or nothing to protect them. Superiors often failed to process incident reports and in some cases shredded them. Women said they were told "Toughen up," "Your skin is too thin," "This is a male institution," or "You're 'too pretty.'"

A female officer said a warden told her, "These men are in for life; what do you expect?"

The underlying message to women was clear, they said: You should not be here.

The male-dominated culture in corrections is slowly beginning to change as more women rise through the ranks to leadership positions, said Shirley Moore Smeal, president of the Association of Women Executives in Corrections and executive deputy secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

"But we still have growth to do," she said. "Some people would still rather not have women work in corrections at all," a dynamic she said feels "very recent and very real."

To handle sexual harassment, supervisors must set clear expectations and enforce them, she said.

"Whether there is one instance or 1,000 - procedures should be in place, with avenues available for women to report and to know that their concerns are going to be addressed," she said.

"That is the culture that we need to cultivate on a daily basis."

- - -

White knew what a respectful workplace felt like because she had worked at four other state and federal prisons before she got to Coleman and felt supported when she reported sexual misconduct.

White first went to work at a Florida state prison in 1991 when she was 20 years old and a new mother. She had a high school diploma and a year of being in the military. "I needed the best job I could get," she said.

At first it was just that - a job, she said. But four years later, when she got hired at a federal prison in Miami, she saw some lasting benefits, including a pension, the chance for early retirement and different career paths. "I started realizing this will be a good career for me," she said.

She went back to school for a bachelor's degree and later a master's in criminal justice with a specialization in drug treatment.

White transferred to the federal correctional complex in Coleman in 2005, after a new maximum security prison had opened, because she was in search of new opportunities. The sprawling federal complex has five prison facilities, including low- and medium-security facilities and two high-security penitentiaries.

When she got there, she said, "It was a culture shock. It was so hostile to female staff."

Women conformed to the environment, she said, by wearing their uniform polo shirts and pants two sizes too big or wearing handmade smocks over their uniforms.

"You change the way you think, the way you dress, the way you look. Even your soap - you want to make sure you use unscented soap; whatever means you will bring less attention to yourself," she said.

At first she thought the behavior could be explained by the fact it was a maximum-security prison, because she had only worked in lower-security facilities in the past. But after a while, she noticed men were often not being disciplined and basic procedures were not being followed.

"That is when I started asking questions: Why are these inmates not being held accountable?" she said.

White became active in the union, serving as a point of contact for women who were experiencing harassment. She got calls sometimes late into the night.

The union set up meetings over several years with managers, including male and female wardens, to talk about the widespread harassment. When no real changes occurred, in 2010, they hired a District lawyer.

Their lawsuit was a long shot, the women were told, but hundreds of female employees rallied around the effort and created an emotional network for each other.

In 2013, they won the first crucial victory, when an administrative judge certified the plaintiffs as a class. "I thought, 'OK, finally, somebody is listening to us,'" White said.

In July 2016, in response to a motion for summary judgment, the judge ruled in the plaintiffs' favor, affirming that the women had been subject to severe or pervasive sexual harassment. The only major issue remaining for trial was whether the U.S. Department of Justice was liable for the sexual harassment. The government agreed to settle the case.

By the time the case was being settled, White had moved to the District. She took a job as a compliance officer within the equal employment opportunity office at the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It was a rare opportunity, but she felt guilty leaving behind other women still struggling at Coleman, she said.

These days, she wears a business suit and enjoys the predictability of processing reports in her quiet cubicle, while helping to root out discrimination in other workplaces.

"I'm just happy this came to light," she said about the settlement. "I want anyone to know that a female working in any male-dominated field should be treated with the same level of respect."
Canada is among the largest diamond producers in the world and ranks third by value. According to the Kimberley Process data, 13 mn carats were recovered in the country in 2016 for about $1.4 bn. The average price per one carat was $107.18.

Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. is a major partner (49%) of De Beers Canada in the diamond production at the Gahcho Kue mine in the North-West Territories, Canada.





Image credit: Mountain Province Diamonds



Figure 1. Location map of the Gahcho Kue diamond mining project

Estimated diamond reserves at this deposit are about 80 mn carats. It is expected that on the average Gahcho Kue will produce 4.5 mn cts per year (100%) within 12 years. It is anticipated that on the average the diamond production over the first five-year period (2017-2021) will make 5.4 mn cts per year. So, today Gahcho Kue is the largest new diamond deposit where a full-scale diamond recovery has started.

Thanks to the joint venture with De Beers, the company has good opportunities to use the practical experience of the world leader in the international diamond production. The companies agreed to share the mines operational costs and then each of them will sell its share of rough diamonds recovered at the mine.



Image credit: Mountain Province Diamonds



Figure 2. Diamond production at the Gahcho Kue mine.

In January 2017, the company declared that it had completed the first sales of diamonds produced at the Gahcho Kue project. About 49,420 carats of diamonds were sold for $6.27 mn at the average price of about $127 per carat. And at the end of November, Mountain Province Diamonds announced the results of the recent ninth rough diamond trading session. The company sold 280,000 carats of diamonds for a total of $19 million. Over 150 companies took part in the session. The pricing at the ninth trading session was stable for the company. The prices for all the assortments were on the average 2% higher than at the eighth tender.

The technical and economic performance indicators of the Mountain Province Diamonds in the diamond production from reaching the project capacity in 2017 and the estimated figures for 2018-2022 are given below.

Diamond production at the Gahcho Kue mine, 2016-2022*



Based on the data of the press releases, quarterly and annual reports of Mountain Province Diamonds, 2016-2017

* Total sums are given for the Gahcho Kue mine (Mountain Province Diamonds  49%)

** 2017 - for 10 months. 2018-2022 - estimates.

So, among the 2d-tier world diamond miners, Mountain Province Diamonds is a company that rose through the ranks from an (exploration) junior to a large-scale 2d-tier diamond miner.

The reserves available at the Gahcho Kue mine show that Mountain Province Diamonds has a promising outlook till 2030 provided it would keep the diamond production at the level of the 2d-tier large companies.

The practical experience in the organization of diamond mining at the Gahcho Kue mine is of interest and help for the specialists of the ALROSAs diamond mining operations working in Yakutia, taking into account the complex geological and climate conditions as well as the extreme environment in which rough diamonds are extracted.

Yury Danilov, Ph. D., Director of Expert Information and Analysis Center at Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University
Report: Yemen's Army, committees attack Saudi army, mercenaries in battle fronts over Saturday [28/January/2018]



SANAA, Jan. 28 (Saba) - The Army and popular forces have waged military operations, including artillery, missiles and snipping attacks to frustrate Saudi-led aggression coalition forces' infiltrations over Saturday , according to reports combined by Saba on Sunday.



In Saudi border province of Najran, Saudi-backed mercenaries' infiltrations, under ongoing air cover towards Rashaha, Mahjuba, and Dhaiq sites were foiled, killing and wounding dozens of them.



Also in Najran, two military vehicles were destroyed by explosive devices in Dhaiq site while four military vehicles were smashed in Boqea desert.



in Dhaiaa censorship of Najran, Saudi soldier was sniped in Dhaiaa censorship.



In Jizan border province, a Saudi military vehicle was burned by artillery shells targeted gatherings of it in Qarn site.



Also in Jizan, Saudi soldi soldiers' gatherings were shelled by artillery in Mustahdath-Nashaw.

In Taiz province, an offensive launched on Saudi-backed merenaris' sites in Dar-Abyadh of Hamir, killing and wounding many of them.



Also in Taiz, dozens of Saudi-backed mercenaries were killed and injured in infiltrations, under ongoing air cover, toward Air Defense hill.



In Moazea front of Taiz, artillery shelling targeted mercenaris' gatherings next Fajr hill.



Five military vehicles of militias were destroyed during their infiltration toward west coast front, and several mercenaries were killed and injured, a military vehicle was burned when Yemen's army foiled an infiltration towards Tashrifat.



In old airport area, Saudi mercenaries inflicted heavy losses when their infiltration was repelled towards Air defense.



Military vehicle of mercenaries was destroyed by artillery shells next to Rosi hill of Dhabab.

Also in Sharqia battle front of Taiz, 30 Saudi-backed militias were killed.



Furthermore, two military vehicles and a bulldozer were smashed by guided rockets east of Yakhtel, killing all of their crews.



In Dubab district of Taiz, artillery shelling targeted mercenaries' gatherings east of Imam camp and beyond sabakah mountain of Dubab district and 3 Saudi-paid mercenaries were sniped in the fronts of Taiz.



In Bayda province, an attack was carried out on mercenaries' sites of Qaifa district, destroying a military vehicle, killing and wounding many of them.



In Jawf province, 3 military vehicle were bombed by explosive devices in Khalivin area Khub-washaaf district, killing all their crews.



Also in Jawf, a mercenaries' pick up was smashed in Mahamesha area of Khub-washaaf district.

Furthermore, 2 Zilzal-1 missiles were fired to militias' gatherings in Mahamesh area of Khub-washaaf district, causing direct causalities.



In Nehm district, some 50 km north of the capital Sanaa, military vehicle loaded with mercenaries was destroyed by an explosive devices in Hawl front, killing and wounding its crew.



In southern province of Lahj, artillery shelling targeted mercenaries' sites and fortifications in Safinah hill east of Kahbwb.



In Marib province, 5 of Saudi-paid mercenaries were killed by the army and popular forces' fires in Serwah district.



Also in Serwah, tens of mercenaries were killed in an unique attack on their sites and 2 military vehicles were burned and seven Saudi-paid mercenaries were shot dead in several areas of Serwah front.



Sameera H.-Zak

Sabaa
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said Aadhaar has lent "great strength" to the country's development and benefits that were earlier going into the wrong hands are reaching the intended beneficiaries.

"Aadhaar has added great strength to India's development," Modi said while addressing the 70th foundation day of the National Cadet Corps (NCC).

The Prime Minister decried the practice earlier prevalent where such benefits would be funnelled in the name of any non-existing entity, exploiting the loopholes in the system.

"Such things will not be possible now," he said.

The Prime Minister said he can sense a "feeling of hatred" among people against corruption.

"Earlier people believed nothing happens to the rich and powerful. But things are different today. Three persons who were formerly Chief Ministers are languishing in jail for their corruption," he said.
Google on Monday honoured Soviet film director and father of montage in filmmaking Sergei Eisenstein on his 120th birth anniversary with a doodle.

The doodle shows a series of film rolls in movement depicting iconic imagery in some of Eisenstein's films. It is a reminder of

his enduring contributions to cinema.



A closer look into the doodle shows sequencing of a number of images in a continuous loop creating the effect of a montage.



The doodle also shows Sergei Eisenstein, holding a film roll and a scissors depicting a cut or an edit.



The Russian genius changed the way films were made as early as in the 1920s.



The avant-garde filmmaker was born on this day in 1898. He left behind a rich legacy that is complex and in many ways,

immeasurable.



Film montage is an editing technique that pieces together a series of frames to form a continuous sequence that is used at

several defining moments in films -- you can easily recall some of it in "The Godfather", "The Karate Kid", that was refined in

the early 20th century by the Soviet director.





Born in Latvia, young Eisenstein started off in the footsteps of his father and took up architecture and engineering, he later

joined the Red Army to serve the Bolshevik Revolution.



During this time, he developed an interest in theatre and started working as a designer in Moscow.



Eisenstein's films are politically loaded and they galvanised cinema of the former Soviet Union and beyond with their bold

narrative approach, stylistic flourishes, dramatic use of cinematography, editing and music, and marriage between ideology

and the craft of filmmaking.



"Strike" in 1925, "Battleship Potemkin" (1925), "October" (1928), "Que viva Mexico!" (1930, released in 1979), "Alexander

Nevsky" (1938) and "Ivan The Terrible" (1944 and 1958)demonstrate Eisenstein's genius, his contributions to the art of

editing through his theories on montage, and his ability to transcend propaganda to create enduring art.



Describing his cinematic vision, Google said, "His films were also revolutionary in another sense, as he often depicted the

struggle of downtrodden workers against the ruling class."



He was only 50, when he died following a heart attack on February 11, 1948.


(file photo) Authorities on Sunday imposed restrictions in Srinagar to prevent separatist-called protests against the death of two civilians in army firing on Saturday. Two youths were killed and eight other protestors injured in an army firing when a mob attacked an army convoy in Ganowpora village of Shopian district on Saturday.



Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti spoke to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who assured the Chief Minister that she will seek a detailed report about the incident.



A magisterial probe has been ordered into the youths' killings. Police have also registered an FIR into the incident.



Separatist conglomerate, Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) headed by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, has called for a Kashmir Valley-wide protest on Sunday over the killing of youths.



District Magistrate Srinagar has imposed restrictions in areas under Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta and M.R. Gunj police stations of old city Srinagar.



Police said partial restrictions have also been imposed in some areas in Srinagar.



Rail services between Baramulla and Bannihal towns have also been suspended as a precautionary measure.




Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said "woman power" has contributed a lot in the positive transformation seen in the country and that there are no limits to "Nari Shakti".

Addressing this year's first episode of "Mann ki Baat" radio talk, the Prime Minister also lauded the progress women have made in several spheres, saying with resolve and willpower "nothing is impossible".

"A daughter is equivalent to 10 sons. The punya' you earn through 10 sons is equalled by one daughter. This underscores the importance given to women in our society. That is why, in our society, women have the status of Shakti.

"This woman power binds together society, the family, on the axis of unity. Be it the erudition of the vidushis of Vedic period. Woman power has always inspired us. They have always brought glory to the nation," he said referring to Gargi, Maitreyee, Meerabai, Ahilyabai Holkar and Rani Lakshmi Bai.

He referred to astronaut Kalpana Chawla.

"It's a matter of sorrow that we lost Kalpana at that early age. Her life, her work is a message to young women across the world, especially in India, that there are no upper limits for Nari Shakti.

"If one possesses will, determination, a firm resolve, nothing is impossible."

The Prime Minister said Matunga in Mumbai was the first railway station in India managed by women.

He also touched upon the daredevil stunts by the BSF women contingent on Republic Day. He said tribal women from Maoist dens in Chhattisgarh were now self reliant by driving e-rickshaws.

Modi lauded the Padma Awardees and said many of them marked themselves out "without any recommendation".

"You will see what a great number of people exist among us. And it is a matter of pride how so many of them are reaching great heights without any recommendation."

Now, he said, anyone can nominate anyone for the award.

"There is transparency now in the selection process... More and more ordinary people are getting the awards. Such people who usually are not seen in metros, newspapers, TVs."

Lauding Sitavaa Jodatti from Karnataka and Kerala's Lakshmikutti, Modi said there were many gifted women and men who remain faceless and failure to recognize them would be a loss to the society.

The Prime Minister said the path of peace preached by Mahatma Gandhi was valid for every individual, family and society.

Lauding the government's Jan Aushadhi Centres, he said medicines available at over 3,000 centres were 50 to 90 per cent cheaper than branded drugs in the market.

"The sole aim behind this step is ensuring availability of quality and affordable health service to the poorest of the poor."

He lauded the efforts of the thousands in Akola who he said were continuing to clean the Morna river in Maharashtra.

"Huge social reforms can be brought about through mass movements. This will inspire other citizens too."

_

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make a historic visit to Palestine during a trip to the Middle East from February 9 to 12 that will take him to the UAE and Oman.

This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Palestine and Modi's second visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after August 2015.

"The Prime Minister will hold discussions on matters of mutual interest with their leaders, apart from participating in other events," the External Affairs Ministry said on Saturday night.

The visit to Palestine comes after the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to India this month.

In Dubai, Modi will address the Sixth World Government Summit at which India has been extended 'Guest of Honour' status.

The UAE and Oman are home to large numbers of expatriate Indians whom Modi will meet.
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.
Life across the Kashmir Valley was affected on Sunday as a shutdown called by separatists against the killing of two civilians by the Army crippled normal life even as an FIR named a Garhwal unit as the culprits.

A large number of people attended the funeral procession of the two youths killed in Ganowpora village of Shopian district in Army firing on Saturday. Security forces did not block the mourners.

Sunday being a public holiday, shops, markets and other businesses were closed in the Valley. Public transport was affected due to the separatist shutdown call.

Private transport, however, moved normally except in areas where restrictions had been imposed -- Rainawari, Khanyar, Nowhatta, M.R. Gunj, Safa Kadal, Kralkhud and Maisuma areas in Srinagar.

Rail services were suspended between Baramulla in north Kashmir and Bannihal town in Jammu region.

Internet services were suspended in south Kashmir areas while its speed was brought down in other parts of the Valley to prevent uploading of inflammatory posts and pictures by anti-social elements.

Police said no untoward incident took place anywhere in the Valley.

The Army opened fire after a group of protesters pelted stones at an Army convoy in the village on Saturday. Nine people were injured too.

The First Information Report against the Army was lodged by the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
The celebration of Australia Day in Samoa on Friday night was a bittersweet occasion for a woman who has become the face of Australia in Samoa.

After four years of working on these shores, Australias High Commissioner, Sue Langford, is returning home.

In February, her successor, Sara Moriarty, is scheduled to arrive to continue the work Ms. Langford has been doing to strengthen the ties between two countries.

It is with a very heavy heart that I do this, Ms. Langford told the crowd who had gathered to attend Australia Day.

I have been extremely honoured to be Australias High Commissioner to the Independent State of Samoa. It has been a pleasure and privilege.

Ms. Langford pointed to a number of highlights during her tenure.

Some are from the many important international events Samoa has hosted: the U.N. S.I.D.S. Conference, the Commonwealth Youth Games, the Green Climate Fund Board meeting and last years Pacific Islands Forum, she said.

Other memorable highlights have been seeing and learning, first hand, how Australias development partnership is delivering results and making positive differences to peoples lives and livelihoods. For example, discussing with local businesses the impact of Vaitele Street upgrade and the re-built Leone Bridge and the potential impact of the new I.C.T. cable that will be switched on very soon.

Her work with the Mobility Clinic at Motootua, the special needs community in Samoa and helping education in different areas is something she would miss.

Talking to people at the mobility clinic at Moototua who have just received new wheelchairs designed for their individual needs and learning how it will change their lives, she said.

Witnessing the enthusiasm during the Loto Tamafai end of year prize giving last month; and meeting technical students and teachers at Don Bosco College on Savaii on how they have put our support to practical use.

Ms. Langford is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Prior to her post in Samoa, she had been the Director of the International Security Division.

She worked as a Senior Adviser to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (R.A.M.S.I) and had also served as Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian High Commission in Port Vila and as First Secretary at the Australian High Commission in Honiara.

Ms. Langford holds a Master's Degree in Foreign Affairs and Trade from Monash University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History from the Australian National University.

I am proud to have led a dynamic, enthusiastic team at the High Commission. I wholeheartedly thank my team for their patience, hard work and support, she said.

To the Government and the people of Samoa: thank you. Thank you for your support, your cooperation in partnership and for your many, many kindnesses.

The country and people of Samoa will always have a very special place in the hearts of me and my family. I can say for certain we will be adding to Samoas tourism numbers for many years to come.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi has challenged the government Chief Executive Officers not to be afraid of making tough decisions that they know will benefit Samoa. He delivered the message during a swearing in ceremony on Friday where he said dwelling on criticisms would only result in nothing being done. This is what he said:

Todays occasion marks the genesis of a new chapter for our newly appointed Chief Executive Officers, and I congratulate you on your appointments. Your oath this morning is affirmation of your commitment to serve this country with honesty, humility, respect, and above all love.

The Word declares that there is no authority except from God. Your calling therefore shall glorify the Lord whom this country is founded upon.

As Chief Executive Officers you are expected to lead by example as responsible custodians of public offices.

Leaders who lead by example neither confine themselves to the comfort of their offices, nor depend on reports on the business of their organisations, but are constantly on the ground to make sure that targets are delivered as planned. Immediate and responsible decision making is as crucial as its implementation.

We are a small country and every opportunity that comes our way that will benefit our people should be prioritized. Government however depends on your technical advice.

If we do not seize those rare opportunities with wise and timely advice to government, we may never have a second chance. Procrastination is a very serious ailment that stifles steady and prosperous progression to sustainable development and growth.

The government has developed systems and processes to provide its services to our people. The application of these systems depends principally on you as technocrats to deliver. Timeliness and quality are crucial components of our service, and this ostensibly comes with determination and commitment.

As C.E.Os you are role models of change in your organizations. You have been chosen to make a difference, and to take the organization to a new level.

Performance is therefore vital in achieving your targets. We should always remember that we are accountable for our actions, and you have sworn before God this morning to do what is best for Samoa.

Do not hesitate to make tough decisions that will benefit our people. There is a natural tendency to resist new changes particularly if such will take people out of their comfort zones. Criticisms are unavoidable, but we will never deliver what we ought to deliver for this country, if we dwell on criticisms and do nothing.

Collaborative partnership through regular dialogue and timely feedback is paramount to a healthy working environment. You need your team and your team needs you.

Do not leave a hiccup to become a difficulty, and be wary of any root of bitterness springing up that causes trouble.

Be attentive to your staff needs and treat everyone the same.

Your journey as C.E.Os will be met by turbulences along the way. Whatever challenge that comes your way, God will never forsake you if you submit and yield to Him. We will not succeed by depending solely on our knowledge and understanding. We are vulnerable without the divine leadership of the Holy Spirit.

The Word declares to acknowledge God in all our ways, and He will direct our paths. In God, all things are possible.

History vividly reminds us of many leaders who tried to conquer the world with their might and sheer power, but failed miserably because they sought their own glory.

There are many other capable citizens whom God can choose C.E.Os from, but He has chosen you as His instruments to serve Samoa for His glory.

Allow Him to take control of your vision and plans, and He will multiply according to the abundance of His grace.

I wish you all the best in your appointments.

God bless. Soifua.

Prime Minister of Samoa: Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi




The United Nation Climate Change Secretariat this week launched a new portal to support the Talanoa Dialogue.

Talanoa Dialogue is an important international conversation in which countries will check progress and seek to increase global ambition to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

This is according to a statement issued by the U.N. Climate Change Secretariat.

The Talanoa Dialogue was launched at the U.N. Climate Change Conference C.O.P.23 in Bonn, Germany, in November 2017.

Through the portal, all countries and other stakeholders, including business, investors, cities, regions and civil societies are invited to make submissions into the Talanoa Dialogue around three central questions: Where are we? Where do we want to go? How do we get there?

Countries and non-party stakeholders will be contributing ideas, recommendations and information that can assist the world in taking climate action to the next level in order to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement and support the Sustainable Development Goals (SD.Gs).

The Talanoa Dialogue will run throughout 2018.

The Paris Agreements central goal is to keep the global average temperature rise to below 2C degrees and as close as possible to 1.5C.

Current global ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to prepare societies to resist increasing climate change is not enough to achieve this under the current national climate action plans known as Nationally Determined Contributions (N.D.Cs).

Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of U.N. Climate Change, said: The portal is the gateway for the Talanoa Dialogue. It represents the central point for everyone to make their views heard around enhanced ambition. Additionally, it will make available other key resources for the dialogue.

I very much welcome the portal because it provides transparency and broadens participation in the dialogue. I look forward to many governments and other actors making their submissions via the portal as part of world-wide efforts required for the next level of climate action and ambition.

The Pacific Island concept of Talanoa was introduced by Fiji, which held the Presidency of the C.O.P.23 UN Climate Change Conference. It aims at an inclusive, participatory and transparent dialogue.

The purpose of the concept is to share stories, build empathy and to make wise decisions for the collective good. The Talanoa method purposely avoids blame and criticism to create a safe space for the exchange of ideas and collective decision-making.

The Talanoa Dialogue will be constructive, facilitative and oriented towards providing solutions and will see both technical and political exchanges, says the statement.
Its been five years and Mulipola Kerisimasi is still without water connection.

The father of five, from Salua Manono-Uta, yesterday shed light on the difficulties of living without water connection.

Speaking to the Village Voice team, he said for five years he has had to live this problem and a water tank would help his family.

Mr. Kerisimasi says he is trying to save money to get his family a water tank.

He is employed but the little money he receives is not enough to cater for his familys needs.

My family really needs a tank; I dont get paid hundreds of dollars. I get paid about $100 and by the time I get money, I just have a look at it and then spend it on things like my childrens education, the 36-year-old said.

He said efforts to get a water tank from the Red Cross had been unsuccessful so far.

Life has become really hard and everything depends on money, he added.

Mr. Kerisimasi said they fetch buckets of water from other families who lived in the coastal area.

He is grateful to the Chinese businesses in Samoa for helping families like his cope with the increasing cost of living.

Even though we complain about the Chinese people, one thing is certain, they have eased my burden. Going to a shop that is owned by a Samoan is when you will realise the big difference from the Chinese shop they have the same products but the prices are very different from each other.

His problems do not end there. He says he also has his four childrens education to worry about and their welfare.

Mr. Kerisimasi said half of his pay would go to his bus fare to and from work every day.

Anyone who is willing to help Mr. Kerisimasis family with a water tank, contact the number 7296815.
A 40-year-old farmer is calling on Government to think of the people.

Sio Kele, from the village of Faleasiu, made known his views while referring to the increasing cost of living in Samoa today.

He says Government needs to consider underprivileged families who struggle to make ends meet every day.

Our Government needs to reassess the cost of living because people are suffering.

They are investing a lot of money on the new prison rather than investing for people who do not have access to water.

And dealing with daily financial demands every day is Mr. Keles reality.

I live with my mother and my sister and her kids who are still in school.

I am responsible for supporting my family through my plantation and the sea.

Things are really hard for us because no one works and they all depend on me.

Mr. Kele was on his way to his plantation when the Village Voice team met him.

I think for Samoa, if families dont have land to work on, they will not survive.

We are so lucky that we have land to work on because some families dont have people who work regular jobs just like my family.

So their land and plantation saves them from starving and dying of hunger because of the lack of job opportunities.

Mr. Kele says his family earns enough money from selling his crops.

I only go fishing twice a week, but I go to the plantation almost every day because we need food from there too.

When I have enough crops to harvest, I will take it to the market in order to provide money for us and our family.

It is good money, but the problem is that when you receive money, there is always some obligation there to spend the money on.

Life is really hard and everything here in Samoa is about money, Mr. Kele added.
The war of words fought in Parliament last week between two government politicians, is clearly the sort of drivel wed thought this countrys politicians would have learned a long time ago to ignore, and if its humanly feasible with just a simple giggle and a frown.

And yet this time, for one reason or another, the quarrel had skipped out of control and along the way, it ended up on the front page of the Sunday Samoan, under the headline: Think about when you were a Cabinet Minister.

Incidentally, that advice was directed at the former Cabinet Minister, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga, by the Minister of Works, Papalii Niko Lee Hang, who told Faumuina: My humble advice to you is  you should ask yourself: How did I perform my duties when I was a Cabinet Minister?

The question clearly implied that Faumuina had not done what had been expected of him, while he was holding the office of Cabinet Minister, which was when he interjected, saying: The government has accumulated close to $300 million in unused funds due to delays and the absence of a Project Management Unit (P.M.U.).

He also told Parliament that: Two such projects include the Vaisigano Project and the West Coast Road expansion, which he said have been delayed for five years.

Faumuina went on to say: My concern - and I think this is a concern shared by Cabinet Ministers - is that if the projects are delayed, they become even more expensive.

Now the Prime Minister this morning has spoken and has asked to speed things up.

Thats why its important that the Minister of Finance sets up a central Project Management Unit to perform the overall supervision of individual projects.

Now that is what Faumuina Tiatia Liuga told Parliament anyway.

The question then is: Isnt this the man who is responsible for all those government projects scattered around the place, that cost scores of millions of Tala to set up, and yet all theyre doing today is stand there looking unused and empty, as if they are mere skeletons as theyre gaping forlornly up at the heavens?

Still, it appears that Faumuina is a man revered; perhaps he believes hes been sent from another world to show the Samoan government how to mend its ways and rid it of austere corruption, if nothing else.

His advice to Parliament in last weeks session, is to use the millions of Tala that have already been provided by funders for those projects, that have already been approved.

He said: For five years the money brought in for this road hasnt been used. Its been five years since weve had the money to do the Vaisigano Road.

The projects are becoming more expensive because of the delays. Thats my concern. This is not a criticism but an advice.

In response, Minister of Works, Papalii Niko Lee Hang Papalii, disagreed.

Arguing that the delay was beyond their control, he told Parliament: There is a process and there are delays we cant do anything about because of the conditions of funding.

The first thing is the design, he said.

Often the designs come from overseas companies who are consulting on a certain project. So when the design arrives and the government sees that variations are needed, then we send it back for this to be done. That takes time.

Now thats rubbish, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga Faumuina, responded.

Unconvinced, he said: I followed up with the Vice President of the World Bank if the money had been allocated for the road projects in 2013.

He told me that they had already asked us to prepare the terms of reference for the person to design the project. That was the first delay.

When I asked M.W.T.I, L.T.A., they said thats not their job, that is the job of the P.M.U. And when I asked them where the P.M.U. was, they said they didnt know.

Now what kind of thing is that? This is where the delay is. It wasnt delayed because of the design; it was delayed because there were no terms of reference for someone to design these projects.

Now unable to hold his growing anger down, Papalii snapped.

He said: Now let me talk about the delay. This project has been delayed for five years but also I note, that he (Faumuina) was sitting here (as a Cabinet Minister) when the job was delayed.

Why didnt he follow it up then since he said he spoke with the President of the World Bank? Thats the time it should have been addressed. He is talking about providing a solution, I dont know if your solution is applicable anymore.

Right away Faumuina interjected.

He said: Honourable Speaker, he is referring to the time when the funding was brought in. That was my job to bring in the funds then. If I was still there now, these projects would all be completed.

But Papalii saw the humour.

Well, Im sorry you are no longer sitting here, he retorted, so just let us continue our work then.

The Minister insisted that the delay is beyond their control and that there were conditions that must be satisfied before funds were released.

He said the process would take time.

But in case members of the public are misled that there are millions of monies sitting there unused, it needs to be stated that these monies are highlighted in our budget every year.

They have been committed to projects and when the government moves on them, these funds will then be used.

Now glancing across to Faumuina, Papalii referred to a Samoan saying where people who accuse others are compared to someone picking frangipanis (pua) from a tree and then chucking them across to someone else recklessly.

My humble advice to you, dont just pick these frangipanis and chuck them this way. You should ask yourself. How did you perform your duties when you were a Minister?

An irritated Faumuina returned to the floor.

He said: All the frangipanis should be cast to your side, thats where they belong. Even if you drown in them.

Papalii fired back: When you throw the frangipani this way, save some for yourself.

And so, the fracas thats been keeping Samoas Parliament alive and exciting, continued.

By the way, what are the acronyms for M.W.T.I, L.T.A., and P.M.U.?

What do they stand for?

It would be good to know.

After all, were being forced here to listen as our Members of Parliament are joking as theyre chucking frangipani at each other, as if that is the normal thing to do whenever our Parliament meets.

And lastly, perhaps Famuinas claim that the government has accumulated close to $300 million in unused funds due to delays and the absence of a Project Management Unit (P.M.U.), is something that the Minister of Works, Papalii Niko Lee Hang Papalii, should think seriously about.

Just a thought.

frangipani*

A fragrant smelling flower young women wear in the ear when theyre dancing.
The Samoa Tourism Authority (S.T.A.) believes the more access travellers have to Samoa through different airline carriers, the better.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, C.E.O. of Samoa Tourism Authority, Papalii Matatamalii Sonja Hunter, remarked that its vital for the benefit of Samoa that tourists have as many inroads to our country as possible, and that we need to focus on our own efforts to improve our transport infrastructure.

She also says we should not forget about the wider Samoan diaspora when it comes to promoting tourism.

Responding to questions about her views on recent claims that Air New Zealand was trying to undercut our national airline by reducing their airfares and increasing the frequency of their flights, Papalii said: We cant see it from that point of view because any access is access for us. But we must also protect our own national carrier, by ensuring that they are intelligent with their strategic marketing for example in how you sell your packages.

Now all these other airlines have been there a long time, but this is where we can actually look at the different market segments and how we reach out to them.

Papalii added the figures from last year showed that there was a marked improvement in the tourist figures since the launch of the national aircraft and that there was still more improvement needed.

For the past five years, we averaged 145,000 visitors every year up to 2016. The last year (2017) we broke through the 150,000 mark because of the Samoa Airways aircraft. We are breaking through and we are a destination that can do better.

Papalii points out that we need to look at those market segments very differently particularly when it comes to catering to the many thousands of Samoans abroad who make a significant chunk of the incoming visitors from New Zealand and Australia.

This is the thing in Samoa; we have not appreciated our diaspora, our overseas-born Samoans who are so easy to market to.

We are a country, that if compared to all the other Pacific Islanders, we attract a visit from friends and relatives, whenever we are out there promoting to tourists, they come to because they are enthused about coming to Samoa. They look like us, but they are not us.

She applauded Taumeasina Island Resorts Aiga package as an effective marketing strategy because they recognized the value of catering to the overseas-based Samoans and as a result changed the landscape of tourists in Samoa.

So the thing is that one; we are promoting to the tourists, our diaspora also sees this and lo and behold  they have disposable income. So why should we stop them from coming? They come over here and spend so much money on weddings for example.

You take the Taumeasina strategy they put up an Aiga package, why did they hone in on the Aiga package? Because according to the owner, their directors were interested in finding out where all the overseas Samoans are based. Finding that there are 160,000 in New Zealand and close to 100,000 in Australia, Taumeasina wanted them. 

According to Papalii, the S.T.A. supported their efforts to reach that market by providing the intel needed because they recognized the sound marketing science behind it.

All overseas-based Samoans know what aiga is and his idea was if they were going to do the Aiga package, they are going to bring everybody home to visit their relatives and stay in a hotel.

The idea behind this is theyre going to come home and visit their families and stay in a hotel. They will bring the families to the hotel and they will eat the restaurant empty and drink the bar dry. They changed the landscape of tourists in Samoa.
CITY COUNCILS

CARLSBAD

The County of San Diego has released a plan to modernize and improve safety at McClellan-Palomar Airport, along with an environmental study of the plan, for a 45-day public review period scheduled to end March 5. The county will hold two public meetings from 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesday and Feb. 13, both at at the Holiday Inn Carlsbad, 2725 Palomar Airport Road. The meetings will give people the chance to view exhibits and ask questions about the plan, which focuses on modernizing McClellan-Palomar to meet FAA airport standards and improve airport efficiency. An open house will also be held from 4-7 p.m. Feb. 7 at the airport, 2198 Palomar Airport Road. Find the plan and the draft program environmental impact report at PalomarAirportMP.com. Send comments to PalomarMP@sdcounty.ca.gov.

DEL MAR

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The Del Mar City Council is scheduled to meet in closed session to discuss the city managers evaluation at 8 a.m. Monday in council chambers, 2010 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Suite 100.

OCEANSIDE

Local Coastal Program survey

The city of Oceanside is doing a comprehensive update of its Local Coastal Program, which defines the citys coastal zone and provides guidance in areas such as coastal access, recreational and visitor uses, and shoreline protection. Part of the update will be to assess the impacts of sea level rise and associated coastal hazards. A public survey for community input has been posted at www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/gov/dev/planning/local_coastal.asp and will remain open through Wednesday.

SOLANA BEACH

The Solana Beach City Council is hosting a public Community Choice Aggregation Workshop at 5:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall Council Chambers, 635 S. Highway 101. Learn about net energy metering (solar), updated financial possibilities, and next steps. Call Dan King at (858) 720-2477.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

OCEANSIDE

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The Oceanside Unified School District board is scheduled to meet for a board showcase at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the district office, 2111 Mission Ave. The showcase aims to share with the community the innovative ways OUSD schools are advancing student learning. Each school has developed a unique approach to address student needs. Highlights will include teacher practices and student achievement. This showcase will focus on middle and high schools. The elementary schools will be highlighted in the spring. The board will go into closed session at 11:30 a.m. to discuss the superintendents position. The board is also scheduled to meet in closed session to discuss personnel, labor negotiations and litigation at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Chavez Middle School, 202 Oleander Drive. In regular session at 6 p.m., the board will approve single plans for student achievement.

VISTA

The Vista Unified School District board is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. Thursday for a governance workshop in the Morris Vance Community Room, 200 Civic Center Drive, and in open session at 6 p.m.

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laura.groch@sduniontribune.com
With widely admired books such as Into the Beautiful North and The Devils Highway, Luis Alberto Urrea is often referred to as a border writer, a label he finds misleading. I am more interested in bridges, not borders, he says. One of the bridges hes been exploring lately involves a collaboration with Steven Schick, music director of the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus. Theyve re-imagined LHistoire du Soldat (The Soldiers Tale), merging Stravinskys music with Urreas words. Theyll discuss the project as part of the University of California San Diegos Helen Edison Lecture Series. Launched in 1987, the series is named for the late San Diego philanthropist who gave a $500,000 endowment to fund free lectures for the benefit of the university campus as well as for the larger San Diego community.

Luis Alberto Urrea discussion: 7 p.m. Thursday, San Diego Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., downtown. In conversation with Steven Schick, music director of the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus. Free. eventbrite.com

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john.wilkens@sduniontribune.com; (619) 293-2236
Five pianists walk into a room

That may sound like the set-up for a grand joke. But it is the very real scenario for what promises to be a singular performance at the 22nd Annual Concert to Benefit the Lytle Scholarship at UC San Diego.

To be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28, at the universitys acoustically superior Conrad Prebys Concert Hall, the two-hour fundraising event  aptly billed as a Jazz Piano Summit  will culminate with a joint performance by Cecil Lytle, Mike Wofford, Joshua White, Tobin Chodos and Kei Akagi.

Tickets will be available at the door. More information appears below

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i wanted to try something different with this concert, something that may never happen again, said Lytle, a noted jazz and classical pianist.

He is the former head of the UCSD music department and a former provost at the La Jolla campus, where he played a major role in the 1990s in launching The Preuss School, a charter college-prep school for motivated low-income students.

The lineup Lytle has assembled ensures his goal will be met.

Akagi is best known for his tenure in Miles Davis band, while Chodos is the composer of the recently premiered Concertino for Two Pianos & Orchestra, which he and Lytle debuted in November with the La Jolla Symphony.

Wofford is an esteemed solo artist and accompanist, whose past credits include collaborations with Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Sara Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, B.B. King, Shelly Manne, The Jackson Five and many more.

And White, 32, is a rising force who has worked with Lee Konitz, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Anthony Wilson and other jazz notables. His superb debut album, 13 Short Stories, was released last fall.

The concert will be divided into two portions.

The first will feature 15 minute sets by each pianist. The second will feature duo and trio performances by various configurations, followed by all five playing together.

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Ive never done anything like this in a classical or jazz venue, Lytle noted.

I did do the Bach Triple Concerto for three claviers with orchestra concert many years ago. But thats a novelty. Not even Lizst wrote an endeavor for multiple pianos. You would think that he would have, having been the consummate virtuoso he was.

The repertoire for Sundays concert will include Lytle and Chodos reuniting to play double-piano versions of Sonny Rollins Oleo, Theolonious Monks  Round About Midnight and Jackie McLeans Jackie-ing. Wofford, White and Akagi will team up for a three-piano piece, followed by all five improvising on a yet-to-be-disclosed jazz classic.

Hmm. Duos, trios and a piano quintet, but no quartet?

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Lytle chuckled.

I wouldnt be surprised if one broke out, he said.

I know Mike, Tobin, Joshua and Kei are all great soloists and players, but I dont think any of us have been in a situation like this. Its kind of like a live fire!

Money raised from the concert will go to the Lytle Scholarship Endowment Fund, which has raised an estimated $400,000 over the past 21 years for college-bound students The at Preuss School.

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Jazz Piano Summit  The 22nd Annual Concert to Benefit the Lytle Scholarship Endowment Fund at UC San Diego

With: Cecil Lytle, Mike Wofford, Joshua White, Tobin Chodos and Kei Akagi

When: 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18

Where: Conrad Prebys Concert Hall, 9500 Gilman Drive, UC San Diego, La Jolla.

Tickets: $10 for students; $40 for active duty and retired military; $50 for the general public

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Phone: (858) 534-1507

Online: promise@ucsd.edu

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george.varga@sduniontribune.com

Twitter @georgevarga
Astor Piazzollas Maria de Buenos Aires has three characters, but in San Diego Operas new production of the tango operita, theres a fourth character who never leaves the stage.

Death haunts, death stalks, death dances, death tortures and death may ultimately redeem the title character in the moody, lyrical and well-directed staging that premiered Friday at the Lyceum Theatre downtown.

Piazzollas surrealistic, 90-minute opera, playing through Sunday, Jan. 28, in a mostly sold out production (there were still some tickets available to the 10 p.m. Jan. 27 performance at press time). Its the latest of the companys Detour Series of smaller-scale, nontraditional works.

Mezzo-soprano Audrey Babcock plays the title role in San Diego Operas Maria de Buenos Aires. (Karli Cadel )

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The original story for Maria, with a libretto by Argentinean poet Horacio Ferrer, is unremittingly dark and strange. For this production, director John de los Santos has crafted a thoughtful, clear narrative that needs no supertitles, though translations of the often-confusing Spanish text are projected on screens above the stage.

In the original story, Maria is born cursed by God, becomes a prostitute and is murdered, then wanders the streets of Buenos Aires as a spirit who gives birth to another Maria in a depressingly endless cycle. Her story is told in spoken word by El Duende (a fairy or goblin) and in song by Maria and El Payador (a minstrel).

In de los Santos visually rich staging, El Payador is Marias devoted first love, her sweet sparrow, who she discards for a flashier guapo who pimps her out for a soul-destroying gang-rape. The cynical El Duende shape-shifts from a homeless woman to a tango dancer, a blind beggar, a drunken bishop and finally a devil-like businessman.

Maria is a neglected child whose unrequited craving for her fathers attention leads to a misplaced trust in men who use her. She is broken but she seems to survive, and in a angelically-lit beatific moment, she outsmarts the greedy El Duende.

Death itself is everywhere: In the tango-dancing skeletons performed by twins Laurence Gonzalez and Lester Gonzalez of California Ballet; the corrugated tin angel that rises over Liliana Duque Pineiros set and the flickering ofrenda (altar) votives that cover the stage and scenery. Ingrid Heltons period costumes and Jason Biebers golden lighting contribute to the productions feel of a time long past.

Mezzo-soprano Audrey Babcock, center, with twin dancers Lester Gonzalez, left, and Laurence Gonzalez in San Diego Operas Maria de Buenos Aires at the Lyceum Theatre Jan. 26-28. (Karli Cadel / )

As Maria, mezzo-soprano Audrey Babcock gives a moving, haunting performance and her dusky, flexible voice soars, especially in the famous aria Yo soy Maria.

Ear-pleasing baritone Paul La Rosa is both masculine and tender as the heartbroken El Payador. Actress Celeste Lanuza is a charasmatic and versatile trickster as El Duende.

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The operas six vocal ensemble members are all from San Diego: Sarabeth Belon, Bernardo Bermudez, Laura Bueno, Sandra Camarena, Walter DuMelle and Rodolfo Ruiz-Velasco.

From the piano, Bruce Stasyna confidently conducts a onstage 11-piece orchestra of San Diego Symphony musicians accompanied by David Alsina, a master of the bandoneon, a South American concertina (similar to an accordion but with buttons instead of keys).

Piazzolla, a bandoneon player himself, was known for his lively nuevo tango music thats infused with jazz and classical elements. In Maria, his only opera, the score is more dark and subdued than Piazzolla fans may expect.

Maria marks San Diego Operas premiere in the underground Lyceum space. The wide thrust stage is an intimate, ideal setting for the gritty, urban story. But its acoustics must not be ideal for opera, which is usually sung without amplification. The lead performers wore head mikes on opening night, but thanks to Ross Goldmans subtle sound design, the singing and spoken words were undistorted and not too loud.

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San Diego Opera presents Maria de Buenos Aires

When:p.m.10 p.m. Jan. 27 (limited tickets available); 2 p.m. Jan. 28 (sold out)

Where: Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, downtown

Tickets: $35 and up

Phone: (619) 533-7000

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Online: sdopera.org

pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com. Twitter: @pamkragen
At times, their sounds were sweet as birdsong. At others, insistent and pounding. The occasion was an outdoor performance on Saturday by U.S. and Mexican percussionists  divided by the international border, but united by sound.

The binational event brought close to 70 players to both sides of the border wall at Friendship Park to play Inuksuit, a piece for percussion instruments by the American composer John Luther Adams.

The composition, which premiered in the Canadian Rockies, is meant to be played out of doors. The setting this time was the northern edge of Border Field State Park, amid concrete picnic tables, views of the Pacific Ocean and vigilant U.S. Border Patrol vehicles.

And rising on the other side of the double-fence, Tijuanas bullring-by-the sea and lighthouse.

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The free hour-long concert was part of the San Diego Symphonys third annual festival called Its About Time: A Festival of Rhythm. Sound. And Place. The festivals curator is Steven Schick, a percussionist and professor at University of California San Diego.

This piece demonstrates that music is alive on the outside of the hall as it is on the inside, said Schick. It is designed to mold itself around the qualities of a place, and not the other way around.

He steered clear of making any connection between the concerts setting and the attention brought to the U.S.-Mexico border by President Donald Trumps call for a continuous wall.

Were making a concert, its not a protest, said Schick. The place we live in is fascinatingly positioned on the international border. We thought, what if we took this piece, what qualities of that place would we hear?

Wind blew. Waves crashed. Seagulls soared like kites.

To perform the piece, musicians brought a wide range of instruments: bass drums, bongo and conga drums, cymbals, triangles, crotales, maracas, conch shells, even an air-raid siren.

The sounds started softly, with musicians blowing through funnels. It built up with whistling, and rattling sounds, rising to a heart-pounding crescendo of drumbeats, cymbals and sirens. It ended with delicate notes of piccolo and glockenspiel, emulating bird sounds  and finally with a moment of silence.

The performers included members of the San Diego Symphony, as well as students from UCSD, San Diego State University, Chapman University and the California Institute of the Arts. Going into it, I wasnt sure how things would work out, said Skye Landers, a 19-year-old music education student from SDSU. It was a lot of fun, everything blended the way we hoped it would.

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South of the border, musicians came from Tijuana, Ensenada, Guanajuato and Mexico City, said Jorge Pena, percussionist with the Baja California Orchestra and one of the organizers on the Mexican side.

This is incredible, marvelous, historic, said Pena, speaking through the fine-mesh fence. We cant physically cross, but the music is penetrating both sides, and thats whats important.

Applause rose on both sides as the piece ended, and Schick spoke up to thank the Tijuana musicians. I will never forget this as long as I live, he said.

With the access road on the U.S. side washed out, both musicians and some 200 members of the public faced a half-hour walk to reach the venue at the northern end of Border Field State Park.

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Among the audience members were friends JoAnna George, a middle-school Spanish teacher in Vista, and Rachell Tabor, who teaches theater to elementary school students in Chula Vista.

Both were pleased. You bring the two countries together for something so beautiful, said George.

It blew me away, added Tabor, what an amazing, unifying thing.

sandra.dibble@sduniontribune.com

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@sandradibble
Leave it to Fleetwood Mac to steal the show at its own tribute concert.

Performing last to close Friday nights MusiCares Person of the Year benefit, the annual Grammy-weekend event meant to recognize an artists work and philanthropy, the veteran band long associated with Los Angeles played a thrilling five-song set that made clear how good  and weird  it can still be when the groups members decide to care.

And thank heavens they cared Friday, because until they came onstage, this thing was grim.

Very, very grim.

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The problem wasnt a lack of talent. Held at New Yorks Radio City Music Hall, the concert featured plenty of the stylish young pop acts whose admiration of Fleetwood Mac has helped bring the band back into vogue over the last few years.

Haim covered Gypsy. Miley Cyrus sang Landslide. And Lorde turned up to do Silver Springs, the ghostly Rumours B-side thats like a secret handshake among Fleetwood Macs faithful.

Instead, it was the setting that killed MusiCares usual buzz.

The show typically takes place in a large hall at the Los Angeles Convention Center, where attendees are seated at cozy dinner tables with food and wine. In L.A., the night feels like a big party; it often ends (as in recent years honoring Lionel Richie and Bruce Springsteen) with a seemingly impromptu jam session.

Sure, folks pay thousands of bucks to get in. And nobodys ever gone home wishing he or she had heard just a bit more show-biz self-congratulation.

But the event has  dare I say it  a vibe.

Not here, though.

Because the Grammys ceremony moved to New York this year, MusiCares moved along with it. And Radio City, with its plush carpeting and neat concert-hall seating, is simply the wrong place to do this, especially when the act being feted is one of the most iconic bands of the last half-century.

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Between songs, the room was as quiet as a funeral. And the bar stopped serving booze by 9 p.m., for heavens sake  hardly an effective way to get anyone to enjoy Imagine Dragons, which slogged through Big Love, or Jared Leto, who wore a messianic white suit to sing Never Going Back Again.

Alison Krauss, the fastidious bluegrass doyenne, made use of the hushed environment in a pretty (if airless) Songbird. But then came the unbearable Zac Brown Band with a corny Dont Stop that had you longing for the distraction of industry people schmoozing.

The temperature was so low that there seemed little reason to expect the guests of honor to work up much of a sweat.

After all, it was only six months ago that Fleetwood Mac put on one of the laziest, least inspired performances Ive ever seen as part of Julys Classic West festival at Dodger Stadium.

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But something happened between then and Friday to revive Fleetwood Mac, which played here with joyful purpose and barbed intensity.

Maybe it was the warm, funny introduction by former President Bill Clinton, who told the story of how Dont Stop came to soundtrack his run for the Oval Office. (Turns out the song was the suggestion of a young kid tasked with driving Clinton around on an early campaign visit to L.A.)

Or perhaps the band was spurred back into action by the death last year of Tom Petty. In an endearing acceptance speech, Stevie Nicks said her close friends passing had just about broken her heart.

Petty wasnt well near the end of his life, according to Nicks, who said he ought to have canceled the tour that ended in September at the Hollywood Bowl, just days before he died of an accidental prescription drug overdose.

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He shouldve just gone home and gone to the hospital, Nicks said of the man who himself was recognized in 2017 as MusiCares Person of the Year. But not Tom. He was going to go down that river.

Whatever the case, Fleetwood Mac blazed through The Chain, with help on backing vocals from Harry Styles, as though the band had rediscovered its passion. It set Little Lies to a propulsive gallop and filled Tusk with jagged shards of noise.

For Gold Dust Woman, Nicks put real menace in her voice. Yet the groups closer, Go Your Own Way, was ragged and blissed-out  not the sound of obligation but of abandon.

If only the room had been similarly geared to celebrate.

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mikael.wood@latimes.com

Twitter: @mikaelwood
San Diego is facing decreased funding for infrastructure combined with a longer list of needed projects, creating a $1.57 billion gap that is jeopardizing the citys ability to fix sidewalks, build bike lanes and keep parks in good shape.

The gap is $310 million larger than it was a year ago, despite increased focus on the problem by city officials and a 2016 ballot measure that created the first revenue stream devoted to infrastructure projects.

And the list of needs only covers the next five years, not the citys long-term infrastructure backlog which has been estimated at roughly $5 billion.

For example, the list includes $166 million in sidewalk work that will repair damaged areas and add sidewalks in some neighborhoods that lack them. But the city doesnt expect to complete repairs to all of its damaged sidewalks until 2029.

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The five-year funding gap is expected to grow because less private development and fewer grants will likely shrink revenues, while state storm water mandates and other needs have lengthened the project list.

A new analysis presented recently to the City Councils Infrastructure Committee shows needs over the next five years approach $4.37 billion, compared to $2.8 billion of available funds. Thats a gap of $1.57 billion.

A similar five-year infrastructure outlook completed last winter showed funding needs of $4.3 billion with just over $3 billion available, a gap of $1.27 billion.

This is the first time since the city began creating five-year outlooks in early 2015 that the size of the gap has increased. The goal of the outlooks is a more comprehensive picture of the citys infrastructure needs after decades of neglect.

Councilman Chris Ward of University Heights said the growing gap is a concern, but that he was even more worried about one of its causes: a projected slowdown in development that will reduce fees paid to the city to fund associated facilities.

This is really alarming considering were trying to ramp up our housing production, said Ward, referring to Mayor Kevin Faulconers ongoing efforts to loosen regulations and boost incentives for construction of affordable housing.

Assistant Planning Director Tom Tomlinson said the development projection in coming years is based on a survey of local developers at the time the financing plans are adopted, and observations are that not as much development has been occurring as city officials had anticipated.

James Nagelvoort, the citys public works director, said officials have also dialed back their expectations of the strength of the economy moving forward.

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Street repair, which Faulconer has prioritized with a campaign to pave 1,000 miles of roads over five years, is not projected to suffer from the growing funding gap.

The outlook projects a $226 million need for street paving projects during the next five years and the exact same amount of funding.

City officials, however, said a potential ballot measure seeking to roll back a recent increase in the states gasoline tax could shrink city funding for street repair in coming years.

The citys infrastructure funding gap is projected to prevent the city from meeting needs in other key areas, including parks, sidewalks, bike lanes, streetlights and traffic signals.

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Funding needs for parks projects are estimated at $243 million, with only $88 million expected to be available.

On sidewalks, the projected need is $166 million and only $14 million is expected to be available.

There are similar gaps on streetlights, $204 million versus $1.4 million; traffic signals, $144 million versus $11 million; and bike lanes, $122 million versus $6 million.

City traffic engineer Linda Marabian said the bike lane estimates dont include multiple projects funded near downtown by the countys regional planning agency, the San Diego Association of Governments.

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Marabian said the city still plans to move forward with the downtown mobility plan, a 30-year blueprint for new bike lanes and pedestrian upgrades that includes an ambitious first phase thats scheduled for completion by 2019.

She said the city is aggressively seeking grants and plans to use some developer fees. The mobility plan is projected to cost $62.5 million over 30 years, but city officials havent provided cost estimates for its individual phases.

Councilman Mark Kersey of Black Mountain Ranch said its important for residents to understand that part of the funding gap is the result of large projects, such as upgrades to aging buildings in Balboa Park.

But Kersey also expressed concerns that the city plans to spend $104 million on storm water upgrades, including the lions share of revenue from the Proposition H ballot measure voters approved in 2016 to fund infrastructure.

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He said as important as storm water upgrades are to prevent flooding, voters approved the measure believing the money would be spent on neighborhood upgrades like sidewalks and streetlights.

Councilman David Alvarez of Logan Heights said hes troubled that the city isnt seeing a downward trend in infrastructure needs, despite sharply increasing capital expenditures on projects in recent years. But Alvarez said that may be partly the result of much greater awareness of the size of the problem thanks to comprehensive recent assessments of the citys parks, streets, sidewalks, buildings and other infrastructure.

We have a much better picture than the city has ever had, he said.

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david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrick
A teenage girl and the family dog escaped a fire in their Rancho Bernardo home Saturday night, but a cat was found dead inside.

Investigators were trying to determine what caused the fire, which started in a couch, San Diego fire Battalion Chief John Fisher told OnSceneTV.

The blaze broke out about 6:40 p.m. in the two-story house on Matinal Circle in the Westwood neighborhood. Flames charred most of the first floor and caused smoke damage to the second floor, Fisher said.

He said the flames also threatened a house next door, but firefighters got the fire under control before the other house was damaged, about 7 p.m.

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Damage was estimated at $225,000.

The girl who was home alone got out without injury. The Red Cross was called to assist three residents.

pauline.repard@sduniontribune

Twitter: @pdrepard
Authorities arrested a suspected arsonist who was dancing around near a fire along the shoulder of state Route 78 in Carlsbad on Saturday.

Several people called 911 shortly before 4:30 p.m. to report black smoke rising from the grass at the eastbound freeway on-ramp at El Camino Real.

The witnesses told the California Highway Patrol that a man was walking away from the fire, acting suspiciously and looking back at the growing blaze.

A CHP officer reported that the bearded man was dancing around the right freeway shoulder, according to the CHP dispatch website..

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The 39-year-old Oceanside man was taken into custody, and jailed on suspicion of having started the fire, Carlsbad police Sgt. Gary Marshall said in a statement.

Fire crews from Carlsbad, Oceanside and Vista extinguished the fire.

pauline.repard@sduniontribune

Twitter: @pdrepard
Flames spread from a backyard patio to a house in Santee before dawn Saturday, forcing residents to get out quickly.

No one was injured as the blaze engulfed at least half of the Summit Avenue house, leaving piles of charred debris.

The fire was reported about 4 a.m. and firefighters could see large flames while they were still a distance away, Santee fire Battalion Chief Tim Stuber told OnSceneTV.

He said flames from the patio got into the homes attic and burned intensely for about an hour before firefighters gained control of the blaze.

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Five residents were displaced, Stuber said.

Sheriffs fire investigators were trying to determine the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.

Santee firefighters got help from crews from Lakeside, Chula Vista and Heartland.

pauline.repard@sduniontribune

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Twitter: @pdrepard
It took firefighters nearly an hour to douse stubborn flames in a City Heights home crammed with belongings Saturday night, officials said.

No one was injured in the 8 p.m. blaze on Shamrock Street, a cul-de-sac south of Sycamore Drive.

Some rubbish and plants burned first, then spread into the house, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokeswoman Monica Munoz said.

The fire burned deeply amid hoarder-like conditions in the home. Crews had much of the fire out in 20 minutes, but reported finding more hot spots as they worked their way through the house.

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They said the fire was under control shortly before 9 p.m, then spent more than an hour shoveling and hauling blackened, water-soaked debris outside.

Investigators were looking into the cause of the fire.

pauline.repard@sduniontribune

Twitter: @pdrepard
Like the massive beasts that once grazed the Domenigoni Valley, the Western Science Center (WSC) in Hemet has recently taken a giant step forward with the appointment of Andrew T. McDonald, Ph.D. as Museum Curator & Educator.

McDonalds hire in late 2017 came on the heels of a decision by the WSC board and leadership to prioritize using the museums collection of more than 100,000 prehistoric animal fossils as a basis for scholarly research and publication.

Though relatively brief, McDonalds career in research is notable. In 2006, while an undergraduate student at the University of Nebraska, McDonald embarked on research utilizing an unclassified fossil. Four years later, as a doctoral candidate at the University of Pennsylvania, McDonald was lead author of a study describing and co-naming that fossil, which turned out to be an entirely new species of dinosaur. The new name: Jeyawati.

Since then, McDonald has helped named three more dinosaur fossils.

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On McDonalds hire, WSC executive director Dr. Alton C. Dooley said, Andrews reputation as a careful researcher, his field experience, and his enthusiasm for outreach convinced us that he was a perfect fit for the Western Science Center.

Before joining WSC in late 2017, McDonald was at the Saint Louis Science Center. Since then, hes had some time to settle into his new role. Perfect timing, we thought, to ask some him questions.

Q: The job curator means different things at different museums. What is your role at WSC?

My primary role is that of research scientist: studying fossils in the museums collection; documenting those fossils through written publications and digital media; and adding to the collection through field work. I also work with other staff to plan events and exhibits, participate in outreach venues, and teach classes for middle-school kids in the museums simulated dig site.

Q: Youve named, or helped name, four species of dinosaurs. Whats that like?

Affixing a name to an organism, living or extinct, is exciting and humbling. The name you choose will be the name attached to that organism forever. When inventing a name for a new species of dinosaur, I try to make the name as strange and wonderful as the animal itself. My favorite is Hippodraco, a mix of Greek and Latin meaning horse dragon. My colleagues and I published Hippodraco in 2010.

Q: Can you describe the experience of field work, that is, working on fossil dig sites?

When you discover a fossil, you take up your part in a story that began thousands, millions, or even billions of years ago. Your life becomes connected to a very different life that ended long before you existed.

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That is the romantic side of field work. But field work is also grueling excavations under merciless sun and heat, hiking across desolate badlands, and evading rattlesnakes and thunderstorms. And I would not trade a minute of it for anything.

Q: WSC has a massive collection. Are you looking forward to digging in, so to speak?

Yes! The museum houses one of the most extensive collections of American mastodons in the world.

Q: What advice do you have for students in grades K-12 who dreams of becoming a paleontologist?

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Read voraciously. Paleontology is not only about fossils. Geology, biology, chemistry and physics are essential to understand fossils and what they can reveal about the living organisms they once were.

Visit museums to see what fossils look like in person. Museums are the primary conduit between researchers and the public.

Finally, apply the scientific method to the world around you: observe, hypothesize, test, retest, tell people what you think and why, and then listen to what they have to say. At its very core, all science is an expression of human curiosity and wonder.

Q: What do you like most, and least, about the southwest Riverside County region?

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I love the desert and being able to see mountains from my front porch. I am very keen to get to know this new ecosystem in which I reside, especially its living dinosaurs  birds. That said, ninety-degree weather on Thanksgiving is at odds with my longstanding concept of reality.

The Western Science Center is located at 2345 Searl Parkway in Hemet. Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, the center is closed on Mondays and select holidays. For more Information call (951) 791-0033 or visit westerncentermuseum.org.

temecula@sduniontribune.com
On Wednesday, as Republicans were clamoring to make public a secret document they think will undercut the investigation into Russian meddling, President Donald Trump made clear his desire: Release the memo.

Trumps directive was at odds with his own Justice Department, which had warned that releasing the classified memo written by congressional Republicans would be extraordinarily reckless without an official review. Nevertheless, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly relayed the presidents view to Attorney General Jeff Sessions - although the decision to release the document ultimately lies with Congress.

Kelly and Sessions spoke twice that day - in person during a small-group afternoon meeting and over the phone later that evening - and Kelly conveyed Trumps desire, a senior administration official said.

Trump and his Republican allies have placed special emphasis on the classified memo, which was written by staff members for House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., and suggests that the FBI may have relied on politically motivated or questionable sources to justify its request for a secret surveillance warrant in the investigations early phase. Democrats have characterized the memo as misleading talking points designed to smear the FBI. They said it inaccurately summarizes investigative materials that also are classified.

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Trump is inclined to have that released just because it will shed light, said a senior administration official who was speaking on the condition of anonymity to recount private conversations. Apparently all the rumors are that it will shed light, it will help the investigators come to a conclusion.

The intervention with Sessions, which has not previously been reported, marked another example of the presidents year-long attempts to shape and influence an investigation that is fundamentally outside his control. Trump, appearing frustrated and at times angry, has complained to confidants and aides in recent weeks that he does not understand why he cannot simply give orders to my guys at what he sometimes calls the Trump Justice Department, two people familiar with the presidents comments said.

Such complaints, and Trumps repeated attempts to pressure senior law enforcement officials through firings or other means, have now become one of the main focuses of the investigation - including Trumps order last summer to fire special counsel Robert Mueller III, which prompted White House counsel Donald McGahn to threaten to quit before Trump backed down.

Trump recently revived his complaints that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was not properly supervising Muellers probe, and suggested that he should fire Rosenstein - a highly controversial action against the person officially overseeing the special counsels investigation, an adviser who speaks frequently with Trump said.

The president also made clear in recent days that he hopes that new questions facing the investigation allow him or his associates to make changes at the Justice Department, two people familiar with Trumps comments said.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., returns to a secure area in the Capitol where his panel is interviewing former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon as part of its ongoing Russia investigation, in Washington, Jan. 16, 2018. (J. Scott Applewhite / AP)

The president has told close advisers that the memo is starting to make people realize how the FBI and the Mueller probe are biased against him, and that it could provide him with grounds for either firing or forcing Rosenstein to leave, according to one person familiar with his remarks. He has privately derided Rosenstein as the Democrat from Baltimore. Rosenstein is not a Democrat. He was appointed as a U.S. attorney in Maryland by President George W. Bush and was kept in that post by President Barack Obama.

One senior White House official said he personally had not heard the president make comments about getting rid of Rosenstein, which were first reported by CNN.

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A spokesman for the Justice Department declined to comment.

As Mueller narrows his probe - homing in on the ways Trump may have tried to impede the Russia investigation - a common thread ties many of the incidents together: a president accustomed to functioning as the executive of a private family business who does not seem to understand that his subordinates have sworn an oath to the Constitution rather than to him.

On Wednesday, speaking briefly to reporters, Trump defended his actions in the probe as fighting back against unfair allegations. Oh, well, Did he fight back?  Trump said. You fight back, Oh, its obstruction. 

The Russia probe has also figured prominently in Trumps souring relationships with some former allies and confidants. Trump first became enraged with Sessions after the attorney general recused himself from overseeing the Russia investigation, which Trump thinks led to the appointment of Mueller. Later, after his former chief strategist, Stephen Bannon, accused Trumps eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, of a treasonous and unpatriotic meeting with a Russian lawyer in a new book, the furious president cast Bannon out of his orbit, as well.

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Sally Yates, the acting attorney general whom Trump fired early last year for failing to enforce his travel ban, said in an interview that Trumps behavior - from his June decision to call for Muellers firing to other meddling throughout the year - is beyond unusual and really dangerous.

If you get to whats most essential and important and, I think, really damaging to our country, beyond just the confines of this administration, its this attack on our democratic institutions and particularly the Department of Justice, she said. It is a firm tradition at the Department of Justice that the White House just has absolutely no involvement in criminal investigations or prosecutions, period.

She added: It seems like there are almost weekly efforts to try to get DOJ to open up a case on his former political rival. . . . The near daily attacks on the FBI - weve never seen anything anywhere close to this before.

Indeed, Trump has shown a repeated pattern of attempting to regain control of the Russia investigation and deploy the Justice Department for his own protection and personal gain - comments and actions Muellers team could include in the obstruction-of-justice portion of their probe.

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The problem, said Barry Bennett, a former senior adviser on the Trump campaign, is that subordinates sometimes confuse Trumps angry venting for actual administration directives.

Some people still either dont understand the difference between the presidents bark and his bite, or theyre more than willing to take advantage of the bark to assume that it was a bite, Bennett said. Trust me, everybody on the campaign was fired more than once, but it never really happened.

The arc of a potential case of obstruction of justice stretches back to the earliest days of Trumps presidency.

In January 2017, at a one-on-one dinner, then-FBI Director James Comey said, Trump told him: I need loyalty. I expect loyalty. A month later, in February, Trump dismissed others from the Oval Office and told Comey that Michael Flynn - Trumps former national security adviser who was fired for misleading Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with Russians - had done nothing wrong, according to Comeys testimony to Congress.

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I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go, Trump said at the time, according to Comey. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.

Then, in phone calls in March and April, Trump told Comey that he needed him to lift the cloud of the Russia investigation and get out that Trump personally was not under investigation.

And then on May 9, an angry Trump finally fired the FBI director.

Shortly after dismissing Comey, the president asked Andrew McCabe, his acting FBI director, whom he voted for in the 2016 election, according to people with knowledge of the conversation. In December, when The Washington Post reported that McCabe intended to retire in early 2018 once he becomes fully eligible for his pension benefits, Trump took to Twitter to criticize him.

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A person who has spoken with Muellers team said investigators questions seemed at least partially designed to probe potential obstruction from Trump.

The questions are about who was where in every meeting, what happened before and after, what the president was saying as he made decisions, this person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to recount a private session.

This person added that while it seemed unlikely Muellers team would yield any evidence of a coordinated effort to aid the Russians - If you were on the campaign, you know we couldnt even collude with ourselves, he said - the investigators might find more details to support obstruction of justice.

By June, Trump had so openly begun discussing firing Mueller that Bannon and Reince Priebus, who was then chief of staff, grew incredibly concerned, huddling to strategize about how to dissuade the president and enlisting others to intervene with him.

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In mid-June, Christopher Ruddy, the chief executive of the conservative Newsmax Media and a longtime Trump confidant, voiced those concerns publicly, telling PBS NewsHour, I think hes perhaps terminating the special counsel.

And that same month, Trump did, in fact, order McGahn to fire Mueller, a directive first reported Thursday by the New York Times. But McGahn told West Wing staff - though not the president - that he would quit before carrying out Trumps directive, and the president ultimately backed down, people familiar with the events said.

Allies of the president said that his demands for absolute loyalty are not unreasonable - and not indicative of any attempts to obstruct justice. Of course the president ought to be able to expect loyalty, said Newt Gingrich, an unofficial Trump adviser. He is the chosen president of the United States by the American people, and he is the chief executive. If theyre not loyal to him, who the hell are they supposed to be loyal to?

In recent weeks, Muellers team has questioned White House staff about the June episode in which Trump expressed interest in firing Mueller, a person familiar with those interviews said.

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Mueller has also asked about Trumps repeated outbursts against his attorney general, including a moment in late July when Trump nearly ousted Sessions out of anger at the Russia probe. Although McGahn had called Sessions at Trumps request in early March to urge him not to recuse himself, Sessions stepped aside that same day - and the president was furious.

By July 19, Trump was venting publicly, telling the Times that it was very unfair of Sessions to recuse himself from the Russia investigation and that he would not have nominated Sessions to be attorney general if he had known of his plans.

The next day, facing Trumps public criticism, Sessions announced that he would remain attorney general as long as it is appropriate. That same day, a White House adviser told a Post reporter that Trump was stunned that Sessions had not yet quit. The president, this adviser added, has been hoping that Sessions would be embarrassed enough by Trumps scathing public remarks to leave on his own.

Shortly after, Trump issued a directive to Priebus: Go to Sessions and secure his resignation, according to two people with knowledge of the episode.

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But Priebus hesitated, declining to outright ask Sessions to quit and instead working to manage Trumps anger, those two people said. In the following days, Republicans rallied to Sessions defense, and Trump backed off.

A person who has interacted with Muellers team said the prosecutors seem to be pursuing a theory that Trumps actions over months have followed a consistent pattern. Their theory appears to be that he goes after people who are not loyal, this person said. He wants in place people who are loyal, to make sure he doesnt get in trouble in the investigation.

This person added that key episodes in this narrative include Trumps order that Sessions not recuse himself from the investigation; the firing of Comey; his efforts to intervene to get the Flynn investigation dropped; and then, above all, Trumps dictation aboard Air Force One in July of a misleading statement to be released by his son, Don Jr., about his meeting with the Russian lawyer at Trump Tower during the campaign - the most obvious obstructive act, this person said.

To prove obstruction of justice, Mueller would have to show that Trump didnt just act to derail the investigation but did so with a corrupt motive, such as an effort to hide his own misdeeds. Legal experts are divided over whether the Constitution allows for the president to be indicted while in office. As a result, Mueller might seek to outline his findings about Trumps actions in a written report rather than bring them in court through criminal charges. It would probably fall to Rosenstein to decide whether to submit the report to Congress, which has the power to open impeachment proceedings.

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As Trump faced growing questions about myriad concerns from his June directive to fire Mueller to his more recent grousing about Rosenstein, the White House was largely silent. In response to several specific queries, White House spokesman Hogan Gidley offered a written statement that addressed few of them.

The president has been clear publicly and privately that he wants absolute transparency throughout this process, Gidley said in the statement. Based on numerous news reports, top officials at the FBI have engaged in conduct that shows bias against President Trump and bias for Hillary Clinton. The president has said repeatedly for months there is no consideration of terminating the special counsel.

The Washington Posts Philip Rucker and Matt Zapotosky contributed to this report.
Unclear why hotels feel need to challenge Airbnb

According to San Diego in midst of hotel building boom (Jan. 22) the hotel industry is doing great and anticipating doing even better.

So its interesting that its the hotel industry thats been fighting for rules to make Airbnb illegal in cities across the U.S. Obviously, they have nothing to fear, because they keep growing along with Airbnb and other home-sharing sites.

It sounds like they want nothing less than full monopoly.

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Austin Hong

San Diego

Something recently caught my attention. A couple weeks ago, it was said that Airbnb is growing and is hugely popular with visitors to San Diego. Then it was said that, San Diego is in midst of hotel building boom, and it says hotels are booming and hotel developers are eagerly building thousands more rooms.

Clearly, Airbnb isnt cutting into the hotels business. That means people who stay in Airbnbs are probably a different kind of traveler, who want to stay outside of the hotel zones or want a different kind of experience.

There are lots of reasons people like to stay in vacation rentals, and the efforts to take this option away from travelers to San Diego is damaging to our tourism economy. If tourists cant stay at Airbnbs here, theres probably a good chance they just wont come to San Diego at all.

Guillermo Gonzalez

Lemon Grove

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Press Release

January 28, 2018 Safe shelters, adequate jobs for displaced families

ANGARA: MARAWI SHOULD BE GROUND ZERO OF BUILD, BUILD, BUILD PROGRAM Marawi City must become the ground zero of the country's Build, Build, Build program, Senator Sonny Angara pointed out today, saying that the bombed out capital of Lanao Sur can be the showcase of the government's promised infrastructure boom. "From center of fighting, let Marawi be the center of reconstruction in the country," said Angara, who visited and inspected the place last week along with five other senators. He added that Marawi will be harmed again if it will be left out or left behind the infrastructure boom, of which P1 trillion in public spending, will be spent this year. "If we're building a subway in Manila, or a long bridge in Cebu, let us also repair the roads and bridges in Marawi, which will cost less," Angara said. Based on latest estimates, the fighting has left 1,100 dead and over 350,000 displaced. "Residential areas have been totalled, as the city received the greatest brunt of shelling since Manila in the end of Word War II," the senator said. Angara has filed P.S. Resolution 592 directing the special committee on Marawi City rehabilitation to zero in on formulating policies to improve the welfare of internally displaced persons. "Rehabilitation efforts must focus beyond physical infrastructure to include the redevelopment of human capital by ensuring the provision of safe shelters, adequate jobs, sustainable livelihood, and improved well-being to all internally displaced individuals," he said. Angara, who also served as the keynote speaker of the first commencement exercises held last week at the Mindanao State University (MSU) Main Campus right after the Marawi siege, lauded the university for continuing with their classes amid conflict. "It was essential that the university remained unharmed and operational amid the siege of Marawi because that meant there was still a place where people could feel safe, where they can be reminded of the beauty of your city, and where they can continue to learn, to educate themselves, and hope for a better future. "Because of your courage, you have all become inspirations and beacons of hope not only for your communities, not only for your tribes, not only for your school, but for the whole nation," Angara said to the graduating MSU students.
Press Release

January 28, 2018 CDO rolls out red carpet as PDP Laban comes home The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino - Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban) returned on Saturday to Cagayan de Oro, where it was founded as the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino in the 1970s, amid an enthusiastic reception from the city's residents. An estimated 8,000 people from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, and Camiguin took their oaths as members of PDP Laban at the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines before Senate President and Party President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel on Saturday, January 27, 2018. "My father, former Senate President Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel, Jr., founded the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino under the shade of a banana tree, with only a blackboard to help him and the pioneer members discuss possible solutions to the age-old problems of our society", said Pimentel. PDP Laban is now the ruling party of the Philippines, with three of the top four national officials coming from the Party. The Party was founded as the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino by former Senate President Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel, Jr. Its espousal of Federalism, empowerment of the people, and respect for the rule of law put it on a collision course with the Martial Law regime of the time. In 1982, PDP, as the largest opposition party in Mindanao, merged with Laban, the largest opposition party in Luzon, to form PDP Laban. In 2016, it was swept into power led by its Chairman, President Rodrigo Duterte, on the promise of Change. Pimentel said, "PDP-Laban never surrendered its principles, even in the darkest days of Martial Law, or our years out of power. In this event, we want to show the people of CDO that our perseverance has brought us power on the national level - the power to bring Change to society and uplift the quality of life of every Filipino." At the end of the ceremony, Pimentel met with a delegation consisting of faculty, staff, and students, and led by the widow of slain USTP President Dr. Ricardo Rotoras, who asked for the Senate President's assistance in securing justice. Pimentel promised that he would do all he can to ensure that justice will be served in the case.
Press Release

January 28, 2018 Villar vows to hasten approval of other bills to boost the agri sector Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, chair of the Senate agriculture and food committee, has promised to hasten the approval of other relevant bills referred to her committee to further spur agricultural growth. For instance, Villar said, she had called a hearing late last year on the implementation of Republic Act 3708 or the Seeds Industry Development Act of 1992 due to its failure to make available high-quality seeds to small farmers. The senator said she filed Senate Bill 322, which seeks to establish a continuing national program for hybrid and other quality seeds production. "Allow me to give you an update on my authored bills, such as the National Food Authority (NFA) Reorganization Act; and the Abolition of the irrigation service fees for small farmers and some other bills," said Villar during the Initial Consultative Meeting & Launching of (Food and Agriculture Organization) FAO-Legislative Advisory Group PH or FLAG-PH. The reorganization of the NFA, Villar said, is among the priorities of her committee for this year. She believes the NFA is due for reorganization because of the key role it plays in the lives of rice-eating Filipinos and a rice-producing Philippines or our food security. Until now, she lamented that the Philippines is yet to reach its rice self-sufficiency targets. She also noted that President Rodrigo Duterte is keen on NFA taking a bigger role by handling other agricultural commodities (rice and corn) besides rice. The senator likewise happily related that for the first time in our country's history, irrigation is now free for farmers. "I am the primary author of the Free Irrigation Service to Small Farmers Act of 2017 or Senate Bill 1465 (under Committee Report No. 103)," said Villar "Once signed into law, free irrigation services will be institutionalized for small farmers or those with eight hectares or below, which as UN-FAO acknowledges are the ones that will feed the world's population. It is truly a landmark law that will benefit generations of Filipino farmers," she added. Villar has also conducted a public hearing on the proposal to lift quantitative restriction on rice. She pushed for the creation of a special fund composed of all duties collected from the importation of rice to be spent on programs that will hasten competitiveness of Filipino farmers. Villar also noted that during the 16th Congress, she led the passage into law of 16 significant bills on agriculture and fisheries.
A sign mocking San Franciscos sanctuary city policy was hung early Sunday over the Yerba Buena Tunnel in San Francisco by a white nationalist organization.

The sign read Danger in red letters and Sanctuary City Ahead with a skull and crossbones on both sides of the poster. It was visible to Bay Bridge motorists driving west on Interstate 80 but was quickly removed, said Officer Vu Williams of the California Highway Patrol.

Its my understanding it was only up there very briefly, Williams said.

Its unclear who removed the sign, Williams added.

Identity Evropa claimed responsibility for the sign on Twitter and said, PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM IDENTITY EVROPA San Francisco is a dangerous sanctuary city where the law does not apply to illegal invaders. Enter at your own risk!

Identity Evropa is a white supremacist organization and designated as a hate group, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

According to Identity Evropas website, the group is made up of a generation of awakened Europeans who have discovered that we are part of the great peoples, history, and civilization that flowed from the European continent. We reject the idea that our identities are mere abstractions to be deconstructed.

The organization attempts to recruit college-age, white students to discuss white interests, according to the law center.

It was founded in March 2016 by Nathan Damigo, a 31-year-old Marine and student at Cal State Stanislaus.

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.

Damigo gained notoriety in April when he punched a woman at a pro-Trump rally in Berkeley.

In an August interview with The Chronicle, Damigo said there is a growing antiwhite culture in the United States that is destructive and harmful to society.

Diversity is divisive, he said. The idea that we are going to unite around some abstract principle  democracy, freedom or love  that simply is not going to work.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Dennis Peron, an activist who helped legalize medical marijuana in California, died Saturday afternoon in a San Francisco hospital. He was 71.

Peron was a force behind a San Francisco ordinance allowing medical marijuana, a win that later helped propel the 1996 passage of Prop. 215, which legalized medical use for the entire state. A Vietnam War veteran, Peron spent some of the last years his life on a 20-acre farm in the rolling hills of Lake County, growing and giving away what he once sold: medical marijuana.

A man that changed the world, Jeffrey Peron wrote in a Facebook post, along with a photo of his brother  impish and good-looking  dressed in a gray suit and a blue striped tie. This is the Dennis I want to remember.

Throughout his long and checkered career, Peron was a gay activist, pot enthusiast and sometimes-vigilante at odds with the law. He was among the first to argue for the benefits of medicinal marijuana for AIDS patients as the health crisis overtook San Francisco. The epidemic also took his partner, Jonathan West, in 1990.

San Franciscos Board of Supervisors recognized Peron, suffering with late-stage lung cancer, with a certificate of honor last year.

The father of medical marijuana, one supervisor called him in the meeting.

I came to San Francisco to find love and to change the world, Peron said in reply, leaning on his walker. I found love, only to lose him through AIDS. We changed the world.

But once, Peron was just a gay kid from Long Island who joined the Air Force to get away from home, as he described it in his 2012 book, Memoirs of Dennis Peron. He then moved to a commune in the Haight, where he befriended Supervisor Harvey Milk and began selling marijuana in the Castro.

In 1991, Peron founded the first public cannabis dispensary in the country  originally called the San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club  during the height of the U.S. drug war.

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.

He, along with Brownie Mary Rathbun, formed a resistance, doling out the herb to AIDS patients and shifting the public conversation about how it should be used. He was busted more than four times for illegally dealing the drug, spent time in jail and was once shot in the leg by a police officer. The club, which served 9,000 clients, was closed by a San Francisco Superior Court judge in 1998.

The city and the country has lost a cannabis leader who lived life on the edge, said Terrance Alan, a member of the citys Cannabis Commission. He lived his whole life on the edge, and thats what allowed us to lead in cannabis. Not many people would have had the courage at the time that he took up the mantle.

After the club was shut down, Peron moved to the country. He changed his business model and began providing living plants to patients. Eventually, after being diagnosed with lung cancer, he moved back to the Castro Castle, a former bed-and-breakfast he owned with his husband, John Entwistle.

Lizzie Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LizzieJohnsonnnn
Tech investor Ron Conway is firing back at allegations that he threatened to ruin supervisors who voted to replace acting San Francisco Mayor London Breed, calling them bald-faced, reckless lies.

Conway has been a major political donor in the city for years, contributing and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for campaigns favoring moderate, tech-friendly candidates and slamming their more progressive, tech-skeptic opponents.

Last week, Conway landed in the spotlight when progressive Supervisors Aaron Peskin and Hillary Ronen cited his alleged machinations to explain why they had voted to oust a black woman who rose out of public housing as acting mayor and replace her with Mark Farrell, a white, upper-middle-class hedge fund manager from the Marina.

The vote was not so much about elevating one white man as sending a message to another white man  a tech titan billionaire named Ron Conway  that San Francisco cant be bought, that it cant be corrupted and that we are going to have real, true electoral democracy, Peskin said.

Ronen went on KQEDs Forum program Wednesday to call Conway the citys version of the Koch brothers  someone who throws his billions of dollars around to threaten candidates.

Ronen said she had been referring to Conway during her tearful speech before the Board of Supervisors the night before, when she said, Theyre all saying if you dont support London Breed that peoples careers will be ruined. ... It is happening right now in this Board of Supervisors chamber. It happened the morning Ed Lee passed away. Thats how gross these people are  because they are gross.

Conway flatly denies making any such threats.

I never met or talked or approached any supervisor in San Francisco regarding London Breed before the boards vote Tuesday, he said.

Conway does admit to having a conversation with Farrell shortly after Lees death on Dec. 12. Farrell has received plenty of campaign cash from Conway in the past and was contemplating a run for mayor at the time. Conway says he made it clear he was backing Breed in the June election and thought she should be acting mayor until then.

I evangelized the idea that London Breed was a qualified acting mayor in my opinion, and I hoped he agreed to that, Conway said.

He wouldnt say what he thought of Farrells decision to accept the interim mayors job, but he left no doubt how he felt about bouncing Breed in the name of leveling the June mayoral playing field: Its the grossest, most underhanded backroom deal that I have ever witnessed, he said.

And the hypocrisy of Hillary Ronen, Conway said. She berates white, wealthy people in her tantrum, and then five minutes later she is voting in a white, wealthy guy as mayor.

Although he has directed campaign money to Breed in the past, Conway scoffed at progressives suggestion that she was in his pocket.

I have a long history of strong and passionate support for Democratic women leaders like Kamala Harris, Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, Hillary Clinton and so many more, Conway said. No one accuses them of being in my pocket, so its deeply offensive.

Conway, 66, made a fortune as an early stage investor in Google, Ask Jeeves and PayPal, and has since been active in a wide range of philanthropic and community activities, including helping to fund Project Homeless Connect under former Mayor Gavin Newsom. He is a member of nominating committee of The Chronicles Visionary of the Year Award.

Conway has also been a longtime adversary of progressives, and isnt shy about spending big to get his way.

Hes got a special problem with mayoral candidate Supervisor Jane Kim, dating back to her role in saving then-Sheriff Ross Mirkarimis job in 2012 after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in a spousal abuse case. Conway funded a $200,000-plus TV and Internet ad campaign against Kim in her 2016 state Senate campaign, which she lost to Scott Wiener.

Another supervisor who helped Mirkarimi, David Campos, fell victim to an $800,000 blitz mounted in part by Conways wife in his 2014 state Assembly race against David Chiu.

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.

As for being compared to the Koch brothers?

I guess (Ronen) is not aware that I am one of the largest donors in America to the resistance movement, Conway said.

And I spend a ton of time on the Dream Act, Conway said  pointing out that, among other things, he was behind the campaign that recruited celebrities including Kevin Durant, Ellen DeGeneres and Christina Aguilera to wear We are all Dreamers T-shirts. Keeping DACA recipients in the U.S. is one issue that I am most passionate about, he said.

Given me a break, retorted Peskin, who hasnt forgotten that Conway and others spent $158,000 to try to keep him from winning the District Three supervisors seat in 2015. This coming from a guy who said he would not rest until he got every progressive out of office in San Francisco ... and this coming from a gentleman who (until a few years ago) was a proud member of the Republican Party.

Theres no mistaking that bringing Conway into the spotlight was a shorthand way for progressives to revive the debate over techs power in the years of Lee and Newsom, and to brand Breed as a continuation of those business-friendly policies.

Will it work? Check back in June.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX-TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has given us a mayors race worth watching.

The vote to install Mark Farrell as interim mayor, bouncing London Breed from her acting mayors job, had all the intrigue of a palace coup, right down to the element of surprise. And while the progressive supervisors wrapped themselves in the cloak of civic virtue, saying it wouldnt be right for Breed to be both acting mayor and Board of Supervisors president, the bottom line is that they were doing whatever they could to keep her from having an advantage in the June mayoral election.

After all, if they were truly concerned about her double role, they could simply have voted for Breed as interim mayor. That would have forced her to give up her supervisors seat.

It was a bit awkward for the progressives to bounce a black woman who grew up in public housing from the mayors job and replace her with a white guy who represented the Marina on the board.

Supervisor Hillary Ronen justified her vote by claiming Breed was under the control of white tech and real estate billionaires like Ron Conway. Funny she decided that Farrell, a hedge fund manager and one of the boards biggest recipients of Conways political money, was a better choice.

Supervisor Jane Kim, who also voted against Breed, will have some explaining to do with female voters. Still, it was worth it to her, given that shes running third in early polling for the June election. When youre behind, any shakeup in the races dynamics is worth it.

Former state Sen. Mark Leno, whose supporters on the board led the move to remove Breed, appears to have gone into the witness protection program while waiting for the storm to blow over.

As for Breed, losing the acting mayors job might actually turn out to be a plus. Ive made clear that I think shed be a great mayor. But Im not sure she was up for being a new mayor, with all of its 24/7 challenges, and a full-time candidate for office at the same time.

She already boosted her profile by being acting mayor for a month  the same polls that have Kim in third show Breed running even with Leno for first place. And some voters may be drawn to her because they figure she was a victim of bare-knuckles politics.

Its an odd combination of events and perceptions that make her both a front-runner and an underdog. Thats a good place to start any campaign.

Dream on: If you were looking for political gossip, the U.S. Conference of Mayors confab in Washington, D.C., was the place to be last week. Not only did hundreds of mayors show up, but just about every member of Congress made a point of stopping by to work the room.

The biggest topic of conversation was the prospect for a deal that would enable DACA recipients to stay in the country. Its a debate that crosses both party and geographical lines.

Most of the talk was how any solution was going to mean some sort of path to citizenship for the Dreamers and money for President Trumps wall. The latter is a deal-breaker for many in California, but thats not the case with some Democrats elsewhere, especially in the South.

That could spell trouble for House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi if she tries to draw the line at the wall.

Bipartisanship: Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona was among those who stopped by the mayors conference. He got in a good joke, about a freshman Republican and freshman Democrat stranded together on a desert island who had to join forces to survive.

It was proof, he said, that Democrats and Republicans can work together if death is the only option.

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.

Flake, of course, is one of several Republicans who have decided to leave Congress after this year rather than run for re-election. Theres speculation hes thinking about a 2020 run, because hes opposed President Trump in word if not in deed.

Keep an eye on him. My hunch is, hes in.

Both sides now: As society scribe Catherine Bigelow reported in The Chronicle, a San Franciscan is in line to be the next U.S. ambassador to Austria. Hes Trevor Traina, son of Fine Arts Museums powerhouse Dede Wilsey.

Wilsey and her family have long practiced the San Francisco Republican tradition of giving big to local Democrats, but even bigger to national Republicans. Looks like it paid off.

Movie time: Skip Den of Thieves. This heist movie features more automatic weapons than a war in the Middle East. Not worth your two hours and 20 minutes, let alone the cost of a ticket.

Footnote: You might remember I walked out of a certain movie about a romance between a mute cleaning woman and the Creature From the Black Lagoon, one that ended up scoring more Oscar nominations than any other film.

As my granddaughter asked, Grandpa, are you sure you saw The Shape of Water?

Want to sound off? Email: wbrown@sfchronicle.com
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.

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.

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
WASHINGTON  The Trump administrations newly released plan to resolve the fate of young immigrants who arrived in the country illegally as children would constitute the biggest change to immigration policy in decades, putting Democrats and their allies in a painful vise.

The proposal would provide 1.8 million young immigrants a path to citizenship, many more than the 690,000 currently enrolled under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, that had served as a baseline for plans by both parties to provide them permanent legal status.

In exchange, the administration wants major new border and interior immigration enforcement, and a commitment for a $25 billion trust fund for President Trumps promised wall on the southern border to Mexico as part of the deal.

But the biggest battleground may be Trumps proposal to limit future family-based visas to spouses and young children, eliminating an immigrants ability to sponsor parents, siblings and adult children.

These family visas have formed the foundation of U.S. immigration policy since 1965, were reaffirmed in the last major immigration overhaul in 1990, and profoundly altered the nations ethnic composition.

Eliminating future family visas could eventually cut legal immigration  now 1.2 million people each year  in half.

Democrats are under intense political pressure to protect immigrants who arrived in the country as children and were raised as Americans, including those who were eligible for DACA but did not enroll, some out of fear of revealing themselves to federal authorities.

But the party also deeply opposes limits on legal migration, especially based on family ties. If the young immigrants get a reprieve, experts said, it could come at a dear cost to others who come from other nations to live in the U.S.

The administration intended DACA to be a chip that they were going to play from the very beginning to extract other concessions on immigration, said Tony Payan, director of the Mexico Center at Rice Universitys Baker Institute.

Having canceled the DACA program last fall, Trump set a March 5 deadline for Congress to replace it. Although a federal judge issued an injunction to keep the program alive pending higher court review, the young immigrants stand to lose their right to work, travel and attend school. They could eventually face deportation. Lawmakers in both parties, fearing an adverse court ruling either way, insist on a permanent legislative fix.

I think the Trump administration is perfectly capable of arriving to March 5 and not having a deal, Payan said.

Payan compared the DACA fight to a game of chicken in which Democrats keep swerving to avoid a crash. He said the administrations willingness to use the young immigrants as leverage to get what it wants and the Democrats desperation to provide them legal status means Democrats will get very little in exchange and the administration will get quite a lot.

The extended-family visas are vitally important to many Asian and Latino Americans, said John Trasvina, dean of the University of San Francisco Law School and former president of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

The major reason we have had growth in the Asian American population in the United States and here in San Francisco is because of the brother and sister preference, Trasvina said.

Originally intended in 1965 for Irish and Italians, the brother and sister visa became the one for Asian and Latin Americans, Trasvina said.

And we see them. We see them in California. The U.S. citizens who have brothers and sisters back home are Latino and Asian Americans, he said.

In exchange for 1.8 million visas for the young immigrants already in the country, he said, the White House plan would be cutting off family members forever. It would change the demographics of immigration, more so than any other change weve had in the last 50 years.

Ultimately, the fate of the young immigrants lies with a divided Congress that for 16 years has failed to grant them permanent protection. The Trump plan appears designed to unify Republicans and peel off enough Democrats to navigate its way through the GOP-dominated House and the narrowly divided Senate, where Republicans would need nine Democratic votes for passage.

White House officials indicated that they expect Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to use their plan as the starting point for debate, potentially thwarting efforts by a bipartisan group of moderates to develop a much narrower proposal.

Immigration hard-liners Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and David Perdue, R-Ga., welcomed the administrations plan. We all want a good deal, and here it is, Perdue said.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a moderate Republican from South Carolina whose bipartisan plan met a profane rejection by Trump a week ago, applauded the proposal. He said Trumps support for a citizenship path for the young immigrants will help seal a deal.

I have never felt better about our chances of finding a solution on immigration, Graham said.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, lashed out at the plan, calling it an act of staggering cowardice which attempts to hold the Dreamers hostage to a hateful anti-immigrant scheme.

But Democrats have little power to dictate legislation in the House.

Immigrant groups were also critical.

The White House is trying to to exploit the desperation of Dreamers to try to enact an overhaul of our immigration system that we havent seen for 100 years, said Frank Sharry, executive director of Americas Voice, a pro-immigration group. Trump, he said, is not going to get away with taking a wrecking ball to the Statue of Liberty.

For immigration restrictionists, the Trump plan is far too generous. In addition to awarding what they see as a colossal amnesty for young immigrants, the plan would terminate extended-family visas only for future applicants. They say it could take years to whittle down the backlog of 4 million family visa applications, putting no quick end to what they call chain migration.

To wait almost two decades before theres any reduction in legal admissions is absurd, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a group favoring limits on legal immigration.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren of San Jose, the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committees immigration panel, and other House Democrats want their chamber to vote on a bipartisan bill to protect the same number of immigrants as under Trumps plan but make no changes to family visas.

Lofgren said confusion about who can get a family visa is clouding the debate.

People seem to think that theres a grandparents visa, Lofgren said. There is no grandparents visa. There is no cousin visa. ... Its a very difficult environment to make progress when theres so much misinformation.

The bipartisan House bill, backed by GOP Reps. Jeff Denham of Turlock (Stanislaus County) and David Valadao of Hanford (Kings County), both of whom have large Latino populations in their districts, would likely pass with support from nearly all Democrats and a few Republicans.

But House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has promised not to put any immigration bill to a vote that does not have support from a majority of Republicans.

Democrats are not in a good bargaining position, in spite of the Trump administrations low popularity, Payan said. The Democrats dont know how to play these games very well and I think theyve shown that.

Carolyn Lochhead is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: clochhead@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carolynlochhead
Regarding Dems seen as giving ground to end crisis (Page One, Jan. 23): Contrary to your front-page headline, Democrats did not give ground in order to bring an end to the government shutdown. When you control no branches of government, you are automatically negotiating with a weak hand. Outcomes are bound to disappoint. Given these circumstances, extending health coverage for children and extracting a promise from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to debate the future of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals enrollees are positives for Democrats. Should McConnell renege, as many rightly expect, the blame for deporting the Dreamers will fall squarely on him and the GOP. Continuing the government shutdown would have jeopardized vulnerable Democratic senators on a very dicey political map. This would reduce the partys leverage, not enhance it. Changing DACA policies and many others can happen only at the ballot box this fall.

This means, unfortunately, overcoming the built-in structural advantages of the GOP as well as the impediments to voting they have constructed. In the face of this handicap, theatrical politics are no substitute for party unity.

Leif Wellington Haase, Kensington

Strong rebuttal

Regarding Art sales ignore museums mission (Open Forum, Jan. 22): Kudos to Charles Desmarais for rebutting Michael OHares ignorant, wrong-headed piece advocating that museums sell off works of art from their collections to fund operating costs or free admission. Desmarais lucid and informed argument supporting the cultural, ethical and legal reasons for not allowing that practice should, I hope, close that particular case for a while  although, in a time where everything is for sale, including our government, Im not hopeful. OHares remarks remind me of Oscar Wildes definition of a cynic: a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Marcia Tanner, Oakland

Anxiety from animals

Regarding Time to rethink frequent-flying fido (Last Word, Jan. 24): Thanks to Lois Kazakoff for her thoughts on flying with pets in the cabin of a plane. I would add one more group of people, always overlooked, to the argument for and against emotional support animals. What about those who are uncomfortable around animals? In many parts of the world, rabid animals roam freely on city streets, and people are conditioned to stay away. Flying with an animal causes anxiety to an unrecognized group of people, many of whom come from such countries. The rights of those who need support animals are just as important as the rights of those to whom the presence of such animals causes distress.

Suruchi Mohan, Los Altos

Real ID inconvenience

The new Real ID drivers licenses provide no added benefit in traveling safety or otherwise. It decreases the convenience of flying by several orders of magnitude. When October 2020 comes around, expect countless angry fliers not knowing about this new requirement stranded in airports. Expect even angrier fliers when Thanksgiving and Christmas come around. On top of all of this, most Americans do not own a passport, so they will not have any form of ID to fly. I do not believe these tougher to counterfeit IDs will make flying any safer, but much more inconvenient.

Brian Hoang, San Francisco

Not the liberal media

Regarding Immigration brownout marks medias march to irrelevance (Opinion, Jan. 23): Never one to miss an opportunity to bash liberals, Ruben Navarrette Jr.s column argues that the The ignorance about immigrants in the East Coast media capitals of New York and Washington, D.C., is widespread and profound due to a noted absence of Latino policy analysts. This, of course, is the direct result of their purposeful exclusion from the airwaves by the white liberals who run the media. The liberal media, after all, called Mexicans rapists, murderers, drug dealers and gang members, though some, no doubt, are good people. They conflated Dreamers with murderers; want to build a 30-foot wall over the entire southern border; deport people who have lived here decades and led productive, peaceful lives; want to limit the number of visas issued and lower the extent of legal immigration, just to name a few of the ignorant positions they espouse. While Fox and friends throughout the Murdoch media empire, Breitbart, Clear Channel, the Heritage Foundation, etc., are constantly bleating about fair and humane immigration reform and pressing for its strict passage. Sure. When there is a lack of Latino perspective in the media, we can certainly blame the liberals.

Matthew Goldberg, Oakland
If President Trump follows the traditional choreography during his first State of the Union address Tuesday night, hell proclaim to a joint session of Congress that the state of the union is strong.

The state of the presidency, however, is at a crossroads, said Barbara Perry, a director of the Miller Center of public policy at the University of Virginia and a longtime presidential scholar.

And its going to take a different type of presidential performance Tuesday to hush concerns about which direction his presidency is headed. Hes going to have to downshift into a controlled teleprompter Trump mode and stay away from his much more common off-script mode.

Can he do it? Perry asked. Who can predict anything he does?

No elected president has entered his first State of the Union address with a lower approval rating  40 percent, according to RealClearPolitics  or facing the kind of bad press this one is. Then again, 42 percent of Republicans believe any story that casts a politician in a negative light is fake news, according to a Knight Foundation survey out this month; 17 percent of Democrats and 25 percent of independents felt similarly.

Trumps campaign is the subject of investigations into whether it colluded with Russia and tampered with the 2016 election. Reports in recent days allege that Trump tried to fire independent counsel Robert Mueller last summer, an allegation that could fuel Muellers investigation into obstruction of justice.

This month, members of both parties called Trump a racist for his profane description of African nations. And there was the report that shortly before the 2016 election, Trumps attorney paid porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about their alleged affair.

The point of the State of the Union is to show the president as a strong and capable leader, but for Trump  given the chaos of his first year  the stakes are higher, said Elaine Kamarck, author of Why Presidents Fail and How They Can Succeed Again, and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington.

There has not been a president in our lifetime where people have openly talked about the 25th Amendment, she said of the constitutional tool to remove a president from office. Thats an indication of what kind of trouble hes in.

Despite that background, the theme of the presidents speech Tuesday will be building a safe, strong and proud America, according to a senior administration official who requested anonymity during a preview of themes in the speech. The tone will be bipartisan, the official said, and not be a laundry list of policy proposals, like President Bill Clinton often offered.

With an unfiltered, nationally televised pipeline to American voters, Tuesdays address is an opportunity for Trump to do something hes rarely done in his first year in office  appeal to voters beyond his base.

But it will be a tough crowd for Trump. At least two dozen members of Congress have invited Dreamers  people brought into the country illegally as children and who are seeking a path to citizenship  as a protest of Trumps immigration proposals. Other members, including Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, plan to wear black in support of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements against sexual harassment. Thats intended as a reminder of the 19 women who have accused Trump of sexual harassment.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli @sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli

What hell address

Here are some of the themes President Trump is expected to touch on in his hour-long speech:

The economy

Expect Trump, developer and reality TV star, to lean heavily on the nations macroeconomic successes, senior administration officials say. Hell talk about the record-breaking stock market, the low unemployment rate (4.1 percent), the record-low unemployment rate for African Americans (6.8 percent) and the near-record-low rate for Latinos (4.9 percent).

Trump will spend a lot of airtime talking about his only major legislative accomplishment of his first year  the tax cut law  and now it has turbocharged the economy. And hell offer more specifics on his next legislative priority  a $1 trillion infrastructure program  and how to do it fast, the administration official said.

Hes going to take a victory lap when he talks about the news about the stock market and the tax bill, said Bruce Jentleson, who served in President Barack Obamas State Department and was a speechwriter in the Clinton White House. But how is it really going to help the average American?

Reality check: The stock market has hit new highs, but not everybody is sharing in the bounty. Only a little more than half of Americans own stocks. And only about half of the country has a retirement account like a 401(k), according to the federal Survey of Consumer Finances.

And yes, job growth has continued on a steady pace. However the 2.1 million jobs that were created last year were the fewest since 2010, during Obamas first term.

But Trump will be correct about average hourly wages: They did increase during his first year  by 0.6 percent.

Trade

Advisers say Trump will talk about the administration negotiating fair and reciprocal trade agreements, aides said  as opposed to the disasters agreed to by his predecessors.

While he will probably boast about pulling out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the largely stalled efforts to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, his trade policy has mostly been a big muddle, said Daniel Benjamin, a foreign policy speechwriter in the Clinton Administration who now teaches at Dartmouth University.

Reality check: Trumps use of facts when it comes to trade isnt always accurate  particularly when it involves U.S. jobs coming back from overseas  a point he is likely to often stress Tuesday.

For example, recently he has been referring to Chrysler leaving Mexico and returning to Michigan. Politifact ruled that only half-true. While Chrysler is investing $1 billion in a Michigan plant, it is not coming at the expense of closing a Mexican plant or bringing jobs north over the border.

Foreign policy

Expected to be the shortest part of the speech, Trump will talk about Americas newfound respect throughout the world, which has been gained by peace through strength. Hell talk up how the Islamic State has lost nearly all of its territory and how his aggressive posture toward North Korea has forced it to consider returning to the negotiating table.

Reality check: Hes going to try to claim credit for whats going on in North Korea and South Korea, said Jentleson, who now teaches at Duke University. But the reality is that you now have a South Korean president who has been pushing for diplomacy when their predecessor wasnt.

And he will try to take credit for the Islamic State losing its caliphate, even though the tactics were the same ones used by the previous administration, said Benjamin, a former counterterrorism expert in the Obama administration.

Immigration

Look for Trump to talk about the four-point immigration reform proposal he released last week. It includes a path to citizenship for 1.8 million Dreamers who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children, $25 billion for the U.S.-Mexico border wall, and an end to family migration.

Trump must sell the plan Tuesday not only to his skeptical base  the conservative Breitbart News mocked him as Amnesty Don for offering a pathway to the Dreamers  but to dubious Democrats, who find the rest of the plan unpalatable. Directly selling a top legislative priority like this to voters is something he didnt do when Republicans were trying to repeal and replace Obamacare, said Mary Kate Cary, a speechwriter for President George H.W. Bush. Hes got to use the bully pulpit.

Reality check: Trumps challenge will be to use the facts accurately to make his case.

To illustrate why what he calls chain migration  under which people already here may bring in family members  should end, Trump frequently points to the case of Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, the Uzbek man who drove his truck onto a pedestrian walkway in Manhattan in October, killing eight people and injuring 12. Trump has said that Saipov was the primary contact point for at least 22 people to illegally enter the country.

Thats false, the nonpartisan fact-checking site Politifact said, because green card holders can only petition for a spouse and unmarried children to come to the United States.
When it comes to landmark events, San Francisco society turns to Drew Altizer, the go-to party photographer in town, for snapshots seen in social columns near and far.

But for another milestone  his wedding to Camille Hayes  he was as far from society, the spotlight and California as could be. In August, he and his bride tied the knot in a tiny chapel on a tiny island off the coast of Iceland, with little more than a dozen family members on hand to wish them well.

Talk about privacy.

Our relationship has never been about being presentational in front of other people, Altizer said. Its very personal, between us. Its not designed around other peoples expectations very much.

Altizer and Hayes, both 48, grew up on the East Coast and met at Guilford College in North Carolina. Altizer, the son of a textile company owner and a homemaker, was studying theater. Hayes, the daughter of a psychology professor and a clinical social worker, was majoring in psychology.

They met while performing in a play, Sam Shepards Buried Child, a tale about family secrets. He was cast as a grandfather; Hayes played an ingenue type who is present when a terrible secret is revealed. The two became friends, drawn by one anothers intelligence and wit, but did not go on to date.

After graduating in 1991, Hayes pursued a doctorate in psychology, but dropped out when she found it unfulfilling. After obtaining a masters degree in English, she went to Stanford University for a doctorate in modern thought and literature, but dropped out after realizing she did not want a life in academia. She worked briefly as a reporter at a Reno newspaper, then felt a calling for politics. For a decade, she worked in domestic violence advocacy at public-policy groups, including the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence.

Altizer graduated in 1993 and worked for several years at his fathers textile company in North Carolina, then headed to San Francisco to land a job as a designer in home furnishings. Instead, he fell into photography, just as the industry transitioned from film to digital, and a career documenting parties  and posting the photos online  was born.

They reconnected in 2010 on Facebook. He saw her name pop up on his screen. Surprised to learn she was living in California, he sent a friend request.

She accepted instantly.

Something in my head clicked, she said. From the first minute we reconnected, I had a strong sense of clarity about where things were heading and what was going to be possible for us.

She tried for months to set up a get-together in person, but Altizer, who with his staff shoots 80 or more events per month, had no time to meet.

Undeterred, Hayes forced his hand, hiring him to take pictures at an event for the organization she was working with. After that night, there was no going back. They remembered why they had liked one another. They began meeting whenever they could, challenged by their work schedules and the distance between Sacramento and San Francisco. In 2015, she came to San Francisco to take a new job and move in with Altizer. She is now a managing editor at a publishing company in Emeryville. Altizer, although a former theater major, is no fan of dramatic public displays. When it came time to pop the question in 2016, he surprised her by proposing at home, while they were watching TV.

The couple, who enjoy the outdoors, and kayak together in the Pacific Ocean, traveled to Iceland on vacation. They fell in love with the Nordic island country and its dramatic landscapes and knew it was the right place to wed.

Of Hayes, Altizer said, She pushes me to be my best self. With other people Ive dated, weve liked each other, of course, but she sees me as better than I sometimes see myself. And I think it pushes me to want to be that better self.

In Altizer, Hayes has found a supportive and affectionate mate. Hes very, very loving, she said. To have someone so available to be supportive and help me with things has allowed me to relax a little bit, and made me more available to be supportive. Thats a skill you have to learn, if its not your habit.

The two exchanged vows on Aug. 18, 2017, in a church dating to 1774 in front of 16 family members and friends, with a Buddhist priest as officiant. The group adjourned to a restaurant next door to celebrate over lunch. There were photos to mark the occasion, of course  just none taken by the groom.

I always find it super uncomfortable to be photographed, Altizer said. However, because I ask people to pose for me all the time, I just try to shut up and do it.

Carolyne Zinko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: czinko@sfchronicle.com

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

At a glance

Venue: Videy Church, Videy Island, Iceland

Catering: Hotel Holt, Reykjavik, Iceland

Flowers: Eva Sland

Cake: Sandholt Bakery, Reykjavik

Brides attire: Alice & Olivia blouse; brides own black pants; Overland furry boots

Grooms suit: Brooks Brothers

Photography: Toader Photography, Romania
A man died from cardiac arrest early Sunday after a fire erupted at his Santa Clara home, authorities said.

Nearly 35 firefighters responded about 1:50 a.m. to a four-unit town house building on the 1000 block of Clyde Ave., said Fire Chief Bill Kelly of the Santa Clara Fire Department.

After arriving, firefighters did a sweep of the building and found a man who was in cardiac arrest, Kelly said.

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The man, who was not identified, was removed from the burning building and medics performed CPR before transporting him to a hospital.

He was pronounced dead shortly later. There were no other injuries reported.

The fire spread quickly to the second floor of the building and damaged two of the four units, Kelly said. Four residents have been displaced due to the damage.

ALSO: Captive Turpin siblings often marched in circles in their house at night, former neighbor says

Residents of the structure and nearby buildings were evacuated as firefighters battled the blaze, Kelly said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Firefighters from Santa Clara, Milpitas, Sunnyvale and San Jose all responded and continued to put out hot spots hours after the fire started, Kelly said.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Occupy Oakland activists have set up a new encampment in a park north of downtown, calling it a response to the recent arrests of protesters in New York and the shooting death of an unarmed Florida teenager.

About a dozen people in six tents spent Wednesday night in Mosswood Park at Broadway and West MacArthur Boulevard. They were still there Thursday.

Police visited the group around 9 a.m. but did not ask them to leave, according to protesters.

"This is the start of the spring offensive," said Melvin Kelley, a member of the group's Tactical Action Committee. "This is our new encampment until May 1, when we retake" Frank Ogawa Plaza, which the group occupied last year.

Kelley said the activists had pitched tents to show support for Occupy Wall Street protesters who were arrested in New York's Zuccotti Park last week while commemorating the six-month anniversary of the movement.

They are also protesting the killing of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African American who was shot to death by a white man in a gated community near Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 26. The man, George Zimmerman, says he was defending himself against the unarmed teen and has not been arrested.

Kelley said gathering at Mosswood Park, about a mile and a half north of Frank Ogawa Plaza, also allowed members with court-issued orders to stay away from City Hall to participate in meetings.

The group tried to settle at Snow Park at 19th and Harrison streets on Tuesday, but a continual police presence cleared them from the area, Kelley said.

In an attempt to confuse police, the group publicized false locations for a new encampment on Twitter until the true whereabouts were announced early Thursday.

Oakland officials and police have said since clearing Occupy's large encampment outside City Hall in November that they won't allow any more tent cities. Police did not respond Thursday to a request for comment about the Mosswood Park camp.

Shake Anderson, one of several Occupy activists to come to Mosswood after news spread through social media, said it could become an epicenter for the movement.

"Every encampment has a chance," he said. "It's a people's movement. And if enough people show up, that's where our power is."
OAKLAND -- Occupy Oakland protesters moved Thursday to reclaim the battleground plaza outside City Hall, pitching two dozen tents and canopies just two days after police dismantled an elaborate encampment over sanitary and security concerns.

Protesters resurrected the camp's "Kid Zone" and planned to bring back its kitchen and medical tent. As the day wore on, they danced, received acupuncture and massage treatments, talked about plans for a citywide strike Wednesday, and settled in for their nightly "general assembly," where they decided to send small teams into the community on Saturday to discuss their issues.

Many said Tuesday morning's raid on the camp had hardened their resolve to live in the plaza as part of the worldwide Occupy Wall Street movement.

"That's what this whole thing is about - occupying public space," said Josh Chavanne, 29, of Oakland, one of several people who camped out in the plaza Wednesday night. "We're here because many of us believe it is our right as human beings to decolonize property."

But the rebuilding effort - and the lack of immediate action by the city - frustrated some officials who warned that allowing demonstrators to dig in again would lead to inevitable conflict.

"We can't just be observers," said City Councilman Ignacio De La Fuente, who said downtown businesses had lost money since the occupation began Oct. 10. "We have to enforce the rules and the laws for everyone. Unfortunately, I don't think the mayor and some other people agree with that, and so here we are."

De La Fuente said he agreed with the Occupy movement's pursuit of economic equality, but added, "I do not support doing it at the expense of other people and violating other people's rights."

City officials said they were assessing what to do about the fledgling rebuilding effort, but declined to speculate on what would happen if the camp returns in full flower.

"Right now, as long as it's nonviolent, the plan is to let a peaceful protest take place," said Sgt. Jeff Thomason, a police spokesman.

Mayor Jean Quan had planned to address the group, but the discussion of the citywide strike ran long.

Quan posted a statement on the city's website in which she addressed protesters: "I will continue to order a minimal police presence," she wrote. "I need you to maintain a nonviolent attitude towards people, business owners, and homeowners around City Hall." She also asked the protesters not to camp overnight.

Back in camp

Police raided the camp before dawn Tuesday, arresting dozens of people. As of Thursday, none had been charged, and many were back in the camp, including Emma Armstrong, 24, of Oakland, who spoke during a group acupuncture treatment.

"There's nothing more radicalizing - if that's the right word - than being put in jail," Armstrong said.

Her acupuncturist, Jorge Madrid, leaned in and asked her to relax. "If you can doze off a little bit," he said, "that would be super."

The scene was a distinct departure from the chaos of recent days.

After Tuesday's raid, an evening march turned into an ugly street confrontation between protesters and police officers from more than a dozen agencies. Some in the rally threw rocks, bottles and paint, and police set off tear gas and fired nonlethal projectiles designed to inflict pain.

At least one person, 24-year-old Iraq war veteran Scott Olsen, suffered serious injuries. Thursday night, several hundred people filled Frank Ogawa Plaza at City Hall for a candlelight vigil for Olsen.

The night before, as many as 3,000 people had packed the plaza and then marched peacefully through Oakland. Seeking to de-escalate the situation, police kept their distance.

Lawn takes a beating

While returning to the plaza, some protesters said they were concerned about the condition of the lawn, with its patches of mud, and about the coming rainy season. The grass is mostly dead, and the plaza smells of manure.

Asked if the activists in Oakland had successfully conveyed a message, she said, "We're not an ad agency, we're a protest. We're here to protest wealth inequality and the methods used to perpetuate it, including by the police.

"Give us a minute," Armstrong said. "We're only 2 weeks old."
Although it was inevitable that Ursula K. Le Guin would go, it seems impossible to many that she has left us.

No matter the form or the subject, Le Guins prolific output displayed a consistently high level of quality and gracefulness. Whether writing for children or adults, Le Guin  who died Monday, Jan. 22, at 88 in her sleep in Portland, Ore.  always did so with precision, in language capable of cutting through pretense. She inspired generations of writers and readers who understood that women on the page or in the world could be powerful, that humankind should exist in balance with nature, and that all artists should be treated fairly.

The author of The Dispossessed, The Left Hand of Darkness, The Earthsea Trilogy and other masterworks of science fiction and fantasy, she was also an acclaimed poet, short story writer and essayist.

Reaction to the news of the Berkeley natives passing moved swiftly among fans, admirers and fellow writers through social media. For a time, Le Guin was the No. 1 trending subject on Twitter worldwide.

Ursula K. Le Guin, one of the greats, has passed, Stephen King wrote on Twitter. Not just a science fiction writer; a literary icon. Godspeed into the galaxy.

Neil Gaiman, author of Coraline and American Gods, posted, I just learned that Ursula K. Le Guin has died. Her words are always with us. Some of them are written on my soul. I miss her as a glorious funny prickly person, & I miss her as the deepest and smartest of the writers, too.

A member of the class of 1947 of Berkeley High School, Le Guin was the daughter of anthropologists Alfred L. Kroeber and Theodora Quinn Kroeber. Her father was the University of Californias first professor of anthropology, and her mother was the author of Ishi in Two Worlds, about the life and death of Californias last wild Indian.

That interest in the science of human behavior would fuel Le Guins own writing career.

What I read as a kid, what other people were writing, it was very male-centered, Le Guin said in an interview with The Chronicle in 2016. The feminism movement of the 60s, 70s and 80s moved us gradually out of that, but were not all the way out, believe me.

Having graduated from Radcliffe College and earned a masters degree from Columbia University, Le Guin settled down in Portland, where her husband, Charles Le Guin, taught history at Portland State University.

In the midst of raising three children, she wrote five novels about an imaginary Central European country called Orsinia. When those books didnt sell, she decided to try her hand at straight-ahead science fiction, and Rocannons World was released in 1966.

I was told all the time by literary critics that (my writing) wasnt literature at all, Le Guin told The Chronicle. I thought, Thats what you think, but I know better, because I can make this writing literature.

Le Guins novel The Left Hand of Darkness, which explores a planet where the inhabitants are neither male nor female, arrived in 1969. Thanks to its ingenious and thoroughly imagined alternatives to human gender and sexuality, the novel was a major success and won both the Hugo and Nebula awards. In 1969, Le Guin published A Wizard of Earthsea, the first volume in a beloved fantasy trilogy for young adults.

From that point on, she enjoyed great critical and popular success, even if some commentators dismissed science fiction and fantasy as second-class literature and insisted that women werent suited to writing scientifically rigorous fiction. In the end, Le Guin wrote more than 20 novels and 100 short stories, 12 collections of poetry and several of essays, and 13 books for children. Highlights of her career include The Word for World Is Forest, Always Coming Home and The Lathe of Heaven.

In 2014, she was recognized by the National Book Foundation for her body of work, some of which is now being reprinted in deluxe editions by the Library of America.

On the occasion of receiving the foundations Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, Le Guin galvanized the proceedings by unleashing her ire at the inequalities perpetrated by the major mainstream publishers. Video of her speech became a sensation.

Le Guin said, in part, Books, you know, theyre not just commodities. The profit motive often is in conflict with the aims of art. We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings. Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often begin in art, and very often in our art  the art of words.

Le Guins most recent book, No Time to Spare: Thinking About What Matters, was published in December. In its introduction, the author Karen Joy Fowler writes of Le Guin: She has been both prolific and potent. She has been both playful and powerful. She has, in her life and in her work, always been a force for good, an acute social critic, necessary more now than ever as we watch the evil turn the world is taking. We who followed her as both readers and writers are the lucky ones. We not only love her; we need her.

After hearing of Le Guins death, Charlie Jane Anders, the Bay Area co-founder of the science fiction site io9.com and author of All the Birds in the Sky, wrote by email:

Ursula K. Le Guins work made so much of what I love about science fiction and fantasy possible. I dont even know if I would be writing speculative fiction if I hadnt read her work at a crucial moment in my life. Her works arent just influential: They loom like monuments over the horizon of our shared imagination. Her sharp-eyed compassion, and her ability to create tragically flawed but complex worlds, set a bar that the rest of us will struggle to meet. Ill be re-reading her for the rest of my life.

So will many others.

Michael Berry writes the science fiction and fantasy column for The San Francisco Chronicle.
Amazons Alexa voice-controlled virtual assistant is the Chatty Cathy of the tech world, a digital darling that people cant get enough of. It can tell chicken jokes, order pizza and turn off the kitchen faucet. So its not surprising that Alexa has made the leap from the home to the car.

But just as Alexa promises added hands-free convenience for drivers, researchers and engineers warn that it also opens new avenues for hacking, tracking and sonic attacks. Depending on how voice-activated assistants are connected, such hacks could range from annoying pranks like opening a cars windows in the rain to dangerous attacks like remotely unlocking a houses doors for a robbery.

As we make everything smarter and more connected, said Nadir Izrael, chief technology officer of Internet security firm Armis, we end up creating a huge attack surface on devices, like cars, that werent intended.

Last year, Armis discovered one such vulnerability  known as BlueBorne  that exposed billions of connected devices, including Amazons Echo and Googles Home smart speakers, to the possibility of being hijacked by hackers. Cars with Bluetooth were also vulnerable.

Cars are a lucrative target, said Yoni Heilbronn, chief marketing officer at Argus Cyber Security, which automotive systems supplier Continental recently acquired. People are inside these vehicles moving at high speeds, and cars cost a significant amount of money. So how many bitcoins would you pay a ransomware hacker?

Navigation systems already recognize  often imperfectly  drivers voices, and many cars have their own speech-recognition features. Connect a smartphone to a cars infotainment system, and a driver can have access to features including Apples Siri or Googles Assistant.

But in those cases, voice commands are limited. They cant remotely start a car or open its windows. Siri cant even change the radio station.

Alexa, on the other hand, is intended  through specific, programmed commands  to interact with thousands of connected devices, performing tasks like turning on lights, opening door locks, disabling home security systems or even ordering a years supply of toilet paper. And its already connecting living rooms to cars.

Automakers ranging from BMW, Ford, Hyundai and Nissan to startups like Byton have tapped into Alexas appeal. Although voice assistants are increasingly becoming intertwined with new models, including those from Mercedes-Benz and Toyota, most current Alexa car skills are strictly one-way, from the home to the car, and use existing automotive smartphone applications.

Alexa piggybacks on our app, said Denise Barfuss, a senior manager for connected services at Nissan. So if its 25 degrees outside, you can just tell Alexa to start the car from inside your house to warm it up, she said.

Simple Alexa commands can flash the lights or honk the horn, Barfuss said, but remote instructions that alter the state of the car  such as locking the doors and starting the engine  also require a spoken PIN.

And even though voice bots like Alexa and Googles Assistant can be taught to recognize different voices  well enough to cater to each family members favored Pandora stations, for example  they do not offer any sort of biometric security, such as voice print analysis. As a result, Alexas voice-recognition capabilities are not discerning enough for security purposes, according to Amazon. (A company spokesman noted, however, that Amazon had special teams dedicated to continually reviewing and updating the security of its software.)

Without such measures, anyone who eavesdropped on a spoken PIN command could use it to start and unlock a vehicle, leaving a victim to ask, Alexa, what happened to my car?

Security experts are also concerned about more sophisticated cyberattacks involving voice assistants.

There are synthetic voice sound clips, said Gang Wang, assistant professor at Virginia Techs College of Engineering. It sounds like random noise to us, but to the machine it sounds like a specific command. So a seemingly innocuous sound, like an explosion in a YouTube video played on a nearby TV or tablet, could contain secret instructions.

Other hacks have included ultrasonic commands that are beyond the range of human hearing but understood by voice bots. And even if they do establish biometric security features, Wang said, regenerative machine learning could use a recording of a persons voice to synthesize new commands that could fool them.

The safety and security concerns become more challenging when tools like Alexa are used to make car-to-home connections. While cruising down the interstate, a driver can open a garage door back at home or shut off the living room lights, for example. Ford already offers such car-to-home capabilities that, using its Ford+Alexa app, people can tap into some 25,000 Alexa skills in vehicles that have the companys Sync 3 in-dash system. Ford has also added a new feature that allows the driver to forgo the push-to-talk button and activate Alexa by uttering a wake-up phrase.

Such convenience does allow for the possibility that restive children could prank Alexa from the back seat simply by calling out for, say, Rick Astley songs. Timur Pulathaneli, Fords supervisor of connected vehicles and services, said that if it proved to be a nuisance, drivers could turn the feature off in the app so that Alexa would respond only after a button was pushed on the steering wheel.

Fords setup also limits what a car thief or a parking attendant can do behind the wheel. A person wouldnt automatically be able to unlock a homes front door from the car because such functions work only in conjunction with the owners smartphone (which theyd have to steal, too).

Adding voice assistants to vehicles may make cars seem like just another device of the Internet of Things, but it raises the stakes significantly.

What gets added with the car is your specific location, Wang said. You can track where the car goes and at what times.

If compromised, Alexa could provide a criminal with details about a users purchases, driving habits and travel routines. And to make it easier to connect different smart devices, Alexa regularly scans for compatible gadgets. All that information is sent back to Amazons servers and then shared with other companies, Travis Witteveen, chief executive of security firm Avira, pointed out. The sharing of such information increases the systems  and the cars  security vulnerabilities.

Nevertheless, the conveniences that digital assistants offer may make them an ineluctable part of the next generation of cars. Nuance, a leading speech-recognition company involved in the automotive business, is already working on voice systems for cars that would be even easier to use. Eric Montague, Nuances senior director of product marketing and strategy, said the company would introduce a system this year that did not require the driver to use a wake-up word or push a button to talk.

Ultimately, the car will simply understand when its being spoken to.

People will expect to be able to have a conversation with their car, said Martyn Humphries, a vice president at NXP, whose sensors are used extensively in automotive applications. So security is going to have to continue to evolve with it.

John R. Quain is a New York Times writer.
Planning a trip to Europe this summer? The big expansion of U.S. service by low-cost airlines like Norwegian and Wow could attract a lot of U.S. travelers who havent visited in a while. And once they get there, theyll have to decide how to get around- and how to do it cheaply since the US dollar is losing so much value recently- the euro is currently at $1.24 and the British pound at $1.42, much higher than this time last year.

Taking the train instead of a plane might not be much of an option in most of the U.S., but its hugely popular in Europe  and often almost as fast or even faster than flying. And it's getting even easier. (Check out my train photos in the slideshow above!)

A recent analysis by Bloomberg News found that total inter-city travel time by rail is comparable to or better than airline travel time on several intra-European routes, including London-Brussels, London-Paris, Madrid-Barcelona, Paris-Lyon and Rome-Milan.

TravelSkills with Chris McGinnis sponsored by: See More Collapse

And rail fares are generally cheaper than flying. The website of Rail Europe  the go-to source for information on European trains  is currently showing one-way fares as low as $38 between Barcelona and Madrid, $67 between London and Paris, and $42 between Paris and Amsterdam. (Besides point-to-point tickets, Rail Europe sells a big variety of economical rail passes for travel within a single country, within a limited region, or all over Europe.)

European nations have made substantial investments in improving and speeding up their rail networks, and that work continues. For example, the rail link in Germany between Berlin and Munich recently finished improvements that cut the travel time between the two cities from six hours to four. And a new direct service has opened up between Milan and Frankfurt, providing a daily roundtrip that passes through Switzerland with stops in Bern and Lucerne, according to Rail Europe.

Here are seven reasons why you might want to take trains to get around Europe.

1. Theyre fast. If you think Frances TGV trains and the London-Paris Eurostar are the only high-speed rail routes in Europe, you are way behind the times. Europeans have been developing high-speed routes all over the continent for the past few decades. Depending on the route, high-speed trains in Europe travel 125 to 200 mph. Heres a list of the major high-speed networks in Europe.

2. They can even be faster than flying. While jets are still a lot faster than trains, and thus more time-efficient for trips longer than about 600 miles, there are many city-pairs where its actually faster to take the train when you consider total travel time  i.e., getting to the airport early for heightened security checks; travel time to and from the airport instead of a city center train station, etc.

3. Intermodal connections can be very efficient. Some key gateway airports have built-in rail stations right next to or underneath the terminals where travelers can easily transition from air to train travel. At Frankfurt International Airport, for instance, travelers can connect to trains going all over Germany and beyond, including the nations high-speed ICE network. And French National Railroads has a TGV station at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

4. Theyre comfortable. Seats are generally bigger than airline seats, with plenty of legroom  especially in first class. Many trains have bar/buffet cars; for first class travelers, meals and drinks are included in the ticket price, and may be served at your seat or in the bar/buffet car. Increasingly, European trains have on-board Wi-Fi. And you can sleep on some trains: For longer rail journeys, some routes operate overnight with trains that offer private sleeping cabins. Heres a list of Europes night trains.

5. They take you to the heart of town. Airport stations aside, European rail terminals are generally in the center of cities, so you can easily get to or from your hotel with a short cab ride. In fact, there are usually some hotels within walking distance.

6. Forget about delays. While a big storm can play havoc with airline schedules, trains keep operating through all kinds of weather. And theyre not subject to the kinds of air traffic control congestion that can disrupt on-time flight operations. In terms of operational efficiency, about the only thing that can (and sometimes does) disrupt train travel in Europe is a labor strike.

7. They can be quite scenic. You wont see much of Europe from the air, but trains bring you up close to alpine vistas, dramatic forests, majestic rivers and other things to see through those big windows from the comfort of your seat. Heres a list from Eurail of some of Europes most scenic train routes.

When you are in Europe, do you typically take trains...or planes? Why? Tell us about your experiences in the comments.

Chris McGinnis

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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.
Mark Wineman / Getty Images

A man was killed late Saturday during a physical altercation in San Jose, in the citys third homicide of 2018, authorities said.

Officers responded about 11:35 p.m. to a disturbance in a residential neighborhood on the 4000 block of San Simeon Way, said Sgt. Enrique Garcia of the San Jose Police Department.
Sticking to an ultra-healthy grocery list doesn't have to run up your bill  you just need a shopping strategy.

Many stores offer food that can help keep you fit without breaking the bank, you have to know where to look though.
LOS ANGELES  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 has ruled.

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 Cowan said Friday.

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. With a swastika carved into his forehead, Manson generated a cult following during four decades of imprisonment.

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 (Los Angeles County), 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, 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.

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.

Joseph Serna is a Los Angeles Times writer.
A federal judge has ruled that the family company once run by Jared Kushner isnt allowed to keep secret the identity of its business partners in several Maryland properties.

A U.S. district judge in the state on Friday rejected the argument that the privacy rights of the Kushner Cos. partners outweigh the public interest in obtaining judicial records in a lawsuit before the court. The decision means the company tied to President Trumps son-in-law might be forced to provide a rare glimpse into how it finances its real estate ventures.

The ruling backed the argument by the Associated Press and other news organizations that the media has a presumptive right to see such court documents and the Kushner Cos. had not raised a compelling government interest needed by law to block access.

U.S. District Court Judge James Bredar ruled that Westminster Management, a Kushner Cos. subsidiary, must file an unsealed document with the identity of its partners by Feb. 9.

The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by tenants last year alleging Westminster charges excessive and illegal rent for apartments in the state. The lawsuit seeks class-action status for tenants in 17 apartment complexes owned by the company.

Westminster has said it has broken no laws and denies the charges.

In addition to its privacy argument, the Kushner subsidiary had said media reports of the Maryland dispute were politically motivated and marked by unfair sensationalism. Disclosure of its partners names would trigger even more coverage and hurt its chances of getting an impartial decision in the case, it had said.

In his ruling, the judge said these are not frivolous concerns, but the publics right to know is more important.

Increased public interest in a case does not, by itself, overcome the presumption of access, Bredar wrote. In fact, it would logically strengthen it, particularly when the interest is due to the presence of important public figures in the litigation.

The Kushner Cos. has ownership stakes in a skyscraper on Fifth Avenue in New York, a residential tower across the Hudson River in New Jersey and dozens of smaller buildings in the area and in other states, including multifamily apartments at the center of the Maryland lawsuit.

Kushner stepped down as CEO of the Kushner Cos. early last year to become a senior adviser to Trump. He sold stakes in properties to comply with federal conflicts of interest rules, but held onto many other assets.

A financial disclosure report that Kushner filed with the federal government in July shows the names of limited liability companies that own properties, but not many of the owners behind them. In the report, Kushner showed he still owned a stake in Westminster Management. The report showed he received $1.6 million in income from it.

Bernard Condon is an Associated Press writer.
Comic strip artist Mort Walker, a World War II veteran who satirized the Army and tickled millions of newspaper readers with the antics of the lazy private Beetle Bailey, died Saturday. He was 94.

Walker died at his home in Stamford, Conn., said Greg Walker, his eldest son and a collaborator. His fathers advanced age was the cause of death, he said.

Walker began publishing cartoons at age 11 and was involved with more than a half-dozen comic strips in his career, including Hi and Lois, Boners Ark and Sam & Silo. But he found his greatest success drawing slacker Beetle, his hot-tempered sergeant and the rest of the gang at fictional Camp Swampy for nearly 70 years.

The character that was to become Beetle Bailey made his debut as Spider in Walkers cartoons published by the Saturday Evening Post in the late 1940s. Walker changed Spiders name and started Beetle Bailey as a college humor strip in 1950.

At first the strip failed to attract readers and King Features Syndicate considered dropping it after just six months, Walker said in a 2000 interview. The syndicate suggested Beetle join the Army after the start of the Korean War, Walker said.

I was kind of against it because after World War II, Bill Mauldin and Sad Sack were fading away, he said. But his misgivings were overcome and Beetle enlisted in 1951.

Walker attributed the success of the strip to Beetles indolence and reluctance to follow authority.

Most people are sort of against authority, he said. Heres Beetle always challenging authority. I think people relate to it.

Beetle Bailey led to spin-off comic strip Hi and Lois, which he created with Dik Browne, in 1954. The premise was that Beetle went home on furlough to visit his sister Lois and brother-in-law Hi.

Fellow cartoonists remembered Walker on Saturday as a pleasant man who adored his fans. Bill Morrison, president of the National Cartoonists Society, called Walker the definition of cartoonist in a post on the societys website.

He lived and breathed the art every day of his life. He will be sorely missed by his friends in the NCS and by a world of comic strip fans, Morrison said.

Beetle Bailey, which appeared in as many as 1,800 newspapers, sometimes sparked controversy. The Tokyo editions of the military newspaper Stars & Stripes dropped it in 1954 for fear that it would encourage disrespect of its officers. But ensuing media coverage spurred more than 100 newspapers to add the strip.

Shortly after President Bill Clinton took office, Walker drew a strip suggesting that the draft be retroactive in order to send Clinton to Vietnam. Walker said he received hundreds of angry letters from Clinton supporters.

For years, Walker drew Camp Swampys highest-ranking officer, Gen. Amos Halftrack, ogling his well-endowed secretary, Miss Buxley. Feminist groups claimed the strip made light of sexual harassment, and Walker said the syndicate wanted him to write out the lecherous general.

That wasnt feasible because the general was such a fixture in the strip, Greg Walker said Saturday. His father solved the problem in 1997 by sending Halftrack to sensitivity training.

That became a whole theme that we could use, said Greg Walker, who with his brother, Brian, intends to carry on his fathers work. Both have worked in the family business for decades.

Beetle Bailey also featured one of the first African American characters to be added to a white cast in an established comic strip. (Peanuts had added the character of Franklin in 1968.) Lt. Jack Flap debuted in the comic strips panels in 1970.

In 1974, Walker founded the International Museum of Cartoon Art in Connecticut to preserve and honor the art of comics. It moved twice before closing in 2002 in Boca Raton, Fla. Walker changed the name to the National Cartoon Museum and announced in 2005 plans to relocate to the Empire State Building in New York. But the next year, the deal to use that space fell through.

Addison Morton Walker was born Sept. 3, 1923, in El Dorado, Kan., and grew up in Kansas City, Mo.

In 1943 he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving in Europe during World II. He was discharged as a first lieutenant, graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia and pursued a career as a cartoonist in New York.

Besides sons Greg and Brian, Walker is survived by his second wife, Catherine; daughters, Polly Blackstock and Margie Walker Hauer; sons, Neal and Roger Walker; stepdaughters, Whitney Prentice and Priscilla Prentice Campbell; and several grandchildren.

Lynn Elber is an Associated Press writer.
1 Hannity account: The Twitter account for conservative TV host Sean Hannity disappeared for a few hours, and conspiracy theories quickly followed. After the Fox News stars verified account posted a message that said Form Submission 1649, page visitors on Saturday said they were getting a Sorry, that page doesnt exist message. By the time the New Yorkers account was back up, speculation was rampant about the disappearance. Some guessed the deep state of government establishment figures was trying to take down Hannity, a supporter of President Trump. Others suggested a rogue Twitter worker was behind the deactivation, similar to what happened to Trumps account for 11 minutes in November.

2 Hackathon: Women at Boston University have organized what they hope will be the worlds largest all-female hacking competition. The SheHacks Boston event running through Sunday is expected to draw 1,000 college and high school students from across the U.S. and as far as Ethiopia. Organizers say their goal is to empower women and allow them to explore the tech industry in an encouraging environment. The competition includes challenges intended to help victims of sexual assault and combat fake news.
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 hand-picked by President Trump, after being accused of a years-long pattern of sexual misconduct with his casino employees.

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 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.

Today I accepted Steve Wynns resignation as Republican National Committee finance chair, the committees chairwoman, Ronna Romney McDaniel, said in a statement Saturday. The committee had remained silent for more than a day until McDaniel spoke to Trump.

Wynn said Saturday evening that he was resigning to eliminate a distraction for the party. A day before, he dismissed any claims of sexual misconduct as preposterous.

The committee is expected to consider a replacement at a previously planned meeting this week in Washington. This is an important position, so theyre going to have to look carefully to find the right person, said Ronald Weiser, a Michigan real estate developer and former finance chairman for the committee. Wynns decision to step down was first reported by Politico.

Wynn, who turned 76 on Saturday, was appointed to the position shortly after the 2016 presidential election.

The casino mogul and his companies have donated more than $5.2 million over the years to a mix of Republican and Democratic candidates and committees. On Friday, Democrats called for Republicans to return donations from Wynn, noting that Republicans had issued similar demands after multiple women came forward to accuse Harvey Weinstein, a prominent Democratic donor, of sexual assault.

Wynn is one of the most prominent leaders in the casino industry, helping to transform the Las Vegas Strip with his ornate casinos  which once included the Bellagio, the Mirage, Treasure Island and Wynn  and glamorous restaurants.

On Friday, the Wynn Resorts board met to form an independent committee of directors to investigate the allegations.

Emily Cochrane and Kenneth P. Vogel are New York Times writers.
OAKLAND (BCN)

A Sacramento man was sentenced Friday to 87 months in prison for robbing three banks in the East Bay and one in Folsom, federal prosecutors said.

Clayton Smith, 45, pleaded guilty Oct. 6, 2017 to four counts of armed bank robbery and will begin serving his sentence immediately.

According to a plea agreement, Smith's robbery spree began on Feb. 6, 2017, when he robbed a bank in San Ramon with what appeared to be a small silver pistol.

Smith escaped with $7,434.

Smith robbed the same bank on March 21, 2017, when he encountered the same victim in his first robbery.

This time he pointed what appeared to be a revolver at her and demanded bills from her drawer. Smith escaped with $3,500.

Also according to the plea agreement, Smith robbed a bank in Concord April 4, 2017, when he waved what appeared to be a 6-inch silver-colored blade as he repeatedly yelled, "Hands up!"

Smith escaped with $5,275.

At a bank in Folsom on April 20, 2017, Smith wielded what appeared to be a steak knife and got away with $11,895 from the drawers of four tellers on duty that day.

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NOVATO (BCN)

A new fire chief has been hired for the Novato Fire District, the fire district's board of directors announced Friday.

Bill Tyler will start in the new role on Monday. His official badge-pinning ceremony will be held on Feb. 22.

Tyler began his fire service career in 1994 in the Tamalpais Fire District.

In 1996 he was hired as a full-time firefighter-paramedic by the Novato Fire District and since then he has been promoted and held ranks of fire inspector, captain/deputy fire marshal and battalion chief/fire marshal.
EDITOR'S PLEASE NOTE: Friday's BCN16 (COUNSEL FOR TENANTS), requires clarification. The story said London Breed, a mayoral candidate and the Board of Supervisors president, has not endorsed the measure. Breed, however, has not reviewed the measure and introduced legislation last year to do the same thing. The story below contains the clarification.

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

Tenant advocacy groups submitted more than 21,000 signatures to the San Francisco Department of Elections Friday to put a measure on the June ballot to give legal counsel to all renters in the city facing eviction, according to organizers.

If the measure passes in the June 5 election, San Francisco would be the first city in California to provide such representation.

"This is history," Jon Golinger, campaign advisor for the No Eviction Without Representation Initiative, said. "This will be a model for other cities."

A similar measure is being considered by the Board of Supervisors.

Currently most tenants get no legal counsel when they're facing eviction, according to organizers.

The measure, if it becomes law, would require city officials to implement it in a year.

Organizers are suggesting several ways to do that.

The Public Defender's Office could set up a unit to provide counsel or the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development could do that or the city could provide money to nonprofits, which could provide it, Golinger said.

He added that there are pluses and minuses to each.

The ballot this June also includes an election for San Francisco mayor and three of the four major candidates have endorsed the measure.

The three who have endorsed it are State Sen. Mark Leno, Supervisor Jane Kim and former Supervisor Angela Alioto, according to Golinger.

The fourth major candidate, Board President London Breed, has not reviewed the measure but introduced legislation last year with Supervisor Jeff Sheehy that would do the same thing, Breed's campaign manager P.J. Johnston said.

The legislation is in the rules committee.

The city's Department of Elections has 30 days to count and verify the signatures. Organizers said they had to submit at least 9,485 valid signatures to qualify the initiative for the ballot.

New York City officials enacted a similar law in the summer of last year.

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SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

BART police arrested an Oakland man for a narcotics offense Friday afternoon in San Francisco.

At 4:54 p.m., officers detained 23-year-old Roger Ortiz of Oakland at the Civic Center BART station.

Ortiz, who is a known narcotics user, was allegedly carrying a large amount of narcotics, police said.

He also allegedly resisted arrest. Ortiz was then arrested and booked into jail, police said.
San Francisco police are asking for help locating an 8-year-old girl who was reported missing this morning.

Police responded at 10:25 a.m. to the 600 block of Cesar Chavez Street after someone reported Micala Myres missing.
Marin County sheriff's deputies assisted California Highway Patrol officers Friday night and early Saturday morning in arresting two people who were driving under the influence.

According to sheriff's officials, around 11 p.m. Friday a sergeant saw a car that was driving erratically over 80 mph on U.S. Highway 101 in Mill Valley.
PRAGUE  The Czech Republics 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 Zemans victory confirmed the political direction set during the countrys 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.

We can expect the government to be less pro-Western than the previous government, said Josef Mlejnek, a scholar of democracy and Central Europe at Pragues Charles University.

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.

Drahos conceded defeat and congratulated Zeman. The career scientist and chemistry professor said he planned to stay in politics, but did not provide details. Its 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 Republics 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-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric.

Zeman was one of the few European leaders to endorse Donald Trumps bid for the White House. He also has proposed a referendum on the Czech Republics 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 countrys ties to the EU and NATO.

Zeman is the Czech Republics third president, after Vaclav Havel and Vaclav Klaus, since the country and Slovakia were created from Czechoslovakia in 1993.

Karel Janicek is an Associated Press writer.
1 Africa relations: President Trump, in a letter to African leaders, says he deeply respects the people of Africa and that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will make an extended visit to the continent in March. The letter dated Thursday is addressed to African leaders as they gather for an African Union summit this weekend in Ethiopias capital of Addis Ababa. U.S. diplomats have scrambled to address shock and condemnation after Trumps reported use of a vulgarity to describe African nations. Trump has said he didnt use such language, while others present say he did. Trumps letter says the U.S. profoundly respects the partnerships and values shared by the U.S. and Africans.

2 Mali attack: 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 country in more than a year. Army spokesman Col. Diarran Kone confirmed the attack in the Timbuktu region and said the bodies of 17 assailants remained at the scene. The base was again under the control of the Malian military, he said. Mali recently marked the fifth anniversary of a French military mission to oust Islamic extremists from power in the major towns of the north.
1 Egypt boycott: Five opposition figures, including a 2012 presidential candidate and two top aides for now-arrested presidential hopeful Sami Annan, on Sunday called for a boycott of the March 26-28 vote, saying it has lost all credibility. The group includes 2012 presidential candidate Abdel-Moneim Aboul Fotouh, former lawmaker Mohammed Anwar Sadat, who quit the race saying he feared for the safety of his supporters, Annans top campaign aides Hazem Osny and Hisham Genena, and Issam Heggy, a scientist and former presidential adviser. All potentially serious challengers have either been arrested or forced out of the race, leaving general-turned-President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi as the only candidate.

2 Kashmir violence: Shops and businesses closed Sunday in Indian-controlled Kashmir after separatists fighting against Indian rule called for a strike a day after soldiers shot and killed two men in the disputed region. Police and paramilitary soldiers in riot gear fanned out across the region and patrolled streets. Authorities also issued a curfew in parts of Kashmirs main city of Srinagar, the urban center of protests against Indian rule. Rebels have been fighting against Indian rule since 1989 and demand that Kashmir be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.
WARSAW  The United States and Poland on Saturday took a strong stand against a planned gas pipeline linking Russia to Germany, saying it is part of a Kremlin scheme to politicize energy and undermine attempts to make Europe less dependent on Moscow.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Polish Foreign Minister Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz, after meeting in Warsaw, denounced the pipeline, which would bypass Poland and leave Central Europe vulnerable to Russian pressure.

Tillerson said the pipeline was not a healthy piece of infrastructure for Europes energy stability.

Like Poland, the United States opposes the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Tillerson said at a news conference with his counterpart. We see it as undermining Europes 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.

The U.S. has for years tried to wean its friends and allies in Europe from their dependence on Russian natural gas, which Moscow is accused of using as leverage in disputes with Ukraine and other countries.

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 U.S. last year. Tillerson encouraged further such sales and spoke in favor of a pipeline that would run from Poland to Norway.

In addition to energy security, the diplomats pledged to boost military cooperation. Poland, Czaputowicz said, would like to see the U.S. enhance its military presence in the country.

The stationing of American troops on our territory gives us, the Poles, a sense of security and we are grateful for that, he said. We want this presence to be even bigger and we want it to be permanent.

Matthew Lee is an Associated Press writer.
ALEPPO, Syria  Aleppos largest square was packed with people of all ages: young men performing a folk dance, children playing, others buying ice cream, popcorn, peanuts and salted pumpkin seeds. A giant sign spelled out in colorful English letters, I love Aleppo.

The scene in Saadallah al-Jabiri Square on a recent day was very different from what it was during nearly four years of war that devastated Syrias largest city: Rebel sniper fire and shelling  and a triple car bombing that killed dozens  had made it a no-go zone. For years, the square stood near the front line dividing the government-held western half of Aleppo from the rebel-held eastern half.

Thirteen months after government forces captured the east and crushed the rebels, improvements are coming to Aleppo  but only slowly. The guns are silent, allowing life to return to the streets. Water and electricity networks are better.

The damage to Aleppo was so great, the civilian flight was so big and the political division was so deep that residents find it difficult to imagine it could ever return to what it was.

Eastern Aleppo remains in ruins. Its streets have been cleared of rubble but theres been little rebuilding of the blocks of destroyed or badly damaged structures. Though some residents have trickled back, hundreds of thousands still have not, either because their homes are wrecked or because they fear reprisals for their opposition loyalties.

After the victory by the forces of President Bashar Assad, theres also little sign of attempts at reconciliation or talk of how part of the city tried to bring down his rule. Whether out of genuine sentiment or fear of state reprisals, residents express to reporters only pro-Assad views and dismiss the rebels as Islamic militants backed by foreign powers. Die-hard opposition sympathizers either have not returned or keep to themselves, and everyone is more focused on grappling with the destruction in the city.

I feel very sad, I cry. Sometimes I cry in the morning because this was a very good neighborhood, said Adnan Sabbagh, standing on a balcony in his building in the once-rebel-held eastern district of Sukkari.

The view from his balcony is a landscape of wreckage. Across the street is a pile of rubble a block long that used to be the Ein Jalout school compound that his three daughters and two sons once attended. Beyond it stand apartment buildings that have been sheared in half, their internal staircases exposed. The building adjacent to Sabbaghs has been leveled to a hill of broken concrete, rebar and stone.

Sabbaghs own six-story building still stands, but its top three floors have had all their walls blasted away, leaving slabs of concrete floor dangling precariously.

The 47-year-old construction worker fled to the coastal town of Jableh five years ago as soon as the rebels overran eastern Aleppo. All three of his daughters are married to soldiers in Assads army, so he feared the fighters would not tolerate his presence.

Last autumn, he returned home and fixed up his apartment on the second floor where he now lives with his wife and youngest son, Hamza. He relies on generators set up in the neighborhood because like most other parts of eastern Aleppo, theres no electricity in Sukkari  the government is still working to reinstall utility poles. But running water has been restored  although its available only every other day, as is the case throughout the city as a whole.

With a prewar population of 2.3 million, Aleppo not only was Syrias largest city but also its commercial center. More than that, it had a culture all its own within Syria. Aleppans take enormous pride in their own accent of Syrian Arabic and their citys famed cuisine of roast meats and mezze appetizers. Its history spans millennia, and tourists were drawn by its historic citadel, Ummayad Mosque and covered bazaar.

But it became one of the most vicious battlegrounds of Syrias still ongoing war.

In July 2012, rebels stormed eastern parts of the city, where they were welcomed by many of its poorer residents. For the next few years, the opposition fighting Assad around the country saw their enclave in Aleppo as the jewel of their uprising, their strongest urban center. It tore Aleppo in two, however, with destructive battles as tens of thousands fled the city.

In 2016, government forces backed by Russian air strikes surrounded the enclave, besieging it for months and pounding it with shells and missiles. By the end, the rebels and residents trapped with them in a shrinking area of neighborhoods faced either being crushed or starvation. In December 2016, they surrendered. The rebels were sent to opposition territory elsewhere, while the few remaining residents were evacuated, leaving the eastern sector  once home to well over 1 million people  a shattered, empty shell.

Some have filtered back. The top U.N. official in Syria, Ali Al-Zatari, said the numbers are uncertain but that the U.N is aware of nearly 200,000 now living in the east, based on those who have registered for assistance.

In western Aleppo, where damage was lighter, theres a feeling of liberation from life under warfare. Power comes several hours a day and will soon run around the clock.

At Saadallah al-Jabiri Square, Mustafa Khodor churned out popcorn as parents lined up to buy from him. He said his sales have tripled. The liberation of Aleppo was a turning point for us in this city. People now feel safe and go out, said the father of five.

Bassem Mroue is an Associated Press writer.
KABUL  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 95 people and wounding at least 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 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 for treatment.

The attacker used the ambulance to pass 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, have been arrested and were being questioned, the ministry said, but it did not 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 Bass called the attack senseless and cowardly.

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 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.

Rahim Faiez is an Associated Press writer.
AZAZ, Syria  Fighting raged in northwestern Syria on Saturday as Turkish troops and allied militiamen tried to advance their week-long offensive in a Kurdish-controlled enclave, Syrian opposition activists said.

The bombardment could be heard a few miles away from Afrin in the Turkish-controlled town of Azaz, where Associated Press journalists were on a media trip organized by the Turkish government and escorted by Turkey-backed Syrian opposition fighters taking part in the offensive.

Azaz is one of the fronts from where Turkish troops and allied Syrian fighters of the Free Syrian Army have launched a push into Afrin to clear the area of a Syrian Kurdish militia that Ankara considers to be a national security threat. The militia known as the Peoples Protection Units, or YPG, has been a partner of the United States in the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria.

Kurdish and other activists said Saturdays fighting concentrated around the Rajo area in Afrin, amid heavy shelling and air strikes by the Turkish forces. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war through a network of activists on the ground, said Turkish helicopters were attacking the town of Rajo, struggling to make progress after a week of assaults.

Turkeys official news agency said rockets fired from the Afrin region in Syria hit a house in the border province of Kilis, injuring two people. Another rocket struck the town of Reyhanli, in Hatay province, slightly injuring one child, the Anadolu news agency reported.

The Turkish military said in a statement that two Turkish soldiers and two allied Syrian fighters were killed Saturday. It claimed 447 YPG militants were neutralized since Jan. 20.

The Turkish offensive has strained ties between Turkey and the U.S., which has expressed major concerns over the Afrin attack. Turkey has vowed to expand its operation against the YPG to other areas along the border including Manbij, where some U.S. troops are stationed. Ankara views the YPG as a major threat because of its links to Kurdish insurgents in Turkey known as the PKK.

On Saturday, Turkeys foreign minister said his country wants to see concrete steps from the United States to re-establish trust between the two NATO allies.

Lefteris Pitarakis and Mehmet Guzel are Associated Press writers.
KILIS, Turkey  Turkish troops and allied Syrian fighters captured a strategic hill in northwestern Syria on Sunday as their offensive to root out Kurdish fighters entered a second week.

Associated Press reporters in the Turkish border town of Kilis heard constant shelling and clashes as Turkish aircraft flew overhead and plumes of smoke rose in the distance.

The Turkey-backed forces have been trying to capture the hill, which separates the Kurdish-held enclave of Afrin from the Turkey-controlled town of Azaz, since the start of their offensive on Jan. 20, but have met with stiff resistance. The Kurdish militia known as the Peoples Defense Units, or YPG, said Turkey sent reinforcements to the area following intense air strikes on Sunday.

The Turkish military said in a statement that its soldiers and allied Syrian opposition fighters captured Bursayah hill assisted by air strikes, attack helicopters, armed drones and howitzers. Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, confirmed the Turkish troops seized control of the hill after intense battles.

Abdurrahman said the air strikes also targeted the area around Afrins main dam for the second time since the offensive began. There were no immediate reports of damage to the 17 April Dam, which provides water and electricity to the Kurdish enclave, home to hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom have fled from other parts of Syria.

The Observatory said at least 51 civilians, including 17 children, were killed in the offensive on Sunday, including eight people from the same family. It said 66 YPG fighters and 69 Turkey-backed Syrian fighters were also killed. Turkey says five of its soldiers and 16 allied fighters were killed in the fighting.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a speech Sunday that there were reports that the YPG was holding Turkish soldiers captive, adding that Turkey was taking steps to try to bring them back. Erdogans statement did not make clear the number of soldiers who were missing or whether they were alive.

Ankara views the YPG as a terrorist group because of its links to Kurdish insurgents fighting in Turkey. The YPG also forms the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces, a U.S.-backed militia that drove the Islamic State group from much of northern and eastern Syria.

Mehmet Guzel and Lefteris Pitarakis are Associated Press writers.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- Police arrested a 51-year-old man -- found passed out behind the wheel Saturday afternoon near the entrance to the National Grid building in Mariners Harbor -- and charged him with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).

Jesus Moran, of Kyle Court in Arden Heights was charged with (DWI) in connection with the incident at 200 Gulf Avenue, according to a written statement from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Port Authority Police Captain Steven Yablonsky spotted a 2008 silver Nissan Altima with Pennsylvania plates blocking a section of road at about 2 p.m. Yablonsky approached Moran, who had his eyes closed, keys in the ignition and the car in park, the spokesman said.

When Moran awakened, he waved his arms as he attempted to exit the vehicle, and he smelled of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet, said the spokesman.

Police said Moran's blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- About 150 supporters joined U.S. military veteran Max Rose at the historic Reformed Church in Port Richmond on Saturday to kick off his campaign for Congress.

Rose, a combat veteran who earned a Purple Heart while he was in Afghanistan, thanked his supporters and spoke on a litany of issues, including job creation, gun control and a women's right to choose.

Rose, who's facing off against six other Democrats in this year's primary, told the crowd that Democrats need to earn voter's trust again, and pledged to not take any corporate PAC money during his campaign.

"The system has gotten out of hand, there's far too much money being thrown to these politicians and it's starting to control them," Rose said. "We have got to put our actions in place long before we win."

Rose condemned the current Congress for the tax bill it recently passed, saying that it only helps the rich.

"Instead of putting America first, they put their donors first," said Rose. "Instead of believing that our economy was built brick-by-brick by the middle class, they decided that it's the elite corporations and upper crust of society that made this country what it is.

Rose criticized both Rep. Daniel Donovan and Michael Grimm, saying that the Republican candidates "had their chance to change Washington and I think it's time for a change in leadership."

"Congressman Donovan is a proven leader for Staten Island. In a short time, he passed Zadroga benefits for our 9/11 heroes, significant FEMA reform for Sandy victims, restored cuts to homeland security and transportation funding, is taking on the opioid crisis, and more," Donovan's spokeswoman, Jessica Proud, said in a statement. "We will be happy to match our record of service and results to any candidate in this race."

Rose also said that Grimm misled Staten Islanders when he reassured voters in 2014 that he would be found innocent of charges brought against him that year.

"Michael Grimm disgraced his uniform and he cheated his workers and lied to each and every one of us when he said, 'I am innocent and deserve my day in court' and pled guilty the day after being reelected," Rose told the crowd.

Grimm fired back criticizing Rose for only recently moving to Staten Island and supporting immigration reform.

"Coming from someone who stands with his party for open borders and amnesty, for Max Rose to condemn me for having a handful of delivery boys off the books isn't just hypocritical, it's downright pathetic," Grimm told the Advance in a statement. "As a Nancy Pelosi-backed carpetbagger who recently moved to Staten Island just to run for office, his criticism is simply irrelevant."

Rose, who moved to the borough more than two years ago, said that the only reason he didn't move to Island earlier was because of his military service.

"I moved to this district the second I got back from active duty [in the army]," Rose told the Advance. "I would've begun to raise my family here far sooner, but I was too busy serving my country in Afghanistan"

NATIONAL SUPPORT

Rose has stuck out from his other Democratic opponents by earning support from national Democrats. On Thursday, he entered into a joint fundraising agreement called the "Better Days Fund" with Rep. Joe Crowley, a Queens Democrat who chairs the Democratic Caucus.

He was one of 18 candidates to be named to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's (DCCC) Red-to-Blue Program, which provides strategic support and other resources for candidates, earlier this month.

Rose was also endorsed by House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Staten Island YMCA launched its 2018 Annual Campaign to raise money for community services at their South Shore facility in Eltingville Wednesday.

The yearly fund-raising effort at 3939 Richmond Ave. supports programming and services in youth development, activities for seniors and healthy living for all YMCA members.

Nearly 100 guests -- including community members, volunteers, local elected officials, YMCA board members and staff -- came out to support and contribute to the YMCA's monetary fundraising goal of $363,200.

Attendees listened to testimonials from clients of the YMCA Counseling Service and enjoyed a performance by a group of students from the Y's After School program at P.S. 57.

The event was chaired by Joseph Marchese, Bob Williams, Mike Reilly, William Abel, Brian McGowan and John Merlino.

The Staten Island YMCA is dedicated to building healthy, confident, connected and secure children, adults, families and communities.

The Staten Island YMCA serves 60,000 Staten Islanders -- including 30,000 children. Donations to the Staten Island YMCA have a direct impact on Island residents and no one is turned away due to an inability to pay.

For more information visit ymcanyc.org/statenisland.
Client referral officers John McDonald and Jade Hudson in the kitchen at Uniting Care in Civic. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong While the charity Safe Shelter offers a place for men to sleep during the winter months, Ms Wiggins said there were no shelters open in summer and no where for people to go with pets. "That's why you get some people turning down services. Those animals are their life, their security, they're not going to give them up. Mental health is a another problem, and drugs and alcohol, a lot of places won't take you until you're stable." Maree, like many regulars at Uniting's early morning centre, enjoys solving a crossword with breakfast. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong Off the back of a punishing Canberra heatwave, services say crisis accommodation is now desperately needed for rough sleepers all year round.

The ACT council of social services is calling for another $100 million in public housing investment, following a surge in Canberra rent prices. Uniting's early morning centre on Northbourne Avenue is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 2pm. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong Acting director of ACTCOSS Craig Wallace said he was pleased by the government's commitment to public housing renewal, but stressed an urgent intervention was needed in the meantime to address Canberra's housing "market failure". "We now have couples with dual incomes, without children, who are struggling," he said. "People are moving out of Canberra to places like Queanbeyan...or they're down to their cars...having to compromise on really basic stuff in their lives like food or petrol or going to the dentist."

The government was concerned about any reports of people sleeping rough especially during extreme heat, a spokesman for Housing Minister Yvette Berry said. Safe Shelter coordinator Richard Griffiths said a huge spike in demand for the shelter last year came after the ABC flats were knocked down, driven in part by clients with jobs. "They'd wake up every morning at dawn, walk to the early morning centre for breakfast and head off to work," he said. This month, the breakfast rush at Uniting came even earlier than usual, as afternoon temperatures climbed to 38 degrees. Maree came for the computers. Like many of the people who pop in to the centre, Maree will tell you she's been sleeping rough "for a long time".

John McDonald, who's worked at the centre for the past decade, said she's one of about 100 regulars - but more new faces seem to be coming through the doors than ever. "I like the internet here, they have more computers now," Maree said, grabbing a crossword print out. The addition of three computers and three tablets last year was part of a $100,000 boost in funding for the centre from the ACT government. It also meant two more part-time staff could come on board and the centre could extend its hours until 2pm. These days, up to 70 people have been known to arrive for breakfast, including Phillip Rowe, who pops in almost every day for a meal and a shower. Some weeks he also gets a haircut or sees the doctor. "It's civilised here, and the food is great...it's [not] the same bloody soup every day!" Mr Rowe said.

For many people sleeping rough can also mean long waits for medical procedures. One regular limps his way to the centre most days because he can't have knee surgery until he gets a property, Ms Wiggins said. Services say government data consistently underestimates the number of Canberrans sleeping rough, and this happened again when the ABC flats were knocked down. Mr Griffiths said, while the tenants were accommodated, those couch surfing or sleeping in the blocks' laundries and stairwells suddenly had no where to go. They weren't reported to ACT Housing as people were afraid they'd get into trouble, he said. An ACT government spokesman said the directorate did not believe more people were sleeping rough due to the closure of the flats, but added that some people "may not approach services for support and won't be recorded". At the centre, no one is formally recorded. People share their name and their story "over a cuppa', Ms Wiggins said, a welcome relief from the barrage of questions usually fired at them by agencies.

A government spokesman said data from the Street to Home program by St Vincent de Paul suggested there were about 40 to 50 people out on the streets each night. "In terms of the public housing renewal program, we have worked hard to identify people who are couch surfing that are not engaged with our programs," he said. The spokesman said the ACT had the lowest rate of rough sleepers in Australia, based on 2011 census figures. That data also showed the territory had the second highest rate of homelessness in the nation, behind only the Northern Territory. The latest figures from the 2016 census have not yet been released. One regular of the centre, a former Australian Bureau of Statistics worker who did not wish to be named, said there were ways to hide on the street, especially for women.

Domestic violence forced her into rough sleeping in the 70s, but back then the city felt "safer". "There's more people sleeping out obviously now," she said. "If you're not careful, you'll get noticed." The woman, who was part of early talks to open the centre more than a decade ago, had since managed to find secure housing. "I have to keep coming back here or they worry about me," she said. "I bring some art supplies when I can." This month, for the first time, the ACT government opened the Griffin Centre in response to a heatwave, providing shelter and water for several hours over a 38 degree weekend.
Facebook is closing in on the "holy grail" of marketing - knowing how the advertising it shows to its more than 2 billion users affects them when they stop scrolling and go shopping in the real world.

The social media giant's head of global retail and ecommerce strategy, Martin Barthel, said it had recently started closing the gap in what it knows about users' online and off-line behaviour.

Facebook is getting better at knowing what to advertise to you. Credit:Wayne Taylor

Under a recent partnership with some US retailers, Facebook can track when a smartphone-carrying user has gone into an advertisers' physical store by using geolocation tracking, beacon technology or data from public Wi-Fi networks.

The cherry on the top, Mr Barthel said, is when those retailers send Facebook in-store transaction data, gathered from loyalty schemes or by credit card companies.
Stockholm: Billionaire IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad, who turned a business he launched as a teenager into one of the world's best known furniture brands, has died at the age of 91, the Swedish company said on Sunday.

IKEA's simple but sturdy designs and self-assembly products are now familiar in homes around the globe, with the retailer aiming to generate 50 billion ($76.5 billion) in annual revenue by 2020.

Kamprad started IKEA in 1943 when he was just 17, but his big break came in 1956, when the company pioneered flat-pack furniture.

He got the idea when he watched an employee taking the legs off a table to fit it into a customer's car and realised that it could be developed to save money on transport, storage and sales space.
The great genius of the pulpiteers and proselytisers of the business world  those who traverse the conference circuit evangelising on the preeminence of this Corporate Self-Help religion or that  is not their ability to preach to the converted, but their capacity to make the non-believers dance to the music of their charlatanry.

And don't let anyone tell you that the non-believers aren't at such events. The vast majority of the world's conference-going population has not the vaguest interest in whooping and high-fiving and shouting "affirmations" in front of their peers.

Illustration: Kerrie Leishman

And yet, as sure as you're reading this, you'll have witnessed a perfectly sensible colleague  a co-worker in full possession of his or her gorm  being swept up in the intense stupidity of a motivational moment.

They might have clapped their hands and mouthed the words to the song Everything is Awesome, being unironically blasted throughout the auditorium.
The British Prime Minister, Theresa May, has declared war on plastic waste. In a recent speech, Mrs May said she hoped to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste in England within 25 years. Her proposals include plastics-free aisles in supermarkets where food would be sold loose, and a charge for plastic take-away food containers.

Britain already has a 5p charge on plastic bags sold at supermarkets; the Prime Minister said she wants to extend this charge to small shops too.

A Senate committee has called for a campaign to explain how different types of plastic should be disposed of.

Last year the Victorian government announced it would implement a similar ban on lightweight plastic bags after "consult[ing] closely with businesses and the community on how best to implement the policy".

The reason for the consultation? Because, the government said at the time, such bans often lead to an increase in the use of heavier plastic bags.
The depressing state of our deteriorating national parks Michael McFadyen's article was a depressing read ("Mourning as NSW national parks run into the ground", January 27-28). Trees and koalas can't vote or call shock jocks to complain about the slashing of funds and staff to manage these parks, so the Liberal state government has chopped the budget and ringbarked those who have the knowledge and ability to care for these special places. These parks are the lungs of the state and need to be managed so the people of NSW can visit and enjoy the natural world. As an animal with a voice, I call on the government to spend more on protecting our national parks. David Whitcombe, Maroubra The NPWS has been run into the ground, leaving our magnificent resources and infrastructure under its command deteriorating and under appreciated. Look at the potential world-class trails around the Hawkesbury river tributaries in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.These are now dangerous trails to walk in many parts, due to lack of maintenance. In Tasmania the government has spent $25 million on the Three Capes Track on trails and accommodation that is now widely acclaimed. The New Zealand government has long recognised the economic and spiritual values of resourcing its national parks. The NSW government needs to wake up. Cabinet ministers should start bushwalking in their own state. It will help them in their job and help resource our national parks. Stephen Bargwanna, Coogee

National parks were created with clear objectives, which include the conservation of ecosystems and biological diversity, protection of places of cultural and historical value, and fostering of public appreciation of nature and our cultural heritage. How many of these objectives are being met by the depleted staff and minimal resources left after the recent waves of restructures? Many of the rare species and historic buildings we are losing can never be replaced. Joy Scott, Heathcote Most national parks have had all their entry points closed with steel gates and boulders, largely to prevent the damage to maintenance tracks by a small minority of 4WD hoons, alas for those of us more elderly, frail, disabled or simply unable to walk the much longer distances now required to access the nicer areas of such parks as my local Maria River. Whereas I used to be able to drive into the centre of the park in my small, inoffensive 2WD car (in dry weather) and then take short, pleasant walks along trails or creek banks, since the gate closures I am now faced with several kilometres of hot, tiring (and impossible) walking before I can reach those formerly accessible areas. Thanks 4WD hoons. Thanks, under-resourced NPWS, thanks uncaring NSW government. Mark Walker, Kempsey Have we reached a point where governments can't be trusted to protect national parks for future generations? What drives a government to place these areas at risk?



Fiona McCrossin, Bellevue Hill 'Struggling parents'? Not so Are we meant to feel sorry for the "struggling" parents with children in expensive private schools? ("Private school fees soar to fresh high", January 27). Given, as your article says, that these schools do no better academically than public schools, if the cost is too onerous the solution is simple. As for the family that says that "we would have struggled without our investments", the fact that they have investments means that they don't struggle  most families with young children have no investments or savings. Most families need every cent of their salary to meet their weekly costs of mortgage/rent, food and utilities. Judy Christian, Castle Hill Same old, same old: the annual story of recurring increases in the exorbitant fees charged by private schools and the eagerness of some parents to pay them ("Private school, private pain", January 27-28). These goings-on are their own, private business. One affluent parent is reported as even saying that "there's no real price point at which he would switch schools". It's the same for governments in this country. There is no "price point" for them either. Regardless of which of the two major parties is in office, or of higher educational priorities in the public school system, there is no level of fees and charges nor of the lavish resources such schools provide beyond which governments remove their entitlement to additional public funding. Surely that should be the front-page story.

Lyndsay Connors, Edgecliff Private schools do more than just create "private pain". They cause pain for our entire society. They segregate, they divide and they discriminate. By saying, "We are from 'this' group", they differentiate themselves from all those who are not. This may be more subtle than refusing to acknowledge others as equals, but it is equally, if not more, effective. Imagine the effect this is having on the 30-odd per cent of kids who are privately educated. What does it teach them about equality and egalitarianism? Tom Orren, Wamberal I attended private school in Melbourne as a boarder from 1981-84. The most profound and wonderful thing about that was to meet one of my dearest and lifelong friends. As an adult living in Sydney I have two children attending the local high school and we're all settled and happy with the education and friendship groups. I am surprised at the amount of parents we meet in our area who themselves were all educated in their local high schools and now have placed all their children into private schools. We can't work out why? Did they miss out by not going themselves? They are all highly successful (obviously) from their educations and yet...

A puzzle I can't complete? Susanne McLeod, Lindfield

When parents use a large portion of their income, savings and superannuation to fund private school fees, their chances of putting away enough money for retirement are greatly reduced. Presumably, they will then need to draw a government pension when they cease work. It seems that in the long term, the taxpayer is funding the swimming pools, concert halls and extracurricular activities which push up the cost of private education. Mike Fullerton, Croydon It is clearly the parents who should be educated if they insist on sending their child to a school (St Catherine's, Waverley) at $35,000 pa with such a poor ranking of 57! Despite the $63 million theatre and aquatic centre (not $43 million), students will need every bit of the networking cited by UNSW economist Gigi Foster if they want to be other than actors and water polo players  not the most sought after professions at the best of times. Cathy Davitt, Waverley How can it be that our governments have been so captured by the private school industry that experts recognise the perceived benefit of funding them is not "rational", "purchas(es) an elitist 'old boys club' for private school children that could help them in future careers", "without really thinking much about whether they are getting something that is good the child when they do it" and supports "suppliers trying to find what the market will bear" by inflating prices?

How much money would be saved if education was provided to all by the "publicly funded options available of high quality by global standards" and gold-plated private schools, that duplicate the fixed costs of providing public schools to all, were forced to be what they claim to be: private  funded by private sources only? It can only be blind ideology that has led us here. Brenton White, Mosman Some parents will be spending a lot of money sending their children to private school for what benefit? Results from public schools are proven to be as good and in many cases better. Teachers receive the same training and accreditation in both systems so there is no advantages gained there. There are, of course, all the extras that these schools charge parents for the privilege of sending their children to them. Of course they will be well funded as on top of the fees there are the huge government subsidies. I thought the idea of subsidising private schools was to make them more affordable to the rest of the population. But no, they increasingly become more expensive at a greater rate than the cost of living and more and more exclusive.

Public schools win out every time with excellent levels of education, opportunities in sport, music, dance, drama, public speaking and much more. In addition, students meet others from all walks of life, wealth, religion and cultural backgrounds, giving public schools a depth of insight into life.

Save your money parents and governments, but invest it in public education instead.





Augusta Monro, Dural A perfect sporting weekend. Australia Day followed by Public v Private Schools Day, culminating in the Australian Open. All feature plenty of strong serves but too few aces. I blame the court.



Peter Farmer, Northbridge

Imagine how high the fees would be if private schools weren't publicly funded. Peter Fyfe, Enmore Private school fees must keep rising. One has to keep out the riff-raff. David Wellham, Broulee The solution to wayward shopping trolleys

Large four-wheel-drives, utes, vans or trucks are big enough to pop a trolley in the back (Letters, January 27-28). How easy it would be, when you are going to the shopping centre, to return a wayward trolley? .





Judith Rostron, Killarney Heights Have to disagree with one aspect of your letter, Steve Cornelius. Normally when someone "borrows" something, they return it. I'm pretty sure the nature strip is not the place from which the shopping trolley was borrowed. Bill Young, Greenwich There is only one thing worse than the lazy shoppers and cyclists who leave unused shopping trolleys and bicycles lying around the place, and that is lazy car and truck drivers who leave their vehicles lying around blocking public footpaths and cycle ways. It is a pity the general public may not issue issue parking tickets to people who commit such offences, when local councils and police have not enough staff to do so. Perhaps if there was a private tow truck company we could call to have such vehicles towed away and impounded and they could be auctioned off if their owners did not come to pick them up.
Stuffed with sausages, sunburnt and, let's be honest, a little bit smashed from a day of drinking too much in the sun, Australians were flopped on their couches relaxing when President Trump took the podium at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in the snowy Swiss resort town of Davos.

Amid fears the world's Tweeter-in-Chief would unleash a new global trade war, ushering in a new era of protectionism, Trump instead delivered a more statesmanlike speech, declaring: "America First does not mean America alone".

Which shouldn't really have surprised anyone. For all his rhetoric about helping the "lost generation" of middle income Americans, pre-presidential Trump would have not looked out of place amid the chalets, jets and glittering cocktail parties of Davos. Only he would never have been invited, considered too "gauche"  and probably not rich enough  to take seriously.

The reality is that the US under the Trump administration is embarking on more a trade tantrum, than all out trade war.
A Royal Australian Air Force plane has caught fire after aborting take-off during a training exercise at an air base in Las Vegas, authorities say.

A statement from the Nellis Air Force Base, in Nevada, said the incident happened at 10.45am on Saturday, US time.

An EA-18G Growler on the tarmac at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada during Exercise Red Flag. Credit:CPL David Gibbs

"The aircraft was required to abort its take off and subsequently caught fire, however all personnel are safe.

"Emergency services are on scene. No serious injuries are reported.
Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman has warned against the risk of a minority government as he announced a March 3 state election.

Mr Hodgman confirmed the date at a media conference at New Norfolk on Sunday morning, ending weeks of speculation.

Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman has announced the state will be going to the polls on March 3. Credit:AAP

"There is no doubt that the certainty, the stability, the common purpose, the plan that we've outlined is best delivered by majority government and certainly the record shows, best done by Liberals," he said.

"I believe fundamentally that Tasmanians trust me and my team to deliver on what we promised, we have a strong plan for our state's future."
It started out as a fund-raiser to help support a workmate who was seriously injured in a car accident, and has now led to more than $160,000 being raised for charity over the past eight years.

Stephen Flannery, managing director of Fugen Construction, said staff at Fugen entered the Cole Classic swim as a one-off to show their support and help raise money for their injured workmate.

Stephen Flannery, managing director of Fugen Constructions. Credit:Christopher Pearce

"It started in 2009 because a guy from work lost his leg in a car accident, so we thought the Cole Classic would be a fun way to raise some money for him," Mr Flannery said.

However, it was Mr Flannery's wife's cancer diagnosis the following year that led the company to officially enter a swim team in the Cole Classic and continue to participate in it which, he says, "is now part of the company culture".
Transport Minister Andrew Constance and Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Credit:Ryan Stuart "The roster is the roster and ultimately if there is sick leave, people need to be able to take that and that's what happened a couple of weeks ago," he said. "Ultimately, the roster is managed by the management of Sydney Trains and ultimately they will ensure that there is the appropriate staffing level. "Every bit of advice that was given to me is that the level of train drivers is adequate for the timetable." The minister didn't confirm reports Sydney Trains were recruiting retired train drivers to fill the gaps in the network but did say he thought it was a good idea.

"It would make sense to see if some of the drivers did want to return because they don't have to go through 12 months of training," he said. One Sydney Trains worker who spoke to Fairfax Media on the condition of anonymity said that delays on Monday may match those seen earlier in the year. "That could quite easily happen again," he said. Despite industrial action being cancelled, he said that many workers "felt robbed" by the decision of the Fair Work Commission and that they wouldn't be making themselves available if more staff were needed. He said that the understaffing on Sydney Trains meant that the network was reliant on drivers who weren't being rostered on, filling the gaps left by absentees.

The Sydney Train worker said that he thought at least a few people who were rostered on would call in sick and that the absence of any relief drivers could cripple the network. When asked whether there were any contingency plans in place in the event that drivers didn't turn up, Transport for NSW Co-ordinator General Marg Prendergast said they would monitor the situation. "The contingency plan is obviously monitoring the situation closely, early in the morning tomorrow," she said. "We do have a couple of buses up our sleeve to dispatch in the morning." "We are confident that the train service will be back to normal on Monday and there are a lot of preparations happening overnight to ensure that takes place." Sydney Trains cancelled services on Sunday night in order to move trains into position for Monday morning, replacing some of those cancelled services with buses.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Opposition Leader Luke Foley slammed the move saying it demonstrated how understaffed the network was. "The fact that the government has to beg retired train drivers to come out of retirement tells you how understaffed the railways are," he said. "For the Minister and Premier to arrogantly disregard the advice of their own experts and push ahead with the introduction of a new timetable has led to this meltdown. The chronic understaffing of the railways has not been addressed by this government." He said that Monday would demonstrate if the new timetable and network was capable of running under the full strain of commuters. "Tomorrow we'll see the full effect when everyone's back to work, teachers are back to school and all the kids are back to school this week.
Forty years ago, Nang and her husband Jin Ran Wu opened their small pharmacy on Sydney's bustling George Street, managing to buy the shop space within two years of opening.

Now, as the once-busy road has been fenced off and foot traffic reduced to a fraction for the construction of the new light rail line, the Wus realise just how fortunate they are.

Nang and Jin Wu, who have owned and worked at the same pharmacy on George Street for 40 years. Credit:Brook Mitchell

"We are the lucky ones, not many people are so lucky, like the Ming Hoi restaurant, they worked [sic] every day and they couldn't afford it with the rent and the wages and customer drop," Mrs Wu said.

Before buying their shop for $85,000 in 1980, the couple were leasing for two years at $120 a week, while similar businesses are now paying upwards of $5000 a week, she said.
Two teenagers have been arrested and one man remains on the run, after a 75-kilometre police chase from Brisbane to the Gold Coast on Saturday night.

It will be alleged officers saw a stolen Volkswagen on Kessels Road at Macgregor shortly before 9pm.

The end result of a 75-kilometre police chase from Brisbane to the Gold Coast. Credit:Nine News Queensland

Police said Polair tracked the vehicle south along the M1 before spike strips were deployed on the motorway at Reedy Creek, with the car coming to a stop soon after.

Three people allegedly ran from the vehicle, with two arrested in nearby bushland and the third remaining on the run.
A man is still fighting for life and another two remain in hospital after a mass drug overdose at Festival Hall on Friday night.

At least nine people were taken to hospital, some of them in a critical condition, after being treated by ambulance officers at the I Am Hardstyle event at the West Melbourne venue. Several others also made their own way to hospital.

An 18-year-old man remained in a critical condition in hospital on Sunday morning. A 17-year-old man was also still in hospital in a stable condition.

Ambulance Victoria state health commander Paul Holman said on Saturday the overdoses could have proved lethal if partygoers hadn't received medical help as quickly as they did.

"They are certainly lucky they didn't die on the spot," Ambulance Victoria state health commander Paul Holman said.
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
Police shot dead an armed robber as he allegedly pointed a sawn-off shotgun at a bottle shop owner in Melbourne's north-east.

On Sunday night a senior constable shot and killed the 48-year-old man believing the attendant at the Park Road bottle shop, in Park Orchards, was in grave danger.

The bottle shop in Park Orchard. Credit:Simon Schluter

Officers who were investigating other robberies in the area stumbled upon the robbery about 9pm.

Attendant Sean Wang was at the counter of the shop when the robber entered the shop. His adult son Kevin, who was also working, ran out the back of the store.
An 18-year-old man has been stabbed and another man also injured in an early-morning brawl in a CBD apartment.

An altercation took place just before 7am between the 18-year-old Coburg North man and two other men who had been visiting the apartment in Little Bourke Street.

Both alleged offenders fled on foot.

The stabbed man was taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

A second male received minor injuries and was refusing to assist police with their inquiries. Others present were assisting police.
"Our poles and wires and substations let us down." Ms D'Ambrosio said she expected the Australian Energy Market Regulator would investigate the shortage and if energy providers were meeting their infrastructure maintenance responsibilities. Premier Daniel Andrews described the outages as "frustrating", saying there was sufficient energy to power the entire state, and vowed to take energy providers to task. "The government is looking at all means to compel those energy companies to compensate those who are affected by this power outage," he said.

Mr Andrews also took aim at Opposition Leader Matthew Guy for claiming the outage was caused by the recent closure of the Hazelwood power station. "Despite some loose and thoroughly inaccurate commentary this morning, the energy market operator has confirmed there was sufficient energy, more than sufficient energy, to power the entirety of our state, so this was not a power supply issue." Crews worked throughout the night to restore power to homes but electricity providers expect some homes will remain without power until Monday night. As of 6.45am on Monday, 17,000 customers were without power in the United Energy network area and 354 in CitiPower and Powercor networks. Another 1500 Ausnet customers had no electricity.

Ms D'Ambrosio said demand for power soared past the previous Sunday record set in 2014. Tennis goers do their best to keep cool at the Australian Open. Credit:AAP Powercor supplies Melbourne's western suburbs and western Victoria, United supplies the southern suburbs and the Mornington Peninsula, and Citipower supplies Melbourne's inner suburbs. United Energy, Powercor and CitiPower spokeswoman Emma Tyner said they were "extremely sorry" for the outage. "The prolonged high temperatures and humidity through the weekend significantly increased electricity demand at many locations across the network which resulted in multiple power outages," she said.

"In most cases, substation fuse faults were the main cause of the outages. "Due to the large volume of faults, in some cases there may be extended restoration times with power in some areas likely to be affected until this evening."

AusNet spokesman Hugo Armstrong said that as of 9.30pm, about 7500 homes were without power. By Monday morning, the figure had been reduced to 1500. 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.

Vincent Howgate, 6 beating the heat at the Midlands Reserve and Water Park in Ballarat. Credit:Luka Lauzlaric 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? Monday evening was one of the hottest January nights on record with an overnight low of 28.1 degrees at 6am. The temperature reached 38.1 degrees at 5.09pm on Sunday.

A Friends of Bats and Bushcare volunteer injects water into the mouth of a heat stressed grey headed flying fox. 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 on Sunday. 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.
Premier Daniel Andrews says he will not reconsider his opposition to recreational drug testing despite a mass overdose on Friday night at a Festival Hall rave.

However, drug law reform advocates say legalising drug testing could potentially save lives.

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. Several others affected made their own way to hospital.

An 18-year-old man was still fighting for life and another three, including a 17-year-old man, remained in hospital on Sunday night.

Ambulance Victoria state health commander Paul Holman said on Saturday the overdoses could have proved lethal if partygoers hadn't received medical help as quickly as they did.
A dog has been seriously injured after it was furiously stabbed by a neighbour in the early hours of the morning in Redcliffe on Saturday morning.

The owner was on her way to pick up his dog from a neighbour's property on Rason Place at around 2am when the attack occurred.

The dog is in a serious but stable condition. Credit:Marina Neil

She was in the company of his second pet dog when she arrived at the property.

As she walked to the residence, the woman and her pet were approached by a man armed with a knife.
Perth won't experience a 40 degree day for the month of January for the first time in five years, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

The Bureau made the prediction based on it's upcoming forecast, which indicated the mercury for the last week of January won't get over 33 degrees.

Perth escaped a scorcher this year. Credit:Stefan Gosatti

The last time Perth experienced a January without a 40 degree day was back in 2013 - but this year, the hottest January day looks to fall just short at 38 degrees.

Climate averages over the last five years indicate it has been a slightly cooler month of January, but records stretching over the last 25 years maintain the average January temperature is typically around 31.2 degrees.
Madrid: Spain's Constitutional Court said the former leader of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, could only attend a swearing-in session to become regional leader if he was physically present in the parliament and had a judge's permission to attend.

Puigdemont, living in Brussels since October, is wanted in Spain on charges of sedition and rebellion for spearheading an independence movement. He is due to face a vote of confidence as the region's only presidential candidate on Jan. 30.

Ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, right, shakes hands with the President of the Parliament of Catalonia Roger Torrent in Brussels. Credit:GEERT VANDEN WIJNGAERT

Supporters of Puigdemont have said he could rule the region remotely by video link.

The Constitutional Court - the country's highest legal authority on constitutional matters - said it would make a decision on whether to consider the Spanish government's challenge to Puigdemont's legitimacy as presidential candidate once it has spoken to all parties concerned.
London: US President Donald Trump says he's not aware of any invitation for him to attend Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle.

In a wide-ranging interview with Piers Morgan to be broadcast on Sunday in the UK, Trump replied "not that I know of" when asked if he had an invite to the May wedding.

Britain's Prince Harry and First Lady of the United States Melania Trump hold a bilateral meeting ahead of the start of the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada. Credit:DANNY LAWSON

Markle has been a vocal critic of Trump, backing his rival Hillary Clinton and suggesting before the 2016 election she would leave the US if he won.

Asked if he would like to go to the royal wedding at Windsor Castle's St George's Chapel, Trump simply said: "I want them to be happy. I really want them to be happy."
Warsaw: After an exhausting night ascent a rescue mission has found a French mountaineer on the slopes of Pakistan's treacherous "Killer Mountain", but a Polish climber who had been with her remains missing.

Elisabeth Revol and her climbing companion, Tomasz Mackiewicz, had called for help on Friday from about 7400 metres up Pakistan's second highest peak, the 8126 metre Nanga Parbat.

A team of elite Polish climbers, who had been attempting the first winter ascent of the nearby K2 mountain, rushed to try to rescue them.

"!!! Elisabeth #Revol found !!!" the Polish winter climbing team said on Facebook.
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. "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.

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal was detained in Saudi Arabia as part of an "anti-corruption" probe. Credit:AP

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.
Murmansk, Russia: From central Moscow to the Arctic, thousands of Russian protesters on Sunday called for a boycott of the upcoming presidential election even as the authorities detained organisers and raided the office of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Police detained Navalny, who branded the boycott a "voters' strike" against Russian President Vladimir Putin's government, shortly after the protests began. But more than 1000 people took to one of Moscow's central thoroughfares nevertheless. Thousands more turned out on squares and streets in St Petersburg, in Siberia, and in places as remote as Murmansk, a port city in the far north where the temperature Sunday afternoon was -22 C.

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"By sitting at home on our couch and talking to friends, nothing will change," said Alexandra Sokolova, a 31-year-old financial adviser who joined the Moscow protest. "Maybe my kids will live in a better country."

The protests Sunday were unusual in their scope, with Navalny supporters organising some 115 events across the country. But they appeared smaller than his demonstrations last June, when Russian news media estimated that at least 50,000 people protested nationwide.
The crew from Next examines the floor for bodily fluids. The growing number of lonely deaths is the result of Japan's aging society and changes in family structures. Credit:SHIHO FUKADA When the representative opened the door, he found Hiroaki lying dead on the futon. He had probably been there for about four months. His body, the futon and floor around it were completely dry. Although there were flies and maggots everywhere, the smell hadn't been bad enough to bother neighbours or the convenience store directly below. Akira Fujita is the supervisor of a crew from Next, a company that specializes in cleaning up after lonely deaths. Credit:SHIHO FUKADA After the body was removed, the management company called Next. The four-man cleaning crew led by Fujita arrived with an empty truck and full-body protective wear.

The first thing they removed was the futon, which was covered with brown residue and maggots and was the main source of the smell. It was vacuum-packed into a plastic bag and carted off to the truck. The men approached their work in a no-nonsense way, not wrinkling up their noses or commenting on the squalor - just getting on with the job. Fujita lifts the futon where Hiroaki's body was found. Credit:SHIHO FUKADA The 200-square-foot apartment was overflowing with the detritus of a lonely life: instant-noodle bowls and soft-drink bottles, empty cans of coffee, cigarette butts in ashtrays, dozens of lighters, months' worth of newspapers, clothes in dishevelled piles. The men filled garbage bag after garbage bag. Utility bills and other papers were stuck to the floor with dried bodily fluids, so one of the men had to use a dustpan to chip them off. The crew took away Hiroaki's belongings, checked under the flooring, and scrubbed and disinfected the apartment. Credit:SHIHO FUKADA

The tiny bathroom was covered with black mould - the walls, the basin, inside the toilet, everything. Unidentified grime covered the doors and the kitchen sink, and all required industrial-strength cleaning liquid. After removing all of Hiroaki's belongings, the crew got to work stripping the wallpaper and figuring out how much of the flooring they would have to pull up. The paperwork showed Hiroaki was 54 and divorced. He had worked as a systems engineer for 20 years, including spells at big companies such as Nissan and Fujitsu. But he was always in contract positions, meaning that he had no benefits and needed welfare to supplement his low income. Passport photos he'd had taken to apply for jobs show an entirely ordinary-looking man: grey hair parted in the middle, wire-frame glasses, checked shirt. There were photo albums, but none seemed to contain pictures of Hiroaki.

The cleaning company did not know how or why Hiroaki died at this relatively young age, but his apartment was full of prescription medicines. Local newspapers in Japan are full of reports of these kinds of solitary deaths. Usually men, usually elderly, they're discovered often months after they've died, after their mailboxes fill up or they fall behind on their rent, or odours start creeping out from their apartments. But there have been reports of people in their 40s dying alone, too. This growing phenomenon is the result of Japan's ageing society and changes in family structures. Three-generation households were commonplace not so long ago. Now more Japanese are remaining single, while couples are having fewer, if any, children. "The general concept of family in Japan has fallen apart," said Masaki Ichinose, part of the Centre for Life and Death Studies at the University of Tokyo. "The overall number of people who are alone is growing, so it's inevitable that the number of people dying without anyone's support is also growing."

Older men are particularly susceptible because of pride and an unwillingness to ask for help, Ichinose said. They retire from lifetime jobs and lose the only communities they've ever really had. If they are widowed, divorced or unmarried, they are more likely to become isolated, added Kumiko Kanno, the author of a book about lonely deaths. "Their ties are all related to their work, so it's hard for them to jump into the local community," particularly if they live alone, she said. "It's so easy for them to fall into self-neglect and become isolated, and there's nobody to stop that from happening." Some local authorities have started services to check on elderly people living alone, and they encourage neighbours to keep an eye out for each other. Experts have differing opinions on how else to combat the problem. Ichinose says that members of the younger generation are too interested in their careers and not in having children, and that this contributes to an increasing number of people who are alone as they age. Kanno says Japanese people think they'll continue living the same way they always have and don't make new friends.
Wellington: Seven people have been found on board one of the dinghies from a Kiribati ferry that's been missing in the Pacific for more than a week.

A New Zealand Air Force Orion aircraft located the four to five-metre dinghy on Sunday, and crews have dropped aid to those on board.

A wooden dinghy, left, carrying seven survivors from a missing ferry and a fishing boat in the Pacific Ocean. Credit:AP

The Rescue Co-ordination Centre of New Zealand says a fishing vessel has been diverted to rescue the people.

"The group seem very relieved to have been found when the New Zealand Air Force Orion dropped supplies, including water and a radio, to them about 10am today," says RCCNZ Senior Search and Rescue Officer John Ashby.
We want more private and business aircraft coming to our airport.  Youre right, I responded. Were looking for a mover-and-shaker to do it  Good thing, I replied. We were thinking of you!  Who me?. That was the essence of being invited to an airport board meeting. While driving home, it went through my mind: how on earth am I going to do this? As their PR associate, I had a good sense of the airports strengths and weaknesses. I had often suggested that General Aviation deserved more attention, because its more lucrative. Two ground staff members can handle a private jet from passenger and luggage handling to refueling. The landing and handling fees are excellent. A commercial airliner needs far more staff and attention, from ticket counter to the stairs for embarking and all the additional tra-ra around the handling of aircraft and passengers.

How did I change 60% scheduled commercial flights against 40% business aviation, into 60% bizav versus 40% scheduled, without losing business of the latter segment? Sales pitches and PR dont do the trick. Forget 101 college marketing. I decided to visit the operation center of the business aviation operator that had the largest fleet of aircraft (140) headquartered in Portugal. In detail, they explained their operations and when airport issues popped up. If I could take care of that, would they come more often? Yes! So, I worked on it. The airport went successfully through three evaluations and it became their preferred airport in the region from their perspective.

I visited some of the major companies in Houston, Texas that handle international trip planning for business jet operators. Again, wanting to know what hurdles they face, and finding out what they knew about our airport. We learned from each other. They received a better insight of our destination from their perspective.

Why mentioning from their perspective in both cases? Because their clients make the decision where to go, but the service providers from their perspective will discretely advise them what may be best on how to get there. Whats my point? Solving problems is essential! Not hot air promotion, nor sales pitches. In aviation development; there is no such a thing as opening a can of airplanes.

I should point out that the airport for which I handled the aviation development was located in Switzerland. Who followed the international news this past week, may be aware of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Thousands of the world's richest and most powerful people from 70 countries were attending the event. There were more than 1,000 private jet flights over the five days.

Davos doesnt have an airport. The closest airport is Samedan, at an elevation of 1,707 mtr/ 5,600 ft Europes highest airport but has no scheduled flights. Its one of the worlds most challenging airports due to its difficult mountain topography, the winds, and the thinness of the air at this altitude. For the event, the airspace over Swiss Davos and the adjacent Austrian territory is virtually closed by the air forces. Exceptions are made for helicopter flights directly to Davos to bring in the creme-de-la-creme.

Where do their jets fly to? Option #1. Zurich International Airport and used by the highest ranking political officials who need extra protection and official Swiss government reception. It takes a 1 -hour-plus limousine ride to Davos. Option #2? My regional airport. Only 1 -hour-or-less drive because of a none saturated route. A low-key airport and less extra policing or security needed. No air traffic slots. The 140-aircraft company decided that wed be their preferred airport. I told the airport director that he had to move out and make his office available. The company used it for its aircraft dispatcher to handle their flights for three nearby airports including Zurich International, and in addition, two of their own customer service agents, a ground transportation coordinator, and a chief-pilot to handle crew arrangements.

Whats the point for the Caribbean? You dont need a major airport to attract and bring in a certain clientele. You need a smooth functioning airport that is well equipped, and mediocracy is not an option. A 5,000 ft / 1,500 mtr runway is often enough.

Monaco, one of the worlds wealthiest nations, doesnt have an airport. No space for it; just like some of the Caribbean islands. They do have plenty of funding to build it, unlike most of the Caribbean islands. They dont even want an airport; they have a good heliport. Where do the rich-and-famous jets land? Nice, a major international airport that is relatively nearby. Nice is not keen on it, since it has too many scheduled commercial flights. Cannes is not far away and specializes in private and business aviation. Ground transportation to Monaco on congested roads takes too long though. Helicopter service to Monaco make sense.

Another hint for the Caribbean. You may not have roads and time-taking ground transportation, instead you have water between the territories and a ferry ride is time-taking. Helicopter service may be an alternative to accommodate this clientele. Plus, the costs of a helipad are a fraction of developing or extending a runway. Some islands dont even have a helicopter on location. The configuration of a passenger helicopter can be changed in 10 minutes, have a hoist attached, and be ready for rescue operations.

Why would you like to have this clientele and what is the sense of this wealth tourism? They are spending ten times as much per person than the average mass-tourism visitor. US$ 900 plus for a hotel night is not uncommon, neither is a US$ 20,000 plus weeks villa rent. It is not just the positive economic impact. Since this clientele does not accept mediocracy, the island is forced to upgrade its infrastructure and facilities which may improve the overall standard of living of its community. This clientele is also willing to pay higher wages or charges for services. If they like the destination theyre loyal and return; often more than once a year. Every passenger arriving on a private jet is a potential investor in the region. Think about it. Success breeds success or..., it may at least rub off.

By Cdr. Bud Slabbaert
English27/01/2018

JOVICIC - SILOS  THE MOST NOTORIOUS PRISON CAMP IN BiH CIVIL WAR

SARAJEVO, January 27 /SRNA/ - The concentration camp Silos in Tarcin near Sarajevo where more than 600 Serbian civilians, of whom, according to testimonies of prison camp inmates, 24 died of consequences of physical abuse, beatings, tortures, and starvation, closed on this day in 1996.



The Silos prison camp, which was run by the so-called Army of BiH, opened on May 11, 1992, in a building where wheat was kept before the war, and the camp was closed on January 27, 1996, on St. Sava Day, two months after the Dayton Agreement was signed.



According to testimonies by former inmates, Silos had all elements of the notorious concentration camp from WWII, Auschwitz.



Mostly civilians from Tarcin, Pazaric and other nearby places were held in that camp, which was one of a total of 126 prison camps in the area of Sarajevo.



The youngest inmate was 14-year-old boy Leo Kapetanovic, and the oldest was Vaso Sarenac, who was more than 85 and died in Silos at a temperature that was always 10C below outside temperature. Even women, one of whom was six months pregnant, were not spared of torture.



Serbian inmates, who survived horrific tortures, testified that officials of the so-called Army of BiH used to visit Silos and that they knew what was happening in the camp.



Inmates found out from representatives of the International Red Cross that the camp will be closed. They were released from the camp on January 26, 1996, and the last 44 inmates were released a day later, by which this concentration camp was finally closed.



Slavko Jovicic Slavuj, a former inmate of this death camp, wrote on his blog that the last concentration camp in BiH  Silos, was closed on St. Sava Day in 1996, two months after a deadline for closing this camp.



On January 27, 1996, the last 44 surviving inmates were released from the prison camp Silos which held more than 600 Serbian civilians. Seven days earlier, on January 19, 1996, on Epiphany, after 44 months of horrific sufferings and tortures, that is, after 1,334 days, the Muslim authorities released me and another 40 inmates, Jovicic has said.



According to him, men aged 14-85 and 11 women, one of whom was six months pregnant, were held in the death camp Silos. Except for 11 soldiers, who were reserve soldiers captured on the front line in Hadzici, Jovicic says, all others were civilians.



According to his information, more than 600 Serbian civilians, mostly from Pazaric and Tarcin, were held in the concentration camp Silos.



Inmates were given every day up to five spoons of some liquid and a slice of bread /one loaf of bread was divided into 12-14 slices/. I lost 43 kg during the first 63 days in the concentration camp. When I arrived, I had 77 kg, and on August 8, 1992, I had only 34 kg. If there was no skin, bones would fall apart. We measured our weight on scales which were used to measure the weight of grain, Jovicic has said.



He says that in 1993, Muslims started taking inmates from Silos to front lines on Mount Igman and for the needs of the notorious Muslim unit Zulfikar /named after Zulfikar Alispago, the founder and financier of that criminal formation/ to do the hardest physical work, then to Hrasnica and the Jewish cemetery, where they were digging trenches and building fortifications and bunkers day and night.



The concentration camp Silos is the most notorious prison camp of the BiH civil war, not only because it lasted the longest, but because camp inmates were tortured in 167 ways and because it was a laboratory for testing human endurance and killing every sense of human existence. Inmates were tortured by methods that are incomprehensible to the human mind and contemporary civilization, which experts determined, based on witness testimonies, Jovicic has said.



All documents about this were surrendered to the former ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, but this was, he says, Sisyphean task since she had only one goal  to completely demonize the Serbian people, she was not interested in crimes against Serbs.



Since the end of the war, until today, Jovicic says, more than 200 former inmates, displaced all over the globe  from Australia, America, Europe to Serbia and Republika Srpska, died of consequences of horrific tortures.



Jovicic says that they all took with them their truths since they have never got an opportunity to testify about their sufferings before any judicial institution.



Having in mind that the trial is in progress, I do not want to pervert the course of justice by any sentence or move, and I express my deepest reverence to all those who lost their lives during and after the war as the consequence of horrific tortures and I constantly pray to God that their noble souls may rest in Heaven, Jovicic wrote on his blog on the occasion of the anniversary of closing the death camp for Serbs  Silos Tarcin. /end/sg
English27/01/2018

SRNA News Roundup /II/ - January 27, 2018

REPUBLIKA SRPSKA



PRIJEDOR  The Republika Srpska Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Lejla Resic, today in the Centre Sunce in Prijedor attended a celebration of St. Sava Day where children presented a short performance by which they will apply for a project.



BANJALUKA  The Assistant Republika Srpska Minister for Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Education, Radmila Kocic Cucic, feels that the modernization of the educational system in Srpska, which has been improved by enacting crucial, strategic documents and laws, is one of the main preconditions for a socio-economic development of Srpska and the City of Banjaluka.



ANDRICGRAD - Musician and poet Borisav Bora Djordjevic and Chinese writer Yu Hua were presented with the Great Award Ivo Andric in the Andric Institute in Andricgrad today.



BANJALUKA  SDS Secretary-General Igor Ostojic has said that the statement by SNSD Secretary-General Luka Petrovic that the SDS on orders of SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic is attacking Republika Srpska is the continuation of a dirty campaign of this party against the SDS, in imitation of its president, using, as he says, falsehoods and manipulations of the public.



BANJALUKA  The president of the Banjaluka SDS Main Board, Mladen Kajkut, has said that this party has good and strong candidates for the upcoming elections, and that party bodies will decide on them.



BANJALUKA  Holocaust Remembrance Day was marked today with the laying of wreaths at the Jewish memorial at the New Cemetery in Banjaluka.



SAMAC  His Eminence the Bishop of Zvornik and Tuzla, Fotije, celebrated today the Divine Liturgy in the St. Sava Church in Gornja Slatina on the occasion of the Churchs Patron St.s Day /Slava/.



TREBINJE  The family, representatives of the city government and friends today in Trebinje laid a wreath and lit candles at the grave of Srdjan Aleksic, who on this day 25 years ago died of injuries sustained while he was defending his Bosniak friend.



ISTOCNO SARAJEVO  Film director Vitomir Mitric has said that this year when the 25th anniversary of the work in culture and contribution to culture and arts in Istocno Sarajevo is being marked, numerous events will be organized. Interview by Ognjen BEGOVIC





BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA



SARAJEVO  The BiH House of Representatives is expected to debate a bill amending and supplementing the law on protection of whistleblowers in BiH institutions on Wednesday, January 31, and to resume the 55th session which was cut short on January 17.





FEDERATION OF BiH



SARAJEVO  The Divine Liturgy was celebrated today in the St. Sava Church in the Sarajevo neighborhood of Ilidza in the presence of numerous faithful and guests on the occasion of the Churchs Patron St.s Day /Slava/, St. Sava.





SERBIA



BELGRADE  The Serbian Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development, Mladen Sarcevic, today wished all students and teachers a happy St. Sava Day, schools Patron St.s Day, saying that they should spread St. Savas mission.



PRISTINA  St. Sava Day is being celebrated today in all Serbian schools in Kossovo and Metohija, and Divine Liturgies were celebrated in monasteries and churches on the occasion of this great holiday.



BELGRADE  Serbia will never accept that reducing and denying the crime of genocide against the Serbian people in the Independent State of Croatia and pardoning war criminal Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac should be conditions for reconciliation with Croatia, said the president of the Alliance of Serbs from the Region, Miodrag Linta. /end/sg
BRIDGEPORT  Beardsley Zoo has been recognized as a winner of the 2018 WeddingWire Couples Choice Awards as a Connecticut wedding venue.

WeddingWire, Inc., the leading global online marketplace for the wedding and events industry, annually recognizes the top five percent of wedding professionals that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. The top local wedding professionals in more than 20 service categories from venues to florists are awarded the accolade.
The Archangels Greek Orthodox Church in Stamford celebrated the completion of part one of their renovations with a service and ceremony on Sunday morning, Jan. 28, 2018. The Bedford Street church hosted a rededication ceremony outside before proceeding inside for mass hosted by Father Harry Pappas. The service included Father Pappas blessing each area of the church with holy water, marking its official completion. The church marks part one of a three-year plan which includes renovation the fellowship hall, classrooms and administrative offices. That construction will begin later this year.
Coming up with an idea is one of the most difficult parts of entrepreneurship, whether you're trying to build a company from scratch or solve a complex problem that doesn't have an easy solution. Unfortunately, ideas aren't something you can force: The science of inspiration is a complex one, one not easily defined; but there's clear evidence that idle time is better than intense focus when you're trying to generate new ideas.

Related: The Last Laugh: Why Good Ideas Are Often Ridiculed at First

In your own professional context, you may not have the time to sit around and wait for an idea to come, so it's helpful to look to successful entrepreneurs and professionals to see how they came up with their best ideas.

How'd you ever think of that?

Consider these examples of successful entrepreneurs' and other professionals' idea-generation techniques the next time you're stuck or in need of inspiration:

1. Come up with a bad idea first.

Jerry Cao, a UX content strategist at UXPin, recommends intentionally coming up with bad ideas if you can't seem to come up with a good one. According Cao, quoted in an article on Lifehacker, "You're exercising your design muscles a lot more than just staring at a blank screen: Designing badly is better than not designing at all.

"On a deeper level," Cao continued, "designing a purposefully bad mockup forces you to think critically on the same topics, but from a different perspective. If you can figure out the worst place to stick a call-to-action, for example, that will shed some light on the best place. This kind of productive distraction allows you to think about solutions without actually thinking about them." Cao has done work for Fastco Design, The Next Web, Awwwards and Wired and Smashing magazines.

Related: 3 Tips for How to Succeed When Your First Idea Isn't So Great

2. Look for inspiration everywhere.

Luke Markey, CEO of Creative Metal, says that keeping your eyes open is important for hatching a good idea. "We make custom projects for all kinds of clients and applications, so it pays to be flexible," Markey wrote on his company's blog CreativeMetalmd. "If you take the time to look around, you can find inspiration everywhere, whether it's in a plant, an animal, a landscape, a piece of furniture or even in a conversation with your neighbor.

"If you ever get stuck," Markey continued, "sometimes taking a walk or talking to someone can job your mind enough to come up with something brilliant." The key here is to open your mind enough to get inspired by anything, rather than trying to force an idea through sheer focus, he said. Markey is currently running the family business, which has been designing creative metal signs and other metalworking projects for more than 40 years. Along the way, he's even done work on the Statue of Liberty.

3. Think like a kid.

Bill Watterson, best known for creating the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip series, was tasked with coming up with new ideas for a daily comic strip for years while the series ran. From a commencement address he gave at Kenyon College, published on Genius.com,Watterson said, "I've found that the only way I can keep writing every day, year after year, is to let my mind wander into new territories.

"To do that, I've had to cultivate a kind of mental playfulness," he continued, going on to describe imagining the world through the eyes of a young child. That way, he said, he could rediscover childhood curiosity, see things from new perspectives and break his traditional thought and behavioral routines. In addition to Calvin and Hobbes, Watterson worked as a political cartoonist and was a designer for an ad agency for many years.

4. Just start.

Sometimes, the best thing to do is to just get started on your project, even if you don't know what you're doing. Writing for Entrepreneur.com, James Clear described the process author Markus Zusak used to write his best-selling The Book Thief. For instance, Zusak rewrote the first part of the book between 150 and 200 times, experimenting with different tenses, different narrators and different potential chapters.

"In three years," Zusak himself said, "I must have failed over a thousand times, but each failure brought me closer to what I needed to write, and for that, I'm grateful." Even if you don't have a standout idea to start with, you might get one by the end of the process. Zusak has gone on to write still more successful works, including I Am the Messenger (U.S. title), and also won the Margaret A. Edwards Award in 2014 for his contributions to young adult literature.

5. Learn from your own needs.

As TechCrunch reported, the idea for Snapchat was born out of its co-founders' realization of a common need. In fact, the story's a bit contentious, since co-founders Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy were later sued by contributor Reggie Brown, who then disappeared from the public eye.

But the basic premise at least was sound: Brown expressed a desire for the pictures he'd sent to an acquaintance to disappear. Soon after hearing about that, Spiegel and Murphy agreed that the need for such a feature existed, and built a prototype for the app that would later become Snapchat. Between 2014 and the end of 2017, Snapchat grew from 46 million daily active users to more than 178 million, according to data collected by Statista.

Related: Want to Ensure Your Startup Idea Is a Success? Find Solutions for This Overlooked $20-Trillion Market.

Finding your own creative process.

Everyone comes up with ideas differently, so take inspiration from these brainstorming processes of some highly successful individuals, and don't be afraid to come up with your own approach. Your style of thinking and experimenting will necessarily differ, and if you embrace that style, you just might discover a terrific strategy and an even more terrific idea.

Related:

How'd You Think of That? 5 Break-out Professionals Share Tips for Conceiving Great Ideas.

Leaders of Alibaba, Google, IBM and Others Share What You Need to Do to Thrive in Today's World

What is the Difference between Proof of Concept and Prototype ?



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved



This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com


Heartless is the best way to describe the Connecticut Supreme Courts 4-3 decision in the states long-running school funding case, CCJEF v. Rell.

The courts majority acknowledged that at the 2016 trial, the plaintiffs proved that Connecticuts poorest districts suffered severe deprivations in educational resources, especially those resources designed to help our neediest children. The court conceded that these districts lack reading interventionists, bilingual services, guidance counselors, social workers, psychologists, preschool and more.

The court even admitted that the lack of such support services makes it extremely difficult for many students in the states neediest school districts to take advantage of the states educational offerings.

Yet Connecticuts highest court ruled that these shocking deprivations do not amount to a constitutional violation. Rather, it ruled that the only things the state must provide under our constitution are: the bare minimum of teachers, facilities, curricula and instrumentalities of learning  such as books, computers and desks.

Our Supreme Court admitted that these four resources are inadequate to enable many of Connecticuts children, our neediest, to access educational opportunities. Thus, in deciding that only these meager resources need be provided, the court essentially ruled that the state bears no constitutional responsibility to these children  only to those who do not need such support.

This decision represents a monumental step backward. Courts across the United States routinely recognize that since out-of-school factors can hinder some childrens ability to access educational opportunities, it is the states responsibility to provide support that mitigates those factors to guarantee the same educational opportunities to these children that others enjoy.

Almost 30 years, ago, the New Jersey Supreme Court understood that a states duty to guarantee a constitutionally adequate education addresses not only reading, writing, and arithmetic but also the environment that shapes these students' lives and determines their educational needs. Similarly, courts in Massachusetts, Wyoming, Kansas, Washington, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee and elsewhere mandate that, as part of the states obligation to ensure adequate educational opportunities to all children, it must provide additional services to at-risk children, such as those living in poverty, English Language Learners and students with disabilities.

Social workers, guidance counselors, psychologists, tutoring, bilingual education, special education programs and other supports have long been common features of every school system. To pretend that these supports are not essential components of education is to deny reality.

The courts decision was not unanimous. Justice Richard Palmer wrote a strongly worded dissent, which is notable not only for its content. It is also striking because it was Justice Palmers opinion in CCJEF the last time it was before the Supreme Court, in 2010, that established the standard for determining what kind of education Connecticut owes its children.

In issuing its decision last week, the majority claimed it was merely applying Justice Palmers 2010 standard. However, Justice Palmer pointedly disagreed.

Residents of our poorest communities, even those hungry to learn, may have to overcome a host of obstacles before they are able to attend to fractions and Fitzgerald, Justice Palmer wrote. He concluded that the state cannot shirk its responsibility to attend to those obstacles.

Justice Palmer maintained that his 2010 decision mandated that the state not only provide teachers, facilities, curricula and instrumentalities, but that it also take into consideration the particular needs of a local school district, including the needs of children living in poverty, children learning English and children with disabilities.

Justice Palmer noted that the majority acknowledged that had the state provided only college level textbooks to elementary school students  well above a level they could comprehend  that would have been a violation of these childrens constitutional rights. He queried why the constitution is not also offended if, for example, a school fails to provide instruction or instructional materials that are comprehensible to a substantial subpopulation of students whose primary language is not English?

Connecticut has almost 200,000 students who are economically disadvantaged, more than 36,000 English Language Learners and over 77,000 students with disabilities. Many need additional support to access their opportunity to an education.

As Justice Palmer declared that (i)t is not enough to seek success in some places, for some children ... the educational system must be reasonably designed to achieve results in every district and neighborhood. Our state constitution simply will not allow us to leave our neediest children behind.

The courts majority was willing to leave hundreds of thousands of Connecticuts children behind. Will we allow Connecticuts political leaders to do the same?

Wendy Lecker is a columnist for the Hearst Connecticut Media Group and is senior attorney at the Education Law Center.
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

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Horton Hospital

Stratford District Council will not appeal a High Court ruling concerning Banburys Horton Hospital, conceding that they believe there is little chance of success.

In December Stratford District Council and a number of neighbouring councils brought a legal challenge into the way the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group had conducted a public consultation into proposed service changes at the Horton.

Their objection centred on the OCCGs decision to split the consultation into the changes into two, but the challenge proved unsuccessful with Justice Mostyn concluding the argument was strong on rhetoric but lacking hard data.

For more on this story download this week's Herald here.
One Upstate New York hair salon just learned the hard way that it isn't illegal to walk out on a haircut without paying in this state.

Now, Leo Wolters Tejera is adding his voice to a growing number of salon and barbershop owners calling for a change to the New York State's penal code.

For Wolters Tejera, who owns WT Hair on North Union Street in Olean, it all started on January 4, when a new client who had just received $130 of services said she didn't bring enough cash with her, according to the Olean Times Herald.

Wolters Tejera didn't want to make her uncomfortable, so he let her leave without paying on her promise that she was headed to the bank and would be right back.

That was the last time he saw her, and five days later, after numerous attempts to get payment from her, he contacted the police. Unfortunately for Wolters Tejera, they didn't have any better news for him.

Police told him New York State law doesn't include salon customers as those who can be charged with theft of services. The same law that makes it a crime to dine and dash, or stiff taxi drivers, hotels, telephone companies or utilities does not protect barbershops.

Police called the customer for Wolters Tejera, and urged her to pay, but then told Wolters Tejera that the situation was now a civil matter.

"Why is this any different from a restaurant?" Wolters Tejera asked during an interview with the Times Herald. "You're consuming something that we have to pay for. At a restaurant, you're eating the food, so if you eat the food you can't return the food and then leave."

Olean Police Captain Mike Marsfelder told the paper he couldn't do anything to bend penal code. He said the case couldn't even be prosecuted as petit larceny because it involved a service, not property.

It wasn't the first time Wolters Tejera ran into this problem, and after the latest incident, he's had to start having clients sign waivers, which he doesn't like doing.

"We didn't get into this because we wanted to nickle and dime anybody -- we got into this because we like people, we like hair, we like our community and we wanted to be a part of the growth of our community," he told the Times Herald.

Wolters Tejera is pursuing the matter in civil court, but there's hope for salon owners like him. A bill in the early stages of working its way through the New York State Senate could add barbershops and similar businesses to the list of those protected by theft of services law.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Marisol Alcantara, D-Upper Manhattan, would make theft of services from a salon or barbershop a violation for a first time offense. Theft of services is often a class A misdemeanor, but can range from a violation to a class E felony, depending on the nature of the offense.

The bill notes that salons and barbershops have come under "significant financial stress" from customers leaving without paying, and Alcantara says she is working to bring the bill out of committee to a vote on the floor.

State Sen. Catharine Young, R-Olean, said she would support the bill as well.

"Small businesses are the economic backbone of our communities," she said in an email to the Times Herald. "When people steal services from salons and barbershops, the impact to the bottom line is just as detrimental as when products are stolen from retailers' store shelves."
The family of fallen Buffalo police officer Craig Lehner has begun the process of taking legal action against the city and the police department.

Sources told WIVB-TV that the family filed a claim of wrongful death against the city. It is not a lawsuit yet, but it is the first step toward eventually suing the city, the station reported.

#BREAKING: The family of fallen @BPDAlerts Officer Craig Lehner this week filed a notice of claim for wrongful death against the city and police department. @news4buffalo pic.twitter.com/rELfdqxjWu  Dave Greber (@DaveGreber4) January 26, 2018

Lehner died in the Niagara River in October during a dive training exercise after his tether snagged on something below the hazardous waters. After a massive five-day search operation involving agencies from across the state and Canada, his body was found near Strawberry Island.

The Public Employee Health and Safety bureau investigation into his death is ongoing, though the cause of death was determined to be drowning. The Buffalo Police Department's internal investigation is expected to be released to the public in several weeks.
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 ...
The probable halting of NASA budget for the International Space Station represents a major shift in the United States space policy and funding.

To be able to follow its own direction toward a lunar space exploration and a future mission to Mars, the government is looking to free up $4 billion funding from the ISS, but how will this crucial move impact the ISS and space exploration?

Space Station Experiments

The habitable satellite is out there to perform important experiments for the sake of mankind and space science. ISS was designed as a research laboratory, observatory, and manufacturing hub in low-orbit Earth.

International astronauts have used the space station for experiments with potential applications on Earth. Some studies conducted on low-Earth orbit, for instance, aim to help improve human health and produce better medicines.

"In space, you can grow larger and larger cancer tumors spherical in shape, so you have a better model of what's happening in the human body," said Luis Zea, from Bioserve Space Technologies. "The chances of having false negatives or false positives is decreased."

Experiments at the orbiting lab can also pave way for better technology and better crop production. If the United States withdraws from the orbiting laboratory, it may place a number of these research in jeopardy.

Effect On Space Exploration Plans

The ISS also happens to be the best site for scientists to learn how humans may survive prolonged space travel. Results from ISS experiments will help determine the strategy of future long-duration missions beyond low Earth orbit to make manned Mars mission a reality. Cutting the funding may impact the feasibility of these space missions.

Loss For Commercial Space Industry

When NASA built the orbital outpost more than two decades ago, it did not envision it to become a real commercial hub. Nevertheless, the space station has launched and boosted an entire space enterprise for cargo and crew delivery services into low-orbit Earth.

Privates space transport and aerospace companies such as SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, among others, were founded to provide payload mission demands of the ISS. Losing the ISS could be a major loss to these players of the commercial space industry.

Domino Effect

NASA spent over a decade and nearly $100 billion to develop the space station with international partners from Canada, Japan, Russia, and the eleven member states of the European Space Agency.

A budget cut could send a signal to ISS-participating countries that the United States is no longer interested in pursuing the program.

In the aftermath, this could push NASA's longtime partner space agencies to direct their own space programs elsewhere even before the space station's projected termination in 2028.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The melting glaciers of Norway have released over 2,000 artifacts buried in its ice for thousands of years. Because the items had been buried in ice for millennia, they are remarkably well-preserved and provide insight into past human activity.

Glacial Archaeology

The ice in high mountains is already melting as a result of climate change. For a decade now, researchers from Secrets of the Ice project have been collecting the artifacts being revealed as a result of the ice melt. Amazingly, because these items have been encased in ice for millennia, the items they have been finding are exceptionally well-preserved even if some of them date back to 4,000 BC.

Some of their incredible finds include 180 arrows from the Iron Age, clothes from the Bronze Age, wooden skis, skulls of a pack of horses, and Viking swords. According to researchers, one can practically find anything in the glacial mountain passes.

In fact, they have even found well-preserved artifacts made of organic material such as cloth or leather. Had the said items been exposed to the sun and the elements, they would not be as well-preserved or perhaps even be preserved at all.

Artifact Pattern

So far, out of the 2,000 artifacts, 150 have been dated. Researchers state that dating the artifacts also reveals the pattern of human activity in the mountains and perhaps even the climate. For instance, with the earliest artifacts dated to 4,000 BC., they believe that this was a result of then glaciation in the region after the warming during the Holocene, a time when there was probably little ice to preserve any artifacts.

Further, the distribution of the artifacts is not equal or consistent. The most striking pattern they noticed was that of the artifact peak of the Late Antique Little Ice Age about 536 to 660 AD. Although this was a cooling period when populations likely decreased, the peak in artifact finds suggests that the people at the time relied largely on hunting reindeer for sustenance because of the bleak agricultural situation.

Conversely, researchers noticed a sharp decline in artifacts after another peak during the eighth, ninth, and tenth century even before the plague began. A possible explanation for the decrease may be the replacement of bow-and-arrow hunting with mass harvesting techniques.

In summation, researchers find so far that there could be four factors that could explain the artifact pattern: the reindeer population, the climate history, human activity, and preservation issues.

The study is published in Royal Society Open Science.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Dust storms in Mars play a significant role in facilitating the escape of gas from its atmosphere, a new study finds.

Mars, A Dry Planet

It is known now that in ancient past, water flowed on the Red Planets surface. It is backed by evidence from canyons, riverbeds, and water-soaked minerals like hematite. Scientists, however, do not know why the planet dried up.

One of the most accepted theories is that solar wind stripped the majority of the atmosphere on Mars, following its magnetic field loss around 4 billion years ago. The air on Mars became so fine that it could not support running surface water anymore. Now, the research team suggests they have understood how the planet might have lost its atmosphere.

Link Between Atmospheric Loss And Dust Storms

To conduct the study, a team of researchers reanalyzed the observations of a dust storm that NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter had made. MRO had seen water vapor rise in the middle of the atmosphere, around 30 to 60 miles high when regional dust storms took place.

The data showed that the vapor shifted to a higher height and rose in volume by over a hundred times.

"We found there's an increase in water vapor in the middle atmosphere in connection with dust storms," said Nicholas Heavens, study lead author and a geophysicist at Virginias Hampton University. "Water vapor is carried up with the same air mass rising with the dust."

Other observations made by the European Space Agencys Mars Express orbiter and NASAs Hubble Space Telescope suggest that there is a relation between the middle-atmosphere water volume on Mars and atmospheric hydrogen escaping into space, at least during the time when global dust storms do not take place. The team still does not know what the link is during the years when global dust storms take place because they do not happen too often.

Study coauthor David Kass feels that having a global dust storm on Mars would be good because scientists will then be able to understand the phenomenon better. However, a global dust storm on the Red Planet could have an adverse impact on the missions that are currently going on there. For instance, the Opportunity mission, which is powered by solar energy, would have to be sheltered to save power.

The upcoming Insight mission would be affected, too, as its entry course has to be altered to ensure safe landing and descent on the planet in November this year. The global dust storm would also lower the visibility for all the cameras on the orbiters and rovers that operate on and around Mars.

The study was published online in the journal Nature Astronomy on Jan. 22.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Aerobic exercise can potentially improve the cognitive health of older adults. Findings of a new study found that this type of physical activity can delay and improve symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, which mostly affects members of the older population.

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease is a neurological condition that gradually destroys an individual's memory and thinking skills. It currently affects about 5.3 million Americans and is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Also, the number of individuals who will develop the condition is expected to rise to more than thrice the current number by 2050.

No cure is currently available for Alzheimer's disease but there are lifestyle practices that may help delay or alleviate the symptoms of the condition.

Physical Exercise

Health experts suggest physical exercise to improve the brain health of older people who are at greater risk of Alzheimer's. The World Health Organization even recommends 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, 75 minutes of aerobic training, or a combination of these exercises.

Now, a new study offers hints of the type of exercise that is most beneficial for the brain health of older adults.

Gregory Panza from the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Connecticut and his colleagues looked at 19 earlier studies that examined the effects of an exercise training program on the cognitive functions of more than 1,100 older adults who were either diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or were at risk of the condition.

The researchers found that those who engaged in aerobics alone had three times the level of cognitive improvements of those who participated in combined strength training exercise and aerobic training. Those who did not exercise at all experienced declines in cognitive action while those who exercised had small improvements in cognitive function regardless of the type of exercise they engaged in.

Best Exercise For Brain Health

The findings of the study showed that aerobic exercise is more effective than other types of exercise in helping preserve older adults' ability to think and make decisions.

"Our meta-analysis is the first to suggest that aerobic exercise may be more effective than other types of exercise in preserving the cognitive health of older adults at risk of or who have AD," researchers wrote in their study, which was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

"The current findings can serve as a framework for design of future studies examining the effects of exercise interventions on cognitive function in this population."

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Humanity Star is a three-foot-wide highly reflective orb that Rocket Lab, the New Zealand-based spaceflight company that launched it earlier this month, has said would become the brightest thing in the sky.

Giant Disco Ball

The carbon-fiber orb is designed to reflect light from the sun back to Earth. It is expected to orbit Earth once every 90 minutes until October when its orbit will decay and the satellite burns up in the atmosphere.

Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck said the object was designed as a bright symbol that can remind humanity of its fragile place in the universe.

"Everyone will be able to see the bright, blinking Humanity Star orbiting Earth in the night sky," Beck said. "My hope is that everyone looking up at the Humanity Star will look past it to the expanse of the universe, feel a connection to our place in it and think a little differently about their lives, actions, and what is important.

Bad For Science

Not everyone shared Beck's sentiments though. The launch of what others have called a giant disco ball in space has received backlash from scientists.

Scientists said that light pollution is already a concern for those who study stars and the situation is exacerbated by the introduction of the fake star.

New York University astrophysicist Benjamin Pope explained that as the Humanity Star zooms through the sky, it will pass through the fields of view of observatories, which can possibly ruin patches of their data.

The scientist said that he has limited information about the orbit of the object but he fears that it may pass above large observatories, such as those in Chile or Hawaii, which are very sensitive to bright objects.

Emily Petroff from Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy said that satellites that orbit Earth are already a plague. Artificial objects such as Rocket Lab's orb can limit areas of the sky that scientists can study.

"Transmissions from these satellites ruin an increasingly large fraction of our observations every year and make some areas of the sky perpetually inaccessible to our telescopes," Petroff said.

The object will not be a permanent feature of the sky but some scientists raised concern that it could serve as precedence.

"This one instance won't be a big deal but the idea of it becoming commonplace, especially at larger scales, would bring astronomers out into the street," said Richard Easther from the University of Auckland.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
After over a decade of having no contact with ground control, NASA's lost satellite was discovered by an amateur astronomer.

The discovery of Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration or IMAGE opens the possibility of continuing its already successful mission.

IMAGE Phones Home

On Dec. 18, 2005, NASA's ground control did not receive telemetry signals from IMAGE during a routine pass and the satellite did not respond to any commands since then. At the time, there was a number of possibilities that could have caused the failure but it was ultimately attributed to an "instant trip" of the controller that supplies power to the satellite's transponder.

Over a decade after its last signals were detected on Earth, IMAGE seems to be phoning home. It has just been discovered, still broadcasting, by an amateur astronomer who was not even looking for it in the first place.

In a blog post, Scott Tilley describes that while searching High Earth Orbit for signs of the mysterious Zuma satellite, he detected signals from satellite 2000-017A instead, the IMAGE satellite thought to have been long dead.

More data gathering confirmed that the signals were from IMAGE indeed. However, when his original blog post did not get the attention of anyone who could possibly do something with the discovery, he contacted the principal investor of IMAGE, Dr. James L. Burch, last Jan. 24.

Two days later, he got a confirmation from Richard J. Burley, former ground system manager and mission director of IMAGE. Burley said that the engineers at Goddard Spaceflight Center have detected a signal consistent with IMAGE.

Project scientists at NASA are holding their breath as they attempt to make contact with IMAGE using deep radio antennas.

IMAGE's Successful Mission

Even before it lost contact with ground control, IMAGE was already a successful mission. It was launched in March of the year 2000 with a mission dedicated to imaging the Earth's magnetosphere.

After it completed its two-year mission, IMAGE continued to provide NASA with valuable data and discoveries which have appeared in over 400 peer-reviewed publications and over 20 Ph.D. theses. Before it lost contact with ground control, IMAGE had already been orbiting the Earth for almost six years.

Through the years, it was said that there is a chance for IMAGE to essentially reset itself when it enters an eclipse, which could trigger its systems to restart. Evidently, such instances occurred last year and five years ago, possibly providing IMAGE with the chance to make contact with ground control again.

As it stands, NASA already has a mission that is currently flying in part to follow up on IMAGE's discoveries and naturally, IMAGE's full functionality and state remain to be seen. Still, it is an exciting notion to have a long lost satellite back to work after over a decade of having been "lost in space."

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Murphy Paul didnt grow up with dreams of becoming a police officer.

When he was in elementary school, his goal was to become a doctor. By high school, he turned to the idea of truck driving, a profession that his uncles and father pursued, only he wanted to own the truck too.

On a break from the University of New Orleans, Paul actually moved to Florida to try out a gig with a relative's trucking business. But he got too homesick and returned to New Orleans. Faced with an ultimatum from his mother to get a job or get out of the house, he soon walked into a civil service office and took the police exam.

Twenty-six years later, all of them spent on the job with a law enforcement agency, Paul found himself back in a civil service office in August. This time he was in Baton Rouge on the last day to apply to become the Baton Rouge Police Department chief, a position that he later beat out 11 people to get.

Ive always had plans and things that I wanted to do post-retirement from state police, said Paul, formerly a lieutenant colonel over investigations at the Louisiana State Police. Baton Rouge chief wasnt one of them.

Paul, who now lives in Gonzales with three of his four sons, had been at a leadership training weekend in Orlando, Florida, with leadership guru John Maxwell when other participants encouraged him to think about himself at the helm of the Baton Rouge police agency, where the top job had come open. Paul said it was the words of his fellow trainees, saying they believed he had what it takes to lead a police department, that pushed him to take the leap.

"I think for me it was a calling," Paul said. "I got off the plane, ... came down and grabbed my application from the office and turned it in ... right before they closed."

New Orleans childhood

Paul, 48, grew up in the Lower Ninth Ward, or, as he explains, "where the levees broke." He was raised along with two sisters by a single mother, Patricia Price, who stressed the importance of education, even organizing rides for Paul's younger sister to get to a school in Metairie after she won a scholarship there. Paul's sister, who is about five years younger than him, studied the same subjects at Metairie Park Country Day as Paul was studying at Alfred Lawless Senior High.

"That was the difference from going to private school to public school," Paul said. "That was my first realization of the difference from a private education and an Orleans Parish education."

Paul today credits his mother  who died in 2002  with instilling confidence in him, particularly about his identity as a black man. "She would reinforce that black was beautiful and dont let nobody tell you anything different," Paul said. "I think all of that helped me become who I am."

Kirk Robinson has known Paul since kindergarten when they lived around a corner from one another. They've remained close, like family. Robinson held his childhood friends police chief cap after Pauls swearing-in ceremony and remembered him as a young boy who loved gumbo and always did his homework.

When it was time for a school dance, Robinson recalled that Paul was always the one to persuade Robinsons mother to let them go, and take the car too.

He looks at the future," said Robinson, who drove in from out of state for the ceremony. "He dissects stuff real quick, but also hes a people person and he can bring the people together.

Paul joined the Orleans Levee District Police in 1991. After a few years, he was accepted to join the Louisiana State Police with Troop L in 1994.

(I) decided that if I was going to do this law enforcement thing, I might as well go with the best, which I believed at that time was the state police, Paul said.

While a trooper, Paul also returned to classes at UNO, Southern University at New Orleans, Southeastern and Loyola University at New Orleans, where he ultimately graduated with a bachelors degree in criminal justice in 2005.

Paul avoided the public eye as he rose through the ranks until he was put on the shortlist for the state police superintendent job after Mike Edmonson retired while under investigation by the state Legislative Auditor's office. Though he was well known in law enforcement circles, Paul said the public anonymity allowed him to be in the background and learn, particularly in his last leadership post as deputy superintendent over investigations.

"I was like a sponge ... over the last three years, learning from mistakes that Ive made and learning from mistakes that others have made," Paul said. "Louisiana State Police is a great organization and there are some great leaders there and guys that I have the utmost respect for."

Major Doug Cain, a state police spokesman, remembered working with Paul in the early days of the state Fusion Center, which gathers and shares intelligence between agencies, after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Paul was a trooper at the time collecting information while Cain was tasked with analyzing it.

"He was a tremendous help to me on the analytical side, giving me perspective from the boots-on-the-ground troopers who are collectors in the field," Cain said.

Former Louisiana State Police Superintendent Henry Whitehorn saw a strong work ethic in Paul as he mentored him from trooper to sergeant and on to a captain with the narcotics section of the bureau of investigation. Whitehorn, now the U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Louisiana, predicted Paul would be a boots-on-the-ground leader.

You recognize people with talent that you want to try to help, and Murphy was one of those people that I recognized early on that was going to be something in life, Whitehorn said.

Officer interaction

At the very end of his public interview in December, before a committee that Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome asked to review the candidates, Paul shifted away from his initial carefully-thought-out answers to questions, in which he spoke about police practices in largely technical responses. One committee member asked him to share an experience that had impacted him as an officer and Paul got personal in his reply, his voice rising as he questioned why he was "treated unfairly" by a fellow officer.

As a young trooper, Paul said he was stopped without probable cause or reasonable suspicion. He grew afraid as the officer tried to put handcuffs on him during the uncomfortable role-reversal. His sister and cousin stood crying nearby.

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Even once they learned that I was a law enforcement officer, it was Well, you didnt tell me? Well, first of all, you didnt give me a chance to tell you, but why do I have to be a law enforcement officer to get respect? I thought, If Im a trooper, wow, I wonder how they treat some of the guys who are not troopers out there, Paul said.

+5 Louisiana State Police veteran named as Baton Rouge's new police chief Louisiana State Police veteran Murphy Paul will take the helm of the Baton Rouge Police Department as the new chief, selected by Mayor-Preside

In an interview with reporters, Paul declined to give further details on the incident or say what department the officer was from. But he said the encounter changed the way he interacted with the public, always telling people why he is detaining them and communicating his intentions.

I will do it in a very respectful and professional way because people might not remember everything you say, but they will always remember how you made them feel, Paul said.

Growing up in New Orleans, where the local police department has repeatedly fallen under federal scrutiny, Paul acknowledges he wasnt very fond of law enforcement. But he declined to elaborate on his encounters any further, instead focusing on what he described as his first positive experience with an officer when he was in his early teens shopping at the K&B drugstore in Chalmette.

I kind of bumped into a state trooper going in there and he called me sir. Ill never forget that. He was like, Excuse me, sir. And Im like, sir? It was just different, Paul said.

Now as chief, Paul will be tasked with leading the department forward from the difficult summer of 2016, starting with the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling by a Baton Rouge Police Department officer and the protests that followed. Less than two weeks later, two Baton Rouge police officers were killed in an ambush attack that took the lives of three law enforcement officers. Not long after, many officers lost their homes in the August floods.

Paul will also oversee the discipline decision for the two officers involved in the Sterling incident, who remain on paid leave while Attorney General Jeff Landry's office reviews the case. Once that is completed, the BRPD will need to complete an internal affairs investigation of whether the officers followed policy in their confrontation with Sterling.

Perhaps the toughest job will be repairing what many in the black community say has been a sometimes rocky relationship with the BRPD over the years, brought to light by the Sterling shooting and protests. This was a key priority named by Broome when she talked about finding a new chief.

Paul has said that mending these relationships will be one of the department's biggest challenges, promising that he will build relationships with existing community leaders and organizations.

Becoming chief

Since Paul has taken over as chief, other law enforcement leaders say he has been running nonstop, meeting with officers, civilians and other officials to hear their ideas and concerns. A move to Baton Rouge is also on the table. Although Broome has not asked Paul to relocate, he said it's the right thing to do and he plans to move with his sons after they finish the school year.

+13 Baton Rouge police chief announces crime-fighting tools, new appointments during swearing-in speech Before the sun rose Monday morning, 34 Baton Rouge Police recruits stood at attention, lining the hallway of the Training Academy, awaiting th

Former interim chief and current provisional Deputy Chief Jonny Dunnam said Paul, whom he called a very democratic leader, has made an effort to learn everyones names as he has made his way around the large department, even asking for pictures of the administrative staff to aid him.

After a recent meeting at the city emergency preparedness office about the freezing temperatures and interstate closures that paralyzed the city, Paul spontaneously decided to pay a visit to the communications staff stationed in the basement, Dunnam said.

They were all like Wow, this is the first time that a chief has ever come down to talk to us, Dunnam said. They kind of felt like a forgotten entity.

East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III said Paul has already surrounded himself with strong leaders from inside the agency who can lend him their varied expertise as he faces challenges to come, especially the pending Sterling decision and manpower shortages. Paul announced Dunnam, police chief finalist Robert McGarner and former BRAVE team leader Herbert "Tweety" Anny as his temporary deputy chiefs during his second week in office.

In addition to picking leaders, Moore said Paul, who is his fifth chief in his 10 years as district attorney, will have to win over the officers on the ground as well. Hes going to have to convince the men and women through his leadership and personality that hes going to be here for a while ... and theyre going to be the ones that are going to do the work, Moore said.

Paul's predecessor, former Chief Carl Dabadie Jr., ended his career in a tense standoff with Broome, who had wanted to replace him after taking office but was constrained by civil service rules. Dabadie retired last July.

Walter "Geno" McLaughlin, a community activist, said he has been impressed with the new chief, both in his candid stories about his run-ins with police earlier in his life, but also in keeping the good leadership already in the department nearby.

McLaughlin said its positive to already see Paul on the ground, but he's still worried about the civil service protections that make it hard to get rid of what he called "bad cops," and also he wonders how much rank-and-file culture change Paul can make from the top.

"He's a good guy," McLaughlin said. "But how much can he change, is the real question."

Though Dunnam initially thought Paul coming from the outside would be more of a challenge, he now believes an outsider might be in an easier position to make changes.

So far, Dunnam said he has been impressed with Pauls stamina.

Somebody even made the comment, its like drinking water through a fire hose, Dunnam said. But hes been able to manage to keep up.

Advocate staff writers Grace Toohey and Lea Skene contributed to this report.
Governments throughout Louisiana  led by the state Department of Health and the cities of Baton Rouge and Covington  are joining a national stampede to file civil lawsuits alleging that drug companies have saddled taxpayers with huge medical and law enforcement costs by recklessly creating opioid addicts.

Thirteen sheriffs, mostly from rural parishes, have also filed suits against opioid manufacturers and distributors.

Besides the sheriffs, representatives of practically every governmental entity in Louisiana  mayors, parish presidents, police juries, district attorneys, state agencies and the like  are deciding whether to go to court.

Plaintiffs attorneys, meanwhile, are racing across the state to sign them up as clients with the potential of huge fees, usually at a 25 percent contingency rate, in the offing.

In addition to the seriousness of the issue, everybody is looking to get any dollars they can get, said Pete Adams, executive director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, which in the next month will receive presentations from trial lawyers on whether its members ought to sue.

In short, billions of dollars are at stake for everyone involved in a gold rush that analysts liken to the 1990s lawsuits against Big Tobacco. Those historic suits resulted in colossal payouts to state governments across the country and helped lead to a dramatic reduction in smoking rates. They also made a number of lawyers extremely wealthy.

The action in Louisiana includes a Mississippi attorney who played a key role in initiating those lawsuits in 1994. His name is Mike Moore, and he was the attorney general of Mississippi at the time. These days, Moore is a trial lawyer. He said he'll be working for an hourly rate of about $400 per hour but said the potential of a bonanza is not what moves him.

Im involved to try to find a solution to the opioid epidemic, Moore said. More than 42,000 people lost their lives in 2016 from opioid overdoses, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in December, the most ever and 1,000 more than died from breast cancer.

Louisiana has ranked among the top 10 states for opioid prescriptions on a per capita basis in recent years, according to the states lawsuit, and has spent $677 million since 2007 for treatment of opioid use and dependence.

Any money the Department of Health collects in the opioid lawsuit would go to the state Medicaid program, said Matthew Block, the governor's executive counsel.

Louisiana is one of 14 states that have filed suits so far, Moore said, adding that he expects the number to reach 30 by years end.

Attorney General Jeff Landry has hired Moore to represent Louisiana in its lawsuit. But Moore remains on the sidelines for now because Gov. John Bel Edwards wants to control the potentially lucrative case. He has instead hired a politically active New Orleans law firm, Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert, to represent the Department of Health.

The governor and the attorney general tried to resolve their dispute through private talks but failed, and they are now battling it out in court. In the meantime, Landry has sidelined the Sher Garner law firm by refusing to authorize its contract. The Attorney Generals Office did not respond to requests for information.

Political irony

The latest legal standoff has created a delicious irony: Landry, a sharply partisan Republican, wants to hire Moore, a Democrat, while Edwards, a Democrat, wants to hire attorney James Garner, a Republican who during the 2015 governors race served as the sharp-elbowed attorney for then-U.S. Sen. David Vitter, Edwards Republican opponent.

It should be noted that Garner quickly made up with Edwards after the election by raising $15,000 for his transition team and tens of thousands more for a major fundraising dinner in September 2016 organized for Edwards re-election campaign by lobbyist Dan Robin Sr. The Garner firm also hired Robin, who is perhaps Edwards biggest fundraiser, to represents its clients interests in Baton Rouge.

Garner declined to discuss the opioid lawsuit, instead referring questions to Block.

The governors not making any decisions based on whose side anybody is on, Block said in an interview. Hes making decisions based on who can get the best decisions for the state. Sher Garner is an experienced litigation firm that can get a great result for the Department of Health.

Earlier this month, Garner won a state court ruling for his clients in a major case over who was at fault for the Bayou Corne sinkhole in Assumption Parish.

Garner struck out with Plaquemines Parish, however, when the Parish Council there last fall declined to authorize an opioid lawsuit sought by Parish President Amos Cormier III that Garner was to handle.

We felt like it was a rush to judgment, said Kirk Lepine, a council member.

One political figure who did not strike out was state Rep. Ted James, D-Baton Rouge. He will serve as co-counsel in the lawsuit filed on Tuesday by East Baton Rouge Parish.

I thought it was important that we have both diversity and a good lawyer who could help us with the local agencies getting the documents. Thats Teds role, said Burton LeBlanc, the lead attorney, who heads the Baton Rouge office of Dallas-based Baron & Budd. LeBlanc, a former president of the Louisiana Association for Justice, the trial lawyers trade group, said he has gotten to know James through that entity.

James, who is an African-American ally of Mayor Sharon Weston Broome, did not return a phone call.

Among other big government entities, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu is trying to decide among three law firms that have been short-listed after the city in October requested proposals, said Craig Belden, a mayoral spokesman.

St. Tammany Parish is also weighing its options. Our legal department is doing our due diligence on how we will proceed and whether we will file suit, Pat Brister, the parish president, said in a statement.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto said he has had a few inquiries from law firms but has not decided either way yet.

Big payday possible

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Trial lawyers dont like to admit it, but a big payday could mean millions of dollars for individual attorneys.

Ive been inundated by lawyer friends who wanted to get involved, said one government lawyer who was not authorized to speak publicly about the topic.

State law does not allow either Edwards or Landry to hire attorneys on a contingency basis without specific approval from the Legislature. Garner would work for $225 per hour for the Department of Health, or about half the standard rate for attorneys at big New Orleans commercial law firms. The Legislature could authorize a bigger payday.

The dispute over which lawyers to hire mirrors another long-running argument between the two rivals: Edwards wants to hire a team of lawyers for a lawsuit against energy companies alleging their role in the loss of coastal wetlands  an effort Landry has blocked by refusing to authorize their contracts.

In the opioid lawsuits, attorneys representing other governmental entities  such as parishes and cities  can work on a contingency fee, which, trial lawyers note, means they can incur huge costs that they have to absorb if they dont win money in court or through a settlement.

Theres a risk-reward situation, said Joel Friedman, a Tulane law school professor.

Melissa Landry heads the Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch and is typically quick to criticize trial lawyers, who she believes benefit from what she sees as overly friendly state laws that prove costly to the businesses they sue.

But with the opioid lawsuits, Landry was more measured in her words, though she isnt exactly a fan of the suits.

If it is regulations that have enabled these drugs to exist in the market and perhaps have unintentionally allowed this situation to develop, it is at least fair to question whether we should look first at the regulations, she said. It is certainly fair to acknowledge that there is a significant financial incentive for the personal-injury lawyers involved in these lawsuits.

National phenomenon

Whats happening with the opioid lawsuits in Louisiana appears to mimic whats happening nationally.

Case after case throughout the country  313 and counting  is being consolidated under whats called a multi-district litigation, to be handled by a federal judge in Cleveland. Its similar to what has occurred in other huge cases involving mass torts against companies accused of causing harm.

While many compare the opioid lawsuits to the cases against Big Tobacco, others say the more apt comparison is with the profusion of lawsuits against BP following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill off the coast of Louisiana. That case prompted lawsuits by local government entities, labor unions and healthcare networks, along with state governments.

Walter Leger Jr., whose son Walt represents New Orleans in the state House, was among the trial attorneys who sued both Big Tobacco and BP, and he has a piece of the opioid lawsuits as well, teaming with the Laborde Earles law firm in Lafayette. Leger, David Laborde and Derrick Earles made a pitch to sheriffs at a meeting of the Louisiana Sheriffs Association in September in Monroe.

It went well. So far, sheriffs from 13 parishes have signed up with Laborde Earles. They are from Allen, Avoyelles, Calcasieu, East Carroll, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Ouachita, Rapides, Sabine, Vernon, Washington and West Carroll parishes.

Laborde expects also to represent Indian tribes in Louisiana, which he noted are sovereign entities.

The litigation is in infancy, but a lot is happening, Laborde said. Theres a huge burden on public entities. There is a cost of medical care for both employees of public entities and pre-trial detainees who are detained because of opioid abuse. Theres a high insurance cost for the public employees to cover opioid abuse and medication, which we believe should have never occurred. Theres a huge cost on law enforcement dealing with the opioid epidemic. Theres an unfunded rehab liability that society has to bear that we believe was solely caused by the defendants weve sued.

Distributors of the pain reliever medicine say they are not to blame.

As distributors, we understand the tragic impact the opioid epidemic has on communities across the country, John Parker, senior vice president of the Healthcare Distribution Alliance, said in a statement. We are deeply engaged in the issue and are taking our own steps to be part of the solution  but we arent willing to be scapegoats.

Distributors are logistics companies that arrange for the safe and secure storage, transport and delivery of medicines from manufacturers to pharmacies, hospitals, long-term care facilities and others based on prescriptions from licensed physicians. We dont make medicines, market medicines, prescribe medicines or dispense them to consumers.

Leger said he hopes for a quick resolution to the opioid cases.

You could smoke for 15 to 30 years before getting a tobacco-related disease and die, he said. With this, some people are dying instantly. Theyll rehab, relapse and suffer from an overdose. Its an epidemic affecting every level of society.

Covington Mayor Mike Cooper said he decided to move quickly after two law firms pitched him during the holidays. He recommended the firm of Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson. The City Council authorized the hire, with local partner William Lozes to represent the town.

We want to try to recover costs from our medical and law enforcement response, said Cooper, who added that Lozes would receive a 20 percent contingency fee.

Lea Anne Batson, the city-parish attorney for Baton Rouge, recommended Baron & Budd because, as she wrote in an email to council members, They are one of the largest national firms with the resources to handle what is certain to be expensive and protracted litigation.

In his filing, LeBlanc said 92.1 opioid prescriptions were dispensed in 2016 in East Baton Rouge Parish for every 100 people, compared with the national average of 66.5 prescriptions per 100 people. The 2015 rate was even higher at 96.1 prescriptions per 100 people.

Wed love to see an income stream dedicated to addiction, LeBlanc said in an interview. We cant arrest our way out of this problem.
After hours of being in 49-degree water, emergency responders on Sunday were able to recover the bodies of the hunters who went missing.
The Democratic governors proposal last week to cut state spending by $1 billion  including the near elimination of TOPS  was met with outrage from many on the Republican side.

The GOP theme basically was that from behind a constitutional curtain that requires a Louisiana governor to submit a balanced-budget proposal, Gov. John Bel Edwards honest but ugly effort aims to guilt legislators into raising taxes, rather than cutting spending, to cover the projected revenue shortfall when the fifth cent of state sales taxes expires on June 30.

I thought it was an embarrassment, Stephen Waguespack, head of the Louisiana Association of Business & Industry, the powerful Baton Rouge-based lobby, told KEEL-AM in Shreveport.

Edwards has been tapping foot for a counterproposal. I cant negotiate with myself, he said.

Critics blast Gov. John Bel Edwards' budget proposal as 'embarrassment,' missed opportunity Critics are pushing back on Gov. John Bel Edwards' executive budget proposal, saying that he should have offered more ideas for realistic cuts.

Beyond the rhetoric, politics is about the art of the possible.

Even Waguespack had suggestions for handling the budget, such as allocating $175 million, rather than $233 million, for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students. This would ensure TOPS, the ever-growing grants that help students pay for public colleges and universities, wouldn't be used as trade bait for the rest of the budget, he claimed.

Various factions in the Louisiana Legislature are trying to cobble out a solution in line with House Speaker Taylor Barras oft-repeated position that some combination of cuts and revenue enhancements are necessary.

House Republican leaders are expected to release their counterproposals this week.

A final deal will have a little of this and little of that because the Louisiana House needs buy-in from both parties to reach the 70 votes needed to pass most tax-related measures. Republicans hold 61 of the Houses 105 seats and they are far from unified. That means bringing along many of the 41 Democrats. Three members have no party affiliation.

And they all have different needs.

The Legislative Black Caucus hasnt officially polled its 24 House members but New Orleans Democratic Rep. Joseph Bouie, who heads the group, says his informal conversations suggest that a majority flat opposes any effort to extend the fifth penny past June 30.

Both Democrats and Republicans recently took internal polls of their House members. The Democratic one is making its way around the State Capitol. Republican leaders are holding onto their results. (Majority Leader Rep. Lance Harris, of Alexandria, says the GOP poll was not so much a tally but trying to get a read on what people are thinking.)

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Political Horizons: Louisiana House leaders gearing up with survey so they can 'put up' Monday is "high noon" at the State Capitol when the Democratic governor releases his deep cuts budget and the House Republicans are supposed t

Still, more than 70 percent of Democrats, according to the poll and leadership, along with a good many Republicans, according to the perceptions of a dozen interviewed GOP House members, indicate agreement is possible for many of the governors proposals, such as making permanent the temporary reductions to credits, deductions and rebates on taxes paid to other states, corporate income tax exclusions, and the value of a few economic development incentives.

Also, there seems to be support for increasing and making permanent the sales taxes paid by businesses and industries for the gas and electricity they use.

But together that only amounts to estimated $140 million against the $1 billion hole in expected revenues.

A possibility, though not as strong, is reducing the amount of excess federal itemized deductions  the amount that exceeds the standard deduction that everyone can take  used mostly by the more well-to-do Louisiana taxpayers. Reducing that deduction from everything to about half its current level would raise another $165 million, according to fiscal estimates attached to past legislative efforts to accomplish the same goal.

Legislators also seem to agree on opposing the big-ticket ideas.

Compressing individual income tax brackets would raise close to $300 million, but it is off the table. And few legislators are on board with charging sales taxes on currently untaxed services, such as insurance and cable television, which removes another $200 million.

A fight could be brewing around which of the more than 180 sales tax exemptions would be eliminated. Cutting all would raise about $215 million total. But thats not likely to happen, said House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Gene Reynolds, of Dubberly.

Executive Budget to JLCB 012218 Executive Budget to Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, Jan. 22, 2018

Majority Leader Harris says that any revenue replacement discussion has to include fiscal reforms. That could be greater transparency for state spending, such as posting on the internet all the checks written to pay for services. Or provisions that would require Medicaid patients to pay doctors and clinics a small amount for each visit, similar to copays required of most on private insurance; and requiring able-bodied Medicaid recipients to have a job or be enrolled in workforce training. Harris said he also would like to see a hard spending cap to prevent government expenses from growing every year.

Most of the conversations have been with lawmakers willing to pick and choose from the options of tax increases and spending cuts, Reynolds said.

Im an old science teacher. In science you work on the catalyst that can make the experiment go, Reynolds said. Well know more when we see their (GOP House leaderships) proposal.

Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate.com.
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.

Jacob, right, with his brother Thomas Clifton.

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.
A staffer for Senator Eric Abetz who has pledged to stand up for Australia Day is set to take the reins of the federal Young Liberals movement.

Josh Manuatu, of Canberra, was elected president at the group's annual general meeting in Brisbane on Sunday, alongside new vice president Mitchell Collier from Queensland.

New president of the federal Young Liberals Josh Manuatu is a former small business owner.

The 27-year-old has worked as a staffer in federal politics since 2008, and was formerly president of the ACT Young Liberals branch. He is the first Canberra president of the Young Liberals in 25 years, and the second in its 51-year-history.

Having grown up in Goulburn in a single-parent family, he said it was hearing former prime minister John Howard speak about opportunity for everyone, regardless of their circumstances, that first drew him to the Liberal party.
Swain says the school staff are trained at calming upset children, who rarely remain upset beyond a couple of minutes after parents have left.

"Give your child a cheery farewell," he says. "Don't stay too long at drop-off, because if children feel their parents are staying, this can result in anxiety."

New Lambton Heights Infants School principal Christopher Swain says parents should wear sunglasses if they think they might become teary.

As parents around the country prepare their littlies for the first day of kindergarten, one principal says there is a mistake they must avoid at all costs. Don't let them see you cry.

"On the day, be confident and assured with your child," Swain says. "Allow them to dress themselves as much as possible. Make sure you remember to take photos."

It's not too late for last-minute preparedness training, according to the experts. In the days leading up to that first morning bell, make the most of play dates to practise useful skills, such as drinking from a bubbler, wearing a hat outdoors, applying sunscreen, opening a packed lunch and playing safely on playground equipment.

Establish regular bedtime and morning routines, and you'll be glad you did when the school year is under way. The night before the big day, take time to lay out your child's uniform, pack their school bag, and involve them in preparing lunch and snacks.

Swain acknowledges the first day is a big event for the whole family. It's an important milestone at the beginning of a school career that will span many years, and emotions might be mixed. Many schools provide additional support for kindergarten [or prep] students for the first couple of days, in the form of teachers' aides, additional teachers and older student buddies.

Often the children will be gently encouraged to engage with hands-on activities, including construction blocks, puzzles, picture books to look at and paper to draw and write on. Swain says parents shouldn't worry if their child does not yet know how to read, write and count. "If your child can do these things, that is wonderful, however, it is not essential and the highly trained teachers will teach your child these skills," he says.
British Prime Minister Theresa May has declared war on plastic waste. In a recent speech, Mrs May said she hoped to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste in Britain within 25 years. Her proposals include plastics-free aisles in supermarkets, where food would be sold loose, and a charge for plastic take-away food containers.

Britain already has a five-pence charge on plastic bags sold at supermarkets; the Prime Minister said she wants to extend this charge to small shops, too.

Last year the Victorian government announced it would implement a similar ban on light-weight plastic bags after consulting "closely with businesses and the community on how best to implement the policy". The reason for the consultation? Because, the government said at the time, such bans often lead to an increase in the use of heavier plastic bags.

The delay is a bit of a mystery: most other states and territories have already banned these bags  South Australia in 2009, and Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT soon after.
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.
When she was just 31, Lavinia Codd had a stroke.

But instead of letting it hold her back, Ms Codd used it as motivation to complete a science degree and become a stroke researcher.

Dr Lavinia Codd, researcher at the Queensland Brain Institute at the University of Queensland.

Seventeen years later, she is using her position at the Queensland Brain Institute at the University of Queensland to advocate for more research to help young stroke survivors.

In 2001, Dr Codd had a stroke while attending a function organised by her husband's work. One minute, she was listening to a speech with flashing lights as part of the presentation, the next minute she couldn't read the left side of the menu and was in intense pain.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced she will take a plan to tackle cyberbullying to the Council of Australian Governments next month.

The Premier is set to meet on Monday with a range of stakeholders, including child welfare experts and legal advisors, to help draft the proposal.

Queensland Premier Anna Palaszczuk will push for a new strategy on stamping out cyberbullying. Credit:AAP

Ms Palaszczuk said parents and children are feeling "defeated" by the issue, and she wants to be able to take their stories "from the kitchen table to a plan for action around the COAG table."

"I firmly believe that we are just skimming the ocean of a big issue, where bullying and harassment is now following young children into the family home," Ms Palaszczuk told reporters on Sunday.
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?
A teenage girl has been sexually assaulted while waiting for a bus in Melbourne's south-east.

Transit crime detectives are investigating after the 16-year-old was approached by a man in a Hawaiian-style shirt at a bus stop on Frankston-Dandenong Road in Carrum Downs on November 22.

Investigators were told the unknown man struck up a conversation with the girl about 3pm before sexually assaulting her while she sat at the bus stop.

Police would like to speak to the owner of this vehicle over a sexual assault in Carrum Downs.

He then became verbally aggressive toward her before getting in his car and driving away.
The State Government has announced three new primary schools in Perth's "rapidly growing" suburbs, to the tune of $55 million.

Construction will begin on three new primary schools in Baldivis, Banksia Grove and Caversham later this year, and are set to open to kindergarten students in 2020.

The new facilities are designed to ease pressure on existing primary schools. Credit:Louise Kennerley

Education Minister Sue Ellery said it was important for Perth's outer suburbs to have access to quality facilities.

"This Government is committed to building outstanding facilities across the State to ensure our education system keeps up with the population in some of our fastest growing suburbs and eases pressure on existing schools," she said.
London: Benjamin Netanyahu accused Poland of trying to rewrite history on Sunday, as the country pushed legislation that would make it illegal to describe Nazi death camps as Polish. In a cabinet meeting, the Israeli prime minister said Israel had "no tolerance for the distortion of the truth, the rewriting of history and the denial of the Holocaust".

Netanyahu and Polish Prime Minister Matusz Moravitsky spoke by phone on Sunday agreeing to open a dialogue to avoid further diplomatic fallout following Poland's initial approval of the law making it a criminal offence to mention Polish complicity in crimes committed during the Holocaust.

The Bill marks a dramatic step by Poland's nationalist government to enforce its official stance that Poles were heroes during the war. But historians say many Poles collaborated with the Nazis and committed heinous crimes.

Israel has also summoned its Polish envoy to show its displeasure with the proposals, which could see those who blame Poles for Nazi war crimes fined or even jailed for up to three years.
Biotech investing is risky and highly speculative, but there are strategies to increase the odds in your favour. Gauging the market size for the treatment, drug, or device, as well as determining the stage of development are critical issues. When one considers the basic problem with biotechs, two additional strategies come to mind. All biotechs are in a race against the cash clock to generate revenue. Development costs are astronomical and many of these companies are led by scientists with little interest in controlling the spigot.

The first strategy is to look for an operating officer or board member with experience bringing start-up companies to market. The second is to look for biotechs on the verge of generating earnings.

Many investors ignore these issues in favour of the glamour of the technology. Consider stem cell therapies as an example. Once a market darling, regenerative medicine with stem cell company Mesoblast Limited (MSB) continues to disappoint investors.



>> BACK TO THE NEWSLETTER: Click here to read other articles from this weeks newsletter
The two years to end December 2017 saw the MSCI Emerging Markets index (the most widely used benchmark for emerging market shares) massively outperform the MSCI World Index (the benchmark for developed market shares). Emerging markets recorded an annualised return of 19.2% p.a. for the period, compared with 10.8% p.a. for developed markets.

This stellar performance has escaped the attention of many, perhaps because the previous five years saw very lacklustre relative returns for emerging markets. They returned only 2.0% p.a. compared with developed market returns of 15.4% p.a. for the period from December 2010 to December 2015.

Soon after the worst of the Global Financial Crisis, many subsequently disappointed investors jumped onto the story that the future belonged to emerging markets  remember the BRIC excitement (i.e. Brazil, Russia, India and China)  with prospects for developed economies generally assessed as bleak.

But, as often is the case, the most attractive growth stories dont translate into the highest future share market returns.

Share market prices very efficiently reflect consensus views of what the future holds. The outperformance of emerging markets versus developed markets for the period from the December 1998 inception date of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index to December 2010 of 9.7% pa. compared with -1.9% p.a. suggest the growth story had already been heavily factored into share prices!

The obvious question is whether now is a good time to again look hard at investing in emerging markets. Our usual response to such a question in the past has been that, as an asset class, emerging markets offer a higher risk / higher expected return than developed market shares and potential diversification benefits, provided they dont comprise any more than about 10% of a well-structured portfolio.

However, a recent paper by Ben Johnson of Morningstar, titled The Evolution of Emerging Markets, reveals the characteristics of emerging markets are changing rapidly. The rest of this article examines whether these changes warrant a change in our thinking on the place of emerging markets in clients portfolios.

Emerging markets are changing

Johnson notes that as at end September 2017, emerging markets shares made up 11.6% of the global stock market, compared with less than 1% thirty years ago. So, they are no longer an oddity but a significant and most likely growing component of global share markets.

The chart below, copied from Johnsons article, shows how country weightings of total emerging market capitalisation have changed since 2003.

The growth of China and the fall of Brazil, since the peak of the commodity boom in about 2010, is apparent. The change in sectoral composition charted below reveals the rise in energy and materials shares to around 2008 with other sectors, particularly information technology, now becoming increasingly more important.

The table below compares the annual return and volatility (a proxy for investment risk) data for emerging markets, international and Australian shares, for the period 31 December 1998 to 31 December 2017. It also provides this information for a 50%/50% weighted Australian and international share portfolio and a 50%/40%/10% weighted Australian, international and emerging markets portfolio:

The data reinforce the high return/high risk view of emerging markets. The diversification benefit of adding 10% emerging market exposure to an equally weighted Australian and international share portfolio is also revealed, with a significant return uplift resulting with only a small rise in volatility. It appears that our longstanding view on emerging markets as an asset class is supported.

However, when the data period is broken down into two periods  the period from 31 December 1998 to 31 December 2010 and the period from 31 December 2010 to 31 December 2017  a more ambiguous picture emerges, as shown in the tables below:

31 December 1998  31 December 2010

31 December 2010  31 December 2017

While the first period provides strong support for adding emerging markets to a share portfolio, taken at face value the past seven years suggests that the asset class is no longer a high return/high risk proposition, having little impact on the portfolios risk and, at least for the period examined, worsening portfolio return.

Despite the changes in emerging markets, our portfolio advice will not change  for now

The experience of the more recent data period is far too short to form any reliable conclusions. But with the increasing maturity of emerging markets and sectoral weightings that increasingly reflect global weightings (as opposed to a previous overweighting to materials and energy), it would not be surprising if the return/risk characteristics of the asset class are changing and will continue to change.

Ultimately, there may not be any additional diversification (i.e. volatility reduction) benefit from holding emerging markets exposure over and above that from holding just Australian and international shares. However, given both the likely growing share of global share markets and the expectation of higher returns reflecting higher risk, we continue to remain comfortable with more risk tolerant clients directing up to 10% of their portfolios to emerging markets.

Originally published by Wealth Foundations
The inaugural North American Community Foundations Summit will take place on February 5 -6, 2018 in Mexico City, Mexico. This summit will

explore why and how the Sustainable Development Goals relate to the work of community foundations across North America.

This two day conference brings together community foundation leaders from the US, Mexico, and Canada to discuss shared challenges and opportunities for building more resilient and sustainable communities across North America. Discussions center around innovative approaches to challenges like poverty, inequality, immigration, economic development, climate change and more.



Attendees will hear inspiring speakers and learn from community foundation peers about innovative approaches to shared challenges like poverty, inequality, immigration, economic development, climate change and more.

Leaving No One Behind

Across the US, Canada, and Mexico, community foundations face shared challenges and opportunities as they work to improve the quality of life for all. The first-ever North American Community Foundations Summit will explore how community foundations can work locally to leave no one behind and discuss shared issues like education, health, economic development, integrating diaspora communities, immigration, and the evolving roles that community foundations play in communities across North America.

Sustainable Development Goals

The Summit will be framed within the concept of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2015, 193 countries from around the world adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all, including in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Over two days, we will explore how community foundations, working at the local level, have global impact towards these 17 goals.

This Summit is a collaboration between three countries and will explore innovative approaches to building stronger, more inclusive, and more resilient local communities. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn and share with community foundation leaders and senior staff from across North America and take worthwhile lessons back to their communities, challenging us all to think globally while acting locally.

The 2018 North American Community Foundations Summit looks to focus our energy locally to then connect to one another globally in order to support the SDGs. The Councils President and CEO, Vikki Spruill, shares in this blog post why the Summit is an opportunity for us to think big together and seize the potential and promise that SDGs hold to improve the quality of life for all.

Click here to register.
Connecticut Comptroller Kevin Lembo has an idea already on whom he thinks should be the first person enrolled in a Connecticut retirement plan designed to sign up private-sector workers automatically  the person running that plan. That individual should be hired within the next few months.

As many as 600,000 more could follow, by state estimates, as Connecticut ramps up a new Retirement Security Authority where workers could consider setting aside money into Roth individual retirement accounts that help them compound their annual savings  if the state sets aside enough funds to get CRSA up and running.

This past week, Connecticut issued a job notice for a CRSA executive director, who would create and oversee a retirement savings plan for workers that lack access to pension or 401(k) plans through their private-sector employers. The state is also seeking to award contracts for an outside administrator to handle day-to-day CRSA management and transactions, with the system to be supported by fees charged program participants, not unlike the model for 401(k) plans.

Under board chair Scott Jackson, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Labor, CRSAs board has been holding monthly meetings throughout the state that are open to the public, with the next one scheduled for Feb. 16 at the Hamden American Job Center at 37 Marne St. in Hamden. No meetings are scheduled to occur in southwestern Connecticut, but CRSA posted call-in numbers on meeting agendas online at www.ctdol.state.ct.us.

Speaking at a Jan. 19 CRSA board meeting in Wethersfield, Lembo laid out the states resources to pay for the executive director and asserted the individual should eat what we cook by participating in the CRSA plan. At the same meeting, Jackson acknowledged the authority must still raise additional funding to support the early design and administration of the plan after hiring that individual, with some directors questioning whether early funding authorized by the General Assembly is sufficient to create the plan.

Its a legitimate question, Jackson told CRSA directors. The first effort would likely be to explain to the Legislature what has transpired, and provide the information, and indicate that the setup was not a setup to succeed.

One in four on empty

As of 2017, the New England states had the highest percentage of private-sector employers offering retirement plans to their workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, at 63 percent versus the U.S. average of 48 percent. According to an October report to Congress by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, one in four Americans between age 65 and 74 have no retirement savings on which to draw, forcing them to rely on Social Security and income they may be able to generate through work or other means.

More Business Retired teachers complain of retirement fund changes at...

CSRAs board has yet to set a target launch date for retirement plans offered by CRSA, but anticipates helping workers amass $1 billion in capital within 10 years, with the funds invested for future payouts. Workers would be automatically enrolled unless they opt out, a mechanism policymakers hope will result in more workers putting money aside for their retirement.

CRSA would enroll participants at a default 3 percent contribution rate, which workers could adjust upward or downward at any point. For the median Connecticut household making $73,400 a year at age 40, that could equate to a retirement investment of $2,200 annually that could result in $175,000 in savings by retirement at age 67, according to an online calculator by Bankrate.

On behalf of plan participants, the CRSA plan would invest in a passive equity fund, a money market fund and target date funds that transfer money into more conservative investments the closer individuals get to retirement age. The plan would be able to move with workers as they change jobs, including if they move out of state.

Self-sustaining at 3 percent?

The 3 percent contribution rate Connecticut is eyeing is more conservative than a similar plan in Oregon, which is already in a pilot of a similar plan in advance of a wider rollout this year.

OregonSaves enrolls workers at a 5 percent initial savings rate, which escalates 1 percent annually after that to a 10 percent cap. After five years at Oregons median household income, families would be putting aside $5,700 for retirement, which in a Roth IRA plan would produce savings in excess of $400,000 for earners starting at age 40.

At last weeks board meeting, one director questioned the 3 percent rate set under the enabling legislation for the Connecticut plan.

Our feasibility board recommended that the minimum amount of contribution be 6 percent, said John Sayour, a Stratford-based financial adviser with Eagle Strategies. The bill passed it at 3 percent. The difference in having a plan be self-sustaining was about three to four years more, based on the number of companies and people that we expected to have.

CRSA represents a start, however, and as workers get statements showing their nest eggs growing, the hope is many would adjust those percentage contributions upward and explore other ways to save for retirement  and that any small-business owners who do not offer their employees retirement plans will be prompted to look into doing so.

I know (there are) 600,000 people in Connecticut who will now begin to, hopefully by the end of the year, have the ability to save for retirement at work, said John Erlingheuser, AARPs state advocacy director in Connecticut.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
NORWALK  Shopping malls may no longer be a staple of teenage social life, but for a group of students from the Center for Global Studies, it was one of the highlights of a recent trip to Japan.

Its one of the things you can take away from Japanese society, said Danny Robillard, a senior studying Japanese at CGS. It was really interesting how theyre modernizing their malls, and I know in Norwalk theyre putting in that new big mall, which I think has been dubbed the last mall in America because malls are essentially dead now.

Japan is doing things like building malls that are more modern and are going to be used more and have more functionality, he said. Simple things like that we can take back not just to America but here in Norwalk, is definitely going to stay with me.

Robillard and 20 of his fellow students traveled to Japan for a week in December on a trip funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. The trip was part of the Kakehashi Project, established in 2014 to promote deeper mutual understanding among Japanese and American teenagers, enable future leaders of U.S. and Japanese exchanges to form networks, and help young people develop wider perspectives to encourage future active roles at the global level.

The trip marked the first time students from Norwalk participated in the project, which is invitation only and involves new U.S. schools every year, said CGS lead Japanese teacher Keiko Sigmund, who chaperoned and helped coordinate the trip.

The students will host Japanese teenagers in February as the second part of the invitational exchange.

It was a great opportunity for the students, Sigmund said.

The students landed in Tokyo Dec. 17, and traveled to Okinawa, where they participated in a home stay and visited a school, as well as memorials from the Battle of Okinawa and other sites. The students also heard from the minister of foreign affairs and participated in Okinawan traditions.

My favorite part was going to school because we learned a lot about Japanese high school in class, said CGS junior Olive Fengel. So it was interesting to actually experience it and we went to classes with our host sisters and brothers, and I got to try calligraphy, which was cool.

The students said the trip and their experience in CGS has provided a better perspective on world cultures, and has helped them understand how the rest of the world views the U.S.

Junior Alesandra Reinoso said she hopes through her experience in CGS she will help dispel the stereotype that Americans are ignorant and uninterested in other cultures.

People know so little outside their own country, its staggering, Reinoso said. I want to change that because I know the stereotype that Americans are ignorant about other countries and cultures, it actually will make more people understand that theres a world outside the U.S. ... Im more sensitive to Japanese topics because I experienced a bit of it, and I also learned to have more perspective on Japanese topics like the state of Japan in relation to the U.S.

Robillard said that is one of the many benefits of the Center for Global Studies.

The great thing about CGS, and one of the unique opportunities that every student who comes here has, is that you learn so much more about different cultures, Robillard added. And the idea of international mindedness and globalization is integrated into everything you learn, and I think the pinnacle of that is the fact that we have the opportunity to go on trips like these. Whether it be to Japan, or for the other languages, China or Qatar, all of these trips, especially this one, they help you understand more about learning and really why the world is the way it is. And when you get to interact with people, especially people your own age, and go to school with people, you really gain a perspective that I think is extremely unique, and not a lot of high school-aged kids get to do that in their lifetime.
NORWALK  Proposed changes to the districts School Governance Council policy have hit a road block.

In a letter to Board of Education Chairman Mike Barbis, dated Jan. 16, 2018, state Department of Education Commissioner Dianna Wentzell addressed the revisions, which would prohibit elected officials from serving on School Governance Councils, state mandated or otherwise, stating she believes the changes would be illegal.

It has come to the attention of the CT State Department of Education that the Norwalk Board of Education is planning to amend your membership policy pertaining to School Governance Councils to bar state and locally elected officials from being able to serve, Wentzell wrote. The Department does not support this change in policy for either statutorily required School Governance Councils or those that are non-statutory. Furthermore, while it does not appear that you are trying to do so, we are of the belief that you legally cannot bar elected officials from serving on statutorily required councils.

Barbis said the intent of the proposed changes, which are still under review by the school boards Policy Committee, is to expand opportunities for parents to get involved in Norwalk education.

We want the widest array of voices on our SGCs, Barbis said in an email. We also value the input of elected officials. However, elected officials already have a voice in public affairs, including the operation of the schools. Expansion of opportunities for parents will benefit the councils by expanding participation by people whose only interest in serving on the council is in their role as parent. We are surprised that the Commissioner would take the time to write on a matter of local interest in Norwalk. We believe that the proposal will appropriately serve the interests of parents and of the Norwalk school community.

Barbis said the school board does not believe there is a legal impediment to the proposed changes, but said he has asked Wentzell for clarification. He added that the changes would not affect elected officials already serving on school governance councils.

I am surprised that you expressed the view that such limitations, however well intentioned, may not be legally permissible, Barbis wrote in a letter to Wentzell. We did vet this proposal as we have had it under discussion, and we are not aware of any legal impediments. We would, therefore appreciate your elaborating on the basis for your statement that the Board legally cannot bar elected officials from serving on statutorily required councils.

In her letter, Wentzell argued participation by elected officials improves the conversations and role of School Governance Councils.

School Governance Councils provide a remarkable opportunity for Connecticut schools to engage with families and community members in an essential dialogue about student achievement and preparing all students for success, and those conversations can only be enhanced by participation from our elected public servants who are already so heavily invested in the success of their communities, Wentzell said.

More News Norwalk's School Governance Councils look to make lasting impact

A handful of School Governance Councils are mandated by the state, but Norwalk opted in 2016 to roll out the policy to every school in the district in an effort to provide some level of autonomy to all schools. The policy was implemented with the understanding that changes could and likely would be made as district officials received feedback on what did and didnt work for schools. The first cohort of state mandated SGCs were implemented in 2011.

During the SGC meeting last year with our SGC chairs we did hear some concerns as well as positive feedback on what has been working well, said Heidi Keyes, policy committee chair. As a policy committee and board we wanted to hear their concerns and give it some time to see if we needed to possibly tweak or make any revisions. Our SGC gives each individual school a voice and we as a district embrace that.

kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt
The increase in the human population has resulted in the extinction of many animal and plant species as their habitats are slowly destroyed.

The following is a list of currently endangered species as reported by kompas.com:

Spixs macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii)

The species has gained quite a following since the release of animated film Rio in 2010. But since 2000, the population of the grey-plumaged birds has been decreasing in the Brazilian ecosystem although the Brazilian government is hoping to reverse this trend.

Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus)

As the name suggests, this species only exists in Java and they mostly reside in Ujung Kulon National Park in Banten. Once the most widespread Asian rhinoceros, the Javan rhinoceros ranged from the islands of Java to Sumatra, and then to Bangladesh and China.

Read also: Photographer captures human face of endangered species

Vaquita (Phocoena sinus)

This species lives in the northern part of the Gulf of California and is considered endangered, according to the Mexican Environmental and Natural Resources (Semernat) agency. Semernat explains that this species is rare because it is used as bait for Totoaba fish, the largest fish in the Gulf of California.

New Caledonian owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles savesi)

This species has a long, slightly rounded tail, short and rounded wings, and stout legs and its population is estimated to be only around 50 birds.

Read also: Newly discovered orangutan species is most endangered great ape: study

Devils Hole pupfish (Cyprinondon diabollis)

The smallest fish in the world is a native to Devils Hole, Nevada. The population is limited to one location only 22 meters deep and 3.5 meters wide.

Lord Howe Island stick insect (Dryococelus Australis)

The rarest insect in the world was thought to be extinct in 2001, but then found again near the sea in Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne Zoo is the current location where this critically endangered insect is being reproduced.

Bostami turtle (Nilssonia nigricans)

This black soft-shell turtle originally inhabited the lower part of the Brahmaputra River, specifically in the pond of the Bayazid Bastami shrine at Chittagong, Bangladesh. A second species lives in a shrine near Assam.

Barbary lion (Panthera leo leo)

The lion, which was once the pet of Moroccan sultans in North Africa, was declared extinct in the 1960s, but speculation persists as to whether the lion is completely extinct or not. (rzf/kes)
A rising tide of suspicion amplified by social networks has eroded public trust in modern medicine, leaving scientists and health officials scrambling for ways to shore up its credibility, experts say.

Especially in rich nations, faith has waned in vaccines that have saved millions from the ravages of polio, tetanus, small pox, influenza and many other once rampant and deadly diseases.

"The level of confidence is not what it was twenty years ago," French immunologist Alain Fischer told AFP. "It is crumbling."

The scale of scepticism is startling.

A survey conducted by the British Academy of Medical Sciences last year found that only 37 percent of Britons trusted evidence from medical research. Two-thirds cited friends and family as more reliable.

A quarter of 1,500 parents polled in the United States in 2017 believed that vaccines can cause autism in healthy children, despite a complete lack of credible evidence.

One-in-ten had refused to give their offspring at least one vaccine.

In France, meanwhile, more than 40 percent of adults have expressed doubt about vaccine efficacy or safety.

These opinions have consequences.

Whooping cough, measles and mumps -- communicable diseases that had effectively disappeared -- have all seen a resurgence in the United States in the last decade because the number of parents refusing to innoculate their toddlers rose above the threshold needed to ensure what scientists call "herd immunity."

In France, health authorities were forced to take action: as of this year, any child that has not been vaccinated for 11 specific diseases will not be admitted to kindergarten or school.

Many factors account for this upsurge in mistrust, experts say.

Victim of success

Most damaging, perhaps, are a series of scandals involving inadequately vetted drugs, poor oversight by health officials, and attempted cover-ups.

France was profoundly shaken a blood scandal in which nearly 4,000 people were infected with the HIV virus in the 1980s after receiving contaminated blood transfusions.

In 2010, off-label use of a diabetes drug called Mediator was shown to cause fatal heart problems. And last fall, thousands of severe malformations in newborns were attributed to the epilepsy medication Valproate.

Similar scandals relating to EpiPens for anaphylaxis and cancer drugs, as well as price gouging, and concerns about the over-prescription of opioids has shaken public confidence in doctors and 'Big Pharma'.

Read also: EDITORIAL: Addressing anti-vaccine scare

In a recent survey in Britain, 82 percent of doctors and 67 percent of adults agreed that clinical trials funded by drug companies were often biased to produce a positive outcome.

A medical misstep of another kind was the publication in 1998 by The Lancet, a respected medical journal, of research that drew a causal link between vaccines and autism in children.

When it was later revealed that evidence underlying this claim had been falsified, the study was withdrawn and its author Andrew Wakefield barred from the profession.

But the damage was done.

Vaccines and other medicines are also a victim of their success.

"We no longer see the diseases, just reports about possible side-effects," said Cornelia Betsch, a researcher at the University of Erfurt in Germany who has written extensively about vaccine policy.

"That leads us to over-estimate the risks of vaccination, and under-estimate the risks of the diseases."

At the same time, the underlying logic of vaccines seem counter-intuitive, said Eric Oliver, a political scientist at the University of Chicago.

"Injecting septic substances into my body to prevent disease is not a natural idea," he told AFP.

Confirmation bias

Our brains can also be tricked into seeing causal links between rare events that, by coincidence, happen at the same time.

"Many children are diagnosed with autism at the age of two -- about the same age they get their MMR vaccines," Oliver noted, using the abbreviation for measles, mumps and rubella.

Add the "echo chamber" of the internet and social networks, and a perfect storm of mistrust begins to form.

"Social media have rapidly become the main information source for many users," said Walter Quattrociocchi, a researcher at the Laboratory of Computational Social Science in Lucca, Italy who has studied the spread of fake news and conspiracy theories.

Facebook now counts more than two billion monthly active users.

When it comes to conspiracy theories, the tendency to gravitate towards what one already believes -- known as "confirmation bias" -- plays a crucial role.

"Users happily embrace false information as long as it reinforces their preexisting beliefs," Quattrociocchi said.

The increasingly blurred boundary between verifiable fact and subjective assertion that defines what some call the "post-truth" era doesn't help.

A 2014 tweet from Donald Trump, said Quattrociocchi, is a textbook example.

Now President of the United States, he wrote on Twitter then: "Healthy young child goes to doctor, gets pumped with massive shot of many vaccines, doesn't feel good and changes - AUTISM. Many such cases!"

He later tweeted that childhood vaccinations were acceptable, but not in "1 massive dose."
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, January 28, 2018 22:16 1320 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c2d2905 1 World #Jokowi,Jokowi,#Rohingya,Rohingya,#CoxsBazar,Coxs-Bazar,#Bangladesh,Bangladesh Free

President Joko Jokowi Widodo arrived in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh on Sunday, where he is scheduled to meet Rohingya refugees.

Jokowi and his entourage landed at Cox's Bazar Airport at around 12:40 p.m. after flying from Dhaka where he held a bilateral meeting with Bangladeshi counterpart Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier on Sunday, Presidential Palace media bureau head Bey Machmudin said in a press release.

Jokowi received the latest update of the refugee crisis in Coxs Bazar from the citys deputy commissioner, Ali Hossain, in a short meeting at the airport before he traveled to Jamtoli refugee camp, which is located about 70 kilometers from the airport.

Jokowi is expected to announce additional humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya refugees who have fled violence in Rakhine State in neighboring Myanmar and are now taking shelter in the city on the southeast coast of Bangladesh.

As of Jan. 14, about 655,500 new arrivals have been reported in Coxs Bazar, according to the Inter-Sector Coordination Group that is led by the International Organization for Migration. (dis/ipa)
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Linkedin Ladka Bauerova, Krystof Chamonikolas and Peter Laca (Bloomberg) Prague, Czech Republic  Sun, January 28, 2018 17:45 1320 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c2caf7e 2 World election,Czech,Winner,Putin Free

Czech President Milos Zeman, an ardent supporter of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, won a second term in an election victory after warning voters that sheltering Muslim immigrants could lead to terrorist attacks.

Zeman, 73, who was also an early fan of US President Donald Trump, took 51.4 percent of votes in a two-day ballot that ended Saturday, according results published by the Statistics Office. His challenger for the largely ceremonial post, 68-year-old chemistry professor Jiri Drahos, pledged to anchor the nation of 10.6 million more firmly in the European Union and NATO. He conceded after getting 48.6 percent.

The victory represents a win for anti-establishment political forces who are fighting against the EUs liberal, multi-cultural values, bolstering a group that includes Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Polands ruling Law & Justice Party. It also extends a domestic alliance with billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babis, with whom Zeman shares opposition to further European integration and acceptance of refugees from Africa and the Middle East in a country that has an almost non-existent Muslim minority.

Zeman very clearly established his anti-immigration position and that decided the election, said Jakub Charvat, political scientist at the Metropolitan University in Prague. He appealed to voters with lower incomes and lower education levels who felt they finally had someone in the highest echelons of politics to defend them.

The Czech Republic boasts one of the EUs fastest-growing economies, its lowest unemployment and the highest living standards among the blocs eastern members. But the election showed a division between those reaping the benefits of the post-communist transition toward an economy integrated with richer western neighbors and poorer people who feel the countrys success has passed them by.

Zemans critics say his efforts to strengthen ties with Russia and China have undermined Czech relations with western allies. The veteran politician -- whose three-decade career includes stints as prime minister and speaker of parliament -- rejects the idea, saying hes trying to help Czech exporters. He derides his opponents as part of a Prague coffee-house society detached from the lives of ordinary people.

Zemans win changes the timetable for Babiss efforts to build another cabinet after his minority administration was forced to resign when lawmakers rejected it in a confidence motion this month. Zeman, who calls himself the president of the bottom 10 million Czechs, said after the election that he will give Babis more time to negotiate support before naming him premier for the second time. Babis backed the president in the election.

The complicated political situation hasnt affected Czech assets as investors focus mainly on prospects for more interest-rate hikes after two increases last year. The koruna has strengthened 1 percent versus the euro so far in 2018, extending gains from last year when it was the best performer among the worlds major currencies.

Zeman calls himself a euro-federalist, but hes also suggested that the Czech Republic should hold a Brexit-style referendum to leave the EU. He said hed vote to stay in although people should have a choice.

Surrounded by allies during his acceptance speech, including Tomio Okamura, leader of an extreme anti-Muslim party, Freedom and Direct Democracy, that wants take the Czech Republic out of the EU, the president called for allowing the public more decisions via popular votes.

I promise I will keep working the way I have so far, he told supporters in Prague. I want to fight for something I call active citizenship.
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Linkedin Vivian Nereim (Bloomberg) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Sun, January 28, 2018 16:50 1320 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c2c99de 2 World Saudi-Arabia,arrest,graft,MuhammadBinSalman Free

Saudi Arabia freed Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and several of the kingdoms most prominent businessmen from detention, clearing out the Ritz-Carlton hotel that served as a jail for the countrys elite during a controversial crackdown on corruption.

Prince Alwaleed, the billionaire chairman of Riyadhs Kingdom Holding who owns stakes in Citigroup Inc. and Twitter, 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.

In this file photo, Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal (left) shakes hands with China's Premier Li Keqiang (right) during their meeting at Zhongnanhai in Beijing on May 18, 2016. (Agence France -Presse/Jason Lee/Pool)

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.

Saudi Windfall

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 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 UK and the US, 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 former finance minister and minister of state, Ibrahim al-Assaf, who recently led Saudi Arabias delegation to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Le fabuleux destin du ministre saoudien des finances Ibrahim #Al-Assaf. Detenu au #Ritz, libere et reintegre au gouvernement. Cest lui qui va representer l#ArabieSaoudite a #Davos @wef. pic.twitter.com/H8l8qYARRn  Hasni Abidi (@hasniabidi) January 19, 2018

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 Arabias 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 couldnt confirm or deny if the prince had been found innocent.

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."
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Linkedin (AFP) London  Sun, January 28, 2018 08:34 1320 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c2bc2f0 2 World trump,paris-climate-agreement,climate-change,US Free

President Donald Trump would be willing to sign the US back up to the Paris climate accord, but only if the treaty undergoes major change, he said in comments published Sunday.

Trump was met with global condemnation when he announced in June 2017 that the United States was pulling out of the Paris climate agreement, painting it a "bad deal" for the US economy.

While the president remains firm in his criticism of the historic accord, which was signed by his predecessor Barack Obama, he said he would be willing to sign up to a revamped deal.

"The Paris accord, for us, would have been a disaster," he told Britain's ITV channel in an interviewed to be aired late Sunday.

"If they made a good deal... there's always a chance we'd get back," Trump added, describing the current agreement as "terrible" and "unfair" to the US.

The landmark treaty was agreed by 197 nations in 2015 after intense negotiations in Paris, where all countries made voluntary carbon-cutting pledges running to 2030.

"If somebody said, go back into the Paris accord, it would have to be a completely different deal because we had a horrible deal," Trump said, according to extracts of the interview.

"Would I go back in? Yeah, I'd go back in... I would love to."

Earlier this month Trump said the US could "conceivably" return to the deal under more favourable terms, raising questions about whether he was bluffing about pulling out of the Paris deal in a bid for easier emissions targets.
Home to numerous tourist attractions, from natural wonders to man-made objects, cultural charms to gastronomical delights, Indonesia has plenty to offer tourists.

Due to the dizzying number of destinations to choose from, newcomers as well as frequent visitors may want to consider these eight recommended places to kick off their adventure in the archipelago this year, as compiled by kompas.com:

Komodo Island, East Nusa Tenggara

Picturesque beaches with white sand and turquoise water in Komodo National Park. (Shutterstock/-)

This destination has gained more popularity after being included in a list of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. No wonder renowned public figures such as actress Gwyneth Paltrow and motorcycle road racer Valentino Rossi opted to vacation there. It is expected to welcome an even larger number of tourists this year as many airlines have opened direct flights to its hub city, Labuan Bajo.

Banyuwangi, East Java

A post shared by ALFINSA AULIA RAHMAN (@alfinsarahmansea_24) on Jan 25, 2018 at 11:41pm PST

The easternmost regency of Java island has also become more popular among tourists. It is indeed blessed with many types of tourist attractions, from national parks to surf-friendly beaches and breathtaking waterfalls.

Read also: Interesting places to visit in Banyuwangi

Belitung, Bangka Belitung

A seascape off Belitung Island in Bangka-Belitung Islands province. (shutterstock/File)

Since being featured in local film Laskar Pelangi (Rainbow Troops) in 2008, Belitung has become the icon of Bangka Belitung. Its close proximity to big cities such as Jakarta also makes it a convenient destination for a weekend getaway.

More accommodation options are now available there, as many new hotels opened last year.

Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara

A post shared by Journey Blog (@journeyblog1786) on Jan 25, 2018 at 11:12pm PST

Said to be one of the most popular destinations among local millennials, Sumba is attracting more and more visitors, especially since being used as a filming location.

Interestingly, among foreign tourists, the island is particularly famous among the middle to upper class. No wonder it has the best hotel in the world, Nihi Sumba Island.

Kei Island, Maluku

A post shared by    (@qurniahasan) on Jan 25, 2018 at 4:52am PST

Diving enthusiasts are probably already familiar with this place as it is among the most popular marine destinations in the country thanks to its white sand beaches and crystal clear water.

Traveling to the island is easier now that national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has opened a direct flight from Ambon.

Alor, East Nusa Tenggara

A post shared by Samuel Denah (@momodenah) on Jan 25, 2018 at 5:08pm PST

Also a destination blessed with numerous diving spots, Alor is surrounded by clear waters that will excite all divers and snorkelers.

Lake Toba, North Sumatra

A view of Lake Toba, listed as a Special Economic Zone and a priority destination. (Shutterstock/File)

Said to be one of the most popular destinations in Indonesia among foreign tourists, this lake has long been one of North Sumatra's gems.

The availability of direct flights to Silangit Airport makes it more convenient for visitors to travel there.

Sombori and Labengki Islands, Central Sulawesi

A post shared by Ario's Travel Snapshots (@ario_t) on Jan 25, 2018 at 6:44am PST

Dubbed the Raja Ampat of Central Sulawesi, the place is home to a gorgeous karst island cluster, blue lake, breathtaking underwater and the unique Bajo Tribe.

Many independent tour operators provide open trips for tourists seeking to explore the islands. (rzf/kes)
An accompanying letter from a structural engineer stated that many of the support beams in the building as well as the staircase, from the ground floor to the roof, would need to be replaced. The engineer, Eduard Grinfeld of Construction Management & Safety Consultants, Inc., wrote, I have determined that it is not possible to safely remove and replace the 85 Bowery staircase by Feb. 1 in a manner that meets the NYC Department of Buildings structural stability requirements.

A spokesperson from the Department of Buildings told The Lo-Down today, DOB and our fellow agencies are pushing an aggressive plan for repairs at 85 Bowery. The owner must be held accountable and must meet his responsibility to provide a safe building for his tenants. The agency also noted that the owner has, in fact, already completed structural stability shoring on several floors and hired a firm for the stairway replacement project.

State Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou and State Sen. Brian Kavanagh sent a letter of their own Friday to city and state officials regarding the troubling developments at 85 Bowery. Recipients of the letter included the commissioners of the Department of Housing Preservation & Development, the Department of Buildings, New York State Homes and Community Renewal and the New York State Tenant Protection Unit.

They noted that a housing court judge ordered the landlord to make repairs more than two years ago, and that the problems at 85 Bowery were widely known. In light of these facts, they wrote, It is not clear to us why, despite your agencies awareness of the situation for many months, events unfolded as they did on January 18th. They cited the hasty nature in which the evacuation was conducted and the lack of adequate translators to communicate with Chinese-speaking tenants. Tenants were scared and confused, and misinformation spread among them, wrote the elected officials. Many thought they were being evicted rather than evacuated for their own safety.

Last month, the State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) recommended to a state supreme court judge that the building be declared rent stabilized. But city officials have reportedly questioned that recommendation. This is one of the concerns expressed in the letter, which was co-signed by U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez, NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, NYC Public Advocate Letitia James and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer:
No matter the time of year, time of life or country of origin, we have all felt a little bit down in the dumps before about what how we look.

Whether it's before a Christmas do, a summer holiday or a teenage house party, it is safe to say that most people have felt a bit rubbish about themselves. Sometimes, this can even go so far as to make them considere not attending an event in fear of looking terrible next to everybody else.

Low self-esteem and body insecurity is notoriously hard to talk about, as most of the time we don't want to hear the kind words that are thrown our way. Morever, a cry for help is often misconstrued as a demand for attention, leading to even more self esteem issues.

But low and behold, the digital age is upon us, and amongst all of the trolls and negativity that contaminate it, under the surface, there are hidden rays of positivity. Men and women who share their struggles and encouraging you to love your thunder thighs and adore your food babies.

Here are some of the best body positivity bloggers around to motivate you into loving yourself in 2018.

1. Leena Norms

Follow: justkissmyfrog on Youtube; leenanorms on Instagram; @leenanorms on Twitter

Leena is inventive when she talks about using social media to encourage positive body image, rather than being a place to avoid as it makes you feel more insecure.

She believes that it encourages people to positively compare themselves to each other, to demonstrate how every weight, shape and size can vary, and to spread positivity online.

Prepare to be engulfed in love and warmth, as she shines a light into those dark days and reminds you how beautiful you truly are.

2. Hannah Witton and Melanie Murphy

Follow: Hannah Witton on Youtube; hannahwitton on Instagram; @hannahwitton on Twitter

Follow: Melanie Murphy on Youtube; melaniiemurphy on Instagram; @melaniietweets on Twitter

Regularly speaking up on body confidence, sex education and self care, Hannah is a pocket rocket who flies the flag for petite girls with an above average bust. Now comfortable with her body, Hannah reminds us that "having a body is awesome". Additionally, she reminds us of all of the incredible things it does to keep us alive, which makes it's superficial features fade into the distance.

Back in May last year Hannah uploaded a video with Irish vlogger Melanie Murphy, in which they discuss low body confidence after gaining weight. In this refreshing chat, the girls confessed that they have accepted their new bodies for the way they are, and even after comparing themselves to each other, maintained that this does not affect their body image at all.

Melanie talks about the dangers of defining yourself by clothes sizes, maintaining that the number should never be seen as a negative feature. She assures the audience that the fear of body shaming is a dangerous mentality and something that everybody goes through. She also reminds audiences that such fears are often completely unfounded.

The two bloggers also condemn unfair expectations of yourself, as well as exploring the dangers of setting yourself weight limits that you must never exceed. Melanie ultimately confesses that she wasn't "any happier when I reached my goal weight", and mental health is just as important as physical fitness.

3. Carrie Hope Fletcher

Follow: ItsWayPastMyBedtime on YouTube; @CarrieHFletcher on Twitter; carriehopefletcher on Instagram

The sweetheart of Youtube tells us that all that matters is that we are happy, healthy and comfortable. As she claims, "I may not be small, but I am happy, I am healthy and I am comfortable, and that is all that should matter".

In order to combat the trolls and comfort her impressionable audience, she uploaded a video a few years ago where she revealed her weight and complete body measurements, to reassure those watching that she is comfortable with who she is, and doesn't mind if the world knows as well.

Another bundle of joy and positivity, this ray of sunshine on your social media feeds is a blessing.

4. Giovanna Fletcher

Follow: Giovannasworld on Youtube; mrsgifletcher on Instagram; @MrsGiFletcher on Twitter

It seems that body positivity runs in the Fletcher family, with Carrie's sister-in-law Giovanna regularly speaking up against post-natal body shaming, and the wonders of the human body.

One particular post sparked a tidal wave of discussion surrounding body positivity online, as she raised the question of why we feel the need to judge each other on our looks, something she believes to be "absolutely ridiculous".

Giovanna's channel focuses on the trials and tribulations but also the joys of motherhood. She uses social media to encourage people to understand that no matter what you look like, life is a wonderful thing, which is too short to spend being ashamed. There is no time to worry about what people tell us we should be or to try and be perfect. Instead, we should accept ourselves and the life we have chosen to live. She is undoubtedly a truly inspirational mother to whom we should all look up .

5. Georgina Horne

Follow: fullerfigurefullerbust on Instagram

The sensational, gorgeous and stunningly real George is the perfect ambassador for self confidence and body positivity. As well as an esteemed plus size model, fashion lingerie blogger and bad ass, this girl is a must-follow on instagram.

Her stories contain detailed and genuine responses to an unsettling amount of hate that she receives simply for showing the world her beautiful figure. She also uses instagram to speak honestly and openly about struggles with mental health. She preaches that no matter your size or shape, your body is a "bikini body", and you should feel free to be comfortable in your own skin and show it off.

Her posts about keeping fit through her exercise routines are the perfect #mondaymotivation, and she's got hair you'd die to have.

6. Louise Pentland

Follow: sprinkleofglitter on Youtube; louisepentland on Instagram; @LouisePentland on Twitter

Famous for her Youtube channel Sprinkle of Glitter, you can always count on Louise to serve up a steaming plate of realness. With body positivity and self care being regular features on her channel (but in a genuine, non-pretentious way), Louise is a proud plus size, with a gorgeous figure and beautiful mentality to go along with it.

We all feel like a measly 4/10 occasionally, but Louise has taken the big step of admitting this, and reminding us that it is okay to feel this way. She maintains that there is absolutely no reason to, but she assures her viewers that a little body insecurity every now and then makes us human.

Ultimately, the Louise we know and love always bounces back at the end of the day, and has promised herself to never apologise for what she looks like when vlogging for her channel.

You can always count on Louise to #slay the haters as well, reminding us that their opinions never matter.

7. Grace Mandeville

Follow: Mandeville Sisters on Youtube; gracemandeville on Instagram; @GraceMandeville on Twitter

Despite admitting that receiving hate does hurt sometimes, Grace absolutely owns it and preaches the advantages of her disability with an admirable spirit and determination.

Born with only one hand, Grace is proud of the way she looks and maintains that "having one hand makes me, me". She always reminds us that no matter what we are given, we should take a leaf out of her book and own it.
It may still be January, but festival season will be upon us before we know it.

For many students, the next few months will consist of relentlessly rallying up a group of friends for summer plans. Though travelling is usually the top choice for students when it comes to ways to fill up the valuable time away from university, going to festivals has got to be a close second.

We all like to do festivals in a different way, but whether you prefer to lose yourself or lose your dignity, here is a list of the ten most exciting festivals to grace the UK this summer.

Sound City, Liverpool

On its eleventh year, Liverpools Sound City really seems to come to full fruition. In previous years, the event has been located on the various docks on the Mersey waterfront, but this year brings something new to the table, in that the two-day festival will now be held in the citys trendy Baltic Triangle region.

The district was last year voted Britains coolest place to live in The Times newspaper, beating Ancoats in Manchester and Glasgows West End to the top spot. Previous headliners include Catfish & the Bottlemen and The Kooks, with indie-pop cult icons Peace and Aussie three-piece, DMAs confirmed as top of the bill for 2018.

Community Festival, Finsbury Park

Claiming to celebrate the best of new music, Londons newcomer Community Festival has once again nailed a fantastic line-up. After a successful debut event last July, which saw them land Catfish & The Bottlemen and The Wombats as headliners, the festivals organisers have set their sights on an even bigger bill, confirming their return to Finsbury Park in 2018.

With Two Door Cinema Club and You Me At Six already announced on this summers line-up, it is sure to be a mega event, and definitely one not to be missed by indie-rock music fans. At just 40 a ticket, and being easily accessible by the capitals extensive public transport network, Community Festival ranks highly in value for money and convenience.

Download Festival, Derbyshire

Donington Park, Derbyshire has hosted one of the worlds biggest rock and metal festivals for fifteen years. Having lead the pack for so many years, Download Festival never seems to have any issues bringing in the big names, reflected in this years headliners Guns n Roses, Avenged Sevenfold and the Prince of darkness, Ozzy Osbourne, who tops the bill as a solo artist for the first time ever.

Boardmasters, Newquay

Historically, Boardmasters could arguably be seen as a festival serving a relatively niche market, as it combined live music with surfing and skateboarding competitions and performances. Fast forward 30 years and the Cornwall-based event hosts some of the biggest names in the music business, including previous appearances from Snoop Dogg, Calvin Harris and Faithless.

This year the festival welcomes The Chemical Brothers as the first headliners, with Annie Mac and Craig David also revealed in the first announcement. If the first few artists are anything to go by, 2018s Boardmasters is set to be a real party.

Truck Festival, Oxfordshire

Deemed the Godfather of small festivals by The Guardian, Truck Festival prides itself on maintaining an independent, family-friendly vibe despite its recent growth onto the mainstream festival circuit. The organisers dont shy away from going against the grains of the corporately owned, money-sucking festivals, instead relying on affordable food and drink, and an array of undiscovered bands to make the weekend a success.

Despite offering valuable stage time to upcoming musicians, the festival has managed to book some massive artists to fill the line-up, with previous years seeing Basement Jaxx, The Libertines and Twin Atlantic perform in Hill Farm. With its affordable ticket price, vibrant atmosphere and picturesque rural setting, this festival is a perfect stop for younger, first time festival-goers.

Wireless Festival, Finsbury Park

Having taken on many different monikers and locations in its twelve year history, Wireless Festival has announced its return to Finsbury Park on the 6th July  8th July. The event hosts the biggest names in chart music, pop and grime, having welcomed acts like Jay-Z, Rihanna and Fergie in past years.

The festival brings crowds of over 100,000 people to London in the summer, including a wealth of famous faces, such as Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner, who have also made the trip across the Atlantic to experience the fun and energy of the weekend.

Kendal Calling, Lowther Deer Park

Set in the beautiful, rolling hills of the Lake District, Kendal Calling offers a stunning location to camp for a long weekend. Despite being a little out in the sticks, the event has proved itself more than worthy of travelling for, not only attracting big names in the mainstream music world, but hosting an abundance of quirkier, alternative tents too, appealing to a range of tastes.

One of the more unorthodox stages is the Lost Eden arena, which hosts an immersive arts and culture experience, combining captivating light displays with atmospheric musical performances. Polished off with an on-site cinema, comedy tent and tiki-themed cocktail bar, the event offers something for all the family.

Lost Village, Lincolnshire

Lost Village is another recent emergent to grace the British alternative music festival club. Self-described as an otherworldly experience, the Lincolnshire based event offers the opportunity to party to the hottest independent DJs going, as well as a place to recharge your batteries in their designated zen zones.

As well as landing some hugely exciting artists from all the far reaches of the globe, creating music in genres covering electronica, funk, soul and beyond, the festival organisers curate some unbelievably unique venue spaces, including the burial ground and the abandoned chapel, all located in a tranquil woodland setting.

Part of what makes Lost Village so special is that the festival has an ongoing storyline that develops year on year, performed by actors who play the role of the woodlands inhabitants.

Festival No.6, Portmeirion

Located in the fairy-tale destination of Portmeirion, in Snowdonia, Festival No.6 came about from the idea of creating an ultimate escape from reality, from which everyone leaves refreshed and inspired. Festival-goers can choose to sleep in a tent, a tipi, a cottage or even a castle, as they head to the mountains for a weekend where they will be fully immersed in the idyllic Welsh countryside.

Aside from booking some huge musicians to perform, the event offers spoken word artists, hidden raves, yoga classes, cabaret, comedy and a luxury spa to top it all off. The festival takes glamping to the next level, providing a luxurious escape combined with all the buzz of a music event.

The first announcement revealed The The as 2018s headliner, but its definitely one to watch, with Bloc Party, Rag n Bone Man and Bastille having appeared on the bill in recent years.

Godiva Festival, Coventry

The city of Coventry has been on a bit of a high since being crowned the UKs City of Culture for 2021. Though this may be three years away, the award provides great opportunity for investment and development in the local economy, especially in both culture and tourism.

Godiva Festival goes a long way in ticking off those three things, as people from all over the UK flock to the West Midlands for the FREE three-day music festival, held in the War Memorial Park. Last years event brought in a record-breaking crowd, who turned up in their thousands to see a diverse line-up including the likes of The Darkness, Example, Kate Nash and AJ Tracey.

Hosted on the first weekend of July, the festival also offers attendees a wide range of food and drink vendors, performances from the best upcoming comedians and a silent disco to finish off the evening.

Credit: Kingsize Photography
Everyone has that one band or musician that they would go to the ends of the earth for.

Okay, maybe not that dramatically, but there is an undeniable special connection between artists and their fans that cannot be replicated. Its unique to each individual, with songs and albums creating memories and safe spaces that are significant to them and them alone.

Whenever Im asked the dreaded question of whos your favourite band, and I answer with Foo Fighters, there is almost always two answers. Either Who? or the dreaded sigh and a roll of the eyes, along with a comment on how mediocre or overplayed they are.

But when it comes to Foo Fighters, their history and discography are so deep with ties to multiple genres and musicians that is unfathomable once you begin to unravel it.

And thats where your resident Foo Fighters aficionado comes in. Whether youve only just discovered the band or believe that they are only known for their singles, here are some gems that do not receive enough attention.

Songs from the Laundry Room EP (2015)

When it comes to Foo Fighters rarities, Record Store Day often delivers bounties of treasure. 2015 was the pinnacle of it all when Songs from the Laundry Room dropped and gave us access to some of the first demos from the Dave Grohl-centric first Foo Fighters record.

Produced by Barrett Jones at the legendary Laundry Room Studios in Arlington, Virginia, Grohl plays all the instruments on the tracks of the demo, and Foo Fighters subsequent debut release in 1995. Grohl wrote the majority of songs for the debut before or during his time in Nirvana, whereas the recording process began as a cathartic experience for Grohl after the death of his close friend and bandmate Kurt Cobain.

The EP consists of four songs; two that ended up on the debut (Alone + Easy Target and Big Me), an unreleased track (Empty Handed) and a ridiculously amazing cover of Kim Wildes Kids in America. Listening to this EP, it's still hard to believe that what Grohl originally created under the pseudonym of 'Foo Fighters' is just one gu and not the eventual band that came to be.

'Wind Up' - The Colour and the Shape (1997)

The fourth track on the Grammy-award nominated The Colour and the Shape, Wind Up has become one of Foo Fighters gnarliest tracks in their discography.

Sitting between the equally heavy My Poor Brain and the mellow Up in Arms, Wind Up signifies Grohls gripe with the reluctant rock star persona; i.e. musicians constantly complaining about being in the industry whilst not taking the time to realise how fortunate they are to be there in the first place.

Set upon an orchestra of distorted guitars, pounding drums and Grohls screaming vocals, it's hard to not to notice how fed up Grohl is with musicians that use their platform to complain rather than have fun.

'Disenchanted Lullaby' - One by One (2002)

Taken from their infamously aggressive fourth album One by One, Disenchanted Lullaby and the rest of the tracks from the record were very close to never being released. After spending an extortionate amount of money on recording sessions and demos that were eventually thrown away (referred to as the million-dollar demos), the band nearly reached breaking point due to rising tensions between the members.

After the fallout of a near break-up, Disenchanted Lullaby was the result of a long hiatus and reflection on Grohls part at the thought of nearly losing everything that he and the band had collectively worked so hard to create.

Following the theme of loneliness and relationships, the track creates a strange, hypnotic atmospheric with a psychedelic, repetitive guitar lick accompanied by echoing vocals.

'The Deepest Blues are Black' - In Your Honor (2005)

Foo Fighters know how to write a hook and look no further than the chorus in The Deepest Blues Are Black from the double-album venture In Your Honor. They stick to composing a hefty track that has served them well over the years; the famed Quiet-Loud-Quiet verse and chorus structure most famously utilized by the Pixies.

In Your Honor broke ground within the bands discography, utilizing a mixture of multi-tonal noise rock with a softer acoustic side demonstrated by a double LP. The first disc stuck to the heavy, whilst the second disc featured a blend of distinctively slower ballads with Bossa Nova twinges thrown into the mix.

Obviously, The Deepest Blues are Black found its place on the first disc.

'M.I.A.' - There is Nothing Left To Lose (1999)

M.I.A. explores the need to look after yourself, free of distractions and human touch to escape from reality. As a closer, it leaves you feeling content and somewhat comforted by how we all need to be missing in action once in a while.

'Lonely As You' - One By One (2002)

Much more aggressive than Disenchanted Lullaby, Lonely as You is one of Foo Fighters strangest tracks... yet it works so well. It takes the conventions of a rock song and turns them on its head, with a guitar line that almost sounds out of tune and a descending backing vocal accompanied by Grohls strange vocal pattern on both the verses and the choruses.

It shouldnt work, but somehow it just does. One by One was full of dark experimentation that hasnt really been replicated since by the band; maybe slightly on their latest release but not to the extent of this anomaly in their catalog.

'Still' - In Your Honor (2005)

Said to be written about a suicide that Grohl witnessed as a kid one Saturday morning by his house ("Hear the train come roaring in / Never coming back / Laying quiet in the grass / Everything is still / River stones and broken bones / Scattered on the hill"), Still opens the second disc of In Your Honor with a dose of eerie albeit atmospheric calmness that breaks away from the brash and heavy tracks of disc one.

Utilizing a continuous, droning synth, a repetitive guitar melody, blistering piano chords and Grohls whispering vocal amalgamates into something that the band had never done before. And luckily for us, they created a whole second disc for it on In Your Honor.

'Darling Nikki' - 'Have it All' B-Side (2003)

Foo Fighters covering Prince? Betcha didnt know that happened!

Released as a B-Side to the Australian version of their single for Have it All in 2003, it found a surprising amount of success on American radio stations. The beauty of this track is how the band kept the sexy, sensual essence of the original song whilst injecting their own heavy, multi-faceted guitar riffs over the chorus. This, with Grohl's screeching vocals, adds a new layer of already hyped up intensity to the track.

When it comes to cover, Foos have a natural ability to adapt a song that they love into their own style and aesthetic, making it their own and personifying what a cover is. And their rendition of 'Darling Nikki' is the personification of this.

'Headwires' - There is Nothing Left to Lose (1999)

Tucked deeply beneath the tracklist of There is Nothing Left to Lose lies the spaced-out 'Headwires'. Utilizing strangely vague lyrics and a trippy soundscape, Grohl mumbles anxious lyrics in the verses, contrasting to loud choruses; a theme on the majority of the record.

But it's the repetitive, deep bass line and higher-pitched guitar riff matching it that creates an aura of unease. Both dip in and out from verse to chorus, along with Grohl's vocal style attaining to a feeling of being hooked up by 'headwires'; feeling a sense of longing whilst retaining a weird confusion as to what is happening within the soundscape of the song, and the content of the lyrics.

Once you start to deeply listen to the 'Headwires', it reveals itself to be a pretty complex composition compared to the rest of the record.

'Exhausted' - Foo Fighters (1995)

A melancholic ode to the grunge era of the 90s that Grohl was intertwined with, Exhausted carries the weight of heavy distortion and slow-burning emotion that was often touched upon by the echelon of grunge artists surrounding him in his days in Nirvana.

Exhausted was written during Grohls time in Nirvana and was nearly recorded by the band as Cobain was keen to record it but felt uncomfortable with replacing Grohls lyrics with his own.

The fuzzy, crackling and excessively slow chord progression along with Grohls droning, almost mumbling vocals incites a weird exhaustion in the listener until the pulsating pick-up towards the end where the guitars explode whilst still retaining that distinct grunge melancholy.

'Winnebago' - 'This is a Call' B-Side (1995)

Winnebago, a lost gem of Foo Fighters, was first conceived on a cassette album Grohl recorded under the pseudonym Late! in the early 90s. After the success of Nevermind in 1991 and Foo Fighters in 1995, the album began to make traction, creating a high demand for the cassette.

Winnebago eventually made its way onto the B-Side for This is a Call and is an absolute testament to Grohls insane drumming style which implodes towards the end of the track.

Much like Wattershed (and a lot of the tracks from Foo Fighters), the lyrics are nonsensical but they do make one heck of a song.

'Hey, Johnny Park!' - The Colour and the Shape (1997)

This track is just such a jam. As soon as that opening drum lick kicks in to introduce the main guitar riff it instantly sets the track off into a frenzy. Utilizing that well known quiet-loud-quiet progression, its one hell of a way to lead off of the song before it on the record (Monkey Wrench).

And for a songs title to be so mundane as Grohl writing a song for his childhood best friend Johnny Park, who he hadnt heard from in years so he thought he might call if he named a song after him is bizarre yet amazing.

'Erase/Replace' - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (2007)

Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace is most known for the singles The Pretender and Long Road to Ruin. But for the band, it was the album that was envisioned during the recording of In Your Honor in 2005. Instead of having two separate discs of heavy and acoustic songs, they would combine the two into one album.

Erase/Replace is a perfect example of this. The intro and verse guitar riffs cut through the track like glass, alongside a hard-hitting drum-beat and Grohls deeply snarling vocals. Suddenly, the bridge comes into play and it drops into this melodic, Eagles-style harmony that blends seamlessly with the heaviness of the track surrounding it on either side.

'A320' - Godzilla: The Album (1998)

Foo Fighters may regret ever including A320 on the soundtrack to the 1998 classic Gozilla instead of featuring it on an album (something they have stated multiple times in interviews), but Grohl still cites it as one of his favourite compositions.

Encapsulating the anxieties and claustrophobia surrounding air travel, Grohl balances between the awe and fear of being able to do such a feat. The track dips in and out of gracious melodies, building up to a crescendo-like outro that acts as an explosion of pent-up emotion that is carried throughout the track.

The use of flanger pedals in the outro sounds like planes flying overhead, adding a layer of immersion whilst still maintaining the dramatic/prog rock tone to a track played in the credits of a critically-panned, late 90s disaster movie.

'X-Static' - Foo Fighters (1995)

The only song on Foo Fighters debut to feature another musician other than Grohl (Greg Dulli of The Afghan Wigs), X-Static features an intense bass riff, a repetitive, layered guitar line and Grohls unmistakable and unique work behind the drumkit.

The song has a strangely comforting dark vibe that borrows heavily from the shoegaze genre, leaving you wanting to stare into space and begin an existential crisis.

Doesnt sound like a lot of fun, but we all need to venture into our anxiety-ridden psyches once in a while, and X-Static is the perfect song to do so.

'Down in the Park' - The X-Files: Songs in the Key of X (1996)

Down in the Park is easily Foo Fighters best cover, and one of their best performances to date. They do what they do best when taking another musicians material, making it entirely their own. Gary Numans new wave/electronic/synthpop original with a fear-inducing narrative of androids and machines raping humans to entertain those watching from a nearby club.

Foo Fighters use the foundation of a trippy, electronic aesthetic and layer it with an alternative rock and post-grunge flair that made home on the first soundtrack album for The X-Files, adding to that paranormal 90s aesthetic that Grohl had been obsessed with since the beginning of The X-Files, and extraterrestrial lore since he was a kid.
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Some passing clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 58F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

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Some passing clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 58F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
(VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

Two Sifrei Torah have gone missing from the Chabad center on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.

On the morning of Sunday, January 21, a member of the local Jewish community entered the Shul and noticed that the yad, the ritual Torah pointer, was outside the ark, according to Rabbi Itchel and Pearl Krasnjansky, longtime directors of Chabad of Hawaii in the city of Honolulu. When the congregant went to put the pointer back in the ark, he saw that the scrolls were missing.

The cost of commissioning a Sofer (scribe) to write a Torah like the ones stolen runs between $40,000 and $50,000, Pearl Krasnjansky tells Chabad.org.

The center is offering a $5,000 reward for the return of the Torahs, and an anonymous donor has offered an additional $5,000.

We are not interested in revenge or prosecution, says Krasnjansky. We just want the Torahs back in our synagogue. She adds that the missing scrolls have backstories that make the theft particularly painful for the local community.

One of the scrolls dates back to Lithuania in the 1850s; it survived the Holocaust and was donated to the center about a decade ago. The other was commissioned in honor of local resident Daniel Levey, a 19-year-old who fell to his death in 2003 while hiking a trail in Oahu.

Its traumatic, states Krasnjansky. It feels like, Gd forbid, a death in the family.

The thief or thieves did not appear to have disturbed or taken anything else in the sanctuary, according to the Chabad emissary. Whoever did it, she says, knew what they were doing.

After learning of the theft, Rabbi Krasnjansky met with Transportation Security Administration officials at Honolulu International Airport to try and recover the Torahs before someone could leave the island and attempt to sell them on the black market. The rabbi also contacted local police and held a press conference. He is also speaking with representatives of his insurance company to find out if the Torahs are covered.

Pearl Krasnjansky and one of her sons drove to the airport to distribute posters describing the missing Torahs. Other members of the community have traveled around the island searching for the Torahs and asking people for any leads.

In the meantime, the rabbi flew to the Big Island to pick up a Torah that his center had lent to the Chabad center there so the Oahu center will not be without a scroll. Its now in the ark where the other two once stood. It is not the first incident the community has faced recently. In the fall, a person or persons spray-painted anti-Semitic words on a sidewalk outside the Chabad center.

On Thursday night, the Krasnjanskys hosted a community gathering to strengthen each other and ask what can be done on a spiritual level because we are, after all, custodians of the Torahs, explained the rabbi. We legally own them, but we are actually just custodians. The fact that this could happen should move us to do some spiritual soul-searching because everything that happens has a spiritual root.

The rabbi sajd he planned to talk about what we can each do in our own spiritual journey to strengthen ourselves and our connection to Gd, which hopefully will provide the spiritual vessels to help whoever took them have a change of heart and bring them back.

A post shared by TheYeshivaWorld.com (@theyeshivaworld) on Jan 28, 2018 at 8:22am PST

(Source: Chabad.org)
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.
I was contacted out of the blue by a convincing Kate Masters of Delta Litigation in Spain. She claimed to be contacting clients of Instant Access Properties Limited and said she could get me compensation in connection with buy-to-let properties I purchased on IAPs recommendation.

In a series of emails, Masters said she could get me 39,639 for illegal misrepresentation and over-inflated rental return forecasts.

But I would have to pay 875 for notary and court fees which I would get back with the compensation in about a year. In fact, the buy-to-let flats purchased on IAPs recommendations have performed well. J.Q.

One reader said they were being asked paying up-front fees for compensation around some buy-to-let property purchases that have actually performed well

Tony Hetherington replies: Delta Litigation clearly thought you would be dazzled at the prospect of 39,639 and would immediately fork out 875 in up-front fees. I doubt if it crossed anyones mind that although Instant Access Properties Limited is now in liquidation, you might actually have been happy with the flats you bought.

With this in mind I took a closer look at Delta Litigation and the questions began to pile up. Delta Litigation turned out to be a name used by a company called Litigation Services, based in Fuengirola, Spain. But when I checked Spanish company records, I found that Litigation Services describes itself as a construction firm.

The Delta Litigation website says it provides legal services, but in another contradiction, when it registered with the Information Commissioners Office as a collector of personal data, it told them it was a marketing and advertising agency. Delta proudly displays the Offices logo on its website, presumably as a sign it is legitimate. But the regulator told me: We do not authorise the use of our logo to any organisation, unless one of our employees is at an event and the logo is used next to the speakers profile.

The betting slip mystery... where there are no winners J.H. writes: I placed a bet at the Betfred shop in Tilehurst, Reading, and the horse won. Next day, I went to collect my winnings and was told the money had already been paid out at the Betfred shop in Friar Street, also in Reading. I explained this was not possible as I had the betting slip and I handed it over. But the area manager still would not pay out. My son asked Betfred about its surveillance system and was told it was not clear who collected the winnings. The company suggested I contact the Fraud Squad, which I did, but received no reply. Tony Hetherington replies: I asked fficials at Betfreds head office to look into this. I asked whether the punter who collected the winnings also handed over a betting slip and if so, whether the two slips had been compared. Betfreds reply was that you did not in fact hand over a betting slip at its Tilehurst shop. It insists there was only one slip and it was handed in at Friar Street. According to Betfred, you or your son were advised to report the matter to the police and the betting shop would then hand over its CCTV recording. When nothing was heard for three weeks, the recording was wiped. All that can now be said is that the winnings were collected on the same day the bet was placed by an elderly man dressed in a light-coloured jacket. I know you have also complained to the Independent Betting Adjudication Service, which arbitrates in disputes like this. Its verdict, which I have seen, is that Betfred behaved correctly and in the absence of any other evidence I have to say that I would have had to reach the same conclusion.

That raises a big question mark over the person behind the Delta website. It was set up by Roger James, who gave an address in Crewe, Cheshire, but seems to spend a fair bit of time in Spain.

I have come across Mr James before. In 2009 and 2010 I warned against a trio of connected compensation claims companies: Glovista Red, European Mediation and Earlstream Consultants. All were rip-offs, promising the earth, charging up-front fees and then delivering nothing. All used a Manchester address, but the strings were pulled from Spain. In the wake of The Mail on Sundays warnings, all three were shut down by the High Court.

The man behind Glovista Red and Earlstream Consultants was Roger James. He also admitted he carried out marketing work for the third company, European Mediation. Now he is linked closely to Delta Litigation.

Litigation Services told me it had described itself to the Information Commissioners Office as a marketing business because that is what Delta Litigation does  though not what Litigation Services claims to do. It had addressed the fact that Spanish records have it as a construction firm.

It insisted claims against Instant Access are proceeding very well, but offered no details about exactly how it was claiming against a company that has been in liquidation for years. But crucially, Litigation Services admitted: Mr James is employed by our company, occasionally, in a marketing capacity. Frankly, that would be enough to convince me that you should steer clear.

Your battle with Hastings leads to a premium result

D.B. writes: My car insurance premium with Hastings Direct was 410 last year. My renewal quote was for 897, more than double. It showed the previous premium was 665 and not the actual 410. A cynic might think this was intentional. I spoke to a representative but they were unable to explain the huge increase or the inaccurate figure for last year. They offered to run another quote for me which came out at 479. Asking for 897 and then immediately reducing it to 479 after a single phone call is quite appalling.

Result: The Hastings car premium went down to 427 after Tony contacted the company

Tony Hetherington replies: Hastings Direct confirmed you did indeed pay 410 for car insurance last year. But during the year, you changed cars to one worth 12,000 more.

Under rules set by the Financial Conduct Authority, insurers are supposed to issue renewal notices that tell you what you would have paid for a years cover on your new car and not to show the figure that you actually paid for your old car. This is so you can make a like-for-like comparison. If you had insured your new car a year ago, you would have paid 665. The current premium would be 857, not 897, according to the insurer.

But you have come out of this well. Hastings Direct has listened to a recording of your call and it agrees its calculations could have been explained better. It has not been able to duplicate the calculation that produced a 479 premium.

Apparently its agent offered to charge just 427 and it will stick to this even though it is below the correct premium.

If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TS or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned.
Paying off: Charles Glasse has helped generate a five-year return of 104 per cent

Seeking out shareholder-friendly European companies to invest in is not easy. Finding firms which are also determined to increase their dividend payments more times than not is doubly difficult.

But it is a task which Charles Glasse, manager of Waverton European Dividend Growth  with assistance from colleague Chris Garsten  has set himself.

Although the fund, a minuscule 38 million in size, remains very much under the radar, Glasse seems to be winning. Not just in terms of finding suitable companies but in going on to produce attractive returns for fund investors.

Over the past five years, the fund has generated overall gains  a combination of capital and income  which are the envy of most rivals. Indeed, only four out of 82 rival European funds have produced better results. A five-year return of 104 per cent compares with 74 per cent for the average European fund.

The only slight disappointment is a jerky income growth record which means that on occasion  three times  the fund has cut its annual income payments to investors. Glasse says this is more a reflection of currency movements than companies which have failed to deliver on their income promises.

But all the same it undermines the case for the funds recent name change from European Income to European Dividend Growth.

We are not looking for an attractive yield above all else, says Glasse in defence. Unlike some rival European income funds which target higher yields, we would rather seek a lower one and then look to grow both the funds income and capital.

Riding high: Waverton European Dividend Growth has generated overall gains  a combination of capital and income  which are the envy of most rivals

This explains why the yield on the Waverton fund is 3.25 per cent, compared to some competitor funds which yield around 4.5 per cent. Glasse is meticulous about the companies he invests in. He believes many European firms are not focused on creating value for shareholders. He avoids these assiduously.

Lots of companies, especially in France, are not run for shareholders, he says. They are run for the management or have the Government as a major stakeholder.

As a result, among the bigger listed companies across Europe, he says his investible universe is only around 175 stocks. He then looks for a trigger  for example, a change in management  which will compel him to buy a companys shares. The last trigger he identified was four months ago at French industrial company Eramet.

At the time, he believed a new chief executive, Christel Bories, appointed in May last year would have a transformative impact on the company as she sought to turn around the fortunes of its loss-making nickel mining operations. She also promised to reinstate the companys dividends.

Since buying into Eramet, the share price has moved from 62 to above 120.

It has gone ballistic, says Glasse. He now expects the company to pay a dividend this year  for the first time since 2013. Currently, the fund holds positions in just 38 companies with the biggest stake being in German industrial gas giant Linde, a business which is in the process of merging with North American rival Praxair.

Waverton is based in Londons West End and manages some 5.5 billion. It was previously known as JO Hambro Investment Management and takes its name from the Hambro family home in Gloucestershire.

It is 40 per cent staff owned with the balance controlled by Bermuda-listed financial services company Somers.
Mobile networks must do more to protect customers trapped into receiving costly junk texts they did not want or were unaware they were paying for.

That is the opinion of politicians and consumer groups which have joined The Mail on Sundays call for action against companies sending these messages.

Known as premium rate or reverse charge texts, they are messages people pay to receive  rather than send  with money automatically deducted from their accounts when they pay phone bills via direct debit.

Unprotected: MPs say unwanted phone texts you pay to receive are a national scandal

Tens of thousands of people have complained about receiving them in the past year, while many others could still be paying for such messages without knowing. They cost up to 4.50 each and mobile networks can take a cut of the profit.

MPs John Mann and Rebecca Pow have told The Mail on Sunday that urgent work needs to be done by regulators to tackle this national scandal that indiscriminately targets every age group  from children to pensioners.

Yvonne Fovargue, MP for Makerfield in the North West, has joined the fight against ripoff nuisance texts. Fovargue is chair of the all-party parliamentary group on consumer protection.

She says: Mobile phone companies should be obliged to display any premium rate costs prominently at the top of the bill. This is not a magic bullet but at least customers would have greater awareness of how much they are being charged and for what.

CASE STUDY: 'If these leeches had to bill customers direct, then they would go to the wall' Angry: Peter Carter paid 275 to receive text messages Retired brewery engineer Peter Carter is angry and aggrieved after this month discovering he paid 275 to receive text messages  with charges dating back to the autumn of 2016. The 70-year-old, from Preston in Lancashire, says: This is not an inconsiderable amount for a pensioner to lose. Mobile phone providers should do more to make their customers aware of the danger of this insidious practice. Peter cannot find evidence of having received the text messages he has paid for. He contacted his mobile provider, O2, and found out the texts were for a competition. He adds: Why are mobile providers allowed to charge individuals for another companys claims in this way? Surely, if these leeches had to bill customers direct they would rapidly go to the wall. A spokeswoman for O2 maintains Peter signed up to receive weekly competition questions but concedes he never replied to any of them. She says: We have had confirmation from our partner that Peter Carter has now opted out and will not receive any further messages. O2 repaid half the costs as a gesture of goodwill for any inconvenience caused. Peter has also confirmed that the company behind the competition service has agreed to refund the remaining charges. He adds: I am still at a loss as to how it all started.

THE SCANDAL

Scores of readers have responded to our reports in recent weeks on ripoff texts. Some have unwittingly paid hundreds of pounds over a number of years to receive unwanted messages they initially believed to be spam  and simply deleted.

Given the sums added to monthly phone bills are often minor, they can easily go unnoticed. Customers who spotted charges on higher-than-expected bills and queried them with their mobile phone provider were often told to take it up with the company sending the messages  even if customers had never heard of the business.

Alternatively it was suggested they were responsible for signing up and must have forgotten or not checked the terms and conditions thoroughly enough.

Fightback: Ex-Apprentice star Nick Hewer is backing a new campaign know, just delete it.

Campaign: Reports in the MoS highlighting scandal of rogue texts

When Karen Thompson, 70, found charges for texts relating to online childrens games, her mobile provider referred her to a company based in Croatia.

The company insisted she was a voluntary participant  then suggested her children or grandchildren had taken her phone and signed up without her knowing.

How to avoid unwanted premium rate charges AVOID tapping on internet adverts while on your mobile. This could be one way of inadvertently signing you up to costly unwanted texts. READ reviews of apps before you buy one on your smartphone to see if other users have complained of suspicious activity or malware that signs you up to illegal premium rate services. SCAN your bill. Look beyond the total cost on the first page and check for any extra charges for texts or calls. CHECK the number behind any junk texts you receive using the regulators number checker at psauthority.org.uk. REPLY with the words stop all if you receive texts you are charged for but did not agree to. COMPLAIN to your mobile network and the company behind the messages if you have been charged without consent  and ask for a refund. BLOCK any further premium rate calls or incoming messages by asking your mobile network provider to put a bar on your phone. But this will prevent you from using premium rate services you agree with  such as charitable donations.

She says: I know, without doubt, I have never signed up to receive these texts. I do not even use social media.

After complaining again, her mobile provider gave a goodwill gesture refund but Karen believes she has still been left out of pocket. She adds: I think it is high time the mobile companies took responsibility. It is a disgraceful practice.

I cannot stop a direct debit for something I do not want because they have, in effect, control of my money.

Karen only picked up on the problem last October when an expensive monthly bill stood out. But further investigation showed there were dribs and drabs of payments in previous months she had not picked up on.

Highlighting charges for premium rate services on the front page of a mobile phone bill would alert customers to a potential problem  and prevent costs mounting.

There is now pressure on regulator Ofcom to order mobile networks to address the problem.

Ernest Doku, a telecoms expert with comparison website uSwitch, says: As these costs are frequently overlooked by customers, the regulator should consider remedies such as better highlighting key information on bills. For example, a more prominent display of charges for premium texts. This could help alert customers to take important action and hopefully avoid them paying more money unnecessarily.

REGULATION

The Phone-paid Services Authority regulates premium rate charges added to mobile phone bills. But responsibility also falls to Ofcom which oversees mobile networks which apply charges to customer bills.

Ofcom says it takes complaints about premium rate services seriously. Back in 2010, it forced mobile companies to make changes which led to clear and meaningful information about such services appearing on bills.

A spokeswoman adds: We have continued to monitor the effectiveness of these measures and will not hesitate to take further action where we identify an issue with bill transparency, which is leading to poor consumer outcomes.
Consumer group Which? is warning against an industry move to curtail the number of cash machines countrywide.

This Wednesday, Link, the countrys largest network of cash machines, will confirm the fees operators will be able to levy when a customer of a competing bank uses one of its hole-in-the-walls.

It is likely the charge  paid by the bank, not the customer  will come down from an average of 25p to 20p over a period of four years with the first cut of 0.7 pence taking effect as early as June.

Consumer group Which? is warning against an industry move to curtail the number of cash machines countrywide

The reduction is likely to result in independent cash machine operators scaling back their networks as revenues drop.

But Which? believes any decision by Link should be reviewed by the Payment Systems Regulator before it is introduced.

Gareth Shaw, money expert at the consumer group, says: Links proposals could leave consumers facing an uphill struggle to access the cash they need, trekking miles to machines.

'Consumers are still reliant on the free-to-use cash machine network so the regulator must conduct a thorough review to ensure the needs of users are protected.

Earlier this month, the regulator assured Nicky Morgan, chairwoman of the Treasury Select Committee, that it would intervene if consumers lost out from Links actions.

On the eve of Links announcement, Which? has produced research indicating that 80 per cent of consumers are reliant on easy access to a free-to-use cash machine so as to carry out their everyday needs.

There are some 55,000 free-to-use cash machines nationwide.

Link believes some City high streets are awash with them and they need thinning out to ensure the networks overall profitability.

Although the charge per machine will fall, Link has promised to provide a bigger subsidy  of up to 30p  for operators in areas where the withdrawal of their machines could result in the immediate community facing financial exclusion.
Easyjet has come under fire over the low number of women on its board.

Carolyn McCall quit as chief executive late last year to lead ITV and was replaced by a man, Johan Lundgren, former deputy chief at TUI.

Shareholder advisory group Pirc is opposing the re-election of chairman John Barton at the airlines annual meeting on February 8 because now only two of easyJets eight directors are female, putting it below the target for FTSE 350 boards to be 33 per cent female by 2020.

Easyjet has come under fire over the low number of women on its board

In a briefing report seen by The Mail on Sunday, Pirc blasted Barton for not setting a target number of women.

An easyJet spokesman said the airline has a strong track record of gender balance and would be aiming to improve this.

The airline has a large gender pay gap with a mean average difference between men and womens pay of 52 per cent.

The company has said this is because most pilots are men.
Pledge: Andrew Bailey, FCA chief

Victims of the HBOS Reading frauds have called on police to investigate an alleged cover-up of the crimes, a year after six bankers and advisers were convicted over their abuse of banking clients.

Five entrepreneurs have written a public letter to Thames Valley Police demanding a probe.

One of the signatories is Joanne Dove, whose ecological nappy business was forced under by HBOS in 2004.

Another who signed is Karl Capp, a media executive who had set up a LinkedIn-style networking business.

None of the quintet has yet received compensation from Lloyds, which now owns HBOS.

Mr Capp said: The bank is controlling the process. Theyre marking their own homework.

Lloyds said it was co-operating with an FCA investigation of the HBOS Reading affair and was determined to get to the bottom of what went on.

Thames Valley Police said it would review any evidence presented by the victims.

Separately, RBS boss Ross McEwan is preparing to face MPs on the Treasury Select Committee who will this week quiz him over his banks controversial GRG unit, which plundered small firms for fees when it should have been nursing them back to health.

And as anger grows over the banks treatment of business customers, the UKs top financial regulator has said he is prepared to back a new independent Tribunal to resolve disputes.

The remarks by Andrew Bailey, chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority, could prove a major breakthrough in The Mail on Sundays campaign for justice for entrepreneurs by setting up an independent body to settle rows.

There are two options: an extension of the Financial Ombudsman Service, the choice favoured by banks, or a Tribunal.

Most customers believe a Tribunal is a better solution, though it would require new legislation.

The FCA wants to extend the Ombudsman Service to allow thousands of small firms to use it for the first time, but Bailey says he is prepared to back a Tribunal if this is what MPs want.

Ive supported [a Tribunal] in comments Ive made in the past, he said. If Parliament wants a Tribunal system, Ill support it.
In good company: Tim Steiner, with girlfriend Patrycja Pyka

Tim Steiner is one of the business worlds most enduring evangelists. Often derided for his fervent belief in the food delivery firm he founded with two pals from US bank Goldman Sachs at the height of the dotcom boom in 2000, it now appears he was right all along.

The share price of Ocado  best known among many shoppers for delivering Waitrose products  has rocketed thanks to a deal to sell its technological know-how to Canadian retailer Sobeys.

It is the third international contract Steiner has sealed in a little over six months, and the City has finally taken it as proof that Steiners strategy of selling Ocados expertise in online grocery to other store chains is the right one.

On the day of the deal, Ocados stock market value shot up by more than 650 million, adding about 30 million on paper to Steiners personal wealth, now estimated to be well over 100 million.

One friend was candid about Steiners long haul at Ocado.

The online grocer has at times tried the patience of investors, who have included Tetra Pak billionaire Jorn Rausing and former US vice-president Al Gore.

Im sure hes had his dark moments but he is resilient, the source told The Mail on Sunday. He is a very focused, determined and intelligent bloke who has stuck at it for more than 15 years.

The source added: The pace of change perhaps didnt happen quite as quickly as Steiner thought but there is no doubt about it: the changes happening in the grocery market are working in the companys favour.

The company has had more than its fair share of ups and downs. Shares hit a nadir of 54p in 2011  a tenth of their current value.

What has changed? When explaining Steiners Lazarus-like revival, analysts point to Amazons $13.7 billion (9.7 billion) purchase of upmarket US retailer Whole Foods Market last June as the moment that switched on light bulbs across the food industry.

The share price of Ocado - best known among many shoppers for delivering Waitrose products - has rocketed thanks to a deal to sell its technological know-how to Canadian retailer Sobeys

This deal woke up the sector to the fact that food delivery is now big business and a threat to companies that still lack a viable online operation. Perhaps its no coincidence Ocado revealed it had won its first international contract just a month later.

But it turned out to be a damp squib because Steiner was unable to reveal the identity of his prized new customer.

Steiner is a very focused, determined and intelligent bloke who has stuck at it for more than 15 years

He must have been pulling his hair out. He had been promising the City a barnstorming deal for two years, but this was an anti-climax.

But then, in November, a second contract with 36 billion French grocery chain Casino stunned the market and was followed by last weeks Canadian tie-up.

Steiner was travelling last night and unavailable to speak, his representative said. He is also among those facing a backlash over the sleazy Presidents Club charity bash, a men-only event which he attended among hundreds of others, but which left some threatening to boycott his service.

Resilient: Steiner is among those facing a backlash over the sleazy Presidents Club charity bash, a men-only event which he attended among hundreds of others

He can be prickly to criticisms of his firm and has more recently become publicity shy despite the companys very successful attempts at raising its own profile over the years  mainly through interviews with his more extrovert and accessible co-founder Jason Gissing.

Last night, Gissing was reluctant to celebrate the success of the firm he helped to create.

I left Ocado nearly five years ago. I really dont want to talk to you, he said.

Such reticence is a far cry from the Jason Gissing of old, who was prone to giving over-frank confessional interviews to the FT.

He and Steiner even verbally sparred with former Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy via the press, accusing him of being obsessed with their online delivery firm. The pair revelled in the free publicity it brought, which made them look canny and put them in stark contrast to the dour Leahy.

They ascribed his barbed comments about Ocados profitability  or lack of  as fear of the competition it presented. Steiners defensiveness and shunning of the spotlight may be attributed to the fact that the company walked a financial tightrope for years.

He may also have been irritated by publicity around his messy divorce in 2016 at a time when the companys global ambitions seemed from the outside to be on the rocks. After years of hoping that he could make marriage work with former wife Belinda, the couple went their separate ways.

He subsequently found a new relationship with Polish model Patrycja Pyka, 20 years his junior.

It seems Steiner  now surrounded by a bevy of capable colleagues including chairman Lord Rose and former Sainsburys executive Luke Jensen  can rest on his laurels for a moment before he seeks more new contracts.

It appears that for its ever faithful investors, Ocado has finally delivered.
Saturday, January 27, 2018

The Delaware Supreme Court finally issued its decision in Cal. State Teachers Ret. Sys. v. Alvarez, and it appears we dont have one neat trick for dealing with races to the courthouse in derivative litigation after all.

As Ive discussed in previous blog posts, Delaware has a substance and procedure problem. Namely, it uses its own court procedures as supplemental mechanisms to substantively police the behavior of corporate actors, but those procedures dont apply in non-Delaware forums. That leaves Delaware vulnerable to being undercut by other states  and encourages an unhealthy race to the courthouse in other jurisdictions.

As I explained before, in the context of derivative cases, Delawares recommendation that derivative plaintiffs seek books and records before proceeding with their claims simply invites faster filers to sue in other jurisdictions  and invites defendants to seek dismissals against the weakest plaintiffs, which will then act as res judicata against the stronger/more careful ones.

Thats what happened in Alvarez. While the Delaware plaintiffs spent years litigating a books and records request, defendants won a dismissal for failure to plead demand futility against a competing plaintiff group in Arkansas. The Chancery court then held that the dismissal was res judicata against the Delaware plaintiffs.

On appeal, the Supreme Court remanded with a curious request: to determine whether the dismissal violated the Delaware plaintiffs federal Due Process rights. The reasoning, first articulated by VC Laster in In re EZCORP Inc. Consulting Agreement Deriv. Litig., 130 A.3d 934 (Del. Ch. 2016), was that until a court concludes demand is futile, the plaintiff has no right to bring suit on the corporations behalf, and therefore acts individually. Laster analogized to the Supreme Courts decision in Smith v. Bayer Corp., 564 U.S. 299 (2011), which held that a named plaintiff in a class action cannot bind the class until after certification.

On remand the Chancery court couldnt quite bring itself to hold that federal Due Process was violated, exactly, but did suggest that the Delaware Supreme Court adopt a rule prohibiting preclusion in these circumstances, in part because such a rule would further public policy.

That decision was appealed back up to the Delaware Supreme Court, which has now rejected the recommendation. The Supreme Court concluded that a derivative case is unlike a class action, because in a class action, pre-certification, the named plaintiff is suing on his or her own behalf, bringing a claim that he or she is entitled to bring individually. By contrast, in a derivative action, the stockholder plaintiff never has the right to bring a claim individually; the claim always belongs to the corporation. Thus, even absent demand futility, the plaintiff must be viewed as standing in the corporate shoes. By this reasoning, derivative plaintiffs are in privity with each other, and there is a sufficient alignment of interests to satisfy Due Process.

In short, absent a showing of inadequate representation by the first plaintiffs, res judicata applies.

The Delaware Supreme Court did have a curious footnote though and I wonder if it provides an opening in future cases. The Court noted that had Delaware plaintiffs attempted to intervene in the Arkansas action  or, failing grounds to intervene, at least filed a statement of interest or sought to participate as amici  they might have a more compelling argument before this Court that the Arkansas Plaintiffs failed to adequately represent them. Well see if anyone tries to take advantage of that going forward.

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/business_law/2018/01/the-race-continues.html
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, 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.

The band capped the benefit with a five-song mini-set, including the 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 canceled 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 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.

Lorde was a show-stopper, stalking the stage and tossing her jacket aside as she sang Nicks' "Silver Spring." Other women  HAIM and Cyrus  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, 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.

 Associated Press

Hannity's Twitter account hacked

Conspiracy theories flew around Saturday morning after the Twitter account of conservative TV host Sean Hannity was "briefly compromised," according to a Twitter spokesman, and unavailable for a few hours.

After the Fox News star's verified account posted a message that cryptically said "Form Submission 1649," visitors to Hannity's page 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, speculation was rampant about the disappearance.

"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," a Twitter spokesman said.

 Associated Press

Wynn out after misconduct claims

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 hand-picked by President Donald Trump, after being accused of a yearslong pattern of sexual misconduct with employees.

A detailed investigative report in The Wall Street Journal on Friday said 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.

 New York Times
Saratoga Springs

The story of the National Guard's 42nd Division in World War I is the subject of a free presentation at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at the state Military Museum, 61 Lake St.

"Poets, Politics and Poison Gas" will be delivered by retired Maj. Patrick Chaisson of Scotia, a former Army National Guard officer and a writer specializing in military history.

Chaisson's presentation will focus on the Aisne-Marne Offensive of July and August 1918, the first major American-led assault against German forces in the war. He will also discuss many famous participants of this campaign, such as future five-star general Douglas MacArthur and poet Joyce Kilmer, who served in the New York National Guard's 69th Infantry Regiment, which was part of the division.

Chaisson will use photographs, interactive maps, and first-person accounts of the battle.

Today the 42nd Infantry Division is part of the New York Army National Guard and is based in Troy. Chaisson retired from the U.S. Army after a 26-year career in both the Active Component and the New York Army National Guard.

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The program is sponsored in part by the Friends of the New York State Military Museum and the Friends of the Saratoga Battlefield.

Staff report
Hospitals are the place we go to restore our health. But amid a swirl of concerns over funding cuts and the dismantling of federal health policy, just how healthy are the area's hospitals?

That has become an increasingly difficult question to answer: Hospitals have lost their status as the hubs of medical care. They operate as the most expensive, yet essential, pieces of larger health systems. Various efforts aimed at reducing health care costs seek to reduce hospital usage. The Times Union looked at area hospitals' latest financial filings with state regulators to see how they're faring in the new environment.

At first glance, the financial reports suggest Capital Region acute-care facilities are in sound condition. But some executives worry that their financial positions are not robust enough to ward off the kind of budget ills current trends portend.

While a couple of Capital Region hospitals had significant or recurring losses in 2015 and 2016  the last years for which the institutions have filed data with the state  among eight hospitals reviewed, revenues in 2016 were up at seven and earnings were up at four. Not bad for a highly regulated nonprofit industry that struggles with the vagaries of government health policy, stagnant fees from its biggest payers, a reduction in demand for services and ever-increasing expectations from customers.

But drill down and a few other patterns suggest that local hospitals may need some additional buttressing amid the latest wave of transitions in the medical industry. While half of local hospitals saw a rise in income between 2015 and 2016, six saw their operating margins  income as a percentage of revenues  tighten.

In part, that appears to be because most of the hospitals also saw a rise in bad debt  the cost of services they provided but will never receive payment for. According to hospital executives, it is also because they are in constant motion responding to unpredictable changes in their industry.

"These margins are going to get tighter," said James K. Reed, chief executive of St. Peter's Health Partners. "We're going to be skating on thin ice."

Seeking a balance

At Albany Medical Center, Chief Executive James Barba said it will be a struggle to break even in 2018.

"That's going to be a challenge this year, because we have no one on the national level who is suggesting what American health care ought to look like," he said.

Capital Region hospitals are not-for-profit entities. Yet they need modest "profits," or income, to maintain competitive salaries for medical personnel, invest in new technology and cushion themselves against economic turmoil.

Several trends in recent years have pushed them toward affiliations with each other and with other types of medical providers. By design, their numbers of inpatient beds have largely shrunk amid efforts to move care into less costly settings such as freestanding surgery centers and to keep people healthier and out of acute-care settings altogether by managing their chronic conditions better in primary-care settings.

And the entities that pay for medical care  private health insurers and, more significantly, the public Medicare and Medicaid programs  began moving toward experimental payments said to reward value over volume. These involve set fees that medical providers get for taking care of all a patient's needs  from diagnosing common illnesses to performing complicated surgeries. Health providers must have every type of care in their system, as well as costly information technology to track services and results, to survive under those payment schemes.

Hospitals once offset their costliest care against so-called profit centers within their own walls. Now, that sort of balancing act is done within the systems, and in some cases, profit-making procedures in one hospital may offset losses for services in another.

Such is the case with Albany Memorial Hospital and the former St. Mary's Hospital in Troy, two of four hospitals operated by Albany-based St. Peter's Health Partners during 2015 and 2016.

St. Mary's lost more than $17 million in 2015 and 2016, on revenues of $214 million for those years. But the hospital had been acquired in 2011 by SPHP, which merged St. Mary's with Samaritan Hospital and considered the pair of hospitals as an acute-care division serving Troy. St. Mary's became an outpatient center and SPHP made investments to support inpatient care at Samaritan, a transition completed in 2016.

Albany Memorial, with 165 beds, lost $12 million on revenues of $91 million in 2016. Meanwhile, SPHP's flagship, the 442-bed St. Peter's Hospital in Albany, earned $41 million on revenues of $576 million that same year for an operating margin of 7.1 percent, the widest margin of all hospitals in the region.

Meeting needs matters

Albany Memorial's big loss, however, does not mean that the community hospital on Northern Boulevard serves less of a need, Reed said. Its emergency room is busy, with 40,000 visits a year, treating flu, pneumonia, injuries and other urgent but routine matters for which providers may not pay sufficiently, he said. Meanwhile, profitable procedures like heart surgery are done at St. Peter's.

"It gets meaningless looking at the profitability of any given part," Reed said, "because we're trying to get things where they will be optimal for the community."

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Overall, the SPHP hospital division, which also includes Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital in Schenectady, had a 2.6 percent operating margin in 2016, a figure that might be more expected than either the significant gain at St. Peter's or loss at Albany Memorial.

Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson, with 192 beds, also had an operating loss in 2016, of $3.6 million on revenues of $153 million. That followed a small gain in 2015, after two earlier years of losses.

While there will likely always be need for an acute-care institution with an emergency room serving rural Columbia and Greene counties, Columbia Memorial Health, the hospital's parent, began expanding its reach into the community with the purchase of doctors' practices in the 1990s, well ahead of the current trend, said Chief Executive Jay Cahalan. Its network of community-based health offices made it attractive as a partner to Albany Med, which completed an affiliation agreement with the smaller health system two years ago. Among other things, the affiliation ensures many patients from Columbia and Greene counties will go to Albany Med rather than another Capital Region hospital when they need more advanced care than the Hudson hospital can offer.

For Columbia Memorial, the affiliation has meant partnerships with specialists that keep more care in Hudson, which is good for both the health system and its patients, Cahalan said. In the field of cardiology, for instance, heart specialists from Albany Med now visit Columbia Memorial offices once a week, allowing consultations close to home for patients who previously would have needed to travel. And for Columbia Memorial, that also means the patient is more likely to be able to be treated in Hudson for all but the most advanced procedures.

That and other collaborative efforts with Albany Med are expected to help Columbia Memorial break even when its figures are finalized for 2017, Cahalan said.

"These last few years particularly have been really about innovation, and getting ourselves prepared for that new world that we have arrived upon," he said.

Part of a system

At Albany Med, Barba also said he does not look at the hospital's financial reports in an isolated way, but as part of a growing system. The medical center is the Capital Region's only academic teaching hospital, which includes a medical college.

The relationship between the hospital and the college alone provides for some misleading accounting. For instance, hundreds of doctors who provide services at the hospital get paid by the college  so that significant expense does not show up on the hospital's bottom line, Barba said.

So instead of being pleased with an operating margin of 3.6 percent at the hospital, Barba is concerned with the medical center as a whole, where the margin in 2016 was a tighter, but still positive, 1.8 percent. Preliminary figures for 2017 show that shrinking to 0.8 percent, Barba said.

The most significant pressure in recent years has been stagnant or reduced payments from Medicare and Medicaid, which make up two-thirds of the medical center's revenues, Barba said. No hospital CEO can tell the government what to pay, so those revenues are only headed downward.

In the wake of declining, nonnegotiable revenues, the only response is to cut expenses, Barba said. He is counting on leveraging the medical center's affiliations with both Columbia Memorial and Saratoga hospitals to increase their clout with suppliers of all manner of medical products, he said.

Looking forward, Barba said he will be hoping to steer the medical center toward a break-even year in 2018. The biggest challenge in planning will be the uncertainty over where the country is heading in terms of health policy, as Republicans in Washington look to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, he said.

"Cuts are not policy," Barba said. "They're just cuts."

chughes@timesunion.com  518-454-5417  @hughesclaire
Washington

Beset by poor poll numbers and the grind of the Russia investigation, President Donald Trump will look to reset his term with his first State of the Union address, arguing that his tax cut and economic policies will benefit all Americans.

The theme of his Tuesday night address to Congress and the country is "Building a safe, strong and proud America," and the president is looking to showcase accomplishments of his first year while setting the tone for the second.

Aides say the president plans to set aside his more combative tone for one of compromise, and to make an appeal beyond his base.

Trump often engages in hyperpartisan politics, and his tax overhaul has been criticized for disproportionately favoring the wealthy. But he will try to make the case that all groups of people have benefited during his watch, according to a senior administration official who was not authorized to preview the speech for the record and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The annual address is a big set piece for any president, a prime-time window to address millions of voters. Every word is reviewed, every presidential guest carefully chosen, every sentence rehearsed. The stakes are enormous for Trump, hoping to move past a turbulent first 12 months in office.

Trump is giving the speech "with the lowest approval ratings of any president in his first year in the history of presidential polling, and can point to the least number of legislative accomplishments," said Wendy Schiller, political science professor at Brown University. "Every month that goes by in which Trump fails to increase his support works against him because voters' negative impressions of him will just solidify."

She said the address "could turn that around if he strikes a bipartisan conciliatory tone and makes it more about the country than about himself."

Five themes are expected to dominate: the economy and the tax overhaul, infrastructure, immigration, trade, and terrorism and global threats.

Selling the GOP's tax plan is an election-year project as Republicans look to retain their majority in Congress. The tax changes are billed as essential to powering the projections of economic growth, and Trump is expected to cite the benefits to the public that proponents envision.

Trump also plans to outline a nearly $2 trillion plan that his administration contends will trigger $1 trillion or more in public and private spending on roads, bridges and other public works projects.

On immigration, he will promote his new proposal for $25 billion for a wall along the Mexican border and for a path to citizenship for hundreds of thousands of young people brought to the United States as children and now here illegally.

Trump's trade talk will reflect what he discussed at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland on Friday: a preference for one-on-one deals instead of multilateral agreements.

The public should get an update on the fight against terrorism and an assessment of international threats, including North Korea. The senior administration official said Trump probably would avoid the taunts of "Little Rocket Man" for Kim Jong Un and "fire and fury" that he used before.

The White House said one of Trump's guests for the speech will be someone who has been touched by the opioid crisis.

The address comes at a critical point for the president. He wants to move past the government shutdown that coincided with the anniversary of his inauguration and prepare for a grueling election season that is shaping up as a referendum on his leadership. Trump and members of his Cabinet are expected to travel in the days after the speech to drive home its themes.

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Critics wonder why the president will show the resolve to stay on message.

"The most capable White Houses use the State of the Union as an organizing moment to set agenda for the whole year, from both a messaging and legislative perspective," said Jennifer Palmieri, former communications director for President Barack Obama. "I don't think this White House is capable of that kind of discipline. So even if he gives a good speech, it is unlikely to have any staying power and transcend his broader problems of not being able to drive a coherent agenda or generate support for himself beyond his core supporters."

Sometimes, the address is a high-water mark for a president.

In 2002, Republican George W. Bush used the speech to define the "axis of evil"  Iran, Iraq and North Korea  that he believed supported terrorism and sought weapons of mass destruction.

In 1996, Democrat Bill Clinton declared that the "era of big government is over" after emerging from a shutdown fight.

In 1941, Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt outlined the "four freedoms" that people across the globe held dear in the face of World War II's horrors.

The White House, led by policy adviser Stephen Miller and staff secretary Rob Porter, has spent weeks on the speech, seeking input from Cabinet secretaries and agency leaders. Several drafts have circulated throughout the West Wing and the president has weighed in with handwritten notes.

A White House official said the speech-writing process has helped cut through the "hangover" of passing the tax bill just before the holidays and kept officials more focused on issues than they might otherwise have been through Trump's trip this past week.

Trump did address a joint session of Congress in 2017, though it was not technically a State of the Union speech because it occurred barely a month into his term. It was notable for this president for how it hewed to conventional speechmaking.
Kabul

Ninety-five people were killed and more than 150 injured outside a hospital in Kabul on Saturday, after a Taliban suicide bomber detonated explosives stuffed into an ambulance he drove past a security checkpoint. It was the second massive attack in a week on a well-secured location in Afghanistan's 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.

More than 158 people were wounded in the blast, which 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 Kabul's 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.

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.

Saturday's 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 couldn't hear anything," Halim said. "After a few minutes, I saw dozens of people lying on the ground."

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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.

"It's a massacre," the charity's coordinator in Afghanistan, Dejan Panic, said on Twitter.

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."
Kathy Love's "Dispatch from Ebbing" (Jan. 24) to the effect that "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" and similar movies create an unfortunate stereotype of Missouri and that we need to reject it is sadly naive. In order to support her thesis that we need to reject that picture, she lists the very reasons why that stereotype is well-earned.
Kansas City Hype Cycle Cont'd

The mayor behind Kansas City's data revolution | Bloomberg Philanthropies By Sly James, Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri When I became Mayor of Kansas City in 2011, residents were eager to see local government become more efficient, accountable, and responsive to their needs. They didn't want rhetoric. They wanted facts. And they deserved to see progress. That's why we started KCStat that December.

Global Warming Ruins Tradition

Take 5 to Care: Polar Plunge raises money for Special Olympics It was a perfect day to jump into a pool, at least if you ask hundreds of people with really good hearts. Today was the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics across the metro. KCTV5 was there for the Take 5 to Care Event: The Polar Plunge and 5k Strut for Special Olympics Kansas.

Highway Tragedy Overnight

Pedestrian hit, killed by vehicle on I-435 near Grandview Rd. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A person was hit and killed by a vehicle on I-435 near Grandview Rd. Saturday night. Officers were called to the area just after 8 p.m. on the report of a person hit in the eastbound lane of traffic.

Old School Creative Class Icon Tribute

'Beetle Bailey' cartoonist and KC native Mort Walker dies at 94 LOS ANGELES - Comic strip artist Mort Walker, a World War II veteran and Mizzou grad who satirized the Army and tickled millions of newspaper readers with the antics of the lazy private "Beetle Bailey," died Saturday. He was 94. Walker died at his home in Stamford, Connecticut, said Greg Walker, his eldest son and a collaborator.

Even Less Of An Irish Bar

The Relaunched O'Dowd's Gastrobar Takes Irish Favorites to a New Level When O'Dowd's Little Dublin opened on Country Club Plaza in Kansas City more than 20 years ago, it was one of the few casual spots in the area, focused on just a great pint and a good time.

Fun & Games @ Union Station

Art of the LEGO brick display opens through at KC's Union Station A new exhibit opens Friday at Union Station that features some of the world's most iconic sculptures made entirely out of LEGOs. Photographs of "Art of the Brick" are impressive but it must be seen in person to fully appreciate, said Nathan Sawaya, the artist behind the exhibit.

Celebrate Ned Yost Renaissance

Yost's recovery 'way ahead of schedule' as spring training approaches KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Ned Yost strode through a ballroom inside Bartle Hall, where the Royals were having their annual fan festival, unsure of who will be in his lineup when spring training begins next month. The often-crusty manager was smiling, anyway.

We start with lingerie hottie angelic inspiration and more than a few Kansas City MSM links to begin the day. Take a peek:is the song of the day and this is thefor right now . . .
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Washington, January 28

Ahead of the Budget, corporate America has urged Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for further reduction in tax uncertainty for multinational companies and institutional investors, a step which it said would help attract more foreign direct investments to India.

A significant positive step toward improving the investment climate would be to further reduce tax uncertainty for multinational companies and institutional investors in India, Nisha Desai Biswal, the president of the US-India Business Council (USIBC), said in a memorandum submitted to Jaitley.

Noting that in todays economic environment, scarce capital is allocated to markets offering optimal returns, Biswal said global businesses allocate investments where post-tax returns for a given risk profile are highest.

When tax costs are uncertain, particularly in a foreign country, investors normally provide for them on a most conservative basis, she observed.

Therefore, tax uncertainty results in an increase of risk when investing in any given project drives investors to either withhold investments or require a higher rate of return to account for this risk, thus raising the cost of capital in the uncertain market, said Biswal, who was the Obama administrations point person for South and Central Asia.

Welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modis plans to transform Indias economy and his efforts to promote India as a global investment destination, the USIBC said for India to be successful in attracting the international investors, it needs to create a more stable and predictable fiscal regime and address retrospective taxation and legacy cases that remain open.

USIBC members believe that unless resolved, the lack of clarity in the governments approach to taxation risk will undermine progress in other areas of the economy and will continue to damage Indias reputation among investors, said the memorandum running into 39 pages.

Describing it as a major concern for international investors, including USIBC members, Biswal said by rescinding the historical retrospective tax legislation, India would have an opportunity to proceed to a satisfactory resolution of legacy cases which would be beneficial to both India and the companies involved.

As indicated by the high-profile nature surrounding recent cross-border tax rulings, one of the primary frustrations of foreign multinational companies investing in India is an often inconsistent transfer pricing regime and a lack of a predictable, efficient dispute resolution mechanism, the USIBC rued.

USIBC said it believes that India must ensure that transfer pricing principles are applied in a fair and consistent manner for all taxpayers, as well as allow a reasonable method for determining transfer pricing comparables that support fees on services performed in India for non- Indian affiliated entities and match the nature of the companys services performed.

To facilitate cross-border trade and investment without the barrier of double taxation, the Government of India and the US Government should reaffirm the shared commitment to improving tax dispute resolution. To that end, the two governments should work to modernize the US-India Bilateral Tax Treaty to reflect the current business and investment environment, the memorandum said.

USIBC recommended that the compliance burden should be reduced on service sector by reducing the frequency of return filing. For e.g. instead of monthly returns, service sector companies should be allowed to file tax returns on a half- yearly basis.

Noting that the industry is very pleased to see the significant progress in capital market reforms made over the past several years by the Ministry of Finance and others, USIBC said, however, continued lack of predictability in some tax policy stands as a major deterrent to Indian markets for global capital, dampening the effects of any policy and regulatory reforms made to encourage this capital. PTI
ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 28

Over 47,000 children were immunised on day one of the Pulse Polio Campaign under National Immunisation Day today.

A total of 460 booths were setup by the Health Department in the whole city apart from deploying 13 teams at transit points where 96 sector supervisors monitored the booth activity. A total of 920 vaccinators were deployed from 9 am to 4 pm.

Director Health and Family Welfare Dr G Dewan along with District Family Welfare Officer Dr Manju Behl and District Immunisation Officer Dr Sangeeta Ajay supervised the programme.

Special emphasis was laid in the urban slums and villages for ensuring that no child was left unimmunized in order to achieve 100 per cent immunisation during the three-day campaign.

The door-to-door activity will be done on January 29 and January 30 to ensure that all children are covered for polio drops who could not avail the same during the booth activity.

All children irrespective of any state in Chandigarh will be given polio drops. The estimated children to be immunized during the 3-day Pulse Polio Round are 97,780 children.

An innovative project "Taare Zameen Par-A Night Vigil" has been initiated by the Health Department to cover those children which are accompanied by the parents during the day and come to halt at the various odd points of the city. To carry out this activity, six teams will be deputed from 9 pm to 11 pm with effect from January 28 to January 30. They will move around in different parts of the city where the rag pickers or beggars tend to settle down with their children in night hours including the night shelters.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 27

Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, celebrated Republic Day with fervour and enthusiasm on the university premises.

University Vice-Chancellor Arun K Grover was the chief guest on the occasion. He unfurled the national flag at the Parade Ground. It was followed by the inspection of the Guard of Honour comprising the contingents of the PU Security Staff, PU NCC cadets (boys and girls), Ankur School, and Guru Gobind Singh Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Ratwara Sahib.

Grover urged the audience to rise above differences and contribute to the growth of the country. He told the participants about various recent initiatives and achievements of the university.

Prof Grover expressed gratitude to the Central Government and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore for their support to the PU.

He said: 2018 and 2019 are significant for the PU as they coincide with the centenary of the initiation of departments of the PU and approval of the Honours School System for the PU at Lahore. He said the PU had taken steps to enhance its interaction with higher-ranked universities in Canada, UK and Australia to attract faculties from such institutions to visit the PU.

Earlier, Col GS Chadha, PU Registrar, appreciated the able leadership of Prof Grover. He said the landmark academic leadership of Prof Grover had attracted a galaxy of eminent speakers from within the country and abroad to deliver lectures at the PU.

On the occasion, four PU employees  Sushil Kumar, Stenographer, Department of Geography; Dr Ved Parkash Sharma, Senior Scientific Officer (G-I), Department of Zoology; Karam Chand, Senior Technician (G-II); and Sukhdev Sharma, Superintendent (Syndicate Section), General Branch  were felicitated with commendation certificates and mementos for their distinguished services.

All senior officials of the university, Senate and Syndicate members, Deans, PUTA president, faculty, students and their families were present on the occasion.
rajivbhatia82@gmail.com

London, January 28

An Indian-origin principal at one of the UK's leading state-funded schools has been branded as "Hitler" on social media over her efforts to ban the 'hijab' for very young students.

Neena Lall, head teacher of St Stephen's School in Newham, east London, was forced to reverse the decision to impose a ban on the hijab for girls aged under eight earlier this month after widespread criticism.

But a video, circulating on social media this weekend, portrays her as the German dictator Adolf Hitler and the school's former chairman of governors as Russian dictator Stalin, with other management team shown as Hitler's acolytes.

"It is a very good school. Neena is a very good head teacher," one of the school's governors told the Sunday Times' in defence of the head teacher.

At a meeting of the parents and the school management on Monday  attended by local Labour party MP Stephen Timms  Lall was forced to apologise as she confirmed the reversal of the governing body's previously approved ban on hijabs for very young pupils.

"The school's uniform policy is based on the health, safety and welfare of our children. The school has taken the decision to make changes to this policy with immediate effect and this follows on from conversations with our school community," the school said in a statement.

"We will work with our school community to continue to review this policy going forward in the best interests of our children," it added.

The school, with a majority of pupils from Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi backgrounds, had earlier urged the UK government to issue clear guidelines on the issue of hijab- wearing and religious fasting relating to very young pupils to prevent a backlash from parents.

Arif Qawi, the chair of governors, had resigned from his post last week following offensive messages posted on social media against him and Lall.

'The Sunday Times' indicated he is prepared to return as chairman if ministers give a clear signal that they will support the school's right to set policy, including a uniform code. Campaigners believe that making very young girls wear the hijab is wrong because it is traditionally not worn until puberty.

Under the UK's Department for Education guidelines, uniform policy is a matter for individual head teachers and their governing bodies. But it did express concerns over intimidation via social media.

"Intimidation or bullying towards school staff or pupils is unacceptable. Anyone who feels they are facing either should report it to police," a spokesperson said.

In November 2017, St Stephen's School had topped a prestigious primary schools league table published by the Sunday Times annually.

It was listed as the best school in England in the 'Schools Guide 2018' for a strong teaching record.  PTI
editorial@tribune.com

Our Correspondent

Kaithal, January 28

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that Rs 200 crore would be provided to youth of the state through banks to set up their own ventures and 4 per cent interest on the amount would be borne by the state government.

Addressing a gathering at the state-level Samarsta Diwas organised to celebrate the 641st birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas here today, the Chief Minister said that nearly 1.75 lakh youth got employment in private or government sectors in the state during the present regime.

Khattar said that the state government had been carrying out recruitment to fill backlog in posts reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes and interviews for these posts were under progress. Efforts would be made every year to complete the backlog of previous year, he added.

The Chief Minister also announced that antyodaya karyalaya would be established in each tehsil office in the state which would have an antyodaya officer to give information about 300 schemes of different departments to the people. The scheme would be implemented from next year.

The CM also announced to increase the annual income limit from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 4 lakh under the Medhavi Chhatra Protsahan Yojana and 10 per cent reservation to be made in jobs under the outsourcing policy. As many as 5,000 people would be given the benefit of free tour to Kanshi, the birthplace of Ravidas, on first come, first served basis, he said.

Paying rich tributes to Guru Ravidas, he said that the state government had decided to celebrate the birth anniversaries of great personalities at the state level. The Chief Minister said an organisation would be entrusted with the job to ensure that funds under the SC component of a department were utilised completely.

To realise the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of housing for all, the state government had been working to ensure housing facility for each family, he said and added that each family in the state would be provided facility of the health insurance in the near future.

Speaking on the occasion, Transport Minister Krishan Lal Panwar said that houses would be provided to 3 lakh people in next five years under the Bhimrao Ambedkar Awas Yojana.

Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said that the state government would also organise a state-level function in Bhiwani to celebrate Ravidas Jayanti on February 4.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister laid foundation stones and inaugurated 16 projects worth Rs 50 crore.

However, the Chief Minister reached the venue around 2.30 pm whereas people were informed to reach the venue at 10 am. Khattar said he was suffering from fever hence he got late, but he made it a point to attend the function.

Some INSO workers who were planning to show black flags to the CM were rounded up by the police but were let off after the function was over.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Hisar, January 28

Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Kiran Choudhry assured Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) of raising their demands in the next Assembly session.

She joined the protesting ASHA workers in Bhiwani today. They have been staging a dharna for the past more than 10 days. The workers have been working hard, but the BJP government has ignored the interests of, not only ASHA workers, but every section of society, Choudhry alleged.

On the increasing crime against women, the CLP leader said: The incidence of rape and deterioration of law and order have instilled a sense of insecurity in common people. The government has failed to take any step to improve law and order.
editorial@tribune.com

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January 28

Nonagenarian Yeshi Dhonden, a Tibetan monk, has been honoured with Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India.

Ninteyone-year-old Dhonden is world-famous for giving cancer medicine. People from across the globe visit his clinic in McLeodganj. He attend to about 40 patients a day. Sometimes people have to wait for over a month to get his appointment. Patients from Punjab and Haryana even wait overnight in front of the Ashoka hotel in Mcleodganj to get a token for consultation. Dhonden used to be the personal physician to Dalai Lama. He is the foremost expert on Sowa Rigpa, a Tibetan herbal medicine that combines ancient healing systems of India and China. He is also a former director of the Tibetan Astro and Medical Institute.

Dhondhen has treated thousands of patients. He does not looks for X-rays or any other lab reports. He just checks the pulse and urine of the patient to examine the effect of the disease in the body, said Tenzin, one of his colleagues.

He makes medicine from secret herbs. Patients claim that it slows down the growth of cancer cells.

According to Ashwani Bamba, president of the hoteliers association of upper Dharamsala, a large number of people come to McLeodganj only to consult Dhonden. People come here in routine to meet him. If three flights are coming to Dharamsala, then half of these are booked with his patients or people who want to seek an appointment, he added.

Deepak Deewan, who owns a travel agency in McLeodganj, said people start making a queue at 3 am to get the token.

Lobsang Wangyal, a Tibetan activist and director of the Miss Tibet pageant, said Dhonden perhaps arrived in India the same year as the Dalai Lama. It is a matter of pride for the whole Tibetan community that he has been honoured with the fourth highest civilian award in India, he added.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 28

Displaced Kashmiri Pandits have welcomed the suggestion of the Ministry of Home Affairs to the state government to constitute an advisory board to look into the grievances of the displaced community members. They have sought a comprehensive plan and involvement of community representatives for its success.

Living in exile for 28 years, Pandits feel neglected by the successive government. They claim the governments failed to implement any major plan to rehabilitate and resettle 3.5 lakh community members.

Setting up of a welfare board to look after the issues of displaced militancy victims is a long pending demand of the community.

During the NC-Congress coalition government headed by Omar Abdullah, an apex committee for the Pandits was created in 2009, but it failed to take any positive policy decisions to implement the Rs 1,618-crore PM Rehabilitation package. The committee comprised over 40 members, but it was mostly seen as a rubber-stamp body.

We welcome the directive. In fact, our organisation had demanded a welfare board back in 2005 when Dr Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister. We hope the state will initiate steps in this regard, said Vinod Pandit, chairman, All-Party Migrant Coordination Committee.

In 2005, several prominent Pandit intellectuals came up with Path For Survival, a document in which the demand was discussed threadbare, giving a blueprint for its implementation and rationale.

Arun Kandroo, senior advocate, recalled that the demand had been raised with the state and Central governments several times between 2005-2017 and now there was a need to form a board. It will help end corruption and also allow the community members to take up the issue directly with the government. It is the need of the hour as several plans initiated for the community have not been implemented, Kandroo said.

It is an important directive from the Centre, but it is necessary that stakeholders are consulted and the basic blueprint is shared with the community representatives, said Dr TK Bhat, general secretary, All-State Kashmiri Pandit Conference.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, on January 24, had advised the state government to establish an advisory board for the displaced Pandits and West Pakistan, Chamb and PoK refugees. It had also advised a new surrender policy for militants to allow their integration in the mainstream.
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.

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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.
editorial@tribune.com

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 28

West Pakistan refugees are infuriated over the politics being played by the ruling BJP to address their human issues. They have said that the recent advisory of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to the J&K Government to setup an advisory board for refugees was a mere eyewash to get their votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

It is another ploy of the BJP leadership to hoodwink the gullible Dalits and OBC refugees before the next parliamentary elections because treating us on a par with other refugees would sabotage our case, said the chairman, West Pakistani Refugees Action Committee, Labha Ram Gandhi.

Due to the caste prejudice and pressure of the Valley-based separatist groups, no state government, be it the PDP-BJP or the National Conference-Congress, has addressed our human issues, Gandhi said.

He cautioned the BJP leadership that the West Pakistan refugees were the deciding factor in the two Lok Sabha seats of the Jammu province.

On January 24, the Ministry of Home Affairs asked the J&K Government to immediately setup advisory boards for all refugees.

Our issues are entirely different from other refugees and treating all same would rather add to our woes. And, more importantly, putting the onus on the state government to setup an advisory board would be a farce exercise, Gandhi said.

He recalled that during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had promised to grant us basic human rights.

Over 90 per cent of the West Pakistan refugees, who are struggling since 1947 to get constitutional and fundamental rights, belong either to the Scheduled Castes (SCs) or Other Backward Classes (OBCs) so they have a reason to call the BJP leadership anti-weaker sections.

In the 2014 parliamentary and Assembly elections, the BJP had promised to grant citizenship to the refugees. It was the first time in the political history of J&K that the SCs and OBCs had voted overwhelmingly in favour of the BJP in the Jammu region and the party had won all seven Assembly seats reserved for the SCs due to the support of the weaker sections.

Main demands
editorial@tribune.com

Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 28

A shutdown was observed across the Kashmir valley on Sunday to protest against yesterdays killing of two youths, who were shot by soldiers in south Kashmirs Shopian district.

Markets remained shut and public transport was suspended following an appeal for shutdown made by a conglomerate of separatist leaders. Most towns in the region wore a deserted look as traffic and pedestrian movement was absent.

The day, however, passed off peacefully as the authorities imposed restrictions in the volatile neighbourhoods across the region, including in the summer capital, and deployed additional forces to prevent the eruption of protests.

The telecom companies were also directed to suspend the mobile internet services across south Kashmir and slow it down in the rest of the region as the authorities feared the uploading and downloading of protest videos could fuel more demonstrations.

The shutdown was called by three leading separatists  Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik - who are part of a loose alliance and call themselves Joint Resistance Leadership.

The three separatist leaders had called for a shutdown in response to the killing of Class XII student Suhail Javaid Lone, a resident of Narpora village of Shopian, and BA first year student Javaid Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Ganawpora village of Shopian. A third youth was critically injured. The Army had maintained that soldiers fired in self-defence after a mob of more than 250 stone-throwing people attacked an isolated section of its convoy passing through Ganawpora village. Following the incident, the police registered a case of murder against the soldiers and the state government also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.
pardeepdhull@gmail.com

Davos, January 28

Overwhelmed with the love and support she gets from Indians, young Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai has said she wants to visit the country and work for the girls there.

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The 20-year-old Malala, who was shot at by Taliban at the age of 15 for defying the ban on girls going to school and went on to get a Nobel peace prize and become the UN Messenger of Peace, said she has already learnt a lot about India and is a big fan of its movies and drama and wants to learn more about its culture and values.

She was here to participate in the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, held from January 22-26, and during her visit met a number of global leaders and CEOs to seek their support for the girl education. She has co-founded Malala Fund that seeks to invest in girl education across the world, while one of its initiative Gulmakai Networknamed on Malalas pen name that she used while writing blogs against Taliban regimesupports the work of education champions across the world.

In an interview here with PTI, Malala said she is very excited about expanding her Gulmakai Network to India, where she would want to work with the local people as they best understand the local issues and can suggest necessary solutions as well.

Excited to see so much snow to the level of her height on her first visit to Davos, the young activist agreed the issues were very much same in India and Pakistan with the two being one country before and having the same culture.

Brimming with excitement while talking about India, Malala said, The support that I have received from India has been overwhelming and I want to thank everyone in India for their love and support. I get so many letters of support from India.

Recalling one such letter, she said there is one girl who sent her a letter saying she wanted to be Prime Minister of India and that one day we both will be Prime Ministers and then we will negotiate and bring peace between the two countries.

That touched my heart that the future generation is not only thinking about education but they, especially girls, want to be leaders as well. They want to be PMs, presidents and this gives me hope for the future, she said.

Stating that she wants to visit India, Malala said, I have watched so many Indian dramas and films and I know already a lot about the country. I know Hindi as well that I learnt from Indian TV channels. We connect in many ways and there is a lot to learn from each others culture and values.

As I am concerned about girls in Pakistan, I am also concerned about girls in India and the number is in millions, she said.

When we talk about the future of India and future of Pakistan then we have to invest in our girls because they are the future. How can we make our future better and brighter when we ignore these millions of girls by not giving them education. When we educate girls, we are not just educating them individually but we are also empowering them and we are giving them opportunity to earn for themselves, she said. PTI
vinaymishra188@gmail.com

New Delhi, January 28

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make a historic visit to Palestine during a trip to the Middle East from February 9 to 12 that will take him to the UAE and Oman.

This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Palestine and Modis second visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after August 2015.

The Prime Minister will hold discussions on matters of mutual interest with their leaders, apart from participating in other events, the External Affairs Ministry said on Saturday night.

The visit to Palestine comes after the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to India earlier this month.  IANS
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Ropar, January 28

Wheat crop on over 200 acres in Khwaspura village of the district has got damaged. The affected farmers alleged that the crop got damaged after they sprayed herbicide of a renowned company to control gulli danda and other weeds.

Wheat crop on over 25 acres belonging to two brothers has been affected in Sarsa Nanagal village near Kiratpur Sahib.

Rupinder Singh, former sarpanch of Khwaspura village, said he sprayed herbicide on 12 acres of wheat crop last month to control weeds. Though these weeds were not checked even after the spray, the wheat plants started turning pale, he alleged.

Nearly 20 farmers of the village have the same story to tell. They claimed that the crops of those farmers were safe who didnt use this brand of herbicide. They added that the herbicide was bought from a local co-operative society.

Similarly, another farmer Swaran Singh of Sarsa Nangal village said he bought the herbicide from the society and used on 15 acres of his wheat crop in December. His brother sprayed it on 13 acres. The crop has got damaged in all fields, Swaran Singh added.

Ropar Agriculture Development Officer Raman Karorya, who visited Khwaspura, said up to 50 per cent of crops have been damaged. The cause of the damage, however, would be ascertained only after detailed investigation, she added.
editorial@tribune.com

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 28

Almost nine months after the Assam Excise Department unearthed a racket allegedly involving Punjab-based firms that diverted extra neutral alcohol (ENA) meant for pharmaceutical use to manufacture liquor in connivance with Punjab excise officials, the Punjab Government is yet to fix responsibility on erring officials. Though the distillery concerned was issued a show-cause notice and filed for a hearing with the Excise and Taxation Commissioner, no action has been taken as yet.

Officials of the Punjab Excise Department were under the scanner for allegedly conniving with these firms and allow them diverting the alcohol for almost eight years. This was in complete contradiction to the claims by the distillery but the fact that the department officials took no action is self explanatory on their role in the scam, said an official.

In June 2017, a month after the scam came to light, the Assam excise authorities had shot off a letter to the Punjab Excise and Taxation Commissioner, seeking details of the rectified alcohol issued by a supplier in Patiala to two firms in Assam since 2008.

Earlier in May 2017, an unidentified person had lodged a forgery case with the Haryana Police against the Patiala-based supplier. A police team from Haryana had visited Assam and furnished copies of the permits recovered. These were later found to be forged. A separate case of forgery was registered at the Hatigaon police station in Assam as the documents recovered had forged signatures of a Deputy Excise Commissioner from that state.

A senior excise official said, We have found forged permits and documents of two firms based in Tinsukia, one dealing in pharmaceuticals and the other in cosmetics. Both use ENA in their products. The fact that top-level officials in the department were involved in this act of corruption, no action was taken against any official. Almost a year after the scam, heads have not rolled, nor has responsibility of any officer been fixed. This shows the lackadaisical attitude of the department in getting to the bottom of this act of corruption, said the official.

Vivek Pratap Singh, Excise and Taxation Commissioner, could not be contacted despite repeated efforts. Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner (Distilleries) Naresh Dubey said the distillery concerned was issued a show-cause notice and their appeal was pending with the commissioner office. We are yet to ascertain the role of any department official and the probe is still on, he said.
rajivbhatia82@gmail.com

Kuljit Bains

A notorious criminal was killed on Friday evening along with two accomplices on the Punjab-Rajasthan border. They had perhaps crossed the point of no return long ago, and the incident may have no direct political or social connection, yet the news made it to the headlines above the Republic Day reports in the region.

The reason for the attention is what the gangsters embodied: a mass of youth in Punjab that has aspirations but few avenues; more opportunities to join the world of crime than productive employment; an acute lack of contemporary heroes, idols, or simply common peoples success stories that may inspire. The political leadership, in fact, gives every example of how muscle power, money and nepotism can bring you all worldly desires anyone may have, including those of the flesh.

The Punjab Police, in the immediate context, have had another significant success. They have been duly feted by the Chief Minister. But what they must be aware of is the widespread and immediate presumption  even without any evidence  that the killings happened in a fake encounter. This presumption also leads to a sense among people that somehow injustice has been done to those killed, which in turn ends up lending an undeserved halo to the criminals. Their fellow gang members have now vowed to avenge the killings.

This is where the real challenge to the police lies: establishing credibility. Without moral authority, the men in uniform can only eliminate criminals, not curb criminality. It also makes their job that much more difficult. Community support is one of the most crucial ingredients in successful policing. A policeman in a crowd must command respect; his stick alone is not enough to control a mass of people. It is the same at the state level.

Casting an eye around the world will show us that nowhere has force alone achieved success, whether against crime or terror. Political and social initiatives are a must. The Punjab DGPs desire to have the Punjab Control of Organised Crime Act (PCOCA) needs to be assessed in that context. His is perhaps an unenviable task, as it has been left to him alone to bring under control a social affliction that is the result of decades of failed governance; therefore, the demand for desperate measures. But these are treatments that may address the disease in the short term but leave a weakened body for the future. The top brass, thus, has another unenviable duty, which is to tell the political leadership a few home truths: the government cannot expect the police to keep cleaning the mess created by it.

All political parties have to realise that coming to power cannot be their goal. Looking after peoples interest and nurturing society  and not filling the lockers of individuals in power  has to be the governments duty. Every MLA is first a social worker, and has to be actively involved in mobilising community leaders to be mentors to the youth, to notice any unhealthy activity and nip it in the bud with the help of the administration and police. The current concept of being halqa in-charge, on the other hand, has a distinct feudal ring to it.

In the wake of a long economic slowdown nationwide and the agriculture model of the state becoming grossly outdated, Punjab may be entering a critical phase where criminals are also seeking to gain Sikh credentials. The lack of credibility in Punjab Police and a neighbouring country keen at spotting weak moments, only add the fuse to an explosive situation.

From setting the economy right, to getting the farming community back on rails, re-establishing rule of law, curbing corruption, creating opportunities and relevant skills, to introducing a purpose to life and living, it is a task every agency of society, and individual, has to lend a shoulder to, not just the police.
editorial@tribune.com

Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, January 28

Its been five years since Sandeep Singh, a farmer from Faridewala village, around 22 km from here, had applied for his Aadhaar card. But even after applying for it 12 times through various agencies and running from pillar to post, he is yet to receive the same.

Two weeks ago, The Tribune had highlighted the plight of farmer Jagtar Singh from Sangrur who had been waiting for his Aadhaar since 2011.

Sandeep said he had lost his bank limit as his savings account in the Oriental Bank of Commerce in Malwal could not be linked with Aadhaar. Besides, he had not been getting any subsidy on fertilisers due to non-availability of UIDAI number.

I first applied for it in 2013 when a team visited our village school in 2013. However, I did not receive any card, he said.

Thereafter, I applied for it again at a Suvidha Centre in the Deputy Commissioners office against which I got a receipt also. While all my family members received the same, my Aadhaar card was again rejected. When I asked the officials concerned, they did not give any satisfactory reply, he added.

Subsequently, I applied for it again and deposited Rs 50 along with all documents, but in vain. Later, I got sick of revisiting various offices and posted a video on my Facebook account narrating the entire sequence of events and the ordeal which I am going through. Seeing my video, someone suggested me to meet the DC, he said.

Again I submitted all documents to the DC along with the previous receipts, who marked it to a Saanjh Kendra on November 20, 2017, but till date he had not received it, he said.

However, Ramvir, DC, said there was never any delay in issuing the Aadhaar card. I will look into the matter personally and ensure that the person concerned receives the same soon, he added.
pardeepdhull@gmail.com

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, January 28

Gangster Vicky Gounder, who was shot dead by Punjab Police in an encounter in Sriganganagars Pakki village on the Rajasthan-Punjab border on Friday evening, was cremated at his native village Sarawan Bodla in Lambi, Bathinda, amidst tight security on Sunday.

A large number of people bid adieu to 29-year-old Gounder, who was killed along with his accomplice Prema Lahoria.

His family members, however, claimed that he was killed in a fake encounter. Both Lahoria and Vicky were planning to surrender. They had even made some WhatsApp calls to police officers a day before the killing, they said.

Read: COMMENT: Death, even criminals, is a time to introspect

Gangster Gounder, aides killed

Encounter fake, allege kin

From athlete to dreaded gangster

Partners in crime since college days

Cops travelled 1.5 lakh km in eight states

Gounder alias Harjinder Bhullar alias Jinder 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.
editorial@tribune.com

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, January 28

Vicky Gounder was cremated at his native Sarawan Bodla village in the district amid tight security today. A large number of people bid adieu to the 29-year-old gangster, who was killed along with his two accomplices in a police encounter at Rajasthans Pakki village on Friday.

The body was brought from Gounders house to the village cremation ground in a cavalcade, comprising a large number of vehicles. Among politicians, only some village-level leaders were present.

Police personnel, in huge numbers, were deployed in every nook and corner of the village. The police were keeping a track of vehicles going towards Gounders house and even noting down the registration numbers.

The deceased, being young and in marriageable age, was dressed as a groom, a ritual in some Sikh families. The family had tied a sehra (decked veil) on his forehead and laid garlands on the body.

Also read

COMMENT: Death, even criminals, is a time to introspect

Meanwhile, Gounders family reiterated that the encounter was fake. Gurbhej Singh Sandhu, his uncle, alleged: Both Prema Lahoria and Vicky were planning to surrender. Inspector Bikram Brar, who killed my nephew in this fake encounter, has studied and played with him in Jalandhar. Bikram was in contact with Prema and Vicky on WhatsApp even after Nabha jailbreak. Just before his killing, Prema spoke to his wife through a WhatsApp call for nearly half an hour and informed that they were about to surrender through Bikram. Even Vicky had called me through WhatsApp and informed the same. Bikram has some relatives near Abohar and he had called Prema, Vicky and one of their friends there to meet him. But he brought police force with him and killed them.

Challenging the police theory, he said: The police have shown some weapons seized from the spot, which not even a small-time thief would carry. Even the cartridges seized from the spot do not match the weapons. Besides, Vicky and his aides were wearing just T-shirts and were barefoot. The cops have concocted a false story. Even the Rajasthan police informed us that they got the information of the encounter after an hour of the incident.

Gurbhej Singh demanded a CBI probe into the incident. If the probe is not marked, we will move the High Court, he said.

Inspector Bikram Brar could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Two arrested for aiding gangsters

Tarn Taran: The police on Sunday arrested two persons  Lovepreet Singh alias Love of Nagoke village and Amritpal Singh Bath  for allegedly sheltering and aiding gangsters. Loves brother Gopi Kaura was an accomplice of Gounder and was involved in the Nabha jailbreak. Amritpal is a college student leader. Darshan Singh Mann, SSP, said a case under Section 212, 216, 120-B IPC had been registered. TNS
amansharma@tribunemail.com

Our Correspondent

Jaipur, January 28

Punjabi litterateur Surjit Patar was on Sunday conferred with the prestigious Makhakavi Kanhiyalal Sethia Award for his outstanding contribution to poetry and literature, jointly by MKS Foundation and Jaipur Literature Festival here at a special session.

Patar, Padma Shri and a Sahitya Academy awardee, whose famous works include Hanere wich sulaghdi varnmala, Surzameen and Birakh Arj Kare, was presented a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a citation.

Talking to the media, Patar called for giving due recognition to Rajasthani language. As Punjabi language has got many dialects, Rajasthani is also very rich with many 'boliyan' (dialects) that change at every 16 kos, he added.
laxmi@tribune.com

Jotirmay Thapliyal

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 28

Dr Vikram Chandra Thakur, former director of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), the only one from Uttarakhand this year to feature in the list of Padma Shri awardees that was announced on the eve of Republic Day.

Dr Thakur is the second WIHG luminary after eminent geologist KS Valdiya, who was awarded with Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan in 2007 and 2015 respectively. Settled in Dehradun, Dr Thakur, who originally hails from Dharmshala, Himachal Pradesh also has its roots in the Kumaon division of Uttarakhand, from where his forefathers migrated to Himachal Pradesh.

An MSc from Panjab University, Chandigarh, and a Phd from London University, Dr Thakur has worked extensively in structure tectonics. His specialisation has been on Himalayan geology, structural geology and tectonics. He has worked extensively in unravelling the regional framework and tectonics of the remote regions of Ladakh, Zanskar, Chamba, Garhwal, Kumaun and Arunachal Pradesh.

He has nearly hundred and thirty research papers to his credit. His book Geology of Western Himalaya by Pergamon Press, Oxford in 1992 was widely appreciated. He joined Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology in 1972 and rose on to become the Director. Dr Thakur was at the helm of affairs at WIHG for over a decade, when he held the post of director at the institute. Even after his retirement, he was awarded emeritus scientist of the CSIR, since then he has been working in several research projects on active tectonics of the Himalayan frontal zone. He is also a fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences and recipient of the National Mineral Award in 1984.

Scientists fraternity particularly geologists in Dehradun are anxiously waiting for his return, who is presently on a visit to Mumbai and will return back to Dehradun in the first week of February. Uttarkhand State Council for Science and Technologys Director General Dr Rajendra Dobhal said it was an honour for scientist community of Uttarakhand that an eminent geologist has been bestowed with Padma Shri. He said the award would certainly encourage budding young scientists.
laxmi@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 28

A woman was killed by a leopard in the Terai East forest division on Friday. The incident took place when the victim, Lakshmi Devi (45), had gone to the forests to collect fodder.

A leopard hiding in the bushes attacked her. It dragged her deep into the forests and killed her.

The body has been recovered and sent for a post-mortem examination.
laxmi@tribune.com

World War II guns fire a salute during celebrations of the 74th anniversary of the battle that lifted the Siege of Leningrad in St. Petersburg, on Saturday. The city of St. Petersburg, known as Leningrad until the name was changed back in 1991, is celebrating the Soviets victory over the devastating Nazi siege.

The city was besieged by German, Finnish and Spanish troops on September 8, 1941, when the Nazis launched Operation Barbarossa against the Soviet Union. The blockade was broken on January 18, 1943 but finally lifted on January 27, 1944. Over 1 million people died mainly from starvation during the nearly 900-day siege. AP/PTI
pardeepdhull@gmail.com

Washington, January 28

US President Donald on Sunday asked countries to take decisive action against the Taliban and the terrorist infrastructure that supports them, in an indirect but obvious reference to Pakistan.

In one of the biggest blasts to rock the war-torn city in recent years, an explosives-packed ambulance blew up in a crowded area of Kabul on Saturday, killing at least 95 people and wounding 158 others.

Trump issued a strong statement in the aftermath of the deadly terrorist attack claimed by the Taliban, which is second such assault in the Afghan capital in a week.

Now, all countries should take decisive action against the Taliban and the terrorist infrastructure that supports them, Trump said.

Both the US and Afghanistan claim that the Taliban has been successful in carrying out such attacks with impunity because of the continued existence of terrorist safe havens inside Pakistan, a charge repeatedly denied by Islamabad.

But the Trump administration early this month suspended nearly USD 2 billion in security assistance to Pakistan alleging that Islamabad is not taking appropriate actions against the Taliban and the Haqqani network.

I condemn the despicable car bombing attack in Kabul today (Saturday) that has left scores of innocent civilians dead and hundreds injured. This murderous attack renews our resolve and that of our Afghan partners, he said.

The Talibans cruelty will not prevail, Trump said as he reiterated his commitment to free Aghanistan from terrorists.

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, the US President said.

In his address to the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said on Friday 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 said. PTI
rajivbhatia82@gmail.com

Bogota, January 28

At least five police officers were killed and 41 others wounded when alleged drug traffickers detonated a remote controlled bomb at a station in the northern city of Barranquilla, officials said.

The attack was one of the deadliest on security personnel in recent years, in one of Colombias most important cities.

It comes as the government of President Juan Manuel Santos seeks to bring the armed conflict that has wracked Colombia for 50 years to an end. Much of the violence has been financed by drug trafficking.

The bombing also casts a pall over preparations for the annual carnival, a major attraction in the Caribbean port city.

Mariano Botero, the Barranquilla police commander, said that the bomb detonated as the officers gathered for morning formation.

A police source told AFP that 49 officers were at the site when the bomb exploded. Of those, five officers aged between 24 and 31 were killed and 41 were wounded.

A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of carrying out the attack, according to attorney general Nestor Martinez.

We will charge (him) with five aggravated murders ... attempted murder, terrorism and use of explosives, he told a press conference.

Barranquilla Mayor Alejandro Char quickly 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.

Botero also suggested that the attack could be in revenge after a police crackdown on local drug traffickers.

Colombia is the worlds top producer of cocaine, and criminal groups have flooded the countrys main cities with drugs in a move known as microtrafficking.

El Heraldo, the main Barranquilla newspaper, said some believe the attack may have been aimed at distracting police from an armoured car robbery that took place at the same time.

The head of Colombias national police, General Jorge Nieto, said he travelled to Barranquilla to offer his support to the blast survivors and their relatives.

He also announced a reward of 50 million pesos (USD 17.8 million) for information about the attack.

We strongly condemn this barbaric act and soon we will find those behind it, he said.

President Juan Manuel Santos blasted the cowardly attack on Twitter.

We will not rest until we find those responsible, my solidarity is with the families of the victims and the wounded, Santos wrote.  AFP.
rajivbhatia82@gmail.com

Jerusalem, January 28

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Poland 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 on Saturday.

As a diplomatic row brewed on the day the world marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Polands charge daffaires 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.

Polands 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 camps 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 yesterday he marked the 73 anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on site at the former Nazi death camp in Oswiecim, southern Poland.

Polands 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.

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, Israels 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.  AFP.
laxmi@tribune.com

Jerusalem, January 28

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Poland 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 yesterday.

As a diplomatic row brewed on the day the world marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Polands charge daffaires to Israel has been summoned to the foreign ministry, 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.

Polands PM 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 camps 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 yesterday he marked the 73 anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on site at the former Nazi death camp in Oswiecim. Polands 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.  AFP
laxmi@tribune.com

Davos, January 28

US President Donald Trump has said he is not aware of any invitation to the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. On whether he had received an invite for the May 19 wedding, Trump told British journalist Piers Morgan here: Not that I know of. He said Prince Harry and Markle looked like a lovely couple.

American actress Markle was a Hillary Clinton supporter in the 2016 US election, and has referred to Trump as divisive and a misogynist, BBC reported.

Trump said he had been offered two visits to the UK this year by British Prime Minister Theresa May  a working visit in the summer and a state visit in the autumn, Morgan tweeted.

But Downing Street has not confirmed the claim. During the interview, Trump also declared that he is not a feminist. 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, Morgan tweeted, quoting Trump.

On his social media habit, Trump said he would often tweet perhaps sometimes in bed, and perhaps sometimes at breakfast, or lunch, or whatever, but added that he would also delegate some of his tweeting to someone else.  IANS
pardeepdhull@gmail.com

Washington, January 28

The US State Department said on Saturday that it was deeply concerned that a Swedish citizen and Hong Kong-based bookseller, Gui Minhai, had been detained in China and called for him to be allowed to leave the country.

The Swedish government has said that Gui, who has published books on the personal lives of President Xi Jinping and other Communist Party leaders, was taken into custody last week while traveling with Swedish diplomats to seek medical treatment in Beijing.

The European Unions ambassador to China has called on the Chinese authorities to release Gui immediately, echoing demands from Stockholm.

We are deeply concerned that Swedish citizen Gui Minhai was detained, State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

We call on Chinese authorities to explain the reasons and legal basis for Mr. Guis arrest and detention, disclose his whereabouts, and allow him freedom of movement and the freedom to leave China, she said.

The United States and European allies would continue to promote greater respect for human rights in China, she said.

Asked this week about the Swedish and EU demands for Guis release, a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman described the appeals as baseless.

Gui had been abducted in Thailand while on holiday in 2015, one of five Hong Kong booksellers who went missing that year and later appeared in custody on mainland China. The four others have returned to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong, a former British colony, returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with a guarantee of wide-ranging freedoms, including freedom of speech, but critics accuse Communist Party rulers in Beijing of creeping interference in the citys affairs.

Chinese authorities said Gui was freed in October after serving a two-year sentence for a traffic-related crime in 2003.

Guis daughter Angela told Radio Sweden he was taken off a train by plainclothes police while en route to the capital to get medical attention for a neurological ailment.

Swedens Foreign Ministry has twice summoned Chinas ambassador to Stockholm to explain the situation. Reuters
UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie interacts with Syrian refugee children at a news conference at Za'atari camp in Jordan.  UNHCR/Ivor Prickett

Remarks in Za'atari camp in Jordan as delivered:

It is heartbreaking to return to Jordan and witness the levels of hardship and trauma among Syrian refugees as the war enters its eighth year.

We in UNHCR are deeply grateful to the Jordanian people, for their generosity and humanity towards the victims of the conflict.

Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq now host nearly 5  million Syrian refugees between them.

They really are an example to the world, at a time when solidarity with refugees is in short supply.

We should be under no illusions that this is a crisis that has been out of control for years.

UNHCR does not have the funds to provide in full even the most basic necessities for survival for many families:

Last year, the UNHCR response for the Syria crisis was only 50 per cent funded.

And so far in 2018, it is only 7 per cent funded.

There is nothing more devastating for UNHCR staff than not to be able to give people the help they need and deserve.

After seven years of war, most Syrian refugees have exhausted any savings they had.

The vast majority of them already live below the poverty line, on less than three dollars a day.

Imagine what that would mean for your family.

Here, it means families going without sufficient food; children unable to get medical treatment; young girls vulnerable to early marriage; and many Syrians facing their seventh winter without proper shelter.

This is the reality of those displaced by the conflict in Syria, and I want to thank all the journalists who continue tirelessly to cover these stories and bring them to the attention of the world.

We know that the fundamental issue is not that people dont know what it happening. It is the lack of a credible political and diplomatic process - based on human rights and international law - to bring the violence to an end.

A viable political settlement is the only way to create the conditions for Syrians to return to their homes, and to end the human suffering and the strain on host countries.

Humanitarian aid is not a long-term solution. And to be clear, no one wants to get off aid relief more than Syrian families. For such an educated, capable people, it is soul-destroying to be made this dependent.

So I would urge the Security Council members to come to the region, to visit the camps and the urban refugees, and find a way to finally bring the full weight of the UN and international community to bear to solve this conflict.

We should never forget that the war began with demands by Syrians for greater human rights.

Peace in their country has to be built on that.

It cannot be built on impunity for the targeting of civilians by all sides, the bombing of schools and hospitals, barrel bombs, torture, chemical weapons and rape used as a weapon of war.

It must be built on accountability  for instance, justice and recognition for the years of violence that women in Syria have faced.

So that is my message to the international community today: yes, of course, please do moreto help meet the needs of desperate Syrian families, and the countries hosting them.

But above all please provide the leadership and strength needed to negotiate a principled end to this senseless war  without sacrificing the dignity and human rights of Syrian families. That is non-negotiable.

Thank you all for letting me speak to you today.




UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie talks to Syrian children at Za'atari camp in Jordan.  UNHCR/Ivor Prickett

ZAATARI REFUGEE CAMP, Jordan  UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie said on Sunday that any negotiated solution to Syrias long-running conflict must respect the human rights and dignity of all Syrians, including millions of refugees living in neighbouring countries.

Almost seven years since the start of the conflict, more than 6 million people remain displaced inside Syria and a further 5.48 million have fled to other countries in the region, creating the biggest refugee crisis since the end of the second world war.

On her fifth visit to Jordan since the beginning of the crisis, Ms. Jolie visited refugee families living in Zaatari camp, the largest refugee settlement in the Middle East and home to more than 80,000 Syrians.

We should never forget that the war began with demands by Syrians for greater human rights, she told a news conference at the camp. Peace in their country has to be built on that.

It cannot be built on impunity for the targeting of civilians by all sides of the conflict, the bombing of schools and hospitals, barrel bombs, torture, chemical weapons and rape used as a weapon of war, she added.

"Please provide the leadership and strength needed to negotiate a principled end to this senseless war."

So that is my message to the international community today: yes, of course, please do more to help meet the needs of desperate Syrian families and the countries hosting them. But above all please provide the leadership and strength needed to negotiate a principled end to this senseless war  without sacrificing the dignity and human rights of Syrian families. That is non-negotiable.

Earlier, the Special Envoy met father-of-six Abu Suhaib, 40, who fled to Jordan from southern Syrias Daraa province in 2013. He told her the bloodshed and chaos back home had left him feeling helpless in exile, and said all he wanted was for his family to live in peace.

"All I want is to live with them somewhere they can study, become engineers or doctors, and serve the country that takes them with all honour and loyalty," he said. "From everything we see, it's difficult to hope that Syria will go back to the way it was before."

Accompanying the Special Envoy were two of her daughters  Zahara, 13, and Shiloh, 11  who met a group of young Syrian girls at a UNHCR-funded community centre in the camp. The girls are all members of an after-school learning initiative, and they described education as their greatest source of hope for the future.

My daughters Zahara and Shiloh asked to come with me today, Ms. Jolie said. Theyve spent time today speaking and playing with children their own age who have been forced from their homes, whose family members have been killed or have disappeared, and who are struggling with trauma and illness, but who at the end of the day are just children, with the same hopes and rights as children in any other nation.

UNHCR does not have the funds to provide in full even the most basic necessities for survival for many families."

After almost seven years of war, most Syrian refugees have exhausted any savings they had, with the majority now living below the poverty line and surviving on less than US$3 per day.

This has resulted in increasing hardship for refugees, the Special Envoy said, leaving many families without sufficient food, increasing numbers of young girls vulnerable to early marriage, and many Syrians facing yet another winter without proper shelter.

UNHCR does not have the funds to provide in full even the most basic necessities for survival for many families, Ms. Jolie said. Last year, the UNHCR response for the Syria crisis was only 50 per cent funded. So far this year, it is only 7 per cent funded.

Really, there is nothing more devastating for UNHCR staff than not to be able to give people the help and support they need and deserve.
UNSC condemns terrorist attack in central Mali

United Nations, Jan 28 (UNI) The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the barbaric and cowardly terrorist attack on 25 January against a bus transporting civilians near Boni, in central Mali, during which 26 people from Mali and Burkina Faso, including children, were killed.In a press statement issued late Friday evening, the Council expressed deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the Governments of Mali and Burkina Faso.

The members of the Security Council went on to express solidarity with Mali in its fight against terrorism and stressed the need to intensify regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism, which may be conducive to terrorism.

Underlining the need to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts to justice, the Security Council urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Governments of Mali and Burkina Faso as well as all other relevant authorities in this regard.
The rock mining site in Huong Van Ward in central Thua Thien- Hue Province. - Photo baotainguyenmoitruong.vn

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.
Our good ole Dubbya might not be an economer or anything fancy, but even hes come to the conclusion that he was a lot more terrible in the White House than Donald Trump. Dont let those retroactive approval numbers fool you! Remember the shoe-throwing journalists and Dick Cheneys penchant for shooting people! I was really bad. Like, historically not good, No. 43 reminisced on SNL. So I get why you dont like this current guy. Heck, I voted for Jill Stein all the way. But please dont look back at my presidency and think, This is how we do it. Dont forget, were in two different wars I started. Hey, what has two thumbs and created ISIS? This guy. Just let him play in his basement and take University of Phoenix painting classes in peace.
Will he do Harry Caray or James Lipton? Will he do the Spartan Cheerleaders with Cheri Oteri, the Hot Tub Luvvahs with Rachel Dratch, or Jeopardy! with Darrell Hammond as Sean Connery? Will George W. Bush taunt Donald Trump? Would there, could there, should there be more More Cowbell? Honestly, Will Ferrell has hosted SNL three times already, so its probably best the writers just give him new material with which to go wild; his laser-focused sense of character, his manic physical energy, and his straight-faced commitment to every weirdo under the sun will carry the day. To whet fans appetite for the show, NBC released not only Ferrells original SNL audition tape but also the very funny, unaired Old Prospector sketch from late 2001. Its a titillating one-two punch that makes the profoundly ridiculous seem not like a foregone conclusion.

George W. Bush Returns Cold Open

Its a very, very George W. Bush open as Dubya (Ferrell) addresses his fellow Americans from an Oval Officelike set in the basement of his Texas home. The subject, of course, is his terrible tenure as president as compared to Trumps abysmal attempt. Im suddenly popular AF, Bush says. And I want to remind you guys that I was really bad. Like, historically not good. He runs down his list of accomplishments, including a plummeting stock market, a press conference during which a reporter threw shoes at him, and two different wars. (What has two thumbs and created ISIS? This guy.) He laments the Trump White House because, Back in my day, we didnt let Russians rig our elections, we used the Supreme Court like Americans. Eventually, Condi Rice (Leslie Jones) shows up for movie night. Ferrells Bush seems less Bush-y than ever, but there are some smart reminders for those watching who suddenly remember Bushs two terms as halcyon days.

Will Ferrell First-Time Monologue

Oh wow, Ferrell exclaims, I have dreamt of standing on this stage my whole life! In fact, Ferrell got so excited about hosting SNL that he hit his head on a steel beam during the quick change and is now bleeding from the temple. Though he cant remember anything and feels very sleepy, the show must go on. Ferrell tries to sing I Think Im Gonna Like It Here from Annie, but ends up sputtering gibberish and passing out in the crowd. When one random audience member admonishes him, Dude, you need to go to the hospital, he curses her as Lorne Michaels, the rudest man in show business! While Cecily Strong and Kenan Thompson finally strap him to a stretcher, he announces that Nelly Furtado is performing. (Shes not.) Its physical, silly, and everything necessary to set the tone of the show.

Fighter Pilots

Somewhere over the South China Sea, a squad leader (Mikey Day) prepares his fellow pilots to approach the Korean peninsula; a quick roll call reveals their call signs are Wild Card, Sidewinder, Viper, and Clown Penis. Weird though it may be, Clown Penis (Ferrell) has that nickname because he wants his enemies to feel confused, unsettled and, most of all, very, very scared. This is not the only weird thing about ol Clown Penis: He accidentally inverts his plane and winds up in space. The sketch spins away from its original setup, but its much better than just dwelling on nicknames for four minutes.

The House

In this episode of The House Sonoma, bros Brian (Beck Bennett) and Brad (Ferrell) get ready for movie night on the couch. When housemate David (Kyle Mooney) arrives, he wants to go to see a movie in the theater. As the testimonials tell us, This could get bumpy. The house bros try to figure out what to do when the specials of the day are Drama, drama, and more drama. Ultimately, its no big deal  until the doorbell rings and Brad opens the door to find his son on the other side! Mooney and Bennett have worked with this template before, toying with the idea that reality shows demand conflict where there is none. Its true and awkwardly funny, if a little dull.

Commercial Shoot

Two elderly regulars at Dickensons Roadside Diner (Ferrell and McKinnon) sit in front of their pot pies, ready to deliver testimonials for a local commercial. The man is meant to say the phrase, baked in a crispy pastry crust, but can only manage things like buttery buddy bust and flaky bakey bacon. Despite her seeming aptitude, his wife doesnt fare much better. We raised five boys and some girls, the old man says at one point, Why cant we say the line? No simplifications or retakes are going to fix it, though it seems fair to imagine the director wont be able to use the phrase Yahtzee ISIS queef. McKinnon and Ferrell dont push each others buttons in the sketch much, but they make for great old farts and do their best to sell the simple-but-impossible task.

Flight Attendants

On this flight from Lubbock to Charleston, a crew including Spencer (Chris Redd), Sabrina (Aidy Bryant), and Gareth (Ferrell) like to do things a little differently. More specifically, they like to rap their safety announcements. While a random passenger (Luke Null) lays down a beat, Spencer and Sabrina take turns talking about seatbelts and oxygen masks; when its Gareths turn, he turns his attentions toward the godless realm beyond. Hes been listening to some podcasts and reading 1984, so he knows that religion is a delusion that shields us from impermanence. The gags will not translate to print in the least, so watch it. Its surprising, witty, dark, and really funny. Null gets good marks just for the timing on his beat-box bit.

Next: For Men

This deodorant ad is not just for men who sweat, but men who are sweating specifically because the #TimesUp movement is catching up to them. Whether one is an corporate bigwig (Ferrell), a stand-up comic (Mooney), or an actor (Moffat), protection in times of tribulation is necessary. Lots of women are brave, but this one is a liar, the actor tells a reporter before sniffing his pits. He may be in hot water, but hes still dry. This commercial parody is what you might imagine: clever, searing, and a little uncomfortable.

Weekend Update

In Updates first half, Michael Che and Colin Jost consider the government shutdown, immigration issues, and Trumps potential obstruction of justice. A fun, unexpected joke finds Che frustrated to agree with Trump from time to time due to Ches own black paranoia: Just when I think hes insane, hell say something that makes perfect sense, like, The media is lying. The FBI is trying to do me like they did Tupac. And Im like, They did kill Tupac, didnt they? Then Ferrell comes out as Jacob Silj, the man with voice immodulation syndrome. That is, the guy who talks in a loud, painful monotone. V.I.S. has been diagnosed in over zero people, he assures Jost. This is a recurring character, and its always impressive to note Ferrell makes the material sing even if its just a cue card with the stage direction, Talk loudly.

The second half has some jokes about animals: baboons escaping the Paris Zoo, camels disqualified from beauty pageants, plus Greyhound buses, and the Eagles in the Super Bowl. Heidi Gardner wheels on as Bailey Gismert, the millennial vlogger of Bailey at the Movies. Shes coy, sensitive, and entirely inarticulate. (Her review of The Shape of Water: It was like, I dont know, its like weird.) When Che teases her about possibly liking Armie Hammer, she nearly jabs her fingers in her eyes to keep from crying. Then it all comes out: Shes stressed about the school play and had mono for a year. Its another excellent Update character from Gardner, whose strong perspective and way with behavioral tics elevate the text.

Reality Stars

A quartet of barbequers await old friends Robin (Strong) and Dane (Ferrell), a couple who have been recently featured on the reality show Kings and Queens of Santa Clarita. As the crew wonders if their friends have been changed by fame, Robin and Dane show up in garish outfits, spray-tanned, with faces pinched by cheap surgeries. So nice to be back in Flagstaff with my normies, Robin cries before encouraging everyone to appear on camera. Once cameras are rolling, Robin and Dane stir up trouble, throwing a grill full of meat at their friends and threatening to hit someone with a dog. Costume, makeup and hair all win big points as Ferrell and Strongs onslaught of aggressive sass catches the entire cast giggling.

Dinner Discussion

A playful dinner conversation between three couples goes south when they stop talking dogs and start talking Aziz Ansari. The recent accusations against Ansari and the subsequent editorials about dating and assault make for very thin ice. Anyone at the table who starts a sentence, in any way, is cautioned by everyone else: Careful! Nope! When anyone actually completes a sentence  like, She could have just left  all hell breaks loose. The diners dunk their faces into plates of spaghetti, stab their own hands, or make themselves disappear using a little black magic. This is a really salient point made in a sketch thats really hard to pull off: The comedy comes from false starts, interruptions, and things unsaid. Well, that and some fun, over-the-top visual gags.

Office Breakroom

While gathered around the break table at the office, one guy (Ferrell) recounts the time he took a road trip and ate at Crate and Barrel. Did he mean Cracker Barrel? his co-workers want to know. Yep, indeed he did. Hes not from the South, he made a mistake, so can they let it go? Theyre entirely prepared to move on, but the guy believes theyre being superior and awful. Soon hes accusing his cohorts of bringing prostitutes to the Christmas party (That was my daughter) and not using condoms, just so they get a taste of what hes feeling. Then the guy quits (This is your company. Youre our boss!) and takes all of his pens with him. No, the sketch doesnt get Ferrell quite to Get off the shed levels of fury, but its enjoyably odd and ends on a great note.

Chucky Lee Byrd

This longform commercial introduces the music of 50s pop icon Chucky Lee Byrd, the Poet of Teen Love. In his classic Beauty Queen, his lady is only 17. In Candy Baby, Byrd contemplates what to get his girl for her Sweet 16, and in Farmer Girl, he is hated by the farmer because the girl is only 14. Things only get more disturbing from there, much to the chagrin of the pitchwoman (McKinnon) ostensibly there to sell some records. Doesnt he seem pretty old? she wonders aloud. The pitchman (Bennett) isnt worried because it was a different time back then. Still, can anyone justify a song called One and One Equals Eleven? This is a smartly observed little nugget about something both creepy and ubiquitous in old pop music, and Ferrell makes for a fine creep.

From the cold open to his appearance in Update, this episode keeps Ferrell on his toes  and unsurprisingly, Ferrell delivers everywhere he turns up. The sketches also vary in style and tone, addressing everything from tricky social issues to, well, a fighter pilot named Clown Penis. Theres playfully dark stuff and plenty of character pieces of Ferrell, too. Yeah, there are two bits about reality TV that tread some of the same ground, but when one mines the artificial constructs of the genre and one lets Ferrell hurl meat at his castmates, its safe to say theyre different enough. Will we have to wait another four or five years before Ferrell earns his Five-Timer Clubs jacket? Hard to say, but what we do know is Natalie Portman is set to host next week.
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.
Casino mogul Steve Wynn has stepped down as finance chairman for the Republican National Committee just over 24 hours after publication of multiple allegations of sexual assault and harassment against him.

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel issued a statement saying, "Today I accepted Steve Wynn's resignation as Republican National Committee Finance Chair."

The resignation of the 76-year-old Wynn came as pressure mounted on the RNC to address the allegations against him.

The Wall Street Journal on Friday reported that Wynn has been accused of sexual misconduct by dozens of people who shared similar accounts of his alleged pattern of abuse. Interviews conducted by the Journal with people who have worked at Wynn's casinos detailed a decades-long pattern of sexual misconduct by him, with some saying he pressured employees to perform sex acts, the Journal reported.

Wynn's attorneys declined to comment to the Journal. ABC News has not been able to reach a representative for Wynn for comment.

But Wynn said in a statement that the idea that he "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," Wynn said in the statement. "It is deplorable for anyone to find themselves in this situation."

Since publication of the Journal story, the RNC has remained silent on the allegations against its finance chair. Apart from its chairwoman's brief statement today accepting Wynn's resignation, it has not commented on the Journal story or the allegations it contained.

Its silence led some political opponents to accuse the RNC of hypocrisy. In the fall, after reports of alleged sexual assault and harassment by Harvey Weinstein, Republicans called out Democrats who didnt immediately give away political contributions they had received from the disgraced Hollywood producer.

Now some liberal publications like Think Progress and Salon were calling out the RNC for its silence."

President Donald Trump has in the past credited Wynn with helping the RNC rake in a record fundraising haul, saying of him during a July speech announcing new jobs, Another big investor in our country, Steve Wynn, would you stand up? Hes raising so much money for our great Republican Party  Did a great job.

Wynn has himself donated over $1.3 million to the RNC since 2000, according to Federal Election Commission records. He has also previously donated to Democrats such as former Congressman Charlie Rangel of New York and former Nevada Sen. Harry Reid.

On Oct. 5, when The New York Times broke its story on the accusations against Weinstein, at least four Democratic senators -- Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut -- said they would make charitable donations equal to amounts donated to them by Weinstein.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC), which had taken in more than $290,000 from Weinstein, according to the FEC, released a statement on the afternoon of Oct. 6 that said it would donate $30,000 of his contributions to womens advocacy groups.

Still, the RNC was strong in its attack against Democrats whom Weinstein had donated to in the past, blasting out emails featuring a running chart purportedly listing Democrats who had taken money from Weinstein over the years and indicating whether they had returned or donated the money away in light of the allegations.

The DNCs donation of $30,000 to womens groups was derided by RNC spokeswoman Cassie Smedile as Democrats attempting to launder the dirty Harvey Weinstein money to fellow Democratic political organizations."

Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer was among the Republicans who shared a chart alleging to detail which Democrats had received donations from Weinstein, and which had returned or donated them after the allegations broke.

Following the Journal story about Wynn, the DNC sent an email using the same words against the RNC as Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel used after the Weinstein allegations surfaced.

The DNC email read, 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.

Not all Republicans were silent about the Wynn allegations.

Former RNC spokesman Doug Heye sent out a series of tweets Friday afternoon calling on the RNC to cut its ties with Wynn, with one post noting how aggressive the RNC had been in calling out Democrats after the Weinstein allegations.

In the Journal story, former employees of Wynn said their awareness of his power in Las Vegas, as well as the knowledge that positions at his resorts were among the best-paying in the city, caused them to feel dependent on him and intimidated when he made requests of them.

The board of Wynn Resorts meanwhile announced Friday evening that it had formed a committee "to investigate allegations contained in the January 26, 2018 Wall Street Journal article."

The Wynn Resorts statement said, "The Board is deeply committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all of the Companys employees and to operating with the highest ethical standards."
Decatur utilities defending the quality of its drinking water.

That defense comes after an environmental activist group called for people in Decator to drink only bottled water. Warriors for Clean Water claims Decatur's water is contaminated with heavy metals and can cause kidney failure.

Decatur Utilities calls the claims unwarranted and unsubstantiated. It points out the multi-stage treatment, high-level of testing and independent monitoring Decatur's water goes through.

Also, Decatur Utilities has received industry recognition for its water operations.

Heres what Decatur Utilities wrote in a letter it sent to WAAY 31:

Decatur Utilities assures customers that its drinking water is safe Decatur Utilities monitored a press conference held today by Ron Mixon of Warriors for Clean Water and Dr. John Rose, DO (Doctor of Osteopathy). A variety of allegations were made during the conference about water quality in North Alabama, specifically areas of Morgan and Lawrence County. The Decatur Utilities service area was lumped into a region referenced in a study alleging a link between levels of heavy metals in local drinking water and instances of kidney failure. The call by Dr. Rose for Decatur residents served by Decatur Utilities to use only bottled water was unwarranted and unsubstantiated. Decatur Utilities provides its customers with safe, clean drinking water that exceeds state and federal quality standards. Contrary to the claim made by Mr. Mixon, DUs water treatment process is multi-staged and includes screening, chemical addition, settling, filtration, and disinfection. Decatur Utilities performs more than one million tests in-house and at third-party independent laboratories each year to monitor the level of contaminants in the drinking water provided. That report has consistently shown non-detectable levels of heavy metals such as lead, chromium and mercury. Levels of other contaminants are well below the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). A Water Quality Report is mailed to every DU water customer each year detailing the MCL and test result for each contaminate. This report is provided to our wholesale water customers as well. In August, Decatur Utilities received notification from the EPA that its Water Treatment Plant (WTP) had surpassed state and federal regulatory treatment standards for water quality for the fourth straight year (2013-2016). To achieve this level of excellence, DUs WTP exceeded the stringent goals set by ADEM for the treatment of turbidity, or the cloudiness caused by microscopic suspended solid particles in the water. In addition, our water treatment plant has been recognized by the Alabama Water Pollution Control Association for the past three years as the Best Operated Plant in Alabama (Distribution Systems 25,001  50,000 meters). Mr. Mixon also referenced PFCs in his remarks. Decatur Utilities once again wants to assure its water customers that all recent tests of its drinking water show no detectable levels of PFCs and Decaturs water supply is fully in compliance with all EPA and ADEM regulations. 
The Turnbull government has distanced itself from a central theme of the Trump administration's new national defence strategy, which defines growing Russian and Chinese military might as greater threats than terrorism.

The American strategic outlook, unveiled earlier this month by Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, elevates "inter-state strategic competition" as the administration's primary focus and outlines Russia and China as revisionist powers seeking to challenge the US, undermine free and open economies, grow their militaries and "shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model".

But Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Monday said neither country posed a military threat to Australia  a statement at odds with an earlier response from Defence Minister Marise Payne, who said Australia shared "similar concerns" to those expressed in the US defence strategy.

"We have a different perspective on Russia and China, clearly. We do not see Russia or China as posing a military threat to Australia," Ms Bishop told Sky News.
From high-tech smart rings to simple printed QR codes, Aussies are finding more ways to pay for things at the counter and on the go.

Australians lead the world when it comes to embracing contactless payments, with "tap and go" accounting for more than one-third of all retail transactions, whether it be using contactless cards, smartphones or the new generation of wearables such as smartwatches.

Bankwest's Halo ring is essentially a Mastercard, but in a more convenient shape.

As credit card surcharges and minimum purchase amounts gradually disappear, contactless payments are becoming more practical for small purchases such as your morning takeaway coffee.

As wearables strive to become more fashionable, Bankwest is launching the $39 Halo smart ring which lets you simply wave your hand to pay for things at the counter. Waterproof to 50 metres, the ring doesn't require charging and isn't dependent on a linked smartphone, meaning there's no danger of a flat battery leaving you in the lurch.
Thoughts from Tradewinds

Recent blogs, "Potholes in Paradise", and "Heritage Horror", described the terrible reality of failing Infrastructure in the Bahamas which now has reached the stage of being a national tragedy.. Any country, without reliable, modern and well maintained infrastructure, will find it almost impossible to attract much needed foreign capital, investment and technical assistance.. These problems of continued neglect are compounding daily and are an impediment and detriment to attracting much needed technical support and direct investment.. Today our roads are full of crater sized potholes while the traffic control systems (traffic lights) are often broken down and are mostly out of sink to traffic volume,. Our BPL power grid blackouts, brownouts and transformer/generator breakdowns are an ongoing occurrence.. Our antiquated, in need of capital replacement and maintenance, BTC telephone system frequently drops important calls and often breaks down going out-of-order.. Then there is the failing Post Office Service where it takes sometimes weeks to a few months to deliver local bank statements, BEC and BTC invoices and important international mail.. Eight weeks is far to long to wait to receive An American Express invoice.. Finally, our once customer orientated banking system is rapidly going to hell as we often have to wait near 30 minutes or more just to cash a check, get an account balance or make a simple bank deposit.. These ongoing failures and breakdowns in our nation's underlying Infrastructure has become an outright national embarrassment..

One has to logically question now what type of reputable foreign corporations would want to choose to establish a business site or domicile here in the Bahamas?? Give our high cost/ low productivity labour output, sub-standard educational performance and well over eleven paid national holidays every year combined with other costly employee benefits and excessive government regulations and fees makes for a rather expensive and negative investment climate..

This must be changed at once.. Government must give high priority to address, fix and maintain our broken down basic Infrastructure.. Systems also must be put-into-place to remove trash, garbage, abandoned and broken down cars, etc. to bring back our once lovely physical environment.. We want again to be able to feel a strong sense of personal pride in the country that is our homeland.. Once the Infrastructure issues have been fixed and maintained, we will have a far better opportunity in attracting direct foreign investment to our shores.. As for turning around our high cost/ labour productivity performance and poor educational achievement, these issues perhaps in the short-run are best addresses by corporate in house and external training programs that will change overall work ethics and negative attitudes.. These priorities must be addressed in order to begin to move the nation's economy forward and hopefully begin to drive real economic growth.. Government good will trips overseas are worthwhile but only as long as you have something creditable to offer and that is in demand.. Least we not forget that a nation's reputation and integrity always proceeds any goodwill sojourns abroad seeking to attract and entice investment support and technical assistance to the Bahamas..
UPDATE: New York State Police have identified the woman who was struck and killed in an accident in Herkimer Wednesday night, as well as the woman who hit her.

Police say 22-year-old Kaitlyn McCloskey of Utica was walking along State Route 5 in Herkimer around 8:23 p.m. Wednesday when 31-year-old Shararhonda Hall of Ilion struck her with her vehicle.

Police say Hall told officers that she knew she hit something, but she did not realize the struck a person. Hall told police that she immediately turned back and didnt see McCloskey lying on the shoulder of the roadway.

Hall then went back to her home and contacted 911 to report the incident, according to police.

Hall is charged with misdemeanor second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

_________________________________

UPDATE: State police say they have located the driver and vehicle involved in the fatal hit-and-run accident that occurred around 8:23 p.m. in the town of Herkimer Wednesday night.

According to the Herkimer County district attorney, the driver contacted state police.

Police say the investigation is ongoing. We will provide more information as it becomes available.



_________________________________

HERKIMER -- Law enforcement are on the lookout for the driver involved in a fatal car-pedestrian accident in the town of Herkimer.

The accident happened shortly before 9:00 p.m. Wednesday. A section of route 5 in Herkimer is closed off as a result.

The road was blocked off for about five miles, just east of the Frankfort bridge.

State troopers have confirmed that the victim is a woman. She was taken to St. Elizabeth Medical Center, where she later died.

Police are searching for the driver who hit the person. The car is described as a tan colored Subaru, with damage to the passenger's side mirror and headlight.

Anyone with information is asked to contact state police at 315-366-6000 or call 911.

We will provide updated information as it comes in.




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In center, the King and Queen of Woonsocket Mardi Gras are Bob Billington and Joyce LaPerle. They were revealed Friday night at Savinis Pomodoro. This years princesses are Kim Blais, at left, and Tammy Irwin, at right.
A mother who has been in the United States since she was a child is being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Lilian Gordillo of Rhode Island married her husband Luis 2 years ago and they have 2 children together.

The couples children, 4-year-old Nattalie and 1-year-old Noa, are American citizens.

Gordillo, who came from Mexico when he was a child, became an American citizen shortly after graduating from Mount Pleasant High School Rhode Island, where his wife was also a student.

Lilian came from Guatemala to the United States with her family when she was 3 years old but she was unable to get her citizenship.

After the two met, Luis wanted to sponsor his wife so that she can get citizenship. They got married 2 years ago and now decided to verify their marriage with immigration authorities so Lilian can get citizenship.

However, things didnt go as planned. Luis said that while being interviewed by authorities, Lilian was arrested and is being held at the Suffolk Correctional facility in Boston, Massachusetts.

Luis said that he and his children miss her very much, and when the children ask about their mother, he tells them that she is at work.

A GoFundMe account was set up to help with her legal fees already raised $6,100 of their $7,500 goal in just 3 days.
In an overt act of political intimidation, the social media platform Twitter emailed hundreds of thousands of users Saturday informing them that they had shared or followed Russian propaganda.

Twitter made these claims without substantiation, refusing to tell its users exactly what content they shared or viewed that fell afoul of the US government and its social media enforcers. Among the recipients of the email was the Senates second-highest ranking Republican, John Cornyn.

As part of our recent work to understand Russian-linked activities on Twitter during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, read the email sent out by Twitter, we identified and suspended a number of accounts that were potentially connected to a propaganda effort by a Russian government-linked organization known as the Internet Research Agency.

Taking the guise of a friendly warning, Twitter continued, Consistent with our commitment to transparency, we are emailing you because we have reason to believe that you either followed one of these accounts or retweeted or liked content from these accounts during the election period.

In other words, Twitter is warning its users that it knows exactly what they are viewing and sharing on social media, implying that if they post something that falls afoul of the US government, they may be subject to investigation or prosecution.

Twitters action is the latest step in a campaign led by the Democratic Party, the New York Times, the Washington Post and the leading intelligence agencies to argue that the growth of social opposition that expressed itself in broad popular hostility to the Clinton campaign during the 2016 election is the result of Russian propaganda aimed at sowing divisions in American society.

Lawmakers, including Mark Warner, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, have demanded that the major technology companies draw up lists of accounts and individuals that disseminated what they called Russian Propaganda. The technology companies have complied.

Twitters action comes amid a massive escalation of the drive by social media companies to censor the Internet. Last week, representatives from Facebook, Twitter and Googles YouTube testified before the Senate Commerce committee on their efforts to combat extremist content.

Monika Bickert, head of Global Policy Management at Facebook, told lawmakers that the social media company has hired 10,000 people for its security department to review, block and take down content, and that this number will be doubled over the next year. Google, for its part, plans to bring the number of content moderators it employs to 10,000 this year.

Twitters email blast to users followed the January 12 announcement by Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg that it plans to dramatically reduce the amount of independent news that appears on users news feeds.

On Friday, Zuckerberg clarified that while the total amount of news that users see would fall only slightly, the great majority of news content on users feeds would now come from authoritative and trustworthy news sources, instead of those that promote polarization.

In an indication of what this will mean in practice, the stock value of the New York Times shot up by nine percent that day, in the expectation that its postings would displace content from independent media organizations.

The growing drive to censor political speech on the Internet comes amid growing preparations by the Trump administration and the military for the eruption of major state-on-state military conflict.

The National Defense Strategy, published Friday by the Pentagon, stresses the need for the US government to combat political subversion in preparation for Inter-state strategic competition.

It is now undeniable that the homeland is no longer a sanctuary. America is a target, the document states, for political and information subversion on the part of revisionist powers such as Russia and China.

The document argues for the formation of what can only be termed a totalitarian regime, waging total war. It writes, A long-term strategic competition requires the seamless integration of multiple elements of national powerdiplomacy, information, economics, finance, intelligence, law enforcement, and military.

The ever-tighter censorship and monitoring of social media and other online communications is a major component of this strategy, which aims to lay the ground for major conflict, potentially involving millions of deaths, by effectively eliminating the freedom of expression.

Twitters email blast took place the same week as the World Socialist Web Site hosted its live webinar, Organizing Resistance to Internet Censorship, featuring WSWS chairperson David North and journalist Chris Hedges, in which North proposed a coalition of socialist and anti-war web sites to oppose internet censorship.
Police in Panama City Beach, Florida, have charged two 12-year-old middle-school students with cyberstalking after the suicide of another student.

Police said Tuesday in a statement that 12-year-old Gabriella Green, known as Gabbie, was found unresponsive at her home on January 10 and was pronounced dead at a hospital. The medical examiner told CNN that the girl died from hanging.

During the investigation, family and friends alerted police that Gabbie had been a victim of cyberbullying. Police said they looked at cellphones and social media accounts, which led them to interview two children she knew.

Police did not say whether the suspects had lawyers present at the time of the interviews. Their parents gave permission for them to speak with investigators.

The accused girl told officers she intended to cause problems between Gabbie and another child and made derogatory comments verbally and electronically, a police report said. "Her actions consisted of starting rumors of the victim having sexually transmitted diseases, vulgar name-calling ... and threats to 'expose' personal and sensitive details of the victim's life." The suspect deleted messages upon learning of the death, police said.

The accused boy said Gabbie texted him to say she was having a bad day and had attempted to hang herself and had marks on her neck, police said. During a video chat, she discussed taking her life, and the boy said something to the effect of, "If you're going to do it, just do it" and ended the call.

He said he regretted that comment and tried to message her, but did not receive a response, police said. The student did not reach out to any adults or authorities.

An officer wrote that the actions of the accused boy and girl caused mental distress to the victim.

The accused are not being named because they are minors.

Police said they did not find that cyberbullying was the sole cause of Gabbie's death. "The investigation only revealed that cyberbullying was transpiring at the time of her death."

In a press release, police warned that over the course of the investigation, they found several juveniles with access to social media applications that allow anonymous postings. They will be holding training in the coming weeks for parents on these applications and the dangers and signs of cyberbullying.

Gabbie's mother, Tanya Green, says that she has received messages of support from hundreds who have been influenced by her daughter's story.

"I have teens, children as young as third grade and adults messaging me from all over the world inspired by our girl and her beautiful spirit," she told CNN.

The Greens are sharing Gabbie's story on social media in the hope of bringing awareness to cyberbullying and saving lives.

Ginger Littleton, chairwoman of the board in Bay District Schools, where the students attended, released a statement.

"We cannot reiterate strongly enough the cautions and warnings that were delivered yesterday by the Panama City Beach Police Department. Let me assure you that each of us here today, and all of our administrators and staff in our schools, will continue to work with parents and students to help them understand the impact of our spoken and written words. This tragedy has not only forever impacted one family, but the hurt and pain is now being felt by multiple families. We will continue to do all we can to guide and teach our students about the dangers of bullying and social media."
Former guerilla leader Rodrigo Londo-o led thousands of Marxist rebel troops to surrender their weapons last year, ending years of armed struggle in Colombia.

And now, he wants to be Colombia's next president.

Londo-o -- better known by his guerilla alias "Timochenko" --- was the top leader of Colombia's most powerful guerrilla force, FARC, throughout the group's lengthy peace negotiations with the government. But he has also been accused by the was also accused by US State Department. of controlling the FARC's cocaine operations and "the murder of hundreds of people."

US officials have offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

Supporters dressed in white shirts gathered Saturday in Bogota's neighborhood of Ciudad Bolivar, carrying posters with Londo-o's photo as he officially announced his presidential bid.

"I'm committed to lead a transition government that will generate conditions for the birth of a new Colombia," Londo-o told supporters. "For a government that will finally represent the interests of the poor."

Londo-o is the first presidential candidate leading the FARC's new political party, Fuerza Alternativa Revolucionaria del Com-n" or "Common Alternative Revolutionary Force."

Colombia will hold its first round of presidential elections on May 27.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos will end his second term in office in August and is not eligible for reelection.

From the countryside to the polls

The transition of the FARC from a guerilla into a political party was months in the making.

The Colombian government and the FARC signed a peace agreement in Havana in September 2016 following four years of negotiations and a 52-year civil war that claimed more than 200,000 lives.

Initially, Colombians rejected that agreement in a referendum vote, setting back negotiations. But it was then that the government invited opposition parties to revise the agreement, and the final deal was approved by Congress.

As part of the final accord, the group agreed to turn over their weapons to the United Nations and leave their jungle strongholds.

Last year, President Santos stressed that the purpose of the peace agreement was for the FARC to give up their arms and "to be political without violence".

In April, the Colombian Senate approved 10 congressional seats for former FARC combatants interested in holding elected office and four months later, the group unveiled the name and logo of its new political party.

FARC leaders have said their platform includes attacking corruption and fighting poverty in the country.

What is the FARC?

The FARC was formed in 1964 with rebels wanting to forcibly redistribute wealth inspired by the success of the Cuban revolution. Espousing anti-US and Marxist ideology, the group drew the overwhelming majority of its members from the rural poor.

It was funded by a sophisticated cocaine trafficking network and was armed with child soldiers.

The armed group seized territory, attacked government forces and interfered with political life through high-profile kidnappings.

Among the group's most notorious feats was the 2002 capture of presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who was held deep in the jungle for six years before a Colombian military operation rescued her.

Both the United States and European Union designated it as a terrorist group.
Hong Kong authorities successfully defused a newly unearthed World War II-era bomb on Sunday, according to police.

The 450-kg (992 lb.) explosive was discovered during construction near the Hong Kong Convention Center on Saturday, Hong Kong police said on their official Facebook page. It was described as being 145 centimeters (nearly 5 feet) long, 45 centimeters (1.5 feet) wide and was believed to be American in origin.

The discovery of the bomb prompted authorities to evacuate approximately 1,500 people in the Wan Chai neighborhood of the city, police said. Multiple roads were closed as officials with the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Bureau worked to safely defuse the device.

On Sunday afternoon, police announced on their Facebook page that the disposal squad had "safely handled" the bomb, and the areas previously closed off were reopened.

According to US military archives, the US Army Air Corps began the bombing of Hong Kong in the fall of 1942, striking the city dozens of times. Most of those air raids were carried out by B-24 and B-25 bombers, the former of which could carry up to 8,000 pounds of bombs.

Similar World War II explosives have been discovered in Germany in the past several years. Last September, nearly 60,000 people were evacuated from Frankfurt as authorities defused a 1.4-ton British bomb. And in May of last year more than 50,000 people were evacuated from Hanover when two bombs from World War II were found during a construction project.

On Christmas Day in 2016, 50,000 people were evacuated from Augsburg in south Germany after a 1.8-ton bomb was found underneath an underground parking garage.
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."
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The love for the outdoors brought many together in Terre Haute on Saturday.

It was for the Wild Game Dinner at Union Christian Church.

Randy Anderson, a professional predator caller, was the dinner's guest speaker. That's where he shared his techniques including coyote calling.

Organizers say the dinner was an opportunity to celebrate faith and popular hobbies.

"Invite men and women in that have the common theme of enjoying hunting and fishing," said Lead Pastor Todd Payton, "and also so we can share the love of Jesus with them."

This was the 12th year for the event. More than 280 people attended this year.
STOCKHOLM (AP) - Ingvar Kamprad, the IKEA founder who turned a small-scale mail order business into a global furniture empire, has died at 91, the company said Sunday.

IKEA Sverige, the chain's Swedish unit, said on Twitter that Kamprad died Saturday at his home in Smaland, Sweden.

"He will be much missed and warmly remembered by his family and IKEA staff all around the world," the company said.

Kamprad's life story is intimately linked to the company he founded at age 17 on the family farm.

His work ethic, frugality and down-to-earth style remain at the core of its corporate identity today. But his missteps in life, including early flirtations with Nazism, never rubbed off on IKEA, one of the world's most recognizable brands.

Kamprad formed the company's name from his own initials and the first letters of the family farm, Elmtaryd, and the parish of Agunnaryd where it is located. It's in the heart of Smaland, a forested province whose people are known in Sweden for thrift and ingenuity. Kamprad possessed both.

Later in life, his name often appeared on lists of the world's richest men, but he never adopted the aura of a tycoon. He drove a modest Volvo and dressed unassumingly. In a 1998 book that he co-authored about IKEA's history, he described his habit of visiting vegetable street markets right before they closed for the day, hoping to get a better price on their goods.

Born March 30, 1926, Kamprad was a precocious entrepreneur who sold matchboxes to neighbors from his bicycle. He found that he could buy them in bulk very cheaply from Stockholm, and sell them at a low price but still make a good profit. From matches, he expanded to selling fish, Christmas tree decorations, seeds, and later ball-point pens and pencils.

Kamprad soon moved away from making individual sales calls and began advertising in local newspapers and operating a makeshift mail-order catalog. He distributed his products via the local milk van, which delivered them to the nearby train station.

In 1950, Kamprad first introduced furniture into his catalog. The furniture was produced by local manufacturers in the forests close to his home. After the positive response he received, he soon decided to discontinue all of the other products and focus on low-priced furniture.

Since then the IKEA concept - keeping prices low by letting the customers assemble the furniture themselves - offers affordable home furnishings at stores across the globe.

In 1994, Swedish newspaper Expressen reported that Kamprad had contacts with Swedish fascist leader Per Engdahl in the 1940s and '50s. In a letter to IKEA employees, Kamprad admitted that he once had sympathies for the far-right leader and called it "a part of my life which I bitterly regret."

In the 1998 book, he gave more details about his youthful "delusions," saying he had been influenced as child by his German grandmother's strong support for Hitler. His paternal grandparents emigrated to Sweden in the 1890s.

"Now I have told all I can," he said at a book release ceremony at an IKEA store in suburban Stockholm. "Can one ever get forgiveness for such stupidity?"

The book also contained details about his struggles with alcohol and his successes and failures in business.

IKEA celebrates its Swedish heritage: the company's stores are painted blue and yellow like the Swedish flag and serve meatballs and other traditional Swedish food. But Kamprad's relationship with his homeland was sometimes complicated.

He moved to Switzerland in the late 1970s to avoid paying Swedish taxes, which at the time were the highest in the world. He decided to return home only after his wife Margaretha died in 2011.

The estate inventory filed to Swedish tax authorities in 2013 confirmed that the couple lived comfortably, but hardly in opulence. They had two cars - a 2008 Skoda and a 1993 Volvo 240. Kamprad's personal wealth was established at 750 million kronor ($113 million), a considerable amount, but far from the multibillion-dollar sums attributed to him on world's-richest lists compiled by Forbes and others.

IKEA officials have said such lists, which compared his wealth to that of Warren Buffet or Bill Gates, erroneously considered IKEA's assets as his own. IKEA is owned by foundation that Kamprad created, whose statutes require profits to be reinvested in the company or donated to charity.

The estate inventory showed that Kamprad donated more than $20 million to philanthropic causes in 2012 alone.

In June 2013, Kamprad announced that he would retire from the board which controls the IKEA brand as part of moves to hand responsibilities over to his son, Mathias.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
In just one year, US President Donald Trump has changed the way Asia looks at the United States.

The cornerstones of American power in Asia, Japan, Australia and South Korea, all lost a little faith in their longtime close ally and protector in 2017, according to Gallup polling.

No military assets have been withdrawn, no embassies closed, but the lack of interest expressed by a US administration focused on "America First" has deeply shaken its status in the region.

"Nowadays when we attend international conferences (around Asia), nobody really talks about the United States anymore ... it's a little bit strange," Chisuke Masuo, associate professor at Kyushu University's Graduate School of Social and Cultural Studies, told CNN.

Uncertainty about America's commitment to the region has prompted local leaders to strengthen ties with each other, to prepare for the day when the US no longer has their backs.

Meanwhile, a number of simmering flashpoints across the region could test the US' commitment to its allies, and Masuo said China is likely to use those points of tension to prove its regional supremacy.

"It's the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party in July 2021, and I think (Chinese President) Xi Jinping will love to demonstrate his people that China has become a dominant power in Asia by then," she said.

"The US may want to change its Asia policy after three years, but I'm very worried if that will be possible," Masuo added. "China is restructuring the entire international order in the Asia Pacific."

Southeast Asia: The forgotten flashpoint

Nowhere in Southeast Asia is the power struggle between the United States and China as clear as in the fight for control of the South China Sea.

It's a regional flashpoint which has long threatened to spark a larger armed conflict amid territorial claims from at least five separate countries for a small collection of reefs and submerged islands.

Since Trump was sworn into office, tensions have faded as Washington and Beijing's attention turned north to the Korean Peninsula, Ian Storey, senior fellow at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, told CNN.

"But if history is anything to go by, it means tensions will start to rise again," he said.

China has not stopped expanding its footprint in the South China Sea during the North Korea crisis, continuing to extend its hold over the area through bases for aircraft and radar installations.

Storey said over the next three years there are several lines China could cross which would likely provoke a fierce reaction from the United States and other Southeast Asian nations.

For instance, it could declare an air defense zone over the Spratley Islands, as it did in the East China Sea, or Chinese forces could begin reclamation of Scarborough Shoal.

"(Additionally) so far China has refrained from sending any fighter aircraft to its artificial islands, but given the scale of the facilities they've built on three of these features for aircraft, it's really only a question of time," he said.

"That would warrant a reaction from Southeast Asian countries ... so I think China is playing it cautious for the moment. (But) I mean if they do, what options do those countries have other than to protest?"

Several countries in Southeast Asia have already started moving closer to China as US influence in the region fades, including a startling about-face by Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017.

But the country to watch as a litmus test of China's growing influence in Southeast Asia is Vietnam, Storey said, which has emerged as a surprising US ally in recent years.

In 2017, Vietnam built a closer defense and security relationship with the US while standing as perhaps the last major opposition to China in the neighboring sea. A US aircraft carrier will be visiting the country in 2018 for the first time since the Vietnam War.

Storey said any moves by Vietnam towards Beijing would be stunning.

"That would be a key indication that China is winning in the region and that Southeast Asian countries were making concessions to China," he said.

East Asia: Cracks in US influence

The vast majority of American power in Asia, both military and diplomatic, is centered on the Korean Peninsula.

In 2017, the North Korean government announced it had developed missiles capable of hitting the mainland United States, sparking a war of words between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and President Trump as well as conflicting views inside Washington over how to resolve the crisis.

How the standoff ends could well determine the future of US power in Asia, but John Park, director of the Korea Working Group at Harvard Kennedy School, told CNN the event itself shows the cracks in American influence.

"The current North Korean nuclear crisis is showing the considerable effort that the US has to make to project its power," he said.

It isn't just the impotence of the US to stop North Korea attaining nuclear weapons. Repeated threats of military action which could come at the expense of South Korea have caused concerns among the close US ally, Park said.

"The pillar of the decades-old assurance that the US would defend Seoul as if it were Los Angeles is appearing to shake," he said.

Trump's threats of potential military intervention in North Korea are likely to be tested in coming years as well. Park said further missile testing is likely in 2018, as well as a possible atmospheric nuclear test by the North Koreans.

Neighboring countries will be watching the US carefully and any rash conflict sparked by Washington will be laid straight at the White House's door. "The credibility of US leadership as a provider of global stability would erode," Park said.

But while international attention is focused on the Korean Peninsula, China could seek to test US influence in Asia through a completely separate flashpoint in East Asia.

In his speech at the 19th Party Congress in October, Xi Jinping did not mince his words when saying the national reunification of Taiwan with the mainland was a vital part of his plan for China.

Mainland Chinese authorities announced in early 2018 they would be opening new air routes over the Taiwan Straits, in an area close to the island itself, without consulting Taipei's government.

"The one thing that has never changed (for Beijing) is the Taiwan position," Xu Guoqi, Kerry Group professor at the University of Hong Kong, told CNN.

"They always claimed Taiwan was part of China ... so now as China becomes more assertive, more powerful, as the Americans pull back, Beijing might do something that might be a surprise."

Any moves by China against Taiwan would be a test for US influence, as Washington has been a close ally of Taipei for decades.

If American promises to defend the island from Beijing aggression weren't honored, Xu said, the backdown could shatter US influence and alliances in Asia.

South Asia: Military focus shifting

Barely two weeks into 2018, Indian Army chief Gen. Bipin Rawat said it was time for India to shift its defensive focus to the northern border it shares with China.

"The country is capable of handling China's assertiveness. China is a powerful country, but we are not a weak nation," he said in New Delhi on January 12, according to the Indian Express.

The comments infuriated Beijing, spurring a series of rebukes from the Chinese Foreign Ministry and even editorials in state media publications.

But Bharat Karnad, research professor in national security studies at the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi, said the repositioning was necessary and long overdue.

"We are shifting our military focus from Pakistan to China. This is something we should done 30 years ago," he said, adding further tensions on the Chinese/Indian border such as the 2017 standoff at Doklam were inevitable.

According to Rawat, India and several other countries in Asia, including Japan, were already treating the US as a "fading power," who could no longer be relied on for defense purposes.

"It could manifest itself in the future via Asian countries and especially India and Japan cooperating and collaborating further on their security objectives," he said.

Other countries in South Asia have anticipated the new paradigm in a different way, choosing to make definitive moves closer to the government in Beijing.

Pakistan is a close part of China's grand One Belt One Road infrastructure initiative which will be unfolding in Asia over the coming years as Beijing sponsors projects across the region with an aim to recreate the original Silk Road.

Speaking to CNN, former Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said she didn't believe her country had to pick between the US or China, but added Beijing had been a long-term partner for Pakistan.

"(China is) perhaps the only real strategic partner Pakistan has had, not from today or the last five years, but for the last four decades. With them, we have a complete alignment of interest," she said.

In January, the US confirmed it would be suspending an estimated $1 billion in security assistance to Pakistan over what it sees as a failure by the Pakistani government to adequately clamp down on terror groups within its borders.

Elsewhere, Myanmar's controversial State Councilor Aung San Suu Kyi recently visited Beijing again to a warm reception, while the Sri Lanka the government announced it had granted a Chinese company a 99-year lease on a newly constructed port.

Despite India's neighbors Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar working closely with China, Karnad said Delhi had one advantage which would hold Beijing at bay for the near future at least.

"(China) cannot afford to lose the Indian market," he said. "If it upsets India too much, it can shut off the Indian market to Chinese goods, the Chinese economy takes a big hit ... Things are far more difficult for China than many people in the West make out."

Australia: Deft diplomacy required

It's been a rough year for Australia diplomatically, caught in complicated and fractious relationships with both US President Donald Trump and the Chinese government.

In the second half of the year, China and Australia regularly clashed over allegations of interference by Beijing in domestic Australian politics, allegations the Chinese vehemently denied.

In January, Australian International Development Minister Concetta Fierravanta-Wells told local media China's aid in the Pacific was just creating "useless" buildings and "roads to nowhere."

Hugh White, professor of strategic studies at the Australian National University, says Australia is still trapped in the mantra which has defined its diplomatic choices for a decade: "Australia doesn't have to choose between the United States and China."

Even the new Australian foreign policy white paper published at the end of 2017 makes little reference to the possibility of a reduced US role in the Asia region.

"Australia tangibly supports the deep engagement of the United States in the economic and security affairs of the region, which has been and continues to be essential to the stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific," the document says.

But White warned that over the next three years, trapped between an increasingly aggressive China and a disinterested White House, Canberra could be caught unprepared for a new Asia.

"Australia doesn't have a policy on this, it just has a series of hopes," he said.

With Australia hugely reliant on the United States for its defense, any breakdown of US influence or presence in the Asia region could leave the island nation militarily adrift, White said.

To complicate matters, Australia looks likely to see a change in government before 2021, with the current government under Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull broadly unpopular across polls.

There's no indication as yet whether a new Labor government would change its policy to China or the United States.

Michael Fullilove, executive director of Sydney's Lowy Institute, doesn't agree with White that China is guaranteed to assume the leadership of the Asia region, but added navigating the coming years would take deft diplomacy for Australia.

"What Australia needs to do is hedge ... by seeking to play an active role (diplomatically), by strengthening our connections with other countries. The more we can strengthen our connections with India, Indonesia and Japan, the harder it is for Asia to be dominated by one particular state," he said.

At the same time, Fullilove said Australia needs to work to keep the US engaged in the region while cooperating with China when it is in Canberra's interests to do so.

"That's a very ambitious foreign policy I just sketched out -- the question in a lot of minds is, 'is the volatile Australian political system capable of it? Will it prioritize foreign policy, does it have the wherewithal to carry it off?'" he said.
The resurgence of the oil industry can be traced back to what happened in Congress one day in December 2015.

That's when lawmakers ended the 40-year ban on U.S. oil exports. Crude pumped in Texas, Oklahoma and North Dakota could suddenly be shipped overseas.

At the time, a glut of supply was wreaking havoc on the energy industry. Crude eventually crashed to $26 a barrel.

But that glut is disappearing, thanks in part to booming oil exports from the United States. Crude that was once trapped inside the country is now going to Europe, Latin America and even China.

The United States exported a record 1.7 million barrels of oil per day in October 2017, according to the most recent stats from the Energy Information Administration. That's four times as much as in 2015, when federal law prohibited shipping oil to most places except Canada.

"What happened is pretty dramatic," said Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis at the Oil Price Information Service. "It basically drained the U.S."

Related: America could become oil king of the world in 2018

The U.S. oil inventory -- the crude that's been pumped out of the ground but not yet sold -- has dropped 15% over the past year, according to the EIA. Stockpiles have shrunk 10 weeks in a row, and are the smallest since February 2015.

As exports of American oil have drained the supply glut, prices have climbed. Crude has spiked 9% this year and hit a three-year high of $66.66 a barrel on Thursday.

The end of the export ban is just one factor supporting the energy market. More consequential was the agreement by OPEC and Russia to rein in output. Crude prices have also benefited from the stronger economy, which creates more demand for oil, and the weaker U.S. dollar.

Related: Russia, Saudi Arabia not worried about U.S. oil boom

Now that oil fetches a higher price, domestic producers are pumping more, especially from shale hotbeds like the Permian Basin of West Texas and New Mexico

And some of that oil is finding a home overseas. After Canada, the top destinations for American crude in 2017 were China (16.5%), Britain (11.3%) and the Netherlands (8.4%), according to the energy research firm ClipperData.

Soaring domestic production has also allowed the United States to import less, including from unstable places like Venezuela and the Middle East. The United States still imports more oil than it imports, but that gap is shrinking.

"The U.S. is becoming much more self-sufficient," said Matt Smith, ClipperData's director of commodity research.

Forecasters even believe the U.S. could soon topple Russia and Saudi Arabia as the world's largest oil producer.

"Exports are going to get bigger and bigger and bigger," Kloza said. "That has real consequences."

He predicted the United States could eventually be a top four oil exporter, surpassing OPEC countries like Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates.

"No one wants to cede market share to the U.S.," Kloza said.

For their part, Russia and Saudi Arabia insist they aren't nervous about the American oil machine.

"Demand is growing," Saudi energy minister Khalid al-Falih said this week from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "I don't think we should worry."

Related: Trump hasn't killed renewable energy

OPEC probably realizes that outdated infrastructure will limit how much oil the United States can ship overseas. Pipelines, shipping terminals and docks need upgrades badly.

"U.S. exporters must still use smaller, less-economic vessels or complex shipping arrangements, which add to costs," the EIA said in a recent report.

The other key: U.S. crude oil prices trade well below world prices for a variety of factors, including the shale boom and lower OPEC output. If that gap were to disappear, demand for U.S. oil would probably drop.

For now, booming exports and production have allowed the U.S. energy industry -- and its hurting workforce -- to rebound from the crash of two years ago. That means more jobs and stronger economic growth.

But if oil prices get too high and gasoline prices follow, American drivers may be annoyed about that crude getting shipped overseas. In addition to crude oil, the U.S. exports about 2 million barrels per day of gasoline and diesel each day.

The average gallon of gasoline sold for $2.57 a gallon on Friday, according to AAA. While that's still relatively low, it is up from $2.29 a year ago -- and Kloza expects gas prices to keep climbing.

"You may start to hear people scream about it when gas prices inevitably march higher," he said.
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.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A Florida judge has ruled that a lawsuit against the state's decision to ban smokable forms of medical marijuana can proceed but without one of the key parties.

Leon County Judge Karen Gievers ruled on Friday that three patients suing the state can proceed because their claims that the ban impacts them are sufficient. Gievers dismissed the motion by People United for Medical Marijuana, which is the committee formed by Orlando attorney John Morgan, because it lacks sufficient grounds. The organization has 10 days to file an amended lawsuit.

Morgan spearheaded the 2016 state constitutional amendment making medical marijuana legal, which was approved by 71 percent of voters.

The state legislature banned smoking in last year's bill signed by Gov. Rick Scott, saying it isn't healthy. The law does allow for vaping, edibles, oils, sprays or tinctures.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida is launching a criminal investigation into a former state senator who abruptly resigned after a former judge hired by the Senate found credible evidence of sexual misconduct.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said on Friday it is now "conducting an active investigation" of Jack Latvala but did not provide any additional details.

Latvala announced his resignation last month after former Judge Ronald Swanson issued a report that said he likely inappropriately touched a top Senate aide and may have broken the law by offering a witness in the case his support for legislation in exchange for sex acts.

Swanson's report was forwarded to FDLE.

Latvala, a Clearwater Republican who had risen to powerful positions in the state Senate, has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing.
ATLANTA (AP) - A civil rights group is filing a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security for failing to release information connected to President Donald Trump's now-disbanded voter fraud commission.

The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law filed the suit Friday in Washington, D.C.

It wants the agencies to release emails, calendars and other communications they had with members and staff of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity.

Voting-rights advocates are concerned that the agencies might be working together as part of an effort by Trump and some commission members to justify his unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud.

A Homeland Security spokesman said the department does not comment on pending litigation. An email seeking comment from the Justice Department was not immediately returned.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-14 20:20:15|Editor: ZD

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Chinese President Xi Jinping (L), also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, shakes hands with Bounnhang Vorachit, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and president of Laos, while jointly witnessing the signing of bilateral cooperation documents after their talks in Vientiane, Laos, Nov. 13, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

VIENTIANE, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up a fruitful state visit to Laos on Tuesday, after the two sides agreed to build an unbreakable community of shared future with strategic importance.

In a joint statement issued here, China and Laos pledged to further enrich and develop their long-standing and stable comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation with a high level of mutual trust, mutual support and mutual benefit, and hold the spirit of good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners.

It is the first visit in 11 years by a Chinese head of state and top Communist Party of China (CPC) leader to Laos.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, hold talks with Bounnhang Vorachit, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and president of Laos, and met separately with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and President of the Lao National Assembly Pany Yathotou during the visit.

The party and state leaders of the two countries briefed each other on their respective development progress, exchanged in-depth views on bilateral ties and international and regional issues of common concern, and reached important consensuses.

Speaking highly of each other's development achievements, the two sides agreed to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning, pushing forward China's reform and opening up and Laos' reform and renewal.

The Lao side spoke highly of the elevation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era into the CPC's guiding principles during the 19th CPC National Congress.

Laos was confident that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core, the Chinese people will forge ahead smoothly towards the two centenary goals and build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally-advanced, harmonious and beautiful, said the statement.

Since they established diplomatic ties 56 years ago, the two sides have continuously enhanced political mutual trust and expanded practical cooperation. They have also seen their people-to-people exchanges grow increasingly closer, as well as a comprehensive and ever deepening bilateral relationship, which have brought substantial benefits to the two peoples.

The document noted that China and Laos, both communist party-led socialist states, share similar dreams and beliefs, political systems, and development paths.

The two sides agreed that jointly building a community of shared future with strategic significance on the basis of mutual trust is in accordance with the fundamental interests and common expectations of the two parties, two countries and two peoples, and is also conducive to the noble cause of peace and development for mankind.

They also pledged to maintain the fine tradition of high-level exchange of visits so as to guide the development of bilateral ties in the new era and strengthen inter-party exchanges and cooperation, deepen exchange of experience in the governance of the party and the state, and step up cooperation in diplomacy, defense, law enforcement and security.

The two countries reaffirmed their firm support on issues related to each other's major interests, agreed to accelerate the synergy of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Laos' strategy of turning itself from a "land-locked" country to a "land-linked" one.

China and Laos agreed to jointly build a China-Laos economic corridor, forge ahead with landmark projects such as the China-Laos railway, elevate the scale and level of their economic and trade cooperation in a bid to promote economic complementarity of the two countries.

They agreed to deepen cooperation in industrial capacity, finance, agriculture, energy, resources, water conservancy, telecommunication, infrastructure and health care, so as to better serve the general public of the two countries.

They will also carry out closer coordination under multilateral frameworks including the United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting, East Asia Cooperation and Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanisms.

On maritime issue, China and Laos called for relevant parties to reach agreement on a code of conduct in the South China Sea at an early date and jointly build the busy water body into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation, said the statement.

A series of cooperation documents in various fields such as building the China-Laos economic corridor, digital Silk Road, electricity, science and technology, were inked during Xi's stay.

Both sides agreed that Xi's visit was successful and further consolidated the China-Laos traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation, bearing landmark significance.

Vientiane is the final leg of Xi's first overseas trip after the 19th CPC National Congress, which was held last month in Beijing.

Prior to the Laos visit, he attended the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in Vietnam's central city of Da Nang and paid a state visit to the country.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-01 18:26:44|Editor: Yurou

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LUANDA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- A military contingent comprised of 160 Angolan mixed forces left Luanda Thursday for Lesotho to join a peace mission of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Addressing the troops in the Luanda military base before departing, Defense Minister Salviano Cerqueira underlined the efforts of Angola in maintaining peace in the region and the continent.

The Commander of the Angolan Mission, Brigadier Sabino Sara, also said that the mission is of preventive character "aiming at supporting the local authorities to overcome this period of instability."

The military situation in the small southern African country has deteriorated since last September, when the local army commander, General Khoantle Motsomotso, was shot dead by rival military officers.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-24 19:55:09|Editor: Liangyu

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BEIJING, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's policy toward Latin America is not targeted at any third party, nor is it intended to challenge or replace anyone's "dominance," a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

According to some media reports, the progress at the second ministerial meeting for the China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Forum shows that China's foreign policy toward Latin America is continuously developing and becoming more proactive, which will pose a "challenge" to the United States.

China develops its relations with other countries in line with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing.

"The development of China-Latin America ties does not aim, reject or affect the two sides' relations with other countries," she said.

Though separated by vast oceans, China and Latin America are faced with the same task of development, Hua said, adding that the cooperation between the two sides is based on common interests and mutual needs.

"We would like to deepen and upgrade cooperation with Latin American countries, especially under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative," said the spokesperson.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 23:39:44|Editor: Yamei

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Hyon Song-wol (R), head of a delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), arrives at the customs, immigration and quarantine office in Paju, South Korea, on Jan. 21, 2018. The DPRK sent an advance team of orchestra Sunday to South Korea for concerts during the South Korea-hosted Winter Olympics. (Xinhua file photo/South Korean Unification Ministry)

PYONGYANG, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- An advance team of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) paid a three-day visit to South Korea to inspect select Winter Olympic Games venues, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Saturday.

The eight-member delegation, led by Yun Yong Bok, deputy director at the Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports, inspected the venues for DPRK delegations, including the DPRK National Olympic Committee, athletes, cheer group and press corps, during the 23rd Winter Olympics.

The visit followed a trip by Hyon Song Wol, head of the DPRK's Samjiyon Orchestra, who visited Seoul and Kangrung to inspect the preparations for an upcoming performance by the DPRK art troupe.

A South Korean advance team led by Ri Ju Thae, department director of the Ministry of Unification, has also visited the DPRK, touring places such as the Masikryong Ski Resort and Mt. Kumgang area, where a joint training of skiers from both sides and a joint cultural event are to be held ahead of the Winter Olympics.

After high-level talks between the two sides on Jan. 9, the DPRK decided to send a delegation to take part in the Winter Olympics.

Subsequently, during further talks on Jan. 15, Pyongyang agreed to send its art troupe comprising over 140 members to perform in Kangrung and Seoul.

Two days later, both sides agreed to jointly train their skiers and hold a cultural event from late January to early February, according to the KCNA.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 23:59:48|Editor: Mengjie

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BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's popular social media Sina Weibo has been asked by the country's Internet regulator to overhaul sections that carry "harmful content".

The Beijing office of the Cyberspace Administration of China on Saturday summoned Weibo's boss for talk concerning the company's failure to censor illegal information posted by its users.

"Content of wrong public opinion orientation, obscenity, low taste, and ethnic discrimination continued to spread on Sina Weibo," said a statement issued by the office. "The problems were serious."

"Sina Weibo has violated the country's laws and regulations, led online public opinions to wrong direction and left a very bad influence," it said.

The Weibo boss said operation of several sections would be suspended for a week for overhaul.

"Lessons would be drawn and management of the staff would be strengthened so as to be responsible to the society and Internet users," said the Weibo boss.

Weibo is China's Twitter-like social media that claims to have about 361 million monthly active users as of June last year.

The spread of false, illegal and harmful content on the Internet is a common issue facing countries around the world.

China's leadership has stressed building a "clean" cyberspace by providing more and better online content and putting in place a system for integrated Internet management.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 00:55:01|Editor: pengying

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ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Saturday that conflict and climate change are the major reasons behind Africa's highest rate of poverty and hunger.

Guterres, while addressing a high-level event on "Ending Hunger in Africa" that was held on Saturday on the sidelines of the 30th African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia, said that Africa, with highest rate of hunger in the world, needs to eradicate conflict and climate change so as to end hunger.

"World hunger is on the rise, and Africa has the highest rate of hunger in the world," Guterres said, adding that "Agriculture and livestock productivity in Africa is under threat and this is largely due to conflict and climate change."

Guterres, who noted that hunger cases as twice as high in conflict affected countries, said that "climate shocks, environmental degradation, crop and livestock price collapse, and conflict are all inter-linked."

According to him, majority of under-nourished people in Africa live in countries affected by conflict.

He also urged stronger commitment from African governments, AU, and the UN to promote peace and human rights in a bid to eradicate poverty and hunger.

The secretary-general also indicated that promoting peace and human rights in Africa has the potential to create sustainable development and serve as an instrument to fight hunger.

"During conflict and crisis, we still need to assist people most at risk of hunger and malnutrition and to support them to lead more resilient livelihood," Guterres said.

Preventive interventions to break the link between food insecurity and conflict through price stabilization measures and social protection interventions are also indicated as priority areas to end hunger in the continent.

Improved governance that can deliver equitable services, social protection measures, gender equality and community based approaches are also advised in building sustained peace and eradicating hunger and poverty in Africa.

"Climate change adaptation should be promoted as an integral part of poverty prevention, with especial attention to sustainable agriculture and pastoralist and semi-pastoralist livelihoods," he said.

Alpha Conde, President of Guinea and the current Chairperson of the AU, also indicated that hunger and poverty are affecting Africa's population and their quality of life.

"This is very much in contradiction with our aspiration for the development of our continent," he said.

Conde also urged investment in sustainable development and animal resources to promote food security, improve living standard of people and stability of the continent.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 04:55:38|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday condemned the killing of a peacekeeper from Pakistan deployed with the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The blue helmet was killed on Saturday in an ambush by members of an armed group near Lulimba, 96 km southwest of Baraka in South Kivu Province. At least another peacekeeper was wounded in the attack.

The secretary-general extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and to the people and government of Pakistan. He wished a speedy recovery to the injured and called on those responsible for this attack to be brought to justice, said Stephane Dujarric, Guterres' spokesman, in a statement released in Addis Ababa.

Guterres reiterated his call on armed groups in the DRC to lay down their arms and seek to resolve their grievances peacefully. He reaffirmed the readiness of the UN mission in the DRC and the United Nations system to continue working with the authorities of the DRC to help address the security challenges facing the country.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 06:50:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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HAVANA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Cuba's foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, has received in Havana a bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation.

In a statement on Saturday, the ministry of foreign affairs said the group was made up of Democratic representatives Barbara Lee and Karen Bass of California and Republican Roger Marshall of Kansas.

"During the meeting, the exchange with the visitors covered topics about the international reality and the relations between Cuba and the United States, in particular the negative impact of the reversal given to bilateral ties," read the statement.

While both countries restored diplomatic ties almost two years ago, bilateral relations have suffered due to a U.S. accusation that its diplomats in Havana suffered "sonic attacks," leading to hearing loss and minor brain damage for some.

The Cuban government denies any responsibility and has offered full cooperation to American investigators, although no conclusive reason has been reached.

Rodriguez "thanked the legislators for their interest in visiting Cuba ... and in contributing to the debate in favor of the improvement of relations."

During their stay on the island, the representatives also met with officials from the ministries of public health and agriculture, as well as visiting the Latin American School of Medicine.

For over a decade, Lee has led efforts to normalize ties and to eliminate Washington's embargo on Cuba, which has been in place for over 50 years.

Along with Bass, she has sponsored various legal proposals to lift the embargo.

Marshall is cosponsoring a proposal by Arkansas congressman, Rick Crawford, to eliminate restriction on agricultural trade with Cuba.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 07:15:59|Editor: pengying

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MADRID, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish Constitutional Court issued a ruling on Saturday evening which disallowed exile pro-independence politician Carles Puigdemont to assume the presidency of Catalonia.

Puigdemont, who had been in exile in Brussels since October, is wanted in Spain on charges of sedition and rebellion after declaring Catalan independence.

The court said in a statement that its 12 magistrates had decided unanimously "to preventively suspend the investiture of Puigdemont unless he appears in the (Catalan) parliament in person with prior judicial authorization".

"The debate and the votation for the investiture of Carles Puigdemont will not be able to be held through video conference nor by him delegating his vote," according to the ruling.

"The investiture of a candidate without the pertinent judicial authorization cannot go ahead," it read.

The 12 magistrates made the decision after a plenary session which lasted over seven hours.

Spanish media said there were intense debates on what resolutions they should adapt against the Catalan independence challenge.

The Spanish central government welcomed the ruling of the Constitutional Court.

Puigdemont is the only candidate for the Catalan regional presidency. The Spanish government challenged his appointment in the court on Friday, saying that a "fugitive" can't lead a regional parliament.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 07:21:00|Editor: pengying

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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 a 300-member electoral college chosen in a popular election. The parties usually nominated their own presidential candidates. 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.

Since the popular presidential vote was introduced in 1988, Finnish presidents have enjoyed such wide popular support that people somewhat tend to forget the presidential powers have been reduced.

For example, during a recent presidential election debate, one of the candidates actually believed that as president she would be appointing the bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. But she was told that prerogative was cancelled in 2000 and the church now elects its bishops on its own.

The current president Sauli Niinisto has also earlier mentioned that the president handles foreign policy "in cooperation with the cabinet", he always makes a small pause before the latter part of the explanation. He thus indicated he considered the president having the upper-hand in the foreign policy sector.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 07:36:02|Editor: pengying

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UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council has condemned "in the strongest terms" Saturday's terrorist attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, which left at least 95 people dead and 158 others injured.

In a press statement released on Saturday, the council expressed deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the government of Afghanistan.

The council underlined the need to hold the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice, and urged all states to cooperate actively with the Afghan government as well as all other relevant authorities in this regard.

The council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and reaffirmed the need for all states to combat by all means threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

Terrorists blew up an ambulance laden with explosives in central Kabul in the deadliest attack for months. The attack, claimed by the Taliban, followed an assault by Taliban militants on a luxury hotel in Kabul a week ago that killed 22 people.

Earlier Saturday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack in central Kabul, said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric 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.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 07:46:04|Editor: pengying

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SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- About 30,000 people demonstrated at Civic Center in San Francisco on the U.S. west coat in an annual Walk for Life campaign against abortion.

The protesters holding a huge banner, which reads "Abortion HURTS Women," walked down Market Street in downtown San Francisco in the U.S. western state of California.

The rally is part of a nation-wide event organized by the Walk for Life Organization in protest of abortion with strong support for the lives of unborn children and their families.

The demonstration is held every Jan. 22 on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

The Supreme Court legalized abortion nationwide in a landmark ruling 45 years ago.

In 1973, the Supreme Court issued the famous Roe v. Wade decision with a 7-2 vote that affirmed the legal right of women to have an abortion under the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The organizer of the annual event, the Walk for Life Organization, said on its website that the rally is held "to reach out to women harmed by abortion" and "to inform society of the damage done to women by abortion."

A week ago, U.S. President Donald Trump attended the 45th March for Life in Washington, D.C. and proclaimed Jan. 22, 2018 as National Sanctity of Human Life Day.

"We are protecting the sanctity of life and the family as the foundation of our society," he said at the rally.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 09:01:20|Editor: pengying

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump condemned a deadly car bombing attack which took place in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Saturday, said the White House.

The United States is committed to a secure Afghanistan that is free from terrorists, said the White House in a statement released later in the day.

The attack was claimed by the Taliban.

In the statement, Trump called on all the countries to take decisive action against the Taliban and the terrorist infrastructure that supports them.

The suicide bombing has killed 95 people and injured at least 158 others in central Kabul, officials said.

The attack was the deadliest for months and the fifth major terror attack in the country in January. It followed a Taliban attack on a luxury hotel in Kabul a week ago which killed 22 people.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 09:31:24|Editor: Jiaxin

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Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez delivers a speech during his ceremony of inauguration in the National Stadium in Tegucigalpa, capital of Honduras, on Jan. 27, 2018. Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez promised Saturday to bring about significant reforms in various fields to resolve the country's ongoing political crisis. (Xinhua/Rafael Ochoa)

TEGUCIGALPA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez promised Saturday to bring about significant reforms in various fields to resolve the country's ongoing political crisis.

"We will ask nobody to abandon their convictions, nor their ideas, nor their dreams and hopes for this country. We must begin a process of cleansing our society, working together to build a better place for our descendants to grow up in," said Hernandez after being sworn in, following his re-election victory.

Hernandez said his first act would be to create a "task force" that will immediately coordinate actions to maximize employment through existing programs and new initiatives.

He added that a separate task force would be created to ensure food is sold at "affordable prices" and is supplied and distributed through markets -- an initiative called "food on your table."

Hernandez also instructed his cabinet to immediately redouble efforts to reach more families through the "Vida Mejor" (Better Life) program.

Hernandez said he would speak with the opposition about finding an exit from the crisis.

The president vowed to make his best efforts to reach agreements that bring "peace and tranquillity" to the Central American republic.

According to the opposition, electoral violence has left over 40 people dead since Nov. 26.

The opposition alliance has dismissed the results of the elections in which Hernandez beat his rival, Salvador Nasralla.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 10:41:35|Editor: Yamei

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by Shen Zhonghao

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Participants of the Davos World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, which closed Friday, have turned to the Belt and Road Initiative for cures for the fractured world and to create a shared future.

They expected the initiative to tie together the destiny of people living in different countries and regions through further specific actions to promote connectivity, improve living standards, boost free trade, among others.

Proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative is aimed at promoting the connectivity of Asian, European and African continents and their adjacent seas and realizing diversified, independent, balanced and sustainable development in the countries involved.

WIDE SUPPORT

Embracing the spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit, the initiative has gained support from more than 100 countries and international organizations.

"The Belt and Road is the best place to start working on the fractures in the world and creating connectivity," Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said in a panel discussion.

He said the Belt and Road can link countries and create shared prosperity, which coincides with the theme of this year's gathering -- creating a shared future in a fractured world.

"We feel that something concerning the fractured world is discussed in Davos, Belt and Road is probably the best way to address this," said Kirill Dmitriev, chief executive of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Russia's sovereign wealth fund with a reserved capital of 10 billion U.S. dollars.

Chan Chun Sing, Singapore's minister in Prime Minister's Office, said the impact of the Belt and Road Initiative is threefold. Firstly, it connects markets, facilitates trade and improves people's livelihoods. Secondly, it catalyses local economies. Thirdly, it sets a system for the global economy.

MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL PROJECTS

With regard to specific projects under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, Abbasi said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a "visible part."8 Dmitriev said that from the Russian point of view, the time cost of cross-border transportation of goods has been markedly reduced thanks to the completion of a bridge linking China's Tongjiang City in the northeastern Heilongjiang Province and the Russian town of Nizhneleninskoye.

Calling for "significant collaboration," U.S. businessman Michael Burke said: "The size and scale of infrastructure projects along the Belt and Road cannot be done by any one country, neither private sector alone or public sector alone."

Burke is the chairman and chief executive officer of AECOM, an American firm which designs, builds, finances and operates infrastructure assets in more than 150 countries and regions.

Burke said his company has been involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, collaborating with state-owned enterprises in various countries in an effort to combine "their expertise together with our private expertise."

GUIDING STRATEGY

As regards the strategy of investing in infrastructure along the Belt and Road, Jin Liqun, president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), an international lender created by China that has attracted 84 members so far, laid out three basic criteria -- financial sustainability, environment impact and local support.

"We would be very much willing to consider any projects proposed by member countries, but we have to look at the basic requirements of those proposed projects." Jin said.

Jin said the AIIB would finance infrastructure projects in ways that will neither "leave a big footprint" on the environment, nor create problems for local communities.

In addition to infrastructure projects, WEF participants were also interested in seeing the Belt and Road Initiative play a more prominent role in strengthening financial collaboration among relevant countries.

"Growing collaboration in the financial and investment sphere is an integral part of this cross-linking of integration initiatives," said Sergey Gorkov, chairman of Russia's Vnesheconombank, a state-owned development bank

The integration of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union will tap the potential of national, regional as well as international development institutions operating in the Eurasian region, he added.

Proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2014 to draw closer economic ties among former republics of the Soviet Union, the Eurasian Economic Union is a regional cooperation mechanism that includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

Related:

Backgrounder: President Xi's calls for a shared future

BEIJING, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Themed "Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World," the 48th World Economic Forum (WEP) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, is urging concerted global efforts to address major challenges from protectionism, terrorism and climate change.

The four-day gathering of policymakers and economists from around the world will see more than 400 workshops to seek consensus and collaboration on "a shared future", a vision converging with the China-proposed concept of "a community of shared future for mankind". Full story

China Focus: One year on, Xi's shared future vision wins wider support

BEIJING, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- One year after Chinese President Xi Jinping further elaborated his vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity on his Swiss trip, the concept has won wider international support due to China's substantial move toward that goal.

In January 2017, Xi shared his vision at the Davos World Economic Forum (WEF) on how to steer the world economy out of difficulty through concerted efforts, calling on members of the international community to work together to build a community of a shared future for humanity. Full Story

Xis remarks on building a community with shared future for mankind
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 10:46:37|Editor: pengying

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QUITO, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 23 police officers were wounded by a car bomb that exploded after midnight Friday outside a police station in Ecuador.

The powerful blast occurred in the border town of San Lorenzo near Colombia. It also ripped a three-story police station and destroyed several adjacent homes.

According to the Interior Ministry, most of the injured were scratched by glass shattered by the explosion.

Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno condemned the attack on Twitter and instructed police to investigate the incident.

The president defined the attack as a "terrorist incident" linked with drug traffickers and declared a state of emergency in that region, vowing to take all "necessary measures" to combat gang crimes.

No organization has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 10:51:38|Editor: Mengjie

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BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday urged Japan to make joint efforts to bring bilateral ties back to the track of sound development.

Wang made the call while holding talks with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono in Beijing Sunday.

Describing Sino-Japanese relations as being at a crucial stage, Wang said China had noticed the recent positive comments of the Japanese side and hoped Japan would put its words into actions.

Kono is on an official visit to China from Jan. 27 to 28.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 11:01:40|Editor: pengying

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BRASILIA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 14 people were killed and six others injured in a shooting attack at a dance club in the northeastern Brazilian city of Fortaleza, local authorities confirmed on Saturday.

The killings occurred in the crowded dance club named "Forro do Gago" on Saturday dawn when a group of heavily armed men barged into the party and began to shoot at people.

Eyewitnesses told local Globo TV channel that the gunmen arrived at the club in three cars and sprayed bullets into the front of the building for almost half an hour before fleeing.

The attack has caused a large number of casualties. Local media reported that 14 people have been killed and at least six others injured, some of them children.

Two of the injured were in critical condition, according to hospital sources.

Some netizens posted pictures on social media networks which showed at least 12 bodies were lying on the ground, most of them women.

Local police said they had never seen such a brutal scene of carnage.

Bullet marks can be seen on the walls of the club, nearby houses and vehicles parked around. Even though it rained Saturday, the club was stained with blood.

Local police said that the shooting was "well planned" and the agents were searching for suspects with a helicopter overseeing the security situation in the region.

Police were investigating whether the killings were part of an ongoing turf war between two drug gangs.

The state of Ceara, with Fortaleza as its capital, registered a record number of homicides in 2017, according to state governor Camilo Santana, who said earlier that some 82 percent of the homicides were results of conflict between drug gangs over territory control.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 11:16:46|Editor: pengying

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YANGON, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar has conducted the first successful kidney transplant operation on a 10-year-old girl at Yangon's Children Hospital, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported Sunday.

A substituted kidney for the child patient Ma Nan Yu Wei was donated by her 23-year-old brother Ko Aung Zaw Zaw for the operation.

The six-hour kidney transplant operation was jointly carried out by a team of surgeons from Myanmar and Singapore.

Such kidney transplant operations had been performed three times in Mandalay but was the first in Yangon, Dr. Su Su Dway, Yangon Children Hospital Superintendent, was quoted as saying.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 11:51:54|Editor: Yamei

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Security force members stand guard at the blast site in Kabul, 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)

BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) and various countries have strongly condemned Saturday's terrorist attack in the Afghan capital of Kabul, which left at least 95 people dead and 163 others injured.

In a press statement released on Saturday, the UN Security Council said it condemned the attack "in the strongest terms," expressing deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the government of Afghanistan.

Terrorists blew up an ambulance laden with explosives in central Kabul in the deadliest attack for months. The attack, claimed by the Taliban, followed an assault by Taliban militants on a luxury hotel in Kabul a week ago that killed 22 people.

The blast occurred roughly at 12:50 p.m. local time (0820 GMT) in front of Jamhoriat Hospital, where several government offices are located.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah strongly condemned the deadly attack, the fifth major terror attack in the country in January.

The Security Council underlined the need to hold the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice, and urged all states to cooperate actively with the Afghan government as well as all other relevant authorities in this regard.

The council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and reaffirmed the need for all states to combat by all means threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

Earlier Saturday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack in central Kabul, said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric in a statement, expressing solidarity with the government and people of Afghanistan.

"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.

U.S. President Donald Trump has also condemned the attack, saying that the United States is committed to a secure Afghanistan that is free from terrorists, said the White House in a statement released Saturday.

In the statement, Trump called on all the countries to take decisive action against the Taliban and the terrorist infrastructure that supports them.

The French people are trying to show their support by turning off lights on the Eiffel Tower, the country's iconic construction. The tower will have its lights turned off to show solidarity with the victims of the deadly attack, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said Saturday.

"Tonight, at midnight, Eiffel Tower will turn its lights off to pay tribute to the victims of the despicable attack that struck the heart of Kabul," Hidalgo wrote on Twitter.

"Paris city, the Parisians are alongside Afghan people who face again the terrorist barbarism," she added.

Pakistan and India have also strongly condemned the deadliest car bomb attack.

"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," Pakistan's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Muhammad Faisal said Saturday.

"Terrorism is not the way forward," the spokesman wrote on his official Twitter account.

India has described the terrorist attack in Kabul as "barbaric and dastardly."

"There can be no justification for such reprehensible attacks. The perpetrators of these attacks and their supporters should be brought to justice," said a statement issued by India's external affairs ministry.

(Xinhua reporters Shang Xuqian, Farid Behbud, Liu Chen, Zhu Dongyang, Muhammad Tahir and Pankaj Yadav contributed to the story.)
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 13:07:02|Editor: pengying

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NEW DELHI, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people, including two police personnel were killed Sunday after a vehicle they were travelling in plunged into a pond in northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, officials said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 13:47:06|Editor: Zhou Xin

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BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Hungarian institutes are introducing a method of music education to China, as developed by the 20th century Hungarian composer and pedagogue Zoltan Kodaly.

The Kodaly method uses a child development approach to help children acquire music skills through listening, singing, games, movement and exercises. The method, also known as the Kodaly concept, was inscribed on the Lists of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016 for its role in safeguarding the folk music heritage.

A free demonstration was held over the weekend at Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center. At least 300 children attended the first show Saturday.

"The Kodaly method is unique in training children's ability to innovate and give impromptu performances," said Zhang Li, general manager of the arts center.

Organizers said they would go on to hold teachers' training sessions. The trainers and teaching materials all come from Hungary.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 14:52:15|Editor: pengying

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KABUL, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Afghan newspapers in their editorials on Sunday described the suicide attack that rocked the fortified capital city of Kabul on Saturday as a "coward terrorist offensive and carnage of innocent people" and called upon government to change its war policy against militants.

In the deadly suicide bombing for which Taliban outfit has claimed responsibility, 95 people, majority of whom are civilians including women and children, have been confirmed dead and more than 160 others injured.

Camouflaging the explosive-laden vehicle as an ambulance and detonating it on Saturday in Char Rah-i- Sidarat area, a central part in downtown city located close to several government buildings and a hospital, the bloody attack is the second one of its kind over the past one week.

One week ago, on Jan. 20, Taliban militants stormed the luxury Intercontinental Hotel, frequented by foreigners and Afghan officials, killing at least 18 people including 14 foreigners and injuring over a dozen others.

"The two deadly attacks on two Saturdays against civilians in a span of one week clearly exposes the cruelty of terrorist groups and their enmity with human beings," newspaper Daily Afghanistan-e-Ma said in its editorial.

"Killing innocent civilians including women and children by terrorists is a blatant violation of all international laws and clearly speaks of the terrorists' resolve to continue targeting Afghans," the newspaper said, calling upon government to "review the policy and revamp its strategy on the war against terrorist and make peace" with the armed oppositions.

Another Kabul-based newspaper Daily Etilaat-i-Roz has also focused on the deadly ambulance suicide bombing and said "it is the second deadly terrorist attack in Kabul over the past one week" claimed by a Taliban group.

"Organizing deadly suicide attacks in big cities such as Kabul, by Taliban militants is an indication of change in the militant group's tactic and their resolve for fighting back the government instead of joining peace," the paper stressed in its editorial.

In its editorial, Daily Etilaat-i-Roz called upon security organs to review the security measures and protect the life and properties of citizens by all possible means.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 16:02:25|Editor: Lifang

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BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- A new genre of Chinese new year gala exclusively featuring China's traditional culture and intangible cultural heritage will be broadcast overseas.

The gala, which features "a long journey of Chinese culture," will be in Mandarin and aired by state broadcasters in 48 countries during the Chinese new year holiday season, also known as Spring Festival, according to the gala's director Zhang Lu.

Viewers are expected to be wowed Peking opera, calligraphy, shadow puppet shows, paper cutting, a tea-making ceremony and Chinese folk music, the director said.

The Chinese new year of 2018 -- the Year of Dog -- starts on Feb. 16. Most Chinese have a weeklong holiday starting from the Chinese new year's eve.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 16:12:27|Editor: Jiaxin

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KABUL, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Afghan government declared Sunday as a national mourning day to pay tribute to the Afghans who were killed in recent terrorist attacks, the Presidential Palace said in a statement on the same day.

Scores of people, mostly civilians, were killed and injured following a string of attacks in national capital Kabul, eastern Nangarhar and southern Helmand and Kandahar provinces.

Afghan national flag will be half-hoisted at home and Afghan diplomatic missions abroad during the day, the palace said in a statement.

On Saturday, a member of Taliban outfit blew up an ambulance laden with explosives in central Kabul in the deadliest attack for months. The attack followed an assault by Taliban militants on a luxury hotel in Kabul a week ago that killed 22 people.

Earlier on Sunday, the latest official figures showed that the death toll of Saturday's attack has reached to 95 killed and 191 wounded.

The government has also announced Monday as a holiday only in Kabul to further help the affected people including the injured and the martyred families.

On Tuesday, special praying will be held in the Presidential Palace and at the mosques across the country to pay tribute for the victims, the statement read.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, the United Nations and various countries have strongly condemned Saturday's terrorist attack.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 17:07:39|Editor: Jiaxin

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by Raimundo Urrechaga

HAVANA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- To understand Latin American culture and reality, some writers have made suggestions of turning to Cuba's Casa de las Americas literary prize for more reference.

This year, writers from Cuba, Argentina, Barbados and Brazil will be awarded in the six genres in the 59th Casa de las Americas literary prize that started in mid January, during which 200 literary works from different countries are competing.

For almost six decades, the literary prize, one of Latin America's oldest and most prestigious awards, has brought together authors committed to presenting the region's complex and diverse reality through various literary genres.

Since 1960, the award has been aiming at encouraging and promoting the works of both new and experienced Latin American writers who reserve their roots with fascinating and moving tales, poems and novels.

Those who over the years have won the prize in different categories have been committed to showcasing the richness and authenticity of the continent.

According to Puerto Rican writer Marta Aponte, a member of this year's jury for short story writing, the contest has succeeded despite the island's economic difficulties, because it distinguishes and gives voice to authors who honor their culture, traditions and environment.

"It's a very necessary prize for our times. We live in a globalized world and large publishing houses seek to publish only best sellers or novels by established authors," Aponte told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Argentine writer and journalist Ariel Urquiza said the contest avoids the kind of "mainstream" authors who are in demand by commercial publishing houses.

"Here we have other kinds of stories and tales, profound and intelligent. The Casa de las Americas literary award seeks to reward what is different and alternative," he said.

Urquiza added that he was honored to be a member of a recognized group of Latin American writers and authors that will determine this year's winners.

"Reading the works in the contest will allow us to have an idea of how Latin American literature is evolving, which issues authors are covering the most, and will give us an overview of where the region's literature is heading," he said.

Argentine professor and novelist Saul Sosnowsky, also a jury member in this 59th edition of the prize, said the Casa de las Americas award is a literary benchmark, not just within the region but throughout the world.

"The works we see here are a reference, a vision of what is happening in Latin America. These stories mostly say things that politicians can't state and in that sense it is essential to continue cultivating good literature in our continent," he told Xinhua.

Initially called the "Hispanic-American Literary Contest," the prize changed its name after Brazilian authors writing in Portuguese began to participate in 1964.

Early editions of the award featured traditional genres like poetry, short stories, novels and essays, but the prize has been broadened to include other categories, such as personal narratives, children's books, indigenous literature, and Caribbean authors from English and French speaking nations.

"Those categories don't exist in any other literary prize in Latin America," said Urquiza, adding that "English and French speaking nations are also part of our region, of our identity and their literature is necessary for understanding the reality of Latin America and the Caribbean."

Thanks to the effort to give voice to the region's diverse figures, Guatemalan indigenous leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu came to prominence after her book "I, Rigoberta Menchu" won the Casa de las Americas prize.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 17:12:41|Editor: Jiaxin

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BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China has spent more than 300 billion yuan (about 47.3 billion U.S. dollars) in 20 years in protecting natural forests, according to sources with State Forestry Administration.

As a key measure initiated by the State Council after severe floods hit the valleys of the Yangtze River and Songhua River in 1998, natural forest protection project was implemented in 16 provinces, including Heilongjiang, Jilin, Hebei, Yunnan, Hunan and Liaoning.

So far, about 129.6 million hectares of natural forest has been well protected, according to an official in charge of natural forest protection.

Logging of natural forest has been completely banned in these regions.

State-owned forestry bureaus in key protection areas received subsidy of 15 million yuan each annually to sustain their daily operation.

Boasting the fifth largest forest area in the world, China aims to expand its forest cover to more than 23 percent by 2020 to combat climate change and soil erosion. The forest coverage was 21.7 percent at the end of 2016.

An increase of 1.4 percentage points means the forest volume rising by more than 1.3 billion cubic meters, supporting China's climate change obligation to add around 4.5 billion cubic meters of forest by 2030.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 17:17:43|Editor: Jiaxin

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Photo taken on Jan. 28, 2018 shows a scene of damaged restaurant at the site of the deadly attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. The deadly suicide attack conducted by Taliban outfit in downtown Kabul on Saturday that claimed nearly 100 lives and injured more than 160 others has shocked Afghans from all walks of life and sent a message of more attacks expected, Afghan observers say. (Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah)

by Abdul Haleem

KABUL, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The deadly suicide attack conducted by Taliban outfit in downtown Kabul on Saturday that claimed nearly 100 lives and injured more than 160 others has shocked Afghans from all walks of life and sent a message of more attacks expected, Afghan observers say.

The deadly attack organized by Taliban militants on Saturday is not the first and will not be the last one, analysts say, believing that the hardliner armed group like the past years would continue to target Afghans in the future.

"Taliban militants by conducting such deadly offensives in the capital city Kabul and killing dozens of people, from one hand want to demonstrate their ability of organizing bloody attack and from the other, want to lash at the ongoing peace efforts," political analyst Nazari Pariani told Xinhua on Sunday.

About a week ago on Jan. 20, Taliban militants stormed the luxury Intercontinental Hotel which has been frequented by foreigners and Afghan officials, killing 22 people including 14 foreigners and injuring over a dozen others.

Four U.S. citizens including an electoral campaigner of U.S. President Donald Trump have reportedly been among those killed.

Increase in Taliban militants' deadly attacks is taking place amid increase in the number of U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan and mounting military crackdown on the armed insurgents elsewhere in the war-torn country.

Amid military pressure on militants, both the Afghan government and U.S. administration have been calling, some in warning tune, upon Taliban militants to give up fighting and join the peace process to find a negotiated settlement to the country's lingering crisis.

"Another dimension of the Taliban deadly attack in Kabul on Saturday is to expose the security lapse of security organs and defame the government at the eyes of its citizens," Pariani, who is also editor-in-chief of the leading newspaper the Daily Mandegar observed.

Launching the complex attacks by militant group in Kabul, according to Pariani, can also demonstrate the complexity of the "proxy war" in Afghanistan and the "disability of security apparatus" to tackle the challenge.

"The recent attacks in Kabul, specially the Saturday's bloodiest one which took the lives of some 100 people shows the extreme weakness of our security departments to identify terrorist threats and foil them before reaching their targets," university professor Abdul Qahar Sarwari told Xinhua.

According to Sarwari, the aim of Taliban by organizing deadly terrorist attacks is to "maneuver their military might" from one hand, and from the other hand, to defame the establishment at the eyes of people and wants to give the message that the "government is unable to protect its citizens."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 17:22:46|Editor: Jiaxin

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HAVANA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Cuban President Raul Castro led a "March of Torches" on Saturday night along with thousands of young students to remember the island's national hero Jose Marti as well as late revolution leader Fidel Castro.

At the steps of Havana University, over 35,000 young students gathered and carried their torches to remember Marti, a tradition started 65 years ago.

University students all over the country lit their torches and marched through the most important streets across the nation to remember the hero of independence.

In a brief speech, Raul Palmero, president of the Cuban University Student Federation, said the younger generations shoulder the mandate of safeguarding the nation's socialist path.

Thousands of students also held Cuban flags and pictures of Fidel Castro who passed away in November 2016.

"This is Fidel's Revolution because he taught us to carry on this tradition and the new generations will do so because his legacy is still amongst us," he said.

Along the route Cuban students expressed their commitment to Marti's and Fidel's ideals in upholding a socialist society.

"We came here to express our support to the revolution and president Raul. The youth will continue the path that Marti and Fidel started," Frank Verdecia, a telecommunications student told Xinhua.

Another student from the University of Havana, Beatriz Leon, said she participated in the march because it's a way to express their patriotism and loyalty to the ideals of the Cuban national hero.

"Marti was the leader of our independence and his ideals pushed Fidel to start the revolution. We're here to continue with their principles and show our support to the revolution," she said.

The first "March of the Torches" was held on Jan. 27, 1953 and on that day thousands of students led by Fidel Castro protested against Fulgencio Batista's dictatorship on Marti's 100th anniversary.

Six years later, Fidel Castro led a guerrilla army that toppled Batista and started the Cuban revolution.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 17:27:47|Editor: Lu Hui

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U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech during the 48th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 26, 2018. U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he would always put America first when it came to trade, but "America First" does not mean America alone. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump is set to deliver his first State of the Union address on Tuesday to as expected mark his first year in office while outlining a second-year agenda.

The theme of the Trump's speech will be "building a safe, strong and proud America," according to a senior administration official at a briefing on the matter.

The speech, said the official, will touch upon several policy areas, including jobs and economy, immigration, infrastructure, trade, and national security.

The official said that Trump will address the country's economic performance in the past year, including high stock markets and low unemployment, while focusing on his administration's tax cut package and regulatory rollback.

On immigration, the president is expected to talk about the framework for immigration legislation that the White House unveiled earlier this week, which offers a path to citizenship for 1.8 million undocumented young immigrants in exchange for funding for border security and cuts to legal immigration.

Trump's upcoming remarks will come amid tough negations between Democrats and Republicans over the fate of so-called Dreamers, recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a program that shields them from deportation but was terminated by Trump last year.

An impasse between bipartisan lawmakers over this issue led to a government shutdown last week and could cause another earlier next month if their divide remains unresolved.

Some Democratic lawmakers have invited Dreamers as guests to Capitol Hill to hear the speech in person. Besides, Representative Joe Kennedy will represent the Democratic Party to deliver a response to Trump's remarks.

As for infrastructure, Trump plans to discuss a 1.7-billion-U.S.-dollar plan to rebuild the nation's aging infrastructure, a topic that the White House said has "bipartisan support."

On trade, the official said that the president will insist on "fair and reciprocal" trade practices, an argument that he made at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this week, where he declared that he will "always put America first."

Besides, Trump will talk about some policies the administration views as key to the country's national security.

Trump is scheduled to deliver the address at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time Tuesday (0200 GMT Wednesday).

The U.S. Constitution states that the president "shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union."

The tradition of delivering the address in-person was revived by President Woodrow Wilson in 1913.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 17:32:49|Editor: Jiaxin

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ADEN, Yemen, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Intense armed confrontations broke out on Sunday between forces loyal to the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and forces allied with the Southern Transitional Council in the port city of Aden, residents and officials told Xinhua.

The fighting erupted after strict decisions issued by the government to ban peaceful demonstrations organized by the STC in Aden province.

A resident in Aden said that forces of the Presidential Guard unit deployed in Aden and opened fire against the anti-government protesters, injuring more than 15 people.

In response, the armed forces of the STC deployed on the streets and tried to protect the protesters, sparking fierce armed confrontations with government soldiers in Aden's district of KhorMaksar.

Witnesses near the scene confirmed to Xinhua that the "army bases of the government were seized by the STC soldiers following hours of clashes."

Explosions and heavy gunfire could be heard ranging out across Aden's main streets, according to a Xinhua reporter in the city.

Apaches of the Saudi-led coalition hovered over Aden's airspace but no strikes were launched.

Medical sources said that scores of soldiers from the two-warring rivals arrived at hospitals to receive treatment.

An unknown number of soldiers were killed in the ongoing street battles in Aden.

On Saturday, the interior ministry threatened to use the force against any gatherings, marches or protests that may call for dissolving the internationally-backed government.

Banning the demonstrations in Aden came just one day before the end of the one week deadline that the "Southern Resistance Forces" gave Yemen's President Abdu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to sack the Aden-based government.

The southern port city of Aden is considered as Yemen's temporary capital and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government based itself there since 2015.

Yemen's government, allied with the Saudi-led Arab military coalition, has for about three years been battling Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels over control of the country.

The coalition began a military air campaign in March 2015 to roll back Houthi gains and reinstate exiled President Hadi and his government to the power.

The coalition also imposed air and sea blockade to prevent weapons from reaching Houthis, who had invaded the capital Sanaa militarily and seized most of the northern Yemeni provinces.

UN statistics show more than 10,000 people, most of them civilians, have been killed since the coalition intervened in the Yemeni civil war that also displaced around 3 million.

The Arab country is also suffering from the world's largest cholera epidemic since April, with about 5,000 cases reported everyday.
Photo shows the exterior of a terminal of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, capital of Kenya. (Xinhua/Meng Chenguang)

NAIROBI, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese diplomat has called for more Chinese investment into Kenya, saying the business environment is now conducive after the election.

Guo Ce, Economic and Commercial Counselor at the Embassy of China in Kenya, on Friday said the business environment is now favorable after the conclusion of the country's presidential elections, urging more Chinese investors to look for opportunities in Kenya.

Guo said that the Chinese business community is playing a big role in enhancing Sino-Kenya relations.

The diplomat also urged Kenyan financial institutions to forge greater cooperation with the Chinese community so that they expand employment opportunities to locals.

Standard Chartered Bank Kenya CEO Lamin Manjang said his institution is committed to playing a central role in facilitating the Belt and Road Initiative.

He noted that in 2017 the bank committed to supporting the China-proposed initiative by facilitating financing to the value of at least 20 billion U.S. dollars by 2020.

The bank said it recognizes the important role played by China in the development of Kenya and is very honored to have partnered with many of the Chinese investors to facilitate Kenya's economic development.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 18:08:00|Editor: Jiaxin

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BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China and Japan agreed to hold a new round of China-Japan-ROK leaders' meetings as soon as possible, and foster the proper environment for the trilateral summit.

The agreement came as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono Sunday in Beijing.

"High-level exchanges can play a leading role in improving bilateral ties," according to a press release from the talks.

The two sides also welcomed the creation of an air and maritime contact mechanism between the two countries and pledged to sign the deal as soon as possible.

"China and Japan should work together to build the East China Sea into the sea of peace, cooperation and friendship," said the press release.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. The two sides agreed to take the opportunity to strengthen exchanges at all levels and in various fields, including culture, local government, media and youth, and step up mutually beneficial cooperation.

"Bilateral ties have gone through an extraordinary journey over the past 40 years," Wang said, calling on both sides to "remain true to their original aspirations, learn from experiences and promote the continuous improvement of the relationship."

The two sides should build political mutual trust, Wang said.

He called on the Japanese side to treat China as a partner instead of a rival, and treat China's development as an opportunity rather than a threat.

Wang also urged Japan to honor its commitment, deal with the Taiwan issue based on the one-China principle, and respect China's sovereignty and security rights on issues related to Tibet and Xinjiang.

Since normalizing ties in 1972, China and Japan have signed four important political documents as well as a four-point principled agreement."The two sides should always stick to that and safeguard the political foundation for bilateral ties," Wang said.

Regarding the Taiwan issue, Japan will abide by the principles established in the 1972 Japan-China joint communique that normalized bilateral relations. Japan will also properly deal with issues related to Tibet and Xinjiang, which are part of China's internal affairs, according to Kono.

China and Japan are the world's second and third largest economy, respectively. Kono said that developing a stable bilateral relationship not only served the interests of the two countries, but also the entire international community.

He pledged to advance bilateral ties based on mutual benefit and the consensus of "being each others' cooperation partners rather than threats."

Kono expressed Japan's positive attitude on participating in the Belt and Road Initiative and exploring cooperation in a third country.

The two foreign ministers also exchanged opinions on regional and international issues including the Korean Peninsula issue. They vowed to jointly safeguard the free trade system, promote regional economic integration and build an open world economy.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 18:23:02|Editor: Lifang

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RIYADH, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Saudi-led coalition involved in a war in Yemen against Houthi militias called on Sunday upon political parties for calm and restraint in connection to the recent developments in Aden, the temporary capital of Yemen, Saudi Press Agency reported.

There have been rising tensions between southern separatists and the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi over control of the southern half of the country. The two groups had been united throughout Yemen's three-year civil war against the Iranian backed Houthis in the north, but the conflicts could hinder the efforts of the coalition to control the Iranian expansion plans in Yemen.

The coalition highlighted in a statement the importance of Yemenis' various orientations and affiliations to take into account national responsibility in guiding joint work with the coalition to complete the liberation of all Yemeni lands. It continued that the coalition is following the developments in Aden and the media debate in this regard about some demands to rectify some imbalances in the government sector..

The coalition has been involved in the war in Yemen since 2015 that led to thousands of deaths among civilians because of airstrikes, clashes between armed groups and contagious and other diseases because of the devastating living conditions.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 18:38:05|Editor: Jiaxin

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MOSCOW, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Russian law enforcement officers raided the Moscow office of opposition leader Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation on Sunday, detaining a number of staff members, said the foundation's spokesperson.

The police forced their way into the office on account of a phone call reporting bomb threat and evacuated the building, the foundation's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said on Navalny's YouTube channel.

Several employees of the foundation were detained, according to Yarmysh.

Navalny's supporters have concluded a rally of more than 100 people in Barnaul of Russia's Altai Republic, the regional branch of the Interior Ministry said Sunday.

Russia's RIA Novosti news agency reported earlier that Navalny's supporters had submitted an application to the Moscow municipal government on holding protests on Sunday involving 15,000 people at the downtown of Moscow, which was later rejected.

Navalny has been calling on voters to boycott the presidential election scheduled for March 18, which he claimed to be a rigged "pseudo-election."

Earlier this month, Russia's Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Navalny and upheld a ban on his participation in the 2018 presidential election for his conviction of embezzlement at a timber company.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 18:38:06|Editor: Jiaxin

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A Cypriot (L) votes at a polling station in Nicosia, Cyprus, Jan. 28, 2018. Cypriots voted on Sunday in a presidential election which is said to be critical for the resumption of stalled peace negotiations for the reunification of Cyprus. (Xinhua/PIO)

NICOSIA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Cypriots voted on Sunday in a presidential election which is said to be critical for the resumption of stalled peace negotiations for the reunification of Cyprus.

The elections are contested by nine candidates including outgoing President Nicos Anastasiades, who is seeking a second five-year term.

Opinion polls suggested that no candidate will be an outright winner, making a run-off vote on Feb. 4 necessary.

Only Greek Cypriots are voting for the president under Cyprus's 1960 constitution, with Turkish Cypriots electing the vice president.

However, Turkish Cypriots pulled out of the state in 1964 after intercommunal fighting which was instigated by nationalists who wanted a separate Turkish Cypriot state.

There are 551,000 eligible voters.

Voting started at 7:00 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) and voting booths will close at 6:00 p.m. (1600 GMT).

Exit polls by the five main television channels will be released moments after the voting being declared over, giving an indication of the voting trends.

Chief Election Officer Demetris Demetriou said final results are due shortly after 8.30 p.m. (1830 GMT), though the trend will be predicted much earlier.

All opinion polls suggested that Anastasiades will lead the pack of nine candidates in today's election and will be an easy winner in the run-off in a week, whoever his challenger may be.

Competing for the second place that will lead to the run-off are center candidate Nicolas Papadopoulos, who is supported by his own Democratic Party and three other smaller center parties, and Stavros Malas, who is supported by the main opposition left-wing Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL).

Malas, a genetics scientist, was also the candidate supported by the AKEL in the 2013 elections, but lost to Anastasiades.

Papadopoulos is the son of former president Tassos Papadopoulos who led the campaign for the rejection by Greek Cypriots of a United Nations blueprint for the solution to the Cyprus problem in 2014.

He said that if being elected, he will seek to re-define the terms of the peace negotiations that have been ongoing for several decades, claiming that past presidents had made concessions to the Turkish Cypriots which are disproportional to their population ratio of about 20 percent.

Analysts say that should Papadopoulos become president there will be a minimal prospect of peace negotiation resumption.

Both Anastasiades and Malas favor an early resumption of peace talks with Turkish Cypriots to reunify the eastern Mediterranean island.

A stalemate would mean continuation of the present partition of Cyprus, which started when Turkey sent its troops to occupy 37 percent of the island's territory, reacting to a coup organized by the military rulers of Greece in 1974.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 18:53:07|Editor: Lifang

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Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi (R) meets with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 28, 2018. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday urged Japan to make joint efforts to bring bilateral ties "back to the track of sound development."

Wang made the call while holding talks with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono in Beijing Sunday.

"Your visit to China at the beginning of the year shows the Japanese government's strong willingness to improve bilateral ties," Wang told Kono, who is on his first China visit as Japanese foreign minister.

Kono's visit came as the two countries celebrate the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which is of special and great significance to bilateral ties.

Describing Sino-Japanese relations as being at a crucial stage, Wang said China had noticed the recent positive comments by the Japanese side and hoped Japan would put its words into actions.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stressed Japan's willingness to promote the relationship with China, in a policy speech Monday. Wang urged the Japanese side "not to slack or fall back, and work together with China to meet each other halfway."

"To improve and develop China-Japan relations is in the interests of both sides, and the common aspiration of various circles in the two societies," Wang said.

Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi also met with Kono on Sunday.

"The two sides should take the opportunity of the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship to eliminate barriers and promote improvement of ties," Yang said.

He called on both sides to respect each other's core interests and major concerns, abide by the principles of the four China-Japan political documents, and properly handle sensitive issues, including regarding history.

Yang also asked the two countries to "control differences and expand win-win cooperation, to push forward ties on a sound track of improvement and development."

Kono said his government was ready to cement political trust and concrete cooperation with China, enhance high-level exchanges and contacts among various levels, to promote full improvement of ties.

Kono is on an official visit to China from Jan. 27 to 28.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 19:28:14|Editor: Lifang

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CANBERRA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Residents of southeast Australia have been urged to behave sensibly and look after vulnerable friends and family as the region swelters through a heatwave.

The temperature was forecast to hit 35 degrees Celsius in Melbourne on Monday with humidity four or five times higher than the normal level.

Adelaide was expected to hit 39 degrees Celsius while northern parts of Victoria will experience temperatures exceeding 44 degrees.

Paul Holman, Victoria's state health commander, said that people should stay inside where possible and must not leave children or pets in cars.

"We're really concerned for the next 36 hours," he told reporters on Sunday.

Stuart Coombs, a Bureau of Meteorology forecaster, said there was no chance of any relief from the extreme temperature until Monday afternoon.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 19:48:18|Editor: Jiaxin

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DAMASCUS, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Antiquities and Museums Department on Sunday condemned the Turkish attacks that targeted archeological sites in the Kurdish-held Afrin region in northern Syria, according to state news agency SANA.

The Ain Dara temple was the latest one destroyed by the Turkish shelling on Afrin, said SANA, adding that the temple was among the most important ancient monuments built by the Arameans in the first millennium BC.

The Ain Dara temple is characterized by its rare basalt stone artifacts discovered in 1982 by a national mission. A Japanese expedition from Tokyo's Old East Museum also contributed to the restoration process of some of its sculptures, according to SANA.

The temple is located in a town under the same name, which was one of the most important cities in an old Aramaic kingdom.

Meanwhile, the antiquities department urged the international organizations to condemn the Turkish attack and to prevent it from targeting ancient sites in Afrin, one of the richest Syrian areas in artifacts and monuments.

The Turkish military campaign against Afrin started last Saturday, aiming to eliminate the Kurdish forces in Afrin and other areas on the Syrian-Turkish border.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 19:58:20|Editor: Jiaxin

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KABUL, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Saturday's massive terrorist bombing in Afghan capital Kabul has risen to 103, with 235 others wounded, Afghan Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak told a press conference on Sunday.

The Taliban group claimed responsibility for the bloody attack, admitting a Taliban outfit blew up an ambulance laden with explosive device in central part of Kabul city.

Some 30 police personnel were among the injured, the interior minister added.

"The enemies have resorted to terrorist attacks as they are losing ground in fight against Afghan security forces," Afghan Defense Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami said at the same briefing.

He said the Afghan security forces have intensified cleanup operations across the country, killing 106 terrorists and injuring 65 others over the past 48 hours.

"Four hijacked military vehicles laden with explosive devices were destroyed, 11 command and control centers of the enemies were also smashed over the period," Bahrami said.

He added that Afghan air force had conducted 19 airstrikes against the militants across the country over the period.

At the same press briefing, Mohammad Masoom Stanikzai, the country's intelligence chief, said personnel of the country's intelligence agency National Directorate of Security has arrested 195 terrorists over the past one week.

Earlier in the day, Afghan government declared Sunday as a national mourning day to pay tribute to those who were killed in recent terrorist attacks in the insurgency-hit country.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 19:58:21|Editor: Jiaxin

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Family members and relatives carry the coffin of a victim of the deadly attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Jan. 28, 2018. Egypt strongly condemned on Sunday the recent deadly suicide bombing against a checkpoint in Afghanistan's capital Kabul that killed at least 103 and wounded over 230, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. (Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah)

CAIRO, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Egypt strongly condemned on Sunday the recent deadly suicide bombing against a checkpoint in Afghanistan's capital Kabul that killed at least 103 and wounded over 230, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Egypt denounced in the strongest terms the sinful terrorist attack perpetrated by the Taliban terrorist movement," said the Egyptian statement, expressing solidarity with the Afghan people and government "in the face of brutal terrorism."

The suicide bombing took place on Saturday outside Jamhoriat Hospital near several government offices and an old building of the Afghan Interior Ministry.

The attacker drove an ambulance to reach the area that was closed for public vehicles to carry out the terrorist operation, which was later claimed by Taliban.

The attack is the deadliest in the country in months and the fifth major in January alone. It followed a Taliban attack on a luxury hotel in Kabul last week that killed 22 people.

Egypt also has been suffering a rising wave of terrorism that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers, as well as civilians, since the military removal of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to mass protests.

Most of the terrorist attacks in Egypt were claimed by a Sinai-based militant group affiliated with the Islamic State regional group.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 20:03:25|Editor: ZD

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Participants attending the 30th heads of state and government summit of the African Union (AU) pose for photo at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, Jan. 28, 2018. The 30th heads of state and government summit of the African Union (AU) opened Sunday in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, under the theme of anti-corruption. (Xinhua/Lyu Shuai)

ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The 30th heads of state and government summit of the African Union (AU) opened Sunday in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, under the theme of anti-corruption.

The 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of AU, as part of the ongoing 30th AU Summit held from Jan. 22 to 29, brings together heads of state and government from AU member states, officials of the AU, representatives from partner organizations, diplomatic corps and other invited guests.

The heads of state summit held at the AU headquarters started with a closed session, followed by the official opening ceremony.

The issues of the institutional reform of the AU, the Continental Free Trade Area, the composition of the Bureau of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU and the election of the new chairperson of the pan-African regional bloc were on the agenda of the session, according to the AU's daft agenda.

The African heads of state and government are expected to deliberate on the different items at the summit, including the consideration of the report of the Executive Council of the AU, the annual report of the Chairperson of the AU Commission and the report on the implementation of the Assembly declarations including that on the Single African Air Transport Market.

They are also scheduled to deliberate on the progress of the implementation of Agenda 2063, a development blueprint for Africa.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 20:23:28|Editor: Jiaxin

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RAMALLAH, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Secretary General of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Saeb Erekat said Sunday that the only way to achieve peace is by establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.

He stressed that East Jerusalem is the capital of the future Palestinian state and considered that ending the Israeli occupation is essential to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region.

Erekat's statements came after holding separate meetings with UN Middle East Peace Envoy Nikolay Mladenov and Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo, at his office in West Bank city of Jericho, said a statement by his office.

The statement by Erekat's office said that the U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and the following statement in which he said Jerusalem has been taken off the negotiations table, "will only widen the cycle of violence, chaos, extremism and bloodshed; not only between Israelis and Palestinians, but also in the entire Middle East region."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 20:58:32|Editor: Lifang

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LONDON, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Britain's most critical industries will face fines of up to 24 million U.S. dollars if they do not have effective cyber security measures, the government announced Sunday.

The hefty penalties will apply to energy, transport, water and health firms if they fail to have the most robust safeguards in place against cyber attack, the government said in a statement.

Britain's National Cyber Security Center also published Sunday new guidance for industry on cyber security.

Following a consultation exercise, bosses of Britain's most critical industries were warned to boost cyber security or face hefty fines for leaving themselves vulnerable to attack.

Sector-specific regulators will be appointed so essential services are protected. The regulators will be able to assess critical industries to make sure plans are as robust as possible.

Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries, Margot James, said: "Today we are setting out new and robust cyber security measures to help ensure the UK is the safest place in the world to live and be online.

"We want our essential services and infrastructure to be primed and ready to tackle cyber attacks and be resilient against major disruption to services."

The new measures will encompass potential threats affecting IT such as power outages, hardware failures and environmental hazards. Under the new measures recent cyber breaches such as WannaCry and high profile systems failures would be covered by the new reporting system.

Such will have to be reported to the regulator who would assess whether appropriate security measures were in place, according to officials.

The new directive, scheduled to come into operation in May, is part of a 2.7 billion U.S. dollars national cyber security strategy by the British Government.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 20:58:33|Editor: ZD

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R, front) meets with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono (L, front) in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 28, 2018. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China and Japan agreed to hold a new round of China-Japan-ROK leaders' meetings as soon as possible, and foster the proper environment for the trilateral summit.

The agreement came as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono Sunday in Beijing.

"High-level exchanges can play a leading role in improving bilateral ties," according to a press release from the talks.

MAINTAIN MOMENTUM FOR IMPROVING TIES

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also met with Kono later Sunday. Currently, China-Japan ties had maintained sound momentum for improvement, he said.

"We have noticed recent positive comments of the Japanese side on relations with China," Li told Kono, who is on his first China visit as Japanese foreign minister.

"However, China-Japan relations are still confronted with uncertainties," Li added.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stressed Japan's willingness to promote the relationship with China, in a policy speech Monday.

Li urged both sides to cherish the sound momentum for improvement of ties.

"China-Japan relations are not only of great significance to both countries, but also to the region and the world," Li said.

He asked the Japanese side to learn lessons from history and face up to the future, and to create a sound environment for expanding win-win cooperation, restarting relevant dialogue mechanisms and boosting regional cooperation.

CHINA-JAPAN-ROK SUMMIT

The Japanese side hopes to hold a new round of China-Japan-ROK leaders' meetings as soon as possible, and welcomes Premier Li's official visit to Japan, Kono said.

The last China-Japan-ROK summit, the sixth one, was held in 2015 in Seoul.

China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea began taking turns to host their annual leaders' meetings in 2008. Yet, the trilateral leaders' meetings were suspended after the fifth one in May 2012, due to disputes over maritime sovereignty between China and Japan.

"The Japanese side hopes to work together with China to meet each other halfway, and jointly promote further improvement and advancement of bilateral ties," Kono said.

40TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHINA-JAPAN TREATY OF PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP

Kono's visit came as the two countries celebrate the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which is of special and great significance to bilateral ties.

"Bilateral ties have gone through an extraordinary journey over the past 40 years," Wang said, calling on both sides to "remain true to their original aspirations, learn from experiences and promote the continuous improvement of the relationship."

The two foreign ministers agreed to take the opportunity to strengthen exchanges at all levels and in various fields, including culture, local government, media and youth, and to step up mutually beneficial cooperation.

Kono said Japan hoped to take the 40th anniversary of the signing of bilateral treaty as well as China's reform and opening-up, to upgrade bilateral ties to a new stage, based on mutual benefit and the consensus of "being each others' cooperation partners rather than threats [to each other]."

During his meeting with Kono on Sunday, Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi asked the two sides to eliminate barriers and expand positive factors to promote the improvement of ties.

Kono said the government was ready to cement political trust and concrete cooperation with China, enhance high-level exchanges and contacts among various levels to promote the full improvement of ties.

PROPERLY HANDLE SENSITIVE ISSUES

During the meetings, the Chinese side urged the Japanese government to properly handle sensitive issues, including regarding history, and work with China to control differences.

Li called on Japan to properly handle sensitive issues, including those from history, properly handle differences, to push forward China-Japan ties back to the sound track of development.

Yang also asked both sides to respect each other's core interests and major concerns, and abide by the principles of the four China-Japan political documents.

According to the press release from the talks between Wang and Kono, the two countries have set forth principles and criteria for properly settling sensitive issues.

Wang urged Japan to honor its commitment, deal with the Taiwan issue based on the one-China principle, and respect China's sovereignty and security rights on issues related to Tibet and Xinjiang.

"China and Japan should work together to build the East China Sea into the sea of peace, cooperation and friendship," said the press release.

Since normalizing ties in 1972, China and Japan have signed four important political documents as well as a four-point principled agreement.

Wang asked both sides to build political trust, and urged Japan to treat China as a partner instead of rival, and view China's development as an opportunity rather than a threat.

Regarding the Taiwan issue, Japan will abide by the principles established in the 1972 Japan-China joint communique that normalized bilateral relations. Japan will also properly deal with issues related to Tibet and Xinjiang, which are part of China's internal affairs, according to Kono.

The two sides also welcomed the creation of an air and maritime contact mechanism between the two countries and pledged to sign the deal as soon as possible.

The two foreign ministers also exchanged opinions on regional and international issues including the Korean Peninsula issue. They vowed to jointly safeguard the free trade system, promote regional economic integration and build an open world economy.

Kono is on an official visit to China from Jan. 27 to 28.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 21:03:35|Editor: Lifang

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BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Trade volume between China and ASEAN countries hit a record high in 2017, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Bilateral trade totalled 514.8 billion U.S. dollars last year, up 13.8 percent year on year, the fastest growth pace between China and any of its major trading partners.

China's exports to ASEAN countries reached 279.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, up 9 percent year on year, while imports grew 20 percent year-on-year to stand at 235.7 billion U.S. dollars.

China registered a trade surplus of 43.4 billion U.S. dollars with ASEAN countries, narrowing by 27.4 percent from 2016.

Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand were China's top trading partners in the region last year. Vietnam was China's biggest export destination while China imported more goods from Malaysia than other ASEAN countries.

China saw robust foreign trade in 2017, which ended the drops of the previous two years by gaining 14.2 percent year on year.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 21:13:37|Editor: Jiaxin

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by Maria Spiliopoulou

ATHENS, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- One in two Greeks today considers renting better than owing properties due to the taxation imposed during the eight year debt crisis, according to a survey released by the Hellenic Property Federation (POMIDA) of real estate owners.

The percentage of Greeks who own real estate dropped from 81.6 percent in 2006 to 73.9 percent in 2018, POMIDA President Stratos Paradias said during a conference held in Athens this weekend.

The 49 percent of respondents believe that it is better on financial terms to lease a house nowadays, due to the burden of property taxes which have doubled in recent years, while 42 percent still prefer owing their apartment.

Three out of ten participants in the survey said they were willing to sell their properties even at a low price and then become renters, since the average rent for a home in Greece in recent years has dropped by 40 percent.

Only 20.3 percent of Greeks today is willing to buy property. In 2009 the percentage stood at 53.5 percent.

The 38.3 percent of respondents said they will struggle to pay their property taxes this year. The 25.4 percent replied they will definitely not be able to do it, since due to prolonged austerity bank deposits which were used to pay taxes so far have also ran out.

The 28.7 percent of home owners still has to pay mortgage and 24 percent of these owners cannot meet their obligations.

One in two Greeks said that although property ownership has become a liability for Greeks, they believe that the interest of foreign investors, in particular for properties on the islands and seaside areas, will increase in the next few years.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 21:18:39|Editor: Jiaxin

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ADEN, Yemen, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr called on Sunday for immediate cease-fire in the southern port city of Aden, where street fighting is taking place.

The Yemeni prime minister also urged the Saudi-led coalition and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to intervene to end the fighting taking place between the government and the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Aden.

The appeal of Daghr mainly directed to the United Arab Emirates' claim that it has a decision in the matter of Aden, and accusing the pro-secession council of staging a new coup.

"Overthrowing the legitimate government will only benefit the Shiite Houthi rebels in Sana'a and Iran," said the prime minister in his statement.

"All the ground forces must immediately stop the fighting and go back to their locations without any conditions," he added.

Meanwhile, fierce street fighting continued between the government forces and other military units allied with the STC in Aden's neighborhoods.

Witnesses told Xinhua that a number of military bases of the Saudi-backed government were stormed and seized by the STC forces following hours of fighting.

Key government institutions and military facilities including the new headquarters of cabinet in Aden are recently controlled by the STC forces.

On Saturday, the Interior Ministry threatened to use the force against any gatherings, marches or protests that may call for dissolving the internationally-backed government.

Banning the demonstrations in Aden came just one day before the end of the one-week deadline that the "Southern Resistance Forces" gave Yemen's President Abdu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to sack the Aden-based government.

The southern port city of Aden is considered as Yemen's temporary capital and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government based itself there since 2015.

Yemen's government, allied with the Saudi-led Arab military coalition, has for about three years been battling Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels over control of the country.

The coalition began a military air campaign in March 2015 to roll back Houthi gains and reinstate exiled President Hadi and his government to the power.

The coalition also imposed air and sea blockade to prevent weapons from reaching Houthis, who had invaded the capital Sanaa militarily and seized most of the northern Yemeni provinces.

UN statistics show more than 10,000 people, most of them civilians, have been killed since the coalition intervened in the Yemeni civil war that also displaced around 3 million.

The Arab country is also suffering from the world's largest cholera epidemic since April, with about 5,000 cases reported every day.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 21:33:43|Editor: Jiaxin

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ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- African Heads of State and Government on Sunday underscored anti-corruption, peace and security issues towards the betterment of Africa's future.

African leaders made the call during the opening session of their two-day meeting as part of the 30th AU summit at the headquarters of the pan-African body in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.

Officially opening the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, said that terrorism continues to ravage the Sahel region and the Horn of Africa.

Mahamat, who indicated the dangerous migration trends, urged African leaders to create opportunities so as to end irregular migration.

"We need to create prospects for the youth who are embarking on adventures to cross deserts and oceans in search of an elusive paradise in the other side of Mediterranean," he said.

According to Mahamat, the situation in South Sudan, where the long-term civil war is affecting the South Sudanese people, is critical. He further warned South Sudanese parties of a possible sanction for violating their agreement.

Noting the repatriation of more than 12,000 African migrants from Libya recently, Mahamat further called on strengthening efforts in responding to the crisis in Libya.

Peace and security situations in South Sudan, the Sahel region, the horn of African region were also said to be the core targets of Africa for the year 2018 together with the fight against organized crime and the realization of AU's target of silencing the guns by 2020.

The fight against illicit financial flow, in line with corruption and mal-administration, is also stressed as a major factor in Africa, as an impediment to the continent's development.

Strengthening Africa's partnership with the Arab world, China and Japan, among other partners, is also underscored as the continent's priority area during 2018 and beyond.

The 30th AU summit will also select Rwandan President Paul Kagame as the new Chairperson of the AU succeeding Alpha Conde, President of the Republic of Guinea.

Noting African countries' contribution to UN's peacekeeping missions, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that peace and security is one of the major partnership areas among UN and Africa.

The secretary general further called on Africa's contribution in the fight against corruption and climate change and investment in youth so as to create a better Africa.

Guterres indicated that avoiding the negative impacts of migration, which includes slavery, needs to be a major target of Africa and the rest of the world.

Guterres also commended African countries' achievements in counter-terrorism and operations against human trafficking.

The two-day session of the African Heads of State and Government is expected to deliberate on the different agendas including the consideration of the report of the Executive Council, the Annual report of the Chairperson of the Commission for 2017, and the report on the implementation of the Assembly Declaration that include the Solemn Commitment on the Single African Air Transport Market.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 21:38:47|Editor: Jiaxin

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ACCRA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Eleven suspects involved in the murder of a police inspector last Sunday at a Ghanaian police station have been arrested, according to a release signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police David Eklu.

The armed gang had stormed the Kwabenya police station, located in the suburb of capital city Accra where they broke into the cells and freed seven suspects in detention, killing a police inspector in the process.

"Five suspects were arrested by the ACCRA police at Kasoa, near the capital in the early hours Saturday. This brings the number of arrests in the Kwabenya incident to 11 as six persons had been arrested earlier last week," the release said.

It said three of the first arrests were those who had escaped from detention while the other three were part of those who facilitated their escape.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 21:43:48|Editor: Jiaxin

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GARISSA, Kenya, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Two Kenyan soldiers died and three others sustained injuries when a vehicle they were traveling in was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED) near the border with Somalia on Saturday.

Mohamed Saleh, the North Eastern Regional Coordinator, confirmed the incident on Sunday, saying the explosive device was set up by Al-Shabaab militants in northeastern Kenyan county of Garissa which shares a border with Somalia.

Saleh revealed that a response team has already been dispatched to the region to hunt for the militants though none has been arrested so far.

"We have mounted operations in the area in a bid to get those behind the attack," Saleh told journalists in Garissa, noting that the bodies of the dead together with the injured victims had been airlifted to Nairobi.

The regional administrator told reporters the hunt for the Al-Shabaab militants had intensified and it is hoped they will be nabbed by an elite team of security personnel.

The Kenyan security personnel patrolling the Somalia border have been hit with a series of explosion attacks since Kenya sent its troops to fight Al-Shabaab inside Somalia in 2011.

The latest attack is the second to happen in the region in the month of January. Early this month, the terror gang destroyed at least five communication masts crippling communication in the region.

Kenya Defence Forces, which is part of African Union troops in Somalia, has started withdrawing from the country as part of plans to leave some operations to Somali troops.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 21:48:49|Editor: Jiaxin

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MOGADISHU, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said Sunday a multinational team of newly deployed police officers will mentor and train local police forces in the management of law and order as the country rebuilds its security institutions.

AMISOM said the 40 AU police officers from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zambia who have just concluded induction training will be deployed in different police stations in Mogadishu and in the federal member states where AMISOM has presence.

Rex Dundun, the Chief of Staff of AMISOM Police urged the police officers to execute AMISOM's mandate with diligence and commitment to duty.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 21:58:51|Editor: Jiaxin

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by Fu Yiming

STOCKHOLM, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Swedish furniture chain IKEA founder, Ingvar Kamprad, has died at his home in the southern Swedish region of Smaland at the age of 91, the furnishing giant announced Sunday.

On Twitter and Facebook, IKEA wrote that the founder of the furniture store was asleep into his home in Smaland. Also, IKEA's press service confirmed Kamprad's death.

The company said that Kamprad has "passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones" at his home in the southern Swedish region of Smaland on Saturday "following a brief illness."

Kamprad built a global business empire out of a small-scale mail order business, and formed the company's name from his own initials, the first letters of his family farm, Elmtaryd, and the parish of Agunnaryd where it is located. In the heart of Smaland, his hometown is a forested province whose people are known in Sweden for thrift and ingenuity.

His work ethic, frugality and down-to-earth style remain at the core of its corporate identity today. His missteps in life, including early flirtations with Nazism, never rubbed off on IKEA.

In 1973, Kamprad fled Sweden's higher tax structure for Denmark before seeking even lower taxes in Switzerland. Later in 2010, Kamprad gradually made way at the helm of the company for his three sons, and finally returned to Sweden in 2014.

Meanwhile, the Consortium of Investigative Journalists cited leaked tax files from Luxembourg when it identified IKEA as one of the giant multinationals fingered for corporate tax avoidance by shuffling money to tax havens.

Last year, the European Commission announced that it had launched an investigation into IKEA's tax deals in the Netherlands, while the group insisted that it complies fully with national and international tax regulations.

Born in 1926, Kamprad founded IKEA at the age of 17. Ingvar would be very missed and remembered by his family and by IKEA employees all over the world, the company said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 21:58:52|Editor: Jiaxin

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ANKARA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish Coast Guard on Sunday blocked Greece's Defense Minister from approaching disputed islets in the Aegean, Turkey's Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Turkish Coast guard ships warned off Panos Kammenos when he was heading to the Kardak islets in an assault boat to lay a wreath there.

The Greek boat left after the warning, according to the statement.

The Turkish General Staff also said in a written statement that navy and Coast Guard have prevented the Greek naval vessel Nikiforos and a Greek Coast Guard boat from moving towards the islets on Sunday morning.

The Kardak islets, also known as Imia in Greek, are a pair of small uninhabited islets located between the Greek island chain of the Dodecanese and the southwestern mainland coast of Turkey, over which the two countries broke out the crisis in 1996.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 22:03:53|Editor: Lifang

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BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China will improve community health services for people living with severe mental illness, which number 5.81 million according to official records.

An inter-ministry conference has been held to address the issue.

Wang Bin, an official at the National Health and Family Planning Commission, said that according to latest available surveys, China only had about 31,000 licensed psychiatrists and 2,900 mental institutions .

The imbalance has prompted the government to create policies helping mental patients be cared for at home and in communities. Last year, a government circular demanded that community health services be provided to mental patients in most cities and counties by 2025.

By then, 60 percent of patients will be able to stay at home, instead of in mental institutions, and be taken care of by community health workers, according to the circular.

"China has a large number of mental patients, many of whom lose their abilities and are mired in poverty," said Gao Xiaobing, vice minister at the Ministry of Civil Affairs, who attended the conference.

"It is important to help them recover the ability to live independently and re-acquire social skills through community services," she said.

Gao asked local governments to increase spending to improve the community services for mental patients and find ways to help them not just recover but to find jobs.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 22:13:57|Editor: Jiaxin

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PHNOM PENH, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- A Cambodian court on Sunday charged 10 foreigners with pornographic production, a crime that could face up to one year in prison, Samrith Sokhon, deputy prosecutor of the Siem Reap Provincial Court, said.

The group, five British men, two Canadian women, one New Zealand man, one Dutchman, and one Norwegian man, was arrested on Thursday night for organizing a "pornographic dancing" at a party in Siem Reap province, he said.

"After questioning them and examining the evidence, I decided to charge them with producing pornographic images and materials under the Article 39 of the law on suppression of human trafficking and sexual exploitation," Sokhon told Xinhua.

He said under the charge, the group could be jailed between one month and one year if convicted.

During the raid, police also detained 77 party revelers including 36 females, but released them soon after an education, according to the National Police website.

Siem Reap province located in northwestern Cambodia is the home of Angkor Archeological Park, a world heritage site.

In July 2016, Cambodia issued an announcement to ban tourists wearing "revealing clothes" from visiting the ancient park after several foreign tourists were arrested and punished for taking nude photos at temples in the park's complex.
Photo taken on Sept. 29, 2017 shows archaeologists working on Keros Island in Greece. Archaeologists unearthed new findings on the Aegean Sea island of Keros during excavations in 2017, Greece's Culture Ministry announced on Jan. 24, 2018. The findings reveal that locals in the early Bronze Age had far more sophisticated architectural and technical expertise than initially thought. (Xinhua/Greek Ministry of Culture)

ATHENS, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Archaeologists have unearthed new findings on the Aegean Sea island of Keros during excavations in 2017, according to Greece's Culture ministry.

The findings reveal that locals in the early Bronze Age had far more sophisticated architectural and technical expertise than initially thought.

Keros is a small uninhabited island of 15 square km, located about 10 km south of Naxos, belonging to the Cyclades islands group. It is known as an important site for the Cycladic civilization which flourished around 3200-2000 BC.

Archaeologists of the British School of Athens, digging under permit from the ministry, so far have brought to light the settlement of Daskalio next to the prehistoric sanctuary and thousands of flat-faced marble figurines. The fragmented statues are believed to have been deposited on Keros during rituals 4,000 years ago.

Last summer's excavations on Keros, conducted by a team of scientists from the University of Cambridge, the Ephorate of the Cyclades and the Cyprus Institute, focused on Daskalio where researchers found an imposing series of structures than previously thought, according to the ministry.

"The new findings show that Daskalio was covered by unique monumental constructions built with stones brought from Naxos," it said.

It is believed to have been the largest known settlement in area at the time, the ministry stressed.

Beneath the terraces, scientists participating in the project, co-directed by British Prof. Colin Renfrew, found an advanced complex of channels used either to carry water or as part of a drainage system.

Nearby experts discovered two workshops containing items which indicate that prehistoric residents were skilled in metallurgy.

Scientists will also further examine in coming months the food traces found, which included burnt seeds of grapes, olives, figs and cereals, as well as remains of legumes and almonds.

Given the small size and location of Keros, researchers believe most construction materials, metals and food products were imported.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 22:44:05|Editor: yan

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ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the League of Arab States, on Sunday called on African Union (AU) and its member countries to strengthen partnership in the areas of peace and security, with due emphasis given to creating lasting solutions to the crisis in Libya.

Gheit, speaking at the opening session of the 30th African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government on Sunday, said the common convergence between the Arab world and the African continent remains a "theater for multiple tensions and instability."

"It is incumbent upon us to redouble our joint efforts and employ our complementary manner to address these challenges and remedy the deep rooted causes that led to their emergence and exacerbation," Gheit said.

According to Gheit, the situation in Libya in particular is a priority for both League of Arab States and the African Union, where the efforts of the two organizations and their member states intersect.

"We are seeking to bring the transitional phase Libya is undergoing to a conclusion, to unify its various institutions, to build the stable foundations of its state, and to complete all the steps and measures that remain," Gheit.

He also reiterated the League of Arab States' commitment to support efforts to address the migrant crisis and the violations migrants are subjected to in Libya. He also indicated his organization's commitment to support the institutions of the Libyan government, its neighbors, the trilateral task force established between the AU, UN and the European Union.

The Arab League, which consists of 22 countries, is a regional organization of Arab states in and around North Africa, the Horn of Africa and Arabia.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 22:44:05|Editor: yan

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BANGKOK, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The annual multi-national military exercise codenamed Cobra Gold will be held in Thailand's eastern region next month, said a Thai navy officer on Sunday.

Thailand, the United States and several other Asian countries will have their military personnel join in the annual military exercise on Feb. 13-23 in eastern Thai provinces including Sattahip naval base in Chonburi, U-tapao naval air base in Rayong, Chachoengsao and Chanthaburi, said the navy officer on condition of anonymity.

Military personnel from dozens of countries will either participate in or observe Cobra Gold 2018 which will primarily feature the command post exercise, the field training exercise and the humanitarian aid and disaster relief, he said.

Cobra Gold, first held in 1982, is considered the biggest military exercise in the Asia-Pacific region.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 22:59:07|Editor: Zhou Xin

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STOCKHOLM, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Ingvar Kamprad, founder of Swedish flat-pack furniture giant Ikea, has passed away at the age of 91, the company announced on Sunday.

Ikea products have furnished millions of homes around the world since the 1950s and the company's global successes made Kamprad one of the wealthiest people in the world.

"We are deeply saddened by Ingvar's passing. We will remember his dedication and commitment to always side with the many people. To never give up, always try to become better and lead by example," Torbjorn Loof, CEO and president of Inter Ikea Group, said in a statement published on the company's website.

Announcing his death on social media platforms on Sunday, Ikea wrote that Kamprad passed away peacefully in his home in Smaland, southern Sweden, where he was born in 1926 and founded his company as a 17-year-old. His death followed a short period of illness.

Kamprad pioneered flat-pack furniture and was "one of the greatest entrepreneurs of the 20th century", the company statement said. Ikea's communications department confirmed his death to Swedish media on Sunday, including to state-broadcaster SVT.

"Ingvar's driving force was the vision of creating a better everyday life for the many people," the company statement said.

The name Ikea is an abbreviation of Ingvar Kamprad, Elmtaryd, Agunnaryd, after his own name as well as the family farm where he was born and the nearby village. Initially, the company sold pens and clocks but after a few years, Ikea also started selling furniture, with the first furniture collection produced in the mid-1950s.

The idea was to sell furniture that as many people as possible could buy regardless of the size of their wallets.

"As soon as products were nice-looking and of good quality, they would also be very expensive. It should be possible to produce well-designed and functional products to a low price for many people," Kamprad has said.

Ikea became the main supplier of furniture to the Swedish "folkhem", the people's home. After that, Ikea also achieved successes in the rest of Europe, North America, China, Russia and several other markets. In 2015, the company had 328 department stores globally.

Kamprad left the company's management team in 1986 but continued to assert control as a senior advisor. Back then, Kamprad said: "I feel very welcome to continue to be active, at least for the next 10, 15, 20 years."

In 2013, Kamprad also left Ikea's board but still continued to be active in the company as an advisor. His youngest son, Mathias Kamprad, took over as chairman of Ikea. In April 2016, Kamprad celebrated his 90th birthday with his family.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 23:19:10|Editor: Yurou

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MOSCOW, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was detained while attending a protest rally for a boycott of the upcoming presidential race, the Moscow City Police said Sunday.

"The Moscow police have detained Navalny, one of the organizers of an unauthorized public event on Tverskaya Street," the police's press service said, adding the opposition leader was later brought to the district police department for an inquiry.

An administrative offence protocol will be drawn up and filed against Navalny due to his violation of the established procedure of organizing or holding an assembly, rally, demonstration or similar public events, the police said.

According to the police, some 1,000 people participated in the unauthorized rally in the central Tverskaya Street and its vicinity in Moscow.

Earlier in the day, Russian law enforcement officers raided the Moscow office of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation on account of a phone call reporting bomb threat, detaining a number of staff members, the foundation's spokesperson said.

Russia's RIA Novosti news agency reported earlier this week that Navalny's supporters had submitted an application to the Moscow municipal government on holding protests on Sunday involving 15,000 people at the downtown of Moscow, which was later rejected.

Navalny has been calling on voters to boycott the presidential race scheduled for March 18, which he claimed to be a rigged "pseudo election."

Russia's Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Navalny and upheld a ban on his participation in the 2018 presidential election for his conviction of embezzlement at a timber company.

A total of over 5,000 people attended rallies held by Navalny's supporters in other cities of Russia on Sunday, the Russian Presidential Council for the Civil Society Development and Human Rights said in a statement.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 23:19:10|Editor: yan

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JERUSALEM, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he will depart on Monday for a whirlwind trip to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Speaking during his weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said he intends to discuss with the Russian leader "the various developments in the region."

He said the issues on the agenda include tightening the security coordination between the Israeli military and the Russian army in Syria, and "a series of other issues which are important, and even very important, for Israel's security," he added without elaborating.

Local media also widely reported that Netanyahu, a vocal opponent of the Iran nuclear deal, is expected to raise his demand to cancel the deal also at the upcoming meeting.

Netanyahu's visit will last only five hours, during which he is also expected to attend the opening of an exhibition to mark 75 years to the revolt in the Nazi death camp of Sobibor in the Museum of Judaism and Tolerance in Moscow.

Netanyahu will be joined by Zeev Elkin, a Ukrainian-born and a minister in Netanyahu's coalition in charge of Jerusalem affairs and environmental protection.

Putin and Netanyahu's last meeting was held in Sochi last August, when Netanyahu warned Putin that Iran's attempt to establish a military foothold in Syria poses an international security risk.

The two leaders have met for numerous times since 2015, when Russia started to send military help to Syria, Russia's close ally and Israel's northern neighbor.

Israel has repeatedly asked Putin and other international leaders not to allow Iran to gain a permanent military presence in war-torn Syria.

The meeting comes a few days after Netanyahu met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the Davos Economic Forum last Thursday, their fourth meeting since Trump took office in 2017. During public remarks, Netanyahu thanked Trump for his stance against the nuclear deal and his promise to "fix" the deal.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 23:34:12|Editor: Yurou

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Experts and industry insiders of Nepal's power sector said on Sunday that Nepal's policies with regard to hydropower development have been friendlier to international investors but the Nepali government agencies have been slow to implement them.

During the thematic discussions at the Nepal Power Investment Summit-2018 being held in Kathmandu, they said the Nepali government's policy of purchasing power in U.S. dollar term, flexibility in removing land ceiling for big hydro projects and availability of technical human resources are notable developments required for attracting foreign investment.

Prateek Man Singh Pradhan, one of the vice presidents of Butwal Power Company, said the government's policy of purchasing power in the U.S. dollar was one of the very encouraging policy reforms initiated in the power sector.

N. L. Sharma, chairman of India's state-owned Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam named hassles during the land accusation and clearance of forest and environment as some of the factors distracting FDI in Nepal's energy sector.

Joseph Hoess, director of Dragon Capital, Vietnam, said hassles that any foreign investors have to go through while doing ground works could discourage foreign investment in Nepal.

"We are the private sector who looks maximized return within short period of time, but here in Nepal we have to invest more than five years doing basis things, getting approvals and clearances," he said.

Nepal's installed capacity of developed hydropower projects so far is less than 1000MW. But the Himalayan country rich in water resources offers opportunity for international investors to harness its hydropower potential.

The three-day summit organized by Energy Development Council, a body representing Nepal's energy sector, has brought together Nepali policy makers, domestic power developers, multinational companies related to power sectors, international financiers and experts to discuss on investment opportunities in Nepal's power sector and find financiers for the "ready to go" projects.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 23:39:13|Editor: Zhou Xin

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CAPE TOWN, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The City of Cape Town announced on Sunday that it will be activating the Disaster Operations Center (DOC) next week to prepare for the worst scenario that would result from a depeening water crisis.

The DOC, headed by water expert Richard Bosman, will be responsible for executing the city's Water Disaster Plan designed for Day Zero when dams supplying water to the city run dry, water taps are switched off and residents have to collect water at designated points, the city said in a notice.

It will be the task of the DOC to manage the water collection points (WCPs), according to the notice.

"A great deal of preparation is being done to ensure that this happens as efficiently as possible," the notice said.

The city's Disaster Risk Management Department has been consulting with the international community since early last year on how best to distribute water in a time of crisis.

"We will shut off supply to taps when our dams reach a collective level of 13.5 percent," the notice said.

Currently dam levels stand at about 26.7 percent.

Day Zero is predicted to arrive on April 12.

The detail around how the WCPs will be managed has captured much of the public's attention.

Panic has arisen these days as people begin to imagine what their lives will be like if they have to queue for water every day.

The city said it is looking at the local context of each WCP to build flexibility into the way each individual point is managed.

"We are designing the collection points to ensure that they can be managed in the most efficient way possible," the city said.

The city pledged to trouble-shoot each WCP so that, if Day Zero arrives, people are able to collect water as quickly and safely as possible.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have confirmed that they will assist the city to secure the WCPs.

The deployment will include inner perimeter security as well as outer perimeter security. There will be static deployment as well as rotational vehicle patrols.

"Every possible contingency is being considered and we will continuously evaluate and fine-tune these measures in the lead up to Day Zero, and in the days that follow," the city said.

The city urged all Capetonians to join in the effort to bring individual consumption down to 50 litres a day so as to avoid running out of water.

"If we don't want to queue, we must save water now. If we can keep our daily water use below 50 litres per person, we can avoid Day Zero," the city said.

As the second-most populous urban area in South Africa after Johannesburg, Cape Town is the capital of the Western Cape Province and the seat of South Africa's Parliament, with a population of about 6 million.

The number of domestic and international tourists visiting the city reaches more than five million every year.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 23:49:19|Editor: yan

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ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday said UN is keen to further strengthen its partnership with the African Union (AU) in five areas.

Peace and security, migration, and fighting against corruption are the three of the five major areas of cooperation where the UN seeks to strengthen partnership with AU, said Guterres at the opening of the 30th AU heads of state and government summit.

The other areas of cooperation include sustainable and inclusive development, and issues related to women and young people, he said.

With regard to peace and security, Guterres reiterated that the UN-AU partnership is fundamental in building a safer world for all, and the partnership between the two organizations is rooted in solutions that are Africa-owned, Africa-driven, and Africa-led.

He also noted the need to confront root causes of conflicts by strengthening prevention through diplomacy and mediation.

Stating that the UN fully supports the African initiative for peace and reconciliation in the Central African Republic (CAR), he urged all partners to move this forward under national leadership.

The UN has aligned its position with the AU and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and has been cooperating with them as far as the situation in South Sudan is concerned, said Guterres.

Regarding migration, he emphasized strengthening cooperation between UN and AU, and underlined the need to maximizing the benefits of orderly migration, while stamping out abuses and prejudice.

"This requires better coordination between countries of origin, transit and destination, and more legal pathways for migration," noted the secretary- general.

"I condemn the widespread abuse and exploitation of migrants that are a stain on our common humanity," he said.

With regard to the partnership in anti-corruption, Guterres pledged UN's strong support to AU's endeavors in fighting against the scourge of corruption on the continent.

Reiterating that corruption contributes to the trafficking of people and drugs, and the plundering of natural resources and wildlife, with other negative impacts, Guterres said the UN is working with national anti-corruption commissions to end impunity and bring perpetrators to justice.

The secretary-general also stated that the UN cooperates with AU in the area of sustainable and inclusive development, for which the two organizations cooperate on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Africa's Agenda 2063.

With regard to women and young people, Guterres said women and young people must lead the development agenda.

Africa has the largest concentration of young people, said Guterres, adding "harnessing the demographic dividend, through investment in quality education, skills and job creation, will unleash unprecedented resources of energy, talent and creativity."

The UN and the AU signed a second framework on the implementing the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the AU Agenda 2063 on Saturday.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-29 00:04:23|Editor: yan

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DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Decreased water levels in the Tarangire River is posing a threat to the survival of wild animals at Tarangire National Park in northern Tanzania, authorities said on Sunday.

Allan Kijazi, the Director General of the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), said wild animals in the park may face extinction in years to come if necessary measures were not taken to rescue Tarangire River from drying up.

Existence of animals and other living organisms at Tarangire National Park depend mostly on the river, which is currently facing reduced water levels.

"Water levels at Tarangire River are alarmingly low and this is threatening the existence of wild animals at the national park," Kijazi told members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Lands, Natural Resources and Tourism on a visit to the park.

The water levels, he said, have fallen dramatically due to increased human economic activities along the main source of Tarangire River at Kondoa district in Dodoma region.

"We are calling upon parliament and the government to ensure that the source of Tarangire River is protected. If this is not taken into consideration, the lives of animals will be in danger," he said.

A warden at Tarangire National Park, Herman Bitaho, said water levels have not improved despite an increase in the amount of rainfall.

"If water levels go down further, animals will be forced to go out in search of the vital liquid to quench their thirst as well as pasture. This may result into some catastrophic outcomes on lives of people around the national park," he said.

The chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Lands, Natural Resources and Tourism, Kemilembe Luota, said although the decrease of water levels in the river could be caused by global warning, TANAPA's alarm should not be ignored.

She said it was important for the government to revisit the importance of national parks to the economy and make sure that economic activities along the river do not interfere with the ecological system.
U.S. delivers 12 Black Hawk helicopters to strengthen Jordan Air Force. (Reuters Photo)

AMMAN, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) on Sunday officially received the final shipment of new Black Hawk helicopters from the United States, bring the total number to 12 of all aircraft received over the last nine months, the U.S. Embassy in Amman said.

The helicopters will strengthen the JAF, its Quick Reaction Force (QRF), and Jordan's security, said the embassy in a statement to the press.

Prince Faisal bin Hussein presided over the delivery commemoration of the Black Hawks, with Charge d'Affaires of U.S. Embassy Henry Wooster and General Joseph Votel, Commander of the U.S. Central Command, representing the United States.

"The U.S. and the Kingdom of Jordan have a historic and enduring relationship, built on shared values and shared interests. Our military partnership epitomizes our mutual goals for a secure and stable region. Today's ceremony marks the beginning of a new JAF capability in the form of a state-of-the-art UH-60 Black Hawk fleet," said Wooster at the ceremony.

The U.S. delivered the first installment of the 12 Black Hawks in March 2017 and the final installment in December 2017, a delivery completed in unprecedented speed for this number of aircraft.

The U.S. Congress appropriated 470 million dollars in 2017 to the JAF and RJAF, including training for pilots, crew chiefs, and maintenance technicians, as well as spare parts, ground equipment, weapons, ammunition and shelters for the Black Hawks.
Turkey launched operation "Olive Branch" on January 20 against the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia in Afrin, supporting Syrian opposition fighters with ground troops and air strikes. (AFP Photo)

DAMASCUS, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Antiquities and Museums Department on Sunday condemned the Turkish attacks that targeted archeological sites in the Kurdish-held Afrin region in northern Syria, according to state news agency SANA.

The Ain Dara temple was the latest one destroyed by the Turkish shelling on Afrin, said SANA, adding that the temple was among the most important ancient monuments built by the Arameans in the first millennium BC.

The Ain Dara temple is characterized by its rare basalt stone artifacts discovered in 1982 by a national mission. A Japanese expedition from Tokyo's Old East Museum also contributed to the restoration process of some of its sculptures, according to SANA.

The temple is located in a town under the same name, which was one of the most important cities in an old Aramaic kingdom.

Meanwhile, the antiquities department urged the international organizations to condemn the Turkish attack and to prevent it from targeting ancient sites in Afrin, one of the richest Syrian areas in artifacts and monuments.

The Turkish military campaign against Afrin started last Saturday, aiming to eliminate the Kurdish forces in Afrin and other areas on the Syrian-Turkish border.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-29 00:39:33|Editor: yan

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CAPE TOWN, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The South African government will be offering financial support to the City of Cape Town in addressing a deepening water crisis, Minister of Water and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane said on Sunday.

A full plan is being worked out to fund some projects undertaken by the city to find additional water resources, Mokonyane told the Cape Town Press Club.

She was speaking after the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), which administers the city, said it was considering legal action to compel the national government to help address the water crisis in Cape Town, hit by the worst drought in history.

The national government has been criticized for failing to come to Cape Town's rescue. A repeated call on President Jacob Zuma to declare the crisis "a national disaster" has not been responded.

Mokonyane outlined her department's role in curbing the crisis which might lead to the worst scenario on April 12 when water taps are turned off, known as Day Zero.

If this happened, Cape Town, with a population of about 6 million, might be the first metropolis in the world to run out of water.

"We must allay the fears of South Africans," Mokonyane said.

She said her department will assist Cape Town to implement a four-pronged strategy in the short term.

This includes desalination, groundwater optimization, conservation and the re-use of water.

Three aquifers are expected to provide a total of 65 megalitres of water in May and June, according to the minister.

A desalination plant will be erected "some time this year," she said.

In addition, her department has granted approval for three water use licences for groundwater programs in three different areas of the city, Mokonyane said.

But she said throwing money would not be enough to head off Day Zero.

Capetonians must adapt to the situation by saving water, the minister said.

"Day Zero can be avoided if all of us become positive and move beyond politics and appreciate that the realities of climate change are upon us," she said.

The minister urged the city to ensure that all water users have more information on how to save water, especially at household level, given that 70 percent of water is being used domestically.

Water users in Cape Town are still using more water than their rightful allocation, according to Mokonyane.

Under more stringent restrictions that will take effect on February 1, Capetonians are required to use less than 50 litres of water per person per day.

Also on Sunday, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) urged Capetonians to strictly adhere to the water restrictions.

"We appeal to people, because it will take everyone's efforts to deal with this issue, to stick to the current water restrictions, so we can try delay Day Zero as much as possible," commission spokesperson Gushwell Brookes said.

Amid growing panic over Day Zero, Capetonians have been scrambling to store bottled water these days, leading to a shortage of bottled water. Many shops have already run out of stock.

Even buckets or other water containers are difficult to find. At a shop selling plastic goods on the southern suburb of the city, people waited in a long queue on Sunday to buy water containers.

Daniel Kayin, a middle-aged company employee, told Xinhua that at the place where he lived, all water containers had been sold out.

"I've to drive extra miles to come to another side of the city to buy water containers. I've to prepare for Day Zero," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-29 01:44:43|Editor: yan

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ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Sunday took over chairmanship of the African Union (AU) during the heads of state and government summit of the AU.

Kagame took over the chairmanship from Guinea's President Alpha Conde at the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government, within the framework of the 30th AU Summit, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The 30th AU summit held from Jan. 22 to 29 is being convened under the theme "Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa's Transformation."

Africa's defining challenge is to create a pathway to prosperity for its people, especially young people, said Kagame, who also leads the the chair of the Union for a one-year term, and the chairmanship rotates among the five sub-regions of the continent.

African countries need to work in unity, create a single continental market, integrate their infrastructure and infuse their economies with technology, said Kagame in his acceptance speech.

He called on African countries to create a single continental market, integrate infrastructure, infuse economies with technology and stay together.

Kagame also said AU's flagship initiatives, such as Agenda 2063, have tremendous value.

Africa is "nearly ready" to adopt the Continental Free Trade Area, said the new chairperson. "It really needs to be done this year."

According to him, freedom of movement for people in Africa "is achievable in 2018."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-29 02:14:49|Editor: yan

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ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- African leaders attending an African Union summit here on Sunday called for efforts towards the continent's transformation.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari, and the newly elected Liberian president, George Weah, all called for efforts to fight challenges that hinder Africa's development and transformation.

According to Kagame, who took over the chairmanship of the AU on Sunday, said that Africa's defining challenge is to create a pathway to prosperity for the continent's people, especially the youth.

"Technology has evolved so rapidly in recent years, that Africa's window to follow that strategy is narrowing much more rapidly than previously understood," Kagame said, adding that "We are running out of time, and we must act now to save Africa from permanent deprivation."

Kagame also called on all Africans to work together in the realization of the continent's aspirations and ambition towards prosperity.

He also praised the ongoing financial and institutional reform of the AU, saying that "the programmes, policies, and priorities of the AU contain the right tools for the job."

According to Kagame, Africa has assets and strengths to build on, including the AU, and its tangible commitment to unity.

"This is an advantage, which no other region of the world possesses, in such abundance. Unity must be our starting point, as we do the necessary work of re-defining our plans and ambitions, in continental terms," he said.

The newly elected Liberian president, George Weah, in his first appearance at the AU summit, also called for collective efforts towards the continent's development.

According to Weah, one of the challenges that Africa needs to eradicate so as to embark on its development and transformation is corruption.

Noting the summit's theme -- "Winning the Fight Against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa's Transformation," Weah said corruption hinders Africa's progress and development.

Weah, who was greeted by fellow African leaders in his first ever appearance at the AU, also vowed to work together with other African countries for common development.

Weah further indicated his aspirations that the Assembly of Heads of State and Government will strengthen Africa's determination and political will to tackle the challenges that emanate from corruption.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari, who was selected by the AU as champion against corruption, also said that "corruption is indeed the greatest evil of our time."

According to Buhari, corruption has created a system of distortion and diversion by destroying constructive, just and fair governance.

Buhari, who stressed the socio-economic impact of corruption and illicit financing, further urged AU member states to work on setting up stronger leadership and effective institutions towards eradicating corruption and setbacks against that hamper the continent's development.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-29 02:44:56|Editor: yan

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JERUSALEM, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian dressed as an Israeli soldier was captured and arrested on Sunday after he attempted to enter an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, the army said.

A military spokesperson said in a statement that a second Palestinian man, also dressed as an Israel Defense Forces soldier, escaped the scene.

"One of the suspects was apprehended. Troops are searching the area in order to locate the second suspect," the statement read.

The incident took place at Itamar, a settlement southeast of Nablus city.

The Israeli settlements in the West Bank are heavily guarded with fences and radar systems, and Israel does not allow Palestinians in unless they were issued with special work permits.

The incident came amidst heightened tensions in the region following U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

The statement, on Dec. 6, sparked a fresh wave of Palestinian protest and violence, which have claimed the lives of at least 12 Palestinians an Israeli man, local media reported.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-29 03:10:01|Editor: yan

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JERUSALEM, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. special Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt on Sunday took a tour near the fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip, and called on Hamas to stop "to attack Israel."

The tour, guided by senior Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officers, included a visit inside a cross-border tunnel, dug by Hamas, the organization that runs Gaza. The tunnel was recently exposed by the Israeli military.

Greenblatt, the White House' Special Representative for International Negotiations, also heard a briefing from Brig. Gen. Yehuda Fox.

After the tour, Greenblatt urged Hamas to stop their struggle against Israel. "Hamas wastes resources on tunnels and rockets to attack Israel, instead of helping the people of Gaza by getting the lights on, the water flowing and the economy growing," Greenblatt wrote on his Twitter account.

"Hamas spews hateful rhetoric and foments a vicious cycle of violence. Gaza deserves better!" he wrote.

The tour was made amidst heightened tensions in the region following U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

The December 6 statement sparked a fresh wave of Palestinian protest and violence, which have claimed the lives of at least 12 Palestinians, according to local media, and an Israeli man.

Gaza has been under a blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt since 2007, a year after Hamas, an Islamist Palestinian movement, won the legislative elections in the enclave.

The Palestinians struggle against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, which Israel controls since the 1967 Middle East war, despite international criticism.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-29 04:45:16|Editor: yan

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MAFRAQ, JORDAN, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The UN Higher Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) special envoy Angelina Jolie visited Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan on Sunday, calling for "a viable political settlement" to the Syrian crisis.

Accompanied by the UNHCR Representative in Jordan Stefano Severe, the Hollywood actress called on UN Security Council members to visit the refugee camps and see first hand the plight of the refugees after seven years of displacement.

"After seven years of war, most Syrian refugees have exhausted any savings they had. The vast majority of them already live below the poverty line, on less than three dollars a day. Imagine what that would mean for your family," Jolie said.

The Hollywood star, at her fifth visit to Jordan since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis in 2011, sent a message publicly urging the international community to do more to meet the needs of desperate Syrian families and the countries hosting them as well.

"UNHCR does not have the funds to provide in full even the most necessities for survival for many families," Jolie said, adding that the UNHCR response for the Syria crisis was only 50 percent funded in 2017.

After talking with a Syrian refugee family who had been living in Zaatari refugee camp for the past five years, Jolie visited "Tiger Girls" program funded by UNHCR, which aims to empower young refugee girls through a range of academic and social skills courses.

Jordan hosts over 655,000 Syrian refugees since the beginning of the Syrian war, with the vast majority of them living in cities and towns.

Zaatari refugee camp, which was established in 2012, is located about 70 km north of the Jordanian capital Amman and hosts almost 80,000 refugees.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-29 05:35:24|Editor: yan

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JERUSALEM, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The prime ministers of Israel and Poland decided Sunday to start bilateral talks to reach an agreed wording of a Polish bill that bans mentions of Polish complicity in crimes committed during the Holocaust.

The talks may halt an escalating diplomatic crisis between the two countries after the lower house of the Polish parliament voted in favor the controversial bill on Friday, sparking an uproar in Israel.

On Sunday evening, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office released a statement saying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki talked over the phone about the issue.

"The two agreed to begin an immediate dialogue between teams from both countries to try to reach understandings on the legislation," the statement read.

The new legislation proposes to jail a person who blames Poland or the Poles for Nazi crimes against humanity, which were committed in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II. The bill also prohibits phrases such as "Polish death camps."

Israeli leaders, as well as Holocaust survivors, condemned the bill, charging that it attempts to rewrite history and conceal Polish complicity with the Nazis during the war.

On Sunday, during Israel's weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu urged Poland to change the bill before its final approval, while the Deputy Polish Ambassador to Israel Piotr Kozlowski was reprimanded at the foreign ministry.

About 6 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| 2018-01-29 05:40:25|Editor: Yurou

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ALGIERS, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Algeria said Sunday it is due to submit new proposals to France over the issue of compensation Paris has to provide to victims of nuclear tests in Algeria.

"A meeting of the Algerian-French Joint Commission in charge of settling the issue of French nuclear tests in Algeria is under preparation, as we are due to present new proposals the French side," Minister of Mujahedeen (War-veterans), Tayeb Zitouni, was quoted as saying by APS news agency.

He specified that these new proposals concern "compensation for victims of these tests who already transmitted their files to the French side, in addition to compensation for the environment damage," saying the area of contaminated land by nuclear radiation exceeds 100 sq km.

The Algerian side "is waiting for proposals from the French side before the joint meeting on this issue," Zitouni said, adding that the French side "already pleaded to implement the Morin Law on the compensation of victims of nuclear tests but the law has never covered the Algerian victims."

The minister further noted that ministerial commission that consists of representatives of the War-veterans Ministry and Foreign Ministry is due to hold a working meeting to discuss the issue of the recovery of 41 cranes of Algerian martyrs and which are exposed at the French Museum of Natural History (MNHN).

He added that some pending issues, including the restitution of archives and disappeared Algerians during the national revolution should be discussed during a meeting that is under preparation between the Algerian and French parts.

The devastating effects of France's nuclear tests in Algeria will remain for several decades, Head of the National Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Research Development (FOREM), Mustapha Khiati, told reporters last year.

He noted that the use of chemical materials such as plutonium in these nuclear tests caused several pathologies, including skin cancer, among population living in the affected regions.

On February 13, 1960, colonial France conducted a large-scale nuclear test in the southern region of Reggane.

Experts say that as many as 42,000 Algerians were killed and thousands others were irradiated in 17 nuclear tests carried out by France between 1960 and 1966.

So far, Algiers and Paris have failed to normalize their long standing bilateral relations, as the two nations are still unable to overcome their common "painful" past, which includes a 132 long years of French colonialism in the North Africa nation.

In Algeria, it is understood that the bilateral relations with France could reach normalization, only when Paris recognizes the crimes committed during its colonial era, and offer apology to the victims of that "brutal" colonialism rule.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-29 05:55:28|Editor: yan

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TRIPOLI, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Customs authorities of the port of the Libyan city of Misurata, 200 km east of the capital Tripoli, seized on Sunday 11 million narcotic pills.

"The anti-smuggling and drugs department and the customs inspection unit have seized two containers coming from Asia and Europe, containing 11 million tablets of Tramadol," Ahmed Al-Saghir, a Misurata customs official, told Xinhua.

"The smugglers tried to camouflage and not to draw attention when they put the shipment of the narcotic pills inside two containers. The first one contained electric appliances and the second contained imported juice boxes," Al-Saghir said.

Narcotics drugs are regularly seized in Libya, especially in ports, due to weak security procedures.

Italian authorities have managed to thwart the smuggling of 24 million Tramadol tablets from India to Libya last year, which worth an estimated of 50 million euros (about 62 million U.S. dollars).

According to Italian police investigations, the shipment was intended to fund IS activities in Libya.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-29 06:00:29|Editor: Yurou

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By Gao Lu, Huang Chao, Xia Lin

NEW YORK, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- While international admission by U.S. universities and colleges shows signs of flattening in the past two years, Fan Yilan, the sophomore at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin, still feels a strong growth of Chinese enrollment against the general trend.

"In China, it's not in decline at all. It's in the opposite way. It's increasing. There're more Chinese students seeking education abroad in the United States," the girl from Beijing told Xinhua.

WEALTH AND PROSPECTS

The annual Open Doors Data released in November by the Institute of International Education of the United States (IIE) showed that the students from China to U.S. higher education topped 350,700 in the academic year of 2016/17, a rise of 6.8 percent over the previous year.

They accounted for 32.5 percent of the whole international students in the United States, topping the ranks for the eighth year.

"We would like to join it and experience more. I think that's the main part why we choose to study abroad. We want to learn what they do here and to enjoy the experience of studying abroad," said Fan, who majors in accounting and economy.

The IIE report also said that despite the "strong growth in the number of international students studying in the United States in the past decade, with an increase of 85 percent since 2006/07, the new findings signal a slowing of growth, with a 3 percent increase compared to increases of 7 to 10 percent for the previous three years."

Thousands of kilometers away in eastern America, admission officials and students at the University of Southern California (USC) gave sharper insights, for it is centrated and diversified in international students, especially Chinese.

"As Chinese develops better and better, more people are able to afford the tuition fees. Most of the top education institutions are located in the United States and Europe, so Chinese parents want to send their kids outside to open their mind and to explore different education systems," Joyce Wang, a Chinese student at USC, told Xinhua.

Ben Lee, Associate Director of Master of Communication Management Program at USC, noticed that Chinese parents need to be more calculative in sending their children to study in the United States.

"I would say that at the same time, the outcome for a student and his family investing in overseas education is no longer that simple. The Chinese market and its employers can now distinguish overseas students with strong experiences from strong programs from those who are just there from a mediocre program and not working hard to benefit from their stay abroad," Ben told Xinhua.

SHATTERING STEREOTYPE AND INTEGRATE

U.S. media reports used to depict Chinese students as nerd or just rich kids, but actually more of them are breaking this stereotype.

"We're participating in all the organizations and trying to take initiative to position ourselves," said Fan, strongly denying the media reports.

During her freshman year, Fan joined an Asian interest authority and made a lot of local friends to have fun together, which provided her with better understanding of the culture.

She also undertakes volunteer jobs and fundraising with schoolmates, as well as helps organize some events to promote Asian culture.

"So I think it is really a fun part not only me, but a lot of my friends. We are really trying to participate in all the events in college," she added.

GOING HOME AFTER GRADUATION

As those coming to America are on the rise, the number of returnees with competitive degrees and promising projects has been going strong, too.

According to the education branch of the Chinese Embassy in the United States, the total number of Chinese youth studying in America and then going home after graduation has been rising in the past 5 years.

Cen Jianjun, the diplomat in charge of education affairs, recently told Xinhua that the surge back home has corresponded with the prosperity of their motherland, which promises preferential policies and better prospects.

"They pin hope on China's future," added Cen.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-29 06:10:31|Editor: Yurou

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Finnish incumbent President Sauli Niinisto (front) attends a press conference after winning a landslide victory in the presidential election in Helsinki, Finland, on Jan. 28, 2018. With all ballots counted, Finnish incumbent president Sauli Niinisto was re-elected in Sunday's presidential election. (Xinhua/Matti Matikainen)

HELSINKI, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Finnish incumbent president Sauli Niinisto was re-elected in Sunday's presidential election.

Niinisto won 62.7 percent of the votes after all ballots were counted on Sunday night, and hence there was no need to start a second round. He said he was surprised to see the landslide victory.

Green party candidate Pekka Haavisto came the second with 12.4 percent. None of the rest six candidates won over seven percent.

Populist candidate Laura Huhtasaari gained 6.9 percent and anti-EU independent candidate Paavo Vayrynen got 6.2 percent. Analysts said the two had shared the same pool of voters.

Former centrist prime minister Matti Vanhanen got 4.1 percent. Social democratic candidate Tuula Haatainen got 3.2 percent and Meja Kyllonen of the Left League 3 percent.

The ostensibly pro-NATO candidate Nils Torvalds did badly. He deplored that his NATO message was not accepted beyond his 1.5 percent support.

Talking to the media when the victory was certain, Niinisto said he was surprised with the result, and he believed people were satisfied with his performance and there was no need to change.

The voting turnout was 69 percent and three percent less than the previous presidential election in 2012. Analysts said the presidential elections are not more interesting to the people than parliamentary elections. The supremacy of Niinisto may also have reduced their interest.

Niinisto, 69, will start serving his second term until 2024.

Niinisto underlined that he has no intention of becoming a "big leader" of Finland, indicating he does not envisage a greater role, especially in the domestic policies.

The powers of the president in domestic issues have been reduced in recent decades. Latest opinion polls have shown a public desire for more presidential powers again.

Largely a symbolic head of state, the president has kept a co-management role in the foreign policy and is also the commander in chief of the country's defense forces.

Niinisto said his cooperation with the current prime minister and his predecessors on foreign policy and the European Union issues has been successful. Local commentators said, however, that any future prime minister or foreign minister will have difficulty if they want to increase their influence in foreign policy during Niinisto's new term.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-29 06:45:34|Editor: yan

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LIMA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The city of Lima, Peru, is ready to host over 10,000 people during the upcoming Summit of the Americas (SOA), which will take place on April 13-14, President of the Lima Bureau of Conventions and Visitors (BCVL) Carlos Canales said on Sunday.

In an interview with Xinhua, Canales confirmed that the Summit of the Americas will receive "dignitaries from all the countries of the Americas."

As a central topic, the summit has chosen "Democratic Governance against Corruption," a topic of common concern to the heads of state, ministers, business leaders and civil society representatives set to attend.

Canales is confident that the media attention surrounding the event will favor Peru as the host country. "Every government event of this size has a multiplying effect, especially for the image of the country," he explained.

Concerning the economic windfall the Summit of the Americas could have on the Peruvian services sector, Canales estimates that "for this meeting, we are calculating the creation of almost 50 million U.S. dollars."

Furthermore, hosting the Summit of the Americas is a landmark moment for the Peruvian capital which, over the last five years, has been transformed with a new conventions center, numerous five-star hotels and high-end restaurants.

The Conventions Center is a modern complex located on the central Javier Prado avenue, near the national museum and national library. Inaugurated in 2015, it can receive 10,000 people.

However, Canales says Peru has already been prepped for such events, having hosted the COP 20 climate change conference in 2014, the IMF and World Bank Annual meetings in 2015 and the APEC Forum in 2016.

Canales mentions that such events as the Summit of the Americas would have a massive impact on the Peruvian services sector, which is in a hiring boom as it grows around 18 percent a year.

"In the city of Lima, we are creating around 200,000 jobs, involving the services sectors, across hotels, transport, logistical support, translations, event organization, technical assistance," he explained.

He added that the design industry was also becoming ever more dynamic, "which has registered growth of over 100 percent in the last five years."

Finally, the BCVL president said that this year, around 500 Chinese businessmen, representing over 250 companies, would take part in the "Expo Arcon 2018" from July 3-7, concerning the construction, machinery and architecture sectors.

"We feel Chinese companies could participate in our hotel sector," said Canales.

BCVL projections say that the Peruvian conventions industry should bring in around 1.15 billion U.S. dollars in 2018. According to BCVL figures, the industry in Peru has been growing at 17 percent a year.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-29 06:55:36|Editor: Zhou Xin

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Cuban President Raul Castro (3rd R, front) attends the unveiling ceremony in Havana, Cuba, Jan. 28, 2018. Cuban President Raul Castro unveiled here on Sunday a sculpture of Cuban national hero, Jose Marti, a replica of the original one located in New York's Central Park. (Xinhua/Joaquin Hernandez)

HAVANA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Cuban President Raul Castro unveiled here on Sunday a sculpture of Cuban national hero, Jose Marti, a replica of the original one located in New York's Central Park.

Castro was accompanied by First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel, other local government and political officials, as well representatives of New York's city government, among other invited American personalities.

In the speech, Havana's official historian, Eusebio Leal, stressed that this statue is an absolute copy in every detail of the original work by the American artist Anna Hyatt Huntington, which was finished in 1958.

The famous sculptor made it at the request of the Cuban government of the time as a gift to the U.S. However, due to political differences, the sculpture was not inaugurated until 1965. It now stands close to statues of other Latin American heroes, Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin in the Central Park.

Joseph Mizzi, Chairman of the Bronx Museum of the Arts, stressed the honour he felt at attending the ceremony on behalf of his colleagues.

Mizzi defined the event as a great gesture for the peoples of Cuba and the U.S., and expressed his gratitude at the donations received by over a hundred people for the realization of the project.

"We have shared with friends, close and far, the idea of bringing to Havana an exact replica of Jose Marti's statue in New York, which is our homage to one of the greatest Latin American intellectuals," he said.

The original sculpture is the only one known to date, depicting the figure of Marti at the time of his fall in action at the battle of Dos Rios on May 19, 1895 in eastern Cuba.

It is based on a missing painting by the Cuban painter Esteban Valderrama and weighs three tons, stands 5.67 meters tall, and made in bronze, with a black marble pedestal.

Marti was born on January 28, 1853 and struggled from a young age to free Cuba from Spanish colonialism, until his death in battle at the age of 42.

The 165th anniversary of his birth has been marked with several celebrations this week throughout the country.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 07:21:00|Editor: Lifang

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QUITO, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador's former vice-president, Jorge Glas, on Friday appealed the six-year prison sentence handed down against him in December, for illicit association with the Odebrecht corruption scandal.

His defense attorney, Eduardo Franco, filed the appeal at Ecuador's supreme court (CNJ) in Quito, before telling the press "we have presented the appeal recourse to the wicked and barbaric sentence."

Franco indicated that the appeal sought to annul the sentence and free Glas, who has been detained since October.

"We hope the court...invalidates this proceeding and provides immediate freedom to Jorge Glas, who was sentenced in an absurd manner."

Glas was sentenced to six years in prison on Dec. 13, after having been found guilty of receiving 13.5 million U.S. dollars in bribes from Odebrecht in exchange for five state contracts between 2012 and 2016.

Glas' uncle, Ricardo Rivera, was also jailed for having acted as a middle man.

Glas was vice-president to the current President, Lenin Moreno, and his predecessor, Rafael Correa.
Hyderabad: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) may break its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Andhra Pradesh, hinted state chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday.

"If the BJP does not want to continue alliance then the TDP will on its own," said Naidu at a press conference.

Naidu claimed that the TDP was still following `Mitra Dharma` with BJP, but local BJP leaders were crossing the limits.

We (TDP) are still following `Mitra Dharma` with BJP. I am controlling my party leaders despite severe criticism from local BJP leaders, Naidu said.

The TDP chief also made a veiled reference to NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar over the latter's comments on the state. "Some people are asking why we (AP) need hand-holding when we are registering the highest economic growth. They are speaking without any understanding. This is not correct," Naidu said at a press conference here this afternoon, without taking any names.

During his recent visit to the state, Kumar said that "Yes, we will do whatever hand-holding we can. But I am sure, one, that with your (AP's) 11 per cent and 15 per cent (economic growth), you will soon not need any hand-holding," he had added.

Asking BJP high command to look into the allegations made by their party local leaders, Naidu, demanded that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Central Government should support Andhra Pradesh until it becomes an equal with other states.

"Isn't there a need for the Centre to compensate us (for the financial woes caused by the state's bifurcation)? That's what I am asking. Straight question. It is our right. I am very clear on that."

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 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.

With agency inputs
India has about 40 per cent population of children below 18 years of age and according to studies, about 53 per cent of them have been sexually offended. Though we have a very stringent law named Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act), 2012, its high time and right opportune to examine the efficiency of implementation of the Act and audit the performance of institutions of governance in India. This was also endorsed by Justice Verma Committee in 2013.

POCSO Act 2012 (it received the Presidents assent on 19 June 2012 and was notified in the Gazette of India on 20 June, 2012) was formulated in order to effectively address sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children. The Act defines a child as any person below eighteen years of age. It defines different forms of sexual abuse, including penetrative and non-penetrative assault, as well as sexual harassment and pornography. It deems a sexual assault to be aggravated under certain circumstances, such as when the abused child is mentally ill or when the abuse is committed by a person in a position of trust or authority like a family member, police officer, teacher, or doctor. The Act also casts the police in the role of child protectors during the investigative process.

However, the Supreme Court in July this year said that according to Section 2 (d) of the POCSO Act, the term age cannot include mental age as the intent of Parliament was to focus on children, that is, persons who are physically under the age of 18 years. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012 deals with the sexual offences against those below 18 years of age.

According to the court, a perusal of the POCSO Act, it is clear to that it is gender neutral. In such a situation, to include the perception of mental competence of a victim or mental retardation as a factor will really tantamount to causing violence to the legislation by incorporating certain words to the definition. By saying age would cover mental age, it has the potential to create immense anomalous situations without there being any guidelines or statutory provisions.

The Act further makes provisions for avoiding the re-victimisation of the child at the hands of the judicial system. It provides for special courts that conduct the trial in-camera and without revealing the identity of the child, in a manner that is as child-friendly as possible. Hence, the child may have a parent or other trusted person present at the time of testifying and can call for assistance from an interpreter, special educator, or other professional while giving evidence. Above all, the Act stipulates that a case of child sexual abuse must be disposed of within one year from the date of reporting of the offence.

The Act also provides for mandatory reporting of sexual offences. This casts a legal duty upon a person who has knowledge that a child has been sexually abused to report the offence; if he fails to do so, he may be punished with six months imprisonment and/or a fine.

Until making of this Act, various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) were used to deal with sexual offences against children as the law did not make a distinction between an adult and a child. It is provided in the Act that as soon as a complaint is made to the Special Juvenile Police Unit, steps for relief and rehabilitation shall be taken at the earliest. The Act makes it mandatory for the Centre and the states to take measures for giving wide publicity through the media and imparting training to all stakeholders on the matters relating to the implementation of the Act. However, it remains a harsh reality that like many other laws in India, this Act also is not well known.

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) says that the number of child abuse cases registered under Prevention of Sexual Offences Against Children (POCSO) Act went up from 8,904 in the year 2014 to 14,913 in 2015. Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan top the list. Uttar Pradesh led the highest number of child abuse cases with 3,078 followed by Madhya Pradesh with 1,687 cases, Tamil Nadu with 1,544 cases, Karnataka with 1,480 cases and Gujarat by 1,416 cases, POCSO said. The NCRB clarifies that the neighbours are also a big threat as according to data on cases registered under POCSO in 2015, in 3,149 cases registered, that is 35.8 percent of the cases, the person next door was the perpetrator. In over 10 per cent of cases last year, children were subjected to rape by their own family members or relatives.

Further, in 2014, the Delhi High Court was told by the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) that only 18.49 per cent of people accused of child sexual abuse under the Act were found guilty by courts in Delhi. In the first half of 2016, however, it also said that the conviction rate leaves an unsavoury image of the way the criminal justice system is being administered in Delhi, and creates alarm in the mind of the general public that child victims of rape and sexual offences are not getting justice. Similarly, a report by the National Law School Bangalore, which analysed 667 judgments between 2013 and 2015, shed light on this phenomenon. It stated that alleged victims turned hostile in 67.5% cases, and testified against the accused in only 26.7% cases.

(CBP Srivastava is an expert on the Constitution of India. He is President of the Centre for Applied Research in Governance, New Delhi.)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)
Sukma: A team of women commandos has now been deployed to assist in the ongoing anti-Naxal operations being carried out by the central security forces in forest areas of the Maoist-infested Chhattisgarh.

According to ANI, a team of highly trained 60 women commandos have been deployed by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for the anti-Naxal operations in the area.

Central Reserve Police Force deployed a team of women commandos for anti-naxal operations in forest areas of Chhattisgarh. pic.twitter.com/74BZIdfDtF  ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2018

Armed with automatic weapons, these women commandos will guard one of most dangerous patches in south Sukma where a road is being built from Dornapal to Jagardonga, reports said.

The road where the women commandos have been deployed is about 56 km and is under construction.

There are 13 CRPF camps in this stretch of the road.

The women commandos, trained by the CRPF, include surrendered Maoists and those who had joined the police through a normal recruitment process.

The Sukma Police is also planning to recruit and train more women constables and deploy them in high-risk areas like Sukma to fight home-grown rebels.

They (women commandos) are brave and well-trained, Special Director General of Police (anti-Maoist operations) DM Awasthi had earlier said.

The deployment of women commandos will also help the security forces in very countering the propaganda of Maoists of rape charges against police personnel.

Last year, the Bijapur police had trained 32 women for anti-Maoist operations but for the first time they have been deployed in a road opening party.

(With ANI inputs)
NEW DELHI: The national capital on Sunday woke up to a thick fog with the PM 2.5 level breaching the unhealthy mark.

The minimum and maximum temperature are hovering at 7 degrees and 21 degrees respectively.

As many as 38 trains were delayed and 18 others were cancelled due to low visibility and operational reasons. In addition, five trains were rescheduled.

Thick fog engulfs parts of Delhi; Early morning visuals from India Gate and Rajpath in Delhi pic.twitter.com/so6knLf0vq  ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2018

"The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover at 21 and 7 degrees Celsius," said the Met department.

Several train services were affected due to the fog that engulfed Delhi today morning.

Earlier this week, the city received light rains with reports of train services disruption.

Parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand had received a fresh bout of snow on Wednesday.

The weatherman predicted snowfall or rain in the Kashmir Valley which is reeling under frigid conditions.
Gurugram: Intensifying its crackdown on the miscreants who were allegedly behind violence in Gurugram during the release of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's controversial film Padmaavat, the Haryana Police on Sunday arrested three more persons, including Rewari Karni Sena president Harinder Tinku.

"One more miscreant namely Harinder Tinku who is the president of Karni Sena of Rewari district has also been arrested from Kurthla Nuh today by Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the supervision of the DCP South Gurugram," the Haryana Police said.

One more miscreant namely Harinder@ Tinku who is the president of Karni Sena distt Rewari has also been arrested from Kurthla Nuh today.https://t.co/rVS2cUdh1H  Gurugram Police (@gurgaonpolice) January 28, 2018

At least 45 miscreants have been arrested by the Gurugram Police in connection with the violence and efforts are on to identify and nab the other culprits suspected to be involved in the incidents across the district.

Earlier on Saturday, Haryana Police had announced that a total of eight cases have been registered and 38 miscreants have been arrested in connection with the recent violent attack on a school bus carrying nursery students and torching of a state roadways bus here.

Gurugram Karni Sena chief Thakur Kushalpal was among those detained by the Haryana Police in connection with the incidents of violence on Saturday.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been constituted by the Haryana Police to investigate the matter.

On January 24, a school bus was attacked by a group of men, who were protesting against the release of the film in Haryana's Gurugram.

The protesters threw stones at the bus, which was carrying students, teachers and other staff members of Gurugram's GD Goenka World School.

The protesters also torched a state bus in Gurugram.
Los Angeles: Steven Spielberg is planning to shoot the fifth installment of the "Indiana Jones" film franchise next year.

Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that the 71-year-old director is expected to start principal photography of the movie before he kicks off shooting for a new version of Broadway musical "West Side Story".

The Harrison Ford-starring franchise features ahead of its planned July 10, 2020 release date.

The untitled "Indiana Jones" film comes over 10 years after its previous installment, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" which was panned by the critics.
It was a full house that had turned up to hear Shashi Tharoor talk to poet Arundhati Subramaniam about his latest book Why am I a Hindu - the aisles were full, the young and the old, the Indian and International delegates had turned up for what promised to be one of the big draws on Day 3 of the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival.

Tharoor said one of the immediate reasons for writing the book was the growth of political Hinduism and how Hindutva had come to the front-and-centre of the political discourse in India. Hindutva is like Hindu wahabism. It is high time that those of us who are better Hindus than them reclaim Hinduism.

Tharoor said the book quoted liberally from Swami Vivekananda, someone he had read and flowed closely as did it have arguments from people who espoused Hindutva like Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and VD Savarkar. It became necessary to challenge the notion that the only Hinduism was the Sanghi-Bharti Hinduism. The majority in India are unapologetic about being Hindu but that doesnt come at the expense of belittling other faiths. It is urgent to take back Hinduism because a lot of people are expressing thoughts, condoning actions that Hindus of the ranks of Swami Vivekananda would never approve of.

Tharoor said that the idea of Hindus as seekers of truth appealed to his liberal tenor and says the simple attitude of liberalism finds itself a congenial home in Hinduism.

Why am I a Hindu? Because I was born one. If you are a Hindu, for the most part you dont have to think why you are one. Hinduism isnt a faith of black and whites - it is a faith open to questioning. As a 14-year-old growing up in a middle-class family in India, Tharoor says he would see his father perform daily prayers but was never asked to join in. Faith was seen as something between you and your idea of your maker.

Referring to Swami Vivekanandas speech in 1899 at Chicagos World Parliament of Religions, Tharoor said he felt as a Hindu, acceptance is a higher virtue than tolerance. Swami Vivekananda had said: I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true.

Tolerance seems like a virtue but is patronising. It suggests I know what is right but I will indulge in your right to be wrong. Acceptance, on the other hand, suggests I will accept your truth and you accept mine Tharoor said.

The two-time Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, who has written 16 works of fiction and non-fiction and served as the United Nations for over 30 years said he was conscious of the fact that inevitably you cant get away from the political implications of a member of Parliament publishing this book.

Expressing concern at recent violent protests by fringe groups over Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmaavat, Tharoor said: 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. If people are willing to immolate themselves for a film they havent seen, there is something wrong with society.
There seems to be no end to the protests and politics over Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmaavat. Hitting out the filmmaker now is Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh. He asked if anyone can dare to make a film on Prophet Muhammad, just like Bhansali did on Rani Padmini, also known as Rani Padmavati, of Rajasthan.

Talking to mediapersons, the BJP leader asked, Kya himmat hai kisi ko ki Mohd Saheb par film banaake unka charitra dikhaaye (Can anyone dare to make a film on Prophet Muhammad and show his character?)

He further questioned as to why Bhansali did not stop the shooting of Padmaavat, which stars Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in lead roles, when protests erupted in Rajasthan.

Singh also expressed his anguish over the Ghoomar song, wherein Deepika Padukone, who is playing Rani Padmavati in the movie, is seen dancing. The Minister said he would never forgive if someone makes a film on father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, and shows him dancing.

Gandhi ji par film bane aur unko kathak aur bhangra mein dikhaaye to main maaf nahi karunga. (If a film is made on Gandhi ji, and he is shown doing kathak or bhangra, I will never forgive), said Giriraj Singh.

This comes even as the film has finally been released in cinema halls after months of protests, politics and legal battle. Its been three days since the release of the film and it is on the way to garnering Rs 100 crore quite soon.

On the day of the release of the film on January 25, protests, even violent in nature, were held by groups like Sri Rajput Karni Sena in different parts of the country. While some ticket counters were vandalised, protesters also burnt posters of the film. However, acting on the directions of the Supreme Court, state governments did their best to prevent any untoward incident and deployed heavy police security at cinema halls.
NEW DELHI: A day after the nation celebrated its 69th Republic Day, the Congress party took to Twitter, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to distort historical facts and saffronising Indian education system.

The Congress tweeted a 48-second video on Saturday with the statement, If the BJP has its way, our children may not know who built the #TajMahal or who killed #MahatmaGandhi, followed by the hashtag #SaveOurHistory.

The video claims that the textbooks in Rajasthan  a BJP ruled state  has already deleted chapters on Jawaharlal Nehru and removed references to Mahatma Gandhi's assassination by Nathuram Godse. The party further claimed that the BJP is changing historical facts with statements such as Maharana Pratap defeated Akbar. According to historians, Akbar had defeated Maharana Pratap in the Battle of Haldighati in 1576.

If the BJP has its way, our children may not know who built the #TajMahal or who killed #MahatmaGandhi. #SaveOurHistory pic.twitter.com/AGWgSYYM7a  Congress (@INCIndia) January 27, 2018

The video was released hours after Congress released its list of 57 candidates for the upcoming Meghalaya state Assembly polls scheduled to be held on February 27, 2018.

With the battle heating up for 2018 Assembly elections in eight states and 2019 Lok Sabha polls, both the parties have been taking potshots at each other on social media.

Earlier on Saturday, the Congress party accused the government of indulging in "cheap politics" by allotting the Congress chief Rahul Gandhi a sixth-row seat at the Republic Day parade attended by leaders of 10 ASEAN nations.

Responding to it, the BJP slammed the Congress for picking up an "unwarranted controversy" and accused the Congress chief of behaving like a "super VVIP".

"The whole nation celebrated the Republic Day with great fervour yesterday (Friday), but the only jarring note in that celebration was the unwarranted controversy raised by the Congress party keeping its newly elected President at the centre," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao told the media.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged political leaders to ensure that the Budget Session is a success.

Addressing the media after an all-party meet, Union Minister Ananth Kumar quoted the PM as saying, "Prime Minister urged political leaders to ensure the success of Budget Session. The PM said that the Budget Session is very important.

He added, "the government takes very sincerely the suggestions given to it by Opposition during the discussion in the all-party meeting."

Kumar further said, "Government will do everything to ensure passage of triple talaq bill in Budget Session. We will talk to parties for consensus. The way they have passed GST unanimously, we request them to pass this too unanimously."

On the other hand, Harivansh Narayan Singh of JD(U) said, "We discussed grave issues of the country. JD(U) discussed the pending issues from education and other sectors."

Meanwhile, Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav of RJD said, "Unemployment is rising. Peace and harmony are being driven out and violence being spread. Nation's unity is in danger. From Koregaon to Nandangaon to Buxar, Dalits are being oppressed. We raised these issues. We will also raise issues of farmers suicide," as per ANI.

The Budget Session will open on January 29, 2018, with the customary address of President Ram Nath Kovind to a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Following the address by the President, the economic survey will be tabled in the two Houses.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present the current BJP-led NDA regime's last full-fledged budget on February 1, 2018. The first spell of the session will end on February 9. Parliament will meet again between March 5 and April 6, 2018.

The budget is likely to carry a strong political message with an emphasis on farmers and the poor and an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The President's address, which projects the government's points of view, is likely to focus on the Centre's efforts at boosting economic and farm growth, creating employment and empowering the poor and other weaker sections of society, PTI reported.

Besides the triple talaq legislation, which criminalises instant talaq by Muslim men, the government is also likely to make a pitch for the passage of the OBC bill, which seeks to give a constitutional status to the OBC commission.

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 NDA lacks a majority.

(With Agency inputs)
New Delhi: The government on Sunday said that it would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the triple talaq bill was passed in Parliament's Budget Session.

"We will leave no stone unturned for the passage of the triple talaq bill in the Rajya Sabha... We will approach various political parties to evolve a consensus for its passage. Like GST was passed by consensus, this bill seeking to ban the practice of instant triple talaq (talaq-e-biddat) among Muslims will be passed," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kumar said, addressing the media after an all-party meeting.

The meeting, ahead of the Budget Session, was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, as well as leaders of the Opposition and other parties.

The Opposition was represented at the meeting by Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge and Jyotiraditya Scindia, Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP), D Raja (CPI), Kanimozhi (DMK), Derek O'Brien and Sudip Bandhopadhyay (TMC), Tariq Anwar (NCP) and Dushyant Chautala (INLD).

To a question about the demands of various parties during the last session that the bill be referred to a select committee, he said it was now the property of the Rajya Sabha.

"Let the House decide," Kumar said.

Besides the triple talaq legislation, which criminalises instant talaq by Muslim men, the government is also likely to make a pitch for the passage of the OBC bill, which seeks to give a constitutional status to the OBC commission.

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 NDA lacks a majority.

The Budget Session will open on January 29, 2018, with the customary address of the President Ram Nath Kovind to a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Following the address by the President, the economic survey will be tabled in the two Houses.

Jaitley will present the current BJP-led NDA regime's last full-fledged budget on February 1, 2018. The first spell of the session will end on February 9. Parliament will meet again between March 5 and April 6, 2018.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Sunday said that despite concerns about collateral damages and the inconvenience caused to the local people due to ongoing military operations, the time has still not come for any rethink on Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

''Time has not come for any rethink on AFSPA or making some of its provisions milder,'' Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said.

Driving his point home, Gen Rawat also asserted that the Army has been taking adequate precautions in protecting human rights while operating in disturb areas like Jammu and Kashmir.

Gen Rawat made these remarks in an interview when asked about reports that government was re-examining the demand for a milder version of AFSPA in these states.

Rawat, however, acknowledged that though AFSPA has certain strong provisions, the Army is concerned about collateral damages and ensuring that its operations under the law do not inconvenience the local people.

"We have never been strong in applying the force the way it could be applied (under AFSPA). We are very concerned about human rights. We are absolutely concerned about collateral damage. So do not get too much concerned because we are taking adequate measures and precautions," he said.

Gen Rawat said the Army has rules of engagements for various operations at every level to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to the people while it is operating under AFSPA.

"The AFSPA is an enabling provision which allows the Army, in particular, to operate in such difficult areas and let me assure you that the Army has got quite a good human rights record," he said.

Asked whether the time has come to adopt a combined approach involving all three services to deal with Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in J&K, the Army Chief did not give a direct reply but added that the armed forces have "options available" to conduct various kinds of operations.

"Yes, we have options available to conduct various kind of operations but these cannot be divulged because of the nature of the operations we have to conduct will only alert the other side," he said.

Gen. Rawat added by saying, "when you do operational planning, these are best left to the armed forces in the manner in which they have to conduct their operations. And the manner in which the operations are conducted and the way they are planned and the way they are executed are never put in the open domain."

To question on whether there was room for synergy among external and internal intelligence gathering to effectively contain cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, he said the armed forces and all other agencies have been operating in unison.

"At this juncture, the kind of cooperation we are having among the intelligence agencies is of a very high order. Today all the intelligence agencies and the security forces are operating in unison. There is an excellent synergy among all of us and I do not think we can take it to the next higher level from what is happening at the moment. I think this is the best way and right way," the Army chief said.

Since the beginning of last year, the Army pursued an aggressive anti-terror policy in J&K and, at the same time, forcefully responded to all ceasefire violations by the Pakistani troops along the Line of Control with a tit-for-tat approach.

The LoC remained volatile last year. According to official figures, 860 incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops were reported in 2017 as against 221 the year before.

Rawat's remarks assume significance as there has been a growing clamour for ''removing or either diluting at least some provisions" of the AFSPA.

The act gives the security forces special rights and immunity in carrying out various operations in disturbed areas.

(With PTI inputs)
NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday came down heavily on the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre over its tall claims on job creation and stated that the present dispensation is completely ''clueless'' on the issue.

The former finance minister took to Twitter to express his resentment, saying that the nation has seen a three-year spell of "modest, but jobless growth" and that the government is "clueless about how to create jobs".

8. The truth is India is witnessing a three year spell of modest, but jobless, growth and the government is clueless about how to create jobs.  P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 28, 2018

In a series of tweets, the former finance minister said that the NDA government is totally "clueless" on creating jobs.

Attacking the Modi regime, Chidambaram said, ''The NDA government's wild claims of creating 70 lakh new jobs in 2017-18 has been punctured now.

Taking a dig at PM Modi, Chidambaram said that he should understand that there is a marked difference between job and self-employment as the former is "regular and reasonably secure".

The veteran Congress leader was referring to PM Modi's interview on January 19 where he had said, ''If a person sells 'pakodas' and takes home Rs 200 every evening, is that not employment?"

In a firm rebuttal to the PM's contention, Chidambaram tweeted, ''Even selling pakodas is a 'job' said PM. By that logic, even begging is a job. Let's count poor or disabled persons who are forced to beg for a living as 'employed' people."

5. Even selling pakodas is a 'job' said PM. By that logic, even begging is a job. Let's count poor or disabled persons who are forced to beg for a living as 'employed' people.  P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 28, 2018

The senior Congress leader also questioned the rationale behind the BJP governments decision to identify MGNREGA as job holders.

"Another minister wanted MGNREGA workers to be counted as holding jobs. So they are 'job' holders for 100 days and jobless for 265 days!" he argued.

6. Another minister wanted MGNREGA workers to be counted as holding jobs. So they are 'job' holders for 100 days and jobless for 265 days!  P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 28, 2018

''In the debate on jobs, it is important to keep the distinction between 'job' and 'self employment'. A 'job' is certain, regular and reasonably secure. We want to know how many such jobs have been created,'' Chidambaram asked in one such tweet.

In the debate on jobs, it is important to keep the distinction between 'job' and 'self employment'. A 'job' is certain, regular and reasonably secure. We want to know how many such jobs have been created.  P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 28, 2018

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (MGNREGA) was formulated with an aim "to enhance the livelihood security of people in rural areas by guaranteeing hundred days of wage employment in a financial year to a rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work".

Chidambaram further spelt out ways to open up the "stagnant" job market and said that an increase in private investment, private consumption, exports and credit demand will be a step in the right direction.

"Real job creation will be reflected by robust increase in private investment, private consumption, exports and credit demand. Not happening yet," he tweeted.

Last week, when PM Modi was addressing the world leaders at the World Economic Forums in Davos, Chidambaram leader took a swipe at the PM for his attempts to woo investors to India.

However, Chidambaram's attack on the Narendra Modi government evoked a sharp response from the ruling BJP, who said that he has once against insulted the poor.

In reaction to Chidambaram's comments, BJP tweeted, ''The Congress has once again insulted every poor person, labourer, farmer, and worker by comparing people who earn an honest living with beggars."

(With Agency inputs)
Here is what is making headlines today:

1. IPL Auction 2018 Live, Day 2: Will someone beat Stokes's Rs 12.5 cr salary?

In total, 78 players were sold on the first day of auction in Bengaluru but some big ones like Chris Gayle remained unsold and may come back to the table today. So there's plenty to look forward to. Read full report

2. Congress accuses BJP of 'saffronising' education, distorting Indian history

A day after the nation celebrated its 69th Republic Day, the Congress party took to Twitter, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to distort historical facts and saffronising Indian education system. Read full report

3. Chandrababu Naidu hints at rift in TDP-BJP alliance in Andhra Pradesh

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) may break its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Andhra Pradesh, hinted state chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday. Read full report

4. Kerala: First Muslim woman imam leads Friday prayers, faces backlash

For the first time, a Muslim woman led the Friday Juma prayers at a mosque in Malappuram. Jamida, the 34-year-old state secretary of the Quran Sunnath Society, became the first woman imam in Indian history. Read full report

5. Man brutally beats 10-year-old son for lying, arrested; mother shoots video

Bengaluru police on Saturday arrested a man for brutally beating his son, who allegedly lied to his mother. In a disturbing video shot by the mother, the boy was seen pleading to his father for mercy. Read full report
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said no one would be spared in the government's anti- anti-graft drive as he urged the youth to join him in the fight against corruption and black money.

Speaking at an NCC rally, he said people used to believe that the rich and powerful were not affected by anti-corruption drives and asserted that it was no longer true.

Getting rid of this 'termite' of corruption would help the poor the most, PM Modi told the cadets. "Sometimes, there was a sense of disappointment that there is big talk about (combating) corruption but the big and mighty go scot-free. Today, you are going through a phase when three former chief ministers are rotting in jail," he said.

Delighted to address youngsters at the NCC rally. The NCC experience is indeed unique, giving our youth the opportunity to learn from others and forge friendships of a lifetime. https://t.co/jXdGcw8s8L pic.twitter.com/F1xst8OZmQ  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 28, 2018

Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi & Smt @nsitharaman at NCC Rally in New Delhi.

Hon'ble Prime Minister addressed the young cadets & felicitated them for their exemplary performance. pic.twitter.com/jsbjDS69aI  Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) January 28, 2018

Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi & Smt @nsitharaman interact with NCC cadets, NSS volunteers & tableaux artists who took part in the #RepublicDay2018 celebrations at Teen Murti House in New Delhi pic.twitter.com/nvsGCVmc5u  Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) January 27, 2018

"Who says there is no God? Who says there is no justice at the hands of God? Now no one is going to escape," PM Modi asserted.

He further said the youth of India did not accept corruption but the fight against graft and black money would be a long one.

"Will merely expressing anger and hatred (towards corruption) work? We have to wage a long battle. The fight is not going to stop. This fight against corruption and black money is to make the future of youngsters. And if this makes the future of my youngsters then this also makes the future of my country," PM Modi said.

He sought the help of NCC cadets and other youngsters in promoting digital transaction, saying it would curb graft.

PM Modi also made a strong pitch for the use of Aadhaar, saying it had helped save Rs 60,000 crore as money earlier went into the "wrong hands".

"These days you keep hearing about Aadhaar. I want to say Aadhaar has added great strength to India's development. What would earlier get into wrong hands is now going to the intended beneficiaries," he said.

PM Modi added that when money was spent at the right place, it helped in building good education infrastructure for poor children, built roads in villages and opened up the scope to work for underprivileged people.

(With PTI inputs)
JAIPUR: At a press conference held on the sidelines of the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival on Sunday, two-time Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor indicated that there may be changes in the Congress party office bearers soon.

Give the new President Rahul Gandhi some time to review the situation and make the changes he wants to make. There will be a reshuffling of the deck as it were, he said.

Rahul Gandhi took over as the Congress president last month (December 16, 2017) his mother Sonia, two days before the results of state elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh were announced.

While the Congress lost both states, their performance in Gujarat, a state which had not voted for the party in 22 years, was better than many had expected.

Tharoor said the Congress president is far being a reluctant politician, adding hes far from it. I dont think anyone would have put up with the gruelling schedule he had in Gujarat and everyone saw the results.

Referring to the recent violent protests, especially on the release of the film Padmaavat, a penchant question on the media terrace at the Jaipur Literature Festival, Tharoor said, ''Im very concerned as a citizen about the failure of state authorities to maintain law and order. Are some people not motivated to stop certain groups? Are some kinds of misbehaviour more acceptable than others?

The former minister of state for HRD and External Affairs also shared his wishlist for what would be the Narendra Modi governments last budget before elections to Parliament are held in 2019.

This is their last budget and it will be a political one. The economy isnt doing very well. Theyll want to incentivise investments, theyll have to address agricultural stagnation, make good on their promise to provide employment to the youth. These are my expectations, let us see what the government does.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present the Union Budget around noon in the Lok Sabha on February 1 (Thursday).

The Budget Session of the Parliament will begin on January 29.

The first phase of the Budget Session will end on February 9 and then the session will commence after a recess on March 5.

The recess is used by the standing committees of parliament to deliberate on the various budgetary proposals and amendments thereto.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has dissolved the marriage of a couple and restrained the man and the woman from putting photographs of each other in any mode at any place, including Internet and social media.

While granting divorce, a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra directed the man, an engineering and managment graduate from Maharashtra, to pay Rs 37 lakh to the woman towards permanent alimony within two months.

The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, passed the order after both the parties said they would like to put the controversy to rest and their marriage should be annulled.

"Neither the husband nor the wife shall put the photographs of each other in any mode at any place which would also include social media or online," the bench said in its order.

The woman, who was represented through advocate Dushyant Parashar, told the court that the man should be asked to pay a substantial sum of alimony towards her maintenance.

The apex court also quashed the criminal proceedings arising out of the lodging of two FIRs in the case.

It said that if any case relating to matrimonial dispute or any kind of property dispute, claim or dispute relating to any kind of criminal liability was pending between them, the same shall stand quashed.

"The divorce petition preferred by the parties is deemed to have been disposed of and there shall be no future claims by the wife against the husband and vice versa," the top court said.

It expunged from records all the allegations levelled in the petitions filed by the man and the woman against each other.

"The expunging of remarks would mean no one shall be entitled to get the certified copy of the said pleadings," the bench said.
In a shocking incident, the director of a school in Sitamarhi district of Bihar has been accused of sexually abusing a boy studying in class 6. The police have registered a case in this regard against the director, his father Omprakash Singh, brother Vikki Kumar and wife Nirmala Devi. While the father, brother and wife of the accused have been arrested, the accused himself has been absconding.

According to the FIR filed by the relatives of the victim, the boy has been studying in the school for the past four years, and is being sexually abused for the last three years by the director. It further says that the director used to threaten the student with dire consequences if he revealed about it to anyone. He even gave life threats to the boy, reported Prabhat Khabar.

Afraid of the consequences, the child did not reveal anything to anyone for long, but last Friday, he could not hold it back. After returning home from school, he narrated his ordeal to his parents, who were left shocked and devastated.

The student revealed that he was often beaten up mercilessly by the director of the school, as a threat against revealing anything. He further said that the accused used to give him some intoxicating substance, and apply some chemical on his body before committing the crime.

When the student objected to his deeds, he even threatened to kill the whole family of the victim. The child is in such trauma that he starts crying even at the mention of the name of the school. Whats even more shocking was that when the parents went to school to complain about the same, they were manhandled, abused, and threatened with dire consequences if they revealed anything about the incident.

The relatives of the prime accused were arrested on Friday and later sent to judicial custody.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday made a veiled attack at former Bihar chief minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and said that anyone guilty of indulging in corruption will not be spared.

PM Modi, while reiterating that today the rich and powerful are no longer above the law, asserted that his government's crusade against corruption will go on and those guilty of graft will not be spared at any cost.

PM Modi made these remarks while addressing a rally of the National Cadets Corps (NCC) rally in the national capital. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister urged the youth to join him in the fight against corruption and black money.



PM Modi said that earlier people used to believe that the rich and powerful were not affected by anti-corruption drives and asserted that it was no longer true.

Getting rid of this "termite" of corruption would help the poor the most, he told the cadets.

"Sometimes, there was a sense of disappointment that there is big talk about (combating) corruption but the big and mighty go scot-free. Today, you are going through a phase when three former chief ministers are rotting in jail," he said.

Former Bihar chief ministers Lalu Prasad and Jagannath Mishra were recently convicted and sentenced in a fodder scam case. Former Haryana Chief Minister OP Chautala is also in jail in connection with a corruption case.

"Who says there is no God? Who says there is no justice at the hands of God? Now no one is going to escape," PM Modi said.

Modi said the youth of India did not accept corruption but the fight against graft and black money would be a long one.

"Will merely expressing anger and hatred (towards corruption) work? ...We have to wage a long battle. The fight is not going to stop. This fight against corruption and black money is to make the future of youngsters. And if this makes the future of my youngsters then this also makes the future of my country," he said.

He sought the help of NCC cadets and other youngsters in promoting digital transaction, saying it would curb graft.

Modi also made a strong pitch for the use of Aadhaar, saying it had helped save Rs 60,000 crore as money earlier went into the "wrong hands".

"These days you keep hearing about Aadhaar. I want to say Aadhaar has added great strength to India's development. What would earlier get into wrong hands is now going to the intended beneficiaries," he said.

RJD chief Lalu is currently in jail after being convicted in two fodder scam cases back to back in the recent past.

The veteran Bihar politician is currently lodged in Birsa Munda jail in Ranchi, where he is serving a three-and-half-year sentence in the second fodder scam case related to illegal withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from Deogarh treasury.

Corruption in the Yadav clan was ostensibly the reason behind Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's decision to break away from the Grand Alliance comprising the JD(U), RJD and the Congress last year.

(With PTI inputs)
Mumbai: The authorities on Sunday arrested three persons after a 32-year-old man was sucked into a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine in Mumbai's Nair Hospital resulting in his death on Saturday evening.

According to ANI, the three, who were earlier detained by the Mumbai Police, are Nair hospital staff.

A First Information Report (FIR) has also been registered at the Agripada Police Station under Section 304A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the three accused - doctor Siddhant Shah, ward boy Vitthal Chavan and a lady ward attendant Sunita Surve.

The extremely shocking incident occurred after Rajesh Maru, a salesman at a garment shop, entered the MRI room carrying an oxygen cylinder to help an elderly patient at the behest of a ward boy.

It is to be noted that metals are strictly prohibited inside the MRI room.

He (Maru) was allowed entry into MRI room with an oxygen tank where no metal items are allowed. Hospital attendant at the MRI room said that the MRI machine was not switched on, but he could go in. He was pulled in by the magnetic force of the machine. He was shifted to trauma but died later, a relative of the victim said.

Maru's brother-in-law, Harish Solanki, informed that the deceased had gone to visit his mother who was admitted to the hospital.

"He went there to visit my ailing mother but we did not know he would meet such a fate. We all are in shock. A ward boy told him to carry an oxygen cylinder with him to MRI room which is prohibited. It all happened because of the carelessness of hospital's doctors and administration. No security guard was either present to tell him that he should not carry oxygen cylinder with him to MRI room," said Solanki.

Solanki further alleged that the MRI machine was functioning when Maru was called in, though the hospital flatly denied it.

"As he entered the room, the MRI machine sucked him in due to the magnetic force as he had oxygen cylinder with him. He died within 2 minutes. No hospital authority has approached us accepting their mistake," Solanki stated.

The ward boy, who handed over the oxygen cylinder containing metal to Rajesh Maru, was suspended by the hospital dean.

The Mumbai Police has also recovered the CCTV footage of the incident and the same is being examined.

Maru's body was sent for the post-mortem in Mumbai's JJ Hospital.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakhs for Maru's family.

The freaking incident once again brings to fore questions about safety and security in hospitals and the insensitive attitude of the hospital staff at times.

(With agency inputs)
Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday hailed the efforts of the team which designed the tableau showcasing the coronation of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the Republic Day Parade at the Rajpath, which bagged the first prize.

The Chief Minister took to Twitter and said it was a ge3at news and a proud moment for all those who were involved in preparing the tableau.

Great News!

Proud Moment!

Maharashtras Tableau on Coronation Ceremony of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at #RepublicDay Parade wins the 1st prize!

Congratulations to entire team who worked hard and achieved this !

 ,  ...!

 ...! pic.twitter.com/Uws7DHgk2o  Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) January 28, 2018

While the tableau from Maharashtra won the first prize, Assam's tableau on traditional masks of the Satras bagged the second prize.

The tableau of Chhattisgarh, which depicted Ramgarh's ancient amphitheatre in addition to artists performing a dance based on Kalidasa's 'Meghadootam', was awarded the third prize.

The awards to the winning teams were presented by Union Defence Minister Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented at an event in the national capital.

Among the three military services, the contingent from the Army's Punjab Regiment was awarded the best marching contingent trophy, while the Indo-Tibetan Border Police team won the best marching contingent prize among the para-military and other auxiliary forces.

In the category of tableaux representing Union ministries and departments, the best tableau award went to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

The tableau depicted 'Khelo India', the national programme for the development of sports.

Fourteen states and Union Territories had presented their tableaux at the Republic Day Parade at the Rajpath on Friday, depicting the country's rich art and cultural heritage.

Nine central ministries and departments, as well as central paramilitary forces, had also presented their tableaux.

Among performances by schoolchildren, South Central Zone Cultural Centre's 'Baredi Dance' (from Madhya Pradesh) was awarded the first prize.

(With PTI inputs)
Mumbai: In a freaking incident, a 32-year-old man died after he was sucked into a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine in Mumbai's Nair Hospital on Saturday evening.

Rajesh Maru, a salesman at a garment shop, had entered the room with an oxygen cylinder to help an elderly patient at the behest of a ward boy. Metals are not allowed inside the MRI room.

He (Maru) was admitted into MRI room with an oxygen tank when no metal items are allowed. Hospital attendant at MRI room said that the MRI machine was not switched on, but he could go in. He was pulled in by the magnetic force of the machine. He was shifted to trauma but died later, said a relative of the victim.

According to Maru's brother-in-law, Harish Solanki, the deceased had gone to visit his mother who was admitted to the hospital.

"He went there to visit my ailing mother but we did not know he would meet such a fate. We all are in shock. A ward boy told him to carry an oxygen cylinder with him to MRI room which is prohibited. It all happened because of the carelessness of hospital`s doctors and administration. No security guard was either present to tell him that he should not carry oxygen cylinder with him to MRI room," said Solanki.

Solanki further said the MRI machine was functioning when Maru was called in, though the hospital has denied it.

"As he entered the room the MRI machine sucked him in due to the magnetic force as he had oxygen cylinder with him. He died within 2 minutes. No hospital authority has approached us accepting their mistake," he stated.

The ward boy, who handed over the oxygen cylinder containing metal to Rajesh Maru, has been suspended by the hospital dean.

The entire episode has raised questions about safety and security in hospitals.

A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered under Section 304A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Doctor Siddhant Shah, ward boy Vitthal Chavan and a lady ward attendant Sunita Surve. The CCTV footage of the incident has been handed over to the police by hospital authorities.

Maru's body has been sent for the postmortem in Mumbai's JJ Hospital. The police are investigating the case.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakhs for Maru's family.

With agency inputs
Mumbai: Veteran actors Rishi and Neetu Kapoor sent a bouquet to Deepika Padukone, praising her performance in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed Padmaavat.

The couple sent the bouguet after watching the film, which also stars Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, over the weekend.

They were especially impressed by Deepika's performance, who came alive as Rani Padmavati in the film, which has been marred by protests from various Rajput groups.

Deepika shared the picture of the bouquet the coupe sent to her on Instagram.

"Excellent work! So very proud of you. Love Neetu and Rishi," the note on the bouquet read.

The film was released on January 25 after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) cleared it last month with a 'U/A' certificate and five modifications, including title change from Padmavati to Padmaavat.

It had opened to select paid previews across the country on January 24 and collected Rs 5 crore, Viacom 18 sources said.

On its opening day i.E. January 25, the film minted Rs 19 crore, they said.
Jeff Swensen/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump honored International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which is Saturday, with a lengthy message in which he paid tribute, in part, to the 6 million Jews who were murdered by the Nazis, saying, "Our nation is indebted to the Holocaust's survivors."



The White House released on Friday the "Presidential Message on International Holocaust Rememberance Day."



"Tomorrow marks the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi death and concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland," reads the message. "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 president's message continues, "Our nation is indebted to the Holocausts survivors. Despite the trauma they carry with them, they continue to educate us by sharing their experiences, strength, wisdom and generosity of spirit to advance respect for human rights. Although they are aging and their numbers are slowly dwindling, their stories remain with us, giving us the strength to combat intolerance, including anti-Semitism and all other forms of bigotry and discrimination."



Trump adds, "As I have said: We will stamp out prejudice. We will condemn hatred. We will bear witness, and we will act."



He concludes, "On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we acknowledge this dark stain on human history and vow to never let it happen again."



First lady Melania Trump visited the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington on Thursday.



"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."



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."



First daughter Ivanka Trump, who is Jewish, tweeted, "'Never shall I forget those flames that consumed my faith forever.' -- Elie Wiesel, Night #NeverForget #HolocaustRemembranceDay."



Earlier this week, while in Jerusalem, Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara Netanyahu.



Lawmakers also took to Twitter and posted photos of themselves holding signs that read "We Remember."



Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Bengaluru: Noted Kannada actor Chandrashekhar passed away early this morning in Canada of a cardiac arrest, family sources said.

He was 63, and is survived by his mother, wife and a daughter.

The actor had recently returned to Canada, where he currently resides.

He was hospitalized yesterday following uneasiness and pain, the family said, adding they received news of his demise early this morning.

Chandrashekar rose to fame for his role in 'Edakallu Guddada Mele', directed by Puttanna Kanagal.

He has acted in over 40 films, the last of which was '3 ghante, 30 dina, 30 secondu'.

Leading Kannada actors like Srinath and Jai Jagadish, besides other film personalities visited the actor's residence here on coming to know of his death

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also tweeted condoling Chandrashekhar?s death.

"His service to the state and language through films is immortal," a tweet on the Chief Minister?s official twitter handle said.
New Delhi: After multiple delays, SpaceX managed to successfully test-fire its highly anticipated Falcon Heavy rocket on Wednesday.

Now, the California-based space company has scheduled the first flight of the three-core heavy-lift rocket for early February.

"Aiming for the first flight of Falcon Heavy on February 6 from Apollo launchpad 39A at Cape Kennedy," SpaceX founder Elon Musk tweeted. "Easy viewing from the public causeway."

Soon after the test flight, Musk tweeted that the rocket is ready for launch "in a week or so."

The tech billionaire has said the rocket will carry a red Tesla Roadster into space, eventually to a Mars orbit, where it should remain "for a billion years or so if it doesn't blow up on the ascent."

The Falcon Heavy, a reusable super heavy-lift launch vehicle, is seen as the world's most powerful rocket since NASA's Saturn V moon rocket in the 1960s.

Its first stage is composed of three Falcon 9 nine-engine cores whose 27 Merlin engines together generate more than 5 million pounds (2.3 million kg) of thrust at liftoff, equal to about eighteen 747 aircraft.

Only the Saturn V moon rocket, last flown in 1973, delivered more payload to orbit.

Falcon Heavy was designed to carry humans into space and restores the possibility of flying missions with a crew to the Moon or Mars, according to SpaceX.

(With IANS inputs)
Chennai: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its allies in Tamil Nadu have unanimously decided to sit for a protest on Monday, opposing the recent bus fare hike in the state. The decision was taken during an all-party meet chaired by Opposition leader MK Stalin at DMK headquarters.

Across Tamil Nadu, DMK and its alliance partners will hold protest to press upon total rollback of hiked bus fares. Partial reduction in bus fares by the government is nothing but an eyewash. It can't be accepted and is also not correct. We demand total rollback of prices, said Stalin on Sunday.

After a hiatus of six years, the AIADMK government had on January 19 hiked ticket fares of buses operated by state-run transport corporations and private entities by about 20 to 54.54 per cent.

The move drew flak from the public and political parties.

Following the stiff opposition, the government partially rolled back the hike in bus fares, reducing up to 20% in selected services.

Minimum bus fare in Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) in Chennai has been brought down from Rs 5 to Rs 4 and the fare between two stages has also been reduced by one rupee, said a release from the state government.

The DMK on Saturday staged state-wide agitations against the hike in bus fares and has also warned of intensifying protests if the revision was not rolled back.

"The chief minister had said the hike was effected with anguish. If indeed so, it should be immediately withdrawn. Else, you (Palaniswami) have got no option left other than to resign," Stalin said.

Stalin said the January 19 increase in bus fares had come as a "jolt" to the ordinary people, adding many of them such as daily wage labourers were now forced to spend a large part of their earnings towards commuting in buses.

"I had written to the chief minister four days back, asking him to withdraw the hike, and that the matter should be discussed in the state assembly for which the House should be convened. But they are only giving accounts of losses (suffered by transport corporations) but have no time for remedial measures," he said.

The DMK has, therefore, constituted a panel under senior party leader and former Union minister T R Baalu to probe ways to reduce bus fares, Stalin said.

With agency inputs
New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday demanded a judicial probe into the clash between two communities on Republic Day in Kasganj district of Uttar Pradesh and said that the state government failed to tackle the situation.

"This will come out only when a judicial probe under a sitting judge of the High Court takes place. We demand the probe and appeal for peace," Congress leader Pramod Tiwari told the media here.

Referring to the fresh incidents of violence, Tiwari, a Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh, hit out at the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government and blamed its failure to tackle the situation.

"Despite forces being deputed, how such incident took place. This shows the negligence and failure on the part of the state government," he said.

The incident took place on Republic Day when a "Tiranga Yatra" in the form of a bike rally was taken out by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and some other Hindu organisations in the town. As they were passing through the Hulka locality -- a Muslim majority area -- some youths pelted stones at the bikers.

After that, it became a free for all and the bikers also retaliated with stones. Soon there was firing from the locality in which two persons received gunshot wounds and one succumbed in the hospital later.

An irate mob attacked vehicles on the highway, targeted public property and torched some other vehicles. Over half-a-dozen persons, including some policemen, were also been injured in the clashes.


Kasganj: Section 144 continued to be imposed in Kasganj on Sunday following clashes that took place on the Republic Day. Also, internet services have been suspended till 10 pm on Sunday.

However, Uttar Pradesh DGP OP Singh said that situation was under control. "No incidents have taken place in the last few hours. A number of people were arrested, patrolling has been intensified, priority is to maintain law and order," he said.

IG Sanjeev Kumar too said, "The situation is under control now. Accused have been identified. One country made bomb and pistol also recovered from the residence of one of the accused," as per ANI.

On January 27, 2018, at least three shops, two private buses and a car were torched on the second day of violence in Kasganj city, police had said after a young boy was killed in clashes following stone- pelting on a motorcycle rally was taken out to celebrate the Republic Day.

Elaborating about the extent of damage, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Anand Kumar had 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. In the evening, the seats of an abandoned car were set ablaze."

Meanwhile, District Magistrate RP Singh had said, "Internet services were also suspended in the trouble-torn area till 10 pm on January 28."

Elaborating on the genesis of the clashes, the police had 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 had said. Another man, identified as Akram, had received head injuries.

The motorcycle rally was taken out by VHP and ABVP volunteers as part of celebrations on the 69th Republic Day.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya had described the violence as unfortunate and had said that the people behind it would not go unpunished.

(With PTI inputs)
Lucknow: The budget session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature is set to begin on February 8 with the Governor's address to a joint sitting of both the Houses.

In view of the opposition's protest during the governor's address at the Assembly's first session last year, Speaker H N Dixit had recently warned the MLAs of disciplinary action if they carry out "planned obstructions" during the address.

According to Principal Secretary of the Legislative Assembly Pradeep Kumar Dubey, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik has summoned the Vidhan Sabha's first session of this year on February 8.

Naik will address a joint sitting of both the Houses at Vidhan Bhawan to mark the opening of the budget session. The tentative agenda of the Assembly is likely to be issued tomorrow.

The state cabinet, in its last meeting on January 23, had decided to convene the budget session of the Assembly from February 8. The business advisory committee of the two Houses will decide on the number of sittings.

The budget session is likely to see the opposition and Assembly Speaker H N Dixit at loggerheads as he has already stated that members of the House might face disciplinary action if they carry out "planned obstructions" during the address of the Governor.

For nearly two decades it has become a practice for the opposition to disrupt the governor's address.

Last year, in the first session of the present Assembly, the opposition Samajwadi Party had obstructed the Governor's address by raising slogans and throwing paper balls at the podium.

Dixit had recently said that it was the responsibility of the MLAs to maintain discipline inside the Assembly, saying "It is expected that this year they will listen to the Governor's address quietly."

"Bringing banners and posters and blowing whistles... clearly show that such things have been done in a planned manner. So, if anyone takes such (pre-planned) steps (to derail the address), action might be taken," the speaker had said recently.

Last time, apart from throwing paper balls, the opposition members had blown whistles and held up banners to interrupt the address.

The Opposition members had held a 'parallel Assembly' in the central hall of Vidhan Bhawan to protest against the Yogi Adityanath government.
LUCKNOW: A antelope on Sunday broke into a classroom of a school in Uttar Pradesh.

The incident took place in Moradabad's Pakbara in UP.

#WATCH Antelope broke into a classroom after breaking the glass window at a school in Moradabad's Pakbara pic.twitter.com/fwfgLUPfCq  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 28, 2018

The antelope entered the classroom after breaking the glass window.

The animal is seen strolling from one corner of the room to the other, possibly trying to look for a way out.

The 41-second clip ends with the antelope standing in front of the blackboard facing towards it.
Washington: In a veiled message to Pakistan, US President Donald Trump on Saturday asked countries to take action against the Taliban and terrorist organisations. The statement came hours after one of the biggest blasts rocked Afghan capital Kabul, killing at least 95 people and wounding 158 others.

"Now, all countries should take decisive action against the Taliban and the terrorist infrastructure that supports them," Trump said in a statement.

Calling the attack "senseless", the statement further added that there's "no tolerance for those who support or offer sanctuary to terrorist groups," in an indirect reference to Pakistan.

While the Trump administration did not name any country, the US has tightened its reins on Pakistan over the last few months. In January, the United States suspended a $255-million military aid to Pakistan, accusing the country of resorting to lies and deceit and providing "safe haven" to terrorists in return for $33 billion aid over the last 15 years.

"I condemn the despicable car bombing attack in Kabul today (Saturday) that has left scores of innocent civilians dead and hundreds injured. This murderous attack renews our resolve and that of our Afghan partners," said Trump.

Washington has repeatedly accused Pakistan of neglect in cracking down on militant groups such as the Taliban or their Haqqani allies.

Pakistan has refused to accept the proven charges, and instead resorted to pointing fingers at India.

While addressing international envoys, the country's civil and military leadership accused India using intelligence agencies to create internal instability.

Trying to divert world's attention and escape its obligations, Pakistan's ambassador to the US Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said, "In India also, militancy is growing under the name of Hindutva ideology and others.

In 2017, a Pakistan court released Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed. His release was backed by the country's Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former president Pervez Musharraf.

A globally designated terrorist, Saeed, also the Lashkar-e-Toiba cofounder, has a bounty of $10 million on his head. His release was met with global outcry.
Moscow: Russian police on Sunday detained opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow as thousands rallied across the country against a March election expected to extend Vladimir Putin's Kremlin term.

Heeding a call by Putin's bete noire, thousands braved freezing temperatures to stage rallies in dozens of cities to protest upcoming "pseudo-elections," as Navalny and his supporters refer to them.

In Moscow, Navalny chanted "Swindlers and thieves" at a rally in the city centre before several police officers pounced on the 41-year-old opposition politician, knocking him to the ground and dragging him on to a bus.

Authorities said Navalny would be charged with organising an unpermitted protest, adding he had been taken to a police station.

The opposition leader urged Muscovites not to give up.

"You are not rallying for me, but for yourselves and your future," he tweeted.

About 4,000 people turned up for the unsanctioned rally in Moscow, with many chanting "Down with the czar" and brandishing placards saying "Voters' strike."

Authorities beefed up security, dispatching police vans and passenger buses to the city centre, but police largely refrained from arresting protesters. A crowd of protesters was later allowed to walk down to Red Square.

One group of protesters walked several kilometres and reached the government headquarters as police watched on.

Authorities estimated the Moscow turnout at around 1,000 people.

Ahead of the Moscow rally police broke into Navalny's headquarters using a power saw, interrupting a live broadcast covering protests in the east of the country.

Police also detained several members of Navalny's team.

More than 250 people were detained across the country, according to OVD-Info, an independent monitor.

Today's turnout paled in comparison to last year's protests when tens of thousands demonstrated against corruption among Russia's elite in March and June, 2017.

Police unleashed a severe crackdown afterwards, arresting more than 1,000 people including schoolchildren.

Navalny himself served three jail sentences of 15 days, 25 days and 20 days for organising unauthorised protests last year.

But many protesters said Sunday authorities would not intimidate them.

"These are not elections because we already know the result," Elena Ruzhe, 62, told AFP in Moscow.

"I'm not scared to protest," added the former culture ministry worker.

Protester Alexandra Fedorova, who wore a fur coat, said it was wrong not to let Navalny take part in the vote.

"I don't see a future. There is nobody to vote for," the 27-year-old said.

Protesters expressed similar sentiments in the second city of Saint Petersburg where around 1,500 people rallied, some chanting "Russia without Putin" and "Putin is a thief."

"I want change," Andrei Petrov, 20, told AFP in the former imperial capital. "We are tired of living in this quagmire."

Earlier in the day opposition supporters protested in far eastern Russia and Siberia, including in the northern city of Yakutsk where people rallied despite temperatures of around minus 45 Celsius (minus 49 Fahrenheit).

In the Ural city of Yekaterinburg, around 1,000 people turned up, with the city's mayor joining the crowd.

"What we are being offered now is not an election," the outspoken mayor, Yevgeny Roizman, told the gathering.

Navalny -- seen as the only politician with enough stamina to take on Putin -- has built a robust protest movement, tapping into the anger of a younger generation yearning for change.

He says the upcoming election will be little more than a coronation of Putin who is expected to win a fourth presidential term, becoming the longest-serving Russian leader since Stalin.
Hassa: Turkey on Sunday seized a strategic outpost from Kurdish militia in Syria, pressing ahead with a campaign that has strained relations with the United States.

After several days of poor visibility because of heavy rain and fog, Turkish warplanes and artillery took advantage of the clear skies and seized Mount Barsaya near the Kurdish town of Afrin in northwestern Syria, the military command said in a statement.

The hill is significant because it overlooks the towns of Kilis and Azaz, either side of the Turkish-Syrian border.

Turkey launched operation "Olive Branch" on January 20 against the Syrian Kurdish People`s Protection Units (YPG) in Afrin, supporting Syrian opposition fighters with ground troops and air strikes.

While Turkey brands the YPG a "terror" group, the militia has received support from the US, its fighters spearheading the battle against the Islamic State group across swathes of Syria.

Despite souring relations with NATO ally Washington, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to expand the offensive against the YPG to Manbij, east of Afrin.

In a sign the Turkish campaign has rendered prospects for peace in Syria even fainter, authorities in the war-torn country`s Kurdish autonomous region said they will not attend peace talks in Russia.

"We said before that if the situation remained the same in Afrin we could not attend," regional official Fawza al-Yussef said.

Rebel backer Turkey is one of the sponsors of the talks in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Monday and Tuesday, along with Damascus allies Russia and Iran.

Turkey`s air and artillery strikes on Sunday were even fiercer than previous days, said an AFP correspondent on the Syrian-Turkish border who saw towers of smoke rising into the sky.

Turkish channel NTV broadcast live footage Sunday showing rocket fire targeting Mount Barsaya, located to the north of Afrin.

Turkish troops and their Syrian opposition allies said last Monday they had captured the hill, before losing it again a few hours later.

Syria`s antiquities department said on Sunday that Turkish air strikes have damaged a 3,000-year-old temple in the country`s north.

"This attack reflects the hatred and barbarism of the Turkish regime against the Syrian identity and against the past, present and future of the Syrian people," a statement on the government agency website said.Turkish relations with the US have dipped over their stances on the YPG -- which Ankara says is a "terrorist" offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers` Party (PKK).

The PKK, which has waged a war against the Turkish state for three decades, is proscribed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies.

US President Trump earlier this week urged Erdogan to "de-escalate" his forces` assault on Afrin as he expressed concern about "the destructive and false" anti-American rhetoric emanating from Turkey.

Adding fuel to the fire, Turkey`s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Saturday urged the US to "immediately withdraw" its personnel from Kurdish-held Manbij, which Ankara has also threatened to attack.

"We are going to cleanse Manbij" after Afrin, government spokesman Bekir Bozdag said Sunday, according to Anadolu.

Manbij was retaken from IS by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in 2016 as part of a push that would later recapture the city of Raqa from the jihadists.Faced with the Turkish onslaught, the YPG`s political arm the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) appealed to the international community to pressure Ankara into halting its offensive.

Seven Turkish soldiers have died since "Olive Branch" was launched, Erdogan said, while around 40 others have been injured.

One soldier who was killed Saturday was buried Sunday in Istanbul.

The fighting has also led to a heavy loss of civilian lives.

According to the Britain-based Observatory, 42 civilians have been killed since January 20, including 12 children, most of them in Turkish air strikes.

Ankara denies shelling any civilian areas.

In a sign of the sheer ferocity of the fighting, 69 pro-Turkish rebels were killed, as were 66 Kurdish fighters.

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, which would include the YPG.

Several nations, including Germany and France, as well as the European Union, have expressed concern over the Turkish offensive against a country where over 340,000 people have already been killed since war erupted in 2011.
The draft resolution of Russia, which provides for the deployment of peacekeepers in Donbas only along the line of conflict, is unacceptable for the United States and the United Nations, since it will not guarantee security, but will deepen the conflict. Special Representative of the United States for Ukraine Kurt Volker stated this in an exclusive interview to 112 Ukraine.



"Russia proposed a different concept, the so-called defensive force, which would protect only the OSCE observers. It does not provide control of the border, so an endless flow of Russian forces across the international border would continue," he said.



Volker stressed that this is not something that the United States and the United Nations could agree on.



"After all, such a concept will not provide security, but only deepen the conflict, and no troop-contributing country will want to be in such a situation: when there is an open border and puppet groups," the US special representative is convinced.



He stressed that the United States, France and Germany agreed to accept such an offer as a basis, but to turn it into a peacekeeping mission.



"This would create the responsibility for security in the region, would give the Ukrainian side the opportunity to control the Ukrainian-Russian border. The border would not be closed, it will remain open in this case, however control will appear. The troops and weapons will not cross it , "he said.



Volker also recalled that during the November meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin's assistant Vladislav Surkov, he was unable to reach agreement on this issue.
Open source

In his interview at the World Economic Forum, Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki said that he viewed Russia as a serious threat to Poland, as he told Politico.

When asked whats the most serious threat to Poland today, Morawiecki replied that he treated the Russian threat very seriously. He said that if the Nord Stream 2 were to be built, Russian troops could march into Ukraine openly, as there would be no threat to Russian gas going through the country. He noted that Its better to have a second and a third line of defence rather than be without those.
Apart from official meetings, the Ukrainian President is to attend the Vienna Opera Ball

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko intends to visit Austria with a working visit on Feb. 8, according to his press service.

In the framework of the visit, Ukrainian President is to meet with President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor of Austria Sebastian Kurz.

The officials are to discuss broadening the political dialogue on the highest level, trade, economic, and investment cooperation, the situation in Donbas, the change of the EU sanction policy in order to support the international efforts on restoring Ukraines territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The heads of states are also to attend the Vienna Opera Ball, to which Ukrainian President is invited as an honorary guest of his Austrian counterpart. The President of Austria has the privilege of inviting one head of state as their honorary guest to the event.
112 Agency

In Russia, an action of Alexei Navalny supporters "Strike of voters" is taking place, there are detentions already. This is reported by Russian media.



During the protests of supporters of Alexei Navalny in Russia, more than 90 people have been detained. This is a summary of the OVD-Info as of 14:00 Moscow time.



In Ufa there are at least 28 detainees. 15 people were detained in Kemerovo, 10 or more - in Tomsk, eight - in Moscow, seven - in St. Petersburg. There are also detainees in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Samara, Novosibirsk, Berezniki, Nizhny Novgorod, Astrakhan, Murmansk, Chelyabinsk, Ramenskoye, Omsk, Cheboksary, Novocheboksarsk. In Moscow, police detained Alexei Navalny himself.

The action is declared as All-Russian, and its purpose is to convince voters not to go to the presidential elections in Russia in March. In some cities of the country, the actions of the supporters of Navalny are not coordinated, in particular in Moscow.



We recall that a few days ago, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dismissed the appeal of Aleksei Navalny against the decision on the legality of the refusal of the Central Election Commission to register him as a candidate for the post of president of the Russian Federation. Earlier, the CEC of the Russian Federation had already been warned that Navalny would not be registered as a candidate because of a criminal record. The politician himself tried to protest this ban.



The presidential election will be held on March 18, 2018.

Related: IOC allowed 169 Russian athletes to compete in Olympic Games
112 Agency

Google and Twitter did not find evidence of Russia's influence on the regional elections in the US in 2017. This was reported on January 25 by Politico.



The company's responses to written questions from members of the US Senate Intelligence Committee state that they know nothing about any government-supported attempts to interfere in the election of governors in the states of New Jersey and Virginia, as well as in other expressions of will at the national or local level in the past year.



Google Vice President Kent Walker assured that the company will continue to "develop tools to counter evolving threats."



According to the general counsel of Twitter, Sean Edgett, the resource has the same plans.



In October 2016, the US authorities officially accused Russia of hacking the servers of American parties, as well as in interfering in the process of presidential elections in the country. The published report of US intelligence says that the campaign was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.



Executives from Facebook, Twitter and Alphabet testified in three congressional committees on alleged attempts by Russia to spread disinformation before and after the US presidential election in 2016.

Related: Founder of IKEA Ingvar Kamprad dies aged 91

Related: 50 000 foreigners passed biometric control at Ukrainian border
Open source

Today Ukraine commemorates the heroes of the Battle of Kruty. The battle took place on Jan. 29, 1918, when a 400 soldiers unit of the Ukrainian forces (300 of them were students) briefly halted the advance of a 4.000 Red Army marching towards Kyiv. This was part of Ukrainian Revolution 1918 when Ukraine was fighting for its existence against Soviets and Royalists. More than a half of the Ukrainian soldiers perished in the unequal battle.

28 students were re-buried at Askold's Grave in the centre of Kyiv after the return of the Tsentralna Rada (Ukrainian government at the time) to the capital in March 1918. At the funeral, the then President of the Ukrainian People's Republic, Mykhailo Hrushevsky, called every one of the 400 students who fought in the battle, heroes.
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!)
Roger Melone conducts the NMPhil and New Mexico Symphonic Chorus in Mozarts Requiem and Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major. Fundraiser benefitting the NMPhil featuring Anna Dmytrenko.

Back by Popular Demand: The starlet and a luminary in piano lineage, Anna Dmytrenko. What a dream!?

FREE Pre-Concert Lecture begins at 5:00pm. Brent Stevens, KHFM 95.5, hosts an interactive discussion with conductor, guest artists, & special guests. Followed by a Q & A with the audience.



Maestro Roger Melone conducts the New Mexico Philharmonic and New Mexico Symphonic Chorus in Mozarts epic, enigmatic, mythical, and legendary work, intertwined with the composers own demise. The incomparable Mozart Requiem  in a special fundraiser to benefit the NMPhil. Also  Mozarts extraordinarily glorious Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, featuring Olga Kern International Piano Competition 2nd prize winner, Anna Dmytrenko.



Roger Melone, conductor



Anna Dmytrenko, piano







Preformance Set List:



MOZART Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major



MOZART Requiem







https://www.facebook.com/NMPhilharmonic



FREE Parking & FREE Shuttle when Parking in G LOT.



The Special Event shuttle is fast, easy to use, and free. It's a great option even if you're running late. Buses run continuously beginning 90-120 minutes before the show, drop you off at Popejoy Hall and return you to the shuttle lot up to an hour after the show. Should you have an emergency, buses are available any time during the show to take you back to your car. All of our shuttle buses are wheelchair accessible.



ADA ACCESSIBLE & ASSISTED LISTENING DEVICES
YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. The Republic of Armenia and Armenians around the world celebrate the 26th anniversary of the Armenian Armys establishment on January 28.

The formation of the Armenian Army coincides with 1992-1994, when the newly independent Republic of Armenia, along with the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, being in undeclared but de facto war with Azerbaijan, at the same time embarked on the creation of a national army. Declaration of Independence of 1990, however, played a decisive role in the creation of the Armenian Army which declared Armenia's independence and opened new legal and practical perspectives for the creation of national army.

On January 28, 1992, the Government adopted the On the Defense Ministry of Armenia historic decision, heralding the formation of the Armenian Army. In May of 1992, the ministry held the first drafting, laying the foundation for the stable tradition of drafting conscription servicemen to the Army.

The establishment of the Armenian Army has gone through several stages. The first stage lasted from February 1988 to May 1992. In this period, ensuring the safety and security of the populations of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh was more than urgent, as the Karabakh Movement activated and the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations underwent extreme escalation.

The second stage, June 1992  May 1994, when the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh were in the crosshairs of the Azerbaijani aggression.

The third stage began since June 1994 and continues to present day. During this period, significant works were carried out in the direction of improving the battle-worthiness of the troops, strengthening discipline, training of officers, Army-public relations etc.

In September of 1990, the special regiment of Yerevan was formed, while five companies were established in Ararat, Goris, Vardenis, Ijevan and Meghri. In 1991, the Government approved the formation of the State Committee of Defense.

Men aged 18-27 are subject to compulsory military service in Armenia for a two year period. Drafting is carried out twice a year  in winters and summers. In 2017 the Defense Ministry introduced I am, I have honor and Outlook programs. Since its establishment, the Armenian Armed Forces have collaborated and continue collaborating with international structures.

On May 15, 1992, Armenia became a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

Military cooperation with Russia has a great role in the international cooperation field of the Armenian Armed Forces. Russia is Armenias strategic partner and the defense cooperation between the states is on a high level.

Cooperation with NATO is also expanding year by year.

The Armenian Armed Forces greatly focus on training and educating highly skilled personnel. With this purpose, the Military aviation college was formed, which later transformed into the Military-Aviation institute, the Defense Ministrys Command College was established  currently the Vazgen Sargsyan Military Institute, and the military-medical faculty of the Yerevan State Medical University.

Graduates of the abovementioned institutions have continued trainings in foreign educational facilities. Namely, more than 1500 officers and cadets have trained and continue training in Russia and Greece.

Armenian peacekeepers have a significant role in the history of the Armenian Armed Forces. Due to the peacekeepers, various countries around the world saw and appreciated the highly skilled and professional Armenian soldiers.

The Armenian Army has collaborated in several international missions with the West. On February 12, 2004, Armenia deployed a platoon-sized unit (three squads) to Kosovo as a part of the Greek peacekeeping battalion. The unit, known as the Peacekeeping Forces of Armenia, is headquartered in Camp "REGAS FEREOS" as a part of the Multi-National Task Force East and is tasked with maintaining vehicle check points, providing security for the base but also serves as a quick reaction force and crowd and riot control. In 2008, the KFOR unit was expanded, adding a second platoon plus company staff (bringing Armenia's contingent to about 85 personnel).

In the autumn of 2004, the Armenian government approved the dispatch of a 46-man contingent from the army consisting of sappers, engineers and doctors under Polish command as part of the Multinational Force in Iraq. On October 6, 2008, due to improving security conditions, the contingent's tour of duty came to an end.

In 2010 Armenian peacekeeping servicemen arrived in Afghanistan in, where, under German command, they are tasked to defend the regional airport in Kunduz. There are currently 126 servicemen in Afghanistan.

In conjunction with its strategic allies, Armenia has sent over 1,500 officers to be trained in Greece and Russia. The Armenian Ministry of Defense also established in 2004 a joint partnership with the Kansas National Guard in order to exchange knowledge and facilitate cooperation in national security and civilian affairs. It also signed a military cooperation plan with Lebanon on November 27, 2015.

Since November 26, 2014, Armenian peacekeepers are deployed in Lebanon, within the Italian contingent.

In 2015, one peacekeeper was dispatched to Mali on a monitoring-peacekeeping mission.

The Armenian Army is also the guarantor of security in the region. Enforced peace  this is a statement which in the recent period has started to be used more frequently due to frequent ceasefire violations. In favor of the option to settle the problems through a dialogue, the Armenian Armed Forces also announce that if it is impossible to enforce peace through political means, they are ready for any scenario.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the Armenian Army, handed over posthumously awarded high state awards to the families of soldiers fallen while defending the borders of the Homeland, reports Armenpress.

The awarding ceremony was held in the Yerebalur Military Pantheon.

Today we are in Yerablur. On this sacred day its our duty to bow our heads to the memory of heroes who gave us life and freedom at the expense of their lives. We share the grief of families and relatives of the fallen soldiers. We call on the generations to always keep their memory alive, the meaning of this important holiday of the Armenian people. Eternal glory to our heroes. Live long the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia!, the President said.

Lieutenant-Colonel Gegham H. Manukyan, N military unit service head, was posthumously awarded with the 1st Degree Medal for the Services to the Homeland for the bravery shown while defending the borders of the Homeland, as well as for unconditionally conducting his military duty under the danger threatening his life.

Senior Lieutenant Samvel J. Karchikyan, commander of the N military unit, junior sergeant Armen A. Sakanyan, soldiers Garegin H. Minasyan, Mher A. Yerznkyan and Hrant Kh. Mangasaryan were posthumously awarded with the Combat Service Medal for the dedication and courage demonstrated during the defense of the borders of the Homeland.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. At least 86 civilians were killed and 198 wounded since the launch of the Turkish military operations, called Olive Branch, in Syrias Afrin and nearest settlements, SANA reports.

According to a source, there are women, children and elderly people among the victims.

The operations of the Turkish forces also caused material damage and led to halt of communication between the villages of Afrin.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Ecuadors president Lenin Moreno declared a state of emergency in several cities after a car bomb attack on the police station, RT reports.

Ive declared the state of emergency in San Lorenzo and Eloy Alfaro to strengthen the security of the citizens and the border, president Lenin Moreno said on Twitter.

20 law enforcement officers were wounded in the attack. According to the Police, the attack can be carried out by a local criminal group.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Army was established as a result of the constant work, the defense of our country is powerful and the borders are firm, MP Manvel Grigoryan, Chairman of the Board of Yerkrapah Volunteers Union, told reporters in the Yerablur Military Pantheon on the Army Day, reports Armenpress.

He said the Armenian people have what they need  independence, statehood, borders and strong Army. Today there is no Armenian person who doesnt have a relative in the border. The Army has been created by the sons of the Armenian people, Yerkrapah volunteers who were engaged in self-defense in 1989-1992 regardless of being military officers or specialists. They joined and created self-defense squads based of which the Armenian Army has been established, he said, adding that the Army was established thanks to constant work.

As for the Army modernization program, the MP said the Army, first of all, needs high moral and psychological preparedness and financial resources to equip it with the necessary technique. Our soldier is well-equipped and is able to keep the border. He is also able to prevent the sabotage attempts by seeing the situation in the frontline, he said.

Commenting on Russias selling weapons to Azerbaijan, in case when Russia is Armenias strategic ally, MP Grigoryan said: Its a strategic ally, but when the one sells weapons, the other purchases them.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Ara Babloyan addressed a congratulatory message on the Army Day, the Parliament told Armenpress.

The message says:

Dear compatriots,

I cordially congratulate you on the Army Day  Patriotism and Courage Day.

Today we praise with unique pride those who protected and protect peace, freedom and independence, who worthily fulfill their military duty, who are committed to their oath and conscience. Today we again bow to their memory who sacrificed their lives for the sake of secure and safe Homeland.

On this Day my congratulations are first of all addressed to our soldiers and officers, to those who conduct a military service in the frontline, as well as to the parents and relatives of all soldiers.

I also want to congratulate all our veterans from the Great Patriotic War to the Artsakh Liberation War, from volunteers to the retired military officers. Our todays Army is the combination of close ties, experience and honor of the generations.

Dear compatriots,

The Fatherland, moreover, the statehood, cannot exist without proper defense. The Fatherland is strong as much as the desire of each us to defend it. We can confidently look at the future as we have a combat ready Armenian Army, brave soldier and officer devoted to his country and family thanks to whom we live in peace and security, who ensure victory in the battle field and peace, and we are grateful to them.

I wish you all and especially our soldiers and all servicemen health, peace and all the best.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. The ministry of emergency situations told Armenpress that at night of January 29 air temperature will gradually decrease by 4-5 degrees, then will increase by the same decree.

In the daytime of January 28 light precipitation is expected in Lori, Tavush, Syunik provinces and Artsakh.

On January 29, in the daytime of 30, on 31, in the daytime of February 1, on 2 no precipitation is predicted.

Northeast wind speed is 3-8 m/s.
With a looming budget Continuing Resolution Unratified, in the bicameral U.S. Senate, and government's shutdown imminent: Who is at fault if the Federal Government is shut down? The Republicans in congress. The Democrats in congress. Everything is President Trump's fault. 67 total vote(s) What's your Opinion?



I generally don't have time to report immediately on issues unless I am covering government meetings, where I do report pithy highlights almost immediately. This week was busy, so fortunately, I now have the time to offer my take on the biggest faux news from the Democrat Media - Anonymous sources claim that President Trump 'seriously considered' firing Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller.To that end, the Democrat Media or the Fake News, if you consider that a more accurate assessment of their journalistic principles and abilities, has had yet another unprincipled conniption fit last week by accusing President Trump of 'obvious Obstruction of Justice' for considering the firing of Mueller around 7 months ago.Balance this Democrat Media hysteria , spoken in perfect core Democrat hyperbole, against: 1) the opinion of many scholars that the President has the right, through the proper channels, to fire prosecutor Mueller for cause; 2) the fact that the President may have considered his constitutional prerogative, but did not act ... 7 months ago?; the truth that this non news story was built on, yet again, anonymous sources - as if it even matters - all points to just one conclusion:As I mentioned earlier, I am a busy guy, and if I partake in current events on the television, it generally will not be the many Democrat Media channels, vying for my attention, for a variety of reasons; lack of veracity, the low knowledge level of their core Democrat pundits /commentators; however, since the "Fake News" often becomes the news, I purposely tuned to the Chuck Todd show on NBC, thinking that this would be more reasonable than the incessantly true Fake News channels of MSNBC and CNN. Chuck's show attempts to employ the veil of serious journalism to mask his true propagandist intent, but that veil has worn mighty thin at this point.The Chuck Todd show , they call it "Meet the Press", is a well spoken show to express Democrat positions on issues that most core Democrats care about. The first segment showcased so-called moderate Democrat Senator Joe Manchin (WV), who is up for re-election in 2018, and has slowly been breaking with the strong Democrat"ic" ranks of Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, whose proven governing purpose is to resist all things Trump.At one point, as core Democrat "Journalist" Todd pushed Senator Manchin to express how he would vote if President Trump did this, or if the President gave Minority Leader Schumer too much trouble: How would he react by his senatorial votes? Democrat Senator Manchin properly responded:It was most visible that core Democrat Chuck Todd took great umbrage with Senator Manchin, and to work off his Democrat journalist frustration, or to rally the Democrat base, he brought Senator Manchin's comments up again in the next segment, where the round table pundit discussion topic of President Trump's reported frustration with the Mueller investigation was obvious; asking his next guests what they thought of the West Virginia Democrat Senator's weakened Democratism. What does Joe Manchin's representation duties to West Virginia constituents have to do with the next topic - Trump bashing?Of course, I could be wrong here: Maybe if all issues on this "Face the Nation" are core Democrat issues, then Trump bashing is the commonality thread, then maybe there was some Democrat"ic" continuity there. Still, the succeeding core Democrat conversation passing as a credible intellectual concept severely strained all credulity, even though it did serve to assuage Liberal /Socialist continued motivations. Besides Chuck Todd, also part of the conversation was Tom Brokaw, retired NBC, Rich Lowry, National Review (Never Trump publication), and a Black Woman Democrat"ic" Strategist, who will remain nameless, simply because I do not know her name, and firmly see no real reason to learn it (once again, my time is precious).It you have seen this Chuck Todd program "Meet the Press", let me set the stage here: It is a show built on sustaining the atmosphere where core Democrats, hopefully, will not be offended by any original thought, or ideas and opinions that could be construed as outside of their new age Liberal /Socialist perspective. Should opinion to the contrary be introduced, that diversion from strict core Democrat orthodoxy must be presented in a supplicant format.In next few minutes that I spent with this version of the Democrat Media, I surmised all of this, and, correctly, see no reason to change that opinion. Consider this: After the rehash of Senator Manchin'smoment, core Democrat Todd led the group's discussion of how /why President Trump will be destroyed; with the Black Woman Democrat Strategist repeating core Democrat talking points leading as proper propagandistic theory. Her analogy was not only that Trump was horrible in every manner, but core Republicans were wrongly codependent in any success the President would have in his continuance; the continued future of the United States be damned.In summary, this Democrat Strategist had professionally staked her intractable position on her unknowable facts that Republicans did not care about Russia as an adversary, and only wished to distract the Republic's need to rid us of all things Trump, irrespective of how many laws that core Democrats might need to break to make this all work to their inexhaustible benefit. This grand hypocrisy so well manifested here is that core Democrats don't really care about Russia as an adversary, or that they might have any influence in our 2016 election: It is simply that core Democrats desperately need an excuse for losing a unlosable election, and fabricating a story that acerbic Candidate Donald J. Trump "colluded" with the Russians to win an American election. Candidate Trump, now President Trump is the perfect foil for their failure to properly inspire enough Liberals and Socialists to push a terribly flawed candidate, Hillary Clinton, into the White House.The Black Woman Hypocrite Democrat Strategist notwithstanding, Never Trumper Rich Lowry and Old Democrat Journalist (back before the Mainstream Media totally sold out all precept of any principles) Tom Brokaw both diplomatically talked the show's Democrat Media warriors - Chuck Todd and the Democrat Strategist - off the core Democrat ledge of complete idiocy by these rare moments of relatable wisdom:- 'I think it would be wise to let this investigation run its course, collect any and all information to either impugn or exonerate this President, without relentlessly picking him apart everyday in the media' in the meanwhile.These few words contrary to the mainstream motive of core Democrats, who may watch this Chuck Todd show may have fallen on deaf ears; however, the truth will remain: Wanting something so badly to happen will not translate into it happening if it makes no real sense. That is where we are right now, the political stage created by, and brought to core Democrats, those who only consume only the Democrat Media /the Fake News: Not having a real grasp of what has transpired in recent America, and not having any real time concept of what is happening now, will not empower core Democrats to continue to lead this Republic astray as they have done so completely in recent times past. Those days are done, at least for now, non stories and the Fake News notwithstanding.
From Okamura's press release:

Dear journalists,





the Movement Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) wishes to congratulate the President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman on his victory in the second round of the presidential election.





The SPD Movement has been openly supporting President Zeman's re-election. The re-election of President Zeman is a choice made in the defence of the sovereignty of the Czech Republic and a choice made in the interest of direct democracy.





We wish President Zeman much success in his work for our Republic and firm health. The SPD Movement is ready to cooperate constructively with the President for the benefit of the citizens of our country.





Tomio Okamura is the leader of the most extreme political party which is currently represented in the Czech Parliament. His SPD party won 22 seats in the 200-seat Czech parliament in the Czech general election which took place in October 2017. Okamura is well known for calling for the banning of Islam and 'external manifestations of Islam.' The SPD's parliamentary party secretary has called for the gassing of Jews, gays and Roma.







After the Czech Presidential election on Saturday, Zeman and Okamura agreed to address each other on first name terms.





See also:




African elephants and African lions are protected under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act, and their populations have been in steep and steady decline, as a consequence of a variety of human-caused factors, including trade in the parts of these animals. Photo by Alamy

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President Trump has confirmed, in an interview airing Sunday night with the British journalist and animal advocate Piers Morgan, that he has directed his administration to ban the import of hunting trophies from African elephants and other rare wildlife from Zimbabwe and Zambia. Trumps commitment, the best single action hes taken on animal welfare during his term in office, contradicts the maneuver, according to the president, from a very high level government person to resume imports of hunting trophies and give the green light to American hunters to target these animals. The president called the decision by that individual terrible.

In November, after Trump learned about a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision to allow imports of tusks and heads of elephants and lions from two African countries, he called for putting a hold on the decision, calling trophy hunting of elephants and other animals a horror show. His declaration to Piers Morgan airing today confirms that hes sticking with his initial decision. In December, a U.S. Court of Appeals held that the process the Fish and Wildlife Service used to authorize the imports of elephants and lions from Zimbabwe and Zambia was invalid, and The HSUS has filed a lawsuit to ensure that those decisions are taken off the books.

I didnt want elephants killed and stuffed and have the tusks brought back into this [country] and people can talk all they want about preservation and all of the things that theyre saying where money goes towards  well, money was going  in that case, going to a government which was probably taking the money, OK?, the president said in comments first obtained and reported by The Huffington Post.

African elephants and African lions are protected under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act, and their populations have been in steep and steady decline, as a consequence of a variety of human-caused factors, including trade in the parts of these animals. The primary tool the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services invokes to influence outcomes on the ground for foreign-listed species under the authority of the Endangered Species Act is to restrict imports of parts of animals into the United States. In short, if American trophy hunters cannot import the heads, tusks, and hides of the animals, they are unlikely to kill them in the first place.

Keeping elephants and lions alive is a key to economic progress in so many African nations. Millions of tourists trek to natural areas throughout Africa to see elephants, lions, and the extraordinary wildlife on the continent, collectively contributing billions to the economies of wildlife-rich nations. Trophy hunters, who are dramatically fewer in number than wildlife watchers, generate minuscule dollars in relative terms. Whats more, trophy hunting robs these nations of their greatest resources, diminishing the wildlife-watching experiences of so many tourists. Any U.S. sanctioning of trophy hunting sends a particularly contradictory message at a time when the world has been rallying to save elephants and lions.

A number of African nations, including Botswana, Kenya, and Rwanda, ban all trophy hunting.

In early December 2017, The HSUS commissioned a national survey of American attitudes, revealing that by a margin of more than five to one, respondents oppose allowing American trophy hunters to import tusks and heads into the United States. The survey showed that 78 percent of American voters oppose elephant and lion imports, with 15 percent taking a contrary view. Those trophy imports are opposed by 76 percent of Republicans, 84 percent of Democrats, and 75 percent of non-partisan voters.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should heed sentiment and science and formally prohibit such imports for elephant, lions, leopards, and other threatened and endangered species across the board. We hope the Trump administration will forbid elephant and lion imports from all other African countries where American trophy hunters kill these animals for their tusks, and that includes Cameroon, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Tanzania.

We dont allow trophy hunting of threatened or endangered species living in the United States, and theres no logical reason to recognize it and enable it as a tool for dealing with foreign-listed threatened and endangered species.

Our intolerance for animal cruelty, especially when it is purposeful, wasteful, and done for boastful, selfish purposes like trophy hunting and dogfighting, is an American characteristic that binds us together as a nation and is something we should be proud of. President Trump has keenly tapped into this American value by imposing a ban on the imports of trophy-hunted elephants and lions from two countries, and we hope thats just a start.


Wisconsin governor Scott Walker  whose reign has been haunted by scandal and propped up by out-of-state dark money  has announced that he will not call special elections to fill seats in the Wisconsin legislature, following on from Democratic upsets in state Republican strongholds.



The announcement means that tens of thousands of Wisconsinites will have no representation in their state legislature, in violation of the state constitution.



It may be that Walker is refusing to schedule the special elections because he is scared.The results of special elections held last Tuesday were disastrous for Walker and his Republican allies. The party lost a State Senate seat in western Wisconsin's 10th District, as a 26-point Republican advantage in November 2016 shifted to an 11-point Democratic advantage in January 2018. And the GOP came closer than anyone expected to losing an Assembly seat in overwhelmingly Republican Washington County, where a Democrat won 43 percent of the vote. Even the governor admits the loss of the State Senate seat represents a "wake-up call." And Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, argues that: "Governor Walker is running scared and is playing politics with people's right to be represented in the State Capitol. He is clearly feeling the heat and scrambling to boost lack luster polls and the Republican brand, but voters are wide awake and aren't buying it."





It may be that Walkerwho has run his campaigns with massive infusions of money from outside Wisconsin, approved such extreme gerrymandering that the federal courts have intervened, and backed restrictive voter-ID laws, assaults on early voting, same-day registration, and a host of other assaults on voting rightsreally is as willing to sacrifice Wisconsin democracy on the altar of his many ambitions as his critics suggest.

Whatever his reason, the fact remains that Walker has refused to call special elections to fill the seats of former state senator Frank Lasee, of De Pere, and former state representative Keith Ripp, of Lodi, a pair of Republicans who quit the legislature in December to take posts with the governor's administration. The governor wants to leave those seats open until January 2019denying tens of thousands of Wisconsinites representation for a full year.
News / National

by Staff reporter

An Agricultural Extension Officer in Filabusi and two villagers have been arrested on charges of abusing command agriculture inputs worth over $4 000 which had been allocated to 71 farmers in Insiza.Mthokozisi Dladla (44), an extension worker with the ministry of Agriculture, Joyce Mthunzi (64), a villager at Siyabalandela and Morgan Bhebhe (49), the chairperson of Phelandaba North section at Silalabuhwa Irrigation Scheme, pleaded not guilty to theft when they appeared before Filabusi resident magistrate Mzingaye Moyo on Thursday.They were remanded out of custody to tomorrow for trial.Prosecutor Jethro Mada told the court that on November 29 2016 Bhebhe signed for and received 18 200kg of Ammonium Nitrate fertiliser.He, together with Mthunzi, took the fertiliser to Silalatshani where they allegedly met Dladla to distribute the fertilisers to farmers under the command agriculture programme.The fertiliser was meant for 71 farmers who had 26 hectares of land under maize crops and it was supposed to be distributed at the rate of 450kgs per hectare.The three allegedly distributed the fertiliser and there was a surplus of 6 500kg which they allegedly diverted to their own use.
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE Government has put in place various measures to ensure that the Zimbabwe Republic Police continue to improve its operations and professionalism as part of cleaning the organisation's image.In an interview yesterday, Home Affairs and Culture Minister Dr Obert Mpofu said already the reduction of roadblocks on the country's highways has seen positive reviews especially from tourists who are now enjoying hassle-free travel.The number of police roadblocks on the country's roads had previously been viewed as one of the major factors that tourists had complained about in Zimbabwe ."There has been a national outcry over the number of police roadblocks on the country's roads. Therefore, as part of the Government's 100-day plan, we are working on swiftly improving the image of our country. We want to ensure that tourists are never again subjected to harassment from any Government departments, in particular the police force. I have also since directed all institutions within the ministry to professionally interface with tourists," said Dr Mpofu.He said there were already some positive reviews from tourists who are excited by the new arrangement on Zimbabwe's roads."There is quite some excitement about Zimbabwe. Many tourists have been positively complimenting and recommending Zimbabwe as a destination. I may not have the figures off my head but I will assure you that they are good," he said."The Government is working with various communities throughout the country on tourism projects and enterprises in order to achieve sustainable socio-economic growth, employment creation and poverty reduction."Before the new Government dispensation, players in the tourism sector had over the years complained about the harassment that tourists were subjected to by police on the country's roads. This was cited as one of the major factors that was affecting tourists movement and arrivals in the country.Locals had also complained of numerous roadblocks, some in the city centre and robots, with the police insisting on spot fines for any offence detected.
News / National

by Steve Jackson

MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai has rubbished the reports by the media that he has been told that he is left with three months to live as his condition deteriorates everyday.The media last week reported that Tsvangirai family has been told that he will live only for three months and not beyond as his condition continue to deteriorate. The media said that even doctors in South Africa blocked his family from taking him to German to a prophet who sometime prophesied that he will win the elections.Through a tweet Tsvangirai said, "It is all speculation. No deadline has been given to me and my family. I am getting routine attention like any other cancer patient and i will be back in Zim shortly. Meanwhile lets all register to vote and those who can attend the alliance rallies. Do not mind the madness."Reacting to the story twitter users made varying comments attacking the media in question."I really respect the empire you have built for yourself but at times I'm led to believe your staff do not.The credibility of this particular publication that you own is dwindling and fast.Please address the lack of professionalism."Another twitter said the paper has editors and the owner doesn't determine what news stories are written there daily.Another one said as a CEO or owner the owner need to stay in touch with the goings on at your source of $$$."Ask bosses on shark tank how they manage their businesses. It's up to him really, just honest feedback from a reader," he said."That's not how media industry works, frankly. Different from Shark Tank. Read more on media ownership and you'll see such direct interference is frowned upon."
News / National

by Staff reporter

A political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya has warned President Emmerson Mnangagwa over the flawed former First Lady Grace Mugabe's PHD thesis which has just been published online after the department responsible at the University of Zimbabwe had distanced itself from overseeing the study.Grace;'s PHD caused a stir as critics say he did it within less than a year a study which has to be done between three to seven years."The bastardisation of knowledge and ideas happening under ED government with reckless abundance. Mr President, you promised to fight against corruption. Look at the corruption of ideas and knowledge at UZ under Prof Levi Nyagura as he covers Grace Mugabe's corruption of epistemic values!," Ruhanya said.
Opinion / Columnist

For the umpteenth time President Emmerson Mnangagwa; business people will not want to do business in a country where there is no political and economic stability, no rule of law, no sense of continuity, no transparency, etc., especially the savvy foreign investors you are trying to woo from the West who have had their fingers badly burnt by this Zanu-PF regime."(Zimbabwe) is a greenfield, a virgin economy. If an area is virgin, many people would want to go there. So, I encourage all investors to come and taste the pudding. The country is open for business," President Mnangagwa told guest at a luncheon attended by scores of Swiss and international business people, hosted by the Africa Swiss Business Circle in Zurich, Switzerland."We may say nice things, but on the ground you find that there are issues that need clarification. We will direct them to correct authorities. If you find that a door is closed, a situation which was common in the past dispensation, come to my office and I will open that door."He really does not get it, does he!In other words, nothing has changed in Zimbabwe, he is admitting business people can still expect to walk another mine of confusion, bureaucracy, corruption, etc. in his new dispensation. To get anywhere, the would-be investor must meet the all-powerful big boss-man himself, His Excellency, The Right Honourable President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa (affectionately known as Ngwena, Crocodile or Lacoste). Nothing, absolutely nothing will happen without his say!As you can well, imagine Mr Would-be Investor, everyone is queuing to see big boss-man Ngwena. You may have to wait for months or even years before you get a chance to meet him. But here is a list of people who can arrange it for you to see him in weeks, days or even hours depending on the position of the individual on the list. The higher on the list the individual happens to be the greater their influence as a mover and shaker and the larger their asking price.You bribe one official today and tomorrow you have to bribe the same guy again because these guys' greed is insatiable; whatever you paid them last time, they believe they should have asked for a lot more because you can afford it. You bribe one and you will be surprise how many others you have to bribe along the food chain!"If you find that a door is closed, a situation which was common in the past dispensation, come to my office and I will open that door," President Mnangagwa reassured the would-be investor. Now before the would-be investor thanks you for your very reassuring words, he\she will want to know whether they will get a receipt for money paid to the movers and shakers who will facilitate the meeting?Even if President Mnangagwa does open all the doors for the would-be investor at no cost in cash, time or otherwise; a shrewd business person will have to think of what happens if President Mnangagwa should be replace by someone like VP Chiwenga, for example. No doubt they will have to knock at his door too to get their business license renewed. Now VP Chiwenga is known to love gold watches, he has 40 of them at the last count; will they be expected to present him with a gold-watch present to win favours?Business people shy away from countries where they are expected to shell out large sums of money for whatever reason and not get a receipt for it because that is the very essence of bad business! Any business venture anywhere in the world is a risk in that there are no guarantees to a return on one's investment the market forces of supply and demand are as changeable as the weather. The risk of getting no return on one's investment shoot up by an unknown factor in countries like Zimbabwe where one tyrant can be woken up in the small hours of the morning and be told he no longer rules the roost."Baba vanovata rimwe ziso rakasvinura!" (Robert Mugabe sleeps with one eye open!) confessed Grace Mugabe last year. The tyrant was fearful of a coup.In the small hours of 15 November 2017 the military coup the couple dreaded happened. We will never know whether he had closed both eyes or the open eye was the lazy-eye, it saw nothing!in the morning but when goes up its own rightIt is certain that this Zanu-PF regime has no intention of holding free, fair and credible elections this year or ever. With the door to free and fair elections slammed shut the next change of leader in Zanu-PF has to be another military coup or violent street protests.No doubt President Mnangagwa has too learned to sleep with both eyes open, just to be doubly sure, he too does not wake-up to find himself look-up the business end of an AK47 rifle! Ever since he was appointed VP in 2014 he has had three attempts on his life already; he is a seasoned thug and having to live in constant fear is nothing to him.What he is failing to appreciate is that business people do not like to do business in countries they have to pay large sums of money and get no receipt, where regime change is Wild-West gun-marriage, etc., etc., etc. They can get comparable profit margins in other countries without having to play any of these high-risk Zimbabwe political and economic games.The Swiss are among some of the wealthiest people on earth, they are some of the most shrewd business people anyway. They will have nothing to do with these Russian roulette business opportunities President Mnangagwa is offering! They hate Russian roulette!
Opinion / Columnist

South Africa is a country where everyone outside the country believed that their economic and employment challenges would be solved. South Africa is one of the African country with the most powerful economy in the region and it has been attracting a lot of unskilled and skilled labour force from other countries in the Sadc.I can vividly recall when I was still growing up and attending primary school when I could hear people saying they were trekking down the country for job opportunities in this Southern African country.There was a recruiting office in Harare for workers destined to work in South Africa. This place was in Mabvuku Chizhanje which was called Wenera where Zimbabwean job seekers would visit that place for appointments. A number of people migrated to South Africa using this port during the early 60s where they were recruited to work in mines and other sectors like farming. They could also sign contracts to work in mines, manufacturing factories and others.Most Zimbabweans would leave the country and brave the crocodile infested Limpopo river to get into South Africa which they called 'Egoli' meaning a country full of gold.People have been migrating from the neighbouring countries like Malawi , Zambia and Mozambique seeking for greener pastures. South Africa has been accomodating them and they got especially menial jobs like domestic work and working in factories.Zimbabweans would envy people working from South and called them 'Injivas' meaning people who would bring in a lot of money from South Africa and they seem to be having a better life as well.Today the trend continues and a number of Zimbabwe nationals are still crossing the border with the aim of getting employment in Mzansi. However migrants faced their own share of problems as they try to settle down, ranging from social to economic.Accomodation is very expensive and not easy to acquire and is one of the most challenging issue in Mzansi. The South African government has not been successful enough to arrest the problem of housing for time immemorial and most poor South Africans live in squalid conditions and squatter houses called 'Mikuku'. Those with well built houses in high density areas have constructed these structers and rent them to Zimbabweans who in turn pay between R500-R1000 per month depending on the size of the structure.Criminal activities are so prevalent in such areas as there are more thefts and muggings during the day or night. Crime is so rampant such that the police cannot even trace and detect it. In most crimes committed such as murder, rape and armed robberies, they would go undetected.As juvenile delinquencies escalates the young people are not spared and are so much involved and obsessed in taking narcotic drugs such as nyaope and drinking very strong stuff to avoid boredom.Our lovely and beautiful sisters have also joined in the oldest profession of prostitution where they indulge with mostly unmarried Zimbabweans in order to eke out a living and alleviate hunger. They do offer sexual services and charge as little as R50 just for a quicky. Some have been citing the biting economic times where jobs are scarce.Some strong marriages have broken as the spouse would have left the country for work and whilst in South Africa they meet single ladies and then start living together risking contracting the killer HIV and Aids.Life has never been easy down in Mzansi as the government has since stopped the issuance of work permits and banned asylum seekers. This has caused the South African Ministy of Home Affairs to pounce on those people residing illegally in the country.Recently there were reports of South African Police embarking on a clean up operation in townships like Soweto, Beria , Yeoville and Hillbrow where foreigners were targeted, got arrested searched and if found with no proper documents, they were sent to Lindela Camp for hard labour and then deported as part of the conviction. The police and home affairs have been tasked to round off and fish out any illegal business conducted by foreigners and closing them.The locals have accused the foreign nationals that they were taking away their jobs. That is true Zimbabweans are hard working people and some are even better qualified to do the job than the locals. Also foreigners are prepared to take up menial jobs which the South Africans frown upon them.I also resent the utter stereotyping that foreign nationals are responsible for high crime rate in South Africa. We all know that South Africa has had problems with crime for a very long time and their police force seem to connive intimacely with hard core criminals and that has got nothing to do with foreigners. There is no accountability of weapons such as guns possessed by civilians. South Africa is one of the country with a big number of unregistered firearms in the Sadc region posing danger to the people in the society.There is also exploitation by white capitalists who take advantage of Zimbabwe's foreign nationals and used them as cheap labour thereby giving them peanuts at the end of the month.Discrimination at workplaces is so prevalent and the foreigners are called all sorts of denigrating names such as 'Makwerekwere' and are hated by the locals. Ill treatment and harassment by police is daily bread for foreign nationals and are sometimes asked to pay bribes ranging from R50-R200 when arrested for over staying in the country. Most of them are victims of violence.South Africans needs to take ownership of their own societal problems and not try to blame these on foreigners who are just trying to eke out a living through hard labour.The African National Congress should not be a scapegoat and start blaming foreigners for their own shortcoming in government where they have failed to deliver for the black majority while they bloat themselves on corrupt monies and patronage.Poor governance back home will always create an unstable economic growth thereby accelerating unemployment. In such an environment people will not have an option but will migrate to where they can survive. Some skilled manpower are not spared in such a scenario. Governments are encouraged to build strong institutions in order to retain skilled labour and should come up with skills retention programmes which help in protecting the very important skills vital in building a strong nation.ContactsFacebook- Leonard KoniTwitter- @leokoniWhatsapp-+27747402042E-mail-konileonard606@gmail.com
Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.blog spot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work.

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..Algemeiner.com..25 January '18..The American vice president flies to Israel, meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and gives a speech speaking of the parallels between Israel and America. The speech is full of Hebrew and biblical references.Vice President Mike Pence this week? Well, yes. But Vice President Al Gore did pretty much the same thing in 1998.The big difference is howcovered the two events.Thegreeted Vice President Pences trip with a sharply critical editorial headlined Mike Pences Self-Serving Trip to the Holy Land.Theeditorial complained that Pences address was replete with biblical references to Jewish ties to the Holy Land. He referred to Gods promise to the Jews that he would gather and bring you back to the land which your fathers possessed and to the Jewish peoples unbreakable bond to Jerusalem.Theeditorial went on, Even more striking was what Mr. Pence didnt say. He mostly chose to ignore Israelis shared history with the Palestinians, only reaffirming support for a two-state solution if both sides agree.In fact a careful reading of Pences speech discloses that, contrary to the false claim by the, the vice president did not ignore, or even mostly chose to ignore, the Palestinians.
The Islamic Republics parliament has rejected general outlines of President Hassan Rouhanis budget bill for the next Iranian year (beginning March 21) on Sunday, January 28.

Of 216 MPs present in the session, 120 voted against and 83 for the doomed bill. In almost four decades of Islamic Republic's existence, it was almost unprecedented for parliament to reject the generalities of a proposed budget bill.

The reconciliation commission of the parliament (a commission made up of representatives from all specialized commissions) has been given a 72-hour grace period to work out a better edition of the bill.

Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani reiterated that the joint commission must implement the proposed amendments within the next three days.

Earlier, the governments spokesman, Mohammad Bagher Nobakht had cautioned that Returning the budget bill to the reconciliation ommission only leads to wasting MPs time and relaying a negative message to the public.

In the proposed bill, Rouhani had asked to raise the price of fuel, while the commission insisted to keep the price as it is.

The opponents of the bill argued that in Rouhanis proposed bill, complicated problems such as drought and agricultural have been ignored.

Addressing the budget deficit by dependence on state bonds, disregarding the necessity of creating jobs, dependence on oil income and increasing the share of National Development Fund were other aspects of the bill that forced MPs to reject it.

Meanwhile, allocating 20 trillion rials (roughly $500 million) to Shiite seminaries created controversy in social media, leading to a campaign labelled as Changing the Budget in Favor of the People.

Moreover, a member of the reconciliation commission lamented, While the Commission reduced the budget for cultural entities up to 2.600 trillion rials" it did not touch the budget for conservative clerics and organizations.

The proposed budget, argued opponents, has not reduced the size of the government and the number of state employees, as required by Irans Sixth Five-Year Development Plan.

In the proposed bill, governments next year budget is nearly 4,290 trillion rials which shows an 8.9% percent increase, comparing with the current year.

In the new bill, oil price has been calculated on the basis of $49 dollar per barrel and one US dollar against 36,300 rials.

The lions share in the budget, goes to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, IRGC which, by the Supreme Leaders exclusive order, is going to receive an additional $2,5 billion from National Development Fund.

The bill was tabled by President Rouhai about fifty days ago.
New York-based Campaign for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) has said that some of those who been arrested in recent protests in Iran have been charged with crimes that are punishable by death.

A large number of detained protesters in two Iranian provinces of Hamedan and Khouzestan have been charged with crimes such as war against God and corruption on earth mentioned in several articles of Iran's penal code, CHRI reported based on information from unnamed sources.

The exact number of the protesters who are facing such charges is not clear.

Usually, people who are involved in armed conflict against the government face such accusations. Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979, thousands of people have been executed after being convicted based on these charges.

In an interview with Radio Farda, Hadi Ghaemi, CHRIs director expressed serious concerns about such charges against the protesters and added that the families of the detainees are under enormous pressure by the regime not to disclose anything about their detained loved ones to the public.

The recent protests in Iran started on December 28, 2017 in eastern city of Mashhad with slogans against economic problems and corruption. Soon it spread throughout the country and turned into demonstrations against the clerical rule and specially the Supreme Leader ayatollah Khamenei.

While judicial and security officials try to keep all information regarding the protests secret, Mahmoud Sadeghi, a reformist member of Iranian parliament announced days after the unrest that around 3700 protesters were detained across the country.

The judiciary has said that 25 people have been killed during the uprising. According to the admission of officials at least two of the victims have lost their lives in custody. The judiciary claims that the two young men have committed suicide but the families of the victims and human rights activists have dismissed such claim.

Activists also believe that the real number of victims is much higher than what officials have admitted. Iranians in social media have published names and photos of at least two other protestors who allegedly died in prison.

Due to the fact that the families are under severe pressure to keep quiet, and since the information from official sources are not reliable, therefore we request an independent investigation by a fact-finding delegation sent by the UN to Iran, Mahmoud Amiri Moghadam, head of Irans Human Rights Organization in Norway told Radio Farda.
(Reuters) - 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.
Yemen Jan 28 (Reuters) - Several people were killed as Yemeni armed groups allied to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates fought in the southern city of Aden on Sunday, local medical staff said, deepening a rift between forces that had been on the same side.

The worst clashes yet between UAE-backed southern separatists and forces loyal to the Saudi-based government risk crippling their once united war effort against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen's north.

An unprecedented military adventure for the usually cautious Gulf states, the campaign in their much poorer and less politically stable neighbor was aimed at sending a decisive signal that they would oppose Iranian expansion in their midst.

But Yemen has been torn apart by three years of conflict and the factional fighting in the south compounds the misery.

Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher denounced moves by southern separatists as a coup, saying the situation was moving toward "a comprehensive military confrontation ... (which is) a direct gift to the Houthis and Iran".

Gunmen were deployed throughout most districts of Aden on Sunday and there was heavy automatic gunfire and explosions in the southern port city, according to Reuters witnesses.

Armed separatists wrested a key military base and several government buildings from soldiers loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi as residents reported that hundreds of pro-Southern demonstrators had gathered in a main square.

The clashes come as a deadline imposed by the separatists for the government to resign expired on Sunday.

RECREATING SOUTH YEMEN

Although Hadi remains in exile in Saudi Arabia, his administration nominally controls about four-fifths of Yemen's territory, but political and military leaders in Aden now want to revive the former independent state of South Yemen.

The southern separatists - the Southern Resistance Forces - last week accused Hadi's cabinet of corruption and inefficiency and demanded they quit. A top military adviser to President Hadi, Mohammed Ali al-Miqdashi, said any move toward rebellion would render the southerners an enemy.

"There is no difference between the Houthis and anyone else who rebels against the legitimate government, no matter who they are - left, right, south, east," said Miqdashi, speaking at a remote military base near the central Yemeni city of Marib, late on Saturday.

A senior southern political source accused the government of pushing the dispute toward an armed showdown.

"The Hadi government was nervous about any demonstration by the people, so they tried to stop it by force thinking that if there were a battle, the coalition would intervene and save them," the source said.

In a statement late on Saturday before the clashes began, the Saudi-led coalition urged all parties to seek "calm and restraint, adhering to the language of a calm dialogue."
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 28

By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:

The MoUs signed between Iran and foreign partners following the implementation of the nuclear deal in January values more than $40 billion, a senior Iranian official said.

First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri has said that worth of $30 billion out of the total has already turned into contracts, IRNA news agency reported.

Saying that the county needs to lure foreign sources to fund projects, he added that diplomatic issues could contribute to resolving economic and social problems of the country.

he made remarks addressing an administrative meeting in Fars Province last night.

Under the nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, the Islamic Republic agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 28

By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:

Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR will soon begin to export Russian oil products from the Black Sea port of Tuapse city, a source in the company told Trend.

SOCAR signed a deal with the Vienna-based Cetracore Energy oil trading company and its shareholder, Russias Rosneft oil company.

"According to the terms of the deal, SOCAR will act as an off-taker of oil products from the port of Tuapse, and by the end of this month, SOCAR will ship the first cargo of about 100,000 tons of vacuum gas oil, most part of which will be sent to Greece," the source said.

The source noted that this week, SOCAR also intends to ship 60,000 tons of naphtha purchased directly from Rosneft.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 28

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Irans car part exports to Azerbaijan market has registered a huge rise during the current Iranian fiscal year, started March 20, 2017, Masoud Kamali Ardakani, director general of Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) for exports development, said.

Kamali Ardakani said that Iran exported $1.6 million worth of car parts to Azerbaijan in the first nine months of the current fiscal year (March 20-Dec. 21), the public relation department of the TPOI reported Jan. 28.

The figure indicates a huge rise by 1,400 percent, the official underlined.

Iran and Azerbaijan are expected to inaugurate a joint car plant in March 2018.

The car plant is being built in Azerbaijans Neftchala Industrial Site on the basis of an agreement signed with Iranian leading automobile manufacturer Iran Khodro, with a nominal capacity of 10,000 units per year.

Kamali Ardakani further said that Irans overall car part exports registered a 10-percent rise and accounted to $55 million during the 9-month period.

Irans market was the main destination with over 60 percent share of Irans car part exports, followed by France and Russia, he added.

Car parts were also among the Irans top imports in the period. The Islamic Republic imported $2.794 billion worth of car parts, making 7.4 percent of the countrys overall imports in the 9-month period. The figure indicates a 113 percent rise year-on-year.

Iran also exported 1,891 passenger cars during the first nine months of the current fiscal year. Iraq, Lebanon and Armenia were among the main destinations of Irans car exports. Tehran also exported cars to Italy, Germany, China, France, Romania, South Korea, Spain, Tunis, Czech Republic, the UAE, Guinea and Azerbaijan.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Republics car imports in the 9-month period reached 57,000 units.

Iranian automakers exported 10,000 cars (worth over $10 million) the last fiscal year (ended March 20, 2017), which was 59 percent less compared to 24,500 cars in the preceding year.

The huge fall in Irans car exports occurs despite the fact that the countrys car industry has experienced output increase in recent months, following lifting of international sanctions.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 28

By Farhad Daneshvar  Trend:

Private sector is apparently gearing up to grab a larger share form Irans power market in the coming years.

Given the latest official figures, it seems that private sector will have a 70-percent share in increasing Irans capacity for producing power over the coming three years.

Over the past four years, the Iranian government has concluded $12.3 billion worth of investment contracts with private sector to develop the countrys power sector.

About $8.4 billion out of the total figure has envisaged developing the thermal power plants and $2.6 billion have gone to the renewable energy sector. In the meantime, contracts worth $1.258 billion have been concluded to develop the distributed power generation (DG).

Under the existing contracts, the private sector is expected to contribute 15,444 megawatt (MW) to the countrys total capacity for generating power by 2021.

This is while, according to the sixth development plan, the country plans to increase its nominal electric generation capacity to 100,000 MW by 2021.

The nominal electric generation capacity has already increased by 1,904 MW to 78,332 MW in Iran since the beginning of the current fiscal year (starting March 20).

In other word, the country needs to add 21,668 MW to its capacity over the next three years out of which 15,444 MW is expected to be carried out by the private sector.

The figures suggest that the private sector will have a share of about 71 percent in increasing the nominal power capacity of the country over the coming years.

Iran's power plants generated over 261.91 TWh (terawatt hours) of electricity since the beginning of the current Iranian fiscal year (March 21, 2017) until Jan.12, according to the latest statistics published by Iran's Energy Ministry.

The output was almost seven percent more compared to the same period of the preceding year.

Between March 20 and Jan.12, Irans electricity exports increased by 10 percent to reach 6.805 TWh. 

The country is expected to add 1,260 MW to its electric generation capacity by March 2018 - of that 632 MW will be renewables share.
Tehran, Iran, Jan. 28

By Kamyar Eghbalnejad  Trend:

The Iranian flag carrier airline, Iran Air, has told Trend that it will resume operating Tehran-Baku flights on Monday after a three-year gap.

Under an existing agreement, an Iranian Airbus 320 will leave Tehran for Baku at 16:05 local time (GMT+3:30) on January 29, an official with the Public Relations office of the airline told Trend.

According to the official, Iran Air had stopped its Baku flights about three years ago and the Monday flight in fact marks the return of the Iranian flag carrier to Azerbaijan.

Elaborating on the flights schedule, he said that the flight will take place two times per week on Mondays and Thursdays.

The two countries exchange a considerable amount of tourists annually. According to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism about 340,000 Iranian tourists arrived in the country between January-November 2017.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 28

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Iran has exported over eight billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas to north-western neighbouring countries during the first nine months of the current fiscal year (started March 20), Yadollah Baibordi, an official with Gas Transmission Company (IGTC), said.

Baibordi, who heads Zone 8 of the IGTCs Gas Transfer Operation said that about 20 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas was transferred via the zone in the 9-month period, of that 12 bcm was delivered for domestic consumption in various sectors including households, power plants and industry.

He further said that the delivered gas via the zone is 14 percent more compared to the same period of the preceding year, the IGTC reported.

The National Iranian Gas Company the company has delivered over 178 bcm of gas to various sectors during the first nine months of current fiscal year, 6.5 percent more year-on-year.

The official figures indicate that the countrys domestic gas consumption was 166.9 bcm in the period.

Iran ranks fourth in the world after the US, Russia and Canada in terms of size of pipeline network and delivery facilities, according to the officials.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 28

By Farhad Daneshvar  Trend:

An Iranian destroyer that crashed into concrete wave breakers at a port in the Caspian Sea 18 days ago eventually sank into water on Sunday, the local media reported.

The Iranian navys 100-meter long warship, called Damavand, crashed at the harbor town of Bandar Anzali during stormy seas on January 10, which claimed the lives of two crew members.

The home-grown Damavand destroyer, equipped with modern radar, electronic and reconnaissance systems, was delivered to the countrys naval forces stationed in Anzali in March 2015.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 28

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

The Iranian parliament has rejected general outlines of the national budget bill for the next Iranian fiscal year, which will start March 20.

The bill was rejected during the open session of the parliament on Jan. 28, with 120 votes against, Irans state-run IRINN TV reported.

Meanwhile 83 MPs voted in favor of the bill and 9 abstentions.

The bill will be returned to a joint parliamentary commission for revises. The joint commission is a legislative body responsible for reviewing budget bills as well as five-year development plans proposed by the government.

Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said that the joint commission must implement the proposed amendments within the next three days.

President Hassan Rouhani submitted the new budget bill to the parliament on Dec. 10, 2017. Members of the special commissions of the parliament put forward their proposals and amendments to the bill to the joint commission before it spent 25 days to weigh the details of the bill and present its draft version to the parliament Presiding Board on Jan. 20.
A number of 16 Daesh terrorists were arrested and some others were killed in clashes with Iranian forces in western areas on Saturday, commander of the IRGC ground forces Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour announced, Irna reported.

Two members of the terrorist team who had managed to escape the scene of the clash are now under the siege of the Iranian forces belonging to the Najaf Ashraf base afilliated to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said the commander.

Three personnel of Najaf Ashraf base attained martyrdom in the operations carried out in 'Bemu' region, he said, quoted by IRGC News.

The terrorist team intended to carry out sabotage operations in border and central cities, he said.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 28

By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:

A number of schools have been closed and two airports have suspended flights after heavy snowfall across the Iranian capital city Tehran.

The snowfall has also closed several roads across the country, local media reported.

The authorities have announced that attempts are made to clear the runway at Mehrabad and Imam Khomeini airports in the capital city.

Over the past weeks, several Iranian cities have witnessed rainfall and snowfall despite the fact that the country as a whole is facing lack of precipitation.
China hopes to work with Japan to establish more cordial relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Japanese counterpart on Sunday, aiming to move on from a series of disputes, some dating back to before World War Two, Reuters reported.

The two nations have sought to improve ties more recently, with Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping having met in November on the sidelines of a regional summit in Vietnam.

Wang told Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono that his trip to Beijing, coming so early in the year, showed Japans strong wish to improve relations and that China approves of this because better ties would be in both nations interests.

Though there has been positive progress, there are also many disturbances and obstacles, Wang said, but the minister also pointed to comments from Abe on wanting to improve relations.

China-Japan ties always sail against the current, either forging ahead or drifting backward, Wang said in front of reporters at the start of talks with his counterpart.

We hope that the Japanese side will neither relax in its efforts nor fall back, and turn the spoken statements into concrete actions.

Kono, who later met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, said that the two countries shared a major responsibility in safeguarding the stability and prosperity of Asia and the world at large.

Not only do we need to manage our bilateral relations, but we also need to work together to deal with issues facing the entire globe, in particular the issue of North Korea, Kono said. We desire to extend mutual cooperation between our two countries in working towards resolving this issue.
About 30,000 people demonstrated at Civic Center in San Francisco on the US west coat in an annual Walk for Life campaign against abortion, Xinhua reports.

The protesters holding a huge banner, which reads "Abortion HURTS Women," walked down Market Street in downtown San Francisco in the US western state of California.

The rally is part of a nation-wide event organized by the Walk for Life Organization in protest of abortion with strong support for the lives of unborn children and their families.

The demonstration is held every Jan. 22 on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the US Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

The Supreme Court legalized abortion nationwide in a landmark ruling 45 years ago.

In 1973, the Supreme Court issued the famous Roe v. Wade decision with a 7-2 vote that affirmed the legal right of women to have an abortion under the 14th amendment to the US Constitution.

The organizer of the annual event, the Walk for Life Organization, said on its website that the rally is held "to reach out to women harmed by abortion" and "to inform society of the damage done to women by abortion."

A week ago, US President Donald Trump attended the 45th March for Life in Washington, D.C. and proclaimed Jan. 22, 2018 as National Sanctity of Human Life Day.

"We are protecting the sanctity of life and the family as the foundation of our society," he said at the rally.
The Venezuelan opposition announced on Saturday it would attend talks with the government in the Dominican Republic, though it will protest President Nicolas Maduros totalitarian vision, Reuters reported.

The opposition coalition said it would attend Mondays meeting and would demand electoral guarantees.

A presidential election is due to take place before the end of April.

However, the already disparate opposition coalition was excluded from registering this week, in what it describes as another dictatorial move by the unpopular Maduro.

The oppositions most popular leaders, Henrique Capriles and Leopoldo Lopez, are banned from standing for office.

We believe that this meeting represents a definitive opportunity for the government to review its recent decisions, and thus prevent the country from entering unmanageable chaos, the opposition coalition said in a statement.

The opposition added it will request a balanced electoral council that allows for the vote of Venezuelans abroad and the reversal of political disqualifications, among other issues.

The Popular Will party, created by Lopez, has already pulled out of the talks.
The Turkish Coast Guard on Sunday blocked Greece's defense minister from approaching a pair of Turkish islets in the Aegean, according to Turkey's Interior Ministry, Daily Sabah reports.

Coast guard officers warned off Panos Kammenos, who was heading to the Kardak islets located 3.5 miles off the coast of Bodrum in Turkish mainland, in an assault boat to lay a wreath there.

Following the warning, the Greek boat left Turkey's territorial waters without further incident, it added.

In a statement, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said the coast guard units "did what was necessary."

A statement from the Turkish Armed Forces said that navy and coast guard ships have prevented a Greek navy ship and a coast guard board from entering Turkish territorial waters near Kardak, also known as Imia in Greek.

A decades-long dispute between Turkey and Greece over the uninhabited Aegean islets brought the two countries to the brink of armed conflict in 1996 and led to renewed tensions this year.

The Kardak islets are a pair of two small uninhabited islets, situated between the Greek island chain of the Dodecanese and the southwestern mainland coast of Turkey.

The crisis was triggered when a Turkish vessel shipwrecked on the islets on Dec. 25, 1995. Greece claimed that the accident took place on its territorial waters, which Turkey denied, claiming that the islets belonged to Turkey.

The Greek military sent a soldier to plant the Greek flag on an islet in the east, resulting in the deployment of troops from both countries around the islets.
Bill Gates has funded genetic research into how to create the perfect cow  one that will produce more milk and be able to withstand temperatures beyond that of the average cow, Business Insider reports.

The Microsoft founder has invested $40 million (28 million) in the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines, or GALVmed, a nonprofit organization based in Edinburgh, Scotland, that conducts research into livestock vaccinations and genetics, the BBC reported.

Gates wants to help create the perfect cow that will produce as much milk as a European cow but be able to withstand heat as well as an African cow, according to the Times newspaper.

He said: "The impact per dollar we spend is super-high in this area. You can have a cow that is four times as productive with the same survivability."

Though it's unclear how exactly such cows will be created, Gates has previously proposedcreating cows via artificial insemination.

His endowment, made through his philanthropic organization the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, forms part of a larger investment that includes cash from the UK's Department for International Development.
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.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 28, 2018 - 13:27 | World, All

Japan and China agreed Sunday to resume reciprocal visits by their leaders, with Asia's two biggest economies eager to mend ties in the year marking the 40th anniversary of the signing of a bilateral friendship treaty.

But the two sides apparently failed to find common ground over sensitive issues, including a territorial dispute, underscoring the need for them to focus on the momentum toward improvement in their relations.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said he asked Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during their talks in Beijing to visit Japan as soon as possible to participate in a postponed trilateral summit including South Korea, which Tokyo wanted to host last year. Kono said Li replied to the request "in a positive manner."

If realized, the summit would bring Li to Japan for the first time since he took office in 2013.

Earlier in the day, Kono also met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and State Councilor Yang Jiechi, the nation's top diplomat.

During their more-than-three-hour talks, Kono and Wang confirmed the importance of mutual visits by their leaders for the full-fledged reconciliation of the two countries, a Japanese government official said.

"We want to improve overall (bilateral) ties this year," Kono, the first Japanese foreign minister to visit China in about two years, said at the outset of the meeting open to the media.

Kono, who arrived in Beijing on Saturday, noted the significance of this year as Japan and China mark the 40th anniversary of the signing in 1978 of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the two nations.

Wang responded to Kono by saying Beijing welcomes Tokyo's "strong determination" to improve bilateral relations, while Yang told Kono that he "enthusiastically" welcomes the Japanese foreign minister's visit to China.

All the meetings were held "in a positive and bright atmosphere," Kono told reporters.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping have yet to exchange official visits due in part to the row over the Tokyo-controlled Senkaku Islands, a group of uninhabited islets in the East China Sea that Beijing claims.

Tokyo and Beijing have been mired in a territorial row over the Senkakus, called Diaoyu in China, for years. The dispute escalated particularly after the Japanese government led by then Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Abe's predecessor, decided to effectively put them under state control in September 2012.

Bilateral relations, however, appear to be improving after both Abe and Xi bolstered their domestic power bases late last year through key political events at home.

An increasing number of policymakers and scholars from Japan and China believe that the renewed political stability in each country would create a better environment to promote practical cooperation.

Kono said North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear ambitions were also on the agenda during the meetings, as Japan has asked China to exercise leverage over Pyongyang and play a key role in forcing the nation to change its policy.

Japan and China agreed to continue working together to realize denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Kono said, adding the two countries confirmed they "won't accept" Pyongyang as a nuclear power.

Meanwhile, Kono lodged a protest over the entry of a submerged Chinese submarine into the contiguous zone around Japanese territorial waters near the Senkakus earlier this month, urging Beijing to take preventive steps.

Kono and Wang agreed to make efforts for the early implementation of a "Maritime and Aerial Communication Mechanism" in the East China Sea, where China challenges the sovereignty of the Senkakus.

Japan called on China to avoid taking actions that could escalate tensions in the East China Sea, Kono said, adding China repeated its "own assertiveness" on the maritime issue.

"There are concerns between the two countries as we are neighbors," Kono said. "But as the world's second- and third-largest economies...we will manage them in a way that would not hurt friendly Japan-China ties."

In a sign that relations between Japan and China are improving, the two nations reached an effective accord on a bilateral social security agreement that would eliminate dual pension payments by Japanese expats in China and vice versa.

Kono's trip to China is the first by a Japanese foreign minister since his predecessor Fumio Kishida visited in April 2016. He is slated to return to Tokyo early Monday.
DUBLIN, Jan 26 (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 ones own customer and that is what I would take away from that. I dont think thats the way to do business," Enders said in a telephone interview.

A U.S. agency earlier rejected imposing duties on Bombardier's CSeries, dismissing Boeing Co's claim that it had been harmed by the sale of the jet at low prices to Delta Air Lines. Bombardier is in the process of selling the CSeries programme to Airbus, which plans to assemble some jets at its Alabama plant. (Reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by Tom Brown)
Chinese students spent 200 continuous days in a "lunar lab" in Beijing, state media said Friday, as the country prepares for its long-term goal of putting people on the moon.

Four students crammed into a 160-square-metre (1,720-square-foot) cabin called "Yuegong-1" -- Lunar Palace -- on the campus of Beihang University, testing the limits of humans' ability to live in a self-contained space, the official Xinhua news agency said.

The volunteers lived in the sealed lab to simulate a long-term space mission with no input from the outside world.

The experience tested them to the limit, the module's chief designer Liu Hong told Xinhua, especially on three occasions when the lab experienced unexpected blackouts.

The experience "challenged the system as well as the psychological status of the volunteers, but they withstood the test," Liu said.

The facility treats human waste with a bio-fermentation process, and volunteers grew experimental crops and vegetables with the help of food and waste byproducts.

Two men and two women entered for an initial stay of 60 days. They were then relieved by another group of four, who stayed 200 days.

The initial group will now return for an additional 105, Xinhua said.

The "Lunar Palace" has two plant cultivation modules and a living cabin: 42 square metres containing four sleeping cubicles, a common room, a bathroom, a waste-treatment room and a room for raising animals.

A successful 105-day trial was conducted in 2014.

China does not expect to land its first astronauts on the moon for at least another decade, but the project seeks to help the country prepare lunar explorers for longer stays on the surface.

China is pouring billions into its military-run space programme and working to catch up with the United States and Europe, with hopes to have a crewed outpost by 2022.

Russia and the United States have also carried out experiments to simulate conditions for long-term space travel and living on Mars.

Beijing sees the programme as symbolising the country's progress and a marker of its rising global stature, but so far China has largely replicated activities that the US and Soviet Union pioneered decades ago.
Throughout most of its history, Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) has relied solely on traditional cigarettes and tobacco products for its revenue and profits. Yet amid worldwide examination of the health impacts of cigarette smoking, Philip Morris International responded with a game-changing strategic move toward alternatives to cigarettes.

Favorable early signs for Philip Morris' iQOS heated-tobacco platform in early test markets like Japan have led to dramatic shifts away from cigarettes toward the reduced-risk products, and the company has hoped to make the product available to American consumers by getting approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a modified-risk tobacco product. That would not only open up a lucrative market in the U.S. through Philip Morris' agreement with Altria (NYSE: MO), but also be a useful bargaining chip in the company's future discussions with other regulators across the globe.

However, those efforts just got dealt what could be a crushing blow. An advisory panel at the FDA reviewed the information that Philip Morris had submitted. In its decision earlier this week, that panel remained skeptical about the tobacco giant's claims that iQOS leads to lower chances of diseases connected to tobacco use.

iQOS product packaging, featuring box, heated-tobacco units, and plugs and other accessories.

Image source: Philip Morris International.

What Philip Morris hoped to prove

Philip Morris has argued all along that the iQOS heated-tobacco system offered advantages to users over traditional cigarettes. By heating the tobacco to form a vapor rather than burning it, the company has said that iQOS offers a roughly 95% reduction in the amount of toxic chemicals that are present in cigarette smoke. By reducing the amount of toxins introduced to the body, iQOS could, in turn, cut the chances of users getting smoking-related diseases from the product.

In Japan, Philip Morris has already seen the potential of offering iQOS as an alternative to its traditional cigarette lines. The company said that if just 15% of Americans who smoke on a daily basis switch to iQOS, that would work out to about 6 million people making the shift over the next seven to 10 years. Company officials have put estimates on the number of lives that could have been saved by switching from regular cigarettes to iQOS, with one figure suggesting that 90,000 people might not have died over a 20-year period if they'd had iQOS as an option.

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How the FDA panel responded

Unfortunately for Philip Morris, the advisory panel wasn't convinced by the company's arguments. The panel voted 8-0 in support of the assertion that Philip Morris hadn't proven that switching to iQOS cuts the risk of users contracting diseases related to tobacco use. By a narrower 5-4 vote, the panel also found that Philip Morris hadn't demonstrated a tangible reduction in harm compared to cigarette smoking.

The session wasn't a complete loss for Philip Morris. The FDA panel agreed with the company's findings that exposure to harmful chemicals was lower with iQOS than with traditional cigarettes by an 8-1 vote. Nevertheless, FDA panel members suggested that Philip Morris needed to produce more empirical evidence in support of its assertions in order to convince the broader scientific community.

What's next for iQOS?

Philip Morris remains optimistic about iQOS' chances for eventual adoption. For one thing, the FDA isn't bound by the recommendations of its advisory panel, and if the full regulatory body considers the Philip Morris application, it can come to a completely different decision. The tobacco giant also believes that it can come back to the panel with answers to the issues that panel members raised in an effort to resolve open issues and provide convincing scientific evidence in support of iQOS.

Nevertheless, shareholders are worried about the potential implications of a negative decision from U.S. regulators, and Philip Morris stock suffered a quick and substantial decline Thursday afternoon, before bouncing back on Friday, after the panel announced its decision. With so much on the line for Philip Morris' future, investors will have to watch the FDA closely to see what future developments say about the prospects for iQOS in the U.S. market.

More From The Motley Fool

Dan Caplinger 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.
President Donald Trump says he doesnt intend to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is overseeing the investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign that has spilled over to Trumps associates and perhaps to the president himself. But it now appears Trump tried to do exactly that, last year. A special counsel is granted a level of independence and autonomy to lead investigations of politically sensitive, nationally important matters. But the position isnt untouchable.

1. Whats a special counsel?

Its a lawyer from outside of government named by the attorney general to take over an investigation that poses a conflict of interest for the Justice Department. The 1999 rule establishing the position says a special counsel should have a reputation for integrity and impartial decision making and is supposed to not be subject to the day-to-day supervision of any official of the department.

2. Does the special counsel report to anybody?

Yes, usually to the attorney general. But in this case, Mueller answers to the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, who made the decision to give the case to a special counsel. He also appointed Mueller, a former FBI director. Rosensteins boss, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, recused himself from overseeing the inquiry.

3. So only Rosenstein can fire Mueller?

Technically correct, and only upon finding misconduct, dereliction of duty, incapacity, conflict of interest or other good cause. Rosenstein has said, as recently as Dec. 13, that he sees no such reason to dismiss Mueller. Short of firing the special counsel, Rosenstein could reel in the investigation by finding one of more of its strategies or techniques so inappropriate or unwarranted under established departmental practices that it should not be pursued. But Rosenstein has given no indication that hes contemplating this step, either.

4. Does that leave Trump any options?

Yes, since a presidents power over the executive branch is vast. Last June, Trump wanted to fire Mueller, according to three people familiar with the matter. The New York Times reported that White House counsel Donald McGahn refused to pass that order to the Justice Department and threatened to resign. Another option  which Trump also considered, according to the Times  would be to fire Rosenstein and pressure his successor to dismiss Mueller, repeating the steps as needed until finding someone willing to carry out his wishes. (A firing and a pair of resignations touched off by President Richard Nixon during the late stages of the Watergate investigation went down in history as the Saturday Night Massacre.) Or Trump could fire Sessions, with the expectation that Sessions successor would seize control of the case from Rosenstein  and fire Mueller. Under yet another scenario, offered by the author of the special-counsel regulations, Trump could order their repeal, then fire Mueller by himself.

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5. Would firing Mueller end the Russia investigation?

Not necessarily. The investigation predated Muellers appointment as special counsel and already has some prosecutions underway. If Mueller were to be dismissed, much would depend on his successor  who would, presumably, be appointed by Rosenstein.

6. Is anyone trying to protect Mueller?

Yes, but without much legislative progress. Senators Thom Tillis, a Republican, and Chris Coons, a Democrat, proposed a bill establishing that a fired special counsel would be reinstated if a panel of judges finds no good cause for the removal. Two other senators, Republican Lindsey Graham and Democrat Cory Booker, offered a bill that would require the attorney general or acting attorney general to get approval from a three-judge panel before firing a special counsel. Both bills have raised constitutional questions, and both face an uphill battle just to get to the Senate floor for a vote.

7. What would happen if Mueller were fired?

He could sue to challenge the grounds for his dismissal. Beyond that, much of the fallout would depend on Trumps fellow Republicans in Congress, who hold majorities in the House and the Senate. Democrats could be expected to express their outrage by offering proposals to reinstate Mueller and to remove Trump as president, on grounds that he had obstructed justice. But Democrats couldnt accomplish that on their own, and at the moment, many Republicans are far more critical of Mueller than protective.

8. Could Trump be impeached for firing Mueller?

Since removing a president is a political process, not a legal one, anything can be grounds for impeachment if enough members of Congress say it is. The Constitution says the president (and vice president and judges and members of the cabinet) shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. The key phrase high crimes and misdemeanors has been defined by Congress through the years to include exceeding or abusing the powers of the presidency or misusing the office for improper purpose or gain.
In this courtroom sketch, Judge Richard Berman, second from right, and prosecuting Assistant U.S. Attorney Sidhardha Kamaraju, far right, listen as Turkish-Iranian gold trader Reza Zarrab, second from left, explains a scheme using a diagram he drew, outlining how he helped Iran evade U.S. economic sanctions on Nov. 29, 2017, in New York. (Photo: Elizabeth Williams via AP)

Court documents related to a recent U.S. case detail the blockbuster testimony of a gold trader at the center of a multifaceted scheme involving NATO ally Turkey helping Iran evade nuclear sanctions at a critical moment when its economy teetered.

On Jan. 3, a jury convicted the deputy general manager for international banking at Turkish state bank Halkbank of bank fraud as well as conspiracies to violate the Iran sanctions, defraud the U.S., commit bank fraud, and money-laundering.

Key testimony against the banker, Mehmet Hakan Atilla, came from 34-year-old gold trader Reza Zarrab, an Iranian with Turkish nationality who pleaded guilty to being at the center of the largest sanctions evasion scheme in modern history and who became the prosecutions star witness.

A whiteboard showing some of gold trader Reza Zarrabs testimony. (Photo: U.S. v. Reza Zarrab et al.)

Zarrab gets up [on the stand] and really takes on the persona of a Harvard business professor, Jonathan Schanzer, a former U.S. Treasury Department official who is now the vice president of research the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD), said at a recent event about the case. And with dry-erase boards, starts to just sketch out the entire scheme  all the different banks, the companies, the individuals.

Hes got a flow chart. Hes got dotted lines. Hes got arrows. Its really like the movie Beautiful Mind. You really see this guy laying it all out there.

Photo: A Beautiful Mind (2001)

The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment. Atillas sentencing is scheduled for April 11; the bank fraud conviction alone carries a sentence of up to 30 years in prison.

Gas for gold and the golden loophole

Starting in 2012, Turkey helped Iran evade biting U.S. sanctions by providing billions of dollars worth of gold in exchange for Iranian natural gas and oil. Iran would then exchange the gold for foreign cash. Halkbank processed the transactions. FDD, which helped the prosecution, estimated that the massive scheme  which also involved gold also being sent through the UAE  provided Iran with about $13 billion between March 2012 and July 2013.

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And the surreptitious sanctions relief came at a crucial time: The interim nuclear deal, which decreased debilitating economic sanctions on Iran and set the framework for further negotiations, was not signed in November 2013.

At the height of the sanctions pain that the Iranians were feeling, their available cash reserves holdings were roughly $20 billion, Schanzer, who followed the scheme closely over the last five years, told Yahoo Finance. So when one looks at the numbers for gas for gold, youre looking at potentially two-thirds of Irans total foreign exchange holdings at the time.

Turkey and Iran were using what is known as the golden loophole in the U.S. sanctions regime. The loophole meant that gold could be sent to Iran as long as it wasnt sent to the Iranian government entities  though Schanzer asserted, I dont believe for a second that the gold we were looking at went to individual gold traders. Prosecutors alleged that the gold purchases were made by or on behalf of the government of Iran, despite assertions made by Atilla and others.

Photo: Irans Golden Loophole by Roubini/FDD

In January 2013, Congress passed legislation to close the loophole. However, at the behest of the Obama administration, the legislation did not take effect until July 2013.

When you look at what happened  the imposition of sanctions and then leaving the loophole open  this was during the time that the Obama administration was negotiating [the nuclear deal] with Iran, Schanzer said. And so, from my perspective, this looks like a deal sweetener without acknowledging it as such. And I think there is more to be learned about why this loophole was left open deliberately for that half year and what was the discussion during that time between Tehran and Washington.

During that window, according to Schanzer, We see the Turks basically scrambling to export as much [gold] as possible while the loophole remained open. During that period, as well as the period that followed, the dual-citizen Zarrab enthusiastically communicated with various stakeholders involved in the sanctions-busting operation.

Turkish-Iranian businessman Reza Zarrab, charged in the U.S. for evading sanctions on Iran, watches a concert in Istanbul on Sept 8, 2013. (Photo: Depo Photos via AP)

According to an undated letter submitted as evidence, Zarrab told the general manager of an Iranian bank that the traders family considered it their national and moral duty to declare their willingness to participate in any kind of cooperation in order to implement monetary and foreign exchange anti-sanction policies.

An undated letter submitted into evidence. Photo: screenshot/U.S. v. Reza Zarrab et al.

Paperwork that identifies humanitarian shipments

After the loophole of closed in July 2013 and the interim nuclear deal took effect in January 2014, Turkey and Iran began creating fictitious transactions  under the guise of humanitarian shipments  to unlock money from an Iranian oil escrow account held by Halkbank. Schanzer said that according to some estimates, that could have been another $100 billion euros for Iran that would have otherwise stayed frozen.

What [the Turks] were basically doing was unlocking the cash that was held in those [Iranian] escrow accounts, Schanzer said. And they were doing that by way of paperwork that identifies humanitarian shipments.

A whiteboard showing some of Reza Zarrabs testimony. (Photo: U.S. v. Reza Zarrab et al)

In return for Turkeys cooperation, according to Zarrabs testimony, members of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans inner circle received millions of dollars in bribes, while Erdogan benefitted from a boost to his economic pedigree before the countrys presidential elections in August 2014. (Zarrab says he personally made as much as $150 million from the scheme.)

Schanzer explained that from Turkeys perspective, the gold exports were identified as exports, so it helped their bottom line economic numbers  and billions of dollars is not insignificant when looking at GDP  so this was part of the scheme along with  a personal bottom line that some of these figures apparently were able to supplement significantly through the scheme.

American prosecutors cited telephone wiretaps from 2013 that had prompted Turkish investigations into a suspected corruption scheme involving top officials in Erdogans government. Three top ministers resigned in the wake of the scandal, while Zarrab and Suleyman Aslan  then chief executive of a state-owned Turkish bank  were arrested. In response, Erdogans government shut down the investigation, released Zarrab and Aslan, and ousted many of the police officers and prosecutors involved in the investigations.

My reading of the [wiretap] transcripts, as someone who has been covering Turkish politics for 27 years, leads me to say that Erdogan fully understood what was going on, Atilla Yesilada, an Istanbul-based consultant, told the New York Times. Zarrab said in court that Erdogan was indeed aware of the scheme and had personally discussed two Turkish banks participating it.

Turkish newspaper coverage on Nov. 30, 2017 of the trial in New York of a Turkish banker charged with violating U.S. sanctions against Iran. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

An Istanbul prosecutors report leaked in 2014 further detailed what authorities knew about the gas-for-gold transactions involving Zarrab, Turkish officials, and other actors in various countries.

Thats when you really begin to see the full extent of that Zarrab network, Schanzer said. All the different individuals and companies and gold traders in Turkey. Its all laid bare.

Zarrab also testified that Turkey returned to the exporting gold to Iran before he was arrested in Miami in March 2016. Zarrab had flown to the U.S. on his private jet with his wife, daughter and four others, and about $102,000 in cash to go to Disney World. He was immediately indicted, along with one of his employees and a senior officer at a unit of Bank Mellat in Iran.

In September 2017, federal prosecutors in New York also charged former Turkish Economy Minister Mehmet Zafer Caglayan (who was of the officials who resigned in 2013), Aslan, and two others in connection with the sanctions-busting effort. Atilla, who was arrested in New York in March 2017, is the only one to have been tried in court; the others remain at large.

Mehmet Hakan Atilla. Photo: Screenshot/Turkish media.

Schanzer said its puzzling that Zarrab would expose himself to the threat of arrest by American authorities.

It still doesnt entirely add up that if you are a global sanctions buster involved in illicit financial activity at the highest level, are you really that much of a dolt to book tickets to the United States? Schanzer said. This just doesnt make much sense, from my perspective. And so the question is: Was he fleeing? Did he know eventually that it was going to lead to this? Or was it really just poor judgment?

Schanzer continued: Here you have a guy that for the last five years was able to continue to conduct this illicit financial scheme, incredibly complex, working with dodgy figures from around the world. He hadnt been caught, and he decides to go to Disney World? It was just a very odd story.

The independence of the judiciary par excellence

Key questions remain about how the Obama administrations policy regarding the scheme factored into nuclear negotiations with Iran, and what other actions may be taken by the Justice Department under Trumps administration. In any case, Schanzer asserted that the situation exemplified the independence of the judiciary par excellence as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) seems to be pursuing the case independent of American foreign policy.

The Obama administration certainly didnt want to see this come out during the push for the nuclear deal and then its implementation, so the arrest of Zarrab in 2016 was decidedly inconvenient for the Obama White House and yet were seeing the push for this anyway, Schanzer said. We also similarly saw a push from people close to the Trump White House trying to cut a deal or arrange for perhaps a softer landing with the Zarrab crisis, and yet that did not happen either. Instead, we actually saw the arrest of the banker Atilla and the continuation of the trial despite attempts to derail it.

President Trump meets with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey during the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Sept. 21, 2017. (Photo: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque

Two members of Zarrabs legal team, former New York Mayor (and Trump ally) Rudolph Giuliani and former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey visited Turkey in February 2017 to discuss the case with Erdogan. And while Turkish officials acknowledge that there is an ongoing discussion between Washington and Ankara related to gas-for-gold implications, the next moves may be up to U.S. prosecutors.

We reviewed thousands of documents related to this case, and from what I can tell there is a significant number of other actors who were not drawn into this court case, Schanzer of FDD said. The question is: Are there other sealed indictments? Are there other companies, whether they be Iranian, Turkish, or from other jurisdictions, that were included in sanctions-busting as part of this network of others that could now come under the crosshairs of the DOJ?



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Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad has died aged 91

Ingvar Kamprad, the billionaire founder of flat-pack furniture retailer Ikea, has died at his home in southern Sweden following a short illness at the age of 91.

Mr Kamprad started the chain in 1943 when he was aged just 17 and it has since grown to generate revenues of more than 38bn (33bn) from 412 stores in 49 countries.

Torbjorn Loof, chief executive of Inter Ikea Group, said: We are deeply saddened by Ingvars passing. We will remember his dedication and commitment to always side with the many people. To never give up, always try to become better and lead by example.

Ikea keeps costs low by selling its big range of flat-pack furniture from massive warehouse stores

Ikea grew by undercutting many of its rivals, keeping costs low by making customers assemble their own furniture and selling it from large warehouse stores.

Mr Kamprad stepped back from running the business in 1988 but continued in an advisory role. He is thought to have amassed a fortune of around 37.3bn.

The entrepreneur was criticised for his early links with Swedens fascist movement, which he later described as the greatest mistake of his life, and for moving to Switzerland in 1976 to avoid his homelands high tax rates. He returned to Sweden in 2014, following the death of his wife, Margaret.

IKEA in numbers | Five facts about the Swedish giant

Ikea said the hardworking and stubborn Mr Kamprad was one of the greatest entrepreneurs of the 20th century, with a lot of warmth and a playful twinkle in his eye.

Even after becoming one of the world's wealthiest men he maintained a reputation for frugality, driving a Volvo, wearing second-hand clothes and even assembling his own furniture.

Retail analyst Neil Saunders, of Globaldata, said Mr Kamprad was one of the few people who could claim to have truly revolutionised the industry.

Mr Kamprad grew Ikea by undercutting its rivals

He said: His innovative approach changed not just the furniture sector, but the way people decorated and led their lives at home.

Jesper Brodin, chief executive of the Ikea Group, said: His legacy will be admired for many years to come and his vision  to create a better everyday life for the many people  will continue to guide and inspire us.

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Ikea has 20 stores in the UK, which turned over 1.8bn last year.

Ingvar Kamprad puff
In today's edition of The Law Firm Disrupted, we look at how Elon Musk's SpaceX drastically altered the economics of rocket science and ask whether a similar approach could be used to cut costs in the legal industry. Im Law.com reporter Roy Strom. Tell me this is nonsense at rstrom@alm.com. Would you like to receive this weekly briefing straight to your in-box? Sign up here.

What the Legal Industry Can Learn From SpaceXs Approach to Rocket Science/

At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, billionaire Elon Musks Space Exploration Technologies test fired for the first time its large rocket system known as "Heavy." Whether or not that rocket will be the vehicle to put men on the moon again, as some experts predict, 12-year-old SpaceX can already claim one victory: It has drastically altered the economics of rocket science. If successful, Heavy will cut in half the per-pound payload price of sending objects into low-earth orbit. Ambitious as they are, no legal entrepreneur has similarly revamped the economics of legal services. The "More-for-Less-Challenge," as Richard Susskind calls delivering a broader array of legal services for less money, remains largely unsolved. Toward that end, at least two lessons can be gleaned from SpaceXs approach. The first is that, in important ways, the market for rocket launches is different than the market for legal services. The second lesson is a warning for those still clinging to the billable hour. The economics of launching rockets has historically been based on a government contracting system that, like the billable hour, discouraged companies from cutting costs. SpaceX took advantage of that and built a company focused on rigorously cutting costs, something most visible in its innovative approach to landing and re-using rockets. SpaceXs Heavy rocket is priced at $90 million per launch. The U.S. government contracts launches from an alliance between Boeing and Lockheed Martin that cost $380 million each, according to a 2012 report by Air & Space Magazine. So let's look at the differences between the market for rockets and legal services. While rocket science is complex, SpaceX is a manufacturer of a specialty product with relatively little competition. It makes one product (now two) that are largely the same every time theyre built. The inputs are known and the outcome is not contested: There is no adversary shooting down its missiles, at least not yet. Law firms and others in the legal market are providers of an array of services. While they have made progress on creating some products, much of their work is different every time they do it. Their inputs arent as well-known or defined and their outcomes are usually contested. All of this makes pricing difficult. While firms have made progress on flat fees for less-complex matters, Patrick Johansen, a pricing specialist and former director of client value at Reed Smith, said the competition among law firms for the most complex work makes it difficult to accurately price that work on a fixed fee. When you get to those more complex things, I dont think there is enough of them handled by a single law firm to be able to create a critical mass of understanding like SpaceX has been able to do over the last 12 years to say we can do that complex matter for X dollars, Johansen said. And I think that goes back to competition. There is too much work spread out. Despite those differences, legal service providers could no doubt take more creative approaches to cutting costs. And on that front, SpaceX is a pioneer. A study by NASA and the U.S. Air Force cited by Air & Space Magazine said it cost SpaceX about $440 million to go from a blank sheet of paper to the first Falcon 9 launch. NASAs study said it would have spent three times as much to accomplish the same feat. SpaceX uses one type of engine, whereas some rockets are powered by three different types, which Musk has said triples the costs of maintenance and operations. This commonality is key to the business Musk described to Air & Space Magazine. Furthering that theme, the company is the first to land and re-use first-stage rockets; which SpaceX claims cuts the cost of that portion of the flight by 30 percent.

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And when it ran into technological roadblocks, SpaceX had the in-house capability to develop its own solutions. For instance, the company developed the material to protect its rockets from re-entry heat at one-tenth the cost of what was previously available. The material, known as PICA-X, can also withstand more re-entries, a crucial factor in re-using rockets. SpaceX executives told Air & Space Magazine that the company makes roughly 80 percent of the components for its rockets and space capsules in-house. While Musk didnt anticipate that level of in-house manufacturing, it was a response to the high prices that vendors charge in the space and aviation industry. That speaks to perhaps the biggest similarity between the markets for legal services and rockets: Purchasers of both have not historically rewarded efficiency. Before SpaceX and private space launches, rockets were made for governments that valued reliability over price. To purchase the best rockets, they paid high prices to defense contractors who priced their margins into the bid. As Musk told Air & Space Magazine, this didnt incentivize low prices. If you were sitting at an executive meeting at Boeing and Lockheed and you came up with some brilliant idea to reduce the cost of Atlas or Delta, youd be fired, Musk told the publication. Because youve got to go report to your shareholders why you made less money. So their incentive is to maximize the cost of a vehicle, right up to the threshold of cancellation. Billable-hour skeptics can certainly spot the similarities. Thats the billable hour model, said Justin Ergler, director of alternative fee intelligence and analytics at pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline plc. You have zero incentive for efficiency. Every hour worked is another hour of revenue. Ergler, whose legal department has used reverse-auction contracting to move further than most from the billable hour, said some law firm practice groups have begun to rethink their costs in order to provide more efficient services. But is there a firm or legal services provider that has successfully cut the cost of its services? Not in a lock-stock-and-barrel fashion, Ergler said. I would not say theres a law firm that has bucked the trend and said we can do things smarter and faster and well undercut you on price, because we can and well still make a great margin on it. One person who advocates drastically cutting the costs of the legal market is Gillian Hadfield, a professor of law and economics at the University of Southern California. Hadfield proposes ways to look at laws and rulemaking entirely different and comes to the conclusion that we have to start over. In many ways, that is what Musk did with SpaceX, said Kenneth Grady, an adjunct professor at Michigan State University College of Law and a member of the LegalRnD Faculty who also has studied Musks approach to entering new businesses. The first stumbling block in law is: How do I get from $230 an hour to $30? Grady said. That is what Elon Musk says he does. And what were not seeing is somebody in the general area of law approach this by saying: My target price is $23 an hour. How do I deliver high-quality, efficient and good services for $23 an hour? That requires someone to approach the problem from a completely different perspective than how we currently approach it. Grady points to studies from McKinsey that say available technology today could eliminate 25 percent of the tasks lawyers do. If that were taken to the next step, and someone asked, Do we need to do this? Grady says another 25 percent of lawyers work could be replaced with something more efficient. Its not the cant, its the wont that is our barrier, Grady said. That has been and continues to be the issue. And the next question is when will that drop and how. But that is our current state of the art: a stalemate. For its part, SpaceX is now competing with Boeing and Lockheed Martin to win manned-mission contracts from NASA, including a contract to send American astronauts to the International Space Station. The upstart company's long-term goal is to send people to Mars. While no other-worldly prize awaits a truly disruptive legal service provider, thinking big is another lesson to learn from a master of the universe like Musk.

Roys Reading Corner

On Big Law Adopting Technology: Law.com reporter Ben Hancock spoke with Scott Reents, lead attorney for e-discovery and data analytics at Cravath, Swaine & Moore, about how law firms pick up, albeit slowly, new technologies. In the podcast, Reents said: While I dont think lawyers are technophobic, I do think there needs to be structures and methodologies in place to help them understand, test out and develop protocols that will actually work in a legal case. He added: No lawyer and certainly no client wants to be told that your case is the guinea pig were going to try this on. That makes it challenging, I think, to use new technology in a legal context. On Automated Legal Services: A class at Brigham Young University's law school lthis week launched an online portal to help people respond to debt-collection suits. SoloSuit, designed by the legal design lab at BYU, aims to help some of the 330,000 defendants named in debt collection actions in Utah during the past five years. More than 98 percent of those sued dont hire an attorney, which is one more reason that lawyers should work toward lowering costs. There is a vast un-lawyered population out there waiting to be served. More On Automation: Ian Lopez at LegalTech News writes about Littler Mendelson and ComplianceHR launching a free tool for companies to interpret Donald Trumps revised travel ban on countries such as Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen. The tool, built on a Neota Logic expert system platform, is a time-saving mechanism for clients, said Jorge Lopez, chair of Littler's global mobility and immigration practice.

That's it for this week. Thanks again for reading The Law Firm Disrupted. You can check out other new briefings from my Law.com colleagues and sign up here. Please reach out with comments and critiques at rstrom@alm.com.
Part of what has made Starbucks so successful over the years isnt that it sets the trends, or even that its ahead of the trends: Starbucks has mastered being just behind the trends, but close enough to be one of the first major companies to bring these trends to the mainstream. And so it stands with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Doing what the company does best, Starbucks made a nod to the uber-trendy investments in its earnings call yesterday, but stopped short of saying they were ready to commit to it or any of the other altcoins. Though the coffee giant did leave the door open to accepting these kinds of payments in the future.

I believe that we are heading into a new age, in which blockchain technology is going to provide a significant level of a digital currency that is going to have a consumer application, founder Howard Schultz was quoted as saying. And I believe that Starbucks is in a unique position to take advantage of that.

However, he then went on to do a bit of Bitcoin trash-talking. The reason I mention this is not because Im talking about Bitcoin, because I dont believe that Bitcoin is going to be a currency today or in the future, he reportedly stated. Im bringing this up because as we think about the future of our company and the future of consumer behavior, I personally believe that there is going to be a one or a few legitimate trusted digital currencies off of the blockchain technology. And that legitimacy and trust in terms of its consumer application will have to be legitimatized by a brand and a brick and mortar environment, where the consumer has trust and confidence in the company that is providing the transaction.

If that sure sounds like Starbucks is about to launch its own cryptocurrency, Schultz nipped that idea in the bud too. I'm not bringing this up because Starbucks is announcing that we are forming a digital currency or we're investing in this, he stated according to CNBC. I'm bringing this up ... as we think about the future of our company and the future of consumer behavior.

Keep in mind, it was only last week when, after the announcement of Starbucks first cashless store, we discussed how Starbucks essentially already has a sort of digital currency of its own: Customers reportedly have over a billion dollars invested in Starbucks cards and the mobile app. That isnt some sort of speculative valuation thats money in the bank. Turns out, maybe this whole digital currency thing is something Starbucks was ahead of the curve on after all?
Casino mogul and donor was subject of Wall Street Journal report

RNC chair spoke to president before accepting resignation

Steve Wynn speaks in Beverly Hills, California in May 2017. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

Casino mogul Steve Wynn has resigned as finance chair of the Republican National Committee, a day after it was reported that he faces multiple of allegations of sexual misconduct.

RNC chair Ronna Romney McDaniel said: Today I accepted Steve Wynns resignation.



McDaniel spoke about the Wynn controversy with Donald Trump on Saturday morning, according to a report by Politico, which first broke news of the resignation. Her 12-word statement did not address the accusations against Wynn or calls for his $2.4m donations to Republican causes over the past five years to be returned.

Wynn, who turned 76 on Saturday, is a billionaire business rival turned political ally of Trump, who selected him for the RNC role after he was vice-chair of the presidents inaugural committee.

Wynn spoke last weekend at a fundraiser held at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

On Friday the Wall Street Journal detailed claims by a number of women who say they were harassed or assaulted by Wynn. One case led to a $7.5m settlement with a manicurist, the paper reported.

In response, Wynn said the allegations were part of a smear campaign related to divorce proceedings.

The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous, he 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. It is deplorable for anyone to find themselves in this situation.

Stocks in his company, Las Vegas-based Wynn Resorts, fell sharply on Friday. Fox News said in a statement it would no longer book Wynn to appear on television.

The RNC, which aggressively criticised Democrats who took money from the now disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, was accused of hypocrisy.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) condemned the RNC for not initially commenting on Wynn and for backing both failed Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, who was accused of molesting underage girls, and Trump himself, who is the subject of numerous allegations of sexual misconduct.

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This is the Republican party, DNC spokesperson Sabrina Singh said. Democrats will refuse to stand by while the Republican party denigrates women.

We will continue to march side by side with women all across this country because we believe that women must be empowered and respected.

Last October, McDaniel tweeted that if the DNC truly stands up for women like they say they do, then returning Weinsteins dirty money should be a no-brainer.

Analysts said the Weinstein and Wynn cases showed the dangerous dependence of both major parties on mega-donors.



Walter Shaub, former director of the Office of Government Ethics, tweeted on Saturday: Hey @GOP & @TheDemocrats, instead of pointing fingers and shrieking at each other every time one of your donors turns out to be a filth bag, how about passing some meaningful bipartisan campaign finance reform? Get the corrupting influence of money out of politics, now!

Since 2013, Wynn has contributed nearly $2.4m to Republican organisations and candidates including senators Dean Heller (Nevada) and John McCain (Arizona) and former Nevada congressman Joe Heck.

But he also gave $20,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2000 and donated to Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign before supporting Trump, according to campaign finance records reported by the Washington Post.

Trump and Wynn were once business foes with casinos in fierce competition. In the 1990s, Wynn was quoted by the Wall Street Journal as saying Trump was all hat and no cattle, while Trump told New York magazine: You know, I think Steves got a lot of psychological problems. I think hes quite disturbed.

In 2016, though, Trump told an audience in Las Vegas that Wynn is a great friend of mine.

Wynn is the latest political figure to resign or announce his retirement over accusations of sexual misconduct.



Three Republican congressmen  Trent Franks, Blake Farenthold and Patrick Meehan  the Democratic representatives John Conyers and Ruben Kihuen and the Democratic senator Al Franken have seen their political careers ended.

According to campaign finance records, Wynn also donated to Greg Gianforte, the Republican congressman who assaulted Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs on the eve of the Montana special election last year. Wynn gave Gianforte a maximum individual contribution of $2,700 on 25 May 2016, the day after he assaulted Jacobs.

A spokesman for Gianforte told news outlets an equivalent sum would be given to charity if the allegations against Wynn were proved.

The Billings Gazette newspaper reported that Montana Republican party chairwoman Debra Lamm accused local Democrats of failing to return donations from Franken  and said the party might therefore not give back money from Wynn.

The Montana Democrats refused to get rid of the $12,000 they received from disgraced Senator Al Franken, Lamm was quoted as saying. When they get around to doing that, and if these allegations are found to be true, we will evaluate what to do with the $3,650 contribution.
The Philippine booth offers samples of local products and dishes

The Department of Tourism invites participants to the Madrid Fusion Manila 2018 happening in April

The Philippine Department of Tourism (DoT) took to the stage of the ongoing Madrid Fusion (MF) at the Palacio del Congreso to invite participants to the forthcoming Madrid Fusion Manila (MFM)s fourth edition in April. DoT Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo, in a statement read by MFM 2018 project director Pamela Samaniego, said, Madrid Fusion Manila has effectively bound government agencies, private sector, media, academe, and local communities together. We are rallying behind one common goal of establishing the Philippines as a center of gastronomy on this part of the world. We are making great headway. And for this, we are thankful to all of you. In partnership with Foro de Debate, owner of the MF franchise, the MFM 2018 with the theme Innovating Tradition, hopes to sustain higher awareness and attendance to the much-awaited Philippine culinary event which banners the countrys competitiveness as a gastronomical destination in the region.Samaniego shared, Three years ago when we were starting this project, the world barely knew about the cuisine and ingredients the Philippines had to offer. Today, food forecasts name Philippine cuisine as the next big food trend. With your help we can look forward to an even more successful Madrid Fusion Manila 2018. The formal announcement was graced by Philippe Lhuillier, Philippine ambassador to Spain, Lourdes Plana of Foro de Debate, MFM 2018 chef presenters Inigo Lavado, Susi Diaz and Gorka Txpartegi, MF 2018 Philippine chef presenter Jordy Navarra, and JP Anglo, featured chef for the Philippine reception and MFM 2018 chef presenter. The Philippine booth, strategically situated at the ground floor just at the entrance to the exhibit area, has successfully drawn attendees to sample local products such as sweets, snacks as well as freshly cooked dishes as beef sinigang, chicken arroz caldo and chicken adobo, and merienda such as suman, ube halaya, champorado, bibingka, kutsinta, puto, and others. Apart from the hearty tastings, visitors are likewise enlightened on the origins of the food, how these are prepared as well as top destinations to enjoy these unique culinary gems.Perfomances of Madrid-based Filipino flair bartender Dennis Barela Adiuba also lured visits to the booth.At this years MF, Spain-based chef Inigo Lavado gave visitors a glimpse of his cooking discipline before he joins the many rockstar presenters at the MFM 2018. His presentation, titled When casualness meets haute cuisine, highlighted his singular advocacy as going beyond technique and innovation but also involving emotions and making the eating experience more interactive and pleasurable. Already being talked about on the local culinary scene, MFM 2018 sizzles with ultra-dynamic kitchen masters from many parts of the globe. Lavado of Singular will be joined by other highly-respected Spain-based chefs such as Susi Diaz of La Finca in Alicante, Javier Estevez of La Tasqueria in Madrid, Diego Gallegos of Sollo in Malaga, Pepe Solla of Casa Solla in Pontevedra, Roberto Ruiz of Punto MX in Madrid, and Gorka Txpartegi of Alameda in San Sebastian. Other foreign ace presenters are Matt Abergel of Ronin in Hong Kong, Akrame Benallal of Akrame in France, Curtis Duffy of Grace in Illinois, Maria Fernanda Di Giacobbe of Kakao Bombones Lab in Valenzuela, LG Han of Labyrinth in Singapore, Mingoo Kang of Mingles in South Korea, Aitor Jeronimo Orive of Iggs in Singapore, couple chefs Floriano Pellegrino and Isabella Poti of Bros in Italy, Hajime Yoneda of Hajime in Japan, Tom Cunanan of Bad Saint in the US and Paul Qui of Kuneho in Texas. Locally based but equally competitive and admirable chefs JP Anglo of Sarsa, Patrick Go of Black Sheep and Nicco Santos of Hey Handsome complete the star-studded line-up.
It's Friday Trump Watchers! And wowza, it has been quite the week. On Monday, the government was shut down (yeah, remember that? #tbt). Today, as President Donald Trump rubs parka-covered elbows with the world's economic elite in Davos, Switzerland, we here in the states are wrapping our heads around the bombshell reporting that he ordered the firing of the special counsel, Robert Mueller, only to rescind when White House Counsel Don McGahn, threatened to resign over it. In today's Trump Watch, I'm breaking down all of this week's crazy. Got news tips, comments, concerns, mild insults? Email 'em to me here or tweet at me.

TRUMP AND MUELLER'S WACKY WEEK THAT WAS

The New York Times reported Thursday night that President Donald Trump ordered the firing of the special counsel, Robert Mueller, in June last year. When White House Counsel Don McGahn threatened to resign instead, Trump reportedly backed off. This is significant for a number of reasons, including that Mueller could use the moment in making the case that Trump sought to obstruct the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Though news outlets reported Trump was considering firing Mueller months ago, the White House denied it over and over. They still are: Trump today called the NYT report "fake news." As dramatic as this news is, it's only the culmination of a series of reports this week that had me at the edge of my seat. Each tidbit gave us an even larger window into what's going on over at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. and in Mueller's office in Southeast D.C. With today's 24-hour news cycle, it's easy to lose track of everything we learned. So you know what? IT'S RECAP TIME Y'ALL (I'd like to note this list is in no way exhaustive, just exhausting):  Mueller questioned Sessions: News broke Tuesday that the special counsel's office interviewed Attorney General Jeff Sessions for several hours last week. It marked the first time Mueller's team questioned a member of Trump's cabinet. Sessions could have been asked about any number of events, including his role in Trump's decision to fire FBI Director James Comey in May and his conversations with former Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and his statements to Congress about them. Sessions' lawyer is Charles "Chuck" Cooper of Cooper & Kirk (once a rumored pick for Solicitor General until Chuck pulled out of the running).  And Comey: Mueller also spoke to Comey last year. Also, Daniel Richman, the Columbia Law professor and Comey pal who served as an intermediary between the former FBI director and reporters, leaking memos about his interactions with Trump, is one of Comey's lawyers. Fun times.  Wray threatened to resign:FBI Director Chris Wray, we also learned Tuesday, threatened to resign when he faced pressure from Trump and Sessions to fire FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. McGahn reportedly told Sessions to chill out because it wasn't worth losing Wray over McCabe. Trump and other Republicans are hung up that McCabe's wife took donations for a state senate seat run from a friend of Hillary Clinton's.  Mueller wants to ask Trump about Flynn: One burning question Mueller reportedly has for Trump: When and why did you fire National Security Advisor Mike Flynn? Flynn pleaded guilty last year to lying to investigators, a relatively light charge considering what could have happened. Trump tweeted at the time that he knew Flynn lied to the FBI.  He's already talked to more than 20 WH officials: One of Trump's lawyers, John Dowd, released a memo Thursday detailing what the White House has done to cooperate with Mueller. Dowd said the response to Mueller is "the most transparent response in history by a president."  And Trump is down for a chitchat (kinda): Thursday, Trump said he was "looking forward" to sitting down for an interview with Mueller. He said he would probably do so in two or three weeks, but that everything was "subject to [his] lawyers." So here we are. While only Mueller knows what Mueller knows, these reports from (and leaks to) the press certainly have an effect in the court of public opinion. We know the special counsel is investigating possible obstruction of justice claims, and these threats to resign obviously add to that case. --> Ryan Goodman, a former Defense Department special counsel, NYU law professor and co-editor in chief of the Just Security blog, wrote a lengthy post on what this news could mean for an obstruction-of-justice charge. One key takeaway: It could support a theory that Trump thought, at least at one point, that Mueller was a greater risk to his presidency than firing him would be. Goodman called it a "something-to-hide" theory. How's it playing? My colleagues at ALM gathered some Twitter reactions from well-known lawyers and law professors. The responses range from "well hello" to "meh." Read 'em all here. What's next? Dowd told the Daily Beast that he will decide when and if Mueller interviews Trump. Live footage of me waiting for this decision:

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IN OTHER TRUMP NEWS:

A federal judge in Maryland appears poised to allow a lawsuit challenging Trump's business ties to move forward. Read what the judge said here, from yours truly. Trump finally has some nominees for the FTC, my colleague C. Ryan Barber reports. Read about 'em here.  Trump's DOJ may be switching up the way it handles False Claims Act cases, according to a memo I got my hands on this week. More on that here.  The FBI director has a new chief of staff, straight from King & Spalding. Read about him here.

Thanks for reading Trump Watch. Click here to check out more briefings from my Law.com colleagues.
By Allison Lampert and David Shepardson MONTREAL, 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 even abandon 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's 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 an immediate reason. 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." 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 company's thinking said. The ITC had been expected to side with Chicago-based Boeing. It 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 had called the trade case self-serving after Boeing revealed on Dec. 21 that it was discussing a "potential combination" with Embraer. Boeing denied the trade case was motivated by those talks. BOEING TO CONSIDER ITS OPTIONS However, the dispute may not be over. "This can still be appealed by Boeing," Andrew Leslie, parliamentary secretary to Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, told reporters in Montreal. Boeing said it would not consider such options before seeing the ITCs reasoning in February. It said though that 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 also end up helping Trump's plan to boost 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. 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 UK. 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, whose Northern Irish political party is helping keep Prime Minister Theresa May in power. 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 IRC 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)." (Reporting by David Shepardson, Lesley Wroughton and Allison Lampert; Additional reporting by Alana Wise and David Ljunggren; Editing by G Crosse, Bill Rigby and Susan Thomas)
US casino owner Steve Wynn, shown here with his wife Andrea, has resigned as chairman and CEO of his company Wynn Reosrts over sexual harassment claims US casino owner Steve Wynn, shown here with his wife Andrea, has resigned as chairman and CEO of his company Wynn Reosrts over sexual harassment claims (AFP Photo/SAUL LOEB)

Washington (AFP) - 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.

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.

Story continues

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.
dheeraj24 wrote:

Hi Mike, I am really confused between Independent/dependent clauses and Parallelism after seeing your above posts.

I am in desperate need of clarity over these issues .



According to Independent clause definition: Two IC'S connected by Fanboys. (for,and,but....).



But in your blog , i have seen one of the sentence



George Clinton, the governor of New York for many years, served as Vice President under Thomas Jefferson , and again under James Madison, to become only one of two men to serve as Vice-President under two different US Presidents.



Subject : George Clinton , Verb : served

As per your post , you say for two verbs with same subject , the subject for second verb will be implied according to parallelism .But in the above sentence both subject and verb are implied .

But, the sentence after "and", is that a Independent clause ?

Please help me to understand the concept of when the subject is only implied and when both the subject and verb are implied to maintain the parallel structure





Apart from the above issue Mike, i had a interpretation of "comma +and"and just "and" in the following manner .



Whenever i see "comma +and", rather than checking for parallelism issue, i just only check for independent and dependent clause issue.



Whenever i see "and" joined by two sentences i just see whether sentences joined by "and" have a parallel marker.





But from the above sentence what i observe is even in sentences that have "comma + and" structure , your are checking whether they are in parallel or not .

Please help me understand the concept of when to check for Independent/dependent clauses and paralleism issue .



Help is appreciated.



Thanks in advance

dheeraj24

logical structure

There is NO FORMULA of any sort that you can use to spot parallelism

(A)

(C)

George Clinton, the governor of New York for many years, served as Vice President under Thomas Jefferson, and again under James Madison, becoming one of only two men to serve as Vice-President under two different US Presidents

Thomas Jefferson

aditya8062

George Clinton, the governor of New York for many years, served as Vice President under Thomas Jefferson, and

George Clinton served as Vice President

again under James Madison, becoming one of only two men to serve as Vice-President under two different US Presidents

under



Magoosh Test Prep





Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.  William Butler Yeats (1865  1939) Mike McGarryEducation is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.  William Butler Yeats (1865  1939) Signature Read More

DearI'm happy to respond.Parallelism is an extremely sophisticated topic. The GMAT loves it precisely because its not at all formulaic. Ultimately, parallelism is not simply a grammatical structure but a, and how the parallelism in a sentence works is inextricably connected to the logic of the meaning. This is an introductory blog:The rule you have put forward --- "comma + and" = different clauses but "and without comma" = parallelism --- that is entirely too simplistic.. Parallelism is extremely flexible, and can operate at a number of levels. Furthermore, parallel structure can be intertwined with other modifying phrases and clauses, and rules for these may determine the commas.You are perfectly correct that the FANBOYS conjunctions connect two independent clauses. It's also true that a large number of subordinate conjunctions connect a subordinate clause to an independent clause, and each would have a full [noun] + [verb] structure. It's also true that any noun or verb in any clause can be modified by additional phrases & clauses.Now, the sentence you grabbed was a particular difficult one because it's an example of one in which several repeated words have been dropped in parallel structure. You quoted choice, which has a few grammatical flaws. Here's, the OA.First, I'll say that comma after "" is a stylistic choice --- some people would say it belongs there, and others would say it doesn't. Perhaps the sentence would be slightly more clear without it. Understand, though: grammar is not mathematics. It's not all about black & white right & wrong choices. Sometimes, for example, a comma could either be present or absent and it would be OK either way. It's wrong to invest commas with the absolute certainty you have posited.Here's one of the very tricky things about parallelism, which I discuss in the blog from which you took this sentence ---- ANY repeated words can be dropped in the second branch of the parallelism --- we can drop both the noun & the verb if they are the same. Notice, though, the FANBOYS conjunction joining the two clauses is non-negotiable: that absolutely has to be there. That was precisely the problem in the sentencewas quoting above ---- the conjunction was missing.Here's the sentence again, with the repeated word added in a different color:All those words in green can be dropped because they are implied by the parallel structure. Use of the same preposition, "," signals exactly how the two clauses logically correspond to one another.That trick, dropping common words in parallel structure, is one of the GMAT's absolute favorite tricks. I would suggest reading all the articles about parallelism on that free blog.Please let me know if you have any further questions.Mike_________________
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday vowed to shut down banana plantations and mining firms for allegedly funding the communist New People's Army. My next step really is I will look into your transactions. Money laundering. I suspect everybody. Ill be frank with you, if I catch you, I will give you hell of a time. Also the mining firms. Ill just cancel your permits. I will tell Secretary Cimatu to cancel your permits. You are funding an organization which is bent on destroying my country, our country, Duterte told reporters in Davao City Saturday. The order is to crush, synonym of that is destroy and a collateral of that sentence is you destroy, and if you have to kill, do it, he added. Duterte, who earlier endorsed the idea of paying revolutionary taxes to the communist rebels, turned back from his move, saying these were tantamount to extortion. At the same time, Duterte vowed to crush the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed group, the New Peoples Army, once the court declared the CCP a terror group, adding the governments peace talks with the group were over. He said the government would go after the so-called legal fronts of the rebel group and determined to crush the NPA which has been causing sufferings to many Filipino families and even private companies for their extortion activities. The rebel group collects revolutionary tax from mining and banana exporting firms and even steal harvested crops and livestock of the farmers. Duterte earlier signed a proclamation declaring the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization under the countrys Human Security Act. He also took a swipe on human rights group, referring to the Karapatan group and described as stupid.We are not clumsy. I was once also handling an organ of the Nationalist Alliance for Justice, Freedom and Democracy. Thats Karapatan now, the irate Duterte said. The Department of Justice filed a petition formally declaring the communists as terrorists before a regional trial court. I will crush and destroy the communist rebels. No more peace talks, he reiterated. Dont fool us...Im waiting for the decision of the Supreme Court. Once that comes out as terrorist, which you are, really are. Imposing taxes here and there. Youre better off because youre earning much, Duterte added. Duterte earlier signed a proclamation declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA as a terrorist organization due to its violent acts...which sow and create a condition of widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace. He vowed to never resume peace negotiations with communist rebels ever again. This NPA, I will finish them off. The talks are over. No more talks, and I will go after the legal fronts, Duterte said.
New York, Jan 28 (JEN): The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the barbaric and cowardly terrorist attack on 25 January against a bus transporting civilians near Boni, in central Mali, during which 26 people from Mali and Burkina Faso, including children, were killed.

In a press statement issued late Friday evening, the Council expressed deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the Governments of Mali and Burkina Faso.

The members of the Security Council went on to express solidarity with Mali in its fight against terrorism and stressed the need to intensify regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism, which may be conducive to terrorism.

Underlining the need to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts to justice, the Security Council urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Governments of Mali and Burkina Faso as well as all other relevant authorities in this regard.

The Security Council commended the efforts of the region, including through the development of a G5 Sahel Joint Force, to address the transnational dimension of the terrorist threat in the Sahel region, and encouraged further progress in this regard.
New York, Jan 28 (JEN): United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will send his Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, to Sochi next week to attend the Russia-sponsored Congress of the Syrian National Dialogue, talks reportedly on a political solution towards ending the seven-year Syrian conflict.

Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the UN chief, who is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, attending the African Union Summit, was fully briefed by de Mistura, who himself just wrapped up two days of UN-facilitated talks with Syrian Government and opposition delegations in Vienna.

The Spokesman said that in making the decision to send his envoy, Guterres took into account Russia's assertion that the outcome of the Sochi meeting, which will be held on 29 and 30 January, would be brought to Geneva as a contribution to the UN-backed intra-Syrian talks, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2254.

Adopted in 2015, that resolution endorsed a road map for a political process to end the conflict in Syria, including specific language on governance, a constitution and elections.

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 United Nations in Geneva, based on the full implementation of the Geneva Communique and Security Council resolution 2254, said Dujarric.

Closing out the constitution-focused special 9th round of intra-Syrian talks last night in Vienna, de Mistura told reporters that the ultimate goal of a constitutional process is to enable the Syrian people to freely and independently determine their own future in UN-supervised parliamentary and presidential elections, meeting the requirements laid out in resolution 2254.

Recalling that the only sustainable solution to the current crisis in Syria is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process, the Special Envoy said it was his assessment that any Constitutional Committee would at the very least comprise Government and Opposition representatives in the intra-Syrian talks, Syrian experts, civil society, tribal leaders and women; and that care would be taken to ensure adequate representation of Syria's ethnic and religious components.

The conflict is Syria, which erupted in the wake of massive popular demonstrations in 2011, has, according to the UN relief wing, been marked by unparalleled suffering, destruction and disregard for human life. Some 13.1 million people now require humanitarian assistance, including close to three million people in need trapped in besieged and hard-to-reach areas.

I share the immense frustration of millions of Syrians, inside and outside the country, at the lack of a political settlement, de Mistura said, expressing hope that the talks in Sochi will contribute to a revived and credible intra-Syrian talks process, which he plans to reconvene in the near future.

Ultimately, what is required is political will. It is high time that diplomacy, dialogue and negotiation prevail for the interest of all Syrians, he said.

Photo: Stanislav Jenis
He said further, The enemy is abusing new information tools; Telegram channel, Instagram and other tools in this field.

Khatami conceded that the Iranian people are deeply angry with their government, saying, Their new plan is to weaken the clergy  You saw, the rioters attacked some seminaries, worse than the Shahs regime attack on Faizia seminary. The Takistan Seminary had such a situation. This indicates the depth of the hatred of enemies from the mullahs.

He described the attack on government buildings, They rushed into  the office of some Friday Imams, the Islamic Propagation Organization, the Dispute Resolution Council.

While ordinary Iranians suffer in poverty, a large portion of the countrys revenues and capital is believed to disappear into the coffers of corrupt officials, resulting in resentment toward the Revolutionary Guards and the government. However, Khatami claims, Even a rial of our monthly salary is not from state budgets, and the salary of a mullah is between 500 and 600 thousand tomans  below the poverty line.

The recent budget, with hundreds of millions of dollars officially being spent under the guise of Seminaries, along with the huge amounts spent on the military and its training of non-Iranian fighters, was particularly infuriating to the public.

In the Friday prayer in Hamadan two weeks ago, Ghias al-Din Taha Mohammadi said that during the uprising, about 60 offices of the Friday Imams were attacked. The Friday Imams are representatives of Khamenei, who appoints them, and in most cities, information regarding crimes, robberies, and moral and financial corruption are in the their offices, so this is perhaps unsurprising.

The Friday Imam of Arak, Mullah Dorri Najaf Abadi, member of the Board of Directors of Assembly of Experts and former minister of intelligence, said on January 17th, Our house was attacked and I was at home. In recent events, the age of the protesters was very low. The people who attacked our home, although they had covered their faces, were under 30 years of age and even under the age of 18; of course, I only say about the Central province.


For much of U.S. history, the American military fighting force was mostly white and male. But today, the force is as diverse as the country it serves to protect.

Fort Bragg in the state of North Carolina is home to the "All-American" 82nd Airborne. It calls itself the most diverse division in the United States. And the units soldiers say that, despite racial problems within the country, its values remain unchanged.

Lieutenant Colonel Joe Buccino is communications director for the 82nd Airborne. He says the unit was the first racially integrated unit in the U.S. Department of Defense. It was also the first division to have woman infantry commanders, and the first to be organized with people from all over the country.

The base has paratroopers from all 50 states, with more than 120 nationalities.

Private First Class Irvin Andrean grew up in Indonesia before moving to the eastern U.S. state of Pennsylvania as a teenager. He joined the Army as a mechanic. He says he has never felt out of place.

"When I first got here, they all welcomed me," Andrean said. "Like, they never treated me differently."

Sergeant Selene Uribe grew up in the United States, but English was not her first language. She says joining the U.S. Army required making some changes.

"Coming from a very small town, which is Richgrove, California, 99.9 percent Hispanic, it was a culture shock," she said.

Uribe and others in the unit say they welcome the differences within their division. They also say they have grown from working with people with different life experiences.

Specialist Vince Vest said, "I've met some very amazing people and it's opened my eyes a lot. And I've gained a lot of wisdom through those people, and I've made lifelong friends.

Out in the civilian world, the United States is in the middle of a political debate over immigration and racism. Some of the debate has been fueled by controversial remarks made by President Trump.

The soldiers at Fort Bragg say they have not experienced racial discrimination in the military. Yet Master Sergeant Jose Colon worries about the day he retires and returns to non-military life.

"I "I don't see any camaraderie in the civilian world coming," he said.

Colon says the 82nd, and the whole U.S. Army, has an established a code of conduct that does not permit racism.

"You feel safe in some aspects by being in the military because you have these rules that help protect you and make it equal," he said. "That's why I love it. That's kind of the reason why I joined."

As the political debate over immigration continues, the Army continues to welcome recruits from all over the world.

Staff Sergeant Alfred Kollie fled Liberia and lived most of his life in a Ghana refugee camp. He now leads a 20-soldier fueling team for the 82nd Airborne.

Kollie said, "As a child in Africa, seeing all the chaos and death and destruction, I felt myself that I owe the world to be part of something good and not something evil."

Im Ashley Thompson.

VOA's Carla Babb reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

diverse - adj. different from each other

despite - preposition. without being prevented by (something)  used to say that something happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening or being true

integrate - v. to end a policy that keeps people of different races apart in (a place, such as a school

infantry- n. the part of an army that has soldiers who fight on foot

paratrooper- n. a member of a group of soldiers who are trained to jump out of airplanes using a parachute

teenager - n. someone who is between 13 and 19 years old

wisdom- n. knowledge that is gained by having many experiences in life

controversial- adj. relating to or causing much discussion, disagreement, or argument

camaraderie- n. a feeling of good friendship among the people in a group
International students can face many kinds of barriers in applying for admission to colleges and universities in the United States.

These can include high costs and extreme distance from family and friends.

A difficulty most students from non-English speaking countries face in the U.S. is a language barrier.

Many such students feel they have little or no chance of gaining admission to an American school because of their poor English skills. But what if that barrier was removed from the application process?

Rob Hardin says this is the goal of a special path to American higher education called conditional admission. Hardin is the assistant director for international student recruitment at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon.

He says most colleges and universities in the U.S. want international students on their campuses.

It adds significant value to have a student from Beijing, a student from Hanoi, a student from London in the classroom with the student from Portland, Oregon, Hardin told VOA. We think that enhances the student from Portland, Oregons experience.

He adds that many U.S. schools now accept the fact that some of the best students in the world do not speak perfect English. So, over the last ten years, more and more schools have begun using conditional admission as a way of helping these students.

The way it works at the University of Oregon is very simple, Hardin says. International students apply in the same way any other student would. They provide records of their grades, information about their activities outside of school, and other application materials. They also must provide proof of their scores on an English language ability test such as the TOEFL.

Hardin notes that many American colleges and universities only accept applicants whose TOEFL score reaches a certain level. But conditional admission permits students to ask for special consideration. Those schools then look at all the other materials these applicants have provided. Then the schools decide whether an applicant would be a good fit with some more English education.

If the University of Oregon approves a student for conditional admission, he or she is placed in a special English-language education program, Hardin says. First, the university tests the students to identify which of seven instructional levels they should enter. Then, they begin English classes taught by university professors.



Hardin says many international students prefer to study English in their native countries. It is usually more economical, for one. And it means less time away from their homes and families.

At the University of Oregon conditional admission students may start their degree program as soon as they complete the highest level of the language program. Hardin says this is true of most schools that offer conditional admission.

He also argues that these conditional admissions programs offer more than a traditional language school can. He says they help international students get used to the American college experience before they start their degree program. Also, students often grow their language skills much faster while living at an American college and using its resources.

Youre going to have to figure out how to go to the grocery store and buy apples, said Hardin. Youre going to take what youre learning in the classroom and youre going to be able to immediately apply it to your daily life.

Hardin adds that this kind of non-traditional path to admission is not just for students with extremely weak English language skills. He says even generally strong non-native speakers can lack the level of English skill needed for success at an American college.

For students whose TOEFL scores are still not high enough for traditional admission, some schools offer what is called a bridge program. At the University of Oregon, students in the bridge program must take as many as six special English classes in addition to the ones for their degree program.

Again, students take a test at the start of their studies to determine how many of the bridge program classes they need. The classes are meant to provide a little extra language support, and they often relate to the general subject classes students are already taking.

At the University of Oregon, Hardin adds, international students must complete their bridge program classes within their first year.

Hardin says that both bridge programs and conditional admission are designed to make American higher education more inclusive. And they provide a path for students that they otherwise might not have known was available to them.

But he also notes that international students should not expect every college and university in the U.S. to offer such programs. This is especially true of the top schools that get the most attention worldwide. At those institutions, competition is fierce and students who are already strong in English have a better chance at acceptance.

Places  that receive such a high number of applications  want to admit students who are, frequently, going to have perfect grades, perfect SAT scores, Hardin said. And I dont think theyre interested in teaching English. Its not really what theyve ever done. And a lot of  these institutions  do not have a shortage of applications.

So, he adds, a student who is worried about their language abilities may want to consider one of the hundreds of lesser-known schools. Asking one of those schools if they offer conditional admission or a bridge program might be what makes their dreams of American higher education come true.

Im Dorothy Gundy. And Im Pete Musto.

Pete Musto reported this story for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Do colleges and universities in your country offer non-traditional admissions programs? How do these programs work? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

QUIZ

Quiz - College Admissions: Bridging the Language Gap Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

apply(ing)  v. to ask formally for something, such as a job, admission to a school, or a loan, usually in writing

conditional  adj. used to describe something, such as an agreement, that will happen only if something else also happens

recruitment  n. the activity of finding people that have the right qualities and getting them to attend a school or join a company, an organization, or the armed forces

campus(es)  n. the area and buildings around a university, college, or school

significant  adj. very important

enhance(s)  v. to increase or improve something

grade(s)  n. a number or letter that indicates how a student performed in a class or on a test

prefer  v. to like someone or something better than someone or something else

grocery store  n. a store that sells food and household supplies

determine  v. to officially decide something especially because of evidence or facts

institution(s)  n. an established organization

frequently  adv. done regularly or often
The Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year, begins on February 16. Twenty eighteen is the Year of the Dog. But in Malaysia, some businesses are avoiding dog symbols in their decorations. They do not want to insult the countrys Muslim majority.

Islamic tradition considers dogs unclean. Muslims are required to wash themselves if they touch the animal.

Malaysia is a nation of several religions and cultures. But, there has been a growing rejection of activities considered insulting to Islam.

In recent years, this has become evident in demonstrations against music shows and celebrations that involve alcohol.

Muslims make up about 61 percent of the 32 million Malaysians. About 20 percent of the population is Buddhist, making Buddhism the second largest religion in Malaysia.

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is a shopping center in the Bukit Bintang area of the capital. It is popular with foreign visitors. This year, the center has not included dog imagery in lunar new year decorations. Instead, the decorations honor the centers tenth anniversary.

Kung Suan Ai is the director of marketing for Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. She said religious and cultural sensitivities influenced the decoration choices. The shopping center attracts three million people of many cultures each month, she said.

She said Pavilion Kuala Lumpur considered decorations that would make all people feel accepted.

Twelve animals make up the traditional Chinese zodiac. It includes dogs and pigs  another animal which Muslims consider unclean.

Malaysian Muslim leaders have spoken out about other events that involve dogs. At the 2014 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Glasgow, Scotland, athletes paraded with a Scottish terrier dog. After the event, Malaysian politicians expressed their disapproval, calling the act disrespectful.

In 2016, Malaysian religious officials asked an international fast food restaurant to change the name of a food it sold in Malaysia. Auntie Annes sold an item called a Pretzel Dog. The religious officials wanted it to be renamed Pretzel Sausage. They said Pretzel Dog confused Muslims  who are not permitted to eat dog meat.

MyTOWN is another Kuala Lumpur shopping center where half the visitors are Muslim. This year, it has made its Lunar New Year decorations more moderate.

Christopher Koh is Head of Marketing for MyTOWN. He said the dogs are not the central object on display. He said they do not appear as objects of worship.

For this same reason, he said, many Malaysian businesses also no longer display a large pig to honor the Year of the Boar.

Alex Chow runs a company that makes packaging materials. He said that his large business clients have chosen very general imagery for their packaging designs this year.

But some Malaysians are not happy about these changes.

Wong Wei-Shen, an ethnic Chinese, has several dogs as pets. She said businesses were being ridiculous.

Its a shame because Malaysia is a multicultural country. To dismiss the fact that the Chinese have a dog as one of the zodiac animals is unfair, said Wong.

She said that every zodiac animal has good qualities, and the dog represents a guide, a best friend, a comforter and loyal friend.

Im Alice Bryant.

Reuters News Agency originally reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

decorations  n. something added to an object or place to make it look more attractive

zodiac  n. an imaginary area in the sky that the sun, moon, and planets appear to travel through

confused  adj. unable to understand or think clearly

packaging  n. material used to enclose or contain something

client  n. a person who pays a professional person or organization for services

pet  n. an animal that people keep mainly for pleasure

comforter  n. someone who helps you to feel less worried, upset or frightened
Myanmars business leaders are supporting Aung San Suu Kyis plan to resettle Rohingya refugees and to rebuild Rakhine State.

Last August, Rohingya militant attacks on the police caused a military response that sent more than 650,000 Rohingya fleeing into Bangladesh.

Myanmar and Bangladesh have since agreed on a plan to send refugees from Myanmar back to the country within the next two years. And the leader of Myanmar is looking for private investment to rebuild Rakhine State.

However, the return of refugees has stopped. Rohingya leaders have demanded that community land be returned and human rights violations be investigated. They also want the opportunity to become citizens of Myanmar.

In an e-mailed statement to VOA, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said, conditions in Rakhine State are not yet fully conducive to the safereturn of refugees.

Myanmars civilian government, led by Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD), is constitutionally prevented from questioning the army. It has, however, tried to take control in other ways.

The heads of Eden, KBZ, and Asia World were once under Western sanctions because of their ties to the previous government, a military junta. During her years of house arrest, Aung San Suu Kyi criticized them as military cronies.

In an October 2016 event, she reminded them of past misdeeds but asked for, those who have previously worked for their own self-interest work for others in the future.

The same business leaders who made millions of dollars during military rule now support the Union Enterprise for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development in Rakhine, or UEHRD.

It was formed in October with a $13.5 million donation from business leaders.

Nyo Myint is a senior managing director of KBZ Group. He told VOA some of the $2.2 million donated from his company would be spent on a new fence across the border with Bangladesh. He said this would benefit both countries by stopping illegal migration.

Other support has been more direct. Chit Khine, the Eden Group chairman, told VOA over the phone that his company is building structures in Nga Khu Ya, one of two areas near the border where refugees will be returned. The Eden Group built large parts of Myanmars new capital city in Naypyidaw under military rule.

Gerard McCarthy works at the Myanmar Research Center of the Australian National University. He told VOA that asking for the support of businesses for national causes is not a change from NLD values, which believe that capitalists can be moral as long as they contribute.

Aung San Suu Kyis plan also presents Rakhine State as a promising opportunity for increased investment in one of Myanmars poorest states.

The government in October restarted an economic zone in Maungdaw in northern Rakhine State, by signing a deal with a group of local and Yangon-based firms.

Vicky Bowman, director of the Myanmar Center for Responsible Business, told VOA via email that while humanitarian needs should come first, there was a need for public investment in infrastructure to fight poverty in Rakhine State.

However, there are risks. Bowman said that there could be local anger that businesses from outside of Rakhine have more opportunity at a time of strong Rakhine nationalism.

Im Susan Shand.

Ben Dunant reported this story for VOA. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

sanction  n. an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country

junta  n. a military group controlling a government after taking control of it by force

crony - n. a close associate in a corrupt enterprise

misdeed  n. a morally wrong or illegal act

contribute  v. to help to cause something to happen

opportunity  n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done

infrastructure  n. the bridges, roads, and buildings of a society
BEIJINGJapans foreign minister called on China to increase cooperation on curbing North Koreas nuclear weapons program Sunday during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing. The meeting between Japans Taro Kono and Chinas Wang Yi comes as the rival nations aim to improve relations held back by longstanding and seemingly intractable disputes over territory and Japans war-time legacy. While ties between Asias two largest economies have shown signs of warming, Chinas president Xi Jinping and Japans PM Shinzo Abe have yet to meet on their own soil. In remarks at Beijings Diaoyutai State Guest House, Kono praised the progress between the countries towards improving ties, while calling on Beijing to do more to curb Pyongyangs weapons program. I believe it is important not only to discuss issues related to our two countries, but for Japan and China to stand side by side to deal with global issues, he said. In particular, the North Korea issue is now an urgent issue for the whole of international society. Tokyo has been wooing China with official visits and business delegations, but an exchange of state visits has remained a hard sell. Japan is hoping that will change this year as the two countries prepare to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the signing of a Japan-China friendship treaty. Relations between the two countries are at a crucial stage, Chinese foreign minister Wang told Kono.There is positive progress, but many disturbances and obstacles remain, he said, adding he hoped that the two sides could work together to push ties toward the track of normal and sound development at an early date. A major source of tensions is a long-standing dispute over islands in the East China Sea, known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu by the Chinese side. Tokyos decision to nationalize some of the islets in 2012 led to a major falling out between the two countries, and the fragile relationship has been slow to recover. Chinese coastguard vessels routinely travel around the disputed islands, a practice that has elicited regular objections from Japan, which controls the region. Although the issue was not mentioned publicly, it was likely a subject of conversation behind closed doors, as the disagreement heated up earlier this month when Tokyo revealed that Beijing had sent a nuclear-powered submarine to the area for the first time. Japan is also pushing to host a trilateral summit with leaders from China and South Korea to discuss a broad range of regional issues, including North Koreas nuclear weapons program. The meeting, which was scheduled for last December, was postponed following the impeachment of former South Korean president Park Geun-Hye.
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..
CoreLogic, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides property information, insight, analytics, and data-enabled solutions in North America, Western Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Property Intelligence & Risk Management Solutions (PIRM) and Underwriting & Workflow Solutions (UWS). The PIRM segment combines property information, mortgage information, and consumer information to deliver housing market and property-level insights, predictive analytics, and risk management capabilities. It also offers proprietary technology and software platforms to access, automate, or track the information and assist its clients with decision-making and compliance tools in the real estate and insurance industries. This segment primarily serves commercial banks, mortgage lenders and brokers, investment banks, fixed-income investors, real estate agents, MLS companies, property and casualty insurance companies, title insurance companies, government agencies, and government-sponsored enterprises. The UWS segment combines property, mortgage, and consumer information to provide comprehensive mortgage origination and monitoring solutions, including underwriting-related solutions, and data-enabled valuations and appraisals. This segment also provides proprietary technology and software platforms to access, automate, or track the information and assist its clients with vetting and onboarding prospects, and meeting compliance regulations, as well as understanding, evaluating, monitoring property values. It primarily serves mortgage lenders and servicers, mortgage brokers, credit unions, commercial banks, fixed-income investors, government agencies, and property and casualty insurance companies. The company was formerly known as The First American Corporation and changed its name to CoreLogic, Inc. in June 2010. CoreLogic, Inc. was incorporated in 1894 and is headquartered in Irvine, California.

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Nevsun Resources Ltd. engages in the mining and development of mineral properties in Europe, Africa, and North America. It explores for gold, copper, zinc, and silver deposits. The company's principal assets include Timok project, a copper-gold development project in Serbia; and Bisha copper- zinc mine in Eritrea. It also holds exploration licenses and permits in Serbia and Macedonia, as well as in the Bisha mining district. The company was incorporated in 1965 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. As of January 7, 2019, Nevsun Resources Ltd. operates as a subsidiary of Zijin Mining Group Company Limited.

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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.

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BEIJINGChinese authorities have ordered a major social media platform to curb harmful content more effectively as they intensify oversight of online expression. The campaign is intended not just to stamp out dissent but to ensure that all media serves the direction of socialism. The continuing crackdown targets not only explicit depictions of sex and violence, but even rap music, crude cartoons, dirty jokes, celebrity gossip and tattoos. Sina Weibo has failed to comply, Beijings Cyberspace Administration said Saturday on its official WeChat social media account, berating the site for letting users post content of wrong public opinion orientation, obscenity, low taste and ethnic discrimination. The company has violated the countrys laws and regulations, led online public opinions to wrong direction and left a very bad influence, it said. In another case announced Friday, Chinas securities watchdog announced it had punished a blogger on WeChat with a 200,000 yuan ($31,000) fine for posting market-moving misinformation about meetings between corporations and regulators. China has some of the worlds tightest controls over web content, protected by what is called The Great Firewall. Restrictions on free speech have increased since President Xi Jinping assumed power in 2012.A controversial cybersecurity law, which took effect last June, has given authorities even more leeway to regulate a wide variety of information. At the time, the cyberspace administrator told major internet companies to obey the provisions of the new law requiring online news and information services to serve the direction of socialism and correctly guide public opinion. In punishment for Weibos failure to toe that line, regulators have demanded a week-long shutdown of the sites offending features, including one that allows users to pay to ask celebrities questions, as well as a function to search trending topics. It was far from the first time the social media giant, which is owned by internet behemoth Sina, has been called on the carpet. The government has frequently expressed its displeasure with the platforms content. The company has tried to counter criticism by banning keywords and hiring thousands of censors to laboriously take down posts that violate the partys ever stricter dicta.
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. 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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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LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, Norden Olje AB, North Star Imaging Europe, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Odesign Inc., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited (Enping), Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Penta Dnepr LLC, Penta Sever OOO, Penta Volga OOO, Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., Ramset Fasteners (Hong Kong) Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Salter India Limited, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco (Nederland) B.V., Simco Japan Inc., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques  SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tape Group B.V., Stokvis Tapes (Hong Kong) Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Taiwan) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes BVBA, Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Tarutin Kester Co. Ltd., Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek (China) Limited, Teknek (Japan) Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode (Qingdao) Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Tregaskiss Welding Products, US Finance Gamma LLC, Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V.B.A., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta (Guangzhou) Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Vesta Global Limited, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., W Packaging Technology (China) Co. Ltd., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wujiang Advanced Cleaning Co. 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..
The following companies are subsidiares of CVS Health: @Credentials Inc., ACS ACQCO CORP., ADMINCO Inc., AE Fourteen Incorporated, AHP Holdings Inc., AMC - Tennessee LLC, APS Acquisition LLC, ASCO HealthCare LLC, ASI Wings LLC, AUSHC Holdings Inc., Accendo Insurance Company, Accordant Health Services L.L.C., Active Health Management Inc., Administrative Enterprises Inc., AdvancePCS SpecialtyRx LLC, AdvanceRx.com L.L.C., Advanced Care Scripts Inc., Aetna, Aetna (Beijing) Enterprise Management Services Co. Ltd., Aetna (Shanghai) Enterprise Services Co. Ltd., Aetna ACO Holdings Inc., Aetna Asset Advisors LLC, Aetna Behavioral Health LLC, Aetna Better Health Inc., Aetna Better Health Inc., Aetna Better Health of California Inc., Aetna Better Health of Florida Inc., Aetna Better Health of Kansas Inc., Aetna Better Health of Michigan Inc., Aetna Better Health of Missouri LLC, Aetna Better Health of Nevada Inc., Aetna Better Health of North Carolina Inc., Aetna Better Health of Oklahoma Inc., Aetna Better Health of Texas Inc., Aetna Better Health of Washington Inc., Aetna Capital Management LLC, Aetna Card Solutions LLC, Aetna Corporate Services LLC, Aetna Dental Inc., Aetna Dental of California Inc., Aetna Financial Holdings LLC, Aetna Florida Inc., Aetna Global Benefits (Asia Pacific) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits (Bahamas) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits (Bermuda) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits (Europe) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits (Middle East) LLC, Aetna Global Benefits (Singapore) PTE. LTD., Aetna Global Benefits (UK) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits Limited (DIFC UAE), Aetna Global Holdings Limited, Aetna Health Holdings LLC, Aetna Health Inc., Aetna Health Insurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited, Aetna Health Insurance Company, Aetna Health Insurance Company of Europe DAC, Aetna Health Management LLC, Aetna Health and Life Insurance Company, Aetna Health of California Inc., Aetna Health of Iowa Inc., Aetna Health of Michigan Inc., Aetna Health of Ohio Inc., Aetna Health of Utah Inc., Aetna HealthAssurance Pennsylvania Inc., Aetna Holdco (UK) Limited, Aetna Holdings (Thailand) Limited, Aetna Inc., Aetna Insurance (Hong Kong) Limite, Aetna Insurance (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Aetna Insurance Company Limited, Aetna Integrated Informatics Inc., Aetna International Inc., Aetna Ireland Inc., Aetna Korea Ltd., Aetna Life & Casualty (Bermuda) Ltd., Aetna Life Assignment Company, Aetna Life Insurance Company, Aetna Medicaid Administrators LLC, Aetna Multi-Strategy 1099 Fund LLC, Aetna Network Services LLC, Aetna Partners Diversified Fund LLC, Aetna Pharmacy Management Services LLC, Aetna Resources LLC, Aetna Risk Assurance Company of Connecticut Inc., Aetna Rx Home Delivery LLC, Aetna Services (Thailand) Limited, Aetna Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Aetna Student Health Agency Inc., Aetna Ventures LLC, Aetna Workers Comp Access LLC, Alabama CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Alaska CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Allina Health and Aetna Insurance Company, Allina Health and Aetna Insurance Holding Company LLC, American Continental Insurance Company, American Drug Stores Delaware L.L.C., American Health Holding Inc., Arbor Drugs, Arizona CVS Stores L.L.C., Arkansas CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Badger Acquisition LLC, Badger Acquisition of Kentucky LLC, Badger Acquisition of Minnesota LLC, Badger Acquisition of Ohio LLC, Banner Health and Aetna Health Insurance Company, Banner Health and Aetna Health Insurance Holding Company LLC, Banner Health and Aetna Health Plan Inc., Beauty Holdings L.L.C., Best Care LTC Acquisition Company LLC, Busse CVS L.L.C., CCI Foreign S.a R.L. (R.C.S. Luxembourg), CCRx Holdings LLC, CCRx of North Carolina LLC, CHP Acquisition LLC, CP Acquisition LLC, CVS 2948 Henderson L.L.C., CVS 3268 Gilbert L.L.C., CVS 3745 Peoria L.L.C., CVS AL Distribution L.L.C., CVS AOC Corporation, CVS AOC Services L.L.C., CVS Albany L.L.C., CVS Bellmore Avenue L.L.C., CVS Care Concierge LLC, CVS Caremark Advanced Technology Pharmacy L.L.C., CVS Caremark Indemnity Ltd., CVS Caremark Part D Services L.L.C., CVS Caremark TN SUTA LLC, CVS Foreign Inc., CVS Gilbert 3272 L.L.C., CVS Health Solutions LLC, CVS Indiana L.L.C., CVS International L.L.C., CVS Kidney Care Advanced Technologies LLC, CVS Kidney Care Health Services LLC, CVS Kidney Care Home Dialysis LLC, CVS Kidney Care LLC, CVS Manchester NH L.L.C., CVS Media Exchange LLC, CVS Michigan L.L.C., CVS Orlando FL Distribution L.L.C., CVS PA Distribution L.L.C., CVS PR Center Inc., CVS Pharmacy Inc., CVS RS Arizona L.L.C., CVS Rx Services Inc., CVS SC Distribution L.L.C., CVS State Capital L.L.C., CVS TN Distribution L.L.C., CVS Transportation L.L.C., CVS Vero FL Distribution L.L.C., Campos Medical Pharmacy LLC, Canal Place LLC, Care Pharmaceutical Services LP, CareCenter Pharmacy L.L.C., Carefree Insurance Services Inc., Caremark Arizona Mail Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Arizona Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark California Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Florida Mail Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Florida Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Hawaii Mail Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Hawaii Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark IPA L.L.C., Caremark Illinois Mail Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Illinois Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Irving Resource Center LLC, Caremark Kansas Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark L.L.C., Caremark Logistics LLC, Caremark Louisiana Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Maryland Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Massachusetts Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Michigan Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Minnesota Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark New Jersey Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark North Carolina Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Ohio Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Pennsylvania Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark PhC L.L.C., Caremark Puerto Rico L.L.C., Caremark Puerto Rico Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Redlands Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Repack LLC, Caremark Rx L.L.C., Caremark Tennessee Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Texas Mail Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Texas Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Ulysses Holding Corp., Caremark Washington Specialty Pharmacy LLC, CaremarkPCS Alabama Mail Pharmacy LLC, CaremarkPCS Health L.L.C., CaremarkPCS L.L.C., Central Rx Services LLC, Claims Administration Corp., Cofinity Inc., Compscript LLC, Connecticut CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Continental Life Insurance Company of Brentwood Tennessee, Continuing Care Rx LLC, Coram Alternate Site Services Inc., Coram Clinical Trials Inc., Coram Healthcare Corporation of Alabama, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Florida, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Greater D.C., Coram Healthcare Corporation of Greater New York, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Indiana, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Massachusetts, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Mississippi, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Nevada, Coram Healthcare Corporation of North Texas, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Northern California, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Southern California, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Southern Florida, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Utah, Coram LLC, Coram Rx LLC, Coram Specialty Infusion, Coram Specialty Infusion Services L.L.C., Coventry Consumer Advantage Inc., Coventry Health Care National Accounts Inc., Coventry Health Care National Network Inc., Coventry Health Care Workers Compensation Inc., Coventry Health Care of Illinois Inc., Coventry Health Care of Kansas Inc., Coventry Health Care of Missouri Inc., Coventry Health Care of Nebraska Inc., Coventry Health Care of Virginia Inc., Coventry Health Care of West Virginia Inc., Coventry Health Plan of Florida Inc., Coventry Health and Life Insurance Company, Coventry HealthCare Management Corporation, Coventry Prescription Management Services Inc., Coventry Rehabilitation Services Inc., Coventry Transplant Network Inc., D & R Pharmaceutical Services LLC, D.A.W. LLC, Delaware CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Delaware Physicians Care Incorporated, Digital eHealth LLC, District of Columbia CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., E.T.B. INC., Echo Merger Sub Inc., Eckerd Corporation of Florida Inc., Employee Assistance Services LLC, Enloe Drugs LLC, Enterprise Patient Safety Organization LLC, EntrustRX, Evergreen Pharmaceutical LLC, Evergreen Pharmaceutical of California Inc., Express Pharmacy Services of PA L.L.C., FOCUS HealthCare Management Inc., First Health Group Corp., First Health Life & Health Insurance Company, First Script Network Services Inc., Florida Health Plan Administrators LLC, Garfield Beach CVS L.L.C., Generation Health L.L.C., Geneva Woods Health Services LLC, Geneva Woods LTC Pharmacy LLC, Geneva Woods Management LLC, Geneva Woods Pharmacy Alaska LLC, Geneva Woods Pharmacy LLC, Geneva Woods Pharmacy Washington LLC, Geneva Woods Pharmacy Wyoming LLC, Geneva Woods Retail Pharmacy LLC, Georgia CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., German Dobson CVS L.L.C., Goodhealth Worldwide (Asia) Limited, Goodhealth Worldwide (Global) Limited, Goodyear CVS L.L.C., Grand St. Paul CVS L.L.C., Grandview Pharmacy LLC, Group Dental Service Inc., Group Dental Service of Maryland Inc., Health Care Management Co. Ltd., Health Data & Management Solutions Inc., Health Re Inc., Health and Human Resource Center Inc., HealthAssuance Pennsylvania Inc., Healthagen LLC, Highland Park CVS L.L.C., Holiday CVS L.L.C., Home Care Pharmacy LLC, Home Pharmacy Services LLC, Hook-SupeRx L.L.C., Horizon Behavioral Services LLC, Idaho CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., IlliniCare Health, Indian Health Organisation Private Limited, Innovation Health Holdings LLC, Innovation Health Insurance Company, Innovation Health Plan Inc., Interlock Pharmacy Systems LLC, Iowa CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., JHC Acquisition LLC, Kansas CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Kentucky CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., LCPS Acquisition LLC, Langsam Health Services LLC, Lo-Med Prescription Services LLC, Lobos Acquisition LLC, Longs Drug Stores, Longs Drug Stores California L.L.C., Louisiana CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., MHHP Acquisition Company LLC, MHNet Life and Health Insurance Company, MHNet Specialty Services LLC, MHNet of Florida Inc., Managed Care Coordinators Inc., Managed Healthcare LLC, Martin Health Services LLC, Maryland CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Med World Acquisition Corp., Medical Arts Health Care LLC, Medical Examinations of New York P.C., Melville Realty Company Inc., MemberHealth LLC, Mental Health Associates Inc., Mental Health Network of New York IPA Inc., Meritain Health Inc., Merwin Long Term Care LLC, MetraComp Inc., Minor Health Enterprise Co Ltd., MinuteClinic, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Alabama L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Arizona LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Florida LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Georgia LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Hawaii L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Illinois LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Kentucky L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Louisiana L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Maine L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Maryland LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Massachusetts LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Nebraska L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of New Hampshire L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of New Mexico L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Ohio LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Oklahoma LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Oregon LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Pennsylvania LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Rhode Island LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of South Carolina L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Texas LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Utah L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Virginia LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Washington LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Wisconsin L.L.C., MinuteClinic L.L.C., MinuteClinic Online Diagnostic Services LLC, MinuteClinic Physician Practice of Texas, MinuteClinic Telehealth Services LLC, Mississippi CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Missouri CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Montana CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., NCS Healthcare LLC, NCS Healthcare of Illinois LLC, NCS Healthcare of Iowa LLC, NCS Healthcare of Kansas LLC, NCS Healthcare of Kentucky Inc. (Oh, NCS Healthcare of Montana LLC, NCS Healthcare of New Mexico LLC, NCS Healthcare of Ohio LLC, NCS Healthcare of South Carolina LLC, NCS Healthcare of Tennessee LLC, NCS Healthcare of Wisconsin LLC, NIV Acquisition LLC, Navarro Discount Pharmacy, Nebraska CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., NeighborCare Holdings Inc., NeighborCare Inc., NeighborCare Pharmacy Services Inc., NeighborCare Services Corporation, NeighborCare of Indiana LLC, NeighborCare of Virginia LLC, New Jersey CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Niagara Re Inc., North Carolina CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., North Shore Pharmacy Services LLC, NovoLogix LLC, OCR Services LLC, Ocean Acquisition Sub L.L.C., Ohio CVS Stores L.L.C., Oklahoma CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Omnicare, Omnicare Holding Company, Omnicare Inc., Omnicare Indiana Partnership Holding Company LLC, Omnicare Pharmacies of Pennsylvania East LLC, Omnicare Pharmacies of Pennsylvania West LLC, Omnicare Pharmacies of the Great Plains Holding LLC, Omnicare Pharmacy and Supply Services LLC, Omnicare Pharmacy of Tennessee LLC, Omnicare Pharmacy of the Midwest LLC, Omnicare Property Management LLC, Omnicare of Nebraska LLC, Omnicare of Nevada LLC, Omnicare of New York LLC, Oregon CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., PE Holdings LLC, PHPSNE Parent Corporation, PP Acquisition Company LLC, PRN Pharmaceutical Services LP, PT Aetna Management Consulting, Pamplona Saude e Beleza LTDA, Part D Holding Company L.L.C., PayFlex Holdings Inc., PayFlex Systems USA Inc., Pennsylvania CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Performax Inc., Pharmacy Associates of Glenn Falls LLC, Pharmacy Consultants LLC, Phoenix Data Solutions LLC, Precision Benefit Services Inc., Prime Net Inc., ProCare Pharmacy Direct L.L.C., ProCare Pharmacy L.L.C., Prodigy Health Group Inc., Professional Risk Management Inc., Pt. Aetna Global Benefits Indonesia, Puerto Rico CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Red Oak Sourcing LLC, Resources for Living LLC, Rhode Island CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Roeschens Healthcare LLC, RxAmerica, Schaller Anderson Medical Administrators Incorporated, Scrip World LLC, Sheffield Avenue CVS L.L.C., Shore Pharmaceutical Providers LLC, Silverscript Insurance Company, Soma Intimates, South Carolina CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., South Wabash CVS L.L.C., Specialized Pharmacy Services LLC, Spinnaker Bidco Limited, Spinnaker Topco Limited, Stadtlander Drug Company, Stadtlander Pharmacy, Sterling Healthcare Services LLC, Superior Care Pharmacy LLC, Sutter Health and Aetna Administrative Services LLC, Sutter Health and Aetna Insurance Company, Sutter Health and Aetna Insurance Holding Company LLC, T2 Medical Inc., TCPI Acquisition LLC, TargetPharmacy, Tennessee CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Texas Health + Aetna Health Insurance Company, Texas Health + Aetna Health Insurance Holding Company LLC, Texas Health + Aetna Health Plan Inc., The Vasquez Group Inc., Thomas Phoenix CVS L.L.C., Three Forks Apothecary LLC, U.S Healthcare Holdings LLC, U.S. Healthcare Properties Inc., UAC Holding Inc., UC Acquisition LLC, UNI-Care Health Services of Maine LLC, Universal American - Medicare Part D Business, Utah CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., VAPS Acquisition Company LLC, Value Health Care Services LLC, Vermont CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Virginia CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Virtual Home Healthcare L.L.C., Warm Springs Road CVS L.L.C., Washington CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Washington Lamb CVS L.L.C., Weber Medical Systems LLC, Wellpartner LLC, West Virginia CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Westhaven Services Co LLC, Williamson Drug Company LLC, Wisconsin CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Woodward Detroit CVS L.L.C., Work and Family Benefits Inc., ZS Acquisition Company LLC, Zinc Health Services LLC, Zinc Health Ventures LLC, bSwift LLC, and iTriage LLC.
Words: Tina Gerber

Photos: Saskia Dugon

Stunning view from Puig de Comabella

Ailsa riding in front of a stunning panorama

Adrien and Angela

Ian riding the la Molina tour of day one

Ian in his natural habitant

Getting the bikes ready

The group is having a good time

Tina riding a corner on day one at La Molina Ski Resort

There may always be a bit of a "hike a bike" part

Amazing landscape at the Spanish and French border

Ian and Adrien riding a technical part of day three

Tina taking the inside line

Riding on red earth is one of the big highlights

The trails are rocky and demanding

Adrien and Tina having fun on a early morning ride

Adventure and team spirit

Group ride on red earth

Lunch time in a small spanish village

You'll have more trails in the woods around La Pobla de Lillet

Nick and the cows

Everydays coffee break

Angela shares lunch with a kitten

Say hello the all these beautiful street doggos

Tina having fun on one of so many super nice trails

Riding in the Pyrenees was a completely new experience for me and somehow redefined riding on natural hiking trails. The Pyrenees are just a bit wilder and more untouched than anything Ive ridden before.At the end of October, English photographer Saskia Dugon and I met up with Ian and Angela Pendry from Altitude Adventure in the Pyrenees. The goal was to ride the best trails the Pyrenees have to offer within one week. Before this adventure I hardly knew anything about the area.Ian and Angela are originally from Great Britain, and are passionate mountain bikers. About 12 years ago they left the UK and set up a new home base at the Spanish/French border in St Pierre dels Forcats. They bought a small hotel Mouli del Riu and started their own little tour company.We flew directly to Barcelona where we got picked up together with three other guests. On the way to St Pierre dels Forcats we stopped in a small Spanish village. Lunch break, tapas and beer. We reached the accommodation a short while later, built up our bikes, and looked forward to a week of first-class trails.The Backcountry Tour of the Pyrenees Orientales is one of the tours offered by Ian and Angela: six days with shuttles and gondola uphlifts through the Spanish and French backcountry around Baga, as well as all overnight stays and meals.You should be mentally and physically prepared to tackle 12500hm of downhill and 4000hm uphill in the six days. Always on technical singletrack, with some hike-a-bike involved.The trails are technically demanding. They are all natural hiking trails that are not, as we are used to in Switzerland, well maintained and often used. Every storm changes the trail again, which can lead to the fact that it can hardly or only partially be ridden. Generally speaking, the terrain is very rough  90% of the trails are very stony. Going full gaz may involve serious consequences. This makes the whole thing exciting, but can also be exhausting, because not every day is full of flow.It took me three days to get used to the riding  but after realizing where the limits are, I had a lot of fun and really enjoyed the trails.You spend a lot of time in the group  daily on the trail and also in the evening with dinner, freshly cooked by Angela. The hospitality of the people touched my heart  I felt very comfortable and welcome wherever we went.Safe to say we enjoyed this week. Not only because of the beautiful weather and all the riding, but also because of all the short breaks for coffee at small restaurants, great tapas, and those views!The Pyrenees challenged me and I wasnt happy with my riding at first. But with time and riding I learned to adapt to the terrain. It has its charm to ride in such terrain and to deal with its nature and conditions. I was impressed by the unbelievable views over those mountain ranges. The amount of trails the area offers and the unlimited hospitality of the locals and the wonderful Spanish food. Its a culture I like, its an area Ive started to like and I want to strengthen this young love.Words: Tina Gerber Instagram Photos: Saskia Dugon Instagram Altitude Adventure: Instagram
Posted Sunday, January 28, 2018 3:30 am

Jan. 28, 1993 - 25 years ago

Although Sears, Roebuck and Company announced plans to discontinue its U.S. catalog operations as a part of a major restructuring program, Marshfields Sears Catalog Store will remain open, for now.

Henson, a certified Sears catalog merchant, has owned the local store for eight years. Henson and one other employee run the store, which opened on the square over 15 years ago.

Sears announced the restructuring program on Monday, after its board of directors voted on the program at a meeting on Saturday.



The Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service office in Marshfield will not be closing as part of a restructuring effort by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Rep. Thomas M. Macdonnell told the Mail office Tuesday that Marshfields ASCS office, located in the Federal Building, was not on the list of offices to be closed, as released by an agriculture committee in Washington, D.C.

Throughout Missouri, 14 AFCS offices will be closed, according to the latest print-out.



Although it is possible that Webster County may have to explore other options for a county jail in the next several years, no immediate plans are being made for the construction of a new jail in the near future.

Webster County Commissioners Don Rost, Dee Lewis and John Haywood, and Sheriff C.E. Wells said Monday that the county will use the current jail, located on the third floor of the Webster County Courthouse, until it is absolutely necessary to build a new one.



Antique dealers and collectors in the area will have another outlet where they can buy and sell such goods beginning in February, when His Heritage Antique Mall opens next month.

The mail is located on Interstate 44 and West Highway 38.

According to Susie Fraker, who owns the business with her husband Ben, the antique mall will have 60 fully carpeted rental areas for dealers. About a fourth of the booths are currently rented, Fraker said.

Fraker said an old-fashioned soda fountain bar will also be located in the building.



Deaths reported in this issue: Norma A. Cologna, 68, Springfield; Lloyd W. Davis Sr., 84; Joshua Paul Dill, 20, Niangua; Harriet May 83, Niangua; Oak E. Volckmann, 78, Marshfield; Beatrice Margaret Willis, 69, Marshfield.



It was a very uncharacteristic game for the Marshfield Lady Jays Monday night in the first round of the Rogersville Lady Cats Tournament. The Lady Jays played the Mountain Grove Lady Panthers, seeded eighth in the tournament with a record of 5-9  a respectable team, but one that should have just been a warmup game for the semifinals and finals of the tournament. But the Lady Jays found themselves tested harshly by Mountain Grove before finally winning 60-45.

Michelle Mikkelsen led the Lady Jays in scoring with 13 points and Jennifer Parker added 11 to lead the team.

Other scoring came from Lauren Stocker, Tammy Turner and Heather Wilson, with 8 each, Lori Howard with 7 and Jessica Greer with 5.

Jan. 25, 1968 - 50 years ago

Nearly 200 4-H members, parents, and leaders turned out Monday night for the annual awards program for Webster County 4-H members. The event also included 5-year pins for two leaders, presentation of an Extension Honor Roll Certificate, and several club awards.

Achievement awards were received by Connie Schmidt, Carey and Mark Perryman, and Gerald Wright received the Leadership Award.



Herb Brase, of Rolla, has been employed as executive vice-president of the Citizens State Bank here, effective as of Jan. 8.

Mr. Brase was formerly executive vice-president of the Phelps County Bank, at Rolla, and prior to that was executive vice-president of the Bank of Newburg. He has been connected with the banking business since 1945.

The new Marshfield banker is married and has two daughters. He plans to move to Marshfield just as soon as he can make arrangements for a home.



David R. Slagle, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur L. Slagle, of Route 2, Rogersville, has been commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force upon graduation from Officers Training School (OTS) at Lackland AFB, Texas.

Lieutenant Slagle, selected for OTS through competitive examination, is being assigned to Brooks AFB, Texas, for duty. He will be in the Air Force Systems Command which advances Americas aerospace technology through development of new systems and hardware to keep pace with the worlds technological race.
President Jacob Zuma is not going anywhere, according to a report by the City Press.

The report stated that ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte insisted that Zuma will not step down in 2018.

This is despite calls for his resignation, and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa now at the helm of the ANC.

Duarte also distanced the ANC from comments made by Ramaphosa that Zuma was anxious about his future.

Duarte has also dismissed talk of a pending shake-up in government, saying they were not part of that conversation, stated the report.

The report comes after weeks of speculation that Zuma would step down, following the positive effects of Ramaphosa leading the countrys ruling party.

This included the rand strengthening to below R12 to the US dollar for the first time since 2015.
January 28 is celebrated in Armenia as Army Day, and this year marks the 26th anniversary of the Armenian Armed Forces.

In September 1990, the Supreme Council of Armenia adopted a decision on forming a Special Regiment within the Internal Affairs Ministry of the time; and with the governments decision, the Committee of Defense was formed on May 4, 1991.

On January 28, 1992, the Government of Armenia adopted the decision On the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, and this became the beginning for the formation of the Armenian Armed Forces.

And on September 25, 2002, the National Assembly made an amendment in the Law on Holidays and Memorial Days, whereby Army Day became a non-working day in Armenia.

The first phase for the formation of the Armenian army, however, is considered to be from 1988 to 1992, when there was a challenge of ensuring the safety of the people of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh); at the time, volunteer detachments were carrying out this task.
Republican Party of Armenia to run in local self-government elections on Oct. 17

Italians to be allowed to grow up to 4 hemp bushes at home

UK to start deploying cross-channel migrant boats

Armenia ruling party MPs to be sent to Moscow to observe upcoming Russian State Duma elections

European Council removes Armenia and five other countries from "safe countries" list

Opposition "Armenia" bloc issues statement on PM's statement on "vivid celebration" on Sep. 21

Armenia Parliament Speaker meets with representatives of Armenian community in Vienna

EU decides on how to interact with Afghan government

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
As the Turkish Olive Branch campaign against Kurdish forces in northern Syria intensifies, Washington has promised to end military support for Kurdish YPG militia, which Ankara labels a terrorist group on an equal footing as the PKK.

The Turkish Presidency said that it has received assurances that the US will not provide any more weapons to the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia.

The news was confirmed by US Security Advisor Herbert Raymond McMaster who said that the US will no longer give weapons to YPG in a phone call with the Turkish presidential aide Ibrahim Kaln on Jan. 26 evening, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

As the Turkish military campaign on Kurdish stronghold, Afrin, goes on, fears surface regarding an accidental clash between US and Turkish troops.

Since the start of the incursion, Erdogan has said Turkish forces would push east towards the town of Manbij, part of Kurdish-held territory some 100 km east of Afrin, where US troops were deployed to deter Turkish and US-backed rebels from clashing.

Speaking to Erdogan by telephone few days ago, Trump urged Turkey to deescalate, limit its military actions, and avoid civilian casualties, a White House statement said. He urged Turkey to exercise caution and to avoid any actions that might risk conflict between Turkish and American forces.
Saudi Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal has been freed by Saudi Authorities after a financial settlement was approved by the state prosecutor, an official said.

Prince Al Waleed was held in November along with other princes, officials and businessmen by a new anti-corruption body headed by the Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, who tries to consolidate his power grab.

Al Waleed was detained in the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Riyadh in an anti-corruption purge with the National Guard minister and senior member of the Royal family Mutaib bin Abdullah who was arrested as well as his brother Turki.

Prince Alwaleed is the most high-profile detainee to have been released so far. Speaking to Reuters Saturday before his release, he said that no charges had been laid against him and expressed support for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

He told Reuters he expected to be released soon.

There are no charges. There are just some discussions between me and the government, he said in the interview, conducted shortly after midnight. I believe we are on the verge of finishing everything within days.

I told the government Id stay as much as they want because I want the truth to come out on all my dealings and on all things that are around me.

Few hours later, Prince Alwaleed was released.
Heavy clashes took place between southern separatists and forces loyal to the internationally recognized Yemeni government in their temporary capital of Aden, as southern protesters vow to overthrow Saudi-backed President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the leader of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), said Yemens parliament would be barred from convening in Aden or anywhere else in southern Yemen unless President Hadi replaced Prime Minister Ahmed bin Daghr and his entire cabinet.

The announcement underscores rising tensions between southern separatists, who are allied with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadis government over control of the southern half of Yemen.

In a statement carried by the state-run Saba news agency, the Yemeni Interior Ministry said it had decided to ban any gatherings, sit-ins or marches in the interim capital, Aden.

These actions will be considered acts that target stability and calm, the statement said, adding that all armed groups will be banned from entering Aden.

Yemen has been torn by an armed conflict since the Houthis captured the capital Sanaa in 2014 before they marched south towards Aden the following year in a military campaign that culminated in Hadi fleeing into exile.

The Saudi-led coalition that entered the war after Hadi sought refuge in Saudi Arabia in March 2015 has helped local fighters free Aden from Houthi control and made other military gains in different parts of the country. However, the Houthis continue to control most of northern Yemen, including Sanaa.
African powerhouse, Nigeria, has welcomed the election of Morocco to the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, as the two countries continue to strengthen their close relations.

Morocco and Nigeria, alongside all Africas great States, should endeavor to promote peace and security in the continent, said Nigerias foreign minister Geoffrey Onyeama at a press briefing following talks with his Moroccan peer, Nasser Bourita in Addis Ababa on the eve of the opening of AUs 30th Summit.

The Nigerian position in support of Moroccos election to AUs supreme decision-making body in peace resolution issues is a marker of a shift in the continents heavy weights in favor of Morocco. Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania, Rwanda to mention but a few are all engines of economic growth in Africa and successful democracies who have expressed support for Morocco at the African Union.

Besides Nigeria, Burundi and Tanzania said that Morocco has a forefront role to play in bolstering peace and security in the continent, a sine-qua-non for economic and social development. Overall, Morocco was elected by 39 votes in favor and 16 abstention, i.e. Morocco secured more than two-thirds of votes needed to join the council.
Al Qaeda has hit again in northern Mali killing at least 14 Malian soldiers and wounding 18 others in the worst attack on security forces in the West African country in more than a year.

Malian military Spokesperson said that 17 terrorists were killed on the scene of the attack, which targeted a military base in the Timbuktu region.

The attack took place on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the French military operation to oust the terrorist threat in northern Mali.

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 recent years, the Sahel has become a breeding ground for several terrorist groups taking advantage of vast swathes of deserts and porous borders to engage in various terrorist, trafficking and criminal activities.

Radicalization and human trafficking are major threats in the impoverished region, where Al Qaeda and associated groups have a significant presence, while the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) also appears to be staking a claim in the volatile region.

The surge of terrorist groups in the Sahel has propelled five countries in the region -Niger, Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mauritania- to form the G5 military group comprising up to 5,000 military, civilian and police personnel, with headquarters in Mali.
Georgia appears at largest tourism exhibition in Spain

Georgias high tourism potential was put on display in Madrid, Spain, at one of the worlds largest tourism exhibitions, FITUR 2018.At the exhibition, Georgias tourism agencies and the Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA) spread the word about the countrys tourism allure.At a special stand in the European pavilion, visitors were able to learn more about Georgia, try different wines and travel across the country with the aid of 3D virtual reality glasses.Visiting the exhibition, Georgian Economy Minister Dimitri Kumsishvili said tourism is one of the burgeoning sectors of the Georgian economy.Tourism has brought more than $2 billion to the state budget in 2017 Today we have exhibited almost all the products that Georgia has to offer to its visitors, Minister Kumsishvili said.FITUR is a global meeting point for tourism professionals and a leading trade fair.During the five-day exhibition (January 17-21) , more than 9,500 companies from more than 160 countries and 13,500 visitors explored the exhibition.Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Zurab Pololikashvilialso visited the Georgian stand at the exhibition.Stressing how important Pololikashvilis success is for Georgia, Minister Kumsishvili said the country will now deepen its cooperation with the UNWTO.
Europes Frozen Conflicts to be solved in 2018

By Khatia Kardava

On January 16, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) held an informal meeting of the plenary to hear a briefing by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on his priorities for 2018.In his speech to the UN General Assembly, Guterres identified 12 main directions of work for the organization in 2018.Among the UN priorities, Gutierrez listed the fight against terrorism, climate change, protection of human rights, the empowerment of women, frozen conflicts in Europe, continuation of collaboration with the African Union, resolution of the refugee problem in Myanmar and Bangladesh, as well as the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.UN Secretary-General named the settlement of the conflicts in the Middle East and the frozen conflicts in Europe among the main problems that the UN will have to tackle.He noted that to settle the conflicts in Europe it is necessary to withstand the dangerous wave of nationalism and to revitalize the work of mediation initiatives. According to him, it is about the Norman format and the Tripartite Contact Group on Eastern Ukraine. In his speech, UN Secretary-General also referred to the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno-Karabakh, the Geneva International Discussions on Georgia and the 5 + 2 process on Transnistria.Although, on January 1, 2017, UN Secretary-General pledged to make 2017 a year of peace, Guterres noted that conflicts deepened and peace remained elusive over the past year.I took office last year calling for us to make 2017 a year for peace. One year later, we must recognize that peace remains elusive. In fundamental ways the world has gone in reverse. Conflicts have deepened and new dangers have emerged," he said.Reflecting on what the United Nations is facing, Guterres addressed UN members to have greater unity and courage to meet today's most urgent needs, to ease the fears of the people we serve and set the world on track towards a better future.The media outlets in Georgia and other South Caucasus states have broadcasted the speech of UN Secretary Generalwith more optimistic headlines such as:The resolution of conflicts in Georgia will be the priority of the United Nations 2018, or One of UN priorities in year 2018 will be the settlement of Karabakh conflict.However, Guterres has not spoken about his strategies or potential policy that can be implemented towards Russia in order to solve the conflicts of Karabakh, South Ossetia and Abkhazia.Examining the conflicts in South Caucasus, Latvias former President Vaira Vike-Freibergas statement made at EU Eastern Partnership in Riga back in 2015 still remains relevant. As she stated, no frozen conflict in the former Soviet space will be resolved as long as Russia retains its veto in the UN Security Council and thus is in a position to block moves toward a resolution. Vike-Freiberga stressed that despite the existence of the OSCE Minsk Group there has been no progress on the resolution of the Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan because Moscow doesnt want any progress.The conflict in Transdniestria also is frozen but there is no progress in its resolution. Georgia has lost its lands. Ukraine has been subjected to military occupation, [and] international law is incapable of resolving these issues, she said. As long as Russia has a veto in the UN Security Council, one should not expect resolutions from this organization, Vike-Freiberga added.
I saw Maze Runner 3 in theatres today and there were some ungodly ugly people in that film. Thats my ungodly story.

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but queen patricia clarkson is in that! she's ungodly PERFECT tbh

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just seeing its youtube ads was deeply insulting. what happened to the boy from love actually??

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Lmao ikr. Who knew???

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I wanted to watch the third movie when I realized I didnt watch the second one.



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based on the title and twitter pic, i thought this was a documentary on the Catholic Church and its abominable behaviour...not thatfar off though

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[ Spoiler (click to open) ]

oops that gif was big, sorry



OMG i can't wait for this doc!



Edited at 2018-01-28 04:33 am (UTC) oops that gif was big, sorryOMG i can't wait for this doc!

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this gif is like before and after the stages of bloating

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The people who didn't think The Exorcist was great horror or hated it (because it wasn't scary) are the same people with shit taste who think A Cabin In The Woods was a great horror movie.

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My first thought was legit "darkest hour is already in theaters."

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Need to ask @WilliamFriedkin if he did anything to Cristina's voice in The Devil and Father Amorth. Very disturbing doc. #Venezia74  Joe Utichi (@joeutichi) August 30, 2017





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BLESS your taste!!!

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i just read some stories on /letsnotmeet that i v much regret reading rn so im not ready for this post

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link us bish

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squatters freak me tf out

all of them fuck me up tbh but this one rly spooked me just nowsquatters freak me tf out

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i hate this one omg https://www.reddit.com/r/LetsNotMeet/comments/5km2pq/phone_stalker_with_a_key_to_my_apartment/

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Oh good, creepy post! I just read the graphic novel, My Friend Dahmer, and watched some old documentary about him on youtube. Remembering all over again some of the sickest details. I still need to see the movie.

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i wanna talk to someone about exorcist 3. it's better than it has the RIGHT to be tbh. i lowkey might love it more than the 1st one... and idek why. or at least i love it the same.

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I haven't seen it years but I remember liking it lol. I need to find all the exorcist movies and own them. I'll check this place in manhattan that has dvds super cheap. i'll watch it so we can talk about it~

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good my homi3, do it. i love it!! do you remember the hospital scene? shivers. also that FUCKING serial killer/demon voice i wanna kms. terrifying tbh

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Exorcist 3 fucking owns, it's even better than the first one. Some of the best jump scares in a movie ever.

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i lied. exorcist 3 is trash, exorcist 2 is trash, and the original exorcist is trash. the REAL best exorcism to hit hollywood was dr. marlena evans' exorcism/possession on days of our lives. we been knew.





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I watched Exorcist 3 with my brother when it first came out and he let out a giant Ned Flanders scream at the scissor/hallway scene and it was the best thing ever.

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Exorcist 3 is GREAT. Two of the greatest jump scares ever (I'm sure you know which ones I mean!) are both in that film. I really wish Blatty had directed more (Ninth Configuration is also incredible), but after what the studio put him through for Exorcist 3, I really can't blame him.



Have you ever read Legion, his book that it was based on? So good!

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An Exorcist Tells His Story



In this powerful book, the renowned exorcist of Rome tells of his many experiences in his ministry as an exorcist doing battle with Satan to relieve the great suffering of people in the grip of evil. The importance of the ministry to expel demons is clearly seen in the Gospels, from the actions of the Apostles, and from Church history. Fr. Amorth allows the reader to witness the activities of the exorcist, to experience what an exorcist sees and does. He also reveals how little modern science, psychology, and medicine can do to help those under Satan's influence, and that only the power of Christ can release them from this kind of mental, spiritual or physical suffering. An Exorcist Tells His Story has been a European best-seller that has gone through numerous printings and editions. No other book today so thoroughly and concisely discusses the topic of exorcism.





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An Exorcist: More Stories



Since satanic sects, occultism, sTances, fortune-tellers and astrologers are so widespread today, Father Amorth asks the question why is it so difficult today to find an exorcist, or a priest who is an expert in this field? The example and the teaching of Christ is very clear, as is the tradition of the Church. But today's Catholics are often misinformed.



Exorcisms are reserved for appointed priests, while all believers can make prayers of liberation. What is the difference? What norms must be followed? What problems are still open and unresolved in this field?



The new book by Father Amorth answers these and many other questions, supporting his discourse with a rich exposition of recent facts. A valuable, practical and instructive manual for priests and lay people, on how to help many who are suffering.

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https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anneliese_Michel RL exorcisms are manipulative at best and deadly at worst. It enrages me that the Church (or ANY church) still views them as legitimate. If it's not an act, it's always, always, mental illness, but that concept is way too post-enlightenment for some people.

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of baron why u do this to me





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I can deal with aliens, monsters, serial killers and even with fucking ghosts but I DON'T mess with demons. I'm not even religious but that's the only thing that really disturbs me, to be honest. I was 10 when I first saw The Exorcist and it was pretty traumatic to say the least.

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More like the most overrated Horror movie of all time.



If you wanna talk legit greatest, quite a few should deservedly be ahead of The Exorcist.

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then name them bitch

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a few off the top of my head...



The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Night/Dawn/Day of the Dead

Carpenter's The Thing

Halloween

Blood and Black Lace

Suspiria

The Beyond

Re-Animator

Evil Dead II

The Haunting

The Innocents



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i said exorcist was ONE of the GREATEST!

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A rocking pony toy was abandoned alone in the trash area at uhaul. It was moving but it ain't due to wind or anyone just left it. I was like why would anyone abandon you, you r shook smh

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omg you should've took the pony home with u

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That doesn't invalidate the theory that Lorde broke up that unholy union.

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She's the butt on St. Vincent's really ugly album cover, right? Imagine that being your big model moment.

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hhmm dont think ontd can imagine a model moment period



Edited at 2018-01-28 09:14 pm (UTC)

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Ding ding ding!!!

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lmfao

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Wasn't it pretty much universally agreed that Kaia Garber's breakout moment was the private jet-runway walk?

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LMAO

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How very Joey Tribbiani of her.

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LOL, I thought it was Annie herself

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what if annie set this up?  the dramz.

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lol

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i'd be... displeased at this news if I was Lena i'd be... displeased at this news if I was Lena

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she's a model?

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We're all models by 2018 standards.

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I kind of also see Ellie Goulding here???

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lmao

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not these non heteronormative breeders taking up the front page again

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lmao

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tea

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Of course he is. Lorde must be heartbroken.

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this makes me feel bad for lena which makes me mad bc i f-ing hate her. but i know it sucks seeing someone move on so fast especially since it takes me forever to get over someone.



ugh men

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if the rumors are to be believed, they were on the outs for a while. i think the relationship was "over' long before it was actually declared which is why he moved on so fast.



i have like, a milligram of sympathy for lena.

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My ex started dating a more attractive version of me after we broke up and I was so hurt but also kind of impressed with how fast he managed to do it.



lol same sis

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i feel for her too. she should date one of his friends

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Yeah

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Same. That would cause me to drink A LOT

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agreed w/ it all

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I tried to muster up some sympathy but got nothing. She deserves nothing. Not after calling Aurora Perrineau (sp?) a gold digging liar. Fuck this mediocrity.

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if my 5-year long bf dated a model right after our breakup, I don't care how big of an asshole he was I would feel like complete shit about myself

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she accused a Black woman of lying about rape, fuck her

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Same. Similar thing happened to me. 2 year relationship and he moved on with someone 15 years older than me/him within 3 days. Within the week, she was living with him. I dodged a bullet, I know (though unfortunately a long time in).

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You know he probably mentally checked out that relationships awhile ago, but was too much a coward to end it. But this is Lena were talking about so she deserves it.

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After having to put up Lena Dunham's horrid personality for so many years, guess he wants to indulge himself.



But new girl, you can do better.

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Life imitates art.



Mimi Rose was hotter though.

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at least it's not an Adam/Jessa situation as it would be if he was dating Lorde

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https://i-d.vice.com/en_us/article/7xvna4/artist-carlotta-kohl-doesnt-want-to-be-labeled Link to an interview with her from 2016:

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oh ew

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It's her photography from a magazine shoot, I doubt she's also the model. (There's no tattoo in the IG swimsuit pic for instance)

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she seems insufferable

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My parents were concerned I'd be raised around too many museums so we moved to Long Island.



Que?

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She sounds like just as much of a ~quirky~ blowhard as Lena



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petra collins called; she wants her shtick back.

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hmmm

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Of course shes young, thin, and blonde. No hate on this model at all, and I really dont like Lena, but for him to move on so fast and to a woman like this, I would feel like shit if I were her.

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sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be a young thin blonde. Do they truly have their pick of any man? And if so why do they usually pick mediocrity?



Edited at 2018-01-28 09:28 pm (UTC)

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My best friend growing up was blonde and beautiful. She always had guys hitting on her and she had her fun, but she was pretty much super focused and driven. Her personality was amazing too, one of the funniest, goofiest, and genuine people I knew. This is making me realize I need to get in touch with her lol

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my roommate looks like young michelle pfeiffer and she gets hot guys that treat her like shit, or ugly guys that worship her and buy her everything. she also talks to like 10 guys at once when shes single.

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i mean they just wanna fuck or have the girl as arm candy to show off. it's not like the guys respect them. i assume a lot of girls pick mediocrity either because they don't love themselves and don't understand they can do better, or because that guy actually showed interest in them as a person lol.

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Apparently she's 25-ish, I'm just surprised she isn't barely exiting her teens.

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lol mte

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LOL

not feeling this look, but i hate eyeshadow in general



really going for that whole harley quinn thing..

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Something about him grosses me out but I can't place my exact reason as to why??? Like he'd have dirty fingernails or something.

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He looks like the type who would spend half the night hacking up his own mucus while you tried to sleep.

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Credit: University of Canterbury

In a significant astronomical discovery, a University of Canterbury (UC) scientist has made the very first detection of a jet from a very young, massive star in a galaxy that is not our own.

Marsden Fellow Dr Anna McLeod, of UC's School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, says this discovery will drive significant advancement in the field of star formation.

"It also gives a further clue on one of the biggest questions in modern astronomy: how do massive stars form?" Dr McLeod says.

"Massive stars are so important because they regulate the formation of new generations of stars as well as the evolution of entire galaxies. Our discovery captures a massive star as it is forming, and it sheds light onto the formation mechanism."

Dr McLeod is the lead author of the new article about the discovery "A parsec-scale optical jet from a massive young star in the Large Magellanic Cloud", co-authored with researchers in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, which has been published today in Nature, one of the highest-impact scientific journals.

The researchers say the jet spans about 36 light years (or 11 parsecs), which makes it among the largest jets of its kind ever found. The star powering the jet appears to be about 12 times as massive as our sun.

The data used for this work comes from the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile's Atacama Desert, which is among the largest optical telescopes in the world and is one of the most competitive telescopes on which to obtain precious observing time.

"The discovery is very important as it opens new doors in the field. As an added bonus, it also comes with a very rich data set and stunning images of a star-forming region in our neighbour galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud," Dr McLeod says.

She explains that while the way in which stars similar to our sun are formed is understood, this is not the case for stars with masses eight-times that of our sun and above, "namely those stars that are so important in regulating star formation in entire galaxies".

In the paper, Dr McLeod presents compelling evidence that high-mass stars form in a similar way to sun-like stars.

"We have detected a very young and still forming massive star  a so-called young stellar object  which is launching a bipolar jet. The jet is direct evidence for what we call an accretion disk  a disk around the equator of the star through which the star is gathering matter and thus growing, which is what we see in low-mass stars."

Dr McLeod says this discovery is important for various reasons:

It brings direct evidence for an accretion-mediated formation scenario for massive stars, meaning that we have evidence that massive stars up to 12 times that of our sun form like low-mass stars.

It is the first jet from a massive young stellar object detected outside of our own galaxy.

In the Milky Way, most jet-driving massive young stellar objects are invisible to optical telescopes, because they are too deeply embedded in their natal material which shields them from our sight. However, in this case, both the jet and the star are visible in the optical, providing unprecedented insight; it is the first jet from a massive young stellar object observed in optical light.

The total length of the jet is 11 parsec, making it among the longest observed jets to date.

The way the jet was identified is unique, because it is only with the kind of instrument used to take the data (the MUSE instrument at the VLT) that this could be done  regular instruments would not have detected the jet. (The VLT can detect objects roughly 4 billion times fainter than can be detected with the naked eye.)

More information: A parsec-scale optical jet from a massive young star in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Nature DOI: 10.1038/nature25189 Journal information: Nature A parsec-scale optical jet from a massive young star in the Large Magellanic Cloud.
This artist's concept depicts a planetary system. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

By studying the atmospheric contents of ancient and present-day Earth, scientists say they've discovered specific chemical combinations that could reveal the presence of biological activity on other planets.

These biosignatures, described in the journal Science Advances, could offer a key tool in the search for extraterrestrial life.

"There's a direct path from the conclusions of our work to the possible discovery, which would be an historic one, of life elsewhere," said senior author David Catling, a planetary scientist and astrobiologist at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Thousands of planets beyond our solar system, known as exoplanets, have been discovered in the last several years, a small number of which appear to be rocky, Earth-sized planets at the right distance from their star to hold liquid water. Studying the ones with detectable atmospheres could provide crucial clues as to whether they host life.

As powerful new telescopes start to come online, researchers are trying to figure out exactly which atmospheric chemicals they should be looking for. After all, just because a planet looks like it has the right ingredients for life doesn't mean there's actually anything living there.

Scientists have focused on a few potentially telltale molecules, such as methane. Methane is produced in large quantities by microbes on Earth (including those in the bellies of cattle). But methane can also be produced by nonbiological sources, such as volcanoes.

Molecular oxygen (two oxygen atoms bonded together) is produced in massive amounts today by photosynthesizing algae, plants and microbes. But the photosynthetic mechanism is so complicated that scientists think it evolved only once on our own planet. That means there's no guarantee of finding oxygen-producing photosynthesis on other worlds, even if life does exist there.

Thus, relying on any individual chemical could produce false positives or false negatives, said study coauthor Stephanie Olson, an astrobiologist and graduate student at the University of California, Riverside. But living things alter their environments in complex ways. What if there was a particular mixture of molecules that would not exist without life?

To find out, Catling's graduate student Joshua Krissansen-Totton led a study that examined the Earth's atmosphere in three stages of its existence: The Archean (4 billion to 2.5 billion years ago), the Proterozoic (2.5 billion to 541 million years ago) and the Phanerozoic (541 million years ago to the present).

During each of these time periods, life (and the planet itself) looked very different. Place a snapshot of each Earthly period side-by-side, and they'd look like totally different planets.

"The phrase Earth-like does not refer to a planet that necessarily resembles modern-day Earth at all," Olson said. "It's actually a very broad term that encompasses a broad variety of worlds. It includes hazy worlds like the Archean; it includes icy worlds like the 'snowball Earth' intervals; it includes anoxic worlds with exclusively microbial ecosystems; it includes worlds with complex and intelligent life; and it includes worlds that we haven't even seen yet."

That's helpful for scientists, she added, who need several models for what life on other worlds might look like.

In spite of their differences, each of these periods in Earth's history share at least one characteristic: chemical imbalances in their atmosphere. That's because biological activity produces substances that otherwise have no business coexisting, Catling said.

Take methane and oxygen: Placed together, these gases quickly react and destroy each other. But there's plenty of both on Earth, because living things keep making them.

"If you find a system in equilibrium, you've found something that's dead. Or something that's not alive," Catling said. "When we see something unusual, that's out of whack, it can be a sign of life."

People have talked about this idea since the 1960s, Catling said, but hadn't really quantified it up until now. For this paper, the scientists ran simulations using the known chemical contents of each atmosphere to see whether any telltale chemical disequilibriums existed.

The researchers found that during the Archean, when there was little oxygen, the coexistence of methane, nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (together with liquid water) would have been a sign that living things were hard at work.

"Large fluxes of each gas in the absence of biology is really difficult to explain," Olson said of the coexistence of carbon dioxide and methane.

In the mid-Proterozoic, as oxygen-producing microbes rose, the giveaway would be a combo of oxygen, nitrogen and liquid water. Even if the levels of atmospheric oxygen are too low to be detectable, scientists could look for ozone instead, Olson said. That's because ozone (composed of three oxygen atoms) is made by reactions involving biologically produced oxygen and it produces a very strong signal that could be detectable even at low levels.

In the Phanerozoic, which includes the present day, the biosignatures would be oxygen with nitrogen and water. (Oxygen levels here would far higher and much easier to detect than in the mid-Proterozoic.)

A few of the chemical cocktails, such as the combination of methane and carbon dioxide, might be detectable by future observatories like NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, set for launch in 2019.

"It's really giving people a path forward on what to focus on in their observations," said Nikole Lewis, a project scientist for the James Webb who is based at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore.

James Webb will survey a broad range of planets, and having a wide variety of biosignatures and a range of planetary templates is a crucial tool, she added. That's because the more planets they're able to find that fit these criteria, the more likely they are to discover the few that might really host living things.

"We'll have a large enough sample that hopefully there'll be a few that will stick out like sore thumbs," Lewis said.

Until James Webb and other telescopes capable of finding these atmospheric contents come online, the hunt for possible biosignatures continues, scientists said.

"At the moment we're not yet prepared to recognize life on the full diversity of Earth-like exoplanets, and we can only imagine what life might look like on a planet that's not Earth-like," Olson said. "That's of course a huge area of research, and I don't think we've quite figured it out yet. But disequilibrium is potentially a particularly powerful path forward."

More information: J. Krissansen-Totton el al., "Disequilibrium biosignatures over Earth history and implications for detecting exoplanet life," Science Advances (2018). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aao5747 Journal information: Science Advances J. Krissansen-Totton el al., "Disequilibrium biosignatures over Earth history and implications for detecting exoplanet life,"(2018). advances.sciencemag.org/content/4/1/eaao5747

2018 Los Angeles Times

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
2018 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #4

Posted on 28 January 2018 by John Hartz

Breaking News... Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Quote of the Week... Graphic of the Week... SkS in the News... John Cook Quoted... Coming Soon on SkS... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... 97 Hours of Consensus...

Breaking News...

Donald Trump appears to misunderstand basic facts of climate change in Piers Morgan interview

Donald Trump has expressed doubts over the existence of climate change, as it is understood by the vast majority of scientists.

After proclaiming his belief in clean air and clean water, the US President questioned some of the central tenets of climate science in an interview with Piers Morgan.

Mr Trump also repeated previous statements that he could go back into the Paris climate agreement, but said that he would only make such a decision if he could get a good deal for the US.

US President Donald Trump dismisses climate change and global warming in a TV interview this evening where he justifies leaving the Paris Accord because it was "a disaster" for America.

In a rambling and somewhat incoherent response to questions from Piers Morgan. He says, "There is a cooling, and there's a heating. I mean, look, it used to not be climate change, it used to be global warming. That wasn't working too well because it was getting too cold all over the place.

"The ice caps were going to melt, they were going to be gone by now, but now they're setting records. They're at a record level."

Donald Trump appears to misunderstand basic facts of climate change in Piers Morgan interview by Josh Gabbatiss, The Independent, Jan 27, 2018

Story of the Week...

Reckoning with climate change will demand ugly tradeoffs from environmentalists  and everyone else

Climate change is a crisis. Serious damages are already underway, theres enough carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to ensure more damages to come, and if carbon emissions continue unchecked, species-threatening damages become a non-trivial risk.

Lots of people acknowledge this. But its one think to acknowledge it and another to really take it on board, to follow all the implications wherever they lead. Very few people have let the reality of the situation sink in deep enough that it reshapes their values and priorities. Being a consistent climate hawk, it turns out, is extremely difficult.

Lets take a look at an example of what Im talking about, and then pull back to ponder the broader problem.

Reckoning with climate change will demand ugly tradeoffs from environmentalists  and everyone else by David Roberts, Energy & Environmnet, Vox, Jan 27, 2018

Toon of the Week...

Quote of the Week...

Just a year into his term, President Trump has already gained a reputation for being staunchly anti-science, with his administration recently described as showing greater distain for science than any other in modern history. Every day, it seems, there is a new report of the administration reducing public access to scientific information, cutting funding for scientific research, or downplaying the views of qualified scientists. To keep track of these developments, the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, in association with the Climate Science Legal Defense Fund, today launched a new Silencing Science Tracker (SST).

The SST is intended as a comprehensive record of government attempts to silence science since the November 2016 election. By recording all attempts in a single database, the SST enables users to easily see the myriad of ways in which scientific research and discussion are being undermined by government, and (hopefully) take action in response. This is vital as, in the words of Michael Gerrard, Faculty Director of the Sabin Center:

Scientific knowledge is the very foundation of all environmental regulation. When the government ignores science, its like a truck driver who wears a blindfold and drives based on what is whispered into his ear  dangerous and intolerable. The vital work of scientists must be supported, made public, and listened to. When government officials block this, we plan to shine a harsh light.

New Silencing Science Tracker Launched by The Sabin Center and Climate Science Legal Defense Fund by Romany Webb, Climate Law Blog, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Jan 19, 2018

Graphic of the Week...

WMO confirms 2017 among the three warmest years on record, WMO Press Release, Jan 18, 2018

SkS in the News...

In his Independent article, Donald Trump appears to misunderstand basic facts of climate change in Piers Morgan interview, Josh Gabbatiss references and links to:

Consensus on consensus: a synthesis of consensus estimates on human-caused global warming, Cook et al, Environmental Research Letters, Volume 11, Number 4, Published 13 April 2016

John Cook Quoted...

From Monthly Messenger: Could Inoculation be the Cure to Climate Denial? posted by the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL):

A separate study conducted by John Cook  author of the Debunking Handbook, which addresses how to debunk myths  resulted in similar findings. Cooks study found that highlighting scientific consensus could increase peoples perceived consensus on a topic. This reduces the impact of misinformation. Many people believe that the most appropriate way to address false information is to not discuss the myth, rather to only highlight the facts. However, Cooks research found it is best to address misinformation head on. You cant talk around it; otherwise it persists. Whats important is to lead with the facts  the facts are the headline  then introduce the myth, and then explain why its wrong. John Cook

From Dino Grandoni's Washington Post article, The Energy 202: Republicans love NASA. But why do they doubt its climate science?:

But the love for NASA doesn't mean the GOP embraces the agency's stance on climate science.Last year, only 18 percent of Republicans said they worried a great deal about climate change, according to Gallup. The incongruity between support for the space agency and its climate warnings stems from a "crucial tension in conservative attitudes towards climate change, according to John Cook, a research assistant professor at the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University. On the one hand, there is respect for scientific institutions like NASA, Cook wrote by email. On the other hand, acceptance of human-caused global warming is low.

Photo of the Week...

Trump Officials, Energy Execs Speak Together at Conference Sponsored by Climate Denier Groups by Itai Vardi, DeSmog, Jan 25, 2018

Coming Soon on SkS...

State of the climate: how the world warmed in 2017 (Zeke)

(Zeke) Natural gas killed coal - now renewables and batteries are taking over (Dana)

(Dana) Is warming in the Arctic behind this years crazy winter weather? (Jennifer Francis)

(Jennifer Francis) Guest Post (John Abraham )

(John Abraham ) New research this week (Ari)

(Ari) 2018 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #5 (John Hartz)

(John Hartz) 2018 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #5 (John Hartz)

Poster of the Week...

SkS Week in Review...

97 Hours of Consensus...

Mark Cochrane's bio page and Quote source

High resolution JPEG (1024 pixels wide)
Ingvar Kamprad, who died Saturday, was businessman from an early age. When he was 5 he sold matches to his neighbors. Then when he was still in high school he began to sell fish, Christmas decorations, seeds, and pencils from his bicycle. He went on to found Ikea in 1943, when he was just 17 and the company began selling furniture in 1948. Things didnt really take off until 1956 when the firm pioneered flat-pack furniture, which changed the way people in much of the world buy household products.

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One of the greatest entrepreneurs of the 20th century, Ingvar Kamprad, has peacefully passed away at his home in Smaland, Sweden, on Jan. 27, Ikea said in an emailed statement on Sunday. He was surrounded by his loved ones, and died following a short illness, the statement said.

The name Ikea is made up of Kamprads initials and the first letters of the farm (Elmtaryd) and village (Agunnaryd) where he was raised.

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Kamprad, who was 91, was the eight-richest person in the world according to Bloomberg, which estimated his net worth at $58.7 billion. He has the flat-pack furniture to thank for much of his fortune, which was inspired by the way he saw an employee take the legs off a table to fit in a customers car. That ended up revolutionizing the way furniture was shipped, stored, and sold, making it possible for people to buy modern furniture at a low price.

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In 2005, U.K. style magazine Icon characterized Kamprad as the most influential taste-maker in the world because if it wasnt for Ikea, most people would have no access to affordable contemporary design. The company has done more to bring about an acceptance of domestic modernity than the rest of the design world combined.

Ikeas 403 stores that are often in more isolated, suburban areas in 49 countries generated sales of $47.6 billion last year, and the companys goal is to generate $62 billion in annual revenue by 2020.

Lots of tributes poured in on Sunday with Swedens Prime Minister Stefan Lofven praising Kamprad as an inspiration. Ingvar Kamprad was a unique entrepreneur who had a big impact on Swedish business and who made home design a possibility for the many not just the few, national news agency TT quoted Lofven saying. Swedens Foreign Minister, Margot Wallstrom, said Kamprad was a great entrepreneur who helped bring Sweden into the world.

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Despite his huge wealth Kamprad was typically known as a frugal businessman who lived the lifestyle he preached for his company in which executives travel on low-cost airlines and stay in budget hotels. He was known for driving an old Volvo and traveled economy when he was flying. That wasnt quite the full story though. Reporters found he had a villa in Switzerland, vineyards in Provence, and he drove a Porsche in addition to his beat up Volvo, notes the New York Times.

Beyond the exaggerated frugal lifestyle that he claimed to follow, Kamprad was also a controversial figure who was forced to apologize for his support of a nationalist, far-right group that backed fascists around Europe in the 1940s. His support for fascism was revealed by a newspaper in 1994 and Kamprad apologized, saying it was a part of my life which I bitterly regret, and the most stupid mistake of my life. Many also criticized Kamprad for spending much of his time in Switzerland to avoid Swedens high taxes.
Looks like President Donald Trump spent at least part of his weekend monitoring cable news and was triggered by a CNN interview with Shawn Jay-Z Carter in which the rap mogul called the commander in chief a racist superbug. During the interview with CNNs Van Jones, Jay-Z said Trumps words expose how racism continues to be deeply ingrained in the United States and how people in a big chunk of the country continue to talk when they think no one is listening. Jay-Z also harshly criticized the president for his reported shithole countries comments, calling them disappointing and hurtful.

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"Everyone feels anger, but after the anger it's really hurtful. ... he's looking down on a whole population of people, and he's so misinformed," JAY-Z slams Trump's "shithole" comment.



Van Jones kicks off his new show at 7pm ET with the hip hop star. https://t.co/ri68FSfaup pic.twitter.com/icLx1ZYvch  CNN (@CNN) January 27, 2018

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On Sunday morning, the president took to Twitter to send a snarky message to Jay-Z, asking someone to please inform him that because of my policies, Black Unemployment has just been reported to be at the LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED!

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Somebody please inform Jay-Z that because of my policies, Black Unemployment has just been reported to be at the LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2018

The commander in chief followed that tweet with another one that praised his own administration, saying that the economy is better than it has been in many decades.

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Our economy is better than it has been in many decades. Businesses are coming back to America like never before. Chrysler, as an example, is leaving Mexico and coming back to the USA. Unemployment is nearing record lows. We are on the right track!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2018

Its likely Jay-Z already knows the countrys unemployment statistics considering he talked about them with Van Jones during the interview. At one point, the CNN host asked whether it was OK for Trump to say terrible things but [put] money in our pockets, specifically mentioning the decrease in black unemployment. Jay-Z answered that wasnt enough to make a good leader because its not about money at the end of the day considering that money doesnt equate to happiness.

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Someone needs to inform @realdonaldtrump that I ALREADY asked Jay Z whether black employment figures redeem Trumps presidency. And Jays answer last night on the #VanJonesShow was POWERFUL !!! ... Watch the VIDEO for yourself: https://t.co/7Sv3rHKkmW https://t.co/jbHpkKOM5o  Van Jones (@VanJones68) January 28, 2018

You treat people like human beings. Thats the main point, Jay-Z said. It goes back to the whole thingtreat me really bad and pay me well. Its not going to lead to happiness, its going to lead to, again, the same thing. Everyones going to be sick.
Asteroids named after Presov students

Four Presov students shine in science around the world with outstanding projects, from ecological issues to biomaterials.

The vestibule of Catholic school Saint Mikulas in Presov is decorated by students awards from international Olympiads and prestigious scientific competitions from all around the world.

Students of Miriam Feretova Sr., teacher of biology and geography at the school, have shown that Slovak students can be innovative on an international scale in the sciences.

Working together for health

Two such students are Miriam Feretova Jr. and Samuel Smoter, who each have an asteroid named after them.

Their first success came in 2016 when each was awarded a bronze medal for separate projects at I-SWEEEP (International Sustainable World Energy, Engineering & Environment Project) in Houston, USA. Miriam studied Rhytisma acerinum, a tree fungus, while Samuel researched the elimination of heavy metals with help of zeolites, a type of mineral.

After this, they started to work together.

We tested using essential oils as tick prevention and found out that some of them are 14 times more effective than synthetic repellents. At the same time, ours are not harmful towards health and the environment and the price is a third of commercial ones, said Miriam Feretova Jr., as quoted by the TASR newswire..

Read also:

Read also: Slovak students earn international prize for innovative tick repellant Read more

They won silver medals at the biggest scientific competition for secondary school students, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) held in Los Angeles. Intel ISEF was attended by 1,778 students from 75 countries, competing in 17 different groups. The Presov students were the only Europeans nominated to compete in the Animal Science category.

They also gained a special prize from the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) in the category Special Awards, with an invitation to the international competition CASTIC in China to defend their silver medal, which they did. One of the prizes included naming the two asteroids after the two students.

Now, the pair of talented high schoolers are testing new biomaterials made from the cells from fat fibre that could be used as a substitute for the metal used in joint replacements. Denisa Harvanova from Medicine Faculty in Kosice is helping them with the project. The pair of high schoolers will attend the competitions Expo science in Luxembourg and Intel ISEF again in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with their new project.

After high school, Feretova and Smoter would like to study medicine.

Ecological sunscreen

Peter Skripko and Jan Matufka, students from the same school, completed a project concerning ecological sunscreen that can protect human skin against UV radiance. The sunscreen would be more efficient and commercially cheaper than ordinary cosmetics.

We cooperated on this project with the Department of Biophysics of the University of P.J. Safarik in Kosice where we got technical facilities and consultation as well. We presented the project at the Festival of Science and Technology in Bratislava and in April we are going to present it at the Vernadsky National Contest in Moscow, said Skripko, as quoted by TASR.

Before this project, he devoted his time to desalination of soil via plants and silicon, an ecological and cheap method, according to Skripko. He took third place at I-SWEEEP with this project and in China he gained silver medals as his classmates did. In March, he is also going to Luxembourg and after high school, he would like to study economics.

For Matufka, participation in science projects is a new experience, although he had previously attended competitions in Geography (in Serbia), Astronomy and Math. In the future, he would like to stay in the technical field, mostly in mathematics or IT.

28. Jan 2018 at 7:00 | TASR, Compiled by Spectator staff
Slovak Film Harvest brings national cinematography to NYC, D.C.

The first year of representative screenings of Slovak cinematography brings the creme de la creme of feature movies, documentaries and childrens films, as well as short films by students and animated movies to two US cities.

Steam on the River, a documentqary by R. Kirchhoff and F. Remunda (Source: Courtesy of SFU)

The Slovak Film Harvest 2018 festival, offering recent works of Slovak (and Slovak co-production) cinematography, has brought the most visited and internationally most successful films to New York City and Washington, D.C. from January 24 to 28, under the patronage of Slovak Ambassador to the US, Peter Kmec, and Consul General Ladislava Begec. On January 26, the Slovak film evening took place in Washington, D.C., the SITA newswire wrote.

Within the event, contemporary feature films were screened such as Eva Nova (2015 by Marko Skop), The Line (2017, Peter Bebjak), The Red Captain (2016, Michal Kollar), The Candidate (2013, Jonas Karasek) and Tak fajn (2012, Palo Janik).

From among documentaries, Steam on the River (2015, Robert Kirchhoff and Filip Remunda), IMT Smile & Lucnica: Made in Slovakia (2016, Palo Janik), Richard Mueller: Unknown (2016, Miro Remo), When Land Is Looking for Its Heaven (2016, Erik Praus) and Okhwans Mission Impossible (2016, Marek Mackovic) were on offer.

For children, feature film fairytales and animated cartoons were included, while short animated and student films completed the image of Slovak cinematography.

The film festival opened on January 25 in the Bohemian National Hall in New York City, also marking the 25 th anniversary of independent Slovakia. On the 26th, a festive screening of The Line and The Last Bus in the Slovak Embassy in Washington, D.C. commemorated the date as well.

Part of the festival has been also a special meeting for professionals, Filming in Slovakia (on January 24), in Astoria SoundWorks Studios, NYC, according to SITA.

28. Jan 2018 at 20:41 | Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovska
The News in Brief

Media Organizations Urge Parliament to Uphold Presidential Objections to Broadcasting Law



A group of fifty-one media organizations called on the Parliament of Georgia to uphold the presidential objections to the controversial amendments to the Law on Broadcasting.



The media organizations welcomed President Giorgi Margvelashvilis decision to veto the bill and called on lawmakers to use the presidential veto as a chance to return back to the issue and analyze the threats that the controversial wording of the Law on Broadcasting poses to media environment.



In the country, where commercial advertising is declining annually amid increased budgetary funding for Georgian Public Broadcaster significant increase of public televisions advertising and sponsorship opportunities poses a threat to the financial sustainability of independent media, the joint statement of media organizations reads.



The media organizations, also involving regional TV broadcasters and print media, called for a meeting with the Parliamentary Chairman and the parliamentary majority group.



Georgian Parliamentary Chairman Irakli Kobakhidze, who is paying an official visit to Ukraine, said he is ready to meet media representatives upon his return to Georgia.



The legislative bill, approved by the Parliament last month and vetoed by President GiorgiMargvelashvili on January 15, envisages further expansion of powers of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB), and has attracted heavy criticism from civil society organizations and private broadcasters previously as well.

(Civil.ge)







We are waiting for the Ukrainian side to make a decision on extradition - Prosecutor's Office



The Prosecutor's Office has sent all available evidence to Ukraine, - Natia Songulashvili, a member of the Prosecutorial Council, said on Imedi TV in response to a question about the extradition of Mikheil Saakashvili to Georgia.



According to her, the Ukrainian side is expected to carry out relevant legal procedures.



"The prosecution found sufficient evidence that we believe can serve as basis for a positive decision on extradition. We are now waiting for the Ukrainian side to implement relevant legal procedures and make a final decision. We, the Prosecutor's Office, have sent all available evidence to create legal basis for making this decision," said Natia Songulashvili.

(IPN)




Travelport Worldwide Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates a travel commerce platform that offers distribution, technology, payment, mobile, and other solutions for the travel and tourism industry in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It facilitates travel commerce by connecting travel providers, such as airlines, hotel chains, and car rental companies with online and offline travel buyers in a business-to-business travel platform. The company provides distribution and merchandising solutions for hotel, car rental, rail, cruise-line, and tour operators; Virtual Account Number payment solutions that automatically generate unique MasterCard numbers that are used to process payments; advertising solutions; and other platform services, such as subscription, processing, and business intelligence data services, as well as marketing-oriented analytical tools to travel agencies, travel providers, and other travel data users. It also offers critical IT solutions and other services to airlines, such as shopping, ticketing, departure control, business intelligence, and other solutions. Travelport Worldwide Limited was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Langley, the United Kingdom.

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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 Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. Ltd., Abbott Operations Uruguay S.R.L., Abbott Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Overseas Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Overseas S.A., Abbott Oy, Abbott Point of Care Canada Limited, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Abbott Poland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Procurement LLC, Abbott Products (Philippines) Inc., Abbott Products (Spain) S.L., Abbott Products Algerie EURL, Abbott Products B.V., Abbott Products Distribution SAS, Abbott Products Egypt LLC, Abbott Products Limited, Abbott Products Limited Liability Company, Abbott Products Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Products Operations AG, Abbott Products Operations LLC, Abbott Products Romania S.R.L., Abbott Products Tunisie S.A.R.L., Abbott Products Unlimited Company, Abbott Resources Inc., Abbott Resources International Inc., Abbott S.r.l., Abbott Saudi Arabia Trading Company, Abbott Scandinavia Aktiebolag, Abbott Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Abbott South Africa Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Strategic Opportunities Limited, Abbott Trading Company Inc., Abbott Universal LLC, Abbott Vascular Devices (2) Limited, Abbott Vascular Devices Limited, Abbott Vascular Inc., Abbott Vascular Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Abbott Vascular International, Abbott Vascular Japan Co. Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc.,      ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics.
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.

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TransAtlantic Petroleum Ltd., an oil and natural gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas properties in Turkey and Bulgaria. As of December 31, 2019, it had interests in 4 onshore exploration licenses and 20 onshore production leases covering an area of 436,388 net acres with a total net proved reserves of 10,259 thousand barrels of oil and 2,466 million cubic feet of natural gas located in Turkey, as well as a production concession covering an area of approximately 162,800 net undeveloped acres located in Bulgaria. The company was incorporated in 1985 and is based in Addison, Texas. As of December 18, 2020, TransAtlantic Petroleum Ltd. was taken private.

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Have a nice Sunday!

Politics

-- Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Friday concluded his India visit for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Commemorative Summit, held in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the ASEAN-India dialogue partnership and the 69th anniversary of the Republic Day of India. At the event, the leaders made commitments to further fostering collaboration in a bid to maintain regional peace, stability, and freedom of navigation and aviation.

Society

-- Many out of around 130 youths tested positive for drugs at a night club in Bien Hoa City, approximately 30km from Ho Chi Minh City, during a police raid early Saturday.

-- More than 5,550 child molestation cases have been detected nationwide between 2014 and 2017, with the number of sexually abused children, mostly young girls, constantly increasing year on year while offenders are typically the victims family members, relatives or acquaintances, according to statistics provided by the Ministry of Public Security.

-- The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has proposed the municipal administration cease commercial activity at a section of 23-9 Park in the downtown area to ensure public order and relieve traffic congestion.

Business

-- The market for specialties from across the country and imported food items is heating up in Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces, with an increasing number of city dwellers placing orders for hygienically ensured produce from other localities for consumption during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.

-- A number of streets in District 2 and District 12, Ho Chi Minh City have blossomed with kumquat, bonsai (decorative miniature) mango and grapefruit plants displayed for sale for the Lunar New Year holiday, which begins in mid-February.

Education

-- A career orientation fair which is jointly organized by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper and meant to provide high school students with counseling on choice of colleges takes place today, January 28, in Ho Chi Minh City, the central city of Da Nang and the north-central province of Thanh Hoa.
A massive amount of milk tea in Vietnams major cities is produced using fake ingredients, with health specialists agreeing that these unidentified additives only contribute to other side-effects of long-term milk tea consumption, such as obesity, kidney failure, and even infertility.

The milk tea craze is sweeping the country, leaving locals of all age groups and professional backgrounds flocking in droves to the growing number of vendors popping up throughout Vietnam to satisfy its cravings for the sugary drink.

Milk tea has distinct varieties spread throughout various Asian cultures, but in Vietnam, the sweet drink typically refers to the famed Hong Kong bubble, or boba, tea  a mixture of a juice and chewy pearls.

Unfortunately, businesses trying to make a fast buck on the fad are resorting to ingredients of unknown quality or origin to boost their profits.

Hang Buom Street in Hanois Old Quarter has long been a wholesale hub for milk tea ingredients.

The vast majority of products sold on the street are of unknown origin, but that has not stopped customers from purchasing the dubious ingredients in vast quantities.

A Hanoi market watchdog recently reported two cases of massive quantities of ingredients of unknown origin being sold on the street, with thousands of fake and unlabelled plastic bags of ingredients already prepped for distribution.

In Ho Chi Minh City, some shop owners in Binh Tay Market, District 6, shared tips online for milk tea sellers seeking out shortcuts to elevating their profits.

A large milk tea is sold for only VND12,000 (50 U.S. cents) at Turtle Lake, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

They say that it is not advisable to use fresh milk, instead recommending cream powder and other low-cost ingredients  all of which, of course, are of unknown origin.

Can Tho, a large city in the Mekong Delta, is facing similar problems with the quality of its milk tea.

Tran Truong Chinh, vice-chief inspector of Can Thos Health Department, said that the majority of health violations in the citys milk industry relate to the use of unhygienic equipment and facilities, ingredients without proper safety certification, expired ingredients, and ingredients of unknown origin.

Chinh also says that many employees working at many of the local vendors have not had a proper health check and either have not been properly trained or choose to ignore food hygiene regulations, which could lead to food poisoning.

Genuine milk tea itself is already too bad

Experts have voiced concerns over the potential dangers associated with daily milk tea consumption.

In an interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, nutritionist Tran Lan Huong shared her worries about the health hazards the beverage poses to its primary consumers  high school and college students.

Huong noted the potential risk of obesity resulting from the massive amounts of sugar used in the drink as a particular cause for concern.

Dr Tran Thi Minh Hanh  vice-director of the Ho Chi Minh City Nutrition Center  said the term milk tea is misleading, as milk is rarely an ingredient in the drink.

The major ingredients of milk tea, she explained, are processed tea, cream powder, sugar, serum and toppings like jello, pearls, flan, and cheese.

It should not be a daily drink, she emphasized.

A cup of milk tea filled with toppings from a popular milk tea shop. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Commenting on the amount of energy milk tea provides, Dr. Tran Ngoc Luu Phuong, head of the gastrointestinal intervention department at Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, says that each cup jolts the body with 500-600 kcals.

The resulting effect is that the body is tricked into thinking it has had a meal equivalent to a bowl of rice with meat and vegetables, but it is not receiving the proper intake of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

The pearls contain starch which builds up in the body and leads to slow digestion and a feeling of fullness, she added.

In other words, milk tea drinkers are duped into feeling full while their body goes without nutrients.

Skipping meals while the body is running low on nourishment upsets the bodys nutritional balance, Dr. Phuong said.

She cautions heavy milk tea drinkers on the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and aging cells, considering their monstrous amount of starch and sugar.

The chemical sugar, spice and additives found in milk tea also have destructive long-term consequences.

The health specialist also says that milk tea in some countries has been found to contain maleic acid, which can cause kidney failure and infertility.

The pearls, a key topping in bubble tea, are made from polymer, a substance which the human body can neither absorb nor discharge, she warned.

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A clash between foreign visitors and Vietnamese men on Thursday evening in Hoi An has left a bleeding wound on one of the foreigners head, Dinh Xuan Nghi, chief police officer of Hoi An City, said on Saturday.

According to preliminary investigations, a local motorbike taxi driver used a plastic object to hit Margan, a Frenchman, who was later hospitalized.

There are two versions of the episode as told by Margans mother and the driver.

The mother said in a handwritten letter sent to an official that her son was walking along Nguyen Phuc Chu Street, in the ancient town of Hoi An, located in Quang Nam Province, when about 15 young Vietnamese men offered him a motorbike taxi ride, to which he agreed.

Some of the men showed an unexpected attempt to rob him of his money when payment was made for the service.

Margan then joined his friends in a party in a bar on the same street.

The Vietnamese men rushed toward them, beating the Frenchman in the head, leg, and shoulders while the group of foreigners was getting out of the bar.

The Vietnamese group flung a hard object, causing a wound on his head.

He was then taken to hospital by his friends, and received eleven stitches on his head and body parts.

The driver who has been considered directly responsible for the cuts said that when Margan and his fellows stepped out of the bar, they exchanged words with a group of Vietnamese motorbike taxi drivers, according to Nghi, the chief police officer.

The Vietnamese group fought back in retaliation when seeing the Frenchman hitting one of their members.

Terrified by the sight of blood from Margan, the motorbike taxi drivers took him to hospital, Nghi said, adding that police are probing the case.

The officer also said local motorbike taxi drivers tend to gather and collectively ply for hire.

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Another Way Forward  Grassroots Solutions from New Mexico is Dede Feldmans new book about a new world in which fearless New Mexicans  ordinary people  are making extraordinary things happen.

These self-motivated folks are using collaboration, networks, teams and communities to find innovative ways to achieve grassroots solutions to broad public issues.

Its part of what Feldmans book calls a new vision of development.

All these people have to be what I call social entrepreneurs, do team building, be people with big ideas. They also have to be advocates, to lobby for funds. Funds are hard to come by, she said.

Their objectives include taking health care to underserved rural communities, organizing organic farms, building affordable housing, according to Feldmans book.

Their ideas have been germinating out of the New Mexico soil, literally and figuratively, and taking them forward to find sustaining solutions, she said.

These are some of the entrepreneurs Feldman identifies in her book:

 Max Ramirez, a hell-raiser who fought the sawdust-produced pollution in Albuquerques Sawmill neighborhood. His fight galvanized neighbors. Community activism broadened, leading to creation of the Sawmill Community Land Trust that repurposed the neighborhood with housing and businesses.

 Alan Marks, a lawyer-turned teacher who took his Rio Grande High School students to visit the top colleges in the country, showing them that attending some of the best schools in the country can be more than a dream.

 Don Bustos, an organic farmer in the Espanola Valley who is a nationally recognized leader in farmers-training-farmers. He was involved in the early days of the Santa Fe Farmers Market and started the Agri-Cultura Network in Bernalillo Countys South Valley.

 Charlie Alfero, a Silver City musician whos revolutionized rural health care in southwestern New Mexico through the pioneering concept of promotoras (community health workers) and developed Hidalgo Medical Services into a medical home, where patient need come first and prevention is part of the package.

Feldman learned of many of these projects while representing a North Valley district in the New Mexico Senate for 16 years.

I know there were promising projects going on all over New Mexico, Feldman said. Some of these projects we turned down (in the legislature), she said.

But Feldman had been keeping notes on many of these unfunded but worthwhile projects before she had left the Legislature in 2016.

Another impetus for Another Way Forward was Fred Harris book New Mexico  2050, which she said was a status report on where were at now and where were going to be in 2050 if nothing happens, and recommendations for policy changes to forestall this crisis.

The success stories Feldman has written about are inspirational blueprints for others. The end of each chapters has summaries of the issues addressed in that chapter; and theres contact information for readers to volunteer, partner with or obtain resources the organizations provide.
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, the Manzano Mountain Art Council and Western National Parks Association will once again present the Winter Lecture Series on Saturdays through February.

The lectures are free to the public and start at 1 p.m. at the Manzano Mountain Art Council Center located at the only flashing light in Mountainair, where highways 55 and 60 intersect.

This year Kate Nelson will kick off the series on Saturday, Feb. 3, with a lecture titled Between Two Worlds  the story of artist Helen Hardin.

Nelsons lecture will cover the life of Helen Hardin, who was torn between her Santa Clara roots and the creative foment of the 1960s. Hardin blazed a new trail connected to the traditional Indian art of her mother, Pablita Velarde, and the modernist work of her daughter, Margarete Bagshaw.

Nelson, an award-winning journalist, recently took over as interim editor at New Mexico Magazine. A native of Kansas City, she moved to New Mexico in 1989 and covered statewide politics for the Albuquerque Tribune and later led marketing and public relations efforts for the New Mexico History Museum/Palace of the Governors. She is the author of the 2012 biography, Helen Hardin: A Straight Line Curved.

By popular demand, Robert Julyan will return for this third year as a presenter on Saturday, Feb. 10. Julyan is best known for his award-winning book Place Names of New Mexico. Julyan will present the lecture New Mexico from Above. Julyan will lead a slide tour of some of New Mexicos well-known features and landscapes  as seen from above. Then hell show them from ground level and talk about their significance.

Julyan is an Albuquerque-based author who specializes in history and geography. His first novel Sweeney won the 2012 Tony Hillerman Award of the Arizona New Mexico Book Association. He has written books on New Mexicos geography, mountains and how they got their names. His latest book is titled Hiking to History.

On Saturday, Feb. 17, Mountainair re-enactors Dixie Boyle and Donna Deiner will lecture on True Stories of Frontier Women. They will perform a living history debate and give a tribute to the late Dorothy Cole. Boyle has been working on an exhibit of old photographs of Mountainair she and Dorothy Cole collected that will be permanently displayed in the Salinas Pueblo Missions Meeting Room. A reception will follow the lecture at the Salinas Headquarters in order to observe the photo exhibit and listen to music recorded by Dorothy Cole for her historical musical Diamonds in the Field.

Boyle and Deiner are both retired teachers who worked for Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument as park guides before retiring and organizing their own living history lectures. They portray the characters of Clara Corbin and Virginia McClurg, two women who wanted control of Gran Quivira  one for the treasure she hoped to find there and the other in order to preserve the site and its history. Boyles latest books are True Stories of Frontier Women Parts I and II.

The final lecture on Saturday, Feb. 24, will be presented by Lincoln resident Lynda Sanchez. Her lecture is about Stores of Bootleg Whiskey, Billy the Kid & the Apache. She will also lecture on the Fort Stanton Cave and how its early history during the infamous Lincoln County Wars was part of a hotbed of bootlegging and counterfeiting.

Sanchez has authored or co-authored six books including a Pictorial History of Eve Ball. Her latest book, Apache Legends & Lore of Southern New Mexico is an account of the Apache and other legends. Sanchez has received numerous awards including True Wests 2007 National Best in the National Preservation Award.

The authors will have book signings at the end of each lecture.
WASHINGTON  Two shipping containers full of hygiene kits languish for weeks in a Chinese port, unable to reach North Korea. Theyre intended for people with tuberculosis or hepatitis, not to advance nuclear or missile programs, but Chinese customs officers see something objectionable in the cargo: nail clippers.

As sanctions on Kim Jong Uns government intensify, the few aid groups operating in North Korea are facing sometimes bewildering economic restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles that could cripple life-saving work. While the U.N. Security Council says the penalties shouldnt affect humanitarian help, the Trump administration cites even North Koreas reported food and fuel shortages as evidence of a pressure campaign working.

The nail clippers were part of a consignment sent by Christian Friends of Korea, among the U.S. charities working in North Korea despite escalating nuclear tensions. The latest round of U.N. sanctions bans the supply of metal items, so that explains the clipper holdup.

Its not the only example. The American Friends Services Committee, another aid group, is struggling to deliver agricultural equipment such as threshers, compost makers and shovels.

Sanctions should not have an impact on the well-being of ordinary citizens, said Linda Lewis, a member of the Quaker committee thats helped North Korean farmers for two decades. This work should not be shut down for political reasons.

How do you pressure governments, short of war, to change their behavior without unduly injuring innocent civilians?

Thats one of biggest questions for the economists, foreign policy professionals and political leaders who devise and put in place economic sanctions around the world. U.N. penalties routinely include broad exceptions for most basic civilian goods. Even when the United States targets its most intractable foes, it exempts food, medicine and humanitarian supplies.

In the case of North Korea, which the U.S. and others want to rid of nuclear weapons, its unclear whether the right balance is being struck.

Citing reports last week from Tokyo of scores of North Korean fishing boats, with dead crews, drifting into Japanese waters, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the sanctions are really starting to hurt. The human suffering, he said, was North Koreas responsibility and an unavoidable outcome of its failure to help its own people.

Tillerson also doubted that humanitarian assistance, which South Korea is considering, would reach the right people in the North.

His remarks alarmed humanitarian advocates. But given that the alternative to the U.S.-led pressure may be military conflict, the Trump administration is getting much leeway from international partners and the public over how the sanctions are affecting North Koreas 25 million people. Recent visitors to the isolated country say fuel prices have risen, but food supplies dont seem any scarcer. They anticipate conditions to worsen in the coming months.

Three times in the past year, the U.N. Security Council has tightened economic restrictions on North Korea, cutting fuel supplies and banning trade in the goods that make up 90 percent of the Norths export revenue. The latest round, designed to punish a North Korean long-range missile test, prohibit selling the North iron, steel and other metals. That covers nearly 150 different categories of products, covering everything from stainless steel ingots to spoons and paper clips.

For U.S. aid groups, tiny operations already hindered by myriad requirements from U.S. authorities, the new rules are causing headaches. The groups need special export licenses from the departments of Commerce or Treasury; special U.S. customs inspections of their cargo; and State Department waivers to travel to North Korea. They also must contend with reluctant banks and suppliers, fearful of being fined for any transaction related to North Korea.

In the case of the nail clippers, Heidi Linton of the Christian Friends of Korea, which supports more than 30 tuberculosis and hepatitis care centers, said its routine shipment of hygiene kits was stuck this month in the northern Chinese port of Dalian for two weeks. Finally, Chinese customs gave special permission for the shipment to proceed. Without that decision, Linton would have had to pay people to individually unpack the metal nail clippers from several thousand kits for the two containers to be cleared.

To what purpose? asked a relieved and grateful Linton, who now wonders whether her group can import a replacement clutch for its vehicle in North Korea. It needs other metal items for renovating clinics and for clean water projects.

Lewis, from the Quaker aid group, echoed the sentiment.

Now we cant even send shovels, anything made of steel, she said. Her group helps four cooperative farms in North Korea and had no problem with shipping basic agricultural equipment just a few months ago.

Lewis joked that the specific prohibition covering shovels must be an excessively conservative interpretation of dual-use technologies that are targeted in U.N. sanctions because they can have both peaceful civilian and lethal military uses. Its unclear what specific military use a shovel has.

For North Koreas civilians, the aid groups play a crucial role. The U.N. works on child health care and provided food for more than 800,000 North Koreans last year. Sanctions may be adversely affecting that essential help, U.N. human rights chief Zeid Raad al-Hussein told the Security Council last month.

The country is in far better shape than the famine years of the 1990s, when hundreds of thousands starved to death. But 70 percent of the people still suffer food insecurity, and 2 in 5 are undernourished, according to the U.N. The aid group Care International calls it the worlds most under-reported humanitarian crisis.

Most governments refuse to help.

The U.S. last gave aid to North Korea a decade ago. Few others are stepping up when North Koreas Kim is being almost universally lambasted for plowing his impoverished nations sparse resources into weapons.

The United Nations $114 million humanitarian appeal last year, mostly for children and mothers, was only 30 percent funded. In November, the World Food Program was compelled by a money shortage to exclude 190,000 children from a program that offers cereal and enriched biscuits to the hungry.

China had long resisted the U.S. pressure to use all its economic leverage on North Korea. Its unclear why authorities are now interpreting the rules so strictly. The U.N. resolutions on North Korea specify theyre not intended to have adverse humanitarian consequences.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying acknowledged the problems with humanitarian aid resulting from the North Korea sanctions, but said her country always completely and strictly implements Security Council resolutions.

____

Associated Press writers Joe McDonald in Beijing and Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  That the exact contents of the Nunes memo  a classified document apparently claiming the FBI engaged in shocking surveillance abuses have remained officially secret even as it is available to all House members to view is remarkable in Washington.

Its author, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., and some of his Republican colleagues on the House Intelligence Committee want to declassify it, and may vote to do so as soon as Monday. The White House says it supports full transparency. The Justice Department, on the other hand, says that to make it public without its review and possible redactions would be extraordinarily reckless. And Democrats accuse Nunes of trying to derail special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russias influence in the 2016 election and whether it worked with the Trump campaign.

In its opening language, the memo says that its purpose is to brief lawmakers on the findings of the Intelligence Committees investigation into actions by the Justice Department and the FBI, according to a Democrat familiar with the document; the actions had to do with an application for a warrant under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in connection with Muellers investigation.

But, the Democrat said, there is no investigation in the usual sense of the word  no fact-finding mission by the full committee, with witnesses and the usual trappings. That alone is a tipoff that the memos purpose is suspect.

The Intelligence Committee voted last week to allow the full House to review the memo in a secure area of the Capitol, but the contents still remain a secret to the Senate, the Justice Department, the White House and the public.

Megan Stifel, a former attorney at the Justice Departments National Security Division who helped draft the FISA Amendments Act, said the report may contain speculation that readers might mistake for fact.

I think discussions around this memo have made it clear that even at the highest levels of government, we have people who dont understand how FISA works, Stifel said. (This report) might speculate, and the speculations could be really wrong, and it could do huge damage to national security.

The Justice Department and the FBI have repeatedly asked to review the memo  requests that have all been denied, FBI spokesman Andrew Ames said. A letter sent to Nunes this past week from Assistant Attorney General Stephen E. Boyd urged that the document not be released before the Justice Department reviews it for possible national security damage.

Rep. Adam Schiff of California, ranking Democrat on the committee, said the fact that the panels Republicans wouldnt share the memo with the chairman of the Intelligence Committee on the other side of the Capitol, Republican Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, shows how little confidence they have in the memo.

Schiff and Mark Warner of Virginia, ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, accused Nunes of preparing the memo without even reading the underlying classified documents that it characterizes, and Schiff is preparing a counter-memo that critiques Nunes memo.

Unlike almost all of the 200 GOP congressmen whove seen the memo, I have actually read the underlying documents, and I am confident that there was nothing improper like what this memo seems to allege, Warner said.

Boyds letter said only Schiff, Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., and members of their staffs have reviewed those documents on behalf of the House Intelligence Committee.

The document apparently deals with a dossier on then-candidate Donald Trump prepared by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele in 2016 for research firm Fusion GPS. An FBI application for a warrant under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in connection Muellers investigation allegedly relied at least partially on the dossier. Its not clear whether the FBI disclosed at the time that Fusion GPS was being paid by Hillary Clintons campaign for the research on Trump.

If the panel does vote to make the memo public, the ball goes to Trumps court for five days. If he objects, the full House would meet privately for a vote to decide the matter. Trump could also approve its immediate release or do nothing, in which case the memo would become public after the five days.

Republican attacks on the FBI and the Justice Department sap morale and potentially harm the agencies ability to operate effectively, said Jamil Jaffer, who was counsel to the assistant attorney general for national security in the George W. Bush administration.

But at the same time, parts of the FBI have been their own worst enemy, Jaffer said. The messages between (FBI personnel) Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, losing the data, it doesnt paint a great picture. Jaffer was referring to text messages between the two that disparaged Trump  but also commented negatively on some Democrats.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a speech in Norfolk, Va., Friday that Justice Department dont see criticism from Congress as a bad thing, but that while we are open to fair criticism, we will of course defend our investigators and prosecutors from criticism that is unfair.

Nunes office did not respond to a request for comment.
WARSAW, Poland  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 Trumps 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 Tillersons 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, its always darkest before the dawn, Tillerson said while wrapping up his European tour in Warsaw on Saturday. I dont want to say were at the darkest moment of any of those three areas  but I think its 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 arent 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 Irans ballistic missile program, sunset provisions that gradually allow Iran to resume some advanced atomic work, Iranian support for Syrias government, Yemens Houthi rebels and LebaRunons 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 Trumps 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 were already seeing those casualties, he said.
Middle school students in suburban Maryland are being approached through Snapchat to send nude selfies to an anonymous user who is posting the images to a website that students  or others who know the password  are viewing, according to school officials.

Montgomery County officials say they have received at least 10 reports of activity related to the scheme from middle schools in recent days and have turned them over to police.

Police are investigating, said Rick Goodale, spokesman for the Montgomery County Police Department.

The episode echoes incidents in Virginia four years ago in which teens faced criminal charges for gathering compromising material and for sexting.

Montgomery County school officials sent a letter to families at the systems 25 high schools and 40 middle schools Friday evening, alerting them to the problem. They said some Montgomery County students have sent photos, and others have been given the password to the website.

We want to be preventive, said Derek Turner, spokesman for the district, which is Marylands largest. Were hoping to stop kids from engaging and from sending images. We want them to stay safe online.

Turner said little is known about who is behind the effort and whether that person is a student or adult.

The fact that students are consenting to send their photos is a problem, he said.

Students have come forward at Montgomery schools including A. Mario Loiederman Middle in Silver Spring and William H. Farquhar Middle in Olney.

The issue came to light earlierlast week, Turner said. A letter was sent to Loiederman parents Tuesday.

It remains unclear how many students have received requests for photos on Snapchat or have viewed images on the site, which Turner said includes nude photos with blurred faces.

In the letter to parents, school officials wrote that they have received multiple reports from community members that one or more individuals is posting inappropriate content on a private social media platform, including nude images of MCPS students. It is our understanding that many of the nude images on the private site were taken by or with the consent of the students appearing in the photos.

In 2014, two teenage boys in Virginia faced charges for collecting compromising photos of more than 50 girls at McLean High School and assembling them in an online file-sharing account.

The teens pleaded guilty in Fairfax County to three misdemeanor charges each for distributing obscene material, as part of a deal with prosecutors. A judge sentenced them to two days each in youth jail and required them to do community service and refrain from using social media and the Internet.

A Manassas City (Virginia) teen was charged earlier that year with child pornography counts for sexting an explicit video to his girlfriend. The teen was eventually placed on probation with the stipulation the charges would be dropped if he maintained good behavior for a year.

Montgomery school officials asked parents to call police at 240-773-5400 if their child has information about the site or has been approached through Snapchat for images. School counselors will be available to support students as needed, they said.
PHOENIX  A 12-week search involving hundreds of law enforcement officers failed to turn up the remains of a missing Phoenix woman believed to be a homicide victim, but police said theres enough evidence to win a conviction of the man charged with killing her.

Before the murder trial of Robert John Interval begins later this year, police had hoped to find the body of Christine Mustafa, 34, in a Phoenix-area landfill, The Arizona Republic reported .

The search was called off earlier this month, and police said it cost nearly $1.5 million.

Without the victims body, Phoenix police Sgt. Alan Pfohl said the current evidence against the ex-boyfriend should still secure a conviction. The evidence from a body has even hurt prosecutions in some cases, he said.

An absent body can help a prosecution by making it harder for the defense to argue against a prosecutors theory, said Roland Steinle, a retired Maricopa County Superior Court judge and a former public defender.

It favors the prosecution if there is no reasonable doubt that the person in fact died, Steinle said. Because then any disagreement as to manner of death hurts the defense. If you dont know the manner of death, then how do you (argue) it?

With a body missing, a defense could argue that a killing was done in self-defense, or that it was not premeditated. But the question of if a defendant was responsible for disposing of the body still comes into play, Steinle said.

That really favors the state, Steinle said. Why would you dispose of a body if you did nothing wrong?

Interval, 38, pleaded not guilty last June to first-degree murder. The newspaper was unable to reach his defense attorney for comment.

A spokeswoman for the Maricopa County Attorneys Office declined to provide a prosecutor to comment on the case.

___

Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com
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 Houses and Air Forces strict requirements for bespoke equipment when it comes to Air Force One.

Its 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. Its 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.

Its 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 Trumps 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.
The flu arrived as a great war raged in Europe, a conflict that would leave about 20 million people dead over four years.

In 1918, the flu would kill more than twice that number  and perhaps five times as many  in just 15 months. Though mostly forgotten, it has been called the greatest medical holocaust in history.

Experts believe between 50 and 100 million people were killed. More than two-thirds of them died in a single 10-week period in the autumn of 1918.

Never have so many died so swiftly from a single disease. In the United States alone, it killed about 675,000 in about a year  the same number who have died of AIDS in nearly 40 years.

As the country muddles through a particularly nasty flu season  one that the Centers for Disease Control says has killed 24 children in the first three weeks of January and 37 since the start of the flu season  the 1918 nightmare serves a reminder. If a virulent enough strain were to emerge again, a century of modern medicine might not save millions from dying.

You think about how bad it was in 1918, and you think surely our modern medical technology will save us, but influenza is the Hollywood movie writers worst nightmare, said Anne Schuchat, CDCs deputy director, at a recent seminar on the 1918 pandemic. We have many more tools than we had before, but they are imperfect tools.

  

One hundred years ago, a third of the worlds population came down with what was dubbed the Spanish flu. (It got its name when the king of Spain, Alfonso XIII, his prime minister and several cabinet ministers came down with the disease.)

The flu brought life to a standstill, emptying city streets, closing churches, pool halls, saloons and theaters. Coffin makers couldnt keep up with demand, so mass graves were dug to bury the dead. People cowered behind closed doors for fear they would be struck down.

In Philadelphia, news stories described priests driving carts through the streets, encouraging people to bring out the dead so that they might be buried.

In New York there were accounts of people feeling perfectly healthy when they boarded the subway in Coney Island and being taken off dead when they reached Columbus Circle.

Entire families succumbed.

In Tyler County, West Virginia, John Linza, his wife and two of their sons died on the same day. Two other sons died just days before them. The last Linza, an infant, died the day after his parents.

In the southwestern tip of Virginia, J.W. Trent, his wife and two sons fell ill. They were preceded in death by all four of their young daughters  Hattie, Mary, Ellen and Ruby.

In 10 weeks, the flu killed 20,000 in New York City and produced 31,000 orphans.

There is debate among historians about where the flu first surfaced  did it come from China or a British encampment in northern France or rural Kansas? But it spread worldwide practically overnight.

By the end of November, 50,000 had died in South Africa, where at its peak flu killed 600 people each day. In Egypt, the death count reached 41,000 in Cairo and Alexandria by January. In Tahiti, trucks roamed the streets of Papeete to collect the dead, and great funeral pyres burned day and night to incinerate the bodies.

Normally the most vulnerable to influenza are infants, whose immune systems are not yet up to the test, and the elderly, whose ability to fight disease diminishes with age. In 1918, more than half the people it killed were in the prime of their lives.

Many died within hours, turning blue from lack of oxygen as they coughed foamy blood up from their lungs and bled from the nose, ears and eyes.

The Spanish flu infected the upper respiratory tract and then dove deep into the lungs with viral or bacterial pneumonia. How did it kill so many young healthy adults? Their immune systems attacked the influenza invader with such force that it killed them.

One Army doctor, quoted by historian John M. Barry, author of the bestseller, The Great Influenza, described the scene at a base hospital in Massachusetts:

When brought to the [hospital] they very rapidly develop the most vicious type of pneumonia that has ever been seen. Two hours after admission they have the Mahogany spots over the cheek bones, and a few hours later you can begin to see [the blueness] extending from their ears and spreading all over the face. . . . It is only a matter of a few hours then until death comes. . . . It is horrible.

Yet President Woodrow Wilson was unwilling to take any action that would compromise the war effort.

In early October, even as the disease was sweeping through military bases, killing soldiers and sailors by the thousands, U.S. Surgeon General Rupert Blue warned against rushing to see doctors with mild cases of influenza.

The present generation, Blue said, has been spoiled by having had expert medical and nursing care readily available.

  

Then as now, the catch phrase was a touch of the flu. The flu rolled in every winter, enveloping people in a fog and fever that lasted a few days and lingered for a week or two. It was something to be endured, but not many people died from it.

And so it began in 1918.

To comprehend what came next  and why it is possible that a deadly strain of influenza could rear up 100 years later to kill tens of millions  requires an understanding of the disease.

The worlds most successful vaccinations against measles, polio, tetanus and small pox generally work in the same way. They introduce a minuscule amount of the disease so that if it ever arrives in full-blown form, the body will recognize and neutralize it with an immune system counter attack.

Influenza, however, never gives the immune system a stable target. Instead, it can transform itself into something that appears innocent to the white blood cells and enzymes intended to wage war against it.

That explains why a vaccine against the flu is a hit-or-miss proposition, based on the best guess of scientists about what flu strains are most likely to emerge six months later. This year the CDC estimates flu vaccines will be 30 percent effective against infection.

In 1918 there were no flu vaccinations, and it would not have mattered anyway. After the touch of the flu that proved deadly only here and there during the spring, the influenza apparently mutated into a killer.

By early autumn the public face of America and the Western world had a gauze mask on it. People wore them to church, the military marched in them, police posed for photos in them and doctors wore them to visit patients. In Seattle, anyone who tried to board street cars without a gauze mask was arrested.

The masks served little purpose. The fine spray of a sneeze creates a cloud of more than half a million virus particles, and the virus can live for hours on any hard surface where they settle.

Four women who gathered to play bridge in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in November prudently wore six-ply cloth masks. Three of them were dead the next day.

The frightening spread of the disease led to official and self-imposed quarantines.

Schools, theaters, bars and other gathering places were ordered closed. Mothers were told their children should be confined to their own yards. In New York, officials so feared transmission on overcrowded subways that they ordered people to work staggered shifts.

People cowered from contact with anyone who might carry the disease. A doctor in Philadelphia spoke of driving from the hospital to his suburban home without seeing another person or vehicle on the streets.

Many flu victims died in their homes of starvation, and not the disease, because they were too weak to seek food and no one dared bring it to them.

  

A century later, science has revolutionized the medical profession, producing miracle drugs and surgical procedures that no one could have imagined in 1918.

But when Thomas Frieden stepped down as head of the CDC last year he was asked in an interview what keeps him awake at night.

We always worry about pandemic influenza because this has the potential to kill so many people, he said. We stockpile antivirals for an emergency. But much more is needed to both track influenza better around the world and develop a better flu vaccine.

A touch of the flu kills up to 646,000 people worldwide each year, sometimes as many as 56,000 of them in the United States. Since 1918, there have been three flu pandemics. (An epidemic is when an infectious disease spreads rapidly to many people. A pandemic is a global disease outbreak).

Obviously, we still have no control over the virus, said Barry, the historian who gave the keynote speech in 2004 when the National Academies of Science gathered to discuss pandemic influenza. In a lot of ways, were arguably as vulnerable, or more vulnerable, to another pandemic as we were in 1918 because theres more economic interdependence.

A universal vaccine  one that will protect against every possible flu strain  isnt expected to emerge any time soon.

One hundred years after the lethal 1918 flu we are still vulnerable, warned Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), at a Smithsonian seminar on the 1918 pandemic. Without a universal vaccine, a single virus would result in a world catastrophe.

Could a 1918 scenario could repeat itself?

Its clear that we have a much greater capacity to respond, and we would expect to respond more effectively to a 1918-like virus, but we could have [a strain] more transmissible and more severe, Daniel Sosin, the CDCs deputy director for preparedness said at a recent Council on Foreign Relations forum.

One of the scant protections against another pandemic is the global reporting system that tracks emerging strains. If a 1918-like flu were to present itself, the system would, at least, alert the rest of the world to its deadly potential.

Jeffery Taubenberger and Ann Reid were the first researchers to sequence the genome of the influenza virus that caused the 1918 pandemic.

The most important thing to do is not just to understand 1918 as a historical phenomenon, said Taubenberger, an NIAID virologist, but as an example of what could happen in the future.

  

Part of a continuing series about facets of the past that remain relevant.
During his courtship and marriage, Kirill Shamalov catapulted into the ranks of the super-rich with a little help from some of the closest allies of his father-in-law: Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But now Shamalovs matrimonial alliance with Putins youngest daughter, Katerina Tikhonova, is over, four people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. The son of an old Putin pal is back working as a senior executive for the same petrochemical giant, Sibur, where his rise and fall as a multibillion-dollar owner coincided with his stint in Russias First Family.

The reversal of fortune offers a rare glimpse into the secretive ways Putins inner circle mixes family, friends and finance. How and why riches are divvied up is the subject of intense scrutiny in the U.S., where investigators are looking for more targets to penalize for Russias alleged meddling in the 2016 election.

Shamalovs brief tenure as a captain of industry started in 2012, around the time he was preparing to wed. Siburs main owners, Leonid Mikhelson and Gennady Timchenko, promoted their vice president for business administration to deputy chief executive officer and then awarded him 4.3 percent of the company. In 2014, with a loan from Gazprombank, he acquired another 17 percent from Timchenko for about $2.2 billion. He was 32.

Then Sibur announced last April that Shamalov had sold the shares he bought from Timchenko to Mikhelson. Though the details of the deal and the reasoning behind it were never disclosed, a person familiar with the transaction said Shamalov made zero from the sale because he was only allowed to hold those shares in a kind of trust as a Putin family member. That ownership privilege ended when the marriage did, three of the people said.

These are the kinds of relationships that are being increasingly scrutinized by the Treasury Department and other agencies in Washington, where investigators have until Jan. 29 to submit a list of oligarchs who may be subject to future penalties. Theres growing concern among Russias elite that the U.S. blacklist will be expanded to include progeny, complicating their lives for years.

A person close to Shamalov denied any connection between the Sibur transactions and his marriage. Speaking on condition of anonymity, this person said that the initial 4.3 percent stake Shamalov gained was the result of a management stock-option plan and that the purchase from Timchenko was a joint acquisition with Shamalovs father. The Shamalovs barely broke even when the investment turned out worse than they had hoped, the person said.

Shamalov declined to comment through a representative. Tikhonovas office didnt respond immediately to a request for comment, nor did Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, Gazprombank or Mikhelson. Siburs press service said Shamalov rose through its ranks and was awarded his first stake by shareholders based on performance. A spokesman for Timchenko said his sale to Shamalov was priced at the market rate. Shamalovs father couldnt be reached for comment.

Separating from the Putin family hasnt been a total loss for Shamalov, whos worth about $800 million, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Thats due mainly to the 3.9 percent of Sibur he still owns, a stake that is currently valued at about $504 million.

This estimate doesnt take into account any interest Shamalov might have paid on the Gazprombank loan or any changes to his marital status. Under Russian law, former spouses are entitled to half of all assets accrued during marriage unless a prenuptial agreement was signed.

So assiduously does the Kremlin guard the Putin familys privacy that even off the record none of the people contacted for this story would say whether Tikhonova has formally divorced or when, exactly, she got married.

Russian media are all but banned from reporting about his daughters, Katerina, 31, and Maria, 32, so their lives are shrouded in mystery. Even their maiden names are different.

Putin, whos seeking to extend his 18-year rule in March elections, rarely talks about his family in public, citing security concerns. He announced his own divorce to a television reporter as he and his then-wife Lyudmila were leaving a ballet inside the Kremlin in 2013.

In 2015, Putin said more about his daughters than ever before, though in characteristically vague terms. Both women graduated from Russian universities and speak multiple languages, he said, adding that they were doing well in their chosen careers, keeping a low profile and avoiding business and politics. Earlier that year, Tikhonova and Shamalov attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, the RBC newspaper reported.

Theres a YouTube video of Tikhonova dancing in 2013 thats been viewed more than 1.3 million times. And its public knowledge that she helps run a startup incubator at Moscow State University whose sponsors include Gazprombank, Sibur and several companies directly controlled by the state.

Less is known about Maria, reportedly an endocrinology researcher in Moscow whos married to a Dutchman. The Russian public didnt learn that the couple had given birth until Putin told Hollywood director Oliver Stone during a series of interviews last year that hed become a grandfather.

As for Shamalov, he may still be singled out for U.S. sanctions even if he no longer has direct ties to the Kremlin.

His father, Nikolai, was blacklisted over the Ukraine conflict by the European Union, which called him a part of an influential group around Putin. The elder Shamalov is a shareholder in the first Russian entity slapped with U.S. restrictions, Bank Rossiya, a St. Petersburg lender partly owned by Timchenko, who was under sanctions when he sold his Sibur stake to Kirill Shamalov.

But any U.S. penalties imposed on the younger Shamalov, an alum of the same St. Petersburg law school as Putin, would likely only strengthen his standing in Russia. After Rossiya was punished by the Treasury for being the personal bank of senior government officials, Putin ordered the Kremlin to open an account in his name and send his presidential salary there.



Bloomberg contributors: Henry Meyer, Gregory White and Torrey Clark.

Video link: https://youtu.be/wg5q4ub74yc
COXS BAZAR, Bangladesh  Hollywood star Michelle Yeoh says shes appalled by the plight of the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled violence in Myanmar into Bangladesh.

Yeoh, a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. Development Program, visited sprawling refugee camps in Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar on Saturday as part of a Malaysian delegation led by the Southeast Asian nations military chief. The team visited a hospital set up by Malaysia and distributed relief goods in another camp.

It is very important that were here, because what the Rohingya people are going through is despicable and its very, very tragic. It should not be allowed, she said. Every single one of them deserves to have the human rights that should be given to them.

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar since August in what the U.N. has described as ethnic cleansing. Myanmars military has denied the charges, saying they were conducting clearance operations following attacks by Rohingya insurgents on police posts.

Yeoh was most recently seen in sci-fi TV series Star Trek: Discovery. She also played Myanmars civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in The Lady, a 2011 biopic about the Nobel Peace laureate struggle to bring democracy to her country.

Suu Kyi has faced widespread international criticism for not speaking out in defense of the Rohingya. Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson resigned from an advisory panel on the crisis this past week, calling it a whitewash and a cheerleading operation for Suu Kyi.
Loretta Seto couldnt believe what she was seeing at a San Jose supermarket Thursday, so she took our her cellphone and snapped photos of the surreal scene.

Two men, dressed in yellow coats, were pushing oversized shopping carts filled with raw, unwrapped meat into the store  presumably for sale. In both carts, the meat was piled high, topped with unwrapped pork legs that jutted out into the open air.

Seto posted the pictures on Facebook later that night, with a caption expressing her shock and disgust. The incident had unfolded outside a 99 Ranch Market store across from a Costco on the north side of San Jose, Calif., she said.

We were at the 99 Ranch Market across from this Costco and saw their vendors delivering meat with Costco shopping carts!! Talk about disgusting! Seto wrote. Im usually okay with sticking the kids in the seat of the [shopping cart] basket, but this is a whole new level of gross. Beware.

Her pictures sparked hundreds of angry comments, concerned not only about the cleanliness of the carts, but also about the sanitary level of the meat sold at 99 Ranch Market, a California-based Asian supermarket chain.

Two days later, Setos widely shared post has resulted in the firing of two employees and sparked an investigation by the Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health.

We are taking immediate steps to conduct a thorough investigation and appropriate actions to ensure food safety for the public, the health department said in a statement to the San Jose Mercury News about the unauthorized delivery of pork. Other regulatory and oversight agencies, including those at the federal and state level, shall be notified as appropriate.

Meanwhile, the supermarket and the meat vendor each appear to be casting blame on the other for the unsanitary incident.

A representative for 99 Ranch Market responded directly to Setos Facebook post, saying it had tossed all pork meat shown in the photos and filed a complaint against the vendor, NBC Bay Area reported.

99 Ranch Market is committed to food safety and customer satisfaction. In addition to an investigation and filing a complaint, we immediately discarded on-hand inventories of the related pork products, the company said in the Facebook comment. Again, thank you for your patience and understanding. Well continue to take all necessary steps to resolve this issue with our customers in mind.

However, the vendor has denied that this is the way its meat is delivered, according to a spokeswoman at Jims Farm Meat in Winton, California, about 70 miles east of San Jose.

We are thoroughly investigating the incident, Maria Moon, a manager at Jims Farm Meat, told the Modesto Bee. This isnt anything we typically do. When we send our products out, they are always in a combo bin and wrapped. Thats how it left our facility.

Moon told the newspaper the two employees shown in the photos had been fired but suggested the delivery method may have been at the request of 99 Ranch Market.

Whatever [the two employees did] is nothing we would have approved, Moon said, according to the Bee.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recommends all meat products be packaged during processing and storage to prevent contamination. Though federal law in the United States does not require stores stamp sell by or use by dates on pork products, most stores do so anyway, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The department warns that not properly cooking pork can result in the transmission of parasites and bacteria that could be in the meat, including E. coli and Salmonella.

Fresh pork roast, steaks, chops or ribs can be refrigerated for three to five days, while fresh pork liver can usually be refrigerated only one or two days, according to USDA guidelines.
President Donald Trumps four-part immigration proposal landed with a thud on Capitol Hill late last week, with entrenched interests on the left and right making predictable pronouncements of disgust.

Many Democrats immediately shot down the presidents plan, taking issue mostly with proposals to greatly restrict family immigration and end the visa lottery system.

It is shameful that the White House is demanding such extreme concessions that have wide-ranging, negative consequences in order to protect Dreamers, said Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a New Mexican who chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

At the same time, we didnt hear progressive Democrats complaining about another key component of Trumps plan: Extending a path to citizenship to 1.8 million young people who were brought to the U.S. by their parents illegally.

No, the belly-aching about that part of the presidents proposal came from the right. The bomb-throwing conservative Breitbart website  taking a nickname cue from the president himself  quickly labeled Trump Amnesty Don. Numerous Republicans bemoaned the very idea of giving young people who have only ever known life in the United States a chance to remain in the country legally and earn citizenship.

There should be no amnesty for anyone who broke the law to come here, Rep. Scott DesJarlais, a Tennessee Republican and conservative Freedom Caucus member told The Hill newspaper. Its a slap in the face to those who follow the law.

So, both sides found something to loathe about the presidents proposal. Maybe theres hope for a compromise yet. To be sure, Republicans are driving this negotiation, and if any agreement is reached, its likely to push U.S. immigration policy more right than left. The GOP controls both chambers of Congress and the White House. Thats how it works.

And while its also clear that Congress wont adopt the presidents proposal in full, the White House deserves some credit for trying to focus the debate. After all, weve already had one government shutdown this month because lawmakers cant get anywhere close to an immigration agreement that would grease the wheels on a spending deal. Another shutdown looms on Feb. 8 if a deal doesnt materialize.

However, there may be a pressure relief valve at work. A federal judge in San Francisco on Jan. 9 ordered the Trump administration to continue processing DACA applications, and the White House surprisingly didnt seek a stay of execution to block the judges order. The Department of Homeland Security also announced that it would begin processing DACA applications again. Some interpreted that as Trump wanting to give Congress more time and wiggle room to negotiate a solution before his revocation of the Obama-era policy goes into effect March 5. Maybe a longer-term spending deal can be reached without a broader immigration agreement if the Justice Department isnt actively deporting Dreamers.

New Mexico Republican Rep. Steve Pearce, a Freedom Caucus member who has long opposed letting people already in the country move to the front of the legal immigration line, took a more muted approach to the presidents plan than many of his colleagues on the left and right.

In a Journal editorial board meeting Thursday, Pearce signaled he may drop his opposition to expedited citizenship for so-called Dreamers if  and thats a big if  congressional Democrats could make concessions on family migration and the visa lottery. Asked if such a deal was a reasonable compromise  at least to him  Pearce said: Probably, but Id want to see it first.

On Friday, Pearce issued a statement that didnt take any position on Trumps proposed immigration reform framework but instead stressed that members of Congress will have to engage with each other to find a negotiated solution.

A fourth and final component of Trumps request to Congress is a call for a $25 billion trust fund for construction of a border wall that he promised supporters in the 2016 campaign. Democrats dont like that idea, either. After all, wasnt Mexico supposed to pay for that? But while Democrats arent likely to pony up for a wall, per se, many would accept additional spending on border security upgrades in exchange for a permanent DACA deal for Dreamers. In the end, if any immigration agreement passes both chambers of Congress and reaches the presidents desk, that may be as much as we can expect.

E-mail: mcoleman@abqjournal.com. Go to www.abqjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor.
The Great Taos Bank Robbery is a gem of an essay by the late Tony Hillerman, who captured the essence of New Mexico in that and many other essays and novels.

Sadly, he could have had a field day writing about the bait-and-switch repeal in 2005 of the gross receipts tax on food that to this day is costing the people it was supposed to help millions of dollars. It was the equivalent of a government heist pulled off in broad daylight  and one that anybody paying attention knew was coming.

Hillermans bank robbery piece begins with a telephone call on the morning of Nov. 12, 1957, from the manager of the Taos Chamber of Commerce to the city editor of The New Mexican newspaper in Santa Fe to inform him that the Taos Bank was going to be robbed that morning  and promises to call him back with detailed eyewitness accounts.

Hillerman, acknowledged as one of the great American writers, tells the story without revealing that he was The New Mexican city editor from 1954 to 1963, but his character in the essay never doubts the report because  well  in this part of the world, anything is possible no matter how absurd on its face.

So as Hillerman recounts the story, Taos residents gather to watch a man dressed as a woman with a gun under his purse try to rob the bank. To find out how it ends, you need to read the collection of essays  which is still a big hit today.

Suffice it to say that the story in some ways parallels what has happened to New Mexicans after they got a break and the Legislature repealed the gross receipts tax on food and medicine.

That break has turned out to be a robbery on a far grander scale than anything the would-be Taos bank robber could have hoped to accomplish, taking hundreds of millions of dollars out of the pockets of New Mexicans.

As Journal editorial page editor DVal Westphal reported in her UpFront column in last Sundays Journal, the Legislature repealed the tax on food and medicine but agreed to ease the pain of local governments by giving them hold harmless money  making up for 100 percent of the loss until 2016 and then tapering off through July 1, 2029. And, it allowed counties and municipalities to impose up to 3/8 percent GRT locally to make up for the money when the hold harmless provision phased out.

But it didnt require them to wait. So Bernalillo County, for example, missed out on $16.5 million in 2017 because the food tax had been repealed. But it is still getting hold harmless money ($8.064 million last year) along with $43.347 million in revenue from the additional taxes it has imposed to make up for losing the food tax revenue.

Bottom line: consumers in Bernalillo County got a tax break of $16.5 million in 2017 that only cost them $51.411 million.

Bernalillo County isnt alone. For example, the city of Las Cruces is collecting an extra $20.051 million a year to make up for $6.6 million in lost revenue.

Not all local governments have taken to double- and triple-dipping. For example, the city of Albuquerque has not imposed the additional tax increments, living with the hold harmless money from the state.

But for those who rushed to the trough  and many did, fearing the Legislature might at some point wake up and put out a robbery in progress call  they could have earned a place in the New Mexico lore of Tony Hillerman and the Great Taos Bank Robbery.

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.
Editors Note: This is the second installment in the Searchlight New Mexico series, Raising New Mexico, which is aimed at shining a light on the dismal plight of many New Mexican children and what can be done to address the issue. Searchlight is a nonprofit investigative news organization.

Over the last two decades, New Mexico has turned its pockets inside out to keep old businesses from leaving and attract new ones to open their doors.

It cut the capital gains tax, letting corporate interests retain more of their profits. It slashed the personal income tax for top earners by almost half, allowing the wealthy to hold onto more of their earnings. It chipped away at the gross receipts tax, so consumers could save money on their purchases.

And every year it gave away more than $250 million in incentives, rebates, grants and loans  all with the intent of luring new business to the state and growing the economy.

But when it comes to return on investment  be it in New Mexico or anywhere else  many economists maintain theres a different kind of start-up, one that has a much surer payoff: kids.

Think of a firm coming into New Mexico, said James Peach, a New Mexico State University economist with an interest in workforce readiness. They want good schools for the kids of their employees. They also want good schools because good schools eventually produce good workers. Its not all about the tax rate.

There is emerging consensus around the country and the world that economic development and early childhood education go hand in hand. And nowhere is the relationship between child well-being and economic well-being more apparent than here in New Mexico, where poverty and a troubled education system are blamed for an economic morass.

If you ask me what relevance an underperforming education system has on our economic development and ability to attract and grow companies, the answer is everything, said Terri Cole, president of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce.

Cole and her group have advocated for education reform for the past 20 years, and she said the perspective of local businessmen and businesswomen has evolved, largely as a result of frustrations around workforce quality.

I can tell you that the first five to seven years of our work, there was not a clear understanding of the relationship between our low-performing education system and economic development, Cole said. But it certainly exists today.

Ask local business leaders about the effect of child poverty on the state economy and the response, almost invariably, is, Have you heard of James Heckman?

The reference is to the Nobel laureate economist at the University of Chicago, whose research over the past 30 years has zeroed in on the link between early childhood development and economic well-being.

His conclusion, known as the Heckman Equation, found a 13 percent annual return on investment for comprehensive, high-quality, full-day early childhood education.

His analysis of children who experienced that kind of early education showed they had better outcomes as measured by health, income, IQ, schooling and crime. The mothers incomes increased as well, since they were able to depend on high-quality child care after they returned to work.

The Heckman Equation has been corroborated many times, most recently by the Center for American Progress, a nonpartisan policy institute based in Washington, D.C. In 2017, it reported the U.S. would see a net benefit of $83.3 billion for every year of high-quality preschool for 4-year-olds. Some studies have found a $17 return on every dollar invested.

Studies in New Mexico have found a $4.60 return on investment for every dollar invested in preschool education. The return is significantly less than the national figure due to a lack of full-day, high-quality programs in the state.

Many of the benefits accrue to the education system itself, with reductions to special education and children being held back a grade.

New Mexico has one of the highest rates of grade retention in the country, and research has shown that being held back can negatively impact a childs self-esteem. At a cost of $5,000, it is also expensive for the state, according to a report by the Legislative Finance Committee.

Most of the monetary benefits cant be measured in a years time. The rates of return for longitudinal early childhood education studies compare favorably with the U.S. stock market, according to a 2006 report.

We know of the positive return on investment to such programs, yet we havent invested at the necessary rate to support children and families and our states economic vitality, said Claire Dudley Chavez, executive vice president for policy and stakeholder engagement for the New Mexico Early Childhood Development Partnership.

It is a bottom-line reality, and business leaders around the U.S. are well aware of it.

Yet despite their awareness, the growth of childhood initiatives has continued to lag. In New Mexico, it has taken a particular toll on workforce readiness.

Intel, the states largest private employer, is widely rumored to have problems meeting its local labor force requirements. (The company declined to speak with Searchlight about the problem.)

When Amazon announced that it has narrowed the choices for its second headquarters  a construction bonanza worth more than $5 billion  neither of the two bids from New Mexico  Albuquerque and Dona Ana County  made the cut.

Peach, the economist at NMSU, saw that one coming months earlier: Were not going to get that, hed scoffed at the time. And one of the big issues is workforce readiness. Theyre talking 50,000 employees  high-wage people who have to be highly educated. Theyve listed their criteria.

Small-business owners struggle daily to find and keep reliable employees.

Earlene Durand, the owner of Earlenes Public House Cafe, recently told The Taos News that she had hired and lost 109 employees over the past 2 years; they either came to work late or didnt show up at all.

The thing we constantly hear as we travel around the state is about the soft skills, said Jason Espinoza, president of the Association of Commerce and Industry, a statewide advocacy group that represents 250 small and large businesses. Teamwork. Showing up on time. Communication skills. Character development. Those are the skills employers are looking for.

And where it starts is in the early years. We cant wait till theyre in college and send a business leader over there to give a speech about how its important to show up on time.

Out-of-state migration is also of increasing concern in New Mexico. A recent study put the problem in stark terms. It reported migration was happening so fast that by 2030 the population of people 65 and older would double, making New Mexico the state with the fourth-highest number of senior citizens.

Legislators and business leaders widely agree that a problem exists. They just cant agree on how to fix it.

Katherine Freeman, president of the United Way of Santa Fe, said she is so grateful for the support of the local business community for early childhood intervention that she generally tries to avoid the elephant in the room.

I think folks are interested in talking about it as long as it doesnt involve a tax, she said. Anything that even smells like a tax.

The tax cuts initiated by Gov. Bill Richardson have effectively stripped the state of its ability to provide education and other services to the people of New Mexico.

That is the opinion of Kelly ODonnell, who served as director of state tax policy under Richardson in 2003-04. In that role, she oversaw many of that administrations tax rollbacks  decisions she today regards as ill advised.

Those tax cuts profoundly impacted the states ability to pay for its own services that residents need  and in a lasting way, said ODonnell, now a research economist at University of New Mexico. Even if the economy took off, we still couldnt do what we need to do. Were seeing the consequences of that playing out. I think a lot of people who care about childrens programs and education dont make the link.

Though New Mexico has invested deeply in early childhood programs  more than $350 million a year for 2017 and 2018  it has barely moved the needle. According to the 2016 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, only 17 percent of New Mexico fourth-graders are proficient in reading and 22 percent of eighth-graders proficient in math.

Those figures compare unfavorably to the rest of the nation, which is itself lagging significantly behind other countries. Only 35 percent of American fourth-graders are proficient in reading; 32 percent of eighth-graders are proficient in math.

Despite New Mexicos investment in early education, the financial commitment remains insufficient to meet the need. While 71,000 students are deemed eligible to participate in K3 Plus, a program that extends the school year by 25 instructional days, state funding provides for only 18,832 children. Thats a gap of 52,168 children who dont get the education they need to be competitive.

Early education has a lot of bipartisan support, but once you get down to brass tacks  how to pay for it  thats when the wheels come off the bus, ODonnell said.

You cant do it for free; you have to raise taxes. And until we address that, were fooling ourselves if we just sing Kumbaya and say early childhood education is a good thing.


Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

For the U.S. Marshals Service, its a High Threat Trial. For the FBI, the next four weeks in a Las Cruces courtroom will be the culmination of nearly three years of investigating an entrenched New Mexico prison gang accused of drug dealing, violence and even murder inside and out of prison walls.

The defense, meanwhile, will finally get to challenge what it has described as the governments overstated, overarching picture of the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico organization as a large, powerful, ruthless and omnipresent force.

Come Monday, four members of Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico, including its purported leader, will have their day in federal court in the first of three planned trials involving some two dozen defendants. More than 60 others charged in the FBI-led investigation dubbed Operation Atonement have already pleaded guilty.

On the eve of trial Friday, U.S. District Judge James Browning was considering a U.S. Marshals Service request to keep the four defendants in shackles during the trial  based on their criminal history and the fact in the past SNM defendants have brought shanks to pretrial hearings. Theres also tension involving one defendant reportedly wanting to have another defendant hit.

Jurors culled from around the state will decide whether SNMs alleged boss, Anthony Ray Baca, and alleged members Daniel Sanchez, Carlos Herrera and Rudy Perez are part of a criminal racketeering enterprise by virtue of alleged crimes involving the fatal stabbing in 2014 of an SNM gang member, the attempted murder of another, and, in the case of Baca only, a conspiracy to kill two top New Mexico Corrections officials.

It was that foiled murder attempt, which came to the FBIs attention through intercepted letters in March 2015, that triggered the massive and historical inquiry into crimes involving alleged gang members dating back 20 years.

A key witness that may be called by federal prosecutors is former SNM leader Gerald Styx Archuleta, who pleaded guilty in 2016 of conspiracy to commit assault resulting in great bodily injury.

Archuleta had finished his state parole in New Mexico and resettled in Tennessee when the U.S. Attorneys Office in December 2015 sought an indictment against him as part of the far-reaching investigation. Archuleta was charged with ordering a hit in 2003 on an SNM member who had once been his friend.

According to a federal indictment, the non-fatal attack was carried out more than 12 years later, in 2015, on the order of other SNM leaders accused of enforcing the SNM code of vengeance and retaliation. Federal court records say that SNM formed about 37 years ago, after the deadly state prison riot in Santa Fe.

Ex-sheriff on witness list

Defense attorneys, meanwhile, put former Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White on a list of prospective witnesses and indicated that a 2016 television prison documentary mentioning SNM might be entered into evidence during the trial.

Archuleta allegedly targeted White for murder in 2009. Several years earlier, White used the then-SNM leader as a poster boy in pushing for a new three-strikes law for repeat felons. No one was charged in the alleged threat, and White wasnt harmed.

Christopher Garcia, a fifth defendant who was to stand trial beginning Monday, opted to plead guilty last week to racketeering conspiracy, felon in possession of a firearm, and conspiracy to murder then-Corrections Secretary Gregg Marcantel and another top prison official.

Under a plea deal, he will be sentenced to 30 years in prison. He had been facing the possibility of a life sentence if convicted at trial. That same fate could befall the other four, if convicted.

Theres no indication in court records that Garcia will testify against his fellow SNM defendants.

You make it look like people are talking to you, Garcia once told an FBI agent. You know, divide and conquer. His remarks, revealed in a transcript filed in court, occurred when FBI and corrections officials showed up at his jail cell to take a DNA sample.

The governments witness lists are sealed, but the FBI in court records is estimated to have more than 20 confidential human sources in the case.

Safety vs. rights

On Friday, Judge Browning was considering how safe the Marshals Service can make the courtroom while still permitting the defendants their due process and other constitutional rights.

Defense attorneys have been seeking permission to allow their clients to stand trial without shackles, like any other person, according to a Jan. 16 motion. Permitting the jury to see security restraints could prejudice their clients in the jurors eyes, they argued.

A Jan. 18 email from the U.S. Marshals Office in New Mexico to the court argued there exists High Threat Trial circumstances.

Federal court violence by unrestrained inmates is a viable possibility, the email stated, citing a 2014 federal trial involving a known gang member who was on trial in Salt Lake City. In that case, the defendant was unrestrained and attempted to stab an in custody witness. Based on the defendants actions, the USMS took measures to stop the action and the defendant died as a result, the email stated.

Lawyers for the four defendants stated in a recent motion, Here, there are no exceptional circumstances warranting the shackling . . .

In pretrial hearings, Browning has required defendants to wear black boxes that enclose their handcuffs and are designed to limit their movement. But he wouldnt agree with the Marshals request in 2016 to set up a partition to keep SNMs purported leader, Baca, from communicating with others in the courtroom.

In the email, the Marshals Office contended that security devices could still be kept out of the sight of the jury. Bunting, or some type of covering, has been proposed to bar jurors from seeing under the counsel tables where defendants will sit.

The Marshals Service recommended using leg restraints that are housed in duct tape to remove audible sounds. The only other alternative would be the use of stun belts, but that would require more marshals in the courtroom, because one deputy would be needed for each stun belt device, the email stated.

And the use of multiple stun belt devices poses the risk of false activation in front of the jury.

Tension building

The email goes on to say that criminal history is a consideration when looking at security measures for defendants at trial. The Marshals Service included an attachment for the judge, not made public, that reportedly shows each defendants criminal history (all of which is very lengthy and violent especially given the number of years many of the defendants have served in prison.)

In addition, the email states, we have two people that when they were NOT cooperators, took shanks to Court . . . (and) we know that others have brought items to Court as well based on information from cooperators.

Moreover, the email states, Tension is building since there is testimony of defendants wanting to hit one another.

For instance, the email stated, We heard recently in testimony in Court that Pup (Baca) wanted to have Dan-Dan hit. That moniker refers to Daniel Sanchez, who is set to stand trial with Baca, beginning next week.

We also know there is a history of coming to Court under the influence, the email stated.

SNM defendants are being held pending trial in various area jails and detention centers, including in Lordsburg, where court records show that, over the holidays, a defense attorney unwittingly brought mail to his client that contained drugs. Strips of Suboxone were discovered inside two Christmas cards.

The attorney said he knew nothing about the drugs and has left the case. The SNM defendant has been charged along with his ex-wife, who allegedly asked the attorney to deliver the mail to her ex-husband.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

A defendants chances of beating DWI charges in Bernalillo County are in the range of a coin flip.

Last year, 42 percent of all DWI cases resolved in Metropolitan Court were dismissed either by judges or prosecutors, while 58 percent ended with a guilty verdict or plea. In 2016, the percentages favored defendants, with 55 percent of drunken driving cases being dismissed compared to 45 percent ending in pleas or convictions.

Meanwhile, the number of alcohol-related traffic deaths in Bernalillo County climbed to 53 in 2016, the highest number since the turn of the century.

Advocates say the numbers are awful across the board.

For example, Albuquerque police made 4,842 DWI arrests in 2012. That number dropped by more than half, to 2,347 DWI arrests, in 2016.

The conviction rates of 58 percent last year and 45 percent in 2016 compare to conviction rates ranging between 70 and 80 percent a decade ago.

Arrests are down. Convictions are down. Deaths are up,  said Linda Atkinson, head of the DWI Resource Center.

District Attorney Raul Torrez doesnt disagree but believes prosecutors are making progress.

I know that if we can get to trial, we can win, Torrez said. The problem is getting to trial.

Weve improved over the last year, and the dismissal rate dropped. We are in the process of fixing many technical issues that lead to the dismissals.

Most of the problems that lead to drunken driving cases being dismissed involve the Albuquerque Police Department, which accounts for 85 percent of the cases filed in Metropolitan Court.

Albuquerque Police Officers Association President Sean Willoughby attributes the dismissal rate to technicalities and the decline in arrests to fewer specialized DWI officers.

In 2010, we had 14 DWI officers included in a 34-officer traffic division, he said. Today, we have eight DWI officers and fewer than 12 officers in the traffic division.

Assistant District Attorney Josh Boone, who worked for years as a defense attorney and public defender, said many of the problems leading to dismissals of drunken driving cases are long-standing.

Officers not getting to pretrial interviews with defense attorneys, officers not getting to court hearings because of conflicting schedules and not getting evidence turned over to defense attorneys account for 75 percent of the dismissals in Metro Court, Boone said. The remainder are due to things like defendants getting deported.

A survey by Mothers Against Drunk Driving done last year found that many of the problems leading to DWI dismissals are seen around the state.

The MADD survey found the top three reasons cases were dismissed are because officers or witnesses failed to appear, the suppression or exclusion of testimony or evidence, or because the defendant received a plea deal.

The survey found that of the 1,106 monitored cases adjudicated statewide, 36 percent were dismissed, 35 percent were guilty verdicts, 23 percent were deferred prosecution, 4 percent were amended, and 1 percent were not guilty verdicts.

Overbooked

The logistics challenges for APDs handful of DWI officers are daunting.

On Jan. 10, APD officer Timothy McCarson was scheduled to appear in six DWI cases in Metropolitan Court at 9 a.m.  one case in the courtroom of Judge Vidalia Chavez, one in the courtroom of Judge Linda S. Rogers, and two each before judges Christine E. Rodriguez and Judge Henry Alaniz.

McCarson is part of APDs small DWI Unit of eight officers  down from 14  as is officer Daren DeAguero, who on Jan. 10 was scheduled to appear in DWI cases before Judge Jill M. Martinez, Judge Sharon D. Walton and Judge Kenny C. Montoya  all at 9 a.m.

Officer Jason Brown was also scheduled to appear as the main witness in six drunken driving cases at 9 a.m. Jan. 10 in front of different judges, but he had a family emergency.

Of all the cases in which McCarson, DeAguero and Brown were scheduled to testify that day, only one was dismissed outright, and that was on a defense motion arguing the police stop was unwarranted.

All of the others were rescheduled for hearings in February  and all are still subject to dismissal if officers dont appear or prosecutors dont meet other requirements.

Judges are still dismissing cases when officers are in the courthouse, Atkinson said. Those cases can be refiled, but it shows a lack of leadership.

Atkinson said judges should hold scheduling conferences in DWI cases and set firm trial dates.

Instead they schedule a case for trial month after month until the officer cant show up to testify and the case gets dismissed, she said.

Chief Metropolitan Judge Edward L. Benavidez didnt return a call seeking comment.

The trial scheduling issue for officers in court is compounded by the requirement they testify at Motor Vehicle Division license revocation hearings for people who challenge the civil penalty of losing their licenses because they refused to take an alcohol breath test or tested at or above 0.08 blood alcohol  the presumptive level for drunken driving in New Mexico.

Those hearings can also conflict with court hearings officers must attend, according to officer schedules released by APD to the Journal.

Interview times

Courtroom scheduling is a challenge, but one prosecutors can sometimes fix by refiling the charges  assuming the dismissal is without prejudice.

Getting officers to pretrial interviews with defense attorneys is a tougher nut to crack.

It becomes a fax battle on dates of officer availability, Torrez said in an interview. All the scheduling for pretrial interviews is handled by fax machine, if you can believe that in this day and age.

New Mexico is one of a minority of states requiring prosecution witnesses be made available for pretrial interviews in misdemeanor cases, which includes most DWI cases.

Torrez said he believes only five to 10 states require pretrial interviews for misdemeanors like DWIs.

It takes officers off the street and has an impact on resources, he said.

Because even a first-offense DWI conviction carries the possibility of a 90-day jail sentence  seldom imposed  anyone charged is entitled to an attorney whether they can afford one or not.

Defense attorneys contacted by the Journal for this story said most of the problems were between the police agencies and the District Attorneys Office.

They pointed out it is a defense attorneys job to raise any legitimate defense to the governments charges.

Meanwhile, the District Attorneys Office is in line for a grant of $450,000 over the next 18 months from the state Department of Transportation to address the pretrial interview scheduling problem and other issues.

Collecting evidence

For police and prosecutors, getting a conviction for drunken driving has become an exercise in logistics. Cases that get to the actual trial stage typically end in a conviction, but its a difficult road to get there.

There are five pieces of evidence that are essential for prosecuting a drunken driving case.

Those are:

 The police officers report of the arrest.

 The printouts of the computer-aided dispatch logs and audio of the radio transmissions between officers and/or dispatch.

 The lapel camera video or dash camera video or audio tapes made by officers during the arrest.

 The card showing the defendants breath alcohol level if they agree to the test.

 The tow sheet records that show when and where the drivers car was towed from and where it was secured.

Some issues have been resolved, such as prosecutors getting officer lapel camera videos so they can provide them to defense lawyers.

Outside of Bernalillo County, prosecutors give defense attorneys what is called a speed letter that the defense attorney can then give to the police agency making the arrest to get much of the information. But in Bernalillo County it has to go through the District Attorneys Office. The Bernalillo County process is required by Metropolitan Court rules.

Copies of the breath alcohol card, tow sheet and citation are given to the defendant at the time of the arrest but, according to Metro Court rules, prosecutors have to turn them over to the defense lawyer before trial.

When an APD officer is getting off shift, the officer scans the police report into one system. The tow sheet gets scanned into another system, and the breath card is scanned into a third system.

Those records go to the APD records center, where they are rescanned and sent on to the DAs Office.

And sometimes those records can go astray or take longer to put together than prosecutors would like.

Some agencies, like the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office, walk the packet of evidence over to the prosecutors office for each case.

Torrez says there is a fix on the horizon for this piece of the logistics obstacle course.

We will be hiring people in April with the state grant money to put over at APD to start working on fixing the system, he said. Once we identify what needs to be fixed, well fix it. But it will require retraining for everyone involved.

Im less interested in the evolution of how we got here than I am in fixing the problem.

DWI crimes and punishments

In New Mexico, it is illegal to drive with a breath or blood alcohol level of 0.08 or more for someone 21 or over, or 0.02 for people younger than 21, or 0.04 for someone driving a commercial vehicle.

A person can lose his or her license for up to a year for testing at or above the legal limit, or for refusing to take the breath or blood test.If convicted of a first-offense DWI, a person faces up to 90 days in jail but will more likely get probation with mandatory DWI school attendance and ignition interlock for up to a year.Penalties increase for each subsequent conviction until it becomes a third-degree felony for a seventh DWI conviction punishable by a three-year prison sentence.A person can be convicted of DWI, even if the breath or blood test is below the legal limit if it is proven that the ability to drive was impaired to the slightest degree by drugs or alcohol.
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A list of shame that will shock Turkey read a headline in the daily Hurriyet on Jan. 17. Journalist Dincer Gokce's exclusive report revealed that an Istanbul hospital failed to disclose to police at least 115 underage pregnancies documented by hospital staff. Hospitals in Turkey are required by law to report all pregnancies to girls under 18 to police and social services, but the Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Research and Education Hospital failed to disclose to authorities the pregnancies it documented last year between Jan. 1 and May 9. Of those pregnancies, 39 were Syrian nationals and 38 were girls younger than 15.

The Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Hospital had hidden these pregnancies from authorities. But social worker turned whistleblower Iclal Nergiz, who had been transferred to the hospital's social services department in May, noticed that the hospital's official report and obligatory notice to the police on a pregnant 17-year-old was missing. She inquired about it but received no answer from hospital officials. When she checked the hospital's database, she discovered more than 100 similar unreported cases. Hospital staff ignored her requests for further information and she was eventually transferred to another hospital.

But Nergiz did not give up. On Oct. 3, she reported the case to the prosecutor's office in the Cekmece district of Istanbul, along with her affidavit on what happened at the hospital when she inquired about the underage pregnancies. Yet the hospital and government authorities at the heart of the accusations remained silent at the time, only commenting on the issue after the news became public and generated a national uproar three months later.

An initial statement by the minister of family and social policies, Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya, on Jan. 19 merely indicated that the ministry had started an investigation into the matter. We will interview all the children at their homes alongside their families," she said. "We have never allowed any sexual harassment case to be covered up.

Implying that some of the pregnancies were the result of underage marriages, Kaya said that such marriages have significantly  but not sufficiently  declined over the past decade. She said 8.3% of marriages in Turkey in 2003 were to females under the age of 18, but that now only 4.7% of marriages are to underage women. These figures are considerably lower than those provided by the UN Population Fund's Turkey office, which said that one out of every three brides in Turkey is under the age of 18. The discrepancy may be because the Turkish state excludes from its figures religious weddings or polygamous marriages, which the government doesn't recognize.

Yet neither Kaya nor any other government official explained why Nergiz was removed from her job at the hospital or why she was under investigation by the public prosecutor. I am afraid that I will be discharged from my job, Nergiz said in a TV interview after the news became public. If convicted, Nergiz would be deprived of her status as a civil servant.

Nergiz estimated that about 450 to 500 pregnant minors are brought to Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Hospital each year.

Turkey has long treated teen pregnancies resulting from underage marriages with the motto of don't ask, don't tell, as explained by Selda Sivaslioglu in her doctoral thesis. Sivaslioglu, a medical doctor quoted by Cumhuriyet, conducted research on teen pregnancy for approximately six months in 2015 at an Ankara hospital, where she recorded 300 underage pregnancies.

Pinar Icel Cepe, the secretary-general of the Health and Social Services Employee Union, told Cumhuriyet, Everyone under the age of 18 is a minor. [Trying to find excuses for pregnancy under that age] reflects the [Justice and Development Party's] mindset and approach toward women. Due to the high volume of teen pregnancies, several hospitals now have a separate area for adolescence maternity wards. Two of these were opened in 2015. Everyone knows, but no one wants to speak about it.

Turkey's civil code is inconsistent when it comes to the age of consent, making it easier for hospitals to find excuses to not report all teen pregnancies.

Turkey's civil code is inconsistent when it comes to the age of consent, making it easier for hospitals to find excuses to not report all underage pregnancies. The Ministry of Health said this month that all cases of pregnancy under the age of 15 should be reported to police and social services; the ministry did not explicitly state that cases need to be reported that involve girls ages 16 and 17 who are married and where there is no documented marital violence.

It is unlikely that the issue of unreported pregnancies is limited to one hospital. Furthermore, no one can gauge the exact number of pregnant Syrian girls in Turkey. One activist who works with Syrian refugees told Al-Monitor, We estimate a minimum of 2,000 deliveries of mothers who are younger than 17 annually in Istanbul. Probably 500 are Syrians. There are also hundreds of cases of abortions and quite a few are incest. I fear that several of 115 cases would be incidents of incest.

Syrians face a particularly challenging situation in light of poverty and divided families. In 2014, over 600,000 Syrian orphans were estimated to be in Turkey. Although various aid agencies and the government have attempted to provide basic services to these children, including several campaigns for Turkish families to adopt the children, stories of sexual and physical abuse and human trafficking are prevalent.

Al-Monitor spoke with a 19-year-old Syrian sex worker in Ankara who goes by the name Dina. She said she came to Turkey in 2013 at the age of 14. Her aunt told her she would be going to Istanbul from Ceylanpinar, because a family there wanted to adopt her. But Dina was not adopted. Instead, a family took her in as a live-in maid. The husband impregnated her and promised he would take her on as his second wife. But the first wife did not agree. After months of physical and sexual abuse, Dina gave birth at a clinic in Istanbul where everyone spoke Arabic and girls as young as 13 were screaming. She said she was drugged so much for her cesarean section that she does not remember what happened. Her son was given up for adoption, and the family dropped off Dina with another man in Izmit province. Since then, she has worked in the sex industry in various cities and had several abortions. Dina has learned Turkish well in the last five years. She said everyone knows the sex industry is full of underage Syrian girls who have forged papers showing they are older than 18.

After the social media uproar on the 115 child pregnancies, and following protests in front of the hospital, officials in the Ministry of Family and Social Policies said they would start questioning the minors. But how honest can these traumatized mothers be about such difficult issues when standing alongside their families? Will any of the hospital authorities who are presently under investigation be convicted or removed from duty?
BAGHDAD  Iraqi Ivan Sahda Moshi has been hiding at a friends house in Gothenburg, Sweden, since Dec. 1, 2017, as a decree has been issued by Sweden to forcibly return him to Iraq. I hope that my case is looked over again this year, Moshi told Al-Monitor. Moshi, who fled Iraq in 2007 seeking asylum in Sweden, belongs to a Christian family, all of whom have fled Iraq to different countries. He fears going back, as militias threatened to kill him due to his work with US forces, not to mention that Christians are a threatened minority in Iraq.

On Jan. 10, Abdul Bari Zebari, the head of parliaments Foreign Relations Committee, indicated that the European Union is intending to forcibly return Iraqi immigrants whose asylum requests have been rejected back to Iraq. He called upon the Iraqi government to not accept any negotiations with the European Union concerning forcibly returning Iraqi immigrants, as he suggests that returning them should be voluntary, not compulsory.

In a similar case to Moshis, Hassan Amer, whose asylum request has been rejected by Austrian authorities, had to submit an appeal against his rejection before Vienna courts to obtain a new hearing session where he will talk about the circumstances on which he submitted his request for asylum.

Amer, which is a pseudonym as he is afraid that it would affect his asylum request, left Iraq in July 2015 using a fraudulent visa. The recent reports circulating throughout Iraqi media about the European Commissions intention to forcibly return Iraqi immigrants has turned Amers life into a nightmare. Im not the only one whose asylum request was rejected by Austria. There are dozens like me, maybe more. I hope the reports are not accurate, and if it truly was, Id hope these decisions are not taken into force, he said.

The European Commission believes that stability has been restored to Iraq since its liberation from the Islamic State and that illegal immigrants and those whose asylum requests were rejected should return to Iraq.

In a video broadcast by Al Sharqiyya channel on Jan. 9, a group of young Iraqi asylum seekers wait desperately in Belgium for the approval for their asylum requests. Some of them had their requests rejected and the rest are waiting. Among them was a young man who submitted his asylum papers in 2014 and is still waiting for the decision.

Even though some of those who appeared in the video indicated that their asylum requests were rejected, they asserted that they did not want to go back to Iraq as dozens of Iraqis whose asylum requests were rejected are sleeping in train stations in Brussels.

Iraqi Deputy Minister of Migration and Displaced Jasser al-Attiyya refused forced returns of Iraqi immigrants. He told Al-Monitor, The Iraqi government rejects forced returns, as we have understandings with some European countries concerning how necessary it is not to take any measures concerning forced returns.

In the beginning of 2017, a conference on immigrants was held in Finland where we refused any forced returns of Iraqi immigrants, Attiyya said. According to Attiyya, the ministry has no statistics on the numbers of immigrants because some of them migrated outside the international registration system. He added that returning these immigrants would constitute a burden to Iraq, especially since some no longer have homes or jobs.

While confirming the Iraqi governments refusal of forcibly returning Iraqis, Minister of Migration and Displaced Jassim Mohammed al-Jaff stressed the importance of the voluntary return of Iraqi immigrants in EU countries. Jaff reported that the chief of mission of the International Organization for Migration said in a meeting that the organization would look into a coordination mechanism with EU countries to prevent any forced return of Iraqi emigrants.

Mustafa al-Ammar, the integration representative of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, told Al-Monitor, There are no forced returns. The subject is still in the phase of discussion.

The stance adopted by the Ministry of Migration and Displaced and the parliaments External Affairs Committee is not in line with that of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. In September 2017, Abadi announced there were ongoing negotiations between his government and the EU concerning the return of Iraqi refugees from Europe. Even though he assured his refusal of forced returns, he said that Iraqis found out that its difficult to be refugees in Europe.

When he was head of the Iraqi government in 2006-2014, Nouri al-Maliki worked hard to encourage Iraqis in Europe to return to Iraq. However, he failed.

On Nov. 14, 2017, German media outlets reported that 8,000 Iraqis returned from Germany as part of the voluntary return program. The German government gave financial grants to those who decided to return. The financial grants reached $3,000, according to two refugees who spoke to Al-Monitor about their return.

According to the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees adopted in 1951, an asylum-seeker has the right to refuse going back to the country of habitual residence through invoking compelling reasons arising out of previous persecution.

In 2015, more than 1 million irregular migrants and refugees reached Europe, approximately 70,000 of whom were Iraqis.
The Palestinian leadership is following the tumultuous Israeli political scene with a combination of delight and despair. A senior PLO official who is well acquainted with Israeli politics said that after losing hope that the US administration would generate any advancement in the coming years, change could only come if the Israeli leadership changes. In other words, only an Israeli leadership that distances itself from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus annexationist settlement policies could offer a diplomatic horizon.

The Palestinian source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that most of the Ramallah leadership follows Netanyahus corruption scandals. We dont believe he will be indicted. The occupation has eroded Israels democracy. Israel is run by a junta of right-wing politicians and settlers, he said. Yet their assessment is that at the end of 2018, there will be elections in Israel and Netanyahus rule could come to an end. In terms of a Likud-leadership replacement, they believe it will be more of the same. Among the potential contenders they know best is former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon. A partner to peace he is not, noted the Palestinian source. In any case, he believes that the Israeli right will be run in the future by settlers and right-wing fanatic rabbis.

With such estimations, the Palestinian leadership would welcome any alternative in the vein of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert from the center right; Yesh Atids Yair Lapid; Zionist Camps Avi Gabbay; or even former Labor Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Still, the Palestinians dont expect a real change of position. We have strong disagreements with all of them. Gabbays questioning over the necessity to dismantle settlements in a future two-state solution places him right of Netanyahu. Lapids speeches in Ariel and other settlements also indicate that he might stick with conflict management, not changing the basic policy.

The Palestinian source exposed three conclusions reached by the Palestinian leadership.

The first conclusion was that despite any ideological preference, on the strategic level and for now, Netanyahu remaining in power would be the best possibility. This would bolster the international consensus on Palestinian statehood based on the 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as the capital.

Second, a real change and hope for peace would be a Yitzhak Rabin-style leadership  a general who understands the absolute necessity of a realistic two-state solution and has the courage to pursue such policies. Former Israel Defense Forces Chiefs of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and Benny Gantz were named as possible examples.

The last conclusion was that whoever is in power in Israel as of 2019, will have to accept the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative as the basis for negotiations. This would be the only way for Israel to advance if it wants to return to a viable peace process.

A senior Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry official who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity accused the Palestinian leadership of prejudice toward the Israeli political system. As long as [Arab Knesset member] Ahmad Tibi will not be prime minister, they will not consider Israel as a democracy, he said. The Israeli source claimed that on the Palestinian issue, the gaps between the main Zionist parties are not significant, as there is no real Palestinian partner to a peace process. He added that the ministry is also following Palestinian politics closely. In his view, support for Hamas in the West Bank is getting stronger after US President Donald Trumps declaration on Jerusalem. The Mahmoud Abbas regime is weakened and is barely clinging to power. In his analysis, future Palestinian leadership will emerge from one of three circles: the security establishment, which holds the keys to power, headed by Palestinian Intelligence Chief Majid Faraj; the younger urban Fatah elites with strong nationalistic tendencies who are followers of imprisoned Marwan Barghouti; or fundamentalist religious Hamas.

The Israeli source believes that none of these elements would be a viable partner for peace. Nevertheless, he expressed a preference for the Palestinian security establishment because of its relative pragmatism.

The Israelis and the Palestinians both express despair over the other sides current and future leadership. A modest silver lining is the preference on both sides of new leaders emerging from their respective security establishments.
Turkeys government has extended the state of emergency for another three months  the sixth extension since the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016. The opposition is alarmed that the government plans to stick to emergency rule through crucial presidential polls scheduled for next year and has moved to galvanize the streets.

The government justified the extension using the same reason it did for the initial declaration of emergency rule  the threat of terrorism  but the opposition and legal experts are unconvinced.

Senal Sarihan, a lawyer and deputy for the main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP), believes the government is exploiting the putsch. Even the initial declaration of the state of emergency rested on a [legal] violation, she said. Extraordinary regimes can be declared only in case of widespread violence that cannot be contained. The coup attempt of July 15, 2016, unfolded [only] in Ankara and Istanbul and was thwarted in six hours at most.

She noted that security forces and the judiciary remained functioning at the time and could launch normal judicial procedures against the putschists. Yet the government declared a state of emergency the following day, and thus the legal violations began with the declaration itself, Sarihan said. According to her, the continued emergency rule has created a de facto presidential system and perpetuated President Recep Tayyip Erdogans one-man rule.

Another CHP deputy, Necati Yilmaz, believes Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) have no intention of lifting the emergency rule, which grants them extraordinary powers that they have routinely used for legislative decrees and restrictions unrelated to the coup attempt or that had nothing to do with security at all. "The emergency rule is no different from the one-man regime that the AKP has envisaged, Yilmaz told Al-Monitor. They want to have it through their current term in power. This intention is plain as day.

According to the opposition, the AKP is planning to stick to the state of emergency up until November 2019, when Turkey is scheduled to go to the polls to elect its first executive president  who will officially assume the sweeping powers approved in a controversial referendum in April 2017. Some believe the government could opt for early elections this year.

Ayhan Bilgen, a lawmaker and spokesperson for the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), told Al-Monitor, They will first decide the election timetable, and then the duration of the emergency rule will become clear. Their practices are typical of a party state.  The AKP is after designs to guarantee [the outcome of] the elections by making sure they are held under emergency rule.

According to Ahmet Faruk Unsal, a former AKP deputy who has fallen out with his party, the AKP needs the state of emergency to prevent the eruption of great chaos of governance after its massive violations of the law since the coup attempt. Lifting the state of emergency will make it impossible for them to govern Turkey. The laws and the constitution have been violated so much that they will face great chaos as soon as all those legislative decrees become invalid once the state of emergency ends, Unsal told Al-Monitor. They are at a loss about how to handle that. They would face the legal sanctions of trampling on the constitution and the law, and this would be an unsustainable situation.

Moreover, the state of emergency enables the government to enact measures affecting the elections. Pointing to one crucial example, Unsal said, Under the constitution, the members of the Council of State and the Court of Appeals are elected by the Higher Board of Judges and Prosecutors. Yet, using emergency rule powers, they issued a legislative decree to appoint new members to the Council of State and the Court of Appeals. Those members will now make up the Supreme Election Board [YSK]. Hence, the government has effectively shaped the YSK.

The YSKs composition is of utmost importance for the government. With its controversial decisions at the April 2017 referendum, the YSK swayed the outcome of the tightly contested vote. But not only that: By using emergency rule powers, the government has routinely banned demonstrations and other activities by the opposition while enacting a provision widely seen as a judicial shield for AKP loyalists. This has further stoked apprehension ahead of the elections.

For Bilgen, the state of emergency is a very serious threat to election security. Reports [by international observers] on the April [2017] referendum, which took place under a state of emergency, describe violations of transparency and equality norms, and there are already signals of serious risks [for the upcoming elections], Bilgen said. He voiced concern that the government would flout electoral laws  especially during voting and counting  and impede any real monitoring and legal control.

Despite numerous bans and restrictions, opposition parties and civic groups have launched initiatives calling for an end to the state of emergency. Unsal, who is part of the Initiative Against State of Emergency, a platform that brings together prominent politicians and intellectuals, says opposition parties should refuse to run in any elections under emergency rule. If political parties refuse to contest the elections, the government cannot have those elections recognized by the international community, he said. The parties refusal to participate will mean a crisis of legitimacy.

The HDP appears to agree with the idea. A question of legitimacy will inevitably arise over an election held under a state of emergency, Bilgen said. Our position here does not mean an adverseness to elections; on the contrary, it is about the need to start questioning the minimum conditions that proper elections require.

When it comes to the CHP, the main opposition has not yet made a decision on whether to contest the election, Yilmaz said. "The April [2017] referendum has already demonstrated the dubious nature of elections held under a state of emergency. There is no need to repeat that, he said. Both in our parliamentary activities and street actions, ending the state of emergency is our No. 1 demand.

Bilgen called for a strong, broad and inclusive popular movement to pressure Ankara. Despite all restrictions, society must demonstrate that it cares for its future, he said. This, in fact, is a question of deserving democracy.

A number of civil society groups have already taken to the streets. Most recently, thousands of people attended a Jan. 14 rally in Istanbul, organized by the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK).

KESK co-chair Mehmet Bozgeyik vowed the street action would continue. The Turkish people believe the state of emergency is no longer needed and want an immediate return to democratic politics, Bozgeyik told Al-Monitor. As a confederation [of trade unions], we are demanding the restitution of public workers expelled via legislative decrees and the withdrawal of hundreds of legal amendments enacted during this process.

Such appeals have so far fallen on deaf ears. The governments rhetoric paints the prospect of an open-ended state of emergency, insisting that ordinary people are not being affected. Yet the CHPs Sarihan, who has penned a book about the 18-month toll of the emergency rule, offers the following overview: The number of people expelled from public service is 125,294. They are without salaries, unable to get health services and earn their bread. In legal jargon, we call this civil death. Then, 50,510 people have been arrested and 169,000 people have been subject to legal proceedings. Including families, this means civil death for more than 1 million people. Six news agencies, 50 newspapers, 18 television channels, 29 publishing houses, 20 magazines, 22 radio stations and 1,528 associations have been banned. One hundred and forty-five journalists have been arrested, and 2,500 journalists have been left jobless because of the closure of media outlets. Ten members of parliament have been arrested.
Although US President Donald Trump urged Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Jan. 24 to exercise caution and to avoid any actions that might risk conflict between Turkish and American forces, Turkey appears committed to extending its military operations beyond the current assault on Afrin.

Two days after Trump and Erdogan spoke, the Turkish presidency announced that, following a call between Erdogan adviser and spokesman Ibrahim Kalin and US national security adviser Gen. H.R. McMaster, no weapons would be given to the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), which would amount to a major American concession and potential turning point in the conflict.

The next day, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called on US forces to leave Manbij.

Turkey considers the YPG  the armed group linked to the Syrian Kurdish PYD  terrorists with ties to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which the United States has also labeled a terrorist organization. The United States has supported the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as its on-the-ground partner in Syria. The SDF includes primarily YPG fighters.

Erdogan is now claiming that Afrin and surrounding towns are majority Arab, although reliable local sources indicate a significant Kurdish majority, with a sizable number of Arabs, as well as some Yazidis, Turkmens, Armenians and Circassians. The endgame for the Turkish president may be a cordon sanitaire to which to return the 3.5 million Syrian refugees residing in Turkey. On Jan. 24, the same day Erdogan spoke with Trump, the Turkish president separately 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."

In their call, Trump and Erdogan welcomed the return of more than 100,000 Syrian refugees back to their country in the wake of the ongoing defeat of [the Islamic State] and pledged to continue to cooperate to help people return home.

Fehim Tastekin writes that Erdogans blatant misinformation [about Afrins demography] 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.

Turkeys local partners in the Afrin campaign include jihadis, Salafists and those looking to settle scores with the YPG. Tastekin explains, 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 [Turkish Armed Forces] 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.

Metin Gurcan writes, It appears Turkey had Moscow's go-ahead for the offensive, given that Russia controls all Syrian airspace west of the Euphrates River. Russia no doubt sees that the operation will drive a deeper wedge between the NATO allies Turkey and the United States in light of the latters support for the YPG. Moreover, Russia probably calculates that, faced with the threat of being overrun by Turkey and its Free Syrian Army (FSA) allies, the YPG will now be more open to Moscow's earlier suggestion of handing Afrin back to the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Gurcan adds that Turkey has gone back and forth on the issue of whether Assad should remain in power, [and] has been negotiating with Assad about possibly working together against the YPG and the Kurdish nationalist [PYD]. But the Syrian president knows Erdogan's preference is an Assad-free Syria, so the Syrian army may end up assisting the Kurdish forces to an extent. Assad may decide to help evacuate the YPG units that appear to be squeezed in at Afrin, or help them receive reinforcements from east of the Euphrates. Still, another Assad policy could be to wait and see, thinking that at the end of the day Afrin will be handed over to the government.

This column has been covering this trend since at least August, when we wrote that Turkeys preoccupation with beating back Syrian Kurdish control in northern Syria could open the door to some type of accommodation with Damascus.

Inside Turkey, the Afrin operation is a winner for Erdogan. Gurcan reports that sources in Ankara told Al-Monitor that political and security bureaucrats agree and are fully determined to expand the operation first to Manbij and then east of the Euphrates River to undermine US cooperation with the Kurdish YPG on the ground.

Ayla Jean Yackley writes, Parliaments second- and third-biggest parties, the center-left Republican Peoples Party (CHP) and the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), both threw their weight behind the militarys cause, with CHP Chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu, normally a bitter Erdogan critic, saying Turkeys border security is a national issue.

"A large majority of Turks believe the government is right to enter Syria to pursue Kurdish militants, said pollster Adil Gur, whose research firm A&G conducted a survey of public opinion that has not yet been published. He therefore would not give exact figures, but said support from Erdogans ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and MHP voters verged on 100%.

As for Russia, Anton Mardasov writes, given the possible risk to its reputation, Russia resorted to the surefire strategy of shifting the blame for the Turkish operation onto the United States. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the operation in northern Syria was triggered by 'the Pentagons uncontrolled supply of modern weapons,' including shoulder-launched missiles, to the [SDF].

Mardasov said, First, with its military police operating in the Tell Rifaat deconfliction zone, Moscow still stands a chance of establishing itself as a peacemaker in the conflict over Afrin. Second, the cantons defense lines are well-fortified. Despite all the forces involved in the operation and the Syrian oppositions contribution of almost 25,000 fighters to Turkeys troops, the outcome of the military campaign remains unclear. Third, by distancing itself, Moscow may be sending signals to the Kurds in other Syrian enclaves, giving them a hint as to the price tag for taking actions inconsistent with the countrys territorial integrity.
HTC successfully patented a smartphone-reliant virtual reality headset designed to be bundled with a magnetic protective case, as revealed by a newly published listing found in the database of the World Intellectual Property Organization. The Taiwanese company originally applied for the patent in July of 2016 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and was rejected last November for being overly vague in describing the contraption and failing to explain the unique nature of the device, i.e. the qualities that allow it to be categorized as a new invention. Following a number of modifications, HTC managed to receive an approval from the USPTO earlier this month.

The creation is described as an accessory and lens system that consists of two parts, a protective case meant to house a smartphone which has a magnetic rear plate and a foldable dual-lens setup that can be magnetically attached to the accessory. Once removed from the case, the system can be folded out in what appears to be a small VR module reliant on a handset screen, with users being expected to slide the smartphone into the device from the bottom and hold the contraption in one or two hands while experiencing VR content. When folded out, the headset appears to be even smaller and architecturally simpler than the Google Cardboard, whereas its foldable nature should make it extremely compact and easy to transport. The Taipei-based original equipment manufacturer didnt specify which materials it believes would be ideal for constructing the gadget, though the mechanism it envisioned appears to be most suitable for a plastic build.

HTC has been shifting its product focus to VR in recent years, faced with the dwindling performance of its smartphone business, part of which was recently sold to Google for over $1 billion. The company was also meant to release a standalone Daydream-powered headset this year but ended up canceling it, though it insists its still committed to the VR ecosystem as a whole and has recently announced its second-generation premium headset in the form of the Vive Pro. The existence of the newly uncovered patent doesnt guarantee its commercialization, especially since it was originally created at a time when HTC was much more focused on smartphones than it currently is.
Samsungs German unit prematurely launched the support page for whats believed to be the dual-SIM variant of the Galaxy S9 identified by the model number SM-G960F/DS, as first noticed by Dutch tech blog LetsGoDigital. The website doesnt reveal any other details about the device itself, though it indicates Samsung will be offering dual-SIM models of its upcoming Android flagship in at least some parts of Europe, much like it did with its other high-end mobile devices released in recent years. The same model number was previously spotted on Samsung Chinas website, suggesting a launch in the Far Eastern country.

Its presently unclear whether the South Korean tech giant is also planning on offering a dual-SIM version of the larger Galaxy S9 Plus, though that seems like a probable scenario. The models capable of accepting two SIM cards will likely have a separate microSD card tray and wont utilize a Hybrid SIM setup thats popular among many phone makers as it allows for significant cost savings. The dual-SIM versions of the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus should hit the market simultaneously with the regular models which are expected to begin retailing on a global level in the second half of March. Samsung already confirmed the Galaxy S9 lineup will be officially announced in the run-up to the 2018 edition of the Mobile World Congress on February 25th.

The upcoming Android flagship series has been leaked in an extensive manner over the course of the last several months, with most reports suggesting Samsung will be looking to provide a refined Galaxy S8 formula instead of opting for another radical redesign. The most notable upgrades offered by the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus should come in the form of a new system-on-chip and improved imaging capabilities. The international versions of the devices are said to feature the Exynos 9810 chip, whereas the U.S. and Chinese models are expected to be powered by Qualcomms 845. The main camera of both devices will rely on a 12-megapixel sensor with variable aperture ranging from f/2.5 to industry-leading f/1.5, according to previous rumors. The Galaxy S9 Plus should also have a dual-camera setup, with its secondary module being of the 12-megapixel, fixed-aperture variety.
There are still some tensions between Ubers top management and the companys founder and former Chief Executive Officer Travis Kalanick, new CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum earlier this week. While speaking to CNBC at the Davos, Switzerland-based annual gathering, the head of the ride-hailing giant revealed the firms relationship with Mr. Kalanick is fine, but its strained. The 48-year-old referenced numerous controversies in which Uber got involved under the leadership of its co-founder who was ousted from the CEO position in June following significant pressure from a number of major investors. There was a lot that happened in the past that wasnt right, the head of the firm said, refraining from more explicit criticism that he resorted to on a number of previous occasions.

The Iranian-born entrepreneur said Mr. Kalanick was supportive of his efforts and even provided him with advice when he needed it as hes still available to the startup in his role of a board member. Ultimately, the CEO of the company has to take responsibility for every success and failure, Mr. Khosrowshahi said, suggesting the former chief shouldnt be absolved of all blame for the firms current predicament. The San Francisco, California-based ride-hailing company is presently the subject of a handful of federal investigations in the U.S. and has repeatedly clashed with regulators around the globe due to its aggressive expansion strategy nurtured under Mr. Kalanick. While the new CEO is now in the process of doing damage control, some of Ubers previous differences with authorities wont be simple to fix, including its currently ongoing London row that may see it kicked out of one of its most lucrative markets.

Despite the rough year thats behind it, Uber now appears to be at its most stable state in years, with the firm working to resolve its existing disputes and successfully accepting SoftBanks massive investment that provided the Japanese tech giant with an approximately 15 percent stake in the startup. Due to SoftBanks diversified portfolio that includes a number of other major ride-hailing service providers across the world, the move has the potential to push the industry past price wars and into profitability, some industry watchers believe. Uber is presently targeting a 2019 IPO and should become profitable before 2022, as per Mr. Khosrowshahis recent statements.
United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May said Ubers case is proof labor rights in the country currently arent at an optimal level and must be improved going forward. While speaking at the 2018 edition of the World Economic Forum held earlier this week in Davos, Switzerland, Ms. May reflected on a number of recent technological innovations that are drastically transforming the global economy, ride-hailing included. While she wasnt directly critical of Uber, her comments were delivered in the form of an asteism, commending the San Francisco, California-based startup for its groundbreaking use of technology thats now revolutionizing the concept of mobility, highlighting issues with the early version of the gig economy in the process of doing so. Ultimately, the lawmakers must do a better job of keeping up with the technological advancements so as to reverse the recent trend of deteriorating workers rights, the UK PM concluded.

Ms. Mays comments were a reference to Ubers recent legal issues in the UK, with the company being denied an operating license renewal request in London last September due to what Transport for London deemed was a concerning lack of corporate responsibility. With London being one of Ubers largest urban markets, the decision was a major setback for the company and its aggressive international expansion strategy and though its leadership quickly started doing damage control, the matter is now heading to court. For the time being, Uber is attempting to improve the working conditions of its London drivers in order to address some of the local regulators direct complaints, having recently announced new insurance packages and mandatory rest breaks, though it still insists its drivers cannot be classified as employees.

The firm is allowed to continue operating in London until its appeal is heard by the court. The competent judicial body is presently aiming to start a five-day hearing on April 30th but may still end up delaying the process due to scheduling conflicts. Should Uber be allowed to continue doing business in the UK capital, its licensing costs will spike by over 96,500 percent due to TfLs recent restructuring of its permit system. Uber is presently targeting an initial public offering in 2019 and expects to become profitable within three years, according to its CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. The company that raised over $22 billion since its Series A funding round in 2011 is still burning through money, having lost approximately $4 billion in 2017 alone.
Editor-in-chiefThe Spanish Constitutional Court met on Saturday for six hours, with its judges on the ropes. Still, Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba one of the craftiest and most disturbing politicians in Spains deep state apparatus had said that the State will pay the price of getting rid of Puigdemont. His words will go down in history and will help to explain the events of recent years. To be precise, they will help us to understand how the Spanish State in its broadest possible sense colluded to preserve the status quo, no matter the cost, and how democracys very foundations and the rule of law have been gambled with for the sake of Spains unity. Rubalcabas statement is a monument to the political cynicism that has led us where we stand today, and it shows that the Catalan pro-independence bloc failed to accurately gauge the powers of the State. Furthermore, the former PSOE leader hinted at a communion of interests when he added that the secessionists would like the Spanish government to rid them of Puigdemont. For years they downplayed the effects on Catalonia of what former Catalan president Jose Montilla called disaffection, and Madrids circles of power busied themselves with gossip before it was time to save the crown from King Juan Carlos farcical exploits. After years when Spains political class was focused on mutual destruction and using Podemos to lash out at each other, after years of blatant corruption, now the State will pay the price of getting rid of Puigdemont. In other words, they will try to prevent the one presidential candidate that has the majority backing in the Catalan chamber from being voted in. If the institutional edifice must be degraded, it will be for a higher purpose: preserving the unity of Spain. If that makes the States political, judicial and media collusion even more glaring, so be it.

Speaking from its ashes, El Pais has argued that the Spanish government has the right and the duty to prevent Puigdemont from becoming the next president of Catalonia, even if it means paying a high political price. And on the Council of States decision, the Madrid daily notes that its indifference is surprising in todays exceptional political context. That is to say, above and beyond any legal and, clearly, journalistic arguments, Spains nationalism must stand patriotically united behind the PP governments every decision. Why? The Spanish governments decisions, which are at odds with PM Rajoys words only a day earlier, are not alien to the Crown. To spare the Spanish monarch the trouble of having to formally sanction Puigdemonts appointment as president, it is avoided preventatively. Rubalcaba spoke about the kings outstanding performance in the Catalan crisis: he did the right thing and what some of us thought when he explained to the Spanish people that the State and its rules could not be disregarded and that the law must be upheld.

On Saturday the Spanish press printed flattering special features on occasion of the Kings 50th birthday. Painting a glossy picture of the Spanish monarchs private life was the cherry on the cake after a week when King Felipe saw his image boosted with his trip to Davos representing Spain in lieu of the Spanish primer minister. While in Davos, he stated that they have attempted to undermine the basic rules of Spains democratic system in Catalonia and he spoke in favour of the holy Constitution, the pillar of democratic coexistence.

YES, BUT IN PERSON

The PPs determination to resort to the Constitutional Court in order to prevent Puigdemont from being elected president after he was challenged to run in the December elections by that same government has given us an amalgamated decision which would seem to leave him a way out, but only apparently. Puigdemont may become president, provided he is present in the Catalan chamber when the vote is held. Now the question is whether he can persuade Spains Supreme Court to grant him permission to attend the parliamentary session rather than arrest him as soon as he sets foot in Catalonia. And that is a decision for the same judge who has ordered four Catalan political prisoners to be kept in jail.

The eagle has landed, if we are to believe the social networks, brimming with humorous, hopeful messages for Puigdemonts return on the back of his cunning, a record proven when the ballot boxes appeared seemingly out of nowhere on the day of the independence referendum. But the Spanish police efforts, with multiple checkpoints, make it almost impossible. Puigdemonts own attorney has advised him to return to Catalonia only once he has the assurance that he will not be imprisoned.

In the meantime, four political prisoners are still on remand awaiting trial because of their views. As every Saturday, Joaquim Forn was allowed to see some friends for forty minutes. He was strong and collected. He explained that in ward 7, where inmates are expected to adhere to a certain etiquette and exhibit good conduct despite having major criminal records and long prison sentences, they hold a general meeting on Saturdays to sort out their own issues and avoid the prison guards from getting involved. One of the items for discussion: to stop banging the cell door every time Barca scores a goal. Life goes on. The Spanish State is acting as one.
How to Have the Best Valentine's Day Ever

Don't Drop the Ball This Valentine's Day

Theres no denying Valentines Day is commercialized and creates a whole lot more stress than necessary. Being in a relationship is about showing you care every day, not just on certain dates.

However, it can be hard to get around celebrating it, and both of you having a great time involves some extra planning and consideration.

Making sure you have the best Valentines Day usually means you get to feel loved, appreciated, desired, and that youre also reciprocating all of those things with the ones you love. This is best achieved by putting some thought into creating romantic opportunities," says Gail Saltz, a relationship/sex expert and psychiatrist. "Important aspects of romance involve showing that you want to connect with those you love, so be playful with your partner and make sure you feel confident about what you have to offer.

Do something that both of you would find fun, even something novel, because 'newness' brings out excitement, and that excitement is transferable to your relationship; especially in the bedroom and other romantic settings, says Saltz.

1. Get to the Lovin' in the Morning

If youre hoping for a little sexy time this Valentines Day, you dont need to wait until bedtime. Start the day off with a bang, literally. Suggests Jess O'Reilly, Astroglides resident sexologist: "Wake your partner up with a gentle massage of their inner thighs. Tease a little and work your way toward their hot spots to provide the 'full-service' treatment."

RELATED: Kinky Valentine's Day Ideas

2. Celebrate a Day Early

Valentines Day can be a story of pricey prix fixe dinners, where you are rushed through your meal to make room for the next round of reservations. No doubt thats a mood killer. If you want to avoid overcrowded restaurants and special Valentines Day set menus, book a table a day or two before V-Day, says O'Reilly. Your partner will be pleasantly surprised.

3. Pay Attention

Be sure to listen to what your partner has to say to you and listen to how they express the way they value you, says Saltz: "Even the smallest gestures that are romantic, like leaving them a note or making them a meal, both go an extremely long way towards creating the cocoon of love and creating that experience that makes Valentines Day feel so great.

4. Live Out a Fantasy

Did you ever wonder what your girlfriend, partner, or wife fantasizes about when their head hits the pillow? I can promise you that its not you!" says Tali Alexander, romance author of "Love in Rewind and Lies in Rewind." "Every person has a getaway plan in his or her psyche, and if youre smart and lucky, you may be allowed to join and even be asked to ride shotgun. So pay attention to what your partner reads or watches, and this Valentines Day, bring a little piece of their fantasy to life.

You can recreate a scene from their favorite romance novel or movie  I'm not talking acrobats or anything painful, but something out of the 'normal routine'  and forget the mandatory flowers and chocolate," advises Alexander. "Valentines Day is about love, and if you love your partner, youll want to be a part of their dreams.

5. Put a Personal Touch on It

Seeing as how this is such a commercialized holiday, adding a personal touch to Valentines Day is guaranteed to make a lasting impression. Make her favorite dessert from scratch or [get] concert tickets to her favorite band. It doesnt have to be over the top, but prove that you know her better than she thinks, says Sarah Patt, matchmaker and dating expert with Its Just Lunch Houston.

Warning: Giving the gift of lingerie can be extremely dangerous, especially if the relationship is somewhat new, says Patt, and typically means you only have one thing on the brain. She warns: "Be more creative and save yourself the potential backfire.

6. Focus on the Little Things

It's easy to buy something shiny from an expensive brand, but if you take the time to buy her an array of smaller things that hit on different points of her personality and interests, I think that goes a long way in showing how much you really know her, says Bobby Rossi, cofounder of Headlines & Heroes.

7. Unplug for a Few Hours

It wont kill you to detach yourself from your phone, iPad, etc. for one night. Says Patt, We all love social media, but live tweeting about your Valentines Day night is a big dont. Give yourself the opportunity to focus and connect with you significant other.

But whatever you do ...

8. Make Sure to Celebrate

She said she doesnt care about Valentines Day. Dont be stupid. Of course she does. Yes, Valentines Day is completely commercialized and cheesy, but save yourself the breakup and do something nice for the special lady in your life," says Patt. "Whether its a simple card or a romantic dinner, just make sure to show her that you cared enough to put some effort into the day.

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Sarah Gilkes

A Melbourne boutique firm is opening a new office in Sydney, encouraged by the expansion of its clients outside of Victoria.The firm mdp Law will open at 111 Elizabeth Street on 1 February and will focus on the areas of intellectual property and commercial law.The new office will be headed by director Sarah Gilkes. She has a master of law degree from the University of New South Wales and has practiced in both Melbourne and Sydney. She is a specialist in IP law, regularly working with clients to protect and develop ideas from the concept stage through to commercialisation.Gilkes is also an expert in commercial law, advising clients in a broad range of industries, with a particular focus on the technology sector, in Australia and beyond. She advises on matters including acquisitions and disposals, corporate structuring, shareholder agreements, and capital raising.In the past couple of years, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of domestic clients who have expanded outside of Victoria, and who are now operating along the eastern seaboard, Gilkes said.This, along with the growth in the number of international clients who are using Sydney as a base to access the Asia-Pacific region, means that the opening of a new office is the next logical step. A Sydney presence will enable us to offer a more comprehensive service to our client base, she said.
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Fortunately, no one was hurt during the incident and, so far, investigators have not found the cause of the event. For now, the likely reason is a sudden surge in the speed of one of the airplane's engines. Regardless, the 737 ended up nose down on an incline close to the Trabzon Airport in northern Turkey.We tilted to the side; the front was down while the planes rear was up. There was panic; people shouting, screaming, Fatma Gordu, one of the passengers on the flight, was quoted as saying by state-run news agency Anadolu.The plane had to be retrieved, of course, after investigators have finished their initial assessments. Since it couldn't merely be towed, due to its peculiar position on a small hill adjacent to the black see, the 737 had to be lifted back to level ground.For that task, Turkish authorities had to bring in two high-capacity cranes. As the cranes were lifting their load, construction vehicles were leveling the dirt that represents the end of the runway on the Trabzon airport. Five fire engines are on seen standing on standby should anything go wrong.The plane is seen here taking to the air using crane is part of Boeing's third generation of the 737. The aircraft can seat 162 passengers in a two-class layout or 189 passengers in a one-class layout.This version of the 737 weighs 41 tons while empty, and can take off with a maximum weight of 78 tons. At landing, as in the case of the plane you can see in the video below, the 737's operating weight is estimated at 65 tons.
AV

Ford apparently filed a patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) back in 2016, but only last week the organization made the documents public. The papers list four inventors and Ford Global Technologies as the applicant.The system is probably years before full development is achieved. It is not even clear if Ford will ever integrate such a system into police vehicles. What is certain though is that this patent application shows that automakers will not stop at making autonomous cars drive themselves, but will slowly begin integrating more and more advanced technologies into their vehicles.Ford's autonomous police system could probably be integrated into any of the carmaker's existing vehicles. It is meant to automate routine police tasks, such as issuing tickets for speeding or failure to stop at a stop sign. It can also obtain an indication of violation of one or more traffic laws by a first vehicle, will the be able to pursue that first vehicle. It can identify the owner of the car and issue fines or warnings.Thesystem will comprise a series of sensors and processors linked in such a way that they create a decision-making machine.The system can be trained using machine learning tools, including deep neural networks to find right hiding spots and use them to catch those who break the traffic laws. It could hide behind an object to become inconspicuous and could decide where to point the cameras or laser systems which it is equipped with for the best line of sight. It will also be capable of repositioning itself if it determines the current position is of no use to it. The vehicle will be linked wirelessly to the central computer system.To determine, for instance, the speed limit for the stretch of road which is monitoring, the AV will connect to a local traffic laws database, or it will send a query to the central computer system it is linked with.Should it find another vehicle to be in violation of the law, the AV will be capable of identifying the owner of the respective car: it could also pull over that car or capture an image of its license plate. The AV system should be able to identify the driver, receive a picture of his/her driver license and determine whether to issue a warning or a ticket for the violation.When that decision has been made, the AV will communicate to the offending vehicle the fact that a warning or a ticket has been issued and then would let that car go.In principle, Ford says its police car will be able to control another vehicle's speed and steering, should that car have broken the law and try not stop. Thus the AV can, in essence, pursue offenders and automatically pull them over.As far as Ford's patent application describes, the autonomous police vehicle should be used sometime in the future but only in regards to other autonomous-capable cars. What that means is that, at least for now and on paper, Ford's AV system will be able to take the above-described actions only against vehicles that are more or less networked.Ford's autonomous police vehicle is on a mission. It hides under an overpass, points its cameras to multiple directions and waits. Soon, a vehicle driving over the speed limit makes it in the crosshairs.The AV sends a query to the perpetrator through wireless communication, asking it whether it is in autonomous or manual driving mode. The perp responds, saying is in manual driving mode and, when asked by the police vehicle, sends it information about the driver, including driver's license.The perp vehicle and its driver are then informed about what they did wrong and told about the fact that a ticket or a warning has been issued.As said, for now, an autonomous police vehicle is still far off. And since autonomous passenger vehicles don't seem to be such a frightening sight anymore, AV police cars to control them might not be such a bad idea either.
Sure, the Ice Blue Metallic shade of this rear-engined animal will keep you staring at this Zuffenhausen delight for quite a while. But the still-covered wing of the 500 hp machine means one's imagination can easily run wild and portray this as a Touring Package machine.For one thing, this hue accentuates the timeless look of the Neunelfer. Speaking of which, it remains to be seen how well the 991.2 GT3 front bumper will age, but this is another story for another time.The wheels of the track-savvy Porscha come in a platinum finish, with the rims accommodating yellow brake calipers, which means this land-to-land missile comes with the optional PCCB (Porsche Carbon Ceramic Brakes) hardware.Speaking of features, this Neunelfer comes with the standard Xenon headlights, while the configuration features the black inner graphics.As for the cabin, this is where we find three pedals, which makes this supercar a member of the save-the-manuals movement. We'll remind you that it's been a brilliant week for six-speed 991.2 GT3 sightings, with the car we have here following many others down this path.The humans wishing to enjoy the dynamic charms of this Neunelfers are aided by the hug-friendly full bucket seats, which, for instance, are shared with the all-mighty Porsche 918 Spyder.In case you're wondering about the whereabouts of this Neunelfer, you should know that the supercar recently landed in Fargo, North Dakota."This color was made famous by the 997 Turbo S. I've only ever seen this color on one 991.1 GT3, so it's nice to see this color so early in .2 production. This is just further proof that there were indeed many PTS slots for the .2s and the owners definitely did their homework," the Instagram-based Porsche registry that delivered this machine states.
By Trend

The Iranian flag carrier airline, Iran Air, has told Trend that it will resume operating Tehran-Baku flights on Monday after a three-year gap.

Under an existing agreement, an Iranian Airbus 320 will leave Tehran for Baku at 16:05 local time (GMT+3:30) on January 29, an official with the Public Relations office of the airline told Trend.

According to the official, Iran Air had stopped its Baku flights about three years ago and the Monday flight in fact marks the return of the Iranian flag carrier to Azerbaijan.

Elaborating on the flights schedule, he said that the flight will take place two times per week on Mondays and Thursdays.

The two countries exchange a considerable amount of tourists annually. According to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism about 340,000 Iranian tourists arrived in the country between January-November 2017.
By 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.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Trend

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of condolences to President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

"I have been deeply saddened by the news of heavy casualties and injuries as a result a powerful explosion in the city of Kabul.

This ruthless terror attack once again confirms the importance and necessity of resolutely and consistently fighting against all manifestations of terrorism, which has become a terrible disaster.

Over this tragedy, on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my deepest condolences to you, the bereaved families and loved ones of those who died and the whole people of Afghanistan, and wish the injured the swiftest possible recovery," the head of state said.
By Trend

Azerbaijan has become one of the highly respected members of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Azerbaijani MP Aydin Mirzazade told Trend.

"As before, the meetings held between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the heads of big companies this year help them invest in the Azerbaijani economy, discuss the issues on making investments in important projects in Azerbaijan, as well as gain access to new technologies and solve other important issues, he said. The meetings held within the forum with the heads of the countries which are friendly to Azerbaijan help strengthen bilateral relations."

The World Economic Forum is one of the most important annual world events for many years, Mirzazade said. The meetings of heads of state and government, businessmen, experts in certain fields help find the best option for solving existing problems in the world.

He emphasized that the participation of President Aliyev in the interactive session entitled "Strategic Outlook: Eurasia" within the forum and the answers to the questions asked there testified to the worlds huge attention paid to Azerbaijan.

Mirzazade added that participation in the World Economic Forum is a very significant event for Azerbaijan and the world.

"I think that Azerbaijans further participation in many events, such as the World Economic Forum in Davos, contributes to the establishment of good relations, he said. It is also contributing to the solution of the problems facing Azerbaijan and the world."

President Aliyev arrived in Switzerland on a working visit to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos Jan. 22.
By Trend

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.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Trend

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.
By Trend

Czech President Milos Zeman defeated pro-EU academic Jiri Drahos in the Czech presidential election on Saturday, a tacit endorsement Zemans tough stance against immigration and his courtship of Russia and China, Reuters reported.

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 countrys 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.

Zeman has taken a tough stance on immigration and was one of the few European politicians to back Donald Trump in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

He has also rankled much of society for warm relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and calls to end European Union sanctions against Moscow imposed over its annexation of Crimea.

Zeman has also been lukewarm toward the EU, calling himself a federalist and saying he supports membership in the bloc while also favoring holding an in-or-out referendum, like the one that has led to Britains impending exit.

Zeman never questioned the Czech membership in the EU, but on the other hand he said he would welcome a referendum on exit and in practice he significantly deviated from both EU and NATO, said political analyst Michael Romancov.

Described Drahos as the unequivocally pro-EU and an euro-Atlantic candidate.
Around 100 workers will lose their jobs at Bombardier on Monday despite the aircraft manufacturer winning a major trade dispute in the US that will save thousands of jobs.

Union sources told Sunday Life the positions will be axed due to jobs being moved to Morocco, where labour is cheaper, and not everyone being needed to work on the C Series parts.

Its good news that the majority of jobs have been saved, but that is of little comfort to the 100 or so workers who will be made redundant on Monday, said an insider.

Read More

Unite regional officer Susan Fitzgerald hinted at this on Saturday when she called on Bombardier to reiterate its commitment to the Northern Ireland workforce and end the outsourcing of jobs to low-cost centres.

The 100 job losses tainted the celebrations following a court ruling that stops the US imposing 292% duties on the import of the firms C Series jets to North America.

The wings for the plane are made by 1,000 workers in Belfast.

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 court victory has safeguarded jobs in Belfast and Newtownabbey, 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.

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, she added.

DUP MP for East Belfast, Gavin Robinson, said it had been a very difficult time for the firms 4,000 workers 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.

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 the 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.

The ITCs role was to determine whether the aircraft manufacturing 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.

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.
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.

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.
Police and Paramedics at the scene of a shooting incident in the Divismore Park area of Ballymurphy in West Belfast on January 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police and Paramedics at the scene of a shooting incident in the Divismore Park area of Ballymurphy in West Belfast on January 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police and Paramedics at the scene of a shooting incident in the Divismore Park area of Ballymurphy in West Belfast on January 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police and Paramedics at the scene of a shooting incident in the Divismore Park area of Ballymurphy in West Belfast on January 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police and Paramedics at the scene of a shooting incident in the Divismore Park area of Ballymurphy in West Belfast on January 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police and Paramedics at the scene of a shooting incident in the Divismore Park area of Ballymurphy in West Belfast on January 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police and Paramedics at the scene of a shooting incident in the Divismore Park area of Ballymurphy in West Belfast on January 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police at the scene of a shooting incident in the Upper Meadow Street area of the New Lodge. (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police at the scene of a shooting incident in the Upper Meadow Street area of the New Lodge. (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police at the scene of a shooting incident in the Upper Meadow Street area of the New Lodge. (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police at the scene of a shooting incident in the Upper Meadow Street area of the New Lodge. (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Police at the scene of a shooting incident in the Upper Meadow Street area of the New Lodge. (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Communities in Northern Ireland are being urged to "break the silence" over paramilitary attacks and help end the violence.

The call follows two "terrifying" paramilitary-style shootings in Belfast on Sunday night.

A 41-year-old man was shot five times in his arms and legs when a gang entered his home at Ballymurphy in the west of the city.

In north Belfast, a 26-year-old man was shot three times in his legs at his home in Upper Meadow Street, New Lodge.

Police said both victims have sustained "potentially life-changing injuries" and were taken to hospital.

A PSNI spokesman described both incidents as "terrifying" paramilitary-style attacks in the victims' own homes.

"It is another example of a criminal group trying to control a community by the use of weapons, fear and violence," the spokesman added.

SDLP deputy leader Nichola Mallon MLA said to help stop the savage attacks people with information must share it with police.

"These savage attacks are carried out by cowardly gangs seeking to coerce and control our communities through fear and violence.

"To stand up to it we must all break the silence that allows these people to get away with it.

"These brutal attacks were unjustifiable in the past. They are unjustified now. To help stop these attacks people must come forward with information to the police," Mrs Mallon said.

In the first attack, its thought three masked men forced their way into a 41-year-olds home in Divismore Park in the Ballymurphy area at around 7.30pm.

The victim was alone at the time and shot five times in his arms and legs.

Witness said they thought one of the attackers spoke with a southern accent.

There was shock in the area, as the shooting took place not far from where children had been playing.

Around an hour later a 26-year-old was shot three times in the legs in his home in Upper Meadow Street in the New Lodge area in the north of the city.

Unfortunately for local residents we were low and noisy over Belfast this eve. Helping @PSNIBelfastW and @PSNIBelfastN deal with 2 separate shooting incidents #KeepingPeopleSafe pic.twitter.com/RLw55Hkr0x  PSNI Air Support (@PSNIAirSupport) January 28, 2018

The moment paramedics arrived at the scene of a shooting in West Belfast tonight where a male has been shot 5 times in the arms and legs . - via @BelTel pic.twitter.com/vYlOdMAk0K  Kevin Scott (@Kscott_94) January 28, 2018

Letas name these criminal groups and stop giving them the umbrella of paramilitaries. They are vile individuals who are busy lining their pockets through drugs, intimidation or protection rackets - all at the expense of the communities they live in. https://t.co/7rvUhvcpaG  Doug Beattie (@BeattieDoug) January 28, 2018

SDLP councillor Tim Attwood said there had already been a few similar attacks in west Belfast this month.

That cannot be allowed to continue, he said.

To be shot five times is particularly brutal. Police are saying he may suffer life-changing injuries and clearly being shot five times is significant. We can only hope he makes a full recovery.

The shootings came just days after dissident republican group Oglaigh na hEireann called a ceasefire.

Police and politicians had also called on the group to end its so-called punishment attacks.

Whoever is responsible, there needs to be a clear message that this is not acceptable anywhere in Belfast or across the north, said Mr Attwood. These attacks need to end immediately.

Meanwhile, in north Belfast one resident said the first they knew of the shooting was when the emergency services swarmed into the area.

This is normally a quiet street, said one home owner, We have two kids in the house and Im just glad they never heard it because they would have been scared to go outside.

Sinn Fein north Belfast Councillor JJ Magee said: These brutal attacks have a damaging impact on our entire city and must stop immediately.

The Workers Partys Gemma Weir described the attacks as barbaric.

Detective Sergeant Davidson added: This is another example of a criminal group trying to control a community by the use of weapons, fear and violence.
Volunteers who can spare some time to help with the search of Michael Cullen have been asked to meet in Belfast on Sunday.

Family and friends have organised to meet at the Waterfront at 2pm.

2/2



Volunteers required to #HelpFindMichaelCullen - Belfast



Sunday meeting times/venues:



2pm @BelWaterfront

Main Auditorium



Thanks to everyone for your amazing support, as always! ai pic.twitter.com/WyBgBZvb2y  Aye Right (@cully001) January 26, 2018

Michael (33) who works for the Ulster University, was last seen in the Cave Hill Park area of north Belfast on Tuesday, January 9. He was in touch with his family at around 2.15pm that day.

His sister Cathy Cullen pleaded for him to return home.

"Michael, if you are watching this, please come home. We all love you and miss you so much. All your family and friends love you and miss you. If you can't come home right now, please call us or the police to let us know you are safe," she said.

Michael's family has set up a JustGiving page to raise money for an awareness campaign to help find him.

The page has already been shared 650 times on social media, and a Facebook group appealing for information now has over 4,500 members.

The PSNI has also been liaising with An Garda Siochana in the republic, which has also issued an appeal to help in the search.

Michael, from the North Circular Road area of Belfast, is 5ft 9ins tall. He is of slim build, with brown eyes, dark hair and a beard.

He was last seen wearing a green parka-style jacket, a grey jumper, black trousers and black Nike-style trainers with a broad, white sole.

For further information visit: www.facebook.com/groups/helpfindmichaelcullen
A cat which went missing three years ago has been found - but, in a sad twist to the tale, he will not be returning home... because his owner no longer feels able to look after him.

Dexter, a black and white cat from Dungannon, was spotted looking for scraps in a sorry state this week by kindly staff at the Apple Blossom Lodge Nursing home in Armagh.

Having taken Dexter to a local vet for treatment, the nursing home's staff have now committed to finding the loveable stray a permanent home.

Manager Heather Maxwell managed to catch Dexter, and told the Belfast Telegraph how the malnourished moggy had captured their hearts.

"The care staff had been feeding the cat for a few days. It seemed to be quite nervous, but it was getting better every day," she said.

Dexter could hardly have chosen a more animal friendly place to arrive, with the nursing home boasting its own mini-farm featuring goats and ducks.

Catering manager Gladys McMurdie helped to coax the fragile feline out with senior health care assistant Elaine Donald feeding it and even considering adopting him.

Cats Protection Armagh advised them to take Dexter to the local vet and agreed to pay the costs.

After the cat was given a health check and cleaned up, they discovered the cat was microchipped, allowing them to contact the owner.

"I was just thrilled, the cat was in such a bad state," said Ms Maxwell. "The vet told me the owner had always wondered what had happened to Dexter and he was just over the moon he had been found."

However, by 4.30pm yesterday the vet was told the owner no longer felt they could afford to look after Dexter, already having another cat to care for.

Veterinary nurse Sarah Buckley said: "He should have no problem getting a home, because he's a very affectionate cat. We gave him a health check, worm and flea treatment as well as dematting him. He was in a bad state being a long haired cat, and was a little bit underweight."

With three years and 13 miles between Armagh and Dungannon, it remains a mystery how Dexter has survived in the wild for so long.

"Normally when you hear of a cat going missing you only give them a couple of weeks; if they don't turn up it makes you think the worst," said Ms Buckley.

"But at three years and such a distance, to travel to Armagh and survive is amazing.

"He's still such a pleasant cat and has a great personality, considering everything."
The head teacher of an award-winning Northern Ireland school has apologised after he was accused of plagiarism.

Prominent teacher, Times columnist and education commentator Tom Rogers took to Twitter claiming one of his blog posts had been copied "word for word" by the principal of Our Lady and St Patrick's College in Belfast.

He posted a picture of the article, which detailed principal Dermot Mullan's experience of a teacher telling him he would achieve a poor grade in his exams and how times had changed, alongside a copy of his own blog post.

"I particularly like his signature and picture at the end. Hope his students have got the message - plagiarism is A ok!" he tweeted.

Responding through the school's official twitter page, Mr Mullan apologised and offered to to do so in person.

"Tom, we have never met in person or spoken and I have done you a wrong," he said.

"I apologise. I should have attributed your article. I did have the same experience as a student."

Mr Rogers replied saying he accepted the apology.

"A terrible example to students about plagiarism!" he added.

"I must say though, I enjoyed the fact you changed the grade you got from a B to an A."

Our Lady and St Patrick's College at Knock was named the Sunday Times School of the Year in November 2015.

This headteacher decided to copy one of my blogs word for word for his own school newsletter. I particularly like his signature and picture at the end. Hope his students have got the message - plagiarism is A ok!  pic.twitter.com/MmbUtfV4H6  Tom Rogers (@RogersHistory) January 27, 2018

Tom, we have never met in person or spoken and I have done you a wrong. I apologise. I should have attributed your article. I did have the same experience as a student. I would like to apologise in person if I had your contact details.  OLSPCK (@OLSPCK) January 28, 2018

Thanks for getting in touch. Apology accepted. I was very surprised you'd do this though, its probably a breach of copyright but beyond that, a terrible example to students about plagiarism! I must say though, I enjoyed the fact you changed the grade you got from a B to an A   Tom Rogers (@RogersHistory) January 28, 2018
A crowd of up to 30 youths gathered in Belfast's Waterworks, just yards from the police station. Pic Google Maps

The scene at the Waterworks park in north Belfast where police were attacked and a fire was lit after a group of youths gathered in the area. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

The scene at the Waterworks park in north Belfast where police were attacked and a fire was lit after a group of youths gathered in the area. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

The scene at the Waterworks park in north Belfast where police were attacked and a fire was lit after a group of youths gathered in the area. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

The scene at the Waterworks park in north Belfast where police were attacked and a fire was lit after a group of youths gathered in the area. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

The scene at the Waterworks park in north Belfast where police were attacked and a fire was lit after a group of youths gathered in the area. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

Northern Ireland police were - once again - besieged by rampaging youths on Saturday night across the country.

In just one incident the police helicopter was called, paramedics dealt with a drunk 13-year-old girl, a fire was started and police attacked.

Police dealt with trouble across Northern Ireland on Saturday night including at incidents in Craigavon, Dunmurry and Belfast.

A large group of around 30 youths gathered in north Belfast's Waterworks, just yards from the Antrim Road police station at around 8pm. A fire was started near the play park, a teenage boy was injured and paramedics were called to help a "highly intoxicated" 13-year-old girl.

Stones were thrown at a police car and the PSNI's air support dispatched to provide support.

We take all instances of anti-social or nuisance behaviour very seriously as we understand the impact these issues can have on communities," Sergeant Greg Dawson said.

Young people are being put at risk by becoming involved in the kind of activity we saw last night. While they have every right to enjoy each others company, I would just like to remind them that what might initially seem like fooling about can sometimes get out of hand and end up in a criminal record which can affect travel, education and employment opportunities in the future. It is really important that young people understand this."

Youths risking their lives by running in front of traffic. SDLP councillor

In Dunmurry police dealt with several crowds of young people, many of them drunk. Officers had to take many of them home to their parents. A local councillor said 100 youths were involved.

And in Craigavon police were again attacked while on patrol in the Portadown Road area resulting in their car being damaged. They also found drunk 14 year olds "shivering cold and soaking wet from sitting in muddy fields" among a crowds of youths drinking in the area.

Police appealed to parents to know what their children are up to or face a call from custody or A&E.

"If you can't say with a degree of confidence that your child isn't involved, it's time to step up," they said.

SDLP Belfast Councillor Brian Heading said parents and the community should work to put an end to the behaviour.

He said: "A minority are drinking and some are running out in front of cars onto the road.

This is not only disturbing residents nearby, many have told me they feel intimidated.

More importantly, the actions of some of the young people are very dangerous. Walking out in front of cars is not only obstructive to traffic, but these young people are taking their lives into their hands. It is frightening.

I support the police appeal to parents to check on their young people but more so, I would urge parents to speak to their young people about why they are engaging in this dangerous activity.

"However, this demands more than a police response. As a community we have a responsibility to reach out to these young people and deal with the wider problem. I will be seeking a meeting with the Youth Service as soon as possible.

"We need to work together to develop a strategy to deal with this issue.

Sergeant Greg Dawson added: "I would also ask parents and guardians to make sure they know where their young people are, what they are doing, and to talk to them about the danger of getting caught up in the moment and the possible outcomes they could face if they are found committing any offences.

We will continue to monitor reports of anti-social behaviour and respond appropriately.

"If anyone is concerned about any sort of criminal activity, please contact police at the earliest opportunity in a bid to help prevent and detect crime. Anyone with any information or with general concerns regarding anti-social behaviour should contact police on 101.
A manhunt is underway for a sex attacker who has escaped from prison.

Gintautas Urbonas, 51, is currently serving a 12-year sentence at HMP Peterborough for offences including attempted rape, battery and sexual assault, Cambridgeshire Police said.

Anyone who may be harbouring him is warned that they put themselves at risk of prosecution from the police.

Members of the public are urged not to approach him but to call police immediately with any information regarding his whereabouts.

According to the BBC, Detective Chief Inspector Mick Birchall said Urbonas could be heading for Lithuania.

Last week, in a rare finding, HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) rated the female site at HMP Peterborough as not sufficiently good on safety.

HMP Peterborough, which is operated by Sodexo, is the only prison in England and Wales that holds both women and men on a single site.
Nicola Sturgeon has challenged Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard to clarify his feeble position on Brexit.

The First Minister and SNP leader said the partys stance on leaving the European Union (EU) was bizarre and inexcusable, adding they were doing literally nothing to challenge the Tories on the issue.

Since taking over as leader, Mr Leonard has aligned with UK leader Jeremy Corbyn on Brexit, pledging to respect the result of the EU referendum but warning that permanent membership of the single market without being a member of the EU would leave the UK having to take its rules with no say.

Ms Sturgeon, who backs remaining in the single market, told the Sunday Herald: Scottish Labours position  in line with that of their London bosses  is utterly bizarre and inexcusable.

Expand Close Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard with UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (John Linton/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard with UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (John Linton/PA)

They are effectively backing the Tories extreme Brexit plans, which threaten many thousands of Scottish jobs and risk doing huge damage to our economy and society.

Labour have already taken a hit in the polls as people realise they are doing literally nothing to fight the Tories chaotic Brexit plans.

That trend is only likely to grow as more and more people across Scotland, including Labour supporters who oppose Brexit, see just how feeble the party is on the biggest single issue facing the country.

A spokesman for Scottish Labour said: This is typical posturing from Nicola Sturgeon, which is as much about opportunistically pursuing her own constitutional obsession and using Brexit as the means to achieve that.

In the meantime, Labour will get on with fighting the shambolic Tories bargain basement Brexit at every opportunity.

The reality is that only the next Labour government will deliver the investment our stagnating economy is crying out for and a jobs-first Brexit that retains the benefits of the single market and protects our economy.
Piers Morgan told The Andrew Marr Show Donald Trump had been on a "charm offensive" toward the UK. (Jeff Overs/BBC)

Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to the EU that he is unhappy with the blocs trading relationship with the US, according to Piers Morgan.

The Good Morning Britain host was speaking after a wide-ranging interview with the US president, in which Mr Trump claimed he would negotiate Brexit with a tougher attitude than the Prime Minister.

In the interview, Mr Trump said he believed the EU had very, very unfair to the US and it would be to the groups detriment.

Morgan told The Andrew Marr Show: Does anyone on the planet really doubt that Donald Trump would negotiate this harder than Theresa May and her Government?

I think hes looked at it and said what exactly is Britain negotiating here? Are you actually leaving? Are you trying to pretend youre not leaving?

He doesnt understand the subtleties.

"It's quite surreal when a friend becomes the powerful man on Earth" - @piersmorgan on @realDonaldTrump #marr pic.twitter.com/0y5G2litkg  The Andrew Marr Show (@MarrShow) January 28, 2018

He was very scathing about the EU  he said his own dealing with the EU had been pretty problematic and he actually gave a stark warning that he is coming after them on trade.

I would not be surprised  the biggest trading partner of America in the world is the EU, 650 odd billion dollars a year.

He was making it very clear hes not happy with that trade arrangement.

In extracts of the interview in the Mail on Sunday, Mr Trump said: 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 use  no taxes, very little taxes. Its very unfair.

Ive had a lot of problems with the European Union, and it may morph into something very big from that standpoint, from a trade standpoint.

Morgan said Mr Trump had been on a charm offensive toward Britain at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, where the presidents arrival was like Mick Jagger had arrived.

I think hes a massive force now on the world stage, the former Daily Mirror editor added.

Morgans interview will air on ITV on Sunday at 10pm.
Police will attempt to contact a woman mentioned in a US lawsuit alleging the rapper Nelly sexually assaulted her after a gig in the UK.

Essex Police said they would try to obtain a report from the unnamed woman by contacting the Seattle-based lawyer bringing the claim after officers were alerted by US media reports.

The new allegation, that a woman was sexually assaulted by the rapper after a gig at Cliffs Pavilion in Southend last December, is included in the lawsuit of an American woman who alleges the rapper raped her on his tour bus in the US.

Expand Close Nelly denies the allegations, which have emerged in a lawsuit filed in Seattle, Washington. (Yui Mok/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Nelly denies the allegations, which have emerged in a lawsuit filed in Seattle, Washington. (Yui Mok/PA)

An Essex Police spokesman said: We have checked our records and dont appear to have received a report of this incident.

Specially trained officers are now making contact with the solicitors in a bid to contact the victim to take a report.

Nelly, real name Cornell Iral Haynes Jr, denies the allegations and has filed a counter-suit, while his lawyer Scott Rosenblum said the claim was deceitful and motivated by money.

University student Monique Greene, 22, is suing the 43-year-old in Washington, USA, after prosecutors dropped a criminal case against him because she would not testify.

Let me say that I am beyond shocked that I have been targeted with this false allegation. I am completely innocent. I am confident that once the facts are looked at , it will be very clear that I am the victim of a false allegation.  Nelly_Mo (@Nelly_Mo) October 7, 2017

In court documents obtained by the Press Association, the lawsuit also says a third woman alleges she was sexually assaulted after a show at Koko, in Camden, north London, in June 2016.

The two women who allege attacks in the UK are referred to only as Jane Doe one and Jane Doe two in the document.

It adds the woman involved in the alleged attack in Essex did not report it to police because she feared not being believed.

Ms Greenes lawyer Karen Koehler said that the other two women contacted her after reading about her clients case.

One of the women is British and another is an American who was stationed in England with the military at the time.

Mr Rosenblum, in an email to the Press Association, said: Nelly is sensitive to women that have been victimised and marginalised. This is not the case here. He will not stand silent.

The recent addition of Jane Doe 1 and 2 is completely fabricated and an attempt to give credibility to his accusers far fetched story.

Nelly welcomes the opportunity to litigate this case in court. He is not looking for any monetary gain. He does not expect any monetary gain.

He expects an apology and recognition that he did no wrong.
A woman has died in a house fire which is being investigated by police.

Officers were called by the fire service at around 8.15am on Sunday to reports that a blaze had occurred at a house on Priory Road in Sale, Trafford, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

A womans body was found during a search of the property.

A joint investigation has been launched after a fatal house fire in #Trafford this morning. https://t.co/mWK0h6guV3 pic.twitter.com/4EXqhpMOyd  Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) January 28, 2018

GMP said an investigation into how the fire started is ongoing with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.

Police said the womans next of kin have been informed.

Detective Chief Inspector Gwynn Dodd, from GMP, said: Its extremely sad that weve had to inform someones family that their loved one has died this morning  our thoughts and specialist support remain with them as they deal with the tragic news.

We were called this morning to a house fire in Sale where a lady has sadly lost her life. Read more here: https://t.co/bpA2Pwgrv9 https://t.co/yOXWH3UT0s  Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (@manchesterfire) January 28, 2018

It is still very early stages for the investigation, but were acting quickly with our fire service colleagues to find out exactly what has happened.

I want to encourage anyone who saw something or anyone who has information to contact us at their earliest opportunity.

Damian ORourke, area manager for Trafford and Salford at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said: Our firefighters were on the scene within minutes and wearing breathing apparatus went into the house to extinguish the fire and look for any casualties.

A joint investigation with the police has begun to determine the cause of the fire.

Anyone with information are asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Theresa May was facing mounting pressure as a string of Tory MPs criticised her leadership and Government, with one saying the party was letting this country down.

The Prime Minister was urged to get a grip and give some direction to her promises to tackle burning injustices while one MP compared the speed of the Governments policy-making to a tortoise.

Tory discontent over Mrs Mays leadership and Brexit has led to reports that the number of MPs who have written to the backbench 1922 Committee calling for a contest is close to the trigger point needed to force a battle aimed at toppling the PM.

And a briefing war appeared to play out at the weekend between potential contenders, Boris Johnson and Gavin Williamson.

Sources said the Defence Secretary was the victim of smears following anonymous and incorrect briefings that he leaked intelligence, but an unnamed Foreign Office official criticised the tone of an interview he gave warning Russia could kill many thousands of Britons.

Expand Close How a Conservative leadership election works. (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook

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The PMs deputy, Cabinet Office minister David Lidington, urged Tories to come together in mutual respect.

He told BBC Ones Andrew Marr Show: I think what I say to all my colleagues is the Conservative family  left, right and centre, because were a broad church  needs to come together in a spirit of mutual respect, there are differences in any broad church, and look at what the bigger picture is showing.

The bigger picture is showing that after eight years in Government, we are still neck and neck with the Labour Party in the polls, were taking seats off them in places like Bolton in local government elections last week.

And the other thing my colleagues need to remember is look at last weeks news  unemployment, lowest level for 40 years new borrowing figures lower than expected, new growth figures higher than expected.

But several Tories appeared exasperated.

Heidi Allen, known as an independent voice on the backbenches, said the party needs to get a grip and lead.

She tweeted a photo of the Sunday Times front page which carried the headline Tories in turmoil, adding: And yet the old guard hangs on in and doesnt understand why we need to change, saying MPs like me arent proper Torys. Good God we need to get a grip and lead. We are letting this country down.

And yet the old guard hangs on in and doesnat understand why we need to change, saying MPs like me arenat aproper Torys.a Good God we need to get a grip and lead. We are letting this country down. pic.twitter.com/p1wANY4gpU  Heidi Allen (@heidiallen75) January 28, 2018

Normally loyal backbencher Nigel Mills said the PM has not delivered on her early promises to tackle burning injustices and that MPs are concerned about the Governments lack of direction.

He told BBC Radio 4s World At One: I think the frustration is the Prime Minister had what I thought was exactly the right drive and the right belief when she first came into office and its hard to see exactly how were making progress on that.

We need to show a sense of what our values are, where were going, where we want to get to, and if that timeframe has to be 18 months or two years to deliver something, well then thats fine, we can explain why that is.

But I think where people are perhaps just a little concerned is perhaps we dont quite know what that direction is, what those policies are going to look like or where theyre going to perhaps come from in that situation.

I think weve perhaps lost some of that reforming zeal when we came into office that Michael Gove had in education, that Iain Duncan Smith had in welfare.

Meanwhile, Mr Lidingtons predecessor Damian Green, who was sacked from his role following allegations about pornography on his office computer, denied liking a tweet in which Jewish Chronicle editor Stephen Pollard described Mrs May as hopeless, claiming it was a mistake.

For the avoidance of any doubt I did not mean to like this tweet and if I did it was a mistake as I was scrolling through. I donat agree with it at all. https://t.co/yTIi1dFqZK  Damian Green MP (@DamianGreen) January 28, 2018

Conservative former minister Rob Halfon, who was sacked by Mrs May, warned that Labour would profit unless the party tackled injustice.

He told World At One: We need to have less policy-making by tortoise and (more) policy-making by lion. Because we have to be radical. We have to stop seeing politics in transactional terms.

Respected backbencher Johnny Mercer refused to comment on the PMs future but told the Mail on Sunday she must face down domestic challenges such as the NHS as well as dealing with Brexit or we will pay the price with voters.

Grant Shapps, who led a botched coup attempt after Mrs Mays mishap-strewn conference speech in October, urged the PM to name a date when she will stand down and warned more letters were being sent to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady at the weekend.
Sauli Niinisto at his election reception on Sunday night (Jussi Nukari/AP)

Finlands incumbent president is poised for another six years in office as his closest opponent conceded defeat.

President Sauli Niinisto was leading with 63.8% of the votes cast on Sunday while his nearest challenger, Pekka Haavisto of the Greens, had 10.9%.

None of the other six candidates had received more than 7%.

Mr Niinisto needs a majority to prevent a run-off and to win re-election outright.

Mr Haavisto has conceded Mr Niinistos victory.

He told Finnish national broadcaster YLE that Mr Niinisto is the republics new president with this result.

Mr Niinisto, a former finance minister and parliament speaker, has been a highly popular president since he took office in 2012.

He ran as an independent with no association to the conservative National Coalition Party that he earlier chaired.
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Josh Taylor with Alfonso Olvera during their Super Lightweight fight at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz face each other during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz face each other during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz face each other during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz face each other during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz face each other during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz face each other during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Leo Santa Cruz on the scales during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch against Carl Frampton for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Leo Santa Cruz on the scales during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch against Carl Frampton for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Leo Santa Cruz on the scales during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch against Carl Frampton for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton on the scales during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch against Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton on the scales during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch against Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton on the scales during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch against Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton on the scales during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch against Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Fans of Carl Frampton make a lot of noise during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch with Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton on the scales during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch against Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Fans of Carl Frampton make a lot of noise during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch with Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Fans of Carl Frampton make a lot of noise during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch with Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Fans of Carl Frampton make a lot of noise during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch with Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Fans of Carl Frampton make a lot of noise during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch with Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Fans of Carl Frampton make a lot of noise during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch with Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Fans of Carl Frampton make a lot of noise during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch with Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz fans during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Fans of Carl Frampton make a lot of noise during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch with Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz fans during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz fans during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz fans waiting to get into Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz fans during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz fans during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz fans waiting to get into Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry A Mexican band entertain fans during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry A Mexican band entertain fans during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz fans waiting to get into Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton on the scales during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch against Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Leo Santa Cruz on the scales during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch against Carl Frampton for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton on the scales during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch against Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Carl Frampton on the scales during Fridays weigh-in at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas ahead of Saturdays rematch against Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight title. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Josh Taylor with Alfonso Olvera during their Super Lightweight fight at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Josh Taylor with Alfonso Olvera during their Super Lightweight fight at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry The MGM Garen Arena in Las Vegas where Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz will face each other for the WBA featherweight title rematch

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Josh Taylor defeats Alfonso Olvera during their Super Lightweight fight at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Gary Lightbody at ringside to watch Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry David Haye at ringside to watch Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Christine Frampton at ringside to watch her husband Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry at ringside to watch Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Gary Lightbody at ringside to watch Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Pete Snodden and Colin Murray at ringside to watch Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton in the ring with Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton in the ring with Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton in the ring with Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton in the ring with Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton in the ring with Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton in the ring with Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton in the ring with Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton in the ring with Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton in the ring with Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton in the ring with Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton in the ring with Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton in the ring with Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton in the ring with Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton in the ring with Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton in the ring with Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 28: Carl Frampton (R) and Leo Santa Cruz battle during their WBA featherweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 28: Leo Santa Cruz (R) hits Carl Frampton with a right in the 10th round of their WBA featherweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cruz won by majority decision. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 28: Carl Frampton (L) throws a left at Leo Santa Cruz in the 10th round of their WBA featherweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cruz won by majority decision. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 28: Carl Frampton (L) gets hit with a punch from Leo Santa Cruz during the 12th round of their WBA featherweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cruz took Frampton's title with a majority decision win. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 28: Leo Santa Cruz (R) smiles at Carl Frampton at the end of their WBA featherweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cruz won by majority decision. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 28: Leo Santa Cruz (R) hits Carl Frampton with a left in the 11th round of their WBA featherweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cruz won by majority decision. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 28: Carl Frampton listens to members of his corner between rounds during his WBA featherweight title fight against Leo Santa Cruz during their at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cruz took Frampton's title with a majority decision win. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 28: Carl Frampton (L) throws a left at Leo Santa Cruz in the 11th round of their WBA featherweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cruz won by majority decision. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 28: Carl Frampton (L) takes a punch from Leo Santa Cruz during their WBA featherweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cruz took Frampton's title with a majority decision win. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 28: Leo Santa Cruz (L) lands a punch on Carl Frampton during their WBA featherweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cruz took Frampton's title with a majority decision win. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 28: Leo Santa Cruz (L) hits Carl Frampton in the first round of their WBA featherweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cruz won by majority decision. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 28: Leo Santa Cruz (L) and Carl Frampton battle in the 12th round of their WBA featherweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cruz won by majority decision. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton in the ring with Leo Santa Cruz as they fight for the WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Leo Santa Cruz celebrates after defeating Carl Frampton to regain his WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton is dejected after losing his WBA featherweight title to Leo Santa Cruz at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Leo Santa Cruz celebrates after defeating Carl Frampton to regain his WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton is dejected after losing his WBA featherweight title to Leo Santa Cruz at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Leo Santa Cruz celebrates after defeating Carl Frampton to regain his WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Leo Santa Cruz celebrates after defeating Carl Frampton to regain his WBA featherweight title at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton is dejected after losing his WBA featherweight title to Leo Santa Cruz at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th January 2017 - Photo by William Cherry Carl Frampton is dejected after losing his WBA featherweight title to Leo Santa Cruz at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 28: Leo Santa Cruz celebrates after defeating Carl Frampton by majority decision to win their WBA featherweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 28: Carl Frampton (C) is shown after losing his WBA featherweight title to Leo Santa Cruz at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cruz took the title with a majority decision win. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 28: Kenny Bayless holds up Leo Santa Cruz's hand after he was announced as the winner by majority decision in his WBA featherweight title fight against Carl Frampton at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Carl Frampton is dejected after losing his WBA featherweight title to Leo Santa Cruz at the MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Photo William Cherry/Presseye

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 28: Leo Santa Cruz (L) lands a punch on Carl Frampton during their WBA featherweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cruz took Frampton's title with a majority decision win. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

Carl Frampton is determined to complete a trilogy of fights with Leo Santa Cruz - even if it means going to him despite the Mexican's pledges to settle the grudge match in Belfast.

The two-weight world champion surrendered his WBA featherweight crown to Santa Cruz in January last year in their second encounter.

Writing in his exclusive Sunday Life column Frampton says Leo's recent criticism of judging and his fears he won't get a fair fight in Belfast given the backing Carl is likely to get from his fans was "insulting".

"Santa Cruz will never come to Belfast," he wrote.

"Instead of talking nonsense and sending out excuses for not wanting to come and face me in Belfast, which he said he would do on more than one occasion, he should show some cojones like Donaire and agree to come here or maybe he would prefer it if we have the third fight in an empty hall.

"But, if push comes to shove and to get the third fight I have to travel then Ill go to Vegas again to face him if thats what has to happen."

The Jackal faces Nonito Donaire on April 21 at the SSE Arena. He said his local supporters were nothing but fair and would always respect a talented visitor.

"They know a good fighter and if theres a bad decision they wont stand for it even if it is for the local man so Santa Cruz has no excuse for not coming here," he added.

"Belfast is the best fight city in the UK, if not the world, and it has that reputation because the fans are fair and Collins and Santa Cruz should show a bit more respect."

Read the full column only in this week's Sunday Life.
Rohnert Park, CA - Following an investigation, Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety officers arrested a mother and her son Friday for allegedly operating a prostitution ring.

According to public safety officials, their investigation began after a manager of an apartment complex in the 4000 block of Snyder Lane reported that they suspected one of their apartments was being used for prostitution. They also reported that a neighbor had complained about men constantly coming and going from the apartment.

The apartment was rented by 37-year-old David Romesburg of Santa Rosa. Detectives learned that Santa Rosa police had also received complaints of prostitution activities at Romesburg's home on Alvarado Avenue in Santa Rosa, where he lived with his mother, 59-year-old Fay Romesburg, and several women who were possibly prostitutes, public safety officials said.

During their investigation, detectives found internet ads offering massage services in Rohnert Park. The services included nude massages and "upgrades", and the ads featured photos of women who, detectives learned, lived at Romesburg's Santa Rosa home, public safety officials said.

The ads also listed a phone number that was previously associated with Fay Romesburg, public safety officials said.

Detectives obtained search warrants for the Romesburgs' Rohnert Park apartment, Santa Rosa home and a business called Black Cat Industries on Southwest Boulevard in Rohnert Park that the suspects were about to open as a gaming and karaoke studio.

On Friday, an undercover officer made an appointment for a massage at the Rohnert Park apartment. There, he met the 19-year-old woman from the ad and she allegedly offered him sex in exchange for money, public safety officials said. She was then detained.

Officers then served a warrant at the Romesburgs' Santa Rosa home where they contacted the suspects and several suspected prostitutes. The women allegedly told detectives that the Romesburgs recruited them for prostitution.

The women told detectives that David Romesburg would post the ads online and respond to inquiries, then direct the women to meet clients. The women also said they had to pay the Romesburgs a portion of their proceeds, according to public safety officials.

One woman told detectives that David Romesburg would not allow her to leave the business until she paid off her debt to him. Another woman said he wouldn't allow them to have money for certain basic needs unless they had sex with him, public safety officials said.

David and Fay Romesburg were arrested on suspicion of pimping and pandering, and David was also arrested on suspicion of human trafficking, public safety officials said. They were booked into Sonoma County Jail.

David Romesburg's bail was set at $250,000 and Fay Romesburg's bail was set at $245,000, public safety officials said.
The Finance Minister has defended Irelands corporation tax rate.

At the World Economic Forum earlier this week, it was claimed the State was leading a "race to the bottom" with its 12.5% tax.

However, Donald Trump slashed the US rate by 14% earlier this year, and Emmanuel Macron is signalling his intent to lower Frances current 33.33% levy.

Paschal Donohoe believes Ireland must be allowed to stay competitive to attract business to our shores.

"Why should competitiveness and job creation be the prerogative of only large countries?" he said.

"Small open economies, small countries fight their own.

"Were entitled to look at measures, to look at the long-term competitiveness of our country as President Macron is currently doing.

"We have done that, we will continue to do that because it is a core part of Irish job creation."

- Digital Desk
Highgrove, CA -A 30-year-old woman in Highgrove has been arrested in the murder of her 3-year-old daughter, Riverside County sheriff's deputies said Friday night.

Susan Rank, 30, was booked for murder after investigators determined she was responsible for the death of her daughter. The victim was identified by family members as 3-year-old Zayla Rank.

The child's grandmother and great aunt told Eyewitness News that Susan Rank is mentally ill and they believe she is responsible for her own daughter's death.

Susan Rank was born with a brain tumor and suffered mental illness all her life, according to her aunt Tracylyn Sharrit.

Sharrit doesn't blame Rank. She says she blames the system.

"When a 3 year-old becomes collateral damage of somebody else's mental illness, we as a society have to say what is broken in this system?" Sharrit told Eyewitness News. "Zayla couldn't protect herself. Susan couldn't protect her either. She was mentally gone."

She says Rank had been reaching out for help, but the Riverside University Health System couldn't do anything for her. She was given medication, but it didn't help and she returned again and was given a pamphlet for sober living homes.

Rank was already living with her daughter in a sober living home associated with the group Set Free Ministries, her family members said.

Susan Rank's mother, Lori Wood, said she tried hard to get her daughter some help. Now, she says, she feels as if she's lost her daughter and granddaughter on the same day.

"It took everything I had as her mother to get her to go into those doors to ask for help in the first place," Wood said. "And she did it. And they still sent her away. And it killed me to wake up this morning to see it didn't work."

The Riverside health system said it couldn't comment on the case because of patient confidentiality laws.

Authorities were first alerted to the incident with a phone call around 6:45 a.m. Friday.

Sheriff's deputies responded to a home in the 3400 block of Cannes Avenue and discovered the girl's body outside the residence.

Authorities told Eyewitness News that everyone at the house was immediately detained, including the homicide suspect, and no one else is being sought.

"Interviews are starting right now, and it's just one of those sad days where we have to report this," said sheriff's Deputy Mike Vasquez.

The family has started a fundraising effort to help pay for Zayla's funeral expenses.

"Our family is heartbroken," Sharrit wrote on the GoFundMe page. "My sister is in deep mourning over the loss of her grandbaby, and the fact that it was at the hands of her mentally ill daughter weigh heavy on her heart."

Asked to comment on mental illness as a possible factor in the case, Vasquez responded: "We're looking into the possibility of those things. We never are going to rule one of those out, or that out, but we really haven't established that at this point."

Officials asked anyone with information about the case to contact Investigator Ted Gonzalez with the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777 or Jurupa Valley Investigator Mike Barros at 951-955-2600.
A Fianna Fail Senator says the latest Dublin shooting has intensified concerns about violent crime in the capital.

An investigation is underway after two men were shot just before 10pm Friday night on the South Circular Road, near the National Stadium.

They are being treated for non-life threatening injuries in St. Jamess Hospital.

The older man was injured in his leg and the other suffered an injury to his hand.

It is understood the gunman left the scene in a dark-coloured car.

This latest shooting comes a week after the 14th murder as part of the ongoing gangland feud.

Catherine Ardagh says the fact that innocent bystanders are being put at risk adds a whole new dimension to gangland feuds.

The Senator says Fridays attack is a wake-up call for the gardai and State.

"The Government are very clearly losing the battle against serious crime and against gangland crime. They need to wake up," she said.

"We cant have the situation like this going ahead, one where every second night we have a shooting on the streets of our city. Its too serious."

Gardai investigating Friday night's shooting are looking for information on a car seen in the area.

They want to hear from anyone who was in or around the South Circular Road, or St Alban's Road in Dublin 8 between 8pm and 10pm.

In particular they want to speak to people who may have seen a black or dark coloured Lexus car, reported to have been in the area at the time.

Officers also want any drivers with dashcams fitted, who were in the vicinity, to contact them.

- Digital Desk
Sinn Fein MP Paul Maskey has condemned the shooting of a man in the Ballymurphy area of Belfast tonight.

The 41-year-old man was shot in the legs and taken to hospital for treatment for what has been described as "potentially life-changing injuries".
US president Donald Trump has said he is not aware of any invitation for him to attend Prince Harrys wedding to Meghan Markle.

In a wide-ranging interview with Piers Morgan, Mr Trump replied "not that I know of" when asked if he was given an invite.

Harrys nuptials with the American actress have captured the imagination of her compatriots and will be seen to strengthen the bond between the UK and the US.

But Markle has been a vocal critic of former reality star Mr Trump, backing his rival Hillary Clinton and suggesting before the 2016 election she would leave the US if he won.

Asked if he would like to go to the royal wedding in May at Windsor Castles St Georges Chapel, Mr Trump simply said: "I want them to be happy. I really want them to be happy.

"They look like a lovely couple."

When Morgan pointed out she had labelled the billionaire "divisive" and a "misogynist", he said: "Well, I still hope theyre happy."

Prince Harry with Meghan Markle

Morgan also pressed the president on his social media habit, confirming he often tweets himself but will delegate if he is busy.

He said: "Well, perhaps sometimes in bed, and perhaps sometimes at breakfast, or lunch, or whatever.

"But generally speaking, during the early morning or during the evening, I can do that.

"But if Im very busy during the day ... and Ill sometimes just dictate out something really quickly, and Ill give it to one of my people to put it on."

The president also offered hope that the US could come back in from the cold after opting out of the Paris Accord on climate change, a decision that drew scorn from the international community and "disappointment" from UK Prime Minister Theresa May.

He said: "The Paris Accord, for us, would have been a disaster.

"Im completely out of it.

"First of all, it was a terrible deal for the United States. If they made a good deal ... theres always a chance wed get back.

"But, it was a terrible deal for the United States. It was unfair to the United States.

"If somebody said, go back into the Paris Accord, it would have to be a completely different deal because we had a horrible deal.

"Would I go back in? Yeah, Id go back in. I like, as you know, I like Emmanuel (Macron, French president). I would love to, but its got to be a good deal for the United States."

Mr Trump also gave his views on climate change, saying he believes in clean air and good cleanliness generally.

He said: "There is a cooling, and theres a heating. I mean, look, it used to not be climate change, it used to be global warming.

"That wasnt working too well because it was getting too cold all over the place.

"The ice caps were going to melt, they were going to be gone by now, but now theyre setting records. Theyre at a record level."

According to a Nasa analysis in March last year, the sea ice levels in the Arctic reached a record lowest extent during winter and in the same month the sea ice around Antarctica reached its lowest extent ever recorded by satellites at the end of the Southern Hemisphere summer.

President Trump - The Piers Morgan Interview airs on Sunday on ITV at 10pm.

- PA
The old algorithm meant a lot of the content appearing at the top of the newsfeed was coming from businesses, but the new algorithm prioritises friends, family and groups. A Facebook spokeswoman says the company is having an "ongoing dialogue with our news partners across Australia and New Zealand and the globe" to discuss its focus on "trusted, informative and locally relevant news" and recent newsfeed changes. Max Doyle, managing director of social media strategists Hello Social, says some of his clients - predominantly services and product companies using Facebook to advertise themselves - have been forced to more than double their spend to ensure their content reaches the same numbers as before. Were advising clients now that organic strategies are useless, he says.

One of his campaigns included a weekly post boosted by a $10 spend that would achieve thousands of likes and hundreds of comments. In the last two weeks, Im getting a quarter of the reach I was getting a month ago. The only thing that has changed is the algorithm. To get same results as last year, I wouldnt be surprised if the budget needs to more than double, he says. While this hits companies hard, it hits publishers reliant on Facebook for readers and viewers in a different way. Publishers have been using the platform to attract audiences, and increase traffic to their sites - which can be used to boost advertising revenue.

Many also sell sponsored posts on Facebook, including live videos and competitions through the platform, to advertisers who want to access their audiences. As Doyle describes it, its as though companies are being held to ransom by one omni-channel where business pages, news, recipes and all content is housed together. So many sites are driving much of their traffic from social and that traffic is bringing in ad revenue." While some may be keen to reduce their reliance on Facebook, 60 to 70 per cent of Australians now get at least some of their news through social media channels, Brady Robards senior sociology lecturer at Monash University explains. He says young people use Facebook as part of a "polymedia landscape" including Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit and other channels, though not all presented news content in the same way.

We will have to see what effects this change has, he says. Of course, some media companies are hit harder than others. Loading National established online news sites tend to drive significant engagement directly from their home pages, with some additional traffic from social media channels. Its understood Fairfax Media, the owner of The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald, has been in discussions with Facebook  though only a modest portion of its audience comes from social media.

A News Corp spokeswoman says it welcomes changes that reward quality and confront click bait but it is too soon to say how the proposals will play out. In the meantime, we will continue to negotiate with Facebook on developing a subscription model that can help expand the audience for and viability of quality journalism, she says. News Corp executive chairman Rupert Murdoch recently called for a carriage fee to be paid by Facebook to publishers, where the platform would pay a fee to media companies for hosting its news. Major TV broadcasters, whose offerings frequently include speciality online content sites, are broadly unconcerned about the changes despite the growth of video on the platform. Network Ten head of marketing and social media Brad Garbutt is confident it will continue to find mass audiences on Facebook.

The changes announced aim to boost meaningful social interactions and Mark Zuckerberg singled out television shows as a great example of content creators which do not produce a passive experience for users, he says. Nine Network declined to comment, though sources say only a small portion of its audience is driven by social media. It's understood this is a similar situation for Seven. Those most likely to be affected are smaller digital content creators who rely heavily on social media for their audiences. Mamamia's Mia Freedman said her digital strategy involved diversifying to avoid reliance on Facebook. Credit:Cybele Malinowski Mia Freedman, co-founder and creative director of Mamamia Women's Media Company, says podcasts are driving significant growth as it diversifies away from reliance on Facebook.

She says the amount of traffic coming from Facebook is not an insignificant amount but weve worked to deliberately reduce it over the past year or more. Online title Vice social growth manager Sarvesh Jasuja says Facebook drives a reasonable amount of its traffic. He also says it is too early to tell how it will impact the site, but hopes it will remain well positioned due to its focus on engagement. Youth focused news site Pedestrian director Chrishan Wirasinha will not say how much of its audience is driven by Facebook, though says it is a multi-channel brand and there's not yet any impact on traffic. He says brands and advertisers will likely be hit harder by the changes than publishers who are "constantly adapting".
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.
Wood Mackenzie Australasia oil and gas leader Saul Kavonic has outlined the five trends that will mark LNG growth in 2018.

While Australia is increasing its focus on securing domestic gas supply, it is taking a greater role globally and evolving the industry.

This year will be the year of the oil and gas revival, as prices lift performance and major projects come online.

Australia has been ramping up its LNG projects for a number of years, and 2018 will see it finally take the worlds number one spot from Qatar.

The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science has forecast LNG exports to reach $35 billion in value 2018.

This will be driven by Chevrons second Wheatstone LNG train coming online in the second quarter of the year, Inpexs Ichthys project ramping up production, and Shells floating LNG ship Prelude coming into full operation.

The International Energy Agency forecast Australia will become the worlds largest gas supplier in the world in the coming years. It predicted that nearly 70 per cent of all gas produced in Australia would leave the nation's shores. This is a major increase from the current share of production, which currently sits below half.

Australia will also become the world's largest coal seam gas producer, accounting for nearly half of international output from the 2020s onward.
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.
A former parliamentary security guard who had more than 1200 massages has lost a legal bid to force the government workplace insurer to continue paying for the rub-downs.

A tribunal found the back injury suffered by the man had resolved and Comcare did not have to continue paying his massage bills.

In May 1984, the man was working security at Old Parliament House when he injured his back while moving furniture.

Comcare accepted he had sustained a lumbago pain arising out of, or in the course of, his employment.

Despite a number of attempts to return to work, the man, now 78, had been unable to engage in paid employment since that time.
Australias smallest flying foxes, weighing no more than 600 grams, are flying hundreds of kilometres to feed on Queenslands finest flowering plants. Little red flying foxes are Australia's smallest flying fox. Credit:Mandi Griffith The life of a little red flying fox has been explored as part of a joint Queensland government and CSIRO monitoring program. Initial results from the 13 tagged flying foxes revealed each of the flying mammals had travelled hundreds of kilometres from where they were first tagged at the tracking programs base in Charters Towers in north Queensland. Last December, up to 200,000 flying foxes, most of which were little reds, camped in trees around Charters Towers, causing residents to rally against the roosts and local council to close parks.

Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch said researchers believed the flying foxes had inundated the north Queensland town because of a flowering event where melaleuca and bloodwood trees produced sweet nectar. This research program is intended to improve management of little red flying fox roosts by providing local governments with information and knowledge they need to minimise levels of disturbance these animals regularly cause to communities across Queensland, she said. Ms Enoch said the next step for the project was to enlist the help of rangers, local government, the Queensland Herbarium and other partners to help increase understanding of what drives the animals behaviour. The Department of Environment and Science is inviting key partners to monitor little red flying foxes across much of north and central Queensland to help collect information on where and when they go and why they have the way they do, she said. The collected information will be used in the CSIRO research program, led by flying fox expert Dr David Westcott.
Water Police, fishermen and emergency services searched for just over two hours in order to find three people who fell overboard while boating off the coast of Swanbourne late on Saturday evening.

At around 8.10pm the skipper of the recreational boat, which had been returning from Rottnest Island, alerted Fremantle Sea Rescue and Water Police three people had fallen from the vessel.

The three people were rescued. Credit:Hannah Barry

The boat was around four nautical miles west of Swanbourne when two 24-year-old women and the 30-year-old man fell from the rear of the boat.

It's not yet known what caused them to fall.
Peppa Pig features a female villain, in the shape of a duck. Well, guess what, economists don't look like me, either. Indeed, of all the professions, the world of economics and finance, including finance journalism, remains a distinctly male-dominated arena. All the animals in The Gruffalo are referred to by the male pronoun. Australia has never had a female treasurer, Reserve Bank governor or Treasury secretary.

It matters, because the decisions economists make shape our world. It is economists who walk the corridors of power and determine the policies that influence the lives of every citizen. But economics has a woman problem. In a study presented at a recent American Economic Association annual meeting, two female American economists, Betsey Stevenson and Hannah Zlotnick, presented the findings of an audit they conducted of seven leading economics textbooks in the US. Of 2800 persons mentioned in the textbooks  real and made up  three quarters were male. When women did appear in examples, they were found to make fewer decisions, less likely to perform analysis and were more likely to be involved in food, fashion or household tasks.

Of real-life business figures mentioned in the books, just 6 per cent were women, including Sheryl Sandberg, Diane von Furstenberg and Marissa Meyer. That's not only low, it's less than the real-world incidence of female business people. Women own 36 per cent of businesses in the US, and 28 per cent of chief executives are women. I found a similar trend in Australian high school exam papers when I was involved last year in launching a new Women in Economics Network. A casual glance at the exam questions for high school economics and business study courses turned up these gems. Play along at home, and see if you notice a pattern: Question 1: Natalia's Hair Salon has $110,000 in liabilities and $150,000 in assets. What is the value of Natalia's owner's equity?

Question 2: Ronda has been working in a beauty salon for over eight years. She has a diploma in beauty therapy and has decided that she wants to operate her own beauty salon. Outline ONE advantage of establishing a new business over purchasing an existing one. Question 3: Olivia owns a spray-tanning salon and employs 12 people. What size best describes Olivia's business? Large, small etc. Question 4: John wants to develop a software "app" for mobile devices. John is investing $70,000 to develop this "app" that he will sell through his business website. What would John best be described as? Manager? Operator? Consultant? Entrepreneur? Well, I'm pretty sure no one was going to describe John as a beauty therapist, spray-tanner or hair salon owner. Just as Natalia, Ronda and Olivia were unlikely to be described as manager, consultants or entrepreneurs. These are real examples, taken from real exam papers, being sat by current high school students.

And it's not just textbooks. A recent Observer study of the characters that appear in the top 100 children's books in Britain found a similarly worrying gender skew. Male characters were twice as likely to take leading roles in the stories, while female characters were less likely to speak. One in five books featured no female voices at all. In family favourites such as The Gruffalo, Guess How Much I Love You and Dear Zoo, all animals are referred to by the male pronoun. Male characters playing a villainous role were eight times more likely to appear than a female villain. Just one book portrays a female villain acting alone: a dastardly duck who steals Peppa Pig's boots. Perhaps this all sounds a bit petty.
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.
Australia is set to become one of the world's top 10 defence exporters under an ambitious $3.8 billion government plan.

The new defence export strategy to be released by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Monday aims to put Australia on par with major arms-exporting countries like Britain, France and Germany within 10 years.

The government believes the strategy will create new jobs and bolster Australia's troubled defence manufacturing industry, which struggles to sustain itself based on Australian Defence Force needs alone. A big boost in exports will insulate local manufacturers from the peaks and troughs - sometimes called the "valley of death" - of domestic demand.

"This strategy is about job creation. It will give Australian defence companies the support they need to grow, invest and deliver defence capability. It will make Australian defence exports among the best in the world," Mr Turnbull said.
Four men carry the coffin from a deadly suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. Credit:Rahmat Gul At the time of the announcement, many Afghan officials feared an immediate escalation in violence in retaliation and wondered whether their shaky government could absorb the blows. On Saturday, Trump issued a statement denouncing the attack. "I condemn the despicable car bombing attack in Kabul today that has left scores of innocent civilians dead and hundreds injured," he said. "The Taliban's cruelty will not prevail. 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." Injured men receive treatment after the attack in Kabul. Credit:Rahmat Gul In last weekend's attack, Taliban militants barged into the highly guarded Intercontinental Hotel, battling security forces. At least 14 of their victims were foreign citizens, including Americans, and nine were pilots and flight crew members from Ukraine and Venezuela who worked for a private Afghan airline, Kam Air.

At the time of Saturday's attack, General Joseph Votel, commander of the US Central Command, which oversees military operations in the region, was in Kabul. He met with Ghani, and officials aware of the discussion said Pakistan was much of the focus. A man injured in the attack looks out from an an ambulance. Credit:Rahmat Gul Anger at the Afghan government for its dysfunction and ineffectiveness in the face of violence was palpable on the streets. At the site of the explosion, an old man, his clothes stained with blood, sat on the ground and wailed. He cursed the two leaders of the Afghan government  Ghani and his coalition partner, Abdullah Abdullah  for the security lapses. He said his son was dead. A relative of a victim is cries after a deadly suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. Credit:Rahmat Gul

"May God punish you, may Allah punish you both," the old man repeated. "There is nothing left for me anymore  come kill me and my family, too." Saturday's explosion occurred on a guarded street that leads to an old Interior Ministry building and several embassies. Many ministry departments still have offices there, and visitors line up every day for routine business. "I saw a flame that blinded my eyes, then I went unconscious," said Nazeer Ahmad, 45, who suffered a head wound. "When I opened my eyes, I saw bodies lying on the ground." "It's a massacre," said Dejan Panic, coordinator in Afghanistan for the Italian aid group Emergency, which runs a nearby trauma centre. At least 131 people were brought to the group's Kabul hospital. Baseer Mujahid, a spokesman for the Kabul police, said the bomber drove past the first checkpoint, at the entrance to the street. Police had allowed it to pass because it was an ambulance, and one of the city's main hospitals was just beyond the checkpoint.

"Police stopped the vehicle at the second checkpoint," Mujahid said. "Then he tried to drive in from the wrong lane. Again, the police tried to stop him. But he detonated the explosive-laden vehicle." At Malalai maternity hospital, near the carnage, health workers said the explosion had briefly interrupted their work, and jolted patients out of their beds. Then, the staff continued to bring new life into a violent world. "It has become normal in Afghanistan," a midwife said. "Every day, we hear these kind of sounds." Others at the hospital were deeply affected. Abdul Khaliq, who anxiously waited in the hospital yard, busy with sunflower seeds, said his sister-in-law had given birth through cesarean section just days ago. "During the suicide attack, she was at the hospital and now she is shocked. She doesn't want to breast-feed her baby," Khaliq said. "Her doctor is trying to convince her that everything is OK, but she cries and says nothing."

Tadamichi Yamamoto, chief of the UN mission in Afghanistan, condemned the attack as "nothing short of an atrocity" and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. "I am particularly disturbed by credible reports that the attackers used a vehicle painted to look like an ambulance, including bearing the distinctive medical emblem, in clear violation of international humanitarian law," Yamamoto said. Later in the day, family members lined up outside the morgue at the Kabul forensic medical department, trying to identify their loved ones. The staff could not draw a list of the victims because most were unidentifiable, or did not carry any documentation. After the remains were cleaned, the staff lined them up in the yard outside and allowed family members to walk around and identify them. Once remains were identified, the morgue staff would write the name on the forehead, or on the chest if the head was missing. For some, though, the search continued.
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Increased regulations of landlords will not necessarily be a burden to the Australian housing market, says a new report.The view that introducing tenancy regulations is red tape is out of step with the recent experience of other countries, says a report from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute. It found that some countries have put in place strong regulations protecting tenants without suffering significant declines in their number of investors or housing price drops.Lead researcher Dr Chris Martin said Australian policymakers can learn from other markets experience as the country experiences a growing share of renters in its housing market.State government could legislate to improve security of tenure, for example by removing no-grounds terminations, without unduly burdening landlords, said Martin.The report, undertaken by researchers from the University of New South Wales and Swinburne University of Technology, compares the private rental sector in 10 different countries across Europe, North America and Australasia.It found that Australia and Germany have similar negative gearing policies, yet experience very different housing market outcomes."While both countries exempt owner-occupied housing from capital gains and provide for negative gearing, in Australia house prices have continued to rise, while in Germany house prices are relatively steady due to a large private rental sector, low population growth, conservative lending by public financial institutions and rent regulations," says the report.Debates over negative gearing hit the headlines again when a report released earlier this month said the majority of Australian households would gain from the removal of the tax break.Initial results of the study show that discarding negative gearing would boost the average home ownership rate to 72.2% (from 66.7% currently) and improve the overall welfare of the economy by 1.5%.Related stories:
Qualcomm also launched an initiative to make premium tier 5G devices available as early as 2019. Photo: IC

U.S. telecommunications company Qualcomm signed memoranda of understanding on Thursday with four Chinese smartphone makers involving $2 billion in potential deals.

Lenovo Mobile Communication Technology Ltd., Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corp. Ltd., Vivo Communication Technology Co. Ltd. and Xiaomi Communications Co. Ltd. have declared their interest in buying Qualcomms mobile device components designed to help manufacturers adapt to 5G mobile networks, Qualcomm said in a statement.

The agreements were signed at Qualcomms China Technology Day event in Beijing, where the U.S. firm also launched an initiative to make premium tier 5G devices available as early as 2019.

The initiative, a joint effort between Qualcomm and six Chinese companies, comes as China races to become one of the first countries to upgrade from existing 4G mobile networks to 5G technology.

Mobile networks are classified by generation based on their speed and other technical specifications, with 4G, or fourth generation, systems being the most-advanced type in use around the world today.

International telecommunications standards organization 3GPP set the first formal specifications for what qualifies as a 5G network in December, but telecommunications companies have been trying to make the leap into the next generation for years.

In November, China Mobile, ZTE Corp. and Qualcomm said they had successfully demonstrated a groundbreaking data connection technology capable of reaching 20 times the speed of current 4G networks. ZTE is one of the six Chinese firms participating in Qualcomms latest 5G initiative, alongside Lenovo, OPPO, Vivo, Xiaomi and Wingtech Technology Co. Ltd.

In December, Chinas National Development and Reform Commission said it planned to launch basic 5G networks in at least five cities in 2018. China could be planning to roll out a full 5G network around 2020, according to research by investment banking firm Jefferies.

Contact reporter Teng Jing Xuan (jingxuanteng@caixin.com)
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.
Nine people were killed, 21 others were injured, and several churches and buildings were destroyed when rebel forces bombed a predominantly Christian district near Damascus, Syria, on Jan. 22.

On Monday afternoon, Syrian rebels shot several mortar shells into the district of Bab Touma, killing nine people. It was a consequence of the growing number of clashes between rebel forces and government troops in Syria in the last few weeks, the Christian Broadcasting Network detailed.

Government forces have reportedly advanced into eastern Ghouta. The continuous clashes in the area that is home to 400,000 people have left dozens dead and caused its residents to suffer from a lack of supplies including food, water, and medicine.

In the last few years, the forces backed by Syrian President Bashar Assad have managed to regain control over some of the key regions in the country. Nevertheless, the rebels refuse to surrender, and the resulting clashes have often trapped innocent civilians in the middle of the confusion.

Earlier this month, rebels belonging to the Free Syrian Army retaliated against Syrian forces and their allies in the province of Idlib, the biggest rebel-held area in the country. The anti-Assad forces were trying to push back against advancing government forces, Reuters reported.

In a statement, a senior official for one of the FSA factions, Abdul Hakim al Rahamon said they had put up a joint operations room in order to fight against the government offensive. They intend to regain the areas already seized by Assad's forces in Hama and southern Idlib.

According to the rebels, they had seized 15 villages and have 60 government fighters in their custody. However, a source within the Syrian military denied these claims and implied that this was mere propaganda.

The clashes have also sparked tension with Turkey, whose troops had established bases inside northern Idlib. It explained that these measures were part of their deal with Iran and Russia that involved setting up a de-escalation zone in the area.
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Nikki Haley, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, made an impassioned, educated appeal before the Security Council, urging the Palestinians to provide constructive leadership. If you missed her presentation, you owe it to yourself to watch it. It should be a "wow" moment for anyone interested in peace and leadership not only in the Middle East, but anywhere.

Those who are unfamiliar with the Bible will remain clueless about the conflict between Jews and Palestinians. There is no way to understand the perpetual turbulence over the Middle East without understanding the historical context of the conflict. The root of it goes back to the book of Genesis (Genesis 12:1-3, 15:18-21 and 17:9-14).

Atheists and agnostics can take note that the debate over land rights and sovereignty in the Middle East cannot be understood without grasping the biblical record of how, and why, it all began. In a nutshell, the land promised by YHWH to Abram/Abraham's descendants is a promise unlike any other given to man by God. Israel, not the United States, is unique among all the nations of the world. No nation is like the nation of Israel, nor will it ever be. It's no wonder an apple of God's eye would be under constant, ferocious attack.

Genesis 12:3, the centerpiece of the Abrahamic Covenant, says this of Israel, "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse" (NIV).

Prophecy revolves around the nation of Israel, not America. If you want to understand where we are in God's prophetic time clock, watch the nation of Israel and the people within. To oppose the Jewish people is to invite the active opposition to God. Does that give Israel the right to abuse foreigners within her walls? Of course not. Scripture commands Israel to not mistreat foreigners (Exodus 22:21, Leviticus 19:33). But all within and outside of Israel should be mindful of the need to respect Israel's right to not merely exist, but to also thrive.

When we understand the land promise God made to Abram and his descendants (the Jews), our understanding of the problems in the Middle East crystalize. Here is the promise that God gave to Abram, recorded in Genesis 15:18-21 (NIV):

"On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, 'To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadiof Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates  the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.'"

A PROPHECY TO BE FULFILLED

When we consider that the Jewish people have never possessed all of the land God promised to Abraham, it should be easy to understand why the idea of surrendering any land to the Palestinians is a hot potato. To give another people a portion of the land that God promised to the Jewish people would be akin to rejecting the gift and the gift-giver.

Yes, our minds have a hard time reconciling how and why God would take from one and give to another. But this is a large portion of the point. Just because we do not understand does not mean we should not comply. The case for Israel is unlike the case for any other nation on earth. It is not one that can be understood through a mere mortal lens. It is only by understanding the Abrahamic Covenant that current and future events in the Middle East can be understood.

Yes, it may seem, for a season, that the side that is slated to win has its back up against a wall. We know from Scripture that this will be the case as we near Jesus' return. We must remember that God always means what he says, says what he means, and delivers what he promises. His promise to Israel is no exception.

Pray boldly and humbly for the peace of Israel. Doing so puts you on the winning side. Those who oppose Israel's right to exist, or who insist that land be taken away from the Jewish people, are passionate and sincere  but they are sincerely wrong. We shouldn't look down our noses at such people, but rather lift our heads and pray for them to see the light.

In the meantime, our world needs more leaders like Nikki Haley. She understands the importance of standing with Israel at a time when a growing number are opposing not merely mortals, but the Immortal  the One who brought Israel into existence in the first place and who will one day deliver the rest of the land he promised.

Michael Anthony is author of A Call For Courage a speaker and blogger at CourageMatters.com, and lead pastor of Grace Fellowship in York, Pennsylvania.
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.
Alex Pall of The Chainsmokers admits he's miserable after being dumped for cheating

The Chainsmokers' Alex Pall is on an all-time-low after controversial split with ex-girlfriend Tori Woodward. Pall admits he is miserable, and hopes nothing but the best for his ex-lover.

Pall made headlines last week after being caught cheating by Woodward herself. Woodward caught Pall kissing another woman right outside his house through a CCTV camera footage. Woodward then took matters into her own hands by blasting Pall and posting the said video on her Instagram story.

Woodward wrote the quote "They'll look you in the eyes and tell you they love you. Then destroy you without a second thought," to accompany her post. Pall had been silent ever since his deed went viral on the internet.

After the incident, Woodward went her own way, while Pall is preparing for The Chainsmokers' upcoming tour worldwide. TMZ caught up with Pall and asked how he was doing. "It's been a little rough, y'know that's life," Pall replied. He continued with, "She deserves the best, I wish nothing but the best for her, she deserves a better guy than me."

When asked about his single life, Pall answered with, "I'm miserable" and told people to "be a better person and care for those who love you."

Woodward has not addressed or commented on Pall's recent statements. A number of netizens are not convinced with what the DJ said. Others on the other hand sympathize with the 32-year-old musician.

The entire cheating incident broke out right after The Chainsmokers released their new single "Sick Boy."

The Chainsmokers will soon embark on their worldwide tour starting Feb. 1 at Prior Lake, Minnesota. The American DJ duo will hold shows in countries like Austria, Czech Republic, Netherlands, France, Germany, U.A.E., China, and other nations as well.

There are still no reports nor updates if the duo are working on a new album to be released this year.
Rob Bell returns in 'The Heretic': New film follows former pastor's 'revolution'

Decried as an apostate by some, praised as a prophet by others  no one divides evangelicals quite like Rob Bell. The former megachurch pastor and provocateur is the subject of a new documentary, whose title captures well the cry of Bell's despisers: The Heretic.

A trailer for the film, produced by Untold and directed by Andrew Morgan, was released this week. 'Somewhere along the way the Jesus movement got hijacked,' says Bell in the trailer in a line typical of his theology. From his perspective, that's about recovering the radical nature of Jesus' original teaching as a prophetic address to today's Church  an institution otherwise mired in pretentious, legalistic and small-minded religiosity.

Bell continues: 'The religions have failed. So we are going through a revolution because these great traditions have to be expanded.' His emphasis particularly on a socially conscious faith often at odds with conservative evangelical tendencies has seen some dismiss him as a liberal. He adds, in the film: 'Women's rights, LGBT, minorities, love of our Muslim neighbours  if those aren't all basics, we're done'.

Bell became famous as an evangelical who pushed the envelope with innovative communication and provocative ideas. He's only become more controversial over time; after pushing against several key tenets of American evangelicalism, many would say he's not even a 'Christian' any more. We might summarise his 'journey' in three points.

Bell gained notoriety when he began 'repainting the Christian faith' in his book Velvet Elvis; alongside his NOOMA video series it pushed against inherited axioms of faith and promoted in fresh and engaging style the challenge of Jesus' teaching. His following book Sex God encouraged rethinking of Christian attitudes to relationships, but remained orthodox in its teaching. Bell has frequently battled to divorce true Christianity from contemporary ties to conservative, Republican ideology and American exceptionalism. He spoke out vocally against the US war in Iraq, a controversy that divided his own church, Mars Hill, at the time.

But Bell hadn't truly ruffled evangelical feathers before the advent of his book Love Wins, which questioned traditional evangelical teaching about hell as a place of eternal conscious torment. He floated the possibility of universalism  the idea that ultimately, all are saved from judgment  and it earned him the infamous tweet of dismissal from John Piper: 'Farewell Rob Bell'.

For many Bell's final straw was his endorsement of same-sex marriage; in 2013 he declared: 'I am for marriage. I am for fidelity. I am for love, whether it's a man and woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man...I think this is the world we are living in and we need to affirm people wherever they are.'

It put him beyond the pale of many conservatives at the time, but Bell hasn't seemed too bothered by his critics. After all, in 2011 Time magazine named him one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.

He's increasingly moved away from an explicitly Christian context, leaving his megachurch pastor role for a series of speaking and writing projects across the US. But his preoccupation with Jesus and the Bible endures, as his 2017 book What is the Bible?, and 2018 tour The Holy Shift, suggest. Bell even has hope for reclaiming the title 'evangelical' from its political strictures.

Stalwart evangelical and committed Trump ally Franklin Graham has called Bell a 'false teacher', and of course, a 'heretic'. In the present political climate, many won't see that as such a bad thing.

The trailer for 'The Heretic' can be watched here.
'Young Sheldon' spoilers: Sheldon faces the flu in upcoming episode

Young Sheldon Cooper (Iain Armitage) will face one of his greatest adversaries in the upcoming episode of CBS television series "Young Sheldon." On the next episode, Sheldon relies on his 187 IQ to battle the flu.

Episode 13 of the first season, "A Sneeze, Detention, and Sissy Spacek," will air on Feb. 1 at 8:30 p.m. EST on CBS. According to the episode's summary description, the flu season will come to Medford, Texas and Cooper, a well-known germophobe, "takes extreme measures to remain healthy."

In the teaser trailer of the episode, Sheldon is seen struggling with almost everyone in his school suffering from the flu. With the flu outbreak, Sheldon's table gloves are upgraded to plastic gloves, which are now accompanied with a flu mask. To take things on a higher level, Sheldon quarantines himself in the garage with only his trains to keep him company. With no Hazmat suit in his wardrobe, Sheldon relies on his astronaut costume to avoid the flu.

Fans are excited to see if Sheldon will be victorious in fighting off the flu or will the episode leave him with a runny nose.

The series is doing quite well with both viewers and critics. According to Tv By The Numbers, episode 12 "A Computer, a Plastic Pony, and a Case of Beer" generated over 13.33 million viewers last Jan. 18. The series got over 14.70 million viewers when it resumed on Jan. 4 with episode 10. "Young Sheldon" also remains strong with critics. The series maintains it 75 percent rating from Rotten Tomatoes and 63 percent from Metacritic.

Georgie Cooper (Montana Jordan) is getting a lot of love from fans after his funny lines and ideas in episode 12. Missy Cooper (Raegan Revord) is also making a name for herself with her funny side comments and expressions throughout the released episodes.
A Conroe police officer critically wounded a man during a shootout Sunday morning following a chase in Montgomery County, officials said.

Greg Kocian - a 33-year-old Cleveland man with a lengthy criminal record who sued the sheriff's office last year - leaned out of a car window and allegedly opened fire on police, who fire back seven shots in return.

"Everyone from the Conroe Police Department is in good shape - nobody was injured," Chief Philip Dupuis told reporters afterward. "Another thankful day."

The shooting came just days after an FBI agent shot and killed a Conroe kidnapping victim during a botched operation in Houston.

The Sunday chase kicked off around 9:30 a.m., when a caller reported a suspicious vehicle in Kasmiersky Park, police said.

Responding officers spotted the Chevy Cavalier leaving the park and tried to stop the car - but the driver sped away down Interstate 45, according to police.

The chase wound across South Loop 336 and later onto Sgt. Ed Holcomb Blvd. At that point, the car slowed down and Kocian allegedly leaned out the window and fired two rounds at an officer behind him.

Then the car sped up again and the gunman fired off another shot, just before another Conroe officer intervened and shot the driver near the intersection of FM 2854 and Sgt. Ed Holcomb Boulevard.

Kocian was rushed to Conroe Regional Medical Center in critical condition with what appeared to be life-threatening injuries.

Authorities did not immediately name the officers involved in the shooting.

A passenger in the car raised his hands and surrendered, police said. He was taken in for questioning, but it's not immediately clear whether he'll be charged.

"It's my understanding that there was some social media news that there was a dog in the vehicle," Dupuis said. "There was a dog in the vehicle. The dog was maced, but the dog has been captured and is in custody of animal control."

Police also recovered two guns from the car. It's not clear what the men were doing in the park in the first place or why they fled - but, according to court records, Kocian had violated bond conditions after a drug arrest late last year.

Last March, Kocian was charged with aggravated sexual assault after police alleged he'd beat a woman over the head, tortured and raped her.

Those charges were ultimately dismissed after a grand jury declined to indict him, according to court records. His former attorney, Willis Everett Smith, said that was due to inconsistencies in the victim's story.

Then in July, Kocian filed a lawsuit against the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, alleging malicious prosecution and false imprisonment.

A federal judge late last year tossed the claim against the sheriff's office but opened the door for Kocian to re-file a suit in state court, targeting the woman who he said falsely accused him.

The Liberty County man picked up another Montgomery County charge in September, when court records show he was arrested on charges of possessing a controlled substance. That case had not yet been resolved.

BOTCHED RAID: Kidnapping victim shot in FBI 'operation' in Trinity Gardens area

There's no indication the shooting bore any relation to the Thursday morning FBI shooting that stemmed from a Conroe police case.

Two men - one a known Tango Blast gang member and the other a parolee - forced their way into a Tyler Lane home on Wednesday morning, then kidnapped a father and left behind his bound 12-year-old son.

The boy broke free and a neighbor called Conroe police, who began investigating. But once a ransom call came in from a man claiming to be cartel-connected, police called in the feds.

It's not clear what happened - and Conroe officials said late Thursday they still hadn't been able to get details on what went wrong - but the operation ended with Ulises Valladares dead.

"The system failed," Dupuis told reporters afterward. "We do this job to help people, and it doesn't always go our way."
About five years ago, college presidents, software developers, and education reformers predicted that massive open online courses, or MOOCs, would spur a revolution in higher education and a new era of flexible, affordable learning. The New York Timess Education Life declared 2012 the Year of the MOOC, with a cover feature. The hype lasted for a few years, but the Education Life story hinted at the problem that would eventually stall the MOOC momentum. What do you get for your effort, asked author Laura Pappano, referring to online course-takers, just the happy feeling of learning something? MOOCs wouldnt catch on, she and others worried, because students didnt earn credit for their courses. Popular websites like edX and Coursera offered free or nearly free courses from top universitiesbut with no accreditor to certify the offerings.

As a result, MOOCs largely became the prerogative of highly educated professionals hoping to sharpen their skills. By 2014, 72 percent of registered edX users had bachelors degrees, with more than half of those holding postgraduate degrees as well. The handful of credit-granting programshosted on colleges own websites, as with the University of Texass Extension programcharge students full tuition to enroll. The MOOC model hasnt caught on with the groups that it was supposed to help most: high schoolers, community-college students, and unskilled workers. Now, though, a new initiative is demonstrating how MOOCs can fulfill their potential.

MOOCs had receded from the headlines by 2014, their biggest purveyors settling into their roles as non-credit-granting, supplementary-education providers, when Steven Klinsky, founder and CEO of New Yorkbased New Mountain Capital, decided to get involved. He was well qualified to take a shot at reform, having contributed to successful initiatives at every level of American education over two decades. In honor of his brother, who had died at 29, he created the Gary Klinsky Childrens Centers in Brooklyn in 1993 to provide free after-school programs to elementary school students; and in 1999, he founded the Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem, New Yorks first charter school. His new idea: create an accrediting body for online college coursesthe Modern States Education Alliance, an echo of the Middle States Association, which authorizes brick-and-mortar universities in the Northeast. I went down to Washington and met with the Department of Education folks, trying to convince them to change the accreditation system, Klinsky recalls. But federal policymakers resisted a shakeup in the regional accreditation system, which focuses exclusively on two- and four-year, degree-granting colleges. I think they always worried that there was going to be some negative somewhere, Klinsky says.

For the millions of students taking free courses online, the road to college credits was unlikely to run through Washington. Klinsky soon shifted his efforts toward helping these students gain credit through existing channels. The lightbulb went on, he remembers, when he noticed that there are already ways to get credit through the College Board exam process. Thus arrived the Freshman Year for Free program. The Modern States website would offer video courses structured to match the content and skill level of these credit-granting exams.

The most widely taken College Board exams are the Advanced Placement tests, offered to high school students annually. For online-course students, however, the lesser-known College Level Examination Program tests are much more accessibleavailable on demand at more than 1,800 examination centers. Klinsky and his partners began developing courses tailored to both AP and CLEP. He personally endowed a fund for the Freshman Year for Free program that would reimburse the $85 exam fees of the first 10,000 test-takers, making the path to credit free from start to finish. The College Board exams cover a full range of introductory-level topics; some persevering Modern States users will be able to complete an entire first year of college.

The Modern States platform offers 32 CLEP coursesone for every subject on offer from the College Boardalong with 16 multipart AP courses. Subjects range from Information Systems and Principles of Marketing to Analyzing and Interpreting Literature. Each course comes with a downloadable textbook, along with interactive web exercises that allow students to practice-test their knowledge as they move through each module. Finally, the quizzes and tests use sample questionsdesigned, in many cases, with input from the College Boardthat closely match those of the credit-granting exams.

Combining several Modern States courses doesnt approximate the full experience of brick-and-mortar education, of course, as Klinsky acknowledges. We want to be an on-ramp into the traditional system, he tells me, explaining how the platforms courses could help, say, a cash-strapped college student finish a suspended degree or a full-time worker shave time off her course of study. Its tempting to cast Modern States as a disruptive education start-up, with a mission to shake up the collegiate worldits sleek course-catalog design, inspired by Netflix, certainly gives that impression. But Klinsky has built his platform prudently, forging partnerships with institutional players and focusing on making content available to people who lack access, rather than attempting to transform the entire system.

This new pathway to college credit has arrived right on time. Over the past two years, the movement for free college has gained steam, with New York becoming the latest of four states to begin covering the cost of public-university tuition for its residents. Still, taxpayers are footing the bill for this state-funded version of free collegeto the tune of $163 million in the first year alone. Rather than fighting to reduce higher-ed costs, Governor Andrew Cuomo and other free-college advocates have thrown in the towel, pumping more public money into colleges in a manner certain to drive tuition costs even higher. With Modern States, Klinsky is resuming the struggle to cut a lower-cost path to quality education.

After an extended beta period, the Freshman Year for Free project formally launched in summer 2017 and won favorable reviews from Marketwired and the Wall Street Journal. More than 30,000 students have registered, and so far, about 70 percent of CLEP course-takers have passed their exams.

Modern States free path to credit has been a boon for many students. A recent immigrant from Cameroon, 21-year-old Freeman Talla, an electrical-engineering student at Kennesaw State University in Marietta, Georgia, wants to be an energy entrepreneur. To get there, hes pursuing both an engineering masters and an MBA, and he hopes to blaze through a heavy course load and save money in the process. Though he mastered chemistry in high schooleven substitute-teaching his peers when their instructor was absentTalla maxed out his credits for the term and couldnt enroll in a required chemistry course. His advisor referred him to Modern States chemistry CLEP course. Using the video lectures as a refresher before taking the exam, Talla moved one step closer to the first of what he hopes will be many degreesand hes no poorer financially for his efforts.

Careful course creation and successful execution have been keys to the platforms early success.

The course model is particularly advantageous for nontraditional students. Lester Felton, 32, worked as an officer in the New Jersey Department of Corrections until 2016, when, looking to change careers, he began pursuing an associates degree. Now enrolled at Rowan College in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, Felton completed a Modern States course on Western civilization, studying during breaks between shifts as a shopping-center security guard. Moving on to introductory French and other courses, Felton is considering a career as a teacher with the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) schools, which will let him earn a masters in education while workinga leap that he might not have taken without the savings that free courses have provided.

Modern States website offers more than 30 similar testimonials from high schoolers, community-college students, parents, and professionals in mid-career. Klinsky often acknowledges the platforms first CLEP graduateWilliam Rush, a home-schooler from Oregon with plans to skip college and become an electricianas well as a mother of a chronically ill son who has completed several courses during hours spent in the hospital waiting room. Nontraditional studentslike Wanda Cruz, a Philadelphia teacher who sharpened her skills with a pair of Spanish courses, and Connor Myers, a high school senior amassing enough credits to go into college as a sophomoreare the norm rather than exceptions among Modern States users.

Careful course design and successful execution have been keys to the platforms early success. Klinsky began developing the courses in 2015. Looking to collaborate with edX on the production of AP video courses and make use of its network of contacts with universities and professors, he made a $1 million donation to the MOOC provider. For the production of the CLEP courses, Klinsky and Modern States executive director David Vise hired IBL Studios, a New Yorkbased contractor that specializes in educational video. Full-time professors helped identify top teachers from around the country to recruit for each course, and the team maintained strict standards as they reviewed hundreds of applications. We told some professors they were not up to the job because they were extremely boringwe didnt think they could do a good job for the students, IBL founder and CEO Miguel Amigot says. Professors who made the cut hailed from Columbia University, MIT, Purdue, the University of Texas, and other notable campuses. Each course was then produced from scratch at one of IBLs two studios, located in New York and nearby Union City, New Jersey. The groups educational consultantsa mathematician, a designer, an aerospace engineer, and otherswork with the professors to create curricula in step with the CLEP exam topics. The lectures are shot over the course of three nine-hour workdays, using what Amigot calls a live production technique. We are able to film the professors presenting on their iPads or writing on the glass in a way that perfectly matches the information slides of the students, he notes, contrasting the style with other video courses in which slide shows are overdubbed.

Klinsky points to three simple goals for the future. The first is that Modern States will continue to develop institutional alliances with colleges that accept CLEP credits. If you look at the Texas state website, they have a whole page for us in there, he says, explaining how the university advertises Modern States to prospective students as a potential fast track for their transfer applications. For students already attending four-year colleges, a referral to the site could mean a chance at leaping ahead, as Freeman Talla has done. The second goal is expanding the circle of donors to help cover the cost of students exam fees. Today, most reimbursement comes from Klinskys personal donations, but in autumn 2017, a Tennessee charity agreed to pay fees for local rural residents. Klinsky hopes that other regional groups will follow suit: You could have veterans groups saying well help the veterans; you could have the local Kiwanis Club pay for people in their town.

The third goal, more important than partnerships and funding, by Klinskys reckoning, is the reputation that Modern States will develop as users spread the word. The metaphor that he prefers is that of the public library: an essential resource, free and open to all, to which one can be directed by a helpful neighbor. The library concept also explains why Klinsky doesnt worry about the attrition rate in Modern States courses. Browsing for freewhere you take a book off the shelf, read a page, and put it back downis not the problem, he insists, calling attention to the difference between users of his site and students at traditional colleges, where the failure to complete ones course of study can result in a lifetime of debt. The risk is low, but the reward for persisting through a Modern States course can be as great as students choose to make it. Ultimately, its on you, says one, Lester Felton of New Jerseygrateful to have received an opportunity, and proud to have made the most of it.

A professor connects with her online students via a high-tech light board. (PHOTO COURTESY OF MODERN STATES EDUCATION ALLIANCE)
Ingrid Barrentine | Alaska Airlines

High fashion, meet high altitude. Designer Luly Yang debuted the Alaska Airlines' new uniform collection this month at a fashion show inside a hangar at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The specially designed 90-garment collection will dress about 19,000 employees  including pilots, flight attendants and customer service agents  who work for Alaska Airlines and its affiliates. Alaska's new uniform collection is part of a brand refresh for the Seattle-based carrier, which is incorporating the edgier brand and culture associated with recently acquired Virgin America into Alaska's own reputation for service and reliability. CNBC recently talked with Yang and others about the collection.

Ingrid Barrentine | Alaska Airlines

Yang is well-known for her bridal gowns and red carpet couture, but had another advantage: She was already a frequent flyer on Alaska and Virgin America when she was chosen to design the new uniform. "We didn't start out to choose a Northwest designer," Sangita Woerner, Alaska Airlines' vice president of marketing, told CNBC. "We interviewed designers quite known domestically and internationally. Luly knew the Alaska brand and once we went to her studio and got to know her and her obsession with the quality, the design and the fit, we fell in love."

Ingrid Barrentine | Alaska Airlines

Before Yang designed the collection, she spent two years traveling around the country meeting with employees, observing them at work, getting feedback from union groups and reading through responses to more than 5,000 employee surveys. "This the ultimate puzzle for a designer. And, as with my couture business, my approach was to really listen to and get to know my client," Yang said. "In this case it was 19,000 clients, employees with hundreds of body shapes, 13 work groups and sometimes 45 sizes per garment. It was very complicated, which is why I loved it."

Ingrid Barrentine | Alaska Airlines

Yang called her design for pilots a "modern interpretation" of the uniform, as well as "a signature piece" for the airline. "The caps have a new shape, new drape, new material, are much more comfortable and are lighter weight," said Yang. "And they have that legacy embroidery touch that I think gives them more soul."

Ingrid Barrentine | Alaska Airlines

"In design we always try to balance form and function," and, for the Alaska Airlines uniform collection, function was very important, said Yang. Flight attendants told Yang that because their jobs entail so much lifting, bending and reaching, their shirts often come untucked. In response, Yang's designed longer shirts and added waistband grips in the pants and skirts. "A lot of engineering details you can't see went into this, but I believe the employees will feel the difference," said Yang.

Ingrid Barrentine | Alaska Airlines

Textile safety and quality were top priorities during the development of the uniforms. Every component of the uniforms, from buttons and zippers to threads and fabrics, went through rigorous testing. "It's a bit of an investment, but we felt it was a long-term investment that's pennies on a piece, but the right thing to do," said Ann Ardizzone, Alaska Airline's vice president of supply chain and risk management.

Ingrid Barrentine | Alaska Airlines

Yang applied the obsession to detail she gives to her own couture collection to the uniform designs. That included everything from the buttons to the stitching and assorted accessories. "I'm asking a lot of these garments," said Yang, "I want this program to be the leader of where uniforms can go in the future. Not only in comfort and function and safety, but also in form and design."

Ingrid Barrentine | Alaska Airlines
Reading works of fiction can grow your vocabulary and lead to higher levels of emotional intelligence. For Kevin O'Leary and Mark Cuban, co-stars on ABC's "Shark Tank," fiction has also inspired ambition. Both entrepreneurs say classic novels written by Ayn Rand  a Russian-born author and strong advocate for free market principles  have impacted their perspectives and provided motivation for success.

"Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand

O'Leary counts Rand's 1957 book, "Atlas Shrugged," as a favorite, he tells The New York Times Magazine. The book explores the relationship between acting in your own self interest and finding economic prosperity. It shaped O'Leary's impression of capitalism, he tells The Times. "I realized that in capitalism, either you believe in the intrinsic concept about the pursuit of wealth and why it's good for you, or you don't," he says. "I never question it. I never even think for a second that it was not the right path. "To me there is darkness and light. Capitalism is the light. Socialism is the darkness. Nothing could ever change my mind about that," he explains. Kevin O'Leary considers Rand a person to admire, according to a 2014 interview with The Montreal Gazette. "She was a hardcore capitalist," he says. "I'm slightly right of Attila the Hun so I appreciate her work."

"The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand

Cuban is also a reader of Rand's work, but favors her 1943 novel "The Fountainhead." He's read the book, "three complete times, and untold number of little snippets and segments," he tells C-Span in a 2006 interview. "I'll pick it up when I need motivation, but then if I read too far I get too much motivation, and I get too jittery so I have to put it down." To him, the dedication of the characters to overcome challenges is encouraging. "Anybody who started a business and built a business knows there's going to be lots of times when you feel beaten down, and you need some motivation, and that's when I turn to that book among others," Cuban continues. "The Fountainhead" similarly explores topics of "rational selfishness," an ideology that later became known as objectivism. Cuban says he didn't read into the political message of Rand's work but found motivation in her characters. "I didn't buy into her political philosophy, like 'all government is bad,' and pure libertarianism," Cuban explains on a 2017 episode of "The Jamie Weinstein Show" podcast. "When you have a protagonist like Howard Roark, that just fired me up," Cuban says about the book, "He was true to himself. And to me, that was the message that I took home." Don't miss: Mark Cuban: The 3 best tips to save more money in 2018 Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook.
PALM SPRINGS, Calif.One of the Republican Party's biggest donor groups is dramatically ramping up its political spending  and putting the recently passed tax plan front and center  as the GOP fights to preserve its congressional majorities in this year's hotly contested midterm elections.

The network of advocacy groups tied to billionaire industrialists Charles and pledged to spend close to $400 million on campaign contributions and policy initiatives in the lead-up to the vote in November, a 60 percent jump in spending from the 2016 election cycle, officials said. One of the hallmarks of that effort is a fresh influx of support for the Republican tax plan, with up to $20 million devoted to selling its benefits to voters this year.

The tax pitch will begin in a few weeks, just as companies begin to implement the new law and workers see changes in their paychecks. The Trump administration estimated that 90 percent would enjoy an increase in wages, and Republicans have touted recent announcements of bonuses and pay raises from businesses across a wide swath of industries.

"Part of our job is to make sure those benefits are burning through the clutter and the normal give-and-take of American politics," Tim Phillips, president of Americans for Prosperity, said during a private meeting of donors and supporters Saturday in Palm Springs.

The Koch network was instrumental in helping Republicans score their biggest legislative victory last year. The group spent $20 million last year to encourage passage of the tax bill, running TV and digital campaigns, holding 100 town halls across 36 states and attending high-profile meetings at the White House to shape the final legislation.

Officials said the new sales campaign will adopt a similar approach, delivering a positive message that Republicans hope will resonate with an increasingly jaded constituency. Although polls generally show the bulk of Americans oppose the tax plan or do not believe they will benefit from it, recent surveys also indicate support is increasing.

"There is a healthy skepticism among a majority of Americans about politics in this country," Phillips said. "We do think the bar is a bit higher."
President Donald Trump on Sunday lashed out at musician Jay-Z, demanding recognition for the improved job market for African Americans, in response to the hip-hop mogul criticizing Trump's vulgar outburst against African and Haitian immigrants.

On Saturday, Jay-Z appeared on CNN's "The Van Jones Show," where he called the president's remarks  in which he reportedly describing immigrants from African countries as coming from "s___hole countries"  "hurtful." He added that Trump appeared to be "looking down on a whole population of people."

The musician, whose real name is Shawn Carter, told the network that "everyone feels anger, but after the anger it's really hurtful because he's looking down on a whole population of people and he's so misinformed because these places have beautiful people."
Brexit 1) Senior figures claim that arch-Remain mandarins have taken control and are forcing May into soft approach

Cabinet source says May needs to rein in Heywood and Robbins  Sunday Express

But Clark says Britain is absolutely, unambiguously leaving  Independent on Sunday

As discussion continues around his letter to business with Hammond and Davis  Sunday Express

Meanwhile, EU is stepping up preparations for no deal or hard Brexit  Sunday Express

Mandarins opposed to Britains withdrawal from the EU have taken control of the Brexit agenda and are forcing a weak Prime Minister into a soft Brexit, senior government figures and MPs have warned. In a dramatic intensification of the war within the Conservative Party, Eurosceptics said that Philip Hammonds declaration last week that Brexit would be very modest appeared to articulate No 10s direction of travel on negotiations. A Cabinet source warned that Britain faced a betrayal of Brexit unless Theresa May reined in Sir Jeremy Heywood, the Cabinet Secretary, and Oliver Robbins, the co-ordinator of negotiations with the EU. David Jones, the former Brexit minister, said: Its time No 10 indicated whos boss.  Sunday Telegraph

Comment:

I understand why some people are becoming nervous  Theresa Villiers, Sunday Telegraph

Will we be in limbo after leaving?  David Owen, The Sunday Times

People are becoming more confident about leaving  Kenan Malik, Observer

The LibDems anti-Brexit surge hasnt happened  John Rentoul, Independent on Sunday

Editorial:

This is not our politicians finest hour  The Sunday Times

Brexit 2) Leave campaigners letter calls for CETA-type agreement

Leave campaigners are calling on the Government to agree a similar deal to the CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement) agreed between Canada and the EU. A letter to the Prime Minister  backed by senior figures from politics, business, economics, academia and the military  warns the clock is ticking and we are approaching the last moment at which business can properly prepare for Brexit. The open letter also calls on the Government to prepare for global trade under WTO (World Trade Organisation) rules from March 2019, in case a Canada-style deal cannot be agreed by October. Moving to Canada-style trade deal would cover 98 per cent of goods and 92 per cent of agriculture.  Sunday Express

The letter is backed by Lawson, Mills, and more  Sun on Sunday

Comment:

Canada-style agreement is the obvious, rapid and acceptable solution  John Longworth, Sunday Telegraph

Brexit 3) Johnson to set out his vision this week, calling for buccaneering approach

Boris Johnson will throw down the gauntlet to Theresa May by demanding a buccaneering Brexit. He plans to spell out his vision for a post-EU Britain as Brexiteers admit rapidly losing faith in Mrs May. A BoJo ally said MPs feared she was in danger of f****** this up and added: The stakes are too high. The Foreign Secretary is to spell out his vision of a bold internationalist, liberal buccaneering Brexit, the pal said. His speech, still being drafted, would outline more optimism and hope than currently on offer.  Sun on Sunday

Comment:

Hes the obvious choice to lead  Andrew Gimson, Sun on Sunday

Brexit 4) Ministers preparing series of concessions to bill to minimise potential Lords defeats

Ministers are preparing a series of concessions over the EU withdrawal legislation to minimise the number of defeats they face in the House of Lords, The Sunday Telegraph can disclose. Senior government figures are working on a number of climbdowns designed to head off public battles with influential peers, including Lord Judge, the former lord chief justice. The changes are likely to address a number of significant concerns held by the Lords constitution committee, which will demand a series of specific changes to the Brexit Bill in a report tomorrow, ahead of the first Lords debate on the Bill on Tuesday.  Sunday Telegraph

Hundreds of peers are packing their bags to head in  Observer

Comment:

Peers are not in touch with the people on this  Macer Hall, Sunday Express

The constitutional details about Lords involvement  Vernon Bogdanor, Observer

Brexit 5) Trump interview will show him saying he wouldve taken tougher stand over EU exit

He says he wouldve had a different attitude to negotiations  Sun on Sunday

Brexit 6) Dispatches investigation accuses Lansley, Lilley, and Mitchell of attempting to profit from gravy train

Donald Trump has criticised Theresa Mays handling of Brexit negotiations, stating he would have taken a tougher stand over how Britain exits the EU. In an interview with Piers Morgan, which will be broadcast on ITV on Sunday, the US President also claimed he had been invited to make two visits to the UK this year by the Prime Minister. When asked if Ms May was in a good position regarding the ongoing Brexit talks, Mr Trump replied: Would it be the way I negotiate? No, I wouldnt negotiate it the way its [being] negotiated.  Independent on Sunday

 Lord Lansley, the former health secretary, was secretly filmed offering to use his knowledge and connections from within Westminster to provide intelligence on Brexit to a Chinese company offering him tens of thousands of pounds.  Peter Lilley, the former deputy Conservative Party leader, was also willing to approach key ministers on the Chinese companys behalf. As part of his pitch for the job he described how he attended two advisory groups with influence over the Brexit ministers, one of which has never previously been revealed. A third former minister, Andrew Mitchell MP, also appeared happy to give paid Brexit advice to the Chinese company. He charges 6,000 a day and disclosed that he was looking to work up to 10 weeks a year for private clients despite being paid 74,962 as an MP. My constituents dont mind what Im paid, he said.  The Sunday Times

They used spoiling tactics to try to prevent the accusations being revealed  The Sunday Times

Leadership 1) Boulton: The would-be runners are warming up. Watch out for Gove

Mays standing with the cabinet has worsened  Anne McElvoy, Observer

Rees-Moggs spectre is overshadowing everything  Dan Hodges, Mail on Sunday

Hammonds behaviour has been extraordinary  Stephen Pollard, Sunday Express

May needs to do more than just getting on with the job  Janet Daley, Sunday Telegraph

Leadership 2) Did Williamson leak intelligence to distract from flirtation story?

They are not yet under starters orders but the would-be runners in a Conservative leadership contest have left the paddock and are warming up. The contest looks imminent because, in the words of one habitual loyalist, we can see she simply cant do it.Despite Michael Goves betrayal in the last contest, Johnson and the Gover are back in harness as close allies. Gove is trying to rebuild his reputation as an enthusiastic and effective environment secretary. He has brains and subtlety but he is a true believer in the kind of Brexit which the hardliners fear is slipping from them as the likes of Hammond, Davis and Clark openly back the softest transition period and equivocate on the final settlement. I could be mad but Id put my money on Gove, my informant predicted. Blond Boy may be a mere pace setter in the leadership stakes.  The Sunday Times

The battle to succeed Theresa May erupted into fresh acrimony last night as top Tories traded blows over whether Gavin Williamson leaked intelligence last week to distract attention from an extramarital flirtation. Security chiefs attacked the defence secretary as alarmist for claiming Russia could kill thousands of British citizens in a cyber-attack and accused him of using secret information provided by American spies to cover himself. However, the allegations sparked an extraordinary row in which Williamson accused his rivals for the Tory leadership of black ops to derail his campaign to succeed May as prime minister.  The Sunday Times

>Today: ToryDiary: The ConHome monthly survey is out now  how is the Cabinet performing, post-reshuffle?

More parliament

>Yesterday: Daniel Kawczynski in Comment: The Polish Government is right to pursue judicial reform

And elsewhere

Local authorities look to increase council tax by maximum amount  Sunday Telegraph

Scottish Labour leaders authority challenged by plotting from the right  Herald

Terrorism Act rearrest related to Fridays NI explosion  Belfast News Letter

Sixteen and seventeen-year-olds to be given right to vote in Welsh council elections  Sunday Telegraph

Leaders of almost 70 Labour councils sign letter attacking NEC

Meanwhile, Borwick interviewed by police about Grenfell  The Sunday Times

And Corbyn holds away day to strategise about Brexit  Observer

News in Brief

We should remember that history is rarely about goodies and baddies  Munira Mirza, All In Britain

My thoughts on Davos  George Osborne, Spectator

The political meta-narrative of the Grammys  Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker

Peter Carey on Australias colonial past  Erica Wagner, New Statesman

Thomas Jeffersons solution to land division  Gerco de Ruijter, Aeon

Most Labour council leaders in England and Wales have signed a joint letter fiercely attacking the Momentum-controlled committee that runs their own party. In the letter, published exclusively in todays Sunday Times, leaders of almost 70 councils, including Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and many London boroughs, say the actions of Labours ruling national executive committee (NEC) are dangerous and alarming, uncomradely and disrespectful and an affront to the basic principles of democracy.  The Sunday Times
Cette annonce nest plus disponible et aucune proposition ne peut etre transmise.

Vacant Position: Project Assistant in WASH/Shelter. a Djibouti

Vacant Position: Project Assistant

Number of position: 1

Duty station: Obock Field office

Duration of period: 6 month with possibility of extension

Deadline for Application: 05 February 2018



The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a non-governmental, humanitarian organization with 60 years of experience in helping to create a safer and more dignified life for refugees and internally displaced people. NRC advocates for the rights of displaced populations and offers assistance within Shelter, Education, Food security, Legal Assistance, Camp Management Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sectors.

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has been implementing projects for Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees in Djibouti, since 2013 in supporting the Refugees in Ali Addeh and Holl-holl, whilst assisting Yemeni refugees at the Markazi Refugee Camp in Obock



NRC seeks to recruit competent persons to fill the positions of Project Assistant in WASH/Shelter.

The Project Assistant will be responsible in the implementation of the project activities in assigned area.



Job Description

1.Participate in needs assessments and survey on a need basis.

2.Participate in site selection and preliminary planning and design.

3.Assist and provide inputs in preparation of Bill of Quantities and technical drawings for both WASH and shelter infrastructures.

4.Work with the OIC, shelter officer, and the WASH coordinator in the supervision of all NRC infrastructure projects (WASH and Shelter) in the assigned location

5.Provide technical and supervisory support to contractors/technicians and community artisans in the assigned projects

6.Monitor, evaluate and recommend improvements in the project and materials based on observations and discussions with the shelter, WASH staff and the contractors

7.Represent NRC in the community meetings, WASH/shelter or emergency response meetings in close collaboration with the OIC, shelter officer and WASH coordinator.

8.Coordinate and participate in planning and execution of workshops& Trainings

9.Prepare and submit scheduled reports as per M&E reporting matrix

10.Supervise the construction and rehabilitation of latrines, drainage and other relevant Sanitation facilities and ensuring the highest quality, WASH standards and as per specified technical drawings

11.Prepare material estimates for construction and repair of WASH facilities.

12.Preparation of reports, technical guidelines, drawings and other strategic documentations if WASH or Shelter officer is absent.

13.Closely work with community leaders, community mobilizes and other part of the community on the regular supervising, assessing and identifying WASH/Shelter needs

14.Contribute to the development of NRCs Country strategy and action plan

15.Attend to any other reasonable assignment as may be requested by the supervisor from time to time

Qualifications

Minimum of 4 years of relevant experience supervising WASH/Shelter infrastructure sites and community work in rural and urban areas

 in a humanitarian/recovery context;

Diploma in civil Engineering or technical certificates in masonry, plumbing and carpentry with relevant technical work experience

Report writing skills

Experience of working with Refugee/Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) related issues would be preferred

Hands on experience working on WASH and Shelter infrastructure sites

Proficiency in MS Office software ( especially Work and excel) and Auto CAD is essential

Knowledge, Skills & Personal Attributes

Ability to work independently in a result oriented multi-tasking

Excellent team supervisory skills in a multi-cultural environment

Ability to manage conflicting priorities

Excellent communication ( spoken and written)skills

Good accuracy, precision and attention to detail

High integrity and confidentiality

Good negotiation skills



Applications should be submitted to the different field area: NRC office in Djibouti in Gabode VI, near Sharaf Hotel, NRC field office in Obock or shared by address email: recruitment.djibouti@nrc.no with subject Project Assistant and field area Obock.

Interested candidates who meet the above criteria are invited to bring:

-Cover letter

-Updated curriculum vitae

-Photocopies of the most relevant certificates/testimonials, available telephone number and contact details of 2 work-related reference of employers.

- Uncompleted document will not be accepted.

Only the short listed candidates will be contacted.

The Norwegian Refugee Council is an equal opportunity employer, with no discrimination in terms of sex, age, religion, ethnic origin or political affiliation and you never have to pay to apply with NRC.

Emplois & Services, Emplois

28 janvier, 2018

637 vues au total, 0 vues cette semaine
While welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deliver the keynote address at the plenary session of the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 23, Prof Klaus Schwab, the president of the World Economic Forum very eloquently put forward, "India's philosophy of the world being one family  Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam  is closely aligned with the mission of this annual meeting." He laboured while pronouncing Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam as Vaasuuu-dhaivaaa-kutumbuukam, but he did get it right in the end, which is commendable and will make it easy for others to pronounce it.

Later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech at the same plenary session elaborated upon Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam while speaking about the oneness of the universe quoting Purnamadah Purnamidam from Brihadaranyaka Upanishad saying - "In terms of physical world also, ages ago, we echoed the same thing by saying Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam. Though there were hardly any means of reaching from one part of the world to another; still the feeling of oneness existed. This is because the spirit of co-existence was strong enough to overcome any barriers of knowledge or distance. The search for peace in the universe was paramount. This is the reason that our sacred prayers always end with a prayer for peace. Not only that, a meaningful prayer always starts with a prayer for well-being of all."

On January 26, on the eve of the 69th Republic Day, President Ram Nath Kovind in his address to the nation again evoked Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam as he said, And of course the highest stage of Indias nation-building project is to contribute to building a better world  a composite and cohesive world, a world at peace with itself and at peace with nature. This is the ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam  of the world being one family. It is an idea that may sound impractical in todays times of tensions and of terrorism. But it is an ideal that has inspired India for thousands of years  and that ideal can be felt in the very texture of our constitutional values. The principles of compassion, of assisting those in need, of building capacities of our neighbours, or even of those further away, underpin our society. These are the very principles that we bring to the international community."

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is a lofty vedantic thought from Maha Upanishad, an ancient Indian scripture. Mahatma Gandhi's Ahimsa (non-violence) both as a creed and a strategy is considered an extension of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. It envisions unity of mankind as one single family. Nothing validates this ancient thought more than today's interconnected world with instant satellite communication, swift air transport and the internet. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam imparts a sense of oneness to our common humanity, our common development goals, and our common quest for a rule-based global order and international peace. It conveys succinctly that we prosper or sink together as one family. It broadens our consciousness by underlining that human beings are one family. It is with these noble thoughts India's political leaders decided to engrave Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam at the entrance hall of Parliament of India.

It is a very often-quoted phrase now as evident from the above three examples. Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier quoted it in his speech on previous occasions. Speaking at the World Culture Festival in March 2016, he said, "Indian culture is very rich and has inculcated in each one of us great values, we are the people who have come from Aham Brahmasmi to Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, we are the people who have come from Upanishads to Upgrah (Satellite). Earlier, addressing the UNGA in 2014, he had said: "Every nation's world view is shaped by its civilisation and philosophical tradition. India's ancient wisdom sees the world as one family. It is this timeless current of thought that gives India an unwavering belief in multilateralism."

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj also used the expression in her speech at the UNGA on September 24, 2017: "We truly believe that the world is one family and we hope that every member of this family deserves that elixir of life, happiness."

Professor WPS Sidhu in an article titled Vasudhaiva Kutumabkam for the 21st century asserts that Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam has been evoked earlier by the former prime ministers of India on different occasions in different contexts. However, he does not provide any information on its use by different world leaders.

June 21 was unanimously declared as the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations in 2014. Diwali was commemorated for the first time at the United Nations on October 29, 2016. In line with these, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam may find resonance among the nations and people all across the world. It may be worthwhile to consider projecting Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam in more sustained manner at various global forums.

The following actions could be considered regarding this:

One, as a unique thought of the Indian civilisation, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam could be projected on the UN building and could also be considered to be engraved on the wall/central rostrum of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) or in the chamber of United Nations Security Council, reminding delegates of our commonness each time they enter the United Nations building.

Two, as the root of Vasudhaiva is Vasudha, our planet earth, and therefore, an extension of the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam could be to initiate a draft resolution at the United Nations General Assembly for a common earth anthem. Singing that will be a noble way to celebrate ancient Indian thought of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam highlighting India's concerns for the environment, express solidarity to the idea of our commonness and pay tribute the planet. Such an anthem will not only connect all of us across the world through a common musical thread, but will also inspire the next generations across the globe to appreciate core thoughts of the Indian civilisation. It will also rightly showcase India as a country that cares about the whole planet. It will also add on to our initiative of International Solar Alliance for generating clean energy to save our planet. An earth anthem fits well at all levels, from the local to the global. School children can begin the day by singing the anthem while the governments can play it whenever they play their national anthems and the United Nations General Assembly can begin its session with it. It could be a minute-long piece of music, commissioned by the United Nations from a group of four to five leading music composers representing different continents. Countries could put their own lyrics to the common piece of music if they wish so.

Three, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam could also provide a set of norms to which the countries commit themselves to adhere to such as sustainable development, opposing terrorism in all forms etc.

During the past 70 years of India's Independence, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam has travelled a long distance from the pages of Maha Upanishad to the rostrum of the United Nations General Assembly and to being a celebrated thought at the 48th annual meeting of World Economic Forum to heal our fractured world. Sustained global evocation of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam will help the world to come together as one family and understand better the wisdom and philosophy of India, an ancient civilisation and a confident modern nation working not only for its own development but also for the development and the well-being of rest of the world.

Also read: Thanks to Padma Shri, the country will now know Gadchirolis doctor couple
On January 26, 2018, India made a significant development in its foreign relations when it hosted the heads of all 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries as chief guests on the occasion of its 69th Republic Day celebrations. The ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit began a day before Republic Day on Thursday with a luncheon at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The ASEAN countries too used the summit to hold bilateral discussions with India.

The bond of shared culture

The first time a dialogue was proposed between India and ASEAN was in 1976. The initiative did not progress. In response to a Janata government outreach, ASEAN secretary Datuk Ali bin Abdullah of Malaysia visited New Delhi in 1978 and Indian envoy to Indonesia then approached the ASEAN secretariat for "observer" or dialogue partner status but the efforts failed after India's hands-off approach in the Kampuchean crisis in 1979.Under Indira Gandhi, India moved close to USSR. Narsimha Rao cancelled a visit to an ASEAN dialogue at the last minute. In 1992 under Rao, India formulated a "Look East Policy". The same year India became the sectoral dialogue partner of the group. In 1996, India became full dialogue partner. In 2002, India and ASEAN entered into a summit partnership. Under Manmohan Singh 20 years of dialogue partnership was celebrated by hosting all 10 ASEAN leaders for the first time.

At the same time India also shares great bonds with the countries individually as well. The cultural bond between India and Indonesia is well known, the latter has its own form of Ramayan. Singapore had supported India's bid for full dialogue partner status of the association. India has close ties with Myanmar also.

In 2017, India and ASEAN observed 25 years of their dialogue partnership, 15 years of summit level interaction and five years of strategic partnership which culminated on January 25 in the Commemorative Summit whose theme was "Shared values, Common Destiny". During the summit, maritime cooperation and security emerged as the most important issues. The Delhi declaration mentioned combating terrorism through close cooperation by disrupting and countering terrorist groups and cross-border terrorism.

India is focusing on connectivity, commerce and culture as foundation towards a stronger relation with the region. Culturally, Ramayan and Buddhism act as a bridge between the societies. In December 2017, the Dharma Dhamma Conference was held in Rajgir, Bihar. Also, from January 20-24 India with the help of Indian Council for Cultural Relations organised the presentation of different forms of Ramayan by the ASEAN countries.

Efforts are on to boost connectivity with the region. Projects such as the trilateral highway and the Kaladan multimodal project that are underway will also help in the development of the landlocked north-east India.

Also, air connectivity is being developed with tier-2 cities and places that are important to Buddhism. Currently, 30 dialogue mechanisms exist between India and ASEAN.

India-ASEAN trade and investment

Trade went from $2 billion in 1992 to $12 billion in 2002 to more than $70 billion in recent times. Trade and investment have grown steadily between India and ASEAN countries.

ASEAN is the fourth-largest trading partner of India. As per the ministry of external affairs, the country's trade with ASEAN has increased to $70 billion in 2016-17 from $65 billion in 2015-16. Also, the export to ASEAN has increased to $31.07 billion in 2016-17 from $25 billion in 2015-16. On the other hand, India's import to ASEAN increased by 1.8 per cent in 2016-17 vis-a-vis 2015-16 and stood at $40.63 billion. Investment flows are also substantial from both the sides, since 2000 approximately 12.5 per cent of investment flew into India from ASEAN. Also, the foreign direct investment inflow from ASEAN into India 2017 was about $514.73 billion between April 2000 to August 2017, while FDI outflow from India to ASEAN countries from April 2007 to March 2015 was about US$38.672 billion.

The ASEAN-India Free Trade Area has been completed with the ASEAN-India Agreements on Trade in Service and Investments coming into effect on July 1, 2015. ASEAN and India have also been working on enhancing private sector engagement. ASEAN India-Business Council (AIBC) was set up in March 2003 in Kuala Lumpur as a forum to bring key private sector players from India and the ASEAN countries on a single platform for business networking and sharing of ideas. But when we compare our trade with China we lag far behind. Trade between China and ASEAN was about $450 billion last year.

Today, both ASEAN countries and India are facing the same kind of traditional and non-traditional threats making the politico-security cooperation an emerging pillar in the relationship. Terrorism and violence are common security threats to the societies seeking cooperation and coordination at multiple levels. In addition to this the underlying factors guiding the Indian engagement is Chinese assertiveness in the region. Chinese stance of occupying disputed and unoccupied islands in the region and also militarising the South China Sea is being seen as a major challenge for both ASEAN countries and India. India is concerned as around 40 per cent of its trade passes through the South China Sea.

Also, engagement with the ASEAN countries will help India in furthering its economic as well as political clout in its neighbourhood. Under PM Modi, "Look East" is changing into "Act East".

All these measures will help in further boosting the commerce with the region and achieving the target of $200 billion by 2022. This summit has proved to be an important step towards a developed and prosperous future for both sides. Stronger relations with India will help the ASEAN countries stand up to Chinese aggression while for India it will curb Chinese encirclement policy.

Also read: Kasganj violence: Beware of communal polarisation
January 27 marks the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration death camp. The commemoration of the day was initiated by the UN in 2005, the 60th anniversary. The objective of commemorating the day is to urge every member nation of the UN to pay respects to the millions of victims who lost their lives and to inculcate into education programmes, holocaust history so that people are made aware about the darkest side of human beings.

Further, this day is used to introspect and condemn religious intolerance, incitement of hatred, harassment, and prejudice against any community in all its manifestations.

Many in our generation are not aware of the horrors the human mind can conceive and execute. To get a glimpse of the evil normal human beings are capable of, one must recall the experiences of Gisella Perl, a Romanian-Jewish gynaecologist who was deported to Auschwitz in 1944. Though she was instrumental in saving the lives of many women, the scars of what she witnessed at the camp traumatised her for life.

Igor Malicki of Ukraine, a survivor of the former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz, at the camp in Oswiecim on January 26, 2015. (Credit: Reuters file photo)

In her memoir, I was a Doctor in Auschwitz, she recalls one particularly heart wrenching moment that stoked the nerve of revolt in her. She had witnessed pregnant women being encouraged to step forward so that they could be taken to another camp that treated people better. The unsuspecting mothers to be who were unfortunate enough to come forward were brutally beaten to pulp with clubs, dragged around by their hair, kicked in their stomachs, fed to belligerent dogs and finally were thrown into crematoria. That was the pivotal moment in her life, which made her resolve that she had to remain alive so that she could save the lives of mothers. And if there was no other way, she would save the lives of mothers by "destroying the lives of their unborn children". She operated on her "patients", without anaesthesia. Knives whetted on crude stone were her only surgical implements.

It is, therefore, important for us as a society to remind ourselves that when we are carried away by the false promises of authoritarian/dictatorial leaders, our darkest psychopathic nature comes to the fore. Promises like Hitlers "New Order", whipped up by a Goebbelsian mass media will lead us to hell. We must hence be extremely vigilant about any authoritarian streak in our leaders and in our society.

It will be foolish to believe that such bestiality can be attributed only to the Nazis, forgetting that they were also "normal" people. They were people like us. We just need to look around us to realise that "normal" people can commit the most heinous crimes too. Recently, there were reports of Shambhu Lal Regars neighbours expressing their surprise that he didnt seem "the type" who is capable of murder.

While it is unfair to compare India with Germany of the 1930s, there are nevertheless, enough reasons for us to worry and be alarmed. The fantasies of violence voiced on the internet, the hatred directed towards minorities and critics of the government, should make us anxious. It indicates our sociopathic nature that lurks beneath a seemingly placid society.

If we honestly assess where we stand on the list of "Early Warning Signs of Fascism", a poster at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, which lists out the traits of an encroaching fascist/authoritarian government, we cant but help be horrified.

We already notice rabid nationalism being worn on the sleeve by many, rampant sexism, disdain for human rights and intellectuals and many other traits that should worry us.

When such lumpen elements enjoy a free hand, only an incorrigible optimist would argue that it is the incompetence of the government. What most others dread is that the government is complicit and gives them tacit support.

It is indeed a matter of national shame that as the prime minister invited investors at the World Economic Forum, assuring them that India is a peaceful nation, even as back home there was sporadic violence and arson over the release of a film. If civil society doesnt resist the extremist forces, they will gain credence.

With a morally lethargic government, and a media driven by pelf, India could descend into a tragic anarchy. If the powers that be dont act now, our dreams could morph into nightmares. And "new India", could become another "New Order".

Also read: Could we please stop making Holocaust analogies?
Uttar Pradesh is on the boil again, after a Hindu youth was shot dead following clashes between two communities on Republic Day. With shops and vehicles set on fire for the third straight day, internet services in the district have been snapped till 10pm on Sunday.

Kasganj, and the reactions to it coming from politicians and certain sections of the media, are proof of what happens when you turn a state into a tinderbox, and let politicians stoke it to polarise vote banks.

The situation is under control now. Accused have been identified and are going to be nabbed soon, one country made bomb and pistol also recovered from residence of one of the accused: Sanjeev Kumar, IG #KasganjClashes pic.twitter.com/8NnZ280vOe  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 28, 2018

According to reports, 22-year-old Chandan Gupta was killed, and another youth, Noushad, sustained bullet injuries, over an argument about chairs placed on a road.

On January 26, Republic Day celebrations had been organised by the Muslim community in Badu Nagar locality. A group of VHP and ABVP activists entered the area as part of a bike rally, and insisted on taking a route that had been blocked by chairs placed there for the Republic Day event.

According to The Indian Express, a video in the possession of some residents of Baddu Nagar shows a group of around 60 people, some of them carrying the Tricolour and saffron flags shouting: Bike toh yahin se jayegi (The bikes will pass through here).

This led to a clash, shots were fired, and Chandan Gupta was killed. Since then, shops and vehicles have been set ablaze, section 144 imposed in the town, schools closed, and 49 people arrested.

Raids conducted at the residence of an accused in connection with #KasganjClashes pic.twitter.com/1fHyhuUgrj  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 28, 2018

Hate mongering

The aftermath of the incident saw dramatically, and dangerously, different sequence of events being narrated.

Social media has been afire with claims that Gupta was shot for chanting "Bharat Mata ki Jai" and that the Muslims were raising "Pakistan zindabad" slogans. No video footage showing any of this has so far come to light.

According to local additional superintendent of police Pavitra Mohan Tripathi: There was a minor scuffle between Hindus and Muslims over the procession, followed by stone pelting in which a few motorcyles were damaged. The police arrived at the spot and separated the two groups. However, the procession took a detour and passed through a Muslim-dominated area, where the residents thought that the participants had come to retaliate. This triggered the shooting incident.

Additional DG (law and order) Anand Kumar has said, It seems the (stone pelting) incident was not pre-planned but a spontaneous one.

However, Rajveer Singh, the local BJP MP who has been camping in the area, had a more incendiary version to offer. Fridays attack was a planned assault on the youths who were taking out Tiranga Yatra on two-wheelers. The youths were attacked with acid bottles, stones were pelted and shots were fired at them. It is important to find out how so many stones and acid bottles were used in the attack on youths in city area, where there is proper regulation on the sale of acid.

Chandan Gupta, 22, was killed in the clashes. Photo: India Today

Singh has not clarified from where he received the information about acid bottles.

Some reports claim that the violence since the death of Gupta was planned and targeted only Muslim-owned properties, with the attacks coming when the security forces were busy with the youths cremation. All the 49 men arrested are Muslims.

It is unclear why the administration has not been able to curb the violence in three days.

Communal polarisation kills

While the Kasganj incident will become clearer as police probe it, the clash is another proof that the price of communal polarisation is often paid in blood. Uttar Pradesh has been simmering for months now. The state has been so high-strung that a petty clash  brawls over right of way are common enough in north India  quickly took on a communal colour and a life was lost.

Yogi Adityanaths swearing-in as chief minister seems to have been taken by many to herald the beginning of the saffron raj, where long-suffering Hindus subjugated by minority-loving politicians can finally claim their rightful place. The establishment, from prime minister onwards, has fanned this sentiment, either through actual statements or conspicuous silence.

This year will see several key states go to polls, and a polarised society is an easy way to ensure that communities vote as blocks.

However, there are costs to keeping communal passions perennially on the boil. Hindus and Muslims have been living side by side in UP and other parts of India for centuries. But when political leaders repeatedly tell you that Muslims are Pakistan-loving traitors waiting to turn India into another Pakistan, or that Hindus are untrustworthy and will harm you at the first available chance, you tend to believe them. And act on the sentiment beyond just choosing whom to vote for.

Unnecessary and frequent calls to a communitys honour and pride keep a society on the edge, where every small clash has the potential to spiral out of control. And a life lost is a life lost, no matter which community is at the receiving end.

Kasganj happened because Hindus are being taught that they owe it to their communitys depleted pride to practise a visible, aggressive brand of Hinduism, and because Muslims have been told they are unsafe as the majority distrusts them as anti-nationals.

Worryingly, the incident, instead of serving as a sobering call, is being turned into kindling for future violence. At such a critical time, when politicians should have been appealing for peace, the clash is being framed as a narrative of a Hindu killed because he was chanting a patriotic slogan.

This is not just irresponsibility, but criminality. Politicians, and people at large, need to remember that a polarised, divided society is dangerous, and competitive patriotism has absolutely no winners.

Also read: Karwan-e-Mohabbat 2018: Lynchings expose the hollowed out promises of Indias republic
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InterXion Holding N.V. provides carrier and cloud-neutral colocation data center services in France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The company enables its customers to connect to a range of telecommunications carriers, cloud platforms, Internet service providers, and other customers. Its data centers acts as content, cloud, and connectivity hubs that facilitate the processing, storage, sharing, and distribution of data between its customers. The company offers colocation services, including space and power to deploy IT infrastructure in its data centers; a range of output voltages and currents; connectivity services that enable its customers to connect their IT infrastructure to exchange traffic and access cloud platforms; and systems monitoring, systems management, engineering support, and data backup and storage services, as well as installs and manages physical connections running from its customers' equipment to the equipment of its telecommunications carriers, Internet service providers, Internet exchange customers, and other customers. It provides its services to telecom operators, Internet service providers, and content delivery networks; content and cloud providers; and enterprises through direct sales forces, as well as through tradeshows, networking events, and industry seminars. As of December 31, 2018, it operated 51 carrier and cloud neutral colocation data centers in 13 metropolitan areas in 11 countries. The company is also involved in real estate management/holding businesses. InterXion Holding N.V. was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands.

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Trinseo SA engages in the manufacture and marketing of synthetic rubber, latex binders and plastics. It operates through the following segments: Latex Binders, Synthetic Rubber, Performance Plastics, Polystyrene, Feedstock's, Americas Styrene's, and Corporate. The Latex Binders segment produces styrene-butadiene latex and other latex polymers and binders, primarily for coated paper and packaging board, carpet and artificial turf backings. The Synthetic Rubber segment focuses on the production of synthetic rubber products used predominantly in tires, impact modifiers, and technical rubber products. The Performance Plastics segment includes a variety of compounds and blends. The Polystyrene segment comprises of general purpose polystyrenes and polystyrene that has been modified with polybutadiene rubber to increase its impact resistant properties. The Feedstock's segment focuses on the production and procurement of styrene monomer outside of North America. The Americas Styrene's segment consists solely of the operations of the firm's owned joint venture. The company was founded on June 3, 2010 and is headquartered in Berwyn, PA.

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Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Limited. The fund is managed by Aberdeen Standard Investments Australia Limited. It invests in the public equity markets of Australia. The fund makes its investments in firms operating across diversified sectors. It employs fundamental analysis with a bottom-up and top-down stock picking approach with focus on factors like growth prospects, competitive positions in domestic and export markets, technology, research and development, productivity, labor and raw material costs, profit margins, return on investment, capital resources, quality of management, and government regulation to create its portfolio. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the S&P ASX 200 Accumulation Index. It also uses proprietary research to create its portfolio. The Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund Inc. was previously known as The First Australia Fund, Inc. Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. was formed in September 30, 1985 and is domiciled in the United States.

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Schlumberger NV engages in the provision of technology for reservoir characterization, drilling, production and processing to the oil and gas industry. It operates through the following business segments: Digital and Integration; Reservoir Performance; Well Construction; and Production Systems. The Digital and Integration segment combines the company's software and seismic businesses with its integrated offering of asset performance solutions. The Reservoir Performance segment consists of reservoir-centric technologies and services that are critical to optimizing reservoir productivity and performance. The Well Construction segment includes the full portfolio of products and services to optimize well placement and performance, maximize drilling efficiency, and improve wellbore assurance. The Production Systems segment develops technologies and provides expertise that enhances production and recovery from subsurface reservoirs to the surface, into pipelines, and to refineries. The company was founded by Conrad Schlumberger and Marcel Schlumberger in 1926 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

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The following companies are subsidiares of AMETEK: AEM Limited, AIP/MPM Funding Inc., AIP/MPM Holdings Inc., AMETEK (Barbados) SRL, AMETEK (Bermuda) Ltd., AMETEK (GB) Limited, AMETEK Aerospace & Defense Grp UK Ltd, AMETEK Aerospace & Power Holdings Inc., AMETEK Aircraft Parts & Accessories Inc., AMETEK Airtechnology Group Ltd., AMETEK Ameron LLC, AMETEK B.V., AMETEK CTS Germany GmbH, AMETEK CTS US Inc., AMETEK Canada 1 ULC, AMETEK Canada 2 ULC., AMETEK Canada 3 ULC, AMETEK Canada LLC, AMETEK Canada Limited Partnership, AMETEK Ceramics Inc., AMETEK Commercial Enterprise Shanghai, AMETEK Creaform Financing L.P., AMETEK Creaform Inc., AMETEK Denmark A/S, AMETEK Do Brasil Ltda., AMETEK EMG Holdings Inc., AMETEK Elektromotory s.r.o, AMETEK Engineered Materials Sdn. Bhd., AMETEK Europe L.L.C., AMETEK European Holdings GmbH, AMETEK European Holdings Limited, AMETEK Financing Canada Limited Partnership, AMETEK Germany GmbH, AMETEK Global Tubes LLC, AMETEK GmbH, AMETEK Grundbesitz GmbH, AMETEK HSA Inc., AMETEK Haydon Kerk Inc., AMETEK Holdings B.V., AMETEK Holdings SARL, AMETEK Holdings de Mexico S. de R.L., AMETEK Industrial Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., AMETEK Instruments Group UK Limited, AMETEK Instruments India Private Ltd., AMETEK International C.V., AMETEK Italia S.r.l., AMETEK Kabushiki Kaisha, AMETEK Korea Co. Ltd., AMETEK Lamb Motores de Mexico S.deR.L. de C.V., AMETEK Land Inc., AMETEK Latin America Holding Company S.a r.l., AMETEK MRO Florida Inc., AMETEK Material Analysis Holdings GmbH, AMETEK Mexico Holding Company LLC, AMETEK Motors Asia Pte. Ltd., AMETEK Nordic AB, AMETEK PIP Holdings Inc., AMETEK Precision Instruments (UK) Ltd., AMETEK Precitech Inc., AMETEK Programmable Power Inc., AMETEK Receivables Corp., AMETEK Russia (UK) Ltd., AMETEK S.A.S., AMETEK S.r.l., AMETEK SCP, AMETEK SCP (Barrow) Limited, AMETEK Singapore Private Ltd., AMETEK Taiwan Co. Ltd., AMETEK Technical & Industrial Products Inc., AMETEK Thermal Systems Inc., AMETEK UK Limited Partnership, AMETEK VIS-K Inc., Advanced Measurement Technology Inc., Aero Components International Corp., Airtechnology Pension Trustees Ltd., Akron Standard Bestry (Guangzhou) Measurement Equipment Co. Ltd., Amekai (BVI) Ltd., Amekai Meter (Xiamen) Co. Ltd., Amekai Singapore Private Ltd., Amekai Taiwan Co. Ltd., Ametek Advanced Industries Inc., Ametek-Reading Alloys Inc., Amptek Inc., Antavia SAS, Atlas Material Holdings Corporation, Atlas Material Testing Technology (India) Private Limited, Atlas Material Testing Technology BV, Atlas Material Testing Technology GmbH, Atlas Material Testing Technology L.L.C., Atlas Material Testing Technology LLC, Atlas Material Testing Technology Ltd., Atlas Netherlands AcquisitionCo Cooperatief U.A., Avicenna Technology Inc., Avtech Avionics & Instruments LLC, B&S Aircraft, Barben Analyzer Technology LLC, Brookfield Engineering, CAMECA Instruments Inc., CAMECA SAS, CARDINALUHP LLC, CS Holdings Co. Inc., CS Intermediate Holdings Co. Inc., Cameca, Chandler Instruments Company LLC, Cognex - Surface Inspection Systems Division, Coining Holding Company, Coining Inc., Controls Southeast Inc., Creaform, Creaform France S.A.S., Creaform Inc., Creaform Japan K.K., Creaform Shanghai Ltd., Creaform USA Inc., Crystal Engineering Corp, Crystal Engineering Corporation, Direl GmbH, Direl Holding GmbH, Drake Air, Drake Air Inc., Drexelbrook Engineering Company, Dunkermotoren GmbH, Dunkermotoren Linear Systems Ltd., Dunkermotoren Subotica d.o.o., Dunkermotoren Taicang Co. Ltd., Dunkermotoren USA Inc., EDAX Inc., EM Test (Switzerland) GmbH, EMA Corp., EMA Finance 1 LLC, EMA Finance 2 LLC, EMA Holdings Inc., EMA Holdings UK Limited, EMA MX LLC, EMtest, ESP Holdco Inc., ESP/SurgeX, Electronic Systems Protection Inc., Elgar Holdings Inc., Fine Tubes Limited, Frameflair Limited, GS Electric, Glasseal Products Inc., Global Tubes, Grabner Instruments Messtechnik GmbH, HCC Aegis Inc., HCC Industries Inc., HCC Industries International, HCC Machining Company Inc., HDR Power Systems LLC, HS Foils Oy, Hamilton Precision Metals Inc., Hamilton Precision Metals of Delaware Inc., Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions Inc., Haydon Linear Motors (Changzhou) Co. Ltd., Hermetic Seal Corporation, High Standard Aviation, Imago Scientific Instruments, KBA Enterprises Inc., Land Instruments International Ltd., Laserage Technology Corp, Luphos GmbH, MCG Acquisition Corporation, Micro-Poise Industrial Equipment (Beijing) Ltd., Micro-Poise Measurement Systems Europe GmbH, Micro-Poise Measurement Systems LLC, Milmega Limited, Mocon, Motec GmbH, Motion Control Group, Muirhead Aerospace Limited, Muirhead Aerospace Ltd., NewAge Testing Instruments Inc., Newage Testing Instruments Inc., Nu Instruments (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Nu Instruments Asia Ltd., Nu Instruments Japan KK, Nu Instruments Limited, Nu Instruments Ltd, O'Brien Corp, OBCORP International LLC, OBCORP LLC, OOO AMETEK, OBrien BVBA, OBrien Holding Co. Inc., OBrien Superior Holding Co. Inc., Patriot Sensors & Controls Corporation, PennEngineering Motion Technologies, Petrolab L.L.C., Powervar, Powervar Canada Inc., Powervar Deutschland GmbH, Powervar Inc, Powervar Limited, Powervar Mexico S.A. de C.V., Precitech, QM China Holding Inc., Quizix Inc., RAI Enterprises Inc., RETE Holding GmbH, Rauland-Borg, Reading Alloys Inc., Reichert Inc, Reichert Technologies, Rotron Inc., Rotron Incorporated, SCPH Holdings Inc., SPECTRO Analytical Instruments (Asia-Pacific) Ltd., SPECTRO Analytical Instruments (Pty). Ltd., SPECTRO Analytical Instruments GmbH, SPECTRO Analytical Instruments Inc., SPECTRO Analytical UK Limited, SSH Non-Destructive Testing Inc., Sealtron Inc., Seiko EG&G Co. Ltd., Six Brookside Drive Corporation., Solartron Group Ltd., Solartron Metrology Ltd., Solidstate Controls Inc. de Argentina S.R.L., Solidstate Controls LLC, Solidstate Controls LLC, Solidstate Controls Mexico S.A. de C.V., Southern Aero Partners Inc., Southern Aeroparts Inc, Spectro Analytical Instruments Inc., Spectro Scientific, Sterling Ultra Precision Inc., SunPower Inc., Sunpower Inc., Superior Tube Company Inc., TPM Russia Inc., Taylor Hobson Holdings Limited, Taylor Hobson Inc., Taylor Hobson Ltd., Taylor Hobson Trustees Limited, Technical Manufacturing Corp, Technical Manufacturing Corporation, Technical Services for Electronics Inc., Telular Corporation, Teseq AG, Teseq Company Ltd., Teseq GmbH, Teseq Holding AG, Teseq Limited, Thelsha Technical Services, Tritex Corporation, Tubes Holdco Limited, Unispec Marketing Pvt. Ltd., Universal Analyzers Inc., VTI Holdings Inc., VTI Instruments Corporation, VTI Instruments Private Limited, VTI Integrated Systems Private Limited, VXI Acquisition Inc., Vision Research Europe B.V., Vision Research Inc., Vision Research Limited, Vision Research srl, Zemetrics Inc., Zygo, Zygo Canada ULC., Zygo Germany GmbH, Zygo Pte Ltd., Zygo Richmond Corporation, and ZygoLamda Metrology Instrument (Shanghai) Co. Ltd..
Biglari Holdings Inc., through its subsidiaries, primarily operates and franchises restaurants in the United States. The company owns, operates, and franchises restaurants under the Steak n Shake and Western Sizzlin names. As of December 31, 2019, it operated 368 Steak n Shake company-operated restaurants and 213 franchised units; and 4 Western Sizzlin company-operated restaurants and 48 franchised units. The company also engages in underwriting commercial trucking insurance, and selling physical damage and non-trucking liability insurance to truckers; and operates oil and natural gas properties offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, it publishes and sells magazines, and related publishing products under the MAXIM and Maxim brand name; and licenses media products and services, as well as is involved in the investment activities. The company was formerly known as The Steak n Shake Company and changed its name to Biglari Holdings Inc. in April 2010. Biglari Holdings Inc. was founded in 1934 and is based in San Antonio, Texas.

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The Boeing Co. is an aerospace company, which engages in the manufacture of commercial jetliners and defense, space and security systems. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space and Security; Global Services; and Boeing Capital. The Commercial Airplanes segment includes the development, production, and market of commercial jet aircraft and provides fleet support services, principally to the commercial airline industry worldwide. The Defense, Space and Security segment refers to the research, development, production and modification of manned and unmanned military aircraft and weapons systems for global strike, including fighter and combat rotorcraft aircraft and missile systems; global mobility, including tanker, rotorcraft and tilt-rotor aircraft; and airborne surveillance and reconnaissance, including command and control, battle management and airborne anti-submarine aircraft. The Global Services segment provides services to commercial and defense customers. The Boeing Capital segment seeks to ensure that Boeing customers have the financing they need to buy and take delivery of their Boeing product and manages overall financing exposure. T

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Agilent Technologies, Inc. engages in the provision of application focused solutions for life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets. It operates through the following segments: Life Sciences and Applied Markets; Diagnostics and Genomics; and Agilent CrossLab. The Life Sciences and Applied Markets segment offers application-focused solutions that include instruments and software that enable to identify, quantify, and analyze the physical and biological properties of substances and products, as well as the clinical and life sciences research areas to interrogate samples at the molecular and cellular level. The Diagnostics and Genomics segment consists of activity providing active pharmaceutical ingredients for oligo-based therapeutics, as well as solutions that include reagents, instruments, software and consumables. The Agilent CrossLab segment includes startup, operational, training and compliance support, software as a service, and asset management and consultative services. The company was founded in May 1999 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Caterpillar: Advanced Tri-Gen Power Systems LLC, Anchor Coupling Inc., Asia Power Systems (Tianjin) Ltd., AsiaTrak (Tianjin) Ltd., Banco Caterpillar S.A., Berg Propulsion International Pte Ltd., Bucyrus, Bucyrus Australia Surface Pty. Ltd., Bucyrus Europe Holdings Ltd., Bucyrus Europe Limited, Bucyrus International (Chile) Limitada, Bucyrus International (Peru) S.A., Bucyrus Mining Australia Pty. Ltd., Bucyrus Mining China LLC, Bucyrus UK Limited, Cat Rental Kyushu LLC, Caterpillar (Africa) (Proprietary) Limited, Caterpillar (China) Financial Leasing Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (China) Machinery Components Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (HK) Limited, Caterpillar (Huainan) Machinery Service Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Langfang) Mining Equipment Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Luxembourg) Investment Co. S.a r.l., Caterpillar (NI) Limited, Caterpillar (Newberry) LLC, Caterpillar (Qingzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Suzhou) Logistics Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Thailand) Limited, Caterpillar (U.K.) Limited, Caterpillar (Wujiang) Ltd., Caterpillar (Xuzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar (Zhengzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar Acquisition Holding Corp., Caterpillar Americas C.V., Caterpillar Americas Co., Caterpillar Americas Funding Inc., Caterpillar Americas Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Asia Limited, Caterpillar Asia Pacific L.P., Caterpillar Asia Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Asset Intelligence LLC, Caterpillar Belgium S.A., Caterpillar Brasil Comercio de Maquinas e Pecas Ltda., Caterpillar Brasil Ltda., Caterpillar Brazil LLC, Caterpillar Castings Kiel GmbH, Caterpillar Centro de Formacion S.L., Caterpillar China Limited, Caterpillar Commercial Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Commercial LLC, Caterpillar Commercial Northern Europe Limited, Caterpillar Commercial S.A., Caterpillar Commercial S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Commercial Services S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Communications LLC, Caterpillar Corporativo Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Cote DIvoire, Caterpillar Credito S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.N.R., Caterpillar DC Pension Trust Limited, Caterpillar Digital Services & Solutions SARL, Caterpillar Distribution International LLC, Caterpillar Distribution Services Europe B.V.B.A., Caterpillar East Real Estate Holding Ltd., Caterpillar Emissions Solutions Inc., Caterpillar Energy Solutions Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Energy Solutions GmbH, Caterpillar Energy Solutions Inc., Caterpillar Energy Solutions S.A., Caterpillar Energy System Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Engine Systems Inc., Caterpillar Equipos Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Eurasia LLC, Caterpillar FS (QFC) LLC, Caterpillar Finance France S.A., Caterpillar Finance Kabushiki Kaisha, Caterpillar Financial Acquisition Funding LLC, Caterpillar Financial Aftermarket Solutions Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Australia Leasing Pty Limited, Caterpillar Financial Australia Limited, Caterpillar Financial Commercial Account Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Corporacion Financiera S.A. E.F.C., Caterpillar Financial Dealer Funding LLC, Caterpillar Financial Funding Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Caterpillar Financial Leasing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Financial New Zealand Limited, Caterpillar Financial Nordic Services AB, Caterpillar Financial Nova Scotia Corporation, Caterpillar Financial OOO, Caterpillar Financial Receivables Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Renting S.A., Caterpillar Financial SARL, Caterpillar Financial Services (Dubai) Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services (Ireland) plc, Caterpillar Financial Services (UK) Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services Argentina S.A., Caterpillar Financial Services Asia Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Financial Services Belgium S.P.R.L., Caterpillar Financial Services CR s.r.o., Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Services GmbH, Caterpillar Financial Services India Private Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services Leasing ULC, Caterpillar Financial Services Limited Les Services Financiers Caterpillar Limitee, Caterpillar Financial Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Caterpillar Financial Services Netherlands B.V., Caterpillar Financial Services Norway AS, Caterpillar Financial Services Philippines Inc., Caterpillar Financial Services Poland Sp. z o.o., Caterpillar Financial Services South Africa (Pty) Limited, Caterpillar Financial UK Acquisition Funding Partners, Caterpillar Financial Ukraine LLC, Caterpillar Fluid Systems S.r.l., Caterpillar Fomento Comercial Ltda., Caterpillar Forest Products Inc., Caterpillar France S.A.S., Caterpillar GB L.L.C., Caterpillar Global Investments S.a r.l., Caterpillar Global Mining America LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Equipamentos De Mineracao do Brasil Ltda., Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Expanded Products Pty Ltd, Caterpillar Global Mining Germany Holdings GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining HMS GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Holdings GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Hong Kong AFC Manufacturing Holding Co. Limited, Caterpillar Global Mining Hong Kong Limited, Caterpillar Global Mining LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Mexico LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Global Mining SARL, Caterpillar Global Mining U.S. Parts LLC, Caterpillar Global Services LLC, Caterpillar Group Services S.A., Caterpillar Holding (France) S.A.S., Caterpillar Holding Germany GmbH, Caterpillar Holdings Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Hungary Components Manufacturing Ltd., Caterpillar Hydraulics Italia S.r.l., Caterpillar IPX LLC, Caterpillar IRB LLC, Caterpillar Impact Products Limited, Caterpillar India Private Limited, Caterpillar Industrial Inc., Caterpillar Industrias Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Industries (Pty) Ltd, Caterpillar Insurance Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Insurance Company, Caterpillar Insurance Holdings Inc., Caterpillar Insurance Services Corporation, Caterpillar International Finance Designated Activity Company, Caterpillar International Finance Luxembourg Holding S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Finance Luxembourg S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Holding S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Luxembourg I S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Luxembourg II S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Product SARL, Caterpillar International Services Corporation, Caterpillar International Services del Peru S.A., Caterpillar Investment Limited, Caterpillar Investment One SARL, Caterpillar Investment Two SARL, Caterpillar Investments, Caterpillar Japan LLC, Caterpillar Latin America Services S.R.L., Caterpillar Latin America Services de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Latin America Services de Panama S. de R.L., Caterpillar Latin America Servicios de Chile Limitada, Caterpillar Latin America Support Services S. DE R.L., Caterpillar Leasing (Thailand) Limited, Caterpillar Leasing Chile S.A., Caterpillar Leasing GmbH (Leipzig), Caterpillar Leasing Operativo Limitada, Caterpillar Life Insurance Company, Caterpillar Logistics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Logistics (UK) Limited, Caterpillar Logistics Inc., Caterpillar Logistics ML Services France S.A.S., Caterpillar Logistics Services China Limited, Caterpillar Luxembourg Group S.ar.l., Caterpillar Luxembourg LLC, Caterpillar Luxembourg S.a r.l., Caterpillar Machinery Nantong Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Marine Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Marine Asset Intelligence, Caterpillar Marine Power UK Limited, Caterpillar Marine Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Maroc SARL, Caterpillar Materiels Routiers SAS, Caterpillar Mexico LLC, Caterpillar Mexico S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar Mining Canada ULC, Caterpillar Mining Chile Servicios Limitada, Caterpillar Motoren (Guangdong) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG, Caterpillar Motoren Henstedt-Ulzburg GmbH, Caterpillar Motoren Rostock GmbH, Caterpillar Motoren Verwaltungs-GmbH, Caterpillar Netherlands Holding B.V., Caterpillar North America C.V., Caterpillar Operator Training Ltd., Caterpillar Overseas Credit Corporation SARL, Caterpillar Overseas Investment Holding SARL, Caterpillar Overseas Limited, Caterpillar Overseas SARL, Caterpillar Panama Services S.A., Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Caterpillar Paving Products Xuzhou Ltd., Caterpillar Pension Trust Limited, Caterpillar Poland Sp. z o.o., Caterpillar Power Generation Systems (Bangladesh) Limited, Caterpillar Power Generation Systems L.L.C., Caterpillar Power Systems Inc., Caterpillar Power Ventures International Ltd., Caterpillar Precision Seals Korea, Caterpillar Prodotti Stradali S.r.l., Caterpillar Product Services Corporation, Caterpillar Propulsion AB, Caterpillar Propulsion International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Propulsion Italy S.R.L., Caterpillar Propulsion Namibia (Proprietary) Limited, Caterpillar Propulsion Production AB, Caterpillar Propulsion Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Propulsion Singapore Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar R&D Center (China) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe LLC, Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe Servicios S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar Reman Powertrain Indiana LLC, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Drivetrain LLC, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Renting France S.A.S., Caterpillar Reynosa S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar SARL, Caterpillar Services Germany GmbH, Caterpillar Servicios Limitada, Caterpillar Servicios Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Servizi Italia Srl, Caterpillar Shrewsbury Limited, Caterpillar Skinningrove Limited, Caterpillar Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd., Caterpillar Special Services Belgium S.P.R.L., Caterpillar Switchgear Americas LLC, Caterpillar Switchgear Holding Inc., Caterpillar Tianjin Ltd., Caterpillar Torreon S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Tosno L.L.C., Caterpillar Transmissions France S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Tunneling Canada Holdings Ltd., Caterpillar Tunnelling Canada Corporation, Caterpillar Tunnelling Europe Limited, Caterpillar UK Employee Trust Limited, Caterpillar UK Engines Company Limited, Caterpillar UK Group Limited, Caterpillar UK Holdings Limited, Caterpillar Undercarriage (Xuzhou) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Underground Mining Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Used Equipment Services Inc., Caterpillar Venture Capital Inc., Caterpillar Work Tools B.V., Caterpillar Work Tools Inc., Caterpillar World Trading Corporation, Caterpillar Xuzhou, Caterpillar of Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar of Canada Corporation, Caterpillar of Delaware Inc., Centre de Distribution de Wallonie SPRL, CleanAir Systems, Downer Freight Rail, ECM Railway Evolution Romania s.r.l., ECM S.p.A., EDC European Excavator Design Center GmbH, EMC Holding Corp., EMD International Holdings Inc., ERA Information & Entertainment (BVI) Limited, ERA Mining Machinery Limited, Electro-Motive Diesel Limited, Electro-Motive Locomotive Technologies LLC, Electro-Motive Technical Consulting Co. (Beijing) Ltd., Energy Services International Limited, Equipos de Acuna S.A. de C.V., Eurenov S.A.S., F. G. Wilson (Proprietary) Limited, F. Perkins Limited, FG Wilson (Engineering) Limited, GB Holdco (China) Inc., GFCM Comercial Mexico S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.N.R., GFCM Servicios S.A. de C.V., Gremada Industries - Assets, Hong Kong Siwei Holdings Limited, Inmobiliaria Conek S.A. de C.V., JCS Co., Kemper Valve & Fittings Corp., Leo Inc., Locomotive Demand Power Pty Ltd., Locomotoras Progress Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Lovat, M2M Data Corporation, MGE Equipamentos & Servicos Ferroviarios, MWM, MWM Austria GmbH, MWM Benelux B.V., MWM Energy Australia Pty Ltd, MWM France S.A.S, MWM Real Estate GmbH, MaK Americas Inc., MaK Americas Inc. (Canada), Magnum Power Products LLC, Marble, Maschinenbau Kiel GmbH, Mec-Track S.r.l., Metalmark Financial Services Limited, Motoren Steffens GmbH, Nippon Caterpillar LLC, P. T. Solar Services Indonesia, PT Caterpillar Finance Indonesia, PT. Bucyrus Indonesia, PT. Caterpillar Indonesia, PT. Caterpillar Indonesia Batam, PT. Caterpillar Remanufacturing Indonesia, Perkins Engines, Perkins Engines (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, Perkins Engines Group Limited, Perkins Engines Inc., Perkins Group Limited, Perkins Holdings Limited LLC, Perkins India Private Limited, Perkins International Inc., Perkins Japan LLC, Perkins Limited, Perkins Machinery (Changshu) Co. Ltd., Perkins Motores do Brasil Ltda., Perkins Power Systems Technology (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Perkins Small Engines (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Perkins Small Engines LLC, Perkins Small Engines Limited, Perkins Technology Inc., Progress Metal Reclamation Company, Progress Rail Arabia Limited Company, Progress Rail Australia Pty Ltd, Progress Rail Canada Corporation, Progress Rail Equipamentos e Servicos Ferroviarios do Brasil Ltda., Progress Rail Equipment Leasing Corporation, Progress Rail Holdings Inc., Progress Rail Innovations Private Limited, Progress Rail Inspection & Information Systems GmbH, Progress Rail Inspection & Information Systems S.r.l., Progress Rail International Corp., Progress Rail Leasing Canada Corporation, Progress Rail Leasing Corporation, Progress Rail Leasing de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Progress Rail Locomotivas (do Brasil) Ltda., Progress Rail Locomotive Canada Co., Progress Rail Locomotive Chile SpA, Progress Rail Locomotive Inc., Progress Rail Maintenance de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Progress Rail Manufacturing Corporation, Progress Rail Raceland Corporation, Progress Rail Rocklin Corporation, Progress Rail SA Proprietary Limited, Progress Rail Services Corporation, Progress Rail Services Holdings Corp., Progress Rail Services LLC, Progress Rail Services UK Limited, Progress Rail Switching Services LLC, Progress Rail Transcanada Corporation, Progress Rail Welding Corporation, Progress Rail Wildwood LLC, Progress Rail de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pyroban Group, Pyroban Group, Pyrrha Investments B.V., Pyrrha Investments Limited, S&L Railroad LLC, SCM Singapore Holdings Pte. Ltd., SPL Software Alliance LLC, Sabre Engines, Servicios de Turbinas Solar S. de R.L. de C.V., Shandong SEM Machinery Co. Ltd., Solar Turbines, Solar Turbines, Solar Turbines (Beijing) Trading Services Co. Ltd., Solar Turbines (Thailand) Ltd., Solar Turbines CIS Limited Liability Company, Solar Turbines Canada Ltd./Ltee., Solar Turbines Central Asia Limited Liability Partnership, Solar Turbines EAME s.r.o., Solar Turbines Egypt Limited Liability Company, Solar Turbines Europe S.A., Solar Turbines India Private Limited, Solar Turbines International Company, Solar Turbines Italy S.R.L., Solar Turbines Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Solar Turbines Middle East Limited, Solar Turbines New Zealand Limited, Solar Turbines Saudi Arabia Limited, Solar Turbines Services Company, Solar Turbines Services Nigeria Limited, Solar Turbines Services of Argentina S.R.L., Solar Turbines Switzerland Sagl, Solar Turbines Trinidad & Tobago Limited, Solar Turbines West-Africa SARL, Tangshan DBT Machinery Co. Ltd., Tecnologia Modificada S.A. de C.V., Towmotor Corporation, Traction & Mining Motor Repairs Pty Ltd, Turbinas Solar S.A. de C.V., Turbinas Solar de Colombia S.A., Turbinas Solar de Venezuela C.A., Turbo Tecnologia de Reparaciones S.A. de C.V., Turbomach, Turbomach Endustriyel Gaz Turbinleri Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited, Turbomach France SARL, Turbomach GmbH, Turbomach Netherlands B.V., Turbomach Pakistan (Private) Limited, Turbomach S.A. Unipersonal, Turbomach Sp. Z o.o., Turner Powertrain Systems Limited, UK Hose Assembly Limited, Underground Imaging Technologies Inc, United Industries LLC, VALA Inc., Vasky Energy Ltd., Wealdstone Engineering, Weir - Oil & Gas Division, West Virginia Auto Shredding Inc., Western Gear Machinery LLC, Wetland Sustainability Fund I LLC, Williams Technologies, Yard Club, Zhengzhou Siwei Mechanical and Electrical Equipment Sales Co. Ltd., and okyo Rental Ltd..
Deckers Outdoor Corp. engages in the business of designing, marketing, and distributing footwear, apparel, and accessories developed for both everyday casual lifestyle use and high performance activities. It operates through the following segments: UGG Brand, HOKA Brand, Teva Brand, Sanuk Brand, Other Brands, and Direct-to-Consumer. The UGG Brand segment offers a line of premium footwear, apparel, and accessories. The HOKA Brand segment sells footwear and apparel that offers enhanced cushioning and inherent stability with minimal weight, originally designed for ultra-runners. The Teva Brand segment focuses on the sport sandal and modern outdoor lifestyle category, such as sandals, shoes, and boots. The Sanuk Brand segment originated in Southern California surf culture and has emerged into a lifestyle brand with a presence in the relaxed casual shoe and sandal categories. The Other Brands segment includes the Koolaburra by UGG brand. The Direct-to-Consumer segment comprises of retail stores and e-commerce websites. The company was founded by Douglas B. Otto in 1973 and is headquartered in Goleta, CA.

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Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. engages in the management of public and private investment products and services for institutional and retail clients. It operates through the following segments: Asset Management, Real Estate, Renewable Power, Infrastructure, Private Equity, Residential Development, and Corporate Activities. The Asset Management segment includes the management of its listed partnerships, private funds and public securities. The Real Estate segment is comprised of the ownership, operation and development of core office, core retail, LP investments and other properties. The Renewable Power segment encompasses the ownership, operation and development of hydroelectric, wind, solar, storage and other power generating facilities. The Infrastructure segment consists of the ownership, operation and development of utilities, transport, energy, data infrastructure and sustainable resource assets. The Private Equity segment refers to the broad range of industries, and is mostly focused on business services, infrastructure services and industrials. The Residential Development segment represents homebuilding, condominium development and land development. The Corporate Activiti

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The following companies are subsidiares of Air Products and Chemicals: 7001 Hamilton Properties LLC, ACP Europe SA, ACP Zolder Invest NV, AJWAA Gases LLC, AP Services South America SpA, APCI (U.K.) Inc., Air Products (Anshan) Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products (BR) Limited, Air Products (Cangzhou) Co. Ltd., Air Products (Changsha) Co. Ltd., Air Products (Chongqing) Chem-Materials Co. Ltd., Air Products (Dongguan) Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products (Guangzhou) Electronics Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products (Hangjin Qi) Co. Ltd., Air Products (Hefei) Electronics Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd., Air Products (Huaibei) Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products (Jiangxi) Co. Ltd., Air Products (Jincheng) Co. Ltd., Air Products (Jinjiang) Electronics Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products (Kunshan) Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products (Linfen) Co. Ltd., Air Products (Middle East) FZE, Air Products (Nanjing) Electronics Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products (Ningbo) Hi-Tech Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products (Rozenburg) B.V., Air Products (Shenyang) Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Air Products (Xi'an) Gases Co. Ltd, Air Products (Xiamen) Electronics Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products (Zhongshan) Gases Co. Ltd, Air Products (Zhumadian) Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products A/S, Air Products Advanced Materials LLC, Air Products Asia Inc., Air Products Asia Inc. Taiwan Branch, Air Products Bahrain W.L.L, Air Products Brasil Ltda., Air Products Canada Ltd./Prodair Canada Ltee, Air Products Caribbean Holdings Inc., Air Products Central Asia Group LLC, Air Products China Inc., Air Products Debang (Lianyungang) Co. Ltd., Air Products Ecuador S.A., Air Products Emirates Gases LLC, Air Products Equipment Limited, Air Products Gas O.O.O., Air Products Gases Holdings B.V., Air Products Gases S.A.E., Air Products Gesellschaft mbH, Air Products GmbH, Air Products Group Limited, Air Products Gulf Gas LLC, Air Products Helium Inc., Air Products Helium Inc. Qatar Branch, Air Products Holdings B.V., Air Products Holdings GmbH, Air Products Huadong (Longkou) Co. Ltd., Air Products Hydrogen Company Inc., Air Products Iberica S.L., Air Products Industrial Gas LLC, Air Products International LLC, Air Products Investments B.V., Air Products Investments Holdings LLC, Air Products Investments LLC, Air Products Ireland Limited, Air Products Italia S.r.l., Air Products Japan Inc., Air Products Japan K.K., Air Products Korea Inc., Air Products LLC, Air Products Leasing B.V., Air Products Llanwern Limited, Air Products LuAn (Changzhi) Co. Ltd., Air Products Maghreb S.A.R.L., Air Products Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Air Products Management S.A., Air Products Manufacturing Corporation, Air Products Manufacturing LLC, Air Products Middle East Industrial Gases LLC, Air Products Nederland B.V., Air Products Netherlands Gases B.V., Air Products O.O.O., Air Products PLC, Air Products PLC Branch, Air Products Peru S.A., Air Products Qudra (GICIS), Air Products Renewable Energy Limited, Air Products S.A., Air Products SAS, Air Products San Fu Co. Ltd., Air Products Services Europe S.A., Air Products Shared Services Sdn. Bhd, Air Products Singapore Industrial Gases Pte. Ltd., Air Products SinoHytec (Beijing) Hydrogen Energy Technology Co. Ltd., Air Products Slovakia s.r.o., Air Products Sp. Z o.o., Air Products Specialized Process Equipment SDN, Air Products Switzerland Sarl, Air Products Taiwan Holdings Co. Ltd., Air Products Ukraina LLC, Air Products West Coast Hydrogen LLC, Air Products Yanbu Limited, Air Products and Chemicals (Anhui) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Banan) Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Beijing) Distribution Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Binzhou) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Chengdu) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Chongqing) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Guiyang) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Hefei) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Hohhot) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Jiyuan) Onsite Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Lianyungang) Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Nanjing) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Nanjing) Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Pengzhou) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Putian) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Qingdao) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Shaanxi Pucheng) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Shaanxi) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Shanghai) Electronics Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Shanghai) Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Shanghai) Gases Production Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Shanghai) On-Site Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Shanghai) Systems Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Shangluo) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Shenzhen) Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Tangshan) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Tongxiang) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Weifang) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (WuXi) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (WuXi) Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Xingtai) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Xinxiang) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Xian) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Yichun) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Yulin) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Zhangjiagang) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Zhejiang) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Zhuhai) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals (Zibo) Co. Ltd., Air Products and Chemicals Inc., Air Products and Chemicals Inc. of Utah (Utah), Air Products and Chemicals Tech Development (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Air Products spol s.r.o., Asia Industrial Gas Company Ltd., Beijing AP BAIF Gases Industry Co. Ltd., Blue Ocean Industrial Gases Co. Ltd., Carbolim B.V., Carburos Via Augusta Logistics S.L., Centro Tecnico Indura Limitada, Chengdu Air & Gas Products Ltd., Contse S.A.U., CryoService, CryoService Limited, Dixons of Westerhope, DuPont Air Products NanoMaterials, EPCO Carbon Dioxide Products, EPCO Carbon Dioxide Products Inc. (Illinois), East Coast Nitrogen Company LLC, East Coast Oxygen Co., Gardner Cryogenics (Pennsylvania), Gas Direct Limited, Gas Supply Services Ltd., Gas Technologies Ltd., Gases Industriales de Columbia S.A.  Cryogas, Gases Integrated Company Limited (GIC), Gasin II Unipessoal LDA, Gastel Limited, Goar Allison & Associates, Green BioFuel s.r.o., Harvest Energy Technologies (California), Harvest Energy Technology, Helap SAS, Indura, Indura Argentina S.A., Indura Holdings Colombia LLC, Indura Inversiones Limitada, Indura Peru S.A., Indura S.A., Indura S.A. (Peru), Indura Sociedad Comercial Limitada, Ingemedicas Santandar Ltda., Ingenieria en Redes de Gases S.A. - Gasproject S.A., Inversiones Air Products Holdings Limitada, Jazan Gas Projects Company, Jazan Integrated Gasification and Power Company (JIGPC), KRIG Holdings B.V., KRYVYI RIH Industrial Gas, Korea Industrial Gases Ltd., Kulim Industrial Gases Sdn Bhd, Lida SAS, Markaziy Osiyo Sanoat Gaz LLC, Matgas 2000 A.I.E., Napro S.A., Olin DNT Limited Partnership, Oxigeno Medicinal Domiciliario Limitada, Oxigeno de Sagunto S.L., Oxigenol S.A., Oxygen & Argon Works, Oxygen & Argon Works Ltd., Oxygen Center Ltd., Oxygen Warehouse Trade (1980) Ltd., PQ Ammonia, PT Air Products East Kalimantan, PT Air Products Indonesia, PT Air Products Indonesia Services, Permea China Ltd., Permea Inc., Procal (California), Prodair Air Products India Private Limited, Prodair Corporation, Prodair Escravos Limited, Prodair S.A.S., Prodair Services Limited, Prodair et Cie S.C.S., Quimica Basica S.A., ROVI Cosmetics International, S.I.Q. Beteiligungs, SAGA SAS, SCWC Corp., STP & DIN Chemicals Sp. Z.o.o., Servicios Indura Limitada, Sociedad Espanola de Carburos Metalicos S.A., Soprogaz SNC, Stravinsky Investments LLC, The Former SR Manufacturers Inc., Tyczka Industrie-Gase GmbH, Union Mobiliere Industrielle S.A.R.L., United Industrial Gases Company LLC, Vitalox Industrial S.L.U., WuXi Hi-Tech Gas Co. Ltd., Yangon Industrial Gas (Thilawa) Company Limited, Zibo Chuangcheng Engineering Design Co. Ltd., and ir Products Israel Ltd..
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. is an insurance and financial services company. The company provides life insurance, group and employee benefits, automobile and homeowners insurance and business insurance, as well as investment products, annuities, mutual funds, and college savings plans. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Lines, Personal Lines, Property & Casualty Other Operations, Group Benefits and Hartford Funds. The Commercial Lines segment provides workers compensation, property, automobile, liability and umbrella coverage under several different products, primarily throughout the U.S., within its standard commercial lines, which consists of The Hartford's small commercial and middle market lines of business. The Personal Lines segment includes automobile, homeowners and home-based business coverage to individuals across the U.S. The Property & Casualty Other Operations segment includes certain property and casualty operations, currently managed by the company, that have discontinued writing new business and substantially all of the company's asbestos and environmental exposures. The Group Benefits segment offers group life, accident and disabi

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The following companies are subsidiares of Prudential Financial: 210-220 E. 22nd Street SSGA Owner LLC, AIG Edison, AIG Star, AREF Cayman Co Ltd., AREF GP II Pte. Ltd., AREF GP Ltd., ASPF II - Feeder Fund GmbH, ASPF II - Verwaltungs - GmbH & Co. KG, ASPF II Management GmbH, ASPF III (Scots) L.P., ASSURANCE, AST Investment Services Inc., Adlerwerke CB Investment LLC, Administradora de Fondos de Pensiones Habitat S.A., Administradora de Inversiones Previsionales SpA, Aoba Life Insurance Company, Asia Property Fund III GP S.a.r.l., Assurance IQ LLC, Assurance Intelligence LLC, BSC CP LP, Braeloch Holdings Inc., Braeloch Successor Corporation, Brazilian Capital Fund GP Limited, Broad Street Global Advisors LLC, Broome Street Holdings LLC, CB German Retail LLC, CLIS Co. Ltd., COLICO INC., Campus Drive LLC, Capital Agricultural Property Services Inc., Chadwick Boulevard Investment Holdings Co. LLC, Cibecue LLC, Coconino LLC, Colico II Inc., Columbus Drive Partners L.P., Commerce Street Holdings LLC, Commerce Street Investments LLC, Coolidge LLC, Coral Reef GP, Coral Reef L.P., Coral Reef Unit Trust, Cottage Street Investments LLC, Cottage Street Orbit Acquisition LLC, DHFL PRAMERICA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, DICKENS AVENUE HOLDINGS VI LLC, DICKENS AVENUE PARTNERS VI (Ireland) L.P., DICKENS AVENUE PARTNERS VI (US) L.P., Don Cesar Investor LLC, Dryden Arizona Reinsurance Term Company, Dryden Finance II LLC, EVP II GP S.a r.l., EVP II Sweden Resi I GP S.a r.l., Edison Place Senior Note LLC, Essex LLC, EuroCore GP S.a r.l., European Value Partners GP S.a.r.l., Everbright PGIM Fund Management Co. Ltd., Flagstaff LLC, GA 1600 Commons LLC, GA 333 Hennepin Investor LLC, GA BV LLC, GA Bay Area GP LLC, GA Bay Area Investor LLC, GA Belden LLC, GA CLARENDON LLC, GA Cal Crossings LLC, GA Collins LLC, GA E. 22nd Street Apartments Holdings LLC, GA East 86 Street LLC, GA JHCII LLC, GA MENLO PARK INVESTOR LLC, GA Manor at Harbour Island LLC, GA Metro LLC, GA Mission LLC, GA TRITON INVESTOR LLC, GA W Paces LLC, GA/MDI 333 Hennepin Associates LLC, GIBRALTAR BSN HOLDINGS SDN BHD, GIBRALTAR INDIA SOLUTIONS LLP, Gateway Holdings II LLC, Gateway Holdings LLC, German Retail Income CP LP, Gibraltar BSN Life Berhad, Gibraltar International Insurance Services Company Inc., Gibraltar International Service LLC, Gibraltar Reinsurance Company Ltd., Gibraltar Universal Life Reinsurance Company, Glenealy International Limited, Global Portfolio Strategies Inc., Gold GP Limited, Gold II L.P., Gold L.P., Graham Resources Inc., Graham Royalty Ltd., Green Tree GP, Green Tree L.P., Greenlee LLC, Halsey Street Investments LLC, Hirakata LLC, IVP Fund GP LLC, Impact Investments Bridges UK S.a.r.l, Inter-Atlantic G Fund L.P., Inversiones Previsionales Chile SpA, Inversiones Previsionales Dos SpA, Ironbound Fund LLC, Jennison Associates LLC, Kyarra S.a r.l., Kyoei Annuity Home Co. Ltd., LINEUP LLC, Lake Street Partners IV L.P., MC GA COLLINS HOLDINGS LLC, MC GA COLLINS REALTY LLC, MC Insurance Agency Services LLC, Manor at Harbour Island LLC, Marble Canyon LLC, Maricopa LLC, Market Street Holdings IV LLC, Morenci LLC, Mulberry Street Holdings LLC, Mulberry Street Investment L.P., Mulberry Street Partners LLC, Mullin TBG Insurance Agency Services LLC, MullinTBG Insurance Agency Services, National Family Assurance Group LLC, New Savanna, Orchard Street Acres Inc., PAI Bay Farm LLC, PAI Bayrock Groves LLC, PAI Belvidere Farms LLC, PAI Big Cypress Farm LLC, PAI Corcoran 640 Ranch LLC, PAI DeKalb Farm LLC, PAI Delano 1500 Ranches LLC, PAI Flicker Orchard LLC, PAI Good Hope Farm LLC, PAI Hawk Creek Ranch LLC, PAI Hills Valley Ranches LLC, PAI Holly Hill Groves LLC, PAI Hunt Farm LLC, PAI Jackson Bayou Farm LLC, PAI Lake Placid Groves LLC, PAI Wallula Gap Vineyard LLC, PCP V Cayman AIV GP L.P., PEREF II Co-Invest 1 GP S.a r.l., PEREF II GP S.a r.l., PEREF II PV S.r.l, PFI EM-Tech Fund I LLC, PG Business Service Co. Ltd, PG Collection Service Co. Ltd., PGA Asian Retail Limited, PGA European Limited, PGI Co. Ltd, PGIM (Australia) Pty Ltd, PGIM (Hong Kong) Ltd., PGIM (Scots) Limited, PGIM (Shanghai) Company Ltd., PGIM (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., PGIM AVP IV GP S.a r.l., PGIM Advisory (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PGIM Agricultural Investments GP LLC, PGIM Agricultural Investors LP, PGIM Broad Market High Yield Bond Fund L.P., PGIM Broad Market High Yield Bond Partners LLC, PGIM Capital Partners Management (Feeder) VI LLC, PGIM Capital Partners Management Fund VI L.P., PGIM European Financing Limited, PGIM European Services Limited, PGIM Financial Limited, PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives Fund II L.P., PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives Fund L.P., PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives GP LLC, PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives II GP LLC, PGIM Foreign Investments Inc., PGIM Holding Company LLC, PGIM INDIA ASSET MANAGEMENT PRIVATE LIMITED, PGIM INDIA TRUSTEES PRIVATE LIMITED, PGIM Inc., PGIM International Financing Inc., PGIM Investments LLC, PGIM Japan Co. Ltd., PGIM Korea Inc., PGIM LTIF Berlin GP S.a r.l., PGIM LTIF Berlin MLP S.ar.l., PGIM LTIF GP S.a.r.l., PGIM Limited, PGIM Loan Originator Manager Limited, PGIM M Campus GP S.a r.l., PGIM Management Partner Limited, PGIM MetaProp Investor LP LLC, PGIM Netherlands B.V., PGIM Overseas Investment Fund Management (Shanghai) Company Ltd, PGIM Private Capital (Ireland) Limited, PGIM Private Capital Limited, PGIM Private Placement Investors Inc., PGIM Private Placement Investors L.P., PGIM REF EUROPE SCSp, PGIM REF Europe GP S.a r.l., PGIM REF Europe Member LLC, PGIM REF Intermediary Services Inc., PGIM Real Estate (Japan) Ltd., PGIM Real Estate (UK) Limited, PGIM Real Estate CD S.a.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Capital VII GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest L.P., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest SCSp, PGIM Real Estate Co-Invest Holdings LLC, PGIM Real Estate Debt GmbH, PGIM Real Estate Finance Holding Company, PGIM Real Estate Finance LLC, PGIM Real Estate France SAS, PGIM Real Estate Germany AG, PGIM Real Estate Global Debt GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate Inmuebles S. de R.L. de C.V, PGIM Real Estate Italy S.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Loan Services Inc., PGIM Real Estate Luxembourg S.A., PGIM Real Estate MVP Administradora IV S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Administradora V S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Inmuebles IV S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Inmuebles V S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate Management Luxembourg S.a.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Mexico S.C., PGIM Real Estate S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate U.S. Debt Fund GP LLC, PGIM Senior Loan Opportunities Management (Feeder) I LLC, PGIM Senior Loan Opportunities Management Fund I L.P., PGIM Strategic Financing LLC, PGIM Strategic Investments Inc., PGIM USPF VI Manager LLC, PGIM Warehouse Inc., PGLH of Delaware Inc., PIFM Holdco LLC, PIIC Limited, PIISC Holdings (UK) Limited, PIM KF Blocker Holdings LLC, PIM KF Blocker V Holdings LLC, PIM USPF V Manager LLC, PLA Administradora Industrial SRL, PLA Administradora LLC, PLA Administradora S. de R.L. de C.V., PLA Asesoria Profesional II S. de R.L. de C.V., PLA Asesoria Profesional S.de R.L. de C.V., PLA Co-Investor LLC, PLA Mexico Industrial Manager I LLC, PLA Mexico Industrial Manager II LLC, PLA Mexico Residential Manager I LLC, PLA Residential Fund III Aggregating Manager LLC, PLA Residential Fund III Limited Manager LLC, PLA Residential Fund III Manager LLC, PLA Residential Fund IV Aggregating Manager LLC, PLA Residential Fund IV Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund I Blue LP, PLA Retail Fund I LP, PLA Retail Fund I Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund I Red LP, PLA Retail Fund II Aggregating Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II LLC, PLA Retail Fund II LP, PLA Retail Fund II Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II U.S. Carry/Co-Invest LP, PLA Services Manager Mexico LLC, PLAI Limited, PMCF Holdings LLC, PMCF Properties LLC, PPPF General Partner LLP, PR GA SCP Apartments LLC, PRAMERICA PRECAP VI GP (SCOTS FEEDER) LLP, PRAMERICA PRECAP VI GP LLP, PRECO ACCOUNT III LLC, PRECO ACCOUNT PARTNERSHIP III LP, PRECO Account IV LLC, PRECO Account Partnership IV LP, PRECO III GP LLP, PREFG Hanwha Manager LLC, PREI Acquisition I Inc., PREI Acquisition II Inc., PREI Acquisition LLC, PREI HYDG LLC, PREI International Inc., PRIAC Property Acquisitions LLC, PRICOA Management Partner Limited, PRISA Fund Manager LLC, PRISA II Fund Manager LLC, PRISA II Pooled Manager LLC, PRISA III Fund GP LLC, PRISA III Fund PIM LLC, PRREF II Fund Manager LLC, PRU 3XSquare LLC, PRUCO LLC, PRUDENTIAL CAPITAL ENERGY PARTNERS MANAGEMENT (FEEDER) LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP MEMBER LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP REIT LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP VENTURE 2 LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP VENTURE LLC, PT PFI Mega Life Insurance, Passaic Fund LLC, Pine Tree GP, Pine Tree L.P., Platinum GP Limited, Platinum II L.P., Platinum L.P., Pramerica (Hong Kong) Holdings Limited, Pramerica (Luxembourg) CP GP S.a.r.l., Pramerica (Scots) CP GP LLP, Pramerica Business Consulting (Shanghai) Company Limited, Pramerica EVP CP LP, Pramerica Financial Asia Headquarters Pte. Ltd., Pramerica Financial Asia Limited, Pramerica Fixed Income Funds Management Limited, Pramerica Fosun Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Pramerica General Partner LLP, Pramerica Holdings Ltd, Pramerica Insurance Agency (China) Company Ltd., Pramerica PRECAP I GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP II GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP III GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP IV GP LLP, Pramerica Pan European Real Estate (Scots) LP, Pramerica Property Partners Fund (Scotland) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital I (Scotland) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital I GP (Scots Feeder) LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital II (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital III (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV GP (Scots Feeder) LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV GP Limited, Pramerica Real Estate Capital V (Netherlands) GP LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital V (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital VI (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica SGR S.p.A, Pramerica Systems Ireland Limited, Preco III (Scotland) Limited Partnership, Pru 101 Wood LLC, Pru Alpha Partners I LLC, Pru Fixed Income Emerging Markets Partners I LLC, PruVen Capital Partners Fund I L.P., Pruco Assignment Corporation, Pruco Life Insurance Company, Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey, Pruco Securities LLC, Prudential 900 Aviation Boulevard LLC, Prudential Affordable Mortgage Company LLC, Prudential Agricultural Property Holding Company LLC, Prudential Annuities Distributors Inc., Prudential Annuities Holding Company Inc., Prudential Annuities Inc., Prudential Annuities Information Services & Technology Corporation, Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Captive Company, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Term Company, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Universal Company, Prudential Bank & Trust FSB, Prudential Capital Energy Opportunity Fund L.P., Prudential Capital Energy Partners L.P., Prudential Capital Energy Partners Management Fund L.P., Prudential Capital Partners Management Fund IV L.P., Prudential Capital and Investment Services LLC, Prudential Chile II SpA, Prudential Chile SpA, Prudential Commercial Property Holding Company LLC, Prudential Customer Solutions LLC, Prudential Equity Group LLC, Prudential Financial Securities Investment Trust Enterprise, Prudential Fixed Income Global Liquidity Relative Value Partners LLC, Prudential Fixed Income U.S. Relative Value Partners LLC, Prudential Funding LLC, Prudential General Services of Japan Y.K., Prudential Gibraltar Agency Co. Ltd., Prudential Global Funding LLC, Prudential Holdings of Japan Inc., Prudential Huntoon Paige Associates LLC, Prudential IBH Holdco Inc., Prudential Impact Investments Mortgage Loans LLC, Prudential Impact Investments Private Debt LLC, Prudential Impact Investments Private Equity LLC, Prudential Industrial Properties LLC, Prudential Insurance Agency LLC, Prudential International Insurance Holdings Ltd., Prudential International Insurance Service Company L.L.C., Prudential International Investments Advisers LLC, Prudential International Investments Company LLC, Prudential International Investments LLC, Prudential Investment Management Services LLC, Prudential Japan Holdings LLC, Prudential Legacy Insurance Company of New Jersey, Prudential Life Insurance Company of Taiwan Inc., Prudential Mortgage Asset Holdings 1 Japan Investment Business Limited Partnership, Prudential Mortgage Asset Holdings 2 Japan Investment Business Limited Partnership, Prudential Mortgage Capital Asset Holding Company LLC, Prudential Mortgage Capital Funding LLC, Prudential Mortgage Capital Holdings LLC, Prudential Multifamily Mortgage LLC, Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC, Prudential Newark Realty LLC, Prudential QOZ Investment Fund 1 LLC, Prudential Realty Securities Inc., Prudential Retirement Financial Services Holding LLC, Prudential Retirement Holdings LLC, Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, Prudential Securities Secured Financing Corporation, Prudential Securities Structured Assets Inc., Prudential Seguros Mexico S.A. de C.V., Prudential Seguros S.A., Prudential Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Prudential Structured Settlement Company, Prudential Systems Japan Limited, Prudential Term Reinsurance Company, Prudential Trust Co. Ltd., Prudential Trust Company, Prudential Universal Reinsurance Company, Prudential Workplace Solutions Group Services LLC, Prudential do Brasil Seguros de Vida S.A., Prudential do Brasil Vida em Grupo S.A., Prudential/TMW Real Estate Group LLC, Pruservicos Participacoes Ltda., QMA JP EM All Cap Equity Partners LLC, QMA LLC, QMA Wadhwani LLP, Quartzsite LLC, Residential Services Corporation of America LLC, Rio CP LP, Rock European Real Estate Holdings S.ar.l., Rock Global Real Estate LLC, Rock Kensington Limited, Rock Marty GP S.a r.l., Rock Oxford S.a r.l., Rock UK Real Estate Holdings S.ar.l., Rock UK Real Estate II S.a.r.l., Rockstone Co. Ltd., Rosado Grande LLC, Ross Avenue Energy Fund Holdings LLC, Ross Avenue Minerals 2012 LLC, SCP Apartments LLC, SENIOR HOUSING PARTNERS VI GP LLC, SENIOR HOUSING PARTNERSHIP FUND VI GP LLC, SHP IV Carried Interest LP, SHP V Carried Interest L.P., SMP Holdings Inc., SVIIT Holdings Inc., Sanei Collection Service Co. Ltd. (Kabushiki Kaisha Sanei Shuuno Service), Senior Housing Partners IV L.L.C., Senior Housing Partners V LLC, Senior Housing Partnership Fund IV L.L.C., Senior Housing Partnership Fund V LLC, Sterling Private Placement Management LLP, Stetson Street Partners L.P., Strand Investments Limited, TBG Insurance Services Corporation, TENSATOR HOLDINGS LTD, TF Proveedora S.C., TMW ASPF I Verwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, TMW ASPF Management GmbH, TMW Management LLC, TMW Real Estate Group LLC, TMW Realty Advisors LLC, TMW USPF Verwaltungs GmbH, TRGOAG Company Inc., The Gibraltar Life Insurance Co. Ltd., The Keynes Dynamic Beta Strategy (US) Fund GP LLC, The Prudential Assigned Settlement Services Corp., The Prudential Brazilian Capital Fund LP, The Prudential Gibraltar Financial Life Insurance Co. Ltd., The Prudential Home Mortgage Company Inc., The Prudential Insurance Company of America, The Prudential Life Insurance Company Ltd., The Prudential Real Estate Financial Services of America Inc., The WMF Group, Thurloe Commercial Guernsey Limited, Times Square Center Associates, USPF V - Verwaltungs - GmbH & Co. KG, USPF V Carry LLC, USPF V Co-Invest LLC, USPF V Investment LP, United States Property Fund VI GP S.a r.l., Vailsburg Fund LLC, Vantage Casualty Insurance Company, Wabash Avenue Holdings V LLC, Wabash Avenue Partners V L.P., Wadhwani Capital Limited, Waveland Avenue Holdings I LLC, Waveland Avenue Partners I (Ireland) L.P., Waveland Avenue Partners I (US) L.P., Wellness Services Ecossistema De Bem Estar Ltda., Wellness Services SRL, Yamato Life, and Yavapai LLC.
Smart & Final Stores, Inc. operates as a food retailer in the United States. It operates in two segments, Smart & Final and Smart Foodservice. The company's stores offer fresh perishables and everyday grocery items, such as produce, meat and deli, dairy and cheese, grocery, and beverage products, as well as paper and packaging, and restaurant equipment and janitorial supplies. It also provides various private label products under the First Street, Sun Harvest, Simply Value, La Romanella, Montecito, Iris, and Ambiance brands. The company sells its products to household and business customers; restaurants; caterers; and various other foodservice businesses, such as food trucks and coffee houses through vendors and suppliers. As of December 30, 2018, it operated 326 grocery and foodservice stores, including 59 Smart & Final stores, 201 Smart & Final Extra! stores, and 66 Smart Foodservice Warehouse stores located in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, and Utah, as well as 15 stores in Northwestern Mexico operated through a joint venture. Smart & Final Stores, Inc. was founded in 1871 and is headquartered in Commerce, California.

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Square, Inc. provides payment and point-of-sale solutions in the United States and internationally. The company's commerce ecosystem includes point-of-sale software and hardware that enables sellers to turn mobile and computing devices into payment and point-of-sale solutions. It offers hardware products, including Magstripe reader, which enables swiped transactions of magnetic stripe cards; Contactless and chip reader that accepts EMV chip cards and Near Field Communication payments; Chip card reader, which accepts EMV chip cards and enables swiped transactions of magnetic stripe cards; Square Stand, which enables an iPad to be used as a payment terminal or full point of sale solution; and Square Register that combines its hardware, point-of-sale software, and payments technology, as well as managed payments solutions. The company also provides Square Point of Sale software; Cash App, which provides access to the financial system, allowing customers to electronically send, store, and spend money; Caviar, a food ordering platform for restaurants to offer food ordering, pickup and delivery, to their customers; and Square Capital that facilitates loans to sellers based on real-time payment and point-of-sale data. Square, Inc. was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

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The World Economic Forums Inclusive Development Index Survey 2018, released a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Davos, would have possibly caused some embarrassment. There was rejoicing at the Moodys upgrade a few months back.

A few weeks back the ranking for ease of doing business in India jumped 30 places to land India within the top 100 countries. If we dig a bit deeper, we would realise that the survey covered a few thousands in Metro cities of Mumbai and Delhi.

The question is whether they represent the experience of millions of businessmen across the country and the reality at the ground level? Its a different matter that the Chief Economist of the World Bank, Paul Romer resigned due to controversies relating to Chile rankings, which indicates the possible rot in the process.

Similarly, the recent rankings of inclusive development index of WEF need not mean that India has suddenly fallen off the cliff.

A quick glance of the top nine economies in the said report, other than Australia, which includes Norway, Iceland, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, Ireland and Austria shows that the combined area is about 1/3rd with a population which is 1/20th of India. So are we comparing apples with oranges?

A recent report in The Economist aptly described the diversity of India. The top one per cent of the Indian adults comprising eight million population earns about US $20,000 which is equivalent to Hong Kong. The next nine per cent is like Europe and next 40 per cent mirrors poor South Asian neighbours Pakistan, Bangladesh and the others. The remaining, the report says, is on par with most of the destitute bits of Africa. I beg to differ with the view that half of Indian population is destitute.

The governments agenda has to be to clear the impediments for the top 10 per cent of the adult population so that their capital and efforts are utilised efficiently to provide opportunities for the next 40 per cent of the population.

Another important agenda would be to shift the bottom of the pyramid from depending on government dole outs to self-sufficiency, especially the youth, which will help in reducing inequalities in the longer run since they form 28 per cent of the population. All this is easier said than done since a structural shift for a country sustaining 17 per cent of the world population, it will take a few decades, if not a generation to witness a perceptible change.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a clear intent, supported by the mandate, could take bold steps to shake the status quo. But the effect of cleansing of the system and streamlining can be done only if the leader is willing to bite the bullet. Coming back to the inclusive development index of WEF, it has acknowledged that GDP per capita for India has posted strong growth rates for the last 5 years, while employment growth rate has slowed.

We could be the fourth largest economy in the 2020s overtaking Germany. The comprehensive eight-point development plan put forth by the Modi government should provide impetus to the growth mantra.

India has the largest young population in the world, thus we have one of the best demographics which will spur our growth beyond the 2030s when most of todays developed world would have shown signs of a slowdown. The biggest challenge would be to employ this young population efficiently and gainfully since any failure on this count could boomerang.

(The author is an equity market analyst)
The alternation in the gut micro biome is because of increasing intake of processed foods which are leading to the changes in the gut thereby affecting the immune system and leading to auto-immune diseases.(Representational Image)

Hyderabad: Preservatives, additives, highly processed foods and too much of mineral water are leading to inflammatory bowel diseases in India. The changes in the gut microbes due to highly processed foods, lifestyle changes and environmental factors have seen an increase in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs).

Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, chairman of Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, said, IBD used to be common in the western countries. In India, it has become common now. Increase in IBD has become one of the causes for diarrhoea in Indian patients. The major culprits are preservatives used in food and high use of antibiotics by children. Professor Michael A Kamm, renowned gastroenterologist at St Vincents Hospital, University of Melbourne who was part of the IBD conference in the city, explained, The gut micro biome is the cause and cure for gut diseases. To avoid IBD, people must opt for natural organic foods which are a healthier choice. This helps avoid complications in the intestine.

The alternation in the gut micro biome is because of increasing intake of processed foods which are leading to the changes in the gut thereby affecting the immune system and leading to auto-immune diseases. Dr Rupa Banerjee, director of IBD, AIG Hospital, added, People have to make healthier choices like opting for natural foods. When they are outside they can avoid fizzy drinks and opt for eating natural fruits and vegetables. It is important that they must opt for normal healthy water and not always the mineral water.

These choices in foods ensure that the gut has a combination of different good bacteria which help the body systems function smoothly.
A government spokesperson said prohibitory orders still remained in effect, but did not say whether the curfew had been lifted. (Photo: ANI/Twitter)

Kasganj: At least three shops, two private buses and a car were torched 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 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 on Friday, 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 informed, "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 engines of the buses are intact. One empty kiosk was also set ablaze by the anti-social elements. In the evening, the seats of an abandoned car were set ablaze."

He claimed that no violence took place on Saturday, and "violence took place only yesterday (Friday)".

The ADG added, "Some anti-social elements had tried to break into the gate of a mosque on Friday, but were unable to do so, as police chased them away."

Read Also: Curfew in Uttar Pradeshs Kasganj after communal clash

Meanwhile, District Magistrate RP 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 yesterday. 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 yesterday 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-dominated community 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 on Saturday 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 on Saturday, 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 said.

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.
In the letter to Alappuzha's District Magistrate, the students also said the principal had even barred them from celebrating Saraswati Puja when it coincided with a strike in Kerala. (Photo: ANI)

Alappuzha: A group of students from Cochin University College of Engineering Kuttanad in Kerala's Alappuzha district have complained that students from North India were being deliberately served beef cutlets.

The incident came to light on Saturday when a group of students wrote a letter to Alappuzha's District Magistrate (DM) complaining against their principal for offending religious sentiments.

"A lot of students are depressed that their religious sentiments have been hurt. A lot of them are ashamed to tell their parents about this incident," said one student.

In the letter, the students also said the principal had even barred them from celebrating Saraswati Puja when it coincided with a strike in Kerala.

The students have alleged that before eating, the authorities were repeatedly asked whether it was vegetarian or non-vegetarian; however, the authorities assured them it was vegetables only, stated the complaint.

The students have alleged that they started feeling uneasy after eating the cutlet.
Kannur: The three-day district conference of the CPM Kannur unit started here on Saturday amidst the raging controversy over the financial dealings of Binoy Kodiyeri, son of CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. According to indications, Mr P. Jayarajan, district secretary, is likely to step down from the post.

To snuff out any possible rebellion and to steer the discussions in the right course, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will participate in the conference on all the three days.

Mr Vijayan, who is also politburo member, who inaugurated the conference, called for supporting China as the communist country was fighting alone the US attempts to build up a colonial political scenario globally. "I am not going into the details of the issue as the CPM party congress held in Kozhikode earlier had discussed it and taken a political stand," he said.

"On the economic front, China is making giant strides," he said and added that out of the global economic growth, 30 percent is Chinese contribution. The country had already achieved its targeted 6-7 percent GDP growth, he said. He also showered praise on the Cuban leadership for improving the living conditions of the people despite the US embargo.

The representatives' meeting will be held at Nayanar Academy at Payyambalam. As many as 47 district committee members and 410 delegates are participating in the conference.

The flag brought from the Karivellur martyrs' column in a rally was hoisted at the venue. Allied torch-bearing rallies reached the venue from 162 martyrs' columns in the district. The meeting would conclude on January 29. JAYARAJAN WAITING AND WATCHING:

Mr P. Jayarajan has been on a 'wait and see' mode since the state leadership had warned him over the 'star' status conferred on him by his followers. Starting from the murder of RMP leader T.P. Chandrasekharan, the CPM state leadership has been trying to rein him in in Kannur. After the LDF came to power, the state committee had decided to keep restraint in Kannur to reduce political tensions.

The appointment of Mr Sanjai Kumar Gurudin, a known law and order strategist, as police chief in Kannur was a move aimed at reducing the political conflict. But despite the all-out support of Mr Pinayaryi Vijayan, the party came in the open against Mr Gurudin himself alleging torture of party cadres. Mr Jayarajan led the agitations. After much resistance, Mr Vijayan removed Mr Gurudin from the post. Since then the party leadership and party machinery in Kannur have been on two tracks.

Adding fuel to fire in the intraparty squabbles, the party had a tough time in Kannur to complete the local area committee meetings. The local committee meeting of Thalassery was abandoned midway due to the open protest against the official faction whereas tate secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan himself had to put his weight to complete the procedures. Popular leader C.O.T. Nazeer, former CPM area committee member and municipal councillor, who had been expelled from the party recently,has been haunting the CPM.

The aura of Mr Jayarajan as the saviour of comrades from Sangh terror would be the major impediment for the CPM to replace him. No names have surfaced so far against Mr Jayarajan who has completed only two terms (six years) as district secretary and is eligible for one more term (three years).
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.
Vijayawada: Actor turned politician Pawan Kalyan is getting a lot of flak for meeting Telugu Desam ministers and MLAs and not those of the Opposition parties, during his district tours.

A close follower of the Jana Sena chief said that instead of having a meeting with minister Paritala Sunitha, he should have staged a protest about the problems the state faces, particularly after meeting disgruntled farmers on Sunday.

The associate said that if Pawan Kumar wants to ally with the TDP he should do so later, closer to the time of elections. We tried to convince him of this but he is following his own way, the associate concluded.

Mr Pawan Kalyan has been indicating his approval of the ruling parties in both the Telugu states, when, according to a section of his party, he should be questioning the ruling parties on public issues, which is what his party had promised to do. Of course, the situation in Andhra Pradesh is a little different as Mr Pawan Kalyan was part and parcel of the TDs success in the 2014 elections.

Later, he sent out signals that he intended to be independent. A Jana Sena leader said Mr Pawan Kalyan could do well if he stayed independent but he doesnt dare do so.
CM Siddaramaiah, Chief Secretary Rathna Prabha and BJP leaders D.V. Sadananda Gowda, Jagadish Shettar and K.S. Eshwarappa at the all-party meeting on Mahadayi issue in Bengaluru on Saturday. (Photo:KPN)

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday offered to try and convince Congress leaders of Goa about the need to release Mahadayi river water to Karnataka once Goa Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar showed his willingness for an amicable settlement.

Emerging from an all-party meeting to discuss the dispute, he told reporters, If the Goa Chief Minister responds to my recent letter and calls for a meeting on the issue, I will also make an honest effort to convince Congress leaders there to release water to Karnataka.

He disclosed that except for the BJP, those present at the meeting decided to lead an all- party delegation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his intervention in the issue if there was no response to his letter to Goa in a day or two.

I expect the state BJPs participation and co-operation in this. The Prime Minister can intervene by calling a meeting of Chief Ministers of Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, he added.

Meanwhile, the BJP accused Mr Siddaramaiah of using the issue for his own political ends by calling for the Prime Ministers intervention, instead of trying to persuade Congress leaders of Goa, who were against sharing of water with Karnataka.

Underlining that the BJP would take the responsibility of persuading the Goa and Maharashtra Chief Ministers to share Mahadayi water with the state, its state unit chief, B S Yeddyurappa questioned Congress president, Rahul Gandhi and former AICC president, Sonia Gandhis silence on the issue.

Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Mr Rahul Gandhi should have rebuked the Goa Congress chief for his statement about not releasing even a drop of water to Karnataka, Union Minister for statistics, D. V. Sadananda Gowda told reporters.

Karnataka wants 7.56 tmcft water for its Kalasa-Banduri Nala project from the river in Goa to provide drinking water to the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad and the districts of Belagavi and Gadag.
HYDERABAD: Visakhapatnam will witness the Super Blue Blood moon, rare lunar eclipse that occurs only once in a few decades, on January 31 about 20 minutes before it is seen in the rest of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

While Hyderabad residents will witness the lunar eclipse in totality, North Eastern states and Kolkata will witness the eclipse happening as the moon rises earlier there.

The day will see a lunar eclipse which is also a Super Blue moon, making it truly a once in a blue moon event. It is the alignment of three different lunar phenomena.

Also read: Watch the Super Blue Bloody Moon Live

The total lunar eclipse will happen when the moon will enter the Earths shadow, ensuring that the Suns rays do not fall on it.

The second phenomenon which makes the moon a Blue Moon is that it is the second full moon of January, the first occurred on January 2. The third makes it a Supermoon i.e. the moon will be the closest to the Earth.

N. Raghunandan Kumar, director of Planetary Society, said, The moon goes around the Earth every month in an oval orbit, and it is far and near the Earth one time in a month. It is coincidental that the eclipse is happening when the moon is closest to the Earth making it seem bigger in size. The moon will also appear red due to the lunar eclipse and is also called blue because of the popular saying, Once in a blue moon as there are two full moons in a month very rarely. The visible part of the eclipse will begin at 5.18 pm and last till 8.41 pm. Although a lot of speculation and rumours have been flying around about this celestial phenomenon happening after 152 years, scientists have denied the claims. They state that in 1982, a lunar eclipse did occur with a blue moon. However, US missed it because of the timeline. Many parts of Asia witnessed that event as it happened on December 30.

Dr Vijay Bhaskar, director of Centre of Space Medicine, has meanwhile asked citizens not to encourage superstitions associated with the lunar eclipse.

He said, Pregnant women are not allowed to move during the lunar eclipse and people say a person gets a cleft lip by looking at the eclipse... people should not entertain such false beliefs and treat the day as any other day. Dont harass pregnant women by not letting them eat food or take medicine.

The planetary society has advised citizens to be on their terraces to witness the phenomenon, and asked school children in the city not to miss the opportunity to increase knowledge about the moon and space.

We are glad to help children in case they need any equipment to see the celestial event, said N. Raghunandan Kumar.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Members of Polish K2 expedition head for a rescue mission of French climber Elisabeth Revol and Polish climber Tomasz Mackiewicz in Nanga Parbat. (Photo: AFP)

Islamabad: An elite group of climbers saved a French mountaineer in a daring high-altitude rescue mission on Pakistans Nanga Parbat, one of the highest mountains in the world, as officials called off the search for a second missing alpinist on Sunday.

The group of Polish climbers with support from the Pakistani military launched the effort Saturday afternoon to rescue stranded French mountaineer Elisabeth Revol, but were unable to reach Polish national Tomek Mackiewicz on Nanga Parbat, nicknamed killer mountain.

The rescue for Tomasz is unfortunately not possible - because of the weather and altitude it would put the life of rescuers in extreme danger, wrote Ludovic Giambiasi, a friend of Revol, in a series of updates on Facebook.

Its a terrible and painful decision. The rescue mission involved four mountaineers who were flown by the Pakistani military from the base camp of K2  the worlds second-highest peak  to reach the stranded climbers.

The K2 climbers who stopped their historic effort for a winter K2 summit will descend with Elisabeth Revol  one life saved, said Karar Haideri, spokesman for the Alpine Club of Pakistan, in a statement on Sunday.

The team is in the process of being evacuated by helicopter after a five and a half hour descent down the mountain to Nanga Parbats camp one early on Sunday, where they are set to airlifted to a hospital in nearby Skardu. (Revol) has frostbite and some (snow) blindness, said Asghar Ali Porik from Jasmine Tours who helped organise the K2 expedition.

Pakistani climber Karim Shah said the rescue effort was unmatched in the history of mountaineering, with the team ascending 1,200 metres in darkness along a treacherous route without a rope.
Is solar still a good investment?

If youve traversed I-15 recently, you likely saw several billboards encouraging you to install a solar energy system before Nov. 15, when the new solar rate structure for Rocky Mountain Power customers went into effect.

While there were some advantages to signing up before the 15th, the good news is that rooftop solar is still a great investment for Utahns. In fact, now is still a great time to go solar.

Based on customer research conducted by the Utah Solar Energy Association (USEA), weve found the top reasons Utahns go solar is because they want to save money on their utility bills, do their part to improve the environment, specifically our air quality, and they feel it is a beneficial way to prepare for emergencies.

Driven by these and other motivations, more than 35,000 households and businesses in Utah have installed solar panels. Here are three reasons why investing in solar is still a good idea:

The new solar rate structure lets Utahns continue to affordably invest in rooftop solar.

One of the best parts of having solar panels is taking advantage of net metering. Net metering works like this: When you generate more energy from your panels than you consume, you export the excess energy to Rocky Mountain Power and receive a credit to offset your utility bill.

Previously, Rocky Mountain Power customers with a solar energy system were compensated differently based on a kilowatt-hour (kWh) credit, which was subject to change. For the first time, Utah has a fixed rate export credit structure for each kWh export. Most importantly, this export rate is protected through 2032  a 15-year guarantee. To put that into context, if you have a 3-year-old, youll be compensated at the same export credit rate through their high school graduation.

Utahns can now go solar with the utmost confidence in their investment.

In addition to the guaranteed export credit rate, all the energy your system produces and that is directly consumed in your home or business is not subject to penalty or fees. Solar customers are also now protected in the same rate class as non-solar customers, and will continue to pay the same base fees as their non-solar counterparts.

This is important because previously Utahns had no certainty that their rooftop solar investments would be protected in the long term. Now with an export credit rate certainty for 15 years, you have a fixed timeframe by which you can measure the return on your investment.

The top reason Utahns go solar  to save money  is still valid.

As mentioned earlier, USEAs customer research found one of the most popular reasons Utahns go solar is to save money. Under this new rate structure, solar still makes a lot of financial sense for Rocky Mountain Power customers.

The federal Solar Investment Tax Credit currently offers a 30 percent credit on your system purchase, and individuals can also claim the Utah Renewable Energy System Tax Credit for $1,600 in 2018, 2019 and 2020 (pending approval of proposed legislation). Businesses can receive up to $50,000 as a tax credit. These tax credits, combined with electricity savings, can help customers who purchase a system outright break even on their solar investment faster.

Were proud that the compromise with Rocky Mountain Power allows Utahns to continue to affordably invest in rooftop solar, gives future customers rate certainty for 15 years and allows solar customers to power their own homes without being penalized.
Utah legislators should send thank-you notes to President Donald Trump and the entire Congress. The brief federal government shutdown, coinciding with the start of Utahs legislative session, starkly elevated Utahs lawmaking process as a citadel of responsible governance, compared with Washingtons dysfunction. We consider the contrasts.

Last week, Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, House Speaker Greg Hughes and Gov. Gary Herbert all gave speeches discussing Utah's current status and their visions for the future. Were there any surprises, disappointments or real inspiration? Any lessons that the feds can learn?

Pignanelli: "The broader problem is what the shutdown says about the state of politics today.  Gerald F. Seib

In the first week of the legislative session, one could smell the reason and maturity pervading the Capitol. Lawmakers, staff and lobbyists were working and getting stuff done, a real contrast with the goofiness in Washington.

The traditional presentations from the top state legislative leaders had the usual aroma of respectability. But in an unusual development, they moved into the activist mode. Hughes hopes lawmakers maintain a strong role in resolving the homeless issue, while pushing legal action against opioid manufacturers. Another interesting fragrance: The future gubernatorial candidate wants to expand various powers of the Legislature. Niederhauser outlined an aggressive approach to tax and revenue reform. He is demonstrating real commitment to this change by personally sponsoring authorization of a toll road in Little Cottonwood Canyon. These are new, welcome scents.

Herbert shifted from his usual speech parameters to recognize the challenges that women and others face in the workplace. His acknowledgment of the progress made with the homeless, suicide prevention and other needed social programs is a welcome fragrance. Democrats reaffirmed their pledges to working families.

So while Utah olfactory senses were offended by grunge in Washington, the whiffs from the Capitol restored their senses.

Webb: They all gave good speeches. I would have liked to have seen a lot more focus and passion about Utahs No. 1 problem  education funding. Excellent education is Utahs top opportunity and challenge. Our future depends on it. But despite a fair amount of lip service, its clearly not the top priority of policymakers. Otherwise, Utah, with its emphasis on families and children, wouldnt be No. 32 in the country in education quality and wouldn't get a grade of C-minus, as recently rated by Education Week, which each year conducts a comprehensive assessment of state-by-state education quality.

A prepared workforce ranks No. 1 in every survey of site selectors or business leaders looking to expand or relocate. Businesses are struggling to find qualified workers even as thousands of Utahns are unemployed or underemployed. Thats a real disconnect. Utah cant expect the good times to last if 31 other states are better preparing their young people for the high-tech jobs of the future.

We need passion, leadership, intensity and drive to achieve education excellence  such as was displayed by Hughes as he aggressively addressed homelessness. Lets see him tackle education.

Political observers and media pundits are trying to pick the winners and losers of the government shutdown. Any impact on Utah politicians?

Pignanelli: Every day, over 100 million Americans wake up and go to work. We dont have the luxury of avoiding obligations because of disagreements with colleagues. Further, most Utahns do not care about the political point-scoring and message spin generated by shutdowns.

Left- and right-wing extremist groups are focusing on politicians, locally and nationally, to take hard-line positions and cause future shutdowns. Hopefully, candidates will ignore their threats and adhere to the high ideals of Utahns by providing relief for "Dreamers." That may require compromise in other areas.

Webb: I suppose because his vote wasnt make-or-break, Sen. Mike Lee gets a pass for voting twice to shut down the government. I certainly share his concern on continuing resolutions and the dysfunctional Senate that cant pass real budgets. But when a protest vote could result in something as drastic and hurtful as closing the government, his votes were way too extreme. Its like refusing to help someone in a car crash because you dont like the way he was driving.

Could the deliberations in this legislative session promote or deflect the emotions behind the five ballot initiatives, as legislators hope?

Pignanelli: Public education will get another boost of ongoing resources, with hope of demonstrating to voters legislative commitment. There is talk of some action on marijuana, to keep control of this activity. Plans to change the nomination process have not been revealed.

Webb: Not all the proposals will likely get on the ballot. For those that do, were going to find out if theres a disconnect between legislators and the voters of Utah. Are voters willing to pay more for excellent education, considering Utah is last in the country in per-pupil spending? Are legislators out of touch on Medicaid expansion, redistricting, medical marijuana? Well know in November if legislative policy is in tune with citizen sentiment.

Republican LaVarr Webb is a political consultant and lobbyist. Previously he was policy deputy to Gov. Mike Leavitt and Deseret News managing editor. Email: lwebb@exoro.com. Democrat Frank Pignanelli is a Salt Lake attorney, lobbyist and political adviser. Pignanelli served 10 years in the Utah House of Representatives, six years as minority leader. His spouse, D'Arcy Dixon Pignanelli, is the president/CEO of the Special Olympics of Utah. Email: frankp@xmission.com.
SALT LAKE CITY  Several Utah legislators are championing bills this year that they say would curtail inappropriate access to opioids, educate medical providers on exercising caution when prescribing painkillers to their patients, and help the state better evaluate the effectiveness of efforts to rehabilitate those who are addicted.

Among the proposed legislation:

 Rep. Raymond Ward, R-Bountiful, is planning a bill that would would make it faster and easier for law enforcement to access the state Controlled Substance Database for assistance in a specific case.

Only an officer whose specific assignment is relevant to using the database, as well as their department head or police chief, would be allowed to access the database, Ward said.

He believes the bill represents a middle ground between the more expansive access public safety workers used to have, which led to complaints of "a couple egregious examples" in which some abused it by looking up people they knew indiscriminately, and the current status quo in which police "can only access it with a warrant."

Ward said his bill would allow a police officer specifically on a drug case and "is specifically working on diversion" to "access (the database) quickly and simply."

"To get a tip (and) to find that out quickly is one of the things law enforcement tells me would be helpful to them," he said, referring to police tips about a person's possible prescription drug abuse.

Ward said his bill would also require any officer seeking to use the database, as well as their department head or police chief, to first take a course and pass a test pertaining to its proper usage.

 Another bill that Ward is pursuing would instruct the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing to communicate with a physician and provide educational support  through a letter, a call, and then an office visit  if that doctor is found to be consistently straying from specified opioid prescribing guidelines.

Ward, himself a doctor, said the measure doesn't amount to "enforcement, so to speak," because the guidelines on opioid prescriptions are not legally binding. But he believes that when "someone gets in their face" about their prescribing habits, the state can provide helpful education to a physician as well as a wake-up call motivating them to possible correct course.

"As a physician, if you get enough feedback  you go, 'OK, well I'm going to go look that up," Ward said. "It still doesn't make it easy to cut that person's dose  but at least you start trying to move in the other direction."

Ward said it's easy for a physician to inadvertently increase their prescriptions over time because large opioid regimens are generally popular with patients.

"This isn't a black and white thing, there's every shade of gray. As a prescriber, it's very easy to drift," he said.

Neither of Ward's bills had been publicly listed. He said he is aiming to have their language finalized by early next week.

 Rep. Justin Fawson, R-North Ogden, is sponsoring legislation that he said heightens existing requirements on physicians to check the state Controlled Substances Database before prescribing an opioid federal designated as a Schedule I or Schedule II substance.

HB127 would remove language from existing law that would exempt a prescriber from checking the database if the prescription would last three days or less when taken as instructed, or 30 days or less for prescriptions following a surgery.

"It basically removes (those) exemptions and puts the onus on the doctors to check the database before they prescribe," Fawson told the Deseret News.

The bill does allow for very limited exceptions to checking the database before prescribing, such as instances in which the patient is receiving emergency care and when the database is down for technical reasons, he said.

Besides those reasons, Fawson said, "I don't see any justification for a physician to not check the controlled substance database before they prescribed opioids." Checking the database is a critical way that physicians can help prevent abuse of opioids by their patients, he said.

 Rep. Kelly Miles, R-Ogden, is sponsoring a bill that he hopes will allow the state to more precisely determine whether the money being appropriated toward substance abuse and mental health treatment programs is being used in ways proven to get results.

"As legislators, we're always looking to increase outcomes and get a little more bang for our buck," Miles said.

His bill, HB199, sets the parameters for how treatment programs that use state funds can qualify to be characterized as "evidence-based" and sets a goal that, by 2020, 33 percent of such programs serving groups of clients will fall into that category.

For programs providing clients with "individual therapeutic behavior services," the goal in the bill asks that 20 percent of them be officially considered "evidence-based."

HB199 defines an evidence-based treatment program as one based on written documentation going into detail about what the service is and who it targets, and which "is supported by scientific research that (is) demonstrated through two or more client samples  that (it) improves client outcomes."

The bill also requires evidence that the program's effectiveness has been validated "through randomized control trials or quasi-experimental studies."

"As a society and as a state, we've been trying to reach as many people as we can and maybe not on helping (those we do treat) actually get better," Miles told the Deseret News. "I think what this does is it requires the implementation of treatment in a way that is proven.  There's some good treatment being provided out there and we've been seeing some good results. We just think we can increase that."

Miles' bill would also establish an Outcome Improvement Advisory Board, comprised of eight members, which would certify that treatment programs, as described by local health authorities to the state, are in fact evidence-based.

 A bill sponsored by Sen. Karen Mayne, D-West Valley City, and Rep. Stewart Barlow, R-Fruit Heights, would require nursing facilities to make formal written plans, to be shared with employees, that comply with state and federal standards for what qualifies as the proper disposal of controlled substances.

As part of such plans, SB85 would require that such facilities make every effort "to render the medications unusable" before discarding them as a precautionary measure, Barlow said.

"(It would help) avoid circumstances  where people find out where a facility commonly disposes of unused medications from just taking them out of the garbage can," he said. "Obviously some of these are narcotics  opioids and so forth."

 Ward said Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy, is also preparing to introduce legislation that would require a health care facility to submit a report that other organizations can access in the event that an employee there was discovered to be stealing opioids.

The reasoning behind such a bill is that it would prevent such a worker from taking similar advantage of their next employer, Ward said.

House Speaker Greg Hughes, R-Draper, said earlier this week that he has been in lengthy talks with Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes about emphasizing the state's involvement in litigation against pharmaceutical companies for their role in the spread of opioid addiction.

Reyes told reporters that Utah is among 41 states currently in an effort to negotiate with some of those pharmaceutical companies  and is preparing for a lawsuit if such a settlement is determined to be adequate.

Should we feel that at any time during the process leading up to settlement that the manufacturers and distributors arent cooperating with the states, then we wanted to have the gun loaded, figuratively, ready to pull the trigger on a lawsuit, Reyes said.

Salt Lake, Weber and Utah counties all passed measures in 2017 announcing their plans to sue pharmaceutical companies in connection with the prevalence of fatal opioid overdoses and overall addiction to painkillers in recent years.

That was just one way in which the issue of opioid addiction gained widespread attention from Utah decision-makers last year. The Utah Department of Health launched an extensive opioid addiction messaging campaign, with the mantra "Stop the Opidemic," one year ago this week.

Diverting drug addicts from jail and placing them in intensive substance abuse treatment instead was also a top stated priority during Operation Rio Grande, an extensive multi-agency effort launched in August and designed to reduce drug dealing and other crime in the neighborhood around the downtown Salt Lake Road Home shelter.

Also in August, Intermountain Healthcare announced its extensive hospital and clinic network would aim to reduce the number of opioids prescribed for acute pain by 40 percent by the end of 2018.

And a limited form of Medicaid expansion, aiming to add coverage for 4,000 to 6,000 of Utah's poorest who were either homeless, mentally ill or needed substance abuse or mental health treatment, officially took effect in November.
SALT LAKE CITY  A Panguitch man pleaded guilty Thursday to burying his 90-year-old mother's body in a coal bin in her home after she died. He was sentenced the same day to probation.

Pete Marker, 66, pleaded guilty in his initial court appearance in the case to desecration of a human body, a third-degree felony, while an additional class B misdemeanor charge of failure to report finding a human body was dismissed.

A prison sentence of up to five years in prison was suspended in lieu of two years of probation, according to court documents. If Marker successfully completes probation, including any mental health treatment that could be recommended, the charge against him may be reduced.

Marker was arrested Jan. 10 after police learned he had sent his niece a letter explaining that her grandmother, Roma Bowman, had died of natural causes on Christmas Day, and that because he had promised her a "green funeral," he had buried her in the hills west of Panguitch.

But when sheriff's deputies picked up Marker to interview him at the Garfield County Jail, Marker reported that after finding his mother deceased in bed, he had gone to the mountains to scout locations for a burial but became concerned about the number of people hunting elk in the area.

"Marker stated that he was aware that burying someone in the hills was against the law, and he thought about notifying the sheriff's office but did not do so," charges state.

Instead, Marker said he wrapped his mother's body in a jacket and bedding, then used a large sign to drag her down to the basement of the home, according to the charges. Marker told investigators he placed the body in an unused coal storage room, then boarded the room back up.

Investigators went to the home, pried off the boards and began digging in the coal, finding Bowman's body buried there as Marker had described it, according to the charges.

State court records show Marker has no criminal history in Utah. He was set to be released from jail after pleading guilty and being sentenced Thursday, court documents state.
PARK CITY  It seemed like a typical Sundance moment: At a post-premiere luncheon in an elegant Park City townhouse, two sisters, Aya, 19, and Maria, 21, were giddy and suddenly shy when a passing celebrity, movie star Ethan Hawke, agreed to join them for a selfie.

But the two excited young women were anything but typical Sundance Film Festival attendees. Just two years ago, they fled civil war in their native Syria and were living on their own in Jordan, hoping against hope to be reunited with their mother, who was in the United States seeking asylum.

The sisters, now both college students in Maryland, are two of the refugees featured in director Alexandra Shivas This Is Home, a documentary that follows several Syrian refugees as they attempt to build a new life in Baltimore. The women were at Sundance courtesy of a grant providing funds to bring the entire cast to the films premiere, and several families in Park City volunteered to host the refugees during their stay.

The lunch, a special Middle East-style meal to welcome the cast on the day after the Jan. 19 premiere, was catered by the Spice Kitchen, a local business incubator that helps refugees start their own food businesses, run by the International Rescue Committee of Utah. The familiar taste and smell of the food was a special pleasure for Aya and Maria, a comfort in a culture so different from their own.

The film is really important because it shows people how hard it is for refugees not just in our home countries, but once we are resettled in a new country too, said Aya. She touched on a theme at the heart of several films featured at this years Sundance Film Festival: the challenges refugees face as they try to start a new life after resettlement.

Only 1 percent of refugees are ever resettled, and the medias focus on the plight of refugees in war-torn countries or camps can make resettlement seem like a happy ending. But the stories of the very few who are admitted to a new country do not end when they arrive. Rather, a new story begins, one that presents its own set of hardships.

Two documentaries brought refugee issues to Sundance this year: This Is Home and On Her Shoulders," both of which tell the heartrending, often overlooked stories of refugees struggling to make a new life after escaping unspeakable horrors in their home countries. In the process, the films also raised questions about the role of the world community in aiding these refugees.

Both movies were honored this weekend as the festival wrapped up its 2018 season. "This Is Home" won the Audience Award in the World Cinema Documentary Competition category; Alexandria Bombach earned the Directing Award in the U.S. Documentary Competition category for "On Her Shoulders."

Wheres my country?

This Is Home" follows Aya, Maria, their mother and three other Syrian refugee families who arrived in Baltimore in 2016.

The film is full of intimate details: scenes of the families struggling to afford enough food at the grocery store or turning their heat off to keep bills low during winter. Fourteen-year-old Muhammad visits a doctor who tries to explain that Muhammads constant nightmares are a result of PTSD.

In a meeting with a caseworker about employment, another refugee, Khaldoun, lifts his pant leg to reveal a jagged scar.

My leg, I lost part of it when I was tortured in prison, because they use a drill on me, he says. Sometimes I feel like I want to cut it off because it hurts so much.

American children shy away at the sight of the womens headscarves, and bus passengers mutter derogatory comments under their breaths. Madiha, one of the women, covers her hair with an American flag in hopes it will keep her safe.

Like most refugee settlement agencies, Baltimores International Rescue Committee had only enough funding to provide eight months of support and assistance  including English classes, employment training and guidance in applying for public assistance.

After that, the refugees were on their own.

It was important for us not to sugarcoat anything, Shiva told the Deseret News. I hope that the intensely personal portrait the film paints of these refugee families will challenge peoples preconceived notions about refugees and what its like to come to America and completely start over.

Indeed, the film highlights the harsh reality that, for many refugees, the promise of the American dream remains unfulfilled.

No one achieves the American dream on day one, says Shiva. The first generation makes a sacrifice so that their children can have a better life.

Shiva says one of the most surprising things she noticed while making the film was how strongly many of the refugees wanted to return to Syria, despite the hardships they had experienced there.

Its a good question, Do you miss Syria? says Khaldoun. Its like asking a child, do you miss your mother? What would the child say? Hed say, Yes, I miss her. Like a child asking, Wheres my mother? I ask, Wheres my country?

A reluctant activist

Bombachs On Her Shoulders presents a much different, but equally wrenching, portrait of the struggles refugees face in trying to start over.

For 23-year-old refugee Nadia Murad, a new life seems completely out of reach.

After ISIS attacked her village in Iraq, she was imprisoned and raped by the militants who murdered her relatives. After she managed to escape, she dedicated herself to fighting for her people, the Yazidis, a persecuted Kurdish ethnic minority.

I went to psychotherapy once, and I thought, this wouldnt help me, says Murad in the film. It would be difficult for me to seek treatment just for myself when the fate of thousands is still unknown. So I decided to talk wherever I could, and the opportunity arose for me to tell the world.

Bombachs crew follows Murad as she travels across the globe, meeting with world leaders to spread awareness of the plight of her people. In December 2015, she testified before the U.N. Security Council. Based on her testimony, the United Nations unanimously passed a resolution to collect evidence of ISIS crimes in Iraq.

Bombach describes Murad as a reluctant activist, someone with all the qualities of a great leader  charisma, passion, courage, strength  but who would much prefer a normal life rather than one played out in the spotlight.

I wish it hadnt happened so I wouldnt have to talk about it, says Murad. I wish people knew me as an excellent seamstress, an excellent athlete, as an excellent student, an excellent makeup artist, an excellent farmer. I didnt want people to know me as a victim of ISIS terrorism.

Rather than depicting a young leader shining on the world stage, Bombach said she wanted to give viewers a look behind the curtain about what this kind of advocacy is really like.

The film depicts an exhausting, relentless lifestyle of back-to-back speeches, interviews and talk-show appearances.

After each of these interviews, Bombach told the Deseret News, you could see every single one took a piece out of her.

The right questions

With the 24-hour news cycle and the publics limited attention span, Murad had to fight constantly to keep the Yazidi people in the public consciousness.

But even when journalists did express interest, Murad was constantly frustrated and disappointed that they didnt ask her the right questions.

The films show interview upon interview in which reporters are more interested in sordid details of her sexual violation than in why the international community remained silent in the face of the genocide of her people.

Ive been asked many questions like, How did they rape you?  You have become famous, what does that mean to you?" says Murad. These kinds of questions are not the ones to ask. The things I want to be asked are  What is the situation of refugees who I visit in the camps? What must be done so Yazidis can have their rights? What must be done so a woman cannot be a victim of war?

The film paints a picture of a refugee who miraculously escaped sex slavery under ISIS. But while she might be physically free, she is still emotionally imprisoned  chained to her traumatic past. Just as several of the characters in This Is Home give up their own happiness for the sake of their children, Nadia Murad, forever trapped by guilt and grief and a powerful sense of duty  fights to give meaning to the lives of her loved ones, lost or left behind.

Both directors say they intend their films to act as a form of critique of the publics lack of empathy for refugees.

The welcoming nature of this country, that we are a nation of immigrants and a nation of refugees  that is increasingly being lost in this moment, says Shiva.

A lot of people think going into my film that it will be about Nadia, says Bombach. But really its a film about us.
The 7 Best Performances Of Bobby Deol's Career

Bobby Deol is one of the most popular star-kids working in Bollywood today. Even though his films haven't performed well at the box-office, audiences still love to watch him on-screen and some of his early films are always popping up on different movie channels. While he didn't exactly attain super-stardom box-office wise, over the years, he has given some of the biggest hits in Bollywood on his own and has also wowed the audiences with his acting.

No matter how his films have performed, he never went away from the movie scene and people will see him in 2 different avatars in 2018. He is set to appear alongside Salman Khan in Race 3, an action-thriller while he will tickle your funny bones once again by teaming up with his brother Sunny Deol and father Dharmendra in Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se. On his 51st birthday, we bring you the 6 best performances of the young Deol lad.

Barsaat (1995): In his feature film debut directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, Bobby Deol starred as a naive village who comes to the city to attend college. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut and the film went on to become a super-hit at the box-office. Its unadjusted gross in 2018 would be a whopping 190 Crores.

Gupt (1997): Bobby Deol delivered one of the biggest hits of the year in the form of Gupt, a suspense-thriller where his performance was highly appreciated. The film is one of the best thrillers of Bollywood and its unadjusted gross would be 168 Crores in 2018. It was a super-hit.

Soldier (1998): One of his biggest successes to date, the film was the 4th highest grosser of 1998 and is now a cult-classic. The Abbas-Mastan directorial was a super-hit and its unadjusted gross would be 170 Crores in India.

Badal (2000): Another action film starring Bobby Deol went on to become one of the biggest hits of 2000. He starred as Badal who joins a banned outfit in order to take the revenge of his family's death at the hands of a corrupt policeman. The film's unadjusted gross would be 112 Crore.

Ajnabee (2000): In this Abbas-Mastan suspense-thriller which was an adaptation of Hollywood film Consenting Adults, Bobby Deol received positive reviews for his performance as Raj.

Bichoo (2000): In this remake of the French thriller, Leon: The Professional, Bobby Deol starred as a hitman with a code of ethics and the film was commercially successful.

Yamla Pagla Deewana (2011): As Gajodhar, he made the audiences laugh along with his father and brother. The film was a box-office hit and he will be seen in the 3rd part of the series in 2018.
"It is a different experience for me to work with new directors" :Prabhu Deva On Returning To Kollywood Industry

Kollywood star Prabhu Deva is known to have helmed many Tamil movies such as Vedi, Engeyum Kaadhal and Villu. Prabhu Deva is also a popular choreographer in the movie industry. He recently bankrolled the movie Devi.





On being asked about an upcoming sequel of Devi, he said, I am not sure about a sequel for Devi, but it looks like AL Vijay is interested in it. We will have to wait and see. On being asked about returning to the Kollywood industry, he said, I think it's because of the success of Devi. It is a different experience for me to work with new directors.





He further added, I was in Mumbai for the last 12 years and it feels great to come back and work in Kollywood. There are a lot of talented youngsters here and I am happy working with them. There is a huge difference in the industry from what it was 10 years back. I think there are quite a few realistic films hitting the screens these days.





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Louth IFA Livestock Chairman Peter McEneaney has said, moves by the factories on cattle price are sending the wrong signals to winter finishers and damaging confidence at farm level.

He said that while there was the usual seasonal change in demand in the new year, cattle prices in our main export market in the UK have remained very strong, at the equivalent of 4.42/kg for R3 steers. Across the main EU markets, cattle prices are trading 20c to 30c/kg above 2017 levels.

Mr McEneaney said winter finisher need a strong price increase at this time of year, Farmers feeding cattle in sheds since last autumn have run up considerable costs and the factories need to send a positive signal on price.

According to the Louth IFA livestock chairman, there was a full sell-out of beef over the Christmas period, with exceptionally strong demand and there is no beef in store. In addition he said the manufacturing market and burger sales were particularly strong.

Louth IFA reports that base price for steers is varying from a low quote of 3.95/kg to 4.00/kg and heifers are varying from a low of 4.05/kg with 4.10 and 4.15/kg paid in places.

It went on to say that the official paid prices recorded by the Department of Agriculture are much higher, reflecting the higher prices above quotes that factories actually pay and also reflecting the in-spec bonus payments.

For the week ending January 21st, the official R=3= average steer price paid across the country was 4.07/kg. For heifers the average R=3= price paid was 4.22/kg.

For young bulls the average prices paid by the factories were U= 4.17, R= 4.02 and O= 3.89/kg. On cows U grades were paid an average of 3.76/kg, R grades 3.64/kg, O grades 3.43 and P+ grades 3.33/kg.
A new 1.6 million fund to support social enterprises in Ireland has been established by Social Innovation Ireland (SIFI), in partnership with Louth County Council and all 31 Local Authorities across Ireland. The Fund is financed by the Department of Rural and Community Development, from the Dormant Accounts Fund and IPB Insurance.

Called the Social Enterprise Development Fund, the fund will be delivered over the course of two years and up to eight successful applicants per year will each receive a grant of 50,000 to invest in growing their organisation.

In addition to the cash grant, the successful applicants will also receive a place on Social Innovation Fund Irelands six-month Accelerator programme. Additional places will be reserved for the most promising social enterprises across all 31 Local Authorities in Ireland.

The programme is designed to help social enterprises develop their business skills and to provide them with ongoing peer support and advice so that they develop sustainable enterprises that have a powerful impact in their community.

The fund is now open for applications from social enterprises in County Louth.

Launching the Social Enterprise Development Fund, Minister of State for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development, Sean Kyne, T.D said,

The Government is committed to supporting social enterprise in Ireland. Social enterprises create jobs while also encouraging and delivering positive changes in communities across the country.

"Every euro that is donated in private philanthropy is matched by the Department of Rural and Community Development through the Dormant Accounts Fund. With this approach, we are helping to scale social innovation.

"Im delighted to launch the Social Enterprise Development Fund from Social Innovation Fund Ireland (SIFI) and thank IPB Insurance for their vision in supporting its establishment.

Commenting on the new initiative, Joan Martin, Chief Executive of Louth County Council, said:

This new fund will complement the range of supports available from local authorities for social enterprises that have a sustainable business model.

"The Social Enterprise Development Fund presents a great opportunity for social enterprises in the county to achieve their goals and ultimately create a measurable social impact that can be scaled all over Ireland.

Deirdre Mortell, CEO, Social Innovation Fund Ireland had this to say:

Over the past two years Social Innovation Fund Ireland granted 2.475 million in supports to social innovations in education, homelessness, health and positive ageing.

"This is our sixth fund and builds on our past successes in supporting enterprises that are tackling social disadvantage and exclusion.

"The Social Enterprise Development Fund will allow successful applicants to grow sustainable enterprises that are rooted in local communities and create solutions for a better Ireland.

"We are delighted to partner with the local authorities and their mutual insurance company, IPB, in launching this fund.

John Evoy, founder of Mens Sheds has been appointed the Manager of the Social Enterprise Development Fund by Social Innovation Fund Ireland. The fund will be open for applications from January 24th to March 28th, 2018 and the winners will be informed in June 2018.

Further details are available on www.socialinnovation.ie
Castellucci Napa Valley, a family-operated luxury lifestyle brand, announced the opening of The Ink House, a four-bedroom boutique luxury inn. It is located in St. Helena at 1575 St. Helena Highway.

Providing personalized luxury experiences, The Ink House couples warm Italian hospitality with an intimate atmosphere that rivals the most renowned six-star hotels in the world, said a news release.

Striking a balance of historic Napa elegance with contemporary luxury, The Ink House is framed by a Napa Valley estate originally known as Helios Ranch.

The land, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, sets the scene for The Ink House property itself, which was first built in 1885 by Napa Valley pioneer Theron Ink as a single-family home, later to become a bed and breakfast.

Purchased by the Castellucci family in 2013, the property has been fully restored to pay homage to the buildings history but with a sophisticated, modern twist.

The Ink House was designed to make you feel like youve entered the home of your dreams, says proprietor Maria Castellucci.
For the first time, annual ALMA Scorecard for Accountability and Action will reveal progress and gaps across five neglected diseases that affect countries' poorest and most marginalised communities

ADDIS ABABA (28 January 2018) - Today, at the 30th African Union Heads of State Summit, the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) added neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) to its annual scorecard on disease progress. The scorecard is personally reviewed by African heads of state every year, putting NTDs alongside malaria and maternal and child health as top health priorities for the continent.

Developed by the World Health Organization in collaboration with Uniting to Combat NTDs, this index reports progress for the 47 NTD-affected countries in sub-Saharan Africa in their strategies to treat and prevent the five most common NTDs: lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths and trachoma. By adding NTDs to the scorecard, African leaders are making a public commitment to hold themselves accountable for progress on these diseases.

"My government is determined to make sure we can take 'neglected' out of these diseases," said His Excellency, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn. "Improving the health, education and productivity of our poorest citizens by eliminating NTDs can put Africa on the path to prosperity and universal health coverage. I urge my fellow African leaders to build on the progress already made and increase their efforts to tackle NTDs to make them a subject for much concerted effort and action at the African Union."

A Health Priority for Well Over A Billion

NTDs are a group of diseases that affect the world's poorest and most vulnerable people, often living in the most remote communities. More than 1.5 billion people are at risk for NTDs globally, including more than 620 million in Africa. Whilst NTDs cause hundreds of thousands of deaths each year, their primary impact is on the millions that are left trapped in endless cycles of poverty. They cause blindness, disfigurement, disability, stigma and discrimination. Parents are left unable to work and children unable to go to school.

Fortunately, the five diseases that are being monitored in the ALMA scorecard respond well to cheap, safe medicines, which are donated by pharmaceutical companies and are broadly distributed to treat and prevent the diseases. As a result of a global public-private coalition, more people than ever before are being treated for NTDs, and the number of people at risk of infection globally has dropped by more than 400 million in the last five years.

Good NTD coverage also promotes universal health coverage: NTD programs have trained over a million health workers and brought a variety of services, including family planning tools and vitamins, to people in remote communities otherwise unreached by the health system. This connection is discussed in more length in Uniting to Combat NTDs' recent progress report, "Reaching a Billion: Ending Neglected Tropical Diseases: A Gateway to Universal Health Coverage," launched last month.

"When it comes to diseases that affect the very poorest and most marginalised communities, it is up to political leaders to make them a priority," said Thoko Elphick-Pooley, Director, Uniting to Combat NTDs Support Centre. "Beating NTDs is essential for Africa's economic development, and we are thrilled that African Heads of State will be reviewing their progress every year and holding themselves accountable for equitable health outcomes."

Progress in Africa, But More to Do

The scorecard shows the evidence of progress in Africa:

In 2016, 40 million more people were reached with preventive treatment for at least one NTD than the year before

More than half of all countries improved their coverage index between 2015 and 2016, with 12 countries having doubled their coverage index

Togo was certified by WHO as eliminating lymphatic filariasis, Malawi has stopped treatment for lymphatic filariasis and is in the process of being validated by WHO, and both Ghana and the Gambia report having eliminated trachoma

While most data points to progress, the scorecard shows areas of concern. Nearly two-thirds of countries have a NTD coverage index of less than 50%. The percentage of affected countries implementing disease-specific interventions ranges from 92% for trachoma to just 72% for schistosomiasis, suggesting that there is still much more to do.

"Beating NTDs will help lift millions out of poverty, improving the lives of some of the world's poorest and most marginalised people. There is a huge amount at stake and we know that eradicating these diseases is too big a job for one sector alone," said Tanya Wood, chair of the NTD NGO Network and CEO of the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations. "With the ALMA initiative driving accountability and action, and new cross-sector partnerships like the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy combining expertise, we are getting closer to a world where NTDs are neglected no more."

African Leadership in Health

Established in 2009, the African Leaders Malaria Alliance is a groundbreaking initiative, established by heads of state themselves and designed to foster collaboration in order to solve a crisis that affects the entire continent. The ALMA Scorecard empowers national leaders to battle Africa's most devastating diseases by:

Providing a forum to review progress and address challenges in meeting the malaria targets

Implementing a monitoring and accountability system through the ALMA Scorecard for Accountability and Action to track results, identify bottlenecks, and facilitate appropriate action

Identifying and sharing lessons learned for effective implementation of national programs

Because some NTDs are transmitted in the same manner as malaria, and shared community distributions platforms are used for both malaria and NTDs, ALMA has chosen to include NTDs in its scorecard.

"Malaria and NTDs both lay their heaviest burden on the poor, rural and marginalised. They also share solutions, from vector control to community-based treatment," said Joy Phumaphi, Executive Secretary, ALMA. "Adding NTDs to our scorecard will help give leaders the information they need to end the cycle of poverty and reach everyone, everywhere with needed health care."

The addition of the index happens just before the 6th anniversary on 30 January of the London Declaration on NTDs: a multi-sectoral partnership of pharmaceutical companies, donors, endemic countries and non-governmental organizations committed to control, eliminate or eradicate 10 diseases by 2020.

###

To learn more about NTDs, and the Uniting to Combat NTDs coalition, follow this link: http://unitingtocombatntds.org/

For more information about ALMA, download this infosheet: http://alma2030.org/sites/default/files/reference-document/ala_infosheet_0.pdf

About Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)

Neglected tropical diseases affect the poorest, most marginalised and most remote communities in the world. They are a consequence and cause of poverty as they thrive where access to clean water, sanitation and health care is limited. Their impact on individuals and communities can be devastating. Many of them cause severe disfigurement and disabilities. They impact on life expectancy, education and economic opportunities of affected individuals and the communities they live in.

African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA)

The African Leaders Malaria Alliance is a groundbreaking coalition of 49 African Heads of State and Government working across country and regional borders to eliminate malaria by 2030. They leverage collective knowledge and influence to bring about action and accountability to fight the continent's most devastating diseases.

Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases

Uniting to Combat NTDs is a group of organizations committed to achieving WHO's 2020 goal to control and eliminate 10 NTDs. By working together, Uniting to Combat NTDs aims to chart a new course toward health and sustainability among the world's poorest communities. Affiliated organizations have signed the London Declaration on NTDs, which was launched on 30 January 2012.

Media Contact:

Emily Bigelow

Global Health Strategies

1-646-619-7631

ebigelow@globalhealthstrategies.com
President Donald Trump would be willing to sign the US back up to the Paris climate accord, but only if the treaty undergoes major change, he said in comments published Sunday.

Trump was met with global condemnation when he announced in June 2017 that the United States was pulling out of the Paris climate agreement, painting it a bad deal for the US economy.

While the president remains firm in his criticism of the historic accord, which was signed by his predecessor Barack Obama, he said he would be willing to sign up to a revamped deal.

The Paris accord, for us, would have been a disaster, he told Britains ITV channel in an interviewed to be aired late Sunday.

If they made a good deal theres always a chance wed get back, Trump added, describing the current agreement as terrible and unfair to the US.

The landmark treaty was agreed by 197 nations in 2015 after intense negotiations in Paris, where all countries made voluntary carbon-cutting pledges running to 2030.

If somebody said, go back into the Paris accord, it would have to be a completely different deal because we had a horrible deal, Trump said, according to extracts of the interview.

Would I go back in? Yeah, Id go back in I would love to.

Earlier this month Trump said the US could conceivably return to the deal under more favourable terms, raising questions about whether he was bluffing about pulling out of the Paris deal in a bid for easier emissions targets.

rsc/pvh
Sunday, January 28, 2018

There are two distinct versions of America in American history, the America before World War Two and the America after World War Two. The rise to a world power status began in 1898 and peaked in 1945. The transition to the complete empire state started by Truman was then completed under Ronald Reagan, 1980 to 1988. Trump may unwittingly be ending American dominance over the world and may usher in a humbling return to a new kind of international normalcy. The American century may give way to the Chinese century.

World Power Beginnings

The 1898 Spanish American War started out as just another Monroe Doctrine war in Cuba. But when the Naval Secretary was out of town, the deputy Theodore Roosevelt ordered the fleet into Manila Bay, and next thing you know US invaded the Philippines, making the US an international power. George Washington warned the US about international entanglements, but the die was cast. Next thing you know we get involved in an European war, two years after the Lusitania "passenger ship" half loaded with munitions bound for Britain was sunk by a German U-boat. Wilson waited until after the 1916 re-election, campaigning on peace, to declare war in April 1917, the first full month of the second term. German Americans were vilified as was Progressive Republican Senator Robert La Follette of half German Wisconsin, who opposed the war and started the Progressive Magazine. Still, after both wars America returned to the low 1% GDP military America had always had in peacetime. The founding figures rightly feared the negative impacts of excessive militarism, preferring a minimal peacetime military filled with volunteers during wartime.

Causes of World War Two

In a normal hegemonic war, the largest economy normally wins, in the First World War that was Germany, with Britain second and France third. But America was the world leading economy, twice the size of Germany. When Germany finally defeated Russia and brought those troops to the Western front, they finally began winning the war. American entry into the war changed all that, awarding the victory to an undeserving France, bitter from the 1870 Prussian victory and the huge losses of the war, where for the first time in 500 years a major European war cost three times the usual 1.5% of the European population, with a whopping 5% of Europe dying in the war. A young John Maynard Keynes, future economic genius, was on the British team working on the Versailles peace treaty. He wrote a book in 1919 predicting the peace treaty would lead to another war. He accurately foresaw the second world war. With American banks financing the German reparations debt, American farmers shared some of the German hurt. Hoover in 1928 campaigned on relief for American farmers in the form of the Smoot Hawley Tariff, triggering the trade war that caused the Great Depression and weakened the farm based French economy so much that they later easily fell to Germany in 1940. Should have listened to George Washington about foreign entanglements.

Entry into World War Two

Churchill and Roosevelt needed some way to get peace loving America into the war in 1941. They had cracked the German and Japanese codes, so they knew the enemies' plans. The key was the Philippines. With that Asian US entanglement, the US was sitting astride the sea lanes between Japan and the Indonesian oil fields. In October 1941 the US stopped selling oil to Japan. This forced Japan to take Indonesia to get oil for the Chinese war. Japan, seeing a collision with the US as inevitable, then decided to gamble on crippling the American fleet in Pearl Harbor in a combined surprise attack throughout the South Pacific. But because the US knew the plans, Roosevelt made sure the aircraft carriers were safely at sea when the attack came, leaving obsolete dreadnoughts in the harbor for emotional impact to whip up a war fever.

End of World War Two

Truman was US president for the last months of World War Two. Japan was defeated and demoralized, ready to surrender, when the atom bomb became available. Roosevelt had urged the Russians to help with Japan so when they finally entered that front in Korea, Truman wanted a demonstration of the atomic bomb to threaten the Soviets. The war in Europe had ended with 10 million German troops on the Russian front and 5 million German troops on the Western front. When the mayor of Hiroshima asked why the bomb was dropped on them, Truman used Pearl Harbor as his reason why. The Cold War became the rationale for the high levels of military spending at the five or ten percent of the economy level, instantly making America an empire. The 1947 National Security Act launched the Cold War economically. The large standing peacetime army avoided for America's first century and a half gave way to the rationale of empire, with the false illusion of military Keynesianism pretending America could afford it. Eisenhower Truman and the Secretary of State outvoted the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of War who wanted to continue the founding persons conservative approach. The Act changed the Department of War to the Department of Defense and created the CIA which immediately established Operation Mockingbird to control the media. Like when Rome went to the emperor system, the imperial presidency and Pax Americana were born.

Cold War America

Covert Operations of the CIA was the American mechanism of controlling the world. For about a generation after World War Two, the old America still existed culturally, but after 1980 the empire was firmly put in charge. President Kennedy tried to reverse course with the Peace Corp, the Alliance for Progress in Latin America, and plans to pull out of Vietnam, abolish the CIA covert operations, and a negotiated mutual disarmament with the Soviet Union. Khrushchev cried when Kennedy died, and Johnson stopped the peace plans. Brezhnev deposed Khrushchev in 1964 and immediately began the military buildup that doomed the Soviet Union in the eighties. When the Germans doubled military spending in the sixties after the Berlin Wall of 1961, that decade is remembered by the Germans as the lost decade.

Problems of Empire

Development tends to stall and many social indicators tend to worsen as empire gains a tighter grip over a society. These changes tend to be closely related to changes in military spending, worse when military spending increases and better when military spending decreases. Ronald Reagan worked for the number one nuclear weapons contractor, General Electric, for many years with his Death Valley Days show in the fifties. He implemented many of the changes that have haunted America to this very day. His Budget Director David Stockman called his 25 % income tax cut plan a "Trojan Horse" to bring the top tax rate down 60% from 70% down to 28%. This has led to quadrupling the income of the top 1% over the next thirty years. Meanwhile he fired the PATCO air traffic controllers for going on strike, even though they had donated to his campaign. Then the middle class who got only a 15% income tax cut from Reagan have had no gains since 1973. He shamelessly promoted the military, blaming Carter for the second recession in three years. The relatively mild Carter oil shock recession of 1980 have been followed by the 1981 recovery year 2.1% growth. Reagan's biggest military increase in peacetime US history in fiscal year 1982, took the 1981 recovery year back into recession with a highest unemployment rate since the Great Depression of 10.8% for the year or 11.2% for the worst month. Even the 2008-2009 Great Recession only reached 10.2% unemployment rate for its worst month. Republicans blamed that Bush recession on Obama to recapture the congress and 26 states in 2010 and lock in control for ten years with gerrymandering. Reagan also abolished the "equal time" rule for political coverage by the media in 1987 leading directly to the rise of Rush Limbaugh and the FOX News channel giving Trump a propaganda channel. Russia has used bots for years to promote American division through the issues of guns, immigration, and white supremacy and along comes Trump to take advantage of these new propaganda vehicles. Russian donations have tripled NRA funding from $10 billion four years before to $30 billion to help the Trump election. The Cold War and Reagan policies still haunt America. While America leads the developed world in 16 negative socioeconomic categories, US is still #1 in military spending with triple the economic percentage of other developed countries and even the rest of the world combined. A major cost of empire is the economic and social decay that comes with the slow collapse of empire.

For additional information please see these thirteen pages about empire ideas:

https://www.academia.edu/28545758/EMPIRE_Explains_America_Best_2013-2016_13p

Please cite this work as follows:

Reuschlein, Robert. (2018, January 28), "How Empire America Emerged" Madison, WI: Real Economy Institute. Retrieved from: https://www.expertclick.com/NewsRelease/How-Empire-America-Emerged,2018153441.aspx

Academics, Politicians, can nominate Robert Reuschlein by February 1st for Nobel Peace Prize: https://www.nobelpeaceprize.org/Nomination.

Dr. Peace, Professor Robert Reuschlein, Real Economy Institute

Nominated Vetted 2016, and Given Odds for the Nobel Peace Prize 2017

Possible Favorite in 2018 Nobel Peace Prize November 5th.



Contact: bobreuschlein@gmail.com, Info: www.realeconomy.com
The Environment Agency has been urged to delay the introduction of changes to its charging regimes which could see significant increased costs for farming businesses.

A consultation document published by the Environment Agency last November proposes a number of several fold increases in application, variation, surrender and annual compliance permit fees.

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) says the increases are "disproportionately high".

Permit systems for poultry farming, landspreading of waste and sheep dip, on-farm anaerobic digestion and flood management would all be affected, the union states.

Mark Pope, NFU environment forum chairman, said the proposed huge increases within the charging regimes could have a "detrimental effect" on many farm businesses.

Very little information has been provided on the basis for these charge changes so the onus is solely on the EA to demonstrate greater transparency and show that these costs are fair, proportionate and competitive, Mr Pope explained.

'Inflated costs'

Mr Pope said the NFU are concerned that instead of investing in improving efficiency, productivity and new technology, farmers could see a lot of costs tied up with inflated administrative costs.

He continued: We want farming to continue to improve its environmental performance, but these cost increases could be seen as a disincentive to improve management practices or limit the availability of management options in the future. The proposals could also put up barriers to new permit applicants.

Thats why we want to see the Environment Agency delay the implementation until at least April 2019 to give us time to have further discussions with the EA to find ways of keeping our costs down.

Additionally, a permit nearly always has additional and wider socio-economic and environmental benefits, such as flood mitigation, improvement in air and water quality and waste recovery, which provides wider public goods. This must be recognised when the EA calculates the costs of permit administration.

'Easy as possible'

In its consultation document, the Environment Agency said it had "reviewed the way we regulate and the charges we set, to help us make it as easy as possible for businesses to do the right thing. We plan to ensure our charges are more closely linked to the cost of regulation."

It said in the document: "We are committed to making sure our charges are fair and transparent, and reflect the full cost of providing our chargeable services. Most of our charges have been fixed for at least six years or more and some dont fully reflect the costs of providing the service."

The Environment Agency said that the changes would "significantly simplify the way customers work out their charges. Our current system is complicated and done in a different way for different regimes; the new one will be the same basis for everyone," it said.

They would "make sure people pay for the regulatory service they receive and this is what will cause the most change in costs for our charge payers."

The agency said the changes would reduce reliance on taxpayer funds currently needed to support regulatory work.

"We plan to ensure our charges are more closely linked to the cost of regulation," it said.

'Exorbitant'

However, British free range egg producers have warned that the new charges could devastate the industry.

Robert Gooch, chief executive of the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA), has described proposed increases as "exorbitant" in his response to the consultation document.

He said: "Quoted rates of 100/hr are excessive and more cost-effective solutions can be found in the market. The time required in the calculations to complete tasks is opaque in the consultation and it is not clear that the agency has made any progress in making efficiencies in its work practices so as to keep costs down."

Mr Gooch said the BFREPA represented 500 free range and organic egg producers who together accounted for 75 per cent of the free range and organic eggs produced in the United Kingdom.

But he said the typical producer was just a small family business. Many of them just exceeded the permitting threshold.

Small family business

Mr Gooch added: "In the next few years, it would have been expected that most producers would have grown in scale to exceed 40,000 hens, but the level of charges proposed will deter this growth.

"It will lead to a dichotomy in the free range egg sector with the majority of farms limited to 40,000 hens on the one hand and a small minority of intensive farms with in excess of 100,000 hens," Mr Gooch explained.

He added: "In addition to impacting the growth of the free range sector as a whole through the new charges, all the countrys organic housing and over half of the housing systems used in free range production  known as flat decks or non-cage single tiers  would be non-compliant with the agencys interpretation of the EUs Best Available Techniques Emission levels.

"This means that any new shed registered after 21 February that takes a farms bird numbers to over 40,000 would make all the flat deck sheds on that farm non BAT compliant for an environmental permit."
One year ago, investors were very optimistic about Alaska Air's (NYSE:ALK) prospects. The company was finally poised to benefit from slower growth by competitors in its markets, after several years of Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) expanding rapidly in Seattle. Additionally, management had indicated that Alaska Air's acquisition of Virgin America would yield meaningful synergies very quickly.

As a result, Alaska Air stock reached an all-time high around $100 in early March. However, it's been all downhill from there, as various challenges have led to severe margin pressure for the carrier. Following Alaska Air's earnings report on Thursday, the stock price even dipped below $60 briefly.

During Alaska Air's recent earnings call, management essentially urged shareholders to be patient. Given the company's strong track record up until 2016, investors should probably heed this advice.

The past year hasn't gone as planned

Alaska Air's earnings per share didn't decline all that much in 2017. Alaska ended the year with adjusted EPS of $6.64, down from $7.32 a year earlier. However, it should have seen a big benefit from having Virgin America in the fold. Full-year revenue increased 34% -- largely because of the acquisition -- but this was more than offset by the company's lower profit margin.

A few things have gone wrong. First, Alaska Air has encountered significant cost pressure from rising fuel prices, wage increases, and integration-related expenses. Second, Delta Air Lines didn't slow its growth in Seattle for very long. Third, unit revenue has been under pressure in California. Some of this weakness has come from Alaska Air's rapid growth there, but it's also likely that the carrier alienated Virgin America enthusiasts with its plans to phase out that brand.

Additionally, within a few months of completing the Virgin America acquisition, Alaska Air's management realized that merger synergies wouldn't materialize nearly as quickly as originally expected. This removed a potential offsetting factor that could have protected the company's profit margin last year.

2018 will be another transition year

Thus far, the outlook for 2018 is even bleaker. Fuel prices are still rising rapidly. Furthermore, management expects nonfuel unit costs to increase about 2.5% year over year, largely due to a new pilot contract that went into effect a few months ago.

Most notably, unit revenue trends remain quite weak. For the first quarter, unit revenue is on track to decline 3.5%-4.5% year over year. (For comparison, Delta Air Lines expects to post a 2.5%-4.5% unit revenue gain this quarter.) Alaska will face competitive capacity growth of 6% in Q1 and 8% in Q2 based on current schedules, as Delta plans to boost peak-day seats out of Seattle by more than 10% by the time summer rolls around.

In fact, Alaska Air's guidance implies that it won't do much better than breakeven this quarter. That's far worse than what analysts had been expecting. Of course, the first quarter is always the weakest part of the year, but Alaska still needs dramatic improvement in its unit revenue trends as the year progresses to produce acceptable results.

Management is making the right moves

During the earnings call, Alaska Air's management highlighted several reasons why investors shouldn't give up on the company. First, the initial set of meaningful merger synergies will kick in after the company unites all of its operations under the Alaska Airlines brand in late April.

For example, Alaska Airlines has more international airline partners than Virgin America. Once it is flying all of its San Francisco and Los Angeles routes under the Alaska Airlines banner, it will be able to supply a lot more connecting traffic to those partners.

Alaska Air will also start to optimize the aircraft types used in each market in late April, though most of these changes won't happen until late 2018 or even early 2019. This will mainly entail using the company's larger Boeing planes on more transcontinental routes while shifting most of its Airbus fleet to short-haul routes along the West Coast.

Other efforts to drive revenue and cost synergies will also unfold later in 2018. As a result, management expects to realize $200 million of synergies during 2019, up from just $65 million this year. Alaska Air is also evaluating whether to introduce a "basic economy" option (or something similar) to improve its revenue segmentation capabilities.

Finally, Alaska Air has significantly reduced its capex plans for the next three years. This will support free cash flow during this period. Furthermore, it is an important signal that management isn't out to build an empire -- it will cut back on investments if the projected returns aren't high enough.

Obviously, there's no guarantee that Alaska Air will return to its winning ways soon. But there are a lot of ways that the company may be able to improve its profit trajectory over the next year or two. That's why I'm planning to patiently hold my Alaska Air stock. Investors with a long time horizon should consider doing likewise.
Coffee perked, cellphones buzzed, and panic swept Hawaii.

Two weeks ago, at 8:07 a.m. local time, Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency issued a (false) alert warning citizens of an imminent "ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii." Making matters worse, the agency also urged people to understand that "This is not a drill." Cellphone text messages carried the warning across the state, sending people into a panic. Of course, 38 minutes later -- less than the time it would take a nuke to travel from North Korea to Hawaii, by the way -- state officials issued a retraction, calling the first alert a "false alarm."

But what if it hadn't been?

Don't panic

"Within moments of the first announcement, people flocked to shelters, crowding highways in scenes of terror and helplessness. Emergency sirens wailed in parts of the state, adding to the panic," reported The New York Times as it described the effects of the Hawaii missile scare. "We fully felt like we were about to die," as one resident told the Times, was a common sentiment.

That's not surprising. For nearly a year now, the media has been talking up the threat that a nuclear-armed North Korea poses to Hawaii. But if a missile were headed for Hawaii, would the population really be defenseless? Not necessarily. In fact, there are at least three separate layers of defense already standing between Hawaii and oblivion.

Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency considers its Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System, which includes ground-based interceptor rockets based in California and Alaska, the first line of defense for Hawaii against a North Korean missile attack.

A $123 billion program spearheaded by primary contractor Boeing (NYSE:BA) -- with help from Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC), which makes the battle management command and control system; Orbital ATK (NYSE:OA), which builds the booster; and Raytheon (NYSE:RTN), which makes the interceptor missiles themselves -- "GMD" is the centerpiece of the proverbial "missile shield" Americans have long been promised will protect them from hostile nukes.

GMD's record of success is something short of unblemished. That said, last summer a GMD missile successfully intercepted an ICBM-class target missile for the first time in three years. Over its entire 20-year history, GMD has achieved a success rate (in tests) of precisely 50%.

Aegis BMD

Hawaii doesn't have to depend entirely on Alaska and California for its missile defense, however, because as it so happens, Hawaii is home to Pearl Harbor and the United States Pacific Command, which has its own independent missile defense capability.

You might be familiar with the Aegis weapon system, Lockheed Martin's (NYSE:LMT) integrated network of computers and radar trackers used for air defense. What you might not know is that for some years Lockheed has been upgrading Aegis for the Navy so that it can be used for ballistic missile defense (BMD) as well. So far, there are at least 33 "Aegis BMD" warships, of which half belong to the Pacific Fleet. At least five of these ships -- one guided missile cruiser and four guided missile destroyers -- are homeported at Pearl Harbor, and would presumably be there between deployments to provide missile defense against a North Korean attack.

These Aegis BMD warships use Raytheon-built Standard Missile-3 interceptor missiles to shoot down short-to-intermediate-range ballistic missiles. North Korea's missiles, being long-range, would be trickier to target. But beginning this year, Raytheon is giving the Navy an upgraded SM-3 interceptor, designated "Block IIA," that's said to be capable of shooting down longer-range ballistic missiles. Raytheon was awarded a contract and $60 million in funding to begin this "transition" in October 2017. It's hard to say how far along this transition is today, but it's at least in progress.

Aegis Ashore

While at Pearl Harbor, Aegis BMD warships participated in testing of yet another missile defense program, "Aegis Ashore." Also spearheaded by Lockheed Martin, Aegis Ashore pairs floating Aegis missile batteries with on-shore radars and interceptors to enhance the missile shield's capability. Testing of Aegis Ashore is ongoing at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on Kauai, and testing is that facility's primary function.

That said, in light of the evolving threat from North Korea, Reps. Colleen Hanabusa and Tulsi Gabbard -- both from Hawaii -- have floated the idea of upgrading Hawaii's PMRF into an operational Aegis Ashore base as well. Gabbard in particular argues that: "We've got to ... have a missile defense system in place in Hawaii to defend Hawaii. Given the threat that we're facing there's no time to waste," she told Hawaii News Now.

Pacific Command Admiral Harry Harris has also urged Congress to buy and install interceptor missiles at PMRF, and legislation to fund such a conversion of PMRF into an operational missile battery is under consideration in the U.S. Senate. In fact, this was one of the key issues raised in a 2016 Congressional Research Report -- "whether the Aegis test facility in Hawaii should be converted into an operational Aegis Ashore site to provide additional BMD capability for defending Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast."

Money well spent

As you can see, even if this month's false alarm had been real, Hawaii is already far from defenseless against North Korean nukes. That said, the extra incentive raised by the missile alarm seems likely to spur even greater efforts to build up the islands' defenses, perhaps generating significant new business for defense contractors.

GMD interceptors cost $70 million or more apiece to produce. Each SM-3 missile that Raytheon provides for Aegis and Aegis Ashore batteries generates more than $11 million in revenue for the company. And Congress funded the Aegis BMD program as a whole with $1.8 billion in the fiscal 2017 budget.

Is missile defense expensive? Yes it is. But as Hawaii's missile false alarm made clear this month, when you consider the cost of not bolstering Hawaii's defenses, this could be money well spent.
I never really thought of myself as being in the FBI but the thought of putting people in jail for bad things is really appealing to me, she said.

Its all about justice, she said.

You do bad things  you have to pay. You victimize people  you suffer the consequences. You need to play by the rules.

With encouragement from her boyfriend and other agents she met, in 1989 she applied to become an FBI agent.

She didnt expect to get in, King admitted. Unlike other candidates, she didnt have a law degree or similar background, she said.

However, Next thing I know Im at Quantico, Virginia, at the FBI Academy.

At that time, women in the FBI were still very much in the minority, King said. Out of 42 in her FBI class, only eight were women.

The training was tough, she said. She recalled one instructor who was a Marine.

He was brutal, she said. He made us do a million push-ups. He was screaming at us, trying to weed out the boys from the men.

What the hell have I done? she wondered. Had she made a big mistake?
The story of how two girls perished inside a car in southwest Colorado begins with a doomsday cult whose origins and beliefs remain largely unknown to the public.
Outdoor class OK with parents

Many were disappointed when officials closed down the field trips
The Constitution allows impeachment for "high crimes and misdemeanors." In a nutshell, that phrase refers to egregious abuses of presidential authority. A crime is not necessary for impeachment - and it's also not sufficient.

If a president perjures himself with respect to his business income or his relationship with a porn star, he's not impeachable. He can't be impeached if he obstructs justice with respect to an investigation into his best friend's alleged shoplifting. (True, Bill Clinton was impeached for perjury and obstruction of justice growing out of his relationship with Monica Lewinsky; but that impeachment was a patent violation of the Constitution.)

On some subjects, however, perjury or obstruction of justice could turn out to be impeachable. We shouldn't get ahead of ourselves, but reportedly Mueller is interested in whether the president obstructed justice by firing then FBI Director James Comey. If he did, that would be a grave matter: It would involve the unlawful use of presidential authority so as to interfere with a legitimate investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 presidential campaign.

Trump has said that he is "looking forward to" speaking with Mueller, but his lawyers are undoubtedly concerned. Their job is to protect him and the office that he occupies. For any president, testimony under oath might turn out to go just fine - but it is fraught with peril.

Cass Sunstein is a Bloomberg View columnist. He is the author of "#Republic: Divided Democracy in the Age of Social Media" and a co-author of "Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness."
U.S. Department of Defense

Press Operations

News Transcript

Presenter: Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis; Song Young-moo, Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense January 26, 2018

Secretary Mattis Bilat with ROK MOD

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JIM MATTIS: Minister Song, it's a pleasure to welcome you to the U.S.-Pacific Command Headquarters, and we're grateful here that your's and my schedules aligned to permit this ongoing face-to-face consultation.

I'm returning from Indonesia and Vietnam where America is strengthening valuable partnerships. And here today, you and I meet as members of an alliance, an iron-clad and irreplaceable alliance.

Ladies and gentleman, the minister of defense of the Republic of Korea will always be welcome in our headquarters. And here in beautiful Hawaii, we're reminded that America is an enduring Pacific power. Five of our states, plus territories, all touch on this shared ocean.

The Kim regime is a threat to the entire world. It's an international problem that requires an international solution.

Our response to this threat remains diplomacy-led, backed up with military options available to ensure that our diplomats are understood to be speaking from a position of strength.

And, Minister Song, I want to praise your nation's steadfast action, upholding the United Nations sanctions at sea.

The Republic of Korea has impounded two ships that were found violating the United Nations resolutions, using ship-to-ship transfer of cargo at sea.

As usual, the Republic of Korea leads by example in carrying out the United Nations' sanctions.

In so doing, sir, you remind the DPRK that risking its economy to boost its rockets makes it less secure, not more.

As two peace-loving nations, the Republic of Korea and America welcome the Olympic Games talks between the ROK and DPRK. And at the same time, remaining steadfast that the international economic pressure campaign can de-nuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

Diplomacy should repose reason on Kim's reckless rhetoric and dangerous provocations.

So we do not lose sight of the fact that the Olympics talks alone do not address over-arching problems.

Accordingly, our combined military stands shoulder to shoulder, ready to defend against any attack on the ROK or USA.

As Secretary Tillerson has said, our aim remains a complete and verifiable and irreversible de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

And Russia, France, the Chinese, United Kingdom, United States and others in three unanimous security council resolutions have spoken with one voice.

So the international pressure campaign must continue if we remind the world, those listening in Pyongyang and elsewhere, of what responsible members of the international [coalition] stand for and what we will not tolerate.

Minister Song, thank you again for traveling to Hawaii, so we can continue our close consultations.

As always, I look forward to our conversation. And would you like to make a few public remarks before we sit down together?

MINISTER SONG YOUNG-MOO (through translator): Secretary Mattis, Admiral Harris, I believe this is the third or fourth time that I've been in this room.

And I've been here as an active-duty navy officer. And now that I'm here as the minister of national defense, especially with the journalists, I would like to say welcome, and it is great to be back.

First, Secretary Mattis, I know he has a very busy schedule that has spanned the entire Southeast Asia recently, and despite his busy schedule, it is great to be able to see him at this -- at this place in Hawaii, the PACOM Pacific Command.

Secretary Mattis and I share an understanding that we should not only maintain close communication at all times, 365 days -- 365 days a year, but also that we should be able to see each other as often as possible.

I believe this conference can speak to the shared countenance of myself and Secretary Mattis, that we both understand each other well, and that as an alliance we always go together.

On the issues of UNSC resolutions and the North Korean problem, Secretary Mattis has already spoken at length, so I be mentioning (inaudible).

Through this conference, Secretary Mattis and I will be discussing the firm ROK-U.S. alliance, as well as reaffirming the firm coordination between Iraq and U.S. against North Korea in order to de-nuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

At the same time, we will also be discussing some measures of cooperation between our two countries, to ensure the safe and peaceful opening of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

And Secretary Mattis and I will also be exchanging our opinions on President Moon Jae-in's statement that the inter-Korea dialogue is a dialogue ultimately to draw out North Korea to a dialogue with the United States.

And furthermore, we will also be discussing some of the alliance issues in order to further strengthen the combined defense posture, and I believe and I am certain that this conference will be another opportunity for us to further consolidate and strengthen the alliance.

I would like to once again emphasize that I'm delighted to be here with Secretary Mattis and Admiral Harris. And this afternoon, I am looking forward to the deep and honest conversation that we'll be having. Thank you.

SEC. MATTIS: Thank you. Again, (inaudible), welcome back to Hawaii. Thank you, everybody.

http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/1425676/

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Resolute Support Remains Focused on Defeating Terrorists Following Kabul Attack

By Lisa Ferdinando DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2018  The Resolute Support mission remains focused on defeating the insurgents in Afghanistan, the commander of the mission said today, following a terrorist bombing in Kabul.

"Today's attack once again demonstrates that the enemies of Afghanistan kill indiscriminately," Army Gen. John W. Nicholson said in a statement. "Unarmed civilians throughout Afghanistan regularly bear the brunt of this cruelty."

Nicholson said the terrorists care nothing for the people of Afghanistan.

The Afghan government and Afghan National Defense and security forces are working tirelessly to defend all Afghans and respond to these attacks with bravery and professionalism, 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.

The explosives were hidden in an ambulance; nearly 100 people had been killed in the attack, according to news reports.

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Unidentified gunmen kill 14 soldiers in central Mali

Iran Press TV

Sat Jan 27, 2018 02:26PM

At least 14 soldiers have been killed and 17 others sustained injuries in the central Malian city of Timbuktu after unknown gunmen attacked their camp, according to military sources.

Unidentified armed men attacked the camp in the town of Soumpi at around 6 a.m. (0600 GMT) on Saturday.

"The provisional toll is 14 dead, 17 wounded and two enemies killed. The search is still on for those missing," said one of the military sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Another military source confirmed the attack, putting the death toll at "around 15."

"The soldiers abandoned their position. The enemy carried away material," the unnamed source said.

The attack came two days after 26 civilians were killed and several others injured when their vehicle was blown up by a mine in central Mali.

According to Malian army spokesman Colonel Diarran Kone, the vehicle had crossed the volatile border with neighboring Burkina Faso, where militants loyal to the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group are known to operate, when it ran over the mine.

In a separate incident, the Malian military said its forces had come under attack in the town of Youwarou near Mopti, once a popular tourist spot, but that they had repelled it.

"They neutralized seven terrorists and recovered equipment abandoned by the assailants," it said.

In the past three years, Takfiri forces, which had long been destabilizing the thinly populated desert north of Mali, have swept south into its wetter, more populated central regions, exploiting local conflicts to spread militancy.

Mali plunged into turmoil after President Amadou Toumani Toure was overthrown in a military coup on March 22, 2012.

The coup leaders said they staged the putsch in response to the government's inability to contain the rebellion in the country's north.

In January 2013, French soldiers were deployed to Mali under the pretext of putting an end to the crisis in the West African country, a former colony of France.

Unrest rages on across Mali despite the presence there of an 11,000-strong UN peacekeeping force, which has been stationed in the country since July 2013, as well as 1,000 French forces.

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Huge explosion hits near foreign embassies in Afghan capital; 95 dead

Iran Press TV

Sat Jan 27, 2018 08:52AM

A fatal car bomb attack has hit near foreign diplomatic missions and government buildings in the heart of the Afghan capital, Kabul.

According to witnesses and officials, an ambulance laden with explosives went off on Saturday at a police checkpoint near an office of the High Peace Council and a number of foreign diplomatic missions.

A "bomber used an ambulance to pass through the checkpoints. He passed through the first checkpoint saying he was taking a patient to Jamuriate hospital and at the second checkpoint he was recognized and blew his explosive-laden car," Interior Ministry deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi told AFP.

The Afghan Health Ministry says death toll has risen to 95, with 158 wounded.

The number of casualties are expected to rise as hospital sources say victims are still being brought in.

"It is a massacre," said Dejan Panic coordinator in Afghanistan for the Italian aid group Emergency, which runs a nearby trauma hospital.

The Taliban militant group claimed responsibility for the fatal attack a week after it claimed an assault on the Intercontinental Hotel in the Afghan capital, in which over 20 people lost their lives.

Many parts of Afghanistan remain plagued by militancy despite the presence of thousands of foreign troops.

The United States -- under Republican George W. Bush's presidency -- and its allies invaded Afghanistan on October 7, 2001 as part of Washington's so-called war on terror.

The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity continues to rise across Afghanistan.

The Daesh terrorist group has also taken advantage of the chaos and expanded its foothold across the country.

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French president urges more sanctions, pressure on Venezuela

Iran Press TV

Sat Jan 27, 2018 08:43AM

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for increasing European Union (EU) sanctions on Venezuela, just over a week after the 28-nation bloc, which has sided with the Latin American state's opposition in its anti-government struggles, slapped a fresh series of bans against Caracas.

Macron, who has been an outspoken critic of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro since taking power in May 2017, denounced the Venezuelan government's "unacceptable authoritarian slide" and said he was "in favor" of increasing European sanctions.

"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," said the French president, who is on an official visit to Argentina.

The comments followed a decision by Venezuela's Supreme Court to prohibit the country's main opposition coalition, the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), from competing in the April presidential election.

The verdict said the coalition could not be validated under the country's law as it violated the principle of avoiding "double affiliation" in politics.

Earlier this week, the EU announced economic sanctions and travel bans on seven members of the Venezuelan government and the ruling party over alleged human rights violations.

Caracas harshly criticized Brussels for imposing sanctions on its senior officials, saying the move showed the bloc was serving the interests of the United States.

The recent sanctions came amid efforts by regional bodies in the South America region to mediate disputes between Maduro's government and the opposition.

Opposition urges street rallies

Inside Venezuela, opposition leaders condemned the top court's ruling.

They claim that the incumbent Maduro government is depriving Venezuelans of a free and fair election.

Leopoldo Lopez, leader of the Popular Will party, and Henrique Capriles, head of the Justice First party, who were both excluded from the election, said they would put their parties' names forward for registration despite the ban.

"The government wants to remove the opposition so that it cannot compete in a free election and defeat Nicolas Maduro," said Tomas Guanipa, spokesman of the Justice First party.

The two leading opposition parties in Venezuela also called on their supporters to turn out en masse on Saturday and Sunday in a drive to re-register for the elections.

Guanipa further called on Venezuelans "to defend us in the streets and to defend us as an instrument that can rescue democracy and freedom."

No exact date has been set for the April snap election. Polls in the Latin American country are typically held toward the end of the year to avoid a long transition when the new six-year presidential term begins in January 2019.

Government officials said the poll, which had been initially scheduled to be held by the end of the year, was brought forward to demonstrate the Maduro administration's commitment to democracy.

Maduro, who has been in office since 2013, said after the announcement that he would run if he received the ruling Socialist Party's nomination.

The Venezuelan opposition holds Maduro responsible for the country's economic woes and has been seeking to overthrow his government with the support of the US, the EU and their regional allies.

Maduro, in turn, says the opposition seeks to stage US-sponsored coup against Caracas, blaming it for inciting violent protests that led to over 120 deaths in the country last year.

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Yemeni army attacks Saudi-backed militants, inflicts heavy casualties

Iran Press TV

Sat Jan 27, 2018 06:18AM

The Yemeni army has inflicted heavy human and material losses on Saudi Arabian-backed militants during attacks in northwestern Yemen.

On Saturday, the Yemeni army struck the positions of a group of militants backing Yemen's former Riyadh-allied regime the al-Mahashamah and al-Yatmah districts of al-Jawf Province, Yemen's al-Masirah television reported.

The attacks killed and injured a large number of the militants and destroyed much of their military hardware, it reported. A number of the militants also reportedly surrendered themselves to the army.

The militants have been receiving logistical and arms support from Riyadh to further its goal of restoring the government of former Yemeni president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi to power. Hadi had resigned back in 2015 but later sought to reclaim power.

The Yemeni army and Houthi fighters, who are helping the army fight off a Saudi Arabian-led war of aggression, also caused an unspecified number of casualties in similar attacks against Saudi mercenaries in the southwestern Yemeni province of Ta'izz on Friday. The operations also destroyed 20 military and armored vehicles, while three vehicles belonging to pro-Hadi forces were destroyed in the nearby Sana'a Province's Nihm District.

Saudi attacks

Also on Saturday, Saudi Arabian-led warplanes carried out several attacks against Ta'izz, and the western provinces of Ma'rib, al-Hudaydah, and Sa'adah.

The latter two provinces, which border Saudi Arabia, were also subjected to rocket and mortar attacks by Saudi border guards.

Saudi Arabia started leading a number of its vassal states in attacking Yemen in March 2015, shortly after Hadi resigned.

The offensive has failed to achieve any of its objectives.

Around 13,600 people have, meanwhile, been killed in the Saudi Arabian-led war, which has also damaged Yemen's health infrastructure, fueling deadly cholera and diphtheria outbreaks.

A blockade imposed by the Saudi-led coalition on Yemen has also caused widespread famine in the already-impoverished country.

The allied Yemeni forces have been conducting retaliatory strikes on the positions of Saudi and other invading forces, including a daring attack on a post inside Saudi territory earlier in January.

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US helicopter gunship kills 7 Iraqi civilians

Iran Press TV

Sat Jan 27, 2018 04:57AM

A US military helicopter has targeted several vehicles in Iraq's al-Anbar Province, killing seven civilians and wounding 11 others, including a local official.

The attack occurred in the west of Ramadi, the provincial capital of Anbar, local Iraqi media reported on Saturday morning.

Iraqi Alsumaria television cited an unnamed security official as saying that the US helicopter gunship had targeted several civilian vehicles in the al-Baghdadi neighborhood of Ramadi.

Alsumaria said the head of the al-Baghdadi township and its police chief were among the wounded and were in serious condition.

It was not clear why the attack occurred. There was no immediate comment from the US military.

The US has been leading a coalition of its allies in a military campaign against purported Daesh targets in Iraq. While the Iraqi leadership officially announced the end of operations against Daesh in December last year, pockets of the terrorist group reportedly remain operative in rural areas in the country.

Daesh had overrun territory in Iraq and neighboring Syria in offensives that started in 2014.

Mass grave found in Iraq's north

The Takfiri terrorist group brutalized local populations in the territories it used to hold. It often mass murdered government employees and security forces as well as any civilians who rejected the group.

Just on Friday, Iraqi authorities found a mass grave in Iraq's northern Kirkuk Province, containing the bodies of some 75 civilians and security personnel executed by Daesh.

Kirkuk's Governor Rakan Said al-Juburi told AFP that residents and shepherds had guided security forces to the mass grave, found in Hawija, one of the last urban localities held by Daesh before it was defeated.

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At Least 95 Killed As Ambulance Bomb Rocks Kabul

RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan January 27, 2018

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, AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-kabul-bomb-attack- sadarat-square-casualties/29001539.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.

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The mother of an Oswego teen who died in 2012 after using synthetic marijuana will be U.S. Rep. John Katko's guest at President Donald Trump's first State of the Union address Tuesday.

Teresa Woolson, of Oswego, said Katko, R-Camillus, called and invited her to attend the address before a joint session of Congress. Members of Congress are each permitted to bring one guest to the event.

"I was quite humbled to be asked," Woolson said in a phone interview Thursday. "I'm very excited."

Katko said he invited Woolson to highlight the need to combat synthetic drugs. Woolson's son, Victor, drowned in Lake Ontario after he smoked synthetic marijuana.

One of the challenges is the layers of bureaucracy involved in designating a synthetic drug as a controlled substance. Woolson said the drug her son used, XLR-11, wasn't permanently placed on the controlled substances list until 2016.

"Four more years of people getting hurt and killed with this drug is not acceptable," she said.
Manatees on Florida's East Coast hit a new record high of 3,731, topping last year's record high of 3,488, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.



FWC reported a preliminary count of 6,131 manatees in Florida during the 2018 statewide aerial survey which is conducted annually in late January.



A team of 15 observers from 10 organizations counted 3,731 manatees on Floridas east coast and 2,400 manatees on the west coast of the state.



This years statewide count of 6,131 manatees is down from last year's record count of 6,620. However, it is still the third-highest count since record-keeping began in 1991.



Florida's west coast saw a drop from 3,132 in 2017 to 2,400 in 2018, the lowest count since 2010. But the 2018 west coast count remains the seventh-highest on record.



Florida's manatee count has exceeded 6,000 manatees for the last four years, which is more than double the count 15 years ago.



As a result of the manatee comeback, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the manatee from the Endangered Species List because studies showed that it is unlikely the manatee population will fall below 4,000 for the next 100 years.



Is The Manatee Boom Hurting The Indian River Lagoon?



Many Brevard County waterfront property owners, boaters, and anglers blame the increased manatee population for the Indian River Lagoon's plight.



Citizens for Florida's Waterways (CFW) contends that the manatee boom is putting too much pressure on the seagrass and nutrient load in the Indian River Lagoon.



That's because an 800 to 1,200-pound adult sea cow can eat up 10% to 15% of its body weight daily in aquatic vegetation which mostly consists of seagrass.



According to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Manatee Recovery Plan, manatees sometimes graze on seagrass which leaves the possibility for regrowth - but manatees also "root" seagrass - meaning the entire plant is pulled and the underwater sediment is disturbed.



Based on those consumption rates and grazing method, CFW calculated that an average manatee can consume and/or destroy around 3 acres of seagrass a year, depending on the density of the seagrass per acre.



In 2014, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection addressed the effect of the increased manatee population on the nutrient load in the Indian River Lagoon:



"At the time the seagrass TMDLs were developed [in 2009], manatees were not considered as major nutrient contributors to the Indian River Lagoon because not all the data needed to quantify the manatee nutrient contribution were available. It is worth noting that manatees have been part of the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem for a long time," FDEP stated.



"Based on the Departments Nutrient and Dissolved Oxygen TMDLs for the Indian River Lagoon and Banana River Lagoon report (FDEP, 2009), the long-term annual average TN [Total Nitrogen] and TP [Total Phosphorous] loads entering the Indian River Lagoon system are about 1511 tons and 216 tons, respectively. The 25 to 109 tons of TN and 2 to 7 tons of TP contributed by manatees only account for about 1.7% to 6.7% of TN loads and 0.7% to 3.0% of TP loads entering the Indian River Lagoon system."



"We have at least got [FDEP's] attention to the subject," CFW President Bob Atkins said of FDEP's analysis of the manatee's nutrient impact on the Indian River Lagoon. "My conclusion is that seagrass loss is worse [from manatee consumption] than I have calculated and free nutrients are not as bad."
Czechs Reelect Populist, Russia-Friendly President In Tight Race

RFE/RL January 27, 2018

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.

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

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/czech-zeman-wins- reelection-drahos/29001912.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.

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Greece, Macedonia Plan Strategy For Name Dispute Talks

RFE/RL January 27, 2018

The prime ministers of Greece and Macedonia are holding talks in their home countries with political leaders to discuss strategy ahead of scheduled meetings next week in an effort to resolve the longstanding dispute over the name "Macedonia."

Greek leader Alexis Tsipras met in Athens with key political leaders on January 27, the same time Macedonia's Zoran Zaev opened talks with his country's key players to discuss the name dispute.

Tsipras failed to get backing from the main opposition leader to build a consensus. "We will not divide Greeks to unite Skopje," Conservative New Democracy party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a televised address after a meeting with Tsipras.

Meanwhile, in Skopje, Zaev and Macedonian President George Ivanov are discussing the issue with Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov, Defense Minister Radmila Sekerinska Jankovska, Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Bujar Osmani, as well as heads of the main political parties.

An envoy for the United Nations will then meet with the leaders on January 29 and February 1.

After meeting Tsipras at the Swiss winter resort of Davos on January 24, Zaev announced two moves seen as olive branch offerings to the Greeks.

Zaev said that Skopje's Alexander the Great Airport would be renamed, while a highway leading from his country to Greece would drop a similar moniker and instead be called the Friendship highway.

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.

Intensifying Consultations

Greece has since insisted that the country be referred to internationally as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 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.

UN-mediated talks between the two countries' chief negotiators in New York on January 17 did not produce concrete results, but some name suggestions were put forward for negotiation, according to media reports.

Greece wants Macedonia to change its name -- adding a modifier like "New" or "North" -- to clarify that it has no claim on the neighboring Greek province of Macedonia.

Although the leaders appear to be moving closer to settling the dispute, both face strong opposition to compromise from nationalists in their own countries.

Organizers of an upcoming antigovernment protest in Athens said on January 26 that they hope to draw 1 million people to a rally aimed at stopping Greece and Macedonia reaching a compromise.

Stergios Kalogiros, a senior organizer of the rally scheduled for February 4, said he was optimistic that the Athens event would draw huge crowds after it won endorsements this week from powerful religious and local government organizations.

"To get attendance to reach seven figures is achievable," he said.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki in a previous rally on January 21 to show they were against the use of the word "Macedonia" in any solution to the row.

Meanwhile, nationalists in Macedonia have accused Zaev of making concessions without receiving anything in return.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Balkan Service, dpa, and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/greece-macedonia- name-yugoslavia-zaev/29001377.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.

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US-Made F-35 Fighter Jets Reveal 'Key Remaining Deficiencies'

Sputnik News

20:41 27.01.2018

Half of the aircraft are not ready for battle due to various technical shortcomings, ranging from problems with aerial refueling to software shortfalls, according to Bloomberg.

All steps to improve the reliability of the US-made F-35 aircraft have "stagnated" due to numerous technical issues, Bloomberg wrote, referring to a report by the Pentagon.

Only some 50% of the fighter jets are ready to be used in the battlefield, and this figure has not significantly improved since October 2014, despite the fact that the number of F-35 aircraft produced has increased.

New versions of the plane's complex software have been modified 31 times, however, some key shortcomings still remain in place, the report says, adding that they can seriously impact the effectiveness of the aircraft's combat use.

Moreover, some jets cannot be refueled in the air, while other technical defects concern the launch of AIM-120 air-to-air missiles and the release of air-ground munitions.

The new tests, that are considered "the most credible means to predict combat performance," are likely to be delayed for a year and won't be completed until December 2019, according to the testing office.

Back in November, Danish authorities already voiced their criticism of the new F-35 fighter jets, which they had purchased from the US. They, in particular, stated that the aircraft yields a much more modest performance than it was initially expected.

 Sputnik

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Security Council condemns 'barbaric' terrorist attack in central Mali that killed dozens on civilian bus

27 January 2018  The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the "barbaric and cowardly terrorist attack" on 25 January against a bus transporting civilians near Boni, in central Mali, during which 26 people from Mali and Burkina Faso, including children, were killed.

In a press statement issued late Friday evening, the Council expressed deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the Governments of Mali and Burkina Faso.

The members of the Security Council went on to express solidarity with Mali in its fight against terrorism and stressed the need to intensify regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism, which may be conducive to terrorism.

Underlining the need to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts to justice, the Security Council urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Governments of Mali and Burkina Faso as well as all other relevant authorities in this regard.

The Security Council commended the efforts of the region, including through the development of a G5 Sahel Joint Force, to address the transnational dimension of the terrorist threat in the Sahel region, and encouraged further progress in this regard.

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DR Congo: UN chief condemns killing of 'blue helmet,' calls on armed groups to lay down weapons

27 January 2018  Condemning the killing today of a peacekeeper with the United Nations stabilization mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who was ambushed in the vast country's restive east, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres again called on armed groups there to lay down their weapons and seek to resolve their grievances peacefully.

A statement issued this afternoon by the UN Spokesman said the Pakistani peacekeeper deployed with the Mission, known by its French acronym, (MONUSCO), was killed following an ambush by members of an armed group near Lulimba, 96 kilometres south-west of Baraka, in the DRC's South Kivu Province.

At least one other peacekeeper was wounded in the attack.

"The Secretary-General extends his heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and to the people and government of Pakistan," said the statement, adding that Mr. Guterres wishes a speedy recovery to the injured and calls on those responsible for the attack to be brought to justice.

The Secretary-General reiterated his call on armed groups in the DRC to lay down their arms and seek to resolve their grievances peacefully.

"He reaffirms the readiness of MONUSCO and the United Nations system to continue working with the authorities of the DRC to help address the security challenges facing the country," the statement concluded.

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Kabul Suicide Car Bomb Kills 95, Wounds More Than 160

By Ayaz Gul January 27, 2018

A suicide car bomb Saturday ripped through a crowded area outside a government building in Kabul, Afghanistan, killing at least 95 people and wounding more than 163 others.

The Health Ministry confirmed the casualty toll.

Thick, dark smoke could be seen rising into the sky from the central part of the capital following the explosion near the old Afghan Interior Ministry building, witnesses said. An Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman, Nasrat Rahimi, said the bomber used an explosives-filled ambulance to carry out the attack in an area where civilians had gathered in large numbers.

The Taliban instantly took responsibility for plotting the attack. A spokesman for the insurgent group said the target was a crowd of personnel with the Afghan security force.

Reaction

The White House released a statement later Saturday condemning the attack.

"This murderous attack renews our resolve and that of our Afghan partners. The Taliban's cruelty will not prevail.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," the statement said.

The U.S. State Department also released a statement, saying, "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. We commend all the emergency services personnel for their courageous actions in responding to this terrorist attack."

Both statements said all countries who support Afghanistan should take "decisive action" to stop the Taliban and terror groups who support them.

The United Sates envoy in Afghanistan denounced the attack as "senseless and cowardly."

"Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. My government and I stand with the brave people of Afghanistan," an official statement quoted U.S. Ambassador to Kabul John Bass as saying.

Tadamichi Yamamoto, head of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, also condemned the attack, calling it "nothing short of an atrocity, and those who have organized and enabled it must be brought to justice and held to account."

Pakistan denounces bombing

Neighboring Pakistan, accused of sheltering the Taliban, also condemned the deadly bombing as a "dastardly terrorist attack" and sympathized the families of the victims.

"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," said a Foreign Ministry statement in Islamabad.

Pakistan denies allegations it is allowing insurgents group to use its soil for violence in Afghanistan.

The deadly bombing came a week after five heavily armed Taliban suicide bombers stormed Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel in a highly secured part of the city. The raid killed at least 22 people, including 14 foreigners. At least four Americans were among the dead.

Back-to-back attacks in heavily guarded parts of the city have raised severe criticism of the authorities for failing to prevent the violence.

"Over the years -- this area has been attacked by suicide bombers ... constant intelligence and security failures, which should not be acceptable by any stretch of imagination. A national debate must start on how we can get this right," Bilal Sarwary, senior Afghan journalist, wrote on his official Twitter account.

Saturday's blast came just hours after a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-filled car outside a military base in the restive southern province of Helmand. The explosion in the Nad Ali district wounded at least six government forces, officials said.

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Lockheed Martin Receives $459 Million THAAD Interceptor Contract

DALLAS, Jan. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has awarded Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) a $459 million contract modification for production and delivery of interceptors for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon system. The modification brings the total contract value to $1.28 billion with funding provided in 2017 and 2018. The new interceptors support U.S. Army THAAD units and growing operational requirements.

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.

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China's Army Recruits Top Scientists to Develop Quantum Technology and AI

Sputnik News

15:22 27.01.2018

China is looking to the future as it embarks on a mission to develop cutting-edge technologies in order to become the new military tech superpower.

China has selected 120 top specialists to work in a leading research institute to push the development of artificial intelligence and quantum technologies for military applications, the South China Morning Post reports, citing state media.

It's been reported that the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) has attracted experts to work in the Chinese Academy of Military Sciences, with more than 95 percent of researchers having PhD degrees in certain fields, specializing particularly in quantum technology and artificial intelligence.

The publication notes that such a measure is being undertaken as Beijing intents to become a military-technical superpower and to catch up with the US armed forces.

"President Xi Jinping has launched a massive overhaul and modernization of the country's military and he said in a speech given to the military science academy last July that China should aim at building world-class military technology institutes," the South China Morning Post reported.

Collin Koh, a military expert told the publication, that China's aim to enter into these military tech fields is also due to its military strategy which looks at "nullifying via asymmetrical means the general US military superiority in envisaged regional flashpoints such as the Taiwan Strait," he said.

A group led by Pan Jianwei at the University of Science and Technology of China, is one of the teams spearheading China's research into quantum technology. According to the analyst, China could gain a military advantage if it can learn to apply breakthroughs in quantum technology.

Quantum technologies permit the development of modern equipment and arms ranging from new satellites that can track military aircraft to cracking encrypted enemy codes.

"Quantum technology could be game changing and the successful integration of quantum technology with China's regular military forces could profoundly change the regional security balance, which is already moving towards Beijing's favor," Ben Ho, a researcher at the military studies program at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, told the South China Morning Post.

 Sputnik

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Hong Kong Bars Pro-Democracy Candidate

By VOA News January 27, 2018

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 Demosisto's 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 government's 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 government's 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.

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North Korea says US bans aimed at sabotaging dialog with South

Iran Press TV

Sat Jan 27, 2018 11:18AM

North Korea has condemned the latest sanctions imposed by the United States against Pyongyang, calling them an attempt at sabotaging a nascent process of dialog with South Korea.

A North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman on Saturday described the new US sanctions as "a manifestation of heinous intention to throw a wet blanket over the inter-Korean exchange and cooperation and to aggravate the situation," according to the country's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

North and South Koreas have recently started face-to-face negotiations in a fragile effort to defuse long-running tensions. Pyongyang initiated that dialog, putting the US  always relying on a policy of pressure against the North  in an awkward situation.

Washington responded with confusion, both downplaying the North Korean overture to start dialog with the South and claiming credit for it. Then on Wednesday came the new sanctions.

The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on nine North Korean entities  16 people and six ships  accusing them of involvement in helping Pyongyang's weapons programs.

Referring to the sanctions, the North Korean spokesman said the US had to stop such an "anachronistic" policy toward North Korea.

On Friday, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the breakthrough in talks between North and South Koreas must not become as a distraction from the aim of denuclearizing Pyongyang.

South Korea has welcomed the opening. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said in an address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that using military force to make North Korean stop its nuclear program was "unacceptable."

While it is engaged in deep hostilities with Pyongyang, Seoul is opposed to military action against its northern neighbor because that may subject South Korea to easy retribution by the North.

Pyongyang argues that its weapons program is a deterrent against potential US-led military action. Pyongyang has been under a raft of harsh UN sanctions since 2006 over its missile and nuclear programs.

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It was 2012 when the small California office of the Human Rights Data Analysis Group (HRDAG) got an unexpected call. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights couldn't get its people safely on the ground in Syria to count how many Syrians were being killed in the ongoing armed conflict there. Could Megan Price, who received her PhD from Emory in 2009, and her team at HRDAG come up with reliable ways to estimate deaths 7,000 miles away?

The answer was yes. As executive director of HRDAG, Price has made a career overseeing the novel development and use of statistical data to shine light on human rights abuses. Those analyses include a series of reports over the past five years for the United Nations and Amnesty International, part of an effort to fully understand the extent of mortalities in the Syrian conflict. (HRDAG counted 191,369 documented, identifiable deaths just between 2011 and 2014 as a result of the conflict, with the assumption that many more were unreported and unidentified.)

Other projects include the creation of a mathematical model to identify probable locations of mass graves in Mexico as well as a review of so-called "predictive policing" algorithms in the U.S. Predictive policing uses data related to past known crimes to anticipate locations of future criminal activity, which can perpetuate biased policing practices.

In Guatemala, HDRAG used random sampling of massive police archives to assess the national police's role in that country's civil war. In one particular case involving a missing student activist, their analysis provided compelling evidence that led to that chief of police's conviction for orchestrating that student's disappearance.

While the job of counting deaths and enumerating human rights abuses may not be for everyone, for Price it's an important way to connect her passion for social justice with her love of biostatistics. "It's very true that the subject matter we work with every day is emotionally heavy," says Price, who was recently ranked in the Top 12 Women in Data Science by Information Week. "But when I was at Rollins, I knew I wanted to do something that was working for the common good. From the beginning, I was interested in statistics as a tool. To do justice to the substantive piece, I have to get the technical piece right."

Price first heard about the HRDAG while completing her concentration in human rights at Rollins School of Public Health. For her, HDRAG's mere existence sparked an "aha!" moment.

"I thought, 'That's it! That's how statistics should be used!'" she says.

Price joined the group immediately after earning her PhD. Four years later, HDRAG became its own nonprofit, and she was promoted to director of research. In 2015 she became its executive director. Price also serves as a research fellow at the Carnegie Mellon University Center for Human Rights and as a member of the Technical Advisory Board for the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court. She is also the human rights editor for the Statistical Journal of the International Association for Official Statistics.

Price is always glad when her statistical analyses help bring about justice, as was the case with the criminal prosecutions in Guatemala. In other areas where armed conflict continueslike Syriashe works in preparation for the day in which her analyses can be used for good. "What we do with this information is the million-dollar question," she says. "It depends upon what justice mechanism becomes available and how the conflict is resolved. There may be investigations and court cases. There may be a truth commission mechanism."

Despite dealing daily with sobering statistics, Price is grateful to have found a niche that fits her skills and passionsand buoyed by knowing her work can make an impact. "Every day I get to come in and do a job that feels so gratifying," she says. "And, of course, there's more to be done."
Korea talks can't distract from denuclearization: Mattis

Iran Press TV

Sat Jan 27, 2018 03:04AM

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says that Olympics talks between North and South Korea should not lead to distraction from the goal of denuclearizing Pyongyang.

Mattis made the remarks Friday during a photo session with South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo at US Pacific Command headquarters in Hawaii a day after Seoul's top diplomat said a military solution would not be acceptable.

"Diplomacy should impose reason on Kim's reckless rhetoric and dangerous provocations," Mattis said. "The international pressure campaign must continue."

Song said the talks with the North are "about ultimately drawing the North into a dialogue with the United States."

"We both understand each other well and that as an alliance, we always go together," he added.

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland that the notion of using military force to make North Korea stop its nuclear program was "unacceptable."

Kang said she was positive the United States, her country's main ally in the standoff with North Korea, would obtain South Korea's approval before any military action on the issue.

The remarks come amid a relative ease in the months-long tensions over North Korea's weapons and nuclear activities.

Seoul has offered an olive branch to Pyongyang by inviting the North's athletes to this year's Winter Olympics while representatives from the two countries have held limited talks on some military issues.

The US, however, has imposed new sanctions on North Korea and Chinese firms and individuals that support Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.

The Treasury Department said Wednesday it was targeting nine entities, 16 individuals and six vessels in several countries that finance or support North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

North Korea has been under a raft of harsh UN sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear tests as well as multiple rocket and missile launches. Pyongyang has firmly defended its military program as a deterrent against the hostile policies of the US and its regional allies, including South Korea and Japan.

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IRGC ground forces arrest Daesh terrorists in western Iran

Iran Press TV

Sat Jan 27, 2018 03:09PM

A division of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says it has arrested a number of Daesh Takfiri terrorists in the west of the country.

Following intelligence activities, the IRGC ground forces' Najaf base on Saturday engaged in clashes with 21 members of the Daesh terrorist group, which had entered the country through its western borders.

Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour, the commander of the IRGC ground forces, said that 16 Daesh terrorists had been arrested during the operation while a number of them were killed.

Three members of the IRGC forces also lost their lives in the clashes, he added.

The commander said that the terrorists had planned to carry out attacks in central and border cities.

Iran's Intelligence Ministry said earlier this month that Iranian security forces had dismantled a terrorist group and arrested its members in the country's northwestern province of West Azarbaijan.

The ministry said in a statement that the terrorist group "which had infiltrated into Iran with the aim of fueling" a wave of protest over rising prices were put under surveillance in the city of Piranshahr.

The IRGC also dismantled a terrorist group in October in an operation in West Azarbaijan.

IRGC ground forces launched the operation after receiving information that a terrorist team of four had infiltrated the Chaldoran region of the province and had killed two locals.

Iran has arrested dozens of terrorists since twin terrorist attacks in the Iranian capital of Tehran in June 2017.

On June 7, 2017, gunmen mounted almost simultaneous assaults on Iran's parliament and the Mausoleum of the late Founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini. Daesh claimed responsibility for the strikes. The twin attacks killed 17 people and injured over 50 more.

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Muqtada Sadr slams US killing of Iraqi forces

Iran Press TV

Sat Jan 27, 2018 06:31PM

Senior Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has slammed a recent US airstrike that killed eleven people in Anbar Province, saying the air raid was part of Washington's repeated violations of the Arab country's sovereignty.

"Once again the American occupation forces have shown their tyranny and arrogance by flagrantly violating the independence and sovereignty of the Iraqi government," Sadr tweeted on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Qais al-Khazali, a senior commander of the Popular Mobilization Units, also known as Hashd al-Sha'abi, said that the airstrike "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 Daesh," he tweeted.

On Saturday, a US-led coalition's airstrike killed 10 members of the Iraqi security forces and a local in the town of al-Baghdadi in al-Anbar province, Reuters reported.

Other reports, however, put the number of casualties at eight, which included five policemen and a woman.

Initial investigations say Iraqi forces called in an airstrike against suspected militants in al-Baghdadi, located 170 kilometers northwest of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, on Saturday, but it turned out later that the target was in fact a local police force.

According to a statement by an Iraqi military spokesman, the local police group targeted by the airstrike had come to the area without coordinating with an Iraqi army detachment that had been dispatched there to capture a Daesh suspect.

The airstrike was called in after the army detachment apprehended the suspect and left the area, the statement added.

A spokesman of the US-led coalition, Colonel Ryan Dillon, said all the coalition's airstrikes came at the request of Iraqi security forces.

The US has been leading a coalition of its allies in a military campaign against purported Daesh targets in Iraq. While the Iraqi leadership officially announced the end of operations against Daesh in December last year, pockets of the terrorist group reportedly remain operative in rural areas in the country.

Daesh had overrun territory in Iraq and neighboring Syria in offensives that started in 2014.

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Iraqi Hashd al-Sha'abi forces find dozens of bodies in mass grave in Kirkuk

Iran Press TV

Sat Jan 27, 2018 03:55PM

Iraqi fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units have found a mass grave in the country's northern province of Kirkuk, which contained the bodies of dozen of civilians believed to have been executed by Daesh Takfiri terrorists when they were in control of an area there.

A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the National Iraqi News Agency (NINA) that the pro-government fighters, better known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha'abi, made the discovery in the al-Riyad region of Hawijah, located 45 kilometers west of the provincial capital city of Kirkuk.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on October 5 2017 that armed forces had liberated Hawijah, driving Daesh Takfiris out of their last bastion in Kirkuk province.

On January 9, Iraqi police official Omar al-Hajjar said security personnel had found a mass grave containing the bodies of at least 20 women tortured and killed by Daesh near the northern city of Mosul.

Hajjar added that the victims were executed "as they were trying to escape toward the eastern side of the city during the liberation offensives last year."

He said the bodies of the victims along with their identity cards "have been transferred to the forensic medicine department in Mosul to be returned to their relatives."

Iraqi legislator Haji Kendor told Arabic-language al-Ghad Press news agency on December 29, 2017 that search teams had found a mass grave that contained the bodies of 80 elderly and disabled women, near the town of Sinjar, situated over 400 kilometers northwest of the capital Baghdad.

Kendor added that some of the victims had been buried alive, noting that Daesh terrorists had buried the women from the Izadi minority group in a fish farm, and the grisly discovery was made by local search teams.

Back in August 2014, Daesh terrorists overran the town of Sinjar, killing, raping, and enslaving large numbers of Izadi Kurds.

The region was recaptured in November 2015, during an operation by Kurdish Peshmerga forces and Izadi fighters.

The Office of Kidnapped Affairs in the northern Iraqi city of Dohuk said last year that around 3,500 Izadi Kurds were still being held captive by Daesh, adding that a large proportion of the abductees were women and children.

The Endowments and Religious Affairs Ministry of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government announced last August that Daesh's genocide against Izadis had forced nearly 360,000 members of the minority to flee their hometowns, and another 90,000 to leave Iraq and take refuge in others countries.

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US, allies in Europe, irked by new Russia gas pipeline scheme

Iran Press TV

Sat Jan 27, 2018 05:22PM

US authorities have voiced deep frustration over a planned Russian pipeline that would bypass Washington's allies in Central Europe and carry gas to Germany.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Saturday while in Poland that the scheme would further undermine efforts for making Europe independent of the Russian energy.

"Like Poland, the United States opposes the Nord Stream 2 pipeline ... 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," said Tillerson at a news conference with his Polish counterpart Jacek Czaputowicz.

The US has always been sensitive to Russia's increasing clout in Europe which it believes is partly due to Moscow's delivery of energy to the continent. A first pipeline currently carries Russian gas through Poland and Ukraine to Germany and other countries in Western Europe. However, a conflict in Ukraine and Poland's increasing hostility toward Russia have forced countries like Germany to seek a more reliable transferring route via the Baltic Sea.

For his part, the top Polish diplomat opposed the Russia-Germany gas pipeline, saying Europe had to search for more reliable means of procuring its energy needs. Czaputowicz said that "it is necessary to diversify energy supplies into Europe."

Poland has vastly expanded its military and energy cooperation with the US over the past years and especially since a crisis erupted in next door Ukraine. Some 5,000 US troops have been deployed to Poland as part of two separate American and NATO missions. Russia has viewed the deployment as a provocation.

Washington also began exporting its natural gas to Poland last year while it is working to convince Warsaw to receive its gas through a pipeline from energy-rich Norway.

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U.S., Poland Oppose Gas Pipeline Linking Russia And Germany

January 27, 2018

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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/nord-stream-2-u-s-poland -oppose-russia-germany/29002097.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.

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Tillerson: Russia Using Energy as 'Political Tool' in Europe

By VOA News January 27, 2018

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."

Tillerson's 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 Russia's 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."

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 Washington's "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.

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Billionaire prince released after 'discussions' with Saudi government

Iran Press TV

Sat Jan 27, 2018 06:32AM

Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has reportedly been released around two months after he detained as part of the Riyadh regime's so-called campaign against corruption.

Reuters cited a family source as saying that bin Talal, one of the richest men in the world who owns stakes in Citigroup and Twitter, had arrived home.

The news came hours after the news agency published an interview with bin Talal, in which the prince said he would be freed "within days" after "discussions" with the government came to an end.

"There are no charges. There are just some discussions between me and the government," he said. "I believe we are on the verge of finishing everything within days."

The interview was Prince al-Waleed's first public talk since his detention.

He made the interview at his suite at Ritz-Carlton Hotel in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, where he has been held along with dozens of other high-profile figures.

Allegations against Prince al-Waleed included money laundering, bribery and extorting officials.

The Saudi prince was one of the businessmen and royals rounded up in November 2017 in an alleged "anti-corruption campaign" spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Observers said the campaign was actually meant to consolidate bin Salman's power and silence his critics.

Bin Talal's detention and the ensuing reports regarding his situation in custody made headlines around the world, putting pressure on bin Salman, who was linked to pricey art and real estate purchases at the height of the "anti-graft" clampdown.

On November 9, 2017, the Middle East Eye (MEE) news portal revealed that some of those detained in the Saudi crackdown were beaten and tortured so badly during their arrest or subsequent interrogations.

However, the report added, there are no wounds to the faces of those caught up so they will look normal when they next appear in public.

Bin Talal had reportedly been hung upside down and beaten at Ritz-Carlton Hotel. His father also went on hunger strike in protest at the detention of three of his sons as part of the kingdom's purported anti-graft campaign.

Elsewhere in his interview, bin Talal, who is a nephew of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, claimed that he had been well treated, rejecting reports of mistreatment and of being moved from Ritz-Carlton Hotel to a prison.

He further claimed that he was expected to keep control of his global investment company Kingdom Holding without being required to give up assets to the government.

This is while The Wall Street Journal reported last month that the kingdom was pressuring bin Talal to pay up a whopping six billion dollars.

Saudi Arabia has begun securing cash settlement deals with the prominent detainees, receiving hefty amounts in exchange for their freedom.

A senior government official told Bloomberg on Monday that the kingdom is likely to bag over $100 billion in monetary settlement deals with the detained princes and businessmen.

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Saudi Billionaire Alwaleed bin Talal Released From Detention - Family Sources

Sputnik News

16:01 27.01.2018

The Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal had been detained under the government anti-corruption campaign, launched on November 4 and had spent over two months in luxurious custody.

Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal on Saturday was released from his detention in Riyadh's Ritz-Carlton hotel, converted into a luxurious prison to hold royalty and the country's officials, the Reuters news agency reported, citing the Prince's family sources.

Prior to his release, bin Talal told the agency that he soon would be cleared from any wrongdoing, describing his charges as "discussions between me and the government."

"There are no charges. There are just some discussions between me and the government," he said. "I believe we are on the verge of finishing everything within days."

Describing the conditions of the custody, the billionaire found it quite satisfactory, expressing his readiness to stay as long as the investigation takes.

"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," Prince Alwaleed bin Talal stated, as quoted by the media outlet.

"I told the government I'd stay as much as they want, because I want the truth to come out on all my dealings and on all things that are around me."

The information about his release has also been confirmed by his associates, the AP news agency reported.

The discharge comes a week after the report of Saudi Arabia's former finance minister Ibrahim al-Assaf's release from the Ritz-Carlton and clearance from all charges, allowing him to retain his positions as both a minister and king's adviser.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal had been detained during the anti-corruption campaign launched by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on November 4, 2017 by issuing a decree establishing a new anti-corruption committee in the country chaired by the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that was given the power to investigate and arrest individuals involved in corruption cases, as well as restrict their movement, freeze their accounts, and track their funds and assets.

The decision was followed by the arrests of over 200 officials and businessmen, including government ministers such as Minister of Economy and Planning Adel Fakeih.

The arrested high-ranking figures might reportedly keep their positions if they agree to cooperate with investigators, refusing money, allegedly involved in the corruption scheme.

 Sputnik

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Media: Saudi Arabia Releases Top Financier, Close to 90 Others Held in Graft Probe

By Edward Yeranian January 27, 2018

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 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.

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10:23

A survey result claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity remained intact since he assumed office as he received a whopping 53 per cent people's backing as the next prime minister.





According to the India Today-Karvy Insights opinion poll Modi's closest competition for the post of India's prime minister was Rahul Gandhi at a distant 22 per cent.





Modi has also been polled the best prime minister since Independence. According to this year's survey, 28 per cent of those polled think Modi is the best prime minister in Independent India, while 20 per cent think Indira Gandhi's reign remains unmatched.





In 2017, Modi was ahead of Indira with 16 percentage points, while in 2016 he trailed at the second position, in the survey conducted by the same agency.





Forty-one per cent people rated Modi's performance good, while 25 per cent thought he performed average.





Moreover, if Lok Sabha elections were held today, the National Democratic Alliance will win 258 of 543 seats, 24 seats down from 282 it had won in 2014, the India Today-Karvy survey predicted.





The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance is expected to make a considerable improvement in its tally, with 202 seats. Even though Modi's personal charisma remained unscathed, interestingly, NDA's seat share has taken a considerable hit since last year. India Today-Karvy's 2017 survey results had predicted 349 seats for the ruling coalition.
Top Fateh al-Sham militant cmdr. slain in Syria's Aleppo infighting

Iran Press TV

Sat Jan 27, 2018 06:41PM

A high-ranking commander of the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham Takfiri terrorist group, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, has been killed in a fierce exchange of gunfire with a group of rival militants in Syria's northwestern province of Aleppo.

The extremists announced on their social media pages on Saturday that one of their senior commanders, identified by the nom de guerre Atiyallah, had lost his life after a bloody gun battle with a number of opponents.

Chaos, infighting and accusations have soared within the ranks of Jabhat Fateh al-Sham over the past few days as Syrian government forces, supported by allied fighters from popular defense groups, continue to make territorial gains against the Takfiris.

Meanwhile, Syrian army troops and their allies have carried out fresh operations against Jabhat Fateh al-Sham in the southern parts of Aleppo province, inflicting substantial losses on them.

A military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Syria's official news agency, SANA, that Syrian soldiers and pro-government fighters had managed to regain complete control over al-Wazz Hill west of Tarfawi village, killing and injuring many terrorists in the process.

The source added that army units then started combing the area of hidden ordnance and remnants of the Takfiri terrorist group.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding the Takfiri terrorist groups wreaking havoc in the country.

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Syria resolute in continuing anti-terror fight with help of Iran, Russia: Assad

Iran Press TV

Sat Jan 27, 2018 04:56PM

President Bashar al-Assad has reiterated Syria's resolve to continue battling terrorism with the help of Iran and Russia, amid efforts for the peaceful settlement of the crisis in the Arab country.

Assad made the remarks in a meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari in the Syrian capital Damascus on Saturday, according to Syria's official news agency, SANA.

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad and senior presidential adviser Bouthaina Shaaban were also present at the meeting.

Iran and Russia have been offering military advisory support to the Syrian government in its battle against extremist militants.

Russian jets have also been conducting air raids against the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group and other terror outfits inside Syria at the Damascus government's request since September 2015.

The airstrikes have helped Syrian forces advance against anti-Damascus militants, who have been wreaking havoc in the Arab country since 2011.

Assad and Jaberi Ansari also discussed ways to enhance the strategic Syrian-Iranian ties in various areas, especially in fighting terrorism and mutual efforts for the success of the forthcoming Syrian National Dialogue Congress in the Russian resort city of Sochi.

The next round of intra-Syrian national dialogue between the Syrian government and the opposition would commence in Sochi on Monday.

On Thursday, Russia said some 1,600 people had been invited to the talks aimed at resolving the years-long crisis in the Arab country.

Last December, Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed to hold the congress in Sochi on January 29-30. While the Syrian government at the time immediately announced that it would attend the event, 40 Syrian "opposition" groups rejected the Russian initiative, which is also aimed at agreeing on a post-war constitution in the Arab country.

Assad and Jaberi Ansari also exchanged views on Turkey's military assault in Syria's northwestern region of Afrin, saying the military campaign was aimed at grabbing Syrian territories, backing terrorist organizations operating inside the conflict-plagued Arab country, and torpedoing peace efforts on Syria.

Last week, Turkey launched a new air and ground operation, called "Operation Olive Branch," around the area of Afrin to oust the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara views as a terror organization and the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

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.

During the Saturday meeting, Jaberi Ansari further stressed Iran's unwavering support for Syria in its fight against terrorism and in the county's reconstruction process.

In a separate meeting earlier in the day, the Iranian official and Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem discussed the latest developments in Syria and the region.

They emphasized the significance of the Sochi peace talks, expressing hope that the National Dialogue Congress would push for a peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis.

According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, international observers, including those from the UN, will participate in the congress along with Syrian parties. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will also attend.

Meanwhile, Syria's foreign-backed main opposition group has refused to attend the Russia-brokered peace talks in Sochi.

The Saudi-affiliated Syrian High Negotiations Commission (HNC) announced last week it would need further details before it could make a final decision on whether to take part in the event, which dozens of opposition armed groups have already rejected.

Eight rounds of Syria peace talks, which took place in the Swiss city of Geneva, failed to achieve tangible results, mainly due to the opposition's insistence that the Syrian government cede power.

A parallel peace process between Syria's warring parties in the Kazakh capital Astana has resulted in significant achievements instead, leading to ceasefires and the establishment of de-escalation zones across the conflict-ridden country. The Astana talks have been brokered by Iran, Russia and Turkey.

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UN to send envoy to Syria peace talks in Russia's Sochi despite opposition boycott

Iran Press TV

Sat Jan 27, 2018 02:39PM

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has decided to send his special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, to an upcoming Syrian peace conference in Russia next week, a UN spokesman says.

Guterres "is confident that the congress in Sochi will be an important contribution" to revive the UN-sponsored peace talks in Geneva, Stephane Dujarric said on Saturday.

The UN decision to send its envoy to the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi comes despite the Syrian opposition's calls for the boycott of the event.

The next round of intra-Syrian national dialogue between Damascus and the opposition would commence in Sochi on Monday. On Thursday, Russia said some 1,600 people had been invited to the talks aimed at resolving the years-long crisis in the Arab country.

Last December, Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed to hold the congress in Sochi on January 29-30. While the Syrian government at the time immediately announced that it would attend the event, 40 Syrian "opposition" groups rejected the Russian initiative, which is also aimed at agreeing on a post-war constitution in the Arab country.

Earlier this week, Syria's main opposition group, the Saudi-affiliated Syrian High Negotiations Commission (HNC), announced that it would need further details before it could make a final decision on whether to take part in the event, which dozens of opposition armed groups have already rejected.

Eight rounds of Syria peace talks, which took place in the Swiss city of Geneva, failed to achieve tangible results, mainly due to the opposition's insistence that the Syrian government cede power.

A parallel peace process between Syria's warring parties in the Kazakh capital Astana has resulted in significant achievements instead, leading to ceasefires and the establishment of de-escalation zones across the conflict-ridden country. The Astana talks have been brokered by Iran, Russia and Turkey.

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US needs to withdraw from Syria's Manbij region immediately, says Turkey

Iran Press TV

Sat Jan 27, 2018 01:26PM

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says US military forces need to immediately withdraw from Syria's northern region of Manbij as Turkish troops are engaged in an operation in the Arab country's Afrin region against militants from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).

Speaking to reporters in the capital Ankara on Saturday, Cavusoglu said Turkey wanted to see concrete steps by the United States to end its support for the Syrian Kurdish force.

The remarks came hours after the Turkish presidency announced in a statement that Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin and US National Security Adviser Herbert Raymond McMaster had discussed Turkey's ongoing Operation Olive Branch in Syria's northwestern Afrin region during a telephone conversation the previous night.

McMaster said that Washington would not give more weapons to YPG militants.

The two senior officials also agreed to boost mutual coordination and clear up misunderstandings on issues concerning Syria, the statement added.

Also on Saturday, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement that at least 394 YPG militants had been killed since the beginning of Operation Olive Branch in Afrin on January 20.

The military said that only terrorists and their positions and shelters were being destroyed, and that "careful attention" was being paid not to harm any civilian.

Meanwhile, more than 10,000 people demonstrated in Cologne, Germany, on Saturday to denounce the Turkish offensive in northern Syria against YPG militants.

The demonstrators held placards that read "Freedom for Kurdistan" and "Shame on you, Europe!" in the western German city.

The Syrian government has already condemned the "brutal Turkish aggression" against Afrin, rejecting Ankara's claim about having informed Damascus of the operation.

Damascus "strongly condemns the brutal Turkish aggression on Afrin, which is an inseparable part of Syrian territory," Syria's official news agency, SANA, cited a Syrian Foreign Ministry source as saying last week.

"Syria completely denies claims by the Turkish regime that it was informed of this military operation," the source added.

Ankara views the YPG as the Syrian branch of the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) that has been fighting for an autonomous region inside Turkey since 1984.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly said that Afrin should be cleared of "terrorists," and demanded the deployment of Turkish troops there during a speech back in November 2016.

This is while US officials regard the YPG as the most effective fighting force against the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in northern Syria, and have substantially increased their weaponry and technology support to the terrorist group.

The controversy over a possible Syria border force first started on January 14 when a report emerged on Reuters saying that the military coalition led by the United States in Syria was planning to set up a large border force of up to 30,000 personnel with the aid of its militia allies.

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US promises Turkey to stop arming Kurds, again

Iran Press TV

Sat Jan 27, 2018 10:43AM

Turkey says the United States has promised it for a second time to stop arming Syria-based Kurdish militants whom Ankara considers a threat to its security, as the American support for them risks pitting the two NATO members against one another.

The Turkish Presidency said in a statement on Saturday that Ibrahim Kalin, a spokesman for President Tayyip Erdogan, and US National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster had held a phone call a day earlier in which McMaster confirmed the US would no longer provide weapons to the so-called Kurdish People's Protection Unit (YPG).

Turkey views the YPG as allies of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) group, which has been fighting a separatist war against Ankara for decades.

Turkey first deployed forces in northern Syria in 2016 to repel the YPG under the banner of Operation Euphrates Shield, pressuring Washington to stop its provision of arms, training, and air support to the militants, who were fighting Daesh at the time.

US President Donald Trump and Erdogan spoke on the phone on November 24 last year, when, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Trump said the US would no longer supply arms to the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Three days after the call, Erdogan said Washington had failed to live up to many of its promises to Ankara concerning Syria, apparently referring to persisting US support for the militants, and said the city of Afrin in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo had to be cleansed of the YPG.

Last week, Ankara deployed military forces to Afrin and began confronting the YPG anew. Erdogan on Friday threatened that the Turkish forces would later be dispatched to the nearby city of Manbij, where American forces are present.

Turkey has warned Washington that there could be a confrontation between Turkish and American troops in northern Syria if Washington did not halt the arms transfer to the Kurds.

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Peace proposal by US, Saudi Arabia 'not even worth the ink': Syria

Iran Press TV

Sat Jan 27, 2018 12:29AM

The Syrian ambassador to the United Nations and head of the government delegation to intra-Syrian peace talks has strongly rejected a proposal offered by some countries, including the US and Saudi Arabia, for the resolution of the Syrian crisis, saying the so-called peace plan is "not even worth the ink."

Bashar al-Ja'afari made the remarks at a press conference held at the end of UN-brokered indirect peace negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition groups in the Austrian capital city of Vienna on Friday, referring to what he described as an informal paper about reviving the political process in Geneva proposed by the US, Britain, France, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

"Every word and sentence of this unofficial paper is rejected. And it is not worth the ink that it is printed on because the people will not and do not accept solutions which come down on parachutes or on the backs of tanks," Ja'afari said.

Furthermore, he blasted the five countries and told reporters that the proposal was "tantamount to a black comedy."

"All of them have participated in the bloodshed of the Syrian people," he said of the five nations, denouncing Washington as the creator, financial supporter and protector of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

How can the US, which "has Syrian blood on its hands and attacks Syria directly,... speak of a political solution and the future of Syria? How can countries like Britain and France, which follow the American policy..., be the makers of any political solution in Syria?" Ja'afari added.

The senior Syrian negotiator also blasted Jordan for opening "its territories for foreign terrorists" and becoming "a haven for training camps" for them. He also questioned Amman's eligibility as a determiner of Syria's "politics, sovereignty and... future."

Ja'afari went on to lambast Saudi Arabia for co-authoring such a proposal, describing Riyadh sarcastically as anything but a "beacon of freedom in the east."

Speaking about the Vienna two-day meeting, he said the Syrian delegation had constructive discussions with UN Special Envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura. "We used the meeting to answer many questions, especially with regard to Sochi's congress," Ja'afari said.

Ja'afari's comments came just three days before a separate round of intra-Syrian national dialogue between Damascus and the opposition would commence in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi. On Thursday, Russia said some 1,600 people had been invited to the Congress of National Dialogue aimed at resolving the years-long crisis in the Arab country.

Last December, Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed to hold the congress in Sochi on January 29-30. While the Syrian government at the time immediately announced that it would attend the event, 40 Syrian "opposition" groups rejected the Russian initiative, which is also aimed at agreeing on a post-war constitution in the Arab country.

According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, international observers, including those from the UN, will participate in the congress along with Syrian parties. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will also attend.

Earlier this week, Syria's main opposition group, the Saudi-affiliated Syrian High Negotiations Commission (HNC), announced that it would need further details before it could make a final decision on whether to take part in the congress, which dozens of opposition armed groups have already rejected.

Eight rounds of Syria peace talks, which took place in the Swiss city of Geneva, failed to achieve tangible results, mainly due to the opposition's insistence that the Syrian government cede power.

A parallel peace process between Syria's warring parties in the Kazakh capital Astana has resulted in significant achievements instead, leading to ceasefires and the establishment of de-escalation zones across the conflict-ridden country. The Astana talks have been brokered by Iran, Russia and Turkey.

Syrian opposition faction 'won't attend Sochi Congress'

Meanwhile, a spokesman for a faction of the Syrian opposition says the outfit will not attend the Sochi talks.

Yahya al-Aridi said his faction had not seen "commitment" on the part of the Syrian government in the round of talks in Vienna and that the Sochi Congress was meant to "sideline" the Geneva process.

Syrian opposition groups, particularly those instructed by Saudi Arabia, have been dismayed by the progress made in the Astana process, and have often threatened not to participate in talks arranged by the three guarantor states of the Astana process, only to show up at the eleventh hour most of the times.

Separately, de Mistura, the UN envoy, said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres would decide how the world body would respond to the invitation to attend Sochi. He added that Russia said Sochi was aimed at supporting the UN process.

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Turkish Foreign Minister Urges Immediate US Withdrawal From Syria's Manbij

Sputnik News

14:23 27.01.2018(updated 15:09 27.01.2018)

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has stated that the United States should take concrete steps to prove the end of support for Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), rather than rhetoric.

The statement was made amid the ongoing Turkish military offensive in the Kurdish-dominated Syrian city of Afrin, launched on January 20 and provoked, as Ankara explained, by the necessity for the country to protect its borders from a "terrorist army," the new "Border Defense Forces," comprising the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Kurdish YPG militias, trained by the US.

On the day the operation was started, Pentagon representative Adrian Rankine-Galloway told Sputnik that the US recognized Turkey's concerns regarding the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), but called on all sides to avoid escalation and focus on countering terrorism.

In defiance of the opposition to the military advance by numerous members of the international community, Ankara claimed that it would continue the operation, extending it to Manbij. However, Turkey stressed that the offensive was not aimed against the Syrian government, calling the territorial integrity of Syria its mutual goal with Damascus.

Nonetheless, Damascus denounced the operation and called it a violation of Syria's sovereignty.

Despite the numerous US assertions that Washington would not provide more weapons to the YPG and the Democratic Union Party (PYD), Ankara repeatedly points to the lack of solid evidence to prove this fact.

In December 2017, US President Donald Trump had reassured Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he had ordered to cease supplies of US weapons to the Syrian Kurds, according to Cavusoglu's previous statement.

 Sputnik

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McMaster Confirms to Turkey, US Not to Give Weapons to Kurds - Reports

Sputnik News

12:15 27.01.2018(updated 12:21 27.01.2018)

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin held phone talks with US National Security Adviser Herbert Raymond McMaster, during which McMaster confirmed that the US would not provide further weapons to Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the Anadolu news agency reported Saturday.

During the talks that were held on Friday night, the sides also discussed that Turkey's security concerns that should be taken into account and agreed to keep a close contact to avoid misunderstandings, the agency reported.

The conversation occurred in wake of a statement, made by the Pentagon two days earlier, that the US hadn't provided any training or arms to the Kurds located in the Afrin area.

Last December, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced that US President Donald Trump had reassured Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he had ordered to cease supplies of US weapons to the Syrian Kurds.

Turkey has been conducting the Olive Branch military operation in the Kurdish-dominated Syrian town of Afrin since January 20. The town is controlled by the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).

The latter is considered to be affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is designated as a terrorist group by 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.

Damascus 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

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Syrian Kurdish YPG Reports Repelling Major Assault in Afrin Region

Sputnik News

05:38 27.01.2018

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Syria's Kurdish militia YPG repelled a major offensive overnight by pro-Turkish Syrian rebels in the northwestern region of Afrin, killing dozens of fighters, the YPG command told Sputnik on Saturday.

"Pro-Turkish militants attacked the villages of Ain Daqna and Belule where YPG and YPJ [female division] were lying in wait. Eighty-three militants were killed in a fierce fight that followed," the command said.

The Kurdish forces have published videos that allegedly showed the bodies of killed Syrian militants. The militia did not disclose their casualties.

The Turkish

and allied rebels from the Free Syrian Army launched an operation last Saturday, called Olive Branch, to crush YPG forces which Ankara accuses of ties to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a pro-independence group in Turkey.

Since the beginning of the military operation, the Turkish military and Kurdish representatives have been sharing conflicting reports concerning the situation in the region.

YPG said earlier that no more than 15-20 Kurdish militiamen had been killed, while the Turkish military reported that hundreds of militants had been killed in the campaign.

 Sputnik

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UN envoy for Syria to attend Russia-sponsored talks in Sochi

27 January 2018  United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will send his Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, to Sochi next week to attend the Russia-sponsored Congress of the Syrian National Dialogue, talks reportedly on a political solution towards ending the seven- year Syrian conflict.

Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the UN chief, who is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia attending the African Union Summit, was fully briefed by Mr. de Mistura, who himself just wrapped up two days of UN- facilitated talks with Syrian Government and opposition delegations in Vienna.

The Spokesman said that in making the decision to send his envoy, Mr. Guterres took into account Russia's assertion that the outcome of the Sochi meeting, which will be held on 29 and 30 January, would be brought to Geneva as a contribution to the UN-backed intra-Syrian talks, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2254.

Adopted in 2015, that resolution endorsed a road map for a political process to end the conflict in Syria, including specific language on governance, a constitution and elections.

"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 United Nations in Geneva, based on the full implementation of the Geneva Communique and Security Council resolution 2254," said Mr. Dujarric.

Closing out the constitution-focused special 9th round of intra-Syrian talks last night in Vienna, Mr. de Mistura told reporters that "the ultimate goal of a constitutional process is to enable the Syrian people to freely and independently determine their own future in UN-supervised parliamentary and presidential elections, meeting the requirements laid out in resolution 2254."

Recalling that the only sustainable solution to the current crisis in Syria is through "an inclusive and Syrian-led political process," the Special Envoy said it was his assessment that any Constitutional Committee would "at the very least" comprise Government and Opposition representatives in the intra-Syrian talks, Syrian experts, civil society, tribal leaders and women; and that care would be taken to ensure adequate representation of Syria's ethnic and religious components.

The conflict is Syria, which erupted in the wake of massive popular demonstrations in 2011, has, according to the UN relief wing, been marked by unparalleled suffering, destruction and disregard for human life. Some 13.1 million people now require humanitarian assistance, including close to three million people in need trapped in besieged and hard-to-reach areas.

"I share the immense frustration of millions of Syrians, inside and outside the country, at the lack of a political settlement," Mr. de Mistura said, expressing hope that the talks in Sochi will contribute to a revived and credible intra-Syrian talks process, which he plans to reconvene "in the near future."

"Ultimately, what is required is political will. It is high time that diplomacy, dialogue and negotiation prevail for the interest of all Syrians," he said.

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UN to Send Envoy to Russia-Sponsored Syria Talks

By Lisa Schlein January 27, 2018

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. Syria's 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.

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Turkey: US to End Arms Supplies to Syrian Kurds

By VOA News January 27, 2018

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."

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 other's 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.

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Turkish General Staff Reports Destruction of 42 Targets in Afrin Saturday

Sputnik News

20:53 27.01.2018(updated 21:41 27.01.2018)

Turkey started a military offensive in Kurdish-dominated Afrin on January 20, aiming to protect its boundaries from various Kurdish militia formations, treated as a potential terror threat by Ankara.

"The Turkish Air Force, during air attacks in the course of operation Olive Branch, on January 27 destroyed 42 targets of the PYD terrorist organization (Kurdish Democratic Alliance Party), YPG (Kurdish Self-Defense Forces), Daesh (banned in Russia) and 53 terrorists. The operation involved 22 aircraft, which returned safely to their bases. Since the beginning of the operation, 394 terrorists have been eliminated. Turkish forces lost two servicemen during the day, and 11 servicemen were injured," a statement from the Turkish General Staff, obtained by Sputnik, says.

The report also noted that two members of the opposition "Free Syrian Army" have died, and four others were seriously injured.

Kurdish Side

Meanwhile, Kurdish militia earlier in the day reported the downing of two Turkish reconnaissance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) in the village of Adama, as well as two Turkish soldiers killed in the Chia district.

According to the SDF, Turkey keeps bombing Afrin, especially the districts of Jabal Bafalon and Chia. Kurdish forces, in their turn, are repelling the attacks, which are supported by the Free Syrian Army, on Qastal Ma'af, a strategically important point, and have managed to destroy an armored vehicle.

Olive Branch Operation

Ankara started its military operation in Syrian Afrin on January 20, soon after the US announcement of their plans to start training the new "Border Defense Forces," comprising the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Kurdish YPG militias, affiliated by Ankara with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is designated a terrorist group by Turkey and several other countries.

Explaining the operation as a defense of the country's borders from a "terrorist army," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised to extend operation to other Kurdish-populated areas of Syria, such as Manbij, moving throughout the entire border.

Despite the ongoing offensive, Turkey has stressed that the operation is not aimed against the Syrian government, calling the territorial integrity of Syria its mutual goal with Damascus.

 Sputnik

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Turkey 'Has Come a Long Way' in Developing Its Own Weapons - Generals

Sputnik News

14:37 27.01.2018

There have been conflicting reports about Germany mulling a suspension on the delivery of modernized Leopard main battle tanks to Turkey in light of Ankara's ongoing military operation in northern Syria.

Germany's possible decision to freeze the supply of modernized Leopard tanks requested by Turkey will by no means slow down the pace of the military operation against Kurds in Afrin, two retired Turkish generals have told Sputnik.

"Turkey is using a whole range of arms, including US tanks and modernized German Leopards as part of its successful military operation which became possible after Russia agreed to open its airspace to the Turkish Air Force," retired Major General Armagan Kuloglu said in an interview with Sputnik Turkey.

He dismissed a possible German embargo as a symbolic gesture aimed at domestic consumption.

"Berlin did not openly criticize the operation in Afrin

, but shortly after, said it was suspending the leopard modernization plan. I see this as a nod to the country's sizable Kurdish community and also to the Greens. Therefore, I think that the Merkel government made this decision to dampen the opposition voices and boost her political positions. I believe that it won't be long before talks on the modernization program are resumed," the general noted.

Retired Brigadier-General Ali Er, who has spent many years working within NATO's command structures, agreed with his colleague that Turkey's military operation in Afrin will not be hampered by the suspension of the Leopard modernization program.

He said that Turkey has everything it needs for the effective use and maintenance of its imported tanks.

"Besides, we have enough spare parts to keep us going for at least another 10 years. [] The infrastructure that we have today is ideal for both short-term combat operations and long-term ones," he emphasized.

"I don't think that our military modernization programs will depend on German [assistance] any time soon, because we have come a long way in developing our own weapons," he added.

When asked how possible disagreements between Turkey and its NATO partners might impact the combat readiness of its armed forces, General Er said that since the Turkish military never takes time-serving decisions, especially when it comes to weapons systems, the defense strategy is outlined as part of a general system of national priorities, which is a decades-long process.

"Therefore, it will take 10 or 15 years before the tensions currently existing between Turkey and NATO start being reflected on our security strategy," the general concluded.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Thursday denied a Spiegel report that Germany had frozen the supply of Leopard main battle tanks to Ankara in light of the ongoing Turkish military operation in northern Syria.

He called Germany Turkey's ally and said that Ankara expects "support and solidarity" from Berlin.

 Sputnik

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Kurds Reportedly Down Two Turkish UAVs Amid Offensive in Afrin

Sputnik News

14:15 27.01.2018(updated 17:16 27.01.2018)

Turkey began its operation in the Kurdish-dominated Afrin last week after the US announced that it would start training a border protection force comprising the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), affiliated with the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey considers to be a terrorist group.

Kurdish militia has downed two Turkish reconnaissance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) in the village of Adama, northern Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces' (SDF) media center reported Saturday.

Beyond that, the media center stated that the SDF also attacked a Turkish military convoy in the Chia district, killing two Turkish soldiers.

According to the report, Turkey continues to bomb Afrin, especially the districts of Jabal Bafalon and Chia. The SDF, in their turn, are repelling the attacks of the Turkish forces, supported by the Free Syrian Army, on Qastal Ma'af, which is a strategically important point, and have managed to destroy an armored vehicle.

Turkey has been conducting the Olive Branch military operation in the Kurdish-dominated Syrian town of Afrin since January 20. The town is controlled by the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which is considered to be affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), designated as a terrorist group by Turkey and several other countries.

According to Ankara, the offensive is not aimed against the Syrian government; the latter, however, described the operation as a violation of Syria's sovereignty.

 Sputnik

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Nearly 400 Kurdish, Daesh Fighters Killed in Afrin Op - Turkish General Staff

Sputnik News

12:15 27.01.2018(updated 17:36 27.01.2018)

The Olive Branch offensive was launched by Ankara on January 20 in the Kurdish-dominated Syrian town of Afrin, controlled by the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).

The Turkish Army has eliminated 394 Kurdish and Daesh fighters, while the country's aviation has destroyed 340 targets, the Turkish General Staff reported Saturday.

"Since the beginning of the Olive Branch operation, the Turkish Air Force has destroyed 340 targets, belonging to the PYD, the YPG and Daesh, while 394 fighters have been eliminated. At the same time, three Turkish soldiers have been killed and 30 wounded. Thirteen fighters from the Free Syrian Army have been killed and 24 wounded," a statement, obtained by RIA Novosti news agency says, noting that the operation had been proceeding on a scheduled basis.

The statement by the Turkish General Staff comes a day after the Syrian Democratic Forces' press service reported the deaths of 308 Turkish servicemen in the Olive Branch operation in Afrin.

At the same time, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has claimed 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]."

Turkey has been conducting the Olive Branch military operation in the Kurdish-dominated Syrian town of Afrin since January 20. The town is controlled by the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).

The latter is considered to be affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is designated as a terrorist group by 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.

Damascus 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

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Turkey's Erdogan Says He's Ready to Risk Confrontation With US

By Jamie Dettmer January 27, 2018

A defiant Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Friday that he's prepared to risk confrontation with the United States over Turkey's 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 he's 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.

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 Turkey's 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 People's Protection Units (YPG) as a terrorists. They say the YPG is an affiliate of the Turkey's 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.

'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 Turkey's "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 Erdogan's 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.

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 Moscow's plans for ending the Syria conflict in a way that benefits its ally Assad.

"Afrin's 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 country's 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."

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UK to launch new radar in north to tackle 'severe threat from Russia'

Iran Press TV

Sat Jan 27, 2018 06:10PM

The British defense secretary says a new radar facility will soon be fully operated on the UK's most northerly inhabited island to tackle what he described as "severe and real threat from Russia."

Gavin Williamson said on Friday that the 10 million ($14.1 million) radar, which is being built at Saxa Vord on the island of Unst off Shetland, would track unidentified military or civilian aircraft.

"We will always protect our skies from Russian aggression," Williamson said Friday. "Russia's actions are not limited to Europe's eastern borders -- the threat to British livelihoods is severe and real."

Once launched, the new Royal Air Force (RAF) facility will provide key information on aircraft movements across the North Sea and feed into the country's Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) system, which in the past has been used to scramble RAF jets to intercept Russian aircraft.

In an interview published by The Daily Telegraph newspaper on Thursday, Williamson accused Russia of spying on Britain's crucial infrastructure, as part of possible plans to create "total chaos" in the country. He also said that Russia could cause "thousands and thousands and thousands of deaths" by crippling UK infrastructure.

A spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry, Igor Konashenkov, however, dismissed the allegations in a written response on Friday, saying Williamson "has lost his grasp on reason."

"If these statements are an attempt by Wilson to attract attention to himself, he will be far from the first defense minister to try to score political points by playing up the Russian threat to the British," Konashenkov wrote.

Williamson made the remarks after the head of the British army General Nick Carter said the country needed to "keep up" with Russia's growing military strength or see its ability to take action "massively constrained."

Carter warned on 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 new radar facility, according to the defense ministry would improve NATO understanding of the airspace north of Britain and further out across the Norwegian Sea. The facility will be operated remotely by Royal Air Force personnel, and contractors will only attend the site for maintenance.

NATO has recently accused Russia of seeking to attack countries in Eastern Europe, using that allegation to build up forces near Russian borders  NATO's "eastern flank." Russia, perceiving that buildup as unprovoked and a threat to its security, has in recent years taken action to strengthen its defenses along its western borders.

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Russia 'Will Study' New U.S. Proposals For Ukraine

RFE/RL January 27, 2018

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

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-surkov-volker-russia- study-u-s-proposals/29002067.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.

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The uneventful January is almost over now and our attention has completely shifted to the Mobile World Congress which starts in a month.

This is reflected in our most read articles throughout the week, which are peppered with Galaxy S9 and S9+ titles. The most read article from this past week concerned the upcoming Galaxy duo's fast charging capabilities (which are starting to look a bit regular these days). Another engaging story was the 1080p@480fps video capture that might debut on the Galaxy S9. Finally the design of the Galaxy S9+ was shown alongside some case renders and we got the confirmation that Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S9 and S9+ on February 25.

Just like in week 3, Xiaomi was a source of interest in Week 4 too. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5's leaked specs gathered a lot of attention. Nokia's rumored penta-camera setup was also a point of serious interest.

Then there were the usual leaks and rumors - the bezel-free Meizu 15 Plus and the Xiaomi Mi 6X made the rounds, Apple may have a 6.1-inch iPhone with a "tall" 18:9 LCD screen. And finally vivo made the first phone with an under-the-screen fingerprint reader official - the vivo X20 Plus UD.

Stay tuned for next week's interesting tech stories.



Certification reveals Galaxy S9 and S9+ fast charging capabilities Previously, the Brazilian agency revealed that there will be no increase in battery capacity.





Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 specs leaked by China's 3C The phone will have two versions with different chipsets - one with SD630 and another with SD636.





Nokia 10 to come with penta-camera setup The sensors will be in a circle, accompanied by an LED flash.





New Meizu 15 Plus images suggest ultra narrow bezels on three sides The phone is expected to be announced in February and launched for sale in March.





Red Hydrogen One hitting US carrier(s) this summer There is still much work to be done. A forum post reveals new information about the Hydrogen One.





Xiaomi Mi 6X allegedly leaks in hands-on photos The images come from two sources and show us two color versions of the upcoming smartphone.





Samsung will officially unveil the Galaxy S9 on February 25 The company has sent invitations to the press, where the Galaxy S9 will take the stage during the MWC later next month.





Samsung Galaxy S9+ leaks in case renders The design of the Galaxy S9+ leaks in detail thanks to case renders.





Huawei P11 name trademarked by the company It's starting to look pretty certain that the new flagship will not be called "Huawei P20".





Rumored 6.1-inch LCD iPhone comes with 18:9 screen According to some new (but unconfirmed) information, the one LCD model for 2018 will employ a JDI panel.


Published on 2018/01/28 | Source

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder and his partner Kim So-yeon on the cover of the German magazine Bunte

Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroder and his Korean interpreter Kim So-yeon have confirmed they are lovers.

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The German weekly Bunte published an interview with the two titled "Ja, es ist Liebe! (Yes, This is Love)". The cover photo features Schroder and Kim clinging to each other.

The former chancellor said Kim is his "ideal" woman. Other German media said the couple may announce marriage plans during an upcoming visit to Korea.

The two met three years ago, when Kim served as Schroder's interpreter during an international conference. Their relationship became public when Schroder's estranged wife, Doris Schroder-Kopf, said on Facebook that it was the "final straw, if not the only reason, for our final separation" in 2016.
Published on 2018/01/28 | Source

Banners wishing for the reunification of the two Koreas hang at the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, Gyeonggi Province on Jan. 20. /Newsis

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.

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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.

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.

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 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".
Published on 2018/01/28 | Source

The opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang on Feb. 9 will take the form of a fairytale adventure through Korea's culture and history.

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"We aim to project the country's passionate pursuit of peace and harmony", said Song Seung-hwan, the creative director of the show, on Wednesday. "Through children's exploration of Korean culture and history, we will evoke a world made peaceful by the power of communication and connection".

Five children will go on an adventure through five millennia of Korean history, taking in several high points along the way and ending on a note of hope and harmony.

Executive producer Yang Jung-woong said, "We can't reveal more details about the content due to IOC regulations, but cutting-edge Korean technologies will be used in the show including augmented reality, fifth-generation mobile communication, and drones".

The closing ceremony on Feb. 25 will be titled "Next Wave".

The last-minute participation of North Korea will not change the ceremonies. "The ceremonies are planned down to the second, so there can be no addition of North Korean performers", Song said. "But there are talks of a North Korean taekwondo performance before the opening ceremony".

The Olympic cauldron at the Olympic Plaza in Pyeongchang was inspired by Korean traditional moon jar, with five fingers holding it up. French cultural pundit Guy Sorman has praised the moon jar as epitome of Korea's unique sense of beauty and technology that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

To help visitors endure the cold in the stadium, organizers said windproof jackets, fleece blankets, heat-generating cushions, hand and feet warmers and hats will be given out for free, and wind shields and heater as well as heat shelter will be installed.

Kim Dae-hyun at the organizing committee said, "The organizers of the 1994 Lillehammer Games, which is recorded as the coldest Winter Olympics to this date, asked visitors to dress warmly. We ask visitors to Pyeongchang to do the same, wear thermals and a scarf, and dress appropriately for cold weather".

Some things will be banned from the stadium including liquids, non-transparent containers, large camera lenses, tripods and firecrackers.

Asked whether visitors can bring the national flag despite North Korea's participation, Kim said, "It is only right for any South Korean to bring a taegeukgi, or the unification flag if they wish. However, under the National Security Law, the North Korean flag is not allowed".

Read this article in Korean
Published on 2018/01/28 | Source

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon holds a press conference at City Hall in the capital on Sunday. /Newsis

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon on Sunday defended his controversial plans to combat air pollution in Seoul.

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Park called a press conference and said, "We need extra measures to tackle worsening fine dust problems and should urgently enforce the odd-even car ban to reduce vehicle emissions".

One aim is to ban driving in an odd-even number plate rotation on days when smog is bad.

The ban lies outside the Seoul mayor's authority, but Park said, "We will try to revise regulations so that the Seoul mayor can implement a special order for the ban on days of severe toxic haze", which means when the density of ultrafine or PM 2/5 dust particles is over 50 / for more than two days.

The press conference came amid criticism that Seoul's decision to offer free rides on public transport when smog is bad is hugely expensive and ineffective.

"It was the first time we did it, and there was no cooperation from nearby Incheon city and Gyeonggi Province", he said, and pledged to continue the policy. "We need to lower the level required for a warning to be issued".

Park said Seoul will also take other measures to tackle air pollution. Vehicles will be divided into seven groups based on CO2 emissions, and penalties will be levied if they exceed a certain level.

The city government will also invest another W460 billion to support the use of electric vehicles by 2022 (US$1=W1,067).

Critics say that most of the toxic smog is blown over from China and Park's plans are off-target.
A sushi outlet operator, its part-owner and an accountant have been slapped with almost $200,000 in penalties for an unlawful internship program that exploited young workers from Korea.



Acting on legal action by the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Federal Circuit Court ordered Kjoo Pty -- which operated a Masaki sushi outlet at the Stockland Shellharbour Shopping Centre, south of Wollongong  to pay $161.760 in penalties. Its manager and part-owner, Hyo Jun John Kwon was penalised $32,352.



Kjoos accountant Ok Gyu Lim, director of accountancy firm Hanlim, was penalised $4,608 for preparing false records submitted to the Fair Work Ombudsman during the investigation.



Three workers aged 20 and 21 were students at Busan Institute of Science and Technology, a private Korean college that had an internship agreement with Kjoo.



It was this agreement that encouraged the workers, all of whom spoke little English, to travel to Australia on 417 working holiday visas to gain work experience.



They worked four to six days per week, averaging more than 38 hours, and were paid flat rates of between $12 and $13.50 per hour in cash.



Three workers were underpaid a total of $51,025 at the Masaki sushi outlet between September 2014 and July 2015.



But the internship agreement was not authorised under any Australian law. As such, the work the women performed did not form part of their studies, and they should have been properly classified as employees entitled to be paid the minimum pay rates that applied under the Fast Food Industry Award 2010.



There was a deliberate, intentional and informed decision by Kjoo, through Kwon, to underpay the employees to gain a financial advantage for its business, said Judge Philip Dowdy.



He found that Kwon knew the workers were entitled to be paid according to the Award and should have received minimum hourly rates ranging from $16.67 to $18.99 plus casual loadings, and penalty rates ranging from $23 to $47 an hour.



The deliberate targeting of the employees for underpayment is emphasised by the fact that all other employees of businesses associated with Kwon had been paid according to Australian law, Dowdy said.



Unlawful deductions were also made from the workers wages for accommodation.



The Fair Work Ombudsman discovered the underpayments when it investigated after the workers sought assistance from it. It issued the company a Notice to Produce, but accountant Lim, on Kwons advice, created false records showing the workers had been paid much higher wages than they actually were.



I regard the creation of this false documentation and its submission to the [Fair Work Ombudsman] as if they were true and correct as the highest level of dishonesty,

Dowdy said.



Lims conduct, the judge added, merits the most serious condemnation. His case has been referred to the Tax Practitioners Board and the Institute of Professional Accountants.



The underpayments had been rectified before litigation began.



Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James said the substantial penalties reinforced the message that there were serious consequences for employers who use unlawful internship programs as a source of cheap labour.



My agency has no tolerance for those who deliberately target the vulnerabilities of young workers, especially migrant workers, for their own financial gain, James said.






The conduct is likely to cause serious damage to the relationship between the employee and employer; or The conduct damages the employers interests or reputation; or The conduct is incompatible with the employee performing their duties.

>by Jacob Reddie Whilst many employers might feel justified in using a criminal record as a reason not to hire someone or in terminating an employee, the law does not always necessarily agree.Criminal records of prospective, or current, employees can be a challenge for employers to deal with. However, with careful consideration of the issues at hand, it is possible for employers to manage situations involving employees and job applicants with criminal records.Employers, naturally, wish to protect their business by ensuring that their employees are appropriately experienced, qualified and are of good character. Therefore, criminal record checks have become increasingly common during the recruitment process. For instance, the number of criminal record checks in Victoria have increased by 6,000% since 1993. However, employers may be in breach of anti-discrimination legislation if they refuse to hire someone because of their criminal record unless the criminal record is relevant to a persons ability to perform the inherent requirements of the job. This will depend on the nature of the job, what sort of criminal offence was committed and will be determined on a case by case basis.At the federal level, people who feel they have been discriminated against because of their criminal record can apply to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC).Under sections 30-32 of the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth), the AHRC has the power to investigate any claims of discrimination due to a persons criminal record and can make recommendations. However, the AHRC is unable to enforce any of the recommendations that it makes to the employer regarding discrimination.At the state level, Tasmania and the Northern Territory are the only states that have legislation making it unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of irrelevant criminal records. In other states and territories, discriminating against a prospective employee is not specifically prohibited by law.This means that, effectively, there may not be any consequences for most employers in Australia who discriminate on the basis of a criminal record during the recruitment process because they are either not covered by state-based anti-discrimination legislation or because the AHRC recommendations are not enforceable.In any case, realistically, there is no legal mechanism to review an employers discretion to employ a particular person nor is there a requirement upon the employer to make a reasonable decision based only on relevant considerations.In other words, the employer has the choice to employ whoever they want. Even if the criminal record was the reason why an employee was considered inappropriate for the role, employers will often state that someone else was more qualified, more experienced, etc.Employers faced with an employee charged or convicted with a criminal offence must tread more cautiously than during the recruitment process. Many employers would assume they can dismiss an employee who has plead guilty to a serious criminal offence or been convicted. However, criminal conviction alone is not a valid reason for dismissal, particularly when the criminal offence was committed outside of work, and unwary employers may find themselves before the Fair Work Commission facing an unfair dismissal application.For instance, in the matter of Joseph Wakim v Bluestar Global Logistics [2016] FWC 6992, Mr Wakim was dismissed by his employer after pleading guilty to paedophilia. Mr Wakim appeared before the FWC via telephone from his prison cell arguing that he had been unfairly dismissed. Unsurprisingly, the dismissal was ultimately deemed fair. What may be somewhat surprising, is that Mr Wakims dismissal was fair, not because he had plead guilty to a child sex offence, but that the media coverage surrounding Mr Wakims criminal proceedings ensured Mr Wakim could not continue his duties without causing significant damage to the employers business and reputation.For an employer to dismiss an employee because of their criminal charge or conviction due to conduct outside work hours, there must be a relationship of the requisite degree between the employment and the criminal conduct. It has been consistently held in the FWC that employees can be terminated for their criminal conduct where:A common situation where employers are able to take action against an employee because of a criminal charge or conviction is where it will affect the employees ability to undertake their role. An obvious example is where an employee is required to possess a valid drivers licence and they are convicted of drink driving and lose their licence. In this situation, employers will likely have good grounds to terminate the employee.Employers are also still required to provide procedural fairness to the employee if they are terminating because of a criminal charge or conviction. This means they have a right to respond to any allegations against them, the right to have a support person, etc. For instance, in the matter of James Deeth v Milly Hill Pty Ltd [2015] FWC 6422, Mr Deeth had been charged with accessory to murder after the fact and was released on bail. A director of the employer expressed concern regarding the reputational damage to the business and dismissed Mr Deeth immediately. The employer argued that the dismissal was valid because if Mr Deeth continued to work there, other employees would resign and customers would boycott the business. The FWC held that these were valid concerns, but that the dismissal was unfair because Mr Deeth had been denied procedural fairness because he was not given an opportunity to respond and was not notified directly about his dismissal.
Morocco has gradually entrenched its foothold at the African Union, reaping the benefits of its triumphal return with a landslide support within the pan-African organization.

The election of Morocco to the AU Peace and Security Council is a step forward towards putting the AU on track of addressing Africas pressing issues of security and stability on which the continents development hinges.

Morocco, the unique candidate from the North-African region, was elected to the Peace & Security Council (PSC) for a renewable two-year term (2018-2020) by 39 votes. The minimum of votes required is 36.

The return of Morocco to the African Union is also vindicating the fears of Algeria and its puppet, the Polisario, which have been used to the comfort of not having the Kingdoms voice heard in the continent for decades. But, since the AUs 28th summit which saw Moroccos readmission to its natural place within Africas institutional family, the rug is being gradually and smoothly pulled from under the feet of separatist proponents on the continent.

The Council, chaired by Algerias pro-separatist Ismail Chergui, has long been used by the Polisario-proponents to take decisions detrimental to Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara.

However, sands are now shifting and Morocco together with its friends are set to act as a bulwark against any attempt to derail the AU from its key tasks: promoting African integration and safeguarding states unity and territorial integrity.

Morocco election to the Peace and Security Council, the AUs supreme decision-making body on peace and security issues, is also a recognition for its commitment to African peace and stability through UN peacekeeping efforts, wherein 1600 Moroccan military staff are actually deployed in the continent, notably in the Central African Republic (CAR).

More than 60,000 Moroccan peacekeepers have participated within five UN peacekeeping missions in Africa and 11 Medical and Surgical Field Hospitals were deployed in 10 African countries and provided more than 530,000 medical services to the local populations.

Since his coronation in 1999, the king has undertaken over 40 visits to African countries south of the Sahara. And 85% of Moroccan foreign direct investment is injected in other African countries.

Moroccos south-south cooperation model has earned it new friends and allies, including heavy weights such as Nigeria and Ethiopia. Nigeria, which previously sidelined on Algerian stands, is now taking distance. Nigeria and other countries, known for their pro-Polisario stands in the past, are increasingly sidelining with Morocco and its fair cause.

Thanks to its growing allies in the African Union, Morocco is well-positioned to prevent any attempt at using AUs resolutions to propagate the separatist agenda. The battle to omit the appellation occupied territories from the AUs terminology is also in line with the UN process. It is noteworthy to mention that UN Security Council resolutions on the Sahara have never labeled the Sahara as an occupied territory.

Morocco, which withdrew from the Organization of African Unity (the AUs predecessor) in 1983 to protest the admission of the Polisario within the pan-African organization, has since then been criticizing this admission as an anomaly in contradiction with the international law. This view is also shared by a growing number of African states who see in the Algerian pro-separatist rhetoric an ideological anachronism that aims at manipulating the AU to serve Algiers own hegemonic agenda.

Last year, in the AUs summit in Kigali, 28 African states submitted a motion to the AU Commission demanding the freeze of the membership of the Polisario in the continental organization.

The participation of the SADR entity at the AUs sectoral committees is an aberration since it does not fulfill the attributes of state sovereignty. In admitting the polisario as a fully fledged member, the AU is at odds with the UN process, which calls for a consensual solution to the Sahara issue. It goes without saying that a mutually acceptable solution to the artificial dispute over the Sahara excludes separatism, in addition to the fact that Morocco, with its recovered seat at the AU, will defend its cause much better.
The African Union rebuked Mauritania for falling short of fully eliminating slavery after the country handed out lenient sentences to a slave owner.

Mauritania should give due regard to the issue of slavery and make the elimination one of its priorities, the pan-African body said in a statement on its website.

The statement was published in reaction to a case that goes back to 2011, when a family of slave owners were found guilty of enslaving aid Ould Salem and his brother Yarg. Rights group deplore that the slave owner has been handed only two years in jail for his abhorrent crime, which requires from 5 to 10 years in prison by the law, while other members of the family walked free.

The statement, issued by AUs Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, stressed that all members of the family should be given sentences commensurate to their crimes.

Mauritania was the last country in the world to abolish slavery in 1981 and it was not until 2007 when it passed a law that criminalizes the act of owning another person. Yet, enslavement continues to be practiced with estimates of enslaved people ranging from 10% to 20% of Mauritanias 3.4 million strong population.

Mauritanian authorities have resorted on multiple occasions to the arbitrary detention of the members of the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement (IRA) accusing them of instigating riots and disrupting public order.

IRA is the largest anti-slavery organization in Mauritania, with members throughout the country who regularly mobilize to protest slavery and state-endorsed discrimination based on race, caste and gender.
He wanted to mark Indias 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 Indias 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 Pakistans vested interests.

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 Yousafzais 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 Nazirs 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.

Source : Zee News
Morocco has expressed support for the reform agenda proposed by Rwandas President Paul Kagame to revamp the African Union and boost its financial independence.

In an interview with Moroccan news website, le360.ma, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said that the North African Kingdom adheres to the reforms put forward by President Kagame, who is taking the Chairmanship of the AU at the current African summit, succeeding to his Guinean peer Alpha Conde.

Bourita recalled the speech delivered by the Sovereign on Throne Day last July in which he voiced support for Kagames endeavor to bring about a metamorphosis in the AUs functioning.

The Moroccan minister also lauded the leadership of President Kagame, stressing the need notably to foster the pan-African organization financial independence in order to fully deliver the tasks assigned to it.

It is actually odd to see that three-thirds of AUs budget come from non-African donors, Bourita said, adding that this undermines the organizations credibility.

Africa is struggling today to achieve its financial independence as well as sovereignty in decision-making, said Bourita.

In his interview, on the eve of the 30th Summit, Bourita shed light on the Kingdoms African policy, notably its leadership in addressing the challenges pertaining to migration.

In keeping with its south-south cooperation approach, Morocco signed more than 1000 agreements with 28 African countries covering diverse cooperation areas including education, health, training, infrastructure and agriculture.

Bourita also pointed out to Moroccos widening circle of friends and allies at the AU, saying that the ice-breaking meeting between King Mohammed VI and South Africas President Zuma will yield fruits. Morocco has also reached out to African countries that have been known for backing the Polisario separatists in the past. These include Rwanda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria and South Sudan.

Morocco is collaborating with all countries in AU even though some have inherited stands that are bearing prejudice to the Kingdoms territorial integrity, said Bourita, noting that Moroccos return to the African Union by a landslide support is ushering a new era in its African foreign policy.

On the indivisible concept of security, Bourita recalled that Morocco has never shunned away from contributing to peacekeeping efforts in Africa. Morocco has deployed so far more than 60,000 military and civilian staff in peacekeeping operations under the aegis of the UN in Africa since 1960, he said.

Until July 2017, Moroccan soldiers have been part of the UN mission in Cote dIvoire, ONUCI, he said. Moroccan peacekeepers are also part of the MINUSCA in the Central African Republic where 1,605 soldiers are deployed making Morocco the 14th largest contributor to UN Peacekeeping troops out of 125 countries, Bouita underscored.
On a placid lake in Ahmedabad, the deed that gave the East India Company the right to trade in India was quietly signed. Historical records suggest this happened in 1618, during a boat ride hosted by Mughal emperor Jehangir for the English ambassador Sir Thomas Roe, on either the Kankaria or Sarkhej lake.

Exactly two centuries later, in 1818, the Union Jack was hoisted in the city for the first time as the entire nation came under colonial rule, says historian and architect Yatin Pandya.

The meeting on the lake is one of the pivotal scenes in Kadak Badshahi 2.0, a multimedia, Broadway-style production being staged in Ahmedabad this fortnight. Named after an extra-strong and very popular tea preparation, the play uses giant props, elaborate sets and a cast of 105 to tell the 606-year history of Ahmedabad.

The drama begins at the entrance, where viewers must make their way to the amphitheatre through a maze that mirrors the beautiful old pols  enclosed, residential settlements with a network of narrow, winding lanes  within the walled city. Along the way, there are garba dancers, chai stalls and the iconic stone lattice window of the Sidi Saiyyed mosque recreated in zardozi.

In the lake scene, the sound of ripples builds to an ominous hiss across the 3,000-seat Shrirangam Amphitheatre. Two royal guards row a giant mechanical boat against a video projection of a lake.

The play gets its name from an extra-strong tea preparation very popular in Ahmedabad. At the venue, the drama begins at the main gate. The audience must make its way through a maze lined with garba dancers and chai stalls. (Satyabrata Tripathy / HT Photo)

As the firman or royal decree is signed, the stage blacks out and spotlight turns to a vagabond sitting under a tree.

For 20 years, Ive been stopping anyone who tries to commit suicide at Kankaria lake, he says. But Jehangirs deed with East India Company proved suicidal for all of Hindustan.

Mughals to Marathas

History unfolds in intriguing ways on stage. Through the two-hour show, theres history, fables and folk lore; choreographed dance scenes and live music; a 20-ft-tall transistor radio, burning torches and a real horse. The play is being presented by the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, run by the danseuse and activist Mallika Sarabhai.

The idea behind Kadak Badshahi, she says, was to go beyond boring and tedious taught histories and celebrate the city. We wanted to make the audience understand and fall in love with the people who played a role in the making of Ahmedabad. The show also reminds everyone that were much more than a centre of commerce.

An initial scene harks back to the foundation of the city  in a chase with dancers dressed as hares and dogs. With swift movements, the hares drive the dogs away. According to folklore, Ahmed Shah [of the Muzaffarid dynasty] founded Ahmedabad on the banks of the Sabarmati River in 1411 after seeing this astonishing sight, says historian Shirin Mehta. Ahmedabad is a rare early example of a planned city, developed for trade and commerce.

Founded as the capital of the kingdom of Gujarat, it was built in stages. At the centre was Bhadra Fort; ranged around it were settlements for the soldiers and traders. The walled city had 12 gates where armed guards protected the riches within, earned mainly from the export of cotton and silk, and later indigo and opium.

By 1572, when Gujarat was annexed by the Mughals, Ahmedabad was an important trading hub connecting the Silk Route with the Spice Route. From 1758 to 1817, it was ruled by the Marathas, after which it was integrated with the Bombay Presidency under British rule.

A SACRIFICE

Harking back to a period of strife during Maratha rule here, a hushed silence greets Sarabhai as she takes the stage, dressed in a traditional chaniya choli, with a dozen women in tow. Together, they represent the women of the Bhat community, who have gathered to protest against slander gangs that fabricated tales about residents as a means of extortion. As a result, a woman named Saduba asked her husband to kill her after she was wrongly accused of being of immoral character. As actors march through the aisles holding burning mashaals, Sarabhai calls out that Sadubas sacrifice should not go in vain.

I was in tears by the end of that scene, says Preeti Shroff, dean of management institute MICA, who was in the audience. Broadway can be jarring because its trying too hard to impress. I liked this version for its impactful yet real-life feel.

Shroff also watched the production in its previous avatar, in 2014-15, when it was staged at Darpanas intimate amphitheatre, Natarani, with the Sabarmati River as the backdrop. Back then, it was a 90-minute play with a cast of 70.

On stage, its not all earnest and historical. A chat between two typical Ahmedabadis had the audience in splits as they talked about how they live life to the fullest despite having not a penny in their pockets, and of how betting was their favourite pastime. (Satyabrata Tripathy / HT Photo)

This time, Sarabhai decided to venture out, scale up, and tell lesser-known stories about the city. Weve added to the script in a non-linear fashion, says Pinakin Thaker, actor and part of the initial research team with Sarabhai, film and theatre artiste Nisarg Trivedi and filmmaker Yadavan Chandran. Chandran has also directed the play; and Sarabhai, Trivedi and Chandran co-scripted it. Theres a feature film, titled Kadak Badshahi, in the works too. Weve been doing research on it for two years, says Chandran.

FUN TIMES

On stage, its not all earnest and historical. A chat between two typical Ahmedabadis had the audience in splits as they talked about how they live life to the fullest despite having not a penny in their pockets, and of how betting was their favourite pastime..

The two-hour show sees colourful costume changes, dance numbers and more as it tells lesser-known stories from the citys past. Even non-Ahmedabadis can relate, says Sarabhai. In fact, the play ends with a song that goes, Nai maaru nai taaru, aa sau nu Amdavad [Neither mine, nor yours, its everyones Ahmedabad]. (Satyabrata Tripathy / HT Photo)

As one puts it: An Ahmedabadi can calmly make a deal worth lakhs, with just fifteen rupees in his pocket.

Even non-Ahmedabadis can relate, says Sarabhai, referring also to segments that explore its textile trade history, evolution under British Raj and the city as the base of Gandhis satyagraha. Thats why we end with a song that goes, Nai maaru nai taaru, aa sau nu Amdavad [Neither mine, nor yours, its everyones Ahmedabad].

(Kadak Badshahi 2.0 runs till February 1 in Ahmedabad)
Comic strip artist Mort Walker, a World War II veteran who satirised the Army and tickled millions of newspaper readers with the antics of the lazy private Beetle Bailey, died Saturday. He was 94. Walker died at his home in Stamford, Connecticut, said Greg Walker, his eldest son and a collaborator. His fathers advanced age was the cause of death, he said.

Walker began publishing cartoons at age 11 and was involved with more than a half-dozen comic strips in his career, including Hi and Lois, Boners Ark and Sam & Silo. But he found his greatest success drawing slacker Beetle, his hot-tempered sergeant and the rest of the gang at fictional Camp Swampy for nearly 70 years. The character that was to become Beetle Bailey made his debut as Spider in Walkers cartoons published by the Saturday Evening Post in the late 1940s. Walker changed Spiders name and launched Beetle Bailey as a college humour strip in 1950.

Beetle Bailey comic strips that will be published in the coming weeks rest on a desk in the studio of creator Mort Walker. (AP)

At first the strip failed to attract readers and King Features Syndicate considered dropping it after just six months, Walker said in a 2000 interview with The Associated Press. The syndicate suggested Beetle join the Army after the start of the Korean War, Walker said. I was kind of against it because after World War II, Bill Mauldin and Sad Sack were fading away, he said. But his misgivings were overcome and Beetle enlisted in 1951. Walker attributed the success of the strip to Beetles indolence and reluctance to follow authority. Most people are sort of against authority, he said. Heres Beetle always challenging authority. I think people relate to it.

Beetle Bailey led to spin-off comic strip Hi and Lois, which he created with Dik Browne, in 1954. The premise was that Beetle went home on furlough to visit his sister Lois and brother-in-law Hi. Fellow cartoonists remembered Walker on Saturday as a pleasant man who adored his fans. Bill Morrison, president of the National Cartoonists Society, called Walker the definition of cartoonist in a post on the societys website. He lived and breathed the art every day of his life. He will be sorely missed by his friends in the NCS and by a world of comic strip fans, Morrison said.

Fellow cartoonist Mark Evanier said on his website that Walker was delightful to be around and always willing to draw Beetle or Sarge for any of his fans. He sure had a lot of them. Beetle Bailey, which appeared in as many as 1,800 newspapers, sometimes sparked controversy. The Tokyo editions of the military newspaper Stars & Stripes dropped it in 1954 for fear that it would encourage disrespect of its officers. But ensuing media coverage spurred more than 100 newspapers to add the strip.

Walker looks over notes and documents in his studio. (AP)

Shortly after President Bill Clinton took office, Walker drew a strip suggesting that the draft be retroactive in order to send Clinton to Vietnam. Walker said he received hundreds of angry letters from Clinton supporters. For years, Walker drew Camp Swampys highest-ranking officer, Gen. Amos Halftrack, ogling his well-endowed secretary, Miss Buxley. Feminist groups claimed the strip made light of sexual harassment, and Walker said the syndicate wanted him to write out the lecherous general.

That wasnt feasible because the general was such a fixture in the strip, Greg Walker said Saturday. His father solved the problem in 1997 by sending Halftrack to sensitivity training. That became a whole theme that we could use, said Greg Walker, who with his brother, Brian, intends to carry on his fathers work. Both have worked in the family business for decades. Beetle Bailey also featured one of the first African-American characters to be added to a white cast in an established comic strip. (Peanuts had added the character of Franklin in 1968.) Lt. Jack Flap debuted in the comic strips panels in 1970.

In a 2002 interview, Walker said that comics are filled with stereotypes and he likes to find humour in all characters. I like to keep doing something new and different, so people cant say Im doing the same thing all the time. I like to challenge myself, he said. Walker also created Boners Ark in 1968 using his given first name, Addison, as his pen name, and Sam & Silo with Jerry Dumas in 1977. He was the writer of Mrs. Fitzs Flats with Frank Roberge.

In 1974, he founded the International Museum of Cartoon Art in Connecticut to preserve and honour the art of comics. It moved twice before closing in 2002 in Boca Raton, Florida. Walker changed the name to the National Cartoon Museum and announced in 2005 plans to relocate to the Empire State Building in New York. But the following year, the deal to use that space fell through.

In 2000, Walker was honoured at the Pentagon with the Armys highest civilian award  the Distinguished Civilian Service award  for his work, his military service and his contribution to a new military memorial. He also developed a reputation for helping aspiring cartoonists with advice. I make friends for people, he said. Addison Morton Walker was born Sept. 3, 1923, in El Dorado, Kansas, and grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1943 he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving in Europe during World II. He was discharged as a first lieutenant, graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia and pursued a career as a cartoonist in New York.

Walker most recently oversaw the work of the staff at his Stamford studio, Comicana. Besides sons Greg and Brian, Walker is survived by his second wife, Catherine; daughters Polly Blackstock and Margie Walker Hauer; sons Neal and Roger Walker; stepdaughters Whitney Prentice and Priscilla Prentice Campbell and several grandchildren. Funeral services will be private.

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When Helga Weyhe began work at her beloved bookshop, the Red Army was on the march towards her east German town, Hitler still clung to power and Sartre had just published No Exit. Fast-forward more than seven decades and the remarkably spry 95-year-old, Germanys oldest bookseller, swats away any talk of retirement, or even slowing down.

Still staffing the store six days a week, Weyhe said books got her through two dictatorships and would see her through her last chapter too. I started in 1944 and Im still here, she says with a smile, sitting in her back office stacked with handpicked volumes.

I had lots of dreams when I was young but they always involved books. Weyhe represents the third generation of her family to run the shop, which has occupied the same spot since 1840. Her grandfather had the caramel-brown shelves built in the 1880s, when Otto von Bismarck ruled Germany.

Weyhe still staffs the store six days a week. (AFP)

A tome about the life of the Iron Chancellor is propped among the political biographies, one of the specialities of Weyhes eclectic selection ranging from French existentialists to German classics to Hollywood screenplays. Each volume in the shop carries Weyhes endorsement, even if she hasnt read each cover to cover. She cant abide the towering identical stacks of the big chain stores.

You wont find mystery novels here either, not unless theyre something special, she said sternly, reserving praise for Agatha Christie and German thriller writer Ingrid Noll.

The shop is located in Salzwedel, which is 200 kilometres (120 miles) northwest of Berlin. (AFP)

The most horrible thing

With World War II still raging, Weyhe started working with her father Walter at his shop that still bears the family name in the half-timbered house where they both were born. They ran it together under Soviet occupation and the East German communist state (GDR) and she took over in 1965, four years after the regime made them prisoners of the country behind the Iron Curtain.

In the GDR, the most horrible thing was getting used to it all, thinking: I wont live to see the day things change, Weyhe said. That meant biding her time until East Germanys official retirement age  when travel restrictions for citizens were loosened  before she could go abroad to visit a favourite uncle, who ran a prominent bookshop on New Yorks Lexington Avenue.

Imagine what its like as a young person having to wait until youre 60 to be able to travel, she said. Going to New York wasnt just any trip  it was a dream come true.

View of books on display at the Weyhe bookshop. (AFP)

The Salzwedel shop is filled with pictures of the New York skyline, and a blue street sign with the address of her uncles now-defunct store greets customers as they enter. Last year Weyhe accepted a lifetime achievement prize from the German Booksellers Association, which officially proclaimed her the countrys oldest practitioner of the trade. When I won, I said this isnt mine alone, its for my family which has held on here for so long, she said.

She said Salzwedel, population 25,000, lying 200 kilometres (120 miles) northwest of Berlin, has long punched above its literary weight thanks to her shop. I try to have books that amaze people and make them say you sell that in this little town? Weyhe said.

That is why I draw customers from far away  I like to say my clientele is from Boston to Bangkok, she added with a grin.

Each volume in the shop carries Weyhes endorsement, even if she hasnt read each cover to cover. (AFP)

Not a missionary

Longtime customer Klaus Schartmann, a pastor, believes Weyhe has a rare gift for sizing up a reader. She always hits the nail on the head with her recommendations  from childrens books to adult literature, the 78-year-old said. And were happy because you dont really find that in German bookstores anymore  only in Salzwedel.

In the land where Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 15th century, customers are increasingly going online for their book purchases, with sales rising more than five percent in 2016. Meanwhile bookshops, particularly those on high streets rather than in shopping malls, saw a one-percent decline in turnover, continuing a decade-long trend, according to industry data.

Weyhe believes in the power of books to edify and uplift, as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party makes major inroads in the region. Although she doesnt see her shop serving a missionary purpose in leading customers away from political extremes, she does make a point of selecting books that open minds.

In the post-war years, I mainly stocked German history books so people here would know what actually happened, she said. I simply dont sell the kind of books now that strengthen the AfD, she said, pointing to recent bestsellers that whipped up fears of mass migration.

Weyhe is coy when asked when she might ease into retirement  she never married and has no children. It could be today, it could be tomorrow. Or it could be a while yet still, she said, savouring the cliffhanger. But she is firm that she is irreplaceable in her shop. All kinds of people have come here and said that they could take over, she said with a smirk.

But my goodness, who else can help a man like Herr Schartmann, she added, referring to her loyal customer. Not just anyone can have that conversation  you have to have a bit of experience.

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Although actor Angad Bedi has films such as Pink and Tiger Zinda Hai to his credit, he is yet to be seen as a prominent solo lead in a film. However, the actor seems to be in no hurry to bag such a project, and is okay with sharing screen with big stars such as Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan.

With big makers and actors, you get a wider reach and I am okay with that. A lot of actors want to do a solo release, but not many people go and watch it. The more you work with different actors and producers, the more your work reaches people, says Angad, who will soon share screen space with actor Diljit Dosanjh in Soorma.

Talking about not taking up a project where he gets to play the hero and main lead in the film, Angad adds,  I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesnt matter if you are playing only the main solo lead or a second lead. As long as I am getting acceptance, I would rather take one step at a time and let the audience also accept me. Many actors want to do a hero film but not many people go and watch it.

Thankful for the role he has done so far on-screen, Angad has no qualms in accepting that he likes to learn a lot from the seniors in his films. I really felt that I only fed off Mr Bachchans energy in Pink and then I fed off Salman bhais energy in Tiger Zinda Hai. I have had some great co-actors to work with like Richa Chadha, Taapsee Pannu and Alia Bhatt. I really value these big co-stars because if they are in sync with you, it makes you a better actor, signs off Angad.

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Actor Ayushmann Khurrana has impressed his fans and critics alike with some really out of the box scripts that hes been a part of. From his debut film Vicky Donor (2012) to Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015) and last years Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, the actor has time and again pushed the envelope and tried challenging roles. And the credit for all this, he says, goes to his family, particularly his wife Tahira.

My wife is a great support when it comes to reading tricky scripts because she is also a writer, so that helps. Whenever I get a script, I read it first but I make it a point that Tahira reads it too after me. Thankfully, she has loved all my scripts so far, more so because she is an artist herself. She writes and shes been teaching journalism and mass communication in colleges, says Ayushmann, adding that Tahira believes in his intent that its better to do unconventional. She appreciates the path that I have chosen as an actor.

Asked if theres ever been a case that Tahira didnt like particular portions in the script or she suggested any changes, Ayushmann says thats a part of the process. Once shes done reading the script, we discuss it at length. Difference of opinion happens a lot of times but we measure pros and cons and see the potential of the script in totality. So, if shes suggested any changes, I check with the writer and director if some things can be dropped. You see, it also depends on how the other person is and if they like your idea, he shares.

The actor, who is currently shooting for his next Shoot the Piano Player, further states that even with his family, he never had any inhibitions talking about his films and scripts, no matter what taboo subjects they dealt with. Its really cool back home. Thankfully, we happen to be progressive enough and its good to address taboos in our society. People are interested in such films. They dont talk about them in open, but they want to. Maybe after watching the films, they have started to talk openly about the subjects.

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Deepika Padukone, who faced threats over Padmaavat, says she remained confident throughout the row due to the upbringing she got from her parents, who were full of pride after watching the movie.

At a select media meet over a Marwari thali here on Saturday, Deepika looked calm, content and relaxed after the release of Padmaavat. She is counting her blessings.

My parents are immensely proud. I saw that pride on their face. Mom and dad made a video call after their screening finished late at night and I was in my pyjama and going to bed. So for them, they just saw the film and then me... So, their expression was like, Is she our daughter? I saw their expression and they were both brimming and glowing with pride, Deepika said.

Deepika Padukone arrives at Maharaja Bhog to celebrate the success of her recently released film Padmaavat, in Mumbai on Jan 27. (IANS)

The film Padmaavat went through a lot of turmoil as Shri Rajput Karni Sena objected to its making and release over alleged misinterpretation of the Rajput communitys history.

However, Deepika exuded confidence at any press conference of public interaction she attended, thereby dealing with the situation gracefully.

Where does she gather the confidence from?

You know, my parents never once had asked me if they should come and live with me during that whole phase because they were confident about the fact that I can handle this. That is my spirit, that is how we (my sister and I) have been brought up. We have learnt that what is right is right, what is wrong is wrong, said Deepika, daughter of former badminton player Prakash Padukone.

Deepika plays Rani Padmavati in Padmaavat, based on 16th century poet Malik Muhammad Jayasis poem Padmavat.

Deepika Padukone feasts over a Rajasthani thali in an attemt to celebrate the success of her recently released film Padmaavat; at Maharaja Bhog in Mumbai on Jan 27, 2018. (IANS)

Playing the character fascinated me about how her personality is very relevant in the present time. She is like me -- a strong, intelligent and elegant woman... And when I played her on-screen, I saw a little bit of myself there.

But her character was so deep, she is a queen who doesnt speak very much but conveys everything in her way. That was a challenge to play, she said.

While drawing out the difference between Rani Padmavati and Mastani of Bajirao Mastani, Deepika said: She is not a warrior like Mastani, so she is not picking up the sword and fighting, but her silent strength leads her to the right direction to deal with the toughest situation.

Deepika Padukone feasts on a Rajasthani thali to celebrate the success of her recently released film in Mumbai on Jan 27. (IANS)

She is a queen, and under any situation, she never lost her poise, her elegant and calm self. But I feel she is a warrior in her way.

With Padmaavat, Deepika has clocked a trilogy of films with Bhansali after Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela and Bajirao Mastani.

Not one to usually keep a track of the number game, Deepika said: This time, I am talking about it because I feel a sense of responsibility. The character Padmavati is so strong and inspirational that it touches your heart.

When I was working on the film, I did not expect this kind of appreciation. Of course, we knew that it is going to be a very special film as its my third film with Sanjay.

There was an apprehension due to that as well... That how differently he can present me, but now after the release of the film, there is a feeling of sheer blessing. I think I am very fortunate, said Deepika, who was overwhelmed with joy.

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The videos of actor Priyanka Chopra with underprivileged children from across the globe have touched the hearts of many.

Talking about her meetings, she says that the children have changed her completely. The actor adds, Philanthropy was a very big part of my upbringing. My family always believed that no matter where you are, no matter how bad your conditions are, there will always be someone who is worse off than you. So, you have to sort of understand the privilege we come from, and from that privilege comes the social responsibility.

Priyanka, a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador, has often urged people to speak up for children. I think that from the time when I became Miss World, I became an adult... in a way when I won, even though I was 17, I grew up suddenly. I felt... I have a position that [I could] use to be able to actually make a tangible difference in the world, and not just talk about it, but do it, she says. And then, I started looking for ways to be able to do it. So, I associated with a lot of causes, I met a lot of people, and a lot of organisations that actually did what I wanted to do. My relationship with Unicef started about 11 years ago and it still continues, says the 35-year-old actor.

Does she have to face questions such as: does child marriage still happen in India? Yeah, of course, she says. I cant give you names. A generic thought is [about] arranged marriage, child marriage, rapes... those are the questions, says Priyanka.

It makes me want to come back and do something about it. Im not a liar, so I cant turn around and say it doesnt [happen]. But at the same time, Im not going to be someone who says thats all India stands for. Every country has its own issues. We have these issues; they [West] have their issues. The point is finding a solution, and thats what I try to focus on.

Interact with the author at Twitter/@HennaRakheja
Actor Sajjad Delafrooz won a million hearts when he played the role of Abu Usman, the terrifying yet suave antagonist in Salman Khan-starrer Tiger Zinda Hai (December, 2017). While many would think twice before making a debut playing a negative character, Sajjad says that he didnt have any such inhibitions. I dont believe feels apprehensive of these things, because the audience is more aware of movies now. They even know how movies are made, says the 34-year-old, adding that often people have told him about the cameras being used.

So, that means the audience knows that the person whos playing the villains role is also an actor and is just playing a part on-screen. And therefore, its not worrying at all. Thats a good thing rather, as it gives us the actors, more choices to play different roles, adds the Iran-born actor.

Also, many actors think that debuting with a certain role leads to getting typecast easily, as filmmakers offer them similar roles in future, too. Sajjad, however, says that he doesnt fear that anything of that sort might happen to him as he progresses in his acting career. Its very interesting  acting and fear  they are always in fight. For me, when I decided to become an actor, I told myself I should not have fear anymore. But of course, as human beings, we always have fear. It just depends on us how we fight it, he explains.

As for getting stereotyped as a villain, he states, I dont have that [ or feel that way]. Because even doing a villainous role, it is a different role, and challenging, too. And thats all I want to do.

He says its an added advantage that even an antagonist today is considered as a parallel lead. Ive been trying so hard for many years to get a good role. So I was just so happy to work with Salman and an amazing director like Ali [Abbaz Zafar]. All I was looking for was a chance. I dont feel that newcomers care if the role would have the same impact as a hero or the lead role, today. They always look for that right chance, and if they get it, nothing else matters, the actor concludes.

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Amy Tan has written six compelling books and recently released Where The Past Begins, a memoir. While much of her fiction draws from her life, one particularly chilling episode in The Bonesetters Daughter grew out of the authors own experience of being molested.

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My father was dying, my brother was already dead, and a youth minister had come to counsel me. I had this bad behaviour that was hurting my father more than the tumour in his brain, and that was making me cry. As I was sitting and crying, he (the minister) tickles me and says Dont cry. I started refusing, and he pushes me on the bed and his hands go all over me.

Whats worse is that he made me cry, which makes me vulnerable. He molested me, he touched my genitals and then he said, You have been doing bad things so you shouldnt be talking about this because people wont believe you. He rendered me powerless with that one line and made me feel like I had something to do with what had happened, she said.

Tans books revolve around the complex relationship between mothers and daughters, and in her first book, The Joy Luck Club, she explored the stories of four sets of Chinese-American mothers and daughters. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

What people dont understand, she goes on, is that an episode like this has repercussions. Now, when someone comes to tickle me, Im probably prepared to attack them. Im so glad that people are coming out and talking about this.

Does she believe times have changed? Well, in the Donald Trump world, weve gone back in time. A minister admits that he has molested a lot of girls and they applaud him! I feel that even if the world may be regressive right now, women are not going back. Were going to be defiant and keep fighting, she said.

Tans books revolve around the complex relationship between mothers and daughters, and in her first book, The Joy Luck Club, she explored the stories of four sets of Chinese-American mothers and daughters. The authors relationship with her mother was complex. She was already in high school when she learnt about her mothers previous marriage and about the four children she had left behind in Shanghai.

Tan also lost her father and brother when she was 15, events that surely must affect the way she deals with other relationships.

My father was a Baptist minister, and from him I learnt how to strongly believe in something that I want to believe in, and not because a book or a church says so. My mother also tried to inculcate beliefs in me but what I learnt to do is to look at people and make my own beliefs. I just like being around kind and compassionate people, she said.

Tan wrote The Bonesetters Daughter when she lost two important people  her mother died of Alzheimers and her editor, Faith Sale, died of cancer. She believes loss teaches you about what is important. When they were dying, there was this one question in my mind: What will I remember about them? The fact that they died two weeks apart lifted me into thinking about what I had shared with them. I had been with them both till the time they died, and when they died it was astonishing how unprotected I felt. Now, I had to protect myself, she said.

Tan believes it is important to put your story out there. Its not just about the limitations that the government and society sets for you; its also about the limitations you set for yourself. You have to let your freedom of thought flow, she said.

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When Osama bin Laden appeared out of the darkness in the middle of the night, the first thing that struck me was how tall he was, said American journalist Peter Bergen who interviewed the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks in1997.

Osama was 6-foot-4-inches-tall. I expected someone revolutionary, but he looked more like a cleric. He spoke very quietly even though his words were full of anger for the United States, Bergen said, describing his impressions of bin Laden at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2018 on Sunday.

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How did the son of a Saudi billionaire end up as the man behind the killings of 2,700 people on September 11, 2001? The answers may be hidden in bin Ladens childhood. His father divorced his mother Hamida, who remarried and had more children. Although he had 17 brothers and many sisters, Osama grew up alone. He was very much on the outside and he barely saw his father again, said Cathy Scott-Clark, co-author of novel The Exile: The Stunning Inside story of Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda in Flight.

A lot of rejection formulated his (Osamas) need for attention and verification. And I think that is a very important factor in Osama seeking attention in his later life.

Osama, who formed al Qaeda in 1988, was a family man, his wives and daughters speak positively about him, said Scott-Clark, who interviewed bin Ladens family for the book. They didnt have anything to do with al Qaeda, they just happened to be part of his family, Scott-Clark said.

The panelists also discussed politicking within the bin Laden family and the story of his wives thinking Osama was going through a mid-life crisis when he married his fourth wife, who was 16 at the time. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

Bergen too said he believed bin Ladens four wives had space and were treated equally. Two of his wives even had PhD degrees and they really believed in the jihadist movement.

However, Adrian Levy -- who co-authored The Exile with Scott-Clark  disagrees. He said that, for bin Laden, his family was tradable; his sons were military puppets trained to become militants and his daughters were often political capital married for alliances.

Levys view is backed by Osamas fourth son Omar who escaped with his mother Najwa from Afghanistan days before 9/11. In the book Growing up bin Laden, Omar writes: I often wonder if my father has killed so many times that the act of killing no longer brings him pleasure or pain. I am nothing like my father. While he prays for war, I pray for peace.

On a lighter note, the panelists also discussed politicking within the bin Laden family and the story of his wives thinking Osama was going through a mid-life crisis when he married his fourth wife, who was 16 at the time.

Osamas last days

The al Qaeda leaders death in a 2011 nighttime raid by US Seals in Abbottabad, Pakistan, was not heroic, Bergen said. Osama had been hiding in the compound for five years.

The most wanted militant, with a bounty of $25 million, was attempting to run a global terrorist network from his compound in Abbottabad but it was inefficient, said Bergen, author and editor of four books on Osama. He added that during his time in hiding, Osama wrote memos that also included unusual entries  one had him pondering if he should change the name of al Qaeda.

The bin Laden legacy

Osamas death was a turning point in history but those who thought al Qaeda was over were proved wrong, panelists believe. Bergen told HT that the al Qaeda still has 10,000 fighters and members in Syria while it continues to thrive in Yemen and North Africa. It is playing a longer game than Islamic State in Syria, he said, referring to the IS, the terror group behind its signature lone-wolf terror attacks in Europe.

Osamas ideology is a lot harder to kill than the man himself, warned Bergen. Despite fissures with al Qaeda, IS too looks up to Osama for major spiritual influence.

Moreover, Osamas son Hamza bin Laden (28), who has been featured in al Aqeda video, may be a natural successor as leader of the group. He is young and he already has the family name, said Bergen.

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Andres. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Jose Andres, the celebrity chef who battled President Trump in a long-running lawsuit, said he was denied entry to an event in Washington Saturday night because Ivanka Trump was uncomfortable with his presence; Andres later reversed course and admitted she had nothing to do with the incident.

Thank you @CafeMilanoDC Franco Nuschese! I was a guest of the #alfalfaclubdinner2018 everyonewelcome to the after party, but Im the only individual not allow in? Is because @IvankaTrump told you so? You should be ashamed of yourself Franco.@washingtonpost pic.twitter.com/iJ5wQM18Z6  Jose Andres (@chefjoseandres) January 28, 2018

In a new low for Washington, yesterday @chefjoseandres was asked to leave the Alfalfa dinner after-party at @CafeMilanoDC by its owner, Franco Nuschesse, apparently because his presence made Ivanka Trump uncomfortable (Cafe Milano is the watering hole of the Trump Admin).  Jorge Guajardo (@jorge_guajardo) January 28, 2018

Andres was attempting to get into the after-party for the Alfalfa Dinner, a glitzy annual event that draws a crowd of about 200 current and former Washington power brokers. (John Kerry and George W. Bush gave remarks this year.)

A source close to Ivanka Trump told Fox News that she had no role in the matter, and as social media lit up with outrage, the host restaurant, D.C. stalwart Cafe Milano, offered its explanation on Sunday:

. @chefjoseandres, you are always welcome at @CafeMilanoDC when we are open and in fact, I will host you and toast to all your successes.I am sorry for the misunderstanding.Last night the restaurant was closed for a private Alfalfa Dinner after party...1/2  Cafe Milano (@CafeMilanoDC) January 28, 2018

Of note, the dinner and after party are different guest lists. Also, Ivanka Trump had no role on determining event attendees. Franco 2/2  Cafe Milano (@CafeMilanoDC) January 28, 2018

The Washington Post confirmed that account later in the afternoon. Andres, it turns out, wasnt on the receiving end of a political vendetta; he simply did not have an invitation to the after-party in question and was surprised when he couldnt get in.

I am thankful for Joses clarification, said Ivanka Trump in a statement. I had nothing to do with anything that transpired relating to him last night at the restaurant. Andres responded graciously, and with that, what turned out to be a massive non-story came to a merciful end.

Thank you @IvankaTrump for reaching out. I believe now that you personally had nothing to do.

Lets now work on whats important: Immigration reform, where #DACADreamers and Undocumented citizens will become part of a strong USA. With secure borders. With economic growth.  Jose Andres (@chefjoseandres) January 28, 2018

Andres was slated to open a restaurant in the Trump International Hotel in 2015, but backed out of the deal after the then-candidate called Mexicans rapists and claimed they were bringing drugs and violence into America. The Trump Organization sued him for breach of contract and Andress Think Food Group countersued, contending that Trumps comments had hurt business. Legal proceedings lasted two years until the Trump Organization settled in April 2017.

Along with his culinary pedigree, Andres has gained a reputation as a humanitarian. After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, he set up a complex network of kitchens and food supply chains, feeding millions of people who had lost power, in an unprecedented effort by a private citizen.
How can a country worship its rivers but also be deeply apathetic to their state, treat them cruelly and contribute to their death?

This paradox was at the centre of a session at the Jaipur Literature Festival on the Ganga and its connection to Indias future, based on a recent book (River of Life, River of Death: The Ganges and Indias Future) on the subject by journalist Victor Mallet.

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Through a lecture and a series of photographs charting the Gangas trajectory through India, Mallet argued that the ancient prosperity of the country was tied to the fate of the river, whose polluted waters bring misery and ill health to the 500 million people who live on its banks. He also emphasized that the Ganga was not yet a dead river and could be saved  just like the Thames was rescued in Britain.

When Modi met Obama for the first time at the White House in 2014, they talked about environmental issues, about rivers, he said. Obama said he was from Chicago, where the local river used to be filthy and polluted but had been cleaned up recently. Thats what I want for the Ganga, Modi said, Mallet said.

Another reason for hope, he added, was the extraordinary way in which states such as Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal pulled together mega religious events on the Ganga every few years  complete with sanitation, running water and electricity.

The biggest threat to Ganga, according to Mallet, are the dams and projects that hold back silt and have serious consequences for people downstream. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

You built this city in two months on the sand banks where 70 million people come in a few weeks. Why cannot you do that for Allahabad in normal times, he asked.

The answer, for Mallet, lay in giving local governments more power to make decisions about the treatment of the rivers that flowed through them. He argued against a top-down centrally governed scheme, saying money was often under-used or wasted in this model.

He acknowledged the massive unused funds and the historical failure in cleaning the Ganga. Several action plans put in place since the 1980s have come to naught and a recent Comptroller and Auditor General report blamed the government for Rs 2,500 crore lying unused and said not a single drop of the river had been cleaned.

The biggest threat, though, according to Mallet, are the dams and projects that hold back silt and have serious consequences for people downstream. It is not what we put into rivers, its what we take out of them, he said.

Not enough water is flowing down the river, and over extraction of water has harmed the rivers trajectory. Surprisingly, only about 5 percent of it is for the cities and 2 percent for industry. The rest goes to agriculture.

The picture is really bleak. The growth of superbugs has been aided by polluted water in the rivers, making India -- where already 58,000 infants die every year of untreatable diseases -- one of the sources of this global crisis. India has the perfect storm of factors: a lot of disease, very poor sanitation, a big pharma industry and misuse of antibiotics. This aids the growth of superbugs, Mallet said.

But all hope is not lost. The writer pointed out that the current government has made river cleaning a priority and there was national consensus on the importance of saving the Ganga. We dont have to clean the river, we have to stop dirtying it, he said.

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Musical Chairs

From left: Adam Nicolson, Alexandra Harris and Juliet Nicolson during the session titled Vita and Virginia: The True Love Story Behind Orlando. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

While the session entitled Vita and Virginia: The True Love Story Behind Orlando, which was all about Virginia Woolfs passionate love affair with Vita Sackville West, was quite superb, a few in the audience couldnt help being distracted by a curious game of musical chairs being played in the tenth row. Certain presumably high ranking gentlemen had arrived with lackeys who caught their place while they themselves darted in and out. As soon as a higher-up left, having tired of ancient gossip about Virginia and Vita, an underling took his place, only to respectfully vacate a little later. Its the sort of incident that deserved a sarcastic pamphlet from the Bloomsbury Set.

Too Much food for thought

A fracas ensued at a session on food fe aturing Kota Neelima, Lathika George and Sarah Raven in conversation with Vir Sanghvi. Incensed by what they described in a series of tweets as unforgivable sexism and mansplaining, the Zubaan Books team walked out of the venue. They were particularly upset at an exchange during the question-and-answer slot. Differing accounts of the exchange lit up discussions at the festival and on social media.

Tips from the pros

A session on the craft of writing that had Helen Fielding, Amy Tan, Chika Unigwe, Joshua Ferris and Micheal Ondaatje sharing their techniques provided writers in the audience with some helpful tips. While Chika Unigwe, author of On Black Sisters Street, who believes research is essential, thinks a daily goal-setting and rewarding technique works, Helen Fielding revealed that when assailed by self doubt, she reminded herself that she had already published novels before and could do it again. Phew, glad to know that even the wildly successful have their moments of uncertainty.

The birds and the bees

Since Prasoon Joshi was a no-show, his session was replaced with a weirdly interesting one entitled The Sea Birds Cry! Among the nuggets of birdy info it proffered was a gem about the relative size of bird brains and their sex lives. Albatrosses can live up to 85, and the longest marriage recorded lasted 50 years. Those with long partnerships have huge brains. Serial monogamists hover near the average, and the stupidest birds with multiple polygamous partnerships literally have pea-sized brains. Ah, the discovery of moralistic birds!

Jeeves in Jaipur

Swapan Dasgupta, Shashi Tharoor, Amrita Tripathi and Philip Norman during the session on PG Wodehouse. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

The session on The Wodehouse Effect that had Shashi Tharoor and Swapan Dasgupta bickering over PG Wodehouses politics featured many other amusing moments. Funniest was Philip Normans ability to effortlessly quote Wodehouse including this classic exchange between Bertie Wooster and Jeeves:

Good evening, JeevesGood morning, sir

This surprised me.

Is it morning?Yes, sir.

Are you sure? It seems very dark outside.

There is a fog, sir. If you will recollect, we are now in autumn  season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.

Season of what?Mists, sir, and mellow fruitfulness.

Of course, Norman got a round of well-deserved applause.

Labour pains

From left: Prayaag Akbar, Lucy Hughes-Hallett, Tishani Doshi, Diksha Basu and Sandip Roy during the session On First Novels. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

The session On First Novels that featured four first time writers provided many of tips for aspiring authors. Diksha Basu, author of The Windfall thats received rave US reviews, believes writing demands persistence. Clearly, she has a lot of it considering she had a baby four weeks ahead of the books release. Writers have to make time, she said. The excuses not to write always existed even before marriage and a baby. It is all up to me, she said. Wise words those.

For Jaipur Literature Festival full coverage, click here

All about Stasiland

At a session on Nazi Germany, Anna Funder, author of All That I am and Stasiland, stressed that her books, which focus on stories of resistance to the regimes in erstwhile Nazi Germany and in USSR-controlled East Germany, were not an attempt to make up for the silence of the majority. While much has been written about Nazism, stories about the Stasi regime are still emerging. Some of this information is chilling. The Australian author spoke about the insidious surveillance methods of the Stasi authorities, who stole underwear from homes to use them to train service dogs to recognise a particular individuals scent. Brr!

Tempering down reality to write fiction

Amitava Kumar in conversation with Manu Joseph. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

During a session on love, sexuality and writing fiction,

authors Manu Joseph and Amitava Kumar discussed how the lines between fiction and non-fiction were being blurred. One of the things that has interested me in Manus latest book, Miss Laila, Armed and Dangerous, the fiction here does more than what news can do. Theres news, theres fiction, and theres interest in developing further, he said. Joseph replied: In fiction, two things are factual  the analysis of gender and description of places. In fact, life is filled with moments that feel fabricated but in fact, sometimes you have to temper down reality in order to write fiction, he said, as the audience applauded.

Manto redux

Nawazuddin Siddiqui was in conversation with Nandita Das and Vinod Dua during a session titled Manto: The Man and the Legend at the JLF on Friday. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

If there was any doubt about Nawazuddin Siddiquis star power it was completely dispelled at his session on Manto. Whats the connection between Manto and Nawaz? Well, he is the protagonist in Nandita Das biopic on the Urdu writer who wrote with so much feeling on the Partition. The front lawns, the largest venue at JLF, was so packed with the actors enthusiastic fans that movement to any other venue could only be attempted at snails pace. Unsurprisingly, the session had many stellar moments. When moderator Vinod Dua asked how he had prepared for the role, Nawazuddin replied that he had found it difficult to get into character as Manto only spoke the truth while he lied frequently. I am not like Manto and that was a challenge, he said to much applause and cheering.

Gulzar pirated!

Vishal Bhardwaj recited ghazals and nazms in Hindi and Urdu during his conversation with Sukrita Paul Kumar. The session was titled Nude: The Poet Within. (Himanshu Vyas/HT Photo)

Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj has turned poet with a collection of nazms and ghazals that were translated to English by Sukrita Paul Kumar. At a session, Bhardwaj recited ghazals and nazms in Hindi and Urdu, while Sukrita recited their English translations. Incidentally, his poems include English words like text and girlfriend that surprisingly didnt sound absurd. With poetry, it is the intention that counts, not the language, he said in response to a question on whether poetry is lost in translation. Writing poetry isnt easy. I had to struggle a lot to sound different. My nazms were sounding like a pirated copy of Gulzar sahabs work, he said.

The Rosogolla wars

From left: Swapan Dasgupta, Sanjoy K Roy and Sudeep Chakravarty during a session titled Rasogolla Wars on the second day of the JLF at Jaipurs Diggi Palace. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

The session entitled Rosogolla Wars did not include any people from Orissa on the panel and so there were no real battles on stage. Ajoy Bose, Arunava Sinha, Sanjoy K Roy, Sudeep Chakravarti and Swapan Dasgupta held forth on Bengaliness. Everyone agreed that Bengalis are parochial and often look down on other linguistic communities. Apparently, these tendencies are strong even within the so-called probashi community. Sanjoy K Roy, JLF organiser, recalled that when he was marrying a non-Bengali his family had thrown that old line about culture marrying agriculture at him. Despite all the discussions, the provenance of the rosogulla remains shrouded in mystery! However, the panelists did eat a few of them on stage while the audience salivated.

What you see is not what you get

Suki Kim, the author of Undercover in North Korea: Facts and Fiction. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

The BBC has a reputation for rigorous journalism. However, when it was invited to film a school into North Korea after the death of kim Jong Il, the BBC was, apparently, taken in by the propaganda. The school was for the children of the elite, and the 70 students in it were the only ones studying in the entire country. According to writer Suki Kim, the rest of the kids had been taken out of school and put to work on construction sites. But the BBC visited the only functioning school, filmed the premises for days and went back thinking this was the norm in the city

Star struck at JLF

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus during his session titled The Three Zeroes. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

One of the strange pleasures of being at a grand literary jamboree like the Jaipur Literature Festival, is having celebrities, stars and ah, Nobel laureates stroll past. Muhammad Yunus, whose The Three Zeroes is just out, was spotted on the first day at the press terrace, that insufferable space where the worlds media persons seem to meet once a year. Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain happened to be onstage right then holding forth on syncretism, music and culture during a press conference. The look on Yunus face was pure joy. Clearly, even Nobel Laureates are enamoured by celebrity performers.

Whos Afraid of Margaret Alva?

At the session entitled Women and Power, where the discussion ranged from Margaret Atwoods Bad Feminist Op-Ed to the negative portrayal of women on Hindi soap operas, Congress leader Margaret Alva shared how once the late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi told her that men in the party were afraid of her and perceived her as anti-male. Alva said she told Mrs Gandhi that, in politics, it was a very good reputation to have.

The Elephant in the room

A conversation with academics Upinder Singh and Maya Jasanoff, Gandhian Tridip Suhrud, and historian Patrick French brought up some important questions on the state of violence and the violence of the State. Strangely, though, no one brought up the Padmaavat controversy thats top of mind right now. The audience didnt let the panel off the hook. An incredulous member pointed out the incongruity of having a discussion On Violence without mentioning the violence currently unfolding. Nobody seemed to have any clear cut answers but Maya Jasanoff chose to take a larger view and pointed out that states tend to push violence to separate groups.

Hermione Grangers North Korean fans

Suki Kim during her session Undercover in North Korea: Facts and Fictions. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

Her North Korean students may not know of Neil Armstrong or the Internet, but author Suki Kim, author of Without You There is No Us; Undercover Among the Sons of North Koreas Elite did manage to screen Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban to her class while teaching English. She says she had been making them write weekly letters and essays as exercises ostensibly to improve their language but in truth to know the details of their personal lives and how they formed thoughts. Since all critical thinking has been obliterated from the countrys education system, essay writing was the hardest for her students and much disliked. While watching Harry Potter, Kim had hoped they would be blown away by the special effects. But the loudest gasps and sympathetic cheers broke out when, in the movie, Hermione complains she has to finish an essay for professor Snapes class!

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As a student, Shashi Tharoor was responsible for the revival of the PG Wodehouse Society at St Stephens College, Delhi. The society was disbanded a few years after he graduated. This was because, one day, womens underwear was found, flying at half mast on the cross atop the college chapel. This, apparently, was part of a practical joke competition organised by the PG Wodehouse Society. Tharoor insists this was after his time because, while he was there, the college admitted no women students. Also, he said, that since he had written the by-laws of the Society, he knew that all pranks had to be vetted by a faculty member.

This was one of the many anecdotes that emerged during the session titled The Wodehouse Effect on Day 3 of JLF2018.

For Jaipur Literature Festival full coverage, click here

Why are Indians so fascinated by PG Wodehouse, a quintessentially British writer? During an hour of discussion, Shashi Tharoor, Swapan Dasgupta, and Philip Norman managed to provide absolutely no answers to that question.

There was some bickering along the way. Dasgupta suggests that the appeal of Wodehouse is somewhat like that of Rudyard Kipling. Tharoor vehemently disagreed about equating a colonialist like Kipling to Wodehouse. The two later agreed that Wodehouse was unquestionably one of the most amazing wordsmiths to have graced the world of writing in English. Still no insight into why Indians love him so much.

But that was not disappointing in the least. Philip Normans ability to effortlessly quote Wodehouse kept everyone in splits.

Norman quoted this exchange between Bertie Wooster and Jeeves verbatim, to well-deserved applause:

Good evening, Jeeves,

Good morning, sir

This surprised me.

Is it morning?

Yes, sir.

Are you sure? It seems very dark outside.

There is a fog, sir. If you will recollect, we are now in autumn  season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.

Season of what?

Mists, sir, and mellow fruitfulness.

Jaipur, India - Jan. 27, 2018: (Day_03) Philip Norman, Shashi Tharoor and Swapan Dasgupta in conversation with Amrita Tripathi during the The Wodehouse Effect session at Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), Diggi Palace, Rajasthan, India, on Saturday, January 27, 2018. (Photo by Raj K Raj/ Hindustan Times) (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

Normans ability to quote Wodehouse was matched by his stories of the man himself: When Norman visited Wodehouse in New York, they were driven to the latters home by his wife Ethel  known as Bunny. She kept hitting the pavement as she drove. We bounced our way there, he said.

The only mention of colonialism in a conversation about a British writer was when Tharoor quoted Wodehouse as having said, The day when Gandhi sits down to a good juicy steak and follows it up with roly-poly pudding and a spot of Stilton, you will see the end of all this nonsense of Civil Disobedience. He then quickly pointed out that the comment was only to be taken as a joke, and not literally.

Even as the lack of humour and wit in public discourse was mourned, there was some disagreement between Tharoor and Dasgupta about where on the political spectrum Wodehouse would fall. He was definitely a conservative, said Dasgupta, something Tharoor disagreed with, prompting Norman to quip, These guys have managed to bring politics into a discussion on Wodehouse!

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Ahead of its mega bike rally here on January 29, the Congress has fired a fresh salvo at the ruling BJP through a series of caricature posters.

Unleashing a poster war, the Congress has targeted the BJP governments at the Centre and the state for what it calls their anti-people policies that were affecting the common man in the state.

The most conspicuous among the posters is the one that portrays a bearded man (in what appears to be a lookalike of Prime Minister Narendra Modi) with eight tentacle-like legs like that of an octopus.

People can be seen panicking and running away from the tentacles that symbolise rising prices of petrol, diesel and domestic gas cylinders.

The octopus poster that comes barely three months ahead of the civic polls reads: mehengi gas, mehenga tel, double engine ho gaya fail (the double engine government of BJP has failed to control the prices of LPG cylinder and fuel).

It is just one the 12 posters that have been released by us (Uttarakhand Congress) on the social media ahead of the partys vishal jan chetna (public awareness) rally in the state capital on January 29, said Amarjeet Singh, president of the state Congress information technology cell.

One of the posters attacks the BJP government for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state despite its zero-tolerance stance while another one hits out at the BJPs Central government for failing to keep its promise of achche din, with a Modi lookalike blowing a snake charmers pipe in front of a fuel dispensing pipe.

Through the posters, were also highlighting how the state government has been observing maun vrat (vow of silence) over the debt-ridden farmers plight and has gone back on its pre-poll promise of granting a farm loan waiver to them, said Pritam Singh, president of the Congress state unit.

In one of the posters, a saffron-clad hand can be seen handing over a tiny umbrella to a farmer sitting on his parched field. At least seven farmers have allegedly committed suicide in Uttarakhand over the past few months after they reportedly failed to repay their loans.

Besides being posted and circulated on social media, the posters have also been displayed at public places in the state capital.

Ahead of the 2017 assembly polls as well, the Congress party had circulated a series of hilarious spoofs, videos and caricatures on social media platforms.

The BJP, meanwhile, lashed out at the Congress for its series of posters. They (posters) clearly reflect the restlessness, anxiety and mental bankruptcy of the Congress and are nothing but a ploy to mislead the public, said Devendra Bhasin, BJPs state media in charge.

Meanwhile, former chief minister Harish Rawat and former state Congress president Kishore Upadhyay are likely to give Mondays bike rally in Dehradun a miss.

The rally will be flagged off by Congress veteran and Leader of the Opposition in the House, Indira Hridayesh.
A blow from a rifle butt knocked down Captain Vijendra Singh Gurung when Pakistani soldiers ambushed his troops during the 1971 war. He was captured and remained a prisoner of war for 13 months.

The war ended, Pakistan surrendered, Bangladesh was liberated and Gurung was released from detention on December 31, 1972. In the following years, the brave man served the army until he retired; worked as a teacher and with a private security firm before settling down in his hometown, Dehradun.

But bereft of a pension as he joined the army as a short service commission officer, Gurungs savings dwindled soon and he was forced to do odd jobs and hard menial labour to make ends meet.

The 67-year-old man lives in a small room on the outskirts of the Uttarakhand capital. The room reminds of a time before the world seemed to stray away from him. It has no electricity and he cooks on a firewood oven that also keeps him warm in winter.

Gurung is a bachelor and his sole companion now is a street dog.

Stories about the war veterans wretched retired life were widely shared on social media recently, especially rules that denied him retirement benefits because he served the military as a short service commission officer.

Drawn by public outrage, Mussoorie legislator Ganesh Joshi presented the soldiers case before chief minister TS Rawat and a sum of Rs 1 lakh was sanctioned as relief. Brigadier (retired) Rajendra Singh Rawat, the president of the Uttarakhand Ex-Services League, said his organisation will try to provide Gurung maximum help from the army.

The Tri-Services Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association, a Hyderabad-based NGO that provides help to former soldiers in need, has promised a monthly pension of Rs 10,000 to Gurung.

From searching for a way to survive, Gurung is now trying to find a future. I dont have an Aadhaar card  I am hopeful of getting the pension soon, which will help me a lot, said the man who speaks fluent English and Hindi.

He refuses to share details about his term in Pakistani prison because of the secrecy clause, but vividly recalled what happened before that.

The officer was made Second Lieutenant just three months before the war broke out. I commanded soldiers in the western sector in Fazilka on the Punjab border. Our troops were ambushed and I was hit with a rifle butt making me unconscious, he said.

He was taken to Pakistan and kept in several prisoner of war camps until he was freed. He was brought to New Delhi via Amritsar and debriefed by the army for 10 days. Thereafter he completed the young officers course at Assam Regimental Centre.

I worked in an Army School in Secunderabad, worked in a security firm in Mumbai and Lucknow but moved to Dehradun in 1984 as this is my home. Since then I had been doing odd jobs and at times receiving support from friends and relatives, he said.
Divya Yog Pharmacy - a company promoted by yoga guru Ramdev - has filed a case of cheating at city police station against a Maharashtra-based trader for backtracking and trading malpractices.

According to the case, Divya Yog Pharmacy paid 1.20 crore last month to Bhagwan Das for supplying of Ayurveda raw material consignment.

The raw material never arrived and the traders mobile phone was switched off, according to the police complaint.

Postal communications done by the pharmacy were also not responded, said complainant Harish Shankar, the pharmacys assistant managing director.

He pleaded before a district court to issue directive to police to register a case against the trader.

Despite advance payment made to the trader, the consignment didnt reach in time and no response to our communications has been made from the traders side. So, we had to take the legal route as its a blatant breach of trading norms and agreement, said Shankar.

Police have lodged the complaint as per the courts directive.

Chandrabhan Singh, in-charge of Haridwar police station, said: The agreement, receipt and related details have been sought from Divya Pharmacy management.

The Divya Yog Pharmacy makes Ayurveda medicines that are sold across Patanjali stores. The raw material is purchased from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and other states.
A spelling mistake in a government order, that was meant to upgrade a high school in Champawat district of Uttarakhand, has cost the academic plan of 43 students, who will now be forced to go to another school for clearing the intermediate exam.

In January last year, the state government had issued an order to upgrade a government school in the village Tana, from high school to intermediate. However, the village name was inadvertently mentioned as Tar. After the local education officials noticed the mistake, it was sent back to the secretariat.

Since then it has taken more than 10 months and still a revised order has not reached the office of district education officer in Champawat. DS Rajput, DEO said that the process of upgradation of the school will begin as soon as they receive the revised order. We hope that the classes will commence from the next session, he said.

A revised order, however, has been issued on December 19, but it is yet to reach the school.

Uma Shankar Bhatt, member zila panchayat, said, Children had to bear the brunt of poor functioning of the government. Seven students will have to go Ritha Sahib inter college, which far from their village, said Bhatt.
A portrait of Tipu Sultan installed in the Delhi assembly has sparked a controversy with the BJP calling the 18th century ruler of Mysore a tyrant who forcefully converted four lakh people to Islam. The BJP has recommended that a portrait of Sikh leader Jassa Singh Ahluwalias should be put up in the House instead.

BJP-SAD MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa during a presser on Sunday said, Tipu Sultans father Hyder Ali was the commander of the Hindu raja of Mysore.

After the death of the Mysore ruler, Hyder Ali declared himself king of the state. Later, his son, Tipu Sultan declared his kingdom an Islamic state and implemented Shariah (Islamic laws).

Tipu Sultan had himself admitted that he got four lakh Hindus and Christians converted to Islam. He also replaced the names of historical cities and villages with the Muslim ones. Mangalore was changed to Jalalabad, Mysore to Nazarabad, Bepur to Sultanpatanam, Cannanore to Kusanabad, to name a few, Sirsa said.

The controversy over Tipu Sultan first began in 2015 when the Congress government in Karnataka decided to celebrate November 10 as Tipu Jayanti. The protests turned violent, killing two people.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had unveiled portraits of 70 individuals from the countrys past, including that of Tipu Sultan, in Delhi assembly on this Republic Day.

During the Republic Day function, speaker Ram Niwas Goel had said, Constitution also carries a picture of Tipu Sultan on page 144 They should leave this cheap politics and do politics of development.

AAP, however, said that the BJP had not suggested any names for the portraits.

RSS was formed in 1925. I could not find any leader of RSS, who was a renowned freedom fighter and fought against the British. If there is one, lets place that portrait in Delhi assembly too, said AAP spokesperson, Saurabh Bharadwaj.
Deep in the alleys of cramped Chirag Delhi, lies the dargah of 14th century Sufi saint, Khwaja Nasiruddin Mehmood Chirag Dehlavi, which is rarely crowded and devoid of activity that marks other prominent shrines of Delhi. Its majesty, however, overpowers century-old disputes regarding a piece of its land.

Of late, this shrine in south Delhi has become a bone of contention between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) concerning graft charges in Delhi Waqf Board  the statutory custodian of religious properties.

According to a Delhi assembly committee report, a portion of the dargah was sold to a property dealer by the caretakers in connivance with board officials. BJP cried foul, alleging that the AAP by naming only a section officer of the board, tried to shield the dubious role of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan as chairman of the board. The Waqf Board was dissolved in 2016.

The caretaker (khadim) and the section officer were hand-in-glove. We asked chief secretary Anshu Prakash to initiate criminal and privilege proceedings against a section officer for selling the property. There has been no FIR against any one for selling the land, said Greater Kailash MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj, who had raised the question in the House in 2016.

The fresh dispute goes back to March 2016, when the caretaker allegedly sold a piece of land (69 bigha 15 biswa) to a private player. The locals interfered and stopped the construction of the two rooms that the caretakers said were part of musafirkhana (guest rooms) outside the main enclosure of the dargah.

BJP MLA and leader of opposition in Delhi assembly Vijendra Gupta said, The former chairman of the Waqf Board, Amanatullah Khan, has a CBI probe pending against him. He is an AAP MLA. Isnt the ruling party responsible for the graft in the board?

Much before MLA Khan was appointed as the chairperson of the Waqf Board, the board and the caretakers had been fighting a battle over the ownership of the dargah, comprising mausoleums of the saint and his disciples and the enclosure outside. The board claims the shrine was gazetted as Waqf Board property in December 1970, while the caretakers, citing a Wajib-ul-Arz (record of rights) document dating back to 1880, claimed they were the legal heirs of the dargah since eight generations.

Not just the shrine, we, like our forefathers, are also the khadims (caretakers) of the enclosure that was part of Chirag Dilli fort. The Waqf Board has no role to play here, said Zameer Ahmed Nasiri, one of the caretakers.

Subsequent court orders since 1917 went in favour of both the parties  the board and the khadims. On October 20, 1966, Hasmat Ali Khan, the then commissioner of Waqfs, Delhi administration, while terming Wajib-ul-Arz a valid proof of ownership of the Khadims, said that it was difficult to declare the land as Waqf as long as other evidence is not brought into light. An order by the High Court of Judicature in Lahore in 1943 said that it was not disputed that the whole of the village is owned by khadims of the dargah.

The dargah was gazetted as a Waqf Board property in 1970 after the death of then caretaker Mohd Ahmed. No one after him was the legal heir of the dargah, said a member of disbanded Waqf Board, who is familiar with the controversy.

Amid all this, people of the village, irrespective of their religion, rever the saint. A mystic-poet and a Sufi saint of the Chishti order, Nasiruddin was born as Syed Nasiruddin Mahmood Al Hassani around 1274 in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. He became mureed (disciple) of Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya after leaving Ayodhya at the age of 40. Later, he became Nizamuddins successor. He died in 1356, when he was 82. The tomb was built by Firoz Shah Tughlaq, the king of Delhi in 1358.

The footfall difference apart, Nasiruddin, unlike his peer (spiritual master), Nizamuddin Auliya, did not listen to sema (audio/music), considered un-Islamic by a section of the Muslim intelligentsia during his time.

That is why we do not organise qawwali here. Not more than 20 people, mostly locals, visit the shrine every day. Maximum visitors come on the day of Urs that falls on the 17th day of Ramzan every year, said one of the caretakers Javed Ahmad Nasiri.

Not many would know that the present-day Chirag Delhi  that developed around the dargah since 1800  got its name from saint Nasiruddin Mehmood Chirag. Legend has it that the title Roshan Chirag-e-Delhi was awarded to the saint for his mystical powers of lighting lamps using water instead of oil.

Whenever anyone is in trouble, a visit to the shrine helps. I think only maula will resolve this unending dispute, said Surinder Sehrawat, a local, who calls himself Aashiq-e-Nasir (Lover of the saint).
The Sunday Daryaganj book market remained closed for the fifth week in a row on Sunday.

The Hindustan Times on January 13 reported that municipal authorities were not allowing the iconic Delhi market to function in view of the Republic Day celebrations and the ASEAN summit, triggering widespread outrage among book lovers and city residents.

More than 250 book sellers put up their stalls on the pavement along Netaji Subhash Marg and Asaf Ali Road starting from the Daryaganj-Faiz Bazar crossing to Delite Cinema every Sunday. Started in 1964, this market is known for rare book titles  course books, biographies, memoirs, quiz books, coffee table books, encyclopedias, magazines, and even entrance exam books that are available here at throwaway prices.

The vendors, however, hoped that they would be allowed from the next week.

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation officials had earlier told the booksellers that it was an anti-encroachment drive in and around Chandni Chowk and Jama Masjid. The civic body had said that only authorised booksellers would be permitted to set up their stalls.

Qamar Sayeed, president, Sunday Books Bazaar Welfare Association said that North MCD officials assured him that the market would be allowed to function from February 4.

We met the deputy commissioner, City-Sadar Paharganj Zone of the municipal corporation. She said ASEAN leaders will be in the city till January 29. We hope we would be able to continue our business from next Sunday, said Sayeed.

Ruchika Katyal, deputy commissioner, City-Sadar Paharganj Zone, said, I am in touch with the booksellers. It was mutually decided this way, and it should start from next week.

Unlike earlier, several vendors selling knick-knack, clothes, shoes, and restaurant cutlery now squat parallel to the books market, which result in traffic snarls and chaos in the area, officials said.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal, an Old Delhi resident and an RTI activist, said that officials should come out with a solution that ensures removal of encroachment without affecting the functioning of the book market.

The market has its own charm and history. Encroachment should not affect its existence. Officials have done well by carrying out anti-encroachment drive. Traffic now moves smoothly. Similarly, officials should work out something that ensures the old book market continues to operate in future without any hindrance, said Agrawal.
The early settlers of Owasco called their preacher by the Dutch name dominie, or minister. The first minister in this area to hold a duo pastorate and preach in both the Sand Beach Church in Fleming and the newly built Owasco Reformed Church in the hamlet in the year 1812 was Coonrad Ten Eyck. It was many years later that the Rev. Richard Blocker would have the same duo ministry serving both reformed churches during the depression years.

Recent information about the Rev. Ten Eyck included his Revolutionary War pension application in Cayuga County at age 74 on Dec. 25, 1832, before Judge Asahel Fitch. It provided me with new insight about him. His family papers mentioned he was loathe to discuss his military service, but preferred to expound on his ministry of 'saving souls.'"

It was from the records of others that I came to understand him. He had led a very exciting youth. His service for our struggling nation fighting for independence from England propelled him to become a very young patriot in the formation of our country during the Revolution. After reading his application before Judge Fitch in Cayuga County, I can now say, for historys sake, that the first minister of the Owasco Reformed Church in the hamlet was a spy.
Grahams deeply concerned face. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham said on ABCs This Week that if President Trump fired special counsel Robert Mueller, it would mark his downfall. Its pretty clear to me that everybody in the White House knows that itd be the end of President Trumps presidency if he fired Mr. Mueller, Graham said.

Does Sen @LindseyGrahamSC still trust the Mueller investigation? As a matter of fact, I think Mr. Mueller is the perfect guy to get to the bottom of all this, and he will. #ThisWeek pic.twitter.com/QjglilKSW6  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 28, 2018

With his prediction, Graham may have been intending to send a message to Trump that there would be serious repercussions if Trump does dispatch the special counsel. But in the real world, it is far from clear that the president would face many consequences at all.

Last summer, the GOP seemed ready to maybe, possibly stand up to Trump if he went nuclear on the Russia investigation. But since then, the party has slowly but steadily drifted in his direction on the matter, to the point that, as Jonathan Chait wrote last week, There is every reason to believe that Trumps party would continue to defend him regardless of how much justice he obstructs.

In another bit of wish-casting, Graham claimed that Trump is basically fine with the way the Mueller investigation is going.

I see no evidence that President Trump wants to fire Mr. Mueller now, Graham said. The operative word in that sentence is now. The New York Times reported last week that Trump did indeed attempt to fire Mueller last June, but lacked the fortitude to follow through on his threat after White House counsel Don McGahn refused. And the Washington Post reported on Saturday that Trump has also mulled getting rid of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller in the first place.

Graham said he would pass legislation to protect Mueller tomorrow. But leadership within his own party quickly made it clear that on this front, too, Graham is an outlier.
Haj pilgrims embarking from Delhi will get to stay in the citys first ever Haj house from mid-next year.

The Delhi government, after nearly a decade since land for the Haj house was allotted at Dwarka Sector 22, has prepared the building layout of the proposed house.

The project is going to cost at least Rs 93.47 crore, work for which is likely to begin from April.

As per the project report, the centrally air-conditioned house will have state-of-the-art facilities, including separate dormitories for men and women, VIP suites, immigrations counters, prayer halls, kitchens and dining halls.

The building will also have a library, which will double up as a knowledge centre and a museum displaying the history of Haj pilgrimage in India.

The move assumes significance as, unlike other states, Delhi doesnt have its own Haj house. Pilgrims, along with their family members, are made to stay in transit camps that are built at Ramlila Maidan and Dargah Faiz Ilahi during the months of June-July.

With 15,000-20,000 pilgrims every year, Delhi is the biggest embarkation point for Haj pilgrimage in the country. Apart from Delhiites, Hajis from Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, western Uttar Pradesh and Chandigarh also depart for their journey from the city.

Those from Jammu and Kashmir also have the option to embark from the National Capital.

In fact, the Delhi Haj Committee (DHC) that organises the mega-event also operates from a part of a community centre owned by the Delhi Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB). This dilapidated building is called Haj Manzil.

DHC has been given only half of the first floor of this building. Once the Haj House in Dwarka is ready, we will have our own office. The Hajis (pilgrims) will also have a unique experience in the House as all modern amenities will be provided, said Ashfaque Ahmad Arfi, executive officer of the Delhi State Haj Committee.

Arfi added that the Haj House at Dwarka Sector 22 will be able to accommodate around 350 pilgrims at a time.

Officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) who are executing the project said that the building will be a green building with passive lighting and solar power plants. The entire shadow-free area of the rooftop will be used for solar-power generation. Besides, several other techniques for reducing electricity consumption will also be used. This is the reason behind the cost running up to about Rs 100 crore, a PWD official working on the project said.

When asked about the status of the project, revenue minister Kailash Gahlot said that the project has been cleared from the revenue department and only fund allocation remains. We had a couple of meetings in the last few months of all the stakeholder and major bottlenecks have been removed. We are trying to expedite things so that work can start at the earliest, he said.

Earlier, the Haj House was supposed to be a seven-storey building, but due to its close proximity to the airport, it fell under the red zone where structures of buildings are restricted to 15 metres. The building will have three floors.

However, DHC is mulling to restrict companions of pilgrims in the Haj house due to space crunch. The scope of the project has reduced. The problem we are likely to face in the Haj house is that of the family and friends, who accompany the pilgrims. Indian culture is such that just to see off one Haji, three to five people come along, said Arfi.

We will have to come up with a public notice to curtail the number of companions once the Haj house is ready, he said.

BOX

Plan for Delhi Haj House ready

Land Area: 5000 sqm

Building specification: Ground + 3 floors + double basement

Estimated cost: 93.47 crore

Building will be a green building

It will be centrally air-conditioned

Whats in store?

4 VIP suites

4 double bed suites

68 dormitory beds for females

104 dormitory beds for males

Museum

Library

Normal and executive Dining halls

Prayer halls

Ablution areas for males and females

Kitchens and pantries

Medical room

Passport section

Airport (Immigration) Centre

Conference hall

Cafeteria

Bank storage

Luggage store

Rooms for officials

Car parking
Nearly 40 people, most of them journalists from a Hindi daily, were trapped when a fire broke out at Kailash Building on Kasturba Gandhi Marg in New Delhi on Sunday evening.

Those who were present inside said that while none of them was injured, smoke filled the entire 12-storey -building causing breathing problems and they were forced to leave the premises.

Additional director, Delhi Fire Services, Atul Garg said the fire broke out around 4.30 pm in the office of Australian Council for Educational research on the 11th floor.

The Councils office was closed but some 25 of us were working in the office which is on the same floor. We had difficulty in breathing because of the smoke and panicked. A guard Akhilesh Chauhan came to our rescue and guided us ensuring that everyone was evacuated safely, said a journalist.

He said that the security guard climbed up to the 11th floor and with the help of a torchlight guided them through the staircase. Five fire tenders were rushed to the spot and doused the fire around 5.30 pm, said Garg.

The cause of the fire is being investigated, said a senior police officer.
Kashmere Gate, which stands near the Bada Bazar in north Delhi, bears the scars of cannonballs that rained down on it more than a hundred years ago.

During the ghadar (mutiny) of 1857, Indian sepoys and citizens rose against the East India Company and seized Delhi. For three months, the rebels held the city against the British cavalry, who fired canons at the gate, attempting to breach its walls and lay claim to Delhi. As summer gave way to September, Kashmere Gate fell to the British, and with it, the rest of Delhi.

The sacking of the city that followed marked the end of Mughal Delhi and the inauguration of the Delhi of the Raj. Today, in the modern Delhi, those who look find stray remnants of the citys most recent reincarnation all around them: in government buildings, in the colonnades of Connaught Place, in the names of roads or the grandeur of university offices. But the pockmarked walls of Kashmere Gate, Delhis modern ruins, also attest to loss and violence, showing that the transition from one version of Delhi to the next has usually followed a fight.

The British Terror

As its name suggests, the Khooni Darwaza (Blood Gate), an archway near the better-known Delhi Gate, has witnessed the horrors of several Delhis. In 1659, Dara Shikhohs head was displayed hung from the arch of the gate after his brother Aurangzeb had him executed. More recently, in 1947, hundreds of refugees were killed here in the post-Partition riots. In 2002, the gate gained notoriety again after a young medical student was gang raped at knife point on the terrace of the monument.

It was near the Khooni Darwaza that a British captain shot dead Bahadur Shah Zafars two sons, and one of his grandsons, for their participation in the 1857 campaign. The quelling of the rebellion was savage, and calculated to strike terror. In Kucha Chelan alone, a locality near Jama Masjid, more than 1,000 men were lined up and killed by a firing squad.

The bungalows around the Secretariat buildings (todays North and South Block), the Church of Redemption (above), the Parliament House, India Gate, the glittery arcade of Connaught Place  all helped form a new map of Delhi. (HT Archive)

To punish the rest of the citys Muslim population, viewed by the British as the main instigators of the rebellion, their houses and religious buildings were occupied, taken away, or demolished. The Jama Masjid was closed till 1862. Akbarabadi mosque was destroyed; Zinat-ul Masjid, which lies in Darya Ganj, was turned into a bakery; and the Fatehpuri Masjid, which faces the Red Fort at the end of Chandni Chowk, was sold off to Lala Chunnamal, a Hindu trader.

While Hindus were slowly let back into the city after 1857, Muslims were only allowed in only a year later. It was such a rupture for the cityto repopulate it in a way completely different from before, says Madhavi Menon, a professor at Ashoka University and author of A History of Desire in India. Not only did the British not assimilate, but they tried to undo the assimilation that was India.

As evidence, Menon points to anti-miscegenation laws passed by the British, making illegal any sexual liaison between the colonizers and the natives. Before 1857, many of the British officers and administrators had intermingled with Indian nobility, embracing local culture and becoming White Mughals, as the writer William Dalrymple called them. But after 1857, there was a physical and cultural distancing.

A new Delhi

After the British ransacked Delhi, the citys anatomy was carefully rearranged to suit its new masters. In todays quiet, leafy Civil Lines, the British created a city within a city for themselves.

Most government buildings and educational institutions in this area have a connection to the violence of 1857. The imposing residence of the vice chancellor of Delhi University, with its ballrooms and majestic pillars, was the vice-regal lodge, which the British attacked during the siege to save their captive compatriots.

Though Civil Lines had been a British neighbourhood since the early 1800s, allowing colonialists to live close to the cantonment at the northern Ridge, it became the centre of local British residential life after 1857. Only Brits could own property, and only Brits could buy alcohol at Spencers or Carlton House  shops that stood in what is now Kashmere Gate market  or enjoy a soiree at Civil Lines Maidens Hotel, which is one of the citys oldest hotels.

This new city became a rival for resources to the walled city of the Delhiwallas. When a new water supply system was conceived, Civil Lines got its own open drain at Salimgarh. The whole of Shahjahanabad, with thrice the population, was serviced by a single drain at Delhi Gate.

It was in Civil Lines that the British embarked on the project of memorialising their victory during the 1857 rebellion. The Victory Memorial in the northern Ridge pays homage to officers and administrators who helped win the war. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

It was also in Civil Lines that the British embarked on the project of memorialising their victory during the rebellion. Even to this day, the neighbourhood has roads named after Lothian, Hamilton and Nicholson, the British heroes of 1857. The Victory Memorial in the northern Ridge and an obelisk at the erstwhile Telegraph Office pays homage to officers and administrators who helped win the war.

The mutiny monuments are preserved, but lie forlorn. At times, descendants of British soldiers find their way to the Nicholson cemetery, near Kashmere Gate, which the British built to bury their dead after 1857. Sachin Bansal, who runs India City Walks, which offers tourists curated city experiences, says descendants often contact them. For one of our walks, a relative of General Nicholson joined us. These are people looking to understand history, and what part their great-great-grandfathers played, he says.

Capital city

The Durbar of 1911, attended by King George V, caused a flurry of construction, much like the Commonwealth Games in 2010. The British administration repaired roads and built temporary accommodation for the visiting princes and personages.Restoration work started on the Red Fort. Lord Curzon, the incumbent Viceroy, was critical of how the fort had been allowed to decay and ordered repairs. (This indignation did not stop Curzon from throwing a ball in the Diwan-e-Khas, the hall Shah Jahan once used to receive special audiences.)

It was only after the coronation of King George V, which took place in an open park near the Nirankari Sarovar, that the imperial farman was read out, stunning the assembly. We are pleased to announce to our people that we have decided upon the transfer of the seat of the government of India from Calcutta to the ancient capital of Delhi.

Delhi found itself at the centre of power again for the first time since Shah Jahan made it his capital in 1648.

Overnight, British administrators drew up ambitious plans to turn the city into the capital of the Raj, and selected the young architect Edward Lutyens as the man for the job.

He arrived in Delhi at 1921, and promptly recruited fellow architect Herbert Baker as a collaborator. The partnership began with promise: Delhi is all right!! Lutyens excitedly wrote to Baker. I start 27th March!! It is a wonderful chance.

While neither was a great fan of Indian architecture, they blended European and indigenous elements in the structures they built. Raisina Hill, an elevated hill to the south of Shahjahanabad, was chosen as the site for the Viceroys Lodge and Secretariat buildings. This made the raj offices easily visible to the natives  an imposing, daily reminder of British authority.

The Victory Memorial In 1863, The British erected a Victory Memorial at the Ridge, which records the number of soldiers who died or were wounded in the 1857 battle. British deaths, like British lives, were more valuable than Indian ones. While casualties among the colonialists are recorded name by name, their Indian brothers-in-arms are merely 14 native soldiers. While the British commemoration of their victory was deliberate, writes historian Nayanjot Lahiri, creating as it were, a palpable landscape of heroism and conquest that can be archaeologically located, hardly any physical traces of resistance offered by Delhis residents exist. To counter this narrative, in 1972, the government of India installed a plaque at the Victory Memorial. The Enemy of the inscriptions on this monument were those who rose against colonial rule and fought bravely for national liberation in 1857, it says.

A sense of the enormity of their project hung over Lutyens and Baker. When a question was raised on the mounting finances, Harcourt Butler argued that the new city had to be on a big scale, something that will impress the Indians with our determination to stay here.

The British called the city New Delhi, signifying that Shahjahanabad was now old Delhi, outmoded and outdated. This is a continuing and frequent trope of empire, to build a new city, a new capital to prove that there is an improvement on what was there earlier, says Menon.

From 1912 to 1931, when it was formally inaugurated, the city buzzed with activity. The bungalows around the Secretariat buildings, the Church of Redemption, the Parliament House, India Gate, the glittery arcade of Connaught Place  all helped form a new map of Delhi.

Today, Delhi continues to be the seat of power for independent Indias democratic government. Most of the structures where decisions are made such as the Rashtrapati Bhavan, North Block and South Block  are direct inheritances from the Raj. Lutyens Delhi is still the address of the countrys powerful and rich elite. In 2016, a bungalow here sold for 450 crores, but behind the palatial VIP houses, working classes reside in slums. That is the dilemma of post-coloniality, says Menon. It marks a moment in time when the colonialists leave, but does not mark any change in the conception of power. Especially if you keep getting governed from the same structures of power, same laws, same colonial mindset.
Can your name define who you are and shape your life? Not quite. But what if your name is Asia and those of your brothers are Africa, Japan, Russia and America? Well, it could certainly create a bit of an identity crisis -- and some comic moments too. Ask the Kumar brothers, who are named after countries and continents. And these are not their nicknames, but real names.

Asia yes, its spelled exactly ASIA. That is actually my name, says Asia Kumar, pulling out his Aadhaar card from his wallet to prove his name. It has not been easy convincing people we are not joking when we tell our names.

Asia Kumar, who works at a private bank in Delhi, has six brothers -- Russia and Prithvi live in Delhi; Africa in Mumbai, Japan in Chandigarh and Bharat in their native village in Balangir district in Odisha. The seventh, America Kumar, is no more.

Living with these geographical names has not been easy for the brothers except when they are in their village, where everyone blames their names on the whims of their father and let them be. But once they left their village in search of livelihood, they realized there is a lot in a name.

The Kumar brothers Prithviraj Kumar , 47, lives in Delhi America Kumar , died in 2002 Africa Kumar, 43, lives in Mumbai Bharat Kumar , 40, lives in his native village Japan Kumar, 38, lives in Chandigarh Russia Kumar, 35, lives in Delhi Asia Kumar 32, lives in Delhi

Often, they have to answer questions about their fathers motivations, how their names affect their sense of self. The brothers recount many tales of how their names create daily drama in their lives. Once there was a call for me at my banks landline phone and the colleague who took the call informed me that someone from Africa called. I told him the call must have been from Africa, my brother, says Asia Kumar.

When I told the names of all my brothers, they were dumbfounded, he says. Talking to people on the phone, the brothers say, poses quite a lot of problems. There are times when I say this is Africa this side, and the person on the other side would retort, Ok, if you are Africa, then I am America. And it is very hard making him understand that I am not joking, says Africa Kumar, 43, who works as a lights man in Bollywood.

Except for Prithvi and Bharat, having names of foreign countries complicated matters for brothers in ways they could not imagine. Japan, who works with the air force, often have had to face questions about his and his familys patriotism and nationality. At times people would ask if I am an Indian, why my name should be Japan. I do not think there is a family in the country where brothers have faced such difficulty proving their names and the rationale behind them, says Japan.

Tired of telling the history, geography and philosophy of his family over and over again for years, Russia Kumar, 35, who works as a helper in a CSD canteen in Delhi, recently decided to use Tinku, a nickname some people used for him in his native village when he was a kid. I know Tinku does not suit my age and personality, and people find it funny, but it saves me a lot of unnecessary explanations about being Russia.

The brothers say their names are the result of frustrated ambitions of their father, Kulmani, a very popular tailor in the village. He had a fierce desire to travel the world, and when he realized that he had no chance of fulfilling his ambition due to his impoverished circumstances, he decided to name his children after countries and continents. So, our house became a globe and my father its undisputed master, says Japan, laughing. In fact, he even wanted to continue the tradition with our children, and suggested that America Kumars son be named Washington, but we put our foot down and, eventually, we named him Sagar, says Asia Kumar.

One day when the brothers assembled at their native village in December 2007, Africa, having fed up with frequent questions, told him angrily he should not have given them these names. The father, recalls Africa, responded flatly, without losing his cool: I did so after much thought. These are all unique names and you will always stand out, but if you want to change them, please feel free to do so.

Of course, no one did. A lot of people thought I was named Africa because I have a dark complexion. But I do not think my father chose names based on our personality traits, says Africa Kumar. Asia Kumar says America, his brother, did have a few similarities with the country.

Unlike some of us who tried to run away from our names, he tried to live up to his. At 6.2 ft, he was the tallest and the strongest. He was short-tempered and all hell broke loose if he got angry. Is not it so much like America, the country? asks Asia, the only brother who is a graduate. But America, Asia adds, was emotionally fragile, and committed suicide in 2002, leaving his father a broken man. The father died six years later. Their mother lives in the village with Bharat.

Interestingly, the geopolitics of the family has been quite different from global geopolitics. In the unique world of the Kumars, America was closest to Russia; Japan too has been great friends with Russia. But the father, the brothers say, did not discriminate among us. He loved us all equally though he was quite unhappy that we did not give our children geographical names, says Japan.

His daughter, Christina Kumar, 13, who studies in class 6 in a Kendriya Vidyalaya, says she is quite proud of his fathers name. Earlier, I felt a bit odd whenever my classmates asked my fathers name, but now I am quite comfortable. I think my father has a pretty unique name, says Christina.

Except Asia, the brothers do not know much about the countries or continents they are named after and have never travelled abroad. Japan does wish to visit Japan, but there is a worry nagging him. How will people in Japan take it when I tell them that I am Japan from India? he says.

On many occasions, they got special treatment because of their names, says Africa Kumar. At times people take selfies with us. Once I was in Delhi for the shooting of 2 States and actor Arjun Kapoor asked me to call my brothers, says Africa. The brothers may be named after countries and continents but their village is where they feel at home. This is one place where no one bothers about our names, says Asia.
In the wake of emerging facts about new sources of pollution such as dust storms from west Asia and salt particles from salt pans of Afghanistan, the Centre has taken up at least two new studies to find out the pollutants and their sources that have been troubling Delhi and its satellite towns.

These studies would be the first of their kind as the results would reveal the dominant pollutants in Delhis air and their sources for every month and every season. They would also take into consideration air pollution in the entire National Capital Region, for the first time, instead of focusing on Delhi alone unlike previous studies.

This would help fine tune the national capitals fight against pollution and allow the governments to remain better prepared.

The studies will focus on apportioning various pollutants and their sources according to seasons and months. This time we are doing it for NCR. It would be different from the earlier apportionment study done by IIT Kanpur for Delhi in 2015. One of the studies is almost complete and the findings are expected within the next three to four months, said CK Mishra union environment secretary.

One of the studies, which is at its fag end, is being done by Delhi-based The Energy and Research Institute (TERI) and Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India. The other would be carried out by the Central Pollution Control Board starting next month.

It would be a year-long study to find out the month-wise and season-wise sources of particulate matter in Delhi and its neighbouring NCR satellite towns. We will concentrate mostly on PM2.5 as it is one of the primary and most harmful pollutants, said D Saha, head of the air quality laboratory of CPCB, Indias apex pollution monitoring and controlling agency.

A senior CPCB scientist said the study was planned after suggestions poured in from the Delhi government that a month-wise source apportionment should be carried out so that the government could be better prepared.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and health minister Satyendar Jain had attended the meeting held by the union environment secretary.

The previous studies had mentioned the broad categories such as dust pollution and pollution from biomass burning. The present study would try to fine-tune the categorization further and find out how much dust was coming from west Asia or the alluvial plains of the Indo-Gangetic plains and what proportion of pollution comes from stubble burning among others. Pollution from Diwali crackers would also be monitored.

The CPCB study will characterise the pollutants, identify their sources, concentration, reactivity and even health impacts, said Saha.

A recent study conducted by the CPCB and scientists from IIT Delhi had recently found that minute air-borne salt particles originating from large salt pans in Afghanistan are pushing up pollution levels in Delhi, mostly during the winter months when westerly and northwesterly winds flow.

Trans-boundary pollutants have earlier also been found to be pushing up pollution levels in Delhi.

In November, when pollution in Delhi breached emergency levels, scientists had blamed it on dust storms in west Asia. Strong high-altitude winds were bringing in pollutants from Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia where a dust storm had played havoc.
What was till recently used as a parking lot for two-wheelers in south Delhis INA Market, has been converted into a service road to manage traffic on the often-choked Aurobindo Marg.

The move, however, has become a bone of contention between Delhi traffic police and local businessmen.

Nearly two weeks ago, acting on traffic polices advice, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) banned parking on a nearly 200m stretch between the main road and the market where mostly two-wheelers were being parked.

The new lane is to be used by vehicles heading to the market and by buses heading southwards. This means instead of continuing on Aurobindo Marg, buses moving towards AIIMS will use the lane immediately after descending from the Safdarjung Flyover.

According to special commissioner of police (traffic) Dependra Pathak, the buses now move out rapidly unlike before when they had to wait longer on the main road before reaching the INA Market bus stop.

Police said the conversion has facilitated the smooth flow of traffic. But shopkeepers say that it has affected their businesses due to the shrinkage of the already limited parking space. They say the lane has done little to decongest Aurobindo Marg.

Deepak Bhutani, president of the market association, said the lane is not wide enough for a car to pass when a bus is standing. This means our shoppers who come in cars have to wait longer to reach the residual parking area of the market. Additionally, it risks pedestrian safety as speeding buses coming from the flyover can hit someone trying to enter the market via the lane, said Bhutani.

The two-wheelers will now have to be adjusted in the car-parking area, Bhutani added.

This has caused inconvenience to shoppers and the footfall is low. This is a popular market and even diplomats come here. A decent parking space is required but what was available with us has been reduced, said cosmetic shop owner Bobby Singh Khurana.

Babu Antony, another shopkeeper, said added that despite a ban on parking on the narrow lane, many car drivers just come and wait there, choking it even further. There is no policeman to remove these cars or the autorickshaws that stand in a queue and clog part of the main Aurobindo Marg. Much of the traffic is because of bad management and this step has not addressed those problems at all, said Antony.

Hindustan Times visited the market twice on a weekday  once during the afternoon and then in the evening peak hours . In the evening, buses were moving rapidly, but in the afternoon, there were many unattended cars parked in the no parking area, leaving less space for buses to move comfortably.

Many buses continued plying on the main road.

Bhutani said when NDMC told them that they were taking away the parking on the advice of the traffic police, they had raised objections, but the council still went ahead.

Reacting to these allegations, special CP Pathak said they received the suggestions and were looking at them with an open mind.
Poached Eggs Florentine and Lemon Souffle Pudding are some of the dishes that wont just make you salivate, but also decide the destiny of youngsters from across the globe. These youngsters are heading to Delhi to participate in the fourth edition of International Young Chef Olympiad (YCO).

Organised by the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) and supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and various state tourism departments, YCO 2018 will open in Delhi where 43 participants will compete for the winners trophy and a cash prize of USD 10,000.

MasterChef Junior US 2014 Winner Logan Guleff judging the dishes at YCO 2017.

But, this cooking battle wont be easy considering there are world-renowned chefs in the judges panel including names such as Sanjeev Kapoor, David Foskett, Karl Guggenmos, Chris Galvin, Ranveer Brar, Parvinder Singh Bali, Udo Leick, and Boris Leung. Only food can bring 50 nations together harmoniously. Its the most spoken language in the world, says Shaun Kenworthy, judge, YCO 2018, adding, There will also be a section, Chef Speak, in each city where local chefs will be socialising with the participants and mentors, listening to their personal stories along with academic discussions by the judges.

As some of the best culinary institutes compete against each another for the title, the participants are sharpening their knives, scraping spatulas, creasing the chef hats and acquiring a supersonic speed to chop, cook and present their dishes in the best way possible. Surya Sekharroy Chowdhury, a 24-year old from Kolkata who is the India finalist, says, Representing the country at this prestigious stage is like a dream come true for any aspiring chef. I feel extremely privileged and will leave no stone unturned in making India proud. I cant deny that Im pretty excited to rock the plates!

Dishes prepared by the young chefs will be judged on the bases of their taste and presentation.

Even Padma Shri awardee chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who is the principal judge, reinstates the need for such competitions to promote the young talent, As an Indian, I am so proud to see this huge initiative on such a global scale. This is a unique global learning concept for young chefs and hospitality students.

The Young Chef Olympiad was conceptualised as a platform for young chefs-in-training from around the world to interact and showcase their talent. We are glad to see a great response from the international community, who have come together to make this event a great success over the past three editions. With this event, we have tried to put India at the centre of the culinary map of the world. In future, we intend to make the competition bigger with over 100 countries participating in the next edition, says Dr Suborno Bose, founder and chief mentor of IndiSmart Group and IIHM.

After the opening on January 28, the competition will continue on the following days at IIHM campuses in Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Pune till February 2.

Catch It Live What: Opening of International Young Chef Olympiad Where: Talkatora Indoor Stadium, Presidents Estate When: January 28 Timings: 5.45pm Nearest Metro Station: Patel Chowk on Yellow Line

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The founder of the RSS, Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, and its second and most powerful sarsangchalak, Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar, were firmly in favour of building a society based on religion and caste. But RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat seems to feel differently.

At a recent meeting, he lamented that vote bank politics will continue to the detriment of society as long as people vote on caste and religious lines. Coming from the leader of an avowed Hindu organisation, this is a welcome thought. Mr Bhagwat said that everyone is free to practise his or her religion of choice, again in contrast to many in the RSS who feel that minorities are about to either overrun India numerically or are actively trying to convert Hindus through marriage or inducements.

Mr Bhagwat has on several earlier occasions spoken of the need for tolerance and inclusion, signalling that he is not as hidebound as some of his predecessors. But the challenge for the RSS in general, and Mr Bhagwat in particular, is to rein in the fringe Right-wing groups which seem to draw strength and legitimacy from the RSS.

While the RSS may say that it has nothing to do with organisations like the VHP, Bajrang Dal and Karni Sena, the latter clearly consider themselves close affiliates of the organisation. Mr Bhagwat feels that it is this excessive emphasis on caste and religion that has impeded the prime ministers development agenda, and indeed he is not off the mark.

It falls to him now to aggressively speak out against the attacks on the Dalits and minorities and push his followers to work for a more inclusive and tolerant India. Just how intolerant people have become was seen from the recent violence over a film on a fictitious queen. The depredations of the gau rakshaks, who are nothing more than thugs engaged in extortion and violence under the guise of religion, and those of the self-styled moral brigade against young couples are well documented now.

Like religion, Mr Bhagwat should make it clear that every Indian has the right to chose whom to marry, what to eat, what to read and view, and when to dissent. This is the bedrock of democracy and Mr Bhagwat can use his considerable influence over his flock to make them a catalyst for positive change.

The RSS exerts an influence on the ruling party at the Centre and many states and Mr Bhagwat can also nudge them towards putting development at the centre again. The RSS has long held a homogenous view of India according to which everyone has to fall in line with the wishes of the majority. Caste and religion are indeed a drag on our politics. If Mr Bhagwat can address both at least within the BJP, he will have done the nation a signal service at a time when it is riven by so many fault lines. It will also show how far he has come from the vision of the RSS founding father Hedgewar.
With the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) laying underground drains from the Dhanwapur sewage treatment plant, and plugging leakages in the pipeline carrying treated water, the marshland in Basai is likely to dry up.

Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) senior town planner Sudhir Chauhan said leakage in the pipeline has flooded the Basai area since 2001.

Seepage from the drain and rainwater has been the main source of water for Basais low-lying areas where a permanent pool of shallow standing water spurred the growth of aquatic plants like water hyacinth as well as reed beds. With easy availability of food from the surrounding farmlands, the area became a paradise for birds, which gather in thousands every year attracting birding enthusiasts from across the globe.

Work has been initiated to stop water from spilling into Basai. Soon, not a drop of water from the drain will go to Basai; the pipeline was damaged and was never repaired by Huda. Water from the damaged pipeline submerged the farmland in the area. Now, this drain is being diverted and concretised so that there is no leakage in future, Chauhan said.

Birders, on the other hand, claim the region has been a birding site since much before that. We have seen birds visiting the area even before 2001, Abhishek Gulshan, a birder, said.

However, Basai is set to get a new look as the MCG wants to build a construction and demolition (C&D) waste treatment plant here. In May 2017, the MCG granted permission to a construction company to set up a C&D plant on a 3.5-acre plot. This plant is expected to treat over 500 tonnes of waste daily.

The source of water for the site has been a bone of contention for the agency since the NGO Delhi Bird Foundation (DBF) filed a petition in the National Green Tribunal stating that thousands of birds will lose their habitat if the C&D plant comes into the picture.

Officials in the know of the matter said that repairing the drain is a step towards drying the area so claims of Basai being a wetland, which needs protection as a birding site, can be countered.

Authorities are racing to dry out the area as DBF has appealed to the state government to notify Basai as a wetland, as directed by the National Green Tribunal. The NGT is also hearing a petition by the DBF seeking a stay on the project contending that the Basai wetland, though not declared as a wetland under the 2010 Wetland (Conservation & Management) Rules, is a valuable water body.

Ornithologists and birders are of the opinion that this development will affect the birding area as the main source of water will be blocked. Earlier, the area was threatened because of large-scale urbanisation. Now with the underground drain, Basai wetlands will get no water from the sewage treatment plant. This will change the fate of the area, Pankaj Gupta, a birder with the DBF, said.
A panchayat scheduled to be held in Bhondsi village on Sunday morning was postponed as Section 144 has been imposed in the area till January 29.

The villagers met the Special investigation team (SIT) team officials and requested them to conduct a fair inquiry into the violence that broke out in Bhondsi and Sohna on January 24.

The 12-member SIT was formed by the Gurgaon police commissioner. It includes ACPs, inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors and will be led by of DCP (South) Ashok Bakshi.

The SIT is collecting scientific evidence, checking CCTV footage, videos made by the public and trying to identify the accused who were involved in the violence during which a bus was set ablaze and a school bus carrying students was also pelted with stones.

The DCP has given us the assurance that justice will be done and those apprehended wont be punished if found innocent. We will meet the Gurgaon police commissioner on Tuesday and request him to ensure prompt action as our children, who are not involved in these incidents, are lodged in the Faridabad observation home, Sanjay Raghav, former village head, said.

The villagers, who said the apprehended eight juveniles are innocent, will hand over a memo seeking their release.

My son was returning from school and was in his uniform when police apprehended him. If there is evidence against him, I am ready to let him remain in the observation home. But if not, why should he suffer? Anil Raghav, father of one of the apprehended juveniles, said.

Read I Karni Senas Gurgaon chief held over Padmaavat violence, SIT to probe bus attack

Another parent, Jai Prakash said, If there is a shred of evidence against our children, show it to us. We dont believe a word of what the police are saying. Our children have been framed.

The SIT officials have started the probe and said they will ensure that justice is done. We will conduct an inquiry and submit the report soon. We have met the villagers and have asked them to cooperate with us during the probe, Ashok Bakshi, DCP South, said.

On January 24, the police had apprehended eight juveniles on multiple charges, including attempt to murder, rioting, snatching, damaging government property and preventing government employees from discharging their duty. They are lodged in the Faridabad observation home.
Rubio. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Senator Marco Rubio announced on Saturday night that he has fired his chief of staff, Clint Reed, after an investigation into allegations of improper conduct. Per Rubio, the investigation found sufficient evidence to conclude that while employed by this office, my Chief of Staff had violated office policies regarding proper relations between a supervisor and their subordinates. The statement does not specifically mention sexual harassment, but seemed to imply it, since the misconduct led to actions that amounted to threats to withhold employment benefits.

Rubio said that as soon as the allegations were reported directly to him on Saturday, he had his general counsel begin the investigation, and subsequently flew back to Florida to fire Reed. Rubio also said his office is trying to make sure those impacted by this conduct have access to any services they may require now or in the future, suggesting there was more than one staffer who was affected. No other information was provided pursuant to the wishes of those victimized by this conduct.

Reed managed Rubios presidential and Senate re-election campaigns in 2016, and became his chief of staff in January 2017. He will now be replaced, at least on an interim basis, by Rubios deputy chief of staff, Jessica Fernandez.
As the district agencies and municipal corporation work tirelessly to up Gurgaons ranking in the all-India cleanliness survey, Swachh Survekshan, there are let-downs that may keep the city from joining the likes of Indore, which was adjudged the cleanest city in all of India last year.

On its part, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has undertaken several steps to make the city cleaner over the last year.

The municipal body introduced the door-to-door waste collection system, it boasts that Gurgaon is open defecation-free and many RWAs and housing societies set-up their own waste processing units in the past year.

The MCG focused on making the city open defecation-free, waste segregation, constructing public toilets and initiate door-to-door collection of waste. We are hopeful that these initiates will reflect on the Swachh Bharat survey, MCG joint commissioner Anu Sheokand said.

But issues such as defunct waste processing plant at Bandhwari and absence of a construction and demolition (C&D) waste plant may affect this years rankings.

This year, Gurgaon was hoping to improve its ranking in the Swachh Survekshan or clean India survey, in which 4,041 cities are participating. A team from the Union ministry of urban development will be in the city between February 1 and 3.

It will evaluate the citys cleanliness on parameters including, collection, segregation and transportation of municipal solid waste; cleanliness of public areas; solid waste management; public access to toilets; awareness campaigns on cleanliness and citizens engagement in waste management; staff education and exposure; and best practices.

The Bandhwari waste processing plant has been lying defunct since a fire in 2013. The plant has been relegated to a collection point and 1000 tonnes of waste from Gurgaon and Faridabad is dumped here. This waste remains untreated.

A Central Pollution Control Board report stated that nearby water bodies have been contaminated because of this waste.

In November last year, state government announced that the plant would be revived to process over 25 lakh tones of solid waste in the next five years. A waste-to-energy (WTE) plant has been conceptualized which would produce 10 MW electricity daily. But, it wouldnt start until June 2019.

While theres a deadline for the Bandhwari WTE plant, thats not the case for the C&D plant proposed at Basai.

After reports surfaced that the 3.5-acre site is on a wetland and that the C&D plant threatened the habitat over 280 species of birds, including exotic migratory birds, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) stopped construction of the plant in June 2017. On January 10, the NGT vacated the stay on construction but its final judgment is awaited. The plant was expected to commence operations last year. MCG officials said, the city generates 700 tonness of C&D waste and it increases at an annual rate of 10%. The silver lining is that Gurgaon may get brownie points for reviving these projects.

Meanwhile, Gurgaon also boats of being open defecation-free, but issues related to public toilets, their condition, functionality, and even existence, continue to raise a stink.

Last week, the civic body claimed that after getting complaints from residents and councillors about public toilets that are either locked or non-operational, it had made 125 toilets functional.

Last year, only 9% residents felt there is basic infrastructure available at public and community toilets. Given how public feedback accounts for 35% of the total points in the 2018 survey, public toilets could become a nightmare for the MCG.

The district administrations been working towards addressing that, too, but its yet to find success.

Its conducted workshops, taught sanitation staff to reach out to people for feedback and addressed complaints received on the Swachh Map app.

In a release on December 18, 2017, the district administration had said that more than 2,350 people downloaded the Swachh Map app and 987 complaints received on the app were resolved. But residents have often complained about poor or improper redressal.

This year, Gurgaon was hoping to improve its ranking in the Swachh Survekshan or clean India survey, in which 4,041 cities are participating. A team from the Union ministry of urban development (MoUD) will be in the city between February 1 and 3 for the survey.

It will evaluate the citys cleanliness on several parameters including, collection, segregation and transportation of municipal solid waste; cleanliness of public areas; solid waste management; public access to toilets/open defecation-free; awareness campaigns on cleanliness and citizens engagement in waste management; staff education and exposure; and best practices.

In 2017, Gurgaon ranked 112th out of 434 cities in the survey. In 2016, the city ranked 36th out of 73 cities, and in 2015, it finished 466 out of 476 cities. This year, a total of 4,041 cities are participating in the survey in which service-level progress category, and direct observation together carry 70% weightage out of a possible total of 4,000 points.

MCG has undertaken several cleanliness measures over the past year. We are looking forward to carrying out more such initiatives beyond the Swachh Bharat survey as well, MCG public relation officer SS Rohilla said.

BOX: What earns Gurgaon points

Service-Level Progress: 1400 points

Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) will submit details and data on its sanitation manpower, machinery, infrastructure and progress made in municipal projects

Direct Observation: 1200 points

Officials will visit various sites, such as waste processing plants, public toilets, and drainage canals across the city. It will also conduct on-spot surveys, independent of MCGs knowledge

Public Feedback: 1400 points

Residents can either give their feedback on the citys cleanliness through the Swachh Bharat app, the Swachh Bharat website or at random list their response in a telephonic survey conducted by survey officials.

Clean at a click

The Swachh Map app was launched on October 3, 2016

The app allows residents to upload pictures of piles of waste for getting them cleared by the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram

Once the picture is uploaded, the app reads the latitude and longitude of the waste pile. This information is shared with the officials of the sanitation department, which then sends staff to clear the site within 48 hours

In December last year, the district administration said more than 2,350 people had downloaded the app and 987 complaints received on the app were resolved

Since its launch, the app has faced several software issues and many residents have complained about poor or improper redressal.
In a crackdown on people who indulged in violence in Bhondsi and Sohna Road while protesting against the screening of the movie Padmaavat, the police on Saturday arrested Rewari district president of Shri Rajput Karni Sena. The accused, identified as Harinder Singh alias Tinku, was arrested by the special investigation team.

Meanwhile, sources said the Gurgaon police are likely to take Karni Sena national secretary Suraj Pal Amu on production warrant on Monday and book him under stringent sections in connection with the Bhondsi violence.

A bus was set ablaze and a school bus was pelted with stones, jeopardising the lives of passengers and students.

Eighteen others were arrested for the same incident. Officials from Bhondsi police station have already moved an application in court to take Amu on production warrant.

Amu was initially detained under section 107, 151 of CrPc to maintain law and order on Thursday. He was sent to judicial custody till January 29. His lawyers on Sunday alleged that he faced threat to life inside the jail.

Amu has been arrested in connection with an incident that took place at Silani Morh in Sohna in which the accused tried to block road and raised provocative slogans and caused affray. He is the sixth accused caught in connection with this incident, said Ravinder Kumar, PRO, Gurgaon police.

On January 26, a case was registered against the accused under sections 148/149,186,188,283,341 of the IPC.

The police also arrested another miscreant identified as Lalit alias Gaurav, who was a part of the group that pelted stones, caused public nuisance in Khandsa in connection with Padmaavat agitation. A case was registered in sector 37 police station in Gurgaon.

The police said they arrested 30 miscreants in criminal cases and detained 14 persons as a preventive measure.
Sharon Stone hopes disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein goes to jail. However, she said all men accused of sexual misbehaviour should not share the same fate.

In every crime, there are misdemeanours and felonies, and I think if someones committed a misdemeanour they cant be treated like they have committed a felony. You cant charge someone for murder when they have got a parking ticket, said Stone.

Her comments are the same as actor Matt Damon, who was criticised by #MeToo campaigners for saying there is a difference between patting someone on the butt and rape or child molestation, reports Daily Mail.

Stone condemned Weinstein, saying: I hope he goes to jail. She called him coarse, mean, violent and abusive.

He thinks hes a big martyr but hes a pisher, a nobody, she added.

On how women should deal with predatory men, Stone said: We have two legs. You can leave a room. You can say stop it. You have an opportunity not to participate.

Sharon Stone and Roan Joseph Bronstein arrive for the 75th Golden Globe Awards on January 7. (AFP)

Harassment doesnt start when you get to Hollywood. It starts when you are little. Dont feel sorry for me. Feel sorry for the generations of women who came before us who no one stood up for at all, she said.

Women like my grandmother who was beaten by her husband almost every day... I stand up for them, she added.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
A 35-year-old woman, critically injured in Pakistani firing along the International Border (IB), succumbed to injuries on Sunday, raising to 14, the number of deaths due to cross-border shelling since January 18, police said.

Bimla Devi of Kana Chak in Jammu was critically injured in Pakistani shelling on January 22 and was undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College hospital here.

She died this morning and after postmortem the body was handed over to her relatives for last rites, a police officer said.

He said barring ceasefire violations in Krishna Ghati and Mankote sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district last evening, there was no report of more ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

Earlier, six security personnel and seven civilians were killed and over 70 others injured in intense shelling by Pakistan along the IB in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts and the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and Rajouri districts from January 18 to 22, leading to the displacement of thousands of border residents.

While there was no ceasefire violations by Pakistan reported along the IB since January 22, two mortar shells fired by Pakistan exploded in the premises of the government high school in Nowshera sector of Rajouri on January 24 and small arms firing in the same sector on January 26.

Over 300 schools along LoC and IB were closed last week as a precautionary measure in view of the firing.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah may induct new faces in his team and reassign roles to incumbent office bearers, as the party readies for the Lok Sabha election scheduled next year.

Indias ruling party is without a prabhari (in-charge) in Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Assam and Goa  four states where it is in power in a coalition.

Sidharth Nath Singh and Mahendra Singh, the prabhari for Andhra Pradesh and Assam, respectively, moved into their new role as ministers in Uttar Pradesh government in March last year, while Jharkhand in-charge Trivendra Singh Rawat became the chief minister of Uttarakhand. Goa prabhari Parshottam Rupala, too, became Union minister of state for agriculture in September 2017.

Assignment of these (vacant) roles is long overdue (and) Shah will assign these responsibilities to new leaders, too, a BJP leader said. The party plans to hold its national executive next month, and the new appointments could be announced around that time.

BJP vice president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe is also expected to be relieved of his role as the partys in-charge for Madhya Pradesh following his appointment as president of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Himachal Pradesh BJP, too, will get a full-time prabhari, as incumbent Mangal Pandey became minister in the Bihar government in July last year. Pandey was retained as assembly elections in the hill state were just a few months away.

Since his re-election as BJP chief in January 2016, Shah did not introduce too many changes in the team that he had formed after taking over from Rajnath Singh in July 2014. But several national office bearers have since moved into a new role, leaving Shah with a team just over 60% of the allowed strength.

Besides a chief, BJPs national team can have maximum 13 vice-presidents, nine general secretaries and 15 secretaries. At present, Shah runs the BJP with six vice presidents, seven general secretaries and 11 secretaries.
Tripura BJP vice president Subal Bhowmik on Sunday decided not to contest next months assembly elections ostensibly after being denied nominations from the constituency he opted for, in a first sign of dissidence in the party over ticket distribution.

The BJP released names of 44 candidates on Saturday and another four on Sunday. Its yet to decide candidate for another seat. The party will contest 51 of the total 60 seats in the state while its ally Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) will contest the rest.

The BJP has of late emerged as the principal opposition to the ruling Left Front in the state.

Bhowmik was named as the party candidate from Sonamura seat in the list announced on Saturday.

I congratulate all party leaders who have been selected for contesting the polls. But I didnt expect to get ticket from Sonamura constituency. I would not contest this poll due to some personal reasons, Bhowmik told a local TV channel on Sunday.

Though Hindustan Times tried to contact him over telephone, but he didnt receive calls.

When contacted, BJP president Biplab Deb said he has no information of any rift in the party.

I dont have such information of any kind of internal-feud after declaration of list of candidates. Even Subal Bhowmik attended Sundays party meeting along with me, said Deb over telephone.

Bhowmik had won from Sonamura as a Congress candidate in 2008. After his defeat from the same seat on a Congress ticket in 2013 he had floated his own party  Tripura Pragatishil Gramin Congress.

Bhowmik had joined the BJP in 2015 along with his supporters and members of his party.

In a separate development, miffed over non-inclusion of women candidates, the IPFTs women wing announced to field their own candidates in the 20 seats reserved for the Scheduled Tribe.

We initially wanted the IPFT president to give tickets to at least five women. After alliance with the BJP, we curtailed our demand to only one seat. But they didnt give any. So, we have decided to break away from the party and field our own candidates, said IPFT women wing chief Swapna Debbarma at Agartala.
The government has finalised the contours of a Rs 6,000-crore scheme to tackle the countrys depleting groundwater level, almost a year-and-a-half after finance minister Arun Jaitley announced the plan in the Union Budget.

Called the Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY) and piloted by the Union water resources ministry, the scheme now needs the cabinets clearance. It will be launched in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, covering 78 districts, 193 blocks and more than 8,300 gram panchayats.

The scheme was conceived to arrest the rampant overuse of groundwater in India. According to a World Bank report, about 245 billion cubic metre of groundwater is abstracted each year in the country. This figure represents about 25% of the total global groundwater abstraction.

In the past four to five decades, 80% of the rural and urban domestic water supplies in India have been dependent on groundwater, the report says.

Half of the Rs 6,000 crore earmarked for the scheme will come from government budgetary support and the World Bank will give another Rs 3,000 crore.

The duration of the ABY will be five years. We will soon go to the expenditure finance committee for approval, after which we will move for the cabinet nod, said Akhil Kumar, the joint secretary in charge of groundwater in the water ministry.

The government plans to give 50% of the money to states, including gram panchayats, as incentives for achieving targets in groundwater management. Thats a first-ever move to encourage community participation and behavioural changes.

The remaining 50% of the funds will be given to states for strengthening institutional arrangements such as providing a strong database and scientific approach to help them accomplish sustainable management of groundwater.

Gram panchayats that prepare water security plans and put infrastructure to augment water supply will get incentives. The more steps a state takes to augment supply, more incentives it will get. The idea is to bring in a concept of self-regulation through community participation, said another senior ministry official who does not want to be identified.

The ministry had initially conceptualised the National Groundwater Management Improvement Scheme (NGMIS) in response to the budget announcement of 2016-17. However, the NGMIS was shot down by the expenditure finance committee in May 2017, recommending that the ministry recast the scheme with a composite proposal.

The scheme has since been recast and renamed as Atal Bhujal Yojana, the official said.

The Centre does not have any control over groundwater. The only law that deals with groundwater  the Indian Easements Act  dates back to 1882. This law states that water below the surface belongs to the land owner. In the past several years, 13 states have bought their own law to regulate groundwater extraction but implementation has been patchy.
The Jammu & Kashmir police has registered an FIR against the Indian army, charging its 10th Garhwal unit with murder, attempt to murder and endangering life, over the killing of two civilians in south Kashmirs Shopian district on Saturday, officials said on Sunday.

Javid Bhat and Suhail Lone, both in their 20s, were killed when army opened fire on protesters in Ganaupora village in south Kashmirs Shopian district on Saturday afternoon. Another youth, who sustained bullet injuries, is battling for his life at the Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar.

A senior police officer confirmed that an FIR (26/2018) was filed at the Shopian police station against the armys 10th Garhwal unit. The charges under sections 302, 307 and 336 are pressed, the officer said.

The Army says it opened fire in self-defence after a convoy came under heavy stone-pelting by protesters who allegedly tried to snatch the weapon of a soldier and lynch him.

Some villagers were, however, quoted in the local press as saying that the army opened fire after an altercation ensued over the security personnels attempt to remove posters of a slain militant in the village.

Firdous Ahmed, a militant killed in an encounter in south Kashmir on January 24, was a resident of Ganaupora.

Experts said that such killings could vitiate the political atmosphere in the troubled region and hit several newly launched reconciliation policies by the PDP-BJP coalition government, which recently said it was considering amnesty to second-time stone pelters in the Kashmir Valley, after withdrawing cases against over 9,000 first-time stone pelters.

The Centre is pushing for steps to bolster efforts by newly appointed special interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma to kick-start a dialogue and restore peace in the state. The state police has also been reiterating its stand on bringing back local militants into the mainstream and have encouraged them to surrender. Police has recently even said that said they need not come to police stations to surrender but can simply join their families under the no case no apprehension policy.

A strike called by separatist leadership to protest the killings paralysed normal life in the Valley on Sunday. The roads remained deserted and local train services across Kashmir was suspended. Restrictions on movement were imposed in some sensitive areas of Srinagar. High-speed mobile internet services, which remained snapped throughout the day, were restored at night.

The deputy commissioner of Shopian has been asked to probe the incident and submit a report within 20 days.

No agency or force should be allowed to vitiate the atmosphere. If government is serious about the policies it has taken recently, then the forces should have been taken on board, in clear terms, so that such incidents could have been avoided. This vicious cycle has to stop, said Srinagar-based political analyst Noor Baba.

Former chief minister Omar Abdullah attempted to corner the government over the incident. 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.

After Saturdays incident, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti called Union defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman to express anguish over the civilian deaths. Sitharaman assured the chief minister that she would seek a detailed report on the matter and will ensure that such incidents do not recur.

In an official press statement, Mufti was quoted as telling Sitharaman: 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 two deaths in Shopian took the toll of civilian killings due to firing by forces in Kashmir to four this month. On January 24, 17-year-old Shakir Ahmad was killed after security forces allegedly opened fire on protesters near  an incident that the police said was a case of cross-fire. Earlier, on January 9, 22-year-old Khalid Ahmad Dar died during protests after army fired on a group that was allegedly pelting stones at a military camp in Khudwani in Kulgam.

In 2017, according to police figures, at least 24 civilians had lost their lives during gun battles between security forces and militants in Kashmir.
The Akhil Bharat Hindu Maha Sabha has said it will contest in the forthcoming assembly elections in Karnataka from 150 seats.

The first list of candidates will be announced by the end of February, its state president N Subrahmanya Raju told reporters here Saturday.

The Maha Sabha did not consider the BJP as its ideological or political ally as the saffron party had long abandoned its Hindutva ideology, he said.

He alleged that chief minister Siddaramaiah was desperately wooing the minority communities to come back to power.

However, the Congress would not win this time just by withdrawing cases against SDPI and PFI activists, Raju said.

Raju said the Sabha would contest all the eight seats in Dakshina Kannada district.

The entry of Hindu Maha Sabha was inevitable at this juncture when the ruling Congress was pursuing anti-Hindu policies, he added.

The Opposition BJP in the state was not effective in opposing these policies, he said adding that majority of Hindus would give a fitting reply to the Congress in the coming elections.
In a significant step to New Delhis quest for influence in the Indo-Pacific region, India has signed an agreement with the Indian Ocean archipelago nation of Seychelles for the development, management, operation and maintenance of facilities on Assumption Island.

The island in Seychelles is leased to India for the operation of a naval base and air strip by the Indian navy.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and Seychelles Secretary of State Barry Faure signed the agreement on Saturday.

Relations with countries in the Indian Ocean Region and nurturing a climate of peace and stability are important cornerstones of Indias foreign policy, Jaishankar said following the signing of the agreement.

Our vision for the region is based on cooperation and collective action to tackle maritime security challenges.

Jaishankar referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modis remarks during his visit to the Seychelles in March 2015 when the latter said that Indias goal was to seek a climate of trust and transparency, respect for international maritime rules and norms by all countries, sensitivity to each others interests, peaceful resolution of maritime issues, and increase in maritime cooperation.

We seek a future for Indian Ocean that lives up to the name of Sagar - an acronym that stands for Security And Growth for All in the Region, Jaishankar said.

Sagar is an Indian initiative to have a positive effect on sea-borne trade.

India, after leasing Assumption Island, began preparations for infrastructure development, including quarters for the Seychelles Coast Guard and fixing the airstrip on the remote island where there is very little human activity.

India and Seychelles have had cooperation in the field of defence and maritime security for many years, which has seen India helping to patrol the Seychelles waters and gifting several equipment to the Seychelles Peoples Defence Forces (SPDF).

During Modis 2015 visit, India announced gifting of a second Dornier surveillance aircraft to the Seychelles Coast Guard to increase maritime security. India gifted Seychelles its first Dornier in 2013.

India and the Seychelles had inked an agreement in the course of that visit to develop infrastructure on Assumption Island, which lies 1,140 km southwest of the mainland of Mahe, and is one of the 115 islands that constitute Seychelles.

Jaishankar said that India and Seychelles have over the years built an elaborate architecture of defence and security cooperation.

As two maritime neighbours, we have a stake in each others security and safety. Seychelles with its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) spread over 1.3 million square km is particularly vulnerable, he stated.

Recognising this, India and Seychelles have drawn up a cooperation agenda that covers within its purview shared efforts in anti-piracy operations, and enhanced EEZ surveillance and monitoring to prevent intrusions by potential economic offenders indulging in illegal fishing, poaching, drug and human trafficking.

The Foreign Secretary said that the India-Seychelles cooperation was further exemplified by the operationalisation of the Coastal Surveillance Radar System in March 2016, and our commitment to augment defence assets and capability of Seychelles.

We are proud of the role played by patrol ships Topaz, Constant and Hermes and the Dornier aircraft in securing the resource rich waters of Seychelles, he stated.

In recognition of our strategic convergence in the Indian Ocean region, the agreement that we sign today is an important step forward in the further deepening of our cooperation in the spirit of our unique bilateral ties, he added.
Donald Trump and his now semi-recused attorney general, Jeff Sessions, 2016. Photo: Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images

It is possible that the deafening drumbeat of charges in the GOP-controlled media about alleged liberal bias in the Justice Department and the FBI is only designed to prepare the base to disregard evidence of President Trumps culpability in the Russia scandal. It would make sense as a grand public-relations strategy. For months, Republicans greeted the news of every incriminating meeting or email by insisting that the latest revelation was not, by itself, criminal proof of collusion. The endless retreating was demoralizing. Perhaps Republicans decided that, to buck up their base, they needed a galvanizing offensive play. They would allege a sinister Deep State conspiracy to persecute Donald Trump and protect Donald Trumps enemies. Perhaps.

It seems much more likely now that the conspiracy theories and charges serve a different purpose: to give Trump cover to shut down Robert Muellers probe and remake the Justice Department into an organ of his personal protection. Several new reports have clarified the presidents disturbing intent.

The Washington Post has a detailed investigation out about Trumps efforts to control Muellers probe in particular, and the Justice Department in general. The president also made clear in recent days that he hopes new questions facing the investigation allow him or his associates to make changes at the Justice Department, two sources say. The president has told close advisers that the memo  a still-classified summary of conspiracy theories, authored by Republican staffers  is starting to make people realize how the FBI and the Mueller probe is biased against him and that it could provide him with grounds for either firing or forcing Rosenstein to leave, reports another source.

A CNN story from Friday provided new details about Trumps hostility to Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general who appointed Mueller and supervises his work. If Trump wants to stop Mueller, Rosenstein is the figure hell have to bend to his will or, more likely (assuming Rosenstein would refuse), fire and replace. Trump distrusts Rosenstein because, the president reportedly says, the deputy attorney general is a Democrat from Baltimore. Rosenstein is neither a Democrat nor from Baltimore, but Democrat from Baltimore is probably a more acceptable shorthand for Trumps demographic profiling of Rosenstein than, say, on the wrong side of the war on Christmas.

So, why hasnt Trump acted yet? Reports have also answered this question: because his lawyers keep stopping him. White House counsel Don McGahn threatened to quit last year when Trump ordered the firing of Mueller. Ty Cobb has taken a gentler approach, assuring the president that Muellers investigation will be complete by an ever-receding succession of deadlines (Thanksgiving 2017, New Years Eve, the end of this month). Both the Post and CNN report that staffers simply wait out Trumps blustery orders to fire Rosenstein.

The question is how long this unstable equilibrium will last. While Trumps lawyers may wish to dissociate themselves from a Nixonian abuse of power that would forever define their reputations, the rest of the party has a broader investment in Trumps success. If you think it would be an unthinkable scandal for Trump to quash an investigation of his own campaign, you probably get your information primarily or exclusively from mainstream news sources.

Americans who get their information from the conservative alternative news structure have an entirely different impression. Muellers investigation has dragged on forever and petered out; the real scandal that has come to light is what is being done to Trump by a liberal cabal within the FBI. From this perspective, Trumps passivity in the face of a shocking conspiracy to destroy him is an act of almost saintly forbearance. Trump apparently sees the Republican embrace of the memo and its conspiratorial implications as evidence that the base would not object to him shutting down an investigation his party sees as corrupt. And he is probably right.

The Post has more confirmation that the president simply fails to grasp that federal law enforcement traditionally acts independently, rather than following the presidents personal whims. The story attributes this belief to Trumps naivete as a business owner who has never held office before. He is a president accustomed to functioning as the executive of a private family business who does not seem to understand that his subordinates have sworn an oath to the Constitution rather than to him.

But the story also makes it clear that Trumps lawyers have accepted his letat, cest moi conception of the governments prosecutorial power. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who recused himself because he was a key member of the campaign that was being investigated, and who also lied about his interactions with Russians, has selectively un-recused himself. The Post reports that White House chief of staff John Kelly told Sessions that the president wishes to publish the Republican-authored memo detailing anti-Trump conspiracies. If Sessions is recused from the Russia investigation, he should not be implementing efforts to stop it. Sessions has also tried to satisfy Trumps demands that the Department of Justice investigate the Clintons  both the moribund email-server investigation and the farcical Uranium One episode have become the subject of renewed prosecutorial scrutiny. In the face of Trumps anger that Sessions betrayed him by following basic protocol in recusing himself from a massive conflict of interest, Sessions seems determined to prove his loyalty.

Of course the president ought to be able to expect loyalty, Newt Gingrich, an unofficial Trump adviser, told the Post of Trumps demands for law enforcement to reflect his own interests, He is the chosen president of the United States by the American people, and he is the chief executive. If theyre not loyal to him, who the hell are they supposed to be loyal to? In Gingrichs estimation, the who must be a single person, and the bounds of this loyalty are apparently infinite.

Two sources tell the Post that Trump has complained to confidants and aides in recent weeks that he does not understand why he cannot simply give orders to my guys at what he sometimes calls the Trump Justice Department. The question is whether the departments mission will remain justice at all or take on the very different objective of Trump justice.

Update: The New York Times has more reporting on the Devin Nunes memo. It alleges that Rosenstein authorized wiretapping on Carter Page, a former Trump campaign aide who harbored a number of secret connections to Russia for which his public accounts have changed suspiciously, and who the FBI suspected of acting as a Russian agent.

What was wrong with Rosenstein authorizing surveillance of someone who seems to have completely vindicated the suspicions about him? The crime alleged by the memo is that Rosenstein allegedly relied on tips compiled by former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele, whose dossier has attracted wide attention. Republicans have attacked Steele because his investigation of Trump was financed by Democrats during the campaign. Of course, this does not nullify the value of Steeles findings. The dossier was a compilation of raw intelligence leads, of which Steele has estimated was about 70% correct.

In any case, there is no reason to believe that the FBI accepted Steeles information uncritically, or that it formed the entire basis for its investigation. The FBI had many sources for investigating Trump campaign connections to Russia. Dutch intelligence provided an early lead into Russian involvement in the American presidential campaign, and an Australian diplomat drinking with George Papadopoulos was another key moment.

But the Republican argument hinges on presenting Steele as the poisoned tree, and the entire Russia investigation its fruit. The memo zeroes in on Rosenstein using Steeles memo as misconduct, and this alleged misconduct is the pretext for Trump to fire him, and presumably replace him with a pliable figure who would either fire Mueller, or severely hamper his investigation. The coordinated attacks on Mueller and Rosenstein have a clear point: to give Trump the chance to place the Department of Justice under the control of loyalists who will use its power to prosecute his enemies and shield his allies.
Peace remained elusive in Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh where miscreants set a kiosk on fire on Sunday morning, three days after violence rocked the town claiming the life of a young man in a clash between two groups over a motorcycle rally to celebrate Republic Day.

District magistrate RP Singh rushed to the spot and fire fighters extinguished the blaze. The latest incident is contrary to the district administrations claim that the situation has been controlled.

The district of Kasganj has not witnessed any major clash or violence resulting even in injury to anyone during last three days after clashes killed one person. We are doing our best to control the situation but the miscreants are now resorting to stray attacks on shops and abandoned objects lying in the city just to draw attention towards them, the district magistrate said.

The kiosk burnt on Sunday morning is in continuation with such design of miscreants. We are working round the clock to arrest miscreants and end such stray incidents, Singh said.

The administration on Sunday morning organised a meeting of the district peace committee in a bid to restore normalcy. After the meeting, it was decided that shops and commercial establishments in the area would be opened, officials said.

At the meeting of the peace committee, whose members include prominent citizens of the district, it was decided that the shopkeepers will open their shops and commercial establishments. There is no atmosphere of fear in the city. There have been sporadic incidents, which people of the city feel have brought shame to the place, Agras additional director general of police Ajay Anand said.

Aligarh divisional commissioner Subhash Chandra Sharma said people at the peace committee meeting put forward their points of view and concerns about the situation and the administration assured all possible help.

Sharma said shops selling tea, snacks, vegetables, milk and medicine were already allowed to remain open and normalcy would return when others start opening their shops.

On Saturday, there had been widespread arson and vandalism after cremation of Chandan Gupta, the man killed in on Friday. Shops at Ghantaghar were burnt down and private buses parked on Nadrai Gate were set on fire.

The district administration blocked the internet on Saturday evening to prevent rumour mongering.

ADGP Ajay Anand claimed on Saturday evening there was no incident after 2pm, but later at night miscreants set ablaze an abandoned car and a pharmacy.

The incidents of arson and vandalism have taken place despite a heavy deployment of police forces including the provincial armed constabulary (PAC) and the rapid action force (RAF).

The administration has officially not imposed curfew in Kasganj but policemen on patrol are asking people to stay indoors.

Meanwhile, the Congress on Sunday demanded an independent judicial probe by a high court judge into the violence in Kasganj.

Congress leader Pramod Tiwari alleged callousness and mismanagement on the part of the state government and local administration that led to the clashes between two communities.

How did this happen, who did it? The truth will come out only when an independent judicial probe is conducted by a sitting high court judge.

We demand an independent probe by a sitting high court judge into the incident, he said.

Asking a question to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, Till when will incidents of gang rape continue under your rule and in the BJP-ruled states. When will you apprehend the culprits and give them exemplary punishment?

(With agency inputs)
As many as 112 people were arrested and security personnel intensified vigil in strife-torn Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh where the situation remained tense but peaceful on Sunday, two days after clashes between two communities claimed one life.

On Sunday evening, UP Police said the situation was headed towards normalcy, and added that three drone cameras had been deployed for aerial surveillance.

Explosives were found during house-to-house searches following which the state police chief said the stringent National Security Act (NSA) would be invoked against the culprits.

The Yogi Adityanath-led government, meanwhile, stressed that the guilty would not be spared.

An official statement issued by UP Police said, So far, 112 persons have been arrested. As many as 31 accused have been arrested, and 81 preventive arrests have been made.

It said five cases have been registered so far, of which, three were registered by station in-charge of Kasganj Kotwali. Cases were registered under various sections of the IPC, CLA (Criminal Law Amendment) Act and for violation of the National Flag Act, the statement said.

The situation is heading towards normalcy, and markets have opened. Three drone cameras have been deployed for aerial surveillance of the entire city as most of the incidents took place in the peripheral areas, additional director general of police (law and order) Anand Kumar told PTI.

The IG Aligarh has ordered the setting up of a special investigation team which will go through all evidence and objectively probe the case, the ADG (L&O) said.

Principal secretary (home) Arvind Kumar also said normalcy was being restored in the city.

A bus set on fire on Saturday by a group of people who went on a rampage after the cremation of a young man killed during a bike rally in Kasganj. (PTI)

At least three shops, two private buses and a car were torched on Saturday, after a young boy was killed in clashes following stone-pelting by a mob on a motorcycle rally taken out to celebrate Republic Day.

In Lucknow, DGP OP Singh said, We are speaking to people, the guilty are being arrested, intensive checking and house-to-house searches were undertaken. And this is the reason why the situation is absolutely under control.

Referring to the incidents that led to the violence, he said there was stone-pelting between two groups resulting in the death of one person and injury to another.

The police acted swiftly and controlled the situation, and we have intensified patrolling since the outbreak of the tension, the DGP said.

Asked whether any permission was taken for a Tiranga Yatra, the DGP said no such nod was required.

January 26 is a national event, and no permission is needed. This was a prabhat pheri (morning event)... some anti-social elements started pelting stones. Police immediately reached the spot and controlled the situation by arresting a few people. Since then, we are keeping a close watch. Today, there was no worrisome incident, he said.

The DGP said stringent action would be taken against the guilty.

The Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) intensified vigil in the city.

The administration also organised a meeting of the district peace committee at the nagar panchayat office on Sunday morning to restore normalcy.

At the meeting of the peace committee, whose members include prominent citizens of the district, it was decided that shopkeepers will open their shops and commercial establishments, ADG Agra Ajay Anand said.

Aligarh divisional commissioner Subhash Chandra Sharma said shops selling tea, snacks, vegetables, milk and medicine were already allowed to remain open.

The administration is acting tough on those who had indulged in the violence, based on the video evidence, Sharma said.

Terming the violence as unfortunate, Dinesh Sharma told reporters in Kanpur that not even a single guilty person would be spared.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath is himself monitoring the developments and stringent punishment will be meted out to the guilty, no matter how big he is or how strong his political connections are, Dinesh Sharma said.

He said a criminal was a criminal irrespective of his caste, creed or religion. Such incidents will not be allowed to happen in any other place, he stressed.

Now we have strong laws. It is a warning to criminals that if they conspire to create riots, rifts in the society, or indulge in dacoity, then all those indulge in these acts will be punished and also their conspirators, he said.

Meanwhile, the opposition BSP and SP targeted the state government on the law and order front.

In a statement, BSP chief Mayawati claimed that in the entire country and especially in BJP-ruled UP, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Maharashtra, development and public welfare activities had taken a backseat while a poor law and order situation prevailed.

She alleged that there had been criminalisation of the ruling BJP at every level.

In UP, theres no rule of Constitution, but a jungle raj-like atmosphere is prevailing. The latest example is that of Kasganj. Tension is still prevailing and the state government seems to be failing here, Mayawati said.

She said the BSP condemned the violence and demanded that stringent punishment for the guilty.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Sunil Singh Sajan alleged, The government is staging riots in Kasganj. We do not want the resignation of the chief minister. We simply want peace and normalcy to return to the place which is synonymous with the Ganga-Jamuni culture of the state.

He alleged that for the past three days volunteers of the RSS, the Vishva Hindu Parishad and the ABVP were threatening people and an atmosphere of fear prevailed. The government is quiet. The police is helpless, he claimed.
Backed by political parties including the ruling Naga Peoples Front, influential groups and civil organizations in the state urged the Election Commission on Saturday to defer assembly elections in favour of early solution to the protracted Naga political issue.

The core committee of Nagaland tribal hohos and civil organizations (CCNTHCO) sent a prayer of petition to the Chief Election Commissioner after a crucial meeting in Kohima just four days ahead of a gazette notification for assembly elections and a month for polling in Nagaland,.

The Nagaland Tribal Hoho is the apex body of all 16 major tribes in Nagaland. The meeting was also attended by the ruling Naga Peoples Front and National Peoples Party, Aam Aadmi Party and several other major organizations like Nagaland Tribes Council, Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organization and Naga Students Federation.

The opportunity for a peaceful resolution of the Naga political issue has never been this favourable as the political negotiations are in advanced stage and we cannot effort to distract the focus on the process at any cost, the letter stated.

The Centre signed a framework agreement with National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), the most prominent of the several Naga rebel outfits, in 2015. But the deal hasnt been made public yet.

The NSCN (I-M) has been demanding integration of Naga-inhabited areas in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. But with Centre rejecting the demand, there is confusion as to what kind of a final solution can be expected.

Hopes of an early solution soared after New Delhi started consultations with six more rebel outfits towards the end of last year leading to speculations that a final agreement would be signed soon and it would be acceptable to all outfits and the public.

The Nagaland assembly, whose tenure expires on March 14, had also passed a resolution in December 2017 urging the Centre to take emergent steps for an acceptable solution well before election and also requested the EC not to announce polls till such a solution is arrived at.

But with polls scheduled for February 27, many in Nagaland believe it will impede the peace talks.

The Naga Hoho and other civil organizations had earlier written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also met Union home minister Rajnath Singh requesting deferment of polls.

The people of Nagaland are keen and determined to work with the ECI in exercising their franchise to have an elected government. We cannot, however, participate in such an exercise till our desire for a political solution is met, the letter added.

The BJP which is part of the NPF-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland government in Nagaland did not attend Saturdays meeting. The powerful Nagaland Baptist Church Council also abstained.

But despite the clamour for postponement of polls, it wont be an easy for the EC to concede to the demand. According to existing rules scheduled elections can only be stopped through a constitutional amendment and only in extraordinary circumstances.

The CCNTHCO has called for another meeting on Monday where it will urge all political parties not to file nominations for the assembly polls.
Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said the gang rape case of a minor girl in Odishas Koraput district should be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The minor tribal girl of Kunduli, who was allegedly gang-raped, committed suicide after being denied justice. Here the state government and police administration are accused in the case, said Pradhan.

Manipulation of the forensic report had earlier been reported in Anjana Mishra gang rape case. After the rape of a dalit girl was proved and allegations were levelled against Odisha Police and director general of police, the chief minister is acting ignorant, alleged Pradhan.

A minor girl was allegedly gang-raped by security personnel in October last year. She hanged herself at her house last week as she was denied justice.

The Union minister said the BJP will not stay quiet and will remain adamant till justice was delivered.

Rejecting the allegations, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief whip in the assembly Amar Prasad Satpathy said the state government was committed to ensuring justice to the victim.

Judicial inquiry has been ordered and there will be an impartial probe. The Kunduli mishap is certainly a sensitive one and nobody should do politics over it, said Satpathy.

He said many cases had been handed over to the CBI earlier but people of the state were still unaware of the proceedings.

The demand for a CBI probe is just part of a campaign by the BJP and I think that judicial probe is the best option, said Satpathy.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday counted cashless transactions, Aadhaar-linked direct cash transfers and the recent Padma awards as examples of a larger ecosystem that worked for the people, didnt tolerate corruption and was transparent.

Urging the youth to join the fight against corruption, Modi, who swept to power in 2014 on the promise of a clean government, said even the powerful were not being spared.

I dont think any youth of my country is now willing to tolerate corruption. The hate for corruption in the society is visibleI want you to help end corruption that is like a termite, Modi told participants at the annual Republic Day camp of the National Cadet Corps (NCC).

A little more that year to go for polls, the Modi government is trying to reach out to those who will vote for the first time in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

His party the BJP recently launched a special drive to woo an estimated 20 million such voters. The voting age in India is 18.

The country used to discuss with despair about corruption, no one catches the powerful. Three former chief ministers are now rotting in jail...Who says there is no justice? No one will be spared, Modi said.

Last week, former Bihar chief ministers Lalu Prasad and Jagannath Mishra were sentenced to five years in prison in a Rs 33.13-crore corruption case, one the many cases that have come to be known as the fodder scam.

Former Haryana chief minister OP Chautala is serving time in a teacher recruitment scandal while former Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda was in December ordered in jail for corruption in allocation of coal blocks.

Making a case for Aadhaar, the 12-digit biometric identity number that is facing legal challenges over privacy concerns, Modi said, A country which has data, will be considered powerful.

By linking benefits to Aadhaar, the government saved Rs 60,000 crore on just a few schemes. The money used to go into wrong hands, Modi said.

Making a pitch for cashless economy, another of his governments pet projects, Modi asked the youngsters not to buy anything in cash. It would help the move towards a corruption-free India.

Accountability and transparency also featured prominently in Mann ki Baat.

The Padma awards were no longer decided on the basis of who you know but what work you do, Modi said in his first monthly radio address of 2018.

Eighty-five people were picked for one of the countrys highest civilian awards announced on the Republic Day. Among the 73 Padma Shri awardees, many belong to disadvantaged sections of society.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju urged CISF woman cadets on Sunday to prepare for emerging challenges posed by new forms of terrorism and insurgency.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs stated this after reviewing the passing out parade of 789 CISF woman cadets at their Regional Training Centre at Arakkonam.

Congratulating the cadets for their high standard of parade, he urged them to prepare for emerging challenges posed by new forms of terrorism and insurgency.

Rijiju highlighted the growing reputation of CISF as a highly professional force measuring up to the expectations of the people and on the growing role of the force in the changing security scenario.

The minister said effective utilisation of technology by CISF at airports and Delhi metro had not only improved security, but also provided satisfaction to passengers.

Rijiju later presented the trophies to the best cadets, an official release said.

The cadets acquired skills on various subjects, including security in industries, buildings, aviation, fire prevention and fire fighting, among others.

They were also imparted strenuous training on handling sophisticated weapons and drill movements, apart from physical training.

CISF Additional Director General, AK Pateria said 2017 was observed as Year of Training and more than 18,000 cadets passed out of training centres across the country.

Proud moment for India as largest ever brave & smart girls contingent of CISF 40th batch passed out after long & strenuous training at Arakkonam RTC. In the service of nation, he tweeted.

During his brief visit, Rijiju also took part in a firing exercise at the CISF firing range centre.

Early morning firing exercise with CISF team at Arakkonam RTC Firing range, Tamil Nadu. Today is all Girls Passing Out Parade, he said in another tweet.
Five members of a family were killed and six injured when the special utility vehicle (SUV) they were travelling in collided with a speeding truck near Peeluki villlage on the Deeg-Nagar road in Bharatpur on Sunday.

Low visibility due to fog in the area caused the accident, police said.

The family from Govindgarh in Alwar was going for Govardhan parikrama, a religious activity around Govardhan hill, in Mathura of Uttar Pradesh through Deeg in the SUV when the vehicle bumped into a speeding truck coming from the opposite direction in dense fog, said Devishay Meena, the station house officer of Nagar police station.

Three passengers died on the spot, while two succumbed to their injuries during treatment in Alwar, the police said. The truck driver fled the scene after the accident.

After getting the information, a police team reached the spot and pulled out injured from the damaged SUV and rushed them to the community health centre (CHC) at Nagar, from where they were referred to Alwar. The truck was seized from the spot.

The deceased were identified as SUV driver Amardeen (40), Sharmila Devi (45), her elder son Bhanu (16), younger son Anurag (14) and Babulal (50). Bhanu and Babulal died during the treatment in Alwar.

Sharmilas husband Ramesh Veshya (48), Bhanu (18), Maya (56), Amit (36), Roopa (40) and Chandra Prakash are undergoing treatment in Alwar. Chandra Prakashs age is not known.

The bodies were kept in the mortuary at Nagar CHC for post-mortem.

There have been a number of accidents due to fog this season. On January 2, four Jain pilgrims had died when their car fell into a pond due to fog while returning from Govardhan in Mathura to Bahaj village at Deeg. Before that, four people were killed when their hired vehicle met with an accident while returning to their native plane in Alwar from Sonagiri temple in Bhopal.
The role of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the issue surrounding film Padmaavat will be the reason for its defeat in the bypolls, said Sukhdev Singh Gogamedhi, head of the Shri Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena (SRRKS) in a press conference in Jaipur on Sunday.

Gogamedhi was part of Lokendra Singh Kalvis Shri Rajput Karni Sena, which is spearheading the protests against Sanjay Leela Bhansalis film, but later defected to form his own Karni Sena.

While levelling attack at the ruling BJP, the SRRKS leader also questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union ministers over the issue.

I thank the government of four states for supporting us, but not one minister from the central government, including the prime minister, said anything on the issue. Even today (Sunday) I heard his Mann Ki Baat, but it did not have as much as a mention of our mother Padmini. What is the reason for his silence? asked Gogamedhi.

Rajput outfits have been protesting, on occasions indulging in vandalism, over the film release alleging that it distorts the history regarding fourteenth century Chittor queen Padmini and hurts their sentiments. The film was not screened in Rajasthan and three other states, as the Multiplex Association of India is against screening it in these states.

Gogamedhi also said that the BJP employs a policy of duplicity. We have been made fools. The state government should not have gone to the Supreme Court. The censor board comes under the central government, said the leader, suggesting that the central government could have put a ban on the film using the powers laid out under The Cinematograph Act.

He further said that the BJPs policy was the reason that Karni Sena declared opposition to the BJP in the Ajmer, Alwar and Mandalgarh bypolls that are slated for today. We have asked people to vote for the one who can defeat BJP. Congress is the party that is in competition with BJP and that is why we are supporting the Congress, said Gogamedhi.

He also levelled allegations against Union minister for information and broadcasting Smriti Irani, questioning why was she made the minister despite having lost the elections. There are people such as Shatrughan Sinha and Murli Manohar Joshi, who won but are sitting at home, he said.

The leader reiterated the demand for ban on the film, urging the government to bring an ordinance for the same. In addition, he sought the release of Karni Sena members, including its national secretary Suraj Pal Ammu, arrested for anti-Padmaavat violence.

If Ammu is not released within four days, the organisation will stage a protest in Delhi, Gogamedhi warned.
A study has discovered the presence of breeding gharials in the Parvati river, a tributary of the Chambal flowing on Rajasthan-Madhya Pradesh border.

Gharials (scientifically known as Gavialis gangeticus), found in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, has been classified as critically endangered by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). The gharial is one of three crocodilians native to India, the other two are mugger crocodile and saltwater crocodile.

The study was conducted by Dharmendra Khandal of Tiger Watch and YK Sahu, field director of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, and the report was published in the IUCN journal on January 17. Surveys were conducted between 2015 and 2017 on the three tributaries of the Chambal  Pravati, Kali Sindh and Banas -- to assess the presence of gharials and muggers.

The objective of the study was to document extent of gharial distribution in Parvati, Banas and Kali Sindh. The study was prompted in part by anecdotal reports and previous rescue efforts in the Banas river where seasonal flow has been disrupted, Sahu said.

Khandal said gharials and muggers were present in the main channel of the Parvati, upstream of the confluence of the three tributaries. Breeding adults, nests and hatchlings were observed in the Parvati, but nothing comparable was found in the other rivers, he said.

Banas has records of seasonally isolated individuals; Kali Sindh lacked gharial and had mugger at a short distance upstream of its confluence with the Chambal. Kali Sindh was excluded after the initial survey; Banas was monitored through rescue operations and local reports.

The report states that the National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS) holds the largest gharial population, estimated at above 80% of the species in the world. Smaller numbers of the species thrive in Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary on the Girwa river, in Chitwan National Park (Nepal) on the Narayani river, on the Gandak river in India, and in Corbett National Park on the Ramganga river.

Khandal said the study idea came in 2014 when an injured gharial was seen with villagers near Bhuri Pahari area; it was rescued and released. In the 2015 survey along the Parvati, 14 gharials were seen between Pada Ghat and Koth. On the Banas, one gharial was observed near Banas bridge, and no gharial was found on the Kali Sindh, he said.

In 2016, five gharials were reported in the Banas near Aamlideh. 29 gharials (1 male and 28 females/sub-adults) were noticed in Parvati from Pada Ghat to Rondi (40 km) in 2016. The presence of a male gharial at Jind Baba along the Parvati prompted us to investigate signs of nesting, Khandal said.

In June 2017, one male and three females/sub-adults along with 203 hatchlings were spotted at Jind Baba; two females/sub-adults along with 42 hatchlings were sighted in Mor Kudna area.

He said, Based on an average clutch size of 35-45 eggs/nest, these observations indicate the presence of 4-6 nests at Jind Baba, and possibly additional 1-2 nests at Mor Kudna. The nesting areas lie within the NCS.

Mugger numbers were higher in the Parvati -- 83 were found in 2015 and 66 in 2016. Parvati lies within the NCS; a 60-km stretch from the confluence with the Chambal is protected. Previously, no records of gharial using this stretch were available. The present study establishes that this protected stretch is an important additional segment of gharial habitat because the species utilises this section for breeding, nesting, and hatchling, Khandal said.

Recent considerations of river interlinking, particularly the Parvati and Kali Sindh, needed to take into account the devastating effects such projects would have on gharials, he said.

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Police arrested three women late on Saturday night in Bharatpur on the charges of illegally transporting bovines to Uttar Pradesh and Haryana in Mewat region.

They were arrested under sections of the Rajasthan Bovine Animal (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation Temporary Migration or Export) Act, 1995.

Asarfi, Nurjahan and Rani of Nadrai village in Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh) were carrying six bovines through the rural areas of Mewat region of the district when arrested, police said.

The arrest followed a tip-off from locals, said Kaman police station SHO Neki Ram. They had three bulls and three male calves with them when arrested, he added.

The women were taking the animals to a slaughterhouse in Haryana, police said. All rescued bovines were shifted to a cow shelter.

Engaging women smugglers seems to be a new modus operandi of smuggling groups that take bovines from Alwar and Bharatpur for slaughter to neighbouring Haryana villages.
Trumps Washington hotel. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

A new CNN report offers some indication of how the Trump familys new Washington, D.C., hotel fared during the first year of Donald Trumps presidency. Compared with a group of almost two dozen luxury hotels in the D.C. area, the Trump International Hotels 50-percent average-occupancy rate through November 2017 lagged about a third behind its peers, while the hotels $559 average daily rate was about 40 percent more expensive.

Its difficult to say how profitable the hotel was over this period, since the higher prices, as well as revenue from events or other facets of the business, could have offset room vacancies. According to information accidentally released online by the federal government last year, the hotel made roughly $2 million in profit in the first four months of 2017. Much to the chagrin of government-ethics experts, its not clear how much money special-interest groups or foreign governments have spent at the hotel in possible attempts to ingratiate themselves with Trump and his family. Trump-friendly political groups have made the D.C. hotel their haunt.

A Trump lawyer once said that all Trump Organization businesses would donate their profits from foreign governments to the U.S. Treasury, but that plan appears to be on hold, at best.

Trump transferred his Trump Organization assets, including the Trump International, into a trust after being elected, but can dissolve it whenever he wants. There is little stopping Trump from being able to benefit financially from his family businesses. If foreign entities are indeed spending money at the Trump International, it might be very much needed for the company, since Trump-branded properties are unlikely to escape their connection to the historically unpopular president. Users on Yelp have heavily criticized the hotel, and protesters have projected anti-Trump messages onto its facade.

In November, the owner of the building housing Trumps SoHo hotel in Manhattan paid the Trump Organization to vamoose. Business had dried up following President Trumps election and subsequent downward spiral in popularity.
The Agripada police arrested a doctor, ward boy and woman attendant working at BYL Nair Hospital on Sunday after a 32-year-old man died in an accident at the MRI scanning department.

The resident doctor, Saurabh Lanjrekar, ward boy, Vitthal Chavan, and attendant Sunita Surve, were arrested for allegedly causing death due to negligence after the autopsy report of the victim stated that he died due to over-inhalation of liquid oxygen, said police.

According to the police, the deceased, Rajesh Maruti Maru, a salesman at a garment shop, along with his brother-in-law, Harish Gopal Solanki, had taken Solankis mother to the hospital at 7.30pm on Saturday.

Savalaram Agavane, senior inspector, said that the incident occurred when they were shifting the patient to another stretcher inside the MRI room. The MRI machine, which has a powerful magnet, was on, and the oxygen cylinder got pulled towards it. The cylinder fell on Maru, who was standing between the machine and the stretcher, crushing his hand.

Read: Mumbai MRI accident: Ward boy told us machine was switched off, said relative of deceased

Chavan and Solanki then pulled Maru from under the cylinder, after switching off the machine. Marus index finger, in turn, got severed from his hand, said the police. As Chavan pulled Maru, the tube of the oxygen cylinder got disconnected and began leaking. Maru inhaled a huge amount of oxygen, and fell unconscious, said Agavane. Maru was then rushed to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he died a few hours later.

The police registered a case of death due to negligence under section 304 (A) of the IPC, based on the complaint filed by Solanki. Police said Solanki blamed the hospital staff for leaving the MRI machine switched on in presence of an iron object inside the room.

Meanwhile, CM Devendra Fadnavis announced a compensation of Rs5 lakh for the family of the deceased, said Mangal Prabhat Lodha, BJP MLA from the Malabar Hill constituency.
The countrys junior education minister Satyapal Singh, a man of science in his own estimation, has questioned Charles Darwins evolutionary theory. The theory, which was propounded in 1859, says that humans originated from primates that evolved and diverged into different species over millions of years.

Singhs comments were condemned by scientists and academicians but, unfazed by the criticism, he went on to add that there were no eye-witness accounts of apes turning into humans. Even as the country was reacting to his nonsensical theories, he told a TV channel that Darwins theory was being challenged across the world.

The groups which share Singhs scepticism are called Creationists whose idea of the world and life are derived from literal interpretation of theology. They believe that life and the universe are creations of god. Recently, one of them  a Republican congressman  dismissed evolution, the Big Bang theory  which talks about the creation of the universe  and called them lies from hell. Though his representatives clarified that these were his personal beliefs, the views were an embarrassment to his party because like Singh, whose office is responsible for deciding what children learn in schools, the American held an important public office as a member of a federal science committee.

In America, some states, especially those in the more religious south  called the Bible Belt  have debated the addition of a warning message in school biology textbooks saying the books discussed the evolution theory. One state  Alabama  requires the books to carry an insert that tells students that evolution is a controversial theory and that questions have been raised about the idea. Darwin evokes scepticism in other parts of the religious world. In 2009, when the world was observing the bicentenary of Darwins birth, a survey of North Africa, Pakistan, Turkey and other Muslim societies claimed that only 15% of people believed in Darwins theory. A poll conducted in Britain showed that a majority  though only by a small margin  wanted theology-backed versions on the origins of life to be included in textbooks along with Darwins theory.

Indians who question Darwins theory do not have the numbers or the influence of the Creationists. Prabha Purohit, former professor of maths at a Mumbai college and a member of the rationalist group Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, said, But the silence has been on the evolution of man, but instances of groups taking recourse to mythology (to explain contemporary issues) are common. One example is the contention that the chain of islands and rocks in the Palk Strait are manmade and that they are remnants of the Ram Setu, said Purohit. I think every religion has a theory on how the universe was created, but most people practice their religion (while understanding contemporary ideas).

Singhs comments did not surprise Purohit. She related an incident when Singh was the police commissioner of Mumbai. Our group had gone to meet him at his office in Fort. He greeted us by asking: Are you the people who do not believe in god? He had these views all the time.

Research by Dr Nidhal Guessoum of the American University of Sharjah, found that Islamic theological views on Darwins theory ranged from total rejection to complete acceptance. In the middle of the spectrum were people who believed that the theory can be applicable to animals, but humans were exceptional, meaning that something divine must be responsible for the existence of man. Raghavendra Gadagkar, professor at the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science, said the government response has put an end to the controversy over the ministers statement. The minister for Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar said the government has no intention to hold a debate on Darwins theory. I wholeheartedly welcome this statement not only because it is correct but also because it reinforces my confidence that creationism and other pseudo-science will not find the kind of state patronage that they seem to get in the USA and some other countries, said Gadagkar.
The citys airport has been the least punctual among the four busiest in the country for six major domestic airlines in seven of the 12 months last year.

According to data on flight movements released monthly by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the On Time Performances (OTP) of airlines in the domestic sector were the worst at Mumbai airport in these months.

OTP is measured by comparing the time an aircraft takes off (called block time) and the time at which it is schedule to land.

The latest report, for December 2017, showed that the trend continues. For instance, 56.8% Air India flights were on time in the month, followed by Jet Airways (41.5%), SpiceJet (62.8%), GoAir (51.5%), Indigo (61.7%) and Vistara (46.6%).

Barring February to April, which saw marginally better statistics of flight movements from Mumbai for two airlines, the airport had the least scores for all the other months, compared to other big airports.

Aviation experts said while there is a need for all parties, including airlines and airport operators, to work on improving the OTP, it was unfair to compare Mumbais space-crunched airport with those in other metro cities.

Mumbai airport does not have parallel runways, which restricts more traffic, thereby lowering the number of flight movements at the city airport.

Former air force pilot and aviation expert Vipul Saxena said, The current format of making the OTP data public cannot show any trend as there is no level playing field to measure punctuality. He explained that comparing OTP of Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore becomes irrational owing to Mumbais cross runways, fewer rapid exit taxiways and fewer parking bays, among other things.

Sydney-based aviation think-tank, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), in their report released on September 12 last year, said Mumbai airport has reached 94% of its maximum passenger handling capacity and will reach 100% by 2018.
Learning its lessons after the Kamala Mills fire, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has made it mandatory for applicants to upload the picture of restaurant premises, along with the dates of fire no-objection certificates (NOCs).

The 1Above restaurant owners, arrested for the Kamala Mills inferno, allegedly submitted old photographs to obtain a fire NOC. A fire officer was arrested on neglecting fire safety violations. As many as 14 people were killed and 55 others were injured in the fire which started from Mojos Bistro and spread to 1Above on December 29.

All documents will have to be uploaded on BMC portals to ensure transparency. Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta last week proposed new rules for issuing of hotel licences. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1884 will be amended to include the rules, informed a senior civic official.

The new process defines responsibility of all civic officers  assistant municipal commissioners, assistant engineers, health department staff and fire brigade officers  in granting licences and NOCs. The new hotel licensing process makes it difficult for officers to pass the buck as it defines each officers responsibility. Assistant engineers are required to check premises and submit a report to a health officer within 10 days. If the engineer fails to adhere to the deadline, the ward officer can issue a showcause notice followed by a departmental inquiry.

If the premises are found non-fire compliant during inspection by the compliance cell, licence will stand revoked. For licence renewal, existing practice shall be followed. However, information about all such renewed licences have to be displayed on the portal, read the rules. HT had reported earlier this month about Mehtas proposal to revamp the hotel licensing process.

As opposed to earlier rules, following the incident and blatant disregard for the procedure, hoteliers will not be able to procure next level of NOC, until the first one is complied with.

The health department staff will inspect the premises from health and hygiene point of view and report whether all requirements have been met with. The proposal will then be processed and after approval of the assistant commissioner concerned, the fees will be generated. After payment of necessary fees by the applicant, licence will be generated in the system with all the disclaimers and footer, stating that this license does not in any manner give authenticity to the structure.

The rules also stresses on the random inspection by the chief fire officer and the report of which will have to be mandatorily on the MCGM portal. It will be IT departments responsibility to ensure whether all the requirements of health, fire official department are uploaded on the portal.
Relatives of the 32-year-old Lalbaug resident who died in the accident at the MRI centre of Nair Hospital, has blamed hospital staff of medical negligence.

According to his family, Rajesh Maru, who died in the accident, was at the hospital to help his brother-in laws 65 year-old mother, who was getting treated for viral fever.

Harish Solanki, Marus brother-in-law, who was an eye witness in the accident, said that a woman staff member instructed them, including the patient, to remove all metal objects before entering the MRI scan room.

However, the ward boy asked us to get an oxygen cylinder into the MRI room, insisting that the patient will need it, said Solanki.

One of the relatives pointed out that the cylinder was also made of metal, but the ward boy said that the machine was switched off, Solanki added.

Solanki said that a doctor and a technician were present when the ward boy asked them to get the cylinder in the room.

As soon as he entered the MRI room, Solanki said that Marus left hand, which was holding the oxygen cylinder, got sucked into the machine and his finger got stuck between the machine and the cylinder.

The ward boy and I managed to pull him out, during which his finger was severed. When we pulled him out, he was unconscious, so we rushed him to the trauma centre where they gave him electric shocks, but he could not be revived, Solanki said.

Marus maternal uncle, Narayan Jitiya, 58, said he got a call from Solanki around 9:30 pm, to inform him about the incident. We immediately rushed to the trauma centre, but they did not allow us to enter, he said.

Marus post-mortem was conducted at Sir JJ Hospital, Byculla, where doctors found the cause of death to be because of chest trauma, which led to collection of air between his lungs and the chest wall.

Meanwhile, Dr Ramesh Bharmal, dean of the hospital, called it is a tragic incident. An FIR was filed and enquiry committee has been set up, which will give a report in a weeks time. The MRI machine room has been cordoned. Till the machine is inspected by the company, we will send the patients to KEM hospital, he said.
Unidentified miscreants hurled a petrol bomb outside a theatre showing the film Padmaavat at Kalyan in Thane district of Maharashtra on Saturday night, police said.

There were no reports of anyone getting injured in the incident which took place outside Bhanu Sagar theatre at 9.10pm, Kalyan police said, adding that a police team had rushed to the spot for further probe.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed Padmaavat, which released on January 25, has faced stiff opposition from Rajput groups for alleged distortion of history.
The state governments recent pilot project, which aimed to reach out to distressed farmers by offering counselling and monetary compensation to bring down the suicide rate seems to have come to a nought.

After spending Rs47 crore in the past three years out of the allocated Rs60 crore in the two worse-affected districts  Yavatmal and Osmanabad  the state government is mulling scrapping this initiative launched in 2015. The scheme called Baliraja Chetna Abhiyan was to be rolled out in all the districts of Vidarbha and Marathwada if it had been successful in these two districts.

So what prompted the government to go back on this much-publicised scheme ?

It has come to light that the number of suicides have been rising in these two districts despite intervention through the scheme in the past three years. The state government has now asked the Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES) to review the scheme and submit its report, based on which the decision of budgetary allocation for the next fiscal year will be taken.

The DES is in the process of appointing agencies to study the socio-economic impact of the scheme in the districts.

The relief and rehabilitation department is of the opinion that there was no point in continuing the initiative because it had failed to achieve the results. In Yavatmal, 386 committed suicide in 2015, 272 in 2016 as against 238, 231 and 266 suicides in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. Similarly, in Osmanabad, there were 164 and 161 suicides in 2015 and 2016 against 22 (2012), 29 (2013) and 71 (2014) suicides in earlier years.

It is proven that the initiative has failed to achieve the expected results after spending a lot of money on the two districts. We will have to do a rethink based on the result, said an official from the relief and rehabilitation department.

However, district level officials believe the scheme has been effective to a large degree. For the first time, the state had adopted a personal and integrated approach to curbing suicides by offering counselling to identified distressed farmers families, awareness drives in villages through folk music and kirtans, monetary assistance of Rs5,000 to repay loan, assistance with education costs and weddings of their children, etc. Committees were set up at the village- and district-level to reach out and identify distressed families.

We have been able to reduce the number of suicides compared to rest of the districts in the past two years. We also conducted an independent survey by Tata Institute of Social Studies (TISS) with a sample from 10% of the beneficiaries of this scheme. It suggested we upscale the scheme as the results are positive. We are now concentrating on families of the 700 farmers that committed suicides in the past six years. The government may conduct an independent review, but we are sure that it will continue the scheme, said R V Game, Osmanabad collector.

Yavatmal collector Rajesh Deshmukh also said with the help of the scheme, the district collectorate has brought a positive impact on the lives of the farmers. We have successfully increased the cover under irrigation by funding farm ponds and wells in the past two years. This has enabled farmers to take additional crops and rise their income. We have reduced the suicide figures, he claimed.
Three-and-a-half years after citizens and NGOs took up the fight to save land at Aarey Milk Colony from being converted into a Metro car shed, an alternate option for the depot has opened up.

Following HT news report on the city suburban collector taking back 66 acres of land at Kanjurmarg from Jolly Brothers Private Limited, a company under control of the Ajmera Group now, an environmental NGO has written to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to shift the metro car shed to Kanjurmarg land instead of the plot at Aarey Milk Colony in Goregaon.

The letter written by Stalin D, director of Vanashakti and member of the Save Aarey Group on January 18 refers to HT reports to seek state governments intervention to resolve the conflict over Aarey land by shifting the depot to Kanjurmarg land.

We hope that the state government will intervene and resolve a long pending conflict. It could be a win win situation for citizens, who are fighting to save citys green spaces and avoid destruction of 4,000 trees as well as the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) that is building the metro corridor, said Stalin, who, through Vanashakti, has filed a petition before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the Metro 3 depot and for declaring Aarey land as no development zone. The NGO will take this issue up in its petition before NGT.

HT, in its edition on January 17 had reported that city suburban collector in a first of its kind decision had taken back 66 acres of government land in Kanjurmarg that had been leased to a private company for industrial development in 1984, following violation of lease agreement. The estimated value of this land is now Rs3,000 crore.

In 2016, the Save Aarey Group had identified land in Kanjurmarg, near Jai Ambe Nagar as an alternative site for the metro car shed and suggested the same to the government for consideration.

The reason given by you for not exploring the option was that the dried up salt pan land was under litigation. This new piece of land has become available instead of the dried up salt pan, which was the subject matter of a litigation in the High Court of Bombay, states the letter.

It also points out: This plot is free from litigation and can be used to locate the Metro 3 car shed. The occupier was trying to sell the land or create a third party interest on it. Kindly note that the said land falls under CRZ 1 and the same is shown in the DP maps.

So far, there has been no response to the letter from the Chief Ministers Office but a senior official said that reconsideration at this stage would derail the progress of Metro 3 corridor and was unlikely.

While this land has been resumed by the district collector, the lease owner is expected to appeal for a hearing with the revenue minister. So, the final decision is still pending on this land. Moreover, MMRC has started work on the metro car shed in Aarey, so there is no reason for a rethink at this stage, the senior official said.

Fadnavis was not available for comment.
The wife of an advocate who went missing on January 16, was murdered by his paramour at his behest, the police said on Saturday.

The advocate, Manmohan Kumar, a practising lawyer at the district courts, has been booked and arrested for the murder as the prime accused, after a confession by his paramour, Monika, resident of Manimajra, who, along with her brother-in-law Sandeep, was arrested on Thursday.

Multiple calls from victim Rajni Bala alias Neetus phone to Monika led the police to unravel the murder mystery. Police said before her disappearance on January 16, Rajni, 36, had made a call to Monika, and had also spoken to her for around 20 minutes on January 13.

The victims brother, Naresh Kumar, a daily wager who lives in Kharar, said his sister married Manmohan in 2004, and the couple had two children, aged 9 and 11.

During interrogation, Monika confessed she was in a relationship with Manmohan, and it was him who conspired to murder Rajni, and she killed her it at his bidding, they added. DCP Manbir Singh said the police were hunting for the lawyer ever since Monikas confession, and he was arrested from near Suraj theatre on Saturday night.

Though it is not clear how and where they murdered the woman, Monika has revealed they killed her in a moving car, before dumping her body somewhere. Manmohans arrest will help us find the victims body, investigating officer Sushil Kumar said. Monika and Sandeep were sent to seven-day police demand on Friday. Manmohan will be produced in court on Sunday, he added.

Accused misled cops

Sector 20 station house officer (SHO) Vikas Kumar said after having his wife killed, the lawyer had been misleading the police, claiming she was missing.

He first filed a missing persons complaint at the station on January 16. Four days later, he took the police for a ride, claiming that he got a tip from someone that a womans body was seen near a garbage dump in Sector 23, and it was surely his wife. Having swiftly swung into action, cops only found a dogs corpse after digging the spot.

Victim had left home for market

The police said Rajni left home around 11:15am on January 16, saying she was going to the market, but never returned. Her phone was last operational around 12:15pm near Sector 21. Before it was switched off, she had made a call to Monika, they added.

The victims brother, Naresh Kumar, a daily wager who lives in Kharar, said his sister married Manmohan in 2004, and the couple had two children, aged 9 and 11. He said his brother-in-law used to beat Rajni often, as he was peeved at their family not matching his economic status. Naresh claimed Manmohan often visited his house, and threatened to kill him and his sister.
Former Faridkot MP Jagmeet Singh Brar on Saturday 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, Ive been left completely disheartened along with my supporters, he said.

Ive invested my energy and means in our common cause, but it shows that youve 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 Singhs 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.
The tradition of pubs in the UK is said to be as old as the pussy cat going all the way to London to see the Queen, but with Punjabis buying closed-down pubs and turning them into successful business ventures the desi-way  a change has resulted. Now, the largest concentration of Punjabi-owned pubs is in the industrial Black Country area between Birmingham and Wolverhampton, which has as many as 50 Desi Pubs.

The Birmingham Mail reported, Asian landlords have been salvaging the struggling pub trade in the area for decades by reinventing failed pubs for new multicultural communities and as a result redefining British pub culture.

The success of these ventures drew the attention of the Creative Black Country (CBC), the UK Arts Councils three-year campaign to encourage art in the region. This led to the Desi-Pubs Project in which six local artists of British and Indian origin were involved in reinventing the decor through signs, stain-glass windows and photographs.

These pubs offer the spicy Indian curry and Tikkas along with other signature dishes like Dal Makhni and Matar-Paneer, and sometimes a bit of desi music and bhangra.

Pub signs in Punjabi

For the first time in the UK, signs have been created in Punjabi. Interestingly, this has included renaming the clubs. So, The Red Lion is Laal Sher, The Sportsman is Khiladi Red Cow which has a scarlet cow model dotting the exterior is now called Gaan Vaala Pub.

The website blackcountrypub.com states, Thanks to the CBC and the New Art Exchange artists Hardeep Pandhal (illustration) and Andrew Gundon (sign maker) we also have a worlds first here in the Black Country. Yes, the worlds first Punjabi pub signs are now hanging at seven of our Desi pubs. Incredible!

The images of the signs are credited to Dee Patel.

The creative director of the CBC, who was in the city recently on another project involving reimagining the Punjabi woman, Parminder Kaur, says, The book, Desi Pubs, is likely to come out soon. The artists worked for over a year with the landlords in creating signs, stained-glass and photographs. The Desi Pubs are incredible because 50 years ago, there were reports of racial discrimination with the immigrant workers being refused entry to these pubs. She adds that the response included critique that it was very male.

Perhaps it was so because of its nature, but the book highlights the involvement of the wives of the owners too. The project has received attention from the British media including The Economist, the BBC and a prestigious pub-specific magazine Inapub.

These pubs offer the spicy Indian curry and Tikkas along with other signature dishes like Dal Makhni and Matar-Paneer, and sometimes a bit of desi music and bhangra. Many have banquet halls attached. So, when in the UK, a Desi Pub crawl may make the Punjabis feel very much at home.
When Canadas young Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits the Golden Temple complex, which is home to the holiest of Sikh shrines, next month, he will carry a political message to a big constituency back home.

With a big Punjabi, especially Sikh, population settled in countries like Canada, Britain and the United States, a visit to the temple by leaders from these countries is becoming a must on their travel itinerary in India.

Trudeau is not the first top Canadian leader to visit the shrine.

Earlier, then Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited the Golden Temple in November 2009. He offered prayers and spent nearly an hour inside the complex. Harper deviated from his itinerary to make sure he visited Amritsar.

Harper followed it up with a visit to Takht Keshgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib, the second-most important shrine for Sikh religion and the birth place of the Khalsa Panth (April 1699; founded by the 10th Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh), in November 2012.

Premiers (equivalent to a chief minister) of Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Ontario, federal ministers, members of parliament (MPs) and other leaders have visited Sikh shrines in Punjab in the past.

The Canadian government has recognised Punjabi an official language.

Countries like United States, Britain and Canada have big populations of migrants from Punjab, especially Sikhs, settled there. Many of them have done well in these countries and carry political clout over there, Rashpal Singh, an educationist based in Amritsar, told IANS.

Prime Minister David Cameron became the first British PM to visit the Golden Temple in February 2013. In October 1997, the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth, and her husband, Prince Phillip, visited the Golden Temple.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan visited the shrine as recently as December 2017. Ken Livingstone visited the shrine in November 2007 when he was the London mayor.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan paying obeisance at Golden Temple in December 2017. (Sameer Sehgal/HT)

US President Barack Obama came close to visiting the Golden Temple in October 2010 during his visit to India. His proposed visit ran into a controversy over the headgear he would wear to enter the shrine. Under Sikh religious traditions, every devotee to the shrine has to keep his head covered.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani had visited the Golden Temple in December 2016 along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi became the first Prime Minister to serve devotees langar (community food) at the Golden Temple.

Leaders from several other countries have visited the Golden Temple complex that houses the Harmandir Sahib, Sikhisms holiest shrine that gets millions of visitors annually. The numbers cross 100,000 on weekends and holidays.

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh had, in April 2016, shot off an angry letter to Trudeau, protesting against the Canadian governments denial of permission for his interactive meetings with Punjabis in the cities of Toronto and Vancouver. He was forced to cancel his political rallies following objections raised by Sikh hardliners with the Canadian government.

An annoyed Amarinder had publicly refused to meet Canadas first Sikh defence minister, Harjit Singh Sajjan, when he visited Punjab last April. It is not certain if Amarinder will play host when Trudeau visits Amritsar next month.
Last year, Kavita Kaushik surprised people with a low-key wedding to her beau Ronnit Biswas on January 27. The couple tied the knot in a Shiv-Parvati temple Triyugi Narayan, seven kilometres from Kedarnath, Uttarakhand with her close family members and friends in attendance. This year, the actor who played Chandramukhi Chautala in the series, FIR, decided to revisit the place to celebrate her first wedding anniversary.

I cant believe that its been a year already, says an excited Kavita. Time has flown and how. Both of us are believers of Lord Shiva and they say Shiva and Parvati got married in this place, so we wanted to get married here too. It feels that we were here just three months ago (to get married). I wanted to celebrate my wedding anniversary here and not throw a party. Being a celebrity, we get the opportunity to throw and attend numerous parties throughout the year and socialise as well. But our wedding venue was blissful with sweet villagers and kids. So, instead of a party, we threw a feast for them. Every villager was invited and we had a ball with them.

Kavitas close friends who live in Dehradun, Uttarakhand helped her with the arrangements and even cooked food early in the morning. She says, It is snowing heavily here and the temperature is below zero. Everything is shut, so they were a huge help in getting stuff organised and carting stuff for the feast from Dehradun. They had helped us last year too. Our friends have been rock stars cooking for 400 people including 180 kids. Till late evening, people from neighbouring villages kept coming and we served them food as well. It was fulfilling to see their happy faces. It was a blissful experience and I want to do this every year rather than throw a party for the rich.

The FIR actor was surprised to see that kids wiped their plates clean unlike kids in the city. She says, They appreciate the value of food. My neighbours kid and nephew have to be told multiple times to eat their food. It was so refreshing to see that. She will travel to Dhanaulti and return to Mumbai on February 1.

Kavita recently wrapped up a Punjabi film with Gurdas Maan and enjoyed shooting for it at the border of Rajasthan and Punjab. I love nature as my heart is in the jungles. I thoroughly enjoyed staying outdoors and the interiors. Earlier, Ronnit and I had gone to the Gir forest to celebrate New Year and now we are here up in the mountains again. When I am not working, I just want to travel. There is nothing in the cities that appeals to me, she signs off.

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Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad, who built a global business empire with revolutionary flat-pack furniture and was known for his contempt for taxes, died aged 91, the Swedish furnishing giant said on Sunday.

The company said in a statement that Kamprad passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones at his home in the southern Swedish region of Smaland on Saturday following a brief illness.

His legacy will be admired for many years to come and his vision  to create a better everyday life for the many people  will continue to guide and inspire us, Jesper Brodin, CEO and president of the Ikea Group, said in the statement.

Born in 1926 to a farming family in the southern Swedish region of Smaland, Kamprad founded the company at age 17.

Despite his enormous success and wealth, Kamprads modest spending habits bordered on the obsessive.

In 1973 he fled Swedens higher tax structure for Denmark before seeking even lower taxes in Switzerland.

Starting in 2010 Kamprad gradually made way at the helm of the company for his three sons, finally returning to live in Sweden in 2014.

Kamprad announced in 2013 that he would be stepping down from the board of Inter Ikea, owner of the furniture giants concept and brand, and his youngest son became chairman.

The Consortium of Investigative Journalists in 2014 cited leaked tax files from Luxembourg when it identified Ikea as one of the giant multinationals fingered for corporate tax avoidance by shuffling money to tax havens.

Last year, the European Commission announced that it had launched an investigation into Ikeas tax deals in the Netherlands.

The group insists that it complies fully with national and international tax regulations.

Kamprad was also known for his ties to the Swedish Nazi party during his early days.

Sweden was neutral in World War II, and its Nazi party remained active after 1945. The Ikea founder said he stopped attending its meetings in 1948.
Iran has foiled attempts by its foreign enemies to turn legitimate protests into an insurgency to overthrow the Islamic Republic, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday.

Comments on his Twitter feed and in Iranian media underscored the establishments confidence that it has extinguished the unrest that spread to more than 80 cities in which at least 22 people died since late December.

Once again, the nation tells the US, Britain, and those who seek to overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran from abroad that youve failed, and you will fail in the future, too, Khamenei tweeted.

The Revolutionary Guards, the military force loyal to Khamenei, said on Sunday security forces had put an end to the unrest that it said had been whipped up by foreign enemies.

At least 1,000 people have been arrested in the biggest anti-government protests for nearly a decade, with the judiciary saying ringleaders could face the death penalty.

Khamenei said US President Donald Trump was grandstanding when he tweeted support for protesters he said were trying to take back their corrupt government and promising great support from the United States at the appropriate time!

The Iranian leader tweeted: ... this man who sits at the head of the White House - although, he seems to be a very unstable man - he must realise that these extreme and psychotic episodes wont be left without a response.

As well as Washington and London, Khamenei blamed the violence on Israel, exiled dissident group Peoples Mujahedin of Iran and a wealthy government in the Gulf, a reference to Irans regional rival, Saudi Arabia.

In a rare public appearance, the head of Israeli intelligence agency Mossad said the protests were due to Iranian President Hassan Rouhanis failure to improve peoples economic or social circumstances, but he said they were unlikely to overthrow the establishment.

In Iran too, we have eyes and ears, Yossi Cohen told a finance ministry conference in Jerusalem. One shouldnt develop high hopes, though I would be happy to see a meaningful revolution.

Khamenei has called the protests - which were initially about the economy but soon turned political - playing with fireworks, but he said citizens had a right to air legitimate concerns, a rare concession by a leader who usually voices clear support for security crackdowns.

These concerns must be addressed. We must listen, we must hear. We must provide answers within our means, Khamenei was quoted as saying, hinting that not only the government of Rouhani, but his own clerical leadership must also respond.

Im not saying that they must follow up. I am also responsible. All of us must follow up, Khamenei said.
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 Talibans deputy leader, the extremist group has been blamed for spectacular attacks across Afghanistan since after the US invasion.

Long suspected of links to Pakistans 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.

The notorious Jalaluddin Haqqani

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.

Taliban homebase

Taliban fighters flooded across the border into Pakistan after the US invasion of Afghanistan, 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 Pakistans semi-autonomous border tribal areas.

The US has launched repeated drone attacks targeting the group while Pakistans 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.

The Pakistan link

Pakistan has long sought influence over Kabul as a bulwark against India which it sees as its arch-nemesis and an existential threat.

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. Theres a difference between contact and supporting them or being part of them, Mehmood Shah, a retired brigadier who worked in Pakistans tribal areas, told AFP.

US pressure on Pakistan

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  Pakistans 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 cant simply pluck out somebody because theyve gone politically incorrect, he said.
A French woman has been found alive but suffering frostbite and unable to walk on a Himalayan mountain, while rescuers were still trying to reach another Polish climber, according to Polish media reports.

Two Pakistani military helicopters began an operation on Saturday to rescue the two European mountain climbers after they got stuck while trying to reach the peak of Nanga Parbat in Pakistan.

Karrar Haidri, a top official of the Pakistan Alpine Federation, said four volunteers from a Polish expedition were airlifted to the base camp of Pakistans Nanga Parbat mountain and dropped close to the two stranded climbers: Tomasz Mackiewicz of Poland and Elisabeth Revol of France.

He said the volunteers had spotted the two mountaineers, and were climbing to 7,000 meters above sea level to try to reach them.

Map of Pakistan locating Nanga Parbat, where a rescue mission is to provide aid to two mountain climbers in trouble. (AFP)

Later on Saturday, Polish media, which have followed the developments closely, reported that Revol had been found alive, citing tweets by a friend and other sources. She had frostbite on her feet, could not walk and the operation to get her off the mountain was expected to be difficult.

Mackiewicz reportedly is suffering from snow blindness and altitude sickness. A day earlier his sister was quoted in Polish media as saying it would be a miracle if he survives.

Earlier in the day Haidri said the local weather was bad, with temperatures at minus 60 degrees Celsius at the height where the climbers are stuck.

A military statement said the two military helicopters began the rescue mission on the request of the Polish and French embassies.

The 8,126-meter Nanga Parbat is the ninth-highest in the world.
Hundreds of supporters of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny began a nationwide day of protest against the authorities on Sunday, calling on voters to boycott what they said was a rigged presidential election on March 18.

Beneath bright blue skies, hundreds of young people gathered in the main square of the port of Vladivostok in the Russian Far East. Speakers called the election, which polls show incumbent Vladimir Putin should easily win, a farce.

I will go to the elections when theres a choice, read one placard in Vladivostok, a reference to the fact that Navalny has been barred from running over what he says is a trumped up suspended prison sentence. Putin is gobbling up Russias future, read another.

A demonstrator with a Russian national flag wrapped in his shoulders shouts slogans during a rally in Vladivostok, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. (AP)

Other protests took place in Novosibirsk, Kurgan, Omsk, Magadan, Kemerovo and Yakutsk. Navalnys supporters said they expected thousands of people to take part in similar demonstrations in 118 towns and cities.

Your own life is at stake, Navalny, who organised the boycott protests, said in a pre-protest video.

How many more years to do you want to live with these thieves, bigots and creeps?

In Moscow, where a protest is expected later on Sunday, police forced their way into Navalnys office and started questioning and searching people, citing reports of a bomb, an online feed run by Navalnys supporters showed.

Police broke into the Moscow headquarters of Navalny using a saw, and detained several members of his team, his aides said.

Police shut down a TV studio at the office which had been broadcasting online news bulletins, but another studio in a different location continued to operate.

Police detained six of Navalnys supporters at the Moscow studio and around 16 protesters in other parts of Russia, OVD-Info, an independent monitoring group, said.

It was unclear where Navalny was, but a group of police officers was stationed near his home. Navalny said he planned to attend the Moscow protest later on Sunday.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny leaves the European court of Human Rights after a hearing regarding his case against Russia at the court in Strasbourg, France, January 24, 2018. (REUTERS)

Possible violence

Police warned beforehand they would harshly suppress any illegal protest activity and authorities refused to authorise events in Moscow and St Petersburg, the countrys two biggest cities, raising the possibility of possible violence.

Navalny, a lawyer who has campaigned against official corruption, was barred from running in the election by the central election commission in December over what he said was a trumped up suspended prison sentence.

The United States and the EU criticised the decision.

Supporters of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny attend a rally for a boycott of a March 18 presidential election in the far eastern city of Vladivostok, Russia January 28, 2018. (REUTERS)

Putin, who has dominated the Russian political landscape for the past 18 years, described US criticism of the elections commissions decision as crude interference in Russias internal affairs and suggested Navalny was Washingtons pick for the presidency.

Polls show Navalny had scant chance of beating Putin, but Navalny says the system is rigged against political opponents like himself which makes polls meaningless.

Whilst there is little suspense about the outcome of the election, there is keen interest in voter turnout as media reports say the Kremlin wants to ensure Putin is re-elected on a turnout of around 70% or more as it sees high turnout as lending him greater legitimacy.

Though Navalny cant run against Putin and says he knows Putin will be re-elected, his spoiler campaign is aimed at lowering voter turnout to try to take the shine off a Putin win.
Kabul reacted in despair and fear on Sunday, a day after a suicide bomb in the centre of the city killed and wounded nearly 250 people in the worst attack seen in the Afghan capital in months.

With security officials warning that more attacks were possible after an ambulance packed with explosives blew up in a crowded city street on Saturday, there was a mix of helpless anger at the seemingly endless wave of attacks.

How are we to live? Where should we go? asked shopkeeper Mohammad Hanif, who was in his shop near the site of the explosion when it went off.

We have no security, we dont have no proper government, what should we do? he said.

News agency AP quoted Afghan official saying that at least 103 people were killed and 235 wounded in the blast, which was claimed by the Taliban, a week after they claimed a deadly attack on the citys Intercontinental Hotel.

Afghan police officers keep watch at a car bomb attack site in Kabul, Afghanistan January 27, 2018. (Reuters Photo)

It was the worst attack seen in the Afghan capital since a truck bomb near the German embassy killed 150 people in May.

People were running everywhere to escape, there were wounded people lying on the ground, people with wounds to their arms, legs, heads, Hanif said.

After a deadly week in which an office of the aid group Save the Children in the eastern city of Jalalabad was also attacked, President Ashraf Ghanis Western-backed government has faced growing pressure to improve security.

Despite a major tightening in checks following the May 31 attack, the ambulance was able to get through the checkpoints, apparently without difficulty.

People dont have work, theres no life for people in Afghanistan, people have to look for a life somewhere else, theres nowhere, said shopkeeper Sameem.

The attack, described as an atrocity by the head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, drew universal condemnation from allies and neighbouring countries.

US President Donald Trump, who last year sent more American troops to Afghanistan and ordered an increase in air strikes and other assistance to Afghan forces, said the attack renews our resolve and that of our Afghan partners.

US officials have said that the new strategy is putting pressure on the Taliban.

Following a recent visit to Kabul, the US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said the strategy was working and pushing the insurgents closer to peace talks.

However, the Taliban have dismissed any suggestion that they have been weakened by the US approach and say they will only agree to talks when international forces leave Afghanistan.

The attack, in one of the most heavily protected parts of the city, close to foreign embassies and government buildings, demonstrated that their ability to mount deadly high profile attacks that undermine confidence in the government remains undiminished.
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 Talibans 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 $2 billion in security assistance to Pakistan for not taking action against the Taliban.

Tillersons strong statement though made no mention of Pakistan.

The United States strongly condemns todays 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 Talibans 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.
Saturday night, ahead of the 60th annual Grammy Awards celebration, Jay-Z was the guest of honor at Clive Davis' pre-Grammy gala where he received the Grammy Salute To Industry Icons Award. As he accpeted the award, the veteran emcee took the time to address why he previously turned away from the Grammys in a boycott toward the inception of his career.

As he spoke before the audience, Hov revealed that the act was actually catalyzed by a perceived snub of DMX in 1999 after the rapper had what Jay-Z said was an exceptional year and yet earned no nominations. Because of this Hov did not attend that year. He'd end up winning the award for Best Rap Album for his Vol. 2...Hard Knock Life.

"I didnt come back until 2004 when a beautiful, young lady whom I love dearly had a solo album, he said, alluding to wife Beyonce. And I realized, Man, art is super subjective and everyone is doing their best, and the Academy, theyre human like we are and theyre voting on things they like and its subjective.

That year Beyonce had earned a total of six nominations and would walk away with five wins, including Best R&B Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for her Jay-Z-assisted "Crazy In Love."

If we believe in it  cause we do, we can pretend that we dont care but we really care," he went on to add. "We care cause weve seen the most incredible artists stand on that stage and were inspired to be that, so I was like, I have to be here.'

Sunday night Jay, who already has 21 Grammy awards in his trophy case, will be up for eight nominations including Album Of The Year.
Pak-Indonesia agreed to increase tariff lines under the existing mechanism

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and President of Indonesia Joko Widodo on Saturday held in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and a wide range of international and regional issues of shared interest.



After the talks, 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 Pakistans counter terrorism efforts. 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 sides 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 Pakistans 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 Pakistans efforts to enhance regional connectivity and development including through China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Abbasi underscored that CPEC and other mega infrastructural projects offer vast opportunities. President Widodo welcomed this initiative.



Widodo also welcomed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project and other mega infrastructural projects that would offer vast opportunities and enhance regional connectivity.



About regional situation, Prime Minister Abbasi briefed President Widodo about Pakistans efforts to promote peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.



He also appreciated Indonesias 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 an MoU on import of LNG and petroleum 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.



The two leaders agreed to intensify counter-terrorism cooperation. The two sides also agreed to support each other in building their respective anti-terrorism capabilities. Prime Minister Abbasi briefed President Widodo on Pakistans counter terrorism efforts.
The Swedish flag is flown at half-mast outside a branch of the Ikea furniture store as a tribute to company founder Ingvar Kamprad, on January 29, 2018, in Wembley, England. Kamprad, who died on January 27, aged 91, started the company in Sweden when he was just 17 years old. Getty Images

If you've ever owned a Billy shelf unit or a Lack table or a Malm dresser, please bow your head for a moment of silence.

Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad, who was worth $40 billion by some estimates, has died.

The 94-year-old Swedish entrepreneur was notorious for having been almost comically thrifty, an ethos that lives on in Ikea stores around the world--and one assumes, in studio apartments and starter homes across the planet.

"Ingvar Kamprad was a great entrepreneur of the typical southern Swedish kind, hardworking and stubborn, with a lot of warmth and a playful twinkle in his eye," Ikea said in a press release.

His stubborn frugality played out in lots of attention-getting ways. Among them, Kamprad:

Bought his clothes at flea markets

Waited until he was traveling in developing countries to get a haircut, so it would be cheaper

Had planned to leave only about $300,000 of his fortune to his adopted daughter (reportedly, she said she was fine with that)

Drove a 1993 Volvo 240 (although he supposedly also had a Porsche).

Left Sweden for Switzerland in the 1970s to avoid paying his home country's high taxes

Often ate cheap meals at Ikea

It should be noted that Kamprad also claimed that he was worth far less than the $40 billion Bloomberg attributed to him, or even the $5 billion Forbes said he had--although that was apparently in the context of fighting his tax bill.

One report said he claimed to have about $118 million. But even if so, he could have afforded the occasional trip to whatever is the Swedish equivalent of Supercuts, rather than waiting to travel to Vietnam for a haircut (as he said he did).

Kamprad started Ikea in 1950, expanding a small retail operation he'd set up in his hometown of Smaland, Sweden, via mail order--and adding furniture that would be shipped to customers' homes and assembled to keep prices low.

"It is in the nature of Smaland to be thrifty," Kamprad said in an interview a few years ago, celebrating his 90th birthday. "I don't think I'm wearing anything that wasn't bought at a flea market."

The concept grew to 411 locations in 49 countries. Most recent additions: Morocco (2016) and Serbia (2017).

Kamprad had not had an operational role in Ikea since 1988, but had stayed on as a senior adviser, Ikea said.

Besides his frugality, Kamprad was often called to account for what he called "a part of my life that I bitterly regret": his association with a Swedish fascist leader in the 1940s and 1950s. (He addressed it at length in his book, Leading by Design.)
In 2010, Steve Jobs said something that did not age well.

Asked about the smartphones with oversize screens that competitors like Samsung were beginning to offer, the Apple co-founder was dismissive, predicting, "No one's going to buy that." The ideal screen size for a smartphone was 3.5 inches, he said, which was the biggest a screen could be while still accommodating one-handed typing.

Of course, the point of the oversize screen wasn't that it was better for typing but that it was better for viewing photos and videos. Jobs knew that, but he thought Apple's forthcoming iPad would satisfy the need better than any phone. For Apple to jump on the giant-phone bandwagon would only have cannibalized sales, encouraging people to buy one device instead of two.

By 2014, it was clear Jobs had been wrong. Rather than continue to lose market share, Apple released the large-and-larger iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, to monstrous sales. Jobs wasn't wrong about the cannibalization thing; iPad sales slowed after bigger iPhones arrived. But it was a tradeoff worth making. Apple opted to mess with its own business, rather than have someone else do it.

It's an episode that's worth reflecting on if you're Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

For the past 15 months, Zuckerberg and his company have been in damage-control mode, attempting to rebuild trust with users and government officials. Facebook always had its share of detractors, but the central role it played in disseminating fraudulent news reports and Russian-sponsored propaganda during the 2016 presidential election has caused lasting harm to its reputation in a way nothing did before. The taint has spread beyond "fake news" and election meddling to encompass questions like whether Facebook harms its users' mental health or exacerbates ideological divisions in society.

It's hard to know how sincere or sound Facebook's efforts will prove. As usual, Facebook is operating with the bare minimum of transparency and prioritizing its own principles--like the imperative that any solution must be scalable and reflect the values of "the community"--over outside input. As a result of these biases, Facebook tends to make the same kinds of mistakes over and over. Already there's good reason to think the company's recent moves could make divisive frauds more prevalent, not less.

But even if Facebook manages to render itself safe for democracy, there's a large and growing cohort of users for whom that won't be enough. Disturbingly for Zuckerberg, it's a group that includes a number of early Facebook employees, people like billionaire Sean Parker, Asana co-founder Justin Rosenstein and venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya. In their view, the root problem of Facebook is the way its focus on keeping users engaged with behavioral design distorts their actions and thoughts. "[Y]ou're exploiting a vulnerability in human psychology," Parker said. "God only knows what it's doing to our children's brains."

Anecdotally, in Silicon Valley right now, the most influential people are also the ones most likely to say they've cut down on or eliminated their Facebook usage. "I'm mostly off Twitter and social media as part of an effort to preserve my sanity," Lean Startup founder Eric Ries tweeted last week. Angel investor Jason Calacanis told me something similar during a taping of his "This Week In Startups" show this month. Apple CEO Tim Cook said he doesn't want children in his family using social media.

These are people who view themselves as early adopters, whose technology habits foreshadow everyone else's. Facebook should be terrified they might be right. "Consumers will and are coming around to the realization that this business model is not in their interest," author and critic Andrew Keen told Recode. "I think Mark Zuckerberg has been rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic with these latest reforms."

I'm part of this group, too. I've been off Facebook almost entirely since I logged my devices out of my account in October. Living Facebook-free for the first time since 2006 has made it easy to see how little it was adding to my happiness or knowledge. But it has also helped me see the places where Facebook does, in fact, offer some utility, and how a valuable product could be built around that utility.

As a digital map of my personal and professional contacts, Facebook's social graph is worth something to me. If there were a version of Facebook that encompassed, say, contacts, photos, messaging and groups, but didn't use any behavioral-engineering to drive me to engage with it more, I'd be willing to pay a couple dollars a month for it.

There's an obvious reason Facebook hasn't built such a product: As a U.S. user, I'm currently worth $60 to $80 a year in advertising, assuming I spend the typical 40 minutes per day with the service. Getting people like me to re-engage with the product as it exists is a much shorter and more certain path to making money than building a new product for which we'd very likely be willing to pay less to Facebook than advertisers are.

This is Zuckerberg's version of the Innovator's Dilemma, the well-known scenario described by Harvard professor Clayton Christensen. Companies caught in the Innovator's Dilemma get upended by market transformations because embracing them would mean undermining their own businesses. It's similar to the conundrum Steve Jobs faced when he wondered whether people who bought oversize phones would also want iPads. Why invite your customers to become less profitable?

The answer is the same one Apple arrived at: because if you don't, someone else will. Already there are signs of demand for tech products that don't treat users' attention as a natural resource to be strip-mined. People have tried deleting their entire Facebook News Feeds and setting their iPhones to black-and-white to make them less enjoyable. "I think we're pretty close to the time that tech companies realize there's a big market for tech-addiction solutions," tweeted Kevin Roose, columnist for The New York Times.

When that time arrives, it will represent an incredible opportunity for some other company to disrupt Facebook and end its dominance over social media. In other circumstances, Zuckerberg has shown himself alert to this kind of threat. When Snapchat was gaining traction among younger users, Facebook shamelessly cloned its popular "Story" feature for Instagram, even though the concept ran counter to everything Instagram and Facebook stood for to that point.

Make no mistake: Facebook is vulnerable again. Social media is a powerful technology that's here to stay, but there's no intrinsic reason it must be optimized for engagement. For all its vaunted lock-in, if someone can deliver a version of social media that satisfies the market's needs better than Facebook without its drawbacks, it will supplant Facebook as quickly as Facebook supplanted MySpace.

Of the big consumer tech companies--Facebook, Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon--Facebook is the only one whose business model depends on keeping users around as long as possible. (YouTube aside, Google's ad model depends on bringing users back frequently, not prolonging their visits.) If a critical mass of consumers follows the early adopters of Silicon Valley in turning against the attention economy, the uniqueness that has made Facebook a near-monopoly in social media will make it uniquely doomed.
Repealing the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution instead of replacing it with a revised version will leave too much uncertainty around Irelands future laws on abortion, a minister of state has warned.

Patrick ODonovan said he will not support the repeal of the Eighth Amendment in this summers anticipated referendum.

Outlining his position on the contentious issue, the minister of state at the Department of Finance expressed concern about removing the article without knowledge of how the law might change as a consequence.

The Government is set to imminently outline proposals to amend abortion laws if the Eighth Amendment were to fall in the referendum, potentially paving the way for a dramatic liberalisation of the current position.

But any draft legislation would only become law if the Dail voted for it, and the outcome of the referendum could also prompt a Supreme Court challenge as to whether the Constitution as a whole contains an implied fundamental right for the unborn, on top of the specific terms of the Eighth Amendment.

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Mr ODonovan said the current state of the law was not tolerable, but he warned a vote to repeal could have unintended consequences.

My own view is that when I go to the polling booth  and I accept the fact that there is going to be a referendum  I wont support a referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment, based on the fact I believe it leaves too much uncertainty in relation to whats going to happen, he said.

The Fine Gael TD told RTEs The Week in Politics: So I have too much uncertainty in my own head at the moment. I am not asking people to support me, I am not asking people to agree with me, I am not disagreeing with other people and I am respecting what other peoples views are  this is my view and I have been tormented actually to come to this decision.

Mr ODonovan said he was not going to actively campaign on the issue.

However, his remarks emphasis how the abortion debate is set to divide opinion across Ireland. His boss, Finance Minister Pascal Donohoe, has indicated support for repeal and allowing unrestricted abortion up to 12 weeks.

On Saturday, the Taosieach said he would campaign to liberalise the abortion laws.

Leo Varadkar is due to announce details on the Governments position on the referendum after a cabinet meeting in Dublin on Monday evening.

Mr Varadkar has said ministers will be free to oppose the Government on the referendum even though the Cabinet would have a collective position on the issue.

A referendum on the Eighth Amendment is expected in late May or early June.

Last December, a report by a specially convened Oireachtas committee found that Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution  which was passed in 1983 and is referred to as the Eighth Amendment  was not fit for purpose and should be repealed.

That followed recommendations from members of Irelands Citizens Assembly to liberalise the law on terminations.

The committee also 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.
Farmers and consumers with placards protest at the "Wir haben es satt" (we are fed up) demonstration for more ecological agriculture in Berlin, Germany, January 20, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

Our grass-based competitive advantage is key for Irish farmers aiming to achieve targets of profits of 2,500/ha per annum.

Speaking at the recent Irish Grassland Association conference in Charleville, Co Cork, Teagasc advisor Lawrence Shalloo told dairy farmers that in order to achieve the 2,500/ha profit target, they need to utilise their grass system and cow output in such a way that will allow them to weather the storm of milk price volatility.

"The only competitive advantage Ireland has is the ability to grow grass. Our system needs to maximise the utilisation of grass which allows for a low-maintenance, highly fertile and productive cow," he said.

"We're in a new era. We have volatility but that's life. It's impossible to tell what's going to happen at market level. It's what we have to live with and should be part of our thinking when we're talking about cost production and output. You have to make sure you can cope and survive a year like 2016 when milk price was poor and that you're able to bounce back, and that your system doesn't crash when milk price drops."

According to Mr Shalloo the increase to 2,500/ha will only happen if we drive efficiency at farm level and if there is a national output increase from the current 2pc to 8pc. He pointed out that every tonne increase in herbage is worth 173/ha and that farmers should be pushing to meet targets of 13 tonnes per year.

Drop in profits

"Nationally we know we're utilising about 7.8 tonnes, but the target is 13. Our target stocking rate should be 2.9pc but only if you're growing that 13 tonnes.

"Our top 5pc of farmers are utilising 12.3 tonnes per hectare but 1pc of farmers are achieving the target of 13 tonnes so it can be done."

Mr Shalloo added that dairy farmers must buy in less feed if they want to avoid a drop in profits.

"There was a spike of feed bought in 2013 as we'd a very tough spring.

"Every 10pc increase in purchased feed leads to a drop in profit by 97 and that's large, robust data and analysis that has been collected over eight years but we can see that less than 6pc of farmers are hitting it," he said.

He pointed out that spring calving has increased from 53pc to 63pc since 2008 but that it's a long way off the 90pc target needed to achieve 2,500/ha.

Meanwhile, 3pc of farmers are achieving milk fat targets of greater than 4.2pc, while 4pc are hitting the milk protein aim of greater than 3.5pc.
Slurry machinery is changing at a rate faster than most other farm machinery lines.

In fact, take a walk around any machinery show and you could be forgiven for thinking the majority of slurry application in Ireland is now carried out using shiny injectors or trailing shoe applicators.

The truth, of course, is that splash plate application equipment is still by far the most popular method. Why? Because the splash plate is simple and it serves farmers well in terms of efficient work rates, simplicity of technology and minimal machine downtime.

Add in the relative low cost and fewer moving parts compared to other methods and one can see why it remains the de facto system for most farmers.

Every so often murmurs of a splash plate ban surface, but such is the popularity of the method that this would be an extremely controversial move amongst farmers and would require some political will.

Currently the only restriction to slurry application using splash plate in Ireland is that the machine must be fitted with a low trajectory splash plate.

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While the splash plate is the most popular application method in Ireland, alternative methods of application are becoming more understood and more available.

On the Continent these alternative application methods are even more common, often due to more pervasive legislative restrictions to using splash plate tankers than we currently have in place in Ireland.

The main reason for the shift towards alternative application methods is due to the high level of gaseous ammonia losses associated with splash plate spreading.

Ammonia is a compound that contains nitrogen. Approximately 50pc of the total nitrogen contained in slurry is present in an ammonia form. While this form of nitrogen can be taken up quickly by crops, it can also be volatilised into the air and lost.

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Losses of ammonia to the air are at their highest in the 24 hour period immediately after slurry application, with the initial six hour period being most critical.

Ammonia loss

Losses of ammonia are caused by weather conditions that cause drying of the slurry, particularly warm, dry and sunny conditions.

The consequence of the gaseous ammonia loss is two-fold. Firstly, if the nitrogen contained in slurry is lost to the air, then it is no longer available to the crop to which it was applied, and must therefore be replaced with chemical fertiliser.

Secondly, ammonia loss will also have environmental consequences.

Ammonia belongs to a group of gases which are collectively known as acidifying gases, and gives rise to a number of environmental problems, including acid rain.

Therefore, slurry application methods that minimise ammonia losses will benefit both farmers and the environment.

Ammonia losses from slurry occur when the slurry is exposed to weather conditions that cause drying.

Since the splash plate applies slurry as a thin film across the entire spreading width of the machine, the surface area of slurry exposed to the weather is relatively large.

This gives rise to a high potential for loss of ammonia, and a low nitrogen fertiliser value of slurry as a result. Ammonia losses with splash plate application can be reduced by applying in weather conditions that will not cause excessive drying.

While heavy rainfall and saturated soils must be avoided, application on days that are cool, overcast or even misty is recommended.

Splash plate variations

In recent times a swivel spout applicator - which is a type of variation on the splash plate - has been selling well in Ireland.

The Moscha swivel spout applicator is a system was designed by a German farmer who was seeking a better slurry-spreading technique before splash-plate systems were banned in Germany.

The basic idea is that the nozzle slows down the speed at which slurry leaves the tanker, thereby creating larger slurry droplets.

The bigger droplets are claimed to retain the ammonia gases within the liquid more effectively than when slurry is spread with a higher-pressure conventional splash-plate system. The oscillating movement of the spout gives a working width of 12-18m depending on pressure and the vacuum tanker's pump size.

Over 600 of these units have been sold in Ireland in the last couple of years, which perhaps shows a desire for a spreading system that retains the efficiencies of splash plate application but also goes some way towards meeting farmers' environmental responsibilities.
Irish aviation-leasing services company Acumen Aviation has seen business grow tenfold since it moved its business from India to Dublin in 2013.

The company is predicting even faster growth in the years to come as it builds on its evolving fleet-management business with the launch of a 1m programme to develop specialised machine-learning and artificial-intelligence-based tools to apply to the aviation market.

"Things that used to take us three days now take us half-a-day," said chief executive Alok Anand, who started the original business in Bangalore, India, before moving its headquarters to Ireland.

"This year, we are focusing on what we believe is our moonshot programme to automate the whole asset-management side of the business, using the latest technologies. Our customers love it, they get real efficiencies and real value out of it."

Those customers are some of the biggest aviation-leasing giants in the world, many of them based in Ireland, who own an increasing proportion of the planes used by airlines around the world.

"The overall growth in the market is obviously part of the story, but from our point of view, it is not just that," said Anand. "We have global reach and our bandwidth of capabilities is wide. We cover the whole spectrum in terms of the services we provide to the aircraft-leasing companies.

"One thing that is surprising about the leasing industry is that although it is at the leading edge of aviation technology, the industry in other ways is not there yet. For example, spreadsheets are still the norm in valuations, something that would not be the case in other industries.

"The technique of valuation must be much more specific. It is a little bit like a black art. We want to take away that unpredictability and make it more reliable. It should not be a gut feeling, it should be justified by data."

Acumen provides basic services, such as aircraft inspections for asset-management purposes, so that investors can make an assessment of a plane's value, as well as more advanced analytical services, such as cashflow monitoring.

"An aircraft has a life cycle," said Acumen's chief commercial officer, Eamonn Cronin. "On day one, it is bought but first needs to be valued to see if the price stacks up. On day two, it is put out on lease with an airline. That lease needs to be managed - everything from collecting the rent to inspecting the aircraft, reviewing its records and condition.

"And then when the lease ends, it is moved from one airline to the next airline. We manage all of that for our customers and we are increasingly using technology to do that."

Anand said he started Acumen because he saw that "the leasing industry requires support from the ground up to the highest level".

"I started at the very ground level," said Anand, a trained aircraft engineer who began investigating the idea of offering basic support services to the sector in India in 2008.

But he quickly realised that the aircraft-leasing industry was predominantly Irish-based.

"So I came here, I networked, I met people, asked questions and I decided to take my chances and I took all my life savings and created the Acumen Aviation business here in 2013."

According to Anand, in the Irish context, Acumen is still a startup but has expanded rapidly. Initially, it had three staff in Ireland but that has grown to a full-time staff of 17, as well as a large pool of Irish contractors, in just over four years.

In that time, Acumen has evolved into an asset manager that provides lease-management services for nearly all of the blue-chip investors in the sector, apart from Gecas and Aercap.

The company provides support for the leasing companies, ranging from aircraft inspections to technical assistance, software and data-management, as well as - more recently - trading, remarketing and commercial services.

"We were bang in the middle of the two big mergers that have happened in the industry in recent times, supporting the different lessors through the process," said Anand.

Currently, the business has about 37 aircraft under full lease management from the Dublin office on behalf of clients in a number of countries. It hopes to grow that to 100 in the next two years. In total, the business works on up to 2,000 aircraft each year, up from about 200 in 2013.

The Irish business now also operates subsidiaries in the US and China, as well as the original Indian-based business, but does not reveal its turnover. Worldwide, Acumen Aviation now has 70 staff and operations in 200 countries.

"If we grow from 37 aircraft to over 100, it is conceivable that we would double our staff numbers here in Ireland," said Cronin.

According to Anand, the company's employee base in Ireland is "mainly at the high-end section of the business, concentrating on management services. The industry is very well established here, so there is a lot of talent."

Although Chinese money is now dominating the sector, the two biggest lessors, Aercap and Gecas, are not Chinese-owned, he said. But he does not believe that the Chinese entrance into the market is a threat to Ireland's position as the global base for the sector because of the huge amount of support services that have been set up here over a number of decades.

"We have to be here in Dublin. There is no other choice. This is where the growth is. Hong Kong has started making inroads and I believe it will catch up on Singapore. But for it to catch up on Dublin will take two decades at least."

Lessors who set up in Hong Kong will still need an Irish base, he said.

Anand himself still lives in India but spends a lot of time travelling to and from Ireland

"I have more Irish friends than Indian friends now," he said. "The Irish industry has been very supportive to me. They reward you on merit. In the part of the world I come from, that is not usual. Before I started the business here, I used to come to the aviation conferences in Dublin and the amount of encouragement I would get from people was something I loved."
Dublin Airport will undergo major building work in the coming years, with the airport authority preparing to double its spend on construction.

DAA last week presented its 2018 to 2020 construction programme to major contracting companies, many of which are likely to bid for the lucrative contract that will be on offer.

The State company told the contractors that it is spending approximately 150m a year on capital projects but that this will double to 300m a year. It will be entitled to recover this through charges, which are set at more than 10 per passenger.

The airport has grown significantly over the last year, with a total of 29.6 million passengers travelling in 2017, up 6pc on 2016, marking the seventh consecutive year of growth.

DAA said construction projects would include terminal infrastructure, pier development, apron space, surface access development and a possible tunnel to the west apron area of the airport.

Other projects would include its Dublin Airport Central commercial development and a possible metro station. This would all take place alongside the building of the major northern parallel runway, for which tenders are due back in June of this year. A new noise insulation project would also kick off in 2018, it said.

Ongoing projects at the airport include the overlay of the main runway, a new transfer facility at Terminal 2 and a major revamp of Terminal 1.

DAA told the building companies building companies that the pipeline of upcoming capital projects had been broken into lots whereby no one project would exceed 30m in value.

The presentation also outlined how the regulatory system under which the airport operates requires planning of projects to take place up to seven years before delivery. The budget for projects is also agreed up to seven years "before execution" and "cost certainty is key". Builders will need public liability insurance worth 127m to work on airside projects at the airport.
Blathnaid Bergin believes business is in her blood. She grew up in Cullohill, Co Laois, where her family owned the town's general merchant's which included a grocery, a pub, an undertakers, a post office, a service station and an agricultural business. It gave the nine O'Connell children a broad insight into life and business. Two of her brothers still run the agricultural service in Cullohill and Blathnaid is one of three of the siblings to venture into a food business. Her sister is Darina Allen and her brother the chef Rory O'Connell.

Following a degree in hotel management in Shannon, Bergin moved to the UK for several years before returning to Laois to run the family business. "By then we just had the pub and the agricultural business. We did food in the pub so I ran that part for a few years, then I got married in my mid-20s, which was quite late then.

"I was having a family, so I wanted something I could do from home and I set up my own catering business and small cookery school in Abbeyleix."

She ran this business for almost two decades during which time she was asked on occasion to advise hospitality businesses.

Bergin had always wanted to get back into the management side and over time the idea of forming a food business consultancy grew. With her children now grown up, she went to DIT in Cathal Brugha Street where she took a master's degree in hospitality management.

Decades of consultancy across the hospitality industry had shown Blathnaid that where and when businesses were in trouble, it tended to be down to the same general mistakes.

There is a certain romanticism about owning a little cafe or restaurant but many people embark on that journey never having worked in the field. "You absolutely have to have some experience in the business to understand how it works, and, despite everything else you find out whether or not you like it because sometimes people who go into it without experience find that they really, really don't like it," says Bergin.

"The other thing I say to people - they sometimes think I'm being slightly amusing, but I'm not - you really have to like people to go into the business. You see all versions of humanity and if you don't like people it is the wrong business to go into." Another common issue is failing to see that the normal rules of business apply. "They think they're running a cafe or restaurant. They're not, they're running a business," says Bergin.

"It happens to be a cafe or a restaurant but all business rules apply, the financial rules, the operating rules, the employment rules, the management rules." This, in turn, leads to other mistakes like not having a budget and sticking to it, spending too much too soon which results in little, or no, operating capital.

"I'm a real systems person and people have to set up proper operating systems so that things happen in a structured way," Bergin adds.

"Look at and learn from the big guys, the chains, you mightn't like the food but the way that they do it is absolutely brilliant. So you have a system for the management of your accounts, a system for the way you make food, for the way you order food, system system system."

Systems can help prevent another serious Bergin sees regularly, namely waste.

"I can't describe the level of food waste that I see that people don't seem to think is a problem. But there are all sorts of waste, lighting, heat, water, oil, time, chipping away at your bottom line very gradually until the gap is too big to bridge."

The same applies to staff: ill-trained staff are inefficient staff.

"Cafes are particularly guilty. They're usually well overstaffed because the people working on the floor haven't been trained properly in ABC (Always Be Carrying). Labour costs are one of the biggest costs in the industry so if you're overstaffed by double because you're not efficient, you're never going to make money."

Only twice has Bergin seen businesses that were beyond saving. Most can be saved - if owners are willing to take advice. "Sometimes people call in experts and then they say, 'Actually I don't think you know what you're talking about'. It's almost funny," says Bergin.

Over a decade ago Bergin wondered where people could go to learn these skills in order to avoid making the mistakes. Research revealed, however, that the only options were long college courses, the shortest of which was a year.

People in business, especially a business in difficulty, rarely have a year in which to go to college. It was a gap in the market that Bergin decided to fill, developing courses to cover every stage of working in the hospitality industry, from inception to near collapse.

"It took me about three years to develop them and I kept looking at what people really, really needed and paring it back and paring it back so that they would get the crucial information quickly."

That has become a series of courses which run from three days to six weeks. They started in Abbeyleix, where she lives, but now take place in various locations including the twice yearly Business of Food course in the Ballymaloe Cookery School. An intensive, targeted 10-day course aimed at anyone setting up any kind of food business, it has attracted students from as far afield as Australia and Azerbaijan. As the only courses in the field the Business of Food courses are part funded by the National Organic Training Skillnet, funding that is available to Irish residents either employed or self-employed.

Bergin has also been asked to develop courses for specific areas. Longer courses include training from experts in other fields, legal, accountancy, design, social media and photography.

Bergin has kept up her own training, going back to college a number of times to do courses in conflict resolution and mediation, adult learning and most recently a diploma in mindfulness-based interventions. She wasn't sure how business people would respond to this holistic approach but has been amazed by the response "to even a few minutes" of stopping and breathing.

"The term 'mindfulness' has been a little bit bandied around but it can be life-changing," she says, adding that the self-employed in particular are often under great stress. "I love what I do. I love working with self-employed people, maybe because I come from a self-employed background I have some sort of understanding of them. They think in a particular way, they look at life in a particular way and are often very creative and people who want to become self-employed they are risk takers. So I try to help them take a calculated risk.

"It's extraordinary the range of careers that people come from. It's a dream for so many but it is one that can become an absolute nightmare. I think people make a mistake of thinking that cooking is the business. It's much sexier to do a cookery course than a business course."

And, because it is a dream, a romantic notion, they can fall down on the practical aspects.

"It's very seductive because from the outside looking in it looks glamorous and romantic, but the day to day nitty gritties of it are quite the opposite. But, having said that, when it's working properly it's the most fantastic buzz and there is great pleasure out of doing it right and making money. And lots of people are."

thebusinessoffood.ie
Oilman Brian O'Cathain is back on the scene after coming out on the losing end of an ugly battle for Petroceltic.

He has joined the board of the UK and Ireland-focused Europa Oil & Gas. O'Cathain has a similar role at West Africa-focused Eland.

The ex-Petroceltic boss discovered a gas field in Algeria that is deemed to be world-class. However, when the oil price crashed, indebted Petroceltic ran into trouble.

In the end, the company's largest shareholder - Angelo Moskov's Worldview Capital Management - took control of it after an examinership process. Relations between it and O'Cathain et al had soured, to put it mildly, so O'Cathain was out the door.

In a cruel twist, Worldview now wants to raise $500m (400m) to try and perform a repeat of what happened at Petroceltic. For O'Cathain's sake, let's just hope Europa and Eland manage to escape Moskov's attention.
The film tax relief  which helped finance filming Star Wars on Skellig Michael  is one of the most successful reliefs in operation, according to Tom Maguire. Photo: Damien Eagers

The bible of Irish income tax is almost 2,500 pages long and a very weighty tome. First published in 1985, it was the brainchild of Norman Judge, who retired from practice as a partner at KPMG in 1993. Today, additions to the book are looked after by Tom Maguire, a tax partner in Deloitte, who leads the firm's tax-policy and technical-services team. Maguire is also the author of two major texts dealing with tax and accounting principles and Ireland's general anti-avoidance rule.

That makes him well placed to provide insight on how Ireland's tax system functions.

Although the economy is performing well - at headline level, at least - the Exchequer could still use every cent it gets. And for that reason, it is concerning to see potential tax revenues of 1.5bn locked up in the tax appeals system.

How the system works is that if Revenue and a taxpayer disagree on whether a sum is owed, ultimately the case is likely to end up before the Tax Appeal Commissioners. But the commissioners have, to say the least, a little too much on their plate.

"Right now, there are three appeal commissioners, as a temporary commissioner was recently recruited. There were over 4,000 outstanding appeals last year. That gives rise to almost 1,500 cases to each commissioner and that is a long 'to do' list," says Maguire, who is a regulator contributor to the Sunday Independent Business section.

"If the average hearing lasts two days, with another, say, two days to allow the commissioner arrive at a decision, that is 6,000 work days for each commissioner. So it would take the commissioners years to clear that workload. And that is before you take into account appeals that will continue to come through their letterbox while the existing cases are being considered."

It may, says Maguire, end up that multiple cases are grouped together or that some matters are settled before hearing. But in any event, it is a lot to sort through.

"The clear solution is to have more suitably qualified appeal commissioners on their bench. It is clear that the 1.5bn belongs to someone; be it the Exchequer or the taxpayer. Someone must benefit and someone else must decide, so that those funds can be put to work appropriately.

"Therefore, changes are necessary, so that we can find out who owns that 1.5bn."

Other changes to the system are coming too, of course, and are perhaps more important. Various international reform programmes are under way, as the world tries to get to grips with how to tax multinationals. This country is routinely labelled a tax haven - just one example of how the country's reputation has taken a battering on this topic in recent years. And reputation, says Maguire, is critical if you want to win business.

"We compete on rate, regime and reputation, and reputation is a key issue. As Warren Buffett said, 'It takes years to build and five minutes to ruin it.'

"The key point is that when it comes to our reputation, we have dealt with it instantly - if there was an issue.

"The double Irish is gone. Stateless companies - dealt with. A couple of years ago, securitisation came up as an issue and that was dealt with over a period of months. That was incredibly complex legislation to deal with and it was dealt with in a very short period of time."

He rejects the notion that Ireland is a tax haven, citing definitional guidelines from the OECD. According to it, a tax haven has: no (or only nominal) taxes; a lack of transparency; unwillingness to exchange information with other countries; and lacks requirement that companies' in-country activity has to be substantial. Ireland, says Maguire, cannot be said to fall into any of those categories.

Nevertheless, the country is facing lots of challenges as reform progresses. Plans are afoot in Brussels for what is known as the Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB), a common set of rules for calculating how companies' profits are taxed in the European Union.

Given the sensitivity around Ireland's tax sovereignty and the protection of the 12.5pc corporate tax rate, it is perhaps unsurprising that the idea has been roundly rejected by Irish politicians. It is widely seen as having a negative impact on Ireland if implemented.

Fiscal Advisory Council chairman Seamus Coffey memorably described the potential effects as "bigger than Brexit" for the economy.

Maguire doesn't back the plan either.

"We (Ireland) always engage constructively in that debate, but as currently written, it's not in our interest." The other major reform programme is the OECD's Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (Beps). This one is different, Maguire says.

"Beps is dealing with anti-avoidance. You have almost 100 countries coming together to deal with a particular problem in a particular way, rather than each one of those 100 countries going off and doing their own thing.

"That brings certainty in relation to tax. There will be interpretive issues between countries but at least we're all going down the particular road.

"So to the extent that you bring certainty to tax law, that can only be a good thing."

The Beps programme will undoubtedly pose challenges for the Irish economy but there are opportunities too, says Maguire, specifically when it comes to making this country a hub for companies' intellectual property.

The conclusion of Beps will not, of course, bring an end to the issue of multinational tax avoidance. There are plenty of clever accountants in the world and they will probably always figure out ways to take advantage of legal loopholes, and reduce tax bills.

But reducing your bill is not always a bad thing, says Maguire. After all, the tax system is an important way of incentivising people to behave in a way that is beneficial for society.

"The recent Finance Act brought about tax depreciation for employer gyms as a carrot for employers to invest in such things for the wellbeing of their employees.

"In my Sunday Independent column, I've mentioned Myron Scholes a few times in that he and others said that when it comes to tax, success is achieved when the tax rules subsidise activities that benefit society as a whole more than they benefit the individuals engaging in the activities. More healthy people running around is a good thing.

"The difficulty occurs when these reliefs are used in a manner that wasn't intended. That's why we have anti-avoidance rules to deal with such situations.

"We also have a general anti-avoidance rule in our law, which says that even though we might not have specific rules to counter a transaction, if it would be 'reasonable to consider' that a transaction was done primarily for tax reasons, then that tax advantage can be removed."

Other tax reliefs exist to subsidise other areas seen as beneficial by policymakers - R&D tax credits, for example, or reduced VAT on tourism services. But for film buff Maguire, perhaps one stands out more than any other - the film tax relief.

"Look, we saw Luke Skywalker teaching the ways of the Force to the next generation of Jedi on Skellig Michael last year and the tourism benefits of that are still being counted.

"These are all commercial activities that we want to promote and if tax can help that, then is that not the very essence of success?"
With a three-bed semi-detached house in Dublin selling for 400,000 on average, someone looking to make a dent in the real estate market might be better off buying their own island.

Mannion Island, located in Co. West Cork, is officially up for grabs for just 150,000, which would get you a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in Finglas.

Listed by luxury island real estate agency Vladi Private Islands, the island measures four acres and sits in Dunmanus Bay, 200 metres from the shore and 500 metres from a newly constructed pier.

Although the property boasts a natural spring, fertile land covering approximately 60pc of the islands surface area, a sheltered cove and surely breathtaking views, hopeful buyers would have to make due with starting their island life from scratch.

The island is listed as as is, meaning there is no house, building, structure or ruins on the property, requiring considerable work by the buyer to get started. There is also no electricity, although the agency suggests using solar panels or a wind turbine.

Vladi Private Islands, owned by Farhad Vladi, are considered the biggest international island brokers, and have sold over 2,000 islands across Greece, Italy, Turkey, Nova Scotia and even further afield.

On the company site, Vladi states that those who own islands are united in being extreme individualists with great perseverance when it comes to carrying out their personal endeavours.
Horizon 2020 is the EU's 80bn programme to support research and innovation. Stock photo

There are areas of innovation we excel at in Ireland and results that prove it. At 13pc, Ireland has one of the highest success rates for the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument in Europe, compared to the EU average of 6pc.

Horizon 2020 is the EU's 80bn programme to support research and innovation, which launched in 2014. A seven-year programme, it is due to end in December 2020. Ireland's overall success rate exceeds the EU average, with 475m in funding secured to date for more than 1,100 successful applications by 536 higher education researchers and 430 Irish companies.

The SME Instrument funds the programme's most commercial applications and is designed to support innovative companies to realise global ambitions and turn strong business ideas into market leaders.

Its commercial focus helps companies to convert findings from cutting-edge research into a productised offering for international markets.

Delivering grant funding in the range of 1m-2.5m to support 70pc of project costs, no repayment or equity dilution is required, making the Instrument attractive to companies aiming to internationalise.

The programme is highly competitive. Only 6pc of the 31,000 European companies that applied were successful. A successful application can be transformative, elevating a company into the position of market leader.

Eight Irish companies were among 210 European SMEs that achieved Phase 2 funding of Horizon 2020's SME Instrument in 2017. Securing 15.45m between them from a budget of 297m, they include companies like AltraTech, Axonista, Soapbox Labs, and SwiftComply.

Axonista received 1.7m in funding in 2017 to develop its interactive video technology product, Ediflo, which enables customers to bring multiplatform interactive story-telling experiences to market faster.

"Our product originally served large enterprises through direct sales made by the founders," says COO Dee Coakley. "Horizon 2020 allowed us to hire product-development specialists and build a team focused on simplifying the enterprise product for a broader market."

The Instrument's application process thoroughly assesses each company's proposed innovation-led solution and its potential to achieve market penetration. Project support covers every stage of the business acceleration life cycle, from business definition to planning and execution leading to full commercialisation.

Axonista's Horizon 2020 proposal was strengthened by R&D work they had recently undertaken. "The R&D grant we received from Enterprise Ireland really helped," says Coakley.

"The application for Phase 2 funding asks if you have undertaken feasibility research. Being able to describe what you learned from an R&D project and how it helped to identify an opportunity or develop a solution delivers a robust proposal."

Enterprise Ireland leads the Irish Horizon 2020 National Support Network, which acts as a resource for new and seasoned applicants. Enterprise Ireland's team helps companies to determine the best Horizon 2020 programme to meet their needs, prepare for their initial engagement, and provides feedback to improve the draft proposal.

The objective is to build on Ireland's strong track record and provide hands-on assistance to Irish researchers and companies that participate in the programme.

All innovative Irish companies with an eye on international expansion should apply. An award of up to 2.5m and the mark of pedigree that Horizon 2020 brings changes a company's prospects.

"From an investor's perspective, securing Horizon 2020 is a validation of the business and your ambitions," says Dee. "Investors know that an investment of nearly 2m has been made to push your offering past the competition. That validation gives you a lot of leverage."

Enterprise Ireland's Sean Burke works with Jill Leonard to support the SME Instrument and Fast Track to Innovation actions in the new European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot in Horizon 2020
'Ireland needs an economic plan B."

These aren't the words of a Luddite or a European Commission tax official, but Paddy Cosgrave, founder of the Web Summit.

"The Central Bank, IMF and European Union's concerns for Ireland's over-reliance on a handful of tech companies cannot be overemphasised," says Cosgrave, who runs some of the world's biggest technology conferences and employs over 100 people in Dublin.

"But we have no plan B. A Fruit of the Loom moment could be just around the corner for Ireland. It's very, very worrying."

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The figures around Ireland's dependence on multinational tech firms are certainly eye-opening. Between them, giants such as Apple, Google, Intel, Dell and Facebook now employ some 10pc of the country's workforce, a figure that puts tech ahead of farming for the first time.

Counting the indigenous businesses that supply the tech companies with services, the digital giants are now crucial for as much as a fifth of the 'real' Irish economy.

This penetration is continuing to grow as quickly as the tech firms' influence on our daily lives through what we see, hear and read.

But is Ireland becoming too dependent on foreign-based multinational tech firms which, in theory, could relocate to a cheaper base if they so decided?

Moreover, what power do they now exercise over the Irish policymaking process as government officials and industrial strategists scramble to keep them based in Ireland in a post tax-break era?

"Can you imagine if Ireland woke up one day to an Apple or an Amazon or a Google announcing a major office elsewhere in Europe?" says Cosgrave. "Those companies and our politicians could try and cover over reality, but Ireland has been down this road too many times. The writing would be on the wall. The lights wouldn't switch off overnight. Much like Fruit of the Loom, it would signify a slow decade of decline for all of Ireland. Let's hope it never happens, as right now Ireland only has Plan A, which is multinationals, multinationals, multinationals."

Expand Close Paddy Cosgrave, co-founder of the Web Summit. Photo: Frank Mc Grath / Facebook

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And with great power comes great influence.

Data from the Standards in Public Office Commission, together with some illuminating Freedom of Information results, give some idea as to what tech firms want and how they seek to get their agenda instilled. Google, for example, has lobbied figures within Government on 47 occasions in the last two years. It has pressed positions on everything from the regulation of child safety issues online to digital surveillance issues, copyright reform and how the Government should react to upcoming EU data protection legislation.

Some of these were in the form of routine meetings with department officials, usually at assistant secretary level. However, others were far more pointed, involving face-to-face meetings with ministers up to, and including, the sitting Taoiseach of the day.

One typical instance cites a 2016 meeting where the company achieved face time with (then) Taoiseach Enda Kenny "to brief Irish policymakers on Google's investment in Ireland and to encourage policies supportive of innovation".

A similar lobbying encounter, involving Amazon's public policy chief John Midgley, frames it in similar terms.

"Amazon provided the Taoiseach with an overview of the company's presence in Ireland and supply chain, and there was a general discussion on issues related to Ireland's international competitiveness and economic development," say official documents regarding a face-to-face meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar late last year.

As Freedom of Information documents show, soft power is never far from the surface. In 2014, the powerful chief operating officer of Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg, held a meeting with then Taoiseach Enda Kenny in Davos, Switzerland. After the meeting, Sandberg wrote to Kenny, gently reminding him of the connection between "reasonable" policies and "future investment".

"When it came to the European data protection regulation, you and your staff really internalised our concerns and were able to present them in a reasonable way, which has had a positive impact," wrote Sandberg.

"We hope we can rely on you for your continued leadership on this regulation since we still have more work to do here. Along the same lines, I was pleased to hear that you are so involved in the OECD working group process on tax reform. These discussions will be very complicated and important, and we hope to be helpful to you identifying the implications with different options for future investment and growth in Europe. We are keen to collaborate with your office on this, just as we have on the DPR [data protection regulation]."

She went on to praise the Taoiseach on Ireland's policy of having a "collaborative" data protection commissioner, the entity that regulates Facebook in much of its online activity across Europe.

"It was helpful to hear how you are focused on finding a strong successor to Billy Hawkes, as data protection commissioner for Ireland. Billy will be a hard act to follow and we are hopeful that his successor will be someone who will establish a collaborative working relationship with companies like ours and be able to lead on the important issue of data protection compliance in Europe."

Kenny responded in kind, seemingly acknowledging the point Sandberg was trying to make.

"One of the key challenges going forward for companies such as yours, is data protection," he wrote. "I believe that it is of the utmost importance to work closely with our new data protection commissioner."

This exchange was read in some quarters as a not-so-subtle way of Facebook letting the Irish Government know what kind of data protection commissioner it preferred, a key issue for the tech giant in an era when the EU, led by Germany, was starting to push for tighter control over US web companies. Others argue that this sort of lobbying dialogue is perfectly legitimate for both the company pursuing it and the government listening. Facebook now employs 2,500 people in Dublin, goes the argument, and is a magnet for tech companies to continue coming to Dublin, where they employ people at higher-than-average wages.

Some bosses of tech multinationals in Ireland say that interaction with government officials is usually done at a more routine pace.

"Discussions are well received," says Aisling Keegan, vice president and general manager of Dell EMC in Ireland, a company which has experienced highs and lows in its operations here over the last 30 years

"There's a strong appetite for dialogue. We have various ministers in every couple of months when we have something to talk about or push. There's an acknowledgement of partnership. You have to make sure that the infrastructure we have is lending itself to a better working environment. I would say it's a very good relationship."

However, not every tech multinational firm here goes all in on lobbying. "We wouldn't necessarily have regular contact with government officials or ministers," said Sinead McSweeney, head of Twitter's Irish operations and its vice president for public policy in Europe.

"Lobbying is done to varying degrees. We find no great necessity. We have our business here which is regional across Europe. It's not entirely Ireland focused. That said, relations are healthy and professional with various regulatory bodies. There's a maturity in the way which our authorities do business here. They have a global mindset."

McSweeney said that trade bodies such as Ibec are often used to parlay issues of concern on an industry basis.

So does any of this lobbying or 'soft power' interaction pay off? The tech firms' influence may be detected in some recent legal and regulatory decisions. Ireland, for example, will adopt the lowest end of the age scale this May when EU countries formalise a child's digital age of consent as part new European data protection laws.

This was important to big tech companies such as Google and Facebook, for a variety of reasons. (To be fair, while tech companies lobbied for this age to be enshrined in law for their own purposes, so did entities such as the Children's Rights Alliance and Dr Niall Muldoon, the Ombudsman for Children, arguing that it was unrealistic to set an older age and that kids of 13 have a right to be able to find information themselves on issues such as mental health.)

The Government has also dragged its feet on the introduction of a (previously announced) new digital safety commissioner, something that may not be entirely welcome by tech giants operating in Ireland.

On issues such as data privacy, Ireland has historically been relatively lenient on companies found not to have adhered to current data protection law, with no more than a handful of prosecutions and minor fines pursued by the data protection commissioner here. The former data protection commissioner's ruling on Facebook - a clean bill of health amid controversy over some of its practices - still rankles in other European countries, which view social media platforms with more disdain. Indeed, it was disillusionment with the Irish agency's handling of Facebook issues that indirectly led to a trade crisis between the US and EU, when the European Court of Justice struck down the 'Safe Harbour' data agreement, a crucial transatlantic treaty.

Latterly, Ireland has taken a staunch stance alongside Microsoft in that company's judicial battle with US authorities seeking to recover emails from Microsoft servers in Ireland. On the merits of the case, which Ireland supports via an 'amicus' brief, the state's position is widely seen as righteous. But was that Ireland's motivation in jumping on board so quickly?

Critics fear that even as the power and importance of the tech sector here grows, there is nothing like the regulation that the farming, retail, banking or hospitality sectors face.

That may mean Airbnb (which lobbied government and city officials over 40 times in the last two years) taking over large parts of Dublin's available housing availability or a creeping 'gig economy' mentality in conventional industries.

Even Ireland's trade unions, once the guardians of work practices for ordinary families, have stepped out of the way of technology firms with minimal union membership sought. (Political parties back this up, with none of Ireland's parties actively pursuing union recognition or participation in Ireland's tech giants.)

When it comes to lobbying, there are some basic skills involved. It helps to have someone who knows how the system works. It's even better if you have someone on board who used to work in government, preferably at a high political level.

For example, Google has Ryan Meade, a former special advisor to Environment and Local Government Minister John Gormley between 2007 and 2011. Meade, who is currently the web giant's public policy director in place of Anne Rooney (who is on maternity leave), has extensive political contacts and experience.

In a similar vein, Facebook's lobbying lead in Ireland is Niamh Sweeney, a former special adviser to Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Eamon Gilmore.

Lobbying isn't always done directly by a company executive. Facebook, for instance, has used Dublin law firm Mason Hayes and Curran to lobby then Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald (and department assistant secretary Peter Mullan) on the reform of interception laws.

While Irish transparency and Freedom of Information laws limit the quantitative nature of lobbying efforts here, US disclosures give some idea of how much tech giants spend on the activity when they have to show receipts.

Figures this month show that Google spent around 14m last year lobbying the US government on issues such as how regulations would affect how ads appear on services such as YouTube.

Similarly, Amazon spent 11m on efforts for more favourable conditions around online sales taxes and cloud computing, a sector it dominates through Amazon Web Services. (In Ireland, Amazon representatives similarly lobbied Government ministers here on the importance of industry-friendly conditions for cloud computing firms.)

Meanwhile, Facebook pumped almost 10m into making legislators and regulators see its side of the story amid the 'fake news' controversy that continues to engulf the world.

Most of these companies will regard the money as well spent. Some will point to results for other lobbying efforts, such as the massive windfall that tech giants won from the US government's one-off tax repatriation rate of 15pc, far below the standard US corporate tax rate.

But is it all becoming a little one-sided where Ireland is concerned? Or is the undoubted employment and skills boost that we get a fair exchange for evermore pervasive influence in our public governance and daily lives?

"The five largest companies in the world now generate so much tax revenue for Ireland that even our own Central Bank has warned repeatedly of our over-reliance on these companies," says Paddy Cosgrave.

"There have been rumours in Silicon Valley and Brussels that some of the biggest tech companies are considering major offices elsewhere in Europe. I think a big part of Leo Varadkar's trip to Silicon Valley (last November) was to seek assurances about the future of these companies in Ireland. But unfortunately none of the big tech companies were prepared to give specific assurances."

Cosgrave is one of the most senior Irish tech figures yet to voice serious concern over Ireland's future industrial strategy and the basis on which it hopes to retain its most valuable employers. He is not alone. Several indigenous entrepreneurs are starting to voice similar criticism.

However, senior bosses of the tech multinationals in question dispute that their presence in Ireland is more fragile now than before, or that a change in tax law has changed their attitude.

Moving facilities to other countries from Ireland isn't under way, they insist.

"I haven't seen any evidence of that happening," says Twitter vice president Sinead McSweeney.

"All of the big companies continue to grow here. I haven't seen any about-face or signs of companies starting to move functions away. The tax thing is a narrative without much evidence of companies switching because of it. Because we live in a global market, obviously things can change with geopolitical shifts. But there are genuinely lots of reasons why companies choose Dublin, not just as a location but as a headquarters. When there's such a cluster of companies running functions from one location, with the diverse, rich talent pool that this brings, that's a factor that's not going to change overnight."

This view - that Ireland pulls its weight for multinational companies aside from any taxation or regulatory advantages it may benefit from here - is echoed by a number of other senior multinational tech bosses here.

"Michael Dell has said the commitment to Ireland remains," said Dell EMC vice president Aisling Keegan. "Every global function that exists in Dell, from a jobs perspective, is in Ireland. It's the largest footprint we have in Emea [Europe, Middle East, Africa]. You have to look at the capabilities we've built up here. We have functional expertise which we just don't have in other countries, supporting both global and European customers."

This, she says, includes advanced facilities for next-generation 'internet of things' technology, enterprise research centres and even a Dell bank.

"If anything, the commitment is stronger now than it ever was. That's the importance we put on Ireland from a jobs perspective. We're hiring at the moment."

Ireland's biggest tech employer, Apple, makes the same point. While it has been at the forefront of world headlines over the 2016 13bn tax ruling imposed by the European Commission, senior company executives - up to and including Tim Cook - still insist that Ireland remains a critical part of Apple's business planning.

Senior managers there point to its iMac factory in Hollyhill, Cork, which is Apple's only self-owned manufacturing facility around the world and a mainstay since the firm's original iteration here in 1980. "It's often the team from this facility that is called upon to help out in other parts of the world," said one senior Apple manager. "You have to understand that manufacturing skills are very scarce and specialised. What we have collected at this base is invaluable."

This theme - the concentration of skilled, older managers with years of critical experience - is a common one throughout Apple and a number of other large tech companies based in Ireland.

However, while all of these companies extol the virtues of their workforces, none deny that a large reason they first came to Ireland was associated with a fiscal advantage through tax.

Arguably, the European Commission's 13bn tax ruling against Apple in Ireland brought that era to a shuddering halt. There are no double Irish with Dutch sandwiches on the menu for them anymore. So what is it that they will continue to press Irish policy makers for? It's a question that Ireland may soon need to ask a little more vigorously.

Who lobbies for big tech?

Company: Google

Lobbyists and PR advisors: Ryan Meade, former special advisor to Environment and Local Government Minister (John Gormley, 2007-2011); PR by MKC including Ciaran Conlon, former special adviser to Minister Richard Bruton at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (2011-2016) and former director of election strategy, Fine Gael (2010-2011)

Lobbying count: 47*

Topics it lobbies on: EU privacy law, digital surveillance regulation, online safety rules, copyright reform

Company: Facebook

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Lobbyists and PR advisors: Niamh Sweeney (above), former special adviser to Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Eamon Gilmore (2012-2014)

Lobbying count: 19*

Topics it lobbies on: Tax, surveillance law, data privacy, digital age of consent, copyright

Company: Microsoft

Lobbyists and PR advisors: Rebecca Radloff, head of legal; PR by Q4PR with partners Martin Mackin (former Fianna Fail general secretary and senator) and Jackie Gallagher (former special advisor to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern)

Lobbying count: 20*

Topics it lobbies on: Surveillance law, data protection, EU digital privacy, transatlantic email warrant case, "our investments and jobs in Ireland"

Company: Amazon

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Lobbyists and PR advisors: Lesley Smith (above), public policy director; John Midgley, AWS public policy

Lobbying count: 8*

Topics it lobbies on: Cloud computing services, energy infrastructure, EU taxation, "general economic issues"

Company: Apple

Lobbyists and PR advisors: Gary Davis, head of privacy, former deputy commissioner for data protection, former official in Department of An Taoiseach

Lobbying count: 2*

Topics it lobbies on: EU digital privacy, health policy

Company: Twitter

Management: Sinead McSweeney, VP public policy Europe, former PR for An Garda Siochana, former special advisor to Justice Minister Michael McDowell (2002-2004)

Lobbying count: n/a

Topics it lobbies on: n/a

*Figures from Standards In Public Office Commission 2016-2017
Law firm McCann Fitzgerald is launching a new app to assess businesses' readiness for an upcoming European data-privacy law.

The tool poses questions to users about their business and uses artificial intelligence to evaluate the responses and pose follow-on questions.

It then generates a report on users' readiness for the changes that will be brought about by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), highlighting areas of weakness and providing recommendations. It is designed to enable users to decide what actions are required and where targeted legal advice is needed.

Adam Finlay, a partner in the technology and innovation group at McCann Fitzgerald, said the app had been developed in response to discussions with clients.

He said: "Clients who have started thinking about GDPR often tell us, 'There is lots of information about GDPR out there, but I don't know what I need to do in relation to my business.'"

The app will be launched for clients shortly and will also be available for sale to non-clients, McCann Fitzgerald managing partner Barry Devereux said.

"We are a firm that hangs its hat on being progressive and advanced in how we deliver our services to our clients. And that has been the driver for our business for a number of years," he added.

The firm has teamed up with artificial-intelligence business Neota Logic to work on a range of products designed to reduce the time and cost associated with legal work.
The Government is preparing controversial legislation aimed at slashing the price of access to Eir's telephone poles in a bid to save the troubled National Broadband Plan (NBP).

The move comes as it continues to prepare a complex tender for a State-subsidised roll-out of high-speed broadband to 540,000 homes.

Two private companies - Eir and Enet - are competing for the long-awaited State contract.

The new legislation, now being prepared by the Department of Communications, could greatly reduce the amount that competitors such as Enet would have to pay to use telephone poles and ducting belonging to the former State telecoms monopoly.

Such a reduction could potentially save the government hundreds of millions by reducing the subsidy it needs to pay towards making the NBP commercially viable, said industry sources.

The move by Minister for Communications Denis Naughten could be strongly opposed by Eir, given that access pricing has already been set by regulation in the sector, said the sources.

Any dispute over the introduction of the new law could further delay the rural broadband plan, already long delayed, with completion not due until 2023.

"As part of the priority legislative programme for spring/summer 2018, the Minister for Communications will bring legislation to Cabinet in respect of the NBP," said a department spokesman.

The purpose of the legislation will be to provide certainty with regard to the conditions of access to existing infrastructure, including cost, for the National Broadband Plan, State intervention.

A spokesman for Eir confirmed that the company was aware of the Government move, but said it did not know the details of what was planned.

We are aware of the Governments Spring Legislative Programme and note its intention to introduce primary legislation, said the Eir spokesman. We have had no visibility of the detail of that proposed legislation and we are keen to understand how it will work in relation to the existing pricing regulations that currently in place concerning access to infrastructure.

The new legislation could have potentially major impacts on both the cost of the NBP and Eirs own revenue stream from the work that needs to be carried out if other companies are to use its network to access rural areas. Government documents, previously reported by the Irish Independent, showed that the cost of infrastructure access is a huge hindrance to the NBP, which is likely to cost substantially more than 1bn.

The Departments model suggests that under the base case the level of subsidy bidders might seek could increase... by more than 60pc if the existing regulated price for pole and duct access is applied, said the reported document.

Last year, Siro  a joint venture between Vodafone and the ESB  pulled out of the process, saying that it was unable to make a business case for continued participation.

Fianna Fail technology spokesman James Lawless introduced a similar private members bill two years ago in a bid to find a way around the impasse that has developed over the NBP. His bill is in political limbo but was aimed at fast-tracking planning for broadband and mandating the co-location on telecoms infrastructure for market rates, including ducting and poles.

Under this bill if Enet, Imagine, Vodafone or any of the other providers were looking to use Eirs infrastructure they would be mandated to allow that as long as it was at a fair and reasonable market rate, he said. I dont think Eir or anybody else should be able to build in a legacy tariff for the use of this type of infrastructure.

My view is that if we were to fix many of the problems that are holding back the NBP that we might find that the private sector providers will actually do it themselves without the need for huge subsidies from the taxpayer apart from in a small number of areas.

One of the reasons such measures have not previously been introduced is that the Government is terrified that there will be a legal challenge to the tender, said Lawless.

The delivery of the NBP is tortuously slow and I dont really have any confidence that will change. My bill was partly aimed at promoting a private sector solution but it could also be a safety net if this whole thing falls apart.

But one competitor of Eir in the telecoms space said that he had some sympathy for Eir, given that rates for access were already set by a regulatory body.

Well-placed sources have previously indicated to this newspaper that Eirs new French owner  owned by billionaire Xavier Niel  will put a greater emphasis on developing state-of-the-art services in key urban locations, shifting the companys focus away from sparsely-populated rural locations.
A customer faces a humanoid robot at the reception desk of a hotel in Sasebo, Japan. The restaurant sector is facing especially rapid automation, with consequences for employment. Photo: Bloomberg

Marc Benioff, chief executive of the software company Salesforce, consults a regular guest at his senior-level meetings: a robot that doesn't hesitate to correct error-prone humans, he told an audience in Davos this week.

The AI robot, called Einstein, has had a seat at the table for about a year.

"I ask Einstein, 'I heard what everybody said, but what do you actually think?" Benioff said at the World Economic Forum, the annual gathering which brings together business and political leaders.

The robot recently raised doubts about one of his European employee's strategies, saying: "I don't think this executive is going to make their number, I'm so sorry," Benioff recounted in a tweet. Then the robot described the flaws that it saw in the employee's thinking.

The effect of automation on the workforce has been a key topic for leaders meeting in Davos this week. A WEF report on the eve of the meeting warned that automation could displace workers on a global scale and alter the nature of work across a variety of roles, exacerbating poverty and inequality.

"Automation has already been a disruptive labour-market force and its effects are likely to be long-lasting as new technologies diffuse throughout the global economy," the authors wrote. "For the foreseeable future, automation and digitalisation can be expected to push down on levels of employment and wages and contribute to increases in income and wealth at the top of the distribution."

An IMF report last year warned that 53pc of countries had experienced an increase in income inequality over the last three decades and the gap was widened the most in large countries, such as China, India and the US. The Forum report said this trend was partially driven by technology knocking people out of work and fattening the pockets of the world's richer citizens.

Popular fears about workers being entirely displaced by robots are overblown, said David Autor, an MIT economist who attended a discussion about worker retraining this week. Instead, the challenge will be helping workers adjust to how automation changes the quality of jobs, he said.

"This concern about the future - 'will there be jobs?'- is misplaced," Autor said.

"There is no evidence that we are running out of jobs. A harder question is whether there will be good-paying jobs."

Government and business leaders said last week that they were actively investing in retraining in order to help prepare workers for changes in the workplace. On Friday, Nestle, Nokia, Mercer, Barclays and Tata Consultancy Services announced a joint initiative to train 10 million workers over the next three years, according to a Forum spokesperson. Economists in Switzerland will follow the effort.

"Without reskilling, yes, things do look quite dire," said Saadia Zahidi, head of education, gender and work at the WEF, who helped come up with the idea and will be tracking the companies' progress. She added that people in declining jobs still did not have the skills needed in jobs with potential for growth.

Both public and private sectors must plan for this coming shift, Zahidi said. People should be able to find paths to gaining expertise for expanding jobs, such as nurses, data analysts and social media managers. They must also be able to work with computers, the backbone of the future economy, and harness human qualities that machines have trouble replicating.

Economists at the Forum also recommend rethinking the way that countries educate children. In classrooms across the west and Asia, students are taught to be more competitive than collaborative, a mind-set that could someday hurt their employment prospects, Zahidi said. Lesson plans that demand analysis, rather than memorisation, will also benefit the future workforce, she said.

"There's a greater premium than ever before on creativity, collaboration and critical thinking," she said.

Some business leaders used the gathering to showcase job-disrupting technologies.

Dmytro Kalita, head of sales at Kodisoft, a technology company in Ukraine, displayed a smart table at a party off the Davos main drag on Thursday night. The door-sized tablet, which looks like a giant iPhone screen, allows diners to order food and pay the bill without talking to another person.

The product is another entrant in a restaurant industry that is already beginning to use mobile apps and kiosks.

Kalita said restaurants in Canada, Japan and Greece had already ordered the tables, that sit two to four people and cost up to $15,000 (12,000), or about the same as what a minimum-wage earner makes in a year.

"Initially, some restaurants, they will need less people," Kalita said. Then, he added, the product could heighten the demand for software designers and assembly workers.

Benioff, whose company uses artificial intelligence to track customer orders, urged other employers to be more transparent about the technology they plan to adopt, so that people can prepare for it.

"I'm increasingly worried that even as these technologies deliver incredible benefits to some, this wave of change will leave behind hundreds of millions of people around the world and exacerbate the dangerous inequalities that already plague our societies," he wrote in a Wall Street Journal column ahead of the Davos meeting.

However, President Donald Trump's delegation in Davos projected a sunnier outlook.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Labor Secretary Alec Acosta both said the US would be ready for the challenges posed by automation.

"History shows us that technology leads not to the alarmist scenarios posed by some, but rather, to innovation and advancement that make jobs safer, creates new opportunities and even new fields," Acosta said in a statement to the Post. "We need to focus our efforts on ensuring that the American workforce has the opportunities to develop the skills needed for the jobs of today and tomorrow."

This year, the Labor Department requested $732m to help people who have lost their jobs learn new skills for positions that are projected to grow. "Technology doesn't just shrink jobs," Ross told reporters last week, "it changes the nature of jobs."

The US officials' messages in Davos mark an evolution in the way that Trump's team has addressed the nation's future work climate.

The US President has long condemned companies that exploit cheaper labour in China and Mexico, but he has not been as vocal about automation-related disruption, which economists say drove most of the country's five million jobs losses in manufacturing since 2000.

The Washington Post
Fifteen months ago, a milestone was reached in the history of the Irish economy. In the final months of 2016, the number of jobs in the technology sector overtook employment in agriculture for the first time.

For an industry that was of limited significance two decades ago to become, in terms of employment and many other measures, more important than the sector that for so long dominated Irish economic activity illustrates how much the structure of the economy has changed.

As the accompanying graphic shows, the number of jobs in fishing, farming and forestry is trending downwards (if anything, what is surprising about that trend is how gradual it has been, given the scope for consolidation and labour-saving efficiencies in the sector). By contrast, the numbers employed in the tech sector are not just growing rapidly, that growth has been accelerating. Since job numbers passed the 100,000 threshold three years ago, employment has jumped by around 20pc, double the rate of economy-wide employment growth over that period.

This is, first and foremost, a huge success story. Ireland has become a hub in the transatlantic economy in what is an industry of the future, if not the industry of the future. The sector is outward-facing and export orientated. Because it is firmly located in the "weightless economy" and its products do not require costly shipping, Ireland's age-old disadvantage of being geographically on the periphery has been rendered ever less relevant.

The scale of the success is to be seen most clearly in the quite astounding fact that Ireland is now the biggest exporter of computer services on the planet, according to the World Trade Organisation. In the first nine months of last year, computer services exports exceeded all other categories - of either goods or other services - and were worth a staggering 53bn. To put that in some context, that was more than six times greater than export earnings from all food and drink products over the same period.

If the sector is generating massive earnings for Ireland Inc, it is doing something similar for those who work in the sector. Technology jobs are among the best paying in the economy and it is one of only a few sectors in which average weekly earnings exceed 1,000.

If most people with skills suited to the sector do well financially, they also do well in the job satisfaction stakes. Though the evidence here is anecdotal, one rarely hears tech types complaining about their work, often because it is also their passion. They tend to be fascinated by the seemingly endless opportunities to create new products and better ways of doing things. While that aspect of the sector is good for the individuals concerned, it is also has a wider benefit.

Because many business opportunities in the sector require little more than a laptop and phone, the barriers to entry for start-up companies are low. While it is still very much the case that foreign multinationals dominate the sector in Ireland, there are a growing number of Irish-owned businesses, and the ecosystem of homegrown companies is increasingly rich and diverse.

Despite what we like to tell ourselves, we have not traditionally been a nation of successful entrepreneurs. The younger generation in the tech sector could be helping to change that, something that should diversify the economy and make it more flexible and resilient.

The benefits discussed heretofore have been almost unambiguously good for Ireland, and any overall cost/benefit analysis of the role the sector plays can only be, in my view, overwhelmingly positive. But that does not mean that the costs, as well as the risks that come with hosting the sector, do not need discussion and analysis.

One aspect of the sector in Ireland that raises concerns is its concentrated nature. Although Dublin does not dominate quite as much as one might think from the chatter - the capital has accounted for around half the jobs in the sector in recent decades - it has accounted for almost all the growth in employment over the past five years.

That raises a number of questions, including whether the sector is driving up the costs of doing business in the capital to the detriment of other sectors - it is often noted that Google and Facebook alone account for four percent of all Dublin's office space.

Another aspect of this issue is who is being employed. Over the past five years, non-nationals have accounted for well over half of the additional employment in the sector. Having people arrive to create wealth and pay taxes from other countries that have reared and educated them is a windfall for the Irish economy and is clearly of benefit to the companies who hire them. But it is not without a downside. Most obvious is the impact on the housing market. With a large undersupply of homes, the arrival of new, well-paid people pushes up rents and property prices for those already here.

And then there is the corporation tax dimension. The most recent detailed figures from the Revenue Commissioners - for 2016 - show that the tech sector handed over 1.2bn in profit taxes in that year, accounting for around one in six euro of corporation tax paid (financial and manufacturing companies collectively paid considerably more).

This is quite a sum. But it is not of the magnitude that would cause a return to austerity if it were, say, to be cut in half. That brings us to the reasons it could conceivably fall dramatically.

There has been a backlash against the tech giants from a whole range of angles recently. Their sheer size, the power they have over their customers and suppliers, the political clout they wield, the role they play in the dissemination of fake news and propaganda, their deliberately addictive design of social media platforms, and the manner in which they use loopholes to avoid tax are raising fundamental questions globally.

But it is how these concerns have manifested in Europe that gets most attention here in Ireland. Because the tens of billion of euro Ireland Inc earns in computer services exports, as discussed above, come from purchases made online, some other countries in Europe believe that they are missing out on a slice of the pie. Late last summer, the four biggest continental EU countries - France, Germany, Italy and Spain - launched a proposal for an online sales tax that would be levied where the services are purchased, not where they are provided. The European Commission has agreed to draw up legislation to that effect.

In the firing line

This turnover tax, it should be noted, is entirely separated from the recently revived proposal to change the way company profits are taxed across the bloc. In both cases, Ireland is very much in the firing line.

The position of the Government is that it will veto both proposals coming down the legislative pipeline in Brussels in their present form. The official position is that Ireland is fully in compliance with international best tax practice. As other countries will also exercise their vetoes on the Commission's proposals, there may appear to be little imminent threat. But the backlash against big tech is so strong that if it gathers further momentum, something, somewhere will have to give.

The main objective must be to protect the real economic activity that takes place here, including by maintaining the 12.5pc rate of corporation tax which has been committed to so strongly.

But if concessions have to be made, which ones would do least damage? What, for instance, would be the cost of agreeing to an EU-wide online sales tax? It would certainly dent those 1bn+ of corporation tax revenues paid by the tech sector. But it is not obvious that tech companies would relocate to other EU countries if such a tax was levied uniformly across the bloc.

More work needs to be done on weighing up the pros and cons. But always saying no to every measure designed to reduce tax avoidance by some of the world's biggest companies may not be sustainable. Consideration of a tactical retreat, in order to protect what is really important, needs careful consideration.
The world's largest hedge fund is shorting CRH to the tune of approximately 130m.

Bridgewater Associates, founded by billionaire Ray Dalio, opened the position last Monday, according to Central Bank filings.

The hedge fund is 'short' 0.5pc of CRH - a position with a market value of around 130m.

Shorting is a mechanism that allows an investor to bet that a company's share price will fall.

One mechanism is to borrow shares from a broker and sell them, pocketing the proceeds in the hope that you will be able to buy back the shares at a lower price later and return them to the broker.

It is a high-risk strategy, as the losses can be enormous if the share price rises.

At its last trading update (covering the first nine months of 2017), CRH posted 2pc growth in year-on-year revenue and 2pc in growth in year-on-year Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation).

It has completed the sale of its distribution business in the Americas and agreed a $3.5bn (2.8bn) acquisition of US rival Ash Grove.

CRH boss Albert Manifold called the business an "excellent addition to CRH".

Bridgewater declined to comment on the rationale for its short position.

According to data from London-based fund of funds LCH Investments, Bridgewater has generated the most net profit of any hedge fund in history, at almost $50bn. George Soros's fund is second.
"Today's decision is a victory for innovation, competition, and the rule of law," Montreal-based Bombardier said in a statement. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

Bombardier can start shipping C Series jets to Delta Air Lines as scheduled after a surprise ruling by a US trade tribunal that said the proposed imports won't hurt American industry. US companies and workers aren't being harmed by sales of 100- to-150-seat aircraft from Canada, the International Trade Commission said Friday. The panel's ruling blocks a Commerce Department decision last month to impose duties of almost 300pc.

The vote deals a blow to Chicago-based Boeing, which said Bombardier sold the C Series in the US at less than fair value while benefiting from UK government subsidies. The decision also opens the door for Bombardier to add new US customers while potentially easing trade tensions with Canada and the UK, where the company builds wings for the aircraft.

"Today's decision is a victory for innovation, competition, and the rule of law," Montreal-based Bombardier said in a statement. "It is also a victory for U.S. airlines and the U.S. traveling public. The C Series is the most innovative and efficient new aircraft in a generation."

Bombardier surged 16pc to C$3.56 in Toronto after climbing as much as 23pc for the biggest intraday gain in three months. That put the shares at their highest intraday level in three years. Boeing fell less than 1pc to $341.95.

"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 U.S. small single-aisle airplane market," Boeing said.

British Prime Minister Theresa 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."

Britain's business minister, Greg Clark, said: "This is excellent news for the dedicated workforce in Northern Ireland."

Bloomberg
New business opportunities are set to open up to the Gulf region - already the second-most important long-haul market after North America out of Ireland - following a key decision by the Irish authorities.

As flagged by this column late last year, Ireland is ending visa restrictions for citizens of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from next Wednesday. It's a key to doing more business with the UAE, which is home to around 10,000 Irish expats and an area in which some 230 Irish companies do business.

And the move brings Ireland into line with the UK, which has had the edge over Ireland in offering visa-free travel to Emiratis.

"It's always been a little bit of a niggle for them being able to go into the UK but not into Ireland without getting a visa," Joe Breslin, head of Enterprise Ireland in Dubai, told the Sunday Independent.

"Anything of this nature is beneficial in terms of easing business, because one of the great things is the air linkages we have with the UAE."

Both Abu Dhabi-based Etihad and Dubai-based Emirates fly double daily from Dublin to their respective hubs.

Enda Corneille, Ireland Country Manager of Emirates, told this column that the visa move is a game-changer, saying it will "add to traffic - we've got 720 seats per day from Dubai into Dublin so there's plenty of capacity".

Both Corneille and Breslin were singing from the same hymn sheet, with the Enterprise Ireland representative, two years into his role in the UAE, saying that "business people always take the route of least resistance" while Corneille said "you don't want any [visa ] blockages".

Breslin believes that there's massive scope for growth for Irish trade and links. "One of the things we've been trying to promote here for a while is the education sector. We've been more successful in Saudi than the UAE and we've got 230 UAE nationals in Irish universities, so we see that as a huge opportunity to promote that," he said.

"What happens in this part of the world is that not only students go but the family comes with them to visit them, sometimes to escort them to settle down so this makes it easier for them to make that decision to go to Irish universities."

He said visa-free travel will see business grow incrementally, adding: "We have about 230 Irish companies doing business here now - it's grown quite a lot. A lot of companies would use the UAE as base for the Gulf. It's an easy place to do business. The language is predominately English which helps and the legal and financial structures here are well established and familiar to most of our companies."

Aside from education and the bloodstock industry, Irish companies are involved in a range of fields, he said. "We would see it in financial services, in software, in the ICT. We would see some of it in aviation because of the major carriers out here, education services, even in life sciences in particular."

Two major conventions loom, with Arab Health coming up next week and 20 Irish companies attending with junior minister Jim Daly. "Dubai ambulance follow the Irish national ambulance guidelines for training paramedics - they would be sending about 50 paramedics to Ireland for training over the year," Breslin added.

In addition, Enterprise Ireland is counting down to Export 2020, with Breslin believing there's massive scope for more links between the UAE and Ireland, with this country already attracting 50,000 Emiratis each year.

n Ease of travel for business people could be an issue following Brexit, warned Dr Michael Kerkloh, CEO of Munich Airport of President of powerful lobby group Airport Councils International.

He is concerned about the tone of negotiations between Europe and the UK to keep air links operating under Open Skies following Britain's departure in March 2019.

"The risks of a no-deal scenario are real," he said. "For now, we still remain completely in the dark as to what will happen at the end of the transition. One thing is pretty clear though - the political dynamics shaping these negotiations are very much at odds with business interests."

It's an echo of the views expressed by Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary, who bluntly warned last year that "after March 2019 ... there's no basis under which airlines can fly from the UK to Europe or Europe to the UK", adding: "The British electorate will begin to understand that Brexit is a dumb idea. It's all great talking about controlling your borders but when that means you have to go on your holidays in Scotland instead of Spain or Italy or Greece it might soften their cough a little bit."

Other players, including IAG head Willie Walsh, believes that a deal will be reached to avoid disruption, but Kerkloh warned that there's a danger of a protectionist agenda as both sides thrash out a deal. It's still a case of watch this (air)space.
Reflections: Derbhle Crotty says the Waking the Feminists movement came too late for many of her Trinity peers. Photo: Colin O'Riordan

When Derbhle Crotty has lines to learn, she takes to the roads. She puts on her long coat and walks around Crumlin, Perrystown and Terenure "marching out" the script, "pacing it out" until she can move to any part of it and instinctively know what the next line is.

Because so many people talk into their phones these days, she gets fewer strange looks than she used to. Regardless, she tunes out everything else. When she's in a play, the play takes over.

"You give yourself wholly," she says. "You create new channels in your brain to accommodate this new existence."

It's no surprise that Crotty's process is so immersive. Renowned for the power and emotion she brings to her characters, she has twice won best actress at the Irish Theatre Awards - in 2008 for Masha in The Three Sisters and in 2015 for Henry IV in DruidShakespeare, a gender-blind reworking of four of Shakespeare's history plays. Since she began acting professionally at the age of 24 she has played many of the classic stage roles for women - Lady Macbeth, Juno, and first Ophelia and then Gertrude in Hamlet.

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We meet on a cold January evening in a warm hotel bar. It's barely a week into the new year and she's come straight from rehearsing The Approach, Mark O'Rowe's new play which opens in Project Arts Centre on February 1.

Set in contemporary Dublin, The Approach revolves around three women - two sisters and a friend who used to share a flat in Ranelagh. Cathy Belton and Aisling O'Sullivan play the other characters. At the beginning, there is an estrangement. Crotty is reluctant to give away much more of the plot.

"There's certainly a mystery element to it," she says. "What may seem pretty calm and everyday on the surface is concealing great depths. As in life, there's a lot more going on than meets the eye."

There is a presumption in the play, she says, that we're constantly reinterpreting our own past in order to make accommodation with the present. She describes the script as "comprehensive, intact and very brilliant", comparing it to a wonderful clock or instrument. "In the first week you smash it on the ground and you try to reassemble it."

The language of the play - O'Rowe's first since Our Few and Evil Days in 2014 - is halting, searching and extremely true to life, she says. So as she walks the roads with the script in her head, she tries to understand the different levels on which the words function, as well as learning the lines in sequence.

"Is it a bid? Is it an absolute statement? Is it a lie? All the hundreds of ways that we test ourselves with language."

A Landmark Production, The Approach is also directed by O'Rowe who's directed Crotty twice before - in Brian Friel's Afterplay and in Juno and the Paycock. The day we meet, they've had "quite a big and intense debate over whether a certain point in an early part of the play needs to be amplified as much as it is".

It's extraordinary, she says, that she's able to tease things out with the writer. "It speaks greatly to the trust that we have."

But teasing things out is fundamental to her, and probably one of the reasons she's such a master of her craft. As we share a big silver pot of tea, she considers questions carefully, probing her way towards the truth. She's an excellent communicator, funny and very real. Approaching her 50th birthday, she's astonished that she's now been acting for 26 years.

"Isn't it in the postal service that you do 30 years and then you retire? Or it used to be that way."

Acting wasn't part of her original plan. She grew up in Cavan and studied law in UCD but was "shocked and horrified" to discover it wasn't for her. She threw herself into Dramsoc and after graduating did a performance diploma in Trinity. Her mother had died when she was 17 and for the first 10 years of her career, one of her biggest motivations was to reassure the people who loved her that she was going to be okay.

She got off to a strong start, playing roles in The Mai, Portia Coughlan and Katie Roche, plays that were written by women and - in the case of Portia Coughlan and Katie Roche - directed by women, too. This anomaly was something she referenced during her poignant speech at the Waking the Feminists meeting in the Abbey in 2015, an event convened to address the under-representation and inequality of women in Irish theatre.

In her speech Crotty talked about how her early roles gave scope to her own "contrary, turbulent and passionate nature". Most of the women who graduated from Trinity with her, she said, fell away from the profession because of the scarcity of roles. She called for more women's scripts to be staged, more women to put them on the stage and more women on the stage.

Reflecting on Waking the Feminists now, she thinks the movement was particularly successful because it "didn't sing off a single hymn sheet. Everybody came to it with their own stories and their own point of view.

"It unquestionably has made an impact," she says. "Perhaps the most profound impact will be in women's perception of their own limitless potential. And the absolute justification of their presence in all areas and the naturalness of that, the absolute uncompromising rightness of that."

Not everything changes quickly though. She hoped the gender-blind casting of DruidShakespeare - in which five women only played men - would trigger more of a revolution.

"We felt that it was groundbreaking and it would inevitably be followed, that this was now the only way to do things really. And it hasn't been followed. And things have reverted. Not that Ireland is coming down with Shakespeare performances or big classical performances. But you wished that it had comprehensively knocked down doors."

Crotty has had a long and fruitful relationship with Shakespeare. She's an associate artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company as well as of Druid. Earlier in her career she lived in London, but she's glad she moved back to Dublin, where her siblings and nieces are. London was beginning to get prohibitively expensive and she felt she would have been overwhelmed by the city unless she changed her attitude towards organising her life.

She used to feel like a "ship out in a stormy harbour" when she didn't know what her next job would be, but she's become accustomed to the uncertainty of the business and maintains quite a freewheeling attitude towards life. As an actor, she says, you have to take and communicate joy in what you do. When she thinks about opening nights, she replaces the word terrifying with the word exciting.

"I really appreciate that we're hurtling through life and we're choosing to do the things that we're doing, nobody's making us and perspective is everything really. If you can see it as exciting rather than terrifying you have a much better time and you do the job just as well. Fear only gets in the way of everything. It's only a distraction."

The Approach runs from February 1 - 24 in Project Arts Centre, Dublin and February 27- March 3 in The Everyman Theatre, Cork.
Emergency services at the scene of the fire in Inchicore, Dublin, last night. Photo: Arthur Carron

Members of Dublin city Council, the Fire Department & Gardai at the scene of the fire at Tyrone Place Apartments in Inchicore, Dublin. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Gardai at the scene of the fire in the first-floor flat in Inchicore, Dublin, yesterday. Photo: Gareth Chaney

A mother-of-three has described the harrowing moment she tried to save her young children after a fire engulfed their apartment complex saying: "I thought my child was going to be burned to ashes."

Maggie Green (30) was in her rented apartment in Inchicore, Co Dublin with her three children when their home was targeted in a suspected arson attack on September 18, 2017.

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Maggie and her children John (13), Francie (9) and Savannah (7) were left fighting for their lives after the attack.

The traumatised mother-of-three spoke to Independent.ie exclusively about the fateful moment she woke up to discover that her home was engulfed in flames.

"I woke up suddenly and I looked over the banister and saw the flames at the end of the stairs. My oldest son John was sleeping downstairs and I screamed for him. The fire had engulfed the front door so we couldn't escape. I couldn't get down the stairs to John and he couldn't get up the stairs to me because of the flames. It was horrific. I'll never forget the fear in his eyes.

"I told John to run out to the balcony window and breathe in some fresh air. He disappeared and I waited without knowing if my child was going to be burned to ashes."

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Maggie said that she ran back to the bedrooms to get her two younger children.

"Francie tried to run downstairs and I had to keep him back. I told him to stay in his room while I grabbed Savannah in her room but he was terrified. He said 'mummy I'm going to die, I love you. I'm going to granda in heaven'."

Maggie said that she grabbed both children and went into a bedroom where she tried to break open a window.

"We were completely trapped. I went into the corner of the room and built a fort with the beds around the three of us. The fire burned through us and I thought that was the end of it.

"The fire brigade arrived and I handed them over Savannah and Francie. I asked them about John and they said they couldn't find anyone else in the house. At that moment, my whole body gave up. I couldn't go on at the thought that something had happened to John."

One month later, Maggie woke up in hospital after being in a coma.

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"My ma was waiting at my bed when I woke up and all I wanted to know was if my kids were alive. My ma said they were all okay and that she would have turned off my life-support machine if they weren't.

"I had burns all over my body and had to undergo numerous skin grafts. Savannah and Francie had spent two weeks in a coma and had burns on their arms and legs.

"John had managed to escape from the balcony after our neighbour rescued him with a ladder and he was treated for smoke inhalation. I was so happy to hear that all of my children were ok."

Maggie said that her children are still traumatised after the fire.

"Savannah slept through the fire because she passed out from smoke inhalation, but Francie remembers it all.

"Since I got out of hospital at the end of October, myself and my three kids have been living with my mum and my brother in a two-bedroom house.

"We can't continue to live like this. There are too many people living here and my mum's landlord said it is a fire hazard having us all here."

Maggie said she contacted Dublin City Council before Christmas looking for an update on a house and was told she would be settled within weeks.

"I was told I'd have Christmas in a new house and I'm still waiting. I checked again with them and they said it'll be another few weeks. I don't think they'll ever give me a home. All my kids want is a home.

"Savannah prays to God every night that he'll give mummy a home. They're constantly asking when they will have their own bed again. Their whole life was destroyed in the fire and their comfort is gone. My heart breaks for them.

"Savannah is due to make her communion this year and she won't wear the dress we had picked out because it is short sleeves and her arms are scarred with burns. We're struggling to find a dress with long sleeves.

"Even after everything we went through with the fire in the flat, we'd still rather move back in there than be stuck here in my ma's house. The flat is still destroyed and there doesn't look to be any clean-up going on."

And, despite no longer living in the burnt-out home, Maggie claims that Dublin City Council are continuing to deduct rent from her social welfare payments.

"Money has continued to come out of my social welfare for the rent. Even when I was lying half-dead in a coma rent was still coming out of my money.

"My oldest son John is sleeping on a settee. We can't go on like this."

Maggie said that she moved into the council flat in Inchicore in 2010 and noticed a series of problems with the rental.

"I was always asking the council for a fire-proof door but I never got one. My door was wooden and was very old. My fire alarm also had wires sticking out and it wasn't working. I asked the council to fix it and they came around to check it and said they would be back, but they never were. Both of those things would have prevented the fire."

Four months after the fire, Maggie said that nobody has been charged with starting the fire. It's believed that a petrol bomb was thrown through her letterbox.

"I have no idea why anybody would have done that. I don't have any enemies."

Gardai confirmed to Independent.ie that the fire is being treated as an arson attack and that investigations are ongoing.

Months after the attack, Maggie says that all her family wants is a home.

"Our burns can heal and we can get over how traumatising the fire was. All we want is a home of her own so we can start to re-build our lives."

Independent.ie contacted Dublin City Council for a statement, who said that they do not comment on individual cases.

We are awaiting further comment.
Protesters outside the apartment on Mountjoy Square and inset, the damage done to the door of the apartment

A man has been hospitalised after a group of up to ten men forcibly removed tenants from an apartment in Dublin this morning.

The men are now occupying the apartment in Mountjoy Square and friends of the tenants and other residents in the building are protesting outside.

It is understood the tenant taken to hospital suffered bruising to his ribs after he was dragged out of the apartment.

Pictures below show the damage done to the door after the men forced their way in at around 10am this morning.

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"We were in bed and we heard a load of banging this morning, it was like a sledgehammer banging off something. Then there was a load of commotion and the tenants were all outside in the hallway in their pyjamas after being dragged out," one resident of the building told Independent.ie.

"There were around 10 heavies and they have now locked themselves inside," he added.

Six tenants had been sharing the apartment in Mountjoy Square.

The High Court issued an injunction before Christmas blocking the landlord, Paul Howard, from evicting the tenants until the termination of the dispute resolution proceedings with the Residential Tenancies Board.

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It is alleged that Mr Howard sought to increase the rent by more than the permissible amount as the apartment is in a designated rent pressure zone.

The tenants lodged disputes at the RTB in relation to this and their cases were heard in January.

The outcome of these proceedings have not yet been finalised, a spokesman for the RTB said.

Gardai were called to the scene this morning and are making enquiries in relation to the incident.

A spokesman told Independent.ie that no arrests were made and "any matters or reported allegations arising from the incident will be fully and thoroughly investigated."

The men occupying the apartment did not respond when asked for comment.

Paul Howard has had previous orders issued against him by the RTB for retaining tenants' deposits and unlawfully terminating tenancies.

In May 2017, he was ordered to pay three tenants a total sum of 7,694 for terminating their tenancies and retaining their deposits after he rented them an apartment in Mountjoy Square.

In July 2016, he was ordered to pay another three tenants the total sum of 5,300 after he unjustifiably retained their security deposits in respect of a property in Kilnamanagh, Dublin 24.

Michelle Connolly, of Dublin Central Housing Action, said they "will continue to fight to protect the tenants' rights."

"We have been working with these tenants for about three months and they have gone through an awful lot. No tenant should have to go through this," she said.

The tenants, together with members of Dublin Central Housing Action, hung banners from the apartment windows saying "stop evictions" last month.

The banners were removed this morning.

Mr Howard could not be reached for comment.
Jan. 28, 1998

Central New York's higher education offerings put our area in a class itself.

Using roughly an hour's drive as a cutoff, Cayuga County tops Vital Signs communities with 14 public and private, two- and four-year colleges available. Burlington, N.C., trailed us with 12 colleges, followed by Fairborn, Ohio, with 10.

"You have the gamut in this area," said Jim Salvage, an Auburn High School guidance counselor. "Students can attend just about any type of college they want within about a 40- to 50-minute drive."

Skaneateles guidance counselor Mark Barnes said students in his district tend to take area colleges for granted.

"It always looks better somewhere else, so a majority of our graduates attend school out of state," he said.

 Compiled by David Wilcox

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School tours to far-flung destinations like China and Tanzania are being offered to students at some of Ireland's fee-paying schools, with one trip costing almost 4,000 per student.

With specialist tour companies offering everything from rugby tours to trips to Las Vegas, schools are organising extended trips to destinations around the world.

One private school, Glenstal Abbey in Limerick, where the seven-day boarding fees are 19,300 per year, are offering their students the chance to take a 14-day trip to climb Kilimanjaro this summer, organised by a company called Earth's Edge.

The trip, which includes six days of training by the tour company before departure, will see the students spend two days travelling to the beginning of the Machame Trail, followed by seven days of trekking to the summit of Africa's highest point in Tanzania.

The excursion, which includes flights, guides, cooks, porters, meals, accommodation and transport costs 3,899 per student.

A Glenstal Abbey spokesman confirmed to Independent.ie that 15 students and seven parents are taking the trip this summer.

Dublin's St Columba's College are also offering a long-distance trip to their students in 2018, with a 12-day tour of China proposed to take place later this year.

Their itinerary, posted on the school's website, includes three nights in Hong Kong, two nights in Shanghai, one night in Zhangjiajie, two nights in Xian (home of the Terracotta Warriors) before finishing with three nights in Beijing.

The school, which has day fees starting at 8,000 a year, has been contacted by Independent.ie to confirm how many students were set to take the trip and the exact costs involved.

However, a page on the school's website regarding the trip says those wishing to attend must pay a deposit of 1,500 with "the remainder of the costs payable before departure".

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Ski trips are also popular with many fee-paying schools.

Mount Anville, a fee-paying all girls school in south Dublin, is offering students a ski trip this year.

According to a page on their school website the costs are 980 per student.

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At the time of writing the school had not responded to queries about the numbers of students taking the trip.

Loreto High School Beaufort, in Rathfarnham in Dublin, is another all-girl fee paying school that has details of a ski trip for students on their school website.

Their seven-night trip to San Valentino in Italy costs 1,100 per head.

An identical trip is already being planned for 2019, with students given a full year to pay the costs in a series of installments, according to the school's website.

Jesus and Mary College, Our Lady's Grove, in Goatstown in Dublin, are set to take their fourth-year students on a six-day ski trip to the Italian Alps in March this year, according to their school website.

Again, the payment schedule began one year before departure, with the total cost of this trip being 899 per student.

A school tours travel specialist noted that while the number of schools opting to organise trips for their students had not significantly increased in recent years, the number of students on each trip has increased.

Managing Director of The School Tour company, Grainne Quinn, noted that cost is an important consideration for most schools.

"I think the most important aspect of these trips is to make them affordable so they can include all the children who wish to go," she said.

"In recent years the costs have actually gone down. A number of years ago a short trip to Italy would cost perhaps 800, where as now, depending on the numbers involved and the time of the trip, it would be in the region of 400."

She said she was "appalled" by high-cost trips that excluded some students and said she would rather have 40 students going on a trip at 400 a head than have 20 go at a much higher cost.

The School Tour Company do offer a trip to China but she told Independent.ie that the only school trip they have booked for that destination is due to travel in 2019 and they booked it in 2016, taking three years to pay for it.

Ms Quinn also emphasised the value of these trips to students.

"They see their teachers in a new light, as human beings, and it makes a huge change to how they view them when they return to class. They learn responsibility, they make new friends and many learn how to work to pay for their spending money on trips like these.

"Teachers deserve huge credit too for going on these trips, often on their own holidays and with no extra pay," she added.

Another company, Topflight For Schools, is working with Mount Anville to organise their planned ski trip and has a vast array of different trips of offer for schools.

These include ski trips to nine different countries, including the USA and Canada and they offer sport-based trips to see the likes of Real Madrid or Roma, as well as rugby tours to locations such as Argentina, Portugal and Andorra.

Other options available on their site include a three or five-night geography tour of Iceland and seven-day visit to Toronto and Montreal.

Three tours to the USA are also on offer by Topflight, one of which is a seven-day trip to San Francisco and Las Vegas which includes a "stroll around taking in the wonderful sights and atmosphere of The Strip".

Replying to a query from Independent.ie, Managing Director of Topflight Marco Piccoli confirmed that in the last number of years they have not had any schools take the San Francisco and Las Vegas trip.

Mr Piccoli added: "While some of our schools do opt for long distance destinations, some of our more popular tours are to the UK and incorporate a two-day trip to Old Trafford or the Eithiad Stadium, including transportation, half board hotel accommodation and match tickets to see Man City or Man Utd., while also visiting the Roman city of Chester or taking in a theme park. These trips cost from 149 per person.

"We have 6 day learn to ski programmes, which are great options for Transition Year students as it is a year where learning new skills is high on the Agenda. Ski trips can solidify friendships while challenging oneself in a controlled environment and of course gaining fitness and health benefits while also having fun. Once again the benefit of being able to travel outside of holiday time is reflected in the cost."
A New York childrens choir has paid tribute to Dolores ORiordan with a touching cover of The Cranberries hit Dreams.

The PS22 Chorus, a choir for 5th graders - equivalent to 4th class in Irish primary school - are from Public School 22, a public elementary school in Graniteville, Staten Island.

The group are well known for their frequent music videos, which they publish on social media and have won a Webby Award, an award for excellence on the Internet.

Their latest video, posted on Monday ahead of Ms ORiordans funeral on Tuesday, sees them performing the song Dreams, one of the bands many world-wide hits.

The choir is conducted by Gregg Breinberg, who can be seen as the piano in the video.

So far, its been viewed 615,000 times on Facebook and 12,000 times on YouTube.
When Roisin and Martin from Rathgar, Dublin decided to welcome Ahmed, a Syrian refugee, into their home for 12 months they werent sure what to expect.

It can be daunting living with a stranger. Ahmed was just as apprehensive. He had very little English and he was very far from home.

Ahmed (22) has fond memories of his country.

He was just a teenager when the war broke out in Syria and he remembers the cinemas, the libraries, the museums and the cafes of Aleppo. He remembers how colourful his city looked before it was reduced to dust and ruins.

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His family were hopeful the war wouldnt last. In 2015, four years into the war and a year after Ahmed started university to study Arabic Literature, he realised hed have to leave home if he wanted to survive.

"It was no longer safe, I had to leave. This war has destroyed everything. There was no future for me in Syria," said Ahmed.

"Even getting to university was difficult, you had to pass the checkpoints, there were soldiers everywhere. Normal life didnt exist. I felt like there was no future in Syria anymore, only death."

Ahmed discussed the possibility of leaving Syria with his family and at first his parents refused. It was impossible for the family to leave together and they didnt want Ahmed to go alone. Eventually they relented when Ahmed outlined his plans for a better life.

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The journey to Ireland was long.

Ahmed spent five months in Turkey to earn money for his trip. He then tried to make his way to Greece but the border was closed and he had to spend two months there in a camp.

Eventually he crossed the border and arrived in a refugee camp in Thessaloniki where he applied to travel to Ireland under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme. Six months after arriving at the camp, he finally got a call from the Irish Embassy requesting an interview.

"Ill never forget that call. Id wanted to go to Ireland because I felt I would be safe there. Id heard stories about Irish people being friendly and they spoke English and I felt like that would be a useful language for me to learn. I thought, maybe I could be happy here," said Ahmed.

Two and a half months later, in December 2016, Ahmed was cleared to travel to Ireland along with 130 other refugees. He spent nine months in the direct provision centre in Mosney. While he was relieved to be in Ireland, he said he felt uncomfortable without a job or his studies.

"Mosney was nice. I met some good people there, there was a beach nearby but my time at the centre was a little bit difficult because I couldnt work or meet Irish people. I wanted to mix with local people and practice my English, get a job and start my new life but in Mosney I felt frozen, stuck," said Ahmed.

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Ahmed contacted the Irish Red Cross to see what other options were available to him.

They advised him that he could stay with a host family where he could practice his English and integrate with the local community. For Ahmed, it seemed too good to be true so he put his name forward and waited to hear back.

In Rathgar in Dublin, Martin and Roisin had volunteered to host in their home for 12 months as part of the appeal. The couple said it seemed like a "no brainer" when they first considered it.

"We both had a similar response: this is the right thing to do; we have plenty of space and it wasnt a big deal," Martin told Independent.ie.

"We rang up and said we can put our names down. In 18 months the Red Cross came back to us to see if the offer was still good. Within a week of that call we were being introduced to Ahmed to see if there was a compatibility.

"We liked the cut of his jib and he arrived about a week later."

Ahmed moved in with Roisin and Martin in September 2017. Initially there was a slight "awkward" phase as the three adjusted to living together but Roisin said it was no different to having a "relative stay, one that you wouldnt know terribly well".

"The initial apprehension would be normal, at some level we wondered was this going to work," said Roisin.

"And there's going to be the initial 'getting to know you' phase and you work out practical things to do with meals and laundry. It was probably more difficult for Ahmed to come and stay with us but you muddle through and you work things out."

A week after Ahmed moved to Rathgar, he found a course in Rathmines College which was accessible to refugees, allowing him to study IT skills four days a week. He then prepared and circulated his CV and found a job in a four-star hotel.

"Ahmed has great initiative, he sees an opening and he goes for it," said Martin.

"With his job, hes starting from the bottom but its a good earner so hes got both the structure of the course, as well as a job. This arrangement is doing what the Red Cross envisioned; giving a refugee the opportunity to practice English, learn about local custom and culture and begin to transition to the world of work here. It's worked out very neatly so far."

For Ahmed, the opportunity to study, earn a living and meet Irish people was exactly what he was looking for.

"I didnt expect that I would meet people as kind as Roisin and Martin," he said.

"Sometimes I think Im living in another universe. They have put so much trust in me, theyre so generous. Its nice to have people to discuss things with, discuss life, whats going on in the world we talk a lot.

"My family were so surprised but for them it is a relief to know that I am safe and working towards a good future. Martin and Roisin really support me, they give me good advice and push me to keep going in life."

Ahmed has already mapped out his career path. He spoke with An Garda Siochanas intercultural officer about applying for the next opening for the garda reserve.

He feels the job will bring him good security. Before the war broke out, he never considered he would be carving out a life for himself so far from home. He was forced out of his country by war and although it wasn't his choice, Ahmed feels like he has adjusted to his life in Ireland.

"I havent really had any bad experiences. Ive been lucky to have made a lot of friends here. I understand the Irish sense of humour, I think that helps a lot. I respect the tradition and cultures here and people respect mine, people are open-minded. Ive been very lucky."

The hardest part of living in Ireland is knowing that his family are still struggling in a war-torn country. While he keeps in contact with them on social media, he said hes haunted by visions of what their life is like. He finds it difficult to watch the news.

"I lost a lot of friends during this war. I left my family behind and its been two and a half years and sometimes I forget how my sister looks, the shape of her eyes. I see the photos that they send me on WhatsApp but its not the same as reality, you know being with them in real life.

"I miss my family but I feel like I am living with family here. Roisin and Martin look after me and I look after them."

For Martin and Roisin, its been a "rich" experience. Their favourite part of the day is when the trio sit down to dinner and talk. Ahmed has taught them a lot about Islam, the politics of the Middle East but hes still struggling to teach them Arabic.

"I was a very bad student on my first lesson," joked Roisin. "Its just so difficult but hes very patient."

Roisin and Martin said it was a sobering experience to see the complex politics of the Middle East through Ahmeds eyes.

"In the eyes of a Syrian, there are very few friends in the world," said Martin. "Very few people have opened their borders. The world is not a very friendly place looking outwards and thinking who has come to our assistance in response to attacks from our own government?"

"It opens your eyes to a whole new world you know very little about," added Roisin. "You gain a lot, you learn a lot.

"The Red Cross programme does allow you the opportunity to do something. How many times have Irish people over the years - and I would be one of them - looked at the news or opened a newspaper and have seen these awful atrocities and the devastation and destruction that has happening across the world and thought I want to do something? Most of the time youre helpless, you actually cant do anything.

"This programme just struck me - this was this is something tangible, it may be small but its something tangible that we could do. Thats a really positive experience rather than holding your hands up in despair and not being able to do anything.

"And the three of us, we get along well. Its worked out so well. Its been great, it really has."

For Ahmed, its been a "dream come true" and a chance to start over.

"Three years ago I felt like I had no future but now I am doing more than I thought possible. Sometimes I can't quite believe it."
Former Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan's time in the witness box at Disclosures Tribunal this week was remarkable in a number of respects.

On one level it was a bravura performance in which she managed largely to hold firm against an onslaught of questions, refusing to concede ground at Dublin Castle.

But on another level it was three days peppered with extraordinary testimony in which she attempted to distance herself from the events which unfolded at the O'Higgins Commission in 2015.

Many of the responses she gave prompted only further questions and occasional bouts of head scratching from onlookers. There was a sting in the tail too when it emerged on Thursday that Ms O'Sullivan may have to be recalled to give evidence about a previously undisclosed Garda document which labelled whistleblower Maurice McCabe as "a paranoiac" who had lost the control of his station.

In its current module the tribunal is investigating whether false allegations of sexual abuse or any other unjustified grounds were inappropriately relied upon by Ms O'Sullivan to discredit Sgt McCabe at the commission, which investigated Garda malpractice in the Cavan/Monaghan division.

While there has been no evidence to suggest the former commissioner used a false allegation of sexual abuse, the tribunal is still examining whether other unjustified grounds were used.

Central to its inquiries is the approval Ms O'Sullivan gave to her legal team to challenge Sgt McCabe's motivation and credibility. For months before the commission she had been publicly supportive of Sgt McCabe. All of a sudden she was challenging him in private. This was the course of action advised by her barristers after a consultation meeting attended by a number of gardai, but not Ms O'Sullivan.

At the meeting they were informed about the Ms D case, where Sgt McCabe had faced an allegation of sexually assaulting the daughter of a colleague, and later cleared.

Sgt McCabe had sought access to the full DPP directions in the case, but was refused.

The lawyers were informed there had been a change in Sgt McCabe after this and that he had started making unwarranted complaints against senior officers, including allegations of corruption.

Ms O'Sullivan had a limited knowledge of these events but after weighing up the "unprecedented dilemma" she was faced with, gave the go-ahead.

"I was very satisfied that the advices were coming from a competent and professional legal team," she said.

One of the things the legal team later did was construct a 20-point letter for the commission, setting out the basis under which they were challenging Sgt McCabe. This included a false allegation Sgt McCabe had blackmailed a senior officer in a bid to get access to the DPP directions.

Bizarrely, Ms O'Sullivan did not request a copy of the letter from her legal team. Almost immediately after it was issued, Sgt McCabe told his superintendent in Mullingar he wished to step down as sergeant in charge of the traffic unit there and that he felt "under threat" from Ms O'Sullivan.

In one jaw-dropping piece of testimony, the former commissioner said she was "at a loss" to understand the connection between Sgt McCabe's resignation and what was transpiring at the commission. Sgt McCabe's counsel Michael McDowell put it to her that she had "an extraordinary lack of curiosity" about what her lawyers had put in the letter, which had been sent on her personal authority.

"In the circumstances then, it never occurred to you to say, can I see the letter you sent?" Mr McDowell asked her.

"Not at that time, chairman, because the letter was part of the proceedings before the commission," she responded.

Another curious aspect of her account of events is her failure to have a face-to-face meeting with her legal team at the outset of the commission.

Her solicitor Annmarie Ryan, of the Chief State Solicitor's Office, recognised the potential controversy the legal strategy could cause. It had already given rise to significant ructions on the second day of the commission. Ms Ryan pressed for a meeting that weekend. She was desperate for a consultation but could not secure one, being told by the commissioner's liaison officer, Chief Supt Fergus Healy, that Ms O'Sullivan was busy.

Ms O'Sullivan said this week she had been available, but was never given the impression a consultation was requested. However, she did request a "meet and greet" with her lead counsel, Colm Smyth, during the early stages of the commission.

Asked about this, she said she couldn't remember the specific details of the meeting.

By that point, objections had been raised by Sgt McCabe's legal team and Mr Justice Kevin O'Higgins had issued a ruling that the whistleblower's motivation for making complaints was very much peripheral to the inquiry.

Despite the fact the strategy she had endorsed was in considerable difficulty, there was no discussion backwards or forwards about what had happened at the commission, according to Mr Smyth.

On the second day of the commission, Mr Smyth had said he was challenging Sgt McCabe's integrity. This was not something he had been instructed to do and he later accepted he had said this in error. But when pressed by Mr McDowell that her counsel had acted in the complete opposite way to her wishes, Ms O'Sullivan would not accept that he had. The question was posed in a number of different ways, but she would not concede the point. Indeed the response she gave defied logic.

"I think the legal team did what they were instructed by me to do," she said.

Ms O'Sullivan was also steadfast in her belief that there was no conflict of interest in her legal team also representing a garda who Mr McDowell described as "extremely hostile" to Sgt McCabe. It was put to her by Mr McDowell that her desire for an impartial exploration of the facts was not compatible with her legal team also representing Supt Noel Cunningham. Again Ms O'Sullivan would not concede the point, insisting that if there had been a conflict of interest she had no doubt this would have been brought to her attention.
A human rights group linked to Scientologists lobbied the Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney seeking to "represent the goals and objectives" of his Department.

United for Human Rights contacted the Tanaiste in October to request a meeting, but did not disclose its connections to Scientology, a religion that critics liken to a cult. In an email to the Tanaiste, Ryan Ellory, the group's co-ordinator, also claimed to have "represented Ireland" at the United Nations.

"I recently took some of my volunteers to the United Nations in which we had the opportunity to represent Ireland in the UN and meet with Mr Gerry Kelly, the First Secretary of the Permanent Mission to the UN from Ireland. Mr Kelly advised us to reach out to your Department, I was of course aware of the great works you are doing for human rights," said the email, dated October 31.

"I would like to meet with a member of your department, find out how I can best represent the goals and objectives of the Department through my work and possibly gain a little feedback on what I have been doing."

Mr Ellory was referred by the Department of Foreign Affairs to its Human Rights Unit but it is understood a meeting has not yet taken place. A spokesperson for Mr Coveney said: "The Tanaiste has not met this group, nor does he have any plans to meet them."

The email offers further insight into the Church of Scientology's heavy cultural and financial investment in Ireland in the past two years. United for Human Rights is related to Youth for Human Rights, another group linked to the Church of Scientology which sent thousands of unsolicited leaflets and education packs to schools in Ireland, subtly promoting the religion. Both groups were "created" by the Church of Scientology, according to its Irish website.

The Church has spent millions on a national office in prestigious Merrion Square in Dublin and a state of the art "community centre" and church in Firhouse. Scientologists are also linked to a planned drug addiction centre in Ballivor, Co Meath, which has led to protests by the local community. The Church of Scientology in Firhouse has separately funded a public relations consultant to lobby local politicians on its behalf and secured a meeting with the Fine Gael TD Colm Brophy on the "ideals" of the organisation.

The Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has called the Church of Scientology "a cult" that could damage young people, while Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has acknowledged a "genuine concern" about "the possibility that it could be a cult."

In his email to Mr Coveney, Mr Ellory described United for Human Rights as "a human rights education initiative" that has been "running out of Dublin for just over a year now". The Irish website for the Church of Scientolgy says United for Human Rights' "volunteers here in Ireland" bring a "message of respect and understanding to schools, teachers, government organisations and churches, to establish human rights educational initiatives, and to support the commitment of the Irish to the protection of human dignity for all people."

A spokesperson for United for Human Rights and the Church of Scientology did not respond to media queries.
One the country's most senior gardai has said the State has not "served our children well" by allowing unregulated access to social media websites where they can be targeted by sex predators.

In a rare interview for an officer of his seniority, Assistant Commissioner Pat Leahy also insisted "self-regulation won't work" when it comes to safety for children online.

The Assistant Commissioner's stark warning follows the sentencing of paedophile Matthew Horan, whom he described as a "relentless" sex abuser who "showed no mercy" to children he coerced and blackmailed into sending him sexually explicit photographs.

Mr Leahy told the Sunday Independent the case showed "the need to police the internet the same way we police the streets".

Mr Leahy's comments will put him at odds with the Government which has been slow to address growing public concern over the dangers of the internet and unregulated social media companies.

Yesterday, the two leading academic experts on cybercrime that targets children told the Sunday Independent that the Government's public consultation process on the digital age of consent, which is due to be set at 13 years in May, has been wholly inadequate - and called for a national debate.

Meanwhile, An Garda Siochana revealed it is currently monitoring 1,610 registered sex offenders - an increase of 200 since figures were last released three years ago.

Mr Leahy said the rise of social media websites has given paedophiles access to children "like they've never had before" and also allows sex offenders to stalk victims "below the radar".

"In policing, in parenting and in general social society, I don't think we have served our children well by allowing them to have such uncontrolled access so young," Mr Leahy said.

UCD professor and adviser to Europol's cybercrime centre Dr Mary Aiken said she believes there is now a real prospect of parents taking legal action against social media companies on whose platforms their children suffered abuse.

"I wonder what the legal actions will look like - general negligence and personal injury? And are the social media giants making [financial] provisions," she told the Sunday Independent.

Yesterday, the Ombudsman for Children's Office (OCO) said while digital technologies present opportunities for education and learning, they expose children to online fraud, cyber bullying and grooming for sexual exploitation.

It said increased education is a "vitally important protective measure" to protect children online.

"Children and adolescents need suitable education, support and investment in measures to strengthen their capacities and equip them to deal with a challenging digital environment.

"Parents also need accessible information to assist them with supporting their children to navigate the online environment safely."

Matthew Horan (26) was jailed last Friday for child exploitation and other offences relating to producing and distributing child porn. The court heard that he preyed on 15 young girls. Gardai identified six of the girls as Irish and nine have not been identified.

Horan, described in court as an "inadequate individual", groomed the children online by pretending to be their friend and then forced them to send him explicit photographs.

The court heard how one child resisted, and told Horan that she would kill herself, but Horan threatened to share other images of her with her friends if she didn't obey.

He contacted children through smartphone apps, including Kik, Snapchat and Instagram. Gardai are now following several lines of inquiry as a result of their investigation into Matthew Horan.

One father who shared fantasies with Horan about abusing his own daughter is under active investigation by gardai.

It is expected that gardai will also try to establish whether Horan was part of a network of Irish paedophiles who stalk children online.

Interpol has reported a "huge rise" in crimes against children that are facilitated by the internet.

"Not only can offenders distribute and access child abuse material more easily, but they can also come into direct contact with children - via chatrooms and social networking sites," the agency says.

Children's charities said the Horan case should become a watershed in society's response to the scourge of online child sexual abuse.

Detective Supt Declan Daly of the Garda National Protective Services Bureau warned parents of the dangers lurking online, and urged children to never agree to meet any person they met on the internet.

Matthew Horan, of St John's Crescent, Clondalkin, was described in court as a "perpetual loner" who never appears to have ever had a job and lived a "dingy" life.

The court heard Horan was on the autism spectrum and that child pornography may have been an "obsessive fixation". But Judge Martin Nolan said that Horan knew what he was doing was wrong but he continued to sexually exploit and coerce young children.

Local residents were said to be shocked to learn of the paedophile predator in their midst.

Trevor Gilligan, a Fianna Fail councillor, called on the Taoiseach to create a minister for technology to oversee cybercrime and ensure children were better protected: "I have a lot of friends in St John's estate," he said. "The community is tight knit, the neighbours are nice and no one ever suspected such a horrendous act could happen on their doorsteps, near a local school, and that a neighbour would be committing such horrifying crimes."

Independent councillor Francis Timmons said local people were "really angry that such awful and vile behaviour has happened in our community".

Dr Mary Aiken and UCC's Professor Barry O'Sullivan issued a joint statement calling for a new public debate and national poll on the issue before the new age of consent becomes law. "The evidence shows that the consultation process has clearly been inadequate. We don't have input from individual parents or young people, there were only five individual submissions, only two were submitted before the deadline, and only one of those took a position stating that 13 was too young - so what does that mean? There are 2.4m males and 2.4m females in Ireland, so only one of each took a position, and they did it together," the two academics say in their statement.

"We don't believe that those directly affected by this, the parents and children of Ireland, have been adequately consulted. Before a final Irish position on the digital age of consent is enacted we believe that there should be an in-depth public debate, and a more comprehensive measure such as a nationwide poll should take place so that the voices of the parents and children of Ireland can be heard," they added.
Police and Paramedics at the scene of a shooting incident in the Divismore Park area of Ballymurphy in West Belfast on January 28th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Two men have been shot in separate paramilitary-style attacks in Belfast.

A man (41) was shot five times and may have suffered "life-changing" injuries in an attack in west Belfast.

He was shot in his arms and legs in the attack at his Ballymurphy home. Police said it happened at around 7.30pm on Sunday and the man was taken to hospital for emergency treatment.

The victim was in his Divismore Park home on his own at the time of the attack. It's thought three masked men forced their way into the property.

Witnesses said one of the attackers was thought to have spoken with a southern accent. Some residents had to move out of their homes to go behind the police cordon and there was alarm the attack happened while children were playing around the area.

Meanwhile, a second man was shot in the New Lodge area of north Belfast. The 26-year-old man was shot three times in the legs in his Upper Meadow Street home at around 8.30pm. His injuries were also described as "potentially life-changing".

Speaking about the west Belfast attack, Councillor Tim Attwood described is as "disgraceful".

"This is particularly brutal. There have been three or four such attacks in January alone and we need to send a clear message that these attacks have no place in Belfast or anywhere in the north.

"They need to end immediately."

Sinn Fein MP Paul Maskey added his condemnation.

These gruesome, anti-community and violent attacks must stop immediately," he said.

Anyone with information about this attack should bring it forward to the police.

Police described both attacks as "terrifying" and appealed for information.

Detective Sergeant Davidson said: "This was a terrifying attack in the victim's own home.

"It is another example of a criminal group trying to control a community by the use of weapons, fear and violence."
Paul Bocuse, who has died aged 91, was the best-known name in French cuisine since Escoffier and a man who did more than anyone else to turn the three-star Michelin chef into a celebrity.

From his home town of Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or, near Lyon, Bocuse developed a huge gastronomic industry, of which his own restaurant at the L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges "Paul Bocuse", which boasted an unbroken run of more than 50 years of three Michelin stars, was the pinnacle.

His commercial interests ranged from a restaurant in Florida to a cooking school in Japan, to a line of canned foods and delicatessen products. In addition he operated a chain of brasseries under licence and trained a generation of top European chefs.

While his rivals were still slaving away in hot kitchens, Bocuse was always busy courting the media. He named a famous truffle soup after the former French President, Valery Giscard d'Estaing, and flew round the world with 500 kilos of ingredients to demonstrate his art in America, Japan and elsewhere.

It was Bocuse who thought up the much-imitated wheeze of taking food writers to the local market, where they would never fail to marvel at the sight of the legendary chef inspecting choice produce before taking it back to the restaurant to transform it into culinary magic - a simple publicity stunt which served to endorse the myth that "real chefs" buy their food in person each morning. In fact, Bocuse never bought his own ingredients and seldom prepared them himself. When a journalist asked him who did the cooking when he was away, he replied icily: "The same people who do it when I am here."

Bocuse was prominently associated with the development of Nouvelle Cuisine, a less calorific alternative to traditional French haute cuisine, which stresses presentation and the importance of fresh ingredients of the highest quality. The term was first used in a newspaper article in 1972 and proved a brilliant publicity vehicle.

But Bocuse's attachment to the new style did not outlive media interest and he later dismissed Nouvelle Cuisine as "not enough on your plate and too much on your bill".

He returned to the more substantial tradition of French regional cuisine, in which genre he became celebrated for such delights as black truffle soup and Bresse chicken cooked in a pig's bladder.

Paul Bocuse was born on February 11, 1926 in Collonges-au-Mont-D'Or where his family had been chefs since 1765 when an ancestor, Michel Bocuse, opened a little auberge in an abandoned flour mill. In 1921 Paul's grandfather Joseph sold the family restaurant and with it the family name. Four years later Paul's father Georges married Irma Roulier whose parents were also restaurateurs in the town. Georges took over their restaurant but could not give it his own name. As a child, Paul became determined to rectify the situation.

During the early years of the war, Bocuse worked as an apprentice at Claude Maret's Restaurant de la Soierie in Lyon, but in 1944, after the Allied invasion, he enlisted in the Free French Army. Shot and badly wounded in Alsace, he recovered to take part in the victory march in Paris in 1945. After the war he continued his apprenticeship at La Mere Brasier at the Col de la Luere, then completed his training under Fernand Point at Vienne.

Returning to Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or, Bocuse took over his father's restaurant and transformed it, winning his first Michelin star in 1961, his second in 1962 and his third in 1965. The same year he bought back the family name, rechristening his restaurant L'Auberge de Collonges-au- Mont-D'Or "Paul Bocuse".

In 2005 Bocuse revealed that for most of the 60 years he had been married to his wife, Raymonde, he had had two long-term mistresses (with one of whom he had a son) and a string of fleeting liaisons. The revelations about his multiple love lives appeared in a photo memoir Le feu sacre ("The Sacred Fire"), written by Eve-Marie Zizza-Lalu, the daughter of one of his long-term concubines, Patricia Zizza.

By his own admission, Bocuse's career as a serial adulterer began in earnest in the 1960s when "everyone was sleeping with each other", though he claimed to have been sexually active from the age of 13. On one occasion he recalled an encounter with an American journalist who had interviewed him for her magazine: "I told her: 'The day you put me on your cover I'll take you beneath my covers'. A few weeks later, I made the front and, true enough, kept my promise."

Of his longer-term relationships, in 2005 he admitted in an interview that "it would not be everyone's idea of married life, but everyone gets on", reckoning that, if he were to add up all the time they had been together as couples, "it comes to 145 years".

He admitted, aged 79, that advancing years and a triple heart bypass had slowed him down, although he insisted that the question was not how often a month he could make love, but how many times a day. "Food and sex have much in common," he observed. "We consummate a union; we devour each other's eyes; we hunger for one other."

Though most French people greeted the revelations with a Gallic shrug, they demonstrated that Bocuse had lost none of his talent for captivating the country's media. He was generally considered to have overreached himself in 2003, however when, following the suicide of the three-star chef Bernard Loiseau, he reportedly tried to negotiate a deal for the magazine Paris Match to photograph the top chefs attending Loiseau's funeral in Saulieu, Burgundy.

Bocuse, who died on January 20, is survived by his wife, Raymonde, and by their daughter, and by a son by his long-term mistress Raymone Carlut.

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Brendan O'Connor Opinion Mid-life Crisis: Theres a reason I fit here  this is where my people make sense

I was finally understanding what people are talking about when they talk about running. I was running around through woods, across dunes, on to beaches. I knew roughly where I was at all times, but not exactly. Each turn in the path I came to, each fork in the road, each entrance to a beach, I was making decisions. Go this way and that way, go up here a bit, suss it out, back down, maybe I can get back by going this way. There was only one rule. Do not cut the Japanese knotweed. And there were enough signs to remind me of that  and besides, I didnt have any equipment on me. I was humming, vibrating with the landscape and the surroundings.
The internecine conflict in Fianna Fail over Micheal Martin's decision to back the removal of the Eighth Amendment from the Constitution is a glaring instance of why politicians are reluctant these days to stick their necks out on any issue.

There's always someone ready to lop off their heads for heresy when they do.

At least eight TDs even turned up last week for a meeting organised by Carlow-Kilkenny TD Bobby Aylward to express their disapproval at Martin's change of heart on abortion, and others reportedly said they would have liked to attend but felt there might be pressure not to do so. Note: they felt there might be pressure, not that there was any. That's an important distinction, because, however clumsily he may have handled his recent announcement, the FF leader has been adamant that he will respect every TDs stance in the referendum campaign, even when it's at polar opposites to his own.

Pro-life FFers have every right to express their dissatisfaction at how the debate on abortion is going, just as every single one of them is free to vote in favour of retaining the Eighth Amendment.

But on a scale of disloyalty, organising what was quickly elevated in media reports to a "splinter group" within FF feels far more damaging to party unity than anything Micheal Martin has said or done. Some reports have even suggested that disgruntled FF members are "reaching out" to Renua. The source for this is a Renua councillor, so make of that what you will, but it's indicative of a certain disquiet in corners of the Dail.

That some TDs felt "let down", as Galway West TD Eamon O Cuiv put it, by Martin's decision to make his comments publicly in the Dail without giving them a heads up is understandable.

Insofar as backbenchers feel they're not getting an equal opportunity to put across a pro-life message in what may be the last chance the country has to collectively speak out on abortion, and that party spokespersons "have the advantage because they're in the top echelons of the party", that's fair enough as well, though there's probably not much that can be done about it. 'Twas ever thus.

In explaining their disappointment in Micheal Martin, some members of the party have also made some undeniably valid points. Writing in the Irish Independent last week, Mary Boylan, a FF councillor from Leitrim, explained that Martin is "entitled to have a view on this important issue as much as any other citizen" but that "his position as leader of the opposition makes him more than just another commentator". Boylan said Martin's role was to hold the Government to account, and she was particularly dismayed that he praised the Oireachtas Eighth committee for hearing evidence from "a wide range of sources" when, in her view, it did anything but.

She's not wrong. There was a manifest imbalance in the opinions sought by the committee, though so many members' minds were made up before hearings began that a greater range of witnesses would probably have had little effect. The FF leader could have been louder in protesting at the absence of voices willing to make a case for alternatives to abortion, or against its negative consequences.

But if Micheal Martin is not the same as any other citizen, it's also the case that abortion is not like any other issue. It's being treated this time round by the main parties as a matter of conscience to avoid a recurrence of the 2013 situation, when Enda Kenny as Taoiseach forced out Lucinda Creighton and other TDs from Fine Gael for their refusal to support the post-Savita Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill.

That unpleasantness was entirely avoidable. Good people were lost for no good reason. Micheal Martin has been consequently keen to stress that no member of FF will be forced out of the party for their own stance on abortion. But if that protection extends to all members of the party, then it ought to imply that Martin has the same right. He made clear that he was speaking in a personal capacity.

When it comes to abortion, speaking for oneself is the only thing that can be done with honesty, since it's such a deeply personal decision for any woman to make that it's difficult to set dogmatic rules.

More damaging still is any tendency among otherwise like-minded political representatives to sow divisions on issues which should be above party politics. This propensity is encouraged by the media, which loves to leap on any slight slip of the tongue by a politician, and whip it up into a scandal. It almost always has a deleterious effect on political life. This was one of the most striking things to emerge from the three-day government shutdown in America, when Democrats voted to end funding for state agencies in protest at Donald Trump's immigration policies.

It doesn't particularly matter which side was right or wrong. What was interesting was the polarisation between the two sides. It might seem axiomatic that parties would take up oppositional stances, but some commentators pointed to research showing that the number of members of Congress always voting with the party line is at its highest level in a century.

Again, it's not especially important whether they're right or wrong to do so. The crucial warning is that the space for principled dissent from one's own party is increasingly shrinking. Modern politicians are more conformist than they've ever been.

The culture war not only breeds nastier politics, it also makes for less effective government, because individuals are afraid of expressing doubt. Nuance is lost. Add to that the toxic atmosphere surrounding political conversation on social media, and it's little wonder politicians are reluctant to take risks.

Not so long ago, FF would have been remarkably unified in opposition to any liberalisation of abortion law. Now that's changing, and it needn't be at the expense of unity. There are issues so fundamental to a party's identity that they cannot be compromised, but abortion should not be one of them. The left has long sought to weaponise social and lifestyle issues as a way of isolating and belittling conservative voices, and in recent years they've become depressingly effective at it.

Not only in Ireland. Daily Telegraph writer Tom Harris recently recalled that, at his first Labour Party meeting as a new member in 1985 in Scotland, he spoke out against a pro-choice motion on abortion. There was a vigorous debate, and the vote was carried unanimously, despite his opposition. The next vote was to fill a vacant space on the management committee. His name was put forward and he was elected.

That wouldn't happen these days. Harris's opposition to abortion would be enough to have him cast into the political outer darkness as a heretic.

Possibly he's viewing the past through slightly rose-tinted spectacles. The 1980s was a choleric decade politically. In general, though, he's on to something. Respect for the other side's point of view is increasingly rare. Members of mainstream parties who try to enforce conformity, and attack one another for breaking ranks, are doing the extremists' job for them.

Micheal Martin could have handled the matter more sensitively. It may be unwise for him to drift too far from a majority of ordinary members. At the same time, whilst parties are run by members, they should never be run for them. What matters is hearing the voice of all those who vote for the party.

In that, Micheal Martin could end up being proved right by addressing himself to the country at large rather than the party faithful. Allowing elected representatives to follow their consciences also chimes with the public mood, which doesn't feel particularly factional about abortion right now. That may yet change, but take cover if it does. It's unlikely to be edifying.
Victoria Smurfit arrives for the screening of Radar Pictures' "Homecoming" at Laemmle's Music Hall Theatre on April 17, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images)

Victoria Smurfit has revealed that she lost out on a major film role after rejecting a producer's advances.

The 43-year-old Irish actress and mother of three said the incident happened when she was in her 20s.

Having had a successful audition for the role, she was asked to have a second audition which also went really well and the producer invited her out to dinner with the production team.

Speaking to the Sunday Independent, Smurfit said that while the others were drinking she "kept pouring my glass into a potted plant because I new I had to be 'on my game'".

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When everyone left to go dancing, she said the producer said, "you are coming with me to my hotel room" and when she said no and suggested they go dancing, he was insistent.

"He was very straight and very strong about it. So I legged it back to my hotel," she revealed.

Despite the incident she was flown to LA to audition for a third time and after the screen test with a "big star" she came face to face with the producer and said 'hi', but he replied, "I am done with you".

She did not get the role but said she was happy with her decision. Coming from a "successful family" she had a choice, unlike some other actresses who rely solely on acting to pay the bills.

The revelation comes in the wake of the #MeToo and Time's Up movements which aim to highlight the sexual harassment and abuse of women in the film industry and beyond.

Victoria is up for two IFTA awards for her roles in The Lears and short film The Secret Market.

Read the full interview in The Sunday Independent.
A member of Afghan security forces walks past the site of Saturdays suicide attack in Kabul (Rahmat Gul/AP)

Afghanistans interior minister has said at least 103 people were killed in a suicide bombing carried out by the Taliban in Kabul on Saturday, updating an earlier toll.

Wais Ahmad Barmak said on Sunday that another 235 people were wounded in the attack.

Mr Barmak said police were among those killed and wounded.

The attacker drove an ambulance filled with explosives and was able to race through a security checkpoint by saying he was transferring a patient to a hospital.

The explosion damaged or destroyed dozens of shops and vehicles.
Russian Interior Ministry officers gather outside a building, which houses the office of the Anti-corruption Foundation led by opposition leader Alexei Navalny, before a rally for a boycott of a March 18 presidential election in Moscow, Russia January 28, 2018. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

People gather in a square during a rally, held by supporters of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny for a boycott of a March 18 presidential election, in Moscow January 28, 2018. REUTERS/Tatyana Makeyeva

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was detained soon after joining a rally in Moscow on Sunday, the anti-corruption activist wrote on Twitter.

Hundreds of his supporters joined a nationwide day of protest against the authorities on Sunday, calling on voters to boycott what they said would be a rigged presidential election on March 18.

Earlier, Russian police forced their way into the Moscow office of Navalny and started questioning people, images broadcast online by Navalny's supporters showed.

Roman Rubanov, a Navalny supporter, wrote on social media that the police said they were looking into reports that there was a bomb in the office, something he said came as a surprise to him.

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Beneath bright blue skies, hundreds of young people gathered in the main square of the port of Vladivostok in the Russian Far East. Speakers called the election, which polls show incumbent Vladimir Putin should easily win, a farce.

"I will go to the elections when there's a choice," read one placard in Vladivostok, a reference to the fact that Navalny has been barred from running over what he says is a trumped up suspended prison sentence. "Putin is gobbling up Russia's future," read another.

Other protests took place in Novosibirsk, Kurgan, Omsk, Magadan, Kemerovo and Yakutsk. Navalny's supporters said they expected thousands of people to take part in similar demonstrations in 118 towns and cities.

"Your own life is at stake," Navalny, who organised the boycott protests, said in a pre-protest video.

"How many more years to do you want to live with these thieves, bigots and creeps?"

In Moscow, where a protest is expected later on Sunday, police forced their way into Navalny's office and started questioning and searching people, citing reports of a bomb, an online feed run by Navalny's supporters showed.

Police shut down a TV studio at the office which had been broadcasting online news bulletins, but another studio in a different location continued to operate.

Police detained six of Navalny's supporters at the Moscow studio and around 16 protesters in other parts of Russia, OVD-Info, an independent monitoring group, said.

It was unclear where Navalny was, but a group of police officers was stationed near his home. Navalny said he planned to attend the Moscow protest later on Sunday.

Police warned beforehand they would harshly suppress any illegal protest activity and authorities refused to authorise events in Moscow and St Petersburg, the country's two biggest cities, raising the possibility of possible violence.

Navalny, a lawyer who has campaigned against official corruption, was barred from running in the election by the central election commission in December over what he said was a trumped up suspended prison sentence.

The United States and the EU criticised the decision.

Putin, who has dominated the Russian political landscape for the past 18 years, described U.S. criticism of the election's commission's decision as crude interference in Russia's internal affairs and suggested Navalny was Washington's pick for the presidency.

Polls show Navalny had scant chance of beating Putin, but Navalny says the system is rigged against political opponents like himself which makes polls meaningless.

Whilst there is little suspense about the outcome of the election, there is keen interest in voter turnout as media reports say the Kremlin wants to ensure Putin is re-elected on a turnout of around 70 percent or more as it sees high turnout as lending him greater legitimacy.

Though Navalny can't run against Putin and says he knows Putin will be re-elected, his spoiler campaign is aimed at lowering voter turnout to try to take the shine off a Putin win.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said yesterday that working groups on fixing what the US sees as flaws in the Iranian nuclear deal have already begun to meet.

Tillerson, ending a week-long European trip in Warsaw, said he had secured support from Britain, France and Germany - all parties to the 2015 agreement - to work on the deal, which US 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."

The nuclear deal gave Iran billions of dollars in sanctions relief in return for curbs on its atomic programme.

Trump vowed to stop waiving US sanctions unless the Europeans agreed to strengthen the deal's terms. Iran has rejected any renegotiation.

Tillerson said the nuclear deal was only a "small" part of US 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 co-operation (with) Europe to push back on Iran's malign behaviour," he added.

Despite statements from Russia that Washington's accusations against Moscow that it and the Syrian army were behind a chemical attack in eastern Ghouta were "unfounded", Tillerson said ultimately Russia bore responsibility.
Catalonias fugitive ex-president Carles Puigdemont will soon request permission from a Spanish judge to attend a parliamentary session to form a new regional government, a separatist politician says.

Josep Rull told Catalunya Radio on Sunday that Mr Puigdemont will do that in the next 24 hours to attend Tuesdays investiture debate in Barcelona.

Spains Constitutional Court ruled on Saturday that Mr Puigdemont must be present at parliament to be chosen as the regions chief.

It also said he must ask for a judges permission to do so.

Mr Puigdemont fled to Belgium after Catalonias parliament made an unsuccessful declaration of independence on October 27 in violation of Spains Constitution.

He is wanted in Spain on possible rebellion and sedition charges and is likely to be arrested if he returns from Brussels.

The courts ruling quashed plans by Catalan separatist politicians to try to re-elect Mr Puigdemont without him being physically present, perhaps addressing the chamber via video.

The court also ruled the investiture of Mr Puigdemont would be suspended without the previous authorisation of a judge even if he is physically in the chamber.

While Mr Puigdemont and Mr Rulls Together for Catalonia party insists he is the only candidate for the regional presidency, the other main pro-secession party is wavering.

Joan Tarda of the separatist Republican Left party said while they prefer to see Mr Puigdemont restored to power, their supreme goal is to have a pro-independence government in place by Wednesday to avoid a new election.

If we have to sacrifice Puigdemont, then we will have to sacrifice him, Mr Tarda told the La Vanguardia newspaper on Sunday.

Catalonia has become Spains deepest political crisis in decades. Spain responded to the October declaration of independence by firing the regional government, dissolving Catalonias parliament and calling a new regional election.

Contrary to the Spanish governments wishes, separatist parties in Catalonia then regained a slim majority in the December election.

Polls consistently show that most Catalans want the right to decide the regions future, but are evenly divided over splitting from Spain.
Ingvar Kamprad, the Ikea founder who turned a small-scale mail order business into a global furniture empire, has died aged 91, the company said.

Ikea Sverige, the chains Swedish unit, said on Twitter that Mr Kamprad died on Saturday at his home in Smaland, Sweden.

He will be much missed and warmly remembered by his family and IKEA staff all around the world, the company said.

Ingvar Kamprad har i stillhet somnat in i sitt hem i SmAland. Han fAddes 1926 i SmAland och redan som 17-Aring grundade han IKEA. Ingvar kommer att vara mycket saknad och varmt ihAgkommen av sin familj och av IKEA-medarbetare Aver hela vArlden. pic.twitter.com/RWTGtukeyI  IKEA Sverige (@IKEASverige) January 28, 2018

Mr Kamprads life story is intimately linked to the company he founded at age 17 on the family farm.

His work ethic, frugality and down-to-earth style remain at the core of its corporate identity today.

But his missteps in life, including early flirtations with Nazism, never rubbed off on Ikea, one of the worlds most recognisable brands.

Mr Kamprad formed the companys name from his own initials and the first letters of the family farm, Elmtaryd, and the parish of Agunnaryd where it is located. It is in the heart of Smaland, a forested province whose people are known in Sweden for thrift and ingenuity.

Later in life, his name often appeared on lists of the worlds richest men, but he never adopted the aura of a tycoon. He drove a modest Volvo and dressed unassumingly.

In a 1998 book that he co-authored about Ikeas history, he described his habit of visiting vegetable street markets right before they closed for the day, hoping to get a better price on their goods.

Born March 30, 1926, Mr Kamprad was a precocious entrepreneur who sold matchboxes to neighbours from his bicycle. He found that he could buy them in bulk very cheaply from Stockholm, and sell them at a low price but still make a good profit.

From matches, he expanded to selling fish, Christmas tree decorations, seeds, and later ball-point pens and pencils.

Mr Kamprad soon moved away from making individual sales calls and began advertising in local newspapers and operating a makeshift mail-order catalogue.

He distributed his products via the local milk van, which delivered them to the nearby train station.

In 1950, Mr Kamprad first introduced furniture into his catalogue. The furniture was produced by local manufacturers in the forests close to his home.

After the positive response he received, he soon decided to discontinue all of the other products and focus on low-priced furniture.

Since then the Ikea concept  keeping prices low by letting the customers assemble the furniture themselves  offers affordable home furnishings at stores across the globe.

In 1994, Swedish newspaper Expressen reported that Mr Kamprad had contacts with Swedish fascist leader Per Engdahl in the 1940s and 50s.

In a letter to employees, Mr Kamprad admitted that he once had sympathies for the far-right leader and called it a part of my life which I bitterly regret.

In the 1998 book, he gave more details about his youthful delusions, saying he had been influenced as child by his German grandmothers strong support for Hitler. His paternal grandparents emigrated to Sweden in the 1890s.

He moved to Switzerland in the late 1970s to avoid paying Swedish taxes, which at the time were the highest in the world. He decided to return home only after his wife Margaretha died in 2011.

In June 2013, Mr Kamprad announced that he would retire from the board which controls the Ikea brand as part of moves to hand responsibilities over to his son, Mathias.
Actor Jeremy Piven is facing more sexual misconduct accusations, according to an online news site.

He previously denied allegations by at least three other women.

BuzzFeed News reported on Saturday that the latest accusations date back decades and involve three women who claim Piven acted in a physically aggressive or threatening manner.

The story included a rebuttal from the actor calling the claims false. Pivens representative did not immediately respond to a request from the Associated Press for additional comment.

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BuzzFeed says the latest women were speaking out because of frustration over Pivens previous denials.

The news site said one incident allegedly involved a high school student working as an extra on Pivens first film in 1985, when he was 17, and the other encounters were alleged to have taken place in the 1990s.

Two of the women are identified in the BuzzFeed story. It said the third asked that her name be withheld.
Kabul reacted in despair and fear on Sunday, a day after a suicide bomb in the centre of the city killed and wounded more than 300 people in the worst attack seen in the Afghan capital in months.

With security officials warning that more attacks were possible after an ambulance packed with explosives blew up in a crowded city street on Saturday, there was a mix of helpless anger at the seemingly endless wave of attacks.

"How are we to live? Where should we go?" asked shopkeeper Mohammad Hanif, who was in his shop near the site of the explosion when it went off.

"We have no security, we don't have no proper government, what should we do?" he said.

At least 103 people were killed and another 235 were wounded in the blast, which was claimed by the Taliban, a week after they claimed a deadly attack on the city's Intercontinental Hotel.

It was the worst attack seen in the Afghan capital since a truck bomb near the German embassy killed 150 people in May.

"People were running everywhere to escape, there were wounded people lying on the ground, people with wounds to their arms, legs, heads," Hanif said.

After a deadly week in which an office of the aid group Save the Children in the eastern city of Jalalabad was also attacked, President Ashraf Ghani's Western-backed government has faced growing pressure to improve security.

Despite a major tightening in checks following the May 31 attack, the ambulance was able to get through the checkpoints, apparently without difficulty.

"People don't have work, there's no life for people in Afghanistan, people have to look for a life somewhere else, there's nowhere," said shopkeeper Sameem.

The attack, described as "an atrocity" by the head of the U.N. mission in Afghanistan, drew universal condemnation from allies and neighbouring countries.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who last year sent more American troops to Afghanistan and ordered an increase in air strikes and other assistance to Afghan forces, said the attack "renews our resolve and that of our Afghan partners".

U.S. officials have said that the new strategy is putting pressure on the Taliban.

Following a recent visit to Kabul, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said the strategy was working and pushing the insurgents closer to peace talks.

However, the Taliban have dismissed any suggestion that they have been weakened by the U.S. approach and say they will only agree to talks when international forces leave Afghanistan.

The attack, in one of the most heavily protected parts of the city, close to foreign embassies and government buildings, demonstrated that their ability to mount deadly high profile attacks that undermine confidence in the government remains undiminished.
Moving in: Turkish army tanks last week entering Afrin, an enclave in northern Syria controlled by US-allied Kurdish fighters. Photo: AP

The United States has pledged to stop supplying weapons to a Kurdish militia in Syria, Turkey said yesterday, calling on Washington to immediately remove its troops from the Syrian town of Manbij that Turkish forces plan to target.

Turkey's air and ground offensive in northwest Syria's Afrin region against the Kurdish YPG militia has opened a new front in the seven-year, multi-sided Syrian civil war and strained ties with Nato ally Washington.

Ankara views the YPG as terrorists and as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and has been infuriated by US support, including arms and training, for the militia.

The Kurdish fighters have played a prominent role in US-led efforts to combat the so-called Islamic State terror group in Syria.

Since the start of the eight-day-old incursion, dubbed 'Operation Olive Branch' by Ankara, Turkey's president, Tayyip Erdogan, has said his country's forces would push east towards the town of Manbij, potentially putting them in confrontation with US troops deployed there.

US National Security adviser HR McMaster told Erdogan's spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, in a telephone call that the United States would no longer provide weapons to the YPG, the Turkish presidency said.

"It was emphasised that Turkey's legitimate security concerns must be paid attention to.

"It was agreed that close coordination would be carried out in order to avoid misunderstandings," it said.

The agreement is likely to be seen by Ankara as a substantial diplomatic victory from the incursion, where Turkish troops and their Syrian rebel allies appear to have made modest advances, as heavy rain and poor weather have hampered air strikes and progress on the ground.

Turkey's foreign minister said the US needed to follow up its promise with concrete action, including the immediate withdrawal of its troops from the vicinity of Manbij.

"The United States needs to break its link with the terrorist organisation and make them drop their weapons completely. They need to collect the weapons they gave, they need to withdraw from Manbij immediately," Mevlut Cavusoglu said yesterday.

The US State Department has not responded to requests for comment about ending arms to the YPG or exiting Manbij.

Erdogan said last week that Turkish forces would sweep Kurdish fighters from the length of Syrian border and could push all the way east to the frontier with Iraq, a move that would risk a possible confrontation with US forces allied to the Kurds.

Any drive by Turkish forces toward Manbij, part of Kurdish-held territory some 100km east of Afrin, could also threaten US efforts to stabilise northern Syria.

The United States has about 2,000 troops in Syria, officially as part of the international coalition against Isil.

US forces were deployed in and around Manbij to deter Turkish and US-backed rebels from attacking each other and have also carried out training missions in the area.

A senior official for the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Syrian fighters spearheaded by the Kurdish YPG, said any wider Turkish assault would face an "appropriate response".

The SDF's Redur Xelil also said 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.

Turkey and its Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebel allies have killed a total of 394 militants since the incursion began, Erdogan said yesterday.

Turkey and the FSA rebel factions have together lost 20 people, he added, without giving a breakdown.

The SDF has accused Turkey of exaggerating the number of Kurdish fighters it had killed.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitoring group, said that 36 civilians in Afrin, including 10 children, have died so far.

A total of 59 YPG fighters and at least 69 fighters from the Turkey-backed FSA have died in clashes, the observatory said, adding that seven Turkish soldiers have been killed and another seven are missing.
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.

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.
Naomi Parker Fraley, who has died aged 96, was identified in 2016 as the most likely inspiration for "Rosie the Riveter", the factory worker who featured in a famous US wartime poster wearing a polka dot bandanna.

Commercial advertising was heavily used by Allied governments to boost morale and encourage women to volunteer for wartime service in factories, and after Rosie the Riveter became the subject of a wartime film, the name was applied more generally to women factory workers.

Much later, posters depicting "Rosie" became a symbol for the burgeoning feminist movement. Several women have been credited with being the real Rosie, including Mary Doyle Keefe, a 19-year-old telephone operator from Arlington, Vermont, who became the subject of an illustration by Norman Rockwell depicting a robust young woman in worker's overalls eating a sandwich.

However, the identity of the girl in the more familiar poster by J Howard Miller, showing a female factory worker in a red polka dot bandanna, her sleeve rolled up and fist clenched, beneath the slogan "We Can Do It!" kept people guessing for years. Miller designed the poster to boost worker morale at Westinghouse plants in the Midwest. It was rarely seen by outsiders until it was rediscovered in the 1980s and transformed into a cultural icon.

In 1984, a Michigan woman, Geraldine Hoff Doyle, saw a wartime photograph of a woman working at a lathe in a magazine, above the caption "Rosie the Riveters played a major part in winning the war", and immediately claimed to be the subject of the image.

In 2009, however, Naomi Fraley saw the original photograph on display but was shocked to find it captioned "Geraldine". "I just wanted my own identity," she said later. "I didn't want fame or fortune, but I did want my own identity."

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In the meantime, James Kimble, a professor from New Jersey, had also become suspicious of Geraldine Hoff Doyle's claims. After five years of trawling through the archive, he stumbled on another photograph of the woman in the picture in a 1942 Time article about the emerging trend of women wearing trousers, and eventually tracked both photographs to a Memphis company which held the originals.

They turned out to be captioned "Miss Naomi Parker from Alameda, California".

He announced his findings in an academic journal in 2016, though as Miller had died some time before, there was no way of proving that the photograph of Naomi really did inspire the artist. But as Naomi herself observed: "The women of this country these days need some icons. If they think I'm one, I'm happy about that."

She was born Naomi Parker in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on August 26, 1921. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, she was one of the first women to be hired to work in the machine shop at the Naval Air Station in Alameda, California, repairing naval aircraft, where she was eventually joined by some 400 other women mechanics.

She and her colleagues worked in overalls and tied their hair in bandannas, and Naomi recalled buying her red polka dot bandanna from a "Five and Dime" store. Soon after she started work, a press photographer visited the base and took pictures of her peering over a turret lathe. One was published by a local newspaper which observed that her overalls had not "made Miss Naomi Parker any less attractive".

In 1943, Naomi Parker left her job to get married to Joe Blankenship. They had a son and eventually settled in Palm Springs, where Naomi worked as a waitress in restaurants and nightclubs and became an ordained minister in the 1970s.Her first marriage was dissolved. Her second husband, John Muhlig, died in 1971, and her third husband, Charles Fraley, died in 1998.

Naomi Parker Fraley, who died on January 20, is survived by her son.

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In this photo dated Jan. 27, 2018, issued by Cambodian National Police, a group of foreigners stand after they were arrested for "dancing pornographically" at a party in Siem Reap town (Cambodian National Police via AP)

Police in Cambodia have charged a group of 10 tourists, including five Britons, with producing pornographic pictures after images emerged of people apparently demonstrating different sex positions.

The group were arrested on Thursday when officers raided a rented villa in the tourist hotspot of Siem Reap, and could face a year in jail if convicted.

A Cambodian expatriate website published images released by police of the clothed tourists appearing to pretend to perform different sexual positions on the floor of the villa during a party.

The villa was a stop on a pub crawl, Cambodian police said.

Among the eight men and two women arrested were Britons Vincent Harley Robert Hook (35), Daniel Richard Leeming Jones (30), Thomas Alexander Jeffries (22), Billy Stevens (21) and Paul Francis Harris (32).

Also detained were Dutchman Job Robertus van der Wel (22), Canadians Jessica Drolet (25) and Eden Koazoleas (19), along with Norwegian David Nikolaus Aleksandr Ballovarre (22) and 32-year-old New Zealander Paul Martin Brasch.

All 10 were charged on Sunday with producing pornographic pictures.

Samrith Sokhon, the prosecutor of the Siem Reap provincial court, told the Associated Press the group could face up to a year in prison if convicted.

"Any people producing pornography is contrary to Cambodia's traditions," he said.

A member of the group told the Press Association from their cell on Saturday night that none of those arrested were actually in the photographs.

"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)," he said.

The prisoner said the group believed the investigation was targeting tourists and expats in the south-east Asian country for wearing bikinis in public, and in relation to expat-run pub crawls in Siem Reap.

The mother of one of the 10 prisoners said they were told to sign court documents in the Khmer language without the help of a translator.

She said she had lost contact with her son by Sunday afternoon and was trying to liaise with the parents of others in the group for further news.

She told the Press Association: "They are scared out of their brains. They just did what they were told in the hope they (Khmer authorities) would say 'oh, well we'll get you all to sign these papers and nothing will happen'.

"They've signed these papers not knowing what they are."

She said her son told of an arrested woman being pressured by Khmer authorities to confess she was pictured in a photo, which he described as depicting a young woman bending over and exposing her breast, but she repeatedly denied the photo was of her.

"I'm getting to the stage where I'm just laughing about it... I'm just so damn tired. I haven't slept since this all started. I'm worried about their state of mind," said the mother.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in a statement: "We are assisting five British men arrested in Cambodia and are providing support to their families."
A soldier waves a Turkish flag as Ankara claimed to have taken Bursayah hill in northern Syria (AP)

Turkish troops and allied Syrian fighters have captured a strategic hill in north western Syria as their offensive to root out Kurdish fighters entered a second week.

Reporters in the Turkish border town of Kilis heard constant shelling and clashes as Turkish aircraft flew overhead and plumes of smoke rose in the distance.

The Turkey-backed forces have been trying to capture the hill, which separates the Kurdish-held enclave of Afrin from the Turkey-controlled town of Azaz, since the start of their offensive on January 20, but have been met with stiff resistance.

The Kurdish militia known as the Peoples Defence Units, or YPG, said Turkey sent reinforcements to the area following intense airstrikes on Sunday.

It disputed the claim that the Turkish troops and allied fighters were in full control of the hill, saying its forces had redeployed and will fight to reclaim the strategic area.

The Turkish military said in a statement its soldiers and allied Syrian opposition fighters captured Bursayah hill assisted by air strikes, attack helicopters, armed drones and howitzers.

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Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, confirmed the Turkish troops seized control of the strategic hill, which overlooks northeastern Afrin, after intense battles.

Mr Abdurrahman said the airstrikes also targeted the area around Afrins main dam for the second time since the offensive began.

There were no immediate reports of damage to the April 17 Dam, which provides water and electricity to the Kurdish enclave, home to hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom have fled from other parts of Syria.

The Observatory said at least 51 civilians, including 17 children, were killed in the offensive on Sunday, including eight people from the same family.

It said 66 YPG fighters and 69 Turkey-backed Syrian fighters were also killed. Turkey says five of its soldiers and 16 allied fighters were killed in the fighting.

The YPG said one of its female fighters blew herself up, destroying a Turkish tank in southwestern Afrin.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a speech on Sunday that there were reports that the YPG was holding Turkish soldiers captive, adding that Turkey was taking steps to try to bring them back.

Mr Erdogans statement did not make clear the number of soldiers who were missing or whether they were alive.

Reports also emerged that an ancient temple in Afrin was badly damaged in Turkish airstrikes that struck its courtyard late on Friday, according to the Observatory, the YPG and the Syrian government.
New Delhi, Jan 28 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took a dig at tainted former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, without directly mentioning his name.

Addressing an NCC rally, Modi said, "Earlier people believed that nothing happens to the rich and powerful. But, things are different today. People who served as Chief Ministers are in jail for their corruption."

Earlier people believed that nothing happens to the rich and powerful. But, things are different today. People who served as Chief Ministers are in jail for their corruption: PM @narendramodi https://t.co/2HpoKDlNub  PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 28, 2018

Lalu Prasad, a former Union Rail Minister, is serving a jail term after he was convicted in the fodder scam case.

After being found guilty in two cases, Lalu's jail term has increased to eight and a half years (five and three and a half).

The Prime Minister also added, "These days you keep hearing about Aadhaar. I want to say Aadhaar has added great strength to India's development. What would earlier get into wrong hands is now going to the intended beneficiaries."


New York, Jan 28 (JEN): No single nation, institution, or organization can defeat terrorism in Africa or anywhere else, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a special meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Saturday, as he called for a sustained, cooperative and coordinated approach in tackling this complex, ever-evolving menace.

The African Union (AU) is a vital partner in confronting the global challenge posed by terrorist groups, said Guterres, adding that he had been calling for a higher platform of cooperation with the AU, and he is proud the two organizations are indeed building that platform across the range of challenges and opportunities confronting the continent.

He recalled that in April 2017, the two organizations signed the Joint UN-AU Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security, which includes cooperation in the field of countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism.

I believe this work can be strengthened even further with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) setting out a road map for future collaboration and capacity-building support on countering terrorism within the context of that Framework, he explained.

One of the first reforms Guterres instituted as Secretary-General was the creation of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, which, he told the African leaders, has worked closely with the AU and other partners to develop regional strategies and national action plans for the prevention of terrorism and violent extremism in the Horn of Africa and Africa, as well as central and southern Africa.

Looking ahead, the UN chief said he believed a comprehensive approach to combatting the transnational threat of terrorism in Africa can be developed around four key priorities:

 By addressing the deficit in international counter-terrorism cooperation at the global, regional and national levels. Guterres will in June convene the first-ever UN Summit of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies to build on Member States' priorities and his discussion today;

 Enhanced ratification of existing legal counter-terrorism instruments, conventions and protocols;

 Tackling the root causes and underlying conditions, including the lack of economic opportunities, extreme poverty, marginalization, exclusion and discrimination; and

 Placing a special focus on expanding opportunities for young people  especially since youth under the age of 25 form the largest demographic group in most developing countries and they are often the ones most at risk of being recruited and radicalized by terrorists.

Underscoring that terrorism is not only a threat to peace and security but also to sustainable development, Guterres called on the international community to mobilize resources in support of African countries as they strive to balance security and development.

We face a serious challenge  but I believe it is one that we can meet with solidarity, common action and a shared resolve, he said.
New York, Jan 28 (JEN): Condemning the killing on Saturday of a peacekeeper with the United Nations stabilization mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who was ambushed in the vast country's restive east, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres again called on armed groups there to lay down their weapons and seek to resolve their grievances peacefully.

A statement issued this afternoon by the UN Spokesman said the Pakistani peacekeeper deployed with the Mission, known by its French acronym, (MONUSCO), was killed following an ambush by members of an armed agroup near Lulimba, 96 kilometres south-west of Baraka, in the DRC's South Kivu Province.

At least one other peacekeeper was wounded in the attack.

The Secretary-General extends his heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and to the people and government of Pakistan, said the statement, adding that Guterres wishes a speedy recovery to the injured and calls on those responsible for the attack to be brought to justice.

The Secretary-General reiterated his call on armed groups in the DRC to lay down their arms and seek to resolve their grievances peacefully.

He reaffirms the readiness of MONUSCO and the United Nations system to continue working with the authorities of the DRC to help address the security challenges facing the country, the statement concluded.

Photo: MONUSCO/Sylvain Liechti
Kabul, Jan 28 (IBNS): The death toll in the Kabul ambulance bomb attack has risen to 95, reports said.

The incident took place on Saturday in the city's Sedarat Square region.

Additionally, Wahid Majrooh, spokesman for the ministry of public health, said that at least 163 people have sustained injuries.

According to the official, an explosive filled ambulance was detonated at around 1 am, causing the damage.

The injured were rushed to hospital for treatment.

Later, the Taliban claimed the attack.



Will not allow Taliban to win: Donald Trump

Meanwhile, condemning the attack, US President Donald Trump said that he will not allow the Taliban to win.

Taliban targeted innocent Afghans, brave police in Kabul today. Our thoughts and prayers go to the victims, and first responders. We will not allow the Taliban to win!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 27, 2018

In a post on Twitter, Trump wrote: "Taliban targeted innocent Afghans, brave police in Kabul today. Our thoughts and prayers go to the victims, and first responders. We will not allow the Taliban to win!"



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.

Image: Sourced from Twitter
Kabul, Jan 28 (IBNS): The death toll in the Kabul ambulance suicide blast has touched 103, media reports said on Sunday.

The total number of injured in Saturday's blast has touched 235, reports said.

"Interior Minister Wais Barmak told reporters in Kabul that 103 people had died as a result of the attack that left another 235 people, including 30 policemen, injured," Pajhwok Afghan News reported.

Security forces have arrested four suspects so far.

The incident took place on Saturday in the city's Sedarat Square region.

According to the official, an explosive filled ambulance was detonated at around 1 am, causing the damage.

The injured were rushed to hospital for treatment.

Later, the Taliban claimed the attack.

Meanwhile, condemning the attack, US President Donald Trump said that he will not allow the Taliban to win.

In a post on Twitter, Trump wrote: "Taliban targeted innocent Afghans, brave police in Kabul today. Our thoughts and prayers go to the victims, and first responders. We will not allow the Taliban to win!"

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.
After reaffirming her oath for citizenship with these 100 new citizens, Sahota also spoke with these new Canadians who were from 29 different countries around the world, and different backgrounds and of all ages.



This past year - 2017 - we marked the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation and we celebrated a nation that embraces equality and respect for all, because this is where diversity is regarded as a strength. As you take the oath and become Canadian citizens today, I have no doubt that you will contribute to Canada in your own way, continuing the great legacy of those who came before you, Sahota was reported to state while addressing new citizens.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
Washington, Jan 28 (IBNS): US President Donald Trump on Saturday lashed out at his political opponents on border safety and DACA issues.

Trump said that the Democrats were only interested in obstruction and want to use DACA for their own benefit.

"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 US President tweeted.

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!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2018

In an ensuing tweet, he brought up the border safety debate.

"Democrats are not interested in Border Safety & Security or in the funding and rebuilding of our Military. They are only interested in Obstruction!" Trump said.

Democrats are not interested in Border Safety & Security or in the funding and rebuilding of our Military. They are only interested in Obstruction!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2018

Earlier in the week, the Democrats had withdrawn an offer to fund the building of the wall alongside the US-Mexico border.

According to reports, US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer orchestrated the move.

An angry Trump later took to Twitter and posted: "DACA has been made increasingly difficult by the fact that Cryin Chuck Schumer took such a beating over the shutdown that he is unable to act on immigration!"

Image: Facebook
Ottawa, Jan 28 (IBNS): Ontario is expanding helpline services for Indigenous women (First Nation, Metis and Inuit women in Ontario), as part of its commitment under 'Walking Together: Ontarios Long-Term Strategy to End Violence Against Indigenous Women' -- released in 2016 -- which ensures safe and respectful lives for the future generations of indigenous women, media reports said.

This strategy is a collaborative effort of Indigenous partners across the province, including reportedly the members of the Joint Working Group on Violence Against Aboriginal Women, the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, Ontario Native Womens Association, the Metis Nation of Ontario, Independent First Nations and Chiefs of Ontario.

Indigenous women, 15 years and older, in Canada, are reportedly three to five times more likely to experience violence than non-Indigenous women.

In Ontario indigenous women reportedly make up only 1.2 percent of Ontarios population yet they account for 6 percent of female homicide victims.

Indigenous Women in Ontario face unique challenges that require strong solutions. Expanding this province-wide helpline service allows Indigenous women to access important, culturally appropriate services. Services that reinforce Indigenous traditions and cultures, so survivors can rebuild their lives and hea," Harinder Malhi, Ontario Minister of the Status of Women, said.

Ontario is investing $500,000 annually in Beendigen Inc., an Indigenous family shelter in Thunder Bay which had been providing safety to Indigenous women for more than 40 years but "what might work in Thunder Bay may not work in Toronto and that is why communities must lead.," said Sheila McMahon, Board President, Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres.

This investment is part of the $100 million, three-year "Walking Together: Ontarios Long-Term Strategy to End Violence Against Indigenous Women" and followed the success of Talk4Healing, launched in 2012, a helpline for Indigenous women in Northern Ontario that is available 24/7, with services in multiple languages, including Ojibway, Oji-Cree and Cree.

"The current Talk4Healing help line has been successfully funded and supported by the Ontario government...We look forward to partnering with the Ontario Native Womens Association on this exciting project, Debra Vermette, Executive Director, Beendigen Inc. said..



(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)



Images: Harinder Malhi: Facebook
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We all know that it's a dog eat dog world out there, and more so in the animal kingdom. Things can get pretty ruthless out there because it's one animal vying for survival from the other, in whatever way possible. But that's only part of what we all know.

Suprisingly, animals embody a very powerful form of altruism and they seemed to be very determined to care for other animals. It's adorable to say the least-humans can definitely learn a thing or two from them!

Here are some animals who have shown us a gentle side to their nature:

1. This incredible moment an orangutan saved an abandoned duckling from drowning

2. The tortoise fell upside down, wobbling on his shell and helplessly waving his feet in the air before his friend nudged him upright. The incident took place in Taipei Zoo.

3. Dogs are cute and baby deer even cuter and when the former saves the latter from drowning, there are no bounds to that kind of cuteness! The dig named Storm,grabbed the deer by the scruff of its neck, swam it to shore and then brought it to rest on the

4. This moment when two adult elephants rescued a baby elephant from drowning in a pool at the Grand Park Zoo in Seoul, South Korea.

5. This tiger who adopted a litter of piglets. It is apparently common practice inThailand for tigers to suckle pigs, and for pigs to adopt orphaned cubs. How adorable is that!

6. When a Bear pulled a drowning crow out of the water at the Budapest zoo enclosure

7. When this dog saw a fish laying in a puddle of water on the pavement, he did everything in his power to try to save.

8. This adorable golden retriever feeding a baby lamb.

9. These two newborn red pandas, rejected by their mother, found a surrogate mom in a friendly dog.

Facebook

10. This lion cub that was adopted by a dog - who now breastfeeds it.

Facebook/Animal Rescue

11. Lisha the Labrador retriever adopted orphaned baby hippos. She cares for then and teaches them how to survive.

12. Summer the female rabbit took over and helped raise the kittens

13. A Chihuahua named Sam who became a surrogate mother to a little marmoset.

14. This moment a dog saved his friend from raging river rapids in Argentina.
Food wastage is one of our biggest problems, and both you and I contribute largely to it.

But while we're all still discussing this problem on our dinner tables and posting about it on Facebook and Twitter, the dabbawalas of Mumbai have actually decided to do something about it. They are donating the leftover food from weddings and parties to starving kids.

The initiative behind this tremendous idea belongs to Rotibank. Nearly 400 dabbawalas are associated with them and are working hard to provide food to the needy.

Rotibank

Rotibank

What's brilliant? We can help too.

Instead of throwing the food in the trash, we need to reach out to these dabbawalas. Theyll come and pick up the food and deliver to it to places where its needed the most.

Rotibank

They soon plan to install drop boxes at train stations where people can donate food.

Isn't that great?

Here's saluting theses dabbawalas and their spirit to tirelessly work towards this cause.
Amid violent protests across the nation, Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmaavat finally hit the screens on Jan. 25 and received all the love from those who watched it. The controversial magnum opus was watched by one million people on the first day of its release. While people, on one hand, are welcoming the movie with open arms, on the other, violent protests against the movie continues.

(Also Read: To Ace The Role Of Khilji In 'Padmaavat', Ranveer Singh Locked Himself In A Room For 21 Days)

screengrab

Two unidentified men threw petrol bomb outside a theatre showing Padmaavat at at Kalyan in Thane district of Maharashtra. The incident took place outside Bhanu Sagar theatre at 9.10 pm. No injuries have been reported so far. It is said that police reported to the spot immediately to further probe the incident.

(Also Read: After Playing Khilji In Padmaavat, Ranveer Singh Feels That His Gamble As An Actor Has Paid Off)

PTI

The violence has been spreading across the nation, thanks to Karni Sena. A school bus was attacked by Rajput organisation who pelted rocks at the kids. Several vehicles have been burnt in Gurugram and other places including Ahmedabad. Police have arrested 42 people in connection with violence against the movie, so far. Leader of the fringe group Thakur Kushalpa has also been detained.

(Also Read: Ranveer Singh Nailed His Role In Padmaavat And These Ferocious Dialogues Are A Proof)
It's not just at upscale coffee shops that you can surf the internet; your local chai seller or kirana store could also offer Wi-Fi for as little as Rs 10. A number of these stores across Delhi and Bengaluru have partnered with startups to provide pre-paid WiFi packs for between Re 1 and Rs 20. The idea is to provide cheap, wireless internet connectivity to urban slums and rural areas.

In south Delhi's Sangam Vihar, close to the Haryana border, stationery shop owner Braham Prakash has sold 250 coupons since he set up a Wi-Fi hotspot in his store two-and-a-half months ago. The biggest seller is a Re 1 coupon that gives a user a five-minute connection. "It is mostly younger people, between the ages of 15 and 25, who buy these. They come for five minutes, download a game or a song and leave," says Prakash.

TOI tried out the five-minute connection for speed and managed to download two 11-minute podcasts. Read More

2. On 'National Security' Grounds, PMO Asked To Disclose Names Of Those Accompanying PM Modi On Foreign Trips

PTI

Chief Information Commissioner R K Mathur has directed the PMO to disclose the names of delegation members accompanying Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his foreign visits.

Mathur rejected the objection by the PMO in disclosing the information on grounds of "national security". Read More

3. Fishermen Will Now Use Satellite Navigation System Developed By ISRO To Keep Them Risk-Free

Fishermen from all the coasts of India often face difficulties in navigating, especially during times before a storm or during foggy weather. This has caused a greater trouble - crossing the borders unknowingly into another country's territory.

Isro chairman K Sivan said that Isro is now actively working on 158 projects, 120 of them at a fast pace, especially on projects to create a navigation system with GPS for the fishermen so they can come back to the shores safely. Read More

4. Survivor's Hope - People With Mental Illnesses & Acid Attack Victims To Get Quota In Govt Jobs

AFP

According to an official order people with autism, mental illnesses, intellectual disability and victims of acid attacks will now get a quota in central government jobs. In case of direct recruitment, four per cent of the total number of vacancies, up from the existing three per cent, in groups A, B and C shall be reserved for people with benchmark disabilities. Read More

5. Rs 40 Lakh Worth Of Food Saved & Distributed To The Homeless, Thanks To Dabbawalas Of Mumbai

It's 2018 and for most people eating a meal out of a 'Dabba' may seem too antiquated, but for millions who live in Mumbai, Dabbawalas are synonymous with home.

Lighthouse

People who leave home in quest of a better future, those who forget their tiffins, those who stay alone and many others who just can't bring their own meals, Dabbawalas have been a constant support with home-like food, every day, around the year. Read More

6. A Sanyasi Who Was Given Padma Shri This Year Has Returned It Saying He Doesn't Need Titles

Siddeshwar Swamiji of Vijaypur who was conferred upon the prestigious Padma Shri award by the centre has written to PM Modi refusing to accept the award.

The announcement of the award was made on Thursday. Siddeshwar Swamiji says since he has embraced spirituality, he doesn't need titles. "I don't need titles, I am a sanyasi," Siddheshwar's letter read. Read More
Groups studies, access to a plethora of books, surfing through researches and basically sitting in a tub of books is the dream of every student in college. But not every college has a 24 X 7 library where students can study all night.

Read more: Due To Late Payment Of Fees, Siblings Made To Sit Isolated In A Library During School Hours

Pinterest

In a bid to bring this ground-breaking movement to DU, students from the university sat on an indefinite hunger strike to demand a 24 x 7 library facility at Delhi University.

On January 24th, the student outfit NSUI entered the Central Library at Arts Faculty and refused to leave.

Hapless and frustrated over the lack of response from university and any sign of process working in their favour, the students sat in the library and stopped it from shutting down. Under this protest, they were also fighting for many other things like a special metro card for DU students, special buses inside the campus and many more.

Read more: Kashmir's Library On Lake Enters Limca Book Of Records For Its Huge Collection Of 80,000 Books

"Our purpose of entering the library was to curfew hours for studying there is not justified. If shops can stay open for 24/7 why can't 'temples of education'. University cannot dictate a time limit for students," said NSUI Delhi State president Akshay Lakra, reports TOI.

He also said that facilities like special buses and library were present earlier, but the university is claiming that they lack staff. "Not one student is against it. They want to avail this facility. Plenty of private libraries near the campus area but no such facility for students of DU," Lakra added.

Now, with all the protest in actions, students have finally gotten a nod from the DU. We will ensure that students get a library which operates all day long on the campus in a matter of a few months. In the meantime, we will expand the Central Library for the students and make it multi-storeyed, Rajesh Tandon said, addressing the concerns of students protesting on campus, reports IndiaToday.
In a tragic incident, a constable in Rajasthan police committed suicide along with his wife and two children, after being reportedly getting harassed by his senior officials. Genaram Meghawal, committed suicide after writing a five-page suicide note and circulating it on social media. In the note, Meghwal named three people an ASI and two policemen who are retired whom he held responsible for harassing him and his son over a theft case dating back to 2012.

Everyone in the village knew he was troubled. He always said that he was threatened. Meghwal told people that he was under a lot of stress because of the case, says Lunaram Saran, a resident of village Bagrasar in Rajasthans Nagaur district.

It all started back in 2009, when my son bought 13 bighas land in Tausar village. Back then, he was friends with assistant sub-inspector Radha Kishan Mali; the two families were neighbours in the quarters at Nagaur police lines, said Khumaram, 65, father of Meghwal.

Mali is among those now booked for abatement of suicide, as well as under sections of the SC/ST Act. Meghwal was a Dalit.

Indian Express

Meghwals father said that in 2012, Mali lodged an FIR against an unknown person for allegedly stealing jewellery from his quarter. A few days later, Mali convinced my son to enter into a deal for the 13 bighas land with an acquaintance. But after my son transferred the title of the land, the other party who was known to Mali didnt pay, said Khumaram.

Later, Mali told investigating officers that Meghwal's son who was a minor then could have stolen the jewellary.

They took my grandson to the police station, detained him and beat him up. Mali was one of the men who assaulted him, alleged Khumaram.

According to police, the officials submitted a final report in the theft case in 2014. It was said in the final report of the theft case that it was a false case, said constable Surja Ram of Surpaliya police station, Nagaur. The case, however, was reopened in the same year after Mali filed a petition in the court.

Mali also beat up my brother and his son in Nagaur. He often threatened the family saying he will get them killed, alleged Armaan, brother of Meghwal.

He also reportedly sought help from other officials who refused to help him which made him return to his native place leaving the official residence.
Australia can become the home of insurtech in the future, an expert has said.Industry body Insurtech Australia recently announced the foundation and launch of a Global Insurtech Alliance (GITA), designed to bring insurtech firms and incumbents closer. GITA brings the Australian body together with similar entities in New Zealand, Asia and the UK, and Brenton Charnley, CEO of Insurtech Australia, said the foundation of the global organisation highlights Australias rising place in the market.It comes back to our vision, which is to be the world leader for insurtech, to create a marketplace to be the world leader for insurtech, Charnley told Insurance Business. I believe Australia has the competence and capability to do so, it just needs some facilitation.Charnley said that while other geographies may be further along in their insurtech development, Australia is well positioned thanks to its early embracement of digital technology.What that means is, despite insurtech or standalone entities doing something, we have the opportunity to accelerate it a lot faster, Charnley continued. We are already doing what I call Innovation 2.0 in digital insurance. We can all go online and buy insurance, weve got an app we can use, we get emails. All the standard stuff you expect of a company today.We do have a smaller community but the people who are doing it are in the phase of Innovation 3.0, which is about supercharging and insurtech, as opposed to saying we have a really cool app to put insurance online.The new, global organisation will provide Australian insurtech firms with the opportunity to connect with counterparts overseas as GITA will support a number of international roadshows in each member country. These roadshows will begin in Asia before spreading to other areas.Insurtech Australia has also announced that it will support the DXC Springboard competition, in collaboration with Stone and Chalk, as DXC has become a supporting partner of the group. Gallagher has been named as a new general partner of the organisation, alongside RAA Insurance and Cunningham Lindsey.In addition, the organisation has announced that Simon ODell, a former broker and co-founder of insurtech firm Manner.io, has joined as COO.With insurtech set to continue to shake up the insurance industry both at home and abroad, Insurance Business recently announced the launch of its inaugural Insurtech Summit at the Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney on Tuesday, May 08.Insurance Business readers are encouraged to register now to secure the best possible rates for this event. Save $300 per person with the Super Saver rates; or four could attend for the price of three with a Team Pass.This event has been accredited for 5 CPD points by the National Insurance Brokers Association NIBA ).Check out the full program here Related stories:
Customers visiting Suncorp 's stores across Brisbane can expect to be greeted with halo, ni hao, or ciao, in a move reflective of the ASX-listed insurer's commitment to supporting different cultures.Brad Steele, Suncorp regional manager, said having the capacity to support different cultures is relevant, given that one in five Australians now speak a language other than English.Brisbane has experienced strong international growth in recent years, and this is reflected in our people, who are collectively fluent in close to 30 languages, Steele said. Our teams are diverse and represent the changing demographics of the communities in which they live and work. Customers come to us during those big life moments like purchasing a home or preparing for retirement, and its important they feel comfortable and confident with the information so they can make a decision.When were able to speak with a customer in their preferred language, we connect with them in a completely different way, said Salima Lateef, who manages Suncorps West End store. Lateef has firsthand experience of that overwhelming feeling of arriving into a new country, having moved to Australia from Afghanistan in her teens.Ive worked in several Suncorp stores and I have a group of loyal customers who have followed me from store to store because we have that connection, Lateef said. Its not just about language, its also about culture and shared experiences.
A unit investment trust (UIT) is a U.S. investment company that buys and holds a portfolio of stocks, bonds or other securities. UITs share some similarities with two other types of investment companies: open-ended mutual funds and closed-end funds. All three are collective investments in which a large pool of investors combine their assets and entrust them to a professional portfolio manager. Units in the trust are sold to investors, or "unitholders."

Basic Characteristics

Like open-ended mutual funds, UITs offer professional portfolio selection and a definitive investment objective. They are bought and sold directly from the issuing investment company, just as open-ended funds can be bought and sold directly through fund companies. In some instances, UITs can also be sold in the secondary market.

Like closed-end funds, UITs are issued via an initial public offering (IPO). But if mutual funds are purchased at the IPO, there are no embedded gains to be found. Each investor receives a cost basis that reflects the net asset value (NAV) on the date of purchase, and tax considerations are based on the NAV.

Like open-ended mutual funds, UITs often have low minimum investment requirements.

Open-ended funds, on the other hand, payout dividends and capital gains each year to all shareholders regardless of the date on which the shareholder bought into the fund. This can result, for example, in an investor buying into a fund in November, but owing capital gains tax on gains that were realized in March. Even though the investor didn't own the fund in March, the tax liability is shared among all investors on a yearly basis.

Termination Date

Unlike either mutual funds or closed-end funds, a UIT has a stated date for termination. This date is often based on the investments held in its portfolio. For example, a portfolio that holds bonds may have a bond ladder consisting of five-, 10- and 20-year bonds. The portfolio would be set to terminate when the 20-year bonds reach maturity. At termination, investors receive their proportionate share of the UIT's net assets.

While the portfolio is constructed by professional investment managers, it is not actively traded. So after it is created, it remains intact until it is dissolved and assets are returned to investors. Securities are sold or purchased only in response to a change in the underlying investments, such as a corporate merger or bankruptcy.

Key Takeaways A unit investment trust invests for the investor, or unitholder, much in the same way as traditional funds.

UITs have a predetermined expiration date, making them function like a bond or similar debt security.

Investors favor bond UITs over stock UITs, simply due to the fact that bond UITs are more predictable and less likely to suffer losses. Stocks are sold in the UIT at expiry, which doesn't allow the investor to recoup any losses.

Types

There are two types of UITs: stock trusts and bond trusts. Stock trusts conduct IPOs by making shares available during a specific amount of time known as the offering period. Investors' money is collected during this period, and then shares are issued. Stock trusts generally seek to provide capital appreciation, dividend income or both.

Trusts that seek income may provide monthly, quarterly or semiannual payments. Some UITs invest in domestic stocks, some invest in international stocks and some invest in both.

Bond UITs have historically been more popular than stock UITs. Investors seeking steady, predictable sources of income often purchase bond UITs. Payments continue until the bonds begin to mature. As each bond matures, assets are paid out to investors. Bond UITs come in a wide range of offerings, including those that specialize in domestic corporate bonds, international corporate bonds, domestic government bonds (national and state), foreign government bonds or a combination of issues.

Early Redemption/Exchange

While UITs are designed to be bought and held until they reach termination, investors can sell their holdings back to the issuing investment company at any time. These early redemptions will be paid based on the current underlying value of the holdings.

Investors in bond UITs should make particular note of this because it means that the amount paid to the investor may be less than the amount that would be received if the UIT was held until maturity, as bond prices change with market conditions.

Some UITs permit investors to exchange their holdings for a different UIT at a reduced sales charge. This flexibility can come in handy if your investment objectives change and the UIT in your portfolio no longer meets your needs.

The Bottom Line

UITs are legally required to provide a prospectus to prospective investors. The prospectus highlights fees, investment objectives and other important details. Investors generally pay a load when purchasing UITs, and accounts are subject to annual fees. Be sure to read about these fees and expenses before you make a purchase.
When you work for someone else, that employer takes Social Security taxes out of your paycheck and sends the money to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). But things work a little differently for people who are self-employed. If you fall into this category, keep reading. This article will help you understand how to calculate the Social Security taxes you owe.

Key Takeaways Self-employed workers must pay both the employee and employer portions of Social Security taxes.

Reducing your income by taking every available deduction will reduce your taxes, but it will also reduce the size of your Social Security benefit payment in retirement.

The amount of your Social Security benefit payment is calculated based on your 35 highest-earning years.

Understanding Social Security Taxes

If you work for someone else, Social Security taxes are deducted from your paycheck. The Social Security tax rate for 2021 is 6.2%, plus 1.45% for the Medicare tax. So, if your annual salary is $50,000, the amount that will go to Social Security over the course of the year is $3,100, plus $725, for a total of $3,825.

Your employer will match an additional $3,825 over the course of the year, and it will also report your Social Security wages to the government. When you retire or if you become disabled, the government uses your history of Social Security wages and tax credits to calculate the benefit payments youll receive.

What Happens When Youre Self-Employed?

When you're self-employed, youre considered both the employee and the employer. This means its your responsibility to withhold Social Security from your earnings, contributing the employers matching portion of Social Security and the individuals portion. Instead of withholding Social Security taxes from each paycheckmany self-employed people dont get regular paychecks, after allyou pay all the Social Security taxes on your earnings when you file your annual federal income tax return. This amounts to both your personal contribution and your businesss contribution.

IRS Schedule SE: Self-Employment Tax is where you report your businesss net profit or loss as calculated on Schedule C. The federal government uses this information to calculate the Social Security benefits youll be entitled to later on down the road. Self-employment tax consists of both the employee and employer portion of Social Security (6.2% + 6.2% = 12.4%) and the employee and employer portion of Medicare (1.45% + 1.45% = 2.9%), which makes the total self-employment tax rate 15.3%.

It may seem like youre getting the short end of the stick because you have to pay both the employee and the employer portion of the tax, but that isn't necessarily true.

If you are self-employed and earned $400 or less, you wont owe Social Security taxes.

Self-Employed Tax Deductions

If you are self-employed, how much you pay in Social Security taxes is based on your net income. On Schedule SE, you multiply your business net profit or loss as calculated on Schedule C by 92.35% before calculating how much self-employment tax you owe.

If your Schedule C profit was $100,000, youd only pay the 12.4% combined employee and employer portion of Social Security tax on $92,350. Instead of paying $12,400, youd pay $11,451.40. This tax deduction would save you $948.60. Half of $11,451.40 is $5,725.70, which represents the employers matching portion of the Social Security tax. Its considered a business expense and reduces your tax liability.

You report it on line 14 of Schedule 1: Additional Income and Adjustments to Income, and you subtract it from line 6 of page 2 of Form 1040, marked total income. This business expense would reduce your taxable earnings to $94,274.30, which you enter on line 7 or adjusted gross income.

Your total amount of self-employment tax, $11,451.40, is reported on line 4 of Schedule 2: Additional Taxes. You then report any other taxesthere are eight categorieson the same form, total them all, and list that total on line 10. In our example, there are no other taxes, so that amount is still $11,451.40. This is then entered on line 15 of page 2 of Form 1040, marked Other taxes, including self-employment tax, from Schedule 2, line 10. Of course, you also have to pay regular income tax on your profit.

The CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act allows employers to defer employee Social Security taxes through Dec. 31, 202050% of the deferred amount will be due Dec. 31, 2021, and the other half by Dec. 31, 2022. This applies to the self-employed, too.

How Minimizing Taxes Minimizes Benefits

There are many business expenses that can reduce your tax liability besides the Social Security tax deductions you can take when youre self-employed.

Business expenses reduce your overall tax, which ultimately lowers your Social Security taxes. Business tax deductions are a way of minimizing self-employment tax and Social Security taxes, says Carlos Dias Jr., founder and managing partner of Dias Wealth LLC in Lake Mary, Fla.

But keep in mind that this can work against you when it comes to Social Security benefit calculations, which are based in part on your taxable earnings. Here's why. The more deductions you have, the lower your Schedule C income. Lowering your Schedule C income is a good way to reduce how much federal, state, and local income tax you owe. However, this lower amount becomes part of your Social Security earnings history and means you may receive lower benefits in retirement than if you didnt take those deductions.

Minimize Taxes Now or Maximize Benefits Later?

Should you skip some or all of the business tax deductions youre entitled to in order to increase your future Social Security benefit? Maybe. The answer is complicated because lower-earning business people stand to gain more in the future than their higher-earning counterparts due to the way Social Security retirement benefits are calculated.

Another important factor is where your Schedule C earnings fall compared to your previous years earnings. If you have a full 35-year career behind you and youre not earning nearly as much in your current self-employed pursuits, it makes sense to take all the deductions you can, as your Social Security benefits will be calculated based on your 35 highest-earning years. In this case, you want to minimize your Social Security taxes.

But if youre currently in the high-earning part of your career, a higher Schedule C income can help you get higher Social Security benefits later. Unless you enjoy complex math problems or have a top-notch accountant, its probably not worth the headache to figure out whether youll earn more in future Social Security benefits than youd save by claiming all the deductions you can today.

Of course, if youre on the cusp of not having enough Schedule C income to give you the work credits you need to qualify for Social Security, it may be worth foregoing some deductions to make sure youre entitled to any benefits at all.

How Much Control Do You Want?

As we dont know what Social Security benefit payments will look like in the futuremany people expect them to be lower because of how the system is fundedyou may want to go with the sure thing and take the lower tax liability today. After all, one way to lower your tax liability is to take money out of your business and put it in one of the available retirement plans for the self-employed. Thats money youll have a lot more control over than Social Security benefits.

"The great thing about Social Security is you cannot access it until retirement age," says Kevin Michels, CFP, EA, financial planner and president of Medicus Wealth Planning.

"You cant make early withdrawals, [but] you cant skip payments, and you are guaranteed a benefit," Michels adds. "However, you have only a small say in the future legislation of Social Security and how it will be affected by the mismanagement of government funds."

Michels continues to say the following:

If you have trouble saving for retirement already, then paying [as much as allowed] into Social Security may be the better option. If you are confident you can stick to a savings plan, invest wisely, and not touch your savings until retirement, it may be a better idea to minimize what you pay into Social Security and take more responsibility for your retirement.

If You Fail to File

If you dont file a tax return reporting your self-employment income, you have a limited time to file a return and still get credit with the Social Security Administration (SSA) for your work time and income. You must file the return within three years, three months, and 15 days after the tax year for which you earned the income for which you want credit.

That means if you didnt file a return reporting your 2019 self-employment income, youd have until April 15, 2023, to correct it. However, this grace period doesnt exempt you from any penalties and back taxes you may owe as a result of filing late.

When You Dont Have to Pay Social Security Taxes

You dont owe Social Security taxes on the portion of your wages that exceed a certain earnings threshold. The wage base for 2021 is $142,800 (up from $137,700 in 2020), and you dont owe Social Security taxes on the portion of your earnings that exceed that amount.

Lets say your annual earnings were $145,000. The percentage of taxes you owe would be applied up to the first $142,800 but not on the $2,200 above that. This annual cap on Social Security taxes also applies to employees who work for someone else.

6% The percentage of American taxpayers who exceeded the tax cap since 1983.

Qualifying for Social Security Benefits

Anyone born in 1929 or later needs 40 Social Security work credits, the equivalent of 10 years of work, to qualify for Social Security benefits. For every quarter that you earn at least $1,470 in 2021 (which was $1,410 in 2020), you earn one credit. The number changes annually.

Even if your business isnt particularly successful, or you only work part-time or occasionally, its not difficult to earn the Social Security credits you need. In fact, even if your earnings fall below this threshold or if your business has a loss, there are some alternative ways to earn Social Security credits. These optional methods may increase the amount of self-employment tax you owe, but theyll help you get the work credits you need.

Your eventual benefit payments do take your earnings into account. If you never earned much money from a lifetime of self-employment, dont count on getting a large Social Security check in retirement. If you started claiming benefits this year, for example, and your average monthly earnings worked out to just $800, your monthly Social Security retirement benefit would be $720assuming youre at full retirement age. Thats not much, but if you managed to get by on an average of $800 a month during your working years, you could probably work with a monthly benefit payment of $720 in retirement.

Certain categories of earnings dont count toward Social Security for most people, such as stock dividends, loan interest, and real estate income. This means you dont pay Social Security taxes on this income and it also isnt used to calculate your future benefits. The exception is if your business operates in one of these areas that dont countself-employed stockbrokers, for example, do count stock dividends toward their Social Security earnings.

The Bottom Line

Social Security really isnt much different whether youre self-employed or work for someone else. Self-employed individuals earn Social Security work credits the same way employees do and qualify for benefits based on their work credits and earnings.

Business tax deductions create the biggest difference. If you work for someone else, you pay Social Security taxes on all of your earnings, up to the $142,800 cap in 2021. But if you work for yourself, deductions you claim on Schedule C can make your taxable income substantially lower. That can decrease your Social Security taxes today, but also potentially decreases your Social Security benefits later.
A Social Security number (SSN) is a nine-digit number that the U.S. government issues to all U.S. citizens and eligible U.S. residents who apply for one. The government uses this number to keep track of your lifetime earnings and the number of years worked.

When the time comes to retire, or if you ever need to receive Social Security disability income, the government uses the information about your contributions to Social Security to determine your eligibility and calculate your benefit payments. Most people will use the same Social Security number their entire lives, though some people might need to apply for a replacement number at some point because of identity theft.

Keep reading below to find out more about when and why you need a Social Security number as well as when you should avoid using it.

Key Takeaways A Social Security number (SSN) is a unique identifier assigned to U.S. citizens and some residents to track their income and determine benefits.

In addition to Social Security, the SSN is now also used for a wide range of purposes.

These include obtaining credit, opening a bank account, obtaining government benefits or private insurance, and buying a home or a car, among many other pursuits.

When and Why You Need a Social Security Number

Anytime you get hired for a new job, your employer will ask for your Social Security number. Your employers accounting department will use this number to report your income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and to report your Social Security wages to the Social Security Administration.

Your employer will also use it for state income tax reporting unless your state doesnt have an income tax. Employers who participate in E-Verify, a program to make sure employees can legally work in the United States, also must obtain your Social Security number before you can begin work.

Below are some other common scenarios where youll need to provide your Social Security number.

When Opening an Account With Any U.S. Financial Institution

Since 1970, the federal government has required banks to obtain customers Social Security numbers or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Financial institutions use your SSN to check your credit, to report your interest and investment income or losses to the IRS, to report your tax-deductible mortgage interest to the IRS, and to manage your account.

As an alternative, some financial institutions will accept a taxpayer identification number (on some forms, also called an Employer Identification Number or EIN), which youll need to apply for through the IRS.

When Applying for a Federal Loan

The government will use your Social Security number to make sure youre eligible when you apply for a federal loan, such as a federal student loan. For example, to qualify for federal student loans, you must not be in default on another federal loan, you must have eligible citizenship or visitor status, and most male applicants must have registered with the Selective Service.

When Applying for Certain Types of Public Assistance

Public assistance programs, such as unemployment benefits or Social Security disability income, are usually managed by federal or state government agencies who use Social Security numbers to identify people and make sure they arent claiming benefits that they arent entitled to.

When Enrolling in Medicare

The Social Security Administration works with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to enroll people in Medicare.

When Applying for a Passport

Federal law requires you to provide a Social Security number if you have one when you apply for a U.S. passport. If you dont have an SSN, you must provide a sworn statement that you were never issued one.

On Your Tax Return

The IRS uses this number to match the income you report on your tax return to the income your employer and financial institutions report having paid to you. Also, youll need to provide your childs SSN to claim your child as a dependent on your tax return.

To Get a Drivers License

If you have an SSN, many states require that you have to provide it when you apply for a drivers license.

Non-citizens who dont have Social Security numbers are exempt from providing a Social Security number in many situations that normally require it, including getting a drivers license, registering for school, getting private health insurance, or applying for public assistance such as subsidized housing. The government doesnt like to give Social Security numbers to non-citizens who arent authorized to work in the United States. It says that even banks and credit companies usually cant require you to provide a Social Security number if you dont have one.

However, without this number, financial institutions wont be able to run a credit check on you, which could make it difficult, if not impossible, to get a credit card or loan.

When to Avoid Using Your Social Security Number

Federal law basically lets anyone ask for your Social Security number, but that doesnt mean you need to give it out. You should use your Social Security number as infrequently as possible. Just because someone asks for it doesnt mean they truly need it.

For example, though most medical providers will ask for your SSN, you can leave the line asking for it blank when filling out medical paperwork, and often, no one will question it. Your doctors office and other businesses can use other information to identify you and keep track of your records. That said, while you can refuse to provide your SSN, the other party can also refuse to do business with you.

You also shouldnt carry your Social Security card around with you unless you will be using it for a specific purpose that day, such as when youre filling out paperwork to start a new job, and you have to show it to your employer as proof of citizenship (though if you can show a valid passport, you dont need to provide your Social Security card).

You dont want to risk losing your card or having it stolen since thieves can use this number, in combination with your other personal data, to apply for credit, take out loans, get a job, or even get health care in your name, creating a potentially massive identity theft problem for you to clean up.

Instead, keep the card in a secure place at home or in a safe deposit box at the bank. If your card is lost or stolen, youll want to apply for a new one.

Similarly, you should keep any documents that contain your SSN, such as your tax returns, in a secure place. If someone were to break into your house, it would be better for you if they could only make off with your stuff and not your identity. You also need to carefully safeguard your electronic documents that contain your Social Security number. If you have an unencrypted PDF of your tax return on your laptop, youre effectively carrying your Social Security card every time you take your computer with you on a trip or to a coffee shop.

The Bottom Line

When the government introduced the Social Security program with its numbers in 1936, it was never meant to be so widely used to identify and track individuals. Today, this number is used for everything from its original purposeto track your lifetime earnings and calculate your Social Security benefitsto opening a checking account or filling out a new patient form at the doctor's office.

Many businesses will ask for your Social Security number simply because its a convenient way for them to identify customers. Unfortunately, criminals can use your Social Security number to commit identity theft, so you should guard your SSN carefully and only give it out when absolutely necessary.
In Canada, the Social Insurance Number (SIN) is the equivalent to Social Security Number (SSN) in the U.S. Canadian residents use SINs for government programs and as a source of identification in the private sector. Many organizations, such as financial institutions, will use the SIN to create indexing for client accounts.

The Canadian government started the SIN program in 1964 to administer the Canada Pension Plan and Canada's varied employment insurance programs. In 1967, Revenue Canada (now the Canada Revenue Agency) began using SINs for tax reporting.

Key Takeaways Canadian citizens and permanent or temporary residents need a Social Insurance Number to work in Canada.

SINs are needed to receive benefits and services from government programs.

Generally, Canadian law bars private companies from acquiring a customer's SIN.

As with American SSNs, theft and misuse of SINs and the accompanying identity theft is a growing problem.

Social Insurance Number

Canadian citizens and permanent or temporary residents need the SIN to work in Canada, as well as to receive benefits and services from government programs. Children 12 and older may apply for their SIN. Also, parents and individuals who are legally authorized to act on behalf of the applicant can also apply for a SIN for children under the age of majority in their province and for adults in their care.

SINs have nine digits displayed in three groups of three. Canadians must update their SIN record if they change their name due to marriage or other circumstances. Canadians also now have the option to have their gender marked as X or not to declare a gender.

In March 2014, Service Canada, a federal institution that is part of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)and that provides Canadians with a point of access to many government services and benefitsstopped issuing plastic SIN cards and instead began printing the confirmation of the SIN on paper. The agency cited improved security, as many Canadians carried the plastic cards on their persons and increased the chances of SINs being lost or stolen.

Service Canada has stopped issuing plastic SIN cards, citing the need for improved security.

Use of the Social Insurance Number

Canada established laws that restrict the use of SINs in income reporting and has a limited list of federal departments and programs that can collect Canadian citizens' SINs, such as the Income and Health Care Programs, the Labour Adjustment Review Board, and the Rural and Native Housing Program.

Some private-sector companies, such as telecommunications firms and airlines, can also collect their customers' SINs. Generally, Canadian law bars private companies from acquiring a customer's SIN unless there is a specific and lawful reason (often cited as one of the biggest differences between a SIN and an American SSN).

Financial institutions that let customers earn investment income, such as credit unions and banks, can also collect SINs. If certain companies deny services to a customer for not providing a SIN, that customer can file a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

As with American SSNs, theft and misuse of SINs and the accompanying identity theft is a growing problem. A thief can use a stolen SIN to work illegally or to obtain credit, and the legitimate SIN owner could be requested to pay additional taxes for the income they didn't receive or could have difficulty obtaining credit.
Sunshine without light brightens Ceramicx business West Cork manufacturer Ceramicx has got 2018 off to a good start by opening an extension which has doubled the size of its facility to 44,000sq ft, and by picking up a Project Exemplar award from Inter TradeIreland, writes Trish Dromey.

Located near Ballydehob, Ceramicx has established itself as a world leader in the niche area of infrared heating systems and components for industrial use.

Our products are used in manufacturing throughout the world, principally in order to raise production

efficiencies, reduce energy costs and reduce the carbon footprint of manufactured products, said company managing director and founder Frank Wilson.

Established in 1992, Ceramicx has customers in 65 countries, employs 65 staff and exports 98% of its production. The recent completion of a multi-million investment in the company involves 22,000sq ft of additional factory space, automation, new plant and machinery and equips it for further growth in global markets.

Ceramicx designs and makes infrared components and heaters, and also designs and supplies complete

infrared heating systems worldwide. Its products have a wide range of applications including packaging,

automotive and aerospace as well as electronics, construction and home heating.

The InterTradeIreland Project Exemplar award received this month was for the development of an innovative Vector oven used for heating composite materials for the automotive and aerospace industries.

It follows the winning of a Collaborative Research Award last year from Knowledge Transfer Ireland. This was for the herschel an infrared energy mapping instrument for the measurement of previously invisible infrared energy fields, which according to Mr Wilson, is a world first .

Mr Wilson says infrared heat (a spectrum of radiant energy) which has been called sunshine without light, has long been misunderstood and misapplied, says it has the potential to transform many corners of manufacturing worldwide.

Infrared heat systems can be used to save time, energy and money in manufacturing cost  and moreover, are good for the environment, Mr Wilson said.

He says the USA and China are now the companys largest markets while Turkey, the UK and Germany are also significant and that the company has achieved annual average growth of 15% over the past eight years.

We are now onto our fifth Innovation Partnership award with Enterprise Ireland. We continue to sponsor university research to increase the effectiveness and understanding of infrared heat systems, he said.

The company publishes its own specialist quarterly magazine called Heatworks.

A recent project involved upgrading production at international company Linpac Packaging.

Our infrared retrofit system at the Linpac St Helens plant in the UK helped Linpac achieve a world-first reduction in the energy cost of expanded polystyrene packaging slashing the carbon foot print of the product and

reducing the production energy cost by 40%, said Mr Wilson.

In recent months Ceramicx has been innovating infrared heating for composite materials in the aerospace and automotive industries.

Customers and users in the aircraft and automotive and space include Aston Martin and Rolls Royce while other blue chip clients include Corning Glass, HP and GE. Plans for 2018 already include exhibiting at Chinaplas in Shanghai in April, making a series of videos popularising infrared heat science, and achieving continued growth in all markets.

The target for the year is a further 15% rise in turnover.
Rachel Marie Walsh t akes a look at Februarys most desirable launches

Laura Mercier Lip Velours Extreme Matte Lipstick, 26

The search for a nude lip that enlivens fair skin instead of sapping colour apparently ended as Emilia Clarke prepared for the Critics Choice Awards. Artist Jillian Dempsey blended three of Laura Merciers new Lip Velours Extreme Matte crayons to get the look.

She mixed Ruthless Vibe and Respect nudes with rose, beige and pink tones, respectively on her hand before brushing onto the lips. Theres no liner here but if you like using one to affect bigger lips I recommend MAC Studio Chromographic Pencil in NC15, 18.50, for a colour match.

The creamy Lip Velours formula meant the shades melted together to create a seamless look that lasted. This is LMs most highly-pigmented lipstick and the mattifying agent is rice starch (often used in dry shampoo), so despite the texture it is not especially hydrating.

Emilias lips were balmed and the brand itself recommends pre-application hydration.

I do wonder how this enduring matte trend will affect our lips long-term, they have no oil glands to produce protective sebum for their fine skin and the collagen and other plumpers beneath break down faster (than through ageing alone) with constant irritation.

I guess big pharma provides where nature is harassed. Still, at this special occasion the colour was super-chic without looking overdone.

Mon Guerlain Florale Eau de Parfum, 62.50/30ml

Mon Guerlain, the venerable French houses call to millennials, launched last year with an elegant Angelina-faced campaign. It is not often so-called flankers, seasonal variations on a main-line scent, outshine the original but this one is really lovely.

Launching February 18, Florale was designed by Thierry Wasser, whose hits include the similarly airy Emporio Armani Diamonds, 75/100ml, a more floral and airy version of the original with additional notes of peony and an enhanced dose of Sambac jasmine.

Have you tried our new exclusive Mon Guerlain Florale? This modern but sensual scent which has notes of ylangylang, sandalwood & vanilla is now available in store. #MonGuerlainFlorale #ThePerfumeShop #Guerlain pic.twitter.com/JEjmtbs21J  Tps Nuneaton (@NuneatonTps) January 22, 2018

The top notes remain the same, with an intoxicating note of Carla lavender. The heart has a higher concentration of Sambac jasmine than the original and Wassers added floral notes of peony and Paradisone molecule. Paradisone is an amplification of a jasmine molecule called Hedione, created to help perfume designers use the sometimes overpowering scent of jasmine essential oil in a moderate way.

Florales base includes vanilla with woody notes. The elegant and timeless bottle design based on the Nuances dor de Guerlain comes in rose-gold colour. This is a modern, feminine scent with a limited run and makes a perfect Valentines gift.

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Custom Glow Drops, 35

Beauty you can customise is a major trend  unsurprising in this age of Insta-viduality  so expect to see lots of natty products that make conventional makeup more you this year. Bottles of liquid pigment for adjusting foundation are one such.

Lighter than concealer but more cover-rich than tinted moisturiser, drops like these Lancome newbies, which come in four shades, promise patch-free camouflage and brightening. Also theres bronze-sculpting, if that is still your thing. Or how about something to warm up regular foundation when you have a tan? It sounds fiddly but getting it right makes such seamless perfection of all of the above  fast  that you will wonder why we bother with cream concealers, powder bronzers, etc.

This is a product type that may take a while to reach budget brands because refined, scarcely-diluted pigment is pricy and the colour ranges are as broad as many foundations. Fans of CoverFX, a Canadian line conceived to imperceptibly mask scars, burns and other long-term issues, will know they had the nonpareil  Custom Enhancer Drops, 35.50 at BeautyBay.com  out by 2016 but their products are not so widely available to experiment with as Lancomes. And I highly recommend experimenting with pigment before purchase.

The price is a lot for a little bottle and while you only need a few drops, you dont know how it alters your skin or foundation until you get blending.

Stuck for time, I think the rose shade is a good choice as there is no complexion rose-gold does not flatter but if you want camouflage or correction get thee to a counter. Formula-wise, there is nothing here that should bother sensitive skin or increase dryness. The drops serum-like texture means they skip over uneven tone and application time is briefer than typical concealing.

Estee Lauder Perfectionist Pro Rapid Firm + Lift Treatment, 101/50ml

Acetyl Hexapeptide 8, sometimes called argireline or Botox-in-a-bottle is a muscle relaxant relatively new to commercial skincare. Estee Lauder-owned Clinique uses it in Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle Eye Cream, 48, released last spring, and it plays a key role in the flagship brands new serum.

Serums, concentrated blends of potent anti-agers, are all daily treatments at their best but this one promises relaxed lines after a fortnight. There is much to support the peptide in the bottle and it is hard to tell if the star ingredient is really a difference-maker, despite the brands research.

I like this serum as home care and Acetyl Hexapeptide 8 also acts as a moisturiser, so is not to be discounted.

Lauder has a habit of kitchen-sinking serums, the ingredients list is extensive and filled with goodies.

Whey protein and algae extract support natural collagen development and help fight free radicals.

Buzzy moisturisers fillagrin and hyaluronic acid are there to help plump up the volume, while rice bran and date oils keep skin supple.

This serum is safe for all skin types but the former does contain alpha hydroxy acids, which are smoothing and brightening but can increase sensitivity.

Is it a major departure from Lauders other anti-ageing serums? Or even just the original Perfectionist Perfectionist [CP+R] Serum, 72? There is certainly ingredient overlap. The aforementioned acids mean this one takes more action on sun spots and red marks.
Police in Cambodia have charged a group of 10 tourists with producing pornographic pictures after images emerged of people apparently demonstrating different sex positions.

The group, which includes five Britons, were arrested on Thursday when officers raided a rented villa in the tourist hotspot of Siem Reap, and could face a year in jail if convicted.

A Cambodian expatriate website published images released by police of the clothed tourists appearing to pretend to perform different sexual positions on the floor of the villa during a party.

The villa was a stop on a pub crawl, Cambodian police said.

Among the eight men and two women arrested were Britons Vincent Harley Robert Hook, 35, Daniel Richard Leeming Jones, 30, Thomas Alexander Jeffries, 22, Billy Stevens, 21, and Paul Francis Harris, 32.

Also detained were Dutchman Job Robertus van der Wel, 22, Canadians Jessica Drolet, 25, and Eden Koazoleas, 19, along with Norwegian David Nikolaus Aleksandr Ballovarre, 22, and 32-year-old New Zealander Paul Martin Brasch.

All 10 were charged on Sunday with producing pornographic pictures.

Samrith Sokhon, the prosecutor of the Siem Reap provincial court, told the Associated Press the group could face up to a year in prison if convicted.

"Any people producing pornography is contrary to Cambodias traditions," he said.

A member of the group told the Press Association from their cell on Saturday night that none of those arrested were actually in the photographs.

"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)," he said.

The prisoner said the group believed the investigation was targeting tourists and expats in the south-east Asian country for wearing bikinis in public, and in relation to expat-run pub crawls in Siem Reap.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in a statement: "We are assisting five British men arrested in Cambodia and are providing support to their families."
From the Archive Recalling U Ko Nis Views a Year After His Assassination

U Ko Ni. / The Irrawaddy

On the eve of the anniversary of the Jan. 29, 2017 murder of U Ko Ni, a prominent legal adviser to State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, we revisit his writings on constitutional and political reform, compiled here in an article first published in January 2017.

On Article 59(f), which bans anyone with a foreign spouse or children from becoming president:

There is an informal way [to amend the constitution] in which we have to enact a special law to temporarily suspend the provision in 59(f). This law can be enacted by 51 percent of votes at the Union Parliament. (Reuters, February 2, 2016). U Ko Ni made this comment before the NLD government came into office and before the new position of State Counselor was created in April 2016.

On controlling hate speech:

Given the current circumstances in our country, it is very necessary to enact a law to see effective action on hate speech and discrimination. (DVB, July 22, 2016)

On rescinding the repressive 1975 State Protection Law:

Such a law is absolutely unnecessary for the current governments multi-party democratic system. (The Irrawaddy, 28 April, 2016).

On calls for reform of the centralized civil service under the ministry of Home Affairs:

The control of General Administration Department on all the government procedures is contrary to the federal system and should be abolished. (Myanmar Now, February 1, 2016).

On proposals to enact laws restricting interfaith marriage:

The law seems to favor the protection of Buddhist womens rights. What about women of other faiths? A law should cover everyone, and now it seems to totally neglect women from other religions living in the same country. (The Irrawaddy, September 2, 2015)

On a proposal for an interfaith law that would promote the equal rights of all religions:

There are two main purposes  one is to promote the aspect of living harmoniously among religions, and the second is to take effective action against those who try to disturb the status of harmony.

The government has the duty to act in the interest of all religions. They should not pay attention only to Buddhists but also to other religions, as the constitution says everyone has the right to religious freedom. (Myanmar Times, May 20, 2016)

On avoiding discrimination in citizenship laws:

If someone is born in Burma and lives there all their lives, we have to regard them as a citizen of Burma It is harmful if people are divided into classes. (The Irrawaddy, 12 May 2016)

On calls to ban the formation of a Myanmar Muslim Lawyers Association:

I dont understand why people criticize us when they hear the term Muslim. We dont cause any trouble to others. We just want to give assistance to our Muslim minority people who have long suffered under military rule. (Myanmar Times, 21 June 2016)

On bribery and corruption

The problem is that corruption is still rampant in Myanmar despite the Anti-Corruption Law. There is corruption at each level of the [government] hierarchy. But punitive actions are rarely taken. (The Irrawaddy, 9 April 2016)
There's no Master Chief required, but Bankwest's Halo will let you become a master shopper thanks to a payment ring, requiring no power, for a novel and fun new way to make contactless payments.

You can tap and go with your credit or debit card, with smartphones and smartwatches, but now there's a ring for your finger that you can use to tap and go, too.

It's Australia's first such payment ring, and has some great features, including no need to charge it, no associated app, and a waterproof rating up to 50 metres.

Bankwest, a division of Australia's largest bank, the Commonwealth Bank, says its customers "across Australia are now able to tap and go using the Bankwest Halo" ring, and that it "has been produced as part of Bankwest's focus on empowering customers with new and innovative ways to pay".

Bankwest managing director Rowan Munchenberg said the ring had been developed "in response to the changing needs of customers".

He added: "Customers' needs are always changing and in today's digital world they increasingly expect smooth transactions that fit with their lifestyles, whether shopping online or in person."

The aptly named Bankwest general manager of Customer Communications and Brand, Nichole Banks, said she hoped customers would love the simplicity of the ring.

She said: "No more fumbling for your purse or wallet, no need to ensure your phone's charged in order to pay  it's a new era in contactless payment.

"We're very excited to bring this entirely new, wearable payment option to Australia and we hope new and existing customers will come to love the convenience it provides."

So, how does it work?

Well, we're told the Bankwest Halo payment ring "links to a customer's Bankwest transaction account and works just like a contactless payment card".

This means it is "a convenient alternative to your card, cash or phone".

And, just as long as you have money in your account, "the ring means funds are immediately on hand", with Bankwest stating "the ring also has the same security as a Bankwest Mastercard, with 24/7 fraud protection".

Last year, Bankwest tells us that it "trialled a choice of wearable devices for colleagues and customers to use in their everyday lives. The trial, and the feedback obtained, has led to the release of the Bankwest Halo".

Banks concluded: "Our customers' lives are so varied and this ring offers them complete freedom to pay wherever and however they want. The likes of cyclists, swimmers, surfers and joggers will love the Bankwest Halo's convenience.

"Plus, as it's a ring, something usually that people choose to wear as jewellery, it's got that little bit of a wow factor too."

What about pricing and other details?

The Bankwest Halo will be available to customers for $39 (Available at launch to a limited number of customers for $29).

Customers can order the ring on the Bankwest website, through the Bankwest app or in store.

The Bankwest Halo is fully waterproof up to 50 metres, secured by Mastercard and does not require charging or an associated mobile phone app.

The ring comes in two colours options, is individually sized and is non-transferable.

Here's Bankwest's Halo video:
Australian battery company Redflow has successfully produced the first battery electrode stacks from its new factory in Thailand to achieve its second manufacturing milestone at the factory.

Redflow last year decided to relocate its battery manufacturing from North America to Thailand and to be closer to its most lucrative markets, in Australia, Oceania and southern Africa, and to reduce production costs.

Redflow produced its first battery components from the factory last month.

The battery stack is a critical part of the Redflow ZBM2 zinc-bromine flow battery, containing electrodes that charge and discharge the battery by plating and deplating zinc on a membrane  a process that can sustain 10 kilowatt-hours of energy storage capacity throughout the operating life of the battery.

The ASX-listed Redflow (ASX: RFX) reports that the factory has set up and qualified its battery stack machines and processes, optimising them for Thai environmental conditions.

Redflow managing director and chief executive Richard Aird said assembly of the battery stacks in Thailand had gone according to plan.

The manufacturing team is very happy with the consistent quality and acceptable yield metrics of the stack line.

Aird said that, as per the timeline outlined at Redflows 2017 Annual General Meeting, achieving the battery stack milestone means that the compaanys Thai factory is on track to progressively validate quality components and sub-assemblies so it can produce complete batteries by June 2018.

Redflows Thai subsidiary has signed a three-year lease on a 1500-square-metre building at the Hemaraj Chonburi Industrial Estate, part of the IEAT free trade zone, 110km southeast of Bangkok and 25km from the Laem Chabang deep sea container port.
The US Government was not on the priority list of entities which Intel chose to notify when it became aware of flaws in its processors that were finally divulged to the world earlier this month.

The Wall Street Journal reported that a small group of customers, including Chinese technology firms, were among those who were notified about the flaws, dubbed Meltdown and Spectre, first.

Among the first to be told were Lenovo, Microsoft, Amazon, Alibaba and the UK branch of Arm.

Earlier this month, the head of the OpenBSD project, Theo de Raadt, told iTWire that the disclosure of the bug was handled "in an incredibly bad way".

"Only Tier-1 companies received advance information, and that is not responsible disclosure  it is selective disclosure," De Raadt said in response to queries. "Everyone below Tier-1 has just gotten screwed."

The two flaws were revealed in the first week of January and affect Intel processors made since 1995.

Meltdown removes the barrier between user applications and sensitive parts of the operating system. Spectre, which is also reportedly found in some AMD and ARM processors, can trick vulnerable applications into leaking the contents of their memory.

The flaw was initially discovered by a security researcher from Google's Project Zero team and reported to Intel which planned to make an announcement on 9 January  the day on which Microsoft was scheduled to announce its monthly updates  but advanced the date when news of the bugs leaked to the media.

The WSJ quoted Jake Williams, head of Rendition Infosec, as claiming that the Chinese Government was probably aware of the flaws as well. Williams, a former member of the NSA's elite Tailored Access Operations hacking group, said that such flaws would be of great interest to an agency which was collecting intelligence as they could be used to capture data from the cloud.

At the time of the disclosure, it also emerged that Intel chief executive Brian Krzanich had sold stock and options and netted US$25 million in late November 2017, well after Google had informed the company of flaws in its processors.

Krzanich avoided making any mention of the controversial sale in his keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas later in the month.

The US Department of Homeland Security learned of the flaws from news reports after it became public knowledge, an official told the WSJ. The NSA also claimed it had not had advance knowledge of the flaws.
Intel reportedly warned its OEM partners about the Meltdown and Spectre processor flaws on 29 November, the same day that its chief executive, Brian Krzanich, sold a tranche of stock and options and netted a healthy profit.

The French magazine LeMagIt said it had obtained a secret memorandum sent to Intel's OEMs under an agreement that insisted on confidentiality and non-disclosure.

The memo outlined the disclosure plan: that OEMs would be told on 29 November and a public disclosure would be made on 9 January. The latter date could not be adhered to, as news of the bugs broke prior to that and forced disclosure by others on 3 January.

It said that any communications that OEMs sent to the company should be encrypted with its public key, the location of which was provided.

The processor manufacturer has also been accused ofabout the flaws.

LeMagIt said that Krzanich had given instructions on 30 October for the sale of the shares and that this transaction was the subject of at least one class action in the US, led by the Boston lawyers Block & Leviton, a company that has been part of the lawsuits against Volkswagen over the emissions scandal known as dieselgate.

A Google advisory shows that the bug was found on 1 June 2017 and a proof-of-concept was created by 22 June.

The two flaws were revealed in the first week of January and affect Intel processors made since 1995.

Meltdown removes the barrier between user applications and sensitive parts of the operating system. Spectre, which is also reportedly found in some AMD and ARM processors, can trick vulnerable applications into leaking the contents of their memory.

LeMagIt said "surprisingly" Intel continued to market the affected processors "and will likely continue to market vulnerable processors for the next year or more. While waiting for a new generation of chips whose design will be immune to Spectrum, the plan... seems to rely on the developers of operating systems".

Patches issued by Intel for the flaws have caused problems to the extent that the company has told users to hold off on using them and to instead wait for a fresh crop of updates. Linux creator Linus Torvalds described the Intel patches as "total garbage".

When news of Krzanich's share sale first broke, the company said that the sale was not related to the two flaws, Brians sale is unrelated, Intel said. Krzanich continues to hold shares in line with corporate guidelines".

Photo of Brian Krzanich courtesy Intel; screenshots of Intel memo courtesy LeMagIT
Australian agriculture supply chain tracking start-up BlockGrain has raised the equivalent of $1 million in the cryptocurrency XEM through the NEM blockchain investment fund.

BlockGrain claims to be the first major Australian blockchain project to take advantage of NEM's $90 million global investment fund.

The start-up allows farmers, brokers and logistic companies to track grain at harvest, through the supply chain, to consumers. Farmers can create, manage and track commodity contracts.

BlockGrain co-founder and chief executive Caile Ditterich said the funds would be used integrate its current platform with NEMs blockchain technology by the last quarter of this year.

BlockGrain was created with the mission to solve real life problems faced by the agriculture industry today. We know that the complexity of the supply chain coupled with lack of meaningful information and data result in major efficiency and productivity issues for our farmers, brokers and logistic companies," he said.

Were at a stage now where were ready to investigate the potential application of blockchain into our platform. Were looking at NEMs technology to help us automate and provide greater visibility within the agriculture supply chain.

Jason Lee of NEM, with Sam Webb and Caile Ditterich of BlockGrain.

NEM has a "plug and play" approach that offers a customisable, easy and secure method of making transactions and storing digital assets.

Jason Lee, director of the NEM.io Foundation for Australia and New Zealand, said BlockGrain was an exciting example of potential real use cases of blockchain.

For the past few months, we have been looking for companies in Australia that have been developed to either improve the way companies do business or are aiming to make a societal difference," he said.

BlockGrain is on a clear path to making this a reality and partnering with them is a natural fit for NEM. They understand how they can benefit from blockchain and how it works, and were confident we will be able to integrate their current business into our platform.

Nelson Valero, council member of the NEM.io Foundation, said BlockGrain would give NEM credibility as a technology platform.

BlockGrain is well positioned to go international and scale very quickly due the large number of adopters that are either testing the beta system or already contracted to use the new BlockGrain platform. They are established business with great potential," he said.

BlockGrain will make its platform available by the second quarter of 2018. Its clients include Rise Agri, Australias largest independent grain brokerage group which manages 1000 farmers.

The NEM blockchain investment fund is decided through community voting, with companies posting the concept for their start-up or business on NEM community forums, which are then voted on by users. Successful companies are then presented to the NEM.io Foundation, which carries out due diligence before issuing the funding.

Photo: courtesy BlockGrain
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

This past year is what the era of Big Climate Change looks like. We are only at the beginning of the massive changes we are making to our environment by farting 41 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (a heat-trapping gas) into our atmosphere every year, but we can already see the shape of the future and it is alarming. (Emissions as a word is bland and means nothing to most people. Inform them that they are annually farting 18 tons of stuff into the atmosphere that you could light a match to, and maybe they will be a little embarrassed).

Despite the urgency of the crisis we have done almost nothing to reduce carbon farting on a global scale. In fact it increased 2% last year.

The oceans are hotter than they have ever been in nearly 140 years of recorded history. Tellingly, the study that nailed this finding is from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, not the Koch Brothers/ Mercer family US oligarchy, which is suffocating American science. (Hint: hot oceans produce more destructive hurricanes). Puerto Rico was flattened by two hurricanes in a row. One of them chugged along as an unprecedented category 6 for hundreds of miles, fed by a Caribbean that was a startling 2 degrees F. hotter than normal. St. Martin had 85% of its built environment razed by Hurricane Irma. As we speak, the Seine is five times its normal level, flooding Paris and threatening the Louvre Museum.

My alma mater, the University of California Los Angeles, almost burned down in December as wildfires invaded the city of the angels. Boston suffered from a bomb cyclone (hurricanes used not to be able to get much above North Carolina on the east coast because cold water causes them to peter out; but as the Atlantic heats up further north, it opens a pathway for cyclones to come on up, which is what happened to New York with Hurricane Sandy).

Any one of these events cant be chalked up to climate change, but trends over the past 40 years can. The mean size of California chaparral fires has been increasing, as has the higher temperature range of places there (reaching 120 F. this summer). Caribbean cyclone intensity has risen significantly in just the past 20 years. In the past 35 years flood disasters have more than doubled in Europe.

US cable television news, which has big positions in fossil fuels stocks, reports on these calamities only episodically and desperately avoids linking them to carbon farting.

The coming crisis can be challenging, severe or catastrophic. We have that choice. We can reduce it to only challenging by swinging into action. In a big way. Now. Coal needs to be outlawed ASAP, as French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to do by 2021, in only three years. (And no, the pledge isnt meaningless and no the market doesnt dictate everything; public policy is important). Chinas industrial Hebei Province next to Beijing has cut coal use by 44 million tons since 2013 and is going to cut out another 5 million tons this year! The Chinese Communist Party is simply setting emissions standards for the factories, which they have to meet. Air quality in Beijing, which is very bad, is nevertheless a little better as a result. (I was there in 2015 and went out to see the Great Wall with my little Nikon camera and all I got were pictures of smog.)

Elon Musks mega-battery in Australia earned its owner $800,000 over two days recently and is successfully smoothing out power generation, stepping in when coal plants go out. That is something gas turbines used to do, and they are no longer needed. In fact, neither is the coal any longer needed if you can combine solar and wind with mega-batteries. Which is the next step.

For people who have to drive and arent in the Tesla 3 queue, the Chevy Bolt (the best-selling electric vehicle in the US) is an attractive option at the moment, and it is only the beginning of the Chevy electric fleet. Combine it with rooftop solar panels and youll pay off both in 7 years after which fuel for house and car is free.

A challenging amount of global heating will be difficult. You will like severe even less. The third level and possibility is catastrophic, which speaks for itself. It all depends on how much we fart.



Bonus video:

Guardian News: Drone footage shows Paris flooding
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By Daniel Martin Varisco | MENA Tidningen |  

The camel, once referred to as the ship of the desert for the Arabian Peninsula, is one of the most enduring icons of Arabia. As Richard Bulliet argued almost half a century ago, the camel became the beast of burden and linguistic invention in Arabia because they did not re-invent, so to speak, the wheel. If you have ever seen an advertisement for Camel cigarettes, the oriental aesthetic is quite blatant.

The number of camels throughout the Middle East declined dramatically in the last century, but it has not gone the way of the American Buffalo. As long as tourists want a picture in front of the Sphinx atop a camel and wealthy Gulfies relive their past through camel races, the one-humped camel will survive long into the future. In Arabia the camel is still quite newsworthy.

It is rather ironic that Saudi Arabia, which prefers that its women cover their faces and hide their feminine form, should sponsor a beauty context. But they do, only it is for camels and not ladies, at least not of the two-legged kind. This years King Abdulaziz Camel Festival provides a considerable monetary prize for the most beautiful camels, overall a total of 118 million riyals or close to 32 million dollars for the winners. Considering that some 30,000 camels are participants in the month-long festival, the competition makes any other beauty contest look rank amateur. By the way, the Emirates has its own camel festival, but only for 25,000 single-humped participants.

The Saudi camel festival is not just about good looks and speed, as there are prizes for the best dance and poetry. And there is a large Panoramic Dome where you can learn everything you could imagine about camels. In a rare gesture of tolerance, you can even see a two-humped Bactrian camel, which normally would live in Iran and Central Asia. Thus, those who say the Sunni Wahhabi of Saudi Arabia and the Twelver Shia of Iran have nothing to bring them together may be overlooking the role a shared camel connection could play. Given that there are quite a few Indian construction workers building the boutique shopping malls and skyscrapers-on-sand, it is fitting that Indian artists will display great models which reflect the strong relation between camels and desert at the festival.

While there is no need for a bathing suit promenade, there are several ways in which the camels are presented in the raw. There are the group events for the best flock of 30 camels and 50 camels. Then come the individual categories. The winner of the most obedient camel will take home 50,000 Saudi riyals. But, of course, the highlight of the festival is finding the most beautiful camel.

You can imagine how intense the competition must be. So what makes a camel beautiful? In the Emirates, the qualities are quite rigid: A beauty camel is admired for its long legs and neck, a shapely hump on the lower back, a large head, thick eyelashes, clear and expressive eyes, pert ears, dropping lips and dark colouring. Of course, it is not all superficial. Points are also given for the camels composure. No bathing suit is needed here; it would only detract from the natural beauty of the camels sleek body. Nor must the camel show off its ability to answer a simple question. And, it does not seem to matter whether the most beautiful camel is a female (most are) or a male. But that is not the most shocking thing.

Given the prestige of having the most beautiful camel and a very large monetary prize, it should not be surprising that some owners cheat. After all, the entire Russian team is being kept out of the Olympics for their history of drug enhancement. But prepare yourself for a shock: there is corruption in Saudi Arabia. I am not referring to the arrest and detainment of some of the kingdoms wealthiest individuals, but only about camels. A botox scandal has eliminated a dozen camels from the Saudi competition. A source in the Emirates, however, indicates that such a scandal could not happen there, since the contestants (owners rather than the camels, of course) must swear on the Quran about their ownership and the camels age. 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. Maybe this test should be given to all the Muslim leaders in the region to bring in an era of peace.

The festival website informs us that camel racing is the most popular sport in Saudi Arabia, which I suspect will come as surprise to Ronaldo. Camel racing in the Arabian Peninsula today has changed a bit from the glory days of the Bedouins. There are defined fenced-in tracks, alongside which men (in Saudi Arabia it is still only men) race their cars and cheer on their favorites. Instead of imported thin Somali boys, the jockeys are mechanical. Camel racing has evolved with moral intent in the age of Star Wars.

Beyond being popular, the key logo of the festival declares that camels are civilization (al-ibl hadara). Before there was a central state that settled down the Bedouin tribes in eastern Arabia, they constantly raided each others camels. Now that the Al Murrah and the Dhafir have subdivided into the Bani Toyota and Bani Nisan, the ubiquitous Land Cruiser (or even a Bentley) would seem to be a more apt metaphor for the de facto civilization of contemporary Saudi Arabia.
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TeleSur |  

The explosion took place in an area near many embassies and government buildings.

A bomb hidden in an ambulance killed at least 40 people and wounded about 140 at a police checkpoint in the Afghan capital Kabul Saturday, in an area near foreign embassies and government buildings, officials said.

The Taliban 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.

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.

A spokesman from the public health ministry confirmed 40 dead and 140 wounded had been brought to city hospitals, and victims were still being brought in, according to local news agency TOLO.

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 center.

A plume of gray smoke rose from the blast area in the city center and buildings hundreds of meters away were shaken by the force of the explosion.

Via TeleSur

-

Bonus video added by Informed Comment:

ODN: Taliban ambulance bomb kills 63 in Kabul, Afghanistan
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By Leif Wenar | (The Conversation) |  

Donald Trump tweeted something true recently. Responding to the protests in Iran, the US president stated that The people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered. Trumps point is correct: what vice-president Mike Pence called Irans unelected dictators really have been stealing the oil that belongs to the people and spending the money for their own purposes, including (as Trump also said) to fund terrorism abroad.

h/t Wikimedia

Though right about Iran, Trumps tweets have been too selective. In neighbouring Saudi Arabia, an ally of Americas, the elite spends public money gained from selling off the countrys oil. There, as in Iran and elsewhere, the peoples wealth is being stolen and squandered by the few who enrich themselves on its profits.

This is the biggest story that almost no one is reporting. In dozens of countries around the world, authoritarian regimes and armed groups are selling off the oil that belongs to the people, and using the money to fund repression, corruption, conflict and terrorism.

Oil is the worlds largest traded commodity by far, so the amounts going to these autocrats and militias are gigantic: hundreds of billions of dollars a year. Many of the crises in the headlines over the past few years  coming from Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Russia and more  have been powered by money from selling oil stolen from citizens.

Oil belongs to the people

The odd thing about this story is that nearly everyone agrees that a countrys oil belongs ultimately to its citizens. In America, this is a bipartisan idea, declared by both George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. And it is easy to find leaders of many other countries saying, the oil belongs to the people  the leaders of Britain, Australia, Mexico, Ghana, and even Iran, for example, have declared just this. The principle is also enshrined in dozens of national laws and constitutions. And 98% of the people in the world live in a country that has signed one of the main human rights treaties, which say that all peoples have the right to control their countrys natural resources.

If the oil belongs to the people, then no one should be able to sell it off without their possible consent. But thats just what the worlds autocrats and armed groups are doing. When I investigated this issue for my book Blood Oil I found that oil sold off beyond any possible consent of the people accounts for more than 50% of the worlds trade. Over half of the oil in global trade is literally stolen goods.

This oil is being stolen not only from headline countries, but also from places like Equatorial Guinea where the president has allegedly had his political opponents tortured in one of the worlds worst prisons, and Angola where the elite live in luxury while the countrys children die from poverty at one of the highest rates in the world.



Fabian Plock / shutterstock



Leftover laws

The source of the problem is an archaic law left over from the days of the Atlantic slave trade. This is the law, versions of which exist in every country, that makes it legal to buy the natural resources of other countries from whoever there can control them by force. So, to take one example, when Saddam Husseins junta took over Iraq in a coup years ago, Americas law made it legal to buy Iraqs oil from them. And then in 2014 when Islamic State (IS) took over some of those same wells, all countries laws made it legal to buy oil from IS (thats why sanctions had to be imposed: to block legal purchases from IS).

This law is so ancient we take it for granted. But it makes no common sense. If an armed gang takes over a gas station, after all, no one thinks it should be legal for us to buy the gas from the gang. But our laws do put us into legal business with whichever foreigners can control oil by force. Over recent years the average American family has sent up to US$250 annually to foreign authoritarians and armed groups, just by filling up their cars.

The obvious solution would be to make it illegal to buy oil from anyone who is not at least minimally accountable to the citizens of their country.

That might sound difficult. But in fact the movement has already started. A senator in Brazil has just introduced legislation which would make it illegal to import oil from authoritarian or failed states  and would prevent its national oil company from signing any new contracts with autocratic regimes.

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world. Its a lot poorer than Western countries, and in the midst of a financial crisis and corruption scandal much worse than anything in the UK. If Brazil can discuss a ban on stolen oil, why cant Europe? Why cant Britain? Why cant the US?

Leif Wenar will be discussing his work at the event Blood Oil taking place at Second Home, London on January 31.

Leif Wenar, Chair of Philosophy & Law, Kings College London

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
The owners of Elderberry Pond, the Legos said theyd always wanted to own a farm, and in 1983, the couple purchased 100 acres on Center Street Road in Sennett. Then, two years later, they opened a small store on the property, thinking it would be a nice way to sell their goods.

As we started to do more salads and things to sell in the store, people would come in and say, Is there a place we can sit down somewhere? Lou Lego recalled. And it evolved into this restaurant, which was entirely new to us. ... It turned out to be a lot more than we ever anticipated.

Since opening the Restaurant at Elderberry Pond in 2004, the Legos said theyve experimented with hundreds of crops for their menu. But now, instead of cooking based on what they grow, the Legos grow based on what they cook.

For example, Lou Lego said their son, Christopher  the chef at Elderberry Pond  wanted to make a garlic bruschetta for the menu, but the garlic they grew wasnt ideal for his recipe. So, in order to find the best one, the Legos planted 17 varieties of garlic for Christopher to try.
Speaking after the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Assocition (INHFA) conference in Carrick-on-Shannon, convened to discuss the expansion of forestry in the western region, MEP Luke Ming Flanagan said that the core policy objectives of the forestry strategy must be reassessed and redirected.

The forestry program of 2014 - 2020 set the roadmap for the issues now coming to the fore and Mr Flanagan notes that, for the first time ever, non-farmers and institutional investors were given the same level of premium support as the farmer.

"This equates to, in some instances, a premium increase in excess of 200% to non-farmers," he said.

"This coupled with the eroding of environmental schemes in Rural Development has driven the hidden agenda of the last two administrations in relation to land use in the west of Ireland. The overarching policy of substantial expansion of the dairy industry with a corresponding increase in forest cover to offset increased agriculture emissions must be questioned and challenged. It is unjustifiable to continue down this road permanently altering the landscape and depopulating the area stated the MEP. In addition the manner in which this is being carried out, a foreign company is brought in, given access to EIB finance at preferential rates raises its own questions," he added.

"Have the Department taken account of the EUs Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive when implmenting this forestry program?" asked Mr Flanagan.

He notes the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, as the programming authority, must assess the likely significant effects of its plans and programmes on: the environment, including issues such as biodiversity, population, human health, fauna, flora, soil, and water including secondary, cumulative, short, medium, and long-term, positive and negative effects.

"Given the obvious breach of this regulation and lack of consultation thus far it is unhelpful and disingenuous of others to claim the farmers legitimate concerns will be addressed in a review of the program. A review has already been undertaken in 2017, NGO report that detailed submissions they submitted detailing the concerns now being raised were completely ignored, farm families deserve better that empty promises," he said.

"This deliberate manipulation of land use must end, and the integrity of our rural areas must be maintained and supported equally. Farm supports must give the farmers options as to which type of enterprise they wish to engage in not skewed in a manner which drives farmers down a cul-de-sac leaving them with only one option," concluded the MEP.
A judge has slammed senior garda chiefs over its attempts to prosecute a support teacher for allegedly assaulting a pupil at a Co Longford primary school.

The teacher, who was cleared of any wrongdoing by Judge Seamus Hughes, had been charged with assaulting a 12-year-old boy on November 15 2016 under Section 2 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.

The case was brought before last Friday's sitting of Longford District Court with both the accused and victim giving direct evidence in the witness box.

It had been alleged the boy had been struck across the chest by the teacher for failing to walk on the correct side of the corridor as he attempted to return to class from swimming.

He said while climbing to the top of a set of stairs he noticed the teacher exiting a classroom on his left.

In his attempts to move over to the right hand side of the corridor, the sixth class pupil told Judge Hughes he sustained a blow to his chest.

She (teacher) said I make the rules of getting on the right hand side of the corridor.

She pointed her hand and went like that into my chest, said the boy, as he made a striking gesture to the judge.

The pupil added that the teacher followed him into a nearby classroom where other students were waiting for class to begin.

He continued by revealing at that stage a second teacher had entered the room as his alleged aggressor endeavoured to reveal what had just occurred.

She (defendant) said: Whats his name?.

She said He thinks he can make the rules of the school.

After the teacher left the room, the boy said he raised his hand in an effort to tell his class teacher about the alleged incident.

As he wiped tears from his face, the boy said he showed his chest to the teacher, which, by that stage he added, had a big red mark on it.

Later that afternoon, the boy returned home to inform his mother of the alleged episode.

That evening, the victim, together with his mother and older brother visited their local GP who examined the child before the matter was reported to gardai.

Under direct questioning from defence solicitor Martin Cosgrove, it was claimed the boy had ben mistaken about what had transpired and that the incident had taken place in full view of his classmates.

The whole class were in the corridor, said Mr Cosgrove.

It wasnt only you. At no stage did she (teacher) swing a fist and thump you in the chest.

The boy denied the assertions put to him, insisting the teacher had in fact purposely hit me.

He added: She did hit me in the chest.

I didnt refuse to go over to the right hand side (of the corridor).

Before hearing from the accused, Judge Hughes said he wanted to listen to the schools principal about its own internal discipline procedures.

In outlining the schools code of behaviour, the principal said while there wasnt a direct policy over students walking on the right hand side of the corridor, there was an observance introduced by his predecessor for the orderly transitioning of over 300 pupils from class to class.

The teacher at the centre of the alleged incident told the court she had been confronted by a group of students near the top of the stairs as she left a classroom.

He (victim) was at the start of the group and the rest were behind, she said.

They (pupils) were quite boisterous after having fun in the pool and on the bus.

Due to the size of the crowd approaching her and the lack of space available on the corridor to get past, the teacher said she simply instructed the pupils to move over to the right, signalling to them as she did so.

As the group approached me I said quite loudly and clearly to walk on the right hand side of the corridor as it was the school rules, she said.

I probably did (put out arm) as there was a large group coming at me.

It was at that stage the alleged incident took place, she continued.

Most (of the class) started to shuffle over to the right and as (victim) started to shuffle over to the right it seems he touched my hand, my arm or whatever it was.

He was brushing past me, but he didnt shoulder me and neither did I to him.

The teacher, who maintained she had not crossed paths with the boy prior to the alleged incident, repeated her solicitors earlier claim over the innocence when questioned by Judge Hughes.

I absolutely did not, was her reply when asked by the judge if she had intentionally struck the boy.

She also told him of her previous unblemished record in a profession that dated back more than three decades.

I actually started the year corporal punishment was disbanded, she said.

Taking time to weigh up his thoughts on the case, Judge Hughes admitted the issue represented an exceptional one with his ruling potentially being a career ending one.

In that respect he quizzed Inspector Declan Rock as to why the case had been directed for prosecution at garda management level and not by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

I want to know why it was decided internally and I want to know why the prosecution guidelines werent adhered to.

Inspector Rock said he was not in a position to answer that question, saying: I cant say they (guidelines) werent adhered to.

If it landed on my desk, I would have sent it to the DPP.

Judge Hughes, replied, as presiding judge he had to determine beyond any reasonable doubt that the teacher accused of assaulting the child had done so with intention and recklessness.

In casting his ruling, the judge said the evidence provided fell way below the parameters set down under Section 2 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

Judge Hughes also stressed that had the case file been sent to the DPP, the case to all intents and purposes would never have been determined in the way it was.

After 35 years of teaching service (the defendant) was subjected to a criminal prosecution which has no merit whatsover, he snapped.

Not only has (the defendant) been subjected to a long legal process but indeed the victim, himself, was traumatised by having to enter and be questioned in this (witness) box.

I sincerely hope that when any cases like this in the future arise, it is treated far more sensitively by An Garda Siochana.

With that, the defendant could be seen sobbing at the back of the courtroom as Judge Hughes commended the cases prosecuting garda while absolving her of any blame.

My criticism is directed at her superiors, he added.
Kevin Egan Cars Peugeot has just launched with the opening of their new showroom on the Old Dublin Road, Carraroe, Sligo.

This is an exciting new chapter for Kevin Egan Cars which will see them representing a major brand, Peugeot. It is also a major step for the Kevin Egan Cars brand as they go from an independent dealer to franchised. It will bring with it pressures with brand standards to maintain but the high standards they have already set themselves and adhered to over the last few years are sure to bode well for them.



Kevin started off his business nine years ago with two cars at the side of his house! He is now the proud owner of a thriving empire that knows no bounds and employs more than 20 staff.



His sheer determination, drive and entrepreneurial spirit has seen him go from strength to strength and we have no doubt that this new venture will be no exception.



Taking on the Peugeot Franchise was not a decision that came likely for Kevin. He was proud of his unique business model, which is to import highly desirable used cars from the UK and was selling more cars than ever before. However, with the threat of Brexit imminent, this forced Kevin to reconsider his current business model. The uncertainty of what Brexit will mean for his business, the extra taxes and charges that are sure to be imposed left his current business models survival uncertain. He was not willing to wait 18 months to find out what impact it would have on his business but instead decided to take action now!



Peugeot seemed an obvious fit for Kevin Egan Cars as they are ahead of their field when it comes to innovation and growth which is what attracted Kevin.



Their current portfolio contains an impressive range with many awards currently under there belt with the Peugeot 3008 SUV voted European Car of the Year 2017 and has also recently been announced as Irish Car of the Year 2018, the Peugeot 2008 SUV was voted Irish Small SUV of the Year 2017 and the Peugeot Expert was voted Irish Van of the Year 2018.



Kevin, the Dealer Principal of Kevin Egan Cars had this to say Kevin Egan Cars Peugeot marks a new chapter in the Kevin Egan Cars Empire. I am delight that the award-winning franchise Peugeot came to me. They have a fantastic model range, and their continuous innovation is nothing short of impressive. Over the 9 years we have been in business our staff has grown from 2 to currently 22. I am delighted to be able to provide employment to the county. Its exciting times ahead and we look forward to seeing you all in our new premises soon!



Kevin Egan Cars Peugeot is now up and running with the complete range now available to test-drive at their new premises at Carraroe, Co Sligo.



Kevin Egan Cars is located 10 minutes outside of Sligo Town on the Old Dublin Road.

Opening Hours: Monday  Friday 9am6pm and Saturday 10am-4pm. Phone on (071) 9154442 or see the website for more details on www.kevinegancars.ie
A TWENTY-seven year old man from Limerick has come to the end of an epic three-year, 58,000km cycle around the world.

Will Bennett cycled through his front gate in Caherdavin last week, ending a journey spanning five continents and 58 countries.

During the gruelling cycle, Will battled tropical diseases, bike breakdowns and multiple robberies. Despite it all, he has arrived back home with an overwhelmingly positive view of the world.

He set off in January 2015, after five years of planning, working and saving for the voyage. The route would first take him across Europe, where he endured days of sub-zero temperatures, traversing Poland and western Ukraine during the harsh winter months. Upon crossing the Bosphorus Strait in Turkey, he started a cycle across Asia which would take him over a year to complete.

While crossing Asia, he passed through Iran, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan  where he found that the people were some of the most welcoming in the world.

And in countries like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the biggest danger was accepting too much vodka from the friendly drivers who would pull over and demand that you eat and do shots with them before midday, he said.

But the journey was not without its serious difficulties. On his first day in Mongolia, Will was attacked by a Mongolian bandit.

After receiving seven punches to the head, and with no way to escape, I had no choice but to fight for my life, throwing a punch so hard that it shattered my knuckle and broke my attackers jaw, dislodging two of his teeth and knocking him unconscious in the process.

He underwent surgery on his hand in a Mongolian hospital before restarting his journey again two months later, crossing the length of China in winter, before reaching the more relaxed countries of South-East Asia.

Upon island hopping across Borneo, Sulawesi and Flores all the way to East Timor, he boarded a flight to Australia, where he crossed the countrys red centre, often travelling through regions of the Outback with 200km gaps between water sources.

At one stage I had no choice but to carry 15 litres of water and close to 10kg of food with me. My loaded bicycle was heavier than me, which made for some pretty slow progress on the dirt tracks of the Outback.

From Sydney, Bennett flew across the Pacific to South America, restarting his journey in Colombia.

He travelled south, from the lush jungles of the Amazon to the heights of the Andes in southern Ecuador.

His journey through South America would take him through some of the most remote regions and dangerous roads in the Peruvian Andes, to Bolivia, crossing the plains of Paraguay and the steep forest highways across southern Brazil. Africa was next, the hardest part.

Between the vast, silent deserts of Namibia, dodging the roaming elephants of Botswana, the bandits of Northern Kenya, the stone throwing teenagers of Ethiopia, the howling headwinds in the Sahara and the armed police escorts through Egypt, Africa proved to be a fitting final challenge to the journey.

Last year, Will made a promise to his girlfriend Elana  who he met in Istanbul during his travels  that he would spend the following New Year with her.

He made it back to her hometown in England two hours before midnight on December 31.

Now back at home with dad Willie, mam Phyllis and his sister Anne, Will hopes to write a book on his adventure.
THE RELIGIOUS community is in mourning following the death of a Jesuit priest who previously taught in Mungret College and was closely involved with the Cecilian Musical Society.

Father Joseph Brennan passed away in Dublin on January 8 following a short illness.

In recent years, Father Brennan was based in Gonzaga College in Dublin where he taught History and Philosophy and was a spiritual advisor.

Ordained in 1962, he spent a number of years in Mungret College prior to its closure in 1974.

While in Limerick, he became closely involved with the Cecilian Musical Society where he acted as chorus master for a number of shows.

During this time he established friendships which he maintained for years and was a regular visitor for weddings, christenings and funerals.

Father Brennan was also an accomplished pianist. In later years, his claim to fame would be that he was the understudy for the late concert pianist Charles Lynch with the Cecilians, replacing him for four performances in 1969.

Father Brennan was also a regular visitor to New York for more than 20 years, where he ministered and formed many friendships.

His many friendships at home and abroad remained until his death.

His funeral in Dublin earlier this month saw a large attendance made up of family, friends, his fellow Jesuits and past pupils of Mungret and Gonzaga Colleges.

Pupils for Gonzaga College provided the music for the mass in a moving tribute to a man who would have delighted in the music and its presentation.

Father Brennan is survived by his brother Anrai, sister Denise and a large number of nephew and nieces.

Following his funeral mass at the Church of the Holy Name, Beechwood Avenue in Ranelagh, Dublin, Father Brennan was laid to rest in the Jesuit plot in Glasnevin Cemetry.
A LIMERICK city retailer has hit out at those who attempt to steal from local businesses through fraudulent claims, saying it breaks shops and breaks businesses.

Shane Gleeson, shop manager of Gleesons Spar on Catherine Street, has said that over the past six years, he has seen a collapse in morality and a trend of people who think it is fine to steal using false claims.

Gleesons store has been serving the city centre community for approximately 60 years, but it is not until recent years that people have been engaging in compensation gimmicks at his shop, he said.

People were far more honest years ago and didnt engage in this sort of thing. Really, this form of theft has only been very prevalent for the past five years. They dont seem to see this as a moral problem or that they are doing something wrong, he told the Limerick Leader.

Mr Gleeson said that some examples include the fella who came in, opened a bottle of milk, poured it on the ground and then slipped on it. We have another case where people pour water on the ground and their friend comes in and then slips on that water. Thats a regular gimmick now. These examples are quite common now.

He added: If somebody drops a yoghurt, you really have to race to get to it first because somebody else is waiting to fall on it. But, again, the CCTV footage is killing that off for us.

Ten years ago, he said, shop managers used to worry an awful lot more about shoplifting or trouble on the streets.

The gardai have done a great job getting trouble off the streets. The streets are very safe now, in general. Now our biggest worry is the dodgy claimer. They are coming in, looking for something to trip or fall on. You are there trying to do an honest days work.

These people are trying to figure out how to steal from you, he explained.

And as a net result of this trend, he said, he has spent a fortune on CCTV cameras to tackle the problem.

We have managed to successfully defend most of them. We have found the courts to be very good when you give them the evidence to show that its clearly fraud. And its very obvious in the footage.

We have paid out virtually nothing in the last number of years because we have successfully fought the claims. But before we put in the CCTV, we were spending 20,000 to 30,000 on this form of theft. Thats been eliminated now virtually, he said.

Mr Gleeson opines that fraudulent claimants should go to jail.

I have never seen anyone punished for fraudulent claims, even though I have seen many fraudulent claims in court. Maybe there is a law already there, I dont know. If there is, I have never seen it used.
THIRTY new jobs are to be created in Limerick city centre with the opening of Mexican restaurant Boojum in Patrick Street.

David Maxwell and his brother, the former Ulster rugby star Andrew have embarked on an aggressive expansion of the fast casual restaurant since they purchased it in 2015. And Limerick city is next on their agenda, in a unit formerly occupied by Danske Bank near the Project Opera site.

We have been looking at the Limerick opportunity for a few years now. But its probably only in the last 12 months the idea really gained some momentum, David explained.

Limerick represents the fifth city Boojum is to open in, joining outlets in Belfast, Dublin, Galway and Cork.

Its the firms 13th outlet nationwide.

"Limericks approach to innovation and growth really fits our own ethos as a company. Commercially, we think it will work for us. Its a big investment in a key landmark building in Limerick. Culturally it seems a great fit too, he said.

David thanked those people across Limerick who have reached out to persuade them to locate on Shannonside, singling out former Limerick Leader columnist Nigel Dugdale for particular praise.

The company has also teamed up with the Limerick Chamber to host an event for business people in the city next Wednesday evening from 6.30pm.

Prior to acquiring Boojum, David was a big fan of Mexican food following a stint in Arizona, in the USA.

Our core product is a burrito, but we also offer tacos, nachos and bowls, all fully customizable. Its an interactive experience.

In terms of reviews and what our customers are telling us, we are the number one rated burrito in the UK and Ireland in terms of quality, David adds.

He hopes to open a number of other Boojum outlets nationwide in the coming months, growing the companys headcount from 450 now to over 600 by the end of April.

Theres a lot of momentum in the business at the moment, he adds.

Boojum Limerick will open to the public on Friday, February 2.
A FURIOUS Cllr Noel Gleeson declared there will be war over the state of the countys rural roads at a Cappamore-Kilmallock municipal district meeting.

The Cappamore mans ire was focused on the transporters of timber from forests.

There has been torrential rain and the roads are in a desperate state. They have been drawing wood all winter. They have the roads on my side of the county destroyed. Its a scandal. I never see them in the summer. People pay their road tax and they cant travel the roads.

Im getting complaints night and day. Tyres are getting a fair whack from potholes. Why cant they cut timber in the summer time? The amount of weight in a double trailer full of timber is unreal. They have to be spoken to, said Cllr Gleeson, who called on the council to use a road grader to push the verges back into the ditch.

It will help the water subside quicker, he said.

Cllr Gerald Mitchell said drivers cant see potholes as they are full of water.

People in rural Ireland pay the same tax as everybody else. We need roads in a proper state of repair, said Cllr Mitchell.

Sean Coughlan, acting director of support services, said there has been a 45% reduction in funding of our local and regional roads to County Limerick since 2008 from national sources.

"However, Limerick City and County Council's local contribution approved by the councillors at Budget time has increased," said Mr Coughlan in the meeting.

Executive engineer, John Sheehan said they were fire fighting.

Were getting reports every hour. Ive never seen it as bad as it is at the minute, said Mr Sheehan.

Answering Cllr Brigid Teefys question about inlets, he said they were trying to open inlets with machinery.

The amount of ground that needs to be covered is unreal, said Mr Sheehan.

Cllr Teefy said it is the wettest winter on record and in the circumstances council staff are doing a great job.

Cllr Lisa Marie Sheehy suggested square filling the potholes.

If you just throw in stones they are washed out again, said Cllr Sheehy.

Mr Sheehan agreed that they are a longer term solution but it is far too expensive.

Cllr Eddie Ryan said forestry lorries destroyed a road in Galbally.

250 metres cost 14,000 to rectify. There is 40 tonne on a lorry. They are decimating our roads, said Cllr Ryan.

Cllr Sheehy said she has got complaints of wheels and axles coming off in potholes.

Cllr Mike Donegan said people pay their property tax and cant get potholes filled.

Cllr Teefy said the majority of people live on country roads.

Cllr Gleeson said there will be war and he doesnt blame people.
THE sterling work done by staff at the St Munchins Community Enterprise Centre was recognised with a visit from the Taoiseach.

Leo Varadkar took time out of his schedule on his visit to Limerick to visit the Kileely centre, and in particularly the former St Lelias school to its south.

Since the national school closed in 2015, Linda Ledger and her staff have given the building a new lease of life, operating it as an age friendly campus.

And it was a day of celebration for 12 adult learners there, as they received graduation certificates from An Taoiseach.

It comes two years after his last visit, when he was the Minister for Social Protection.

Then, he promised to Ms Ledger that he would return.

And on Friday, he kept that pledge, viewing the old school which has been transformed into a site for a small hairdressing business, kitchens to serve meals on wheels and enhanced classrooms.

Im delighted to be part of this occasion, Mr Varadkar said, I want to congratulate everyone who received their certificates today. Im a great believer we should help every individual, and every business in each part of the country to reach its potential. We can only do that if you give people opportunities, and make sure everyone gets a fair go in life.

Not everyone gets a fair go, or the opportunities they deserve. But if we can get those two things right, make sure everyone gets a fair go, I think we can build a much better Limerick and a much better country.

Speaking directly to Linda, the Taoiseach said: Its wonderful to see how you can subvert bureaucracy and make things happen!

Youd make a very good politician. Its a skill you have.
FOLLOWING a hugely successful run at the Belltable last January, Canadian theatre company Theatre de la Pire Espece returns to Limerick this February with an exciting new production.

Quebecs foremost object theater company returns to the city in February to work with participants in the Belltable:Connect Masterclass Series.

We are very excited to be coming back to Limerick, Company director Pascale Joubert said.

It was a full-house (last year), packed and people loved it. It was really great experience, he added.

The Masterclass Series runs until May at the Belltable. Ten participants who take the class during the first week of February will work with the company for four days.

At 8pm on Thursday, February 1, participants will present what they have learned during their time on the course in a performance alongside the acclaimed company.

On the night, Theatre de la Pire Espece will also perform Short Forms for the first time in Ireland, three short plays in 30 minutes; Dolls, Size and Hierarchy, The Continuing Story of Jimmy Jones and his Heavenly Truck and Anathema.

On Friday, February 2, Theatre de la Pire Espece artistic director Francais Monty will also present a reading of Leo the Zero in the Belltable at 1 pm.

Written by Monty and aimed at a young audience, Leo the Zero tells the story of Leo, who eats nails in secret between two bad encounters at school and the interventions of his exasperated mother.

Industry representatives will be in attendance at the public reading, which is also free for members of the public to attend. However, booking is essential and recommended.

Tickets for both performances are available online at www.limetreetheatre.ie or by calling the Belltable box-office on 061-953400.
Weve all been hungry  or even hangry  at one point in our lives, but is there a scientific explanation for this phenomenon? And might there be some hidden value to this otherwise irritating feeling? A new study explores, suggesting that our gut helps us make good decisions and come across as smarter than we really are.

Share on Pinterest Our gut may function as a kind of memory that guides our decision-making, shows new research.

Since the times of Plato, us in the Western world have been taught to think that were rational beings, far superior to animals, and that our emotions and appetites are, to use Platos famous allegory, an unruly horse that our virtuous self-needs to keep in check with the help of reason.

But, as the field of cognitive sciences evolves and we learn more and more about our bodies and brains, we find out that nothing could be farther from the truth.

Neuroscience shows that most of our decisions are emotional, not rational (although our efforts to post-rationalize are pretty ingenious, to say the least) and our brains are prone to a myriad of biases that hijack our decisions without us even knowing.

So, while we may like to hold on to our noble narrative and delude ourselves into thinking were intellectually sophisticated and so much better than our fellow animals, new research brings more evidence to the contrary.

Not only do we share more with animals than we might think, but sensations as basic as hunger drive a lot of our decision making, reveals the new study.

In fact, the research  which was led by scientists at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom  explains that our gut is capable of storing memories, and that a feeling of hunger can act as a sort of shortcut for making decisions that appear complex and calculated, but that is, in fact, driven by the proverbial gut feeling.

The scientists came to this conclusion by using a complex computer model that explored an animals chances of survival in environments where food availability fluctuates and where predators are lurking around. Their findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Despite its release and the movie glorifying the courage, bravery and valour of the Rajput community, the Karni Sena does not seem to be in a mood to let the controversies die down anytime soon.

From burning and attacking buses, vandalizing public property to wrecking havoc in various parts of the country, the Karni Sena has showed with its actions that it can go to extreme lengths to put a ban on Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Padmaavat'; so much so that they burned down a car of their own group member (yet, no one looked at their determination and instead said 'jaisi karni waisi bharni').

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However, after failing to put a ban on the release of this magnum opus, looks like the Karni Sena has decided to go for the ultimate 'eye for an eye' strategy by stepping inside the director's shoes. Reportedly, in a recent press conference, the Rajput Karni Sena has announced that they will now make a movie on Bhansali's mother. And they have even decided a name for the movie. It will be titled 'Leela Ki Leela'. The film will be directed by Arvind Vyas and the script work has already started.

BCCL

The Karni Sena leader, Govind Singh Khangarot, said, Bhansali has insulted our mother Padmavati, but we will ensure that he feels proud of the movie we will make. He further added, As our country gives right to expression to everyone, we will ensure that this right is used to its fullest. The choice of words sure is hilarious and ironic, given how they spent the past few days protesting the movie's ban.

Viacom 18 Motion Pictures

The movie will most probably be shot across Rajasthan. Well, if we go by the conditions that Karni Sena earlier raised during 'Padmaavat's making, isn't this going to be distortion of facts? Since everyone knows that Bhansali was born in Mumbai and his family is Gujarati?

BCCL

Since the Karni Sena is making a movie on Bhansali's mother, shouldn't they too take permission from Bhansali and even if refused, allow him to go and vandalise the sets of 'Leela Ki Leela' too? Shouldn't they too agree to CBFC's innumerable cuts and Bhansali's demand for changing the movie's name and removing scenes that he does not like?

Well, it will only seem fair if this happens. But, we guess only time will tell how the entire event unfolds. Until then, let's wait for Bhansali's reaction to this news.
The life of our Indian Army jawans is certainly not easy. While they safeguard our borders, there is a constant gamble, where their peace of mind and life is concerned and they have to find means to find things that are therapeutic, things that take them away from the nuances of war and combat.

(c)Indiatimes

One such thing that they certainly miss is some great home cooked food and while they're protecting our borders, at the remotest of areas in the country, there really isn't any scope for a proper home cooked meal, especially the one that is made by their own mothers, or as we usually say- 'maa ke haath ka khaana'.

Getting a taste of real 'maa ke haath ka khaana' seems next to improbable for them since they're really far away from their own mothers and the closest semblance of anything that tastes remotely of home is their bottles of homemade pickle they keep tucked away, in their luggage, to get the real essence of mom's cooking.

(c)Indiatimes

Recently though, Fortune Food made their dream to taste food cooked by their mom, turn to reality. How, you ask? A surprise visit was arranged by the mothers of the Jawans who're posted at the Srinagar Base Camp. The mothers arrived at the Base Camp and cooked their favourite dish, the ones enjoyed by their sons, at the Camp.

The moment captured was quite overwhelming and the element of surprise and excitement, was quite emotionally packed. This is definitely the sweetest effort made by Fortune Food, to connect mothers to their children, who are fighting at the border, putting their lives in danger, so we can all sleep peacefully. Kudos, to such a great effort! Truly, ek sachi koshish!

Watch the video below, and get all teary-eyed!
There is no scientific tool to measure the inhumanity of humans except comparing them to each other. Gang violence is one of the most talked about issues all around the world and here we uncover some of the most dangerous gangs nobody even dares to mess with.

1. Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)

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Absolutely nothing is off-limits for this California based gang. Its founding members were a group of refugee Salvadorians. This gang with an average headcount of 70,000 includes merciless beasts that are ready to murder women and children as well. They are known for contract killings and dealing marijuana with operations throughout North and Central America.

2. Cosa Nostra

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Cosa Nostra is an Italian phrase which translates to "our thing" in English. It is the Sicilian Mafia, whose roots can be traced back to the early days of New York City's lower east side. Its members call themselves "men of honour", but the public addresses them as "Mafiosi( roughly translates to swagger)". It is claimed that they have around 25,000 members and reportedly 250,000 "affiliates" around the world. The Mafia's primary functions are protection racketeering, settling illegal disputes, and handling and sorting illegal agreements and transactions. To capture the vibe of Cosa Nostra re-watch Godfather.

3. Sinaloa Cartel

 ibtimes

The Sinaloa Cartel is as dangerous as they come. A Mexican gang notorious enough to murder people on camera and post it online, they have established their name as one of a fabled drug cartel. Its CEO, also known as El Chapo, Joaquin Guzman Loera was included by Forbes on its list of most powerful people in the world. He is so powerful that he managed to escape the world's most secure prisons twice.

Even the fact that he is currently under arrest, didn't slow-down the gang's usual dealings of extortion, kidnappings, human trafficking, murder and any other cashable crime.

4. Bloods & Crips

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Two African-American street gangs; Bloods & Crips where one is very rarely mentioned without the other. There is too much to cover about these two deadly gangs who control Los Angeles, California. Here's a gist, Bloods was formed to fight the terror of Crips in 1972. Bloods stands for "Brotherly Love Overrides Oppression and Destruction and Crips for "Community Revolution In Progress." Both Crips and Bloods are two gang cultures with multiple sub-gangs called sets. Each set has its own rules and a leader, and functions independently. Bloods are identified by the red color worn by their members. In an attempt to overpower Crips, the Bloods became increasingly violent. Today both these gangs are equally feared in the States.

5. Los Zetas

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This Mexican cartel is considered the main rival of Cosa Nostra. They have the biggest share in illegal drug affair in not only Mexico but also a major part of United States. They are responsible for mass murder and incomparable destruction to sustain their drug business.

6. 18th Street Gang

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It is a rival street gang of Bloods & Crips. What differentiates it from the other street gangs is that they are a multi-ethnic (largely Central American and Mexican) transnational criminal organization. It has been reported that on average every day someone in Los Angeles Country is assaulted or robbed by an 18th Street Gang member. They are alleged to have a kill count as high as three times as any rival gang. What makes them even more dangerous is their sophistication. Every member is made to follow the rules and orders of the leader.

7. Mungiki

 Vice

From being a banned ethnic organization, Mungiki moved to be a gang-cum-cult. They hold Kenya under terror with kidnappings, machetes, spears, arson, and poison. Since mystery is their biggest asset, naturally Government has no fixed records of their operations. In the past, their members practised a ritual of bathing in blood. During the past few years, their reported crimes involved numerous violent beheadings and forced female circumcisions. A severed human head on a stick represents the ideals of Mungiki.

8. United Bamboo

 Exploredia

United Bamboo aka Zhu Lien Bang is a Taiwanese gang having ties with few of the biggest, baddest gangs across the globe. These relationships ensure the smooth sail of their illegal, black-market network. They murdered a journalist in his own garage once, according to ForeignPolicy.com.

9. 14k Triad

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Triads are based at Hong Kong but functioning globally in the illegal drugs trafficking. That being their primary business, they are also involved in human trafficking, illegal gambling, drug trafficking, counterfeiting, weapons trafficking, prostitution, kidnapping, money laundering, loan sharking, extortion, robbery, and murder. It has 20,000 members spread across the planet.

They have inspired movies and are known even by the civilians.

10. Aryan Brotherhood

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A gang whose terror is felt even amongst the criminals. The Aryan Brotherhood is mostly a prison gang, and thus stay concealed to the outside world. They are people filled with absolute hatred and are known for giving people the most painful deaths. They are held responsible for 1/4 of prison murders in the United States. They were founded in 1964 in San Quentin prison near San Francisco. Since 1964 they've earned the distinguishable title of the most violent extremist group in the US, by the Anti-Defamation League.
The new details not only shed light on what may have triggered the incident, but may also help to explain how five other...
In a new episode of the Fox Business Network's show "Strange Inheritance," host Jamie Colby helps Matt Litavsky unravel the mystery of his father's 1967 marina blue Corvette Stingray.

Keith Litavsky made himself a deal before he shipped out to Vietnam: if he got back alive, hed buy himself his dream car. So he banked his combat pay, and when he did come home, the blue Corvette awaited him.

The car has only 8,000 miles, so it's truly in mint condition. But it's missing a fiberglass dimple, about the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen, that's usually found under the hood. Is the car truly a collector's find worth $600,000? Or has it undergone extensive body work?

The episode premieres Monday, January 29th at 9PM/ET and you can watch a clip below.

Watch the latest video at video.foxbusiness.com
EDINBURG - A former priest accused of killing a Rio Grande Valley beauty queen in 1960 was found guilty of murder with malice aforethought Thursday after a jury deliberated for about six hours.

John Feit, now 85, sat stone-faced and showed no emotion as he was convicted of killing Irene Garza, a 25-year school teacher, when he was 27 and serving as a fill-in priest in the Valley. Family members of the victim hugged each other after the verdict was read.

Garza was last seen going to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in McAllen where Feit heard her confession. Her body was found five days later in a canal. Autopsy results showed she had been raped while unconscious and died of asphyxiation, likely from suffocation.

Garzas grisly killing during Holy Week 1960 haunted South Texas for decades and was the subject of a 48 Hours television special.

Feits conviction brings an end to one of the oldest cases in the Hidalgo County judicial system, but leaves unresolved allegations of a deal cut between the district attorney and church leaders to stop the investigation into Feit and avoid a scandal.

The trial had been expected to take up to two weeks, but ended Wednesday after five days of testimony.

This is a case about betrayal, murder and a cover-up, said Assistant District Attorney Michael Garza, lead prosecutor, in closing arguments Thursday. (Feit) was a wolf in priests clothing.

Garza, no relation to the victim, described Feit as a predator set loose on the young, devout women of McAllen, then a small agricultural community where no one doubted the moral authority of the Catholic Church.

In his closing, Feits attorney O. Rene Flores was critical of the lack of physical evidence linking Feit to the crime, and pointed out conflicting eye witness testimony that placed Garza at the church after the attack is thought to have occurred.

Much of the evidence appeared circumstantial, and Flores questioned witnesses who waited decades to come forward with testimony, including Father Joseph OBrian, an assistant pastor who told a Dallas Morning News reporter in 2004 that he elicited a confession from Feit.

Responding to the lack of physical evidence, Garza noted that even OBrien, now deceased, was complicit, helping dispose of items found at the rectory belonging to the victim, Garza said in his closing.

How can you test what you cant collect? Garza questioned. The cover up continues.

The elderly Feit added to the courtroom drama Wednesday when he briefly considered taking the stand to address "several things that have been said about me that I feel like I need to correct. He decided not to testify on the advice of his attorneys, he said.

Garza was a second-grade teacher who had been Miss All South Texas Sweetheart in 1958 and a former prom and homecoming queen at what then was Pan American College.

The cold case lay dormant for decades until Dale Tacheny, a former monk at the monastery, contacted San Antonio police, claiming that years before Feit had confessed to putting Garza in a bathtub at the pastoral house. As he left the room Feit heard her say, I cannot breathe, Tacheny testified.

He felt no remorse for what he had done, Tacheny said, only that he was haunted by the sound of Garzas heels.

OBrians testimony came later.
A Bexar County Sheriff's Office Detention Deputy was arrested Saturday and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, according to the BCSO.

Clayton Burrell Saunders, 44, was arrested Saturday afternoon by San Antonio police after a warrant was issued for him earlier that day, according to a statement released by BCSO. The arrest came after a no-contact order was issued against him on Jan. 24. Saunders was then placed on administrative leave that same day, according to the statement.
THE African Development Bank (AfDB) is pleased with Zimbabwes economic policies and could soon start extending critical funding to the country.

A high-level delegation from the bank will be in Harare soon for major talks with Government, with resolution of Zimbabwes external arrears featuring in those discussions. Focus will also be on energy, agriculture, infrastructure development and youth enterprise  areas the multilateral financing institution has shown keen interest in.

Zimbabwe has not been accessing direct funding from the AfDB, World Bank and IMF on the back of arrears of US$1,8 billion. US$627 million of this sum is owed to the AfDB whose economic interventions in the Southern African nation have been restricted to grants and capacity-building.

Now, President Emmerson Mnangagwa administrations strategies  like prudent fiscal control and improving the business environment  have caught the institutions attention.

The IMF is also keen to re-engage on arrears clearance and fresh funding. Industry, Commerce and Enterprise Development Minister Dr Mike Bimha said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) here last week that the AfDB had noted Government efforts to engineer economic development.

Dr Bimha said this after a meeting between President Mnangagwa and AfDB president Dr Akinumwi Adesina.

The long and short of it is that they are very supportive of our efforts to grow the economy. As the African Development Bank, their take is that there is a lot of potential in Zimbabwe, but that potential alone cannot take us out of the challenges that we are facing. They said we need support and the right policies. Their issue is that they seem to see that we are now putting the right policies (in place) with regard to issues like indigenisation, arrears clearance and ease of doing business. They said we are putting in place the right environment and what we now need is AfDB support.

Dr Bimha said AfDB officials will visit Zimbabwe soon to discuss arrears clearance after which the bank could resume funding support. Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the WEF had enabled Zimbabwe to market its expansive investment opportunities and attract expressions of interest from international investors.

Davos is a meeting place to make contact; not to conclude deals, but to make contact with business leaders from all over the world. Even the political leaders who are coming here are coming to advance economic interests of their countries and not to discuss politics.

Minister Chinamasa said President Mnangagwa had articulated Zimbabwes agenda remarkably and left the gathering in no doubt that the country was open for business.

His Excellency has been very busy; he has had a very busy schedule with respect to meeting and making contact with global business leaders. So, its a good experience, a good platform for us, a good opportunity for us. His Excellency gave a lot of interviews to CNN, BBC and so on, and I think those interviews are going to be impactful in terms of sending out our clear message that Zimbabwe is open for business.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo added: New relations seem to be developing from a bilateral perspective. Different governments are growing familiar and accustomed to the new administration. Already, several companies made commitments and expressions of interest.

Over 3 000 business leaders, senior government officials/policy-makers and social change advocates converged on the alpine town to explore means of resolving major global challenges, among them inequality, climate change, youth unemployment and armed conflict.

In secluded meeting rooms and out in the open, people interacted, argued and exchanged opinion  all in the friendly spirit of engagement and advancement. The forum is an opportunity for international investors to exchange notes on commerce around the globe and for lucrative investment destinations to market their brands.

President Mnangagwa was the first Zimbabwean leader to be invited to the prestigious forum and featured on the panel discussion, An Insight an Idea, with Emmerson Mnangagwa. He met Switzerlands President Alain Berset, IMF head Christine Lagarde, World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva, Dr Adesina, and several African leaders or their representatives.

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FORMER president Robert Mugabes nephew has made a sensational claim about the 1982 murder of six western tourists in Matabeleland North, saying both President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy, Retired General Constantino Chiwenga, were involved.

At the time, reports said the tourists were kidnapped by up to 12 armed men as they were riding on a truck from Victoria Falls to Bulawayo during a safari. The tourists were two Americans Kevin Ellis, 24, and Brett Baldwin, 23, two Australians, Tony Bajzelz, 25, and William Butler, 31; and two Britons, James Greenwell, 18, and Martyn Hodgson, 35.

The killings, which the government blamed on the dissidents, became the justification for the deployment of the Fifth Brigade throughout Matebeleland the following year.

Government claimed that the dissidents said their victims would be freed if the state released senior Zapu officials who were then held on suspicion of treason. There was also a claim that dissidents wanted Zapu leader Joshua Nkomo to be reinstated in government. Nkomo had been expelled from government after the discovery of arms in Zapu farms that same year.

Mugabe blamed the abductions on an isolated gang of bandits saying they were operating on instructions from Zapu leaders . . . Their actions are centrally motivated and are being carried out in order to bring about destabilisation of our country, leading to a possible change of government.

Diplomats from the western countries flocked at Nkomos house to ask him if he could release the abducted six, the suggestion being that he was the leader of the assailants something which incensed the Zapu leader.

Government was to send 2,000 soldiers on aircraft and helicopters to scour the bush near the Botswana border for weeks for the missing tourists and their alleged captors while Prime Minister Robert Mugabes aides offered a reward of $20,000 for information leading to the captives safe return.

The tourists remains were discovered in 1985. Two people were executed for their alleged involvement in the murder.

But, according to Zhuwao, both Mnangagwa and Chiwenga were also involved.

EDiot Mnangagwas gratitude to Margaret Thatcher is founded on how the British Government has assisted EDiot Mnangagwa and Chiwenga to hide their involvement and complicity in the abduction and murder of western tourists in June 1982 in Matebeleland, wrote Zhuwao in his article published in New Zimbabwe.

He added, At that time, Chiwenga was the commander of 1 Brigade in the Region, whilst EDiot Mnangagwa was the Minister responsible for intelligence.

Zhuwaos comments come two days after Mnangagwa told reporters in Davos that he was eager to meet British Prime minister, Theresa May, because he believed she was going to be good to Zimbabwe like Thatcher (PM at the time of the abductions).

 NewZimbabwe
This Real News Network interview with Petra Bartosiewicz of Harpers Magazine discusses Puerto Ricos plans to privatize its debt-ridden public electric utility, PREPA. This decision was announced last week  at a time when close to half of the islands residents still lack power even though Hurricane Maria occurred four months ago. Bartosiewiczs recent Harpers article, Before the Deluge:How Washington sealed Puerto Ricos fate, is well worth your time.

AARON MATE: Its The Real News. Im Aaron Mate. Four months after Hurricane Maria, close to half of Puerto Ricos residents are still without power. Now, a new power struggle is on the islands hands. Puerto Rico has announced it will privatize its struggling electric utility, PREPA [Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority]. Even before the storm hit, PREPA was in trouble. It filed for bankruptcy in July, after incurring over $9 billion in debt.

On Monday, Governor Ricardo Rossello announced that PREPA could no longer operate as it has so far, and will be privatized and sold off within 18 months. Investors who hold a large chunk of PREPAs bonds have welcomed the move, but among its critics are San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, who said, The privatization of PREPA is to put economic development of the island in private hands. The authority will serve other interests.

Well, Im joined now by Petra Bartosiewicz. In her latest piece for Harpers Magazine, she reports on how privatization has been pushed on Puerto Rico long before the storm hit, and its helped bring the island to the dire state its in today. The piece is called, Before the Deluge: How Washington Sealed Puerto Ricos Fate. Petra, welcome. Can you explain what PREPA is and the significance of this announcement that its going to be privatized, something that was not a surprise to many people as this is a move that has been pushed for many years now?

P. BARTOSIEWICZ: Of course. So PREPA is the electrical utility that provides power on the island. Its been a public authority since it was formed in 1941. Like a lot of Puerto Ricos public operations, it increasingly over the decades began to rely on public debt, issuing bonds to run its operations. Even before the hurricane, there were widespread reports that the utility, which is run by a board of directors that is appointed by the governor, so its a political appointees at the top of the authority, had been plagued by years of mismanagement, corruption. The infrastructure that was so decimated by the hurricane was already in terrible shape, even before Maria hit the shores of Puerto Rico last September.

In the aftermath of the hurricane, the utility was a centerpiece of the recovery effort focus because obviously without power, nothing else can be done. At this point, the island, which started in September with no power to any of the residents, now has something around half of the power restored, which is still a long way to go. Since the beginning of the disaster recovery effort, there were talks about privatizing PREPA. This move this week was not a surprise to many I think, but its going to be requiring the bankruptcy judge thats overseeing the financial recovery process in Puerto Rico to approve. The legislature will have to approve it, and also its potentially going to set up a fight with the creditors, the bond holders themselves, who wanted in some ways to see PREPA privatized, but are not eager to see it sold off piece by piece, which is what Governor Rossello has sort of suggested is going to be the plan over the next 18 months.

AARON MATE: Why dont they want it sold off in that way?

P. BARTOSIEWICZ: I think that they want to make sure that theyre going to receive the maximum amount on their investment. I think that its still sort of premature because Im just following this in the news like everybody else, but I think some of the comments that Ive seen suggest that they fear they will not have as much control over the process if its sold off piecemeal to investors. Also, it might be that the valuations wont be as consistent as they had expected.

AARON MATE: Okay. Now this is a big question, but if you could briefly summarize how a utility like PREPA was put in this position in the first place, where it was, where the island was forced to be in a position of so much debt, owing so much money to bondholders it had sold bonds to?

P. BARTOSIEWICZ: Well the island for many decades was kind of set up as a tax haven for corporations and a lot of the economy depended on tax benefits that were offered to corporations, particularly U.S.-based corporations, and most specifically in the pharmaceutical industry who came to Puerto Rico and were given benefits such as not paying taxes on revenue that they generated in Puerto Rico. There was a low labor cost here. The minimum wage was always lower here than in mainland U.S.

The economy grew to depend on these, particularly these pharmaceutical companies. Entire towns were dominated by one industry, which was the production of a particular drug, even. So these long-held benefits then were, started to be rolled back and in 2006, the island entered a recession that it never recovered from. In order to finance, the government increasingly began issuing bonds, bonds that were not necessarily financially smart because they could not necessarily pay them back, which is what ultimately happened. The bond that doubled between I think 2006 and 2015, and by 2015 the island clearly could not meet its bond obligations. It couldnt even pay off the annual amounts that it owed. Thats how we entered this sort of fiscal crisis that led to the creation of the financial control board that is now supposed to oversee the paying of these debts and the restructuring of the entire finances of the island.

AARON MATE: Right. Meanwhile, as you point out in the piece, because of the status imposed on Puerto Rico by Washington, its not, it doesnt have access to the bankruptcy protections that other municipalities like Detroit has available to them.

P. BARTOSIEWICZ: Thats correct. Puerto Rico has a long history as a colonial subject, first of Spain, then of the United States and then eventually it became a commonwealth. But it does not have all the rights of states, which is why theres been an independence movement and a statehood movement in Puerto Rico, because many people believe that they should have those rights of self-determination. Bankruptcy would be something that they could have declared if they were a city like Detroit, but because theyre not, they could not do that. The whole process of the fiscal control board ultimately came about as a way of restructuring the islands finances, but it comes at the price of a lot of independent control by Puerto Ricans of their financial fate, which is something that the people on the island really have resented for a long time because they feel they have the responsibilities of any state or city, but they dont have the rights that go along with that.

AARON MATE: Right. Speaking of things that constrain Puerto Ricos ability to handle the situation that its in, lets talk about the money that has been offered by the federal government, or the lack thereof. Theres been no major bailout and the argument for privatization is that only private investment will help PREPA be able to raise the capital it needs in order to make the necessary repairs. Well, thats true right, but only in so far as the federal government refuses to actually give it money to do so. In other words, privatization is not the only option in theory. Its only the only option if the government will not help fund what Puerto Rico needs.

P. BARTOSIEWICZ: I think its difficult to even overstate the magnitude of the financial crisis facing the island right now. They were in dire straits even before Hurricane Maria hit in September, but now, the island was utterly devastated, the worst hurricane ever to hit Puerto Rico, and the governor estimated that it would require some $94 billion to restructure the island and rebuild after the hurricane. To give you a comparison, thats the amount that he asked for from the White House administration. Texas and Florida were granted $44 billion for their respective hurricane recovery efforts in November, but Puerto Ricos request for $94 billion was deferred with no definite timeline as to when that money would come through and how much would come through.

The Trump administration said that they wanted to do further studies on what was needed. Right now on the ground you have FEMA and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers which are putting billions into the, mainly into the rebuilding of the electrical grid, but its still a drop in the bucket compared to what is really needed overall.

AARON MATE: Right. I mean even if people are opposed to privatizing their public utility, how can they organize and mobilize around it when they dont even have power and theyre struggling to rebuild their lives?

P. BARTOSIEWICZ: Yes, Puerto Rico has a rich history of protest. The independence movement was vibrant for many years, but it has struggled in recent times and I think part of the problem is there is right now just such a low morale in the sense of what are they rebuilding towards? Theres been some 200,000 people have left the island since the hurricane. Already the island was depopulating even before that. Its possibly a moment of a real crossroads, where the island, depending on how they recover from this natural disaster, will be able to set itself up in the future.

AARON MATE: Petra Bartosiewicz, her latest piece for Harpers Magazine is called, Before the Deluge: How Washington Sealed Puerto Ricos Fate. Thank you.

P. BARTOSIEWICZ: Thank you.

AARON MATE: And thank you for joining us on The Real News.
(Natural News) In case you missed it, last week The New York Times once again tried to besmirch and impugn the character of President Donald J. Trump, and what made it particularly egregious is that the paper waited until our president was overseas representing our country at an international gathering.

As Trump prepared to make his America first case to attendees of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the paper of record ran a story claiming that Trump ordered White House counsel Don McGhan to fire special counsel Robert Mueller last summer, but that he only backed off after advisors got him to change his mind and McGhan threatened to resign.

I wont bore you with all the details  you can go read the story if you want  but suffice to say the timing of its publication was extremely suspicious.

Not only did the Times wait until Trump was out of the country, which was done to inflict maximum embarrassment on Trump while he was on a global stage, but it came just as news was beginning to break about another aspect of burgeoning scandal involving [likely] improper surveillance (spying) on Trumps campaign by the Obama regime.

And the story dropped just as Trump said publicly he had no trouble at all being interviewed by Mueller for his bogus Russia collusion probe.

The sum of these events is important.

First, the story. Trump has denied he ordered McGhan to fire Mueller, as has the White House. And subsequent reporting by Fox News, which relied on its own sources, claimed that Trump discussed firing Mueller with McGhan, but there was never any edict handed down from the president to the White House counsel. Further, Fox News noted that after McGhan told the president firing Mueller before the probe had begun in earnest would come back to haunt him, politically. So Trump relented and didnt discuss it any further, though, as the network noted, Trump continued to reserve that as an option if Muellers Russia investigation took an inappropriate turn.

Now, the timing. That the Times would wait until Trump was on a global stage is understandable; the anti-Trump Times has been working overtime since Nov. 9, 2016  the day after the election  to undermine, harm, and hamstring this president. But the timing is also suspicious for its dateline. Trump supposedly had this discussion last June, meaning, whoever knew about it waited until just recently to squeal to the Times. That makes no sense; with the amount of Deep State leaks that have come out of the swamp since Trump was elected, this particular story would have had a lot more impact (for the #NeverTrumpers) if it had been leaked nearly a year ago, right after Mueller was appointed.

Which brings us to the burgeoning scandal. About a week ago, Republicans in Congress began discussing the release of what is being called the FISA memo. Compiled by the House Intelligence Committees chairman, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., it purports to document abuses by Deep State operatives within Obamas FBI and Justice Department to illicitly obtain a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court warrant to spy on Trumps campaign.

If true, not only were those abuses of our system but misrepresenting facts before the FISA court may also carry criminal penalties; reports say that the FBI knowingly used the phony Trump dossier as intelligence to get the warrants.

This memo is reportedly so explosive Republican lawmakers who have read it believe it will prove what Trumps been saying all along: That Muellers investigation is as phony as the dossier. (Related: Judge Napolitano urges Republicans to release explosive, classified FISA memo on House floor: Public is entitled to know.)

I believe that once the American people have the opportunity to evaluate the allegations and claims in this memo, it will become evident the activities of the last administration, the crimes I believe were committed, and the total sham that this Mueller investigation is, built on a false premise and rotten to the core, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., told Fox News in recent days.

What better time for one of the Deep States main media mouthpieces, The New York Times, to roll out a sensationalized story about Trump wanting to fire Mueller then now? Its the perfect cover story to take away from the impact of the memo.

No wonder Mueller wants to interview Trump in such a hurry. Explore more coverage of deep state collusion at DeepState.news.

J.D. Heyes is also editor-in-chief of The National Sentinel.

Sources include:

TheNationalSentinel.com

FoxNews.com
(Natural News) In a recent interview with Natural News founder Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, Idaho congressional candidate Michael Snyder, founder of The Economic Collapse Blog, among other sites, explained why he was running: Ensuring that current and future generations of Americans can live in freedom and prosperity.

Snyder said that one of his biggest influences was then-Rep. Ron Paul, a Texas Republican with very strict limited-government views (an early advocate for draining the swamp before it became popularized by President Donald J. Trump).

Once a D.C. lawyer, Snyder moved with his wife, Meranda, to Idaho six years ago, where he began focusing on writing. After rising to the top of the so-called alternative media, in which he focused exclusively on the promotion of individual liberty, health freedom and small government, he decided it was time to take his game to the next level  especially after Donald J. Trump shocked the GOP and Washington establishments to beat Hillary Clinton in November 2016.

Though he supported Trump, I didnt think hed win, Snyder admits. That makes sense, given the force arrayed against him: A $1 billion Clinton war chest, the entire mainstream media, and the fact that  as we now know  there were unseen forces working behind the scenes to undermine his candidacy (and now his presidency).

[Trump] showed if we work together, if we fight, that literally, anything is possible, Snyder said. So I believe we have a window to potentially take our government back.

On his radar, if he makes it to D.C.: Fights against the vaccine industry, GMOs, the Federal Reserve  all the things the liberty movement supports.

To the issue of vaccines and, in particular, the dangers they pose, the Health Ranger noted that during Trumps candidacy, he spoke out regarding the safety of giving so many vaccines to children so quickly, which he intimated could be linked to the rising epidemic of autism. He even spoke to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. about a commission to investigate vaccine safety shortly before being inaugurated.

But, as Adams pointed out, both men  along with every other vaccine safety advocate  has been savagely attacked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, physicians groups, the mainstream media and Big Pharma for their views, and he says Snyder should be ready for that.

Asked how one lawmaker who would immediately come under siege for his or her views can make a meaningful difference, Snyder said it is possible for anyone to educate the public and raise awareness about vaccine dangers or any issue, given the national platform of Congress.

Besides, Snyder says, hes trying to be realistic about how hed be viewed in D.C. should he win.

Im very rapidly going to become the most hated member of the House of Representatives by the mainstream media, I understand that in advance, said Snyder. Its going to be [like] going into a war zone, politically speaking.

Hes right about that. Trump has been under constant assault by the Deep State and the D.C. Swamp creatures featuring the media in a starring role since he had the bad taste to actually beat the most corrupt presidential nominee ever. And hes the president.

That reality doesnt phase Snyder.

Were not going to Washington to be part of the club, were not going to be accepted or make friends with anyone else, he said. Were going there to fight for the things that we believe in. And, presumably, that would be the things voters want him to fight for.

In order to ultimately get what we want, were going to have to get more like-minded people with us in Washington, said Snyder.

No truer words.

But hell be in good company: Trump has already broken down the barrier, so now in the breach must charge good men and women of character and honor to fill in the ranks behind him.

Like Michael Snyder.

Check out his campaign website for more information, where you can also donate: www.MichaelSnyderForCongress.com.

Watch the full interview here:

J.D. Heyes is editor of The National Sentinel and a senior writer for Natural News and News Target.

Sources include:

TheNationalSentinel.com

NaturalNews.com
Las Vegas casino king Steve Wynn has resigned as the Republican National Committee finance chair, the committee's chair confirmed to NBC News Saturday.



Wynn has been a prolific Republican donor and led the RNCs fundraising efforts during President Donald Trumps first year.

RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement Saturday that she accepted Wynns resignation. The move comes as Wynn faces multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, which Wynn denied.

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that a number of women said they were harassed or assaulted by Wynn, the chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts. One case led to a $7.5 million settlement with a manicurist. The detailed report relied on interviews with dozens of people who corroborate a decades-long pattern of sexual misconduct with female employees.

Wynn has denied the allegations.

Wynn Resorts said it is committed to operating with the "highest ethical standards and maintaining a safe and respectful culture." In a statement sent to The Associated Press, it called the allegations part of a smear campaign related to divorce proceedings from Wynn's ex-wife.

Wynn is the first CEO and founder of a major publicly held company to come under scrutiny since the Harvey Weinstein allegations surfaced.

There appeared to be immediate business implications for the casino magnate. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission said Friday it is launching a review following the allegations published by the Journal. Spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said the commission's investigations and enforcement bureau will conduct a regulatory review to determine the appropriate next steps, adding "the suitability and integrity of our gaming licensees is of the utmost importance."

Wynn is building a roughly $2.5 billion resort in the Boston suburb of Everett.

In a lengthy statement, Wynn and his company both attributed the allegations to a campaign led by Wynn's ex-wife, Elaine Wynn.

"The conduct of Elaine during the course of the pending lawsuits has been shocking and deeply disturbing to me personally and as the CEO of Wynn Resorts," Wynn said.

Devon Spurgeon, a spokeswoman for Elaine Wynn, declined to comment on the allegations in the article or Steve Wynn's allegations responding to the article.

In its reporting, The Wall Street Journal stated that none of the alleged victims reached out to the publication. Instead, the newspaper said it sought out more than 150 people who had worked for Wynn, many of whom did not want to go on record for fear of losing their jobs.

The newspaper reported that Wynn's actions were well known enough that employees would sometimes enter fake appointments in the books to help other female workers avoid him. In some cases, female employees in the salon would hide in back rooms if they knew Wynn was on his way to the casino.

Wynn Resorts Ltd. said there has never been a complaint made about Wynn to the company's independent hotline for reporting harassment.

Wynn has been a prolific Republican donor, contributing more than $600,000 to GOP causes last year, according to the Federal Election Commission. Among his 2017 beneficiaries are Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada whose re-election campaign received almost $19,000 from Wynn and his wife last year.

Heller, once a sharp critic of President Donald Trump, faces a difficult re-election fight this year in a state Democrat Hillary Clinton carried, but where Republican Danny Tarkanian is challenging him in the June primary. Heller campaign aides did not immediately return messages requesting comment on the contributions.

Since 2013, Wynn has contributed nearly $2.4 million to GOP candidates and party organizations around the country, including 2017 special election winners as well as dozens of state Republican Party committees.

In 2016, Wynn contributed $167,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and made individual donations totaling $5,400 each to Republican Senate campaigns of Alaska's Lisa Murkowski, Florida's Marco Rubio, South Carolina's Tim Scott, Texas' Ted Cruz and Wisconsin's Ron Johnson.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Police are looking for a man who lured two different victims to his SUV parked near the Shops at Tanforan in San Bruno and then exposed himself to them, law enforcement officials said.

Officers investigated the two separate incidents around 2:35 p.m. Wednesday, police said. The suspect contacted two different people as they walked in parking lots near the Target and JCPenney stores, according to police.

The suspect lured the victims to his SUV by asking for directions. When they approached the vehicle, they discovered that the suspect was masturbating inside the SUV, according to police.

The suspect is described as being in his twenties and driving a white SUV that might have been a Jeep Cherokee.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the San Bruno Police Department at (650) 616-7100. Information can also be provided anonymously via email to sbptipline@sanbruno.ca.gov.
An 8-year-old girl who was reported missing out of San Francisco Saturday morning has been found safe, according to police.

San Francisco police responded to the 600 block of Cesar Chavez Street on Saturday at approximately 10:25 a.m.

Myers is described as approximately 411, 140-150 pounds and was last seen wearing a black coat, pink shirt, dark blue jeans, purple and pink high top shoes, and two ponytails.

No foul play is suspected, however Micala is considered at risk due to her age.

If you contact Micala or see her, please call 911 immediately

San Francisco police first responded to the 600 block of Cesar Chavez Street on Saturday at approximately 10:25 a.m. after learning that Micala Myres was reported missing.

She was found later, and a follow-up investigation is ongoing.

Police said Micala frequented the south and east sides of the city. No other information was immediately available from police.


Thousands of Bay Area residents gathered outside of San Franciscos City Hall to take part in the 14th annual Walk for Life rally.

The nation-wide event is run by the Walk for Life Organization with the purpose to send a vocal and visual message protesting abortion and to stand up for the lives of unborn children and their families.

Carrying a banner that read "abortion hurts women," a large crowd of demonstrators made their way down Market Street.

"I love women. I know the pain that abortion causes," participant Sarah Williams said.

Organizers of the Walk for Life found it difficult to tell how many people came out but they estimate 50,000 people showed up including counter demonstrators.

The event began with a Roman Catholic Mass and a rally at the Civic Center Plaza where speakers called abortion evil and harmful to women, AP reports.

The march comes a week after President Trump addressed anti-abortion activists at a Washington, D.C. march.

Protesters usually gather every Jan. 22, on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

Associated Press contributed to this report.
Two bodies were found at an Arbuckle home on Thursday and deputies arrested the two womens roommate in connection to their deaths.

Investigators say deputies responded to a home in the 6000 block of Hillsgate Road to discover the body of 39-year-old Kimberly Lynn Taylor inside a freezer and that of Jessica Lynn Mazak, 25, submerged in a large pond on the property.

Martin Ehrke, 49, was arrested that same day in connection to the deaths, Colusa County Sheriffs office said. He, Taylor and Mazak lived in the same home along with other roommates, one which reported the womens disappearance.

Ehrke reportedly left the home Wednesday evening and checked into the Colusa Medical Center, investigators did not say why he needed treatment. He was discharged and later found and arrested at another location in Colusa County.

The victims and Ehrke have a criminal past and have been arrested on drug-related charges, court records show. Investigators also found an illegal marijuana grow and narcotic on the property.

Ehrke appeared in court Friday where a judge ordered him to be held without bail and was assigned a public defender. His next court appearance is in February, where Ehrke will have to enter a plea on double homicide charges.
President Donald Trump will use his first official State of the Union address, according to White House officials, to tout economic progress under his watch while outlining efforts to secure Americas borders, NBC News reported.

His speech Tuesday night will come barely a week after a three-day government shutdown, as both chambers of Congress continue to wrangle over funding for one of the presidents central policy initiatives  a border wall with Mexico, currently part of his new proposal to offer a pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million young undocumented immigrants.

Mired in record-low approval ratings and an ongoing federal investigation into his campaigns contacts with Russian government officials, Trump will look to use Tuesdays address to convince the American people that his White House is on the right track and speak to an anxious nation deeply divided over issues ranging from race and religion to economic and gender-based questions of opportunity.

The White House said this week that the president will strike a "bipartisan tone" in his speech, and urge for greater collaboration. Trump has drawn adversaries in both parties, often sparring publicly with lawmakers on Twitter, calling them names and questioning their political clout.
Maine police charged a former Boston man in the shooting death of a Bangor man earlier this month.

F. "Frank" Daly, 29, was arrested Saturday morning at his current address in Bangor by about a dozen officers, according to police and published reports.

Daly was charged with murder.

The victim, Israel Lewis, 51, was shot to death in his Second Street apartment in Bangor in early January. An autopsy determined he was killed by two gunshot wounds.
Ten months ago, a good Samaritan died trying help a stranded driver on the Dallas North Tollway.

Saturday, in an emotional meeting, that woman met with the good Samaritans family to say thank you.

Julia Zaman was a wife and mother.

She was driving home from a night of shopping when she stopped to help a stranded driver.

She got out of her SUV and was struck by an oncoming car.

Last week, Madeline McIntire, the driver she was trying to help sent a message to Zamans husband Nadeem to share her gratitude. At the time of the wreck, McIntire was nine months pregnant.

"I have contemplated if I would ever send this, but today is the day that I will, the message began. Dear Nadeem, March 27th is a day that I will never forget. Everyday when I take Dallas North Tollway I pass that spot. I am the women your wife saved, it said.



McIntire gave birth to a healthy baby boy a week after the wreck.

Saturday, she and her now 10-month-old son Walter met with Nadeem at his Frisco home to say thank you in person.

She revealed she didnt know until days after the accident that Julia died coming to her rescue.

So many things could have happened and I really believe because she was there in that moment those things did not happen, McIntire said.

She says shes contemplated how to show her gratitude for months. She says meeting Nadeem face-to-face felt necessary.

I needed you to know that she was not alone and I needed you to know that I am thankful and that I am sorry, McIntire said tearfully.

I am thankful that she reached out, Zaman said. It helps.

The driver who struck Julia has been charged with manslaughter.

Her family will mark one year since her death by holding the first annual Glitter Dash 5K in Julia's name.

It will be Saturday, March 31 at 8 a.m. at Hidden Cove Park in Lewisville. Click here for more information.
An olive ridley sea turtle was airlifted to SeaWorld San Diego on Friday to continue rehabilitation after her rescue last October.

The endangered sea turtle, named Coral, was previously housed in the Seattle Aquarium since her discovery on a beach near Salishan, Oregon. She weighs about 75 pounds and is believed to be 18 to 25 years old.

The U.S. Coast Guard flew Coral on a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft that arrived at Naval Air Station North Island Friday afternoon. From there, the SeaWorld Rescue Team brought Coral to their Animal Health and Rescue Center.

It is bittersweet to send her down here to San Diego," Amy Olsen, a lab specialist at the Seattle Aquarium, said. "Its like sending a kid off to college. 'Okay, go off into the world! Good luck!'



When she was found last fall, she was suffering from hypothermia and bacterial infections and entered the Oregon facility in critical condition.

Olive ridley sea turtles typically stay in warmer waters south of Southern California, but can reach temperate regions as far north as Washington coasts.

Coral has been recovering over the past few months and is ready for treatment at SeaWorld San Diego. Both facilities believe Coral will be healthy enough to return to ocean life in the late summer or early fall.
Bal Harbour Police Chief Miguel De La Rosa died Saturday after a battle with cancer, according to a news release. He was 49 years old.

We are incredibly and deeply saddened by the loss of such a dedicated public servant who spent his entire life protecting others, Gabriel Groisman, Mayor of Bal Harbour Village, said in a statement.

De La Rosas police career in South Florida spanned 30 years, the release said. He began police work in the City of Hialeah, where he rose to the command rank of major. He went on to serve with the Village of Key Biscayne Police Department, taking his experience in special investigations and support services with him.

He was appointed Bal Harbour police chief in September 2017 after serving as acting chief in August 2016. He was sworn into office by his identical twin brother, Macos - who serves as the fire chief for Coral Gables.

Marcos De La Rosa sent a message on Twitter saying he was "broken hearted" in saying goodbye to his "twin, best friend and hero."

The Village of Bal Harbour will do everything it can to support his family and honor this remarkable man, father, and colleague, said Village Manager Jorge Gonzalez. We will tread in the bold footsteps of professional policing that he laid down.

De La Rosa is remembered as a strong advocate for community policing and for holding a passion for public safety. He is survived by his wife, Jenine, and two daughters, Alexis and Sophia.
What to Know Indonesian nationals who have gone into a New Jersey church seeking sanctuary from immigration officials say their homes were ransacked

One of the men escaped detainment by going to the church after dropping his daughter off at school this week; several others were detained

It's not known who may have broken into the homes

Immigrants seeking sanctuary at a church in New Jersey say first they were targeted by immigration officials and then their houses were ransacked.

A father who was among the several Indonesian nationals targeted by immigration officers in New Jersey this week says his home was broken into after he sought sanctuary in the Reformed Church of Highland Park.

Harry Pangemanan says he went to the church Thursday because immigration officers had been tailing him for days as he took his daughter to school.

Video taken by Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale of the Reformed Church of Highland Park shows officers knocking at Pangemanans door just minutes after he found sanctuary at the church.

Then on Friday, when his daughter went to pick up clothes for him, she found their house ransacked with a couple of hundred dollars missing, he says.

I think theyre forcing the front door. Either theyre kicking it or they use pry bar, Pangemanan said.

In a similar incident, another Indonesian national who has been in sanctuary at the Highland Park church since October says his house was broken into. Arthur Jemmy shared recent photos with NBC 4 of his home, where someone had kicked in an air conditioner to gain entry. He says nothing was stolen.

Its not known if the mens immigration statuses had anything to do with the break-ins. News 4 has reached out to ICE for comment. News 4 has also reached out to police in Highland Park and Edison to confirm theyre investigating the alleged robbery or vandalism at the two homes but they have yet to get back.



While Pangemanan managed to make it to the church on Thursday, two other Indonesian parents  Gunawan Liem and Roby Sanger  were arrested after they dropped their children off at school.

New Jersey's attorney general wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen Friday expressing concerns over what he called the "deeply upsetting" arrests of the parents.

Attorney General Gurbir Grewal wrote that school areas are exempt from immigration actions under what he called longstanding immigration policy.

"Schools are deemed to be sensitive locations under the policy," Grewal wrote. "Here, the fact that ICE arrested two parents as they were driving away from their children's school is deeply upsetting. I am not aware of any exigent or unique circumstances here that would justify such a departure from ICE's settled policy on sensitive locations."

At a news conference Friday, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy expressed support for Pangemanan  who recently received an award for helping rebuild hundreds of homes in the state after Superstorm Sandy  and others targeted by immigration officials.

"We have to remind ourselves that they were escaping religious persecution. They're Christians who came from Indonesia," Murphy said. "So they didn't necessarily come here for economic opportunity. They're coming basically because they're being marginalized and persecuted. America used to be  and, god willing, will be again  the beacon and have our arms open to folks like that around the world."

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman didn't immediately return a message seeking comment on the arrests from the Associated Press on Friday. On Thursday, ICE said the arrests in New Jersey were routine and weren't based on religion, ethnicity, gender or race, the Associated Press reported.

Highland Park Police stopped by the church Saturday to ensure the Indonesian nationals seeking sanctuary there that they will do extra patrols near their homes to try to prevent anyone else from breaking in.

Pangemanan said he doesnt know how long hell end up staying at the church, and like the others there, he wishes to return to his house. Ill just take it one day at a time, he said.

I still keep looking forward, things are going to work out, and I will get proper paper from the government, Jemmy said.

Members of the church planned to rally during morning service Sunday for the three men in sanctuary there. They said they'd also be rallying for three others in the community who were detained, six others who were deported in the past year, and dozens of others who are living in fear.
An upstate New York college student has pleaded not guilty in the death of her mother, which prosecutors say was staged to look like a suicide.

Corning police this week charged 20-year-old Karrie Neurauter, of Syracuse, and her father, 45-year-old Lloyd Neurauter, of North Brunswick, New Jersey, with second-degree murder in the August death of 46-year-old Michele Neurauter.

Karrie Neurauter, a student at Rochester Institute of Technology, pleaded not guilty Friday afternoon and is being held in county jail without bail. Her attorney had no comment to media. Lloyd Neurauter, Michele Neurauter's ex-husband, is being held in New Jersey pending extradition after his dramatic arrest in Princeton that was caught on camera.

"Mr. Neurauter threatened to jump off a five-story parking garage, but Princeton Police, New Jersey State Police detectives accompanied by a member of the New York State Police were able to talk him out of doing so at about 7 p.m." City of Corning Police Chief Jeff Spaulding said, according to NBC affiliate WETM.



Police say Michele Neurauter died of strangulation at her Corning home. Police say they had previously responded to multiple domestic violence calls there.

Officials didn't reveal a possible motive or method of death.
An elderly couple remained unaccounted for and was feared dead after a fast-moving fire destroyed their northern New Jersey home.

The blaze started around 6:30 a.m. Sunday and was brought under control in about 45 minutes, according to Teaneck fire officials.

Neighbors said the couple, who are both in their 80s, had lived in the home for more than 40 years. Their names have not been released.

One body had been pulled from the home by Sunday evening, when the search was called off for the night. That body hasn't been identified, but is believed to be that of the man or woman.

Crews were expected to pickup their search again Monday morning.

"I'm just appalled. I can't tell you how I feel about it," one neighbor, Ed Glasser, said as he fought back tears.

Cristina Natareno, a health aide who used to care for the woman at the home, said the woman has been a heavy smoker for decades. She said she was on oxygen 24/7 and that there were oxygen tanks all over the house.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, authorities said.

Two police officers who were among the first emergency responders on the scene were treated for smoke inhalation.

No other injuries were reported in the fire, which also significantly damaged two nearby residences.

Top Tri-State News Photos
What to Know A car crashed on Newark Avenue in Jersey City around 3 a.m. Sunday

When police arrived they found a woman's body in the backseat and the driver missing

It's unclear if the woman died before or because of the crash

A deadly crash in New Jersey has investigators searching for answers  and the vehicles driver.

Debris littered the roadway around the badly damaged Honda Accord after it smashed into a guardrail early Saturday morning in Jersey City.

When officers arrived they discovered the body of 24-year-old Khalla Nguyen in the backseat, but the vehicles driver was nowhere to be found, police said.

Investigators from the Hudson County Regional Fatal Collision Unit were seen searching around the sedan with flashlights at the intersection of Newark Avenue and Seventh Street.

It appears the driver fled and that Nguyen, who lived in Jersey City, was a passenger in the car. It's unclear whether she died in the accident or sometime before it.

No other injuries were reported.

The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office is asking anyone with information to call detectives at 201-915-1345.
An investigation is underway after a Drexel University student was sexually assaulted in an off-campus apartment Saturday morning.

The 22-year-old woman told police she was inside her off-campus first floor apartment on the 3400 block of Race Street around 6 a.m. when she was sexually assaulted by an unidentified man who then fled the scene. Investigators believe the suspect gained access to the apartment through an unlocked rear door.

Police say the suspect told the victim his name was "Reek Johnson," possibly "Tyreek Johnson." He is described as a heavily intoxicated black male, between the ages of 20 and 30, with a heavy build, medium complexion and short beard standing 5-foot-8. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a green hoodie sweatshirt and boots.

If you have any information on the incident, please call the Philadelphia Police Special Victims Unit at 215-685-3251 or Drexel University Police at 215-895-2222.

Drexel University's Department of Public Safety is encouraging the school's community to be on heightened awareness of their surroundings and to walk in groups as well as well-lit public areas. They also recommend that all vehicles and homes are locked and secured.


iStock/Thinkstock(MOSCOW) -- Russian police detained a top opponent of President Vladimir Putin on Sunday as thousands of people around the country protested against a lack of competition in presidential elections planned for this spring.



Alexey Navalny, an anti-corruption campaigner who has become Russias most prominent critic of Putin, was seized and dragged violently into a van by police as he tried to join one of the protests that he had called for in central Moscow.



"I was detained," Navalny tweeted in Russian from inside the police van. "It does not matter ... You don't go for me, but for yourself and your future."



Navalny also tweeted a video of his arrest and photos from the protests.



Late on Sunday, Navalny tweeted he had been released by police without any charges being filed, but his lawyer, Olga Mikhailova, told Reuters that he would have to face court at a later date. Almost 300 people were reported to have also been detained during the protests, that nonetheless passed off with fewer arrests than at previous rallies.



The protests, which had been expected in 100 Russian cities, were called by Navalny after he was blocked from the election that is scheduled for March and in which Putin faces no substantial opposition.



In response, Navalny has called for a boycott of the vote. Sundays protests were meant to back the proposed boycott while also tapping into discontent around official corruption and economic malaise. The protests were the first major demonstrations since Russias election campaigning began.



People joined demonstrations from Murmansk in the far north of Russia to the port of Vladivostok, which is seven time zones away. Protests ranged in size from dozens to several hundred people.



In many locations, the protesters were braving blisteringly cold temperatures; one of the coldest sites was in the far eastern city of Yakutsk, where it was 49 degrees below zero.



In Moscow, a few thousand people streamed along the citys central avenue, gathering at Pushkin Square around half a mile from the Kremlin. Several hundred stood there chanting, Putin is a thief and Russia without Putin. Some carried joke signs mocking Putin. One man who was dressed in a Putin mask and wearing a crown walked around the crowd with a bucket asking for taxes and telling people he would take everything.



At least 290 people were detained during the protests, according to OVD-Info, a group that monitors arrests.



There was a markedly heavy police presence in Moscow ahead of the protest, with dozens of riot vans and empty buses parked waiting in case of arrests. Camouflage tents and an army-style field kitchen had been set up near the square.



Hours before the Moscow protest began, police raided the offices of Navalnys organization, the Fund for Combating Corruption (FBK). Police claimed there was a bomb threat at the building, a common tactic used against opposition groups here.



Officers broke in the door to the office as Navalnys staff conducted a live-broadcast on his popular YouTube channel covering the protests. When officers arrived, the staff struggled to read their bulletin over the sound of sawing metal as police cut through the door into their studio. Police had also searched Navalnys campaign offices in a number of cities ahead of the protests.



Compared with previous protests, however, the mass security forces were barely needed. Major protests in March and June saw large-scale arrests, with over 1,000 people detained in Moscow alone in June. This time, fewer than two dozen were detained in Moscow as police largely left protesters untouched. Police ordered demonstrators to disperse but did not move to seize them as at previous rallies.



Eventually part of the Moscow crowd, a few hundred people, began marching in a column toward the Kremlin, chanting Down with the tsar. Police permitted the protesters to get within around 1,000 feet, or 300 meters, of the Kremlin, before most of the column turned back of its own accord and headed into another part of the city, accompanied by police.



The softer approach suggested authorities have adapted their tactics to Navalny, avoiding the mass arrests that had made global headlines last year and instead focusing on detaining the protests' organizers. Demonstrations called by Navalny on Putins birthday in October also saw few arrests.



Sundays protests were seen as an important test for Navalnys significance during the election, now that he has been barred.



Over the past year, Navalny has built a large grassroots organization around the country that claims to have 200,000 volunteers. His investigations into alleged corruption by top officials and members of Putins inner circle, often presented in irreverent videos, have garnered him a big online following. A series of protests that he led last year was the biggest Russia had seen in half a decade.



Navalny had demanded that he be allowed to run in the election against Putin. But in December, Russias election commission refused to register his candidacy over a fraud conviction that he says is trumped up, a charge backed by the European Court of Human Rights that found his conviction was "arbitrary".



Navalny has said he was blocked because the Kremlin is afraid of allowing him to compete.



In December, Putin dismissed Navalny as irrelevant but suggested that he would sew chaos if he was permitted to run.



The boycott called by Navalny is intended to weaken turnout at the election enough to discredit in what is seen as Putins inevitable victory. A number of other candidates are running, including some who have repeatedly lost to Putin and whom critics say have only been permitted to run by the Kremlin to create an illusion of competition.



They are like, fake, Ruslan Borodinov, a 25-year-old butcher at the Moscow protest said of the other candidates. Like an illusion of choice. Theres no one to choose.



Borodinov, who volunteers for Navalnys organization, had traveled several hours from a town outside Moscow.



Others at the rally said they didnt expect it to have much impact but that it was important to show that there are opponents of Putin in Russia.

By itself, I hardly believe that we are going to achieve anything. But its the first step, said Anna Kanunikova, a 32-year-old translator who was at the Moscow protest. If we do nothing we will achieve nothing.



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"Every year we sound like a broken record, and I know you're all hearing us say that year in and year out, but we're frustrated because we don't know what else to do. We've closed schools down, we've laid off teachers, we've consolidated services. Our numbers are getting up to 25 kids a class, (for) high school, up to 30 children a class," Pirozzolo said.

Pirozzolo asked legislators what else districts can do to advocate for their schools. Helming replied, saying it would be helpful for local districts to come together with a unified advocacy message for next year's budget.

"I don't have an answer to that, but one of the things that I'm learning is that it seems like some school districts vary in what component of the (foundation aid) formula they want adjusted, so there's no consistency there," Helming said. "Which makes it really difficult to say, 'Fix the formula.' Fix it how?" Helming said.

Helming also mentioned the 2015 lottery win the Port Byron district has argued is at least partiality to blame for the potential $358,000 loss in state aid the area faces in Cuomo's budget proposal. She said she has been speaking with the state Senate Finance Committee about the issue.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation unveiled a private, backyard skate park in El Cajon Saturday for an 11-year-old battling a rare blood disorder.

More than two dozen community donors and volunteers - some with the Associated General Contractors: Erickson Hall, Front Rock and Santec - helped make Rocco Worley's dream come true.

Rocco has Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), a disease in which the body accumulates too many Langerhans cells, a type of white blood cell, which has caused a tumor in his cerebellum.

The disease is difficult to diagnose and treat, but his father, Scott Worley, said Rocco is on the healing side of things after being diagnosed a year ago in December 2016.

We got news right before Christmas that there is no live disease in his tumor, and that was the best Christmas gift that any parent could ever have, he said.

Scott said when Rocco couldnt skateboard he would make fingerboards and skate in his hospital room, but as soon as he was able he would be outside skating again. Its hard to keep Rocco down, he beamed.

Rocco said scooting and skating with his friends has been his main motivator to get healthy.

"I think it's the best, he said of his private skate park. Like it can't get any better than this.

More than 100 friends and family joined in to watch Rocco try out his new toy, including his parents and his 10-year-old bother Brody.

Along with thanking Make-A-Wish, Rocco had a message for any other kids struggling with a difficult disease.

You'll get through all the hard times, just try and push through but once you're done you'll feel great."
A 16-year-old girl has died days after she was shot in the head in Northeast D.C. Thursday, police said.

Taiyania Thompson was shot inside an apartment after 3 p.m. in the 1000 block of Mt. Olivet Road NE, police said.

Medics took the her to a hospital and she was in critical condition, police said.

She died Sunday.

A 16-year-old girl was shot in the head inside an apartment in Northeast D.C., police said. Officers stopped a person of interest who was leaving the scene. Jackie Bensen reports.

A man who was leaving the scene was taken into custody, D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham said Thursday after the shooting. Police said he is a person of interest. Investigators also talked to witnesses at the scene.

On Friday, police released a photo of a vehicle of interest, a 2017 Kia Sorento SUV with Maryland tag 1DD2833. The SUV may have front end damage.

Metropolitan Police Department

Police said the shooting was possibly a domestic incident and the case is now being investigated as a homicide.

Police are asking anyone with information to call 202-727-9099 or text 50411.
Fairfax County, Virginia, police said a man who barricaded himself inside a home has surrendered after a 10-hour standoff.

They said no one was injured.

Police identified the man as Anthony Moaf, 21.

About 4 a.m. Sunday, Moaf had threatened to kill family members at the home on Ladybank Lane in Herndon, Virginia, near the Fairfax County Parkway, police said.

Police officers arrived and requested everyone stay away from area while they worked toward a peaceful resolution. Police used a robot and gas grenades after Moaf didn't follow repeated commands to surrender, authorities said.

Two family members made it out of the house safely without injuries, but the Moaf threatened to shoot police officers, police said.

One gunshot rang out about 6 a.m., but no one was hurt.

Once Moaf was in custody, police say he became sick on the way to a psychiatric evaluation and was taken to an emergency room.

Stay with News4 for updates.
A man was killed after he was hit by a bus while trying to cross the Capital Beltway in Prince Georges County, Maryland, early Saturday morning.

Maryland State Police said James Albert Gibson, 79, of Upper Marlboro, was struck on southbound Interstate 495 around the Maryland Route 4 exit. Investigators said Gibson was trying to cross the southbound lanes from east to west, when he was hit by a DC Circulator bus.

Police said the bus stopped after the collision. There were no passengers on the bus at the time of the crash.

Gibson was pronounced dead at the scene.

CORRECTION (Jan 27, 2018, 2:57 p.m.) Police initially identified the bus as belonging to Metro.


Rhode Island State Police say two people were killed in a crash in Warwick.

Authorities say the incident happened around 3:30 a.m. Saturday on Route 4. Police say the car went off the road and struck a tree.

Police say two passengers were killed. They say the driver and another passenger with taken to the hospital with what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries.

Police identified the people were killed as 21-year-old Emma Brown age 21 of Wakefield and 33-year-old Lorenzo Smith of South Kingston.

Police say the cause of the crash is under investigation.
Local and state law enforcement lined Langen Road in Lancaster, Massachusetts Saturday afternoon after a 48-year-old mentally ill man holding a knife sent his father to the hospital and then barricaded himself inside.

Massachusetts State Police received a call from Lancaster police at 1:10 p.m. Saturday, asking for assistance with the incident.

State police sent their bomb squad, STOP team (a SWAT-style tactical team) and a hostage negotiator to assist on scene.

"He did initially make the claim that the house was wired for explosives, which is why we called the state police bomb squad, as well as the state police STOP team," Lancaster Chief of Police Edwin Burgwinkel said.

During the 5.5-hour standoff, the suspect could be seen opening and shutting the window as he shouted threats to police.

"We were being extremely cautious and took our time with talking to him and negotiating with him before we took any actions whatsoever."

Anxious neighbors stood outside, watching on as the negotiations took place.

"Making sure that our kids are safe, and we're safe in our home. Do we need to lock our doors and stay inside or is it safe to come out and get in our car and drive down this road," neighbor Jen Carlstrom said. "I'm sure whatever it is, they're taking care of it and hope no one gets hurt."

In the end, state police deployed tear gas through the window, entered the home and took the suspect into custody.

The suspect, who has not been identified, suffered minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital in an ambulance, via police escort.

The suspect's charges are pending as Lancaster police continue to investigate.

Police say he recently moved from Florida to Massachusetts, and that authorities had responded to the Lancaster home multiple times this week.


Researchers have shown that despite effective combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), HIV can hide in the spleen of patients with no detectable HIV in their blood. The study confirming the spleen as an HIV sanctuary is part of a comprehensive collection of articles describing the broad scope and current status of the ongoing global effort toward an HIV cure, published in the fourth annual Special Issue on HIV Cure Research of AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The issue is available free on the AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses website.

David Nolan, BioInforExperts (Thibodaux, LA) and University of Florida (Gainesville) and colleagues from University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine and University of California at San Francisco coauthored the article entitled "The Spleen Is an HIV-1 Sanctuary During Combined Antiretroviral Therapy." The researchers used advanced technology, including single genome sequencing and droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) capable of identifying very small amounts of viral DNA in tissue samples from HIV-infected individuals.

In the article "Natural Products and HIV/AIDS," Daniele Cary and B. Matija Peterlin, University of California at San Francisco discuss the many effective therapeutic compounds derived from natural products, including those able to suppress HIV and reactivate latent virus, as well as a recent report of a combination of 13 traditional Chinese herbs capable of achieving a functional cure.

"If We Build It, Will They Come? Perceptions of HIV Cure-Related Research by People Living with HIV in Four U.S. Cities: A Qualitative Focus Group Study" is the title of an article by Laurie Sylla et al. from defeatHIV Community Advisory Board (Seattle, WA), Project Inform and Delaney AIDS Research Enterprise (DARE) CAB (Los Angeles, CA), amfAR Institute for HIV Cure Research CAB and Collaboratory of AIDS Researchers for Eradication (CARE) CAB, (Palm Springs, CA), The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine. The authors provide valuable insights and perspectives on how people living with HIV view both a functional cure and a sterilizing or eradicating cure. The differences, and skepticism about whether medicine will be able to eliminate HIV from the body, can affect patients' willingness to participate in the HIV cure studies needed to advance biomedical research.

"The 2018 Special Issue on HIV Cure Research contains an excellent cross section of research activity in the field, capturing the current debates and discussions driving the field," says Thomas Hope, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses and Professor of Cell and Molecular Biology at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine (Chicago, IL). "The questions relating to how a cure would impact the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS is especially interesting and informative. It is surprising that many are not necessarily excited that a functional cure for HIV would improve their lives."
Colorectal and bariatric surgery patients benefited from an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program, leaving the hospital sooner and requiring fewer opioids to control pain, according to new research presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists PRACTICE MANAGEMENT 2018 meeting. The paper, and other research being presented, highlight how physician anesthesiologists are leading the way in improving the entire surgical experience for patients - from the decision to have surgery through discharge, recovery and beyond - to help enhance outcomes and reduce costs.

- ERAS program shortens hospital stay: ERAS programs use a variety of methods to ease the effects of surgery and facilitate early patient recovery. They are an important aspect of the Perioperative Surgical Home (PSH), in which a patient's surgical experience is fully coordinated and treated as a continuum of care. Providence Anesthesiology Associates in Charlotte, North Carolina compared the results of 621 patients undergoing colorectal or bariatric surgery who participated in an ERAS program to historical data prior to the implementation of the ERAS. Colorectal patients in the ERAS group stayed in the hospital 2.05 days compared to 4.5 days for non-ERAS patients. Bariatric patients in the ERAS group stayed .95 days vs. 2.15 for non-ERAS patients. Patients in both ERAS groups used significantly fewer opioids after surgery than those in the non-ERAS groups and had shorter stays in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Costs were reduced by 20 percent per case among the colorectal surgery ERAS patients compared to non-ERAS patients. The ERAS program included the following elements: preoperative patient education beginning in the surgeon's office and more extensively at the preadmission testing clinic, carb loading the night before surgery and three hours before the procedure, administering preoperative Alvimopan to restore bowel function after surgery, and employing pain methods other than opioids including transversus abdominal plane blocks to reduce or eliminate opioids after surgery. "Our results demonstrate the benefits of physician anesthesiologists and surgeons working collaboratively to lower costs and improve our patients' outcomes," said Vicki Morton, DNP, MSN, AGNP-BC, director of clinical and quality outcomes at Providence Anesthesiology Associates.

- Pre-surgical consultation with pain medicine specialist eases anxiety for certain patients: Consultation with a pain medicine specialist before surgery may help chronic pain patients and those with substance abuse problems feel less anxious about their post-surgical pain management, suggests a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center study. The study includes 12 spinal fusion patients who consulted with a physician anesthesiologist pain specialist before surgery. The patients either had a history of substance abuse and were on outpatient addiction maintenance therapy, had a history of high opioid use before surgery, or specifically requested a pain clinic consultation. Each met with the physician anesthesiologist, who consulted with the surgeon and patient to formulate a plan for the most appropriate pain management after surgery. That plan was shared with the patient's primary care or pain medicine specialist. The patients reported they were less stressed about surgery, less anxious during the perioperative period and more satisfied with pain control after surgery. The researchers believe this method may help decrease hospital length of stay which could lower costs, as well as improve patient satisfaction. "Some of these patients refuse to leave the hospital after surgery until they feel they are on the right pain regimen, and therefore stay longer," said Trent Emerick, M.D., M.B.A., director of quality improvement and innovation, Chronic Pain Division, in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "We believe that by working to address these issues before surgery we can decrease costs while improving satisfaction."

- Assessing patients for frailty before surgery could prevent bad outcomes: Evaluating older patients for frailty before they have surgery may improve outcomes and should be part of standard anesthesia presurgical screening, say researchers from Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, Michigan. The researchers suggest using a short questionnaire to screen for frailty, such as Fried's Frailty criteria, since frailty can be an independent predictor of postoperative complications. Patients who are identified as frail prior to surgery should be optimized before undergoing the procedure through nutrition, strength training, improving balance and mobility, counseling and medications, the researchers note. "A healthy 80-year-old is not the same as a healthy 30-year-old, but they often are assessed for surgery in the same way," said Laura Lepczyk, D.O., a clinical anesthesia resident at Beaumont Health. "Further, some 80-year-olds are strong and vibrant and others are weak. A frailty assessment before surgery can help providers determine whether a patient is strong enough for surgery and if not, help determine if the patient's health can be optimized to enable the procedure."
PM Narendra Modi to visit Palestine, UAE and Oman from February 9 to 12

New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make a historic visit to Palestine during a trip to the Middle East from February 9 to 12 that will take him to the UAE and Oman. This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Palestine and Modi's second visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after August 2015.

"The Prime Minister will hold discussions on matters of mutual interest with their leaders, apart from participating in other events," the External Affairs Ministry said on Saturday night.

The visit to Palestine comes after the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to India this month. In Dubai, Modi will address the Sixth World Government Summit at which India has been extended 'Guest of Honour' status. The UAE and Oman are home to large numbers of expatriate Indians whom Modi will meet.
Managing Editor

Having lived and worked in Indy on and off since 1977, and currently living in Carmel, I've seen the city change a great deal. I love covering the arts in all its forms, and the places where the arts and broader cultural issues intersect.
Mort Walker, the creator of Beetle Bailey, a comic strip about an Army private who malingered his way through seven decades at Camp Swampy to the consternation of his commanding officers and the delight of his fans in the armed forces and beyond, died on Saturday at his home in Stamford, Conn. He was 94.

His death was confirmed by his son Brian.

Mr. Walker had the longest tenure of any cartoonist on an original creation, King Features, which began its syndication of Beetle Bailey in 1950, said in a statement.

Little did I know when I was drafted that I was going to get almost four years of free research, Mr. Walker recalled in his collection The Best of Beetle Bailey (1984).

The Army thoughtfully sent me to a number of places so that my experiences could be broadest, he wrote. I was a private, a corporal, a sergeant and a lieutenant and I was a goof-up in every rank.
Updated, March 1, 2018: Ed Pawlowski, the mayor of Allentown, Pa., was found guilty of 47 counts, according to the Morning Call, including conspiracy, bribery and false statements to federal officials, for what prosecutors described as a pay-to-play scheme. Mr. Pawlowski, who was re-elected to a fourth term last fall despite the pending charges, is required to step down.

It was not immediately clear what role the meatball testimony played in jurors deliberations.

When is a meatball not a meatball?

That was the question in a federal courtroom in Pennsylvania on Thursday, where the mayor of Allentown, Pa., is on trial for charges wholly unrelated to that beefy fixture of nonnas kitchens across the country.

The mayor, Ed Pawlowski, a Democrat, faces charges of fraud, bribery and conspiracy for what federal prosecutors have described as a contract-rigging scheme. They have said he accepted campaign donations  more than $150,000  in exchange for benefits like city contracts. Mr. Pawlowskis lawyers say that he is innocent, that there were no explicit pay-to-play agreements, and that the case was built with unreliable consultants to the mayor who were crooked themselves.
Homeowners, take comfort: Even the appliances on Air Force One break down.

More than a quarter-century after they were installed, two of the refrigerators on the presidents plane need to be upgraded, and these specially designed chillers arent cheap.

The Boeing Company was awarded a nearly $24 million contract in December to engineer the refrigerators for Air Force One, the Defense Department said.

The two units being replaced came with the aircraft in 1990 and are no longer able to effectively support mission requirements for food storage, the Air Force said in a statement on Saturday.

The units were based on the technology at the time and designed for short-term food storage, the statement said. Although serviced on a regular basis, reliability has decreased with failures increasing.
 Demonstrators turned out across Russia for protests against what they called a lack of choice in the March vote that will almost certainly extend Vladimir Putins presidency. The protests orchestrator, Aleksei Navalny, was detained by force. [The New York Times]

 Saudi Arabias most prominent investor, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, has been freed after being locked up for more than 80 days in the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh. It is widely presumed that he purchased his freedom by handing over a chunk of his immense fortune to the government. [The New York Times]

 A French mountain climber who had been stranded on a treacherous peak in Pakistan was rescued, but her Polish climbing partner remained in peril. [The New York Times]

 Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull released a plan to make Australia one of the worlds top 10 weapons exporters. [The Guardian]

 In the U.S., the government is now funded till Feb. 8. A new focus for negotiations on a budget: Democratic efforts to protect the special counsel in the Russia inquiry. [The New York Times]

 A series of fires and accidents in South Korea, including a fire on Friday that killed at least 37 people at a hospital, cast doubt on President Moon Jae-ins vow to make the country safer. [The New York Times]
DAVOS, Switzerland  President Trump used the World Economic Forum meeting to woo investors and business leaders by reassuring them that America first does not mean America alone. But it was clear in Davos, Switzerland, this past week that geopolitical momentum lay with Beijing, not Washington.

At one end of town, President Michel Temer of Brazil welcomed an unexpected offer from Beijing for Latin American nations to work closely with a Chinese initiative, known as the Belt and Road, intended to spread its economic and diplomatic influence abroad.

At the other end of town, a senior Chinese diplomat helped introduce the prime minister of Pakistan at a breakfast meeting. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi used his talk to praise the rapidly expanding Chinese investments in his country, including to build power stations and a large port.

One of the best-attended speeches at the forum was that of Liu He, a member of Chinas ruling Politburo, who promoted the Belt and Road initiative, also known as One Belt, One Road. Participants here said the Chinese initiative was already rivaling more established, traditionally American-led, international institutions.
HOUSTON  A substantial rise in oil prices in recent months has led to a resurgence in American oil production, enabling the country to challenge the dominance of Saudi Arabia and dampen price pressures at the pump.

The success has come in the face of efforts by Saudi Arabia and its oil allies to undercut the shale drilling spree in the United States. Those strategies backfired and ultimately ended up benefiting the oil industry.

Overcoming three years of slumping prices proved the resiliency of the shale boom. Energy companies and their financial backers were able to weather market turmoil  and the maneuvers of the global oil cartel  by adjusting exploration and extraction techniques.

After a painful shakeout in the industry that included scores of bankruptcies and a significant loss of jobs, a steadier shale-drilling industry is arising, anchored by better-financed companies.
Courtney Elizabeth Carter and John Paul Evangelista were married Jan. 27 at the Harold Pratt House, an events space in Manhattan. Bradley Siciliano, the grooms brother-in-law who became a minister with the American Marriage Ministries for the event, officiated.

The bride, 31, is a sales director of loose diamond trading for White Pine Trading, a diamond dealer in Manhattan. She graduated from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa.

She is the daughter of Denise Carter of Greenwich, Conn. and C. Edward Carter of Palm Beach, Fla. The brides father, who is retired, was the former head of global corporate and investment banking in Manhattan for Bank of America.

The groom, 32, is the head of music and talent for Vevo, the online music-video platform in Manhattan. He graduated from N.Y.U.
Lindsey Megan Housman and Steven Jay Mark were married Jan. 27 by Rabbi Neil Zuckerman at the New-York Historical Society.

Ms. Housman, 31, is an assistant general counsel at Mazars USA, an accounting, tax and advisory services firm in New York. She graduated from the University of Michigan, and received a law degree cum laude from Seton Hall University.

She is a daughter of Caryn A. Bukiet of New York and Donald A. Housman of Andover, N.J. The brides father is the owner of Houses by Housman, a residential developer, in Millburn, N.J.

Mr. Mark, 36, is the director of philanthropy at CancerCare, which provides support to those affected by cancer. He graduated from Hofstra University, and received a Master of Social Work from Yeshiva University.
N.Y.U. is one of a group of educational institutions in the 50 states that has offered to help. Public university systems in New York and Connecticut, for example, have extended in-state tuition rates to students from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as did the City University of New York, which says 78 students are enrolled under that arrangement. Sixty-two students displaced from Puerto Rico are enrolled for the spring term at Miami Dade College. And expensive private universities, like N.Y.U. and Tulane in New Orleans, have given students a free ride for the semester, though they ask that they pay tuition to their home institutions.

But Ms. Godreau said that being able to access such opportunities in the first place requires a certain degree of privilege. She said she found out about N.Y.U.s offer because she was in Tampa, Fla., with her mother, a place where, unlike at home, she had access to the internet. There are plane tickets to buy and high costs associated with living in a place as expensive as New York  the $121 price tag on a monthly unlimited MetroCard made her mouth fall open on Thursday.

She is one of the lucky ones, she said. And she is determined to make the most of it.

Ms. Godreau, 19, has a big, embracing smile that she seems to wear even when she doesnt realize it. She grew up mostly in Cayey, P.R. Her mother, a cultural anthropologist, is a researcher there at the University of Puerto Rico, where Ms. Godreau is in her sophomore year. She loves photography and wants to study art, and has picked up some spending money over the years working as an assistant to wedding photographers and as a photographer herself.

She arrived in New York a little over a week ago, and has started many of her days by putting on several shirts and three pairs of pants  thermal leggings, felt leggings and then, jeans.

Im not used to this! she said as she stepped out into a sunny twentysomething degrees. This week, she also bought her first-ever plant, a tiny succulent she planned to name Albert, for which she paid $5. Puerto Rico is so lush, she said, it never occurred to her to have a plant in her room. But she misses green. She also misses her mother, who is now back in Puerto Rico.
You know where that money comes from? The same people the governor talked about the federal government throwing missiles at: our residents, said Senator John A. DeFrancisco, a Republican from near Syracuse who is the deputy Senate majority leader, while voting for a bill to decouple the states tax code from the federal one. Senator John J. Flanagan, the Republican majority leader from Long Island, has said the bill is a better way to protect New Yorkers than the proposed payroll tax swap.

Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, a Democrat from Westchester County who has introduced similar legislation in her chamber, said continued conformity would create a windfall off the backs of taxpayers, inappropriately.

The move to extricate the state and the federal tax codes has generated unusual consensus among the notoriously divided State Legislature. The Senate bill passed the chamber unanimously. But it has also again laid bare the evergreen political fissions in Albany.

While Democratic senators took the floor to cast the bill as yet another rebuttal to an unfair tax plan from conservatives in Washington, Republicans suggested that Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, had deliberately neglected to propose any decoupling in his budget address, as a stealthy way of raising revenue.

The governors aides have flatly rejected that accusation. In a statement, Mr. Cuomo said he was continuing to discover new ways the federal tax bill would hurt New Yorkers, and that he would propose legislation to address the effect of the coupled tax system.

Other states with coupled tax codes have moved to disentangle as well. Idaho, Michigan and Nebraska have all begun to separate their tax codes from the federal one in some way, Mr. Hicks said.

But tax experts said the variation among individual states tax codes, and their individual financial situations, makes it impossible to predict if all states will follow suit. Some states that see increased revenue may choose to keep the extra funds, to plug other fiscal holes, said Kirk Stark, a taxation law professor at the University of California at Los Angeles. (New York is facing down a $4.4 billion budget shortfall.) Other states might actually see a decrease in revenue, depending on where and how their tax codes conform to the federal one.
To the Editor:

Re Governor Puts Price on Driving Into Snarl of Manhattan: $11.52 (front page, Jan. 19):

The congestion pricing proposal is an unfair tax on those who live within the zone, south of 60th Street. I live on West 58th Street and pay an exorbitant rent. This proposal means that someone with a car who offers to drive me home and drop me off at my front door, two blocks into the zone, will have to pay $11.52 extra. At age 86 I appreciate someone driving me home, and it is unfair to make them pay this additional amount, deterring a generous gesture.

Not all who live south of 60th Street are multimillionaires, and a charge such as this will contribute to making Manhattan an exclusive residential area for the very rich.

PAUL SILVERSTONE, NEW YORK

To the Editor:

When considering the best way forward for a congestion pricing plan, those formulating the plan should take into account that no matter where the boundary is set for a congestion fee, drivers will seek to shed their cars in order to avoid the fee, and those living in the neighborhoods just outside the boundary will suffer an immediate decrease in already rare parking spaces, a surge in cabs and car services seeking fares, and an immediate additional burden on already choked subway and bus lines leading into midtown.

At the least, congestion pricing needs to be accompanied by an increase in public transportation.

THOMAS V. CZARNOWSKI, NEW YORK
To the Editor:

Re Americas Deep Poverty Problem (Op-Ed, Jan. 25): My Princeton colleague Angus Deaton has done us all a service by pointing to the existence of extreme poverty in the United States, and especially the failure of this affluent society to provide adequate shelter for homeless people. There is no doubt that governments at all levels should be doing more to meet this need.

Yet it is disturbing that Mr. Deaton has started to doubt that, in our personal giving, we should prioritize the poor in developing countries over those at home. Mr. Deaton omits the relative cost of making a major difference to the well-being of people in poverty in the United States versus in developing countries.

The Life You Can Save, a charity I founded a few years ago, recommends organizations working in developing countries that can protect a child against malaria at a cost of $4, or restore sight in someone who is blind because of cataracts for something like $100. For $450, surgery to repair an obstetric fistula can enable a young woman to lead a normal life again. To make a comparable difference to the lives of the poor in this country would require many times those sums  and that means that far fewer people would be helped. Thats why I will continue to give my charitable donations to organizations focused on helping the poor in some of the worlds poorest countries.

PETER SINGER

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

The writer is a professor of bioethics at the University Center for Human Values, Princeton University.
The Trump administration has imposed tariffs on imported washing machines and solar energy cells and panels, products mostly made in China and South Korea. Both countries have voiced anger over the move and could lodge complaints with the World Trade Organization.
ANKARA, Turkey  The United States is bound to the Middle East by interests, but Turkey shares about 800 miles of border with Syria and Iraq alone. In this geography and beyond, Turkey and the United States share the goal of defeating terrorist organizations that threaten our nations. Daesh (or the so-called Islamic State) has been our common enemy, and the victory against the group could not have been possible without Turkeys active contributions.

Those contributions continue even though the group has been defeated militarily in both Iraq and Syria. The Turkish military was crucial in the liberation of the northern Syrian city of Jarabulus from Daesh in 2016. Turkey detained more than 10,000 members of Daesh and Qaeda affiliates, and deported around 5,800 terrorists while denying entry to more than 4,000 suspicious travelers.

Daesh has lost territorial control in Syria and Iraq, but it still retains the capacity to inflict horrors. Turkish authorities recently carried out operations against Daesh cells and damaged its efforts to reorganize.

American officials have told us that the United States wants to remain engaged and needs boots on the ground in Syria to prevent the remnants of Daesh from regrouping. But fighting Daesh cannot and should not mean that we will not fight other terrorist groups in our region that which threaten our country and the security of our citizens.
A spinning, silver geodesic sphere reminiscent of the Dancing With the Stars mirror ball trophy is moving through space and blinking as it orbits Earth every 90 minutes.

Known as the Humanity Star, it was built to reflect the suns light and encourage people to consider their place in the universe, according to its website.

Some astronomers are not pleased.

Although the object sounds like jolly nice fun, it also fills me with a big dose of dread, Caleb A. Scharf, director of the Columbia Astrobiology Center at Columbia University, wrote in Scientific American.

Space is already polluted by artificial light, making it more difficult for astronomers to monitor cosmic events, he wrote.
European officials said the coming rules are forcing American tech giants to take a step back.

There has not been any pushback from American companies, said Vera Jourova, the European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality. If anything, they seem very eager to understand how exactly they can comply with the regulation.

Officials from Facebook, Google and other companies said in interviews that they had been working to give people more control over what data they share anyway. In the past, many of the companies fought back in European courts over privacy rules and declined to offer certain products in the region rather than redesign them to meet privacy standards.

The coming of the new rules has nonetheless pushed a huge scale of internal change, Gilad Golan, Googles director for security and data protection, said at a San Francisco event last month to introduce new security features. When G.D.P.R. goes into effect in 2018, we will be ready, he said.

The biggest challenge, he said, has been preparing for the regulations mandate that people in Europe must have control over how their digital data is organized. Google, he said, has had to go through each of its services  from Gmail to its Cloud storage services  to comply. Since the new rules require individuals to give their consent before a company accesses data, for example, Google has had to redesign many consent agreements, as well as change underlying technology to make it easier to remove someones data.

For a company with infrastructure of our size, it takes a lot of work, Mr. Golan said.

Facebook has also taken multiple steps to deal with the coming rules. On Sunday, the company began offering a new privacy center that puts user security settings on one page instead of dispersing them across different sections of the social network. While the company said the changes was separate from its preparations for the new European regulations, Facebooks chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, connected the two in a speech in Brussels last week.

The new privacy center would give Facebook a very good foundation to meet all the requirements of the G.D.P.R. and to spur us on to continue investing in products and in educational tools to protect privacy, Ms. Sandberg said.
I have Navajo, Chippewa, Greek and Spanish blood lines, said Mr. Torrez, who calls himself a mestizo, a term referring to mixed ancestry. I cant say Im indigenous any more than I can say Im Greek, but its both fascinating and disturbing to see how various cultures came together in New Mexico.

Revelations about how Indian enslavement was a defining feature of colonial New Mexico can be unsettling for some in the state, where the authorities have often tried to perpetuate a narrative of relatively peaceful coexistence between Hispanics, Indians and Anglos, as non-Hispanic whites are generally called here.

Pointing to their history, some descendants of Genizaros are coming together to argue that they deserve the same recognition as Native tribes in the United States. One such group in Colorado, the 200-member Genizaro Affiliated Nations, organizes annual dances to commemorate their heritage.

Its not about blood quantum or DNA testing for us, since those things can be inaccurate measuring sticks, said David Atekpatzin Young, 62, the organizations tribal chairman, who traces his ancestry to Apache and Pueblo peoples. We know who we are, and what we want is sovereignty and our land back.

Some here object to calling Genizaros slaves, arguing that the authorities in New Mexico were relatively flexible in absorbing Indian captives. In an important distinction with African slavery in parts of the Americas, Genizaros could sometimes attain economic independence and even assimilate into the dominant Hispanic classes, taking the surnames of their masters and embracing Roman Catholicism.

Genizaros and their offspring sometimes escaped or served out their terms of service, then banded together to forge buffer settlements against Comanche raids. Offering insight into how Indian captives sought to escape their debased status, linguists trace the origins of the word Genizaro to the Ottoman Empires janissaries, the special soldier class of Christians from the Balkans who converted to Islam, and were sometimes referred to as slaves.
WASHINGTON  Republican lawmakers warned President Trump on Sunday not to fire Robert S. Mueller III, but showed little sense of urgency to advance long-stalled legislation to protect the special counsel despite a report that Mr. Trump had tried to remove him last June.

I dont think theres a need for legislation right now to protect Mueller, Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the House majority leader, said Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press. Right now theres not an issue. So why create one when there isnt a place for it?

Mr. McCarthys comments, similar to those made earlier by other Republicans, come amid bipartisan outrage over a report last week in The New York Times that Mr. Trump sought in June to fire Mr. Mueller, who is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election.

The president backed down only after Donald F. McGahn II, the White House counsel, threatened to quit rather than execute Mr. Trumps order.
Senator Marco Rubio of Florida announced late Saturday that he had fired his chief of staff after allegations of improper conduct.

After an internal investigation, he determined that the employee had violated office policies regarding proper relations between a supervisor and their subordinates, Mr. Rubio said in a statement posted to his website. I further concluded that this led to actions which in my judgment amounted to threats to withhold employment benefits.

Mr. Rubios statement did not identify his chief of staff by name. Clint Reed is listed in that position in the Washington Information Directory published by Congressional Quarterly; he also identified himself as the chief of staff on his social media accounts as of early Sunday.

Mr. Reed did not reply to an email request for comment. He began working for Mr. Rubio when the senator was running for the Republican nomination for president in 2016, and ran Mr. Rubios campaign in Iowa. After Mr. Rubio ended his presidential bid, Mr. Reed ran his campaign for re-election to the Senate.
BEIJING  People joke that its now easier in many Chinese cities to use Communist Party slogans rather than street names to give directions.

Looking for a bank in Downtown Beijing?

Walk past the screen proclaiming, The people have faith, take a right at the poster glorifying President Xi Jinping and cross the footbridge with the banner declaring a new era of prosperity for China.

Even as China grows increasingly confident on the global stage, Mr. Xi is using propaganda at home to protect his strongman rule and extend the partys dominance over everyday life.

At the most recent party congress, Mr. Xis name and ideas were made part of the Constitution. Now, Xi Jinping Thought is pervasive, butting up against advertisements for hair transplant surgery, luxury cars and Danish butter cookies.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan  The new chief of Pakistans army had a tough act to follow when he took the baton of command in November 2016. His predecessor had been a widely popular figure, credited with dramatically curbing both attacks by militants against civilians and political corruption and extortion. There was apprehension that the armys next leader could never match these successes and might struggle to exert control.

But since assuming what is considered the most powerful position in the country, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa has left no doubt about who is in charge. A little more than a year after he took command, there is already talk in the country of the Bajwa Doctrine, with Pakistans approach to foreign and domestic policies reflecting the army chiefs vision.

General Bajwa has served during a time of great political upheaval, even by the tumultuous standards of Pakistan. He was chosen as army chief by the prime minister at the time, Nawaz Sharif, with a critical factor in his selection being the generals strong support for friendlier ties between the military and civilians.

But Mr. Sharif was ousted by the Supreme Court over corruption charges, in a controversial decision in July.
KARACHI, Pakistan  An elite climbing team rescued a French mountain climber on Sunday from the treacherous Himalayan peak known as Killer Mountain, in Pakistans northeast, but her Polish climbing partner remains in peril after efforts to reach him were at least temporarily abandoned.

The climbers, Elisabeth Revol and Tomek Mackiewicz, began their ascent of Nanga Parbat, the ninth-highest mountain in the world, on Jan. 20. The two are believed to have reached the summit, at an altitude of 8,126 meters, or 26,600 feet, which would make them only the second team to do so during the notoriously harsh winter season.

During their descent, Mr. Mackiewicz is said to have had acute mountain sickness, caused by the lack of oxygen in the lower air pressure that exists at higher altitudes, as well as snow blindness and frostbite.

Ms. Revol continued down the mountain alone and called for help from a satellite phone, and she was eventually met by two members of a four-person rescue team flown to the mountains base camp on Saturday. She had frostbite on her hands and feet, according to Ludovic Giambiasi, a friend who posted updates on Facebook, and she was taken to Islamabad, the capital, later in the day and received medical attention.
MOSCOW  Protesters across Russia braved icy temperatures on Sunday to demonstrate against the lack of choice in the March election that is virtually certain to see President Vladimir V. Putin chosen for a fourth term.

What we are being offered right now are not elections, and we must not participate in them, Yevgeny Roizman, the mayor of the central Russian city of Yekaterinburg and a rare elected official from an opposition party, told a crowd of hundreds that had gathered in protest.

The protests in scores of cities  from Vladivostok in the east to Kaliningrad in the west  were called by Aleksei A. Navalny, the charismatic, anticorruption opposition leader, after he was barred from running for the presidency because of legal problems that he said had been manufactured to prevent his candidacy.

You have your own life at stake, Mr. Navalny said in a recorded message urging protesters in Moscow and St. Petersburg, where the rallies were banned, to turn out. Every additional year of Putin staying in power is one more year of decay.
Irans penal authorities granted a four-day leave on Sunday to Baquer Namazi, the oldest of the United States citizens known to be imprisoned in Iran, because of his worsening health, Mr. Namazis American lawyer said.

The announcement by the lawyer, Jared Genser, raised speculation that the reprieve was a precursor to parole for Mr. Namazi, 81, a dual Iranian-American citizen who was formerly a diplomat for Unicef. Mr. Namazis son Siamak Namazi, 45, also a dual citizen, remains imprisoned.

Parole for the elder Mr. Namazi would be the first serious sign of movement on Irans part concerning the Americans known to be incarcerated there since a group was released when the Iranian nuclear agreement took effect two years ago.

The prisoners have long been a sore point in the estranged relations between the United States and Iran, which have worsened under the Trump administration. President Trump has threatened to scrap the nuclear accord, which lifted many economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for verifiable reductions in its nuclear activities.
TEHRAN  Some had started praying for rain. Others were thinking about migrating. The mountains towering over the city were bare and brown, deprived of their usual winter dusting of snow.

A full-blown water crisis is drying out Iran, much to the concern of officials who fear protests and strife if conditions do not improve. There is talk of rationing water in the capital, Tehran, one of the largest cities in the Middle East, because the usual autumn rains had not come.

God is always testing people with various kinds of disasters, Ayatollah Reza Ostadi, a member of the Supreme Council of Seminaries, said in a sermon on Jan. 19 in the holy city of Qom. We ask Gods forgiveness for our sins through rain prayers and entreat him to send us his blessing.
JERUSALEM  Its gotten to the point where writing again about Sara Netanyahu, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus embattled wife, can feel a bit like piling on.

She faces criminal charges of sneaking $100,000 in catered meals from expensive restaurants into the prime ministers residence while covering up the fact that she had cooks on the government payroll. Two domestic workers have won damages in lawsuits accusing her of abusing them, and a third  a 24-year-old ultra-Orthodox cleaning woman who said she was treated like a slave  lasted barely a month in Mrs. Netanyahus employ last fall before fleeing and filing a complaint of her own.

Again and again, the Netanyahus defenders have sought to brand her accusers as malicious liars and political foes of her husbands who are out to hurt him through her.

But on Sunday the Israeli public witnessed Mrs. Netanyahus stormy temper with its own ears: A recorded telephone conversation surfaced in which she berated a publicist over the way she had been described in a gossip column item about her fund-raising for a school her sons had attended.
QAMISHLI, Syria  A female Kurdish fighter carried out what appeared to be a suicide bombing attack on the Turkish military in Syria, destroying a tank and killing several Turkish soldiers with a grenade, Kurdish forces in the area said on Sunday.

If confirmed, it would be the first case of a suicide attack by the Kurds against Turkeys forces in Syria since its ground troops crossed the border earlier this month.

The Kurdish bomber, identified as Zuluh Hemo, 20, had fought under the nom de guerre Avesta Habur, according to a statement from her military organization, the Womens Protection Units, or Y.P.J., which is part of the Syrian Democratic Forces.

The S.D.F. is an important ally of the United States military in the battle against the Islamic State in northern Syria. A suicide bombing by an American ally against a NATO member could further strain the tense relationship between Turkey and the United States.
In 2004, Offaly rose from relative television obscurity and into focus in the award-winning RTE drama, Pure Mule. Shamie, Scobie, Jen and Co arrived on our screens as young adults in Celtic Tiger rural Ireland. The building trade was booming, the craic was 90, but the real-life drama was high and gripping.

Written by Edenderry's Eugene O'Brien and directed by Declan Recks, the show certainly captured a particular time in Irish social history, and yet absorbed viewers in the specific inter-personal intricacies of a small rural town.

We chose five of the main characters from the hit show and followed up on their career to see where they are and what they are up to in 2017.

Tom Murphy - Shamie

Tom Murphy was perhaps one of the finest actors of his generation, but sadly passed away just two years after Pure Mule had wrapped. He died in 2007 following treatment for lymphatic cancer. During his illustrious career, he was a well renowned Irish theatre and film actor. The highlight of his career came in 1998 when he won a Tony Award for his performance in the play, The Beauty Queen of Leenane. He played Scobie's brother in Pure Mule and won an IFTA for his portrayal of the character. He is also well known for his role in Adam and Paul, as well as a string of successful parts in Intermission, Michael Collins, The General and Man About Dog. He was just 39 years old when he died.

Garrett Lombard - Scobie

The loudmouth, man about town, brother of Shamie was a hugely popular character in Pure Mule. Lombard's recent screen work includes Quirke, the acclaimed 1950s themed Dublin drama starring Gabriel Byrne. He has acted in countless theatre productions, including the Walworth Farce. Garrett is also one if the most in demand voice over artists in Dublin having done TV and radio for 15 years. His CV includes work for companies like McDonalds, Jameson, O2, Lucozade, Fuji and many more.

Charlene McKenna - Jen

The troubled young Jen returned to her hometown in Pure Mule and proceeded into a series of questionable life choices, but McKenna's portrayal of her internal struggles won her many fans. She has had numerous other roles in television dramas in Ireland, including Raw, Single-Handed and Whistleblower. She won the Best Actress (Television) award at the Irish Film and Television Awards in 2009 for Raw and won the Outstanding Actress in a Mini-Series award for her role in Whistleblower. She also starred in BBC's Ripper Street, and has received widespread acclaim in many roles.

Gary Lydon - Bomber

Gary Lydon has been a successful theatre and television actor for many years. After Pure Mule, Lydon made appearances in Love/Hate, The Guarantee, where he played the role of former Taoiseach Brian Cowen, and most recently Striking Out, RTE's hugely popular legal-themed drama series. He also acted in films like The Guard, Brooklyn and Calvary. He was known to many for his role on RTE's 'The Clinic' which ran from 2003 to 2009.

Eileen Walsh - Therese

Therese was the love interest of Bomber in Pure Mule, played by Cork native Eileen Walsh. Walsh went on to appear on television again in a project by the same writer, Eden, the screen adaptation of Eugene O'Brien's acclaimed play of the same name, where she played Breda Farrell. In 2008, Walsh won an award for Best Actress at the Tribeca Film Festival for her portrayal of Breda, the lonely housewife in Eden. She had previously played a starring role in The Magdalene Sisters film.
46 people have been arrested so far in connection with 'Padmaavat violence': Gurgaon Police

India

pti-PTI

Gurgaon, Jan 28: With the arrests of four people, including a Karni Sena leader, on Sunday in connection with the attack on a school bus and torching of a state roadways bus during protests against 'Padmaavat', the Gurugram Police has said that a total of 46 people have been arrested so far.

PRO of the Gurgaon police Ravinder Kumar told PTI that a special investigation team probing last week's violence here arrested Harinder, the Karni Sena's Rewari district president, and his two supporters from Kurthla in neighbouring Nuh district. One more accused, identified as Rohit of Begampur Khatola village in Gurgaon district, surrendered before the police this evening.

"A total of 46 people have been arrested so far... Thirty-two of the 46 people have been arrested in criminal cases registered in different police stations of Gurgaon, while 14 were arrested as part of preventive actions," Kumar said.

Among those arrested is the national secretary of the Karni Sena, Suraj Pal Amu. "Strenuous efforts are being made to arrest the remaining hooligans who were involved in the violent incidents which occurred in different locations," the Gurgaon police PRO said.

Meanwhile, a group of angry villagers of Bhondsi, who had called a 'mahapanchayat' today against the Gurgaon police's action against "innocent" people, was denied permission to hold the meet by the district administration on account of prohibitory orders in force in the area.

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 filmmaker has denied the allegations.

PTI
'Gauri Day' to mark slain journalist Gauri Lankesh's birth anniversary in Bengaluru

India

oi-Anusha

Gauri Lankesh would have turned 56 years old on Monday had she not been shot dead by unknown assailants in September 2017. As a mark of respect to the slain journalist, her fans, family, supporters, colleagues and student leaders will celebrate 'Gauri Day' on her birth anniversary on Monday.

While protests were witnessed across the country following the brutal murder of Gauri Lankesh for days, Monday's event is going to be the first of its kind.

The daylong event organised in Town Hall of Bengaluru will see the likes of student leader and first-time Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mewani, Jawaharlal Nehru University's (JNU) Kanhaiya Kumar and Omar Khalid- the duo who Gauri referred to as her children, Shehla Rashid, Richa Singh, musician T M Krishna along with folk artists, left thinkers, writers, rationalists and Gauri's followers.

Friends join us tomorrow at Bangalore. We are celebrating Gauri day on her birthday. pic.twitter.com/Xjwj1vQybX  Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) January 28, 2018

'Gauri Day', being organised by Gauri Memorial Trust, will not just revive the memory of Lankesh but will also dwell into concepts of constitutional spirit, freedom of expression and dissent. Two books- 'I am Gauri... A Flaming Moonlight' and A 'Gauri Bouquet' will also be released during the event. Radhika Vemula, mother of Rohit Vemula will also take part in the event which is scheduled to be held between 2 PM and 8 PM on Monday.

Months after she was shot dead outside her residence, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing Gauri Lankesh's murder is yet to identify her assassins. Breakthrough in the case has not gone beyond sketches of the suspects that the SIT released last year. Gauri Lankesh, an activist cum journalist was shot dead at point blank on September 5, 2017, in Bengaluru.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Sunday, January 28, 2018, 22:29 [IST]
Afghan territory must not be used to carry out terror attacks against other countries: BRICS Leaders

Modi, Opposition leaders to hold all party meet ahead of Budget session

India

oi-Madhuri

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.

The Budget Session of Parliament is set to commence on January 29 and the Union Budget for 2018-19 will be presented on February 1, the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) recommended today.

President Ram Nath Kovind will address the joint sitting of the two Houses on January 29 and the Economic Survey will be tabled on the same day. The session is likely to see important bills, including one for the commission for backward classes and another on Triple Talaq.

The first phase of the session will be from January 29 to February 9. After a recess, Parliament will meet again from March 5 to April 6.

The budget comes months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bold decision to roll out the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Sunday, January 28, 2018, 6:25 [IST]
Shoe hurled at actor Tamannaah Bhatia in Hyderabad

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

A shoe was hurled at actor Tamannaah Bhatia on Sunday during the inauguration of a jewellery showroom in Himayathnagar, Hyderabad. The shoe, however, missed her and hit an employee of the jewellery store, said reports.

The youth who hurled the footwear has been identified as one Karimullah, reportedly claimed that he was Tamannaah's fan, but was frustrated over the roles played by the actress in her recent movies.

The fans and supporters of the actress, who had gathered at the venue to get a glimpse of her, apparently thrashed Karimullah, who was later taken into police custody.

"Actress Tamannaah came to inaugurate a jewelry store in Himayatnagar, when a man in the crowd hurled a shoe at her which didn't hit her. However the person has been taken under custody and a case registered against him," news agency ANI quoted Ravinder, Circle Inspector, Narayanguda police station, as saying.

Tamannaah rose to fame for her performance in the Paiyya in 2010. The actress was also part of blockbusters Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion. She has also acted in Hindi movies.

OneIndia News with PTI inputs

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Story first published: Sunday, January 28, 2018, 21:48 [IST]
Prime Minister Narendra Modi

"The Prime Minister said budget session is very important and government takes very sincerely the suggestions given about it by opposition during discussion in all party meeting," Kumar told the media.

Union Minister Ananth Kumar

Ananth Kumar said that the BJP would leave no stone unturned to convince the party over the Triple Talaq Bill.

"We hope the Triple Talaq Bill is passed in Rajya Sabha too. My colleagues & I will leave no stone unturned in talking to and convincing the political parties. The way they have passed GST unanimously, we request them to pass this too unanimously," he said.

(Image courtesy - ANI/Twitter)

JD(U) leader Harivansh Narayan Singh

JD(U) leader Harivansh Narayan Singh said that grave issues concerning the nation were discussed.

"We discussed grave issues of the country, JD(U) discussed the pending issues from education and other sectors. We also suggested to finish fund for MPs and MP quota in admissions," he added.

(Image courtesy - ANI/Twitter)

RJD's Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav

RJD's Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav said that they raised the issue of unemployment and oppression of the Dalits.

"Unemployment is rising. Peace and harmony is being driven out & violence being spread. Nation's unity is in danger. From Koregaon to Nandangaon to Buxar, Dalits are being oppressed. We raised these issues. We will also raise issues of farmers suicide," he said.

(Image courtesy - ANI/Twitter)
Padmaavat protest: Goons who attacked school bus ought to be booked for 'attempt to murder'

46 people have been arrested so far in connection with 'Padmaavat violence': Gurgaon Police

Would it be accepted if Gandhiji is shown doing bhangra': Giriraj Singh on Padmaavat row

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Amid raging protests across several states over the movie Padmaavat, Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Sunday asked if it would be acceptable to people if Mahatma Gandhi is shown doing "Bhangra or katthak" in a film.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed "Padmaavat", which released on January 25, faced stiff opposition from Rajput groups, especially the Karni Sena for allegedly distorting the history in the film.

"If a film is made on Gandhi ji and he is shown doing Katthak or Bhangra, then I will not tolerate it. Does anyone have the courage to make the film on Prophet Mohammed," Singh said on Sunday.

Jab Rajasthan me #Padmaavat ki shooting ho rhi thi tab Bhansali ne kyon nahi ise band kiya.Gandhi ji par film bane or unko katthak or bhangra mein dikhaye to main maaf nahi karunga.Kya himmat hai kisi ko ki Mohd. Saheb par film banake unka charitra dikhaye:Union Min Giriraj Singh pic.twitter.com/WVSYkYmgva  ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2018

The Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed period drama starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh was released across the country yesterday amid tight security.

A protest against the release of Padmaavat in Gujarat turned violent on Tuesday, after protesters set vehicles ablaze outside a multiplex in Ahmedabad, which was to screen movie Padmaavat. Protests against the film were also held in Indore, Morena and Gwalior. Police had to use force in some places in Ujjain where the protesters turned violent.

The Supreme Court had earlier paved the way for the all- India release of "Padmaavat" on January 25 and stayed notifications and orders issued by Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat -- all ruled by the BJP -- prohibiting exhibition of the film in their states.

The apex court had also restrained other states from issuing any such notification or orders banning the screening of the movie. The movie, which was earlier titled "Padmavati", was released worldwide on January 25 with the new title suggested by the censor board.

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Story first published: Sunday, January 28, 2018, 17:20 [IST]
Collapse of Kabul will go down as one of the greatest defeats in American history: Donald Trump

Afghan attack: Trump seeks decisive action against Taliban

International

pti-PTI

Washington, Jan 28: US President Donald Trump asked countries to take decisive action against the Taliban and the terrorist infrastructure that supports them, in an indirect but obvious reference to Pakistan.

In one of the biggest blasts to rock the war-torn city in recent years, an explosives-packed ambulance blew up in a crowded area of Kabul yesterday, killing at least 95 people and wounding 158 others. Trump issued a strong statement in the aftermath of the deadly terrorist attack claimed by the Taliban, which is second such assault in the Afghan capital in a week.

"Now, all countries should take decisive action against the Taliban and the terrorist infrastructure that supports them," Trump said. Both the US and Afghanistan claim that the Taliban has been successful in carrying out such attacks with impunity because of the continued existence of terrorist safe havens inside Pakistan, a charge repeatedly denied by Islamabad. But the Trump administration early this month suspended nearly USD 2 billion in security assistance to Pakistan alleging that Islamabad is not taking appropriate actions against the Taliban and the Haqqani network.

"I condemn the despicable car bombing attack in Kabul today (Saturday) that has left scores of innocent civilians dead and hundreds injured. This murderous attack renews our resolve and that of our Afghan partners," he said.

"The Taliban's cruelty will not prevail," Trump said as he reiterated his commitment to free Aghanistan from terrorists. "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," the US President said.

In his address to the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said on Friday 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 said.

PTI

CK
In 1910, when she was 18, she went to the then Colored Agricultural and Normal College. Sadly Bessie only had funds for one year. Two of her brothers were in Chicago and she joined them in 1915. She was amazed with the city as it had several African Americans in different occupational skills. She enrolled in a school of beauty and took a course in manicuring to support herself. She preferred barbershops to work in as men tipped better.

When her brothers came home from France after World War I, they told her of French women seeking various careers including flying airplanes. She told her brothers she could do anything a French woman could do. In Chicago, she immediately tried to find a pilot who would teach her how to fly. During that time most Americans thought that women had no business flying planes, let alone a black woman, so pilots refused to teach her.

But in 1920 she was in France, and she took a 10-month flying course. She completed the course three months ahead of time and she was awarded her flying license from the Federation Aeronautics International (F.A.I.) on June 15, 1921. She became the first African American woman to receive such an award. She received additional training in Paris and she headed back to the U.S. with French clothes and a tailored flying suit.
Khotang, Nepal: A Teen age boy has been charged of rape and murder of an eight year girl from Rupakot Majhugadi-10, Patheka of Khotang district.





Police have found the body of the minor girl in the bank of Chimchima River of the district. According to the police the minor was raped and murdered by Jiudhan Rai, 16 of the same locality on January 24.




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In recent months, weeks, and now practically every day, our immigrant brothers and sisters have been going into the streets and into the halls of Congress, risking arrest and deportation to challenge "business as usual" and resist the most vicious, blatant, and criminal assault on the rights, the dignity, the humanity, and the very lives of immigrants in this country in their millions. All of those who are NOT immigrants must stand shoulder to shoulder with these courageous immigrants, pour into the streets and find every other possible way to actively refuse and stand up against this fascist regime's advancing assault on immigrants.

The Trump/Pence regime is a fascist regime. It is creating laws and whipping up an ugly nativist sentiment and atmosphere hostile to immigrants to drive immigrants out of this country. This has become one of the cornerstones of their Make America White Again program. Trump's use of the word "shithole" to describe the countries of Africa, Haiti, El Salvador, and others has spread everywhere. This is nothing less than cementing openly NAZI norms. Together with their Republi-fascist cohorts in Congress, and their violent police and ICE enforcers, this regime is escalating an all-round offensive aimed at ethnic cleansing. On top of their relentless search to deport undocumented immigrants across the country, they have moved against over a million immigrants who have been in this country legally, who now have had their legal status ripped away by the Trump/Pence regime.

The March 5 deadline set by the shithole in the White House is closing in on nearly 800,000 young people, known as Dreamers; the day when they could begin receiving their deportation orders. Brought here as children, the Dreamers had the right to go to school, hold jobs, and raise families, while renewing their permits every two years. But in September the white-supremacist-in-chief killed the Dreamers' deferred status. We are now witnessing the prolonged public toying with and torture of the DACA youth, as they are threatened with being robbed of everything they have achieved, and were hoping to accomplish, in their lives. This means families being ripped apart and left behind as Dreamers are sent to countries most know little or nothing about. The confrontation in Congress that has triggered the current government shutdown is about using the future of the Dreamers as a "bargaining chip," arguing over how many other immigrants will be thrown to the wolves in "exchange" for some form of extension of DACA.

In addition, in the past two months this fascist cabal has ordered the removal of over 300,000 Haitian, Salvadoran, and Nicaraguan immigrants who had been granted temporary legal residency and the right to work in the U.S. after hurricanes and earthquakes ravaged their home countries. The message has been delivered--your "temporary protected status" is over; get out! Put yourself in the position of these immigrants, and imagine being forced to decide whether you're going to leave your U.S.-born children behind, or make them leave the place where they were born. Many forced out are being deported to death, as documented in a January 15 New Yorker article by Sarah Stillman ("When Deportation Is a Death Sentence").

On January 10, ICE agents opened up another front in their war on the undocumented when they carried out coordinated raids targeting over 100 7-Eleven stores nationwide. This is only the beginning, with a top ICE official calling the raids "the first of many" and "a harbinger of what's to come"--meaning the scouring of workplaces large and small in the hunt for undocumented immigrants.

And now this regime is taking another serious and major step toward fascism by using ICE agents the way Hitler used the Gestapo--as a political weapon against those standing up against their intolerable treatment of immigrants. In New York ICE just carried out the politically targeted arrest and detention of two prominent immigrant leaders, and ICE is also targeting another leading immigrant activist in Seattle, Washington.

In addition, ICE is being used to crush the sanctuary cities and states* as the sanctuary movement is spreading around the country. Testifying before a Senate committee January 16, the new head of Homeland Security declared: "To further protect our communities, we must end so-called 'sanctuary' jurisdictions." ICE has announced that it is mobilizing ICE agents from around the country to descend on the San Francisco Bay Area to enforce a reign of terror against the undocumented, explicitly to pressure the politicians in these cities and states to cease their resistance and agree to have their state and local police become enforcers of immigration law.

And in an open declaration that they intend to use ICE as a national force for the political repression against its opponents, Homeland Security has threatened to bring charges against elected officials who continue "refusing to implement immigration law." This is completely contrary to the law, and represents a rupture toward new, fascist norms in how political disagreements are resolved. It represents a dangerous advance in consolidating fascist norms.

Stop thinking like an American, and start thinking about humanity

Action is urgently needed, by thousands, and then millions, of native-born Americans and citizens--including especially but not only white people--through active refusal and in every other way to stand with our sisters and brothers in demonstrations and other forms of solidarity. Such solidarity is critically important--it is life-and-death, right now, for millions--and it can play a critical role as well in building the spirit and organization needed to drive out this whole wretched and extremely dangerous fascist regime.

It is time for the people of this country to stop thinking like Americans, and start thinking about humanity. Bob Avakian, the leader of the Revolutionary Communist Party and architect of a new synthesis of communism, has said:

American Lives Are Not More Important Than Other People's Lives.

Bob Avakian, BAsics 5:7

Following the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands in World War 2, every Jewish person was ordered to put on a yellow star so they could be publicly identified. In defiance, many, many people in the Netherlands who were not Jews responded by wearing a yellow star as a show of defiance of the decree--fully aware of the risk they were taking. It is on us--people of all nationalities--to learn from and wholeheartedly take up their example. The time is now.

_________

* Sanctuary cities and states are those limiting their cooperation with the Trump/Pence regime's effort to hunt down undocumented immigrants in their jurisdictions. Since the Trump/Pence regime took power, the number of sanctuary cities has dramatically increased, joined by colleges and others who have also announced that they are sanctuaries.
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From Palestine Chronicle



Martin Luther King, Jr.

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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.

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US supports Kurds in Syria: Turks react

The Operation Olive Branch in northern Syria started five days ago. Five days ago the Afrin region became a possible hotbed of a full-scale conflict between the Turkish troops aided by the armed fighters of the Free Syrian Army and the US-backed Kurdish units that had been dominating the area. The operation started with shellings and airstrikes of the Turkish artillery and AF and later grew into a full-blown invasion.

According to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, one of the incentives for Ankara to invade Syria was a possible threat of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), characterized as a "terror army", which could initiate an offensive on the territory of Turkey. Quite peculiar is that this army is armed with equipment supplied by Washington, and trained by American military instructors who still may be in the ranks of the SDF.

Recently, there emerged footages showing a downed Turkish helicopter and a damaged tank both hit with shots of US-made weapons.

Obviously, this brought to the agenda a possible direct confrontation between Ankara and Washington and urged the presidents of the two countries to exchange rather harsh statements regarding the crisis (1, 2).

But what do Turks think about the conflict and the US involvement in Kurdish support? As there have been no large polls conducted yet on this topic, a short analysis of online activity may shed the light upon the current trends in the Turkish society.

One of the best examples are comment sections to news or articles about the operation. They contain an outstanding amount of aggressive comments addressed to the United States. For instance, these ones were written under the same news piece on the US warning to stop supplies to Kurdish units:







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" Americans should do the right thing after all the mistakes they have done"







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" If they want to stay alive they should stop the supplies"







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" No matter how many of you there are, come, what's needed will be done. USA, come too"





Hurriyet readers express the same point of view:







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" Not Turkey nor Syria matter to the US. They only want to secure their profit in the Middle East. Fight against terrorists must continue till none of them lives"







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" If we had an atomic bomb America would have thought a thousand times before saying such things. The US' statement is just like Johnson's letter"





Posts on Twitter mostly represent the same negative attitude towards Washington's policy.







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" US statements on Afrin come one after the other. As I understood, they said they would stop supporting PYD but they never will! They dress PYD militants as civilians and make it look like Turkey kills civilian population"







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" Here is the two-faced US. Yesterday: - We are against the Afrin operation. Today: If PYD enters Afrin we'll cut the support. Hey, who are you trying to fool?"





And as for Facebook, one may come across such polls like this one:



(Image by Mehmet) Details DMCA



What do you think about US aiding Kurdish terrorists?

Washington supports terrorists all over the world!

Our "ally" USA is not our friend. All ties with Washington must be disrupted.

Such support must be stopped immediately!

I support [it]. PYD/PKK are not terrorists





And they are followed by angry comments:







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" A terrorist state supports terrorists"





As we can see, many Turks took quite an aggressive stance towards the US because of its Kurdish project. Nonetheless, there many those who criticize Erdogan for kicking off the Olive Branch military operation and threatening the lives of quite a number of young Turks.
Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121

"Just as The Tipping Point provides an explanation for big changes, Rob Kall offers a unified explanation for the magic behind the success of the biggest tech companies, the Arab Spring, Occupy and the social media revolution An important, big picture, visionary approach weaving together technology, economics, evolution, science and personal relationships -- even happiness -- to describe a wave of change as significant as the invention of the printing press that is well under way -- a wave that could rescue the planet from the top-down system that afflicts the planet."



Thom Hartmann, host of nationally syndicated radio show, The Thom Hartmann Program, since 2003 and a nightly television show, The Big Picture, since 2008
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From Strategic Culture



121220-N-ZN152-189 NORFOLK (Dec. 20, 2012) The aircraft carriers USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), USS Enterprise (CVN 65), USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) are in port at Naval Station Norfolk

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On Friday, the Pentagon released an unclassified summary of the 2018 National Defense Strategy report. On the same day, Secretary of Defense James Mattis delivered prepared remarks relating to the document.

Reading the summary is illuminating, to say the least, and somewhat disturbing, as it focuses very little on actual defense of the realm and relates much more to offensive military action that might be employed to further certain debatable national interests. Occasionally, it is actually delusional, as when it refers to consolidating "gains we have made in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and elsewhere."

At times Mattis' supplementary "remarks" were more bombastic than reassuring, as when he warned "...those who would threaten America's experiment in democracy: if you challenge us, it will be your longest and worst day." He did not exactly go into what the military response to hacking a politician's emails might be and one can only speculate, which is precisely the problem.

One of the most bizarre aspects of the report is its breathtaking assumption that "competitors" should be subjected to a potential military response if it is determined that they are in conflict with the strategic goals of the U.S. government. It is far removed from the old-fashioned Constitutional concept that one has armed forces to defend the country against an actual threat involving an attack by hostile forces and instead embraces preventive war, which is clearly an excuse for serial interventions overseas.

Some of the remarks by Mattis relate to China and Russia. He said that "We face growing threats from revisionist powers as different as China and Russia, nations that seek to create a world consistent with their authoritarian models -- pursuing veto authority over other nations' economic, diplomatic and security decisions." There is, however, no evidence that either country is exporting "authoritarian models," nor are they vetoing anything that they do not perceive as direct and immediate threats frequently orchestrated by Washington, which is intervening in local quarrels thousands of miles away from the U.S. borders. And when it comes to exporting models, who does it more persistently than Washington?

The report goes on to state that Russia and China and rogue regimes like Iran have "...increased efforts short of armed conflict by expanding coercion to new fronts, violating principle of sovereignty, exploiting ambiguity, and deliberately blurring the lines between civil and military goals." As confusing civil and military is what the United States itself has been doing in Libya, Iraq and, currently, Syria, the allegation might be considered ironic.

The scariest assertion in the summary is the following: "Nuclear forces -- Modernization of the nuclear force includes developing options to counter competitors' coercive strategies, predicated on the threatened use of nuclear or strategic non-nuclear attacks." That means that the White House and Pentagon are reserving the option to use nuclear weapons even when there is no imminent or existential threat as long as there is a "strategic" reason for doing so. Strategic would be defined by the president and Mattis, while the War Powers Act allows Donald Trump to legally initiate a nuclear attack.

What might that mean in practice? Back in 2005, Vice President Dick Cheney had requested "a contingency plan to be employed in response to another 9/11-type terrorist attack on the United States... [including] a large-scale air assault on Iran employing both conventional and tactical nuclear weapons ... not conditional on Iran actually being involved in the act of terrorism directed against the United States."

Possible employment of "weapons of mass destruction" responded to intelligence suggesting that conventional weapons would be unable to penetrate the underground hardened sites where Iran's presumed nuclear weapons facilities were reportedly located. But as it turned out, Iran had no nuclear weapons program and attacking it would have been totally gratuitous. Some other neocon inspired plans to attack Iran also included a nuclear option if Iran actually had the temerity to resist American force majeure.

Pentagon planners clearly anticipate another year of playing at defense by keeping the offense on the field. An impetuous and poorly informed president is a danger to all of us, particularly as he is surrounded by general-advisers who see a military solution to every problem. Hopefully, wiser counsel will prevail.
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From Strategic Culture



Trump gets BOOED after Slamming the Press at Davos 2018

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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 lion's 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 Trump's 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. Trump's $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 Trump's 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 labor 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 Washington's 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 Iran's non-nuclear ballistic missile defenses, and giving even greater access for international inspectors to Iranian military sites.

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From Reader Supported News

A partner in the Washington DC office of the international law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld was arrested recently and charged with multiple felony violations for obstruction of justice and transporting stolen property. Sounds like no big deal. But it's a very big deal. And it sets whistleblowers at the Justice Department back incalculably.

(Please note: Akin Gump represented me in my criminal case after I was arrested for blowing the whistle on the CIA's torture program. I received first-class legal representation from the firm, I recommend it routinely, and I have had only positive experiences with Akin Gump, its partners, and its employees.)

Attorney Jeffrey Wertkin had been a hotshot prosecutor in the Justice Department's corporate fraud division. He was highly thought of by his supervisors and peers and, after six years at Justice, he decided to move to the private sector. Akin Gump, aware of his excellent reputation as a prosecutor, and as an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University, hired him immediately to work on the other side of the table to defend those accused of committing corporate fraud. Wertkin was a young partner -- only 41 years old -- and he wanted to impress his new colleagues.

So before leaving the Justice Department, he began stealing sealed corporate fraud lawsuits brought by whistleblowers. He then sent a redacted copy of the first page of the lawsuits to the defendants, offering to represent them. Just one of those lawsuits brought $310,000 into the firm, according to the Washington Post, and Wertkin had stolen dozens.

Wertkin had certainly impressed his partners, and he continued to bring in fraud defense clients until being arrested by the FBI in a hotel lobby in California. He was wearing a wig and a false mustache, and he was on his way to pick up an envelope of cash, apparently a "good faith" bribe for initially telling a potential client that he did indeed have the goods they wanted. Wertkin's only comment upon his arrest was "My life is over." His sentencing is scheduled for March.

An attorney who worked with a whistleblower in one of Wertkin's fraud cases said Wertkin may have done "irreparable harm" by scaring off future whistleblowers. The attorney said, "Every time a potential whistleblower hesitates to bring fraud to the government's attention, the taxpayers suffer a potential loss, often in the hundreds of millions of dollars."

To make matters worse, whistleblowers at the Department of Justice already are treated as second-class citizens and are often even denied their basic rights under the federal Whistleblower Protection Act.

FBI whistleblower Darin Jones has suffered for years under both the Obama and Trump administrations. Jones was fired after he blew the whistle on waste, fraud, abuse, and illegality at the FBI. He had reported that senior FBI officials had wasted $234,000 of the taxpayers' money on an awards ceremony for themselves, they had improperly spent taxpayer money without going through proper approval channels, and that a former FBI assistant director had had a conflict of interest related to a computer help-desk contract.

Jones did exactly what an employee is supposed to do in such a case: he went through his chain of command. In response, he was fired on the last day of his probationary period. That was more than five years ago, and his appeal of his dismissal still hasn't been heard. And just like with other whistleblowers, especially those in national security and law enforcement, it has been virtually impossible for him to find a job. Former friends and colleagues still avoid him.

Jones has been dogged in his own defense, however. He has sought -- and received -- the support of Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and probably the single biggest supporter of whistleblowers in Congress. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) also has been supportive.

With that said, Justice Department officials have continued to ignore the senators' entreaties to fix the situation and to return Jones to employment. The Department has buried Jones in paperwork, has forced him down dead ends on appeals, and has dragged out his case in the hope that he'll just eventually go away. He vows to fight to the end.

Whistleblowers don't live and act in a bubble. They see what happens around them. They read the internal memos that circulate in every federal department and agency urging employees to report evidence of waste, fraud, abuse, or illegality. And then they see the response: personal, professional, and financial ruin. All for doing the right thing.

Jeffrey Wertkin's criminal acts made everything that much worse. There must be consequences to his actions.

Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.
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Unconstitutional Double Jeopardy for Senator Menendez?

In November of last year ten of twelve jurors found that Senator Menendez was innocent of all charges of corruption. That should have been the end of the matter, since a clear majority of those who heard all of the facts found the Senator innocent of all charges. However, the Justice Department intends to try him again anyway. This re-prosecution is unfair, unjust and clearly unconstitutional. The Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment provides: "nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb."

The Courts Got it Wrong for Nearly 200 Years

In 1824, the Supreme Court, in a brief ruling, United States v. Josef Perez, 22 U.S. (9 Wheat) 579, held that Perez could be retried following a hung jury. Courts have been citing this case erroneously for the proposition that the Fifth Amendment's Double Jeopardy Clause allows re-prosecution following a deadlocked jury. Neither the Fifth Amendment, nor the Double Jeopardy Clause, were even mentioned in this brief, unanimous decision. This failure to refer to the Constitution was not inadvertent. In 1824, the hung jury question did not implicate the Double Jeopardy clause of the Fifth Amendment. At that time, the Court adhered to the English common law view that jeopardy did not attach until a verdict was rendered.

Jeopardy Attaches When a Jury is Empaneled

The Supreme Court has definitively ruled that jeopardy attaches when a jury is impaneled and sworn. This rule has been raised to constitutional status and made applicable to the states. Crist v. Bretz, 437 U.S. 28 (1978). In that same year in Arizona v. Washington, 434 U.S. 497 (1978), the Supreme Court ruled that because jeopardy attaches before the judgment becomes final, the constitutional protection also embraces the defendant's "valued right to have his trial completed by a particular tribunal." The reasons why this "valued right" merits constitutional protection are worthy of repetition. Even if the first trial is not completed, a second prosecution may be grossly unfair. It increases the financial and emotional burden on the accused, prolongs the period in which he is stigmatized by an unresolved accusation of wrongdoing, and may even enhance the risk that an innocent defendant may be convicted. The danger of such unfairness to the defendant exists whenever a trial is aborted before it is completed. 434 U. S. 504.

Application to Senator Menendez's Case

Keep in mind that 10 of the 12 jurors in Senator Menendez's case found him innocent of all charges. The chances of him being convicted on retrial are not great. However, with virtually unlimited prosecutorial resources, the federal government can ruin his reputation and bankrupt him financially. Retrial after a hung jury not only runs roughshod over the defendant's repose interest (the right to enjoy life) but more significantly, subjects him to an unacceptable risk of unjust conviction.

Senator Menendez has already paid a heavy price for the charges brought against him. He has spent millions of dollars to defend his freedom and his honor. His poll numbers have dropped to 30 percent. He is also up for re-election this year. The Senator should not be subject to retrial because, under modern Supreme Court rulings, the Double Jeopardy Clause would be violated because jeopardy attaches once a jury is impaneled and sworn in. Retrial at this point seems more like political retribution than justice. Let the voters in New Jersey decided if they want to be represented by Senator Menendez.
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Originally, this piece was to be a commentary on the television comedy, Black-ish. Just before the holiday season, December 2017, I rented season one of the program from a local library, and I watched three episodes of season four online. What is all the hype about this program and it's Black creator, Kenya Barris?

A few minutes into the first episode, I starting thinking about the creative team working on this production. Are they fearful of being truly radical? Marketing a product and receiving recognition and rewards for this product is a sure sign of success. In America. It tackles police brutality, the "thorny" issues, according Variety, of being Black in America. And Black-ish is a success, "critically acclaimed"--even if it's main "wife" and "mother" figure, Rainbow, is also a physician, but seen, that is, sold, primarily as a wife (and a mother of five!) to a very successful business executive.

Should the consumers not question what's being sold to them as representing a "woman," that is, a Black woman--part of the package deal representing a Black family?

What about the impact of white supremacy within the Black family? Is Rainbow an ideal Black woman because she is second fiddle in the relationship with her husband based on her gender and her income? Is she to be viewed as a human who is neither of the normative gender or of the income bracket that designates truly successful American? Rainbow is, then, what she lacks. We can all laugh at her for what she lacks.

When does Rainbow have time to study, to improve her knowledge of medicine, to improve and update her skills as a doctor, a surgeon? Where are her books? Where's her computer? For that matter, in what room, in that large home, is family's library? Where's the doctor's medical library? In the first few minutes of episode one, the viewer is to note the husband's expansive wardrobe that looks to take up an entire wall with plenty of pants, shirts, shoes, coats and jackets. He's three green leather jackets alone!

In this massive home, where is Rainbow's study? Where's her room of her own? The place for her to think, create, reflect? Would it be acceptable, that is, marketable to see Rainbow or any Black women just walk out of that huge state-of-the-art kitchen or that massive bedroom, just walk out of the camera's frame and retreat to some space that's her? Why should the kitchen necessarily be her? Why should she be the one who must respond humorously (entertainingly) to the antics of the attention-seeking husband?

She is "woman" in some version of the American Dream--for Black Americans? So woman, intellect is the least favorable aspect of your gender. And intellect, as a favorable characteristic of a Black woman, well" No, you are more believable and marketable entertaining the American public--thus assuring its psyche that America will be made great again--soon.

Abusers of power, of women and children, yes"

This commentary was supposed to be about not seeing Black women in Black-ish. But something happened on the way to writing that essay.

In Alabama's special election held on December 12, 2017, something other than what was expected happened. Ninety-eight percent of Black women in Alabama exert their power and, if only temporarily, the image of Rainbow fades. The forgotten thought! Black women took action! Shocked, Americans thanked Black women for stopping Roy Moore's plan to join the US Senate. I don't endorse politicians or the electoral process, but I was struck by the response of the American public when it suddenly discovered Black women existed!

When has this happened before in US history?

I heard news commentators referring to the Black woman's c-o-n-t-r-i-b-u-t-i-o-n to the national/international dialogue about sexual assault and abuse of power as if Black American women has never ever c-o-n-t-r-i-b-u-t-e-d anything to this country, let alone a discussion about a culture of rape and abuse of power!

White supremacist depictions of Black women erase an entire legacy of the Black struggle. What American expected Black women to send the unconscionable to Washington to join in what is already an unconscionable cesspool? By contrast, over 63% of white females in Alabama couldn't imagine Black women getting in the way of sending the patriarch to Washington DC.

As matter-of-fact as white supremacy, however, some Black women organized in the basement of churches or in kitchens while cooking the family meal or having cookies and coffee. Others hugged and talked on front lawns or in backyards while others, still, standing on curbs, exchanged names and email addresses of the neighbors most likely to be feed up. How many others would have met at the laundromat or on the play ground when they went to pick up their children.

Erica Garner, daughter of Eric Garner choked to death at the hands of the New York Police, picked up a bullhorn to denounce the injustice and brutality proliferating in images of whiteness that vilifies to either deaden or at least make malleable everything in its embrace.

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war is a lie

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I was afraid that The Post would give us a Hollywood film version of the publication of the Pentagon Papers and manage never to say what was in the Pentagon Papers. I was afraid it would be turned into a pro-war movie. I was afraid we'd be told that the Washington Post was a courageous institution while Daniel Ellsberg was a dirty traitor. I am pleased to have had no reason for such concerns.

The Post is not exactly an anti-war movie, Ellsberg is not a main character, the peace movement is just rabble scenery, and the major focus is split between journalism's struggle against government and Katherine Graham's struggle against sexism. But we are in fact told in this film that the Pentagon Papers documented decades of official war lies and the continuation of mass-slaughter year-after-year purely out of cowardly unwillingness to be the one to end it. The Post leaves Ellsberg looking like the hero he is and Robert McNamara looking like the Nazi he was. And I'm left to complain that I have nothing to complain about.

Well, except this: We're supposed to believe that the fact that the U.S. government had been blatantly lying about its motivations, actions, and analyses of its warmaking for decades came as a shocking revelation to every intern, reporter, editor, and publisher at the Washington Post, that they all had simply had no idea, bless their hearts, and that they all immediately believed that this brand-new truth needed to be told (with the only hurdle being the willingness of the publisher to stick to the obvious course of action when faced with legal threats from the Justice Department).

This story obscures the fact that senators, Congress members, independent reporters like I.F. Stone, and many others had been exposing the lies in real time for years. And, of course, many statements appeared to be lies without the need for any exposure. We're expected to overlook the willful suspension of disbelief required to believe, for example, that predicting imminent success in Vietnam over and over again for years was all driven by honest reflection on facts. The peace movement was the massive recognition of the lies. The peace movement persuaded Ellsberg to act. The people running the Washington Post cannot have been quite as oblivious as we're led to believe.

The same tale of innocence also may leave the moviegoer with the entirely false impression that the Washington Post has instinctively challenged the most blatant war lies ever since the days of Tricky Dick. Nothing could be further from the truth. Ellsberg has said that Trump should see this movie. I'd rather Jeff Bezos and each of his employees at the current Post see it.

Here are some of the wars that the Washington Post has helped to promote since the moment the credits rolled: Grenada, Panama, the Gulf War (the Post outdid itself promoting a fictional account of babies being taken out of incubators), Somalia, Bosnia, Haiti, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Libya, and drone wars in general.

Here are the wars I am aware of the Washington Post having opposed: _______________.

The current U.S.-Saudi war on Yemen is unusual for the Post's pretense that the U.S. military isn't actively engaged in it, even while admirably asking the U.S. to ask the Saudis to open the ports.

Here's an excerpt from my book, War Is A Lie:

In May and June 2005, the most repeated excuse by U.S. media outlets, including the Washington Post, for not covering the Downing Street Minutes and related documents demonstrating the dishonesty of the planners of the War on Iraq, was that the documents told us nothing new, that they were old news. This conflicted, of course, with the second most common excuse, which was that they were false.

Those of us trumpeting the story as new and important scratched our heads. Of course we'd known the Bush-Cheney gang was lying, but did everyone know that? Had corporate media outlets reported it? Had they informed the public of confirmation of this fact in the form of memos from top government officials in the United Kingdom? And if so, when? When had this particular piece of news been new news?

At what point did it become stale and unnecessary to report that Bush had decided by the summer of 2002 to go to war and to use false justifications related to weapons of mass destruction and ties to terrorism? Judging by opinion polls in spring 2005, we hadn't reached that point yet. Much of the public still believed the lies.

If you went back, as I did, and reviewed all the issues of the Washington Post that had come out in June, July, and August 2002, you found that, while what was happening behind closed doors in Washington and London may have been known to the Washington Post, it certainly never informed its readers. [i] In fact, during that three month period, I found a flood of pro-war articles, editorials, and columns, many of them promoting the lies the debunking of which was supposedly old news.

On August 18, 2002, for example, the Washington Post ran an editorial, an ombudsman column, and three op-eds about a potential U.S. attack on Iraq, as well as three related "news" articles. One article, placed on the top of the front page, reported on a memo that Secretary of "Defense" Donald Rumsfeld had sent to the White House and the media. "Defense " officials were worried that countries such as Iraq or Iran could use cruise missile technology to attack "U.S. installations or the American homeland. "

The article contained the admission that "no particular piece of new intelligence prompted the warning. " What prompted the "reporting "?

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Global Synthetic Fiber Market Projected to Gain Revenues of US$90,000 Mn by 2026

http://business2wire.com/28/01/2018/global-synthetic-fiber-market-projected-gain-revenues-us90000-mn-2026/

http://business2wire.com/

According to new latest report Added In Database Of Business2wire Which Titles as Synthetic Fiber Market Report Studies on different figures of market trends size, volume share, and others figures. Synthetic fibers are referred to man-made materials, which are produced with the help of chemicals having superior properties compared to natural fibers. Presently, consumers across the globe demand for clothing which is convenient and offers protection in the hectic urban lifestyle. As apparel produced using synthetic fibers comprises all these qualities, their demand will witness a substantial rise among consumers globally. As per the study key findings, the global market for synthetic fiber will ride on a remarkable CAGR during the forecast period (2017-2026). Also, worldwide adoption of synthetic fiber is estimated to gain over US$ 90,000 Mn revenues by 2026-end.Browse Full Report @About Business2wire:Business2wire Leading a information of market research reports and industry news on different figures of market trends, market surveys, research reports and other information. we are the distributor of market research reports on our website and advertise on Yahoo, Google, Bing and other search engines. we publish news and research worthy reports deliver to our different readers.Contact UsDowntown,Albany, NYThe United States12201Email ID: contact@business2wire.comWebsite:
Health official: Order requiring masks in school 'to protect the health of children, staff'

The Health Department of Northwest Michigan's order requiring masks be worn by students, staff and visitors in all K-12 buildings is still in effect
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Cooler. Low 66F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Cooler. Low 66F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Just a few weeks ago, there was heightened concern that our numbers of COVID-19 cases have jumped back up. Read more
Several Vietnam-era veterans who served on Guam have spoken about their experiences and what they now believe to be illnesses associated with Agent Orange exposure. A few have shared their stories with The Guam Daily Post.

Brian Moyer

Brian Moyer remembers vividly witnessing herbicide spraying at Apra Harbor. Occasionally, he would be sent to Andersen Air Force Base for firefighter training, where they practiced on fires set up in 55-gallon oil drums. He stated in an affidavit that the fuel used to light the fires were from the tank trailer Leroy Foster used in his spraying duties. Foster is another veteran who has expressed regret over exposing his fellow soldiers to the chemical, while stationed on Guam.

Moyer said he also recalls seeing trees at the main entrance of Andersen all brown and appearing dead, something that didn't make much sense considering Guam's tropical climate.

Bruce Borton

Bruce Borton was a Naval Facilities and Engineering Command Guam Seabee who said he sprayed some chemicals on Guam to keep weeds from growing. He told the Post that he has a claim filed with the VA and several sicknesses.

Robert Fink

A sworn affidavit signed by Robert Fink in January 2017, and provided to the Post, details his time as a firefighter in the 43rd Civil Engineering squadron at Andersen. Fink was on Guam from 1970 to 1972, during the B-52 Arc Light missions to Vietnam.

"During my patrols, I often would see brown gray areas of dead vegetation and noticed spraying being done to the areas of fencing, fuel hydrants, runway and other areas," Fink wrote.

He added that he would use a substance mixed with diesel fuel to kill grass and weeds around fire stations. Spraying also took place in the Marbo barracks, where Fink and several other servicemen lived.

Fink has developed 20 ailments from his exposure to herbicides and is waiting on a decision from the Veterans Review Board.

Edward Jackson

Retired Master Sgt. Edward Jackson wrote to former Congressman Steve Buyer in 2010. Buyer was a ranking member of the Veterans Affairs committee at the time.

Jackson was assigned to drive cargo trucks as part of his duty. This sometimes meant transporting Agent Orange and other Rainbow Herbicides for "transport by ship, the flight line for transport by aircraft, and even to Northwest Field" where the material would be dumped.

Airmen were ordered to dump leaking drums over a cliff to a trash pile 20 to 30 feet below, according to Jackson. The herbicides splashed over Jackson and his fellow airmen.

He developed Hodgkin's disease in 2007 and filed a claim with the VA, which was being appealed at the time of the letter.

Gary and Donna Spurgin

Gary Spurgin was deployed to Guam from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas in 1972.

Spurgin spent most of his deployment in the Marbo Barracks. Spurgin worked during the evening and slept during the day. He recalls having to close his louvers because spraying would enter his unit, "not knowing exactly what it was. It was just killing the greenery, keeping the grass from growing."

Spurgin now has several diseases.

His wife, Donna Spurgin, has been assisting with telling her husband's story, submitting his testimony to different government officials.

Victor Vreeland

Retired Staff Sgt. Victor Vreeland was a firefighter at Andersen between 1966 and 1968.

He could not swear that Agent Orange was used on base, but said he had no doubt that Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) was fogged and certain areas were defoliated with some kind of herbicide.

"I lived in Marbo (Barracks)," Vreeland said. "Those buildings had no windows - no air conditioning."

Pickup trucks with fogging equipment would roll through the area. The fog would drift through the interior of the building and areas of grass were sprayed to make way for the storage of bombs.

Vreeland later developed nerve damage attributable to trichloroethylene (TCE), a known carcinogen.

He founded the website "Deny Deny Until They Die" - named after a popular saying among veterans when it comes to VA actions, according to the retired sergeant. The website is intended to help others find information that could help them when communicating with the VA.

Larry Ledford

Larry Ledford was just 19 years old when he arrived at Andersen. He was stationed on Guam from February 1969 to February 1975. He is now a retired master sergeant. Ledford has developed skin and prostate cancers and leukemia - diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure. None of these cancers appear in his family history. Ledford, for a period of time, worked in the Target Intelligence Center, which was responsible for receipt, distribution and destruction of classified maps of Southeast Asia.

These maps were burned "way out in the boonies" behind Northwest Field, where Agent Orange was supposedly stored.

Ledford said he could not prove that he was exposed to Agent Orange, but he has been in constant contact with Leroy Foster and his own research into the herbicide has led him to believe this to be the source of his illnesses.

Ledford has been awarded 50-percent compensation for skin cancer and blood pressure treatment but has been denied compensation for prostate and leukemia cancers. He is currently appealing with the VA.

Sylvan De Jardo

Sylvan De Jardo was stationed on Guam from 1973 to 1977 at Naval Communications Station and assigned to the Teletype Repair Shop.

"I personally was not involved in the actual spraying of any herbicides, but do remember they sprayed at night in housing from a truck for mosquitoes and sprayed some products in the antenna fields to get rid of the grass," De Jardo said.

"I was familiar with scent it is the same scent I had smelled while stationed in Panama like petroleum. It was sprayed from (a) blower on the back of trucks."

Carol Tamara

Carol Tamara came to Guam with her husband before and gave birth to her son in 1970 at Naval Hospital Guam. Her son is autistic and her husband developed diabetes and other diseases they attribute to Agent Orange exposure. Tamara later developed Parkinson's disease, another disease some say is associated with Agent Orange exposure.
PR-Inside.com: 2018-01-28 17:05:04

FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for East Asia Minerals Corporation--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCWire) - East Asia Minerals Corporation (TSX Venture:EAS). has issued a press release with the following headline:East Asia Minerals Concerned Shareholders' Highlight the Complete Depletion of the Companys Treasury by the Current BoardTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on East Asia Minerals Corporation, or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/East Asia Minerals CorporationSource: East Asia Minerals Corporation (TSX Venture: EAS)Date: January 28, 2018Time: 11:00 AM EST--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of East Asia Minerals Corporation and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
PR-Inside.com: 2018-01-28 00:28:15

FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for East Asia Minerals Corporation--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCWire) - East Asia Minerals Corporation (TSX Venture:EAS). has issued a press release with the following headline:East Asia Minerals Concerned Shareholders' UpdateTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on East Asia Minerals Corporation, or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/East Asia Minerals CorporationSource: East Asia Minerals Corporation (TSX Venture: EAS)Date: January 27, 2018Time: 6:27 PM EST--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of East Asia Minerals Corporation and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
There are many ways in which you can measure growth. Paul David Jewellery, a high-quality jeweller in Derbyshire and Cheshire announce growth figures identified from their recent search engine optimisation techniques.

Jewellery Shop Cheshire and Derbyshire

PR-Inside.com: 2018-01-27 23:15:56

Press Information

Paul David Jewellery

77 High Street West



Glossop



Derbyshire



SK13 8AZ



Lucy Rubin

Owner

01457 899 123

email

http://www.pauldavidjewellery.co.uk





# 417 Words

77 High Street WestGlossopDerbyshireSK13 8AZOwner01457 899 123

Paul David Jewellery is a jeweller based in Cheshire and Derbyshire. They offer a large range of incredibly high-quality handmade and specialist jewellery. They have undertaken a diverse and driven search engine optimisation (SEO) initiative to promote their products. This has been with the end goal of increasing traffic to their new website and improving user experience.This has been managed in a range of ways including on-page SEO techniques and off-site SEO. These methods are wide ranging but have the main goal of building links and creating unique, valuable content. This regular and consistent work has proved incredibly rewarding in their improved growth.Evidence of this growth has been obtained through website analytics. These statistics show that there has been a 36.58% increase in pages viewed per session. This increase looks at the past thirty days and compares it to the same period last year. This shows that the work completed has allowed targeted viewers to peruse the site more freely. As clients view the pages they are more likely to do a build rapport with the Company. They are also more likely to build some level of brand loyalty.Another element that was heavily investigated was the number of new sessions. New sessions show evidence that a wider audience has been targeted. Statistics for the same period show an increase in new sessions of 19.21%. This, combined with the increased pages viewed per session surely offers an insight into the growth they have witnessed.Lucy Rubin, owner of Paul David Jewellery commented:We are extremely passionate about what we do and the products we sell. To be made aware of such growth figures is proves that all of our hard work is paying off. We aim to continue with our dynamic approach to drive more traffic to our site and increase purchases of our incredible jewellery. The optimisation techniques employed have worked to improve user experience as well as site speed. This has paid dividends as the average load time is around 1.6 seconds. This is another example of how this innovative Company are looking to be the best at what they do.Growth for small business is a constant challenge. New and flexible goals need to be set regularly in order to keep the process motivated. Paul David Jewellery show great fortitude in their approaches and such impressive Company growth has offered them an incentive for the coming months.Further information is available at http://www.pauldavidjewellery.co.uk To contact Paul, please e-mail info@ pauldavidjewellery.com
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By Rabiu Sani

Aisha Jidda, a curator at the National Museum, Maiduguri, has called for further studies on the 8,000 year-old Dafuna canoe discovered in Yobe State.

Ms. Jidda told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Maiduguri that this would provide indepth intellectual explanation about African civilization.

It is the oldest boat; it is 8, 000 plus or minus a hundred years and this was done through radio-carbon dating by two reputable universities in Germany that is 8, 100 or 7, 900 years old. It is the oldest of its kind in Africa and the third in the world.

You can imagine that if in Africa we can have something like this we need to preserve it.

Professionals like engineers, botanists, geographers and specialists in other fields would able to carry out research on the technologies involved and look at the composition of the type of wood that the canoe was made up.

You can imagine something beneath the ground to stay that long period of time without decay.

NAN reports that Dufuna canoe was discovered in 1987 by a Fulani herdsman while digging a well at Dufuna village in Fune Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Radiocarbon dating studies of sample of charcoal found near the site dates the canoe at between 8, 000 and 8, 500 years-old. The studies also linked the site to Lake Chad.

It is the oldest boat to be discovered in Africa, and the third oldest in the world.

The antiquity is currently been preserved at the National Museum, Damaturu.

Ms. Jidda stressed that the study might lead to further discovery around the Lake Chad basin and provides more information about the people inhibiting the region.

Ms. Jidda decried the poor attitude of Nigerians to artefacts, cultural values and traditions, noting that comprehensive studies of the antiquities could provide solution to problems bedevilling the continent.

(NAN)
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Corruption, by default, has been identified as Nigerias greatest problem. From the Lagos landlord to the Ilorin rice merchant to the Borno grass-cutter, we all have agreed that corruption remains a major bane in our developmental journey. It is the pivot upon which all of Nigerias hydra-headed problems rotate. And so the Nigerian presidential hopeful need not stress himself if he has a good anti-corruption credential, whether imaginary, selective, ethnic-induced or whatever. To put it simply, victory is assured. I will come back to this.

On becoming Nigerias president, you have to swear to an oath to defend its territorial integrity from external aggression, both military and linguistic, including derogatory depictions like the US shithole metaphor. But it matters less if in the absence of power, good roads and other basic amenities, the fundamental objective and directive principle of state policy appears shitty. After all, the Nigerian takes pride in owning the exclusive right to condemning his own government; he shares no such right with external interlopers.

And so, as our President, you need do little about such derogatory comment: there is an army of patriotic Nigerians who would respond to such with acerbic responses from their posh offices, generator-powered homes, inside Lagos traffic, and of course, millions from the four walls of their Salanga (pit toilet).

In seeking re-election, it is important to understand the power of emotion over logic. Emotions ensure that you connect with the people irrespective of your performances; logic requires that you place your track records on the table for evaluation without photo-shopping them.

The Nigerians connect more with emotion than logic, and that makes the re-election plans a lot easier.

Again, to connect with the Nigerian voter, you must appeal to the HUMAN side. In effect, you may wish to expose them to your human side, to appeal to those parts of them that is devoid of critical thinking. It matters not if you have no ACTION, or more appropriately, PERFORMING side.

Religion is an important part of re-election campaign in Nigeria, and exploiting the dynamics of religion makes you immune to critical assessment. There are a thousand marabouts and suit-wearing smooth talkers that could open the peoples minds for you. Identifying the influential ones and recruiting them remains a tactical game-changer: it worked like magic. Until recently, perhaps.

You may choose to read cartoons sections of newspapers to run away from Nigerians and their headaches, and so even if millions choose to write letters in newspapers daily; theres no cause for alarm. But it must be said that once the letter bears the handwriting of a certain farmer from Ota, notorious for writing regime-changing letters, then danger looms. Even the presidential rule on not being in a hurry to act must be jettisoned, pronto.

In other words, as Nigerias president, you must understand that all letters are equal but some letters are more equal than others.

Back to the fight against corruption, It matters not if the president mouths anti-corruption rhetoric and look the other way when close aides and associates engage in the plundering of the peoples resources with rapacious rage. A photo-op with some of these associates isnt a bad idea, even. Its all good for the re-election bid.

Besides, in Nigeria, the anti-corruption spirit is in the family of contagious diseases like monkeypox and lapalapa: people contract it once they hob-nob with the Nigerian numero uno and, pronto, like whited sepulchre, they become corruption-free.

That Ogun Pyramid

Governor Ibikunle Amosuns skyscraper cap has always been for me a subject of both fascination and riddle. I have always wondered how, inspite of the turbulence of Ogun politics, hes been able to successfully maintain the huge structure of that cap. But the recent (unverified) pictures flying around showing how he allegedly padded his famed rice pyramid seem to have solved this riddle.

The governor comes across as a man of HUGE accomplishments and perhaps, if subjected to scrutiny, there might be a huge wad (that which could pass for Osuka in our Yoruba colloquial exchange) LIE-ing somewhere beneath that cap. And it remains unsettling how in spite of the allegations that have trailed that rice project, the government has treated the issue with kid gloves. Of course, optics is of no importance here anyway.

On the flipside, since the discourse isnt really about statistical padding, we may jettison the idea of looking into the states 2018 budget anyway.
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The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, on Saturday blamed the increasing number of health workers infected with Lassa fever on their refusal to take necessary precaution while treating patients.

The Minister, who stated this in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, when he paid a courtesy call on Governor David Umahi, described the recent outbreak in the state, which killed four health workers, as unfortunate.

According to the Minister, most doctors treat the deadly disease as if it is any other ordinary disease and thus fail to wear protective medical apparels while treating patients.

What is worrisome is that when doctors and healthcare workers become infected then the country is in danger because every person that will go and meet that doctor or nurse is at risk.

I want to say that up till today no health care worker has contacted Lassa at Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo state because if you take precaution, wear gloves before you take blood, wear gloves before you operate, you cant catch Lassa fever.

Lassa fever requires close contact between the blood of an infected person and healthcare workers looking after him. Once you wear gloves, wear protective gown, you cant have Lassa fever. But what we have discovered is that doctors and nurses treat Lassa as if it is just ordinary flu or malaria, but it is not, the minister said.

He blamed the delay to fully equip the Virology Centre Abakaliki, which was built and handed over to the federal government, on outbreak of other deadly diseases across the country.

It quite unfortunate that you handed the centre over to us but because of a few other things we could not respond immediately with the operationalisation of the lab.

As we moved to operationalise the lab we had other challenges, we had monkey pox, we had meningitis and it appeared as if in trying to prioritise we thought lassa has calmed down a bit, we decided to quickly address these diseases and also the yellow fever outbreak, he added.

Responding, Mr.Umahi, represented by his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, said 16 cases have been recorded in the state.

Nine cases have been confirmed, six are suspected cases, one is a probable index case. Eight of them are at the Virology Centre Abakaliki while one is in Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo state.

He noted that three of the confirmed cases have been successfully treated and discharged.
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The presidency has issued the statement below in reaction to claims about the new Director-General for the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

Read full statement below.

NIA DG: FACTS OF THE MATTER

A lot of half-truths, misinformation, and outright falsehood have attended the announcement of a new Director-General for the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), in the person of Mr Ahmed Rufai Abubakar .

Some of such unfounded stories include that Abubakar had retired from the services of NIA as an Assistant Director, because he failed promotion examinations twice, and had to quit, willy-nilly. Others claim he is married to a Moroccan, and so cannot hold such sensitive security position, while others say he was born and bred in Chad, and he holds dual nationality.

All these have been widely disseminated on the social, and some mainstream media. With the formal assumption of office by Mr Abubakar, it is now necessary to set the facts straight.

The new NIA DG retired from Foreign Service as Deputy Director (not Assistant Director) and three times during his career, had won Merit Award for competence and meritorious service. Failing promotion examination can only exist in the fecund minds of fiction writers. His last position before the new appointment was as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs/International Affairs where again he quietly proved himself.

Mr. Abubakars parents hailed from Katsina State, and had settled in Chad at a point in their lifetime. The new DG did his primary school in Ndjamena (then Fort-Lamy), but returned to Nigeria for his secondary and University education. He never at any time held Chadian nationality.

Mr Abubakars only wife hails from Katsina State, indeed, from the same community as the husband. The story of being married to a Moroccan can only be tale by moonlight, concocted by people who love a fib.

The President appointed the new DG because he had worked closely with him in the past two years, and sincerely believes that he would add value to the NIA.

Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President

(Media and Publicity)

January 28, 2018
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President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo came face to face for the first time after Mr. Obasanjo released a damning statement asking Mr. Buhari not to seek re-election in 2019.

The two leaders met Sunday at the ongoing African Union summit taking place at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

They met briefly just before the opening ceremony of the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union(AU).

Mr. Obasanjo first went round to exchange pleasantries with other African leaders attending the summit, before looking out for Mr. Buhari among the crowd to also have a word with him.

State House correspondents at the venue observed that the brief pleasantries between the two leader became a sensation inside the Nelson Mandela Hall as photojournalists made frantic efforts to capture the moment.

Mr. Obasanjo had stirred up controversies in Nigeria when he released a 13-page statement accusing Buhari of under-performance and therefore should not seek re-election in 2019.

President Muhammadu Buhari, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar attending the African Union summit taking place at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo attending the African Union summit taking place at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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President of American University of Nigeria, Dawn Dekle, has charged newly admitted students to focus their energies on service to humanity and not on money or material acquisitions.

At the Universitys 2018 spring semester Convocation and Pledge Ceremony last Monday, President Dekle counselled that there is more satisfaction by counting acts of service than by counting money.

At AUN, service is one of our core values, and each of you will have the opportunity to serve during your time here.

Parents and guardians joined the new students, who come from 27 states of Nigeria and from the Republic of Cameroon, as they took the AUN Community Pledge of Truth and Absolute Integrity, an important tradition in American-style universities.

President Dekle, who conducted the new students formal induction at the library auditorium, inspired them with wise sayings from two iconic Americansone real, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and the other fictional, Benjamin Button.

Everybody can be great because everybody can serveYou only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love, she quoted from King, a civil rights champion, who would have turned 89 on January 15.

Dr. Dekle continued: [January 15] is a day of citizen action volunteer service, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., and we take inspiration from this. She then added that the King Day has relevance with AUN.

She went on to quote excerpts from the film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button starring Brad Pitt: Throughout the movie, Button is aging backward, beginning as an old man and growing younger. When his daughter is born, he knows he will be dead before he can give her his guidance as a parent. So, Benjamin Button wrote a letter to his daughter, urging her to go on and make the best or worst of becoming what she wants. I hope you live a life youre proud of. If you find that youre not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.

With those words, President Dekle told her audience: My wish for each of you is to step into your greatness, to live out loud, and make your lives a masterpiece. Welcome to AUN!

A high point of the ceremonythe 26th pledge ceremony since AUN began admitting students in 2005was the presentation of the 2021 class sash to each of the new students.

AUN admits students twice a yearin the fall and spring semesters.

The American University of Nigeria hosts advanced technological infrastructure and digital content delivery in all taught subjects, which have been fully accredited by the National Universities Commission.

Accredited programmes are: Law, Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, Management & Entrepreneurship, Marketing, English Language & Literature, Telecommunication & Wireless Technology, Information System, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Economics, International & Comparative Politics, and Mass Communications (Communication & Multimedia, Advertising, Print Journalism, Television/Film, Multimedia Design).
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A former  Senator under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Basheer Lado, has decamped to the All Progressives Congress(APC) with over 5,000 supporters in a grand reception in Kano.

The event took place at the popular Sani Abacha stadium before a large crowd of supporters.

Mr. Lado, who was accompanied to the venue by party supporters, was received by Deputy National Chairman of the APC, Segun Oni on behalf of the partys national chairman, John Oyegun.

The former Senator, who represented Kano Central from 2011 to 2015, lost to the immediate past Governor of the state, Rabiu Kwankwaso, during the 2015 general elections.

Speaking shortly after he was received by the party, Mr. Lado promised to work for the development of the party not only at the state level but the country as at large.

I am very happy to join APC with over 5,000 supporters , together we are going to work for the party to become stronger in the state and the country in general, he said.

The former senator said his decision to move to the APC was borne out his conviction that the party had done well and fulfilled the promises it made to the electorate.

In his remarks, the North- West Zonal Vice Chairman of the party, Inuwa Abdulkadir, described the Mr. Lados coming as a boost to the APC in the country.

Earlier, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje said that Mr. Lado had brought a lot of development to the state when he was senator representing Kano Central between 2011 and 2015.

He said the contract for the Kano-Katsina road was awarded during the Senators term in the senate.

Mr. Ganduje also added that the senator moved the motion for the construction of a fly-over along Zaria Road in Kano metropolis.

The governor also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts in the figth against corruption and insurgency in the country.

He also thanked Mr. Buhari for approving the contract for the construction of modern rail line from Lagos to Kano in addition to awarding contract for the rehabilitation of the Abuja  Kaduna-Kano road.

Mr. Ganduje then appealed to the people of the state to continue to pray for the president and for peace, stability and progress in the country.

NAN reports that among the prominent personalities that graced the occasion were Governor Jibrila Bindow of Adamawa, Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger, Senator Kabiru Gaya, Senator Barau Jibrin and some members of the House of representatives.

Other were the National Organising Secretary of the APC, Osita Izunaso; Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi; Senator Eta Enang and the National Women Leader of the ruling party, Rabi Abdullahi, among others.

(NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday in Addis Ababa described corruption as one of the greatest evils of our time.

Speaking while formally launching the African Anti-Corruption Year 2018 during the Opening Ceremony of the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in the Ethiopian capital, the President declared:

Corruption is indeed one of the greatest evils of our time. Corruption rewards those who do not play by the rules and also creates a system of distortion and diversion thereby destroying all efforts at constructive, just and fair governance.

Being the champion of the theme of the 30th AU Summit, namely, Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africas Transformation, President Buhari thanked his African colleagues for entrusting him with such a noble responsibility.

He pledged to do his best to ensure that the anti-corruption agenda will receive the attention it deserves and make the impact we all hope for, during 2018 and beyond.

The President, who noted that Africa has made some significant strides in enacting legal and policy frameworks such as the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) to address the vice, said the desired impact had been lacking.

Fifteen (15) years after the adoption of the African Union Convention, 2018 provides a good starting point to take stock of progress made so far, assess what still needs to be done and devise new strategies to address new corruption challenges, he said.

According to President Buhari, in spite of sustained economic growth on the continent for the past two decades, public confidence has been eroded by a focus on short-term priorities and payoffs, propelled by corruption, which too often leaves projects uncompleted and promises unfulfilled.

He identified other negative effects of corruption as, posing a real threat to national security; eroding the development of a universal culture of good governance, democratic values, gender equality, human rights, justice and the rule of law.

In tackling bribery and corruption, the Nigerian leader said the crucial place of strong institutions cannot be over-emphasised.

A Judiciary which stands firm against arbitrariness and injustice by the executive is a vital pillar in the anti-corruption fight. As leaders, we must build synergy between the Executive, Legislative and Judicial arms of government in order to entrench good governance, transparency and accountability.

Strong institutions are a necessary condition in any society which aims to fight corruption. In building strong national and regional institutions, we must adequately empower our national anti-corruption agencies and insulate them from political influence. We have to encourage increased institutional collaboration between Law Enforcement Agencies and anti-corruption Agencies in order to win this fight. he stated.

Justifying further the imperative to defeat the evil which corruption represented, President Buhari said:

It is evident that Corruption has a devastating impact on marginalized communities especially the youth, women and children. Corruption breeds unequal societies, renders vulnerable groups prone to human trafficking, as well as recruitment into armed groups and militia. In effect, corruption deprives our young citizens of opportunities to develop meaningful livelihoods.

He listed his priorities in the campaign against corruption in 2018 to include, organising African Youth Congresses against Corruption in order to sensitise and engage our youth in the fight against corruption; mobilising AU member states to implement the extant legal framework on corruption; and canvassing for the strengthening of the criminal justice system across Africa through exchange of information and sharing best practices in the enforcement of anti-corruption laws.

The President, who called for the strengthening of the AU Advisory Board on Corruption to make it more proactive, also proposed to enlist the support of parliamentarians, women associations, the media, business community, faith-based groups, the youth, educational institutions and traditional rulers among others in the campaign.

Revealing that Africa loses about 50 billion US dollars annually to corruption, he advocated greater efforts in addressing the causal relationship between corruption and illicit financial flows.

Drawing the attention of his colleagues to the corrosive role that tax havens and secret jurisdictions play in concealing ill-gotten assets, President Buhari said the continental body must do more to stop the continuous assault on our economic and financial resources by multinationals in collusion with some of our citizens.

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Observing that tackling corrupt acts and greed required a reorientation of attitudes and perceptions, he declared: To win the fight against corruption, we must have a CHANGE of mind set.

Reminding his fellow African leaders that the honourable campaign against corruption will not be an easy task because corruption does fight back, he, however, advised them to remain firm and resolute.

The Nigerian leader, who said he was inspired to champion the campaign against corruption by the commitment, encouragement and support of his colleagues, said:

In Nigeria we have gone far into the implementation of our CHANGE Agenda, which is primarily aimed at fighting corruption.

President Buhari also reiterated Nigerias abiding commitment to the fight against corruption today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.

GARBA SHEHU

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

January 28, 2018.
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The discovery of two corpses in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara following exchange of gunshots between members of a local vigilance group and some gunmen has heightened tension in the council area.

Ajayi Okesanmi, the Public Relations Officer of the Kwara Police Command, has confirmed the recovery of the two corpses.

Mr. Okasanmi, a deputy superintendent of police, said five suspects had been arrested and were assisting the police in their investigation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the local vigilance group in the area recorded casualties in an attempt to dislodge the gunmen from their camp at the centre of the 50- kilometre National Park located in the area.

A source told NAN that the gunmen often dispossess residents of the communities in the area of their belongings, particularly food, livestock and cash.

The source, who preferred anonymity, told NAN that the hoodlums attack people in Tungan Maje, Woro and Nukku after mounting a road block.

The source said the weapons used by the gunmen were more sophisticated than the ones used by members of the local vigilance group.

The Chairman of the council,Abdullahi Abubakar, told NAN that deployment of members of the local vigilance group was for surveillance to prevent further attacks on communities in the area.

Unfortunately, when the vigilance group members approached the gunmen in their camp, they killed one vigilance group member while three others are missing, he said.

(NAN)
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Despite a police warning against the January 30 visit of Nigerian senator, Rabiu Kwankwaso to Kano, the former governor has said no one can stop him from coming to the state.

He said he is simply coming peacefully to see his constituents.

The Kano Command of the Nigeria Police has advised him to shelve the visit warning that it might lead to chaos.

It also said the law would be allowed to take its full course in the event of a breakdown of !aw and order as a result of the controversial visit.

The proposed visit by the lawmaker, who is a known critic of the state governor, Umar Ganduje, has generated controversy in the state with accusations and counter-allegations emanating from the different political divides in the state over an expected clash between supporters of both politicians.

The State Police Commissioner, Rabiu Yusuf, said the police would not allow a break down of law and order due to tension over the visit.

However, Mr. Kwankwaso, who spoke through his spokesperson, Binta Rabiu Sipikin, in Kano, said he is coming to the state with seven camera drones, three international media outfits and, a host of other top national and international friends of his.

Mr. Kwankwaso noted that his visit is a well-planned one that will be peaceful.

We are coming to visit friends, families and other relatives that for a long time, we have not seen. We have coordinated this visit with seven camera drones and other apparatus that would make it a hitch free home coming, he said.
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The Ekiti State Government has filed criminal charges of corruption against former governor of the state, Kayode Fayemi, and Ex-commissioner for Finance, Dapo Kolawole, based on the release of the White Paper on the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry which investigated the officials and recommended them for sanctions.

The commissions report indicted Mr. Fayemi, who is now the minister of mines and steel development, along with Mr. Kolawole, for allegedly mismanaging state funds accruing to the state government.

The governments White Paper, which was released on January 15, recommended that the former governor and his finance commissioner be barred from holding public office for 10 years.

The administration urged the states ministry of justice to institute legal action against Mr. Fayemi and others and make them account for the fund allocated to projects in the N25 billion Bond Prospectus, which the report said were not executed.

But Mr. Fayemi has responded to the action of the state government, saying it was a move designed purely to smear his person.

According to him, he is in court ahead of the Ekiti State government, challenging the validity of the commission and its report.

In the 19-count charge filed before the Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti on January 26, and with number HAD/05c/2018, the Ekiti State government accused Messrs Fayemi and Kolawole of stealing, abuse of office, criminal contempt, among others.

The charge information sheet made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday alleged that for former governor and finance commissioner allegedly misappropriated the sum of N4.9 billion being the proceeds of Ekiti State Bond for the sum of N20 billion earmarked in the Bond Prospectus for various projects in the State that were either not done or partly done.

That you Dr. John Kayode Fayemi and Mr. Vincent Dapo Kolawole, while holding the offices of the Executive Governor of Ekiti State of Nigeria and Commissioner for Finance respectively, sometime between 2011 and 2014, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, conspired to steal the sum of N2,750,000,000.00 (N2.75 billion) being the sum of money earmarked in the Bond Prospectus titled; Ekiti State Government of Nigeria, Offer for Subscription of N20,000,000,000 (N20 billion). 14.5% Fixed rate Bond Due 2018 Under the Ekiti State Government of Nigeria N25,000,000,000.00 Bond Issuance Programme  and released for the construction of Ultra-Modern Market in Ekiti State, which you never built; and thereby committed an offence, the charge partly read.

It also alleged that the two officials pilfered the sum of N716.7million out of the N750 million earmarked in the bond prospectus and released for the construction of Ekiti State School of Agriculture out of which only N33.31million was spent.

They were also accused of misappropriating N198.86million being outstanding fund from the N500 million earmarked in the Bond Prospectus and released for the construction of Ekiti State Liaison Office in Lagos, out of which only N301.14million was expended for the said construction.

They were also charged with criminal contempt for refusing to appear before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, an offence punishable under Section 13 of the Commission of Inquiry Law, Cap C. 10, Laws of Ekiti State, 2010, Section 126(2) of the Criminal Code laws, Cap C. 16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2010 and Criminal Contempt punishable under Section 133 of the same criminal code.

The media aide to the minister, Olayinka Oyebode, in his reaction to the charges, said the action of the Fayose-led government was a demonstration of double standard and show of desperation to soil Mr. Fayemis good name.

We shall meet in court because we are already in court ahead of them, he said.

That is the same reason why the government refused to release the certified true copy of the white paper to our lawyers who have filed a suit against the kangaroo commission and its report.

As soon as the report was released, the ministers lawyers requested for the CTC of the report, but they refused to do so up till now, and it is the same report that they have used to file the charges in court.

That shows clearly what their intentions are and Nigerians should not take them seriously at all.
Just weeks in and the Melbourne property market is off to a flying start.

There are $45 million plus hopes for Evans Court Estate, the 4,970 sqm Toorak compound belonging to the Roche family.

It will easily exceed the single dwelling state record of $40 million set quietly last year when Mowbray sold on St George's Road, Toorak.

But the offering would need competitive interest to exceed the Australian compound record when a Mosman Park compound fetched $57.5 million on the Swan River in Perth in a 2009 sale by estate agent Willie Porteous.

The six home Toorak compound with Evans Court and Glyndebourne Street frontages last sold without the fanfare in 2015 through Williams Batters.

This time Goldeneye Media have launched an international campaign including drone footage.

Abercromby's agent Jock Langley and CBRE's Mark Wizel have the listing.

The main residence, Windarring, dates back to 1918 when designed for James Russell Butchar by architects Oakden & Ballantyne in what was described as the Craftsman style.

The Derham family, who owned it for decades, undertook renovations which featured in an 1928 The Australian Home Beautiful edition.

The estate was later expanded by the former BP chief executive James Stafford-Fox and wife Moyna, who added its townhouses.

This article was first published in the Weekend Australian property section.
Swiss broadcast news channel La Tele has deployed a live and scheduled playout solution from Harmonic.

The company is using Harmonic's Spectrum X media server and Polaris Play automation to control scheduled playout operations."Recently, we decided to upgrade our playout workflow. Having a powerful media server at the heart of our operations was a top priority," said Francois Vittoz, technical director at La Tele. "Harmonic offers the most critical component for any playout system  rock-solid reliability, along with extensive deployment experience and a stellar reputation in powering leading news channels. The Spectrum X media server simplifies our workflow, saving us money and allowing us to deliver higher quality branded programming to consumers."During live events, video is recorded on the Spectrum X media server. The Aveco ASTRA automation system takes control of the Spectrum X media server and a Caspar CG system, allowing La Tele to brand its live programming with custom graphics. The Aveco automation system is also integrated with the Incite MAM and a newsroom computer system (NRCS) from Octopus to further ensure playout of live news and events.Featuring playout, news production and channel-in-a-box (CiaB) capabilities, the solution increases workflow efficiency and reliability for the delivery of high-quality live and recorded HD video, enabling La Tele to deliver a rich on-air presentation to its viewers, the companies said."La Tele wanted a faster workflow, and upgrading its media asset management solution was a great way to achieve that," said Georges Nakhle managing director at IMC Technologies, the systems integrator on the project. "We designed and integrated a complete system for the channel that includes a simple traffic system and a robust media server.""Our Spectrum X media server features high availability, making it ideal for a local news organisation like La Tele, where it's important to get on air quickly," said Ian Graham, vice president of sales, EMEA and LATAM, at Harmonic . "Being embedded in the Spectrum X server core software, Polaris Play enables seamless integration with the Chyro traffic system to ensure uninterrupted execution of the playlist. By supporting fixed and open-ended live events, Harmonic's end-to-end playout solution provides maximum flexibility for fast-changing news environments."
Russia is reportedly increasing the number of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems in western Syria, where it operates maritime and air forces.

Two mobile missile batteries have been delivered to Khmeimim air base in Latakia province, while another two went to Tartus naval port on the Mediterranean Sea, according to RT, the Russian government-funded news outlet.



Whether this poses significant or increased threat to U.S. warplanes operating in the country for the fight against the Islamic State is unknown. The missile batteries' final locations have not been disclosed.
With the A-10 Marines Call in the Heat on the Taliban

Two sorties of A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft struck Taliban militants in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on Jan. 24. It's the first series of strikes by the aircraft since its return to Afghanistan on Jan. 19.

The aircraft, commonly referred as the Warthog, has been absent from Afghanistan since 2014 as America began rapidly withdrawing forces from the region.

The A-10 is one of the military's most beloved aircraft, especially in Afghanistan, where the plane's 30mm cannon has dealt punishing blows to Taliban fighters for years.
In the last four months of 2017, the United States resumed bombing Islamic State (IS) targets in Libya. On September 24, 2017, U.S. African Command (AFRICOM) announced it had conducted airstrikes against an IS training camp on September 22 at 7:06 PM, killing 17 militants and destroying three vehicles (U.S. African Command, September 24, 2017). According to AFRICOM, the training camp, located 150 miles southeast of the city of Sirte, was hit by a half-dozen precision strikes launched from B-2 bombers and Reaper Drones. It also claimed that the terrorist group was stockpiling weapons at the camp, hosting foreign fighters and plotting more attacks in Libya and elsewhere.

Another attack followed swiftly. On September 26, AFRICOM reported it had conducted two more precision strikes, 100 miles southeast of the city of Sirte, which killed several more IS militants (U.S. African Command, September 28, 2017).

Most recently, on November 17 and 19, the U.S. military conducted precision strikes near the city of Fuqaha, directly south of Sirte (U.S. African Command, November 21, 2017). While AFRICOM did not report any casualties officially, there are reports that the strike killed several fighters (Libyan Express, November 18, 2017).

Before September strikes, the last U.S. airstrike reported in Libya was on January 19, 2017, the last full day that then-President Barack Obama was in office. That strike, employing B-2 bombers, hit an IS training camp south of Sirte, killing roughly 80 fighters. The strikes were reportedly part of an operation to eliminate external plotters, including those plotting attacks in Europe (North Africa Post, September 20). With the latest strikes, the administration of President Donald Trump is following the Obama-era playbook.

Islamic State in Libya

The willingness of the Obama administration to undertake occasional military interventions in Libya, and for the Trump administration to follow that lead, reflects the growing seriousness of the security threat emanating from the country. With the so-called IS caliphate disappearing in Iraq and Syria, Libya has provided an attractive refuge for fleeing IS jihadists. The extremist network has flourished with their help, organizing increased terrorist attacks at home and abroad while managing a thriving criminal enterprise smuggling people supposedly fleeing Syria into Europe. In a February 2016 report to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper called IS in Libya one of the groups most developed branches outside of Syria and Iraq. [1]

Following Clappers remarks, the Obama administration took steps to diminish the IS threat emanating from Libya. It carried out Operation Odyssey Lightning from August 1 to December 19, 2016, an air campaign that included 495 precision strikes in support of military forces aligned with Libyas Government of National Accord (GNA) (U.S. African Command, December 20, 2016). The campaign evicted IS from the city of Sirte, its main base of operations in the country (al-Monitor, December 14, 2016).

Control of Sirte and its surrounding area are of critical strategic significance for the country. The Sirte Basin ranks 13th among the worlds petroleum provinces. It contains 80 percent of the countrys oil reserves and many of its major oil wells. [2] The Basin provides the resources to support most of the military forces fighting in the area.

By depriving IS of Sirte, the Obama administration succeeded in diminishing the groups capabilities, at least temporarily. However, rather than being scattered or deterred, many IS fighters merely shifted their base of operations to the surrounding countryside and areas to the south (Middle East Eye, August 24, 2017).

In southern and central Libya, neither of the rival national governmentsthe GNA and the House of Representatives (HoR)exercises effective authority. Without clear political authority, these regions have become a passageway for smugglers, jihadists and migrants.

Airstrikes Resumed

IS has taken advantage of this power vacuum to reestablish its operational structure and regain much of its organizational capability. In 2017, working from its new bases of operations, IS began a push to recapture Sirte. It had already established a strong presence in the city of al-Nawfalya, to the east of the city, and, as of December 2017, it controls an area ranging as far south as Waddan in central Libya.

One estimate by Ibrahim Mlitan, a security commander in Sirte, is that IS operates in an area of 40,000 square km surrounding Sirte (Maghreb Newswire, September 15, 2017). Local residents and security forces have reported IS fighters patrolling coastal highways around the city and hunting opponents who aided the GNA in expelling them in 2016 (Middle East Eye, September 5, 2017).

The increasing IS activity, and the growing threat of the group recapturing Sirte, is what prompted the United States to resume precision strikes. Unfortunately, it appears that the latest airstrikes have emboldened IS in Libya. After the first set of U.S. strikes in late September, the group mobilized sleeper cells in towns surrounding Sirte. Then, on October 4, IS gunmen opened fire outside a Libyan courthouse complex in Misrata and eventually detonated suicide vests, killing four people and injuring 41 others (IOL News, October 4, 2017). In December 2017, another IS cell was apprehended by Libyan government forces in Derna after members attempted to assassinate a member of the Derna Shura Council, Moaz Tchani (Libyan Observer, December 11, 2017).

Despite these incidents, there is no indication the United States intends to escalate its involvement in Libya. When asked about U.S. policy toward Libya last April, President Trump stated: I do not see a role [for the United States] in Libya. I think the United States has right now enough roles  I do see a role in getting rid of ISIS, were very effective in that regard  I see that as a primary role and thats what were going to do, whether its in Iraq, or Libya or anywhere else (C-SPAN, April 20).

Getting Rid of IS

It is unclear whether simply continuing to draw from the established playbook of occasional airstrikes, sometimes supported by GNA-affiliated forces on the ground, will achieve the stated policy goal of getting rid of IS. After all, the most significant achievement of this approach was forcing IS fighters out of Sirte, and even that is now in danger of unraveling.

In particular, it seems doubtful that IS influence will be broken until a Libyan government can consolidate effective authority in the central and southern regions of the country. As Jalal al-Shweidi, a representative from the Benghazi-based HoR, told one reporter in September: The defeat of [Islamic State] wont happen without real consensus between politicians, which we are far from achieving (World Tribune, September 16, 2017).

Unfortunately, Libyas politicians do not appear to be moving toward reconciliation. Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the head of the Libyan National Army (LNA), which controls eastern Libya and is aligned with the HoR government based in Tobruk, declared on December 17 that the UN-brokered Libyan Political Agreement (LPA), intended to provide the basis for a national political reconciliation, had expired and therefore no longer applied (Libyan Herald, December 17). The following day, the prime minister of Libyas unity government, Fayez al-Sarraj, insisted the agreement remains in place, despite its mandate elapsing (Daily Sabah, December 19, 2017). His words were echoed by Hashem Bishr, one of the GNAs key military commanders, but only on condition that there be elections in 2018 (North Africa Post, December 18, 2017).

None of this is encouraging for the prospects for peace and reconciliation. The more immediate question, however, is whether the Trump administration can at least replicate the previous administrations limited successes in keeping IS out of Sirte. The longer-term question is whether it can fashion a strategy that promises a more sustainable solution.

Allan Pilch is a Researcher at the Center for the Study of Targeted Killing

Avery Plaw is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. He is the author of several articles on drones and a book entitled Targeting Terrorists (Ethics and Global Politics) by Ashgate. He is a specialist on targeted assassinations.

This article appeared originally at The Jamestown Foundation's Terrorism Monitor.

NOTES

[1] Clapper, James R, Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community (Senate Arms Committee, February 9, 2016).

[2] Ahlbrandt, Thomas S, The Sirte Basin Province of Libya  Sirte-Zelten Total Petroleum System (U.S. Geological Survey, 2001).
The only thing richer than the Democratic Party's history of sexual perversion is their astounding willingness to lecture others on the subject.On Friday, we learned of sexual assault allegations against casino magnate and RNC Finance Chairman Steve Wynn. The shocking accounts of his harassment, manipulation and worse paint the picture of the worst kind of cad  or a medium degenerate-level Democratic senator.
College is expensive, especially with the accumulation of fees for books, tuition, rent and so much more. Since college is so pricey, some Uni
From couches to batteries, almost everything can be sent to the landfill. Rather than throwing things away, though, the people of Athens should find ways to properly recycle or dispose of no longer used items to benefit the environment.
Thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts given to the University of Georgia, Athens is one of three cities in Georgia to par
TORRINGTON  A team of optometrists, optometry students and volunteers took their annual trip to Nicaragua earlier this month on behalf of VOSH-CT.

On Monday, Torrington optometrist Dr. Matthew Blondin, attorney Audrey Blondin and their staff recounted their experiences in service to Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity.

The group left Connecticut on Jan. 5  their flight was delayed by Connecticuts snowstorm on Jan. 4  and arrived in San Juan del Sur on Jan. 6. Included in the group were 40 students from Berkeley College of Optometry, Berkeley, CA; SUNY College of Optometry, New York City; and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy Health and Science (MCPHS) Optometry Program in Worcester MA; 10 additional optometrists and 25 support staff members, which included employees from Blondins practice, Blondin Shea Eye Care.

The Blondins, who live in Litchfield, began the mission trip nearly 20 years ago as a way to help others. The need in Nicaragua is great, Dr. Blondin said, mainly because health care is practically non-existent for the residents of this Central American country.

During the four-day clinic, held in a school in San Juan del Sur, the team provided eye exams, treatments and glasses to 4,688 people, exceeding last years count of 4,488.

Every year people wait for us to come, Audrey Blondin said. They talk about it months before we get there and by the time the clinic starts, people are lined up.

VOSH-CT provides buses to bring patients to the clinics, since many residents would have no way to get there otherwise, Audrey Blondin said. Theyd have to walk, she added. They bring whole families with them. Its amazing to see people waiting in line.

Translators are an important part of the mission trip, and this year, Jennifer Lliviganay, who works for the Blondins, was Audrey Blondins assistant as she registered patients to be seen at the clinic. Lliviganay, a resident of Torrington, brought her friend Jennifer Borja of Torrington to help her. The two young women speak fluent Spanish and were able to streamline the steady flow of patients by asking the right questions and finding out what people needed.

It was amazing, and a lot of fun, Lliviganay said.

They were great, Audrey Blondin said of her two assistants. It makes such a difference when you can communicate with the patients.

Many people needed glasses, but the clinic doctors also treat people for cataracts, minor eye injuries and other issues. VOSH-CT brings thousands of pairs of donated glasses and sunglasses and medications for the clinic each year. They also bring clothes, shoes and food to the residents.

A neighboring towns school was heavily damaged by Hurricane Maria in October, and volunteers collected and delivered books and other school supplies. Anything we can do to help them out, Dr. Blondin said.

In Torrington, Blondin Shea Eye Cares office manager, Nicole Gaynor, starts preparing for the VOSH trip in October, arranging for everything from plane tickets to buses, packing donated supplies and making sure everyones passports and travel information is in order. She also provides all paperwork  a 50-page packet  for the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health for doctors credentials and supplies. But she doesnt go on the trip herself.

Someone has to stay here, Gaynor said with a laugh.

Dr. Blondin joined forces with his son-in-law, Dr. Michael Shea, two years ago, and the duo opened a second optometry office in Kent in December. Shea and his wife, Rose Blondin, have taken the trip many times themselves, as have the Blondins sons, Joseph and Nick. In 2017, members of the Harwinton Lions Club and Harwinton Selectman Nancy Schnyer joined the group  Lions Clubs provide eye screenings as part of their mission. VOSH-CT also collects donations to support the annual mission trip.

The Blondins are already preparing for next year.

Oh, were going back, of course we are, Dr. Blondin said.

Its a very humbling experience to go there, Audrey Blondin said. People are so grateful, and it feels so good to help them.

To learn more about VOSH-CT and the work they do each year, go to drblondin.com/vosh-ct.html.
Afghanistan's government has declared a day of mourning for January 28, after a bomb attack claimed by the Taliban in the capital killed more than 100 people.

Under presidential orders, the Afghan flag is to fly at half-mast across the country and at diplomatic missions abroad, as funerals of the victims take place.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Wais Barmak said that the number of people killed in the massive suicide car bombing in a crowded area in central Kabul in the early afternoon of January 27 had risen to 103. Officials had earlier put the number at 95.

He said that 235 other people were wounded, including more than 30 police officers.

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.

Officials said the attacker used an ambulance to pass through the checkpoints and reach Sadarat Square, near many government buildings, foreign embassies, and shops.

Eyewitnesses say that buildings hundreds of meters away were shaken by the force of the explosion.

U.S. President Donald Trump called for "decisive action" by all countries against the Taliban, saying in a statement on January 27, "This murderous attack renews our resolve and that of our Afghan partners."

"Now, all countries should take decisive action against the Taliban and the terrorist infrastructure that supports them," he added. "The Taliban's cruelty will not prevail."

Trump said 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."

Tadamichi Yamamoto, head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, "unequivocally" condemned the attack.

"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 in a statement.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said the use of an ambulance was "harrowing."

"This could amount to perfidy under [International humanitarian law]. Unacceptable and unjustifiable," it said in a message on Twitter.

In the French capital, the Eiffel Tower turned off its lights on the night of January 27 to mourn the dead.

"The city of Paris and Parisians are with the Afghan people who are once again facing terrorist barbarity," Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo wrote on Twitter.

The attack comes a week after an assault on the Intercontinental Hotel in the city that killed at least 25 people.

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.

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
An Iranian-American man imprisoned in Iran, Baquer Namazi, has been granted a brief release from prison due to health concerns, his lawyer says.

Lawyer Jared Genser said in a statement on January 28 that his 81-year-old client would be out of Tehran's Evin prison on a four-day leave.

Namazi has undergone surgery already while imprisoned to have a pacemaker installed.

Genser said his client's leave should be made permanent given his poor health.

Iranian state media did not immediately report Namazi being granted leave.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said: "We welcome the release of Baquer Namazi given his deteriorating health but we note that his release is only temporary. We call for the immediate and full release of the Namazi family, including his son Siamek, as well as other Americans unjustly held by the Iranian government."

Baquer and Siamak Namazi are among several dual nationals held by Iran.

Both Namazis are serving 10-year prison sentences after being found guilty in closed-door trials of spying and cooperating with the U.S. government. They denied the charges.

Analysts believe Iran is holding them as bargaining chips for future negotiations with the West.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) says three of its soldiers have been killed and 16 Islamic State (IS) militants captured in clashes in southwestern Fars Province.

The IRGCs Sepahnews website on January 27 quoted General Mohammad Pakpour, head of the IRGC land forces, as saying that "several" members of the extremist group were killed in fighting.

The general said at least two of the militants had fled but were surrounded by IRGC forces.

"The terrorists wanted to carry out attacks on border towns and in the center of the country," he said.

The website said the IS fighters had entered the country through Irans western border with Iraq.

The Sunni-led IS militant group has often clashed with Shi'ite Iran's security forces.

IS claimed responsibility for the deadly twin June 7 attacks on the Iranian parliament and the mausoleum of the founder of the Islamic republic that left at least 17 dead.

Some 10 days later, the IRGC said it launched several missiles from Iran into eastern Syria targeting IS fighters in retaliation for the attacks.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters
Heavy snowfalls have forced airports and schools in Tehran to close, while hundreds of cars have been blocked on highways out of the Iranian capital for hours.

Tehran's Imam Khomeini International and Mehrabad airports were shut due to poor visibility "until further notice," state television said on January 28.

Schools closed in several parts of the country, including the capital, and hundreds of Red Crescent teams were mobilized to bring help to stranded drivers.

Mohammad Ali Abtahi, who served as vice president to ex-President Mohammad Khatami, posted a message on social media showing his car stuck on the highway to Qom, around 150 kilometers south of Tehran.

"It's been nine hours that we are stuck out here with hundreds of other cars," he wrote.

The official IRNA news agency quoted a Red Crescent spokesman as saying that 6,600 people had been put up in emergency accommodation.

Meanwhile, the Iranian armed forces' chief of staff, General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, said they stood ready to provide any help needed to reopen the roads.

In Tehran, power outages were reported in several neighborhoods.

Local media said that a number of electricity cables and cars were damaged when trees collapsed under the weight of the snow.

In order to prevent further accidents, Mayor Mohammad Ali Najafi took to Twitter to call on citizens to help municipal workers shake the snow from trees.

State-run Press TV said a rail service between Tehran and the northeastern city of Mashhad was also suspended.

Many western and northern provinces were affected by the snowfall that began earlier this week and peaked in the night of January 27.

Some mountainous areas received as much 1.3 meters of snow, according to IRNA.

Iran's state gas company said it was expecting a surge in demand as temperatures were set to fall to minus 20 degrees Celsius in some northern regions.

With reporting by AP and AFP
MOSCOW -- At least 350 people, including opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, were detained across Russia as they rallied in support of an election boycott on January 28.

The anticorruption crusader was dragged by police into a bus shortly after joining a rally of more than 1,000 people on Moscow's central thoroughfare on January 28, according to a live video feed from the scene.

"I've been detained. That doesn't matter. Come to Tverskaya [Street]. You're not coming out for me, but for yourself and your future," he wrote on Twitter afterward.

Hours later, Navalny tweeted that he had been released by police and driven to a metro station but would face a hearing on unspecified charges.

"A huge thanks to everyone who supported [me] and stood outside the police station. I heard your chants," Navalny tweeted. "You're awesome."

Thousands of Russians unhappy with the prospect of six more years under President Vladimir Putin took to the streets in dozens of cities, backing Navalny's call for a boycott of a March 18 vote that appears certain to hand Putin a new six-year term.

At the Moscow rally, 25-year-old Nastya told RFE/RL that it was her duty to take part in the rally, saying "You can't call choosing between one candidate [Vladimir Putin] an election."

Police warned earlier in the week that in the run-up to the election, they will be tough on demonstrators deemed to have broken the law.

OVD-Info, a website that that monitors law enforcement activity in Russia, said that 350 people were detained nationwide, including 66 in Ufa, 65 in Volgograd, 51 in Cheboksary, 31 in Kemerovo, 23 in Murmansk, 19 in St. Petersburg, and 16 in Moscow.

Most of them were released within hours.

"If we stay at home, then nothing will change for sure. If we take to the streets, then at least we have some kind of chance," said Nastya, who would not give her last name for fear of repercussions.

WATCH: Thousands of protesters gathered at Moscow's central Pushkin Square on January 28 to call for the boycott of Russia's upcoming presidential election.

A correspondent for RFE/RL's Idel.Reality website, Darya Komarova, was covering the protest in the Volga city of Cheboksary when she was detained.

In the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok, hundreds of people gathered in the main square, holding placards reading slogans such as "I will go to the elections when there's a choice" and "Putin is gobbling up Russia's future."

WATCH: Russian police detained a number of participants at a rally held on January 28 by Navalny supporters in the city of Tomsk. (RFE/RL's Russian Service)

Some demonstrators at the Moscow protest were chanting slogans including "Boycott the election" and "Russia without Putin."

Similar slogans were chanted in Russia's second city of St. Petersburg, where at least 1,000 people demonstrated.

WATCH: RFE/RL filmed the protests in the cities of Vladivostok, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, and Saratov. (RFE/RL's Russian Service)

Tatyana Chertverikova, a 62-year-old teacher waving a placard reading "Wake up, Russia" told RFE/RL in Moscow, "I want an election at least, but they won't even give us that."

Vadim Yartsev, 17, said there was little hope the rally will lead to any improvement. "There won't be any response at all," he said. "They will ignore us"

Earlier, police shut down a TV studio at a Moscow office that had been broadcasting news bulletins about the protests, but Navalny's YouTube channel continued to provide live coverage.

Police forced their way into Navalny's Anticorruption Foundation in the capital, claiming a bomb threat and demanding the premises be evacuated, his supporters said.

Roman Rubanov, the foundations director, posted photographs on Twitter of police officers gathered outside the office door in a southeast Moscow business center and then bursting in by force.

Rubanov wrote that police officers accused one of the activists of planting a bomb.

One anchor, Dmitry Nizovtsev, was detained by police, according to video broadcast from the headquarters. Navalny's Moscow coordinator, Nikolai Lyaskin, also was detained, the Interfax news agency quoted him as saying.

Attempts by Navalnys supporters to cover mass protests last year were thwarted by police raids.

In Navalny's headquarters in the southern city of Astrakhan, police seized leaflets calling for the election boycott and detained members of the staff, OVD-Info reported.

And several people were reportedly detained at Navalnys headquarters in St. Petersburg.

Navalny called for the boycott after being barred from the March 18 presidential election due to a financial-crimes conviction that he and his supporters contend was Kremlin-engineered retribution.

He has dismissed the vote as the "reappointment" of Putin, who has been president or prime minister since 1999.

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.

Political commentators say Putin, 65, is eager for a high turnout to strengthen his mandate in what could be his last stint in the Kremlin, as he would be constitutionally barred from seeking a third straight term in 2024.

Navalny has accused the rest of the field of presidential hopefuls of playing into Putin's hands and aiding what he says is a Kremlin bid to portray the vote as a legitimate, competitive contest.

In Moscow, Navalny had called on demonstrators to gather despite city authorities' refusal to grant permission for a rally there, setting the stage for a potential confrontation.

Moscow Office Searched

Ahead of the rally, police forced their way into Navalnys Anticorruption Foundation in Moscow, claiming a bomb threat and demanding the premises be evacuated, his supporters said.

Roman Rubanov, the foundations director, posted photographs on Twitter of police officers gathered outside the office door in a southeast Moscow business center and then bursting in by force.

Rubanov wrote that police officers accused one of the activists of planting a bomb.

Navalnys spokeswoman said she thought the raid was aimed at shutting down the work of a TV studio inside.

Attempts by Navalnys supporters to cover mass protests in March and June last year were thwarted by police raids.

At Navalny's headquarters in the southern city of Astrakhan, police seized leaflets calling for the election boycott and detained members of the staff, OVD-Info reported.

And several people were reportedly detained at Navalny's headquarters in St. Petersburg.

The raids and detentions come days after a Moscow court ordered the closure of another foundation crucial to the presidential campaign Navalny has sought to conduct, and as reports of police searches of his campaign offices and harassment of his supporters mount.

On January 26, Russia's Supreme Court revealed that it had declined Navalny's appeal to be allowed to run for president.

On January 25, police issued a stern warning to antigovernment protesters. At a meeting with top Moscow police officials, First Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandr Gorovoi said that police will respect the right of citizens to hold public gatherings, as provided by the constitution and other legislation -- but emphasized they would "absolutely toughly...prevent violations of these laws."

Protests Go Ahead

In a blog post on January 27, Navalny urged people to come to the rallies on January 28, writing that "to stay at home is to send them [those in power] the signal: 'I'm ready to endure this for another six years.'"

He also wrote that in 80 percent of cases, authorities have granted permission for rallies at the requested sites for January 28, but not in Moscow or St. Petersburg.

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 returned to the Kremlin for his current term after a stint as prime minister.

Navalny appeared this week at a European Court of Human Rights hearing in his case against Russia over repeated incidents in which he has been detained and jailed.

Days before the police warning, a Moscow district court ruled on January 22 that the foundation Navalny and his allies have used to rent premises and pay salaries at campaign headquarters should be shut down. Navalny's campaign chief, Leonid Volkov, described the ruling as absurd and vowed to appeal.

That ruling came days after the Constitutional Court refused to review a complaint from Navalny over the Central Election Commissions decision in December to bar him from the presidential election.

Navalny supporters have complained of an upsurge in harassment by the state in recent weeks, saying police have searched offices and seized pamphlets calling for an election boycott.

With reporting by Reuters
Thousands of protesters gathered at Moscow's central Pushkin Square on January 28 to call for the boycott of Russia's upcoming presidential election. Russian anticorruption activist and opposition politician Aleksei Navalny urged the boycott after he was barred from running in the election. Police arrested Navalny as he walked down a main thoroughfare to the demonstration. (AP)
MOSCOW -- As Aleksei Navalny's followers came out in mass protests last March and June, the police were quick to pull the plug on the opposition leader's most potent tool for spreading his message: his YouTube channel.

His activists hoped to use it to air rolling live coverage of their nationwide protests on Navalny Live, seeking to bypass an effective state media ban. But they were stopped in their tracks: police raided the studios, cut electricity, detained activists, and seized their equipment.

On January 28, however, as thousands of protesters countrywide heeded Navalny's call to rally for an election boycott, the authorities appeared to fail to shut it down. What's more, it was not for want of trying -- police appeared to fail to locate the studio.

As protest coverage began early on January 28, Navalny activists were interspersing live coverage of the protests with news segments hosted by two activists and recorded in the offices of Navalnys Anticorruption Foundation in a business center in southeast Moscow.

Shortly after it began, however, police raided the office and evacuated the entire building, claiming an apparent bomb threat, and forced their way through the door of the office with what activists described as a special drill known as a"bolgarka."

Two news presenters -- their poker faces giving way to a smirk -- continued to present the news over the grinding din of the drill cutting through the door of their studio. The newscast was swiftly brought to an end.

The broadcast, however, continued at another studio throughout the day, lasting approximately 14 hours.

Vladislav, a Navalny activist, wrote on Twitter that police had seized equipment at the Anticorruption Foundation including a streaming computer and a router server. He said they had tried to work out the location of the other studio by sifting through equipment they found there.

"They turned the network equipment upside-down. Obviously they were looking for where the broadcast was coming from, the funny suckers."

New Media Assault

The live stream at the time of writing had garnered 1.37 million views -- an illustration of Navalny's strong foothold in new media that also allows him to reach viewers directly, while cutting out traditional media.

"I don't want to offend anyone, but judging by YouTube, 47,000 people are watching Navalny.Live, and 7,000 are watching [independent Moscow-based] TV Rain," said Fyodor Krashenninikov, an opposition-minded political consultant based in Yekaterinburg. "I raise this to show how new media are destroying old broadcasting forms."

Leonid Volkov, Navalny's election campaign manager, said the fact they had managed to conceal the studios from the police demonstrated the failings of the SORM system used for telecommunications surveillance by the authorities and new legislation promoted by lawmaker Irina Yarovaya that grants authorities sweeping surveillance powers.

"This shows once again how pointless all these SORMs, these Yarovaya laws are, and so on," he wrote in a post on Facebook, while also hailing YouTube live stream as a powerful tool for reaching supporters.

"The stream already has a million watches and was at the top on YouTube for several hours -- this is in the first instance a most powerful instrument for campaigning and informing, the video will be watched by millions."
Atmiya Azimova is no ordinary employer -- she makes it her business to work with convicted killers, drug dealers, and fraudsters.

The 41-year-old former chemistry teacher, having served time in a Tajik prison herself for dealing drugs, changed the course of her life and now operates a successful blanket factory.

It gives her an opportunity to not only stay on the straight and narrow herself, but to help a workforce of current and former convicts find their own footing outside prison.

The mother of three was sentenced in 2014 to eight years in prison but was freed just six months later under an amnesty.

Today she looks back on her criminal past as "the biggest mistake of my life, trying to make easy money." Yet she also says her time in prison, during which her husband filed for divorce and her sons moved in with relatives -- allowed her to reflect on life and what she had put her family through.

She left prison with a dream -- and a plan to realize it with "honest work."

Business Plan

A veteran seamstress, Azimova worked out a business plan to start up a small factory to make bedcovers and blankets. "I've been making blankets since I was young," she tells RFE/RL's Tajik Service, noting that her grandmother was a seamstress as well.

She took classes on how to start a business and visited bazaars and shops to see what sold well.

It all helped her formulate her business model, which would include exclusively hiring female ex-cons or current prisoners on work release.

The idea was a hit, and in 2016 her project was awarded a special presidential grant aimed at supporting women's start-ups.

Azimova already had two old sewing machines at home, and the $1,300 grant she received was just enough to buy two more sewing machines, rent a small space in the city of Khujand, and purchase the materials needed to get her business started.

Her first client was a local hospital that was looking for affordable blankets and other textile products. Soon another hospital followed, and then a military unit placed an order.

Two years later, Azimova has moved her factory to a larger premises and hired 20 workers to meet growing demand.

Azimova attributes her success to selling good products at competitive prices. "We only use high-quality cotton for the blankets," she says. "The same is with the fabrics. The colors of our fabric don't bleed."

The convict turned entrepreneur says she is happy to be able to provide not only for herself, but for others in situations she once found herself in.

Second Chance

Employees who spoke with RFE/RL say they were repeatedly turned down for work upon leaving prison. In a country where jobs are hard to come by even for skilled professionals without a criminal record, former offenders stand little chance of finding work.

Not everyone hired at Azimova's blanket factory could sew going in -- many had to learn their craft from the ground up.

They receive between $55 and $170 per month, depending on hours worked and their experience. It's a competitive income in a country where the average monthly salary is around $150, although they have to pay about 20 percent of their income to the state as part of the conditions of their sentence.

The women are trained by Musharafaniso Nematova, a 69-year-old professional seamstress who has won three national embroidery contests.

Nearly a decade ago Nematova was arrested for murder and sentenced to 26 years in prison. Under an amnesty her sentence was changed to mandatory labor after eight years of incarceration.

"I don't work for the money, I've a large family that takes care of me," Nematova says. "I want to do something good for society and for the government. I teach sewing to these women because this job, this opportunity, will prevent them from committing a crime again."

Azimova's newest employee is Zebo Mirkamolova, who is in her early 20s. Mirkamolova was sentenced to two years of mandatory labor in a beating and disorderly conduct case.

Those sentenced to mandatory labor are usually allowed to live at home, but report to work at stations located within prison grounds. Azimova is among several private entrepreneurs in the northern Sughd Province that provide an option to work outside the prison walls, however.

The past two years were a period of positive change in Azimova's life. "I achieved 80 percent of my dreams and plans," she says.

The next step, she adds, is to move her growing business from a rented space to a custom-built factory. She has applied for a land allotment to construct a factory.

But even as her business grows, Azimova says, the door of her factory will remain open to former convicts looking for a second chance.
Bangalore Traffic Police will no longer pursue their plan to confiscate non ISI mark helmets. Resultantly, those using non ISI helmets will not have to pay a fine. Only last week we were gearing up for a move that heralded ISI mark as the standard to adhere to, and anything that was not a ISI helmet was going to be penalised beginning February 1, 2018.

After the directive was first announced, and an outpour of rider queries that questioned the safety standard of ISI helmets over helmet safety standards followed globally. R Hithendra, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Bengaluru, wrote to The Bureau of Indian Standards. The bureau grants the ISI mark to helmets conform to its safety standards. In response, the bureau confirmed that helmet safety standards are not to be determined through a visual check. This means, officers are not in a position to determine safety by looking at a ISI helmet or any other as its not possible to make a distinction. Confiscating a helmet is only a first step. Any confiscated helmet needs to be sent to the manufacturer to be examined.

There is a demand to postpone our drive for Helmets as per rule, till the Transport Department clarification on foreign imported helmet is known to all. What is your view on the same.  R Hithendra, IPS. (@AddlCPTraffic) January 23, 2018

Please send the written representation regarding imported helmets , if any to our Mail with all supporting documentation.  R Hithendra, IPS. (@AddlCPTraffic) January 23, 2018

The Karnataka motor vehicle rules are framed by the transport department. Hence BTP is seeking clarification from them regarding non ISI imported helmets.  R Hithendra, IPS. (@AddlCPTraffic) January 23, 2018

Bangalore City Traffic police special drive to penalise motorists and pillion riders using helmets without ISI certification is no longer on the table. The move is a welcome one, and provides immediate reprieve to the scores of riders who have already selected between DOT, ECE and Snell. A deadlock would have led to unpleasant situations with riders and police officers at loggerheads over ISI helmet safety standard, and what it means.

And quite clearly, no one would be willing to part with coveted protective gear that is a clear representation of passion, self preservation through the highest standards, and then theres the monetary commitment.

While visually checking for helmet quality would be the starting step, confiscated helmets would need to the submitted to the bureau to facilitate further testing to examine road worthiness. The tedium would include confiscation, packaging and transporting, follow up and re-distribution, all this while ensuring the helmets are not damaged or screeched along the way. Theres also the matter of fake ISI helmet embossing, which to the human eye has no distinguishing points to ascertain falseness. In this case, fake helmets would continue to be in use despite police checks. The police could infact continue a drive against half-helmets and light material offerings that only resemble the shape of a helmet and offer no crash protection.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced the entry of an emergency court order freezing assets related to alleged insider trading that yielded approximately $5 million in profits in connection with an acquisition announcement by biopharmaceutical companies Bioverativ, Inc. and Sanofi S.A.

The SEC's complaint, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, identifies a series of suspicious transactions surrounding Monday's announcement of a definitive agreement under which Sanofi will acquire all of Bioverativ's outstanding shares for $105 per share in cash, representing an equity value of approximately $11.6 billion and a 63 percent premium over Bioverativ's pre-announcement closing price. The traders, who are currently unknown, allegedly used foreign brokerage accounts in Switzerland to purchase out-of-the-money call options through a U.S.-based brokerage firm and on U.S.-based exchanges in the days leading up to the public announcement of the acquisition. The court's order freezes the proceeds related to the foreign accounts' trading.

According to the SEC's complaint, some of the options positions taken in these accounts prior to the announcement represented almost 100 percent of the market for those particular out-of-the-money options. Following the acquisition announcement, Bioverativ's shares rose significantly and the brokerage account customers allegedly profited by selling many of the option contracts at a profit.

The emergency court order obtained by the SEC requires the traders to repatriate any funds or assets located outside the U.S. that were obtained from the alleged insider trading. The traders also are prohibited from destroying any evidence. The SEC's complaint charges the unknown traders with violating Sections 10(b) and 14(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Exchange Act Rules 10b-5 and 14e-3. The SEC is seeking a final judgment ordering the traders to disgorge their allegedly ill-gotten gains plus interest, imposing civil penalties, and permanently enjoining them from future violations.

The SEC's investigation is being conducted by Michael D. Hoke and supervised by Kurt L. Gottschall and Jason J. Burt of the Denver Regional Office. The SEC's litigation is being led by Gregory A. Kasper and Mark L. Williams. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
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
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.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been putting significant effort into countering the negative impact that the new federal tax code will have on some New Yorkers.

Hes proposing a complicated overhaul of the states tax law aimed at allowing residents to get around the new $10,000 federal deduction limit for state and local tax payments (often referred to as the SALT deduction). Because of this limit, some New Yorkers may see their federal tax bills go up because they cannot deduct as much from their taxable income.

In addition to looking at the state's income tax system, Cuomo announced last week that New York, New Jersey and Connecticut plan to challenge the legality of the federal tax law.

Both of these steps are worth exploring, but they also face some serious obstacles. One thing the governor and the state Legislature must avoid is creating bigger problems for most New Yorkers trying to remedy a smaller problem for some.

That said, there is at least one clear-cut measure that state leaders can  and should  take to save many New York residents some money: remove the state income tax laws connection to the federal law.
Dark, narrow streaks on Martian slopes such as these at Hale Crater are inferred to be formed b seasonal flow of wtaer on contemporary Mars. The streaks are roughly the length of a football field.

A tiny life-seeking instrument could be packed on a future mission to Mars or the icy moons of Enceladus or Europa. Its aim: to find microbes through a detective search of DNA and RNA and help us understand how life evolves on other worlds.

The researchers recently tried out their techniques at a site on Axel Heiberg Island, a large Arctic island about 560 miles from the North Pole. Like Mars, Axel Heiberg is under a deep freeze most of the time. But it also hosts unique formations called cold perennial springs, which have roots in permafrost as deep as 1,970 feet. At sites measured by the researchers, the springs materialized in salty areas where microbes thrive.

The new study showed that a portable DNA sequencing device called MiniON, manufactured by the United Kingdom's Oxford Nanopore Technologies, works well in the field. It detected microbes and also sequenced DNA from active microbes. While more tests need to be done, this first step shows that searching for life on other worlds is definitely possible.

Now we just need a mission on which to put this instrument.

A DNA sequencing run being carried out with the Oxford Nanopore MinION (on right) at the McGill Arctic Research Station in the Canadian Arctic. (Image credit: Dr. Jackie Goordial/McGill University/Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences)

Cold, liquid, and salty sounds a lot like how conditions could be on Mars  particularly on features called recurring slope lineae. These are dark streaks that appear on the slopes of craters, particularly when the surrounding area is warm. Back in 2015, NASA announced that hydrated salts are present within RSLs, which is strong evidence of liquid, briny water flowing on the surface. (And water, of course, could mean life.) But later research has cast some doubt on that conclusion, with some researchers suggesting RSLs are piles of dirt tumbling down the slope, while others say atmospheric water is the source of the salts.

"It's something we just don't know about, and can't know until we can drive up to an RSL and sample it," said Lyle Whyte, a McGill University professor who participated in the new study and who studies microbes in polar environments.

Whyte points out there are potentially life-friendly sites all over the solar system. The Hubble Space Telescope spotted multiple water eruptions on Jupiter's the icy moon Europa. The Cassini mission  which ended as planned last year  extensively mapped more than 100 geysers spouting from icy Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons.

RELATED: Ice From Underground Lava Tubes Offers Possible Water Supply for Moon Missions

So Whyte's team, which was led by Jacqueline Goordial, a postdoctoral fellow at the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in Maine, wants an instrument small enough to fly to any destination  Europa, Enceladus, or Mars.

"The smaller, the better," advises Whyte, who is also on the landing team selection committee for the forthcoming ExoMars 2020 rover. "Because you might only have 600 pounds to play with, and 150 of that is rover hardware."

An article based on the research was published in the journal Frontiers of Microbiology. The research was funded by the Canadian Space Agency and included participation from NASA's Ames Research Center in California. Whyte said near-term experiments will see the researchers working to expand the DNA sequencer's library, and Oxford Nanopore Technologies researchers will make technical changes to the sequencer itself  both to improve the sequencer's ability to hunt microbes.

While the DNA analyzer may not fly for years, Ames is working on another life experiment that may break free of a NASA spacecraft and sail past the moon as early as 2019, on a heliocentric (sun-centered) orbit. Called BioSentinel, the experiment will study the impact of interplanetary space radiation on ordinary yeast. BioSentinel will launch on NASA's first Space Launch System mission, called Exploration Mission-1, that will launch in 2019 for a moon-orbiting mission, before returning to Earth.

Originally published on Seeker.
The rare Super Blue Blood Moon eclipse of Jan. 31 will thrill early-morning skywatchers around the world on Wednesday, but you'll have plenty of ways to watch it if you don't live in a region that will see totality.

Skywatchers in California, western Canada, Hawaii, Alaska, Australia and eastern Asia should be able to see the entire eclipse, weather permitting  they will see the moon pass completely through Earth's shadow while simultaneously being at its closest to Earth (a "supermoon") and, in most areas, the second full moon of the month (a "Blue Moon"). Early risers elsewhere can turn to live webcasts to watch the whole show.

NASA will offer a live view of the moon starting at 5:30 a.m. EST (1030 GMT), which you can watch here on Space.com, courtesy of NASA TV. You can also follow along with the webcast on @NASAMoon, NASA's lunar Twitter account. [Super Blue Blood Moon 2018: When, Where and How to See It]

Stages of the January 31, 2018 "super blue blood moon" (weather permitting) are depicted in Pacific Time with "moonset" times for major cities across the US, which affect how much of the event viewers will see. While viewers along the East Coast will see only the initial stages of the eclipse before moonset, those in the West and Hawaii will see most or all of the lunar eclipse phases before dawn. (Image credit: NASA)

Starting at 5:45 a.m. EST (1045 GMT), the Slooh online telescope will livestream all 5 hours and 17 minutes of the eclipse, as the moon passes completely through Earth's shadow, from partners in Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Slooh's experts will narrate the webcast starting at 7 a.m. EST (1200 GMT) to share the science and ancient lore related to lunar eclipses, supermoons and Blue Moons. You can watch the webcast live on Slooh.com, or on Space.com, courtesy of Slooh.

During the webcast, Slooh will also announce the winner and runners-up of its first Fenimore Cooper Prize for eclipse writing, according to a statement from Slooh.

Areas of the world that will see the Jan. 31, 2018, total lunar eclipse. The eclipse will be visible Jan. 31 in the morning before sunrise for North America, Alaska and Hawaii. Observers in the Middle East, Asia, eastern Russia, Australia and New Zealand will see it during moonrise the evening of Jan. 31. (Image credit: NASA)

From 3:45 a.m. to 7 a.m. PST, the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles will host a free public eclipse-viewing event that you can attend if you're in the area. But even if you aren't local, you can tune in to the Griffith Observatory's live online broadcast of the eclipse, viewable here. The webcast will stretch from 5:45 a.m. to 10 a.m. EST (1045 to 1500 GMT), and within 2 hours, a time-lapse version of the eclipse will be available at that same location or on YouTube, according to a statement from the Griffith Observatory.

And finally, the Virtual Telescope Project will livestream the total lunar eclipse from telescopes in Australia and the United States starting at 6:30 a.m. EST (1130 GMT) and ending at 11 a.m. EST (1600 GMT), as well as the "Super Blue Moon" rising above the skyline of Rome later that day. Both events, which can be seen at virtualtelescope.eu, will have commentary by Gianluca Masi, an astrophysicist and the project's director.

Whether you watch the entire eclipse, make time to see the moon turn reddish for more than an hour at totality or just drop in for a quick online look, happy viewing!

Editor's note: If you capture an amazing photo of video of the Jan. 31 total lunar eclipse and would like to share it with Space.com for a story or gallery, send images and comments to: spacephotos@space.com.

Email Sarah Lewin at slewin@space.com or follow her @SarahExplains. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
NCIS - Family Ties - Review





15.13 - "Family Ties"

Directed by Rocky Carroll

Written by Brendan Fehily

Reviewed by KathM



Phillip and Rachel are having an argument while driving in their car. Well, he's driving; she's walking on the side of the road as he slowly rolls alongside her and implores her to get back inside the car. Nope! She will not be doing that, not until Phillip tells her who she is. Because there is a thing. In Phillip's glove compartment. We don't know what it is, but Phillip can explain. Really, he can. He finally admits when someone drives by and calls him a dumbass for driving too slowly, that it belongs to Shelley. But the "it" in his glove compartment which belongs to Shelley isn't what Rachel thinks! And Phillip CAN explain everything! We are quick to find out that what Rachel thinks is that it would be a good idea if she pulled off her engagement/wedding? ring and tossed it over a road barrier. Phillip asks for her help to find it because, well, did she know how much it cost? FYI folks  there is never a situation in which this is a good question to ask. But Rachel gets into the car and drives past Phillip, practically side-swiping him, before showing him that she hadn't thrown her ring away. This is mine, she tells him, then reaches unto the glove compartment and pulls out the inevitable tacky red, lacy bra, This is yours. Then she drives away, leaving poor Phillip alone on the dirt road in the area of Virginia whey they happen to be arguing. He calls her a psycho and is rewarded by seeing someone face-down, dead in the creek below.



Over at Chez Vance, Kayla is making a scary-looking brown smoothie and asks Leon if he wants some. Since Leon is smart, he tells her that he and Gibbs are having breakfast at the diner. I love the diner and thinks that Gibbs secretly owns it. Kayla is vaguely appalled, and when Vance reminds her that she ate Fruity Pebbles for a year, she tells him that things change. Says it with a little sass, too. He does start to sip some of the scary brown stuff, though, but is saved by the bell. It's Kayla's friend Mandy, come to drive her to school. While Kayla is grabbing her backpack, Vance does that thing parents do when they try to make small talk with their friend's kids and realize they have no idea what's going on in their childrens lives. In this case it's a good thing; Kayla is helping Mandy focus on studying more and is helping her with college applications. Once the girls leave Leon gets a call from Gibbs; breakfast is off due to the case of a dead Marine, Scott Jenkins. Scott is the body Phillip saw in the creek.



Scott liked to train at night, his fellow Marines told them, and had only been dead about 7-8 hours. Jimmy says blunt force trauma looks like the initial cause of death, Scott looks like he was hit by something from behind. Like a car? Torres asks, approaching with some pieces of broken glass from a car, possibly a headlight. There were no skid marks, either, he tells Gibbs. And we know what that means.



Phillip is over by the Coroner's van, trying to flirt with Bishop who is not having it. She remains stoic and businesslike as Phillip tells her that he was having a conversation with a friend (oh, how quickly they downgrade) in his car; the friend took the car because they had to get to work. Which is why he was chilling in the middle of nowhere with a dead Marine. When McGee comes over with a red lacy bra that he found in the bushes, Phillips identifies it as his. Which I'm sure is just another reason for Bishop to not give him her business card.





Back in the Bull Pen, everyone is discussing how far Jenkins flew when he was hit and how maybe nobody could see him in his reflective clothes because it was foggy (apparently the area he was found in was in a valley), but at least the person who hit him should have recognized that they had hit something if nothing else. While they hypothesize Vance calls Gibbs to his side as he stalks toward the elevators. Everything all right? Gibb asks. Nope. Vance tells him that Kayla has been arrested.Down in the morgue Jimmy is playing a creepy game what seems to be Blind Man's Bluff with himself. When Gibbs joins him, we find out the Jimmy got glass in his eyes looking at bits of glass evidence from the crime scene and was heading for the Eye Wash Station. Gibbs leads him over to it and once he's all washed up, as it were, Jimmy pronounces that Jenkins' death was due to drowning but also had catastrophic injuries, I'm guessing from the car. I see no reason at all for this scene, because if Jimmy cant look at glass without hurting himself then they need to take his degree back. Besides, doesnt Jimmy wear glasses? They should have protected his eyes.Abby is upstairs taking pictures of the car's largely reconstructed headlight and while McGee admires her handiwork she tells him that the car they're looking for is a blue 2013 Maserati GranTurismo. As a matter of fact, it is the ONLY car that uses the specific glass that they found at the scene in their headlights. Fortunately, there are only three of them in the tri-state area, and she has printed out a list of their names and addresses for McGee and Co. to do his sleuthing thing.Kayla was shoplifting, the detective tells Leon when he arrives at the police station; she had a purse in her purse and admitted that she did it. The police had to pick her up and formally arrest her because the owner of the store is pressing charges. Kayla was also skipping school and didn't tell anyone at the police station that Leon was her dad. If she had the detective intimated that the might have been able to sweep things under the rug, but it's too late now. Kayla is released and tells Leon that she wants to get back to school because she is missing her Chemistry class.Torres and Bishop arrive a house where one of the Maseratis live. Torres can see the car in the garage, but can't see whether or not the headlight is damaged. As they walk to the front door of the house Torres says that the Maserati is the kind of car Luis would drive. Luis, remember? From that time Torres and Bishop went undercover earlier this season and Bishop had the bad part-time accent? And Charlie (Bishop's undercover character) would be right beside Luis/Torres in the Maserati. Because they're a couple, you see, Torres reminds Bishop. That is, Luis and Charlie are. Right.As they knock on the front door Bishop and Torres hear a smoke alarm going off inside. Bishop breaks the glass in the front door with the Roaming Gnome's cousin, so they can get inside to see what's going on. It was a semi-typical kitchen accident; the oven had a pizza in it that was left to die and burn to a crisp, at which point smoke began to billow out into the house. There's man in a lounge chair in the living room but hes not suffering from smoke inhalation or anything; he's just sleeping in a wasted pile, passed out drunk. While Bishop tries to wake the wasted guy (John Kendall) up, Torres grabs the garage door opener from the table and heads out to see the car. He does this because Torres needs to assess any potential damage relevant to their case, and because its a Maserati. The car is so pretty. So very, very pretty, and missing a headlight. Uh-oh!McGee is telling Kendall how much they appreciate honesty in the Interrogation Room as John admits to drinking $120.00 worth of booze the night before. He has three DUI's but claims that he didn't drive the Maserati last night, he took a cab. Which is passe; he should have taken Lyft or something. John's as positive as his liquor-addled brain can be that he wasn't driving the night Jenkins was killed, and hopes his Maserati is okay. Not really what you need to be worrying about, McGee tells him. As much as I loathe the fact that people with loads of DUIs are still allowed to own cars and drive, at least Kendall didnt drive when he knew he was going to tie one on.Torres is helping Abby search the Maserati (I've been informed that referring to it as a car is inappropriate) for prints or anything else that allows him to spend time it. But the car has been wiped clean, which isn't something Kendall would do if it were his car. Torres is kvelling over the personalized floor mats when he finds a bracelet partially hidden underneath the passenger side of one. Its not John's bracelet; he is divorced with no kids and who would possibly date him? Torres and Abby also find an Ignition Interlock in the Maserati, a court-mandated device that will only let you start your car if you use it (it looks like a breathalyzer) and no alcohol registers as being in your system. I like this idea. So, since Kendall was drunk last night, he couldn't have started his Maserati. He did, however, leave his garage open and the keys inside it, so it was ripe for anyone who wanted to take a joy ride.Over at the Bull Pen Bishop tells the gang that Abby has confirmed Kendall's Maserati is the murderer. But due to the Ignition Interlock device Kendall was not an accomplice. Instead, they turn to a local high school where their mascot, a Marauder (pirate), is the symbol found on the bracelet Torres found in the ca... Maserati. The bracelet also has someone's initials on it, leading them straight to Genevieve Bell, your typical high school Sophomore girl whose social media page shows a selfie of Genevieve and a friend around the time of the killing the night before. She is wearing the bracelet in the picture. McGee and Torres head over to Genevieves house while Bishop goes back to working with the Maserati's GPS to find out where it was driven.At Genevieves house her parents tell the boys that Genevieve at volleyball practice. Upon hearing that her daughter might have been a witness to a crime her mother begins calling her, while dad identifies the other girl as Maya Guzman. They aren't sure if Genevieve went out last night; she was at a sleepover at Mayas. Mr. Bell tells Torres and McGee to head on over to the school to question the girls and he'll meet them there as soon as he can.Leon is in his office, staring outside the window and trying to figure out how badly the Internet/press will spin the story of Kayla the Thief and her dad, who happens to be the head of a federal crime-fighting agency (which makes it sound like SHIELD). Gibbs reminds Leon that it's about his family, and Vance tells him that the Internet/press will make it about both. If Jackie (his wife, RIP) were alive, she'd know what to do, Vance is sure. He's also equally sure that none of this would have happened if Jackie were alive. Leon goes on to tell Gibbs that he doesnt see himself as a good father; he's got two latchkey kids and because of that Kayla lost her way. Gibbs tells Leon to take the rest of the day off and go be with his kid, but Vance folds his arms stubbornly and tells him that as long is Gibbs is there, he's there. Sometimes he really doesnt get it, does he? Gibbs says that he has nothing to go home to but Leon does, and that you can never get time with your children back. Oh, Gibbs.Kayla comes home from school and she's surprised that Leon's home early. She figures she should sit down with him and plops into a chair by her dad in the dining room. Kayla tells Leon that she already knows what she's done and that its wrong and besides, she only skipped her first two classes at school, not all day. Kayla seems to know quite a lot about the law (the theft is only a misdemeanor and while there could be a $5000 fine and a year in jail, she doubts she'll get that because she's still a minor at seventeen). She's looked it all up online and knows all the potential consequence of her actions. She tells Vance not to worry, it won't happen again, she's sorry, blah, blah, then storms out, leaving Vance alone at the table, frustrated and sad.Back to Torres and McGee, who are walking down a high school hallway with one of Genevieves teachers. Seems that Genevieve is a typical atypical criminal; great grades, on the student council, plays in the band and shes on the volleyball team, too. And her friend is similarly spectacular, they're good kids who would never do whatever they are suspected of doing. Remember hearing that about some of the secretly shadiest kids in school, or possibly yourself? Anyway, Torres and McGee end up missing Genevieve entirely because, according to Maya, she went home moments ago because shes worried about all the messages her moms been leaving her. And Papa Bell never showed at the school to meet with McGee and Torres, so McGee heads back to their house while Torres gets ready to question Maya. Miss Volleyball, however, wants to wait until after practice to talk to Torres; I mean, they are playing their rivals tomorrow. But yeah, no. Torres does not take appointments.At the Bell's house McGee sees a strange man enter the house and follows him inside. The man actually is the homeowner; the Bells were just renting. They called him a few minutes ago and said they were leaving, so he came over to check out the house. Both men note that it looks like the Bells left in a hurry; half-packed suitcases and cut-up credit cards litter the floor. They even left their cell phones behind. The men hear a noise and McGee runs outside to find the Bells van pulling out of the garage. He tries to get them to stop but they drive right past him. They've also punctured his tires, so Tim has no way to follow them.At this time, I would like to put forward the idea of witness protection.Gibbs and Bishop are talking to Maya and her father up in Interrogation Lite. Maya shakes her head when she's asked if she knows where Genevieve is, and Dad wants to know what this is all about. So, Gibbs shows him the selfie from the previous night. Bishop tells Maya she wants to know what happened after the picture was taken, but Dad says no way. He's not only Maya's dad, he's also her attorney! This tends to happen a lot with minors in various and sundry television shows, particularly procedurals. Until he knows more, Mr. Guzman says to Gibbs, he won't let Maya tell them anything. Gibbs tells him that the charge may be vehicular manslaughter. John Kendall's Maserati was stolen last night and somebody went for a joy ride, then hit a man and killed him. Kendall is the Guzman's neighbor, but once he finds out that the found Genevieve's bracelet in the car, Guzman says that they have no proof Maya was involved at all and they leave.Vance and Jack are arguing in her office, which is almost the same freakish color of orange that you find on the non-brick walls around the floor that Bull Pen is on and in Interrogation Lite. He won't let Kayla get special treatment, Vance shouts. But he hasn't called the detectives and told them that, Jack reminds him. There is nothing wrong with calling in a favor, she says. Apparently, Vance did for her years ago, and he quickly reminds Jack that it was a life or death situation. What Kayla did was a life lesson. For who? Jack asks him.Put himself in her shoes, Jack tells him when Leon asks how he can get his daughter to open to him Maybe she's hiding something, Jack says. Vance hopes that Kayla is just embarrassed by her behavior.: No lollipops were distributed during this scene.In the Bull Pen everyone is brainstorming. The Bells left their cell phones and cut up their credit cards, emptied their savings account and abandoned their car on a quiet, residential street. Why? They think Genevieve was the one driving the car and her parents ran with her to protect her. It seems extreme to Gibbs and to Torres, too. They're established in the community and mostly clean records; dad has only one conviction for assault when he was eighteen and mom has no arrests at all. McGee thinks the Bells are hiding something; Gibbs rolls his eyes at him and sends the photo down to Abby to do some of her Kaf-POW induced magic.At this time, I would like to withdraw the idea of witness protection.Aaaannd now Maya and Guzan pere are in the proper Interrogation room, where Guzman admits to Gibbs that he was the driver. Maya denies that this is true. Gibbs shows them a CCTV video of Maya and Genevieve getting out of and back into the Maserati at a convenience store, the night Scott Jenkins was killed, and it's obvious that Maya is the driver. A teary Maya admits they went over to look at the car, which was sitting in the open garage, and take pictures of themselves in it. But when they saw the keys just sitting there they couldn't help but take a ride. She goes on to say that it was foggy that night and they felt something hit the car, but when they got out and searched but they didn't find Jenkins and thought it must have been a deer. Maya cries in her father's arms.Meanwhile, Abby is pulling Bishop and McGee into the lab, telling them that time's a'wastin'. Turns out Abby noticed (and Gibbs, too, because Gibbs notices everything) that the Bells both have blue eyes but Genevieve has brown. While two people with blue eyes can have a brown-eyed child, but it's extremely generically rare. When she runs the DNA for all three Bells using the toothbrushes they left behind it turns out that Genieve isn't their biological child. So, was she adopted? Nope. The West Virginia birth certificate they gave the school (they have to do that?) was a forgery; Genevieve must have been kidnapped when she was a babt.Leon is cooking dinner when someone knocks on the front door. It's Mandy, and she's looking for Kayla, who is at the library. When Mandy says that she'll stop by later, Vance tells her not to. You get the feeling that he thinks of Mandy as one of the people who led Kayla astray. Leon shuts the door in her face but opens it again when Mandy pounds on the door. Mandy lets Vance know that she thinks Kayla is a great person, and that Mandy didn't think she could even go to college, but Kayla is doing everything she can to help her make that possible. Kayla cares more about Mandy than Mandys father does, she tells Vance.So, we find out that a familial DNA match has linked Genevieve to Martin Curtis, who is just out of prison. He's the biological father listed on Genevieves actual birth certificate, with a Brittany Rudd listed as Genevieve 's mother. She was seventeen when Genevieve was born and died of a drug overdose six months later. Shortly after Brittanys death the Bells pulled up stakes and headed out of West Virginia, and Genevieve Curtis vanished from the world. But how are the Bells and Genevieve connected? Turns out that Mrs. Bell was Brittany's high school English teacher.McGee and Abby use the Bluetooth headphones app on Genevieve abandoned cell phone to find out where the Bells are currently hiding (Genevieve took her headphones with her). When Ma Bell recognizes McGee by the front desk she tells her husband and daughter they have to run right now so they wont get caught. But Genevieve says her family can't run anymore, and the Bells let NCIS take them in.Down in interrogation the Bells tell Gibbs that they watched Genevieve when her mother was out partying or working. Then one day, Brittany didnt come to pick up her daughter because she had die. They couldnt adopt her because of Pa Bells assault conviction back in the day, and they didnt want Genevieve to go into foster care, so they just kept her. Ma Bell tearfully asks if theyll ever see their daughter again, but Gibbs isnt sure. Watching in the Observation Room McGee feels for the couple, and Vance looks thoughtful.Martin Curtis is brought in to Interrogation Lite to chat with Jack. He knew about Genevieve, knew that Brittany had died, and wasnt hugely interested in where Genevieve had ended up after that. Until Jack mentions the Bells, and it occurs to Martin that if the Bells have money he could sue them. Maybe not the best idea for this daughter, but Martin thinks its the best idea for him. Jackass.Jack brings Genevieve in to meet Curtis, and her biological father says that shes bigger then he expected her to be. He tells Genevieve that her mother, Brittany, was the same age Genevieve is now hen he met her, but Genevieve tells him that her mother is in the next room. She asks Curtis to let her go home with her parents, the Bells. If he sues the Bells he'd be taking custody of Genevieve, Jack tells him. At which point Curtis immediately loses interest in Genevieve except to tell her that he was the one who named her, then signs the papers giving the Bells custody of Genevieve so fast I think the pen may have caught on fire. At least he wasnt a jerk to Genevieve.This magically ends the story of the Bells, who get to go home with their (legal) kid and resume their lives. I guess. Wouldnt there be charges pending from before Curtis signed the custody papers? Maybe NCIS backdated them so that the Bells never had any problems again and they all live happily ever after (except Martin Curtis, who wouldnt have said no to a little $$ from the Bells in compensation).Its nighttime at Chez Vance, and Leon is telling Kayla the story about Genevieve and how she gets to live with the only parents she's ever known. She's lucky to have parents like that, Kayla says. Vance says he's like he's lucky to have a daughter like Kayla. Awwww! As the two chat it comes out that Mandy has been convicted twice for shoplifting and was a juvenile when she was convicted. Now that shes eighteen, if Mandy was arrested again she'd be prosecuted as an adult. Kayla is only seventeen, so she'd be tried as a juvenile and would most likely the case would be dismissed if Vance called in a favor or if she just pleaded out and did community service. Kayla took the rap for Mandy so that she could still have a chance to go to college. Vance listens to Kayla as she talks about how she might best use her community service hours and decides that shed like to work helping in adult literacy classes. She and Vance hug, and he looks at peace.: Snooze. I just wasnt feeling it. The whole Bells storyline was just kind of tossed in, and I wasnt really interested in them or what happened to them (once Witness Protection was off the table). I mean, the story was theoretically about the Marine who was killed and who killed him, not why the Bells ran away from home. The story could have been better served by shoring that up and maybe expand on the Vance storyline, which was stronger. It also had a theme in it about crimes you commit as an adult and how that can screw up your life, but it was pretty subtly done. I felt like the age thing kind of boiled down to: commit crimes prior to your eighteenth birthday and it won't mess up your life.How sad am I that I was thrilled Kayla got arrested, then disappointed that it was all out of loyalty to her friend? Let me share my issues. Ever since their mother was tragically murdered in their home (the one they still live in, BTW), whenever they appeared on-screen Kayla and her brother have basically been cardboard cut-outs of sad who look warily at anything or anyone who approaches them until Daddy tells them it's okay. They also appeared to be completely obedient, like scarily well-trained spaniels.I really wanted the Vance kids to act out when their mother died, to really experience that loss and the fact that they still lived in that house (I know, I know. But I just cant let it go.). Vance is very no-nonsense, and I would have liked to see him battle against his own feelings of loss and his stubbornness and his emotionally unraveling family. It didnt have to be a one-off where the kids were mad and then at the end of the episode they were all happy, but I would have loved to hear that that things were doing better when Gibbs asked, maybe talking a bit about some of the normal things that happen when kids experience a loss and how Vance (and maybe a therapist) helps his family get through it. Leon helping his son learn to box to help with his anger is something that comes to mind as something that would have been cool to see. I think the show lost good opportunity by ignoring the long-term ramifications of this sub-plot. I also think that it would have provided Gibbs an opportunity to see how people deal with life-altering grief (as opposed to suppressing it for years until it just seeps mostly away).P.S.- Ma Bell is played by Gabrielle Carteris, who used to be on 90210. I would have mentioned it earlier, but it means nothing to me and I forgot.
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




Paris, Jan 27, 2017 (SPS) - The Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT) awarded Saturday, in Paris, its 2017 human rights prize to Naama Asfari, a Sahrawi activist imprisoned in Morocco since November 2010.

The prize was given to his wife Claude Mangin who read movingly a letter from Naama, in a ceremony to which participated more than one hundred people.

We shouldnt give up. The struggle continues, said the Sahrawi activist who was a victim of torture and violent acts when he was arrested by the Moroccan authorities.

Morocco was condemned on 12 December 2016 by the UN Committee against Torture as part of the complaint registered by ACAT on behalf of Sahrawi activist Naama Asfari. (SPS)

062/SPS/APS
K ristina Roth began her company SuperShe in New York City with a laptop and an idea.

She went on to build one of Forbes Top 10 Fastest Growing Companies in the world and now the company has an island sanctuary for women in Finland.

The aim of SuperShe is to connect women from all over the world and in June they are launching a womens only island off the coast of Finland in the Baltic Sea.

The 8.4 acre island will house 10 guest cabins, spa amenities and facilities for adventure activities.

Whether you visit the island as part of a retreat or for a holiday, you will be able to attend daily cooking and fitness classes along with daily yoga and meditation.

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In a statement, the company said: women need to spend time with other women. Being on vacation with men can be draining and demanding. We want SuperShe Island to be rejuvenating and a safe space where women can go to reinvent themselves and their desires. A place where you can recalibrate with no distractions.

SuperShe Island, Finland - in pictures 1 /6 SuperShe Island, Finland - in pictures Click through to see images from the island SuperShe SuperShe SuperShe SuperShe SuperShe SuperShe

Our goal is to create a utopia where women can come together to care for themselves through fitness, nutrition, creativity nurturing and more.

The opening of our Finnish island, will help us create a physical space that is open throughout the year for ladies to recharge.
R apper Nelly is fighting back against a lawsuit that alleges he sexually assaulted three fans.

He has filed court papers denying the alleged assaults on two fans after performances in the UK, as well as an alleged rape on board a tour bus after a performance in Seattle last year, and is seeking to have a complaint against him dismissed.

The complaint says Nelly raped a fan last October in his bedroom on the tour bus and sexually assaulted two women after performances in England in June 2016 and December 2017.

Nelly denies all allegations.

In court documents, the rapper said the encounter on the tour bus after a performance at a Seattle night club was consensual and the woman became upset only when another person entered the bedroom to use the toilet.

His attorney, Scott Rosenblum, said on Saturday that the allegations are "completely fabricated".

The woman's attorney, Karen Koehler, said that the two women who allege they were assaulted in England by Nelly contacted her after reading about her client's case.

The two women are both Americans who were posted in England with the US military when the alleged incidents happened.

One woman alleges Nelly slid his hand under her dress and attempted to keep her from leaving a room. She was able to leave when a security guard came to the door, the lawsuit says.

The second woman alleges that Nelly trapped her in a bathroom, masturbated in front of her and tried to force her to perform oral sex before she got away, court papers say.

One alleged incident occurred in London and the other in Essex, Ms Koehler said.

Prosecutors have said they cannot pursue a criminal case against the rapper because the woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted in the bathroom decided not to cooperate with authorities.
U p to 600 people per week are being turned away from oversubscribed sexual health clinics at one of Londons NHS trusts, an expert has warned.

Dr Mark Lawton of the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV said the data showing hundreds of people are being turned away from clinic at Guys and St Thomas Trust alone are the tip of the iceberg.

The figures dont count those who didnt get through the doors because they were closed, he told the Standard.

Dr Lawton warned of a crisis as a shortfall in services puts Londoners at risk of STIs including syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia and unwanted pregnancies.

The phrase we are using is perfect storm, he said.

His comments came after a series of closures of central London clinics, including three of the six run by Guy's and St Thomas' which were shut in 2017.

STI diagnoses in London are 79 per cent higher than anywhere else in the country, according to figures from Public Health England.

More than 11,000 people were turned away between April and September last year by the three remaining GSTT clinics - a number that has persisted despite the trust expanding opening hours, he said.

Data also shows that since April 2017 the number of STIs diagnosed in GSTT centres doubled, with the only diagnoses going down being HIV (because of treatment as prevention) and anogenital warts (due to the HPV vaccine).

Closures have taken place across central London and remaining clinics across the capital are facing unmanageable demands.

Sexual health clinic the Dean Street Express in Soho told patients on its website: "Our service is currently massively over-subscribed due to the closure of several other clinics in London."

As many as 1,500 people every day are trying to book just 300 available slots, logging on at 7pm when they are snapped up within minutes, it added.

The problem comes from public funding cuts at local councils, which are responsible for commissioning sexual health services, made in 2016.

To cater to changing demands health professionals planned to shift the focus of sexual health services from face-to-face consultations to an online service with postal testing.

However its roll-out has been delayed by months. The London e-service is beginning in January as part of a planned introduction but will not be rolled out across 27 boroughs until the early summer.

Rates of STIs in London are "high anyway", according to Dr Lawton, citing figures from Public Health England that new STI diagnoses are 79 per cent higher in the capital than in anywhere else in the country.

The rise of more permissive attitudes to sex as well as easier ways of getting it have contributed.

"Dating apps are probably having an impact in terms of easier access to sex," said Dr Lawton.

Meanwhile experts are concerned that people turned away from services do not complain because it is embarrassing.

"It's very easy for people to talk about cancer services, which is also very important, of course," said Dr Lawton.

"But people don't stand up and say 'I had gonorrhoea and I had to wait to be seen for four days'. They just keep quiet."

Desperate patients have meanwhile taken to Google reviews to express their frustration.

"I've been trying to get an appointment for a week," wrote one woman on the Dean Street Express page.

A man wrote on the Google page of Burrell Street, which turned away 9,000 patients in six months last year: "I was turned away despite reporting symptoms on my initial screening form.

"The receptionist said someone would telephone me back if they had any cancellations, but no one ever contacted me."

Not all trusts keep figures on the numbers of people being turned away, meaning the true scale of the problem is unknown.

"We have to know exactly what we are dealing with if we want to improve things," he added.

A spokesperson from Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust said that in response to cuts in funds from local councils for commissioning sexual healthcare services, it closed three clinics while it develops online services "but with a commitment to continue to provide adequate clinical space and staff to diagnose and treat the same number of patients."
T housands of fans are having their phones locked away while they watch comedian Chris Rocks show at Londons O2 Arena this weekend.

The US comedian has banned all mobiles and smart watches from his UK Total Blackout tour this month, in a move aimed at stopping people filming his performances.

Announcing the move, which received mixed reviews from fans, Rock urged those attending to take one night off from being the paparazzo of your own life.

Fans were warned that anyone found to be in possession of a phone during the show would be asked to leave the venue, located in Greenwichs Peninsula Square.

Rock said he was sick of people uploading clips of his performances to social media instead of focusing on enjoying the show.

He was also reported to have said: "There is also the added problem for comedians who spend months polishing their performances to a high state of hilarity only to have their punchlines shared in advance by illegal recordings of their show".

A statement on the O2 Arenas website said any phones brought to the venue would be locked in a pouch when entering.

It read: There is a strict NO MOBILE PHONE policy in place for this show. Any phones brought into the venue will be required to be placed in a supplied locked pouch when entering the arena concourse which you keep with you at all times.

This is a free service but please allow extra time for security searches and to have your phone placed in a secure pouch by specialist onsite staff.

All customers will be subject to a search and anyone found with a phone within the arena will be asked to leave the venue.

Some of those who attended at previous events during the tour posted pictures of the pouch on social media, and praised the idea.

Alongside an image of the pouch, Amy Macdonald wrote on Twitter: I went to see @chrisrock tonight and it was great. I was sooo impressed by the little phone cases. How refreshing to not see 10,000 phones and people actually talking to each other. Its the future!

Another Twitter user, who went to one of the London shows this weekend, wrote: Chris Rock at the 02 tonight was honestly hilarious and a great experience.

No pictures, we all had to put our phones in some pouch, locked up when we walked in, but honestly it made it a better experience for us and understandably for him also.

Others were not so keen on the idea. One fan wrote on the social media site: Really enjoyed the Chris Rock show at the O2 tonight, the whole locking your phone in a 90's style Velcro wallet felt unnecessary, I get why, but a shame that performers feel the need to enforce such measures. Added an hour to getting in to gig but staff handled it well.
C elebrities, activists and politicians are rallying for the biggest protest in British history on Londons streets against Donald Trumps visit to the UK.

Campaigners have vowed to stage the biggest demonstration in the capital that the UK has ever seen, as politicians and celebrities joined to speak out against the visit.

One Facebook event planned for next month has already seen more than 21,000 people sign up to express an interest in the demo against the Presidents planned trip.

David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham, was among those calling for a large-scale demo. Responding to news of the visit, he wrote on Twitter: To be met by the biggest protest this country has ever seen. Whos in?

Thousands protest over Donald Trump's state visit

Celebrities such as Stephen Fry, and organisations such as Abortion Support Network, Help Refugees and Operation Black Vote have all voice support for a huge protest.

Fry wrote on Twitter that he had thrown his support behind campaign group Top Trump Targets, adding: Were coming together to build a better Britain by standing with those Trump targets.

The US President told Piers Morgan that Prime Minister Mrs May has invited him twice, and that he will travel to Britain for both state and working visits in 2018.

Morgan said he asked Trump if he would be coming to the UK as they sat down for an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, which is set to be broadcast in full on ITV on Sunday evening.

Protesters took to the streets across the globe to rally against sexual harassment, inequality and Donald Trump / EPA

After Trump and May held talks in Davos earlier this week, Downing Street confirmed that details of a visit by the US President to the UK later this year were being finalised.

In June, the White House denied that a state visit, which typically includes a banquet with the Queen, has been delayed over fears of mass protests and his popularity in Britain.

The White House said the following month that the state visit had been postponed until 2018 but gave no explanation as to why.

Mr Trump has already cancelled a planned trip to London next month for the official opening of the new US embassy building in Nine Elms.

He said he had abandoned the trip because he disapproved of the location and price of the new embassy.
D onald Trump has admitted that is not aware of an invitation for him to attend Prince Harry and Meghan Markles wedding.

Asked during an interview with Piers Morgan if he had received an invitation, the US President replied: "not that I know of".

Harry's nuptials with the American actress have captured the imagination of her compatriots and will be seen to strengthen the bond between the UK and the US.

But Ms Markle has been a vocal critic of former reality star Mr Trump, backing his rival Hillary Clinton and suggesting before the 2016 election she would leave the US if he won.

Royal wedding: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Mr Trump has said he is not aware of any invitation for him to attend / PA

Asked if he would like to go to the royal wedding in May at Windsor Castle's St George's Chapel, Mr Trump simply said: "I want them to be happy. I really want them to be happy. They look like a lovely couple."

When Morgan pointed out she had labelled the billionaire "divisive" and a "misogynist", he said: "Well, I still hope they're happy."

Morgan also pressed the president on his social media habit, confirming he often tweets himself but will delegate if he is busy.

He said: "Well, perhaps sometimes in bed, and perhaps sometimes at breakfast, or lunch, or whatever.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle engagement announcement 1 /27 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle engagement announcement Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Eddie Mulholland-WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle photo call today on the announcement of their engagement in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace Jeremy Selwyn Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Getty Images Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Jeremy Selwyn Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace AP Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace PA Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace EPA Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace AP Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Getty Images Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Reuters Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Sky News Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Jeremy Selwyn Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace PA Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Jeremy Selwyn Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace EPA Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Jeremy Selwyn Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Jeremy Selwyn Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace EPA Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Getty Images Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace EPA Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace AP Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, after the announcement of their engagement PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave following a photocall after announcing their engagement in the Sunken Garden in Kensington Palace EPA Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace Jeremy Selwyn Prince Harry and Meghan Markle walk away after posing for the media in the grounds of Kensington Palace AP

"But generally speaking, during the early morning or during the evening, I can do that.

"But if I'm very busy during the day ... and I'll sometimes just dictate out something really quickly, and I'll give it to one of my people to put it on."

The President also offered hope that the US could come back in from the cold after opting out of the Paris Accord on climate change, a decision that drew scorn from the international community and "disappointment" from Prime Minister Theresa May.

He said: "The Paris Accord, for us, would have been a disaster. I'm completely out of it.

Royal wedding: Mugs in production to celebrate Harry and Meghan's engagement

"First of all, it was a terrible deal for the United States. If they made a good deal ... there's always a chance we'd get back.

"But, it was a terrible deal for the United States. It was unfair to the United States. If somebody said, go back into the Paris Accord, it would have to be a completely different deal because we had a horrible deal.

"Would I go back in? Yeah, I'd go back in. I like, as you know, I like Emmanuel [Macron, French president]. I would love to, but it's got to be a good deal for the United States."

Mr Trump also gave his views on climate change, saying he believes in clean air and good cleanliness generally.

He said: "There is a cooling, and there's a heating. I mean, look, it used to not be climate change, it used to be global warming.

"That wasn't working too well because it was getting too cold all over the place.

"The ice caps were going to melt, they were going to be gone by now, but now they're setting records. They're at a record level."

According to a Nasa analysis in March last year, the sea ice levels in the Arctic reached a record lowest extent during winter and in the same month the sea ice around Antarctica reached its lowest extent ever recorded by satellites at the end of the Southern Hemisphere summer.

President Trump - The Piers Morgan Interview airs on Sunday on ITV at 10pm.
M eghan Markle is planning to break with tradition and make a speech at her wedding to Prince Harry, reports say.

The former actress will deliver a speech at her reception after the wedding ceremony at St Georges Chapel, Windsor, on May 19 this year, the Sunday Times reports.

Ms Markle, 36, is planning an affectionate tribute to Harry and will thank the Queen and her friends and family, according to the newspaper.

She is used to public speaking and was praised for delivering a speech on International Womens Day to the UN in 2015 discussing gender equality.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Reprezent 107.3FM in Brixton 1 /28 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Reprezent 107.3FM in Brixton Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive for their visit to Reprezent 107.3FM community radio station in Brixton Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle listen to a broadcast through headphones during a visit to youth-orientated radio station, Reprezent FM in Brixton PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle meet presenter Glory as she records her show for Reprezent 107.3FM community radio station in Brixton Kensington Palace/Twitter Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chat to young people on the Reprezent 107.3FM programme about their experiences, and how Reprezent has helped them to develop important skills Kensington Palace/Twitter Meghan Markle greets a well wisher as she leaves with Prince Harry after visiting the radio station Peter Nicholls/Reuters Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chat to young people on the Reprezent 107.3FM programme about their experiences, and how Reprezent has helped them to develop important skills Kensington Palace/Twitter Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive for their visit to Reprezent 107.3FM community radio station in Brixton Yui Mok/PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive for their visit to Reprezent 107.3FM community radio station in Brixton Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive for their visit to Reprezent 107.3FM community radio station in Brixton Yui Mok/PA Meghan smiles coyly to her fans during the outing in Brixton Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle visit Reprezent 107.3FM Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive for their visit to Reprezent 107.3FM community radio station in Brixton Yui Mok/PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during a visit to youth-orientated radio station, Reprezent FM, in Brixton, south London to learn about its work supporting young people Yui Mok/PA Prince Harry's bride to be Meghan Markle arriving for a visit to youth-orientated radio station Dominic Lipinski/PA Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle visit Reprezent 107.3FM Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images Meghan Markle waves to well-wishers on their arrival at Reprezent 107.3FM community radio station Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markel visit Reprezent 107.3FM in Pop Brixton Chris Jackson/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markel visit Reprezent 107.3FM in Pop Brixton Jack Taylor/Getty Images Members of the public wait for the arrival of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for their visit to youth-orientated radio station, Reprezent FM in Brixton Yui Mok/PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive in Brixton EPA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive for their visit to Reprezent 107.3FM community radio station in Brixton Facundo Arrizalaga/EPA Meghan Markle listens to a broadcast through headphones during a visit to youth-orientated radio station, Reprezent FM, in Brixton Dominic Lipinski/PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle departing after a visit to youth-orientated radio station, Reprezent FM in Brixton Yui Mok/PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle departing after a visit to youth-orientated radio station, Reprezent FM in Brixton Yui Mok/PA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle departing after a visit to youth-orientated radio station, Reprezent FM in Brixton Jack Taylor/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle departing after a visit to youth-orientated radio station, Reprezent FM in Brixton Jack Taylor/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle departing after a visit to youth-orientated radio station, Reprezent FM in Brixton Jack Taylor/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle departing after a visit to youth-orientated radio station, Reprezent FM in Brixton Peter Nicholls/Reuters

Up to 800 guests are expected to attend the Royal wedding.

Her father Thomas, 73, who is intensely private, is not expected to speak at the reception, according to the Sunday Times which quoted a source as saying: She wants to have the chance to thank her husband and everyone who has supported them.

Harry thinks it's a great idea.

Ms Markles father is expected to walk his daughter down the aisle.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry greeted by huge crowds at Cardiff Castle

Asked during an interview with Piers Morgan if he had received an invitation, the US President replied: "not that I know of".

But Ms Markle has been a vocal critic of former reality star Mr Trump, backing his rival Hillary Clinton and suggesting before the 2016 election she would leave the US if he won.

When Morgan pointed out she had labelled the billionaire "divisive" and a "misogynist", he said: "Well, I still hope they're happy."
T error attack survivors are set to launch a new group to lobby the Government on counter-terror policies and improved support for victims.

The Survivors Against Terror group, which is being founded by survivors and bereaved relatives of victims of Islamist bombings, IRA attacks and far-right extremist murders, has urged others to join as it begins on Monday.

Brendan Cox, the widower of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox, and Mike Haines, whose brother David was beheaded on camera after being held captive by Islamic State in Syria, are among the founders.

Dan Hett and Figen Murray, the brother and mother of Manchester bombing victim Martyn Hett, Paralympian and 7/7 survivor Martine Wiltshire and Tunisia resort shooting victim Gina Van Dort are also involved.

They said: "Our collective view is that terrorism can be defeated - but only if we pull together as a country to fight it more effectively. We will work to build a voice for survivors."

The group aims to campaign for more effective policies to combat terror and identify gaps in support for victims and the bereaved, as well as help the public tackle hate speech and the terror threat.

The founders said: "As a group of survivors and family members we have had mixed experiences of support from the government and other service providers.

"In some cases this has been exemplary, in other cases families and survivors have been left with no support at all.

"We will be reaching out to other survivors and bereaved families to build a better picture of what is and isn't working and will be talking to the government and other service providers about the gaps we identify."

The new group also called on social media companies to take stronger action and urged traditional media to treat survivors more respectfully.

Survivors Against Terror plans to survey a wide group of victims and go into schools to talk about the impact of hatred. They added: "Terrorism is not a new phenomenon but it continues to cause huge pain and anguish.

"Our country has taken on and defeated bigger threats in the past, and we believe if we work together as a country and look after those bereaved or injured, we can and will defeat this as well."

Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, welcomed the creation of the new group. She said: "I have incredible admiration for the courage and dedication of everyone involved.

"Their ambition to bring positive change as a response to their horrific experiences is truly inspiring.

"We are committed to providing the best support for victims of terrorism, and that is why last year we set up the Victims of Terrorism Unit which will make sure that support, both in the UK and overseas, is comprehensive and made swiftly available to those who need it.

"I look forward to working with Survivors Against Terror to ensure that their experiences help shape the work we do."
D onald Trump has claimed he will travel to the UK for an official state visit in October of this year.

The US President has told Piers Morgan that Prime Minister Theresa May has invited him twice and that he will travel to Britain for both state and working visits in 2018.

Morgan said that he asked Trump if he would be coming to the UK as they sat down for an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos which is set to be broadcast in full on ITV on Sunday evening.

Writing in the Mail on Sunday about the interview, Morgan said: 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.

Donald Trump on Britain first, his views on May, and the UK trip

So youre coming to Britain? I asked before the interview started.

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

Yeah, Ill be there. She [Theresa May] just invited me. Twice. State and working. One is a State, October.

Morgan added that at this point an aide said: That date is still to be confirmed.

Piers Morgan interviews US President Donald Trump

After Trump and May held talks in Davos earlier this week, Downing Street confirmed that details of a visit by the US President to the UK later this year were being finalised.

Trump: I would have negotiated Brexit differently

In June, the White House denied that a state visit, which typically includes a banquet with the Queen, has been delayed over fears of mass protests and his popularity in Britain.

First look at the new US embassy 1 /17 First look at the new US embassy Exterior of the US Embassy in London Consular Services Pacific Forest Garden Main Lobby Ambassador Wall in Main Lobby Facade detail A general view inside the new US Embassy in south London before it opens for business in January 2018 PA A general view inside the new US Embassy in south London before it opens for business in January 2018 PA The visa hall at the new US Embassy PA A bar inside the new US Embassy PA Detail in Consular Services The Department of The Treasury inside the new US Embassy PA Exterior of the US Embassy in London Outer envelope detail Consular Services View from office toward River Thames Outer envelope detail

The White House said the following month that the state visit had been postponed until 2018 but gave no explanation as to why.

Mr Trump has already cancelled a planned trip to London next month for the official opening of the new US embassy building in Nine Elms.

Thousands: Hordes of people blocked the road in Westminster at an anti-Trump protest last year / AFP/Getty Images

He said he had abandoned the trip because he disapproved of the location and price of the new embassy.
F ive Britons are among 10 foreigners who have been arrested for pornographic dancing in Cambodia.

The group, which includes two women, face up to a year in prison and could reportedly spend as long as six months in detention before the case reaches court.

The arrests of the 10, aged between 19 and 35, followed a raid on a party in the popular tourist destination Siem Reap.

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.

A Cambodian Police website published photographs online, appearing to show clothed and laughing tourists demonstrating sex positions.

Authorities said the group were being charged with producing pornographic pictures and materials.

Duong Thavry, from Siem Reaps anti-human trafficking and juvenile protection department, was quoted as saying: We cracked down on them because they committed activities that are against our culture.

One member of the group 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 Foreign Office confirmed they were in contact with British nationals in Cambodia.
I kea founder Ingvar Kamprad has died aged 91, the company has announced.

The Swede died at home in Smaland, the furniture giant said in a statement.

Ikea said Mr Kamprad was "one of the greatest entrepreneurs of the 20th century".

During his teenage years, Mr Kamprad raised funds for a pro-fascist group in Sweden between 1942 and 1945.

He went on to describe the ties as "the greatest mistake of his life".

In 2015, Bloomberg estimated his net worth at $43bn, placing him among the richest people in the world.

Mr Kamprad formed the company's name from his own initials and the first letters of the family farm, Elmtaryd, and the parish of Agunnaryd where it is located. It is in the heart of Smaland, a forested province whose people are known in Sweden for thrift and ingenuity.

Furniture giant: Ikea / Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images

Later in life, his name often appeared on lists of the world's richest men, but he never adopted the aura of a tycoon. He drove a modest Volvo and dressed unassumingly.

In a 1998 book that he co-authored about Ikea's history, he described his habit of visiting vegetable street markets right before they closed for the day, hoping to get a better price on their goods.

Born March 30, 1926, Mr Kamprad was a precocious entrepreneur who sold matchboxes to neighbours from his bicycle. He found that he could buy them in bulk very cheaply from Stockholm, and sell them at a low price but still make a good profit.

From matches, he expanded to selling fish, Christmas tree decorations, seeds, and later ball-point pens and pencils.

Mr Kamprad soon moved away from making individual sales calls and began advertising in local newspapers and operating a makeshift mail-order catalogue.

He distributed his products via the local milk van, which delivered them to the nearby train station.

In 1950, Mr Kamprad first introduced furniture into his catalogue. The furniture was produced by local manufacturers in the forests close to his home.

After the positive response he received, he soon decided to discontinue all of the other products and focus on low-priced furniture.

Since then the Ikea concept - keeping prices low by letting the customers assemble the furniture themselves - offers affordable home furnishings at stores across the globe.

In 1994, Swedish newspaper Expressen reported that Mr Kamprad had contacts with Swedish fascist leader Per Engdahl in the 1940s and '50s.

In a letter to employees, Mr Kamprad admitted that he once had sympathies for the far-right leader and called it "a part of my life which I bitterly regret".

In the 1998 book, he gave more details about his youthful "delusions", saying he had been influenced as child by his German grandmother's strong support for Hitler. His paternal grandparents emigrated to Sweden in the 1890s.

He moved to Switzerland in the late 1970s to avoid paying Swedish taxes, which at the time were the highest in the world. He decided to return home only after his wife Margaretha died in 2011.
S ix adults and a baby drifted in a dinghy in the Pacific Ocean for four days in the blazing sun without water after a ferry they were travelling on sank.

The survivors had scrambled onto the small wooden dinghy after the MV Butiraoi, an inter-island passenger ferry, sank while travelling between two islands in the remote nation of Kiribati.

New Zealand Defence Force Air Commodore Darryn Webb said the crew on a military Orion plane had used radar to locate the dinghy while searching for survivors.

He said the ferry had been carrying at least 50 people and that there was no sign of any other survivors.

Mr Webb said it was not yet clear what caused the ferry to sink and that the survivors in the dinghy were 112 miles from the nearest major island when they were found.The baby had fallen unconscious.

The plane dropped supplies to the survivors including food, water and a radio, Mr Webb said. The survivors used the radio to tell rescuers they had managed to get off the ferry when it capsized and climb aboard the dinghy, he said.

Pacific Ocean: The ferry went missing off the coast of the nation of Kiribati (file photo) / Shutterstock / Frank Romeo

Mr Webb said the survivors had very little time to react and found themselves adrift without water or an engine. He said they did have a blanket or tarpaulin which they may have been able to use to get some relief from the sun.

Webb said a fishing boat had changed its course and picked up the survivors on Sunday afternoon.

"Our heart goes out to the baby and to all those remaining of the 50-plus people," he said.

While thankful the life raft was found, Webb said it was also heart-breaking the ferry had sunk and the others were still missing. He said there was a lot of debris near the dinghy, which may have been from the ferry.

Searchers planned to regroup and interview the survivors before deciding whether to continue the search, he added.

Questions remain as to why it took Kiribati authorities so long to tell New Zealand officials the ferry was missing. Mr Webb said a Kiribati plane had earlier searched for the ferry but did not have sophisticated radar equipment.

Named the MV Butiraoi, the 57-foot wooden catamaran left Nonouti Island bound for South Tarawa on January 18, according to authorities. The journey was supposed to take two days.

New Zealand rescuers say they were not told about the missing boat until Friday, eight days after the ferry had left.

Senior Search and Rescue Officer John Ashby said they had been told the ferry underwent repairs to its propeller shaft just before leaving, which may have contributed to navigation problems.
T he River Seine is expected to peak at a level of six metres today as Paris braced for more floods after non-stop rain in the French capital.

The Seine is expected to hit its peak on Sunday evening, flood risk body Vigicrues said as riverside households and businesses readied themselves should it fully burst its banks.

Drone footage, shared by French police, showed the extent of the rising water levels in the city centre and the damage caused in the suburbs where the Seine and Marne rivers have overflowed.

Water rushes past Alma bridge by the Zouave statue which is used as a measuring instrument during floods in Paris / AP

The rain-swollen Seine has engulfed major tourist areas and threatened damage to wine cellars and the basement of the world-famous Louvre Museum.

Drone footage shows extend of flooding in Paris suburbs

The rising water levels have forced a halt to all boat traffic in Paris, including tourist cruises, as boats cannot pass under bridges.

Quay-side restaurants have been submerged by water, while the floods have also highlighted the scale of the city's rat problem with rodents being flushed out of sewers in many parts of the capital.

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.

The rising water levels are exposed the scale of Paris's rat problem / REUTERS

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

Seven metro stations along the river have been shut down and will remain closed until the end of the month.

Frances most popular museum, the Louvre 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.

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.
I srael has criticised planned laws in Poland that would make it illegal to describe Nazi death camps as Polish.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels Prime Minister, said: I strongly oppose it. One cannot change history, and the Holocaust cannot be denied.

The bill is an amendment to current laws, and could lead to anyone suggesting Polish responsibility for Nazi atrocities facing a prison term.

Phrases that would be caught by the bill include Polish death camps.

Many in Poland 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.

Poland was occupied by the Nazis during World War Two, with millions of its citizens killed in death camps such as Auschwitz, built by the Nazis after they invaded the country in 1939.

The legislation coincided with Holocaust Memorial Day on Saturday.

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."

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 recognised 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."

Poland is ruled by the right-wing nationalist Law and Justice Party.

The countrys deputy justice minister Patryk Jaki said the backlash was proof the bill was needed.

"Important Israeli politicians and media are attacking us for the bill. On top of that they claim that Poles are co-responsible' for the Holocaust," he said.

"This is proof how necessary this bill is."
R ussian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been detained in Moscow on a day of protests across the nation against President Vladimir Putin.

His arrest came as hundreds gathered in the countys capital to rally against Mr Putins regime, calling for voters to boycott the presidential election in March.

Footage posted on Mr Navalnys Twitter page showed him being wrestled to the ground by police officers.

Following the incident, Mr Navalny, 41, wrote on the social media site in Russian: I have been detained this means nothing as he urged his followers to join the widespread demonstrations.

It comes after Mr Navalny, Putin's most vocal critic, was barred from standing in the 18 March election.

The opposition leader later tweeted: "The detention of one person is meaningless if there are many of us. Someone, come and replace me."
On January 23rd, Joe Biden virtually threw his hat into the 2020 US Presidential contest, by producing for the neoconservative-neoliberal Council on Foreign Relations, a speech, and an accompanying article in their influential journal Foreign Affairs, titled, How to Stand Up to the Kremlin: Defending Democracy Against Its Enemies. He made clear that no one in American politics is going to stand to Bidens right on international affairs and the military, when (or if, if one still doubts that) he will enter the 2020 US Presidential contest formally. Hes already making the matter clear right now. He says in their journal:

Given Russias aggression in Georgia and Ukraine, NATO must continue to forward-deploy troops and military capabilities to eastern Europe to deter and, if necessary, defeat a Russian attack against one of the alliances member states. But the threat of unconventional and nonmilitary coercion now looms larger than ever. More than a decade has passed since Estonia became the first NATO country to see its government institutions and media organizations attacked by hackers based in Russia. In the intervening period, the risk of a far more debilitating attack has increased, but planning for how to defend against it has lagged. One step NATO members can take would be to broaden the responsibility for such planning beyond their militaries and defense ministries. The EU and the private sector need to be part of such efforts, so that Russian strikes on infrastructure can be isolated and backup systems can be put in place.

He writes and speaks as if Russia and its allies were surrounding NATO, instead of America and its allies surrounding Russia  as if the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact had continued beyond 1991, and America and its NATO alliance had broken up and ended in 1991. Of course, thats the exact opposite of the reality.

If Russia were massing its troops and weaponry on Americas borders, Americans would have good reason to hate Russians, but instead America and its allies are massing weapons and troops on Russias borders, and they not only arent apologizing for it, but they even have the gall to call Russia the aggressor. The US would be terrified if Russia did to America what America is doing to Russia. Bidens article says, The United States and its allies must improve their ability to deter Russian military aggression. What?

Americas not already military enough? (True, Americans Support Military-Industrial Complex Above All Else; and, The military" is, itself, respected by Americans above any other institution  including, the government, the press, or any church, or anything else  but hasnt this militarism on the part of the American people now gotten out of hand? Certainly, the world seems to think so.) The US spends at least a trillion dollars annually on defense; and, even if one strips out of that, like SIPRI does in their calculations (which are designed to low-ball Americas military expenditures), the Department of Homeland Security, and the Energy Department (whose spending is 65% for military  nuclear weapons etc.), and NASA, CIA, etc., its still  just for the Defense Department  $611 billion according to SIPRI, and Americas allies add to that (and SIPRI doesnt low-ball them), Saudi Arabias $64 billion, and Frances $56 billion, and UKs $48 billion, and Japans $46 billion, and Germanys $41 billion, and South Koreas $37 billion, and (here going beyond the worlds ten largest) Italys $28B, Australias $24B, UAEs $23B, Israels $18B, and Canadas $15B  then the total would still be $1,011 billion, over a trillion dollars, using SIPRIs numbers, and this would be competing up against Chinas $216 billion, and Russias $69 billion (both of which also are not low-balled), or $285 billion total, versus the US groups $1,011 billion (using SIPRIs low-balled $611B figure for the US). So, the US alone spends already around ten times what Russia alone spends on its military, and the real figure for the US  especially if its allies are included  is far higher, but Joe Biden and the other salespeople for Lockheed Martin etc., say, The United States and its allies must improve their ability to deter Russian military aggression.

Thats why, this year, US federal spending is rising 8% for the military, and going down sharply for everything else (since destroying Russia takes precedence, as displayed in these figures), as follows:



TRUMP 2018 Budget:

-31% EPA

-29% State Dept.

-21% Ag. Dept.

-21% Labor

-18% HHS

-16% Commerce

-14% Education

-13% HUD

-13% Transportation

-12% Interior

-6% Energy

-5% SBA

-4% Treasury

-4% Justice

-1% NASA

+6% Veterans Affairs

+7% Homeland Security

+9% Defense

TOTAL: $3.76T



Biden wants to top that? Apparently.

Biden describes Russia as corrupt 16 times, as using aggression 2 times, as kleptocratic 2 times, as weak 1 time, and as having the goal to weaken and divide Western democracies internally 1 time. He says, Russias leaders have built a Potemkin democracy in which democratic form masks authoritarian content. But he wants the public to believe that hes no kleptocrat himself. Maybe he wants the public to believe that only his son is, who got a sweetheart Ukrainian board-membership as soon as Obamas 2014 coup in Ukraine installed fascist Ukrainian leaders who promptly appointed, to be a powerful local governor, a certain billionaire who had hired Bidens son Hunter Biden not only as a board member to his gas company but with shares that were thought to be potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Biden (the father) says that After the Cold War, Western democracy became the model of choice for postcommunist countries in central and eastern Europe. Guided by the enlightened hands of NATO and the EU, many of those countries boldly embarked on the transition from dictatorship to democracy. NATO and those other enlightened hands also helped Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Ukraine, and so many other countries that they invaded (or else overthrew by coup), and now the EU is getting the spin-off benefit of millions of refugees from American (and US-financed, such as in Ukraine) bombing, who help to create lots of competition in the European labor-markets, especially in low-end jobs where the native workers who dont have the connections that upper-class ones do and which connections enabled upper-class workers to obtain their upper-class jobs, will now have harder times than ever to find work, because these native workers will now be competing against all those newcomers, who dont even speak the local language, much less have such local connections, and so will be even more desperate (and thus accept even lower wages and worse working-conditions) than those struggling natives, whose conditions will become even worse than before.

America drops the bombs (good, American-made bombs, of course, paid for with generous American taxpayers dollars  not with American kleptocrats profits), and Europe gets the far end of the human debris, with all these newcomers who arrive in Europe penniless because America (sometimes with help from other democratic countries) has destroyed their homes, and killed so many of their relatives, and made these millions of people so desperate, that theyll take any job they can get, after their social-services from European governments run out, which are paid for by European taxpayers, including those low-wage European natives, who are already suffering.

Of course, Hunter Biden knows the benefits that well-connected people such as he have, and so maybe hell be able to be commissioned to advise European governments on how to teach those skills, to the millions of destitute immigrants that Europe now has.

Even the neoconservative-neoliberal The Atlantic magazine expressed concern about Hunters new-found board seat, when it noted, on 7 June 2014, that, Beltway ethicists seem to be mixed about whether this arrangement is kosher or not. What is clear is that relatives of high-level American political figures have benefited from their ties for generations now. It's practically a tradition at this point. But wasnt it supposed to be only Russia thats a kleptocracy? Should one kleptocracy criticize another (if thats what Russia is  but Im an American, and I know that this country is)?

Joe Bidens Foreign Affairs article says, By attacking the West, the Kremlin shifts attention away from corruption and economic malaise at home, activates nationalist passions to stifle internal dissent, and keeps Western democracies on the defensive and preoccupied with internal divisions. He asserts that To safeguard its kleptocratic system, the Kremlin has decided to take the fight beyond Russias borders to attack what it perceives as the greatest external threat to its survival: Western democracy. Biden is militant about protecting such Western democracy. He writes:

To fight back, the United States must lead its democratic allies and partners in increasing their resilience, expanding their capabilities to defend against Russian subversion, and rooting out the Kremlins networks of malign influence. The United States has the capacity to counter this assault and emerge stronger, provided that Washington demonstrates the political will to confront the threat. However, since the Trump administration has shown that it does not take the Russian threat seriously, the responsibility for protecting Western democracy will rest more than ever on Congress, the private sector, civil society, and ordinary Americans.

He continues:

In contrast to the Soviet Union, however, contemporary Russia offers no clear ideological alternative to Western democracy. Russias leaders invoke nationalist, populist, and statist slogans or themes, but the Kremlins propaganda machine shies away from directly challenging the core precepts of Western democracy: competitive elections, accountability for those in power, constitutionally guaranteed rights, and the rule of law. Instead, the Kremlin carefully cultivates a democratic facade, paying lip service to those principles even as it subverts them.

When the Obama Administration brought their Western democracy: competitive elections, accountability for those in power, constitutionally guaranteed rights, and the rule of law to Ukraine, which already had a democratically elected President whom Obama then ousted and whom Obama had actually been preparing ever since 2011 to overthrow, all that Ukrainians got, from Americas coup, was soaring misery, and also a civil war in which the far-eastern region (Donbass), which had voted over 90% for the ousted President and refused to accept the US-installed junta, were subjected to a bombing campaign by the US-installed Government in order to eliminate those voters from the rolls so as to be able to stay in power beyond the first post-coup election.

Joe Biden is a great champion of American democracy, and he wants to help the entire world, like he and his boss had helped Ukraine.

In his articles close, he says:

What if these recommendations are ignored? The White House seems unlikely to act. Too many times, President Donald Trump has equivocated on whether Russia interfered in the 2016 election, even after he received briefings from top intelligence officials on precisely how Moscow did it. After meeting privately with Putin at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Vietnam last November, Trump told reporters that Putin said he absolutely did not meddle in our election. He did not do what they are saying he did. Pressed about whether he accepted Putins denials, Trump replied: Every time he sees me, he says, I didnt do that, and I really believe that when he tells me that, he means it. Trump has made a habit of lavishing praise on Putin and even reportedly sought to lift sanctions against Russia shortly after his inauguration. We are not questioning Trumps motives, but his behavior forces us to question his judgment.

If this administration cannot or will not stand up to Russia, other democratic institutions, including Congress and civil society organizations, must mobilize. A starting point would be the creation of an independent, nonpartisan commission to examine Russias assault on American democracy, establish a common understanding of the scope and complexity of the Russian threat, and identify the tools required to combat it. The 9/11 Commission allowed the United States to come to terms with and address the vulnerabilities that made al Qaedas attacks possible. Today, Americans need a thorough, detailed inquest into how Russias strike on their democratic institutions was carried out and how another one might be prevented.

In the absence of an independent commission with a broad mandate, the United States will be left with only the relatively narrow investigations led by the special counsel Robert Mueller, the congressional intelligence committees, and the Senate Judiciary Committee. The good news is that Congress has already demonstrated its clear understanding of the Russian threat: in an overwhelmingly bipartisan manner, it passed the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act by a margin of 419 to 3 in the House of Representatives and by 98 to 2 in the Senate.

Biden has there laid down the gauntlet against the few Democrats in the US Government who were opposed to that bill, including the 3 in the House and 2 in the Senate. (So, it passed 98-2 in the Senate, and 419-3 in the House). One of the few Nay votes on it happened to be by Americas most high-favorability-rated politician, Senator Bernie Sanders, from whom the Democratic Partys 2016 Presidential nomination was stolen  and quite clearly stolen  by the Democratic National Committee, even though Sanders always performed vastly better than Hillary Clinton did in polled matchups against Trump or any other Republican. The dozens of billionaires who control the national Democratic Party thus were far more concerned to avoid having a Democratic President whom they might not be able to control, than they were to avoid having a Republican President (whom Republican billionaires always control)  for billionaires, class means even more than Party does. Democratic Party billionaires overwhelmingly prefer a Republican over any honest Democrat. Recent US history shows it. Thats why Sanders could rely only upon a movement, not really upon either existing Party.

However, even Sanders said (perhaps sincerely) that the reason why he had voted against the bill was that it also includes sanctions against Iran, and would therefore ease the way for Trump to renege on the deal that Obama had reached with Iran to suspend Irans nuclear program in return for the lifting of US sanctions. Sanders tweeted: I am strongly supportive of sanctions on Russia and North Korea. However, I worry very much about President Trumps approach to Iran. Following Trumps comments that he wont re-certify Irans compliance with the nuclear agreement I worry new sanctions could endanger it.

So, the high likelihood is that whomever the next US President will be, will be continuing the lie that the overthrow of Yanukovych in Ukraine was a revolution instead of a US coup; and, so, the economic sanctions against Russia, and the massing of NATO troops and weapons on and near Russias borders  both of which are justified by the 20 February 2014 Ukrainian overthrows having been a democratic revolution instead of a US coup  will almost certainly continue, until a hot war against Russia results. The domestic US political divisions exclude any division over the allegations that have been and are leading (since February 2014) to World War III  the US political system is virtually unanimously in favor of those clearly false allegations.

Consequently, within the Democratic Party, the war, if any, is between the vicious lie, which is blatantly psychopathic, versus the incomprehensible lie, which might simply be shockingly misinformed. But its the same lie, in either case. The Democratic Party is virtually united, on that lie. (And, of course, the Republican Party, likewise, is virtually united the same, regarding this same lie.)

America and its allies have been nonstop in a Cold War, supposedly against communism, but which after the end of communism in 1991 has become revealed actually to have been against Russia, even without its communism; and now its heading toward a hot war, because of all those historical lies, which still are not being faced and fessed-to, theyve simply accumulated as fake history, and could soon reach critical mass. For example, perhaps the most-highly-honored US journalist and historian on national-security issues, is Thomas E. Ricks, of the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Atlantic Monthly, Foreign Policy, and other non-partisan but actually neoconservative newsmedia; and hes best known for his book and articles and interviews obsessing that the 2003 invasion of Iraq (to oust the Moscow-friendly Saddam Hussein) was a Fiasco because it was done incompetently  not because it was based upon lies, which Ricks and all other prominent journalists failed to call to the publics attention before the invasion on the basis of lies; and so theyre partly responsible for that invasion on the basis of lies  which they hid at the time and some of which lies they still haven't reported; they still hide. Ricks has even carried his neoconservatism to such a point as to praise in one article General James Mattis, General H.R. McMaster, and Eliot Cohen  three of Washingtons top neoconservatives  and to criticize the neoconservative but more cautiously so, President Barack Obama, for having fired Mattis in 2013. America honors liars and hiders of lies. And whats at issue now is the mega-lie, which still is being hidden from the American public.

The conclusion seems inescapable, therefore, that unless and until the mega-lie, that the overthrow of Yanukovych was a revolution instead of a coup, becomes publicly acknowledged by the US Government to be a lie, the march toward World War III will continue forward, on a straight line to nuclear oblivion, because the mega-lie is the foundation for the restoration of the Cold War, and the only way to stop this restoration from metastasizing into the hot war that will end everybody, is to end the mega-lie upon which its based, and to do it soon enough.

The US invasion of Iraq in 2003 was clearly based upon lies, but this war wont be like getting rid of Saddam Hussein was in 2003. It will be unimaginably worse than that horror. And the only way to end the marching toward that great cliff, is to end the mega-lie, upon which its based. The US regime must fess-up, and apologize to Russia (and to the American people, and to the entire world), for this enormously dangerous fraud.

Biden is heading in exactly the opposite direction  he wants to capitalize on the fraud.
In early 2018, after four years of increasingly frantic effort, Israel announced that it had perfected what some generals were calling the Steel Dome system to reliably detect when terrorists, or anyone, was building tunnels into Israel. Steel Dome is a play on the name of the Iron Dome anti-rocket system. The anti-tunnel system proved more difficult to develop because it involved detecting tunnel construction by Palestinian groups that have been doing it for over a decade and have developed a certain expertise and resourcefulness in adapting to countermeasures. The Gaza tunnel builders were the most skilled and they were exporting their expertise to tunnel builders in Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank. So there was a sense of urgency in getting Steel Dome to work.

Technical details on Steel Dome are scarce but it apparently uses improved underground sensors (both permanent and portable) plus airborne sensors as well. The Israelis apparently drew upon the enormous amount of work done on detecting oil and gas deposits. This field gets enormous attention, and funding, because finding oil and gas is a really big business. This industry has benefitted greatly from increased (and inexpensive) computer capabilities and much improved statistical and analytical software to make something of huge quantities of data. Israeli firms have been leaders in both hardware and software and that give Israelis the opportunity to apply much of that seismological research to the detection of clandestine tunnel building. Apparently the Israelis had a breakthrough because they found, and destroyed three well-hidden Hamas tunnels in two months. The third tunnel was destroyed on January 14th and this one tried to hide itself by passing under an Egyptian natural gas pipeline that crossed the Israeli border where the borders of Gaza, Israel and Egypt meet. This tunnel was detected using the portable and airborne sensors. The partially underground Gaza border fence will be completed by 2019.

In 2016, faced with all this despite increased Israeli efforts to prevent successful tunnel building the Israeli government accelerated the long planned but constantly delayed project to build a high tech detection and barrier system to prevent Hamas from building tunnels into Israel. Since 2015 this system, called Obstacle, had been in the works. But actual construction was repeatedly delayed after it was discovered that Obstacle would cost over $10 million per kilometer and this underground barrier had to cover 65 kilometers of Gaza border.

The Defense Ministry kept telling those living or working near the Gaza border that the project was delayed because of more urgent defense needs. OK, that has been a common problem throughout Israeli history. Then in early 2016 local civilians began reporting (and recording) the sound of tunneling under building near the Gaza border and demanded action. This tunneling activity was confirmed by Israeli intelligence, which used an informant network in Gaza to confirm the increased tunneling activity. Israeli intel took advantage of that fact that a growing number of Palestinians were getting out of Gaza (where the economy had collapsed partly to support the tunnel building). Some of these recent Gaza residents had worked on the tunnels and were able to confirm the source of the border noise. Some of the Gaza refugees were willing to provide detailed information on how Hamas was going about it. Israel confirmed enough of this new information and realized that the only workable defense against these tunnels into Israel (for kidnapping Israelis and carrying out terror attacks) was to scrounge up the cash and proceed with Obstacle. This includes an upgraded security fence along the Gaza border that would employ new sensors and a computer network that would not only assemble sensor data but also rapidly indicate where more scrutiny, or counter-tunnel efforts were required.

All this tunnel anxiety began in 2014 as an after-effect of the mid-year 50-Day War between Hamas and Israel. The discovery of how much Israel had underestimated the Hamas tunnel system led the Israeli government to promise something that eventually evolved into Obstacle. This was mainly to detect new cross border tunnels Hamas was certain to build after war. Israel had known of Hamas use of tunnels since 2004. Until 2009 most of the tunnels were for smuggling people and goods from Egypt to Gaza. But in 2014 Israel became aware that Hamas was building many more tunnels into Israel as part of a major terror and kidnapping operation. During the 50 Day War Israel found and destroyed dozens of tunnels before leaving Gaza. In order to calm down the thousands of Israelis living near the Gaza border Israel promised to make additions to the Gaza security fence to prevent (or greatly reduce the possibility of) any future Hamas tunnels into Israel.

Another response to tunnel anxiety is the new tunnel warfare course the army is giving to troops. This is justified by the extent to which anti-Israel Islamic terror groups have adopted the use of tunnels to get into Israel and shelter their forces when attacked by Israel. Thus the Israeli Army is now giving all their combat troops training in detecting, destroying and fighting in tunnels. To facilitate the training of over 100,000 active duty and reserve troops the army is spending several million dollars to build ten tunnel training facilities. In addition to realistic sections of tunnel, where troops can also use their weapons, there is also a highly detailed computer simulator for planning and carrying out a combat operation against an enemy tunnel.

The main problem Obstacle has to deal with is that over the years Hamas has learned how to dig tunnels that were virtually undetectable. This meant going deep enough to avoid detection by ground penetrating radar or acoustic sensors. This makes it more expensive and time consuming to build tunnels but Hamas diverted much foreign aid (cash and building materials) to the tunnel effort and continues to do so. These detection problems were largely solved with better software to make the most out of the deeper sensors the Steel Dome fence used.

Before the ground invasion in 2014 Israel had been searching for the Hamas tunnels but had only found four of them after two years of effort. In early 2014 Israeli troops found one that was 1,800 meters long and extended 300 meters into Israel. Hamas dismissed this find as a tunnel that had been abandoned because of a partial collapse. But the Israelis said the tunnel had been worked on recently and equipment, like generators, was found in it. The tunnel was lined with reinforcing concrete and was 9-20 meters (30-63 feet) underground. Three of these tunnels were near the town of Khan Younis and apparently part of a plan to kidnap Israelis for use in trades (for prisoner or whatever) with Israel. Israeli intelligence knew Hamas leaders were discussing a much larger tunnel program, involving dozens of tunnels. Most tunnels had no exits in Israel and those were created just before the terrorists were to use them for a nighttime raid into Israel to kill and kidnap. Available tunnel monitoring equipment was slow and often ineffective if there was no one actively working on the tunnel below or if there was no exit (yet) on the Israeli side. That meant Hamas had been building and stockpiling these tunnels for at least two years and most of the completed ones could only be detected inside Gaza, where their entrances were. These were also hidden, at least from aerial observation. Israeli intelligence had discovered some of these entrances by detecting the Hamas activity around the entrances (entering and leaving, removing dirt). Hamas tried to hide this activity and Israel knew this meant they probably succeeded in some cases. Thus before the Israeli troops went into Gaza in 2014 commanders had lots of information of where to look. Israeli combat engineers had been trained to destroy the tunnels, which was not easy because Hamas had booby-trapped some of them.

Since the war ended in August 2014 Hamas has gone back to building more tunnels and inspiring other Islamic terror groups to do the same. Hezbollah in Lebanon took the hint is now digging them under the Lebanese border into Israel. So Israel is taking the threat seriously and training most combat troops to deal with it is part of the response while furiously working towards perfecting the software that would make Steel Dome consistently accurate and reliable. .

The turning point came on January 14th when Israel destroyed another Hamas attack tunnel that had gone under the border into Israel near the Kerem Shalom border crossing, close to the Egyptian border and is the main crossing for all foreign aid. An airstrike was used to collapse the tunnel and an Israeli general later revealed that Israel was capable of detecting any tunneling efforts and that all such existing tunnels would be found and destroyed by the end of the year. The Israelis believe Hamas will now switch to more rockets, suicide bombers and efforts to operate from the sea.
Dressed in a well-fitted monochrome blazer and skirt, with shards of red nails and lips, and an immaculate billow of cotton white hair, you would be forgiven for thinking Eva Clarke is your typical stylish grandmother. And she is  though she was also born on 29th April 1945 in Mauthausen concentration camp, and thus, as she said so bluntly at the beginning of her talk at St Johns College on Holocaust Memorial Day, she is also a survivor, but only just.

This was precisely the point of the event, which began with a succinct examination of what it means to think about the Holocaust, and other genocides, and those whose lives were impacted by such atrocities. This presentation, given by Johns Chapel Team Lead Server William Crisp, explored why genocides must not be seen in a vacuum, and drew attention to the questions considered when coming face-to-face with a Holocaust survivor. It was a pep-talk to prepare the audience for Evas subsequent recount of her history, and the unbelievable depths of suffering that humans could inflict on others  a suitable deliberation over what it means to reflect on the Holocaust, particularly considering the theme of this years Holocaust Memorial Day: the power of words.

And Eva certainly knew what this meant: her talk was founded in family affairs, an intimate and strongly moving insight into her, and her relatives, experiences; though she did not adopt that detached perspective so often seen in survivors testimonies. Beginning with a family photography from 1913 which showed her father, his siblings and his parents, it was clear she was not going to shy away from telling her full history; her charming voice aching with stoicism throughout the hour-long speech.

Her parents spent the pre-war years stepping into early adulthood with ambitious prospects: her father, who had left his home nation of Germany after Hitler came to power, had moved to the prosperous city of Prague and pursued a career in architecture; whilst her mother was a law student. When the Nazis occupied the country in 1938 and more practical professions were preferred, she became a milliners apprentice. Eventually, the pair met and, on 15th May 1940, when their nation was entrenched in occupation, married; a testament to the rosy and aspiring early years of their relationship. As Eva explained, even the heinous Nuremberg Laws did not seem too oppressive at this stage: for Jews like her mother and father, failing to obey these despotic diktats, which included wearing a yellow star and adhering to a curfew, was seen as the gravest danger. Indeed, Eva remarked that her mother remembered exactly what she was wearing on the day she first wore the star: a dark green skirt and tan suede jacket; the latter of which, her mother claimed, did not look that bad with the star plastered on it. It was detailing this occasion that Eva first revealed her mothers enduring determination and self-assurance: a friend of her mothers was also wearing the star for the first time on that day, bowing her body in shame to try to obscure its blatant branding. Evas mother had walked up to her and told her bluntly to stand up straight and not let the bastards get you down; a fortitude which would resurface time and time again in her mothers story.

Soon, the pair was to be deported to the Theresienstadt ghetto; her mother holding a deteriorating box of doughnuts through the warehouse and railway station to ensure her husband had the food he loved most with him, for the first few days at least. Here, they would live in bunks segregated by sex and work ardously; her mother having the responsibility to find food for her new husband and members of the extended family who also resided in the ghetto. Because the couple were both physically fit, her mother being her schools Junior Backstroke Champion for Czechoslovakia at the age of 14, the couple lived in Theresienstadt for an almost unheard-of period of three years. This gave them ample time to meet together surreptitiously; and it was during one of these occasions that her mother fell pregnant  but not with Eva. When the Nazis discovered this offence, they forced the couple to sign a document declaring they would hand the child over at its birth to Gestapo officers to be euthanized; a word Evas mother did not know until she asked another individual for the definition. When the baby, a boy, was born, the parents did not relinquish him to the Nazis  though the boy was to perish two months later from pneumonia. This, Eva claimed, was the reason why she is alive, for if her mother had been deported to Auschwitz with a child in her arms, she would have been killed immediately.

In 1944, Evas father was deported, and days later her mother volunteered to follow him  though she would never see him again. Much later, she learnt from eyewitnesses that he had been shot on a death march on 18th January 1945; just days before the camp was liberated. Evas mother was put to work in a different area of Auschwitz; sleeping in small huts which often housed up to 1000 prisoners, and at first bewildered by her new environment and the separation from her family. In Auschwitz, she would realise she was pregnant again.

Eva described the daily Appell (roll call) that her mother suffered here; describing the term as a mild sort of word, but detailing with no hesitation the desperation and exhaustion of those standing still for hours on end, until prisoner figures tallied. On one such roll call, her mother recognised Dr Mengele, who had quipped that the Nazis had very good material in front of them.

Her mother was then sent to Freiberg to work, where she became more and more starved and more and more obviously pregnant. But here, she and other prisoners had hope: the onset of the Dresden raids signalled the Allies triumphs; though the prisoners recognised the raids could easily kill them, too. Years after the war, Eva would introduce her father-in-law, who had been in the RAF, to her mother to share stories of their wartime experiences; his raids had targeted Dresden, and he was devastated to realise he could have caused her death.

But Evas mother persisted, even as her pregnancy reached its final stages and her weight dropped to five stone. As the Allies began to sweep across Europe, the remaining prisoners were packed up and carted away to less threatened territory; Evas mother was sent on an open-air train to Mauthausen; a journey which lasted 17 days. The train would stop at intervals to dispose of the prisoners who had perished en route; on one occasion, Evas mother, who by now looked like a scarcely living pregnant skeleton, caught the eye of a local farmer, who offered her a glass of milk. A Nazi nearby almost stopped this exchange, but eventually allowed her the drink; a choice Evas mother felt saved her life. As she would question later, such a decision may have been down to compassion, or simply fear; but what mattered was that she lived.

But, when the train eventually pulled into Mauthausen, a camp already notorious to her mother, the shock induced her labour; a Nazi in the camp stating brusquely that she could carry on screaming as she hauled herself from the train. Feeling as if she was near death, her mother eventually gave birth to Eva  whereupon a prisoner, who was also a doctor, was allowed to tend to her and her daughter; who weighed three pounds at birth.

Her mother believed there were three reasons behind her survival at this stage: that, on 28th April, the Nazis had run out of gas; that Hitler committed suicide on 30th April; and that the Americans arrived to liberate the camp a few days later. Eva and her mother had arrived at just the right time; the food the Americans brought nourishing their appetites and enabling a swift physical recovery. Eva noted, however, that some were not so lucky; many in the camp ate the Americans food too fast for their bodies to cope, and died even at this moment of liberation  though Eva hoped they at least knew they were free as they perished.

For mother and daughter, the opportunity soon came to be repatriated to Prague; though her mother experienced her worst moment of the war upon her night time arrival back in her home city, as she realised all she had lost. She did not know if any of her family had survived. But an aunt had and, surprisingly, already knew her niece now had a daughter. They met, and lived together for three years, before a move to Cardiff to start a new life. It was down to the early closure about her husbands death that Evas mother was able to move forward; she met and married an old family friend, who would bring Eva up as his daughter, and the trio moved to England.

It was in these last stages of the talk that Eva herself became emotional, commenting that her mother was grateful to have survived and helped new relatives blossom, as she displayed a happy recent family photograph of four generations. She explained that she told her mothers story because of the need to remember individual accounts and learn lessons for the future; but, on a more personal level, Eva appeared to want to keep the memories of her family alive most of all. She mentioned that she had almost always known her mothers story; growing up with gradual snippets of her history and Jewish culture, which she explained made her into a mongrel  and it was this, it seemed, that imbued Eva with the skill to communicate such lessons to a variety of audiences.

Though she knew testimonies would help teach communities to fight for what is right, and preserve democracy, arguing that the only weapon we have is education, Eva stressed the individuality of her account; explaining that, if she ever met Hitler, she would only be able to say one word, why?, to him. She wanted to speak about her own history to teach others  not just to save the world, but also to save her past; as her mother had always said, she was glad the familys story was being told, as then more people would know of the relatives she had lost.

Eva was not a figure trying to fix humanity: whilst she encouraged her audience to respect one another, she later told me that she did not know if recounting her familys testimony would have an impact on any audience, though, as she pointed out, this was not a reason not to try. More than anything, Eva was promoting the voice of the individual, arguing that even Nazis found guilty of war crimes should talk about their experiences, rather than being muted in cells. Indeed, her last message was an encouragement to speak: not merely to speak out about what is right, but also to ask questions to families about their heritage, and learn more about where your own voice is from. The past, after all, forms the future.

And in her determined inspiration to sustain all the voices of humanity for the future, Eva proved that she was, truly, her mothers child.
"Since their arrival in the Venezuelan sovereign airspace, the outstanding pilots of the Bolivarian Military Aviation greeted and escorted the victorious Paralympic delegation,"... | Read More
Nutson's Weekly Automotive News Digest Jan 22-28, 2018: Collector Auction Results; FCA Ford Sales Showdown; Self-Driving Happenings; Driving Peaked? Rolex 24; Ford Buying Tech Companies







AUTO CENTRAL CHICAGO, January 28, 2018; Every Sunday Larry Nutson, Senior Editor and Chicago Car Guy along with fellow senior editors Steve Purdy and Thom Cannell from The Auto Channel Michigan Bureau, give you TACH's "take" on this past week's automotive news in easy to "catch up" news nuggets. For More search the past 25 year's millions of (Indexed By Google) pages of automotive news, automotive stories, articles, reviews, archived news residing in The Auto Channel Automotive News Library.

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Nutson's Weekly Automotive News Nuggets - January 22-28, 2018;

* The annual classic and collector car auctions in Scottsdale wrapped up last week posting sales slightly down from last year. Seven major companies present sales here with totals of around $247.8 million, according to Hagerty Insurance who keeps close track of both auction and individual sales. According to a story in AutoWeek, the strength of the market is now in the mid- to low-end rather than the high-priced exotics and classics. Top selling individual car was a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Special Coupe that went for just over $8 million.

* Two of the most iconic American performance cars, a current generation Ford GT and the recently unveiled 2019 Mustang BULLITT, raised a total of $2.85 million for charity during the 47th Annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction. A 2017 Ford GT that was donated by businessman Ron Pratte to the Evernham Family-Racing for a Reason Foundation, sold for $2.5 million to benefit Autism Society of North Carolina. Ford and the McQueen estate donated VIN 001 of the limited-edition Mustang BULLITT, with 100 percent of the $300,000 hammer price benefiting Boys Republic.

* Automakers will share center stage with other major advertisers as they present a new round of ads during the Super Bowl on February 4th. Kia will feature racing legend Emerson Fittapaldi pitching the Kia Stinger sport sedan. The company released a teaser for the ad while keeping secret other celebs in the commercial. Also, Lexus will taut the new LS 500 with a spot based on Marvel's new superhero film Black Panther that features the F-Sport version of the LS 500.

* FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne told a group of analysts this week he expects that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles may outperform Ford this year. FCA has struggled to make money for years barely avoiding a bankruptcy during the Great Recession of 2009/2010. A substantially improved position in the North American market is also expected to result in profit-sharing checks of $5,500 for FCAs UAW-represented workers. Marchionne is preparing to retire after putting the company on a firm financial footing.

* Ford announced this week the acquisition of two technology companies and the reorganization of this mobility business to increase the pace of innovation. The company is acquiring software developer TransLoc and Autonomic, a Silicon Valley architecture and transportation solutions company. Ford announced some years ago that it would no longer be a car company, rather it would be a mobility company. This reorganization fits into that philosophy.

* Ride-share company Lyft has released an economic impact report for 2017, and it makes some bold claims. Most notably, Lyft says that nearly 250,000 of its customers gave up owning a car because of ride-share availability. Fifty percent of Lyft users say they have used their car less as a result of the service, while fully one quarter of users agree with the statement that personal ownership of vehicles isnt very important.

* It has worked in such cities as London, Stockholm and Singapore. As proposed for New York City by Governor Cuomos panel, "Fix NYC," car drivers would be charged $11.52 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street during weekday business hours. That figure is equivalent to existing E-ZPass round-trip fees on tolled East River crossings. Trucks would pay $25.34. Taxis and app-based services like Uber and Lyft (causes of many traffic headaches) would have per-ride surcharges of $2 to $5.

* A brand new report from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute by Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle examines "Has motorization in the U.S. peaked? Part 10: Vehicle ownership and distance driven, 1984 to 2016." The main findings are: (1) The vehicle-ownership rates per person and per household both reached their maxima in 2006. The two rates for 2016 are down, on average, 3.3% from their maxima, although they have rebounded, on average, 2.6% from the post-maximum minima reached in 2012 and 2013. (2) The distance-driven rates per person and per household both reached their maxima in 2004. The two rates for 2016 are down, on average, 6.2% from their maxima, although they have rebounded, on average, 3.9% from the post-maximum minima reached in 2013.

* American drivers are more willing to embrace self-driving vehicles, according to a new study from AAA. The annual survey reveals that 63 percent of U.S. drivers report feeling afraid to ride in a fully self-driving vehicle, a significant decrease from 78 percent in early 2017. Millennial and male drivers are the most trusting of autonomous technologies, with only half reporting they would be afraid to ride in a self-driving car. Conversely, (Editorial comment: and perhaps the most telling) the concept of sharing the road with a fully self-driving vehicle is still something that drivers are leery of. In AAA's survey, only 13 percent of U.S. drivers report that they would feel safer sharing the road with a self-driving vehicle while nearly half (46 percent) would actually feel less safe.

* A Tesla Model S driving in semi-autonomous mode has been in another accident when it crashed into the back of a fire truck in California. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board immediately dispatched investigators to see if Teslas Autopilot system was to blame. While crashes using this semi-autonomous mode are rare they get intense scrutiny. Tesla has been accused of overstating the capabilities of the Autopilot system.

* A California motorcyclist has filed a lawsuit against General Motors, accusing one of the manufacturers robot-operated vehicles of negligent driving. The suit is one of the first involving an autonomous vehicle. The motorcyclist claims he was traveling down a San Francisco street at about 15 mph last month when a Cruise AV aborted a lane change and swerved back into his lane. The car struck him, knocking him to the ground, and injuring him. A police report at the scene blamed the motorcyclist. A backup driver was behind the wheel.

* The 2018 motorsports season kicked off this weekend with the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Fernando Alonso, the two-time Formula One champion is moonlighting in the Rolex 24. Hello Castroneves is making his first Rolex 24 start since 2009, the last time team owner Roger Penske fielded a car in the race. Next up will be the NASCAR Daytona 500 on Feb 18 and the first IndyCar race is in St. Petersburg, Florida on March 11.
2 Women, 3 Men Shot Dead at Pennsylvania Car Wash

Police in Pennsylvania say that five people were shot and killed at a car wash on Sunday morning in Melcroft, according to reports.

The shooting took place at Eds Car Wash in the city, located about 50 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, WPXI reported.

The station reported that the shooting took place at around 3 a.m. local time.

Police confirmed that two females and three males were killed.

One person was rushed to a nearby hospital. That persons condition is unknown, police said, according to Triblive.

According to a Fayette County 911 dispatcher, Pennsylvania state police and emergency medical services responded to the scene at 2:45 a.m. Indian Creek Valley Road, Triblive reported.

The suspected gunman has not yet been identified. But WPXI reported that the alleged gunman might be among those who were killed.

Police said there is currently no threat to the outlying community.

State police now report 5th shooting victim has died at hospital No word on suspect however State Police says "there is no immediate threat to the public."  Ross Guidotti (@RossGuidotti) January 28, 2018

BREAKING: Mass shooting at Fayette County car washat least 5 dead. https://t.co/HJ6TugvQRv  Courtney Brennan (@WPXI_Courtney) January 28, 2018

Photos taken at the scene show a number of police and police cars around the car wash.

A motive for the shooting has not yet been released to media outlets.

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Detroit Police Officer Glenn Doss Dies After Hes Shot in the Head

A Detroit police officer who was shot in the head on the citys east side several days ago has died, it was reported.

Doss was shot two times while he was in the passenger seat of his squad car, ClickOnDetroit reported. Another Detroit squad car was hit by bullets in the incident as well, but no other officers were hit.

The suspect, Decharlos Brooks, was standing outside a home with a gun. Police said that he took a stance and opened fire before barricading himself inside a home, the report said.

Update Detroit Police Officer Glenn Doss 25, succumbs to his am injuries and Passes away.

Officer Doss Your life mattered#Blueslivesmatter pic.twitter.com/fQ4rWJrumw  John LaDelfa (@john_ladelfa) January 28, 2018

Brooks was later captured after police threw tear gas canisters into the home.

Its somber, weve had too many losses in our department. Weve had too many injured officers, said Detroit Police assistant chief Arnold Williams, according to the report, which also noted that Doss had a 9-month-old son.

He added, Its hard. Its a hard job, and were doing it for the community. Sometimes, people lose that perspective.

He fought a good fight. He is truly what we call one of Detroits finest. He is what we call an American hero. He did what we expect each and every officer to do: To go out and serve this community with distinction and honor. And he did that, Police chief James Craig told the Detroit News.

The report said that he died at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Hero Down: Blue Lives Matter Confirms Death Of Detroit Officer Glenn Doss. Rest in peace, Hero. We have the watch from here. #BlueLivesMatter #BackTheBlue

Full Story: https://t.co/ddtCr8hGfA pic.twitter.com/9wfkdECHpR  Blue Lives Matter (@bluelivesmtr) January 28, 2018

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said that police officers face danger in Detroit. Theres never been a time its been more dangerous to be a Detroit police officer, Duggan said of the past 18 months, adding that there has been more shootings of officers than I can ever remember.

The family of the shooter said that he suffers from mental problems.

We have tried to get help for him, Nichol Cummings, the shooters sister-in-law, told ClickOnDetroit. We dont know what happened last night.

Cummings said that he was acting strangely toward her sister and their children.

She said she is really scared, something is not right with him, Cummings said. Hes got a gun.'

A GoFundMe page set up for the family of Doss noted that Glenn chose a career serving the community because his willingness to help others was evident in everything he did.

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Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates winning the final against Croatia's Marin Cilic at the Australian Open Men's singles final, Melbourne, Australia, on January 28, 2018. (Reuters/Issei Kato)

Federer Fights Off Cilic to Win Sixth Australian Open Title

MELBOURNE (Reuters)  Roger Federer fought off a fierce challenge from Croatias Marin Cilic to claim a record-equaling sixth Australian Open title with 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3 3-6 6-1 victory on Sunday.

With the Rod Laver Arena roof closed to spare the players on a witheringly hot day in Melbourne, the 36-year-old Swiss was gliding towards a 20th grand slam title when he took the opening set against a nervy opponent in 24 minutes.

For a while it looked horribly reminiscent of Cilics heavy defeat by Federer in last years Wimbledon final when the 29-year-old was hampered by blisters and broke down in tears.

But the sixth seed, playing in his first Australian Open final after knocking out injured world number Rafael Nadal in the quarters, showed great resolve.

He saved break points at 1-1, 2-2 and 4-4 in the second set before crunching some huge forehands in the tiebreaker to level the match against all the odds.

Federer won the third set with a single break of serve but from a position of strength in the fourth he began to fade and lost five games on the spin as an increasingly dangerous Cilic dragged a slow-burning final into a decider.

Defending champion Federer regrouped though and after fighting off a break point at the start of the fifth, Cilics resistance crumbled as the crowd roared Federer on to victory.

Im so happy , its unbelievable, its been a long day, Federer said. Im happy its over now. The fairytale continues for us, for me, its incredible, said an emotional Federer as he cradled the Norman Brookes trophy.

Reporting by Martyn Herman
Florida Mayor Removed From Office, Faces Corruption Charges

A Florida Democratic mayor was removed from office Friday and was charged with corruption charges.

Gov. Rick Scott said he suspended Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper one day after her arrest on three charges, ABC affiliate Local10 reported. She faces charges of money laundering, official misconduct, and exceeding limits on campaign contributions.

Cooper, 57, also faces charges with soliciting of contributions in a government building, which is a first-degree misdemeanor offense.

Joy Cooper is prohibited from performing any official act, duty or function of public office; from receiving any pay or allowance; and from being entitled to any of the emoluments or privileges of public office during the period of this suspension, the governors order said.

Gov. Rick Scott suspends Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper after her arrest on 3 felony charges https://t.co/VzREJ4s1IW pic.twitter.com/iLYIpsq0kd  WPLG Local 10 News (@WPLGLocal10) January 26, 2018

Namely, Cooper is accused of accepting illegal campaign contributions via former attorney Alan Koslow, according to the Sun-Sentinel. In one incident, Koslow was handed a Dunkin Donuts bag filled with $8,000 in cash by undercover agents in August of 2012, court documents have alleged.

Koslow allegedly told undercover agents that he had the vote of the mayor and could influence the city commission, the paper reported.

Agents met with him and Cooper over several months in 2012 and recorded their meetings. Koslow didnt become aware that the undercover FBI agents were just that until August 2013 when they confronted him in a hotel room in Fort Lauderdale, according to the paper.

Alan Koslow showed Mayor Cooper a number representing a proposed contribution and asked her if it was a good number. She replied No. Add a zero. Koslow confirmed Three zeros, is that fine? and Mayor Cooper replied Yes, according to an arrest document.

Local10 reported that an undercover agent once met with Cooper at the Flashback Diner and said the contributions to Coopers campaign would be via checks with a bunch of Russian names on them. Koslow then told an agent that he handed Cooper 20 checks at a Hallandale Beach Chamber of Commerce fashion show.

Coopers attorney, Larry Davis, told Local10 that the states attorneys office made a mistake for relying on Koslows testimony, while pointing out that he was sentenced to one year in federal prison. Cooper was out of jail on Thursday night, and she said shell vigorously fight the against allegations.

In a statement, she also said that I have dedicated my time and energy to focus on performing all of my duties with utmost integrity.

My mom will be vindicated, Im sure, Coopers son also told Local10.

Koslow said in a sworn statement in November of last year that said he participated in the events that were listed in the arrest affidavit, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

Vice Mayor Keith London will now serve as the acting mayor of Hallandale Beach.

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A Malian Armed Forces patch worn by a soldier is pictured during the regional anti-insurgent Operation Barkhane in Tin Hama, Mali, Oct. 19, 2017. (Reuters/Benoit Tessier/File Photo)

Jihadists Kill at Least 14 Mali Soldiers in Attack on Army Camp

BAMAKOMalis President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on Saturday said his people would not be frightened by barbaric attacks after unidentified gunmen killed at least 14 soldiers in a pre-dawn assault on a military camp.

West Africas arid Sahel region is suffering a spike in violence by militant groups, some with links to al Qaeda and ISIS, that is drawing an increasingly aggressive response from countries including France and the United States.

A group of around 30 heavily armed fighters attacked the military camp in Soumpi, located in the center of the country near the southern boundary of Malis Timbuktu region, according to an army statement read on state radio.

It said 14 soldiers were killed and 15 others were wounded, adding that 17 of the attackers had been killed in the battle.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

The soldiers abandoned their position. The enemy carried away material, said one army officer, who said the camp had been overrun and asked not to be named as they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Islamic fighters seized control of Malis northern desert regions in 2012 before being driven back by a French-led intervention a year later.

But despite the presence of a U.N. peacekeeping mission and troops operating under a regional French anti-militant mission, violence is again on the rise and attacks are spreading further south toward the capital, Bamako.

These barbaric attacks will not scare us. On the contrary, they reinforce our determination to fight against the terrorists, President Keita said, speaking in the central Mali village of Boni where 26 people were killed on Thursday.

Those victims were traveling from neighboring Burkina Faso in a civilian passenger vehicle when it struck a landmine.

In a separate incident on the same day in the nearby town of Youwarou, the Malian military said its forces repelled an attack by suspected Islamic fighters.

Mali and its western neighbor Senegal plan to deploy 1,000 troops soon in an operation to pacify central Mali and contain jihadists who had previously been confined to its Saharan expanses in the north.

But analysts doubt they will be able to do so purely through military means. The Islamic fighters exploit the grievances of Fulani cattle herders and their disputes with local farmers over access to grazing lands.

The governments periodic crackdowns on suspected jihadists have therefore tended to target the Fulani, driving some of them into the arms of the armed groups.

By Adama Diarra

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Trump Hits Back at Jay Zs Comments on Unemployment

President Donald Trump slammed Jay Z on Sunday after the Brooklyn-born rapper made accusations against him on CNN.

Somebody please inform Jay-Z that because of my policies, Black Unemployment has just been reported to be at the LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED! Trump tweeted on Sunday morning.

Somebody please inform Jay-Z that because of my policies, Black Unemployment has just been reported to be at the LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2018

In a CNN interview, Jay Z questioned Trumps claims about creating jobs for African-Americans.

The 48-year-old rapper also said about Trump: It is disappointing and its hurtful. It really is hurtful, more than so  everyone feels anger but after the anger, its real hurtful.

Jay Zknown for hits like Big Pimpin' and Dead Presidents and who was a frequent visitor to the Obama White Housemade the comments on CNNs Van Jones show.

Because its not about money at the end of the day, Jay Z said in an attempt to explain himself about the economy. Money is not  money doesnt equate to happiness. It doesnt. Thats missing the whole point. You treat people like human beings, then  thats the main point.

Later, on Sunday, Trump wrote more about the economy.

Our economy is better than it has been in many decades. Businesses are coming back to America like never before. Chrysler, as an example, is leaving Mexico and coming back to the USA. Unemployment is nearing record lows. We are on the right track!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2018

Our economy is better than it has been in many decades. Businesses are coming back to America like never before. Chrysler, as an example, is leaving Mexico and coming back to the USA. Unemployment is nearing record lows. We are on the right track! he tweeted.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for African-Americans in the United States was at 6.8 percent as of December 2017, which is the lowest since the bureau began crunching the numbers by race in 1972.

The unemployment rate among African-Americans was 16.4 percent in August 2011.

In January of last year, the unemployment rate was 7.8 percent, the New York Post reported.

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BT Group plc provides communications services worldwide. Its Consumer segment sells telephones, baby monitors, and Wi-Fi extenders through high street retailers, online BT Shop, and Website BT.com; and offers home phone, copper and fiber broadband, TV, and mobile services in various packages. The company's EE segment offers 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile network services; broadband, fixed-voice, and TV services; and postpaid and prepaid plans, and emergency services network. This segment also sells 4G mobile phones, tablets, connected devices, and mobile broadband devices from various manufacturers. Its Business and Public Sector segment provides fixed voice, mobility, fiber and connectivity, and networked IT services to retailers, utilities, public sector, healthcare, sports, construction, finance, and educational sectors. The company's Global Services segment offers business communications and ICT services comprising BT Connect, BT Security, BT One, BT Contact, BT Compute, BT Advise, and BT for financial markets. This segment serves approximately 5,500 customers in 180 countries. Its Wholesale and Ventures segment enables communications providers and other organizations to provide fixed or mobile phone services. Its ventures provide mass-market services, such as directory enquiries and payphones; and enterprise services comprising BT Fleet and BT Redcare. This segment also provides broadband and Ethernet, voice, hosted communication, mobile virtual network operator, managed solutions, machine-to-machine, roaming, and media services. The company's Openreach segment engages in the provision of services over the local access network; and installation and maintenance of fiber and copper communications networks that connect homes and businesses. The company was formerly known as Newgate Telecommunications Limited and changed its name to BT Group plc in September 2001. BT Group plc was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Sanofi: A. Nattermann & Cie. GmbH, AO Sanofi Russia, Ablynx, Ablynx N.V., Allston Landing Limited Partnership, Aventis Inc., Aventis Pharma (Manufacturing) Pte. Ltd, Aventis Pharma Limited, Aventis Pharma S.A., Aventis S.A., Aventisub LLC, Bioverativ, Bioverativ Inc., Bioverativ Therapeutics Inc., Bioverativ U.S.LLC, Carraig Insurance DAC, Chattem Inc., Chinoin Private Co. Ltd, Francopia, Genfar S.A., Genzyme Corporation, Genzyme Europe B.V., Genzyme Flanders BVBA, Genzyme Global Sarl, Genzyme Ireland Limited, Genzyme Limited, Genzyme Polyclonals SAS, Genzyme Therapeutic Products Limited Partnership, Genzyme Therapeutics Limited, Genzyme de Argentina S.A., Hoechst GmbH, Kiadis Pharma, Limited Liability Company Sanofi-Aventis Ukraine, PT Aventis Pharma, Principia BioPharma, SSP Co. Ltd, Sanofi (Beijing) Pharmaceuticals Co.Ltd, Sanofi (China) Investment Co. Ltd, Sanofi (Hangzhou) Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd, Sanofi A/S, Sanofi AB, Sanofi Arabia Trading Company Limited, Sanofi Aventis NA Holding Inc., Sanofi Belgium, Sanofi Biotechnology, Sanofi Chimie, Sanofi Egypt, Sanofi Finance Ireland limited, Sanofi Foreign Participations B.V., Sanofi Healthcare India Private Limited, Sanofi Ilac Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., Sanofi India Limited, Sanofi K.K., Sanofi Mature IP, Sanofi Medley Farmaceutica Ltda, Sanofi Nichi-Iko K.K., Sanofi Oy, Sanofi Pasteur, Sanofi Pasteur Asi Ticaret A.S., Sanofi Pasteur Biologies Co. Ltd, Sanofi Pasteur Europe, Sanofi Pasteur Inc., Sanofi Pasteur India Private Ltd, Sanofi Pasteur Limited, Sanofi Pasteur Ltd, Sanofi Pasteur NVL, Sanofi Pasteur S.A. de C.V., Sanofi Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda, Sanofi Romania SRL, Sanofi S.p.A., Sanofi Saglik Urunleri Limited Sirketi, Sanofi Taiwan Co. Ltd, Sanofi US Corporation, Sanofi US Services Inc., Sanofi Vaccine Technologies, Sanofi Winthrop Industrie, Sanofi-Aventis (Malaysia) SDN. BHD., Sanofi-Aventis (Suisse) SA, Sanofi-Aventis (Thailand) Ltd, Sanofi-Aventis A.E.B.E., Sanofi-Aventis Algerie, Sanofi-Aventis Argentina S.A., Sanofi-Aventis Australia Pty Ltd, Sanofi-Aventis Canada Inc., Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Sanofi-Aventis France, Sanofi-Aventis GmbH, Sanofi-Aventis Groupe, Sanofi-Aventis Gulf FZE, Sanofi-Aventis Healthcare Pty Ltd, Sanofi-Aventis Hong-Kong Limited, Sanofi-Aventis Ireland Ltd, Sanofi-Aventis Israel Ltd, Sanofi-Aventis Korea Co. Ltd, Sanofi-Aventis Liban s.a.l., Sanofi-Aventis Maroc, Sanofi-Aventis Netherlands B.V., Sanofi-Aventis Norge AS, Sanofi-Aventis Pakistan Limited, Sanofi-Aventis Participations, Sanofi-Aventis Philippines Inc., Sanofi-Aventis Private Co Ltd, Sanofi-Aventis Recherche & Developpement, Sanofi-Aventis S.A., Sanofi-Aventis Singapore Pte. Ltd, Sanofi-Aventis South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Sanofi-Aventis Sp. z.o.o., Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC, Sanofi-Aventis UK Holdings Limited, Sanofi-Aventis Winthrop S.A. de C.V., Sanofi-Aventis de Colombia S.A., Sanofi-Aventis de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Sanofi-Aventis de Panama S.A., Sanofi-Aventis de Venezuela S.A., Sanofi-Aventis del Ecuador S.A., Sanofi-Aventis del Peru S.A., Sanofi-Aventis s.r.o., Sanofi-Synthelabo (India) Private Ltd, Sanofi-aventis Vietnam Company Limited, Shenzhen Sanofi pasteur Biological Products Co Ltd, Synthorx, VaxServe Inc., sanofi-aventis Puerto Rico Inc, and sanofi-aventis Slovakia s.r.o..
The following companies are subsidiares of D.R. Horton: 10700 Pecan Park Austin Inc., 11241 Slater Avenue NE LLC, 2 C Development Company LLC, 8800 Roswell Road Bldg. B LLC, 91st Avenue & Happy Valley L.L.C., ANN & 215 LLC, Austin Data Inc., BP456 Inc., C. Richard Dobson Builders Inc., CH Funding LLC, CH Investments of Texas Inc., CHI Construction Company, CHM Partners L.P., CHTEX of Texas Inc., CV Mountain View 25 Inv LLC, Cane Island LLC, Continental Homes Inc., Continental Homes of Texas L.P., Continental Residential Inc., Continental Traditions LLC, Crown Operating Company Inc., Cypress Road L.P., D.R. Horton - CHAustin LLC, D.R. Horton - Colorado LLC, D.R. Horton - Crown LLC, D.R. Horton - Emerald Ltd., D.R. Horton - Georgia LLC, D.R. Horton - Hawaii LLC, D.R. Horton - Highland LLC, D.R. Horton - Indiana LLC, D.R. Horton - Iowa LLC, D.R. Horton - MV LLC, D.R. Horton - Nebraska LLC, D.R. Horton - Permian LLC, D.R. Horton - Regent LLC, D.R. Horton - Terramor LLC, D.R. Horton - Texas Ltd., D.R. Horton - WPH LLC, D.R. Horton - Wyoming LLC, D.R. Horton BAY Inc., D.R. Horton CA2 Inc., D.R. Horton CA3 Inc., D.R. Horton CA4 LLC, D.R. Horton Commercial Inc., D.R. Horton Cruces Construction Inc., D.R. Horton Inc. - Birmingham, D.R. Horton Inc. - Chicago, D.R. Horton Inc. - Denver, D.R. Horton Inc. - Dietz-Crane, D.R. Horton Inc. - Greensboro, D.R. Horton Inc. - Gulf Coast, D.R. Horton Inc. - Huntsville, D.R. Horton Inc. - Jacksonville, D.R. Horton Inc. - Louisville, D.R. Horton Inc. - Midwest, D.R. Horton Inc. - Minnesota, D.R. Horton Inc. - NNV, D.R. Horton Inc. - New Jersey, D.R. Horton Inc. - Portland, D.R. Horton Inc. - Torrey, D.R. Horton Inc. Foundation, D.R. Horton Insurance Agency Inc., D.R. Horton LA North Inc., D.R. Horton Life Insurance Agency Inc., D.R. Horton Los Angeles Holding Company Inc., D.R. Horton Management Company Ltd., D.R. Horton Materials Inc., D.R. Horton Realty LLC, D.R. Horton Realty of Atlantic County LLC, D.R. Horton Realty of Central Florida LLC, D.R. Horton Realty of Delaware LLC, D.R. Horton Realty of Georgia Inc., D.R. Horton Realty of Melbourne LLC, D.R. Horton Realty of Northwest Florida LLC, D.R. Horton Realty of Southeast Florida LLC, D.R. Horton Realty of Southwest Florida LLC, D.R. Horton Realty of Tampa LLC, D.R. Horton Realty of Virginia LLC, D.R. Horton Seabridge Marina Inc., D.R. Horton Serenity Construction LLC, D.R. Horton Urban Renewal LLC, D.R. Horton VEN Inc., D.R. 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 Another look at trend to prosecute some opioid overdose deaths as homicides | Main | Remarkable Utah Supreme Court opinions debating due process rights (and originalism) in parole decision-making 

The title of this post is the headline of this extended article authored by C.J. Ciaramella and Lauren Krisai published in the January 2018 issue of Reason magazine. The full article merits a full read, and here is just a snippet of the important work in this piece:

Drug-free school zone laws are rarely if ever used to prosecute sales of drugs to minors. Such cases are largely a figment of our popular imagination  a lingering hangover from the drug war hysteria of the 1980s. Yet state legislatures have made the designated zones both larger and more numerous, to the point where they can blanket whole towns. In the process, they have turned minor drug offenses into lengthy prison sentences almost anywhere they occur.

In some cases, police have set up controlled drug buys inside school zones to secure harsher sentences. That gives prosecutors immense leverage to squeeze plea deals out of defendants with the threat of long mandatory minimum sentences.

In recent years, this approach has begun to trouble some state lawmakers, and even some prosecutors are growing uncomfortable with the enormous power  and in some cases, the obligation  they have been handed to lock away minor drug offenders. Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk ran for office in 2014 on a platform that included not prosecuting school zone violations except in cases that actually involve children. He says almost every single drug case referred to his office falls within a drug-free zone.

He's right. Data obtained from the Tennessee government show there are 8,544 separate drug-free school zones covering roughly 5.5 percent of the state's total land area. Within cities, however, the figures are much higher. More than 27 percent in Nashville and more than 38 percent in Memphis are covered by such zones. They apply day and night, whether or not children are present, and it's often impossible to know you're in one.

For a drug offender charged with possession of under half a gram of cocaine with intent to distribute, a few hundred feet can mean the difference between probation vs. eight years of hard time behind bars. "In places like Nashville, almost the entire city is a drug-free zone," Funk says. "Every church has day care, and they are a part of drug-free zones. Also, public parks and seven or eight other places are included in this classification. And almost everybody who has driven a car has driven through a school zone. What we had essentially done, unwittingly, was increased drug penalties to equal murder penalties without having any real basis for protecting kids while they're in school."...

States created drug-free school zones thinking that the threat of draconian prison sentences would keep dealers away from schools. But the very size of these zones undercuts that premise. If a whole city is a drug-free zone, then the designation has no targeted deterrent effect. In practice, it exists to put more people in prison for longer periods of time, not to keep children safe.

"Drug-free school zone laws show how good intentions can go horribly wrong," says Kevin Ring, president of the advocacy group Families Against Mandatory Minimums. "Adult offenders who aren't selling drugs to or even near kids are getting hammered with long sentences. Most don't even know they are in a school zone. These laws aren't tough on crime. They're just dumb."

By covering wide swaths of densely populated areas in drug-free zones, states end up hitting low-level and first-time drug offenders with sentences usually reserved for violent crimes. Tennessee's drug-free school zone laws bump up drug felonies by a level and eliminate the possibility of an early release. For example, a first-time drug offender found guilty of a Class C felony for possession with intent to distribute of less than half a gram of cocaine  which carries a maximum six-year sentence  instead receives a Class B felony with a mandatory minimum sentence of eight years.

These penalties are zealously applied. Knoxville criminal defense attorney Forrest Wallace says that one of his clients received an enhanced drug sentence for merely walking through a school zone that bisected the parking lot of his apartment complex on his way to meet the informant who had set him up. The client received a normal sentence for the sale of the cocaine, but an enhanced charge of possession with intent to distribute for passing through the school zone. "If they can prove it's in a zone, you know they're going to charge it," Wallace says. "That's just the way it is."

Undercover cops and confidential informants sometimes go to extra lengths to get these enhanced sentences. David Raybin, a Nashville criminal defense attorney, says that police informants often purposely set up deals in school zones, a practice that has led to accusations of entrapment from defendants and rebukes from judges dismayed by the practice. "The police will frequently have people sell drugs in a school zone so they can enhance them," Raybin says. "The only cases that I'm aware of involving dealing drugs on or in a school are always kids selling to other kids. Usually in those cases, you don't want them getting a two-year mandatory minimum. It's just totally in appropriate."
Dark Heart

Written by Genevieve Adam, directed by Tyler J. Seguin. Until February 11 at Assembly Theatre, 1479 Queen St. W. Thought4food.ca.

Genevieve Adams Dark Heart is a sexy thriller set in 17th-century New France depicting interactions between settler and Indigenous communities. Thats a complex mix and one that Adam accomplishes ably, aided by a taut and thoughtful production by Tyler J. Seguin for the indie company Thought for Food.

The century after colonial contact is a fascination for Adam; Dark Heart is the prequel to Deceitful Above All Things, which premiered at the 2015 SummerWorks Festival, and is part of a planned New France Trilogy.

Dark Heart opens with the soldier Amable Bilodeau (Michael Iliadis) stumbling into an intrigue-filled community when he rescues the Metis fur trader Toussaint Langlois (Garret C. Smith, who is Blackfoot from the Peigan and Kainai Tribes in Alberta) from drowning in a river. Seguins staging of the plays first moment  the two men spitting out water explosively to a well-timed lighting cue (design by Imogen Wilson)  sets up a cracking pace which continues throughout the 80-minute running time.

Adam has written seven rich characters who all have a lot at stake and whose lives are revealed to be intertwined in fascinating and often quite unexpected ways. I found my allegiances shifting as character and plot points were revealed, and this seemed to mirror the experiences of the characters  always on their guard, discovering how foolish it is to trust appearances.

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Trusting Toussaint leaves Amable without his musket and sporting a head wound that lands him in the rustic cabin of Lizzie Ramezay, the local bone-setter (unlicensed doctor) who, we find out, does a sideline in backwoods abortions. This is a humdinger of a role  independent, clever, necessarily pragmatic, and unapologetically lusty  that the playwright Adam takes on herself with effective relish.

At a moment when questions of stage intimacy are in the spotlight, it is notable how well this production handles its numerous embraces and caresses (intimacy and fight direction is by Siobhan Richardson and Jade Elliott McRae). These moments add to the plays depiction of a treacherous environment in which women are scarce  therefore endangered, but also powerful  and carnal pleasure offers respite from hardship and uncertainty.

Another strand of the story concerns Dr. Joseph Sarrazin (John Fitzgerald Jay), who runs the local hospital with the help of the nurse Sister Marie (Brianne Tucker, who is Metis). Their first scene together expertly packs in a lot of exposition and is an entertaining match of wits. Joseph takes heat from the landowner Louis de Lamothe (Paul Rivers) when he discovers that his wife Madeleine (Audrey Clairman), who he had committed to the hospital, has escaped.

But is the problem mental illness or Madeleines rumoured affair with an Indigenous man? In what ways is Sister Marie implicated in her story? How do female solidarity  and other motivations  entangle Lizzie in Madeleines flight?

These intrigues unfurl with the pace and aplomb of a good old-fashioned bodice-ripper (and there are a lot of knowing laughs along the way), but the integration of the theme of shape-shifting takes the play to a higher level of ambition. Largely through Josephs monologues, we hear rumours of loups-garous  werewolves disguised as good Christians who are attacking people and drinking their blood.

Toussaint is said by other characters to be a Bearwalker  an Indigenous shape-shifter  and his elusiveness may be his strategy to avoid such classification by those outside his culture, or perhaps proof of it. Adam spins out the theme of identity hidden under a disguise  be it human form or perhaps the clothing that covers it  into a dense and satisfying climax.

Adam originally titled this play Bearwalker but changed this after conversations with members of Indigenous communities who commented that the title could be a barrier to engagement because of its implications of dark magic. The cast offer this behind-the-scenes story as part of a prologue that also includes the land acknowledgement which is now a familiar feature of theatre performances in Toronto.

Nancy Anne Perrins lovely set design turns the low-ceilinged Assembly Theatre into a birch forest, and her leather and linen costumes convincingly suggest the historical period. Sound design by Alex Eddington contributes to the evocation of the natural environment.

Attempts at projections through a stretched hide screen dont quite work because the images are hard to make out, and there was a surprising lack of stage blood for a play in which spilling blood and cleaning it up features so frequently.

While the actors do not uniformly seem to match the age of their character to sometimes distracting effect, they speak and embody their roles with impressive skill and conviction.

Its this kind of smart and sophisticated work that keeps Torontos indie theatre scene vital. I look forward to the final play in this Trilogy.
SASKATOONSaskatchewans next premier says his province needs to maintain a working relationship with the federal government despite their differences over the imposition of a carbon tax.

Former environment minister Scott Moe came out on top Saturday night, winning the leadership of the Saskatchewan Party in five ballots and along with it the right to continue outgoing Premier Brad Walls legacy.

We will not impose a carbon tax on the good people of this province, Moe, 44, told his supporters.

And Justin Trudeau, if you are wondering how far I will go  just watch me.

The just watch me line was used by Trudeaus father, Pierre, during the October Crisis in 1970, when he was asked by a reporter how far he was prepared to go to maintain law and order in Quebec.

Speaking with reporters after the speech, Moe took a more conciliatory tone, saying Saskatchewan had already indicated its prepared to take any imposition of a carbon tax to court if necessary.

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He said Saskatchewan has its own climate change plan that he wants Ottawa to recognize.

That is the information well continue to speak loudly and speak from the rooftops if you will, and not only to our federal government, to ensure that what we are doing is being recognized, what were going to be doing is being recognized, he said.

Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said she looks forward to working with Moe, but noted the government has been clear it wants provinces to implement a price on carbon.

We know any serious climate plan requires you price what you dont want, pollution, so you get what you do want: lower emissions, and innovation, and good jobs here in Canada and technology we can export abroad, McKenna told reporters following a caucus meeting Sunday.

The leader of the United Conservative Party in Alberta said he welcomes a continued ally in the fight against the carbon tax.

Congratulations to @ScottMoeSK on winning the @SaskParty Leadership election! Im confident that as Premier of Saskatchewan, Scott will continue @PremierBradWalls strong defence of the West, and our resource industries, Jason Kenney tweeted.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also took to Twitter to offer his best wishes.

Congratulations to the next premier of Saskatchewan, @ScottMoeSK. Looking forward to meeting soon & working together for people in SK.

Moe said when it comes to trade issues and matters such as infrastructure, the federal-provincial relationship works fairly well, although he said there are some differences of opinion from time to time.

Moe said his first order of business is Saskatchewans next budget and he isnt concerned that there might be any lingering resentment after the leadership campaign.

Any leadership race such as this is going to have some edge of competitiveness if you will, and this was no different, Moe said.

Weve been a united party. We worked together prior to this process and well be working together after.

Moe acknowledges it will be hard to step into the shoes of one of Canadas most popular premiers.

But he said Wall was correct when he said his departure would give the Saskatchewan Party an opportunity for renewal, with all the candidates travelling the province speaking to communities and grassroots members about what they wanted to see.

This reminds me of how our party was formed just over two decades ago, with the founding members doing the same process across the province. Criss-crossing this province, talking to people about their vision of their communities in the province, Moe said.

Wall urged party unity in his final speech to delegates.

What is at stake in the months and years ahead calls us, each one, to proffer our very best, our complete and fulsome effort to come together as a party after a very competitive process to unite so that our party may continue to have the honour of serving, Wall said.

If we come out of here united behind the leader, well then, we know who wins, because this is the new Saskatchewan.

The next election is Saskatchewan is scheduled for 2020.

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Brian Semple never leaves his Quebec City home to pray at the mosque without his cellphone anymore.

Before, the tour guide and hospital orderly said, there was a risk  a risk that he would forget to silence the device, that it would ring out in the middle of prayers.

Now, one year after the shooting that killed six men and injured five others at the Grande mosquee de Quebec, Semple says the perceived risk is much greater.

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A cellphone has 911, he said. Another thing is that I had never thought about whos coming in the door. Now I do.

Four days of commemorative events, leading up to a vigil on Monday expected to include Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, were scheduled to highlight the bridges that have been built since a gunman stormed the mosque and opened fire on an unsuspecting crowd during Sunday evening prayers.

Maryam Bessiri, a member of the organizing committee, said the events were an attempt to consolidate the advances that have been made in the past year.

But one year on, there are troubling signs. Community members say that the initial reaction of Quebecers and Canadians  a very public display of sympathy and tolerance toward the Muslim community  has not endured.

Are we stronger or weaker? I think we are more aware of the existence of certain problems, Bessiri said. Its the awareness that there are certain problems that, even with the best values we have, must be dealt with and given attention  among other things, the problems of racism and Islamophobia.

Semple, a Muslim convert, said his Moroccan-born wife endured insults before the shooting because she wears a hijab.

Just after (the attack), there was a great outpouring of sympathy and empathy. Wed get on the bus and people would smile and be friendly. That fizzled out and it sort of went back to the same, he said. It took, perhaps, a couple of months.

Stephane Leman-Langlois, a professor of criminology at Universite Laval in Quebec City, said there were two broad types of reaction to the mosque shooting.

The first included those shocked by the deadly violence who expressed their solidarity with Muslims in Quebec. They were people like Annie Demers-Caron, a local junior college teacher who organized Lettre a toi, a letter-writing campaign in which people from across the province wrote messages of solidarity that were bound into a book and presented to the families of those killed.

The second type included those who felt emboldened in expressing their anti-Muslim and anti-immigration views while denouncing the act of violence.

They came forward saying, Were not extremists because we didnt do this, Leman-Langlois said. It was like they were saying, Here is an example of an extremist. We disapprove of this act  so were legitimate.

Leman-Langlois includes in this group Quebec Citys provocative talk radio hosts, who were blamed in the wake of the shooting for stoking the fires of intolerance, as well as nationalist or right-wing groups such as La Meute, which was founded in 2015 with the stated mission to combat radical Islam.

A number of La Meute members were reportedly part of the committee that waged a political battle in the wake of the attack to block the creation of a dedicated Muslim cemetery in the town of St-Apollinaire, near Quebec City.

When the cemetery project was blocked in a municipal referendum, Quebec Mayor Regis Labeaume then sold city-owned land to the Centre culturel islamique de Quebec. This, he said, would allow the community to bury its dead close to home rather than seeking out space at a Muslim plot near Montreal, or sending the remains back for burial in the Middle East or Africa, as was done for those killed in the mosque attack.

Two days after the sale of land, a parked car belonging to the groups president, Mohamed Labidi, was set ablaze, leading to criminal arson charges against two men who had no known connection to any organized group.

Sylvain Brouillette, a La Meute spokesperson, said in an interview that his group supports the decision to commemorate the six innocent Quebecers killed in the mosque shooting, but urged members attending the vigil not to identify themselves as La Meute supporters out of respect for the grieving families.

He also condemned governments and the political movements of religious minorities that, he said, have used the mosque attack to score political points.

One such initiative is the push by the National Council of Canadian Muslims to have Jan. 29 marked as a day against Islamophobia. While there has been no national decree, some cities across Canada have taken up the suggestion, which has been rejected by Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard.

We think its an insult against the (Quebec) nation, La Meutes Brouillette said. We dont believe that Quebecois are an Islamophobic people. We dont believe that Quebecois are racist.

Quebec City police said last week that the number of hate crimes against Muslims doubled in 2017 to 42, from 21 in 2016. It is a troubling rise in a city that takes pride in its low crime rates.

But it isnt a surprise to Demers-Caron, who is also organizing Mondays commemoration. She said an intolerant atmosphere in Quebec City is having an impact on the morale of a Muslim community struggling to recover from the tragedy.

Its like the solidarity is not enough because the far right is too strong, she said. Thats what I feel and I see. I would have expected them to go quiet. Weve just had six men killed. There are 17 children whove lost a father. We would have expected that it would be a bit more uncomfortable for them to express their racism. But its the opposite.

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OTTAWAThwarting inappropriate behaviour amongst those who wield power and building on international trade agreements are both essential elements to creating a better country, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Sunday as he rallied his partys caucus a day before Parliament was set to resume sitting after its six-week winter break.

Trudeau told Liberal MPs that change is needed to encourage more women to enter politics.

Add women, change politics is how we will make a better country, Trudeau told the gathering as he referenced a women in politics social media campaign the prime minister said was more than just a hashtag. Sexual harassment is a systemic problem. It is unacceptable.

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His comments came as the recent movement against sexual misconduct, which saw the resignations since Wednesday of the Progressive Conservative party leaders in Ontario and Nova Scotia, was felt within the federal Liberal caucus room.

Absent from the meeting was Trudeaus former sport and persons with disabilities minister, Kent Hehr, who resigned last week after being accused of sexual misconduct while he was a member of the Alberta legislature.

Liberal party whip Pablo Rodriguez confirmed Sunday that he had received another complaint about Hehr and passed it to the person in charge of the inquiry into the former ministers behaviour.

Meantime, Science Minister Kirsty Duncan was to formally take on Hehrs portfolio Monday at a Rideau Hall ceremony and retain it at least until the investigation is complete.

While Hehr remains a member of the Liberal caucus, the Prime Ministers Office said he decided not to attend the meeting.

Had he been there, however, Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould said she wouldnt feel uncomfortable by his presence.

Sexual harassment on the Hill is a very serious issue, and we need to take it seriously, she said.

But we also need to make sure that were allowing due diligence.

Other Liberals, however, struggled over questions of why Hehr was allowed to remain in caucus while a fellow Alberta MP, Darshan Kang, resigned from the caucus last summer after being accused of sexually harassing two female employees in his office. Kang has denied the allegations and a PMO staffer said he resigned voluntarily.

Members of Parliament were expected to debate legislation Monday, Bill C-65, which would strengthen sexual harassment protections for federal employees, including those working on Parliament Hill.

Members of Parliament were expected to debate legislation Monday designed to strengthen sexual harassment protections for federal employees, including those working on Parliament Hill.

Labour Minister Patty Hajdu, who acknowledged there is a whisper network operating around the Hill, said part of the goal of Bill C-65 is to prevent misconduct. But she suggested it wont be easy.

Were in an environment where we have high degrees of power, with parliamentarians, and often staffers who have very little power and are in often precarious work, she said outside caucus. So it sets up an environment that is ripe for this kind of behaviour.

As Sundays caucus meeting began, Trudeau also boasted about last weeks signing of a new, comprehensive international trade agreement  known as the CP-TPP  that he said included significant gains for Canada over the former Trans-Pacific Partnership approved by the previous Conservative government.

The prime minister said his government hopes to make similar gains during negotiations of a new North American Free Trade Agreement with the United States and Mexico.

As the sixth round of talks to reach a deal were wrapping up in Montreal, Trudeau also set aside nonpartisanship over NAFTA, accusing the Opposition Conservatives of being willing to bend to U.S. demands for changing the pact.

They wanted us to sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership with no improvements, Trudeau said of the Tories.

And if they had their way, wed give into American demands on NAFTA.

While visiting Washington earlier this month, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said his party was united with the Liberals in seeking an updated NAFTA. Scheer has in the past, however, accused the Trudeau government of not properly spelling out a plan for the NAFTA talks.

The Conservatives said the resumption of Parliament will give Scheer an opportunity to once again pounce on the prime minister over his 2016 vacation with the Aga Khan.

Mary Dawson, whose tenure as federal ethics commissioner ended last month, found that Trudeau violated four provisions of the Conflict of Interest Act when he and members of his family stayed on the billionaire religious leaders Bahamian island.

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The Australian Government is proud to support this very first community art project in the Mekong Delta, said Ms. Rebecca Bryant, Deputy Head of Mission - Australian Embassy in Vietnam, at the mural village opening.



The Vietnam-Australia Mural Village has added a big splash of colour to the walls around the village, and we hope this will attract new visitors to the area. Together with the Cao Lanh Bridge, which we expect will open in the first half of 2018, this will be a new symbol of the friendship between Australia and Vietnam, she said.



Hundreds of different mural installations were created by artists, including an Indigenous Australian artist, together with volunteer students from Dong Thap University.



This public art project has created opportunities for local young people to contribute positively to their local community and for both Australian and Vietnamese artists to put their creative talents on display, said Mr. Bradley Kickett, the Australian artist who participated in the project.



The Vietnam-Australia Mural Village is expected to bring a new vitality to the Tan Tich neighbourhood while still preserving the charm of its tight-knit community. Over time the village will attract many new visitors from across the province, different parts of the country and from around the world.



The Cao Lanh Bridge, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Australia, is one of two major bridges (Cao Lanh and Vam Cong) under the Central Mekong Delta Connectivity Project.

Funded by grant aid from the Australian Government and a concessional loan from the ADB, the Cao Lanh Bridge represents the largest single Australian aid activity in Southeast Asia.

VNS
Two men sentenced to life in prison for a gangland slaying in Torontos Little Italy have now been charged in connection with a pair of 2012 underworld killings in British Columbia.

Last spring, Dean Michael Wiwchar, 32, and Rahbih (Robby) Alkhalil, 30, were convicted of first-degree murder of the June 2012 shooting death of John Raposo on College St. Their trial heard that Wiwchar was the hitman who killed Raposo.

The new charges relate to the slayings of West Coast gang leaders carried out before and after the Raposo murder.

Sandip Duhre was shot to death in the busy lobby of the Sheraton Wall Centre in downtown Vancouver in January 2012. Sukh Dhak and his bodyguard Thomas Mantel were gunned down outside a Burnaby hotel in November 2012.

Wiwchar was charged last week with first-degree murder in the Duhre case, and conspiracy to commit murder in the Dhak killing.

Alkhalil and Larry Ronald Amero, 40, were each charged last week with conspiracy to commit murder in the Duhre and Dhak slayings.

Amero, a Hells Angel from Ottawa, was the only one of the accused who wasnt already behind bars.

Amero is a founder of a criminal organization called the Wolfpack Alliance, which is made up of some Hells Angels and the B.C.-based Red Scorpions and Independent Soldiers.

He narrowly escaped death when he was shot at close range in August 2011 as he sat in a Porsche SUV outside a Kelowna resort with Red Scorpion leader Jonathan Bacon and Independent Soldiers gangster James Riach. Bacon was killed in the attack. Riach was uninjured, but a woman who was also in the SUV was left paralyzed for life.

Amero was arrested in Ottawa on Thursday and is expected to be brought to Vancouver this week to face the murder conspiracy charges. He had re-established himself in the Ottawa area and made occasional trips to B.C. over the past few months, Vancouver police said.

Raposo, 35, was shot in the head four times at point blank range on the afternoon of June 18, 2012 as he watched a Euro Cup game on a crowded patio at the Sicilian Sidewalk Cafe on College St. Court heard that Alkhalil contracted Wiwchar to kill him.

In 2004, Wiwchar was part of a gang involved in a robbery spree that included violent attacks on an Oak Ridges McDonalds and a Richmond Hill Harvey's restaurant. In both robberies, employees were hit with a bat by masked thieves.

After Wiwchars arrest for the Raposo shooting, Wiwchar's then-lawyer Christopher Avery described him as just a middle-class kid from Stouffville.

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There was only one file Det.-Const. Dave Woodhouse tucked away the day he retired from the Toronto police force. Only one case he couldnt shake. It was the case of an abandoned baby girl with a shock of black hair, found in a cigarette carton under a tree, the odds of survival stacked against her.

Twelve years later, Woodhouse still has her file. He holds onto it because the case inside  of a baby he named Rachael Grace  forever changed the trajectory of his life.

So when it emerged this month that police were investigating reports of an infant abandoned in a Toronto parking lot, Woodhouse was transfixed. The report ultimately turned out to be false and police sources said the baby was never abandoned  but it was enough to send memories flooding back to the now-retired detective constable.

The story began on a cool, spring morning: Saturday, May 21, 2005.

Woodhouse was at his desk at 42 Division in Toronto, chipping away at a report. He was edging close to 50 years old, nearing the end of his policing career. One of the newer cops, a rookie as Woodhouse described her, came to the office with startling news.

Weve found a newborn baby, Woodhouse remembers her saying. Abandoned at the Chinese Alliance Church in Scarborough.

Well  alive or dead? Woodhouse asked.

The baby, a girl of Asian descent, was very much alive. Shed been taken to Scarborough Grace Hospital in healthy condition. Woodhouse went to the church, where the baby had been found on a traffic island in the parking lot. His theory is that someone thought there would be a service that day.

There wasnt. But the empty, newly paved parking lot was perfect for an unlikely rescuer  a fellow looking to race hobby cars. Tommy Siu heard crying, went over and peered inside the cigarette carton.

And there she was  an infant, barely a few hours old.

If it hadnt been for him, I doubt she would have survived  Woodhouse said in an interview with the Star. I mean, the odds were against her.

From the church, Woodhouse went to Scarborough Grace Hospital to see the baby.

He remembers her beautiful little tuft of hair, and that she was crying when he first arrived.

And, I dont know, something . . . he said, becoming emotional,   just came over me at that point, something Id never felt before. And things like this dont happen in Canada that often, abandoned children . . . so its all such a mystery. Why would someone do that?

Woodhouse looked at the baby in front of him. He thought about what had been taken away from her already. The baby didnt have a name; protocol dictated she would be referred to as Jane Doe. He didnt want her identity to be taken away too.

I found out that the first nurse who treated her was named Rachael, so I named her Rachael Grace, after Scarborough Grace Hospital, he said. I put that in my official reports.

She was released from hospital four days later and transferred into foster care. Childrens Aid was swamped with phone calls from people wanting to adopt baby Rachael Grace.

Police searched everywhere for the babys mother. But surveillance tapes were worn and scrambled. Tips poured in from officers on the street and civilians, but Woodhouse said he couldnt narrow it down.

Eventually, he said, you just have to lay it to rest. The mother didnt want to be found.

By the following spring, Woodhouse had retired and moved from Toronto to Kingston, Ont. He and his wife had had a son, Eamon, the previous September.

But he couldnt get Rachael Grace out of his head.

You know, I think about that little girl every day, he told his wife, Denise. She haunts me.

Maybe that was for a reason, Denise responded.

Maybe shes trying to tell you something.

Or maybe she was trying to tell both of them something; Denise divulged, for the first time, that she had always wanted to adopt a baby from China.

The writing was on the wall, Woodhouse said.

The couple began reading everything they could about international adoption. In 2011, they brought home a little boy, Cameron HeAng, then in 2015, they brought home a a little girl, Keave Jiang Kang  and baby Rachael Grace had helped make it happen.

I attribute it to finding that little girl, Woodhouse said. What else would have sparked a conversation like that, if it wasnt for me saying, Geez, I think of her every day? 

Cameron is 10 years old now, and Keave is 4.

Both children had medical issues, with Cameron undergoing several surgeries at Sick Kids Hospital. Woodhouse has spent the last decade going back and forth to China with other adopted fathers, via an organization called Show Hope, to focus on building projects  like playsets  at their medical care centre in Henan province.

You love on these kids, and some of them dont make it, he said. But others Ive had the good fortune to see them adopted by families around the world, and to actually keep in touch with these families via Facebook and social media. And I get to watch these kids grow.

His only regret, he said, is not starting out earlier. Hell be 60 this year.

All these years later, Woodhouse still thinks about that baby girl in Scarborough.

He has reached out to the agent at the Childrens Aid Society who handled her case, offering his contact information in case her new family ever wanted to call with questions about those first days of her life.

He has never heard from her new family.

All he knows is that she was adopted by a family, and that the agency didnt have any trouble finding her a home.

But the ripples of Rachael Graces case have touched others. Woodhouses wifes niece and her husband were thinking about adopting, but the husband was hesitant, Woodhouse said.

Then, at a funeral where Denise was giving a eulogy, the husband saw Cameron climb up on his moms chair and wipe the tears away from her eyes.

That changed things, Woodhouse said. The couple has since adopted two children, and is in the process of bringing home a third  another growing family inspired by a baby they had never met.

This little baby in Toronto changed the lives of that many more people, Woodhouse said. That would have never come to fruition if it hadnt been for Rachael Grace.
Eritrean refugees to Canada are going without valid work permits  in some cases for months  because their passports dont follow the Canadian format.

Unlike the Canadian passport, which lists a persons last name followed by their first name on two separate lines, the Eritrean passport lists the first name followed by the last on one line. This is leading to work permits being issued with the names in the wrong order  last as first and first as last.

The invalid permits are leaving refugees unable to provide for their families.

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I couldnt work, I couldnt help myself and my family, said Abduselam Aman, a refugee from Eritrea who applied for a work permit for himself and his wife in March 2017, two months after they arrived in Canada.

My wife still doesnt have her permit. We are lost, we dont know who to contact anymore or what to say.

Aman and his wife, Munira Abdulkeni, received their work permits with their names switched around two months after applying  a mistake most employers will not look past.

They immediately requested that Immigration Canada correct their permits. After another two-month wait, Aman got his back  this time with the name correctly displayed  but his wifes gender on the new permit was wrong. The couple sent the permit back again.

Six weeks later, the work permit came back again  with a spelling error.

To this date, roughly a year after they first applied, Abdulkeni does not have a valid work permit.

Aman and his wife, now settled in Toronto, are two of dozens of refugee claimants or protected persons (people who have been granted refugee status by the Canadian government) the Star knows of who have received work permits with name errors.

To get a social insurance number, a refugee claimant or protected person must have a valid work permit. The S.I.N. is required to receive certain benefits and services, such as child tax benefits, from the government.

When applying for a work permit, refugee claimants and protected persons must submit supporting documents (usually their passport, if they have one) and their refugee claimant document.

The refugee claimant document is often the only Canadian document an asylum seeker has during their first few months in the country.

Because its usually obtained in person at the border, the first and last names are clearly and correctly stated on this document, said Mohamed Edris, president of the East York Eritrean Association.

However, when an Eritrean refugee applies for a work permit and submits their passport (with their application), more often than not the work permit comes back wrong, Edris said. Last year, he said, he dealt with 40 such cases.

Paul VanderVennen, a Toronto-based immigration lawyer, called the situation very frustrating.

The work permit inevitably comes with the names in the wrong order, as they take them from the passport, VanderVennen said. He said he has tried various ways to bring this to the attention of immigration officials, but it falls on deaf ears.

Its so pointless and its so obvious, he said. They (immigration officials) will fix the error eventually, but they wont do it the first time.

In his efforts to address the problem, VanderVennen, who dealt with five such cases last year, said he tried to be forthcoming with the government.

Instead of uploading the passport copy, he said, he tried uploading an explanation noting that we have a passport, but I dont want to send you a copy because then you will write the name backwards.

Andrew Restrepo, a former program manager at Adam House refugee reception centre in Toronto, said it isnt proper for employers to hire someone with an incorrect work permit.

It is kind, but it is negligent, he said.

He said he has noticed that about 80 per cent of the Eritreans for whom he has applied for work or study permits, the names are switched around when it comes back, Restrepo said. It hinders a lot of Eritreans from acquiring employment.

A spokesperson said Immigration Canada does not keep track of how often mistakes are made regarding names and spelling on work permits, adding that issues can be brought forward and amended by well-trained officers on a case-by-case basis.

When the Star asked how its officers are instructed to process applications from people with passports that dont follow the Canadian format, spokeswoman Faith St-John wrote: IRCC establishes program delivery instructions to provide officers with appropriate guidance on how to identify and record the name of an individual in our systems.

She added that the standards IRCC officers use for the format of the name conforms with the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN specialized agency.

Eritrea, in East Africa, is one of the top five countries of origin for refugees coming to Canada. Between January and September 2017, 848 people fleeing widespread human rights abuses in Eritrea arrived at the Canadian border seeking asylum.

A spokesman for the Eritrean consulate in Toronto, Samuel Igbu, told the Star there is no plan to change the Eritrean passport format anytime soon.

Furthermore, I dont see any problem identifying their first name to the last name at all, Igbu said in an email. With that in mind, when applying for work permit there should be a clear instruction given to the right party.

Igbu noted that Eritrea is not the only country that formats names differently than Canada does.

Ottawa-based immigration lawyer Arghavan Gerami agreed. Some countries have only one name on passports, some have multiple names and others have the last names and first names in different orders, Gerami noted.

There are so many communities and people from different countries coming to Canada and could face the problem.

Osman Abdullrazzaq, a refugee claimant from Eritrea, said that his work permit came back with his first and last names switched around when he applied in September 2016. While he waited for his work permit to be amended, he felt anxious and disappointed, he said.

I had to live with the feeling that my kids are going to school every day and I am sitting at home not going to work, said Abdullrazzaq, who received his amended work permit six weeks later.

What kind of example would I give to my kids? How was I going to tell them to work hard to study hard? For me this was a big disappointment.

East York Eritrean Association president Edris sent a letter in June 2017 to Ahmed Hussen, the federal immigration minister, to press his department to address the issue. The problem, he said, is not only affecting refugees in Toronto, but across the country.

Along with others, Edris is asking Immigration Canada to issue work permits based on the refugee claimant document, which clearly identifies the two names, rather than the Eritrean passport.

In response to the letter, an Immigration Canada spokesperson said that an amendment can be submitted for any mistake.

I have noted your observations regarding the issuance of refugee claimant documents, issued by border service officers, and how these documents differ from the information contained on Eritrean passports, the spokesperson wrote in an email to Edris in June 2017. I have therefore taken the liberty of forwarding a copy of your correspondence to the appropriate departmental officials for their review and information.

Its happening far too often in our communities, Edris said. We appreciate the Canadian governments help for everything, but the solution for this is very simple and we need this to stop so people can build their lives.

Miriam Katawazi can be reached at mkatawazi@thestar.ca or 416-869-4489.
Progressive Conservative interim leader Vic Fedeli is moving quickly to tackle allegations of questionable party spending during the Patrick Brown era, the Star has learned.

Fedeli, elected Friday by Tory MPPs, was spurred to act after a blistering confidential memo was sent to members of the PC Ontario Fund on Saturday morning by Ottawa businessman Thom Bennett, a respected party fundraiser.

Bennett alleged that while Brown  who resigned Thursday after a sex scandal allegedly involving teens  was leader, the PC party executive was wasting money on costly lawsuits and rewarding allies with contracts.

Its important that our caucus have a very serious look at the accusations that are made in the letter, Fedeli told the Star on Saturday after taping Global News Focus Ontario.

Asked if its time to clean house, the interim leader replied: I dont want to jump the gun. We need to take this very seriously and be decisive in our actions going forward.

Fedeli said Bennett is a very credible, lifelong PC party member who has sounded alarm bells.

In his internal memo, the Ottawa insurance executive stressed that the party, which is believed to have spent more than $1.5 million on legal fees and settlements involving contentious candidate nomination contests, needs to turn off the taps.

I want to make a motion stating that all payments of funds to reimburse lawyers defending legal suits against the PC Party of Ontario cease  immediately, wrote Bennett.

We must stop this bleeding  nay gushing of hundreds of thousands of dollars from the PC Ontario Fund  and it must be stopped now.

I want a list of our PC Party of Ontario executives who are on the payroll of the PC Party of Ontario, or firms doing business with or paid by either of the PC Party of Ontario or PC Ontario Fund.

Bennett wrote that he is concerned there may be members of the party executive who are in a conflict of interest due to payments for legal work, research or other services.

Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario president Rick Dykstra, who announced Friday that the Tories would elect a new permanent leader before the June 7 election, did not return messages seeking comment.

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But Bennetts letter reveals a schism between the caucus and the party executive over that decision to hold an expensive and potentially divisive leadership contest so close to a provincewide campaign.

I am at a total loss as to what the thinking could be that our executive would tell our elected MPPs  those soldiers who are putting their name in front of the electorate time after time  to screw off, we run this party, Bennett wrote.

The executive knows why they overruled our elected representatives  and it has nothing to do with letting the members have a say in the new party leadership. I fear that this executive decision spells the death knell of the PC Party of Ontario! The majority of our supporters do not understand nor back this stupid and self-serving decision.

Dykstra stressed Friday that allowing the partys 200,000 members to vote on a new leader will enable the Tories to turn the page after a tumultuous week that saw Brown forced to resign.

He stepped down hours after CTV revealed alleged sexual impropriety involving two unnamed women when they were teenagers and he was a Conservative MP.

While Brown denied the allegations in an emotional 81-second statement at Queens Park on Wednesday night, senior aides quit en masse and caucus told him he had to go.

Friends say he remains shell-shocked and in seclusion.

At the same time, the race to succeed him is both heating up and thinning out.

Fedeli, a self-made millionaire and former North Bay mayor, said he is eager to be full-time leader. He currently boasts the unanimous backing of the caucus at Queens Park.

Caroline Mulroney, a lawyer and rookie candidate running in York-Simcoe, is building support. Many of Browns former top advisers have joined her nascent campaign. Her father, former prime minister Brian Mulroney, is working the phones to rally backers.

Rod Phillips, former head of CivicAction and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, is also assembling a formidable team of veteran Tories  many from outside the Brown orbit. A first-time candidate, but a veteran senior Queens Park and Toronto city hall operative, Phillips is running in Ajax.

Another potential leadership hopeful is grassroots activist Jim Karahalios, founder of Axe The Carbon Tax and Take Back Our PC Party, who recently won a legal case against the party that a judge ruled was a SLAPP case  a strategic lawsuit against public participation.

Karahalios is seeking $143,500 in damages and costs. The party, which is appealing the ruling, claimed he used their members lists to contact Tories. That ongoing appeal is one of the lawsuits that Bennett feels is a waste of money.

Former federal foreign affairs minister John Baird, meanwhile, has decided not to mount a leadership bid. Baird, also a former provincial cabinet minister, had been under intense pressure to run.

Conservative MP Lisa Raitt, another would-be contender, said Saturday she will remain in federal politics.

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MEXICO CITYHonduran authorities are promising an exhaustive investigation into alleged ties between their new national police chief Jose David Aguilar Moran and a cartel kingpin whos now serving a 20-year sentence in a U.S. federal prison.

A confidential Honduran government security report obtained by The Associated Press says Aguilar helped the narcotrafficker pull off the delivery of nearly a ton of cocaine in 2013.

The clandestine haul of more than 1,700 pounds, or 770 kilograms, of cocaine was packed inside a tanker truck that, the report says, was being escorted by corrupt police officers to the home of Wilter Blanco, a drug trafficker recently convicted in Florida and now serving a 20-year sentence.

Aguilar, who at the time was serving as chief of intelligence for Honduras National Police, intervened after a police official safeguarding the drugs was busted by a lower-ranked officer who had seized the tanker, the report says. The handcuffed officer called Aguilar, who ordered that the officer and the tanker be set free, says the report which was prepared by the Honduran Security Ministrys Inspector General.

The U.S. street value of the cocaine involved could have topped $20 million.

The incident raises questions about Honduras much-touted purge of corrupt police and the reliability of the administration of President Juan Orlando Hernandez, a key U.S. ally in the war on drugs.

On Friday, Omar Rivera, a member of the special commission that says it has purged more than 4,000 members of the National Police for reasons ranging from corruption to restructuring and voluntary retirement, held a press conference alongside a spokesman for the National Police.

They said the National Police did not have a document that corresponded to the number on the APs report, something police spokesman Jair Meza had told the AP on Jan. 15.

But government authorities have often had difficulties in recent years locating information in police archives. Members of the government commission, including Rivera, have said publicly since it started its work in 2016 that the Security Ministry archives were in disarray and that some police officers assigned to the archives have worked to disappear files or wipe them clean of incriminating details.

Rivera said the commission would again look at Aguilar, his deputy and the new police inspector general. Starting today they will be subjected to a rigorous re-evaluation process to show their suitability for the positions they hold, he said.

As Hernandez swore in his new police chief last week, local media reported that he said Aguilar was chosen with the utmost confidence and would lead a National Police that becomes a role model for the region.

We are in a process of transforming the National Police, with a huge investment of financial resources, the president said.

Aguilar, 54, vowed to instruct his officers to follow the law and make sure the law is followed, said local reports.

Asked about the incident, the Honduran government issued a lengthy statement saying that the investigative report is fake and doesnt correspond to any official communication from the Honduras Police. The AP has not shared the document with the government due to security concerns but described its contents.

The statement also said the allegations against the police high command lack veracity and demanded that the news media verify information before creating false scoops that damage the institution and its employees.

But an ex-member of the National Police with knowledge of the investigation confirmed officials found that top officers conspired to cover up the incident, and that the handcuffed officer was later put on leave. Three other current and former high-ranking Honduran police officials confirmed elements of the report. All four spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of violent reprisals.

In addition to the report, the AP confirmed the story using other internal memos and a page from Aguilars personnel file summarizing his alleged participation.

Aguilar did not respond to requests from AP for comment. In public remarks Jan. 15, he said he would work to strengthen co-operation among his nations police and judicial agencies and make sure that officers serving under him would act with respect for human rights.

The inspector generals office began its inquiry in early 2014, just as the United States was ramping up funding for collaborative anti-drug trafficking efforts in the region. The inspector generals report blames Aguilar and other commanders for failing to discipline the officers involved and for failing to turn over the investigation to prosecutors and U.S. authorities.

The report alleges that Aguilar and other police officials sat on the case at Blancos request and never sent it to prosecutors or the American Embassy, with the end goal of letting the case expire.

Former and current U.S. law enforcement officers and a U.S. prosecutor reviewed the document for AP and said it appeared genuine.

Honduras has been an ally of the United States for decades. The strategically positioned Soto Cano Air Base near Honduras capital, Tegucigalpa, served as a centre for U.S. efforts to beat back pro-Communist movements in Central America in the 1980s, and continues to support regional anti-drug efforts and host a U.S. military presence of about 600 troops.

In an emailed statement, the State Department said it had not seen the confidential investigation.

We continue to support the work of the police purge commission in Honduras, which has removed thousands of corrupt police officers, said the statement.

U.S. aid to Honduras has grown since 2014, when the Obama administration determined that it was in U.S. interests to improve security and strengthen governance in Central America. Since then, Congress has appropriated more than $300 million for Honduras, according to a recent report by the Congressional Research Service.

Honduras, with a population of more than 9 million, is one of the poorest and most violent countries in Latin America. Much of the country is controlled by criminal gangs. It has endured widespread human rights abuses and impunity at the hands of the police and military for more than a decade. Critics argue that reform efforts backed by the U.S. and the Organization of American States have been ineffective. And in recent weeks, security forces have shot and killed demonstrators protesting a disputed presidential election that handed Hernandez a second term.

U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Hernandezs re-election last month, and certified the countrys progress in protecting human rights and attacking corruption, clearing the way for Honduras to receive millions of dollars in U.S. funds. The U.S. Senate appropriations committee, however, has put a hold on some of that money.

There is so much illegal drug money to be made and it is so easy to get away with it, especially if you are in the police force, U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said earlier this month in reaction to Aguilars appointment. Much more needs to be known about him given the history of the Honduran police and its connections to organized crime, before there can be confidence that he has the integrity to lead that institution.

Aguilar, a 29-year police veteran, worked his way up, serving as a regional chief along the Caribbean coast and other regions and heading up a national inter-agency security force. At one point he led a police directorate overseeing planning and continuous improvement. Earlier this month, Omar Rivera, a member of the government commission responsible for purging corrupt cops, told La Prensa newspaper that Aguilar was a strong candidate because of his merits and good performance. But a page of Aguilars personnel file, obtained by the AP, includes a disciplinary record summarizing his participation in the 2013 incident, alleging complicity with organized crime and drug traffickers. Theres no indication any action was taken regarding the allegations against him.

The other key player in the inspector generals report, Blanco, got into drug running as a fisherman, smuggling boat loads of cocaine from one coastal community to another, according to records in the U.S. criminal case against him.

The trafficking grew as Blanco and his armed guards collected shipments of Colombian cocaine on the Honduran shore and took it to his property before it was moved north through Guatemala and Mexico into the U.S., according to a U.S. criminal complaint. When Blanco knew the DEA was onto him, the complaint said, he tried to negotiate a surrender, communicating on text messages that included, as his profile picture on his BlackBerry, a small plane with kilos of cocaine stacked next to it.

Blanco was arrested in 2016 in Costa Rica and extradited to the U.S. He pleaded guilty to conspiring to move 4,000 pounds of cocaine from Colombia to Honduras during a two-month period. It was widely reported in Honduras that Blancos arrest had sparked investigations of dozens of police and other political and criminal justice officials, but nothing about any corruption probes relating to Blanco has been publicly revealed. His attorney Victor Rocha told AP that in repeated discussions his client never mentioned police collaborating with his drug smuggling operations.

If Mr. Blanco-Ruiz is deported to his home nation, he may well be murdered shortly thereafter in retaliation for what the Honduran press has erroneously and recklessly alleged as his co-operation, Rocha said in court documents, using his clients formal last name.

Drug trafficking ties within Honduras law-enforcement and political circles are well documented.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced last week that Honduran lawmaker Fredy Renan Najera Montoya faces drug trafficking charges in a New York federal court and the U.S. would seek his extradition. American authorities claim Najera used his influence to secure safe passage for loads of cocaine flown from Colombia to Honduras and then on to the U.S.

High-ranking Honduran police officials have been accused of ordering assassinations, trafficking cocaine and leading criminal gangs. At least six former National Police officers now face U.S. criminal charges in a federal court in New York and the DEA says their investigations into Honduras police corruption are still active. The U.S. Embassy in Honduras declined to comment.

The inspector generals report detailing the investigation into the tanker full of cocaine explains how Blanco held sway over police.

Sources in the La Ceiba police headquarters said that before and after the tanker incident, the regional police chief Jose Rolando Paz Murillo met with Blanco in Pazs office along with other police officials. At the meetings Blanco handed out thousands of dollars in bribes to make sure police allowed airplanes stuffed with cocaine to land and then the drugs to be transported without interference, according to the investigative report.

Among those who attended such meetings, the report asserts, were Aguilar, as well as the new National Police inspector general, Orlin Javier Cerrato Cruz, and Orbin Alexis Galo Maldonado, the man recently named as Aguilars top deputy. In a brief phone conversation Galo denied any knowledge. Cerrato could not be reached for comment.

It was the local head of the tourism police, Grebil Cecilio Giron Miranda, who intercepted the drug-laden truck flanked by 11 police officers in four vehicles, according to the report. He was on patrol with two other officers when an informant in a rival cartel called to tell him about the tanker full of cocaine, investigators said.

The report says Giron and his patrol took the tanker back to the police station and that, soon after, Paz, the regional police chief, arrived and began threatening Giron and the other arresting officers, telling them he would make sure they lost their jobs. Giron pointed his gun at Paz, forced him to the ground and handcuffed him, according to the report. As the higher-ranking cops threats escalated, the report says, the officers allowed Paz to make a phone call. Paz called Aguilar and then passed the phone to Giron. According to the officers statements, Aguilar told them to immediately release Paz and the tanker full of drugs.

They obeyed and the load of drugs continued on its way to Blancos home, the report says.

The head of the National Police at the time ordered an investigation, according to the document, but it was scuttled until a new inspector general took over in early 2014. By the time the report was submitted in late February 2014, the four-month window for police leadership to take action against those involved had passed.

All the police officers named in the report and reached by the AP said they knew nothing about the allegations. The National Police did not make any of its officers available for comment.

According to the report, Paz told the arresting officer that then police director Juan Carlos Bonilla Valladares and another top police official, Hector Ivan Mejia Velasquez, were aware of what was happening with the drugs and that they ordered his release. Bonilla told AP the documents were fake and Mejia said he didnt know anything about the case.

Paz resigned from the police after his suspension and another assignment, a former National Police official said, and currently serves as a judge in Roatan. Paz did not return messages left at the court.

Former DEA agent Gary Hale reviewed a copy of the document and said it appears genuine.

On the face of it, it looks authentic, said Hale, now a drug policy and Mexico studies scholar at Rice University.

Opposition party politician Maria Luisa Borjas, who ran the National Polices internal affairs division during her long career on the force, said she had seen the inspector generals report and could confirm its authenticity.

The work that the police purging commission did was of completely no use, a failure, she said. It was more of a source of official protection for people who have been tied to drug trafficking.
WASHINGTONJeff Sessions was in his office, looking unusually deflated. He had just received another public lashing from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Trump had browbeaten his attorney general for months after Sessions decision to step aside from the intensifying Russia investigation. Never mind that Sessions has proved fiercely devoted to his boss, carrying out Trumps agenda while giving him credit every step of the way. Trump was unforgiving.

This attack came on an autumn day, and Sessions discussed it with a longtime friend and adviser who had stopped by to chat.

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Sessions shrugged. I do the best I can, he said. Then he got back to work.

And, somewhat surprisingly, hes still working.

Sessions will soon mark his first year on the job, having survived a barrage of insults from Trump, antipathy from some Justice Department employees and even calls from some fellow Republicans for him to resign. Last week, Americas top law enforcement officer was himself questioned as part of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into possible obstruction of justice and Trump campaign ties to Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Trumps relentless attacks have been a wearing distraction, say friends and associates of the former Alabama senator. The Associated Press interviewed more than a dozen of them, many of whom spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private interactions.

What keeps him going, friends say, is his Methodist faith, support from his wife and his awareness that, at age 71, leading the Justice Department is his best and perhaps final chance to carry out the policy changes he long has sought.

Sessions, the first senator to endorse Trumps candidacy, declined to be interviewed for this story but did agree to respond to written questions. He did not directly address his personal relationship with Trump but said his first year was marked by progress on a number of Trumps priorities: fighting crime, combating gangs and helping police.

We are doing what the people sent us here to do, he said.

While Sessions is proud of his first year, friends see signs of stress. At an annual Justice Department Christmas party, one friend noted, the usually upbeat attorney general looked sullen and tired.

We have talked about some of the difficult times hes had since he has been attorney general, said the Senates second-ranking Republican, John Cornyn of Texas, a Sessions confidante. My comment to him was, as long as youre doing the right thing, I dont think you have anything to apologize for.

What Sessions sees as doing the right thing, though, often appears to others as doing Trumps bidding.

Critics say Sessions is too loyal, dangerously politicizing his department in an effort to appease Trump. Sessions told senior prosecutors to look into Hillary Clintons activities after Trump demanded investigations of his 2016 Democratic rival, and he has been eager to pursue investigations into Trump grievances, such as media leaks. Lawmakers accuse Sessions of stonewalling congressional committees investigating the Trump campaign by repeatedly saying he doesnt recall key events.

Some say Sessions public silence in the face of Trumps assaults on the department is demoralizing to employees and threatens its independence from the White House. Sessions said Friday that its the departments responsibility to identify past mistakes and that a culture of defensiveness is not acceptable.

It seems he recognizes he is in such a weakened position, if he wants to stay in Trumps good graces he has to at least make a show of responding to Trumps demands, and thats extremely dangerous, said William Yeomans, who spent nearly 30 years at the department under Democratic and Republican administrations.

One example that raised eyebrows: Sessions plan to confront the opioid crisis hews so closely to Trumps that White House aide Kellyanne Conway was on hand in the Justice Departments seventh-floor conference room when he announced it.

Sessions declined to address specific actions by his department but said it carries out the law without regard to the political consequences or to poll numbers or who benefits and who doesnt, and Trump supports that.

Even if Sessions is complying with Trumps demands and pursuing his agenda, the attorney general has yet to find himself back in favour with the president. Before Sessions decision to withdraw from the Russia investigation, Trump used to call Sessions periodically and seek his counsel. Now the two men rarely speak, and Sessions at times has resorted to asking West Wing aides to pass messages to Trump.

The rupture stems from Sessions move on March 2 to step aside from that investigation after acknowledging he had had two previously undisclosed encounters with the Russian ambassador in Washington during Trumps campaign. Sessions said it would be improper for him to oversee an investigation into a campaign in which he played a prominent role.

Trump was furious. Sessions had disregarded a plea from Trumps White House lawyer, Don McGahn, who, at Trumps request, had urged the attorney general to retain oversight of the investigation. But by then, Sessions had already consulted with ethics officials and had made up his mind. Sessions action left Trump without a close political appointee keeping a hand in the investigation of his campaign,

Sessions offered to resign. Trump declined to accept it. Sacking Sessions would have been politically perilous for the president.

But the barrage of tweets and public and private comments from Trump havent ended. He disparaged Sessions in comparisons with Eric Holder, whom Trump says he respects for protecting President Barack Obama while serving as attorney general.

Sessions has endured with a courtly stoicism. If hes frustrated, friends said, he mostly keeps it to himself. At a recent get-together with Terry Lathan, a friend and chairwoman of the Alabama Republican Party, Sessions seemed more interested in what was going on back home than in complaining about job pressures.

Hes not going to sit around and yank the presidents tie in private conversation with a group of his buddies, said Ken Blackwell, a domestic policy adviser to Trumps transition team who has known Sessions for years. Hes more like, this is what we need to get done, how do we get it done?

Trumps antagonism has distressed Sessions friends and supporters because they dont believe Sessions stepping aside from the Russia investigation was a close call. One Sessions ally said the attorney generals attitude remains that he is going to work 18-hour days to promote the administrations agenda.

Trumps priorities reflect the interests Sessions long has advocated, first as a federal prosecutor and then as a senator: illegal immigration, violent crime, illegal drugs, defending the rights of those who say theyve been discriminated against based on religion.

President Trump knows how to give clear orders, and he told us to reduce crime, take on the gangs and cartels, and back the men and women in blue, Sessions said. The good news for us is that these directives are exactly what I want to do.

That agenda has unsettled liberals who say Sessions focus on tough prosecutions marks a return to failed tactics that unduly hurt minorities and the poor. They say his rollbacks of protections for gay and transgender people amount to discrimination.

For Sessions, theres satisfaction in being able to reverse Obama-era policies that he and other conservatives say flouted the will of Congress. The progress he has made has been very gratifying to him, said former Attorney General Ed Meese, who sees Sessions periodically.

Sessions takes pride in his many visits to U.S. attorney offices, where he speaks with local authorities, some of his most ardent fans, about how the federal government can help them. During a particularly tense stretch in November, when Sessions faced attacks from Trump and members of Congress, department officials held a call urging law enforcement groups to be vocally supportive of him, a person familiar with the call said.

Jonathan Thompson, executive director of the National Sheriffs Association, recalled a December meeting when Sessions said he had to cut his appearance short. His voice was hoarse and he lamented his full schedule.

He said, I wish I could sit here and talk with you all day, before his staff moved him along, said Thompson.

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ADEN, YEMENYemeni government forces clashed with separatists in the southern port city of Aden on Sunday in fighting that left at least eight people dead. The countrys internationally recognized government considered the separatists assault an attempted coup backed by one-time ally the United Arab Emirates.

Authorities shut down the countrys main airport, fearing wider unrest and an Associated Press journalist heard heavy gunfire in the Khor Maksar, Crater, and Mansoura districts, as thick black smoke rose in the sky after an airstrike. The fighting spread to other districts, including areas near the presidential palace. Witnesses say that armed men stormed government offices and riddled the pictures of presidents with bullets.

Prime Minister Ahmed Obaid Bin Daghar held a meeting in the presidential palace in which he described the separatists assault as a coup, according to a senior government official who attended the meeting. A second official told the AP that the UAE was behind the assault.

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Abdel-Khaleq Abdullah, an Emirati political commentator, rejected the allegations and said that the UAE has been always fighting terrorism and working toward stability in Yemen.

Emiratis are restoring stability in Yemen, he said, Whether people want autonomy or stay in a unity, its the UAEs business, he said.

Witnesses said residents were fleeing the areas where the fighting was taking place. Schools and universities were shut down and students were told to stay home. A medical official said at least eight people were killed and 80 others wounded. All spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared reprisals.

Doctors Without Borders said that its hospital received four dead and over 80 others wounded from the clashes. Airport authorities ordered the evacuation of all planes, fearing they could be damaged in the fighting. State-run carrier Yemenia cancelled all flights to and from Aden.

The fighting exposed the deep rift between the two allies of the Saudi-led coalition and self-exiled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. Both have been at war with Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, since March 2015. The UAE is a key member of the Saudi-led coalition allied with Hadis government, but has had tense relations with the president. UAE also backs leaders of the so-called Southern Transitional Council, which advocates for secession and challenges Hadis government.

The council has been backed by forces known as the Security Belt, who have been trained and armed by the UAE, in addition to forces that fall under the command of former Aden governor Aidarous al-Zubaidi, along with others under the command of Adens Security Chief, Shallal al-Shayae.

On Saturday, the Saudi-ledcoalition issued a statement calling for self-restraint and described the protests as popular demands to fix government flaws.

Aden, the seat of Hadis government, has seen a sharp deterioration in services amid accusations of corruption and wasting public funds. Hadi supporters blame the coalition, saying it has failed to fulfil promises to rebuild Aden while barring the president, his sons and top commanders from returning to the country.

The tug-of-war between UAE and Hadi has fractured the coalition and contributed to the nearly three-year stalemated war with the Houthis, who control the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen. The war has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced 2 million others. The U.N. says it is the worlds worst humanitarian crisis.

Northern and southern Yemen were unified in 1990. Southerners have long advocated for greater autonomy or outright secession, complaining of domination by the north. But not all separatists have joined forces with al-Zubaidi, and many fear a return of the civil war that raged in South Yemen from 1986 until unification.

We wont allow a repeat of the painful past in Aden and we will not allow disturbances, Bin Daghar warned on his Twitter account. The government wont be the reason behind it.

Later in the day, Bin Daghar addressed the coalition, saying, the allies should not accept the liquidation of the legitimacy which hosted the coalition in the fight against Houthis.

Aidarous Southern Transitional Council issued a statement Sunday saying that its sticking to peaceful discourse in demanding the governments resignation and the improvement living conditions in the south. Our move today is peaceful and we stress that we are avoiding military frictions, said the statement.

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HELSINKISauli Niinisto was re-elected as Finlands president without recourse to a runoff  a first since the post has been settled by popular vote.

The 69-year-old former finance minister won the election with 62.7 per cent backing, surpassing the 50 per cent needed to avoid a second vote. His closest rival, Pekka Haavisto of the Greens, who ran against Niinisto in 2012, had support of 12.4 per cent and conceded defeat, YLE said. Turnout was 66.7 per cent.

Finland is a great country  its the most stable country in the world, Niinisto told his supporters in Helsinki. Better to be small and stable than large and fractured.

Although at the helm of a largely ceremonial post, the president helps steer foreign policy. It is in this capacity that he has solidified his reputation as a skilful power broker, balancing Finlands Western commitments while forging a close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The two heads of state have met or spoken on the phone more than 20 times during Niinistos first six-year term. The Finn continued to keep an open line with its bigger neighbour even after the invasion of Crimea, and presided over the setting up of a defence hotline between Helsinki and Moscow two months ago.

Hes been able to maintain dialogue throughout the crisis in Ukraine while at the same time keeping Finland staunchly behind the EUs sanction policies, said Teija Tiilikainen, director of the Helsinki-based Finnish Institute of International Affairs.

Thats set to continue in light of the strong mandate Finns have given him, said Niinisto.

I see no need to change our Russia policy, he said at a press conference in Helsinki. We differ on Crimea and East Ukraine, and the sanctions, but weve cleared the air on that. Beyond that are a multitude of issues neighbours must take care of.

Domestically, one of Niinistos most important decisions after the election will be to appoint a new head of the Bank of Finland, who is also a member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank. The mandate of the current governor, Erkki Liikanen, expires in July. Juhana Brotherus, an economist at housing-credit institution Hypo, said the most obvious successor is Olli Rehn, a bank board member and former economy minister who replaced Liikanen as Finlands EU commissioner back in 2004. Working against Rehn, a longtime member of Prime Minister Juha Sipilas Center Party, is the fact that Niinisto has in the past expressed his distaste for politically charged nominations, Brotherus said.

At home, Niinisto is loved for his ability to portray his personal life in a touching and intimate way, said Mari K. Niemi, a political scientist and director of a research platform at the University of Vaasa. Having survived the 2004 tsunami by reportedly climbing up a utility pole with his son while on holiday in Thailand, Niinisto saw his popularity peak in November, when he announced that his second wife was expecting a child.

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