Mark Wilson/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Clint Reed, who became Rubio's chief of staff in December 2016, was terminated "effective immediately," Rubio said in a statement.



"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," Rubio said Saturday. "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."



Reed was a senior advisor on the 2016 Rubio campaign, where he ran political operations in Iowa, South Carolina and Florida. He also previously worked at the Republican National Committee as a regional political director.



Rubio wasted no time in getting rid of Reed after hearing about the allegations.



"This evening, I traveled from Florida to Washington D.C. and terminated his employment effective immediately," he said. "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."



Rubio continued: "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 judgment amounted to threats to withhold employment benefits."



A native of Arkansas, Reed went to Lyon College for his undergraduate studies, and earned his master's degree from the University of Arkansas, according to information Rubio's office release when Reed he was hired as chief of staff. He made numerous political stops after that: he worked for Georgia Sen. Saxy Chambliss' campaign; served as executive director of the Republican Party of Arkansas; and managed grassroots operations in his home state for the 2004 Bush-Cheney re-election campaign.



Reed could not be reached for comment.



Rubio, meanwhile, said to the wishes of the victims, "we will not be disclosing any further details about the incidents which occurred."



On Monday morning, Rubio's office "will be formally notifying the appropriate Congressional and Senate administrative offices of this matter when they return to work," he said.



Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.As per my earlier blog post, I had arranged with Lise Liu to wear a qi pao/cheongsam to take on the role of an imaginary woman looking ...Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is set to open tomorrow (January 19) the new bridge at the intersection of Airport-Casablanca streets, nearby the Cargo Village building.



This one-lane bridge will help serve the traffic from the Airport Street in the direction of Casablanca Street, thus eliminating the waiting time at the light signal, said a statement from RTA.



This comes as part of RTA's 'Improvement of the Airport Street Project' aimed at accommodating the projected growth in the number of passengers using the Dubai International Airport which is expected to shoot to 92 million passengers by 2020, it stated.



Upon completion, the project would increase the capacity of the Airport Street by an additional 5,000 vehicles per hour, enhance the traffic safety level, and ease the traffic flow.



Early this month, RTA had opened two bridges at the intersection of Al Rashidiya- Airport Streets, which has massively reduced the waiting time at the junction, said the statement.



Mattar Al Tayer, the director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of RTA, said: "Upgrading the intersection of the Airport-Casablanca Streets includes the construction of an additional single-lane bridge for serving the traffic from the Airport Street heading towards Casablanca Street."



"The project includes constructing an alternative route for motorists coming from Al Garhoud, enabling them direct access to Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 of the Dubai International Airport," he noted.



According to him, the project also involved increasing the number of lanes of Casablanca Street in the direction of Al Garhoud from three to four lanes.



The project would significantly reduce the total waiting time at the intersection of Casablanca Street. It would also ease the current congestion resulting from the overlapping traffic between vehicles heading to Casablanca intersection and those coming from Terminal 1 and heading leftward to Casablanca Street, he added.



Upgrading the Airport Street Project encompasses improving the intersection of AirportNad Al Hamar streets through the construction of an additional two-lane bridge to serve the traffic from Nad Al Hamar Street heading towards the Airport Street," said Al Tayer.



The project will ease the current snarls resulting from the overlapping traffic at Nad Al Hamar Intersection between the first circular slope heading to the left from Nad Al Hamar Street to the Airport Street, he stated.



"It will also ease the traffic movement on the second circular slope heading left from the Airport Street to Nad Al Hamar Street. The vehicular traffic on the first circular slope will be restricted to U-turns in the direction of Nad Al Hamar Street," he added.-TradeArabia News ServiceSharjah government's Permanent Committee on Lands Allocation has approved the granting of 548 residential plots to the UAE nationals residing in the emirate, said a report.



The grants that were given the green signal included plots in various areas of the emirate, including Sharjah City, the Central Region, the Eastern Region, Kalba, Khorfakkan, Dibba Al Hisn and Al Hamriyah City, which met their requirements, reported state news agency Wam.



The panel, which recently held its meeting at the headquarters of the Sharjah Department of Planning and Survey, however rejected 63 requests as they did not meet the required conditions, stated the report citing a senior official.



Waleed bin Falah Al Mansouri, the chairman of the committee, said the members discussed the required land allocation conditions and the mechanism of distributing and withdrawing them.Global shipping, logistics and marine service provider GAC has launched a brand refresher campaign incorporating a bold new series of advertisements.

After engagement with GAC staff and customers around the world, the company has unveiled an evocative series of advertisements that aims to capture and convey GACs unique capabilities across a diverse array of sectors and vertical markets.

Designed to reflect the world-leading expertise, creativity and can-do spirit with which GAC approaches its global operations, the new approach uses imagery that is not typically associated with shipping and logistics.

Stuart Bowie, GAC Group vice president commercial, said: Our intention is that GACs brand continues to reflect the skills, values and commitment that our customers see in our work on the ground, day after day. Its not often that you see images of a terrapin on a skateboard or a map on a chocolate cake  especially not in the shipping and logistics business.

We believe our business requires creative thinking and imagination, particularly at a time of disruption, uncertainty and volatility. There are elements of this campaign that our customers will recognise  a distinctive focus on the breadth of our global reach, the depth of our experience and the strength of our values, but with a fresh look and a striking range of imagery that is as diverse as our portfolio of services.

This new brand campaign echoes our ambition to be innovative, to challenge the status quo and to ensure that we are fit to help our customers tackle the challenges of the future.

The new brand materials will be rolled out across GACs print and digital channels, as well as at industry events that we are participating in, as part of a fully integrated communications programme, the company said. - TradeArabia News ServiceBy Siddhant Mohan, TwoCircles.net

In a tragic turn of events, a Muslim girl named Zaibunnisa committed suicide on January 25 after allegedly facing violence and harassment from her teacher for not performing well during Republic Day parade rehearsals.

Zaibunnisa Safreena, the 14-year-old daughter of Mohammad Ibrahim and Zubaida, was a student of Class Eight in Navodaya Minority Residential School at KR Pet in Mandya district of Karnataka. She called her mother around 4.30 pm on January 25 and asked her to get her out of the school.

Support TwoCircles



During the call made by Zaibunnisa using her friends phone, she also complained about one abusive teacher identified as Ravi and told her mother that she did not want to study in that school anymore.

About an hour after she hung up, her friends noticed her body hanging from the ceiling. School administration soon rushed to the room and took the body down. Zaibunnisa was taken to a local hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead.

In the preliminary investigation conducted by KR Pet police, the teachers including Ravi informed police that Zaibunnisa committed suicide. But Zaibunnisas parents insist that she was murdered by the accused teacher.

Moreover, when police conducted an inquiry with the hostel-mates and classmates of the Zaibunnisa, many admitted the fact that Ravi had been constantly harassing Zaibunnisa over various issues, and she was indeed disturbed by this. On January 25, Ravi allegedly assaulted Zaibunnisa with a rod in front of many students for not performing well during rehearsals.

Zaibunnisas mother told local media that on her last call, Zaibunnisa informed her mother that Ravi even threatened her to strip and thrash her. Zubaida tried to console her daughter by confirming her that she would go to the school next week and talk with school authority over this issue.

Soon after the Zaibunnisas parents reached the hospitals Mortuary, various personnel including relatives of Zaibunnisa and members of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) staged a protest outside mortuary demanding justice and immediate arrest of the accused teacher Ravi. Police arrested Ravi later on the charge of abetment to suicide.

G Radhika, the Superintendent of Police at Mandya, told TwoCircles.net, Ravi has been sent to judicial custody and police is still investigating the case. Soon after the incident was reported, the school was closed till Sunday. As the school is opening again on January 29, the police will resume questioning and collecting evidence to reach a conclusion, she added.

Kripa Alva, the chairperson at Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, has said on Sunday that officials of the education department, teachers of the residential school and the staff would be summoned before the commission and a detailed inquiry would be conducted within a week.

My aim is to put in honest efforts towards providing justice to the aggrieved family, she told media on Sunday.New Delhi (IANS): The Supreme Court on Monday sought the Maharashtra governments response on a plea by 2008 Malegaon bomb blast accused Lt. Col. Prasad Shrikant Purohit.

In the plea, Purohit challenged the proceedings against him under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court in the absence of valid sanction from the competent authority.

Seeking a response from the Maharashtra government, the bench of Justice R.K. Agrawal and Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre declined to interfere with the trial court proceedings in the matter.

Support TwoCircles



Earlier, the Bombay High Court had dismissed the plea by Purohit.

The trial court in its December 27, 2017 order, while discharging Purohit of the offences under the MCOC Act and the offences punishable under certain provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, had decided to proceed against him under other provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

Purohit has contended that proceedings against him are in the absence of valid sanction from the competent authorities, and are thus a miscarriage of justice and bad in law.Bengaluru (IANS): Actor Prakash Raj, on Monday decried a fake statement on secularism and tolerance attributed to him. He also urged people to question fearlessly.

The actor, who has been vocal about being anti-Modi, tweeted a photograph which features his image and the lines All Hindus should learn secularism Hindus have been wiped out from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kashmir. They never sought revenge from Muslims.

They silently embraced death. All Hindus should learn secularism and tolerance from those Hindus.

Support TwoCircles



Prakash marked it as fake news and captioned it: By spreading such lies, instead of debating my views, you are proving to the world how frustrated desperate and the cheap levels you can stoop down.

He then urged: Dear citizens, please like and retweet this to show such cowards that we stand for a fearless society which questions.

Prakash has been of late quite active with his Just Asking hashtag on Twitter, where he raises pertinent questions related to socio-political issues.

During a conclave earlier this month, he had commented on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and BJP leader-cum-central minister Anant Kumar Hegde, saying: I am anti-Modi, anti-Amit Shah and anti-Hegde.By TCN News

The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding Indias pluralist and tolerant ethos, organized celebrations in two cities in the United States to commemorate the 69th anniversary of Indias Republic Day. The Republic Day marks the day when Indias Constitution came into effect, ushering in the birth of a modern, secular and democratic Republic. The celebrations were held in Washington, D.C. as well as in San Diego, California.

The guarantees of Justice, Liberty, and Equality for all citizens, enshrined in the preamble to the Constitution collectively represent one of the greatest accomplishments in the cause of pluralism. A remarkable document that should be cherished and celebrated and that represents the highest aspirations of the worlds largest democracy, said Ahsan Khan, National President of IAMC. These guarantees are also a reminder of the ideals we need to live up to and the promises we still need to keep, added Khan.

Support TwoCircles



Commenting on the occasion, Seema Salim, the National Vice President of IAMC expressed pride over the ideals espoused by the Indian constitution as well as concern over the prevailing socio-political environment in India. She called for an awakening of the silent majority against the increasing divisiveness, violence, and hate unleashed upon the religious minorities in India. The Republic Day celebrations remind us yet again, that the foundations of the Indian Republic are based on the ideals of justice, pluralism, and democracy, said Salim. Unfortunately, the Indian Constitution remains under threat, by the onslaught of a relentlessly divisive and hateful agenda, espoused by narrow sectarian interests. Certainly, we cant achieve a real democracy when the nation is in the grips of a sectarian divide, with citizens pitted against each other on the basis of caste and religion, Salim further added.

IAMC has consistently marked Annual Republic Day celebrations in different cities across the US for over 11 years. This years festivities include speeches celebrating the Constitution, a fancy-dress competition, Impromptu speaking, Drawing competition and events highlighting Indias diversity.New Delhi (IANS): The Congress on Monday questioned the governments sincerity in fighting corruption and asked why it has not appointed a Lokpal yet despite Parliament giving nod to the Bill in 2013.

Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and the government also through the Presidents address has spoken about the fight against corruption. Our question is and a charge against the government  that they are not sincere over the issue of corruption, Congress leader Anand Sharma told media here.

Why have they not appointed the Lokpal? The law is there, what has prevented Narendra Modi and his government from appointing a Lokpal in the almost last four years? Sharma, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, asked.

Support TwoCircles



Under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, ombudsmen are to be appointed at the Centre and in states for inquiring into allegations of corruption against public functionaries.

The Lokpal Bill was passed by Parliament in 2013, but the appointment of the anti-corruption ombudsman is stuck in procedural wranglings for the last four years.By Siddhant Mohan, TwoCircles.net

The UP government has once again cancelled the state holiday on Ravidas Jayanti from its list of holidays of state-run schools and has directed schools to hold functions in Sant Ravidas honour.

Just a week ago, Ravidas Jayanti-falling on January 31 this year-along with Karpuri Thakurs birthday was reinstated in the list of holidays. In the initial days of the UP government, the Yogi Adityanath-led government had scrapped these two days from its list of holidays.

Support TwoCircles



The new order, which came on Monday evening, asked all schools in the state to conduct various programmes related to Sant Ravidas. The order states that the schools can celebrate the day with debates, quiz, seminars, special lectures and competitions over the life and work of Sant Ravidas.

The order  issued by School Inspector Mukesh Kumar Singh  has also asked schools to submit photographs and details of the functions organised.

When UP government restored the holiday on Ravidas Jayanti a few days ago, it was seen as the politically motivated step. Eastern Uttar Pradesh  especially Varanasi as the birthplace of Ravidas  is a larger centre for devotees of Sant Ravidas. Every year, millions of devotees of Ravidas, called Raidasi, come to Varanasi on the occasion of Ravidas Jayanti and stay almost for a week.

Both the Congress and Samajwadi Party used Ravidas Jayanti to attract the Dalit and Sikh votes, especially when ex-speaker of Lok Sabha and Congress leader Meira Kumar started visiting Ravidas temple in Varanasi about five years ago. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is also scheduled to visit Varanasi on January 31 this year, where he will visit Ravidas temple and meet Raidasis.[January 29, 2018] Pareteum Adds IP/PBX Features into Global Cloud and Managed Service Offering

NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Pareteum Corporation (NYSE American: TEUM), ("Pareteum" or the "Company"), the rapidly growing Cloud Communications Platform company, today announced it has completed development of capabilities to host VoIP/PBX solutions on its Global Cloud Platform (Voice over Internet Protocol, Private Branch Exchange). The new commercial VoIP feature being offered to all Pareteum's Global Cloud customers is synergistic with the existing cloud services platform. These new features enable vertically integrated services that expand Pareteum's addressable market into the merged Mobile and VOIP/PBX services arena; this means your desktop, laptop and mobile device can perfectly mirror your virtual office IP/PBX, anytime and anywhere. Other examples of use include enterprises or call centers with multiple sites and multiple numbers managed by one cloud. This scalable new telephony platform interconnects with popular communication protocols and provides features on demand without tedious development work. According to a report by Zion Research, "The global demand for VoIP services market is expected to reach above USD 140 billion in 2021." Research also suggests CAGR is expected to grow at a rate of 10% by 2021, and it's estimated that there are approximately 1 billion users of mobile VoIP today. Vic Bozzo, CEO of Pareteum, stated, "These platform enhancements are a natural fit for our customers as IP/PBX subscribers merge together with mobile connections. The offering expands the services our customers can deliver. This continues the goal for our Global Cloud Services Platform to be a single solution for the needs of the market." Hal Turner, Executive Chairman and Principal Executive Officer of Pareteum, added, "Increasing the breadth of offerings through complete verical integration and ongoing expansion of application solutions for our customers is a top priority. With this addition to our cloud, we welcome the opportunity to support more unique connections (subscribers, devices, and their usage); it is our experience that customers, especially enterprises and local businesses, want to deal with one trusted vendor for all their mobile and IT needs. The Pareteum services suite is optimized for that, as well as, secure Blockchain payment systems. We think this combination touches the heart of needs for businesses of all sizes. As we make it easier and easier for our customers to do business with us, and to get all their needs met from one trusted source, we expect our satisfied customer count to continue its rapid growth. The demand derived from adding these services expands our addressable market, and will drive revenue and connections growth through our sales successes."



About Pareteum Corporation

The mission of Pareteum Corporation (NYSE American: TEUM) is to connect "every person and everything". Organizations use Pareteum to energize their growth and profitability through cloud communication services and complete turnkey solutions featuring relevant content, applications, and connectivity worldwide. By harnessing the value of communications, Pareteum serves retail, enterprise and IoT customers. Pareteum currently has offices in New York, Sao Paulo, Madrid, Barcelona, Bahrain and the Netherlands. For more information please visit: www.pareteum.com. Forward Looking Statements:

Certain statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to Pareteum's plans and objectives, projections, expectations and intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about Pareteum's industry, management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Because such statements involve risks and uncertainties, the actual results and performance of Pareteum may differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Unless otherwise required by law, Pareteum also disclaims any obligation to update its view of any such risks or uncertainties or to announce publicly the result of any revisions to the forward-looking statements made here. Additional information concerning certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested in Pareteum's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are available from the SEC or may be obtained upon request from Pareteum Corporation.

Pareteum Investor Relations Contacts:

Ted O'Donnell

Chief Financial Officer

(212) 984-1096

InvestorRelations@pareteum.com Hayden IR

(917) 658-7878 View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pareteum-adds-ippbx-features-into-global-cloud-and-managed-service-offering-300589312.html SOURCE Pareteum Corporation

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][January 29, 2018] Empirix OneSight Solution Boasts DevConnect Certification

Empirix (News - Alert) , Inc., the recognized leader in end-to-end network performance visibility with the unique ability to analyze customer behaviors by application in real time, is proud to announce its Avaya (News - Alert) DevConnect certification. This certification is available for its IT service management (ITSM) platform, OneSight, to monitor the Avaya Aura platform. Empirix OneSight serves as the key service-level and problem management engine for contact center operations and IT service management professionals. The latest release of the solution features automated Avaya Aura profiles for key service-level metrics with out-of-the-box deployment capabilities. Users can establish service-level objectives with pre-existing profiles, and benefit from reduced time to deploy new technologies. "As companies push technologies to the cloud, OneSight serves an important role in managing service levels and providing visibility into hosted providers' operations," shared Erik Delorey, Product Management for Empirix. "This Avaya DevConnect (News - Alert) certification ensures that a company's communication link to its customers is available and operating efficiently, regardless of where the Avaya system is located." Empirix will showcase its solutions, including OneSight, at Avaya ENGAGE 2018 this week in New Orleans, Louisiana. To learn more, visit: www.empirix.com



About Empirix

Empirix is the recognized leader in end-to-end network performance visibility with the unique ability to analyze customer behaviors by application in real time. We help service providers, mobile operators, contact centers and businesses master complexities and optimize business processes to reduce operational costs, maximize customer retention and grow top-line revenue. Through testing, monitoring, analytics and intelligence, Empirix helps companies around the world realize the full value of their technology investments. Empirix was acquired in 2013 by private equity firm Thoma Bravo as the first step in an aggressive strategy to take advantage of growth opportunities in the network services industry. The company is creating a comprehensive portfolio of end-to-end network service assurance solutions that will offer customers an integrated performance management solution in an otherwise fragmented market. Empirix is a trademark of Empirix, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

About Avaya

Avaya enables the mission critical, real-time communication applications of the world's most important operations. As a global leader in delivering superior communications experiences, Avaya provides the most complete portfolio of software and services for contact center and unified communications-offered on premises, in the cloud, or a hybrid. Today's digital world requires communications enablement, and no other company is better positioned to do this than Avaya. For more information, please visit www.avaya.com. Avaya Aura Avaya and the Avaya logo are trademarks of Avaya Inc. and are registered in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks identified by , TM, or SM are registered marks, trademarks, and service marks, respectively, of Avaya Inc. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180129005004/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]Earlier this month, Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 into law, marking the biggest overhaul in the tax code in decades. While Republicans promoted the bill as a tax cut for middle class earners, one high-profiled conservative senator decided to say what many already knew.

Rubio on tax bill

On economics and taxes, Republicans and Democrats are on the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to their ideology and policy. For decades, both parties have fought it out over how to move forward, and with Donald Trump in office with a Republican-majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, it was only a matter of time before action was taken.

Though the president and Congress clashed at times, they were able to get on the same page heading into the holiday season and pass the bill in question. Commenting on the Tax Bill was Florida Sen. Marco Rubio who broke from the narrative pushed by the president, as reported by CBS News on December 29.

The GOP tax bill "probably went too far" in helping corporations, Sen. Marco Rubio told Florida's News-Press in interview published Friday https://t.co/zLT1SvU9ns pic.twitter.com/v1qKxd41Ge  CBS News (@CBSNews) December 29, 2017

"I thought we probably went too far on corporations," Marco Rubio said of the tax bill during a recent interview, admitting, "If I were king for a day, this tax bill would have looked different." "You're going to see a lot of these multinationals buy back shares to drive up the price," Rubio predicted, while pointing out, "They're sitting on historic levels of cash, to pay out dividends to shareholders."

Instant backlash

After Marco Rubio's remarks about the GOP tax bill made the rounds, Twitter users made sure to chime in.

"@marcorubio hopes we will forget in 5 years how he voted on the #TaxScamBill Pro tip: We wont," one tweet read.

Yeah, @marcorubio, ya think? Instead of voting for that horrific #GOPTaxBillScam, you should have served your constituents, you fucking coward, and voted against it. It isn't like companies made a secret of what they would do. #economy  Southern Muse (@MuseOfTheSouth) December 29, 2017

@marcorubio Should have voted NO and taken the high road. Had your chance! Now you have put yourself in the MUD!  Elaine petrucci (@Elainepetrucci1) December 29, 2017

@marcorubio hopes we will forget in 5 years how he voted on the #TaxScamBill Pro tip: We wont.  Bill Shepherd (@shepherd1230) December 29, 2017

"Should have voted NO and taken the high road.

Had your chance! Now you have put yourself in the MUD!" another tweet added. "You can say what you want but your name is on the #Trumpanomics bill, it's your legacy," another Twitter user wrote.

BINGO @marcorubio then one must really wonder WHY the fuck did you vote for the tax bill?!? Oh wait... could it be because youre just a puppet... dont try and play both sides now you voted for the bill... https://t.co/ANE8ZqEojk  Edgar H. Campa (@TheEdgarCampa) December 29, 2017

@marcorubio now you have voter remorse? You had, continue having and will always have grape seed sized balls. Once 2018 cycle comes around and GOP starts to become minority, your vote of pay for play donors will hurt you even more. @ananavarro @Lawrence @SenatorCollins @RWPUSA  JoK (@99MorningCoffee) December 29, 2017

@marcorubio Thanks for that terrific insight on the tax bill going too far. 1st That insight could have been a little more useful BEFORE you voted for it. 2nd, you just said what everyone with more than a high school education already knew.  JaimeC (@jaimedollar) December 29, 2017

"Instead of voting for that horrific #GOPTaxBillScam, you should have served your constituents, you fu**ing coward," an additional tweet pointed out.

"Then one must really wonder WHY the fu** did you vote for the tax bill?!?" another tweet asked. Though the Republican Party, besides Rubio, continues to praise the tax bill, non-partisan studies have shown that while the middle class will see a short-term tax break, those at the top of the income ladder, as well as corporations, will see the biggest benefits. In additional, the bill is expected to add close to $1.5 trillion to the national debt over the next decade.On Tuesday night, Donald Trump will deliver his second State of the Union address. After offering comments about his speech to reporters at the White House, the president got a reminder that many will not be tuning in.

Trump's speech

When Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the 2016 general election, it was only a matter of time before backlash followed. In the weeks leading up to his inauguration, protests took place in various cities, peaking during Inauguration Day when millions took part in the Women's March. Just days later and Trump gave his first State of the Union speech which kicked off a presidency that currently has an approval rating of less than 40 percent.

Watch: Trump previews State of the Union address, discusses international trade, jokes with reporters:



"It's going to be a very important speech on trade...I hope you enjoy it." pic.twitter.com/MIRbbMyc4f  NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) January 29, 2018

At the White House on Monday afternoon, Donald Trump took part in the swearing-in ceremony of Alex Azar as the new Health and Human Services Secretary. After giving a short speech, Trump was asked about his State of the Union speech this Tuesday. "It's going to be good. We worked on it hard, covered a lot of territory, including our great success with the markets and with the tax cut," Trump said. "Its a big speech. An important speech. We will cover immigration," he added.

Backlash follows

With the negative vibes surrounding his administration, it didn't come as a surprise that critics of Donald Trump on social media spoke out in boycott of Tuesday night's SOTU speech. "The only speech of Trump's I would enjoy would begin, 'Mr. Secretary of State,' end with "I resign," and have nothing in between," one tweet read.

Nothing hurts Trump's ego more than a ratings defeat!



This is why on Jan 30th I'm calling for an official boycott of his State of the Union Address.



Instead I am calling for everyone to tune in to @JimmyKimmelLive and his interview of porn star Stormy Daniels.



RETWEET!!  Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) January 28, 2018

All I can think of is that it must have soaked up a lot of urine. Thats gross and I wish hed wear a different tie so I wouldnt have to think it.  Cynthia, Irritated. (@Ab_Synthia) January 29, 2018

"It will be a total waste of peoples time.

Rent a movie instead," another tweet added. "Probably a lot of sniffing," a Twitter user wrote in reference to Donald Trump's past stuffy nose during speeches. After a tweet asked why Trump seems to always wear the same suit and tie, a social media user replied, "All I can think of is that it must have soaked up a lot of urine. Thats gross and I wish hed wear a different tie so I wouldnt have to think it."

Trump talking about Trump. Ill pass.  Ron Grimsley (@ron_grimsley) January 29, 2018

Don't believe a word from the "hostage taker" Trump about immigration. He could care less about dreamers, he's more interested in HIS wall.  Bart (@barto935) January 29, 2018

It will be a total waste of peoples time.

Rent a movie instead.  jill waters (@toshy1) January 29, 2018

"Don't believe a word from the 'hostage taker' Trump about immigration.

He could care less about dreamers, he's more interested in HIS wall," an additional tweet went on to read. "Trump talking about Trump. Ill pass," yet another tweet stated. While many have made it clear that they will not be watching the State of the Union, others will be tuning in as the speech is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. EST and will be broadcasted on most local and cable news networks from the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.On Sunday night, Donald Trump's interview with British TV host Piers Morgan was broadcasted. The two men addressed a variety of topics, with the president even breaking his silence about not getting an invitation to the upcoming Royal Wedding.

Trump and Royal Wedding

When it was announced that Prince Harry was engaged to American actress Meghan Markle, all eyes were set on the Royal Wedding. News outlets around the world were captivated by the details surrounding the upcoming event, including back in the United States. For Americans, the unanswered question was whether or not President Donald Trump would receive an invitation.

It's been well-documented that the couple are not fans of the former host of "The Apprentice," with Markle having describe Trump in the past as "divisive" and also "misogynistic."

Donald Trump addresses lack of royal wedding invite https://t.co/MPB62SQwrB  The Independent (@Independent) January 28, 2018

In recent months, speculation has increased about whether Trump would be invited due to being the American presiden, as well as whether or not former President Barack Obama would attend due to being friends with Prince Harry. According to The Sun on January 28, Trump has decided to open up.

Donald Trump 'not aware' of any royal wedding invite https://t.co/sFfdqb6Xc3  BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) January 28, 2018

While speaking to Piers Morgan in an interview that aired on Sunday night, Donald Trump admitted that hasn't been invited to the Royal Wedding.

"Not that I know of," Trump said in regards to if he's received the invitation. Morgan then pressed Trump on whether or not he even wanted to go, to which he replied, "I want them to be happy. I really want them to be happy. They look like a lovely couple."

"Meghan Markle did say you were a divisive misogynist," Piers Morgan asked in a follow-up question.

"Well," Trump said, adding, "I still hope theyre happy." In addition, Trump also spoke about his mother, Scottish-borb Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, and her love for the United Kingdom and the Royal Family. "She had a love for the Royal Family. She really respected the Queen, and she loved the pomp and ceremony," he said.

Next up

The Royal Wedding is penciled in for Saturday, May 19 and will take place at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in England. As of press time, Donald Trump and Melania Trump have not been invited, and speculation has increased on if Barack Obama and Michelle Obama will be attending. While Trump is not popular in the United States, with an approval rating consistently under 40 percent, his standing internationally is not any better. Just last week, Trump visited Davos, Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum, while thousands took to the streets to protest his arrival.It was earlier this month that Donald Trump came under fire for referring to several foreign countries as a "sh*tihole." After rapper Jay-Z decided to give his thoughts, the president made sure to chime in.

Trump on Jay-Z

Donald Trump met with lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic Party two weeks ago at the White House in an attempt to find common ground on the issue of immigration reform. When presented with the proposal of allowing protections for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador, and countries in Africa, the former host of "The Apprentice" dismissed the notion and referred to those nations as a "sh*thole." As expected, Trump quickly faced backlash for his remarks, with members of the media and others condemning the insulting comment.

Fast forward to earlier this week when rapper and media mogul Jay-Z was interviewed by CNN and ask to address Trump and his remarks. Jay-Z pushed back, saying Trump was being "hurtful" and that he was "looking down on a whole population of people and he's so misinformed." In response, Trump hit back during a January 28 post on Twitter.

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

Taking to Twitter on Sunday morning, Donald Trump went on the attack against Jay-Z. "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 out.

Jay-Z said Trump's comments expose a larger problem of racism in this country and the way that people still talk behind closed doors.https://t.co/1On8JD7ahu  CNN Entertainment (@CNNent) January 27, 2018

In a follow-up post, Donald Trump elaborated on the current state of the economy. "Our economy is better than it has been in many decades," Trump tweeted out.

"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," he added, while concluding, "We are on the right track!"

Twitter reacts

Not long after Donald Trump's tweets, critics on Twitter lashed out. "Black Unemployment has been trending downward for several years.

You did not break this trend-line. It's not your doing," one tweet read.

Maybe we should allow Black people like Jay-Z tell us how they think you are doing in terms of helping other Black people.  Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) January 28, 2018

truly a mystery, Dave.  Baron Davos (@ThomasAwful) January 28, 2018

"Why? Did you block him so he cant see your tweets?" one Twitter user wondered. "LOL oh now youve done it. The queen Beyonce is coming for ya!" an additional tweet stated.

Okay, sir, I will get on my Jay-Z phone and give that young fellow a talking to. I cant believe youre the president of the United States.  JulieGaughran (@gaughran444) January 28, 2018

Someone tell Donald Trump that Jay Z is a rich guy on a different level than him and doesnt need to be wasting his time with scrubs.  CB Bellerose (@sparesoul) January 28, 2018

Why? Did you block him so he cant see your tweets?  Kait (@ClevelandKait) January 28, 2018

"Someone tell Donald Trump that Jay-Z is a rich guy on a different level than him and doesnt need to be wasting his time with scrubs," a follow-up tweet added. "Okay, sir, I will get on my Jay-Z phone and give that young fellow a talking to. I cant believe youre the president of the United States," yet another tweet added.Javi Marroquin's ex-wife, Kailyn Lowry, traveled to Miami, Florida for a number of plastic surgeries for the second time several days ago. However, after enjoying some time with her youngest son, five-month-old Lux Russell, on the beach, the "Teen Mom 2" star opted out of the procedure and decided there was a better way to get her body back to its normal size.

On Twitter, after canceling the plastic surgeries just hours before they were scheduled to begin, Kailyn Lowry took to her Twitter page and said that she had traveled to Florida for a breast augmentation and liposuction.

"Hours before my surgery, I decided I don't want to go through with it," Lowry explained. The longtime reality star and mother of three then said that once she returned to her home in Delaware, she would use the money she was going to use for her plastic surgery procedures to pay for a nutritionist and get back to working out.

What does Javi Marroquin think of Kailyn Lowry's decision?

One day after her tweet was shared, Javi Marroquin spoke to E! News, confirming that he was "super proud" of Kailyn Lowry for her decision to pass up going under the knife for a second time. As he explained, he used to tell her frequently that it is better to alter her body naturally than through surgery. That way, the reward is greater.

Kailyn Lowry previously traveled to Florida in early 2016 for several surgeries by Dr. Michael Salzhauer, who also goes by the nickname Dr. Miami. At the time, Lowry underwent chin liposuction, a Brazilian butt lift, and a tummy tuck. However, later that same year, Lowry became pregnant with the son of her now-ex-boyfriend Chris Lopez.

Right away, fans questioned why she would get pregnant so soon after spending money on getting her body back to size.

Javi Marroquin supports whatever makes Kailyn Lowry happy

Javi Marroquin, who shares a four-year-old son with Lowry, also weighed in on the "Teen Mom 2" star's decision against surgery on Twitter, telling his fans and followers he is happy with whatever is going to make Kailyn Lowry happy with herself.

To see more of Kailyn Lowry, Javi Marroquin, and their co-stars, including Jo Rivera, Vee Torres, Jenelle Evans, David Eason, Nathan Griffith, Leah Messer, Jeremy Calvert, Corey Simms, Chelsea Houska, Cole DeBoer, and Briana DeJesus, tune in to the upcoming season of "Teen Mom 2." The new season is expected to premiere on MTV sometime in the coming months.Over the last two weeks, one of the hottest stories in the headlines has been over the reports that Donald Trump paid off adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about their alleged affair. With the backlash still lingering, the first lady's offical spokeswoman has decided to relay a message for the president's wife.

Melania's stance

It's no secret that Donald Trump has had a questionable history with women. The former host of "The Apprentice" has been married on three different occasions, with multiple allegations of extramarital affairs hanging over his head for decades.

After the release of the now infamous "Access Hollywood" tape in October 2016, a dozen women came forward to accuse Trump of various forms of sexual assault and harassment.

Melania Trump breaks silence over President's alleged 'porn star affair' https://t.co/koEtQunh6B  The Independent (@Independent) January 28, 2018

Fast forward to present day and the rise of the "Me Too" movement has put an extra spotlight on the president, in addition to controversial information in the book "Fire and Fury" by Michael Wolff adding fuel to the fire. The latest claims revolve around adult film star Stormy Daniels who allegedly had an affair with Trump back in 2006 while his wife Melania was pregnant, leading to additional, but unconfirmed reports, claiming the first lady had moved out of the White House.

With the news hitting the press, Melania's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham sent a message from the first lady out on Twitter.

BREAKING:The laundry list of salacious & flat-out false reporting about Mrs. Trump by tabloid publications & TV shows has seeped into "main stream media" reporting. She is focused on her family & role as FLOTUS - not the unrealistic scenarios being peddled daily by the fake news.  Stephanie Grisham (@StephGrisham45) January 26, 2018

Melania, via Grisham, labeled recent reports as "salacious and flat-out false." "(Melania) is focused on her family & role as FLOTUS," the tweet went on to read, while doubling down on the reports as being "unrealistic scenarios being peddled daily by the fake news."

Next up

Speculation about trouble between the first couple kicked into high gear after the office of the First Lady announced that Melania Trump had canceled her plans to accompany Donald Trump to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum last week.

In addition, the two didn't publicly acknowledge their 13th wedding anniversary last last Monday, leading to many wondering if there was trouble with the Trumps over the reported affair rumors. To rub salt in the wound, Stormy Daniels is set to be interviewed by Jimmy Kimmel on Tuesday night, just as Trump is finishing his State of the Union address.

As of press time, the president hasn't spoken about the personal issue, and instead has directed his attention to his problems with the FBI and the Russian investigation, as well as attacking rapper Jay-Z during an early Sunday morning tweet.On Sunday night, the 60th Annual Grammy Awards took place and as expected, it got political at times. In response, United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley decided to speak out on Twitter.

I have always loved the Grammys but to have artists read the Fire and Fury book killed it. Dont ruin great music with trash. Some of us love music without the politics thrown in it.  Nikki Haley (@nikkihaley) January 29, 2018

Haley on Grammys

Just like the Academy Awards and the Emmy Awards, the Grammy Awards became another platform for celebrities to express their disdain for Donald Trump and the current administration.

On Sunday night, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took part in a skit along side several celebrities who decided to read passages from Michael Wolff's "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House." "One reason why he liked to eat at McDonald's: Nobody knew he was coming and the food was safely premade," Clinton read. "His comb-over: A product called Just for Men," Cher read. Other artists like John Legend, Snoop Dog, and Cardi B also did readings of their own. When the segment ended, supporters of the president were not happy, which was evident during a January 28 tweet by Nikki Haley.

Taking to Twitter on January 28, Nikki Haley expressed her frustration at the Grammy Awards for becoming too political in regards to the "Fire and Fury" segment.

"I have always loved the grammys but to have artists read the Fire and Fury book killed it," Haley wrote. "Dont ruin great music with trash," she added, while concluding, "Some of us love music without the politics thrown in it."

Instant reaction

Not long after Nikki Haley sent out her tweet, critics of the administration quickly fired back.

"Oh please you know if it was pointed at Obama youd be silent on this issue. Youre ambassador to the UN youve got better things to do than tweeting like your boss," one tweet read.

LOL your boss took a break from assaulting women & targeting minoritys to tweet about Jay Z and you had nothing to say. Artists are *supposed* to speak out against injustice.  Anil Dash (@anildash) January 29, 2018

you should pick up a history book: music has always been political in this country.  Varsha Venkatasubramanian (@_varsha_venkat) January 29, 2018

Oh please you know if it was pointed at Obama youd be silent on this issue. Youre ambassador to the UN youve got better things to do than tweeting like your boss  Jack the Snack (@jmcconnell522) January 29, 2018

"Music and art is political," one tweet read.

"Having a sense of humor might help here," Don Moyhihan tweeted out. "Oh please give me a break! You sit back silent as Trump trashes nearly every person in this country who isnt white or doesnt worship the ground he walks on. If you want to stand up with a message you better get your moral compass in the right direction first sister," yet another tweet added.

some of us citizens, don't like our politicians to be complicit and spineless while burning down our reputation all over the world and supporting a bumbling idiot. so... whateva, lady.  I, Howie (@howieEkremer) January 29, 2018

Oh please give me a break! You sit back silent as Trump trashes nearly every person in this country who isnt white or doesnt worship the ground he walks on. If you want to stand up with a message you better get your moral compass in the right direction first sister.  preising (@preising) January 29, 2018

But its ok for Donald Trump to trash Jay-Z, Meryl Streep, the cast of Hamilton, etc?  Andrew Weinstein (@Weinsteinlaw) January 29, 2018

"LOL your boss took a break from assaulting women & targeting minoritys to tweet about Jay Z and you had nothing to say.

Artists are *supposed* to speak out against injustice," Anil Dash wrote. "Some of us citizens, don't like our politicians to be complicit and spineless while burning down our reputation all over the world and supporting a bumbling idiot. so... whateva, lady," a Twitter user wrote.Stephen McGee is back with the cast of Bravo's reality show, "Summer House," for their second season, which premiered last week. On Friday night (Jan. 26), he appeared on a special live version of the talk show, "The Morning Breath." The show could be streamed live on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube and is still available to watch on YouTube or listen to as a podcast.

Did Carl and Scheana have a fling?

Toward the end of the show, and after a few cocktails, Stephen let the audience in on a secret. He claimed that his former friend Carl, who lived in the Hamptons house with him this summer, had slept with the star of another Bravo reality show.

McGee said that he had been with "Vanderpump Rules" star scheana Marie and Carl Radke at Carl's apartment in New York City back in early December, and that the two seemed very comfortable with one another and that "she knew where everything was" in his home, suggesting that she had definitely been there before.

Stephen and Carl's demise

McGee said that while he was close with Carl in the first season of "Summer House," they are nowhere near as good of friends these days. Carl had been dating his co-star Lauren Wirkus last summer, but he informed "The Morning Breath" audience that he had cheated on her with someone who he knew.

Stephen was also upset because Carl supposedly told a number of lies about him while filming the latest season of "Summer House," and hopes it will all be addressed at some point.

Scheana's hectic love life

Meanwhile, it was not long ago that "Vanderpump Rules" fans were watching Scheana Marie walk down the aisle to marry Mike Shay, however, that marriage was short-lived and plagued by drug and alcohol abuse. The couple divorced and Scheana bounced back into a relationship with a man she had been dating before she got married, Robert Valletta.

This season on "Vanderpump Rules," katie maloney informed Scheana that people were gossiping about the fact that Rob had allegedly kissed another woman at a local restaurant. Scheana tried to pretend she was unaffected and denied the accusations, but the relationship did not end up lasting.

Scheana and Rob broke up in October, after less than a year of dating, Page Six reported.

Robert confirmed the split on Instagram when a follower asked him where his "beautiful girlfriend" was staying, "Sadly, we broke up, we are still amazing friends and we adore each other. We will see what happens."

After the episode aired recently, Scheana posted a photo of the two saying, "No matter what, we will always stand by each other."

Currently, the "Vanderpump Rules" star is living in Las Vegas and starring in a live production of "Sex Tips For Straight Women From A Gay Man."

Scheana has not commented on the accusations that she and Carl have slept together.Carol Christine Fair, who according to her Facebook page and Twitter account, is on the left of politics and a feminist non-theist, is being sued by german police in Frankfurt, Germany after she called them nazis when they told her that she could not take any liquids in her luggage through the Security checkpoint, the Independent UK reported.

German Federal Police (Polizei) Officers stated that when, Fair, a 49-year-old Associate Professor at Georgetown University became irrational and infuriated with their request, she in turn called them f***ing bastards and then called them, f***ing German Nazi police.

Fair denies she made those statements

Fair has repudiated the claim that she referred to the police officers as Nazis during the disagreement at Germanys Frankfurt International Airport security checkpoint. She said she was confounded when she pointed out that the German officer had seized her deodorant while the officers allowed what she called, a Nazi-looking man with a Nazi Hitler youth-type haircut who was nearby and was allowed to pass through security.

After the incident, Fair was taken to the local German police station where an investigation was launched to see if theres a cause or suspicion of the use of slander against the police officers. While she was allowed to continue her trip to Turkey, she had to deposit 183 euros, or $260, before she could leave for future legal procedures in court.

While Fair penned an article on Huffington Post claiming that she did not use those words and the German police are lying, and that she intends to file a lawsuit, the German police stated that Fair, through her Twitter tweets about the officers calling them nothing but bullies and thugs in uniform has now become additional evidence in their initial investigation of the airport incident.

The real moral of the story is a corrupt cop is being sheltered by his force, the @bpol_air_fra. If you think it's okay for a cop to arrest someone over a customer service complaint, you don't deserve democracy. Also @bpol_air_fra violated Germany's own privacy laws 2 defend him. https://t.co/fJjMMFkviV  (((Christine Fair))) (@CChristineFair) January 28, 2018

Frankfurt airport public relations response

Germanys airport public relations spokesman, Michael Moser released statements concerning the incident and stated that when Fairs baggage went through the airport's x-ray machine, it had indicated that Fairs luggage may hold explosive substances. Due to German law, Fairs security screening agent reached out to the German police officers to inspect the luggage further.

After they had finished checking her luggage, the officers had come to the conclusion that what was in Fairs luggage didnt comprise of any explosive material. Upon further inspection, they did find that she had several cosmetic articles and that the cosmetics were not inside a transparent bag, as required by European Union as well as international governing security regulations.

Moser also stated that she had surpassed the permissible amount of carry-on liquids. The police officers did suggest to Fair that she put a roll-on type deodorant item into her check-in baggage instead of her carry-on travel luggage, which would have allowed her to be within the guidelines of allowable liquids or just dispose of the liquid deodorant there at the airport.One of the tragic manifestations of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was mass migration - the Azerbaijanis fled from Armenia, the Armenians fled from Azerbaijan. The terms of the conflict settlement are still unknown, and the authorities are forced to settle people into temporary housing. However, if Baku builds cottage settlements for refugees with all the necessary infrastructure, then in Yerevan has big problems with settling people. And it's not the only problem.

A resident of the hostel in the city of Abovyan, Stella Harutyunyan, speaking with Epress.am a year and a half ago, told about the problems facing the Azerbaijani refugees in Armenia for already the third decade. Although it's been quite a while, the problems described by her have not been completely solved. The fact of the enrichment of the Karabakh clan against the background of the poverty of Azerbaijani refugees and those who suffered from the 1988 Spitak earthquake is depressing. Some of these people still live in trailers. These facts reveal the true goals of the Sargsyan and Kocharyan clan, which started a conflict between the peoples, who lived on the same land in peace and friendship for many centuries. Today, the government, hiding behind nationalist slogans, profit from the tragedy of Armenians and Azerbaijanis.

Stella Harutyunyan shows an Armenian passport issued for the purpose of free movement outside the country, and says that she cannot leave the country: "All embassies have an instruction from the Armenian government, the President of Armenia - refugees are not allowed to leave. They act contrary to the UN Convention, at the direction of the Armenian government. I've been in all embassies and consulates at least five times. Embassy officials say: "It's pointless, we have a ban on this document. No one will give you a visa ... An illegal option is better... We are a source of profit."

Harutyunyan said that there are many organizations in Armenia that require money for the maintenance of refugees from the international community. "Has anyone been involved in the issues of where these funds go? There was so much money for the construction of housing for refugees, where is this housing? A refugee should adapt in the country, they have to create conditions, but our housing conditions are terrible."

Head of the State Migration Service Gagik Yeganyan, former Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Emergency Situations Artashes Bakhshyan ( removed from office in July 2016) were mentioned in the conversation, as well as Murad Mezhlumyan - director of the state non-profit enterprise 'Hostels', who for many years have been engaged in the distribution of resources to help refugees. Stella Harutyunyan calls them a "gang": "Those who meet them cannot find another word. It's the real gang that acts against the Azerbaijani refugees in Armenia. Mezhlumyan, Bakhshyan and Yeganyan - an independent investigation is necessary regarding the acts of these people - how much housing do they they sold, how they select it, how they sell it. Moreover, if some refugees have housing, and someone liked it, then the owner can be sent to a psychiatric hospital. "My guys who are in Karabakh now say:" If these men are fighting with you, I will not go to the border, better they go to war themselves. "

Stella Harutyunyan asks the journalist: "If you lived like we do, would you speak Armenian? Would you accept the citizenship of the country which uses you, where you are the source of profit, where you have no place to wash, no place to cook, no place to do laundry, where you are not protected, where you are attacked, where you are bullied by the police, where they trump up cases against you? "

"Deputies of the Armenian parliament do not consider it necessary to raise the issues of refugees, since it is not prestigious ... Do you know what means were allocated to Armenia for housing construction, for help? The Red Cross allocated 5 million to repair hostels last year. Where did this money go? On buying one washing machine?" Harutyunyan says.

She also raises an important moral and psychological issue: "We are Armenians, but we are strangers here. There are two different people. They lie a lot here. I will never trust local Armenians, I know the refugees from Iraq and Syria, we are closer to them. The Syrians are honest people. They cannot live with Armenians. The bitter truth is better. You should not tell local Armenians about your problems. If you talk about your problem to the Azerbaijanian, he will help, if you tell the Armenian, he will take advantage of this and leave you damaged."

Speaking about the common Christian faith, Harutyunyan is indignant: "What kind of believers are you? According to your lifestyle, your actions, you are the complete opposite of this religion."

Commenting on the activities of the Armenian president, the refugee said: "Of course, I'm not satisfied with the Armenian president. He cares more about his personal gain and his family, then about soldiers and the people. 10 families pigged out, robbed and sold the country. "

Stella Harutyunyan also speaks about corrupt international organizations and local NGOs, in particular, the UN and its representation in Armenia, the Red Cross, the organization 'Refugees. International law' and again returns to the Armenian officials responsible for refugees: "Their children live abroad as refugees, for free ... What mother will let her child protect someone's casinos or hotels? The children of these people who ate, drank and put on the ritz, should take up weapons and protect their property. They remember about the people in Armenia, that it should be united, only in the case of war or elections."One of the most tragic events in the history of the Second World War was commemorated throughout the world yesterday. Events dedicated to the International Holocaust Remembrance Day were held in many countries of the world. Such events also took place in 650 localities in Russia.

According to president of the Russian Jewish Congress, Yuri Kanner, Moscow the annual memorial evening dedicated to victims of the Holocaust was a large-scale event; In January, a memorial sign was erected at the place of execution of Jews in Pavlovsk: "This was the initiative of people who live near this place. In the city of Klintsy, Bryansk region, local teachers along with their students decided to erect a monument in the place of execution of Jews... This work just began, since we still have to look for remains, look for names. This year we are ready to start working on 26 burials ground in Russia, and we already have financial resources for this."

According to Yuri Kanner, memory of the Holocaust has already become a part of the Russian national memory: "Andron Konchalovsky made the film called 'Paradise'.He is not a Jew, but clearly mentions the topic of Holocaust there. The Mariinsky Theater staged Grigory Fried's opera 'Diary of Anne Frank'. Foyer of the concert hall hosts historical and documentary exhibition 'Forgotten Victims', dedicated to the events that took place in the Zmievsky Balka, when thousands of people, mostly Jews, were executed by fascists. In other words, this topic has become a part of the Russian national memory. It's very important."A total of 557 terrorists have been killed since the beginning of Operation Olive Branch in northwestern Afrin region of Syria, Turkish General Staff said in a statement.

According to a statement, the army killed 73 PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and ISIS terrorists alone on January 28.

The statement said that 13 Turkish jets safely returned to their bases after destroying 20 targets - used as weapon pits, shelters, and ammunition depots by the PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and ISIS terrorist groups.

It added two Turkish soldiers were wounded with no life threatening injuries in Sundays clashes with terrorists.

According to the statement, a member of the Free Syrian Army was also martyred and four others sustained injuries.

It added that the Operation Olive Branch is "successfully continuing as planned, Anadolu Agency reported.

The military asserted that it was showing utmost care in order not to harm any civilians during the operation.

On January 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch in Syria's Afrin.Yesterday, the most militarized member of the Council of Europe (and the third most militarized country in the world) Armenia celebrated one of the main state holidays - the Army Day. On this day, by tradition, the authorities openly acknowledge that the armed forces occupying the territories of Azerbaijan in and around Nagorno-Karabakh are military units of the republican army, although usually Yerevan calls them the "defense army" of the non-existent state NKR.

The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, called the military of his age "a happy generation as they saw the revival, strengthening and establishment of the Armenian army, the generation that not only saw, but also became the participant of the army building and reforming process," stating that Armenia had to start building our own sovereign statehood with self-defense. Recognized at the level of the UN Security Council, the facts of the occupation of the Azerbaijani territories by the Armenian Armed Forces are thus called "self-defense", although Azerbaijan has never claimed the Armenian lands, while Armenian military units invaded de facto and de jure territory of the neighboring state and captured 20% of its lands.

The military protection of Armenia's independence, that no one ever claimed, was also stressed by Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan, who said that the establishment of the occupation army became "the first and most important achievement" of the republic, adding that "in the days of April battles for Karabakh in 2016" the army again proved that it is always ready to respond to any action against our homeland "(quotation of the Sputnik-Armenia website). It is noteworthy that the Prime Minister not just kept silent about the defeat and retreat of the Armenian Armed Forces deep into the occupied territories as a result of the April fighting for Karabakh, but the fact that, according to Karapetyan, the Azerbaijani territories are part of Armenia.

Thus, for Yerevan, the presence of Armenian troops in the occupied territories is not something that should be hidden from foreign states, including the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs - it is part of the military and political pride of the separatist Karabakh clan governor, who perceives the occupation of 20% of Azerbaijani lands as "self-defense of the motherland". And on the Army Day, that is, the Day of the Occupiers of Karabakh, Yerevan allows itself to say it openly.Armenian energy infrastructures and natural resources minister, Ashot Manukyan, will remain in office despite submission of resignation, the ministers spokesman Vasak Tarposhyan said.

"Indeed, the minister, prompted by personal circumstances, has submitted his resignation, but after a talk with the Armenian president and prime minister, the issue has been removed from the agenda," ARKA cited Tarposhyan as saying.

Manukyan has been working as minister of energy infrastructures and natural resources since September 20, 2016.Turkey wants to forge justice in its operation in Syria's Afrin, not take land, Turkeys president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

Addressing local officials at the presidential complex, Erdogan said that in the operation in Afrin, Syria, along Turkey's borders, the Turkish Armed forces backed by Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters are taking the region under control.

"Our concern is the establishment of justice, not land," Anadolu Agency cited Erdogan as saying.

He added that Turkey will first destroy the terrorists and, after Operation Olive Branch ends, enable 3.5 million Syrian refugees in Turkey to return to their homes safely.

The Turkish president said the operation would last until the death of the last terrorist.

Turkey launched the operation on January 20 in Syria's Afrin.Georgia's Parliament will officially resume its work next week.

The spring session will be open with a session on February 6, while plenary sessions will start on February 7.

The lawmakers will discuss the law "On Broadcasting", vetoed by the country's President Giorgi Margvelashvili.

At the spring session, parliamentarians are also expected to discuss the so-called fourth wave of judicial reform, changes in regulations, etc., Georgia Online reported.The Iranian flag carrier airline, Iran Air, will resume Tehran-Baku flights from Jan. 29, the general director of Iranian travel agency Aysanparvaz, Mohammad Mir Rezaie, said.

The flights will operate again after a gap of three years. The new flights have been scheduled for Mondays and Thursdays.

Currently, Iranian airline Mahan Air operates flights between Tehran and Baku three days a week, the Financial Tribune reported.The Belarusian-Turkish business forum will be held in Minsk on February 15, according to the website of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The forum will consider the ways of expanding the Belarusian-Turkish ties in trade, economy and investment.

Belarusian participants will have the opportunity to discuss the interaction with Turkish partners in the fields of mechanical engineering and automotive production, metalworking, construction, agriculture, chemicals, light industry, logistics, information technology, tourism and others, BelTA reported.

The event is jointly organized by the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey within the framework of Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim's visit to Belarus.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left for a one-day trip to Moscow where he said he will speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin about Iran's efforts to turn Lebanon into "one big missile site".

Before boarding his plane, Netanyahu said that Israel is "not willing to tolerate" Lebanon being turned into a site for the manufacture of precision missiles to be used against it.

Netanyahu said that he meets "from time to time" with Putin to ensure coordination between the IDF and the Russian forces in Syria. "This has succeeded until now, and it is important that it will continue to succeed," the Jerusalem Post cited the PM as saying.

Netanyahu said that he will also speak with the Russian president about Iran's "unending efforts to military entrench itself in Syria, something that we are adamantly opposed to and act against."The bulk of the delegates to the January 3 Syrian National Dialogue Congress will arrive in the Russian city of Sochi on Monday.

According to the forums organizers, the first delegates from among internal opposition members from Damascus have already arrived in Sochi.

According to the organizers of the congress, about 1600 delegates representing all strata of Syrian society have been invited to take part in the event. Most delegates - over 1300 - are from Syria. Among them are opposition members from the Peoples Council of Syria, representatives of major political parties (the Baath Party, the National Progressive Front, the Communist Party), prominent religious figures from all confessions, representatives of tribes, trade unions, and ethnic minorities.

A special group of participants from Syria is represented by members of the armed groups, which have joined the reconciliation process. There are about 230 units that have laid down their arms, TASS reported.

The external opposition will be presented at the congress as well, more than 300 participants are expected to take part in the Sochi event. Among them are delegates from the Moscow Platform Qadri Jamil, Randa Kassis from the Astana platform, members of Syrias Tomorrow movement led by Ahmad Jarba and Haytham Manna from the Syrian National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change.The Syrian National Dialogue Congress is starting in Russia's Sochi today. The first delegates, including from the Baath Party, internal opposition members from Damascus, have already arrived in Sochi. Other participants will arrive today.

According to the forums organizers, representatives of the Kurds, the Yezidis, the Druze and other Syrian ethnic and religious groups will participate in the upcoming Syrian National Dialogue Congress alongside the Arabs, who will form the majority of the events participants.

"Over 1,600 delegates representing all layers of the Syrian society are invited to attend the congress. In terms of ethnic makeup, the Arabs will form the majority of the delegates (94.5%), however the Kurds are also represented, as well as the Yezidis, the Assyrians, the Armenians, the Circassians, the Chechens, the Dagestanis, the Abkhazians, the Turkomans, and the Druze," the statement reads.

Attendees from the UN Security Council permanent members along with Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia have been invited to take part in the forum as observers. The first group of the congress participants arrived in Sochi yesterday.

According to the congress' organizers, the external opposition will be represented by Moscow and Astana platforms, the Syria's Tomorrow Movement and the National Coordination Committee for the Forces of Democratic Change.

The congress' organizers also stated that there were Syrian domestic opposition from the Syrian People's Council, the Syrian major political parties, including Syria's ruling Arab Socialist Baath Party and the National Progressive Front, eminent religious leaders of all faiths, trade unions, arts organizations and national minorities among the congress' participants.

"A particular group of participants is 'reconciled' members of illegal armed groups, a total of 230 small armed groups have disarmed voluntarily during the counterterrorism operation" the statement added.

The forum organizers also announced that the delegation of the Syrian Foreign Ministry, headed by Ahmad Arnus, the adviser of the Syrian foreign minister, has been invited to take part in the event.

"Besides, the delegation of the Syrian Foreign Ministry headed by the [Syrian foreign] minister's adviser and comprising the directors of the ministry's relevant departments has been invited to the congress," the statement said.

The Russia-organized Syrian National Dialogue Congress will be held in Sochi on January 29-30. The forum, which is expected to launch the process of drafting of the new Syrian constitution, will provide an opportunity for both the government and the domestic, external and armed opposition groups to express their positions. The delegates will work to stimulate dialogue between various strata of Syrian society on shaping the countrys post-war future, to create conditions for restoring national unity and hammer out a political settlement to the crisis based on United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254.The United States may impose sanctions against companies, organizations and individuals from all over the world participated in significant transactions with the Russian intelligence or defense sectors.

On August 2, 2017, the US President Donald Trump signed into law the 'Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act' (CAATSA). In October, the US Department of State released public guidance concerning energy sanctions relating to the Russian Federation.

The US government could theoretically impose sanctions on companies which were doing business after August 2 with those listed by the State Department. The list includes 39 entities that the US government considers to be part of, or operating for or on behalf of, Russias defense and intelligence sectors, including Rostec (Russian Technologies State Corporation), Rosoboronexport OJSC, Federal Security Service (FSB), Foreign Intelligence Service and Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.

It was noted that Russian companies participated in significant transactions with those listed entitles may also be sanctioned. That is why Alfa-Bank, Russia's largest commercial bank, said in January about suspension of cooperating with the defense sector.

The US foreign policy department said in October that they were closely following the transactions all over the world that could fall under the scope of sanctions. But it did not indicate whether one should waiting for the first sanctions already in late January, RBC reports.HCM CITY  The HCM Citys Science and Technology Department plans to launch a municipal Science and Technology Development Fund while seeking to focus State science and technology organisations on activities relevant to the market and wean them off public funds in 2018.

We will focus to strengthen science and technology applications in the business community and State offices as well as speed up the market for science and technology, Nguyen Viet Dung, director of the department told the Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper.

Last year, the department implemented 367 scientific research projects and created 24 incubation centres.

There were around 666 startup projects, an increase of 133 per cent in comparison with yearly plan, that received support from such incubations.

The department also signed a co-operation agreement with the central and Central Highlands provinces of Binh inh and Gia Lai, and with Finland, France, Japan, South Korea and the World Bank.

However, science and technology activities in 2017 has many limitations, such as a small and limited amount of funds for scientific development projects, Dung added.

The citys technology market is considered very big, but limited transactions occur due to copyright protection and technology assessment.

Connections between scientists and the market are very loose, the role of intermediate organisations is very dim, and human resources for technology assessment are limited.

The citys science and technology market still see the dominance of activities of buying and selling imported equipment and lacks more important ones, such as technology transfer or technology copyright selling and buying, he added.

At present, the contribution of the science and technology market was ranked second in a group of nine key services with annual growth of 17 per cent.  VNSHCM CITY  The products of HCM City and Laos are more complementary than competing in nature, meeting consumption and production demand of both sides. But their bilateral trade relation has not met the expectations of either side, according to the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of HCM City (ITPC).

Trade between HCM City and Laos reached nearly US$8.01 million in 2017 compared to $12.7 million in 2016, with HCM City enjoying a trade surplus.

Speaking at a seminar on measures to enhance trade relations between HCM City and Laos held on the sidelines of the Laos Goods Week in HCM City, Pham Thiet Hoa, ITPC director, said: There remain difficulties in border trade between Viet Nam and Laos, so this undermines two-way trade.

Import-export support services and transport connections between the two countries are still underdeveloped, he said, adding that economic zones on the shared border were short of capital.

Vanxay Keovilay, Lao Vice Consul, said Lao enterprises see HCM City and Viet Nam in general as potential markets as Laos has an advantage in supplying traditionally farmed products with no use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides and handicrafts made from natural materials.

Vietnamese consumers are very fond of organic agricultural products and handicrafts, which is good for Lao exporters, he said.

At the seminar, many producers and traders from different Lao localities introduced themselves and sought Vietnamese distributors for many kinds of regional specialty products.

Through the workshop, Keovilay said he hopes that businesses from both sides can understand more about each others markets, establish partnerships and propose solutions to further facilitate bilateral trade.

His consulate, in collaboration with Laos ministries and localities, are willing to answer questions related to trade promotion and the import-export business between the two countries, he said.

Phoukham Ouanouansa, director of the Xieng Khouang Business Centre, said that he is looking for trading partners in HCM City to distribute rice and sticky rice.

Currently, his partner in Nghe An Province imports 60 tonnes of rice and he will send to this partner another 1,000 tonnes in March.

Phoukham Ouanouansa also said he wants to sell Viet Nams high-quality products in Laos as well as provide consultancy to Vietnamese firms who want to invest in Xieng Khouang Province.

At the meeting, Vietnamese distributors advised the Lao businesses to develop standards for food products exported to Viet Nam in terms of food hygiene and safety.

Pham Thi Thanh Tuyen from Saigon Co.op suggested that Lao enterprises pay more attention to improving their product packaging and labels, as well as provide clear information about the products so that Vietnamese consumers can understand them.

In addition, although some Lao products are produced following natural or organic methods, their prices should not be too high, she said.

Organised by the consulate, ITPC and the HCM City Department of Industry and Trade, the seminar attracted around 80 Lao and Vietnamese enterprises in the fields of fruits, vegetables, food processing, confectionery, beverage, plastic, cosmetics, handicrafts, garments and textiles, footwear, construction, design and environmental protection.  VNSIt remains impossible for Viet Nams securities market to get promoted from a frontier market to an emerging market this year.  Photo tinnhanhchungkhoan.vn

HA NOI  It remains impossible for Viet Nams securities market to get promoted from a frontier market to an emerging market this year, officials say.

Saigon Securities Incorporation chairman Nguyen Duy Hung told the recent year-end meeting held by the State Securities Commission (SSC) that the upgrading of Viet Nams status would boost the confidence of both domestic and foreign investors in the local market.

SSC should make a list of requirements that must be met for the Vietnamese market to get promoted. Then market regulators, Government agencies and securities companies must work together to realise those targets, he said.

If those targets are reached, Viet Nams securities market will get a lift. Then the local market will become more attractive and promising to investors, especially foreign ones, Hung said.

However, SSC chairman Tran Van Dung warned that investors should not think the Vietnamese market would be promoted soon as the local market had not met international standards.

In its 2017 market classification review that was carried out in late June, Morgan Stanley Capital International Inc (MSCI), the US independent provider of research-driven insights and tools for institutional investors, did not include Viet Nam in the MSCI review list for a potential reclassification to Emerging Markets status.

Thus, Viet Nam remained in the MSCI Frontier Markets Index and the decision had been widely forecast by several local brokerage firms.

There were several major factors that led to the result, including the lack of openness to foreign investors, few English-language issuances of information disclosures made by local companies and problems with the trading mechanism, according to local securities companies.

The SSC hopes MSCI will include Viet Nam in its reclassification review list for the status promotion in 2018 and 2019. However, we have to wait one more year until the final decision is made, Dung said.

Unrealistic T+0 settlement time

One of the issues that brokerage firms expect the SSC to improve in the near future is a trading mechanism that will reduce the settlement time for securities transactions from two days (T+2) to intraday (T+0).

It means the investors would be able to receive an amount of securities after they purchase it and sell it on the same day instead of waiting for two more days to receive and sell that amount of securities.

Previously on January 1, 2016, the SSC shortened settlement time for securities transactions from three days (T+3) to two days (T+2).

According to VNDirect Securities Company general director Nguyen Hoang Giang, the intraday settlement mechanism (T+0) could help financial companies improve their risk management and the quality of the market trading could improve.

However, SSC chairman Dung said that his agency is working with the Vietnam Securities Depository on the issue but they find it hard to do so due to technical problems.

Viet Nam is using the T+2 settlement mechanism but the real time is T+2.5 as investors will receive the amount of securities at the end of the second day after they purchase the assets, he said.

The standard settlement time for the global markets is still T+3, even in big markets like Japan. That proves shortening the settlement time, even just by one day, is very challenging, Dung said.  VNSHA NOI  Vietnamese stocks are expected to rise further on expectations of positive corporate earnings reports from the financial-banking sector and a strong inflow of foreign investment, analysts say.

The benchmark VN-Index rose 1 per cent to 1,115.64 points on Friday, making a second-session increase of 2.6 per cent after it had previously shut down for two days due to the technical crash late Monday.

The southern market index gained 5 per cent in three sessions last week.

Trading liquidity increased on HCM City Stock Exchange (HoSE) compared to the previous week despite the markets Monday crash.

An average of nearly 355.6 million shares was traded on the southern bourse in each session of last week, worth VN10.3 trillion (US$459.4 million).

The trading figures were up 13.3 per cent in volume and 23.2 per cent in value compared to the previous weeks numbers.

Shares also closed higher on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange on Friday with the HNX-Index edging up 0.16 per cent at 126.82 points.

The northern market index notched weekly growth of 3.6 per cent.

An average of more than 72.2 million shares worth VN1.2 trillion was traded on the northern bourse.

The trading numbers fell 1.8 per cent in volume but increased 11.7 per cent in value on a weekly basis.

ang Thanh The, strategic director of KB Securities Co, said the main factor helping drive up the market was the cash flow from funds and institutional investors.

As of January 19, the exchange-traded fund VNM ETF attracted total capital of $40.15 million while the figure for FTSE ETF was $10.18 million, The said.

Hoang Thach Lan, head of the individual investor division at Viet Dragon Securities Co, said foreign investment was the main driver of the VN-Index, with large cash-flows being poured into the two exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and from these ETFs into blue-chip stocks on the southern bourse, mainly large-caps in the VN30, the top 30 largest shares by market value and liquidity on the HoSE.

The expectation that Viet Nams securities market could enter Morgan Stanley Capital Internationals watchlist to be promoted to the emerging market status would also attract foreigners to increase net purchase value, he told tinnhanhchungkhoan.vn.

Foreign investors on Friday posted a net buy value of VN461 billion on HoSE, raising their total net investment this month to VN11.8 trillion.

Information related to the expansion of the foreign ownership in banks and the rise of global oil prices would also contribute to push the VN-Index to exceed its all-time peak of 1,170 points in 2007 soon, he said.

Vietcombank shares (VCB) have increased by 27 per cent since the beginning of the year. The figures for Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BID) and Vietinbank (CTG) are 27.5 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively.

Brent crude price closed Friday at $70.52, up 5 per cent from last years ending figure and up 57 per cent from last years lowest hit on June 21.

PetroVietnam Gas Joint Stock Corporation shares (GAS) have climbed 12.8 per cent since the beginning of this year. The figure for PetroVietnam Drilling & Well Services (PVD) is 26.7 per cent.

Lan said large-cap stocks in the finance-banking and securities sectors were likely to rise further, due to the strong purchasing power of foreigners, as those companies were forecast to perform even better in 2018.

Additionally, the State capital withdrawal plans in some State-owned enterprises would entice buyers, especially in the energy and chemical sectors, he added.

Among those companies, PetroVietnam Power Corporation on Wednesday will put 468 million shares for sale at its initial public offering (IPO) at the starting price of VN14,400 per share.

At the IPO of the Vietnam Oil Corporation held last Thursday, the company successfully auctioned over 206 million shares at a starting price of VN13,400 to earn $184 million, 51 per cent higher than expected result.

Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Company earned $244.5 million from the IPO of nearly 242 million shares or 7.79 per cent of its charter capital. The result was 55 per cent higher than expected.  VNSThien Ly

Since Vietnam Asset Management Company (VAMC) seized Sai Gon One Tower using the authority conferred on it by Resolution 42 on settling bad debts, several banks have followed suit and offered mortgaged assets for sale to help pay their bad debts.

Resolution 42 gives creditors the right to seize properties mortgaged against non-performing loans if debtors do not co-operate.

Sai Gon One Tower was mortgaged against a bad debt of VN7 trillion (US$308.4 million) that Maritime Bank and ong A Bank sold to the VAMC in April 2015.

The VAMC said in recent months it had organised a raft of auctions of assets it had bought mainly from banks, and most went through successfully.

A Sacombank spokesperson said the lender successfully sold off industrial clusters in Long An Province for VN9.2 trillion ($405.3 million) and got back a further dozens of trillions of ong through the VAMC.

It is now offering more bad debts for sale in an attempt to reduce the ratio from 6.68 per cent in early 2017 to 3 per cent by the end of this year.

Small lenders have also organised auctions to sell assets.

The National Citizen Joint Stock Commercial Bank said it sold 14 Kia Morning cars and a 2.5-hectare land plot mortgaged by its debtors.

It had earlier seized eight assets that had been mortgaged in ong Thap and Long An provinces.

VAMC director oan Van Thang said since late last year, many banks had achieved good results in resolving bad debts, collecting trillions of ong by selling assets.

He said Agribank had collected VN8 trillion ($352.4 million) and Sacombank, nearly VN5 trillion.

In 2017, the total value of bad debts resolved by the banks in co-operation with the VAMC was VN30.7 trillion, much higher than the target set by the State Bank of Viet Nam.

This year, many banks have already outlined plans to take back bad debts they have sold to the VAMC to resolve them on their own.

Analysts said banks have become active in tackling their bad debts because the VAMC has decided to buy them at market prices.

The VAMC decided to do so last year, shelling out more than VN3 trillion to buy debts. Most of them are expected to be settled soon.

It has a target of buying VN6.6 trillion worth of debts this year, and co-operating with banks to settle bad debts of at least VN140 trillion by seizing and selling assets.

But analysts said all these represent a drop in the ocean, and banks continue to resolve their bad debts mainly by writing them off.

BIDV for instance had an operating profit of VN24 trillion last year, but its pre-tax profit was only VN8.8 trillion after making risk provisions worth VN15 trillion.

VPBank may have recovered VN3 trillion worth of bad debts in 2017, but it still had to set aside more than VN8 trillion in provisions, or 30 per cent of its net operating profit.

The situation merely underlines the need to soon have a real debt buying and selling market in the country.

Experts said such a market would help the VAMC and banks to efficiently recover their bad debts.

The two important conditions for the market to take shape are reasonable price levels and transparency when dealing with bad debts that can be traded, they said.

Many foreign investors were once keen on buying bad debts from banks, but had to drop the idea because the banks wanted too much, but did not have detailed and transparent information about their debts.

To resolve these problems, analysts suggested having independent companies to assess the prices of bad debts.

Securitisation of bad debts, particularly those owed by companies, is another measure that could help Viet Nam soon develolp a real debt buying and selling market, they said.

Tough decree stalls car imports

In mid-January, Japanese auto giants Toyota Motor and Honda Motor decided to suspend exports to Viet Nam after a new rule took effect requiring stringent checks of imported vehicles.

The rule came into effect just as Viet Nam finally eliminated tariffs on automobiles imported from members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Decree 116/2017 on the production, assembly, import and warranty of automobiles requires all models of imported vehicles to obtain a Vehicle Type Approval certificate from authorities of exporting countries.

It also requires emission and safety tests to be done on every batch of automobiles imported. In the past, only the first shipment of each model would be tested.

Many giant car manufacturers from Japan and the US have expressed concern, saying it would be difficult to continue exporting cars to Viet Nam.

They said the required papers were not issued by exporting countries, making it impossible for them to meet the requirement.

Besides, they added, no guidelines had been issued to help car makers prepare the necessary paperwork.

A spokesperson for an automaker also said the requirements in the decree would cause a huge waste of time and money for importers since one emission test could take two months and cost up to $10,000.

Some experts viewed the new decree as a measure to protect the domestic auto industry.

The Viet Nam Automobile ManufacturersAssociation (VAMA) has 17 members, most of whom are joint ventures involving foreign giants like Toyota, Honda, GM, and Ford, who have been in Viet Nam for years.

They used to import parts and assemble vehicles in Viet Nam, but in recent years have almost stopped doing so and switched instead to importing completely-built units.

Many analysts have backed the new decree, saying that the long rope given to auto companies to coax them into investing and developing production has not worked, and the new policy could convince them to expand production and increase the use of local parts.

This could prevent the possibility of Viet Nam turning into a dumping ground for used equipment and technology, protect consumers interest and give a boost to the Vietnamese auto industry.

Consumers had hoped to buy cars at lower prices following the tariff removal, but imports have stalled after the auto giants stopped exporting to the country.

Customs statistics show that only 60 cars, including six sedans, were imported into Viet Nam in the first half of this month.

Older models have regained popularity and their prices have spiked as a result.

Many people have had to be content with buying domestically made vehicles.  VNSQUANG BINH  Authorities in central Quang Binh Province last Friday prosecuted two men for killing the goat-antelope Indochinese serow, which is listed as a near threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

oan Thanh Binh, an officer in the Forest Rangers Department in the provinces Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, said Tran Van Hoan, 26, and Nguyen Van Sang, 24, were prosecuted for violating the Vietnamese Penal Code for killing wild animals in protected areas.

Earlier this month, park rangers caught Hoan and Sang, both residents of Phong Nha Township in Bo Trach District, killing an Indochinese serow for its meat inside the park.

An Indochinese serow.  Photo wilddocu.de

Hoan escaped from the scene, but after one week turned himself in at a local police station. The rangers weighed the butchered Indochinese serow and estimated the mammal was about 58kg. They also seized the hunters traps and tools.

Indochinese serow, which has the scientific name of Capricornis milneedwardsii maritimus, is a species native to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam. The mammal is listed on the red list of IUCN due to a decrease in its population caused by its narrowing habitat and being hunted for its meat and antlers.

Phong Nha Township, located in a buffer zone near the park, houses many residents who made their livings from hunting and tree logging, prior to the rise of tourism at local cave systems, which lifted the local economy.  VNSHA NOI  Commando Ba Mu (whose real name is o Van Can) disguised himself as a rubber latex collector to fool the enemy. He used a tricycle to transport weapons to serve the South Viet Nam liberation forces during the 1968 Tet Offensive.

The tricycle is on display at exhibition that opened on Friday in Ha Noi.

Entitled The Epic of the 1968 Tet Offensive, the exhibition celebrates the 50th anniversary of the victory of the campaign.

The exhibition displays more than 300 images, documents and objects. Ba Mus tricycle is one among many objects showcased to the public for the first time.

The exhibition is divided into three parts: devotion for the battlefield, the historical turning point and echoes of the epic. They depict the determination of Vietnamese people and soldiers in fighting for peace and liberation.

The Military History Museum of Viet Nam organised the exhibition with the aim of asserting the historical magnitude and significance of the general offensive and uprising in 1968, said Nguyen Xuan Nang, director of the museum.

During nearly two months of attack and insurrection, the Tet Offensive 1968 marked a strategic turning point for the resistance war against the US and its allies. It caused the US a sudden shock, disrupting their strategic plan, shaking the White House, the Pentagon and all of the US and forced President Johnson to deescalate the war and agree to sign the historic Paris Peace Accord. The victory also helped lead to the liberation of southern Viet Nam and the unity of the country in 1975.

The 1968 Tet Offensive affirmed the outstanding, visionary leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, said Nang.

It promoted patriotism, national pride and the will to overcome all difficulties to fulfill the task of building and protecting the country.HA NOI  The life of Cuban people is reflected truthfully and colourfully through the lens of Italian photographer Fulvio Bugani.

His photo collection Soul y Sombras - Soul and Shadows is now on display in Ha Noi. It is the culmination of his project to capture the soul of Cuba in photographs for the last five years.

He has been chosen by Leica, a camera brand from Germany, as its International Leica Ambassador for the new Leica M10 camera. Accordingly, Leica Viet Nam is hosting the exhibition to feature his art and bring Vietnamese audiences a glimpse of life in Cuba.

The title of the series may sound bleak, but his pictures are anything but  strong colours, bright lighting and, of course, the resulting deep shadows, said Nguyen Gia Phong, director of the Leica Viet Nam.

The Italian photographers pictures are as rich in contrast as the Cuban soul he went searching for.

Photographer Bugani has never doubted that Cuba has a lot more to offer than what you see in travel brochures or hear on the news. Looking for more than just the superficial image, Bugani first travelled to the Caribbean island in 2003. He was immediately captivated by the country, its wildlife, its cities and, above all, its people. He made Havana his second home and hung out with the locals.

The real treasures of Cuba are the people themselves and their way of life, Bugani said.

With the aim of capturing their diversity, Bugani created a colourful series of complex pictures with a strong alternation and interaction of bright light and deep shadows.

Some of his protagonists are accompanied by their shadows, so that they step onto Buganis stage twice, while others are just represented with a portrait.

His compositions always show the interplay of light and shadow. With the strong colours of the house walls, they create a multi-layered overall image  as diverse as Cuban society itself.

Born in Bologna in 1974, Bugani became interested in photography as a child. About 20 years ago, he turned his hobby into his profession and has been running Fotostudio Image in Bologna since 1999. He has won many international photo awards.

Bugani has been a freelance professional photographer, working with associations and NGOs. He actively collaborates with MSF (Medecins Sans Frontier) and Amnesty International, for which he has participated in several projects on human rights, illegal immigration and the right to housing.

He has several ongoing photographic projects in Cuba, Kenya, Indonesia, Turkey and Georgia. He teaches photography in his private photographic school in Bologna, as well as in seminars and workshops.

He also hosted a photo training course in Ha Noi last October.

The exhibition Soul and Shadows will run until February 15 at the Leica Boutique, 14 Trang Tien Street, Ha Noi.  VNSSERI MENANTI, Malaysia  Hundreds of archers from around the world took part in a traditional tournament in Malaysia at the weekend, putting on a display of sporting prowess while wearing a dizzying array of national dress.

About 500 archers participated in the two-day event on a farm in Seri Menanti in central Malaysia.

A fifth were from overseas, from countries including China, Turkey and Austria, and numerous bright headdresses and flowing robes were on display.

They took part in different events, including firing arrows at static targets and one supposed to simulate a hunt, with archers stalking through the jungle and taking aim at animal-shaped targets.

An Indonesian woman takes part in a traditional archery tournament in Seri Menanti, Malaysia. AFP Photo

It took place in the grounds of a farm that is run along traditional lines and takes inspiration from the culture of Muslim Malays, the countrys main ethnic group.

Organisers decided to put on the event after Malaysian archers travelled overseas to take part in tournaments, said Shahrul Nazim bin Kasim, from Malaysias Traditional Archery Association.

"We thought it was good to invite archers from around the world to experience how we do archery in Malaysia, and strengthen friendships," he told AFP.

Winners were awarded with medals, as well as bows and arrows.  AFPHA NOI  The first episode of the French political television thriller Le Bureau des Legendes (The Bureau) will be screened at French Cultural Centre LEspace, 24 TrangTien Street, at 6pm on January 30.

It will also be screened at BHD Bitexco and Nest by AIA, Bitexco in HCM City on February 1.

The series revolves around the lives of agents of DGSE (General Directorate of External Security), Frances principal external security service.

The Bureau features intelligence officer Guillaume Debailly, codenamed Malotru, who returns to Paris after staying undercover in Damascus for six years. He faces the challenge of reconnecting with his daughter, ex-wife, colleagues and even his old self. But his return to normal life proves difficult, especially when he discovers that Nadia, his love interest in Damascus, is also in Paris.

Originally aired in France on April 27, 2015, the thriller was introduced in the United States and Canada on iTunes on June 1, 2016, under the category of new international Episodic Cinema. It quickly reached the Top Five. In the United Kingdom, the series was released exclusively on Amazon Prime on June 17, 2016.

The first season received positive reviews in both France and other countries and won several awards. The second season too had been universally acclaimed and was regarded by some as the best television series ever produced in France. The show was renewed for a third season and it began airing in France on May 22, 2017. Shooting for the fourth season was scheduled to begin in September 2017.

According to a representative at LEspace, The Bureau is a blockbuster TV series and a typical example of innovation in French film production. Notably, its script follows the format of American action films.

After the screening, the audience will have a chance to talk to one of its executive producers, Alex Berger, who will reveal the backstage stories and talk about the necessary skills for writing television scripts.  VNSVIENTIANE  General Secretary of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party and President Bounnhang Volachith has urged the Ministries of Public Security of Viet Nam and Laos to further their co-operation in fighting crime, especially organised, trans-national, drug and high-tech crimes.

At a reception for Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Sen. Lieut. Gen. To Lam in Vientiane on Saturday, the Lao leader praised the outcomes of co-operation between the two ministries in the recent past.

Minister Lam said Vietnamese people in general and the police force in particular are grateful for the valuable support of the Lao people in the past struggle for national liberation as well as for 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 comprehensive co-operation with its Lao counterpart, meeting requirements and tasks in the new situation, in order to consolidate the special friendship and comprehensive co-operation between the two countries, for the sake of peace, stability and development in the region and the world at large.



Lam called on the Lao leader to create favourable conditions for competent agencies of the two ministries to intensify their collaboration in fighting crime and protecting national security and safety in each nation.



During their talks earlier the same day, Lam and his Lao counterpart Somkeo Silavong reviewed the close and effective co-operation between the two sides in 2017, including the celebration of the Viet Nam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year.



They signed a co-operation 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, implement international agreements and treaties to which both are parties, and consult and support each other at regional and international forums on combating crime.  VNSChairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan presented gifts and Tet greetings to officers and soldiers at Lung Cu Border Guard Station in the northern province of Ha Giang on Saturday. VNA/VNS Photo Trong uc

HA GIANG  Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan presented gifts and Tet greetings to officers and soldiers at Lung Cu Border Guard Station in the northern province of Ha Giang on Saturday.

Praising efforts by the soldiers, the top legislator said that they had fulfilled political tasks and promoted people-to-people diplomacy, helping build up a borderline of peace, friendship and co-operation.

She said they had also participated in developing the local socio-economy and maintaining political security and social order in the border area.

Ngan asked the station to keep up the good work and also take care of ethnic minority people, policy beneficiaries and impoverished households to ensure that they had a warm Tet holiday.

She also delivered Tet gifts to soldiers at the guard station at Thanh Thuy border gate and five border communes in Vi Xuyen District.

Managing more than 32km of borderline, soldiers and officers at Thanh Thuy had successfully fulfilled their missions, Ngan said. She said that as the area was home to many disadvantaged families, the soldiers should join authorities to help them.

In 2017, the border guard forces helped the neeedy by spending VN12.5 billion (US$550,000) on 10,000 gifts and building 35 houses valued at VN2.5 billion - as well as providing medical check-ups.

This year, the guards plan to offer 20,000 gifts, 40 houses and 100 breeding cows to disadvantaged people.  VNSVietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue meets with President of the Portuguese National Assembly Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues in Portugal on Friday.  Photo vov.vn

HA NOI  Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue began his working visit to Portugal on Friday, where he met with President of the Portuguese National Assembly Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues.

At the meeting, the two officials spoke highly of the positive development of the partnership between Viet Nam and Portugal in politics-diplomacy, economy and trade. Two-way trade rose by 15 per cent to US$391 billion in 2017.

They agreed that the bilateral co-operation has yet to fully tap their potential and that they should increase the exchange of delegations at all levels and bolster cooperation in sea-based economy, shipping, renewable energy and tourism, among others.

Viet Nam always treasures relations with Portugal, said Hue, noting that some leading corporations in Viet Nam are accompanying him during the visit as an effort to enhance economic and trade ties with Portugal.

He urged Portugal, as a EU member, to take a more active role in bridging ASEAN and the EU, and to support the early signing of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Rodrigues, for his part, recalled his memories 50 years ago when he, at the age of 18, flocked to streets to take part in anti-war demonstrations in support of Viet Nam.

He highly evaluated Viet Nams role in the international arena and voiced his support for multilateral trade and the signing of EVFTA.

Hue later had a meeting with Portuguese Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security Jose Antonio Vieira Da Silva in which the two sides agreed that social welfare plays an essential role in ensuring stable socio-economic development.

The Portuguese minister promised to assist Viet Nams Ministry of Labour, War Invalid and Social Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs and Viet Nam Social Security in reforming social security and wage policies.  VNSVietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue speaks in Lisbon.  VNA/VNS Photo Pham Kien

LISBON  Portugal backs the early signing of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs Augusto Santos Silva told Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue during their meeting in Lisbon.

The two said they were delighted at the recent development of their relationship. This followed visits to Portugal by the then Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in June, 2015, and Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh in May last year.

They agreed that Viet Nam and Portugal should further bolster bilateral ties in economics, trade, investment, education and cultural exchange.

The two governments needed to encourage enterprises from both sides make inroads into each others markets and invest in the two nations areas of strength, Hue said.

Hue asked Portugal to push for the early signing of the EVFTA which would act as a catalyst for Viet Nam-Portugal economic relations to grow further.

The Portuguese FM spoke highly of Viet Nams robust economic growth and indicated his support for the early signing.

The Portuguese government was ready to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese firms to do business in the country, he added.

During the visit, Deputy PM Hue delivered a speech at the Viet Nam - Portugal Business Dialogue attended by about 50 leading firms from both sides.

He said Viet Nams political and socio-economic stability and its investment incentives created a favourable business climate for foreign investors, including those from Portugal.

In 2017, he said Viet Nam achieved high economic growth of 6.8 per cent, drew in more than US$30 billion in foreign direct investment and posted more than $420 billion in foreign trade turnover.

He reiterated that the State and Party of Viet Nam was consistently pursuing economic reforms and improving local legal systems so that the economy could integrate more deeply into the global economy.

With the EVFTA and other new-generation FTAs soon coming into effect, he encouraged Portuguese companies to invest in manufacturing, hi-tech industry, infrastructure development, environment, agriculture-forestry-fisheries and food processing, renewable energy, information technology, pharmaceuticals, biology, construction, high-quality services, and finance-banking in Viet Nam.

Many Portuguese businesses showed interest in partnering with Vietnamese firms in finance, farm exports, pharmaceuticals and tourism, and hoped to get better access to ASEAN markets via Viet Nam.

Hue, accompanied by Viet Nams leading corporations, including VNPT, Vietcombank, VinaCapital and CT Group, also met leading Portuguese firms during the visit.  VNSMinister of Public Security (MPS) of Viet Nam To Lam (l) meets Cambodian PM Hun Sen on Sunday.  VNA/VNS Photo Phan Minh Hung

HA NOI  Cambodian and Vietnamese forces have effectively co-operated in fighting organised, cross-border and cyber crimes, as well as drug and human trafficking, said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Receiving Minister of Public Security (MPS) of Viet Nam To Lam on Sunday, PM Hun Sen said the efforts by the MPS and Cambodian Ministry of Interior (MI) helped protect security and order, and served the socio-economic development of each side.

Lam is paying a two-day visit to Cambodia on Sunday and Monday at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Cambodia Sar Kheng.

Speaking about the co-operation between the two ministries, Lam told PM Hun Sen that the PM and Cambodian government should instruct police forces from both countries to continue their co-operation, fulfilling the tasks assigned by the people and leaders.

Lam and Cambodian Deputy PM Sar Kheng co-chaired a dialogue between MPS and MI, which reviewed the co-operation results in 2017 and set co-operation goals for 2018.

Both sides agreed that relevant forces have closely and effectively worked together to ensure security and maintain social order in each respective country; and seen improvement in cadres training activities as well as high-ranking visit exchanges.

In 2018, they agreed that competent forces from both sides will assist each other to further promote security and social order in each country; security in Cambodias general elections to the National Assembly and Upper House; safety for top leaders visits; and favourable conditions for Vietnamese and Cambodians living and working in each respective country.

The dialogue ended with the signing of a co-operation plan for 2018 between Viet Nams Ministry of Public Security and Cambodias Ministry of Interior.  VNSHA NOI  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc highlighted Viet Nams significant achievements in 2017 in an article published in a special issue titled The Year Ahead 2018: Hope Against Rage of the international media organisation Project Syndicate.



He underlined the countrys records in the establishment of new businesses, foreign direct investment (FDI), import-export, foreign currency reserves and gross domestic product (GDP) growth.



Viet Nams determination to reform along with the remarkable accomplishments has created an elated atmosphere in business and investment and reinforced the trust of the business community and investors, he said.



According to the PM, Viet Nam has proactively integrated into the world with the establishment of diplomatic relations with 185 countries and 26 frameworks of strategic partnership and comprehensive partnership, while maintaining economic ties with 224 countries and territories and participating in 16 free trade agreements (FTAs).



As host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum 2017, Viet Nam proposed the theme Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future and built an agenda to connect APEC economies in supporting the rule-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open and inclusive multilateral trading system.



Regarding plans for 2018, PM Phuc affirmed that with the slogan discipline, integrity, action, creativity and effectiveness, Viet Nam is determined to maintain a stable socio-political and macro economic environment, promote democracy, prevent corruption and vested interests and realise the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals by 2030.



Viet Nam will focus on measures to improve institutions, human resources and socio-economic infrastructure. The country hopes to create significant changes in economic reshuffling and reforming the growth model towards increasing productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness, he said.



Apart from restructuring the State business sector and the banking system, Viet Nam will accelerate the settlement of bad debts, reform the public financial system and curb public debts by reducing cost burdens and facilitating business and production activities, he noted.



The Southeast Asian nation will make more flexible use of fiscal and monetary instruments and prioritise investment in developing infrastructure, digital economy and smart industries. Investment will be poured into education and science-technology while start-ups and innovation will be encouraged, the PM said.



The country has defined the private economic sector as an important driver for the local economy, and strives to have one million effective businesses by 2020.



Viet Nam will improve the quality of the institutional and legal system, promote jurisdiction and enhance State macroeconomic management capacity, the PM noted.



He emphasised Viet Nams consistent policies of integration with a focus on international economic integration in addition to refining the legal system, restructuring the economy, changing the growth model, increasing competitive edge and building proper policies and mechanisms to aid domestic and foreign businesses.



Viet Nam will work for the early signing of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, according to the PM.



He said the country will create favourable conditions for both domestic and foreign enterprises and investors to develop production and operate in Viet Nam, while stressing unhealthy business activities will be boycotted.



The PM underlined Viet Nams wish to strengthen cooperation and solidarity with the international community to overcome challenges, prevent and address disputes via peaceful means and in respect for the UN Charter and international law as well as promote sustainable development to bring prosperity and happiness to all people.



Finally, the Government leader affirmed the country will work with countries to maintain a stable, peaceful environment, friendship, co-operation and development in order to effectively cope with factors hindering international integration, implement regional and global agreements on sustainable development and climate change adaptation, and shape bilateral and multilateral cooperation institutions.  VNSHCM CITY  HCM City authorities are taking measures to ensure residents access to clean water during the dry season and upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

The State-owned Saigon Water Corporation (SAWACO), the citys largest tap water supplier, said it would ensure a sufficient supply of clean water for the citys residents during the period.

The demand for water during the dry season is expected to be especially high in districts with fast-paced urbanisation, such as districts 9, 12, Binh Tan, Nha Be, Hoc Mon and Binh Chanh.

SAWACO has asked water companies in the city to work with the electricity sector to ensure smooth operations during the holiday and dry season.

The companies and government agencies will ensure water quality, especially at the Hoa Phu pumping station (at Tan Hiep Water Company) and Hoa An pumping station (at Thu uc Water Company).

The companies have been asked to monitor water contamination and saline intrusion, and control water volume at the sources to increase water pressure, especially in areas far from the sources.

In addition, the supply of water from stored tanks and mobile tanks like tank trucks must be ready at any time to ensure sufficient supply.

The companies have also been told to work with fire-fighting police to ensure there is sufficient supply of water in case of fire.

Water supply staff will be available 24/7 during the holiday to resolve any problems of water supply and weak water pressure.

All water companies such as Thu uc, Tan Hiep and Tan Phu must be ready to operate at a designated capacity requested by SAWACO.

To comply with the policy to limit exploitation of underground water sources, SAWACO has shifted to other sources.

Most water samples from drilled wells in the city are contaminated, affecting peoples health in the long run, said a city official.

To cope with climate change, which affects the citys water resources, SAWACO has adjusted the water supply master plan, incorporating provisions to build more pumping stations as well as lakes and tanks to store treated and untreated water.

Last year, SAWACO asked the city authority to build five reservoirs in the next eight years to ensure clean water supply for residents.

The quality of the water supply has worsened due to pollution and effects of climate change, according to SAWACO.

The five reservoirs, which will be able to store up to 373,000cu.m of water, will be located in Go Vap and Binh Chanh districts and in the central, southern and western parts of the city.

By 2025, SAWACO expects the total capacity of the citys reservoirs and water towers to be upgraded to 1.2 million cubic metres, or about 48 per cent of the total water consumed on a daily basis.  VNSHA NOI  Historically, the mostly publicly financed health care system in Viet Nam has only been able to afford to pour resources into a handful of central level hospitals in big cities, forcing patients living in remote areas with serious diseases to go to Ha Noi or HCM City for treatment.

Aside from the additional costs for transportation and living, by the time a patient has reached the central hospital, the golden window to best treat their condition might have closed long ago.

But for the last decade, an initiative called Project 1816 has rotated experts and professional medical staff from central-level to local-level hospitals, reducing the overcrowding in hospitals higher administrative units and improving the quality of medical service delivery in rural areas.

The so-called satellite hospitals project has enabled local hospitals to acquire experience, technology, devices and manpower from central level hospitals. Many more citizens can now enjoy medical advances right in their hometowns.

December 2017 marks 10 years of implementing Project 1816. So far, central-level hospitals have sent some 4,000 medical professionals to train medical staff in local hospitals, while some 4,800 techniques have been transferred and 2.5 million patients have been treated locally instead of traveling to big cities, the Ministry of Health said.

From deaths hand

Patient N.V.P., 85 years old and a resident of rural Cam Xuyen Town of the central province of Ha Tinh, was admitted to the hospital with severe chest pain, breathing difficulties and headache.

Dr Nguyen Van Loi, from Cam Xuyen General Hospitals intensive care unit, said that since the hospital did not have echocardiography (heart ultrasound) machine or other advanced monitoring techniques, they could only do basic tests and ask the patient to rest. The octogenarian patient later went into coma and her heart stopped beating.

As luck would have it, at the time there was a working group from Ha Noi E Hospital, a 50-year-old central level hospital under the Ministry of Healths management, visiting Cam Xuyen Town, where the local general hospital is considered a satellite facility.

Doctor o Quoc Phong, from the E hospitals intensive care unit, immediately performed heart reanimation and injected adrenaline into the patients veins. Five minutes later, her heart resumed beating.

Phong said P. would have had little chance of survival unless emergency techniques had been applied in a timely manner.

In just three days (January 8-10), the Hospital Es group of doctors blessed several patients with their professional expertise.

The heart doctors table was always crowded, showing locals real need for cardiology care. Meanwhile, both general hospitals of Cam Xuyen and Ky Anh towns were woefully lacking in doctors and especially in those with an in-depth knowledge of cardiology.

Because of this, 53-year-old patient N.V.T. from Cam Xuyen has not had his heart thoroughly checked up in the five years since he had his heart operation carried out in Hue City. Only on this occasion did he have the chance to get his heart tested carefully and receive plenty of helpful answers.

The E Hospital group also noted high demand for treatment of upper respiratory problems or ENT (ear, nose, and throat) disorder in children, and bone and joint issues for the elderly.

E Hospitals deputy director Le Quoc Viet said the working group was deployed in order to assess the real condition  both in terms of infrastructure and manpower  in Cam Xuyen general hospital and Ky Anh general hospital. During this trip, 1,200 patients were treated, including many whose previously unidentified afflictions were finally diagnosed.

Practical benefits

Professor Le Ngoc Thanh, head of Hospital E, said that the hospital has been providing assistance to 10 provincial level hospitals (Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang and Hai Duong provinces, and Hai Phong City), regional general hospitals like Tinh Gia and Ngoc Lac in the central province of Thanh Hoa, and two district-level hospitals (Cam Xuyen and Ky Anh).

Most of the expertise is focused on cardiology, injury treatment, intensive care and poison control, Thanh added.

Thai Binh General Hospital, with the help of Hospital E, will open for the first time a cardiothoracic (heart and chest) surgery faculty in 2018 to perform open heart surgery, lung surgery, mediastinal and thoracic surgery  all of which were impossible before.

Thanh Hoa General Hospital is considered to have mastered most of the techniques it has received. The central province has invested VN34 billion (US$1.5 million) to build new surgery theatres and buy new medical equipment to aid in open heart surgery.

The health ministry said that one of the most significant results of the satellite hospital project is that it motivates provincial-level hospitals to upgrade infrastructure and invest in training medical staff, which in turn brings benefits to patients.

Similarly, the central Bach Mai Hospital in Ha Noi has trained hundreds of doctors in the remote areas of the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai in many areas of medicine and skills  diagnostic imaging, gastroenterology, cardiology and surgery  since it first co-operated with the province under Project 1816 ten years ago, according to Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Quoc Anh, Bach Mai Hospitals director.

Vu Manh Cuong, deputy director of communications and emulation under the health ministry, said that in the coming years, one priority will be an information network where surgeries can be live-streamed, and training and education activities can be done online. The $81 million telemedicine programme, or the remote diagnosis and treatment of patients by means of telecommunications technology, part of the Project 1816, will also receive special attention.

In addition, communication works must be stepped up so that local people are aware of which diseases and conditions can now be handled by local doctors, hopefully improving the visitation rate, Cuong added.  VNSADEN  Yemens 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 Yemens unification in 1990 -- backed Hadis government against the Huthis but tensions between them had been rising.

"A coup is ongoing here in Aden against legitimacy and the countrys 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 said 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 governments 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.

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 on Saturday.

The UAE also called for restraint and reiterated its support for the coalitions 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 Adens 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".

Sundays 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 Hadis 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 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 Daghers 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.

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 Yemens conflict, which has killed more than 9,200 people and devastated a country already among the regions poorest.

The Huthis have increasingly consolidated their grip on Sanaa and the north, especially since rebels killed Saleh in December after their alliance collapsed.  AFPKABUL  Gunmen launched a pre-dawn attack on a military academy in Kabul on Monday, security officials and sources said, in an ongoing assault that marks the latest violence to strike the Afghan capital.

Some of the attackers at the Marshal Fahim Military Academy have been killed, an Afghan security source said, in the third major attack in the city in just over a week.

At least four attackers were still involved in an intense gun battle with security forces, the source said, adding the gunmen had not managed to enter the heavily fortified academy.

Three soldiers have been wounded, defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said.

"One bomber detonated himself and the rest of the attackers are resisting.

They are under siege by our forces," Waziri added.

Witnesses told AFP they heard several explosions and gunfire at around 5am (0030 GMT) at the academy on the outskirts of Kabul where high-ranking military officers are trained.

An AFP reporter at the scene said he could "hear explosions". Security forces have swarmed the area and blocked the road leading to the academy.

An officer inside the academys compound said he heard an explosion followed by an exchange of gunfire.

Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid confirmed said there had been rocket and gunfire.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the raid, which comes days after a Taliban suicide attacker driving an explosives-packed ambulance blew up in a crowded area of the city, killing and wounding hundreds.

At least 103 people were killed and 235 wounded in Saturdays lunchtime attack -- one of the worst bombings in the city in recent years -- which was followed by a national day of mourning in the war-weary country.

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.

Todays raid came as both the insurgents and the Islamic State group have escalated their attacks on Kabul, turning it into one of the deadliest places in Afghanistan for civilians.

On January 20, Taliban insurgents stormed Kabuls landmark Intercontinental hotel and killed at least 25 people, the majority foreigners.

But there is still confusion over the true toll from that attack with conflicting figures given by officials and Afghan media reporting higher numbers

Kabul is on high alert as the city braces for further attacks. Security warnings sent to foreigners in recent days said IS militants were planning to attack supermarkets, hotels and shops frequented by foreigners.  AFPI call them TV dinners. This is something I have found before, but plain hand wrapped and they are put together locally and by a local person. Like within the store itself

But we now have five or six types of factory packaged TV dinners. When I see one or something like this, I have to buy and try. I want to know what Russia is up to and at 49 rubles it is a deal

49 rubles is about .87 cents American dollars

Just to let you know what is happening in Russia. It is amazing what they are making, Russians have found an internal market that is growing and growing. This is what the sanctions have done to Russia. The Sanctions do not hurt, they are allowing Russians to expand away from the laziness that had over taken them, when they allowed the west to dump products everywhere and dump anything such as Bushs Chicken

Thank God that America is the hooligans what they are. For years now Sveta and I have eaten the best chicken that you can buy. GMO free. antibiotic free and chlorine free. Russia has started to export chicken

https://www.rbth.com/business/2017/01/27/why-did-the-russian-chicken-cross-the-border_689956

Thank you America Europe thanks you as Russia exports chicken to the EU, slowly but steadily..

WtR

PS: It has help America also. No market for the Bush Legs and prices dropped on chicken in much of the USA. One of the only things to drop is chicken, but when one of your largest markets tells you to go away, guess what. Market is over saturated and price has to drop

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-01-27/visualizing-real-inflation-decade-grocery-prices-30-common-itemsTanker Carrying 1st Batch of Russian LNG Arrives in Boston

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Tanker Gaselys, carrying the first shipment of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) reached a port near the city of Boston in the east of the United States, the United States Coast Guard told Sputnik.

Source: Tanker Carrying 1st Batch of Russian LNG Arrives in Boston

What can you say? It does not matter why! It just matters that we are and we need it. So walk and talk your lies

America has to buy Russian Gas

WtRJan 29, 2018 | By Benedict

The Fraunhofer Society, a German research organization with 70 institutes spread throughout Germany, has signed an agreement with Katharina Fegebank, Deputy Mayor of Hamburg, to jointly explore 3D printing and nanotechnology over the next five years.

January 1 was a big day for Hamburg and the Fraunhofer Society. Not just because it signaled the start of 2018, but because it also saw the Fraunhofer Society acquire two leading Hamburg research institutions as part of a 30 million euro ($37 million) deal. The deal was closed following lengthy negotiations with the German government.

Of that 30 million euros, around 20 million will go into the planned construction of Fraunhofer Institute for Additive Production Technology (IAPT), a new institute being formed from the acquired optical specialist LZN Laser Zentrum Nord.

Another 10 million euros will be invested in the growth of the Fraunhofer Center for Applied Nanotechnology (CAN), formed from the previously independent Center for Applied Technology, as well as further development of IAPT.

CAN has been integrated into the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP) as a new field office, and will cover functional materials, life science, and home and personal care with a research focus on quantum dots and OLEDs, biofunctional nanoparticles, and nanoparticle synthesis.

Excitingly for us, a big part of this investment in the two new Fraunhofer institutes will go toward the exploration of additive manufacturing technologies and nanotechnology systems over the course of the next five years.

With the transfer of LZN Laser Zentrum Nord and CAN into the Fraunhofer Society, we are further expanding our competences in the fields of additive manufacturing and nanotechnology, said Professor Reimund Neugebauer, President of the Fraunhofer Society. This allows us to better support our customers and partners in the near future.

Neugebauer said that, with the two new facilities, Fraunhofer will develop new 3D printing technologies and solutions that will strengthen the German and European economy while helping Fraunhofer sustainably position itself in numerous areas such as aviation, medical technology, and mechanical engineering.

Hamburg is well on the way to become a leading centre of research and innovation in Europe, added Katharina Fegenbank, Senator for Science, Research and Equality. 3D printing and nanotechnology are future-orientated fields which are important catalysts of innovation and our citys development.

As part of the LZN Laser Zentrum Nord integration, a Competence Center for Additive Manufacturing is being established in Hamburg, which aims to further develop 3D printing technology through applied research and development services.

This will benefit not only researchers already working in Germany, but could dramatically improve the reputation of the already well-regarded institutes.

With the transfer to a Fraunhofer Institute, the course has been set for the development of one of the most influential production technologies of the future: additive manufacturing, said Professor Claus Emmelmann, head of Fraunhofer IAPT. This, in turn, has positive infrastructural implications, since many companies will opt for the Hamburg location in future in order to utilize the extensive know-how of the Fraunhofer IAPT.

Emmelmann says the IAPT could double its number of employees over the course of the coming years.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Oral Thrush Market

Market Research Future has a half cooked research report on the global oral thrush market. Which is Expected to reach USD 9.5 billion by 2023

Oral thrush or oral candidiasis is an infection of the oral mucosa caused by strains of the Candida species. Candida albicansaccounts for about 50% cases of the oral thrush across the globe and 80% of the cases are caused various strains of candida such as C. tropicalis, C. glabrata and C. albicans. Various factors affects the prevalence of candida such as humidity and temperature. Additionally, high prevalence is also detected in hospitalized patients, smokers, immune-compromised individuals due to diseases such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, cancer, and Down syndrome. It also affect the people eating high carbohydrates containing food, suffering from xerostomia (dry mouth) and wearing dentures are at a higher risk of developing oral thrush. Newborns, Females, and geriatric population are more susceptible to the infection.

Increasing risk factors such as fatty and sugar rich foods, growing screening, increasing infant population, rising number of immune-compromised patients, rising prevalence of diseases such as diabetes drive the market growth. However, increasing drug resistance by the candida species, falling profitability of the anti-fungal and antibiotic drug, huge market fragmentation, and lack of awareness and misdiagnosis may hamper the growth of the market over the review period.

Sample Report Available at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4417 .

Regional Analysis

The Americas holds a significant share of the global market owing to extensive use of medications and high expenditure on the health care. Additionally, the fastest uptake of new products, concentration of major healthcare companies coupled with the larger market for oral hygiene products drives the market growth. The US spent 16% of the total GDP on healthcare in 2015, which fueled the sale of oral thrush treatment.

Europe is the second largest market in the world due to high income and healthcare penetration and the market growth is led by countries such as Germany and France. The UK is expected to be the fastest growing market as result of high influence of media and the rise in the awareness about oral hygiene coupled with the high per capita income of the population.

Asia Pacific region is expected to grow the fastest with China and India are likely to lead this market due to fast growing healthcare sector and large unmet needs during the forecast period. South East Asia countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia will also contribute highly to the market.

Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are estimated to drive the Middle East & African market. Other Middle East nations to watch out for are Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt and Iran. The African region is expected to witness a moderate growth owing to poor economic and political conditions and poor healthcare development. However, Africa has the highest unmet needs in the world and cost-effective products will be the key to dominate the African market. First comer will take advantage to establish its dominance in African market that will be difficult to overcome by any new player due to the smaller market size and market value of the African oral thrush market.

Browse complete report at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/oral-thrush-market-4417 .

Segmentation

The global oral thrush market has been segmented on the basis of types, diagnosis, treatment, and end user.

Based on types, the market has been segmented as pseudomembranous, erythematous, hyperplastic, and others.

Based on diagnosis, the market has been segmented as examination, biopsy, endoscopy, and others.

Based on treatment, the market has been segmented as anti-fungal, immune-modulator,s and others.

Based on the end user, the market has been segmented as hospitals & clinics, academic, and research and others.

In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.

Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are estimated to drive the Middle East & African market. Other Middle East nations to watch out for will be Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt and Iran. The African region is expected to witness a moderate growth owing to poor economic and political conditions and poor healthcare development. However, Africa has the highest unmet needs in the world and cost-effective products will be the key to dominate the African market. First comer will take advantage and establish the dominance in the African market, which will be difficult to overcome by any new player due to the smaller market size and market value of the African market for oral thrush.

Media Contact

Company Name: Market Research Future

Contact Person: Akash Anand

Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com

Phone: +1 646 845 9312

Address:Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 

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Website: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/oral-thrush-market-4417The Turtle Bay Exploration Park on Sunday held the animal parade, an event that introduces attendees to an animal of the park.

On Sunday was the porcupine spikes turn to draw in the crowds.

As participants watched spike walked down the boardwalk as the staff talked about her and the species of porcupine.

As you can see from the video she is very friendly with guests and loves to stop and sniff shoes and strollers.

The show is a way for experts to talk about information and myths about the animal.

Spike is probably one of the favorites, everyone has their favorite. She is a pretty popular one here at Turtle Bay. She is a great ambassador for porcupines and one of the things that is really important to teach about her is that porcupines do not shoot their quills. That is like the biggest myth, porcupines cannot shoot those quills it is just a modified type of hair, said Adrienne John, an assistant curator of the event.

The parade only runs for one more weekend so if you missed it Sunday head out to the Turtle Bay Exploration Park next Sunday.For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browserFormat for print or mobile

Africa/Global: Humanitarian Attention Deficits

AfricaFocus Bulletin

January 29, 2018 (180129)

(Reposted from sources cited below)

Editor's Note The international system of response to humanitarian crises is flawed. And the often-repeated call to focus on addressing causes of crises and structural flaws in the system, instead of only providing short-term relief, is undeniably justified. But current trends, paralleling austerity programs and cuts in services at domestic levels in the United States and around the world, are not moving in the direction of fundamental reform. Instead, they are further diminishing the already inadequate resources devoted to saving lives. These cutbacks, as is often noted, have disproportionate effects on the most vulnerable regions of the world, notably Africa. This effect is multiplied not only by racial and other stereotypes but by the structural flaw that funding depends not on reliably budgeted funds for timely responses, but on after-the-fact fundraising, itself reliant on media attention, with all its built-in biases and focus on sensational images. Despite this reality, notes one of the foremost investigators of famine, Alex de Waal, the international humanitarian system developed in recent decades has in fact led to hundreds of thousands lives saved, in comparison with the record of the 20th century. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (http://www.unocha.org/) is the lead inter-governmental agency coordinating such efforts. And the news agency IRIN News (https://www.irinnews.org/content/about-us), recently spun off from the United Nations as an independent non-governmental organization, provides regular first-hand coverage and analysis with priorities that prioritize understanding complex realities. This and other sources on-line mean that those who wish to do so do not have to rely only on the most visible "mainstream media" outlets for their news. Despite such advances, the threat from U.S. attacks on multilateral institutions (though not only) leads de Waal to warn that the limited progress is both fragile and reversible. This AfricaFocus contains several different sections related to this overaraching theme: (1) a set of key reliable links for updates on humanitarian crises and international responses, (2) brief excerpts from and links to reflections that go beyond noting the obvious racism in President Trump's "shithole" remarks, (3) excerpts from an interview with Alex de Waal, author of the new book "Mass Starvation: The History and Future of Famine," and (4) excerpts from IRIN's look ahead to 10 humanitarian crises in 2018, including 5 in Africa. For previous AfricaFocus Bulletins on humanitarian assistance and related topics, visit http://www.africafocus.org/intro-peace.php and http://www.africafocus.org/aidexp.php ++++++++++++++++++++++end editor's note+++++++++++++++++

Key Links

UNOCHA, Global Humanitarian Overview. 2018. http://interactive.unocha.org/publication/globalhumanitarianoverview/

Includes humanitarian response plans for the following 21 countries, of which 13 are in Africa:

* Afghanistan, Haiti, Iraq, Myanmar, oPt, Syria, Ukraine, Yemen

* Burundi, Cameroon, CAR, Chad, DRC, Ethiopia, Libya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan

This report also had a revealing chart of the proportion of funding raised for humanitarian appeals in 2017.

http://www.africafocus.org/images/funding-2017.pdf

At the end of November, only 52% of the $24.0 billion needed for the year 2017 had been committed.

https://www.irinnews.org/africa  IRIN Africa page  formerly UN, now independent non-profit news service. Coverage that goes beyond stereotypes from on-the-spot reporting and careful analysis.

https://reliefweb.int/ - Detailed reports collated by OCHA https://www.unocha.org/ UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Racism Beyond Trump: Not Just Attitudes but Also Structures

The links below include several recent short commentaries in direct response to Trump's remarks, but also two longer essays written more than a decade ago, one on the legal case for reparations for Africa as well as those of African descent, and the other on the structural persistence of race in the global world order as well as within nations. A common theme is the relevance of historical perspective and deeper analysis as well as acknowledging the racism in Trump's attitudes and policies.

Paul Tinyambe Zeleza, "On Trump's 'Shithole' Africa - the Homogenization and Dehumanization of a Continent," Nyasa Times, January 15, 2017

http://allafrica.com/stories/201801150449.html Trump's derogatory dismissal of shithole Haiti and Africa reflects enduring tendencies in the American social imaginary about Africa and its Diasporas. This is to suggest, as outraged as we might be about Trump's provocative and pusillanimous pronouncements, the Trump phenomenon transcends Trump. The specter of racism, whose pernicious and persistent potency Trump has brazenly exposed to the world, has haunted America from its inception with the original sin of slavery, through a century of Jim Crow segregation, and the past half century of post-civil rights redress and backlash. The disdain expressed for Haiti and Africa in the President's latest vicious verbal assault is a projection of an angry racist project to rollback the limited gains of the civil rights struggle and settlement of the 1960s that has animated the Republican Party's Southern Strategy and politics ever since. ... The intersection of domestic and foreign affairs tend to reflect, reproduce, and reinforce national and global racial hierarchies.

more Letter to President Trump from Former U.S. Ambassadors to Africa

http://allafrica.com/stories/201801170032.html

From 78 ambassadors who served in 48 African countries As former U.S. Ambassadors to 48 African countries, we write to express our deep concern regarding reports of your recent remarks about African countries and to attest to the importance of our partnerships with most of the fifty-four African nations. Africa is a continent of great human talent and rich diversity, as well as extraordinary beauty and almost unparalleled natural resources. It is also a continent with deep historical ties with the United States. ... We hope that you will reassess your views on Africa and its citizens, and recognize the important contributions Africans and African Americans have made and continue to make to our country, our history, and the enduring bonds that will always link Africa and the United States.

more Howard W. French, "Trump's profane description disregards Africa's crucial role in making America a world power," Washington Post, January 14, 2018

http://tinyurl.com/y9pakctu President Trump's comments disparaging immigrants from Haiti and the African continent have stunned many in the United States and other parts of the world. I see this as an opportunity to challenge the American public to confront this reality: More than any other factor, it is the wealth derived from Africa, especially the labor of people taken in chains from that continent, that accounts for the rise of the West and its centuries of predominance in world affairs. The facts of this history hide in plain sight, and yet Americans and others in the West have averted their eyes for 500 years. The West's ascension over other parts of the world has been attributed, instead, to innate Western qualities, including rationality and a talent for invention and innovation, or Western institutions. It is this distortion of reality  a delusion, really  that fuels attitudes of white superiority, whether subtle and pervasive, or as crude as those exhibited by someone like Trump.

more M Neelika Jayawardane," The very American myth of 'exceptional immigrants,'" Al Jazeera, 20 Jan 2018

http://tinyurl.com/yafxzqke ... Part of why Americans are susceptible to this violent, xenophobic, and nativist rhetoric is not because they are exceptionally thick, but because of how the national mythology of the US - one constructed on Puritan ideals of egalitarianism, "hard work" and perseverance against adversity - is constructed. Americans are told, since childhood, that hard work and perseverance not only build character, but allow them to overcome obstacles, and achieve their goals and dreams. Because this powerful myth is repetitively drummed into their heads - be it through apocryphal narratives of kids who came from impoverished backgrounds who went on to become multimillion-dollar earning athletes, or women who beat the odds and attained positions of leadership in fields dominated by men - they learn to believe that their country is a meritocracy. ... It is obvious that (white) Americans need to be disabused of the notion that the US's white population is special, and deserving, somehow, of privilege; it is time to get over the belief that they only received their privileges from having worked for it. But just as importantly, those immigrants of more privileged backgrounds - those who are currently touting the percentage of people from their national group who have college and post-graduate degrees, as if waving these statistics and their material possessions are ways of proving that they are not, in fact, deserving of Trump's racism - also need an antidote for their misplaced smugness.

more Lord Anthony Gifford, "The Legal Basis of the Case for Reparations: A paper Presented to the First Pan-African Congress on Reparations, Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria, April 27-29, 1993"

http://www.shaka.mistral.co.uk/legalbasis.htm Once you accept, as I do, the truth of three propositions a. That the mass kidnap and enslavement of Africans was the most wicked criminal enterprise in recorded human history,

b. that no compensation was ever paid by any of the perpetrators to any of the sufferers, and

c. that the consequences of the crime continue to be massive, both in terms of the enrichment of the descendants of the perpetrators, and in terms of the impoverishment of Africa and the descendants of Africans, then the justice of the claim for Reparations is proved beyond reasonable doubt. To those who may say that that is all very true in theory, but that in practice there is no mechanism to enforce the claim, or no willingness of the white world to recognise it, I would answer with a Latin legal maxim: ubi jus, ibi remedium: where there is a right, there must be a remedy.

more William Minter, "Invisible Hierarchies: Africa, Race, and Continuities in the World Order," Science & Society, July 2005

http://www.africafocus.org/editor/africa-race-world-2005.pdf 21st Century Color Lines Eduardo Bonilla-Silva (2003) and other analysts, focusing on the current U. S. racial order, have posited an ideology of color-blind racism, which allows for continuation of racial inequality while firmly rejecting overt racial distinctions or discrimination. One of the key components of this ideology is to deny the link between past and present, so that people regardless of their background are seen as starting on a level playing field. This assumption fits well with the companion ideology stressing the virtues of the neutral market, which all are presumed to approach with similar possibilities of success. Such an ideology gains credibility from the visible success of individuals from the subordinate group, which does in the case of race mark a break with earlier ideologies of rigid discrimination. With successful individuals in the foreground, and even celebrated as illustrating diversity, it becomes easier to view continuing structural inequality as relatively unimportant, or even to dismiss it altogether. Persistent poverty or other disadvantages can conveniently be attributed entirely to individual defects, and seen as unrelated to past or present discrimination. The dominant ideology thus diverts attention from the structural bases of persistent and rising inequality.

more

Mass starvation as a political weapon

http://phys.org, January 19, 2018

by Heather Stephenson, Tufts University

http://tinyurl.com/yd38bo84

Mass starvation killed more than three million people in Stalin-era Ukraine in the 1930s and more than 18 million in China during Mao Zedong's Great Leap Forward in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Yet by the start of this century, famines like those were all but eliminated, Alex de Waal says in his new book, Mass Starvation: The History and Future of Famine (http://amzn.to/2DuxUW4). The number of people dying in famines around the world has dropped precipitously, particularly over the last thirty to fifty years.

Those gains, though, are fragile, and could be starting to be reversed, says de Waal, who is the executive director of the World Peace Foundation and a research professor at the Fletcher School. For his book, he compiled the best available estimates of global famine deaths from 1870 to 2010, and used that data to analyze trends. Tufts Now sat down with him recently to find out what he learned.

Tufts Now: In the popular imagination, famine is often connected with too many people and too little food--that is, with overpopulation and low agricultural production due to natural disasters such as drought. How does that line up with reality?

Alex de Waal: That is nonsense. Famine is a very specific political product of the way in which societies are run, wars are fought, governments are managed. The single overwhelming element in causation--in three-quarters of the famines and threequarters of the famine deaths--is political agency. Yet we still tend to be gripped by this idea that famine is a natural calamity.

You can actually show that the population theory of famine is wrong. Not just wrong at a global scale--because famine mortality has gone down precipitously while world population has gone up--but also at a country level. In the countries that have historically been very prone to famine, like Ethiopia or India, famine mortality has gone down and continues to do so even while population goes up. This is not to say that there isn't a problem of resource consumption in the world. It's just to say famine is not part of that.

Tufts Now: You say that mass starvation was almost eliminated, with famines becoming less frequent and less lethal. How did that happen?

de Waal: There are multiple reasons: the background economics, the improvements in transport systems, information systems, massive improvements in public health. The big historic killers in famines used to be infectious diseases. Those are now much less likely to kill large numbers of people.

One big factor is the international humanitarian industry. The humanitarians are much better at addressing the symptoms than the causes. But nonetheless if you can reduce the lethality of famines to a small fraction of what they used to be twenty, thirty, fifty years ago, even if you're not addressing the causes, you're still doing something substantially positive.

The last reason for the decline in famines is undoubtedly the decline in wars, the decline in totalitarian rule, and the spread of democracy and liberal values. There's something very tangibly precious to be held onto about democracy, liberalism, and humanitarianism. You can demonstrate that this has saved tens of millions of lives. It shouldn't be treated lightly.

Tufts Now: In addition to sending humanitarian aid, outsiders have sometimes argued for intervening with military force to protect civilians who are suffering during famines in conflict zones. What do you think of that?

de Waal: I think it's a terribly bad idea--it's very likely to go wrong. Twenty-five years ago, when President Bush the elder sent his troops to Somalia, I resigned from Human Rights Watch over it. I was asked to support it, and I refused. I still think it's a bad idea. Almost every instance where you see troops sent in, it has not worked out well. These are not problems that can be solved by the military.

Tufts Now: You say that the success in combating famine is now stalling and that world leaders should help by making the act of starving people a war crime or a crime against humanity. Isn't it already against international law?

de Waal: Lawyers will argue about this. Some will say there is no law that outlaws faminogenic acts--acts that create famines--and there are so many loopholes in international law that you can fly fighter jets through it, as the Saudis are doing now in Yemen. Others will say the law is there if interpreted correctly.

What can't be denied is that it's an issue that we collectively don't care enough about to make the criminalization work.

Let me give a parallel, which is sexual and gender crimes. Rape has always been unlawful, but it was only relatively recently that the international community-- global public opinion--cared enough about criminalizing rape to actually make it into an issue that could be stopped. In the same way, I think we need to care enough about starvation, in places like Yemen, Syria, Nigeria, and South Sudan, to make it an issue that is so toxic that it is stopped.

Tufts Now: You mention Yemen, where an ongoing armed conflict and blockade imposed by a Saudi-led coalition have left millions in need of humanitarian assistance. What should be done about the people starving there?

de Waal: Yemen is the greatest famine atrocity of our lifetimes. The Saudis are deliberately destroying the country's food-producing infrastructure.

The United States and the European countries, if they cared about it enough, have enough leverage to get the Saudis and the Emeratis to stop bombing agricultural, health, and market infrastructure, open the ports, and have a much less restrictive definition about what food is allowed in. They also need to start a peace process. This is not a war that is going to be won in any meaningful sense. It's a political, created famine and it will have to be solved by political, created means. One can ameliorate the impact by enabling a humanitarian response, which would save many lives, and allowing the economy to regenerate a bit, but a proper solution has to be a political one.

Tufts Now: How hopeful are you about the possibility of ending famine?

de Waal: At any time up to a couple of years ago, I would have been extremely hopeful. The default mode of the national and global governance systems was in favor of humanitarian systems and against faminogenic actions. That was the way history was going. That was the direction of global politics.

Now I'm much less certain about that, as we are seeing some of this introverted, xenophobic, transactional, zero-sum politics. It's not just here in the U.S. You also see it in Europe, with Britain as a particularly sad example.

Humanitarianism cannot cope with the political causes of famine. Humanitarians know that. But there's still an assumption by political leaders, who are somewhat culpable, that if we put the humanitarians on the case, we don't need to deal with the politics. That is wrong.

Ten humanitarian crises to look out for in 2018

IRINs editors sketch out the gloomy-looking horizon for next year

Geneva, 31 December 2017

http://www.irinnews.org - direct URL: http://tinyurl.com/y8vem7ps

From the Rohingya to South Sudan, hurricanes to famine, 2017 was full of disasters and crises. But 2018 is shaping up to be even worse. Here's why.

The UN has appealed for record levels of funding to help those whose lives have been torn apart, but the gap between the funding needs and the funding available continues to grow.

And what makes the outlook especially bad for 2018 is that the political will needed to resolve conflicts, welcome refugees, and address climate change also appears to be waning. What a difference a year, a new US president, and a German election make.

Here's our insider take on 10 crises that will shape the humanitarian agenda in 2018 (See 2017's list here):

Syria's sieges and displacement

As Syria heads towards seven years of war and Western governments quietly drop their demands for political transition, it has become increasingly clear that President Bashar al-Assad will stay in power, at least in some capacity.

more in original article

Congo unravels

Democratic Republic of Congo. Sylvain Liechti/UN Photo.

You know the situation is bad when people start fleeing their homes, and it doesn't get much worse than the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Here, violence in its eastern provinces has triggered the world's worst displacement crisis  for a second year in a row. More than 1.7 million people abandoned their farms and villages this year, on top of 922,000 in 2016. The provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Kasai, and Tanganyika are the worst affected and the epicentres of unrest in the country.

New alliances of armed groups have emerged to take on a demoralised government army and challenge President Joseph Kabila in distant Kinshasa. He refused to step down and hold elections in 2016 when his constitutionally mandated two-term limit expired  and the political ambition of some of these groups is to topple him. These rebellions are a new addition to the regular lawlessness of armed groups and conflict entrepreneurs that have stalked the region for years. It is a confusing cast of characters, in which the army also plays a freelance role and, as IRIN reported this month, as an instigator of some of the rights abuses that are forcing civilians to flee.

As we enter 2018, more than 13 million people require humanitarian assistance and protection  that's close to six million more people than at the start of 2017. Over three million people are severely food insecure in the Kasai region alone, their villages and fields looted. Aid is only slowly trickling in. The $812 million appeal for Congo is less than 50 percent funded. That lack of international commitment represents the single largest impediment to the humanitarian response.

Yemen slips further towards famine

If we repeat the words world's worst humanitarian crisis so often that they starting to lose gravity, here are a few numbers that might help hammer home just how grim life has become after more than two and a half years of war in Yemen, a country of more than 29 million: 8.4 million people are on the verge of starvation; 400,000 children have severe acute malnutrition (that's as bad as it gets), and more than 5,500 civilians have been killed.

more in original article

South Sudan  it could get even worse

South Sudan. Diana Diaz/UNHCR.

A much-anticipated ceasefire in South Sudan didn't last long.

It came into effect at midnight on Christmas Eve, and a few hours later government and rebel forces were fighting around the northern town of Koch in Unity State. The violence hasn't derailed the peace talks underway in Addis Ababa, but it does point to how difficult it will be for the internationally-backed diplomatic process to shape events on the ground.

The ceasefire is between President Salva Kiir and several rebel groups, but confidence is low that negotiations can bring a quick and decisive end to a war entering its fifth year.

South Sudan has fragmented, with a host of ethnic militias emerging with shifting loyalties. The various members of this so- called gun class all want a seat at the table, in the belief that any future agreement will be based on a power-sharing deal and a division of the country's resources along the lines of the last failed settlement.

The international community lacks leverage and neighbouring countries don't have the unity of purpose necessary to achieve a broad-based and sustainable peace agreement.

What that means is that more refugees  on top of an existing two million  will continue to pour across the country's borders as the fighting season resumes.

It also means some seven million people inside the country  almost two thirds of the remaining population  will still need humanitarian assistance; hunger will also continue to threaten millions as a result of the war, displacement, and collapse of the rural economy. And yes, there will be the threat of renewed famine.

One final ingredient in the brew of despair is that the humanitarian community's access to those in need will be constrained by both the prevailing insecurity and the government's cynical taxation of aid operations.

CAR  where humanitarians fear to tread

Central African Republic. Philip Kleinfeld/IRIN.

There are many reasons why Central African Republic was officially the unhappiest country in the world in 2017.

You can start with the 50 percent increase in the number of displaced, bringing the total to 633,000 people. Then there are the more than two million hungry people, and the half a million who have figured it's just too hard to stay and have left for neighbouring countries.

It's not much fun being an aid worker either. In November another humanitarian worker was killed in the north of the country, bringing to 14 the number to have died this year. The level of violence has forced aid agencies to repeatedly suspend operations as their personnel, convoys, and bases are deliberately targeted.

Behind the insecurity is a four-year conflict between competing armed groups that neither a weak government nor an under-staffed UN peacekeeping mission can contain. It pits mainly Muslim ex-Seleka rebels against Christian anti-Balaka, but some of the worst fighting has its roots in the splintering of the Seleka coalition and a feud between former allies.

The violence across the country boils down to the lucrative control of natural resources and the taxes the groups raise from checkpoints. Such is the insecurity that the government's writ doesn't even cover all of the capital, Bangui.

Rohingya refugees in limbo; forgotten conflicts simmer elsewhere in Myanmar

more in original article

Afghans return to flaring conflict

more in original article

Venezuelan exodus to strain neighbours

more in original article

Libya: Africa's giant holding cell

Libya. Alessio Romenzi/UNICEF.

An AU-EU summit at the end of 2017 seemed to offer a glimmer of hope for the 700,000 to one million migrants stuck in the nightmare that is Libya.

It produced a plan to repatriate those who want it, and to move others from squalid detention centres into better conditions.

Some flights home did subsequently take off, and a first group (of 162 refugees and migrants from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Yemen) was even evacuated by the UN on 22 December from Libya to Italy. But we've yet to see how this scheme will play out, and there are some serious obstacles. Many migrants have nowhere safe to return to, and it's not clear how a UN-backed government that controls little in the way of territory or popular support will manage to move and protect migrants in a country with multiple governments, militias, and tribes.

That the meeting even got press (in large part thanks to a CNN film of what appeared to be a slave auctions) in an oft-ignored country is a sign of how little the world cares about the mostly sub-Saharan African migrants in Libya, for whom kidnapping, extortion, and rape have become the norm.

European policy has largely focused on keeping migrants from boarding boats in the Mediterranean or reaching their shores  creating a situation that is bad enough for Libyans and shockingly worse for Africans. At the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron mooted a military and police initiative inside Libya, plus UN sanctions for people-smugglers. How this could actually work is anyone's guess, and it seems unlikely to get at the source of many migrants' woes: the lack of legal avenues to get out of the desperate situations that brought them to Libya's hell in the first place.

A year of turmoil in Cameroon

It's taken just over a year for political agitation in Cameroon's anglophone region to turn into armed opposition against the government of President Paul Biya.

Separatism was only a fringe idea until the government cracked down hard on protesters demanding greater representation for the neglected minority region. Now, government soldiers are being killed, Biya is promising all-out war, and thousands of refugees are fleeing into neighbouring Nigeria.

Anglophone Cameroon is becoming radicalised. Refugees recounting experiences of killings by the security forces talk of revenge, and commentators worry that the opportunity for negotiations with more moderate anglophone leaders  those pursuing a policy of civil disobedience and diplomatic pressure on Yaounde  may be rapidly shrinking.

If the government believes there is a military solution to the activists' demands for an independent Ambazonia, made up of the two anglophone regions of western Cameroon, they may well be mistaken. Where the separatists' training camps are being established, next to the Nigerian border, is a remote and heavily forested zone  ideal for guerrilla warfare.

Biya, 85 in February and in power for the past 35 years, is standing in elections once again in 2018. The anglophone crisis and the potential of an even larger refugee exodus will not only leave him politically damaged but could be regionally destabalising, especially as Nigeria faces its own separatist challenge.

il-oa-as/ag

AfricaFocus Bulletin is an independent electronic publication providing reposted commentary and analysis on African issues, with a particular focus on U.S. and international policies. AfricaFocus Bulletin is edited by William Minter.

AfricaFocus Bulletin can be reached at africafocus@igc.org. Please write to this address to suggest material for inclusion. For more information about reposted material, please contact directly the original source mentioned. For a full archive and other resources, see http://www.africafocus.orgThe Indian Army on Monday dismissed reports of them constructing three foot overbridges (FOBs) in Mumbai with materials brought from a war store on the Indo-China border near Doklam.

Statement that appeared in sections of media on January 28, that construction material used for the construction of Foot Over Bridges at Mumbai by the Army had come from the Indo-Chinese border at Doklam is factually incorrect, read an official statement.

The bridging stores used for the construction are training stores stored in various depots across the country, which were moved by rail to Mumbai, it added.

The Indian Army was given the task of construction of three FOBs for the Indian Railways at Elphinstone, Currey Road and Ambivli railway stations.

Of the three, the FOB at the Ambivli railway station has been successfully completed.

The task of building the FOBs is being undertaken by the Bombay Engineer Group and Centre, Kirkee from the Indian Army as a part of aid to civil authority for safety and smooth functioning of essential public services, it added.The UIDAI sought to calm qualms over data protection and privacy issues around the 12 digit biometric identifier, asserting that Aadhaar is for identification and not a profiling tool. Though the push for Aadhaar is in clear violation of the Supreme Court order to refrain from making the ID mandatory, save for a few services. The apex court is also yet to determine the constitutionality of Aadhaar and is still to take a call on whether privacy is a fundamental right.

Its worth noting that the Aadhaar fails to guarantee privacy, and allows for mass surveillance of citizens under the guise of national security, a term which is vague and undefined under law. Citizens have no recourse under the law, and Section 47 of the Act prescribes that only the UIDAI can file a criminal complaint for theft of data.

Moreover, the government can no longer distinguish citizens from residents. It cannot distinguish legal residents from illegal residents. As in the failure of an immune system to recognise a foreign invasion from the self, the government makes more and more uses of Aadhaar mandatory loosing reason and ability to protect citizens and ensuring their well being. The Supreme Court of India appears to be turning a blind eye to the governments violation of its order. Are laws and orders only valid when the SC chooses to enforce them?

Aadhaar enrolment was completely outsourced to private parties with the sole aim of building the worlds largest biometric database. Needless to say that anyone in possession of your documents could enroll with minor changes in any demographic information. Field stories of enrolments are full with descriptions of biometric jugaad including using combination of persons, use of biometric masks, biometric modifications, and other ingenious methods to maximise registrations.

Unlike the Passport Officer, the RTO, the Electoral Officer, the CEO of UIDAI does not take any legal liability to certify the number as a proof of anyones identity, address or existence. Furthermore no one has verified or audited the database to establish how many of the billion numbers that are linked to data submitted by the outsourced parties are from real individuals!

The seeding of other databases with the Aadhaar number is also unlike any other identification document. This seeding threatens to exclude the genuine and include the fake into other existing databases by seeding Aadhaar to other databases. The case of over 13,000 fake employees in Satyam who got salaries every month for years before being exposed is still fresh in India. Once stolen, the thief, to perpetuate crimes that will be attributed to you and may be difficult, if not impossible, for you to deny, can use your biometric, in a multiple of ways differing in simplicity and ease.

It is precisely this difference between the enrolment and use models of the Aadhaar in comparison with any other ID are a threat to you as well as the nation. Your rights, benefits and entitlements will be subject to your Aadhaar working and not being disabled by intention or error. Already huge numbers of those who have an Aadhaar have been denied their rights, benefits or entitlements for these reasons. To date more than 85 lakh Aadhaar numbers have been disabled by the UIDAI without assigning reasons.

Those without an Aadhaar are being treated as unequal, often with denial to their rights, entitlements and benefits. For example the IT department does not process the returns or refunds of non-Aadhaar taxpayers in the same way as those of persons with an Aadhaar. Aadhaar is single point of failure to declare your civil death. This means you will be removed from all government registers and cease to exist as far as the government is concerned. Moreover, Aadhaar has turned the government official to your master, rather than being your servant. Anytime, even when not needed, you could be asked for Aadhaar or your authentication is sabotaged to deny you dignity and equality besides your entitlements.

Aadhaar is the single point for fraudsters to hack your identity, commit crime and rob you of your property, dignity, liberty, equality and access to justice. Bank accounts opened using your Aadhaar, property transactions, purchases, registration of contracts in your identity will no longer be in your control or with your knowledge and traceability. Because the use of your stored biometric in these instances will leave little deniability, if you are accused of these acts, it will destroy your right to justice.

Meanwhile one need to even know that the Aadhaar allows terrorists, criminals to create millions of fake identities, duplicates and uses them to park black money, park bribes, finance terror and siphon subsidies and funds from the Consolidated Fund of India. Any government does not certify the Aadhaar official. The Aadhaar database has never been verified or audited by anyone.

Aadhaar destroys our ability to distinguish a citizen from an illegal immigrant. All documents like passport, drivers licenses etc can be obtained by using Aadhaar that can be illegally obtained with fake documents. It is therefore like the disease AIDS for the country.

What is the life situation where you cannot be identified by your own assertion of who you are? Imagine about a situation where you cant be identified by an introduction from a common friend? Have you ever thought a circumstance where you cannot be identified from the photograph on an id issued to you by the very agency that issued you the photo id?

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on [email protected])Despite Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)s clarification that Aadhaar is for identification and it is not a profiling tool, citizens continue to remain apprehensive about data privacy and security. Ever since the Modi government had made Aadhaar mandatory for opening bank accounts, filing income tax returns, availing scholarships and Public Distribution System (PDS) subsidy people have been raising their concerns about misuse of their personal information and biometrics. Many of them had even filed petition with the Supreme Court against the compulsory imposition of Aadhaar by the government.

The Modi government might be keen to go ahead with the Digital India policy but India doesnt have a full proof data security law to safeguard citizens privacy online. Many advanced nations like US, UK, France, New Zealand and Australia already have passed privacy laws to secure online data being misused. The Aadhaar Act permits UIDAI to gather biometric information beyond iris and finger prints. Citizens are also worried that Aadhaar is being used as a surveillance tool instead of an e-governance technology.

NCP MLA Hemant Takle said that many people, who still dont possess Aadhaar card, are undergoing severe hardships to avail government subsidies and medical aid. He said, The main issue with Aadhaar is its credibility and whenever a new reform comes that includes personal data of citizens, the government should be very careful in such cases. Aadhaar must have adequate protective mechanism to ensure that data is not leaked and its misuse is 100 per cent ruled out. Primarily, the idea of Aadhaar was that governments subsidies can reach beneficiaries without any loopholes and system delays. But by making Aadhaar card mandatory for everything, the government is trying to make it a tool to intrude citizens privacy, he added.

Once Aadhaar Data is shared it can easily be reused for other purposes. According to UIDAI, around 210 government departments had already published citizens Aadhaar numbers and personal information online. The government has been allowing private entities to use Aadhaar information thereby comprising citizens privacy. Information can only be shared with other agencies if citizens have given their consent to share data during enrolment process.Sri Lankas government is still using draconian anti-terror laws that give police sweeping powers to arrest and detain suspects despite promising to abolish them, Human Rights Watch said on Monday.

The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) allows the detention of suspects for long periods without trial and was widely used during the decades-long civil war that ended in 2009.

The government of President Maithripala Sirisena promised to abolish the act after it was elected in 2015, but has so far failed to do so.

The Sri Lankan government has been all talk and no action on repealing the reviled PTA, said HRWs Asia director Brad Adams as the rights group released a new report detailing alleged abuses under the act.

Replacing this draconian counterterrorism law with one that meets international standards should be an urgent priority if the government is serious about protecting human rights.

Sri Lanka said more than 80 detainees are still being held under the act, although local rights activists believe the true number could be in the hundreds.

HRW said it found the PTA was a significant contributing factor toward the persistence of torture in Sri Lanka nearly a decade after the end of the civil war.

Its 46-page report documents abuses allegedly committed under the PTA, including torture and sexual abuse, forced confessions and systematic denials of due process.The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has declared its Common Proficiency Test (CPT) results of December 2017 on January 17, 2018; where results pan India stood at 38.02 per cent, result at UPACA Gurukul was 67 per cent.

On this, CA Uttamprakash Agarwal, Founder of UPACA Gurukul and former president of ICAI (2009-10) expressed his joy while attributing this achievement to the hardworking students and the environment provided to them in Gurukul for studying.

UPACA Gurukul has made sure to live up to the term Gurukul, by providing an environment which is ripe for the holistic development of the student.

With students from all around India and Nepal, we teach students to co-exist and fill the void of a campus required for CA students, expressed CA Agarwal.Assyrians Establish National Federation in France

Members of the newly established Federation Assyrienne de France pose in front of the Eiffel Tower. ( AINA) Paris (AINA) -- Assyrian representatives from across France culminated a two day conference in Paris with the establishment of the Federation Assyrienne de France, a national federation of the Assyrians living in France.

There are 30,000 Assyrians living in France. The first Assyrians arrived in Marseille France in the 1920s as refugees from the genocide of the Assyrians by Turks during World War One, in which 750,000 Assyrians (75%) were killed, as well as 1 million Greeks and 1.5 million Armenians.

The conference was preceded by months of preparation focused on the adoption of bylaws, election of a preparatory council and plans for the year ahead.

The new federation is expected to seek and gain membership in the Assyrian Confederation of Europe, which is comprised of the Assyrian national federations of Sweden, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.Wife of Assyrian Pastor Sentenced to Five Years in Prison in Iran

Judge Ahmadzadeh sentenced Shamiram Isavi to five years prison for "acting against national security." Shamiram Isavi, the wife of Victor Bet Tamraz, who formerly led Iran's Assyrian Pentecostal Church, has been sentenced to five years in prison. "As far as we know, and based on Mrs. Isavi's own statements, no evidence has been presented in the case to show that she was engaged in spying or disturbing national security. She has denied all the charges," Kiarash Alipour, a spokesman for Article 18, a UK-based organization focusing on Christians in Iran, told the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) on January 25, 2018. "Mrs. Isavi explained during the interrogation that when the Assyrian Pentecostal Church was shut down, she attended home churches and prayed with fellow Christians and discussed the Holy Book," added Alipour. "It's astonishing that a country's national security could be threatened by a gathering of Christian believers." Isavi was charged with "acting against national security by organizing home churches, attending Christian seminars abroad and training Christian leaders in Iran for the purpose of espionage," and found guilty by Judge Mashallah Ahmadzadeh of Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran on January 6, 2018. Since March 2017, Judge Ahmadzadeh has sentenced 16 Christian converts in Iran to prison terms ranging from five to 15 years, according to Article 18. Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Iran ratified in 1975, states that "everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion." However, the Islamic Republic views alternative belief systems, especially those seeking converts, as a threat to the prevailing Shia order. Isavi and her husband were arrested in their home in Tehran on December 26, 2014, along with their son, Ramin Bet Tamraz, and 12 Christian converts. On June 11, 2016, Ahmadzadeh sentenced Victor Bet Tamraz and Christian converts Hadi Asgari and Kavian Fallah Mohammadi to 10 years in prison each while convert Amin Afshar Naderi was issued a 15-year prison sentence. They are awaiting a decision on their appeal. According to Article 13 of the Constitution: "Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian Iranians are the only recognized religious minorities, who, within the limits of the law, are free to perform their religious rites and ceremonies, and to act according to their own canon in matters of personal affairs and religious education." "No one in Iran is prosecuted for their beliefs unless they have committed a crime," said Kazem Gharibabadi, the assistant for international affairs at the judiciary's Islamic human rights division, on March 17, 2017. However, Iran's Christian community, particularly its convert community, faces systematic state persecution and discrimination due to its growth. Despite President Hassan Rouhani's pledges during his election campaign in 2013 that "All ethnicities, all religions, even religious minorities, must feel justice," the targeting of Christian converts for state persecution and prosecution has continued unabated under his administration. All Farsi-speaking Christian churches in Iran are currently banned. Only non-ethnic-Persians, such as Armenians and Assyrians, are allowed to practice their Christian faith. "Christian converts can only attend home churches but they could face heavy sentences," Alipour told CHRI.On a recent Saturday, some 35 children and young adults from Wilmer Hall Children's Home joyfully blew into bright yellow, duckbill-shaped plastic quackers, waving at passersby and dancing in their seats to Mardi Gras tunes as they rolled through Parade Route A aboard a duck boat.

The "Krewe de Ducks" couldn't have been more festive. It was quite a different sight than five months ago, when Mobile's duck boats were used for a more serious purpose: rescuing kidney patients and Fresenius Kidney Care staff members in Houston following Hurricane Harvey.

The tour was made possible by Fresenius Kidney Care, to thank Gulf Coast Ducks for their life-saving assistance to patients and staff members.

Participants posed in front of a duck boat before their tour on Jan. 20. (Photo courtesy Gulf Coast Ducks)

David Sweet, Mobile-based regional vice president of Fresenius Kidney Care, joined the group for the Mardi Gras-themed tour. When his company called on him to help find vehicles to rescue patients from flooded areas for their life-saving thrice-weekly dialysis treatments, he immediately thought of Gulf Coast Ducks.

Within days, Gulf Coast Ducks co-founder Scott Tindle and six staff members headed to Houston with a fleet of three 32-foot-long, 12-foot-tall, six-wheeled duck boats. The vehicles turn into boats when they hit five feet of water. Tindle and the crew were in Houston for 10 days.

"We took our boats out of service because it was the right thing to do," Tindle told AL.com after the duck boats returned to Mobile. "Some of the city was on land, and some was in water. We were able to do both."

"They did amazing things for patients in Houston," said Sweet. "They saved lives for us and made us rethink disaster preparedness."

Since then, Fresenius has purchased eight "deuce-and-a-half" cargo trucks and an amphibious vehicle, some of which are stored in a disaster warehouse in Mobile, he said.

Making sure patients can get to their treatments "is a real big process for us because they must have dialysis or they won't survive."

Sweet said Fresenius Kidney Care "wanted to give something back to the community," and he thought the Wilmer Hall children "would love to come on the duck boat tour."

He was right. They screamed with delight when the captain plunged into the Mobile River next to the Convention Center, as the guide told passengers, "Now we're going to be a float." Soon they rolled on the river to the Tina Turner classic.

Fresenius Kidney Care plans to raffle another 50 tickets in the spring for the Alabama Kidney Foundation, Sweet said.Today marks the 20th anniversary of the bombing at a Southside abortion clinic that killed a Birmingham police officer and critically wounded a nurse.

The explosion stunned the city, law enforcement and launched one of the most expensive and expansive manhunts in U.S. history.

Killed in the Jan. 29, 1998 blast was Officer Robert "Sande" Sanderson, 34, who was moonlighting as a security guard at New Woman, All Women Health Care Clinic. Nurse Emily Lyons, then 41, was severely injured but survived.

Bomber Eric Robert Rudolph, a loner and domestic terrorist responsible for a series of anti-abortion and anti-gay-motivated bombings across the South that killed two people and injured more than 120, would remain on the run for five years in the Appalachian Mountains. He was captured in May 2003 while rummaging for food in a North Carolina Dumpster.

The bomb in Birmingham exploded that Thursday morning at 7:33 a.m. It was hidden in a flower pot and detonated by remote control. It exploded just a few feet from the front door of the clinic at 1001 17th St. South and left a wide, deep crater in the small clinic lawn. Sanderson was dead on the scene.

It was a chaotic scene on Southside that day, as hundreds of local, state, and federal lawmen flocked to the UAB area, as well as national news media from across the U.S. There was initial fear of a secondary device aimed to maim or kill authorities as they responded, but no such device was found.

Rudolph, now 51, was 31. He became a suspect in the bombing after a witness, eating at the McDonald's on Red Mountain, saw a suspicious man exit the woods above the clinic and drive away in a truck. The witness gave the tag number to police, the truck was registered to Rudolph and the hunt was on. That witness was then UAB pre-med student Jermaine Hughes, who later went to Harvard Law School.

Hughes sought help and, along with Opelika Lawyer Jeff Tickal, wrote down Rudolph's license plate number. Tickal scribbled the plate number on a paper coffee cup, and Hughes on an envelope he had in his car.

Although Rudolph had already carried out the 1996 Olympic Centennial Park bombing, a 1997 blast at an Atlanta gay nightclub and another at an Atlanta office building, his name became infamous only after the New Woman All Women bombing. One person was killed in the Olympic park blast and more than 120 injured. Laboratory tests quickly linked the suspect in the Birmingham bombing to the 1997 bombing of an Atlanta women's clinic after a lab analysis concluded the 11/2-inch cut flooring nails used as shrapnel in the Atlanta bomb came from the same batch as a small number of nails found in a storage shed rented by Rudolph in North Carolina. This kind of nail is cut by a machine, leaving unique tool marks, the source said. He compared the machine's marks to those left on a bullet when it's fired from a gun.

"Washington was lucky that day in Birmingham,'' Rudolph wrote in a lengthy statement he later released. "They had a witness who happened in a fortuitous position, and my truck was identified."

Hundreds of law enforcement officers flocked to Rudolph's home in North Carolina. They would spend the next five years, and tens of millions of dollars, searching for the elusive Rudolph who had seemingly disappeared into the vast western North Carolina mountains.

Six months after he went on the run, Rudolph gave a local man a list of supplies he needed and returned two days later to pick up the goods. He stole the man's truck and left him $500 for supplies. That man - George Nordmann, waited two days before notifying authorities. The truck was found July 13, 1998 with a note in Rudolph's handwriting that identified the owner of the truck and asked that it be returned to him.

The search ebbed and flowed in terms of manpower, but it remained a priority. "There were a lot of people who thought he was dead, but investigators all believed he was still alive and still out there and that victims deserved justice,'' Richard D. Schwein Jr., a former special agent in charge of the FBI's Northern District in Alabama who took over the fugitive hunt in 2002, told AL.com in 2013. "We weren't going to stop just because hadn't surfaced."

In the predawn hours of May 31, 2003, a rookie Murphy, N.C. police officer, 21-year-old Jeff Postell, was on patrol and cruising the Sav-A-Lot parking lot. He saw something out of place, so he turned off his cruiser lights the second time he circled around. He confronted Rudolph as he foraged for food in the Dumpster.

Rudolph had a long Maglite flashlight strapped to his body, which Postell thought was a gun. He drew down on the vagrant and called for backup. A Cherokee County, N.C., deputy who responded had gone to school with Rudolph, pulled Postell off to the side, and told him of his suspicions. Rudolph gave them a fake name, but they told him they were taking him to get him food and verify the name he gave them.

Once at the police station, officers questioned Rudolph. A Tennessee Valley Authority officer held up the FBI's Most Wanted poster of Rudolph and demanded he tell them the truth. "I'm Eric Robert Rudolph, and you got me,'' Rudolph said.

In 2005, Rudolph avoided the possibility of execution, agreeing to plead guilty to the Birmingham and Atlanta Olympics bombings. His plea agreement called for four life sentences without the possibility for parole and agreed to waive all appeals. As part of his agreement, Rudolph divulged the locations of 250 pounds of explosives buried in the North Carolina mountains.

Rudolph is serving his sentence at the "Supermax" penitentiary Colorado. In 2013, he released a paperback book called "Between the Lines of Drift: The Memoirs of a Militant." Federal authorities quickly moved to seize any profits from the book's North Carolina publishing company.

New Woman All Woman reopened one week after the bombing but on May 18, 2012 the clinic surrendered its state license to the Alabama Department of Public Health after the department investigated complaints of "breach of protocol" at the facility.

Following the bombing, Lyons became an advocate for women's reproductive rights and against violence aimed at reproductive health providers. She testified before a Congressional subcommittee which was considering legislation that would limit the government's ability to investigate and prosecute groups that planned attacks against clinics. She was the featured speaker at the 1998 national meeting of Planned Parenthood. In 2003, Lyons was awarded $115,000,000 in a civil suit against Rudolph, primarily insuring that he would be unable to profit from his crimes. In 2005 she and her husband, Jeff, completed a memoir entitled Life's Been a Blast, which they published themselves. Her husband said in 2013 that she has a long list of health problems stemming from the bombing.

In October 2017, a portion of Interstate 65 south between mile markers 257 and 258 was officially designated as the Officer Sande Sanderson Memorial Highway. Travis McCluskey, one of Sanderson's brothers-in-law, once described the slain officers as "the type of policeman that we as children dreamt of being when we grew up."Four suspects were arrested late Sunday afternoon following a barrage of gunfire in an Ensley neighborhood.

Birmingham police Sgt. Bryan Shelton said four black males shot into a home and some vehicles on 19th Street in Ensley. West Precinct officers were in the neighborhood and heard the shots.

They got behind the suspects' vehicle and a pursuit followed until the vehicle until it stopped by Jackson-Olin High School. One of the suspects resisted arrest and was hit with a Taser stun gun. The other three were captured without further incident.

Shelton said no one else was injured during initial shooting or the subsequent arrests. Police recovered five guns. Of those, two were rifles and one had been reported stolen.

Their names are being withheld pending formal charges.

"It's a relief no one was injured tonight,'' Shelton said. "The sheer recklessness of these individuals reveals they have no issues with being violent, and we are thankful for the response and courage of our officers to intervene. The community deserves peace of mind."An Alabaster man was struck and killed overnight on Interstate 65 in Shelby County.

The Shelby County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Kyle Dewayne Mixon. He was 46.

A passerby made the discovery just after daylight. Mixon's body was spotted on the shoulder of I-65 northbound at the Alabaster exit.

Alabama State Troopers initially said Mixon was killed in a hit-and-run by someone driving a pearl white Hyundai Genesis. The coroner's office said the driver has since come forward. He thought he had hit a deer, and then found out otherwise when he saw news reports. The victim was wearing dark clothing when he was crossing the interstate.President Trump will deliver his first State of the Union address Tuesday night.

Last year, Trump continued the tradition of first-term presidents and opted not to deliver a state of the union address but rather spoke to a joint session of Congress. First-term presidents have generally not called their initial address a State of the Union speech.

President Barack Obama didn't call his first speech a State of the Union address in 2009, in keeping with the practices of every president since John F. Kennedy in 1962.

How to watch

Trump's address will begin shortly after 9 p.m. ET with coverage starting on most all networks hours earlier. The address will be aired by all major U.S. broadcast and cable-news networks and will be streamed live online. Channels airing the address include C-SPAN, CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox Business, Univision, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC and PBS.

Online viewing is available at C-SPAN, Twitter, White House YouTube and Facebook. Amazon Alexa and Google Home Devices will provide playback of the full speech once it is complete.

What to expect

The White House hasn't outlined exactly what Trump will discuss in his speech but he's likely to tout tax reform and strong economic performance as well as immigration and border security. The White House has also hinted the president will introduce a major infrastructure plan.

Guests

In recent history, presidents have invited a host of special guests to attend the State of the Union address. Last year, among Trump's guests was Carryn Owens, widow of Ryan Owens, a U.S. soldier who was killed during a commando raid in Yemen.

This year, Democrats said they plan to bring "Dreamers," young immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children and the subject of ongoing disputes between Republicans and Democrats.

Democratic response

This year's Democratic response will be offered by Rep. Joe Kennedy III of Massachusetts. A Spanish-language response will be delivered by Virginia state House Delegate Elizabeth Guzman.

Some Democratic women are planning on wearing black to show solidarity with the #MeToo and Times Up movements protesting sexual harassment and wage inequality.The White House has announced the special guests that will sit with First Lady Melania Trump during Tuesday night's State of the Union address. Every president since Ronald Reagan has continued the practice of inviting guests to join them as their guests as they address Congress.

This year's guests include:

Corey Adams: A welder at Staub Manufacturing Solutions in Dayton, Ohio, where he has worked for more than eight years. During 2017, Corey and his wife were able to become first-time homeowners, and they will invest their extra money from tax reform into their two daughters' education savings, the White House said.

Elizabeth Alvarado, Robert Mickens, Evelyn Rodriguez, and Freddy Cuevas: Elizabeth Alvarado and Robert Mickens are the parents of Nisa Mickens. Evelyn Rodriguez and Freddy Cuevas are the parents of Kayla Cuevas. The girls, close friends since elementary school, were murdered in September 2016. Their deaths were among a string of 17 Long Island slayings that have been attributed to the ultra-violent gang Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13.

Corporal (Ret.) Matthew Bradford: Matthew Bradford joined the United States Marine Corps straight out of high school and deployed to Iraq in 2006. In 2007, he stepped on an improvised explosive device. Shrapnel shot into both of his eyes, blinding him, and the explosion also took both of his legs. After multiple surgeries and therapy, Matthew reenlisted in the Marine Corps - the first blind, double amputee to do so.

Jon Bridgers: Jon Bridgers founded the Cajun Navy 2016, as a non-profit rescue and recovery organization to respond to flooding in south Louisiana. In 2017, the Cajun Navy set out to provide aid to those in Texas affected by Hurricane Harvey.

David Dahlberg: David Dahlberg is a fire prevention technician in southern California, stationed at the Pine Canyon Fire Station in the Santa Lucia Ranger District. In July 2017, he saved 62 children and staff members from a raging wildfire that had encircled their camp.

Officer Ryan Holets: Ryan Holets serves as a police officer in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In his six years on the force, he has been shot at twice and experienced several near-death encounters. Officer Holets and his wife adopted a baby from parents who suffered from opioid addiction.

Ashlee Leppert: Ashlee Leppert is an aviation electronics technician in the United States Coast Guard. Last year, she rescued dozens of Americans imperiled during the devastating hurricane season.

Agent Celestino "CJ" Martinez: CJ Martinez is a Supervisory Special Agent for the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations unit. He has spent much of his 15-year tenure working to dismantle transnational criminal organizations, including MS-13. His investigations have led to more than 100 arrests of MS-13 gang members who have been prosecuted for crimes including homicide, assault, and narcotics and weapons trafficking. Martinez is a veteran, serving in the Air Force and Air National Guard for more than 22 years.

Staff Sergeant Justin Peck: Staff Sergeant Justin Peck has served in the United States Army for eight years. In November 2017, he was part of a team, along with Chief Petty Officer Kenton Stacy, that was conducting a multi-day mission with partner forces in Raqqa, Syria to clear IEDs from territory previously controlled by ISIS. After the team had located and disarmed seven IEDs, Stacy was clearing the second floor of a hospital building when he was struck by an IED blast and severely wounded. Peck, who was holding a position outside the building, rushed to Stacy's location on the uncleared, IED-ridden second floor. Peck's actions - including applying a tourniquet, placing an endotracheal tube, and performing artificial respirations and CPR - were directly responsible for saving Stacy's life.

Preston Sharp: Preston Sharp was visiting his veteran grandfather's grave in 2015, when he noticed that other local veterans' graves were not being honored with American flags or flowers. Today, Preston has organized the placement of more than 40,000 American flags and red carnations on soldiers' graves, as part of his goal to honor veterans in all 50 states and to challenge others to join the Flag and Flower Challenge (#FandFChallenge).

Steve Staub and Sandy Keplinger: Siblings Steve Staub and Sandy Kepingler started Staub Manufacturing Solutions, a contract manufacturing company specializing in metal fabrication, twenty years ago. Today they serve as president and vice president, respectively.Murphy Student Jonah Neal be back in Court tomorrow to face Making a Terrorist Threat Charge. Taken back to Jail Today Screaming some expletive. #DONTTAKEAGUNTOSCHOOL ctrm 4600  Mobile DA's Office (@MobileDAoffice) January 29, 2018

Mobile high school student, Jonah Neal, who is being charged as an adult for allegedly discharging a firearm on campus was escorted out of a hearing Monday morning for an outburst, the Mobile District Attorney's Office reports.

Neal, 16, was arrested at Murphy High School on January 25. According to police, the juvenile suspect pointed a gun at administrators and students before running outside and firing the handgun in the air.

Neal was arrested and charged with menacing, reckless endangerment, receiving stolen property, possession of a weapon on school property and possession of a firearm by certain persons. According to Mobile Police Department Chief Lawrence Battiste, due to Neal's age and the use of the handgun on school grounds, the misdemeanor charge of possession of a firearm was upgraded to a felony charge, leading to Neal's transferal into the adult criminal system.

In a press conference on the matter, Battiste expressed his concern for safe firearm ownership within the Mobile community, noting that the firearm used in the incident was revealed to be stolen from an owner in Saraland.

"This is a young man who could not have walked into a pawn shop or an Academy Sporting Goods store and purchased a weapon on his own," Battiste said, emphasizing gun owners should do their part to ensure their weapons are stowed properly and safely, to prevent them from ending up in the hands of minors or on the streets.

The weapon in question is identified in court documents as a pink Taurus .380, a pocket-sized semi-automatic pistol.

In the wake of the incident, Murphy High School went into lockdown until Neal's arrest. In light of this, on Friday, an additional charge of making a terrorist threat was added to Neal's case, according to court filings.

The Mobile DA's office reported Friday afternoon that Neal was given a $2,500 bond for his initial charges, with a required $1,000 of the bond to be received in cash. On Monday, he was given an additional bond requirement of $5,000 for the charge of making a terrorist threat.

In the aftermath of receiving the news, the juvenile engaged the court in an expletive-laden retort, according to an account from the DA's office. Neal was removed from the court and placed back in Mobile Metro Jail custody.

Neal is scheduled to return to court Tuesday to be arraigned.In its effort to appear tough on immigration, the EU appears to have joined the likes of Hungary in its battle against refugees.

The European Union is often accused of being soft on immigration, allowing too many people to move around too freely. The Hungarian government is particularly scathing about this, while ignoring entirely the fact that hundreds of thousands of its citizens benefit from the very same policy.

Hungary has been roundly criticised by the EU for putting a long fence up to keep refugees out. Yet the same EU, and its other member states around the borders, are now practising exactly the same techniques.

Bulgarias fence on its border with Turkey has succeeded in stopping refugee flows there. And now, on Greeces land border with Turkey, there is not only a heavily militarised fence but an alleged policy of violence by Greek security forces towards refugees that is resulting in death and injury.

We first reported in December how refugees were increasingly turning away from the route over the Aegean Sea to the Greek islands on the grounds that those islands were a trap they could never escape from.

Instead, they were trying to move over land, further north, across the border west of Istanbul towards Thessaloniki in northern Greece. That forces them to cross the long, wide Evros River (or Meric as its known in Turkey).

The entire border is heavily militarised and in one long section the EU had already put a fence up to keep refugees out. All that, we had already discovered, was having tragic consequences.

When we returned to find out some more, it quickly became apparent that the Evros route has taken over as the journey of choice for smugglers. For a start, its far more lucrative for traffickers to put people in a van and a dinghy across a river than a boat across the sea. You can move more people and make more money. Our rough estimate is that the Evros route must be worth $10m a year to the smugglers, many of whom seem to be in tow to Turkish mafia gangs and organised crime. One of the traffickers we interviewed likes to carry a pistol.





We also heard how the smugglers keep refugees locked in homes around the border and film themselves beating the refugees. They send the video to the refugees families and demand more money as the price for letting them go.

Turkey says it caught 50.000 people last year trying to cross the river. That makes it look like the most important border crossing point into Europe now.

Refugees who spoke of the crossing said they were terrified  not just that they might drown or die of the cold, but that they knew there were wolves and wild boar in the vast empty spaces near the border. You could get eaten.

But thats just one problem. The other is what happens if you do get across and the Greek security services find out. In case after case, we heard refugees saying they had been forcibly returned to Turkey. Some said the Greek police were polite. Others said they had been beaten senseless. Yet more said they had seen people shot at while in the river, while they were trying to turn their dinghy around. Villagers on the Turkish side said they heard gunfire regularly. To add to it, the Turks and Greeks cant stand each other and if one side began firing then the other shot back, they said.





But routinely, the refugees said, the Greek side simply put them back in a boat and pushed them away, back to the Turkish side of the river.

We asked the Greek police to talk to us about their treatment of refugees and the allegations against them. They denied flatly pushing people back and insisted they deal with people humanely. Any number of lawyers will tell you the pushback policy  already practised in places like Hungary  is illegal. It also doesnt stop refugees from trying again and again. Which is how many end up dead. They simply dont have anywhere to go.

And those who do walk for days to get to Thessaloniki, the major city of northern Greece, increasingly find themselves homeless. Greece was taken by surprise this time last winter when temperatures fell to minus 20C and faced huge criticism for its terrible facilities. Nothing much has changed. The big numbers now crossing the Evros now expose Greece once again. It is widely assumed Greece doesnt want to improve facilities to deter refugees. It isnt working.





So while Hungary continues to berate the EU for being too soft, in fact, the EU and its other member states are practising exactly the same policies on other borders. Turkey, heavily criticised in Europe for human rights issues, is proving extremely successful in helping the EU deny the human rights of refugees.

The EU casts itself as the worlds leading liberal voice. Its member states are desperate to keep the anti-Muslim, anti-immigration hard-right out of power. As a consequence, they have joined the likes of Hungary in its battle with the refugees.New research shows more than 11 billion pieces of plastic litter corals in the Asia-Pacific.

More than 11 billion pieces of plastic larger than five centimetres wide are littering coral reefs across the Asia-Pacific region, according to a recent study.

That is enough plastic to make it from Earth to the moon and nearly halfway back.

Researchers who published the study last week in Science Magazine believe that the amount of plastic in coral reefs will grow by 40 percent in the next seven years.

Meanwhile, the researchers found that the chance of corals becoming infected with a disease increased from four percent to 89 percent when they were draped in plastic.

Plastic pollution is just one factor that is putting the worlds coral reefs at risk.

Coral reefs may have been around for as long as 500 million years, but scientists are warning that they might be gone or decimated by the end of the century.

Al Jazeera examines why coral reefs matter and if they can be saved.

What are coral reefs?

Corals are invertebrate animals. Individual coral animals, called polyps, live in groups of hundreds to millions of genetically identical polyps called colonies.

Reefs are created by hard corals which secrete a skeleton that can turn into giant structures like Australias Great Barrier Reef, the largest living structure on the planet.

In 2001, the UN estimated that the total surface area of coral reefs measured 284,300 square kilometres (sq km), which is just shy of the size of Italy.

More than half of the earths coral reefs is distributed over only five countries: Indonesia, Australia, the Philippines, France (including its overseas territories) and Papua New Guinea. Their reefs are the size of small countries themselves. Indonesias 51,020 sq km worth of reefs, for example, is nearly as big as Costa Rica.

Why do coral reefs matter?

The list of benefits of coral reefs is extensive, ranging from providing habitats for a large chunk of the worlds underwater creatures to protecting humans from waves.

Coral reefs take up only 0.1 percent of the seabed but support 25 percent of marine life.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates that coral reefs provide an annual $30bn worth of goods and services. The conservation organisation estimates that about one billion people have some dependence on coral reefs for food and income from fishing. A well-managed square kilometre of coral reef can yield 15 tonnes of seafood per year  or 750 times the worlds per capita fish consumption of about 20 kilogrammes.

Coral reefs generate additional value by supporting tourism. A report by Australias Climate Council found that the loss of the Great Barrier Reef would cost adjacent regions one million visitors a year, put 10,000 jobs at risk and take $1bn in tourism spending from the economy.

Coral reefs also protect coastlines from powerful waves and flooding and prevent coastal erosion. A 2014 study published in Nature magazine found that coral reefs reduce wave energy by an average of 97 percent. Up to 200 million people may be receiving protection from reefs, the researchers found.

In some regions of the world, peoples dependence on coral reefs is especially high. Many Pacific Islanders, for instance, depend on reefs for food as well as protection from storms.

Coral reefs mean survival for my community, said Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, the Paramount Chief of Fijis Macuatu province, which flanks the Great Sea Reef. When changes happen to the reef, everybody suffers, he told Al Jazeera.

[The fishers] have to go further out. It takes them longer to be out there. The returns are declining, he said.

If the reefs are lost, where would the fish go? If theres no reef, then maybe its the end  doomsday.

Why are coral reefs dying?

Tropical reefs have lost more than half their reef-building corals in the past 30 years, a 2015 WWF report found.

We see globally a very, very, steep decline in the corals, Erik Solheim, the head of the UN Environment Programme, told Al Jazeera. Its for sure already one of the biggest casualties of climate change.

Of course, whats really unfair here is that those suffering the most direct consequences, economically and otherwise, are those who contributed nothing to the climate change.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, sea surface temperatures have increased, and they continue to rise. Not able to cope with the unusually warm temperatures, corals reefs have experienced mass bleaching events at increasingly short intervals.

Coral bleaching is a stress response. When water temperatures get too warm, corals will expel the coloured, microscopic algae living in their tissue, which provide them with nutrition. When corals are without the algae for too long, they die of starvation.

Bleaching is believed to have killed as much as half the coral in the Great Barrier Reef in recent years.

Drag the slider across the image below to see the difference between a healthy and a bleached coral reef. Left: a healthy coral reef in American Samoa in December 2014. Right: the same location three months later.

Photos: The Ocean Agency/XL Catlin Seaview Survey/Richard Vevers

Another recent study in Science magazine found that the frequency of severe bleaching events has increased fivefold since the 1980s: from once every 25 to 30 years, to once every six years today. This means that coral does not have enough time to recover before it is struck again.

UNESCO warned that by 2040 nearly all of the 29 world heritage reefs would be hit by severe bleaching twice per decade. By 2100, all UNESCO reefs may be dead.

Aside from climate change and plastic pollution, other man-made factors are putting additional pressure on coral reefs. Ocean acidification due to the waters absorption of CO2 slows the growth of reefs, as well as destructive fishing practices  including dynamite fishing and overfishing  destroy reefs or hamper their ability to recover.

Activities happening on land can also adversely affect coral reefs. Erosion caused by construction, mining, logging and farming puts sediment into the oceans which can choke corals to death.

Is it too late to save the worlds coral reefs?

Scientists have issued bleak prognoses in recent years. A 2017 UNESCO report claimed that only by meeting the Paris Agreements most ambitious target  limiting the global average temperature increase to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels  would there be a chance to save the worlds reefs.

In 2017, one study published in Nature Climate Change put the likelihood of keeping global warming contained to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels at 1 percent.

Its not all doom and gloom. A study prepared through the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network found that live coral coverage in the Pacific islands area has remained relatively stable over the past 20 years. Their isolated geography means they are further removed from direct human stresses, such as overfishing, giving them a better chance of natural recovery.

And scientists are working on innovations that might mitigate the decline of reefs, like 3D-printing artificial reefs for marine life to settle on, or coral farming, which creates nurseries for fragments of corals to grow into maturity before being re-installed in their natural habitat.

Still, analysts agree that urgent and drastic action is required in order to save the worlds reefs.

The more you know, the more depressing it becomes, said Kesaia Tabunakawai, WWF representative in the Pacific.

Especially when you see how slow action is [happening], she told Al Jazeera.

Local programmes that promote better reef management can slow down the reefs decline, but without urgent action on global warming, Tabunakawai said, its not going to help.

We cannot control whats happening [in other countries]. Were going down fighting rather than just sitting and waiting, she said.

The UNs Solheim said the world is at a make or break point when it comes to saving the reefs.

[Letting reefs die] would be a shame, morally, for humans, Solheim added.

We would be the one generation destroying some of the most beautiful, most important ecosystems we have.India invites all 10 leaders of ASEAN bloc to mark 25 years of ties as part of its Act East policy.

India rolled out a red carpet welcome to leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to mark 25 years of New Delhis ties with the ASEAN bloc, as part of Indias Act East policy.

All 10 heads of states from ASEAN (comprising of Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Philippines, Laos and Brunei) were invited as chief guests at Indias 69th Republic Day celebrations, a move dubbed as unprecedented by diplomats and analysts.

The ASEAN leaders witnessing the grand parade at Rajpath  the main avenue in the heart of New Delhi  was an event high on symbolism.

It's unprecedented that all the 10 ASEAN leaders were invited. It's an indicator that India is looking at deeper engagement with the ASEAN leaders. Manoj Kewalramani, a consultant at The Takshashila Institution

Manoj Kewalramani, a consultant at The Takshashila Institution, a Bangalore-based think-tank, says the Republic Day invitation was a very positive move.

Its unprecedented that all the 10 ASEAN leaders were invited. Its an indicator that India is looking at deeper engagement with the ASEAN leaders, he said.

Speaking at the ASEAN-India gathering on Thursday, with the theme Shared Values, Common Destiny, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi focused on the need to boost maritime collaboration.

India shares the ASEAN vision for rule-based societies and values of peace. We are committed to working with ASEAN nations to enhance collaboration in the maritime domain, Modi said.

New Delhi also signed bilateral deals with some of the member states.

Maritime cooperation

Indias emphasis on maritime ties is significant as China and some ASEAN nations have clashed over the issue of the South China Sea.

India has forged closer military and business ties with some ASEAN members, including Vietnam, which has been at loggerheads with Beijing over the South China Sea.

The presence of the 10 ASEAN leaders at the Republic Day function in New Delhi reiterates Indias commitment to strengthen the cultural, social and religious bonding and expand economic engagement, besides regaining the much-deserved strategic space in the region, said Sheshadri Chari, a member of the National Executive of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In 1991, India adopted its Look East policy as part of a focus to strengthen trade and strategic relations with Southeast Asian nations. But progress has been slow.

Indias trade with ASEAN has grown from $2.9bn in 1993 to $71bn last year, compared with China-ASEAN trade at $450bn. Beijing aims to take the trade to $1 trillion by 2020.

After coming to power in 2014, Modi rechristened the Look East policy to Act East, with commerce, connectivity and culture as the guiding themes to boost engagement with the bloc.

There is a lot of trade that can happen. What India needs to do in this context is the first step towards this, to establish connectivity, more flights, more networks, more business-to-business ties, Kewalramani from The Takshashila Institution said.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong emphasised the need to redouble efforts to promote trade and investment [Adnan Abidi/Reuters]

Close cultural and historical ties

Modi offered a $1bn credit line to ASEAN member countries in 2015, but India-led infrastructure projects, such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand highway, have been beset by delays.

India has a lot to catch up to as China has invested heavily in the region as part of its Belt and Road initiative, and Japan is a big player in terms of investment.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the 2018 ASEAN chair, emphasised the need to redouble efforts to promote trade and investment in an editorial in The Times of India newspaper.

Lee highlighted Indias ties with Southeast Asia date back more than 2,000 years, something the Indian prime minister also noted in an editorial published in 27 newspapers across the 10 ASEAN countries.

As a goodwill gesture, India announced its offer of 1,000 scholarships to doctoral students in IITs  the countrys top technology institute  and bestowed Padma Shri, one of Indias top civilian awards, on one eminent citizen from each ASEAN nation.

2019 will be marked as the year of India-ASEAN tourism. Currently, ASEAN nationals form just three percent of Indias total tourism arrivals.

Not a counterbalance to China

Many commentators have suggested Indias ASEAN outreach is a counter to China, which has deepened its engagement in the Indian Ocean, establishing closer ties with Pakistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

But Kewalramani, who researches Chinese foreign policy, says New Delhis engagement with ASEAN should not be seen as a counterbalance to China.

Yes, there is an element of competing with China, but I dont think thats a predominant element, he said.

Chinas foreign affairs ministry said it was open to normal cooperation between Indian and ASEAN countries.

But it was critical of the Indian media, a section of which projected Indias move as a challenge to China.

We have noted that in recent times, certain Indian media tend to associate every move of Indian government and leaders with China immediately, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement.

I dont know how the Indian government may think of this, but in my opinion, it reflects that those Indian media with such opinions and speculations are too unconfident about their countries and distrustful of China.

In recent years, India and China have cooperated on a number of global issues, such as climate change and anti-protectionism, as US President Donald Trump has been pushing protectionism in international trade.

In the past four years, Modi has made a whirlwind tour of the world, including visits to all 10 ASEAN nations, as his government looks to boost trade ties with the biggest bloc in Southeast Asia.

There are of course long-term strategic goals, India needs to move beyond its neighbourhood and needs to engage with the ASEAN region, which is a vibrant and fast-growing region, Kewalramani said.

Additional reporting by Zeenat Saberin from New DelhiOn January 20, Turkey launched an air and ground offensive, which it called Olive Branch, against the Kurdish-controlled enclave of Afrin in northern Syria.

As the offensive progressed rapidly, it became obvious that such an ambitious operation could not have been possible without Russias explicit approval.

First of all, the operation required the Turkish Air Force to enter Syrias airspace  something Ankara could not have done without consulting Russia. Furthermore, before rechannelling Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces to Afrin, Ankara needed assurances from Russia that Bashar al-Assad would not take advantage of the situation and attempt to seize Turkish-controlled positions in the province of Idlib.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the US-backed alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters in Syria, also knew that it would be impossible for Turkey to start the operation Olive Branch without coordinating with Moscow. As a result, SDF representatives hastily expressed their disappointment with Russias stance on the issue.

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General Sipan Hemo, a commander for the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG), the leading Kurdish force within the SDF, said Russia has betrayed the Kurds. He added that there will come a day when Russia will apologise to the Kurds for this lack of principles.

With the start of the operation, Russia clearly became a Turkish accomplice in the eyes of the Kurds. It is difficult not to agree with the Kurdish assessment, but a close examination of last years developments shows that the cooperation between Moscow and Ankara regarding the future of Afrin, at the expense of the Kurds, started long before Turkey launched its operation against the enclave.

The seeds of the operation Olive Branch were planted last summer, during talks between Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Turkish Chief-of-Staff Hulusi Akar in Istanbul. As result of these talks, Moscow gave consent to the partial use of Syrias airspace by the Turkish air forces, paving the way for Turkeys offensive on Afrin.

Ankara began building up its military presence near the Kurdish enclave over a month ago, after reaching an agreement with Moscow on the delineation of the de-escalation zone in Idlib.

Moscows approval of the operation Olive Branch became even more clear on the day the hostilities began, when the Russian Ministry of Defence announced the withdrawal of Russian troops from Afrin.

Also, in the brief statement it issued about the operation on January 20, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confined itself only to a duty of concern that was interpreted as a green light to Turkeys actions.

Russias end game

Despite the indignation of the Syrian Kurds, cooperation with the Turks on the issue of Afrin is much more beneficial for Russia than confrontation.

Russias relationship with the Kurds has never been based on long-term, strategic cooperation. On the contrary, throughout its history, Moscow has used the Kurdish card only when it needed to reach a compromise with the countries in the Middle East, especially with Turkey.

And in the case of Afrin, Moscow does not owe the YPG much. Throughout the Syrian crisis, the group allied itself with the US and, de facto speaking, placed itself on the opposite side of the conflict. The Kurds rejected Russias offer to transfer the territory under their control in Afrin to the Syrian regime, in exchange for security guarantees. Washington was unable to help its YPG allies, and this gave Moscow an additional opportunity to once again demonstrate the illusory nature of US security guarantees.

In addition, cooperation with Ankara is of primary importance for Moscow at the moment. Turkey is one of the co-organisers of the Congress of Syrian People, which is being held on January 29-30 in Sochi.

The forum has domestic political significance for the Kremlin, since it is not only a personal initiative of Vladimir Putin, but also coincides with the beginning of his election campaign. The Russian president wants to approach the presidential elections in March 2018 as a peacemaker and a victor. He wants to offer his electorate a victorious conclusion of the military conflict in Syria, and then position his government as the key player which would bring peace to the war-torn country.

Also, by cooperating with Ankara on Afrin, Moscow has created an opportunity that would allow it to solve the situation in Idlib without military escalation. Russia knew that a military confrontation in Idlib would have been costly for Damascus and its allies, as it would have led to a new humanitarian catastrophe similar to the one that occurred a year ago in Aleppo. Not to mention that such a conflict would have exhausted the already weak Syrian army, forcing Russia to return to the Syrian war front.

Russias tacit approval of the operation Olive Branch, on the contrary, led to reciprocal concessions from Ankara in Idlib. The same day Turkey launched its operation, the Syrian regime announced that it had seized the opposition-controlled Abu Duhur airport in Idlib without any hindrance.

Finally, Turkey has another, important bargaining chip against Russia: the Turkish Stream gas pipeline. Moscow has pinned high hopes on the project and it does not want anything to hinder its construction.

Moscows consent to a Turkish operation in Afrin coincided with a statement from Gazprom CEO Aleksei Miller, confirming a long-awaited agreement on the construction of a second gas line passing through the territorial waters of Turkey.

This makes it unlikely for Ankara to suspend the project in the near future, as it did in 2015. If the construction continues without hindrance, the Turkish Stream can be completed in 2019 as planned.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.Secessionist forces are gaining ground in South Yemen which could change the course of the ongoing war.

The devastating war raging in Yemen for the past three years is on the verge of entering another, even deadlier, stage.

On Sunday, forces loyal to the government of President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, backed by Saudi Arabia, exchanged fire in the southern Yemeni city of Aden with an armed group aligned with the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a secession movement supported by the United Arab Emirates.

Both sides in this conflict have been fighting alongside the Saudi-led coalition against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels for the past few years now.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Hadis prime minister, Ahmed bin Dagher, accused the STC of staging a coup. In the past few months, tensions have been growing between the Yemeni government, based in Aden, and the STC, as the latter became more vocal about its secessionist ambitions.

This latest turn of events could not only exacerbate the ongoing conflict in Yemen, leading to more destruction and loss of civilian lives but could also threaten the territorial integrity of the country.

Distinct history of the South

The growing secessionist sentiments in southern Yemen are a product of its distinct historical path as much as the current geopolitical situation in the region.

Aden was the only British colony in the entire Arabian Peninsula administered directly by the British government between 1839 and 1967. The British set up their own administrative, trade and educational institutions in the colony. The city was truly a cultural melting pot for many ethnic groups including people of Indian and Somali origins.

After the withdrawal of British troops in 1967, Aden joined the rest of the British protectorates in the south to form the Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen, with the Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP) eventually taking power.

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In January 1986, infighting erupted within the ranks of the YSP, leading to bloody clashes in the streets of Aden. There is no doubt that this conflict helped accelerate the unification of North and South Yemen in 1990. Ironically, the unification exacerbated Adens political differences instead of reconciling them.

The deterioration of Adens economic status and the violation of its citizens political rights following the 1994 civil war led to the creation in 2007 of a mass peaceful movement known as al-Hirak al-Janoubi (the southern movement) that challenged former President Ali Abdullah Salehs tight grip on power. After Saleh was toppled in the popular uprising of 2011, the Hirak gained momentum.

Weeks before the beginning of the Saudi-led offensive in Yemen on March 26, 2015, thousands of Hirak activists defended Aden against the advance of the Houthi-Saleh alliance. The UAE along, with other forces from the Saudi-led coalition, played a crucial role in backing southern resistance fighters in 2015.

Confrontation in Aden

Since its liberation from the Houthis, Aden has witnessed severe security challenges, economic and basic infrastructure problems, and most recently growing support for secession from the North. The city has also seen a deliberate attempt to silence activists supporting the Hadi-allied Islah Party (seen as having links to the Muslim Brotherhood), as well as some voices within the Salafi movement with a number of imams gunned down in the last several months.

In April 2017, forces loyal to President Hadi clashed with armed men supporting UAE-backed Aden Governor Aidarous al-Zubaidi at the city airport. Hadi responded to the incident by sacking the governor.

In May 2017, al-Zubaidi announced the establishment of the STC which he claimed would represent the will of the people of the South. The fact that both Hadi and bin Dagher are southerners and Aden has been the seat of their government (Sanaa still being under Houthi control) has not been enough to curb al-Zubaidis secessionist ambitions. In fact, there is a serious chance that the former governor is able to rally the support of the Hirak and push for a definitive secession.

Al-Zubaidi is backed by the STCs de-facto military wing known as the Security Belt, which the UAE supplies with military equipment and financial resources.

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Indeed, if this escalation of violence continues in Aden, it will undermine not just the course of the war against the Houthis, but the whole political process of the Gulf Initiative, the national dialogue, and the various United Nations Security Council resolutions emphasising the territorial integrity of Yemen.

The military response of Hadis government to the current violence will shape the southern question during the post-war era. Quick restoration of military control over Aden and restructuring of the Security Belt forces under the direct command of President Hadi would increase the likelihood of Yemen remaining unified in the near future.

However, the political fate of Aden will also be greatly shaped by the political actions of the UAE. Since the outbreak of the current war, it was obvious that the UAE has focused much more on southern Yemen than the northern areas. The UAEs military and economic interests lie in the strategic location of Aden and its port near the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Where Is Saudi Arabia?

While the Saudi government is more concerned with the security of its southern border and with Houthi attacks, its lack of clear coordination with the UAE in southern Yemen could undermine its overall war effort.

Saudi Arabia now has a responsibility to address both the Yemeni humanitarian crisis as well as its political future; it needs to take action on the southern question. With the present war quickly approaching its third anniversary, Saudi Arabia must pursue a speedy conclusion of the Yemeni crisis  including greater coordination with UAE  to bring stability and peace to Aden and the rest of the country.

To alleviate the growing political tension in Aden, Saudi Arabia may have to make some political concessions to the STC and the UAE regarding Hadis government. However, that might embolden the STC and exacerbate the problem.

Whatever actions Riyadh chooses to undertake in the face of the current crisis, it has to recognise that in spite of legitimate political grievances, the secession of southern Yemen is unlikely to bring peace and stability to its people.

There are significant regional cleavages within southern Yemen which could gain political salience if Aden proceeds with its independence ambitions. Local identities with roots in the colonial era could re-emerge and aggressively reassert themselves. For example, the Hadramout region may not agree to be ruled again from Aden.

Additionally, the post-independence fate of South Sudan suggests that ill-conceived political separation is inherently dangerous and can lead to a major humanitarian crisis. Seven years after its independence from Sudan, South Sudan has become a tragedy rather than a model for other regions seeking independence.

It is now time to follow the dictates of logic and reason and avoid prolonging Adens suffering. Otherwise, the current escalation of conflict within the city could open a new chapter of unprecedented violence and instability that Aden, the rest of Yemen and the Saudi-led coalition cannot afford.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.Tens of thousands of homes in the Australian state of Victoria were left without power on Sunday night as soaring temperatures crippled the states electricity network.

The temperature in Melbourne peaked at 38.1 degrees Celsius shortly after 5pm, and, overnight, the temperature remained sultry, only dropping below 30C at 4am.

Although hot, Sunday nights temperature was not record-breaking. At 5:30am, the temperature eventually dropped to 28.4C, below the record of 30.6C that was recorded in both 1902 and 2010.

The hot weather caused many residents to turn to electric fans and air-conditioning units to cool down.

This triggered a surge in demand, with some parts of Victoria setting all-time electricity demand records.

Energy Minister Lily DAmbrosio said the problem was not due to a shortage of electricity, but due to blown fuses and failed transformers, triggered by the spike in demand.

The blackouts were not confined to Melbourne. Thousands of residents in the west of the state and on the Mornington Peninsula were also hit.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews told 9 News that he would try to compel energy companies to compensate those who were left without power.

The extreme heat also took its toll on Melbournes transport network. Tarmac melted on some roads and water trucks were used to cool tram lines to prevent them buckling.

Train services were hit by cancellations and delays, with buses replacing trains in a number of locations.

Fortunately, cooler weather has now moved across the city, with temperatures dropping 4C in just 10 minutes before 3pm. On Tuesday, the temperature is not expected to climb above 20C.Cape Town residents blame government for record water crisis

There is growing anger on the streets of the drought-stricken South African city as Day Zero looms.At least 12 people killed in clashes between Yemeni forces and UAE-backed separatists, health ministry says.

At least 12 people have been killed and more than 130 wounded in Yemens coastal city of Aden in clashes between government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia, and southern separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Yemeni Health Ministry said at least four people were killed on Monday and eight on Sunday after the military wing of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a political movement demanding secession for southern Yemen, seized control of government headquarters.

Residents told Al Jazeera that in Adens districts of Khormaksar and Dar Saad, the two sides exchanged heavy gunfire throughout the day, as the streets lay empty of traffic and shops and schools remained closed.

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One eyewitness reported a fierce street battle between fighters loyal to the STC and Yemeni forces, causing panic among civilians.

Meanwhile, the international aid organisation Oxfam said the violence had forced it to close its offices.

Tension has been running high in Aden since the STC gave President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadis government an ultimatum last week, to either dismiss Prime Minister Ahmed bin Daghr and his cabinet, or face an overthrow.

Hadis government refused to be coerced and subsequently banned public gatherings ahead of Sundays deadline.

Rebellion wont achieve peace

Speaking from the Saudi capital Riyadh, where he was forced into exile two years ago, Hadi renewed his call for a ceasefire, urging the separatists to end their coup.

Rebellions and weapons wont achieve peace or build a state, he said on Monday.

The real and the main battle is with the Houthis and any other side problems will impact the main battle. Any assault on legitimacy is a coup.

READ MORE Is the UAE pushing south Yemen towards secession?

Mohammed Ali al-Miqdashi, a senior military adviser to the president, said the STCs rebellion could render them an enemy.

There is no difference between the Houthis and anyone else who rebels against the legitimate government, no matter who they are.

If he is not with the legitimate government then he is rebelling against it and considered an enemy to the entire country, he said.

The latest developments in Aden underscore the rising tensions between Hadis government and the UAE.

The UAE entered Yemens war in March 2015 as part of a Saudi-led coalition seeking to roll back advances made by Houthi rebels after they overran much of the country, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014.

Nearly three years on, the coalition has failed to achieve its stated aim of restoring the legitimate government of Hadi.

Saudi Arabia has said it wants out of the costly exercise, but the UAE has become more involved in the conflict, indicating a divide in the two countries agendas.

The UAE has financed and trained armed groups in the south who answer to it, and set up prisons and created a security establishment parallel to Hadis government, according to Human Rights Watch.Andrew McCabe is reportedly stepping down amid weeks of criticism from US President Donald Trump.

The deputy director of the FBI has stepped down, a decision that comes amid several weeks of harsh criticism from Donald Trump, US media has reported.

Andrew McCabe resigned from his position on Monday, the Associated Press reported, quoting two anonymous sources familiar with the decision who were not authorised to speak to the media.

The exact reason behind McCabes early departure from the agency remains unknown, AP said.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said the White House does not have any specific comments on the reports, and she referred reporters to the FBI on any specifics.

Sanders added the White House had no hand in McCabes decision to step down.

McCabe, who assumed his position as deputy director in 2016 and had planned to retire this spring, has come under fire from the US president in recent weeks.

Trump has accused McCabe of exerting influence on the FBIs decision not to file charges against Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server.

In December, he tweeted that McCabe was racing the clock to retire with full benefits.

Trump also reportedly summoned McCabe to his office in May, shortly after he had fired FBI Director James Comey, to ask him whom he voted for in the 2016 elections, The Washington Post reported last week.

McCabe was serving as the FBIs acting director at the time.

When asked on January 25 to confirm or deny the report, Sanders said: The president and Andrew McCabe have had limited and pretty non-substantive conversations. I cant get into the details of what was discussed. I wasnt there. There are widespread reports of his retirement.

FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is, and has been, a dedicated public servant who has served this country well. Bogus attacks on the FBI and DOJ to distract attention from a legitimate criminal inquiry does long term, unnecessary damage to these foundations of our government.  Eric Holder (@EricHolder) January 29, 2018

As news of the surprise resignation broke on Monday, Eric Holder, the US attorney general under Barack Obama, tweeted his support for McCabe.

FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is, and has been, a dedicated public servant who has served this country well, Holder wrote.Fighting intensifies in Yemens Aden after separatist coup

At least four people have been killed in raging battles between government forces and secessionist fighters in the southern port city of Aden, as Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher accuses the separatists of attempting a coup.No such political party exists but government campaign against the Soros Agenda has ramped up before the elections.

Roughly two-thirds of Hungarian voters believe a George Soros political party will run in the countrys April election, according to a poll released on Monday.

Policy Agenda, a private Hungarian polling firm commissioned by local media to survey voter expectations, listed a number of parties running for election, including the George Soros Party  which does not exist.

Some 64 percent of respondents said they did not believe the party of the 87-year-old Hungarian American billionaire, known for his support of liberal causes, would win.

Only 24 percent of those polled were aware the party was made up by the polling firm.

Soros Plan

Soros has been characterised  both by far-right activists and members of the Hungarian governments ruling party Fidesz  as wanting to dilute the Christian nature of Europe by opening its borders to refugees from predominately Muslim nations.

George Soros network is working to ensure that as many people as possible reach Europe, because they believe this is what will ensure the future of the continent, Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs told a local radio station in January.

This is a political programme in which organisations that help migrants are taking part disguised as human rights organisations,' Kovacs said.

A nationwide survey on the Soros Plan was completed at the end of 2017. Kovacs said in January more than two million questionnaires were returned.

The Soros Plan was unanimously rejected by Hungarians, he said.

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The Hungarian government introduced legislation on January 17 that aims to penalise foreign-funded NGOs that support refugees and immigrants.

Kovacs called it the Stop Soros bill. It would make such NGOs pay a 25 percent tax on foreign donations.

The bill was derided by rights groups and critics of the government. It was the latest in a long line of heavily criticised measures from the Fidesz government.

In June, NGOs were required to register with the government and disclose if they receive foreign funding.

Amnesty International promised to challenge Hungarys repressive new NGO law in the courts.

The rights group had no intention of complying with the law until all these avenues have been exhausted, Julia Ivan, director of Amnesty International Hungary, said at the time.

Increase in parties

When Hungary goes to the polls on April 8, a wide range of parties will have a chance to win votes. According to a database kept by Hungarys National Office of the Judiciary, there are 250 political parties in the country of 10 million.

About 120 of these parties were founded since the last national election in 2014, with 70 registered in 2017 alone.

Hungarys opposition has lost elections since the mainstream Socialist Party was rocked by corruption scandals that led to its defeat in 2010.

Fidesz won that year with a two-thirds majority and made Viktor Orban prime minister.

Orban, who studied at Oxford thanks to scholarship funding from Soros, has adopted an anti-refugee, anti-migrant stance that has remained popular as voters in central and Eastern Europe have turned to the far-right.

Fidesz won nearly 45 percent of the vote in the 2014 elections, enough to form a majority government.

Polls show the ruling party with the support of 51 percent of Hungarian voters as of January 16.

Still, roughly two percent of Hungarians said the Soros Party could win the election, according to the Policy Agenda poll.At least 11 soldiers killed in attack on the Marshal Fahim military academy in the Afghan capital claimed by ISIL.

At least 11 soldiers have been killed and 16 others wounded in a pre-dawn attack on a military compound in Kabul, days after more than 100 people were killed in a suicide attack in the Afghan capital, a defence ministry official has told Al Jazeera.

Dawlat Waziri, the spokesman for the ministry of defence, said on Monday that the fighting at the Marshal Fahim National Defense University was over after the attackers, armed with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic rifles, were subdued.

There were five attackers, two of them detonated their suicide vests, two others were gunned down by security forces and one was arrested alive, Waziri said.

The attack on Monday was claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) via the groups Amaq website.

Mondays attack comes as Kabul residents are grieving over the suicide bombing on Saturday in the city centre, which killed at least 103 people and left 191 people wounded.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for Saturdays assault, saying its target was government officials.

Since the end of the last month, more than 200 people have been killed and hundreds wounded in a wave of attacks unleashed by the Taliban and rival ISIL.

At least 40 people were killed after Taliban fighters attacked Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul on January 21, while four days later another attack on Save the Children office in Jalalabad left at least six people dead.

Abdullah Fahimi, lecturer at Abu Rayhan University in Kabul, told Al Jazeera that the city has seen a sharp increase of attacks by armed groups in the past two winters.

This comes in response to the aggressive strategy followed by the Afghan government as well as the US government, which slapped sanctions on six members of Taliban and the Haqqani Network, Fahimi said.Continuous bombardment by government fighter jets kill at least 23 civilians in rebel-held Idlib, war monitor says.

At least 23 civilians have been killed in air raids launched by Syrian government warplanes as part of an ongoing offensive to gain ground in Idlib province from opposition fighters, according to a war monitor.

The ongoing raids claimed 16 peoples lives on Monday after targeting several towns in the province the night before, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) and Syrian Civil Defence.

The shelling hit a local hospital that is now unable to provide services, SOHR reported.

The push has forced thousands of civilians to flee towards the border with Turkey in harsh winter conditions, according to humanitarian groups.





Idlib is supposed to be one of the so-called de-escalation zones set up in Syria last year with the backing of Russia, Iran and Turkey.

The plans objective was to stop the fighting and offer safety to civilians in those four areas: Idlib province, East Ghouta, northern Homs province and the countrys south, but the Syrian government and its allies have not abided by the deal and continue to target all areas included in the deal, apart from the south.

According to the United Nations, Idlib is home to an estimated 2.6 million Syrians, including many internally displaced people who have already fled fighting elsewhere in the country.

The attacks come as Russian-sponsored diplomatic talks over the future of Syria are set to begin in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, but the main opposition bloc  the Syrian Negotiations Commission (SNC), also known as the Higher Negotiation Committee (HNC), has announced that it will boycott the conference.

On Saturday, at least eight people were killed in the besieged enclave of Eastern Ghouta, the last remaining rebel stronghold near the capital, Damascus. Government shelling violated a Russian-negotiated ceasefire, which had gone into effect hours earlier.

Eastern Ghouta has been under siege by the government since 2013, with some 400,000 residents suffering from acute food and medicine shortages.

The country has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the government of President Bashar al-Assad cracked down on pro-democracy protests.

Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, and more than 10 million have been forced from their homes, according to the UN.Iranian FM rejects comments made by King Abdullah II, who said the country was meddling in the region.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghassemi has rejected remarks made by the Jordanian monarch on the countrys foreign policies, describing them as contrary to the reality on the ground.

On Sunday, Ghassemi said in a statement that King Abdullah IIs comments on Irans regional influence does not accurately reflect its role as peace promoter and stabiliser in the Middle East.

Such unfair statements cannot deny Irans stabilising role, relentless efforts in fight against terrorism and its contribution to establishing security in the region, Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), quoted him as saying.

Such remarks only benefit the ill-wishers, occupiers and aggressors who cannot put up with the peace, economic development, territorial integrity and national sovereignty of the states in this sensitive region of the world, he added.





Ghassemi went on to criticise the timing of the remarks, which he says come at a difficult and fragile time, while stressing the importance of working to achieve lasting peace.

Last week, King Abdullah II commended Saudi Arabias role in curbing Irans influence, and had criticised Irans meddling in the region.

The Saudi policy is to say: the red lines are here, King Abdullah II said during the World Economic Forum in Davos.

We believe in Jordan that dialogue is the best way to solve problems, but the policy of Iran poses major challenges in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.

Irans influence in the region has significantly increased over the past few years, particularly in the context of limiting the expansion and influence of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL, also known as ISIS).

In Iraq, Iranian-backed Shia-dominated paramilitaries known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces have been dubbed as the countrys second  and stronger  army, while in Yemen, Saudi remains deadlocked in a war waged since March 2015 against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who have been fighting against the central government.Left-wing and Muslim groups say Greeces left-wing ruling party has abandoned the Palestinians.

Athens, Greece  Israeli President Reuven Rivlin met Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and President Prokopis Pavlopoulos of Greece in the capital, Athens, on Monday, amid criticism from left-wing groups and others.

Rivlin arrived in Athens on Sunday for a three-day visit, during which he will also meet members of the local Jewish community and travel with Tsipras to the northern coastal city of Thessaloniki.

Speaking to the Greek daily Ekathimerini, Rivlin described ties between Greece and Israel as fruitful and strong.

Today, we are neighbours on the Mediterranean, Rivlin said.

We share opportunities, and we also share threats. Both our peoples have felt the earthquakes of the instability in the Middle East, he continued, adding that the two countries have a duty to stand together and face these challenges.

Meeting with the President of the State of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, at Maximos Mansion. pic.twitter.com/VAB6P9uvWs  Alexis Tsipras (@tsipras_eu) January 29, 2018

A small Palestinian-led protest against Rivlins visit was held in Athens on Monday morning.

Syriza, the ruling party in the coalition government, came to power in January 2015 after running on a left-wing programme, but it has since garnered criticism from left-wing groups for reneging on its promises.

In December 2015, the Greek parliament voted to recognise a Palestinian state. Ties with Israel, however, have changed little since the vote, according to analysts and critics.

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Israel has occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the besieged Gaza Strip since the 1967 war.

Yara Hawari, the Palestine Fellow at Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network, explained that Greece and Palestine have historically had good relations, citing long-standing left-wing solidarity with Palestinians and the religious affiliations of many Palestinians with the Greek Orthodox Church.

Deepening military ties

In the past, Syriza vowed to cut military ties with Israel upon coming to office, but those ties have nonetheless been deepened.

In 2015, Greeces defence minister, Panagiotis Kammenos, signed a historic status of forces accord with Israel, paving the way for closer cooperation.

Since then, several joint military exercises have been held.

Kammenos is a member of the Independent Greeks (ANEL), a right-wing junior coalition partner in the Greek government.

In October 2017, Kammenos announced plans for more joint military exercises between the two Mediterranean countries.

There was a lot of hope that this [solidarity] would follow through, and I was one of the people that was excited about a major European country electing a very pro-Palestinian party, Hawari told Al Jazeera.

Its very clear that they are not going to cut [these] ties with Israel, and in fact that they will continue a positive relationship with Israel.

Way beyond justice

Naim Elghandour, president of the Muslim Association of Greece, a civil society group that advocates for the rights of the religious minority in the country, explained that Syrizas election had created hopes for a fairer relationship with Israel and the Palestinians.

We are very disappointed in this government and how it has been boosting relations with Israel, he told Al Jazeera, pointing to a long history of pro-Palestine solidarity in the country.

This is why weve given up on [Syriza] regarding this  This is way beyond any justice.

Savas Michael-Matsas, leader of the socialist Workers Revolutionary Party in Greece, described Rivlins visit as cynical exploitation.

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One of the aspects is exploitation of the resources of the region, and the government and its supporters are hoping for benefits from those deposits, he told Al Jazeera, referring to Greeces growing energy cooperation with Israel.

The other aspect is that  the Greek government seems to think its an opportunity to become the strong arm of imperialism in the region, which is completely stupid and can have catastrophic results for Greek people.

In late December, Rubicon, an Athens-based anarchist collective, threw bottles of red paint at the Israeli embassy in the capital.

We identify with the Palestinians, a nation that for decades has been a victim of oppression, the group said in a statement released after the incident, a video of which was subsequently posted online.

In reality, the Palestinians are pressured to leave their land. This is ethnic cleansing at a low intensity level for decades.

Al-Shabakas Hawari argued that Syrizas about-face on Israel and the Palestinians is a very good example of why Palestinians cannot rely on support from political institutions in Europe and elsewhere.

Its been a complete U-turn, she concluded.

We have to be very careful about looking for hope within these big political parties. At the end of the day, the political system is not one which will support Palestinian liberation.As frustration over the economy boils over in Tunisia, groups fear more and more youth will take risky treks to Europe.

Ouardia neighbourhood, Tunis  Hamed Rhimi reaches into his coats breast pocket and pulls out a see-through plastic pouch, a little larger than the size of his hand.

He shuffles through several folded up pieces of paper until he finds what hes looking for: two official Tunisian identity cards.

The countrys flag  red and white, with a crescent and star at the centre  is on the top left-hand corner of each card, while the unsmiling faces of his two sons stare back at him in black and white.

I didnt know about their plan to leave the country in this way, said the 53-year-old father of four, solemnly.

Sitting outside the small, one-room workshop where he repairs old television sets and radios in Ouardia, a southern neighbourhood of Tunisias capital, he explained that his son, Soufiane, was 19 when he left Tunisia in 2008.

Three years later, another son Wissam was also 19 when he took the same risky journey across the Mediterranean Sea as his older brother: both young men chose to migrate to Italy on boats with the help of people-smugglers.

Rhimis sons Wissam (left) and Soufiane went to Europe by boat [Jillian Kestler-DAmours/Al Jazeera]

Soufiane left via Libya while Wissam took a vessel from the Tunisian port city of Sfax hoping to find high-paying jobs in European countries and make enough money to help support their family.

They are just two of many Tunisians who have taken dangerous, undocumented journeys to Europe for years in search of work and a better life.

While the crossings are certainly not new, some now fear the countrys increasingly dire economic situation and widespread lack of jobs will push even more young people to try to cross the Mediterranean once winter is over.

Since he left Tunisia in 2011, Wissams whereabouts remain unknown, Rhimi said. His other son, Soufiane, has been in and out of jail because of drugs and other illegal activities.

Despite this difficult history with undocumented migration, Rhimi said he can only watch as his youngest son Souhail, 17, contemplates making the same choice as his older brothers.

He is almost resigned to the possibility that one day Souhail will be gone.

Im tired, Rhimi said. Im always explaining to [Souhail], Look how I lost your two brothers. But he doesnt understand what Im saying because at night he sits with other kids in the neighbourhood and they talk about leaving for Italy.

Thousands reach Europe

Most Tunisians leave for Europe from the countrys coastal cities, such as Sfax, with the help of smugglers who take them to Italy by boat.

Others have been smuggled out of Libya where African asylum seekers have reported widespread torture and mistreatment. Recent media reports also revealed how some asylum seekers in Libya are being sold into slavery.

After the 2011 revolution that toppled Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, tens of thousands of Tunisians migrated without permits to Europe, with most arriving on Italys Lampedusa island and the Italian mainland.

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The number of crossings stabilised in the years after the uprising, but there has been an uptick in undocumented crossings in recent months.

Last October, about 2,700 people crossed to Italy from Tunisia, and almost all of them were Tunisian citizens, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reported.

Tunisias struggling economy and its high unemployment rate  about 35 percent of Tunisian youth are unemployed  have been blamed for pushing many to take desperate journeys abroad.

This month, the governments 2018 budget came into effect, raising taxes and the price of several basic goods, including gasoline and food.

The austerity measures led to widespread protests across Tunisia and calls for the government to cancel the budget altogether.

Economic and social issues are the main factors pushing youth to migrate to Europe, according to the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (TFESR), a research group.

The absence of development, the weak economic situation in Tunisia seven years after the revolution, the violation of economic and social rights, and political instability are the factors for migration, the group said in a report last year.

Most people leaving Tunisia are between the ages of 20 and 30 and are uneducated youth who are unemployed or have precarious jobs, TFESR said.

Nicholas Noe, editor of MideastWire.com, a newswire that translates articles from the region into English, said Tunisias economic problems stem from a nexus of control that exists between security agencies such as the police, traditional mafias, and more than 100 families that hold monopolies over key industries.

If the [European Union] does not want to have another failed state on the Mediterranean, its going to have to decide whether [it wants] to tax hair gel and have social revolution, or address the fundamental problems at the elite level, Noe told Al Jazeera.

Widespread frustration

One in three young Tunisian men living in rural parts of the country (33.4 percent) are not employed, in school or a training programme, according to 2014 World Bank figures.

In Sidi Bouzid, the city where the 2011 revolution began, 24-year-old Mahran Alaoui said he did not even have enough money to approach the smugglers who could take him by boat to Europe.

Sharing a cigarette with three friends on a city bench, Alaoui said he left school at age 13 and is currently unemployed. He sometimes does shifts as a server in a restaurant but said that only brings him 15 Tunisian dinars ($6) for 12 hours of work.

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Weve reached the peak of hopelessness, he told Al Jazeera.

But at least we have a belief in God. Otherwise, we would have committed suicide.

Mohamed-Dhia Hammami, a Tunisian political analyst, told Al Jazeera that frustration has also increased among educated Tunisian youth, who have been unable to find jobs after graduating.

He said several hundred Tunisians from the towns of Moulares and Mitlawi, in the western governorate of Gafsa, recently crossed the border without permits into Algeria in search of better opportunities.

A few days later, several dozen others attempted to get to Algeria through the official border crossing, but they were turned back, Hammami said.

They are leaving a boat that is [sinking], he said.

Ardhawi (right) and Tlili say they will emigrate after graduating [Jillian Kestler-DAmours/Al Jazeera]

Sidi Bouzid high school students Hayat Ardhawi, 17, and Mariam Tlili, 16, said they were already thinking about where they would move if they got the chance to leave Tunisia.

After I finish school I want to go to Canada, Ardhawi said. She told Al Jazeera she wants to be a doctor, but in Sidi Bouzid, theres nothing.

Tlili said she wanted to live and work as a midwife in France. We love Sidi Bouzid, she added. Well come back.

Search continues

Back in Ouardia, Rhimi told Al Jazeera he spends all his free time searching for information about his sons.

He hasnt heard from Wissam since he left for Italy in 2011 and has only sporadic contact with Soufiane.

He said he approached Tunisian authorities several times to try to locate Wissam and even left a DNA sample with a hospital in Sfax in case his sons body is pulled from the sea.

But so far, he has no new information. Nobody is helping me, Rhimi said.

But I lost two sons, so I dont care. Im not afraid of death Im carrying on.Protests in Philippines over Chinese exploration of Benham Rise

Critics of the Philippine government are protesting against a Chinese research expedition to the resource-rich Benham Rise.Al Udeid, which houses almost 10,000 US personnel, serves as one of the most crucial overseas American military bases.

Visiting Washington, DC, Qatars Defence Minister Khalid bin Mohammad al-Attiyah said his country will expand the American airbase that currently houses about 10,000 US military personnel.

The expansion at the Al Udeid base  home of the US Air Force Central Command  will allow for 200 more housing units for officers and their families, al-Attiyah said.

It will very soon become a family-oriented place for our American friends there. We want more of the families to be stable and feel more comfortable in their stay, al-Attiyah said at an event held by the Heritage Foundation, a US-based think-tank.

Al Udeid serves as one of the most important overseas US military bases with operations throughout the Middle East launched from Qatar.

In the aftermath of the Gulf War in 1991, the United States and Qatar signed a military cooperation agreement that deepened defence.

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The US military moved to Qatar in 2003 after evacuating the Prince Sultan airbase in Saudi Arabia.

Al Udeid also houses military personnel from the UK and other allies.

Qatar is strategically placed. Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria  these are all hotspots in the region. I am not exaggerating when I say 80 percent of aerial refuelling in the region is from Udeid, al-Attiyah said.

Were the ones that keep your birds flying.

Al-Attiyah added the US presence has been beneficial for Qatars armed forces. Were learning a lot on the military side by flying side-by-side. We are learning from the Americans, its a real operational environment.

In June, Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE cut off diplomatic relations with Qatar and imposed a land, sea and air blockade after accusing it of supporting terrorism and extremism.

Qatar has strongly denied the allegations.

Whats happening in the region in the past seven months isnt good for the secure flow of energy. Keeping the GCC in coherent status is very important for a safe and smooth flow of energy, said al-Attiyah.

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Al-Attiyah reiterated Qatar wants to end the GCC crisis and the US plays an important role.

At the moment, I think the only person who can solve the GCC crisis is President Trump. And I think he can solve it in a phone call, he said.

Nobody is benefiting from what is happening in the GCC except for terror groups, al-Attiyah added.

Were open to dialogue. We can discuss anything. The only thing we dont accept is imposing conditions on us or tampering with our sovereignty.

Were tough people. We dont accept preconditions. But at the same time, were very open to discussing issues that worry them.Governments around the world are increasingly cutting off internet access in the wake of peoples protests.

Governments around the world are increasingly shutting down internet access in an apparent attempt to silence discontent and dissent, activists say.

In 2017, internet access was cut off more than 80 times around the world, up from 56 times the year before, drawing concerns from digital rights activists.

We do see this as evidence for a global trend in the wrong direction, Peter Micek of Access Now told Al Jazeera.

One of the countries that have seen several shutdowns in the past year is Cameroon. People in the Anglophone region of the West African nation erupted in protests against the imposition of the French language, which is spoken by the majority of the population.

For four months now, access to social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter and messaging services like WhatsApp has been blocked in the English-speaking parts of the country.

The blockage, implemented in early October after protests against the Cameroonian government, was the second shutdown in Anglophone regions in 2017. From January to April, all internet access was cut.

The United Nations, human rights organisations, and even the pope condemned the first shutdown.

Rather than dialogue, the government embarked on a crackdown and shutting down the internet was a way of stopping the world from seeing or hearing about the atrocities being committed and stopping information flow between groups planning peaceful demonstrations and civil disobedience, Cameroonian human rights activist Judith Nwana told Al Jazeera.

For Nwana, the issue goes further than her home country. According to her, governments that feel threatened can use the internet as another repressive tool, with no consequences.

Every time I hear of an episode of internet shutdown I feel very frustrated. They are becoming more frequent, which reflects the fact that governments know they can get away with it with no repercussions, she said.

Nwanas claim that shutdowns are happening more often is backed up by research from the Brookings Institute and Access Now.

China has for years had the great Chinese firewall, which severely restricts internet access.

Syria, engulfed in a civil war for almost seven years, has been subjected to several blackouts since the conflict began.

For people in Iran, the power authorities have over the internet became apparent again in December when protesters took to the streets. Social media and messaging apps were blocked by the government to prevent demonstrators from organising.

As with Iran and Syria, political unrest is often the catalyst for authorities to sever internet access. Sudan, Myanmar, Ethiopia and Egypt all took to using the so-called kill switch when people gathered on the streets to protest their respective governments.

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Micek from Access Now said internet shutdowns to suppress peaceful demonstrations are a slippery slope.

Edward Snowden sent out a tweet last year which stated that once shutdowns become the norm in places like Cameroon and nobody says anything about it, this type of behaviour tends to spread to other places, Micek said.

This is the future of repression. If we do not fight it there, it will happen here. #KeepItOn #BringBackOurInternet https://t.co/UCzV1kN2Wx pic.twitter.com/uwzy8uhtpi  Edward Snowden (@Snowden) January 25, 2017

Snowdens fear seems to have partially come true, as widespread censorship of internet access spreads to countries deemed open democracies with relatively greater freedom of information.

India, the worlds largest democracy, regularly bans people in Indian-administered Kashmir and other places from accessing social media and other websites. The country has even codified when the government has the right to turn off the internet.

Last February, a New Delhi-based non-profit, Software Freedom Law Centre, launched a website that tracks when and where access was shut off in India.

Late last year, the Spanish government blocked certain websites related to a referendum in the Catalonia region in a bid to prevent people from obtaining information about the controversial vote.

And when a country orders a shutdown of the internet, there is not much that can be done by its citizens, private companies, or the international community.

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There should be a way of pressuring or sanctioning the perpetrators so shutdowns can be lifted as soon as possible. Failing that, it should be a case of putting that government to shame and under pressure through media coverage, advocacy and diplomacy, Nwana said.

Micek said he thinks the only option to get the internet switched back on is to hit blocking countries where it hurts, namely their wallets.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) issued a loan of hundreds of millions of dollars to Cameroon, which came shortly after the first shutdown in January 2017. What message does this send when an international finance institution throws treasure at governments that clearly disrespect the rights of its citizens? Micek said.

Many institutions just need to quietly express their frustration and put down some real consequences, make the governments feel the pain that the citizens are put through.

But Cameroonians are not willing to wait for others to intervene, so they have recently taken authorities to the Cameroonian Constitutional and High courts, supported by Access Now and Internet Sans Frontieres.

The amicus brief in the case says Anglophones are being discriminated against since the shutdowns are only happening in English-speaking areas. It also states the ban is in violation of several international human rights charters signed by Cameroon.

Depriving people of the internet interferes with a range of fundamental human rights, the brief states, citing the United Nations and the European Court of Human Rights.

The case comes several months before the October elections, which may be heavily affected by the closures, according to Nwana.

She is not sure if elections should even take place at all given the current state of the country, she said.

For successful elections anytime this year in Cameroon, registration, campaigning and dissemination of information should be going on right now. Most people, especially the young who form the larger proportion of the population, get their information via social media, Nwana said.

How are elections going to be planned or made possible in those regions with internet restrictions right now?

Micek agreed that having elections under the current circumstances might not be a good idea, not just for Cameroon, but for any country that shuts down the internet.

When you have an entire population thats silenced and shut out of political discourse, thats not a recipe for a healthy and stable democracy.Muslim-Canadians say a feeling of fear lingers in Quebec City one year after a deadly attack on a local mosque.

Ahmed Ech-Chahedy first thought he was hearing fireworks.

The father of six had just finished evening prayers at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec, Canada, and was chatting with his eight-year-old son and two of his sons friends.

It was January 29, 2017, and Ech-Chahedys back was to the main door of the mosque.

He heard a burst of sound, and, moments later, caught a glimpse of a man with dark hair walking through the entryway. The man was carrying a gun.

My son pulled me, Ech-Chahedy told Al Jazeera earlier this month in a telephone interview from Quebec City.

He said, Dad, he wants to kill you,' Ech-Chahedy recalled.

I turned towards the children  and I told them, We need to run. But they didnt go. They couldnt move. My reflex was to get them out.

He managed to get the children to safety, seeking refuge in a nearby restaurant.

When the gunman finished shooting, six Muslim worshippers were dead, more than a dozen people were injured and Ech-Chahedy and other members of the Muslim community in Quebec City were in shock.

More mistrust

In the aftermath of the deadly attack, Quebec and Canadian politicians, community groups and faith leaders condemned the violence, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling it a terrorist attack on Muslims in a centre of worship and refuge.

Alexandre Bissonnette, a university student in Quebec City known for his far-right views, was charged with six counts of first-degree murder and six counts of attempted murder. He was not, however, charged with terrorism.

One year after the shooting, officials in Quebec City warn about an uptick in Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate crimes in the provincial capital.

The shooting killed six men and injured more than a dozen others [Mathieu Belanger/Reuters]

At least 42 hateful incidents against Muslims were reported to Quebec City police in 2017, the citys police chief, Robert Pigeon, told local reporters in December. That is twice the number of anti-Muslim incidents that were reported a year earlier, Pigeon said.

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For Mohamed Labidi, president of the mosque, it is clear that there is a problem in the city of Quebec.

Over the last year, the mosque has received new threats, far-right groups have mobilised with greater visibility, and plans to build a Muslim cemetery incited a hateful response from some residents in the region, he explained.

Labidi also reported that his car was set on fire in August of last year.

Quebec also passed a controversial law that banned face coverings when giving and receiving public services. Parts of the law were suspended last month after a lawsuit arguing the ban was unconstitutional was filed by the National Council of Canadian Muslims, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, and Warda Naili, a Muslim woman who wears a full-face veil, also known as a niqab.

When it comes to the Muslim community in Quebec, there is more mistrust and a feeling of fear, Labidi told Al Jazeera. Several extreme right-wing organisations are very active in Quebec City.

Theyre afraid that Quebec will become like Montreal, multicultural like Montreal.

Fighting Islamophobia

But the problem is not isolated to Quebec.

Last year, a symbolic parliamentary motion condemning Islamophobia drew ire from right-wing politicians and groups, several of which staged anti-Muslim protests in cities across Canada under the guise of freedom of speech.

Forty-six percent of Canadians also said they viewed the presence of Islam in public life negatively, an Angus Reid poll reported in November.

Leila Nasr, a spokesperson for the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), an advocacy group, said for many people across Canada  Muslim and non-Muslim alike  the grieving really hasnt finished over the attack.

Vigils were held across Canada in the aftermath of the deadly attack [Christinne Muschi/Reuters]

She told Al Jazeera that Canadians are increasingly aware, however, that Islamophobia is a problem that has to be confronted.

Its not just a problem for Canadian Muslims or those perceived to be Muslims; its a problem for all Canadians, she said.

Dozens of groups, including NCCM, launched a renewed call this month to have the federal government recognise January 29 as a Canada-wide day of action to combat Islamophobia. So far, Ottawa has only said it received and noted the request.

Its incredibly important for our elected officials to send a strong message at times like this. Its important that they speak out very clearly and unequivocally against Islamophobia, Nasr said.

Nationwide vigils

Several days of commemorations have been organised to mark the one-year anniversary of the attack. A vigil will be held in Quebec City on Monday evening, while other events are being organised across Canada.

A spokesperson for Islamic Relief Canada, a nationwide Muslim charity, said it was important to mark the anniversary by supporting the families of the six men who were killed.

A source of inspiration is the strength of the survivors, the six women and 17 children who lost husbands and fathers in the space of a few terrifying seconds a year ago, spokesperson Reyhana Patel said in a statement.

The slow recovery of their lives and sense of security  alongside their emphatic rejection of any further hatred and division  is, quite simply, the most compelling response to the tragic shooting of last year, she said.

Labidi said that Muslim organisations have worked hard to highlight the dangers Islamophobia can pose since the attack, and the renewed vigour with which individuals are fighting all forms of bigotry should be seen as the silver lining to the tragedy.

Sometimes were hit by the types of tragedies that we lived through in Quebec City  and we can draw lessons from it and move forward to improve the situation Muslims are living in, both in Quebec and Canada, he said.

Sometimes positive things can come out of pain.

Public funerals for the victims were held in Montreal and Quebec City last year [Chris Wattie/Reuters]

For his part, Ech-Chahedy, who works as a physical education teacher and taekwondo instructor, urged people not to paint all Quebecers with a single brush because of the attack.

They shouldnt condemn all Quebecers as racists or xenophobes  But there is a climate of tension here in [the province], he said.

Several people in Quebec City have provided his family with support over the last year, and his brother and his family recently moved to Quebec from their native Morocco, which has been a great help, Ech-Chahedy said.

But he said coping with what happened remains a constant struggle.

It has been especially hard on his young son, who witnessed the violence.

Even until today, he sometimes has nightmares and doesnt sleep through the night, he said.

For a child, its very difficult. Its a daily fight.Scottish community fights for right to buy island on sale

Ulva, a remote Scottish island, is up for sale, and the government is deciding whether to give the local community the right to buy it, instead of it being sold on the open market.Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar since August 2017 in what the UN has described as ethnic cleansing.

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 UN Development Programme, 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 UN has described as ethnic cleansing. Myanmars military has denied the charges, saying they were conducting clearance operations following attacks by Rohingya fighters on police posts.

Yeoh was most recently seen in sci-fi TV series Star Trek: Discovery. She also played Myanmars leader Aung San Suu Kyi in The Lady, a 2011 biopic about the Nobel Peace laureates struggle to bring democracy to her country.

Aung San Suu Kyi has faced widespread international criticism for not speaking out in defence of the Rohingya. Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson resigned from an advisory panel on the crisis this past week, calling it a whitewash and a cheerleading operation for Aung San Suu Kyi.Russia-backed Syria talks kick off in Sochi, as experts warn against undermining years of UN-brokered peace efforts.

Russian-sponsored diplomatic talks over the future of Syria have begun in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, but experts predict the summit will merely attempt to enforce a political solution that is in line with the Syrian governments agenda.

The two-day conference that started on Monday has been given the name Congress of the Syrian National Dialogue. It will be the first round of negotiations to take place in Russia, Syrian President Bashar al-Assads main ally.





The United Nations envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura will be attending the talks, along with representatives from the Syrian, Iranian and Turkish governments.

Meanwhile, the main opposition bloc  the Syrian Negotiations Commission (SNC), also known as the Higher Negotiation Committee (HNC), announced it will boycott the conference, claiming it is an attempt to undercut the United Nations (UN) effort to broker a deal.

But several individuals with the Moscow platform  a dissident faction of the opposition, will be in attendance.

The new track is meant to examine the key questions on Syrias national agenda.

First of all, that is the drawing-up of a framework for the future structure of the state, the adoption of a new constitution, and, on the basis of that, the holding of elections under United Nations supervision, Russian President Vladimir Putin said alongside his Iranian and Turkish counterparts last November.

Like the two main negotiation tracks that are attempting to bring an end to Syrias seven-year-old conflict  experts say the Sochi talks will likely be in vain.

History of negotiations

From UN-sponsored talks in Geneva to Russian-Turkish-backed talks in Astana, government representatives and armed opposition groups have traded blame, stormed out of meetings, and disagreed on proposed resolutions.

The main aims of the two main tracks have been to achieve a political transition and a military ceasefire in Syria, but the main sticking point has been the fate of Assad.

While the Syrian government has consistently refused to agree to Assad stepping down, the armed opposition says Assads removal is a prerequisite to peace.

Talks for the past two years have utilised a two-year-old UNSC resolution endorsed by De Mistura as the basis for achieving a political transition plan  and so will the Sochi conference.

But experts like Omar Kouch, a Syrian political analyst based in Turkey, believe that the Sochi talks will completely differ from the Geneva one.

In fact, there are efforts to make this [Sochi] track the alternative one, considering that it has stolen two of the so-called baskets from what De Mistura proposed during the Geneva talks, he told Al Jazeera, referencing the constitution and the elections.

So if the Russians are serious about supporting the Geneva track, then they would have endorsed these things in Geneva by urging the regime to engage in the negotiation process, Kouch added.





An attempt to hijack a potential political path is under way in Sochi, Kouch believes, who says that a military confrontation on the ground has already been taken advantage of by the Syrian government, referencing a recently violated ceasefire agreement in Eastern Ghouta, the last remaining rebel stronghold near Damascus.

It was an attempt to gain control over more territory If anything, fighting has intensified over the past few days, said Kouch.

Despite the ongoing battle, both the Assad government and Russia have ignored repeated calls by UN to allow for the free movement of the ill and injured.

With Moscow and Tehrans military support, the government has gained more leverage in its negotiating position, further weakening the opposition in their plight to overthrow Assad.

According to Kouch, only 10 opposition representatives, aligned with the Assad government, have agreed to attend the latest talks.

There are various divisions within the opposition, consisting of at least seven factions. De Mistura had previously stressed the importance of the groups uniting in negotiations with the Syrian government.

The main divide within the opposition has been between the SNC and two dissident groups, the Moscow and Cairo platforms. These groups maintain close ties to Russia and are not perceived as a threat by the Assad government, differentiating them from the HNC, which has repeatedly called for the dismantling of the regime as a premise for peace.

Dangerous new narrative

Still, with a fragmented opposition, Kouch does not foresee a scenario in which the HNC is forced into accepting a solution that may come out of the two-day meeting.

It [Sochi] is also a dangerous attempt at turning the Syrian question into a matter of internal conflict. It started as a peoples revolution calling for freedom and dignity, now turned into a proxy war They want to make it seem as if its a matter of internal conflict, said Kouch.

Discussions over elections in the governments framework do not include a presidential one, which is inherently problematic according to Kouch.

It [the regime] considers the presidential elections a red line that no one is allowed to cross, he said, blaming the vagueness of UNSC 2254.





Every side interprets it [the resolution] the way they see fit.

Similarly, Aron Lund, a Syria expert and Century Foundation fellow, believes that Russia is trying push Syria toward a diplomatic framework more in tune with military realities  both in Astana and in Sochi.

Because it makes more sense and because they obviously prefer a peace process structured around the fact that their ally is winning, Lund told Al Jazeera.

For Russia, it is a way to drag Turkey and various opposition groups into a process that isnt unfavorable to their ally, Assad, which the Geneva talks are by design.

Turkeys involvement in the Astana talks helped in rapidly weakening the opposition, said Lund, who expects the Sochi talks to play a similar role.

He also believes that the UN is responsible for not achieving a political solution.

The Geneva peace talks arent really peace talks. Theyre transition talks, said Lund.

Instead of the UN trying to reconcile warring sides and end the fighting in keeping with whatever balance of power existed in the country, you had a process shaped by the understanding of what had just happened in Tunisia and Egypt  regime removal, he explained.

As in Tunisia and Egypt, the uprising in Syria started with peaceful anti-government demonstrations in March 2011. It then escalated into a full-blown proxy war that has claimed more than 400,000 lives and driven about half of the countrys pre-war population of 22 million from their homes.

So by design, the Geneva process cant end until the UN acknowledges that Syrias pre-2011 regime is gone, Lund said.

Stamp of approval

The conference is unlikely to propose a concrete plan, and the lack of opposition representatives had many questioning the summits credibility.

They may form a constitutional committee And an electoral committee, which will be a large and loose entity of people who are close to the regime, Kouch predicted.

However, Lund noted that theres not going to be a mutually agreed end to the war.

The Russians wanted a lot of opposition actors involved to give this a stamp of approval, and Turkey, which has much of the opposition on a leash, doesnt seem to be playing along, said Lund.

But Im sure that if this round fails, theyll just try again.Syrian Observatory says five children among fatalities in air strike, but Turkey has denied targeting civilians.

At least eight civilians have been reported killed following Turkish air strikes near the Syrian enclave of Afrin, as Turkish-backed fighters accused the armed Kurdish group YPG of forcibly recruiting minors to fight.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fatalities, including five children from one family, were from the village of Kobla just outside of Afrin, which had been previously hit by Turkish bombardments.

The latest civilian casualties bring to 51 the number of people killed in and around Afrin since the operation against the YPG began on January 20, the Syrian Observatory said.





As of Sunday, at least five Turkish soldiers had also been reported killed in the operation, according to the Turkish daily Hurriyet.

Al Jazeeras Stefanie Dekker, reporting from the Turkey-Syria border on Monday, said her sources confirmed the civilian casualties. But the number remains unclear.

Turkey has denied targeting Syrian Kurdish civilians, she said. But of course we know that when it comes to war, the truth is somewhere in between. There will always be civilian lives ripped apart. So it is very difficult for people there.

On Monday morning, our correspondent reported shelling at the border, although she described the situation as relatively calm.

Meanwhile, the Turkish military said it captured the strategic Mount Bursaya, which is reportedly being used by the YPG to target civilians in Turkeys province of Kilis.

Turkey said tunnel systems and concrete structures were found at the mountain, which overlooks both Kilis and Syrias Azaz district, which is controlled by the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA).

Turkey also said the structures were being prepared for long period of defence and sheltering by Kurdish YPG fighters.

Al Jazeeras Dekker said intensive air strikes, artillery and rocket fire were launched from the Turkish side throughout the day on Sunday.

What Turkey is focusing on right now is pushing the YPG back from the entire border areas, she said.

As of Monday, a total of 597 YPG fighters have been killed during the operation, Turkish state news agency Anadolu reported, quoting Turkish military. Al Jazeera was unable to independently verify the numbers.

At least five Turkish soldiers had been reported killed in the operation in Afrin [Reuters]

YPG child recruits

Turkish military also said 44 targets were hit by air strikes overnight on Monday.

The YPG also reported multiple air strikes on Sunday targeting a dam in the Shera district of Afrin. The armed group warned the destruction of the Maidankee dam could cause flooding on Afrin residential areas.

The YPG and its political wing the Kurdish Democratic Union Party have come to control large expanses of northern Syria, including Afrin, in the course of the Syrian war.





The Kurdish group was at the forefront in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group, which had captured large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014.

The US sees the YPG as an effective group in the fight against ISIL in the region, and has supported the group with weapons and military advisors.

That puts the US in direct contention with its NATO ally Turkey, which considers the YPG as a terrorist group and an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a bloody three-decade fight against the Turkish state.

Meanwhile, FSA fighters claimed YPG fighters have forcibly recruited Kurdish civilians to fight against the Turkish military and the FSA.

Abu Ali Sicco, an FSA commander, told Anadolu news agency that teenagers as young as 16 and 17 were forced to join the YPG.Thousands protest against planned UNRWA aid cuts

Some 13,000 people have protested against the looming budget cuts to the UNRWA budget that could spell catastrophe for millions.Opposition leaders in the Maldives have petitioned the island nations Supreme Court to temporarily remove President Abdulla Yameen and investigate allegations of corruption against him.

Yameen, 58, dismissed the petition on Monday, telling his supporters in the capital, Male, the opposition was seeking to overthrow a legitimate government.

Signatories to the petition filed on Sunday include two former presidents, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Mohamed Nasheed. The former is Yameens half-brother.

The opposition leaders said Yameen must be suspended for misrule, rights abuses, and unprecedented corruption, including unjust enrichment from appropriation of state properties and funds for personal benefit, for the benefit of his family and political associates.

Al Jazeera, in an expose in 2016, revealed how Yameen and his former deputy coordinated the theft of millions of dollars in tourism revenues. In secretly filmed confessions, three of the former vice presidents associates also explained how they carried cash to the president.

One of the men, Mohamed Allam Latheef, said he had deposited cheques worth $1m into the presidents private account, a claim confirmed by the anti-graft watchdog last year.

But the Anti Corruption Commission deferred the case saying it was not able to question Latheef because he had fled the country.

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Yameen denies allegations of corruption.

Clutching at straws

A spokesperson for the Supreme Court told Al Jazeera the judges have not yet commented on whether they would hear the petition.

Mariyam Shiuna, executive director of Transparency Maldives, an anti-corruption group, said she doubted if the Supreme Court, which has ruled in favour of the government in the past, would act on the case.

The opposition was clutching at straws in a bid to make some headway in holding President Yameen accountable, she said, adding the move also demonstrated the oppositions lack of confidence in the prospect of a free and fair vote when the country goes to a general election later this year.

The opposition alliance said it turned to the Maldives top court because parliament, which has the power to remove a president from office, had ceased to function after the military stormed the building last year to block the impeachment of the parliament speaker, a key ally of Yameen.

The Maldives has been mired in political unrest since Nasheed, the countrys first democratically elected leader, was jailed in 2015 on terrorism charges.

The trial, which a UN rights panel declared unfair, prompted widespread protests and resulted in the arrest of hundreds of dissidents.

Since then, almost all key opposition leaders have either been jailed or gone into exile. In 2016, Nasheed also sought political asylum in the United Kingdom after traveling there on medical leave from prison.

Meanwhile, 12 ruling-party legislators who defected to the opposition were stripped of their seats last year.

The crackdown on dissent has raised fears of instability ahead of this years presidential election.

Yameens main challengers are in prison or exile, while the election commission commands very little public confidence, said Shiuna, the anti-graft campaigner.

Civil and political liberties are severely restricted In such an environment it is difficult to say that the 2018 elections will be free or fair.

Yameen is facing a coalition of four opposition parties led by Gayoom and Nasheed.

The two former presidents joined forces after the Gayoom brothers parted ways following an acrimonious power struggle within the ruling party.

On Monday, Yameen ordered the re-arrest of Gayooms son, Faris Maumoon, days after the ruling party lawmaker was conditionally released from jail, where he had been held for six months on charges of bribery.

Police also searched Gayooms residence in Male on the same day.As separatist forces battle the government in southern Yemen, a look at the role the United Arab Emirates is playing.

Yemens southern coastal city of Aden has been gripped by days of fighting after armed separatist forces  backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE)  moved against the internationally recognised government.

Fighters from the Southern Resistance Forces (SRF), the armed wing of the Southern Transitional Council (STC)  a political movement demanding secession for southern Yemen  clashed with the Yemeni army and were able to wrest control of a key military base in Adens Khormaksar district and capture scores of soldiers.

The STC is said to have precipitated the crisis by handing President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadis government an ultimatum last week to either dismiss Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dhagr and his cabinet or face an overthrow.

The group accused Hadis government of rampant corruption resulting in a deteriorating economic, security and social situation never before witnessed in the history of the south.





Hadis government refused the ultimatum and subsequently banned public gatherings ahead of Sundays deadline.

Residents told Al Jazeera that when the Yemeni army was deployed early on Sunday to prevent separatists from entering the city, it triggered the fierce confrontation.

At least 12 people were killed in the clashes and more than 130 wounded before Hadis government called an immediate ceasefire.

Fighting didnt subside, however, and residents told Al Jazeera on Monday that gunfire continues throughout the city.

Who are the separatists?

Separatists have long campaigned for the secession of southern Yemen, which was an independent country before 1990.

Less than four years after merging with the north, the south tried to split away in 1994 citing economic and political marginalisation, but it was crushed after a short-lived but bloody civil war.

Since 2007, southern groups have been rallying for greater autonomy, and those calls intensified after the 2011 Arab spring uprising and the outbreak of the 2015 Yemeni civil war.

The STC, formed in 2017 by Aidarous al-Zubaidi, a 51-year-old militia leader, says Hadis government, which is allied to Islah  a group ideologically linked to the Muslim Brotherhood movement  should sack his prime minister and cabinet and exclude Islah-aligned leaders from the political leadership.

Whos fighting who?

The UAE, a major patron of the STC, has invested millions of dollars in the group and pro-autonomy Salafis in a bid to secure its interests in the region.

With a sizeable budget, the STC has been able to rally a number of tribes to its cause and develop a large following in the coastal cities of Aden and Mukalla, as well as the provinces of Dhale and Lahij.

Despite hailing from the south himself, Hadis support has been restricted to the provinces of Abyan and Shabwa following bloody events that rocked the south in January 1986.

Shallal Shayae, Adens security chief and a senior commander of the SRF, has had a long and personal grudge against the president after his father was assassinated by forces close to Hadi.

Hadi was aligned with then President Ali Nasser Mohamed, whose bodyguards carried out the killing. The duo would flee the south to north after losing the war, which claimed close to 10,000 lives and divided the south along ideological and tribal lines.

However, most of Hadis power comes from Saudi Arabia, where he has been based since 2016. The Saudis formed an Arab coalition and launched attacks against Houthi rebel forces in 2015 and Riyadh supports Hadis forces with military assistance and financial largesse.

Whats happening right now?

The STC has blamed Prime Minister Ahmed bin Daghr for the violence and urged Hadi to sack him and his cabinet.

The STC holds the bin Daghr government fully responsible after it violated the Arab coalitions call for calm and used weapons to prevent demonstrators from reaching the parades square, it said in a statement.

The STC has said it is willing to de-escalate the situation, but Zaid al-Jamal, al-Zubaidis secretary, told Al Jazeera the uprising would continue until Hadis government was toppled.

International aid organisation Oxfam says the violence has forced it to close down its offices in Aden, while residents have complained of schools and government institutions being forced to shutter.

What is the UAEs role?

The UAE is believed to be sponsoring southern Yemens secession to advance its interests in the region.

The Gulf emirate entered Yemens war in March 2015 as part of the Saudi-led military coalition after Houthi rebels  traditionally based in the northwest of the country  seized Sanaa, the capital, and claimed they were the legitimate government.

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Despite having a relatively small army, the UAE sent a significant number of ground forces to Yemen. In contrast, Saudi Arabia was cautious to deploy troops; the Saudi National Guard and Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF) play minimal roles in the conflict.

The UAEs interest relates to the security of the Bab el-Mandab strait, one of the worlds busiest oil and gas shipping lanes.

Protecting the flow of oil and gas shipments in the Red Sea and Egypts Suez Canal is vital for UAEs ability to trade with Europe and North America.

Divisions between UAE-Saudi over Yemen?

Nearly three years on, and with fighting showing no signs of abating, Saudi Arabia has said it wants out of the war, which is believed to cost the kingdom an estimated $66m a day.

Conversely, the Emiratis have become more involved in the conflict, indicating a divide in the two countries agendas.

The UAE has been financing and training armed groups that only answer to it, setting up prisons, and creating a security establishment parallel to Hadis government, according to Human Rights Watch.

The Middle East Eye news website, quoting sources, reported that Hadi was incensed with the UAE, accusing Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of acting as an occupying force as opposed to a liberation one.

The weakening of Hadis government has gone hand-in-hand with the UAEs growing power. According to Maysa Shuja al-Deen, a non-resident fellow at the Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies, the Emiratis seem disillusioned with Saudi Arabias plan for the country.

The Saudis believe any talk of secession will de-legitimise the war effort, which they have repeatedly claimed is about restoring the government of President Hadi. Meanwhile, the Emiratis dont want to see any party close to Hadi and Islah anywhere near power.

The coalition is divided and no longer knows what they want, she said."I think in Venezuela they took a wrong turn, a not particularly effective path, not a socialist path.

Nothing's more bat-brained or dishonest than a British leftist. And John McDonnell, one of the most arrogant, fanatical - and powerful -of them, is out showing it .

The admitted Marxist and top Labour Party leader said this at Davos, no less, staying in a $1,400 a night hotel room. So Venezuela collapsed, not because it was a socialist hellhole, but because it wasn't socialist enough?

By his logic, then the even-less-socialist U.S. should be in even worse shape.

Actually, his argument is one that's been done before among Marxists, as when Bill Ayers, asked about the bombs he set to make a socialist revolution, replied that he wasn't ashamed of setting off bombs, he thought he actually hadn't "done enough." Tom Wolfe has noted that socialists calling for revolution, when asked about the failures of socialism, reply "oh, but ours will be a real socialism."

But at Davos, McDonnell knew he wasn't among stupid people, and that was why his take was far more sophisticated and snakelike - and could quite likely be repeated by other leftists as time goes on. Which is why it needs to be nipped in the bud. According to the Sun, McDonnell explained:

Speaking to business leaders and world leaders in the Swiss ski resort today, Mr McDonnell bizarrely claimed: "Its not that the issue is socialism vs capitalism. "In terms of what happened in Venezuela, they took a wrong turn." He went on: "All the objectives of Chavez, in terms of tackling inequality, investing in education, developing peoples skills, would have been successful if they had mobilised the oil resources to actually invest in the long term and work with private sectors as well."

Copying President Trump, he cited Norway as an example, this time of a country that could evade the problems brought on by an oil boom by saving for a rainy day, as that country has done.

It's baloney. Socialists have always denounced savings - the other word for it is 'capital' - over spending. They've always spent like there was no tomorrow. As the example of Fidel Castro attests, they don't believe in paying bills. Defaulting on debt (which is reverse savings) is as socialist as guava pie. Socialism has always been about treating the here and now as if there were no past and no future. So they spend, spend, spend, and the international left, until it all went to hell in Caracas, was very quick to defend Chavez's social spending as 'poverty reduction' or even "investment" using a capitalist term.

Hugo Chavez managed over a course of 15 years to squander more than one trillion dollars in oil earnings based on high oil prices and expectations that they would rise forever. They didn't. The country is bankrupt now and doesn't even have ten billion in reserves to carry them over.

As economist Francisco Rodriguez has pointed out, Chavez didn't even spend socially as the left and he himself had claimed. Even the propaganda was a lie. In the decade before Chavez was dictator, 1990-1998, Venezuela's social spending amounted to a little more than 31% of GDP. During the Chavez years, it amounted to a bit more than 29%.

What Chavez spent Venezuela's oil bonanza on was military hardware, influence-buying abroad, including foreign elections, and expanding the vast state bureaucracy. Corruption took a humongous toll. And as for Venezuela's people, supposedly helped by all that socialism, it's: "We loot or we die of hunger."

Now McDonnell is claiming that Venezuela should have saved some of its money for a rainy day and worked with the private sector.

Back in Chavez's heyday, working with the private sector was expropriating hundreds of businesses, and setting up state businesses run on political considerations, all of which crashed down into failure. That was the vaunted ''investment" socialists such as McDonnell were touting at the time.

It's all a disgusting picture, and now leftists such as McDonnell are trying to extricate themselves from it by claiming they favored the Norwegian model all along.

What we are looking at here is not just the horrific failure of socialism in Venezuela but now the blazing bright success of President Trump's newly revitalized America, built not on commodity booms but on creating value and freeing the private sector to be itself and produce things of value.

McDonnell will never understand this. But his lies need to be called out and debunked as often as possible before the millennials start believing him.One percenter Jay Z says black people need 'happiness' more than jobs

Shawn, 'Jay Z,' Carter is a 48-year-old former crack dealer turned rapper whose drug-glamorizing lyrics still appeal to the same schmucks he doped up almost thirty years ago. Anthony 'Van' Jones is a 49-year-old Yale educated, committed Marxist-Leninist whose decades-old war on cops has left inner city neighborhoods unprotected and littered with dead black Americans. Both have made a fortune off destroying their own people. So, it's fitting these two stalwarts of the black community, who, by the way, live far away from the hellholes their so-called music and ideology helped create, should come together on Jones's premier CNN show of the 2018 season. Van Jones, who long ago abandoned the 'cheap radical pose for the deep radical ends with his street to elite suits and slick banter, asked Jay Z, worth around $810 million, if President Trump deserves any credit for lowering the black unemployment rate. The rapper's reply echoed another Democrat's remarks from a week ago. Nancy Pelosi called the bonuses and wage increases working Americans are receiving because of President Trump's tax cuts crumbs. Jay Z goes even further than Pelosi.

It's not about having a job or putting money in peoples pockets, he says, it's about being happy. Its not about money at the end of the day, Money doesnt equate to happiness. You treat people like human beings. You treat me really bad and pay me well: Its not going to lead to happiness.  Everyone is going to be sick. Jay Zs inanity didnt stop at his economic theorizing. His ideas on the latest sexual harassment scandals omitted taking responsibility for the misogynistic rap songs hes been pumping into sections of cities like Chicago, Oakland, Baltimore, Newark, and Los Angeles for decades. The same places where fatherless kids are the norm, and abortion and STD rates are off the charts "The #MeToo movement and #Time'sUp, does that give you hope for your daughters?" asked Jones In response, Jay Z dared not cite his graphically pornographic lyrics which depict women as sex objects to be violated anytime and anywhere. But his stuttering, stammering and illogic speaks volumes. From youtube: ...you know this had to happen to purge itself, you know for, for your, uh uh for men to be(unintelligible) position for so long and of course if you're in that position of power to abuse your power... it takes a real special person to have that sort of power and not uh uh wield it in the wrong way...it has to happen...what we're finding out.. for women to, like, go to work , to knowing this kind of abuse is happening every day cause you can look and logically you could say 'why would you stay there... you have to uh survive in America ...for it to be uncovered.. the world has to correct itself "That's beautiful," Jones tells his guest at the end of Jay Zs statement. Van Jones means it. Race-baiting, communist, cop-hating agitators like him couldnt ask for a more clueless spokesperson than Mr. Carter to keep black Americans from reaping the benefits of President Trumps economic policies. Full interview:Some Democrats have been trying to couple sentencing reform with the bi-partisan effort to help inmates re-assimilate back into society and cut down on the recidivism rate that sees up to three quarters of prisoners returning to jail within 5 years.

The issue of prison reform came before the Republican mega donors meeting in the California desert this past weekend, and several lawmakers who spoke to attendees were confident that some kind of reform bill would be enacted before the November mid-terms.

But sentencing reform is an entirely different issue and most GOP lawmakers believe it should be dealt with separately.

The Hill:

I think it would be a great thing if we could pass prison reform and get it to the presidents desk, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), the chief vote counter for the GOP majority in the Senate, told a group of donors affiliated with billionaire conservative brothers Charles and David Koch on Saturday night. Im more optimistic about that happening this year and in the next few months than Ive ever been. Prison reform is a priority for the Koch network, which is holding its winter seminar in the California desert this weekend. Theyve been working closely with White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, who has been spearheading the effort for the administration. Theyre fully supportive and hopefully they can use the bully pulpit to support it, said Mark Holden, the senior vice president for Koch Industries. Earlier this month, Holden, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) and Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R) met with President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions about the issue at the White House. The president said he had a great interest in getting prison reform done and cited the need for job training, mentoring and drug addiction treatment for former inmates returning to society. We want to ensure that those who enter the justice system are able to contribute to their communities after they leave prison, which is one of many very difficult subjects were discussing, having to do with our great country, Trump said at the time. The vast majority of incarcerated individuals will be released at some point, and often struggle to become self-sufficient once they exit the correctional system. We have a great interest in helping them turn their lives around, get a second chance and make our community safe."

Prison reform is a pet project of the Koch Brothers, whose network of donors plans to invest about $400 million in congressional races this year.

Is it really possible to "reform" convicted felons? Certainly, there's a good chance that more ex-prisoners could become productive members of society with intervention in prison and more help once they get out.

But no program known can "cure" anti-social personalities. Some of the symptoms can be treated with drugs, but the very nature of the disease precludes effective treatments. Those felons with ASPD are almost certain to get in trouble with the law again no matter how much counseling, how many drugs they get, or how much job training they receive.

Not all felons have ASPD, and for them, an improvement in opportunities once they leave prison might keep more of them from relapsing. Investing in some prison reforms will be a lot cheaper than re-incarceration, so in the long run, prison reform makes sense.The New York Democrat on Friday accused President Donald Trump of using a proposed path for citizenship for young undocumented immigrants as cover for making sweeping -- and damaging -- changes to the legal immigration system.

"This plan flies in the face of what most Americans believe," Schumer said on Twitter. While Trump "finally acknowledged that the Dreamers should be allowed to stay here and become citizens, he uses them as a tool to tear apart our legal immigration system and adopt the wish list that anti-immigration hard-liners have advocated for for years." The one-page proposal released by the White House on Thursday would allow as many as 1.8 million young immigrants to become citizens, while also calling for $25 billion in spending on a border wall and security as well as sharply restricting family-based immigration and eliminating a visa lottery system. White House officials are hoping the Senate will put it up for a vote, but it appears doomed to fail.

What do Americans really believe Senator Schumer? Did you forget what happened last weekend with your shutdown?

I like President Trump's proposal, even if I was surprised by the 2 million. At the same time, legalizing 2 million who are already here may be a very small price to pay for getting all of the other stuff, specially updated immigration laws.

It amazes me that Senator Schumer is not jumping on this plan. It must be because he is getting an earful from the left.

President Trump is winning this battle and Senator Schumer can chat with Senator Manchin about it.

P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.

Why aren't the Democrats horrified by the corruption at the FBI and DOJ?

It is becoming clearer by the day, after over a year of investigations, that the Obama administration did indeed weaponize the DOJ, the FBI, the CIA, the ATF, the IRS and the NSA. Over those eight years, each of the above agencies was transformed into an arm of the Democratic Party tasked with crippling the opposition and abrogating the Constitution. Since all of the mainstream media already were arms of the DNC, it is well and truly a miracle that Donald Trump prevailed throughout his campaign to win the election, as the entire DC bureaucracy and media were aligned against him. Most of them still are.

Those law enforcement institutions in which Americans have put their trust and faith for many decades have been thoroughly compromised by a group of bad actors at the top, self-appointed arbiters of electoral politics. Besides sullying the reputations of their institutions, this "secret society" of persons who believe themselves to be above the law has lethally betrayed the rank and file employees of those agencies. The public has seen only a fraction of the material that, according to those who have seen it, proves higher-ups at the DOJ and FBI colluded to clear Hillary Clinton of any responsibility for her many crimes. These operatives knew she had ignored all the rules regarding classified material by having her own private server. They likely all knew the Clinton Foundation was nothing but a pay-to-play outfit to enrich the Clintons (only 6% of its funds went to charity). And this bunch still thought she was qualified to be President, this woman with a forty-year history of lying, cheating and scheming! Are there no essential values among these persons privileged to wield power over the rest of us? In collusion with the Clinton campaign, the DNC, the FBI and DOJ worked together to produce and then use fabricated opposition research to obtain FISA warrants to spy on possibly hundreds of people connected to the Trump family and campaign. They did this to bring him down by any means necessary. As many people have observed, this is the stuff of the former Soviet Union and third-world dictatorships. Information is being released in dribs and drabs, but enough has been made public for all to know that this is the biggest political scandal in American history. The Republicans want to release a memo that is a summary of what the House Intelligence Committee has seen so far. This memo is based solely on documents provided to the committee by the FBI and the DOJ. The Democrats are fighting the release of said memo. The ever-obsessed Adam Schiff is determined that no member of the public be allowed to see what our elected representatives have already seen. We are apparently too stupid to grasp the complexities of this summary. Schiff still believes the fabricated Trump/Russia collusion narrative, even though he has seen the documents and texts from Strzok saying there is "no there there" ten months into this scam investigation. Schiff has invested so many television hours in pushing his version of events, the one he so fervently wants to be true, that he can't let go of it even as it is revealed to be a malicious plan by a group of arrogant civil servants, all of them Democrats. What is so distressing is that no elected Democrat, not one, has expressed shock or concern that these agencies have been so corrupted. Given what we know so far, every member of Congress and every member of the press should be equally horrified. This level of criminality should offend everyone, every citizen and every elected official. But to the left, it's just another dust-up created by those rascally Republicans. Use our law enforcement agencies to destroy a campaign and/or to bring about the impeachment of a President? "So what" seems to be the attitude on the left. The Constitution be damned. Among these culprits, who include Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Brennan, James Clapper, Susan Rice, Samantha Power, Andrew McCabe, James Comey, Rod Rosenstein, Lisa Page, and Peter Strzok, there is no honor, no respect for the law, the truth or the American people. Shouldn't the Democrats be as angry about this as Republicans? Has their hatred for Trump so impaired their judgment that they have sacrificed their integrity, their respect for ethics and the law? How else to explain their full engagement in the cover-up, fueled by their wholesale denial of the facts? Once DOJ IG Michael Horowitz's report is released, and if the FISA memo is made public, much more will be clear to everyone. One has to wonder how the Democrats will recover their lost dignity. Their many months-long defense of the indefensible will have done significant damage to their brand unless Democrat voters are as unscrupulous, as unconcerned about honor and ethics as their elected representatives have proven to be.Protestors entertain diners at Winston Churchill themed Blighty cafe

Boris Johnson turned off his watermelon smile and demanded that Jeremy Corbyn slammed the hard-left mobadding a dash of righteous spite to tiffin at the Blighty cafe in Londons Finsbury Park. The Mail focuses on Halimo Hussein, 24, who along with eight other nicely dressed youth called Winston Churchill a racist and demanded that anyone with a social conscience boycott the cafe that bills itself:

Welcome to the Blighty Commonwealth of Cafes  originally founded in 1944 by RAF fighter pilot and war hero, Capt Roy Bevans. After years of decline Blighty was resurrected in 2013 by Roys [sic] grandson, Horatio Bevans. Blightys mission is to make the world a closer place by celebrating and improving the relationships between the people and nations of the 52 members of the commonwealth [sic]. We celebrate these relationships via the mediums [sic  come in, Winston; are you there?] of brunch, coffee and community. Mission:

To make the world a closer place by impoving [sic] the relationships between the people and nations of the commonwealth.

All nations united under a common flag  if not a common language. The typos are what Churchill would have wanted:

Back in the Mail, then, where Halimo Hussein, a politics student and co-president of Equality and Liberation at SOAS, University of London, is eschewing Vera Lynn staples to chant: We have nothing to lose but our chains. No, not just coffee chains. Virtual and possibly actual chains.

The Sun says of Hussein: The full-time student idolises leftie loudmouth Russell Brand.

Once inside the cafe, which they stormed (Express, Sun, Mail, Russia Today, Daily Mirror) by, er, walking though the door, the group read from a prepared script:

Protestor One: We cannot accept the unashamed colonial and gentrifying presence of this cafe before the group chanted You will never make colonialism palatable. Ms Hussein: To the owner of the cafe, apologise to the local community for their poorly thought and insensitive branding and promptly change it from the menu to the aesthetics and decor of the cafe. Protestor Three: To the customer, we ask you that you boycott this cafe until they take the concerns of the community seriously'

Boris Johnson took time out from his busy schedule as Foreign Secretary to opine: Disgraceful attack on our finest ever wartime leader by hard-left mob. Jeremy Corbyn should denounce the actions of these activists immediately.

Jack Lopresti, the Conservative MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke, tells the Mail: This outrageous behaviour represents the hard lefts politics which is of the most puerile and ignorant kind. Without the bravery, courage and leadership of Sir Winston Churchill, we would not be living in a free country where we have the freedom to express our personal views, regardless of how, in their case, ridiculous or offensive they are.

Michael Fabricant, Tory MP for Lichfield, adds: It is thanks to Winston Churchill that fools like these are able to hold their childish views and not be thrown into a concentration camp. They should think about this before the next time they behave like yobs.

No Labour MP is quoted.

If thats not enough, the Mail says Ms Hussein, an avid Labour supporter and Jeremy Corbyn fan  how do you square Corbyns support for Iran with your anti-imperialism?  has left a scathing online review of the cafe which read: Bland breakfasts and awful watery tasting coffee. Just as the British like their grub. Toss in some nylon sheets, atmospheric smog and clanking radiators, and the Blighty cafes could run a fleet of hotels. (Note to owners: call me, I have ideas; and think of about changing the French sounding cafes to something more British, like dining rooms, shed or billet).

Paul Sorene

Posted: 29th, January 2018 | In: News, Politicians Comment | TrackBack | Permalink(ANSA) - Palermo, January 29 - Premier Paolo Gentiloni and Culture Minister Dario Franceschini on Monday kicked off Palermo's year as Italian Culture Capital. Speaking to local dignitaries including Mayor Leoluca Orlando and Sicily Governor Nello Musumeci, Gentiloni said Palermo was "changing" after years of being depicted via "stereotypes".

"This is a chance to say thank you Palermo, the Italians are proud of this city," the premier said.

He said a major new library of Islamic studies would be set up with government funds and named after famed late Florence mayor Giorgio La Pira.

Franceschini said Palermo would "remain the capital of dialogue".

Orlando said there would be "thousands of initiatives" during the year and said Palermo was "an example of tolerance and welcome".

Over 780 events are planned and more are expected to be added.

He added that "Palermo excellence" would be put to the test.

Orlando noted "one of the characteristic elements is that the peripheries will be more involved than the centre. We want to abolish the term 'peripheries'. " Tourist visits to the Sicilian capital, which is already one of Italy's most popular destinations, are expected to be boosted considerably by the slew of cultural events planned.

Some of the highlights include the return of Giovanni Boldini's 'Donna Franca Florio, an iconic painting of the Belle Epoque, a large exhibition on Antonello da Messina and Manifesta 12, one of the largest European travelling shows, as well as a series of performances, meetings, music, art and theater.

The logo for the city, long a cradle of culture in the Mediterranean basin, was designed by the 22-year-old fine arts student Sabrina and features the 'P' of Palermo in four languages: Phoenician, Hebrew, Arabic and Greek. The heart of the initiatives will be at Palazzo Sant-Elia, with photos by Spencer Tunick and Robert Capa, a conference on Mediterranean philosophies, a retrospective on Japanese artist Shozo Shimamoto. Palermo was chosen over the other finalist cities of Alghero, Aquileia, Comacchio, Ercolano (Herculaneum), Montebelluna, Recanati, Settimo Torinese, Trento and a group of northern Sicilian towns. "We've all won," said Mayor Orlando when the announcement was made last year. "The most significant cultural asset we uphold is the culture of welcome." The jury's citation said that "the candidacy is backed by an original project, of high cultural value, great humanitarian scope, strongly and generously aimed at inclusion, permanent training, the creation of capacity and citizenship, without neglecting the valorisation of the heritage and contemporary artistic production".

AMMAN - King Abdallah of Jordan on Monday meet in Amman with Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and pledged to continue supporting Palestinians in their attempts to create an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, state-run news agency Petra reported. The king, the agency added, called on the international community to ''take on its responsibility to safeguard the rights of Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims and Christians in the city of Jerusalem, which is key to achieving peace and stability in the region''. King Abdallah, who is a staunch ally of Washington, also called on the international community to support the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, after the US administration's decision to cut its funding to the organization by about a half.Cairo - The poetry of Dante and Leopardi, the music of Eugenio Bennato and Italy's contribution to archaeological research into the time of the pharaohs all have their place on the 'Italy, Culture, Mediterranean' programme run by the Italian foreign ministry in north African and Middle Eastern countries. The programme includes a performance by Bennato in the Egyptian capital on March 18. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is to host an itinerant exhibition of Arab, Chinese and Italian calligraphy titled 'Writing the Divine Comedy'. Events for World Poetry Day on March 21 will instead focus on Giacomo Leopardi under the title 'Infinite Mediterranean', with the participation of contemporary Italian and Mediterranean women poets. The cultures are "a bridge between the two shores of the Mediterranean" and the keywords that inspired the programme are "listening, dialogue, co-creation and cultural blending", Paolo Sabbatini, the director of the Italian cultural institute in Cairo told ANSA.



Before arriving in Alexandria on November 14, the exhibition on the Divine Comedy will travel to Amman in Jordan in February and to the Scriptorium Giustacchini in Brescia on April 13-14. It is also expected to make a stop at the Italian cultural institute in Madrid in the second half of the year. The poetry sessions will instead take place from March 17-21 at various locations including the Cervantes Institute in Cairo, Helwan university on the outskirts of Cairo and in the heart of the historic community of Zebalin, or rubbish collectors, as part of an environmental project. The programme also includes Italian participation in the Alexandrina Book Fair and Archaeological Film Festival from March 22 to April 4. "Italy, Culture, Mediterranean" is a programme of "integrated promotion" aimed at consolidating dialogue between the two shores of the Mediterranean, Sabbatini said. This dialogue is "based on the exchange and valorisation of the various cultural and social identities, reconciling tradition, innovation and creativity," he added. (ANSAmed)Catalonia's Puigdemont wants parliamentary immunity To avoid arrest at session, police at the border

(ANSAmed) - MADRID, JANUARY 29 - Incumbent Catalonian regional president Carles Puigdemont asked on Monday Barcelona's speaker of parliament Roger Torrent to ensure that his parliamentary immunity is safeguarded, as well as his right to take part in the session of the assembly on Tuesday. He is expected to be re-elected head of the Catalan government tomorrow by Barcelona's Parliament. Puigdemont is currently 'in exile' in Belgium since he has been issued a Spanish arrest warrant and risks imprisonment if he returns to Spain. However, Madrid's Constitutional Court on Friday ruled that he cannot be sworn in at a distance or through a delegate and thus only if he is physically present at the Catalan parliament in Barcelona and after authorization from the Supreme Court. In a letter to Torrent, Puigdemont claimed to be covered by immunity and that he could not be arrested if not 'in flagrante'. Nevertheless, on Monday morning Spanish police set up checkpoints on the AP7 highway with France to prevent Puigdemont from returned to Catalonia without being arrested. Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido warned that Puigdemont would not be able to return to take part in the parliamentary session, not even hidden in the trunk'' of a vehicle. (ANSAmed).



Jordanian king vows to continue supporting Palestinians Abdallah welcomes Abbas to Amman

(ANSAmed) - AMMAN, JANUARY 29 - King Abdallah of Jordan on Monday meet in Amman with Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and pledged to continue supporting Palestinians in their attempts to create an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, state-run news agency Petra reported. The king, the agency added, called on the international community to ''take on its responsibility to safeguard the rights of Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims and Christians in the city of Jerusalem, which is key to achieving peace and stability in the region''. King Abdallah, who is a staunch ally of Washington, also called on the international community to support the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, after the US administration's decision to cut its funding to the organization by about a half.



(ANSAmed).



Trilateral meeting Turkey-Serbia-Bosnia in Istanbul Focus on regional cooperation and investment

(ANSAmed) - Belgrade, January 29 - Strengthening cooperation in the Balkan region, the development of economic and political relations and prospects for boosting Turkish investment in infrastructure and transport in particular are at the centre of a trilateral meeting between the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his Serbian colleague Aleksandar Vucic and the Muslim representative of the tripartite Bosnian presidency Bakir Izetbegovic in Istanbul on Monday. The meeting was preceded by bilateral meetings between Erdogan and his two guests on Sunday evening. Speaking to journalists in Belgrade, Vucic said he is also interested in improving relations between Serbia and Bosnia Herzegovina, which are still affected by the bloody 1992-1995 war. (ANSAmed)Afriqiyah is seeking the return of its two A320-200s currently leased out to Lithuanian ACMI/charter specialist Small Planet Airlines, reports ch-aviation.

5A-ONL, now LY-ONL, were dry-leased out to Small Planet in early 2015 to allow the Libyan carrier to continue service to the European Union (EU). When direct flights to the bloc were banned following the outbreak of the Second Libyan Civil War in 2014, the aircraft were kept with Small Planet Airlines.

The Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Reconciliation Agreement has notified the Lithuanian Permanent Mission to the United Nations of Afriqiyah's intention to take back possession of the aircraft.

"Afriqiyah Airlines is no longer interested in renewing the lease for the above-mentioned aircraft, which ended in October 2017," said a report in a Libyan newspaper. "It, therefore, hopes to facilitate the return of the two aircraft to Libya and to cancel their registration with the Lithuanian Civil Aviation Authority."

The Libyans are asking Small Planet to pay the financial entitlements to which it is due in accordance with the contract between the parties. The funds are to be deposited into an account in Italy.Jazeera Airways recently inaugurated flights into Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad.

Ahmedabad is the second of three new routes currently planned in to India, following the launch of flights to Hyderabad in November 2017. The first direct flight to Kochi also commenced last week from Kuwait.

The CEO of Jazeera Airways, Rohit Ramachandran, said: We are delighted to continue our expansion into India with flights into Ahmedabad, an important economic and industrial hub, bringing more choice to Indian travelers, connecting them to Kuwait and across the Middle East  to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar. This new service will address the increased travel demands for travel between India and Kuwait providing direct connections for those visiting friends and relatives as well as business travelers.

Manoj K. Gangal, Ahmedabad Airport Director, Airport Authority of India said: We predict this is vital for both the brand and our state, as Jazeera Airways extends its services to accommodate the 8th busiest airport in India. We welcome Jazeera Airways to our thriving hub and look forward to connecting our travellers to the wider Middle Eastern region  Kuwait, Bahrain, Jeddah, Riyadh, Dubai and more.Qatar Airways first direct non-stop flight to the beautiful holiday destination of Pattaya touched down at U-Tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport today.

This marks Qatar Airways fifth route to the Southeast Asian country, and is the first new route launch for Qatar Airways in 2018, as the airline continues the rapid expansion of its global route network.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: We are delighted to be the first Middle East airline to offer direct flights to Pattaya. Having also launched flights to Chiang Mai in Thailand just last month and soon to launch our sixth-daily flight to Bangkok, this new route reinforces and deepens the strong ties that exist between the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Thailand.

Thailand is continuing to grow in popularity among our passengers. We launched this new route in direct response to increasing demand from our passengers, and we are proud to be able to fly them on our aircraft to experience our unrivalled five-star service. We are excited to offer our travellers more destinations to choose from in the Far East, and to connect the people of Pattaya to Qatar Airways extensive global network of more than 150 destinations around the world.

Director of U-Tapao Airport Authority, Rear Admiral Luechai Sri-Eamgool, said: We warmly welcome Qatar Airways first direct flight from Doha to U-Tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport. U-Tapao Airport is a cornerstone of the Eastern Economic Corridor that the Thailand government is aggressively developing. These new direct flights will open up further seamless air connectivity for tourists and business visitors looking to visit Pattaya and the Eastern Seaboard, further boosting our tourism industry and also aid in the development of foreign investments into U-Tapao Pattaya.

Pattaya is a major resort city located on Thailands eastern Gulf coast, and a popular holiday destination for travellers from both within Thailand and abroad, seeking to experience the local Thai hospitality and culture, or relax on one of Pattayas long, stunning beaches. The main attractions include the three kilometre-long Pattaya beach that runs parallel to the centre of the city, the Sanctuary of Truth traditional wooden temple, a floating market and extensive shopping areas.

Qatar Airways new four-times-a-week service to Pattaya will be operated on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.Liebherr-Aerospace is one of the worlds leading aerospace systems original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with an unblemished reputation for quality. As Chuck Grieve reports, this is much due to hard work, continuous investment and a long-term vision.

The floors in Leibherr-Aerospaces factories in Germany and France look clean enough to eat off. The air is fresh. The vast array of machinery emits a low, steady rumble. Workers greet visitors and each other with a nod and smile.

Welcome to the future of manufacturing and precision engineering.

Liebherr, the family-owned group with interests ranging from aerospace and construction to hotels and household appliances, is a progressive organisation with the inclination and means to take a long-term approach to business and customer relationships.

Its aerospace division, established in 1960, is one of the worlds leading suppliers in this competitive sector, designing, developing, manufacturing and servicing integrated on-board systems.

It concentrates on five areas: air management, flight control and actuation, landing gear, gears and gearboxes, and electronics.

In each area, said Josef Gropper, managing director and chief operating officer (COO) for production, purchasing and asset investments: We are one of the few worldwide companies able to provide full systems to our airframer customers.

Liebherr systems fly on wide-bodied aircraft, commuter aircraft, regional jets, business jets, military aircraft and helicopters of almost all major airframers. We are on board most of the major aircraft programmes launched over the last 20 years, he said.

In terms of volume, the Airbus A320 is the most important of the many current programmes for Liebherr. Going forward, the companys focus is also on the Boeing 777x, Bombardier C-Series, Embraer E-Jet, and the Rolls-Royce UltraFan programmes, the latter signalling a move into the aero engine market.

In addition, Liebherr-Aerospace offers extensive customer services based on a worldwide network with repair and maintenance services, technical support, documentation and spare parts logistics.

Liebherr-Aerospace contributed 1.3 billion ($1.5bn) to total group sales of 9 billion in 2016. That represented an increase of nearly 5% in turnover for the division. It employs 5,400 people, mainly on its four manufacturing sites in Germany and France.

If theres a secret to its success, it could be the companys huge investments in research and development (R&D) and testing. Last year, the aerospace and transportation division invested about 70 million ($82m) in R&D: more than 17% of revenue and far above the industry average.

One result, Gropper said proudly, is Liebherrs 100% record for delivery of systems to Airbus. So rigorous is Liebherrs attention to detail in manufacturing, assembly and testing that it is one of a small number of system suppliers whose components are delivered directly to the Airbus assembly line.

Each of Liebherr-Aerospaces four manufacturing sites in Germany and France has benefited from the investment and continuous improvement that is the companys hallmark.

At Lindenberg, in southern Germany, a major expansion begun in 2012 to cater for growing demand, has increased the manufacturing plants footprint 20% to more than 160,000sqm. It employs 2,700 people, including 127 apprentices, which is important for us, said Gropper.

The just-completed modernisation and extension has given Lindenberg a new assembly line, new surface treatment facility and new automated logistics line. Additionally, test and qualification work is now carried out in a new dedicated hall.

The second German site in Friedrichshafen has evolved into the companys centre of excellence for manufacturing gears and gearboxes. Here, too, investment is transforming an older factory with the latest five-axis turning and milling centres and a reorganised manufacturing flow.

In France, the recent refurbishment of the assembly hall at Liebherr-Toulouse, the companys centre of excellence for air management systems, included a reorganisation of workflows and workstations. Increased automation and new man-machine interfaces feature in the new heat exchanger manufacturing line.

Thirty minutes from Toulouse, at Campsas, existing workshops have been extended and refurbished, and a new machine hall added to make the site a centre of excellence for precision machining of parts for the air management systems.

Despite its size, Liebherr remains a private company; the descendants of the founder, Hans Liebherr, are active in its management. Their involvement, said Gropper, encourages long-term thinking and a high level of investment in technology. It is what drives the companys embrace of industry 4.0 with its emphasis on automation, seamless human-machine interface, paperless working and sustainability.

Evidence of this is clear in all the Liebherr-Aerospace factories. In Lindenberg, for example, radio frequency identification (RFID) is being introduced in 2018 for order tracking and management. That work dovetails with sophisticated part labelling for Airbus and Boeing. Quality testing of the labelling system is under way on Airbus types.

Hans Liebherrs belief that keeping important processes in-house was vital to maintaining quality remains part of the companys philosophy. Its precision machining operations feed its assembly lines; sophisticated testing is done alongside where possible.

People are important to Liebherr, and it pays dividends in quality management. By reorganising shop floor management, integrating traditional white and blue-collar roles and responsibilities  involving machine minders in redesign of assembly lines, for example  and breaking down silos with cross-functional meetings, the company has increased its ability to detect potential issues and deal with them quickly.

Liebherr-Aerospace refuses to stand still or rest on its laurels. Its relentless R&D includes two additive manufacturing (AM) development cells, in Lindenberg and Toulouse, where teams of researchers study the possibilities of titanium, aluminium and inconel alloys. Working with Airbus, they have created critical parts (in this case, a flight control actuator) and installed them on the A380  a world-first. The focus now is on industrialising the process alongside work to determine other parts where a market need would support serial AM production.

The company is also involved in the European more electric aircraft (MEA) initiative. Prototypes of fully electrical air conditioning systems flew on an ATR regional turboprop and A320 in 2016. It signals Liebherrs intention to become a centre of excellence for on-board electronics, an area where the aerospace division benefits from group capabilities through Liebherr-Elektronik.

In its original OEM role, Liebherr-Aerospace has been accompanying its customers in the incremental steps theyve been taking over the last few years to enhance the performance of their products.

Together with them, were preparing the next generation of aircraft that will rely on disruptive technologies, said Gropper. Our technologies will be there to make their next-generation aircraft a reality.

The darkness followed the three bullets fired by Nathuram Godse, which felled Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation.

Friends and comrades, the light has gone out of our lives and there is darkness everywhere... So spoke Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in a broadcast to the nation exactly 70 years ago on January 30, 1942. The darkness followed the three bullets fired by Nathuram Godse, which felled Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation. Godse, a Champawat brahmin from Maharashtra, had conspired to kill the Mahatma as part of a conspiracy hatched by his brother Gopal Godse, Madan Lal Pahwa  a refugee from Punjab  and a few others which, allegedly, included V.D. Savarkar. Madan Lal Pahwa had made an attempt to kill Gandhi by throwing a bomb at the same venue, and almost the same time, at his regular prayer meeting at Birla House (Tees January Marg) 10 days earlier. But the attempt failed as the bomb fell far away from the target.

Pahwa was caught and though he revealed the names of individuals and organisations who were co-conspirators, the intelligence agencies of the home ministry could not act with swiftness. Otherwise, perhaps, the greatest tragedy that hit the country like a cyclone could have been avoided.

On January 13, 1948, Gandhiji had started what was to be his last fast. The riots against Muslims in Delhi, as also against Hindus in Pakistan, and the Indian governments refusal to pay Pakistan a sum of `55 crores it owed to the newly-created state as part of an understanding reached at the time of Partition. Both Jawaharlal Nehru and deputy Prime Minister Sardar Patel, despite their unwillingness, gave in to the Mahatmas pressure and released the sum on January 14 itself.

But not till he was given firm assurances by the representatives of Hindu and Sikh communities that they will not indulge in violence against Muslims did Gandhi break his fast on January 18, 1948. A pledge signed by a Central Peace headed by Dr Rajendra Prasad, Congress president as well as president of the Constituent Assembly, gave the following assurance: We shall protect the life, property and faith of Muslims and that the incidents which have taken place will not happen again. 117 mosques occupied by Hindu refugees were returned to Muslims along with other residential and commercial properties belonging to them.

The Mahatmas passionate efforts to promote Hindu-Muslim unity and fraternal ties with Pakistan were the two prime factors that motivated Godse and his accomplices to get rid of him.

Acharya Kripalani, one of the earliest associates of Gandhi, and Congress president at the time of Independence, wrote: The most cruel part of this tragedy is not only the death of Gandhiji. It is that he fell by the blow struck by one who considered himself a Hindu, against one who had ordered his life in the spirit of the Upanishad and the Gita The assassin has betrayed the whole history of Hinduism Hindus have not only tolerated but even welcomed differences in belief it was for such misguided people, who injure their religion while seeking to protect it through violence and murder that it was said: God, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

However, Gandhis death wrought a miracle. India reacted to the ghastly crime with a resolve and determination to preserve and protect the patrimony he left behind. Throughout the country the people responded as one to the appeals of Nehru and Patel in the face of the great national calamity. In his broadcast Patel appealed to the people not to think of revenge, but to carry Bapus message of love and non-violence enunciated by him it is a shame that the greatest man in the world had to pay with his life for the sins which we have committed. After the immersion of his ashes in the Ganga, Nehru said that we have to hold together and fight the terrible poison of communalism that has killed the greatest man of our age.

There is, most of the times, a blessing in disguise whenever a disaster takes place. And the greatest blessing of the tragedy was the emotional unity between Nehru and Patel, who were drifting apart on various issues. The powerful duo resolved their differences and assured each other of affection and cooperation with a renewed energy to protect the hard-won freedom from external and internal threats. Two days after the assassination Patel told a journalist: Nehru and he had instinctively felt that they must come together in the face of the crisis. We owe it to the country.

But, perhaps, the best tribute that was paid to Mahatma Gandhi came from Albert Einstein: Generations to come, it may be, will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.

The writer, an ex-Army officer and a former member of the National Commission on Minorities, is a New Delhi-based political analystPresident Kovind said that the Government is committed to double the income of farmers by the year 2022.

The President said 2018 is important year for realising dream of new India. (Photo: ANI/Twitter)

New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind, on Monday, said he hopes the Parliament will soon pass the bill to ban instant triple talaq.

The President was addressing the joint sitting of two Houses of Parliament marking the start of the Budget session.

In his maiden address to the joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament, the President said 2018 is important year for realising dream of new India.

Read: PM asks all parties to help pass triple talaq bill as New Year gift to Muslim women

President Kovind said that the Government is keen on reducing economic disparity.

The President said the work has started to connect villages with Broadband connectivity. 2.5 lakh Panchayats have already been connected so far, President Kovind said.

Pitching for Swachh Bharat mission, the President said, It is our duty that when we celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary in 2019 we pay tribute to him by making our country completely clean.

Lauding the achievements of the Government, President Ram Nath Kovind said, Parliament has approved a bill granting working woman paid maternity leave of 26 weeks.

He said 2.70 lakh Common Service Centers have been set up across the nation which will provide digital service at low rates for various services even in the far off remote areas.

President Kovind said that the Government is committed to double the income of farmers by the year 2022.

Also read: President Kovind bids for simultaneous polls for Parliament, state assemblies

The President said to bring everyone closer to development, work under 'Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojana' is being done speedily. In 2014 only 56 per cent villages were connected to roads, today more than 82 per cent villages have road connectivity with the majority being in remote areas, he said.

President Kovind said, Our nation is the youngest nation. My Government started Start Up India, Stand Up India, Skill India and Pradhanmantri Mudra Yojana to help the youth of the country to realise their dreams and make them self employed.

President Kovind said that the Government has increased minimum wage of labourers by more than 40 per cent.

It's a matter of pride for us that UNESCO recognised Kumbh Mela as 'Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity'. UNESCO also designated Ahmedabad as 'Heritage City'. Chennai was included in the list of Creative Cities by UNESCO. President Ram Nath Kovind said.

The President said that Aadhaar has helped in securing the rights of the poor by eliminating middlemen. With help of Aadhaar, facilities are reaching poor beneficiaries directly without involvement of middlemen. Digital transactions are being done for over 400 policies of present govt. This has saved over Rs 57,000 Crore from going into wrong hands, he said.

The President said after Independence while only 76 Airports were connected to Commercial flights, under 'Udaan' 56 Airports and 31 Helipads are being connected to commercial flights within 15 months only.

The President appreciated the soldiers and offered condolences to those who lost their lives in action. Jammu and Kashmir Police, defence and paramilitary forces are working together to fight terrorism in J&K, he said.

It's a matter of pride for us that UNESCO recognised Kumbh Mela as 'Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity'. UNESCO also designated Ahmedabad as 'Heritage City'. Chennai was included in the list of Creative Cities by UNESCO. President Ram Nath Kovind said.The BJP wanted police to scrap FIR filed against Major Aditya of 10 Garhwal and his associates to file a fresh one without names of Armymen.

'The investigation into the unfortunate Shopian killings would be taken to its logical end. The Army would not be demoralized by registration of a single FIR. There can be a black sheep in the Army also,' Mufti said. (Photo: Twitter | ANI)

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday witnessed noisy scenes over the recent killing of two youth in Army firing in southern Shopian district while the opposition National Conference (NC) demanded the arrest of the officer and soldiers involved in the incident.

On the other hand, the BJP wanted the police to withdraw the FIR registered at a Shopian police station against Major Aditya of 10 Garhwal and his associates and file a fresh one without mentioning the names of Army personnel.

The government should withdraw the FIR against the Army personnel and lodge a fresh FIR without naming anybody, said BJPs RS Pathania while speaking in the Assembly which is currently in its budget session.

Major Aditya and his men have been booked on charges of murder (Section 302), attempt to murder (Section 307) and endangering life (Section 336) in Saturdays shooting incident.

In this connection FIR No 26/ 2018 stands registered at Shopian police station. The PDP-BJP government has also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident and Kashmirs Divisional Commissioner Baseer Ahmed Khan, has asked deputy commissioner of Shopian to ensure the inquiry is completed within three weeks time.

The BJPs Pathania questioned the registration of a murder case against the Army asking Why were serious charges levelled against the Army? He added that criminal justice system doesnt work under pulls and pressures.

Read: J&K: 2 killed, 9 injured after Army opens fire at violent crowd in Shopian

But Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, snubbed her coalition partner, pledging that the investigations into the shooting incident would be taken to their logical conclusion.

The investigation into the unfortunate Shopian killings would be taken to its logical end. The Army would not be demoralized by registration of a single FIR. There can be a black sheep in the Army also, she said.

Later she reiterated her viewpoint in a tweet saying, We will take the Shopian probe to its logical conclusion. Justice & peace are two sides of the same coin.

Two youth Javed Ahmed Bhat, 20, and Suhail Javed Lone, 24 were killed and nine other civilians were injured when the Army fired at a stone-pelting mob in Shopians Ganowpora village on Saturday afternoon.

The incident evoked anger throughout the Valley where a shutdown was observed on Sunday to mourn and protest the killings.

The Army has said that its men had opened fire in self-defence and that too only after a 250-strong mob tried to lynch a Junior Commissioned Office (JCO) and snatch his service weapon.

It also said that seven soldiers were injured and eleven vehicles suffered damage in the mob attack.

Also Read: J&K: Strike over Army firing deaths, internet suspended in parts

The chief minister while speaking in the Assembly disclosed that police had advised the Army to avoid Ganowpora route.

According to police sources, the advisory was issued in view of tensions set off in the area following the killings of two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants in a fire fight with security forces in a neighbouring village on last Wednesday.

One of the slain men was a resident of Ganowpora.

Earlier the NC demanded the arrest of Army personnel involved in the shooting incident. The government should arrest all the Army personnel named in the FIR, NCs Ali Muhammad Sagar said. He added, Im hopeful that the chief minister will announce the arrest of these personnel.

But the chief minister during her brief speech in the House criticised the NC and its working president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah.

The latter reacted by alleging that she only knows playing politics on dead bodies.

Abdullah also said that his party was ready to extend its fullest cooperation and support to the present incumbent to end the cycle of bloodshed and violence in Kashmir. I assure you that we will support you on whatever measures you will take to end the cycle of bloodshed, he said.

The House witnessed noisy protests by the opposition over the Shopian killings forcing Speaker Kavender Gupta, to adjourn the Question Hour to discuss the incident.

It was actually the chief minister who amid the uproar requested the Speaker to allow the discussion, leading to the adjournment of the Question Hour. She said, What has happened (in Shopian) is unfortunate. Some members want to discuss the issue, there should be a discussion. It is the right of the House to allow the discussion.

Earlier, members of the opposition from NC, Congress and CPI(M), supported by PDP legislators from Shopian, Muhammad Yousuf Bhat and Sonawar (Srinagar) Muhammad Ashraf Bhat, were on their feet soon after the House assembled for the days business to protest over the Shopian killings.

They moved an adjournment motion to discuss the prevailing law and order situation and raised slogans in support of their demand.

The Speaker asked them to take their seats, assuring them of a discussion after the Question Hour but the opposition did not budge from its demand prompting intervention from the chief minister.

CPI(M)s Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said he moved adjournment motion to discuss the Shopian killings and also continued cross border shelling and firing and the killings and damage caused to properties by it.BSP president Mayawati said on Sunday that the law and order situation had deteriorated under the leadership of UP CM Yogi Adityanath.

Lucknow/Kasganj: As sporadic violence continued in riot-hit Kasganj for the third day on Sunday, the police began house to house searches and over 80 people have been arrested in connection with Fridays clashes.

Tension was palpable in Kasganj and the security forces remained on high alert. The Rapid Action Force and the Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel staged flag marches in the town as a confidence-building exercise.

Miscreants torched a kiosk in the early hours of Sunday morning, but UP director-general of police O.P. Singh said in Lucknow that the situation was under control.

To ease the tension, security forces carried out flag marches in the area, and the police are conducting intensive patrolling and surveillance through drones to keep the peace. We are also carrying out house to house searches, and a pistol and country made bombs have been recovered, he told reporters.

The DGP said the state government would invoke the National Security Act against the accused persons.

Sources said that the pistol and bombs were found in the house of one of the accused persons, who is absconding.

Senior officials are still camping in the troubled area and are supervising policing.

Internet services remained suspended on Sunday in the area that first witnessed the violence on Republic Day when a few people riding motorcycles and carrying the tricolour were pelted with stones. One person was killed in the clashes that followed.

Fresh violence had broken out on Saturday, when a group returning from the cremation attacked shops and a religious structure. A few more shops and buses were torched in the evening.

Meanwhile, the family of Chandan Gupta, who was killed in the communal clashes on Friday, staged a demonstration in Kasganj and demanded that the deceased be given the status of a martyr. He was killed because he refused to repeat a slogan against India, his mother said.

Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya described the violence as unfortunate, and said the people behind it would not go unpunished. Samajwadi Party spokesman Sunil Singh Sajan sought more than just an assurance from the state government. The state government must act tough on the anti-social elements and take immediate action, he said. He blamed right-wing activists for fanning communal passions and engineering the riots.

He alleged for the past three days volunteers of the RSS, Vishva Hindu Parishad and ABVP were threatening people and an atmosphere of fear prevailed. And the government is quiet. The police is helpless, he added.

BSP chief Mayawati said on Sunday that the law and order situation had deteriorated under the leadership of UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, and that his government had failed to control the situation in Kasganj.

She claimed that in the entire country, specially in BJP-ruled states like 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.

In UP, there is 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, she said.

UPCC spokesperson Virendra Madan said that communal violence could be linked to the Lok Sabha polls scheduled for next year. The state government must show seriousness and control the situation at the earliest, he added.

In Kasganj, meanwhile, the administration also organised a meeting of the district peace committee on Sunday morning to restore normality. At the meeting of the peace committee, who-se 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 the peace committee meeting was held at the nagar panchayat office. He said that shops selling tea, snacks, vegetables, milk and medicine were already allo-wed to remain open, and normality would as others opened their shops. The administration is acting tough on those who had indulged in the violence, based on the video evidence, Mr Sharma said.

Terming the Kasganj violence as unfortunate, deputy CM Dinesh Sharma said that not even a single guilty person would 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.

He added: Now we have strong laws. It is a warning to criminals that if they conspire to create riots or rifts in society, or indulge in dacoity, then all those who indulge in these acts will be punished, also their conspirators.Explosives were found during searches and police said the stringent National Security Act would be invoked against the culprits.

Cases were registered under various sections of the IPC, CLA (Criminal Law Amendment) Act and for violation of the National Flag Act. (Photo: ANI/Twitter)

Kasganj (Uttar Pradesh): As many as 112 people were arrested and security forces personnel intensified vigil in the 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.

In the evening, the UP Police said the situation was headed towards normalcy.

They also said 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 the 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 DG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said.

"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 that normalcy was being restored in the city.

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.

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."

Also read: UP: 50 held, internet shut down in Kasganj following clashes over youth's death

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.

Also read: Kasganj communal clash a blot on the state: UP Governor

The DGP said stringent action would be taken against the guilty.

"So far more than 80 people have been arrested. House-to-house searches are going on. During the searches explosives were found. The National Security Act (NSA) will be slapped on criminals for vitiating the atmosphere," he said earlier in the day.

The Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) intensified vigil in the city.

Also read: UP: Violence erupts after death of youth in rally; shops, buses torched

The administration also organised a meeting of the district peace committee at the nagar panchayat office 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," ADG Agra, Ajay Anand, said.

Divisional Commissioner, Aligarh, 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, there's 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 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.The governor noted that such an incident had occurred in the state for first time in the last 9-10 months and described it as 'shameful'.

The Yogi Adityanath government, which stormed to power in Uttar Pradesh riding a saffron wave nearly a year ago, was recently advised by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu to tone up law and order in the state. (Photo: PTI)

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik on Monday termed the Kasganj communal clash as a blot on the state and asked the government to initiate measures to ensure such incidents did not recur.

The governor noted that such an incident had occurred in the state for the first time in the last 9-10 months and described it as shameful.

Also read: Kasganj violence: 112 arrested following clashes over Republic day celebrations

In Kasganj, where the situation is tense but under control, clashes between two communities had claimed one life.

At least three shops, two buses and a car were torched after a youth was killed in clashes following stone-pelting by a mob on a motorcycle rally taken out to celebrate Republic Day.

Also read: UP: 50 held, internet shut down in Kasganj following clashes over youth's death

Whatever happened in Kasganj was not good. The incident there is a kalank (blot) for UP. The government is probing the incident. It should initiate effective measures to ensure that such incidents are not repeated, he told reporters here.

The Yogi Adityanath government, which stormed to power in Uttar Pradesh riding a saffron wave nearly a year ago, was recently advised by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu to tone up law and order in the state.

Naidu advised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take back firearms from people as they were main cause of crime.

Those who have firearms should return weapons. I want to ask the CM that in UP a large number of people have firearms. This is main cause of crime incidents, Naidu had said at the first UP Diwas event here last week.

He had said law and order should be top priority.

On asked about the situation in Kasganj, UP government spokesman and senior cabinet minister Sidharth Nath Singh today said he has seen reports that shops are opening now.

The situation is returning to normal, which is a good sign, he added.

As many as 112 people were arrested and security forces personnel intensified vigil in the strife-torn Kasganj in western UP.

The UP Police said drone cameras had been deployed for aerial surveillance and described the situation as improving.

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 culprits.

Under the NSA, a person can be detained without bail or trial and authorities need not disclose grounds of detention if they believe the detainee can act in a way that poses a threat to the security of the state/country or the maintenance of public order.

The Yogi Adityanath-led government has stressed that the guilty would not be spared.The PM urged leaders to ensure success of Budget session and said the govt is taking suggestions of opposition 'sincerely'.

he budget 2018-19 will be the last full-fledged before the 2019 general elections. The budget will be presented on Thursday, February 1. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Day ahead of the Budget session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged the political leaders to ensure success of the session. Modi has said the government is taking the suggestions of the opposition "sincerely", Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar told the media after the all-party meeting on Sunday. The budget 2018-19 will be the last full-fledged before the 2019 general elections. The budget will be presented on Thursday, February 1.

The government which is facing opposition attack on issues including job creation and the plight of traders also plans to push through several key bills. The main among them are banning instant triple talaq and giving constitutional status to the Commission on Other Backward Castes.

Also read: Markets await for Budget commentary

At the all-party meet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all political parties to avoid "tokenism" in the Standing Committees of Parliament and asked them to give concrete solutions to issues of national importance.

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.

The focus of the Union budget will be job creation, small businesses and rural schemes. "The budget is likely to offer incentives to the farm sector and small businesses," Reuters quoted an official as saying.

The gross domestic growth (GDP) forecast for the year ending March 2018 has been predicted as 6.5 per cent, the weakest in four years. The slowdown has been attributed to the rollout of a nationwide goods and service tax (GST) in 2017 and a shock move to ban high value currency notes in November 2016.

The two key bills for the session - the triple talaq legislation that's pending in Rajya Sabha, and the bill seeking constitutional status for the OBC commission, are seen to have political significance for the BJP. Government will do everything to ensure passage of triple talaq bill in Budget session; will talk to parties for consensus, Ananth Kumar said.

Also read: With elections coming up, what to expect in this years Union Budget

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said, "We will leave no stone unturned and persuade and request all political parties so that the (triple talaq) bill is passed in the Rajya Sabha, as it has been in the Lok Sabha." The BJP strongly supports abolition of instant triple talaq, which has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The bill proposes a three-year jail term and a possible fine for any Muslim man who indulges in the practice.

Also read: Government may consider import duty hike on some medical devices

The BJP also hopes to consolidate its support among backward classes by giving constitutional status to the OBC commission, which will make it more powerful.

The first leg of the budget session will be between January 29 and February 9, during which the Government will present the economic survey on January 29 followed by the Union Budget on February 1. After a recess, parliament will meet again from March 5 to April 6.

Also read: Tough task for Arun Jaitley to balance BudgetThe Bombay High Court had on December 18, 2017 dismissed Purohits plea along with that of Kulkarni, both accused in Malegaon blast case.

On December 27, 2017, a special NIA court ruled that Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt Col Prasad Purohit and six others accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast will stand trial on stringent terror charges in the politically-sensitive case. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday sought response from the Maharashtra government and the NIA on a plea of Malegaon blast accused Lt Col Shrikant Purohit challenging prosecution sanction for his trial under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

A bench of Justices R K Agrawal and A M Sapre sought the reply of the state government and the NIA within four weeks. Purohit has also sought stay on the trial in the case.

The Bombay High Court had on December 18, 2017 dismissed Purohits plea along with that of Sameer Kulkarni, both accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. Purohit and Kulkarni had told the high court that under the UAPA, the state law and judiciary department, the sanctioning authority, has to seek a report from an appropriate authority.

Purohit had contended that in his case, the sanction was given in January 2009 but the authority was appointed only in October 2010. Both Purohit and Kulkarni are out on bail in the case.

Six persons were killed and 101 injured when an improvised explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off at Malegaon, a town with sizable Muslim population in north Maharashtras Nashik district, on September 29, 2008.

On December 27, 2017, a special NIA court ruled that Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt Col Prasad Purohit and six others accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast will stand trial on stringent terror charges in the politically-sensitive case.

The NIA had earlier given a clean chit to Sadhvi Pragya, saying there was not enough evidence against her in the case but the court had rejected the probe agencys submission saying it was difficult to accept the claim, given that her motorcycle was used in the blast.

The court had said that charges will be framed against Thakur, Purohit, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Major (rtd) Ramesh Upadhyay, Sameer Kulkarni, Sudhakar Chaturvedi and Ajay Rahirkar.

The accused will face trial now under sections 16 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (conspiring for and committing/organising a terror act) and under the Indian Penal Code for criminal conspiracy, murder, attempt to murder and causing hurt besides charges under the Explosive Substances Act and Arms Act. The charges are punishable by various prison terms up to life, and death for murder.He said though AFSPA has some strong provisions, the Army is concerned about collateral damages and will ensure convenience of local people.

'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,' Rawat said. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: 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 disturb areas like Jammu and Kashmir.

General 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," General Rawat said in a recent interview 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.

General 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.Society should also go beyond these awards and make efforts to recognise people working selflessly, he further said.

New Delhi: Making it clear that gone are the days when Padma awards were given away to well known nominees backed by recommendation (sifarish), Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday, said that his government had transformed the process for selecting Padma award winners and that common people are now being honoured on the basis of work done by them.

In the years first Mann ki Baat address, Mr Modi said the awards are being bestowed on people who do not live in big cities and are not visible in newspapers and TV. He stressed in his monthly radio programme that people are being honoured without a recommendation now.

Making the (nomination) process online has led to transparency. The selection process for these awards has undergone a transformation, he said, adding, If you look at these winners, you will feel proud that such kind of people live in the society and you will also naturally feel proud that they are getting this recognition without any sifarish.

Now the identity of the awardee is not the deciding factor of the award, rather the importance of his/her work is increasing, said Mr Modi.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the works of some of this years winners, whose names were announced on the eve of Republic Day. He said that the winners should be invited to schools and colleges so that they could share their experiences and inspire others.

He mentioned that this years 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 further said.'We should rise above politics and make most use of our healthy parliamentary committees system and have proactive discussions,' Modi said.

'We should think about the well-being of rural India, farmers, Dalits, tribal communities and labourers,' Modi said. (Photo: ANI/Twitter)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked all the political parties to help pass the triple talaq bill in the Budget session of Parliament as a New Year gift to Muslim women. Modi said, "we have to pass this bill and protect Muslim women".

The Prime Minister said the budget will add new vigour to India's development and will fulfil aspirations of people. "We should rise above politics and make most use of our healthy system of parliamentary committees and have proactive discussions," he said.

Modi also said, "We should make use of our system of parliamentary committees and discuss aspects of the Budget. We should think about the well-being of rural India, farmers, Dalits, tribal communities and labourers."

Terming the budget session important, the Prime Minister said, "The world is optimistic about India. Agencies like World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) have been giving an optimistic opinion of the country."

The last full budget before the 2019 general election will be presented on February 1.

At the all-party ahead of the Budget session, the Prime Minister on Sunday, said the Budget session is very important and the government takes very sincerely the suggestions given about it by opposition during discussion in all party meeting.

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.

The focus of the Union budget will be job creation, small businesses and rural schemes, reported news agency Reuters, quoting officials. "The budget is likely to offer incentives to the farm sector and small businesses," Reuters quoted an official as saying.Saying 3 ex-CMs were in jail, Modi asks: Who says there is no God?

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 asserted. Mr Modi said Indias youth did not accept corruption, but added that the fight against graft and black money would be a long one.

Will merely expressing an-ger 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 young people in promoting digital transactions, saying it would curb corruption.'Before going into merits, we need to be satisfied on maintainability,' bench told Swamy who said that it is a matter of public interest.

Pushkar was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a suite of a five-star hotel in Delhi on the night of January 17, 2014. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday asked BJP leader Subramanian Swamy to satisfy it on the aspect of maintainability of his plea seeking an SIT probe into the death of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's wife Sunanda Pushkar in 2014.

Pushkar was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a suite of a five-star hotel in Delhi on the night of January 17, 2014.

Swamy has moved the apex court after the Delhi High Court had in October 2017 dismissed his plea seeking a probe by a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) into Pushkar's death.

During the hearing on Monday, a bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra and Amitava Roy told Swamy that he has to first satisfy the court on whether his plea was maintainable.

"Before going into merits, we need to be satisfied on maintainability," the bench told Swamy who said that it is a matter of public interest.

He claimed that it took nearly one year for the Delhi Police to lodge FIR in the case and the post-mortem report said that Pushkar had died an unnatural death.

The bench, however, asked him to argue on the issue of maintainability and posted the matter for hearing after three weeks.

The Delhi High Court had on October 26, 2017, rejected Swamy's plea for a court-monitored SIT probe into Pushkar's death and termed his PIL as a "textbook example of a political interest litigation".

Swamy, in his plea before the high court, had alleged that the police had "botched up" the probe and accused Tharoor of "interfering" in the investigation now and even earlier when he was a minister in the UPA regime.

When the high court questioned the source based on which he had made the allegations, the BJP leader and his lawyer, who is a co-petitioner, had said that they would file affidavits to reply to the court's query.

However, the bench had rejected their offer, saying it appeared that they had concealed information pertinent to the case, which they ought to have disclosed when they had filed the petition.

The high court had also said that Swamy ought to have mentioned his political affiliation as well as that of Tharoor in his petition as these facts were important to the adjudication of the case.Act remains a thorny issue in J&K, Northeast.

New Delhi: In a sign that the hard stance against militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and insurgency in the Northeast region will continue, Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat has said that the time is not yet ripe for a rethink towards dilution of the stringent provisions of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

Asked if the government was affording a softer policy by watering down AFSPA provisions, Gen. Rawat told a news agency in a recent interview: I do not think time has come to even rethink on AFSPA at the moment.

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 the law or at least dilute it.

The Army Chiefs remarks assume significance as they come in the backdrop of reports that several rounds of high-level discussions have taken place between the defence and home ministries on the need for a change.

Asserting that the Army has been taking adequate precautions in protecting human rights while operating in disturbed areas, Gen Rawat said 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.

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 added.

To question on whether there was room for synergy among external and internal intelligence gathering to effectively contain cross border terrorism in J&K, he said the armed forces and all other agencies have been operating in unison.

For more than a year, in a major shift in the counter insurgency tactics to toughen the rules of engagement in Kashmir, the Army has operated in a seek and engage mode and brought back the cordon and search operations (CASO) operations that were abandoned in 2002 after a public hue and cry over rights violations.Mr Modi believes that Indias relations with South East Asia will be determined by the three Cs, culture, commerce and connectivity.

Ever since he was elected to office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been coming up with out-of- the-box diplomatic initiatives, which surprise his fans and detractors alike. But these arent whimsical moves; instead, they are cool, calibrated and well thought-out initiatives which carry multiple signals: for domestic constituencies, neighbours, regional powers and the international community at large.

His decision to invite all the leaders of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) members to his swearing-in ceremony in June 2014, inviting the US President to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade in January 2015, holding India-Africa Forum Summit in October 2015 and now inviting all the 10 heads of state and government of the Asean to be the chief guests at the Republic Day parade marking the 25th anniversary of India-Asean relations with a catchy theme: Shared Values, Common Destiny underline Mr Modis imaginative diplomacy and his outreach vision for Asia and beyond.

Mr Modi is aware of the impressive economic progress achieved by the Asean; presently, its combined GDP of $2.8 trillion is higher than Indias GDP of around $ 2.5 trillion and per capita income of $4219 is more than double the per capita income of $1,852 in India. It has emerged as a manufacturing hub and service provider, a major link in international supply chains.

Indias centuries-old historical, cultural, religious and sea trade links with South East Asia are well-known; influence of Ramayana, Buddhism and Angkor Wat in Cambodia and the worlds largest Buddhist temple in Borobudur, Indonesia are living examples of the same.

Mr Modi believes that Indias relations with South East Asia will be determined by the three Cs, culture, commerce and connectivity. Perhaps, connectivity, commerce and culture might be the right order.

Without dependable, all-weather, modern connectivity, commerce will remain stymied and without these two, cultural connections wont expand.

Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong stressed that connectivity in the areas of air, land, maritime and digital will reinforce business and people to people links between the two sides, benefitting both.

Though the rise in bilateral trade by 25 times in 25 years is praiseworthy, the figure of $73 billion is still meagre if seen in the light of the fact that Aseans annual trade with China has risen to $473 billion.

India accounts just 2.6 per cent share of Aseans global trade, which means a huge potential still remains virtually unexplored.

The target for bilateral trade to touch $200 billion by 2022 is looks a mite ambitious, but is achievable through, as the Declaration stresses, full utilisation and effective implementation of the Asean-India Free Trade Area.

Mr Modi is aware of the Aseans increasing uneasiness about the assertiveness and territorial claims of China in spite of the fact that the country remains the largest trading partner of each member of the group. Chinas assertions that it is ready to work with other coastal states and the global community to ensure the safety of and the unimpeded access to the international shipping lanes in the South China Sea hasnt allayed Aseans concerns fully.

These converge with apprehensions of India, the US, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Australia about the sea trade lanes in South and East China Sea through which passes roughly one-third of global maritime trade that China estimates to be at around $3.6 trillion.

Indias trade through South China Sea is edstimated at US$186 billion, roughly 30 per cent of its global trade.

US President Donald Trumps decision to exit from the TPP has created considerable uncertainty in the Asean about the Mr Trumps commitment to Asia though his administration has been laying emphasis on the maintenance of peace and stability in Indo-Pacific region (the new US Ambassador to India Ken Juster in his policy speech last month mentioned Indo-Pacific 13 times!).

At such a juncture, India and Asean with the combined population of 1.8 billion and estimated GDP of $4.5 trillion can become a formidable political, economic and geostrategic force in the region to be reckoned with.

The US emphasis on Indo-Pacific region shouldnt be a problem for India; it acknowledges Indias pivotal role in the region.

It also comes close on his maiden foray at World Economic Forum in Davos on January 23 where he delivered a lofty inaugural address befitting a world statesman underlining the ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam and the need for peace, harmony and cooperation.

Mr Modi also highlighted the virtues of globalisation, climate change agreement, fighting terrorism and adverse impact of protectionism.

The successful conclusion of India-Asean Commemorative Summit has only enhanced Mr Modis stature, not only as a national, but as a world leader.

Shouldnt this be a shot in the arm for his party (BJP) in general elections in near future?

The Delhi Declaration will have also reverberations in China and Pakistan as there are certain references, which directly point out to them without naming them.

Para 6 reaffirms the importance of maintenance and promotion of peace, stability, maritime safety and security, freedom of navigation and over flights in the region and other lawful uses of seas and unimpeded/ maritime commerce and peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law, including United Nations Convention on the law of the Sea, Internatiuonal Civil Aviuation Organisation, International Maritime organisation and effective implementation of Declaration on the Conduct of the parties in the South China Sea and early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea; it is unmistakably aimed at China.

Similarly, Para 11 which talks of disrupting and countering terrorists, terrorist groups and networks, including by countering cross-border movement of terrorists has a clear reference to Pakistan.

The declaration also talks of intensifying efforts this year towards swift conclusion of a modern, comprehensive, high quality and mutually beneficial Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). India has been wary of the RCEP for fear of the Indian market being flooded with the Chinese products. India-Myanmar- Thailand trilateral highway project and its extension to Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam and India-Myanmar Kaladan multimodal transport corridor, which will boost the economic development in the Northeast in India would require serious endeavours for completion. In this connection Indias credit line of US$1 billion, though modest, for physical infrastructure and digital connectivity is a step in the right direction.

The participating leaders have further emphasised the need to deepen maritime cooperation, including conservation and sustainable use of marine resources in the Indian and Pacific Ocean in accordance with International law.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is Asean chairperson, said, India makes a major contribution to regional affairs, helping to keep the regional architecture open, balanced and inclusive.

He felt that as India and the Asean look to the future, trade and connectivity remain two focus areas.

Vietnams Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, on the other hand, felt that identifying trade andinvestment cooperation jointly would be the main engine of the ASEAN-India strategic partnership. Its time to walk the talk.

The writer is a retired Indian diplomatSources said that the Mamata Banerjee-led party sent a message expressing its inability to attend the meeting.

New Delhi: The Opposition seems to be finally getting its act together with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi likely to call a meeting of all anti-BJP parties in February, one after a similar meet at the residence of Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Monday.

Mondays meeting called by Mr Pawar was attended by Congress Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma, Farooq Abdullah of the National Conference, rebel JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member T.K. Rangarajan and CPI leader D, Raja, among others.

The Trinamul Congress, which is seen as an important component of any Opposition platform, was interestingly conspicuous by its absence. Sources said that the Mamata Banerjee-led party sent a message expressing its inability to attend the meeting on Monday.

It might be recalled that TMC supremo and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had thrown her hat in the ring as the leader of any such Opposition platform. How-ever, sources hinted that Ms Gandhi was said to be more in favour of Mr Pawar as the leader of any broad-based Opposition alliance.

The parties discussed issues facing the country, a senior leader of the Opposition camp told this newspaper after the meeting.

Sources said that the next meeting would be held on February 1, just after the presentation of the Union Budget. Mr Azad is likely to invite various political parties for the meeting.

Mondays meeting is the second in the series after a similar Save the Constitution rally in Mumbai on January 26 which had been attended by Patidar leader Hardik Patel, NCs Omar Abdul-lah and Gujarat OBC leader Alpesh Thakore, among others. Mr Pawar had on that day shared stage with Ashok Chavan of the Congress, setting at rest speculation of going with the Shiv Sena, which has recently announced to go it alone in the 2019 general elections.Gokhales predecessor, Jaishankar, had been appointed foreign secretary three years ago in January 2015.

New Delhi: Senior diplomat Vijay Keshav Gokhale, who played a crucial role from the Indian side in diplomatic efforts towards the resolution of the Sino-Indian military stand-off at Doklam last year, on Monday took over as Indias new foreign secretary, succeeding S. Jaishankar who completed his tenure on January 28. Mr Gokhales appointment had been cleared on January 1 by the appointments committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prior to taking over, Mr Gokhale was the secretary (economic relations) in the MEA. He is a 1981 batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service. He had served earlier as ambassador in China among other important postings.

Mr Gokhales predecessor, Mr Jaishankar, had been appointed foreign secretary three years ago in January 2015.

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted, An early morning start! Mr Vijay Gokhale, an Indian Foreign Service officer of the 1981 batch, took over as foreign secretary of India today morning.

The new foreign secretary will have his hands full, dealing with a complex South Asian environment at a time when China is making inroads into various Saarc countries. But Mr Gokhale has the necessary experience in dealing with the Chinese dragon, having served as an envoy in Beijing.

His efforts towards the Doklam issue resolution that yielded fruit eventually was proof of this experience. Mr. Gokhale has also assumed charge at a time when relations with Pakistan are at an all-time low. While ties with the US are strong, relations with Moscow will be another tricky turf, with Russia softening its position on Pakistan considerably in recent times as it perceives that New Delhi and old rival Washington are drawing closer.Former Libyan dictator was within hours of buying majority stake in Man U before it was sold to the Glazers.

The former Libyan dictator, who was overthrown and killed in 2011, went on to purchase Italian club Perugia after the two parties failed to agree on a price. (Photo: AP)

Colonel Gaddafi was within hours of buying a majority stake in Manchester United, according to the man who brokered the deal for the Glazers to takeover the club.

Chairman of Cardiff City, Mehmet Dalman, revealed he was summoned to Libya by private jet in 2004 to discuss purchase of John Mangier and JP McManus 29.9 per cent shareholding.

According to Dalman, the Irish tycoons fell out with former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson over the ownership of racehorse Rock of Gibraltar and asked him to help flog their shares.

Speaking to the Sunday Times, Dalman said that people do not realize that the takeover deal was a whisker away from going to Libya.

"Gaddafi almost bought the club. That's how close it got - literally, you're talking about a few hours," he said.

The former Libyan dictator, who was overthrown and killed in 2011, went on to purchase Italian club Perugia after the two parties failed to agree on a price for the controlling stake in the Red Devils.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Saadi Gaddafi, son to the late Libyan dictator said that they were almost on their way to buy Manchester United but kept it a secret as they thought the deal would go through.

The stake was eventually bought by the Glazer family who completed a full takeover at Old Trafford and controversially loaded the club with hundreds of millions in debt.Efforts were made to arrest him but he went into hiding.

On January 23, specific information was received that he was in Karol Bagh The team acted swiftly and nabbed him. (Photo:PTI)

NEW DELHI: A notorious arms supplier and member of interstate syndicate was arrested by a team of Delhi Police special cell.

Police identified the arms supplier as Shiv Pratap Singh, alias Raju (25), a resident of Sangam Vihar. It also recovered one loaded, sophisticated pistol and five live cartridges from him.

According to police, information was received that several gangs were engaged in the supply of illegal weapons to the criminals of Delhi/NCR and surrounding areas. In order to cut down this supply of illegal firearms, the special cell had launched a drive against the traffickers.

In the recent past, the special cell had busted a syndicate that was supplying arms and ammunitions to the criminals of Delhi and NCR. Some members of this syndicate, namely Kailash, Madhav, Rifakat, and Nanak, have been arrested and so far 68 sophisticated pistols, one carbine and some ammunition have been recovered from them.

During interrogation, the accused disclosed some other names, including that of Shiv Pratap Singh, who was part of this syndicate. Efforts were made to arrest him but he went into hiding.

On January 23, specific information was received that he was in Karol Bagh The team acted swiftly and nabbed him.AAP leader Ashutosh, spokesperson Dilip Pandey and over 10 volunteers injured.

Policemen baton charge AAP workers during a rally against sealing at Patel Chowk in New Delhi. (Photo: Biplab Banerjee)

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday alleged that party leaders and volunteers were injured in an unprovoked baton charge by the police when they were protesting at Patel Chowk over the ongoing sealing drive by civic bodies.

AAP leader Ashutosh, spokesperson Dilip Pandey and over ten volunteers were injured when they tried to march towards the Parliament, the party claimed.

The baton-charge was totally unprovoked. Many of our volunteers were injured, Ashutosh said.

A senior police officer said AAP did not have the permission to protest, especially at a time when prohibitory orders are in place in view of the Parliament session. He refuted the charge that police used force against the protesting AAP leaders and volunteers, who were later detained.

However, the Delhi police rejected the charge. No lathi charge was done. minimal force was used against them, said Delhi police spokesperson Madhur Verma.

Municipal corporations in Delhi have undertaken the sealing drive initiated by a Supreme Court appointed monitoring committee. Commercial premises have been sealed for failing to deposit conversion charges according to provisions in the Master Plan 2021.

Aam Aadmi Partys Delhi unit convener, Gopal Rai, said the party had demanded that the conversion charges be waived, but the BJP-ruled MCDs had turned it down.

The AAP tried to gherao the Parliament. But the way the police baton-charged, a number of people were injured and many taken into police custody. BJP is using force to crush protests, Mr Rai alleged.

In the Parliament, AAP boycotted the Presidents address over the sealing drive, disqualification of 20 of its MLAs, and the Centres decision to relax the FDI norms. Nagendar Sharma, the media advisor to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, said that Delhi police personnel misbehaved with AAP leaders Richa Pandey and Ashutosh, who were leading a peaceful protest against BJP-sponsored sealing in different Delhi markets.

Delhi police resorts to unprovoked lathi-charge on elected MLAs and councillors protesting peacefully against BJPs sealing drive. Women manhandled, Mr Sharma tweeted.

The sealing drive is being carried out by a Supreme Court appointed monitoring committee against business establishments using residential properties for commercial purposes. The drive is being implemented by the three BJP-led municipal corporations.

MLA and AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said that Ashutosh was mercilessly beaten up by the police. He also said that BJP was responsible for the sealing drive going on in the city for the past two months.

Some of the placards, held by the party workers during the march, read: This is not sealing, this is killing, and BJP came, brought back sealing.Maru was attending to an elderly relative who had come for an MRI scan to the hospital.

Mumbai: In a freak accident, a man got sucked into a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine and died at Mumbais civic-run Nair Hospital on Saturday night.

In a case of alleged medical negligence, the incident occurred minutes after Rajesh Shyamji Maru (32) 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 it was a case of negligence on the part of the hospital staff as a 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.

Maru 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 an MRI scan to the hospital.

The Agripada police has filed a case under section 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code (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 Lanjekar (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 of the incident to the police. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnvis announced a compensation of `5 lakhs 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, Its a sad and tragic accident. The police are investigating the case. He added, In the process of shifting the patient from a regular stretcher to the MRI stretcher, there was no place meant for the oxygen cylinder. Accidentally, the oxygen cylinder also went inside along with the person and he died.

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 The Asian Age, the deceaseds uncle Jaysingh Maru said, This is total negligence by the hospital. No one was present, neither in the ward nor with the patient. Jaysingh said, As the ailing Laxmiben was on oxygen, the technician-cum-ward boy present inside the MRI ward, stated that he should 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.

The victims kin insisted that the autopsy should be done at the state-run J.J hospital. The autopsy report stated that, Maru death was unnatural and due to bilateral pneumothorax, an abnormal collection of air between the lungs and the chest wall, and subcutaneous emphysema, the pleural membranes are punctured, as occurs in penetrating trauma of the chest, which caused him to choke to death.

Past MRI mishaps

Nov. 12, 2014: Two employees of Tata Memorial Hospital suffered serious injuries after one of them entered the MRI room carrying a gas cylinder. The duo was stuck to the MRI machine for four hours.

Jun. 3, 2017: A MRI machine at Lohiya Hospital pulls UP minister Satyadev Pachauris security guards pistol after he entered the room. The machine was damaged and stopped working.Opposition leaders have strongly objected to this move by the government.

Mumbai: Despite the February 2016 fire that occurred during the Make in India cultural programme at Girgaum Chowpatty, which was organised by Wizcraft, an event management firm, the state government has awarded the responsibility of organising the Magnetic Maharashtra cultural event to be held in the city in February to the same company. The firm was held responsible for the fire. The Brihanmumbai Muni-cipal Corporation (BMC) officials had even filed an FIR after the incident and payment to the company was held up. But no action has been taken yet, said sources.

Opposition leaders have strongly objected to this move by the government. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson Nawab Malick told The Asian Age that, How has the government taken such decision? What happened to that FIR and was any action taken? A transparent government should declare all things to the public. Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant also opposed the decision and demanded that all information on the action taken following the fire incident. He also wanted to know if the government had invited tenders for it and what were the terms of the tender. Mr Sawant said that the governments decision to award the contract of the event to the same company was very wrong.

The Magnetic Maharashtra event will be held from February 18 to 20 at Bandra Kurla Complex with the aim of attracting international investors. This event will be held on a big scale like the Make in India event. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had interacted with many industrialists and CEOs at the Davos summit recently, with the aim of luring them to the state. Preparations are on in full swing to host the event.

Make in India fire

After inquiry into the fire, which took place at the Make in India event held on February 14, 2016, it was held that the fire was due to complete negligence by the event management company. BMC officials had even registered an FIR, but nothing was done thereafter. The contract for the event was worth `12 crore of which `5 crore had already been paid. The CM called for the remaining payment to be stopped. But sources said it was released later.A Shiv Sena leader said, on the condition of anonymity, that the party would not be affected much if it goes it alone.

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena wants to go solo for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in 2019, which will be held next year, with an aim to damage the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

A Shiv Sena leader said, on the condition of anonymity, that the party would not be affected much if it goes it alone. We have 18 MPs and only one minister in the Union government, so we dont stand to lose much in the Lok Sabha elections. But the BJP wants to ruin Shiv Sena, so we will ruin its chances in several seats.

The BJP won 23 seats in the state in the last general elections, but MP Raju Shetti  now the president of the Swabhimani Paksha  is no longer with the saffron party.

Stating that the BJP fared well because of the Modi wave, the Sena leader claimed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah dont have good relations with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. Shiv Sena is of the impression that the BJP want to ruins the party as it has done with regional parties in other states. Though Shiv Sena is a part of the NDA, the BJP has not treated it well. Now the Shiv Sena wants to show its strength.

The Sena minister at the Centre has the heavy industries portfolio, which is the least-important department. The BJP will suffer more because of triangular fights, said the leader.Fortunately, Modis romance with the Israeli leader did not lead to any change in Indias stand on the Palestinian question.

I did not follow protocol. I am a simple man with no baggage. I made friends the world over ... Thus spoke Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi, master of the diplomatic hug fest, in a recent TV interview where he expatiated on what constitutes Indias foreign policy, or at least his understanding of it.

Every time I stand beside world leaders such as Vladimir Putin or Donald Trump, all I remember is that I am the representative of 1.15 crore citizens. They have given me the mandate to be there. Before 2014, the world didnt care about what India had to say. But after we came to power in 2014, the situation changed completely. For the first time in 30 years, India has a government with a full majority. This was noticed by the entire world. I witnessed it during the Saarc and G-20 meet. They accept us as a leader now.

Was that disingenuous or political hubris? With most of the neighbouring states even more hostile to India than they have traditionally been, Indias leadership even in its limited area of influence is under challenge. Indias domineering attitude and interference in their internal affairs, most markedly in the case of Nepal, has pushed them into Chinas arms, leaving Mr Modis neighbourhood first policy in tatters. Maldives is the latest to thumb its nose at Delhi by signing a comprehensive free trade agreement with Beijing. Saarc has not met after the 2016 summit was torpedoed in the wake of the terrorist attack on Uri.

The neighbourhood was meant to be the centrepiece of the so-called Modi doctrine and initially it did appear that the BJP would be able to assuage the wounds inflicted by previous Congress governments.

Nepal is the star failure for Mr Modi. A series of follies on the part of Delhi has left Kathmandu bristling  Delhis opposition to its new secular constitution is unlikely to be forgotten soon  while the election of a new communist coalition led by former Prime Ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal and K.P. Sharma Oli is expected to push the country into a warmer embrace with China. Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka have also moved out of New Delhis orbit and gravitated towards Beijings lure of economic assistance. Besides, strategic analysts say there is a sense of predictability in Chinas policies that is missing in New Delhis capricious formulations. Pakistan continues to be kept at arms length although the recent disclosure that the national security advisers of India and Pakistan met secretly in Thailand end-December offers a ray of hope that talks would restart soon. New Delhi has not been able to respond to the events in Myanmar with any decisiveness. Once again ideology has trumped national interest because Mr Modis highly personalised way of conducting diplomacy is devoid of a strategic framework upon which to build policy. The irony is that the BJP had promised to elevate foreign policy to a new plane  muscular, realistic and pragmatic  from what was dismissively referred to as the idealistic, elitist path set by Nehru and followed by his successors.

Much of Modi doctrine is being conducted as a soap opera because the Prime Minister appears to think that state visits and hug fests are what constitute foreign policy. This is most apparent in the excessive bonhomie that marked the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who visited India recently. The relationship with Israel is politically and ideologically dear to the BJP regime because of the empathy between Hindutva and Zionism in their commonly shared Islamophobia.

Hindu fundamentalist leaders have been great champions of the creation of Israel and the man whose philosophy guides the BJP, M.S. Golwalkar of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, was an unabashed admirer of Jewish nationalism although, ironically, he also extolled the horrific ethnic cleansing unleashed by Nazi Germany in which six million Jews were killed.

Fortunately, Mr Modis romance with the Israeli leader did not lead to any change in Indias stand on the Palestinian question. Although it caused dismay in the BJP circles that favour all-out support for Israel, India voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution rejecting US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Indias opting to maintain its traditional support for the Palestinian cause has incensed some analysts who believe the problem lies with the refusal of the Indian Foreign Service to take the Mr Modis line forward and have called for an overhaul of the system.

Personal diplomacy devoid of a strategic foreign policy with clear objectives is unlikely to bring any benefits to India or raise its international profile although it would certainly increase the Prime Ministers list of friends. A hug, however warm, is no substitute for the realpolitik of international diplomacy.

By arrangement with DawnBeing overwhelmingly Chinese, Singapore is acutely sensitive to Chinas past glory and future aspirations.

China wasnt mentioned as India showcased its military might, cultural heritage and demographic diversity with extra gusto this Republic Day for the benefit of its distinguished Asean guests but Xi Jinping must have hovered invisibly over the junketing like Banquos ghost at the banquet. President Xis interest would have been aroused for two reasons. First, the heads of the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations states represented Indochina, where India and China met centuries ago and have been in a competitive relationship ever since. Second, the far-seeing Lee Kuan Yew, whose son Lee Hsieng Loong is Singapores present Prime Minister, percipiently commented that while India alone or Asean alone might not be a significant global player, together they can look China in the eye.

No Indian ever thought in such sophisticated terms. If an Indian politician looks beyond New Delhi or considers anything save milking power for profit, it is to imagine that the world pays court to Indias greatness. Typical of the Indian attitude to Southeast Asia, a retired IAS officer in New Delhi maintains with a mix of ignorance and contempt that the Malacca in the Straits of Malacca between Malaysia and Sumatra is a corruption of the Sanskrit mleccha. If India and Asean are now celebrating 25 years of partnership, it is largely because Singapore  this years Asean chair  had convinced other Asean countries they needed India to establish a sense of regional balance.

Being overwhelmingly Chinese, Singapore is acutely sensitive to Chinas past glory and future aspirations. The senior Lee, who took the lead in nudging an indifferent India into the region, therefore persuaded Indonesia, which had expected to dominate Southeast Asia once the Americans left, that there would be no Southeast Asia, only a Greater China, without India. The United States and Japan also agreed to a bigger Indian role once P.V. Narasimha Rao and Dr Manmohan Singh took over the government.

Narendra Modi may not be aware of this background. He may not even realise that his flamboyant Republic Day hospitality invoked Donald Trumps National Security Strategy, which sought to revive the Quadrilateral Initiative (India, Japan, Australia and the US) which alarmed Beijing in 2007. After expressing annoyance during the India-US-Japan naval exercises off the Japanese coast, the Chinese sent diplomatic memos to the Quad members, seeking an explanation of Malabar 07, the Indo-American naval exercises expanded to include Japan, Australia and Singapore.

When a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman asked the Quad to be open and inclusive about its actions, Dr Singh, Prime Minister by then, announced he had assured Hu Jintao that theres no question of ganging up against China. The Quad wasnt a military alliance. But, of course, neither assurances nor Lees musings would have been necessary if the scope for tension were not inherent in geopolitics, and if China hadnt seen Indias rise as a possible cap on its own soaring aspirations. There is no other explanation for its obstructiveness over the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the UN Security Council.

Even China could have endorsed the Delhi Declaration issued at the Asean-India Commemorative Summits conclusion targeting terrorism  which is a live issue in several regional countries, especially the Philippines  and agreeing to uphold maritime freedom which is threatened by piracy. But the sour note that Chinas Global Times struck clearly showed that the message of the joint meeting had gone home. Dismissing both parties as beginners playing at geopolitics, the paper asserted that the Chinese people are not occupied by India. For people who are not occupied by India, the Chinese certainly keep close tabs on everything Indian. And why shouldnt they? It would be illogical if they didnt. Indeed, Indians too should as interested in China as in Asean.

With 1.8 million people and a GDP of more than $4.5 trillion, the India-Asean combine can certainly aim high. Asean comprises the worlds seventh-largest economy and hosts more than 200 of the worlds largest companies. While Singapore is one of the main sources of investment in India, Vietnam holds the record for incoming foreign direct investment. If New Delhis hopes of pioneering a huge new Asian trade bloc, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to include all 10 Asean nations, materialises, it would comprise almost 30 per cent of global GDP and facilitate Indias access to key supply chains as well as natural gas and oil.

However, Act East is still little more than a counter-productive verbal attempt to upstage P.V. Narasimha Raos Look East. Six years after the Asean-India Free Trade Area came into existence, it boasted an annual turnover of only $58.4 billion, much of that being India-Singapore trade. Last year India accounted for only 2.6 per cent of Aseans foreign trade. India feels aggrieved about obstacles to selling textiles and agricultural and pharmaceutical products. The Asean members have parallel complaints. While even US President Donald Trump applauds Chinas One Belt One Road Initiative, the proposed 3,200-km highway from New Delhi to Ho Chi Minh City is three years behind schedule. As for pie-in-the-sky schemes to invest $77 million in manufacturing hubs in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, why cant a government that makes a mantra of Make in India develop domestic manufacturing first?

Prime Minister Modis invitation to Aseans 10 heads of state/government rolled into a single guest of honour certainly broke with precedent. So did the invitation to the leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation to attend his swearing-in ceremony in May 2014. The surprise visit to Lahore for Nawaz Sharifs birthday the following year was an even more dramatic departure from convention. But if these grand gestures achieved anything, we have yet to hear of it. It is to be hoped that the Asean invitation will not also be remembered as only playing to the gallery. We need less talk and more action.The researchers want to give chatbots a consistent personality which will help them have better conversations.

The engineers have built their own dataset to train chatbots called Persona-Chat, which has more than 160,000 lines of dialogue.

Having a conversation with chatbots seems to be rather interesting. And Facebook, which had a personal AI assistant named M (now defunct), is planning to revamp its army of AI chatbots. And the latest challenge which they are looking forward to is making these chatbots engage in a conversation.

You may think that chatbots actually chat. But that is not the truth. Making them have a conversation is rather a long process. Neither do these bots have a consistent personality nor do they remember what they or their conversational partners have said in the past and also when they dont understand something, they just say I dont know.

Also read: How chatbots are transforming the online travel space

What Facebook seems to be working towards is making chatbots look for patterns in large datasets while engaging in a conversation. The engineers have built their own dataset to train chatbots called Persona-Chat, which has more than 160,000 lines of dialogue, sourced from workers found on Amazons Mechanical Turk marketplace.

While the direction which this exercise has taken is pretty positive but a more engaging conversation is what the engineers are aiming to get and not mere mugging up of movie scripts and lines.

Facebook users will be eagerly waiting to chat with chatbots, isnt it?

Also read: Chatting up a girl or understanding chatbots  College days once again in business?Greeting messages in India are driving WhatsApps user base in India but are slowing down Android phones.

If you are from India, then waking up to Good Morning messages are just another part of your routine. Since the smartphone boom took place in the country, Indians have developed a habit of forwarding badly edited Good Morning images, memes and even videos via WhatsApp to several contacts and groups. While this can be the most important activity of the day for almost half of the elderly population, it is also pretty annoying for young folks as well as Google. Wonder why?

Majority of the Indian smartphone user base consists of affordable low-end Android smartphones with low storage capacities. With hundreds of Good morning and similar greetings in the form of images, GIFs and videos flooding WhatsApp chats across the country, storage spaces on these low-end smartphones are filling up faster than expected. This is leading to the slowing of Android-based smartphones, which is affecting the user experience that Google wants to disseminate on across the board.

A report from The Wall Street Journal suggests that Indian prefer to bond with friends and families primarily on WhatsApp instead of any other platform. WhatsApps real-time service enables people to share stuff on the platform instead of its parent companys social media platform Facebook. Most WhatsApp users keep the auto-download images option enabled by default, which keeps flooding the local storage on smartphones. A flooded local storage slows the overall user experience. There are dedicated websites which keep making these kinds of images, GIFs and videos, most of which get forwarded on WhatsApp and end up reaching those who even dont like such stuff.

Google has been up burning the midnight oil and deduced that Indias elderly smartphone user base prefers to send e-junk on WhatsApp for spreading positivity and expressing their good wishes. Therefore, for the countrys elderly thats obsessed with WhatsApp, Google is taking the help of artificial intelligence (AI) and its clever image recognition technologies to speed up Indias low-end midrange smartphones. Their recent Google File Go app, which was meant to be a smart file managing solution for entry-level Android smartphone users, is using Googles prowess in AI to fish out these annoying photos and videos from smartphones. Googles smart algorithm looks for certain key properties of these images such as file sizes and file extension, along with certain visual deconstruction abilities to read the junk files and provide the users with an option to delete them. The app is available for free to download on the Google PlayStore.

If you are extremely short on storage space, then it would be wise to turn off auto download images and videos on mobile data and Wi-Fi, thus letting you decide what to download and what not to. Also, it is advisable to keep clearing cache memory and remove unused apps to extract more space on your Android device.

(source)Officials said dozens of tourists were let go after being informed of their inappropriate actions.

In recent years, authorities have clamped down on visitors posting revealing images of themselves at the nearby temple sites and in 2016, management said it would bar tourists wearing skimpy clothes. (Photo: AP)

Phonm Penh: Cambodia has charged 10 foreigners arrested for "singing and dancing pornographically", officials said Sunday, as the kingdom cracks down on racy behaviour at popular tourist sites.

The group appeared in court three days after police arrested them Thursday at a villa in Siem Reap, the town connected to Cambodia's famed ancient ruins of Angkor Wat.

Samrith Sokhon, a prosecutor at the court in Siem Reap, said the 10 suspects were being charged with producing "pornographic pictures and materials", which can carry a maximum one-year sentence.

He said five of the 10 defendants are British nationals, but did not provide additional details.

Cambodia's national police said on its website over the weekend that the other defendants included two Canadians and one New Zealander.

All were accused of "singing and dancing pornographically", the police said in the post, which showed photos of pairs simulating various sexual positions at a party.

Several people in the original images, however, do not appear in the group shot of the 10 defendants later posted by the police, and authorities did not say who had taken the suggestive photos or when.

Some of those arrested were expats and others were tourists who had been in the country for several months, said Duong Thavry, chief of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Department in Siem Reap.

"We cracked down on them because they committed activities that are against our culture," she said.

Officials said dozens of tourists were let go after being informed of their inappropriate actions.

Britain's Foreign Office said in a statement that it was in contact with the British nationals arrested in Cambodia and was providing support to the families.

Tourists visiting Angkor Wat normally stay in Siem Reap, which has a number of hotels and late-night bars and clubs.

In recent years, authorities have clamped down on visitors posting revealing images of themselves at the nearby temple sites and in 2016, management said it would bar tourists wearing skimpy clothes.

The Angkor Archeological Park, a world heritage site, showcases the remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, dating from the 9th to the 15th centuries.Kabul remains on high alert as the city braces for further attacks.

On January 20, Taliban fighters stormed Kabul's landmark Intercontinental hotel and killed at least 25 people, the majority foreigners, in an ordeal lasting more than 12 hours. (Photo: AP)

Kabul: Gunmen launched a pre-dawn raid on a military compound in Kabul on Monday, officials said, in an assault that caused multiple casualties and marked the third major attack in the city in recent days.

Defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said five soldiers were killed and 10 wounded in the assault claimed by the ISIS group via its propaganda arm Amaq.

"An Afghan army battalion has come under attack this morning. The attackers wanted to breach the battalion," Waziri said, adding the raid had ended.

"Two bombers detonated themselves and two were killed by our forces and one was detained alive. The fighting is over but unfortunately we have five deaths and 10 wounded."

He said Afghan forces had seized a rocket, two Kalashinkovs, and a suicide vest from the attackers.

Officials said the attack was on an army battalion near the Marshal Fahim military academy where high-ranking officers are trained and which was initially identified as the target. An officer at the academy said he could hear an explosion and gunfire.

The gunmen did not enter the heavily fortified compound, which is on the western outskirts of the city, an Afghan security source said.

Witnesses said they heard several explosions and gunfire at around 5:00 am (0030 GMT). Security forces have swarmed the area and blocked roads leading to it, but earlier an AFP reporter at the scene could also hear explosions.

In October a Taliban suicide bomber killed 15 Afghan army trainees as they travelled home from the Marshal Fahim academy.

Militants including the Taliban and ISIS have stepped up their attacks on beleaguered Afghan security forces in recent months, sapping morale already lowered by desertions and corruption.

Afghan troops have taken what the UN describes as "shocking" casualties since international forces pulled out at the end of 2014, though troop casualty figures are no longer released.

Kabul on edge

The latest raid comes days after a Taliban suicide attacker driving an explosives-packed ambulance blew up in a crowded area of the capital, killing at least 103 people and wounding 235 in one of the worst bombings in the city in recent years.

The government has blamed Saturday's lunchtime attack, which was followed by a national day of mourning in the war-weary country, on the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani Network, which Afghan and Western officials suspect of involvement in at least some of the recent attacks in the capital.

Monday's ambush came as both Taliban and ISIS militants have escalated their attacks on Kabul, turning it into one of the deadliest places in Afghanistan for civilians.

On January 20, Taliban fighters stormed Kabul's landmark Intercontinental hotel and killed at least 25 people, the majority foreigners, in an ordeal lasting more than 12 hours.

But there is still confusion over the true toll from that attack with conflicting figures given by officials and Afghan media reporting higher numbers.

Kabul remains on high alert as the city braces for further attacks. Security warnings sent to foreigners in recent days said ISIS militants were planning to attack supermarkets, hotels and shops frequented by foreigners.

IS fighters also attacked Save the Children's office in Afghanistan's east on Wednesday that officials said killed five people and wounded another 26.The teacher was forced to reverse the decision to impose a ban on the hijab for girls below the age of eight earlier this month.

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: nurserychildrenscentre.org.uk)

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 media 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 media 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.India and China also have special representative-level border talks to resolve border issues.

China and India agreed to end the lengthy Doklam standoff in August 2017, with Beijing reportedly abandoning plans to construct the road that had triggered the crisis. (Photo: AFP)

Beijing: India and China should look at their border differences, including over Doklam, in a "calm way" and resolve them through existing mechanisms, the Chinese foreign ministry said Monday.

India's Ambassador to China, Gautam Bambawale, had told the Chinese daily Global Times that the status quo should not be changed along the sensitive areas of the 3,488-km-long border.

"Indeed we have noted that the ambassador talked about it while addressing the issue," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said. "I should say the two sides should look at border issues in a calm way and resolve relevant issues through the existing border-related mechanisms so that we can create conditions and enabling environment to properly solve our differences," she added.

India and China also have special representative-level border talks to resolve border issues.

On new satellite imagery purportedly showing a build-up, Ms Hua claimed that Doklam, over which Bhutan also claims sovereignty, is Chinese territory and China is building facilities in the area.

She referred to a 1890 treaty between the UK and China, and claimed "the Sikkim section of the China-India boundary has been demarcated by historic treaty and treaty under affective jurisdiction of China".

"China has always upheld our sovereignty along the border area including Donglang (Doklam)," she said. About the satellite imagery, she said, "I should stress it falls within China's sovereignty that we conduct facility building in Donglang area."

Also Read: Ready for talks with India to resolve CPEC differences: China

"Some Indian media have carried reports about the military build-up and infrastructure building in the area. They are very excited about it," she said.

Indian and Chinese soldiers exchanged greetings on the border on Republic Day. "We think this is conducive to enhance mutual trust and upholding peace stability along the border areas."

Tension began in June 2017 when Indian troops entered Doklam plateau to stop China from building a new road which Delhi viewed as a serious security concern because of the access it provides to Beijing.

China and India agreed to end the lengthy standoff in August 2017, with Beijing reportedly abandoning plans to construct the road that had triggered the crisis.

About the Indian ambassador's comments that India and China are partners not rivals and both sides should carry out dialogue at all levels, she said "the Chinese government's position remains consistent".

"It is also a consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries. We will surely treat India as our cooperation partner and we hope to enhance people-to-people ties," Ms Hua said.by Card. Joseph Zen

The bishop emeritus of Hong Kong confirms the information published in recent days by AsiaNews and reveals details of his conversation with Pope Francis on these topics: "Do not create another Mindszenty case", the primate of Hungary whom the Vatican forced to leave the country, appointing a successor in Budapest, at the will of the communist government of the time.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews)  Below we publish the article that Card. Joseph Zen, bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, posted today on his blog, regarding the events reported by AsiaNews where a Vatican prelate asked the bishops of Shantou and Mindong, underground and recognized by the Holy See, to step down to leave their place to two illegitimate and excommunicated bishops.

Monday, 29 January, 2018

Dear Friends in the Media,

Since AsiaNews has revealed some recent facts in the Church in mainland China, of legitimate bishops being asked by the Holy See to resign and make place for illegitimate, even explicitly excommunicated, bishops, many different versions of the facts and interpretations are creating confusion among the people. Many, knowing of my recent trip to Rome, are asking me for some clarification.

Back in October, when Bishop Zhuang received the first communication from the Holy See and asked me for help, I send someone to bring his letter to the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, with, enclosed, a copy for the Holy Father. I dont know if that enclosed copy reached the desk of the Holy Father. Fortunately, Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai was still in Rome and could meet the Pope in a fare-well visit. In that occasion, he brought the two cases of Shantou and Mindong to the knowledge of the Holy Father. The Holy Father was surprised and promised to look into the matter.

Given the words of the Holy Father to Archbishop Savio Hon, the new facts in December were all the more a shocking surprise to me. When the old distressed Bishop Zhuang asked me to bring to the Holy Father his answer to the message conveyed to him by the Vatican Delegation in Beijing, I simply could not say No. But what could I do to make sure that his letter reach the Holy Father, while not even I can be sure that my own many letters did reach him.

To make sure that our voice reached the Holy Father, I took the sudden decision of going to Rome. I left Hong Kong the night of 9th January, arriving in Rome the early morning of 10th January, just in time (actually, a bit late) to join the Wednesday Public Audience. At the end of the audience, we Cardinals and Bishops are admitted to the bacia mano and I had the chance to put into the hands of the Holy Father the envelop, saying that I was coming to Rome for the only purpose of bringing to him a letter of Bishop Zhuang, hoping he can find time to read it (in the envelop there was the original letter of the Bishop in Chinese with my translation into Italian and a letter of mine).

For obvious reasons, I hoped my appearance at the audience would not be too much noticed, but my late arrival in the hall made it particularly noticeable. Anyway, now everybody can see the whole proceeding from the Vatican TV (by the way, the audience was held in Paul VI Hall, not in St. Peters Square and I was a little late to the audience, but did not have to wait in a queue, in a cold weather, as some media erroneously reported).

When in Rome, I met Fr. Bernard Cervellera of AsiaNews. We exchanged our information, but I told him not to write anything. He complied. Now that someone else broke the news, I can agree to confirm it. Yes, as far as I know, things happened just as they are related in AsiaNews (the AsiaNews report believes that the Bishop leading the Vatican Delegation was Msgr. Celli. I do not know in what official capacity he was there, but it is most likely that he was the one there in Beijing).

In this crucial moment and given the confusion in the media, I, knowing directly the situation of Shantou and indirectly that of Mindong, feel duty-bound to share my knowledge of the facts, so that the people sincerely concerned with the good of the Church may know the truth to which they are entitled. I am well aware that in doing so I may talk about things which, technically, are qualified as confidential. But my conscience tells me that in this case the right to truth should override any such duty of confidentiality.

With such conviction, I am going to share with you also the following:

In the afternoon of that day, 10th January, I received a phone-call from Santa Marta telling me that the Holy Father would receive me in private audience in the evening of Friday 12th January (though the report appeared only on 14th January in the Holy See bulletin). That was the last day of my 85 years of life, what a gift from Heaven! (Note that it was the vigil of the Holy Fathers departure for Chile and Peru, so the Holy Father must have been very busy).

On that evening the conversation lasted about half an hour. I was rather disorderly in my talking, but I think I succeeded to convey to the Holy Father the worries of his faithful children in China.

The most important question I put to the Holy Father (which was also in the letter) was whether he had had time to look into the matter (as he promised Archbishop Savio Hon). In spite of the danger of being accused of breach of confidentiality, I decide to tell you what His Holiness said: Yes, I told them (his collaborators in the Holy See) not to create another Mindszenty case! I was there in the presence of the Holy Father representing my suffering brothers in China. His words should be rightly understood as of consolation and encouragement more for them than for me.

I think it was most meaningful and appropriate for the Holy Father to make this historical reference to Card. Josef Mindszenty, one of the heroes of our faith. (Card. Josef Mindszenty was the Archbishop of Budapest, Cardinal Primate of Hungary under Communist persecution. He suffered much in several years in prison. During the short-lived revolution of 1956, he was freed from prison by the insurgents and, before the Red Army crashed the revolution, took refuge in the American Embassy. Under the pressure of the Government he was ordered by the Holy See to leave his country and immediately a successor was named to the likings of the Communist Government).

With this revelation, I hope I have satisfied the legitimate right to know of the media and of my brothers in China.

The important thing for us now is to pray for the Holy Father, very fittingly by singing the traditional song Oremus:

Oremus pro Pontifice nostro Francisco, Dominus conservet eum et vivificet eum et beatum faciat eum in terra et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius.

-------------------------------------

Some explanations may still be in order.by Joseph Huy

Religious organisations are required to provide a list of annual activities in advance. Local authorities turned on Song Ngoc parish for failing to inform them of a Mass. The state paid no heed to the opinions expressed by religious institutions on its controversial religious law.

Hanoi (AsiaNews)  The Mass celebrated on 23 January in Song Ngoc parish, in the diocese of Vinh, has been declared "illegal by the People's Committee of Quynh Ngoc, a municipality in the north-central province of Nghe An.

In an official note, the authorities censure the vicar and the parishs pastoral committee, ordering Fr Nguyen inh Thuc and his parishioners to "register all their religious activities" in accordance with a local bylaw (N.08/UBND).

Last week, the vicar had invited about 20 priests from the diocese to celebrate Mass in the parish. During the service, priests and faithful prayed for the victims of the environmental disaster at a plant owned by the Formosa Plastics Group.

They also mentioned in their prayers prisoners of conscience, like Hoang uc Binhe and Nguyen Nam Phong, and called for peace in all Vietnamese families.

At the same time, parishioners prayed that local authorities be able to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong, and that the government behave in a fair way towards those who are committed to the peace of the nation.

Local authorities have been trying for a long time to stifle the religious life of the local community, which has fought for social rights and justice in the country, speaking out on behalf of dissidents who disagree with the government.

The Peoples Committee of Quynh Ngoc sent the document on the afternoon of 23 January 2018, and Fr Thuc and the Song Ngoc Parish Pastoral Committee of parish celebrated Mass with many participants and parishioners.

In their note, local authorities cite the new Law on Belief and Religion that came into effect on 1st January 2018. They cited Article 43 to say that Religious organizations, dependent religious organisations, [] or religious organisations which have been granted the certificates of registration of religious activities have a duty to provide in writing the lists of annual religious activities at least 30 days after being recognised, approved or granted a certificate of registration of religious activity as prescribed by the government.

Some officials claim that Song Ngoc parish has not yet informed the People's Committee of its programme. As a result, they view the Mass celebrated by the community as contravening the provisions of the new law on religious freedom. By contrast, for local Catholics, "Article 43 is an expedient to obstruct the religious activities of the parish and of the faithful."

The community has often been the victim of sometimes violent interference and pressure from the authorities through pro-government militant groups, as well as smear campaigns, such as the one against Fr Thuc.

Article 2, paragraph 10 of the law backs the parishioners of Song Ngoc, thus highlighting the its inconsistencies.

According to this provision, "Religious activities are to express religious beliefs, catechism practice, practicing canon law and religious rituals. So, the participation in the Mass of believers, communion and prayer together are religious activities that take place every day, every hour in the country. Thus, such practices in themselves already comply with the law of the state.

Before Vietnams parliament passed its new controversial legislation, the countrys religious leaders contributed to the discussions with their opinions in order to protect religious freedom, a principle recognised in the 2013 Constitution.

Starting in June 2017, organisations, legal experts and believers of various faiths shared their views with the Speaker and Members of the National Assembly. The Catholic Bishops Conference of Vietnam also made an important contribution.

Yet, critics note that the authorities "simply pretended to listen to the advice offered to improve the bill". Believers and rights activists complain that the government later ignored the views expressed by religious organisations. This has allowed local authorities "to apply the Law on Belief and Religion as they please".At the opening of the Judicial Year of the Roman Rota, Francis recommended that the "conscience of the faithful in difficulty as regards their marriage does not close up to a path of grace." He stressed the need for a "permanent catechumenate" to revitalise the Christian conscience vis-a-vis marriage, and overcome the tendency in todays younger generations to flee from their responsibilities.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis received today in audience the Prelate Auditors, officials, lawyers and collaborators of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota on the occasion of the solemn inauguration of the Judicial Year.

In his address, the pontiff said that those who are called to judge on the validity of a marriage must prevent the faithful whose marriage is in difficulty from closing their conscience to the path of grace". Instead, they must act "in full conscience" to offer " peace of consciences".

On this occasion, Francis stressed once more the need for a "permanent catechumenate" to revitalise the Christian conscience vis-a-vis marriage, and overcome the tendency in todays younger generations to flee from their responsibilities.

The Pope emphasised in particular the "centrality of conscience", defined as "a qualifying aspect" of the judicial service. "[Y]our activity, he noted, is also expressed as a ministry of the peace of consciences and must be exercised in full consciousness [. . .] As regards the declaration of nullity or validity of the marriage bond, you posit yourselves, in a certain sense, as experts in the conscience of the Christian faithful."

"The conscience assumes a decisive role in the demanding choices that couples must face to welcome and build the conjugal union and hence the family according to Gods plan." For this reason, the Church "has recognized the need to invite those who work in the pastoral care of marriage and family to obtain a renewed awareness in helping engaged couples to build and preserve the intimate sanctuary of their Christian conscience."

What is more, added the Pope, "in the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia, pastoral pathways have been indicated to help engaged couples to enter without fear into discernment and in the consequent choice of the future conjugal and family life,".

The synods and Amoris laetitia "have had an obligatory path and purpose: how to save young people from the din and deafening noise of the ephemeral, which leads them to shy away from stable and positive commitments for the individual and collective good. A conditioning that silences the voice of their freedom, of that intimate cell  indeed, the conscience  that God alone illuminates and opens to life, if He is allowed to enter.

"How valuable and urgent is the pastoral action of the whole Church for the recovery, safeguarding, protection of a Christian conscience, illuminated by Gospel values! It will be a long undertaking and not easy, requiring bishops and presbyters to work indefatigably to enlighten, defend and support the Christian conscience of our people.

To this end, "Welcoming the wishes expressed by the Synod Fathers, I have already had the opportunity to recommend a marriage catechumenate, intended as an indispensable itinerary for young people and couples destined to revive their Christian conscience, sustained by the grace of the two sacraments, baptism and marriage."

As a commitment, the care of consciences cannot be the exclusive concern of Pastors; rather, with different responsibilities and methods, it is the mission of all, ministers and baptized faithful.

"Faith is a light that illuminates not only the present but also the future: marriage and family are the future of the Church and of society. It is therefore necessary to promote a state of permanent catechumenate so that the consciousness of the baptized is open to the light of the Spirit. The sacramental intention is never the result of automatism, but always of a conscience illuminated by faith, as the result of a combination of the human and the divine.

In this sense, spousal union can be said to be true only if the human intention of the spouses is oriented to what Christ and the Church want. To make the future spouses more aware of this, we need the contribution not only of bishops and priests, but also of other people involved in pastoral care, religious and lay faithful who are jointly responsible in the mission of the Church."

To the judges, the pope recommended to avoid "that the exercise of justice be reduced to a mere bureaucratic accomplishment." At the same time, "We must ensure that the conscience of the faithful in difficulty as regards their marriage does not close up to a path of grace. This aim is achieved through pastoral accompaniment, discernment of consciences (see Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia, 242) and the work of our tribunals. This work must take place in wisdom and in the search for truth: only in this way can the declaration of nullity produce a liberation of consciences."Two days after International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Pope Francis met with the participants in the International Conference on the responsibility of states, institutions and individuals in the fight against anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic hate crimes. Representatives of Italys Jewish communities were also present. Cain, the pope noted, is not interested in his brother: here is the root of perversity, the root of death that produces desperation and silence. For him, we need a common memory, living and faithful, that should not remain imprisoned in resentment. Young people need to be informed and educated in the matter.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis today received in audience the participants in the International Conference on the responsibility of states, institutions and individuals in the fight against anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic hate crimes, held today in Rome. The meeting comes two days after International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

In his address, the pontiff stressed helping each other to develop a culture of responsibility, of memory and of closeness, and to establish an alliance against indifference, against every form of indifference.

The conference was organised in cooperation with various international organisations as well as the Unione delle comunita ebraiche italiane (Union of Italian Jewish Communities) and the Centro di Documentazione Ebraica Contemporanea (Centre for Contemporary Jewish Documentation).

In his short speech, the pontiff first emphasised the notion of responsibility. We are responsible when we are able to respond. It is not merely a question of analyzing the causes of violence and refuting their perverse reasoning, but of being actively prepared to respond to them. Thus, the enemy against which we fight is not only hatred in all of its forms, but even more fundamentally, indifference; for it is indifference that paralyzes and impedes us from doing what is right even when we know that it is right.

Citing Cains indifference towards Abel (Genesis, 4:9), the pope said that His brother does not interest him: here is the root of perversity, the root of death that produces desperation and silence. I recall the roar of the deafening silence I sensed two years ago in Auschwitz-Birkenau: a disturbing silence that leaves space only for tears, for prayer and for the begging of forgiveness.

Citing Deuteronomy (8:2), he draws on the importance of remembrance, urging people to remember, or bring alive; do not let the past die. Remember, that is, return with your heart: do not only form the memory in your mind, but in the depths of your soul, with your whole being. And do not form a memory only of what you like, but of your whole journey. [. . .] we need this memory, this capacity to involve ourselves together in remembering. Memory is the key to accessing the future, and it is our responsibility to hand it on in a dignified way to young generations.

The Holy Father also quoted from the documents of the Second Vatican Council (Nostra Aetate, on the relationship between Christians and Jews) and the Letter of John Paul II which introduces the document We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah.

To build our history, which will either be together or will not be at all, we need a common memory, living and faithful, that should not remain imprisoned in resentment but, though riven by the night of pain, should open up to the hope of a new dawn. The Church desires to extend her hand. She wishes to remember and to walk together.

In concluding, Francis noted that The potentialities of information will certainly be of assistance; even more important will be those of formation. We need urgently to educate young generations to become actively involved in the struggle against hatred and discrimination, but also in the overcoming of conflicting positions in the past, and never to grow tired of seeking the other.by Kamran Chaudhry

Catholics denounce "evidence tampered with by security agencies". Medical investigations on the Christian's body do not reveal signs of torture. Sharoon Masih, 17 years old, was beaten to death out of religious racism. Similar atrocities ruin the image of Islam in the eyes of the rest of the world.

Lahore (AsiaNews) - The Multan High Court (in Pakistan) has ordered the release on bail of Ahmed Raza, the Muslim student arrested for killing Sharoon Masih, 17, his classmate of Christian faith.

The latter was beaten to death because "guilty" of having drunk from the same water dispenser as fellow Muslims. According to the judges, no clear evidence was collected to attest to the guilt of the arrested person.

The victim's family denounce the superficiality with which the police conducted the investigation to AsiaNews. Catholic sources asking for anonymity also report that the agents delayed the filing of the report and altered the evidence (Fir, First information report), compromising the result of the investigation.

Moreover, the autopsy exams presented in court excluded traces of torture and speak only of death by heart attack. "It was clear - says the source - that with all these gaps and in the absence of overwhelming evidence the killer would be released. It is painful, because the Christian student was brutally killed".

Sheron was beaten to death on August 30 last year. Originally from Chak 461 village, Pakistani Punjab, he had been admitted to the public school of Burewala just a few days earlier. Razia Bibi, his mother, reports that her son was immediately targeted by Muslim classmates who had imposed a ban on drinking from the same water dispenser as them. But Sheron disobeyed, and for this reason was beaten to death.

The High Court verdict of the has thrown the family of the victim and the whole Christian community into despair, which denounces a climate of religious discrimination.

Alysaab Masih, the student's father, says: "While the country is united in calling for justice for Zainab [the seven-year-old girl raped and strangled in Kasur, near Lahore - ed], no one is raising their voice for us. The killer is an adult, about 20 years old, while medical reports claim that he is only 17 and a half years old. From the first hearing I understood that the court would free him".

The diocese of Multan has offered legal support to the Christian family and wants to appeal against the release. Shaukat Channan, diocesan coordinator for the National Justice and Peace Commission, denounces that the student's parents "have been pressured to withdraw the complaint in exchange for money". "The police - he adds - refused to recover the weapon. All the other students reported to the investigators that there had been a fight between Sharoon and Raza over a broken cell phone. "

Aamir Kakkazai, an Islamic writer and researcher, reports that "according to a World Justice Project survey on the civil justice system, Pakistan stands at 106th out of 113 countries. Minorities are victims of the abuse of the blasphemy law, their religious monuments are attacked, they are killed and the villages burned. The murder of Sharoon shows how our society is intolerant. We must educate our people that Islam is a religion of peace. Such atrocities ruin the image of Islam in the eyes of the rest of the world ". "We must realize - he continues - that the world has changed. Western countries pay particular attention to minorities; instead we ignore their problems and approve laws that afflict their existence ".

For Naseem Anthony, a Christian, director of the Awam organization, "the practice of distorting evidence by security agencies is not new in Pakistan. The guilty parties are encouraged by false evidence and easily escape the heinous crimes committed against minorities. In such circumstances, politicians must set up compensation mechanisms. The case should be reopened and investigated again according to parameters of justice. A special investigative committee should be formed that includes neutral activists and lawyers ".

(Shafique Khokhar collaborated)Kurdish leaders threaten to boycott peace talks on the Black Sea in response to the offensive launched by the Turks in the autonomous region of Afrin. The main anti-Assad group also abandons talks. The Turkish fighters damaged a 3 thousand year old Hittite temple.

Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Kurdish leaders in the autonomous region of northern Syria, scene of the offensive launched last January 20 by the Turks against the YGP militias (People's Protection Unit), will not participate in the peace talks in Sochi (Russia ) next week. This was confirmed by a senior official of the Kurdish regional government, Fawza al-Yussef, who said that "if the situation remains unchanged in Afrin, it will not be possible for us to participate" in the meetings forcefully requested by the Kremlin.

Together with Russia and Iran, allies of Damascus, Turkey - which supports anti-government rebels and a diverse galaxy of extremist groups - is one of the promoters of the meetings in Sochi, a Russian tourist resort on the Black SeaThe talks were supposed to start next February 5, but there are doubts about the participation of all the parties involved in the Syrian conflict.

According to the Kurdish leader al-Yussef, the Turkish military operation "contradicts political dialogue". Renamed "Olive Branch", the offensive launched last 20 January by the Turkish army with the help of some rebel factions long engaged in the Syrian conflict, intends to expel the Kurds from the region. Ankara is targeting the YGP fighting militias, which proved to be fundamental in the past in the fight against the jihadists of the Islamic State (IS). Turkey believes the Ypg militias are a "terrorist" group, linked to the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK).

The Sochi talks represent a faint hope to end seven years of war and more than 340 thousand deaths, after repeated failures of peace initiatives promoted by the United Nations in meetings in Geneva (Switzerland) and Vienna (Austria). Over the weekend, the main anti-Assad opposition group, the Syrian Negotiation Commission, announced that it will not participate in the next week's Sochi meetings.

Meanwhile, the Turkish military operation continues in the region of Afrin, as confirmed by President Recep Tayyp Erdogan himself, who says he wants to eliminate all "terrorists" [the Kurds] from the border. During a speech held yesterday at a party meeting he returned to attack the United States for the armed support given to the Kurdish militias.

The air strikes launched by Ankara against Kurdish posts have damaged a Hittite temple with 3 thousand years of history behind it. The temple of Ain Dara, which dates back to the era between 1300 and 700 BC, is located in the Afrin enclave and has suffered more than 60% destruction. The Turkish fighters are also bombing the Syrian dike of Maydanki, with enormous risks for the civilian population.15 people died in the weekend clashes, at least 30 were wounded. The rebels from the south are demanding the resignation of the prime minister and the government, accused of corruption. In the temporary capital schools, universities and the airport closed. Red Cross sound alarm for civilian victims.

Sana'a (AsiaNews) - A new battlefront has opened in Yemen, a country battered by almost three years of civil war that has caused thousands of victims and some of the worst epidemics in the world.

Over the weekend, the separatist forces of the south - supported by the United Arab Emirates (Eau) - launched the assault on the government headquarters of pro-Saudi president Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi in Aden, in the south. The city is now provisional capital of the state, following the rise to power in Sana'a of the Houthi Shiite rebels close to Iran.

Overnight the southern separatists sent further reinforcements to Aden, the second city of the country, to fuel the battle against the government troops. The militias are from Abyane, in southern Yemen, and from the central area of Marib.

The southern transition council, representing the separatist groups, has called for the resignation of Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher and his executive, accused of "corruption".

The situation in the south also worries the leaders of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which confirm that rocket launches and gunfire continued "all night" in Aden. Because of the fighting, the rescue vehicles cannot operate and "the civilian population is paying the price".

Yesterday the separatist forces seized the temporary headquarters of the government; the clashes with the Loyalist forces have caused, according to an initial assessment, at least 15 dead and over 30 wounded. But the victim count could get worse in the next few hours.

The movement has grown in recent years and has obtained the tacit support of the United Arab Emirates after Hadi left Aden to take refuge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher led the government resistance and spoke of a "coup attempt".

Yemen was reunified in 1990, after the division between the pro-western north of the country and the socialist south. Today the divisions are ethnic and confessional: the northern, mostly Shiite, supported by Iran against the Sunni south, close to Saudi Arabia and the Emirates. However, the Sunni front is also crumbling: the tension began to mount in recent days, after the forces loyal to President Hadi opened fire during a demonstration by the separatists. The airport of the city of Aden has been closed, as well as the schools and universities of the area. Everyone expects an escalation of violence, in spite of the (vain) calls for calm and dialogue between the parties, to the full advantage of the Houthi Shiite rebels in the north who could take advantage of the situation to strengthen the grip on the country.

In Yemen more than 80% of the population lack food, fuel, clean water and access to basic health services. The situation was aggravated by the Saudi blockade in place since early November of last year, which contributed to the exacerbation of the emergency.

Recently, even the apostolic vicar confirmed to AsiaNews the seriousness of the "disaster" that is taking place in the Arab country.SPC strikes first-time China export partnership deal



L-R Tim Dillon (Commissioner-Greater China, Victorian State Government), Reg Weine (MD, SPC), Zhou Xianbiao (President, CSFA Group Corporation), Zhao Qingyong (GM, CSFA Holdings Shanghai)

SPC is set to soon begin exporting its products to China for the first time after striking a local business partnership.

Exporting through a partnership with China State Farm Agribusiness Shanghai (CSFA Shanghai), both SPC and Goulburn Valley preserved fruit products will soon be available in China.

SPC Managing Director, Reg Weine, said China represents a significant business opportunity for SPC in the years ahead.

In our 100th year, we are thrilled to be able to bring our premium Goulburn Valley and SPC packaged fruit to the largest consumer market in the world, Weine said.

CSFA Shanghai will be SPCs master distributor in China with CSFA organising staff, sales and marketing to build the brand in China.

SPCs products will be pitched at Chinas growing middle class and well-known Chinese celebrity, Ye Yiqian, has already been started work as a brand ambassador.

Ye Yiqian has already injected a great amount of personality and style into our brands ahead of our launch into the Chinese market, Weine said.

High-end plans

Within China, SPC plans to sell its products through high-end supermarkets, speciality retailers and leading on-line platforms.

Its about taking our market leading brands into markets where provenance plays a part and there is a large enough consumer segment that is affluent and willing to pay a premium for Australian produce, Weine said.

The Chinese market is five times the size of the Australian processed fruit market, which makes this a huge opportunity.

SPC first began exporting overseas 90 years ago. Regions SPC have exported to over the years have included the USA, UK, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and the Middle East.

In 2018, SPC is celebrating 100 years of operation, a feat it nearly did not achieve after nearly falling out of business in 2014. Coca-Cola Amatil is the current own of the SPC brand.

Related articlesaussieguy said: With your personal statements, did you write new statements BEGINNING from the 300 approval or did you include all of the original storyline/statement etc from the beginning? Click to expand...

Since August 2014, we have been very happy together, and I am totally happy with our lives. I want nothing to change in respect to our personal attitudes to each other.

E.. makes coffee for us both every morning, as he gets up first, and I make coffee before bed every night.

I just checked what I actually did, and I did short statements for the Financial, Nature, Social, Commitment and Development sections from our first meetings to the current date.However, these were only brief, but succinct, statements totally only 400 words, for all 5 sections.They may have looked back to the PMV application for more detail, if they needed. I just checked that too and that was only 563 words.An example of what we did for the COMMITMENT section:Looking back at it, it seems "not a lot", but it worked...I have read that some people do entire essays, and maybe it helps with some. Now I wonder what Immigration actually expect. But I am glad they approved the VisaThe 801 is next in 3 months time...Francisca said: Hi, I Have a student visa and came to Australia with my boyfriend, which just came to accompany me, with an e visitor visa (we are both from Portugal). It happens that he is an IT developer and found a job in his area here in Australia. For the moment he is just doing the initial training and formation, but he will need a work visa as soon as possible. So my question is, which visa should he apply for? Thank you. Francisca Click to expand...

There is a range of general skilled and employer sponsored visas. Which one will be most suitable for him, will depend on his overall qualification, English language skills, work experience and many other factors.Before he can apply he probably will need to do a skills assessment and an English language test.Processing of the visa application can take from a few months up to a year and he won't be able to work at all as long is he is on a visitor visa.He should be very careful that he is currently not in breach of his tourist visa conditions while doing his 'formation/training".Jerry Duffy, senior VP, leasing & fleet management for The Bancorp Bank, retired Dec. 31, 2017, capping a 45-year career in small fleet leasing market.

Duffy started his career in fleet leasing in 1971 after graduating from Villanova University with a degree in economics. Duffy went to work for Genway Corporation, which set up General Motors dealers to use a leasing finance plan, which at the time was still a relatively new and not well understood form of vehicle funding. Soon after, a dealer with a Genway franchise went under and I was asked to run the small leasing company that Genway was forced to take over, said Duffy. I had to quickly learn all facets of the leasing business.

Duffy continued to work for various business interests owned by Eustace Wolfington, the founder of Genway, until 1975 when he had the opportunity to start a vehicle leasing department within the State National Bank of Maryland.

Duffy.

The department was as unique then as it is today  there is no leasing company. The lease was direct between the lessee and the bank, said Duffy.

The State National Bank of Maryland was owned by the Cohen family from Philadelphia. They understood leasing and allowed me to grow the portfolio. State National Bank was eventually sold and Betsy Cohen started Jefferson Bank, which then bought the leasing portfolio of State National Bank. She later sold Jefferson Bank and started The Bancorp Bank and the whole thing happened again, said Duffy. I worked for Betsy Cohen for 40-plus years with the leasing department following Cohen from bank to bank.

At the time of Duffys retirement, The Bancorp Bank had a portfolio of over 12,000 vehicles on lease operating in 48 states. Over the years our direct from the bank lease competed with dealers, brokers, and the majors. We always focused on where they didnt go  small commercial fleets and government, primarily local governments, said Duffy. More important than access to lease financing, these end-users needed assistance in how to buy, manage, and dispose of motor vehicles. We became their fleet managers.

Duffy was an active member of the National Vehicle Leasing Association (NVLA) and supported its efforts to protect the interests of independent leasing companies from regulators, the financial community, and manufacturers.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.Florida State University will lift portions of a suspension on campus Greek life and instill reforms after a hazing death and two unrelated arrests.

FSU issues reforms to Greek life on campus

Greek organizations were suspended last year

Fraternity pledge died of alcohol poisoning, 2 unrelated arrests

FSU President John Thrasher says Greek organizations will be allowed to recruit and take part in philanthropic activities. Social events will be limited and a ban on alcohol remain in place.

FSU says fraternity and sorority leaders have agreed to a number of changes and have developed a new plan for Greek Life activities.

Last fall Thrasher suspended all Greek life on campus indefinitely after 20-year-old Andrew Coffey, a fraternity pledge, died of alcohol poisoning. Nine were charged with college hazing causing injury or death.

Two other fraternity members were also arrested on unrelated drug trafficking charges.

According to a news release from the university, the changes are taking place in three areas:

Expectations and Values

New requirement for a chapter grade-point average of 2.5.

A minimum average of 10 documented hours of service per semester per member.

Requires students interested in joining a fraternity or sorority complete a special orientation program prior to recruitment so potential members understand expectations.

All IFC fraternities will conduct a comprehensive membership review of all members in collaboration with their national organization and advisers to ensure all members can commit to the fraternitys values, policies and expectations.

Oversight

Launch of a new Scorecard available to the public on the universitys website communicating information about each chapter to increase transparency.

A significant modification of the student conduct process to add faculty and staff to student review panels that hear Greek conduct cases.

The implementation of new membership dues to help support the hiring of staff who work directly with the Greek system and the addition of new educational programs.

Requirement that all chapters have an Advisory Board with special training.

Risk Reduction

A shortened new member period of six weeks for IFC fraternities.

Socials with alcohol limited to four during fall semester and six during spring semester.

Events with alcohol at houses allowed only if the chapter uses third-party vendors, provides food and has police or security officers approved by the FSU Police Department present for the duration of the event.

New rules for tailgating events held by Greek organizations.

New requirements for members to be trained in hazing prevention and leadership development.A fomer school principal who retired last year after writing a racially insensitive email is facing child abuse charges at her new job.

Ex-principal accused of racially insensitive email facing charge

Christine Hoffman said white students should be in same class

Deputies said Hoffman grabbed boy by hair on a bus

PREVIOUSLY: Principal who sent 'white students' email retires from school system

Christine Hoffman, the director of the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation's Academy, was arrested Friday after Clearwater Police said she grabbed a student by his hair while on a school bus.

Hoffman said she snapped after the student cursed.

The arrest report said she grabbed the child as the bus drove on McMullen-Booth Road on Friday afternoon and yelled at him to sit down.

According to the arrest report, the 53-year-old Hoffman tried to apologize to the child, but he covered his face with his backpack. Hoffman later tried to apologize to his mother, according to the report.

Hoffman now faces one count of willfully abusing a child without causing great bodily harm. She was released from Pinellas County Jail after posting $5,000 bail.

Hoffman made headlines last year after sending an email to staff at Campbell Park Elementary saying that white students should be in the same class. In April 2017, as principal at the predominantly black school, Hoffman sent an email to her staff titled, "class list."

Among the guidelines included in the email was "white students should be in the same class."

The resulting controversy led to Hoffman's eventual retirement from Pinellas County Schools.Beaumont ISD's elected trustees could begin to be seated this year, they said this week after speaking with a state education official, though three campuses in danger of being closed for poor test scores could delay that move.

Four of the six trustees said they spoke recently with A.J. Crabill, TEA Deputy Commissioner of Governance, about the state of "improvement required" schools and the process of replacing the appointed board of managers.

"All of the elected trustees, to my knowledge, have received a call from TEA," said at-large trustee Denise Wallace-Spooner. "They are not giving us a date. We have been told the rotation process will take place."

TEA spokesman Gene Acuna said it's "likely that those conversations on some topics are taking place between TEA staff and officials" but could not elaborate on specific conversations or topics. He said the commissioner still plans to name two additional managers to the current board, though he didn't say when that would be.

Trustees Kevin Reece and Mandie Peel did not respond to requests for comment. Charles Daleo resigned this fall after he lost his house in Harvey and moved out of District 1. His replacement has not been announced but Acuna said would likely be appointed by the managers.

District 5 representative Nathan Cross said he was contacted by the TEA about a timeline for the transition process. He declined to elaborate on the details of the conversation other than to say that it happened last week.

Zenobia Bush, who was re-elected in May to the board she was ousted from in 2014, said she and Crabill discussed the improvement-required campuses and "certainly didn't talk about a timeline."

"I'm not sure what his intentions are," Bush said. "I would hope that there would have been some movement at this point," she said, but added that she does not expect to be one of the first trustees seated.

Two of the trustees said they believed the transition process will start in 2018.

RELATED: Students at Central, Ozen look uncertainly toward merger

"The transition can't begin until the commissioner formally notifies the school district. Until that occurs, the transition isn't initiated," Acuna said. "At this point, that's all I can say."

Thomas Sigee, who represents District 3, said he spoke with Crabill about the possibility that the state could close three campuses that have repeatedly failed to meet state standards.

Ten of Beaumont ISD's campuses were rated "improvement required" in 2017, up from six the previous year. Three schools - Fehl-Price Elementary, Jones-Clark Elementary and Smith Middle School - have not met state standards for at least four years.

DATA: SAT scores for Southeast Texas schools

A law passed in 2015 allows the Commissioner to close schools that have been rated "Improvement Required" for five or more years by the summer of 2018, or to take over the entire district. Several districts statewide, including Houston ISD, could face the same repercussions when accountability ratings are released this summer.

The Texas Education Agency previously declined to comment on how that rule would be applied in BISD, which already has been taken over.

Sigee said Crabill outlined "likely scenarios," including closing the schools, keeping them open and keeping the managers in place, or finding partnerships to operate the struggling schools. "None of them appear to be good for board members," he said, but "I wouldn't want them to close the schools under any circumstances."

Even if the schools improve their ratings this year, a 2016 ruling by Attorney General Ken Paxton gave Education Commissioner Mike Morath the authority to keep the managers in place as long as he deems there has been insufficient academic or financial progress.

Morath already has extended the managers' terms an additional two years and will need to do so again before July 14 to comply with state law that requires a gradual replacement of managers with trustees.

The tenure of current managers could also be a factor in Morath's decisions. Joe Domino, A.B. Bernard and Vernice Monroe were among the seven managers who announced in 2016 that they planned to collectively resign by May 2017. They agreed to remain past the May election but four have since resigned. Domino, Monroe and Bernard have not said recently how long they are willing to remain on the board.

Angela Corbin Bransford and Mitch Templeton were named managers in August, bringing the board to five members, but Templeton is running for 172nd District Court Judge and will have to step down if he is elected in November, which would leave Morath with another spot to fill.

All four trustees said they are frequently asked when they'll be seated, particularly in light of controversial decisions like the consolidation of Ozen and Central.

"We had seven people elected by the people, just waiting," Bush said. "Every single day, at the store, at the gas station, I'm asked 'Zee, when are they going to seat y'all?' and I say I have no idea."

"Almost weekly, someone says, 'Do you know anything yet?'" Cross said.

Sigee and Bush both said the managers' approach to community outreach needs to change in the next several months to gain support for the school merger.

"They need more community-oriented meetings, where this board of managers goes to the community and meets them halfway," Sigee said. "If they had any sense, they'd take along some elected trustees with them."

Sigee, who started at Beaumont Charlton-Pollard in 1975, the first year the two schools merged, said the consolidation "can be a positive thing," if there's community buy-in to support it.

"The board has to reach out to people right now," said Bush, whose district includes areas currently zoned to Central. She suggested holding meetings where managers ask for input and are able to answer questions.

During public comments at the regular board meetings, the board "will not answer questions from speakers," and speakers cannot directly question the managers, administrators or superintendent, according to BISD meeting rules.

"They need to ask for input and come across as genuine," Bush said.

LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.comTwitter.com/LizTeitzA million-dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will help Southeast Texas prepare for the unthinkable but frighteningly real threat of a terror attack on attractive local petrochemical and refining targets.

Beginning in March, first-responders from Southeast Texas cities and counties will undergo training and planning through a University of Houston-based agency called the Borders, Trade and Immigration Institute, a Homeland Security "Center of Excellence."

It's scary to think about, said Sue Landry, director of criminal justice and homeland security for the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission, the grant recipient.

The regional planning commission, a consortium of local governments that coordinates a variety of activities that affect Jefferson, Hardin and Orange counties, applied for the Complex Coordinated Terror Attack grant in 2016. The commission was one of 29 recipients out of 141 applicants, Landry said.

"We live in a time where the more we understand and prepare, the safer we can make our communities," she said.

The University of Maryland catalogued more than 170,000 acts of terrorism from 1970 through 2016, mapping where incidents have happened and analyzing the response to the incidents.

The data was compiled by an agency called START, which stands for Study of Terrorism and Response to Terrorism. It will be used in BTI's presentations to the responders, Landry said.

Southeast Texas has a history of planning coordinated responses in

case of major incidents. That's why the Sabine-Neches Chiefs Association was formed in 1949, after the 1947 explosions of two ships docked at Texas City.

The same kind of fertilizer that blew up those ships destroyed a federal building in Oklahoma City in the late 1990s in a domestic terror attack that killed 168 people.

Toughening security

The training program will focus on possible gaps in security in Southeast Texas, which provides 11 percent of the nation's gasoline, 20 percent of its diesel fuel, 50 percent of aviation fuel, 70 percent of military aviation fuel and 97 percent of the liquefied natural gas as of 2016.

"We've made great strides as a region since 2003 and 2004," Landry said, referring to post-9/11 planning.

At that time, a grant helped ensure that all first-responders were on the same frequency. An analysis of the World Trade Center bombings revealed that police and fire departments could not communicate with one another because of different radio systems.

Landry said the Department of Homeland Security was looking for regional projects to help improve planning and preparation.

"We were able to demonstrate collaboration," Landry said.

The $1 million grant will help pay for three years' worth of plans and preparation.

In the first year of work, already under way, BTI will help to establish plans that can be shared across the country with other response agencies. It won't include regional specifics, she said.

In the second year, specific plans for Jefferson, Hardin and Orange counties will be developed through workshops.

The third year will feature a full-scale drill.

National implications

Although the project is focused on Southeast Texas, the findings will be applicable nationwide, said Kevin Clement, director of strategic partnerships for BTI.

"While our focus is on development of a unified regional response plan for the Beaumont-Port Arthur-Orange region, we will also develop plans, templates, exercises and training for first-responders nationwide to improve preparedness and responsiveness," Clement said. "Our goal is to enhance community efforts to prepare for complex coordinated terrorist attacks throughout the country."

Ultimately, Clement said, researchers will compile a lengthy list of recommendations - between 500 and 600 - based on the research.

"This would allow other communities attempting to enhance their preparedness to do so based on reviewing the action plan we produce," he said. "Through the action plan, we will have done the heavy lifting for them."

The project launched with a review of coordinated terrorist attacks from around the world, including the 2008 attack in Mumbai, India, and the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attack in France. The review will identify best practices in key areas, including intelligence, operational communications, tactical and medical response and family and victim services and support.

A series of two-day workshops beginning in March will feature public information officials who were involved in those incidents. Speakers and attendees will discuss best practices and recommendations drawn from the review.

Besides police, fire and emergency departments, agencies invited include the U.S. Coast Guard, FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office, Landry said.

Also invited are the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Department of Homeland Security, local ports, local industry, local public health and hospitals, the Texas General Land Office, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Department of Transportation.

Dan Wallach is a freelance writer.29 January 2018

Dr Meghna Kataria By

Appeared in BioNews 935

China has administered CRISPR genome editing to at least 86 cancer patients, a new report has revealed.

The Wall Street Journal has found evidence of 11 genome editing clinical trials in China, geared towards targeting an array of cancers and HIV infection. One is reported to have started as early as 2015.

US researchers were the first to use CRISPR to edit DNA. However, genome-editing trials have yet to be approved in the country. China, by contrast, has much less intensive regulation in this area.

'China shouldn't have been the first one to do [a human genome editing trial],' Dr Shixiu Wu, who is leading one of China's first such trials at Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, told the Wall Street Journal. 'But there are fewer restrictions.'

Researchers from University of Pennsylvania in the USA are yet to receive final regulatory clearance for CRISPR-based cancer therapeutics. Dr Wu's trial is using genome editing to treat oesophageal cancer. The team aims to edit the genome of immune T cells extracted from patient blood to halt the production of PD-1, a protein which helps cancer cells evade the immune system, before reinfusing the modified cells into the patients.

The report also highlighted instances of less stringent, sometimes inconsistent review processes for human trials faced by Chinese researchers compared with their Western counterparts. The latter must field hospital review boards, ethics committees and government agencies before receiving approval.

Dr Carl June, lead scientist from the University of Pennsylvania study, spoke of regulatory asymmetry between the USA and China. 'We are at a dangerous point in losing our lead in biomedicine. It is hard to know what the ideal is between moving quickly and making sure patients are safe.'

Despite its purported efficacy and ease of use in laboratory-based studies, CRISPR research faces concerns regarding unintended alterations within DNA ('off-target' effects, see BioNews 903), or even rejection by the patient's immune system (see BioNews 933).

Calling CRISPR a double-edged sword, Dr Wu said: 'If we don't try, we will never know.'29 January 2018

Ewa Zotow By

Appeared in BioNews 935

Two same-sex married couples have filed lawsuits against the US State Department after being refused US citizenship for one of their children.

One partner in each couple is not a US citizen. Both couples are legally married, their children were conceived and born outside the USA during their marriages, and both partners in each couple are the only legal parents listed on their children's birth certificates.

Twin sons of Elad and Andrew Dvash-Banks were born minutes apart via surrogate. One of the twins was conceived with Elad's sperm, and the other with Andrew's. The other couple, Allison Blixt and Stefania Zaccari, each carried and gave birth to a son conceived using donor sperm.

However, the US State Department only recognized the children biologically related to the US citizens to be eligible for the citizenship. The other children, in the eyes of law, cannot claim the same right.

The State Department notes on its website that children born through assisted reproductive technology are granted citizenship at birth if they are biologically related to a US citizen parent.

However, Aaron Morris, executive director of Immigration Equality which filed the lawsuits, claims that the policy used in both cases should only apply to 'children born out of wedlock'. The correct policy for married parents does not require a blood relationship.

The Dvash-Banks were specifically asked to undergo genetic testing to prove their relationship to their sons. Morris claims that the policy is discriminatory as it suggests that the same-sex marriage 'doesn't count'.

'When a man and a woman walk into a consulate of the US with a marriage certificate and a birth certificate, no one asks them any questions about biology,' said Morris.

The demand for biological relatedness was intended to prevent immigration fraud and trafficking. However, the use of assisted reproductive technology means that some children may not meet the requirement. Same-sex couples are particularly affected as they often rely on artificial insemination and surrogacy.

'The fact that the State Department's policy has led children identified by their birth certificates as boys with the same parents to have different nationalities listed on their passports crystallises both the indignity and absurdity of the policy's effect,' stated the lawsuit.29 January 2018

Jamie Rickman By

Appeared in BioNews 935

In 2012, social scientists representing 20 different countries and all five continents gathered to discuss the 'routinization' and globalisation of selective reproductive technologies in Copenhagen, Denmark. The editors of this book, Professors Ayo Wahlberg and Tine M. Gammeltoft, anthropologists at the University of Copenhagen, organised the conference in response to what they saw as an urgent need to explore the ethical, social and political questions surrounding the emerging field of selective reproductive technologies (SRTs) - as distinct from the more established and well-researched field of assistive reproductive technologies (ARTs). This book is a synthesis of that conference: each chapter a contribution from an attendee presenting their research into SRTs.

As a collection of ethnographic studies, I found this book to be informative, thorough and balanced. But in addition, the voices that are heard in these chapters - the intimate portraits of women and families and their hopes and fears - make this book an engrossing and sometimes a highly emotional read.

Professors Wahlberg and Gammeltoft deftly articulate the distinction between ARTs and SRTs in their introductory chapter 'From Helping Hand to Guiding Hand'. ARTs, like IVF, are a 'helping hand' and seek only to overcome childlessness. In contrast, SRTs go further than this, explicitly directing the course of nature by selecting which gametes, embryos or fetuses will be taken to term, using technologies such as PGS (preimplantation genetic screening).

SRTs have the power to prevent the birth of children with hereditary diseases and disabilities. They have therefore been called 'soft eugenics', particularly in countries where their use is promoted by the state. But the controversy one might expect to surround such a technology has, in some countries, been knowingly suppressed by scientists, clinicians, marketers and governments - each with their own agendas - who write the policy and frame the conversations surrounding SRTs, argues the book. This is brilliantly articulated in Chapter 3, which describes how scientists from the US and UK working on SRTs carefully dissociate their research on sex selection technologies from Chinese and Indian sex-selective practices, which are widely condemned, instead aligning with the less morally problematic ARTs.

The American reproductive technology market, then continued this process of normalisation by presenting sex selection under the innocuous guise of 'family balancing', argue the authors. In different countries, we learn that women and families are being sheltered from the reality that, in using SRTs, they are making 'concrete and embodied decisions about the standard of entry into the human community'.

Professors Wahlberg and Gammeltoft go on to elaborate their title theme in 'Tracking Routes of Routinization' and carefully lay out the methodology in the book into four empirical routes of investigation; policies and regulations surrounding SRTs, people who use SRTs, the sites where SRTs are deployed and the technologies themselves. With these signposts as a starting point they set out to elucidate the 'variegated patterns of acceptance [of SRTs] in different countries: from pioneering "breakthroughs", at times followed by periods of concern and resistance, then regulation and eventually routinisation'.

Different contributors choose different routes of investigation, which makes for a rather idiosyncratic selection of case studies. For example, Chapter 3 is a detailed historical account of the evolution of the sex selection technology MicroSort from its conception in a weapons laboratory, through to its adoption by the agriculture industry, and its eventual status as a technology embodying neo-liberal ideas of self-determination.

In contrast, 'Tracing Taiwanese Women's Experience of PST [prenatal screening and testing]' in Chapter 5 focuses solely on the anecdotal experiences of women and their partners and includes drawings done by interviewees in response to the question 'what is your experience of PST?'. This creative form of fieldwork reveals a deep insight; when the male partners are asked to make the same drawings they never place themselves in the image, but rather depict the woman and the clinician. The author interprets this as reflecting their emotional distance from the experience. The broad range of approaches and styles does not detract from the focus of the book but rather resonates with the diversity of social, political and religious landscapes described in each chapter, as well keeping the reader entertained throughout.

The seven chapters are grouped into three sections each relating to one of the three primary uses of SRTs; sex selection,preventing disease and disability, and selecting traits. This grouping emphasises how women from different countries using SRTs with the same objective can have starkly contrasting experiences. This is most striking in the juxtaposed case studies from Denmark and Taiwan on the use of PGS. This is used to detect abnormalities in a fetus, such as Down's syndrome, and is offered free to pregnant women in both countries. Excerpts from interviews with Danish women undergoing PGS reveal a cool, matter-of-factness; they speak of 'opting out' of a pregnancy and keep the 'moral and ethical predicaments [of PGS] at arms length'. The study suggests that availability of the technology and its highly institutionalised status allows Danish women to abnegate their own individual responsibility to a collective authority- a kind of 'techno-shaping' of morality. By contrast, in Taiwan it is the woman who is charged with the burden of choice and ultimate responsibility for the unborn child. This societal pressure triggers deep anxiety and distress in the Taiwanese women, unlike their Danish counterparts, even though PGS and therapeutic abortions are not viewed negatively.

That women's experiences of SRTs are determined by societal forces is made clear from the second and most harrowing chapter in the book 'Coping with Sex-Selective Abortions in Vietnam', which includes a moving and unflinching account of a late-term termination. In Vietnam, the one-or-two child policy enforces small family sizes but there is also huge cultural pressure for male heirs. Sex selective termination is widespread, but it is considered a sin and there is great stigma and shame apportioned to women who go through it. This chapter was the most personal of them all; Professor Gammeltoft even recounts a traumatic nightmare she had following the time she spent with her interviewees, adding depth and colour to the study.

Overall this compendium of ethnographies gives great insight into the complex and far-reaching topic of how SRTs are being shaped by, and are shaping different societies across the globe, and how this in turn affects the women and families using them. The accounts are clear, well-articulated and mercifully free of statistics and jargon. The diversity of voices and stories presented is testament to the power of international, collaborative research.

Selective Reproduction in the 21st Century is available from Amazon UK.29 January 2018

Professor Marcus Pembrey By

Appeared in BioNews 935

The recent demonstration that friends have more of their genetic makeup in common than two people picked at random from their population has been making the headlines (see BioNews 934). The research, published in PNAS was based on data from 5500 American adolescents of European origin participating in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health).

It has been known for a while that spouses share more similarity in their genomes than expected by chance. The Add Health study showed in non-Hispanic whites that genetic similarity between friends is about two-thirds of that found between spouses, but more than strangers. The study also tried to tease out how much was down to unconscious attraction between individuals, and how much was associated with the shared school and social environment. They found classmates were about half as genetically similar as friends, but still significantly more similar than unaffiliated individuals.

However, the reporting of this study has so far largely focused on why your friends share more of your genes and DNA variants than expected. This similarity in genetics may all makes sense given the old proverb, 'birds of a feather flock together'. But there is also another rather spooky side to this study and the whole field of social genetic effects. This is that how you end up involves not just the genes you inherited but also the genes of significant others. The authors end their summary of the significance of their paper by saying: 'We also find evidence of a "social-genetic effect" such that the genetics of a person's friends and school mates influenced their own education, even after accounting for the person's own genetics.'

If you are comfortable with the idea that genes carry information that makes you who you are and what you look like, promoted on respectable educational web sites, then you may be rather disconcerted by these recent findings. After all many people regard their genetic makeup as a key element of their individuality. But now we have a study that concludes that some of your own educational achievement is down to your friends' genes rather than your own.

Hang on a minute, who are we talking about here? What a nonsense, you might be saying. But calm down, this feeling is just an insidious side-effect of the geno-centric climate we are living in. To redress the balance, I am reminded of hearing the diplomat Alexander Downer discuss how one got to understand a country to which one had been posted. 'They feel as they feel because of their own history and experience. People are defined by these experiences.'

We are all defined in part by our history and experiences. It is common to hear people talk of a particular school teacher who was a key influence on their career path or some other aspect of their life. Obviously, there is no direct cross-talk between the teacher's DNA and that of the pupil. Genes have their influence through their expression in terms of dictating which proteins are produced when and in which tissues during development and thereafter, often in response to social or physical environmental factors. Gene expression is moulded through additional epigenetic regulation to eventually influence developmental variation in phenotype. Phenotypes range from some basic physiological response to complex traits like personality.

The Add Health paper does not discuss any of these processes by which a particular genotype might influence other people through its phenotypic expression. The word epigenetics is not mentioned at all. It is only dealing with correlations and rightly points out that their study does not inform the direction of influence between friends or schoolmates. The pupil also contributes to the motivation generated by a particular teacher, but the causal pathways are unclear and probably complex.

A recent study in the journal PLOS Genetics of social genetic effects in mice detected associations between a trait of one mouse and the genetic makeup of its cage mates. It turned out that such social genetic effects explained up to 29 percent of variation in anxiety, wound healing, body weight and immune function, and in several cases contributed more to phenotypic variation than the mouses own genes. This phenomenon appears to hold for both in-bred and out-bred strains. Social genetic effects, of course, can play both ways in terms of social cohesion and cultural continuity, but much is likely to be mediated by epigenetics.

The simplest example of a genotype becoming an environmental influence on another person comes from the mother-baby relationship. The maternal genotype also contributes to the early nutritional environment of progeny through its influence on maternal metabolism during pregnancy. This is best exemplified in studies on insulin sensing and fetal growth, through which a common variant of the glucokinase gene alters fasting glucose and birth weight.

Here we know the causal pathway from mother to baby, and also some of the other factors  genetic or otherwise  that might modify the outcome in the baby. But take a step back and imagine just how challenging it will be to understand what is going on between free-living, unrelated friends as they grow up. Yes, it really is going to be complicated!29 January 2018

Fiona Duffy

Partner, Patrick F O'Reilly & Co. Solicitors, Dublin By

Appeared in BioNews 935

The Minister for Health in Ireland on the 3 October 2017 disclosed a decision by Government to approve the drafting of a bill on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated research. Three days later a general scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017 was published. This month, the bill went to Irelands Oireachtas health committee for scrutiny (see BioNews 934), after which it will go back to the Irish government for a final bill to be drafted. This is very exciting as it will be the first legislation in Ireland on assisted reproduction: setting up a legislative and regulatory structure under which the practice of AHR may operate.

The legislation is very comprehensive and forward-thinking in many respects. That said, I am disappointed with the proposals in relation to surrogacy: if enacted, the law could significantly impact access to surrogacy for many Irish couples.

Proposals considered in 2014 resulted in the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015. While proposals for the reassignment of legal parentage in surrogacy cases were made, no such provisions made it into the final version of the act. Proposals relating to donor conception did make it into the act but have not yet been brought into force. Notwithstanding, I am reasonably optimistic that the new AHR legislation and regulation will be put in place.

So what is different now? Well, there is a changed mood. It is accepted that infertility and subfertility are on the rise. Public opinion would be supportive of such legislation. We have an interested young population whose voices are heard and we have a Government that is willing to tackle conservative thinking in many areas such as this.

According to the Chief Medical Officer for the Department of Health, the number of fertility cycles for AHR procedures in Ireland had risen to almost 9000 in 2016. This figure is likely to continue to rise. The time has come for the Government to deal with the issues.

The general scheme is very forward thinking. It proposes to permit PGD, sex selection on medical grounds, the use of supernumerary embryos for research, and posthumous assisted reproduction.

While it also contains provision for legalising surrogacy in Ireland, these proposals are in my view worryingly restrictive. The legislation proposes that only altruistic surrogacy which takes place in Ireland will be permitted. Such surrogacy arrangements will need to gain the prior approval of the regulatory authority.

I am also perturbed to see the proposal that the provision of any technical, medical or professional service (including legal advice) which would help to facilitate any other surrogacy  e.g. foreign or commercial surrogacy  be prohibited.

The penalties for a contravention of this section are substantial, including a fine not exceeding 100,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.

This is in contrast to the 2014 report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality which concluded that no sanction should be imposed on parents for breach of the surrogacy provisions proposed in the 2014 bill as it was felt that such penalties would be against the interests of the child. My hope is that the penalty provisions would be revisited and that the proposed prohibition on the provision of advice either medical or legal, be removed.

I am very sorry to note that no provision for transfer of legal parenthood in cases of surrogacy is contemplated in the current scheme. This is a missed opportunity. There are many children in Ireland born through surrogacy arrangements living with a male parent, recognised under Irish law, and a second adult whose relationship with the child is not recognised - even if that person is biologically related to the child. My hope is that the legislation would contain appropriate provisions for the retrospective transfer of legal parentage for children already born through surrogacy.

So what are my hopes and dreams for the bill in general? I hope that inclusive and forward-thinking legislation will be put in place and that the practice of AHR will be properly regulated. For too long our fertility clinics in Ireland have had to practice in what was essentially a legal lacuna.

I hope that the proposed regulatory authority will be set up and will be operational in a very short period of time. Many of the provisions contained in this legislation are contingent on the establishment of such an authority. And I hope that the section on surrogacy will be re-visited and that access to surrogacy will be less restrictive.

I am pleased to note the provisions in relation to counselling contained in the scheme. Currently, there is no requirement that any person availing of AHR services in this jurisdiction is required to undergo counselling.

Alongside with this scheme the Department of Health has indicated an intention to provide public funding for couples needing to avail of AHR services. My hope is that public funding would be made available to assist couples with fertility issues.

Apart from my concerns relating to the surrogacy proposals, in general, the scheme contains more than I ever expected. I understand that this piece of legislation may not be on the legislative programme before the summer recess, but I hope that the draftsmen will get to work on the bill and that we might expect to see legislation in place at least by this time next year.A nationwide innovation competition, Solve IT!, has been launched by the US Embassy in Addis Ababa to promote STEM, entrepreneurship, and encourage a new generation of young Ethiopians to solve problems in their communities using technology, software, and hardware.

Solve IT! will involve nine city hubs in seven regional states and two city administrations: Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Jimma, Bahir Dar, Mekelle, Gambela, Semera, Hawassa and Jigjiga are the selected cities.Ethiopians, between the ages of 18 and 28, will work for nine months to develop products that they believe will tackle key problems faced by their communities through developing mobile phone applications to hardware solutions.Training will be given in nine cities, including product development, technical support, marketing and business planning. Winners at the regional level will advance to the National Round, a week-long competition with elimination rounds and presentations before a jury of industry experts.The competition is implemented by the US Embassy in collaboration with partners iCog Labs and Humanity plus and is currently accepting registrations from individuals and teams. For more, go to www.ocog-labs.comOn the morning of 15 January 2018, Flying Fish took to the streets of Johannesburg with hundreds of scuba divers to add some flavour with #JoziDivers to what was internationally recognised as the bluest Monday of 2018.

Streets of Johannesburg were abuzz as hundreds of unbranded scuba divers were seen going about their everyday normal adulting routines, in taxi ranks, bank queues, coffee shops and the Gautrain, pulling all kinds of playful tricks for surprised onlookers. The stunt was well received as social and traditional media trended with the #JoziDivers tag. Onlookers were kept wondering what was going as they were desperately figuring out what the commotion and frenzy caused by the divers was all about.The aim of this scuba diver invasion was a teaser to the launch of Flying Fishs new TV commercial; where the brand encourages South Africans to brew out the seriousness of their everyday mundane adulting habits, and brew in some play.Post the #JoziDivers public stunt which alluded to the TVCs storyline, the commercial was launched in the evening; featuring a scuba diver named Joey who is busy doing his mundane job - totally bored with his adulting situation. We then see Joey being saved form his boredom by a playful yellow submarine called The Flying Fish.The TV advert that was launched this past Monday is currently on high rotation on various TV channels across South Africa.As a global strategist, I've spent a lot of January talking about the biggest trends in digital media and marketing for 2018.

Tyler Greer

From a global perspective were going to see a big evolution in three key areas  artificial intelligence (AI); voice; and the structure of media agencies. However, despite increased globalisation there remain regional and local differences in the media ecosystem and I was curious to find out how these trends play out in South Africa.So, I sat down with Carmen Murray, founder of Boo-Yah! an African Inspired Educational Marketing Service and Paul Berney, co-founder of The Connected Marketer Institute and global marketing expert who specialise in Africa, to discuss my global predictions and to find out if these resonate in South Africa.Globally,is the new buzzword in media and marketing and promises to be the go-to prediction for the next few years. The trick will be for marketers to separate the hope from the hyperbole. At best, it promises a unified and intelligent view on the customer journey and the ways in which we speak with them. At worse, well be tossed onto the employment slag-heap by (possibly malevolent) robots.In reality, neither of these will be the case. However, AI will underwrite most digital pitches in the market, and buyers and marketers will need to bring good old fashioned human intelligence to their assessment of which claims can truly fulfil the promises made.Carmen Murray agrees that AI is poised to have a big impact in South Africa noting, It is a huge trend and everyone is talking about it. At Boo-Yah! were introducing new courses on the subject as we believe there is a huge need for education around AI, machine learning and chatbots. Further Murray believes that the region will see home grown technologies like USSD eventually replaced by AI (specifically chatbots and virtual assistants). One thing is for sure, AI will play a vital role in multiple industries across Africa in the coming years.On the global stage,is also a hot topic, although the buzz surrounding it has yet to be matched by its market penetration  nor is there a clear understanding of the applications and opportunities which brands may bring to the space.Nevertheless, going forward it is clear that brands will have to establish a strong voice brand as well as a visual one. Voice will be a dominant conversation starter in market, though to get traction quickly will hinge on its ability to play functional, smoothly-operating roles within our lives, and being attached to an end supplier or service provider will greatly hasten adoption.In the US, Amazon gets this. Should Amazons Alexa become the entry point for shopping via voice technology, and voice its most functional portal to Amazon shopping, brands and retailers will have a fresh wave of challenges to grapple with  particularly as Amazon continues its global expansion.But does any of this impact South Africa yet given the issues it faces with connectivity infrastructure, the cost of mobile data and the absence of a regional play for the big voice players (Amazons Alexa and Google Home)?According to Murray, it is too early to call out voice being a key trend in South Africa. This is due to the uneven distribution of smart devices, the ubiquity of internet access via mobile and the work needed to upgrade 2G to 3G technology and lay the cables for fibre. And beyond these issues, theres also the fact that South Africa has 11 official languages to grapple with. Further, as a mobile first nation, devices used for voice services and applications are also likely to skew differently in South Africa.However, that being said, she believes that South African marketers cant ignore voice as it is coming to market and it will impact strategy over the medium term.Paul Berney agrees that marketers in the region need to sit up and take notice of voice, Brands will need to consider their voice strategy when it comes to search. What happens when I ask my device a general question about a product or service or a specific one about a named brand? Do you even know what happens when a consumer tries this today?Both experts urge South African marketers to keep a close track on global initiatives to avoid falling behind the curve when connectivity access and infrastructure begins to improve in the region.The traditionalhas been unstitching for a while, and 2018 will see the pace of this increase. Digital is the primary change agent, along with reduced fees and other factors, and means media agencies are trying to restructure on the fly, even if not all know exactly what the end point will look like. Some will get it right, many wont, but by the end of the year, South African media agencies will have to follow the rest of the world in trying to manage their way through the new digitally focussed landscape.Berney and Murray wholeheartedly concur, with Berney noting, media agencies face an existential crisis around their role and value add. In the programmatic or automated age, the value from media buying has been vastly reduced over time. Add to that, concerns about agency commercial models and transparency issues and you find a great number of agencies asking themselves how do we provide real value to our clients?Questions about value are also top of Murrays mind as she told me The rise of small agile startups means the retainer model is dying a slow death and I think the biggest challenge for the large media agencies, is the ability to be agile with projects and budgets. She also notes that the increase of the large consultancies like Accenture and Deloitte offering media services is also impacting the agency proposition.As we move towards the end of the decade, one thing that is certain; the next few years will be pivotal in terms of evolution and experimentation as new technologies and business models test the waters.It will be interesting to see which gain trust and traction  and which fall by the wayside.Woolworths CEO Ian Moir. Image credit: Financial Mail

Moir, an expert in fashion retail, has been at the helm since 2010. But David Jones has been weak and outperformed by the food division in SA and Australia. One thing all analysts agree on is that top management is in dire need of a shake-up.Although Woolworths attributed the impairment to "the cyclical downturn and structural changes" affecting Australia's retail sector, some analysts are adamant that overpaying for a struggling asset in a foreign territory was a bad move and top management should be held accountable.They argue that at the core of the impairment, which equates to about a third of the R23.3bn paid in 2014, was poor foresight by management.Portfolio manager at Gryphon Asset managers Casparus Treurnicht said that it was about time that top-level management was reorganised so individuals could be held more accountable. He reminisced about how in 2014 Woolworths assured shareholders that "initiatives are expected to deliver incremental ebit [earnings before interest and tax] of at least R1.4bn per annum within five years."However, the acquisition remained a noose around Woolworths's neck, pointing to a poor performance by management."Wow! Management really did well for themselves! Not only did they overpay for DJ [David Jones], they simply got the cycle wrong and never delivered on promises. They must be held accountable," said Treurnicht,Peter Takaendesa, portfolio manager at Mergence Investment Managers, said that Moir had come out to take some responsibility for the poor execution at David Jones. "Ian is an experienced retail executive and has executed very well in the past."He said other retail companies such as Mr Price had also experienced patches of weaker execution recently but had managed to resolve those issues. "We therefore believe investors are likely to give him a chance to resolve those execution issues but failure to demonstrate progress over the next 12 months could cost him his job," Takaendesa said.Vele Asset Managers equity analyst Matthew Zunckel welcomed the impairment, saying it was overdue as it had been clear for a while that the assumptions used in calculating the goodwill attributable to David Jones were overly optimistic.He said that while the write-off would distort a number of metrics, it would allow David Jones to strategically start on a "clean" slate with a more reasonable valuation of David Jones on Woolworths's books and better prospects of earning an adequate return on capital.But he maintained that management should take accountability for the "disastrous move", as the acquisition resulted in a huge amount of value destruction for shareholders.Woolworths warned that its headline earnings per share for the 26 weeks to 24 December were expected to drop between 12.5% and 17.5%. On Thursday morning, the share price dropped 11.7% but recovered to close 2.33% lower on the day at R64.14. Those who invested in Woolies at the start of the year have lost 1.79%.The underlying issue in Australia is that turnaround plans are not bearing fruit in the department store industry.Zunckel said that department store managements were having to fight an established structural story of consumer preference for shopping online or at speciality retail stores, and so far that structural story had remained entrenched. Meanwhile, there is some wariness about close competitor TFG's interest in expanding even further into the impregnable Australian market, after it bought RAG for R3bn in 2017."When will people realise that 70%-90% of acquisitions fail?" Treurnicht said, adding that value could only be created organically. "That's how Shoprite and Clicks's share prices outperformed," he said.But Takaendesa argued that TFG's international expansion appeared to be going well so far, which might mean that it was selecting better assets to acquire or executing better or both."They are currently an outlier in that regard as most South African retailers are struggling when it comes to expanding into highly competitive developed markets," he said."We will be closely monitoring cash generation and the sustainability of their better performance to avoid Steinhoff kind of problems."STRASBOURG, France - A French supermarket chain's decision to slash the price of Nutella by 70% has sparked frenzy, with shoppers across the country jostling to squirrel away as many jars of the nutty spread as possible in what one worker likened to an orgy.

Video posted online Thursday and testimony from baffled supermarket workers showed long queues forming outside Intermarche supermarkets and chaotic scenes as bargain hunters stormed inside."People just rushed in, shoving everyone, breaking things. It was like an orgy," one employee in the northeastern town of Forbach told, asking to remain anonymous. "We were on the verge of calling the police."Another employee in Revigny-sur-Ornain said it was no wonder there was a run on the shelves: "70% off? That's a steal."When contacted by, Intermarche apologised to its customers and said it had been "surprised" by the sheer demand.The chain usually sells Nutella for 4.50 ($5.60) but with the discount jars were going for just 1.41.Netizens reacted with much merriment over the furore."Seriously??!! All this just for Nutella" posted Kenny Le Bon (@KennyLeBon) on Twitter alongside a video of a crowd of shoppers scrambling over a rapidly depleting stand of jars."Was gonna get some Sunday. But I don't wanna die," added Ruthii Trudie (@ruthii_rawr).Ferrero, the Italian company that makes Nutella, said the discount decision was taken "unilaterally" by Intermarche and risked creating "confusion and disappointment" for consumers.Hortrgro, in a statement following a false report that is currently circulating about Listeria on South African apples, said that to their knowledge, no Listeria has ever been found on fresh South African apples.

jill111 via pixabay

According to Hortgro's Executive Director Anton Rabe, the report being circulated on certain WhatsApp groups refer to an incident dating back to 2015 in California, in the USA, when Listeria was found on caramelised apples. "To link this to the current situation and in any manner or form with the fruit industry as such is misleading and sensation-seeking.The fruit industry subscribes to the highest international food safety standards. All South African pack houses are accredited and follow strict guidelines. Without these protocols and auditing systems, the export of fruit to discerning international markets would not be impossible. Fruits from the same orchards are available for local market consumption.As an industry, we take note and is concerned about the Listeria outbreak in South Africa, said Rabe. However, there is no direct link between the outbreak and our industry. Hortgro will continue to monitor the situation and engage with health professionals when and where required.For over a hundred years SA has had an excellent reputation as a credible and reliable source of excellent quality and safe fresh fruit.Two of the directors of Steinhoff - Sanlam chairman Johan van Zyl and accounting expert Len Konar - say former CEO Markus Jooste "misled" the furniture retailer's board.

This is the first defence yet from any of Steinhoff's directors against fiery accusations that the board was delinquent in overseeing the retailer's management, thereby opening the door to the country's largest corporate fraud.Once one of the JSE's top 10 stocks, Steinhoff's market value shed R206bn in the weeks since Jooste quit on 6 December as "accounting irregularities" emerged.This week, institutional shareholder Coronation (which holds 5.2% of Steinhoff) described the "failure" of the board as frustrating, while Wits University's Prof Jannie Rossouw wrote an open letter calling on the board to quit.Konar has told thethat much of the criticism aimed at the nonexecutive directors is unfair. "We were misled, we were lied to. We asked for information and either it was not forthcoming, or [it was] presented in a way that wasn't representative of the truth," he says.Konar points out that none of the five remaining independent directors - Van Zyl, Steve Booysen, Theunie Lategan, Heather Sonn and himself - is mentioned in the report by three-man team Viceroy Research."These five remaining nonexecutive directors were diligent [and] followed good governance principles, but the events that are now being investigated were beyond our detailed knowledge and were not submitted in that form to the board," he says.It is understood that Jooste sent an SMS to some of the nonexecutive directors, apologising for having got the company into such a mess. He added in that message that he did not have the courage to meet those directors face to face.You can see why he'd be reluctant to do so. Konar says many of the directors personally held shares in Steinhoff, and they have experienced "catastrophic losses and reputational damage" in recent weeks.Konar, Booysen and Lategan's personal shareholdings in Steinhoff have fallen in value from R40m to R3m in recent weeks. And they can't sell the shares, as Steinhoff is in a closed period."From October, the nonexecutive directors have been working on Steinhoff matters without remuneration, as these fees haven't yet been approved at an AGM," says Konar.Van Zyl tells thethat though his first instinct upon discovering the fraud in December was to resign, that would have been irresponsible."Sure, some people didn't do their jobs diligently, particularly [management]," Van Zyl says. "But you can't have everyone quit on day one. If the entire board had stepped down then, Steinhoff would absolutely have been belly-up by now."Rather, says Van Zyl, it would be better to stabilise the company, then hold an extraordinary general meeting at which all shareholders could have a say on which directors should stay, who should go and who should join."We have a duty to shareholders. It's not easy, given that we've had to deal with some of the management lying to us. If you can't trust the management of a company, you have to ask what the hell you're doing there," he says.Van Zyl says it seems that much of the fraud didn't happen in Steinhoff itself, but in related entities in Europe, where Steinhoff didn't have control or oversight - either directly or through its auditors."These were off-balance-sheet entities set up deliberately to bamboozle the governance structures, including the supervisory board and auditors. If someone sets up those kinds of structures, it will likely do so," he says.Van Zyl says Steinhoff was set up under Dutch law, in which companies are split into a management board and a supervisory board, which has far fewer powers of oversight than a traditional board in the SA system.So under Dutch law, much of what a traditional board would do in SA would be the sole domain of the management board. "In hindsight, this is where many of the issues arose," says Van Zyl.Booysen, the former Absa CEO who chairs Steinhoff's audit committee, is more circumspect, saying he is "quite constrained" in commenting while PwC conducts a forensic investigation into exactly where the accounting irregularities lay. That investigation, he says, "will provide us with the facts and the truth".The problem is that while PwC's findings are a prerequisite for Deloitte to sign off on Steinhoff's financials for the year to September, insiders say this event is months away. Certainly, it looks very unlikely that financials will emerge by the end of this month, as some investors expect."PwC isn't even nearly close to finishing its investigation," says one insider. "And the auditor Deloitte will need [those] findings before it signs off any accounts. So, at the absolute minimum, I expect this to take at least six months."Steinhoff hasn't given any timeline for the findings. Last week, it said it aims to provide an "update on progress as soon as it is able to do so".But the company did reveal that it sold 29.5m shares in PSG worth R7.1bn to alleviate its cash crunch, having sold 20m PSG shares in December. In recent weeks, it also sold its Gulfstream G550 jet (valued at $25m), and its French arm Conforama sold 17% of online retailer Showroomprive for R1.2bn.While Deloitte has also come under fire, CEO Lwazi Bam says: "Based on all information at our disposal to date, Deloitte SA isconfident that it acted professionally, ethically, lawfully and with integrity."The problem seems to be that while Deloitte was the auditor for the holding company, it only audited some of the operating companies. Steinhoff Europe's operating companies were audited by a separate firm.While the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors is investigating Deloitte, this could turn out to be a key inflection point, considering that the fraud is understood to have taken place in the European entities.Fracking is a contentious issue. If this process of accessing shale gas is implemented in South Africa, it must be responsible and sustainable. Therefore, decision makers face a delicate environmental, social and economic balancing act to ensure that it proceeds in line with a risk averse and cautious approach.

Fracking policy

If there is political support for fracking, why is it not yet happening?

The regulatory landscape: environmental authorisations for exploration

The April 2011 moratorium on fracking was lifted in September 2012 following the publication of a task team report in July 2012. While that report acknowledged that the true extent of shale gas resources in South Africa is currently unknown, it confirmed that viable reserves could have positive implications for the countrys energy security and diversification.It recommended a robust regulatory framework designed to mitigate the risks and impacts associated with fracking while using existing regulatory mechanisms. Similar conclusions were reached following a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) study on South Africas technical readiness to support the shale gas industry. The 2012 National Development Plan (NDP) also confirms support for investigating shale and coal bed methane reserves as an energy diversification measure and recommends that where there are sustainable reserves and the environmental impacts can be mitigated, development in this space should be fast tracked. While there appears to be a political support for fracking, neither the NDPs prerequisites for fracking, nor the task teams recommendations have been achieved.A recent report indicated that the Karoo shale gas reserves, though still economically viable, are smaller than initially estimated. The real benefits, including the true reserves and alternative energy sources are not yet properly understood. Nor are the consequences of fracking.A much-disputed study commissioned by one of the leading fracking applicants in South Africa has suggested that fracking could generate R20bn annually and create up to 700,000 jobs. Natural gas is considered a desirable energy source, particularly given South Africas reliance on coal. Gas can be applied to most sectors, is easily transported provided the infrastructure is in place, generates less carbon dioxide when burnt than coal and is regarded as having high operational flexibility.However, the environmental consequences of exploiting this gas may be equally significant. Groundwater contamination is an obvious implication though there may be multiple potential negative impacts which must be balanced against the potential economic benefits. For example, the water intensive nature of shale gas exploration against the limitations of South Africas fresh water supplies.The NDP appears to contemplate that finding domestic gas feedstock, including in the form of commercial shale gas (if viable) will also reduce carbon emissions. While some argue that it will assist South Africa in reducing its already high carbon contribution, environmental commentators do not agree this is true in the absence of further research. Some say that natural gas will only reduce emissions if it offsets coal as a source of energy as the impact of shale gas exploitation and use has an equivalent greenhouse gas contribution to coal on an overall life cycle assessment.Notwithstanding the above contradictions, environmental authorisation has been granted to various applicants to undertake exploratory investigations. As at October 2014, applications for exploration rights relating to shale gas in the Karoo area had been made by the operators Shell, Bundu and Falcon. The area subject to these applications includes 27 local municipalities and covers an area of 171,811 kmThough most controversy has centred around the Karoo applications, there have been applications in other areas.Recently, environmental authorisations required in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations published in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (Nema) were granted by the DMR to Rhino Oil and Gas Exploration and Motuoane Energy. The geographical area covered by these authorisations extends to the North West, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State provinces.Environmental authorisations were required since, as a minimum, activity 18 of Listing Notice 2 requires authorisation for any any activity including the operation of that activity which requires an exploration right  including associated infrastructure, structures and earthworks.Though they are required, no exploration rights required in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 have been granted to these entities.Led by the Department of Environmental Affairs, which was supported by various other departments and recognised expert organisations, a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) was conducted in relation to the affected areas in the Karoo. Its intention was to provide an integrated assessment and decision-making framework to enable South Africa to establish effective policy, legislation and sustainability conditions under which shale gas development could occur, if it were to occur. No similar SEA has been done in respect of the North West, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal areas.The final phase of the Karoo SEA resulted in a June 2017 Decision Support Tools Report . It recommends certain minimum information requirements. Although some of this information will be useful for similar applications elsewhere in South Africa, the report recognises that other types of unconventional gas reserves may exist in regions of the South African onshore and offshore territory, and would need separate consideration if their development was considered.There have been no regulatory or other developments to address these findings or to initiate similar assessments. Apart from the controlled activity published in terms of the National Water Act, 1998, the only regulation specifically regulating fracking activities, being the Regulations for Petroleum Exploration and Production, 2015, were dealt a blow in the Grahamstown High Court in October 2017 in. The court set aside the regulations on the basis that their development fell outside of the mandate of the DMR.With the above in mind, from a legal perspective, the burning question is: if exploration reveals viable shale and other natural gas deposits, is the South African regulatory framework is equipped to ensure that the multiple competing considerations, advantages and impacts are properly considered and balanced?Moreover, is there the necessary cooperative governance and jurisdictional respect between the multiple government role players to manage an unconventional gas industry in South Africa?The effective and sustainable regulation of fracking in South Africa requires a multidisciplinary, multi-faceted and multi-stakeholder approach with inter and intra-governmental cooperation between various ministries and at all tiers. This may well require regulatory amendments in multiple broad ranging policies, statutes, regulations and, even at local bylaw level. Regulatory protection aside, South Africa will need to ensure that decision makers and those executing activities of this nature are equipped with both the necessary skills, capacity and supporting infrastructure as well as a legal framework which enables decisions which serve present and future generations. Ultimately, the environment needs to be right for the sake of the environment.SA's high and increasing levels of poverty and unemployment, and still very low average household income, mean that a disproportionate number of individuals and families across the country are unable to participate in the housing market. The heightened socio-economic challenges facing the country in recent years have exacerbated this issue and are placing increasing pressure on government to urgently provide access to affordable housing, particularly within the so-called gap market which caters for households earning an income of up to R15,000.

Apartheid housing legacy must be addressed urgently

More impactful partnerships needed

Of course, while the current economic issues are certainly limiting the countrys economic momentum, they cannot be seen as an excuse for SAs public and private sectors to reduce their focus on the all important provision of affordable housing opportunities for all South Africans. When the country achieved true democracy, national government made a constitutionally binding commitment to progressively realise the rights of all citizens to adequate housing. And economic setbacks or political challenges can never be allowed to diminish or remove those basic rights.As importantly, the countrys fiscal challenges must never be permitted to change the focus that has been placed over the past two decades on transforming the concept of social or affordable housing. One of the many troubling legacies of apartheid-era spatial planning was that it led to a belief that low cost housing meant a basic shelter located wherever space permitted  which was usually on the urban periphery with little or no access to basic services, social amenities, transport, or employment opportunities.In recent years, the recognition has grown within local governments that this apartheid housing legacy must be addressed as a matter of urgency. As a result, the focus of affordable housing is now on delivering dignified housing in a way that enhances the quality of life of its occupants and, most importantly, gives them access to schools, healthcare, retail establishments, community areas, transport and employment opportunities.While this is a very welcome paradigm shift, it presents a number of challenges to those involved in delivering this appropriate social housing, not least of which are a shortage of available, well-positioned land and the significantly higher costs involved in developing that land properly. In an already challenged economy like the one currently facing the country, the higher cost factor can be particularly limiting in terms of governments ability to deliver on its social housing promises. The highly regulated nature of social housing also demands specialist expertise to structure an approach that accommodates its very specific risks.The solution, of course, is for much more impactful affordable housing partnerships to be established between the countrys public and private sectors. In recent years, a number of these strong partnerships have evolved and they are undoubtedly having a very positive impact on the countrys affordable housing situation. Many of the participants in these partnerships  like the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA), The Housing Impact Fund South Africa (HIFSA), the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa, and International Housing Solutions (IHS), to name a just a few, are succeeding in demonstrating how much can be achieved through a committed, innovative, partnership-driven approach to social housing delivery.As a commercial property finance provider, Nedbank CIB has had the privilege of partnering with many of these housing organisations and authorities and we have witnessed, first hand, the transformative impact that effective and appropriate social housing can have  not just on the beneficiaries of these housing opportunities, but on the sustainable economic growth of communities and SA as a whole.Ultimately, access to housing is, and always will be, a vital cornerstone of SAs success in socio-economic advancement, effective redress, and real opportunity creation for all. As such, it is encouraging that government recently prioritised social housing delivery and has set a medium-term target for social housing stock of 27,000 units. While this represents a step change in fiscal commitment to the social housing industry, the public and private sector - including property financiers, developers and investors  need to work together to find solutions to accelerate the mobilisation of this key segment of the market to ensure its continued growth, and maximise its effectiveness as a transformation lever that helps create better futures for all South Africans.The Water Institute in Southern Africa (WISA) has launched a platform on which volunteers can pledge to donate time or goods to assist officials tasked with managing the Cape water crisis.

WISA aims to support water sector professionals; the scientists, engineers, managers, and operators that are trained to design, operate, and maintain a very complex system that needs to collect, treat, and distribute water to sustain life and business for South African citizens.South Africans are known as uniquely resilient, and for coming together to assist one another in times of need, says WISA CEO Lester Goldman. Weve created this volunteer platform to help streamline the strength in numbers, and connect those that can help with those that need help.The platform allows volunteers to submit their contact and donation details. WISA will collate the information and use its existing communication channels within the water sector to share relevant details with official task teams deployed by national and local government.The platform is available hereA crop munching worm that can fly up to 100 km (60 miles) at night is spreading rapidly across Africa, threatening food production and the livelihoods of millions of farmers already struggling with conflicts and drought, experts said on Friday.

Mikhail Kochiev via 123RF

A great challenge to the survival of agriculture in Africa

Disaster area

Fall armyworm here to stay

The larvae form of Fall armyworm prefers maize, but can feed on more than 80 plant species including rice, sorghum, millet, sugarcane, vegetable crops and cotton, said the United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)."There are roughly 35 million hectares of maize planted per year in Africa and if (the worm is) not in all those maize fields now, it will be very soon in the next planting season or so," said Allan Hruska, principal technical coordinator at FAO.The fields are tended by some 30 million smallholder farmers who depend on maize for food and income, Hruska said."Fall armyworm poses a great challenge to the survival of agriculture in Africa," with the potential to put hundreds of millions at risk of hunger, Mark Green, head of the US Agency for International Development told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a statement.The invasive species, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, was first detected in Central and Western Africa in early 2016. It has now spread to virtually all of sub-Saharan Africa, according to an FAO map seen by the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The female moth can lay up to 1,000 eggs in her lifetime.In December, Malawi declared 20 out of 28 districts disaster areas after an outbreak of Fall armyworm. In Zimbabwe, Fall armyworm destroyed 20% of the country's maize crop last season, according to government figures, at a time when the country was recovering from devastating drought.Losses in Africa could range from eight to 20 million tonnes in just 12 maize-producing countries alone if the pest is not controlled, and could be more severe in areas already suffering drought and conflict, said Ken Wilson, professor of evolutionary ecology at Lancaster University in England. Drought-affected plants are less able to resist the pests while conflict may prevent farmers from accessing much-needed help, he said.Farmers in America use genetically modified plants and advanced pesticides to control the pests, but these options may be too expensive and harm the environment and crops."The farmers can get pesticides from the government this year, but what happens next year, or the year after that?" said Wafaa El Khoury, technical specialist at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Rome.Mixing crops and encouraging natural predators may be more effective, from the experience of smallholder farmers in the Americas, said FAO's Hruska.But Wilson said Fall armyworm's presence in Africa is irreversible. "It's here to stay and we need to develop strategies on how best to manage this pest long-term," he said.We demand convenient parking everywhere we go, and then learn not to see the vast, unsightly spaces that result.

Website What the Street maps space for different transport modes in cities such as Los Angeles, which has more than 1,000 hectares of surface car parking. Another study found 14% of LA County was set aside for parking.Yet people nearly always underestimate car space. In Rethinking a Lot , Eran Ben-Joseph found that while the US has at least 800-million parking spaces  almost 2.5 per person  people typically notice parking only when looking for a space:Obviously, all this parking emerged to cater to rising car ownership throughout the 20th century. And, on average, cars are parked 95% of the time But in the US and Australia, very little parking is a market-based response to demand. An estimated 99% of parking in the US is free to the user . In Melbourne, Australia, 95% of parking trips over 2012-14 were free to the user . Unlike food or housing, parking tends to be considered a public infrastructure or right rather than a market good.

Dr Elizabeth Taylor: Parking pricing and the Arab Spring: They may price our roads, but theyll never price - our parking? from Institute for Sensible Transport on Vimeo.

A case study: Melbourne

Elizabeth Taylor, 2017

 increasing desire on the part of the owners to use the curb space  who have come to regard this facility as a moral obligation on the part of the authorities to preserve for them.

 parking spaces should not only be adequate in number, but  must also be located convenient to the shops because shoppers do not want to carry their purchases a long way to their cars.

Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme 1954: Report, Page 60

Strategic goals and parking policies in conflict

Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme 1954: Report, with additions by Elizabeth Taylor , Author provided

Political sensitivities win out over strategic goals

If urban planners want to encourage housing and reduce traffic, why tax housing to subsidise cars?

One reason for the amount of parking, and our expectation it should be free, is the land use planning system. Many city planning systems set minimum amounts of off-street parking for new developments, with a view to protecting (normally free) on-street parking.Researcher Paul Barter identifies three types of parking policy: conventional, parking management, and market-based parking (Japan is a rare example of the third type).Conventional policies treat parking as public infrastructure and aim to predict and provide generous amounts of it. Such approaches became widespread over the 20th century.For a 2017 paper I traced the historical development of parking policies in one city, Melbourne.I identified references to car parking in a review of planning documents from 1929 to 2016, both strategic documents  the broader stated goals for the city  and the statutory instruments that more directly shape urban development.Melbournes first strategic plan was the 1929 Plan for General Development . While never implemented, it gives an insight into how city problems were thought of. Parking was a major concern.The document discusses pressures from increased car ownership and the:Planners were critical of this expectation and proposed a metropolitan parking authority to manage street space. During the subsequent Great Depression and war years, however, strategic plans were not implemented.By the time of Melbournes first implemented strategic plan in 1954 , the context was increasingly widespread car ownership. This plan referred to the formidable problem of nding accommodation for parked cars in older areas, and called parking one of the greatest challenges to city administrations the world over.The problem of parking was redefined from one of too many stationary cars to a lack of parking space for cars. By 1954 the idea of parking on the street as a public right was, if not considered a good idea in planning strategy, acknowledged as a widespread expectation.The 1954 plan had two main parking goals. The first was adapting older pre-car areas to the preferences of car drivers. It sought to save pedestrian-oriented areas by integrating parking via demolitions and other means , warning that:Second, the plan sought to build new parts of Melbourne around ample parking. It introduced minimum parking ratios  amounts of off-street parking required of new developments. For example, one parking space was mandated per 20ftof public bar in new hotels.The rates were seemingly inspired by a visit f rom a Los Angeles planner in 1953 and were openly modelled on US standards. The document showed an American shopping mall surrounded by parking and noted that by contemporary American standards the new policy requirement would be inadequate, but it is much in advance of what is available today in Melbourne.So, in post-war Melbourne, ample car parking was specifically planned as a key part of building a car-based city.In later decades, Melbourne strategic planning documents (in 1967 and 1971 ) sought to manage population and car growth by both catering for and managing car traffic. These plans debated freeways but did not discuss parking, although behind the scenes statutory minimum requirements continued.The 1981 strategic plan for Melbourne did discuss parking at some length. It defined a parking limitation area, the central business district (CBD), where parking maximums replaced minimums. This system was two-tiered, with parking management in the CBD, and conventional parking policies in the rest of Melbourne.This continues today, with sharp divisions inside and outside the CBD in terms of the shares of trips by car After 1981, parking disappeared again from Melbourne strategic planning, while parking requirements continued in statutory policies. The deregulation of planning in the 1990s did not extend to car parking.By the time of the 2002 plan, Melbourne 2030 , strategic planning statements sought to increase urban densities and limit car use.The document showed a typical car base centre surrounded by parking, almost identical to the suggested ideal in the 1950s. In 2002, however, this was contrasted with the same centre as it could be, with dense mixed development and tree coverage.Despite a change in strategic vision, minimum parking policies remained. The 2014 strategic plan, Plan Melbourne , made essentially no mention of car parking.Even with more recent strategic planning to curtail car use and increase urban densities, parking policies introduced in the 1950s to achieve the opposite effects have essentially remained intact.The result is a complex and contentious system, with tensions between strategic policies (which encourage housing diversity and alternatives to cars) and statutory policies (which default to minimum parking rates). This fuels battles over car-free developments, such as Brunswicks Nightingale and Commons housing projects , and fears about on-street parking competition, which are a major focus of Victorias planning appeals The post-war approach continues to shape Melbourne  its urban form, density, transport and housing markets. The idea that enough parking can be planned for is politically appealing. Minimum off-street parking and free on-street parking policies are standard, the latter often asserted as a kind of folk legality.While parts of Melbourne built before parking requirements are in high demand (Victorian-era housing in Carlton or Fitzroy would never pass parking muster now), many Australians are also protective of the parking landscapes built by planning.For example, a diagram in the 1954 planning scheme suggested remodelling Preston to include around 20% of the suburbs area as surface car parking.Aerial photography today shows this plan was implemented. Recent approval of an apartments project will, however, lead to the loss of some of these thousands of parking spaces. The development encountered fierce opposition for this reason.While politically appealing, conventional approaches to parking do not withstand empirical scrutiny.In The High Cost of Free Parking, Donald Shoup argues parking minimums oversupply parking and are based on a pseudo-science of spurious data and assumptions. Shoup argues the direct and indirect costs of parking (including land) are absorbed into development and housing costs, subsidising car users over other land uses and transport modes.He asks:Shoup and others argue for removing off-street requirements, introducing demand-based pricing of street parking, and using parking fees for local improvements.Much parking research argues that managing on-street parking directly, including through pricing, would be fairer and more efficient and reduce the many adverse effects of conventional policies. Public reactions to parking meter fees suggest this is easier said than done.Melbournes history shows that while post-war planning used generous parking policies to build car-dominated cities, strategic planning now plans around parking issues (most likely to avoid political fallout). Beyond the CBD and the efforts of some local governments there is little evidence that research or best practice is informing parking policies.Parking minimums are powerful tools for realising strategic urban plans  if, as was once true, the goal is maximising car traffic. If aspirations for cities have shifted, it is time to reect on the practice of planning around the parking elephant.Parking will likely become more contentious as competition for space increases (partly due to cars pushed onto streets by garages used for household storage ), along with new technology such as car and ride sharing, autonomous vehicles and peer-to-peer parking applications Some cities  London Oslo and Zurich among them  are actively restricting parking. Australian cities could begin by reassessing the widespread requirement for off-street parking.All that land set aside for parking is also an opportunity to ask what the real value of parking space is; who should pay for it; and whether using public space for the storage of private vehicles is the best outcome we can hope for.The Growth Institute is offering newly graduated matriculants who attended the Thandulwazi Saturday School, one of four programmes offered by the Thandulwazi Maths and Science Academy, in 2017 with opportunity to register for qualifications in Financial Accounting, Business and Office Administration, or Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Thandulwazi Saturday School

Jacques de Villiers, CEO of the Growth Institute, stated that the company would contribute 36% towards the tuition fees of every Thandulwazi Saturday School student, from the Matric Class of 2017, who plans to enrol at the Growth Institute in 2018.Our programs are recognised by a number of professional bodies. From their first day in class, we prepare our students to face the real world of work. Since the students are registered as members of a professional body early in their first year, they inherit a sense of responsibility and pride.The Thandulwazi Saturday school has done sterling work since it started, said Lynn Duke, director of Academics at the Growth Institute. We are proud to give the Class of 2017 opportunities that they deserve. Our required pass mark on our programs is 60%. This means that industry can trust the calibre of student that passes our programmes.Initiated in 1991 at St Stithians Boys College, with only a handful of students from local township schools, over the last 12 years the Thandulwazi Saturday School has grown enormously in its impact and reach. Annually, over 1000 students, from 150 high schools across greater Gauteng, enrol for classes at the Thandulwazi Saturday School. All the students are drawn from historically disadvantaged communities and the gender breakdown is approximately 70% girls and 30% boys.Table Mountain Cableway recently celebrated the arrival of its 27 millionth visitor - the latest milestone having taken only a year to reach. Andrew Harrow, together with his wife Jo from Aberdeen, Scotland, was surprised by Cableway staff after purchasing his ticket and given a variety of gifts including an official 27 millionth visitor certificate.

Andrew and Jo Harrow. (Image Supplied)

As a friend of mine always says, when you wake up in the morning you never quite know how the day will turn out. We almost didnt visit the mountain today, and how very lucky that we did, said Andrew.The Cableways Managing Director Wahida Parker said the latest million took only 12 months to achieve, owing to consistent visitor numbers throughout 2017. In reaching this milestone, we are privileged to celebrate being successful custodians of such an iconic attraction, said Parker. This is a moment in which we also acknowledge the dedication of each member or our Cableway team, without whom we would not be able to welcome the millions of visitors over the years.There is something wonderful about being able to witness the excitement and awe that so many of our visitors experience when summiting Table Mountain. Looking ahead, we hope to continue to facilitate a world-class experience that allows many more people, especially locals, to make lasting memories atop South Africas New 7 Wonder of Nature.The success of the mobile market and the rapid adoption of the smartphone is often listed as a reference and motivation as to why large-scale satellite networks can be successful in Africa - a "if they can do it, we can do it" type of thinking.

Dr Dawie de Wet

Yes, its a technology fit

Its not about technology

An option for satellite service

Research undertaken by ITU into the online and offline population shows that four-fifths of the offline population are located in Asia-Pacific and in Africa. While absolute numbers of offline individuals at a regional level show that Asia-Pacific bears the lions share, it is Africa that exhibits the greatest connectivity shortfall when examining the proportion of the population that is not online. When grouping countries by their level of development, the greatest connectivity shortfall is exhibited in the least developed countries (LDCs), where 85% of the population is still offline set against only 22% in developed countries.The offline population is disproportionately female, rural, poor, illiterate and elderly. Of the 3.9 billion people that are still unconnected, 58% are female, roughly 60% are rural and at least half come from countries with a GNI/capita of less than US$ (PPP) 6,500. In addition, many spend far in excess of 5% on ICT access and services as a proportion of GNI/ capita, the affordability threshold set by the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development.With 3.9 billion people unconnected and 60% of these in rural areas, it is understandable that the leading satellite operators and manufacturers are focused on this as a target market. Various business studies and annual reports have provided the justification for the current development of LEO, MEO and GEO constellations, with the planned entry of a number of large-scale satellite broadband services to meet the demand.Satellite is indeed the perfect fit to meet this demand. It can be available anywhere and anytime, requires only a small fixed installation, and needs no complex and CAPEX-intensive terrestrial network infrastructure. Satellite networks are very reliable, can operate using solar power stations and are available on pay-as-you-go options. Satellite is proven and has been available in Africa for at least ten years.Recent technology developments in the satellite industry are further increasing performance and reducing costs, driving satellite access to cost points of similar and even below average 3G rates. With various Ka-band network operators, O3B low-orbit service, the planned OneWeb service, Global-IP and others, the technology-cost package is certainly a win offering for this market sector.Q-KON is a system engineering organisation celebrating its 30year of servicing Africa, and one of the most disillusioning aspects of operating in this environment was learning that technology and engineering are only enabling factors. As Prof. Teta, a respected Q-KON customer once told me, let your son study business. He can always get engineers to work for him.For us, the reality of unlocking the African broadband market is exactly this, and it will require more than the most effective and lowest cost technology.The success of the GSM market was built step-by-step the hard way: by every field team digging foundations for the tower structures, by every supplier and logistics partner delivering the most advanced equipment to the most remote locations, by every system engineer setting up advanced networks  often in harsh and hostile environments.All of this was possible through the vision and commitment of the shareholders who had the guts and conviction to spend big money on-the-ground in infrastructure and networks. Big money that cannot be relocated, cannot be repatriated, cannot be stopped. The GSM success story is one of a full, all-out commitment to a country, a region, a village. It is about putting your money where your mouth is in possibly the clearest and most tangible way we have in the current ICT industry.With satellite technology now getting to a stage where it is possible to service 100,000 to 200,000 users per country, touching 1 million satellite users in Africa over a five year period, it might be time for the industry to consider the rest of the requirements. Developing advanced satellite platforms, with digital payloads, capable of delivering nx Gbps traffic is only step one.These investments are only the enabling element. It is by no means the full spectrum of what is needed.What is needed is to add the rest of the commitment to the business, to each country, each village. What is needed is to add the commitment to the market, commitment that is written in funding and executed on the ground in each village and each rural school area.Investments in spacecraft and international teleports are not investing in Africa; they are playing it safe and dont open new markets, dont uplift societies, dont generate revenue  these investments only demonstrate what is possible with advanced technology.The African aviation development conference, AviaDev, will take place in Cape Town in June 2018. The event, which is dedicated to advancing Africa's connectivity across the continent, is expecting 250-300 delegates and 30 airlines.

Major factor behind the move to Cape Town

Bringing together airports, airlines, tourism authorities, governments and industry suppliers, AviaDev offers attendees the ability to pre-arrange meetings in professional surroundings, offering the opportunity to hold high-level discussions with a wide range of current and prospective partners in an extremely time-efficient manner.IATA has identified that the top ten fastest growing aviation economies over the next 20 years will all be in Africa and AviaDev aims to facilitate this growth through its world-class conference programme, meeting system and unrivalled networking opportunities.The principal conversations at the event will take place between the top management of airports and of airlines. The airports (and the destinations they serve) are seeking to attract new routes, as that is beneficial to the wider economy. Airlines are evaluating which destinations it will be most profitable to add to their network. As the destinations are effectively promoting themselves to the carriers, the destinations will man exhibition stands at which they will host pre-scheduled discussions with different airline executives. There will also be space for industry suppliers to exhibit.Dikko Nwachukwu, founder and CEO, JetWest Airways (FlyjetWest), said of the event: AviaDev is the most progressive aviation conference in Africa. It is the present and definitely the future standard for African Aviation.A major factor behind the move to Cape Town has been the sponsorship of the Cape Town Air Access Initiative. The initiative has made aviation route development a strategic priority in its own efforts to promote the region as a destination to visit and to conduct business. In the past year, Cape Town has gained ten new routes and seen expansion of an additional 11 routes, resulting in a 25% increase in international passenger numbers for 2017.Alan Winde, minister of economic opportunities, Western Cape Government, welcomed the hosting of the conference in Cape Town, due to the strategic importance of its agenda: Boosting connectivity between African destinations is good for business and good for tourism, both of which create jobs for residents.The tourism sector in the Western Cape is already a large-scale employer, with massive potential for growth. We believe that growing connectivity with the rest of Africa will help us unlock that potential.According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Cape Town earns over $2 billion per annum in inbound tourism expenditure and it forecasts healthy economic growth  in excess of 6% per annum throughout the coming decade. Over that period, it predicts that the citys travel and tourism industry will sustain a substantial increase in employment, with the number of tourism-related jobs rising from around 160,000 in 2016, 10.8% of the citys workforce, to over 230,000 by 2026, 13.2% of the citys workforce.AviaDev will take place at the Southern Sun Cape Sun Hotel from 12-14 June 2018. In parallel, Bench Events will also run a regional AHIF briefing, which will attract the hotel investment community, who will be keen to join discussions about which African destinations will be highest priority for more aviation traffic.For more, go to www.AviationDevelop.com , #AdvancingAfricasConnectivity.Jeremy Loops's new album, Critical As Water, will be released on 16 March 2018. The album is available for pre-order and comes with the album's lead singles Waves and The Shore, as well as first access to a third track that comes out on 23 February 2018.

The follow up to his debut - which won the MTV Africa Music Award for Best Pop & Alternative and named iTunes SAs Album of the Year - is produced by Will Hicks, with additional production contributions by Jake Gosling.is led by the single, that has garnered over one million streams since its release. The track quickly ascended Spotifys Viral Charts in Australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland, and made playlists like Spotifys Weekly Buzz and Left of Centre playlists. Filmmaker Casey Neistat describe it as having an incredible music video, with its visuals filmed in Mozambique.The theme of water runs deep through the album.speaks to the weightlessness of insomnia in a hyper-connected world, whilespeaks to social tensions of the times we live in.More urgent still is the real water crisis in Cape Town, Loopss hometown. On course to be the first major city in the world to run out of water, taps to homes will be turned off on 12 April 2018, in an environmental crisis that sees the devastating effects of political mismanagement, unsustainable consumption, and rapidly changing climates coming to a heed. These themes come up on songs likeandSpeaking on the musics themes, Loops explains: I grew frustrated trying to force the music because I knew the album was due, but one night after an incredible surf, I got home, picked up my guitar, and wrote. Coincidence or not, I became deliberate about scheduling time in the ocean as a means to writing the album and the songs just kept coming. He concludes by saying that it isnt all doom and gloom. If anything, this is the most beautiful piece of music Ive ever made and its warm and lush, but the joyful highs are tempered by the real urgency of the problems the world is facing. Times are always changing. We all have the innate ability to flow like water to adapt to it. I like that about life, and I especially like how that comes across on this album. It feels wonderfully rounded.In support of the album release, Loops will be performing a select number of shows in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and the Western Cape in March 2018. The highlight for Gauteng fans is the second season of Large On The Lawn launching with Loops hosting a special concert at Marks Park in Emmarentia on Saturday, 10 March 2018.Pre-order from smarturl.it/JeremyLoopsCriticalWThis week, social media netizens were appalled by allegations of groping at the recent President's Club fundraising dinner, while celebrating the outcome of the #LarryNassar trial, and Melinda Gates' female startup fund support.

Financial Times video on Youtube. Screenshot from Image   Brochure for the Presidents Club Charity Dinner, as seen in thevideo on Youtube. Screenshot from AdAge

WPP cuts ties with sexist charity dinner

There is an association between rich, wealthy people and this sort of behaviour. It is quite extraordinary to me that in the 21st-century allegations of this kind are still emerging. People need to know there is a line and where it is. This is also about attitude.

Every business deal, every dinner, every meeting, every hospitality booth, every AGM, literally every day in the office is a chance to ask wait, is that sexist? If that sounds patronising, its a reflection of the dire state of things. https://t.co/AzZWf7LSI7  Louise Ridley (@LouiseRidley) January 25, 2018

Olympic applause for sexual-abuse trial outcome

She told Nassar, 'Its my honour and privilege to sentence you, and observed, at one point: Our Constitution does not allow for cruel and unusual punishment. If it did I would allow some or many people to do to him what he did to others.

Larry Nassar wrote a 6 page letter to Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, telling how 'hard it is for him to listen to testimonies of his victims. This is what Judge Rosemarie did with the letter. pic.twitter.com/qvvJynxa57  Soheil Khanzada (@SoheilKhanzada) January 24, 2018

Imagine what kind of sentence Brock Turner would have received had Judge Aqualina presided over his case? Perhaps his victim would have received justice. #NassarSentencing  Candice de Beer (@CandiceWiggett) January 25, 2018

Melinda Gates steps up to the gender equality plate

If you have more diversity you have better financial performance... We've seen that teams that are more diverse in tech have outperformed.

At tonights #MothInKenya event, storytellers from all over Africa spoke about their work to lift up communities and advocate for gender equality. The stories were heartbreaking, hilarious, hopefuland a reminder that our world is full of people working to brighten our future. pic.twitter.com/wOE588YfuX  Melinda Gates (@melindagates) January 25, 2018

ICYMI, heres a brief overview of these top inclusion, equality and diversity topics and why they matter.Perhaps the fact that the black-tie, male-only dinner was opened with the words: Welcome to the most un-PC event of the year, or the fact that the nights auction catalogue featured an image of Marilyn Monroe at her most alluring, and included a night at Sohos Windmill strip club and a course of plastic surgery with the invitation to: Add spice to your wife, should have been a sign of things to come. Bloomberg reports that the Presidents Club, the 33-year strong UK charity at the centre of the groping allegations at the annual all-male fundraiser, is set to shut down in the wake of the furore over the claims that arose, with the worlds biggest advertising group WPP ending its connection to the dinner, and the Great Ormond Street Childrens Hospital said to return donations received as a result.This comes after an investigative report by the Financial Times exposed the fact that multiple hostesses at the event were harassed, groped and insulted. Yes, two ofs reporters worked undercover as hostesses on the night, with others in the dining room. The 130 hostesses were reportedly told to wear skimpy outfits with matching underwear and high heels, and many of them were groped, sexually harassed and propositioned at an after-party.Watch undercover report Madison Marriages undercover investigation footage below:According to AdAge , WPP said it has traditionally sponsored a table at the dinner to support the event's fundraising for children's charities, and that the company and its attendees weren't aware of the alleged incidents at the event.Bloomberg adds that UK junior minister Anne Milton told angry lawmakers:Even more so in the age of #MeToo and #TimesUp.Next step: UK Prime Minister Theresa May is set to investigate gagging orders that prevent women reporting sexual harassment.The #MeToo #TimesUp sentiment further resonated in the sporting world, with former USA Gymnastics national team osteopathic physician Larry Nassar brought to trial for having been named in at least 156 sexual abuse lawsuits, filed against him by female athletes. Nassar was handed a jail sentence of 40 to 175 years.The Twitterverse was equally enthralled by victims testimony as they were by Judge Rosemarie Aquilinas act of overstepping her bounds as a judge and adopting the role of victim advocate. Vox reports that Aquilina assured Nassar his sentence means he will die in prison as it will be served subsequent to a 60-year sentence in another case for possession of child pornography.Reports Vox:Melinda Gates has added her voice to the venture capital diversity drive by backing the Aspect Ventures venture capital startup fund thats run by women.Its a strong move towards equality and inclusion in a sector still largely dominated by men.According to Fortune.com , Aspect Ventures cofounder Theresia Gouw reports:Gates also shared the following tweet that provided positive insights into the African female future:The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has a long legacy of boosting African infrastructure, so it's nice to see Melinda doing more in this regard in her personal capacity. Thats the true spirit of Ubuntu upliftment in action!BEIJING, China - 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."

Indian Army's T-90 tanks and BRAHMOS Weapon System were on display at the 69th Republic Day parade.

NEW DELHI (PTI): India celebrated its 69th Republic Day with a grand display of the country's military might and rich cultural diversity in the presence of leaders from all the ASEAN nations, in a historic first and unprecedented strategic outreach to the powerful bloc.



This is for the first time that leaders from 10 countries attended the annual celebrations on January 26 as chief guests, and the overwhelming presence of the ASEAN leadership is seen as a reflection of India's growing stature as a major power in the region where China has been expanding its footprint.



Thousands of people on both sides of the Rajpath, India's ceremonial boulevard facing the seat of power on the Raisina Hill, braved the winter chill and cheered loudly as the marching contingents and tableaux went past them.



Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, Singaporean Premier Lee Hsien Loong and Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah were among the ASEAN leaders who attended the event.



Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Prime Minister of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and Cambodian Premier Hun Sen also watched the grand parade.



In a series of tweets, Modi talked about India's partnership with ASEAN and India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit which was held on January 25. "Their presence with us is an unprecedented gesture of goodwill from ASEAN nations."



Before the beginning of the ceremony marking the date when India's Constitution came into force way back in 1950, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wearing a saffron, red and green safa (headgear), paid homage to the martyrs by laying a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti at the India Gate.



The parade was commanded by Lt General Asit Mistry, General Officer Commanding, Headquarters Delhi Area. The supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces President Ram Nath Kovind took the salute at the parade.



India's highest peacetime military decoration Ashok Chakra was posthumously given to IAF Garud commando Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala, who laid down his life after gunning down two terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.



The award was received by Corporal Nirala's wife Sushmanand and his mother Malti Devi.



The celebrations were attended by most of the Union ministers, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Health Minister J P Nadda, Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan.



Congress President Rahul Gandhi also attended the parade.



He was seen sitting in the middle rows and chatting with senior Congress leaders and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad.



India's former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia were also present on the occasion.



A march-past by the Army personnel carrying the ASEAN flag also featured during the parade. The Army personnel also carried the flags of the 10 ASEAN nations in the parade.



Twenty three tableaux, including those representing various states, ministries, the All India Radio (AIR) among others, rolled down the Rajpath.



Tableaux from 14 states and Union territories showcased the historical, art and cultural heritage of the country.



The highlight of the parade was the motorcycle contingent, 'Seema Bhawani', comprising women personnel of the BSF that showcased their skills for the first time at the parade.



The Indian Army's T-90 tank (Bhishma), Ballway Machine Pikate (II/IIK), BRAHMOS Missile System, Weapon Locating Radar (Swathi), Bridge Laying Tank T-72, Mobile Base Transceiver Station and Akash Weapon System were also showcased at the parade.



The marching contingent of the Army included horse-mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, the Punjab Regiment, Maratha Light Infantry, the Dogra Regiment, Ladakh Scouts and the Regiment of Artillery and 123 Infantry Battalion  Territorial Army (Grenadiers).



The marching contingent of the Navy, comprising 144 young sailors, was led by Lieutenant Tushar Gautam, while the Indian Air Force contingent, comprising 144 men, was led by Squadran Leader Attal Singh Shekhon.



The paramilitary and other auxiliary civil forces, including the Border Security Force, also marched on Rajpath.



Camel contingents, Indian Coast Guard, Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo Tibetan Border Police, the Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme were also among the marching contingents at the parade.



There were a number of interesting Tableaux that rolled down Rajpath.



This year, the Indian Navy's Tableau showcased the theme 'Indian Navy Combat Ready Force for National Security'.



The Navy also showcased its Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant, which will be commissioned in 2020, while the Defence Development and Research Organisation exhibited the 'Nirbhay' missile and the Ashwini radar system.



The theme of the Indian Air Force tableau was themed 'Indian Air Force Encouraging Indigenisation' which displayed models of the Tejas multi-role fighter aircraft, Rudra helicopter, Arudhra radar and the Akash missile system.



The All India Radio tableau featured Modi's monthly address 'Mann Ki Baat' and was one of the many firsts this year.



An Income Tax Department tableau, about special anti- black money drive launched post-demonetisation, that rolled down Rajpath, was also on the list of many firsts.



On behalf of the central government, 61 tribal guests from various parts of the country had been invited to witness the Republic Day celebrations.



Fifteen of the 18 children who won the National Bravery Award also participated in the parade. Three children, including two girls, have received the award posthumously.



Of the 18 children, seven are girls and 11 are boys.



In the children's section, over 800 boys and girls drawn from three schools in Delhi along with a group of school children from Nagpur and Dimapur, performed colourful dances on different themes.



The grand finale of the parade was a spectacular flypast by MI-17 and RUDRA armed helicopters along with a number of IAF aircraft.



The flypast commenced with the 'Rudra' formation comprising three ALH Mk IV WSI helicopters in 'Vic' formation, followed by the 'Hercules' formation comprising three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.



Trailing them was the 'Netra' which is an Airborne Early Warning and Control System Aircraft also known as 'Eye in the Sky'.



'Netra' was followed by the 'Globe formation' comprising one C-17 Globemaster flanked by two Su-30 MKIs among others.



Minutes before the parade began, the prime minister, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force paid tributes at the 'Amar Jawan Jyoti', the war memorial at India Gate where an eternal flame burns in memory of those who laid down their lives defending the frontiers of the nation.



As per tradition, after unfurling the national flag, the national anthem was played followed by a 21 gun salute.



The ceremony ended with the playing of the national anthem and the release of thousands of balloons.



Modi and President Kovind also waved to the crowd after the conclusion of the ceremony and were greeted with loud cheers.



Earlier, Modi greeted citizens on the occasion of the Republic Day, tweeting, "Greetings on #RepublicDay. Jai Hind."

Farming at the border of National Parks in Africa can lead to conflict with wildlife, due to the belief that wild animals bring disease, prey upon livestock, and damage crops. In an unexpected twist, research conducted by the University of Bristol and Queens University Belfast with the charity Elephants for Africa and the University of Pretoria has found that grazing livestock with wildlife may benefit farmers by reducing parasitic disease.

Researchers monitored parasitic worm infection in goats around the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park in Botswana to find out how infection levels were related to weather and the iconic migrations of African wildlife such as wildebeest and zebra, and how the goats responded to treatment. The team also developed technology that could help farmers control disease in their animals.

Dr Josephine Walker, lead author on the study, and the team spent months working closely with farmers in villages surrounding the National Park to monitor infection levels, teaching them how to inspect their goats for signs of infection and decide which ones to treat for worms. By targeting treatment only to those animals affected, the health of the herds was improved just as well as if all animals were treated, but at only 25 per cent of the cost. This helped farmers maintain healthy herds and get the most from limited veterinary resources.

Professor Eric Morgan, Queens University Belfast said: With climate changing and resistance to antiparasitic drugs taking hold, more carefully targeted treatment is essential to protect livestock production. The solutions demonstrated in this work can be applied worldwide to support animal health and help provide food for growing human populations more efficiently and without adding to environmental destruction.

As wildlife migrate during and after the rainy season, there is a chance that they carry worms with them and increase infection risk for livestock. However, Dr Walker found that goats in villages that had more contact with wildlife were slightly less affected by worms, not more.

Computer simulations, developed to predict infection patterns as a result of the timing of the rains and wildlife movements, suggest that this could be because wild animal species that are not very suitable hosts for goat worms are removing parasites from the pasture by eating contaminated grass.

Dr Hannah Vineer, University of Bristol said: Wildlife receive a lot of bad press when it comes to disease and contact with livestock, but in the area surrounding the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, migrating animals such as zebra and wildebeest could be providing a service to farmers by regulating parasitic worm infections. This study shows that although the relationships between humans, their animals and wildlife are complex, people can benefit, in some ways, from living alongside wildlife.

Core to the project are simple tools that farmers can use to clinically evaluate the health of their goats, so that they can help themselves to manage disease. These methods were developed over many years by the University of Pretoria and are now being tested in new areas by the international team. Having shown the benefits of targeted treatment, and developed a way to predict the impact of weather on worm infections, the researchers now aim to extend the technology in Botswana and other parts of the world, including India, Malaysia and the UK.

Dr Josephine Walker, University of Bristol, added: The risk of worm infection in goats was closely related to rainfall, but weather patterns are changing and it is hard for farmers to know when is the best time to treat. By formalising our understanding of the processes involved in a computer simulation, we can better understand how rainfall patterns match with infection levels. Access to technology, especially through mobile phones, is growing quickly across Africa, which provides us with an opportunity to deliver hi-tech solutions to remote rural communities.

The project was part of a human-wildlife co-existence project. People in the area rely heavily on their goats, with 95% of villagers deriving income from them. However, there is often a conflict between wildlife and people living close to National Parks, as wildlife are seen as threats to their crops and animals. The work conducted by the team in Botswana will help farmers to improve their goat health, providing a buffer against any animals taken by wildlife such as leopard or hyaena, and providing farmers with much-needed food security in the event of crop failure due to drought or damage by wildlife.

Dr Kate Evans, director of Elephants for Africa, said: The results show that by equipping farmers with the tools and knowledge to take care of their goats, we can promote healthy and peaceful co-existence with wildlife, and improve livelihoods at the same time. As human populations increase in Africa, it is crucially important that we are able to do this if many of the wild animals we know and love are to survive.



World-renowned paranormal investigator Joe Nickell to headline Buffalos next Science & Art Cabaret

Nickell a former stage magician and private detective has a long track record of debunking paranormal events

We know his presentation will give great clarity to the tools of critical thinking and skepticism as used in considering subjects many often take at face value or believe in too readily. 

BUFFALO, N.Y.  Buffalos Science & Art Cabaret will feature a single speaker at its next event on Wednesday, Feb. 7: paranormal investigator Joe Nickell, a senior research fellow of the Amherst-based Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and a former stage magician and private detective.

Utilizing his eclectic background, Nickell has become widely known as an investigator of myths and mysteries, frauds, forgeries and hoaxes.

At the cabaret, Nickell will give a talk that provides a revealing and entertaining look at such mysterious phenomena as the ghost at the Mackenzie House in Toronto and cases of alleged spontaneous human combustion from the speaker's own case files  all examined from the scientific point of view.

The event, Investigating Paranormal Mysteries, will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at The 9th Ward at Babeville, 341 Delaware Ave., Buffalo. Admission is free and there will be a cash bar.

The Science & Art Cabaret is presented by Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, the Buffalo Museum of Science, the Techne Institute for Arts and Emerging Technologies at the University at Buffalo, and the UB College of Arts and Sciences.

The event series acts as an ongoing conversation about endless topics across all disciplines, typically bringing together artists and scientists to discuss how their work illuminates a common theme. The series underlying premise is that intellectual pursuits that appear distinct actually cross paths far more often than presumed and share spheres of interest and meaning.

The cabaret was launched in October 2009 by Gary Nickard, UB clinical associate professor of art; Will Kinney, UB physics professor; and John Massier, visual arts curator at Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, out of their collective interest in art, science, critical thinking and creativity.

In true cabaret fashion, Nickells presentation will highlight the art and craft of critical thinking, as applied to areas of investigation and research that are both dramatic and hyperbolic.

As Massier says, Joe Nickell's investigative and research pedigree is broad and gigantic, and his knowledge of the field extremely deep. We know his presentation will give great clarity to the tools of critical thinking and skepticism as used in considering subjects many often take at face value or believe in too readily.

Our cabaret has always had an ongoing theme of the value of critical thinking, and we know Joes experiences and insight will give great texture to this theme. It should be a telling cue to our audience that Joe has placed the word paranormal within quotations marks. True believers may have their belief systems challenged.

To date, the cabaret has presented dozens of subjects and speakers across many fields, with themes such as The Man Machine, Are We Special?, Modularity, Nothing, Love Yer Brain, Color and many more. A full listing of past cabaret events can be found at http://www.hallwalls.org/science-art.php.

The cabaret will return to its usual multi-speaker format for its next planned event, which is expected to tackle the theme of Death on Wednesday, March 28.Local award-winning jeweller Carrie K shares some insights

Jewellery crafting isn't exactly the most difficult thing in the world  a lot of people do it as a hobby  but turning this from a pastime into a thriving business is a different matter altogether. Yet as the jewellery industry is as vast as it is multifaceted and with numerous tiers and sub-tiers, the barriers to entry aren't that many.

In addition, more people today are drawn to the works of local designers, mixing eclectic looks with high street or high jewellery, so there is probably no better time than now to enter the business. Take a leaf from those who took the plunge a few years ago and who are reaping rewards today.

One of Singapore's best-loved jewellery brands, Carrie K. launched its first collection in 2009 and today is sold in seven countries other than Singapore, offering modern designs spiked with a distinct quirkiness that's rich in meaning and heritage.

Its latest line, the Modern Heritage Collection, was conceived two and a half years ago, and is founder Carolyn Kan's most ambitious one till date. Find out more about the three pieces we absolutely love.

Her success story reads like the plot of a classic feel-good movie. Kan took a gap year at 36 years old to rediscover the meaning of life, dabbled in food and wine, travelled to Europe, took up jewellery-crafting, had an epiphany, and one year later  boom!  Carrie K. was born.



But the 45-year-old entrepreneur would have you know that it's not all sunshine and rainbows running your own jewellery label. Indeed, the first few years was spent working night and day from her kitchen table.

In this exclusive interview, Kan talks about the nuts and bolts of the local jewellery scene, what the biggest challenges are, and how to remain unique in a saturated business.

AUDIO EXCLUSIVE: Listen to our full conversation with Carolyn Kan (founder, Carrie K.)

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What are the key challenges in the jewellery industry?

Carolyn Kan (CK): My background is not in design and this is what I'd call my second life. In my first life I was in a corporate job doing advertising and I had the opportunity to travel to Italy where I was introduced to a silversmith who taught me how to make jewellery. I loved it so much that I knew it was going to be my new life. I came back to Singapore to continue silversmithing.

The good thing of not having baggage is I could do things in a fresh way. The bad, I had a sense of naivety and not knowing what I didn't know, I spent the first couple of years literally going back to school, but also going back to the school of life in starting the business. I did take a little longer but I had the luxury and not the pressure of time, to be able to enjoy the journey of learning and rediscovering my own passions and voice, and that takes time. It's also quite daunting when you start something. When people as you what's your story, what's your brand about?



The first two years I worked off my kitchen table, and I had the luxury of being able to explore. I would say the challenge is the lack of knowledge but the good thing was it was an opportunity to discover. The other is the lack of craftsmen in Singapore, very little production and craftsmanship, even sources of materials from gems to precious metals.

To set something up, especially a jewellery business not having a production capability that's commercially viable, because it's not cheap to get local craftsmen to make, didn't allow for experimentation. One of the good things of the way I started, learning silversmithing in Florence, I not only thought of design, concept and story, but I could also make the pieces to see if those designs are workable.

The other challenge when I started, Singapore was still very much a market where people looked to international brands rather than local. Very little awareness and even less appreciation. People were more in love with disposable fashion because it was new and big then. And the fact you can get a hundred things for the price of one handmade thing was a big challenge we had to overcome.

To deal with it, I figured why don't we look for opportunity and create experiences that allow people to meet unique designers and craftsmen, understand the process, so people who seek things of quality and not quantity would know where to find designers like us. That's where Keepers our CSR initiative start. It was our own way of tackling where the market was. It's changed a lot. Now people are starting to seek out local designers.

How important is it to actually know how to handcraft?

CK: If you don't know how it's made, you'll always be dependent on someone. You'll never be able to solve design problems to fit your concept. If you don't, you really need a very good craftsman or production person to partner with. Some people work very well like that. For myself I needed to understand the skills involved, in order to find the right people who know more than me about those skills. That was the critical way Carrie K grew.

If you want to be able to lead the business in a direction that's always forward thinking, the core is understanding how the product is made and how you could make it better. Design and engineering of the pieces is the core of our business. Everything else is nice to have. If you don't have something that can stand the test of time, you don't really have a business that's sustainable.



What surprised you the most about being in this line?

CK: One of the things I always tell designers I wish I had done was learning about merchandising. I didn't even understand what it was. It really is the business side of fashion and design. One of the biggest challenges I see, even with new designers, everybody is in love of the idea of design, but not necessarily aware of how they marry their design aesthetic with what customers really want.

Ultimately we are here to develop a design or product that people will covet. If you don't know what they go after, then you're designing for yourself and you might as well be an artist. Merchandising is the marriage of the art and science of design and the development of the product, and understanding what people go for, and at the price point that's comfortable, down to all the nuts and bolts. Once we changed our outlook, married design with merchandising, it brought our business to another level.

How did you find your voice when it comes to branding?

CK: It naturally grew from my past in advertising and my passion for storytelling. Also how Carrie K started as a brand in Florence. I was in awe of the craftsmen I met on the street and learned from. That was a great point to start Carrie K's journey. With our brand, Carrie K is a marriage of storytelling and craftsmanship.

As we developed as a business, I realise people gravitate towards us for our stories but stories that are universally meaningful. Might be something about wishing someone luck, or love. You can find meaning and significance in many things and include that in design and story.

Ultimately people want things that are more than just beautiful. The depth, meaning and memory and story are what make them significant. We all hold on to totems and symbols important to us. That evolved into what we focus on in the stories that we tell. Modern Heirloom took us over two years, as we needed to figure out how to tell the complex Singapore story in a way that reflects who we are, the old and the new, different cultures, diverse tastes and interpretations.

It's our most ambitious project. At the same time, it's aesthetically pleasing and if interested you can uncover the layers of the stories that we hope each collection takes from a culture to be passed on to the next. That is our intention, when we create these pieces, it has a meaning and not just a pretty thing.



In this digital age, isn't storytelling more important than ever?

CK: Absolutely. I often lament the lack of communication, or ability of people being able to communicate, in spite of technology. We keep looking at our phones. We're looking for opportunities to give people authentic tools for communication. Sometimes, when we become a society that cannot open our hearts to just be honest, giving something that symbolises what you mean to say is a good way of breaking the ice. I love letter writing, anything that allows people to tell a story and share what they feel.

Have you used technology to further your business?

CK: Social media is one thing levelling the playing field. As a new brand or entrepreneur, if you employ social media effectively to tell your story in an honest and open way, it's a great way to bring a community of people who can relate to what you're about together to form a dialogue. And it's not a one-way communication.

Facebook and Instagram are fantastic because I could post pictures of what we're working on, I could post a picture of what I was working on, and ask even a simple question like which gem between three colours [should I use], and you can get all this amazing information. This lets me connect with people from all over the world.

Visit Carrie K for more information on their offerings.

Read more stories in our Career Special.Employment generation is one of the key challenges before the government in the Budget 2018-19. Modi Government had promised 1crore jobs every year for the youth but 3 years in to power what we have seen is a marginal rise in the unemployment rate.

No wonder that the government came under severe criticism from all quarters for failing to create jobs. Unemployment rate of 5 - 6.5% for a young country like India where 65% of the population is below the age of 35 is alarming. Also now with advent of automation and AI, many sectors such as Information Technology and manufacturing may in fact see ...Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

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Digital EditorFrench drugmaker Sanofi has agreed to buy Belgian biotech company Ablynx for 3.9 billion euros ($4.8 billion), beating Novo Nordisk and marking its second big deal this month after buying Bioverativ. The deal is a further sign of accelerating merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the global biotech sector and comes after Ablynx rejected a 2.6 billion euro offer from Denmark's Novo Nordisk. Sanofi said on Monday it would pay 45 euros per share in cash for Ablynx, a premium of 21 percent over its closing price on Friday - and more than double the price before Novo went ...A mix of reverberating drum beats and martial tunes, along the soft notes of instruments like the sitar and flute echoed down Rajpath as Indian compositions dominated the formal end of Republic Day celebrations with the here.

Drawing the curtain over the Republic Day celebrations, bands of the Army, Navy Air Force, and Central Armed Police Forces performed over two dozens tunes, with all but one being Indian compositions.

With architectural marvels of Rashtrapati Bhawan, the South Block and the North Block shining golden against the sunlight, members of the performing bands marched and swayed with their drums, bagpipers, trumpets, among a host of other instruments, while groups of musicians sat atop the South and North block with traditional instruments, including the sitar, shehnai and tabla.

Of the 26 tunes played at the event, 25 were composed by Indians, and only Western tune played being the "Abide with me" hymn, Mahatma Gandhi's favourite.

A row of caparisoned camels from the Border Security Force Camel Mounted Band stood in the background on the Rajpath, framing the canvas for the performers.

Indian Coast Guards band performs at the at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi Photo:PTI

Beating Retreat is a centuries-old military tradition dating to the days when troops disengaged at sunset. In ancient days, the sounding of a conch shell was the symbol of the day coming to an end, replaced by the bugle for the modern day warriors.

While traditionally, the Beating Retreat and tattoos have been about drums and bugles, in the present day, military tattoos have incorporated more instruments and new compositions aimed at stirring the spirit of patriotism.

The ceremony that was observed at the Rajpath, however, traces its origins to the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army indigenously developed the unique ceremony of display by the massed bands.

While the Republic Day Parade is a show of strength, where the arms, weapons and new defence acquisitions are displayed along with cultural heritage, the Beating Retreat marks its ceremonial end, and the President permits the three wings of the Armed Forces to retreat with the celebrations being over.

President's cavalcade arrives at the at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi Photo: PTI

Unlike former President Pranab Mukherjee, who preferred the Presidential Buggy to arrive at the ceremonial, President Kovind embarked on a Mercedes Benz limousine, the official vehicle of the President of India.

Sitting close to the President, who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, were the three service chiefs - Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who sat next to Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, and had Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman seated right behind him, was seen tapping his fingers with the rhythm as the bands progressed with their performances.

The tunes played included some of the most popular ones including 'Vaishnav Jan', 'Ae Mere Vatan Ke Logo' and 'Vande Matram'. The event came to a close with the ever-popular "Sare Jahan se Achha".

As the event drew to a close, the magnficent buildings in the surroundings -- the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the home of the President, the North Block and the South Block, which are home to key ministries, as well as the Parliament building, the temple of India's democracy, were lit, glowing in the background of an evening sky just after the sunset.

After the President left the venue with his guards, crowd was seen gathering around Prime Minister Modi, clicking pictures and selfies.

This year, 18 Military Bands, 15 Pipes and Drums Bands from Regimental Centres and Battalions performed at the ceremony, along with one each of Navy and Air Force, and bands of the State Police and CAPF comprising Central Industrial Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force and Delhi Police participated.The Bombay High Court today issued notice to ousted Tata Group chairman on a petition filed by Tata Trusts managing trustee R Venkatramanan challenging an order quashing summons issued to Mistry in the trustee's Rs 500 crore defamation suit.

Venkatramanan had approached the high court earlier this month against an order passed by a sessions court on December 26 last year which quashed and set aside the summons issued against Mistry and others.

A metropolitan magistrate's court had in July last year issued the summons directing Mistry and others to appear before it.

Justice Revati Mohite Dere today issued a notice to Mistry and posted the petition for hearing after three weeks.

Venkatramanan, in his petition, termed the sessions court order as "arbitrary and illegal", and said that it had exceeded its jurisdiction while examining merits of the case.

Last year, Venkatramanan had filed the criminal defamation suit before the magistrate court against Mistry and others for allegedly making "false" statements, and sought damages amounting to Rs 500 crore.

An e-mail sent by Mistry to the directors and trustees of Tata Trusts contained "defamatory statements" against him, Venkatramanan had said.

According to the complaint, after Mistry was ousted as the chairman of Tata Sons on October 24, 2016, he, in an e- mail, alleged that fraudulent transactions worth Rs 22 crore had taken place in the group's aviation venture, AirAsia India, and accused Venkatramanan of having tried to cover it up.

The issue is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate.

Venkatramanan said the e-mail, which was leaked to the media, caused irreparable damage to his reputation.The Supreme Court today asked BJP leader Subramanian Swamy to satisfy it on the aspect of maintainability of his plea seeking a SIT probe into the death of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's wife Sunanda Pushkar in 2014.

Pushkar was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a suite of a five-star hotel in Delhi on the night of 17 January 2014.

Swamy has moved the Supreme court after the Delhi High Court had dismissed his plea last year in October. He had filed a petition seeking a probe by a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) into Sunanda Pushkar's death.

During the hearing today, a bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra and Amitava Roy told Swamy that he has to first satisfy the court on whether his plea was maintainable.

"Before going into merits, we need to be satisfied on maintainability," the bench told Swamy who said that it is a matter of public interest.

He claimed that it took nearly one year for the Delhi Police to lodge FIR in the case and the post-mortem report said that Pushkar had died an unnatural death.

The bench, however, asked him to argue on the issue of maintainability and posted the matter for hearing after three weeks.

The Delhi High Court had on October 26, last year, rejected Swamy's plea for a court-monitored SIT probe into Pushkar's death and termed his PIL as a "textbook example of a political interest litigation".

Swamy, in his plea before the high court, had alleged that the police had "botched up" the probe and accused Tharoor of "interfering" in the investigation now and even earlier when he was a minister in the UPA regime.

When the high court questioned the source based on which he had made the allegations, the BJP leader and his lawyer, who is a co-petitioner, had said that they would file affidavits to reply to the court's query.

However, the bench had rejected their offer, saying it appeared that they had concealed information pertinent to the case, which they ought to have disclosed when they had filed the petition.

The high court had also said that Swamy ought to have mentioned his political affiliation as well as that of Tharoor in his petition as these facts were important to the adjudication of the case.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The fifth and last day of the Jaipur Literature Festival is always the least terror-inducing.

The crowds have gone down to manageable levels, given that the weekend is over; most of the crowd that had come in from Delhi has returned to their day jobs; and the Festival's campus, Diggi Palace in central Jaipur, becomes incredibly easy to navigate. For regular Festival-goers, it is like being a decade younger, reminiscent of the time when going to Jaipur for the festival included a reasonable chance of having a real and intimate chat with an author whom previous there was absolutely no ...Donald Trump has been under constant fire from critics since he began his campaign in the summer of 2015, and his presidency has so far been perhaps the most chaotic and bizarre in recent decades. But as he approaches the first anniversary of his inauguration, the pressure is only getting more intense.

First came the revelations in the bestseller Fire and Fury, which reports on various White House aides concerns about the presidents mental capacity. Then came Special Counsel Robert Muellers request to question Trump about the Trump campaigns dealings with ...Bharat Parv being organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India at the Red Fort, Delhi from 26th to 31st January, 2018 is focusing on Dekho Apna Desh". People in large number are coming in the Parv to celebrate the diverse and fascinating culture, cuisine and handicrafts. The entry to the Parv is free and it open for public from 12.00 Noon to 10.00 pm. However, Identity proof is to be carried for entry to the event. .

.

Today, the Army, Air Force and Navy presented Static Band and Army also displayed Dynamic Band. The artists from Chhatisgarh presented Lokmanya programme; the artists from Jammu and Kashmir presented Dogri/Bhand Pather programme; and the artists from Uttarakhand presented Chapeli. Beside these, the artists from Telangana presented Perini Natyam & Oggu Dollu and the artists from Andhra Pradesh presented Kuchipudi dance. The Tableau artists who participated in the Republic Day parade-2018 also performed. At last, the artists of North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC) presented a Choreographed performance on Pan India Basis. .

.

The Ministry of Tourism has been designated as the nodal Ministry for the event, the highlights of which include Display of Republic Day Parade Tableaux, Performances by the Armed Forces Bands (Static as well as dynamic), a Multi-Cuisine Food Court, Crafts Mela, Cultural Performances from different regions of the country and a Photo Exhibition on the theme Naya Bharat Hum Karke Rahenge" by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP). A live Cookery Demonstration Area has been set up in the food court to promote cuisines of different States of India. The Food Court has stalls set up by the States/ UTs, National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) showcasing street food from different regions as well as by the Institutes of Hotel Managements and ITDC. .

.

The Crafts Mela with 50 stalls showcases the diverse handicrafts of the country, arranged by the State Governments and Ministry of Textiles through the office of the Development Commissioner of Handicrafts. There are Theme State Pavilions where each State is showcasing its strength along with its tourism products. .

.The Department of Posts has redesigned the uniform for Postmen (both male and female) and MTS cadre in consultation with National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi (NIFT). .

.

The uniform has been redesigned keeping in view the functionality, comfort and durability. The uniform will provide a strong brand identity of the Department of Posts as it provides for easy identification of postmen staff. .

.

The Department enjoys credibility and respect through the field operatives that is the postmen. He is the face of the Department as he delivers letters and parcels to every door. Therefore, it is important that the uniform he wears, which identifies him with the Department should be such that he stands out. Khadi being indigenous to our culture and comfortable in all climatic zones of the country was found suitable for the postmen. .

.

As per the recommendation of 7th CPC, the Government has decided to provide Rs. 5,000/- as dress allowance per year. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) under the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises has agreed to provide dresses for the postmen from its outlets in each district of the country. The Postmen can purchase dresses from outlets of KVIC from the dress allowances provided to them. .

.

Honble Minister of Communications, Shri Manoj Sinha launched the redesigned uniform for postmen/postwomen and MTS in New Delhi in the august presence of Honble Minister of State (I/C), MSME, Shri Giriraj Singh. The 90,000 postmen/postwomen, Mail Guard, Multi Tasking Staff will get benefitted by the redesigned uniform. .

.

<><><><> .

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SNCA delegation of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by its National President Shri Anil Khaitan and Senior National Vice President Shri Rajeev Talwar, called on Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh here today and held a meeting to discuss the Northeast industry prospects. .

.

Dr Jitendra Singh updated the members of the delegation about the various steps taken in last three years to bring in ease of business and to exploit the unexplored potential of the region. He regretted that, in the past, nearly 40% of the fruit in the region went waste because of lack of storage and transportation facilities. However, he said, with improvement in connectivity and a network of road and railway being spread across all the North Eastern States, this constraint could be overcome to a great extent, he added..

.

Dr Jitendra Singh also referred to the introduction of Venture fund" by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) for young Start-Ups. This initiation, he said, has received enthusiastic response from new entrepreneur..

.

In order to further expose the world community to the vast business potential of North East India, Dr Jitendra Singh said, a mega Business Summit, possibly the first of its kind, is being held at Guwahati on 3rd of February..

.

The members of the delegation briefed Dr Jitendra Singh about a series of seminars organised by them on the subject of Multiplying farmers' income : Opportunities in Animal Husbandry potential for export----Focus North East". Such seminars were held at Guwahati (Assam), Shillong (Meghalaya) and Agartala (Tripura). Among the recommendations put forward was the suggestion that farmers in the North Eastern region should follow the strategies of North and South Indian farmers who generate additional income through different activities on the farm like cattle and goat rearing, fish farming etc. New scientific techniques could be adopted and Government could open a facilitation centre for prospective entrepreneurs. .

.

The PHD Chambers leaders also informed the Minister about a series of events planned by them in near future which include a seminar on Mega food Processing" at Imphal, a seminar on technologies for developing food processing at Aizawl, and a seminar on developing young entrepreneurs at Itanagar. .

.

Dr Jitendra Singh assured all facilitatory support for these initiatives from the Ministry of DoNER. He said, the officials in the DoNER Ministry will coordinate with all the eight states of the region so as to seek maximum gainful outcomes from these initiatives ..

.Keurig Green Mountain Inc will buy soda maker Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc in a deal worth more than $21 billion, bringing the world's biggest single-serve coffee brand K-Cup and beverages such as 7UP, Snapple, and Sunkist under one roof. The deal marks Germany's JAB Holding Co latest push into the US beverage market, after buying Keurig owner Green Mountain Coffee Roasters in 2016 and Mondelez's international coffee business earlier. JAB said it would make an equity investment of $9 billion to finance the transaction for which the companies did not give an overall ...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. Though right about Iran, Trumps tweets have been too ...

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Digital EditorIn accepting an award for his efforts to uphold human dignity at the 2018 World Economic Forum, musician and philanthropist Elton John decried economic inequality as disgraceful. Panelists at the invitation-only conference in Davos, Switzerland, hashed over inequality in line with its theme of Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World. And in a report released to coincide with the elite confab, the charity Oxfam reported that 82 percent of the wealth created globally last year went to the top 1 percent while the bottom half of humanity, ...

Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

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As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.



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Digital EditorIn an attempt to calm rising newsroom tensions at The Los Angeles Times, the paper was expected to name Jim Kirk, a veteran journalist and former editor and publisher of The Chicago Sun-Times, as its next editor in chief on Monday, according to company officials. Kirk, who joined Tronc, the parent company of The Times, in August, will replace Lewis DVorkin, whose brief stint atop one of the countrys most prominent newspapers touched off widespread unrest in the newsroom. DVorkin, 65, who became the newspapers top editor in November, will become ...The US is in talks with private companies to build a secure 5G network amid concerns about China and cybersecurity, said two administration officials familiar with the plans. Talks are preliminary, and key decisions over funding and control haven't been reached, said the people, who discussed the deliberations on condition of anonymity.

The government aims to decide on a plan by the end of September and build it out over the next few years, said one of the officials. If the US opts for one secure network rather than multiple systems, the main unresolved questions would be ...There is a disarming and almost touchingly naive belief among the presenters and the government delegations in the cloistered mountain village of Davos that creating a shared future in a fractured world  the title of this years World Economic Forum  is actually possible. To the outside world, the panels and speeches fleetingly catch the news cycle, doing little to alter the perception that its just a gathering of elites and billionaires.

Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

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As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.



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Digital EditorAditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. announced its premium menswear brand, Louis Philippe's foray into Nepal with the launch of its first exclusive brand outlet at Labim Mall, Lalitpur on January 28.

After having established its presence across international markets such as UAE, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Sri Lanka, the brand is all set to launch in Nepal.

India's Ambassador to Nepal, H.E. Manjeev Singh Puri along with Vikram Shivadas, Director, International Markets, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. inaugurated the store.

"With the launch of Louis Philippe's exclusive brand outlet, we plan to cater to the growing need for high-quality crafted menswear. Our market study indicates that Nepal is a growing apparel market with an increasing number of urban men inclining towards premium apparel that is fashionable, elegant, with superior craftsmanship and great quality. With the launch of Louis Philippe, we will be able to address this increasing demand with the right offering and we are confident that there will be a great response from the customers towards the brand," said Vikram Shivadas, Director, International Markets, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd.

Louis Philippe is a leader in the premium menswear segment in India. An epitome of elegance, the brand epitomises fine clothing offering a range of formal, semi-formal clothing and accessories.

"We are happy and proud to be associated with Louis Philippe, bringing this premium brand to the people of Nepal. We are confident that Louis Philippe with its superior quality and wide range of apparels will satisfy the changing needs of this market," said Rupesh Pandey, Director, RP Group Pvt. Ltd.

Spread across 1,200 sq. ft., the Louis Philippe store is located at Labim Mall, Lalitpur. Addressing the needs of the style-conscious man, the brand's clothing range boasts of a collection of suits, shirts, trousers, blazers, waist coats, t-shirts and denims.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Delhi High Court on Monday issued a notice to Delhi Police and Delhi Government on a plea of Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) seeking SIT probe in the attack on lawyers of DHCBA in separate incidents in January.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar directed that the report should be filed under the signature of a senior police officer, which shall be shown to the Delhi Police commissioner.

It directed that the report should be filed in two days as the incident warrants swift and necessary action.

On January 24, the DHCBA had passed a resolution condemning the January 9 and 22 attacks on the properties and cars of senior advocates Vikas Pahwa and Kirti Uppal.

A similar incident took place on January 4 when the two cars-- a Maruti Swift and a Honda Amaze-- parked in the east Delhi house of advocate Ravi Sharma were allegedly torched by unidentified persons.

Meanwhile, a plea has been moved before the high court seeking a court-monitored SIT probe into the attacks on the lawyers, besides guidelines for advocates' security.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Free Balochistan Movement (FBM) organised a two-day protest outside the Grosvenor Hotel in London, against the sale of Baloch lands in Pakistan's port city of Gwadar by a property dealer 'One Investments'.

The protesters said that China and Pakistan were aiming to change the demography of Balochistan by settling hundreds of thousands of Punjabis and Chinese in Gwadar.

The protestors carried placards and banners against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), sale of Baloch lands in Gwadar and human rights violations in Balochistan by Pakistan.

Faiz Baluch, an activist of Free Balochistan Movement said, "FBM has organised this two-day protest against China and Pakistan's joint ventures and sale of Baloch lands in Gwadar."

He said that Baloch people urge the international investor to "stop spending their money on so-called development projects unless the Balochistan issue is resolved."

Faiz alleged that Pakistan has illegally occupied Balochistan and that it has been committing atrocities against Baloch people since then.

"As we gather here today, the Pakistan army is continuing its military offensives in Gwadar, Turbat, Kolwah, Dera Bugti and several other areas of Balochistan. They are killing innocent Baloch women and children. They have arrested and disappeared several innocent Baloch," he said.

Faiz further said China was supporting Pakistan in these atrocities against Baloch people, and added, "The investment and support of the international community are encouraging Pakistan to intensify Baloch genocide. That's why we request the international community to stop supporting Pakistan."

Activists of Baloch Republican Party and Balochistan Raaji Zrombesh also joined the FBM protest and expressed their views against the state atrocities in Balochistan.

Mir Suleman Dawood, Khan of Kalat, who participated in the protest on its second day said, "We are protesting against the sale of Baloch lands in Gwadar."

He also said that Pakistan's Punjabi army is indiscriminately killing Baloch people and all Baloch should unite against Pakistan's brutalities in Balochistan.

Abdulla Baloch, a leader of Balochistan Raaji Zrombesh, said, "We have gathered here to tell the that stop investing in China-Pakistan controversial projects because Balochistan is not Pakistan and Gwadar is not Pakistan. The Baloch will not allow anyone to sell their land to foreigners."

He said that Baloch are struggling to regain their freedom and the international investors should know that Balochistan is an occupied land.

"They should refrain from putting their money in China-Pakistan initiated projects," Baloch added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Carrie Fisher was honoured with her first Grammy at the 60th annual Grammy Awards.

The actress won posthumously for best spoken word album for her audiobook recording of her 2016 memoir, 'The Princess Diarist.'

She beat out Neil Degrasse Tyson, Bruce Springsteen, Shelly Peiken and Bernie Sanders and Mark Ruffal.

Fisher was previously nominated for a Grammy in the same category in 2009 for the audio recording of her book 'Wishful Drinking'.

Daughter Billie Lourd took to social media to congratulate her 'momby'.

"Princess Diarist was the last profesh(ish) thing my momby and I got to do together," Lourd wrote on Instagram. "I wish she was here to carry me down the red carpet in some bizarre floral ensemble but instead we'll celebrate in true Carrie style: in bed in front of the TV over cold Coca Colas and warm e cigs. I'm beyond proud."

The 'Star Wars' actor passed away at the age of 60 just days after suffering a heart attack on an airplane.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday assured thorough probe into the death of a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) during a students' protest in Faridkot district.

Talking to reporters here, Singh termed the incident very unfortunate.

"It's very unfortunate incident. Investigation is underway to find out the cause behind it," Captain Amarinder told reporters.

DSP Baljinder Singh Sandhu on Monday allegedly shot himself while on duty.

Faridkot, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Rajinder Singh confirmed the death of Sandhu. While another police personnel suffered bullet injuries.

The incident took place in a protest at the Regional Campus of the Punjabi University at Jaitu, 35km from Faridkot.

The deceased DSP had gone to the spot to control the situation between two groups of students during a demonstration where one group allegedly started levelling charges against the police for supporting the rival group.

While the allegations were being hurled at the police, the DSP allegedly shot himself in head.

The reason for DSP's death is still unknown.

The cops accompanying him rushed him to the Guru Gobind Singh Medical Hospital in Faridkot, where he succumbed to injuries.

A case has been registered and further investigations are on.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Indonesian President Joko Widodo wrapped up his two-day visit to Bangladesh on Monday and called for stronger ties with the latter. He also extended his support to the Rohingya refugees for their safe return to Myanmar.

"A special chartered flight, carrying him and his delegation departed from Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 9 a.m. Bangladeshi Foreign Minister A.H. Mahmood Ali was present and saw him off at the airport", a senior official of Foreign Ministry said.

During his visit, Widodo and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina signed five agreements, aiming to enhance bilateral relations, trade and investment, and boosting cooperation in different sectors between both countries.

Widodo had arrived in Dhaka from Islamabad on Saturday and was received by his Bangladeshi counterpart Abdul Hamid and his wife, Rashida Khanam.

Hamid hosted a dinner session in honour of Widodo at the Bangabhaban building in Dhaka on Saturday evening.

The Indonesian President also held meetings with Hamid, Hasina and Mahmood Ali.

Widodo paid homage at the National Mausoleum in Savar, in memory of those people, who were killed in the Liberation War in 1971 on Sunday.

He also paid floral tributes in the memory of former Bangladeshi President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhaka.

Widodo also visited Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar and inspected the facilities present there.

According to Indonesia's Department of Statistics, trade between Bangladesh and Indonesia currently stood at $1.33 billion, of which $1.19 billion was in Indonesian exports.

Widodo arrived in Pakistan, also on a two-day visit after taking part in the ASEAN-India Summit and the 69th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on January 26.

He called on the Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and signed various agreements to enhance cooperation in several fields.

As of now, the Indonesian President is on a state visit to Afghanistan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Islamabad High Court has agreed to hear a contempt of court case against former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.

According to the Express Tribune, Justice Amir Farooq approved the hearing the contempt of court case through a plea filed by petitioner Adnan Iqbal.

In the plea filed by Iqbal, it stated that after Sharif was disqualified as prime minister, he had started to speak negatively on courts. It also mentioned that he had uttered anti-judiciary comments at a rally at Kot Momin in Punjab province and at Punjab House in Lahore.

Maryam, on the other hand, criticised the country's judiciary.

The petitioner maintained that Sharif and Maryam's speeches amounted to a contempt of court, and therefore, a case should be registered against them.

This is not the first time the former Pakistan Prime Minister has been accused of passing anti-judiciary comments.

In September, a petition was filed by Makhdoom Niazi Inqalabi, stating that Sharif had committed "contempt of court" at a Lahore rally in August.

The petition added that Sharif had criticised the country's judiciary for colluding with vested interests.

The Pakistan Supreme Court had earlier disqualified Sharif as the prime minister, after an inquiry into the 2016 Panama Papers which linked his family to offshore companies.

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court, on July 28, had directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file references against Sharif and his three children.

He blamed the country's highest court for his removal from the office and stated that the evidence found against him in the Panama Paper leaks case was "false and imaginary".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Afghan Presidential Spokesman Shahhussain Murtazawi has confirmed the attack on Marshal Fahim Military University in Kabul and said the attackers have been restricted to the first gate of the academy.

One of the insurgents involved in the attack has been arrested by the security forces, the local media reports quoted military sources, as saying.

According to the Tolo News, the number of attackers is still unknown, while the Afghan security forces have cordoned off the area as the attack is ongoing.

Afghan officials said RPGs (Rocket-Propelled Grenade) being used and gunfire still being heard.

However, no casualty has been reported so far.

The attack was reportedly launched at around 5 am on the Military University in PD5, Kabul city.

The report further stated that according to a source, explosions and heavy gunfire can be heard at the academy's gate.

The attack comes days after an explosive-laden ambulance was detonated in a busy area close to Kabul's infamous Chicken Street, killing 103 people, as confirmed by the Afghan Ministry of Interior (MoI).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A rocket attack was reportedly launched early Monday morning at a military academy in the Afghan capital Kabul.

According to TOLO News, the attack was launched at around 5am on the Marshal Fahim Military University in PD5, Kabul city.

The report further states that according to a source, explosions and heavy gunfire can be heard at the academy's gate.

Details to be followed.

This attack comes days after an explosive-laden ambulance was detonated in a busy area close to Kabul's infamous Chicken Street, killing 103 people, as confirmed by the Afghan Ministry of Interior (MoI).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Malaysia's film censorship authority has banned Sanjay Leela Bhansali's directorial, 'Padmaavat' from screening in the country.

Malaysia's Film Censorship Board (LPF) put the movie in its 'not approved' list and signed its age rating section as 'not relevant'.

According to media reports, a movie producer familiar with the LPF's ratings told a leading Malaysian news portal that 'not relevant' remark signifies banned movies which are likely to incite communal uneasiness and hatred.

Unlike in India, Malaysia's censor board has the ultimate power in terms of allowing or disallowing a film from screening. Their verdict cannot be questioned or upheld by any court of law.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus stars Deepika Padukone in the lead role of Rani Padmini, Shahid Kapoor essays the role of Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh portrays Alauddin Khilji, the 13th Century ruler of the Khilji Dynasty.

The film is based on the legend of Rani Padmini, a 13th century Hindu Rajput queen, mentioned in Padmavat, an Awadhi poem written by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi in 1540.

The film hit the theatres on January 24 amidst violent protests across the northern and north-western India and has since crossed Rs. 100 crore mark.

The Rajput community, especially the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, is still upset with the alleged tampering with the historical facts in the film.

'Padmaavat' is the second movie to be banned in the country, after a Filipino movie based on three transgendered prostitutes named 'Those Long Haired Nights'.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a case following a complaint by a woman from Kerala, who alleged that her husband tried to take her to Syria after converting to Islam.

The NIA registered the case yesterday.

The case, which was earlier handled by the police, will now be handled by the NIA.

The woman (25) had approached the Kerala High Court last year seeking an NIA probe against her husband Mohammad Riyaz, a resident of Thalassery, for attempting to take her to Syria from Saudi Arabia.

She said that her husband had plans to sell her to the Islamic State (IS) terrorists as a sex slave.

The woman claimed that she had met Riyaz while studying in Bengaluru in 2014 and alleged that her marriage was registered using forged documents.

She added that she was allegedly blackmailed by him later.

An investigation revealed that it was an organised network which executed the conversion of the woman.

An NIA investigation is underway.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday said that more than 1,300 women are going on Hajj pilgrimage without a Mehram (male guardian) this year after the Centre lifted the restriction.

"For the first time since independence, the restriction on women above 45 years of age to perform Hajj pilgrimage unaccompanied by their male relatives has been removed. This year, more than 1,300 women are going on Haj pilgrimage without Mehram," Kovind said while addressing a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, at the commencement of the Budget Session.

To this effect, a bilateral agreement was signed between India and Saudi Arabia in connection with Hajj 2018.

For the upliftment of Muslim women, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is also pushing for the passage of Muslim Women's (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill that criminalises the practice of triple talaq.

The President also expressed hope for the bill to get passed in the Parliament after it failed to get the Rajya Sabha's nod in the last session.

In addition, President Kovind also touched on the various policies and schemes introduced by the government and the strides made in the development of the nation, including the overhaul of the taxation system, introduction of Aadhaar, and digitisation projects, among other initiatives.

The Budget session of the Parliament will be conducted from January 29 to April 6, with the first phase to be held from January 29 to February 9 and the second phase from March 5 to April 6.

The Finance Minister will present the Union Budget 2018 for the fiscal year 2018-19 on February 1.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A group of voters in Manda village boycotted Ajmer Lok Sabha seat bypolls on Monday.

Agitated villagers said, "Voting will not take place in the village until our issues related to water and roadways are resolved."

Polling has been concluded for the Ajmer Lok Sabha bypolls with 65.33% voting turnout.

The voting for the by-elections for two Lok Sabha seats in Ajmer and Alwar and the assembly seat in Mandalgarh started earlier in the morning.

A total of 1,987 polling booths were set up in the Alwar Lok Sabha constituency, while in Ajmer Lok Sabha constituency, 1,925 booths were set up for voters to exercise their franchise.

There are 18.27 lakh registered voters in Alwar, 18.42 lakh voters in Ajmer and 2.31 lakh voters in Mandalgarh.

Eleven candidates are in the fray in Alwar, 23 in Ajmer and eight in Mandalgarh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The curtain was brought down on all ceremonials related to the Republic Day 2018 with a mesmerizing and poignant 'Beating the Retreat' tri-services band ceremony on Vijay Chowk in the presence of President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, members of the union cabinet, political dignitaries and service chiefs, besides people from other walks of life.

The 'Beating Retreat' ceremony is held here every year on January 29, marking the culmination of the four-day-long Republic Day celebrations.

Bands from the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the State Police and Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) participated in the ceremony at the Vijay Chowk here in New Delhi.

The ceremony began with President Ram Nath Kovind arriving at the venue. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and other dignitaries along with chiefs of the Army, Navy and the Air Force were present on the occasion to witness 26 military band performances, with the foot-tapping music.

Out of the 26 performances, 25 tunes were composed by Indian musicians. 'Abide with Me', Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi's favourite tune was the only western one.

The event culminated with the tri-services bands marching up Raisina Hill to the tune of 'Sare Jahan se Acha'.

In all, 18 military bands, 15 pipes and drums bands from regimental centres and battalions participated in the ceremony.

Major Ashok Kumar was the principal conductor of the ceremony.

The army military bands were conducted by Subedar Major S K Sharma and the Navy and Air Force band conductors were Master Chief Petty Officer (Musician-I) Ramesh Chand and Junior Warrant Officer Ashok Kumar respectively.

The conductor of the state police and CAPF bands was Constable Bhim Singh.

Buglers performed under the leadership of Subedar Jagdish Giri and pipes and drums bands were played under the instructions of Subedar Major Num Bahadur Gurung.

The ceremony traces its origins to the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army developed the unique ceremony of display by the massed bands.

'Beating Retreat' marks a centuries-old military tradition, when the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms and withdrew from the battlefield and returned to the camps at sunset at the sounding of the Retreat.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj will embark on a two-day official visit to Nepal from Thursday, in an effort to reach out to Nepal's political leadership ahead of the formation of a new government by a Communist alliance.

The itinerary was finalised by Nepal's Foreign Ministry and the Indian embassy in Kathmandu on Monday.

The External Affairs Minister will be accompanied by the new Foreign Secretary Vijay K. Gokhale and Sudhakar Dalela, Joint Secretary (North) of the EAM.

Swaraj will meet Nepali President Bidhya Devi Bhandari and current Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. She will also meet with CPL-UML chief Oli, Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda and Madhesi leaders.

This will be also Swaraj's first visit to Nepal after the three-tier elections ended in December.

During a recent event in Kathmandu, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri made it clear that New Delhi was ready to work and cooperate with the new government in Nepal.

The timing of the visit comes at a time when India wants to improve its relations with Oli and his party, Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) (CPN-UML).

Relations between the two sides are often described as "patchy", where Oli criticised India's constant hindrance over Nepal's new constitution in 2015, which did not recognise the rights of the Madhesis.

On January 21, Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Oli and congratulated him in advance on his win in the just-concluded Nepal elections and invited each other to visit their respective countries.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Monday declared a class 9th standard student as brand ambassador of Amaravati.

Vaishnavi from Mudinepalli village in Guntur district, has donated her savings of Rs one Lakh as donation for construction of Amaravati city.

Vaishnavi, who has keen interest in social service has also adopted two government schools in her own village.

Naidu, aims to make Amravati the best city in the world.

Last year speaking to the media, he said, "We want to built the best city in the world, so that it will be a model for the country and the world."

Naidu said that the newly constructed Amravati will act as a model to look up to.

Amaravati, being built on a 217 sq km open field in Guntur district, is being designed to have 51% of green spaces and 10% of water bodies, with a plan to house some of the most iconic buildings there.

The city is being modelled on Singapore, with the masterplan being prepared by two Singapore government-appointed consultants. Other international consultants and architects will then be roped in to give it an international flavour.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Turkish military has said that it has killed over 550 terrorists in the past eight days in the northwestern Afrin region of Syria, Anadolu news agency reported on Sunday.

The country's military has killed a total of 557 Kurdish militants and IS terrorists since the beginning of Operation Olive Branch on January 20, according to the news agency, which sourced the figure from a statement issued by Turkish General Staff yesterday.

Thirteen Turkish jets were deployed in the operation yesterday and they destroyed 20 targets in the region.

Operation Olive Branch is "successfully continuing as planned", the agency reported quoting the statement.

The operation was launched to establish security and stability along Turkish borders, the region and to protect the Syrian people from the terrorists and Afrin was chosen as the target, as it has been a major hideout for the Kurdish militants since July 2012 when the Assad regime in Syria allegedly abandoned the city to the mercy of militants.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Maharaj Kumar Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, the prince of Udaipur and the scion of the royal house of Mewar is known for his unwavering commitment towards the society. He has recently flagged off a pan India vastra daan or clothes donation drive.

During winters the city of Udaipur witnesses extremely cold waves, the underprivileged and the homeless in Udaipur have no respite from the freezing temperatures.

The vastra daan initiative will help the needy get some warmth during the long and cold winter nights. Speaking on the occasion Lakshyaraj shared, "The focus has always been to give back to the society. The weather conditions this year have been extreme, we have seen temperatures dip to 3.6 degrees Celsius this year. To help the underprivileged get some respite we have initiated Vastra daan campaign.

The initiative kick started on 21 January and we are humbled that Indian Army's 30 infantry brigade has already led the campaign by donating more than 350 clothes to this cause."

Maharaj Kumar Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, has created awareness on several social issues related to the rural and urban populace in the region. He has conducted campaigns for numerous social causes to create awareness in the field of education, health, environment etc., in order to improve the standard of living and quality of life of the local people.

He has also worked on various social projects in association with NGOs like the Sauhardya Charitable Trust.

Every year thousands of people gather in Udaipur on Maharaj Kumar Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar's birthday which falls on 28th January. This year, instead of giving gifts, he has requested people to contribute to this drive and make their participation count.

The campaign has started from 21st January 2018 and will stretch up to 5th February 2018. Centered in Udaipur, the drive has spread to multiple cities across India including Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai. More than 30 organizations including well-known brands like Dadu's, Vijay Group, Squat Up, Fed bank & Thanekars (a group which actively works for social causes) from Mumbai have extended their support towards this noble cause.The campaign promotions have been done through various online and offline media. Maharaj Kumar Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar himself, on 21st January 2018, gave the seal of approval to the drive. With the help of thousands of volunteers, the clothes from all over the country are being collected. The final counting will be done at Udaipur, post which the campaign will be called off by Maharaj Kumar Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar.

Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar is the driving force behind the growth story of Udaipur. He is the scion of the oldest dynasty in the world. His unconditional contribution towards the hospitality and tourism industry & society at large are is widely recognized. He lives by the values of creating equal and fair opportunities for growth and sustainability. Mentoring young minds is at the core of his beliefs. At Historic Resort Hotels (HRH) Group he has been leading innovations and disruptions in the hospitality industry. He is the pillar behind ensuring that Udaipur is today one of the world's most desirable destination. His unique management style and hands on approach makes him a very approachable leader.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley said that dynamic nature of the Indian economy and availability of technology tools has impacted the functioning of all the Departments including the nature of Tax Administration. The Finance Minister said that there are two major challenges before the Customs Administration today which include that of trade facilitation and sharp detection & enforcement to avoid any tax evasion. Shri Jaitley said that there is also a challenge to keep a balance between these two dichotomic functions where the experience of tax authorities come to their rescue.

The Finance Minister, Shri Jaitley expressed confidence that CBEC would take necessary steps to ensure that India's ranking in trade across borders would improve substantially. On the occasion, the Finance Minister, Shri Jaitley also released two IT tools of the Customs Department i.e. ICETRAK, and ICETAB, developed by the CBEC to provide an easy way for trade to track their consignments and for providing other important information and updates.

Earlier, the Minister of State for Finance, Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla, in his address complimented the role of Customs in implementing GST in record time, in securing our international borders and for facilitating trade and international passengers at airports. The Finance Secretary, Dr. Hasmukh Adhia congratulated the Department for smooth implementation of GST and adoption of new technology. He underlined the important role of Customs in further improving the nation's ranking in trading across borders while appreciating the enhanced adoption of technology and keeping a pace with latest technology in their business processes.

Ms Vanaja N. Sarna, Chairperson, CBEC highlighted the recent Key Initiatives taken by Customs for enhancing trade facilitation in line with the Action Plan for implementing the Trade Facilitation Agreement of the WTO ratified by India and in alignment with ease of doing business at the highest levels of government.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that the Coconut Development Board's (CDB) major schemes are focusing on coconut production, productivity, processing for coconut products, value addition, marketing, and export promotion in Bihar.

The Minister said that India is leading in the global coconut production and productivity. He said that the annual coconut production is 2395 crore from 20.82 lakh hectare and the productivity is 11505 coconuts/hectare. Coconut contributes to about Rs.27900 crore to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In the year 2016-17, coconut products worth of Rs.2084 crore were exported. More than one crore population depends on coconut cultivation for their livelihood. The aim of the CDB is to assist the coconut farmers in coconut production, processing, marketing and export of value-added coconut products thereby to make India the global leader in coconut production, productivity, processing, and export.

Shri Singh said that the country has witnessed an increase in coconut export. During the period 2013 -15, coconut production was 42,104 million nuts whereas 44,405 million nuts were produced during the period of 2015-17. The export value of coconut products has increased from Rs.3017.30 crore during 2011-14 to Rs. 4846.36 crore, which is 60.62% more, which is an achievement.

In the year 2016, we started exporting coconut oil to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, the countries from where we were importing earlier. For the first time, desiccated coconut is being exported to the US and Europe in large quantities from India.

The Minister said that the coconut cultivation can be taken up even in homesteads in Bihar with proper management. Currently, 14,900 hectare is under coconut cultivation. As per the Board's estimation, a nearly 50,000-hectare area in Bihar is suitable for coconut cultivation under irrigated condition. Consider this, the farmers who train at the Farmers Training Centre can consider coconut cultivation. In addition, an increase in coconut production will lead to employment generation. More people will get employment through the production of various coconut based products like coconut chips, coconut milk, coconut sugar, coconut water, tender coconut water, coconut honey, coconut jaggery, coconut milkshake, coconut snacks, virgin coconut oil, coconut natural cream, more nee cookies and other products.

Shri Singh informed that CDB had sanctioned Rs.409.01 lakh for the implementation of coconut related schemes in Bihar for the year 2014 to 2017. To increase the area under coconut cultivation in Bihar, the focus is on 'Expansion of area under coconut' scheme and financial assistance is being provided under the scheme for the new plantations. For the demonstration of the scientific coconut cultivation, Rs. 46.25 lakh has been allocated for the scheme 'Laying out of Demonstration Plot' for the period of 2017-18.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Maruti Suzuki India's net profit rose 3% to Rs 1799 crore on 13.9% rise in net sales to Rs 18940 crore in Q3 December 2017 over Q3 December 2016. The result was announced after market hours on Thursday, 25 January 2018. The market remained shut on Friday, 26 January 2018 on account of holiday.

HDFC, IDFC and Tech Mahindra will announce Q3 results today, 29 January 2018.

Shares of Newgen Software Technologies will be listed on the bourses today, 29 January 2018. The issue price of the initial offer of the company has been fixed at Rs 245 per share. The IPO was subscribed 8.25 times. Newgen Software Technologies offers a platform to enable organizations to drive digital transformation of business processes such as automation of routine business functions, making them faster, easier and more accurate and increasing the channels or devices through which these functions can be performed.

Cipla announced that it has received final approval for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Tablets, 300mg, from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to market a generic version of Gilead Sciences' Viread Tablets, 300mg.

Cipla's Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Tablets, 300mg, are AB-rated generic equivalents of Gilead Sciences' Viread Tablets, 300mg, and are indicated in combination with other antiretroviral (ARV) agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and paediatric patients 12 years of age and older. Cipla is excited to add this important antiretroviral product to its growing portfolio of ARVs in the US.

The product will be available for commercial shipment in the US immediately. Viread Tablets, 300mg, had US sales of approximately $72S million for the 12-month period ending November 2017, as reported by IMS Health. The announcement was made before market hours today, 29 January 2018.

KSB Pumps said that it has received orders of around Rs 413 crore from Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL). The announcement was made before market hours today, 29 January 2018.

Prataap Snacks said that it has entered into a new contract for third party manufacturing at Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Bengaluru, Karnataka and Kolkata, West Bengal for producing potato chips. The enhanced capacities will widen its manufacturing footprint enabling it to cater to the growing demand for its products. The contract manufacturing facilities provide the additional advantage of being located in close proximity to the target markets ensuring optimal logistics and freight management. The announcement was made after market hours on Thursday, 25 January 2018.

Majesco said that it has received an intimation from its subsidiary, Majesco USA in relation to a summons that has been received by Majesco Software and Solutions Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Majesco, USA from one of their customers. The announcement was made on Sunday, 28 January 2018.

Divi's Laboratories' net profit fell 16.3% to Rs 224.66 crore on 6.3% rise in net sales to Rs 1037.88 crore in Q3 December 2017 over Q3 December 2016. The announcement was made on Saturday, 27 January 2018.

Bank of Maharashtra said that board meeting of the bank will be held on 31 January 2018 to consider the proposal of raising of equity capital of bank by way of preferential allotment to Government of India. The announcement was made on Saturday, 27 January 2018.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Three persons were killed and thousands were left homeless following a fierce blaze that broke out in a Kenyan slum here, an official said on Monday.

The National Disaster Management Unit Deputy Director Pius Masai said they fear the toll from Sunday's fire that affected 6,000 families, might rise.

Multi-agencies were still combing the scene in efforts to know more about the fire that broke out in Lang'ata's Kijiji slum around 9 p.m. on Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We appeal to anyone missing a family member to report to Lang'ata police station or at the command post," he said, adding that one of the deceased had been identified.

The fierce flames, sparked by a short-circuit, tore through hundreds of the closely built structures, leaving thousands of residents with huge losses.

Masai also appealed for donation of food and non-food items. The affected people were camping at a school and there was a threat of an outbreak of disease.

--IANS

in/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The bypolls in Lok Sabha constituencies of Alwar and Ajmer, and for Mandalgarh assembly seat in Rajasthan began at 8 a.m. on Monday.

The by-elections assume significance as they come a year ahead of the assembly polls in 2019.

Around 40 lakh voters would cast their votes in the closely fought battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress.

In Ajmer, BJP leader Sanwarlal Jat's son Ramswaroop Lamba is contesting against Congress' Raghu Sharma, who is a former legislator.

Similarly, Jaswant Yadav, a sitting Rajasthan Minister, is contesting from Alwar against former MP Karan Singh Yadav from Congress.

In Mandalgarh, the fight is between BJP's Shankti Singh Hada and Congress' Vivek Dhakad.

The Election Commission has ensured that the media and public receive timely and regualr information on voters' turnout.

According to Deputy Chief Election Officer M.M. Tiwari, the poll panel has launched a new portal RAJ&SMS which will give details on the hourly turnout of voters.

The mobile numbers of all presiding officers are registered with this portal.

Strict instructions have been given to officers to give an update on voters turnout every two hours.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Narendra Modi government has made mockery of "a good idea" like Aadhaar by implementing it "horribly", says Congress leader and former union minister Jairam Ramesh.

"Aadhaar is a very good idea implemented horribly. The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) vision of Aadhaar was that it should be implemented only for delivery of social benefits. Aadhaar was meant to be an instrument of eliminating fraud and duplicate identity in delivery of social programmes.

"I never expect aadhaar for airline tickets, bank accounts, mobiles...this is ridiculous. They (the Modi government) have made mockery of Aadhaar," he told IANS in an interview on the sidelines of the Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Festival.

Further, Ramesh said, "People are dying because of Aadhaar card as they are not getting ration, pension without the biometric card. Aadhaar is inducing deaths of people."

The former Union Minister accused the Modi government of weakening and tweaking laws to favour industries.

"All the environmental laws are being weakened and diluted. Ministry of has become a rubber stamp body. In the name of ease of doing business, it is being tweaked to favour industry...they are trying to weaken National Green Tribunal, forest conservation laws," he said.

Criticising the river-linking project, Ramesh said, the "Ken-Betwa river linking project, of which Modi is going to lay the foundation stone soon, will destroy the Panna Tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh.

The technocrat-turned-politician also took a swipe at Modi for his speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos.

Addressing world leaders and global corporate honchos at the plenary session of the WEF, Modi dwelt on the threat of climate change.

"Prime Minister Modi goes to Davos and gives big bhashan (lecture) on environment and climate change. But his actions are entirely different.

"The Ministry of Environment has become the Ministry of Environment approvals. It is supposed to regulate. But they are not serious about it," he said.

Asked about the present government's role in the United Nations climate change conference, he said: "Now, BJP is parroting what I said in Cancun in 2010 that all countries must mitigate. BJP and (Arun) Jaitley criticised me. Now, the same thing you are saying nine years later."

Lauding the erstwhile UPA government for putting the country's economy on a higher growth trajectory, he said whatever the Modi government is doing is by building on the success of previous governments.

"When Modi talks about high growth, he forgets that during the ten years of UPA government (2004-2014), the average rate of annual growth was 7.4 per cent, which was quite high. In fact, in the last two years, the growth has been lower than the long term average. We hope the growth will recover from the next year onwards."

In this context, Ramesh gave credit to the P.V. Narsimha Rao government and the then Finance Minister Manmohan Singh for delivering a landmark budget in 1991 with a direction of liberalisation.

"In the last 26 years, we have had six Prime Ministers. Nobody has changed the direction of 1991 (for economic liberalisation) given by Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh. In the last three decades, the Indian economy grew on an average of almost 6.6 per cent per year. So it is a huge achievement."

Ramesh also criticised the Modi regime for demonetisation and the way the new indirect tax was implemented.

"I personally feel that the (current) slow down of economy is not irreversible. Demonetisation was a bad idea implemented badly. Goods and Services Tax (GST) was a very good idea implemented poorly. So both these shocks have combined to reduce economic growth," the Rajya Sabha member said.

He accused the BJP government of failing to create employment and instead destroying jobs.

"Jobs are not only not being created but destroyed also. For the first time, in IT industry in Bangalore (Bengaluru), jobs are being destroyed. Job creation is a very serious issue today. This is not being created because investments are not taking place. The investment rate in India today is less than 28 per cent of GDP which is the lowest in the last 35-40 years."

(Bappaditya Chatterjee can be contacted at bappaditya.c@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.)Arrested BJP leader Kunwar Surajpal Singh Ammu -- who announced a Rs 10-crore award to behead actress Deepika Padukone and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali over the 'Padmaavat' movie -- was on Monday referred to PGIMS in Rohtak after he complained of chest pain and uneasiness, a senior doctor said.

Ammu was detained on January 25 and later arrested by Haryana Police.

He was lodged in Bhondsi jail in judicial custody after a district court rejected his bail plea.

"Ammu was admitted in Gurugram's government-run Civil Hospital late Sunday night after he complained of chest pain and uneasiness. He was under observation of Dr Naveen Kumar and his team, and was referred to Rohtak's Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma PGIMS (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences) after some medical tests," a senior doctor told IANS.

Ammu was detained from his house in the upscale DLF area and presented in a Sohna court on January 29 by police for production warrant over his alleged role in the violence in Bhondsi area on the Gurugram-Alwar National Highway on January 24.

A school bus carrying children, teachers and staff was pelted with stones and a Haryana Roadways bus burnt by agitators from the Rajput community who protested against the release of Hindi movie 'Padmaavat'.

Ammu, also the General Secretary of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, will now be presented in court on February 3, if doctors declares him fit.

In November, Ammu had announced the bounty in protest against the movie which the Rajput community claims distorts history.

He also threatened to break the legs of actor Ranveer Singh, who plays the role of Delhi Sultan Alauddin Khilji in the movie.

On November 21, he was booked under Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code on a complaint by Pawan Kumar, a fan of Deepika and Bhansali.

After the case was registered, Ammu dared the Haryana Police to arrest him.

He said he stood firmly by his statement whether he remained in the BJP or not.

On November 29, Ammu sent his resignation to Bharatiya Janata Party state unit chief Subhash Barala, wroting that he was upset with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's "attitude towards the Rajput community". His resignation was pending before the party disciplinary committee.

Ahead of his resignation, a delegation of Rajput leaders led by Ammu visited Haryana Bhawan in Delhi to meet Khattar and request him to ban the movie in the state but the Chief Minister refused to meet them.

'Padmaavat' released nationwide on Thursday barring in a few states.

Police has arrested 18 people for the Bhondsi violence. So far, a total 47 accused have been arrested for protesting against movie and for their alleged involvement in violence.

--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 Monday accused the BJP-led government of trying to bypass Parliament scrutiny on the triple talaq Bill and said it should be sent to a select committee of the Rajya Sabha.

Congress leader Anand Sharma told reporters here that all Bills should go through legislative scrutiny.

Sharma was responding to a question about the triple talaq Bill finding a mention in the President's address to Parliament on Monday. The President said the government has tabled the Bill on triple talaq and hoped it will be passed soon.

"We all are in support of the Bill. But when a law is enacted it must go through legislative scrutiny," Sharma said.

He said Parliament has a duty to discharge under the Constitution. "It is duty-bound to scrutinise every Bill before it is made into law," Sharma said.

The Congress leader said the government can bring in an amendment concerning subsistence to be paid to the Muslim women affected by triple talaq.

"Let the government bring the amendment if they are sincere about this Bill's passage. The number of woman (to be paid subsistence) surely is small," he said.

"The government is not willing to listen, and I have a suggestion for the Prime Minister - If he is sincere in his concern about women, he should be concerned about all the women of India. Let him bring the Women's Reservation Bill in this session of Parliament," Sharma said.

Asked if the Congress will allow passage of the triple talaq Bill in Parliament, he said, "The issue is not of consensus, but the issue is the government's approach. The Supreme Court has already declared it void."

The triple talaq Bill has been passed by the Lok Sabha and is pending in the Rajya Sabha.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation on Monday announced a probe into the circumstances leading to the death of a Mumbai youth who was sucked into an MRI machine of a civic-run hospital on Saturday.

Taking serious cognizance of the matter, BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta said the probe would be headed by an officer of the rank of Deputy Municipal Commissioner (DMC).

The incident which left the city's medical community shaken will be probed with possibility of reviewing the existing guidelines for civic hospitals and making them more stringent.

The chilling incident happened on Saturday evening when Rajesh Maru, 32, was sucked inside the MRI machine at the BYL Nair Hospital, Mumbai Central.

Accompanied by his mother-in-law Laxmi Solanki, 62, he had carried a prohibited metallic oxygen cylinder inside the Magnetic Resonance Imaging room, allegedly on the advice of a ward boy.

The cylinder activated the powerful magnetic fields of the MRI machine which pulled Maru at full force and the cylinder got ruptured, releasing gas, which complicated matters.

Maru, who was brought out swollen and bleeding from the impact of the hit on the MRI machine, died few minutes later.

He was the sole breadwinner of his family living in Lalbaug area of central Mumbai.

Moving swiftly, the police arrested three persons on Sunday -- doctor Saurabh Lanjrekar, ward boy Vitthal Chavan and female ward attendant Sunit Survey.

The Maru and Solanki family cried foul and accused the medicos, the hospital and the BMC of gross negligence.

"A ward boy asked him to help by carrying an oxygen cylinder with him to the MRI room -- which is strictly prohibited," said Maru's brother-in-law, Harish Solanki.

Charging the hospital administration and doctors of "carelessness", Solanki said there were no security personnel to warn Maru that he should not carry the oxygen cylinder with him to MRI room.

"As soon as he stepped inside the room, the MRI machine literally sucked him in due to the magnetic force since he was carrying the oxygen cylinder with him," he added.

The MRI is a sophisticated test that uses powerful magnets, radio waves, and with the aid of a computer, shows detailed pictures from inside a patient's body, but unlike traditional X-rays or CT Scans, doesn't use radiation.

The ward boy ostensibly ignored the stringent guidelines that bar all metallic objects -- including such cylinders, items of jewellery or even metallic fibres and implanted metallic medical devices -- inside the scanning room.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to Maru's family.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Giving a go-by to protocol, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Monday attended the Jaipur Literature Festival 2018 like a commoner.

She was seen visiting book stalls and flipping through the pages of books and also buying a few of her choice.

She was at the festival for around an hour, where she could be seen talking to participants, including youths and writers. She also gave her autograph to several students and asked them to harness their reading skills.

Speaking to media persons, Raje said the JLF had emerged as a strong platform for strengthening literature as a media to communicate strong messages.

"This platform also allows us to meet the world-renowned writers whom we can never meet but only read," she added.

She had all praise for the tribal art called Mandana, which was drawing attention of one and all around.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by media advisor Anup Sharma, who has been a regular at the literature festival over the years.

After visiting the JLF, Raje also visited the Jawahar Kala Kendra to attend a handicrafts exhibition. Looking at the handicraft materials, she had all praise for the creativity of artisans.

She also reviewed the renovation work at the Kendra and directed the officials to make the centre better in terms of artistic vision.

Subodh Agarwal, Principal Secretary - Tourism, Art & Culture Department, was also present on the occasion.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A court here on Monday extended the police custody of the owner of a plastics factory, where a major fire killed 17 persons last week, till January 31.

Metropolitan Magistrate Vikram allowed the Delhi Police to question Manoj Jain for another two days.

On January 24, Metropolitan Magistrate Jitender Pratap Singh had remanded him to five-day police custody.

As magistrate Singh was on leave, Jain was presented before Metropolitan Magistrate Vikram on expiry of his five-day custody.

He was arrested on January 20 night.

The police sought his custody on the ground of through investigation and informed the court that Jain was not cooperating in the probe, as he was not unlocking his phone and pretending illness.

The police said that Jain was the factory owner along with Lalit Goel.

As many as 17 people, including 10 women, were burnt to death or asphyxiated and 30 others injured in the fire in the plastics warehouse in west Delhi's Bawana on January 20 evening.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the city police to file response on the attack on properties of two senior advocates.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the incident, a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar asked the Delhi Police and the Delhi government to file reply on the attack on lawyers' properties.

The court said: "It is a matter of deep pain as the incidents could have caused loss of life and property of the lawyers. The incidents were startling and worrying as these happened to lawyers who defend the litigants."

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) requested the court to monitor the investigation in the matter.

On January 25, the association abstained from work to protest an attack on the properties of two senior advocates Vikas Pahwa and Kirti Uppal, who is also the DHCBA President.

On Monday, some people burnt Uppal's Hyundai Tucson car parked outside his house in south Delhi's Nizamuddin, while on January 9 attempts were made to set fire to Pahwa's office and cars in Greater Kailash.

The lawyers said a similar incident took place on January 4 when two cars -- Maruti Swift and Honda Amaze -- parked in the east Delhi house of advocate Ravi Sharma were torched by unidentified persons.

Separate FIRs have been lodged, which said the three lawyers were representing a woman colleague in the Delhi High Court in a property dispute with her relatives.

The bar association said the attacks were "pre-mediated and deliberate acts of conspiracy".

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The European Union on Monday said it was ready to react if US President Donald Trump were to impose restrictive trade measures against the bloc.

In a recent interview, Trump had said he was annoyed by the EU's trade policy, which he described as "very, very unfair to the US," adding a veiled threat that it could turn out to be to the 28-nation bloc's detriment.

"The EU stands ready to react swiftly and appropriately in case our exports are affected by any restrictive trade measure from the US," said European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas during the daily press briefing, reports Efe.

Schinas added that the EU does not view trade as a zero-sum game with winners and losers, but rather as something that can and should benefit both parties.

"While trade has to be open and fair, it also has to be rules-based," Schinas said.

Trump, who claimed that the US was currently unable to sufficiently export to the EU, had also warned that his annoyance with Europe's trade policy "may morph into something very big" in the future.

"We cannot get our product in," Trump told Piers Morgan, of the British broadcaster ITV. "It's very, very tough. And yet they send their product to use. No taxes, very little taxes.?

The Trump administration recently decided to impose new tariffs _ amounting to 30 percent on imported solar cells and modules, and 20 percent on washing machines _ as part of its so-called "America First" trade agenda based on aggressive protectionism.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Deputy Director Andrew McCabe resigned on Monday amid repeated attacks by the US President Donald Trump who accused him of political bias.

The move by McCabe comes a week after speculations and reports that Trump wanted him out. The media last week reported that Trump had asked McCabe in an Oval Office meeting whom he voted for in 2016 elections.

McCabe was scheduled to officially retire in mid-March. He will remain on the FBI payroll until he is eligible to retire with full benefits, the BBC reported.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a press briefing: "This decision was not made by the White House. The president was not part of this decision making process."

McCabe briefly served as acting FBI Director in May last year after Trump fired its previous chief, James Comey.

Later, Christopher Wray was appointed as the new FBI director, and he was confirmed by the Senate in August.

According to media reports, Wray also threatened to resign after being pressured by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to fire Mr McCabe.

A career civil servant who had served at the FBI since 1996, McCabe has been at the center of ongoing tensions between the agency and Republicans.

He has been lashed out at by Republican lawmakers alleging systemic bias against Trump at the top tier of the FBI, Xinhua reported.

The Republican president also targeted McCabe for the FBI's investigation into 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while serving as the country's secretary of state.

Trump has also critcised McCabe previously because his wife, Jill McCabe, ran as a Democrat for a Senate seat in Virginia.

On Twitter, Trump has railed against McCabe and his wife, calling the FBI chief a "Comey friend".

"How can FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, the man in charge, along with leakin' James Comey, of the Phony Hillary Clinton investigation (including her 33,000 illegally deleted emails) be given $700,000 for wife's campaign by Clinton Puppets during investigation?" Trump wrote on Twitter in December.

Earlier, he wrote: "Problem is that the acting head of the FBI & the person in charge of the Hillary investigation, Andrew McCabe, got $700,000 from H for wife!"

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Four persons were killed and several are missing after a bus carrying nearly 50 passengers crashed through a bridge railing and plunged into a canal in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on Monday morning, police said.

Primary investigations suggest the driver lost control of the vehicle, the police said.

"A Malda-bound public transport bus fell off the Nalini Buske bridge into the Gobra canal in Balirghat area around 6 a.m. Four people have been killed," a Daulatabad police station official said.

"Two bodies were found floating in the canal. Ten persons were rescued, of which two succumbed in hospital," he added.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rushed to the spot along with Transport Minister Subhendu Adhikari and announced a compensation of Rs five lakh each to the bereaved families.

"It is a very unfortunate incident. I announce compensation of Rs five lakh for each bereaved family and Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh for the injured," Banerjee said.

Earlier in the day, angry locals pelted police with stones and torched two police vehicles, accusing them of arriving late for rescue operations. Stones were hurled at a fire tender that was sent there to put out the fire.

Police lobbed teargas shells and baton-charged the protesters.

Hundreds of villagers as well as anxious relatives of the passengers gathered on the canal banks as four cranes were pressed into service to fish out the bus submerged in the water.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)There was a furore in Maharashtra political circles on Monday after an 84-year-old farmer who had consumed poison at Mantralaya -- the state government headquarters -- died late on Sunday.

The Congress-Nationalist Congress Party attacked the government, terming it "not a suicide, but a murder" by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena combine, even as senior ministers scurried around to control the damage.

On January 22, the farmer from Dhule, Dharma Patil, came to the Mantralaya seeking enhanced compensation for his land that was acquired by the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company for a solar power project and even demanded to meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

However, he had suddenly collapsed and was rushed to St. George Hospital and was later shifted to Sir J.J. Hospital.

En route, Patil told his son that he had consumed rat poison. Later his condition became critical and he was put on dialysis, but succumbed late on Sunday.

Earlier on Monday, his son Narendra Patil refused to take his father's body after the autopsy unless a written assurance of additional value for the land was given by the state government.

Following the political fracas, the state government issued a letter to Narendra Patil, stating that all the demands would be considered, after which the family accepted Patil's body and took it to Dhule for the last rites.

Power Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule told journalists on Monday that the District Collector has been ordered to review the compensation package on 199 hectares of land and if the (Patil) family has been deprived of adequate compensation, they would be compensated along with interest.

Maharashtra Congress President Ashok Chavan said "this is Patil's murder" for which the government is responsible and he should be given justice.

"He sought compensation for his land which was acquired at a throwaway price of around Rs 400,000, while others in the neighbourhood were compensated in crores of rupees. He was totally crestfallen and wanted justice but the government ignored him, leaving him with no options," Chavan said in a stinging attack.

Leader of Opposition (NCP) in the Maharashtra Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde said Patil's death is the result of the "cruelty by the government" and the ruling BJP-Sena cannot give justice to the farmers.

Former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said he was "deeply pained by the death of the 84-year-old farmer" who fought against the insensitive and apathetic government.

"Messed up loan waiver, non-remunerative farm prices and cruel land acquisition with unfair compensation has ended another precious life," Chavan said, demanding a judicial probe into the matter.

"For whom is this government really working? If you cannot work in the interests of the people, you have no right to continue in power," said senior NCP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, assuring the victim's son of support in his quest for justice.

Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana leader and MP Raju Shetty said the state government and its rehabilitation department is solely responsible for Patil's death.

"The officials should be booked under the offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Since there were no middlemen involved, he was given a compensation of only Rs 4 lakh," Shetti said.

A rift appeared in the ruling ally Shiv Sena with party MP Sanjay Raut demanding murder charges against the officials, but party spokesperson Neelam Gorhe blamed the erstwhile Congress-NCP government in the matter.

Attempting to pin the blame on the previous government, Bawankule claimed that the lands belonging to Patil and other farmers were surveyed for compensation between 2009-2015.

--IANS

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(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The government is working "actively and with sensitivity" to remove the feeling of economic insecurity among the poor, farmers and senior citizens and is trying to usher ease of living for the common man, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Monday.

In his customary address to a joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament marking the start of the Budget Session, the President said: "Guided by the spirit of the Constitution, the Union government is working towards strengthening social justice and economic democracy and to usher ease of living for the common man."

Kovind said that the "highest priority" of his government is to remove various difficulties faced by farmers and to raise their standard of living. The government schemes are also aimed at reducing the expenditure incurred by them on farming.

"As a result of government policies and the hardwork of farmers, a record production of more than 275 million tonnes of food grain and about 300 million tonne of horticulture produce has been achieved in the country. My government is committed to doubling of farmers income by 2022," the President said.

He added that under the "Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana", farmers are being provided "affordable and simple crop insurance services". During 2017, under Rabi and Kharif crops, 5.71 crore farmers were provided protective coverage under this scheme," he said.

The President also mentioned the "Kisan Sampada Yojana" which provides security cover to farmers against damage to agriculture produce before it reaches the market.

He said that the work on reopening of fertiliser plants at Gorakhpur, Barauni, Sindri, Talcher and Ramagundam is "progressing at a fast pace".

Kovind said that for social security of senior citizens, about 80 lakh senior citizens have benefited from "Atal Pension Yojana".

The President underlined that to ensure availablity of "two square meals" to every poor person, "effective enforcement" of National Food Security Act is necessary.

The President also touched upon various schemes and legislations, those already enacted and under the pipeline, for the welfare of minorities, tribals, disabled and backward sections of society and reiterated his government's commitment towards the aspirations of every section of society.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Hillary Clinton made a surprise appearance at the Grammy Awards and took part in a comedy bit taking a jab at US President Donald Trump.

The former presidential candidate, along with Cher, Snoop Dogg, Cardi B, John Legend and DJ Khaled were among those who read excerpts from Michael Wolff's "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" -- the hit book about billionaire's first year in the White House, CNN said.

The bit on Sunday night showed Grammy host James Corden holding auditions for the book reading, in hopes of nabbing next year's Best Spoken Word Album with famous musicians trying out for the coveted role.

Clinton's face was covered by the book when she first appeared on screen in the pre-taped sketch, but the crowd cheered when she lowered the book to reveal her face.

Clinton read the famous line about Trump's love for fast food: "He had a longtime fear of being poisoned. One reason why he liked to eat at McDonalds. No one knew he was coming and the food was safely pre-made."

The Grammys producers reached out to Clinton's camp a couple of weeks ago.

They toyed with a couple of different passages from the book before settling on the except about Trump's McDonald's habit, a person involved with the taping, which took place last week in New York City told CNN.

The sketch has already drawn the ire of at least one prominent White House figure. US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley fired off a tweet shortly after the bit aired.

"I have always loved the Grammys but to have artists read the 'Fire and Fury' book killed it," Haley tweeted. "Don't ruin great music with trash. Some of us love music without the politics thrown in it."

Haley took to the radio waves on Thursday to say that a rumour sparked by the book is "absolutely not true," referring to a detail in "Fire and Fury" that alleges that she carried on an affair with President Trump.

The book has sold 1.7 million copies, according to publisher Henry Holt and Co. "Fire and Fury" has also been No. 1 on the New York Times best seller for three weeks.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Hyderabad High Court on Monday expressed displeasure over the failure of the Andhra Pradesh authorities to prevent cockfights during Sankranti celebrations this month despite its orders.

The court sought to know from the Chief Secretary and the DGP as to why they had failed to prevent cockfights despite clear court orders.

A Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan on Monday heard a public interest litigation in the matter.

In response to orders issued last week, Chief Secretary Dinesh Kumar appeared in court. Director General of Police M. Malakondaiah had sought exemption from personal appearance.

The court asked the officials to submit details of cockfights held in East Godavari and West Godavari districts. The bench directed for information on who all organised the cockfights at over 800 places in the two districts, number of cases registered and details of the accused.

The court accepted the plea of the Chief Secretary and police for more time to provide the details, and adjourned the hearing by four weeks.

The court once again voiced unhappiness over certain public representatives organising cockfights despite court ban orders.

Earlier, the court had asked the Chief Secretary and the DGP whether they were feeling helpless in implementing its orders.

The PIL has been filed by one K. Ramchandra Raju of West Godavari district, who wanted the court to stop betting and several vices that have crept into villages in the name of culture and cockfights.

The High Court this month asked the state government to prevent cockfights. The Supreme Court had also dismissed the plea against the ban.

However, the cockfights were conducted at several places in coastal Andhra with impunity during Sankranti, the harvest festival celebrated from January 13 to 15.

Every year, crores of rupees change hands as cockfights are organised on a massive scale during week-long Sankranti holidays. Politicians of all hues, businessmen, and celebrities also participate in such cockfights.

Animal rights activists say the authorities have always failed to implement court orders on the matter.

They point out that as per the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Andhra Pradesh Gaming Act, 1974, cockfights are illegal.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu headed to Moscow on Monday morning to meet President Vladimir Putin to warn him that Iran is trying to "turn Lebanon into a giant missile site".

Ahead of his departure, Netanyahu said he intended to devote his five-hour visit to speaking with Putin about Iran's actions in the region, Xinhua reported.

"I will discuss with President Putin Iran's relentless efforts to establish a military presence in Syria," he said in a statement.

He stressed that Israel "strongly" opposes an Iranian foothold on the soil of its northern neighbour and noted that Israel was "taking action against (it)", without elaborating on those actions.

The Israeli leader also accused Iran of trying to "turn Lebanon into one giant missile site".

He said Iran is stockpiling in Lebanon precision missiles against Israel. "We will not tolerate this," he said.

Netanyahu will be joined by the Israeli Military Intelligence chief, besides his National Security head and an Ukrainian-born Minister in Netanyahu's coalition.

Netanyahu and Putin have met several times since Russia started its military campaign alongside President Bashar Assad's forces to coordinate their military moves.

Their last meeting took place in Sochi in August 2017.

Israel has long been lobbying the US and Russia, requesting them to avoid an Iranian foothold in Syria in the context of a possible peace agreement.

Israel and Syria share a disputed border in the Golan Heights, a territory that Israel seized from Syria in the 1976 Middle East War and annexed it later.

Israel has been carrying out occasional airstrikes against Syrian army positions, usually in response to errant fire from the six-year war between the Assad regime and rebel groups.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Jammu and Kashmir Government said on Monday the dates for holding Panchayat polls would only be finalised after taking all political parties in the state on board.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri told the assembly that the dates would be announced only after obtaining views from all political parties in the state.

The state government had said earlier that the process of holding thepolls would start on February 15.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Lawyers in Kanpur smeared the face of a builder, accused of stocking old currency notes to the tune of over Rs 96 crore, with black ink when he were produced in the court on Monday, police said.

The general secretary of the Bar Association tried to pacify the irate lawyers but they refused to retreat and also thrashed the builder's accomplices after smearing his face with black ink calling him a "traitor".

Police had requested policy custody remand of the 10 persons accused of amassing old currency notes. When they were brought to the court of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate and were awaiting the verdict of the court, some lawyers went near the accused and smeared the face of builder Anand Khatri black.

When the other accused tried to react, the lawyers thrashed them. It was only after the intervention of Bar Association general secretary Bhanu Pratap Singh that the lawyers were pacified and the police whisked away the accused and who was later taken to jail.

Police had demanded police custody of the accused claiming that the phones that had been confiscated from them were locked and the police needed the custody to unlock them for further investigation.

Police also told the magistrate that the network of the accused was spread to some foreign countries and they need to be interrogated further, so they be given a seven-day custody of the accused.

The court granted two-hour police custody remand with some riders like presence of a lawyer with them and that they would be medically examined before and after the police custody.

After the two-hour police remand, accused Anand Khatri, Sanjay Kumar Singh, Sanjay Kumar, Anil Yadav, Sanjeev Agarwal, Manish Agarwal, Ali Hussain, Kuteshwar Rao, Mohit Dhingra and Santosh Kumar Yadav, Sant Kumar Yadav, Onkar, Santosh Pathak, Ramashray, Rajeshwari and Dhirendra Gupta are back in prison.

In a joint raid with the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Uttar Pradesh Police had recovered more than Rs 96 crore from Kanpur on January 16.

--IANS

md/nir

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Still largely perceived as the "Dark Continent" beset by underdevelopment, violence, instabilityand more, Africa is changing in many ways, not the least of which is in literature with a new crop of upcoming writers, whose work seeks to break these stereotypes and give a more credible voice about life there, with problems galore but also aspirations for better times.

And whether from West Africa or East Africa, they are not chary at challenging conventions and not at all circumscribed at describing the sordid reality that they have observed.

Kicking off a session titled "The Afropolitans" at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2018's final day on Monday, Nigerian-born Bangladeshi-American writer Abeer Y. Hoque asked the panelists -- Nigerians Chika Unigwe and Abubakar Adam Ibrahim and ASomali-British writer Nadifa Mohammed -- to describe the inspiration behind their novels.

Unigwe, whose "On Black Sisters' Street" stories is about four female Nigerian sex workers who travel from their homes to Brussels and auction themselves to clients, described her book as a story about women who "navigate their way to making a living and to the extent they succeed and fail" and that she had focussed on women "because migration is gendered in Nigeria; men do not immigrate to make a living".

The author, who had, at another session, maintained that chose to make their story not one of "victimisation," but rather, of their "agency" to make their own decisions and that having grown up in a conservative atmosphere, she was flabbergasted when she moved to Belgium and faced "the culture shock of sex being in the open".

For the book, she said she met Nigerian sex workers in Belgium and talked to them directly to research her book, and unlearned everything she "had learnt about sex and prostitution."

In this session, Unigwe, reflecting on her time researching in the red-light areas of Antwerp, said that "writing helps in building a sense of empathy".

"I could actually feel how it would feel if you are paraded naked and people are thinking whether to buy you or not.... You are actually hoping to be bought because you do not want to be a refugee in a country where you cannot take care of yourself. How sad is that?"

AIbrahim, whose "Season of Crimson Blossoms" seeks to demolish conservative stereotypes about Nigerian women, however maintained that "stereotypes can become the basis for a narrative to enlighten" people".

"I think the characters chose me to tell their stories. Readers from Northern Nigeria told me that the stories of women I projected were close to reality," he said.

Mohammed, whose "The Orchard of Lost Souls" offers insight into Somalia's history as it deals with interpersonal conflicts, maintained that she believes the measure of a great society is how they treat their women and disabled." She wanted to write this book because most literature about Somalia "is written by foreign journalists".

"Somalia has been portrayed as an archetype of a failed state, but I wanted to tell the story of the people who have stayed back: The soldiers, old women and people who could not escape the horrors of the war," said the author whose "Black Mamba Boy", set in 1930s Somalia spanning a decade of war and upheaval, all seen through the eyes of a small boy alone in the world and his journey through Djibouti, war-torn Eritrea and Sudan, to Egypt and from there, aboard a ship transporting Jewish refugees just released from German concentration camps,to Britain and freedom.

In conclusion, Unigwe pointed out that Nigeria had given the world the Man Booker International Prize-winning novelist Chinua Achebe.

"I think the evolution of African literature has been great. Now commercial publishers in Europe have started publishing our works and you can find them in bookstores easily.", she said, adding that African publishers have also emerged, and were starting to publish works by African authors.

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)

--IANS

vd/tsb

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Gujarat's Dalit leader and newly elected MLA Jignesh Mevani on Monday urged the Karnataka electorate to not vote for the BJP in coming Assembly polls and said he will campaign against that party in the southern state.

"I'm ready to compromise with my ideologies to save our Constitution and to keep the BJP from winning the Karnataka elections," Mevani said, speaking at a commemoration event held here on the birth anniversary of slain journalist Gauri Lankesh.

He also said that mainstream political parties from Karnataka should form an alliance to defeat the BJP.

Mevani, MLA from Vadgam in Gujarat, said he will campaign against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for three weeks in April. The elections are likely to be held in April-May in Karnataka.

The elections to the current 224-member Karnataka Assembly were held in May 2013.

"I will speak to the Dalits (in Karnataka) and tell them their vote shouldn't go to the BJP," he said.

He claimed the BJP and Prime Minister Narandra Modi had not kept their promises of providing two crore jobs every year, made ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

"The government hasn't paid much attention to jobs or farmer suicides but only focused on issues like love jihad," he said.

--IANS

bha/tsb

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday made a "humble request" to all MPs to rise above party and help the government pass the triple talaq Bill and also to ensure healthy debates during the Budget Session so that maximum economic benefits can reach Dalits and poor farmers from the Budget.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Modi said the government had made efforts during the Winter Session of Parliament to fulfil the nation's "high hopes" that there won't be any on crucial issues like triple talaq Bill that criminalises verbal instant divorce practiced by Muslim husbands. The legislation was stalled in the Rajya Sabha after the Lok Sabha cleared it.

He said despite the orders of the Supreme Court, the Bill on triple talaq could not be passed by Parliament and Muslim women were denied their rights.

"I hope and I make a humble request to all political parties across the country to join hands in passing the triple talaq Bill to protect the rights of Muslim women. It will indeed be the best gift of 2018, in the new year for the Muslim women."

He said the Budget Session, which began on Monday, was very important also because the entire global community was very optimistic about the Indian economy, citing "positive opinion about the growth of India and the road ahead" by global credit rating agencies, World Bank and IMF.

Modi said the Budget would provide new energy to the fast growing economy of India and fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the common man.

He said the Budget is a bipartisan practice where "the national interest is above the political interests".

"Cutting across party lines, even MPs from the ruling party highlights its short comings while members of opposition highlight its salient feature. In a way it provides for a healthy environment and atmosphere for debate and discussion."

He urged all political parties to take maximum help of the debate in standing committee meetings and ensure how the common man is benefited most from the Budget.

"Our objective should be to reach out to the Dalits, oppressed, underprivileged and to those who did not have any access to these benefits.

"We also need to see how the villagers, poor, farmers and labourers are benefited maximum from the Budget. Let's have a detailed discussion, come out with positive suggestions and make a road map to march ahead."

--IANS

sar/rn

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)President Ram Nath Kovind said on Monday there has been a new found respect for India because of the government's "successful diplomatic efforts".

"Due to the successful diplomatic efforts of my Government, there has been a new found respect for India," Kovind said in his address to the to the joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament at the start of the Budget Session here, his first since assuming office last July.

"As a result, India has been able to secure representation in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, International Maritime Organization and Economic and Social Council," he said

In this connection , he also referred to the keenly contested election to the International Court of Justice of Judge Dalveer Bhandari last year.

The President mentioned about India being accepted in three of the four export control regimes - Missile Technology Control Regime, an informal and voluntary partnership of countries to prevent the proliferation of missile and unmanned aerial vehicle technology capable of carrying above 500 kg payload for more than 300 km; the Wassenaar Arrangement, which seeks to contribute to regional and international security and stability by promoting transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies; and the Australia Group, an informal forum of countries which seeks to ensure that exports do not contribute to the development of chemical or biological weapons.

Stating that service to humanity is an integral part of India's cultural heritage, he said that India has always remained the first responder in times of crises, such as the earthquake in Nepal, flood calamity in Sri Lanka and drinking water crisis in Maldives.

"Today, all Indians residing in any corner of the world are confident that in case of a crisis, their government will provide them with a safe passage to the country," Kovind said. "More than 90,000 Indians stranded abroad have been safely brought back since 2014."

In terms of connectivity, he described "a historic event" the commencement of operations at Chabahar Port in Iran, which has been jointly developed by India, Iran and Afghanistan.

"First shipment of wheat has been sent to Afghanistan through this port. An air corridor between India and Afghanistan has been made operational this year and shipment of freight has started," Kovind said.

Stating that ties with Indian Diaspora are being progressively strengthened, he said that on January 9, on the occasion of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the conclave of Indian diaspora spread across the world, a Conference of Parliamentarians of Indian origin was organised for the first time in which elected representatives from 24 countries participated.

The President appreciated the efforts to expand passport services and said: "The Ministry of External Affairs, in collaboration with Department of Posts, has embarked upon a comprehensive programme for expansion of Passport services in the country. Under this programme, establishment of 251 Passport Service Kendras has been announced, of which 60 centres have started functioning."

He also referred to the phe presence of heads of states and governments of all 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) countries during this year's Republic Day celebrations as guests of honour and said this "added a special dimension to our vision of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam".

--IANS

ab/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Former Supreme Court judges and legal luminaries have taken a dim view of CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury's move to initiate impeachment proceedings for removing Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on the issues raised by four senior judges in their now famous "Friday press conference" on January 12.

They say "there is no case at all" and that the move at best was "premature".

Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan (retd) described the entire controversy as being rooted in the administrative side of the top court's functioning.

"It is purely an administrative issue about the allocation of work. All the constitutional bodies and offices face such administrative or procedural issues -- be it PMO, Lok Sabha Speaker or Rajya Sabha Chairman -- and there is an internal mechanism to resolve them", Justice Radhakrishnan said.

Justice Radhakrishnan who presided over the bench that sent Sahara chief Subrata Roy to jail and was also part of bench that had heard Vodafone tax matter, pointed to the "history of cases being assigned to benches having judges with lesser number of years in the top court."

They four judges at the Friday press conference were of the views that CJI was allocating certain high profile and important cases to the judges of his choice instead of assigning them to judges with more experience and years in the top court.

On this, Justice Radhakrishnan said: "There is nothing like junior judges in the Supreme Court. Senior judges are only for the collegium" -- whose functioning again falls within the realm of administration relating to the appointment of judges.

He pointed out that a case relating to Sahara's Optionally Fully Convertible Debentures was assigned to him and Justice J.S. Khehar (who later rose to be CJI) when they hadn't served for too long in the Supreme Court.

Describing the move as "premature", devoid of any "verifiable and definite allegations", Justice B. Sudarshan Reddy (retd) said: "A move to impeach a judge or a Chief Justice is fraught with serious consequences."

Pointing to the seriousness that is inherent in taking recourse to Articled 124 (4), of the constitution, Justice Reddy said: "As I find from the press reports, nobody is suggesting or disclosing any such allegation" against Chief Justice Misra and "therefore it appears to me, as it is present, it is premature."

Article 124 (4) provides for the removal of a Supreme Court or High Court judge for "proved misbehaviour or incapacity."

"A move or a motion to impeach a sitting judge should not become a plaything in the hands of the political class," said Justice Reddy who is known for his judgment leading to the setting up of an SIT for bringing back money laundered in overseas tax heavens.

Asserting that "politicians have no right to jump into the fray", former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said: "It is difficult to fathom reasons for this move for impeachment. Some internal rumblings within the institution can be resolved within the institution."

He said Yechury's move was "outrageous" and should be "nipped in the bud."

Expressing "shock" over the move, and taking a dig at the "casualness with which the issue of impeachment" had been raised by the political class, senior counsel K.V. Vishwanathan said: "The impeachment process ought not to be seen as some arbitrary and whimsical power in the hands of the political class. Worse still, (is) to think that, by threatening to exercise that process, the judiciary can be subjugated."

The procedure for the removal of a judge, outlined under the Judges (Enquiry) Act 1968, says at least 50 members of Rajya Sabha or 100 of the Lok Sabha can move a motion for setting into motion the process for remoing a sitting judge. The motion has to be addressed to Rajya Sabha Chairman or the Lok Sabha Speaker as the case may be.

The Congress, which is second largest party after the ruling BJP both in Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha with 57 and 46 seats, respectively, is crucial for moving the motion. However, the party does not seems to be enthusiastic about it.

Describing Yechury's statements as "laughable" which showed "lawmakers in poor light", Viswanathan said it not only "undermines the justice delivery system in the eyes of the public (but) causes an incalculable harm to democracy".

Pointing out that impeachment could only be on the grounds of proven incapacity and misbehaviour, senior counsel and former vice president of Supreme Court Bar Association Ajit Sinha said: "There is no such aspersion made by any of the four judges against Chief Justice Dipak Misra."

On his part, Yechury had said: "We are moving ahead. I think by the time Parliament opens on January 29, the matter will be very clear. We will be moving towards impeachment motion. It is time for the legislature to play its role along with the executive."

The other political parties have hitherto refrained from commenting on the issue.

(Parmod Kumar can be contacted at saneel2010@gmail.com)

--IANS

pk/vm/hs/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A day after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said Bihar Assembly elections will be held as scheduled in 2020, opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday said his party was also not in favour of midterm polls.

"Our Rashtriya Janata Dal is not in favour of midterm Assembly polls because Bihar has witnessed four government in four years and the state is not ready for fifth," Tejashwi told the media here.

Tejashwi, a former Deputy Chief Minister, said holding the Assembly polls time and again put extra burden on people and the RJD did not want any such thing to happen for now.

But, Tejashwi said, the RJD is ready for Assembly polls any time. "The RJD is ready to uproot a government that has betrayed its mandate."

He said Nitish Kumar's is full of contradictions. "Nitish Kumar has been taking U-turns repeatedly; he is a typical Paltu Ram."

"Till recently, Nitish Kumar and his JD-U have repeatedly said that they were in favour of holding Assembly polls along with the Lok Sabha polls in 2019. But now, Nitish Kumar is saying that the Assembly polls will be held in 2020 and that he is not in favour of Assembly polls with Lok Sabha polls," the RJD leader said.

Sensing revolt by Janata Dal-United legislators, the Chief Minister on Sunday assured them that the Assembly polls will be held on time in 2020 in Bihar.

"Let there be no confusion. The mandate (for us) is for five years. The term of the Lok Sabha ends in 2019, while the Assembly will complete its term in 2020. Polls will be held on time," the Chief Minister said.

Nitish Kumar said his party supported the idea of simultaneous polls in principle, but modalities have to be worked out first.

--IANS

ik/tsb/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Controversial Bollywood movie "Padmaavat", which has released in India after a struggle, is now barred from opening in cinemas in Malaysia over concerns regarding "sensitivities of Islam".

Malaysia's National Film Censorship Board (LPF) has barred filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmaavat" from getting released in the country.

LPF chairman Mohd Zamberi Abdul Aziz said in a statement that the storyline of the film itself is of grave concern as "Malaysia is a Muslim-majority country", reports variety.com.

"The storyline of the film touches on the sensitivities of Islam. That in itself is a matter of grave concern in Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country," Aziz said.

Based on 16th century poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi's poem "Padmavat", the film was caught in a row in India after protests from a Rajput outfit Shri Rajput Karni Sena over allegations that the movie distorts historical facts and dents the pride of the Rajput community. The film was eventually released in India on January 25.

Post-release, the film has had mixed reviews. It has been criticised by some sections for glorifying not just Jauhar and also for showing Alauddin Khilji as a demon-like figure.

The distributor in Malaysia is expected to appeal the LPF decision to a separately constituted Film Appeals Committee on Tuesday.

Malaysia has a history of banning movies that are widely distributed elsewhere in the world.

Last year, it banned Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" because of its gay moment, before relenting and allowing it a PG13 certificate.

The country also prosecuted filmmaker Lena Hendry last year, for holding a private screening of a documentary "No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka."

Rights advocacy groups say that Malaysia's censorship laws are used in an arbitrary fashion, and that they are stunting Malaysian filmmaking, which is losing market share and is increasingly focused on genre titles, variety.com said.

--IANS

ks/rb/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Leaders of various opposition parties met here on Monday to informally discuss coordination between them during the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament.

They will hold another meeting early next month, likely to be presided over by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. Informed sources said no date had been decided for the next meeting but it could be held on February 1.

"It was an informal meeting (on Monday) to discuss coordination during the Budget Session. There will be another meeting," Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel said later.

The Budget Session commenced on Monday.

Those who attended the Monday meeting at NCP leader Sharad Pawar's residence included Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma, National Conference's Farooq Abdullah, rebel Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav, CPI's D. Raja, NCP's Tariq Anwar and Supriya Sule, besides Patel and Pawar.

The sources said the next meeting would be similar to larger opposition meetings held ahead of the presidential and vice-presidential elections last year and presided over by Sonia Gandhi. Following these polls, 18 opposition parties had decided to work towards coordination inside and outside Parliament against the Narendra Modi government.

--IANS

ps-aks/tsb/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Philippines police, after a 120-days hiatus, resumed its controversial anti-drug raids on Monday.

Called the "tokhang" operation -- the raids saw the killing of nearly 4,000 alleged traffickers since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed power more than 18 months ago and declared a war on drugs.

The police on Monday carried out anti-drug raids across the country, but under stricter guidelines in order to prevent unnecessary spilling of blood, said National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa to the media.

Under the new norms, the officers can only conduct "tokhang" activities during the day. It would also occasionally involve video cameras, or activists and representatives of the Catholic Church, Efe news reported.

"Tokhang" means knock on the door and beg in the Visayan dialect of Cebuano. It is now the name given to the police operations in Duterte's anti-drug campaign.

Moreover, if the suspect resists arrest, the police would have to hand over the case to a special agency, under the new norms.

This could be in response to criticism of the apparent ease with which officers earlier pulled the trigger at the slightest sign of resistance.

The police chief stressed that the rule of law will prevail in the new phase of the anti-drug war, but did not rule out the police killing some alleged trafficker in extreme cases.

The police -- the executive arm of the anti-drug war -- was removed from this campaign from October 12 to December 5, 2017, due to several scandals, among them the death of presumably innocent minors.

Until then, the toll had reached 4,000, although the total number of killings in the anti-drug war was estimated to be over 7,000 -- taking into account deaths by individuals and neighbourhood vigilante groups encouraged by the environment of impunity.

On December 5, 2017, the police forces were brought back into the campaign, and have conducted arrests and shootings in which suspects have died. However, the controversial raids had not resumed until now.

--IANS

nks/in/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Congress on Monday described President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament as "disappointing", saying the claims made were contrary to the ground realities.

"The President's address was deeply disappointing and insipid... which made claims that are contrary to the ground realities and known facts," Congress leader Anand Sharma told the media here.

He also said the address was meant to give an impression that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi all the promises that the party made are being fulfilled.

"An impression is sought to be given that under the watch of the Prime Minister and this government, all the commitments made to the people of India have been honoured and fulfilled."

He said the "President said the economy is booming, which it is not - because of the two reckless decisions" of the Prime Minister, demonetisation and hasty imposition of a flawed GST. He said the Modi government's GST model has led to a sharp decline in GDP.

Slamming the government over its poll promise of giving jobs to two crore youths, Sharma said: "The employment, as promised, has not been created. Jobs have been destroyed because of wrong decisions, including that of demonetisation."

He said that over 3.7 crore of 13 crore jobs in the informal sector of the economy have been lost due to demonetisation.

"It is time for the government to give an account", he said. "But surely the President in this address could not have given the account of the non-performance and betrayal of the promises."

Hitting out at the BJP government, the Congress leader said: "This government is in denial and therefore will not be in a position to improve the situation on all fronts including alleviation of agrarian distress, redressal of the grievances of farmers, improving rural wages which have fallen sharply and so has the agricultural growth."

"It is a joke for the government to claim that everything is fine, everybody is happy, and there is complete welfare and prosperity in the country," Sharma added.

--IANS

aks/him/rn

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday spent time meeting the MPs after his maiden address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on the first day of the Budget Session.

Soon after getting down from the podium, the President, in a special gesture, went to meet personally the leaders seated in the front row.

He shook hands with the male members of Parliament, while greeted women leaders like former Congress President Sonia Gandhi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani with folded hands.

President Kovind also enquired Sonia Gandhi about her health and shook hands with Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav while leaving the Central Hall of Parliament.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi was given front-row seat with party leader Mallikarjun Kharge and union minister Narendra Singh Tomar. To their left, former Congress President Sonia Gandhi, veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani, and former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and H.D. Devegowda were seated in the row.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad were seated in front row at the centre.

BJP President Amit Shah, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Foreign Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari were sitting together. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was seated behind them.

Interestingly, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi seated in the last row and was seen chatting with BJP MP Poonam Mahajan. Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey was also sat in the last row.

However, attendance of the members was thin as the two rows in the back were vacant. Many chairs remained vacant until the end.

Rahul Gandhi was seen talking with Kharge and Anand Sharma when members of the treasury benches were thumping the desk on the achievements of the government being recounted by the President in his speech. Rahul also talked for a while with mother Sonia.

After the President left the hall, Rahul Gandhi held hands of mother Sonia and Advani to give them space to leave their seats.

He was also seen discussing some issues with NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Congress Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha separately.

--IANS

bns/nir/nir

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Qatar and Oman have signed an agreement aimed at enhancing trade and economic ties despite the ongoing embargo, the media reported.

Citing Qatar News Agency, Xinhua reported that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Sunday covers food production, marketing, joint investment and export of Omani products to Qatar.

The MoU was signed in the presence of the dignitaries of both countries.

Since the Gulf crisis began, Qatar is trying to shield itself from regional isolation, and increase its multilateral cooperation with other countries.

The volume of product-exchange between Oman and Qatar have risen two to three times since then.

--IANS

pgh/

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Already lagging behind many in expenditure towards research in science and technologies, India may take years -- more than 25 years at current rate of its GDP and spending on R&D -- before it touches even one per cent as contribution of GDP towards research, according to the Economic Survey 2017-18 released on Monday.

Spending about 0.6 per cent of its total Gross Development Production (GDP) towards Research and Development (R&D), India "at its current rate ... would barely reach GERD (Gross Expenditure on R&D) of one per cent of GDP by the time it is as rich as the US", read the report.

Using a "development time" model -- which allows one to compare country's spending as a portion of its GDP irrespective of income groups -- the report concluded that India "currently underspends even relative to its income".

Going by what Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said last week about India being on its way to becoming "one of the largest three economies in the world" in 25 years, it is fair to conclude that it would still be far behind US's GDP size and its contribution to research as portion of GDP still less than one per cent after 25 years from now.

According to the report, India's contribution towards research is "well below" that of "major nations", with the US contributing 2.8, China 2.1, Israel 4.3 and Korea 4.2 per cent of their GDPs towards science.

Although in real terms, India has doubled its spending on R&D, as a percentage of GDP, its spending has been stagnant at 0.6 and 0.7 in last one decade.

The report pointed out how a dominant bulk of spending on research funding comes from the central government (more than 50 per cent) unlike China, the US, Germany and Korea -- where government contribution was nearly equal to or less than 10 per cent, with the major funding coming from businesses and industries.

On the whole, emphasising on the increase in overall spending in real terms, a government official conceded that western pattern in research is different from India's.

"Major difference between western countries and India is that private sector in the West invests a lot in research and development. In West, about two-thirds is invested by the private sector and one-third by the government, however this is roughly opposite in India...

"The GDP of India is rising faster than the western world, so the actual money spent over research and development is increasing," Professor Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary at Department of Science and Technology, told IANS.

The writers of the report also expressed their concern at the research fund contributed (the least among government agencies) by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), considering the "health challenges" being faced by the nation.

"Given the country's severe health challenges, the low -- and virtually stagnant in real terms -- budget of the ICMR is striking," it read.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at Rs 13,258 crore and Department of Space (DoS) at Rs 5,818 crore were the top two government agencies with funding.

--IANS

kd-vn/him/nir

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Congress President will kick-off a two-day election campaign in a way truly unique in Congress-ruled Meghalaya from Tuesday, with a musical festival showcasing the cultural diversity of the northeastern state.

Election to the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly will be held on February 27.

Gandhi who will be arriving on Tuesday will travel by road to Jowai, the district headquarters of West Jaintia Hills, about 60 Km from Meghalaya's capital Shillong, to drum up support for his party candidates in the seven assembly constituencies, Congress Lok Sabha member Vincent Pala told journalists on Monday .

He said the Congress president will return to Shillong for an executive committee meeting of the Meghalaya Congress and will attend the music concert "Celebrate Peace and Way of Life" a celebration of Meghalaya's music, culture and way of life of the people of the state.

"The musical festival would be a celebration of peace and way of life in Meghalaya since at present, the country has seen many things happen which are against the Constitution," AICC Coordinator in-charge elections in Meghalaya, Yashomita Thakur said.

"What to eat, how to live...it is being imposed. The people of Meghalaya believe in the spirit of secularism. We want to spread through this music concert the message of peace, liberty and secularism," she told journalists.

Pala said that Gandhi will hold a breakfast interaction with various religious heads and leaders of indigenious faith believers belonging to the tribal Khasi and Jaintia, besides traditional chiefs On Wednesday.

He will held address the women folk in the afternoon at St. Edmund's College after an interaction with senior journalists.

Pala said the Congress President will be touring across Meghalaya to drum up support for his party nominees in all the 60 assembly constituencies.

Gandhi would also visit Garo Hills, which was once considered the stronghold of the People's Party founder late Purno A Sangma on a date to be re-scheduled for campaign.

"Our party president's visit to Tura was postponed for now because the Special Protection Group (SPG) has rejected the Pawan Hans chopper available to fly him to Tura due to its age factor," Pala said.

"Pawan Hans chopper available to ferry Gandhi for the day was over 20 years old and the SPG rejected the idea to take him to Tura. However, Gandhi will take the Pawan Hans chopper on Tuesday from Guwahati to Shillong, he said.

Pala said that the Congress President will visit Meghalaya three times during this election.

Gandhi's visit is significant for the Congress that has witnessed the exit of seven legislators while three other senior legislators, including four-time Chief Minister D.D. Lapang, have declared themselves "retired" from electoral

Of the seven legislators who quit the party, five have joined the People's Party.

Alexander Hek, who was Health and Family Welfare Minister in the Mukul Sangma government before being sacked in 2017, joined the BJP, while Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council Chief Executive Member P.N. Syiem joined the newly-floated People's Democratic Front.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December kicked off the campaign for the BJP here and attacked the Congress-led government, saying it had created scam after scam while BJP was only for development.

Seeking the electorate's vote in favour of BJP, Modi said: "The BJP's agenda is development, speedy development, and all-around development."

Following Modi's campaign, BJP President Amit Shah launched the campaign in Garo Hills and voiced confidence that the party will overthrow the Congress.The Economic Survey 2017-18 tabled in Parliament on Monday cited the regional connectivity scheme -- Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik -- (RCS-UDAN) as one of the important initiatives taken to spur the growth of the civil aviation sector.

"This is a first-of-its-kind scheme globally to stimulate regional connectivity through a market based mechanism," the survey said.

"... 27 states, UTs have already signed MoUs with the central government under RCS-UDAN. Many private sector airlines are actively participating under this scheme."

According to the survey presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Parliament, other initiatives like revival of 50 unserved and underserved airports, setting-up of 18 greenfield airports and liberalisation of air services will lift the growth rate of the sector.

The survey added that India is currently the third largest and the fastest growing domestic aviation market in the world in terms of the number of domestic tickets sold.

"In 2016-17, annual growth in domestic passenger departures was 23.5 per cent as compared to 3.3 per cent in the US and 10.7 per cent in China," the survey said.

"Domestic passenger traffic registered a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.89 per cent during 2007-08 to 2016-17. In 2017-18 (April - September), domestic airlines carried 57.5 million passengers, with a growth rate of 16 per cent over the corresponding previous year period."

"Scheduled Indian and foreign carriers carried 29.2 million passengers to and from India, and showed a growth rate of 9 per cent in 2017-18 (April -September) over the corresponding previous year period."

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday said its councillors and activists would continue to stage protests against the ongoing sealing drive.

Party leader Gopal Rai told journalists: "We held a 'parliament march' against the drive today (Monday). The police lathi-charged many of our workers including women without any provocation... dozens were injured... many were detained."

"The BJP is trying to suppress the voice of our movement against the sealing drive but we won't give up and take this forward... we will stage protests at the civic Centre tomorrow onwards."

The police, however, denied taking such action against the protesters and dubbed the allegation as "incorrect, wrong and concocted".

"They assembled near Patel Chowk Metro station without obtaining permission. Even when the police stopped them from going towards the Parliament which was in session... they disobeyed the order and started marching towards it," said DCP New Delhi B.K. Singh.

"When police tried to reason with them, some of them became violent... legal action is being taken against violators of law," he added.

The sealing drive is on against business establishments which are using residential properties for commercial purposes without paying conversion charges.

Rai also said the Bharatiya Janata Party was misleading the people on the 391 roads that are to be notified under the commercial or mixed-use categories so businesses on them can be saved from the drive.

"Sealing drive is not being carried out on these roads."

He said the files on these roads sent by Delhi Municipal Corporation to AAP-led Delhi Government had some loopholes. "We will complete the documents and send them to the Supreme Court for approval," he said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Flight operations at the Srinagar international airport were affected for 45 minutes on Monday due to a fire incident adjacent to the airport.

Police sources said, a fire incident near the air traffic control centre of the Indian Air Force airfield hit the operation of flights.

"The fire incident on the Air Force airfield side caused suspension of flights to and from Srinagar International Airport for about 45 minutes. The fire was brought under control and flight operations were resumed after that," sources said.

The Indian Air Force airfield is situated adjacent to Srinagar International Airport.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)On a day President Ram Nath Kovind called for a sustained debate for political consensus on simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the NDA constituents to proceed with the idea and initiate a public discourse over the issue.

The Prime Minister's remarks came during his address here at a meeting of the floor leaders of the National Democratic Alliance on Monday.

According to informed sources, Modi asked the leaders to begin a public discourse over the issue at every platform so that frequent polls that put a burden on economy and governance can be avoided and development process is not hampered.

The floor leaders also congratulated Modi on his address at Davos and his unprecedented initiative to invite all 10 Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Heads of States to be guests for the Republic Day Parade.

"Narendra Modi was the first Prime Minister to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos in 20 years and he was the first ever Indian Prime Minister to be invited to speak at the opening plenary of the World Economic Forum which is a premier forum for deliberations on vital global issues," an official statement said.

It said that Prime Minister's presence was not only an acknowledgement of India's growing strategic profile in the world but also provided a platform to share the vision about India's future engagement with the international community.

"It was at the bold initiative of the Prime Minister that we decided to invite 10 leaders of Asean as Chief Guests on the occasion of our 69th Republic Day.

"In our history, it was a historic occasion that all ten Asean leaders not only attended the Summit but participated at the Republic Day ceremony. It is a testimony to Prime Minister's leadership and his vision that we had a successful event in all respects," the statement added.

Prior to the meeting, Modi also attended a meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party parliamentary party executive.

A strategy to counter opposition was charted out in the meet, sources said.

They said the Prime Minister also stressed upon the need of "jordar" presence of the members in both the Houses of Parliament and asked them to come prepared on subjects of discussion.

He also asked the members to play an effective role in the parliamentary committees in view of government's policies.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Even as the political situation in Nepal remains fluid, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will embark on a visit to the Himalayan nation on February 1-2, it was announced on Monday.

"The visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level political exchanges between India and Nepal, and reflects the expanding bilateral partnership and the importance that the two countries attach to further strengthening it across diverse sectors," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

"The upcoming visit will provide an opportunity to hold discussions with political leaders of Nepal on issues of mutual interest, and to advance age-old, special ties of friendship between India and Nepal," the statement said.

Sushma Swaraj's visit will come in the wake of the parliamentary and local body elections last year that saw a Left parties' coalition gaining the majority in parliament.

Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) Chairman K.P. Sharma Oli is being widely seen as the country's Prime Minister-in-waiting.

Oli, who is seen as pro-China and who fiercely opposed Constitution amendment in the past, said in Pokhara city on Friday that he was ready to amend the Constitution.

The CPN (Maoist Centre) led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" became the second largest party by winning 36 seats in Parliament and 73 seats in provincial assembly under the first past the post (FPTP) category.

The Nepali Congress (NC), which was the largest party in the last election, managed to win 23 seats in Parliament and was elected in 45 provincial constituencies.

It became the third largest party this time.

Sushma Swaraj's upcoming visit also assumes significance as India is a major development partner for Nepal.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is directly related to cross-border infiltration, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Monday.

"Terrorism in interior parts of Jammu and Kashmir is directly related to the cross-border infiltration," Kovind said in his address to a joint sitting of Parliament on the first day of the Budget Session. He, however, did not name Pakistan.

"Our armed forces, paramilitary forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police have a better coordination, and are giving a befitting reply to this violence," he said.

He also said the government is keeping the door open for those who want to join the mainstream.

The President said the internal security situation has improved in the country.

The security situation in the northeastern states has improved and incidents of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) have gone down, Kovind said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)US President Donald Trump's "nationalist and protectionist" foreign policy has caused America's international approval rating to decline, which hit a record low of 30 per cent, the Russian has pointed out.

One year after Trump took office, median approval of US leadership across 134 countries and areas hit a new low of 30 per cent, according to the survey published by Gallup on January 18, Xinhua reported.

The reason lies in Trump's political strategy, which "is characterised by a racist and nationalist approach" and has been viewed negatively by the public, Sputnik quoted Mojtaba Jalalzadeh, an Iranian observer and expert in international affairs at Azad University in Tehran, as saying.

The second reason behind the record low rating was "Trump's failure to show adherence to the liabilities of international agreements. The unilateral withdrawal of the US from the Paris Climate Agreement at the President's pleasure, was one of them", Jalalzadeh told Sputnik.

The expert also stressed that Trump's "America First" policy remains another important factor. He said: "Trump only considers America's interests when making decisions of international importance."

In this regard, he talked about Trump's official acknowledgement of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, saying that the decision back-fired by "fuelling sectarian violence".

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has inducted Indian-born Stanford University Emeritus Professor Arogyaswami Joseph Paulraj into its National Inventors Hall of Fame for developing wireless technology to transmit and receive data at high speeds, the agency of the US Department of Commerce said on Monday.

"Paulraj, 73, has been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for his pioneering work on developing wireless technology to transmit and receive data at high speeds," the agency said in an e-mail to IANS from Washington, DC.

The agency awarded Paulraj a patent in 1992 for inventing Multiple In-Multiple Out (MIMO), which enables transfer of data, including videos through broadband and mobile technologies like 4G and the upcoming 5G.

"We honour people responsible for the greatest technological advances that make human, social and economic progress possible," noted the agency.

The Patent Office will formally induct Paulraj at a special ceremony on May 3 in Washington.

Though the agency honoured five other Indian-origin scientists in the past, Paulraj joins eight other world famed inventors in the wireless technology field, who were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

"I feel humbled to be counted among the inventors who have made the modern world possible. When I joined Stanford in 1992, I had not worked in wireless technology, as my prior years in India were spent on sonar systems," said Paulraj in an e-mail to IANS from Stanford in California.

The other Indian wireless pioneer holding a patent for breakthrough work in radio and microwave optics was Jagdish Chandra Bose (1858-1937) in the 1890s.

"It was perhaps being an outsider helped me come up with this transformative idea. Like other breakthroughs, though MIMO faced scepticism, it took off and is the foundation of all wireless systems," recalled Paulraj.

The other eight wireless inventors inducted into the Hall of Fame are Guglielmo Marconi and Oliver Lodge (wireless telegraph), Reginald Fessenden (AM radio), Edwin Armstrong (FM radio), Amos Joel (Cellular technology), Andrew Viterbi and Irwin Jacobs (CDMA-3G) and Jan Haartsen (Bluetooth).

The other five Indian scientists honoured in the past in other fields C.K.N. Patel (CO2 laser), Jayant Baliga (insulated gate bipolar transistor), Haren Gandhi (automotive exhaust catalyst), Ashok Gadgil (ultraviolet water sanitation) and Rangaswami Srinivasan (Lasik eye surgery).

"MIMO technology uses multiple antennas as a transmitter and receiver in a wireless link to boost wireless data rates. The 4G broadband wireless internet access and the next-generation 5G will not be possible without MIMO Technology," Paulraj said.

Set up in 1791, the USPTO has issued 8.8 million patents since the mid-20th century but inducted so far only 561 inventors, including Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers, Alexander Graham Bell and Apple founder Steve Jobs.

Born at Pollachi in Tamil Nadu, Paulraj joined the Indian Navy when he was just 15 years. Impressed with his academic record, the Navy sent him to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in New Delhi, where he earned a doctorate (PhD) for advances to signal filtering theory.

After a 25-year service in the Navy, Paulraj went to the US in 1992 to work at Stanford and built a MIMO-based cellular wireless technology that became the basis for WiMax and LTE (Long-Term Evolution) mobile networks.

Paulraj holds 79 patents and won many distinctions, including the 2011 IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal and 2014 Marconi Prize and Fellowship.

The Indian government also honoured Paulraj with Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award in 2010.

The NDA Government appointed the septuagenarian in December 2017 as Chairman of the Telecommunication Department's Steering Committee to prepare a vision, mission, goal and roadmap for 5G India 2020.

"The Department has asked me to support its efforts to advance the applications and internal value addition in 5G wireless. I always felt that India needs to join the club of countries like the US, China, Europe, South Korea and Japan that dominate communications and computing technology," added Paulraj.

(Fakir Balaji can be contacted at fakir.b@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.)India's third highest ranked chess Grand Master Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, with a ELO rating of 2,718 won the Tata Steel Chess Challengers-2018 tournament at Netherlands with a tally of nine points out of 13 rounds.

Ranked 34th in the world, Gujrathi won the title on late Sunday night and reserved his seat in the Tata Steel Masters tournament to be held in the Netherlands in 2019.

The 23-year-old Gujrathi from Maharashtra signed peace treaty with Van Foreest Jorden on the last round to clinch the title.

Throughout the tournament, Gujrathi played solid chess to score with five wins and eight draws to remain unbeaten and finish first.

"Won the @tatasteelchess Challengers 2018! Looking forward to the Masters next year!:)," he tweeted post his win.

In the Masters section in the Netherlands, World Champion GM Magnus Carlsen won the title in the tie break with host country's GM Anish Giri. Both the GMs had a tally of 9 points at the end of 13th round.

Former World Champion and Indian GM Viswanathan Anand was placed fifth with eight points.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A 30-year-old woman's decomposed body was found kept inside the box of a bed on Monday from a house in the national capital, police said, adding that her missing husband is the prime suspect in the alleged murder.

Police said, the incident came to light on Monday afternoon when a relative of the deceased informed police about her body being found from the box of bed in her rented flat in south Delhi.

"During investigation, we found that Maria Masih stayed with her husband Suresh Mehra in a rented flat at Tughlakabad Extension. Mehra is missing since last week.

"Prima facie it appears that Masih had kept her body in the bed box to hide it," Deputy Commissioner of Police Chinmoy Biswal said.

A relative of Masih was trying to call her from the last a few days. When he failed to reach her, he decided to visit her and found that the door was locked and foul smell was emanating from the flat.

"He force-entered the flat and found the smell coming out of the bed box. He opened and found Masih's body," Biswal added.

"The body has been preserved at the AIIMS mortuary. The police are trying to locate Suresh," the officer added.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Islamic State militants attacked Afghan soldiers guarding a military academy in the capital of Kabul today, killing at least 11 troops and wounding 16.

The attack was the latest in a wave of relentless violence in Kabul this month unleashed by the Taliban and the rival Islamic State group that has killed scores and left hundreds wounded.

Today's attack started around 4 a.m., witnesses said, and fighting continued long after daybreak.

A suicide bomber first struck the military unit responsible for providing security for the academy, followed by a gunbattle with the troops, said Dawlat Waziri, spokesman for the Afghan defense ministry.

At least five insurgents were involved in the morning assault, according to Waziri. Two of the attackers were killed in the gunbattle, two detonated their suicide vests and one was arrested by the troops, he said.

All roads leading to the military academy were blocked by police, which only allowed ambulances access to the site to transfer the wounded to hospitals.

After the gunbattle ended, the security forces resumed control of the area. They also confiscated one suicide vest, an AK-47 and some ammunition, Waziri said.

Waziri earlier said that five soldiers were killed but later raised the death toll to 11. He insisted, however that "the attack was against an army unit providing security for the academy and not the academy itself."



Afzal Aman, commander of the city's military garrison, confirmed the attack in the area of the Marshal Fahim academy. Hashmat Faqeri, a resident near the site, told The Associated Press he heard sounds of explosions and a gunbattle.

Hours later, the Islamic State group's affiliate in Afghanistan, known as Khorasan Province, posted its claim of responsibility on the website of its media arm, the Aamaq agency, saying its fighters targeted the "military academy in Kabul."



Neighboring Pakistan condemned today's attack. Islamabad said it "reiterates its strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, especially the series of heinous attacks within the last week in Afghanistan."The academy, known as Marshal Fahim National Defense University located on the edge of Kabul at the Camp Qargha military base, is sometimes also called "Sandhurst in the Sand" - a reference to the British academy.

Named after Mohammed Fahim, the country's late vice- president and a military commander of the Northern Alliance that fought the Taliban, the academy was inaugurated in 2013 after British forces oversaw building the officers' school and its training programme.

The academy was also the site where the highest-ranking US military officer to be lost in the Afghan and Iraqi wars was killed in August 2014.

Army Maj Gen. Harold J. Greene, then deputy commander of the transition force in the country, was shot and killed by an Afghan soldiers in a so-called "insider attack" that was later claimed by the Taliban.

The same academy was also attacked in October last year by a suicide bomber who killed 15 officers. The attacker was on foot and detonated his suicide vest as the on-duty officers were leaving the facility, heading home in the evening. That attack was also claimed by the Taliban.

President Ashraf Ghani denounced the attack, saying the "Taliban must choose between Islam and terrorism."



"We appreciate the sympathies extended to us by our international partner nations," Ghani said, speaking a press conference in Kabul alongside visiting Indonesian president, Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. "Thank you for standing with us."



Both the Taliban and IS have stepped up attacks in recent months in Kabul and elsewhere across Afghanistan, including massive bombings staged by militants determined to inflict maximum casualties, instill terror in the population and undermine confidence in Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's government and the country's security forces.

On Saturday, a Taliban attacker drove an ambulance filled with explosives into the heart of the city, killing at least 103 people and wounding as many as 235.

Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak yesterday said that the investigation into the attack indicated that a second ambulance was also involved but had left the area, indicating some would-be attackers may have escaped.

The Taliban claimed the ambulance attack, as well as an attack a week earlier in which militants stormed a hilltop hotel in Kabul, the Intercontinental, 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 hotel attack. A sixth suspect had fled the country, he said.

He also said that four people have been arrested in connection with Saturday's ambulance attack.

The recent brutal attacks have underscored 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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)In a major development in poll-bound Nagaland, 11 parties including the ruling Naga Peoples Front today decided not to contest the February 27 elections, agreeing to the demand of tribal bodies and civil society groups to resolve the protracted Naga political problem first.

The decision came at a meeting called by the core committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO) and attended by representatives of 11 parties.

"It is the unanimous view of the Naga people that the political solution or Naga peace accord is more important than elections and therefore, it has become imperative that the elections to the legislative assembly of Nagaland be deferred for peace and tranquillity," read a joint declaration signed by the parties.

The parties are -- Naga Peoples Front, Congress, BJP, Nationalist Democratic Peoples Party, Nagaland Congress, United Nagaland Democratic Party, Aam Admi Party, National Congress Party, Lok Jan Party, Janata Dal (United) and National Peoples Party.

"We, on behalf of all the political parties and the intending candidates, have in compliance with the wishes of the people decided not to go ahead with the issuance of party tickets or filing of nominations," it read.

A copy of the joint declaration was given to the media by the convenor of the CCNTHCO, Theja Therie, at a press briefing here.

The Naga Hoho, an apex Naga tribal body, had earlier this month sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's help in postponing the elections, saying the vexed issue should be resolved first.

Civil society groups in Nagaland have also launched a campaign 'Solution before Election'.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A group of 15 children from Kashmir were treated for congenital heart defects (CHD) for free at a private hospital in Gurgaon, with the help of two philanthropic bodies, the facility said today.

According to 'Congenital Heart Disease in India: A Status Report', CHD accounts for 10 per cent of infant mortality in India, the Fortis Group said in a statement.

The children were treated at Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI) in Gurgaon recently as part of Fortis Foundation's 'Umeed Dhadkan' initiative, and the free surgeries were also supported by Rotary Club of Delhi East End, Have A Heart Foundation along with Fortis Foundation.

A CHD can be defined as a structural or functional abnormality in the heart, which presents itself at the time of birth.

"It poses a great threat to the life of the newborn and can result in death. It has an incidence rate of 2.25 to 5.2 per 1000 live births and accounts for two thirds of all major birth defects," the Fortis Group said in the statement.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Seventeen foreign doctors, mostly from China, were arrested today from various hospitals in Nepal for allegedly praticising without permission, a senior police official said.

Acting on a tip-off provided by the Nepal Medical Council (NMC), the medical practitioners were taken under custody by the Central Investigation Bureau, according to its Director DIG Pushkar Karki.

Most of the doctors arrested were Chinese nationals and one of them was also from Austria, a senior police officer told PTI.

The details are yet to be revealed as the investigation was still going on, he added.

As per the existing rules and regulations, the foreign doctors have to mandatorily take permission from the NMC before joining their work.

The doctors were arrested from 4-5 hospitals in the national capital.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Five men wearing police uniforms allegedly kidnapped an 18-year-old girl from a village in the district, an official said.

One of the accused has been identified, though the police is yet to trace the girl, he said.

"We have formed teams which have fanned out to trace and rescue the girl and arrest the accused," district Superintendent of Police Riyaz Iqbal told PTI.

He, however, refused to divulge any further details.

Another police official said that on Saturday night around 11.36 pm, the accused rang up the police emergency number 100 claiming that a man was lying unresponsive on a road in Bamhurha village, located about 60 kms from the district headquarters.

Two policemen, including an assistant sub-inspector along with a hired driver in a van reached the spot. However, the man who was lying with his face down suddenly got up and pointed a gun at the security personnel, he said.

The other four accused, who were hiding in the area, came around, overpowered the policemen and the van driver and tied their hands behind their backs.

The official denied that the accused took away uniforms and weapons of the policemen.

He said the five men then sped off in the policemen's van to the girl's house in Bamhurha and knocked at her door.

When her father opened the door, the men posing as policemen asked him to come along with his daughter to the Amanganj police station in the area, claiming that the family had made a distress call to police for help.

The girl's father said they had not made any such call, but the accused insisted that he and his daughter come along with them, the police official said.

They then took the girl, her father and brother in the van. On the way, they dropped the girl's father and brother and took the girl to the spot where they had tied the policemen and parked the police van there, he said.

The accused along with the girl then drove off in a car parked near the spot, he added.

Police have registered a case under relevant sections for kidnapping against the five accused, of whom one has been identified, he said.

No arrest has been made so far, the official said, adding that efforts were on to trace the girl.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The year 2017 saw a significant drop of nearly 27 per cent in award of death penalty by sessions courts across the country, a report published by the National Law University (NLU) said.

The report titled 'Death Penalty in India, Annual Statistics for the year 2017' said that in 2016, 149 persons were sentenced to death, while only 109 convicts were awarded capital punishment in 2017.

Out of the 109 death punishments awarded by sessions courts last year, the high courts commuted 53 cases and acquitted 35 persons, it said.

However, the report also showed an increase in number of convicts sent to gallows for murders involving sexual violence in the year 2017.

It said 43 convicts were awarded death for murders involving sexual violence in 2017, which is 19 more than the year before.

Among the states, Maharashtra tops the list with 67 prisoners in death row. The state had 47 death row prisoners in 2016, the report said.

However, the death row population in Karnataka has reduced from 27 in 2016 to 12 in 2017, owing to various commutations and acquittals by the high court.

The report also revealed that as on December 31, 2017, a total of 371 prisoners are on death row across the country.

The President of India disposed nine mercy petitions previous year, as compared to six during 2016, it said, adding five out of the nine disposed petitions were rejected and the other four were commuted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Rattled by the suicide bid of a 19-year-old engineering student who had alleged molestation by her batchmate, the police have arrested three students even as her college suspended its principal.

On a day, the student attempted suicide by drinking a mosquito repellent in her room in the city yesterday, police arrested main accused Mehul Thakare (21) and two other students Shubham Burade (23) and Piyush Bhannare (20) under various sections of the IPC, an official said today.

The trio were produced before a court which granted them bail.

The victim student, who hails from Bhandara, is still recovering in the district general here.

She had lodged a complaint with Nandgaon Peth police station on January 26 stating that she was molested twice by Thakare during their college picnic in Chennai last month.

Following her complaint, police had booked Thakare, Burade, and Bhannare under sections 354-D (Stalking) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC.

Meanwhile, Dilip Nimbhorkar, Vice President of the PR Pote (Patil) and Welfare Trust, which runs the college, said the management suspended Principal Sanjay Deshmukh on January 27.

He said the principal and accompanying teachers kept the management in the dark about the alleged molestation incident.

A committee has been constituted at college level to probe the case, he said.

The student yesterday drank a mosquito repellent in her room here, apparently upset over the college authorities as well as the local police not taking any action against the three students.

In her FIR, the girl, a B. Arch 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.

The accused Thakre had allegedly dragged the complainant inside his room at the hotel and beat her up and when she managed to come out, Burade and Bhannare allegedly teased her, police had said.

"The girl stated that the college authorities only took written apologies from the three students, but did not initiate any action against them," a local police official had said.

The college is run by district guardian minister Pravin Pote.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Under fire from the opposition over healthcare facilities in areas along the border with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, the state government today said those areas have sufficient number of health centres with adequate medicare facilities.

Minister for Health and Medical Education Bali Bhagat informed the Legislative Council that all the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir divisions have sufficient number of health centres.

He was replying to a calling attention notice by MLC Surinder Choudhary towards the situation arisen due to "non- availability" of basic facilities in health institutions in the border areas.

Bhagat said all health centres in these areas are providing proper healthcare facilities to the locals.

"The required medicines as per the norms are being provided in these health institutions under free drugs policy. Besides, all basic facilities like IV fluids, analgesics, anti-pyretic, anti-inflammatory, antibiotics, dressing materials and other allied items are being provided as per the need and requirement in adequate quantities," he said.

The minister said manpower and infrastructure of these health facilities have been augmented to cater to the basic needs of the residents of those areas.

Additional staff and ambulances from nearby health facilities have been deputed to cater to the emergencies as and when required, Bhagat said.

The health department has always remained at the forefront to meet any eventualities that may arise due to harsh winters, cross-border firing or natural calamities by providing all basic facilities to the residents of the border areas, the minister said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)US e-tail giant Amazon has infused fresh capital to the tune of Rs 1,950 crore into its India unit, Amazon Seller Services to strengthen the war-chest of the company against domestic rival, Flipkart.

Amazon Seller Services has so far received over Rs 8,000 crore (about USD 1.28 billion) during this financial year from its US parent, as per documents filed with the corporate affairs ministry.

As per the latest filing, Amazon Corporate Holdings and Amazon.com.incs has made the Rs 1,950 crore investment in the Indian unit.

The board of directors of Amazon Seller Services passed the resolution at their meeting on January 12, 2018.

The fresh funds will provide more arsenal to Amazon.in. The company has been aggressively investing in expanding infrastructure and adding solutions to enhance consumer and seller experience.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has committed investments to the tune of USD 5 billion for the Indian market. The American company has also been pumping in funds to its other entities in India, including Amazon Pay and its wholesale business.

These investments have been directed towards building warehouses, strengthening logistics and increasing product assortment.

Amazon is also investing significant money in marketing and promotions as the company looks to bring more consumers into shopping online on its platform.

Bezos, as part of investor calls, has highlighted the importance of the Indian market to its operations on multiple occasions and has assured that the company will continue to invest in India.

When contacted, an Amazon India spokesperson said: "We remain committed to our India business with a long-term perspective to make e-commerce a habit for Indian customers and to invest in the necessary technology and infrastructure to grow the entire ecosystem".

Homegrown player Flipkart has also beefed up its kitty with funding of about USD 4 billion this fiscal. Japanese conglomerate SoftBank infused about USD 2.5 billion, while Tencent, Microsoft and eBay pumped in about USD 1.4 billion into the Bengaluru-based firm.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Jammu and Kashmir Police chief S P Vaid today said registration of FIR in the Shopian incident is just the beginning of the investigation and the Army's version would be taken into account as well.

Two civilians were killed when Army personnel fired at a stone-pelting mob in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, prompting Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to order an inquiry into the incident.

Yesterday, the police registered an FIR under sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Ranbir Penal Code against the personnel of 10, Garhwal unit, of the Army. A Major, who led the Army personnel at the time of the incident, was also mentioned in the FIR.

At a press conference at the police headquarters today, the DGP said it was a matter of investigation as to what circumstances led to the incident.

Asked whether the Army's version will be a part of the probe, the state police chief said, "The Army's version, eye- witness accounts and the statement of those who lost their near and dear ones would be included."



"We will go through all facts and the ground evidences of the case and the Army will also be questioned," Vaid said.

According to the police, on Saturday, the crowd hurled stones on a security force convoy passing through Ganovpora village in Shopian district following which the Army men fired a few rounds.

A defence spokesperson, however, had said the troops opened fire when a mob tried to lynch a junior commissioned officer and snatch his service weapon.

To a question if the police have registered the FIR on the direction of the state government to demoralise the Army, the DGP said, "FIR is the start of investigation process. It is not that any officer has been named. FIR names the unit of the Army headed by a particular person."



To a question on whether the amnesty scheme for first- time stone-pelters have encouraged others to resort to throw stones as seen in Shopian, Vaid said the amnesty scheme was decided at the highest level.

"It was meant for first-time stone-pelters and those who have no serious and heinous criminal cases against them. You must not block the careers of these children, but at the same time, as far as hurled stones in Shopian is concerned, it cannot be justified," he said.

On the lynching of DSP Ayub Pandit in Srinagar last year, the DGP said, "We investigated that case and all people involved in it have been arrested after identification by the SIT and the charge-sheet was presented in a court.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)To encourage women entrepreneurship in Assam, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today announced that the state would give commendation and cash awards to three successful woman entrepreneurs every year.

Speaking on the first day of a two-day Assam Women Entrepreneurs' Conclave here this evening, Sonowal said the state government would acknowledge their success by giving cash awards of Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh, respectively.

He also said that the state government was committed to channelising the skills of the women of Assam using latest technology and give a fillip to their entrepreneurial skills.

Appropriate planning coupled with scientific approaches and honest and hard labour would lead to a prosperous Assam, he said as he appealed to woman entrepreneurs to keep working for their empowerment and development of Assam.

In all the 33 districts of the state, he said, the government would provide assistance to set up women hub and women clusters.

The chief minister also felicitated three woman entrepreneurs in recognition to their success in their business and inaugurated an exhibition at the conclave organised by the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship.

Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary who was also present at the event and said that his ministry was doing everything possible for women empowerment.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)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 today.

A New Zealand Air Force Orion plane, which yesterday 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 today, 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 sq kms 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-km 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 kms northeast of Fiji.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The average pendency of civil/ criminal cases is as high as 10.71 years in the Allahabad High Court, said the Economic Survey 2017-18, while making a strong case for reducing judicial delays.

The survey, quoting data, said the Calutta High Court's average pendency of these cases stood at 3.01 years.

Similarly, it was 2.92 years and 2.49 years for Madras High Court and Bombay High Court, respectively.

The average pendency was calculated based on the difference (in days/years) between the current date and the date on which the case was filed.

It said that coordinated action between the government and the judiciary would address the issue pertaining to pendency of cases and boost economic activity.

The survey also noted that the creation of tribunals at different points in time did not alter pendency at the high courts nor their ability to deal with other economic cases.

Further, it said that projects in the ministries of power, road and railways have been the "hardest hit" because of delays and pendency of cases.

"The project costs (stocks) of stayed projects at the time they were originally stayed amounted close to 52,000 crore," it added.

The document said pendency, delays and injunctions are overburdening courts and "severely" impacting the progress of cases, especially economic cases, through the different tiers of the appellate and judicial arenas.

In such circumstances, the government and the courts need to work together for large-scale reforms and incremental improvements to combat a problem that is exacting a large toll from the economy.

It has suggested several steps to deal with the problem.

The measures include expanding judicial capacity in the lower courts and reducing the existing burden on the high courts and the Supreme Court; creation of an independent panel to decide on appeal of tax related cases.

"For a smooth contract enforcement regime, it may be imperative to build capacity in the lower judiciary to particularly deal with economic and commercial cases, and allow the high courts to focus on streamlining and clarifying questions of law," the survey said.

It suggested for incentivising expenditure on court modernisation and digitisation.

"This needs to be supported with greater provision of resources for both tribunals and courts," it said adding courts may consider prioritising stayed cases and impose stricter timelines within which cases with temporary injunctions may be decided, especially when they involve government infrastructure projects.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Bahrain's supreme court today upheld a one-year jail term for Shiite spiritual leader Sheikh Isa Qassim and confirmed a decision to revoke the cleric's citizenship, a legal source said.

Qassim, 76, who last month underwent surgery, was convicted by a criminal court in May of illegal fundraising and money laundering.

Authorities had accused him of abusing his position as a cleric to "serve foreign interests and promote... sectarianism and violence."



The supreme court, whose rulings are final, also confirmed the same verdict for two of the cleric's aides, Sheikh Hussein Mahrus and Mirza al-Obaidli, the source said.

Qassim was being briefly hospitalised last month for blood pressure and diabetes-related treatment.

He has been under de facto house arrest at his residence in the village of Diraz, outside Manama, since his citizenship was revoked two years ago.

The cleric, revered by the Shiite community, was a leader of 2011 protests in the Sunni-ruled kingdom.

In another ruling, the supreme court on Monday upheld the death sentence against a Bahraini Shiite for murdering a policeman in a bomb attack in february 2013.

The court also upheld life terms for six other defendants and confirmed jail terms of six years and five years for two other men involved in the attack.

Bahrain has been shaken by unrest since security forces crushed Shiite-led protests demanding a constitutional monarchy and an elected prime minister.

Despite repeated calls from their Western allies, Bahrain's rulers have made no concessions to the Shiite opposition and have intensified a crackdown on critics.

The strategic Gulf kingdom is a key regional ally of the United States and serves as home for its Fifth Fleet.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Right-wing leader Milind Ekbote, booked for allegedly inciting violence on January 1 during an event to commemorate the bicentenary of Bhima-Koregaon battle, has approached the Bombay High Court for anticipatory bail.

The leader submitted his plea before a bench led by Justice B R Gavai today after a Pune sessions court refused to grant him any interim protection from arrest last week.

A case was registered against Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide, who head the Hindu Ekta Aghadi and Shivraj Pratishthan respectively, for allegedly "inciting" violence that left a man dead.

Subsequent protests against the incident had disrupted normal life in Mumbai.

The two organisations had opposed the celebration of the 'British victory' in the battle between the armies of the East India Company and the Peshwa. People belonging to the Mahar community among Dalits had fought for the British, while the Peshwas were Brahmins. Dalit organisations celebrate the victory as a symbol of their resurgence.

While the police have charged Ekbote of inciting violence and attempt to murder, the accused, in his petition, has denied the charges.

He has claimed that he could not have been present at the time of the clashes as he had been under police protection at the time.

The Pune court, however, had rejected his anticipatory bail plea after observing that serious charges were levelled against Ekbote.

The high court is likely to hear his plea on January 31.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)I) The DMK-led opposition today held protests across Tamil Nadu to demand a full rollback of the recent bus fare hike, with police detaining DMK's M K Stalin and MDMK's Vaiko for blocking roads in the capital.

Reacting to the protests, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said it was done to "pressure," the government.

The protest was merely "political," and not for the sake of people, Palaniswami told reporters here.

Bringing together a string of opposition parties including allies Congress, IUML and friendly outfits like the CPI(M) and CPI, DMK working chief M K Stalin led the protest by going on a procession holding his party flag here.

A day after the government went in for a marginal cut in fare, Stalin dubbed it "eye wash," and a "drama."



The government increased the fare days after agreeing to a salary hike for state transport corporation employees who struck work for eight days last month.

Calling the protest a big victory, Stalin said if the government did not reverse the hike completely, the protests would be intensified.

It would be done after consulting all opposition parties, he said.

MDMK, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi cadres also took part in the protests.

AIADMK government defends hike ........................................

Chief Minister K Palaniswami said the hike was effected after six years due to unavoidable circumstances to save the state-run transport corporations that face a severe financial crunch.

He blamed DMK labour union LPF for instigating the employees to go in for a strike demanding a wage hike and now opposing the increase in fare.

Palaniswami said when DMK demitted office in 2011, the transport corporations had a Rs 3,392.15 crore debt.

At that time, the payout kept pending for retirees was Rs 922.24 crore and for in-service personnel, it was Rs 1528.05 crore and 112 properties of transport corporations weremortgaged. Despite such factors, the government refrained from going in for a hike for six long years.

On the opposition charge that the hike was due to the "administrative inefficiency," of the ruling regime, Palaniswami retorted, asking if his regime, which disbursed Rs 922 crore for the retirees was good or that of those (DMK) who had put it on hold.

In March 2011, during the DMK regime, the outgo towards salaries was only Rs 252.37 crore and now it was Rs 492.16 crore, which was about 90 per cent increase,he said.

A host of factors like increase in salaries, price of diesel, maintenance and cost of new buses made the hike inevitable, he said.

Even after the upward fare revision, the transport corporations face a loss of Rs four crore everyday and despite that government operated 22,000 buses to serve the people.

He also pointed out that students get free bus passes for which the government paid Rs 541 crore to the transport corporations annually.

The Tamil Nadu government ran more number of buses than other neighbouring states and similarly the fare too was comparatively lower.

The protests were led by DMK leaders in all districts. Former Ministers Duraimurugan (Vellore), K N Nehru (Tiruchirappalli), E V Velu (Tiruvannamalai), K Ponmudi (Villupuram) were among those who led the protests.

MDMK founder Vaiko and VCK founder Thol Thirumavalavan were detained with DMK workers at Saidapet here when they staged protests.

All those detained were let off later in the day, police said.

Yesterday, the government had revised bus fares marginally, following protests by opposition and the public, especially students.

The reduction was between two paise to 10 paise per km for various categories of buses and routes such as city, districts, express and ordinary services, a government release said.

In Chennai city, bus fares have been cut by Rs one across various stages. The minimum fare would now be Rs 4 and the maximum Rs 18.

The revision will come into effect from today.

The state government had on January 19 hiked ticket prices of buses operated by transport corporations by about 20 to 54.54 per cent, drawing criticism.

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 that salaries be hiked 2.57 times, the government offered only 2.44, resulting in a stalemate.

The workers had withdrawn their eight-day 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.)The Calcutta High Court today granted bail to former union minister Matang Sinh, who was arrested by the CBI for his alleged connection with the Saradha chit fund scam, on bail bonds of Rs 1.01 crore.

A division bench comprising Justice Joymalyo Bagchi and Justice R Bharadwaj granted bail to Sinh on five bonds of Rs 20 lakh each and a relative to provide another Rs 1 lakh as bond.

The bench directed him not to leave West Bengal without permission from the trial court.

The court also asked Sinh to appear before the CBI investigating officer once a week and to be present for hearings on all dates before the trial court.

Opposing Sinh's bail prayer, the CBI counsel Ashraf Ali submitted that he was arrested on January 31, 2015 and the Supreme Court had rejected his bail prayers twice and the high court has refused bail to him thrice.

He submitted that the investigation was on and the agency would submit a final charge sheet with regard to the case and releasing Sinh at this stage would hamper the probe.

Praying for bail, Sinh's counsel Manjeet Singh submitted that the agency has submitted six charge sheets so far in connection with the Saradha scam and his name appeared only in the second one.

He claimed that Sinh was being unnecessarily detained by the investigating agency.

After hearing both the parties, the high court granted bail to Sinh, also a former Rajya Sabha member from Assam.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The president of the anglophone separatist movement in Cameroon, Sisiku Ayuk Tabe, has been extradited to Yaounde after being detained in Nigeria, the government said.

Ayuk Tabe, who had been held in Abuja since January 5, was sent to Cameroon with 46 of his supporters, Cameroonian government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary said in a statement yesterday.

"A group of 47 terrorists, which includes Mr Ayuk Tabe, has been in the hands of the Cameroonian justice system for a few hours," Tchiroma said.

"They will answer for their crimes" before the Cameroonian courts, he added, underlining the "determination" of Nigeria and Cameroon "never to tolerate that their territories serve as a base for destabilising activities directed against one or the other".

Prior to their extradition, Ayuk Tabe and nine others had been "held in secret" at a hotel in Abuja, according to their lawyer and Amnesty International.

It was not possible yesterday to establish when the other separatists extradited from Nigeria to Cameroon were arrested.

In mid-January, Amnesty International expressed concern about the separatists detained in Nigeria, saying they "could be threatened with torture and (given) an unfair trial" if they are extradited from Nigeria.

Over the past year, there has been mounting tension in Cameroon's Southwest and Northwest regions -- home to anglophones who account for about a fifth of the West African nation's population of 23 million.

English-speakers complain they have suffered decades of economic inequality and social injustice at the hands of the French-speaking majority.

Ayuk Tabe is campaigning for the two English-speaking regions of Cameroon to separate from the French-speaking part of the country.

On October 1 last year, the breakaway anglophone movement issued a symbolic declaration of independence for "Ambazonia", claiming autonomy over English-speaking regions.

Cameroon's President Paul Biya fiercely opposes secession and has met the agitation with a crackdown, including curfews, raids and restrictions on travel.

The country is preparing for general elections -- including the presidential vote -- at the end of 2018.

But observers say the ballot could be disrupted by the deep socio-political crisis in the English-speaking regions.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Attorney General K K Venugopal has "advised" the government that the CBI should not file a special leave petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court in a case related to the Bofors gun payoff as it is likely to be dismissed.

In a recent letter to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Venguopal has said the investigating agency should present its stand in another similar case pending before the apex court in which it is also a party.

The CBI said it wanted to file an SLP challenging the Delhi High Court order of May 31, 2005, quashing all charges against Europe-based Hinduja brothers in the case.

DoPT had sought legal opinion from the attorney general on the CBI's request that it should be allowed to file the SLP, sources said.

In a letter to the DoPT secretary, accessed by PTI, Venugopal said, "Now, more than 12 years have elapsed. Any SLP filed before the Supreme Court at this stage, in my view, is likely to be dismissed by the Court on account of the long delay itself."



He said the record does not reveal any significant events or special circumstances which could be said to constitute sufficent cause for not approaching the Supreme Court within 90 days permitted by law, or at any time thereafter in the last so many years.

"It is worth noting that the present government has been in position for more than three years now. In the circumstances, the long delay in approaching the court will be difficult to satisfactorily explain to the court," he added in the letter.

Venugopal said the CBI is a respondent in the criminal appeals pending before the Supreme Court. These were filed by private persons (Ajay Kumar Aggarwal and Raj Kumar Pandey) challenging the same high court judgement.

"Thus the matter is still live, and the opportunity for the CBI to present its case before the Supreme Court is not entirely lost. It would be advisable for the CBI to canvass its stand as a respondent in the pending matters, rather than take the risk of filing its own SLP at this highly belated stage," Venugopal said.

The dismissal of its SLP could prejudice its stand even as a respondent in the appeals already pending in the apex court, he added.

The CBI has shared a copy of the attorney general's opinion with the six-member Public Accounts Committee's subcommittee on defence headed by BJD MP Bhatruhari Mahatab, which is looking into non-compliance of certain aspects of a 1986 CAG report on the Bofors Howitzer gun deal.

During a meeting, the panel had asked the premier investigating agency why it did not approach the apex court after the Delhi court dismissed proceedings in the case in 2005.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey along with its chairman Mahatab had stressed that the CBI should move the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court's 2005 order, a member in the panel said.

The parliamentary panel is scheduled to meet tomorrow and will be briefed by the CBI director and the DoPT secretary on the

The Delhi High Court had in February 2005 quashed the charges against the three Hinduja brothers under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Advocate Ajay Agarwal has moved the Supreme Court seeking reopening of the case.The Jammu and Kashmir Police today filed a charge sheet against the Pakistan-based Lashker-e- Taiba terror group and 11 people for conspiring and carrying out the July 2017 Amarnath Yatra attack in which eight pilgrims lost their lives.

The 1,600-page charge sheet was filed under various sections of Ranbir Penal Code (similar to the Indian Penal Code) and the anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act before a sessions court at Anantnag, an official spokesperson said.

The probe into the incident was completed in a record six months by the Special Investigating Team headed by Deputy Inspector General of Police (South Kashmir) S P Pani after the first arrest was made in the case.

The 11 people in the charge sheet include a juvenile, he said.

The charge sheet against the juvenile was filed before Chief Judicial Magistrate (Juvenile Court) at Anantnag in South Kashmir.

Eight pilgrims were killed when Lashker-e-Taiba terrorists fired indiscriminately on the bus carrying pilgrims on the outskirts of Anantnag in July last year. The devotees were on their way back to Jammu after the pilgrimage.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Chhattisgarh Governor Balramjidas Tandon and Chief Minister Raman Singh today expressed grief over the death of first Governor of the state Dinesh Nandan Sahay.

The Chhattisgarh government has declared one-day state mourning today as a mark of respect to the leader.

In his condolence message, Governor Tandon said Sahay had left a deep impression in his political and administrative life and always worked for the welfare of poor, farmers and other sections of the society.

Condoling his death, chief minister Singh described Sahay as an experienced administrator.

Singh said Sahay had always worked for the rapid development of the state.

82-year-old Sahay died at a private hospital in Patna after a prolonged illness last night.

He was Chhattisgarh Governor from 2000 to 2003.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today rejected allegations of a fake encounter against most wanted gangster Vicky Gounder and his associates, saying the families of the deceased gangsters were obviously reacting from a sense of grief.

The chief minister also said that there would be an expansion of the state Cabinet after municipal elections are held in Ludhiana.

"While the death of gangsters is not a cause for celebration, such criminals should realise that nobody was above the law, nor could they escape the law for long," said the chief minister in response to media queries at an event organised by Chandigarh Press Club here.

He also appealed to gangsters still active in the state to shun the path of violence.

Punjab Police had on January 26 eliminated -the most wanted Vicky Gounder, his associate Prema Lahoria, and Sawinder Singh, who succumbed to bullet injuries later in an encounter at village Pakki under Hindu Malkot police station in Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan.

Yesterday, family members of Gounder had alleged that Gounder and Lahoria were killed in a fake encounter.

Chief Minister Singh said that since the Congress government took over, 47 per cent of A category gangsters and 42 per cent B category ones had either surrendered or were arrested, as a result of a concerted police crackdown.

Asserting that the police would continue to pursue criminals still at large, the chief minister said they should realise that hey could not evade the law any longer.

He made it clear that though the gangsters would have to meet their fate under the law, the government would, at the same time, make all efforts for their eventual rehabilitation.

To a question on allegations of a fake encounter by the families of Gounder and his aides, Amarinder Singh dismissed the charges as false.

To another question, he said that the cabinet expansion would be undertaken after the Ludhiana municipal elections. The selection would once again be based on merit, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Taking stock of the situation in Dima Hasao district following violent protests, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today said Assam's territorial integrity would not be compromised and called on all sections of people to maintain peace and harmony.

Two people were killed in the district during a bandh to protest the proposed inclusion of Dima Hasao in 'Greater Nagalim' on January 25.

Sonowal held a meeting with the chief executive member of the Dima Hasao Autonomus Council, Debalal Garlosa, and members of various organisations to discuss about the current situation prevailing in Dima Hasao and asserted "no satellite council or special development authority would be allowed on Assam's land. Not a single inch of the state's land would be ceded."



Calling on all sections of people to maintain peace and harmony, the chief minister said Assam's map would not be allowed to be altered and that he had taken up the matter with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh when they talked over phone last night.

A government release quoted the chief minister as saying that the Union home minister assured had him that Assam's territorial integrity would not be harmed and no divisive force would be allowed to succeed.

Additional Chief Secretary V B Pyarelal was entrusted with the inquiry into the January 25 incident and strong action would be initiated once the report is submitted by the him, the chief minister said.

The chief minister would soon visit Dima Hasao and hold talks with the village headmen of the area to address the concerns of various stakeholders, he said.

The Divisional Commissioner of Barak Valley region would visit the district every month and directly report to him, Sonowal added.

Steps had been taken to provide free treatment to victims of the recent incidents, and the wife of Mithun Dibragede, who lost his life in the recent strife, would be provided a government job and his children would be provided free education, he added.

A family member of Prabanta Hatmosa, another casualty of the violence, would be considered for a government job after consultation, the release quoted Sonowal as saying.

An assurance letter allaying all apprehensions of residents of the district was given to the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council from the government of Assam.

Representatives from All Dimasa Students' Union, along with members of various organisations of Dima Hasao, were also present in the meeting, the release said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Congress today took to streets in the state over frequent Pakistan shelling and alleged failures of the Modi government to deal with Pakistani shelling targeting Indian positions along the IB and the LoC.

Fourteen people, including 8 civilians and 6 security forces personnel, were killed and over 65 injured in shelling by Pakistan along the IB and the LoC in Jammu region, forcing over 45,000 people to migrate.

Led by Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Gulam Ahmed Mir, Congress workers and leaders held demonstrations in the border town of Vijaypur in Samba district.

The protesters accused the Prime Minister Narendra Modi- led BJP government of following a weak policy to deal with Pakistan.

Addressing a gathering, Mir said the situation along the borders reflected a total failure of the central and the state government.

Mir said the BJP had forgotten the slogans and promises it made to the nation, especially to the border people.

"So the Congress has taken to the streets to remind the Modi government of its promises and to know about the policy and roadmap of the BJP government to deal with Pakistan," he added.

Mir also said the state government headed by Mehbooba Mufti had totally failed to deal with the situation in Kashmir.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Senior CPI(M) leader and MLA M Y Tarigami today called for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and asked the Centre to restrict the Army's role to guarding the borders in the state.

Speaking during the discussion over the killing of two civilians allegedly in Army firing in Shopian district on Saturday, Tarigami suggested the Assembly to adopt a resolution in the House asking the Centre to initiate a "serious political dialogue" to resolve the Kashmir issue.

"I would like the chief minister (Mehbooba Mufti) to announce in the House that there is no need for the AFSPA. You are asking for panchayat elections and if the situation has returned to such a level, what is the need for the Army in internal security of the state?" he asked.

Urging the parties to rise above partisan attitudes, Tarigami underlined the need to end the bloodshed in the region instead of scoring political points.

"A serious attempt is being made to seek a security solution to the Kashmir issue, which is essentially and fundamentally a political problem in nature. The House needs to adopt an one-line resolution to ask the Centre to initiate a serious political dialogue," he said.

The CPI(M) leader asked the Centre not to "overburden" the Army and restrict its role to guarding the borders in the state. He also called for an end to the use of pellet guns against the protesters in the valley.

Referring to the appointment of special representative Dineshwar Sharma on Kashmir, he said the Centre must come forward and make it clear what is his mandate.

Meanwhile, the ruling PDP MLA from Shopian, Mohammad Yousuf Bhat in his address accused the Army of resorting to unprovoked firing on the people and demanded stern action against the erring personnel.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for hugging Kashmiris, but, on the other hand, bullets are showered. If you want to hug us, you have to look what is the real issue and why the youth is picking up stones," Bhat said.

"Bullet is not the answer to a stone," he added.

Meanwhile, National Conference legislator Ali Mohammad Sagar said return of peace should be the priority of the government and suggested for holding dialogue with separatists and militants.

"Blame game will take us nowhere. We need to raise above petty politics," he said, adding that the attacks on the minorities in other parts of the country are having a "direct impact" in the Muslim-majority state.

Several other members, including Mian Altaf of the National Conference; RS Pathania of BJP and Bashir Ahmad Dar of the PDP also spoke during the discussion.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Three men, including a Delhi University graduate, were arrested for allegedly running a pan-India fake degree racket under which they sold about 50,000 forged certificates of universities and school boards, police said today.

The three accused, Pankaj Arora, 35, Pawiter Singh alias Sonu, 40, and Gopal Krishna alias Pali, 40, were arrested between January 5 and January 25, they said.

The accused, during interrogation, revealed that they had sold at least 50,000 fake degrees and marksheets of various universities and school boards.

They used to give advertisements in newspapers, promising students to provide all sorts of certificates and degrees, said Vijay Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West).

In order to convince their clients, they had also set up fake websites of the universities and school boards on which the victims verified the authenticity of these documents.

The websites were so convincing that victims could not tell the difference between genuine and fake, the senior police official said.

Thousands of people have secured jobs through these forged certificates, he said.

Universities whose fake websites they had created, included Sambalpur University, Odisha, University of Allahabad, Sikkim University, Karnataka State Open University, and Nava Nalanda Mahavihara.

On January 3, Vijay Kumar, a resident of Sikar, Rajasthan, filed a complaint at the Hari Nagar police station.

He told police that after seeing an advertisement in a local newspaper in Rajasthan, he had contacted the office of "SRKM and Welfare Society" in Hari Nagar for getting admission in 10th standard and obtaining certificates.

Arora, a Delhi University graduate and the owner of the institute, convinced Kumar to pay Rs 1.30 lakh towards admission and examination fees for six of his friends and himself.

After some days, Vijay Kumar received 10th standard marksheets, migration certificates and transfer certificates of Board of Secondary Education, Andhra Pradesh, through post, police said.

He was shocked since neither he nor his friends had appeared for the examination of the Andhra Pradesh board, and had not even visited Andhra Pradesh. When Kumar contacted Arora, he told him that the certificates were genuine.

When the complainant applied for a passport in Sikar, Rajasthan, he was told that the 10th standard certificate was not genuine. Subsequently, a case was registered.

The police team went to the office of SRKM and Welfare Society, but it was closed. On the basis of technical surveillance, Arora was nabbed from Hari Nagar on January 5.

He led the police to Singh and Krishan who were involved in preparing and sending the forged certificates to him, said the Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Subsequently, Singh was nabbed from Karkari Road near Karkardooma Court on January 19. A sample forged certificate and a mobile phone being used in maintaining all the fake websites was recovered from him, the senior police official said.

Arora led the team to Ludhiana, Punjab, from where Krishan was nabbed on January 25.

He was running a printing press where he used to print forged marksheets.

The accused have been running this racket since 2001-2002 and have made crores of rupees, police said.

They used to charge anything between Rs 1,500 to Rs 2 lakh for providing fake certificates.

Police found Rs 20 lakh in many bank accounts in Goraya, Punjab, and they have been frozen.

Police have also seized blank sheets and other documents of Karnatka State Open University, Delhi Board of Secondary Education, Andhra Pradesh, etc.

Last month, six men were arrested for allegedly running a fake school board that ran an elaborate pan-India network since 2012 and duped more than 20,000 people by issuing forged marksheets and certificates.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi today said he hoped to collaborate with Deepika Padukone in future after they missed the chance to work in his debut Indian film "Beyond the Clouds".

In 2016, pictures of Deepika on the sets of the film had gone viral, prompting many to speculate that the "Padmaavat" actor was doing a look test for Majidi's film.

The director, however, said the team did not invite the actor for an audition.

"I must also mention a special thanks to Deepika for being extremely humble. We actually didn't invite her for casting, we just wanted to put her in the situation to get a feeling of the film. And she was quite humble," Majidi said.

"For different reasons, the collaboration couldn't happen. But in future, I hope there is an opportunity where we can work together."



The filmmaker was speaking today at the trailer launch of his film, "Beyond The Clouds", which was also attended by music composer, AR Rahman, and lead actors Ishaan Khatter and Malavika Mohanan.

"Beyond the Clouds" marks the Bollywood debut of both Ishaan and Malavika.

When asked if there ever was a temptation to work with big stars in his Indian feature film, Majidi said that he has always worked with actors who suit the roles.

"I've worked with professional actors in some of my films, but the subject and storyline of this film demanded newer faces. I know that in the Indian cinema industry it's important to have famous faces," he said.

"I would like to do that. Maybe in future there would be a possibility to have these faces but it's important for me to choose the right person who is going to play this real character."



Majidi, best known for international classics such as "Children of Heaven" and "The Song of Sparrows", joked that he was more famous in India than in Iran.

He said he was waiting to make an Indian film as he is in awe of Satyajit Ray's work and finds many cultural similarities between India and Iran.

The film is scheduled to be released on March 23.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A 30-year-old doctor, who was seriously injured in the explosion of a parcel bomb last week, died yesterday, the day he was to get engaged.

Dr Ritesh Dixit, who worked at the Sagar district hospital, succumbed to injuries during treatment in Bhopal, said Dr Arun Saraf, his colleague.

A parcel was delivered at Ritesh's house in Anandnagar locality here on January 24. The next day, Ritesh opened it to find a radio-like gadget inside, but when he tried to switch it on, it exploded.

Inspector General of Police Satish Saxena said that Hemant Sahu (40), arrested on January 26, had couriered the bomb to K K Dixit, Ritesh's father, who is a postmaster.

Sahu, who worked as a computer operator at a post office at Sagar, nursed a grudge against K K Dixit after the latter sacked him last month for alleged involvement in a Rs 37-lakh scam, the police officer said.

Sahu put together the bomb using the information he found on Internet, the IG said.

Along with Dr Ritesh, Vijay Mishra, a relative, and Dashrat, a servant, were injured in the explosion. Both are out of danger now, Saxena said.

The staff at the district hospital will be taking out a candle march tonight to condole Dr Dixit's death, said Dr Saraf.

"It is so sad that Dr Ritesh died on January 28, the day he was supposed to get engaged," said district superintendent of police S Shukla.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)India today urged the European Union not to ban or blacklist any seafood exporter immediately if they found a problem with just one consignment as it worked against all stakeholders in the industry, a senior official said.

"EU should issue a warning to the exporter and give it reasonable time to remove the inadequacies before delisting the company," said A Jayathilak, Chairman of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA). He was chairing the EU-India Shrimp Dialogue, organized in association with the Embassy of the Netherlands.

The session was part of the three-day 21stIndia International Seafood Show 2018 organised jointly by the MPEDA and Seafood Export Association of India (SEAI) from January 27 to 29 here.

Instant blacklisting was unjust as this also destroyed the exporters reputation built over several years and jeopardized their huge investments in the cost-intensive business, besides the livelihood of lakhs of farmers, he said.

Jayathilak described as unfair the EUs decision to increase the sample size from 10 per cent to 50 per cent for testing seafood consignments from India, while keeping it at 10 per cent for other countries.

Endorsing Dr Jayathilaks pleas, SEAI General Secretary Elias Sait said the sample size was being kept at 10 per cent even for Vietnam and Bangladesh, whose consignments had also failed food safety tests.

Wojciech Dziowrski, counsellor for health and food safety for the EU delegation to India, countered this view citing the number of samples tested positive from India and these two countries.

But Sait said these countries could not be compared in terms of numbers of failed samples as Indias volume of export was high and the sample size was five times higher.

Pointing to the case of a recently blacklisted exporter, Sait said the company was suffering despite the fact that about 600 consignments sent by it to the EU over several years were in perfect order.

EU had brought his entire business, involving an investment of Rs 50 crore, to a standstill by delisting his company after one of his consignments failed a quality test, he said.

Export Inspection Council (EIC) Director S K Saxena regretted that the twin blow instant ban and 50 per cent sample size was in place despite the fact that the quality control mechanism had been tightened further in the last two years.

Some of the blacklisting was done on the basis of miniscule variations from the food quality benchmark, he said, adding that he wanted relisting to take place in suitable cases within a short time.

Willem Van Der Pijl, representing the Seafood Trade Intelligence Portal (STIP), moderated the discussion.

Jayathilak and Sait said the first India-EU Shrimp Dialogue provided a forum for a "free, frank and candid" discussion aimed at finding a solution to the problems being faced by all stakeholders.

At another technical session, Saxena said India was in the process of asking EU to relist wrongly delisted companies and allow them to resume business.

He made the statement in response to concerns raised by seafood associations of Kerala and West Bengal that a number of companies, delisted by EU due to wrong testing by labs in importing countries, were suffering for no fault of theirs.

A number of consignments rejected by importing countries in Europe, for allegedly containing banned antibiotics and chemical substances beyond permissible limits, were found to be in order during further tests conducted in Indian laboratories, these associations said.

Saxena suggested that exporters convince the importing companies in EU to get the failed samples tested in one more lab to prevent wrong rejections.

A representative of farmers involved in shrimp farming suggested that quality tests should be conducted at the farm level rather than when the processing was over, adding that farmers were blamed even in cases where the processing sector was at fault.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)An electrical engineer has been arrested by Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for allegedly sharing child pornographic content online with different persons in four other countries.

The FIA initiated the action on the complaint of National Child Exploitation Centre, Interpol in Ottawa, Canada.

It wrote to the government here about involvement of a Pakistani in sharing child pornography content online with people in the US, New Zealand, Australia and Canada.

"Acting upon information, an FIA cyber crime team yesterday raided the residence of Taimur Maqsood in Jhang city some 200-km from Lahore and arrested him," FIA Lahore cyber crime head Khalid Anis told reporters.

He said Interpol Canada had arrested a man involved in this heinous crime.

"That suspect told Canadian authorities that Maqsood was member of their network in Pakistan who transfer the child porn content online," he said.

Maqsood, an electrical engineer by profession, has been booked under Section 22 of Prevention of Electronic Crime Act which has a seven-year imprisonment for the offence. His mobile phones, a computer, modem and laptops have been taken into possession by the FIA for forensic analysis.

Confessing his crime, Maqsood said he has been doing this for two years as he had become addicted to it.

"I used to join online child pornography groups and shared content with others after smartly downloading it. I have been doing this for two years as I had become addicted to it," the suspect said.

Last year in January, the FIA Lahore had arrested another engineer Saadat Amin in Punjab province for allegedly selling child pornographic content online.

Amin, facing a trial in court, is accused of luring 25 children into the heinous act on the pretext of imparting them computer education. He made their videos and sold them online and in return made USD 30,000 which he received from a member of a child pornography network in Sweden.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Gujarati translation of "Dial D For Don", the English book penned by former CBI joint director Neeraj Kumar, was launched here today.

On the occasion, the author spoke about two Gujarat-based gangsters--Abdul Latif and Raju Anadkad who operated in 1980s and 1990s.

Kumar, who details inside stories of the CBI missions to nab notorious criminals including those involved in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, said he shared a strong connection with the Gujarat police due to an operation to nab Latif, a dreaded criminal operating in the 1980s and 1990s.

Latif, linked to fugitive Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, was involved in landing of arms and ammunitions used in the Mumbai blasts, Kumar said.

"Latif was clsoely related to Dawood Ibrahim, and was also involved in the Mumbai bomb blasts and in landing of arms and ammunitions. The CBI worked very closely with the Gujarat Police and we managed to get Latif in Delhi. That story is also there. Emotionally, I have a strong connection with the Gujarat Police because of that one operation," he said.

Recounting the operation, Kumar said the CBI landed at the Ahmedabad airport from Delhi along with Latif on October 11, 1995.

"The scene at the airport, the meeting with then Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, and the kind of treatment I got here (was overwhelming)," he said.

Kumar mentioned a sub-inspector's comment that they had done a great job by tracking down Latif.

"Whenever the police went to arrest any criminal, they would say first arrest Latif as we are small fish...all those things have stayed with me," he said.

Latif later died in an encounter with the Gujarat Police. His life was captured on celluloid in Bollywood movie titled "Raees", in which actor Shahrukh Khan played the lead role.

The book also has description of another gangster from Gujarat, Raju Anadkad, who was involved in kidnapping of businessman Bhaskar Parikh, he said.

Gujarat DGP Pramod Kumar, who was the guest of honour at the event, said the book attempted to detail cases which are not covered in entirety by the media.

"Truths, half truths and lies are placed in the public domain. What we come to know about important cases are trailer and not the complete stories," he said.

"Neeraj Kumar has narrated true information on crimes and criminals in a very interesting manner. His photographic memory, enormous ability to connect information, frank narration makes the book an absolute reading," he said.

Gujarat Chief Secretary J N Singh, who was also present at the event, said that 1990s saw a spurt in the crime in the country due to opening up of the economy, "which attracted ganglords from across the world to India, and particularly to Mumbai, its financial hub".

"Globalisation increased, so crime networks were looking at India in a big way...(The time also saw) the rise of fundamentalism and reverse fundamentalism which was not related to one particular religion itself," he said.

"All these factors put together attracted a large number of criminals and Mumbai became the epicentre because it was the biggest financial capital of this side of south Asia," he said, adding that the book also has a Gujarati connection.

The book details the evolution of underworld gangs of the country.

The English book was translated in Gujarati by Bhargav Trivedi and was published by Rajkot-based K Books.

The original English version was first published in the year 2015.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)British Prime Minister Theresa May should address concerns about the political situation in Hong Kong during her visit to China this week, the last British governor of the territory said today.

In a letter to May's Downing Street office, Chris Patten said Hong Kong was facing "increasing threats to the basic freedoms, human rights and autonomy" that its people were promised at the 1997 handover to China.

The letter by Patten and Liberal Democrat lawmaker Paddy Ashdown urged May to "go on insisting on the continued validity of the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the principles of 'one country, two systems'".

"We hope... that you will be able to provide the people of Hong Kong with some assurance that our developing relationship with China, vital though it is, will not come at the cost of our obligations to them," it said.

Patten has repeatedly spoken out about the importance of protecting its democratic freedoms.

Since 1997, Hong Kong has been ruled under a semi- autonomous "one country, two systems" deal which allows rights unseen on the mainland, but Beijing is increasingly tightening its grip.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Jammu and Kashmir government said today that a proposal for grant of Rs 1 lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to the next of kin of Kuldeep Singh of Paddar, who died while crossing Sazar Nallah in Kishtwar, was under examination.

Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Education, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, informed the Legislative Council that a proposal for a grant of Rs 1 lakh from the Chief Ministers Relief Fund to Singh's son was under examination.

He was replying, on behalf of the Minister Incharge, Home, to a Calling Attention Notice moved by the MLC, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo.

The minister said the concerned SHO had been directed to collect the post-mortem report of the deceased within seven days and finalize inquest proceedings under section 174 of the CrPC.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The NCP today accused Maharashtra's tourism minister of using his "political influence" to get a meeting between his Cabinet colleague and a farmer cancelled, which he claimed, prompted the 84-year-old man to consume a poisonous chemical which resulted in his death.

Dharma Patil died last night at the J J Hospital after consuming a poisonous chemical at the Maharashtra secretariat here on January 22.

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik claimed that the cancellation of that meeting was the trigger for the farmer taking the extreme step.

Malik also alleged that Maharashtra Tourism Minister Jayakumar Rawal and his family members bought lands in advance from farmers at lower rates in Dhule district ahead of their acquisition by the state government for higher compensation.

He alleged that some "fake" companies are operational in Dhule district that buy land for Rawal.

Rawal, who represents the Sindkheda constituency in Dhule district, of which the deceased farmer was a resident, has denied the charges.

"State Tourism Minister Jaykumar Rawal had used his political influence and asked Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule to cancel the meeting between Dharma Patil and officials from state power ministry. That was the trigger which led Patil to consume a poisonous chemical on January 22," Malik told reporters here.

Patil had alleged that the state government offered low returns while acquiring his land for a solar power plant in north Maharashtra district.

"Rawal and his family are known for buying such lands in advance from farmers at lower rates and then letting them acquired by the state for higher compensation. There are some fake companies that have been buying land for Rawal in Dhule district," Malik said.

The NCP leader said that the state officials had scheduled a meeting between Patil and Bawankule on January 22 for which the farmer had travelled all the way from Dhule to Mumbai.

"After listening to Patil's complaint, the state officials had called for a meeting, for which the 84-year-old farmer had travelled from Dhule to Mumbai. After reaching here, he (Patil) was told that the meeting was cancelled. It was Rawal who made Bawankule cancel that meeting," Malik claimed.

He alleged that Rawal was "misusing" his power and position for a long time.

"The minister's accomplices had purchased several acres of land already. They were waiting to buy Patil's land, but he raised the complaint before the state authorities for higher compensation," the NCP leader said.

Speaking to PTI, Rawal alleged that the erstwhile Congress-NCP government was responsible for meting out "injustice" to the deceased farmer.

"I was an MLA from Dhule (in 2012) and when the land acquisition procedure (for the proposed plant) commenced, I had demanded a base price of Rs 10 lakh per hectare. Though the proposed land was rain-fed, the state government then offered Rs 2 lakh as the acquisition cost, which was very low," Rawal claimed.

The minister said he had all the documents that "establish" the entire procedure of land acquisition during the Congress-NCP rule.

"If leaders of the Congress and NCP are blaming the procedure for injustice to Dharma Patil, then the blame lies with them. They are more responsible for this kind of injustice to Dharma Patil," Rawal said.

The minister said he welcomed the demand of the Congress and NCP for a police action against those responsible for Patil's plight.

"I am sure, they (Congress-NCP leaders) will be the one who will face action at the end. In the year 2012, we were told that if we do not cooperate with authorities for land acquisition, the state authorities would initiate the procedure for compulsory acquisition of land," Rawal said.

If the state government invokes the compulsory (land) acquisition clause, then land owners will have to accept the rate offered by the state.

"Hence, everyone was protesting against the land acquisition," he said.

Meanwhile, a government official said on the condition of anonymity that the first proposal for acquiring Patil's land was made on May 8, 2009 when the Congress-led UPA government was in power.

In April 2014, before the BJP-led government came to power in Maharashtra, the process of hearing of objections was concluded and the compensation was duly accepted by Patil, the official claimed.

There was no legal challenge over the amount, he added.

Under the Land Acquisition Act, the government cannot change the compensation amount once it is accepted by the affected person, he said.

The owners of two plots adjacent to Patil's land were awarded Rs 4,34,720 and Rs 4,40,440 in compensation, the official added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The death of Dharma Patil is actually a "murder" committed by the Maharashtra government, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde said here today.

Patil (84), who had consumed a poisonous substance in Mantralaya in Mumbai on January 22 demanding better compensation for his acquired land, died last night.

His death triggered a political firestorm against the ruling BJP.

"The treasury benches are making a (false) propaganda that the (land acquisition) case is pending from the time of the erstwhile Congress-NCP government. This is an attempt to cheat the people of the state," Munde said while addressing reporters here.

Accusing the government of "failing" to act on Patil's demand in the last two years, the NCP leader said, "Soon after Patil's death, a minister called a press conference and declared that the concerned collector has been asked to re-evaluate Patil's land (in Dhule district). Why didn't they (government) do it earlier? Were they waiting for his death?".

Earlier in the day, State Tourism Minister Jayakumar Rawal said that the process of land acquisition had started in the year 2012.

Munde alleged that the current dispensation had been blaming the previous UPA government so as to "hide its governance failure".

"The issue of land compensation came to fore in the year 2015 under this government," the NCP leader said.

Munde questioned the "Rs 1.89 crore compensation" given to the farm land adjacent to Patil, "despite it being not a good quality land".

He said the NCP's hallabolo yatra would conclude in Marathwada region on February 3 in presence of the party supremo Sharad Pawar.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The death of an 84-year-old farmer protesting against inadequate compensation for a plot of land acquired by the government today triggered a political slugfest between the ruling BJP and the Opposition.

Farmer Dharma Patil consumed a poisonous chemical at Mantralaya, the state Secretariat, here on January 22 and died at a government hospital late last night.

The NCP accused Maharashtra tourism minister Jaykumar Rawal of using his "political influence" to cancel a meeting last week between minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Patil over the farmer's demand for greater compensation.

The cancellation of the meeting pushed Patil into taking his life, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik claimed.

"Rawal and his family members buy land in advance from farmers at lower rates in Dhule district ahead of their acquisition by the state government for higher compensation," he alleged.

Rawal, who represents the Sindkheda constituency in Dhule district, where Patil lived, denied the charges.

The tourism minister told PTI that the previous Congress-NCP government was responsible for the "injustice" meted out to the farmer.

"I was an MLA from Dhule (in 2012) and when the land acquisition procedure (for a proposed solar plant) commenced, I demanded a base price of Rs 10 lakh per hectare. Though the land was rain-fed, the state government then offered Rs 2 lakh as the acquisition cost, which was very low," Rawal said.

A government official said the first proposal for acquiring Patil's land was made on May 8, 2009, when the Congress-led UPA government was in power in Maharashtra.

In April 2014, before the BJP-led government took charge in the state, the process of hearing of objections was concluded and the compensation was accepted by Dharma Patil, the official said.

Former state chief minister Prithviraj Chavan demanded a judicial probe into the issue.

"As per my information, some land agents are involved in such land acquisition deals and local revenue officials are also a part of the nexus. The farmers who agreed with such agents received higher compensation," the Congress leader said.

Leader of the Opposition in the state Legislative Council, Dhananjay Munde, blamed the state government.

"Only this government is to be blamed for the farmer's death," he said.

Munde's counterpart in the Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said the farmer died due to "government apathy and anti-farmer policies".

A Maharashtra minister had purchased land in the same area after the process of acquisition began (so as to pocket the compensation), he said.

"The government is solely responsible for this death. It should be booked under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code," Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan said.

The BJP's bickering ally Shiv Sena issued contradictory statements on the issue.

While Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut said the government should be booked for "culpable homicide", party spokesperson Neelam Gorhe blamed the previous regime.

"Ninety per cent of the blame falls on the previous Congress-NCP government and ten per cent on the current government," Gorhe said.

Bawankule, who handles the energy portfolio, said the government would reassess the land valuation.

In a letter to Narendra Patil, the farmer's son, Bawankule said the farmer had complained about low compensation for the land as well as for the fruit-bearing trees on it. The value of both would be reassessed and the procedure completed in 30 days, he said.

Narendra Patil told reporters outside the JJ Hospital that his father's body would be taken to Sindhkheda tehsil in Dhule district for the last rites.

The government had last week offered an assistance of Rs 15 lakh to the farmer's family after he consumed poison, but his son had refused to accept it.

"We were denied proper compensation by the state authorities for the land acquisition. Except us, everybody in our neighbourhood whose land was acquired was given a higher compensation. Why was there such a disparity," he had asked.

Meanwhile, the farmer's family agreed to accept his body after the BJP-led state government promised a reassessment of the compensation amount.

The family had earlier said it would not accept the body till their demands were accepted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The family of an 84-year-old farmer who killed himself over inadequate land compensation today said it was ready to accept his body after being assured by the Maharashtra government that the amount awarded to Dharma Patil would be assessed.

The family had earlier refused to accept the body of Patil, who died last night after consuming poison a week ago for not being paid enough for his land acquired by the government for a solar power project.

His son, Narendra Patil, had said the family would not accept the body until all their demands were accepted.

As the death drew sharp reactions from the Opposition, power minister Chandrashekhar Bavankule today assured the family that the government would reassess the land valuation.

In a letter to Narendra Patil, the minister said Dharma Patil had complained about low compensation for the land as well as for the fruit-bearing trees on it, and the value of both would be reassessed. The procedure would be completed in 30 days, he wrote.

Narendra Patil later told the media that his father's body would be taken to Sindhkheda tehsil in Dhule district for the final rites.

"I have decided to accept the body... The government has assured us revaluation in 30 days," he said.

Dharma Patil, who was from Dhule district, ingested a poisonous substance at the state secretariat here on January 22 to protest against the low compensation offered by the government when his land was acquired for the plant.

He died at the J J Hospital here last night.

Narendra Patil had told reporters last week that his father got Rs 4 lakh for five acres of land. The octogenarian had been visiting the secretariat for the last three months to complain about inadequate compensation, but the visits had been of no use, he said.

The government offered an assistance of Rs 15 lakh to the farmer after he consumed poison and was admitted to a hospital, but his son refused to accept it.

"We were denied proper compensation by the state authorities for the land acquisition. Except us, everybody in our neighbourhood whose land had been acquired was given higher compensation. Why was there such a disparity?" Narendra Patil had asked earlier.

State Congress chief Ashok Chavan held the government responsible for the death.

"The government is solely responsible for this death. It should be booked under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code. Dharma Patil could have got justice if the state had intervened immediately," Chavan said.

"It shows how we value our people. The government has no control over the administration," he added.

Another Congress leader and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan demanded a judicial probe into the issue.

"As per my information, some land agents are involved in such land acquisition deals and local revenue officials are also a part of the nexus. The farmers who agreed with such agents received higher compensation," Chavan alleged.

He said Dharma Patil's family had refused to be a part of such a nexus.

"Hence they were given very low compensation. This is a serious matter and I demand a judicial inquiry," he said.

Chavan also said the land was first acquired for a thermal power plant, but its economics could not be worked out. The state then decided to construct a solar plant there.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde (NCP) had said last night that the government was to be blamed for the farmer's death.

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly and Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil echoed him. Vikhe Patil also alleged today that a state minister had purchased land in the same area after the process of acquisition began (in a bid to pocket the compensation).

The Shiv Sena, a ruling ally, issued conflicting statements on the issue. While its senior leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut said the government should be booked for "culpable homicide", party spokesperson Neelam Gorhe blamed the earlier government.

"Ninety per cent of the blame falls on the previous Congress-NCP government and 10 per cent on the current government," Gorhe said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The FBI's deputy director, Andrew McCabe, is stepping down after having been accused by President Donald Trump of being a Democratic partisan, a government source confirmed on Tuesday.

McCabe is stopping work immediately but will remain on the FBI payroll until March to obtain retirement benefits, the source confirmed.

McCabe, 49, was expected to leave sometime early this year when he became fully eligible for a pension, after two decades in the bureau.

Trump targeted McCabe with critical tweets after it emerged that his wife had received a campaign contribution for a race in Virginia in 2015 from an ally of Trump rival Hillary Clinton.

McCabe and fired FBI director James Comey had key roles in the FBI's probe of Clinton in the 2016 election, which ultimately cleared the Democrat of criminal wrongdoing in her misuse of a personal email server while she was secretary of state.

Both were also involved in the initial stages of an ongoing investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russians during the election.

Trump has repeatedly dismissed collusion allegations as "fake news" and has accused the FBI of bias for pursuing the probe, now in the hands of special prosecutor Robert Mueller -- himself a former FBI director.The armed forces have been giving a befitting response to the perpetrators of terrorist violence in Jammu and Kashmir, President Ram Nath Kovind said today and asserted that the government was open to holding talks with those wishing to shun violence and join the mainstream.

In an address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament, he also said that terrorist violence in the interiors of Jammu and Kashmir was directly related to cross- border infiltration.

Referring to cross border terror activities in the state, the president said that with better coordination, the Army, paramilitary forces and Jammu and Kashmir police were giving a "befitting response" to the perpetrators.

"My Government has kept open the path of dialogue with those who wish to shun violence and join the mainstream, while reposing faith in the Constitution of India," he said.

Kovind said maximum number of youths, who were influenced by the Naxal-Maoist ideology, have surrendered and joined the mainstream in the past three years.

Talking about the strategic partnership model in the defence manufacturing sector, he said it has been given a final shape.

"This will encourage maximum participation of private sector in the manufacture of major defence platforms and equipment and would provide a fillip to employment generation," the president said.

The defence ministry in May had finalised a much-awaited policy under which select private firms will be roped in to build military platforms such as submarines and fighter jets in India in partnership with foreign entities.

Seen as a major initiative, the policy aims to create a vibrant defence manufacturing ecosystem in the country through the involvement of both the major Indian corporates as well as the MSME sector.

In his address, the president also talked about the implementation of the 'One Rank One Pension' scheme for retired personnel of the three services.

"My Government has fulfilled its commitment of 'One Rank One Pension' and disbursed arrears of more than Rs.10 thousand crore to over 20 lakh retired armed forces personnel," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A foreign player has formally written to the government expressing its interest in buying 49 per cent stake in Air India, a senior official in the ministry of civil aviation said.

Last year, the government had given its nod for the disinvestment of Air India.

The expression of interest from a private entity came weeks after the Union Cabinet allowed foreign investments, including from foreign airlines, to up to 49 per cent in Air India.

However, the substantial ownership and effective control of the airline will have to be vested in an Indian national.

"A foreign entity has submitted an unsolicited expression of interest for 49 per cent stake in Air India," Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation said.

The official, however, did not comment on whether the entity was a foreign airline.

The call for expression of interest for Air India's disinvestment is also likely to be issued by the government shortly.

Among the foreign carriers, Singapore Airlines has said it would keep its options open on Air India disinvestment.

IndiGo is so far the only other entity which has formally expressed interest in buying stakes in the national carrier, particularly, its international operations.

Aviation services providers Celebi and Bird Group have also evinced interest in the ground-handling arm of Air India -- Air India Air Transport Services Limited (AIATSL).

The Union Cabinet has formed an inter-ministerial group to chalk out a strategy for Air India's stake sale.

As on September last year, the national carrier has a debt of Rs 51,890 crore.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Centre today said more than half of the road projects sanctioned under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special Bihar package had taken off and work was likely to commence on the remaining ones soon.

"Road projects under the special package are 65 in number and involve a total cost of Rs 55,000 crore. Of these, 36 worth Rs 22,000 crore have taken off while DPRs have been submitted for another nine. The state government has said that DPRs will be submitted for the remaining 20," Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari told reporters.

Modi had announced a Rs 1.25-lakh crore package for the state in 2015, shortly before Bihar went to assembly polls. Expectations have been high with regard to implementation of the package following Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's return to the BJP-led NDA last year.

Gadkari was speaking to journalists in the presence of Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and other top officials of the state after holding detailed discussions on projects relating to roads and Ganga rejuvenation.

The Union Minister also said that "during the meeting with the chief minister and other senior functionaries of the state government, we agreed for handing over construction of a number of roads to the National Highway Authority of India, including a 552-km-long stretch along the Indo-Nepal border".

"A proposed new bridge on the Ganges, parallel to the Vikramshila Setu in Bhagalpur, and speedy repair of the Mahatma Gandhi Setu in Patna also figured during the day's discussions. So did the Patna Ring Road project," Gadkari said.

Gadkari, who also holds Shipping and Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation portfolios, said, "A total of 97 projects have been sanctioned under Namami Gange. Out of these, work has started on 87. Namami Gange is a huge challenge. It involves curbing the discharge of effluent in nine cities, most notably Kanpur, as well as in some 4,500 villages situated along the river.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Mahatma Gandhi was a "casteist and racist" who wanted to preserve the caste system and paid lip service to Dalit upliftment for political gain, Indian American writer Sujatha Gidla said here today.

Gandhi only wished to "prettify" the caste system, the New York based Dalit writer said at the Jaipur Literature Festival.

"How could one say Gandhi was an anti-caste man? He really wanted to preserve the caste system, and why he paid lip service to the upliftment of untouchables is because Hindus needed a majority against Muslims for political representation in the British government.

"That was the only reason Hindu leaders ever took up caste issues," Gidla said.

The author of "Ant Among Elephants: An Untouchable Family and The Making of Modern India" was speaking at a session titled, "Narratives of Power, Songs of Resistance".

To validate her argument, she recalled an episode from the political leader's time in South Africa where he said "black" people were "kafirs" and "losers".

"In Africa, when they were fighting against the British for instituting the passport... he said, 'Indians are hard working people, they should not be required to carry these things. But, black people are kafirs, losers and they are lazy, yes, they can carry their passport but why should we do that'?" she recounted.

"Gandhi was very casteist and racist indeed and any redblooded untouchable will know what Gandhi's real intentions were," she added.

Gidla, also took a dig at contemporary Indian Dalit leaders like Mayawati and Jignesh Mevani who, she said, have "chosen to work under the framework of electoral politics".

The author, who now works as a conductor in the US subway, said a parliamentary party like the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) can only work for the Dalit community from within the limited framework they choose to operate in.

"Everyone says BSP has given rights to untouchables, it gave them self-confidence and dignity. But really nothing came out of it. Mayawati made herself very very rich, her brother made himself very very rich. And that is all that happened to Dalits," she said.

Gidla moved to New York City with first-hand experience of differential treatment of untouchables in India.

While she "applauded" Mevani's sincerity, she also accused the young Dalit leader of "empty rhetoric".

"Jignesh Mevani right now seems militant and his protest against Una flogging are very admirable but then again he has chosen to work under the framework of electoral politics and there is only so much he can do from within it.

Gidla did not spare the opposition either.

Taking a dig at the Congress, she said the party was not different from the ruling dispensation and was in fact the "pioneer of communalism".

"Congress or any other party that ruled before BJP was not different from Modi. Just like in the US, the democrats are really not different from Trump... Congress is shy about their communalism. But Congress was the pioneer of communalism," she said.

She cited the 1984 storming of the Golden Temple, and the subsequent riots following the assassination of Indira Gandhi in Delhi in which over 3,000 Sikhs were massacred.

"It was communal. And Congress was the one that did it. Not BJP," she said.

"So the only difference between them and BJP is that BJP is open about it, Modi is open about his communalism," she added.

Gidla was joined by Jovan Mays, a poet from the US, who talked about the condition of Black Americans over the years, while drawing a parallel to the Dalit situation in India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)President Ram Nath Kovind today said that the government was ready for a dialogue with anyone who shunned violence and reposed faith in the Constitution.

In his maiden address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, Kovind also said terrorist violence in the interiors of Jammu and Kashmir is directly related to cross- border infiltration.

"With better coordination, our Army, Paramilitary forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police are giving a befitting response to the perpetrators," he said.

The President said security situation in Naxal-affected areas and insurgency-hit Northeastern states has improved significantly.

"My government has kept open the path of dialogue with those who wish to shun violence and join the mainstream, while reposing faith in the Constitution of India," he said.

The Centre has already appointed a representative, Dineshwar Sharma, to hold dialogue with all stake holders in Jammu and Kashmir.

Kovind said due to regular efforts of the central and state governments, there has been a significant improvement in internal security of the country.

"The Northeast has also witnessed an improvement in the security situation. There has been a reduction in incidents of Naxal-Maoist violence. For this, the enlightened citizens of the region, our military, paramilitary and police forces deserve to be congratulated," he said.

The president said in the past three years, maximum number of youth influenced by the Naxal-Maoist ideology, have surrendered and joined the main stream.

Paying heartfelt tribute to the martyrs of the security forces, he said the government has also recently sanctioned a scheme of more than Rs 18,000 crore for the modernisation of police forces.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Maharashtra government today informed the Bombay High Court that it would soon take a policy decision on whether women-related offences lodged after December 2009 would fall under the Manodhairya Yojana of 2013 or the new scheme of last year.

Under the Manodhairya scheme of October 2013, the victims of acid attacks and rape cases were liable for monetary compensation up to Rs 3 lakh.

But, after facing flak from the high court, the state government in December last year came up with a revised scheme under which the monetary compensation was increased to up to Rs 10 lakh.

The government, however, said the new scheme would not be with retrospective effect.

Additional government pleader Neha Bhide told a division bench of Justices R M Borde and R G Ketkar that the 2013 scheme covered cases lodged after December 31, 2009.

"A separate policy decision will now be taken on the cut-off date for the new scheme. This policy decision will also decide whether the cases lodged after December 31, 2009 will be covered under the October 2013 scheme or the revised scheme of December 2017," Bhide said.

The bench was hearing a bunch of petitions, including that of an acid attack victim, claiming that she has not been awarded compensation under the scheme.

Bhide also informed the high court that the acid attack victim has been paid Rs 6 lakh as compensation and medical expenses.

However, the victim's lawyer argued that she should now be considered under the revised scheme of 2017.

The bench has posted the matter for further hearing on February 6.

Under the scheme, apart from monetary compensation and medical expenses, counselling and vocational training would also be provided to the women, if required.

According to the revised scheme, a relief of Rs 10 lakh  will be provided in rape cases where the victim suffers mental retardation or incurs permanent physical or mental disability, in gang rape cases, minor victims of sexual assaults and acid attack cases.

In a rape case, which leads to the death of a woman, the legal heir will get Rs 10 lakh, as per the scheme.

Under the revised scheme, the State Legal Services Authority has been authorised to receive applications seeking compensation.

It will also take a decision on how much compensation should be awarded to the victim.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Madras High Court today directed the technical regulator AICTE not to take any punitive action against certain deemed-to-be universities in Tamil Nadu which have not responded to its notice seeking applications for approval of courses for 2018-19.

Justice R Mahadevan passed the interim order effective for two weeks when a batch of petitions, including those from the Vellore Institute of Technology and Veltech Deemed University, came up for hearing.

The petitioners prayed the court to declare as unconstitutional and ultra vires of the University Grants Commission Act the public notice issued by the All India Council for Technical (AICTE) last year and as inapplicable to them.

They contended that they were governed by the UGC and AICTE had no power to ask them to seek approval as new institutions.

VIT's counsel submitted that the AICTE vide its notice has invited applications for approval from all the existing and proposed technical institutions for conducting technical programmes/courses, including course of management for 2018-19 academic year.

The last date for submitting applications by new institutions was January 31.

The notice stated that deemed-to-be universities seeking approval for the first time from the AICTE (in compliance with a Supreme Court order of November 3, 2017) should submit an application as a new technical institution.

The counsel contended that the apex court order was applicable only to institutions offering technical course degrees awarded by the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode and not the deemed-to-be universities.

Veltech Deemed University submitted that after being declared a deemed-to-be university, it was functioning under the guidelines of the UGC which along with the Human Resources Development Ministry was monitoring its activities.

Hence, the AICTE has no power to seek its approval by the petitioner university as a new one, counsel for the university argued.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Calcutta High Court today rejected a bail petition of an accused in the 2002 American Center terror attack case.

A division bench comprising Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice Pratik Prakash Banerjee rejected the bail prayer of Hasnu Zubair Ahmed alias Hasan Imam, who was arrested in October, 2016.

Hasan was allegedly a member of the Asif Raza Commando Force that had carried out the attack at the American Center here on January 22, 2002, killing five police personnel and injuring several others.

His counsel prayed for bail claiming that since the case diary was before the Supreme Court in connection with a petition related to another accused in the case, Hasan's trial before the sessions court here has remained suspended.

Claiming that Hasan's right to freedom was being hampered for no fault of his, the counsel prayed that he be released on bail.

Opposing the bail prayer, state counsel N Ahmed submitted that the accused had links with terror outfit Harkat-ul-Jihadi-e-Islam and releasing him on bail at this stage would go against national security.

He also submitted that Hasan absconded for 14 years and was arrested by the Gujarat STF from Aurangabad district of Bihar in October, 2016 and subsequently handed over to the STF of Kolkata Police.

The accused is at present lodged in Alipore Correctional Home.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Delhi High Court today termed the recent attacks on properties of three advocates as "startling" and sought action taken report from the Delhi Police on the issue.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar directed that the report should be filed under the signature of a senior police officer, which shall be shown to the Delhi Police commissioner.

It directed that the report should be filed in two days as the incident warrants swift and necessary action.

"It is a matter of deep pain as the incidents could have caused loss to the life and property of the lawyers," the bench said, while expressing anguish over delay in probing the incidents.

It said, "The incidents were startling and worrying as these happened to lawyers who defend the litigants."



The court' direction came while initiating the proceeding on its own after taking note of the fact that lawyers abstained from the work on January 25 in view of the attacks.

The executive committee of the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) had on January 24 passed a resolution condemning the January 9 and 22 attacks on the properties and cars of senior advocates Vikas Pahwa and Kirti Uppal, who is also the president of the DHCBA, by using inflammable substances.

A similar incident took place on January 4 when the two cars-- a Maruti Swift and a Honda Amaze-- parked in the east Delhi house of advocate Ravi Sharma were allegedly torched by unidentified persons.

Separate FIRs have been lodged by thepolice which said the three lawyers were representing a woman colleague in the Delhi High Court in a property dispute with her relatives.

The woman lawyer, against whom a stalking case was lodged, was also allegedly dragged out of her residence by the police to arrest her despite court orders against coercive action.

According to the police, attempts to set ablaze Pahwa's Greater Kailash office building and cars were made on January 9.

On January 22, Uppal's Hyundai Tucson car that was parked outside his house in south Delhi's Nizamuddin West, was set on fire by unidentified miscreants.

Meanwhile, a plea has been moved before the high court seeking a court-monitored SIT probe into the attacks on the lawyers, besides guildelines for advocates' security.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Delhi High Court today expressed apprehension over the safety of people in their homes in the national capital, saying that an "arsonist is on the loose throwing fire bombs and setting cars ablaze".

The remarks were made by the court during the hearing of a petition relating to a woman lawyer's assault by the police in a stalking case against her in connection with a property dispute.

There was high drama during the proceedings as some advocates beat up an unidentified man suspecting him to behind the recent attacks on lawyers.

A senior lawyers, who have been representing the woman, have been at the receiving end of arson attacks at their homes and the cars of two of them were set ablaze.

According to court staff, the bench of justices Siddharth Mridul and Deepa Sharma had risen for a five-minute break when some of the advocates present in the court beat up the man.

Lawyers said the man did not state how he entered the court premises and alleged his face resembled that of the arsonist who was caught on CCTV footage throwing a fire bomb at one of the senior lawyers' home.

After returning from the break, the judges expressed serious concern over the incident and said that the court room cannot be turned into an "akhaada" (wrestling ground).

They also rapped the police for not maintaining law and order in the court as well as in the city in view of the arson attacks on lawyers, including president of the Delhi High Court Bar Association Kirti Uppal.

"If you (police) are unable to handle law and order, let us know. We cannot allow the court to turn into an 'akhaada'. We are not going to permit this," the bench said and questioned "is anybody safe?"



"We are concerned that there is an arsonist on the loose in the national capital throwing fire bombs and setting cars ablaze," the bench said.

It also asked the registrar general of the high court to look into how unauthorised people were entering court premises.

The court was also unhappy that no FIR had been lodged till date in connection with an assault on the woman lawyer by police officers on December 19 last year.

The court said it would continue with the hearing.

Earlier in the day, it termed the recent attacks on properties of three advocates as "startling" and sought an action taken report from the Delhi Police on the issue.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar sought the report in two days, saying the incident warrants swift and necessary action.

The court' direction came while initiating the proceeding on its own after taking note of the fact that lawyers abstained from the work on January 25 in view of the attacks.

The high court bar association had on January 24 passed a resolution condemning the January 9 and 22 attacks on the properties and cars of senior advocates Vikas Pahwa and Kirti Uppal, who is also the president of the DHCBA, by using an inflammable substance.

A similar incident took place on January 4 when the two cars-- a Maruti Swift and a Honda Amaze-- parked in the east Delhi house of advocate Ravi Sharma were allegedly torched by unidentified persons.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Irked over the "misleading statements" made by self-styled Godman Nithyananda, the Madras High Court today warned that it would issue an arrest warrant against him if he failed to rectify the wrongs by January 31.

Justice R Mahadevan made the observation while hearing a plea by M Jagathalapradhapan, seeking a direction to the Tamil Nadu government to take appropriate action against Nithyananda and protect the Madurai Adheenam (Mutt head).

Nithyananda was briefly appointed to head the ancient Saivite mutt in October, 2012.

The petitioner also sought a direction from the court to permanently prevent Nithyananda from interfering in the affairs of the mutt.

When the plea came up for hearing, Justice Mahadevan noticed that the godman had failed to rectify the misleading statements in his affidavit even after repeated warnings.

The judge initially directed the police present in the court to arrest Nithyananda and produce him in court tomorrow, but withdrew it after the self-styled godman's counsel sought to spare his arrest for one day and assured that all the mistakes would be rectified by January 31.

The judge then adjourned the case to that date.

Earlier, the court also ordered seizure of a cellphone used by one of the disciples of the godman, who was found passing messages about the proceedings from the court.

The judge directed police to secure the person and verify whether he had passed any information about the proceedings or recorded the same.

The cellphone used by the disciple was directed to be kept in the custody of the court registry until further orders.

In December 2017, the court had passed interim orders restraining Nithyananda and his disciples from entering the Madurai Aadheenam till further orders.

During the course of the hearing, the court had found that Nithyananda made false and misleading statements through an affidavit.

Though the court had warned the counsel for the godman for such acts and directed him to file an affidavit admitting the mistake and make proper changes to the statement, the godman failed to comply.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Heavy penalties should be imposed for burning agricultural waste, and more incentive for farmers is needed to prevent alarmingly poor air quality in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas, the Economic Survey said today.

Besides, implementation of congestion pricing, expansion of public buses, phasing out of old vehicles as also coordination across agencies and governments can prevent the city turning into a gas chamber, especially during winters, the survey noted.

"The farmers mainly from Northern India set their paddy fields on fire after harvesting. The resultant smoke, however, gets carried by winds all the way to Delhi and beyond, adding to the existing suspended particulate matter (SPM) and noxious substances that clog lungs and leave behind a near eclipsed sun," the survey tabled in Parliament said.

Citing various reports according to which Delhi accounts for one of the unhealthiest cities in the world in terms of air pollution, the survey said effective actions suggested by National Green Tribunal, the Supreme Court and others call for strict enforcement through heavy penalties on agricultural waste burning and incentive payments to farmers.

The survey noted that some 35 million tonnes of rice paddy in three adjoining states (Punjab, Haryana and Western UP) are burnt in late October, whose plumes drift eastward, and seasonal load from other sources, including fire crackers during Diwali are top reasons for Delhi's poor air quality.

Besides, vehicular emissions add about 23-28 per cent from trucks, buses, cars, three-wheelers and two-wheelers.

Diesel particulates have higher share in the vehicular category and are especially dangerous, the survey said, adding that dust particles from construction activity, concentrated in and neighbouring NCR areas add further pollution which gets compounded by power plants and industrial pollution.

Suggesting ways to curb air pollution, the survey called for use of technologies to convert agricultural waste into usable concentrated fodder or bio-fuels, development and implementation of business models with private sector and communities and incentives for shifting to non-paddy crops, among others.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A 30-year-old Indian-origin software engineer was found dead in the US state of Texas, according to officials.

Venkannagari Krishna Chaitanya, who moved to the US three years ago, was living as a paying guest in Arlington, a suburb of Dallas in Texas, sources at the Indian Consulate said.

When Chaitanya did not came out of his room for a long time, his landlord broke in and found his body.

Chaitanya was working in Cognizant Technologies on a Southeast Airlines project.

The authorities in the US have informed Chaitanya's family in Telangana about his death.

"We are in touch with the family in India and coordinating transportation of the mortal remains to India as soon as possible," Houston Consulate General Anupam Ray's office sources told PTI.

The cause of Chaitanya's death is "not known", sources at the Houston Consulate said, adding that his body has been sent for postmortem.Indonesian police forcibly cut the hair of a group of transgender women and made them wear male clothing, authorities said today, amid a crackdown on the LGBT community in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation.

The incident happened after police yesterday raided several beauty salons in conservative Aceh province and rounded up a dozen transgender employees over claims they had teased a group of boys.

Police accused the employees of violating the province's religious laws.

Dozens of locals tried to attack the group of beauticians as they were hauled off to the police station, but they were pushed back by authorities, they said.

Police then lopped off some members' long hair with scissors as well as forcing the group to wear male clothing and speak in a masculine voice.

"We have reports from mothers that their sons were teased by the transgender women," local police chief Ahmad Untung Surianata told AFP Monday.

"Their numbers are growing here -- I don't want that," he added.

Aceh on Sumatra island has been ruled by Islamic law since it was granted special autonomy in 2001 -- an attempt by the central government to quell a long-running separatist insurgency.

This month a Christian was publicly flogged for selling alcohol in the conservative region, making him only the third non-Muslim in Indonesia to suffer a public whipping.

Flogging is a common punishment under Aceh's religious law and local police are also known to shave the heads of those accused of anti-social behaviour.

The transgender women would be detained for several days followed by a five-day "training" regimen including efforts to make them walk and speak in a more "manly" way, as well as "morals teaching" by local clerics, police said.

"We want to change their mentality so they can be better people," Surianata said.

Homosexuality and gay sex are legal everywhere in Indonesia except in Aceh.

But police have often used the country's tough anti- pornography legislation to criminalise members of the LGBT community, and there have been a recent string of arrests.

Prejudice against transgender people has long been widespread in Indonesia but the discrimination is particularly acute in Aceh where Islamic law rules.

"It's very strange that officers (in Sunday's incident) would arrest innocent people and cut off their hair," said gay rights activist Hartoyo, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Islamic State militants attacked Afghan soldiers guarding a military academy in the capital on today, killing at least 11 troops and wounding 16.

The attack, which began before dawn and continued well past daybreak, was the latest in a wave of relentless violence in Kabul this month unleashed by the Taliban and the rival Islamic State group that has killed scores and left hundreds wounded.

President Donald Trump condemned the recent spate of violence, saying "innocent people are being killed left and right," including children.

After previously expressing support for Afghan efforts to reach a political settlement with the insurgent group, Trump said "there's no talking to the Taliban."



Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said a suicide bomber struck the military unit guarding the academy, setting off a gunbattle. Two of the attackers were killed in the gunbattle, two detonated their suicide vests and one was arrested by the troops, he said.

Waziri confirmed that 11 soldiers were killed. He said "the attack was against an army unit providing security for the academy and not the academy itself."



The Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan, which calls itself Khorasan Province, claimed the attack in a statement carried by its Aamaq agency, saying its fighters targeted the academy.

The academy, known as Marshal Fahim National Defense University, is sometimes called "Sandhurst in the Sand" a reference to the British academy. Named after Mohammed Fahim, the country's late vice president and a military commander of the Northern Alliance that fought the Taliban, the academy was inaugurated in 2013 after British forces oversaw the development of its officers' school and its training program.

The academy was also the site where the highest-ranking US military officer to be killed in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq lost his life, in August 2014.

Army Maj Gen Harold J Greene, then deputy commander of the transition force in the country, was shot and killed by an Afghan soldier in a so-called "insider attack" that was later claimed by the Taliban.

The same academy was also attacked in October last year by a suicide bomber who killed 15 officers. The attacker was on foot and detonated his suicide vest as the on-duty officers were leaving the facility. That attack was also claimed by the Taliban.

President Ashraf Ghani denounced Monday's attack, saying the "Taliban must choose between Islam and terrorism."



Neighboring Pakistan also condemned Monday's attack, saying it "reiterates its strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, especially the series of heinous attacks within the last week in Afghanistan."



Both the Taliban and IS have stepped up attacks in recent weeks, in what analysts say is a campaign of violence intended to undermine the U.S.-backed government.

On Saturday, a Taliban attacker drove an ambulance filled with explosives into the heart of the city, killing at least 103 people and wounding as many as 235.

The Taliban claimed the ambulance attack, as well as an attack a week earlier in which 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 hotel attack. A sixth suspect had fled the country, he said.

He also said that four people have been arrested in connection with Saturday's ambulance attack.

The recent attacks have underscored the weaknesses of Afghan security forces more than 16 years after the U.S.-led invasion toppled the Taliban.

They also raise questions about Trump's strategy for winning America's longest war, which was announced in August but has changed little on the ground. That strategy was based on ramping up military pressure on the Taliban to eventually force them into peace talks with the government.

But in a meeting with visiting ambassadors on Monday, Trump said "we don't want to talk with the Taliban."



The Taliban have been waging an insurgency since they were driven from power by U.S. and Afghan forces after the Sept. 11 attacks. In recent years, they have seized districts across the country and carried out near-daily attacks, mainly targeting Afghan security forces and the US-backed government.

They say they are open to direct peace talks with the United States, something Washington has long rejected.

The Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan emerged in 2014, as the US and NATO were winding down their combat mission and around the time that IS declared its self-styled Islamic caliphate, headquartered in Syria and Iraq.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Israel witnessed 31 per cent growth in footfalls from India in 2017, an all-time high, with around 60,000 Indian tourists visiting the country and is eyeing one lakh by the end of this year.

In 2016, about 45,000 Indians visited Israel, according to the statistics released by Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT).

"2017 has been outstanding and by far the best year for Israel tourism in India and worldwide. By October, 2017 we already saw 49,000 Indians arrive in Israel, breaking previous records, and we were positive to close the year with 60,000 travelers to Israel from India," Israel Ministry of Tourism Director -India and Philippines -Hassan Madah said.

With over 20 million outbound tourists a year, India has been an important market for Israel and the country has witnessed constant growth in the arrivals from the Indian market over the last four years, he added.

"Introducing initiatives, including easing of the visa process, and with airlines in India and Israel expressing interest to increase connectivity between the countries, I am confident that this growth will help us achieve one lakh Indian arrivals in 2018," he added.

He said, the Ministry of Tourism along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to facilitate some changes for Indian travellers. This includes relaxing some visa requirements for Indians who have completed travel to any Schengen countries, US, Canada, Australia or Israel, and express visa services through VFS.

Israel is actively exploring Bollywood as a means of promoting tourism in India, Madah said.

The country had recently witnessed its first ever Bollywood collaboration, the Ministry of Tourism partnered with Dharma Productions, to shoot a song in Tel Aviv and Jaffa for their upcoming, he added.

In 2017, Bollywood filmmakers Imtiaz Ali and Vishesh Bhatt, along with a few others, also visited the country to explore co-production possibilities while Ali Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor and Ayan Mukherjee visited Israel to begin preparations for their upcoming movie.

Israels national airline El Al recently announced to increase its direct flight frequency between India and Israel.

Air India and Arkia have also expressed interest to begin operations soon and introduce direct flights between Israel and India. Currently there are four direct flights weekly connecting Mumbai and Tel Aviv.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)National Conference working president Omar Abdullah today assured his party's full support to the PDP-BJP government in putting an end to violence and bloodshed in Jammu and Kashmir and suggested an all-party meet to discuss the prevailing law-and-order situation.

At a discussion in the Assembly over death of two civilians in an alleged firing by security forces in Shopian district on Saturday, he said, "We have to come together in this House so that a strong message is sent outside that there is enough of bloodshed and we have to stop it."



"Make an attempt, because you (CM Mehbooba Mufti) are the leader of the House. I assure you that whatever you require in terms of support from us that we are able to end this cycle of bloodshed and violence, the NC will support any step you take so that we can put an end to having to intervene like this," Abdullah said.

Suggesting an all-party meeting to discuss the prevailing law-and-order situation, the NC legislative party leader said, "Either you sit somewhere (with your coalition partner) or call us as well... we have to stop this cycle (of bloodshed and violence)."



"I want to convey my assurance on behalf of my party and if you have any step in your mind, we are ready to join you and walk with you with a purpose that killing of innocents is put to an end," Abdullah said.

He said, "Today's discussion is not meant to point fingers at each other... is not from our side but is being played within the coalition. Please leave such as we do not want to play politics and you should not do it as well."



Questioning ordering of a magisterial inquiry as well as registration of an FIR against Army personnel in the Shopian incident, Abdullah said confusing signals are being sent out.

"On one hand, magisterial inquiry was ordered and simultaneously, an FIR was lodged against the Army in which a Major and some personnel were named," he said, adding if the FIR had been lodged against unknown persons, the importance of magisterial inquiry would have remained intact.

"If we know in advance the people involved and a case of murder and attempt to murder is registered, then what is the need for magisterial inquiry," Abdullah asked



If the government is sure about the personnel, then let the police take a call as the FIR becomes the primary document, he said and asserted that two precious lives have been lost and they must be given justice.

"Today, there is no weakness in the central government. Your government has no problem. I have held this (CM's) chair as well and probably, you have much more regret over such killings than us," he said, adding, "We need to take such steps which will ensure an end to such things."



Referring to the Machil incident, the former chief minister said, "Accountability, which we want to bring in the process, was being reversed slowly."



In July last year, an armed forces tribunal suspended the life sentence given to five army personnel by a court martial for allegedly staging the killing of three Kashmiri men on the intervening night of April 29 and 30 in 2010 in Macchil sector in Jammu and Kashmir had triggered wide-spread outrage and violence in the state.

"Take the example of Machil, the court martial awarded sentence to the guilty after legally recognised process and later it was given a reverse gear," he said.

This has led to a sense of impunity that "whatever we do, if found guilty, we will not be punished," the NC working president alleged.

"Those who were killed (in Shopian) were not hit in the leg and died of excessive bleedings, they were shot in the upper parts and there was no attempt to stop people," he alleged.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Jammu and Kashmir government has constituted a committee headed by the state chief secretary to study the scope and definition of horticulture as envisaged by the Centre and other states of the country.

As per a order issued by General Administrative Department (GAD), the committee headed by the chief secretary with administrative secretary finance; administrative secretary planning and monitoring; and administrative secretary horticulture departments as members will study the scope, definition of horticulture in Government of India and other states.

It will bring the state horticulture department at par with the national framework and to facilitate correct assessment of growth in the sector, for improved perspective planning and harnessing vast potential in the sector, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Making an about-turn over its decision to hold panchayat polls in the state next month, the Jammu and Kashmir government today decided to call an all-party meet before making a final announcement on the matter.

The decision was taken in the cabinet meeting held here, Abdul Rehman Veeri, parliamentary affairs minister, informed the legislative council.

Abdul Haq Khan, state rural development minister, will call an all-party meeting and discuss the issue with the leaders of all political parties, Veeri said.

The state government had decided on December 26 last year to hold the much-awaited panchayat elections from February 15, after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti held a meeting with Governor N N Vohra.

Two days later, separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, in a joint statement, called for a boycott of the panchayat elections.

The militant-outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen, had last month threatened to pour acid on the eyes of those who took part in the elections.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said today it was her government's duty to take the investigation in the Shopian incident, where two civilians were killed allegedly in Army firing, to a logical conclusion.

Defending her government's decision to lodge an FIR against the personnel involved in the incident, Mufti said she did not believe the action would have a demoralising effect on the force.

Terming the incident a "setback" to the political process, Mufti said she spoken about it to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who asked her to take the required action in case there was "carelessness".

She was addressing the state Assembly which saw repeated interruptions by the opposition, which moved an adjournment motion over the killing of two civilians in south Kashmir's Shopian district on Saturday.

The J&K Police had yesterday registered an FIR under sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Ranbir Penal Code against personnel of the 10, Garhwal unit, of the Army.

"I do not accept that the Army gets demoralised by such actions. The Army is an institution and has done a wonderful job. But a black sheep can be anywhere... Among judges there can be black sheep, but we can't paint every one with the same brush," Mufti said.

She said if somebody commits a mistake, he should be punished as such a course only brings laurels to the institution.

"If some Army officer has committed a mistake, an FIR has been lodged and it is the duty of the government to take it to a logical conclusion," Mufti said.

Giving details, she said two militants and a civilian were killed in an encounter on January 24. "The police asked the Army to not pass through the village as one of the militants killed in the encounter was its resident. The Army, because of some compulsion, took the route but their vehicles came under stone pelting resulting in the killing of two civilians in the firing," she said.

It isa "big issue", Mufti, who leads a PDP-BJP coalition in the state, said.

Every now and then we have "unfortunate" incidents that should not have happened, she added.

"We are asking the Army and other security forces to maintain utmost restraint but it is also a fact that unlike in the past when villages used to get deserted if there was an encounter, or even a fake encounter, now hundreds indulge in stone pelting on security forces when an encounter breaks out," she said.

Mufti said that whether at Unified Command meetings or elsewhere, she always advocated restraint in dealing with civilians. I asked the forces to resort to aerial firing instead of direct firing if they have no other option, she said.

The government is on the back foot due to such killings and it is of no benefit to us, she said.

I talked to the Union defence minister immediately after learning about the incident and she was positive in her response, Mufti told the House.

"She said if you feel there is carelessness (on the part of the Army), you take whatever action you want to take. Subsequently, we lodged an FIR and ordered a magisterial probe," the chief minister said.

During the course of her speech, Congress legislature party leader Nawang Rigzin Jora interrupted Mufti twice after she claimed that the UPA's ten years saw no progress on the Kashmir issue. The Congress leader questioned Mufti on what stopped her from carrying the initiatives forward.

Mufti lauded initiatives taken by BJP prime ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi for restoring peace in Jammu and Kashmir and normalising relations with Pakistan. Modi has taken over from where Vajpayee left, she said.

She praised the Centre for "serious initiatives" on Kashmir and asked opposition members to maintain consistency on dialogue, relations with Pakistan etc.

"We can't afford confrontation with Pakistan because we suffer a lot and I am feeling happy when there is any indication of back channel dialogue between the two countries," she said.

Mufti faced another interruption when National Conference legislature party leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah rose from his seat after she claimed that he had once said that youth pelting stones on security bunkers were committing suicide.

"I never said such a thing but had cited the example of a youth arrested for stone pelting who said he was fed up with life after a girl rejected him. His friends told him it is a sin to commit suicide. The youth claimed he was pelting stones so that they fire and he die a martyr's death," Abdullah said.

He accused Mufti of playing over "dead bodies".

"I dont believe in playing over dead bodies. I pray to Allah to keep me away from such a thing but the chief minister can only play over dead bodies," he alleged.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A US judge today ordered release of leading Indian-descent immigrant rights activist Ravi Ragbir from custody, granting him a temporary reprieve from deportation to his native Trinidad and Tobago, according to a media report.

Ragbir, 43, was arrested on January 12 during a routine check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and ordered immediate deportation, irking local community in New York.

In a seven-page decision, Manhattan Federal Court Judge Katherine Forrest wrote that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had violated Ragbir's rights to due process, New York Daily reported.

"The court finds that when this country allowed (Ragbir) to become a part of our community fabric, allowed him to build a life with and among us and to enjoy the liberties and freedom that come with that, it committed itself to allowance of an orderly departure when the time came, and it committed itself to avoidance of unnecessary cruelty when the time came," Forrest wrote.

"By denying (Ragbir) these rights, the government has acted wrongly," Forrest added.

She wrote that Ragbir was "entitled to the freedom to say goodbye" indicating the activist still faces eventual deportation.

As Forrest announced her decision, some in the courtroom erupted in applause.

According to New York Immigration Coalition, Ragbir has lived with the threat of deportation for nearly a decade, as the result of a 16-year old conviction for wire fraud.

He was placed into removal proceedings in 2006 and spent 22 months in immigration detention before being released in February 2008.

During immigration detention and since his release, Ragbir has worked tirelessly to end the use of immigration detention, stop deportations, and secure relief for countless individuals.

Previously, ICE officials had granted Ragbir prosecutorial discretion, including a stay of removal that was in effect until next week.

Known as a fixture in the immigrant rights movement, Ragbir was awarded the 2017 Immigrant Excellence Award by the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators, given to those who show "deep commitment to the enhancement of their community.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)In an embarrassment for the Uttar Pradesh government, Governor Ram Naik today termed the Kasganj communal clash as a "blot" on the state and asked the government to initiate measures to ensure such incidents did not recur.

The governor noted that such an incident had occurred in the state for the first time in the last 9-10 months and described it as "shameful".

District authorities in Kasganj, which witnessed clashes between two communities last week, said the situation was returning to normal even as four more persons were arrested in connection with the violence.

At least three shops, two buses and a car were torched after a youth was killed in clashes following stone-pelting by a mob on a motorcycle rally taken out to celebrate Republic Day.

"Whatever happened in Kasganj was not good. The incident there is a 'kalank' (blot) for UP. The government is probing the incident. It should initiate effective measures to ensure that such incidents are not repeated," he told reporters here.

The governor's remarks came days after Vice President Venakiah Naidu advised the Yogi Adityanath government to improve the law and order in the state.

On asked about the situation in Kasganj, UP government spokesman and senior cabinet minister Sidharth Nath Singh today said he has seen reports that shops are opening now.

The situation is returning to normal, which is a good sign," he said.

Singh attacked the SP and the BSP for blaming the BJP government for the incident.

"Their comments reflect their appeasement towards a particular community. During their regimes, FIRs were not registered but our government will ensure unbiased probe into the matter," he said.

As many as 118 people have been arrested and security forces maintained a strict vigil.

The UP Police said drone cameras had been deployed for aerial surveillance and described the situation as improving.

Kasganj District Magistrate RP Singh today said, "The situation is normal now. A cheque of Rs 20 lakh has been given to family members of Chandan Gupta who died in the incident. His family has demanded martyr status be accorded to him and if they give their letter, it will be forwarded to the government."



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 culprits.

Under the NSA, a person can be detained without bail or trial and authorities need not disclose grounds of detention if they believe the detainee can act in a way that poses a threat to the security of the state/country or the maintenance of public order.

The Yogi Adityanath-led government has stressed that the guilty would not be spared.

The Yogi Adityanath government, which stormed to power in Uttar Pradesh riding a saffron wave nearly a year ago, was recently advised by Naidu to tone up law and order in the state.

Naidu advised Adityanath to take back firearms from people as they were main cause of crime.

"Those who have firearms should return weapons. I want to ask the CM that in UP a large number of people have firearms. This is main cause of crime incidents," Naidu had said at the first UP Diwas event here last week.

He had said "law and order should be top priority".

Meanwhile, Congress Rajya Sabha member Pramod Tiwari has demanded a high-level probe by sitting high court judge into this matter.

"It's certainly a failure of the state government. There should be a high-level probe by a sitting high court judge in this matter," Tiwari said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Actor Kate Winslet said she has bitter regrets over her decision to work with certain "men of power".

The actor won an Oscar for Harvey Weinstein produced film, "The Reader" and worked with Roman Polanksi in "Carnage" and Woody Allen in "Wonder Wheel".

Weinstein has been accused of sexual harassment and in some cases of rape by multiple women in Hollywood. Allegations against him have been the catalyst for the #MeToo and Time's Up movements.

Polanski was charged with drugging and raping a 13-year- old girl and fled the US while Allen's adopted daughter with Mia Farrow has accused him of sexual assault while she was a child. She spoke out against Allen again in a recent TV interview.

Speaking at the London Critics' Circle Film Awards, where she was honoured with Dilys Powell Award for excellence in film, Winslet said, "There are directors, producers and men of power who have for decades been awarded and applauded for their highly regarded work by both this industry and moviegoers alike.

"Indeed, many actors have had flourishing careers due in part to roles played in their films. The message we received for years was that it was the highest compliment to be offered roles by these men."



According to the Telegraph, Winslet said she decided to speak out as staying silent was no longer an option for her.

"As women around the world and from all walks of life marched last weekend, once again joining together to speak out about harassment, exploitation and abuse, I realised that I wouldn't be able to stand here this evening and keep to myself some bitter regrets that I have at poor decisions to work with individuals with whom I wish I had not," she added without naming anyone in particular.

Winslet, who received the award from Jude Law, became emotional and stopped midway. She continued after regaining her composure.

"It has become clear to me that by not saying anything I might be adding to the anguish of many courageous women and men.

"Sexual abuse is a crime. While it rests with the rule of law to pass judgment, it lies with all of us to listen to the smallest of voices and to never stop listening. Also those who do have a voice are becoming afraid to say anything because of intense scrutiny and criticism," she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A group of 65 Khoja Shias from different countries are on a 16-day tour of India to trace the origins of their forefathers who migrated in the 19th century.

Between Janauary 14-17, the group, hailing from East Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, toured Mumbai before leaving for Gujarat to visit Bhavnagar, Kutch, Amreli and Ahmedabad, organisers of the tour said.

The tour has been planned by World Federation of KSIMC (Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Communities), a non-profit body that organises activities for the 1,40,000 strong Khoja community spread across the world.

"Under the Khoja heritage tour, our members had a wonderful Mumbai visit. After touring Gujarat, they will fly to Delhi, Agra and Jaipur before leaving for their respective countries," Assad Virani, manager, World Federation, UK office in India, said.

"The group arrived in Mumbai on January 14 and they first visited Dongri area in south Mumbai, which has been the epicentre for Khoja Shias in the city," said Ali Akbar Shroff, secretary of the council of All-KSI Jamat India Federation.

He added that the group visited the Khoja graveyard in Mazgaon and the Nazarali Imambargha in Kurla.

Describing how the tour began, educationist and the federation's first executive councillor from India, Javed Shroff, said, "The former president of the World Federation of Khoja Shias, US-based Hasnain Walji sparked interest in the community's heritage. After I pioneered in setting up the World Federation in Dongri in 2011, Walji made 'The Khojas: A Journey in Faith', a documentary capturing the story of the Khojas' search for their roots in India, and this started giving shape to the tour."



Sharing his experience, Mohsin Dhalla, a participant from Toronto, said, "It was an unforgettable experience. We connected with out roots in this country that goes back centuries. Walking on the same soil as our ancestors, breathing and feeling the culture, we once again bonded with the umbilical cord that now unites us globally.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The 17th century Raghunath temple of Kullu in Himachal Pradesh will remain a royal family property with the Supreme Court today disposing of a plea challenging a high court order rejecting a petition against a state government order for taking its control.

The newly formed BJP government in the state told the apex court that it has reversed the decision of the previous government for taking over the control of the temple.

Disposing of the petition, a bench of justices R K Agrawal and A M Sapre said that since the state government has reversed the decision, the plea has become infructous



The court, however, said that the petition challenging the status of the shrine can always be filed, if fresh cause of action arises.

Advocate Ajay Marwah, appearing for the state, said that the government took the decision as it was a private property.

He said that by way of a subsequent notification on January 8, 2018, the government omitted Shri Raghunathji temple from schedule-1 of Himachal Pradesh Hindu Public Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Act, 1984.

Former BJP MP Maheshwar Singh, the scion of the royal family of Kullu, had challenged the order of August 31 last year of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in the apex court, saying there was a clear cut finding that the temple was a private property.

Singh had contended that this temple was established by his ancestors for a specific purpose that there was a "curse by a Brahmin" and to get rid of that curse, an idol of Lord Rama was brought from Ayodhaya.

He had claimed that the temple of Shri Raghunathji was built and established by late Raja Jagat Singh, who during the years 1637 to 1672 AD was reigning the Kingdom at Kullu and the reasons for establishing the temple and installing the idol of Shri Raghunathji (Rama) along with idol of Sita Mata, was contained in the history of Punjab Hill States.

Singh had said that since the establishment and installation of the idols, the temple was maintained by the king and his successors.

In his plea, he had said, "As per the traditions maintained by the rajas of Kullu, the eldest son of a raja is designated as 'chharibardar' (vice regent) of Lord Raghunathji without any interruption and only he can enter the sanctum sanctorum and no one else."



He had cited an order of 1942 by a trial court at Hoshiarpur, which had held it to be a private property.

The apex court had in September last year stayed the order of the state government for taking over the temple and forming of a trust to manage it.

The high court on August 31 last year had said that the state government's decision cannot be challenged by way of a writ petition and can be adjudicated through a civil suit.

"This petition involves seriously disputed questions of fact and even otherwise the rival claims of the parties are such, which can only be investigated and determined on the basis of evidence, which may be led by the parties in a properly instituted civil suit rather than by a court exercising prerogative of issuing writs," the high court had said while rejecting the petition filed by Singh and without entering into the merits of the case.

Subsequent to the decision of high court, on September 2 last year, the Kullu district administration formed a trust to manage the affairs of the temple.

Then chief minister Virbhadra Singh had argued that the Raghunath temple was public property and the government had the right to acquire it as there were representations from various people after two thefts had taken place in it.

Lord Raghunath is a prominent deity of the Kullu valley and a historic week-long Dussehra festivity is organised every year in its honour.

The state government had given a status of international festival to the festivity as huge numbers of foreigners participated in it.

Palanquins of nearly 300 deities of the Kullu valley come down the hills to pay obeisance to Lord Raghunath during Dussehra, which was observed for the first time in 1660.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Sri Lanka has failed to fulfil its pledge to abolish its draconian anti-terrorism law that gives police sweeping powers to arrest suspects without trial, Human Rights Watch said today, demanding repeal of the law that was widely used during the civil war against the LTTE.

"The Sri Lankan government has been all talk and no action on repealing the reviled Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA)," said HRW Asia director Brad Adams.

The HRW report 'Locked Up Without Evidence: Abuses under Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act' documents previous and ongoing abuses allegedly committed under the PTA, including torture and sexual abuse, forced confessions and systematic denials of due process.

The government of President Maithripala Sirisena promised to abolish the act after it was elected in 2015, but has so far failed to do so.

Drawing on interviews with former detainees, family members and lawyers working on PTA cases, the US-based rights group alleged that the PTA is a "significant contributing factor toward the persistence of torture in Sri Lanka".

It said that the 17 accounts documented in the report represent only a tiny fraction of PTA cases overall, but they "underscore the laws draconian nature and abusive implementation."



The PTA allows arrests without warrant for unspecified unlawful activities, and permits detention for up to 18 months without producing the suspect before a court.

The report said that HRW has received several reports of people detained for a decade or more without access to legal recourse, who were subsequently acquitted or released without charge, yet received no compensation, reparations, or apologies from the government.

Government figures released in July 2017 indicate that 70 prisoners have been held in pretrial detention under the PTA for more than five years, and 12 for over 10 years, the report said.

"Many of those detained under the PTA described being tortured to extract confessions. Of the 17 individuals whose cases are detailed in the report, 11 reported beatings and torture," it said.

The PTA provides immunity for government officials responsible for abuses if deemed to have been acting in good faith or fulfilling an order under the act, which gives broad cover to security force personnel to engage in torture and other abuses, it said.

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention called for an immediate repeal of the PTA, referring to it as a key enabler of abuse.

The European Union also reiterated its call for the PTA to be repealed at an EU-Sri Lanka Joint Commission meeting in January 2018.

"Replacing this draconian counterterrorism law with one that meets international standards should be an urgent priority if the government is serious about protecting human rights," HRW said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Accusing Karnataka of diverting the water of a Mahadayi tributary into the Malaprabha river basin, Goa Assembly's deputy Speaker Michael Lobo has said a resolution against it is likely during the Budget session.

Lobo was speaking to reporters after visiting Kanakumbi in Karnataka with Speaker Pramod Sawant and two other Goa legislators yesterday.

"There is a total diversion of water from Mahadayi tributary at Kanakumbi by Karnataka government by constructing underwater canals. Whatever water is flowing down to Goa from there is just seepage," the deputy speaker said, adding if the diversion was not stopped, the Mahadayi in Goa will run dry.

"We have to move a resolution in the coming Assembly session, opposing the diversion by Karnataka," he said, adding he would move the resolution after consulting the ruling BJP.

The Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal, which is hearing the dispute between Goa and Karnataka over the sharing of the river water, should be asked to inspect the site at Kanakumbi so that it knows the reality, he said.

The dam at Kanakumbi is one of the projects proposed by Karnataka and opposed by Goa.

Lobo said the dispute cannot be resolved through dialogue. "Only the tribunal can provide solution. Whatever has played out in public is just politics," he said, referring to Karnataka's request for bilateral talks.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The AAP today alleged party leaders and volunteers were injured in an "unprovoked" baton- charge by police when they were protesting at Patel Chowk over the ongoing sealing drive by civic bodies.

AAP leader Ashutosh, spokesperson Dilip Pandey and more than 10 volunteers were injured when they tried to march towards Parliament, the party claimed.

"The baton-charge was totally unprovoked. Many of our volunteers were injured," Ashutosh said.

A senior police officer said the AAP did not have permission to protest, especially at a time when prohibitory orders are in place in view of the Parliament session.

He refuted the charge that police used force against the protesting AAP leaders and volunteers, who were later detained.

Municipal corporations in Delhi have undertaken the sealing drive initiated by a Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee.

Commercial premises have been sealed for failing to deposit conversion charges according to provisions in Master Plan 2021.

AAPs Delhi unit convener Gopal Rai said the party had demanded that the conversion charges be waived, but the BJP- ruled MCDs had turned it down.

"The AAP tried to gherao Parliament. But the way the police baton-charged ... A number of people were injured and many taken into police custody. The BJP is using force to crush protests," Rai alleged.

In Parliament, the AAP boycotted the Presidents address over the sealing drive, disqualification of 20 of its MLAs and the Centres decision to relax FDI norms.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Maverick Share Brokers has settled a case related to alleged violation of stock broking norms by paying Rs 5 lakh to Sebi.

It was alleged that, among others, Maverick Share Brokers had acted as the stock broker and counterparty stock broker for various self trades of its client Prefer Abasan, in the scrip of The Byke Hospitality and violated Sebi (Stock Brokers and Sub Brokers) Regulations.

According to a Sebi order, the stock broker had submitted an application to settle the adjudication proceedings, which the regulator had initiated against it for the alleged violations.

The settlement terms proposed by Maverick Share Brokers were placed before Sebi's High Powered Advisory Committee (HPAC). Thereafter, the committee recommended the case for settlement on payment of Rs 5 lakh by the stock broker.

Earlier this month, the stock broker paid the settlement amount following which the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) disposed of the adjudication proceedings.

However, the regulator said if any representation made by Maverick Share Brokers in the settlement proceedings is subsequently discovered to be untrue, it could re-open the case.

Separately, Lokesh Machines and its promoter and director Srinivas Mullapudi have settled a case with Sebi related to alleged disclosure lapses after paying Sebi a little over Rs 4.20 lakh.

OTCO International has also settled a case related to alleged violation of disclosure and investor protection guidelines after paying Rs 2 lakh to Sebi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A mobile application of the three municipal corporations of Delhi was launched today in a bid to enhance engagement of citizens in resolution of grievances and improvement of civic services in the city.

Mobile App 311 was launched by Lt Governor Anil Baijal at the Raj Niwas here, an official release said.

The app can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store and the Apple Store.

"Once downloaded, the app will empower users by giving them locations of nearby public toilets, police stations, metro stations, petrol pumps, parking, hospitals, bus stands, veterinary clinics, libraries, gyms, markets and other places," the SDMC said in a statement.

Citizens would also be able to get in touch with emergency departments like control room, fire, ambulance, disaster management and women helpline, it said.

"The SDMC being the nodal agency has contributed substantially to the launch of the app for the benefit of the residents of the three corporations, which cover 94 per cent of the total area of the capital city," the civic body said.

"Complaints will be lodged with details along with geo- tagged photos. Once a complaint is submitted by citizens in via the 311 App, it will be resolved by the designated officers of that locality identified by the geo-tagged photo. The citizens will be able to check complaint status," it said.

The Mobile App 311 has been integrated with the Swachhta App of the Ministry of Urban Affairs.

"Complaints posted by citizens or from call centre via the 311 App will be pushed to Swachhta App also," the civic body said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Centre's interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma, today called for a "mechanism" to address the issues faced by Kashmiri youth residing in others parts of the country.

Sharma was interacting with over 100 Kashmiri students and youth who are in the city to pursue education. The interaction was organised by Sarhad, a city-based NGO.

Answering a student's query about youth from Kashmir facing an indifferent approach from the local populace as well as authorities, Sharma said it was because of mistrust between people from Kashmir and the rest of the country.

"Today I met the Pune Police Commissioner (Rashmi Shukla) and discussed this issue. I told her that all these youth have come out of their state and they should not feel unsafe. I have suggested to her that police should have interactive sessions with the youth from Jammu and Kashmir so that trust and confidence can be built," Sharma said.

He added that he had suggested the creation of a mechanism by which a youth from Kashmir, if faced with any issue, could call the authorities.

Sharma told the gathering that the Pune Police Commissioner had promised that police would conduct such interactive sessions.

"We are trying to set up such a mechanism all over the country where Kashmiri students are present so that they don't feel alienated. The trust has to come," the former IB director said.

He said these issues cropped up because of mistrust, which he claimed had increased due to the media's negative reporting and some controversial statements made by politicians. He added that the mistrust had to go and it would go slowly.

He also appealed to youth from Jammu and Kashmir to take their local friends to the Valley and show them the real Kashmir. "Barring sporadic incidents, tourists are never targeted in the Valley," he said.

The former IB chief shared his email address with the students and asked them to contact him via email in case they faced problems here.

Asked about harassment of Kashmiri youth at the hands of security forces in the Valley, he said that he had been telling the police, the CRPF and the Army to be firm but equally "polite".

"Checking has to be there as long as security is a concern, but there has to be proper behaviour. We all have to work together to make sure that trust is restored," he added.

He called the youth of the state the real future and added that he had made youth and students his focus when he was appointed as the Centre's interlocutor.

"In the last 20 years, Kashmir has become a more complex issue. All put together, the situation in Kashmir has become complex, but you are the hope and you have to decide how to take the state forward," he said.

Talking about stone pelting cases against the youth in the Valley, he said the cases were withdrawn after he recommended the government to withdraw them.

He added that a political solution could not happen unless there was peace.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)An express train coming from Bhuj in Gujarat to Mumbai's Bandra Terminus today took an unscheduled halt at Boisar station, about 100 kilometres from here, due to an altercation between passengers holding monthly passes and those having reserved seats, a senior Western Railway official said.

The incident took place at Boisar station at 10:10 am when commuters with monthly season tickets (MST) entered the 22956 Bhuj-Bandra express train and began occupying berths alloted to passengers with reserved tickets, he explained.

He added that as the argument between the two groups intensified, some passengers pulled the train's alarm chain, leading to the train halting out of schedule at the station.

"Railway police and Railway Protection Force personnel had to be called in to control the situation and get the train to resume its journey. However, due to the incident, it was delayed by 35 minutes," the official said.

The cascading effect left another suburban train from Dahanu delayed by over 40 minutes, the official said.

He added that a case had been filed with the railway police and investigations were underway.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday after accusing Iran of wanting "to turn Lebanon into one giant missile site".

He made his comments before leaving for Moscow, where he again said Iran wanted to "destroy" the Jewish state.

Netanyahu has held a series of discussions with Putin in recent months on Iran's influence in war-torn Syria and in Lebanon, seeking to persuade Russia to limit Iran's presence near Israeli territory and to stop it from entrenching itself militarily in Syria.

Russia, Iran and Lebanon's Shiite Muslim militant group Hezbollah -- which is backed by Tehran -- all support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country's civil war.

Netanyahu said before he left Israel that he planned to discuss with Putin Iran's "relentless efforts to establish a military presence in Syria, which we strongly oppose and are also taking action against".

"We will also discuss Iran's effort to turn Lebanon into one giant missile site, a site for precision missiles against the state of Israel, which we will not tolerate."



After viewing an exhibition in Moscow dedicated to the 1943 uprising at the Sobibor Nazi death camp, Netanyahu said that Israel is "still ready to prevent any attempts of this type of ideology, in the first place Iran, which speaks of the intention to destroy us".

"We will stand before them (Iran) with all our might," Netanyahu said. "There will not be another Holocaust."



The two leaders also took part in a Holocaust remembrance ceremony at Moscow's Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center and watched parts of a Russian-made film on the Sobibor uprising.

Putin said modern political and religious leaders should do "everything possible to preserve historical memory in the 21st century and prevent the weeds of nationalist ideology spreading in whatever form it takes: anti-Semitism, Russophobia and other phobias built on hatred".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Ravikanthe Gowda, IPS, took over as Superintendent of Police of Dakshina Kannada district here today.

He replaces Sudheer Kumar Reddy, who has been transferred to Belagavi.

Gowda was SP of Belagavi before being transferred here.

Gowda had earlier served in various positions, including DCP of Hubballi-Dharward, DCP (crime) in Bengaluru, DCP (law and order), Mysuru, DCP of north east Bengaluru, DCP of central Bengaluru city and and SP of Belagavi.

Later talking to reporters, Gowda said his priority would be to maintain law and order and create a people-friendly police force.

He said he hoped to tackle the situation in the sensitive Dakshina Kannada district with his experience and the guidance of senior officers.

On misuse of social media, he said the monitoring unit of police would take stringent action against those who disrupt peace or foment violence through social media.

The new beat system, which was successfully implemented in Belagavi, would be strengthened here also, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The National Investigation Agency has taken over the probe into a case of alleged forcible conversion of a Kerala woman and attempts to take her to Syria after her marriage with a Muslim man to be sold off to Islamic State terrorists.

The central government made the submission in an affidavit filed before the Kerala High Court today.

It said given the seriousness of the alleged offence, the government suo motu entrusted the investigation into the case with the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The Centre also informed the court that the NIA had filed an FIR before the NIA Special Court, Ernakulam against nine persons under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

They have also been charged under various IPC sections for offences including rape, forgery and forced religious conversion, it said.

The Centre filed the affidavit in response to a petition filed by the victim woman, hailing from Pathanamthitta district of Kerala and settled in Gujarat, seeking NIA probe into the alleged forceful religious conversion and attempt to traffick her to Syria after marriage.

Earlier this month, the Ernakulam Rural police had arrested two persons in connection with the case.

In her petition to the police, the woman had alleged that one Muhammed Riyaz from Thalassery in Kannur district pretended to be in love with her when she was studying in Bengaluru in 2014 and forced her to convert to Islam and married her.

The woman from Pathanamthitta was brought up in Gujarat.

She has also alleged that her marriage was registered using forged documents.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The NSE benchmark Nifty jumped 60.75 points to end at record 11,130.40 after the Economic Survey tabled in Parliament today said real GDP growth will rise to 7-7.5 per cent in 2018-19.

Buying momentum was seen mainly in auto, IT, finance service and media sectors.

However, fall in PSU bank, pharma, energy and FMCG stocks capped the market's rise.

Overseas, most European shares were trading lower as investors monitored fresh economic data and corporate earnings. Asian shares were mixed after several stocks gave up gains from upbeat openings that tracked Friday's rally on Wall Street.

Broader market witnessed selling pressure, with the Nifty Midcap and Smallcap index down by 0.85 per cent and 1.68 per cent, respectively.

The Nifty 50 index rose 60.75 points or 0.55 percent to close at 11,130.40, a record closing high.

It saw an intra-day movement of about 95.60 points.

On the sectoral front, Auto rose 1.48 per cent, IT 0.95 per cent, Finance Service 0.88 per cent, Media 0.67 per cent, Bank 0.19 per cent and Private Bank 0.18 per cent.

However, PSU Bank dropped by 1.41 per cent, Pharma 1.10 per cent, Energy 0.58 per cent, FMCG 0.57 per cent and Realty 0.34 per cent.

Major index gainers were Maruti, Eicher Motors, HDFC, Bharti InfraTel, UPL, Hero MotoCorp, IOC and Indiabulls Housing Finance.

Losers were Dr Reddy's, Lupin, GAIL, Bharti Airtel, HPCL, BPCL, ITC, Axis Bank, Cipla and ONGC.

The market breadth, indicating its overall health, was in favour of losers. On the NSE, 548 stocks advanced, 1,267 declined and 49 remained unchanged.

Total securities that hit their price bands were 201.

Turnover in the cash segment fell to Rs 35,515.69 crore from Rs 45,562.13 crore as on last Thursday.

A total of 14,592.44 lakh shares changed hands in 12,173,442 trades. The market capitalisation of listed firms on NSE stood at Rs 1,53,25,798.17 crore.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Nine workers, including a migrant labourer from Assam, were injured when an under-construction podium at the Puttingal Devi Temple collapsed here today, police said.

The mishap occurred when the concreting work for the roofing of the structure was progressing, police said, adding, the injuries were not serious.

Of theinjured, three were admitted to the Medical College Hospital at Thiruvananthapuram and the remaining in hospitals in Kollam district.

All those persons trapped under the debris were rescued, police said.

Puttingal Devi temple came into in April 2016 after more than 100 people lost their life during a firework display at the temple held as part of festival.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)State-run power giant NTPC today said it has inked a pact with Jabalpur City Transport Service for setting up charging infrastructure for all segments of electric vehicles (EVs) across the city.

The NTPC has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jabalpur Smart City Ltd and Jabalpur City Transport Services for the citys foray in the e- mobility.

Ved Prakash, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of Jabalpur & MD, Jabalpur City Transport Services said:"The city intends to become the model city by adopting the electric mobility for segments of EVs...Going ahead, the charging of EVs shall be done by Renewable Energy sources making the initiative completely green."



The MoU plans to cover all major activities in value chain from planning and designing the complete ecosystem to making investment and operating the charging infrastructure using cloud based system.

This is the first major step taken by NTPC where a complete city shall be taken up for developing charging infrastructure for all segments of EVs.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Actor Lupita Nyong'o has said the idea of a self-reliant nation in "Black Panther" was "exciting" for her and drew her to the project.

The "12 Years A Slave" actor, who plays the role of Nakia in the Ryan Coogler-directed superhero film, said she accepted the role without even seeing the script.

"We were creating an aspirational world where the African people are in charge of their own destiny. And that really appealed to me and had the little girl inside me jumping for joy," Nyong'o told The Hollywood Reporter.

"To just have African people, black people, at the center of that narrative is so exciting."



The 34-year-old actor also said the character felt familiar to her.

"My father raised us to stand up for what we believe in and to fight for what is right. We were always told, 'You need to make a difference in the world,'" Nyong'o said.

"I live with that insistence all the time," she added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today flagged off the statewide measles-Rubella vaccination drive here.

The vaccination drive will cover about 1.13 crore children between the ages of nine months and 15 years.

"About one crore and 13 lakh children will be vaccinated in this Measles-Rubella vaccination programme across the state," Health and Family Welfare minister Pratap Jena told reporters.

The state Health Department has set up vaccination camps in government and private schools, public health centres, CHCs and Anganwadis. The first phase vaccination programme will continue till March 26, 2018.

Jena said the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine is being introduced in the state for the first time in the immunisation programme. After the vaccination campaign, MR vaccine will replace Measles



vaccine in the routine immunisation programme.

During the initial two weeks of the campaign, the vaccination will be done in all the schools, both government and private, next two weeks, vaccination will be done at the community level and last week will be devoted for mop up activities in low coverage areas, both in schools and community.

Meanwhile, a report from Puri said that at least five school children were taken ill after taking the MR vaccines at Biraharekrushnapur under Sadar Block of the district. They have been admitted to the District Headquarters Hospital.

According to reports, five students of St Xavier School fell sick after taking the Measles-Rubella Vaccine. However, the school authorities rushed them to the hospital after they vomited and complained of giddiness.

Their condition is stated to be stable, officials said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Odisha Police has arrested a BSF constable from West Bengal on the charge of trafficking a woman from Malkangiri on the promise of marriage and abondoning her at Sonepat in Haryana, police said today.

A Odisha Police team with the help of its West Bengal counterpart arrested the constable from 43 BN BSF Rosan Bagh, Murshidabad on January 25.

He was produced before the court of additional chief judicial magistrate of Lalbagh, Murshidabad the next day and with its permission was takent on four days' transit remand to Malkangiri yesterday, the police said.

The Odisha police has registered a case of trafficking against the BSF constable, who hails from Rohat village in Sonepat district of Haryana, they said.

The constable had come in contact with the woman, who is from Chitrakonda area, when he was posted at MV 79 under Kalimela police station of Malkangiri district in 2012. In September next year he took the woman with him to Sonepat and kept her in a rented house there, police said.

The BSF constable allegedly had physical relation with the woman, who delivered a girl child in 2014. After the birth of the baby, the constable allegedly severed all connections with the woman, who stayed on in Sonepat for six months waiting for him.

As he did not return or keep contact, the woman returned to her paternal home at Chitrakonda and had complained to the Chitrakonda police station on February 27, 2017.

Chitrakonda police registered a case and began investigation based on her complaint.

"During investigation, it was ascertained that the accused trafficked the victim to Sonepat, Haryana, for the purpose of sexual exploitation of the victim and cohabited with her after deceitfully inducing a false belief of marriage," the police said.

After ascertaining the present place of posting of the accused constable, a four-member police team was sent to Murshidabad to arrest the accused, who was found to have already married in 2006.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Opposition parties today met at NCP chief Sharad Pawar's residence here and discussed various crucial issues on which a united strategy was sought.

Among the issues discussed were the way forward on the 'Save Constitution' drive initiated by Pawar in Mumbai and a joint strategy against the opening up of various sectors like the defence, retail and civil aviation for 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by the government, the sources said.

As many opposition leaders were not present today, it was decided to hold another meeting on February 1 i.e. after the budget presentation wherein all opposition constituents will be present.

Among those who attended the meeting included Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, CPI's D Raja and CPI(M)'s T K Tangarajan, besides JD(U)'s breakaway leader Sharad Yadav, apart from other NCP leaders.

More leaders are likely to join the opposition forum on February 1 when they get together to discuss the strategy forward on opposition unity and floor management in parliament, the sources said.

Earlier in the day, Pawar had a word with the top Congress leadership in this regard. The NCP chief met Sonia Gandhi as well as Congress president Rahul Gandhi after the president's address to the joint sitting of both houses of parliament at the start of the budget session.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Noted Ottanthullal exponent Kalamandalam Geethanandan collapsed and died while performing at a temple in nearby Irinjalakkuda.

Though Geethanandan (58), retired head of Thullal Department at Kalamandalam Deemed University of Art and Culture was rushed to a nearby hospital, he was declared brought dead last evening, police said.

A video clip of his last performance circulating in the social media showed that Geethanandan collapses in front of the percussion artist with folded hands as the shocked audience looks on.

Geethanandan, a recipient of several awards including Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award in 2000 and Kalamamdnal award in 2010, also acted in over 30 malayalam films.

Thullal, a solo poetic performance combining dance and recitations, is one of the oldest art forms of Kerala.

Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the death of Geethanandan saying his death was a great loss to the field of culture in the state.

Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala said Geethanandan was an artist who made thullal popular among people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Over 120 units were sealed in Delhi today for alleged violation of civic norms, officials said.

As many as 43 units were sealed in Kamala Market and 38 in various other places including Hudson Lane and Outram Lane, a senior North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) official said.

The action was taken on the instruction of a Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee.

Similarly, as part of the sealing drive by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, over 40 units were sealed in areas under its jurisdiction.

The fresh action comes two days after a joint session of the Houses of the three municipal corporations were held to discuss the sealing issue.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)More than 7000 workers of various political parties, led by the DMK, were taken into custody today for attempting to stage road roko in various districts demanding rollback of the recent bus fare hike.

Besides DMK, activists of the Congress, the Left parties, DMDK and VCK, staged protests in Erode, Cuddalore, Erode, Thanjavur, Coimbatore, Tirupur and Nilgiris districts.

In Coimbatore, DMK MLA, N Karthik, former minister, Pongalur N Palanisamy and district leaders of CPI, VCK, MDMK, Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi participated in the protests.

As the workers attempted to squat in the middle of the road, police arrested over 1,000 persons, police said.

Similarly, over 1,000 workers were arrested in nearby Tirupur and around 500 in Nilgiris districts.

Over 5000 activists were taken into custody in various parts of Erode district when they attempted to stage road roko.

Buses were plying normally, police said.

Former union ministers T.R.Baalu and S.S.Palanimanikkam participated in the protests at Thanjavur where 192 activists were taken into custody.

More than 450 workers of various parties were taken into custody at Cuddalore.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed "Padmaavat" has been banned in Malaysia by the country's censor board as the film touches on the "sensitivities of Islam".

The chairman of National Film Censorship Board (LPF) Mohd Zamberi Abdul Aziz has said the lavishly-mounted film was not cleared as it might offend the Muslims in the country.

"The storyline of the film touches on the sensitivities of Islam. That in itself is a matter of grave concern in Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country," Aziz was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today.

The film, starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, is based on the 16th century epic, "Padmaavat" by poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi.

The film faced controversy at home as well after various Rajput groups accused Bhansali of "distorting historical facts" with the portrayal of queen Padmavati, a claim repeatedly denied by him.

According to the report, Aziz said the distributors of the film had filed an appeal against the ban which would be taken up by the Film Appeals Committee on January 30.

"Currently, LPF is unable to provide further comments as the film distributor has submitted an appeal to the appeals committee.

"Therefore, further comments will only be issued after the appeals committee has made its decision," Aziz said.

The film was released on January 25 in India 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".

In Pakistan, the censor board had cleared film without any cuts for screening with a 'U' certification.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Two youths have been arrested for allegedly throwing a petrol bomb inside a theatre screening the controversial film 'Padmaavat' here on Saturday, police said today.

Abhishek and Kernail were arrested yesterday for throwing a petrol bomb in Chandra Talkies here and a case has been registered against them, said Circle Officer (CO) Harish Bhadhoria.

The accused had come 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.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened at the two other cinema halls in the city showing the movie, after the incident, he added.

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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Pakistan today strongly condemned the Islamic State attack at a military academy in Kabul and called for concerted efforts and cooperation among all countries to eradicate the scourge of terrorism in Afghanistan.

The Foreign Office said Pakistan conveyed solidarity and support to the Government and people of Afghanistan on the Islamic State militants attack that killed at least 11 troops and wounded 16.

"We convey our sincere condolences at the loss of precious human lives in the attack, it said.

"We convey our deepest sympathies with the families of those who have lost their loved ones and pray for the early recovery of the injured. Pakistanis feel the intense pain and agony of our Afghan brothers and sisters, the statement said.

Pakistan also reiterated its strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, especially the series of recent heinous attacks in Afghanistan.

"We emphasise the need for concerted efforts and effective cooperation among all states to eradicate the scourge of terrorism, it said.

Islamic State militants attacked Afghan soldiers guarding a military academy in the capital of Kabul today, killing at least 11 troops and wounding 16.

The attack was the latest in a wave of relentless violence in Kabul this month unleashed by the Taliban and the rival Islamic State group that has killed scores and left hundreds wounded.

Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of providing safe havens to terrorists who carry out attacks in the war-torn country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Pakistani troops today violated ceasefire in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir by firing towards Indian posts, officials said.

They said the Pakistani forces fired towards Indian positions first in the afternoon following which the Indian Army retaliated.

After a lull of nearly six hours,Pakistani troops resorted to fresh firing that lasted nearly 30 minutes,they officials said. The firing had stopped now, they said.

There was no damage reported in the firing so far, they added.

Earlier in the day, the Indian Army noticed suspicious movement along the LoC in Uri sector and challenged the intruders.

The alert jawans opened speculative firing, forcing the intruders to retreat back to PoK, an Army official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Describing India as a "rising economic superpower", a top Palestinian official today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "historic" visit to the West Bank next month will not only further strengthen ties but also enhance economic engagement between the two sides.

Pursuing with the strategy of de-hyphenating relations with respect to Israel and Palestine, Modi would be visiting Ramallah, the seat of Palestinian Authority power in the West Bank, skipping Israel, on February 10 during his three-nation trip covering Palestine, UAE and Oman.

"It is a historic visit. An important visit that we are hopeful would further strengthen our bilateral relations," Dr. Majdi Khaldi, diplomatic adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, told PTI over the phone from Amman, Jordan.

"Traditionally, we have enjoyed very strong political support from India but we look forward to strengthening our economic ties as well when Prime Minister Modi visits Ramallah," he added.

"India is one of the strongest economic power today. It is a rising economic superpower that everybody is looking to engage with. We are also hopeful of strengthening economic ties with India beyond the existing excellent ties," he added.

The Palestinian president's close aide, on his way to meet Jordanian King Abdullah II who would be visiting India in the near future, also appreciated India's unflinching support to the Palestinian cause.

"India has supported the Palestinian cause all along. We are thankful to the Indian leadership for their consistent and unflinching support to our just cause at all the international forums, including the latest support they extended at the UN General Assembly," Khaldi said.

Last month, India joined 127 other countries to vote in the United Nations General Assembly in favour of a resolution opposing the decision of US President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

India did not speak on the floor of the Assembly in New York, but after Trump recognised the holy city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, it had said that its Palestine position was independent and consistent.

India believes in a two-state solution in which both Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist peacefully.

The two-state solution envisions independent Israeli and Palestinian states coexisting side by side peacefully. The Palestinians see east Jerusalem as their future capital.

The Indian prime minister had visited Israel in July 2016, skipping Palestine, making it a stand alone visit and signalling New Delhi's intent to de-hyphenate relations.

It will be the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Palestine. Former president Pranab Mukherjee had visited Ramallah in 2015 during his trip to the region covering Jordan, Palestine and Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had visited India early this month on a six-day trip.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The parents of an eight-year-old girl, who was brutally killed a few days back in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti here today.

They sought an expeditious probe into the killing of their minor daughter so that the culprits are brought to justice soon, an official spokesman said.

The chief minister assured them that the government had constituted a special investigating team to probe the case and in the meantime the case had also been handed over to the crime branch for further investigations, he said.

Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Tribal Affairs, Choudhary Zulfkar Ali was also present during the meeting.

The killing of the minor, whose body was recovered from the Rassana forest on January 17, a week after she went missing, had repeatedly rocked the House with the opposition raising questions and demanding action against the culprits.

A special investigation team (SIT), constituted by the police had arrested a 15-year-old boy and claimed the accused had strangulated the victim after she resisted his rape attempt.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Senior advocate and AAP leader H S Phoolka today demanded an investigation to find out if Rajiv Gandhi had any role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots after the assassination of his mother and then prime minister Indira Gandhi.

Phoolka, the AAP MLA from Punjab who has been representing the riots victims in various courts for over last three decades, made the demand after Congress leader Jagdish Tytler is reported to have said that Rajiv Gandhi drove a car and took him and a security guard to various places in north and west Delhi on November 1, 1984, a day after the killing of Indira Gandhi that sparked the riots.

Tytler claimed in a TV interview yesterday that Rajiv Gandhi recced some areas in an Ambassador car to assess the situation. He said Rajiv Gandhi was extremely anguished and had told party MPs from Delhi to visit their constituencies and take steps to contain the violence.

Phoolka told a conference he would take up his demand with the Centre to reopen the whole issue in view of Tytler's statements and that the probe into this aspect may be handed over to the new Special Investigation Team(SIT) appointed by the Supreme Court.

As per reports, around 2,100 Sikhs were killed in Delhi alone during the anti-Sikh riots. Seven hundred Sikhs died in other parts of the country in riots.

Phoolka further said he has been informed that Congress party has taken a stand that Rajiv Gandhi had gone to the riot affected areas to pacify the crowd.

"This means that Congress admits that Rajiv Gandhi had visited these areas and the onus is on the party to show how the former prime minister pacified the crowd while the killings continued during and after his visit," he said.

Tytler reportedly said that Rajiv Gandhi had gone to the Lok Sabha constituencies of Congress leaders H K L Bhagat and Sajjan Kumar. He claimed that Rajiv Gandhi had visited Kingsway Camp, Sabzi Mandi, Ashok Vihar and Adarsh Nagar areas.

Tytler's role had surfaced in a case pertaining to riots at Gurudwara Pulbangash in north Delhi where three people were killed on November 1, 1984.

Tytler, who has denied any role in the riots, has been given a clean chit by CBI thrice in the case but the probe agency has been directed by the court to further investigate the matter.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The police has seized banned tobacco products worth around Rs 4 lakh and arrested seven persons from Manipur's Churchandpur district.

A team led by additional superintendent of police, Churachandpur district seized the banned tobacco products from old Churachandpur Bazar yesterday, the police said today.

The police also arrested seven persons for storing and selling the banned tobacco products, they said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)In a major development in poll-bound Nagaland, all parties including the ruling Naga People's Front today decided not to contest the February 27 elections, agreeing to the demand of tribal bodies and civil society groups to resolve the protracted Naga political problem first.

The decision came at a meeting called by the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Organisations and Civil Societies (CCNTOCS), and attended by representatives of 11 parties and 7 Naga Nationalist Political Groups (NNPGs).

"It is the unanimous view of the Naga people that the political solution or Naga peace accord is more important than elections and therefore, it has become imperative that the elections to the legislative assembly of Nagaland be deferred for peace and tranquillity," read a joint declaration signed by the parties.

The parties are -- Naga Peoples Front, Congress, BJP, Nationalist Democratic Peoples Party, Nagaland Congress, United Nagaland Democratic Party, Aam Admi Party, National Congress Party, Lok Jan Party, Janata Dal (United) and National Peoples Party.

The National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah and the working committee of 6 NNPGs were in attendance at the meeting.

A copy of the joint declaration was given to the media by the convenor of the CCNTOCS, Theja Therie, at a press briefing here.

"We firmly believe it is expedient for all parties, both national and regional, to come together in the greater interest of the state in solidarity with the call for Solution before Election and defer the elections to the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly.

"And therefore, we, on behalf of all the political parties and the intending candidates, have in compliance with the wishes of the people decided not to go ahead with the issuance of party tickets or filing of nominations," it read.

The parties "respected the sentiments of people and decided to give wholehearted support to the call for Solution Before Election'", Therie said.

"If they stand by it and dont allot tickets, there will be no candidate. We have full confidence that no independent candidate will defy the peoples popular slogan," he said.

The Naga people would be compelled to take to the streets if the Election Commission went ahead and issued the official notification on January 31, he warned.

The Core Committee has given a call for a total bandh on February 1, the day on which filing of nomination begins.

The Naga Hoho, an apex Naga tribal body, had earlier this month sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's help in postponing the elections, saying the vexed issue should be resolved first.

Civil society groups in Nagaland have also launched a campaign 'Solution before Election'.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Poland's president says there was no institutionalised participation by Poland or its people in the Holocaust, but acknowledges that individual Poles took "wicked" actions against Jewish neighbours.

President Andrzej Duda said yesterday that he would never allow Poland and Poles in general to be "vilified" though "false accusations."



Duda seemed to be reacting to anger in Israel over a bill that would prohibit public statements assigning to "the Polish nation" responsibility for crimes committed by Nazi Germany during its World War II occupation of Poland.

Violations would be punishable by fines or prison terms of up to three years.

In Israel, the legislation has been interpreted as an attempt to undermine scholarly research and deny facts about the Holocaust.

Polish and Israeli officials are discussing the bill's wording, which critics say is unclear.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Mussa Mustapha Mussa, who heads Egypt's liberal Al-Ghad party that backs President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, said today before nominations closed that he will contest the presidential election.

The last-minute surprise candidacy comes with Sisi, who has led an authoritarian regime since 2014, set to romp home to victory and another four-year term in the March 26-28 polls.

The run-up to the close of nominations has seen any potential opposition sidelined, and many members of Al-Ghad who were once seen as opponents of ousted president Hosni Mubarak are now considered Sisi supporters.

"I am finishing up with some remaining matters and will then go to the National Election Authority to present my candidacy," Mussa told AFP.

He said he had gathered more than the necessary endorsements to stand.

Under Egyptian law, presidential hopefuls must collect endorsements from at least 20 lawmakers, or at least 25,000 registered voters, with a minimum of 1,000 signatures from each of at least 15 provinces.

Mussa would be the only other candidate to Sisi after all other possible challengers either ruled themselves out or were subjected to legal proceedings.

Last week, media reports said Sayed El-Badawi, leader of the old liberal Al-Wafd party, was a potential candidate.

But he withdrew on Saturday and announced his backing for Sisi.

In the 2014 election, the official results showed that Sisi had secured 96.9 per cent of the votes.

Yesterday, he and his regime were accused by five public figures of quashing any opposition. They called on voters to boycott the election.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Congress president Rahul Gandhi will kick off the election campaign of the party in poll bound Meghalaya tomorrow with a musical festival showcasing the cultural diversity of state and will also hold meeting with religious heads and chiefs of traditional institutions.

Election to the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly will be held on February 27.

Announcing this, the Congress said in its twitter handle, "Congress President Rahul Gandhi to kick off the election campaign in a way truly unique to Meghalaya, with a musical festival showcasing the cultural diversity of Meghalaya."



Gandhi after arriving here tomorrow on a two-day visit will go to Jowai to meet party workers. On return to the state capital he will attend the peace music festival as the chief guest, a senior party leader said.

Five musical bands and two solo performers will showcase the states musical talent at the peace music festival which will be held at the polo ground here tomorrow.

The following day he will meet religious heads and heads of various traditional institutions in the state.

"Rahul Gandhi is arriving tomorrow here... He will be meeting with religious heads for breakfast on January 31," Meghalaya Congress working president and MP Vincent H Pala told reporters.

He said heads of traditional institutions, believed to be the leaders of indigenous Khasi, Jaintia and Garo religions, besides chieftains from various Himas (states), will be part of the breakfast meeting apart from the leaders of Christian denominations, Hindu and Muslims.

The Congress president will be campaigning in all the Khasi Jaintia and Garo Hills region in the state ahead of the elections, Pala said



According to Census 2011, Christians constitute nearly 75 per cent of the population in this tribal state. The Hindus and Muslims constitute about 11 per cent and 4.5 per cent respectively while the other religions constitute over 8 per cent.

Meghalaya has 18.3 lakh voters of which 42,843 are new voters for the February 27 assembly elections.

The Congress has already announced in its first list the names of 56 candidates including Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and party chief C Lyngdoh.

Gandhi's visit to Tura tomorrow has been postponed, party officials said today.

"His visit to Tura has been postponed as for now because the Special Protection Group (SPG) has rejected the Pawan Hans chopper available to fly him to Tura due to its age factor," Pala told reporters here.

He said the Pawan Hans chopper available to hire for the day was over 20 years old and therefore the SPG rejected the idea to ferry him to Tura where he was scheduled to have an informal meet with party workers and people from various backgrounds.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Deported gangster Chhota Rajan today told a court here that fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, police and politicians had colluded to get false cases registered against him.

The special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court, which is conducting the trial in journalist Jyotirmoy Dey murder case, today recorded Rajan's statement under section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Under the section, an accused can personally explain any circumstances appearing in the evidence against him.

Rajan, accused of having the senior crime journalist killed in 2011, is lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail.

Speaking through a video link, he told the court that when he was part of Dawood Ibrahim's gang (till 1993), not a single case was registered against him.

"Later, police, politicians and Dawood connived to frame me in false cases," he said.

The accused denied that he had got Dey killed because the journalist was defaming him through his articles.

"It is false (to say) that I killed Dey," Rajan said in Marathi.

When the special judge S S Adkar asked him why witnesses were deposing against him, Rajan said they were doing so at the behest of police.

"I have been implicated. There are so many cases against me that I do not know what case is what now," he said.

After the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, I parted ways with the Dawood Ibrahim gang and subsequently gave some information to the Indian intelligence agencies which came to Dawood's knowledge, Rajan alleged.

Afterwards, I was named (by police) in every case and implicated in cases of fake encounters wherein I did not even know the victims, he alleged.

Final arguments in the Dey murder case are likely to begin from January 31.

To most of the questions put by the court today, Rajan said, "I do not know".

Dey, who wrote under the name 'J Dey', was shot dead in Powai area of Mumbai on June 11, 2011. The court had on August 31, 2017 framed charges against Rajan.

According to the CBI charge sheet, Rajan was miffed with some articles written by Dey, and also because of a planned book by the scribe which reportedly portrayed the gangster as a 'chindi' (petty) criminal.

Rajan was arrested at Bali airport in Indonesia on October 25, 2015 and deported to India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A retired IPS officer today allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with a revolver at his farmhouse in Hisar district, the police said today.

Ram Singh Bishnoi, a resident of Gurgaon, ended his life last evening. He was said to be tensed because of some pending court cases against him, they said.

Some labourers working in a field nearby heard a gunshot. They reached the room and found that Bishnoi was lying in a pool of blood with a revolver in his hand, the police said.

Bishnoi had who retired in 2013.

Investigation into the incident is underway, the police said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The annual rate of increase in immunisation coverage has gone up from one to 6.7 per cent benefiting children in far-flung and tribal areas, President Ram Nath Kovind said today.

Stressing that one of the "major" worries of the poor and middle class is regarding medical treatment, he said the government has formulated a new 'National Health Policy' to provide better and affordable healthcare facilities.

"The annual rate of increase in immunisation coverage in the country has increased from 1 per cent to 6.7 per cent.

"This has benefited children living in far-flung and particularly tribal areas of our country. Recently, my government has also launched 'Intensified Mission Indradhanush'," the President said during the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament.

Kovind said for the poor and middle class, the financial burden of treatment of disease "further aggravates" their suffering.

"A new 'National Health Policy' has been formulated by my government for providing better and affordable healthcare facilities to the poor and middle class. In addition, under the 'National AYUSH Mission', traditional methods of treatment, such as, Yoga and Ayurveda are being promoted," he said.

The president said through 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras', 800 different medicines are being made available to the poor at affordable rates and more than 3,000 such kendras have been set up in the country.

"Under the 'Deendayal Amrut Yojana', over 5,200 life- saving branded medicines and surgical implants are being provided through 111 outlets at discounted rates ranging from 60 per cent to 90 per cent.

"In addition to medicines for heart patients, the cost of stents has been reduced by up to 80 per cent. The cost of knee implant has also been regulated," he said.

Kovind said under 'Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme', more than 22 lakh dialysis sessions for 2.25 lakh patients in over 500 districts have been conducted at discounted rates.

"To enhance availability of doctors, 7,000 post-graduate seats and over 13,000 MBBS seats have been approved. To ensure quality and transparency in medical education, the government has also introduced the 'National Medical Commission Bill' in the Lok Sabha," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Romania's new government, led by the country's first woman prime minister, was approved by parliament today amid concerns about the country's judicial reforms.

Little-known Viorica Dancila is the EU member's third prime minister in seven months, replacing Mihai Tudose following a power struggle within her Social Democrats (PSD) party.

The 54-year-old pledged to continue her left wing party's programme of increasing pensions and public service salaries, and to strengthen ties with the EU.

But she did not address concerns expressed by Brussels about controversial judicial reforms, passed in December by the PSD-led coalition.

The changes will curb both the powers of Romania's anti- corruption investigative body (DNA), and the right of the president to block the appointment of senior prosecutors nominated by the government.

The measures have triggered mass protests, including a demonstration on January 20 attended by 30,000 people in the capital Bucharest.

The head of DNA, Laura Codruta Kovesi, told agency Agerpres on Monday that prosecutors would no longer be able to investigate senior officials if the reforms came into effect.

The centre-right President Klaus Iohannis, a vocal critic of the PSD, has not yet announced whether he will sign off on the reforms.

Today, he blasted the coalition for changing the laws of justice "ignoring the arguments of the judicial system and criticism coming from foreign partners".

"There is a red line that the government cannot cross. Affecting the independence of justice is unacceptable," he said after swearing in the new ministers.

"The majority cannot ignore the message sent by hundreds of thousands of Romanians who, for a year, have defended the rule of law in the street."



In a joint statement last week, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and his deputy Frans Timmermans warned Romania "against backtracking", adding that they would look carefully at the amendments "to determine the impact on efforts to safeguard the independence of the judiciary and combat corruption".

But the PSD has defended its reform plans, insisting it was committed to the rule of law and tackling corruption and saying it was open to "real and concrete dialogue".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has allocated around Rs 3400 crore for the upgradation of airports in the North East region, AAI chairman Guruprasad Mahapatra said today.

The airports in the region recorded a total passenger movement of 68.04 lakh in 2016-17 and registered a growth of 27.02 per cent over the previous year, he said.

The AAI has allocated Rs 1720 crore for Assam, Rs 525 crore for Tripura, Rs 800 crore for Manipur, Rs 42 crore for Nagaland, Rs 211 crore for Arunachal Pradesh and Rs 60 crore for Mizoram, Mahapatra told reporters here.

Stating that projects worth Rs 934 crore had already been completed, he said work on the rest would be over in the next two or three years.

In Assam, the funds were for the construction of a new integrated terminal building, strengthening of the existing runway, refurbishment and a new Air Traffic Control cum technical block in Guwahati, he said.

In Dibrugarh an aircraft hangar and a new control tower cum technical block would be constructed, the runway extended and power infrastructure installed, he said. A new terminal building will be constructed at Silchar as well as in Jorhat, along with the modification and expansion of the existing buildings.

Stating that re-carpeting of the runway would be done at Silchar and Lilabari airport where an aviation manpower training institute would also be set up, the AAI chairman said the Rupsi airport would be developed.

A new integrated airport would be constructed with a hangar along with an engineering workshop at Agartala in Tripura, he said. The expansion and revamp of the existing terminal building, resurfacing of the runway, taxiway, apron and a new isolation bay were in progress at Dimapur in Nagaland, Mahapatra said.

In Meghalaya, the projects included the installation of an instrument landing system (ILS) at the Shillong airport and operationalisation and development of the Tura airport.

Tezu, Kailashahar and Kamalapur Airports would be developed in Arunachal Pradesh. A helipad or a heliport would be set up at Khowai, he said.

The Imphal airport in Manipur would have a new integrated terminal, while in Sikkim's Pakyong, the AAI would construct a greenfield airport for ATR-72 operations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Supreme Court today rejected a plea filed by an advocate, the third by him, seeking deletion of some alleged controversial scenes from movie 'Padmaavat', saying the film has been cleared by the censor board.

The top court stalled the third attempt by the lawyer, who had earlier filed two petitions seeking to prevent the release of movie starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, which too were dismissed.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said the film has been cleared by Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Lawyer M L Sharma, in his fresh plea, referred to the apex court order of November 20 last year on one of his previous plea, ordering expunction of certain details about the movie from his petition on the ground that these may create "disharmony".

He said when the apex court had ordered expunction of the paragraphs from his petition which dealt with the scenes of the movie, then those scenes cannot be shown in the movie and need to be deleted.

The bench said "the film has now been cleared by the CBFC with the suggested changes. We cannot prevent it from screening after this".

Sharma said the court had only examined the statutory power of states to ban the film but not the procedure adopted by the censor board.

The top court said it had examined the relevant laws and "a point has come for you (Sharma) to leave this cause."



Sharma said the movie cannot use those scenes when the court had directed for expunction of paragraphs from his petition.

"(What) we meant by expunction was that those paragraphs should not be used by petitioners," the bench said and dismissed the latest petition.

The top court had earlier dismissed the plea of Sharma on November 20 last year saying it cannot pre-judge a movie which was then before the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for grant of certification.

The film has been mired in controversies after several petitions were filed in the apex court seeking to stall its scheduled all India release on January 25.

Initially, the apex court had trashed several petitions filed by Sharma and others seeking a stay on its release on various grounds.

Then the producers moved the court after certain states banned the movie based on the saga of a historic 13th century battle between Maharaja Ratan Singh and his army of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi.

The court, on January 18, had set aside the ban and restrained other states from banning the movie produced by Viacom 18, paving way for its all-India release on January 25.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)In a surprise move, the Sikkim government today withdrew a bill in the Assembly that sought a ban on supply of non-organic produce in the north eastern state from outside.

The bill proposed to ban supply of non-organic vegetables, livestock and other produce in Sikkim from outside with effect from March 31, 2018.

The Horticulture and Cash Crop Development Department Minister Somnath Poudyal withdrew the Sikkim Non-Organic Agriculture and Horticulture Commodities (Prohibition and Regulatory) Bill when he was asked to introduce it by Deputy Speaker Sonam Gyatso Lepcha.

Lepcha presided over the two-day special session of the House in the absence of the Speaker Kedar Nath Rai who is reportedly indisposed.

When asked why the bill was withdrawn in the last minute, Poudyal cited 'technical reasons' behind it but did not elaborate further.

A senior state government official, however, said that the draft of the bill was flawed and required large-scale changes in the text which was difficult in such a short time.

He said that the bill will be introduced in the budget session.

The budget session is likely to take place in March, although the government has not announced it so far.

The Sikkim government had approved a proposal to ban supply of non-organic agriculture, horticulture and livestock produces in the state in a phased manner with effect from March 31 this year.

As per a proposal of the Horticulture and Cash Crop Development Department, the list of products to be prohibited from entry into Sikkim with effect from March 31, 2018 are: maize, beans, brinjal, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, capsicum, carrot, chayote, cucumber, drumstick, ladys finger, leafy vegetables, spinach, pea, radish, tomato, pointed gourd, banana, guava, mango, orange, papaya, ginger, green chilly and turmeric.

The list of products to be prohibited from entry into Sikkim with effect from March 31, 2019 are: millet/finger millet, soyabean, rapeseed, mustard, onion, potato, garlic, milk & packaged milk and mustard oil cake.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A Delhi-bound IndiGo flight from the Kolkata airport had to return shortly after take-off when smoke was seen emanating from one of its engines.

Flight 6E 616, with 174 passengers on board, took off from the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport at 2.38pm but returned to the bay at 2.57pm after the Air Traffic Control saw smoke billowing from its left engine, a security official said.

"Full emergency was declared immediately and the flight landed safely," the official added.

All passengers were safe and the incident was reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, IndiGo said.

The airline added that the passengers were accommodated in a different aircraft, which departed nearly two hours after the incident, at 4.56pm.

"The flight experienced high engine vibration in engine 2 immediately after take-off from Kolkata. The Captain-in- Command immediately alerted the base and took the decision to return to bay. All necessary SOPs were carried out.Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has asked the Modi government to take the nation into confidence over relations with China and Pakistan, saying "major differences" existed between the opposition and the ruling dispensation on foreign policy issues.

The 61-year-old MP from Thiruvananthapuram said the government was not being honest to the people about India's relations with China.

"We are increasingly convinced that the government is not telling the truth to the people. Doklam has been spun by the government as a diplomatic victory and from the information that is available in the public domain, it does seem a matter of concern," he said at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival yesterday.

"We are seeing evidence of reinforced Chinese positions 200 metres from where they had disengaged," Tharoor



Indian and Chinese troops had been locked in a stand-off for over two months last year in the Doklam area near Sikkim before "disengaging" on August 28 last year.

"Tell us what is going on. We are asking to give us a coherent approach. We are united with you in national interests. Take us along, Take us into confidence. Don't play game of smoke and mirrors with the nation," the former Union minister said.

He also accused government of having an incoherent foreign policy with respect to Pakistan.

Tharoor slammed the government for going back and forth in its policy on Pakistan.

"You can't have a saree-shawl diplomacy one day, artillery diplomacy next, then ignoring each other in Kathmandu the third day. Calling talks in Delhi and then cancelling them, then having talks in Bangkok, then meeting in Ufah and issuing a circular," Tharoor said.

"They should take (the) nation into confidence," Tharoor said, adding that the government should make its stand clear.

Tharoor said there was more consensus on foreign policy- related issues in the past between the government and the opposition, but now there were major differences.

"On foreign policy there always was much more consensus in the past. The nature of that consensus was that we have our political difference but they stop at the waters edge. We don't take them abroad," he said.

"There was very much peace with the idea that we are one when it comes to talking to the outside world and on national issues there are no political differences.

"Today there are major differences. On most foreign policy issues we try to have a united front. On Pakistan issue, for example, we are extremely concerned at the lack of coherence in the policy," he said.

Tharoor said that earlier the opposition knew about what the prime minister was saying and doing and chalked out a strategy based on that, but now the parties are not taken into confidence.

"Whether you like it or not , you knew what Manmohan Singh was doing and saying...Suddenly, we have a Prime Minister who seems to have gone back on...when he was in opposition. This is one area where there is a huge difference. Their policy keeps changing," he 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 century-old idols, worth lakhs of rupees, were stolen by unidentified miscreants yesterday in Bihar's Begusarai district, police said today.

The robbers beat Mahendra Das alias Muso (70) to death with a baton before fleeing with three idols of Ram, Janki and Lakshman, apparently made of ashtadhatu (amalgamation of eight metals), at Bhagofua village in Naya Gaon police station area of the district, SHO Mukesh Kumar said.

"The exact value of the idols could not be ascertained but villagers claim that the idols were made of ashtadhatu and weighed around 10kg each," he said.

Police have started its investigation in the case, he said, adding that the priest's body has been sent to the sadar hospital for post-mortem.

The Begusarai incident comes two days after another attack on a head priest in Vaishali district. Mauni Baba (65) was shot dead by unidentified people inside the 'Ram Janaki Mutt' temple of the district.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Fighting between gangs at a prison in Brazil's northeastern Ceara state left 10 dead early today, state law enforcement authorities said.

"A fight began between rival groups of inmates, resulting in fatalities," a spokesman for the justice secretary said. Guards had retaken control of the facility, he said.

The bloodshed took place in the Itapaje Public Prison, about 78 miles (125 km) from the state capital Fortaleza.

On Saturday, at least 14 people were gunned down at a nightclub in Fortaleza. Local media reported that the massacre, conducted by armed men who arrived in three cars, was related to disputes between rival drug traffickers.

Officials did not say whether there was any link between that and Monday's incident.

Last year there were a record 5,114 murders in the state of Ceara, a 50 percent rise from 2016.

Brazilian prisons are notoriously overcrowded, with 726,712 inmates as of June 2016 and capacity for only 368,000, according to the most recent official statistics.

The country is also one of the most violent in the world, with nearly 60,000 homicides annually. A year ago, 56 were killed in an uprising in a prison in the city of Manaus in Brazil's Amazon.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)British Prime Minister Theresa May today convened what is being branded a "war cabinet" meeting as a fresh round of infighting within the ruling Conservative party over Brexit threatened to escalate into a full-blown rebellion.

Tories are believed to be preparing to sign letters demanding a vote of no confidence in May's authority, to try and take the total closer to the 48 MPs required to trigger a leadership contest. The prime minister is hoping to impose order at the meeting of the Brexit sub-committee, charged with mapping out the way forward in negotiations with theEuropean Union (EU).

MPs on either side of the divide over a so-called hard Brexit, which foresees the UK leaving the EU by breaking all past links with the economic bloc, have been clashing against each other on May's leadership.

Former education secretary Nicky Morgan said the Cabinet had a "duty" to seize control of the debate if the British prime minister fails to provide "big and bold" vision for leaving the EU. While another former minister, Justine Greening who May sacked as education secretary earlier this month spoke out in her defence.

"I remain a strong backer of the prime minister. I've been very disappointed to see the soundings off. I think they need to stop and I think people need to get behind her," she said.

Downing Street was also forced to respond to critics, claiming that May was "grasping the many opportunities" of Brexit well.

Earlier today, Conservative MP Johnny Mercer claimed the "window is closing" for May to meet the challenges of leadership.

"How long has the prime minister got? I am of the view that any sort of change in leadership is not helpful at the moment and I dont support that, but I do think the window is closing because can be quite a brutal game," he said.

The infighting has intensified as more and more pro- Brexit MPs want UK Chancellor Philip Hammond to be sacked by the prime minister over his call for an ultra-soft Brexit.

Downing Street has dismissed calls for his sacking, as the Brexit debate gets focused on the so-called transition period planned for immediately after March 29, 2019 the official date of Britains exit from the union.

Eurosceptics MPs in the Conservative party warn that the UK will stay in the EU "in all but name" during this transition period.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A group of women activists today said it rejected the Centre's triple talaq bill, holding that it was "draconian" as well as "ambiguous".

As President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for its early passage in the Budget Session of Parliament, Asma Zehra, convener of the Hyderabad-based Muslim Mahila Reasearch Kendra, said the bill went against the interests of women and children.

"The bill is draconian as a civil matter is converted into a criminal offence and the husband is sentenced to jail for three years. It is anti-women and anti-children as there is no mention of maintenance and it is anti-social," she said.

The 'Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill' criminalising talaq-e-biddat (instant divorce) was passed by the Lok Sabha in the recently concluded Winter Session of Parliament but is pending in the Rajya Sabha.

According to the draft law, which would be applicable to the entire country except Jammu and Kashmir, an instant talaq would attract a jail term of three years and a fine. It would be a non-bailable offence.

The bill was "ambiguous" and lacked legal coherence, Zehra, who is also a member of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), said at a press conference here.

The press meet, held ahead of an all-India women NGOs' meet on the triple talaq bill, was also addressed by other activists.

"The wording of the bill is such that there will be confusion in dealing between cases of a talaq and a triple talaq," Zehra said, adding, "We reject it."



In his maiden address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, Kovind said he was hopeful that the bill would be passed so that Muslim women could live with "dignity". Prime Minister Modi also pressed for an early passage of the bill.

The Supreme Court had on August 22 last year struck down triple talaq, calling the practice unconstitutional and in violation of Article 14 of the Constitution, which provides for equality before the law.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)US Trade Rep Robert Lighthizer said Monday talks to rewrite the North American Free Trade Agreement are progressing very slowly.

Lighthizer said the US views NAFTA as a "very important agreement" and said the sixth round of talks between Canada, the United States and Mexico, which concluded Monday, were a "step forward."



"Some real headway was made here," Lighthizer said. "We're committed to moving forward.'



President Donald Trump called NAFTA a job-killing "disaster" on the campaign trail and has threatened to withdraw from the 24-year-old pact if he can't get what he wants.

Lighthizer said there will be another round in Mexico in late February and said core issues are starting to be discussed.

The negotiators had originally hoped to reach an agreement before Mexico's July presidential election and U.S. midterms turn up the political pressure.

One of the main sticking points in the latest rounds of negotiations has been the Trump administration's position on rules of origin for auto parts.

The US is calling for any new agreement to include a proviso stipulating that North American-made car parts must constitute 85 percent of new vehicles in order to avoid tariffs, with 50 percent originating in the United States.

Canada's proposal would take elements such as research and development and intellectual property into account in those calculations. Lighthizer, however, called the idea "vague."



"We find that the automobile rules of origin idea that was presented, when analyzed, may lead to less regional content than we have now, fewer jobs in the United States, Canada and likely Mexico," he said. "So this is the opposite of what we are trying to do."



Still, Lighthizer said the fact that Canada is willing to discuss core issues like auto parts is encouraging.

"Now they're starting to realize that we have to begin to talk. And that's a reason for guarded optimism," he said.

Lighthizer said the Trump administration's goal coming out of the negotiations is to boost the number of manufacturing jobs in the United States, either by encouraging new investment or by bringing back jobs that had moved to Mexico.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Visva Bharati University is yet to hear from the Centre on who will head the institution even as the officiating Vice Chancellor (VC) retired from his post on Saturday.

Registrar Amit Hazra told PTI that the university is awaiting an announcement from the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) on the issue but there has been no communication from the MHRD till now.

The Visva Bharati University became headless after officiating VC Swapan Kumar Dutta retired on Saturday, which was his last working day.

Hazra, however, said that the functioning of the university remained unaffected today.

"Normal academic and administrative work of the university was in no way affected due to the developments. None is discharging responsibilities at the VC's office now and we are expecting a decision from the MHRD."



Sudipta Bhattacharya, president of Visva Bharati University Faculty Asociation (VBUFA) said, "We went to the Registrar's office to submit a memorandum demanding all the necessary formalities be completed so that the seniormost director may take charge as Vice-Chancellor as per university act."



Dutta had first been appointed as Pro VC on January 31, 2015 and since February 2016 had been working as the officiating VC after the earlier full-time VC was removed from the post by the then President of India Pranab Mukherjee.

Descendant of Rabindranath Tagore's family Supriyo Tagore said, "It is very unfortunate that the central government is not quick enough to appoint a permanent VC for Visva Bharati.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A vegetable vendor from Nalla Sopara near Vasai was yesterday arrested for allegedly raping his 18-year-old neighbour on multiple occasions, police said today.

Senior Inspector Sanjay Hazare of Valiv Police Station said the victim, in her complaint filed yesterday, has stated that the vendor first raped her in March last year when she was alone at home.

"She was having a headache and the accused gave her some tablets which made her drowsy. She has said that he raped her on several occasions by giving her these tablets," the official said.

The accused also threatened to kill the victim in case she revealed her ordeal to anyone, police said.

A case under section 376 (rape), 328 (causing hurt by poison) as well as other sections of the Indian Penal Code has been registered and investigations were underway, he informed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Seasoned diplomat Vijay Keshav Gokhale, considered an expert on China and East Asia, today took charge as India's foreign secretary, a post that he is set to hold for the the next two years.

A 1981-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Gokhale succeeds S Jaishankar.

Gokhale served as secretary (economic relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) before taking up the new role.

As foreign secretary, he will face multiple challenges including improving ties with countries such as Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Myanmar in India's neighbourhood, where China has been seeking to expand its influence.

It will also have to be seen whether he brings certain changes to India's approach in dealing with Pakistan.

Gokhale 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.

His earlier diplomatic assignments include postings in Hong Kong, Hanoi, Beijing and New York. He had also served as Deputy Secretary (Finance), Director (China and East Asia) and Joint Secretary (East Asia) during his stints at the MEA here.

He was High Commissioner of India to Malaysia from January, 2010, to October, 2013, Ambassador of India to the Federal Republic of Germany from October, 2013, to January, 2016, and Ambassador of India to the Peoples Republic of China from January, 2016, to October, 2017.

Gokhale will have a two-year term. Under the rules, the posts of foreign secretary, defence and home secretaries, CBI and IB chiefs are for two years.

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. He replaced Sujata Singh, whose term was abruptly cut short by the government.

A 1977-batch IFS officer, Jaishankar was given a one-year extension in January last year.

US envoy Ken Juster congratulated Gokhale as he took charge of the top post.

"Congratulations on your first day as #ForeignSecretary, Shri Vijay Gokhale! Looking forward to working with you to advance #USIndia relations. Best wishes from all of us at @USAndIndia!," Juster tweeted.

He also congratulated Jaishankar on his three year-long tenure.

"Congratulations Foreign Secretary Dr. S Jaishankar on your great tenure! You are an exemplary diplomat and long-time friend. It has been an honor and pleasure working with you in strengthening #USIndia relations. Good luck my friend!," Juster said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The World Anti-Doping Agency said it had launched an investigation into a possible glitch in drug-testing kits which could allow sample bottles to be opened manually.

WADA said in a statement it had been alerted by an accredited laboratory in Cologne that bottles manufactured by Swiss manufacturer Berlinger could be opened after being frozen.

The glass containers, known as the BEREG-KIT Geneva, were touted as the next generation of sample bottles after being released last year in the wake of the Russian doping scandal that dogged the 2014 Winter Olympics.

It was not clear if the new Berlinger bottles were due to be used at next month's Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

WADA did not immediately respond to a request for clarification from AFP.

In its statement, WADA said it had "initiated an investigation into a potential integrity issue with the new generation BEREG-KIT Geneva security bottles and will recommend appropriate measures, if needed, in order to maintain the integrity of the doping control process."



The agency said it was alerted to the possible flaw by the Cologne laboratory on January 19.

The lab had found that the bottle "may potentially be susceptible to manual opening 'upon freezing' of a sample."



WADA said it had contacted Berlinger over the issue, and the Swiss company later responded that it had been unable to replicate the flaw found by the German laboratory.

"WADA is following up with the Cologne Laboratory and Berlinger to further clarify the testing protocols that have been undertaken to date," WADA said in a statement.

"WADA acknowledges that this situation, if confirmed, will raise concerns and questions. We wish to reassure athletes and other stakeholders that WADA is resolutely committed to following up with Berlinger until the matter is resolved; and that, we will keep stakeholders apprised as the situation evolves," WADA added.

In the 2014 Sochi Olympics doping scandal detailed in a report by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren, investigators discovered that Russian staff involved had developed a method being able to open "tamper-proof" sample bottles undetected.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Supreme Court today said that absconding businesswoman Ritika Awasty, currently residing in London, will have to face the "wrath of law" and it will take "all possible steps" to get her back.

Awasty, a promoter of Bush Foods Overseas Pvt Ltd, is facing trial in Uttar Pradesh on charges of cheating, forgery and criminal breach of trust, but she has been evading arrest after she was allowed to go to London.

The top court said that it will leave no stone unturned to bring back the businesswoman, stressing she cannot be allowed to get away after breaching the court's order.

"We will take all steps possible to get her back. This may be hell for her... There (in the UK) it may be heaven for her but we will not let her live in the heaven for long," a bench of justices Aruna Mishra and Amitava Roy said.

It also denied any interim relief to the woman's mother- in-law, after her property was attached on the order of the apex court on December 15 last year to compel her return from London.

Two properties, including the mother-in-law's house here, were attached on the court's order.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for her mother- in-law, said that his client was 75-years-old and if her property was also attached, there would no place for her to stay.

The court, however, said, "You will have to get her back. Speak to her and ask her to come back. We can modify our order but only after she comes back. Ask her to behave like a good daughter-in-law."



Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, said that as per direction of the court, extradition proceedings will be initiated against her in three weeks.

The bench then posted the matter for further hearing on March 13.

On December 15 last year, the apex court had asked the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government to expeditiously complete proceedings to declare the businesswoman a proclaimed offender and attach her properties in India.

It had said that since her bail had been cancelled by the court after she failed to return to India from the United Kingdom, the proceedings to declare her a proclaimed offender should be completed expeditiously.

Earlier, the apex court had pulled up the Centre for "not even bothering" about its orders on extradition matters and questioned the government's will in getting people evading the law back from foreign countries.

Awasty was allowed by the apex court to travel to London to see her husband and daughter in January 2016 after giving an undertaking that she will return by March 31, 2016.

However, the period was later extended till May 31, 2016, but she did not return from London which compelled the apex court to forfeit her security of Rs 86 lakh, cancel her bail and initiate contempt proceedings.

Awasty had challenged the Allahabad High Court order refusing to quash the FIR lodged against her but was granted bail and allowed to travel abroad by the apex court on an undertaking for looking after her husband and daughter in London.

The court had also revoked her passport after she failed to return to India by May 31, 2016.

On September 12, the court had directed the Centre to take appropriate steps within two weeks thereafter for extradition with the Crown Prosecution Services and sought details of her properties in India.

It had also asked the Centre to submit the income tax returns of Awasty and her husband.

On August 29, 2016, the apex court had said that it was "prima facie satisfied" that Awasty had "committed contempt of this court by breaching the directions issued by the court, as also, violating the undertaking given to this court".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Yemen's embattled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi today said that a "coup" is underway in his government's seat of power in the southern city of Aden, where separatists allied with the United Arab Emirates were battling his forces for a second day.

The violence has killed at least 36 people and wounded 185 since Sunday, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. It has also exposed deep cracks within the Saudi-led coalition, which has been fighting Yemen's Houthi rebels on behalf of Hadi's government since March 2015.

The UAE is a key member of the coalition, but relations with the president have been tense for months.

In the Aden district of Khor Maksar, the two sides deployed tanks and exchanged heavy gunfire as shops and schools remained closed for a second day. Snipers were seen on rooftops and fighting spread to the nearby Crater district.

The clashes left the two districts bitterly divided.

Violence first erupted on Sunday when a deadline issued by the separatists for the government to resign expired.

Yemen's Prime Minister Ahmed Obaid Bin Daghar described the separatists' move as a coup while others pointed to the UAE's role in unleashing forces trained and armed by the Gulf Arab state to attack government offices, forces and allies.

Hadi, who is based in Saudi Arabia, renewed his call for a cease-fire, saying "rebellion and weapons won't achieve peace or build a state."



"The real and the main battle is with Iranian Houthi militias and any other side problems will impact the main battle," he said. "Any assault on legitimacy is a coup."



Coalition spokesman Col. Turki al-Malki said late Sunday the coalition's priority is to deliver humanitarian aid, declining to comment on the violence. In a press conference today, he declined to take a clear stance toward the fighting, and reiterated an earlier call for "self-restraint."The international aid organization OXFAM warned of violence and called for a cease-fire. It pointed to the escalation in fighting elsewhere in the country, including the central city of Taiz, where the aid group was forced to shut down its office temporarily.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement that the situation has "restricted staff movements in and outside of Aden" and that humanitarian flights are on hold after the closure of the airport.

The Saudi-led coalition and the Iran-allied Houthis, who control the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen, have been locked in a bloody stalemate for most of the last three years. The war has left over 10,000 civilians dead and 2 million displaced. The United Nations says Yemen is facing the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)As the 20 shortlisted cities vying to host Amazon.com's second North American headquarters hone their bids to attract thousands of high-paid jobs, they should also plan for rising housing costs and strains on infrastructure, experts said. The winning city should ensure community benefits, such as support for affordable housing, new schools and beefed-up public transport are part of any deal, said academics and city planners. "If the price to pay Amazon exceeds the resources Amazon generates that can be used to manage the stress, the winning city may also be the ...By Gernot HellerBERLIN (Reuters) - The German government has raised its 2018 growth forecast to 2.4 percent from 1.9 percent previously, two people familiar with the updated projections said on Monday.The revision follows a string of bullish economic data that showed Europe's largest economy is still firing on all cylinders after posting its strongest growth rate last year since 2011.The buoyant economic outlook contrasts sharply with the uncertain political picture as Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives struggle to seal a coalition deal with the Social Democrats (SPD) more than four ...(Reuters) - Indian telecoms carrier Reliance Communications Ltd reported a narrower quarterly net loss of 1.30 billion rupees ($20.45 million) on Monday.RCom is selling most of its wireless assets to carrier Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd to raise funds to repay billions of dollars it owes to a clutch of banks.The loss for the three months ended Dec. 31 was RCom's fifth straight quarterly loss but smaller than the net loss of 5.31 billion rupees it reported a year earlier.Revenue from operations fell 31.7 percent to 11.44 billion rupees.($1 = 63.5725 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Tanvi Mehta in ...WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will ask Congress for a three-year-extension of the so-called "fast-track" trade negotiating authority before it expires July 1, Trump's top trade official said on Monday."The president has made the decision, we're going to ask for the extension of fast track authority. And we will get it," U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told reporters after the close of NAFTA talks in Montreal.The extension is "pre-authorized" and would be automatic once Trump requests it unless either chamber of Congress passes a resolution to refuse ...The on Sunday said it would "leave no stone unturned" to ensure the passage of the triple talaq Bill in the session of Parliament starting Monday, and asserted that it would talk to various parties for a consensus on the issue.

The met leaders of political parties at a meeting in Parliament House on Sunday and also sought their cooperation in ensuring the success of the crucial session during which the Union 2018 would be presented.

The all-party meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and Ananth Kumar, besides leaders of the Opposition and other parties.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan also held a dinner meeting with party leaders for the session's smooth functioning and said the leaders had assured her of their cooperation.

ALSO READ: Centre to push for passage of triple talaq Bill in Budget Session

Addressing the floor leaders of the various parties in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Modi said the accords importance to issues raised by the parties and urged their leaders to create a "constructive atmosphere for the national good".

Parliamentary Affairs Minister 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 and persuade and request all political parties so that the Bill is passed in the Rajya Sabha, as it has been in the Lok Sabha," he said when asked about the triple talaq Bill after the meeting.

"We are very hopeful that the Bill, which is going to negate 'Talaq-e-Biddat' and pave the way for empowering Muslim women, will be passed in the Rajya Sabha, too," he said.

Kumar said that he, along with Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel and Arjun Ram Meghwal, will approach various political parties to evolve a consensus for its passage.

"Like the way parties passed the GST unanimously, we are requesting them to pass this Bill, which is going to ban the practice of instant triple talaq (Talaq-e-Biddat) among Muslims," he said.

On the forthcoming session, he said, "We feel the session will be very successful and fruitful".

He said the session was important as the government took suggestions made by various parties during the all-party meeting seriously.

Kumar said the prime minister stressed the need to strengthen the system of Parliamentary Committees, where members spoke freely in the absence of the media and deliberated on issues of national interest.

Modi urged all political parties to avoid "tokenism" in the Standing Committees of Parliament and asked them to give concrete solutions to issues of national importance.

Kumar said the prime minister told leaders of various parties to make the system of committees a role model of participative democracy that could be adopted by state legislatures across the country.

In a lighter vein, he added that Modi, who spoke after the CPI's D Raja, told the meeting, "After Raja, Praja (referring to himself) will speak".

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.

"The matter is before Rajya Sabha. Till the deliberations are going on...It is for the House to decide," Kumar said.

Asked if the Bill would come up during the first part of the session, he replied in the affirmative, adding that it was listed in the business of the House.

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 on Monday to push for unity and discuss ways to together corner the government on disparate issues.

The BJP Parliamentary Party executive will also hold a meeting on Monday, which will be followed by one of NDA constituents, who will also deliberate on their strategy.

"These issues 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 said the Opposition wanted the government to speak in Parliament on issues of public importance such as communal and gender violence.

The session is likely to conclude on April 6, with 31 sittings spread over 68 days. Parliament will be adjourned for a recess on February 9 and reassemble on March 5.

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).The Budget session of the Parliament begins today. As many as 28 bills will be tabled in the Lok Sabha, while 39 bills are listed for the Rajya Sabha for the upcoming session.

On February 1, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present the last full Budget of the present government. This session is extremely crucial for the rulling government, which is set to face eight state elections in 2018 and the General Election in 2019. As much as it crucial because there are eight state elections in 2018 and the General Election in 2019, it is also the first post-GST Budget  with its ...The Economic Survey 2017-18, tabled in Parliament on Monday, forecasts gross domestic product growth for 2018-19 at 7-7.5 per cent, compared with a forecast of 6.75 per cent in the current fiscal year. A series of major reforms undertaken over the past year will allow real GDP growth to reach 6.75 percent this fiscal and will rise to 7.0 to 7.5 per cent in 2018-19, thereby re-instating India as the worlds fastest growing major economy, an official statement said, after the tabling of the survey, adding that the reform measures undertaken in 2017-18 can ...

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Digital EditorStrongly criticising the Economic Survey 2018 for having failed the people, the Congress party said it would need a miracle for the Indian economy to achieve a growth rate of 6.75% in 2017-18 and said the Survey created grounds for almost certain overall economic failure because it was based on premises that were questionable.

In a statement, former finance minister P Chidambaram said the future success of the economy was based on two conditions that were shaky: that the world economy would hold; and oil prices would hold. Neither premise, he said, looks particularly stable. ...Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have invested a phenomenal $3 billion (close to Rs 18,000 crore) in India's capital markets this month on expectations of high yields as corporate earnings are expected to pick up with the economy gathering momentum after the slowdown due to the chaotic implementation of GST.

The sharp increase in inflows comes after an outflow of over Rs 3,500 crore by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) from the capital markets in December, data compiled by depositories shows. According to market analysts money pumped in by FPIs has played a key role in fuelling the bull run in the stock markets that saw both the Sensex and Nifty on a record breaking spree in recent weeks.

FPIs infused a net amount to the tune of Rs 11,759 crore in stocks and Rs 6,127 crore in debt during January 1-25 -- translating into net inflows of Rs 17,866 crore. For the entire 2017, FPIs invested a collective amount of Rs 2 lakh crore in the country's equity and debt markets.

The inflow in the current month can be attributed to anticipation of earnings recovery and attractive yields which is expected to further strengthen inflow from foreign investors in the current financial year, said Dinesh Rohira, CEO of 5nance, an online platform providing financial planning services.

However, Quantum MF Fund Manager-Fixed Income Pankaj Pathak believes that FPIs may not be able to repeat this showing in 2018 as withdrawal of liquidity and rate hikes in developed economies pick up. This would provide them with alternative avenues of investment.

The FPI investments have also helped to bolster the country's foreign exchange reserves which touched an all-time high of USD 414.784 billion in the week to January 19, Reserve Bank data showed. The RBI data showed that the forex reserves rose by USD 959.1 million to touch a record high during the reporting week. In the previous week, the reserves had touched USD 413.825 billion after it rose by USD 2.7 billion.

The reserves had crossed the USD 400-billion mark for the first time in the week to September 8, 2017 but have since been fluctuating. But for the past four weeks the figure has shown a continuous rise. Higher foreign exchange reserves lead to a stronger rupee which in turn reduces the cost of imports as fewer rupees have to be paid to buy the same amount of dollars to pay for items such as crude oil.

A higher foreign exchange kitty also provides a comfortable cushion to finance imports especially at a time when crude prices are shooting up in the international market and the country's trade deficit has been growing. However, while FPI inflows add to the forex reserves they are considered "hot money" as they can leave Indian shores at short notice and this could send the rupee into a tailspin.

A senior finance ministry official said that foreign direct investment (FDI) is a more stable source of funding for the economy and since it also creates jobs and incomes the government is keen to see an increase in such investments. The Prime Minister's trip to Davos was aimed at achieving this goal, he pointed out. He said that the government has been working on the ease of doing business which has seen a sharp increase in FDI inflows and this policy will continue in the forthcoming budget. At the same time the government is keen FPI inflows are not disrupted due to tax levies on stocks that create uncertainties, he added.The Economic Survey tabled in Parliament on Monday highlights several major challenges India is facing. While the report underlines how the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Bankruptcy Code, bank recapitalization, and further liberalisation of the FDI has lifted the country's economic prospects, it also flags concerns over issues like hyper-globalisation, poor education standard, agricultural growth, oil price variation, among others. Here are the key challenges mentioned in the survey.

OIL-PRICE VARIATION: Chief Economist Adviser to the government, Arvind Subramanian said that every $10 per barrel increase in oil price brings down GDP by around 0.2-0.3 percentage points and worsens the CAD (Current Account Deficit) by about $9-10 billion dollars. The survey highlights that against the emerging macroeconomic concerns, policy vigilance will be necessary in the coming year, especially if high international oil prices persist or elevated stock prices correct sharply, provoking a 'sudden stall' in capital flows.

AGRICULTURAL GROWTH: Growth rates of agricultural productivity for richer countries have been consistently greater than for developing countries. The survey says that "for India agricultural productivity growth has been stagnant, averaging roughly 3% over the last 30 years. It is also vulnerable to temperature increase and still heavily dependent on precipitation. For late convergers, agricultural productivity is critical not just for feeding people but for ensuring human capital accumulation in those who move from agriculture to the modern sectors".

STOCK MARKET BUBBLE: Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) Arvind Subramanian has hinted at a bubble kind of situation in the stock market and called for heightened vigilance. "We have seen around the world that when asset prices go up very much, they always tend to come back and so we have to be watchful. The higher the prices go, I think our vigilance should increase correspondingly," says the CEA. The survey also warns of the risks that the economy faces and therefore, asks for exercising caution.



EDUCATIONAL STANDARD: India has failed to provide even the basic education necessary for structural transformation, says the survey. "This is reflected in the finding that in India, roughly 40 to 50% of rural children in grades 3 to 8 cannot meet the basic learning standards. This failure will prove increasingly costly because the human capital frontier for the new structural transformation will shift further away as technology will increasingly favour skilled human capital. There is, however, some consolation that the trend has started to improve since 2014."

POOR TAX COLLECTION IN RURAL AREAS: The survey points out that low level of tax collections by the local governments in rural areas is posing challenge in reconciling fiscal federalism and accountability. "Panchayats received 95 per cent of their revenues from the devolved funds from the centre/state while generating only 5 per cent from own resources. Panchayats in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka do collect some direct taxes while villages in states like Uttar Pradesh almost entirely depend on transfer funds," it says.

HYPER GLOBALISATION CAUSING FALL IN TRADE: The survey highlights how hyper globalisation has caused backlash against globalization, which has affected the growth of "late convergers like India". "Early convergers like Japan, South Korea and China were able to post average export growth rates of over 15 per cent for thirty years of their convergence periods. However, the trading environment has changed for late convergers like India. A backlash in advanced countries against rapid globalization has led to a fall in world trade GDP ratios since 2011. This means a decline in exporting opportunities, especially since politics in advanced countries is moving de facto in the direction of seeking and forcing lower trade GDP ratios".

CORRELATION BETWEEN OVERALL GROWTH, GOOD GROWTH: The country has faced difficulties in transferring resources from low productivity to higher productivity sectors, says the survey, adding that for successful development, resources need to shift from low to high productivity sectors. "Structural transformation gets thwarted if resources shift from informal, low productivity sectors to ones that are only marginally less informal or more productive. Studies in India show a weakening correlation between overall growth and good growth."

DOMESTIC PATENT SYSTEM: Patents reflect a country's standing in technology. According to the WIPO, India has the world's 7th largest Patent Filing Office with around 45,658 patents filed in 2015 as compared to 1,101,864 by China and 589,410 by the USA. "India produces fewer patents per capita. One major challenge in India has been the domestic patent system. Residential applications have increased substantially since India joined the international patent regime in 2005. However, the number of patents granted fell sharply post- 2008 and has remained low. While Indian residents were granted over 5000 patents in foreign offices in 2015, the number of resident filings in India was little over 800."Xiaomi was rumoured to unveil their flagship for 2018 at the Mobile World Congress 2018. A report from India Today Tech suggests that this might not be the case. According to a source close to the Chinese manufacturer, Xiaomi might unveil the flagship after the MWC concludes. On the other hand, the company is expected to launch the Mi Mix 2S and their own Surge S2 chipset at the MWC 2018.

Mi Mix 2S will be a first for the company after introducing yearly updates to its bezel-less display. The company brought futuristic Mi Mix series to India last year for the first time. The device got various price cuts during the sale season.

Mi Mix 2, the second iteration of Xiaomi's original series, was launched around six months back and it seems the company is looking forward to push out a mid-year update which will either be a cheaper version of the bezel-less phone or will introduce incremental changes to the existing one.

A new leak on Chinese social media network, Weibo reports that Xiaomi is planning to launch a new Mi Mix series smartphone before the mega event, MWC 2018. If this leak is to be believed, the device will continue to share the DNA of previous two Mi Mix smartphones and will be unveiled before February 26.

Earlier, there were speculations that the next iteration of Mi Mix would feature an iPhone X-like notch but a render leaked by Slashleaks claims otherwise. The device, however, does feature a notch on the top right corner, which essentially houses the front camera. The Mi Mix 2S might still use the narrow bezel on top to house the speaker.

Given the flagship specifications on the Mi Mix 2, it's to be seen if Xiaomi will go with the same Snapdragon 835 chipset or use the Snapdragon 845. Considering it to be an incremental update we can expect Xiaomi to continue with the current chipset.

One of the biggest downfalls of the current device, the camera, might witness a major improvement. However, leaks suggest that Xiaomi won't be opting for a dual lens setup with the Mi Mix 2S. If the next update takes care of the camera faults, the device can have a great chance of succeeding in the premium smartphone segment.

Recently, reports from Canlys and Counterpoint claimed that Xiaomi overtook industry leader Samsung in terms of sales. For the first time in six years, Samsung has been pushed down to the second slot. This achievement can be attributed to Xiaomi's popular Redmi series that brings more value for money propositions to the budget segment.

The Mi Mix 2, though received well by the global tech community, hasn't been able to crack the Indian market. As a result, the company has offered heavy discounts every now and then to make it more competitive. The device faces major competition from the likes of OnePlus 5T.| BY Ricki Green |

M&C Saatchi has appointed the highly regarded Paul Coles from GPY&R/VML to group head on IAGs direct insurance brands NRMA, SGIO and SGIC as well as other key agency accounts.

Widely considered one of the best suits in the business, Coles will lead the nations largest insurer in the position newly created after M&C Saatchi won the account in a pitch that comprised incumbent Whybin\TBWA earlier this year.

M&C Saatchi recently launched the NRMADE Better brand platform off which a number of campaigns are being rolled out, all to wide acclaim.

Coles comes off a stellar four years at Y&R where he was group account director and new business lead, instrumental in the significant agency growth of late and winning key clients: Emirates, NSW Government and Brown Forman among others.

He was also integral in launching digital offering VML into the Australian market.

Highlights of his time at Y&R include leading the St Vincents Signed Finds campaign which won numerous Effies and propelled the agency to Most Effective of the Year in 2012.

Indeed, Coles was the most creatively awarded suit in the Y&R Group with success at the likes of Cannes, AWARD, SXSW, One Show, Spikes, AIMIA, IAB and ADMA.

Prior to Y&R, Coles spent a number of years as an account director in the UK at Saatchi & Saatchi London where he helped lead the Visa Europe and T-Mobile accounts and then JWT where he looked after Nestle and HSBC.

A move to JWT Sydney in April 2009 brought the New Zealander back to this part of the world.

Says Jaimes Leggett, M&C Saatchi Australia CEO: Pauls experience, skillset and sheer business acumen are best in market and a perfect fit for this major role within our group.

Pauls record speaks for itself. He possesses a razor-sharp strategic mind, a highly attuned business sense and a passion for people and creativity. We are thrilled to have him on board.

Coles said it was impossible to say no, when the opportunity arose to join M&C Saatchi.

The vision for the agency, their willingness to invest in change, the calibre of the talent and an enviable client list  it was all really impressive. I am excited to be a part of it all.| BY Ricki Green |

Switzerland has held its position as the No. 1 country in the world, according to the 2018 Best Countries report, a rankings and analysis project by U.S. News & World Report, Y&Rs BAV Group and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Australia moves up one place from No. 8 in the overall rankings to No. 7. Topping the rankings for economically stable and No. 2 for family friendly, but Australia only just makes the top 10 for gender equality and slides lower to No. 16 for most powerful countries.

Key information for Australia:

Ranked #5 Best Country  Quality of Life

Ranked #8 Best Country  Citizenship

Ranked #9 Best Country  Cultural Influence

Ranked #11 Best Country  Adventure

Ranked #13 Best Country  Entrepreneurship

Ranked #14 Best Country  Open For Business

Ranked #16 Best Country  Power

Ranked #22 Best Country  Movers

Ranked #28 Best Country  Heritage

In its third year, the rankings evaluate 80 countries across a range of criteria, from economic influence and power to citizenship and quality of life, to capture how nations are perceived on a global scale.

Says Phil McDonald, CEO, Y&R Australia and NZ: Australia moving above the USA to No. 7 country on the rankings is an admirable result. The result is driven by positive perceptions around attributes like stability, friendliness and trustworthiness. They are all incredibly powerful attributes, but we need to broaden our appeal on the world stage. An increased focus on improving our perceptions around dynamism, business and technology will help us continue our march up the list. We barely make the top 20 for technologically advanced countries and rank 60th for affordability and 30th for a favourable tax system for business. Like all brands we need to broaden our appeal and be confident in what we can deliver. We punch above our weight, but these results show we can go so much further as a nation.

Key Findings in the 2018 Best Countries Report:

 Switzerland is No. 1, followed by No. 2 Canada, as countries with more progressive social and environmental policies dominate the overall rankings. Nordic nations  Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway  rank in the top 15 overall. Denmark is the No. 1 country for raising children and for women. Sweden takes the top spot for green living, and Norway ranks at the top for citizenship.

 Germany moved up one spot to No. 3, replacing the U.K., which fell to No. 4. Germanys reputation as an open nation with government transparency and strong gender equality led to its rise in the rankings. The U.K.s drop, however, signals a growing lack of confidence in its economic strength post-Brexit.

 Japan remains at No. 5, scoring high marks in entrepreneurship, up-and-coming economies and rich traditions. Singapore and China, at No. 16 and No. 20 respectively, follow among the highest ranked countries in Asia. Both nations are viewed as having a strong potential for economic growth.

 The U.S. falls one spot to No. 8, after No. 6 Sweden and No. 7 Australia. It drops in two important categories: open for business, which looks at market-oriented countries, and movers, which evaluates nations with up-and-coming economies. Perceptions of the U.S. as politically stable, democratic and having an open travel policy have decreased. However, the nation remains No. 1 in power for the third year, closely followed by Russia at No. 2.

 Luxembourg is the most business-friendly nation, Germany is No. 1 in entrepreneurship and Switzerland is the best to headquarter a corporation. The U.K. leads in education, Canada is No. 1 for quality of life and New Zealand is the favorite for retirement. Brazil is the No. 1 country to visit, and Italy ranks highest as the nation with the richest traditions.

Says David Sable, global CEO, Y&R: For the countries that rose to the top of this years rankings, it is once again clear that military vigor and economic power are no longer the key determinants to a countrys brand success. The Best Countries rankings continue to show us that just as brands must focus on a wide range of attributes to raise profiles and win over audiences, nations that are multidimensional and that reflect a wider range of qualities, such as innovation and compassion have the brand appeal that propels them on the global stage.

The 2018 Best Countries ranking methodology relies on data gathered from a proprietary survey of more than 21,000 business leaders, informed elites and general citizens.

Says David Reibstein, professor of marketing at the Wharton School: The Best Countries report speaks to the effect a nations brand can have on its economic prosperity and perceived standing in the world.

2018 Best Countries Rankings: Overall

1. Switzerland

2. Canada

3. Germany

4. United Kingdom

5. Japan

6. Sweden

7. Australia

8. United States

9. France| BY Ricki Green |

BMF has poached M&C Saatchis client service director, Paul Coles to run ALDI, Australias fastest growing retailer and the agencys biggest client. In his role as general manager, Coles will be responsible for leading a team of over 60 people and will report to managing director, Steve McArdle.

Coles comes to BMF with 15 years of experience in the advertising industry and is widely considered one of the best suits in the business. He spent the last three and a half years at M&C Saatchi, initially leading the IAG Group business before moving into M&Cs retail start-up, 1440, as part of the management team for the last 18 months.

Prior to that, he spent a stellar four years at Y&R / VML where he was group account director and new business lead, instrumental in the significant agency growth during his time there, winning key clients: Emirates, NSW Government and Brown Forman among others.

Before landing in Sydney, Coles spent a number of years in the UK at Saatchi & Saatchi London leading the Visa Europe and T-Mobile accounts and JWT London on Nestle and HSBC.

Throughout his career, Coles has been widely awarded with recognition across international and local award shows: Cannes, AWARD, One Show, Spikes, SXSW, ADMA, Effies and more.

Says McArdle: Paul has an exceptional track record of running big, fast moving and complex accounts. Combine this with his passion for the creative product and easy-going charm and you have the perfect fit for BMF and the ALDI business. Were excited to have him leading the charge.| BY Lynchy |

72andSunny expands its leadership presence in Singapore with new Managing Director, Lisi Davis, who joins 72andSunny Singapores current Executive Creative Director, Johnny Tan and Director of Talent and Operations, Chiew Ling Tan.

As with Johnny, Chiew Ling, and the rest of our growing team, we feel with Lisi we have found someone who has great global credentials, deep regional experience and sensibilities, and most importantly is just a nice and smart team player, said Chris Kay, Managing Director and Partner. We cant wait to see the work that this mix will bring to Singapore and beyond.

Davis (pictured left) joins from TBWA\Media Arts Lab Shanghai where she served as Managing Director, leading the Apple business in China for the last three years. Davis has also worked at Ogilvy & Mather as the North Asia Regional Business Director for Dove China, BBDO Worldwide as a Vice President/Account Director on Henkel & Wrigley International and Leo Burnett Tokyo as Vice President/Account Director on P&G Beauty Care.news, latest-news

Launched in Copenhagen in 2014, GoBoats are self-drive, Scandinavian picnic boats for hire, with no boat license required. The stylish boats have popped up at venues across Denmark, Sweden and London. Lake Burley Griffin was the obvious next choice. GoBoat Canberra arrived in the nation's capital in November 2017, after owner Nick Tyrrell and his wife first discovered them when in Stockholm for a friend's wedding. The boats are docked at Trevillian Quay at Kingston Foreshore - there are eight in the total fleet - and the biggest coup is you don't need a boat license to be the skipper; anyone can hire them. Owner Nick invited us for a spin when the first boat arrived on the lake, after its long journey from the factory in Croatia. With my captain's hat firmly on, I stepped down into the boat from the jetty. It's a little bit of a step, but even recovering from surgery for a broken foot, I had no trouble getting in. I had never driven a boat before - unsurprisingly you're more likely to find me relaxing on a boat, with the wind in my hair and glass of champas in my hand. Nick assured me it would take less than five minutes for me to get the hang of the steering, and he wasn't wrong. You rotate the handle one way to go, the other way to stop, and move it left and right to steer. It's as simple as it sounds. The boats, which are constructed from 80 per cent recycled PET bottles, have a table in the middle and seating around the outside, seating up to eight people, including the skipper who sits at the back. They're also dog friendly. Food and drinks are BYO, and there's plenty of table space for a picnic spread, plus four drink holders for if things get a bit choppy. The boats are licensed, so take the bubbly, but for the skipper the same blood alcohol limit laws apply as to drivers of vehicles. The boats don't go particularly fast - which was one of the requirements to make the boats available to those without a license. Navigating through the quay at the Foreshore it simple, but it feels like you're moving quickly because the buildings are close. But once you're out on the lake, things feel much slower. It takes a lot longer to get places than you might think - GoBoat Canberra has a map which will give you a good idea of where you get to in your allocated time. There's only one major rule, which is that you must have the boat back on time, ready for the next booking. It's actually something which, if you're not paying attention, is harder to stick to than you might think. But with the late fee at $50 per 15 minutes overtime, it's something you'd want to stick to. For some, seeing the price has been a deterrent, but when you break it down, as long as you've got a group, it's quite reasonable. Rental starts at $95 for one hour, $169 for two hours, or $239 for three. Between eight people, for two hours, it's around $20 each. Which is about the same as a movie ticket. I'd only ever been out on the lake twice - once to try out dragon boating and once stand-up paddleboarding - and while I had enjoyed both of those, it was nice to be out there in a relaxing capacity and able to soak up the views. I've always thought the lake was underutilised, and this is a great way for anyone to get out there. Plus who doesn't love their day with a side of Scandinavian chic? Verdict: I absolutely loved being out on the lake and getting to cruise around. Canberra is stunning from the lake - and being on the boat provides a really different view of all the national monuments. In my opinion it's also one of the best picnic spots around. The only thing I would suggest is definitely bring a hat - it can get quite hot in the sun. Details: GoBoat Canberra leaves from Wharf 2, Trevillian Quay at Kingston Foreshore. Bookings available online at goboatcanberra.com.au. Follow Jil Hogan on Facebook and Instagram.

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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. The tribunal heard he had attempted many forms of treatment and rehabilitation, including a heat packs, wearing a brace, hydrotherapy, chiropractic treatment, laser treatment, physiotherapy, needle acupuncture, analgesic and neuralgic medication, and massage. In 2016, after Comcare denied liability to continue paying compensation for his remedial massage therapy, stating: "Given the amount of massage received, it is reasonable now to conclude that any claimed therapeutic benefits is doubtful, accordingly I can't be satisfied that ongoing massage can still be considered as reasonable." The man accepted he had received many massages since his injury, but sought a review of the decision, claiming "The only medical treatment that assists me is remedial massage". But Comcare affirmed its original decision, noting records showed he had received received 1206 massage treatments over a period of 19 years. The man appealed the decision to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the matter was heard in December. The tribunal heard evidence from a number of medical experts, with opinions split on the value of continued massage treatment and the ongoing effects of the 1984 injury. The man's treating medical team argued the accident continued to contribute to his pain, while acknowledging he suffered from both a degenerative spinal disease and diabetes However, evidence from other specialists found the effects of the workplace injury had resolved and his current conditions had been caused by age related spinal disease and diabetes. Tribunal deputy president John Sosso, in a decision published earlier this month, said the tribunal had to decide if there was "a relational connection between the massage therapy and the compensable injury". Mr Sosso found the injury had resolved and affirmed Comcare's decision to stop paying for the rub-downs. "The overwhelming weight of specialist medical evidence supports the contention of the [Comcare] that the 1984 injury no longer negatively impacts on the Applicant's condition, and his underlying spinal disease and diabetes have 'taken over'," the decision read. "In short, the aggravation of the applicant's underlying condition brought about by the 1984 accident has resolved and is no longer a cause, let alone the primary cause, of his current condition. "It therefore follows that the massage treatment obtained by the applicant is not medical treatment obtained in relation to his compensable injury as that injury at some time after 1984, but certainly before the reviewable decision, resolved itself."

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When 23-year-old Jessica Neal found out she would be moving to Canberra to study at the Australian National University she was excited about the move to the nation's capital. What she didn't expect was facing the prospect of having to couch surf just to put a roof over her head as her ambitions came up against the territory's soaring rental market. Miss Neal is one of hundreds of students joining long lines at rental property inspections, as a combination of climbing rental prices, an influx of public servants and defence recruits moving into town and a busy period of the year combine to push many properties out of reach for students. According to data from Domain, the cost of renting a house in Canberra skyrocketed eight per cent in a year, and is now the third highest in the country behind Darwin and Sydney. Apartment rents in Canberra are second only to Sydney. The median cost for renting an apartment in Canberra was $430, behind Sydney at $545. Miss Neal transferred from a law degree in Queensland to the Juris Doctor program at the Australian National University in 2016. After a year at her current share house she has been forced back into the rental market after the owners decided to sell the property. Miss Neal, whose lease ends next Friday, said she was desperate to find a place after originally planning to renew her contract. "We only found this out just over two weeks ago that the owners wanted to sell so we made the decision to vacate the house which left me with very little time to find somewhere new to live," she said. "I've been trying to maintain a good attitude about it, and I have lovely friends that have offered their couch to sleep and their garages to store my things, but you constantly have this ticking time bomb in the back of your head knowing you need to find a place to live within a very short span of time." LJ Hooker executive property manager Susie Weaver said historically this was the busiest time of the year. "The rental market in Canberra is largely made up of defence members, public servants, new graduates, and students therefore their employment contracts and studies all commence around the same time," Ms Weaver said. She said it was harder for students to enter the rental market. "They are usually looking for larger homes for group housing accommodation which decreases their chances because there's limited larger homes on the market in the inner city." Miss Neal said being thrown back into the rental market was hard, but said because it was in January and February it was made more stressful. "This time of year is particularly the worst because so many people are moving to Canberra as well, to start new jobs where they can afford to take up nicer places. "I've lived in some terrible houses out of desperation, and some really lovely ones too where I've been really lucky." She said she was so desperate, she had considered looking into house sitting jobs in the meantime. "I even looked into storing my stuff for a while and how much that would cost." Miss Neal said at the last inspection in the inner north, she had to wait in line for 10 minutes to "take a stroll through a house because there were so many people." International student, Taneesh Raj Ahmad, will be moving to Canberra from India in the first week of February to start his masters of finance at ANU. "I've been looking for a place for a while and applied in the university but they didn't give me an offer," Mr Ahmad said. "I've been looking for an accommodation for the past two months and I haven't been successful up until now. "Canberra, it is expensive, but I guess Australia as a whole has a high cost of living and I signed up for it." The ANU postgraduate and research students association is running a survey to find out what experiences postgraduate students are having finding accommodation. If you are an ANU postgraduate or research student you can find the survey here.

/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/5dd9dddf-71a1-4757-8f0f-bca0cb8fad36/r0_124_2000_1254_w1200_h678_fmax.jpgThe internet was a huge inspiration to the film, and it created the films structural framework, Braxton told Cartoon Brew. Ill go from looking at puppies, to dance videos, to police murdering an innocent man in the streets.

The shorts fragmentary narrative can indeed seem as disorienting as the experience of spending a few hours online, but Braxton ties it all together with a compulsively watchable cg style and an underlying message that resonates, particularly for people living in the United States.

Kudos to the Sundance short film jury that picked Braxtons film. That jury was comprised of Garbage lead vocalist Shirley Manson, cartoonist Chris Ware, and filmmaker/tv director Cherien Dabis (Amreeka, The L Word, Empire).

Ware, who presented the award, gave the following jury statement:

This film traces a thread of American history both damning and complex, with a mind-blowing and fresh language of imagery, avatar, and sound. As a cartoonist myself, I know how much thought and effort something this dense, trippy, and serious takes to make.

It sometimes seems like major film events just dont get it when they honor animated filmmaking, but with Jeron Braxton and Glucose, Sundance couldnt have chosen a more exciting and fresher voice on the American animation scene.

To learn more about Glucose, check out our visual essay with comments from the filmmaker.John Thomson

Fine Furniture At Its Best

I was in a meeting one morning when I ran into Dan Hilbrecht Jr., the CEO of Hilbrecht Fine Furniture in Kelowna. It's one of those businesses that have been here for a long time, plays a very low key role in the business community locally, but does business in fine furniture all over the world.



It is a family owned business that produces some of the most striking furniture for hotels and resorts. I asked Dan how the company gets the jobs.



"We receive most of our business from specific hotel chains and they need the furniture to order. At the present time I have twenty major jobs on the drawing board, one of them being the Hyatt Vancouver's 600 rooms. Hotels hire designers and they have the contracts to remodel or design new projects."



The work in the factory that was going on was a complete make over of the Hilton Hotel in San Francisco.



"Designers come to us with their ideas, their concepts and we begin work, suggesting whatever changes we feel will be important to the finished product. Then we price the job so that the designers can take it back to their customer for approval or any final changes that may have to take place. We then have a time line so we can schedule the work in the factory."



How did the family get into this fine furniture business in the first place?



"It started out with Canadian designers, word of mouth for the first few years and now we attend the Las Vegas Hospitality and Design Show, the biggest in North America and we show there every year.



That has brought us a lot of recognition and referrals and in most cases the jobs. I was just reading where the hotel business on the American side has turned itself around and we can certainly tell from the orders we are receiving. Trying to keep up has become a serious challenge because of the lack of qualified workers being available.



I have been working with Okanagan College to get them to teach the apprenticeship program on benchwork and joinery. The college here for years has done the carpentry trades but never the joinery programme. So they finally bit the bullet and are offering first and second year joinery apprenticeship programs. I sent some of my staff to Vancouver for the BCIT programs to go to school but for anyone who has a young family that is almost impossible. In May the first class starts and we have at least five of our apprentices attending their first year. The class is for fifteen and it is full. We offer a full apprenticeship program here."



Have you attempted to pick up the slack by having some products made offshore?



"We did for a while two years ago but never again. We were finding that the samples of the products we needed were being made in one factory and they were fine but then it was farmed out to factories all over the place and the quality did not meet our standards."



How many people do you have working in the factory?



"Forty five, I could use sixty right now. We have a real push on for trades right now, for workers in general for the plant. We have to steal them because they just are not available."



You said the Hyatt Vancouver a moment ago. The company does a lot of work for the Hyatt chain?



"Yes. It's an important account. We just finished the Hyatt Key West in Florida."



On my list of projects for the Valley I have twenty four hotels/resorts/spas under construction or about to be. Would you be working with some of them?



"This is our biggest year ever here at home. We might have done one project a year but this year we have two, Playa del Sol, and the Cove Beach Resort. We have already done work for the Manteo, Eldorado, Grand and the Ramada."



What have the big changes in hotel rooms been over the years since you've been in business?



"The quality is very high, way higher than it was thirty years ago. We are seeing a lot of European designs. The furniture is much more residential. A hotel room is built to last at least ten to fifteen years."



When did you start this business?



"My dad and I started this business in 1982 after I had finished school and got a degree in computer science from the University of Calgary."



Where do you get most of your raw materials from?



"The Pacific North West. Washington produces some fine maple. About five years ago we had to get materials from Eastern Canada and U.S. but that has changed. The new technologies has really been important to the improvement of our maples out here. What we use most is western maple and a lot of that comes from the coast. Maple wears well because of the finishes we can apply. We can make maple look like oak, or mahogany, or medium cherry. There are a lot of finishes you can put on maple that really works well with the designers."



We walked all over the busy plant where forty five workers were finishing jobs. Everything from the beginning where the computerized saw was cutting out pieces by analyzing the board and making the decision on what parts could be cut out of that particular board, all the way through to the shipping room where the finished pieces were being packed. It was a hive of activity.



They do beautiful work and the quality is very impressive. It was hard to realize as we went through the plant, that back in 1982 all the work was done by hand. It is quite a process.Photo: The Canadian Press 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. (Cambodian National Police via AP)

Two Canadians are among 10 foreigners charged in Cambodia with producing pornographic pictures, after they were arrested at a party where they were dancing and rolling around on the floor with clothes on.

According to a media release by Cambodian national police, the two Canadian nationals facing charges are 20-year-old Kazoleas Edensaran and 25-year-old Jessica Drolet.

Police say they raided a rented villa near the country's famed Angkor Wat temple on Thursday, where the foreigners were taking part in what organizers billed as a pub crawl.

Authorities say they found people "dancing pornographically."

Pictures of the party provided by Cambodian police show multiple men and women dancing on the floor, some in sexually suggestive positions, while still wearing clothes.

A police release says 87 foreigners were arrested in total, but claims the 10 people charged were organizers of the event.

In addition to the two Canadians, five British nationals, one Norwegian, one New Zealander and one person from the Netherlands were arrested. 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.

Global Affairs Canada said it was providing consular services to the Canadians detained in Cambodia.

"Consular officials are in contact with local authorities to gather additional information," a spokesman said, adding that he wouldn't comment further to protect the privacy of those involved.Photo: Lori Mitchell

A vehicle flipped on Silver Star Road in Vernon Sunday morning.

The people inside the vehicle managed to free themselves and appeared to have no serious injuries.

The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.

The roadways across the Okanagan are treacherous following significant snowfall and DriveBC recommends avoiding the roadways if possible, or to drive with extra caution.Photo: The Canadian Press

Quebec's provincial long-gun registry is set to come into effect on Monday  the one-year anniversary of the Quebec City mosque shooting.

Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux told reporters on Sunday that gun owners will have one year to register their existing firearms through a "simple, quick, free" process that can be done online.

The process requires them to provide a detailed description of the firearm as well as proof of identity.

He called the registry "an important tool" that will both prevent and solve crimes by allowing authorities to trace a gun's ownership.

"It will help for suicide prevention, domestic violence prevention, the kind of operation by police forces when they know who is owning what (firearm), where, and how many," he told reporters in Montreal.

Coiteux said the Jan. 29 date was not chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the mosque shooting where six men died, adding that he wants to treat the events separately.

"I don't want to mix the two issues. They're not mixed in the mind of the government or in my mind either," he said.

The province began plans to establish the log after the Conservative government abolished the federal long-gun registry in 2012.

A Quebec judge upheld the constitutionality of the registry last October, after a legal challenge sought to block it on the grounds that it infringed on federal jurisdiction.

The National Firearms Association, in conjunction with a Quebec-based pro-gun lobby group, had argued in court that the province was wading into federal territory when it passed its own long-gun registry law in June 2016.

Opponents of the registry have also argued that it will be unworkable and costly, as well as ineffective in stopping those who are intent on committing crimes.

The registry is expected to cost about $20 million and is within budget so far.

The now-defunct federal long-gun registry was created by the Liberals in 1998 in response to the murder of 14 women at Montreal's Ecole polytechnique in 1989. They were targeted by a gunman because of their gender.

Heidi Rathjen, a survivor of the massacre and spokesperson for gun control advocacy group PolySeSouvient, said the provincial registry is "great news.

"We still have people who die from preventable gun violence, and we can do better," she told reporters at the news conference.

"It's by looking at what could have been done to prevent the access to firearms for certain individuals that we're going to move forward and reduce the chances of these events happening again."Photo: The Canadian Press A group of Canadian and American politicians gather for a breakfast conversation about NAFTA during the current round of talks in Montreal, on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018.

Here's a summary of where the NAFTA talks stand after a week-long round in Montreal. The round officially concludes Monday with meetings between the political ministers leading the negotiations for Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

Chapters: A chapter on anti-corruption measures was concluded in Montreal. Officials from one country say chapters on telecommunications and digital trade are also more than 90 per cent done.

Autos: The countries have begun a real dialogue. Previous rounds saw acrimony over a U.S. demand that 85 per cent of a car's parts be North American  a major increase from the current 62.5 per cent requirement  and 50 per cent be American to avoid a tariff. Some in the auto sector called that idea so unworkable it would induce companies to move to Asia and simply pay the import tariff. At this round, Canada proposed a major overhaul: include the value of intellectual property in the calculation, instead of just parts, thereby inflating U.S. numbers while being less disruptive to the industry. The countries are now analyzing how such formulas could work.

Chapter 11: The Americans want it to be voluntary for countries to participate in the investor-state system, which allows companies to sue countries for discriminatory treatment. The Canadians and Mexicans worked out a proposal on Chapter 11. Their idea would essentially sideline the Americans, creating a new investor-state system that applies only to them. Under the Canadian proposal, backed by Mexico, the U.S. would be prevented from participating in or developing the rules of the new system: "We basically said to them, 'If you want to opt out that's fine, you're gone,''' one non-American said.

Sunset clause: The U.S. has proposed a clause that would automatically terminate NAFTA every five years, unless renewed by all three countries. The other countries called that unworkable, and a constant chill on investment, akin to placing an automatic-divorce clause in a marriage license. The Canadians offered new ideas at this round for how the review clause might work. One suggestion is for NAFTA's central body, the Free Trade Commission, to produce regular updates on how the agreement is working.

Dairy: The U.S. wants to end, within a decade, Canada's supply-management system, which limits imports on milk, cheese and poultry, and sets minimum prices. The U.S. also wants to end a special program, known as Class 7, which lets Canadian producers sell certain cheese-making proteins at lower worldwide prices, squeezing out some imports from Americans who have an excess supply. Sources say Canada has not made any counter-offers in Montreal.

Buy American: The U.S. wants limits on how many public contracts can be won by its free-trade neighbours. In October, it proposed limiting Canada and Mexico to one dollar of contracts for every dollar in contracts granted by Canada and Mexico to American companies. Sources say there was no major engagement on this at the Montreal round.

What's next: Future talks are slated for late February in Mexico, then for Washington a month later. U.S. President Donald Trump has a decision to make by about March: start cancelling NAFTA, keep negotiating, or pause until the fall. The new engagement at this round has some insiders hoping he might avoid cancelling the deal.Photo: Contributed

Over 600 members from the Okanagan building industry came together to celebrate their successes.

The industry's finest gathered for the annual Tommie Awards Gala, which was hosted at the Delta Grand Hotel in Kelowna on Saturday evening.

It was an especially big night for Vernon-based company Bercum Builders They brought home four of the six gold awards they were nominated for, including 'Home of the Year,' which means the house qualifies for a provincial Georgie award in March.

Darren Witt, owner of Bercum Builders, credited his relationships with his team members as making the award possible.

"Its important to have a top-notch team that is committed to excellence. We are privileged to work with the very best in the business," Witt said.

The property that won the award is a waterfront home that has been described as "jaw-dropping," featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and concrete and steel construction.

It also won the Bercum team victories in the Excellence in Outdoor Living Spaces and Excellence in Single Family Detached Home over $5 million categories.

It was an honour to have been nominated. And we are elated to have won. It feels great to be recognized," Witt said. "At the end of the day, its important to bring recognition to the construction industry."

Photo: Contributed

A distress signal out of the backcountry north of Lumby, B.C. has turned out to be a false alarm.

A group of three Vernon snowbikers were riding in the Park/Nelson Mountain area Saturday afternoon when their InReach satellite GPS system transmitted an SOS signal, triggering automatic phone calls to their families.

Family members phoned police, and a ground search began using plotted GPS points from the distress call. Snowfall and sunset added to the urgency of the situation.

When Vernon Search and Rescue were nearing the head of the trail, radio contact was made with the bikers. It was eventually discovered that the group's InReach gear was inadvertently switched on while in their bag.

Vernon Search and Rescue hope the public will learn the lesson that all emergency gear should be checked and stored properly before and after any trip.

They also wish to thank the families of this group for alerting authorities quickly once they received the distress call, rather than waiting.Photo: Contributed

Just when I think Ive seen everything, I see something else. Usually, thats good! I learned two things last week researching weird things.

I live in Canada, but my computer thinks Im in Brazil.

Last week, a new customer mentioned that the time and date was wrong on her computer. You wouldnt think thats a big deal, but a wrong date/time can create problems.

For some reason, her computer was on Brasilia Time. I checked the location settings, and everything said Canada, Canadian English.

I changed the time zone in settings manually, but when I turned everything back to automatic, the computers time automatically went back to the wrong time zone.

That was a new one on me, and I thought it was a one-off. Her computer was malware-free, wasnt having any other problems, and when I manually set the time and time zone instead of letting it discover the time zone itself, everything was fine.

Then, the same thing happened to one of the computers here.

I found something that fixes the problem. There are more complicated solutions, but I suggest trying this one first. If it doesnt work, then look at the complicated ones.

Right-click on the taskbar clock

Click on Adjust date/time

If your Time zone says Brasilia (and thats not where you are) move the sliders to turn off Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically

Press the WindowsKey and the S key at the same time to open search

Begin typing Control Panel until you see it in the search results

Click on Control Panel

Make sure youre in Icon view

Click on Date and Time | Internet Time | Change settings

Use the dropdown arrow to select time.nist.gov

Click on Update now | OK

Restart the computer

Right-click on the taskbar clock

Click on Adjust date/time

Move the sliders to turn on Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically

Your time zone, date, and time should now be correct.



Media Player worked fine, but suddenly it vanished.

Microsoft adds a little something every time a Windows 10 Upgrade rolls out.

Gee, thats nice, said practically no one ever.

But wait, theres more.

Turns out they remove a little something, too.

Sometimes you dont notice right away. I still get plenty of questions from people using Windows Live Mail, even though Microsoft no longer supports it.

Did you notice that?

You also may not have realized that Windows Media Player is on its way out. I certainly didnt know that because Ive been using an alternative for years. But readers have been emailing me asking how to get it back.

Apparently, when you install the Fall Creators Update, it disables and hides Windows Media Player.

Why? Beats me.

Heres how to get it back (at least for now):

Start | Settings | Apps | Apps & Features

Click on Manage optional features | Add a feature

Scroll down to Windows Media Player

Click on Install

Go grab a Pepsi and a slice. This is going to take some time. Once the process completes, click on the shiny new Windows Media Player shortcut in your Start Menu to fire up the app.

How long are we going to be allowed to use this legacy program? No idea. There are plenty of alternatives! The best video player is VLC player, available here.

Please, please, please download it from that (safe) page.

VLC will also play music, but its not as easy to navigate for music as Windows Media Player. You could use the built-in Windows Media Player replacement, called Groove Music, but its kind of terrible. Our friends at MakeUseOf.com recommend some for you.

And, of course, theres always iTunes, which is also terrible, but which is currently the only player I can find that will allow me to download podcasts and transfer them to my out-of-date-but-beloved iPod Nano seventh generation.



Have you had something weird happen on your computer? Youre probably not alone. Tell me about it at [email protected] and maybe well all learn something.Photo: CTV

Actor Alec Baldwin is once again using Twitter to question Dylan Farrow's allegations of sexual abuse from her adoptive father Woody Allen.

Baldwin on Sunday compared Farrow to the "To Kill a Mockingbird" novel character Mayella Ewell, who falsely accuses a man of rape.

Earlier this month, Baldwin said Farrow's renunciation of Allen and his work is "unfair and sad."

Farrow has said Allen molested her in an attic in 1992 when she was 7 years old.

Allen has long denied the allegations and was investigated but not charged.

Farrow in January gave her first on-camera interview to "CBS This Morning" about her longstanding abuse allegations against the 82-year-old filmmaker.

Baldwin in his tweet credited Farrow for having "persistence of emotion" but did not explain what he meant by that.Photo: The Canadian Press

The former president of Ontario's Progressive Conservative party, who stepped down late Sunday night, is reportedly facing sexual misconduct allegations.

Rick Dykstra announced his resignation late Sunday in a Twitter statement hours before Maclean's Magazine published allegations that Dykstra was accused of sexually assaulting a young Conservative staffer in 2014, when he was an MP.

In Dykstra's statement, he wrote he would "step aside" to let someone else take the helm as the party chooses its new leader.

He did not reference any of the allegations reported by Maclean's, but the magazine said Dykstra told them he "will be responding."

Maclean's said the staffer reported the incident to Ottawa police in 2014, saying that Dykstra sexually assaulted her after a party.

The magazine reported that senior Conservative campaign operatives were aware of the allegations and decided to allow him to run anyway.

Dykstra went on to lose his St. Catharines riding, and became president of Ontario's Progressive Conservatives.

The allegations against Dykstra have not been proven in court, and have not been verified by The Canadian Press.

His resignation came just days after Patrick Brown quit as party leader amid sexual misconduct allegations, and on the same day as a major shakeup that included two key staff members returning to jobs they had quit just days earlier.

Chief of Staff Alykhan Velshi and communications director Nick Bergamini were among four key party members who resigned Wednesday night, just minutes before CTV News aired graphic allegations made against Brown by two women. The allegations have not been independently verified by The Canadian Press, and Brown has said they are "categorically untrue."Photo: Thinkstock.com

The war on drugs may move to a new battlefield in Canada, if Liberal MPs get their way: the 2019 federal election campaign.

They're pushing the Trudeau government to go much further than legalizing recreational marijuana. In a priority resolution they hope will be adopted at the Liberals' policy convention in April for inclusion in the next election platform, the national caucus is calling on the government to eliminate criminal penalties for simple possession and consumption of all illicit drugs.

Newly-minted NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has taken a similar stance.

But the Conservatives, who have opposed many elements of the plan to legalize pot by July, are signalling that they would object to decriminalizing the use of other, harder drugs even more strenuously.

"The Conservatives haven't been satisfied or in any way pleased with what they're doing in the area of marijuana. I think it's going to be a complete mess in this country," Conservative justice critic Rob Nicholson said in an interview.

"That being said, to expand this ... to do anything that does anything except discourage people from taking opioids and strong drugs I think is a mistake," he added.

"If you're saying it's OK to consume this, you're not sending out the message here that this is a huge problem that tears families apart, destroys peoples' health, decreases the safety within this country. Because who's going to be providing them with this? These are the criminal elements."

Many Conservatives feared legalization of pot would be just the first step towards legalizing other, harder drugs. But Nicholson said he's frankly surprised that Liberal MPs aren't even waiting to see how legalizing cannabis works out before starting down that slippery slope.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has repeatedly ruled out legalization of drugs other than cannabis. He has not so far commented on the resolution advanced by his own caucus, which does not actually go so far as to advocate legalization of other drugs.

Rather, the caucus is proposing that Canada adopt the model that has proven successful in Portugal in significantly reducing overdose deaths, decreasing illicit drug use and reducing the social cost of drug abuse.

Since 2001, Portugal has expanded treatment and harm reduction services, such as safe injection sites, and eliminated criminal penalties for simple possession and consumption of all illegal drugs. A person found in possession of a drug for personal use is no longer arrested but ordered to appear before a "dissuasion commission" which can refer the person to a treatment program or impose administrative sanctions.Photo: CTV

Canada's busiest airport says operations are back to normal after U.S. Customs and Border Protection experienced "nationwide technical issues" Monday morning.

Toronto Pearson International Airport says the issues with the American authority's customs kiosks, which left border agents processing travellers manually, were resolved.

A spokesman for the airport says the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority decided to pause pre-clearance for passengers travelling to the U.S. in Terminal 1, so as not to overcrowd the customs area while the systems were down.

The airport says pre-clearance has resumed now that the issues have been resolved.Photo: The Canadian Press Bruce McArthur is shown in a Facebook photo. Toronto police say McArthur, a man they are calling an alleged serial killer, is now facing five first-degree murder charges related to men who have gone missing from the city's gay village. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Facebook *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Toronto police say a man they are calling an alleged serial killer is now facing five first-degree murder charges related to men who went missing in the city.

Bruce McArthur was previously charged in the presumed deaths of Selim Esen and Andrew Kinsman, who went missing from Toronto's gay village.

Det.-Sgt. Hank Idsinga says McArthur has now also been charged in the deaths of Majeed Kayhan, Soroush Marmudi and Dean Lisowick.

Idsinga says police discovered dismembered skeletal remains of at least three men at a property related to McArthur. He says the unidentified remains were found hidden at the bottom of three large planters.

Police say 66-year-old McArthur worked as a landscaper.

Idsinga says police believe there were more victims, but have no idea how many.Photo: Google Maps

UPDATE: 1:06 p.m.

Two snowmobilers are back safe and sound after a joint rescue operation in the Owlhead area near Sicamous.

Vernon Search and Rescue helicopter winch team along with Shuswap Search and Rescue and RCMP spent the morning looking for the pair after they were reported missing last night.

"The weather wasn't good and it was hard getting into the area where the point last seen was," says search manager Leigh Pearson from Vernon Search and Rescue.

The pair were spotted by an RCMP helicopter who then called on the Vernon SAR winch team to retrieve the snowmobilers.

"They called in our helicopter with the winch and we winched them out and brought them out to safety."

The pair were cold, but no injuries are reported.

Vernon Search and Rescue is the only SAR team in Canada, outside of the military, trained on helicopter winch rescue.

According to Sicamous RCMP, the missing men were a 25 year-old from Calgary and a 27 year-old from Rocky View, Alberta. The pair was reported to be equipped with adequate clothing, survival gear, and food.

"This is another example of the need to be properly equipped for unforeseen emergencies while enjoying the back country," stated Sgt Murray McNeil of the Sicamous RCMP. "Snowmobilers are urged to carry the essential gear; probe, transceiver and shovel along with proper winter survival gear."

ORIGINAL: 9:31 a.m.

The Vernon Search and Rescue helicopter winch team has been called to provide "neutral assistance" near Sicamous.

Search manager Leigh Pearson says he can't provide any more information at this time as they are currently providing help in the Owlhead area.

Castanet will update the public with further information as it becomes available.Photo: Facebook

What I am about to post is not for the warm hearted, said a woman who posted an alarming video to Facebook, that has garnered over a million views.

Natasha Guerriero and Dylan Blake attended Toronto Adventures, a dog sledding company on Sunday located at 5653 on 8 Line North in Moonstone, Ont.

When they arrived, they found hundreds of dogs chained up, sleeping and eating in their feces.

The animal cruelty videos have been shared over 57,000 times as on Monday morning with thousands of comments expressing disgust.

These dogs LIVE all day and all night with broken wooden houses and straw to keep them warm, said Guerriero.

The couple spoke to people working at the site and said not to get too close because they dont get washed very often.

I proceeded to ask if the dogs were ever let off the chains to go in a shelter or somewhere warm during the night, and the worker told me that this is where they stay all day and all night, said Blake.

Blake said there he was told there were 120 dogs in total.

Toronto Adventures said they take pride in ensuring that "no animals are ever mistreated for the purpose of our events or the events of companies we subcontract.

"Toronto Adventures will be working with the Ontario SPCA and the professional dog sledding industry to ensure that our dog sledding sub-contractors meet and/or exceeds these standards," states their website.

In April 2010, 56 sled dogs were found dead in Whistler, B.C.

The dogs were extremely scared when walking up to them and some of them were sick, starving, and injured, he said.

Facebook Dylan BlakePhoto: The Canadian Press

Liberal MPs won't have to fight for the right to carry the ruling party's banner in the next election  provided their riding war chest is at least half full and they've made concerted efforts to keep in contact with voters.

Under new rules unveiled at a Liberal caucus meeting Sunday, incumbents who meet those and several other conditions by Oct. 1 will be acclaimed as candidates for the 2019 election, without the bother of having to win open nomination contests.

The new rules represent an about-face for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who ended the Liberal party's 20-year-old practice of protecting incumbents from nomination challenges when he took the helm in 2013.

At the time, the Liberals had been reduced to third-party status with fewer than 35 seats in the House of Commons. Trudeau argued that forcing open nominations across the board, including for incumbent MPs, would help develop the ground organization the party needed to claw its way out of the political wilderness.

And he pointed to his own tough nomination battle in Montreal's Papineau riding in 2008 as proof.

"Everything I achieved in the rest of my career, including this leadership run, I owe directly to that nomination race because it taught me about working on the ground, it taught me about organizing, it taught me how to win over people step by step," Trudeau said in an interview several months before winning the Liberal leadership in a landslide.

Other senior Liberals maintained that shielding incumbents from nomination challenges had bred a culture of entitlement that was at least partly responsible for the years of internecine leadership feuding that ultimately led to the once-mighty party's downfall.

Now, there are 183 Liberal MPs and they've been lobbying hard for a reprieve from nomination contests, arguing that they shouldn't have to waste time fighting off potential challengers while they're supposed to be in Ottawa working on government business  particularly when a 2016 change in party membership rules has made it much easier for an individual to mount a challenge.

The party has done away with paid memberships and now allows anyone willing to register for free as a Liberal supporter to vote in nomination contests.

"We are busy doing our jobs and it's not only just a distraction but I think it's unfair to the voters," said Montreal MP Alexandra Mendes, adding that she's "very comfortable" with the new rules.

After what the party says was the most extensive consultation ever conducted on the nomination process, the party's national board approved the new rules. Among the conditions to be acclaimed, an MP and his or her riding team must have:Photo: The Canadian Press

MPs on the cocktail circuit must be cautious about alcohol consumption as Parliament Hill looks to put an end to inappropriate behaviour and tackle sexual misconduct, says Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett.

So, too, should political staff members, adds a woman who once worked for the federal New Democrats.

Bennett, who has spent more than 20 years as a Liberal MP, said parliamentarians of all stripes are frequently engaging with other politicians and staff, adding every effort must be made to clean up the culture of the institution.

"We should set the highest possible standards for ourselves in order to be able to demonstrate the culture of the House of Commons ... is an example that all other institutions should emulate," she said in an interview.

Bennett, who was part of a special Commons committee that worked during the last Parliament on a code of conduct designed to prevent sexual misconduct among MPs, said Members of Parliament are, in many respects, working all the time and need to be extra careful about their behaviour.

"You wouldn't have a drink before you go to a really important meeting," she said.

"I think there is obviously truly social events but then a lot of events that take place on the Hill  I don't think people should have too much to drink at those events."

But a bigger issue than MPs drinking too much is the use of alcohol by men to make their intended targets more pliable, says former NDP staffer Lauren Dobson-Hughes, who alleges she faced routine sexual misconduct in her seven years on the Hill.

"The only way I'm interested in talking about alcohol and assault is how men push it on women, using it as a tool to make women vulnerable," she wrote Friday on Twitter.

Alcohol was a factor that led to sexual misconduct allegations levelled against Patrick Brown, who resigned Thursday as leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives just months before a provincial election.

Two women, interviewed by CTV News but not identified, alleged Brown made sexual advances on them while he was a federal politician, after the women had been drinking. The women said Brown, who has categorically denied the allegations, had not been drinking at the time.

Bennett, an outspoken feminist, also said she hopes movements like #MeToo and allegations  including those facing Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein and Toronto-based director Albert Schultz  will cause men to look hard at their past and present behaviours.Matt Worona can't wait for the snow to melt and for spring to roll around.

Like everyone else, the City of Kelowna's active transportation co-ordinator enjoys the sunshine and warm temperatures  but he also can't wait to roll out the city's latest bike-friendly initiative.

Worona says everything is on track for an April 1 launch.

The proposed 18-month pilot program was given an enthusiastic thumbs up by city council last week.

All that's left to get the program up and running is a formal agreement between the city and Dropbike Inc., the company the city plans to use for the pilot.

Bike sharing allows people to rent a bike from one location and return it to one of many pre-determined spots all over the city.Photo: Contributed

I am super excited to invite you to the first ever Real Estate Investment Network member meeting to be held in Kelowna.

As a longtime member of REIN, Ive found that being a part of this community has been a huge asset in all aspects of my own personal real estate investing business.

Utilizing the REIN resources and network has helped me build my portfolio to over 50 doors by following in members' footsteps and through their advice. I have been working for the past year to bring a REIN chapter to Kelowna, and if this event is a success, it will be the first of many ongoing monthly meetings.

I invite you to come down to our member meeting on Jan. 30 from 8 to 10 p.m. to learn about and experience the full power of the REIN community. Typically, these events are $150 to attend, however, for being part of Castanet's network and a reader of my personal investor column, the fee will be waived for this first event!

Follow the link to register for the meeting. Then click "Come As Our Guest $199"  but don't worry, your registration will be added to your cart for free.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Please feel free to give my office a call if you have any questions about the event at 250-717-3133Former MLA Ben Stewart is the first candidate in a multimedia series on those running in the Kelowna West byelection.

Stewart visited the Castanet studios Monday morning to speak with Okanagan Oldies morning man Gord Vizzutti on the air. The video of their conversation is presented here.

Stewart is the BC Liberal candidate in the riding previously held by former premier Christy Clark.

Stewart, founder and director of Quails' Gate Winery, was the MLA for the community from 2009 to 2013, before resigning his seat weeks after winning it and allowing Clark to run in the riding.

Also running are: Shelley Cook (NDP), Robert Stupka (Green), Kyle Geronazzo (Libertarian), and Mark Thompson (BC Conservatives).Guest Commentary Local coalition aspires to achieve smokefree air for all More than 1 in 5 Indiana adults smoke cigarettes (21.5%), one of the highest rates in the nation, while the number of youths using vaping products remains a concern for anti-smoking advocates. Secondhand smoke is estimated...

Voice of the People Well so much for the Tribune allowing only letters focusing on local issues. Tuesdays letter giving Biden a pass on his totally irrational screw-up of the Afghanistan withdrawal, ends if under the circumstances  if they could do better. The answer is  absolutely. The...

Voice of the People Recently four members of Porter County Board of Zoning Appeals approved to give an Iowa company special exceptions and variances to build a THIRD gas station at U.S. 6 and Indiana 149, on the northwest corner adjacent to Liberty Township. In this growing age of...

Voice of the People We havent betrayed the Afghan people; they betrayed us. Monday morning quarterbacks criticizing our government and military are nothing more than cheap shot malcontents. Id like to see or at least hear how, under these same circumstances, they could do better. Joel Sutlin Chesterton September...Mayor Emanuel has declared Feb. 15 to be Fred Hoffmann Day in Chicago; Feb. 16 is Mindy Segal Day in Chicago; and Feb. 17 is Chef John Hogan Day in Chicago. The proclamations creating a day for each of these culinary figures spells out their achievements. Hogan is executive chef at River Roast restaurant, having previously been at Keefers, Savarin and Kikis Bistro, among other spots. Segal opened HotChocolate in 2005 and authored a cookbook called Cookie Love that was published 10 years later. Hoffmann, whose credits include the Snuggery and Excaliber nightclub, owns and operates with his son, Mark, 19 hospitality spots in the Chicago area, including eight Morettis Ristorante and Pizza locations.Clark said most of the Jai Alai in Chicago would be made at an Oskar Blues brewery in Brevard, N.C., where the companies spent six months adjusting the recipe to the larger brewing system. Other Cigar City brands will also likely come to Chicago from the Brevard brewery once the beers are indistinguishable from Cigar Citys beer made in Tampa. Cigar City brands are also made at a CANarchy brewery in Austin, Texas.Park and Field is partnering with One Tail at a Time dog rescue, which is bringing in Stripe and other dogs available for adoption. Proceeds from the restaurants Grass on the Field cocktail will go toward the rescue."The '30s in Chicago, man. Whew. No joke. If you think today's bad  As a young kid, after my mother was taken away, my brother and I, we saw dead bodies every day. Guys hanging off of telephone poles with ice picks in their necks, man. Tommy guns and stogies, stacks of wine and liquor, big piles of money in back rooms, that's all I ever saw, Jones told GQ magazine in a new interview.Fifty years ago many orchestras had a string sound in Sibelius that came close to Tchaikovsky and was criticized for being so. As if to indicate the difference, Vanska followed En Saga with Tchaikovskys First Piano Concerto, which immediately showed a heightening of warmth and sweetness. Every conductor promises the right sound for each composer, but here the orchestra actually delivered it, matching Inon Barnatans fine-grained pianism with a freshness that avoided bombast. Barnatans shadings in the many solo passages of the first movement prized delicate color over power, though the latter was not lacking from orchestra or soloist, particularly in the closing pages of the finale.The children are the stars in this beautifully illustrated account of a landmark protest of the civil rights movement, the Birmingham Childrens Crusade. Its 1963, and our young narrator gives us a childs-eye view of injustice: I couldnt play on the same playground as the white kids. I couldnt go to their schools. I couldnt drink from their water fountains. There were so many things I couldnt do. But along came Dr. King and, with him, a call to march. The narrators mother couldnt march; shed lose her job. Same with the narrators dad. So the narrator and her brother, who look about 11 and 13, step forward. The children are hosed and jailed, in an account that is real and dramatic but not overwhelming, and soon desegregation begins.Doctors now know that the No. 1 factor affecting a woman's ability to have children as she grows older has to do with eggs. At the moment she is born, a woman has all the eggs she will ever have already in her body. They are finite, and they sit there in the ovaries, aging. Each month, beginning at puberty, a single egg is released. Even in a healthy young person, the eggs are of varying quality with a certain percentage being flawed in structure or number of chromosomes. That's one reason it can take months or years to get pregnant, and why miscarriage is common.A: Its just recognizing you have a choice: Orlando or reality. Its not wrong for you to go to Disney World for the rest of your life, its just youve lost an opportunity to be a citizen of the planet. Some people dont aspire to be citizens of the planet. They dont care about issues that impact people south of our border; they dont care about how the person they vote for impacts people who are struggling or desperate or cold or hungry, and I do. It depends on your worldview. I would never recommend doing anything dangerous  this is not thrill-seeking travel. Im not particularly courageous about this stuff. I dont go to dangerous places, but Im not cowed into avoiding places because someone said theyre dangerous when theyre not. Theres nothing dangerous about Cuba, theres nothing dangerous about Iran or Palestine. You can go there and talk to people and learn, make friends and come home and have an impact. It carbonates your whole travel experience when you open yourself up to reality.Roeper  one of a handful of Chicago media personalities with national reach, thanks to his eight years as the late Roger Eberts co-host on At the Movies  had 226,000 followers as of Monday, down from 253,000 a year ago. During a one-week period in September, he experienced a sudden, unexplained drop of 20,000 followers, quickly followed by a sudden, unexplained gain of 25,000 followers, according to data from trendsmap.com.This is what he also knows: Congressional Republicans are like bad parents. They might try to give the impression that they care about Dreamers and immigration reform, but what they are concerned about most is making sure that big baby in the White House stays happy and out of their way.In casting out Vallas, the board Vice President Nicholas Gowen said he felt that Vallas had used the 150-year-old university solely to further his political ambitions. Gowen said Monday that Vallas never informed him about plans to leave the job early or to seek political office. Had he known that, Gowen said, his decision to vote in favor of hiring Vallas, 64, for a position that was essentially created for him would have been different.As it turns out, changing the funding formula bill wasnt necessary to achieve the governors objective of making more schools eligible for the new tax credit program. All that was needed was for the State Board of Education, whose members are appointed by the governor, to start accepting applications for the tax credit program on a rolling basis throughout the school year. ISBE agreed to do that, and thus the compromise was struck.Before he can face a Democratic candidate in November, Rauner first has to defeat Ives in the March 20 primary. Rauner boasts a major campaign cash lead and Ives is little-known statewide, so its not to the governors political advantage to elevate his opponent with a series of debates. Mondays face-to-face meeting is the only one scheduled so far, and it was one where GOP voters got to see vastly contrasting campaign styles.MRI machines work through extremely powerful magnets and radio waves that scan the body and give an image of internal tissue. When the machine is on, all metal objects must be kept away from it.Boigon, 26, said that while she felt pressure to "dress and behave a certain way in finance, now I wear whatever I want to and harassment is almost like a nonissue." She attributed the difference more to a generational divide than to any new consciousness. At her old job, older men commented on her body and she stayed silent, even though she was outraged. Her new office has a very young workforce, which she said makes it easier to speak up if someone behaves inappropriately.Speaking during a visit to the southern town of Zory on Monday, Duda said that referring to the camps built and operated by the Germans in occupied Poland as "Polish death camps" is an example of the kind of statements the law is meant to address.President Donald Trump signs a bill Dec. 12, 2017, at the White House. Trump administration guidelines allowing states to impose new requirements that program recipients work to get benefits has opened the door for Republcan-controlled states to expand Medicaid. (Olivier Douliery / Tribune News Service)President Donald Trump listens during a dinner with European business leaders at the World Economic Forum, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Davos. (Evan Vucci / AP)45 E. Cedar St., No. 200, Chicago: $2,269,000 | Listed: July 7, 2021



This three-bedroom home has three full bathrooms, one half-bath, custom stained-glass windows and over 1,300 square feet of outdoor space, including a landscaped garden and a private deck. The kitchen is equipped with a professional size Sub-Zero refrigerator, a Thermador gas stove with a separate grill, double ovens, a vented hood and a large breakfast island with an Azul granite countertop imported from Spain. The primary bedroom suite has a wall of windows looking out at the garden, two walk-in closets and a bath with a walk-in shower and jet tub. The other two bedrooms have en suite baths and beautiful arched windows. This home also has two indoor heated garage spaces.



Agent: Carla Walker, @properties, 312-342-0078



*Some listing photos are virtually staged, meaning they have been digitally altered to represent different furnishing or decorating options.



To feature your luxury listing of $800,000 or more in Chicago Tribunes Dream Homes, send listing information and high-res photos to ctc-realestate@chicagotribune.com.



Join our Chicago Dream Homes Facebook group for more luxury listings and real estate news."It was very important for me to break that boundary, to break those statistics of, if your parents didn't go to college, your chances of going to college are lowered," she said. "And to me that was very important to break it and to pursue an education and to become the best outcome that I could possibly be, so that the sweat and tears and blood that my parents shed, it was worth it.""I remember helping her fill her car and making trips with her. That was the spirit then and still is today. If that's what it takes we will do it with whatever resources we have. Back then, the resources were less but the challenge was no less," he said. "I believe it was in Mary's DNA to help others. She was an example for all of us."The problem isn't trying to get health insurance. It's affording health insurance. I don't think our government has any business being in any real estate or insurance actions or anything like that. They've probably got their hands tied because they probably accepted so much lobby money from the insurance companies, but what they need to do is roll back some of the prices on some of these premiums. It's ridiculous what we're paying for insurance. I know they have to make money but capitalism has gone too far to the right. It's just ruining a lot of people out here so it's not the insurance companies' fault. It's our government's fault because they don't get on the insurance companies.Fernando Galvan, 20, of the 5100 block of West 23rd Street, Cicero, and Tyler Almaguer, 22, of the 2100 block of North Melvina, Chicago, have each been charged with one count of burglary and one count of burglary to a motor vehicle.In police body camera footage from an officer and, later, a sergeant at the scene of the stop, Hall can be seen moving his hands as officers try to pat him down following the stop. Hall did not appear to be handcuffed until after one of the officers asked for him to be restrained to finish the search. Officers did not appear to direct or force Hall to his knees, though at one point he appears in the video to either lie down or kneel of his own accord.Police believe the van was the getaway vehicle in an early morning armed robbery of Speedway. Police said a man walked into the store, showed a small-caliber, semi-automatic handgun and ran out with an undetermined amount of cash. Police said the man fired off a shot at two employees who followed him out of the store before getting into a red Dodge Caravan and driving off east on Dickens Avenue.At Woodlawn, plans now call for a different type of child-friendly spinning machine to be installed than originally planned, Maassen said. Also, $10,000 would be set aside from the budget to restore tall grasses that park district officials hope will act as a shield from traffic on nearby Green Bay Road, Maassen said.The church was recognized for the quality and integrity of its architecture and the artistic quality of its stained-glass windows, Clark said. Aside from minor updates and the interior decorations, especially the stained glass windows installed over a 22-year period between 1951 and 1973, the building is essentially the same as it was at its 1926 dedication.Police and an ambulance were dispatched at 7:47 a.m. to the Depot Station Plaza, 311 W. Depot St., to the Hopes Playground Pediatric Center where a 2005 Dodge Ram drove into the front of the office, according to a police statement. Police said the 54-year-old driver was uninjured, and there was not anyone inside the office.Here we go again. Another continuing resolution. Three weeks. This time, they're going to separate the DACA scenario from the other events that are going on. Can you imagine that? But the president says he wants something in return to give these DACA kids  kids who were brought in anywhere from 3-years-old in their mommy's hands to 16  to give them legal status in this country. Kids who were brought in under no control except of their parents, and the president wants something in return, like a wall. These kids don't have a clue where to go. Many don't even speak the language of the place they'd be sent to.Smoothie King is looking to bring six new locations to the Chicagoland area and the owners are currently scouting Naperville for a location."There are positions you are leaving vacant for a long time," she added. "You are getting people that may not be the quality you are looking for because you are settling for somebody. And they may not be staying that long because they don't have the skill set you are looking for."Shawn Seals, of IDEM, said the new trucks represent a significant emissions reduction. He said particulate matters would be lowered by 97 percent. "It will improve the quality of life for port workers and drivers," he said. The trucks run on clean or ultra-low sulfur diesel.Obama himself was once a critic of the mandate. But insurance company executives and many health policy experts told him and Congress that without it, premiums would become increasingly unaffordable for people who were in greatest need of coverage  people in their 50s and 60s and anyone with a current or preexisting medical condition. They argued that, unless they were required to enroll, many young and healthy people would stay uninsured, making it necessary for insurers to charge older and less healthy applicants much more for their coverage than if those young and healthy people were in the "pool" of insured customers."This year, Coming Together will celebrate Muslim-American Cultures, and the Muslim residents in Niles Township who represent a wide variety of cultural backgrounds," the Coming Together committee said when it unveiled its annual culture of choice in January. "In a series of events and programs from late January to the end of March, we will learn about Muslim contributions in the fields of science, literature, the arts, education and much more."New Trier created the position of director of student life in 2009, he said. He told board members that changing the directorship to that of a Winnetka campus assistant principal was a "natural evolution" for the position, since many of its duties were already to support activities at the Winnetka campus.But this year, Dominah joined a class of medical students that for the first time is majority female nationwide, according to a new report by the Washington-based Association of American Medical Colleges. After making steady gains since the 1960s, women have hovered close to the 50 percent mark nationally for the past 15 years. The number of male applicants was slightly higher in 2017, but since 2015, male applicants declined while female applicants increased.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.British Prime Minister Theresa May will visit Beijing this week to hold trade talks with British and Chinese business leaders about bilateral relations, trade, and the potential for participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. These actions take on additional significance as the UK negotiates its way out of its EU membership and needs to establish new trade routes under its own steam, and without the support of Brussels. It should be noted, however, that China-EU free trade talks have been stalled after years of discussions  leaving Britain the first among western European members to discuss a deal directly. This adds a higher level of ambition and potential to the upcoming China-UK bilateral discussions.

However, the UK is not entirely well organized at the business end of discussions. The long standing British Chamber of Commerce in China, which is supported by businesspeople and run for their benefit, boasts a couple of thousand members in China alone, and provided a concise voice for British business interests in China for decades. Curiously, it has been defanged. Problems began when a decision was made a decade or so ago to cease production of a British Chamber White Paper on UK-China trade relations. The official reason given was that as part of the EU, the European Chamber of Commerce in China would produce a White Paper on EU interests, including those of the UK, instead. In actual fact, the decision was taken to protect the interests of the British financial services industry, who could hide criticism of China behind an EU paper rather than be visible (and potentially singled out for punishment) in a British one. I was heavily against that decision at the time and made my views known that I considered it a selfish move that ran right over all other non-financial British business interests. Now, as we deal with Brexit, the UK will not be providing its opinions via the EU White Paper any longer, but also does not have one of its own either. We gave away a direct voice and connectivity link without really thinking things through.

Other issues have arisen concern the role and functions of the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), an entity that is separate from the British Chamber. It traces its origins back to the 48 Group  a collection of 48 British businesses who defied the UK governments stance at the time and decided to travel to China to discuss trade with Mao Zedong. Catering largely for British MNCs, its membership includes a few hundred companies, and is largely influenced by British civil servants, as it is supported by British government funding. Its accounts, however, have never been made public and it is unclear who actually benefits  though the suspicion has long been that certain people gain rather more from this than others  hence the secrecy over the accounting reports and details of what contracts and trade the organization has actually managed to accomplish. It also supplements its income with commercial services, placing it in the bizarre position of being a British taxpayer funded, commercial organization that competes with consulting firms and business centers. It is utterly inappropriately run, yet advises the British government on its China strategy.

RELATED: China-UK Trade: The Effects of Brexit

The British Chamber of Commerce and the China-Britain Business Council merged a few years ago, though kept their separate identities. However, with a larger, government-funded budget, and with civil service support, the CBBC has been taking the lions share of the spotlight, and has been directing and claiming success stories as its own. This is reflected in the state of the web views of each entity; the British Chamber website views have plummeted in the past two years, while those of the CBBC have risen considerably. The strategy has been to demonstrate the success of the merger, yet what it really shows is that the CBBC has effectively eaten Britcham.

This matters a lot in my opinion, as it means that British trade discussions with China are now dominated by civil servants rather than businesspeople. Another way of looking at it is to consider the role of Chinese State Owned Enterprises. In order to understand them, and negotiate with them, one always needs to keep an eye on the politics. The CBBC appears to have become the same  managed by civil servants dictating the political nuances of how British businesses should be positioned. That may be good for the bureaucrats, but the levels of a lack of transparency concerning the CBBCs accountability are not that far removed from the lack of transparency within Chinas SOEs, and also functions to remove direct contact between British and Chinese businesses. It injects a permanent status of political thinking into trade and commerce. While that is fine, it is not always necessary or even desirable. Civil servants are not sources of wealth generation  businesspeople are, and the thinking is different.

It is a state of affairs I am not comfortable with, and I wonder what the end game will be. The CBBC is not transparent. If Britain is a true democracy, and upholds the standards of transparency in trade, then British businesspeople, rather than civil servants, should be leading the dance, rather than the civil servants. I do not believe this to be healthy. It is certainly not in the interests of smaller British businesses or British entrepreneurs, and one has to wonder what signals this sends to the Chinese.

However, the mandarins responsible for the CBBC and running the British Prime Ministers visit, with trade talks involved along the Belt and Road may have a political shock in store. China has of course institutionalized its Belt and Road project, and is diverting huge amounts of government resources into it. But Britain already has a similar entity that it to, could bring to the party  the British Commonwealth.

Now titled the Commonwealth of Nations (formally the British Commonwealth), the organization traces its establishment back to 1926. In reality, however, it is a loose arrangement between member nations of the then British Empire, connecting nations via London for the previous two centuries. Today, the body represents 20 percent of all global trade, and is headed up by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

It may surprise many that the Commonwealth of Nations has been outstripping the EU in three determinants: population size, the size of the economy, and economic growth rate. The figures shown above are from material recently published by World Tracker as well as the IMF, World Bank, and United Nations.

The graphic below compares the Eurozone, EU, and Commonwealth from a market share of world GDP perspective, and shows the Eurozone and EU compared with the Commonwealth share of world real GDP.





This second graphic shows the GDP growth in the Commonwealth has accelerated over the post 1973 period in sharp contrast to the EU, where the growth rate has been falling gently from an average of 3.6 percent in the 1970s to 1.7 percent in the past five years.

The Commonwealth of Nations, collectively, is in rude health. Whats missing is the British governments commitment to the Commonwealth of Nations as a driver for future UK growth and prosperity. This entails a great deal of negotiation and agreement between Commonwealth members, and especially for the legalities and trade issues concerning collective rights among members, in addition to the development of common systems. Such a task would be a bonanza for IT and e-commerce experts in the Commonwealth, and could bring tremendous rewards for Commonwealth members as a whole.

However, the Commonwealth of Nations is considered deeply unfashionable and almost persona non grata by many British politicians and civil servants today. That is an attitude completely at odds with what is happening in contemporary China and much of Asia, and is fast becoming outmoded in the modern era reshaping global diplomacy and politics. China, for example, has made giant strides in the last decade or so with its Shanghai Co-Operation Organization, a political, economic, and security organization that counts India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, and Uzbekistan as full members with China, as well as observer nations, such as Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia. Bangladesh, Egypt, and Syria have also applied for this status. Dialogue partners include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Turkey, with applicants including Iraq, Israel, Maldives, Ukraine, and Vietnam. ASEAN, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Turkmenistan, and the UN are all guest attendees.

Russia, too, has its Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia and sits between China and Europe. The EAEU has the capability to bring Chinese goods right to the borders of the EU, and its trade has been increasing. In many ways, the EAEU effectively acts as Chinas OBOR Free Trade Area, and especially so when its own negotiations with it come to fruition.

ASEAN is the Southeast Asian bloc comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, and celebrates its 50th birthday this year. It conducts annual trade of some US$230 trillion. Five of the ASEAN nations have very strong historical connections with the UK.

There are several other examples, such as the Economic Union of West African States, the Arab League, and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), all of which contain countries with long standing ties to Britain.

China, meanwhile, has been re-inventing the wheel somewhat and has been active in promoting loose regional co-operative blocs, less formal in manner, but nonetheless useful. Some include EU members, such as Chinas grouping of the 16+1, an informal European-China bloc that includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia. This grouping even has its own 10 billion investment fund, known as the China, Central & Eastern Europe Investment Co-Operation Fund, based in Luxembourg. David Cameron, the ex-British Prime Minister, now heads up a US$1 billion Chinese Belt and Road Fund.

China has been motivating and incentivizing these nations to become prepared for new technologies and to act as a gateway for Chinese goods to enter Europe as well as for European goods to be prepared for the Chinese market. It is of interest to note, for example, that while Chinese-owned Volvo has announced it will only produce electric and hybrid cars from 2018 (a claim subsequently just taken up by Indian-owned Jaguar Land Rover), electric vehicle manufacturers in Romania and Bulgaria have recently been invested in by the new breed of Chinese auto investors. Volvo, meanwhile, remains a European brand  as does Jaguar and Land Rover with Britain. China is investing in and generating new technologies from Europe.

Going the other way, in terms of future trade, it should also be remembered that China has a market of close to one billion online consumers and a middle class of some 500 million. They want to buy. The country is also energy poor and agriculturally poor  China possesses 20 percent of the global population, but occupies just five percent of globally available arable land. This is why it has been developing its own trade institutions and initiatives to develop these, such as the Belt and Road Initiative.

The UK, therefore, could be on the right side of history, as long as it combines several development strategies together. They may not be historically happy or even currently politically correct; however, Empire was from a different nation to contemporary Britain. Hong Kong, signed off to the UK in 1842, has been a Chinese possession now for 20 years. That long-term China trade experience, deeper and more involved than that of most other nations, can be called upon in the spirit of free trade  after all, the Chinese arent getting anything out of the EU or the US right now. This, coupled with a British commitment to revitalize the Commonwealth of Nations, and bring those 53 member countries closer to China is a task that Britain alone is uniquely poised to provide.

The recent establishment and growth development of trade and dialogue blocs across Asia from ASEAN through to the EAEU, and the multilateral free trade agreements they have, and are about to enter into is, a way ahead. Britain has the Commonwealth of Nations, and a long history with China. It is unthinkable that Beijing today would stand idly by and let an asset such as the Commonwealth be forgotten and pushed out of sight. They would not, and their engagement in developing institutions and free trade illustrates the way ahead. In Britain, constructive debate on revitalizing the Commonwealth, mobilizing its members, and getting involved with Eurasia, should be the starting point for a new British manifesto for engaging with China, and the new emerging partners that come with the Belt and Road.

The CBBC, stuffed as full of civil servants as many of Chinas own institutions, should be taking a leaf out of their book. Because if the Chinese owned the Commonwealth, you can bet theyd be doing something constructive with it, rather than let it fade away in a mere shadow of a long departed Empire. Theresa May, the FCO powers that be, and the British businesspeople concerned have a lot to do if they want to get on board. That means the strength and political will to restructure the CBBC, re-engage with the Commonwealth, and encourage a lot more practical business thinking than the current self serving lack of transparency that is currently being generated by British civil service platitudes.

About Us Chris Devonshire-Ellis is the Chairman of Dezan Shira & Associates, and a Visiting Professor at the Russian Higher School of Economics. The firm provides foreign investment market entry research, due diligence, legal establishment, tax, accounting and other professional advisory services to British and foreign businesses throughout China and Asia. Please email to china@dezshira.com or visit the firm at www.dezshira.com

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Dezan Shira & AssociatesMing Dynasty gold accessories from Qichun Museum on display at a 2016 exhibition in the University of Southern California Pacific Art Museum in Los Angeles. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Wherever you are on the planet, chances are that one of these days you'll be able to admire the regalia of China's kings and queens on your own doorstep.

Set off by the dark tone inside the exhibition hall, the glitter and glamour of the gold accessories announced their regal existence, in a way their owners must have done half a millennium ago.

They once belonged to the vassal kings and queens who lived in China during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), a time when the privileged class flaunted its immense wealth, through something that was shamelessly pretentious yet unabashedly beautiful: gold.

However, what the spoiled kings and queens probably never imagined was that one day the treasures they had prepared to remain with them in their eternal resting place would end up for public gaze on the other side of the Earth. Most of the visitors who saw the gold crowns, hairpins and other hair and clothing decorations, for both men and women, that were displayed there had never had contact with luxury as defined by ancient Chinese. Many were left gasping.

"It was a visual feast that made people dream," says Duan Taotao, director of the Qichun Museum in Hubei province, which boasts among its collection one of China's best batch of Ming Dynasty gold accessories.

In 2015 and 2016, the cream of the Qichun Museum collection was on view at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida, before traveling to the University of Southern California Pacific Art Museum in Los Angeles.

"Back even five years ago, it would have been unthinkable (for the gold accessories to be shown in a foreign country)."

Such exhibitions have become more prevalent in recent years, a reflection of the government's desire to strengthen cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world.

For 27 years Qian Wei has worked with Art Exhibitions China, a governmental body whose task, among other things, is to organize exhibitions that put Chinese archaeological and cultural heritage under the spotlight overseas.

"It's a long story that started in 1973, when, at the proposal of a renowned Chinese historian, the central government decided to put together an exhibition that amounted to a grand showcase of Chinese civilization," Qian, 50, says.

It was with that exhibition that Arts Exhibitions China was founded.

"It was an ambitious goal, but people involved, whose names constituted a who's who of the Chinese archaeological world, managed to tell the story with about 200 exhibits, all national treasures unearthed from every corner of the country.

"And it was made clear from the beginning that the target audience would be foreigners. Between 1973 and 1978 the exhibition traveled to 16 countries in Europe, North America and Southeast Asia.Director Lai (third from right) and the cast of Peking Man attend a promotional event in Beijing. [Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

In 1980, Stan Lai Shengchuan, then a 26-year-old student from Taiwan, who was pursuing his PhD in dramatic arts at the University of California, Berkeley, attended a talk by Chinese playwright Cao Yu (1910-96) about Chinese theater at the school.

Cao Yu, whose real name is Wan Jiabao, the founding member and first president of the Beijing People's Art Theater, was accompanied by Ying Ruocheng (1929-2003), the famous actor, director and translator who would later become China's vice-minister of culture. Lai had the chance to talk to them and got to know more about the work of the Beijing People's Art Theater.

"It was a lifelong influence on me," recalls Lai. "I was not so sure about my future in theater, since most of my friends in Taiwan studied science and technology. They didn't understand why I wanted to learn drama. But Cao said in his speech that theater was like a language without borders. He also shared his experiences of writing for contemporary Chinese theater, which were very inspiring."

In 1983, Lai received his PhD and returned to Taiwan, where he founded a performance workshop along with his wife, Ding Nai-chu, where they explored the boundaries of theater. Lai developed from this to become a renowned playwright and stage director, with more than 30 original plays, including A Dream Like A Dream, That Evening, We Performed Cross-talk and Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land.A leading Chinese Internet finance guild has warned domestic investors about risks in trading overseas "initial coin offerings" (ICOs) and virtual currency transactions.





"Investors should be alert to risks from overseas ICOs transactions as some of the transaction platforms have been shut down and others restricted from logging on," the National Internet Finance Association of China (NIFA) said in a statement. "As there are no specific regulations, overseas ICOs transaction platforms face risks in system security, market manipulation and money laundering."





ICOs allowed companies to issue "tokens," or cryptocurrencies, to investors in exchange for currencies of more liquid value such as bitcoin, without the need to follow rules associated with traditional channels such as IPOs.





Unlike IPOs, in which investors buy stocks in companies, investors in ICOs receive digital coins developed by the firms, which could appreciate in value if the companies fares well and demand for their currencies grows.





"ICOs, in essence, are a kind of unauthorized and illegal public fundraising, which are suspected of being related to criminal activities such as financial fraud and pyramid schemes," according to an earlier statement from the central bank.





The Chinese government has toughened regulation over bitcoin and other digital cryptocurrency to rein in financial risks, with exchanges closed and trading halted.





Last September, authorities ordered a ban on ICOs and shut down all virtual currency exchanges in the country, as the rapidly expanding market, attracting both innovators and scammers, spawned concerns over financial risks.





"NIFA members should enhance self-regulation and refrain from organizing or participating in speculation of ICOs or any other virtual currency transactions," the statement said.



China's outbound mergers and acquisitions, or M&A, will rebound this year, thanks to more clarity on relevant policies and a stronger yuan, according to a report from global accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers or PwC.





Sectors like technology, industrial products and consumer products will continue to be the main overseas M&A targets of Chinese players.





The latter will seek to bring foreign technologies to the domestic market in order to upgrade the industrial base, and to introduce new intellectual property, brands and products to China, PwC said.





"That will bring the whole M&A levels in 2018 close toor possibly exceedingthat of 2017. PE (private equity) and financial buyer activities, both domestic and outbound, will also increase under pressure to defray large amounts of capital," said Wei Guo, PwC's China transaction services partner.





China's M&A activities in 2017 were down 11 percent in value terms compared to the record high of 2016, mainly due to a reduction in outbound deals from the Chinese mainland. At $671 billion, the total value of deals last year was roughly equal to the previous record set in 2015.





"While deals are down by both value and volume compared to a bumper 2016, the trend is still strongly upward on a five-year view," said Wei.





Last year has seen the decline of the value of deals for the China outbound, foreign inbound and financial buyer segments. But the value of domestic strategic deals experienced an increase of 14 percent.





The number of mega-deals (those with a value in excess of $1 billion) declined from 103 in 2016 to 89 last year, mainly because of the fall in China's outbound deals.





"The government's policy guidance on outbound deals has had an undoubted effect," said Wei. "There has been a re-focusing on strategic outbound deals and away from passive or trophy assets. That said, the total value of outbound deals still exceeds 2014 and 2015 combined."





Traditional private equity and venture capital fund-raising, however, continued a strong upward trend in 2017. The Asset Management Association of China reported $1.5 trillion of assets under management by private equity funds at the end of 2017a sevenfold increase over the last three years.





"Shenzhen and Shanghai were the favored venues, because of higher valuations," said Effie Yang, PwC's China transaction services partner.



The National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee convened Monday to discuss the amending of the Constitution.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the 12th NPC Standing Committee, presided over the meeting.

Entrusted by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Li Zhanshu, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, briefed lawmakers about a proposal of the CPC Central Committee on the revision to the Constitution.

At its second plenary session earlier this month, the 19th CPC Central Committee adopted the proposal.

"Major theoretical achievements, principles and policies adopted at the 19th CPC National Congress, particularly Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, should be incorporated into the upcoming revision to the Constitution," said Li, also deputy head of a group working on the revision. "We should keep pace with the times and improve the Constitution while maintaining its consistency, stability and authority."

The amending of the Constitution should adhere to the Party's leadership and socialist rule of law, head toward correct political direction, follow due process, be based on broad consensus, embody the will of the people, and only amend part of it instead of revising on a large scale, Li said.

In 1982, the fifth NPC adopted the present Constitution, which underwent four amendments in 1988, 1993, 1999 and 2004.

"The Constitution has been proven to be a good legislation that fits in China's reality and meets demands of the times," Li said, adding that, as the Party and nation had undergone profound changes since 2004, the Constitution should be readjusted accordingly. Flash

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. Flash

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.



China Aviation Daily | Jan. 29, 2018

AsBAA, the Asian region's non-profit representative association for general and business aviation (GA/BA) met in Beijing for the "Conclusion of 2017-Annual Meeting of the Mainland China Chapter". The meeting was moderated by AsBAA mainland China Committee Chairman, Mr. Rocky Zhang, who presented an overview of the Association's activities in 2017 and the market in China, then outlined the plans for the advancement of GA/BA in China in the year ahead.

The AsBAA Mainland China Chapter observed that China remains a market whereby large business aircraft is the mainstream preference. When compared with more mature overseas markets, where a higher percentage of short to medium range aircraft exist, this situation presents a challenge to industry operators as to how entry-level business aircraft can be promoted to Chinese customers, particularly when issues such as scheduling and fee charges remain to be resolved.

Committee representatives called for a clear and transparent industry regulation system and reasonable infrastructure service charges, so that China can advance and promote a positive "open for business"reputation in the global industry. In relation to this topic, AsBAA member, Ms. Zhou of Dentons Law Firm, presented on the legal issues involved in cross-border transactions for business aircraft.

AsBAA Chairperson, Ms. Jenny Lau commented, "The vision for AsBAA in 2018 is to improve the regulatory environment and create opportunities for sustainable development. We will also continue to host meetings in which our members can access expert legal and professional advice. As a member of International Business Aviation Council, we would encourage the four professional committees from AsBAA mainland China Committee to continue voicing constructive and positive suggestions for industry development and work with government agencies to improve regulatory and implementation procedures."

At the meeting, Mr. Zhang shared that in 2017, the AsBAA mainland China Committee has been active to well-represent the voice of the membership to key stakeholders. Through AsBAA, the Chapter also set up four committee members to mobilize its member companies to be more engaged in actioning positive change for the industry. Representatives from the four professional committees expressed their call for unity and discipline amongst industry bodies, and the need to work with government agencies to provide a fair environment for all, with optimised policies for the development of business aviation.

In 2017, several AsBAA member companies hosted exchange seminars at Chinese universities with the objective of promoting knowledge careers in GA/BA to students. Mr. Zhang thanked the AsBAA member companies for supporting the Discovery programme, which promotes corporate social responsibility in aviation and helps protect the industry's future.

Mr. Zhang also reviewed the impact of the Civil Aviation Administration of China's new general aviation policy and its impact on the development of the industry. CAAC has introduced a task checklist, simplified procedures and advice notice in order to promote a development strategy that focuses on security, regulation and airworthiness, paving way for the safety and sustainable development of the industry.

One of the invited speakers at the meeting, Dr. Li Yaning from the China Civil Aviation Science Technology Academy, presented China's Civil Aircraft Registration Regulations and Case Studies. In this presentation, he explained that the verification and registration of aircraft should ensure the authenticity and legitimacy of aircraft transactions. Dr. Li commented, "There is a strong demand for general aviation aircraft with air finance leasing transactions, with the proposed electronic registration procedure by the government, this will streamline registration procedure and improve efficiency for transactions. This new practice also signifies the government's commitment to simplify and optimize public service procedure."

In 2018, The AsBAA mainland China Committee will focus on the promotion of professional, local and international cooperation. The Committee will work closely with Hong Kong-Macau-Taiwan Committee, and regional committees in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. Further cooperation with international aviation organisations and other industry associations in China is also expected, with the intention of improving GA/BA operations standards on behalf of the industry. The Committee also plans to organise further exchange activities dedicated to international and domestic general and business aviation.Advertisement

The Chinese government scored highest in a poll of 27 countries on public trust, while the United States saw a massive decline, according to the results of a global survey.



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About 84 percent of the Chinese general population had trust in the government, beating the rates in all other countries measured, the 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer survey found.



In the United States, only 33 percent of the public trusted their government, down 14 percentage points from a year earlier, registering the biggest trust loss among countries.



On government leadership, 68 percent people said they believed the government in China could lead the country to a better future. Only 15 percent of people expected the American government to achieve this.



Edelman is an American public relations and marketing consulting firm that has been running the annual public trust poll since 2001.



The latest survey polled 1,150 online respondents on average per country between October and November last year.



China, the United States, Russia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, India, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and Singapore were among the countries studied.



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TagsChinese government, Chinese general population, government in ChinaOsama is blind. According to an NPR report, he lost his eyesight in 2012 when a mortar shell exploded nearby, killing everyone around, except him. He, his wife, and four children were Syrian refugees in Jordan for three years before learning the US State Department had approved them for asylum. To obtain the relevant visas, however, Osama and his family required a sponsor: a family to welcome them and assist in their transition.

The sponsor for this Muslim family? A Christian congregationNassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, New Jersey. The family had almost no information about the congregation. They were told only that someone would greet them. But soon enough, they received free housing and a kitchen stocked with food. A team of congregants undertook various gestures of hospitality, even inspecting the house to ensure it would be safe for a blind resident.

The family was overwhelmed by the generosity of the Nassau congregation, and the church was enriched in turn. As one congregant remarked, the familys presence has been a blessing to us all. An immigrant family had need, and the church met it, in keeping with Gods Old Testament command: The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born (Lev. 19:34).

In 2016, the United States admitted approximately 38,000 Muslim refugees, according to the Pew Research Center. This figure is up considerably from the year prior, and more than double that of 2011. One reason for the increase is the staggering number of refugees spilling out from Syria and surrounding areas, where civil war and ISIS brutality have caused a mass exodus. Refugees from Syria alone have ballooned in number over the past five years, from around ...

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Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here.In 2020, we were the church on our heels. A global pandemic shut down much of our world. But the church has been on the move since it was birthed; it will continue to be on the move until God makes all things new.When churches face lawsuits, does their religious liberty hinge on whether or not their accuser is an official member? Experts are concerned that, in an unusual baptism gone wrong, a state supreme court has decided yes.

Nearly a year ago, the Oklahoma Supreme Court decided 53 that a Muslim convert to Christianitywhose baptism nearly got him killedcouldnt sue First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa for inadvertently alerting his would-be murderers with its online announcement of the baptism.

Ten months laterin December 2017the justices changed their minds, issuing a 54 decision that the man could, in fact, have his day in court.

This month, First Presbyterian asked the Sooner States top court to take a third look at the case, arguing that the justices mixed up two separate issues of law: the ecclesiastical extension/church autonomy doctrine and the ministerial exception.

The trouble started more than six years ago, when a Syrian Muslim man converted to Christianity and asked if he could be baptized by First Presbyterian. The manwho is called John Doe in court documents to protect his identitysays he asked the church to keep quiet about it, since shariah law demands that converts from Islam be executed.

Later that day, the man flew to Syria to marry his fiancee. A few weeks later, while still there, he was kidnapped and threatened by Islamist extremists, including his uncle and cousin.

His abductors had discovered his conversion through First Presbyterians online weekly bulletin, which announced his baptism, according to his lawsuit. After three days of torture, the man escaped after killing his uncle during a struggle for a gun.

It took several months for the man and his wife to make their way back to the United States, he told the Tulsa World. After returning, he went through more than a dozen surgeries to repair his body from the torture.

He sued First Presbyterian for $75,000, accusing it of breach of contract, negligence, and outrage. The church asked for the case to be dismissed, reasoning that secular courts dont have jurisdiction over ecclesiastical matters like theology and customs.

The district court agreed, dismissing the case for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. When the man appealed to the state supreme court, it said the same thing. The case was dismissed in February 2017.

Then, last month, the Oklahoma Supreme Court handed down another ruling.

No facts changed, First Presbyterians attorney, John Tucker, told CT. And in the ruling itself, no reason was given for the rehearing, which can be requested by a losing party after any decision.

But one of the justices that sat out the first decision weighed in (on Does side) the second time around, Tucker said. And one of the justices that agreed with the church in February changed his mind by December.

The foundational inquiry is to discern exactly what Doe asked appellees to do with respect to baptism, what appellees agreed to perform for Doe, and ultimately the nature and extent of Does consent surrounding baptism, the justices stated, noting multiple times that Doe did not become a member of First Presbyterian.

[E]cclesiastical protection for a church arises solely from membership and the consent by the person to be governed by the church, their opinion continued [emphasis theirs]. They referenced the US Supreme Courts Hosanna-Tabor decision, in which all nine justices agreed that the government couldnt interfere if a religious organization wanted to fire a minister.

[T]he ministerial exception or the church autonomy doctrine, grounded in the religion clause of the First Amendment, operates as an affirmative defense to an otherwise cognizable claim, not a jurisdictional bar, the Oklahoma Supreme Court justices decided [emphasis theirs].

In other words, a religious organization can use the ministerial exception or church autonomy doctrine to defend itself during a case, but not use it to escape from trial altogether.

But thats where the court got it wrong, Tucker argued in his petition for rehearing.

Yes, the ministerial exception can be used to defend oneself at trial. But the church autonomy doctrine is something altogether different. It establishes a constitutional denial of jurisdiction, which means that a secular court has no right to even try the case in the first place.

This case cannot be finally decided without delving into Christian beliefs about baptism, generally, and Presbyterian beliefs, specifically, Tucker wrote. [I]t will be necessary to judge how the Presbyterian faith views publication, both under church governance and historical practice.

The court placed Does intentwhich was to get baptized but not to become a church memberover the rules, customs, and tradition of the baptizing church, Tucker wrote. He continued:

Where then does the majority of the Court draw the protected line? Any publication beyond profession of faith in front of the congregation is now subject to control by the secular court, emasculating the protections of the First Amendment. Under the substituted opinion, courts have the right to tell churches how they can and cannot report baptisms.  No court of record in the United States has ever reached such a conclusion.

Christiana Holcomb, an attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), agrees with Tucker.

I was astonished at how narrowly [the Oklahoma Supreme Court] construed and, frankly, abused the church autonomy doctrine, she said. They interpreted it so narrowly that it would only apply to church members, which was never its intent. They ignored an abundance of other [US] Supreme Court precedents.

Holcomb says ADF is monitoring the case closely.

Well be weighing in as appropriate, she said. Its a big deal. It would be precedential for the state of Oklahoma. It would alter my legal counsel to churches within the state of Oklahomaits that egregious, and such a significant departure from established precedent.

Religious liberty scholar and law professor Thomas Berg told CT he didnt have a strong feeling whether the church-autonomy exception, or the ministerial exception, should be technically jurisdictional.

Either one may require the court to dig into a churchs documents or dealings to determine facts. The important thing is that a court does it quickly so that the intrusion on it from the litigation process will be minimized, he said.

He agreed that Does lack of membership does not avoid application of of the church-autonomy doctrine.

Doe reached out to the church for the baptism, thereby submitted himself to the churchs rules on that practice, Berg said. Church autonomy binds those who associate themselves with the church; you can associate yourself for limited purposes and be bound within that sphere. A parallel case, cited by the dissent, involves the non-Catholic husband who agreed to participate in the Catholic annulment process and then tried to sue his ex-wife for defamation for statements she made during it. He properly lost, because he accepted the terms of that particular process.

Does best argument might be that the church breached a promise of confidentiality made by the member who said, in the lead-up to the baptism, Nobody will find out. We will make sure that your secret is safe, said Berg, who emphasized that he had not studied the full court record.

Whatever the precise facts here  the legal point is that a church can surrender its autonomy by voluntary agreement, he said. For example, a church doesnt have to pay its minister an above-minimum wage, but if it signs a contract to pay a given wage, it can be sued for breach.

CT previously reported when the Muslim convert to Christianity sued his church for celebrating his baptism, and when the Oklahoma Supreme Court initially ruled against him.Couples and Priests Worldwide Are Continuing to Register for the 50th Anniversary Worldwide Marriage Encounter Convention

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., Jan. 29, 2018 / Christian Newswire / -- The number of couples and priests who are signing up for the 50th Anniversary Convention of Worldwide Marriage Encounter continues to increase on a daily basis with registrations coming from across the world, it was announced today by Peter & Sheila Oprysko and Fr. Tom Griffith, SVD, the convention leadership team.

"The convention theme is 'We Remember, We Celebrate, We Believe' and what we are seeing are couples and priests registering from as far away as New Zealand and Korea along with many couples from the United States and Canada", the leadership team said.

One of the highlights leading up to the convention has been the 50 From Our 50 Project, which has been featured, via social media, a couple or priest who have either impacted or were impacted by their WWME experiences. The special stories are shown each week through the WWME Convention 2018 sites on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram as well as Tumblr and in blogs.

"What we are seeing is so many couples signing up for the convention after they read the 50 From The 50 Project stories," the Opryskos and Fr. Griffith said adding, "Based on what we are seeing we expect well more than 500 couples and priests to attend this year's convention celebration."

There will be several unique programs and presentations during the weekend celebration of Worldwide Marriage Encounter from June 22 to 24, 2018 in Lombard, Illinois.

"What we are hearing and reading over and over is that WWME truly impacted the lives of tens of thousands of couples and priests. We hope that as many as possible will be at the 50th Anniversary of the movement. They can then share with others the wonderful adventures they have experienced as a result of the weekend," the convention leadership said.

To register for the convention go to wwme-2018-convention.myshopify.com

Worldwide Marriage Encounter has been offering weekend experiences for over 50 years and is considered the original faith-based marriage enrichment program. The programs are continually updated to keep abreast of changes in society, and WWME now offers evening and half-day programs that are presented at parishes and other church facilities. The weekend program, traditionally presented as an overnight experience at a hotel or retreat center, can also be presented at the parish where the couples return to their homes in the evenings. WWME has a presence in almost 100 countries, which makes it the largest pro-marriage movement in the world. In North America, the WWME programs are presented in English, Spanish, French, and Korean languages.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter offers married couples the opportunity to spend time together away from the busyness of the world to focus on each other. Priests are also encouraged to attend a WWME weekend, which offers insights into their relationship with the church and their parishioners, and how their Sacrament of Holy Orders interacts with the Sacrament of Matrimony. WWME offers tools for building and maintaining a strong, Christian marriage in today's world. To learn more about the Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends online, go to wwme.org , or contact the WWME national office at (909) 332-7309.Lakewood Church to Hold Global Mobilizing Medical Missions Conference M3 -- Hosted by Paul Osteen, MD

Emergency Field Hospital To Be On Display and Available for Tours

HOUSTON, Jan. 29, 2018 / Christian Newswire / -- Lakewood Church will hold their 3rd annual M3 Mobilizing Medical Missions Conference hosted by Dr. Paul Osteen this February 23 - 24 in Houston, Texas, home of the world's largest medical center.

The first of its kind on the Gulf Coast, the international M3 Conference is designed to bring together doctors, nurses, dentists and other healthcare professionals, as well as anyone who has a desire to use their skills to meet pressing global healthcare needs.

New this year will be an Emergency Field Hospital (EFH) from Samaritan's Purse; one that is similar to the organization's EFH used in Northern Iraq. The hospital will be set up and available for tours Thursday, February 22 through Sunday, February 25.

More than 50 global missions organizations will be at the M3 Conference, organizations that change lives, communities and nations. From caring for the sick to drilling for clean water, caring for orphans, and fighting human trafficking. The M3 conference is about connecting medical and missions expertise, interest and passion to the world's needs.

"I have seen men and women who are in the trenches; doing what they can do to help people in extremely resource-limited settings. We don't have to have all the answers; we just have to do our part. I believe your heart will be moved with compassion and you too will be inspired to do what you can to help," said Dr. Paul Osteen.

Attendees will hear from over 30 speakers and leaders from renowned organizations including Keynote Gary Haugen, JD, Founder and CEO of International Justice Mission, Hope Through Healing Hands, MedSend, Samaritan's Purse/World Medical Mission, and many others. Attendees don't have to be working in the medical field to attend.

What: M3 Mobilizing Medical Missions Conference





When: Friday - Saturday February 23  24





Where: Lakewood Church 3700 SW Freeway Houston, Texas





Registration: To register, go to To register, go to M3missions.com

Paul Osteen, MD, FACS

Osteen is a general and vascular surgeon. After practicing surgery for many years in Little Rock, Arkansas, he now travels for 4-5 months each year providing surgical care and medical education to remote and under-resourced countries in sub-Saharan Africa. When not abroad, he serves on the pastoral staff at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. For more information, go to M3missions.com

Lakewood Church

Under the leadership of Joel and Victoria Osteen, Lakewood Church has grown to become the largest church in the US, with over 43,000 attending services each week and unprecedented outreach through television, radio, online and stadium events across the U.S. Weekly services are broadcast in the U.S. and around the world in over 100 nations. Thousands in Houston and the surrounding communities are helped through Lakewood's ministries, community programs, and resources. For more information, go to Under the leadership of Joel and Victoria Osteen, Lakewood Church has grown to become the largest church in the US, with over 43,000 attending services each week and unprecedented outreach through television, radio, online and stadium events across the U.S. Weekly services are broadcast in the U.S. and around the world in over 100 nations. Thousands in Houston and the surrounding communities are helped through Lakewood's ministries, community programs, and resources. For more information, go to lakewoodchurch.com

Media Contact

Andrea Davis, Lakewood Church / Joel Osteen Ministries

713.253.1825home World Pastor reveals why children of Christians in North Korea grow up without learning about their parents' faith

A North Korean pastor, who is now living in China, has revealed that children of Christians in the Communist regime are growing up without knowing about Christianity because their parents are forced to hide their faith for fear of what the authorities will do to their family if they are discovered.

In an interview with persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA, Pastor Lee Joo-Chan recounted that he grew up without knowing that his parents were Christians.

"I knew my parents were different. Everybody called them 'Communist parents,' because they took care of the sick, the poor and the needy. At night, they read from a secret book, which I wasn't allowed to read from," he narrated.

"But I heard them whisper the words, and I knew it was their source of wisdom. I also knew that if I ever talked about this to someone else, our family would be taken away," he continued.

Lee explained that his mother was only able to tell him about Christianity after he escaped from North Korea in the 90s and met with her in China.

She recounted how the family have been trying to practice their faith for decades and told him that she had prayed for him and the oppressed people.

Lee's mother eventually headed back to North Korea with her other son, but they were ambushed by soldiers. Lee had witnessed how the soldiers killed his mother and brother, and he later found out that his father and other siblings were also arrested and killed.

He eventually reached South Korea, where he fulfilled his mother's wish by following Jesus and becoming a pastor.

North Korea, which has been ranked by Open Doors as the worst place in the world for Christians, has been subjecting its citizens to severe indoctrination through television, radio channels, newspapers and loudspeakers.

Children are taught that Christians are "evil spies" who kidnap, torture and kill North Korean children, and sell their blood and organs.

Sharing the Gospel with children is extremely risky as they can accidentally sing a hymn or tell a particular Bible story to their friends.

Tens of thousands of children have reportedly become homeless because their families have died or were arrested.

It is often thought that the Communist regime is godless, but it actually promotes the worship of Kim Jong Un as a god and an entire religion has been built around idolizing the Kim dynasty.

The Juche religion was reportedly introduced by Kim's grandfather Kim il-Sung as a sort of imitation of Christianity.

"He set himself up as God. His son, Kim Jong Il, is the Jesus figure. And Juche, their philosophy, as the Holy Spirit," Suzanne Scholte of the Defense Forum Foundation explained.

Scholte expressed her belief that the Gospel can help the North Koreans break free from Kim's regime because its message undermines the dictator's supposed God-like authority.

"The power of the Christian message: that's the way to break down the ideological stranglehold of that regime abecause it is an evil place," she said.home World Ultra-Orthodox Jews protest re-opening of meeting center for Messianic believers in Israel

A group of ultra-Orthodox Jews protested the re-opening of a meeting center for Messianic believers in southern Israel and reportedly threatened some of the people in the building.

According to Middle East Concern, protests have been taking place outside the meeting center in Dimona, south Israel since it opened at the beginning of January.

The center, where Jewish followers of Jesus meet for conversation, coffee and tea, was temporarily shut down following violent protests from ultra-Orthodox Jews on May 4, 2017. The ultra-Orthodox Jews also went to the home of congregational leaders where the demonstrations turned violent, with protesters breaking the windows and traumatizing the children who live there.

Albert Knoester, an elder at a Messianic congregation in Beersheba, told Kehila News Israel that the meeting center has been described by some media outlets as a "Mission Post," where it was preached that "Jews had to convert to Christianity."

He explained that the center was not a mission post but a "place of meeting," adding that it was opened about half a year ago, but had to close down temporarily because of severe opposition.

Knoester said that there has been some positive reaction to the opening of the center, with some people inviting them to discuss their beliefs. However, it caused some negative reactions from some Jewish religious leaders, with some rabbis coming to their homes and interrogating them for hours.

"Also there were many made up stories in the various media the following days. We were accused of bribing people. We would give someone in Dimona a car to try to make him a Christian. We would put a powder in someone's coffee to change Jews into Christians. We coerce Jews to give up their faith by force. We spread evangelistic materials, etc. etc.," he explained.

Knoester said that he and his wife, Esther, eventually decided to temporarily shut down the "Open House," but they continued discussions with religious leaders on what place the center should have in the community.

Demonstrations took place in front of their home after the Knoesters participated in a Town Hall meeting. Several windows were reportedly smashed and one of the families in Dimona reportedly suffered from psychological trauma due to the protests.

Despite the opposition from some religious leaders, the Knoesters had been invited by some people to explain why they believe that Jesus is the Messiah.

Knoester said that they did not expect severe opposition as they had built up a good relationship with the community in Dimona. However, they said that they somewhat expected it, noting that "our Lord did not promise us a 'picnic' here on earth but he said: In this world you will suffer persecution, but be of good cheer, for I have conquered/ overcome the world."home World Zimbabwe church issues eviction notice to Mugabe in an attempt to reclaim confiscated land

A church in Zimbabwe's capital of Harare has sent an eviction notice to former President Robert Mugabe's family in an attempt to reclaim a land that was confiscated in 2015.

According to Africa News, the Mugabe-owned Gushungo Holdings has allegedly taken a 23-hectare property that once belonged to Eaglesvale Group of Schools, which is owned by the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ).

The school's board chairperson, Enos Chomutiri, said that Eaglesvale held the title deeds to the land since 1978, but the Mugabes claimed they had title to the land, which the family acquired from the government in 2015 after the property was designated for compulsory acquisition.

Eaglesvale reportedly wanted to build a campus on the property, but it was allegedly grabbed by Grace Mugabe with the help of former Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo without the school's knowledge.

Last week, Eaglesvale reportedly went to the property and erected a billboard showing that the property belonged to the church under the Eaglesvale Daisyfield Trust (EDT).

However, the billboard was torn down five days later after the intervention of the Mugabe family and the police.

The school's lawyer, Rodney Makausi, said that an eviction letter, dated Jan. 23, has been sent to security officials at Mugabe's Blue Roof residence in Borrowdale Brooke.

"Our clients have notified us that you have illegally occupied their above-mentioned piece of land without their authority and without any lawful or just cause," the letter stated.

"They have notified us that you have now planted maize crops (sic) on the said piece of land without their authority. Our clients have now asked us to demand, as we hereby do, that you vacate the said piece of land within the course of the next seven days from date of this letter, failing which our instructions are to institute proceedings for your eviction without further notice," it continued.

According to PaZimbabwe, Chombo designated the land to build the Robert Mugabe Memorial Centre. However, the Administrative Court declared the move unlawful, saying the government's compulsory land acquisition policy does not apply to privately-owned urban land.

In its submission before the court, RCZ contended that the land was meant for public infrastructure and could not be acquired by the government.

The school is currently operating from rented premises in the Willowvale industrial area and had intended to move to the property in Borrowdale.

The Mugabe family has been involved in several land disputes, particularly in Mazowe, where Grace Mugabe allegedly confiscated land belonging to citrus firm Interfresh and was on the verge of throwing out villagers at Manzou Farm.Andreas Gursky: I pursue one goal  the encyclopaedia of life

As the first UK retrospective of the record-breaking German photographers work appears at the Hayward Gallery in London, the gallerys director, Ralph Rugoff, explains why he considers Gursky to be among the foremost artists of our time

Andreas Gursky is to my mind one of the great artists of our generation, remarks Ralph Rugoff, director of the Hayward Gallery at Londons Southbank Centre, where around 60 of the photographers works are on view until 22 April. The Hayward Gallerys exhibition is the first major UK retrospective of the German artist, who has said, I only pursue one goal  the encyclopaedia of life. Gurskys monumental, digitally enhanced works depict massive man-made structures and huge gatherings of people in nightclubs, factories, arenas and other social landscapes. They draw attention to our changing relationship with the natural world, and chronicle the effects of globalisation on everyday life. On 8 November 2011, Rhein II, a three-metre wide print by Gursky (b. 1955) realised $4,338,500 at Christies in New York, making it the most expensive photograph sold at auction to date.

Andreas Gursky (b. 1955), Rhein II, 1999. Image: 73 x 143 in (185.4 x 363.5 cm). Sold for $4,338,500 on 8 November 2011 at Christies in New York  Andreas Gursky/DACS, 2017 Courtesy: Spruth Magers

[Gursky] really grew out of an interest in an expanded, documentary-type of photography in the 1980s, which quickly developed into something where the photograph is more of a kind of metaphor for a cultural attitude, explains Rugoff. He said he was interested in how the world is put together, and a lot of his pictures show you this with a detail and a clarity that I dont think any other photographer has approached. In our film, Rugoff examines the 63-year-old photographers oeuvre as he talks through several of the works on display. Gursky, he explains, started out using film cameras, and then began to use digital post-production. He uses it to get a different kind of production that never really existed before.

Andreas Gursky, 99 Cent II, Diptych, 2001. C-Print each: 206 x 341 x 6.2 cm.  Andreas Gursky/DACS, 2017 Courtesy: Spruth Magers

In a famous picture from 1993 called Paris Montparnasse, the artist put his camera across the street at two different locations in order to get an image of an apartment block where every window is the same size. The resulting image is true to the spirit of the building, rather than being distorted by optics. In Review (2015), German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her three predecessors sit in what looks like a glass-enclosed sound booth, gazing at Barnett Newmans Vir Heroicus Sublimis (1950-51). Its a situation that never happened in real life, Rugoff explains. This is a fiction that Andreas has created. Hes reached a point where hes decided he will construct photographs completely.

Andreas Gursky, Amazon, 2016. Inkjet-Print 207 x 407 x 6.2 cm.  Andreas Gursky/DACS, 2017 Courtesy: Spruth MagersRecently, Architectural Digest went about finding the most beautiful coffee shop in each of the 50 states, visiting coffee meccas like Caffe Umbria in Chicago, Illinois and Devocion in Brooklyn, New York along the way.

As it turns out, the prettiest place to get a morning, afternoon, or evening boost in Texas is in Dallas at Houndstooth Coffee in the Sylvan district, west of downtown.A drive-by shooting was reported Sunday on Cullen Boulevard in Sunnyside, according to Houston police. One man was taken to the hospital.

A caller reported the shooting just before 6:45 p.m., police said, near the intersection of Cullen and Mayflower in south Houston. When police arrived, they found one man who had been shot near a car wash in the 7400 block of Cullen.The Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, along with other local leaders, will urge Congress Monday to find a clear path to citizenship for DACA recipients.

Congress and the White House this week are negotiating immigration reform, and the ultimate decisions will impact more than 800,000 DREAMers, including the 68,000 who live in the Houston area.Dear Abby:

I have been married to my husband for 22 years. We've had our ups and downs, and separated for three months back in 2008, but we went to marriage counseling and got back together.

I recently have realized that my husband is an accomplished liar and has been from day one. To top it off, he lies about stupid things, which makes me wonder what important things he's lying about. When I express my feelings about this, he swears he will never lie again, blah blah blah - and, damn, if I don't catch him again! Is this marriage doomed? And how do I trust anything he ever says to me?

Untrusting in Maryland

Dear Untrusting:

Successful marriages are based on trust and communication. Yours is in serious trouble.

Most people who lie do so because they are trying to make themselves look better or are not proud of whatever it is they are attempting to cover up. However, those who lie about "stupid" things may be compulsive liars who can't control the impulse. If your spouse falls into this category, a licensed mental health professional may be able to help him overcome his problem.

Dear Abby:

My elderly mother, my daughter, her boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Las Vegas. Because of the costs involved, we are considering sharing a room with two queen beds. The plan would be for me and my mother to share one bed, and my daughter and her boyfriend to share the other.

My wife thinks this is weird. I explained that it will be a queen bed, and I don't understand why she thinks it is strange. This will save us around $1,000 that a second room would cost. What do you think?

Ralph in Ohio

Dear Ralph:

Is saving the money more important to you than privacy and propriety? Your wife may have been thinking along those lines when she suggested the "boys" sleep with the boys and the "girls" sleep together. Before rendering an opinion, I'd have to know what your daughter, her boyfriend and your mother think about this arrangement because unless you all agree, it might make more sense to request a cot or bring an air mattress with you.

DearAbby.comDear AbbyP.O. Box 69440Los Angeles, CA 90069Andrews McMeel SyndicationA new University of Houston study is tracking 2,000 Houston Community College students to see if receiving free food will improve their academic performance.

The students -- who are low-income and mostly Latino and African American -- are participating in a college food scholarship program sponsored by the Houston Food Bank's "food for change" initiative.

Through the program, according to the study's researchers,

Students can get groceries twice a month at pantries nearby.

Mobile pantries come to campus twice a month.

Cooking tips are available for participants.

The scholarships are for students at HCC's Central and Northeast campuses.

"Research suggests food insecurity, the lack of availability or access to healthy food, is one of the barriers to graduation for these students," says Daphne Hernandez, a UH professor in the health and human performance department, in a statement.

The William T. Grant Foundation and the Kresge Foundation are supporting the study, through which Hernandez and fellow academic Sara Goldrick-Rab will compare academic performance between students who do and do not receive the scholarship.

HCC data show that many students do not stay enrolled even one year later. Of the 11,770 HCC students who entered the college in fall 2016, just 8,735 returned in spring 2017 and 6,022 returned the following fall, college data show.

HCC students who received the Pell Grant -- specifically for low-income students -- earned lower grades than students who did not, according to HCC data. Students who received that grant historically have had lower fall-to-fall retention rates than students who did not.

HCC is not alone in offering food pantry services to students. Lone Star College, San Jacinto College and the University of Houston-Downtown have also added them in recent years.A destructive new internet challenge has left one Tennessee teenager fighting for his life.

It is called the "No Lackin Challenge," which involves people capturing video of themselves pointing a firearm - real or fake - at someone to see if they will point one back, KnowYourMeme reported. The challenge is meant to test whether someone is ready to defend themselves should they be approached.

A 17-year-old participated in the challenge Thursday at E's cafe on Union Avenue in Memphis and was shot in the head, FOX19 reported.

LIGHTS OUT: Here's why Southwest Freeway's colorful bridges are no longer lit up

"According to the affidavit, 21-year-old Sherman Lackland was sitting in a booth with two people he knew, playing the No Lackin Challenge when Lackland reportedly accidentally shot his friend," Fox19 added.

The teenager remains in critical condition while Lackland has been charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Fernando Alfonso III is a digital reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on twitter at @fernalfonso.Alex Brandon/POOL

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is joining with critics of Russia's Nordstream 2 pipeline project, saying it would undermine energy security in Europe.

"Like Poland, the United States opposes the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. We see it as undermining Europe's overall energy security and stability," Tillerson said Saturday at a joint news conference with the Polish foreign minister in Warsaw, according to Reuters.A carjacking suspect who allegedly pulled a knife on Harris County sheriff's deputies twice Monday is dead after a shooting unfolded in the parking lot near two schools.

The shooting happened around 2 p.m. Monday in the 6600 block of Addicks Satsuma Road, near Truitt Middle School and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, after deputies followed the suspect from a separate location after a tip from witnesses.

The carjacking investigation began Sunday night when a 46-year-old man allegedly stabbed a car owner at a location in northwest Harris County. The man and the stolen car were not immediately found after deputies were called out. At some point Monday afternoon, wrecker drivers, who recognized the stolen car, spotted it near the intersection of Tanner Road and Beltway 8, just south of U.S. 290.

CONROE SHOOTING: Dash cam video released in Conroe officer-involved shooting

The man was asleep in the driver's seat but woke up as deputies approached the car, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez told reporters Monday. The suspect pulled a knife on the deputies as they initially approached the car and drove off.

A deputy later spotted the suspect and the vehicle shortly before 2 p.m. near the schools and investigated when the suspect again pulled a knife, Gonzalez said. The deputy, who was waiting on backup from a DPS trooper, pulled out his gun and opened fire, fatally wounding the suspect who died on site.

Joel Weckerly, director of communications for CFISD, said the school was briefly placed on "secure the building mode," but it has since been lifted. Students are being released from classes on schedule.

HCSO's Internal Affairs will investigate the shooting alongside the Texas Attorney General's Office.

"It's a long, very detailed and methodical process we go through," Gonzalez said.

No one else was hurt in the shooting.

Jay R. Jordan is a breaking news reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan.From: "Christopher A. Wray" < christopherwray110@galaxy.ocn.ne.jp > Date: 1/9/18 1:10 AM (GMT-08:00) To: Subject: FBI Executive Director

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)Anti-Terrorist And Monitory Crime Division. Federal Bureau Of Investigation. J.Edgar.Hoover Building Washington Dc Customers Service Hours / Monday To Saturday Office Hours Monday To Saturday: Dear Beneficiary, We hope this notification arrives meeting your good health and mind.Series of meetings have been held over the past 7 months with the secretary general of the United Nations Organization. This ended 3 days ago. This meeting was scheduled and arranged by the former acting Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is obvious that you have not received your fund which is to the tune of $10.3M) million due to past corrupt Governmental Officials who almost held the fund to themselves for their selfish reason and some individuals who have taken advantage of your fund all in an attempt to swindle your fund which has led to so many losses from your end and unnecessary delay in the receipt of your fund.for more information do get back to us. The National Central Bureau of Interpol enhanced by the United Nations and Federal Bureau of Investigation have successfully passed a mandate to the government of the states the exercise of clearing all foreign debts owed to you and other individuals and organizations who have been found not to have receive their Contract Sum, Lottery/, Inheritance. we are happy to inform you that based on our recommendation your outstanding contract inheritance funds of over-due payment in tone of USD $10.3M) has been credited in your favor in SunTrust Bank. Having said all this, we will further advise that you go ahead in dealing with the SunTrust Bank, AL accordingly as we will be monitoring all their activities with you as well as your correspondence at all levels. NOTE: There are numerous scam emails on the internet, imposters impersonating names and images. We therefore warn our dear citizens to be very careful with any claim email you receive prior to these irregularities so that they do not fall victim to this ugly circumstance anymore. And should in case you are already dealing with anybody or office claiming that you have a payment with them, you are to STOP further contact with them immediately in your best interest and contact the real bank (SunTrust Bank ) only where your fund is laying, with the below information: Bank Name: SunTrust Bank Address: 402 Cox Creek Pkwy, Florence, AL 35630, USA Attn:Lambert CressWell (Remittance Director) E-mail:lambertCresswellstb01@aol.com Department Code:63804 website:www.suntrust.com Contact the bank today and furnish them with this information below for processing of your payment/funds accordingly. FULL NAME: CURRENT ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP CODE: DIRECT CONTACT NUMBER: NOTE: In your best interest, any message that does not come from the above email address should be Nullify and avoided immediately for security reasons. Meanwhile, we will advise that you contact the SunTrust Bankk office in Alabama immediately with the above email address and request that they attend to your payment file as directed so as to enable you receive your payment/fund accordingly. Ensure you follow all directives from SunTrust Bank as this will further help hasten up the whole payment process in regards to the transfer of your fund to you as designated. Also have in mind that the SunTrust Bank equally has their own protocol of operation as stipulated on their banking terms. All modalities has already been worked out before you were contacted and note that we will be monitoring all your dealings with them as you proceed so you don't have anything to worry about. All we require from you henceforth is an update so as to enable us be on track with you and the SunTrust Bank . Without wasting much time, we will want you to contact them immediately with the above email address and phone number so as to enable them attend to your case accordingly without any further delay as time is already running out. Should in case you need any more information in regards to this notification, feel free to get back to us via email so that we can brief you more as we are here to guide you during and after this project has been completely perfected and you have received your payment/fund as stated. Thank you very much for your anticipated co-operation. BEST REGARDS Christopher A. Wray Director Federal Bureau on Investigation J. Edgar Hoover Building 601,4th Street, 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20535-0001, USA FBI DIRECTOR BUREAU Hon. James B. Comey jamescomey008@outlook.com >

Data: 2018-01-17 7:58 GMT-02: 00

Assunto: ATM Account # 520087621345 / Access PIN from FMF /

To:

Atencao, (Codigo: 371).



Desejo reconhecer o recebimento do seu correio, o conteudo e bem compreendido.

Desculpe pela resposta atrasada, seus US $ 1.200.000,00 sao atualmente alojados aqui em sua Conta ATM # 520087621345. Portanto, antes de entrar na conta ou usa-lo on-line para fazer qualquer transferencia, voce deve obter o PIN de acesso da FMF como cliente nao residencial, para que Voce pode entrar na conta e fazer a transferencia online para qualquer conta de sua escolha e por favor, tenha em mente que seu Atm Visa Card esta certo em Roseville, Michigan, EUA. Por favor, ligue para o agente de entrega, NOME DO AGENTE: Sr. Richard Egobiah , Tele #: +1 (207) -494-5834 , Email: hr.expressbj01@gmail.com , e deve ser entregue no seu endereco de destino esta manha, antes das 8 da manha, esta manha, uma vez que voce cumpra, enviando-nos a taxa de exigencia nesta manha .

A luz do acima, obter o PIN de Acesso junto com a entrega custara o total de US $ 59.9Usu somente, o motivo pelo qual nos acabamos por receber o seu cartao de ATM demora demais por isso que eu estive O banco desde a semana passada segunda-feira na REPUBLICA BENIN e voltei para os EUA esta manha no meu escritorio.

* INFORMACAO PARA ENVIAR A TAXA POR WESTERN UNION OU MONEY GRAM *:

Nome dos receptores ===== EMPREGO Pais ============ Republica Benin Cidade =============== Cotonou Pergunta de texto ======= Quando Respostas de texto ======= Hoje Montante ============ USUS $ 59.9Usd mtcn number =======?

Voce deve nos enviar os detalhes fornecidos pela Western Union Or Money Gram logo que voce efetuou o pagamento de US $ 59.9Usu.

Nome dos remetentes ======= endereco do remetente ====== Pais do remetente ======

Espera-se que encaminhe o MTCN, o nome e o endereco do remetente para mim imediatamente depois de efetuar o pagamento hoje, de modo que eu enviarei a voce todos os detalhes que lhe permitirao fazer o login na conta ou usar seu cartao ATM on-line para transferir para qualquer conta E voce ainda recebera seu cartao ATM nesta manha. Esperando ouvir de voce em breve. Cumprimentos, Christopher A. Wray. DIRETOR EXECUTIVO DO FBI. (Codigo: 371) E-mail: info.fbiofficebj012@gmail.com De:Data: 2018-01-17 7:58 GMT-02: 00Assunto: ATM Account # 520087621345 / Access PIN from FMF /To: From: FBI DIRECTOR BUREAU Hon. James B. Comey < interlpoldepartmentbj@hotmail.com > Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2018, 5:16:48 AM GMT-5 Subject: ATM Account # 520087621345/Access PIN from FMF/

Attention Please,( Code: 371 ).



I wish to acknowledge the receipt of your mail, the content is well understood.

Sorry for the late reply, your US$1,200,000.00 is presently lodge here in your ATM Account # 520087621345. so before login to the account or use it online to do any transfer, you must obtain the Access PIN from FMF as non residential customer, so that you can login to the account and make online-transfer into any account of your choice & please keep it in mind that your Atm Visa Card is Right in Roseville,Michigan, USA , Please Call The Delivery Agent, AGENT NAME: Mr. Richard Egobiah, Tele #: +1 (207)-494-5834, Email: hr.expressbj01@gmail.com, & it must be delivered to your destination address this morning before 8am this morning once you comply by sending us the require fee this morning.

In light of the above, to obtain the Access PIN together with the delivery will cost you the total of US$59.9Usd only, the reason s that we have finedout that to received your ATM card it takes too long that is why i have been in the bank since Last week Monday at BENIN REPUBLIC & I am back to Usa this morning at my office.

*INFORMATION TO SEND THE FEE BY WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM*:

Receivers name= = = NDUKWE EMEKA Country= = = = = = Benin republic City= = = = = = = =Cotonou Text question= = = = When Text answers= = = = Today Amount= = = = = = USUS$59.9Usd mtcn number= = = =?

You must send us the details provided by Western Union Or Money Gram immediately you made the payment of USUS$59.9Usd.

senders name= = = = sender address= = = sender country= = =

You are expected to forward the MTCN, sender's name and address to me immediately after making the payment today, so that I will forward to you every details which will enable you to login to the account or use your ATM card online to transfer to any account & you will still receive your ATM card this morning. Waiting to hear from you soon. Best Regards, Christopher A. Wray. FBI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. (Code: 371) Email: info.fbiofficebj012@gmail.com

From: FBI DIRECTOR BUREAU Hon. James B. Comey < interl.federalbureauinvestigation01@hotmail.com > Sent: Friday, January 19, 2018, 6:07:39 AM GMT-5 Subject: Dead Or Alive ??? Do We pay Them?/Say the turth??,,Code: 371-

Attention Please,( Code: 371)



Your Atm card $1.2 Million Usd is in Roseville, Michigan, USA, the fee to claim is $59.9Usd only and note that 2 ladies came to our office this morning from USA, Mrs Jane Edward & Mrs Linder Micheal, claim that you are dead, just view the attachement of the picture the gave us. If this is not turth, Please response now.Please Call The Delivery Agent, AGENT NAME: Mr. Richard Egobiah, Tele #: +1 (207)-494-5834, Email: hr.expressbj01@gmail.com, Please Use Western Union Or Money Gram only with the information below :

Receivers name= = = NDUKWE EMEKA Country= = = = = = Benin republic City= = = = = = = =Cotonou Text question= = = = When Text answers= = = = Today Amount= = = = = = $59.9Usd mtcn number= = = =?

You must send us the details provided by Western Union Or Money Gram immediately you made the payment of $59.9Usd.

senders name= = = = sender address= = = sender country= = =

Please do forward us the MTCN/ Your home address/ Direct Telephone numbers Waiting to hear from you soon. Best Regards, Christopher A. Wray. (Code: 371) Email: info.fbiofficebj012@gmail.com On Monday, January 22, 2018 7:41 AM, Dr Christopher A. Wray < barone.rug@alice.it > wrote:











WELCOME TO F.B.I. OFFICE WORLDWIDE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF FRAUD INVESTIGATION

INTERNATIONAL, INTERPOL OF POLICE FORCE WORLDWIDE UNITY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

AUTHORITY.



ATTENTION FOR YOUR GOOD NEWS:





You are welcome to desk of Dr Christopher A. Wray, International Interpol and

FBI Police Force Investigating Unit Benin Rep. We are Working towards a

corruption-free world by promoting and defending integrity, justice and the

rule of law Mission statement of the International Anti-Corruption Academy, We

cover West African Countries. This is official notice to you that we have been

mandated by His Excellency Mr. President Dr Patrice Talon to monitor and follow

up your payment of One Million Seven Hundred Thousand United State Dollars $12.7

Million with western union Benin Republic office. We came to understand through

our investigation team that you have been trying to claim your funds for a

couple of months or year now and you are yet not to receive your funds due to

corruptions in western union office. It was based on this that His Excellency

Mr. President mandated us to handle your payment and make sure that you receive

your funds without any delay as he is trying to rebuild the good image of this

country with our foreign counterparts all over the world. Our duty is to put a

stop to all corruption frequently occurs at local or national level with the

help of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) whom we work hand to hand with to

get hold of all the hidden and Identify thief' s local and international

level.



The Interpol Police Group of Experts on Corruption (IGEC) aims to develop and

implement new initiatives to further law enforcement's efficiency in the fight

against corruption. It is a Mufti-disciplinary group with members from all

regions of the world, coordinating and harmonizing different national and

regional approaches. The International Anti-Corruption Academy will be the

world's first educational institute dedicated to fighting corruption. It will

allow law enforcement professional sand other to learn from the world's

foremost authorities in anti-corruption training, research and investigation.

We need your absolute co-operation right now so that you can receive your total

amount of $12.7 Million USD which is now in custody the Interpol Police Force

Unity office Benin Republic. In view of this development, you are requested to

confirm and furnish us with your full names, postage address and telephone

numbers to enable us proceed with process of your fund delivering to you

through our diplomatic International Interpol Police Force Unity Immunity

service as consignment to your door step. We have 186 member Countries. Created

in 1923, it facilitates cross-border Police co-operation, and supports and

assists all organizations, authorities and services whose mission is to prevent

Inter nation Crime. Interpol aims to facilitate International Police Force co-

operation even where diplomatic relations do not exist between particular

Countries. Action is taken within 48hours the limits of existing laws in

different Countries and in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human

Rights. Interpol constitution prohibits any intervention or activities of a

political, military, religious or racial character. Interpol as Leadership the

President of Interpol Police Force and the Secretary General work closely

together in providing strong leadership and direction to the Organization.

Interpol Police Force, in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation

(FBI), is working towards the recovery of funds and return of stolen assets.



This project allows Interpol to actively engage national law enforcement bodies

in co-ordinates efforts to trace, seize, confiscate and return public funds to

victim countries and Individuals. Is rest assured that upon receipt of the

above information and the delivering fee of $56.00, we will proceed in

delivering of your consignment to you immediately? For security reasons

endeavor to indicate this (CODE NUMBER) (B J/XXL14160) this code shows that you

are the rightful owner of the consignment box.

Below Interpol Police accountant officer name where you should send the money

thought western union.



Receiver Name. . . . KEN ANDU

City. . . . .Cotonou

Country;;;;;;;;. Benin Republic

Question;;;;;;;;. Who is great

Answer;;;;;;;;;;;;;;God

Amount. . . . . . .$56.00

MTCN. . . . . . . . . .

Sender Name. . . . . . .

Sender Address. . . . . . .



Yours Faithfully: Contact Person

amerithraxdoj500GAMBINO-MAFIA-FBI220110414211547001_t607

Dr Christopher A. Wray

Call This Number Now:

Telephone Number: +229 60723067 / +229 97966054



E- Mail ( federalbureauinvestigation10@outlook.com Inspector General of fraud International Interpol Police Force Unity. From: FBI DIRECTOR BUREAU Hon. James B. Comey < interlpoldepartmentbj@hotmail.com > Sent: Monday, January 22, 2018, 5:37:53 AM GMT-5 Subject: Your Atm card $1.2 Million Usd is in Roseville, Michigan, USA.

Attention Please,( Code: 371 ).

Your ATM Card is right now in Roseville,Michigan ,USA, Please make sure you send the fee of $59.9Usd for Tag, Please make sure you call the agent to release your ATM card this morning before 9am, Please Call The Delivery Agent, AGENT NAME: Mr. Richard Egobiah, Tele #: +1 (207)-494-5834, Email: hr.expressbj01@gmail.com Below is the payment information you will use to send the $59.9Usd to our cashier name through Western Union Or Money Gram Money Transfer:

Receivers name= = = NDUKWE EMEKA Country= = = = = = Benin republic City= = = = = = = =Cotonou Text question= = = = When Text answers= = = = Today Amount= = = = = = $59.9Usd mtcn number= = = =?

You must send us the details provided by Western Union Or Money Gram immediately you made the payment of $59.9Usd.

senders name= = = = sender address= = = sender country= = = As soon as the fee is sent, please do send us the MTCN numbers now. Waiting to hear from you soon. Thanks, Christopher A. Wray. (Code: 371) Email: info.fbiofficebj012@gmail.com

To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Sent: Tue, Jan 23, 2018 10:02 pm

Subject: REF: US/28028/8A28/18 ATTN: RECIPIENT



Anti-Terrorist And Monetary Crimes Division

FBI Headquarters, Washington, D.C.Federal Bureau Of Investigation

J.Edgar Hoover Building 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, Nw Washington, D.C. 20535-0001





REF: US/28028/8A28/18 ATTN: RECIPIENT



This e-mail has been issued to you in order to Officially inform you that we have completed an investigation on an International Payment in which was issued to you by an International Lottery Company. With the help of our newly developed technology (International Monitoring Network System) we discovered that your e-mail address was automatically selected by an Online Balloting System, this has legally won you the sum of 5.8 million USD from a Lottery Company outside the United States of America. During our investigation we discovered that your e-mail won the money from an Online Balloting System and we have authorized this winning to be paid to you via INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT.



Normally, it will take up to 5 business days for an INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT by your local bank. We have successfully notified this company on your behalf that funds are to be drawn from a registered bank within the world Wide, so as to enable you cash the check instantly without any delay, henceforth the stated amount of 5.8 million USD has been deposited with IMF. We have completed this investigation and you are hereby approved to receive the winning prize as we have verified the entire transaction to be Safe and 100% risk free, due to the fact that the funds have been deposited with IMF you will be required to settle the following bills directly to the Lottery



Agent in-charge of this transaction whom is located in Abuja Nigeria. According to our discoveries, you were required to pay for the following,



(1) Deposit Fee' s( IMF INTERNATIONAL CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE )

(2) Shipping Fee' s ( This is the charge for shipping the Cashier' s Check to your home address)



The total amount for everything is $270.00 We have tried our possible best to indicate that this $270.00 should be deducted from your winning prize

but we found out that the funds have already been deposited to the IMF office and cannot be accessed by anyone apart from you the winner, therefore you will be required to pay the required fee' s to the Agent in-charge of this transaction In order to proceed with this transaction, you will be required to contact the agent in-charge ( Mr.Chandler Kasal) via e-mail. Kindly look below to find appropriate contact information:



CONTACT AGENT NAME: Mr.Chandler Kasal

E-mail:

PHONE NUMBER: +234-812-217-7869

You will be required to e-mail her with the following information:



FULL NAME:

ADDRESS:

CITY:

STATE:

ZIP CODE:

DIRECT CONTACT NUMBER:

OCCUPATION:



You will also be required to request Western Union or Money Gram details on how to send the required $270.00 in order to immediately ship your prize of 5.8 million USD via INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT from IMF, also include the following transaction code in order for him to immediately identify this transaction : EA2948-910.



This letter will serve as proof that the Federal Bureau Of Investigation is authorizing you to pay the required $270.00 ONLY to Mr mark Ben via information in which he shall send to you,



Mr.Christopher A.Wray

Federal Bureau of Investigation F B I

Yours in Service,Photograph of Director

Mr.Christopher,III Director Office of Public

Affairs Welcome once more to FBI REF: US/28028/8A28/18 ATTN: RECIPIENTThis e-mail has been issued to you in order to Officially inform you that we have completed an investigation on an International Payment in which was issued to you by an International Lottery Company. With the help of our newly developed technology (International Monitoring Network System) we discovered that your e-mail address was automatically selected by an Online Balloting System, this has legally won you the sum of 5.8 million USD from a Lottery Company outside the United States of America. During our investigation we discovered that your e-mail won the money from an Online Balloting System and we have authorized this winning to be paid to you via INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT.Normally, it will take up to 5 business days for an INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT by your local bank. We have successfully notified this company on your behalf that funds are to be drawn from a registered bank within the world Wide, so as to enable you cash the check instantly without any delay, henceforth the stated amount of 5.8 million USD has been deposited with IMF. We have completed this investigation and you are hereby approved to receive the winning prize as we have verified the entire transaction to be Safe and 100% risk free, due to the fact that the funds have been deposited with IMF you will be required to settle the following bills directly to the LotteryAgent in-charge of this transaction whom is located in Abuja Nigeria. According to our discoveries, you were required to pay for the following,(1) Deposit Fee' s( IMF INTERNATIONAL CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE )(2) Shipping Fee' s ( This is the charge for shipping the Cashier' s Check to your home address)The total amount for everything is $270.00 We have tried our possible best to indicate that this $270.00 should be deducted from your winning prizebut we found out that the funds have already been deposited to the IMF office and cannot be accessed by anyone apart from you the winner, therefore you will be required to pay the required fee' s to the Agent in-charge of this transaction In order to proceed with this transaction, you will be required to contact the agent in-charge ( Mr.Chandler Kasal) via e-mail. Kindly look below to find appropriate contact information:CONTACT AGENT NAME: Mr.Chandler KasalE-mail: chandlerkasal19@gmail.com PHONE NUMBER: +234-812-217-7869You will be required to e-mail her with the following information:FULL NAME:ADDRESS:CITY:STATE:ZIP CODE:DIRECT CONTACT NUMBER:OCCUPATION:You will also be required to request Western Union or Money Gram details on how to send the required $270.00 in order to immediately ship your prize of 5.8 million USD via INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT from IMF, also include the following transaction code in order for him to immediately identify this transaction : EA2948-910.This letter will serve as proof that the Federal Bureau Of Investigation is authorizing you to pay the required $270.00 ONLY to Mr mark Ben via information in which he shall send to you, From: FBI HEAD QUARTERS DC < festusgosco@gmail.com >To: undisclosed-recipients:;Sent: Tue, Jan 23, 2018 10:02 pmSubject: REF: US/28028/8A28/18 ATTN: RECIPIENT From: FBI DIRECTOR BUREAU Hon. James B. Comey < interlpoldepartmentbj@hotmail.com > Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2018, 8:03:42 AM GMT-5 Subject: Dead Or Alive???

Attention Please,( Code: 371 ).

I am writing to confirm the fact if you are (Dead) Or (Alive)? Because Mr. Jude Betsy come to our office stated that you are dead and failure to reply back in the next 24hrs simply means what Mr. Jude Betsy said was right that you are dead. And Mr. Jude Betsy has agreed to pay the needed charge fee valued of $59.9Usd required for the bond stamp duty fee of your ATM Card , but we have not gotten the money from him yet as we want to find out if you are dead or not, so if you are still (alive) you are advice in your own best interest to reply back, the only money you will pay to our office here is just $59.9Usd for the paper works, take note of this now, so we can stop further communication with Mr. Jude Betsy and deliver the (ATM Card) to your door step being the original benefactor of the $1.2million us dollars. Please Call The Delivery Agent, AGENT NAME: Mr. Richard Egobiah, Tele #: +1 (207)-494-5834, Email: hr.expressbj01@gmail.com

Below is the payment information you will use to send the $59.9Usd to our cashier name through Western Union Or Money Gram Money Transfer,

Receivers name= = = NDUKWE EMEKA Country= = = = = = Benin republic City= = = = = = = =Cotonou Text question= = = = When Text answers= = = = Today Amount= = = = = = $59.9Usd mtcn number= = = =?

You must send us the details provided by Western Union Or Money Gram immediately you made the payment of $59.9Usd.

senders name= = = = sender address= = = sender country= = =

beside if you fail to comply with the needed $59.9Usd required there's no way we can deliver the ATM Card to your country. Looking forward to hear from you if you are still alive, reply back for fast action so that your delivery will commence upon receipt of your payment.

Waiting to hear from you soon. Best Regards, Christopher A. Wray. (Code: 371) Email: info.fbiofficebj012@gmail.com From: FBI DIRECTOR BUREAU Hon. James B. Comey < interlpoldepartmentbj@hotmail.com > Sent: Monday, January 29, 2018, 6:10:43 AM GMT-5 Subject: ATM Account # 520087621345/Access PIN from FMF/

Attention Please,( Code: 371 ).



I wish to acknowledge the receipt of your mail, the content is well understood.

Sorry for the late reply, your US$1,200,000.00 is presently lodge here in your ATM Account # 520087621345. so before login to the account or use it online to do any transfer, you must obtain the Access PIN from FMF as non residential customer, so that you can login to the account and make online-transfer into any account of your choice & please keep it in mind that your Atm Visa Card is Right in Roseville,Michigan, USA , Please Call The Delivery Agent, AGENT NAME: Mr. Richard Egobiah, Tele #: +1 (207)-494-5834, Email: hr.expressbj01@gmail.com, & it must be delivered to your destination address this morning before 8am this morning once you comply by sending us the require fee this morning.

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You are expected to forward the MTCN, sender's name and address to me immediately after making the payment today, so that I will forward to you every details which will enable you to login to the account or use your ATM card online to transfer to any account & you will still receive your ATM card this morning. Waiting to hear from you soon. Best Regards, Christopher A. Wray. FBI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. (Code: 371) Email: info.fbiofficebj012@gmail.com If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more....A new builder is on the ground in Plum Grove and changes are already evident. A row of six two-story homes, some across from Mayor LeeAnn Penton-Walker's homestead, now obscure some of the areas that were unrestricted with blight.

A reformation of sorts is beginning with the contracting of homes and the pace is expected to increase over the coming months and year with the groundbreaking for the Grand Parkway in mid-year.

"I'm excited about the Grand Parkway coming through here," said Colony Ridge Developer Trey Harris.

The third and final loop that will surround Houston has already brought growth and prosperity to the areas where it has been finished, but it comes with a two-edged sword.

With it causes a stretch on local city and county resources and continued double-digit growth in the Cleveland ISD district. The accelerated growth is already underway, and the district taxpayers have already passed two bonds. An $85 million bond passed in 2017 will provide new schools and a new service center for the district's auxiliary departments, such as transportation, food service, warehouse and maintenance and operation. A $35 million bond package approved in 2015 is adding classrooms at Cleveland Middle School, Eastside Elementary and Southside Elementary, and mechanical upgrades at Northside Elementary.

Harris has donated approximately 35 acres for an elementary and middle school in the middle of the development. The land has already been cleared for construction and the boulevard that will pass in front of the property is already under construction.

"It will be a two-lane road to begin with," Harris said, "but will eventually be built out to be a four-lane and we have the right-of-way for as much as a six-lane road if necessary."

Harris has also offered up land for a bus barn for the district to cut down on the driving with buses and a storage facility for the district.

With the coming of SH 99, Harris has already attracted bites on the commercial land that will be developed. He has met with HEB at least three times and has others seeking information on the commercial development.

The single-most important recent development is the addition of Camden Homes.

The Dallas-based homebuilder has already made its mark in the community with several dozen homes either sold, constructed or underway.

Their success has been met with sales that are averaging at least five to seven homes per week and a deal that will increase their footprint in the community on a much larger scale.

"They want to put 200 lots under contract for a rental community," Harris said, "and an additional 600 lots for residential living."

Harris worked out a deal with the city of Plum Grove to build homes along Paul Campbell Loop and Plum Grove Road.

"I made sure that nice brick homes got built in those spots," he said, some of them two-story homes.

With those homes comes a 75-foot vegetation buffer that they will leave in the front.

The growth is not limited to the restricted areas, but Harris said most of the new homes being built are in the unrestricted areas.

"All but five of the four dozen or so homes already constructed or under construction are in the unrestricted area," he said.

At least a half-dozen slabs are being poured on Paul Campbell Loop, all of them by Camden Homes.

The new homes price point ranges from $170,000 to $240,000.

"My goal is to help give my buyers the American Dream by putting them in bricks and sticks," he said.

In cooperation with county officials, he has tightened restrictions with a Property Owner's Association.

At the expense of the POA, two new deputies patrol the area bringing some relief to the Liberty County Sheriff's Office.

"All the amenities including a proposed lake and parks will be available to any of the residents in the development," he said.

Some of those include a 50-acre park in Grand San Jacinto on the river, or the 50-acre park on the bayou in Bella Vista with playgrounds and volleyball.

Harris has additional plans in the grand scheme that will increase the beauty of the development.

All 900 lots in Monte Bello have been sold and about half of them have residents living on the property.

Bella Vista has 1,400 lots, all of them sold, Rancho San Vicente some 650 lots, while Grand San Jacinto has 3,600, Camino Real will have 3,500, and the largest of the subdivisions, Santa Fe, will have 7,000 lots.

Camino Real and Santa Fe are both restricted and Sections 7 and 8 in Grand San Jacinto are also restricted.

With approximately 18,000 lots and many of them already platted and sold, it's easy to see why Plum Grove, Liberty County and Cleveland ISD officials are sweating bullets.

Harris said he picked up his knowledge of land development from his dad and a nucleus of mentors at his father's company who showed him the ropes.

"I really enjoy doing this and working with the people," he said.

He might not have said that a couple of years ago after he met Plum Grove city leaders who continue to make him walk a tight wire.

They weren't the only ones.

County Judge Jay Knight and the Liberty County commissioners have put the pressure on him to do the right thing after building several of his subdivisions with unrestricted rules in the community.

His newer ones are restricted.

While there is still much to do, there are noticeable changes occurring throughout the community and the number of rooftops will bring much-needed commercial development to the city and county to help counteract the drain on resources.The City of Dayton has hired special counsel to represent the city after a sexual harassment and hostile work environment complaint was filed by a city hall employee. The city acknowledged the complaint in a statement released Friday.

At city council meeting on Jan. 22, the aldermen approved the hiring of the Houston law firm Thompson and Horton, LLP for an issue discussed in executive session.

At that time, nothing was said in the open council meeting as to why the law firm was being hired.

However, by Friday afternoon, City Attorney Brandon Davis emailed a statement concerning the allegations after media inquiries.

LAWSUIT: University allegedly retaliated against woman who reported sexual misconduct

"The city council and staff take these allegations seriously and have hired an outside law firm to investigate the claims and make recommendations regarding their findings," the release said.

Davis continued saying, "Since this is an ongoing investigation, no further information can be released at this time. The city of Dayton values its employees and strives to maintain a safe and healthy work environment."

City Manager Theo Melancon declined to comment, saying he had been advised not to disclose any names, not for just the accused, but also for the alleged victim.

The investigation into the matter will not be conducted by the city's human resources department.

"We will have an outside firm doing the investigation," Melancon said.

"I won't know what's going on. There will be an outside source on that to make sure the investigation isn't going to be tainted," he said over the phone late Friday night.

The investigation is set to begin next week and will be ongoing, according to Melancon, for the next several weeks so that they can be thorough on the matter.

"From there, the independent investigator will render a finding from the fact-gathering. I don't know when it will end and can't provide you a timeline more than that, but it will begin next week," he said.Hurricane Harvey is returning -- but there's no need to evacuate.

Houston-based Street Corner Films is set to begin filming "Harvey," a movie set during the disaster, next month at various locations around town. Directing is Michael Sterling.

"Harvey," starring Antrone Harris ("Drop Dead Diva"), April Grant, Cara Cochran, and Tabitha Grant, will start its 10-day shoot Feb. 17. Producer and casting director Nkem DenChukwu -- who was stuck in her house for four days and almost ran out of food during the storm -- says the idea of the film is to show how everybody put their differences aside to help each other, no matter their race or class.

DenChukwu says they have the cooperation of the Saldivar family who lost six family members during Harvey. Brothers Sammy and Ric Saldivar will play themselves.

DenChukwu is aiming to release "Harvey" on the anniversary of the hurricane but there is no distributor lined up yet so it may land in theaters or on TV or streaming.

While the speaking parts have been cast, there may be a need for extras. Email manager@nkemdenchukwu.com for more details.

There's one thing she wants viewers to take away from the project. "That regardless of the storm we face in life, there is hope," she said by phone. "With Harvey, strangers became neighbors and friends. It still gives us hope."

Another shot-in-Houston film DenChukwu produced, "Lone Star Deception," starring Eric Roberts, is also due out later this year.Toys R Us is closing 182 stores across the nation as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization plan.

Among the eight stores slated to be closed in Texas is the one located at 9730 Katy Freeway in Spring Branch West.

The company announced numerous changes for the coming year, including a price match program, promotions and a loyalty program. However, closing stores is also happening.

While not specifically mentioning the local store, Chairman and CEO Dave Brandon addressed the need to close scores of stores nationwide.

"The reinvention of our brands requires that we make tough decisions about our priorities and focus," Brandon said in a news release. "To that end and following a top-to-bottom assessment of our business, we have decided to close a number of our U.S. stores."

Other stores are being co-branded as Toys R Us and Babies R Us stores.

"The actions we are taking are necessary to give us the best chance to emerge from our bankruptcy proceedings as a more viable and competitive company that will provide the level of service and experience you should expect from a market leader," Brandon said.

Store closings are expected to begin in early February with the majority of locations closing in mid-April.

The closest Toys R Us to the closing location is at 6145 Westheimer Road, about seven miles away.

Any planned closures require court approval.

Toys R Us has 1,600 stores worldwide, including 880 in the United States. The 182 closures in the U.S. represents about 20.7 percent of its national footprint.A Nigerian man recently convicted on felony murder charges in the 2015 stabbing death of his fiance was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Monday, Jan. 22.

Osa Alohaneke, 59, was living in an area of southwest Houston located in Fort Bend County with his fiance, 52-year-old Evelyne Ebane Epiepang, when he attacked her and her friend, Veronica Taku, with a kitchen knife. After 13 hours of deliberation, Alohaneke was convicted on first-degree murder charge. Jurors acquitted Alohaneke on felony assault charges.

When deputies arrived at the scene on April 9, 2015, Alohaneke's hands were covered in blood and he was on the phone with his attorney, according to Fort Bend County assistant district attorney Amanda Bolin. A DNA expert testified at trial that the blood contained a mixture of Alohaneke's DNA and the DNA of the victim.

Epiepang was stabbed more than 30 times and died as she called 911 operators for help. Screams echoed in the courtroom for more than four minutes when prosecutors played the 911 call for the jurors. Toward the end of the recording, jurors heard the victim say the defendant's name as she begs him to stop.

Who was Evelyne Ebane Epiepang?

During the sentencing hearing, Franklin Epiepang, Evelyne's younger brother, testified and described his sister as a respected elder of his family. The oldest of nine children, she grew up in Cameroon, a country located in central Africa.

From a young age she worked to help her parents financially and started her own business importing and selling clothes. After finishing school, she moved to London and eventually the United States where she earned a degree in nursing. Franklin, the youngest of the siblings, eventually joined her in Texas before moving north to pursue an advanced degree in engineering.

"Evelyne was everything to our family," he said. "She had a wonderful personality. She was the life of the party and always had a smile on her face. I never once saw weakness in her. Even when times were tough, she always found a way. "

Evelyne worked at a number of hospitals and private clinics in the greater Houston n area, Franklin said. All the while, she continued to offer financial support to her family in Africa and in recent years was sending money to build a new family home for her mother and father, which Franklin said was now his project.

"I am working to fulfill the promise she made to our parents, " he told jurors. "It's my way of keeping her memory alive," he said.

As a domestic violence-related crime, Epiepang's murder is not an isolated incident, said Bolin, who serves as Fort Bend County's chief family violence prosecutor.

"On average, our office will prosecute two to three murders involving an intimate partner each year," Bolin said. "However, this case is unusual in that it is uncommon to have an eyewitness."

Rush to judgment?

Alohaneke was represented in the trial by Houston-based attorneys Eric Ashford and Amen Obas.

"We are glad Mr. Alohaneke didn't get a life sentence. But, we feel he should have been acquitted of both charges," Ashford said. "We feel for the victim and the victim's family. But, we maintain Mr. Alohaneke had nothing to do with this murder."

Ashford said Alohaneke planned to appeal the conviction.

Obas said he thought the investigation was not handled correctly.

"From the beginning there was a rush to judgment," Obas said. "There were obvious problems with the case. Investigators didn't ask the proper questions and the murder weapon was never identified. And during the trial, we found out prosecutors did not a have a motive for the murder. Even now, the motive remains a mystery."

During closing arguments, Ashford questioned why certain evidence was not presented. For example, detectives took Alohaneke' s clothes when he was arrested but never tested them for blood or DNA and fingernail scrapings taken from the victim were never tested for DNA or blood evidence. Also, Alohaneke's phone was taken by detectives but jurors were never shown texts or cell phone records.

Although Alohaneke didn't testify during the trial he did take the stand during the sentencing hearing and continued to maintain his innocence.

Bolin said she thought the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Department did a fine job investigating the case.

"I think it is more of trial tactic to point the finger and say 'you didn't do this and you didn't do that.' Could we have tested more? Absolutely. But, we made the best decision we could at the time. Obviously whatever issues jurors had with the testing, they overcame them with the verdict."

Alohaneke was tried in the 400th District Court before Presiding Judge Maggie Jaramillo. Murder is a first-degree felony punishable by 5-99 years, or life, in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Under Texas law, Alohaneke must serve half of his sentence before he can be considered for parole.Iowa high school students may be required to pass a U.S. citizenship test before receiving their diplomas.

A proposed bill in the Iowa House of Representatives would prevent students from graduating unless they answered 60 percent or more questions correctly on the exam from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the same percentage immigrants need to get in order to earn their citizenship.

TEXAS HIGH SCHOOl: U.S. citizenship test could be required to graduate high school in Texas

The bill describes the test as "A civics examination that shall be the same as, and shall include all questions used in,the latest available civics examination administered by the United States citizenship and immigration services."

Iowa isn't the only state that has considered requiring students to pass the citizenship test in order to graduate. The Texas House had a similar proposal in May.

The test covers basic American history, democracy and how the government operates.

While some may scoff and think the test is easy, a study from the Annenberg Public Policy Center found that only a quarter of Americans (26 percent) can name all three branches of government. The study also found that 53 percent of Americans incorrectly think undocumented immigrants do not have rights under the U.S. Constitution. The study claims 37 percent of people surveyed couldn't name any of the freedoms guaranteed under the First Amendment.

Whether such bills will pass remains to be seen. For now, see how you would fair in our citizenship test in the gallery above.

Will Axford is a digital reporter for Chron.com. Read more of his stories here and follow him on Twitter.A man was found dead from a gunshot wound in northwest Houston Sunday night, police said.

Houston Police officers were dispatched to the Southwest Freeway near Bissonnet Street around 8:45 p.m.

There, they found the deceased male on the ground, and a car crashed into a utility pole.

5 1 of 5 Metro Video LLC / for the Houston Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Metro Video LLC / for the Houston Chronicle Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Metro Video LLC / for the Houston Chronicle Show More Show Less 5 of 5









It is not yet clear what caused the incident.A 20-year-old man has been charged with drunken driving and failure to stop and render aid in a fatal collision in southeast Houston on Saturday.

Houston police say Luis Lopez Pantoja was driving a black Chevy Tahoe northbound on Allen Genoa Road around 10:15 p.m. when he struck a Mitsubishi Mirage turning left from the southbound lane, police said.Two people in a pickup truck were shot at during the early Monday morning hours in northwest Houston.

Houston Police were dispatched to Fowler Street and Washington Avenue around 3:00 a.m. after a male and female reported that the back window of their pickup truck was shot out by bullets.WASHINGTON  El Paso Democrat Beto O'Rourke raised more than $2.4 million in the last three months of 2017 for his U.S. Senate challenge against Republican incumbent Ted Cruz, who raised just over $1.9 million in the same period.

O'Rourke's haul, the best fundraising quarter of his campaign so far, brings his total up to $6.4 million at the start of Texas' marquee 2018 political contest. He ended the year with $4.6 million in cash on hand.

But he still trails Cruz, who raised more than $7.1 million in 2017, raising his campaign war chest up to nearly $7.3 million.

At last count, at the end of September, Cruz had reported a campaign war chest of $5.6 million, compared to $2.8 million in cash on hand at the time for O'Rourke, a three-term congressman who has vowed to run without taking money from political action committees, or PACs.

Given the GOP's long dominance in Texas, which has not elected a Democrat to statewide office since 1994, O'Rourke has sought to demonstrate spirited grassroots support capable of matching  or beating  Cruz's fundraising prowess.

O'Rourke boasted of 55,567 individual contributions made over the last three months, nearly three-fourths of them from Texas.

"Putting 100 percent of our faith and focus in the people of Texas is proving to be more than a match for the PACs, special interests and corporations who have captured, corroded and corrupted Congress for far too long," O'Rourke said in a statement Sunday night announcing his latest fundraising numbers.

O'Rourke's fundraising bested Cruz's in the first fundraising quarter of the race in 2017, though Cruz bounced back on top in the money chase between July and September.

O'Rourke has been aggressively traveling the state and maximizing his exposure on Facebook Live and other social media. He was buoyed by a poll last week showing him within single digits  striking distance  of Cruz.

A internal poll released by Cruz at the end of the year showed the former Republican presidential candidate up by 18 points.AUSTIN  Angela Paxton, the wife of indicted Attorney General Ken Paxton and a candidate in a contested state Senate race, released a campaign ad Monday focused on her social conservative bona fides.

Titled "Where I Stand," the ad serves for some voters as their introduction to Angela after years of voters knowing her husband, a Republican and tea party darling who won his first election to the state House in 2002, later served in the Senate and become attorney general in 2015.

Angela has earned her own notoriety over the years, largely by entertaining potential voters at her husband's campaign events with songs she's written like, "I'm a pistol packing momma and my husband sues Obama."

In this second ad of the campaign, Angela uses the opportunity to check off several conservative boxes for voters: she said she is a "constitutional conservative;" taught at public and Christian schools; is a gun owner with a license to carry; opposes illegal immigration and supports a ban on so-called sanctuary cities that refuse federal detainer requests; and is pro-life because he was adopted as a baby.

Angela is running for election in Senate District 8, which sits largely in Collin County north of Dallas. She is running against Phillip Huffines  who is also related to a state officials. Huffines is a wealthy businessman and the twin of state Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas.

She has received some financial help from Ken Paxton's campaign, including more than $12,000 in in-kind contributions to her campaign, largely for polling expenses. The attorney general wouldn't say how much more he plans to contribute to her campaign, but said they are still evaluating what resources she might need.

Ken Paxton is running for reelection this year, but has no primary opponent. However, he is awaiting trial on a trio of criminal felony charges stemming from a 2015 indictment he committed securities fraud. He maintains his innocence and contends he is the victim of a political witch hunt.

Andrea Zelinski covers politics and elections for the Houston Chronicle. As the election heats up, follow her on Twitter and Facebook. Send her tips at andrea.zelinski@chron.com.For a candidate who is supposed to be a longshot, Beto O'Rourke sure is raising a lot of money.

The Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful announced Sunday night that he had raised $2.4 million in the last three months of 2017 - more than incumbent GOP Sen. Ted Cruz. That comes on top of the nearly $4 million O'Rourke raised from March 2017 to October.

To put that in perspective, in 2012 Democrat Paul Sadler raised just $683,000 for the entire campaign against Cruz in his first campaign for the Senate. And in his 2014 race against incumbent GOP Sen. John Cornyn, Democrat David Alameel raised less than $50,000.

O'Rourke, 45, has also raised his more than $6.4 million in the campaign so far without the help of any political action committees, as the El Paso Democrat tries to make a statement about big money in politics.

"Putting 100 percent of our faith and focus in the people of Texas is proving to be more than a match for the PACs, special interests and corporations who have captured, corroded and corrupted Congress for far too long," O'Rourke said in a statement to the media.

"We raised over $2.4 million from more than 55,500 donations, most of which came from Texas, every single one of them made by real people to take back our state and our country with everything we care about on the line in this election."

The next campaign finance reports are supposed to be reported to the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday. O'Rourke, a member of the U.S. House since 2012, released his fundraising totals early.

Cruz's campaign announced he raised $1.9 million in the final three months of 2017.

From the start of the campaign, national political watchers in D.C. have considered O'Rourke a long shot and Cruz good money to return to the U.S. Senate. But O'Rourke has been getting notice. On Saturday Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told donors at a Houston fundraiser the O'Rourke is rising star.

"There is going to be a big wave," Schumer said after introducing O'Rourke. "You are going to see it in Texas."

In another development, in a move that could shore up O'Rourke's credentials in Austin, state Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, is joining the Democrat's campaign as political director.

Moody is chairman of the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Fairmount Santrol, a publicly traded company that mines sand used for fracking in the oil-and-gas industry, could move its corporate offices to Independence on the heels of a merger with another mining business.

On Monday, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved an eight-year job-creation tax credit valued at $1.46 million to support what's described as a headquarters move and consolidation. As part of the relocation, Fairmount Santrol expects to create 27 jobs - high-paying ones, based on projected new payroll of $6.8 million a year - by the end of 2020. The credit amount will go up or down based on actual hiring.

Based in Chesterland, Fairmount Santrol employs 52 people in Geauga County, between its headquarters and another site, with $7.7 million in existing payroll. In December, the company's board of directors signed off on a merger with Unimin Corp., a Connecticut-based minerals company. The merger is scheduled to occur in mid-2018 and is subject to shareholder approvals.

In a news release issued late last year, the companies said they planned to pick a headquarters site before the deal closes. The combined company, whose shares will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, also will maintain regional offices.

A Fairmount Santrol spokeswoman didn't return a phone call Monday.

Independence Mayor Anthony Togliatti said that Fairmount Santrol has been seeking approximately 30,000 square feet of top-shelf office space along the Rockside Road corridor. He wouldn't provide a precise address, saying he hasn't heard that the company's deal is final.

The suburb is considering an incentive package for the company, but it hasn't been publicly aired yet. "We're working on finalizing the details of that financial assistance," Togliatti said, adding that the legislation could appear on the Feb. 13 Independence City Council agenda.

The state agreement for the 2.6 percent tax credit requires the company to stay put for at least 11 years.

"It will be a great addition to our Rockside Road corridor," Togliatti said, "and it will add to the city's growing tax base."Chagrin Falls Intermediate School fifth grader Mason Hart was born in Guatemala. Mason and his family are living in the United States with easy access to the necessary resources to survive. But many people in Guatemala are not that fortunate. The Hart family decided to start a non-profit organization to show solidarity with those struggling called "H(e)arts for Guatemala."

The mission of this group is to support need-based projects and give hope to struggling families in under-served areas of Guatemala. Projects include a focus on hope, education, access to income opportunities, reversing malnutrition, providing safe drinking water, and improving housing. H(e)arts for Guatemala has been able to provide housing for families living in alleys, create bathrooms with electricity, and build a container for water so that it is clean and stored for use on demand.

These projects were a result of donations from people just like students at Chagrin Falls Schools. Mason and his mother gave presentations about the H(e)art group to Ms. Heidi Stapulionis' current Spanish classes. After the presentation, students in the Spanish classes spread the word to the rest of the school.

Fourth graders made posters to hang around the Learning Village. Fifth graders made locker tags to hang on fifth and sixth grade lockers as well as "God's Eyes" crafts out of sticks and yarn to hang on the fifth-grade lockers. Sixth graders made morning announcements and created flyers to send home.

The goal of H(e)arts 4 Guatemala this year was to improve conditions in a public school in Chiquimula, Guatemala. Even though public school is free, sometimes families cannot afford uniforms, supplies, and bus fares. The Chagrin Falls Intermediate School was able to raise more than $2,200. With this donation, H(e)arts for Guatemala provided 60 new school desks, three teacher desks, and three new whiteboards for the Shusho Abajo School in Chiquimula, Guatemala. The group also has enough to finish the construction of a new kitchen for a nutrition program and four new bathroom stalls within the school.

The Hart family traveled to Guatemala this month to meet with the Habitat for Humanity Guatemala team who will complete the projects at the school. They will also meet with the principal of the school and provide school supplies to students starting the new school year. The Hart family said, "It does 'take a village' and our little village here is making a bit impact on another village in Guatemala! Thank you!"CLEVELAND, Ohio - Secretary of State Jon Husted drew attention last week when he offered a simple idea for a potential fix to rid Ohio of gerrymandered congressional districts.

While Husted emphasized that he was not introducing a formal plan -- just responding to inquiries -- his idea does raise the question: would such a simple plan work better than what is being proposed?

Good-government groups are

A competing Republican plan in the Ohio Senate would add some new rules, but

Talks are under way that could lead to a compromise. Neither plan would do what other states have done - remove elected officials from the process. Non-partisan commissions or agencies in Arizona, California and Iowa, among other states, do the work under strict rules designed for fairness.

"There are a dozen different ways you could do this and it would be much better than the system we have. I'm trying to get at doing it as simply as possible," Husted, a Republican now running for lieutenant governor, said in a telephone interview Friday.

Learn more about gerrymandering, what's wrong with it and potential fixes for Ohio from a cleveland.com series - Out of Line: Impact 2017 and Beyond.

Would the simple solution work?

Maybe not entirely, but it's a lot better than what exists now (there currently are no geographic or bipartisan requirements under Ohio law). Husted's idea offers more hope for meaningful change than the Republican proposal in the Senate, but could fall short of the proposal from the petition effort.

Currently, Cuyahoga and Summit counties each are split into four districts, each district of which extends into other counties.

Those are examples of the gerrymandering statewide that has led to 16 uncompetitive districts, with 12 seats won by Republicans despite only 56 percent of the total statewide vote, and four seats won by Democrats .

This would change dramatically if county lines were more closely followed, according to work involving various redistricting scenarios by the Gerrymandering Project at the website fivethirtyeight.com.

Eight of Ohio's congressional districts would become "highly competitive," according to the website's analysis for a county-based plan. Two seats would usually be won by Democrats and six would usually be won by Republicans.

This fivethirtyeight.com map makes following county lines a priority in creating compact congressional districts in Ohio. The areas shown in purple are projected to be competitive races between Democrats and Republicans.

That kind of balance is what election expert Daniel Tokaji, associate dean for faculty at Ohio State University's law school, said should be part of redistricting reform - a system where representatives can be held unaccountable by the voters.

"You want fairness. In a 50-50 state, you don't want one party controlling 12 districts, and the other party four," Tokaji said. "You don't need all of them to be competitive, but you want some competitive so if there is a change in sentiment, there is a level of accountability."

The details

But there is an important consideration in the make-it-simple approach. To what extent can it be done?

Iowa and West Virgina successfully draw districts along county lines, but they don't have urban areas like Ohio, a complicating factor when trying to piece together the puzzle with population equality in mind.

What do you do with the spillover from Cuyahoga, Franklin and Hamilton counties - counties all big enough for a single district but not two, according to the last census? And limiting the mixes and matches elsewhere would be other large counties each taking up more than half of a district - Stark, Butler, Lucas, Montgomery and Summit.

The number crunchers at fivethirtyeight.com determined that making districts compact while following county lines in Ohio would still result in 15 county splits.

This is far fewer than could occur under both the GOP plan in the Ohio Senate, and the current system.

Rep. Jim Jordan's 4th congressional district.

Keeping the work honest



So how do you prevent unsavory deeds at map drawing time when the county populations cannot be pieced together for balance?

The proposal being circulated in the petitions by the good-government groups would establish a series of criteria aimed at keeping the districts local and in-balance with the state's political leanings, based on past election results.

This was modeled after reform for the way Statehouse district lines will be drawn in the future, the result of overwhelming voter approval in 2015.

Husted's idea places faith on requiring bipartisanship to "force the process where Democrats and Republican have to work together."

For that, Husted said a different section of the 2015 reform could be the answer, largely as also proposed in the petition effort.

Under the change approved by voters in 2015, the next Statehouse maps will be handled by a seven-member group - the governor, auditor and secretary of state (all elected statewide) - and two Republican and two Democratic appointments from Statehouse leaders. A minimum of two votes from each party will be required for a new set of 10-year maps.

"We don't have to innovate something new here," Husted said. "We had something both parties and the voters confirmed as acceptable."

This differs from the GOP proposal in the Ohio Senate. The Senate plan would only use this group if map-drawing by the legislature failed, and even then the legislature could still have final say if enough bipartisan support was not gathered.

Husted suggested instead that if the seven-member group failed to get the required bipartisan approval, the majority's work should be placed on the ballot. Voters would then be given the chance to approve or reject the maps.

The end game

Ohio State's Tokaji said Husted offered a "constructive suggestion." What Tokaji is most concerned is that reform is real.

"There are various approaches. I think this is something on which reasonable people can differ," Tokaji said. "Is it really important to have compact districts? Some people think it is. I wouldn't prioritize that. ... How important is it to keep cities and counties together?

Tokaji's test is this: "Are we at the end going to have representative fairness and competitive districts?"

With the current system in Ohio, the answer is no.

Rich Exner, data analysis editor for cleveland.com, writes about numbers on a variety of topics. Follow on Twitter @RichExner.

Vote history

Shown below are combined vote totals for past congressional elections in Ohio, comparing the total votes won statewide (excluding votes for third-party and independent candidates) and the number of congressional races won statewide. New congressional maps are drawn every 10 years.

The last two sets of maps, those approved in 2001 and 2011, were approved with the Republican Party holding control of all three steps of the process - the Ohio House, Ohio Senate and governor's office. Party control was split in the previous cycles shown.

Elections Votes won

by GOP

candidates Seats won

by GOP

candidates GOP

winners Dem.

winners 1972-1980 53.2% 60.9% 70 45 1982-1990 48.5% 48.6% 51 54 1992-2000 52.6% 57.9% 55 40 2002-2010 51.3% 62.2% 56 34 2012-2016 56.0% 75.0% 36 12 Election-by-election results 1972 55.1% 69.6% 16 7 1974 51.1% 65.2% 15 8 1976 51.3% 56.5% 13 10 1978 53.5% 56.5% 13 10 1980 54.4% 56.5% 13 10 1982 44.6% 52.4% 11 10 1984 50.3% 47.6% 10 11 1986 50.4% 47.6% 10 11 1988 49.8% 47.6% 10 11 1990 46.8% 47.6% 10 11 1992 49.5% 47.4% 9 10 1994 59.2% 68.4% 13 6 1996 51.9% 57.9% 11 8 1998 52.6% 57.9% 11 8 2000 51.6% 57.9% 11 8 2002 57.1% 66.7% 12 6 2004 51.3% 66.7% 12 6 2006 47.3% 61.1% 11 7 2008 47.5% 44.4% 8 10 2010 56.4% 72.2% 13 5 2012 52.1% 75.0% 12 4 2014 60.2% 75.0% 12 4 2016 58.2% 75.0% 12 4

2016 results

District Republican Democrat 1 Chabot, Steve 59.2% Young, Michele 40.8% 2 Wenstrup, Brad 66.4% Smith, William 33.6% 3 Adams, John 31.4% Beatty, Joyce 68.6% 4 Jordan, Jim 68.0% Garrett, Janet 32.0% 5 Latta, Bob 70.9% Neu, James 29.1% 6 Johnson, Bill 70.7% Garrison, Jennifer 29.3% 7 Gibbs, Bob 68.9% Rich, Roy 31.1% 8 Davidson, Warren 71.8% Fought, Steven 28.2% 9 Larson, Donald 31.3% Kaptur, Marcy 68.7% 10 Turner, Mike 66.2% Klepinger, Robert 33.8% 11 Goldstein, Beverly 19.7% Fudge, Marcia L. 80.3% 12 Tiberi, Pat 69.0% Albertson, Ed 31.0% 13 Morckel, Richard 32.3% Ryan, Tim 67.7% 14 Joyce, David P. 62.6% Wager, Michael 37.4% 15 Stivers, Steve 66.2% Wharton, Scott 33.8% 16 Renacci, Jim 65.3% Mundy, Keith 34.7%

Source: cleveland.com/datacentral analysis of Ohio Secretary of State records.

Note: Excluded from the statewide tables are votes for third-party and independent candidates, as well as votes in special elections.This allowed for a direct comparison between share of votes won and congressional seats won.

Reps. Becker and Riedel, please tell me how labor unions, a mere 14 percent of Ohio's workforce, pose such a threat to Ohio's economy that you wish for us to be essentially eradicated and outlawed!

Is it because we remain the last vestiges of working class people who stand up for a voice in the workplace? Is it that we dare to demand to work under a contract that ensures things like workplace safety and grievance procedures, and supersedes Ohio's employer-friendly ability to fire "at will," or, without cause?

Is it because we fight for wages that enable us to afford health care, help our children afford college, and otherwise achieve a decent middle class life? Whatever it is, you will not let up. Senate Bill 5 was repealed by Ohio's voters; multiple anti-union bills have failed to gain traction in the Ohio Legislature; Gov. Kasich says that right-to-work is not necessary for Ohio's economy. On whose behalf do you continue to push this anti-worker, anti-middle class agenda?

Over the last 40 years, as American unionism has declined by roughly 25 percent, the pay gap has widened to 1920's proportions. Coincidence? Direct correlation? I'll put my collectively bargained dollar on the latter.

Ryan M. McCafferty, member of Pipefitters Local Union 120

ClevelandCLEVELAND, Ohio -- Two men were wounded late Sunday night in separate shootings on the city's West Side that were reported within minutes of each other, police say.

A 19-year-old male was wounded in the head at about 11:36 p.m. near West 56th Street and Clark Avenue, which is just south of Interstate 90, west of the West 41st Street exit.

The teen was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center in stable condition by a private vehicle, police say.

At 11:43 p.m. a 29-year-old male was shot five times in the stomach at West 41st Street and Cloud Avenue, which also is south of I-90 and is less than a mile away from where the first shooting occurred.

The victim was taken to MetroHealth but his condition was not released.

Police say there is nothing to indicate the shootings are related. Both remain under investigation.

To comment on this story, go to the crime and courts comments section.This story was updated in December 2018 to remove an identity in accordance with cleveland.com's right-to-be-forgotten policy.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Three Ohio Lottery Commission workers lost their jobs last week after a watchdog agency accused them of stealing nearly $3,000 in goods that belonged to the state from a Cleveland warehouse.

Scott Kronik, Walter Liszniansky and a third worker were fired on Friday, lottery spokeswoman Danielle Frizzi Babb said.

All three are scheduled to appear Feb. 28 at pre-trial hearings at Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, court records say.

A grand jury on Dec. 21 handed up felony theft in office charges against the trio, that worked at the commission's warehouse on Perkins Avenue near the Agora Ballroom, according to court records.

The men are accused of taking scrap metal and wood pallets from the warehouse and selling the items at local junkyards, police and court records say. The group collected about $2,900 from the sales over a three-year period, amounting to about $1 per day per person.

The Ohio Inspector General's Office and the State Highway Patrol opened the investigation in July when a co-worker sent a complaint to the lottery commission, records say.

The complaint said that Kronik, an inventory control specialist, and the two deliverymen were seen loading metal and pallets into their personal vehicles, records say. The men later returned to the warehouse, where they were seen dividing the cash, records say.

All three men were suspended and the complaint was turned over to the inspector general.

Investigators confirmed that two nearby scrap yards -- The American Iron and Metal Scrap Yard and Maximum Pallets Corp. -- bought materials from the men, records say. Scrap yard employees provided records and inventories of the sales, as well as photographs that showed Liszniansky and the other deliveryman scrapping the items.

Liszniansky admitted to selling the goods, but said they started after the Ohio Lottery Commission stopped bringing in its own dumpster to get rid of the pallets and office supplies, and management told the workers to find a way to get rid of them, the report says.

One of the deliverymen told investigators that the men had been selling the items for "five or six years," and that the proceeds amounted to "lunch money," the report says.

The investigation identified a total of 56 instances where Kronik, Liszniansky and the third man sold the items.

The probe also uncovered that Kronik and Liszniansky were caught several times sleeping on the job.

To comment on this story, visit Monday's crime and courts comments section.CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland State University has named Harlan Sands, vice dean and CFO of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, as president.

Sands, 54, was appointed Monday by the CSU's board of trustees, following a national search to replace President Ronald Berkman, who announced last year he would retire after leading the public college for nine years.

"I'm excited to be here," Sands said in an interview before being introduced to the CSU community at a luncheon and news conference. "This is such a unique opportunity for someone with my background in the public sphere. My whole career has pointed to this moment."

Sands cited his years working at urban universities and his knowledge of Cleveland State through Berkman, whom he has known for decades.

Here's what you need to know.

What are the contract details?

Sands will begin July 1. He will earn $455,000 a year, $5,000 more than Berkman and $3,000 more than what he was earning at Wharton, one of the top business schools in the country.

Some contract details are still being finalized, but Sands also will be eligible for a 20 percent annual bonus, will receive a car allowance and will live in the president's home. The home is in Cleveland Heights and is owned by the Euclid Avenue Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization formed by CSU to finance and manage housing and parking projects.

Here's what you need to know.

What's is Sands' background?

Sands grew up on Long Island, New York. He received his bachelor's degree from Wharton, a law degree from George Mason University and an MBA with a major in finance from George Washington University.

While at Wharton, he was in ROTC, which led to more than 10 years of military service, including positions as a Naval Reserve intelligence manager and special assistant to the director of Naval Intelligence for Technology. He received two Naval Commendation Medals during Operation Desert Storm and a Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation for the Space Shuttle Challenger recovery.

He left the military to join two friends who were practicing law in Miami. He met his wife, Lynn, an attorney, while there. They have two sons, age 13 and 15.

He was teaching classes in the department of criminal justice at Florida International University in 1999, when Berkman, then dean of the College of Urban and Public Affairs, asked if he was interested in making higher education a career.

"He noticed I had some management experience and recruited me into higher ed," Sands said.

He later advanced to assistant dean, then associate dean of the urban affairs college before serving as FIU's associate vice president for research.

Berkman became provost and vice president at FIU and left to become CSU's president in 2009.

Sands served as vice provost at the University of Alabama at Birmingham from 2007 to 2014, when he went to the University of Louisville as senior vice president of finance and administration and chief financial officer.

While there, he worked for and with Neville Pinto, who is now president of the University of Cincinnati.

Sands was contacted by Wharton to fill the CFO position and began working there in March 2017.

He had not intended to leave. He said he was thrilled to get a job at his alma mater and a top business schoo. But when he was contacted about the CSU position, he could not turn the opportunity.

"I love Wharton, but I had an opportunity to make an impact at CSU with the background of things I have done," he said. "My bosses were very supportive and proud."

Sands was one of three finalists - why weren't they named?

CSU circumvented Ohio's public records law to prevent the public from learning the names of the finalists by leaving all paperwork with a private search firm, which is not subject to the records law.

Wheless Partners talked with 176 people who applied, were nominated or recruited by them. The firm selected 17 candidates and the search committee conducted video interviews.

Eight candidates came to campus for interviews, and the committee recommended three finalists who returned to campus to be interviewed by the board of trustees. All the interviews occurred at Jones Day, which offered space.

What do CSU officials say about Sands?

"CSU's continued upward trajectory demands a leader with significant administrative skills, a deep respect for and experience with academia and a proven track record of accomplishment within higher education," Bernie Moreno, board of trustees chair, said in a news release. Harlan Sands meets all of those requirements and will be the visionary leader CSU needs to further its position as a leading urban research university."WASHINGTON - On Tuesday night, President Donald Trump will deliver his first official State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress. But he won't be the only one using the speech to make political points.

Some Democratic members of Congress are dressing in black and bringing sexual assault survivors to the speech as their guests to publicize the #MeToo movement, as well as sexual misconduct allegations against Trump, which the president denies.

Others - like Oregon Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley, are trying to highlight immigration reform issues by bringing a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipient from their home state. And Wisconsin Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan is bringing one of the Democrats who is seeking House Speaker Paul Ryan's congressional seat.

Niles-area Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan says he's leaving his assigned guest seat vacant to protest Monday's deportation of Youngstown businessman Amer Othman Adi, who "started a business downtown, employed members of our community, paid his taxes, and raised a beautiful family--all in the Mahoning Valley."

"Today, he no longer resides in the country he's called home for 39 years because the Trump Administration decided to target upstanding individuals - Americans in every sense of the word - instead of violent criminals who actually pose a threat," said a statement from Ryan. "President Trump must realize that when his words become public policy in places like Youngstown, families like Amer's are ripped apart."

Several Democrats say they won't attend because they dislike things Trump has said and done. Georgia congressman John Lewis - a civil rights movement leader who is skipping the speech - said he believes it was racist for Trump to describe several countries as "shitholes" during an immigration discussion with members of Congress.

Trump has invited more than a dozen guests to sit with First Lady Melania Trump at the speech. The Ohioans among them include Corey Adams of Huber Heights, a welder at Staub Manufacturing Solutions in Dayton whom the White House says will put his "extra money from tax reform" into education savings for his two daughters.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks with Steve Staub, right, president of Staub Manufacturing Solutions and his sister, Sandy Keplinger, vice president, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 in Dayton, Ohio.

The owners of the metal fabricating company where he works - siblings Steve Staub of Tipp City and Sandy Keplinger of Springfield - will also be there, the White House says. A statement from the White House says the pair added employees and acquired a building over the last year, and "were able to give all their employees larger than expected Christmas bonuses" after tax reform legislation passed.

Trump visited their company while running for president, and has previously invited them to White House events.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the theme of Trump's speech will be "Building a safe, strong, and proud America," and the guests he's invited all "represent the unbreakable American spirit, and will inspire our nation to continue growing stronger, prouder, and more prosperous."

Some members of Congress are bringing guests to make other points. Oklahoma Republican Rep. Jim Bridenstine - Trump's nominee to head the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - invited "science guy" Bill Nye to hear Trump's speech, outraging several environmental groups that petitioned Nye not to attend because they believe Trump and Bridenstine are climate change deniers. Nye released a statement that said he hopes to hear Trump present plans for an ambitious, science-driven space exploration agenda.

"Space exploration brings out the best in us," said Nye. "It brings the nation together as we solve problems that have never been solved before and learn more about the cosmos and our place within it."

Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown will use his invitation to draw attention to a bill he introduced to restore the security of pension plans around the country that are failing and threatened with cuts.

His guest will be Rita Lewis - widow of the deceased Teamster for whom his bill is named. Brown says his "Butch Lewis Act" would put the troubled pension plans back on solid footing and ensure they can meet their obligations to current retirees and workers for decades to come.

"I hope Ohioans will look to me and see the thousands of retirees fighting to save the pensions we worked for, paid for and were promised," said a statement Rita Lewis released through Brown's office.

Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman invited Ohio Fraternal Order of Police union president Jay McDonald, a Marion police officer whom Portman describes as "an important partner on a host of issues," such as fighting the opioid epidemic and "online sex trafficking that is tragically increasing in Ohio and across the country."

He noted that McDonald's national union has endorsed Portman's "Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act," which would "hold accountable websites that are knowingly facilitating sex trafficking of women and children while ensuring that victims can get the justice they deserve."

The Dems who boycott are abdicating their oaths of office. They should be held accountable. https://t.co/XHb9BYCM01  RadioDoneRight (@FrantzRadio) January 26, 2018

Other Ohio members of Congress aren't planning to use their guests to make political points. A few - like Toledo Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur and Warrensville Heights Democratic Rep. Marcia Fudge - aren't bringing anybody.

"Our guest had to cancel at the last minute," said Kaptur spokesman Joshua Stewart.

This year, Champaign County GOP Rep. Jim Jordan is bringing a personal friend, his office said. In 2016, Jordan gave his ticket to a county clerk in Kentucky named Kim Davis who was jailed for refusing to provide marriage licenses to gay people.

Wadsworth Republican Rep. Jim Renacci is bringing AM 1420 conservative talk show host Bob Frantz to see the speech. Renacci spokeswoman Kelsey Knight said her boss and Frantz have "built a great relationship" over the past seven years.

Holmes County Republican Rep. Bob Gibbs' guest will be Curt Braden, a real estate agent in Stark County who is active in Republican politics.

"Only a few people asked for tickets," said Gibbs spokesman Dallas Gerber. "Most of them wanted two tickets, but each congressman gets just one ticket. Mr. Braden only asked for one ticket, so he got it."COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- An Ohio legislator has proposed a bill that would outlaw riding a skateboard while holding onto a moving car.

State Rep. Thomas West recently introduced a bill called the Dallas Swogger Act.

The bill is named after a 16-year-old boy who died last year after he was injured while riding a skateboard behind a vehicle.

Skateboards are not addressed in Ohio's current towing laws.

West says the state should do everything it can to prevent future deaths from the practice sometimes called "skitching."

"Skitching" is often done at high speeds in traffic. State Highway Patrol Lt. Robert Sellers says the activity "can result in the serious injury or death of those involved."

If you'd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section.COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A four-vehicle crash Sunday on Interstate 270 killed a 4-year-old boy and critically injured his 6-year-old brother, reports say.

Mathew Cremeans, 4, died at Nationwide Children's Hospital, while 6-year-old Danny Cremeans was in critical condition, 10tv.com reports.

According to WCMH Channel 4, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office says a Ford Escape driven by a 29-year-old woman from Grove City, Ohio, struck a GMC Safari at 12:38 p.m., forcing it into a Pontiac Sunfire. The Sunfire then crashed into a Toyota Corolla.

The two boys were passengers in the GMC, which was driven by a 28-year-old Grove City man. The boys, who were in the rear seats and not wearing seatbelts, were ejected from the GMC, reports say.

There were no other injuries reported, ABC 6 reports. The crash shut down I-270 westbound near U.S. 62 for several hours.

The crash remains under investigation, but drugs and alcohol are not suspected, according to the sheriff's department.

To comment on this story, go to the crime and courts comments section.CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ohio State University plans to open an admissions center in the Global Center for Health Innovation, becoming the first non-health-related tenant in Cuyahoga County-owned facility.

The university will open a recruitment and outreach center on the third floor of a center in a vacant space that is being renovated, according to the Cuyahoga County Convention Facilities Development Corporation.

More details are not available because the lease agreement is being finalized, said an Ohio State spokesman, who confirmed the move.

Ohio State has had a recruitment center in Cleveland since 2013, when it opened an office on the 17th floor of the Terminal Tower. The building was sold in 2016 to the K&D Group Inc.

At that time, Ohio State said it would work with the Higher Education Compact of Greater Cleveland to encourage students, especially those in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, to go to college.

The concept for the Global Center, which opened in 2013, was to persuade big health-care companies to build showrooms for their medical technology, attract medical trade shows to adjoining convention center space and provide cutting-edge meeting space for continuing education.

While tenants include GE Healthcare, MetroHealth, Steris and Siemens, at least 20 percent of the four-story glass building -- formerly called the medical mart -- remains empty.

Ceilings and walls are being added to 25,000 square feet of vacant space on the second and third floors of the center. The unfinished areas were called "raw" by asset managers Conventional Wisdom and Rider Levett Bucknall in a 2016 report.

An official from Conventional Wisdom told the board Friday that the 2017 inspection of the convention center and Global Center showed much improvement, according to SMG, which manages the facilities.

The report indicated that almost all of the items that were cited for attention, repair or adjustment in the 2016 report had been addressed or are currently in the process of improvement.

Au Bon Pain, a bakery and cafe, will move into a larger vacant area along St. Clair Avenue. Starbucks will open next to it and both will include expanded access into the atrium.

The space currently occupied by Au Bon Pain has been leased to UPS, and will become a business center for the global center, convention center and local businesses.

The development corporation, the nonprofit organization that oversees the Huntington Convention Center and Global Center, retained BioEnterprise last October to oversee marketing, promotion and tenants at the center.

BioEnterprise, which promotes and nurtures health-care companies and bio-science technologies, moved 20 executives involved with business development, marketing, strategic initiatives and finance, moved into the downtown building in mid-January.Guest Columnist Magda Gomez serves as director of diversity and inclusion at Cuyahoga Community College. She has a long history of community service, including serving a two-year term on the board of education for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and contributing to the effort to make Spanish-language ballots available in Cuyahoga County.

Magda Gomez, director of diversity and inclusion at Cuyahoga Community College

Our fellow citizens living in Puerto Rico know how to ready themselves for a hurricane. It is part of life on the island. This is what I learned as a young child growing up in San Lorenzo in the late 1970s.

Each hurricane season, as storms built strength over the surrounding waters, the people of Puerto Rico went through their preparation routine. They boarded up the windows and doors of their homes. They gathered gallons and gallons of water. They stocked up on nonperishable food items.

Then they waited. Sometimes, they needed to rely on the supplies to get through a few days. For worse storms, it might be weeks.

But nobody envisioned anything like what happened this past September.

Hurricane Maria made landfall on the island on a Wednesday morning -- 6:15 a.m. Sept. 20, to be exact -- and forever changed Puerto Rico. Lives were lost, homes destroyed and infrastructure damaged beyond imagination.

Nearly five months later, areas of the island remain without power as Puerto Rico struggles to recover from the catastrophic damage left by the worst natural disaster in the commonwealth's history.

Helping hands immediately reached out from Northeast Ohio in response to the devastation, as the family roots of tens of thousands of area residents stretch to Puerto Rico.

For many, you see, these were not strangers who needed aid. These were family and friends.

Our region is now opening its doors to welcome many uprooted by Hurricane Maria. More than 13,000 people are expected to relocate to Ohio within the next two years to build a new life. Most are seeking a permanent place to live and opportunities for employment and education.

As a result, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C(r)), the Spanish American Committee, Esperanza Inc. and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District have joined together to align efforts and facilitate access to resources.

More than 25 community-based agencies have been convening since early November to coordinate services. The resulting initiative, Bienvenidos a Cleveland, is already making a difference.

To date, the Spanish American Committee -- Cleveland's oldest and longest-serving Hispanic community social service agency -- has served more than 600 arrivals from Puerto Rico while responding to calls on what this region can provide now.

The biggest challenge has been securing housing, as many of the displaced families have little or no income. Resources also are being sought for employment, transportation, medical needs, food, household items and other necessities.

Tri-C recently launched a website supporting the collaborative efforts of Bienvenidos a Cleveland. The website -- www.tri-c.edu/bienvenidosacle -- provides an online directory of agencies and organizations offering resources to arriving families.

The goal is to ease their transition to Northeast Ohio. Together, we can work to welcome our fellow citizens in their time of need and bring a sense of normalcy back to their lives.

Have something to say about this topic? Use the comments to share your thoughts, and stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using Notification Settings (in blue) just below.

Readers are invited to submit Opinion page essays on topics of regional or general interest. Send your 500-word essay for consideration to Ann Norman at anorman@cleveland.com. Essays must include a brief bio and headshot of the writer. Essays rebutting today's topics are also welcome.CLEVELAND, Ohio - Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman and Treasurer Josh Mandel announced Monday they would back U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci in his bid for Senate.

Portman previously supported Mandel in his attempt to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, but Mandel dropped out of the race without warning, citing an undisclosed illness involving his wife.

Mandel's exit prompted a scramble among Republicans to find a consensus choice - even with Cleveland-area businessman Mike Gibbons already in the primary race.

The White House asked Renacci, who was running for governor, to switch races.

"Jim Renacci has a track record of success as a job creator and battle-tested conservative leader, and I am proud to endorse him," Portman said in a Monday statement.

Mandel said he was convinced to back Renacci after talking with him over the weekend.

"I also believe Jim will be a great partner to Rob Portman and the terrific work Rob has done to protect Ohio jobs and create an environment for economic growth," Mandel said.

This post was updated with comments from Mandel.CLEVELAND, Ohio - Winter is not going to finish early in February, according to the monthly outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The month is looking colder than normal, continuing the recent frigid pattern.

NOAA says all of Ohio is looking at chances of below-normal temperatures. Chances of a chillier month are highest in the northern portion of the Buckeye state.

February 2018 chances of above or below average temperatures. (NOAA)

The agency placed most Ohio under a 33- to 40-percent chance region for above-normal precipitation for the entire month of February - the highest probability out of the three categories of below, near or above normal. Much of that will likely fall as snow. For the northern half of the state, chances of a snowier February are higher.

February 2018 chances of above or below average precipitation. (NOAA)

For Cleveland, that means temperatures cooler the average of 30.5 degrees, and likely more snow than the typical 14.9 inches.

Average weather statistics for February in Cleveland.

Looking across the nation, it looks like the south and up the West Coast are likely to see a warmer February, with only the northeast forecast to remain cooler than average.

As for precipitation, the forecast is similar to what we expect during a La Nina: drier to the south, and wetter to the north.

What are you hoping for in February?

Keep checking cleveland.com/weather for daily weather updates for Northeast Ohio, and don't forget to submit any weather questions you may have!

Kelly Reardon is cleveland.com's meteorologist. Please follow me on Facebook and Twitter @KellyRWeather.A version of this action that uses less javascript and may be usable for those who don't use javascript is available at https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/community?nowrapper=true&referrer=&source=&oneclick=

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Market Segmentation:

The Global Wax Emulsion Market is segregated into the material base, type, and application. On the basis of the material base, the market is further categorized into synthetic and natural segments. On the basis of the type, the market is segmented into polyethylene, paraffin, carnauba, and polypropylene segments. On the basis of the application, the market is classified into paints & coatings, adhesives & sealants, cosmetics, textiles, and others.

Regional Analysis:

The Global Wax Emulsion Market is spanned across five key regions: Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Among these, Asia Pacific holds the major portion of the global market and is anticipated to continue its dominance due to rising demand for Wax Emulsions in various applications. Countries such as China, Japan, and India are the major players in this region. The North American region is estimated to witness a higher growth in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico owing to increasing demand for Wax Emulsifiers in cosmetics, healthcare, packaging, and others. The growing innovation in research & development activities and technological advancement have driven the manufacturers to use wax mixture product in the end-use industries. Owing to these factors, the market is expected to witness a significant growth in Germany, the U.K, and Italy.

The Middle East & Africa is estimated to observe a significant growth due to increasing consumption of wax materials in paints & coatings, adhesives & sealants, cosmetics, textiles, and others. Additionally, the growing demand for smoothing and anti-scuff agents in major industries is projected to boost the market in the Latin American region.

Ask Any Question @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/5035

Key Points from Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Scope of the Report

3 Market Research Methodology

4 Market Landscape

5 Industry Overview of Global Wax Emulsion Market

6 Market Trends

7. Global Wax Emulsion Market by Material Base

8. Global Wax Emulsion Market by Type

9. Global Wax Emulsion Market by Application

10. Global Wax Emulsion Market by Region

11. Company Landscape

12. Company Profiles

12.1 BASF SE

12.1.1 Company Overview

12.1.2 Material Base/Business Segment Overview

12.1.3 Financial Updates

12.1.4 Key Developments

12.2 NIPPON SEIRO CO., LTD

12.2.1 Company Overview

12.2.2 Material Base/Business Segment Overview

12.2.3 Financial Updates

12.2.4 Key Developments

12.3 ALTANA

12.3.1 Company Overview

12.3.2 Material Base/Business Segment Overview

12.3.3 Financial Updates

12.3.4 Key Developments

12.4 Sasol Limited

12.4.1 Company Overview

12.4.2 Material Base/Business Segment Overview

12.4.3 Financial Updates

12.4.4 Key Developments

12.5 The Dow Chemical Company

12.5.1 Company Overview

12.5.2 Material Base / Business Segment Overview

12.5.3 Financial Updates

12.5.4 Key Developments

13 Conclusion

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Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.comAs we've mentioned many times in the past, your favorite purveyor of childhood memories and nostalgia isn't as wholesome as you like to think. From sidelining Mickey Mouse's true creator to backstabbing Robin Williams , there are plenty of whimsical cartoon skeletons in Disney's closet, and we aren't done airing them all. You can blame our broken childhood, penchant for fun-ruining, or plain old spite, but it's a drug that we can't kick. So let us tell you about ...

5 The Pirates Of The Caribbean Ride Was (And Might Still Be) Decorated With Real Skeletons

Think fast, what's your favorite ride at Disneyland, and why are you lying about it not being Pirates of the Caribbean? It might have resulted in Johnny Depp's career being extended way beyond its natural lifespan, sure, but it's so cool, what with the waterfalls and the pirates and the cannons and the real desiccated skulls laying everywhere.

Kidding. They aren't "everywhere" anymore. There are only a few left in the ride ... they think.

You see, when the ride was built in 1967, it cost $105 million -- a sum that went into making PotC the most in every way possible, from the animatronics to lighting to special effects to puffy shirts. According to a book by former Disney producer Jason Surrell, the only problem they had was finding decorative skeletons that didn't look like they'd spent the best part of the last century sitting in your grandma's attic. Utilizing the sort of ingenuity that lands you the job of designing theme park rides, the team hit up some friends at UCLA Medical Center and asked if they wouldn't mind handing out some medical specimens.

Joe Penniston/Flickr You know, for the kids.

Continue Reading Below Advertisement

And it worked! The ride was a smash hit with park patrons, who probably weren't aware that they were now subject to the dumbest curse imaginable. Over time, the skeletons were replaced with better-looking replicas and given a proper burial. Or at least, most of them were. Maybe. Although it's hard to say for sure, there's reason to believe that there are still a few genuine body parts occupying the ride, identifiable thanks to the fact that they look a lot more ... discolored than the fakes, and also possess anatomical features that it's doubtful model makers would have bothered to include.Lee and Andres argue that NMLs pari passu strategy was essentially killed by the person who gave it life, the late Judge Griesa. To oversimplify a bit, the judges initial decision--and a decision years before in Brussels in a case involving Peru and Elliott Associates--strongly implied that selective nonpayment is enough to violate the pari passu clause. That is, a government violates the clause simply by paying some equally-ranked creditors but not others. And, crucially, he remedied this breach by issuing an injunction barring everyone with any connection to the United States from cooperating in the continuing violation of the pari passu clause. Without that remedy, Argentina would simply have defied his ruling and continued to stiff holdout creditors.

Should Venezuela worry that holdout creditors will use the strategy that NML Capital and other holdouts successfully used against Argentina? In this article, The Pari Passu FallacyRequiescat in Pace , Lee Buchheit and Andres de la Cruz at Cleary Gottlieb argue not. Lee in particular has made no secret of his distaste for the ratable payment interpretation of the pari passu clause. (As many readers know, he is also Mitus longtime collaborator.) When interpreted to require ratable payments, the pari passu clause requires a government to pay holdouts in full if it intends to pay restructuring participants in accordance with the terms of their debt instruments. In Argentinas case, the injunction resulted in another massive default , as the government refused to pay holdouts but could not find a way around the injunction .

Almost all of Venezuelas bond debt is governed by New York law; much of it includes pari passu language that essentially mirrors that used by Argentina. At first glance, one would think these bonds perfectly tailored to the pari passu strategy. But in the middle of 2017, in response to another holdouts attempt to replicate NMLs strategy, Judge Griesa seemed to change course. In this case (White Hawthorne v. Argentina), he explained that selective nonpayment did not constitute a breach of the pari passu clause unless it was paired with additional extraordinary conduct. In Argentinas case, he explained, that conduct included the passage of a statute barring negotiations with or payments to holdouts and a series of inflammatory comments made by Argentine officials. Argentina had been a uniquely recalcitrant debtor, the judge reasoned, and this had constituted a violation of the pari passu clause. Because much had changed by the time of the White Hawthorne case, including the government in Argentina, he ruled that there was no longer a violation.

Given this apparent change in course, Lee and Andres argue that the pari passu strategy is essentially dead. The reason is that the White Hawthorne case (and a later case also decided in the Southern District of New York) allows governments to stiff holdouts as long as they do not formally disavow liability for the debt, as Argentina seemingly did.

We are a bit less confident. Certainly Judge Griesa appeared to walk back his interpretation of the pari passu clause in the White Hawthorne case. But he did so in ways that leave us utterly perplexed about what the clause is supposed to mean. At a fundamental level, we simply do not understand the logic of interpreting the words payment obligations  will at all times rank at least equally to mean that selective nonpayment is fine except when done in a uniquely recalcitrant manner. To an investor, isnt deliberate non-payment well, deliberate non-payment? As one of us has written previously about the White Hawthorne case, it would have made perfect sense to say that an injunction was no longer an appropriate remedy given the change in circumstances. Injunctions arent automatic; they are equitable remedies reserved for exceptional cases. But it makes very little sense to interpret the clause to provide some protection against selective nonpayment, only to confine that protection to such a vague and ill-defined set of cases.

More generally, were completely at a loss about what kinds of behavior will constitute egregious additional conduct and thus turn selective nonpayment into a violation. From Argentinas experience, it appears that enshrining the decision not to pay in a statute would be bad. Presumably, government officials should not publicly avow never to pay holdouts. But if a government experiences a bit of recovery and still doesnt pay, what will really distinguish it from Argentina? Certainly Lee and Andres are right that the pari passu strategy has become harder to pursue, but time will tell how completely the genie goes back into the bottle.

As a final note, query how much actual contract language matters to the meaning of the pari passu clause. There has been much debate over whether the Argentina-style version of the clause, which refers expressly to the governments payment obligations, means something different from another extant version of the clause, which refers simply to the ranking of the debt. But then again, nothing about Argentinas clause said that the clause only protected against recalcitrant governments.Microsoft is aiming to wipe out buggy Intel patches for the Spectre processor vulnerability with a new update for Windows 10, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.

"We've been pleased to see Microsoft taking an aggressive approach to both the deployment of patches, as well as to reactions based on customers in the field," said Reed Wiedower, CTO of New Signature, a Washington, D.C.-based Microsoft partner.

Intel disclosed on Jan. 22 that its latest microcode patches related to Spectre had created reboot issues as well as "other unpredictable system behavior."

[Related: Dell, HP And Lenovo Work Toward Rolling Back Firmware Versions After Intel Nixes Spectre Patch]

IT vendors including Dell, HP and Lenovo have disclosed plans to return users to previous BIOS firmware versions to help eliminate the Intel microcode.

Now, Microsoft also is offering a Windows operating system update for servers and client devices to address the problems caused by the Intel patches.

"Our own experience is that system instability can in some circumstances cause data loss or corruption," Microsoft said in its disclosure of the update.

Microsoft, Redmond, Wash., said the update will roll back the Intel mitigation related to Spectre variant 2, also known as the "branch target injection" vulnerability.

"While Intel tests, updates and deploys new microcode, we are making available an out-of-band update today, KB4078130, that specifically disables only the mitigation against CVE-2017-5715  'Branch target injection vulnerability.' In our testing this update has been found to prevent the behavior described," Microsoft said in disclosing the update.

The update can be downloaded from Microsoft's Update Catalog site. Microsoft also said it's providing a way for advanced users to manually address the issue using changes to registry settings (details here).

Wiedower said Microsoft's response "drives home the key differentiator for partners in the Microsoft ecosystem."

"The very best partners have helped their customers to adopt both a quick and properly governed patching process that allows patches to be validated in a test environment, then deployed to ever increasingly large rings of devices, with the ability to capture real-time telemetry on the success or failure of the patches themselves," New Signature's Wiedower said.

Patches can be deployed in minutes thanks to modern patch management, though implications such as reduced performance and potential data loss could cause customers to slow down their rollout, Wiedower said.

"We think the best partners are insisting that customers deploy real-time telemetry to stamp out any sorts of bugs, but to not slow down their patch deployment out of fear," he said.

Microsoft reiterated that it has no information suggesting that Spectre variant 2 has been exploited as part of a cyberattack so far.

Spectre and the related Meltdown processor exploit were revealed at the beginning of January. The vulnerabilities affect chips from multiple vendors, including AMD and ARM.

The flaws account for three variants of a side-channel analysis security issue in server and PC processors, and could potentially enable hackers to access protected data.

While Intel continues to work on software mitigations for the vulnerabilities, the company has acknowledged that it will ultimately take a hardware fix to fully solve the issue for its processors.

Last Thursday, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said the company is now "working to incorporate silicon-based changes to future products that will directly address the Spectre and Meltdown threats in hardware." On Friday, Intel CFO Bob Swan said the hardware fixes should be available "in the latter part of this year."Want to start a business but not sure what it should be? For starters, take a look at whats trending in 2018.

Related: How to Start a Business With (Almost) No Money

Data analyzed by online graphic design marketplace 99designs uncovered the top four hottest emerging industries to watch in 2018 and unsurprisingly, cryptocurrency ranked in first. Today, Bitcoin has become a dinner table topic and cryptocurrency in general has picked up incredible traction with emerging currencies such as Litecoin, Ethereum and Ripple. According to the research, the term cryptocurrency saw a 458 percent increase since 2015 in its appearance in logos and projects created on 99designs. The top cities where crypto customers are based are Austin, London, New York and San Francisco.

Another emerging industry to look out for is cannabis. With a number of states beginning to legalize medical and recreational use, people are jumping at the opportunity to build a business in the pot industry. In fact, on Google, the average monthly searches for the word cannabis is 110,000. Unsurprisingly, some of the top cities cannabis customers flock to are Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Related: The Complete, 12-Step Guide to Starting a Business

A third trend to look out for is non-traditional travel businesses such as boutique hotels, camper van rentals and voluntourism. Nowadays, people are turning away from mainstream hotels and opting for more niche lodging and experiences. Lastly, virtual reality is also a top 2018 industry trend, continuing over from the last few years. And if youre interested in launching a VR-related business, look into cities including London, Santa Monica, San Francisco and New York, which have the most VR business customers.

To learn more, check out the infographic below.

Image Credit: 99designs

Related:

The Business of Cannabis (Infographic)

The Top 4 High-Growth Industries for Entrepreneurs in 2018 (Infographic)

Do You Have One of the Most In-Demand Jobs in America? (Infographic)



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved



This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com

Knowing how to apply make up that helps you to look more awake than you feel is a skill worth mastering.

And while it's long been known concealer does the trick, how to apply the product correctly has remained a mystery for many - until now.

Melbourne make up artist Chantelle Baker has worked with some of Australia's most famous faces including Rebecca Judd, Jesinta Campbell and Nadia Bartel.

The professional, who is famed for a natural look, recently revealed her secret to banishing dark under eye circles.

Chantelle Baker has created make up looks for some of Australia's most well-known models and celebrities

Jesinta Franklin (nee Campbell) is among those who've been transformed at the hands of the very talented Ms Baker

In a recent interview with Mamamia, the professional shared that using concealer wasn't difficult and that women just needed to know how to use it correctly.

The make up artist's signature make up style is a perfect combination of dewy skin, undetectable contouring and a strong smokey eye.

Her advice for those considering using the product was to take a 'less is more' approach for best results.

Ms Baker said though it was tempting to apply concealer before using foundation, she recommended applying concealer after, and to dispense with brushes and beauty blenders.

'I've found the warmth of the skin really helps melt the product in, creating a seamless finish,' she said.

Chantelle Baker (pictured left) is renown for her signature look: perfectly dewy skin, undetectable contouring and a sultry smokey eye. Here she shown with model Rebecca Judd

Her recommendation is to look for a product that has a creamy consistency, as those that are thicker tended to settle into fine lines around the eyes.

When it came to colour-matching, Ms Baker said to choose a product that was up to two shades lighter than skin tone.

To find the optimal colour, the pro said to first try concealer on blue veins on the back of your wrist, if the product was effective at hiding these it was likely to cover dark under eye circles.

The make up artist has created some stunning looks. Australian model Bec Judd (pictured) is a fan of the artist's work

While there are myriad products on the market, choosing the right concealer can be hard, especially if you're on a budget.

Australian make up outlet Mecca Cosmetica is home to some of the best beauty brands in the world.

Among its extensive concealer range, comes one by US-brand Too Faced. The mini product is priced at a very friendly $17, and is perfect as a sampler size.

Ms Baker recommends applying concealer after foundation, and to use a colour that's one to two shades lighter than your skin tone (stock image)

Another, Mecca Max, created by the brand itself, is priced at a very affordable $22 and promises to banish any signs of darkness while remaining completely 'undetectable'.

Ms Baker also said M.A.C cosmetics concealer range was one she recommended.

Priced at around $30, the make up artist said 'they go the distance and there are a huge variety of shades to choose from'.

Concealers at affordable prices: US-brand Too Face $17 (pictured left) Mecca Max $22 (pictured centre) and M.A.C cosmetics concealer range at $30 (pictured right)

Other affordable options: A skin correcting crayon by Jucy Punk for $22 (pictured left) and a Bare Minerals Stroke of Light Eye Brightener $33 (pictured left)

Other brands that also made for budget-friendly buys included Bare Minerals Stroke of Light Eye Brightener at $33, and skin correcting crayon by Jucy Punk for $22.

If creating a natural, barely-there look feels right for your make up style, starting with dewy skin is a must.

According to make up artist Rae Morris, there are some simple ways to create a flawless base, perfect for a 'no make up' look.

For the teen look, a BB cream was used as a foundation and concealer was applied with a beauty blender

Ms Morris shared a series of tutorials for women of all ages.

For teenagers, the professional began by prepping her model's skin by lightly cleansing with a micellar water, which she followed with a moisturiser and an illuminating primer.

Next she used a BB cream as a foundation and applied this lightly over her face before taking her hands and massaging it into the skin.

Top five tips for creating a natural and refreshed make up look: *If you are going to use concealer, apply over foundation, and use your fingers to blend *Colour-match a shade to your skin perfectly. Try out product on the blue veins on the back of your wrists *Choose a product that's creamier. A thicker consistency can settle into fine lines around the eyes *Using a primer first can help your make up to look better as it can smooth out pores and wrinkles *To create a dewy look, add four drops of face oil to your foundation Advertisement

She then used BB cream as a foundation and applied it lightly over the face before taking her hands and massaging it into the skin

Though Ms Morris used a beauty blender to conceal eyes and blemishes she too, like Ms Baker, said the colour must be properly matched.

'If you are going to conceal a blemish, make sure it matches the skin tone.'

Working with those in their 20s, Ms Morris started the tutorial by rejuventaing the skin, which she said that despite the fact that skin was youthful, it can become dehyrated.

Ms Morris used a beauty blender to apply concealer under Whitney's eyes and used a colour that was as close to the model's skin tone as possible

'In your 20s you can still have very youthful skin, but sometimes you can notice slight unevenness in your skin tone and you can get more dehydrated,' Ms Morris said

She began by applying moisturiser to the skin first, which she allowed to soak in first.

'If you have beautiful skin you can use a BB cream still but if you have redness or unevenness step it up a notch and use a sheer light foundation,' she said.

In a bid to conceal any under-eye darkness, a concealer was used. But rather than choosing a product from an alternative range, Ms Morris used one matched by the brand.

'If you have beautiful skin you can use a BB cream still but if you have redness or unevenness step it up a notch and use a sheer light foundation,' Ms Morris said

Women in the 30s and 40s, who were showing slight signs of ageing, benefited from a combination of foundation and light concealing, according to the expert.

'In your 20s you can still have very youthful skin, but sometimes you can notice slight unevenness in your skin tone and you can get more dehydrated.

To begin with, Ms Morris prepared skin using a mattifying primer, followed by a light coat of liquid foundation.

'Once you have massaged the foundation in, lightly conceal where necessary,' she said.

The make up director said women in their 30s and 40s showing slight signs of ageing benefited from a combination of foundation and light concealing

A light concealer was then used under the eyes to knock out any blue/red undertone around the eye line and was focused on the inner eye corner and inner under corner of the eye.

For those in their 50s, and above, creating the appearance of more luminous skin was the make up artist's goal.

To begin with, Ms Morris again used micellar water to make sure there wasn't too much oil on the skin, especially on the eyelids.

For women in their fifties and beyond Ms Morris said a good look is dewy and hydrated rather than too matte

This was followed by a nourishing primer to the skin instead of moisturiser before applying foundation to the whole face

'Depending on how uneven your skin is depends on the amount of foundation you use,' she said.

'My golden rule is to choose the coverage you want first and the reflection (luminous, matter or velvety) after.'

After the foundation had settled into the skin, a light creamy concealer was applied under the eye, focused on an 'undetectable look'.An Australian mother-of-two has come out in defence of mothers who formula feed their babies after being shamed for doing so herself.

Tahlia Aubusson, 29, gave birth to her son Arlington on January 10th and she has decided to wean him at three weeks.

What followed when she shared this decision were 'judgemental' looks, 'interrogation' and 'a lot of advice' given to try and 'persuade her' to keep breastfeeding.

'Ok, get the rotten tomatoes ready to throw and I'll go and get my raincoat because I can guarantee this blog will receive judgment, sad but true,' the Housewife Style founder wrote.

An Australian mother-of-two has come out in defence of mothers who formula feed their babies after being shamed for doing so herself

Tahlia Aubusson , 29, gave birth to her son Arlington (pictured) on January 10th and she has decided to wean him at three weeks

'But sometimes things just need to be said.'

Mrs Aubusson, who is also the mother to a three-year-old little girl, said she loves seeing photos of women who 'feel empowered by breastfeeding' and has noticed a flood of photos calling for breastfeeding to be normalised.

'I've never actually seen any judgement towards breastfeeding in the first place. Hasn't it always been supported?' She questioned.

'It is after all the natural way to feed your child since, well, humans existed. I've never seen anyone try to enforce someone to not breastfeed and whilst there might be the odd person here and there that gets offended by seeing a woman's naked breast, overall breast feeding is absolutely normal and accepted in society.

'How often do you see a photo posted of a mother doing a formula feed? Yep, you guessed it never. Why? Because that woman knows for sure she will be judged,' she said

'What about the women that willingly choose to NOT breast feed?'

Mrs Aubusson said that there would be a 'huge difference' in the judgement received by a woman posting a photo to normalise breastfeeding compared to a woman normalising formula feeding.

'How often do you see a photo posted of a mother doing a formula feed? Yep, you guessed it never. Why? Because that woman knows for sure she will be judged,' she said.

'Why? Because one day someone decided to make every woman on earth feel like a failure if they didn't breast feed because they created the term "BREAST IS BEST" but best for who?'

Mrs Aubusson struggled 'hugely' with breastfeeding her first born as she had very low milk supply despite months of trying 'all the tricks in the book'

Mrs Aubusson struggled 'hugely' with breastfeeding her first born as she had very low milk supply despite months of trying 'all the tricks in the book'.

This resulted in a very unhappy breastfeeding experience, tears and a feeling of overwhelming guilt - despite the happiness of being a new mum.

'I pumped day and night just to be able to give my daughter the smallest amount of this so called "liquid gold" however for me it was basically just like water so how much nutrition was my daughter actually getting? I had no idea,' she said.

After four months of what Mrs Aubusson described as 'self inflicted torture', she stopped breastfeeding and turned to formula - her 'saving grace'.

Mrs Aubusson questioned how breastfeeding can always be seen as 'best' if it leads to unbearable pain, a hungry baby and stress

'After my experience with my first born and the happiness it took away from those precious first few months I decided feeding wasn't even going to be an issue with my second ,' she said

'My milk literally dried up over night that's how little I had! The thing is, the only reason I tried so hard and felt so much pressure to keep on trying was because I was led to believe "breast is best" and that "bonding" with my baby would be compromised,' she said.

'It was literally thrown in my face from the second I became pregnant and like most mothers I believed it! But was it best? In my case, absolutely not, it wasn't best for me and my mental health and it wasn't best for my daughter and her physical health, she simply wasn't getting enough.

'Was my relationship and bonding with Ambria compromised? Not at all, we have a beautiful mother daughter relationship and she is as smart as they come for her age.'

Mrs Aubusson questioned how breastfeeding can always be seen as 'best' if it leads to unbearable pain, a hungry baby and stress.

Mrs Aubusson said that while has a much better supply this tine, the pain is so intense that she feels 'sick' when she feeds her son

'After my experience with my first born and the happiness it took away from those precious first few months I decided feeding wasn't even going to be an issue with my second baby,' she said.

'I was going to just go with the flow and I packed formula to take to the hospital, if my milk came in and feeding happened to be a natural and easy process then my son would be breast fed, if it didn't then he would be put on formula without hesitation.'

Mrs Aubusson said that while has a much better supply this tine, the pain is so intense that she feels 'sick' when she feeds her son.

'Yes I've checked tongue tie, yes I've checked, latch, yes I've used shields, yes I've used the gel discs, I've used every bloody product on the market just to survive and "make it through" to the part where you "enjoy it",' she said.

When she shared her intentions of stopping breastfeeding, she was faced with judgement and interrogation (pictured with her husband, former NRL player James Aubusson)

'I can tell you now that I consider myself to be a wonderful mother, I am so devoted to my children and devote my life to their health and happiness,' she said

'Over the last few days the pain has started to subside and my supply is good but I don't enjoy breast feeding and I don't get that beautiful empowering feeling some women describe.

'Whilst that's so beautiful for them that they experience those emotions through breast feeding, I, for whatever reason, don't! In fact I get anxious sitting there for half an hour thinking of things that need to be done.'

Mrs Aubusson said that she is not going to feel guilty about this and assures that the love and bonding with her children is no different - she just experiences it in different ways.

This is why she has decided to wean her son at three weeks and put him on a bottle full time so that everybody in the household is happy.

The doting mother called for people to stop pressuring women to exclusively breastfeed and for women to stop shaming mothers who don't

When she shared these intentions, she was faced with judgement and interrogation.

'I thought to myself, as I explained my reasons "Why am I even justifying my decision in this day and age?" It should be treated no different to me saying "Im going to breastfeed",' Mrs Aubusson said.

'I can tell you now that I consider myself to be a wonderful mother, I am so devoted to my children and devote my life to their health and happiness so whether I breast feed or not, I don't believe needs to be added to my "motherhood resume" as an attribute to successful parenting.'

The doting mother called for people to stop pressuring women to exclusively breastfeed and for women to stop shaming mothers who don't.

Mrs Aubusson concluded by saying that her words are not to deter women from breastfeeding but to simply urge women to stop enforcing their beliefs on others

'When I switched to formula with my first born I felt like I was put into this group of categories such as "broken", "lazy", "selfish" or "uneducated" mainly by older women and older midwives,' she said.

'I'm just going to come out and say it, IT'S BULL***T and ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARY. You should NEVER feel this way because of a decision you made that was BEST for you, WHY? Because our children are a reflection of us and we will get the best out of them if we are doing our best. '

Mrs Aubusson concluded by saying that her words are not to deter women from breastfeeding but to simply urge women to stop enforcing their beliefs on others.

'There is no shame in formula feeding, it should be as irrelevant as whether you choose cloth nappies over Huggies,' she said.

'I wish you all well and really hope you have a successful breast feeding journey BUT if you dont its no big deal and if you dont want to? WHO CARES?' She said

'Formula feeding has been a god send for me and I am so glad I made the decision to do so.

'I wish you all well and really hope you have a successful breast feeding journey BUT if you dont its no big deal and if you dont want to? WHO CARES?

'The ONLY person that needs to be happy and comfortable with your decision is YOU! This is YOUR world of motherhood and you need to do what works for your world and do it with confidence.

'Dont waste these precious months and years of our children being little putting pressure on yourself and feeling guilty over things that really should have NO GUILT associated with it. All our babies need is love.

'Oh and milk, HOWEVER it comes.'

Mrs Aubusson's full blog post can be read here and she shares updates on her Instagram page.It seems as if the mermaid beauty trend is here to stay, with a Brisbane salon helping people obtain the look with colourful hairstyle creations.

Mermaid Salon gained attention when they introduced a make up brush with a sparkly mermaid tail which sent people into a frenzy online. Now their hair creations are bringing people back for more.

'We love helping people achieve their dream hair goals. Our salon has been running for two years so we're still a baby,' salon employee Kendal told FEMAIL.

'But we've recently moved to a bigger space so we can fit more clients in.'

It seems as if the mermaid beauty trend is here to stay, with a Brisbane salon helping people obtain the look with colourful hairstyles

Their rainbow hair creations have accumulated more than 20,000 followers on Instagram.

'We believe in helping people be their most authentic self, whether it's long rainbow locks or a complete shaved head,' she said.

'We also believe having a safe space, accepting of everyone and we only use vegan and cruelty-free products.'

Not only do they do people's hair but they also sell make up products online and in the salon, with professional make up artists to help create unconventional looks.

Their rainbow hair creations have accumulated more than 20,000 followers on Instagram

'We believe in helping people be their most authentic self, whether its long Rainbow locks or a complete shaved head,' Kendal said

'We also believe having a safe space, accepting of everyone and we only use vegan and cruelty-free products'

'As far as the actual mermaid hair we do, we use Manic Panic dyes and often mix different colours to get the perfect shade,' Kendal explained.

Each look they come up with is bursting with colour, vibrancy and originality.

'Kick beauty standards in the bin and achieve your personal aesthetic identity at Mermaid Salon,' their website states.

The salon owners want to redefine what it means to be beautiful, which they seem to be achieving with each look they accomplish.

Mermaid salon has a safe space initiative, which has involved them raising funds to accept trans women in the salon free of charge

They also provide showers, phone chargers, free 'tidying' and hygiene products for people living rough, their mantra being that they have a 'great fear of shallow living'

One unique look they created was a shaved head with a variety of different pastel colours

Mermaid salon also provides private make up lessons for transgender women free of charge.

The Brisbane-based brand originally saw their Chubby Mermaid Carve and Contour Paddle Brush was reposted by major beauty Instagram accounts.

Soon international media picked up on the trend and it sold out online, which meant Fanny Barlow, the woman behind the brushes, had to work all day and night to keep up.

Each look they come up with is bursting with colour, vibrancy and originality

'Kick beauty standards in the bin and achieve your personal aesthetic identity at Mermaid Salon,' the website states

The salon owners want to redefine what it means to be beautiful, which they seem to be achieving with each look they accomplish

'I've actually paid extra to have them rush produced because I only had a couple of hundred at first and they sold out in six minutes and I just freaked out and texted my manufacturer straight away,' she previously told Vogue.

'I had another batch quickly made and I probably sold an extra two or three thousand. I can't believe it.'

Mermaid make up is another trend that has taken off on Instagram.

Not only do they do people's hair but they also sell make up products online and in the salon, with professional make up artists to help create unconventional looks

Mermaid make up is another trend that has made waves on Instagram

A make up artist named Mari from Russia originally showed off her Ariel-inspired look online which encouraged other women around the world to share pictures of theirs.

The make-up trend has more than 25,000 snaps showing the different ways the aquatic look can be achieved.

To recreate it, the make-up aficionados use different powders, paints and scale stencils to create shiny scales and fins.

Mermaids have also infiltrated our cafes, with rainbow croissants, milkshakes and baked goods having overtaken our social media feeds.

As our mermaid obsession continues to grow it shows that the trend is not going to be slowing down any time soon.While many her age might be focusing on their studies, schoolgirl, Jade Hameister, has directed her attentions towards rather different pursuits.

The 16-year-old Melbourne teenager recently became the youngest person in the world to ski from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole unsupported and unassisted.

She also became the youngest to complete the 'Polar Hat Trick' - traversing the North Pole, South Pole, and Greenland ice sheet.

Jade spoke to FEMAIL mere days after her gruelling 600-kilometre journey via a new route through the Kansas Glacier, from the Amundsen Coast of Antarctica.

Jade Hameister (pictured), 16, from Melbourne recently became the youngest person in the world to ski from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole unsupported and unassisted

Jade (pictured) spoke to FEMAIL mere days after her gruelling 600-kilometre journey via a new route through the Kansas Glacier, from the Amundsen Coast of Antarctica

According to Jade - who has now joined the world's elite group of Arctic and Antarctic explorers - while she was always 'adventurous' and grew up in a risk-taking family, her own solo trips didn't start till just a few years ago:

World records set by Jade Hameister * The youngest person (male or female) to ski from the coast of Antarctica to South Pole unsupported and unassisted. * The first Australian woman in history to ski coast to Pole unsupported and unassisted. * The first women in history to set a new route to the South Pole unsupported and unassisted. * The youngest to ski to both Poles. * The youngest to complete the Polar Hat Trick. Advertisement

'Dad climbed the Seven Summits when I was growing up, so I was always hearing and seeing pictures,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'This definitely planted a picture and ideas in my head from a young age.

'But the big trips for me only really started when I skied to the North Pole in 2016.'

Since then, the fearless teen has completed a trip to Greenland's ice sheet, as well as her most recent 37-day journey to the South Pole, which saw her cover almost 600 kilometres with a sled weighing around 100 kilograms (Jade weighs just 60 herself):

'It's fun,' she said. 'Of course it's a big challenge, but it's something I can work towards that's not school.'

In completing her 600km 37-day trip, Jade (pictured in her full gear) had to carry a sled weighing around 100 kilograms - she weighs just 60 herself

On her day-to-day tripping, Jade explained she would rise every day at around 6 to reheat water and melt snow for breakfast (pictured) - before covering between 14 and 20kms

Conditions throughout the journey were extremely windy and brutally cold making the days very difficult to get through (pictured with one of her team members)

Speaking about her day-to-day life on the trek, the 16-year-old explained that she would rise at 6am, upon which point she'd 'reheat water from the night before and also melt snow for breakfast, which would be porridge mix, and also a hot drink'.

'We were out of the tents by 7.40am and then packed up our sleds and camp,' Jade continued.

'We were moving by 8.15am for about eight or nine hours a day, covering between 14 and 20 kilometres. And then at the end of every day, we would set up camp and spend 3-4 hours melting snow for water and cooking dinner - dehydrated food.'

The teenager and her team started by climbing out of the Kansas Glacier, before they then had to navigate through 200km of waist high sastrugi (ridges of ice formed by the ferocious Antarctic winds), which makes progress slow and extremely exhausting.

The last 200km of the journey was on the polar plateau at around 3000 metres in elevation. The thin air around the Pole makes the effective altitude closer to 3500m.

Conditions throughout the journey were extremely windy and brutally cold making the days very difficult to get through.

'I have learned so much over the past three years about myself, the world, and how to push through pain, being uncomfortable and suffering,' Jade said (pictured: the conditions)

'It's hard to tell yourself to keep going when you're dragging a heavy sled in -50 across ice in skis, when you can't feel your fingers or toes and still have hundreds of kms to go,' Jade said (pictured: her tent)

As the youngest person to ski from the coast to the South Pole without support and the first woman to set a new route from the coast to the South Pole through the unexplored Kansas Glacier, Jade is already an icon for women young and old around the world:

'I have learned so much over the past three years about myself, the world, and in particular how to push through pain, being uncomfortable and suffering,' she explained.

It's hard to tell yourself to keep going when you're dragging a heavy sled in -50 across ice in skis, when you can't feel your fingers or toes and still have hundreds of kms to go

'You are constantly in pain and exhausted, but you just have to keep going. It's hard to tell yourself to keep going when you're dragging a heavy sled in -50 across ice in skis, when you can't feel your fingers or toes and still have hundreds of kms to go.

'But in completing this journey, I'm hoping to inspire young women to focus on what they can do rather than how they appear - and to encourage young people to focus on trying to be brave rather than perfect.'

'I also believe that with these experiences comes a responsibility, as probably the only representative of my generation to have experience in the beautiful and fragile regions that are being affected by climate change, I feel as though I need to learn as much as I can about the issue (because I am not an expert) and play my part in preserving the planet for future generations.'

'But in completing this journey, I'm hoping to inspire young women to focus on what they can do rather than how they appear,' the 16-year-old (pictured carrying her things) said

Jade explained that she has always had an adventurous streak - thanks to a risk-taking outdoors family (pictured with her tent)

Jade's ambitions are typical for many girls her age - she intends to return to school and finish years 11 and 12 (pictured trekking)

With regards to what comes next, Jade's ambitions are fairly typical for a teenager her age:

'Next is finishing school and years 11 and 12,' she explained. 'Then, I have no idea...'.

Watch this space.

Jade began her Polar quest in April 2016 at only age 14 and became the youngest person to ski to the North Pole from anywhere outside the last degree and was awarded Australian Geographic Society's Young Adventurer of the Year.

In June 2017, she became the youngest woman to complete the 550km crossing of Greenland, the second largest ice cap on the planet.

To follow Jade Hameister on Instagram, please click here. You can also visit her website here.A 47-year-old mother suffering from scoliosis has been left with a severe spinal curvature after giving birth to twins.

Narelle Lockett, from Queensland's Caloundra West, was diagnosed with a 'mild' scoliosis when she was just 21 years old.

But since she became pregnant with daughters Grace and Sofia at the age of 40, she has been living with a 40 degree curve in her spine after her abdominal muscle split.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the single mother-of-three said the debilitating condition has even caused her to shrink by 1.5 centimetres in the past 18 months.

Mother Narelle Lockett (right) has been left with a severe spinal curvature after giving birth to twin daughters Grace and Sofia (centre with the brother Blake, aged 14) at the age of 40

The 47-year-old mother has been living with two 40 degree curve in her spine after her abdominal muscle split during last pregnancy

'Between the ages of 21 and 40, barely anything changed. I was really fit until my abdominal muscle split when I had an unexpected pregnancy to the twins at 40,' she said.

Things started to get worse as her spine curved dramatically - and at seven months pregnant, the mother said she was unable to move her left arm.

'It got bad really fast,' she said.

And more than seven years on, the mother said she has been suffering from excruciating pain after x-rays reveal two 40 degree bend.

'If I do something like clean the windows, by the time I finish cleaning, I would be in excruciating pain,' she said.

'My muscles have gotten so weak. I've been hitting a brick wall at every turn. I have moments where I feel like my head is too heavy for my neck.

'The muscle teared further over the years. Of course, I would use my muscles in my tummy because I have a bad back but my stomach has gotten so weak. You can see my internal organs go through my back.

'My prospects down the track are getting really scary.'

She has been suffering excruciating pain after she was left with a severe spinal curvature

The abdominal surgery she requires to fix her back is part of cosmetic surgery but she claims Medicare won't cover the procedure

Ms Lockett said she has repeatedly sought medical help but to no avail.

'For the past four years, I feel like I have been going around in circles every time I'd go to the doctors,' she said.

'With little core strength, my spine is no longer supported. It's getting scary if my back curves even more.'

The abdominal surgery she requires to fix her back is part of cosmetic surgery but she claims Medicare won't cover the procedure.

'Medicare doesn't cover abdominal repairs unless it's part of a full tummy tuck,' she said.

'I only need one out of the three surgeries. But I am not eligible for the procedure because the surgery is intended for those with excess skin.

At the moment, Ms Lockett said she has been going to bed every night with a near-infrared LED technology strapped to her back to ease the pain

'I'm only 55 kilograms, I don't have any loose excess skin. I'm literally being punished for staying thin because my curved spin is not considered.

'I don't want to get to that state where someone says now I can help you.'

The mother said she fears if she doesn't get the spinal surgery, her children will have to help her dress every day.

'My back could curve even more - and my children will have to help me dress because my back would start to seize up,' she said.

'For obvious reasons, I want to avoid that but no one would help me.'

'When people ask me where I'll be in 10 years' time, I don't even want to go there.'

The single mother has been raising three children on her own - twins Grace and Sofie now aged six and 14-year-old son Blake

Since she became pregnant with daughters Grace (left) and Sofia (right) at the age of 40, she has been living with a 40 degree curve in her spine after her abdominal muscle split

At the moment, Ms Lockett said she has been going to bed every night with a near-infrared LED technology strapped to her back to ease the pain.

'It reduces the inflammation, nerve damage and pain,' she said.

'I have to use the light virtually every day or my lower spine and neck would seize up really quickly,' she said.

'If I don't use the light, I'm just crying from the pain, I would feel sick and I turn grey. I'm still mobile but I'm aware the lights can't work forever.'

She explained the LED light has helped control her pain levels.

'It works on every living cell of your body, and absorbs the infrared rays. So this helps accelerate your body to heal,' Ms Lockett said.

Her spine started to curve dramatically when she was pregnant with twin daughters at age 40

The abdominal muscle split has left the mother with little core strength to support her spine

But despite the pain reliever, the mother still has a severe curve in her spine.

Ms Lockett said she has no choice but to set up a GoFundMe page in a last-ditch attempt to raise money for her life-saving surgery.

'The banks won't lend me money, I've tried. It's really frustrating because the doctors won't have a conversation with me about my condition,' she said.

'I've been raising my kids on my own and I've gotten so desperate. I'm just a little lost. I'm a really proud person so the idea of asking for donations terrifies me.

'But the stress has really bogged me down. The stress has gotten worse and there's now a dark cloud hanging over my head.'

To make a donation, please visit the GoFundMe page.Single mother-of-three Juliet Potter always dreamed about buying a caravan and taking holidays with her children.

But when she bought a used caravan on Facebook, Ms Potter, from Sydney, decided it could help other families who need temporary housing.

The owner of PR agency Girl PR has created White Caravan - an initiative that will see renovated caravans accessed by women leaving abusive relationships.

A mother said she will transform a used caravan into temporary housing for women who escape toxic relationships (stock image)

When single mother-of-three Juliet Potter (pictured) bought a used caravan on Facebook, she decided it could help other families who need temporary housing

It is now fast-becoming a solution to the crowded domestic violence shelters and refuges across Australia.

'I'd love to think White Caravan can play a role in helping women to transition into a new beginning, and particularly for the children involved to remember their time in the caravan in a positive way,' Ms Potter told FEMAIL.

'Not only can this help to solve the accommodation crisis, but will also help raise ongoing awareness for domestic suffering.'

According to Women's Community Shelters, the shortage of temporary accommodation is at critical levels with one in two women turned away from crisis centres and more than 50,000 women homeless every night across the nation.

The mother said the caravan will be fully renovated so families could feel comfortable at 'home away from home' (pictured the caravan before renovations)

Violence against women in Australia Domestic and family violence is the principal cause of homelessness for women and their children

Women aged between 18 and 35 are more likely to experience violence than women in overall

A woman killed by her partner is most likely to be killed at home

One in three women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence perpetrated by someone known to them

One in four children are exposed to domestic violence Source: White Ribbon Australia Advertisement

The chief executive of Domestic Violence New South Wales, Moo Baulch, has called for more housing services to help those who are forced to live on the streets.

'Increasing numbers of women and children who have experienced domestic and family violence are seeking assistance from homelessness services,' she added.

'But services are not being funded to keep up with this demand.

'Ensuring a resourced and funded homelessness sector is vital to ensuring the safety of those escaping domestic and family violence.'

Ms Potter said with rent and home prices sky-rocketing, along with limited government funding, there is a massive shortage of accommodation available for women who are desperate to escape a toxic relationship, most often with children.

White Caravan aims to alleviate this shortage of both long and short-term accommodation, along with providing support, resources and hope (stock image)

White Caravan aims to alleviate this shortage of both long and short-term accommodation, along with providing support, resources and hope.

'White Caravan has had enormous support since its inception and it's really taking on a powerful community appeal,' Ms Potter said.

'We've already been contacted by potential supporters who want to be involved.

'We've had offers of caravan donations. Even the local footy team have offered to help muck-in on the renovations.

'These are men who want to help women in the community and who are leading by example. It's been absolutely incredible.'

The mother said she will transform the caravan into a safe space so families could feel like they are comfortable in their own 'home away from home' (pictured the caravan before renovations)

The mother said she will transform the caravan into a safe space for families.

'We want the caravan to feel like a positive experience, a home away from home, a temporary stop on the way to their new beginning,' she said.

'So we're raising funds to fully renovate the space. The caravan will be filled with everything you need, including a fridge, TV and kids toys.'

Ms Potter plans to have numerous caravans for those seeking refuge from domestic violence.

'We will be reaching out and working with aligned charity partners and businesses who wish to contribute and work with us,' she said.

For support 24/7, please call White Ribbon Australia on 1800 737 732.A beauty therapist has revealed how she delivered her newborn in the front seat of her car after she and her husband got caught in rush hour traffic.

Roisin McNeill, 33 - whose daughter, Grace, simply has 'Castlereagh Place, Belfast,' recorded on her birth certificate, showing where she was born - was on the way to hospital, when she gave birth.

The mother-of-three from Belfast revealed that she chose to surprise her husband, not warning him when the baby came.

Roisin McNeill delivered her daughter Grace in the front seat of her car while her husband Thomas drove unaware

She said: 'When I sat down in the front seat of the car, I could feel her head, but I didn't tell my husband, Thomas, because I knew he wouldn't drive us, if he knew.

'I didn't want to give birth in my house, in front of our boys, Ronan, five, and Declan, three, so I just told him to drive. I really thought we would at least get to the doors of the hospital.

'But, when I realised she was about to be born, I pulled my trousers down. Thomas was saying 'What are you doing!' He didn't have a clue what was happening and I was laughing.

'He was still driving away and I said 'There's our baby'. I had to grab her to stop her falling on the car mat.'

The couple had been driving to the hospital when Roisin felt the need to push, delivering the baby in the front seat of the car

Roisin surprised Thomas with their daughter in the car, and he pulled over to the side of the road where he called an ambulance

The drama started the day before Roisin's due date on June 14, when she woke up at 6.30am, with stomach cramps, just before Thomas, 35, left for his job as a gym manager.

After being induced with her two older children, she did not think it was labour, explaining: 'My boys were both overdue and I just expected my third baby would be, too.

'I woke up in the morning and started experiencing some pain, but it didn't feel like labour, so I thought maybe I had just eaten something bad.'

Grace's birth certificate simply has 'Castlereagh Place, Belfast' listed as her place of birth

Roisin (pictured with Thomas, Grace and their two sons Ronan and Declan) said she began to experience pains the day before her due date but hadn't believed she was going into labour

Trying to amuse her children, within half an hour, her contractions intensified, and she called Thomas at work.

'I told him I really didn't think it was the baby, but I thought I was ill and might not be able to get the boys sorted,' she continued. 'He offered to come home, but I said I was fine.

'Within 20 minutes, things had progressed. I couldn't really move and the pains were getting worse.

'I think I knew then it was labour, but I still thought we would have hours. I told Thomas to come home, but he cycles, so it was about half an hour before he got back.'

Putting her boys in her bed, Roisin had a bath, in a bid to soothe the pain.

She said: 'I never thought in a million years that my baby was going to be coming so soon. I thought we had a bit of time, but I didn't want the boys to see me in pain.

'Anyway, I wasn't finding it too painful, so I thought it was really early stages at most.'

Both mum and baby were perfectly healthy and were discharged quickly after their arrival

Thomas arrived home, followed shortly after by Roisin's sister Jacqueline who was there to look after the older children.

'Thomas said we needed to get to the hospital, but I thought it might to be too early and they would just send me home,' she said.

'He decided to phone the midwife and she asked to speak to me.

'By that stage, I wasn't physically able to speak to her and she said, "Get your wife up to this hospital". She knew that it was much further along than we thought.'

Still, Roisin was convinced her pain was not bad enough for her to be dilated.

She added: 'I struggled to get off the sofa, though, because I was having full-on contractions. I think I was in denial a little bit.'

Thomas started the 20 minute trip to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, but they hit rush hour traffic and jams.

'It was about 8.30am when we left, so everyone was heading to work,' said Roisin. 'We slowed down and stopped and I just said, "What are you doing? Go down the bus lane!"

'I was trying to stay calm, but I knew we didn't have much time.'

Then, about halfway between their house and the hospital, Roisin knew she had to push - removing her trousers and presenting her shocked husband with his new daughter.

Pulling up at the roadside, Thomas called an ambulance, as Rosin held their baby girl, weighing 8lb 1oz, for the first time.

'We'd stopped the car at an angle outside someone's house and she kept looking out to see what was going on,' Roisin laughed.

'Thomas was on the phone to the paramedics and they were there within six minutes. They were amazing - they said it wasn't something they saw every day, but they were so calm.'

Roisin and her baby, who they called Grace, were taken to the Royal Victoria hospital, while dad Thomas followed in the car.

Both mum and baby were perfectly healthy and now, seven months old, Grace 'rules the roost' at home.

Roisin said: 'She has us all wrapped around her little finger - probably because she's our first girl after two boys.'

After Roisin and Grace were checked over, Ronan and Declan came to meet their baby sister and mother and daughter were discharged.

'We were really lucky that we were both totally fine,' said Roisin. 'When I look back on it now, I do think about what could have happened if something had gone wrong but, luckily, we were both OK.'

Roisin is now convinced people will be telling the story of Grace's dramatic birth until the day she dies.

She said: 'Her birth certificate lists her place of birth as Castlereagh Place, so she'll never be able to forget it her unusual arrival.

'The story will probably be told on her wedding day - she'll never live it down. The boys point out where she was born every time we drive past now and when we're out at the shops, we get stopped by people who ask if she was the baby born in the car.'Stella McCartney has revealed how she relies on the help of an A-list meditation guru after turning to the practice following her mother's death.

The fashion designer, 46, practises Transcendental Meditation with Californian teacher Bob Roth, who also counts Oprah Winfrey, Hugh Jackman and Tom Hanks among his glittering list of clients.

Transcendental Meditation, or TM, has been practised in India for thousands of years but was popularised by Stella's father Sir Paul McCartney and The Beatles in the 1960s.

Stella McCartney, 46, turned to Transcendental Meditation to help her overcome the death of her mother Linda in 1998. Her father Sir Paul, pictured in 2014, has practised it since the 1960s

The fashion designer practises Transcendental Meditation with Californian teacher Bob Roth, pictured, who also counts Oprah Winfrey, Hugh Jackman and Tom Hanks among his clients

At the time the group made headlines when they studied under controversial guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

Stella, who has four children with husband Alasdhair Willis, creative director of Hunter, grew up as the child of two TM practioners but only adopted the practice after losing her mother Linda to breast cancer in 1998.

Speaking to The Times, Stella said: 'I had quite a reaction that I didn't feel in control of. I possibly suppressed my emotions and I started having panic attacks, physical reactions to the loss... [TM] really did help me at a time when I really needed some help.'

Following Linda's death, Sir Paul took Stella and her brother James to visit the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the controversial guru whom The Beatles travelled to India to study under in the Sixties. The Maharishi later faced accusations of being a fraud and of creating a cult.

Once Stella started practising TM she found the 'severe' panic attacks subsided.

TM has been practised in India for thousands of years but was widely popularised in the West following its adoption by The Beatles in the Sixties. Pictured, John Lennon, left, Paul McCartney, background centre, Ringo Starr and George Harrison with TM guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Bangor, Wales, in 1967. The Maharishi was later accused of being a frau

The fashion designer now sets aside 20 minutes every day to practise. Rather than focusing on breathing, TM practitioners use a mantra to focus and calm the mind.

Roth, author of a new book called Strength in Stillness, is chief executive of the David Lynch Foundation - founded by the Mulholland Drive director, a long-time TM devotee - which aims to make TM available and accessible to the public.

Roth has introduced the practice to Katy Perry, Michael J Fox and Ellen Degeneres, as well as members of Congress, military commanders and business leaders.

Despite his spiritual line of work, Roth presents himself as a corporate professional, arriving at his clients' houses in suits.

Stella revealed how she suffered from 'severe' panic attacks following her mother's death. Pictured, Linda and Paul McCartney with children James, left, Stella, centre, and Mary in 1981

When he turned up at actor Tom Hanks' house two years ago the actor said: 'Woah, I expected you to come wearing yoga pants.'

Stella, her husband and children have all been taught by Roth. She even offers a meditation programme to staff at her fashion brand.

Roth also focuses on teaching TM to criminals, homeless people and inner-city schoolkids, pointing the the positive impact it has on their mental well-being.

She added: 'I just see it as something that has helped me, that's really easy... You don't have to do it religiously. It's something that everyone should know about or have access to.'

What is Transcendental Meditation? Unlike other forms of meditation, Transcendental Meditation (or TM) doesn't focus on breathing. Instead, you are given a sound, known as a mantra, a Sanskrit word you repeat in your head. You're not supposed to tell anyone your mantra, which is different for everyone. Repeating the sound over and over lulls the brain into a trance. Practices vary but many people just sit quietly for 20 minutes twice a day - you don't have to cross your legs or make 'Om' sounds. After a couple of deep breaths, you close your eyes and focus on your Sanskrit word. You don't know the meaning of the word, it just sounds nice as you repeat it, silently, over and over. The upfront cost to learn the practice varies. A four-day course with A-list teacher Bob Roth, who counts Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks and Katy Perry among his pupils, costs around $950 (660). However there is a sliding scale for lessons based on ability to pay. The David Lynch Foundation, set up by the director who is a TM devotee, also subsidises costs for some lower-income pupils. TM has been practised in India for thousands of years but was widely popularised in the West following its adoption by The Beatles in the Sixties. Advertisement

Strength in Stillness: The Power of Transcendental Meditation, By Bob Roth, is available on Amazon at 11.43.She has some of the most enviable tresses in the world - and now the Duchess of Cambridge's hairdresser has revealed just how much work goes into maintaining her locks.

Ahead of the royal visit to Norway and Sweden this week, Amanda Cook Tucker shared a photo of the countless brushes, tools and cans of hair spray she will be taking with her on the tour.

The expansive haul of hair products - including no less than 13 brushes, six combs and two hairdryers - gives a fascinating insight into just how much work goes into keeping Kate's glossy mane intact.

The snap was shared widely online after being posted on Twitter on Monday.

The duchess, who is around six months' pregnant with her third child, will have to be perfectly groomed for a number of events while in Scandinavia, from a black-tie dinner to meeting children having a skiing lesson.

Now a regular on the Cambridges' overseas tours, Mrs Cook Tucker had cut William and Harry's locks for many years before caring for what the Duke once joked was Kate's 'nightmare' hair.

She was called into action soon after the birth of Kate's children, travelling to the private maternity unit of St Mary's hospital in London to prepare the Duchess's brunette locks before she was photographed by the world's press.

Scroll down for video

Glam kit: Amanda Cook Tucker shared a photo of the countless brushes, tools and cans of hair spray she will be taking with her

The expansive haul of hair products - including no less than 13 brushes, six combs and two hairdryers - gives a fascinating insight into just how much work goes into keeping Kate's glossy mane intact

Thirteen brushes for princess-perfect hair

Commenting on the picture, celebrity hairdresser Jason Collier told FEMAIL: 'Im not surprised Kates hairdresser has such a substantial kit for the Royal Tour  weve come to expect Kate to look impeccably groomed and glamorous, and she is so famous for that beautiful blow-dry that it always needs to look perfect.

'In terms of the kit, theres everything a stylist could need to create hair worthy of a princess.

'Round barrel brushes are essential for creating Kates infamous bouncy blow-dry. The first brush looks to be a metal bristle brush, which is great for heat-styling wet hair, aka the first step in the blow-dry process.

'The metal base will heat up, taking out a lot of the bulk and making it easy to tame thick hair like Kates, for a smooth finish.

'A natural boar bristle barrel brush is in there too, along with a large mixed-bristle brush; the natural bristles grip the hair really well, while the mixed version would pull through hair nicely to create lots of lift and volume.

'I would use the boar brush as the finishing step in the process, to get that gorgeously glossy finish. I like that the stylist has chosen a brush with a grip handle  very necessary for this kind of work!

'The next set of brushes look to be ceramic bristle brushes, which are again fantastic for creating plenty of gloss and shine.

'They look like they could be Balmain Paris Hair Couture brushes, which help to regulate the temperature of the hair, prevent frizz and lock in the style  all essential for a princess whos out and about!

'The larger brush would be used to create smoothness and large waves, while the smaller brushes would be used for Kates fringe sections, or to create small flicks or curls towards the front of the hair.

Glam squad: Amanda often styles Kate's hair at home and has been cutting William and Harry's hair since they were children (pictured here arriving in Assam, India, in April 2016)

The hair guru, who has been working for the Palace for years, often accompanies the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge abroad (pictured on the 2016 royal tour of India and Bhutan, with Sophie Agnew, left, and stylist Natasha Archer, right)

'More small bristle brushes  you can never have too many when your clients hair is as famous as Kates! Again, these would be used on smaller sections, and to create those perfect finishing touches.'

How Kate gets her 'bouncy finish'

Jason added: 'Next up, theres a teasing brush, which is used to create root volume on dry hair, giving Kate that full, bouncy finish shes known for. The cushion brush beside it is great for detangling either wet or dry hair, to remove knots without damage.

'It looks like we have a Mason Pearson brush in the mix too, probably a mixed nylon and natural bristle brush. Im not surprised to see such a premium brand there; theyre a brand with heritage and such a strong reputation.

'This kind of brush would be used to distribute oils evenly through the hair and creating a soft texture; ideal for creating the kind of soft, sleek up-dos that Kate wears so well, with no harshness. Two smaller styling brushes are in the mix, which are great for a multitude of tasks  from detangling wet hair to reducing frizz in a finished look.

'And then we have a selection of combs: tail combs for creating sharp partings and neat lines, fine-tooth combs for smoothing and getting that perfect smoothness in up-dos, and a wide-tooth comb to gently work through wet hair.'

Top tresses: Kate's hair haul includes a can of Elnett hairspray (6.70), Kiehls Creme with Silk Groom (18), and Charles Worthington: Volume & Bounce Body Booster Mousse (5.99)

Hair secrets: A teasing brush is used to create root volume on dry hair, giving Kate that full, bouncy finish shes known for, according to Jason Collier

Amanda often styles Kate's hair at Kensington Palace and has been cutting William and Harry's hair since they were children.

The stylist has been Kate's hairdresser since the couple visited the Far East on a Diamond Jubilee Visit in September last year.

The hair guru has become close to the Duchess in recent years and was credited with giving Kate heat-proof hair that defied the humid Asian weather when she toured the Far East with her husband on the Diamond Jubilee tour in 2012.

Mist, mousse and hairspray galore

'Theres a water mist bottle there, which is great for reviving a hair style thats in need of a boost,' notes Jason.

'After a days walking out and about, Kates hair might need a little rejuvenation, so a quick mist with water and a blast with the dryer will give a fresh bounciness back to the style in seconds.

'Theres two Charles Worthington products in there which are surprisingly purse-friendly options for the Duchess: Volume & Bounce Body Booster Mousse and the Perfect Finish Hairspray, which both offer lots of lift and volume.

Kate's busy schedule during royal tours means her stylist is tasked with keeping it glossy and intact even as she flits between formal engagements (pictured in Canada in September 2016)

'The mousse is around 6 and the spray is around 7, which means you can use the same products as our future queen for much less than you might expect.

'Both of these products offer "style memory technology" which holds on to the style longer, which is an essential for Kate on a long days meeting and greeting.

'Theres another mousse  a volumised style requires mousse, so no surprises to see two bottles.

'Kiehls Creme with Silk Groom is a premium pick thats been chosen to maintain Kates healthy shine. Its a conditioning hair treatment that promises silky hair with a mirror shine, likely used at least once a week to give her those dreamy glossy locks.

After a busy day of engagements, Kates hair might need a little rejuvenation, so a quick mist with water and a blast with the dryer will give a fresh bounciness back to the style in seconds, says Jason (the Duke and Duchess pictured here at Buckingham Palace in October 2017)

'This is a classic product that celebrities have loved for years, so Im not surprised to see it amongst the high street brands in the kit  its well-known for very good reason.'

Finishing touches for a perfect mane

'It looks like Redkens Pillow Proof Blow Dry Extender spray, which banishes oil and gives day-old hair a refreshed look without the need for washing [is there],' adds Jason.

'This is very handy when theres such a busy schedule! And of course, theres plenty of hairspray to keep those famous curls locked in place, including the classic Elnett  if its good enough for the Duchess...

'And finally, the tools required for Kates crowning glory hairdo. A wide barrel tong is perfect for creating large curls or soft waves in the hair, while the conical tong is used to shape curls that are looser at the top and more pulled-together at the bottom  a look which Kate wears often to create shape without stiffness.

'The slim barrelled tong is great for smaller curls or creating areas of movement around the face when the hair is worn up, and of course theres straighteners in the mix too.

'Two hairdryers, because you must always have a backup(!), and plenty of extension leads and adapters for every eventuality too  with a high-profile client, you must be prepared for any situation.

'And there looks to be some microfibre towels in the kit too, which are ideal for preventing frizz after washing, and gently soaking up excess water to allow hair to absorb product better and dry evenly.'A California woman suspects she inadvertently stumbled upon a dark web illegal drug ring  after making a harmless purchase on Amazon and receiving something far more sinister.

Meagan Day, a writer from Easy Bay, was just trying to order Russian felt sauna caps for herself and her friends, thinking the traditional ethnic hats would be fun to wear the next time they headed to a spa.

But a month later when her package arrived from Ukraine, she opened it up to find a bottle of Vidatox, a Cuban drug made from blue scorpion venom that is used to treat cancer.

How it begins... Meagan Day, a writer from California, has gone viral after telling a story about buying felt sauna hats

Totally innocent: She thought she was buying hats like this one, which are worn to keep heads cool in the sauna. This one has the word 'Oligarch' written on it in Ukrainian

Wait a minute! Meagan was understandably surprised when her package came in the mail and contained a bottle of Vidatox, a Cuban drug made from blue scorpion venom

Law and order: Because Vidatox is made in Cuba, it can't be legally bought in the US., which has a commercial embargo against Cuba that prohibits imports from the country

So weird: Her plans to 'schvitz in style' were foiled by a very odd packaging mix-up

The medicine: Drugs with blue scorpion venom have been shown in some cases to reduce cancer cells

'Boy do I have a story for you,' Meagan wrote on Twitter on January 25. 'I tried to order some felt sauna hats that say "oligarch" on them from an Amazon seller named RussianBear, for me and my friends who like to sauna, like as a joke (though I actually really wanted one).'

In bath houses in Russia and Ukraine, it's common to wear felt or wool caps when using a sauna. The caps protect the head from getting too hot so the body doesn't overheat while sitting in the high temperatures.

But Meagan will have to try shopping again if she's determined to have one.

'A month later,' she went on, 'I got a package from Ukraine containing only a contraband Cuban cancer drug made from blue scorpion venom. That's it. That's my story.'

Included in the tweet was a picture of the package, which was covered in stamps, and which contained Vidatox.

The drug is made using venom from the Junceus Rhopalurus scorpion, also called the blue scorpion, which is found in Cuba.

Well maybe... She wondered on Twitter whether the sauna hat was actually a decoy product that drug-seekers are instructed to buy as a signal for the drug

Funny: Meagan also joked that this wool version of her felt sauna hat might well be another decoy product

Low risk: She figured that the hat was so niche that a drug-seller might use it as a front, assuming no one would actually choose to buy it unless they knew it was a cover for drugs

Plausible: Several people seemed to think that this made sense

The plot thickens! In a very strange coincidence, Meagan also saw a video on Facebook about scorpion venom the same day the package arrived

Some form of the drug has been used to reduce cancer cells in Cuban patients for over 25 years.

Though it is exported to cancer suffered around the world, the drug is not used in at all in the US, which currently has a commercial embargo against Cuba that forbids any imports from the country.

Meagan's two-tweet tale was an emotional roller-coaster for readers, who've liked it thousands of times.

'I just wanted to schvitz in style, now I'm an illegal venom owner,' Meagan joked, adding that she was so confused and taken aback by the delivery that she was 'malfunctioning.'

Odd indeed: Needless to say, Meagan was very confused about how such a mix-up could have been made

Score! She also appears to have gotten a very good deal on the Cuban drug which is worth substantially more than the hat she had actually ordered

Not a front? This person said he ordered the same hat online and actually received the hat, not the drugs

Oh well: He showed off the cap, disproving the theory that the product is a decoy

No worries: Meagan unexpectedly got refunded for her order

Upon thinking about the truly odd mix-up further, Meagan came up with an idea to explain how her felt hat became substituted for something so unexpected.

'Theory: somewhere on the dark web are instructions to purchase these oligarchical felt hats from Amazon in order to receive the illegal scorpion drugs,' she suggested. 'The seller intentionally chose a bizarre niche product that no one would ever organically, mistakenly order. Except me of course.'

'Extremely plausible that I am the only person who has ever actually wanted the decoy product,' she added.

It's still unclear if this is the case, as another Twitter user reported buying the same hat from the same seller without issue.

Yet the seller seems to have realized its mistake with Meagan.

The drug has been used for over 25 years and has been seen to reduce cancer cells, but it can't be legally obtained in the US

Also strange: This woman could relate, saying she once tried to buy a flower garland and got a sex toy instead

Switcheroo: Another Twitter user freaked out upon receiving a knock-off Rolex in the mail instead of a flour container

More stories: This woman order panties and received a duck hunting hat. She imagined that the person who ordered the duck hunting hat mistakenly got her panties

'Update: I was refunded for the oligarch hats without comment,' Meagan said.

'Also: The scorpion venom is apparently very valuable so if you have any ideas about how to capitalize on that situation in a legal way [let me know] thanks.'

Hundreds of other commenters have chimed in on the story, expressing awe and amusement, and also giving Meagan some tips for finding a legitimate sauna hat seller.

Some shared stories of their own seriously strange shipping mix-ups, including one woman who thought she was buying a girl's hair garland and ended up with what appears to be an anal sex toy.

Yet another recalled buying containers for flour and sugar from eBay in 2005 and ending up with a rubber ducky-shaped clock that contained a knock-off Rolex inside of it.It's one of the most coveted kitchenware brands in the world - but it turns out that many of us may have been pronouncing Le Creuset cookware incorrectly.

A video finally reveals once and for all how to say the name of the upscale Dutch oven maker properly.

It's bad news for those who have been pronouncing the name of the French company as 'lay-croo-SET' or 'luh-croo-SAY'.

It turns out that you have to put the emphasis on the middle syllable and pronounce the 's' in Le Creuset as a z.

Le Creuset is famous for its cast-iron cookware range, but its most well-known piece of kit is probably its classic Dutch oven in the traditional Le Creuset burnt orange colour

The correct pronunciation of Le Creuset is say: 'luh-CROO-zay'.

That's according to an official video made by Le Creuset in which North Carolina TV chef Vivian Howard admits she's been saying the name of the brand wrong.

In the video, she jokes that she has struggled to say the name of the French company with her thick Southern accent.

Howard admits: 'For the longest time, I had such a crush on them, but I could never verbalize it because I didn't know how to say it and I was so afraid of sounding like a big old red-neck.'

Are you saying these brand names incorrectly? Nutella - 'new-tell-uh' Hyundai - 'Hun-day' Nike - 'ni-key' Moschino - 'moss-key-no' Hermes Paris - 'air-mez' Ikea - 'ih-key-yah' Porsche - 'Por-sha' Hoegaarden - 'who-gar-den' Fage - 'fah-yay' Ocado - 'uh-car-doh' Advertisement

Le Creuset makes its cookware in a variety of colours these days, including 'Marseille Blue' (pictured)

Those who pronounce the brand name as 'luh-croo-SAY' or luh-CROO-say' are close to how the word is actually said.

But to say it correctly, you have to adopt a slight French accent and turn the 's' in Le Creuset into a 'z'.

Then, you have to shift the emphasis onto the first part of the brand name so that you say 'luh-CROO-zay'.

The 'croo' part of the word should be similar to the sound you make when pronouncing the word 'cruise,' according to the video.

Le Creuset was founded in France in 1925, but it has become a world-renowned brand that sells its pricey cast-iron cookware range all over the globe.Desperate parents are being deceived into giving their autistic children, some as young as two, bleach in order to 'cure' them, an investigation has found.

Six police forces across Britain have questioned families over allegations they have tried a dangerous mix of chemicals, it has been revealed.

A secret Facebook group aimed at parents of youngsters on the spectrum claims the incurable condition is caused by parasites that can be cleansed.

But, the 'cure' revolves around autistic children being given potent chemicals, either through an enema or orally, that could kill them and damage their gut.

Campaigners have blasted the treatment, MMS (miracle mineral solution), and have now begged for it to be made illegal. The makers claim the deadly solution can also cure cancer and malaria.

It is being peddled by former drug addicts, an investigation found, after it emerged last year a church cult was also promoting them.

Furious doctors have spoken of the dangers of following advice from unqualified advocates online, warning 'it's only a matter of time' before a child dies.

One of those selling MMS online is an ex-drug addict, from Margate, who narrowly escaped jail after admitting causing his fiancees death by reckless driving

Campaigners have blasted the treatments, MMS and have now begged for both to be made illegal (pictured: MMS and the citric acid solution its makers say it should be mixed with)

Dr Jeff Foster, a GP based in Leamington Spa, blasted the quack remedies promoted online, which have been exposed by The Sunday People.

He told them: 'Autism is a neuro-developmental disease which is not amenable to any form of tablet treatment. Its developed in the womb or early stages of life.

'You cant just reverse it and anyone claiming that does not understand the condition.

When you have very extreme measures like this to cure a condition its just a roulette game. Eventually someone will die. Its only a matter of time.'

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the umbrella term for conditions that affect social interaction, communication, interests and behaviour.

Charities estimate there is around 700,000 people who are on the autism spectrum in the UK. In the US, it is as high as 3.5 million.

Figures suggest four boys are diagnosed with autism - which often causes sufferers to struggle with social interaction - to every one girl.

There's no 'cure' for ASD, but speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and educational support are available to help children and parents.

A secret Facebook group aimed at parents of youngsters on the spectrum claims the incurable condition is caused by parasites that can be cleansed. But, the 'cure' revolves around autistic children being given potent chemicals that could kill them and damage their gut

Dr Jeff Foster, a GP based in Leamington Spa, blasted the quack remedies promoted online, which have been exposed by The Sunday People

However, unqualified advocates are peddling their myths that chemicals, such as MMS, can cure autism by ridding the body of parasites.

One of those selling MMS online is an ex-drug addict, from Margate, who narrowly escaped jail after admitting causing his fiancees death by reckless driving.

Danny Glass, known online as Sunfruit Dan, claims that people can live a 'disease-free' life if they use MMS, which reportedly costs 30 ($42).

Along with the Facebook group, Genesis II church also advertises the use of MMS on their website and lists sellers of the treatment.

The organisation has 27 churches worldwide, including one in London and Co. Kildare, Ireland, it was reported in August last year.

It offers a ten-day course for members to train as MMS doctors or ministers, after which they could be able to open their own church.

Once the 'ministers' heal 10 people, they are given a 'doctorate degree'.

Emma Dalmayne, an autistic mother-of-six who campaigns against any dangerous treatments that have no scientific proof, blasted the Facebook group.

Images claiming to show parasites leaving the body of autistic children actually showed their bowel lining had been burnt, she told The Sunday People.

Emma Dalmayne, an autistic mother-of-six who campaigns against any dangerous treatments that have no scientific proof, blasted the Facebook group

She said: 'When I first read about MMS I didnt think it possible that parents would feed their own children a bleach solution  let alone give them enemas with it.

'I felt disgusted and sickened. No parents will admit to doing this to their children publicly. This treatment is not illegal at the moment but we need to get rid of it.'

Ms Dalmayne last year attacked the highly-secretive Facebook group and ousted a mother-of-three for using the quack remedy to 'cure' her autistic son.

The woman, from Cheshire, was investigated by the police and social services last August after posting on the group, which had 8,500 members at the time.

Ms Dalmayne has repeatedly called for the Government to ban the treatments and last year received 55,000 signatures on a petition calling for their ban.

Dr Foster, who re-iterated that no dose of CD is safe either, added: It causes abdominal cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea.

'If you drink it on a long-term basis it causes inflammation of your gutlining, stomach, oesophagus and intestines.

'At some stage something pops and then you can bleed to death.'A photographer no longer needs to spend hours editing her jawline in selfies after undergoing grueling surgery to realign her underbite.

Sophie Rose, 22, from Reading, would 'fix' her jaw by editing snaps and contouring her cheekbones to cover her 1.2cm underbite.

Her condition also left Miss Rose unable to eat properly and made her talk with a lisp.

Forced to wear braces at 20, her confidence took a battering.

She said: 'I would try and avoid pictures. I felt bad in myself'.

Yet after undergoing a seven-hour operation last July, Miss Rose finally has the smile she always wanted after surgeons used screws and metal plates to realign her jaw, before fitting her with braces, which were removed six months later.

She said: 'I completely love my smile and I love my face. It has changed but I still feel like me.'

Sophie Rose no longer needs to spend hours editing her jawline in selfies, or contouring her cheekbones, after undergoing a grueling seven-hour operation to remove her underbite

The 1.2cm underbite left Miss Rose unable to eat properly and talking with a lisp

The procedure involved surgeons fitting Miss Rose's jaw with screws and metal plates

'I completely love my smile'

Miss Rose said: 'I couldn't believe it when I saw the final result, it all looks amazing.

'It's been a very moving and rewarding journey. There'll be no more editing my selfies for sure.

'I completely love my smile and I love my face. It has changed but I still feel like me.'

'I think it really makes my eyes pop now and I finally have cheekbones. I don't need to try and contour them in because they are actually there. I am so happy to have my smile back.'

She first noticed her underbite at 11 years old but was too young to have it treated

Dentists told Miss Rose her bones needed to develop before she could have surgery

As she grow older her underbite became increasingly severe, making her self conscious

She was finally given braces at 20 years old, which shattered her confidence

'I knew my face wouldn't be the same'

Despite being excited to see her new look, Miss Rose, who had the operation at Royal Berkshire Hospital, was nervous her jaw realignment may drastically change her appearance.

She added: 'I knew my face wouldn't be the same when I woke up. As they move your jaw it completely changes your face shape; it's a huge deal.

'I had seen online that your nose can also change so I remember my surgeon asking what I wanted and I just didn't want that to widen.

'Your face is the first thing people see when they meet you so I didn't want it to change too much. I'd been looking in a mirror for 20 years so it would have been a shock if it had completely changed.'

After the surgery, her face was highly swollen (pictured wearing a cold hydrotherapy mask)

Although happy with the result, she worried her entire face shape would change

Miss Rose read online realigning jaws can cause people's nose shapes to alter

Despite her concerns, Miss Rose is thrilled with the results (pictured before and after)

WHAT IS AN UNDERBITE? An underbite occurs when a person's lower teeth and jaw protrude over their upper teeth. This is usually inherited from a parent who also has the condition. Other causes include thumb sucking, babies using dummies and prolonged bottle feeding. Aside from a sufferer's appearance, other symptoms can include headaches, poor self-esteem and teeth grinding or breaking. Braces are the most common treatment but can make wearers, particularly children, feel self conscious. Specially-made headgears can be effective but are highly noticeable and often uncomfortable. In extreme cases, surgery to shave off the jaw bone is required as a last resort. It is unclear how many people suffer from an underbite in the UK or US. Source: Colgate Advertisement

'I felt bad in myself'

Miss Rose first noticed her underbite when she was a child, saying: 'I had retainers when I was younger but when I got to around 11 years old I started to notice my underbite a lot more.

'I went to my orthodontist who confirmed I was forming an underbite but as my bones were still developing I couldn't have a jaw operation until I was around 20.'

As Miss Rose grew older, her underbite 'got a lot worse', making her even more self-conscious.

She said: 'As a young girl growing up you are quite self-conscious anyway but this made it even worse.

'When I went back to my orthodontist at 19 she told me I had a class-three underbite, which is the worst one.

'It was after that appointment that we started to think about surgery. I was given braces, which knocked my confidence even more.

'I didn't want braces at 20; I wanted to enjoy my smile without having braces in the way. The braces also move your teeth and prepare you for the double-jaw surgery.'

Struggling to accept her appearance, Miss Rose's confidence took a battering.

She said: 'I would try and avoid pictures and if I ever took a selfie I would edit my jaw line so the underbite was less obvious.

'All my friends used to tell me I looked lovely and my underbite was just part of me but it wasn't about how other people perceived me.

'I felt bad in myself and to me it was a big deal. I also developed a lisp so I couldn't talk properly and after a few months in braces I really started to struggle to eat.'

She feels the procedure has brought out her eyes and means she no longer edits her jaw

Although her face and smile have changed, Miss Rose says she still feels like herself

Feeling like she 'has her smile back' the procedure has given Miss Rose's confidence a boost

She previously felt bad within herself, despite her friends' encouragement over her looksYou've probably never thought about wearing ear plugs while commuting to work on the London Underground each day.

But now a scientific investigation has uncovered that using the Tube can be 'as loud as going to a rock concert'.

University College London researchers have warned that taking the popular method of transport could cause irreversible hearing damage over time.

Their new study has mapped the 10 loudest journeys over zones one and two on the network, with the Victoria line shown to be the worst offender.

Dr Joe Sollini, who led the research, claimed the noise was loud enough to warrant ear defenders, if it was in a work environment.

An investigation has uncovered that using the Tube can be 'as loud as going to a rock concert'

The experiment was carried out in conjunction with BBC London, with the show set to be aired tonight on BBC One at 7.30pm.

Dr Sollini said: 'The Central Line has the loudest section out of all of the Tube lines, and it basically gets as loud as almost 110 decibels (dB).

'To put that into perspective that is approximately as loud as going to a gig or rock concert.

'Also on average the Victoria Line is the loudest followed by the Jubilee, Northern and Central Lines, at or above 85 Decibels.

'If this was a work environment would be considered so loud that you would have to wear ear defenders.'

Dr Sollini said the findings show that the tube is 'sufficiently loud' enough to warrant further investigations in the coming years.

He told the programme: 'It certainly shows that it [the London Underground] can be loud enough to damage people's hearing.

'For people using the noisier lines regularly and for long journeys then it certainly suggests that it would be worthwhile them using hearing protection.'

WHAT ARE THE 10 LOUDEST PARTS OF THE LONDON UNDERGROUND, ON AVERAGE? LINE STATION START STATION END DECIBELS NORTHERN KENTISH TOWN TUFNELL PARK 97 CENTRAL HOLLAND PARK NOTTING HILL GATE 95.4 CENTRAL LIVERPOOL STREET BETHNAL GREEN 95.2 NORTHERN CAMDEN TOWN EUSTON 94.4 JUBILEE NORTH GREENWICH CANARY WHARF 94.4 JUBILEE BAKER STREET ST JOHN'S WOOD 93.5 JUBILEE BOND STREET BAKER STREET 93.4 VICTORIA VAUXHALL STOCKWELL 93.3 VICTORIA STOCKWELL BRIXTON 92.5 BAKERLOO LAMBETH NORTH WATERLOO 91

Noise meters placed on train carriages recorded sound levels of all journeys in zones one and two over a one-week period to calculate an average.

UK laws state employees must be given ear defenders if noises breach 85 dB in their workplace - but the London Underground regularly breaches that.

It revealed the Northern line had the loudest journey, with the one-stop trip between Kentish Town and Tuffnell Park clocking in at 97 dB.

Holland Park to Notting Hill Gate on the Central line recorded 95.4 dB, and Liverpool Street to Bethnal Green on the same line came in at 95.2 dB.

In contrast, a state-of-the-art vacuum cleaner is believed to be in the region of 88 dB, and an ambulance siren clocks in at around 120dB.

The loudest journey that was recorded over the study was between Bethnal Green and Liverpool Street on the Central line, at 109 dB.

But the noise breached 105 dB - the equivalent of sitting next to a large drum - on 10 different occassions, the research discovered.

WHAT ARE DECIBELS AND HOW LOUD IS SHOOTING A PISTOL? Shooting a pistol is the equivalent to 160 decibels, charities claim Health and safety guidelines say the maximum impulse level anyone should experience shouldn't exceed 140 decibels. Just one exposure to levels higher than this can potentially be unsafe to hearing for both children and adults. Hearing researchers have repeatedly warned that loud noises should be considered as dangerous as not putting on sunscreen outdoors. That is because hearing damage occurs when the delicate hair cells in the inner ear - which don't regrow - are worn down by noise. Here, decibel levels have been revealed with what their real-life equivalent is, using information on Alpine Hearing Protection's website. DECIBEL 10 50 85 100 120 160 EXAMPLE A pin drop A car driving past THE LIMIT FOR EAR DEFENDERS Machine in a factory Ambulance siren Shooting with a pistol Advertisement

It comes after a different study, led by charity Action on Hearing Loss, in December revealed that family restaurants can be noisier than a pneumatic drill.

The research showed Pizza Express at Royal Festival Hall on Londons South Bank hit 108.1 decibels at one point  louder than eating next to a revving motorbike.

Transport for London, responsible for running the tube, said it is 'highly unlikely' that the noise would cause any long-term damage.

Nigel Holness, London Underground's Network Operations Director, added they are committed to doing everything they can to ensure it is a 'safe environment'.

He said: 'We monitor noise levels on the Tube and ensure that they are below those set by the Health and Safety Executive.

'While customers travelling on our network can experience noise, higher volumes tend to be for short periods of time.'

Health and safety guidelines say the maximum impulse level anyone should experience shouldn't exceed 140 decibels.

Just one exposure to levels higher than this can potentially be unsafe to hearing for both children and adults.

Hearing researchers have repeatedly warned that loud noises should be considered as dangerous as not putting on sunscreen outdoors.

That is because hearing damage occurs when the delicate hair cells in the inner ear - which don't regrow - are worn down by noise.A father-of-five has been given weeks to live after being diagnosed with an incurable brain disease that is wiping his memory each day.

Mac Frischknecht, 56, is a beloved math teacher from Utah who would spend extra hours tutoring students and attending church meetings as a bishop.

He began experiencing dizziness and tingling in his face in September 2017 and by Christmas he was suffering serious signs of dementia, putting him in the hospital.

Mac has been diagnosed with CJD, a disease that affects one in a million and is rapidly progressing leaving the typically sharp father unable to speak and walk.

Mac Frischknecht, 56, is pictured in his hospital bed surrounded by his family

The father-of-five from Utah has been diagnosed with a rare and incurable brain disorder that only affects one in a million. He is pictured with his wife (left) and son (right)

Mac is pictured with his 16-year-old daughter (left) on the first day of school as he is also her math teacher. His family says he always stays busy and was also a bishop

What is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)? Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare, degenerative, invariably fatal brain disorder. It affects about one in every one million people per year worldwide; in the United States there are about 300 cases per year. CJD usually appears in later life and runs a rapid course. Typically, onset of symptoms occurs about age 60, and about 90 percent of individuals die within 1 year. In the early stages of disease, people may have failing memory, behavioral changes, lack of coordination and visual disturbances. As the illness progresses, mental deterioration becomes pronounced and involuntary movements, blindness, weakness of extremities, and coma may occur. Source: NIH Advertisement

Doctors strongly suspect that Mac has Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), though they are still waiting for results of a brain biopsy for an official diagnosis.

CJD is a fatal brain disorder characterized as rapid dementia with symptoms of memory loss, behavioral and visual changes and lack of coordination.

It affects one in a million people worldwide and there are roughly 300 cases each year in the US.

There is a 10 percent survival rate and without a cure or treatment patients typically die within a year of diagnosis.

The father-of-five, whose children range from 16 to 29 years old, began experiencing dizziness and tingling in his face in September.

Doctors told him the stress of his busy schedule including long tutoring sessions, teaching night classes at a community college and church meetings were to blame for his symptoms.

However after taking some time to relax his condition worsened.

Around Christmas, Mac was having difficulty reasoning and focusing on average tasks such as paying the bills.

Mac's son Tyson, 27, moved back home with his mother and sister, 16, to help care for their father.

He told Daily Mail Online: 'Christmas day he usually hides notes for us to go find and this year he was doing that but it was super off and you could see he was really struggling.'

'A week or two later it all went down hill,' he added.

Doctors told the family he may have up to six months to live and will likely slip into a coma before the end.

Last week Mac was talking and could use a walker to move around with support but wasn't himself, according to Tyson.

'He's usually very sharp, always has a list and trying to get things done, always trying to help people, always busy and on the ball,' he said.

Tyson said that when his father could still talk he showed concern for the family.

Mac is a beloved math teacher and bishop who began experiencing dizziness and tingling in his face back in September

'Before things started getting really bad he told me on a few occasions to take care of my mom and sister,' Tyson said.

The father-of-five is also a math teacher to his youngest daughter.

'One thing he has expressed often is how anxious he is to get out of the hospital as he knows how much it costs every day to be there,' he added.

The family has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for medical bills which has raised nearly $100,000 and is filled with comments from students about the impact he has been as a teacher and mentor.

Last week the insurance company stopped paying for his stay, so Mac has been moved to a different, more affordable center where his family visits each day.

Tyson writes on the page: 'I pray that in his current mental state that he can comprehend at least to some degree how much people care for him.'

They have began exploring options of bringing Mac home and making him comfortable.

Through the entire ordeal the family has tried to remain strong and positive.

Tyson said: 'He's touched a lot of lives of most - if not everyone he comes in contact with and they've felt how deeply he cares for people.

'Don't forget my dad's blood type: B+.'Vaping causes DNA mutations which lead to cancer, a new study warns.

Researchers subjected cultured human bladder and lung cells to e-cigarette vapor which is designed to avoid the carcinogenic byproducts of tobacco.

They found the cells mutated and became cancerous at a much higher rate than expected, and mice exposed to the smoke also suffered significant DNA damage.

The New York University team warns their findings, published today, bring into question the popular belief that vaping nicotine is a safe alternative to smoking it in cigarettes.

It comes just days after the Food and Drug Administration rejected Philip Morris's 'healthy' iQOS electronic vaping product, saying it is not healthier than tobacco.

New York University exposed human cells and mice to e-cigarette smoke compared to filtered air, and they found vaping did increase the rate of cancerous DNA mutations

E-cigarette smoke (ECS) delivers nicotine through aerosols without burning tobacco.

While tobacco smoke contains nitrosamines and many carcinogenic chemicals from burning, ECS contains nicotine and some relatively harmless organic solvents.

As a result, 'vaping', as it is colloquially called, has been promoted as not carcinogenic; a safer substitute for tobacco.

A recent study even found that e-cigarette smokers had 97 percent less lung carcinogens in their body fluids compared to tobacco smokers.

However, experts warn that does not mean it is safe and void of cancer risk.

The new study by Moon-shong Tang, of the environmental medicine department, was an investigation into the belief that other products in tobacco - not nicotine - are the ones that cause cancer and other health woes.

They subjected mice and human cells to the vapor.

They concluded that although vaping delivers fewer carcinogens than tobacco smoke, e-cigarette smokers might have a higher risk than nonsmokers of developing lung and bladder cancers and heart diseases.

Last week the FDA voted unanimously against Philip Morris International's claims that its e-cigarette could predict lower rates of diseases and death in humans.

The penlike device heats Marlboro-branded sticks of tobacco but stops short of burning them.

It is already sold in more than 30 countries and Philip Morris aims to make it the first 'reduced risk' tobacco product ever sanctioned by the US.

FDA clearance would mark a major milestone in efforts by both the industry and government officials to provide alternative tobacco products to US smokers.

The adult smoking rate has fallen to an all-time low of 15 percent, though smoking remains the nation's leading preventable cause of illness and death.Back on track: Lucy Fernandes has beaten her dependency

Lucy Fernandes, a 31-year-old who lives in London, is one of countless thousands of Britons whove become dependent on their prescription medicines through no fault of their own.

Lucy became trapped on three drugs prescribed to her for severe anxiety. She started taking them in 2009 after seeing a psychiatrist because she was breaking down under the pressure of doing a masters in Renaissance art history.

Looking back, I realise now that I was too young to have taken on such a huge challenge, she says. Id begun the masters straight after finishing university.

She was prescribed the benzodiazepine tranquillisers diazepam (formerly known as Valium) and clonazepam, plus lamotrigine, an anti-convulsant drug that is used as a mood stabiliser.

But her body developed an increasing tolerance to the drugs and she needed greater doses. However, the longer she was taking the pills, the worse the side-effects became. The mood stabiliser disrupted my sleep as it made me more alert at night, while the benzodiazepines made me withdrawn, she says.

I was just not myself. Things were fuzzy. It was hard for me to understand what was going on.

At the end of 2014, the side-effects were so debilitating that Lucy decided to stop taking her medication. But the withdrawal only made her feel worse and she had to give up her job as a gallery shop assistant and move back home.

Meanwhile, the effects of withdrawing from the drugs worsened so that for months she didnt sleep at all.

Lucy has since managed to overcome her dependency  thanks to one of the tiny handful of organisations that offer help to patients hooked on their prescription pills.

But the NHS has now said it will no longer fund that service, leaving others with nowhere to turn for help.

Like many Lucy became trapped on three drugs prescribed to her for severe anxiety (stock image)

The problem of prescription pill dependency is one that campaigners have long fought to have recognised, with growing concerns about patients left dependent on medication prescribed by their doctors  and then abandoned to their fate.

Concerns centre on drugs commonly prescribed for anxiety, depression, insomnia and pain.

They include benzodiazepines (such as diazepam and lorazepam); Z-drugs (such as zolpidem and zopiclone used for sleep problems), opioid painkillers (such as codeine and tramadol), and the gabapentinoids (GABA) for nerve pain.

Antidepressants, although not traditionally regarded as addictive, can also cause withdrawal problems for some patients. These pills can, and do, help some people  and many do not become dependent on them, while others do.

The NHS has now said it will no longer fund the service that helps patients get off prescription drugs, leaving others with nowhere to turn for help

Last year, a committee of concerned MPs, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Prescribed Drug Dependence (APPG), warned that more than a million patients in England alone are taking dependency-forming drugs unnecessarily.

The overprescription of these drugs  and failure to provide help to patients to get off them  prompted calls from the APPG, along with the British Medical Association and other leading medical organisations and patient groups, for the Government to acknowledge the problem and set up a national helpline. The calls have been backed by the Mail.

And now it appears campaigners have been vindicated, with Steve Brine, the Public Health Minister, announcing last week that Public Health England will undertake an inquiry into the scale of the problem, including harm caused by dependency and withdrawal from tranquillisers, antidepressants and painkillers.

It is due to report in 2019 but what worries observers is whether this will come to anything  as for years ministers have been making grand statements, then doing nothing.

The problem of prescription pill dependency is one that campaigners have long fought to have recognised, with growing concerns about patients left dependent on medication prescribed by their doctors  and then abandoned to their fate

In 2013, Anna Soubry, then Public Health Minister, declared on BBC Radio 4 that the issue of prescribed-drug dependence has not been sexy. The time has now come for us to put it up the agenda.

Instead, it was parked in the long grass, where it had been left by David Cameron, whod said in 2011: Tranquilliser addiction is an extreme problem in our country . . . We must deal with the problem at source.

Since then, tranquilliser prescriptions have spiralled. Back in 1994, David Blunkett, then Labours Shadow Secretary of State for Health, called benzodiazepine over-prescription a national scandal and pledged to ensure justice for victims. When Labour won the 1997 election, it did no such thing.

And in 1993, the Tories had announced that GPs should be given local targets for reducing benzodiazepine prescriptions. Nothing came of this.

Concerns centre on drugs commonly prescribed for anxiety, depression, insomnia and pain

Announcing lengthy inquiries is a well-worn strategy for kicking the can down the road.Indeed, there is already a wealth of evidence to show the extent of the problem in Britain without yet another investigation.

The BMA reacted to the new announcement by urging prompt action. Dr Andrew Green, the GP Committee clinical and prescribing lead, welcomed the inquiry but also pointed out that it called for a national 24-hour helpline nearly two years ago.

A helpline could be set up relatively quickly, Dr Green said. It would give individuals suffering with dependence to drugs like benzodiazepines vital, timely support and advice.

Yet instead of promptly increasing support for these innocent victims, just as the review was announced, the NHS was quietly pulling the plug on one of the few such services that exists.

They include benzodiazepines (such as diazepam and lorazepam); Z-drugs (such as zolpidem and zopiclone used for sleep problems), opioid painkillers (such as codeine and tramadol), and the gabapentinoids (GABA) for nerve pain (stock image)

For 30 years, the REST (Recovery Experience Sleeping Tablets and Tranquillisers) service at the mental health charity Mind in Camden has helped people achieve the gruelling task of weaning themselves from benzodiazepines and other addictive prescription drugs. It is the only such service for London and one of only six in the whole country. Mind in Camden says standard clinics for people hooked on illegal substances are not suitable as they are geared to get clients off drugs as quickly as possible.

Yet experts say the only way to get off prescribed tranquillisers, painkillers and antidepressants without horrific side-effects is by cutting the dose slowly and carefully  known as tapering. This, says the charity, needs intense specialist support.

Lucy discovered REST on the internet at the end of 2014 and joined its patient support group, which meets weekly, with around eight to ten people.

Shes convinced this is the only thing that could have saved her: You need the experience and wisdom of people who know how to come off these drugs.

Last year, a committee of concerned MPs, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Prescribed Drug Dependence (APPG), warned that more than a million patients in England alone are taking dependency-forming drugs unnecessarily

Previously her doctor had not taken her seriously, putting her symptoms down to anxiety.

He seemed to view all psychiatric drugs as fairly harmless in terms of side-effects and dependency, she explains.

With the help of REST, she started cutting her dose by 1mg a month. It took me about 18 months to taper off, she says. I was tired a lot of the time, but it was so much better than trying to go cold turkey.

Today, 14 months on, she says her life is back on track. Im just starting a job, working to develop services in mental health, and Im living independently.

REST, which sees around 130 people at any one time, has successfully helped thousands. Each is supported for a year or more through the arduous process of weaning off their medications.

Antidepressants, although not traditionally regarded as addictive, can also cause withdrawal problems for some patients. These pills can, and do, help some people  and many do not become dependent on them, while others do (stock image)

Much of this is done through peer support from people like Lucy who have already escaped dependency on prescribed drugs.

But the local health authority, Camden Clinical Commissioning Group, says it will no longer pay RESTs annual 45,000 funding.

Instead, it plans to improve services by telling patients dependent on prescription drugs to attend GP services and community centres.

The CCG has not answered our questions about how much money would be saved by the move, and whether the alternative services will be shared with people using illegal drugs.

But the move has been condemned by the APPG, which points out that REST costs only around 372 per client each year.

Paul Flynn MP, chair of the APPG, told us: Closing the REST project is short-sighted, and will lead to unnecessary suffering and uncertainty for clients.

Brian Dawn, chief executive of Mind in Camden says: It is a false economy. Admissions to more expensive A&E, hospital, rehabilitation and other services will be the inevitable result.

Bizarrely, only last week the NHSs own National Institute for Health Research announced that it is to fund a clinical trial at Warwick University for treating people trapped on long-term strong painkillers  using the same group-therapy approach pioneered by Mind in Camden.

Observers fear this doesnt bode well for the new inquiry: if its to have any effect, it will have to ensure the NHS takes a consistent approach to the problem.

One expert close to the inquiry, who wishes to remain anonymous, adds another concern: that organisations with a vested interest in keeping things denied  such as people involved with drug companies  may sit on the inquiry group and try to bury the issue. We have seen this happen before, he told Good Health.

Meanwhile Barry Haslam, a retired accountant from Oldham, Lancs, who has long campaigned for prescribed drug-dependent victims following his own experience of ten years trapped on benzodiazepines, welcomes the review as a significant step.

But we have no idea yet about what issues it will cover, he said.

He runs Tranx, a withdrawal support service for people dependent on long-term prescriptions. It is Englands only NHS-funded facility  Haslam says patients need a network of such clinics across the country. But he fears that the review will fail to recommend this.

He adds: From my 20 years in this area, I fear that there could be just another fudge.

However, Oliver Letwin MP, the vice-chair of the APPG, remains cautiously optimistic. We are hoping the inquiry will enable Public Health England to persuade itself, and the Department of Health and the NHS, that the need for national help for victims of prescription-drug addiction is well evidenced, he says.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating  but I am optimistic.

WHEN DRUGS TO TREAT DEPRESSION CAN WRECK PATIENT'S LIVES

Weaning yourself off antidepressants can be as harrowing as getting off ben-zodiazepines, as an ever-growing number of Britons are discovering.

For years, it was thought these drugs dont cause dependency, but some experts and patients disagree, and point to severe withdrawal problems.

Kerryan Hobbs: Battling for 15 years to give up

It is to Public Health Englands credit that its new review will include antidepressants.

Seven million GP prescriptions for antidepressants were written in England in 2016  double that of a decade before.

Research published last year in the British Medical Journal says the main reason for this is a vast increase in the proportion of patients who are parked on the drugs long-term.

What this can mean for those affected is graphically illustrated by 43-year-old Kerryann Hobbs.

Kerryann, a single mother from Ilkeston, Derbyshire, became addicted to the prescribed antidepressant venlafaxine she was first given two decades ago.

For the past 15 years shes been trying to stop taking it but the withdrawal symptoms shes experienced  severe head pains, confusion and exhaustion  have made it impossible.

I have battled but have failed every time, she says.

She was prescribed the drug for anxiety and depression following the trauma of her parents divorce. I was not warned of any possible side-effects, she says.

But after four years, the drug ceased working for Kerryann, leaving her with only the side-effects of dizziness and nausea.

I have been trying to wean myself off ever since by cutting the dose, she says. I get down to the last bit of the tablet, but at that point my life crumbles, like Ive suddenly gone cold turkey.

I lose all concept of where I am and what is happening. I get angry at the slightest thing. The pain in my head is horrendous if I even just nod.

I lose all interest in life and cant get out of bed some days.

According to the NHS Choices patient-advice website, venlafaxine is safe to take for a long time. There dont seem to be any lasting harmful effects from taking it for years.

Furthermore, it says: Withdrawal symptoms will be harmless and over in a few days.

Yet expert reports in the Dutch psychology journal, Tijdschrift Voor Psychiatrie, spanning from 2002 to 2013, warn that withdrawal can cause severe delirium and mania, even when patients are trying to withdraw slowly by tapering their dose.

A further report by sleep-medicine specialists at New Yorks Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine in 2013, highlighted another bizarre symptom of withdrawal  a rare type of narcolepsy called status cataplecticus, where people fall into a deep and unresponsive sleep for hours or even days.

And when investigators at the French National Institute of Health Research (INSERM) analysed nearly 2,500 online discussions about antidepressants, venlafaxine withdrawal was one of the most common subjects, they reported last October in the Journal of Medical Internet Research  Mental Health.

K erryann says three months ago she lost the specialist cake-baking business shed built from a home-kitchen concern into a High Street shop because she couldnt put my all into it any longer.

The drug had made me so poorly, she says. I had so many plans for my life but my willpower and enthusiasm are demolished. In the past year, I have piled on six stone and lost my business.

She is now trying again to wean herself off it but shes been unable to find support from the NHS or voluntary organisations.

Doctors dont recognise this as a problem, she says. All I am told is to re-start the venlafaxine because my depression is back.

Kerryann has now turned to Facebook forums for help.

Theres a lot of support from people whove had problems themselves, she says.

Most advise to taper off the drug incredibly slowly. I am hopeful that with their support I will get there.Employment lawyer Jo Mackie (pictured), 50, is taking legal action against Center Parcs after being refused a manicure and massage because she had had breast cancer

Spas across Britain could be breaking the law by turning cancer patients away, it was claimed yesterday.

Employment lawyer Jo Mackie, 50, is taking legal action against Center Parcs after being refused a manicure and massage because she had had breast cancer.

The solicitor instructed to represent her is investigating whether spas could be in breach of the Equality Act for using 'blanket rules' to discriminate against cancer patients or those who have had the disease.

Scores of people contacted the Mail yesterday after this paper reported how up to 70 per cent of British spas could be turning cancer patients away  despite medics saying the practice was based on 'junk science'.

Mrs Mackie, a mother of one from south London, went to Center Parcs at Longleat in Wiltshire to celebrate her 50th birthday with friends. But despite having already told staff of her medical history, once there she was told she could not be treated.

She said: 'I was turned away when I ticked their little box which said, 'Have you had cancer in the last two years?'. I said, 'This is ridiculous', they said, 'Really sorry, we are not trained to treat people with cancer'.'

Mrs Mackie, a mother of one from south London, went to Center Parcs at Longleat in Wiltshire (pictured) to celebrate her 50th birthday with friends

Francesca Manzi (pictured), from Northamptonshire, was given a gift voucher for a spa by friends but told she couldn't use it because she was recovering from breast cancer

When the onsite nurse allegedly told the spa manager there was no medical reason to turn Mrs Mackie away, the spa still refused.

Mrs Mackie said: 'I came home early, took it from there and I'm suing them.'

Center Parcs last night said the Longleat spa had changed its policy. But Mrs Mackie is determined to prevent others suffering the same indignity.

She added: 'I would love it if other people with cancer would join this and fight this discrimination.

'It's not about money, it's about the principle. I won't be discriminated against because I had breast cancer.'

I burst into tears... all I'd wanted was to feel normal Katy Norton was inconsolable when a Center Parcs spa refused to treat her because she'd had surgery to remove a growth. Miss Norton, 32, from Surbiton, south-west London, had a tumour on her thyroid gland cut out and was enjoying a weekend away with her family at the spa in Woburn Forest, near Bedford. Katy Norton (pictured) was denied treatment after Center Parcs discovered she had had a tumour on her thyroid gland cut out After the operation last August, Miss Norton was told she was clear of the disease and the cancer had not spread. But when she revealed details of her medical history, she was told she would not be able to have any treatments with her family. She said: 'I had the operation on August 12, the visit was for my mother's birthday on September 28. My dad booked us all for massages. My stitches were out, it was pretty much healed  you could hardly see it. I said, 'Is there nothing you can do?'. I remember bursting into tears. All I wanted was to feel normal... pampered.' Miss Norton said she was surprised to be turned away for a simple massage because her surgeon had been 'blase' about her condition and said she could return to normal life. She added: 'I was so upset, I was inconsolable. I just thought they were being really overly protective of themselves.' Center Parcs said: 'We are sorry to hear of Katy's experience. Since Katy's visit, we have introduced a range of treatments suitable for guests who have undergone treatment for cancer.' Advertisement

Anna Mazzola, the solicitor leading the case, said spas that refuse treatment to customers because they have  or have had  cancer may commit unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.

She added: 'These spas seem to be treating cancer patients and former patients worse than other people in a similar situation. They are directly discriminating against them.'

Mrs Mazzola said that a company can only justify discrimination if it can provide a proper explanation, adding: 'From what we can work out, there is no medical justification for applying this blanket policy of refusing treatment. It's having a terrible impact.'

Christine MacGregor, 61, is among those who wrote to the Mail about their experiences.

Center Parcs last night said the Longleat spa had changed its policy

Mrs Mackie is determined to prevent others suffering the same indignity. Pictured: An advert for treatments on the Center Parcs website

Mrs MacGregor was turned away from a Marriott hotel in Glasgow after chemotherapy for breast cancer.

She said: 'The reason given was that the oils they use can seep into the body and interfere with treatment. I said, 'That's absolute nonsense'. At this point I was completely bald, felt bad about myself... my daughter thought it would be a nice treat.

'It's hard enough. You have the fear of 'Will I survive?', you feel a lack of femininity  then they make you feel worse.'

Another woman, who was turned away by a spa more than a decade ago after having throat cancer, said: 'I have carried the stigma and humiliation since 2004. I have never forgotten this one episode.'

They ruined my birthday treat Francesca Manzi was given a voucher for a luxury spa near her home as a 50th birthday present by friends who had clubbed together. But when the business development manager from Northamptonshire, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2014, tried to use it, she was turned away. Miss Manzi, who is now 53, said: 'I said I'd like a facial or a manicure. They said, 'No, we don't treat anybody until they've been clear for two years.' I was really looking forward to it. I thought my friends have clubbed together and I've lost it.' At the time, Miss Manzi was receiving free holistic therapy treatments at a local charity. She said: 'With chemotherapy, you look the worst you are ever going to look in your life. You are feeling low and ugly. 'Having treatments make you feel better. I'm not saying they cure cancer but they help your mental attitude, and staying positive is what it is all about.' Advertisement

Sharon Leeson, 55, from Upminster, Essex, felt the same lasting shame. Three years after the rejection, she has never returned to a spa.

Mrs Leeson, a former beauty therapist, wrote: 'It wasn't until I was on the couch with a towel over me that someone came in to say they could not give me a massage until I had been cancer free for five years or show a letter from my GP.'

A beauty salon owner from Hampshire who has worked in the industry for 45 years said therapists turned patients away because they feared making conditions worse.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said: 'One of my clients became a friend and after chemotherapy I would have given anything to give her some treatments. But there was always that fear that, should her cancer return, she would blame me or, even worse, take legal action.'

The charity Breast Cancer Care called for more understanding. Senior clinical nurse specialist Rachel Rawson said: 'There is no evidence to support the myth that massages spread cancer. However, it's important to seek medical advice before planning a spa visit and check with the spa.'

Center Parcs said: 'We are sorry to hear about the experience Jo received. We have a range of treatments for guests who have had treatment for cancer, which are delivered by specially trained therapists.'M&S Bank is offering mortgages for the first time, having just launched a range of competitive deals - including several designed to help first-time buyers.

Among this assistance is the ability for up to four people to buy a home together with one of the mortgages.

Would-be homeowners with a 10 per cent deposit can secure a two-year fixed rate of 2.09 per cent with a 995 fee from the bank and receive 1,000 cashback on completion. On a 180,000 mortgage taken over a 30-year term, this means monthly repayments are just 673.

Not just a mortgage, this is an M&S mortgage. Lender is offering competitive rates

Sue Fox, chief executive of M&S Bank, said: 'The launch of our mortgage range is a major milestone for us and Im delighted that customers will now be able to get the service they have come to know and expect from M&S Bank.'

What is M&S Bank offering?

M&S Bank has launched a number of different mortgage deals including two-year and five-year fixed rates for first-time buyers, home movers and remortgages.

Two-year tracker rates are also available and start from 1.39 per cent for a 60 per cent loan-to-value mortgage. Monthly repayments on a 180,000 mortgage at this rate would be 612 - unless the base rate was to rise.

First-time buyers with a 10 per cent deposit wanting to lock in for longer than two years can also secure a five-year fixed rate of 2.59 per cent with a 995 fee, 1,000 cashback and a free valuation. Monthly repayments on the same loan as above would be 720.

The challenger bank is also offering a range of deals for those looking to move house and remortgage. Two-year fixed rates start from as low as 1.49 per cent for those with a 40 per cent deposit or equity paying a 995 fee, while five-year fixed rates on the same terms start at 1.99 per cent.

There are fee-free options available, though the rates are a little higher and M&S Bank is allowing borrowers to take their mortgage over a maximum term of 30 years, helping to ease affordability constraints and bring down monthly payments.

Watch out though, the longer you are paying off your mortgage, the more interest you'll pay so it's better to keep the term as short as you can afford to.

To further support those purchasing their first home, M&S Bank will allow up to four borrowers who will live in the property to take out a mortgage together.

Fox said: 'This feature is ideal for a group of friends or siblings who want to realise their dream of home ownership, but perhaps wouldnt be able to do so alone.

'As well as first-time buyers, this feature can be used across M&S Banks product range by home movers and those remortgaging.'

Customers remortgaging with M&S Bank have the option to consider additional borrowing at the same rate and term as their M&S Bank mortgage.

This would give them a lump sum which can be gifted to a loved one to use towards a house deposit.

Customers remortgaging to M&S Bank from another provider will also benefit from fee assisted legal service, which covers the cost of the standard legal work required to remortgage from another lender.

M&S Bank has also revealed that it will donate 25 to housing and homelessness charity Shelter for every mortgage purchased.

M&S Bank already offers several best buy deals on its popular current account and credit card

How do the deals compare?

After launching in 2012, M&S Bank has regularly been voted one of the UKs best banks for customer service and holds Which? Recommended Provider status for its current account offering.

While its mortgage rates are competitive, they're not the cheapest available on the market.

First-time buyers with a 10 per cent deposit could get a two-year fixed rate from Yorkshire Building Society at 1.82 per cent with a 950 fee, which comes with 250 cashback. Monthly repayments on this deal are 647 - saving 26 a month compared to the M&S deal.

That said, the YBS offer comes with just 250 cashback compared to the much more generous 1,000 from M&S Bank.

To see how cashback and fees affect the overall cost of your mortgage, use our true cost calculator and read more on cashback mortgages here.

M&S Bank mortgages are available directly from M&S Bank and also through mortgage broker London & Country.

The bank said it plans to offer its deals through other mortgage brokers later this year.

This is Money verdict

Having featured consistently towards the top of the best buy tables with personal loan and credit card products for many years, it appears M&S Bank is following a similar strategy with its mortgages.

Research by Moneycomms.co.uk - commissioned by M&S Bank - suggests the banks two-year fixed rate 90 per cent LTV first-time buyer mortgage ranks either first or second most competitive in the market across a range of mortgages up to 250,00.

The combination of a competitive rate, fee and a market-leading 1,000 cashback should make M&S Bank a popular choice for those looking to buy their first home.

Andrew Hagger, of Moneycomms.co.uk, said: 'Its good to see some extra competition in the residential mortgage space from one of the UKs biggest brand names  hopefully it will put pressure on other players to keep pricing low.

'As with similar forays into mortgages by supermarket banks, Tesco and Sainsburys, based on these initial products it looks as if M&S Bank will give established lenders something to think about.'

Hagger's analysis suggests that on a 180,000 mortgage taken over 30 years, the net outlay with an M&S Bank 90 per cent loan-to-value two-year fix is 16,147 over the initial 24 months.

'This is 692 cheaper than Barclays, 1,840 cheaper than NatWest and 2,920 less than Lloyds Bank,' he said.

'Its still early days, but if these rates are a sign of things to come then it can only be positive for cost-conscious borrowers.'Flag-carrier airline British Airways is investing 4.5 billion to turn itself around amid growing criticism it is offering a budget airline experience despite higher ticket prices.

Profits hit 1.2 billion at owner IAG last year despite the company being heavily criticised for leaving 75,000 passengers stranded when an IT failure grounded flights last summer.

British Airways has also sparked a passenger backlash over cuts to perks including free snacks and drinks on short-haul services.

Flag-carrier airline British Airways is investing 4.5 billion to turn itself around amid growing criticism it is offering a budget airline experience despite higher ticket prices

Now British Airways chief executive Alex Cruz, 51, says he is investing 4.5 billion.

The money will be spent on 71 new planes  including Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s  which are set to arrive over the next five years.

And 128 of its planes will be given new interiors and fast Wi-Fi. Club World, its long-haul business class service, is also being overhauled.

Cruz said: We need to turn this airline around from the customer perspective.The Church of Scientology has launched a federal lawsuit in what it hopes will be a hammer blow to a decade-long battle with a former member who has accused it of forcing her to have an abortion, working conditions tantamount to slave labor, and practices so inhumane she faked a suicide attempt to escape.

Laura DeCrescenzo, who signed her billion-year contract with the church's administrative 'clergy' the Sea Org at the age of 12, first filed her complaint in 2009.

Now the Church has taken drastic action to end the 39-year-old's David and Goliath legal fight once and for all.

In newly filed papers seen by DailyMailTV attorneys for the church have called for DeCrescenzo's case to be thrown out.

Her original case was moved from state to federal court when DeCrescenzo introduced the charge of human trafficking.

But that charge was dismissed eight years ago on the grounds that the four-year statute of limitations had expired and the case returned to state court.

Laura DeCrescenzo, 39, was a member of the Sea Org from 1991 to 2004. She became a 'effectively a full-time employee' from age 10 and at 12 she signed her 'Contract of Employment' and left her school, home, and family to work for the Church of Scientology International (CSI). (Pictured right in her Sea Org uniform)

But now, Church attorneys have gone back to the federal court to argue that the entire case should have been thrown out when that federal charge was dropped.

DeCrescenzo was a member of the Sea Org from 1991 to 2004. Her parents were Scientologists and she had attended Scientology schools prior to signing up with the elite cadre.

Her lawsuit, littered with harrowing allegations, states: 'There are two very different versions of Scientology. There is the Scientology as presented to the outside world and there is a different Scientology in which Plaintiff lived and worked for approximately 13 years.'

In that version it continues: 'Twelve-year-old children are taken from their homes, asked to sign employment contracts and put to work. Pregnant women are coerced to have abortions. Employees work 100-hour weeks in the business ventures of Scientology at far less than minimum wage.'

According to DeCrescenzo, 'personal freedoms are restricted and severe punishments are used to keep employees in line. Passports are taken from foreign workers and the infirm are discarded if they cannot perform.'

DeCrescenzo's parents were both Scientologists and she began working for the organization in her hometown in New Mexico at the age of 9.

According to her suit she obtained a work permit and became 'effectively a full-time employee' from age 10. At 12 she signed her 'Contract of Employment' and left her school, home, and family to work for the Church of Scientology International (CSI).

The former Scientologist said she became pregnant at 17 and was 'coerced by CSI (Church of Scientology International) to have an abortion' (Pictured in 1996)

She moved from New Mexico to California and married a fellow Sea Org member at the age of just 16. When she became pregnant at 17 she was 'coerced by CSI to have an abortion.'

DeCrescenzo asserts that she knows of other women who were 'ordered to have an abortion' in this fashion.

She worked 'under illegal conditions' alongside others who were, 'ignorant of their rights, under the misapprehension that they had no rights or surrendered them in various documents they were required to sign,' or simply too afraid to 'challenge the dark side of Scientology.'

During her 13 years in the Sea Org, DeCrescenzo's challenging of that 'dark side' saw her spend time in the Rehabilitation Project Force, designed to 'control, coerce, punish, inflict emotional distress, and break the will of the victim.'

She claims that she was 'blackmailed' by the CSI and its agents who stored information on her and 'interrogated [her] on a primitive lie detector known as an e-meter' to keep her from leaving her staff position.

This practice of 'security checking' was followed up, her suit claims, with the threat that she would be 'declared a suppressive person and an enemy of the church' should she leave. She was also told she would be forced to 'disconnect' - cease all contact - from family and friends should she leave.

Laura, who is now married, said she was forced to work under 'illegal conditions' and had to spend time in the Rehabilitation Project Force, designed to 'control, coerce, punish, inflict emotional distress, and break the will of the victim'

DeCrescenzo fled the church in 2004 but says she did not file a suit because she believed the documents she signed, which included a promise not to sue, were legally binding. Above is the CSI building in LA where she worked

In 2004, at the age of 25, DeCrescenzo did decide to leave but knew that she 'needed a plan.'

Her lawsuit notes that, 'CSI was somewhat paranoid about workers dying or committing suicide at one of Scientology's main bases.'

And so her plan was to exhibit suicidal tendencies and be 'dubbed a security risk.'

She swallowed bleach, making sure that her actions were witnessed.

She had found a way out - but even then it had to be on the Church's terms as she claims she was compelled to sign away 'exit' papers 'under extreme duress.'

She claims she did not fully understand them, was not given copies of them, and 'just wanted to get out without having to undergo hours or days of emotional abuse.'

'There was' her suit notes, 'No negotiation over her escape papers.'

DeCrescenzo didn't sue until five years after leaving the Sea Org in 2009 because she had blindly believed that these documents, which included a promise not to sue, were legally binding.

When she did file, the statute of limitations on the charges had expired - a point that initially saw the Church make a successful case to have her suit dismissed out of hand.

But that ruling was overturned on appeal in 2011 in a hugely significant decision that ruled, 'because of her isolation from a young age, limited education and restrictions on her personal freedoms' she simply could not know or suspect that she was 'injured by [CSI] wrongdoing.'

In fact DeCrescenzo had remained a member of the church - under duress and fear of reprisal and disconnecting from family members who remained within CSI facilities - until 2008 when she completely severed her ties.

As a result the Appeals court effectively negated any exit papers promises and the clock on the statute of limitations only started ticking when she left Scientology completely.

In an ironic twist, DeCrescenzo once picketed LA's Superior Court when, as a child, she joined fellow church members to prove that the institution would 'go to every length to bring down people who filed lawsuits.'

Certainly her experience of attempting to hold the Church accountable for the abuses she alleges she suffered has born this out.

DeCrescenzo has already won a significant victory as she successfully fought to have her Pre-Clear files - the transcripts of all her auditing sessions and security checks - released to her.

A source close to the case explained: 'Scientology has fought for years on the grounds of Priest/Penitent Privilege with the priest having all the privilege yet on the other hand, has used information in these files in litigation against members.

'When Laura succeeded in having them hand these over they were forced to disclose that hundreds of people had had access to these "confidential" files which in and of itself is outrageous.'

The federal suit, filed by the Church last month, is not the first time its management has tried to have DeCrescenzo's case dismissed.

A spokesperson for the Church of Scientology told DailyMailTV: 'The Church regards the claims as meritless, has defended and will continue to defend against them with vigor and expects to prevail. Also as set forth in the new federal case the Church has already prevailed in finding that the basis for the claims is without merit.'

In April 2016 a judge denied church attorneys' motion to dismiss on grounds that the lawsuit wrongly involved the courts with the affairs of a religious organization.

Speaking for the Church, attorney Bert Deixler asserted, 'We do not have civil courts investigate religious practices' and described the matters under consideration as 'a question of faith, not force.'

But DeCrescenzo's lawyers successfully argued that she was effectively 'brainwashed' by the church because she was not allowed to hear outside opinions about the religion's practices.

Two years earlier, in 2014, DeCrescenzo's lawyers convinced the judge originally assigned to the case - Judge Richard Rico - to recuse himself on the grounds of his social relationship with Superior Court Judge Leslie Swain whose husband, Bert Deixler, is an attorney for the church.

The church reportedly asked the court for a psychiatric evaluation in 2013, according to TonyOrtega.com.

A court date for DeCrescenzo's case has been set for August.

And according to one close to DeCrescenzo who asked not to be named, after all these years and litigation, she wants her day in court.

The source said: 'Laura is gentle and unassuming and polite and pleasant and just the sweetest woman and yet, she has a backbone of cold chrome steel.

'She has a valid grievance and yet she's been treated as if she's a liar who deserves no voice, a peon who doesn't qualify for attention.

'In a way the church has turned her into a crusader with its actions.

'If they turned round and offered her a billion dollars to settle I think she might actually say, "No. I want my day in court."'

They added: 'What she's doing is remarkable. Here is a woman, standing by herself against a massive, well-funded organization intent on squashing her and she's still standing after ten years.

'Not only that, she's still fighting.'A young grandmother claims she was sent home from a hospital by doctors after complaining of chest pain - only to suffer a massive heart attack an hour later.

Western Australian woman Mandii Tennick, 42, was taken to Peel Health Campus via ambulance with heart attack symptoms.

Instead of being admitted, she says she was given painkillers and sent home.

'There's nothing we can do for you. You have to leave,' she told 7 News Perth.

Mandii Tennick now has permanent heart damage after she was sent home by Peel Health Campus in Mandurah

Ms Tennick was still in pain an hour after returning home and decided to get a second opinion via a one hour, 60 kilometre journey.

She caught an Uber from her home to Mandurah station, a train to Murdoch and then finally a bus to Fiona Stanley Hospital, where doctors told her she was having a massive heart attack.

'This time last week I could have been dead. My family could have been burying me, this week.'

Mandurah Mayor Rhys Williams and local Liberal MP Zak Kirkup have written to Western Australia Health Minister Roger Cook calling for more resources at the hospital.

Tests revealed the main artery to Mandi's heart was almost completely blocked. She now has permanent heart damage.

Ms Tennick said she had lost faith in the health system and believed Mandurah needed a better hospital.

'I was let down,' she told WA Today.

'I put trust in the medical profession. They are trained to pick those things up. Mandurah has grown so much and the health system here has to reflect the growing population.'

Ms Tennick has lodged a formal complaint against Peel, which is being investigated.

A Peel Health Campus chief executive officer told Daily Mail Australian it is unable to comment 'due to patient confidentiality.'

'We have had contact with the patient and would welcome the opportunity to talk further and review concerns.'The daughter of Saudi billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal on Sunday tweeted a picture of her father, expressing happiness at his release from detention, in the first reaction from a family member.

'You've lit up the world, you are my world,' Reem bint Al-Waleed tweeted, posting a picture of her father sporting a beard.

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 63-year-old prince was arrested as part of a major clampdown on corruption in the country.

Saudi officials said the prince made a financial settlement to secure his release but refused to reveal the amount.

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'You've lit up the world, you are my world,' Reem bint Al-Waleed tweeted, posting a picture (above) of her father sporting a beard

Prince Alwaleed, pictured, had been held in the Ritz-Carlton since early November 2017

However officials had previously ordered him to pay at least $6billion - the highest sum ever demanded by authorities in the Gulf state.

A government source said: 'The attorney general has approved this morning the settlement that was reached with Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, and the prince returned home at 11am.'

Family sources said Prince Alwaleed was released on Saturday, with one revealing: 'He has he arrived home.'

The decision to release Prince Alwaleed and several other well-known tycoons on Friday, suggested the main part of the corruption probe was winding down after it sent shockwaves through Saudi Arabia's business and political establishment.

Reema Alwaleed bin Talal, the daughter of Saudi Arabia's billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, looks on as her father speaks during a press conference in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on July 1, 2015

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the arrest of some of Saudi Arabia's wealthiest men and held them inside the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh, pictured

Prince Alwaleed had been confined at the Ritz-Carlton since early November, along with dozens of others, part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's plan to consolidate control and reform oil superpower Saudi Arabia.

Saudi authorities have said they expect to raise some $100 billion for the government through such settlements - a huge windfall for the state, which has seen its finances squeezed by low oil prices.

In his first interview since he was taken into custody in November, Prince Alwaleed said he was continuing to maintain his innocence of any corruption in talks with authorities.

Allegations against Prince Alwaleed included money laundering, bribery and extorting officials, a Saudi official told Reuters in November.

The prince is ranked among the richest people in the world, with Forbes once estimating his fortune to be worth $18.7 billion.House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy said Sunday he'd like to see FBI employees Peter Strzok and Lisa Page testify about their controversial anti-Trump texts before Congress.

'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,' Gowdy said on Fox News Sunday.

Strzok, an FBI agent, was pulled off Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe over politically biased texts sent to Page, an FBI lawyer he was having an affair with.

House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy said he'd like to see FBI agent Peter Strzok and FBI lawyer Lisa Page testify before Congress about their anti-Trump text messages

Rep. Trey Gowdy (right) told Fox News Channel's Chris Wallace (left) that he believed his GOP colleagues weren't doing themselves any favors by freaking out over the 'secret society' text

That being said, Rep. Trey Gowdy believed that FBI agent Peter Strzok (left) and FBI attorney Lisa Page (right) should speak to lawmakers about the messages they exchanged

Page was also working on the Mueller probe, but went back to the FBI before the text messages were discovered.

This week a text between the two lovers that referenced a 'secret society' sent the Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson into a tailspin.

Johnson suggested that the message proved 'corruption at the highest levels of the FBI.'

The Wisconsin Republican had heard murmurs of FBI officials meeting 'off-site,' and suggested this text was proof of a greater conspiracy.

Later, he relented and told CNN that the 'secret society' text could also have been a joke.

Sent a day after President Trump's election win, Page asked Strzok if he ever planned to give out his calendars  ones that showcased Vladimir Putin and were meant to be a joke  as Strzok was working on the FBI's investigation into Russian meddling at the time.

'Seems kind of depressing,' Page added. 'Maybe it should just be the first meeting of the secret society.'

Speaking to Fox News's Chris Wallace on Sunday, Gowdy answered in the affirmative when asked if Republicans were hurting their credibility when making a big deal about 'secret societies and palace coups.'

'Republicans are the best I've ever seen at taking good facts and overstating them and therefore changing the narrative,' Gowdy said.

The South Carolina congressman said he wasn't sure what the FBI employees meant by 'secret society,' adding that it would be fair to ask them about it.

'But if it were a joke, Chris, then was it also a joke to mention the insurance policy?' Gowdy asked, referencing another one of Strzok's messages that Republicans have criticized.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Strzok was merely saying that the FBI needed to put resources toward the Russia probe in case candidate Donald Trump won the presidency, which seemed unlikely at the time the text was sent.

'Was it also a joke to talk about impeachment the morning after President Trump won?' Gowdy said. '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,' Gowdy urged. 'Let the jury make up their mind and quit engaging in hyperbole, which we seem to do a lot.'

Gowdy, and other Republicans, have also voiced concerns over Strzok's involvement in the Hillary Clinton email investigation too, suggesting his political bias may have spilled over to that case too, letter the former Democratic nominee walk free.

'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,' Gowdy said. 'These same two people who were so biased they should be kicked to the curb immediately were the ones interviewing Hillary Clinton.'

When asked about Mueller, Gowdy thought the special counsel was doing a good job.

'One hundred percent,' Gowdy said. 'Particularly if he's given the time, the resources and the independence to do his job.'

The Republican lawmaker pointed out that there are two components to Mueller's jurisdiction, the criminal component, which is the one that's mostly discussed.

'But there's also a counterintelligence component that no one ever talks about because it's not sex and interesting,' Gowdy said. 'But he's 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,' the congressman concluded.The decapitated and dismembered remains of Sara Zghoul were found in two suitcases in a BMW in Aloha, Oregon on Thursday

A man suspected of decapitating and dismembering a 28-year-old Oregon mother was found hiding in a ravine and screaming for help minutes before he was arrested by police.

The remains of Sara Zghoul, 28, who was found decapitated and stuffed in two suitcases in a car earlier Thursday night in Aloha, near Portland.

Michael Larsen said the prime suspect in her death was hiding near his apartment complex and he woke up to screams in the middle of a night.

He told KGW that around 11.30pm on Thursday, his daughter began pounding on his bedroom door.

'I went to bed, and then I was woken up by my daughter pounding on our door, saying: "Somebody's out in the woods yelling for help",' he said.

Larsen said that after he went out onto his balcony, there was a man in a ravine below his apartment near Southwest Murray Boulevard and Southwest Teal Boulevard.

He said the man kept yelling "Help" over and over, even when they asked his name.

'I called 911. Then [my daughter] told him help is on the way,' Larsen said.

'And that was the only time he responded appropriately. He said: "Thank you". So then just a few minutes later all the police just started converging on this area.'

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Michael Larsen (pictured) said the suspect was hiding down in a ravine by his apartment complex near near Southwest Murray Boulevard and Southwest Teal Boulevard

Larsen (pointing to ravine) said the suspect kept yelling 'Help' over and over again and he and his daughter then told the man that help was on the way

The BMW (pictured) was found on a residential street. A man was arrested in connection with her death later in the evening. Authorities say he tried to kill himself before his arrest by slashing his throat and wrists

Courtesy of KOIN

Officers took the suspect, whose identity has not been released, into custody.

Authorities say the suspect tried to kill himself while in the ravine by slashing his throat and wrists before he was arrested.

Zghoul had worked as an actress, a model and a voice-over-artist and is survived by a son.

'Sara was funny, kind and a great mother,' a family friend said. 'She was the kind of person to give you the shirt off her back.'

'Her son, I mean, I don't know if he comprehends that she's never going to come back,' another friend told KPTV. 'It takes an evil, evil person to do something like that.'

You never would expect that to happen to someone that you know,' Zghoul's childhood friend Gregory McKelvey told KOIN 6 News.

'She was a very funny person, everybody knew her and her whole family.'

The family has declined to comment to local media as of yet.

Police received a call on Thursday night about a homicide with a body left inside a car in an Aloha neighborhood.

Authorities scouted the neighborhood and located a BMW with Zghoul's body inside the trunk.

Zghoul had worked as an actress and model and is survived by her son. 'Sara was funny, kind and a great mother,' a family friend said

Courtesy of KATU

Detectives also gathered evidence Friday at a home near the corner of Southwest 166th Avenue and Hargis Road on Friday, three blocks from where the car was found, reported KATU.

Police said in a statement they would release the suspect's identity 'at a later date'.

Larsen saw news headlines Friday morning and put the story together himself.

'That's when it really hit me that I was talking to a murderer right underneath our balcony. Very scary,' he said.

Anyone with information about Zghoul's death is asked to call 1-503-846-2700.A mother accused of killing her adult children posed for three final photographs with her son one day before he was found dead from a fatal dose of oxycodone.

Queensland police revealed there were 7,103 photos found on accused murderer Maree Crabtree's mobile phone, only three of which featured her son Jonathan, The Australian reported.

Jonathan, 26, was found dead in his bedroom in July, wearing the same clothes he wore in those photographs.

Crabtree, a mother-of-three, was arrested on Wednesday morning charged with murder, torture and fraud  after her son was found dead at the family home at Fig Court in Maudsland on the Gold Coast.

Maree Crabtree, a mother-of-three, was arrested on Wednesday morning charged with murder, torture and fraud  after her son was found dead at the family home at Fig Court in Maudsland on the Gold Coast

Crabtree was also charged with the murder of her daughter Erin, who was 18-years-old when she was found dead at the family's previous home in Maudsland in 2012.

Police said the deaths were similar, with both dying from fatal overdoses of oxycodone.

Crabtree has also been accused of insurance claim fraud and the torture of a relative.

The Gold Coast woman's lawyer said she vehemently denied the charges and planned to apply for bail.

Crabtree has been charged with the murders of her two impaired adult children - Erin, 18,(left) and Jonathan, 26 (right)

Jonathan, 26, was found dead in his bedroom in July, wearing the same clothes he wore in photos taken with his mother the day before

Crabtree's (pictured) alleged crimes were financially motivated, according to the police

Crabtree's alleged crimes were financially motivated, according to the police.

She allegedly went to see a psychologist to sort out her son's permanent disability claim the morning before his death.

Police allege Crabtree administered her son the fatal overdose of oxycodone in a drink they bought from McDonald's on the way home from the psychologist appointment.

Court documents show she allegedly dishonestly received an insurance payout of $567,863, a total permanent disability claim for $238,800 and had attempted to fraudulently obtain a superannuation death benefit of $125,000.

Her 18-year-old daughter and 26-year-old son were found dead around five years apart

When her son was found dead years later, a suicide note was discovered - but police will allege it was prepared by the mother

She is also charged with armed robbery over allegedly forcing Jonathan to hold up a chemist in 2015.

Detective Inspector Mark Thompson said police alleged the murders were pre-meditated and financially motivated.

Crabtree was remanded in custody and her matter is set to return to court on February 12.An iconic Sydney aquarium has shut its doors after more than half a century in business.

Manly Sea Life Sanctuary opened as Marineland in 1963 and underwent various renovations and name changes including Underwater World and Oceanworld.

The aquarium welcomed its last visitors on Sunday after 55 years of delighting fans.

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Manly Sea Life Sanctuary opened as Marineland in 1963 and underwent various renovations and name changes including Underwater World and Oceanworld

The iconic Sydney aquarium has shut its doors after 55 years

Melinda Bacon, worked as an Education Officer and Seal Trainer at Underwater World from 1993-1996

The aquarium welcomed its last visitors on Sunday

In March last year Manly Sea Life Sanctuary announced it would close due to costly repair work.

This prompted a large scale operation to relocate the 200 marine animals that live at the sanctuary.

'I wouldn't say it's daunting, it's certainly a big task, but my team are definitely up for it,' Manly Sea Life Sanctuary Life Sciences Manager Rob Townsend told 9 News.

The marine animals will be relocated to aquariums affiliated with Sea Life in Australia and overseas.

It is not yet known what will take over the prime waterfront location.

Current zoning regulations at Manly Cove prevent the possibility of residential development.

The marine animals will be relocated aquariums affiliated with Seal Life in Australia and overseas

Photo taken in 2000- Sydney Aquarium purchased Manly Oceanrium and renamed it Manly Oceanworld

In March last year Manly Sea Life Sanctuary announced it would close die to costly repair work (picture taken in 1988)A heroic dog was brutally stabbed by a man as it tried to protect a pregnant woman during an early morning neighbourhood argument.

Bullet, a Bull Mastiff, was stabbed at least three times by a 39-year-old man with a knife at a property in Perth, saving the woman from being attacked.

The dog, who had stab wounds to his head, shoulder and torso, ran to a nearby tree and collapsed shortly after the violent attack at 2am Saturday.

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A heroic dog was brutally stabbed by a man as it tried to protect a pregnant woman during an early morning neighbourhood argument (pictured)

Bullet, a Bull Mastiff, was stabbed at least three times by a 39-year-old man with a knife at a property in Perth, saving the neighbours from being attacked (pictured)

The 39-year-old man used Daniel Leahy's dog, Chloe, (pictured) to help him find his own dog but when Mr Leahy and two friends went to get Chloe back the ugly fight unraveled

The attacker used one of his neighbours, Daniel Leahy's dogs, Chloe, to help him find his own dog which had run off.

When Mr Leahy and the pregnant woman went with Bullet, Mr Leahy's other dog, to get Chloe from the attacker, a violent fight unraveled, according to 7 News.

The 39-year-old allegedly shoved the pregnant woman and threatened her with two knives before the dog stepped in, 9 News reported.

A loud yelp can be heard in confronting footage as someone screams 'you stabbed my dog'.

'If Bullet hadn't have instantly come at him [the neighbour] we would've been stabbed,' Mr Leahy told 7 News.

'I thought he was dead because he didn't really move, he just lay there and the blood was horrific.'

Witness got between the fight to stop the violent attack on the dog before police arrived at the Redcliffe house.

Two-year-old Bullet was rushed to a vet hospital by police, with Mr Leahy trying to stem the bleeding from the dog's head.

'If Bullet hadn't have instantly come at him [the neighbour] we would've been stabbed,' Mr Leahy (pictured) said

Mr Leahy said the dog was 'very lucky' and was expected to survive the horrific ordeal.

Now facing expensive vet bills to pay for Bullet's surgery, Mr Leahy created a GoFundMe page to 'get him home where he belongs'.

The 39-year-old man was charged with animal cruelty, being armed in a way that may cause fear and breach of bail.

The man was refused bail and is expected to appear in Perth Magistrate's Court on February 15.Home movies taken in 1945 depict serene and carefree day parties where flocks of gay men sipped cocktails and kissed romantically by the poolside.

But despite the easy-going appearance, their everyday reality couldn't be more different.

In 1945 gay relationships were not just considered immoral, but also illegal - meaning that if any of this footage got out at the time the men could lose their jobs.

This was especially true in deeply southern cities such as St Louis - where people attended church every week and gossip ran like water.

St Louis filmmakers Geoff Story and Beth Prusaczyk are stitching the clips they've gathered together into a documentary titled 'Gay Home Movie'.

Home movies taken in 1945 depict serene and carefree day parties where flocks of gay men sipped cocktails and kissed romantically by the poolside

St Louis filmmakers Geoff Story and Beth Prusaczyk are stitching the clips they've gathered together into a documentary titled ' Gay Home Movie '

The film will offer a rare glimpse into what was at the time an invisible world due to the legal ramifications of same-sex relationships.

Scenes depict a uniformed World War II soldier kissing another man, a group of shirtless men setting up in the backyard, and two men canoodling by the pool.

Another scene shows two men dancing with their arms around each other - apparently unaware of unphased they are being filmed.

'There was such beauty in that moment,' Story said during an interview with St Louis Public Radio, referring to the kiss between the soldier and his partner.

'I kind of couldn't believe I was seeing it.'

And because the repercussions could be so severe if the images were leaked - Story said he's surprised man of the men on camera let themselves be filmed.

Story explained that he first stumbled on the films in the mid-1990s, roughly 50 years after the pool party depicted in it took place.

'I just knew it was gold, it was something special,' he said.

The film was being sold at an estate sale at the Lindell Boulevard home of St Louis' 'Hairdresser to the stars' Buddy Walton, who is now deceased.

Walton's niece Susie Seagraves told him that celebrities including Eleanore Roosevelt and Ethel Merman frequented Walton's salons at The Chase.

'Queens and presidents wives and movie stars - he was always around fancy places and fancy things, he had a beautiful life,' Seagraves told the radio station.

After finding the movies he and Prusaczyk began learning more about Walton's parties - including those he hosted with his partner Sam Micatto for other gay couples.

Despite the easy-going appearance, their everyday reality couldn't be more different. In 1945 gay relationships were not just considered immoral, but also illegal - meaning that if any of this footage got out the men could lose their jobs. Two men are pictured dancing in a clip

Story said he's surprised some of the men on camera let themselves be filmed because of the potential repercussions. Two men are pictured cuddled up in a pool floatie at one of of the secret parties

Story and Prusaczyk are also looking for anyone who appeared in the films, or the relatives of anyone who did.

Prusaczyk said they were 'naive' to think the people were still alive and could easily be reached, explaining to the radio hosts that she's not sure they'll be able to find any of them.

The films, while touching, also have a certain sadness about them, the directors explained.

In 1945 the races were segregated, and the only African-American men in the pool party footage were wearing uniforms and there as waiters.

It's also likely the parties didn't include gay men from less wealthy neighborhoods, meaning it was even harder for those groups to find refuge.

Story and Prusaczyk are also looking for anyone who appeared in the films, or the relatives of anyone who did

Additionally, both directors commented on how men in the footage were wearing their wedding rings.

'I thought, "These men have to go back to their lives where they can't be as open ans can't be who they are,"' Prusaczyk said.

'And that's even more significant for African-American men, lower class men.'

Story said there's a 'sadness' he feels when watching the films.

'I think people who maybe were of less means they had a harder time,' he said.

Story said he thinks it was mostly Walton who was filming the 1945 home videos.

Relatives of the men who attended said that though the footage is rare - the parties were frequent.

'There's a real sweet pain, and when you watch it, there's a happiness but you can't believe it's so long ago and you can't touch it - it's gone,' Story said about the films.

'These men are still in their 20s in the sun, swimming, like they always will.'This is the moment a one-armed paedophile tried to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex only to be caught out by vigilantes who filmed a citizen's arrest live on Facebook.

Stephen Lee, from Salford, Greater Manchester, has been jailed for two years after being exposed by the campaigners who call themselves The Dark Light group.

The 55-year-old began messaging what he thought was a girl named Becky through the social media site BeBuddy, before sending sexually explicit messages on WhatsApp.

Stephen Lee, from Salford, was caught trying to meet a girl at Irlam train station. He lost his right arm in a 'horrific accident'

He also invited her to stay at his house and go to bed with him, unaware he was talking to a decoy invented by paedophile hunters.

After the messages were exchanged for a few days, Lee invited the girl to meet him at Irlam train station, said prosecutor Philip Dobson at Manchester Crown Court.

Instead of being greeted by Becky, Lee was approached by the hunters, who filmed the meeting and published it live on Facebook. Lee had been caught hook, line and sinker, said Mr Dobson.

Defending, Richard Harman admitted the offences were thoroughly disgusting and told the court Lee lost his right arm during a horrific accident.

Part of a pre-sentence report read out by Judge Anthony Cross QC said: 'Its clear from his behaviour that potential for harm was there, and that he had every intention of meeting up with a young girl with a view to sexually abusing her.'

He told Lee: 'You were confronted by the Dark Light Group. You were captured and a police enquiry commenced.'

Sentencing, Judge Cross said Lee would have been sent to prison for much longer had he actually met a girl.

After the hearing, a spokesman for the Dark Light group, said: 'Stephen Lee was brought to justice using evidence provided by Dark Light.

The pervert was jailed for two years after he was caught trying to meet a girl and admitted grooming along with fur other offences

'This is a great result and a result we are happy with.

'While the media continues to call groups like Dark Light vigilantes, we would like to point out that we do this only for the safety and protection of our children.

'Stephen Lee was a danger to children and this has now been proven by a court of law.

'We would like to thank Greater Manchester Police and also the CPS for their swift work in dealing with this individual.'

Lee pleaded guilty to five offences - one of attempting to meet a child following grooming, one of attempting to sexually communicate with a child, and three offences of attempting to cause a child to view a sexual image.The Chicago Police Department has released footage of a man who was tased in November after he fled on foot from a traffic stop.

Stephen Baldwin, 41, was arrested on November 28 after he allegedly ran from two officers when they questioned him about his identification during the traffic stop around 4pm.

The video shows the moment one Officer Marissa Garbacz asks Baldwin for his license and insurance and explains to him that he was stopped because of an expired license plate.

Stephen Baldwin (left and right), 41, was arrested on November 28 after he allegedly ran from two officers when they questioned him about his identification during the traffic stop around 4pm

After the officers head back to their vehicle to check his documents, Garbacz's partner gets out to ask Baldwin for another form of identification. When he tells the officer that he doesn't have any other documents with his name on it, she asks him to step out of the car (pictured)

Baldwin tells Garbacz in the video that the new plate is with his girlfriend, who was at the cleaners at the time.

He is then seen briefly searching around for his license and insurance before handing it over to Garbacz. According to the officers, Baldwin gave them a New Jersey driver's license.

After the officers head back to their vehicle to check his documents, Garbacz's partner gets out to ask Baldwin for another form of identification.

When he tells the officer that he doesn't have any other documents with his name on it, she asks him to step out of the car.

Baldwin is seen walking toward the back of his silver Volvo just before the officer tries to handcuff him.

He then snatches his hand away from her before fleeing the scene on foot as the Garbacz chases him through an alleyway.

He then snatches his hand away from her before fleeing the scene on foot as the Garbacz chases him through an alleyway

After a brief foot chase, Garbacz finds him hiding under a stairwell behind a home (pictured)

After a brief foot chase, Garbacz finds him hiding under a stairwell behind a home.

In the video, she repeatedly orders him to put his hands up, as she points the taser at him

'I don't have s**t,' Baldwin is heard saying before he finally turns around and raises his hands in the air.

In another attempt to escape, Baldwin tries to climb over a chain-link gate.

'I'm gonna tase you! Taser! Taser!' she shouts as he falls over the fence headfirst.

'Stay down!' Garbacz shouts as her backup officers arrive.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the incident occurred more than a month after the Chicago Police Department tightened its guidelines on Taser use.

In the video, she repeatedly orders him to put his hands up, as she points the taser at him 'I don't have s**t,' Baldwin is heard saying before he finally turns around and raises his hands in the air

In another attempt to escape, Baldwin (pictured) tries to climb over a chain-link gate. 'I'm gonna tase you! Taser! Taser!' she shouts as he falls over the fence headfirst. 'Stay down!' Garbacz shouts as her backup officers arrive

The department's rules were rewritten to discourage officers from shocking people who are running away or otherwise vulnerable to injury.

Under the new guidelines, officers should try to avoid using the weapon during a number of situations 'when practicable,' including if a suspect is running away, elevated above ground or could fall and suffer an impact to the head, according to the Tribune.

Shortly after his arrest, Baldwin was taken to a local hospital to be treated for bleeding on the brain.

He was held in Cook County Jail on $50,000 bail on charges of forgery, identity theft and possession of a fraudulent identification card.

The incident is being investigated by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.

Shortly after his arrest, Baldwin was taken to a local hospital to be treated for bleeding on the brain. An officer is seen arresting BaldwinA four-year-old girl has been rescued from the wreckage of a car crash, after her mother slammed into a road barrier allegedly four-times over the legal alcohol limit.

The girl's mother, 31, has been charged with high-range drink-driving after she crashed on the Princes Highway near Kiama, south of Sydney, about 6.15pm on Sunday.

Witnesses phoned the police shortly before the crash on Sunday to report the woman's Holden Captiva driving dangerously on the busy highway.

The woman was taken back to the Lake Illawarra Police Station (pictured) where she allegedly returned a 0.200 breath alcohol reading  four times over the legal limit

The woman came off the road which resulted in one of the vehicle's tyres deflating, the Illawarra Mercury reported.

The vehicle slammed into the centre barrier and continued on for another 500 metres before coming to a halt.

Witnesses said the car only narrowly avoided rolling.

Witnesses ran towards the crash, pulled the 31-year-old woman from the driver's seat and secured her car keys.

Her four-year-old daughter was found uninjured.

When the police arrived at the scene of the crash, the woman allegedly returned a positive breath alcohol reading.

She was taken back to the Lake Illawarra Police Station where she allegedly returned a reading of 0.200  four times over the legal limit.

The girl's mother, 31, has been charged with high-range drink-driving after she crashed on the Princes Highway near Kiama (pictured), south of Sydney

Witnesses said the woman narrowly avoided rolling the vehicle (stock photo)

She was charged with high range drink driving, dangerous driving and negligent driving.

Her license was immediately suspended.

The 31-year-old was granted bail to appear at Kiama Local Court in March, the publication reported.

Family and Community Services are investigating.Alec Baldwin has continued his defense of embattled director Woody Allen, who has been accused of sexual abuse by adopted daughter Dylan Farrow.

Previously, the actor had called Farrow's allegations 'unfair and sad' but, on Sunday, he took his comments a step further and compared Farrow to Mayella Ewell, the character in Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' who falsely accuses an African American man of rape.

'[One] of the most effective things Dylan Farrow has in her arsenal is the 'persistence of emotion,'' Baldwin tweeted.

'Like Mayella in ['To Kill a Mockingbird'], her tears/exhortations [are] meant [to] shame u [into] belief in her story. But I need more than that before I destroy [someone], regardless of their fame. I need a lot more.'

Alec Baldwin continued his defense of embattled director Woody Allen, who has been accused of sexual abuse by adopted daughter Dylan Farrow, on Sunday

Later Baldwin tweeted again, sharing a Sunday New York Times piece that discussed whether Allen would work in the business again

He advised anyone who didn't like his commentary on Allen or Farrow to unfollow him on Twitter

He compared Farrow to Mayella Ewell, the character in Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' who falsely accuses an African American man of rape (Ewell portrayed by Collin Wilcox in the 1962 film version)

Later Baldwin tweeted again, sharing a Sunday New York Times piece that discussed whether Allen would work in the business again.

'To say that @RealDylanFarrow is telling the truth is to say that (brother) @MosesFarrow is lying. Which of Mia's kids got the honesty gene and which did not?' he wrote.

Baldwin concluded with 'If my defense of Woody Allen offends you, it's real simple. Unfollow. Condemn. Move on.'

Moses Farrow, another adopted child, claims the abuse allegations are false. Allen has always maintained his innocence and said the story of abuse was ingrained in Dylan's mind by his ex-wife, Mia Farrow.

In a series of tweets posted Tuesday, Baldwin praised the director and also cast doubt on Farrow's allegations.

'Woody Allen was investigated forensically by two states (NY and CT) and no charges were filed.

'The renunciation of him and his work, no doubt, has some purpose. But it's unfair and sad to me. I worked with WA 3 times and it was one of the privileges of my career,' Baldwin tweeted.

This is not the first time Baldwin (carrying daughter Carmen, Sundya) defended Allen. In a series of tweets posted Tuesday, Baldwin praised the director and also cast doubt on Farrow's allegations

Allen has always maintained his innocence and said the story of abuse was ingrained in Dylan's mind by his ex-wife, Mia Farrow

Moses Farrow, another adopted child, claims the abuse allegations are false. Dylan Farrow discussed the allegations with Gayle King co-host 'CBS This Morning' in her first television interview (pictured)

Allegations against Allen again resurfaced due to the #MeToo movement and theTime's Up initiative.

Actors Timothee Chalamet and Rebecca Hall pledged to donate their salaries from their work on Allen films to charity in light of the sexual abuse claims.

Baldwin has previously argued that while sexual abuse complaints should never be dismissed, accusations should also be 'treated carefully'.

'Is it possible to support survivors of pedophilia and sexual assault/abuse and also believe that WA is innocent? I think so,' Baldwin tweeted.

'The intention is not to dismiss or ignore such complaints. But accusing ppl of such crimes should be treated carefully. On behalf of the victims, as well.'

Dylan Farrow's sibling, journalist Ronan Farrow, was behind a scathing expose that revealed years of covered-up sexual assault and harassment allegations against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.The family of off-duty police officer Elaine McIver (pictured), 43, who was killed in the Manchester bomb attack last May, called for tougher laws to cover terror suspects

Convicted terrorists could locked up for longer as part of a sentencing shake-up after the family of an off-duty police officer killed in the Manchester bomb attack called for tougher laws.

Ministers are extending a system that allows the public to challenge soft jail terms to include terror-related offences.

Criminals convicted of tipping off terrorists about investigations and suspects who flout anti-terror court orders are among those who could see their punishments queried under the expansion.

The Unduly Lenient Sentences (ULS) scheme is reserved for certain types of cases including murder, rape, robbery and the most serious terror offences.

But from today (Jan 29) nine terrorism-related crimes are being added to the scheme.

It means those found guilty of crimes such as warning terrorists about an investigation, or flouting Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures, could have their sentences increased if victims think the punishment is too soft.

Other sentences which can now be challenged include cases in which a person learns of terrorist activity through their work and fails to report it to police, for example, an accountant discovering a client may be funding terror.

If a member of the public complains about a lenient sentence, government law officers may ask the Court of Appeal to determine whether it should stand or be increased.

The move comes after the family of off-duty police officer Elaine McIver, 43, who was killed in the Manchester bomb attack last May, called for tougher laws to cover terror suspects.

Justice Minister Rory Stewart said: People who assist terrorists or fail to alert authorities to terrorist activity must be severely punished.

These changes ensure victims can challenge sentences that don't look right, and make sure that they have every opportunity to see justice delivered.

Last year, a record 141 criminals had their sentences increased under the initiative.Around 28,500 pension scheme members are likely to face cuts to their retirement incomes due to the collapse of the firm. Pictured: Ex-chief executive Richard Howson

The accountancy watchdog will investigate accountancy firm KPMG over its audits of collapsed construction giant Carillion, it was revealed today.

The Wolverhampton-based building firm has been accused of trying to 'wriggle out' of higher pension payments while paying out tens of millions in dividends for shareholders and high pay packets for bosses.

Carillion went into compulsory liquidation on January 15 with debts of up to 5billion including a black hole in its pension fund of up to 2.6billion on some estimates.

Today, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) said it will open an investigation under the Audit Enforcement Procedure following inquiries made since Carilion's profit warning in July.

The probe will cover the years ended 2014, 2015 and 2016, and additional audit work carried out during 2017.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said: 'I welcome today's announcement from the Financial Reporting Council that following their initial enquires into the collapse of Carillion they will be opening an investigation into KPMG's audit of the company's financial statements.

'I had written previously to the FRC asking them about this matter and trust their investigation will be conducted as quickly and thoroughly as possible.'

The investigation will be conducted by the FRC's Enforcement Division and will consider whether the auditor has breached any relevant requirements, in particular the 'ethical and technical standards' for auditors.

KPMG's audit of the company's use and disclosure of the going concern basis of accounting, estimates and recognition of revenue on significant contracts and accounting for pensions will all come under the FRC's microscope.

Between 2011 and 2016, Carillion paid out 458.3m in dividends to shareholders

Apprentices face having pay stopped Unions have attacked news that apprentices caught up in the collapse of construction giant Carillion will not be paid from later this week. Skills minister Anne Milton said that affected apprentices would only be paid by the receiver until the end of January. A written answer to shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said that the Construction Industry Training Board was 'utilising their existing employer contracts' and grant incentives to secure employers for apprentices. 'Once alternative employment has been secured, it will be the responsibility of these individual employers to determine the frequency of payments to their apprentices,' said the minister. Rehana Azam, national officer of the GMB union, said: 'Once again the Government's response to the Carillion crisis is inadequate and inept. 'These are young people starting out in their careers and they have no idea if they will have apprenticeships this time next week. 'It's simply not good enough - the Government has a duty of care to these people. 'They should give a guarantee these people gain the skills to become Britain's future workforce. 'We were told every Carillion apprentice would be contacted. The evidence suggests that is not the case.' Meanwhile, it was announced that the accountancy watchdog is to open an investigation into accountancy giant KPMG over its audits of Carillion. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) said that following inquiries made since Carilion's profit warning in July, it would open an investigation under the Audit Enforcement Procedure. The probe will cover the years ended 2014, 2015 and 2016, and additional audit work carried out during 2017. The investigation will be conducted by the FRC's Enforcement Division and will consider whether the auditor has breached any relevant requirements, in particular the 'ethical and technical standards' for auditors. KPMG's audit of the company's use and disclosure of the going concern basis of accounting, estimates and recognition of revenue on significant contracts and accounting for pensions will all come under the FRC's microscope. The FRC also pledged to conduct the investigation 'as quickly and thoroughly as possible'. 'The FRC is progressing with urgent inquiries into the conduct of professional accountants within Carillion in connection with the preparation of the financial statements and other financial reporting obligations under the Accountancy Scheme. 'The FRC is liaising closely with the Official Receiver, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Insolvency Service and The Pensions Regulator to ensure that there is a joined-up approach to the investigation of all matters arising from the collapse of Carillion,' the FRC said. Advertisement

The FRC also pledged to conduct the investigation 'as quickly and thoroughly as possible'.

'The FRC is progressing with urgent inquiries into the conduct of professional accountants within Carillion in connection with the preparation of the financial statements and other financial reporting obligations under the Accountancy Scheme.

'The FRC is liaising closely with the Official Receiver, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Insolvency Service and The Pensions Regulator to ensure that there is a joined-up approach to the investigation of all matters arising from the collapse of Carillion,' the FRC said.

But a KPMG spokesman said: 'As we have already commented, we believe that we conducted our role as Carillion's auditor appropriately and responsibly. Transparency and accountability are vital in building public trust in audit.

'We believe it is important that regulators acting in the public interest review the audit work related to high-profile cases such as Carillion. We will co-operate fully with the FRC's investigation.'

Around 28,500 pension scheme members are likely to face cuts to their retirement incomes due to the collapse of the firm.

The size of the deficit will also strain the pensions' lifeboat, which will have to compensate the firm's pension scheme members and is funded by a levy on other pension schemes.

Now scheme trustee Robin Ellison claims Carillion insisted it could not afford to pay more into the fund before it went bust, despite requests to do so.

Responding to questions from the Commons Work and Pensions Committee, Mr Ellison said: 'Carillion made it clear, repeatedly, to the Trustee in valuation discussions that it considered it was constrained in agreeing higher contributions due to constraints in cash flow connected with its business model.'

Last week the Mail revealed how Carillion withheld 35.3m of payments to plug the deficit, due to be paid between August last year and this March, as a condition of emergency funding from the banks.

Bosses also considered or enacted measures lowering pay-outs to workers, to potentially save the pension scheme a further 200m.

In total during 2016 it paid 46.6m towards plugging the gap in its pension fund, on top of regular pension contributions.

Meanwhile, between 2011 and 2016, Carillion paid out 458.3m in dividends to shareholders.

Ex-chief executive Richard Howson, 49, who headed the company from 2012 until July 2017, pocketed an overall pay packet of 1.5m in 2016, including a 122,612 cash bonus.

Chair of the work and pensions committee Frank Field last night questioned why the Pensions Regulator, set up to make sure firms pay into their pension funds, had not stepped in.

He said: 'It's clear that Carillion has been trying to wriggle out of its obligations to its pensioners for the last 10 years.

'The purported cash flow problems did of course not prevent them shelling out dividends and handsome pay packets for those at the top.

'This culminated in negotiating deficit contributions away entirely last autumn to enable more borrowing.

'Remarkably, this was endorsed by the trustees and the Pensions Regulator.'

Ellison's letter also reveals that when Carillion went bankrupt, talks were underway to value the pensions' deficit at around 990m, compared to the 587m in the company's accounts. Worst-case scenario estimates put it at between 2bn and 2.6bn.

A spokesman for the Pension Regulator said: 'The current regulatory framework attempts to balance the needs of a scheme and its members with the needs of an employer to invest in their ongoing business  this should be reflected in the length and structure of the recovery plan. TPR does not approve recovery plans - it is for the trustee and employer to agree them.

'The content of Carillion's recovery plans, and its payment of dividends, did not highlight sufficient concern to justify the use of our powers based on the group's trading strength as presented at the time in their audited accounts.

'However, it is clear from the company's announcements since July that their underlying profitability was significantly weaker than market understanding or the position set out in prior year accounts.

'It is too early to comment on whether with different information we could or would have taken action in the past or whether we will take action in the future, based on any new information that comes to light.'Energy giants were last night accused of flouting trading laws by pressuring homeowners into getting smart meters.

Families are being told the digital devices are a legal requirement when they are not. Trading standards chiefs have told power firms that misleading customers in this way is a breach of consumer laws.

Households have been bombarded with texts, emails, letters and phone calls telling them they need a smart meter.

Families are being told the digital devices are a legal requirement when they are not

Citizens Advice reports a stream of complaints from harassed customers. One said: These are obviously bullying tactics. Youd think you have no choice.

A letter sent out by one supplier said: We have a legal requirement to change your meter. In other cases engineers are dispatched even when the householder has repeatedly declined.

The 11billion cost for the roll-out is being passed on to customers through bills  at a cost of around 300 for every UK household. Yet those who have them installed are expected to save only 11 a year.

They're not telling families the truth Alfred Kaelin says he was bullied for months to get a smart meter. The 79-year-old retired chemist said he received three or four letters  two of them just days apart  prompting him to have one installed. One letter to him was titled: Reminder: we need to change your meter. It then read: Your electricity meter is an old model that we need to replace with our free self-reading smart meter. Another said: Reminder: your meter is being phased out. None of the letters explained that customers did not have to agree. Mr Kaelin, who lives with his wife Patricia in Pinner, north-west London, said: Im just ignoring the letters as I dont want a smart meter. But these are obviously bullying tactics. They are not letting customers have the true facts by failing to make it clear you dont have to have one. If you didnt know they were optional youd think you have no choice. Michael Coote, from Norfolk, said he received a similar letter last year, even though his meter was only four months old. The letter was frightening and bullying, said the 74-year-old retired electrical engineer. Advertisement

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute has written to Energy UK, which represents big suppliers, to raise concerns about the way firms are marketing the meters.

It warns they may be breaking regulations drawn up in 2008 to protect consumers from unfair trading if they create the false impression that customers have no choice but to switch.

Firms are getting more and more aggressive in the way they are marketing smart meters to customers, said the institutes Steve Playle. This letter is a shot across the bows. We will take further action if complaints continue to come in.

Alfred Kaelin who lives with his wife Patricia in Pinner, north-west London, says he was bullied for months to get a smart meter

Baroness Altmann, former pensions minister, said it was unacceptable for energy firms to mislead people and inflict unnecessary hassle. She added: There should be proper penalties in place for firms which behave aggressively and break the rules.

Victoria MacGregor, director of energy at Citizens Advice, said: Smart meters are not compulsory and customers shouldnt feel pressured to have one installed.

We appreciate suppliers are under pressure to install more meters but they have a responsibility to act reasonably toward their customers and not to use misleading or aggressive sales practices.

Smart meters are controversial because their internet connectivity may make them vulnerable to being hacked by criminals or even foreign powers. There have also been reports that they interfere with other household devices such as baby monitors, while some studies suggest they make little difference to energy efficiency.

Why gadgets' critics aren't convinced Privacy campaigners warn smart meters give firms access to a honeypot of data that tells them when customers are at home and where and how they use power. Experts fear suppliers could use this information to introduce surge pricing at peak times, hiking bills for families and making it harder to shop around. Others fear the meter data could be used by hackers, burglars and even marketing companies. Nearly a third of householders may not be able get a smart meter because they live in a rural area with poor mobile phone signal or have the wrong type of property. There are also claims that the meters are a fire hazard when they have been poorly fitted by engineers. Advertisement

Power firms said the devices would help customers cut bills by showing them how much they were using  in terms of pounds and pence. They were supposed to reduce the average households gas and electricity costs by 26 a year.

But the Government has revised that down to just 11 because the cost of the nationwide installation of the devices has accelerated past 11billion. Eight million have been installed in homes and firms  under pressure from the Government. One in five homes has one fitted.

Mark Todd of the comparison site Energyhelpline said the Government had bungled the roll-out by doing it too quickly.

A spokesman for the energy watchdog Ofgem said: It is not compulsory to have a smart meter installed  consumers have a right to decline them and suppliers must not mislead consumers.

Ofgem is working with suppliers offering smart meter installations to make sure their communications are transparent and accurate. They are allowed to use pre-booked appointments to install a meter, however customers can cancel or re-arrange these appointments. A spokesman for Energy UK said the body was in contact with trading standards chiefs.

He added: Energy companies will be adopting various methods of communication with their customers to increase engagement and enable as many people as possible to experience the benefits smart meters bring.

Robert Cheesewright, of Smart Energy GB, the independent group set up to oversee the smart meter programme, said: The roll-out will benefit everyone by bringing down energy bills, upgrading our national grid and delivering savings of 6billion to the British economy by 2030.Trainee paediatrician Hadiza Bawa-Garba (pictured) made a series of mistakes that led to the death of Jack Adcock, 6

Thousands of doctors have signed a letter protesting against the decision to strike off a doctor whose mistakes led a six-year-old boy to die from sepsis.

Jack Adcock, who had Downs syndrome and a heart condition, died after trainee paediatrician Hadiza Bawa-Garba marked him do not resuscitate because she had confused him with another patient.

The doctor was convicted of manslaughter through gross negligence in 2015 but was suspended from practising for just 12 months, which the General Medical Council appealed against.

In the run-up to the appeal, around 800 doctors signed a letter supporting her. It was claimed she was being shielded by her peers after doctors last year said the pursuit of Bawa-Garba was perpetuating an injustice against her.

Last week, despite their protestations, the initial decision by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service not to strike Bawa-Garba off, but to give her a years suspension instead, was overturned.

However, 7,500 doctors have now signed a further petition, with the signatures collected over 24 hours following the overturned decision claiming it could put doctors off admitting mistakes in future.

Bawa-Garba made a catalogue of errors leading up to Jacks death at Leicester Royal Infirmary in 2011. She had wrongly diagnosed him with gastroenteritis, when he had sepsis. She took three hours to examine X-rays revealing he had a chest infection, and then ignored blood tests showing signs of kidney problems.

Jack Adcock, 6, died of sepsis after the trainee doctor mistakenly marked him as 'do not resuscitate'

Bawa-Garba also failed to make it clear in his notes he should not be given a drug which lowers blood pressure and is unsuitable for people in septic shock. When he suffered a septic shock, leading to a crash call for doctors to revive him, Jack was mixed up with a discharged patient who had a do not resuscitate instruction on his notes  and the resuscitation was called off.

Jacks mother, Nicola Adcock, said last month she was disgusted that doctors are all sticking together. The six-year-olds family believe Bawa-Garba has never shown any remorse for the death. But the new letter signed by doctors across the UK defends the 40-year-old paediatrician and expresses deep-seated concerns about the consequences of her conviction and striking off.

It states: The use against Dr Bawa-Garba of her recorded reflections on this event in a legal process will frighten doctors of all grades away from honest self-appraisal. In one move, this undoes years of positive cultural change within medical training.

The doctors letter added: Dr Bawa-Garba made mistakes, but to properly learn from these they must be viewed in the context in which she was working.

If we allow Jack Adcocks death to be explained by the culpability of a single individual we can only lessen our chances of preventing a similar death in the future.

However, Charlie Massey, chief executive of the GMC, defended its decision. He said: It is really important that we differentiate between this case, where a doctor was convicted of gross negligence manslaughter, and everyday mistakes.Britons could face a shortage of salads this year, according to a new report yesterday.

Suppliers are scrambling to secure alternative supplies to try to avoid a repeat of last year's vegetable crisis as frosts in Spain are currently causing widespread shortages.

Trade magazine The Grocer reported that a January cold snap has hit vegetable supplies coming out of southern Spain - further worsening growing conditions in a season already hit by one of the worst droughts on record.

Grower body ASAJA Alicante said that lack of water had left vegetable crops vulnerable to frost. It said the association's members had lost up to 1,000 hectares of growing areas - mainly lettuce, artichoke and broccoli - with the region harvesting 25per cent less than in 2016.

Suppliers are scrambling to secure alternative supplies to try to avoid a repeat of last year's vegetable crisis as frosts in Spain are currently causing widespread shortages

Commodity analysts Mintec said that the shortage had seen wholesale prices of iceberg lettuce from Alicante, Murcia and Algeria rise 50 per cent in a four-week period between December 2017 and January 2018.

Analyst Rutika Ghodekar said the 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 that his business was already feeling the effect of shortages of crops such as lettuce, with wholesale prices up as much as 20per cent on produce from affected regions.

Commodity analysts said the shortage had seen wholesale prices of iceberg lettuce rise 50 per cent in a four-week period between December 2017 and January 2018

'But 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.

The Grocer reported that, fortunately, unlike last year, frost and snow have not spread across the Mediterranean. With cold conditions contained in Spain, salad brand Florette said it was sourcing from other regions.

A Florette spokesman told the magazine: ' 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 the drought was ongoing. Marketing director Andy Weir told The Grocer: ' 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. 'One in five jobs in British cities is likely to be displaced by 2030 because of automation and globalisation, a new report predicts.

Retail, customer service and warehouse jobs are among those most at threat of being lost, said Centre for Cities.

The think tank said struggling cities in the North and Midlands were more exposed to job losses than wealthier cities in the South, compounding the North/South divide.

Retail, customer service and warehouse jobs are among those most at threat of being lost to automation over the next 12 years

Cities including Mansfield, Sunderland and Wakefield could see two out of five jobs lost, while Oxford and Cambridge face losing 13%, the study found.

The report said the changes would lead to jobs being created as well as lost, but in Northern and Midlands' cities they would largely be in low-skilled occupations.

Up to one in 10 jobs are in occupations predicted to grow, while new industries would bring positions which do not currently exist, it was predicted.

Andrew Carter, chief executive of Centre for Cities, said: 'Automation and globalisation will bring huge opportunities to increase prosperity and jobs, but there is also a real risk that many people and places will lose out.

'National and local leaders need to ensure that people in cities across the North and Midlands can share in the benefits these changes could offer.

'That means reforming the education system to give young people the cognitive and interpersonal skills they need to thrive in the future, and improving school standards, especially in places where jobs are most at risk.

A new report claims that one in five jobs could be lost to robots by 2030 with the North and Midlands most affected

'We also need greater investment in lifelong learning and technical education to help adults adapt to the changing labour market, and better retraining for people who lose their jobs because of these changes.

'The challenges and opportunities ahead for Blackburn are very different to those for Brighton.

'The Government needs to give cities more powers and resources to tackle the issues that automation and globalisation will present, and to make the most of the benefits they will bring.'An Aboriginal activist who made headlines last week for saying she wishes Australia would 'burn to the ground' has been criticised for working for government-funded organisations.

'Invasion Day' protest organiser Tarneen Onus-Williams led a crowd of thousands in Melbourne on Friday as they flooded Spring Street and Collins Street, carrying placards and shouting slogans.

'We have not organised this to change the date. We have organised this to abolish Australia Day because f*** Australia. F*** Australia, I hope it f***ing burns to the ground,' the 24-year-old, who identifies as a Yigar Gunditjmara and Bindal woman, said.

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Aboriginal activist Tarneen Onus-Williams, who made headlines on Friday for saying she hopes Australia 'burns to the ground', has been slammed for working for state-funded organisations

'Invasion Day' protest organiser Tarneen Onus-Williams led a crowd of thousands in Melbourne last week as they flooded Spring Street and Collins Street, carrying placards and shouting slogans

On Monday, former Australian Labor Party president Warren Mundine (pictured far left), who is an Aboriginal leader, called MsOnus-Williams a hypocrite for attacking the government, despite currently working for several state-funded programs

Ms Onus-Williams later refused to apologise for the comment, which she said was meant to be a metaphor.

'It was...not actually a statement to be taken literally. I just want everything, all the governments to fall apart, because our people are dying and nobody cares and the whole system needs to change.'

On Monday, former Australian Labor Party president Warren Mundine, who is an Aboriginal leader, called Ms Onus-Williams a hypocrite for attacking the government, despite currently working for several state-funded programs.

Ms Onus-Williams is a Koorie Youth Council executive member and serves on the state governments Aboriginal Interim Treaty Working Group.

'The serious question here is why is the government funding these groups and these organisations when the people involved are haters who have no scruples about taking taxpayers' money and then spitting in their faces,' Mr Mundine told The Australian.

'And governments only have themselves to blame for wasting taxpayers' money, because there's no real rigour in appointments and no questions about where this money is going. And then you see money going into causes and demonstrations where people are racially abusing and threatening people  it has to change.'

Ms Onus-Williams (pictured) told the assembled crowd 'f*** Australia, hope it burns to the ground' during one of many speeches

Onus-Williams along with other speakers claimed Australia was 'not mature enough' to celebrate itself - even if the date was moved from January 26

Protesters flood the area around the Victorian Parliament to protest against 'Invasion Day'

Tens of thousands flooded Spring Street and Collins Street in Melbourne's CBD to protest against 'Invasion Day', carrying placards and shouting slogans

Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett told The Australian he believes the 24-year-old should step down from her role with Koorie after her comments.

The Koorie Youth Council told the publication it didn't support Ms Onus-Williams comments, who the organisation said had been a volunteer since November 2016.

Ms Onus-Williams began working as a member of the Aboriginal Interim Treaty Working Group in July 2016, according to her Linkedin.

The 24-year-old has a lengthy resume, starting with her role as a receptionist for Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service from 2010 to 2012.

She then worked briefly as a Sexual Health and BBVs project officers for Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Inc and as a health educator at Ilibijerri Theatre company in 2015.

From January 2013 to November 2015, she worked as a medical and dental receptionist for Victorian Aboriginal Health Service Co-op.

She was then moved into the role of support facilitator at the Co-op, which she left in June 2017.

Ms Onus-Williams lists her current employment as a committee member for the Aboriginal Nations Torres Strait Islander HIV Youth Mob, a client services officer for Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, and a trailwalker for Oxfam Australia.

The rally organiser earlier accused broadcaster Neil Mitchell of being a racist during an awkward interview on live radio

Aboriginal activists declared Australia didn't deserve a day of celebration and hoped the country 'burns to the ground' at a Melbourne rally

They then marched down Bourke Street chanting 'always was, always will be Aboriginal land', 'no pride in genocide' and 'our land, our law'

Activists take over the steps of the Victorian Parliament during 'Invasion Day' march

Ms Onus-Williams clashed with Neil Mitchell on Tuesday while she was on 3AW radio to promote the protest.

The tension kicked off when Mitchell asked he if her protest group would cooperate with the police or council to minimise disruption.

'Yeah look, we are asserting our sovereign right to walk on our country because we are sovereign people to this land. At the moment we're not organising with police,' Ms Onus-Williams said.

'So people can do things the way they like, and we like to do things we like to do.'

In Sydney a large group including former Sydney Swans stars Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin gathered at inner-city Redfern's The Block and marched to nearby Victoria Park

Protest banner in Redfern speaks out against Aboriginal deaths in custody

Organiser Ken Canning from Fighting In Resistance Equally hoped the Sydney Invasion Day rally would draw attention to indigenous deaths in custody

Sydney protesters declare 'no pride in genocide' as they march through Redfern

Protesters wear Bob Marley t-shirts and traditional paint while carrying boomerangs

Mitchell asked Ms Onus-Williams if that meant she ignored 'white man's law'.

'On that basis you can say the aboriginal people can do whatever they like and just ignore the law of the land,' he said.

Ms Onus-Williams replied saying 'we have a law of the land already, we do hold our values strong to our heart'.

She refused to answer questions about Koorie Youth Council using taxpayer money to promote the rally and said it was protesting the abolition of Australia Day, not just pushing for the date to be moved.

Mitchell cut in saying: 'you're happy to interview yourself, but that's not the way it works'.

This sign called for the Australian flag to be changed along with date of Australia Day

Hundreds of police looked out over the protest, ready to suppress any violent clashes between protesters and far-right activists.

Many white people were in the crowd protesting Australia Day in Melbourne

The interview descended into chaos when Ms Onus-Williams said she would not 'take orders' from Mitchell.

'I won't take orders from a radio host on a racist radio channel,' she said.

A shocked Mitchell said, 'did you just call me a racist?' to which Ms Onus-Williams replied, 'Yes, I called you a racist'.

'You're questioning my legitimacy as a sovereign person of this land,' she said.

Some Aboriginal attended wearing traditional dress and painted in colours

Aboriginal elder in traditional dress addresses the crowd in Melbourne's CBD

Flags, banners, and placards were waved in the crowd, one reading 'f**k celebrating day made of misery'

Mitchell told her he was offended by the accusation, saying it was 'ugly to throw around the word racist'.

'I'm questioning you not because you're black or yellow or white, but because you're in a position organising a rally which is significant to this town around a significant issue which is the future of Australia Day,' he said.

'It does not make me racist to ask you a bloody question and to call me a racist is damn offensive.

'Please please please don't assume that questioning equates with racism, that really is quite offensive intellectually and morally.'Schools have received almost 6,000 job applications in the past 18 months from teachers with criminal records  including those guilty of paedophilia, rape and attempted murder.

Others have been convicted of flashing, blackmail and heroin possession.

Some serious criminals are automatically barred from working with children  but the majority of decisions are made by schools.

This means there could be thousands of convicts working as teachers, classroom assistants, or even headteachers. MPs described the findings as astonishing.

The 5,841 applications include more than 200 burglars, 1,000 shoplifters, 25 drug dealers and 254 people convicted of possessing drugs, including 20 for heroin. Flashers, blackmailers and those caught using prostitutes also applied for jobs.

Schools have received almost 6,000 job applications in the past 18 months from teachers with criminal records

The number of criminals applying to teach has increased since 2013, when there were 1,500 seeking school jobs every year. The latest figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, detail the number of applications that revealed convictions  but not whether they were successful. They could include applicants who have applied for multiple positions, or those with more than one crime to their name.

Although they must be disclosed, the majority of criminal acts do not prevent people teaching and candidates will be allowed to explain their past. Violent and sexual offences against minors are included on the list of crimes that automatically bar people from working with children.

Despite this, in 2013 a teacher who downloaded child sex abuse images was allowed to resume his career by the Department for Education. Geoffrey Bettley, 36, was sacked, given a police caution and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register after admitting viewing sickening material over several years.

However, a professional conduct panel said the married RE teacher could return to the classroom because of his excellent teaching.

Every year there are also dozens of teachers and heads who are allowed to keep their jobs despite carrying out crimes while in their post.

The figures mean there could be thousands of convicts working as teachers, classroom assistants, or even headteachers

The applications, revealed by the Disclosure and Barring Authority, include attempts to fill vacancies for headteachers, heads of year and even school yoga teachers.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: Its astonishing how many offenders are applying to work in our schools. Parents have to feel secure that the people they leave their kids with for six hours a day can be trusted to set an example about what is wrong and what is right.

Tory MP Priti Patel has previously questioned the lack of transparency and said that parents have the right to know who is teaching their children. A Department for Education spokesman said there were robust safeguards in place to protect children in schools, including checks against barred lists, adding: We trust schools to use the results from those checks when deciding whether to employ an individual.Tory loyalists rallied around Theresa May today and warned infighting would hand power to Jeremy Corbyn.

The Prime Minister is facing attacks from all sides of the Tory factional war, with Brexiteers insisting she is not being tough on the EU and Remainers warning the Government is letting down the country.

Culture Secretary Matt Hancock led calls for calm today, warning his colleagues to 'pull together and pull behind the Prime Minister'.

And senior backbencher Charles Walker said that anyone thinking the PM might be pressured into naming a date for her departure should 'sit in a darkened room and put a cold towel over their heads'.

Culture Secretary Matt Hancock led calls for calm today, warning his colleagues to 'pull together and pull behind the Prime Minister'

Sacked Cabinet ministers Nicky Morgan and Justine Greening led criticism of Mrs May today, warning she should have resigned as PM in the aftermath of the election disaster last year.

But Mr Hancock told the World at One programme: 'I think we should all pull together and pull behind the Prime Minister.

'There are challenges facing the country that we need to rise to together, theres also some huge opportunities that we need to take advantage of.

'The biggest risk to our country would be a socialist government that would send us backwards and would undermine all of the work that we have done to get the economy going - with a record number of jobs - and in a whole host of areas where we have made progress.'

The new criticism came after former party chairman Grant Shapps demanded Mrs May set a date for her departure in a furious attack yesterday.

The public rows come amid rife rumours that Brexiteers are close to forcing a new leadership contest on Mrs May by sending letters to the powerful 1922 committee.

Senior backbencher Charles Walker said that anyone thinking the PM should name a date for her departure should 'sit in a darkened room and put a cold towel over their heads'.

The spat has intensified as negotiations reach a critical point - with the UK and EU laying their cards on the table about the kind of relationship they want to see.

Mrs May gathered her Brexit 'war Cabinet' this morning to try to hammer out an agreed position.

But there is still a huge battle going on about how close the UK's economy should be to the EU after we formally leave.

In a sign of the weakness of her position, Downing Street confirmed today that Mrs May will make a limited speech focused on security cooperation in Munich next month - rather than setting out a new vision of Brexit as had been expected.

In a blog for the ConservativeHome website, Mrs Morgan - now chair of the Commons Treasury committee - wrote: 'There were times last year for the Prime Minister to step aside  immediately after the June 2017 election, or after Party Conference.

'That didn't happen. Maybe the Cabinet should have asked her to go, but they didn't.'

'We are now into a critical nine months for the future of the country, so the Cabinet need to get a grip by acting collectively to shape Brexit and agree an ideal end-state based in reality, on what Parliament will approve eventually  and then stick to it.'

Ex-minister Nicky Morgan (file picture) said Mrs May should have been kicked out of No10 last year - and urged ministers to take matters into their own hands by driving forward policy while Justine Greening (right) said the PM had an 'impossible' task

Miss Greening, seen as a Remainer, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I remain a strong backer of the Prime Minister.

'I've been very disappointed to see the soundings off. I think they need to stop and I think people need to get behind her.

'I think she is doing an important job for our country. We need to support her in that impossible, almost, task that she has negotiating Brexit.'

Trade Secretary Liam Fox, a Brexiteer, also attempted to shore up Mrs May's position.

Responding to claims the government is being too timid, he pointed out that it only had a majority in parliament with support from the DUP.

The perceived lack of certainty over Brexit has led to senior Conservatives warning Mrs May (pictured in Downing Street today) could be toppled unless she shows firmer leadership

In a message to Eurosceptics, he told Bloomberg: 'They would be foolish to do anything to destabilise the government and the prime minister. Nothing will change the electoral arithmetic.'

He added: 'Ultimately we have to get an agreement that will please different wings of the Conservative Party but most importantly that is good for the country.'

One backbencher told The Guardian: 'She's as vulnerable as she's ever been. She's got to make a decision.'

Tory MP Johnny Mercer told a panel discussion in London this morning: 'How long has the PM got?

'I am of the view any sort of change of leadership is not helpful at the moment and I don't support that but I do think the window is closing because politics can be quite a brutal game.'

Ex-minister John Whittingdale said there should be no leadership election now, but admitted there were 'issues of leadership' that should be dealt with after a Brexit deal is done.

Charles Walker, vice chair of the Tory backbench 1922 committee, dismissed rumours that the number of MPs who had sent letters calling for Mrs May to resign was approaching 48 - enough to trigger a formal leadership contest.

He told BBC Radio 4's World at One that committee chairman Sir Graham Brady never disclosed such information.

'Nobody knows but Sir Graham Brady and if you asked him he wouldn't tell you,' he said.

Heidi Allen declared that infighting was letting the country down and called on the PM to 'get a grip'.

Responding to rumours that civil servants are preparing concessions on trade, a senior pro-Brexit Tory said: 'It comes back to the fact that no one knows what the prime minister really thinks  everyone's projecting their worst fears on to her.'

Boris Johnson narrowly avoided a blunder as he left Downing Street today - with the top of a document marked 'official: sensitive' poking out of his folder

David Lidington (left) and David Davis were seen arriving at Downing Street today as the PM held a meeting of her Brexit 'war Cabinet'

Trade Secretary Liam Fox, a Brexiteer, also attempted to shore up Mrs May's position

It comes as Tory Party chairman Grant Shapps said that unless the Prime Minister announces a timetable for the end of her 'uninspiring' leadership, she could soon face a vote of no confidence.

His powerful intervention came as the party is convulsed by plots, feuds and increasingly outspoken criticism of Mrs May by Tory MPs dismayed by her botched reshuffle.

The febrile atmosphere has been intensified by the need for the Government to set out its vision of an 'end state' for Brexit to EU negotiators within the next month  triggering open Cabinet battles between 'soft' Brexiteers such as Chancellor Philip Hammond and the hard Brexit camp led by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

Plymouth MP Johnny Mercer told The Mail on Sunday: 'We need to be doing better, or we will pay the price.'

Several Tory MPs are thought to have decided over the weekend to send 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.

So who's first in line to step in and take over? Our very rough guide... Boris Johnson (left) and Jeremy Hunt (right) Amber Rudd (left) and Michael Gove (right) Jacob Rees-Mogg (left) and David Davis (right) Sajid Javid (left) and Dominic Raab (right) Priti Patel (left) and Gavin Williamson (right) Andrea Leadsom (left) and Tom Tugendhat (right) Penny Mordaunt (left) and Nicky Morgan (right) Advertisement

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 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'.

The Welwyn Hatfield MP said that it was 'becoming increasingly clear day by day that we cannot continue to muddle along like this' and Mrs May should 'name a date' and 'do so before it is too late'.

Mr Shapps dismisses the argument used by many May loyalists that she should not go before Brexit in March 2019  pointing out that Neville Chamberlain was replaced by Winston Churchill when we were at war with Germany in 1940.

Downing Street 'outed' Mr Shapps last October for collecting a list of the names of Tory MPs who were privately saying that Mrs May should stand down  but had not necessarily written to Sir Graham.

Mr Shapps says he was trying to 'control the process' so that any bid to start a leadership contest could be timed to the maximum advantage of the party.

It is understood that Mr Shapps made clear to Downing Street that he would not send his own no-confidence letter if No 10 worked with him to 'gauge the mood' in the party  but the offer was rebuffed.

Captain Mercer, a former Army captain who entered the Commons in 2015, warned that unless the 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.

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

Mark Pritchard, MP for The Wrekin in Shropshire  who once called for rebellious colleagues to be sacked  said this weekend: 'There is a growing frustration that No 10 is not plugged in to the views and opinions of many backbench MPs or even interested.

'The PM is also being criticised for taking her very small group of allies for granted. A big mistake.' Mrs May's most senior Cabinet Ministers are becoming increasingly entrenched in their positions on Brexit.

Mr Johnson was rebuked by fellow 'soft' Brexit Cabinet Ministers last week  led by Mr Hammond  when he pre-briefed a Cabinet call for a Brexit dividend for the NHS. He is also planning to set out his personal vision for a 'clean' EU withdrawal next month.

Mr Hammond then caused fury among the Brexiteers when he claimed last week that Brexit would involve 'very modest' changes to the status quo.

Leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg has accused the Government of a 'timid and cowering' approach to the Brexit talks. He warned: 'The leader is important but the party is more important. Brexit is more important than anyone other than the Queen.'A former Tory minister could miss out on a peerage after being implicated in a Brexit lobbying storm.

Ex-trade secretary Peter Lilley was secretly filmed allegedly offering to approach key ministers on behalf of a Chinese company.

He is accused of playing up his influence, saying he attended two advisory groups with influence over Brexit ministers.

Ex-trade secretary Peter Lilley (pictured with his wife Gail) was secretly filmed allegedly offering to approach key ministers on behalf of a Chinese company

Former health secretary Lord Lansley and former chief whip Andrew Mitchell were also caught up in the investigation by the Sunday Times and Channel 4s Dispatches. Lord Lansley was filmed allegedly offering to use his Westminster connections to provide intelligence on Brexit.

According to the investigation, Mr Lilley, 74, boasted to an undercover reporter that he was in line for a peerage in the next round of appointments. However, the Leader of the House of Lords cast doubt on this yesterday.

Asked whether Mr Lilley would be removed from the list, Baroness Evans said: Im not privy to information about who may or may not be joining the Lords.

But what I can say is we have a strong code of conduct, we have some very clear rules around what lords are able to do, we have a register of interests.

Lord Lansley (pictured), 61, is accused of offering to pick up information from a key Brexit cabinet minister in exchange for tens of thousands of pounds

Mr Lilley, who stepped down as an MP last year, denies trying to stop Channel 4 airing the investigation. The programme was due to be broadcast last Monday, but was shown last night instead.

Lord Lansley, 61, is accused of offering to pick up information from a key Brexit cabinet minister in exchange for tens of thousands of pounds. He also advised how the deal could be kept secret from the authorities by employing him through his wifes company, it was claimed. Talking up what he could do for the potential Chinese clients, he mentioned that the Prime Minister attended his wedding.

Mr Mitchell also appeared happy to give paid Brexit advice to the Chinese company  although he claimed he was suspicious of the approach. He said he charged 6,000 a day and disclosed that he was looking to work for up to ten weeks a year for private clients, despite being on 74,962 as an MP. My constituents dont mind what Im paid, he said on the film.

He later said he had enlisted the help of MI5, fearing parliament was being targeted by foreign agents. Sir Alistair Graham, the former chairman of the committee on standards in public life, said last night: To take advantage of this difficult time and confusion to make extra money doesnt demonstrate a great deal of concern for the public interest.

Andrew Mitchell (pictured) was also caught up in the investigation by the Sunday Times and Channel 4s Dispatches

Sir Alistair described Mr Mitchell as a four-day-a-week MP who was giving private clients too big a chunk of his working life.

Mr Lilley said he had not been asked and nor did he agree to have private conversations with any ministers on behalf of the bogus Chinese company.

Lord Lansley issued a statement saying he always kept his outside interests separate from his Lords duties and did not provide privileged information.

Mr Mitchell said all his outside interests were fully declared on the Commons register, adding: I abide by the letter and spirit of the rules governing the business.

A Channel 4 spokesman said: We have been clear that those featured maintain they have not breached the code on parliamentary standards.Gary Goldsmiths fourth wife looked downcast as she ventured out with him near their home in Londons Marylebone

Most women who had been punched to the floor by their husband would have given them their marching orders  but Gary Goldsmiths wife, Julie-Ann, is more forgiving.

The 47-year-old is back living with the Duchess of Cambridges uncle, 52, who was fined 5,000 last November and ordered to do a year of rehabilitation by a magistrate who called him a nasty drunk after Julie-Ann was left briefly unconscious.

Goldsmiths fourth wife looked downcast as she ventured out with him near their home in Londons Marylebone.

He grew up in a council house in Southall with Kates mother Carole, his elder sister, before making 17million when he sold his shares in an IT recruitment company.

Goldsmith assaulted Julie-Ann outside their home following an argument in a taxi in which she had accused him of taking drugs and of not paying her enough attention.

The couple went to a charity auction before Mrs Goldsmith (left) was hit. They were pictured in this image posted on social media shortly before the incident

DARKEST HOUR DIRECTOR OBEYS ROYAL COMMAND

The Queen took Joe Wright's Darkest Hour to Sandringham to watch over the Christmas break after he personally dropped a copy in

The Queen doesnt have to queue to watch the latest movie blockbuster. Im told that director Joe Wright personally dropped in a copy of his film Darkest Hour, the well-received biopic of Her Majestys first prime minister, Sir Winston Churchill, after a request from Buckingham Palace.

The Queen took it to Sandringham to watch over the Christmas break. If theres one person who can judge if Gary Oldman turns in an Oscarwinning performance it is the monarch herself. After all, she first met Churchill at Balmoral in 1928 when she was just two, and was always fond of the old war horse.

Asked, 30 years into her reign, which PM was her favourite, she said: Winston, of course, because it was always such fun.

Prince Harry's friend Charlie Gilkes has just celebrated the birth of his first child, begging the question - will babies be invited to the wedding?

Will babies be welcome at the royal wedding? I ask only because Prince Harrys nightclub-owning chum Charlie Gilkes and his wife, Anneke, are celebrating the birth of their first child.

Hes a gorgeous little boy theyve called Freddie, one of their friends tells me. Harry and Princess Eugenie attended the 2014 wedding in Italy of Charlie, who owns London venues including Maggies, Bunga Bunga and Mr Foggs.

Charlies elder brother, Alexander, was married to Misha Nonoo, the American fashion designer and best friend of Meghan Markle.

The curtain has fallen on one of theatrelands most spectacular feuds. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Patti LuPone hadnt spoken to each other since the composer fired the American actress from his Broadway production of Sunset Boulevard in 1994.

But, last night, LuPone sang Dont Cry For Me Argentina from the Lloyd Webber musical Evita at the Grammy awards.

Hello, Andrew, the diva said at a rehearsal. Turning to others in the room, she added: This is detente, ladies and gentlemen. The pair then embraced.

LuPone sued Lord Lloyd-Webber after he replaced her with Glenn Close as Norma Desmond. She won what was reportedly a $1 million settlement and used it to install a swimming pool at her home. She called it the Andrew Lloyd Webber Memorial Pool.Self-styled Man of the People John McDonnell relished his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, where he rebuked leaders of global businesses.

He said they are held in contempt by ordinary voters who have struggled through a decade of austerity.

The shadow chancellor spoke of anger building out there, adding: Many people have worked their way out of the slump, working hard and long hours for less pay, and paid their taxes then they look and see the super rich and corporations are avoiding their taxes on an industrial scale.

But no mention, though, of the tax affairs of Labours comrades in the trades unions  such as Unite which has given more than 12million to the Labour Party since Jeremy Corbyn became leader. Like many of the capitalist barons that they abhor, trades unions have been adept at minimising their tax bills.

John McDonnell relished his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, where he rebuked leaders of global businesses, but made no mention of his union comrades' tax affairs

Unites accounts for the year ending December 2016 showed that despite having a share portfolio of more than 50million, which regularly reports a healthy profit, it paid no corporation tax.

For years, Unite has used a loophole that allows it to offset large sums against costs  such as sick pay, accident compensation and employment tribunal costs.

McDonnell told his embarrassingly small audience in Davos that major auditing companies should have the equivalent of a doctors Hippocratic oath so they dont encourage firms to avoid tax.

A dose of such medicine might prove handy for Len McCluskey and his fellow brothers and sisters in Unite.

Do tell, Nadine...

A rare voice of sanity on the over-sexed men and scantily dressed waitresses at the all-male Presidents Club dinner. Tory MP Nadine Dorries suggests shes seen worse: I deplore the behaviour that took place. However, a bit uncomfortable with the men only bashing. Ive been on girls only nights since I was old enough!

Who will be first one 'Shott?

Millionaire former Lib Dem Lord Oakeshott, who left the party after being involved in a botched coup against then leader Nick Clegg, has given 5,000 to Blairite Labour MP Rachel Reeves.

That follows the 10,000 he gave Labour MP Heidi Alexander, who wants to keep Britain in the EUs Single Market in defiance of her partys policy. The hard-Left pressure group Momentum is said to be campaigning to get 50 Labour MPs disloyal to the Corbyn regime deselected. Oakeshotts darlings will surely be first in its line of fire.

Millionaire former Lib Dem Lord Oakeshott, who left the party after being involved in a botched coup against then leader Nick Clegg, has given 5,000 to Blairite Labour MP Rachel Reeves

A survey of peers language usage on Twitter put the Lib Dems at the top of the foul-mouthed league. According to the analysis, six of the ten most sweary lords are Lib Dems  with Baroness Ludford most culpable, having Tweeted or endorsed 51 profanities last year. I fear that, in private, her obscenities are more numerous  considering that public support for the Lib Dems is a wretched seven per cent.

Anti-royal Labour MP Emma Dent Coad (who made fun of her Kensington constituent Prince Harrys military service record) is in danger of making an enemy of another Londoner. Highlighting soaring crime rates in the capital, she tweeted that knife offences are up 23 per cent, robberies up 30 per cent, as well as rises in vehicle thefts, break-ins and murders. She said: Things are going backwards under the Tories. One problem: law and order in London is the responsibility of her Labour colleague, Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Anti-royal Labour MP Emma Dent Coad (who made fun of her Kensington constituent Prince Harrys military service record) is in danger of making an enemy of another Londoner

So much for comradeship among Labour Party members. Wannabe parliamentary candidate Christian Wolmar was canvassing when he spotted former leader Tony Blair. Hoping for a chat, Wolmar was ushered out of Blairs way by two machine gun-toting bodyguards.

Overheard in a Commons bar amid smirking about Ukips priapic, under-siege leader Henry Bolton: There are only 337 Ukip leaders until Christmas.

Lord Robathan, a former Tory deputy chief whip, complained last week that cuts to defence budgets had gone down to the bone. Is this the same Lord Robathan, who as a defence minister in the Tory-led Coalition, presided over defence spending being cut by eight per cent?Theresa Mays chief whip is to hold crisis talks with Eurosceptic Tories after they warned they would not accept further compromises on Brexit.

Julian Smith will meet members of the powerful European Research Group tomorrow after senior figures signalled they will not tolerate moves to dilute the process of leaving the EU.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the 60-strong groups chairman, suggested Eurosceptic support for Mrs May was conditional on her sticking to the plan for a clean break with Brussels outlined in last years Tory manifesto. One pro-Brexit minister said Eurosceptic MPs were on a hair trigger because of concerns they would be betrayed by a final deal with the EU.

Even a Remain-backing MP urged Mrs May to be bolder, saying policy-making needs to be less tortoise and more lion.

Brexiteers were also branded swivel-eyed by a senior minister who claimed they are mostly elderly retired men without mortgages or young children. Energy minister Claire Perry, a Remainer, berated those who accused MPs of being traitors over the EU divorce bill.

Theresa May has come under increased scrutiny from her own backbenchers for perceived backsliding on Brexit

Conservative Chief Whip Julian Smith (right) is due for crunch talks with backbench eurosceptics

In a WhatsApp message obtained by the Daily Telegraph, Miss Perry, a former adviser to David Cameron, said: The sell out mob should be ignored. Listening to them means wrecking the economy in the short term... and I would hypothesise that they are mostly elderly retired men who do not have mortgages, school-aged children or caring responsibilities so they represent the swivel-eyed few not the many we represent.

The PMs Brexit war cabinet will meet today for the first time since Chancellor Philip Hammond enraged Eurosceptics by claiming leaving the EU would lead to only very modest changes.

Mr Rees-Mogg said he was fully supporting Mrs May, but added: As long as the Prime Minister and Government is consistent with its own stated policy, I dont think there are any difficulties. Changing it is hard.

He added: I would be very surprised if in the end, the Prime Minister didnt back her own policy.

The MP said alarm bells were ringing over reports the Government is trying to keep Britain in a customs union after Brexit. Former Tory Cabinet minister Theresa Villiers said the UK was heading towards a dilution of Brexit unless Mrs May stuck to her promises.

Miss Villiers said there was a real danger that Britain could remain in the EU in all but name. Mrs Mays deputy David Lidington yesterday urged warring Tories to come together and back the Prime Minister. But last night MPs from all wings of the party continued to voice unease that Brexit was paralysing the Government. Heidi Allen, a prominent Remainer, said: Good God, we need to get a grip and lead. We are letting this country down.

Jacob Rees-Mogg said he was fully supporting Mrs May, but added: As long as the Prime Minister and Government is consistent with its own stated policy, I dont think there are any difficulties. Changing it is hard

Fellow Remainer, Robert Halfon likened the Government to a tortoise and urged Mrs May to be bolder. The former party vice-chairman said: 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.

Rising Tory star Johnny Mercer said the Government was in danger of getting bogged down in Brexit at the expense of other key domestic issues. And Pro-Brexit MP Nigel Mills voiced frustration with the PM, saying the Tories had lost some of our reforming zeal. He added: 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.

Former minister Grant Shapps, who led a botched coup attempt last autumn, urged the PM to name a date when she will stand down, arguing it would remove uncertainty. He said he had not submitted a letter of no confidence to the backbench 1922 Committee  48 of which are needed to trigger a leadership contest  but added: An increasing number of my colleagues have.

Mr Lidington urged the partys warring wings to focus on the bigger picture as the Tories remain neck and neck with Labour in the polls. He told the BBC: 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.

Mr Lidington also sought to calm Tory nerves after the Chancellor last week suggested Brexit would lead to only very modest changes.

He said Britain would have the power to diverge from EU rules during the transition.An elderly woman has been killed after she was hit by a bus in Bankstown.

The crash happened just after 10am Monday in Sydney's west where the 81-year-old woman received CPR.

The woman was treated at the scene before being taken to Liverpool Hospital where she died.

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An elderly woman is dead after she was hit by a bus in Bankstown (pictured) on Monday

The 81-year-old woman was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital (pictured)

Intensive care paramedics were among the four ambulance crews who treated the woman at Restwell Street as she suffered a cardiac arrest (pictured)

Intensive care paramedics were among the four ambulance crews who treated the woman at Restwell Street as she suffered a cardiac arrest.

A witness told 9 News he saw the woman crossing the road 'very slowly' and on a 'red light'.

He said he rushed to help her and tried to crawl under the bus to her aid.

'The bus was squeezing her and she was bleeding, breathing and then someone called the police and the ambulance.'

A 64-year-old male bus driver was taken for mandatory blood and urine testing at Bankstown Hospital, according to the publication.

The bus interchange at Bankstown City Plaza has been closed near Restwell Street.

A 64-year-old male bus driver was taken for mandatory blood and urine testing at Bankstown Hospital

Buses including the 487 and Punchbowl services have been diverted causing some delays.

The crash happened about 500 metres away from the fatal shooting of well-known lawyer Ho Ledinh.

Mr Ledinh was shot dead while dining at the Happy Cup Cafe in Bankstown's Old Town Plaza on Tuesday.

The bus interchange at Bankstown City Plaza has been closed near Restwell Street (pictured)Ministers are backing for a change in the law designed to ensure the firms do not use unfair tactics to dole out fines which can top 100. Pictured: Sajid Javid, who said the legislation will provide 'fair, clear and consistent' regulation

'Cowboy' parking firms could be effectively driven out of business by a stringent new code of practice, the Government has announced.

Ministers are backing for a change in the law designed to ensure the firms do not use unfair tactics to dole out fines which can top 100.

If they do, the firms will be blocked from accessing driver data and issuing fines, effectively closing them down.

Drivers are increasingly complaining of being hit with fines when there are no clear signs setting out parking restrictions, such as time limits.

The appeals process can be confusing and rogue firms try to bully drivers with intimidating payment letters.

Parking firms are issuing nearly 13 times more tickets than a decade ago and nearly 10,000 people approached the Citizens Advice Bureau for guidance on parking tickets last year.

The Government is to support former Tory minister Sir Greg Knight's Parking (Code of Practice) Bill, which is due for its second reading in the House of Commons on Friday, effectively guaranteeing its passage into law.

The Communities Secretary, Sajid Javid, said the legislation will provide 'fair, clear and consistent' regulation of the parking industry and allow a clampdown on 'unscrupulous' and 'aggressive' private parking operators.

Mr Javid said Sir Greg's Bill will deliver on a Tory manifesto commitment to tackle rogue parking operators.

The Communities Secretary will develop the code of practice with motoring groups and other experts.

Parking firms falling foul of the rules will be blocked from accessing driver data and issuing fines, effectively forcing them out of the industry.

Mr Javid said: 'For too long, drivers have suffered from unjust fines at the hands of dodgy parking firms.

'We need a fairer, clearer and more consistent system that brings the small minority of unscrupulous operators in line with those who are behaving appropriately.

If they do, the firms will be blocked from accessing driver data and issuing fines, effectively closing them down (stock image)

'That is why Government is putting the brakes on these rogue operators and backing new laws that will put a stop to aggressive behaviour and provide a simpler way for drivers to appeal fines.'

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: 'Motorists will be delighted that the Government is throwing its weight behind Sir Greg Knight's move to bring some much-needed regulatory rigour to the world of private parking.

'We all hoped the ban on clamping would end the sharp practices that had come to plague private parking, but the fact that companies are issuing millions of penalty tickets annually is clear evidence that something is still going badly awry.

'Drivers don't want a parking free-for-all, but they do want a system that is fair to all parties and that's what a code of practice set by Government - rather than the industry itself - should bring about.'

Chief executive of the British Parking Association, Andrew Pester, (correct) said: 'We welcome Sir Greg's Bill that aims to drive consistency and fairness in the private parking sector. Our membership already complies with a robust code of practice which we continuously seek to improve through consultation.

'A single, mandatory code of practice across the whole sector is important to ensure that unscrupulous providers don't undermine the parking sector with bad practice. As the leading authority in the sector we shall continue to work closely with Government and key stakeholders to press for progress towards a positive outcome for all.'A group of vegan activists have performed a protest inside a popular steakhouse - but patrons appeared more amused than annoyed.

The demonstrators who attended the Melbourne restaurant on Saturday were from two groups known as 'Melbourne Cow Save Animal Liberation Army' and 'Direct Action Everywhere'.

The rally saw protesters file into the building before chanting throughout the two-storey establishment using megaphones and flashing pro-animal signs.

A group of vegan activists have performed a protest inside a popular Melbourne steakhouse

The rally saw protesters file into the building before chanting throughout the two-storey establishment with megaphones

The incident took place just after 6.30pm at Rare Steakhouse in the heart of the city's CBD.

Footage of the stunt, labelled 'steakhouse disruption', was posted through the vegan groups' Facebook pages, saying their ambition was 'to speak up for animals where their dead bodies were being consumed.'

'35 activists disrupted a Melbourne steakhouse to speak up for animals where their dead bodies were being consumed,' Melbourne Cow Save captioned the video.

'There is no humane way to kill someone who does not want to die.'

The clip begins with activists quietly walking into the restaurant as unsuspecting customers are eating their meals.

Demonstrators can be seen standing around the bar holding signs, on the stairs with megaphones and on the top level, all chanting, as a woman leads the chorus.

'It's not food, it's violence,' they repeat.

Many are standing immediately next to patrons, who surprisingly seem undaunted by the choir of activists.

Demonstrators can be seen standing around the bar holding signs, on the stairs with megaphones and on the top level, all chanting as a woman leads the chorus

Many are standing immediately next to patrons, who surprisingly seem undaunted by the choir of activists

Some customers can be seen smirking as they scream their point across, while others even begin filming the group. Others continue eating their meal as if there were no disturbance

Some customers can be seen smirking as the activists scream their point across, while others even begin filming the group from their seats.

Many patrons just continue eating their meal as if there were no disturbance at all.

The footage then shows the protesters standing outside, holding signs to the windows as staff lower the blinds, after they had been led out by police.

A manager at Rare Steakhouse told Daily Mail Australia staff initially attempted to stop the activists at the door but quickly realised they were powerless to stop the protest.

'There was one or two ring leaders who had the mics, they were very loud, shouting the same propaganda over and over again,' the manager said.

'We spoke to people while it was happening and tried to calm the situation and said police were on their way.'

The footage then shows more protesters standing outside, holding signs to the windows as staff lower the blinds

A manager at Rare Steakhouse told Daily Mail Australia staff initially attempted to stop the activists at the door but quickly realised they were powerless to stop the protest

She said some customers were 'very emotionally upset' by the stunt, but others were able to 'laugh it off'.

The manager also said, before being led away, a woman from the vegan group threatened 'we will be back'.

The restaurant say they do not know if it was a targetted or random attack, but said they understood the passion of the demonstrators.

'The butchers we get our meat from, the animals are prepared humanely,' the manager said.

'They're from Australian cattle farms, we have a good connection with these people and we pride ourselves on making sure the standards of the meat and the way the animals are prepared is humane.'Boris Johnson has today called on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to denounce the 24-year-old activist who stormed a Winston Churchill-inspired cafe shouting that the wartime prime minister was a 'racist'.

Halimo Hussein, 24, stormed the Blighty UK cafe in Finsbury Park, north London, and urged customers to boycott it for 'colonialism' and chanted 'Churchill was racist'.

The politics student, who is the co-president of Equality and Liberation at SOAS, University of London, later asked the owner to apologise to the local community.

Mr Johnson, 53, was outraged after watching a video of the 'hard-left mob' inside the cafe after they launched a 'disgraceful attack' on the UK's finest ever wartime leader'.

Halimo Hussein (left) seemed to be leading the chants and kept repeating 'we have nothing to lose but our chains'

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson condemned their actions on Saturday and said that Jeremy Corbyn should 'denounce' the group

The group read from scripts as they urged customers inside the packed cafe to boycott the Blighty UK

It comes as other Tory MPs branded Ms Hussein and the other eight campaigners as 'childish' and 'puerile'.

Mr Johnson tweeted on Monday afternoon: 'Disgraceful attack on our finest ever wartime leader by hard-left mob.

'Jeremy Corbyn should denounce the actions of these 'activists' immediately.'

Meanwhile, Jack Lopresti, the Conservative MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke, said her behaviour was 'ignorant' and praised the 'courage and leadership' of Sir Winston.

He told MailOnline: 'This outrageous behaviour represents the hard left's politics which is of the most puerile and ignorant kind.

'Without the bravery, courage and leadership of Sir Winston Churchill, we would not be living in a free country where we have the freedom to express our personal views, regardless of how, in their case, ridiculous or offensive they are.'

Michael Fabricant, Tory MP for Lichfield, told MailOnline: 'It is thanks to Winston Churchill that fools like these are able to hold their childish views and not be thrown into a concentration camp.

'They should think about this before the next time they behave like yobs.

'As the local MP, I hope Jeremy Corbyn will join me in condemning these actions.'

Police were called after the nine campaigners stormed the eatery, which has already been under attack from vandals and more Labour activists.

Owner Chris Evans, 47, reported the intruders, who are also leaving scathing online reviews slating the cafe, to police after his staff were left shaken.

He was also forced to remove a giant mural of Churchill after it was daubed with graffiti which branded the former prime minister 'scum' and and 'imperialist'.

Mr Evans said: 'If you cannot celebrate Britain and great Britons you are just erasing history. And if you cannot celebrate Churchill, you cannot celebrate anyone.'

It has now emerged that the group's leader, Ms Hussein, is an avid Labour supporter and Jeremy Corbyn fan.

Ms Hussein, whose family fled the civil war in Somalia, could be heard shouting: 'We have nothing to lose but our chains.'

Ms Hussein, who who studied at William Morris Sixth Form in Hammersmith, west London, also uploaded a picture on her Facebook page which read: 'No Tories on my profile.'

She also posted a photograph of her with fellow Labour supporter, comedian Russell Brand, on her Facebook page.

A giant mural of Winston Churchill was daubed with graffiti which branded the prime minister 'scum'

Halimo Hussein (centre) led the chants inside the packed cafe on Saturday and repeatedly shouted: 'We have nothing to lose but our chains'

She also uploaded this photograph of Jeremy Corbyn and wrote online: 'The moment we found out Jeremy was elected. The look on the rest of their faces has made my day

In 2015, the student also said 'another five years of austerity, snaking the poor, students and migrants' after David Cameron was re-elected.

And when Corbyn was elected the leader of the Labour Party in 2015 she uploaded an image of the moment he found out he was in charge.

She wrote: 'Found my cover photo' and she added that the moment had 'made her day'.

Ms Hussein was elected Co-President of Equality and Liberation by her fellow students and said 'I F***ING WON' when the news was announced.

Outlining her policies and aims before the vote, she said: 'Decolonial politics should be at the forefront in pushing for institutional change.

'I want to fight against the exploitation of our tutors and cleaners, SOAS claims to be committed to living wage yet disregards workers rights.'

Ms Hussein also left a scathing online review of the cafe which read: 'Bland breakfasts and awful watery tasting coffee, toilets filthy.'

It also emerged that she has backed the anarchist online trend which uses the hashtag #RobThisEngland.

People on social media who use the hashtag are seen to be committed to not paying for services and goods.

In 2016 she wrote on Facebook: 'I will live and embody the spirit of #RobThisEngland from not paying back tuition fees to not paying for TV license.'

The Labour activists are behind an online campaign against the business and its sister cafe, Blighty India in nearby Tottenham.

Labour Party members Ewa Lefmann and Zainab Khan originally started a petition demanding that Mr Evans ditches his Churchill theme, which they claim uses 'history in a light-hearted fancy dress manner'.

Nine protesters then burst into the cafe on Saturday and stood in front of startled diners, chanting about racism and taking it in turns to read from a prepared script.

One woman declared: 'We cannot accept the unashamed colonial and gentrifying presence of this cafe' before the group chanted 'You will never make colonialism palatable'.

The next to speak was Ms Hussein who said: 'To the owner of the cafe, apologise to the local community for their poorly thought and insensitive branding and promptly change it from the menu to the aesthetics and decor of the cafe'.

The cafe's signature dish is 'The Winston' - a traditional full English breakfast with Cumberland sausage and Yorkshire black pudding

Nine protesters stormed the cafe in north London on the weekend and were heard chanting 'Churchill was a racist'

Boris Johnson (pictured) said that the group launched a 'disgraceful attack on our finest ever wartime leader' and described them as a 'hard-left mob'

The other female protester resumed: 'To the customer, we ask you that you boycott this cafe until they take the concerns of the community seriously'.

Other group chants included 'It is our duty to win' and 'We must love and support each other'.

As they trooped out, a customer hit back: 'Churchill fought for our freedom', to which the group chanted: 'Churchill was a racist'.

Ms Hussein is a staunch supporter of the Labour Party and Jeremy Corbyn.

While running for office in her student union, she explained: 'I want to bring decolonial politics to the forefront in our fight for institutional change.'

She is pictured on Facebook with comedian Russell Brand, a fellow Corbyn supporter.

Ms Hussein also left a scathing online review of the cafe that read: 'Bland breakfasts and awful watery tasting coffee, toilets filthy.'

Owner Mr Evans said: 'I have already invited these people in for coffee to discuss their concerns.

'Instead, they have come in and shouted at my customers. My staff have been left frightened and so I am reporting the incident to the police today.

A group of protesters stormed the cafe and sang it is our duty to fight for our freedom

Nine demonstrators burst into the Blighty UK Cafe in North London on Saturday and told customers to boycott the place for 'celebrating colonialism'

'I would much rather they came to debate in a civilised manner what it means to be British in modern Britain.

'As far as I am concerned, if you cannot celebrate Britain and great Britons you are just erasing history.

'And if you cannot celebrate Churchill, you cannot celebrate anyone.'

Mr Evans previously reported vandals to police for defacing the cafe's striking street art mural of Churchill's famous two fingers pose alongside the slogan 'double shot', jokily claiming that he was ordering a double espresso.

After a spate of graffiti attacks over several years, he decided it was easier simply to ditch the design.

Blighty India boasts a neon portrait of Gandhi, Bollywood posters and India flags as part of the cafe chain's branding celebrating Commonwealth countries.

Diners a the cafe drink from Churchill mugs underneath model Spitfires and Union Jack flags.

The cafe's signature dish is 'The Winston' - a traditional full English breakfast with Cumberland sausage and Yorkshire black pudding.

And they can pose for pictures alongside a sculpture of the wartime leader - whose extraordinary achievements are currently being celebrated in hit movie Darkest Hour - or inside a World War II air raid shelter.

One of the diners said that Churchill fought for the UK's freedom which resulted in the group chanting: 'Churchill was a racist'

When one diner says 'Churchill fought for our freedom', a protester replies 'Churchill was a racist'. The wartime leader is seen leaving Downing Street in an undated image

The cafe's menu offers a vegan breakfast called 'The Gandhi' as well as 'Bombay Hash', 'Bengali Breakfast' and 'Eggs Kerala' and the cafe stages regular curry nights, yoga classes and creates cocktails with name like 'Bombay Sunrise'.

In their petition, Haringey residents Ewa Leffman, Zainab Khan, and Jasmine Davies are calling for Tottenham MP David Lammy to intervene.

They claim the cafes 'insensitively evoke memory of the Empire', writing: 'We understand that many see the Commonwealth as a celebration of a group of countries but it has little to do with cafes.

'While Blighty does make a point of sourcing its coffee from countries that are in the Commonwealth, we feel its framing of the Commonwealth is an outdated concept using its history in a light-hearted 'fancy dress' manner.

'We would like to step in now and ask them to adjust their brand whilst there's still only two branches.'

Khan, whose family moved from India in the Sixties, complained that Blighty India 'ignores the suffering the Empire caused and turns colonial rule into a frivolous theme'.

She is pictured on Facebook outside 10 Downing Street, campaigning against then PM David Cameron. She wrote: 'Just going in to kick Dave out'.

She is also pictured with Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow, who she jokes is her 'best friend now' after repeated meetings.

There is no suggestion that those behind the petition or protest in the cafe were involved in the vandalism of the Churchill mural.

One diner tweeted about the protesters: 'They had a script and everything. Could have at least bought a coffee'

Stunned customers carried on eating, drinking and talking during the demonstration on Saturday

A debate is also raging about the cafes on social media. Activists from Black Lives Matter UK tweeted: 'So glad people are calling this Empire nostalgia out'.

But other customers and local residents are calling the campaign against the cafes 'madness'.

Alexander Hamilton, who was dining during the demo, tweeted: 'Just been a reluctant part of some form of anti-Churchill protest at @BlightyUKCafe.

'They had a script and everything. Could have at least bought a coffee'.

Another customer wrote to the cafe, saying: 'I was horrified to read about the attack on your cafe and this pressure from a group of self-appointed nobodies trying to stop you presenting it in the way that you wanted and intended.

'After all, if they do not like your cafe nobody is forcing them to patronise it - but they would like to force their views on others and stop them from enjoying Blighty being presented in the form you intended.

'I hope plenty of others show their support for you.'

Another resident wrote: 'Sorry but is this a joke? They're a small business providing employment in the local area.

'Stop harassing them! Surely there are more worthy campaigns!? I didn't know they existed, so I'll now definitely give them my custom!'

Revealed: Labour activist, 24, who led the 'hard left' charge against Churchill at themed 'Blighty' cafe is a Corybn fan who 'idolises' Russell Brand

The Labour activist who led anti-Winston Churchill chants at a cafe dedicated to the wartime prime minister is a 24-year-old student and devout Jeremy Corbyn supporter.

Halimo Hussein is a politics student at the School of Oriental and African Studies University of London and stormed the Blighty UK cafe with eight other activists on Saturday.

The group began chanting anti-Churchill songs and urged customers to 'boycott' the north London cafe before Ms Hussein told the owner to apologise to the local community.

Ms Hussein (pictured with Russell Brand in 2017) is a student at the School of Oriental and African Studies University of London

Ms Hussein also uploaded a picture on her Facebook page which read: 'No Tories on my profile'

She was seen throughout the video leading chants and repeatedly shouted: 'We have nothing to lose but our chains.'

Just hours after the video emerged a host of MPs and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson criticised the student and branded her 'childish' and 'puerile'.

Mr Johnson also called on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to denounce the 'hard-left- group after they stormed the cafe.

And it has now emerged that the leader is a devout Labour supporter who uploaded a picture on her Facebook page which read: 'No Tories on my profile.'

She also posted a photograph of her with fellow Labour supporter, comedian Russell Brand, on her Facebook page.

In 2015, the student also said 'another five years of austerity, snaking the poor, students and migrants' after David Cameron was re-elected.

And when Corbyn was elected the leader of the Labour Party in 2015 she uploaded an image of the moment he found out he was in charge.

She wrote: 'Found my cover photo' and she added that the moment had 'made her day'.

She was elected Co-President of Equality and Liberation by her fellow students and said 'I F***ING WON' when the news was announced.

Ms Hussein (right) left a scathing online review of the cafe which read: 'Bland breakfasts and awful watery tasting coffee'

Ms Hussein is a devout supporter of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and could be seen and heard throughout the clip

Ms Hussein, who studied at William Morris Sixth Form in Hammersmith, west London, outlined her policies and aims before the vote.

She said: 'Decolonial politics should be at the forefront in pushing for institutional change.

'I want to fight against the exploitation of our tutors and cleaners, SOAS claims to be committed to living wage yet disregards workers rights.'

Ms Hussein also left a scathing online review of the cafe which read: 'Bland breakfasts and awful watery tasting coffee, toilets filthy.'

It also emerged that she has backed the anarchist online trend which uses the hashtag #RobThisEngland.

People on social media who use the hashtag are seen to be committed to not paying for services and goods.

In 2016 she wrote on Facebook: 'I will live and embody the spirit of #RobThisEngland from not paying back tuition fees to not paying for TV license.'Senior peers last night threatened to scupper Theresa Mays flagship Brexit legislation  claiming it was constitutionally unacceptable.

The EU (Withdrawal) Bill, which has cleared the Commons, translates 40 years of EU regulations on to the British statute book so that they will continue to operate after the UK leaves in March next year.

But the cross-party House of Lords constitution committee, chaired by Tony Blairs ex-chief whip Baroness Taylor, said it was fundamentally flawed in multiple ways.

The Bill begins its passage through the Lords tomorrow, when it is expected to receive a mauling from Remainers.

But the cross-party House of Lords constitution committee, chaired by Tony Blairs ex-chief whip Baroness Taylor (pictured), said it was fundamentally flawed in multiple ways

The Government, which has no Lords majority, is braced for a string of defeats. In its report, the Lords committee claims the Bills use of so-called Henry VIII powers, allowing ministers to change laws with only minimal scrutiny, would give far greater latitude than was acceptable.

The report also calls for a greater role for the European Court of Justice (ECJ) after Britain has left the EU. Theresa May has made exiting the jurisdiction of the ECJ a red line in negotiations with Brussels.

Her withdrawal deal allows only a minimal ECJ role after Brexit, which will diminish to nothing. Baroness Taylor said: We acknowledge the scale, challenge and unprecedented nature of the task of converting existing EU law into UK law, but as it stands this Bill is constitutionally unacceptable.

Ex-Labour cabinet minister Lord Adonis has already vowed to sabotage Brexit in the Lords. Yesterday, he likened Brexit to the Second World War, saying: We dont accept that the war is over because it is not over. The fall of Singapore was not the end of the war: When the Brits emerged from the bushes, they went on to win. Thank God. Tory MP Damien Moore said his attitude shows complete contempt for the verdict of the British people.

Separately, the Lords EU energy and environment sub-committee warned Brexit could push up energy bills. Labour sources indicated the partys peers would not ultimately seek to block the new laws.

The peers trying to slam the brakes on Brexit

By Andrew Pierce

Not surprisingly, given its complaints over the Governments Brexit strategy, the 12-strong Lords constitution committee is filled with Remoaners. Here, ANDREW PIERCE charts their long-standing pro-EU views...

Lord Morgan, 83

The Welsh historian and author has described Brexit as a disaster and said the referendum was ill-informed, or almost uninformed, guidance. The Labour peer added: Is this not an example of cultural impoverishment as a result of economic impoverishment in the creation of the Brexit disaster? It was an advisory referendum. There is no doubt about that.

Lord Hunt of Wirral, 75

As chairman of the British Insurance Brokers Association, the Tory peer appealed to members ahead of the referendum: I believe remaining in the EU would be a vote for business stability over uncertainty. A Remain vote would stimulate investment and boost confidence that we will be able to continue to trade freely under the EU freedom of services provision. That, in turn, would benefit both us within the sector and also our customers. He was believed to be the only member of Margaret Thatchers Cabinet to snub her and vote for Michael Heseltine in the first ballot when he challenged her leadership in 1990.

Lord Dunlop, 58

A former Scottish Office minister and Remain supporter, the Tory peer, right, defied Theresa May last year when he voted in the Lords to give Parliament the final say over Brexit and allow MPs a meaningful vote for any withdrawal deal.

Lord Pannick, 61

Lawyer Lord Pannick represented millionaire investment manager Gina Miller in the Supreme Court as she became the figurehead of the fight for Parliament to have a vote on Brexit. The crossbench peer also backed a Labour amendment requiring a parliamentary vote on any final deal, specifying that it should take place before anything final is approved by either the European Commission or Parliament.

Lord Maclennan, 81

The Liberal Democrat was leader of the pro-Europe Social Democratic Party for 11 months until it folded in 1988. In a speech last year he said the EU had brought an unprecedented 71 years of peace to western Europe, asking: Will the Government reveal to Parliament and the British people the damage to the economy that will result from Brexit if we leave the European Single Market?

Baroness Corston, 75

The former Labour MP was another who voted in the Lords last March to defeat the Government, calling for EU citizens to be guaranteed the right to stay in the UK post-Brexit. Analysis of her parliamentary votes shows a 73 per cent bias in the EUs favour.

Baroness Drake, 70

A lifelong trade unionist and former president of the TUC, the Labour peer has spoken of worries about the effect of Brexit. Despite assurances from ministers, she said last year, real concerns remain about the potential negative impact of Brexit on womens rights. Little wonder there is concern that leaving the EU may result in weakening rights underpinning the lives of millions of women.

Lord Beith, 73

A second referendum on whether to accept any final deal or remain in the EU is Lib Dem policy. The former deputy leader of the party, right, described the Leave vote as a revolution that will fade when it ushers in a regime that is more authoritarian than that which it replaced, and one less able to deliver prosperity and security.

Lord Norton, 66

An academic who is professor of government at Hull University, the Tory peer wrote on his blog a few months after the Leave vote: We have had a referendum that was not legally binding and without any threshold (or turnout) requirement. As a consequence of a simple majority to leave, we have challenges to the means of how we leave the EU and with some people, in effect, seeking to replay the referendum and calling for a second referendum. He is also one of the Tory rebels who voted to give Parliament a final say on any Brexit deal.

Lord Judge, 76

The former Lord Chief Justice said last year: I simply cannot accept the constitutional validity of a referendum, which is offered to the public only because political parties of one side or another are not too happy about whether they will give a show of party unity in the House of Commons if the issue is debated. Self-mockingly describing himself as an out-of-touch lawyer who does not know the political realities, the crossbencher suggested the referendum had been an extraordinary abdication by Parliament and representatives of the country of their own responsibilities. I make it clear that I regard referendums as extremely alarming in our constitutional arrangements. He also said he recognised the country voted in the referendum on the clear understanding that the wish of the majority would prevail.

Lord MacGregor, 80

Transport Secretary in John Majors Tory government, Lord MacGregor, right, last year told the Lords: I suspect I am in a minority when I say that we should not regard the referendum vote as necessarily final. He even went on to suggest many voters were confused about what they were told by both camps. They were voting not about the EU referendum but about issues they were unhappy about generally and wanted to make a protest vote, he said.

Baroness Taylor, 70

Chairman of the Lords committee, Baroness Taylor was Labour leader of the Commons in 1997 when the Blair government ratified the Amsterdam Treaty. This transferred powers from national governments to the European Parliament, including over powers to regulate immigration. She was also Commons chief whip during the ratification of the Nice Treaty, which paved the way for new EU countries from Eastern Europe.Founder of Ikea Ingvar Kamprad, pictured with his wife, passed away in his sleep aged 91

For a multi-billionaire, Ingvar Kamprad appeared to live an ostentatiously frugal life. He drove a 15-year-old white Volvo, wore second-hand clothes, bought fruit and vegetables late in the afternoon so he could haggle the prices down and only had his hair cut when travelling in developing countries, as it was cheaper.

There was no private jet  he flew economy  and he stayed in budget rather than swanky hotels where he would abstain from costly mini bars.

There were extravagances, but even they were slight  a pinch of snuff or a dollop of Swedish fish roe. And, if he was feeling devilish, a nice new shirt and cravat.

It seems a strange life for a chap who, in 2004, overtook Microsoft founder Bill Gates to become the worlds richest man, but his domestic austerity chimed beautifully with his business ethos.

Kamprad  who has died aged 91 in his sleep at his bungalow in Smaland, Sweden  was the founder of Ikea, the low-cost flat- pack furniture company that brought stylish living to the masses, caused endless marital flare-ups (who has not been close to blows when tackling a set of his simple and easy to follow assembly instructions?) and which is now worth about 51 billion.

Ikeas success was achieved, Kamprad maintained, by frugality, building warehouse-type shops on cheap land, buying materials at a discount, packaging items in boxes to be assembled at home by the buyer and keeping things simple and affordable.

When his second wife, Margaretha, wanted a holiday house in France, he obliged, but only on the understanding that some of the rooms were rented out.

Kamprad refused to take taxis in London, once catching the bus to pick up an industry award, and haggled constantly in markets. And, when a top-level Ikea meeting in Copenhagen ended early, he refused to leave because he had paid for a days parking.

It was a template his executives felt obliged to follow. If he flew economy, they had to. They didnt take taxis. They were encouraged to write on both sides of a piece of paper and recycle cups. They kept costs down and made phenomenal profits.

In Sweden, he was considered an entrepreneurial genius, a demi-God, almost. He was the self-made hero who created an empire and revolutionised the furniture industry.

The Ikea founder died at his bungalow in Smaland, Sweden and lived a frugal life despite being one of the richest men in the world

Yesterday, Torbjorn Loof, chief executive and president of the parent company, Inter Ikea Group, said: 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.

Presumably, Loof had temporarily forgotten about Kamprads alcoholism  which he claimed to control by abstaining three times a year, on doctors orders  and drinking heavily for the rest.

And, of course, that unpleasant episode back in 1994 when the Stockholm newspaper Expressen revealed that Kamprad had joined a Swedish fascist party in 1943 and become an enthusiastic Nazi sympathiser, at about the same time he founded the company.

According to the paper, his name had popped up in the archives of Per Engdahl, a Swedish fascist leader whod recently died.

In neutral Sweden, Kamprad helped out at party meetings, stayed involved after World War II and, in 1950, even wrote to Engdahl, saying how proud he was of his participation.

In 1994, the entrepreneurs public response was quick and humble. He wrote a letter to Ikea employees, in which he called his affiliation with the organisation the greatest mistake of his life, my greatest fiasco and a part of my life that I bitterly regret.

Even so, the Nazi stain was hard to remove. In 2011, a book by Elisabeth Asbrink suggested the ties had gone deeper, with Kamprad acting as a recruiter and fundraiser and Swedish intelligence even opening a file on him.

Ingvar Feodor Kamprad was born in Pjatteryd, Sweden, on March 30, 1926, the son of modest farmers. He was dyslexic but unusually bright and, aged five, was already a budding tycoon, selling matchboxes, Christmas cards, pens, wall hangings and berries hed picked in the forests.

He founded Ikea  made of his initials, plus the name of his farm (Elmtaryd) and village (Agunnaryd)  when he was 17.

He used money his father gave him as a reward for trying so hard, despite his dyslexia, to register it.

Soon he was advertising in newspapers, selling furniture by mail order and sending it to the station on the milk cart.

By 1953, he had a showroom, but in 1956, when he saw delivery men removing a tables legs to transport it more easily, he had his flat-pack brainwave and everything changed.

Ikea took off like a rocket. Meanwhile, his first marriage, to Kerstin Wadling, foundered after ten years and, in 1963, he married Margaretha Sennert, with whom he had three sons, Peter, Jonas, and Mathias.

By the Sixties there were Ikeas all over Scandinavia. When rivals tried to organise a boycott by his suppliers, he moved to Poland for materials and manufacturers and cut costs further.

After that, the Ikea revolution was unstoppable. The first U.S. Ikea  near Philadelphia  opened in 1986. A year later came the first British store, in Warrington (by the end of 2018, there will be 22 UK stores). Russia and China followed.

Today, the company generates revenues of more than 33 billion from 412 stores in 49 countries.

One in five British children are thought to have been conceived on an Ikea mattress.

But just as Ikeas supposedly simple idiot-proof furniture is so often anything but, much of Kamprads life was rather more complex than it first appeared.

In 1994, the Stockholm newspaper Expressen revealed that Kamprad had joined a Swedish fascist party in 1943 and was a proud member in 1950

Deeply ambitious, he was also a control freak with a cultish vision about more than just flat-pack furniture and cheap meatballs. His 1976 manifesto, The Furniture Dealers Testament  known as the Ikea Bible  includes such cultish pledges as: We do not need fancy cars, posh titles, tailor-made uniforms or other status symbols. We rely on our own strength and our own will.

Employees were called Ikeans, and stores were run according to the Ikea Way, which included renewal, thrift, responsibility, humbleness towards the tasks and simplicity in its core values.

Kamprads own austerity wasnt quite as it seemed, though. Yes, he drove the clapped-out old Volvo, but he also kept quiet about his top-of-the-range Porsche.

As well as the bungalow, his modest homes (all apparently filled with Ikea furniture which he assembled himself) included a villa overlooking Lake Geneva, an estate in Sweden and extensive vineyards in Provence.

In 2004, he overtook Bill Gates as the richest man in the world but despite his cast wealth he lived a simple and frugal life

And while he returned faithfully each year to Agunnaryd where he would hug villagers, buy groceries and make a pilgrimage to the farmhouse where he was born, he spent more than 40 years in tax exile, first in Denmark, and then Switzerland, returning home only when Margaretha died in 2011.

In 2012, it was revealed that Ikea had used forced labour from political prisoners in the former East Germany between 1960 and 1990.

And in the same year it faced claims it had used wood from 600-year-old Russian forests.

Recently, Ikeas complex business structure  it is still privately owned and held in a family trust foundation in Liechtenstein  has drawn controversy and the European Commission said last year that it had launched an investigation into Ikeas tax set-up.

While Jewish groups called for an Ikea boycott once Kamprads fascist links were revealed, it seems that Swedes  and, indeed, everyone else with a penchant for cheap Scandinavian furniture  are a forgiving lot and nothing seems to have stemmed his popularity. Or his companys success.

In 1982, Kamprad transferred his interest in Ikea to a Dutch-based charitable foundation. He retired to Switzerland, but didnt step down from the board until 2013. His sons keep the Ikea flame aloft.

Kamprad was present when, in 2008, a statue of him was erected in his Swedish home town. He declined to cut the ribbon.

Instead, he carefully untied the ribbon, folded it neatly and handed it to the mayor, telling him he could use it again.The US Attorney for the Western District of Missouri said that Amanda Ruth Schweitzer (pictured) is facing numerous charges

A former middle school teacher has been charged with the sexual exploitation of a minor after prosecutors in Missouri accused her of having sex with at least three teenage boys.

Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, said that Amanda Ruth Schweitzer, 38, of Joplin is facing numerous charges after a federal grand jury unsealed a two-count indictment on Sunday.

Schweitzer's indictment was first made public following her initial court appearance on Thursday and remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Jan. 30, 2018, according to justice.gov.

'The federal indictment alleges that Schweitzer used a minor to produce child pornography from March 1 to March 29, 2017,' the official government site.

'The indictment also alleges that Schweitzer transferred obscene material to the minor during that time.'

Schweitzer's indictment was first made public following her initial court appearance on Thursday and remains in federal custody

'This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, the Joplin, Mo., Police Department and the FBI,' the site added.

At the time of the incident, Schweitzer was a teacher at North Middle School in Joplin, Missouri and may have had sexual encounters on campus, according to the indictment.

Schweitzer has also been the subject of multiple civil suits since her arrest last year alongside the Joplin School District.

In one lawsuit, three students are mentioned as having received various unwanted sexual advances from Schweitzer.

In a second suit against the school district, it's alleged Schweitzer began 'grooming' the three underage male students in early 2017.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller and was conducted in conjunction by the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force

She is alleged to have sent them suggestive and sexual texts and social media messages.

The Joplin Globe reveals how in one incident at the school Schweitzer allegedly 'ran her hand through the student's hair and nibbled on his ear'.

She then apparently messaged him via Instagram and to ask him if he enjoyed it.

The lawsuits details numerous other incidents of alleged sexual misconduct by Schweitzer with the three former North Middle School students all of whom were younger than 15 at the time of the offenses.

The lawsuit against the school district lawsuit cites the Missouri Human Rights Act, alleging the district 'failed to take steps to prevent sexual assault and sexual harassment by its faculty.'

The mother of two of the ex-teacher's alleged victims brought the lawsuit against Schweitzer.

Matthew Wilson, a Springfield attorney representing the school district, told the Globe that the district had no knowledge of Schweitzer's alleged conduct before receiving a complaint.Armed robbers raided the home of a City trader and forced him to transfer his Bitcoin fortune to them.

Four thugs wearing balaclavas stormed Danny Astons 800,000 converted barn in rural Oxfordshire.

They held Mr Aston, 30, at gunpoint as they tied up his girlfriend Amy Jay, 31, and put the couples child outside in a buggy.

They then made Mr Aston transfer his holding of Bitcoin  a cyber currency currently worth 8,000 per coin  to them on his computer in what is thought to be the first raid of its kind in Britain.

The village of Moulsford (pictured in a general view), which has featured in several episodes of Midsomer Murders, was the scene for the UK's first armed Bitcoin heist

Detectives believe the robbers, who were still being hunted last night, knew about his fortune because of his prolific trading accounts on the internet.

On just one account, Mr Aston has carried out more than 100,000 trades with 16,375 people in less than three years. He is considered a trusted trader by more than 3,000 users. It is not known how much he was forced to transfer.

Bitcoin exists only in cyberspace and can be exchanged anonymously at the click of a mouse. It is then exchanged for normal money. It is favoured by criminals because it cannot be tracked by officials, making it difficult to catch thieves and money-launderers.

The family have been in hiding since the raid last Monday morning at their home in Moulsford, where several episodes of Midsomer Murders have been filmed.

Staff and children were locked inside a nearby independent school, Cranford House, as police used a helicopter to track the suspects and searched the village for clues.

A mother on the school run said: I saw four young men in black tracksuits with the hoods pulled up, crossing the road to the property where it took place. They were aged 18 to 25, dark-skinned and super-fit. They jumped over the fence on the other side of the road.

A gang of four armed raiders stormed a barn in the village of Moulsford, Oxfordshire, on Monday

I didnt see any gun, but thats what people locally are saying  and that the men wore balaclavas which I didnt see either, just the hoodies pulled up. It was a strange time for them to choose because there are always so many parents coming and going directly opposite. Id be amazed if more people didnt see them.

A neighbour said: The couple have left and are staying with relatives. They havent been back since. We are all obviously a bit shaken up, even though a few days have passed now.

Another resident said: The village is in a state of shock. For something like this to happen here is terrifying. Its a very quiet place.

Thames Valley Police said that the men wore balaclavas and were seen scaling a fence near the house. A spokesman said: Officers were called at about 9.40am to a report that offenders had entered a residential property and threatened the occupants.

No one was seriously injured during the incident.

Officers are particularly interested in speaking to anyone travelling through the village between 7.30am and 10.30am last Monday who has dashcam footage, or anyone with mobile phone footage. The investigation is in its early stages, however initial inquiries suggest this may be a targeted incident. No arrests have been made.

Guy Shone, chief executive of Explain The Market, said: These are criminals who have likely caught on to the current popularity of Bitcoin.

But depending on how much they have, these coins are like being in possession of a rare painting. Trying to exchange large amounts for normal money without alerting suspicion will be very difficult.

The gunmen forced crypto-currency trader Danny Aston to transfer a fortune in Bitcoin to them on his computer. The barn sits off a main road down a private and residential laneNot surprisingly, given its complaints over the Government's Brexit strategy, the 12-strong Lords constitution committee is filled with Remoaners. Here, ANDREW PIERCE charts their long-standing pro-EU views...

Baroness Taylor, the chairman of the Lords committee, was leader of the Commons when the Blair government ratified the Amsterdam Treaty that transferred powers from national governments to the European Parliament

Baroness Taylor, 70

Chairman of the Lords committee, Baroness Taylor was Labour leader of the Commons in 1997 when the Blair government ratified the Amsterdam Treaty. This transferred powers from national governments to the European Parliament, including over powers to regulate immigration. She was also Commons chief whip during the ratification of the Nice Treaty, which paved the way for new EU countries from Eastern Europe.

Lord Morgan, 83

The Welsh historian and author has described Brexit as a 'disaster' and said the referendum was 'ill-informed, or almost uninformed, guidance.' The Labour peer added: 'Is this not an example of cultural impoverishment as a result of economic impoverishment in the creation of the Brexit disaster? It was an advisory referendum. There is no doubt about that.'

Lord Hunt of Wirral, 75

As chairman of the British Insurance Brokers' Association, the Tory peer appealed to members ahead of the referendum: 'I believe remaining in the EU would be a vote for business stability over uncertainty. A Remain vote would stimulate investment and boost confidence that we will be able to continue to trade freely under the EU freedom of services provision. That, in turn, would benefit both us within the sector and also our customers.' He was believed to be the only member of Margaret Thatcher's Cabinet to snub her and vote for Michael Heseltine in the first ballot when he challenged her leadership in 1990.

Lord Hunt of Wirral, left, said he believed remaining in the EU would be a vote for business stability over uncertainty while Lord Dunlop defied Theresa May last year when he voted in the Lords to give Parliament the final say over Brexit

Lord Dunlop, 58

A former Scottish Office minister and Remain supporter, the Tory peer, above, defied Theresa May last year when he voted in the Lords to give Parliament the final say over Brexit and allow MPs a 'meaningful vote' for any withdrawal deal.

Lord Pannick, 61

Lawyer Lord Pannick backed a Labour amendment requiring a parliamentary vote on any final deal

Lawyer Lord Pannick represented millionaire investment manager Gina Miller in the Supreme Court as she became the figurehead of the fight for Parliament to have a vote on Brexit. The crossbench peer also backed a Labour amendment requiring a parliamentary vote on any final deal, specifying that it should take place before anything final is approved by either the European Commission or Parliament.

Lord Maclennan, 81

The Liberal Democrat was leader of the pro-Europe Social Democratic Party for 11 months until it folded in 1988. In a speech last year he said the EU had 'brought an unprecedented 71 years of peace to western Europe', asking: 'Will the Government reveal to Parliament and the British people the damage to the economy that will result from Brexit if we leave the European Single Market?'

Baroness Corston, 75

The former Labour MP was another who voted in the Lords last March to defeat the Government, calling for EU citizens to be guaranteed the right to stay in the UK post-Brexit. Analysis of her parliamentary votes shows a 73 per cent bias in the EU's favour.

Baroness Drake, 70

A lifelong trade unionist and former president of the TUC, the Labour peer has spoken of worries about the effect of Brexit. 'Despite assurances from ministers,' she said last year, 'real concerns remain about the potential negative impact of Brexit on women's rights. Little wonder there is concern that leaving the EU may result in weakening rights underpinning the lives of millions of women.'

Lord Beith, 73

A second referendum on whether to accept any final deal or remain in the EU is Lib Dem policy. The former deputy leader of the party, below, described the Leave vote as a revolution that 'will fade' when it 'ushers in a regime that is more authoritarian than that which it replaced, and one less able to deliver prosperity and security'.

Former deputy leader of the Lib Dems Lord Beith has described the Leave vote as a revolution that 'will fade'

Lord Norton, 66

An academic who is professor of government at Hull University, the Tory peer wrote on his blog a few months after the Leave vote: 'We have had a referendum that was not legally binding and without any threshold (or turnout) requirement. As a consequence of a simple majority to leave, we have challenges to the means of how we leave the EU and with some people, in effect, seeking to replay the referendum and calling for a second referendum.' He is also one of the Tory rebels who voted to give Parliament a final say on any Brexit deal.

Lord Judge, 76

The former Lord Chief Justice said last year: 'I simply cannot accept the constitutional validity of a referendum, which is offered to the public only because political parties of one side or another are not too happy about whether they will give a show of party unity in the House of Commons if the issue is debated.' Self-mockingly describing himself as 'an out-of-touch lawyer who does not know the political realities', the crossbencher suggested the referendum had been 'an extraordinary abdication by Parliament and representatives of the country of their own responsibilities. I make it clear that I regard referendums as extremely alarming in our constitutional arrangements.' He also said he recognised the country voted in the referendum on the 'clear understanding' that the wish of the majority would prevail.

Lord Judge, left, has said he 'cannot accept the constitutional validity of a referendum' while Lord MacGregor told the Lords the referendum vote should not be regarded as final

Lord MacGregor, 80

Transport Secretary in John Major's Tory government, Lord MacGregor, above right, last year told the Lords: 'I suspect I am in a minority when I say that we should not regard the referendum vote as necessarily final.' He even went on to suggest many voters were confused about what they were told by both camps. 'They were voting not about the EU referendum but about issues they were unhappy about generally and wanted to make a protest vote,' he said.The mother of the Australia Day police attacker says it's like an 'atomic bomb' has gone off in her life after her son was killed after stabbing an officer at a Sydney pub.

Former labourer Nick Newman was wanted for alleged child sex offences - including rape and strangulation of a young girl - when he stabbed Detective Sergeant John Breda at the Maroubra Junction Hotel on Friday afternoon.

Speaking at the home she shared with her son in Sydney's west, Newman's heartbroken mother told Daily Mail Australia she felt 'unbearable' pain for both her family and the Det Sgt Breda.

The detective's condition had improved somewhat on Monday, according to Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec who said the decorated officer had 'opened his eyes'.

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Former labourer Nick Newman was wanted for alleged child sex offences - including rape and strangulation - when he stabbed Detective Sergeant John Breda at the Maroubra Junction Hotel on Friday afternoon

Court papers seen by Daily Mail Australia show Newman first raped and indecently assaulted the child in early 2014 and kept performing depraved acts until just two weeks ago

'It's like an atomic bomb, so painful and terrible,' said Anne Newman.

'It is very shocking  Unbearable pain, it's so painful.

'I can feel the pain of the other side, you know, the policeman who was stabbed.

'I can feel the pain also. And I am praying for him that he will survive.

'It's not easy for him. He has kids, he have a family he needs to look after.'

Ms Newman lived with her son in a small red-brick Penrith flat with an Australian flag hung up on the wall.

She was recovering at home recovering from aplastic anemia, a serious medical condition, when she learned the news from loved ones last week.

Ms Newman said she hadn't known about the allegations.

'There are allegations, I don't even know what's happening, what's going on.'

Another close relative, who asked not to be named, said she only learned of the claims early last week.

An arrest warrant was issued for Newman's arrest on six charges of aggressive sexual assault and one of reckless strangulation on Wednesday.

Newman (pictured) failed to appear in court of child sex offences two days earlier, with the paedophile wanting to end his life rather than spend time in jail

Sergeant Breda (pictured) was stabbed twice by Newman while he was trying to arrest him

Ms Newman said her son was on anti-depressants and had suffered hardship in his life.

'He have depression. He sees psychiatrist, and I don't know his psychiatrist. He is taking depressant medication.'

He worked only on-and-off because of his illness, with his mother saying he had 'a lot of hardship in his life'.

The other relative said the family's main concern was for Newman's children, who were struggling.

'At the moment, my main concern is the kids.

'It's very hurtful for them, what they're seeing everywhere.

'There are a lot of questions we don't have answers for.

Ms Newman said her son was on anti-depressants and had suffered hardship in his life

A year before the fatal confrontation, Newman and two other survivalists started Strategic Threat Solutions, selling military-style gear

These knives were listed for sale on the site along with kevlar vests, 'hard knuckle tactical gloves', lockpicks, a variety of warfare-themed patches

'It all happened so quickly.'

Neighbour Kate Chaseling claimed Newman had 'brought the little community together' in the block and denied the allegations could be true.

Court papers seen by Daily Mail Australia show Newman first raped and indecently assaulted the child in early 2014 and kept performing depraved acts until just two weeks ago.

Police then put out an urgent request for the community to be on the lookout for Newman, saying he had been known to frequent the Redfern, CBD and Nepean areas.

The devoted father and policeman (right) underwent emergency surgery at St Vincent's Hospital as his devastated wife, Kim, (left) arrived to be by his bedside under police escort

The hero cop was still in hospital after a series of emergency surgeries after the knife damaged his liver and lungs and destroyed one of his kidney.

He needed 30 blood transfusions and faced more surgeries in his long recovery as his wife Kim stayed by his bedside supported by his colleagues.

A year before the fatal confrontation, Newman and two other survivalists started Strategic Threat Solutions, selling military-style gear.

Items for sale included kevlar vests, 'hard knuckle tactical gloves', lockpicks, a variety of warfare-themed patches, handcuffs, and even its brand of coffee.

Among all that was a $425 Israeli combat knife similar to the one used to stab Sergeant Breda - which officers described as a 'killing knife'.

A hero detective was stabbed and his child rapist attacker was shot dead at a pub in Sydney

He was also active on forums of apocalypse survival group Zombie Eradication Response Team, which became a huge part of his life.

On his Facebook page, run under a disturbing pseudonym, Newman posted images of bullets, and weapons, shared strange memes, and photos of 'rabid' wolves with the word 'insanity' underneath.The incident comes a day after an ambulance stocked with explosives killed more than 100 people inside the capital city

Afghan Defense Ministry Spokesman Dawlat Waziri said three attackers have been killed and one arrested

At least five militants attacked an army outpost near one of Afghanistans main military academies on Monday, leaving at least two dead and 10 wounded, a defense ministry official said.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack near the Marshal Fahim military academy in the western outskirts of the capital, Kabul, according to the militant groups Amaq news agency.

Afghan Defense Ministry Spokesman Dawlat Waziri said three attackers have been killed and one arrested. The fate of the last militant remians unclear

Afghan security personnel detain a suspect as they guard the site of an attack near the Marshal Fahim Military Academy base in Kabul on January 29, 2018

An Afghan security personnel gestures as he guards the site of an attack near the Marshal Fahim Military Academy base in Kabul

Members of an Afghan security detail arrive at the site of an early morning attack near an military academy in Kabul

Local media reports claim that the Marshal Fahim National Defense University (pictured) was assaulted early Monday morning by local militants

Local reports said that the campus was assaulted around 5am Monday morning by militants, including one suicide bomber, and lasted for at least an hour.

The academy is located in the Qargha district Kabul and sits atop a site that sprawls over a 105 acres.

It houses various educational establishments for the Afghan Armed Forces including the National Military Academy of Afghanistan (NMAA), the Afghan National Army Officer Academy (ANAOA), and the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Academy, which will include the Sergeant Major Academy.

The incident comes a day after an ambulance stocked with explosives killed more than 100 people inside the capital city.

Local authorities say that a suicide bomber used the ambulance to get through security checkpoints and detonated the explosives near foreign embassies and government buildings.

Afghan security officials stand guard outside the Marshal Faheem Military academy, after an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, 29 January 2018

People try to remove debris from the scene of a suicide bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, 27 January 2018

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on Sunday that left 100 people dead in Kabul

Men carry the coffin of a relative who died in Saturday's deadly suicide attack in Kabul

'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,' said interior ministry deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi.

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.

An injured boy sits in an ambulance after the deadly blast in Kabul on Saturday

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 at 158 people wounded.

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.

The ambulance attack on Saturday took place one week after a popular Kabul hotel frequented by foreigners was attacked, leaving 22 people dead.A man suspected of killing four at a Pennsylvania car wash is the jealous ex of one of the victims, relatives have revealed.

Timothy Smith, 28, is suspected of gunning down William Porterfield, 27, Chelsie Cline, 25, Cortney Snyder, 23, and Seth Cline, 21, around 3am on Sunday at Ed's Car Wash in Melcroft.

Smith, a cook at a nearby country club, was placed on life support after receiving a gunshot wound to his head following the deadly incident. Police say it was likely self-inflicted and he is not expected to survive.

Another female victim hid in the back seat of a truck and suffered minor injuries from broken glass, authorities say.

Smith was armed with a semi-automatic rifle, a .308-caliber rifle and a handgun. He had been wearing a body armor carrier without the ballistic panels inserted at the time of the shooting.

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The suspect in Sunday's Pennsylvania car wash shooting Tim Smith is pictured. He was armed with a semi-automatic rifle, a .308-caliber rifle and a handgun (it's unclear whether the exact gun is shown) Family members of his victims said he was the jealous ex to one of girls

Suspected shooter Smith is shown left next to his ex-girlfriend Chelsea Cline who died Sunday

William Porterfield (left) also was shot dead Sunday. His wife said he had been hanging out with Cline days before her ex-boyfriend killed them

Chelsea Cline's half-brother, Seth Cline, is pictured. He was another victim in the Sunday shooting

Courtney Snyder is the fourth victim who was shot dead. Her Facebook bio reads 'full time mommy'

A male neighbor near the car wash told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review he heard roughly 30 gunshots fired over a span of minutes.

Porterfield's pregnant wife, Jenna Porterfield, 24, revealed her husband and Cline - a former girlfriend to Smith - hung out together for two days prior to the shooting that killed them both, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The wife said she and her spouse were having marital issues since their November wedding, but she didn't care 'what he did' and 'would give anything to have him back.'

Police did not reveal whether the suspect knew the other two victims.

Cline's half-sister, Sierra Kolarik, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Smith was obsessed with Cline, even after the pair's relationship came to a halt.

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

In this frame from video, police work at the scene of a fatal shooting at a car wash

A coroner walks under the police tape at the scene where a shooter killed four people

Evidence markers are shown on the scene on the gloomy Sunday morning

An official walks along a line of tow trucks on Indian Creek Valley Road as they remove three vehicles from a scene

A little girl watches from the front of G&D Market as trucks remove three vehicles from a scene

Kolarik said Smith left beer on her sister's car and sent her flowers and presents recently to prove he loved her.

Cline's sister added that Smith came across as 'the most kind-hearted person' but had interest mostly in 'guns and guns and guns and shooting and beer and rolling cigarettes.'

Smith's Facebook bio reads he is a cook at Ligonier Country Club in Ligonier and a 'former slave' at Out of The Fire Cafe in Donegal.

In his profile picture, he is shown him smiling widely and flipping a middle finger to his Facebook friends, underneath a cover photo that reads: 'Live in the moment'.

Just last week, Cline shared a meme on her page that said: 'After this week, I rlly (sic) need to get taken out ... on a date or by a sniper either one is fine w me at this point.'

People hug at the scene where a shooter killed four people Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018

Locals and family members comfort each other at the scene where a shooter shot dead four

Sad locals walk toward the car wash scene where four young people lost their lives

Smith replied in the comments section: 'I could do both.'

The shooting suspect was said to be the first to arrive at the car wash early Sunday before his ex-girlfriend and the three other parties arrived.

He sat in his parked pickup truck on the side of the two-bay car wash and waited.

Police say when Porterfield and Cline exited their vehicle and walked out, Smith opened fire.

Meanwhile the two other victims - Snyder and Cline's half-brother, Seth Cline, arrived in a pickup truck around the same time.

Smith is shown him smiling widely and flipping a middle finger to his Facebook friends

They were both shot and killed while still inside their vehicle, police say.

A neighbor informed car wash owner, Ed Bukovac, in a phone call around 4am that something had gone seriously wrong at his business, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Bukovac said police were at the scene by the time he arrived and was informed on what had happened further.

Friend to construction worker Seth Cline, Cayleigh Myers, described him as 'very outgoing, very funny and very smart.'

Porterfield is pictured on Facebook smiling before he died on Sunday in the senseless shooting

Cline is pictured alongside another individual. Her ex-boyfriend is on life support after he allegedly killed four and likely shot himself

In this photo taken by Cayleigh Myers, Myers is shown with Seth Cline. Cline was among the four people killed

Synder is shown out hunting in a Facebook photo before she was gunned down Sunday

Myers said: 'You always had fun when you were around him... he would give his shirt off his back for you, anything.

'It didn't matter what it was, what time it was, if you need him, you could call him. He was everything,' she added.

Snyder's Facebook bio reads 'full time mommy'.

Her cover photo says: 'She wears strength and darkness equally well, the girl has always been half goddess, half hell.'

The shooting happened in the rural and quiet town located about 55 miles (89 kilometers) southeast of Pittsburgh.An unemployed man pretended to be a doctor at Brisbane's children's hospital to make friends and kept the deception going after starting a fling with a security staffer.

Nicholas Brett Delaney stole security credentials and walked the halls of the Lady Cilento Children's Hospital and Ronald McDonald House between May and December last year, Brisbane Magistrates Court heard on Monday.

But during his months posing as a surgeon he never interacted with patients and did not steal or tamper with any medication, his solicitor Nicholas Hanly told the court.

Nicholas Brett Delaney (pictured in December) pretended to be a doctor for seven months at Brisbane's children's hospital undertook the ruse to make friends

Mr Delaney (pictured) kept the deception going after he started a relationship with a security staffer who he reportedly met on Grindr, a dating app

Mr Hanly stressed the 25-year-old was there to meet people after losing his job as an orderly at a Sunnybank hospital.

'The reason Mr Delaney went to the hospital pretending to be a doctor was to make friends,' he said.

He was visiting the hospital once or twice a week in the opening month of his fraud but it was then that 'the plot thickened', Mr Hanly told the court.

He met a man through the gay dating app 'Grindr' and during conversations said he was Dr Nick Delaney.

'This person then said that he was a security officer at the (Lady) Cilento hospital,' Mr Hanly said.

'Mr Delaney felt as though he needed to keep up the ruse as they continued, for the entire period of the offending, a casual relationship.'

Delaney's deception came unstuck when he asked the security guard to help him renew his credentials and inquiries were made.

The 25-year-old visited the hospital once or twice a week in the opening month of his fraud at Lady Cilento Children's Hospital (pictured) last year

Mr Delaney also kept the facade going at the Ronald McDonald House in South Brisbane (pictured) where he was fined $3000 on Monday as he pleaded guilty to two charges

While delivering sentence on Monday, magistrate Barry Cosgrove warned Delaney that had he attempted to treat patients he would likely have been sent to jail.

A remorseful Delaney, who suffers from a mild intellectual impairment, pleaded guilty to a charge of fraud and one of entering a premises and committing an indictable offence.

He was fined $3000 but no conviction was recorded.Sydney has been 'a trifle sticky' this week, with the city sweltering through its most humid week in 15 years.

Weatherzone forecaster Brett Dutschke said Sydney copped a constant stream of moist, warm air for the past week, thanks to a trough over western New South Wales.

The hot weather will stick around, with tops of 29C forecast for the city's centre on Tuesday.

In Penrith, in the city's west, temperatures are likely to reach 37C on Tuesday.

Mr Dutschke said the city was 'a trifle sticky' due to high humidity, which made temperatures feel even hotter than they were.

The hot weather will stick around, with tops of 29C forecast for the city's centre on Tuesday

Temperatures reach 28C in Sydney on Monday - the end of the most humid week in 15 years

The Weatherzone meteorologist said Sydney suffered through its most humid January in 12 years and most humid week in 15 years.

He said the stifling humidity would stick around until Wednesday, when residents could expect the mercury to drop below 20C.

Temperatures are expected to drop to 19C on Wednesday morning, with wet and windy conditions replacing the heat.

Conditions are then expected to remain cool until next Tuesday, with Weatherzone predicting possible showers every day for a week.

An extreme heatwave is sweeping across Australia over the long weekend has experts warning people may die. A beachgoer is pictured soaking up the sun on Friday

The Weatherzone meteorologist said Sydney suffered through its most humid January in 12 years and most humid week in 15 years

Meanwhile in Melbourne, the city is bracing for a high chance of showers and a thunderstorm

Meanwhile in Melbourne, the city is bracing for a high chance of showers and a thunderstorm.

The wet change will come as a reprieve for Melbourne residents who suffered through their hottest night in years on Sunday.

Thousands of Victorian homes were plunged into darkness overnight due to overwhelming demand for power.

With more than 68,000 homes without energy, residents were forced to swelter through 30C heat overnight with no air-conditioning or fans.

Towns without power stretch across the state, with the Bellarine Peninsula one of the hardest hit

'Hottest day and night of summer so far. Power off till 11pm,' Adam Logan said

'No power for more than 9 hours now on Melbourne's hottest day,' one woman saidd

The Victoria chief health officer Professor Charles Guest warned temperatures would reach dangerous levels.

'Heat kills Australians more than any other national disaster,' he said.

'That's because the core temperature of the body goes up, sweating may go down and then organs may shut down. Heat can be a very dangerous phenomenon.

'It's important everybody in the community understands how to survive the heat.'

Meanwhile in Queensland, the Sunshine State is bracing for another hot and sunny week ahead.

Temperatures in Brisbane will hover around the 30C mark, paired with high humidity.

Mercury will unlikely dip below 22C in the Queensland city until Saturday.Rogue funeral directors are chasing ambulances hoping to gain lucrative deals and bidding for government contracts.

Undertakers in Brisbane have called for the state government to introduce a regulation system to prevent rogue amateurs from gaining funeral business.

It is also claimed funeral directors have been taking tiny government contracts to work at emergencies to secure funerals and driving bodies hundreds of kilometres to save money, the Courier Mail reports.

Undertakers in Brisbane have called for the state government to introduce a regulation system

But the problem is thought to spread further afield than Queensland with rogues believed to be operating in New South Wales as well.

The Queensland government has not committed to launching a formal inquiry into the alleged rogue practices and bidding scandal.

Anton Brown, president of the Queensland Funeral Directors Association, said governments needed to clamp down.

He labelled the government 'cheapskates' for contracting undertakers to take bodies away from crime scenes or road accidents to the mortuary for just a cent.

'It starts with regulation. The government has to get involved,' Mr Brown told Daily Mail Australia.

'The ambulance chasing is to do with a police contract. When you hear on the radio that someone has died, they've got to call the government contractor and they [undertakers] bid for that contract.

Rogues are believed to be operating outside Queensland with reports in New South Wales too

'The police are there and call the government undertaker for that zone to retrieve the body.

'They get the name of the family and can tout. They just don't care, they're backyarders.

'The government says it was fixed up in 2012 but it still goes on.

'You're dealing with people's emotions. It's more than getting a body and cremating it.

'If we could get the government to regulate something then a family can say show me your licence.

'In NSW it's the same. People have been phoning me saying good on you for speaking about it.

'A funeral director is not licensed or anything but but we are registered through the city or shire council,' Mr Brown added.

But anyone can bid for a contract to become a government undertaker.

At least three contracts have been issued for as little as one cent, according to a Courier Mail investigation.

It also reports the Queensland Funeral Directors Association will meet with both the state's shadow attorney general and Office of Fair Trading this week.

'You just order the paperwork online and send your tender in. You don't have to be registered,' he said.

'That's probably why the government won't do anything because it's going to cost them too much to manage. They are robbing Peter to pay Paul.

'The way it should be done is you apply for the contract you should have some credibility.

'If you are a credible funeral director going for those contracts it would be better than having a rogue one doing it.

'Otherwise how do you know they are doing it the right way.'

The Justice department has been approached for comment by Daily Mail Australia.A Detroit, Michigan police officer died on Sunday after being shot in the head and chest during a domestic violence call last week, police said.

Officer Glenn Doss Jr., 25, did not have time to get out of his patrol car before he was shot on Wednesday answering a call about a man armed with a gun and possibly assaulting two women, The Detroit News reported.

His partner, Officer Samuel Anderson, rushed him to the hospital, while radioing other officers to warn them about the assailant.

Doss died on Sunday after four days listed in critical condition at the Detroit Receiving Hospital, said Detroit Police Chief James Craig in a broadcast news conference.

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Officer Glenn Doss Jr (pictured) was shot in the head while responding to a domestic violence call on Wednesday

Doss (left and center right) died on Sunday, after spending four days in a coma. He leaves behind his girlfriend Emily (center left) and their nine-month-old son Eli (right)

'He fought a good fight,' Craig told reporters. 'He is truly what we call one of Detroit's finest. He is what we call an American hero.'

His father, Glenn Doss, Sr., also a Detroit police officer, said at the conference: 'I never told to join the police department. I never advised him to join the police department. He called me up a couple of years ago and said dad what do I have to do to be in the police. I told him to go to 1301 Third Street and put in an application. Three months later he started the academy and fell in love with the job.'

Doss had originally been studying therapy and psychology.

His 19-year veteran father added: 'I want to thank God for the 25 years that have allowed me the honor and pleasure to raise such a great young man.'

Doss was shot in the head while responding to a domestic violence call at this home in Detroit Wednesday night

An armed suspect shot at the car dozens of times - striking Doss before he even had time to get out of his vehicle

Doss' partner rushed him to the hospital and radioed other cops to warn them about the armed man at the residence. Above, the crime scene being processed

Doss was a two-year veteran and had recently welcomed his first child, nine-month-old son Eli, with his longtime girlfriend Emily.

Decharlos O. Brooks, 43 (pictured), was arrested at the scene after police threw tear gas into the home where he was barricaded for more than three hours

Decharlos O. Brooks, 43, was arrested at the scene after police threw tear gas into the home where he was barricaded for more than three hours, media reports said.

Brooks was charged with 33 counts, and more are expected to come.

Those charges include eight counts of assault with intent to murder, seven counts of resisting and obstructing, 17 counts of felony firearms and one count of carrying a dangerous weapon.

No additional charge information was immediately available from the Andrew C. Baird Detention Facility where he was being held without bond.

A vigil for Doss will take place Monday at 4:30pm at the 7th Precinct.

A GoFundMe account has been set up for his family to help with medical and funeral costs.

Ross' (right) father, Glenn Ross Sr. (left), is also a member of the Detroit PoliceA Sydney man charged in relation to the ISIS-inspired shooting murder of police accountant Curtis Cheng has refused to stand in court.

Raban Alou, 20, is facing a sentence hearing after pleading guilty to aiding a terrorist act by Farhad Jabar, who fatally shot Mr Cheng outside NSW Police Headquarters in Parramatta in 2015.

Alou was unmoved on Monday when told by Justice Peter Johnson there could be repercussions for refusing to stand during his indictment for religious reasons.

Raban Alou, 20, who is charged in relation to the ISIS-inspired shooting murder of police accountant Curtis Cheng, refused to stand in court on Monday

Farhad Jabar (right) fatally shot Mr Cheng outside NSW Police Headquarters in Parramatta in 2015

The judge said Alou's refusal to stand in court was inconsistent with the position of the Australian National Imams Council, and he could see no religious basis for it.

Alou allegedly gave the gun to Jabar at the Parramatta Mosque, from where he walked to Police Headquarters and shot Mr Cheng dead as he left work.

Jabar was killed by security officers at the scene, before police found a suicide note which read 'by the will of Allah I have come today to put terror into your hearts'.

Crown prosecutor Paul McGuire SC told the NSW Supreme Court that Alou was lacking remorse, had extremist views and poor prospects of rehabilitation.

Alou (pictured during his arrest) was unmoved on Monday when told by Justice Peter Johnson there could be repercussions for refusing to stand during his indictment for religious reasons

Raban Alou was 18 years old when he was charged with terrorism offences following Mr Cheng's death

He said the 20-year-old threatened corrective services officers and firefighters when there was a blaze at the prison, and made a hand gesture associated with Islamic State.

'I'll get every single one of you on the outside, I'll put a bullet in every single one of you,' Alou said, according to the prosecutor.

Alou was also recorded during a Christmas Eve phone call with family members saying he had no regrets and wasn't going to apologise, Mr McGuire said.A young Canadian couple who recently returned from holiday in the Dominican Republic are warning vacationers not to get the 'sand between your toes' after picking up some nasty parasites.

Katie Stephens, 22, and Eddie Zytner, 25 said that their feet became noticeably itchy in the middle of their week-long getaway to the Caribbean earlier this month after strolling the beaches of the IFA Villas Bavaro Resort in Punta Cana.

'[We] found that we were scratching our feet quite a bit,' Stephens told CTV News on Friday, adding that they had heard about sand fleas and 'kind of assumed it was that at first.'

Katie Stephens (R), 22, and Eddie Zytner, 25 said that their feet became noticeably itchy in the middle of their week-long getaway to the Caribbean

After returning home to Ontario on January 18, the couple said he became alarmed when he noticed his feet had become severely swollen

But after returning home to Ontario on January 18, Zytner said he became alarmed when he noticed his feet had become severely swollen and small bumps had developed on his toes.

The couple decided to seek medical attention for their malady, but the first two doctors who were tasked with treating them were left stumped.

Luckily, a third doctor was able to diagnose their condition, having seen similar symptoms from a tourist who recently traveled to Thailand.

The physician informed them that they had contracted larva migrans, more commonly known as hookworms, most likely as they walked around the beach barefoot.

Hookworms found in the Caribbean can enter into human skin if it comes in contact with an infected surface, according to CTV News.

Doctors said the condition can be treated with a medication called ivermectin, Stephens wrote in a Facebook post about the ordeal.

Unfortunately for the couple, they ran into a problem.

'We found out that Health Canada had denied our request to receive the medication saying our case wasn't severe enough. At that point, that's when we freaked out a little,' she said.

The situation, however, was resolved when Stephens' mother volunteered to drive into nearby Detroit, Michigan and pick up the medication from the pharmacy.

Despite still using crutches, the medicine has provided a marked improvement in the three days since beginning the treatment.

'They [his feet] feel better,' Zytner told CTV News. 'They looked a little bit better yesterday. We're getting our bandages changed again so we'll have another chance to look at them and see how it's progressing.'

The couple said they wanted to post their experience to Facebook to raise awareness in other travelers and possibly help doctors who encounter the condition in the future.

'We want to make it known to more doctors what it is, what to look for and stuff because it took us a few trips to the hospital to find out what it was,' Zytner said.A small plane has made a late-night emergency landing on a freeway south of Los Angeles.

The Beech G33 plane landed safely near an exit on the 55 Freeway in Costa Mesa on Sunday around 7.50pm, officials said.

The pilot and his single passenger, identified by CBS Local as Izzy Slod and Daniel Gross, respectively, exited without issue and no injuries were reported.

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A 1971 Beechcraft Bonanza plane made an emergency landing on the 55 Freeway in Costa Mesa, California on Sunday around 7.50pm

Few cars were on the freeway at the time and no injuries were reported

Slod, 25, told CBS he was flying from San Diego to the Los Angeles area when the plane, a 1971 Beechcraft Bonanza, lost power.

He said he alerted air traffic control to his emergency landing.

Strong winds prevented him from reaching nearby John Wayne Airport in Orange County in time, officials said.

Pilot Izzy Slod, 25, told CBS Local: 'You have a minute, maybe two minutes max to figure something out'

'You have a minute, maybe two minutes max to figure something out,' Slod told CBS Local. 'I went with my gut on the freeway.'

The fact that few vehicles were on the freeway and that no one crashed was a 'complete miracle,' Costa Mesa Fire Captain Chris Coatez told KTLA.

Originally, Costa Mesa authorities thought they were responding to a plane crash.

The landing did cause significant traffic.

'Plane landed on the 55 North we just missed it!,' Dora Noriega tweeted.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident, the Los Angeles Times reports.A young girl has been assaulted at a bus stop by a man wearing a Hawaiian shirt.

The man attacked the 16-year-old after striking up a conversation with her.

The teenager was waiting for a bus in Carrum Downs in Melbourne on November 22, police say.

Police have released an image of his car in the hope someone will recognise it

The offender is aged in his late 20s to early 40s with short black hair.

He was wearing a short sleeve Hawaiian-style shirt.

He also verbally abused the girl before fleeing in a red hatchback with distinct spoke rims.

Police have released an image of his car in the hope someone will recognise it.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.More than $50million worth of gold bars, coins and dust that were lost in a shipwreck 150 years ago is about to go on display for the first time.

In total 3,100 coins, 45 gold bars, and more than 80lbs (36kg) of gold dust sank along with the S.S. Central America when it was ripped apart by a hurricane off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.

The trove was tracked down in 1988 in a expedition led by treasure hunter Tommy Thompson but has been tangled up in legal battles ever since.

3,100 coins, 45 gold bars, and more than 80lbs of gold dust were lost when the S.S. Central America sank off the coast of South Carolina in 1857, but discovered in 1988

425 people drowned as the Central America went to the bottom of the ocean, taking with it a haul of California gold so large that it cause economic panic

Treasure hunter Tommy Thompson discovered the gold in 1988 (left) and sold it in 2000, but failed to reimburse his investors and went on the run. He was eventually tracked to Florida in 2015 (right) and is now in jail having failed to reveal the location of some missing coins

The fight began when a string of insurance companies tried to lay their hands on the fortune, but ownership was eventually granted to Thompson and his investors.

He then sold the gold through a company he had set up for $50million in 2000, but failed to reimburse his backers, who eventually sued him in 2005.

He went into seclusion in Florida and later became a fugitive after an Ohio judge issued a warrant for his arrest in 2012.

Authorities tracked Thompson to a Florida hotel room in 2015 and a judge has held Thompson in contempt since December 2015.

He is guilty of violating terms of a plea deal by refusing to answer questions about the location of 500 missing gold coins and has been jailed ever since.

Thompson has previously said the coins were turned over to a trust in Belize.

He has also said that the $50million from the sale of the gold mostly went toward legal fees and bank loans.

Each gold coin has been soaked in a chemical solution and brushed clean by hand, removing a century and a half of rust and grime

All of the gold on display is up for sale, with valuers estimating that a single small coin could fetch $1million because of the story behind it

Bob Evans was the chief scientist on the expedition that discovered the treasure, and oversaw the work to clean them up

The rest of the gold was recovered in 2014 and bought from the investors by the California Gold Marketing Group earlier this month.

Bob Evans, the chief scientist on the original voyage that discovered the shipwreck is now painstakingly cleaning each piece of gold by hand, soaking it in a solution and brushing off rust and grime that accumulated as the treasure sat 7,000ft (2,134m) below sea level.

'This is a whole new season of discovery,' Evans told The Associated Press this week from the laboratory in Santa Ana.

'We are now peering beneath the grime and the rust that is on the coins, removing those objects and those substances and getting to look at the treasure as it was in 1857.'

The Central America was laden with booty from the California Gold Rush when it sank in a hurricane off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.

Four hundred and twenty-five people drowned and thousands of pounds of California gold were lost, contributing to an economic panic.

Using sable paintbrushes and a cleaning solution, Evans has been restoring the gold -some of which is completely caked over in black gunk - to its original luster for the past two weeks.

The S.S. Central America was carrying a haul of gold uncovered during the California gold rush when it sank off the coast of South Carolina in a hurricane

Just a few dozen of the 3,100 coins lost aboard the Central America sit in water baths while being restored at a lab in Santa Ana

He will continue that work through February, when the treasure will go on public display at the Long Beach Convention Center, just south of Los Angeles.

The gold is all for sale. Just one coin could go for $1million because of a combination of rarity and the history behind it, said Dwight Manley, managing partner of the California Gold Marketing Group, which is displaying and selling the gold.

'This is something that in hundreds of years people will still be talking about, reading about, looking back on and collecting things from,' Manley said.

'There's no other ships that sank that haven't been recovered that rival this or are similar to this, so it's really a once-in-a-lifetime situation.'

The gold will be on display Feb. 22-24 at the Long Beach Convention CenterThe CBA chairwoman said that a change in leadership would 'provide certainty'

Many are surprised at the appointment given his involvement in the allegations

he bank is currently facing fallout from allegations of serious money laundering

Matt Comyn will take over as the Commonwealth Bank CEO as Ian Narev resigns

The Commonwealth Bank has opted for an internal appointment as its new chief executive to deal with the fallout from allegations by AUSTRAC that it was responsible for $77 million being laundered to terrorists.

In August 2017, AUSTRAC alleged that CBA'failed to act' on suspicions that its network of 'intelligent' deposit machines were being used by terror organisations and drug syndicates to launder tens of millions of dollars' - all but forcing a change in leadership to 'provide certainty' to the market.

Matt Comyn is set to take the reins from Ian Narev starting April 9 - but the bank refused to confirm whether Mr Narev's resignation was received before or after the scandal broke last year.

Matt Comyn is set to take the reins from Ian Narev as CEO of Commonwealth Bank Australia

The Commonwealth Bank opted for an internal appointment as its new chief executive in 2018

'CBA is both a significant Australian institution and a world class bank, with a proud history that had delivered great outcomes for its customers, shareholders and people for decades,' Mr Comyn told The Guardian.

Adding that it was a 'privilege' to become chief executive, he added that he believed CBA was 'well-placed' to build on its current success for many years to come.

However, the appointment is controversial considering that his previous role in the retail sector included the rollout of the so-called intelligent deposit machines which are central to the money laundering allegations against the bank.

According to the ABC, Mr Comyn's annual salary package includes a base pay of $2.2 million a year, with short-term incentives of up to another $2.2 million and long-term incentives of $4 million.

Previously group executive of retail banking services, Mr Comyn's new appointment was announced by CBA chairwoman Catherine Livingstone on Monday morning.

'We believe he was the outstanding candidate, best placed to lead the bank at an important time in its history,' she explained.

'The board's main priorities in selecting the new CEO were to identify the candidate who will maintain the momentum in the business, and address the regulatory and reputational challenges and recognise evolving community expectations.

'Matt's appointment will enable a smooth transition to new leadership, as CBA responds to the current regulatory processes and legal proceedings, accelerating the related changes and improvements already under way.'

CBA chairwoman Catherine Livingstone (pictured) announced Mr Comyn's appointment

Ms Livingstone (left) also thanked Mr Narev (right) for his time at CEO of Commonwealth Bank

Ms Livingstone also thanked Mr Narev for his time at CEO during one of the most 'troubled periods' in the history of the bank.

Mr Narev's resignation was made public just two weeks after civil proceedings were launched against CBA, with the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (ASTRAC) claiming the bank made 'serious and systematic' violations of anti-terrorism laws.

To limit the fallout, senior executive bonuses were axed, followed by Ms Livingstone announcing that the resignation of Mr Narev 'should provide certainty' to the market.

Senior executive bonuses, including Mr Narve's (pictured) were axed in 2017 after the scandal

Mr Narev's resignation was made public two weeks after AUSTRAC launched civil proceedings

The troubled financial institution is currently fighting claims from AUSTRAC that it failed to report $77 million worth of 'suspicious' transactions and allegedly allowed machines to be used by four money laundering syndicates.

AUSTRAC maintains that CBA didn't act to mitigate the circumstances even after the Australian Federal Police brought 'unusual patterns of transactions' to their attention.

'The AFP advised Commbank in late 2015 that a number of these accounts were connected with an investigation into serious criminal offences, including 'drug important and unlawful processing of money',' AUSTRAC alleged in its statement of claim.

'CommBank permitted several of the accounts to remain open even after this time and further transactions occurred. Eight individuals have been charged with dealing in proceeds of crime, with 6 of these individuals already having been convicted.'A 51-year-old Queensland man was arrested on Monday over two alleged murders committed 25 years ago.

Russell Williams was charged over the disappearance and suspected murders of Robert Grayson and Derek Van Der Poel in Gladstone in the early 1990s.

Police commenced Operation Gaze in September 1994 - one month after Mr Grayson, 26 at the time, was reported missing and just days after Mr Van Der Poel, 23 at the time, was reported missing.

Russell Williams, 51, was charged over the alleged murders of Robert Grayson (right) and Derek Van Der Poel (left), who police believe were killed in 1993

Both men had last been seen alive in the Kroombit Tops National Park in May of 1993.

The pair are believed to have been 'crop sitters', who were watching over a marijuana plantation in the area.

Williams has been charged with two counts of murder and drug production.

Detective Inspector Darrin Shadlow told reporters on Monday Williams had been a person of interest for 'quite some time', and was known to police.

He said Queensland police were still searching for others involved.

'Today's arrest is significant and a testament to the exhaustive efforts of investigators, however our investigation is not over yet,' he said.

Police will allege in court the two men were crop sitters watching a marijuana plantation in the Kroombit Tops National Park and Williams believed they were stealing

'We are using this opportunity to further appeal to anyone with information to contact us.

'Most importantly, as a result of this arrest, we will be making other enquiries regarding the possible involvement of other people in these offences.'

A $250,000 reward remains in place for information which leads to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the disappearance and suspected murder of Robert Grayson and Derek Van Der Poel.

An appropriate indemnity from prosecution will also be recommended for any accomplice, not being the person who actually committed the crime, who first provides such information.'

Williams will appear in the Gladstone Magistrates Court on Tuesday January 30.A gay Russian couple have been charged with a criminal offence after using an apparent legal loophole to have their marriage recognised.

Eugene Wojciechowski and Paul Stotzko tied the knot in Denmark on January 4 and returned to their home in Russia, where their documents were approved.

However, same-sex marriage is illegal in the country and the couple have now been charged with 'intentional damage to passports or negligence'.

Eugene Wojciechowski (left) and Paul Stotzko (right) tied the knot in Denmark on January 4 and returned to their home in Russia, where their documents were approved

Their marital status was validated 'without superfluous questions' and their passports stamped without a hitch, the pair told independent Russian channel TV Rain.

But now the press office of the Moscow Department of the Interior has said the men will face charges regarding their documentation, The Independent reported.

But now the press office of the Moscow Department of the Interior has said the men will face charges regarding their documentation (pictured)

Interfax reported that 'Article 19.16 of the Administrative Code on 'deliberate damage to documents' entails a warning or an administrative fine in the amount of 100 to 300 rubles'.

Russia does not register same-sex marriages, but marriages abroad are deemed legally legitimate if they do not contradict 'Article 14 of the Family Code'.

The article prohibits marriage between close relatives and people already married, and 'mutual voluntary consent of the man and woman entering in marriage' is required.

However, it says nothing about same-sex unions being a disqualifying factor.

The press officer at the Moscow office where the marriage was approved has not confirmed a mistake was made and said further discussion was 'inexpedient'.

Homophobia remains prevalent in Russia despite homosexuality being decriminalised in 1993.

A controversial 'gay propaganda law' was introduced in 2013 which banned 'propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations' among minors.

Stephen Fry famously confronted Vitaly Milonov, one of the architects of the law, during an explosive interview which received thousands of views on YouTube.Rajesh Maru (pictured), 32, was dragged towards the machine by its magnetic force after he entered the room carrying an oxygen cylinder

A man in India has died after being sucked into an MRI machine at a hospital while visiting a sick relative.

Rajesh Maru, 32, was dragged towards the machine by its magnetic force after he entered the room carrying an oxygen cylinder, Mumbai police said in a statement.

'We have arrested a doctor and another junior staff member under section 304 of the Indian penal code for causing death due to negligence,' police spokesman Deepak Deoraj said today.

The incident occurred on Saturday night at Nair Hospital.

Police said preliminary reports suggested that the man had died from inhaling liquid oxygen that leaked from the cylinder.

It is thought the cylinder was damaged after hitting the machine.

Ramesh Bharmal, the dean of the hospital, said an investigation had been launched to determine the exact cause of death, adding that CCTV footage of the incident had been handed over to police.

The victim's uncle said Maru had been asked to carry the cylinder by the junior staff member who assured him the machine was switched off.

'The ward boy who was supposed to prevent such incidents told my family members to go inside when the machine was turned on. We are shocked and devastated,' Jitendra Maru said.

The state government of Maharashtra, of which Mumbai is the capital, announced compensation of 500,000 rupees (5,600) for the victim's family.

The victim's uncle said Maru had been asked to carry the cylinder by the junior staff member who assured him the machine was switched off. Pictured: A stock image showing an MRI scanner

MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, machines use a powerful magnetic field to produce images of the body's organs. Metallic objects are pulled towards it and must not be carried into the room.

In 2014 two hospital workers sustained injuries when they were pinned between an MRI machine and a metal oxygen tank for four hours at a hospital in New Delhi.

In 2001, a six-year-old boy undergoing an MRI scan in New York was killed when a metal oxygen tank flew towards the machine and crushed his skull.A former teacher at a prestigious Sydney school faces the possibility of giving birth in jail when she is sentenced this week.

A 34-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual intercourse with a person under her care when she worked at Sydney Grammar School in 2016.

The woman, who met up with the 17-year-old victim at her home, a classroom and a school storage cupboard, previously told the NSW District Court she thought they were involved in a 'very mutual love affair'.

The teacher, who cannot be identified, was married at the time of the offences.

When the her sentence hearing resumed on Monday, the judge was told by the Crown that a a full-time jail term is the only appropriate sentence, despite the woman currently being pregnant.

Prosecutor Lara Gallagher said that advice received from Justice Health indicated the woman's pregnancy, birth and any care the baby needs after the birth can be 'well handled' in a custodial setting.

But the ex-teacher's barrister David McCallum described the Crown's submission was 'somewhat ambitious'.

'It is simply not correct that Your Honour should not, therefore, take into account the circumstances of the offender's pregnancy,' he told Judge Paul Lakatos.

He told the court it was an exceptional case due to new information that the baby 'has some condition that will require some kind of corrective treatment' when it's born.

The former teacher, who is currently pregnant, will be sentenced on Friday (February 2).

He added that the case involved 'special circumstances' which would allow the judge to significantly vary the standard ratio between any jail term and the non-parole period.

The court previously heard the then-teacher bombarded the student with text messages for months after he ended their sexual relationship, apologising, professing her love and referring to herself as a 'f***ing monster'. She sent one text message on behalf of her dog, who 'would like to say hello and ask how you are'.

'He knows it's over between us, but he still cares about you. He hopes you won't stay angry too long and that maybe we can talk before school goes back,' the message read.

The woman will be sentenced on Friday (February 2).Advertisement

The swelling river Seine has finally reached its peak at more than 19 feet today, after a weekend which saw 1,500 people forced out of their homes, more than 200 towns suffer water damage and parts of the Louvre close.

The river rose to 19.2 feet (5.84 metres) early Monday, more than 13ft above normal, causing continued headaches for commuters in Paris as well as people living near its overflowing banks.

The local flooding watchdog said the river would stay at its current level throughout the day before beginning to recede Tuesday, but experts say the clean-up in the French capital and surrounding areas will take weeks.

Peak: A picture taken late on Sunday evening shows the flooded Quai de Grenelle by the banks of the Seine river with the Eiffel Tower in the background

Heading back: A sign is partially submerged in the flooded banks of the Seine river as Parisians prepare for a lengthy mop-up

Tide is high: The famous Notre Dame Cathedral is seen on the banks of the flooded River Seine on Sunday night as locals hope that the waters will begin to recede on Tuesday

More favourable weather is expected for the week ahead, but even once the water levels start to recede forecasters and officials say it will be a slow process, as much of the ground in northern France 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.

The Seine has not quite reached the 2016 high of 6.1 metres, when priceless artworks had to be evacuated from the Louvre, but has caused serious damage to residents on its banks.

A dog glides through the flooded river on a small boat as its owner dons waders to trudge through the water in Villennes sur Seine

The water continues to rise after the Seine burst its banks, with levels exceeding those recorded in the flood of 2016

A car has been abandoned by its owner after water rose in the in Villennes sur Seine, with a peak level of 19ft

Flooded banks of the river Seine are seen in Paris after days of almost non-stop rain in the French capital see water levels soar

Flooding: An aerial view of the Seine flood in the town of Villeneuve-Saint-Georges near Paris

Some 240 towns French towns near Paris have suffered damage as a result of the flooding over the weekend

The images show roads and vehicles submerged in water in the town near the French capital

Popping down to the shops: A man pulls a canoe in a flooded street near the Seine river in Villennes-sur-Seine, west of Paris,

Getting out: Villennes-sur-Seine residents wear boots of waders to get through the water without getting soaked

View of the water:The floods has turned this street into a river over the weekend

This weekend, some 240 towns French towns have suffered damage as a result of the flooding and about 1,500 people have been forced to leave their homes.

In Villennes-sur-Seine, west of Paris, the ground floors of some buildings have disappeared underwater and residents are using boats instead of cars.

In Paris, cruise boat companies are suffering losses because all river traffic has been banned for days.

Police have also fined people taking to canoes on the Seine in central Paris, and sternly ordered others in a tweet against such actions, calling them 'totally irresponsible'.

Waterfront: A picture taken Sunday night shows the flooded banks of the Seine river near Notre-Dame Cathedral

The local flooding watchdog predicts that the River Seine, would stay at its current level throughout the day before beginning to recede tomorrow

The river had risen 4.3in over a period of 24 hours by Saturday evening, more than 13ft above its normal height

Paris regional authorities say the floods have already caused damage in 240 towns as Paris itself suffers from the deluge, which has forced about 1,500 people to leave their homes and closed the ground floor of the Louvre. The Eiffel Tower is seen here in the background

In Paris (pictured Saturday evening), cruise boat companies are suffering losses because all river traffic has been banned for days

In total 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. Pictured right: Parisians fishing in the swollen Seine. Left: The Eiffel tower and replica of the Statue of Liberty shown near the swollen Seine in Paris

Paris regional authorities say the floods have already caused damage in 240 towns. In Villennes-sur-Seine west of Paris, the ground floor of some buildings has disappeared underwater and residents are using boats instead of cars. Pictured: Cafe 'Les Nautes' party submerged in the Seine

Police 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.' Pictured: A flooded street in Paris

The statue The Zoave at Alma Bridge is up to its hips in water, along the rain-swollen River Seine, as water levels increase in Paris on Sunday

Swollen by weeks of heavy rains, the Seine River is expected to reach its peak in the French capital late Sunday or early Monday

he Bateau Mouche cruise tourist line, out of commission, with no access and unable to go under the bridges. After many days and weeks of rain, the Seine has flooded

People cross a bridge over the swollen Seine river in Paris this weekend. A main commuter line, the RER C, has halted service at Paris stops until Wednesday, and some expressways that run alongside the Seine have been closed

The French capital remains on high alert as the Seine continues to swell and the Louvre prepares to close its doors amid the third-wettest French winter in over a century.

The river had risen 4.3in over a period of 24 hours by Saturday evening, more than 13ft above its normal height, causing problems for commuters as well as people living near its overflowing banks.

Tourists suffered too with the capital's famous Bateaux Mouches rivercraft out of service, and only emergency services authorised to navigate the Seine.

The Louvre museum has been on high alert all weekend, along with the Musee d'Orsay and Orangerie galleries, with the lower level of the Louvre's Islamic arts wing closed to visitors.

A parking desk is partly submerged in central Paris after days of heavy rain. Cruise boat companies are suffering losses because all river traffic has been banned for days

Even once the water levels start to recede, forecasters and officials say it will be a slow process, since much of the ground in northern France is already waterlogged. Pictured: The bloated Seine on Sunday

Left: A man fishes off a barrier partially submerged by the water of the swollen Seine. Right: A tree is immersed in the river

Signs and a walkway are submerged in the Seine after days of almost non-stop rain caused the river to rise to near-record levels

Leaks started to appear in some basements in Paris on Friday, while some residents on the city's outskirts were forced to travel by boat through waterlogged streets.

A health centre in Paris's northwestern suburbs, where 86 patients were receiving care, was also evacuated on Friday.

Michel Delpuech, head of the Paris police body, told reporters that around 1,500 people had been moved out of homes in the Ile de France region comprising the French capital and its suburbs.

'The waters will only go away slowly,' added Delpuech.

'Due to the spread of flooding to different tributaries, the level of the Seine in Paris will continue rising again on the weekend,' said Vigicrues, adding that the highest level would last for about 10 hours before slowly going down.

A health centre in Paris's northwestern suburbs, where 86 patients were receiving care, was also evacuated on Friday. Pictured: A submerged road in the capital

A flooded street lamp is pictured next to the river Seine in Paris in Paris on Saturday night (left). Floodwaters were nearing their peak in Paris on Saturday, with the rain-swollen Seine River engulfing scenic quays and threatening wine cellars and museum basements. Right: Water rushes past Alma bridge by the Zouave statue, which is used as a measuring instrument during floods

The extent of the rising water levels was evident from the Seine lapping half way up the Zouave statue of a Crimean soldier on the Pont de l'Alma bridge.

It was enough to worry Joao de Macedo, janitor at a residential building in Paris's upscale 16th Arrondissement.

'There are six studios in the basement, and we've had to set up blocks outside to keep the windows from breaking and covering everything in water,' he said.

Inside the studios, tables and dressers have been lifted off the floor as water seeps through the walls.

Outside, where the river was nearly lapping the tyres of parked vehicles, a young woman said it was 'great to see ducks instead of cars'.

The December-January period is now the third-wettest on record since data collection began in 1900, according to France's meteorological service.

However, fears of flooding like that of 1910, which saw the Seine rise to 28ft, shutting down much of Paris's basic infrastructure, appeared unfounded.

More favourable weather is expected for the week ahead, and Vigicrues has lowered its warning level from orange to yellow in several areas upstream of the capital.

In the south of France, heavy rains caused a breach in the water supply pipe of a holding tank on an oil platform in La Mede, near Marseille, on Saturday, French giant Total said. Pictured: Children playing in the swollen river

'If we're talking about things going completely back to normal, that's going to take weeks,' said Jerome Goellner, regional head of environmental services

In Paris the Seine flows through a deep channel, limiting the potential flooding damage to riverside structures. But several areas on the city's outskirts are under water, such as the southern suburb of Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, where some residents were getting around by boat and dozens have been evacuated from their homes

More favourable weather is expected for the week ahead, and Vigicrues has lowered its warning level from orange to yellow in several areas upstream of the capital. Pictured: The swelling Seine

Tourists suffered too with the capital's famous Bateaux Mouches rivercraft out of service, and only emergency services authorised to navigate the Seine

But even once the water levels start to recede, forecasters and officials say it will be a slow process, since much of the ground in northern France is already waterlogged.

'If we're talking about things going completely back to normal, that's going to take weeks,' said Jerome Goellner, regional head of environmental services.

A main commuter line, the RER C, has halted service at Paris stops until Wednesday, and some expressways that run alongside the Seine have been closed.

A ticket booth for sightseeing boats is partly submerged by the River Seine. Tourist trips on the river have been cancelled

Parisians appear to have taken the flooding in their stride, including these people using a dinghy to make their way along the river

People living beside the Seine have been warned their wine cellars could be at risk from the flooding

Some people took advantage of the floods to exercise their creativity. A photographer takes a picture of a model standing in the Seine

In Paris the Seine flows through a deep channel, limiting the potential flooding damage to riverside structures.

But several areas on the city's outskirts are under water, such as the southern suburb of Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, where some residents were getting around by boat and dozens have been evacuated from their homes.

In the south of France, heavy rains caused a breach in the water supply pipe of a holding tank on an oil platform in La Mede, near Marseille, on Saturday, French giant Total said.

Contaminated water, not concentrated crude oil, had leaked, Total said in a statement.An Aboriginal protest group has thrown its support behind calls for Australia to be destroyed in an expletive-laden post.

Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance (WAR) on Monday defended the comments made by 'Invasion Day' protest organiser Tarneen Onus-Williams.

The 24-year-old - who has been criticised for working for government-funded organisations - said she hoped Australia 'f***ing burns to the ground' during a rally in Melbourne on Australia Day.

WAR backed Ms Onus-Williams by intensifying its criticism of Australia and its government in a wide-ranging rant posted to Facebook.

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An Aboriginal protest group has thrown its support behind Tarneen Onus-Williams (pictured) after comments she made during an 'Invasion Day' rally in Melbourne on Australia Day

The 24-year-old - who has been criticised for working for government-funded organisations - said she hoped Australia 'f***ing burns to the ground'

WAR backed Ms Onus-Williams by intensifying its criticism of Australia and its government in a wide-ranging rant posted to Facebook (pictured)

'F*** Australia. F*** your land theft, your child stealing and your state sanctioned murders. F*** your governments, your military and your police,' WAR wrote.

'F*** your concentration camps dressed up as correctional facilities and immigration detention centres. F*** your economy, your greed and your cult of the almighty dollar.'

WAR added: 'F*** your poisoning of water, your wholesale destruction of land and your pollution of our atmosphere. F*** your language forced upon us and violently attempting to replace our very own.'

The post continued to take aim at Australia's 'white supremacy, patriarchy and capitalism', as well as the nation's flag and January 26.

WAR labelled Australia a 'rotten settler colony' and said it wouldn't rest until it was destroyed and replaced by a society that 'honours the Earth'.

'Abolish Australia, not just Australia Day,' the post concluded.

The post came days after Ms Onus-Williams led a crowd of thousands in Melbourne as they flooded Spring Street and Collins Street, carrying placards and shouting slogans.

Ms Onus-Williams led a crowd of thousands in Melbourne last week as they flooded Spring Street and Collins Street, carrying placards and shouting slogans

On Monday, former Australian Labor Party president Warren Mundine (pictured far left), who is an Aboriginal leader, called MsOnus-Williams a hypocrite for attacking the government, despite currently working for several state-funded programs

'We have not organised this to change the date. We have organised this to abolish Australia Day because f*** Australia. F*** Australia, I hope it f***ing burns to the ground,' Ms Onus-Williams, who identifies as a Yigar Gunditjmara and Bindal woman, said.

She later refused to apologise for the comment, which she said was meant to be a metaphor.

'It was...not actually a statement to be taken literally. I just want everything, all the governments to fall apart, because our people are dying and nobody cares and the whole system needs to change.'

On Monday, former Australian Labor Party president Warren Mundine, who is an Aboriginal leader, called Ms Onus-Williams a hypocrite for attacking the government, despite currently working for several state-funded programs.

Ms Onus-Williams is a Koorie Youth Council executive member and serves on the state governments Aboriginal Interim Treaty Working Group.

Ms Onus-Williams (pictured) told the assembled crowd 'f*** Australia, hope it burns to the ground' during one of many speeches

Onus-Williams along with other speakers claimed Australia was 'not mature enough' to celebrate itself - even if the date was moved from January 26

Protesters flood the area around the Victorian Parliament to protest against 'Invasion Day'

Tens of thousands flooded Spring Street and Collins Street in Melbourne's CBD to protest against 'Invasion Day', carrying placards and shouting slogans

'The serious question here is why is the government funding these groups and these organisations when the people involved are haters who have no scruples about taking taxpayers' money and then spitting in their faces,' Mr Mundine told The Australian.

'And governments only have themselves to blame for wasting taxpayers' money, because there's no real rigour in appointments and no questions about where this money is going. And then you see money going into causes and demonstrations where people are racially abusing and threatening people  it has to change.'

Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett told The Australian he believed the 24-year-old should step down from her role with Koorie after her comments.

The Koorie Youth Council told the publication it didn't support Ms Onus-Williams comments, who the organisation said had been a volunteer since November 2016.

Ms Onus-Williams began working as a member of the Aboriginal Interim Treaty Working Group in July 2016, according to her Linkedin.

She has a lengthy resume, starting with her role as a receptionist for Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service from 2010 to 2012.

She then worked briefly as a Sexual Health and BBVs project officers for Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Inc and as a health educator at Ilibijerri Theatre company in 2015.

From January 2013 to November 2015, she worked as a medical and dental receptionist for Victorian Aboriginal Health Service Co-op.

She was then moved into the role of support facilitator at the Co-op, which she left in June 2017.

Ms Onus-Williams lists her current employment as a committee member for the Aboriginal Nations Torres Strait Islander HIV Youth Mob, a client services officer for Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, and a trailwalker for Oxfam Australia.

Aboriginal activists declared Australia didn't deserve a day of celebration and hoped the country 'burns to the ground' at a Melbourne rally

They then marched down Bourke Street chanting 'always was, always will be Aboriginal land', 'no pride in genocide' and 'our land, our law'

Activists take over the steps of the Victorian Parliament during 'Invasion Day' march

Ms Onus-Williams clashed with Neil Mitchell on Tuesday while she was on 3AW radio to promote the protest.

The tension kicked off when Mitchell asked he if her protest group would cooperate with the police or council to minimise disruption.

'Yeah look, we are asserting our sovereign right to walk on our country because we are sovereign people to this land. At the moment we're not organising with police,' Ms Onus-Williams said.

'So people can do things the way they like, and we like to do things we like to do.'

In Sydney a large group including former Sydney Swans stars Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin gathered at inner-city Redfern's The Block and marched to nearby Victoria Park

Organiser Ken Canning from Fighting In Resistance Equally hoped the Sydney Invasion Day rally (pictured) would draw attention to indigenous deaths in custody

Protesters wear Bob Marley t-shirts and traditional paint while carrying boomerangs

Mitchell asked Ms Onus-Williams if that meant she ignored 'white man's law'.

'On that basis you can say the aboriginal people can do whatever they like and just ignore the law of the land,' he said.

Ms Onus-Williams replied saying 'we have a law of the land already, we do hold our values strong to our heart'.

She refused to answer questions about Koorie Youth Council using taxpayer money to promote the rally and said it was protesting the abolition of Australia Day, not just pushing for the date to be moved.

Mitchell cut in saying: 'you're happy to interview yourself, but that's not the way it works'.

This sign called for the Australian flag to be changed along with date of Australia Day

Hundreds of police looked out over the protest, ready to suppress any violent clashes between protesters and far-right activists

Many white people were in the crowd protesting Australia Day in Melbourne

The interview descended into chaos when Ms Onus-Williams said she would not 'take orders' from Mitchell.

'I won't take orders from a radio host on a racist radio channel,' she said.

A shocked Mitchell said, 'did you just call me a racist?' to which Ms Onus-Williams replied, 'Yes, I called you a racist'.

'You're questioning my legitimacy as a sovereign person of this land,' she said.

Some Aboriginal attended wearing traditional dress and painted in colours

Aboriginal elder in traditional dress addresses the crowd in Melbourne's CBD

Flags, banners, and placards were waved in the crowd, one reading 'f**k celebrating day made of misery'

Mitchell told her he was offended by the accusation, saying it was 'ugly to throw around the word racist'.

'I'm questioning you not because you're black or yellow or white, but because you're in a position organising a rally which is significant to this town around a significant issue which is the future of Australia Day,' he said.

'It does not make me racist to ask you a bloody question and to call me a racist is damn offensive.

'Please please please don't assume that questioning equates with racism, that really is quite offensive intellectually and morally.'The EU today demanded that Britain signs up to Brussels laws and free movement rules during a transition period.

The Brexit row burst back into life as the bloc formally adopted its negotiating guidelines for the next phase of the talks.

The proposals lay out that the UK will have to obey EU rules without getting a vote on how they are made, with the implementation phase mooted to last until December 31, 2020. Although talks can begin on trade deals with other countries before that date, they cannot be finalised.

The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier hailed the agreement, saying it showed Britain would not be able to treat the single market as an 'a la carte' banquet.

But it prompted fury from Brexiteers who insisted that ministers should reject the 'ultimatum' and simply leave in March next year.

Eurocrats are already claiming that the UK will end up begging for up to five years to avoid a 'cliff edge' - the same length of time previously given by Irish ministers.

David Davis dismissed the idea of extending the transition beyond two years this afternoon, saying it 'isn't necessary'.

The Brexit Secretary also defended the need to phase our departure, saying it would be 'very, very similar' to membership to ease the change for business.

But he stressed that the government would be seeking a mechanism for giving Britain a voice in key EU decisions.

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier warned that the UK cannot expect to choose benefits from the single market 'a la carte' as he welcomed the new guidelines today (pictured)

Appearing before the Lords EU committee this afternoon, David Davis dismissed the idea of extending the transition beyond two years, saying it 'isn't necessary'

Giving evidence to the House of Lords EU committee, Mr Davis said: 'We want a high degree of stability and the right to do deals outside.

'Broadly that's it. Ideally we want some control over our own destiny in terms of any subsequent legislation.

'It's pretty simple really, pretty straightforward.'

Mr Barnier said the UK would be able to discuss trade deals with other countries, but would not be able to implement them until after the end of the transition period.

He also said the EU was willing to 'consult' Britain on new regulations on a 'case by case' basis.

Theresa May is facing a rising revolt from Tory Eurosceptics over fears that Britain is heading for 'BRINO' - Brexit In Name Only.

Jacob Rees-Mogg made clear yesterday that support for the PM was conditional on her sticking to the plan for a clean break with Brussels.

One pro-Brexit minister said Eurosceptic MPs were on a 'hair trigger' because of concerns they would be 'betrayed' by a final deal with the EU.

Even a Remain-backing MP urged Mrs May to be bolder, saying policy-making needs to be less 'tortoise' and more 'lion'.

A senior minister also stoked tensions by branding Brexiteers 'swivel-eyed'.

Energy minister Claire Perry, a Remainer, wrote on a private WhatsApp group that Leave supporters were mostly 'elderly retired men' without mortgages or young children.

The EU General Affairs Council met this afternoon to approve guidelines for chief negotiator Michel Barnier.

It agreed to offer Britain a 21-month transition period during which it will keep the 'status quo' of EU membership - but without having a vote on how laws are set.

Ministers took just two minutes to endorse a common stance drafted by officials, according to Mr Barnier's deputy Sabine Weyand.

The principle of a transition period is supported by both sides to avoid creating a 'cliff edge' for business after March 2019.

But the bloc is insisting that Brussels keeps paying into coffers, while free movement rules will continue.

EU ministers took just two minutes to endorse a common stance drafted by officials, according to Mr Barnier's deputy Sabine Weyand

Boris Johnson narrowly avoided a blunder as he left Downing Street today - with the top of a document marked 'official: sensitive' poking out of his folder

David Lidington (left) and David Davis were seen arriving at Downing Street today as the PM held a meeting of her Brexit 'war Cabinet'

Veteran Eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash told the Commons that the government should dismiss the EU demands.

'Given that we're leaving the EU and therefore the customs union, the single market and the provisions relating to freedom of movement, is the government going to reject this new EU ultimatum - including that the EU court of justice will continue to apply to the UK?' he said.

Despite the timescale, EU diplomats are reportedly convinced the UK will need longer than the two years floated by Mrs May.

'It is going to take years, at best three, more realistically five,' one source told The Times.

'We would be helpful and understand if for presentational reasons, the British government want to keep it quiet until the last moment but most people expect reality to dawn later this year.'

However, government sources branded the idea they are plotting an extension as a 'lie'.

Downing Street insisted the period would be 'strictly time limited' and would only last 'around two years'.

David Davis (pictured on a visit to the River Tees on Friday) is trying to reassure Eurosceptics that the UK will leave the EU customs union and single market

A No10 spokesman said: 'We are pleased that the EU has now agreed its position, which is clearly well aligned with the proposal made by the Prime Minister in her Florence speech and which David Davis set out in more detail last Friday.

'But this will be a negotiation and there will naturally be some distance between the detail of our starting positions.'

UKIP MEP Bill Etheridge said the deal was 'Totally unacceptable' and Mrs May would be guilty of 'a betrayal of the country' if she agreed to the deal.

'If she gives into this deal she is showing herself to be a weak leader at best.

'The British people did not vote for the status quo, they voted for independence from a backward looking economically incompetent political bloc which takes our money and wastes it on vanity projects and schemes detrimental to the best interests of the UK.'

He added: 'No wonder Angela Merkel is laughing at the UK team; they've done worse than a primary school debating team on its first outing.''Just a few drinks can turn into someone almost losing their life,' she warned

Doctors removed pieces of glass and stitched her neck in emergency surgery

She was holding a bottle when she jumped on her friend, slicing her neck open

A teen has accidentally slit her throat while partying with mates on Australia Day

Kaitlyn Scott sliced her neck open on a bottle while dancing with friends on Australia Day

A teenager who fell on a beer bottle and sliced her neck open on Australia Day has opened up about the horrific moment when she thought she was going to die.

Kaitlyn Scott, 19, was dancing on the kitchen table at her home in Central Victoria at a party on Friday afternoon when she tried to jump on to a friend's back.

But instead, she fell and landed on the bottle of VB that she had been holding, piercing her neck and landing her in emergency surgery.

Bleeding profusely, the teen was rushed to hospital.

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Doctors removed the pieces of glass from her throat and closed the wound with twelve sitches

'[I] thought she was going die, [it was] pretty scary,' the shaken teen told 9NEWS while barely holding back tears. 'The hole in my neck was like a big holeI just remember my throat opening up.'

After attempts by her friends to administer first aid failed, she was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital for life-saving surgery.

'All the blood just squirted all over [my friend]. She put her hands on me stop the blood, but it was still coming out,' she said.

'Everyone kept telling me how lucky I was because it was just a few millimetres away from getting the main artery, and me just dying on the spot,' she said. 'It still just hurts to do anything.'

Doctors removed the pieces of glass from her throat in the operating room, and then gave her more than twelve stitches to close the wound.

Kaitlyn Scott, 19, was dancing on a table when she tired to jump on her friend's back (centre)

Katilyn was holding a VB bottle when she jumped on her friend, slicing her neck on the glass

'Alcohol is dangerous...She's gotta live with this now,' Kaitlyn's relieved mother Cynthia Rowe shared on Monday. 'But it could have been somebody else she could have hurt.'

Now recovering from her terrifying near-death experience, Kaitlyn said she would be taking a break from drinking for the foreseeable future and hoped others could learn from her freak accident.

'Just a few drinks can turn into someone almost losing their life,' she said. 'I was scared that I was going to die.'A white supremacist group hung a banner over a Bay Bridge tunnel in San Francisco in protest of its sanctuary city policy.

The sign, placed above the entrance to the Yerba Buena Tunnel, said 'DANGER' in bold red letters and 'Sanctuary City Ahead' with skull and cross bones on either side and 'Identity Evropa' underneath.

It could be seen by those driving west on Interstate 80 early on Sunday, but was quickly removed, SFGate reports.

A white supremacist group hung a banner over a Bay Bridge tunnel in San Francisco in protest of its sanctuary city policy

Officer Vu Williams, of the California Highway Patrol, told the website that the sign was only visible 'very briefly' but said it was not clear who removed it.

Identity Evropa shared pictures of the sign on Twitter on Sunday, writing: 'PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM IDENTITY EVROPA San Francisco is a dangerous sanctuary city where the law does not apply to illegal invaders.'

It added: 'Enter at your own risk!'

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Identity Evropa is a white nationalist organization and designated as a hate group.

The sign, placed above the entrance to the Yerba Buena Tunnel, said 'DANGER' in bold red letters and 'Sanctuary City Ahead'

Identity Evropa took credit for the sign and shared pictures on Twitter on Sunday morning

The group 'peddle the delusion of white genocide' and attempt to recruit white college-age students, according to the law center.

It was founded by Nathan Damigo, a 31-year-old former Marine while he was studying at the California State University at Stanislaus in 2016.

He made headlines last year after he punched a woman in the face during a confrontation at an alt-right rally in Berkeley.

Damigo also helped organize the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where 32-year-old Heather Heyer was killed by a man who drove a car into a crowd of counter-protesters.

Identity Evropa was founded by Nathan Damigo (pictured), a 31-year-old former Marine while he was studying at the California State University at Stanislaus in 2016.

His father Peter Lodge, an adjunct history professor at the University of Maine, spoke out after his son's involvement in the rally was reported.

'I completely disavow his activities with the racist organizations,' he said, according to the Lewiston-Auburn Sun Journal.

'In no way do I support any racist organization. I have spent my life trying to bring people of all groups together regardless of race or sexual preference, to make the world better.

'I'm afraid I could not have the same influence on my son.'

White nationalists carrying the Identity Evropa flag are pictured arriving at a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, on August 12 last year

On its own website, Identity Evropa describes itself as '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.'

The group also describes itself as a 'secular organization' with members who practice a 'diverse range of traditional European faiths.'

However, its membership application stipulates that applicants must be of 'European, non-Semitic' heritage.

DailyMail.com has contacted Identity Evropa for comment.Advertisement

A stunned landlord recovered his flat only to find it buried in empty cans, food wrappers and cigarette packets.

The shocking pictures reveal how a tenant from hell lived for several years, with so much rubbish piled up in the property he couldn't see the floor.

Graham Holland from Maidstone, Kent, said he thought he was in a horror film when he walked into his flat in Sittingbourne last summer, after twelve years of being unable to access it.

The 56-year-old electrician said: 'It was a complete and utter shock and disbelief that anybody could live in such a mess.

'I honestly thought I was in a horror film.'

Graham Holland from Maidstone, Kent, was stunned to discover hundreds of empty beer cans in the house he'd rented out

Mr Holland said he thought he was in a horror film when he walked into his flat in Sittingbourne last summer

When he finally entered his property the landlord was left to clear up the mess after the long-term tenant moved out

Mr Holland's tenant left the toilet in a filthy condition and mouldy food strewn across the floor

It took four days for Mr Holland and his wife, Nicole Holland, 56, to clear the thousands of beer cans, cigarette packets and food wrappers.

The couple had to pay roughly 10,000 to repair the damage that had been done to the one bedroom flat.

He said: 'The cleaning took ages because we didn't do it in one go, but realistically it took over four days just to empty the flat without cleaning it too.'

When Graham Holland went to clean up his flat he was disgusted to find hundreds of beer cans on the floor

For the past decade, Mr Holland had been unable to enter his own property, and he was horrified by the mess he found

Mr Holland bought the property 30 years ago with his wife and converted it by himself.

'We wanted the place to look nice for out tenants to move into.

'The flat was lovely and we rented it to several people at first, who kept the place looking clean and tidy,' he said.

But for the past decade, Mr Holland had been unable to enter his own property.

His tenant, Michael Grant, 68, a former resident of Park Road, Sittingbourne, refused to let anybody into the flat.

Mr Holland said: 'He was always so nice and friendly when he first moved into the property.

'But Michael soon became very hard to get hold of and when the letting agent wanted to view the flat he was not very willing.

'He was extremely grumpy about it, but we didn't bother chasing him because he always paid his rent on time.'

Hundreds of beer cans and empty cigarette packets were left strewn across the furniture and floor in Mr Holland's property

But Mr Grant eventually decided to move out of the flat last year, after Mr Holland increased the rent for the first time in twelve years.

When he finally entered his property the landlord was left to clear up the mess after the long-term tenant, Mr Grant, moved out, leaving his mess behind.

To his disbelief, thousands of beer cans were piled up in every room, mouldy food was left on the floor and rubbish bags towered over Mr Grant's bed.

The toilet was overflowing with effluent and the bath was used as a makeshift rubbish skip.

Mrs Holland said: 'His argument for the accumulation of rubbish was that the woman in the ground floor flat had locked the gate - so couldn't take the rubbish down.

'That is not true.'

Mr Grant, who has since passed away, was previously not ashamed to admit that he had caused the mess.Gary Lyon, 50, (pictured) was jailed for 16 months

A callous conman who duped complete strangers into giving him cash handouts by falsely claiming members of his family were either ill or dying has been jailed.

Gary Lyon, 50, tugged on the heartstrings of kind-hearted holidaymakers flying into Manchester Airport by falsely telling them he needed money to visit his seriously ill father in hospital.

One businessman taken in by Lyon's sob story unwittingly handed over 20 while the following day an elderly woman of 67, flying in from Prague was conned into giving Lyon another 20.

The offences occurred just months after Lyon, of Wythenshawe, Manchester had been freed from jail over a similar scam in which he scrounged money by falsely claiming his 11-year old daughter had cancer and was lying gravely ill in Christie Hospital, of Manchester, 'with tubes coming out of her arms.'

He claimed he needed money as he had run out of petrol on the way to see her in hospital. His daughter has in fact made a full recovery.

At Manchester Crown Court, Lyon, who admitted fraud by false representation, was jailed for 16 months by a judge who condemned him for his 'wicked lies'.

The court heard the incidents occurred across two evenings in November 2017, when passengers were flying back into the UK.

Lyon claimed his father had suffered a heart attack and he needed to visit him in hospital.

Businessman Peter Cheung, 57, was told Lyon's car had broken down and he needed money to buy fuel. Lyon promised to pay him back giving him his number to transfer the money but when the victim called later on, Lyon never answered.

The next day Lesley Berry, 69, was picked up at the arrivals hall by her husband, who had recently been discharged from hospital for respiratory problems.

Lyon (left) tugged on the heartstrings of kind-hearted holidaymakers flying into Manchester Airport (right) by falsely telling them he needed money to visit his seriously ill father in hospital

But as they were carrying her suitcases to the car, Lyon approached and offered to carry the bags. Mrs Berry politely refused and carried on walking but Lyon grabbed the suitcases and took them to the boot of their vehicle.

He then told the couple he wanted a 'favour' from them as he needed money to get to his father in hospital.

Lyon again promised he would pay the money back but when the woman refused to hand any cash over, he got aggressive and marched her to a nearby cash machine.

For fear of her safety, the woman withdrew 40 and gave Lyon 20.

But he said this wasn't enough and that he would get the rest from her husband who was waiting in the car. The woman ran after Lyon and he fled from the scene.

Police tracked down Lyon from the phone number he gave to the Mr Cheung.

Lyon later claimed he went to the airport for his birthday with his son and was embarrassed that he couldn't afford to buy his son a drink - and as a result began asking people for money.

But the court heard he had 43 previous convictions and had also previously stolen from his 70-year-old disabled mother Anna to fund his '50 per day' cocaine habit. He was jailed for 18 months in 2015.

One businessman taken in by Lyon's sob story unwittingly handed over 20 while the following day an elderly woman of 67, flying in from Prague was conned into giving Lyon another 20

In mitigation defence lawyer Thomas Mckail said: 'He is ashamed at these offences but drugs have affected his life and he welcomes the opportunity to prove himself to all of those he let down.'

Sentencing Lyon on Friday 26 January, Judge Anthony Cross QC told him: 'You were doing what you had done for a very long time - looking for victims. Our society is made richer by people like Peter Cheung and Leslie Berry yet they had the misfortune to meet you.

'You have a very bad record and will not learn your lesson. You talk about your own disabled mother and how unhappy you were not being able to spend Christmas with her - but this is the same mother you defrauded in the past. Shame on you.'

After the case Det Con Alex Wild of Greater Manchester Police said: 'Lyon preyed on the good nature of innocent people and took advantage of them, faking family illnesses, which no-one would wish on their loved ones.

'It seems he was oblivious to the effect his offending was having on people but today I'm sure it's explicitly clear to him that he is now where he is because of his own sickening actions.'A young mother jailed for protesting the Islamic dresscode enforced on women in Iran has been released over a month after her arrest.

The 31-year-old, known as The Girl In Enghelab Street, was arrested after she took off her head scarf and held it in the air while standing on a pillar box in central Tehran last month.

Human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who had been investigating the case, said officials had confirmed that the woman had been freed over the weekend.

Freed: The woman broke Iranian Islamic law when she took off her headscarf in public in the capital of Tehran in December

A video showing her calmly waving her white hijab tied to a stick above the crowds in the Iranian capital, went viral on social media.

According to reports, the mother-of-one, was arrested shortly after her protest on December 27, and taken to a detention centre with her 20-month-old daughter.

Several eyewitnesses said that law enforcement officials arrested the woman on the spot, and transferred her to a nearby detention center known as Kalantari 148, according to Amnesty International.

Iranian journalist and human rights campaigner Masih Alinejad first broke the news of her release, citing friends of the woman.

She tweeted: 'The woman with the white shawl has been freed, according to her friends.'

Ms Alinejad is the founder of the White Wednesdays and My Stealthy Freedom movements, which fights compulsory hijab in Iran.

Ms Sotoudeh later confirmed this, writing on her Facebook page that she had seen official documents that confirmed that the 31-year-old had returned home this weekend.

Missing: The 31-year-old was praised after a video of her protest went viral on social media, but she was reportedly arrested shortly afterwards

Join the force: After initially being shared by human rights campaigners in Iran, the fight to find out the fate of the Girl of Enghelab Street went global

Thousands of social media users shared messages of support after her disappearance, dubbing her the 'Girl of Enghelab Street' after the area in central Tehran where she staged the protest.

Iranian activists started a Twitter campaign using the hashtag #WhereIsShe, demanding that the government reveal what happened to her.

The campaign eventually went global both on and offline, with protesters at the recent Women's March in the U.S. waving placards with the slogan.

The woman, who MailOnline is choosing not to name, was protesting Iran's Islamic law, which requires women to wear a headscarf and long clothes that cover the arms and legs.

Support: Two participants in the Women's March in Boston, US hold up placards with the campaign slogan

Breaking the rules can bring fines of up to 500,000 rials ($12) and up to two months in prison.

President Hassan Rouhani, who came to power in 2013 promising a more moderate stance, has previously said it is not the job of police to enforce religious rules such as those forcing women to cover their hair.

But in April 2016, officials said there were 7,000 undercover morality police reporting on things like 'bad hijab' - a blanket term usually referring to un-Islamic dress by women.

Figures are rarely given, but Tehran's traffic police said in late 2015 they had dealt with 40,000 cases of bad hijab in cars, where women often let their headscarves drop around their necks.

These cases generally led to fines and a temporary impounding of the vehicle.Russian anglers have landed terrifying pike with 'horns' sparking local fears that the fish were mutated by fuel in debris falling from space rockets.

The two mysterious fish were caught in the River Irtysh in Siberia by 25-year-old angler Alexey Volkov who described them as 'underwater dragons'.

Locals are blaming radiation or other pollution, possibly a result of the fuel in debris dropping from space rockets launched at Baikonur in neighbouring Kazakhstan.

But experts say they doubt the fish have been mutated by pollution and there are rare examples of such discoveries having been made before.

Russian anglers have landed terrifying pike with 'horns' (pictured) sparking local fears that the fish were mutated by fuel in debris falling from space rockets

The two mysterious fish were caught in the River Irtysh in Siberia by 25-year-old angler Alexey Volkov who described them as 'underwater dragons'

Locals are blaming radiation or other pollution, possibly a result of the fuel in debris dropping from space rockets launched at Baikonur in neighbouring Kazakhstan

Volkov, from Tara, said the larger fish had two 'horns' while the smaller one had four.

'I was impressed with the catch. The fish were 14kg and 7kg. They had horns bent back towards their tail. The smaller fish had four horns.

'Both fish were immediately nicknamed dragons.'

Locals fear that pollution - possibly radioactive - was behind the strange catch.

Anglers warned Volkov against eating the the pike , but he did so anyway - apparently without ill-effects.

He preserved and dried the heads of the fish, which he keeps in his garage, reported The Siberian Times.

For years there have been concern over the impact of launch-stage rocket debris in Omsk region. Local reports have questioned whether this is behind illnesses in babies.

Volkov , from Tara, said the larger fish had two 'horns' while the smaller one had four

But a zirconium plant - now disused - is also close to the place where the fish were landed, revealed SuperOmsk news agency.

Expert Arkady Balushkin, chief of the Ichthyology laboratory of the Russian Academy of Sciences Zoological Institute, was sceptical about pollution as the cause.

'Any change happening under influence of chemical substances or radiation does not lead to new formations like this,' he said.

'A pike would still remain a pike. It might develop a tumour or oedema, and these are typical illnesses for these species. But it is not supposed to have any horns.

'To confirm that it was a pike with horns, and not another fish, I would need to see it for myself.'

Another claim is that this could be a fish-version of cutaneous horns, which, on rare occasions, grow on humans.

An article con Pike with Horns, by Dr E J Crossman, highlighted by the Pike Anglers' Club of Great Britain, also suggests the phenomenon in this type of fish, while, exceptionally rare, is not unknown. He cited a number of cases in North America from the last century.

Crossman wrote in 1987: 'In moments of excitement I think many Pike anglers have compared the personality of the Pike to that of one of the more infamous, mythical or real, horned beasts.

'The same anglers would not, however, expect to actually find horns on their quarry once it was landed. Nevertheless in six isolated cases to date that is exactly what has happened.

'All six fish had very obvious structures referred to as "horns, spines or prongs".'Although elephants are massive in size, they can be sneaky at times.

One cheeky wild elephant has been caught carefully crossing the border between China and Laos - not once, but twice - in the wee hours on Saturday.

The jumbo animal was thought to be looking for food in Laos after passing the Chinese border watched by two guards. It returned to China about two hours later.

A wild Asian elephant is spotted on camera crossing the China-Laos border on Saturday

The wild Asian elephant stepped over the barrier at the China-Laos border near Chahe River, China's Yunnan Province, at around 4:30am, according to a CCTV video released by China Central Television Station.

Two Chinese border guards saw the huge animal at the checkpoint, but failed to stop it. After it entered Laos, the guards carried on observing the animal to ensure it doesn't harm any passersby, according to Xinhua.

Apparently, the elephant continued its journey into the northeast part of Luang Namtha Province in Laos and stayed there for two hours before heading back home.

The Chinese border office sent out two teams of workers to warn nearby villagers of potential danger and monitor the elephant's movements, reported Xinhua.

The elephant takes a casual step and crosses the barrier as it enters Laos in the wee hours

Two on-duty border workers try to stop and alarm the elephant using handheld torches

Zhou Xiaofei, a soldier working at the Chinese border office, told the Xinhua reporter it was the first time he and his colleagues had seen an elephant cross the border.

'We were afraid the elephant would pose danger to nearby residents, so we send our workers to follow the elephants in the dark,' Mr Zhou said.

One worker said the wild elephant could be searching for food in nearby villages. He said: 'The food in the forest during winter could be scarce.'

The wild animal is searching for food in the city as food in forests are scarce in winter

The elephant returns to China after a two-hour trip in Laos to look for its breakfast

Another security camera video shows the elephant returning to the Chinese border at around 6am.

Th Asian elephant did not step over the barrier this time, but walk around the gate it had used before.

It's believed that the elephant has returned to the forest without any harm.

Chinese officer Zhou Xiaofei said the elephant had caused no damage or injuries in the nearby villages.

Asian elephants are considered as protected species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), as well as Grade I National Key Protected Species in China.

Xinhua stated that there are about 300 Asian Elephants living in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Pu'er and Ling Cang in south-west China.A retired priest has been remembered by friends and parishioners as a gentleman after he was hit and killed by a P-plate driver in Sydney's south-west.

Father Peter Neville was on his evening walk on Sunday night in Cecil Hills when a Corolla hatchback mounted the footpath and hit him.

The 80-year-old died on the way to Liverpool Hospital.

The driver, identified by 7 News as 18-year-old Peter Radinovic, and his female passenger were both uninjured.

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The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney has paid tribute to to Father Peter Neville. 'We also offer our prayers to the young man involved in the incident, and his family, at this difficult time,' its states.

He was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death and negligent driving occasioning death.

He was bailed to appear in Liverpool Local Court on February 14.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney paid tribute to to Father Neville.

Ordained in 1962, Father Neville's first appointment as assistant priest at East Granville.

He then served at Camperdown, Balgowlah, Ashbury, Lane Cove, Enfield, Dulwich Hill and Pymble.

His first appointment as a parish priest was at Bossley Park in 1980 and Georges Hall from 1995 until his retirement to lesser duties in 2007.

Father Peter Neville was on his evening walk on Sunday night in Cecil Hills when a Corolla hatchback mounted the footpath and hit the 80-year-old.

'We extend our prayers and our deep sympathy to members of Father Neville's family,' Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney said in a statement on its website.

'We also offer our prayers to the young man involved in the incident, and his family, at this difficult time.'

Floral tributes were laid at the crash site while, online, the local community is mourning the death of the religious leader.

'He was the priest I knew and respected growing up,' one person said.

'You will be missed by many and never forgotten,' another said.

'Love you - always and forever.'

Father Peter Neville, 80, served as a parish priest in Sydney's south west until his retirement to lesser duties in 2007.

Former parishioner Megan Ilacqua told 9 News her friend had been loved by 'many, many people'.

'He was a gentleman - intelligent, loving, caring,' she said.

'He dedicated his life to the church and the parish.'A propaganda film urging American women to join the war effort featured a scene where a Nazi described them as 'flirts' and 'pleasure lovers.'

The clip is part of a Department of Defence film called The Hidden Army and was produced in 1944 in the midst of the Second World War.

It compared the hedonistic behavior of American women with the useful contribution German women were making for their country.

At the start of the clip, the Nazi describes France as 'confused and helpless in the hands of fascist leaders', England as 'weak' and 'frightened' and mocks the United States for having 'no army, navy or air force'.

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A propaganda film urging American women to join the war effort featured a scene where a Nazi described them as 'flirts' and 'pleasure lovers'

Later, when another man asks if he would consider using American women for labor, the Nazi laughs sarcastically and declares them the 'the most decadent women on the face of the Earth.'

He then cites statistics on how American women have degraded the country.

'Last year, 1938, they spent more for cosmetics than the United States Navy did for ships, more for silk stockings, than the United States Air Force spent for planes,' he says.

'Flirts, cocktail drinkers, pleasure lovers, loafers, a race of playgirls; pampered and spoilt by their sentimental American men.'

The Nazi declares American women the 'the most decadent women on the face of the Earth'

In the clip, the Nazi says American women spent more on silk stockings than the United States Air Force spent for planes

He goes to state how different they are from the women of Germany, who 'trained like soldiers, who bred babies to wage this war and are now producing the goods for our grown soldiers and the fighting fronts.

'And all of this without lipstick. American women, pah.'

A second reel of the film went on to redeem the negative views on the contributions of women during the war.

'Flirts, cocktail drinkers, pleasure lovers, loafers, a race of playgirls; pampered and spoilt by their sentimental American men,' he adds

In comparison, German women are described as hard-working and making a contribution to their country's war effort

It featured some members of the 'hidden army' of American women, who worked as nurses, drove trucks, fixed airplanes, and performed clerical work to free up men for combat.

In the United States, approximately 350,000 American women joined the military during the Second World War.

In Germany, it was only during the Second World War that the Nazis changed their policy to allow women to join the army.

While women in Nazi Germany were not given combat unit tasks during the war, they were considered as auxiliary military personnel; in charge of logistical and administrative duties in understaffed areas.Deputy leader of Britain First Jayda Fransen burst into a takeaway and screamed at a Muslim man, branding him a 'paedophile' and a 'foreigner', a court heard.

The accusations came during the 31-year-old's trial for religiously aggravated harassment, alongside the far-right group's leader Paul Golding, 36.

The pair, both of Penge, south east London, deny all the allegations in the charges.

Fransen shot into the international media spotlight last year when Donald Trump retweeted some anti-Islamic posts on her social media page.

Jayda Fransen, 31, and Paul Golding, 35, arrive at Folkestone Magistrates' Court in Kent today

The senior figures of Britain First are facing allegations of religiously aggravated harassment

Golding, 36, dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and blue tie and Fransen, wearing a pale top, with a black skirt suit and a large crucifix necklace, were escorted to court by a crowd of supporters who filled the public gallery.

The pair were charged with three and four counts respectively of the hate crime but deny the allegations.

They were arrested in May last year as part of an investigation into the distribution of leaflets and online videos which were posted during a trial at Canterbury Crown Court in the same month after which three Muslim men and a teenager were convicted of rape and jailed.

Jamshed Khesrow told Folkestone Magistrates' Court about an incident on May 5 last year when he was visiting 555 Pizza takeaway, which his friend owns in Ramsgate, Kent.

He said at the time two children were playing in the middle of the shop, and he went to investigate when he heard banging on the front doors and window.

He said he heard Fransen 'screaming' and shouting: 'Come out you paedophile. You're a rapist. Come outside, I want to talk to you.

'She was swearing. I was so scared, I thought she was going to start fighting with me.

'She was very aggressive and angry. I didn't know what was going on.'

There were sniggers from the public gallery - which was packed full of the group's supporters - as Mr Khesrow gave his evidence from behind a screen.

Mr Khesrow told the owner to dial 999 and said Golding was filming at the time.

Then he told the court he heard Fransen shouting in the street: 'I'm not scared of the police. I don't care about the police.'

Mr Khesrow added: 'I've lived in England for 17 years and I've never been scared like this.'

When questioned as to why he had not previously mentioned the specific comments she made, he said: 'Nobody asked me. If nobody asks me, how can I say it? You're asking me now and I'm answering you. I don't need to lie to you.

'You know and I know that she is swearing my religion all the time.'

Fransen (left) faces four counts of religiously-aggravated harassment, while Golding (right) faces three similar charges

Fransen (left) and Golding (right) were arrested last May as part of an investigation into the distribution of leaflets and the posting of online videos during a trial

Fransen and Golding were arrested on May 10 over alleged campaigning around the then-ongoing trial of three Muslim men and a teenager, who were later convicted and jailed for raping a 16-year-old girl in a flat above the takeaway.

When they were questioned by police over the distribution of leaflets and online videos posted during the trial, they did not comment.

Earlier in the trial, the court watched video footage entitled 'Muslim rapists 2' which showed Faiz Rahmani standing with his brother Tamin Rahmani - one of the defendants - and his barrister outside by the door to Canterbury Crown Court.

Fransen was seen walking up the steps towards the group, asking if they were Muslim and 'what they were in for'.

Giving evidence in court, Mr Rahmani claimed she called Muslims 'b******s' and 'rapists' - comments which did not appear on the footage shown - and branded her 'aggressive and loud'.

Fransen (left) and Golding are pictured at a previous Britain First rally in Ramsgate, Kent

The court heard today that the two 12 and 13-year-old daughters of Rahmani, one of the men who was convicted of the rape, were at 555 Pizza when Golding and Fransen arrived.

Footage shown to the court saw Fransen banging on the windows of the restaurant and saying the words: 'Using these restaurant to trap young girls, English girls and rape them.

'You dirty monsters. You are all going to be exposed. Come outside and face me.'

One of the children started filming Fransen and Golding when the banging on the door and shouting had started.

The mother of Tamin Rahmani's children told the court that she heard Fransen knocking at the door and said the shop was closed.

She said: 'She was banging and saying "come out, come out," it was like someone was attacking you, really, really aggressive.

'Then I called the police I didn't know who they were.'

The witness said her daughters were left in a worried state by the incident.

She said: 'They were crying. They were worried about them coming back.'

A second witness, PC Nicholas Mayo, said the two girls were his main concern when he attended the premises after the police were called.

He said: 'They were very distressed, very shaken up' and that one of the girls 'was clearly in tears.'

Defending, Kevin Smallcombe, in examining the mother of Rahmani's children, said: 'The confrontation was very brief. Would you agree with that?'

She disagreed but when asked said it lasted 'a couple of minutes, a maximum of five minutes'.

Jamshed Khesrow, a friend of the family, was at the restaurant at the time.

Giving testimony behind a screen, he said that Fransen shouted at him, calling him a paedophile and told him to come outside.

He said that, out of fear, he hid in the back of the shop.

Mr Khesrow said: 'I was so scared, I was worried she was about to start fighting me. She was very angry.

'I was so afraid and so scared, I did not know what was going to happen.'

Another witness, Ikram Safai, told how he found a video on the Britain First website of Fransen knocking on his door, but identifying it as the home of Sershah Muslimyar - another defendant in the trial who used to live there before him.

Mr Safai, who is originally from Afghanistan, has lived in the UK since 2013 and in that house for around two-and-a-half years, told the court in the video Fransen said: 'Come out dirty Muslim.

'Rapist Muslim. Come out and speak to me face to face if you're man enough.'

He said a social worker advised him to move house, adding: 'I was upset, scared, angry.'

Leaflets the group allegedly distributed in the street, which were shown in court, purported to feature a picture of Muslimyar.

But Mr Safai, who had met him, said this was not him.

The prosecution say Faiz Rahmani was wrongly identified as Muslimyar in these leaflets.

Prosecuting, Madeleine Wolf, said: 'Golding and Fransen demonstrated hostility towards individuals because of their membership of what they viewed as the Muslim faith.

'The defence to the allegations seems to be that they did not intend to cause alarm and distress.

'They argue they were entitled to act the way they did.'

In one of the videos shown to the court, Paul Golding, addressing the camera talked about being targeted by the police.

In it, he said: 'People like me and Jayda do not have breaking points.'

He added: 'We are in this to the death. We are in this all the way.'

The trial continues on Tuesday, when both Fransen and Golding are expected to enter the witness box to give evidence in their defence.A man wanted for escaping a central Queensland prison has been found naked hiding in a cane field.

Brian Illington Trent Tapim, 23, was arrested by police Monday afternoon - 36 hours after he allegedly escaped from Capricornia Correctional Centre with Jermaine Lee Anderson, 30.

Tapim was found more than 300 kilometres away on an Oakenden property, south of Mackay, after walking into the home of a local cane farmer, the Daily Mercury reported.

Brian Illington Trent Tapim, 23, was arrested by police Monday afternoon (pictured) after he was found naked hiding in a cane field

Tapim (left) was found 36 hours after he allegedly escaped from Capricornia Correctional Centre with Jermaine Lee Anderson, 30

Farmer Col Sievers said Tapim grabbed a pair of his trousers off his clothes line before walking into his home to beg for a glass of water.

'When he hit our place, he had stripes of soot all over him, he had painted himself to stop the mosquitoes eating him or something,' Mr Sievers told the publication.

'He said, "give me a glass of water, I'll die if you don't".'

Mr Sievers said Tapim tried to steal a car from his garage but failed and began soaking himself with a hose outside his neighbour's house.

Mr Sievers and his neighbour Amber Manteit alerted the authorities, and Tapim was arrested about 3.30pm.

An alleged female accomplice accused of driving Tapim to Oakenden was also arrested.

Tapim is expected to appear at the Mackay Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Tapim was found more than 300 kilometres away from the prison (pictured) on an Oakenden property

Anderson remains on the run since missing the roll call on 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.

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.

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.Viktoria Kuznetsova, 17, from Rostov, Russia, sat emotionless as her sentence was read out in court

A teenage mother who let her baby starve to death so she could party with friends has been jailed for just six and a half years.

Viktoria Kuznetsova, 17, from Rostov, Russia, sat emotionless as her sentence was read out in court.

The court was told that Kuznetsova had been planning to kill nine-month-old Egor when she started college.

She said the toddler kept her up at nights and didn't let her go out with friends.

After her husband was called up for military service, the teen put baby Egor in a pram, locked the door and went off to see her friends.

She then spent the whole week partying and staying in college dorms while her baby slowly starved.

She returned once to give some water to her dog.

The judge said: 'The cause of nine-month-old Egor's death was dehydration and starvation.

'When the baby was found Inside Viktoria's house he was already dead, though his eyes were still wide open from terror.

'According to investigators the baby was literally skin and bones.

'An autopsy showed the baby's internal organs shut down one after another because of lack of food and water.'

When police arrived at the teen's room the baby was already dead and rotting.

According to police, Kuznetsova did not show any guilt and only cared about what would happen to her.

Now there has been a public outcry on social media over the leniency of her punishment.

It was previously reported that when the baby was just one month old, Kuznetsova had passed him to an orphanage. Pictured: Egor

Nanar Hachatryan posted: 'She fed her dog, but not her baby, I am at loss of words. She has to be sterilised.'

Someone calling himself Yegor wrote: 'I would allow beheading of such w*****.'

While Mihail commented: 'Six and half years for killing her baby? Are they crazy?'

It was previously reported that when the baby was just one month old, Kuznetsova had passed him to an orphanage - only for the organisation to return the baby to her when he was seven months old.

Her devastated husband was said to be seeking a divorce.Theresa May today backed her under-fire Defence Secretary after he admitted having an affair with a former colleague - saying it is a private matter.

Gavin Williamson, 41, admitted leaving his job as a manager at Elgin and Hall in 2004 after an illicit liaison with the woman.

But his allies have hit back at claims he was sacked - insisting he was offered another post at the company but chose to leave for the sake of his family.

And today the Prime Minister backed her newly promoted Defence Secretary, saying she has 'full confidence' in him.

The PM's official spokesman said: 'This pre-dates the period when the Defence Secretary was either an MP or a minister, so it is a private matter.

'I don't have anything further to add in relation to this.'

Theresa May (pictured in Downing Street today) today backed her under-fire Defence Secretary after he admitted having an affair with a former colleague - saying it is a private matter

Gavin Williamson (pictured heading to a Brexit war Cabinet at No10 this morning) left his job at the Yorkshire-based fireplace firm in 2004 after having an affair with a younger colleague. He has denied he was sacked - with allies briefing that he was offered another job of equal rank but decided to turn it down

Mr Williamson, a married father of two, has come under pressure since news of the affair first broke last week.

He reportedly bombarded the woman with flowers as he tried to pursue the romance and she was seen in tears when she told bosses about it.

And he was accused of leaking confidential information to distract from the bad headlines after he gave an interview warning of Russia's ability to disrupt Britain's power supply would cause 'thousands and thousands of deaths'.

But the married father-of-two has mounted a fightback against his critics - insisting he was not sacked over the fling.

A friend of Mr Williamson hit back at rumours he was axed from the job and insisted the Yorkshire-based firm offered him another job of equal rank - but decided to turn it down.

The scandal has dealt what might be a mortal blow to the married father-of-two's hopes of being Theresa May's successor and inheriting the Tory leadership.

A friend told The Times rumours that Mr Williamson had been kicked out of the Yorkshire-based fireplace company - a subsidiary of Aga - were plain wrong.

They said: 'They ended it on a Friday and both said it couldn't go on. On the Monday Gavin decided he didn't want to stay at the company.

'He was offered the job of operations director to stay. There was no disciplinary process.'

Mr Williamson told The Mail last week how he had betrayed his wife by having an office romance with the junior employee in 2004 and left his job as managing director of Elgin and Hall 'almost immediately' and on 'amicable terms'.

Gavin Williamson, pictured with his wife Joanne, said last week he amicably left his job at a fireplace company but new claims have put him under renewed pressure

The issue came to a head in the summer of 2004 when the woman told her direct line manager about her working relationship with Mr Williamson, according to The Guardian.

Mr Williamson insisted the romance never went beyond sharing a couple of kisses - despite reports he 'bombarded' her with flowers as he tried to pursue the relationship.

A meeting was held to discuss the problem with senior executives from parent company Aga Foodservice Group and Mr Williamson then left the company, it was claimed.

In his account, Mr Williamson had given the impression he made the decision to leave himself.

He said after confessing the office fling to his wife Joanne, 'going back to work afterwards it could never feel the same as every day would remind me that I had let down the person I love more than anything.'

The fresh claims raise questions about Mr Williamson's version of events and senior Tories are warning he will be 'toast' if his story unravels.

An ex-employee said: ''He had the hots for this woman and regularly sent her flowers. He had a big Jaguar which he got other people to drive while he sat there waxing lyrical about the Tory party.'

Mr Williamson, a firm ally of Theresa May (pictured), has always said that the affair was a mistake and stopped as 'suddenly as it started' but critics believe it has dealt a mortal blow to his chances of being the next Tory leader

Another claimed the woman was seen in tears having reported an 'incident' to her manager and there were questions as to whether he faced disciplinary procedures before leaving the firm.

A former manager, who also spoke anonymously, recalled: 'I came to work one day and saw the woman going into the operation manager's office.

'She was very upset and her colleagues were comforting her. She was very tearful and was in there a long time.

'It was obvious something very stressful was going on.'

The scandal comes as Mrs May is facing a fresh battle to cling on as leader amid growing signs of discontent in her party ranks.

Grant Shapps, a Tory MP and former party chairman, has demanded the PM set a date for her departure, while Tory MP Robert Halfon likened the Government to a 'tortoise' and urged Mrs May to be bolder.Ms Justice Russell concluded the six-year-old's father would come under pressure to have her 'mutilated' if he took her to Guinea and has imposed an FGM protection order

A man has been barred from taking his six-year-old daughter out of the UK by a High Court judge after the girl's English mother raised fears she might be subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM).

Ms Justice Russell was told that the girl's father came from Guinea, West Africa, where the practice of FGM was 'widespread'.

The judge concluded that the man would come under pressure to have his daughter 'mutilated' if he took her to Guinea and has imposed an FGM protection order.

She had analysed the case at a private hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London in November and has revealed detail in a written ruling.

Ms Justice Russell said she had heard evidence from the girl's mother and father, who are separated, plus other family members, and from an academic who had carried out research into the practice of FGM in Guinea and other West African countries.

She said she barred the man from taking the youngster out of the UK because there were no direct flights and all travel to Guinea took place via a third country.

The girl, who the judge said cannot be identified, lives with her mother in the south east of England.

Her father, who is in his 30s, was born in Conakry, Guinea.

The man, who has 'black African Muslim heritage', travelled to the UK more than a decade ago to study.

He met the girl's mother, who is in her 40s and of 'white English Christian heritage', through an 'online introduction site'. They had married in Conakry in 2007.

Ms Justice Russell said an FGM protection order would stay in force until the girl turns 17.

The female genital mutilation protection will stay in order until the girl turns 17 (file photo shows a traditional razor blade used to perform FGM)

Legislation providing for the making of FGM protection orders came into force more than two years ago.

The youngster's mother was represented by barrister Zimran Samuel, who specialises in legal issues surrounding FGM.

In 2015, Mr Samuel said FGM protection orders wound 'make a very real difference'.

They aimed to protect potential victims rather than punish offenders, could put barriers in front of people who posed a threat, and give comfort and support to vulnerable females.Owen Peter Scott (pictured) has pleaded guilty to four counts of attempted murder

A 29-year-old man has admitted attempting to kill four young children by hitting them with a hammer before crashing a car into a wall of a pub with them inside.

Owen Peter Scott was arrested at the scene of the crash after he and the children, including a baby, were pulled from the wreckage of the vehicle near Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

A judge heard how Scott drove the children - two girls, aged seven and eight, and two boys aged 21 months and nine months - 250 miles before colliding with a wall of the Travellers Inn.

An an earlier hearing, prosecutors said Scott had first hit the children over the head with a hammer, but after failing to kill them decided to crash into a building head-on.

At Sheffield Crown Court today, Scott stood in the dock wearing a grey shirt and plead guilty to four counts of attempted murder as well as a charge of dangerous driving.

He was originally arrested in Thurgoland, near Barnsley, on suspicion of dangerous driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Days later, South Yorkshire Police announced Scott, who had been driving a grey Dacia Logan, had also been charged with attempted murder.

Owen Scott's mother Pauline (shown left) is seen leaving Sheffield Crown Court after her son (right) pleaded guilty to attempted murder

A judge heard how the 29-year-old drove the four children 250 miles from his home in Fawley, Hampshire to the north of England before colliding with a wall of the Travellers Inn

Scott originally pleaded not guilty to the charges during an appearance at Sheffield Magistrates Court in September.

Scott, from Fawley near Southampton, Hants, looked up and smiled at two women in the public gallery but spoke only to confirm his name.

Michelle Colborne, defending, told the court: 'Although he has been in custody since the commission of the offences his psychological position was unclear.

'He may have been suffering from short-lived psychosis.

Scott (pictured after his arrest) looked up and smiled at two women in the public gallery but spoke only to confirm his name

'There's a mitigation which demonstrates at the time he was likely suffering from psychosis, short-lived affecting his self-control.

'He has very little or no memory of the events in the car.'

Scott also pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle dangerously on the A629, Copster Lane, Barnsley.

During a previous hearing, the court was told how Scott had a hammer in the car at the time and used it 'to inflict blows on the children in the car to their heads'.

Simon Kealey QC, prosecuting, told the court: 'As a result of failing to kill them in that way he ended up driving towards the pub.'Advertisement

Incredible pictures appear to show a heroic hippo help a waterbuck escape the jaws of a hungry crocodile.

In a death match that lasted for more than an hour, the helpless creature was held underwater by the reptile at Murchison Falls National Park, in Uganda.

The waterbuck eventually broke free from the crocodile's powerful clutches when a hippo intervened, gently dragging and nudging it from the water.

Give us a push: A heroic hippo helps a struggling waterbuck escape the jaws of a hungry crocodile by nudging him out of the water

Gently does it: The waterbuck eventually broke free from the crocodile's powerful clutches with the help of the hippo

Not as dangerous as it looks: The photographer said the hippo did not bite the waterbuck as it pushed it out of the water at Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda

Nearly there: Gently dragging and nudging it from the water, it helped the distressed animal out of the river to the safety of the riverbank

Safari guide Brenden Simonson, 25, who was on a fishing trip this month, watched the incredible scenes unfold from the White Nile River.

He said that although the crocodile wasn't visible, it is likely one of the many which live in the river was trying to tire then drown the animal.

But after its miraculous escape, this lucky waterbuck was spotted later that day resting beside the same river - sitting perilously close to another crocodile.

Chilling: The photographer said the crocodile involved in the attack wasn't visible. Pictured is one of the many reptiles seen on the banks of the river

Freed: After its miraculous escape, the lucky waterbuck was spotted later that day resting beside the same river in the company of a beautiful giraffe

Danger is never too far away: The creature was also photographed relaxing on the riverbank perilously close to a pair of crocodiles gnashing their lethal jaws

Safari guide Brenden Simonson, 25, (pictured) who was on a fishing trip this month, watched the incredible scenes unfold from the White Nile River

Hippos and crocodiles often clash in rivers in Africa.

While adult hippos often club together to hunt down crocodiles, the reptiles tend to prey on young smaller hippos.

Brenden, who works at his family's lodge in the Tarangire National park, said it was an incredible sight to witness.

'The guide I was with told me that a croc had its back leg and from what it looked like the buck was not able to stand up out of the water, which suggested the croc was holding her down,' he said.

'The hippo was being very gentle with and was trying to help her out of the Nile.'

And he said it was lovely to see the struggle resolve with a happy ending for the waterbuck.

'Witnessing the hippo saving the waterbuck was a truly amazing experience,' he said.

'Seeing a hippo showing compassion towards another animal was really heart-warming.'A Conservative council leader who suggested rough sleepers in Windsor be moved on ahead of the royal wedding has won a battle to save his political career following a landslide vote in his favour.

Every member of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead council was summoned to a meeting to debate a motion of no confidence in Simon Dudley.

But Mr Dudley survived the vote within the Conservative bloc, after tonight's session at Maidenhead Town Hall, saw nine councillors for and 43 against.

Every member of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead was summoned to a meeting to debate a motion of no confidence in Simon Dudley (pictured)

Mr Dudley survived a no confidence vote within the Conservative bloc, after tonight's session at Maidenhead Town Hall (pictured)

During the meeting, Mr Dudley told councillors: 'I categorically disagree with the motion. I think it's driven by personal issues from some individuals which are longstanding and well known by this council.'

Councillors debating the issue ahead of the vote of no confidence were told by meeting moderators that they were not allowed to speak about Mr Dudley's previous behaviour and that the motion was about the leader's tweets and the subsequent fallout alone.

Windsor Council leader Simon Dudley (file image) faced a vote of no confidence tonight

Mr Dudley triggered the row when he said beggars could present the town in a 'sadly unfavourable light' when Prince Harry marries American actress Meghan Markle in May.

In a letter to police, he complained about 'aggressive begging and intimidation', and 'bags and detritus' on the streets.

He said police should use their powers under the 1824 Vagrancy Act and the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to 'protect residents and tourists'.

Mr Dudley later apologised for his comments and said he was not referring to genuine homeless people, and that he regretted referring to Harry and Ms Markle's wedding at the time.

A petition to stop rough sleepers being taken off the streets has attracted more than 270,000 signatures.

Mr Dudley triggered outrage when he suggested beggars should be cleared from Windsor before Prince Harry ties the knot with Meghan Markle in May (pictured is a person sleeping on the streets of Windsor on Sunday)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (pictured last week in Cardiff) are to marry in Windsor on May 19 following the announcement of their engagement last year

The motion that was voted on, proposed by former Tory councillor Claire Stretton, read: 'To pass a Motion of No Confidence in the Leader of the Council following events during the week commencing 1/1/18, instigated by statements on Twitter and a letter to the Police & Crime Commissioner by Cllr Simon Dudley, that have brought the council and councillors into disrepute.'

Following last week's internal Tory vote Paul Brimacombe and Asghar Majeed condemned their group leader and resigned.

In a joint statement the two councillors said: 'Immediately following the announcement of the result of the no-confidence vote, Councillor Majeed and Councillor Brimacombe resigned from the Conservative group and departed the meeting.

Paul Brimacombe (left) and Asghar Majeed (right) resigned from the Conservative group over Mr Dudley's remarks and will now sit as independent Tories

'It was not considered appropriate by them to wholeheartedly disagree with the will of the group on this fundamental issue and yet to remain within the group.

'With the departure of the last of the few dissenting voices within the Conservative group, possibly an even more cohesive and purposeful Conservative group will emerge.

'Councillors Majeed and Brimacombe will continue to represent the residents of Oldfield and Cox Green respectively as independent Conservative councillors, with the same core values upon which they were elected.'An Oxford graduate has revealed how he discovered he'd become the face of anti-smoking adverts four years after posing for photographs in a morgue.

Tom Fraine said he was paid 175 to pose in a body bag during a 2012 photoshoot in Berlin, only to find out in 2016 that the image had been plastered over millions of cigarette packets across the whole of Europe.

While taking a sabbatical in Germany, Mr Fraine answered an advert seeking people to pose for tobacco warnings and made it onto a shortlist of models.

When he asked what he should wear, he was sent a one-line email with a image of a naked man in the fetal position, captioned: 'This is what we need you to do'.

Tom Fraine (left) said he was paid 175 to pose in a body bag during a 2012 photoshoot in Berlin, only to find the image plastered over millions of cigarette packets (right) in 2016

Writing in The Guardian, Mr Fraine said he was later offered 175 to go to a disused hospital on the outskirts of Berlin and pose in a body bag.

The University of Oxford alumni said: 'They painted my face grey, put me in a body bag and took me to the morgue.

'Being in a body bag really freaked me out, especially when the photographer zipped the bag up fully and whispered: This is for Dresden, before unzipping me. He had a dark sense of humour.'

Mr Fraine said he returned to the UK in 2013, working as head of talent at Innocent drinks before becoming deputy director of talent at the Cabinet Office.

While taking a sabbatical in Germany, Mr Fraine answered an advert seeking people to pose for tobacco warnings and made it onto a shortlist of models (stock image)

Now based in Texas, USA with employee feedback startup Workify, Mr Fraine said he 'didn't think about' the photoshoots until a friend in Berlin emailed him in 2016.

He added: '[The email] said "Is this you?" with a picture of dead me on a packet of Marlboros. I went to my local shop and saw my face all over the wall behind the till.

'I was everywhere  in all 27 EU countries in fact. There were millions and millions of packets with me on them.'

Mr Fraine said he collected some of the packets as keepsakes, and that on a recent holiday to Spain his mother used the photo to point out her son to strangers.Cape Town has been warned it faces riots as it prepares for 'the worst crisis any city has faced since 9/11' with water due to run out by April 12.

Bottled water is being rationed in shops in the South African tourist destination to prevent panic-buying and hoarding ahead of its taps running dry.

Stocks of buckets and bowls have also run out in hardware shops across the drought-ridden city as families prepare for 'day zero' when the city's water supplies are expected to run out.

Today a warning of 'the threat to social order' in the wake of the water crisis was predicted by Moody's credit ratings agency.

The appalling levels of inequality among the city's population could easily lead to civil strife and increased levels of conflict and crime in the face of severe water restrictions, a new report from Moody's suggested, as it redflagged the city's economy.

Bottled water is being rationed in shops in Cape Town to prevent panic-buying and hoarding as the drought-ridden city faces 'the worst crisis since 9/11' ahead of its taps running dry. People are pictured queuing to collect water in the city last week

Cape Town currently holds the lowest level of investment grade and is on review by the agency for a further downgrade.

Day Zero is likely to hit the city's two main industries hardest - tourism and agriculture - resulting in massive job losses, tax income for the city and a sharp rise in the cost of food.

The bleak Moody's report also predicts a threat to public health as a result of poor sanitation.

Latest consumption reports a daily draw on Cape Town's mains supplies of 586 million litres per day, well over the 500 million litres per day target which was set six months ago.

Many supermarkets have now imposed a limit on the number of water bottles each shopper can buy to prevent long queues and fights breaking out between customers, as summer temperatures soar above 30 degrees.

The Western Cape's premier, Helen Zille, warned that 'as things stand' the challenge 'exceeds anything a major city has had to face anywhere in the world since the Second World War or 9/11'.

The army and police are on standby to be deployed to 200 points where up to 20,000 people will have to wait for their daily ration of 25 litres (6.6. gallons) in a massive, indefinite operation that threatens to bankrupt the city and force hospitals, schools and businesses to close.

Cape Town's main water supply is from the Theewaterskloof dam (pictured) outside Grabouw. A harsh drought may force South Africa's showcase city to turn off most of its taps

Day Zero is scheduled for April 12 but could be moved closer unless the city's four million people plus thousands of tourists stick to their current individual daily allowance of 50 litres from the mains supply.

The deadline has already been moved forward by ten days. More than half of the city's population - many of them living in wealthy, predominantly white suburbs - are continuing to flout restrictions and the threat of heavy fines in favour of having green lawns, colourful herbaceous borders and full swimming pools.

Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille slammed them as 'callous', adding: 'It is quite unbelievably that a majority of people do not seem to care and are sending all of us headlong towards day zero.'

If and when the taps do run dry, the city's residents will have to queue for rations under supervision of the army and police until it rains enough to refill the reservoirs that serve it, which may not be until June or July.

The crisis has been triggered following three years of low rainfall and claims of poorly managed resources.

Despite longstanding predictions of a looming crisis, plans for new infrastructure and desalination projects are still months from implementation.

A warning of 'the threat to social order' in the wake of the water crisis was predicted by Moody's credit ratings agency. Pictures show how water has receded at one of the city's key supplies, the Theewaterskloof dam

The Western Cape's premier, Helen Zille, portrayed a doomsday scenario for the coastal resort.

'As things stand' the challenge exceeds anything a major city has had to face anywhere in the world since the Second World War or 9/11,' she said.

Cape Town has a population of four million and attracts more than 1.5million visitors a year, most of them during its peak summer season from December to March.

The tourism industry has reported a dip in numbers, but the hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers who are currently in the city have been told to 'live like a local'.

Many top hotels have shut their pools, confiscated plugs from bathrooms, banned ice buckets for wine, issued two-minute shower rules and are refusing to serve tap water.

Despite the drought's obvious threat to businesses, a number are benefiting from the panic-buying of water, bottles, tanks and other items that will be needed once the mains supply runs out.

New social media sites have also been set up to notify shoppers of fresh water supplies into shops and to name and shame those who are hoarding or flouting the rules.

Tonnes of water have also been donated by residents of other cities, including Durban and Johannesburg, who are enjoying record rainfalls.A harrowing video has emerged showing a dying woman naming her killer after she was allegedly shot for rejecting a marriage proposal.

Aasma Rani - a third-year medical student in Abbottabad, Pakistan - was shot three times outside her home in Kohat after stepping out of a rickshaw on Saturday.

Local media say police have named Mujahidullah Afridi, the nephew of the district president of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, as the prime suspect.

An investigation has been launched by police, but Mujahidullah - nephew of Aftab Alam - has not yet been found. Pictured: Aasma naming who she believes to be her killer before she dies

The family of Aasma (pictured) has appealed for justice from high-ranking officials - believed to include Imran Khan

According to Pakistan Today, Afridi's brother, Sadiqullah, has also been accused of waiting outside Aasma's home before she was shot.

Aasma's family has alleged that she had also received threats from Mujahidullah in the past.

An investigation has been launched by police, but Mujahidullah - nephew of Aftab Alam - has not yet been found.

The family of Aasma has appealed for justice from high-ranking officials - believed to include Imran Khan.

In the video - taken on Sunday, the day she died - the victim can be heard naming Mujahidullah as her killer.

Alerts have reportedly been sent out across the area in case Mujahidullah flees the country.China has released extremely rare footage showing its engineers building the main parts of the nation's own space station 'Tiangong' or 'Heavenly Palace'.

The video, released by Chinese state broadcaster, shows workers assembling and testing the core module of the space station.

The core module, called 'Tianhe' or 'Heavenly Harmony', is set to be launched in 2019 carried by the Long March 5 Rocket, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

China's state broadcaster has revealed how engineers are building the nation's space station

Footage of 'Tianhe', the core module of 'Tiangong' space station, is aired on January 26

The core module, called 'Tianhe' or 'Heavenly Harmony', is set to be launched in 2019

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.

The current International Space Station, principally built and operated by the US, has barred Chinese astronauts from boarding since 2011 because the US concerned about its national security, according to Time.

But this has apparently become the driving force for China to build its own space station.

Yang Hong, the chief engineer of China's space station project, told China Central Television Station: 'To some degrees, the fact that other countries have blocked us from accessing their know-how has made us more creative.

Mr Yang added: 'This has encouraged us to build our own product.'

Mr Yang said that Tianhe is the largest and most complicated spacecraft his team has built.

'Tianhe' is built in a lofty 60-metre-tall workshop inside the Tianjin Aerospace City in China

Chinese engineers run tests to ensure Tianhe could withstand strong sunlight in space

Tianhe is set to be carried into space by a new Long March 5 rocket. Pictured, Long March-5 moves to the launching tower at Wenchang Space Launch Center on October 28, 2016

The footage of mysterious 'Tianhe' was aired on China Central Television Station last Friday.

On the same day, a group of Chinese volunteers just completed a 200-day challenge living in a sealed 'lunar lab' in Beijing. The experiment marked a major breakthrough in China's preparation for its plan of putting people on the moon.

The T-shaped 'Tiangong' space station is expected to be functional in 2020. It's set to comprise three spacecraft, including the core module Tianhe and two space laboratories.

Each of the three spacecraft is said to weight 20 tonnes, reported Beijing News.

Friday's footage was said to be filmed in a lofty 60-metre-tall workshop inside the Tianjin Aerospace City.

The Tianjin Aerospace City is a part of the China Academy of Space Technology, which is responsible for building the space station for the Chinese central government.

China launched Tiangong-1, China's first prototype space station, into space in September, 2011. Pictured is an artist's illustration of China's eight-tonne Tiangong-1 space station

China is pouring billions into its military-run space programme in a bid to rival the Western countries. Tiangong-1 or 'Heavenly Palace 1' rocket is pictured on the launch pad

The video showed engineer running tests on part of Tianhe.

Lu Chunqing, one of the engineers, said the tests were to ensure that the core module could withstand the strong sunlight in space when the other parts are docked into it.

Engineers were also filmed joining different parts together to complete the Tianhe core module.

Tianhe was initially scheduled to be launched in 2018, but the plan had to be postponed after a launch experiment of Long March 5 failed in July last year.

Previously, China has launched into space Tiangong-1, China's first prototype space station, and Tiangong-2, a space laboratory as a part of the Tiangong space station programme.

Chinese astronaut Yang Liwei waves vefore emerging from the Shenzhou V capsule in Inner Mongolia 16 October, 2003. Yang is the first man China has sent to space

The eight volunteers for the 'Yuegong 365' wave to the camera from inside the 'Yuegong-1' lab on January 26 in Beijing. Four of them are leaving the lab after spending 200 days there, and the other four are replacing them and are due to stay in the sealed space for a further 105 days

Three volunteers look at the plants in the sealed lab to simulate a long-term space mission with no input from the outside world. 'Yuegong-1' cabin is situated in Beijing's Beihang University

China first proposed its manned space program, Shenzhou, in 1992. The country put its first man into space 11 years later.

Chinese astronaut Yang Liwei successfully completed a space flight and safely returned to earth with the Shenzhou V capsule on October 16, 2003.

Apart from building the Tiangong space station, China is hoping to send people onto the moon.

Chinese volunteers have spent 200 continuous days in a 'lunar lab' in Beijing to help the nation prepare for the long-term goal, Chinese state media said on Friday.

The four volunteers, all students, crammed into a 160-square-metre (1,720-square-foot) cabin called 'Yuegong-1' - Lunar Palace - on the campus of Beihang University on July 9 last year and came out on January 26, the official Xinhua news agency said.

The goal of the project 'Yuegong 365', which in itself is one year long, is to test the limits of humans' ability to live in a self-contained space for Beijing's manned moon landing ambition, the official Xinhua news agency said.A Sydney woman has filmed her hilarious battle to flush an enormous huntsman spider out of her car after it terrorised her for four days straight.

Candii Banks first spotted the harmless spider crawling along her dash board and onto her window as she drove to work.

'The first day I was driving along the highway and I happened to look down and saw him climbing across the dash, up my door and onto the window sill,' Ms Banks said.

Scroll down for video

The huntsman spider called Candii Banks' car home for four days

Candii Banks filmed herself being freaked out by a massive huntsman spider in her car that refused to budge for four days

'When he was on the window I tried to flick him out but he made it back inside and ran up into the air vent,' she added.

'I am generally pretty calm with spiders but huntsmans move quick and the thought of one on me while confined in the car was a little unnerving.'

'When I got to work I thought the only logical thing to do apart from setting the car on fire was put the blower on full blast and blow him out of the air vent. I couldn't believe it actually worked! He made a jump for it and ran under my car.'

If she'd thought she'd seen the end of it, she was wrong.

She spotted the huntsman running across her bonnet the following day.

'I had a feeling he'd be back,' Ms Banks said.

'I was calm until he started to climb up the windscreen, I was trying to figure out how I was going to catch him.'

'I'd basically spent the week with this little guy and even though he scared the heck out of me at times, I kind of missed him once he was gone!,' Candii Banks said.

The huntsman found many hiding spots in the car, much to Candii Banks' frustration

Armed with a spider catcher, Ms Banks was better prepared on day four and seized her moment while driving to work.

'I spotted his little legs from behind the steering wheel, I pulled over and tried to get him out but had no luck until about 15 minutes later as I was about to take off from a set of lights, he reared his fuzzy head again so I pulled over out front of a servo.'

"I managed to get a hold of his leg but he wiggled free and ran back onto the steering column for a minute until he decided to pop back out again.

'That was when I managed to get a good hold of him and release him outside onto the grass.'

Ms Bank said her pesky passenger got her in trouble with the law.

The huntsman are a non-aggressive group of spider. While it can give a painful bite it is non toxic to humans.

Despite being terrified by the spider, Ms Banks maintained a sense of humour throughout the seven minute YouTube video.

There was a hint of sadness in the video after she finally got rid of him.

'I'd basically spent the week with this little guy and even though he scared the heck out of me at times, I kind of missed him once he was gone,' she said.The European Union has said that if US president Donald Trump initiates unfair trade measures against the 28-nation bloc, it would react 'swiftly and appropriately'.

Trump said in his interview with Piers Morgan yesterday that he was annoyed with EU trade policy, claiming the US cannot sufficiently export to the union.

He said his problems with the EU 'may morph into something very big' from a trade standpoint.

Peeved: US President Donald Trump said in his interview with Piers Morgan yesterday that he was annoyed with EU trade policy

EU spokesman Margaritis Schinas retorted that 'while trade has to be open and fair, it also has to be rules-based'.

Mr Schinas added: 'The EU stands ready to react swiftly and appropriately in case our exports are affected by any restrictive trade measure from the United States.'

Trump made the comments as he told Piers Morgan his views on the Brexit negotiations, criticizing the way Prime Minister Theresa May had been negotiating Britain's way out of the EU.

'I think I would have negotiated it differently. I would have had a different attitude,' he told Morgan.

'I think I would have said that the European Union is not cracked up to what it's supposed to be.

Critique: Trump told Morgan that had he been in Prime Minister Theresa May's shoes, he would be negotiating Brexit differently

'And I would have taken a tougher stand in getting out. You know, I have a lot of problems with the European Union. I'm representing the United States, it's a very unfair situation. 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.

'I've had a lot of problems with European Union, and it may morph into something very big from that standpoint, from a trade standpoint. The European Union has treated the United States very unfairly when it comes to trade.

'They're not the only one, by the way. I could name many countries and places that do. But the European Union has been very, very unfair to the United States. And I think it will turn out to be very much to their detriment.'

Trump gave the wide-ranging interview last Thursday 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 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.

Last year it vowed to impose nearly 300 percent 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.Advertisement

A new book has revealed the bravery of wartime MPs who 'led like lions' from the front during World War One.

Contrary to popular belief many of the country's politicians did not simply watch the war from the comfort of their armchairs, but rather signed up to lead at the front and many times campaigned to be allowed into the field of battle.

Nearly a third of all MPs (28 per cent) were actively engaged in the war according to statistics published by The Times in April 1915.

Many of them were already in the military and serving in office jobs, before the war broke out, while others decided to put themselves forward for the frontline.

Cyril Gordon Reuss Hibbert was the only son of Sir Henry Flemming Hibbert, Baronet - the Conservative MP for the Chorley Division of Lancashire (1913 to 1918). Pictured is Hibbert standing, second from right, with four fellow officers from Chorley. From left to right: Capt. Brindle, Capt. Hibbert, Lt-Col. Hindle, Capt. Whitfield, and Capt. Rennard

Harold Cawley (left) MP for Heywood in Lancashire from January 1910 until his death in Gallipoli in September 1915 and Arthur O'Neill (right) - the Unionist politician and MP for Mid Antrim. He was a veteran of the Boer War and the first MP to fall in the First World War

Martin Sheehan, MP for Munster, (right) with his pilot, 2Lt William McCaig, in 1918. Both men were killed when their plane was shot down

Contrary to popular belief many of the country's politicians did not simply watch the war from the comfort of their armchairs but rather signed up to lead at the front and many times campaigned to be allowed into the field of battle

In January 1916, the government saw no alternative but to increase numbers by conscription  compulsory active service.

Parliament was deeply divided but recognised that because of the imminent collapse of the morale of the French army, immediate action was essential and the Military Service Act was passed.

This imposed conscription on all single men aged between 18 and 41, but exempted the medically unfit, clergymen, teachers and certain classes of industrial worker.

Conscientious objectors  men who objected to fighting on moral grounds were also exempted, and were in most cases given civilian jobs or non-fighting roles at the front. A second Act passed in May 1916 extended conscription to married men.

Conscription was not applied to Ireland because of the 1916 Easter Rising, although in fact many Irishmen volunteered to fight.

Their stories and those of MPs' sons serving in the war have been told in Neil Thornton's new book, Led by Lions, published by Fonthill Media.

Harold Cawley was MP for Heywood in Lancashire from January 1910 until his death in Gallipoli in September 1915.

Dissatisfied with a non-combative staff role, Harold moaned for, and succeeded in getting, a return to his battalion.

A detonated Turkish mine created a large crater in no-man's-land which Cawley sought to make an advanced post.

A desperate fight ensued, with the men exchanging grenades with the enemy in their forward line just 10 yards away.

One of the men was killed after being shot through the head and another was temporarily blinded and deafened by the explosion of a grenade, but the small party maintained their grip throughout the day and night.

The funeral procession of Lt William Gladstone, 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, departs from Hawarden. The procession went on to pass through the streets of Hawarden where crowds of well-wishers lined the streets and buildings. Despite his popularity, the repatriation of William's body from France would influence the decision to cease the future return of fallen soldiers

Liberal Party Politician Edward Shortt KC (left). His only son, Dudley, was killed in action by shellfire while employed at Battalion HQ. Pictured (right) is Francis McLaren, known as 'Macauley' to his friends, MP for Spalding at the age of 24. He served with distinction in the Dardanelles before transferring to the RFC. He was discharged without his knowledge but after much effort was reinstated before losing his life

Michael Sheehan, the younger brother of Daniel and Martin, pictured here with his father, Capt. D. D. Sheehan MP, both of whom served with the Royal Munster Fusiliers

Lord Ninian Edward Critchon-Stuart, the greatly admired commanding officer of the 6th Welsh (left) and Major William Hoey Kearney Redmond (right) - the oldest MP to fall in the war

By the following night, it was suspected that the Turks were digging a trench towards the crater. This was a serious concern as it could serve as a 'jumping off' position for them to rush the crater, or they could be planning another explosion.

Just after midnight, Cawley, while endeavouring to see what they were doing, was shot through the temple by an enemy sniper. The crater in which he was killed defending was named 'Cawley's Crater' in his honour.

'It is not widely recognised or, indeed, appreciated that politicians were shedding their own blood on the field of battle, and those that were not, be it through age or other reason, certainly were affected, just like the public they represented,' writes Thornton in the book's introduction.

Lt William Gladstone, 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, in 1915 (left). His main worry was that he would let his men down. He was killed in action while looking for a sniper that had been firing on them. Oswald Cawley MP for Prestwich (right). Oswald was wounded twice in the action that ultimately cost him his life. He lies buried near his brother, John, who was killed in September 1914

Pictured is a contemporary grave marker for Captain Annesley. Nearly a third of all MPs (28 per cent) were actively engaged in the war according to statistics published by The Times in April 1915

Lt Raymond Asquith (left) with his trademark cigarette. His efforts to get back to his men prior to the Somme offensive would earn him widespread respect and admiration, but it would also cost him his life. His father, Herbert Henry Asquith, served as the Prime Minister 1908 to 1916. Maj. Valentine Fleming (right) was killed in action while running across the open during a heavy enemy barrage in an attempt to reach his men who were manning a forward position

'The 'Lions Led by Donkeys' school of thoughta phrase aimed at high-ranking officers and politiciansis a sweeping generalisation that often falls extremely wide of the mark.

'Through their own efforts to seek active service, and despite being exempt due to their occupation, many would go to extraordinary lengths to enter a theatre of war and fight.'

The bravery of many MPs extended to their own families and a lot of politicians felt the loss of a loved one as many sons signed up and died in the Great War.

Martin Sheehan in 1917 in Cork while at home on leave (left). He would return to his duties only to be shot down, the specific circumstances of which are not known. Thomas Charles Reginald Agar-Robartes, MP for St Austell (1908 to 1915) - dubbed a most-eligible bachelor and the best-dressed man in Parliament. He was described as 'absolutely fearless' in battle and was recommended for the Victoria Cross

Led by Lions: MPs and Sons Who Fell in the First World War, by Neil Thornton and published by Fonthill Media is available now (left). In 1919, the statue of Lord Ninian was unveiled in Gorsedd Gardens in Cardiff (right)

Lt-Col. Duncan Campbell - wounded at Spion Kop during the Boer War and severely wounded in November 1914 (left). Gallant to his last breath. Mortally wounded while leading his men into an enemy trench, Basil Moon (right), died of his wounds, but not before writing a note to his commanding officer, apologising for being shot

One such example is the Counsel to the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Ernest Moon, KCB, KC, who received notification that, on May 24 1915, his son, Lieutenant Basil Moon of the Post Office Rifles, had died of wounds received in action at Festubert.

Gallant to his last breath and mortally wounded while leading his men into an enemy trench, Basil Moon died of his wounds, but not before writing a note to his commanding officer, apologising for being shot.

Led by Lions: MPs and Sons Who Fell in the First World War, by Neil Thornton and published by Fonthill Media is available now.A young musician was strangled to death before his backyard bungalow was deliberately set on fire to cover up his murder, an inquest found.

Connor Tolson's charred body was found in a single-room cabin out the back of his parents' house in the Melbourne suburb of Malvern East on September 19, 2015.

His death was initially thought to be an accident blamed on an electrical fault, until a post-mortem found strangulation marks on his neck.

Connor Tolson was strangled to death before his backyard bungalow was deliberately set on fire to cover up his murder, an inquest found

His charred body was found in a single-room cabin out the back of his parents' house in the Melbourne suburb of Malvern East on September 19, 2015

Coroner Audrey Jamieson said in her findings on Monday the Riders of Sin drummer died in 'circumstances that are unexplained and suspicious'.

'I form the belief that an indictable offence has been committed,' she told the Victorian Coroner's Court.

Ms Jamieson said the musician had no soot in his mouth or any of the chemicals usually found in people who died of smoke inhalation.

That combined with the three injuries to his neck meant he was strangled before the fire was set and the blaze didn't kill him.

However, she made no findings on who was likely responsible and noted prosecutors said in November there was not enough evidence to charge anyone.

The coroner said the musician had no soot in his mouth or any of the chemicals usually found in people who died of smoke inhalation

His death was initially thought to be an accident blamed on an electrical fault, until a post-mortem found strangulation marks on his neck

The inquest earlier heard Mr Tolson's brother James was the most likely suspect as there was no one else who had any reason to kill the popular young man.

'The unfortunate reality was there was a lot of things pointing in his direction,' Detective Senior Constable Paul Jenkins told the inquest, according to The Age.

He repeatedly broke into the bungalow, used drugs and suffered from mental illness - now living in a mental hospital, according to reports.

The hearing exposed a history of family violence, including James threatening to burn the house down and kill Mr Tolson.

James was arrested for allegedly attacking his brother just three days before his death and several restraining orders were taken out against him.

Police were reportedly called to the home eight times in the previous two years, with the triple-0 calls from family members played in court.

Coroner Audrey Jamieson said in her findings on Monday the Riders of Sin drummer died in 'circumstances that are unexplained and suspicious'

Mr Tolson, pictured in a YouTube video, was a drummer in an indie rock band named Riders of Sin

Mr Tolson's father Bill said he was happy the inquest findings were public but was frustrated no one would be charged for his son's death.

'I'm incredibly disappointed that that's the case but the problem is, as they've just said, there isn't enough evidence,' he said.

'He had everything going for him, literally hundreds of friends. Like many of the others that unfortunately get taken away it just makes absolutely no sense.'

Mr Tolson was a drummer in an indie rock band named Riders of Sin from the age of 15, often using the bungalow as a rehearsal space. The band were even featured on Triple J Unearthed.

Mr Tolson girlfriend Isabel Luke voiced her heartbreak and commemorated Mr Tolson's life in the days after his death.

'Connor was just magic. He lived and breathed music and I've never met a more truly kind person in my life,' she said.The locations of American and allied military bases across the world have been revealed by a running app after soldiers uploaded their routes to it.

Strava, a GPS tracker that tells runners how far and how fast they have gone, created an interactive online map of the routes posted by all of its users.

However, security analysts have noticed that the Global Heat Map has highlighted sensitive military bases in countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.

It has disclosed a US Special Operations base in the Sahel region of Africa, a Patriot missile system in Yemen and drones on an airbase in Djibouti.

Soldiers have unwittingly revealed the information by recording their routes as they run around the bases on Strava, which can be synchronized to Fitbit and Jawbone.

The routes taken by subscribers over the last two years have been revealed on the satellite map of the world.

Scroll down for video

A map showing routes taken by users of an exercise tracking app reveals potentially sensitive information about American soldiers across the world, including in Iraq (pictured)

It shows a great deal of activity in the United States and Europe. But in war zones and deserts in countries like Iraq, Djibouti and Syria, the heat map becomes almost entirely dark  except for scattered evidence of activity.

A closer look at those areas brings into focus the locations and outlines of known US military bases as well as other lesser-known and potentially sensitive sites.

The data could provide information to someone who wants to attack or ambush troops.

The map is not live, but shows a pattern of accumulated activity between 2015 and September 2017.

The Global Heat Map was posted online in November 2017, but the information it contains was only publicised recently after Nathan Ruser, an Australian studying international security came across it.

He tweeted about it, prompting other analysts, military experts and ex-soldiers to scour the map for evidence of activity in sensitive locations.

Adam Rawnsley noticed there was a lot of jogging on a beach near a suspected CIA base in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Ben Taub located a US Special Operations base in the Sahel region of Africa.

Another person said he found the site of a Patriot missile system in Yemen.

In Afghanistan, several locations in the country's south and west are a hive of activity

'In Syria, known Coalition (i.e. US) bases light up the night,' one analyst said on Twitter

Smaller sites also appear on the map in northern and western Iraq, indicating the presence of other, lesser-known installations

Jack Nelson wrote on Twitter that it took him 30 seconds to find a US air base in Djibouti.

However, since the map doesn't identify the app's users, it's difficult to determine what some sites are.

They could be linked to aid organizations, UN facilities or military bases for other countries, Tobias Schneider, a security analyst who was among the group of people who highlighted the military bases shown on the map, noted.

Schneider also noted that it shows military sites in Syria and Iraq as well as the Madama base used by French forces in Niger.

'In Syria, known Coalition (i.e. US) bases light up the night. Some light markers over known Russian positions, no notable coloring for Iranian bases,' Schneider wrote on Twitter.

US troops are deployed in support of local forces battling ISIS in Syria as well as Iraq, while Russian and Iranian units are backing President Bashar al-Assad's Syria government in that country's civil war.

One Twitter user said it took seconds to find what he says is a US drone base in Djibouti (above)

'I wonder who's running around this apparently abandoned airfield in Somalia,' Jack Nelson wrote alongside these images

One Twitter user noticed there was a lot of jogging on a beach near a suspected CIA base in Mogadishu, Somalia (above)

'A lot of people are going to have to sit thru lectures come Monday morning,' Schneider wrote, referring to soldiers likely to be taken to task for inadvertently revealing sensitive information while trying to keep in shape.

'Bases are fixed & hard to conceal,' he wrote, so the 'biggest potential threat is to tracking movement.'

He added: 'Think beyond Strava to what creative analysts (from nosy twitter sleuths to *cough* darker forces) can do with even seemingly innocuous bits of meta data.'

While some of the bases are well known to groups that might want to attack them, the map also shows what appear to be routes taken by forces moving outside of bases - information that could be used in planning bombings or ambushes.

The map of Iraq is largely dark, indicating a limited use of the app in the country.

Tobias Schneider noted that it shows military sites in Syria and Iraq as well as the Madama base used by French forces in Niger

But a series of well-known military bases, where American and allied forces have been deployed as part of their war against the Islamic State terror group, are highlighted in detail.

These include Taji north of Baghdad, Qayyarah south of Mosul and Al-Asad in Anbar Province.

Smaller sites also appear on the map in northern and western Iraq, indicating the presence of other, lesser-known installations.

Stretches of road are also highlighted, indicating that Strava users kept their devices on while traveling, potentially providing details about commonly-taken routes.

In Afghanistan, Bagram Airfield north of Kabul is a hive of activity, as are several locations in the country's south and west.

And in Syria, Qamishli in the northwest, a stronghold of US-allied Kurdish forces, is clearly visible.

Another person said he found the site of a Patriot missile system in Yemen using the map

Potentially sensitive information can be gleaned outside of war zones.

A map of the US air force base known as Area 51 near Homey Airport in Nevada shows a cyclist travelling from the base along the edge of Groom Lake.

RAF Mount Pleasant on the Falkland Islands is lit up brightly, revealing the exercise regimen of the 1,000 British soldiers stationed there, according to the Guardian.

Strava says it has 27 million users around the world, including people who own widely available fitness devices, as well as people who directly subscribe to its mobile app.

The map shows the movements of its app users around the world, indicating the intensity of travel along a given path - a 'direct visualization of Strava's global network of athletes,' it says.

But the issue could have been fairly easily avoided.

Strava says it has 27 million users around the world, including people who own widely available fitness devices

According to Strava, 'athletes with the Metro/heatmap opt-out privacy setting have all data excluded' from the mapping project.

The US Department of Defense has said it is 'reviewing' the situation.

'Recent data releases emphasize the need for situational awareness when members of the military share personal information,' Major Audricia Harris, a Pentagon spokeswoman, told AFP.

'DoD takes matters like these very seriously and is reviewing the situation to determine if any additional training or guidance is required, and if any additional policy must be developed to ensure the continued safety of DoD personnel at home and abroad,' Harris said.

The Pentagon 'recommends limiting public profiles on the internet, including personal social media accounts,' she said.New teachers kicking off the school year in Alice Springs have been left baffled by a gift that seemed to imply that educators were growing marijuana at their desks.

Teachers embarking on their first posting in the Northern Territory received an 'anti-cannabis pot plant' as a welcome gift - containing an empty terracotta pot, a packet of thyme seeds and an educational poster.

The 'promotional item' sent by the Department of Education encouraged users to grow thyme instead of marijuana at their desk, and urged them to seek help and information about addiction and the side effects of cannabis use.

Teachers were confused in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory when they received this strange gift telling them not to grow marijuana

'I thought it was a bit of a joke,' one teacher explained to the ABC.

'I thought it was a teaching resource  that was my initial thought  to use with the kids...But hopefully my students aren't that addicted.'

She added that she had no idea who the pot plant was intended for and what message the department was trying to convey.

Text on the accompanying poster reads: 'To stay on the right side of the law, don't let weed into your desk pot plant.'

It also includes promotional material that directed users to a cannabis information and support website that promoted a quit cannabis app. The website features a section for teachers with online resources for classroom education.

Australian Education Union NT president Jarvis Ryan said the plant seemed to be an 'odd' gift for incoming educators, given that there was no evidence of teachers using cannabis in Central Australia.

'Certainly it would be very strange if we had any teachers  or anyone in an office environment, for that matter  that was growing marijuana in one of their office plants,' he said.

'On the surface it strikes me as a particularly unusual thing to include, it's a bit unclear what message it's trying to send.'

It's been suggested that the plant was intended to be a reminder that marijuana laws vary from state to state in Australia - or that possession of the substance is a criminal offence.

Australian Education Union NT president Jarvis Ryan (left) said the plant seemed to be an 'odd' gift for incoming educators given that there is no evidence of teachers using cannabis in NT

'We typically take in a large number of teachers at the beginning of each year, they come from all over Australia and in some cases outside Australia,' said Centralian Middle School principal Paul van Holsteyn.

'The specific laws on marijuana, cultivation use and possession can vary somewhat from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.'

However, the the Education Department said including the cannabis pot plant was an 'innocent mistake'.



In a statement, the department admitted to providing all new Alice Springs teachers with a welcome pack which included information about the department, community organisations, businesses and government agencies.

'One of the items included in the pack was a drug awareness message containing a small five-centimetre pot and thyme seeds,' it said.

'The item was provided by the Department of Health and is designed for the general community, not specifically for teachers.'A 30-year-old Sydney woman will fly to Malaysia this year for a radical treatment costing $30,000 after spending 15 years battling a debilitating illness.

Over the course of about eight hours, Sami Coates will have her body heated to 42 degrees, and she will be pumped full of antibiotics through an IV drip.

She will spend a week connected to the drip, barely able to move, before returning home to Australia and then flying back to Malaysia to repeat the process. The therapy is called Hyperthermic Treatment.

Sami was an elite swimmer with a national title to her name, training 11 times a week, with dreams of competing for Australia in the Olympics when she developed glandular fever at 15 and never recovered.

'It was my dream, to get gold for Australia. Becoming so sick really shattered me,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

Sami Coates, 30, is fundraising to receive treatment for a disease that has left her mostly bedridden for 15 years

She developed glandular fever as a teenager and never recovered. More than 10 years later, she was diagnosed with Lyme Disease

After years of tests, days on end spent in bed, unable to move, and thousands of dollars a week spent on pills, a blood test sent to the United States for testing came back with a positive diagnosis of Lyme Disease.

Lyme Disease is an infectious parasitic disease, spread to humans by infected ticks.

'My first real symptom with my Lyme Disease was the fatigue, and then my bowel stopped working - I ended up in hospital a few times because I was constantly constipated,' she said.

Sami says her illness has come in peaks and troughs. When she first became unwell as a teenager, she says she was 'bed bound for weeks on end, not being able to move'.

Over the next few years, the Sutherland Shire woman slowly finished school and went on to finish university.

Despite achieving a primary teaching qualification, she has never been able to hold down steady work because of the unpredictability and debilitating nature of her condition.

Sami will undergo hyperthermic treatment in Malaysia in March, where her body will be heated to 42 degrees and antibiotics pumped through her veins

Sami is desperate to regain control of her life and be able to do the things others her age take for granted.

'I tried as much as I could to live a normal life, get out and experience things, but I feel like my life has been on hold,' she said.

'I haven't been able to hold down a job and save and move out, have a long term relationship, or any of the things my friends are doing.'

The disease has taken a mental toll on the bubbly woman too. Sami said she was thinking of ending her life when she first became sick, and it's a thought she still battles with 15 years later.

The former elite swimmer is now mostly bedbound, with her illness preventing her from holding down a job or being able to live an independent life

She told Daily Mail Australia when she first fell ill, she and her family were spending thousands of dollars a week on antibiotics and drip treatments

'I was close to committing suicide when I first got sick, because nobody believed me and I had no idea what was going on... going from such an active, happy, bright person, to bedridden and not being able to be myself,' she explained.

'I found it very hard to get out of that. I was lucky to get through it all

'Even recently I've been through stages of "this isn't working, I don't want to live like this".'

Before her Lyme diagnosis, Sami had been treated for depression, chronic fatigue and a range of other illnesses as doctors tried everything to control her symptoms.

Because the condition is so rare in Australia, it is not covered by Medicare and barely even acknowledged because there is 'little evidence' of it being contracted in the country, according to the government.

HYPERTHERMIC TREATMENT What is Hyperthermic Treatment? Hyperthermic treatment is where body tissue is exposed to high temperatures, up to 42 degrees Why does it work for Lyme Disease? Borellia Bergdorferi, the bacteria found to cause Lyme Disease in the US, is understood to die at high temperatures. Cancer treatments using Hyperthermia show the body is more able to effectively absorb radiation treatment, and by this logic it is believed Lyme Disease patients are more able to effectively absorb antibiotics. Can patients undergo Hyperthermic Treatment in Australia? Hyperthermic machines are available in Australia for the treatment of cancer, but are not available to Lyme Disease patients as the government does not recognise the illness. Advertisement

Sami was treated for depression, chronic fatigue and a range of other illnesses before a blood test sent to the United States returned a positive result for Lyme Disease

At her worst, Sami and her family were spending 'between three and four thousand dollars a week on antibiotics and drips' to help treat her illness.

'It's scary, I don't want to think about how much we spent - it's a lot.'

To now be able to afford the two treatments Sami believes will change her life, the 30-year-old has been forced to ask the public for assistance through a GoFundMe account.

Conclusions from a Senate inquiry published late last year determined the government needed to be more open in acknowledging tick bourne diseases and prioritise research funding.

But for Sami, the results are too little too late.

'The longer you leave [Lymes disease] the harder it is to treat. It gets into your cells,' she said.

'On a bad day, my mum brings me my food, I lay in bed all day and sometimes I'll venture to the bathroom to have an Epsom salt bath to help ease the pain.

'On the odd occasion I'll be able to get up and go and watch something, but most of the time I just sleep. It's just awful.'

Lyme Disease What is Lyme disease? Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is an infectious parasitic disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. How does Lyme disease infection occur? In nearly all recorded cases it is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected tick. How does Lyme disease start? Symptoms appear on average 14 days after the tick bite. However the incubation period may last between two days and 3 1/2 months. The bacteria can enter a phase in which they do not cause symptoms but are still present. They may still have the potential to cause active disease at a later stage. What are the symptoms of Lyme disease? Lyme disease can affect any part of the body and cause many different symptoms. The commonest symptoms relate to the person feeling unwell, having flu-like symptoms, extreme tiredness, muscle pain, muscle weakness, joint pain, upset digestive system, headache, disturbances of the central nervous system and a poor sleep pattern. In some cases an expanding bulls eye rash appears on the skin. However, a rash in any form is not a universal symptom. If the rash does occur, it is termed erythema migrans or EM rash. It may manifest in a chronic form and be known as erythema chronicum migrans or ECM rash. The list of symptoms known to be associated with Lyme disease is long and diverse. The symptom pattern varies from person to person. See Lyme Disease Action for more information. AdvertisementGerman scientists gassed volunteers with toxic diesel fumes in tests funded by car manufacturers including VW, Mercedes and BMW, it has been claimed.

Experiments on the effects of inhaling nitrogen oxides were said to have been carried out on some 25 healthy young people in varying doses over a period of hours at an institute belonging to Aachen University in Germany.

It comes after Volkswagen's supervisory board called for an immediate inquiry into who ordered scientific tests in America in which monkeys were also exposed to toxic diesel fumes.

The studies were commissioned by an organisation known as the European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT), financed by VW alongside fellow German auto sector stalwarts BMW and Daimler - the Mercedes-Benz parent firm.

German scientists gassed volunteers with toxic diesel fumes in tests funded by car manufacturers including VW, Mercedes and BMW, it has been claimed. Pictured: One of the company's factories in Germany

Hoping to defend diesel's environmentally-friendly reputation - and the valuable tax breaks that go with it - the EUGT commissioned the tests from the US-based Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute.

According to the New York Times, ten monkeys were locked in airtight chambers and left to watch cartoons as they breathed in diesel fumes from a VW Beetle in 2014.

The study was designed to defend diesel following revelations that the fuel's exhaust fumes were carcinogenic, the paper reported.

The car companies decided in late 2016 to dissolve the EUGT, which finally shut its doors last year.

It remains unclear whether the carmakers were aware of monkeys being used in the experiments.

Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW on Saturday denounced the study, whose revelation is the latest aftershock from the Volkswagen emissions-rigging scandal, which continues to rock the auto industry.

The studies were commissioned by an organisation known as the European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT), financed by VW alongside fellow German auto sector stalwarts BMW and Daimler - the Mercedes-Benz parent firm. Pictured: BMW's headquarters in Munich

It comes after Volkswagen's supervisory board called for an immediate inquiry into who ordered scientific tests in America in which monkeys were also exposed to toxic diesel fumes. Stock image

The chairman of Volkswagensaid that diesel exhaust tests involving monkeys were 'totally incomprehensible', and pledged a full and unconditional investigation

Over the weekend, German daily Stuttgarter Zeitung reported that EUGT also sponsored scientific studies testing nitrogen dioxide, a gas found in exhaust fumes, on people.

The German government said on Monday that any auto emissions testing on monkeys or people were unjustifiable.

'These tests on monkeys or even people are in no ethical way justifiable and raise many critical questions about those who are behind the tests,' government spokesman Steffen Seibert told a regular government news conference in Berlin.

Stephan Weil, who represents the German state of Lower Saxony, a VW shareholder, on the supervisory board, said the board was pressing the carmaker to urgently provide information about what the aim of the studies was.

'At the end of the day, the purpose of such experiments is the decisive factor. If for example, safety and health in the workplace were being tested, as Aachen University has suggested, and ethical standards were adhered to, it is defensible,' Weil told a news conference on Monday.

'Where experiments served the purposes of marketing and sales, however, I cannot think of an acceptable justification for such an approach.'

Aachen University had no immediate comment.

VW's 'dieselgate' scandal saw the group admit in 2015 to manipulating some 11 million cars worldwide to fool regulatory tests, making it appear as though they met NOx emissions limits when in fact they exceeded them by many times in real on-road driving.

On its website the World Health Organisation points to 'growing evidence' that nitrogen dioxide exposure 'can increase symptoms of bronchitis and asthma, as well as lead to respiratory infections and reduced lung function and growth.'

Exposure is 'linked to premature mortality... from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases,' it continues.Theresa May's ex-chief of staff Nick Timothy called on the Government to splash cash on the NHS and defence to head off defeat to Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Timothy, who lost his job in Downing Street after masterminding the election disaster last year, said the country is 'tired of austerity'.

The former aide also revealed he had not seen Mrs May since leaving his post but stopped short of saying he had not spoken to the Prime Minister.

Critics have suggested Mr Timothy retains influence over Mrs May, for whom he worked for many years alongside Fiona Hill, who was co-chief of staff.

The duo were condemned across Tory ranks after steering the PM to calamity at last June's snap election, losing the Government majority after conceding a 20-point lead.

Theresa May's ex-chief of staff Nick Timothy (pictured with former colleague Fiona Hill after the pair were fired last year) called on the Government to splash cash on the NHS and defence to head off defeat to Jeremy Corbyn

Mr Timothy spoke out today at a Resolution Foundation event to discuss the future of Conservatism.

He said: 'It feels increasingly clear that the country is tired of austerity and the public services are starting to feel the strain a little bit.

'While the NHS needs reform it also needs more money and I don't think many people think the defence budget is sustainable.

'There's quite a strong argument that fiscal policy needs to change.'

In an apparent swipe at Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, Mr Timothy claimed a renewed Tory focus on green policies could damage the party.

Mr Gove has become among the most active ministers, announcing a raft of policies such as a crackdown on single use plastic in a bid rehabilitate the Tory image.

The Conservative manifesto's backing for a new vote on fox hunting was seen by some as a major issue that drove voters away.

But despite the rebrand, Mr Timothy said: 'I think alighting on the environment is a slightly strange thing to do and reflects some kind of strategic confusion.'

Mr Timothy, who lost his job in Downing Street after masterminding the election disaster last year, said the country is 'tired of austerity' as he urged Theresa May (pictured at church in Maidenhead yesterday) to change course

The ex aide, who now writes newspaper columns, admitted the 'election campaign was wrong'.

He said: 'It presupposed desire for continuity talking about Brexit constitutionally and even in nationalistic terms, not about changing the country.

'The political strategy of Government from July 2016 to beginning of election campaign was a success... we were 20 points ahead in the polls... in every social class and region.

'We blew the election campaign because we fought a campaign that was different to that strategy... we didn't take the lessons of that strategy into the General Election.'

Mr Timothy defied critics who claim he retained too much influence over the Prime Minister.

He was blamed for the sacking of Justine Greening as Education Secretary at the botched reshuffle earlier this month.

He said: 'I haven't seen the prime minister since I resigned at the general election.

'Of Conservative prime ministers past and present, I see David Cameron more often than I have Theresa May, because I've seen him once.'David Allison, 48, of Ottershaw, Surrey, has been jailed for three years after police raided his home and found a haul of indecent photos

An assistant headmaster and former BBC producer amassed a secret hoard of more than half a million indecent images over 20 years.

David Allison, 48, of Ottershaw, Surrey, has now been jailed for three years after police raided his home and found the massive haul - some of which he had taken on secret cameras hidden around the school where he worked.

Officers found several devices containing images of children taken and recorded around the school, including images showing a girl undressing.

Allison admitted four counts of making indecent photos of a child, one count of recording a private act and another of voyeurism by installing equipment.

Judge Robert Fraser was told that detectives are still trawling through the images as part of the fast-track prosecution of the teacher.

Disgraced Allison, who was hoping to become a headteacher, appeared at Guildford Crown Court on Friday afternoon, where the court heard he was the official photographer at the prestigious private Catholic school where he taught.

The 48-year-old paedophile, who had previously worked as an assistant producer in London and had experience on camera and as a newsreader, was told by a judge that it was both depressing and devastating that a man of his background had ended up in court.

Police found 635,902 indecent photos and 15,332 videos on Allison's computer when they raided his home on November 29 last year.

Disgraced Allison, who was hoping to become a headteacher, appeared at Guildford Crown Court (pictured) on Friday afternoon, where the court heard Allison was the official photographer at the prestigious private Catholic school where he taught

The 48-year-old was found with 5,038 category A images - the worst level - 8,693 category B images, and 84,300 category C images.

Search words including 'pre-teen', 'hardcore', and 'lolly' were also found on his computer.

'Recent access to a live stream website out of curiosity was when he felt he had crossed the line,' said prosecutor Mr Harris. 'He kept the images and movies on a single hard drive and one day said he would draw a line on it and put the disc through the shredder.'

This man blatantly abused his position of trust, giving innocent pupils a false sense of security. He allowed them to believe they were safe from this sort of exploitation and deceived parents and work colleagues alike - Detective Inspector Martin Goodwin

Allison admitted three counts of making indecent images of children, one count of taking indecent images of children and two counts of voyeurism at an earlier hearing.

Defending him, Sarah Read said Allison fully understood that he needed to be punished.

'He is deeply ashamed and disgusted in himself and is aware fully of the far-reaching impact on those that are affected,' she said.

Sentencing him to three years in prison, Judge Fraser said he found it depressing and devastating that somebody of Allison's background had ended up in court.

'This is an extremely serious case, not just because of the sheer quantity, but also your position,' he said.

Detective Inspector Martin Goodwin said after the sentencing: 'These indecent images showed the girls' underwear and had been taken without their knowledge.

'In working with the school extensive work was carried out by detectives in order to identify victims and ensure that the children and their families could access any specialist support they needed.

'This man blatantly abused his position of trust, giving innocent pupils a false sense of security. He allowed them to believe they were safe from this sort of exploitation and deceived parents and work colleagues alike.

'We have now put a stop to his predatory behaviour and prevented him from continuing with his criminality.

'The sentencing of this individual sends a message to those abusing a position of trust that you will be caught.

'Whilst this won't reverse what he has done, putting this man in prison will ensure his offending does not continue.'

Allison also received a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and was placed on the Sex Offenders register for life.Angela Merkel is said to have brutally mocked Theresa May in a behind-closed doors meeting in Davos last week.

The German Chancellor ridiculed the Prime Minister for refusing to say what Britain wanted from Brexit negotiations.

At a reception with journalists at the World Economic Forum, Mrs Merkel reportedly joked that her exchanges with Mrs May were locked in a 'loop'.

To laughter, she is said to have described how the PM keeps asking her to 'make me an offer' on the shape of post-Brexit relations.

At a reception with journalists at the World Economic Forum, Mrs Merkel reported joked that her exchanges with Mrs May were locked in a 'loop'. The German chancellor is pictured speaking to reporters last year

The perceived lack of certainty over Brexit has led to senior Conservatives warning Mrs May (pictured in Downing Street today) could be toppled unless she shows firmer leadership

According to ITV News' Robert Peston, Mrs Merkel said that she replies: 'But you're leaving - we don't have to make you an offer. Come on what do you want?'

However, Mrs May merely repeats: 'Make me an offer.'

The anecdote, apparently left the gathering in fits of laughter - and underlines the challenge facing the PM as negotiation reach a crucial stage.

The UK is coming under intense pressure to clarify what sort of 'end state' it wants to secure after Brexit.

Mrs May finds herself caught between elements demanding a clean break from Brussels and those who want a 'soft' split.

Tory Eurosceptics have been threatening a potentially fatal revolt over fears that Britain is heading for 'BRINO' - Brexit In Name Only.

Jacob Rees-Mogg made clear yesterday that support for the PM was conditional on her sticking to the plan for a tough line against Brussels.

One pro-Brexit minister said Eurosceptic MPs were on a 'hair trigger' because of concerns they would be 'betrayed' by a final deal with the EU.

But on the other side Remain-backing MPs have been threatening to rebel against any attempt to force through a 'hard' Brexit.

In a sign of the tensions, it has emerged a minister branded Brexiteers 'swivel-eyed' on a Tory WhatsApp group.

Energy minister Claire Perry said Leave supporters were mostly 'elderly retired men' without mortgages or young children.

According to a blog by ITV News' Robert Peston, Mrs Merkel said that she replies: 'But you're leaving - we don't have to make you an offer.'

Boris Johnson narrowly avoided a blunder as he left Downing Street today - with the top of a document marked 'official: sensitive' poking out of his folder

David Lidington (left) and David Davis were seen arriving at Downing Street today as the PM held a meeting of her Brexit 'war Cabinet'

Other MPs are complaining that Mrs May needs to be bolder on the domestic front, saying policy-making needs to be less 'tortoise' and more 'lion'.

The EU will today demand Britain signs up to Brussels laws and free movement rules during a transition period.

The bloc will set out a series of red lines as it formally adopts its negotiating guidelines for the next phase of the talks.

Demands include that the UK obeys EU laws for two years after 2019 without having any say in deciding them.

Britain will also have to keep paying into Brussels coffers, while free movement rules will continue.

But Eurocrats are already claiming that the UK will end up begging for longer than the two-year transition being mooted by the government.

Diplomats have suggested that up to five years could be needed to avoid a 'cliff edge' - the same length of time previously mooted by Irish ministers.

Mrs May and Mrs Merkel, pictured together at the G20 summit in Hamburg last year, are thought to have had fractious exchanges over BrexitAn elderly woman had her vegetable stall violently destroyed by China's notorious urban police last Friday.

Footage emerged showing three police officers forcefully dragging the elderly woman away from the street and throwing her vegetables onto the road.

No onlookers can be seen offering help to the elderly. One officer has been suspended since the footage being posted on social media.

An elderly woman, in red beanie, has her vegetable stalls destroyed by three urban police officers in China (left). She had been seen selling vegetables on road without a licence (right)

According to ifeng.com, the incident happened in Shidong town in Zhaoqing of Guangdong Province on January 26.

The urban police were patrolling on a street and enforcing rules on city sanitation but they were seen having an argument with a street vendor who was selling vegetables on roadside.

Footage captured the moment the widely loathed municipal police taking away the old woman's tools and dragging her onto a police car.

Another officer was shoving her vegetables to the road.

The pensioner is trying to defend her stall but the officers take away her tools and throws her vegetables away (left). They try to drag her onto a police car but she refuses (right)

The elderly was trying to defend her stall as much as she can and there were no onlookers willing to help her out.

Shidong town government issued a statement on Weibo, a Twitter-like social media site, that the vendor attacked the officers with a small knife when she was told to leave the street.

According to the urban police, the elderly woman was often seen selling vegetables on the street without proper license.

However, regarding the action taken by the urban police, Shidong town government suspended Liang, one of the on-duty officer, for violent act towards citizens.A controversial US pastor has said the West is at war with Muslims and at risk of losing the right to free speech in an exclusive interview with Mail Online.

Franklin Graham, son of former presidential spiritual adviser Billy Graham, spoke out ahead of a visit to the UK which has seen calls to ban him for his outspoken views.

Mr Graham, who himself led prayers at Trump's inauguration, defended previous statements in which he said that America is 'under attack by Muslims' and that every Muslim immigrant to the US 'has the potential to be radicalized'.

Confronted with those words, he told Mail Online: 'Well that's true. Our nation was attacked on 9/11 in the name of Islam.

Franklin Graham, the son of former presidential spiritual adviser Billy Graham, has defended controversial comments in which he said the West is under attack by Muslims

Graham has seen calls to ban him from the UK over his comments on Muslims and gays, which he defended in an interview with Mail Online. He also hit out at the ban, saying the West is at risk of losing the right to free speech

'They brought down the World Trade Center, hit the Pentagon, killed 3,000 people in just over an hour in the biggest attack since the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

'The war we have been in since 9/11 has been with Islam, whether it's ISIS or Al Qaeda or whatever you want to call it. And that war continues. And that's just a fact.'

He later clarified the statement, saying there are 'millions and millions of Muslims' who do not support radical Islam and simply want to live their lives in peace, admitting that it was problematic to say the West was at war with Islam 'as a whole'.

Mr Graham also pointed to aid work that Samaritan's Purse, the organisation he heads, did helping the victims of ISIS near Mosul, Iraq.

But, he added: 'Our country has been attacked, no question. You've had plenty of attacks in [the UK] in the name of Islam.'

Graham also defended remarks in which he said Putin was right to ban 'gay propaganda' in order to protect children

He also defended a 2014 article in his ministry's Decision magazine in which he said Putin 'was right' to pass laws stopping children being exposed to 'gay propaganda'.

'I think Putin is right to protect children and let them make that decision when they get older,' he said.

It is those comments which have seen calls to ban him from speaking at the Lancashire Festival of Hope scheduled for September this year, which he is due to attend after being invited by several local churches.

An online petition has garnered more than 7,500 signatures and several local MPs have spoken out against the visit, urging the Home Secretary to consider denying him a visa.

Speaking about the ban, Mr Graham said: 'We're in danger in western civilization of losing the freedom of speech.

'This has been a big thing for western societies - the freedom to speak out. I walked down to Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park and every kind of opinion in the world was being debated or discussed and that's a wonderful thing.

'To have the freedom to voice one's opinion and freedom of speech and I'm afraid in Western society we may lose that one day.'

He added: 'I don't think I've ever been anywhere with 100% support, people either don't support for theological position or political positions.

'Generally people who don't like you are the ones who want to come and hear what you have to say. Everybody is invited [to the event] and we don't exclude anybody.'

Mr Graham has also been a vocal supporter of Trump since the election, and while he didn't endorse him, was instrumental in drumming up evangelical support.

Asked about Trump's time in office, Graham said 'there can be no doubt' that the President is facing a coup from the media and far-left to depose him.

Mr Graham led prayers at Trump's inauguration, and while he did not endorse the President, he says he believes God intervened to help him win

While he has been a staunch defender of the President's policies, Mr Graham admitted that Trump has not been a good moral leader for America

He said: 'He's interrupted their plans. I think the far-left, they're socialist, and they want to see a socialist system much like what eastern Europe had.

'The members of the ruling party lived very well and everybody else lives in poverty. And they keep taxing and taxing until people have nothing left.

'Here comes Donald Trump who says 'I'm going to lower your taxes', 'I'm going to make America great again'. And he's doing that. And it's not sitting well with the left who had other plans.'

Mr Graham did also address the failings of the President, admitting that he hasn't been a moral leader, citing examples of multiple marriages and girlfriends.

But, he added: 'The American people were not electing their pastor. They realize that he is a morally frail. Like we all are.'

While he would not be drawn on whether Trump will run for election again in 2020, he said: 'If he does run, there will be millions and millions and millions more people voting for him than they did before.

'And the reason for that is because their life will be improved. I think that's the bottom line.'Keurig is buying Dr Pepper Snapple Group, bringing together the make-at-home coffee brand with the company behind Dr Pepper soda, Mott's apple juice and Snapple iced tea.

The combination lets the company offer 'hot and cold beverages to satisfy every consumer throughout the day,' said Larry Young, chief executive of Dr Pepper Snapple.

The deal is said to be worth $18.7billion.

Keurig Dr Pepper, the name of the new company, plans to expand its bottled iced coffee offerings that are sold at supermarkets and convenience stores.

And the combined company will tap into each other's distribution network, bringing the brands to more stores and online retailers.

Keurig is buying Dr Pepper Snapple Group and the merged company will be called Keurig Dr Pepper (file photo)

The move is expected to generate $11billion in annual sales for the company which includes Keurig products, Dr Pepper, Snapple products and Mott's apple juice (file photo)

There's also a chance that more of Dr Pepper Snapple's brands will be turned into pods that are placed into Keurig's single-serve brewing machines to make drinks. Some Snapple flavors are already sold as Keurig pods.

The combined company will have about $11billion in annual sales, which still makes it far smaller than soda makers PepsiCo Inc. and Coca-Cola Co., which had 2016 sales of $63billion and $41billion, respectively.

Shares of Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. soared 24 percent to $118.75 on Monday.

Keurig Green Mountain Inc. became a privately-held company in 2016 when it was acquired by Europe's JAB Holding Company in a partnership with snack company Mondelez International.

JAB owns several other coffee brands, which Keurig Dr Pepper plans to tap into. It wants to expand bottled iced coffees under the Krispy Kreme, Stumptown and Peet's names, all of which are owned by JAB. And Keurig sells coffee pods under the Green Mountain and Donut Shop names.

Its pods, which are placed in the coffee makers and thrown out, have been criticized by environmental advocates as contributing to more waste.

The company previously announced that it plans to make all its pods, which are called K-Cups, recyclable by 2020.

Shares of Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. soared 24 percent to $118.75 on Monday. Keurig said Monday that Dr Pepper Snapple shareholders will receive $103.75 per share in a special cash dividend and keep 13 percent of the combined company (file photos)

Keurig will stay in its Waterbury, Vermont, headquarters, and Dr Pepper Snapple will remain in Plano, Texas

The holding company also owns the Panera Bread restaurant chain.

Keurig said Monday that Dr Pepper Snapple shareholders will receive $103.75 per share in a special cash dividend and keep 13 percent of the combined company. Dr Pepper Snapple shareholders still must approve the deal.

Keurig Dr Pepper will trade publicly after the deal closes, which is expected to happen in the second quarter. A new ticker symbol hasn't been announced yet, the company said. Keurig will stay in its Waterbury, Vermont, headquarters, and Dr Pepper Snapple will remain in Plano, Texas.

Keurig CEO Bob Gamgort will lead the new company

Keurig CEO Bob Gamgort, who will lead the new company, highlighted Dr Pepper Snapple's Bai brand as 'driving significant growth' during a conference call with investors.

Bai, which makes fruity, low-calorie drinks and bottled water, was bought by Dr Pepper Snapple last year, to add more low calorie drinks and flavored sparkling waters into its portfolio as more people avoid sugary sodas.

JAB will be the controlling shareholder of the combined company. Mondelez will hold a stake of about 13 percent to 14 percent.

Keurig and Dr Pepper Snapple said they expect $600million in annual cost savings starting in 2021 by bringing together the two company's warehouse and delivery network.

Bernstein analyst Ali Dibadj said he expects more beverage companies to combine to save on distribution costs and get their products on the same delivery trucks.

'There will be more of these,' Dibadj said.In his first-ever State of the Union address, Donald Trump is expected to strike a bipartisanship with the Democrats and provide an overview of his achievements during his first year as President.

Trump will talk about America being back and the importance of rebuilding the country, as well as ensuring the nation is safe in relation to illegal immigrants, DREAMers and the Mexican border wall.

Despite this compromise with the Democratic party, another one of Trumps aims is for the Republicans to retain their majority in Congress as well as push policies ahead of the midterm election season.

Many celebrities have already taken to the streets in protest of Trumps SOTU 2018 and a celebration of the resistance movement against the US President will take place in New York on January 29.

Trump will talk about America being back and rebuilding the country in the SOTU speech

What is the State of the Union Address?

As stated in the US Constitution, the President of the United States is expected to give a State of the Union Address to Congress and advise on measures they deem necessary and expedient.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan sent an invitation to Trump on November 30 to deliver the speech.

This marks Donald Trumps first State of the Union Address and his second speech to a joint session of Congress.

When is the State of the Union Address 2018?

The 2018 State of the Union Address will take place on January 30 and will be given at 9pm EST.

What will Trump discuss at the 2018 State of the Union Address?

White House Legislative Director Marc Short highlighted that Trump will 'talk about how Americas back. 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'.

The theme of the 2018 State of the Union address is building a safe, strong and proud America and Trump will reveal how he intends to enforce this in his second year as President.

Trump will also reportedly use this opportunity to discuss the economic progress the US has made under his presidency, a teaser of which he revealed on Twitter when he lashed out at Jay-Z with misleading claims that his policies had lowered African American unemployment.

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

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

During the speech, Trump will continue to elaborate on his immigration policies and in line with tradition to invite themed guests, Democratic members of Congress will welcome two dozen DREAMers to the event.

Trump will also promote his proposal for $25 million for a wall to be built along the Mexican border and for the 2 million young people who entered the US as children to become citizens.

Despite a compromise with the opposition, another one of Trumps aims is for the Republicans to retain their majority in Congress and address the widely debated tax overhaul.

The US President will also address a literal rebuilding of the nation with a $2 trillion plan to trigger $1 trillion in private and public spending on roads, bridges and other projects.

On North Korea, Trump will provide an update on the current state of events and advise on plans to combat terrorist threats from other countries or groups.

Joe Kennedy will provide a response to Trumps State of Union Address on behalf of the Democrats, following in the footsteps of his great-uncle Senator Ted Kennedy in 1982.

This is Trumps first State of the Union and his second speech to a joint session of Congress

How to watch the State of the Union Address

The full State of the Union address will run from 9pm to 10:30pm EST.

The State of the Union Address will be available to watch via The White Houses online stream or via Twitter.

The State of the Union Address will also be featured on CBS News, the CBS YouTube channel and the CBS All Access mobile app with coverage starting at 5pm EST.

C-SPAN will also be airing on cable here starting at 8pm EST.

Who will be attending the State of the Union Address this year?

Melania Trump will be attending the State of the Union Address alongside some themed invitees.

Evelyn Cuevas, the mother of Kayla Cuevas who was killed on Long Island by MS-13 members in 2016, is expected to attend.

Other invitees include TV scientist Bill Nye, Miss America 2018 Cara Mund, Mexican border wall contractor Tommy Fisher, and Sunayana Dumala, the widow of Indian immigrant Srinivas Kuchibhotla who was killed in the 2017 Olathe, Kansas shooting.

Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and other Congress members have invited DREAMers to the event and many have also invited members of the #MeToo and Times Up movements.

Mark Ruffalo and other celebrities have taken to the streets in protest of Trumps SOTU 2018

Who is protesting the 2018 State of the Union address?

In line with many actresses at the Golden Globes, Democratic members of Congress will wear black in solidarity and in protest of sexual harassment and assault.

Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) members will also wear red pins in honour of Recy Taylor, a black woman who was gang raped by six white men in 1944.

After Trumps s***hole countries comment, Representatives John Lewis and Maxine Waters said they would not be attending the event, with Frederica Wilson and Pramila Jayapal also boycotting at a later date.

The travel ban and the Presidents response to the Unite the Right rally also resulted in Representative Jan Schakowsky announcing her non-attendance. Gregory Meeks and Albio Sires will also not be attending.

Mark Ruffalo and other celebrities who form part of the resistance movement are hosting a Peoples State of the Union on January 29.

Ruffalo told People: In essence, its a better reflection of our state of the union based on a more populist point of view, based on the peoples point of view.

'I think its 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.A mother has been sentenced to life in prison after she starved her 22-day-old baby to death on a drive from Indiana to Florida.

Ruby Stephens, 26, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder at a hearing in Gainesville, Florida.

Cops explained that Ruby and her husband Roy were travelling from the Midwest to Polk County in the Sunshine State in December 2014 so they could spend Christmas with family.

Ruby Stephens (left), 26, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder at a hearing in Gainesville, Florida. Last month her husband Roy (right), 51, was also given a life sentence after being convicted of first-degree murder

But after they had a meal at a Golden Corral in Lakeland, they noticed that baby Betsey Kee was unresponsive, the Lakeland Ledger reports.

The parents had checked into a hotel and eaten with family members - Ruby covering Betsey Kee's feet with a blanket because they seemed cold - before realising she was dead.

Police said the child was conceived while Ruby was having an affair.

The parents also had two other children, a one-year-old and a two-year-old, both of whom have been placed in state care.

Last month, Roy, 51, was also given a life sentence after being convicted of first-degree murder.

He had testified that he accepted the girl as his own child but was not aware his wife was not feeding her.

According to reports, Betsey Kee weighed just 4lbs 1oz when she was found dead on December 23.

She had weighed 6lbs 1oz when she was born on December 1.

An autopsy proved she starved to death.

State Attorney Brain Haas said on Thursday that he was satisfied with Ruby's sentence.

He said: 'I will never understand why this woman did this to her precious baby.

'Life in prison, without the possibility of parole, is an appropriate sentence for her. We refused to accept any less.'

Betsey Kee might even have been dead three and a half hours before the parents called 911, according to a report cited in the Orlando Sentinel.

Medical examiner Dr Vera Volnikh said the young girl had not eaten anything for about six or seven hours before her death.

Ruby reportedly told police her infidelity had put a strain on her marriage to Roy and also stressed that her husband did not pay much attention to the new child.The multimillionaire founder of Superdry has bagged 17.8million after offloading a chunk of shares in the fashion retailer.

Julian Dunkerton, who began his career selling clothes after getting three Es at A-level, sold one million shares at 17.80 each.

The co-founder of the clothing chain, who founded the business in 1985 from a market stall in Cheltenham, still holds 25 per cent of the company and remains Superdry's largest shareholder.

Nearly two years ago he sold just under 50million of shares to fund a costly divorce settlement with his wife Charlotte Abbot, with whom he has two children.

The 51-year-old entrepreneur insist he's not a materialistic person despite owning a private jet which he described as a 'tool rather than an indulgence'.

Julian Dunkerton, who began his career selling clothes after getting three Es at A-level, sold one million shares at 17.80 each

Mr Dunkerton stepped down as chief executive four years ago, but remains heavily involved in the creative side of the business.

Worth 366m Mr Dunkerton's fortune is built on flogging hoodies and T-shirts bearing the company's garish, neon-coloured logos.

Fourteen years since it first appeared on the High Street, Superdry remains a great British retail success story.

Mr Dunkerton had wanted to be a doctor, but in 1985, after getting three E grades in his A-levels, he opened an indoor market stall after moving from London to Hereford.

That year, he opened an indoor market stall in Cheltenham which he called Cult Clothing and grew over 15 years into a nationwide chain.

He said: 'I saw that all the clothes I could buy in London, like winkle-pickers, were not available. So I went down to London, bought bagfulls and started selling them.'

In 2003 he teamed up with James Holder, the entrepreneur behind the Bench fashion brand, and launched Superdry, specialising in hoodies and jogging bottoms, after noticing a gap in the market for bold street clothing.

In July 2013, Mr Holder also sold off 20million worth of shares to fund divorce proceedings from his wife, Jessica.

Worth 366m Mr Dunkerton's fortune is built on flogging hoodies and T-shirts bearing the company's garish, neon-coloured logos

Mr Duckerton pictured with wife Charlotte (pictured next to him), who his nine years his junior - he sold shares in the firm is he built up from a market stall in Cheltenham - to fund his divorce

The brand got its big break when David Beckham wore one of its Osaka 6 T-shirts on the cover of his 2005 calendar.

The second boost was not long after, when a contestant in Big Brother wore a Superdry T-shirt every single day, which meant it was on TV permanently for eight to nine weeks.

Superdry has also had celebrity endorsements from Leonardo DiCaprio and Luther star Idris Elba.

After raising 400m floating Super Group on the London Stock Exchange in 2010, there are now more than 500 stores in 40 different countries, 130 which are in the UK.

Superdry has had celebrity endorsements from Leonardo DiCaprio and Luther star Idris Elba

As well as Superdry, Mr Dunkerton owns a number of upmarket gastropubs.

He's also taken on his parent's award-winning venture, Dunkerton's Organic Cider, which is also based in Cheltenham.

He's admitted to being a bit of a leftie, once standing as a Labour councillor.

Nowadays he claims to be politically neutral, though insists he cares passionately about the UK.

The fall in sterling since the Brexit vote proved a boon for Superdry, boosting the fashion brand's performance overseas, although sales growth has slowed recently.Joggers have been using a fitness app in sensitive intelligence and military locations - including where the Royal Navy stores its nuclear weapons, it emerged today.

A heatmap of GPS data recorded by Strava, a mobile app which allows users to track their jogging routes, shows runners using it at HM Naval Base Clyde.

One of the heatmaps posted on the app from within the base near Glasgow, also known as Faslane, is even captioned: 'You shouldn't be using Strava here.'

The maps have also disclosed a US Special Operations base in the Sahel region of Africa, a Patriot missile system in Yemen and drones on an airbase in Djibouti.

One of the maps posted on the Strava app from within HM Naval Base Clyde near Glasgow, also known as Faslane, is even captioned: 'You shouldn't be using Strava here'

The heatmaps recorded by Strava show activity in and around various military bases around the world, suggesting users are soldiers on active duty.

People who create a free account can find other users who regularly use certain routes, potentially alerting terrorists or foreign powers to soldiers on active duty.

The HMNB Clyde map was investigated by Mustafa Al-Bassam, a former hacker who is now a PhD researcher in computer science at University College London.

He tweeted: 'This is Strava fitness tracker data at HMNB Clyde, a military base where Britain's nuclear weapons are stored.

'How are the security checks so bad in these places that employees are allowed to bring arbitrary electronic devices in close proximity to nukes?

A heatmap of GPS data recorded by Strava, a mobile app which allows users to track their jogging routes, shows runners using it at HM Naval Base Clyde

'Someone even created a Strava run segment in the UK nuclear weapons military base (HMNB Clyde) called 'You shouldn't be using Strava here', but it was clearly ignored by employees.

'How the f*** are employees of a nuclear weapons facility being allowed to bring Fitbits and random electrical devices inside a base where nukes are stored?'

There are concerns that communication devices or fitness trackers such as the Fitbit or Jawbone could be intercepted or hacked within secure zones.

This could then lead to the people using them being tracked in real time by criminals, posing a security risk when they then leave that secure location.

Other potentially sensitive locations mapped in the UK include Sandhurst military academy and Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) in Cheltenham.

A Strava spokesman said the heatmap 'excludes activities that have been marked as private and user-defined privacy zones'.

Other potentially sensitive locations in the UK where joggers have been using Strava include the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) in Cheltenham

'We are committed to helping people better understand our settings to give them control over what they share,' they added.

Anyone can create an account for free and find routes, or 'segments' around military bases.

The app also shows which users have publicly recorded their times on certain routes and many people on Twitter have pointed out that anyone could use such information to find other social media profiles for soldiers.

Nathan Ruser, a student from Canberra in Australia, identified what he believed was a regular jogging route for soldiers in Afghanistan.

'Hopefully it's a learning experience for the different military communities and they can toe that line between convenience and security,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Others identified a US base in Nigeria and app users at Bagram air base in Iraq.

Writing for the website The Daily Beast, international security expert Jeffrey Lewis showed how anyone could identify users at a military base in Taiwan and potentially find other bases as a result.

The heatmaps recorded by Strava show activity in and around various military bases around the world, suggesting users are soldiers on active duty. Pictured: HM Naval Base Clyde

'If our user casually jogging by Taiwanese missiles day after day suddenly appears deployed to a new location, well that's very interesting if you are targeting missiles for China's Rocket Force,' he wrote.

Users are able to make their data private, but Mr Lewis also raised concerns about whether data which has been set to private could be hacked.

Strava published a major update to the heatmap in November 2017, including 'six times more data than before', but investigators only spotted the security breach this weekend.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'The MOD takes the security of its personnel and establishments very seriously and keeps them under constant review.

'However, for obvious reasons we do not comment on our specific security arrangements or procedures.'

Running app Strava accidentally reveals the location of US military bases across the world and shows DRONES on a runway in leak of sensitive information that could aid terrorists

BY KHALEDA RAHMAN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

The locations of American and allied military bases across the world have been revealed by a running app after soldiers uploaded their routes to it.

Strava, a GPS tracker that tells runners how far and how fast they have gone, created an interactive online map of the routes posted by all of its users.

However, security analysts have noticed that the Global Heat Map has highlighted sensitive military bases in countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.

It has disclosed a US Special Operations base in the Sahel region of Africa, a Patriot missile system in Yemen and drones on an airbase in Djibouti.

Soldiers have unwittingly revealed the information by recording their routes as they run around the bases on Strava, which can be synchronized to Fitbit and Jawbone.

The routes taken by subscribers over the last two years have been revealed on the satellite map of the world.

A map showing routes taken by users of an exercise tracking app reveals potentially sensitive information about American soldiers across the world, including in Iraq (pictured)

It shows a great deal of activity in the United States and Europe. But in war zones and deserts in countries like Iraq, Djibouti and Syria, the heat map becomes almost entirely dark  except for scattered evidence of activity.

A closer look at those areas brings into focus the locations and outlines of known US military bases as well as other lesser-known and potentially sensitive sites.

The data could provide information to someone who wants to attack or ambush troops.

The map is not live, but shows a pattern of accumulated activity between 2015 and September 2017.

The Global Heat Map was posted online in November 2017, but the information it contains was only publicised recently after Nathan Ruser, an Australian studying international security came across it.

He tweeted about it, prompting other analysts, military experts and ex-soldiers to scour the map for evidence of activity in sensitive locations.

Adam Rawnsley noticed there was a lot of jogging on a beach near a suspected CIA base in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Ben Taub located a US Special Operations base in the Sahel region of Africa.

Another person said he found the site of a Patriot missile system in Yemen.

In Afghanistan, several locations in the country's south and west are a hive of activity

'In Syria, known Coalition (i.e. US) bases light up the night,' one analyst said on Twitter

Smaller sites also appear on the map in northern and western Iraq, indicating the presence of other, lesser-known installations

Jack Nelson wrote on Twitter that it took him 30 seconds to find a US air base in Djibouti.

However, since the map doesn't identify the app's users, it's difficult to determine what some sites are.

They could be linked to aid organizations, UN facilities or military bases for other countries, Tobias Schneider, a security analyst who was among the group of people who highlighted the military bases shown on the map, noted.

Schneider also noted that it shows military sites in Syria and Iraq as well as the Madama base used by French forces in Niger.

'In Syria, known Coalition (i.e. US) bases light up the night. Some light markers over known Russian positions, no notable coloring for Iranian bases,' Schneider wrote on Twitter.

US troops are deployed in support of local forces battling ISIS in Syria as well as Iraq, while Russian and Iranian units are backing President Bashar al-Assad's Syria government in that country's civil war.

One Twitter user said it took seconds to find what he says is a US drone base in Djibouti (above)

'I wonder who's running around this apparently abandoned airfield in Somalia,' Jack Nelson wrote alongside these images

One Twitter user noticed there was a lot of jogging on a beach near a suspected CIA base in Mogadishu, Somalia (above)

'A lot of people are going to have to sit thru lectures come Monday morning,' Schneider wrote, referring to soldiers likely to be taken to task for inadvertently revealing sensitive information while trying to keep in shape.

'Bases are fixed & hard to conceal,' he wrote, so the 'biggest potential threat is to tracking movement.'

He added: 'Think beyond Strava to what creative analysts (from nosy twitter sleuths to *cough* darker forces) can do with even seemingly innocuous bits of meta data.'

While some of the bases are well known to groups that might want to attack them, the map also shows what appear to be routes taken by forces moving outside of bases - information that could be used in planning bombings or ambushes.

The map of Iraq is largely dark, indicating a limited use of the app in the country.

Tobias Schneider noted that it shows military sites in Syria and Iraq as well as the Madama base used by French forces in Niger

But a series of well-known military bases, where American and allied forces have been deployed as part of their war against the Islamic State terror group, are highlighted in detail.

These include Taji north of Baghdad, Qayyarah south of Mosul and Al-Asad in Anbar Province.

Smaller sites also appear on the map in northern and western Iraq, indicating the presence of other, lesser-known installations.

Stretches of road are also highlighted, indicating that Strava users kept their devices on while traveling, potentially providing details about commonly-taken routes.

In Afghanistan, Bagram Airfield north of Kabul is a hive of activity, as are several locations in the country's south and west.

And in Syria, Qamishli in the northwest, a stronghold of US-allied Kurdish forces, is clearly visible.

Another person said he found the site of a Patriot missile system in Yemen using the map

Potentially sensitive information can be gleaned outside of war zones.

A map of the US air force base known as Area 51 near Homey Airport in Nevada shows a cyclist travelling from the base along the edge of Groom Lake.

RAF Mount Pleasant on the Falkland Islands is lit up brightly, revealing the exercise regimen of the 1,000 British soldiers stationed there, according to the Guardian.

Strava says it has 27 million users around the world, including people who own widely available fitness devices, as well as people who directly subscribe to its mobile app.

The map shows the movements of its app users around the world, indicating the intensity of travel along a given path - a 'direct visualization of Strava's global network of athletes,' it says.

But the issue could have been fairly easily avoided.

Strava says it has 27 million users around the world, including people who own widely available fitness devices

According to Strava, 'athletes with the Metro/heatmap opt-out privacy setting have all data excluded' from the mapping project.

The US Department of Defense has said it is 'reviewing' the situation.

'Recent data releases emphasize the need for situational awareness when members of the military share personal information,' Major Audricia Harris, a Pentagon spokeswoman, told AFP.

'DoD takes matters like these very seriously and is reviewing the situation to determine if any additional training or guidance is required, and if any additional policy must be developed to ensure the continued safety of DoD personnel at home and abroad,' Harris said.

The Pentagon 'recommends limiting public profiles on the internet, including personal social media accounts,' she said.A San Antonio woman was fatally shot by a police officer on Saturday, after responding to her call claiming that she was being stalked and her computer was being interfered with.

Kirsten Kloppe, 43, was shot in her home after pointing a firearm at police, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said in a news conference live streamed on Facebook.

Kloppe was taken to University Hospital, where she later died, Fox29 San Antonio reported.

The deceased woman is said to have been mentally ill, and police believe her stalking claim was unfounded.

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Kirsten Kloppe, 43, was shot in her home after pointing a firearm at police, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said in a news conference on Saturday

'I don't know what the motive was for calling, but she has a history of mental illness, and I can only assume that prompted the call,' McManus said.

Two officers, one male and one female, and one male cadet arrived at Kloppe's home on the city's North Side to conduct a welfare check, at around 3.00 pm Central on Saturday.

When the police arrived, they found Kloppe locked in a bedroom.

Kloppe was taken to University Hospital, where she later died

Officers asked if she had any weapons, to which she responded no, before they broke into the room and found Kloppe standing there with a semi-automatic pistol pointed at her own head.

At some point, a struggle ensued.

'The gun, during the struggle, was working its way up towards one of the officer's heads, and the officer fired and shot her,' McManus said.

Kloppe has family, but they were not a part of her life at the time of her death, McManus said.

'I'm told she's been in this neighborhood for quite a long time, she has a history of mental illness, and she's had some issues with other folks on the block,' McManus said.

The incident involving Kloppe's fatal shooting occurred at 13627 Bluffcircle in San Antonio

The officer who shot Kloppe is a female veteran who has been with the force for six years, McManus said.

She has been placed on administrative duty pending an investigation, which is standard practice after an officer-involved shooting.

This means she is not gone from department, but is not actively patrolling the streets of San Antonio at this time, Officer Carlos Oritz clarified for DailyMail.com.

Typically, when on administrative duty, an officer will work at the front desk at the police station, handling things like walk-ins and other administrative tasks, Ortiz said.

The officer who shot Kloppe has been placed on administrative duty pending an investigation, which is standard practice after an officer-involved shooting, McManus said

This is the second officer-involved shooting in San Antonio in the past week.

Officer Paul Armendariz was stabbed in the hand before shooting and killing a robbery suspect on Thursday.

'It's difficult for officers when they are involved in a situation like this,' McManus said.

'We have services that are available to them should they need them, and they are given some time off when this happens.'

The incident involving Kloppe's fatal shooting occurred at 13627 Bluffcircle in San Antonio.

The names of the officers and cadet involved in her death have not yet been released, Ortiz said.A senior member of French President Emmanuel Macrons government has been accused of raping a former call girl.

Budget Minister Gerald Darmanin, 35, is said to have attacked Sophie Spatz, 46, a decade ago while he was working as a legal advisor.

Paris prosecutors reopened the case at the weekend, creating the possibility that Mr Darmanin could face trial and prison if found guilty.

He has denied all the charges and launched a slander complaint against Ms Spatz.

Budget Minister Gerald Darmanin, 35, is said to have attacked former call girl Sophie Spatz, 46, a decade ago while he was working as a legal advisor

It is the first major sex scandal to hit Mr Macrons administration after the head of state pledged to fight all types of sleaze in public life.

Despite the seriousness of the accusations, the government was on Monday standing by Mr Darmanin, with Prime Minister Edouard Philippe saying he retained full confidence in him.

Ms Spatz  who was originally called Olga Patterson  approached Mr Darmanin in 2009 after receiving a 10-month suspended sentence for blackmail and threats against a former lover in 2004.

She had worked as a prostitute in Paris and was in a particularly vulnerable state at the time, so wanted help in clearing her name.

Mr Darmanin was working in the legal affairs department of the then ruling conservative UMP (Union for a Popular Movement) party and took a special interest in Ms Spatzs case.

According to lawyers for Ms Spatz, Darmanin said: Yes, you're innocent, there's a problem at the Justice Department, we'll be able to do something.

Then Mr Darmanin is said to have invited Ms Spatz, who was married at the time, to dinner at a restaurant next door to the National Assembly in Paris, where he held her hand.

Trips to Les Chandelles, a well known-libertine sex club followed, before the pair ended up in a Paris hotel room where they had sex.

Ms Spatzs husband is said to have found her lying on the floor of the room and she told him she had been raped, according to her lawyers.

Mr Darmanin kept in touch with Ms Spatz and there are text messages confirming sexual relations.

One from Mr Darmanin dated November 3, 2009 reads: Youre right, Im probably a dirty fool. How can I be forgiven?

It is the first major sex scandal to hit the administration of President Macron after the head of state pledged to fight all types of sleaze in public life

Mr Darmanin admits being a persistent flirt who was used to sending messages to women, but said he was a nobody at the time of the alleged attack and had not raped anybody.

It was not until last year that Ms Spatz lodged a formal legal complaint against Mr Darmanin, soon after Mr Macrons En Marche! (On the Move!) party had won power in France.

Mr Darmanin was one of many former conservatives who had joined the new political movement and he was becoming increasingly well known.

Despite this, Ms Spatz failed to attend police interviews at the time, but a preliminary investigation has now been restarted.

French politics is notorious for its sex scandals, with presidents and their most senior lieutenants regularly having affairs.

The political career of former finance minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn was brought to a halt by a succession of rape allegations, but none were ever proved.The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats stunned viewers and panellists when she said 'c**k' live on morning TV.

Jo Swinson, MP for East Dunbartonshire, was on the BBC show Victoria Derbyshire today to take part in a debate on misogyny. The Scottish politician was in support of police forces including sexism as a hate crime.

She said: 'The chief constable of Nottinghamshire I think summed it up very well when she said "Theres a big difference between saying can I buy you a drink?' and saying do you want some c**k?'"'

'Now I apologise for using that language on a programme at this time in the morning. If it's not acceptable to say on your show, why is it acceptable to say to a 15-year-old girl on her way to school?'

Her language sparked a reaction on social media, with viewers taking to Twitter to express their shock.

The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats stunned viewers and panellists when she said 'c**k' live on morning TV

Jo Swinson, MP for East Dunbartonshire, was on the BBC show Victoria Derbyshire today to take part in a debate on misogyny. The Scottish politician was in support of police forces including sexism as a hate crime

Steff Georgiou tweeted: Let's not ignore the fact some woman just said 'oi do you want my c**k' before 10.30am #victoriaderbyshire #misogyny'

Edwards Cambs said: 'At least you caused some panic in some sleepy BBC producers, lol'

Victoria Derbyshire tweeted the clip of Ms Swinson, with the caption: 'When an MP swears on live TV.'

The MP quoted the tweet and said: 'Not a word I'd usually use on daytime TV but...'

Last month it emerged that a scheme that could lead to sexism being made a hate crime with tougher sentences could be extended nationwide.

Nottinghamshire Police introduced the trial in 2016 in which it recorded incidents such as wolf whistling, street harassment, verbal abuse and taking photographs without consent as a hate crime.

Police chiefs are due to receive a full report on the pilot scheme and other forces around the country are said to have expressed an interest in following Nottinghamshires lead.

Ms Swinson wants it to be rolled out across the country. She said: 'This is a hate crime that is directed towards you because you happen to be a woman.

'For schoolgirls walking to school getting leered at, getting shouted at - that kind of harassment is happening on an everyday basis.

'We've seen some of that being called out with campaigns like #metoo.

'But we also know, all of us women on the panel have all experienced it - most women have experienced some sort of harassment in their daily life at some point.

Last month it emerged that a scheme that could lead to sexism being made a hate crime with tougher sentences could be extended nationwide

Ms Swinson wants it to be rolled out across the country. She said: 'This is a hate crime that is directed towards you because you happen to be a woman'

'And it goes without saying - this is not acceptable, this not okay.

'Many of these things will be crimes anyway, but actually do people report it? Do people think it will be dismissed and people being treated as if they are silly?

'We've seen three police forces that have started to count hate crimes, including misogyny. We've seen it in Nottinghamshire, North Yorkshire and Avon & Somerset. I think it's time it's extended more widely across the board.'Isaiah Haastrup, with his aunt Dahlia Thomas, is a brain-damaged 11-month-old boy

The parents of a brain-damaged boy being cared for at a British hospital have lost a life support treatment fight.

Specialists at King's College Hospital in London said giving further intensive care treatment to 11-month-old Isaiah Haastrup is 'futile, burdensome and not in his best interests'. They wanted the go-ahead to provide only palliative care.

Isaiah's mother Takesha Thomas and father Lanre Haastrup, who are both 36 and from Peckham, south east London, wanted treatment to continue.

A judge has ruled that doctors can stop providing life support treatment.

Mr Justice MacDonald announced his decision today in Birmingham after analysing evidence at a trial in the Family Division of the High Court in London earlier this month.

Mr Haastrup said after the ruling: 'We will be speaking to the lawyers to see what they say. Of course, one is disappointed.'

Hospital bosses have said their priority will be to provide Isaiah with the care he needs following the ruling.

A spokeswoman for King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: 'This has been an extremely difficult time for Isaiah's parents and all those involved in his care.

'The court's decision to transfer Isaiah to palliative care is in his best interests and based on overwhelming expert evidence.

'Our priority now is to provide Isaiah with the medical care he needs, working closely with and supporting his parents.'

Mr Haastrup told the judge that the trust had 'harmed' Isaiah at birth, and said a 'negligence case' was under way.

'There have been failings,' he said during the trial.

'But for them Isaiah would be at home having a lovely meal with me, with his lovely mum, playing around.'

Isaiah's mother Takesha Thomas and father Lanre Haastrup outside the High Court in London at a previous hearing last week

Mr Haastrup said 'everything' was 'about full control' for hospital bosses - and accused doctors of not taking account of his views or those of Isaiah's mother, Takesha Thomas. Doctors said Isaiah did not respond to stimulation.

But Ms Thomas had told the judge: 'When I speak to him he will respond, slowly, by opening one eye.'

She added: 'I see a child who is injured. He needs love. He needs care. I have it. I can give it.

'To say it is so poor, it is not worth living, that is not right. It is not their decision to make.'

Barrister Fiona Paterson, who has represented King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust at hearings, had told Mr Justice MacDonald how Isaiah was born at King's College Hospital on February 18 2017 and was severely disabled.

Hospital bosses have said their priority will be to provide Isaiah with the care he needs following the ruling

She said nobody could understand the pain and suffering Isaiah's parents had endured.

But she said overwhelming medical evidence showed that stopping treatment was in Isaiah's best interests.

Doctors told the judge that Isaiah suffered 'catastrophic' brain damage due to being deprived of oxygen at birth.

They said Isaiah was in a low level of consciousness, could not move or breathe independently and was connected to a ventilator.

Isaiah's mother and father Lanre Haastrup, who are both 36 and from Peckham, South east London, wanted treatment to continue

Doctors said Isaiah did not respond to stimulation.

But Miss Thomas told the judge: 'When I speak to him he will respond, slowly, by opening one eye.'

She added: 'I see a child who is injured. He needs love. He needs care. I have it. I can give it.

'To say it is so poor, it is not worth living, that is not right. It is not their decision to make.'

Mr Haastrup had fought back tears at the trial as he outlined a series of complaints about the hospital to Mr Justice MacDonald.

He said the trust had 'harmed' Isaiah at birth, told the judge that a 'negligence case' was under way and complained about the way he had been treated.

'There have been failings,' he said. 'But for them Isaiah would be at home having a lovely meal with me, with his lovely mum, playing around.'

Mr Haastrup said 'everything' was 'about full control' for hospital bosses and accused doctors of not taking account of his views or those of Miss Thomas.

But today, Mr Justice MacDonald said: 'Examining Isaiah's best interests from a broad perspective... I am satisfied that it is not in his best interests for life-sustaining medical treatment to be continued. That, with profound sadness, is my judgement.'

Just hours before the judgement, Mr Haastrup shared a post on social media in support of the family's cause.

On Thursday, Mr Haastrup posted on his Facebook page, saying: 'Judgement will be handed down on Tuesday. Please!!please!! (sic) pray for favourable judgement for Isaiah. Amen!!'Ursula met her fateful end a little earlier than expected on the Little Mermaid ride at Disney's California Adventure on Sunday.

One woman who took her eight-year-old brother on Ariel's Underwater Adventure shared video showing the villain's head dangling off her body.

The animatronic continued to sing and dance to the song 'Poor Unfortunate Souls' even though she had been decapitated.

The Ursula animatronic at Disney's California Adventure lost its head on Sunday, causing children on the ride to cry

'This happened today which caught me off guard because Disney is usually so critical over things like this #offwithherhead!' the woman wrote in her Twitter post.

It's unclear what caused the animatronic to lose its head, or why the ride operators weren't aware sooner.

The woman who recorded the footage told the Huffington Post that her little brother thought it was funny but younger kids on the ride were traumatized and began to cry.

'Immediately after we got off we were ushered out along with everyone else, and the employees looked very concerned,' she said. 'Many people had seen Ursula decapitated, including kids who understandably were upset.'

The picture above shows what the animatronic normally looks like on Ariel's Underwater Adventure

'It was a pretty freaky thing to see,' she added.

And that wasn't the only malfunction at a Disney theme park this weekend.

The auctioneer animatronic on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland Paris also lost its head, according to social media posts.Organised crime is considered as a likely motive behind Monday's armed robbery of a Melbourne gun shop.

Four masked men are still on the run after they stormed the High Street store in Thornbury just after 11am armed with a sledgehammer, ransacked it and stole a number of firearms.

They fled in a stolen white SUV that was found dumped a short time later in nearby Clapham Street.

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The armed men entered the High Street store in Thornbury just after 11am on Monday and stole a number of firearms. Detectives remained at the scene for most of the day.

O'Reilly's Firearms describes itself on its website as Australia's largest gun dealer. Pictured above are guns on display at the store.

Of the 2310-odd guns stolen in Victoria in the past three years, 760 of them were in 2016-2017, the Herald Sun reported.

The guns stolen on Monday are estimated to retail for $700 to $1800, but could fetch up to $10,000 on the black market.

Described as Australia's largest gun dealer on its website, OReillys Firearms stock many firearms that are popular in the underworld.

Police haven't ruled out links to similar robberies.

The South Morang Hunting, Fishing and Camping was targeted by thieves almost a year ago.

A staff member at that shop told the Herald Sun that Monday's robbery seemed similar.

Store security had since been upgraded with an electronically operated bulletproof door and an entry limit of one person at a time.

'You have to rethink your whole security ... They can't come in unless we let them in,' he said.

'The staff from our store empathise with them (Monday's victims). Having experienced it we understand how they are feeling.'

One gun industry source described O'Reilly's as a professional and well-run gun shop that was rarely robbed.

Armed Crime Squad detectives said a large number of handguns were stolen in Monday's robbery.

'We do not know the exact number of firearms stolenbut we do know they were handguns,' Assistant Commissioner Stephan Fontana said at Monday's press conference.

'We're putting all our resources into recovering these weapons and charging the offenders responsible.

Victorian detectives remained at the High Street scene in Thornbury for most of the day.

'The offenders have done their planning and knew what they were looking for,' Assistant Commissioner Stephan Fontana said.

'We think there may be more than a dozen (guns stolen)  but I think it's premature (to state a number) until we've done our full audit.

'The offenders have done their planning and knew what they were looking for.

'They were targeting that shop to get those weapons.'Susan Marie Rank, 30, was booked on a murder charge on Friday in California

A mother has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the body of her three-year-old daughter was found in the back yard of the church-run sober living facility where they lived.

Susan Marie Rank, 30, was booked on a murder charge on Friday outside Riverside, California after police found her daughter Zayla Rank dead outside the Set Free Fellowship home.

Police responded to a 911 call from the group home in unincorporated High Grove at around 6.44am, with the caller reporting a possible child death.

Zayla's body was found with 'obvious signs of trauma', the Riverside Sheriff's Department said in a statement.

The toddler was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three-year-old Zayla was found dead in the back yard with 'obvious signs of trauma', cops said

Rank had been sober for a year and lived in the group sober living home with daughter Zayla

Cops initially detained five people at the home for questioning, before arresting Rank on suspicion of murder.

Zayla was pronounced dead at the scene

The cause of Zayla's death and the circumstances surrounding it were not yet public as the investigation continues.

Zayla's grandmother Lori Wood rushed to the scene on hearing word of the young girl's death, she told KTLA.

'As Susan came out the door in handcuffs  I said, "What did you do?" And she just told me she killed her,' Wood said.

'Pastor Bill grabbed me and held me back,' an anguished Wood recalled.

Rank had been sober for over a year and had been living in the group home with Zayla, according to the grandmother.

Although Rank had never shown violent tendencies toward the child, she struggled with mental illness and had hurt herself in the past, Wood said.

'Mental illness took the life our our beautiful baby at the hand of a very mentally sick mother,' a family member wrote on a GoFundMe page to help pay for funeral expenses.

The Set Free Fellowship sober living home is seen in a file photo. Rank's mother said that she admitted to killing the girl as police led her away from the home in handcuffs

Rank is being held in the Robert Presley Detention Center on felony charges of murder and probation violation.

Bail has been set at $1million. She is next due to appear in court on January 31.

Zayla's grandmother recalled her anguish at seeing her daughter taken away in handcuffs, saying 'I cried for both of them because I knew I'd probably never see my daughter again either.'More than 300 people have been arrested in Turkey for making negative comments about the government's military offensive in Syria on social media.

Turkey launched its operation 'Olive Branch' against the Kurdish militia in Syria's northwestern region of Afrin ten days ago.

The incursion sees Erdogan's army providing air and ground support to Syrian opposition fighters to drive out the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which it deems a 'terror' group.

The YPG played a key role in defeating ISIS across swathes of Syria and received support from the United States.

Some 55 civilians, including several children, have so far been killed in air strikes and artillery fire in the area near the Turkish border, according to human rights activists.

Destruction: Turkish airstrikes reportedly destroyed the Ain Dara temple, which dates back between the 10th and 8th century BC, during their military offensive in Afrin, Syria

A soldier waves a Turkish flag as Turkish troops secure Bursayah hill, which separates the Kurdish-held enclave of Afrin from the Turkey-controlled town of Azaz, Syria, on Sunday

Last week, Turkish authorities warned they would prosecute those opposing, criticising or misrepresenting the incursion.

The Interior Ministry said on Monday a total of 311 people, including politicians, journalists and activists, had been held for 'spreading terrorist propaganda' on social media since the offensive began.

The ministry said the suspects are accused of supporting Syrian-Kurdish militia and were detained in the past week but did not provide further details.

Pebbles: The destruction of the temple is a result of Turkey's fight with Syrian-Kurdish militia, a ten-day intervention which has cost dozens of civilian lives

Remains: This image purports to show the ruins of the temple after an airstrike

Injured: child wounded following a Turkish airstrike is pictured receiving treatment in following a Turkish airstrike on a village in the Afrin district on Sunday

Casualty: Some 55 civilians have reportedly been killed by Turkish airstrikes in Afrin since the start of the offensive ten days ago

Turkey launched operation 'Olive Branch' on January 20 against the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia in Afrin, supporting Syrian opposition fighters

At least 14 people, including five children, died Sunday in Turkish air strikes in Afrin, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group.

It says 55 civilians have been killed since the start of the offensive. Turkey strongly rejects such claims, saying it is doing everything possible to avoid civilian casualties in the operation.

Turkish bombs also destroyed an ancient Byzantine temple built in Afrin during the Iron Age, the Observatory claims.

Ain Dara temple had remains of large carved basalt blocks and wall reliefs, but pictured circulating online show an apparent shell crater in the site.

A statement from the Syrian government's antiquities department carried by Syrian state media called for international pressure on Turkey 'to prevent the targeting of archaeological and cultural site'.

Turkey considers the U.S.-backed YPG, which controls Afrin, to be a terrorist group and an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) which has fought an insurgency in Turkey's largely Kurdish southeast since 1984.

The military operation has been widely supported by Turkey's mainly pro-government media and by most political parties, with the exception of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).

Turkish troops take control of Bursayah hill on Sunday. Turkish troops and allied Syrian fighters captured the strategic hill in northwestern Syria after intense fighting as their offensive to root out Kurdish fighters enters its second week, Turkey's military and Syrian war monitor reported

Turkish-backed Syrian rebels, wearing red ribbons, raise a rebel flag as they stand alongside Turkish soldiers on a mountain on the Syrian-Turkish border, north of Azaz

However, some of the country's most prominent workers unions have criticised Erdogan's miliary move.

Last week the national union of doctors, the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) denounced the cross-border operation, saying 'No to war, peace immediately.'

On Sunday, Erdogan accused the union of treason. 'Believe me, they are not intellectuals at all, they are a gang of slaves. They are the servants of imperialism,' he told AK Party members in the northern province of Amasya.

'This 'No to war' cry by this mob ... is nothing other than the outburst of the betrayal in their souls ... This is real filth, this is the honourless stance that should be said 'no' to,' Erdogan said.

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Twitter on Saturday that the TTB and national union for engineers and architects (TMMOB), which backed the medics, cannot use the word 'Turkish' in their names, saying they did not represent Turkish medics, engineers and architects.

In a statement on Friday, the TTB said it rejected the accusations directed at it, adding remarks by senior government officials had made it a target of attacks. The Interior Ministry said later it had started an investigation into the association's actions.

On Monday, prosecutors launched an investigation into 11 members of the TTB's central administration over the association's 'war is a public problem' remarks, the Hurriyet newspaper reported.

Since a failed coup in 2016, Ankara has enforced a crackdown that saw more than 50,000 people jailed and 150,000 sacked or suspended from their jobs, including members of the pro-Kurdish opposition party. The government says the moves were necessary given the security threats Turkey faces.

Critics accuse the government of unjustly targeting pro-Kurdish politicians. Some lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) have been jailed on terrorism charges, which they deny.Campaign is in response to explosive allegations levelled at St Paul's college

Honours student Claudia Reed said the survey was merely a 'tick-a-box exercise'

The campaign uses a series of cartoon to explain sexual consent before a test

Students at Sydney University have slammed the new sexual harassment course

Students at Sydney University have slammed the institution's new mandatory sexual harassment course as 'unrealistic' and ineffective.

Under new rules, all pupils must achieve a perfect score on the online module that attempts to teach students about sexual consent using stick figure illustrations.

'It is the university's way of saying, 'we've done our part, we look good', but it's not actually going to fix anything,' honours student Claudia Reed told the Daily Telegraph.

Students at Sydney University have slammed the new mandatory sexual harassment course

The new 'Consent Matters' course was originally developed at Oxford University by Epigeum

'Consent Matters: Boundaries, Respect, And Positive Intervention' uses stick figures to illustrate the importance of consent and the impact that drugs and alcohol have on consent.

But experts have called the module a 'tick-the-box' exercise' in response to recent sexual harassment scandals at the university without addressing the culture that caused them in the first place.

Last year Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed allegations of 'rampant sexism and institutionalised misogyny' at the uni's $30,000-a-year St Paul's College.

Following sporting seasons, St Paul's students would allegedly throw alcohol and drug-fuelled sex parties in the college's Rogers Room, which they referred to as the 'Bone Room.'

The investigation sparked a report into what the college deemed 'unacceptable behaviour' which, after consulting over 600 students and staff, handed the university 23 recommendations and a two-year time frame to implement.

The Consent Matters module is mandatory for all new students enrolling at Sydney University

Eleni Vellios said asking explicitly for an 'enthusiastic yes' before sharing a kiss was impractical

The course, originally developed at Oxford University by London-based company Epigeum, states that 'everyone must have explicit permission from the person they intend to make contact with' before going ahead.

'This means that everyone is entirely comfortable with the situation and freely able to agree, give permission or say 'yes' to participating in a sexual activity (this includes kissing and touching),' it reads.

'If someone is not able to offer an enthusiastic 'yes' to questions about sexual activity you do not have consent.'

The mandatory online module uses stick figures to illustrate the importance of active consent

Medical Science student Eleni Vellios said asking explicitly for an 'enthusiastic yes' before kissing someone was silly and impractical: 'It's a bit unrealistic, no one is going to ask for them to spell it out and ask for it,' she said.

Ms Reed agreed: 'As a normal person, this is so stupid. People who need to be taught what consent is and what it isnt, the course is not going to help, its not going to change their mind.'

She added that the compulsory survey was a 'tick-a-box exercise' and that the university should be more focused on fixing the problems within its residential colleges.

A university spokesperson confirmed that students would be forced to keep attempting the course until they got every section correct.

'The Consent Matters module is mandatory for all new students enrolling at the University of Sydney from 2018 onwards,' she said.

The FBI have released a shocking video showing the moment a young girl was snatched off the street in broad daylight.

The incident took place at around 3.30pm on December 20 in Calumet City, Illinois, about 30 miles south of Chicago.

Prosecutors say the clip shows Bryan Protho standing beside a red SUV as a girl  whose age is not revealed  walks past on the sidewalk near 153rd Street and Burnham Avenue.

The FBI have released a shocking video showing the moment a young girl was snatched off the street in broad daylight

He is allegedly seen grabbed her and bundled her into his Ford Explorer before driving away.

Protho, 38, of East Chicago, Indiana, was indicted on a federal kidnapping charge, the US Attorneys Office said Friday.

He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

A criminal complaint says after driving off, Protho parked his vehicle in an alley and assaulted the child.

The incident took place at around 3.30pm on December 20 in Calumet City, Illinois, about 30 miles south of Chicago (the FBI noted the time and date stamp on the video is wrong)

Prosecutors say the clip shows Bryan Protho standing beside a red SUV as a girl  whose age is not revealed  walks past

She was able to escape and flag down a passing vehicle and the driver called police.

Protho was arrested on December 27 and remains in federal custody with an arraignment date set for February 20.

The FBI released the video as part of plea for information as part of the ongoing investigation.

The bureau noted that the time and date stamp on the video is incorrect, but it captures the December 20 kidnapping.

Anyone with information about the defendant and the vehicle involved in the incident is urged to contact the FBI Chicago Field Office at (312) 421-6700 or chicago@fbi.gov.

Protho allegedly grabbed the girl before bundling her into his vehicle and driving awayA piece of Lego swept off a cargo ship seventeen years ago in Cornwall has been found on a beach - hundreds of miles away in Cumbria.

The plant-shaped toy is thought to have been one of 4.8 million pieces lost when a container boat was struck by a freak wave off the Cornish coast.

The Tokio Express was en-route from Rotterdam to New York on February 13, 1997, when a wild wave struck it 20 miles west of Land's End, tilting it back and forth at such a sharp degree it lost 62 containers.

A plant-shaped piece of Lego swept off a cargo ship seventeen years ago in Cornwall has been found on a beach - hundreds of miles away in Cumbria

Some of the tiny pieces of Lego which have washed up on North Cornwall's beaches (file photo)

One of those lost containers held the millions of pieces of Lego - a small and light enough object to be easily carried by ocean currents.

THE TOKIO EXPRESS' LOST LEGO Spear guns (red and yellow) - 13,000 Black octopus - 4,200 Yellow life preserver - 26,600 Diver flippers (in pairs, black, blue, red) - 418,000 Dragons (black and green) - 33,941 Brown ship rigging net - 26,400 Daisy flowers (in fours - white, red, yellow) - 353,264 Scuba and breathing apparatus (grey) - 97,500 Advertisement

A large proportion of the pieces were sea-themed - and brightly-coloured cutlasses, octopuses, scubas and flippers have been washing up on Cornish beaches since.

Instead of sinking to the bottom off the ocean the vast toy Armada is still washing up on beaches in pristine condition.

Lego fans have been combing dunes in England, Ireland and Wales for the missing kits and sharing their finds on Facebook.

Last year, Rob Arnold volunteered to collect rubbish and found 200 lego flippers from the same container spill.

Experts say the pieces could have drifted as much as 62,000 miles in 17 years - easily enough to circle the globe.

The latest find washed up on St Bees beach on Wednesday morning.

Colourful Coast Partnership, who found the piece, say the lost Legos legacy illustrates how marine waste and litter floats around for years, posing a risk to wildlife.

A large proportion of the pieces that fell off the ship were sea-themed - and brightly-coloured cutlasses, octopuses, scubas and flippers have been washing up on Cornish beaches since (file photo)

The Tokio Express was en-route from Rotterdam to New York on February 13, 1997, when a wild wave struck it 20 miles west of Land's End, tilting it back and forth at such a sharp degree it lost 62 containers (file photos)

Sophie Badrick, Colourful Coast project officer, said: Finding this piece of Lego so far from where it was lost overboard, and so long after it was lost, just goes to show that plastic in the sea doesnt decompose or go away..

Wed love for more people to come along to our beach cleans to help us tackle the marine pollution problem.

Well provide all the equipment and theres often biscuits or cake when we finish, plus exciting finds like Lego just serve to remind us that beach cleaning is as much a treasure hunt as it is a chore.A permanent exclusion zone may be created around the Philippines' Mount Mayon after the volcano began erupting earlier this month.

A four-mile 'no man's land' forcing thousands of villagers to abandon lands they have farmed for decades is now being considered by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Up to 80,000 people have already fled the mountain slopes since it began spewing lava, hot ash and molten rock in recent weeks.

The Philippines government is considering creating a permanent no-man's land around Mount Mayon, the country's most active volcano which began erupting earlier this month

Plans would see thousands of impoverished villagers living within four miles of the volcano forced to abandon lands they have farmed for decades

The Philippines government may create a permanent exclusion zone around Mount Mayon after it started erupting earlier this month.

The volcano is the most active in the Philippines, and the plans are designed to stop the government having to evacuate locals each time it becomes active.

Mr Duterte said the government may have to expropriate land from private owners in order to bring the plan to fruition, and added that such a move could spark 'a social problem again'.

Many villagers are currently stuck in schools which have been turned into emergency shelters, with a lack of toilets and other problems with congestion.

The proposal is complicated given that thousands of impoverished villagers have settled through the years in a government-declared 3.7-mile permanent danger zone around Mayon, where they have survived on farming for generations.

80,000 villagers have been forced to flee the latest eruption and have been left sheltering in schools which lack sanitary facilities and are overcrowded

Mayon has erupted 50 times in the last 500 years, with five climbers being killed near the summit in 2013 by an ash cloud

Authorities expanded the danger zone to cover more communities and forced thousands more to swarm into dozens of emergency school shelters.

Local governor Al Francis Bichara told the president and other officials that his provincial disaster funds were running low.

Albay officials declared the entire province of more than 1.3 million people under a state of calamity two weeks ago to allow faster releases of disaster funds. Mr Duterte ordered the provision of additional funds to deal with the crisis.

While thousands have evacuated areas around the volcano, villagers have sneaked back in to check on their homes, farms and animals, and police and army troops have struggled to turn back tourists who want a closer view of Mayon.

Mayon, which is famous for its near-perfect cone, has erupted about 50 times in the last 500 years. In 2013, an ash eruption killed five climbers who had ventured near the summit despite warnings.

The Philippines has about 22 active volcanoes. The explosion of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 was one of the biggest volcanic eruptions of the 20th century, killing hundreds of people.Fitness enthusiast and Instagram model Jen Selter has spoken out after she was kicked off an American Airlines flight when she and her sister got into a verbal altercation with flight crew members.

'People kept coming up to me. And then, all of a sudden, five male officers come at me. And it was really frightening,' Selter said in an interview with Good Morning America.

The 24-year-old added that American Airlines 'have to treat their passengers differently'.

Jen Selter, 24, was kicked off an American Airlines flight on Saturday. She told Good Morning America: 'People kept coming up to me. And then, all of a sudden, five male officers come at me. And it was really frightening'

Selter was flying to New York City from Miami with her sister. The flight was delayed for 90 minutes before takeoff and Selter stood up to get something from an overhead compartment, at which point a flight attendant came over to tell her to sit

The flight attendant asked Selter if she wanted to get off the plane, and she said 'yes'. She later said she was being sarcastic, and was eventually escorted off the plane by police

Selter and her sibling were on a flight from Miami to New York City on Saturday night.

The flight was delayed for 90 minutes due to mechanical issues.

While another passenger went to the bathroom, Selter decided to stand and reach for something in the overhead compartment, TMZ reports.

A flight attendant asked her to sit down, and arguing ensued.

When the flight attendant asked Selter if she wanted to get off the plane, she said: 'Yes.' Selter later asserted that she was being sarcastic.

The flight attendant asked the pilot to come over, and the situation only escalated from there.

Selter told Good Morning America that American Airlines 'have to treat their passengers differently'. The airline says it offered her complimentary hotel accommodation and she declined

Police later came onto the plane to remove Selter and her sister. An additional passenger, GMA reports, got off the plane in protest of how Selter was treated.

GMA reports that American Airlines offered Selter complimentary hotel accommodation for the night, but she declined.

But Selter later wrote in a tweet that she was not offered accommodation.

The social media personality took an American Airlines flight to New York on Sunday morning.

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.An alleged paedophile accused of trying to abduct an eight-year-old girl from a popular Spanish tourist spot as she walked with her mother has been remanded in jail.

The 73-year-old Spaniard had been released from jail just days before he allegedly tried grab the youngster by the arm.

He ran away after a struggle with people who rushed to help, but was detained in a nearby street by officers.

They found he was carrying scissors, latex gloves and Viagra-type pills.

Scroll down for video

A 73-year-old Spaniard accused of trying to abduct an eight-year-old girl from a popular Spanish tourist spot has been remanded in jail - and officers (pictured) found some disturbing items stashed away in his camper van

A gun, sex toys and brand-new children's toys were found by officers (pictured are some items filmed during the search)

A gun, sex toys and brand-new children's toys were later found during a search of his camper van.

Footage shows officers carrying out the extensive search.

Detectives confirmed the man had worn a disguise during the alleged attempted abduction, consisting of a dark hat, sunglasses and large scarf to hide his face.

The incident happened at about midday on Saturday in Luceros Square in Alicante's city centre, where famous firecracker displays are held every year.

The pensioner was recently bailed after being arrested on January 9 for luring two young teenage girls into his mobile home.

He is said to have offered them drugs and money in exchange for sex but was released two days later pending an ongoing investigation.

After detaining the man, officers found he was carrying scissors, latex gloves and Viagra-type pills (pictured are items found in his camper van)

The pensioner is said to have previously tried to lure two young teenagers back to his camper van for sex by plying them with drugs. Multiple packs of cigarettes (pictured) were filmed by officers during the search

What appears to be medication bottles (pictured) were also found by Spanish officers

Now the man has been returned to custody in relation to this latest allegation after appearing before an investigating judge in a private hearing.

He is believed to have denied trying to abduct the youngster and insisted he just had a brief conversation with her outside a shop in the square.

The nationality of the child has not been revealed and the man has been identified locally only by his first name and initials: Joaquin T.G.

Respected Spanish daily El Pais, citing sources close to the case, said he had been living in his camper van since his wife kicked him out of the marital home.

She reportedly discovered he had allegedly been been having sex with under-age girls.

A spokesman for Alicante National Police said: 'A search of his camper van following his arrest resulted in the seizure of more than a kilo of cannabis buds, a .38 revolver, brand-new children's toys and several adult sex toys.

'Once his identity had been confirmed, it was discovered that days earlier he had been arrested on suspicion of drug dealing, corruption of minors and sexual assault.

'That was related to allegations he would regularly invite two girls aged 15 and 16 to his mobile home and offer them cannabis, cigarettes and money in exchange for sex with them.'

The Costa Blanca is a popular tourism hot spot (holidaymakers pictured soak up the rays in Benidorm, Alicante)

This is not the first time an alleged abduction on Spain's southeastern coast has been foiled by passersby.

Last September a man suspected of trying to snatch a two-year-old in the Costa Blanca holiday resort of Torrevieja, around 50 minutes drive south of Alicante, was arrested by an off-duty police officer.

Local reports said the Spaniard, described as well-built and around 60, ran off with the girl in his arms before dumping her.

He was intercepted by holidaymakers waiting near a tourism office who were alerted by the youngster's screaming relatives.

The man was pinned to the ground by the off-duty police officer and handed over to Civil Guard officers for questioning.

The family of a woman who died after falling from a hotel balcony in Benidorm has accused Spanish police of destroying her clothes from the night she died.

Kirsty Maxwell, 27, from Livingston, West Lothian, fell from the 10-storey apartment where five British bodybuilders were staying.

Her husband Adam Maxwell, 28, has now revealed that the pink t-shirt and skirt that his wife was wearing the night she died had been thrown away.

The family say there have been 'serious shortcomings in the investigation' following her death in April 2017.

Kirsty Maxwell (pictured with her husband Adam) fell from the 10-storey apartment block in Benidorm

Her husband Adam Maxwell (pictured today) said that he feels 'let down' by the Spanish police

Mrs Maxwell (right) was on a friend's hen do when she fell from a balcony in Benidorm

The balcony from which Kirsty Maxwell, 27, from Livingston, West Lothian, fell to her death

The five men from Nottingham who were in the apartment are being investigated after arriving back in the UK.

They may be forced to return to Spain for further questioning after Mrs Maxwell reportedly walked into their room by mistake.

Mr Maxwell told a press conference at the Mercure Hotel in Livingstone that the family feel 'let down' by Spanish officials.

Standing next to her parents, Brian and Denise Curry, he said: 'On Friday, we got this shocking news about Kirsty's clothing.

'It's not the first instance when we've been shocked by something in regards to the case.

'It's very sad for us as a family and shocking that this is another thing we've been let down by.

'For the Spanish police to treat Kirsty's death in this way, we cannot accept it. They have not respected Kirsty.'

'It does beg the question if Kirsty was to die in the UK would this be different? And I think we are in agreement that it would.'

Former police officer David Swindle added: 'The clothing worn by Kirsty was not tested for DNA and was destroyed by the Spanish forensic pathology department.

Mr Maxwell (pictured with his wife in Las Vegas) today said that he has been let down by the Spanish authorities 'again'

'It's shocking there has been irretrievable loss of evidence. But it is more shocking the lack of empathy towards Kirsty and her family.'

It comes after the Spanish lawyer acting for Mrs Maxwell's husband and her parents reversed an earlier decision denying them the right to know what DNA tests were carried out on the clothes she was wearing when she died.

Luis Miguel Zumaquero claims Mrs Maxwell was fleeing from a 'sexual attack that had begun to materialise' in a written document submitted to a Benidorm court.

Mr Zumaquero also demanded to know if there was male DNA on the clothes belonging to one of the five British men under investigation.

Her husband has now revealed that the pink t-shirt and skirt that his wife was wearing the night she died had been thrown away

Experts confirmed last night no-one is likely to face any disciplinary action over the destruction of Kirsty Maxwell's clothes as no laws had been flouted.

No-one from the Benidorm court investigating Kirsty Maxwell's death could be contacted this afternoon.

No-one was available either at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Alicante where Kirsty's autopsy was conducted, although officials there rarely speak to the press and less so during an ongoing criminal investigation.

But well-placed sources said there was no law governing the practice of DNA tests on the clothes of a person who had died in unexplained circumstances - and institutes responsible for autopsies worked on the basis of protocols which may differ from one region to the next.

One said: 'There someone's died and the police or pathologists feel there's prima facie evidence a crime has been committed, their clothes are normally kept and DNA tests carried out on them.

'But unless the police or pathologists request the tests on their own initiative, then in most cases they don't get done.

'The fact the clothes weren't kept and tested in this case appears to indicate that initially at least, there wasn't a strong or clear feeling on the part of the authorities that Kirsty died as the result of a crime.'

Another added: 'In other areas of Spain like the Costa del Sol, even where there's not a clear indication a person's death is the result of a crime, standard practice would be for the person's clothes to be put in a bag and left alongside the body before incineration or burial.

'But there's no set law governing what should be done so protocols and standard practice could easily vary from one area to the other.'Britain's 'most violent prisoner' has been moved to a jail holding the Yorkshire Ripper and Lee Rigby's killer, it has been claimed.

Charlie Bronson, 65, is one of the country's most notorious prisoners and has spent the majority of the past four decades imprisoned for a series of violent crimes.

Rod Harrison, the best man at his wedding, said Bronson had been 'ghosted' at the weekend to HMP Frankland from HMP Wakefield, where he has been since 2014.

Charlie Bronson, 65, is one of the country's most notorious prisoners and has spent the majority of the past four decades imprisoned for a series of violent crimes

He wrote online: 'We have been informed that Charlie has been ghosted out to Frankland.

'He is well and in good spirits - we don't know any more info at present.'

George Bamby-Salvador, who claims he is Bronson's 'long-lost son', told the Mirror: 'There are some horrible pieces of scum [at Frankland]. I don't think Charlie deserves to be locked up with anyone like that. He's an old-age pensioner.'

He added: 'He spends his life locked in a cage like a wild animal. He's been a model prisoner, [he's] not done anything wrong for many years now.'

The move means Bronson's new wife will face a longer trip to visit her husband in jail

The move means Bronson's new wife, soap actress Paula Williamson, 37, is facing a 200-mile round trip to visit her husband.

This is double the journey she had when she visited him at HMP Wakefield from her home in Stoke-on-Trent.

The pair married in November in the chapel at the Yorkshire prison, before she flew out to Malta with a friend for her honeymoon.

Bronson will now share a prison with some of the country's most notorious lags, including serial killer Levi Bellfield (left) and Lee Rigby murderer Michael Adebolajo

Bronson will now share a prison with some of the country's most notorious lags, including Soham murderer Ian Huntley, serial killer Levi Bellfield, Lee Rigby murderer Michael Adebolajo and Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe.

Bellfield was in an adjoining cell to Bronson in segregation at Wakefield Prison, and boasted about how 'terrorised' him and wrote in a letter how 'that little fat leprechaun Charlie Bronson is still perving over young men.'

HMP Frankland is believed to hold 'bad memories' for Bronson as he previously took a deputy governor hostage there and has been 'doing well' at HMP Wakefield, passing a string of violence reduction courses.

The move means Bronson's new wife, soap actress Paula Williamson, 37, is facing a 200-mile round trip to visit her new husband

He had also just been granted permission to cook his own food in a 'private kitchen' in the segregation unit at HMP Wakefield - and enjoyed making pizzas and tucking into fry-ups.

Bronson, real name Michael Peterson, was first locked up for armed robbery in 1974, but during his time inside he has taken hostages in 10 prison sieges, attacked at least 20 prison officers and caused 500,000 in damage in rooftop protests.

In 1999 he was given a life sentence after taking prison art teacher Phil Danielson hostage at HMP Hull after he criticised one of his drawings.

Bronson, who does 2,000 press-ups a day, tied a skipping rope round the teacher's neck and led him about 'like a dog' while holding a knife and broken bottle to his throat before releasing him after 44 hours.

He now claims to be a 'changed man' and has passed a number of violence reduction courses in jail and is appealing against his life sentence.

He has been jailed for most of the last 43 years - 37 of which have been in solitary confinement.

In recent years he has turned his hand to art and changed his surname from Bronson to Salvador in tribute to the Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali.

Bosses at the Ministry of Justice today said it did not comment on individual prisoners.A 29-year-old mother-of-two has stunned web users in China with her amazing makeover skills.

Yan Xiuji has shot to fame after transforming herself into celebrities including Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn using makeup.

Ms Yan hosts a live-stream channel with nearly 500,000 followers under the account name 'Baibian Aixiu'. She has transformed herself into 300 famous actors and actresses in the past four months.

Mother-of-two, Yan Xiuji, does her 'half-face makeup' with inspiration of celebrities including Marilyn Monroe (left) and Audrey Hepburn (right)

Ms Yan has a tiny studio at her home in Suqian, Jiangsu Province in east China where she does her makeup and interacts with her followers, reported China News.

The stay-at-home mother told Pear in an interview that she started her picture research at around 10 am every morning and rehearsed the makeover.

'I usually start my live-stream session around 7pm to 9pm and finish around 10pm or 11pm. Then I will upload the video on my social media accounts,' Yan said.

Yan can finish the makeover in two to four hours, depending on the facial features of the celebrity.

Yan's video has drawn an average of 50,000 views, which she often showed the makeover on half of her face and covered the other half with the real celebrity on her mobile phone.

With nearly 500,000 followers, Yan had done makeover of 300 celebrities in the last four months. She can imitate the character of Zhen Huan, (left) and Hua Qiangu (right)

29-year-old Yan Xiuji, left, is a stay-at-home mother and spends time doing makeover while looking after her two daughters (left). Yan also dresses up as similar as the character (right)

In a compilation video, she turned into sex icon Marilyn Monroe in classic bombshell look, as well as the elegant Audrey Hepburn in Break at Tiffany's.

Yan also mastered the makeover of Sun Li, who is known as Zhen Huan in a big-hit drama 'Empresses in the Palace'.

It was her drawing skills that helped Yan to do makeover with precise face features of different celebrities.

She told Pear that she used to paint portraits when she was young.

'I guess it's the foundation that I built up from drawing that makes me easier to apply it on makeup,' said Yan.

The amateur makeover artist received hundreds of comments from delighted fans who praised Yan's makeup.

'You can literally turn yourself into any actors or actresses anytime, that's impressive!' said 'zifei_'

'Only if I can be as talented as her,' commented 'yemei'.A 51-year-old man has been arrested over the alleged sexual assault of 26 young women and girls were attacked around London.

The alleged attacks mostly happened in the rush hours of the morning and early evening and police fear more victims may still be out there.

The incidents mainly took place in the boroughs of Lewisham and Greenwich boroughs, but also include Southwark, Bromley and Bexley.

The Met Police have arrested a man after at least 26 young women and girls were molested. The attacks took place throughout south London

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'The arrested man was taken to a south London police station where he currently remains in custody.

'The linked series of assaults typically took place during rush hour periods - between 0700-0900hrs and 1600-1800hrs - with victims being young women and girls.

'The first incident is believed to have taken place on 16 October 2016 - a 13-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in Foxfield Road, Orpington at around 0915hrs.

'Since then, police have received reports about similar offences that may have been committed by the same suspect.

'The last reported assault was committed on Monday, 8 January. A 12-year-old girl reported an attempted robbery at approximately 7:30hrs on Grierson Road junction with Gabriele Street.'

The last of the attacks being investigated took place on this street corner in Forest Hill

Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Furphy of Lewisham police, leading the investigation, said: 'We are aware that there might be further victims who have not yet spoken to police.

'If you are a victim, or know someone who has been a victim of a sexual assault, I can assure you your information will be treated with strict confidence and sensitivity and we can also access specialist support where needed.'A couple was arrested after landing in Minneapolis-St.Paul last week after allegedly engaging in oral sex on a flight from Las Vegas.

Twin Cities locals Teresa M. Kohn, 43, and Tyler V. Boehm, 41, were escorted off the Sun Country plane in handcuffs on January 21 and charged with engaging in gross lewdness or lascivious behavior.

According to the police report, passengers witnessed Kohn appearing to perform oral sex on Boehm, who covered her head with a blanket.

Teresa M. Kohn, 43 (left), and Tyler V. Boehm, 41 (right), were arrested for engaging in gross lewdness and lascivious behavior on a flight from Las Vegas to the Twin Cities on January 21

A woman seated behind the couple said the act went on for five to 10 minutes.

However, Kohn denied the claims to police, saying her head was under the blanket for just two seconds.

She also said that she and Boehm were just 'joking around' about joining the 'mile high club'.

'A joke? Not from what I was seeing,' fellow passenger Ronda Albers told the Star Tribune. 'I say that because the movement of the blanket with the head under it led to what was pretty clearly (going on).'

Passengers on the Sun Country flight say it appeared Kohn was performing oral sex on Boehm while her head was hidden under a blanket in his lap. Above, a fleet of Sun Country planes

Another passenger, Jenney Huschka, said the couple was 'making out' throughout the flight and that Kohn 'was touching' Boehm 'all over'.

'It was non-stop,' she said.

When a flight attendant took away the blanket, Kohn threatened to file a complaint, Huschka said.

'I'm going to have your jobs, and I'm going to get free tickets,' Kohn allegedly said.

After being stopped, Albers said Boehm did 'the whole leaning back to zip his pants up' thing and that Kohn's hair was 'full of static' that she tried to pat down.

Even before the flight, Kohn was reportedly acting 'belligerent towards the flight attendants,' according to the police report.

'Kohn was demanding beer before the flight had taken off and was denied,' the report says.

Huschka said Kohn was 'complaining that they could have stayed at the bar longer and had more drinks and cigarettes' as the two boarded the plane, and that she saw Kohn drinking from a travel bottle of Fireball whiskey on the flight.

The couple plan to fight the charges.

'We are getting a lawyer. It's a joke...That's all I can say,' Boehm said.There was no doubting the highlight of last nights Grammys.

It came when Kesha gave an emotional performance of her single Praying, about the alleged sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her former producer Dr Luke Gottwald.

She was introduced by Janelle Monae who delivered a powerful speech to the star-studded audience.

We say times up for pay inequality, discrimination or harassment of any kind, Monae declared, and the abuse of power.

Then Kesha appeared on stage with a host of other female stars including Cindy Lauper and Camila Cabello.

Powerful: Kesha was joined by Cindy Lauper and Camilla Cabello for an emotional Grammys performance of her song 'Praying' - which deals with the effects of the abuse she suffered at the hands of 'Dr Luke' Gottwald

They all wore white, the theme colour for the night, along with the wearing of white roses, to show support and solidarity for the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements.

When Kesha finished singing, she burst into tears, as did many of the audience.

But Kesha didnt actually win an award.

In the category for which she was nominated, Best Pop Solo Performance, Ed Sheeran won, for a song  as enraged Twitter swiftly pointed out - about getting a woman drunk and taking her home to have sex with her.

This was the perfect embodiment of the gigantic problem the Grammys has in proudly joining the charge for better treatment of women.

Because lets be perfectly frank: its the single most sexist, misogynist and abusive awards show of them all, celebrating many of the most sexist, misogynist and abusive people in an amoral industry of spectacular proportions.

If you thought Hollywoods bad, its got nothing on the record business, particularly in the worlds of hip-hop and rap.

Take Big Sean, a rapper whose lyrics are littered with misogynistic and homophobic material.

In the video for his single I Dont F*ck With You, the Detroit rapper talks about stupid ass b*tches.

He collaborated last year on a song with Eminem which included lyrics about urinating on Fergie and raping Conservative talk show host Ann Coulter with a Klan poster, a lamp post, a door handle and a damn bolt cutter.

He doesnt just write about treating women badly, he acts on it too.

Music's misogyny problem : Big Sean has rapped about rape and was arrested in 2011 for sexual abuse - while Ed Sheeran (pictured right at the Grammy Awards in 2016 as he skipeed this year) won last night for his song Shape Of You - about getting a girl drunk before sex

In 2011, Big Sean was arrested in New York for sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment and forcible touching of a 17-year-old girl after a concert. Some charges were dropped after he accepted a guilty plea for unlawful imprisonment of the girl, a fan.

This would have led to him being banned from continuing to work in almost any other job.

But not the music industry.

This year, Big Sean was nominated for a Grammy.

Hip-hop and rap stars like him have made millions from writing music and making videos that depict women as prostitutes, sexual objects and b*tches.

One of the biggest winners last night night was Kendrick Lamar, whose most recent album is riddled with graphic sexually-charged lyrics and repeated references to hoes and b*tches.

One song, Loyalty, has the line: Girl, you look so good, its to die for, Ooh that p*ssy good, its to die for.

In another, Humble, he says: Girl, I can buy yo ass the world with my paystub, Ooh that p*ssy good, wont you sit it on my taste bloods?

It continues: Im so f***ing sick and tired of the Photoshop.. show me somethin natural like ass with some stretch marks. Still will take you down right on your mamas couch in Polo socks.

In Lust, he says: Pop you a pill, call up your b*tches, have em waitin on you, go to the club, have some fun, make that ass bounce.

He may be critically acclaimed but Kendrick Lamar's lyrics make frequent derogatory references to women - comparing them to sexual objects

In Fear he talks of f***in with b*tches.

In God, he says: Dont judge me, I was young, f***in all the rats.

The rats are women.

If Lamar worked in the media or film industry right now, hed be hung, drawn and quartered for speaking that way in public.

But because hes a rapper, he was rewarded with an array of Grammys.

Lamar is hardly alone in deploying this kind of rhetoric.

Snoop Dogg, who was on parade taunting President Trump last night, once infamously sang: B*tches aint sh*t, but hoes and tricks.

Kanye West in his 2013 album Yeezus boasted of Eating Asian p*ssy, all I need was sweet and sour sauce.

Jay-Z and Beyonce, sitting at the front with their little girl Blue, have even been accused of glorifying domestic violence with Drunk In Love

Jay-Z and Beyonce, sitting at the front with their little girl Blue, were accused of glorifying domestic violence in Drunk In Love, in which Jay-Z raps about Ike Turner forcing his then wife Tina to eat cake.

Rick Ross, another nominee this year, celebrated date rape in his song, U.O.E.N.O.

Put molly all in her champagne, he rapped, she aint even know it, I took her home and I enjoyed that, she aint even know it.

Ross was dropped by Reebok in the furore that followed, but not by the Grammys.

Then theres another nominee, Tyler the Creator, whose lyrics include rape a pregnant b*tch and tell my friends I had a threesome.

At least the last two had the good sense not to wear a white rose.

Its not just male music artist hypocrisy that deserves scrutiny.

Many female singing stars stand accused of absurd double standards for claiming to despise sexual exploitation but then stripping off for virtual pornographic images or videos, brazenly using their naked bodies and sex to sell records.

The day before the Grammys, Conservative street artist Sabo unleashed a poster campaign around Los Angeles with the hashtage #WeAllKnew.

One had a naked Miley Cyrus wearing a police hat and provocatively inserting a long baton into her mouth imitating oral sex.

Another featured Lady Gaga, naked and legs akimbo.

When he was questioned by the Hollywood Reporter about the appropriateness of his work, Sabo replied: How can anyone be upset with me putting these up when no one seems upset about what the music industry pushes to our kids?

He later tweeted: The Grammys are the most misogynistic of all the awards shows. Why are they allowed to slide? Many women participate willingly in their sexploitation and they all knew.

As for any pretense at gender equality, only 17 of the 86 Grammy awards last night went to women or female-fronted bands.

Towards the end of the show, Hillary Clinton, the High Priestess of Hypocrisy, popped up to read Trump-mocking extracts from Michael Wolffs book Fire and Fury.

She received wild applause.

It seemed perfectly fitting that the liberal music worlds heroine on a night of tearful endorsements about abuse of power and sexual harassment, should be someone who it emerged this week had protected a campaign advisors job during the 2008 presidential race after he was accused of. sexual harassment.Before she moved into the White House last year, first lady Melania Trump's travel cost taxpayers more than $675,000, the Wall Street Journal has learned.

Military records from the first three months of the administration show that the Air Force made 48 flights in order to ferry Mrs. Trump between New York City, Washington, D.C., and West Palm Beach, so she could join President Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

Unlike any first lady in modern history, Melania Trump decided against moving to Washington until Barron Trump finished school for the year, and eventually made the move on June 11.

First lady Melania Trump (left), seen with President Trump (right) arriving in Warsaw, was unlike other first ladies and decided not to move to Washington, D.C. until June

Mrs. Trump (right) was concerned about pulling Barron Trump (left) out of school, so decided to remain in Trump Tower in New York while President Trump (center) relocated to Washington

Melania Trump's (left) arrangement meant that Air Force jets had to ferry her between New York, Washington and West Palm Beach

The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that flights used for Mrs. Trump (right) - some with her on them and others with her crew - cost taxpayers more than $675,000 during the first three months of the administration

The paper found no impropriety with the first lady's (right) travel, but partisans are always critical of presidential vacationing and travel, as President Trump (left) had been with his predecessor

That meant that when she wanted to make moves, a flight crew would need to be in place to shuttle her to either Washington or Florida from New York's LaGuardia Airport, with taxpayers paying $336,299 for flights with just the crew on board, and another $340,335 for flights with the first lady on board from January through mid-April.

The Wall Street Journal had requested the documents in May, a month before Mrs. Trump's move. The newspaper published its story Monday.

'It's no secret that Mrs. Trump lived in New York City the first few months of the administration so that her son could finish school,' noted the first lady's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham. 'The trips mentioned in this story are examples of Mrs. Trump juggling dual roles  putting her son first while also fulfilling some of her duties as first lady,' Grisham told the Journal.

President Trump (right) is frequently criticized for jaunting between the White House and his Bedminster and Mar-a-Lago resorts

The first lady raised eyebrows on Thursday for taking an unannounced trip to West Palm Beach on a military plane, which will cost taxpayers money

And there's no impropriety suggested when it comes to the first lady's travel.

It's just political bellyaching over the cost of taxpayer-funded travel associated with the president and his family is American tradition, especially from members of the opposing political party.

One of the loudest critics when it came to President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama's travel was none other than businessman, and occasional political flirt, Donald Trump.

In 2012, for instance, Trump called Michelle Obama's weekend ski trip to Aspen 'insensitive.'

'Michelle Obama's weekend ski trip to Aspen makes it 16 times that Obamas have gone on vacation in 3 years,' the future president huffed.

Later that same year, Trump tweeted about how the Obamas' 2010 vacation to Spain  in which the first lady traveled with youngest daughter Sasha, leaving the president at home  cost taxpayers over $476,000.

Trump transposed the numbers, with the cost actually being above $467,000, according to Judicial Watch.

'They love to spend money,' Trump complained.

Now the president is getting the criticism as he frequently jaunts to Mar-a-Lago or Bedminster for the weekend, two of his Trump-branded resorts.

The first lady made news on Thursday when she unexpectedly hopped a plane to West Palm Beach to spend time at Mar-a-Lago, a flight that will again be at taxpayer expense.Umar Ahmed Haque, 25,(seen in a sketch from the Old Bailey on January 16) allegedly planned atrocities across London

A religious teacher accused of plotting terror attacks across London kept ISIS propaganda and bomb-making videos in his bedroom and a knife in his car, a court heard.

A recording was discovered of Umar Ahmed Haque, 25 saying We are here to cause terrorism, we are a death squad sent by Allah, it is alleged.

In the recovered film a voice can be heard boasting that ISIS territory was as big as the UK and that every day 18 coalition soldiers committed suicide before even entering battle.

The voice goes on, referring to the coalition of devils' including Iran and Turkey who oppose ISIS, to say: Bring it on, your numbers only increase our faith. Our ally is the greatest - he is Allah and all glory belongs to him.

Among the ISIS propaganda in Haque's home police found YouTube videos about how to build explosive substances including a a guide on how to extract flash powder from fireworks.

An expert told the court that a viable explosive substance could be made if you were to copy the video and you had a detonator available.

As well as a Dell laptop that was found containing photos of a police officer patrolling Horse Guards in London police also discovered an article about targeting kafirs or unbelievers.

Haque taught pupils at the Ripple Road Mosque in Barking, east London, (pictured in an undated photo provided by the police)

Videos of beheadings, dead children, firing squads, buildings exploding, prominent ISIS terrorists and Sunni and Shia Muslims fighting were also found on his laptop, the court has heard.

Haque, worked at an all-boy Muslim school, the Lantern of Knowledge Islamic Boys Secondary School in Leyton, East London, between 2015 and 2016.

The alleged ISIS fanatic also taught evening classes at the Ripple Road Mosque in Barking, East London.

He is said to have shown videos of beheadings and people burning British passports to his pupils.

Haque allegedly planned to launch attacks with knives, guns or a car bomb on a range of targets, including the Houses of Parliament, and also singled out the troops who protect the Royal palaces in London and Windsor.

Other targets on his extensive list included Transport for London, which runs the capital's public transport network, shoppers at Westfield shopping centres, Heathrow Airport, the Chinese and Iran embassies, media stations and banks in the City of London, jurors heard.

Umar Haque, Abuthaher Mamun, and Nadeem Patel depicted in a sketch taken during their trial at the Old Bailey on January 16

Haque, was stopped outside the town hall on Barking Road in East London in January last year on suspicion of driving without insurance.

He was searched and had three mobile phones and a red and silver memory stick on his key ring.

But Haque was not arrested for terrorism offences until the following May, when officers found a kitchen knife hidden behind the central console of the car, wrapped in a newspaper with pictures of semi-naked women.

Haque was not arrested for terrorism offences until the following May, when officers found this kitchen knife hidden behind the central console of the car, wrapped in a newspaper

The knife was wrapped in newspaper and was found in Haque's car in east London

The Old Bailey was shown this picture of pellets recovered from the backpack of Nadeem Patel, who accepts possessing a handgun but denies he was part of the plot

This picture of a 9mm PAK calibre Umarex Walther P99 multi-purpose pistol, which was recovered from Patel's backpack, was shown to the court

Also found in Patel's backpack was this .22 inch calibre Crossman 2240 carbon dioxide-powered pistol, with this picture shown to the Old Bailey

Jurors saw pictures of these blank firing cartridges, which were also recovered by Metropolitan Police from Patel's backpack

On a memory stick in his pocket were a series of ISIS publications which gave advice on how to launch knife and vehicle attacks and included an article titled, 'Why we hate you and why we fight you.'

Following the Westminster attack last March, Haque is said to have researched bomb-making and begun plotting attacks on London landmarks.

The officer who questioned Haque on the traffic stop, told the Old Bailey: 'He was quite sweaty, quite fidgety. Having dealt with a number of traffic stops before, people do behave in a nervous or fidgety way when they have no insurance, I didn't take it to be drugs or anything.'

But, he added: 'He was making references to if we were prepared to die for the cause and various religious things.

'He said he dreamt that he was stopped by the police three days ago and they let him go. He asked for our opinion on female rape victims and whether they were asking for it.'

Haque, 25, was stopped outside the town hall on Barking Road in East London in January last year on suspicion of driving without insurance (pictured: his car)

PC Jodie Maskell also said in a statement: 'He made reference to us working for the Queen and questioned how we felt about that, he also asked if we were prepared to die for the cause.

'He made several references to police actions being a sign. He was clearly very religious and political in his stance.'

Undated handout photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of a tent erected in Ripple Road Mosque that was shown to the jury at the Old Bailey in London during Haque's trial

The officer wrote up an intelligence report in case Haque was caught without insurance again, he said.

Haque was living with his parents and siblings in a large six-bedroom, semi-detached Victorian house in Forest Gate, East London.

The house had two reception rooms, two bathrooms and one bedroom converted to a home office, the court heard.

During a telephone call on the second day of his detention, he was allowed to make a phone call to his mother and was heard to say: 'Have you been into my room yet, if you find anything in my room, I'm sorry...Is the house OK, is the carpet OK, is it a mess?'

Haque denies preparing acts of terrorism between March 25 and May 18 last year along with Abutaher Mamun, 19, who was at one of the classes.

Nadeem Ilyas Patel, 26, accepts possessing a blank-firing Walther P99 handgun but denies he was part of the plot.

Muhammad Abid, 27, denies possessing information which he knew, or believed, might be of material assistance in stopping a terrorist attack.

The case continues.A Croatian trophy hunter has been shot dead in a freak accident while taking part in a expedition in South Africa.

Pero Jelinic, 75, had already shot one lion dead and had another in his sights when he was struck by a stray bullet and killed on a remote farm on Saturday.

Friend Slavko Pernar said Jelinic was a passionate hunter who had gone to South Africa to bag lion trophy after shooting 'everything that could be hunted in Europe'.

Pero Jelinic, 75, was killed by a stray bullet in South Africa on Saturday as he hunted lions to add to his trophy collection

Friends said Jelinic, a retired hotelier, had been living in South Africa for a year to collect trophies having shot 'everything there was to hunt in Europe'

It is not clear who fired the shot that killed Jelinic, police said.

He had travelled to the country's North West province with two friends to hunt cats 'to complete his extensive trophy collection' when he was struck by the bullet.

According to a close friend and passionate fellow hunter, the hotelier from the island of Pag, coveted the head of a lion 'to crown his rich hunting career' and had leased his hotel to devote his time to fulfill his dream.

The property where Saturday's killing took place keeps lions in captivity purely to be hunted as trophies in a 'sport' that has been widely condemned.

'Pero was a passionate hunter of big and small game, and in search of that he travelled most of the world,' the dead man's friend Slavko Pernar told Croatia's Jutarnji List newspaper.

'For the past year he had leased his hotel to dedicated himself to the things he planned to accomplish and enjoyed a deserved retirement.

Reports said Jelinic had already killed one lion and had another in his sights when he was struck by the bullet, though it is not clear who fired it

Jelinic was taking part in a controversial 'canned hunting' experience, in which the animals are kept in enclosed areas and bred to be shot, when he was killed

'He, unfortunately, received the ugliest end  he died in South Africa doing what he loved. His office, a hunting hall, was full of trophies, deer and bear specimens and everything that could be hunted in Croatia and Europe.'

The ill-fated hunt was based at Leeubosch Lodge, a four-hour drive from Johannesburg and just 40 miles from the border with Botswana.

The owner, Dr Gideon Engelbrecht, told News24 that he was not at the farm when the incident occurred.

'I was at my surgery when I received the call. I arranged for a helicopter to take the man to hospital, but that's all I am going to give you at this stage, because the case is still under investigation,' he said.

South Africa plays host to a lucrative and legal, but highly controversial, captive-bred lion hunting industry, commonly known as 'canned' lion-hunting.

The industry has came under fire in recent years from a host of reputable international and African hunting organisations.

Slavko Pernar, Jelinic's friend, said he was 'a passionate hunter of both small and big game'

Such hunts involve animals kept in a confined, fenced-in area, and no chance of escape, and giving the hunter the best possible chance to kill his prey.

In November 2015, the Professional Hunters' Association of South Africa (PHASA) voted to disassociate itself from the practice of canned lion hunting in South Africa and banned all members from taking part in such 'vanity hunting' expeditions.

Last year, the ruling was reversed, prompting an outcry from animal rights groups around the world.

Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone told MailOnline that police 'do not suspect any foul play' was involved in the shooting on Saturday.

'The injured man was air-lifted to the nearby hospital by helicopter, but doctors were unable to save the man's life.

'A case of culpable homicide has been opened, and police are also investigating charges of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition,' Brigadier Mokgwabone added.

'At this stage it is not clear who fired the fatal shot that killed Mr Jelinic. Our investigations are ongoing.'Raymond Taylor was sentenced to four years at Reading Crown Court, having admitted 11 counts of making and eight of distributing indecent images of children - his second offence

A disgraced air ambulance paramedic has been jailed after more than 500 indecent images were discovered at his home including on a mobile hidden up a drainpipe.

Raymond Taylor told an online child abuse chatroom 'true pedos [sic] love boys and girls'.

Taylor, 45, was fired as a paramedic in 2009 when a panel ruled the public would no longer trust him after a court heard he watched child pornography as an 'escape' from work pressures.

He originally dodged prison in 2009 for making indecent photographs as Judge Gordon Risius said at the time he was clearly very remorseful after his arrest.

'Abuse does not occur only when children are physically harmed,' he told Taylor in 2009.

'The fact is that such abuse of children causes serious, long-lasting and often unremovable damage on them.'

Following a new National Crime Agency investigation, the 45-year-old was sentenced to four years in prison at Reading Crown Court on Friday, having admitted 11 counts of making and eight of distributing indecent images of children - his second offence.

Taylor, 45, was fired as a paramedic in 2009 when a panel ruled the public would no longer trust him after a court heard he watched child pornography as an 'escape' from work pressures

Computer devices found during searches of Taylor's house in Reading, Berkshire, included a mobile phone hidden in the drainpipe outside his window, three external hard drives and four computers.

The devices held 529 indecent images of children, some of them in the most serious category. Computers which Taylor used for his new job at a home security firm were among those which held the images.

The court heard that Taylor was an associate of Jon Page, aged 46 years, of Bridge Close, Kensington, London, who was imprisoned for three-and-a-half years in November as part of the NCA investigation into the chatroom.

Taylor and Page streamed real-time footage to the chatroom of themselves engaged in sexual activity at the same time as Page streamed recordings of indecent images of children under the screen name 2 UK peds and left messages in the chatroom expressing a preference for children aged '0+'.

Computer devices found during searches of Taylor's house in Reading, Berkshire, included a mobile phone hidden in the drainpipe outside his window, three external hard drives and four computers

Martin Ludlow, Operations Manager for the NCA, said today: 'Offenders who swap indecent images online prolong the abuse of the children in the pictures.

'Unfortunately with the rise of digital technology, sharing and broadcasting indecent images of children in real time has never been easier, whether on the dark web or more conventional forms of social media.

'The NCA and its partners in law enforcement are wholly committed to tackling this threat and at all times the safety of children is our priority.

'We and our partners in policing are trained and equipped with specialist capabilities with which to detect these offenders and bring them to justice.'

Taylor was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order when he appeared at Reading Crown Court on Friday and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.The performers, nominees and presenters at this year's Grammy Awards showed their support for the #TimesUp campaign by wearing and carrying white roses on the red carpet Sunday night.

Once inside though, it was all about the men, who walked home victorious in every single category but one during the extended telecast of the annual event.

That prompted outcry on Twitter and led to the birth of #GrammysSoMale, a hashtag that is continuing to trend in the wake of comments made by the president of the Recording Academy, Neil Portnow.

When asked about the lack of female winners and nominees in major categories this year in an interview with Variety, Portnow said: 'It has to begin with women who have the creativity in their hearts and souls, who want to be musicians, who want to be engineers, producers, and want to be part of the industry on the executive level.'

He then added: '[They need] to step up because I think they would be welcome.'

Portnow's claim that the Academy would 'welcome' women was made on the same night he refused to let Best Album nominee Lorde perform citing a lack of time.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

Off pitch: '[They need] to step up because I think they would be welcome,' said Neil Portnow when asked about the #GrammysSoMale controversy (Portnow above with Best Album, Song and Record winner Bruno Mars on Sunday)

Huh?: Portnow eliminated the one category that honored women back in 2012 when the Academy eliminated Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, which became Best Pop Solo (the nominees on Sunday night above, with Ed Sheeran winning)

Unicorn: Alessia Cara was the only lady to take home a solo Grammy during the telecast when she won Best New Artist (Cara above in the press room)

Lorde responded to that slight on Twitter by writing: 'IF YOURE DEBATING WHETHER OR NOT I CAN MURDER A STAGE... COME SEE IT FOR URSELF.'

She also included an emoji of a smiling angel.

The omission of Julia Michaels is perhaps worse, with the singer being relegated to singing backup for Ke$ha despite being a nominee for Best Song.

And despite there being no room or time for Michaels and Lorde, Portnow and his producers did find a way to give Sting a 10-minute showcase during the ceremony, despite the fact that he has not been nominated for an award since 2006.

Sam Smith was also given a showcase near the top of the program despite not receiving a single major nomination this year. The same goes for Elton John and Miley Cyrus.

Portnow addressed this in another tone deaf response, saying: 'We have a wealth of riches every year, and it's hard to have a balanced show and have everybody involved.'

It was also Portnow who decided to drop the one category that specifically honored women back in 2012, when the Academy eliminated the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance category.

That decision did not stop Portnow from saying: 'I dont have personal experience of those kinds of brick walls that you face but I think its upon us - us as an industry - to make the welcome mat very obvious, breeding opportunities for all people who want to be creative and paying it forward and creating that next generation of artists.'

Best Female became part of the Best Pop Solo Performance category that same year, and on Sunday night four of the five nominees were women.

Powerhouse performers Kelly Clarkson and Lady Gaga - who both previously won a Grammy in the Best Female category - were joined by Pink and Ke$ha, whose deeply personal song 'Praying' about her alleged abuses was the early favorite to win.

Ke$ha did not win her first Grammy in the end, losing out in both this category and Best Pop Vocal album to Ed Sheeran and his single 'Shape of You.'

That upset drew a strong response on social media, with many quick to point out that Sheeran won for a song in which he sings about the shape of a woman's body.

Don't sing so close to me: Portnow then said that women 'would be welcome,' on the same night he refused to allow Best Album nominee Lorde perform during the telecast (Lorde on left, Sting right)

Thinking out loud: Once again, #EdSheeran wins over much stronger female contenders, so instead of #Kesha 's song about overcoming sexual abuse, we reward another song by a man about a woman's body,' wrote Anya Silver (above)

Stinmgs: 'And Mo Ryan wrote: 'Im 51. And Sting is a fine artist. He wasnt nominated for anything. He got 10 minutes of screen time'

'Once again, #EdSheeran wins over much stronger female contenders, so instead of #Kesha 's song about overcoming sexual abuse, we reward another song by a man about a woman's body,' wrote Anya Silver on Twitter.

And Mo Ryan wrote: 'Im 51. And Sting is a fine artist. He wasnt nominated for anything. He got 10 minutes of screen time. Lorde, the only female Album of the Year nominee, got exactly zero stage time.'

It was Alessia Cara who scored the one solo win of the night, beating out SZA and Julia Michaels, among others, for Best New Artist.

Rihanna was also a winner during the telecast, but for Best Rap / Sung Collaboration with Kendrick Lamnar.

There were not even any females among the many writers and producers in the Best Song, Record and Album categories, which all went to Bruno Mars.

This does however come just one year after Adele won big in 2016 and the year before that it was Taylor Swift who owned the night.

And it was not just the women who were slighted, with Jay Z also walking home empty handed despite his eight nominations.The boyfriend of a pregnant British woman who was killed in a crash after he lost control of the scooter they were riding in Thailand has narrowly avoided jail time.

Danny Glass, 30, from Margate, Kent, was charged with causing death by reckless driving after his partner Sophie Emma Rose, 41, was thrown off their scooter and hit by a truck in May, 2017.

A court in Phuket, Thailand, handed Glass a suspended jail sentence and fined him 15,000 bhat (340) over the fatal incident.

Escape: Danny Glass was given a suspended jail sentence after being charged with death by reckless driving over the crash which killed his pregnant partner Sophie Emma Rose

Glass, a former drug addict, claims he was driving behind a car when it stopped suddenly, causing him to slam on his brakes and lose control of his scooter.

He says he was thrown off into the road along with Ms Rose, who was then hit by the truck, killing her instantly despite the fact that she was wearing a helmet.

Both Glass and Ms Rose, a mother-of-one who was six months pregnant at the time of her death, were 'YouTube personalities' and made video blogs about their lives since relocating to Thailand from the UK.

In a video uploaded today, Glass revealed his sentence, admitting that he has 'made mistakes' and done things 'he is not proud of', and attacked media reports of the fatal incident.

In the clip, entitled 'The Media Hating on Me And Having A Positive Effect On Me!, he states that he has turned the trial over the death of his partner and mother of his unborn child into a 'positive' experience.

He attacks 'the media' stating that the reports have been negative, while also claiming that he has not read any articles written about him.

In a video, Glass stated that he has turned the trial into a 'positive' experience, despite media coverage of the court case, and his promotion of using turpentine as medication

Tragedy: Sophie Emma Rose, 41, was thrown off the scooter driven by Glass and hit by a truck in Phuket, Thailand, in May, 2017

Vloggers: Both Ms Rose and Glass were originally from the UK but had moved to Thailand

Much of the recent media coverage has focused not on the trial, but Glass's passionate advocacy of using bleach and turpentine as medication.

Operating under the name Sun Fruit Dan, Glass frequently uses his video channel to claim that ingesting the poisonous chemicals will cure a whole range of ills.

Among his shocking suggestions is the idea that giving autistic children turpentine three times per day can to get rid of 'parasites', which he believes cause autism.

His practices were exposed over the weekend by The Mirror, which found that six police forces in the UK are investigating allegations that children are being forced to drink bleach and turpentine following promotion by online advocates such as Glass.

In today's YouTube video, Glass hit back at the critique of his advertisement of turpentine and bleach as medicine, claiming the it reflected a fear among pharmaceutical companies.

Revelations: A few months before her deaths, at three months pregnant, Ms Rose revealed that she did not feel safe around her partner

Online star: Ms Rose's YouTube channel 'Sophie's Joy Breastfeeding Mama' amassed more than 25 million views

The late Ms Rose, from Blackpool, was also well-known for YouTube videos.

Her clips often showed her breastfeeding her then-five-year-old son Shaye and she even appeared on This Morning via video link to promote the practice.

Her YouTube channel 'Sophie's Joy Breastfeeding Mama' amassed more than 25 million views.

However, in the weeks before her death, she had uploaded an emotional video claiming she did not 'feel safe' around Glass.

Ms Rose, 41, confessed: 'I'm nearly three months pregnant. I do not want to be dealing with what I am dealing with in my life now where I am pregnant and alone and where I cannot be in contact with the father of my child, the father of the baby I carry inside me now.

'I cannot be in contact with him because I do not feel safe with him.'

She added: 'I've allowed myself to stay in a situation I have not felt safe with for a long time.'Shocking dashcam footage captured the terrifying moment a trucker, who later admitted he was on drugs, ran a red-light and caused an eight-vehicle pile-up.

Hunter Geslien admitted he smoked marijuana and took heroin not long before getting behind the wheel of the rig on the morning of November 13 last year.

Pennsylvania State Police said he was driving too fast when he ran a red light at the Resort drive intersection on Route 22 in Burrell Township.

Shocking dashcam footage captured the terrifying moment a trucker ran a red-light and caused an eight-vehicle pile-up

The dashcam of one of the vehicles that was hit  a school bus carrying special education students  captured the moment his truck came hurtling across the intersection.

None of the students were hurt.

The 30-second clip ends moments after the driver of the bus reverses as the truck came towards it.

The driver  Terri Corrado  was praised by her bosses for her quick-thinking as the truck approached, the Indiana Gazette reports.

Pennsylvania State Police said Hunter Geslien was driving too fast when he ran a red light at the Resort drive intersection on Route 22 in Burrell Township

Geslien admitted he smoked marijuana and took heroin not long before getting behind the wheel of the rig on the morning of November 13 last year

Her actions meant that two students, a caretaker and she avoided injury, according to the Gazette.

But one of the other drivers who was hit, Noah Overman, was trapped in his pickup truck and was later treated for injuries that werent life-threatening.

Geslien, 40, of Naugatuck, Connecticut, was charged with a number of offences, including driving under the influence, recklessly endangering another person and possession of a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Earlier this month, he waived his rights in Blairsville District Court and chose to face possible trial in the Indiana Court of Common Pleas.The Kremlin have declared there is no rival to 'absolute leader' Vladimir Putin a day after fierce anti-election rallies were held across Russia.

More than 100 cites held rallies on Sunday in support of Alexei Navalny's call to boycott the presidential election in March.

The opposition politician has been barred from running as a candidate because of a previous conviction for fraud in 2014.

Critics say it is part of a Kremlin plot to exclude him from the race.

The Kremlin have declared there is no rival to 'absolute leader' Vladimir Putin a day after fierce anti-election rallies were held across Russia

'The level of Vladimir Putin's popularity extends far beyond Russia,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reportedly said on Monday.

'It's doubtful that anyone could question the fact that Putin is the absolute leader in public opinion and the absolute leader of political Olympus, so to say, with whom hardly anyone can seriously compete.'

He added: 'Putin has repeatedly affirmed his incontestable leadership and continues to do so'.

Peskov reportedly said that Navalny does not pose a political threat to Putin and that some say his rallies 'were barely attended'.

About 2,000 people gathered in Moscow and 1,000 in St Petersburg on Sunday.

Dozens of other towns and cities also hosted smaller rallies despite temperatures dropping as low as minus 30 degrees.

Some 250 people were detained across the country on grounds that many meetings were not authorised by the local authorities.

More than 100 cites held rallies on Sunday in support of Alexei Navalny's call to boycott the presidential election in March. The opposition politician (pictured) was detained by officers in Moscow

After his arrest, Navalny later tweeted: 'I've been detained. This does not matter. Come to Tverskaya. You're not coming out for me, but for yourself and for your future.'

He was released last night.

Despite the extensive rallies, state-run surveys suggest the Kremlin will fulfill its aim of achieving a 70 per cent turnout and 70 per cent of votes for Putin.

If he is re-elected, he will become Russia's longest-serving leader since Joseph Stalin, extending his rule to 2024.A couple of months ago I left my husband fighting for his life in hospital after a stroke and headed home for some sleep.

As I went in my front door the phone was ringing and I grabbed it, fearing the worst. And it was the worst, only of a different kind.

A voice on the other end told me that our daughter, our youngest child, had jumped from a high-rise building and killed herself. And the truth is that I had been dreading the phone call for a long time.

Marion was incredibly self-centred and demanded more of everything than anyone else

Marion was 18 months old when we brought her and her sister, Louise, a year older, home from a Children's Home where they had lived for a year.

They were taken into care when their 16-year-old brother murdered their three year old sister, and no foster or adoptive parents would take them because of the publicity and the notoriety of their family.

My husband and I decided that the two little girls had done nothing to anyone and didn't deserve to grow up in care or, worse still, be returned to the family they had come from. We already had a nearly four year old son and with the arrival of the girls his world was turned upside down, a fact that haunts me to this day.

Louise seemed to be the main problem, aged two and half her behaviour was very disturbed. There was no peace and little sleep but as we began to cope with her we found the real problem: Marion.

She was incredibly self-centred and demanded more of everything than anyone else. Didn't matter what it was or even if she wanted it, if it was there she had to have it, and if it wasn't given to her she stole it  money, toys, sweets, anything.

It was impossible to instil some kind of morality into her, some sense of fairness or justice, and that pattern would continue throughout her life.

Meg Henderson, pictured back left, with her family

We discovered that she was musically gifted when she was eight years old and, hoping it would give her confidence, we provided whatever she needed.

She went to a specialist music school, but when she was home at weekends I found myself hiding anything I valued because I knew she would take what she wanted.

Nothing we did for her was ever enough or good enough, in her eyes she was due everything she saw or imagined and it made complete sense to her that everyone else should do without.

Going out I took with me money, bank cards and jewellery, but she still managed to steal from everyone, inside and outside the family.

Several times in her early teens she was picked up by the police and gave the names of friends' or relatives' children instead of her own. When faced with it Marion simply shrugged it off.

People, including our family, were there to be used or to amuse, they had no other value.

There were so many crises.

At fourteen she had an affair with a drug dealer in his late twenties who had been jailed for assault and was awaiting sentencing for more. Luckily one girl had enough of being used as a cover and told us what was going on.

Given the choice between him or the middle class lifestyle and expensive education she chose the latter, then went back to her upper crust school without the slightest concern, leaving us to deal with a violent thug who literally knew where we lived.

Marion was 18 months old when we brought her and her sister, Louise, a year older, home from a Children's Home where they had lived for a year

After being grounded for six months she was back to 'normal'; she never learned any lesson, another a feature of her behaviour throughout her life.

In her late teens she forged her Dad's signature on a cheque for 3500. She denied it, as she did everything, even if caught red handed she never, ever admitted it, it was always a misunderstanding or someone else's fault.

Our function in her life became paying her out of trouble, but still we hoped, lurching from one crisis to another with her, as she walked into more trouble, cursing us as she went.

There she was, so gifted, mixing with top classical musicians, with a glittering career ahead of her. Yehudi Menuhin was 'A nice old guy, and pretty good,' and Itzhak Perlman was technically superb but lacked the emotion, the heart of the less technically exact Menuhin.

Meg Henderson (pictured) said: 'Like our daughters, many of the children being offered for adoption today were not doomed from birth; they were doomed from conception'

After one Perlman concert she told him his performance had been below par, and he agreed; she was all of ten years old at the time.

When Louise was sixteen she was diagnosed as Psychotic and, we discovered, was brain damaged and had been moderately to severely autistic all through her childhood.

I then did some digging and discovered that she had been beaten numerous times as a baby and toddler, once with a hammer and another time, when she was ten months old, beaten over three days by one of her mother's boyfriends because 'She wouldn't call him Daddy.'

It ended any hope of an independent life for her and we were heartbroken for her.

The family they came from, we then learned, was riddled with mental illness, and both girls were the results of incest between the mother and one or two of her sons, information that had been deliberately kept from us by Social Services.

The thinking, then as now, was that by the time we ever found out  and the odds were that we wouldn't  we would be so attached to the girls that we wouldn't want to give them up.

Louise was 'lucky' in that she was too damaged to have any understanding of her situation and now lives in a village for disabled adults, where she is as happy as she is capable of being.

We didn't know then that Marion had been hallucinating and hearing voices since the age of ten. Looking back, all the signs of mental illness were there, but I think we didn't recognise them because we didn't want to.

Having lost one child to it, the thought of losing another was beyond thinking about, so we didn't.

She had gone to the RCMD in London and stayed there, so we only heard from her was when she wanted or needed money, always in the thousands. I always took the abusive and threatening phone calls as indications of how much trouble she was in and sent her money. One regular threat was that she would go to the authorities and tell them that as Foster/Special Foster/ Adoptive Parents we had physically and sexually abused her and every child we ever had care of.

Meg Henderson said: 'Louise seemed to be the main problem, aged two and half her behaviour was very disturbed. There was no peace and little sleep but as we began to cope with her we found the real problem: Marion'

Her Dad doted on her, made every excuse for her and always supported her and she knew he would be deeply hurt and upset at the allegation, she had no boundaries, using any means to get what she wanted.

Eventually, in her early twenties, I refused to send her more money and we heard nothing from her again.

However, we were concerned for her, she was our child, and we twice paid private detectives to try to find her. Both failed because, once again, she was using a different name. She was in her late twenties when we found her again and discovered that she too had been mentally ill for years.

Between the illness and the medication she couldn't use her talents, so she had no life and no future. She refused to accept it though, and regularly went off her medication, convinced that it had all been a mistake, that this time she would OK. Only she wasn't, and would wander the streets hallucinating, until she was picked up by the police and sectioned again.

'My husband and I decided that the two little girls had done nothing to anyone and didn't deserve to grow up in care or, worse still, be returned to the family they had come from'

Once, she went back to the Social Services area her family came from and was allowed to read their extensive case notes.

She had known the gist of her background, as much as we knew, but seeing so much in black and white horrified her. Having been raised in a family with a very different outlook and morality  even though she didn't share either  she was devastated by who and what she came from.

So she came up with a delusion to cope with it. She decided I had given birth to her as a result of an extra-marital affair and, as a cover, we had first put her into a Children's Home, then gone back and adopted her out of it.

It was fiction, but to Marion preferable to her reality, though it made us the worst human beings alive and her abusive, threatening phone calls would go on day after day. Reasoning with someone in the grip of a delusion is impossible, so we became used to changing our phone numbers, only re-establishing contact when she was lucid again.

Off her medication again she decided to kill me especially, and expose our treachery to the world, once being intercepted and a knife taken from her before she got to our door.

And so, at the age of 36, she killed herself, as I always thought she would but hoped she wouldn't. When he heard, our son, who had always helped and protected her as much as he could, usually from herself, said sadly 'Well, it's over now,' an understandable mixture of grief and relief that I share.

We decided against telling my husband, he is so ill that he now needs 24 hour care  which is me.

He's not able to provide any support anyway, so telling him would be cruel. When he had his stroke he didn't want her told in case it caused her to relapse and I agreed, though I knew by then she was already dead. This means I can't work through my daughter's death in the normal way in case he notices, so it remains painfully raw and illogically guilty.

Guilty because there must have been something more or better I could have done for her, illogical because I know there was nothing I could have done, for Marion or Louise.

And this isn't an example of adoption in the bad old days, it still goes on, sanctioned indeed by the Law.

Meg Henderson's family. Louise (pictured left), aged three, with Euan, aged five, and Marion, aged two (right)

In 2004 the Court of Appeal found against adoptive parents who had not been told about their son's damaging background. Deciding that Social Services had a duty only to the child being placed, the Judge said 'We would not hold that it is fair, just or reasonable to impose on professionals a duty of care towards prospective adopters.' Withholding information to get a child adopted is therefore entirely legal.

This should be a warning to anyone seduced by pictures of lovely children needing new families, and to those who believe that their adoptions are solid after a few years.

Problems, breakdowns, happen even decades later. Feeling sorry for these blameless children is not enough, and TLC is a myth, a lie to snare well-meaning people. Like our daughters, many of the children being offered for adoption today were not doomed from birth; they were doomed from conception.

The harm done to them in their first families does not simply disappear when they are transferred to another family, but what is in their backgrounds is equally important.

Baby adoption is a thing of the past, it is now about damaged children removed from their birth families because of abuse, neglect, drug and alcohol addiction, usually after years.

Many who have taken these children into their homes and families are suffering in silence because speaking out invites being trolled by the ignorant  rosy happy-ever-after is demanded from the public whether it is possible or not.

The emphasis remains on getting more children adopted faster, because it's cheaper than keeping them in Care. The collateral damage to families like mine matters not a jot.Florida has been ranked rock-bottom in a list of American states, prompting a light-hearted backlash from local media.

The Sunshine State was beneath all 49 other states when rated by a lifestyle website on 'everything'.

Included in the assessment was the states' 'contributions to America', 'inventions', 'food/drink', 'productive famous people' and 'unique physical beauty'.

The absolute worst: The Sunshine State was beneath all 49 other states when rated by a lifestyle website on 'everything'

But Thrillist decided Florida had the least to offer in the whole country, explaining that it's 'awfulness resume is so staggeringly impressive' that no other state could compete.

The brief explanation of its badness continued: 'You were born for this. Embrace it.'

But the Miami Herald, among other publications in the US's third-most populous state, took the ranking in its stride.

The paper wrote: 'Florida, the state that gave the nation a mathematics lesson in the 2000 president election, the state that has the best subs in the nation (thanks, Publix) and the state that gave us the Florida Man Twitter feed. The worst.'

It added: 'Win some and lose some, we guess.'

The 49th worst state, meanwhile, was Delaware, of which Thrillist explained: 'Even people from Delaware dont really fight back all that hard when you make fun of Delaware.'

Top of the list was Michigan, which was praised for its cuisine and coastline.An Albanian gangster has posted pictures of himself laughing in prison and joked: 'The only this missing is whores'.

Tristen Asllani was one of three gang members jailed for a total of 42 years in 2016 after they were found with a machine gun and 6million worth of drugs.

He has since managed to set up an Instagram account using a smuggled phone and posted pictures of himself showing off his muscles and listening to prison radio.

Albanian gangster Tristen Asllani has managed to post this picture online from his jail cell

He also posted this photo of himself listening to prison radio on his cell's TV set

Beneath one message was the caption: 'Even inside the prison we have all conditions, what's missing are only whores,' the Evening Standard revealed today.

A victim of the chaos Asallani unleashed on the streets of London told the paper he should have been deported.

Renaz Ameen, whose shop Asallani crashed into, said: 'He has obviously got so much time in prison that he just doesn't give a c**p about anyone else. He doesn't care, he looks really happy in prison.'

Asllani was handed a 25-year sentence onspiracy to supply drugs, dangerous driving and possession of a firearm in 2016.

Asllani, pictured after his arrest, was caught after crashing a car into a ship during a police chase

It is believed the photo was taken in HMP Wandsworth.

Asllani was caught after crashing his car into a shop in Crouch End during a police chase.

Detectives later found a Skorpion sub-machine gun fitted with a silencer, 21kilos of cocaine and a 16kilos of cannabis.

Phones are not allowed in prisons, but jails have had a difficult time keeping them out, with a series of high-profile criminals managing to set up social media accounts and even start online dating while serving sentences.

A Prison Service spokesman today said: 'This behaviour is completely unacceptable and we have removed the content from social media.

'Those who break prison rules will face tough punishments, including extra time behind bars.

'We are taking decisive action to find and block mobile phones in prison, including a 2 million investment to block mobile phone signals.'

Two years ago, Albanian criminals in Guys Marsh jail in Dorset were able to take pictures of themselves on Christmas Day and post them on an Albanian website called Life is Fun.Joanne Rand, 47, was sitting on a park bench when a group of men allegedly began fighting near her

A teenager has denied murdering a nurse, who died from burns 11 days after she was allegedly showered with acid when a bottle was kicked at her as she sat on a bench.

Joanna Rand, 47, was in a park in Frogmoor, Buckinghamshire, when a fight broke out between a group of men in June last year.

Ms Rand was said to have been sprayed with the toxic substance after one of the men kicked a bottle during the altercation.

She died at Stoke Mandeville Hospital 11 days after the incident.

Xeneral Webster, 19, from Hammersmith in London, is accused of murder, attempted grievous bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon, robbery and causing grievous bodily harm. He denies all the charges against him.

The family of Ms Rand previously released a tribute to her and revealed that she had tragically lost her daughter Charlotte in 2011.

They wrote: 'Jo will be fondly remembered as a fun-loving, bubbly and caring person. She meant so much to so many and her tragic and sudden death has left everyone who knew her shocked and deeply saddened.

'Jo was born in County Durham and grew up in High Wycombe. She was the youngest sibling of five girls.

'Growing up, Jo was very mischievous. As the baby of the family, Jo was spoilt by her sisters and was always the centre of their attention.'

The trial is due to start at Reading Crown Court on April 9.

Webster, who 18 at the time of the incident, now of no fixed abode, was remanded in custody by Judge Johanna Cutts, sitting at Reading Crown Court.Abimbola Adewakun (picture), 48, has been thrown out of the nursing profession after being convicted of trafficking

A nurse who, along with his doctor wife, kept a nanny as a slave for two years at their house in Erith, London, has now been thrown out of the profession.

Abimbola Adewakun, 48, and his wife, Dr Ayodeji Adewakun, 44, lured Lydia Ogundowala, 29, to the UK from Nigeria.

They promised her a monthly wage of 500, which she hoped would support her family following the death of her mother.

Ms Ogundowala's daily routine involved cleaning the house, cooking for the family, preparing the children for school, and running other errands for the couple.

Sometimes she was made to work through to midnight before being allowed to finally sleep.

In court, she recalled being told: You are lucky not to be beaten like the last girl.

The couple confiscated her passport as soon as she arrived in February 2007

After two years of constant abuse and humiliation, the Nigerian nanny escaped with just 350, the equivalent of 3.36 a week.

Adewakun was convicted at Southwark Crown Court for trafficking persons into the UK for the purpose of exploitation.

The nurse, who specialised in caring for patients with learning difficulties, was hauled before the Nursing and Midwifery Council following his conviction.

Christopher Scott, counsel for NMC, said: He was found guilty of one count of bringing a person to the UK for exploitation. He was given six months imprisonment and ordered to pay 10,000 in compensation to the victim.'

Speaking of the victims ordeal he said: Her passport was taken from her, she was made to work long hours and was mistreated.

She worked for about two years.

Ayodeji Adewakun, 44, worked as a doctor and was convicted of trafficking alongside her nurse husband

Both Abimbola and Ayodeji Adewakun, were involved in targeting the victim. She was a vulnerable person who spoke very little English and had no real idea of where she was save that she was in the UK and on the fringes of London.

She relied on your promises, and so did her father, to improve the life of her and her family after the death of her mother.

Adewakun, from Erith, southeast London, appeared at the hearing and broke down in tears as details of his and his wifes crime were read out to the panel.

He said: I feel so sad, I feel so sorry for what has happened. It has caused me a lot of aggravation.

It affects me in a lot of ways. I wish I could turn back the hand on the clock. I am deeply sorry for what has happened.

As a matter of fact, I know this cannot happen again. What went wrong was my wife and I could not keep records.

Record keeping was what went wrong. We could not prove we had paid the lady. Thinking back now, I would do things differently.

I would like to say this happened and I am not proud of it, but that was then, and this is now. I have time to think about these things and I am full of sorrow.

NMC panel chair Julia Whiting told Abimbola Adewakun, who specialised in treating patients with learning difficulties: The panel considered that your conviction was of a very serious nature.

You had trafficked a young woman and exploited her for more than two years.. The panel find that to allow you to continue to work undermines public confidence in the profession.

The panels decision was that the appropriate order was a striking off order. It determined that nothing short of this would satisfy the public interest.

The Adewakuns, both of St Catherines Road, Erith, denied two counts of trafficking a person into the UK for exploitation but were convicted on one by after a trial last May.

Dr Adewakun was jailed for nine months while Mr Adewakun was jailed for six months.

They were also ordered to pay 20,000 to Ms Ogundowala and costs of 2,520 each.An Oregon deli lady was choking on a chip before a local sheriff's deputy came to her rescue and performed the Heimlich on her.

Video shows the moment Marion County Deputy Gregg Ramseyer rushed into DeDe's Deli near Salem, Oregon, and saved Angelica Sandoval's life.

While Sandoval was on lunch in her work office on December 21, she began choking on a chip and was having difficulty breathing.

Video shows the moment Marion County Deputy Gregg Ramseyer rushed into DeDe's Deli near Salem, Oregon, and saved Angelica Sandoval's life

Sandoval was on lunch in her work office on December 21, when she began choking on a chip

Her coworker, Cassie Sarff, rushed to help but was having difficulty helping the struggling woman.

Deputy Ramsey had come to collect info on a hit and run that occurred nearby but jumped into action when he saw the choking Sandoval.

'He came up from behind, picked [Sandoval] up and justmade it look easy!' Sarff said to KGW8. 'For me, it wasn't easy. I was terrified!'

And with some careful attention and a few extra pushes and the chip comes dislodged

Her coworker, Cassie Sarff, rushed to help but was having difficulty helping

Deputy Ramsey had come to collect info on a hit and run that occurred nearby but jumped into action when he saw the choking Sandoval

'We couldn't be more proud,' said Marion County Sheriff's Lt. Chris Baldridge. 'Gregg is a very humble guy and I appreciate that about him.'

A few weeks after the life-changing event, Sandoval said she saw Deputy Ramseyer. She asked if they could take a picture together and he obliged

And Sandoval was so thankful, even calling the deputy her angel.

'He just said, "Oh, you're welcome." Like he just did me this little, tiny favor,' added Sandoval. 'No. He saved me.'

Sandoval rushed to her family that night with a new outlook on life.

'I told them, 'I love you,' and I gave them a hug,' she said.

Lt. Baldridge added that the deputy would now be nominated for a life-saving award for his work.

'This happens regularly with deputies,' explained Baldridge.

'They do these amazing things, and then we don't hear about them until somebody else talks about it.'

A few weeks after the life-changing event, Sandoval said she saw Deputy Ramseyer. She asked if they could take a picture together and he obliged.The UK government has temporarily banned the export of a Turner masterpiece in a bid to keep the painting in Britain.

Ehrenbreitstein, a painting depicting the historic fortress overlooking Rhine near Koblenz, Germany, was sold by Sotheby's in July 2017.

The foreign buyer purchased the 1835 masterpiece for a staggering 18.5 million and sought a license to take the painting out of the country.

This encouraged Arts Minister Michael Ellis to place a temporary export bar today on Ehrenbreitstein in hopes an art collector in the UK would purchase the piece.

Ehrenbreitstein (1835) was created by English painter J.M.W. Turner for publisher John Pye. The painting shows the historic fortress overlooking the Rhine near Koblenz, Germany, during the French Revolutionary Wars. Turner collected materials for the painting from Germany

The masterpiece was sold by Sotheby's auction house in London in July 2017 for 18.5 million. It was unveiled with ten watercolours by Turner and was sold to a foreign buyer. The government denied the buyers request to transfer the painting in hopes to keep it in the UK

J.M.W. Turner was born in Covent Garden, London, where he attended the Royal Academy of Arts starting at the age of 14. He produced watercolour and oil paintings. Turner is considered one of the best-loved English Romantic painters of his time

Mr Ellis said: 'This rich, atmospheric painting demonstrates Turner's extraordinary skill depicting light, as well as the close relationship between painting and poetry.

'I very much hope that it can remain in the UK, where it can be admired and appreciated by future generations for many years to come.'

WHO WAS J.M.W. TURNER AND WHAT ARE HIS BEST-KNOWN WORKS? Joseph Mallord William (J.M.W.) Turner was born on 23 April 1775 in Covent Garden, London. His father, a barber and wig maker, encouraged Turner's artistic talent from the beginning and showed the drawings off in his shop. Turner joined the Royal Academy of Arts in London in 1789. He exhibited watercolour paintings at the Royal Academy from 1790 to 1796 where he produced paintings such as the View in the Avon Gorge (1791). Turner, refusing to only be known as a topographer, sent off his first oil painting in 1796 titled Fisherman at Sea. The painter was inspired by 17th-century artists such as William van der Velde and by the Italian landscapes of Claude and Richard Wilson. Turner became known as the 'painter of light' because of the brilliant colours used in his landscape and seascape paintings. This is seen in some of his most prominent works including Rome, From Mount Aventine (1835), Norham Castle, Sunrise (1845), and The Dort (1818). He was also interested in contemporary technology, which was shown in The Fighting Temeraire (1839) and Rain, Steam and Speed (1844). Turner died in December 1851 and is now considered one of the best-loved English Romantic artists. Source: Tate Advertisement

This is the only painting Turner created of Ehrenbreitstein in oil and one of the few pieces that remains in private hands.

Turner originally created the painting for publisher John Pye, who asked for it in watercolour.

The English artist decided to use oil paints instead, much to the dismay of Pye.

Ehrenbreitstein is rich in historical references to the French Revolutionary Wars, which devastated Europe and reshaped the political and cultural landscapes.

It was first shown at the Royal Academy of Arts in London in 1835 after Turner collected material for the painting from Germany.

The obelisk on the left marks the grave of General Francois-Severin Marceau-Desgraviers, a hero of the French Revolutionary Army.

His brief but brilliant career made him a Romantic hero while his moving funeral, at which German and French soldiers laid aside their enmity and participated, became a symbol for European reconciliation.

The painting was subsequently acquired by Elhanan Bicknell, who would become one of Turner's greatest patrons.

On Bicknell's death in 1863, his vast collection - including Ehrenbreitstein - was sold at an auction.

In 1965, the masterpiece was sold again for 88,000, a then-record price for Turner.

The painting then passed through a number of hands before ending up at Sotheby's in July 2017.

The auction house had described the 'magnificent picture' as one of the artist's 'great late masterpieces'.

The government is asking for a matching price of 18,533,750 (plus VAT of 306,750).

This decision was recommended by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA), administered by The Arts Council.

Turner was inspired by contemporary technology. This interest sparked him to create one of his most known works, The Fighting Temeraire (1839)

The artist was known as the 'painter of light' because of the bright colours he used for landscape and seascape. Pictured is his painting Rain, Steam and Speed (1844)

Fisherman at Sea (1796) was Turner's first oil painting that he exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts. Before this painting, he had only produced watercolour pieces

RCEWA made its recommendation based on the painting's outstanding significance for the study of its status as a literary landscape.

The decision on the export licence application for the painting will be deferred until 28 May, but this may be extended for a further six months if there is serious interest from art collectors.

Lowell Libson, RCEWA member, said: 'This magnificent and beautifully preserved painting from Turner's maturity demonstrates this great artist's ability to present many layered narratives - historical and emotional - within the context of topography.

'It is one of Turner's finest works of the period.'

The Arts Council refused to identify the buyer or their nationality at last year's sale.A Florida man endured a months-long undiagnosed illness that left him unable to get out of bed following a 'free' trip he and his wife took to Hawaii.

Ron and Darlene Fields assert that what Ron experienced was Rat Lungworm Disease, and that he likely got the disease from a parasite (the rat lungworm) carried on a slug he ate by accident hiding in an uncleaned salad he had while on vacation, Food Safety News reports.

Parasitic worm larvae are carried by rats, left in their feces and then transmitted by snails and slugs.

In humans, the parasite can cause multiple types of meningitis, including types that carry the possibility of permanent brain damage. The disease is contagious.

There is no cure for humans affected by the parasite, but the illness eventually passes - though how long that takes to run its course varies on a case-by-case basis.

Ron Fields (pictured with his wife, Darlene), became quite sick after a trip the couple took to Hawaii. He began to feel sick towards the end of the vacation and by the time they returned to their Florida home he had what he described as a 'burning skin pain' and later was unable to urinate

His family believes he was afflicted with rat lungworm disease, which he would have gotten from a parasite called a rat lungworm that would have been carried on a slug, which in turn would have been in a salad with uncleaned vegetables that he ate

Pictured is an example of the sort of slug that might carry a rat lungworm

'If you could imagine, its like having a slow-moving bullet go through your brain and theres no rhyme or reason why its going to hang out in this part of the brain or that part of the brain,' is how Doctor Sarah Park, a Hawaii epidemiologist, described the disease in an interview with the Associated Press.

Ron, who owned a construction company in Sarasota, was 62 at the time of the trip he and his wife took using credit card reward points.

They spent time on both Maui and the Big Island during their trip to Hawaii.

He began to feel sick towards the end of their trip and by the time they returned to their Florida home he had what he described as a 'burning skin pain' and later was unable to urinate.

Oftentimes, the infection's early symptoms include nausea and headaches before more grave ailments come to pass.

The couple visited doctors, who performed multiple tests on Ron, and the emergency room in an effort to figure out what was wrong. Otherwise, he was bed-bound and experiencing 'excruciating pain'.

But no doctors the couple visited were able to diagnose what was ailing Ron. Some doctors apparently even suggested he was simply suffering from stress. None of the doctors they spoke to had heard of rat lungworm disease.

To this day, what actually happened to Ron remains un-diagnosed.

In 2017, there were 18 confirmed cases of rat lungworm disease in the state of Hawaii

Ron said that his disease, which still remains un-diagnosed, was eventually confirmed to be 'a parasitic form of meningitis'

'We were confident of what it was [rat lungworm disease], but they wanted to do another spinal tap to take more fluid, and my wife said no,' Ron told Food Safety News. 'It was confirmed that it was a parasitic form of meningitis.'

Darlene began to speculate that her husband might have rat lungworm disease after hearing about how it was affecting the Hawaiian islands.

The state saw 18 confirmed cases of the disease in 2017, Food Safety News reported.

Hawaii, which has been host to the disease for at least 50 years, averages one to nine cases per year. The Hawaii Department of Health began an awareness campaign about the dangers of rat lungworm disease and how to prevent it late last year.

Darlene told Food Safety News she eventually found a doctor in Honolulu who was able to describe the illness to her, including how it would eventually pass.

All the while, Darlene said, her husband was getting 'weaker and sicker'.

Ron, now 64, is able to work but has lost 'balance and ability' and still suffers from neuropathy. He still experiences physical pain in his daily life.

He gets by with the help of medical marijuana, which is legal in Florida.

But Darlene told Food Safety News they lost 'hundreds of thousands of dollars' in treating Ron's disease.Four generations of the royal family feature on a historic new coin.

The Queen and three future kings - the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince George - are being honoured by the Royal Mint.

They feature on a new 5 coin which shows their initials E, C, W and G, and three crowns.

The Queen and three future kings - the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince George - are being honoured by the Royal Mint on the new coin

It is the first time the four have appeared together on coinage and the decision was taken to celebrate what looks set to be a bumper year for the royal family.

The Royal Mint said: 'With the 65th anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen's coronation, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales's 70th birthday, His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge's fifth birthday, and a royal wedding to look forward to, 2018 is a busy year of celebrations for the ever-growing royal family.

'To celebrate four generations of royalty making history together, the Queen, her son the Prince of Wales, her grandson His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge, and her great-grandson Prince George of Cambridge are honoured together for the first time in a coin collection produced by the Royal Mint.'

The Four Generations of Royalty Collection includes editions struck in gold and silver, finished to Proof, and a Brilliant Uncirculated edition.

The official reverse design is by heraldic artist Timothy Noad and represents the heritage of the House of Windsor.

The 5 Brilliant Uncirculated version of the coin costs 13, the UK 5 Silver Proof Coin 82.50, the UK 5 Silver Proof Piedfort Coin 155, and the UK Gold Five-Ounce Coin costs 8,450.A masked woman tried to snatch a four-year-old girl while her mother shopped just feet away, a court heard yesterday.

Anna Kaminska is said to have attempted to abduct the child by enticing her towards the back door of H&M at Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre in Edinburgh.

Kaminska, 26, is alleged to have approached the youngster and told her to 'just come with me'.

Anna Kaminska is said to have attempted to abduct the child by enticing her towards the back door of H&M at Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre in Edinburgh. File photo

The child was seen starting to go off with the woman, who had her face covered with a scarf and large sunglasses, before her shocked mother managed to intervene.

Kaminska, a Polish national, is then alleged to have rushed from the shop following the incident last March.

CCTV footage of the disturbing incident was shown to a jury at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday where Kaminska is standing trial accused of the attempted abduction of the child.

Kaminska, described as a prisoner of HMP Edinburgh, denies the allegation.

Giving evidence, the girl's mother, who cannot be identified due to legal reasons, told the jury she was out shopping with her two children at around 7pm on March 28 last year.

The 42-year-old mum said: 'We were in H&M and my daughter was on the other side of a stand playing with the jewellery.

'The next minute I could hear someone saying to her 'just come with me, just come with me'.

'I could hear her scooter and heard her starting to go off (with the woman). They were going towards the back door.

'I could see they were not holding hands but I said 'what's going on?'

The mother said when she confronted the disguised woman she mumbled 'I didn't know you were not allowed to do this'.

Kaminska, a Polish national, is then alleged to have rushed from the shop following the incident last March. File photo

She said the woman told her she had 'a bad back' before fleeing the store and she could only see her cheeks due to her disguise and that the woman had 'an accent'.

Cheryl Booker, department manager at H&M, said she was approached by 'a flustered customer' who told her about the abduction attempt.

Mrs Booker said the alleged abductor was pointed out to her and she immediately informed security.

Kaminska was cleared of two shoplifting charges during yesterday's hearing due to lack of evidence.

The trial in front of Sheriff Peter Braid continues.British Transport Police have released a picture of a man they would like to speak to following an argument at Southbury station

A man threatened a heavily pregnant member of staff at a train station and left her feeling 'very shaken' as he banged on the window of the ticket office, police say.

Officers are hunting the man after the argument with a ticket office clerk at Southbury station in Enfield, North London, last month.

The man is said to have tailgated through a ticket barrier behind another passenger, before becoming involved in the confrontation with the clerk.

He went away but then returned to the ticket office and started banging on the window.

The man was said to be shouting threats at the distressed ticket clerk, saying he would be waiting for her outside.

The clerk was seven months pregnant and was left feeling 'very shaken'.

The altercation took place at 7.45pm on Tuesday, December 5.

British Transport Police have released a picture of a man they would like to speak to, saying he may have information which could help the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact BTP by calling 0800 40 50 40 or texting 61016 with reference 287 of 29 January.

Southbury is served by the London Overground, on a line from Cheshunt to London Liverpool Street.Carol Lynn Thomas Hall knew William Rayford had spent time in prison for killing his estranged wife but defended her own relationship with him, telling relatives she believed it was her Christian duty to give the parolee a second chance.

The Dallas woman who ran Sunday school at her church became Rayford's second murder victim in an attack eerily similar to his first killing.

Rayford, 64, is now set to die Tuesday for Hall's 1999 slaying. He will be the nation's second inmate executed this year, both in Texas. Another is set for Thursday in Texas as well.

William Rayford, 64 (pictured), is set to be executed in Texas on Tuesday for the 1999 killing of his ex-girlfriend, Carol Lynn Thomas Hall

Attorneys for Rayford are trying to halt his execution, arguing to the U.S. Supreme Court that his death sentence was tainted because his lawyer, while questioning a prison expert during the punishment phase of Rayford's trial in 2000, was deficient for introducing the subject of race and whether race is a factor in prison violence.

The witness also was wrong in testifying the racial makeup of a prison 'is linked to the amount of violence within that unit, and by obvious implication, that people like Mr. Rayford - a black man - are the cause of the violence,' Nadia Wood, a Dallas-based federal public defender, told the high court.

Lawyers also argued in an appeal to a federal judge in Dallas that a federal court earlier improperly denied money for his appeals, that Hall's slaying may not have qualified for a capital murder charge and that Rayford suffered brain damage from lead poisoning because he grew up near a toxic site and carries lead residue from old gunshot wounds.

Prosecutors said arguments about race in the appeal mischaracterized the trial testimony, drew conclusions not supported in the trial record and did not encourage jurors to consider Rayford's race when considering his punishment.

Evidence 'more than established' Rayford kidnapped Hall while trying to kill her, supporting the capital murder charge, and arguments about lead poisoning were based on a 'vague, general and nebulous conclusion' by a defense expert, Jay Clendenin, an assistant Texas attorney general, said in a court filing.

Above, the death chamber at the Huntsville prison in Texas

Evidence showed Hall, who knew Rayford since they both grew up in a Dallas housing project, had broken up with him two months earlier. He entered her home in the Oak Cliff area of south Dallas on November 16, 1999, using a key she didn't know he had. Their subsequent argument turned violent. Her son, Benjamin, then 11, was hit on the head and suffered a punctured lung from the stab wound.

Benjamin testified at Rayford's trial how his mother had run from the home with Rayford in pursuit, how Rayford stabbed him in the back while he tried to protect his mom and how he watched as she was carried by Rayford toward the drainage pipe where her body eventually was found.

Benjamin said he was able to find a neighbor.

'I asked her, "could I please go to her house because a man stabbed me,"' he told jurors. 'I couldn't hardly breathe.'

Evidence showed Hall, 44, was beaten, stabbed repeatedly and strangled. Her body was found 300 feet inside the drainage pipe behind her home.

Police responding to a call about the attack arrested Rayford at the scene. His clothing and face was splattered with Hall's blood. He told an officer Hall could be found 'in the hole ... up in the sewer, in the water.'

Rayford in 1986 was convicted of murder for fatally stabbing his estranged wife, Gail Rayford, in front of their four children. She'd obtained a court order four days earlier to keep him away.

Rayford was sentenced to 23 years in prison for her slaying but was released after eight years under a then Texas law that allowed release of some prisoners as the state struggled with prison crowding. He'd been on parole for five years when Hall was killed.

Texas is also slated to executive 62-year-old John David Battaglia on Thursday fo rthe May 2001 shooting deaths of his six- and nine-year-old daughters.On Monday morning, Democratic Rep. Frederica Wilson kicked off State of the Union eve by explaining why she would no longer attend the affair.

'I'm not going because to do would be to honor the president, and I don't think he deserves to be honored at this time,' the Florida Democrat said on CNN. 'After being so hateful toward black people and then black countries, Haiti and the whole continent of Africa, it hurts, it hurts, and he has brought the White House to the lowest, and I don't think he needs to be honored with my presence,' she went on.

Wilson is not alone in making tomorrow night's State of the Union speech, Trump's first, into a political point.

Rep. Frederica Wilson, a Democrat from Florida, started off State of the Union week by explaining on CNN why she wouldn't be going. Wilson is not alone

Earlier this months, on the heels of reports that said Trump referred to Haiti, El Salvador and the whole of Africa as 's***hole' countries, during a closed-door immigration meeting, Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights pioneer, announced that he would not go.

'In good conscience, I can not and will not sit there and listen at him as he gives the State of the Union Address,' Lewis said then.

That's when Wilson originally announced she would sit out, as did Democratic Reps. Maxine Waters, of California, and Pramila Jayapal, of Washington state.

On Friday, they were joined by Rep. Jan Schakowsky, an Illinois Democrat, who said in a statement she was boycotting the address 'because I refuse to normalize President Donald Trump and his loathsome language and actions.'

'With every day that passes, a new tweet, breaking news story, or leaked quote sheds new light on President Trumps twisted and prejudiced mind,' she added.

The congresswoman took particular offense to his 's***hole countries' comment, his reaction to the racial violence in Charlottesville, Virginia last summer, in which he said there were good people on 'both sides' of a clash between neo-Nazis, KKK members and white supremacists and counter-protesters, and for the roll-out of his 'Muslim ban' last year, which Schakowsky pointed out happened on Holocaust Remembrance Day.

On Sunday, Rep. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York, told MSNBC he would not be there. '

'I cannot give this man, who does not respect me, the respect to be in that audience,' Meeks said. 'I will not be there.'

THE DEMOCRATS BOYCOTTING TRUMP'S 2018 STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS From left: Rep. Danny Davis - 7th district, Illinois Rep. Earl Blumenauer - 3rd district, Oregon Rep. Frederica Wilson - 24th district, Florida Rep. Rep. Jan Schakowsky - 9th district, Illinois From left: Rep. John Lewis - 5th district, Georgia Rep. Maxine Waters - 43rd district, California Rep. Gregory Meeks - 5th district, New York Rep. Pramila Jayapal - 7th district, Washington From left: Rep. Bobby Rush - 1st district, Illinois Rep. Barbara Lee - 13th district, California Rep. Juan Vargas - 51st district, California Rep. Albio Sires - 8th district, New Jersey Advertisement

Meeks was joined by two other black House members, both from Illinois, on Monday as Reps Danny Davis and Bobby Rush, announced they would not attend.

Rush called Trump's first year in office 'the most chaotic, divisive, and incompetent' and said he would not 'watch as Trump pretends that he's off to a successful start.'

'He's not,' Rush said in a statement put out by his office.

Late Monday, Rep. Juan Vargas, a Democrat from California, indicated that he would not attend.

'President Trump continues to disrespect women, insult people of color, and attack our immigrant communities. I will not be attending the State of the UnionI stand in solidarity with all the people he has and continues to disrespect,' the congressman tweeted.

While a majority of Democratic members boycotting were minorities, the first lawmaker to announce he would be playing hooky was a white guy, Rep. Earl Blumenauer from Oregon.

Blumenauer later said he would be sending in his stead, a 'dreamer' to the speech, as Congress continues to debate what happens next with DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, an Obama-era order that allowed undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to gain legal status.

Trump has since announced he was scrapping the program and tossed the problem to Congress.

Other Democrats, too, are using their guests as mini-protests.

Rep. Joe Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat whose great-uncle was the late President John F. Kennedy, is bringing a transgender soldier  Staff Sgt. Patricia King  to the State of the Union, to protest the president's proposed transgender troops ban.

The congressman's guest was first reported in the Boston Globe.

Kennedy will also be giving the Democrats' official rebuttal after Trump leaves the dais.

Rep. Ruben J. Kihuen, a Nevada Democrat, is bringing well-known 'Dreamer' Astrid Silva as his guest.A second woman has been arrested in Iran for protesting against the mandatory law that civilians must cover themselves with a hijab while out in public.

Like the first woman detained, she took off her headscarf and held it aloft using a stick on the side of a busy road in Tehran.

The women are part of a wider movement in Iran resisting the Islamic law as social media posts saw a slew of women acting in solidarity by removing their hijabs.

Movement: This unidentified woman stood on the same pillar box as Ms Movahed, on Enghelab Street in Tehran, Iran

The original: Vida Movahed, 31, was arrested after taking off her hijab in public and standing on a telecoms box in Tehran in December - inspiring others to do the same

The images show women copying the brave stance of defiance as he first woman arrested - Vida Movahed.

Standing on telecoms boxes, or benches, they are seen having removed their head scarves and tied them to sticks, which they hold out in front of them in silence.

It is believed that Ms Movahed's arrest a month ago, and the social media campaign demanding her release, triggered the new form of protest.

Standing on the same pillar box as Ms Movahed a month ago, the second woman, identified locally as Nagres Hosseini, was detained on Monday.

She was arrested on the same day it transpired that Ms Movahed had been released after spending a month in custody with her infant daughter.

Being brave: Another Iranian woman with bright turquoise hair has taken off her head scarf and holds it out while standing in silence

Copying: A woman as an unidentified street in Iran holds her white hijab out on a stick, mimicking the stance of Ms Movahed in solidarity and to protest enforced headscarves

An unidentified woman stands on a snowy street holding her headscarf in the air using a stick

All for one: A woman stands on a concrete bench holding out her hijab as other women, with their heads covered, walk past behind her

Talking of the latest wave of protests, Ms Movahed's lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh told the newspaper Ms Hosseini had been stood on the box for 10 minutes before she was arrested by a plain-clothed officer.

Two people filming her were also detained and she said of the recent protests: 'Her message is clear, girls and women are fed up with forced [hijab]. Let women decide themselves about their own body.'

Ms Movahed, a young mother jailed for protesting the Islamic dresscode enforced on women in Iran, was released yesterday, more than a month after her arrest.

The 31-year-old, known as The Girl In Enghelab Street, was arrested after she took off her head scarf and held it in the air while standing on a pillar box in central Tehran last month.

Human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who had been investigating the case, said officials had confirmed that Ms Movahed had been freed over the weekend.

A video showing her calmly waving her white hijab tied to a stick above the crowds in the Iranian capital, went viral on social media.

According to reports, the mother-of-one was arrested shortly after her protest on December 27, and taken to a detention centre with her 20-month-old daughter.

Missing: The 31-year-old was praised after a video of her protest went viral on social media, but she was reportedly arrested shortly afterwards

Join the force: After initially being shared by human rights campaigners in Iran, the fight to find out the fate of the Girl of Enghelab Street went global

Several eyewitnesses said that law enforcement officials arrested the woman on the spot, and transferred her to a nearby detention center known as Kalantari 148, according to Amnesty International.

Iranian journalist and human rights campaigner Masih Alinejad first broke the news of her release, citing friends of Ms Movahed.

She tweeted: 'The woman with the white shawl has been freed, according to her friends.'

Ms Alinejad is the founder of the White Wednesdays and My Stealthy Freedom movements, which fights compulsory hijab in Iran.

Ms Sotoudeh later confirmed this, writing on her Facebook page that she had seen official documents that confirmed that the 31-year-old had returned home this weekend.

Thousands of social media users shared messages of support after her disappearance, dubbing her the 'Girl of Enghelab Street' after the area in central Tehran where she staged the protest.

Iranian activists started a Twitter campaign using the hashtag #WhereIsShe, demanding that the government reveal what happened to her.

The campaign eventually went global both on and offline, with protesters at the recent Women's March in the U.S. waving placards with the slogan.

Ms Movahed was protesting Iran's Islamic law, which requires women to wear a headscarf and long clothes that cover the arms and legs.

Support: Two participants in the Women's March in Boston, US hold up placards with the campaign slogan

The Islamic dress code, in place since the 1979 revolution, considers veiling obligatory for any female above 13 in Iran and says they should cover themselves from head to toe while disavowing any figure-hugging dress.

Breaking the rules can result in fines of up to 500,000 rials (17) and up to two months in prison.

President Hassan Rouhani, who came to power in 2013 promising a more moderate stance, has previously said it is not the job of police to enforce religious rules such as those forcing women to cover their hair.

But in April 2016, officials said there were 7,000 undercover morality police reporting on things like 'bad hijab' - a blanket term usually referring to un-Islamic dress by women.

Figures are rarely given, but Tehran's traffic police said in late 2015 they had dealt with 40,000 cases of bad hijab in cars, where women often let their headscarves drop around their necks.

These cases generally led to fines and a temporary impounding of the vehicle.A mother who was away when her husband died has described how her children spent a whole day cuddling their dead father's body.

Helen Daykin is calling on schools to make more checks on pupils who do not turn up after her daughters, aged four and two, were found lying in bed cuddling their father Chris Daykin's dead body.

When Pearl and Iris did not arrive for lessons the school called Mr Daykin, who had died of heart failure the night before, but did not try calling Mrs Daykin, according to BBC News.

Mrs Daykin eventually got a phone call at 8pm to say her husband had died after her mother had found the windows dark and the milk outside, leading police to break down the door of the home in Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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Helen Daykin is calling on schools to check on pupils who do not turn up after her daughters, aged four and two, were found lying in bed with their father Chris Daykin's dead body

Mrs Daykin, pictured with her daughters, is calling on parents to ask their school about their first-day absence procedures to stop anyone else's children having to suffer the way hers did

The children said their father was 'cold' and they tried putting tablets in his mouth to 'make him better', Mrs Daykin said, describing her husband's death in 2016.

She said: 'They spent the whole day upstairs, they didn't come down at all. They were hungry. They played with all my shoes and makeup, but they didn't venture further in the house.

'Pearl can tell me every single detail and relives it often. I can't leave the room without her shouting for me or wanting to be with me.'

The bereaved mother said Pearl, her elder daughter, must have known on some level that her father had died.

Mrs Daykin had rung her husband in the morning and received no response, but thought he was too busy with the children or could not find his phone. She was on a train when she was eventually told of his death.

When Pearl and Iris did not arrive for lessons the school called Mr Daykin (pictured), who had died of heart failure the night before, but did not try calling Mrs Daykin

Chris Daykin (pictured with his family) was a stay-at-home father who usually looked after his daughters on their way to school, while Mrs Daykin often travelled for work

Mrs Daykin (pictured) is calling on parents to ask their school about their first-day absence procedures to stop anyone else's children having to suffer the way hers did

Chris Daykin was a stay-at-home father who usually looked after his daughters on their way to school, while Mrs Daykin often travelled for work, to London in this case.

Mrs Daykin is calling on parents to ask their school about their first-day absence procedures to stop anyone else's children having to suffer the way hers did.

She wrote on Facebook: 'Please go and ask your child's school what their policy is on First Day Calling. If you don't get a satisfactory answer, keep pushing them until you do.

'If they can't answer it means they don't know. That's not acceptable, push for a better response.'

The Good Grief Trust, which is supporting Mrs Daykin's campaign, said its founder Linda Magistris had approached her to offer bereavement support and heard about the shocking story.

The trust said it was working with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Bereavement Support to 'ensure that this situation never happens to another family in the UK'.A father of two accidentally killed himself in a drink-drive crash after he got drunk at a farewell party he threw to toast a new life he was planning in Germany.

Michal Kayser, 33, was due to move to the continent with his pregnant partner and their children but wanted to have one last Saturday night out in Britain to say goodbye to his friends.

He drank vodka and beer at Voodoo nightclub in Accrington, Lancashire before getting behind the wheel to drive the five miles back to his home in Haslingden, an inquest heard.

During the journey, he suddenly pulled the handbrake, sending his Nissan Almera spinning off the road and into a wall, a coroner was told.

Michael Kayser, 33 accidentally killed himself in a drink-drive crash after he got drunk at the leaving party he threw to celebrate his new life in Germany

He died five days later in Royal Preston Hospital after suffering multiple injuries. A test showed he was over twice the legal alcohol limit for driving.

His friend Marcin Majche said in a statement: 'Michal wanted us all to go out so we got in his car and drove to Accrington town centre to go to Voodoo. We got there and were drinking together. I left at around 3am but Michal said he was going to stay a little longer and have another drink.

'He said that he wasn't going to drive home. We had around two beers each and five vodkas. I was fairly drunk to the point where I would not have driven. The next I heard was that Michal had been in a car crash.'

The crash happened on July 23, four days before he was due to leave the UK.

Mr Kayser's partner Eva Babicka, a chef, said Mr Kayser didn't want her to go to work that night as he wanted to go out while she looked after their children.

She said: 'I didn't want to speak to him because I was still grumpy with him. But he said he was going round to a friends house. I only realised the Nissan wasn't there when he wasn't there.'

Michael was due to move to Germany with his partner and children but died four days before he was due to leave the UK

PC John Birch said of the crash scene: 'There was a long tyre mark which was indicative of a wheel of the car being locked and it spinning and rotating anti clockwise.

'The evidence at the scene confirmed that the car was driving at about 30 to 40 mph and the hand brake was applied which caused the wheel to lock and the car to slide across and rotate anti clockwise.

'At this point the car was out of control and naturally slid until it hit the stone wall. Michal was in control when the handbrake was applied - but there was no reason to apply the hand brake - the reason is known only to Michal himself.'

Coroner James Newman said: 'Michal had drinks with one friend and went out with another friend for drinks at Voodoo club in Accrington.

'His friends didn't expect him to drive but for some reason Michal has used his vehicle. There were no sightings of him after his friend left Voodoo at 3am.

'We don't know what Michal did between 3am to 6.30 am save to say that we know he had got back into his vehicle. It would be pure speculation as to why the hand brake was applied and there is no evidence from anyone as to why it was applied, other than it must have been applied by Michal.'

Michal was later laid to rest in his native Poland. In a tribute at the time of the crash, his family said: 'Michal's heart has stopped beating but he will always stand beside us. Michal lost his fight for life and he will leave a big hole in all our lives.

'A book would not be a big enough space to write all that we feel. He was a loving family man that worked hard to provide for his family.

'He leaves behind a long-term partner and two beautiful little girls aged six and two. He will also never know his yet unborn new baby. This is a true tragedy in all the sense and it hurts us all terribly as Michal was going to start a new life taking his family to Germany.

'He should have left the day before he actually died in hospital. His family were due to follow on two weeks later. On the evening of his accident he was out celebrating his birthday and saying his last farewells to his friends in England.First lady Melania Trump will attend her husband's first State of the Union speech, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed Monday.

'In terms of family all of the presidents children, along with the first lady, will be at the State of the Union, with the exclusion of Barron, I don't believe he will be attending as of right now,' Huckabee Sanders told DailyMail.com at the press briefing.

On Thursday, the first lady made headlines for making two back-to-back unannounced trips, first to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and then she hopped a plane to West Palm Beach.

Her trip to the Holocaust museum was Melania Trump's first public outing in Washington since porn star Stormy Daniels was quoted alleging that she had an affair, a decade ago, with President Trump in an interview conducted in 2011.

Originally, the first lady was supposed to accompany the president to Davos, Switzerland, for his appearance at the World Economic Forum Thursday and Friday, but Grisham said because of 'too many scheduling and logistical issues' Melania Trump would not be going.

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First lady Melania Trump (right) is seen returning to the White House with President Trump on January 15, the last time she was photographed by the White House press corps. She's slated to attend President Trump's first State of the Union address on Tuesday

Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, divulged details about her alleged relationship with Trump during a 2011 interview with In Touch Weekly, which never ran until January 17 of this year. Since then, Melania Trump has only been out in public once

During Monday's White House Press Briefing Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders (pictured) said first lady Melania Trump and President Trump's adult children would all attend Tuesday night's State of the Union

First lady Melania Trump's plane was spotted on the tarmac in West Palm Beach, the closest airport to Mar-a-Lago. The White House didn't announce the first lady's trip to the resort

First lady Melania Trump visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Thursday, in advance of Saturday's International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Before tweeting photos of the tour, the first lady hadn't been photographed in 10 days, during which time a 2011 interview with porn star Stormy Daniels was published by In Touch Weekly detailing her alleged affair with Donald Trump

The White House didn't invite reporters to the event, only telling the press about the first lady's trip to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Thursday with a tweet. Later, the first lady tweeted three photographs of the excursion

First lady Melania Trump's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham made FLOTUS' trip to the Holocaust museum public. The tour was previously unannounced

The first lady's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham tweeted about Melania Trump's visit to the Holocaust museum on Thursday, but reporters were not invited to tag along

The White House did not invite reporters to cover the first lady's Holocaust museum tour, nor was the press given any heads up about Melania Trump's travel plans to Florida.

CNN broke the news that the first lady's plane had arrived in West Palm Beach.

The first lady returned to Washington Friday, the same day President Trump arrived back from Switzerland.

On Friday, DailyMail.com also reported that the first lady had spent several nights at a posh D.C. hotel since the Daniels' story broke, part of the swirl of stories about the Trumps' marriage that the first lady's spokeswoman called 'salacious' and 'flat-out false.'

Melania Trump, whose first year in the position of first lady was marked with sporadic public appearances, has kept an even lower profile in the early weeks of this year.

It was the Wall Street Journal that first reported on January 12 that Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen paid $130,000 to keep Daniels quiet in the weeks before the 2016 election.

Cohen has denied Trump had a sexual relationship with Daniels, but has not denied making the payment.

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, divulged details about her alleged relationship with Trump during a 2011 interview with In Touch Weekly, which never ran until January 17 of this year.

The adult film actress said she and the billionaire businessman first hooked up in 2006, at a Nevada hotel outside of Lake Tahoe, and continued to see each other through 2007.

In this undated photo, porn star Stormy Daniels (right) is photographed alongside the current president, Donald Trump (left)

Stormy Daniels poses on the red carpet at the Adult Video News Awards in Las Vegas in January 2017

The interview was reportedly conducted along with a lie-detector test.

Before the release of the In Touch Weekly Q&A, several other sources corroborated the details of the story.

Porn star Alana Evans appeared on Megyn Kelly's portion of the Today show on January 16 and talked about how Daniels called her from Trump's hotel room, wanting her to come along.

The same day, Slate's Jacob Weisberg wrote a piece detailing how he had been in touch with Daniels between August and October of 2016.

She detailed her affair with Trump to him, though wanted to be paid for the story, which is something Weisberg's publication does not do.

She also revealed that, through an intermediary, Trump had offered her money to stay silent.

A pal of Daniels' later told the Slate writer, after Daniels stopped answering his messages, that she had taken the sum.

Melania Trump and the now-president were married on January 22, 2005, a year and a half before Daniels' and the president's first alleged sexual encounter.

And despite marking their 13th wedding anniversary on Monday, neither Trump mentioned the occasion, nor were they seen out together publicly.

The president was, however, dealing with the government shutdown.

Since seen returning to the White House on January 15 from a weekend away at Mar-a-Lago, Melania Trump hasn't been photographed.

She's kept off social media for the most part too.

On January 20, marking the one-year anniversary of her husband's inauguration day, the first lady tweeted a photo of herself  sans Trump  being accompanied to the swearing-in ceremony by a military escort.

'This has been a year filled with many wonderful moments. Ive enjoyed the people Ive been lucky enough to meet throughout our great country & the world!' she wrote.

She tweeted again Thursday, once her tour through the museum was done.

'Thank you @HolocaustMuseum for a powerful & moving tour that honors the millions of innocent lives lost, and educates us on the tragedies and effects of the holocaust,' the first lady said.A father and son who decided to rob a security guard of 10,000 in a smash and grab job as he was collecting takings from a shop have been jailed.

Shaun Howard, 55, and his 21-year-old son Charlie targeted the guard on the spur of the moment as he carried the cash at a store in Sittingbourne, Kent.

The pair pushed their victim to the ground before ripping a money box from his grasp and fleeing the scene in a white Mercedes van.

Father and son were later found hiding out at a caravan owned by Howard senior in nearby Leysdown.

Shaun Howard (left), 55, and his 21-year-old son Charlie (right) targeted the guard on the spur of the moment as he carried the cash at a store in Sittingbourne, Kent

Both admitted robbery and were jailed for five years and four months and two years and eight months respectively at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday.

The trial heard how the duo were apprehended after cameras spotted them driving 15 miles away from the scene to their holiday park hideout.

When police raided the caravan a meagerly 123 in notes, linked back to the box, was found.

A spokesman for Kent Police said the pair struck on December 28 last year when the driver of a cash transit van was going back to his vehicle.

'At around 8.30am, after collecting money the driver was pushed from behind and a security box containing approximately 10,000 was taken,' he said.

'Both men fled the scene in a white Mercedes sprinter van that was registered to Shaun Howard. ANPR technology tracked the van to a holiday park in Leysdown where Shaun owned a caravan. Both men were arrested on the same day.

'A search of the caravan and bin bags directly next door recovered all but 123 of the money.'

Detective Inspector Gary Scarfe from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: 'This appeared to be a spontaneous and opportunist incident set into motion by this father and son team who made a decision to steal the money and flee the scene as quickly as possible.

'They showed no regard for the impact their action would have on the victim who was going about their job.

'It was with the help of the public that the partial details of the van were obtained and the fantastic work of our Divisional officers who were able to track them down so quickly, make the arrests and recover most if of the money that was taken.'Aziyza Ababneh (pictured), 37, has been accused of denying a lifesaving surgery to her 14-year-old daughter, Amina Krouser, who died from a brain infection on December 10 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

A Wisconsin mother of three has been accused of denying a lifesaving surgery to her 14-year-old daughter, who died on December 10.

Aziyza Ababneh, 37, now faces charges of neglect, child abuse by intentionally causing harm, and neglecting a child resulting in death, according to Milwaukee County Circuit Court records.

Her daughter, Amina Krouser, was taken to the hospital on December 3 for what medical professionals believe started as a sore throat, but escalated to a brain infection that ultimately killed her due to denial of treatment, ABC's WISN 12 reported.

Local news described the conditions that Krouser and her siblings, ages 12 and 16, lived in as 'another house of horrors,' likening it to that of the California couple, David and Louise Turpin, who have been accused of locking up and torturing their 13 children.

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Amina Krouser (pictured) died from a brain infection on December 10 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Krouser's death was reportedly labeled a homicide by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner.

Ababneh is accused of declining consent for doctors at St. Mary's Hospital to perform emergency to save Krouser's life.

When the mother was reportedly told Krouser needed to surgery to survive, Ababneh allegedly said, 'I've already lost her.'

Krouser apparently started feeling ill in late November, which is reported to have furstrated her mother, leading her to allegedly beat her child with belts, a paddle and what her other children called a 'face blade,' made up of a PVC pipe with duct tape wrapped on one end, WISN reported.

Krouser was taken to the hospital on December 3 for what medical professionals believe started as a sore throat, but escalated to a brain infection that ultimately killed her due to denial of treatment

Local news described the conditions that Krouser and her siblings, ages 12 and 16, lived in as 'another house of horrors,' likening it to that of the California couple, David and Louise Turpin, who have been accused of locking up and torturing their 13 children

In the days before Krouser was finally taken to the hospital by ambulance on December 3, she had been urinating on herself in bed, had trouble walking, and had been 'slobbering' and 'drooling' on herself, according to WISN 12.

The medical examiner's report said Krouser died on December 10 of medical neglect over untreated Lenierre's Syndrome, an infection which spread to the girl's brain.

The three children had been living alone with Ababdeh in a home what police reportedly found to be cold and dirty, without heat or running water, and smelling of human and cat feces and urine.

It appeared the family had been using a 5-gallon bucket in the home for a toilet.

Michael Krouser (pictured), who is the father of the deceased teen, lives in Texas and said he had not seen the children for 10 years

The children had been living alone with Ababdeh in a home what police reportedly found to be cold and dirty, without heat or running water, and smelling of human and cat feces and urine

A neighbor who asked not to be identified said he would often see the children outside during the day, but had no idea they were living in such conditions, and surviving mainly on baby food, noodles or rice that was cooked on either a hot plate or over votive candles.

The children were apparently home schooled, and had little contact with anyone besides Ababneh.

Michael Krouser, who is the father of the deceased teen, lives in Texas and said he had not seen the children for 10 years.

Michael Krouser told WISN 12 that Ababneh is a US Army veteran, and that his ex-wife could have obtained medical care for their child.

Ababneh was apparently remarried following her divorce from Krouser's father, to a man named Taher Sharif Ababneh. The couple jointly filed for divorce in January 2015, according to court records.

In the days before Krouser was finally taken to the hospital by ambulance on December 3, she had been urinating on herself in bed, had trouble walking, and had been 'slobbering' and 'drooling' on herself

Michael Krouser told WISN 12 that Ababneh is a US Army veteran, and that his ex-wife could have obtained medical care for their child; Amina Krouser is seen here, hospitalized leading up to her death, in photos posted on Michael Krouser's Facebook page

Ababneh was arrested on Friday and remains in custody, according to WISN 12.

Her two surviving children are currently in foster care.

It wasn't immediately clear whether Michael Krouser was also the father of Ababneh's other two children, but WISN 12 reported that he planned to try to get custody of them.

Ababneh now faces three misdemeanor counts of child neglect, one felony count of child abuse by intentionally causing harm and one felony county of neglecting a child resulting in death.

Her next court date, which will consist of a pre-trial hearing, has been scheduled for April 9.

Ababneh's jury trial is scheduled to begin on June 4.

If convicted, she could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and ordered to pay up to $55,000 in fines.A man was shot in the neck on Monday night during a brawl in Sydney's west.

The 38-year-old was shot at about 8pm on Monday during the fight in Cranebrook, which reportedly involved 15 men, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The man was treated at the scene before being taken to Westmead Hospital.

A 38-year-old man was shot in the neck around 8pm on Monday in Sydney's west (pictured) during a fight reportedly involving 15 men.

Neighbours told the publication they heard a loud bang and motorcycles fleeing the area before they called the police.

Officers say a black and white KTM motorbike was seen leaving the area shortly after the shooting.

A man told 9News the group appeared to be armed with baseball bats and machetes.

A female resident said she overheard the group of men shouting.

'I heard all the arguing and fighting across the road, it was about 15 people, they were all men,' she said.

'Then I heard one shot.'Bruce McArthur, 66, was charged with three more murders on Monday in Toronto

Police have discovered the dismembered remains of three men, whose deaths investigators link to a suspected serial killer already charged with two murders.

Bruce McArthur, 66, was charged with three additional counts of first-degree murder on Monday in Toronto, where the search continued for additional bodies on over 30 sites that McArthur worked on as a landscaper.

The fresh charges related to the deaths of Majeed Kayhan, 58, Soroush Marmudi, 50, and Dean Lisowick, 47.

Kayhan was reported missing since October 2012, while Marmudi was reported missing in August 2015 and Lisowick was never reported missing.

The charges come after forensic investigators said they found the dismembered skeletal remains of at least three men in large planters sitting in the back yard of a home in the quiet Toronto neighborhood of Leaside.

The fresh murder charges related to the deaths of (left to right): Majeed Kayhan, 58, Soroush Marmudi, 50, and Dean Lisowick, 47. Kayahan disappeared in 2012 from the Church-Wellesley village area of Toronto, Marmudi in 2015 from Scarborough and homeless Lisowick is believed to have vanished in either in 2016 or 2017

McArthur was previously charged with the murders of Selim Esen, 44, (left) and Andrew Kinsman, 49 (right). Police suspect he had a sexual relationship with both men. Esen disappeared in March 2017 from the Church-Wellesley village district of Toronto and Kinsman vanished from Cabbagetown in June of 2017

Police discovered the dismembered remains of at least three men in planters behind this home, where McArthur stored his landscaping equipment. The homeowners were shocked

There, McArthur stored his landscaping equipment in exchange for mowing the lawn of the couple who owned the home, who were stunned by the allegations.

The formal identification of the remains is pending DNA testing.

McArthur was charged earlier this month with first-degree murder in the presumed deaths of Selim Esen, 44, and Andrew Kinsman, 49, both reported missing from Toronto's Gay Village area at separate times last year.

'The city of Toronto has never seen anything like this,' Toronto Homicide Detective Sergeant Hank Idsinga said at a press conference on Monday.

'It is unprecedented and draining. He's an alleged serial killer and he's taken some steps to cover his tracks.'

Police have identified at least 30 properties where McArthur worked, and said they believe there are more remains yet to be discovered.

'We have seized quite a few planters from around the city and we will continue to do that,' said Idsinga. There are at least two sites that we do want to excavate where people might be buried.'

'It encompasses more than the gay community. It encompasses the City of Toronto,' Idsinga said.

Forensic investigators erected this tent in the back yard of the home in Leaside this week

Police officers guard the grounds of a house they had searched, after a landscaper was accused of murdering five people and putting their dead bodies in large planters

Police continued on Monday to collect evidence at the home where the remains were found

One of the newly identified victims, Kayhan, was the subject of a previous probe into the disappearances of three middle-aged Muslim immigrants from the Gay Village area between 2010 and 2012. The fate of the other two men has yet to be determined.

A second new victim, Marmudi, was reported missing in Scarborough by his family in August 2015.

The third new victim, Lisowick, was an occupant of the shelter system who had not been reported missing. Police believe he was murdered between May 2016 and July 2017. Lisowick and Marmudi were not known to openly identify with the gay community, police said.

Members of Toronto's gay community were pushing for answers last year in light of the disappearances of Esen and Kinsman.

Esen frequented the Gay Village area and Kensington Market and often had a small plastic suitcase on wheels similar to a carry-on bag, police said.

He was last definitively seen on March 20, 2017, but there have been reports that he was also observed by a member of the community as late as April 14.

Kinsman was reported missing by a neighbor on June 28, 2017. Kinsman, known to be active on social media, was last seen in the area of his residence on Winchester Street on June 26.

Both Esen and Kinsman were reported missing from the Gay Village area near Church and Wellesley streets (pictured) area at separate times last year

Police are seen searching a home connected to McArthur on January 19, shortly after his arrest

Following outcry from the gay community, police formed a task force named Project Prism to look into the disappearances.

In September of 2017 Project Prism investigators identified McArthur as a person of interest in the probe.

McArthur had sexual relationships with both Esen and Kinsman, and all three were on dating apps, police have said.

Officers investigated McArthur for months but could not make a definitive link to the disappearances until this month, police said. The bodies of Esen and Kinsman have not been recovered, and police have not said what evidence links McArthur to their presumed deaths.

The investigation is still active and police hope to speak with any homeowners on whose properties McArthur may have worked.

Anyone who owns property that McArthur worked on as a landscaper is urged to contact investigators at 416-808-2021.A Russian SU-27 fighter plane flew within five feet of a US Navy EP-3 Aries and crossed directly into its flight path, government officials said.

The intercept occurred over the Black Sea on Monday and prompted the US aircraft to abort its mission before completion, CNN reports.

The US aircraft was flying in international airspace during the incident, which lasted for two hours and 40 minutes, Navy Captain Pamela Kunze said in a statement.

A Russian SU-27 fighter plane flew within five feet of a US Navy EP-3 Aries (file photo) and crossed directly into its flight path over the Black Sea on Monday

The intercept prompted the EP-3 to abort its mission. It flew through the jet wash of the SU-27 (pictured in a file photo)

The EP-3 flew through the SU-27's jet wash, or turbulence created by an aircraft, Kunze said in a statement deeming the interaction 'unsafe'.

'The Russian military is within its right to operate within international airspace, but they must behave within international standards set to ensure safety and prevent incidents,' Navy Captain Pamela Kunze said in a statement. 'Unsafe actions increase the risk of miscalculation and midair collisions.'

The statement added: 'The US aircraft was operating in accordance with international law and did not provoke this Russian activity.'

The Russian Defense Ministry said in response that its planes were investigating an 'unidentified air target' and were 'preventing it from violating Russian airspace, observing all necessary security measures.'

The Russians' statement added: 'The entire flight of the Russian SU-27 was strictly in accordance with international rules for the use of airspace and there were no extraordinary events.'

The Black Sea borders Ukraine, Russian-occupied Crimea and Russia in addition to Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Georgia.

The area has a high concentration of Russian, US and NATO military forces.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 amid the Ukrainian revolution. The move has been officially recognized by 11 United Nations member-states, including Russia.

In November 2017, a similar incident occurred over the Black Sea when a Russian SU-30 crossed in front of a US P-8A Poseidon.

And in Syria in December, US F-22s fired warning flares at two Russian SU-25 planes that, according to US officials, crossed the country's de-confliction line. Russian authorities denied their planes had crossed the line.

Navy Captain Pamela Kunze said in a statement: 'The US aircraft was operating in accordance with international law and did not provoke this Russian activity' (file photo of SU-25s)Johnnie Lindsey, 65, was wrongly convicted of rape in the 1980s and spent nearly 30 years in jail

Johnnie Lindsey spent nearly three decades in jail for crimes he didn't commit. Now, he's confined to a hospice facility as terminal cancer takes over his body.

Lindsey was imprisoned after being wrongly arrested and convicted of rape nearly 35 years ago - he'd spent time in prison on robberies before, but police picked up the wrong man after a series of rapes in North Texas.

Lindsey was released from prison in 2008 after DNA tests exonerated him. He was subsequently diagnosed with colon cancer, but he beat the disease and was healthy for almost a decade until cancer was discovered in his liver in August of 2017.

Lindsey's life has been featured in a number of film projects, including a documentary that debuted at Tribeca Film Festival, 'True Conviction'. There's also an intimate look into his current life with cancer that visualizes his struggles by Dallas News.

Shortly after being exonerated due to DNA evidence, Lindsey was diagnosed with cancer. He was again diagnosed, this time terminally, in August of 2017

Despite his lot in life, Lindsey reportedly lives his life with 'no regrets'.

'He lost so much, but I think he did everything he wanted,' said his sister, Pearline Waldrop. 'He certainly lived a life.'

Lindsey also says that the best parts of his life have come from living with a lack of selfishness.

'I just wanted a difference in other people's lives,' he says. 'Whether it's a big change or a little change. If I could change somebody's life, that's what I did,' Lindsey said.

For a man in his dying days who had half his life unjustly, Lindsey remains upbeat.

'Give unconditionally,' he said.The son of a prominent British barrister told a jury he was 'confused' when a university student initiated sex, then accused him of rape.

George Fay said he clambered into a bunk bed next to the sleeping 20-year-old woman and her boyfriend because 'I was tired, a bit high, it was three in the morning and I wanted to go to sleep'.

The woman claims she woke up to discover him having sex with her. But Fay told the New York jury she initiated the encounter.

George Fay (right) and his father Attorney Michael Fay (left) in Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday, January 22, 2018, as a photographer takes their picture

The son of a prominent British barrister (centre, red tie) told a jury he was 'confused' when a university student initiated sex, then accused him of rape. George Fay (centre in dark jacket) said he clambered into a bunk bed next to the sleeping 20-year-old woman and her boyfriend because 'I was tired, a bit high, it was three in the morning and I wanted to go to sleep'

George Fay told the jury that he could not remember phoning seven prostitutes over four minutes before having sex with his best friend's lover.

Confronted with evidence of the calls made between 4.21am and 4.25am, taken from phone records, he conceded it was 'possible', adding that he and another friend had been 'messing around on the internet'.

After that friend fell asleep on the sofa, Fay said he went into his bedroom slimbed over his best friend Jack Slye and the woman, who were both fast asleep.

He said he also fell asleep but was woken by the woman dragging his arm onto her chest.

'She pulled my arm over to her,' Fay, 23, said. 'I leaned over and kissed her right shoulder.

'She looked at me and we started kissing each other. We started making out a bit, started touching each other.

'I unhooked her bra. She laughed as I did that. We continued kissing each other.'

Fay, whose QC father Michael sits as a deputy high court judge on British Caribbean islands, then graphically described having sex with the woman, saying at one stage he had even got out of bed to get a tube of lubricant from the bathroom.

He claimed his childhood friend Jack Slye, who was asleep next to them, stirred and the woman moved his arm out of the way.

Fay, whose QC father Michael sits as a deputy high court judge on British Caribbean islands, then graphically described having sex with the woman, saying at one stage he had even got out of bed to get a tube of lubricant from the bathroom

It was then, he said, that her mood changed.

'She goes from kissing me, moaning and touching me. She just stopped. She just kind of changed and said I should go,' said Fay, who was staying with family friends on Manhattan's Upper Eastside while he did a summer internship with the city's Parks and Recreation Department.

Giving evidence on the sixth day of his rape trial Fay, wearing a charcoal grey suit, pale blue shirt and patterned tie, said he didn't understand what was happening so he went into the sitting room.

'I heard crying from the bedroom,' he said. 'I thought it was Jack, he had woken up and knew (the victim) and I had sex.

The university drop out, who was educated at expensive American boarding schools, said he went back into the bedroom, where the woman was in tears.

'I was confused, I didn't know what was going on. Jack just woke up, he was standing between me and (her). She was crying.

'It looked like I had done something to upset her and I was, 'I didn't upset her.'

'I was very freaked out, I didn't know what was going on.'

When the woman left, Fay said she started screaming at him, yelling: 'You're disgusting,' and calling him names.

London-born Fay was arrested minutes later and in a low voice told the jury how being locked in a cell with four other men was 'one of the most scariest moments of my life'.

Fay has pleaded not guilty to three charges of rape, sex abuse and committing a criminal sexual act while the woman was 'physically incapable' of giving consent.

In his first hour on the witness stand, Fay said he had been briefly introduced to the woman at a night club earlier in the evening.

That contradicts the woman who said she had never seen him before she woke up to find him on top of her.

Fay, who spent the night drinking gin, tequila and beer, then smoked marijuana, said he loaned the woman and her boyfriend his door keys so they could go back to his apartment for sex.

He admitted he was 'mildly annoyed' when he returned to the flat and discovered the two asleep in his bed.

Fay also told the eight-man, four-woman jury that he had returned to Britain after his arrest on the advice of his immigration attorney because his student visa had expired.

Fay, walking behind his father, also told the eight-man, four-woman jury that he had returned to Britain after his arrest on the advice of his immigration attorney because his student visa had expired

He said he had spent seven months staying with his grandparents in the UK, then with family friends, before going to his family's estate on the British Virgin islands last October to help clear up the damage from Hurricane Irma.

His father's law practice is based on the main island of Tortola but he remains an honorary member of London's Radcliffe Chambers.

His mother Sofia is a partner in a public relations company in the Caribbean.

The wealthy couple, who also have homes on Jersey in the Channel Islands and in Massachusetts, have attended court every day with their eldest son.

When the court broke for lunch in the middle of Fay's evidence, his father gave him a large bear hug as he left the witness stand. 

When asked by prosecutor Sara Sullivan if he was 'perfectly fine' having sex in bed next to his best friend, Fay said: 'I was not really thinking about Jack at the time. We were just making out.'

Later, after he'd left the bedroom he heard crying and assumed it was Slye and went back into the bedroom.

'You tell Jack it is not it seems?' Miss Sullivan asked.

Fay nodded and said: 'There was a girl crying and it probably looked like I had done something to upset here. '

Earlier under cross examination , he also denied using cocaine during a night of celebrating Slye's 22nd birthday.

The trial is expected to conclude later this week.A teenager who scarred a 17-year-old girl for life after she poured drain cleaner into her viola case has been freed after just five months in jail.

Emily Bowen, 18, was sentenced to 21 months after she was convicted of severely injuring her love rival Molly Young with a fluid that contained sulphuric acid.

Bowen targeted her victim after learning she was dating her ex-boyfriend and hatched a plan to harm her.

She then poured the drain cleaner into the instrument case at Knox Academy, in Haddington, East Lothian.

Emily Bowen (pictured) was jailed for 21 months and is set to be released just five months into her sentence

Molly Young (pictured) was left scarred for life after her love rival poured sulphuric acid into the case which contained her viola

Molly, who was 17 at the time, described her wounds as 'burns like a blowtorch' after the liquid landed on her legs.

And according to the Daily Record, the Scottish Prison Service wrote to the teenager to say Bowen, who played in the same orchestra as Molly, was being released from jail.

Her heartbroken family has slammed the decision to release her so soon after she was jailed.

It is believed Bowen will have restrictions on her movements when she is released and will be ordered to abide by a strict home-detention curfew.

A source close to the victim's family told the Record: 'She is still affected by what happened and hasn't received any sort of apology from Bowen.

'The letter informing her of the release didn't come as a surprise. The family had been warned Bowen would be released earlier than they would like.

'There's been a rise in acid attacks and the soft sentence was difficult to accept. Bowen's early release is hard to comprehend but there's nothing anyone can do about it.'

Journalist Russell Findlay survived an acid attack in 2015 and said Molly 'has been badly let down by the justice system'.

He told the paper: 'In this case, such an early release is an outrage and my heart goes out to Molly, who has been badly let down by the justice system.

'While the abhorrent use of corrosive substances as weapons is on the rise, the authorities in Scotland seem to be utterly complacent.

'The UK Government are taking action to fight the scourge of acid attacks but the Scottish Government are sitting on their hands. The public are sick of hearing about lengthy prison sentences which turn out to be lies.'

Molly Young (pictured) was 17 when the sulphuric acid ended up on her legs after it was poured into her viola case

Miss Young's leg was left scarred for life following the horrifying incident in Scotland

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard the girls, who were described as 'talented musicians', had fallen out when Miss Young began seeing Bowen's former boyfriend.

Bowen, from Haddington, is the daughter of Andrew Bowen QC and a family friend revealed the teenager wanted to follow in her father's legal footsteps as she was due to study law at Aberdeen University.

She admitted carrying out the attack on September 29 last year.

Sheriff Michael O'Grady QC said: 'In the period leading up to these events you actually researched this topic.

'You have left a young woman to suffer a terrifying ordeal and she will be physically and mentally scarred for the rest of her life.'Pandemonium erupted inside a Kentucky courtroom on Monday when the mother of two slain teenagers lunged at their accused killer and had to be dragged away.

Having been forced out of the Louisville courtroom, Elizabeth Marie Wren told the station WLKY that she 'just flipped out' after coming face to face with Brice Rhodes.

Rhodes, 27, is one of four men who have been charged in the 2016 killings of Wren's two sons, 16-year-old Maurice 'Reece' Gordon and 14-year-old Larry Ordway.

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Courtroom drama: Elizabeth Marie Wren is seen in a screenshot from WLKY lunging at a man accused of killing her two sons in 2016

Defendant: Brice Rhodes, 27, was in Louisville, Kentucky, court for a hearing Monday, which was interrupted when Wren tried to attack him

Rhodes is charged with murder in the stabbing deaths of 16-year-old Maurice 'Reece' Gordon and 14-year-old Larry Ordway (pictured together, right)

The siblings were stabbed to death on May 22, 2016, and their bodies were later found burned and dumped behind an abandoned house.

Wren was on hand for Rhodes routine hearing Monday morning and spent most of the time seated quietly in the audience.

But after about 20 minutes, as the defendant stood up and was about to escorted out of the courtroom, WLKY reported that he turned in the mothers direction and laughed, which made the woman snap.

Courtroom footage shows the incensed mother jumping to her feet and trying to attack Rhodes, before being restrained and ejected from the proceedings.

Lock me up. Lock me up. Why don't you let me get to him? He's sick! Wren is heard screaming, as she is being hauled out of the courtroom.

Rhodes allegedly laughed at Wren in court, with sent the woman over the edge

Mother's anguish: Lock me up. Lock me up. Why don't you let me get to him? He's sick! Wren is heard screaming, as she is being hauled out of the courtroom

The grieving mother told WLKY she just couldnt take it, hearing her sons alleged killer laughing about their deaths.

She previously claimed that Rhodes was trying to recruit her sons into a street gang and would take them out shopping for designer clothes and shoes at the mall to lure them in, according to a WDRB report.

Authorities believe Tieren Coleman, 20, Rhodes, Jacorey Taylor, 19, and Anjuan Carter, 16, killed Gordon and Ordway because they thought the boys would tell police about the May 4, 2016, shooting death of 41-year-old Christopher Jones, which the teens witnessed.

Rhodes has pleaded not guilty to the killings. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

Wren (left) later said she could not take it anymore. Her sons' bodies were found burned behind an abandoned building in May 2016

The other three co-defendants have taken plea deals and are awaiting sentencing.

Rhodes is himself no stranger to courtroom outbursts: during a hearing in October 2016, the accused killer threatened a judge and her family, telling her: 'dont you think I'm gonna find out where you live at? '

He later added: 'You got family! I'll be out!'A mother charged last week with killing two of her adult children was accused by a doctor more than 20 years ago of admitting a young relative under her care to the hospital repeatedly with fake illnesses.

Maree Crabtree, a 51-year-old mother-of-three, was arrested on Wednesday morning charged with murder, torture and fraud.

She is accused of killing her daughter Erin, 18, in 2012, and her son, Jonathan, 26, who was found dead in his bedroom in July at the family home at Fig Court in Maudsland on the Gold Coast.

Erin was found dead at the family's previous home in Maudsland. Police said the deaths were similar, with both dying from fatal overdoses of oxycodone.

Officers allege Crabtree physically and mentally abused a female relative, 25.

Maree Crabtree, 51, who was charged last week with killing two of her adult children, was accused by a Sydney doctor in 1997 of admitting a young female relative to hospital with fake illnesses

Crabtree has been charged with the murders of her two impaired adult children - Erin, 18,(left) and Jonathan, 26 (right)

In 1997, when the relative was five-years-old, a NSW doctor wrote a report suggesting the girl was a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, police told The Australian.

Dr Michael Ryan from Sydneys Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children said Crabtree had admitted the girl to the hospital with fake illnesses repeatedly since her birth and feared she had been subjected to undue testing and medical procedures.

Munchausen by proxy is a psychological disorder involving a caregiver misleading others into thinking a child has medical problems by fabricating or inducing symptoms.

Police allege the girl had a tube inserted into her stomach because of an allergic condition of the oesophagus.

Crabtree is also accused of convincing physicians to prescribe the girl oxycodone.

Officers told The Australian the pain medication and feeding tube were not necessary and the girl has been able to eat normally since Crabtree was arrested.

Crabtree's lawyer said she vehemently denied the charges and planned to apply for bail.

Officers allege Crabtree physically and mentally abused a relative over decades

Jonathan, 26, was found dead in his bedroom in July, wearing the same clothes he wore in photos taken with his mother the day before

Crabtree's (pictured) alleged crimes were financially motivated, according to the police

Crabtree's alleged crimes were financially motivated, according to the police.

She allegedly went to see a psychologist to sort out her son's permanent disability claim the morning before his death.

Police allege Crabtree administered her son the fatal overdose of oxycodone in a drink they bought from McDonald's on the way home from the psychologist appointment.

Court documents show she allegedly dishonestly received an insurance payout of $567,863, a total permanent disability claim for $238,800 and had attempted to fraudulently obtain a superannuation death benefit of $125,000.

She is also charged with armed robbery over allegedly forcing Jonathan to hold up a chemist in 2015.

Detective Inspector Mark Thompson said police alleged the murders were pre-meditated and financially motivated.

Crabtree has been remanded in custody and her matter will return to the court on February 12.Renee Rine, 36 (pictured), was arrested on Friday for having sexual contact with one of her students at West Career and Technical Academy, a magnet school in Las Vegas

A math teacher was arrested last week for having an inappropriate relationship with one of her students at a magnet school in Las Vegas.

Renee Rine, a teacher at West Career and Technical Academy, was arrested on Friday, and she's been held without bond since then at the Clark County Detention Center.

She faces five counts including being a school employee in a position of authority engaging in sexual conduct with a pupil 16 or older, first-degree attempted kidnapping to engage in sex, lewdness with a child who is 14 or 15 years old, contact with a minor or mentally-ill person and child abuse or neglect.

The Clark County School District Police Department started investigating Rine when they heard about allegations she had inappropriate contact with a student. They were able to substantiate those claims.

Rine was first hired as a math teacher at the magnet school in August 2015.

Rine faces five counts including kidnapping to engage in sex and lewdness with a child who is 14 or 15 years old. Pictured above is the West Career and Technical Academy

The school that Rine's employment status will be 'assigned to home' once she is released from jail.

Rine's picture was quickly taken down from the school's website, but DailyMail.com was able to access it by looking at a archived version of the webpage.

Rine is scheduled to make her first appearance at the Regional Justice Center on Tuesday morning at 7:30am

The school released this statement on Monday: 'The safety of our students is the number one priority at West Career and Technical Academy. As always, we want to keep you informed of important issues happening within our school community.

'We want to let you know that a teacher who has been assigned to our school was recently arrested by the Clark County School District Police Department regarding inappropriate behavior involving students. I wanted to let you know that the teacher has been removed from the campus and the school is continuing to work with law enforcement on their investigation.'The United States announced Monday it was lifting its ban on refugees from 11 'high-risk' countries, but said those seeking to enter the US would come under much tougher scrutiny than in the past.

Applicants from 11 countries, unnamed but understood to include 10 Muslim-majority nations plus North Korea, will face tougher 'risk-based' assessments to be accepted.

'It's critically important that we know who is entering the United States,' said Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.

'These additional security measures will make it harder for bad actors to exploit our refugee program, and they will ensure we take a more risk-based approach to protecting the homeland.'

End of the ban: An 11-country absolute ban on refugees put in place by the Trump administration is over. He hosted lunch for the United Nations Security Council, with U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, just before the announcement was made by his Homeland Security secretary Kirstjen Nielsen

Contentious: There were protests outside the White House on Saturday marking a year since the first travel ban and protesting at later measures including the refugee ban

The 11 countries, hit with a ban in October in the Trump administration's revised refugee policy, have not been identified officially.

But refugee groups say they comprise Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Speaking anonymously, a senior administration official told journalists that the policy of enhanced security assessments for the 11 countries was not designed to target Muslims.

'Our admissions have nothing to do with religion,' the official said, adding that there is 'nothing especially novel' about tougher screening for countries deemed to have a higher level of risk.

Donald Trump has pursued a much tougher stance on immigrants and refugees from all countries since becoming president one year ago.

Annual refugee admissions have been slashed by more than half to a maximum of 45,000 in fiscal 2018, which ends on September 31.

Nielsen said new security upgrades to the admissions program will help block suspected criminals from entering the United States from 'high-risk' countries, the head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said on Monday.

'We will be rolling out new security measures for applicants from high-risk countries which will seek to prevent the program from being exploited by terrorists, criminals and fraudsters,' Nielsen said at a public event in Washington.

'These changes will not only improve security but importantly they will help us better assess legitimate refugees fleeing persecution.'

Nielsen did not give further details about the upgrade.

Country affected: Syria was one of the countries affected by the travel ban. At the weekend, Angelina Jolie visited a refugee camp for Syrians in Jordan

Since taking office, President Donald Trump has slashed the number of refugees allowed into the country and paused the refugee program for four months last year. He has also instituted stricter vetting requirements and quit negotiations on a voluntary pact to deal with global migration.

In late October, the Trump administration effectively paused refugee admissions from 11 countries mostly in the Middle East and Africa, pending a 90-day security review which was set to expire last week.

The countries subject to the review are Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It is unclear if these are the same 'high-risk' countries referred to by Nielsen.

For each of the last three years, refugees from the 11 countries made up more than 40 percent of U.S. admissions. But a Reuters review of State Department data shows that as the 90-day review went into effect, refugee admissions from the 11 countries plummeted.

On Dec. 23, a federal judge in Seattle partially blocked restrictions on admitting refugees from the 11 countries, saying the administration could carry out the 90-day review, but could not stop processing or admitting refugees from the 11 countries in the meantime, as long as those refugees had significant ties to the United States.

Since the judge's ruling, 23 refugees from the 11 countries have been allowed into the United States, according to State Department data.Trains were unable to call at Hitchin train station tonight after reports a 'drunken' man had taken a machete or sword out of his bag, terrifying passengers.

National Rail confirmed that trains couldn't access the station while emergency services dealt with the incident.

A witness claimed that the man was bald, dressed in a khaki army jacket and had a pair of crutches as he pulled out 'an eight inch blade' on the 20:36 train to London Kings Cross.

A train from Hitchin railway station (pictured) had to be stopped after a man allegedly pulled a machete or sword out of his bag

A student, who didn't want to be named, watched on as a number of passengers fled the carriage after the brandished the knife.

He told MailOnline: 'I just got on the train at Hitchin station and a man was on the train drunk. He pulled a machete or sword out of his bag on the 20:36 train to London Kings Cross. The blade was at least eight inches long. The train was delayed and passengers panicked and left the carriage.

'National Rail employees tricked the man into getting off by telling him he wont get arrested if he leaves.

'The man panicked after staff mentioned the police. He said he couldn't be arrested again since he hadn't been arrested in nine years and he started shouting "I'm not a terrorist". He was very drunk.'

A number of tweets confirmed that there had been an incident on the train at Hitchin station with Stuart Alexander warning people to avoid the area

After the man left the train, he started using threatening language and screamed at passengers.

He continued: 'After he left the train, they closed the doors. Everybody was looking at him, and he got very angry. He told us to stop staring and he said he can be a very nasty man and do bad things to people.

'[He was] dressed in a khaki army jacket. He was bald, late forties with crutches. He stated the knife was because he needed to protect himself in London as he hadnt been there at night for a while.'

'I was scared. A woman behind me gasped when we saw the knife. It was like the weapon that was used on Lee Rigby.'

National Rail confirmed on their Twitter account that emergency services were dealing with an incident

A number of Twitter posts also spoke about the man with the knife.

Stuart Alexander tweeted: 'Drunk person with knife at Hitchin station. Avoid for now. Police here dealing with it.'

Paul Williams said: 'What's going on outside of Hitchin going north? Train stopped for an emergency apparently. Other trains going north still.

Alexander Griffin replied: 'Man with a knife onboard. 7 Police cars outside the station.'

It was confirmed by National Rail who tweeted: 'Trains are currently unable to call at Hitchin due to the emergency services dealing with an incident.'

MailOnline has contacted the British Transport Police for comment.

Paul Williams one of a number of Twitter users who noticed that something was going on at Hitchin stationThis is the moment a thrill-seeking adrenaline junkie set a world record for managing to pilot his wingsuit for more than six-and-a-half hours uninterrupted .

Experienced wingsuit pilot Jarno Cordia achieved the amazing feat by managing to remain airborne for four-and-a-half hours more than his two hour target.

Aiming for a two-hour flight time, Jarno eclipsed his own expectation on January 8 when he managed to stay airborne, flying 924.42 simulated km in the process.

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Experienced wingsuit pilot Jarno Cordia achieved the amazing feat by managing to remain airborne for four-and-a-half hours more than the previous record

Aiming for a two-hour flight time, Jarno eclipsed his own expectation on January when he managed to stay airborne flying 924.42 km in the process

With the world record for a single conventional wingsuit flight standing at an impressive nine-and-a-half minutes, following the opening of the worlds first indoor wingsuit wind-tunnel in Stockholm, Sweden, Jarno set sights on a unique venture.

Climbing into the chamber, the footage shows the pilot moving and balancing himself while being smashed with the force of the turbine.

Spinning, flipping and somersaulting in the chamber, the pilot effortlessly maintained his poise through the duration of the simulation - setting a new world record in the process

With the world record for a single conventional wingsuit flight standing at an impressive nine-and-a-half minutes, following the opening of the worlds first indoor wingsuit wind-tunnel in Stockholm, Sweden, Jarno set sights on a unique venture

Meanwhile, in Florida, a skydiver rode a man in a wingsuit like a surfboard in a death defying stunt 13,500ft above the ground.

The daring stunt saw the thrill-seekers leap from a plane at the Skydive City, in Zephyr Hills, Florida.

Iain Jensen, 31, and wingsuiters Avalon Wolf, 25, Brayden Jones, 29, and Lane Paquin, 28, all joined together in one of the 'newest and most exciting disciplines in skydiving'.

Mr Paquin said: 'Once the wingsuiters are out of the plane and spot the canopy pilot, they work their way in. Once in proximity, everything must move slow and smooth.

Climbing into the chamber, the footage shows the pilot moving and balancing himself while being smashed with the force of the turbine

'After we separate, all the wingsuiters still have to deploy their parachutes. Everyone flys their parachute back to the airport and land safely.

'Emotions were high once we landed, this is groundbreaking stuff.

'It had never been done before done and everything had to be perfect.

'There are a million things that could go wrong. Getting barrel rolled while attached to your buddy's bare feet is a pretty amazing feeling.'Police are hunting for a man who exposed himself to a young girl on a Melbourne tram.

Victoria Police said the nine-year-old girl was sitting with her family on a tram on Collins Street at about 2.30pm when the incident took place.

'A man, while on the number 48 tram, positioned himself near the child and exposed his penis and committed a lewd act,' police said.

Police are hunting for a man who exposed himself to a young girl on a Melbourne tram

Victoria Police said the nine-year-old girl was sitting with her family on a tram on Collins Street at about 2.30pm when the man (pictured) 'exposed his penis'

'A man, (pictured) while on the number 48 tram, positioned himself near the child and exposed his penis and committed a lewd act,' police said

The girl and the man got on the tram at the Swanston street stop on Monday, January 22.

A family member confronted the man and he fled the tram towards Flinders street.

The public are being asked to help identify the man and are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers.The son of a police chief in Georgia broke down in tears as he made his first appearance on Monday after being charged with whipping to death his three-year-old stepson with a belt.

Joshua Richards was led into a courtroom in a lime-green jail garb, with handcuffs on his wrists and shackles around his ankles, to face a judge for the first time since the death of his stepson Brentley Gore on Sunday.

Courtroom footage showed the 21-year-old suspect weeping while answering the judge's questions.

Richards' attorney claimed the toddler's death was the result of an accidental fall when his stepfather dropped him while his wife was asleep.

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In tears: A tearful Joshua Richards, 21, is seen in this screenshot appearing in court on Monday to face an upgraded murder charge in his stepson's death

Stepdad charged: Joshua Richards, 21 (pictured left in mugshot) has been charged with murder in the beating death of his stepson, three-year-old Brentley Gore (pictured together last Stepember, right)

Frantic call: Richards' wife of just eight months (right) called police on January 23 to report that her son was injured and would not wake up

Police responded to Richards' home at the Hickory Falls Apartments in Villa Rica, Georgia, at around 10am on Tuesday after receiving a report about an injured child.

The frantic 911 call that summoned the officers had been placed by three-year-old Brentley Gore's mother. Investigators believe the woman was asleep in another room during the attack on her son, which left him with multiple skull fractures.

The mother contacted the authorities when she noticed injuries on her childs head and could not wake him up in the morning, reported Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Because of the severity of his injuries, Brentley was airlifted to a hospital in Atlanta for treatment.

According to a GoFundMe page set up to help the boys family with his medical expenses, Brentley underwent emergency surgery on Thursday to remove a portion of his fractured skull in hopes of relieving some pressure from the swelling on his brain.

The toddler's stepfather was initially charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, first-degree cruelty to children and possession of marijuana.

Investigators believe Richards used a belt to beat the boy.

Richards, seen in court left, is the son of Carrollton Police Chief Josh Richards (right)

Savage: Police believe Richards used a belt to flog the toddler (pictured together)

Father and son: Joshua is pictured with his police chief dad, who has been on the force since 1992

On Sunday, the child succumbed to his injuries, leading to the upgraded charge of murder being filed against Richards.

The man made his initial court appearance on Wednesday and was denied bond, reported 11Alive.

According to his Facebook page, Richards works for a home security company headquartered in Tennessee. He and Brentleys mother got married last June, and the woman is now two months pregnant with her second child, according to WSB-TV.

His final Facebook post, dated December 8, 2017, featured a family photo showing a smiling Brentley playing in the snow with his parents.

Richards is the son of Carrollton Police Chief Josh Richards, who has been on the force since 1992.She suggests the university tackles the culture that causes sexual harassment

Honours student Claudia Reed said the survey was merely a 'tick-a-box exercise'

Under new rules, all students must achieve a perfect score on the online module

Students at Sydney University have slammed the new sexual harassment course

Students have slammed a mandatory sexual harassment course telling them they cannot kiss or touch without an 'enthusiastic yes'.

All commencing students at the University of Sydney must take the module, originally developed at Oxford University by London-based company Epigeum.

The university's website says the course is to help students understand consensual sexual activity, which it defines as including kissing and touching.

Students have slammed a mandatory sexual harassment course telling them they cannot kiss or touch without an 'enthusiastic yes' (pictured is an image from the course)

All commencing students at the University of Sydney must take the module, originally developed at Oxford University by London-based company Epigeum (pictured is an image from the course)

'It is the university's way of saying, "we've done our part, we look good", but it's not actually going to fix anything,' honours student Claudia Reed told the Daily Telegraph.

Eleni Vellios, a Medical Science student at the university, said requiring an 'enthusiastic "yes"' before kissing could take place was impractical.

'It's a bit unrealistic, no one is going to ask for them to spell it out and ask for it,' she said.

Ms Reed agreed, saying they course will not help or change the minds of anyone who needs to be taught what consent is.

The university's website (pictured) says the course is to help students understand consensual sexual activity, which it defines as including kissing and touching

A university spokesperson confirmed that students would be forced to keep attempting the course until they got every section correct (pictured is an image from the course)

The compulsory survey was a 'tick-a-box exercise', she added and said the university should be more focused on fixing the problems within its residential colleges.

The University of Sydney states: 'Whenever you participate in any sexual activity, everyone involved needs to give their full consent.

'This means that everyone is entirely comfortable with the situation and freely able to agree, give permission or say "yes" to participating in a sexual activity (this includes kissing and touching).

'Sexual activity without consent is sexual assault and is always a crime.'

'Consent is never ambiguous. If someone is not able to offer an enthusiastic "yes" to questions about sexual activity you do not have consent.'

'Consent Matters: Boundaries, Respect, And Positive Intervention' uses stick figures to illustrate the importance of consent and the impact that drugs and alcohol have on consent.

'The Consent Matters module is mandatory for all new students enrolling at the University of Sydney from 2018 onwards,' said a university spokesperson (pictured is an image from the course)

The course states that 'everyone must have explicit permission from the person they intend to make contact with' before going ahead.

A university spokesperson confirmed that students would be forced to keep attempting the course until they got every section correct.

'The Consent Matters module is mandatory for all new students enrolling at the University of Sydney from 2018 onwards,' she said.

Last year Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed allegations of 'rampant sexism and institutionalised misogyny' at the uni's $30,000-a-year St Paul's College.

Following sporting seasons, St Paul's students would allegedly throw alcohol and drug-fuelled sex parties in the college's Rogers Room, which they referred to as the 'Bone Room.'

The investigation sparked a report into what the college deemed 'unacceptable behaviour' which, after consulting over 600 students and staff, handed the university 23 recommendations and a two-year time frame to implement.A freshman business major at Radford University will now have to spend time behind bars for running a 'mini drug syndicate.'

By the time he was arrested, 18-year-old Gabriel Eduardo Yus-Baez was selling cocaine, ecstasy and weed to fund an off-campus apartment in Radford, Virginia.

There he kept $25,000 stashed away in a safe with a 9mm gun.

'This isn't some sandal-wearing hippie we caught here,' Radford Commonwealth's Attorney Chris Rehak said at a sentence hearing on Friday, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

By the time he was arrested, 18-year-old Gabriel Eduardo Yus-Baez was selling cocaine, ecstasy and weed to fund an off-campus apartment in Radford, Virginia

'This is a major player in some kind of drug organization.'

In November, Yus-Baez pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing drugs with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm around narcotics.

On top of the drugs, he also had $25,000 stored away and a 9mm gun

On Friday, Judge Joey Showalter sentenced the teen to 35 years behind bars but the term will be suspended once Yus-Baez serves five years and five months.

A $4,000 fine was also imposed on Yus-Baez's, whose license is also suspended up until 18 months after he is released.

He must also undergo supervision from his probation officer for five years.

Rehak detailed that when Yus-Baez was in the midst of his second semester at Radford in February 2017, he operated 'kind of a mini-syndicate.'

He explained how the 18-year-old was able to make bank transfers of $9,000 to someone in California. Yus-Baez also had an apartment in the city under a false name.

'He was old enough to damage the community,' Rehak added.

And while Yus-Baez understood what he had done to get punishment, he felt that the time he had served was enough to show change.

'I still plan  even though this is going to get in the way for a moment  to move forward and start something better  Please find it in your heart to let me go out there and make a better life for myself,' Yus-Baez added.

His mother, Wanda Baez, took to the witness stand to share thoughts from the family.

When Yus-Baez was in the midst of his second semester at Radford in February 2017, he operated 'kind of a mini-syndicate'

'You have put us in the most difficult situation of our lives,' she asserted.

But the mother was hopeful, feeling that her son could go out and contribute positively to society.

'I hope and pray he has the opportunity to prove he can do better,' she said.

Judge Showalter told the teen's parents that they 'did nothing wrong.'

'But unfortunately, your son did,' he added.

He turned to Yus-Baez and explained how having children would help him see the full severity of what he had done, adding that the boy was 'special.'

'Once you've pulled your time, you'll still be young and I hope you can put it behind you,' Showalter said.

Because he has served a year already, Yus-Baez only has to serve four years.President Donald Trump was incensed last May after he fired James Comey and then watched the former FBI Director on TV getting a ride home on a government plane  venting about the incident to then-acting director Andrew McCabe, according to a new report.

Trump was incredulous that Comey  who had been meeting with FBI agents in Los Angeles when he learned from television that he had been fired  would get to ride home on a government plane, NBC reported.

Networks aired footage of Comey boarding a plane from L.A. back to Washington amid widespread interest in the stunning development.

After Trump asked him why Comey got to ride on the plane, McCabe responded that he hadn't been asked to authorize the flight  but that he would have approved it if he had been asked, three sources familiar with the exchange told the network.

That drew silence and then an insult from the president, who told McCabe to ask his wife how it feels to be a loser, according to the report. McCabe then replied 'Okay,' and Trump hung up the phone, according to the report.

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Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe is 'stepping aside;

The subject of Jill McCabe's railed Virginia state Senate race in 2015 had been a long source of irritation for Trump. He complained about it during the campaign and tweeted about it in December, in part of a long campaign to pressure McCabe.

'Loser' is a regular Trump, who frequently describes his own efforts in terms of winning and being successful.

McCabe was pushed out from his post after a long public pressure campaign from Trump, although the White House insisted Monday that Trump was not involved in the decision.

'The president wasn't part of this decision making process,' White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters just hours after news broke that McCabe  who Trump has ridiculed publicly and who Republicans accuse of bias would be leaving.

TAKE TWO ASPIRIN: President Trump reportedly told McCabe to ask his wife, Jill, how it feels to be a loser

DON'T FORGET YOUR MEMOS: Trump was set fuming by footage of Comey returning to Washington aboard a government jet hours after the president fired him

The president vented to the acting FBI director, Andrew McCabe, about Comey

'I can tell you none of this decision was made by that of the White House. And any specifics I would refer you to the FBI,' Sanders added.

She denied the president having applied pressure to force out McCabe, and dismissed questions that Trump had been systematically pushing out an array of government investigators.

'The only thing that the president has applied pressure to is to make sure we get this resolved, making sure everybody gets the Russia fever out of their system once and for all,' Sanders said.

Dr. Jill McCabe and Andrew McCabe heading to vote in Virginia state elections 2015

McCabe has been at the center of a furious battle between the the White House and congressional Democrats over the Russia investigation, as Trump blasts the FBI as a biased organization that is out to get him and House Republicans attack the Robert Mueller investigation.

McCabe, 49, a career official, is 'stepping aside,' according to NBC's report, but will be allowed to remain on the payroll until mid-March.

Fox News reported, citing a source, that he was 'removed' from his post. Sources said McCabe went on 'terminal leave,' meaning essentially taking vacation until his retirement date, and no longer reporting to work at the bureau.

Trump has also fumed about political contributions that went to McCabe's wife's campaign.

NO PRESSURE: White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said 'none of this decision was made by that of the White House'

The FBI has been rocked by the revelation of anti-Trump texts between Peter Strzok, one of its most senior counter-intelligence agents, and his alleged mistress Lisa Page, a bureau lawyer.

The two called Trump and 'idiot' while they were involved in the Clinton email probe and both then went on to work for the Mueller investigation. Mueller fired Strzok from his team before the texts came to light.

The texts also raised question over pro-Hillary bias at the FBI. In one text during the Clinton email probe, Page texted Strzok saying: 'She might be our next president. The last thing you need [is] us going in there loaded for bear.'

McCabe was considered close to his former boss, James Comey. He was involved in the Clinton email probe.

Axios reported that FBI Director Christopher Wray, an FBI career official appointed by President Trump, threatened to resign when Attorney General Jeff Sessions pressured him to fire McCabe.

McCabe was the Number Two official at the FBI. The Washington Post reported that Trump asked McCabe how he voted in a meeting after the Comey firing

Former Attorney General Eric Holder came to McCabe's defense Monday afternoon.

'FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is, and has been, a dedicated public servant who has served this country well. Bogus attacks on the FBI and DOJ to distract attention from a legitimate criminal inquiry does long term, unnecessary damage to these foundations of our government,' Holder wrote on Twitter.

In December, Trump took the extraordinary step of ridiculing McCabe online, after a report that he was running out the clock on his government service amid intense pressure.

'FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is racing the clock to retire with full benefits. 90 days to go?!!!' wrote Trump.

In July, Trump wrote: 'Why didn't A.G. Sessions replace Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, a Comey friend who was in charge of Clinton investigation....'

Trump also wrote a day earlier: 'Problem is that the acting head of the FBI & the person in charge of the Hillary investigation, Andrew McCabe, got $700,000 from H for wife!

Trump also wrote in December: '.@FoxNews-FBIs Andrew McCabe, in addition to his wife getting all of this money from M (Clinton Puppet), he was using, allegedly, his FBI Official Email Account to promote her campaign. You obviously cannot do this. These were the people who were investigating Hillary Clinton.

The Washington Post reported that Trump met in the Oval Office with McCabe following the president's decision to fire his predecessor, James Comey.

'Who did you vote for in the 2016 election?,' Trump asked him, according to the report.

President Trump mocked McCabe, the second-ranking FBI official, on Twitter in December

McCabe is reportedly mentioned in a secret memo compiled by House Intelligence Committee Republicans

'McCabe said he didn't vote,' officials told the paper. McCabe didn't get the job to succeed Comey on a permanent basis, a promotion that would have been unlikely. Trump raised concerns about McCabe's politics but let him be acting FBI Director anyway because 'there were no immediate better choices,' a White House official told the paper.

'He's been under attack from Day One,' Democratic New York Rep. Eliot Engel told CNN Monday.

The latest bombshell in the Russia story comes amid a growing clash over a secret memo developed for the GOP-led House Intelligence Committee.

FBI Agent Peter Strzok, who exchanged 375 text messages with Department of Justice attorney Lisa Page that led to his removal from special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into ties between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin's efforts to interfere in the U.S. election last summer, photographed outside his home in Fairfax, Virginia

FBI lawyer Lisa Page exchanged texts with FBI Agent Peter Strzok that were critical of Donald Trump

The New York Times reported the memo names Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein as the official who approved continued surveillance of former Trump official Carter Page, essentially maintaining the posture that Page could be acting as an agent for Russia.

The memo, drafted by staff for GOP Rep. Devin Nunes, also cites McCabe, CNN reported.

The Justice Department warned that release of the memo would do 'damage' to security.

A highly sought after classified memo says that Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein approved a request last spring for extended surveillance on Carter Page, an unpaid foreign policy adviser to Trump's presidential campaign. Page is seen here during a December 2016 visit to Moscow

Trump then vented at McCabe about hundreds of thousands of campaign contributions steered to his wife, a state Senate candidate, by Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe through a PAC he controlled in 2015. McAuliffe is close to Hillary Clinton.

Trump also raised the issue to tar McCabe publicly.

'Do you remember, did anybody here remember many of my speeches where I talked about McCabe? He was the star of my speeches,' Trump said.

'The man who was more or less in charge of her got the wife got $500,000 from Terry. Now Terry is Hillary,' Trump said.Children as young as four are being caught armed with knives and other weapons at school.

Research has revealed a 42 per cent surge in the number of pupils found with bladed weapons and other lethal items in the past two academic years.

Since the 2012-13 school year, a total of 2,405 children have been found with a knife in the classroom or playground.

Police forces also recorded 3,580 knife-related crimes on school grounds, including 664 assaults, in that time.

Last month the Mail told how knife crime among youngsters had risen to an eight-year high. Courts dealt with 4,439 knife possession cases involving ten- to 17-year-olds in the year to September  the most since 2009.

Children as young as four are being caught armed with knives and other weapons at school, as research revealed a surge in the number of pupils found with bladed weapons

And in a chilling development, an investigation found children were creating weapons at home  including prison-style shanks made by fixing razor blades into felt-tip pens and markers.

Pupils have even turned supposedly harmless school equipment such as paper clips and geometry sets into weapons.

Other items seized from pupils include foot-long carving knives, home-made Tasers, smoke grenades, stun guns and an array of firearms including air rifles. Cases reportedly include a four-year-old found with a knife in Northamptonshire, a primary school pupil threatening a teacher with a pair of scissors in London and a school worker in Wales suffering from post-traumatic stress after being threatened with a knife.

In Rotherham, South Yorkshire, one boy was found to have taken a knife into school every day for months to protect himself from other pupils.

Details of the rise in the number of blades being used at schools in Britain comes after official figures released last week showed a 21 per cent increase in knife crime in the year to September.

It has prompted calls for greater use of stop and search tactics and a crackdown on social media websites that promote gang violence.

Solicitor General Robert Buckland said: These are frightening statistics. The message still has to get through to young people that carrying a knife for your own protection is probably the most dangerous thing you can do.

Since the 2012-13 school year, a total of 2,405 children have been found with a knife in the classroom or playground

Labour MP Sarah Jones, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Knife Crime, said: My fear is that a generation of young people are growing up desensitised to violence.

Patrick Green, of anti-knife crime charity The Ben Kinsella Trust, said: These figures are frightening and what is of greater concern is that they dont show the full extent of the problem.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd has launched a consultation on new laws to crack down on knife crime. She has proposed banning online knife sales to under-18s by making it illegal to deliver them to homes and requiring proof of age at collection points.

Measures would also include an offence of having a knife or blade in educational institutions other than schools.

Ministers have acted following a series of knife attacks in schools, including the deaths of teacher Ann Maguire at a college in Leeds in 2014 and student Bailey Gwynne, 16, at a school in Aberdeen in 2015.The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been slammed for its decision to sponsor the 'modest fashion' industry including the hijab and burqa.

DFAT promoted an Australian-made Islamic clothing exhibition this month, describing the invention of the burqini swimsuit as 'ground-breaking'.

The taxpayer-funded department described the Islamic clothing market as 'booming' in Australia.

DFAT's promotion of the industry sparked outrage from the Australian public.

Taking to Twitter in response this week, one man asked: 'Why are you supporting the oppression of girls and women?'

DFAT promoted an Australian-made Islamic clothing exhibition this month, describing the invention of the burqini swimsuit as 'ground-breaking' (Australian High Commission, Malaysia pictured)

'The rise of the 'hijabista' presents valuable opportunities for Australia. Apart from the obvious economic benefits, the emerging modest fashion market can help advance Australia's public diplomacy objectives,' DFAT said

Another took to the social media site to ask if DFAT was serious about its support for the Islamic fashion market.

'What the h*ll is this waffle out of DFAT?' they said.

'If this is real it is the most stupidity that I have ever seen.'

A third critic took issue with Islamic fashion calling itself 'modest fashion'.

'Doesn't that imply that an Australian woman who chooses not to dress as the women in the photograph, is therefore immodest?'

Another said it was time to 'bring back Abbott'.

'Now DFAT is trying to get Aussie girls to dress more modestly? Bring back Abbott,' he said.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott slammed the promotion on Monday, and questioned bureaucrats 'very unfortunate readiness' to shut out Australian values.

Mr Abbott said he was 'flabbergasted' DFAT chose to sponsor Australian-made 'modest fashion'.

Ilham A Ismail (left) is a brand targeting the emerging market of Muslim woman living in western countries. (Tony Abbott pictured right)

He urged DFAT, a taxpayer-funded department, to drop its support for the fashion event and focus its energies on 'mainstream Australia'.

In its promotion, DFAT praised the 'booming' modest fashion market saying it ' beautifully showcased Australia's contemporary and inclusive society'.

'The rise of the 'hijabista' presents valuable opportunities for Australia. Apart from the obvious economic benefits, the emerging modest fashion market can help advance Australia's public diplomacy objectives,' DFAT said.

Muslim women's Style in Australia was described as 'faith, fashion and fusion'.Archduke Franz Ferdinand, pictured, was assassinated in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with his Serbian wife Sophie on June 28, 1914

In the event, which is widely accepted to have sparked the outbreak of World War One, Archduke Franz Ferdinand - the nephew of Emperor Franz Joseph and heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire - was shot dead.

He was assassinated in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with his Serbian wife, Sophie, on June 28, 1914.

Eventually killed by 19-year-old Gavrilo Princip, the couple had earlier that day been attacked by another man who threw a grenade at their car.

Archduke Ferdinand was shot in the neck, while his wife was hit in the abdomen. The assassination is believed to have started a domino effect which led to the break out of World War One a month later.

Princip and others wanted Bosnia to become part of Serbia. Austria-Hungary, like many in countries around the world, blamed the Serbian government for the attack and hoped to use the incident as justification for settling the question of Slav nationalism once and for all.

As Russia supported Serbia, an Austro-Hungarian declaration of war was delayed until its leaders received assurances from German leader Kaiser Wilhelm that Germany would support their cause in the event of a Russian interventionwhich would likely involve Russias ally, France, and possibly Britain as well.

On July 28, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, and the tenuous peace between Europes great powers collapsed. Within a week, Russia, Belgium, France, Great Britain and Serbia had lined up against Austria-Hungary and Germany, and World War One had begun.

Artillery units of Austria-Hungary began to rain down shells on Belgrade, the Serbian capital - the very first shots of World War One.

That attack was to start a chain reaction that, within weeks, embroiled all of the world's great powers into a global war which mobilised more than 70 million military personnel. The Great War - as it was soon to be known - was the first military conflict to be fought on an industrial scale.

But the technological advances that led to increases in the lethality of weapons were not matched by changes in strategy, with both sides resorting to practically suicidal human wave attacks.

Although much of the warfare took place in Europe, battle was soon joined across the planet via the colonies of the European imperial powers.

By 1918, the powers of Central Europe were exhausted by fighting. A final last-ditch offensive along the Western Front by Germany was successfully repelled and, as U.S. forces began to enter the trenches, the Allies staged a series of successful advances, forcing the enemy to surrender on November 11.A 'zombie' satellite that failed in 2005 has been discovered, still functioning, by an amateur astronomer.

NASA researchers thought that the failed Imager for the Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) satellite was lost.

But the new finding suggests that NASA may be able to resume the mission, with the goal of studying Earth's magnetosphere and how it interacts with the sun.

According to researchers, the satellite would still be valuable in predicting space weather and understanding how the magnetosphere responds to solar storms.

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Pictured is the IMAGE satellite during construction. The new finding that the satellite is still working suggests that NASA may be able to resume their IMAGE satellite mission, with the goal of studying Earth's magnetosphere and how it interacts with the sun

NASA launched the IMAGE satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara, California, on March 25, 2000

The satellite served as a telescope and its two-year-long mission was extended, leading to 37 unique discoveries.

However, NASA reported that contact with the satellite was 'unexpectedly lost' on December 18, 2005.

'After 5.8 years of successful operations, IMAGE's telemetry signals were not received during a routine pass,' NASA reported.

'The IMAGE mission was designed as a two-year mission but has exceeded all its scientific goals and has produced a fire hose of stunning images of the previously invisible region of space in the inner magnetosphere.'

The IMAGE satellite launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara, California, on march 25, 2000

The Final Report about the satellite revealed that the most likely cause of the failure was due to an 'instant trip' of the power controller supplying power to the transponder.

But in mid-January this year, astronomer Scott Tilley reportedly made contact with the satellite.

Pictured is a rendering of the magnetic field lines of Earth's magnetosphere. A global network of ground-based observatories and orbiting satellites measure how Earth's magnetic field is changing, which gives us insight into how Earth's liquid core is moving

Tilley, who calls himself an 'amateur visual and radio astronomer,' spends free time tracking radio signals from spy satellites.

On this occasion, Tilley was looking for signs of Zuma, a recently launched, classified US government satellite.

However, Tilley discovered a satellite in High Earth Orbit labelled 2000-017A, 26113 - the IMAGE satellite.

An artist's rendition of Earth's magnetosphere: the region of space controlled by the Earth's magnetic field and containing tenuous plasmas of both solar and terrestrial origin

Now, NASA is working towards making contact with the satellite, and understanding why the spacecraft's rotation rate has slowed.

If the satellite is brought back online by researchers, it could provide extremely useful information to researchers, as there no other similar satellite exists in orbit.

'The team is collectively holding their breath waiting for some real information exchange between IMAGE and the ground,' Patricia Reiff, a space plasma physicist at Rice University who was also a co-investigator on the mission, told Science Magazine.

SOLAR STORMS PRESENT A CLEAR DANGER TO ASTRONAUTS AND CAN DAMAGE SATELLITES Solar storms, or solar activity, can be divided into four main components that can have impacts on Earth: Solar flares : A large explosion in the sun's atmosphere. These flares are made of photons that travel out directly from the flare site. Solar flares impact Earth only when they occur on the side of the sun facing Earth.

: A large explosion in the sun's atmosphere. These flares are made of photons that travel out directly from the flare site. Solar flares impact Earth only when they occur on the side of the sun facing Earth. Coronal Mass Ejections (CME's) : Large clouds of plasma and magnetic field that erupt from the sun. These clouds can erupt in any direction, and then continue on in that direction, plowing through solar wind. These clouds only cause impacts to Earth when they're aimed at Earth.

: Large clouds of plasma and magnetic field that erupt from the sun. These clouds can erupt in any direction, and then continue on in that direction, plowing through solar wind. These clouds only cause impacts to Earth when they're aimed at Earth. High-speed solar wind streams : These come from coronal holes on the sun, which form anywhere on the sun and usually only when they are closer to the solar equator do the winds impact Earth.

: These come from coronal holes on the sun, which form anywhere on the sun and usually only when they are closer to the solar equator do the winds impact Earth. Solar energetic particles : High-energy charged particles thought to be released primarily by shocks formed at the front of coronal mass ejections and solar flares. When a CME cloud plows through solar wind, solar energetic particles can be produced and because they are charged, they follow the magnetic field lines between the Sun and Earth. Only charged particles that follow magnetic field lines that intersect Earth will have an impact. While these may seem dangerous, astronauts are not in immediate danger of these phenomena because of the relatively low orbit of manned missions. However, they do have to be concerned about cumulative exposure during space walks. This photo shows the sun's coronal holes in an x-ray image. The outer solar atmosphere, the corona, is structured by strong magnetic fields, which when closed can cause the atmosphere to suddenly and violently release bubbles or tongues of gas and magnetic fields called coronal mass ejections The damage caused by solar storms Solar flares can damage satellites and have an enormous financial cost. The charged particles can also threaten airlines by disturbing Earth's magnetic field. Very large flares can even create currents within electricity grids and knock out energy supplies. When Coronal Mass Ejections strike Earth they cause geomagnetic storms and enhanced aurora. They can disrupt radio waves, GPS coordinates and overload electrical systems. A large influx of energy could flow into high voltage power grids and permanently damage transformers. This could shut off businesses and homes around the world. Source: NASA - Solar Storm and Space Weather Advertisement

Reiff also said that if IMAGE is reactivated, it will be placed in orbit over Earth's auroral zone.

The MailOnline has contacted NASA for information about the satellite's whereabouts and whether it could crash-land on Earth, and is awaiting response.

It may be that the satellite turned back on when Earth's orbit eclipsed its solar panels, draining the satellite's batteries and triggering a force re-start of the satellite's systems.The main module will carry Musk's cherry red 2008 Tesla Roadster to the orbit of Mars 140 million miles away

Powered by 27 engines, the rocket features three re-usable cores that will return to Earth after liftoff

The test will mark the first time SpaceX has flown its new, high-capacity rocket following months of delays

Falcon Heavy 'megarocket' will fire beyond Earth's orbit from the Kennedy Space Centre near Cape Canaveral

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SpaceX will launch 'the world's most powerful rocket' next week, according to the firm's CEO Elon Musk.

The Falcon Heavy 'megarocket' will fire beyond Earth's orbit from the Kennedy Space Centre near Cape Canaveral, Florida, with Musk's own electric car on board.

The February 6 test will mark the first time the firm has flown its new, high-capacity rocket, which will allow SpaceX to send nearly far more payload into orbit than the average launch .

Powered by 27 engines, the rocket features three re-usable cores that will return to Earth after the craft reaches orbit in a flight that is set to be SpaceX's most technically complex challenge to date.

Once the three cores separate, the rocket's main module - carrying Musk's cherry red Tesla Roadster - will continue its trajectory with a destination set for the orbit of Mars 140 million miles (225 million kilometres) away.

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Elon Musk has announced SpaceX will launch 'the world's most powerful rocket' on February 6 with his own electric car on board. The Falcon Heavy 'megarocket' will fire beyond orbit from the former Apollo 11 moon rocket launchpad at the Kennedy Space Centre near Cape Canaveral, Florida. Pictured is the Falcon Heavy ready for launch on the launchpad 39A at the centre

Musk, who is also CEO of electric car firm Tesla, tweeted the new target launch date on Saturday following months of delays, adding that a nearby causeway will provide the public with clear views of the flight.

The rocket will fire from launchpad 39A at the Kennedy Space Centre, which was used by Nasa to launch its historic Apollo 11 moon mission.

'Aiming for first flight of Falcon Heavy on Feb 6 from Apollo launchpad 39A at Cape Kennedy. Easy viewing from the public causeway,' Musk wrote on Twitter.

SpaceX had previously said it planned to launch the Falcon Heavy a week after the rocket's first successful static test fire, which took place on January 24 after it was delayed by last week's US government shutdown.

The test marked the first time the huge rocket roared to life, with all 27 of its Merlin engines fired up simultaneously at launchpad 39A.

As well as creating huge, billowing clouds of white smoke, the test fired off monstrous booms that could be heard up to three miles away.

Elon Musk, who is also CEO of electric car firm Tesla, tweeted the new target launch date on Saturday following months of delays, adding that a nearby causeway will provide the public with clear views of the flight

On January 24, SpaceX completed a long-awaited static fire test of its Falcon Heavy megarocket (pictured). Musk's rocket company performed the test at Kennedy Space Centre's launch pad 39A. The test had been delayed for several months

'Falcon Heavy hold-down firing this morning was good. Generated quite a thunderhead of steam. Launching in a week or so,' Musk tweeted on January 24.

Last week's static test marked the first time the rocket roared to life, with all 27 of its engines fired up simultaneously. Musk said it created a 'thunderhead' of steam

SpaceX has called the Falcon Heavy the 'most powerful rocket in operation,' with over 5 million pounds of thrust and the ability to lift more than 140,000 pounds of cargo.

If all goes according to plan on February 6, the Falcon Heavy will lift off and enter Earth's orbit, at which point two of the craft's booster rockets will separate off and return to Earth at Cape Canaveral in controlled landings.

The 70-metre- (230-foot) long rocket's central core will then detach from the main module and begin its own controlled descent back to Earth, landing on the firm's 'Of Course I Still Love You' drone ship in the Pacific Ocean.

The main module will continue its trajectory into 'deep space', the billionaire has said, with a destination set for the orbit of Mars 140 million miles (225 million kilometres) away.

Musk has said the huge launch vehicle will blast off next week on an unmanned mission with a unique payload - the billionaire's cherry red 2008 Tesla Roadster, which will be fired toward Mars. Pictured is the car strapped into the Falcon Heavy's main module

HOW DOES THE SPACEX FALCON HEAVY MEASURE UP? Height: 70 meters (229.6 feet) Stages: Two Boosters: Two Re-usable Cores: Three Engines: 27 Payload to Low Earth Orbit: 63,800kg (140,660 lb) Payload to Mars: 16,800kg (37,040 lb) Total width: 12.2m (39.9 ft) Mass: 1,420,788kg (3,125,735 lb) Total thrust at lift-off: 22,819 kilonewtons (5.13 million pounds) When it launches, Falcon Heavy (left) will be the world's most powerful rocket, capable of carrying payloads far greater than even the Apollo 11 space shuttle (second from left) Advertisement

According to Musk: 'Destination is Mars orbit. Will be in deep space for a billion years or so if it doesn't blow up on ascent.'

Musk has said his original cherry red 2008 Tesla Roadster will be strapped into the main module, playing David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' from its speakers.

The launch will follow months of delays and build-up to the historic flight, with Musk frequently posting updates to his various social media profiles.

On January 5, the billionaire wrote on Instagram: 'Falcon Heavy now vertical on the former Apollo 11 moon rocket launchpad.

'At 2,500 tons of thrust, equal to 18 Boeing 747 aircraft at full throttle, it will be the most powerful rocket in the world by a factor of two. Excitement on launch day guaranteed, one way or another.

'Hold-down test fire next week. Launch end of the month.'

The 46-year-old South African, who co-founded PayPal with venture capitalist Peter Thiel, predicts the Falcon Heavy's payload will stay in deep space for a while.

The rocket (pictured) will use 27 engines and three separate re-usable cores that will return to Earth after liftoff during the test flight, which is set to be one of the firm's most technically complex challenges to date

A photo of its unusual cargo - Musk's cherry red 2008 Tesla Roadster - was released last month.

Images released by SpaceX show an original Roadster perched on a large cone inside the Falcon Heavy on what appears to be a secure mount to keep it stationary as the rocket makes its maiden flight.

'Test flights of new rockets usually contain mass simulators in the form of concrete or steel blocks. That seemed extremely boring,' Musk said in December.

'Of course, anything boring is terrible, especially companies, so we decided to send something unusual, something that made us feel.

'The payload will be an original Tesla Roadster, playing Space Oddity, on a billion year elliptic Mars orbit.'

The mission marks SpaceX's most ambitious project to date.

Musk founded SpaceX in 2002, with the aim of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonisation of Mars.

In a Washington, D.C., speech last July the Tesla founder said Falcon Heavy is one of the most difficult and technically complex projects SpaceX has ever undertaken.

'There's a lot of risk associated with Falcon Heavy,' he said during the 2017 International Space Station Research and Development Conference.

SpaceX had previously said it planned to launch the Falcon Heavy a week after the rocket's first successful static test fire, which took place on January 24 after it was delayed by last week's US government shutdown. This image shows the rocket without its main module, with its 27 engines pictured in the foreground

'Real good chance that the vehicle doesn't make it to orbit. I want to make sure to set expectations accordingly.'

Musk has spent the proceeding months building up hype for the historic launch with a series of social media posts.

Last month he posted an image to Twitter of people stoof next to a landed Falcon Heavy rocket to give an idea of the vehicle's scale.

He tweeted: 'Falcon Heavy launching from same @NASA pad as the Saturn V Apollo 11 moon rocket.

'It was 50% higher thrust with five F-1 engines at 7.5M lb-F.

In a Washington, D.C., speech last July the Tesla founder said Falcon Heavy is one of the most difficult and technically complex projects SpaceX has ever undertaken. Pictured is the rocket in a warehouse last year before it was erected at the Kennedy Space Centre earlier this month

'I love that rocket so much.'

He also confirmed the rocket will have a 'max thrust at lift-off is 5.1 million pounds or 2300 metric tons,' adding the first mission will run at 92 per cent capacity.

'Falcon Heavy to launch next month from Apollo 11 pad at the Cape.

'Will have double thrust of next largest rocket. Guaranteed to be exciting, one way or another,' Musk originally posted.Animals worldwide are giving up their 'wild ways' and sticking closer to home as a result of human activity.

That's according to a new study that found mammals living in areas with high human activity move up to three times less far than animals in areas isolated from people.

This pattern persists globally, from African forest elephants to foxes and red deer in Britain, affecting species both big and small.

Experts say that human settlements, roads and fences break up their natural habitat and block the natural migration of mammals, allowing for the easy spread of deadly diseases.

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Human settlements, roads and fences block the natural migration of mammals, allowing for the easy spread of deadly diseases. Species found to be affected by human activity include African forest elephants, which were tracked by GPS as part of the study (pictured)

This habitat 'fragmentation' also hinders animals' ability to mate and find shelter and food.

Reduced mammal movement also has an affect on the environment as many plants rely on mammals to disperse their seeds.

'The importance of the geographical movement of animals in the wild has long been documented,' said study coauthor Dr Adam Kane, from the University College Cork, Ireland.

'It is necessary for the animals to find food, water, mates and new habitats to live in.'

The research was carried out by more than 100 scientists from across the globe led by Dr Marlee Tucker, an expert at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany.

Experts tracked the effect of human activity on 57 types of land mammal via a measure of human activity known as the Human Footprint Index (HFI).

The HFI measures how much our species has impacted an area using factors such as population density and the presence of roads and night-time lights.

Researchers found that, on average, mammals living in human-modified habitats move two to three times less far than their counterparts in human-free areas. The researchers tracked the movement of lions in Tsavo, Kenya (pictured) as part of their study

HOW DO HUMANS RESTRICT THE MOVEMENT OF ANIMALS? Recent research has found that mammals living in areas with high human activity move up to three times less far than animals in areas isolated from people. This pattern persists globally, from African forest elephants to foxes and red deer in Britain, affecting mammal species both big and small. Human-caused changes to the environment could affect animals in a number of important ways. If food is more abundant because of nearby humans, either because they feed the animals or leave scraps in bins, mammals may not have to travel as far. Restricted movement could also result from habitat fragmentation as humans build settlements, fences and roads that cut off animals from certain areas. Blocking animal migration allows for the easy spread of deadly diseases and makes it harder for species to mate and find food and shelter. Advertisement

'Our study looks at everything from hares to wild boars to elephants,' lead author Dr Tucker said.

'The scientists in our team equipped individual animals with a GPS tracking device that recorded each animal's location every hour for a period of at least two months.'

Researchers found that, on average, mammals living in human-modified habitats move two to three times less far than their counterparts in human-free areas.

The animals likely move less because they have changed their behaviour in human-modified landscapes.

A study found that mammals living in areas with high human activity move up to three times less far than animals in areas isolated from people. This pattern persists globally, from African forest elephants to foxes in Britain (file photo)

Study co-author Dr Thomas Mueller, also from Goethe University, suggested barriers created by human infrastructure might limit mammalian movements.

He said: 'Humans don't create physical barriers alone, and there are often incentives to stay put.

'In some of these areas, there might be more food available, so that animals do not need to cover such large distances.'

The authors of the report say that cutting short the natural movements of animals is not without its consequences.

Experts tracked the effect of human activity via a measure of human activity known as the Human Footprint Index (pictured). The HFI measures how much our species has impacted an area using factors such as population density and the presence of roads and night-time lights

Disease can spread more rapidly if a sick individual doesn't move far, and the movement of animals also allows seed dispersal from plants.

This, in turn, feeds into the natural cycle of the environment as nutrient and seed dispersal is restricted.

Future work will look to see if this effect holds for groups of animals other than mammals.

Dr Kane said: 'Most birds won't have the same obstacles as mammals. It would be fascinating to see if, and how, their movements change around our cities'.Astronauts on missions to Mars could eat food made from their own faeces, according to new research.

Scientists say their discovery may lead to red planet pioneers existing on a 'gooey Marmite-like spread' grown from their own recycled human waste.

The innovation could solve the spaceflight problem of having enough food to fuel the astronauts on long-term missions.

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Nasa have funded research to find a way to recycle the valuable nutrients in astronaut faeces on long-haul space flight into a food source. The technology will be invaluable on long missions to Mars and beyond in the future

The spread is the creation of researchers from Penn State University in a project funded by Nasa.

Geoscientist professor Christopher House, of Penn State University, said: 'We envisioned and tested the concept of simultaneously treating astronauts' waste with microbes while producing a biomass that is edible either directly or indirectly depending on safety concerns.

'It's a little strange, but the concept would be a little bit like Marmite or Vegemite where you're eating a smear of 'microbial goo'.

The study addresses multiple challenges facing deep-space missions to Mars or beyond, which would likely take months or years.

Bringing enough food from Earth takes up volume and increases the mass and fuel cost of the spacecraft.

The research team found that methane was readily produced during anaerobic digestion of human waste and could be used to grow a different microbe, Methylococcus capsulatus, which is currently used as animal feed.

The team concluded that such microbial growth could be used to produce a nutritious food for deep space flight.

They grew the nutritious bacteria and found that it was 52 per cent protein and 36 per cent fats, making it a potential source of food for astronauts.

As well as being rich in proteins and fats, the team found it was almost entirely free of the disease causing pathogens that are abundant in faeces.

Currently, solid waste from astronauts via the ISS toilet (pictured) is discarded into space where it burns up in the atmosphere. Penn State University researchers received funding from Nasa to see if human waste could be better utilised for long-term space missions

COULD ASTRONAUTS EAT FAECES FOR FOOD? In the film, The Martian, Matt Damon's character is stranded on Mars and uses the faeces stored in the ship as fertiliser to grow potatoes. Many people said this would have been covered with disease and would not be possible. Currently, solid waste from astronauts on the ISS is discarded into space where it burns up in the atmosphere. Penn State University researchers received funding from Nasa to see if human waste could be better utilised for long-term space missions. The team used an enclosed, cylindrical system, four feet long by four inches in diameter, in which select microbes came into contact with the waste. The microbes broke down waste using anaerobic digestion, a process similar to the way humans digest food. By using the methane released from the breakdown of the faeces, the team found large amounts of Methylococcus capsulatus, a bacteria which is used in animal feed. They found that this bacteria was 52 per cent protein and 36 per cent fat which could provide a good source of nutrition for prolonged space flight. The researchers compared it to a microbial goo which would be similar to Vegemite or Marmite. Advertisement

Currently, the astronauts on board the ISS use a different system that recycles a small percentage of the urine into drinkable water.

The solid waste is dispelled into space, towards Earth and it burns up in the atmosphere of our planet.

The proposed new system would recycle up to 85 per cent of carbon and nitrogen to be used in forming proteins.

Matt Damon stars in The Martian (pictured) where he is stranded on Mars and uses the dried faecal matter from himself and his colleagues to fertilise the barren landscape to grow potatoes

The breakthrough mimics the plot of Ridley Scott's The Martian. In the film, a stranded astronaut survives by doing exactly the same thing using his excrement - and some leftovers from other members of the crew.

Cynics suggested the character, played by Matt Damon, would have got ill from eating the potatoes he produced.

But a research team has now shown it is possible to grow food by rapidly breaking down human waste with microbial reactors - without endangering human health.

They say it may be a valuable resource for astronauts on deep-space missions. Last year a US Congress bill signed by Donald Trump directed NASA to send a manned mission to the Red Planet in 2033.

The research was published in Life Sciences in Space Research.Advertisement

Although we're on our way out of the EU, the continent has left it's genetic mark on the average Brit.

A new study by AncestryDNA reveals that Britons, on average, glean 60 per cent of their ancestry from Europe.

While the average UK residents' DNA is 60.56% European and 36.3 per cent Anglo-Saxon, breakdowns of the data reveal variations within the UK and regions of England.

For example, Scotland stands out as the most 'European' region, with the average Scottish resident's DNA being 71.89 per cent European and 26.24 per cent Anglo-Saxon.

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A new study by AncestryDNA reveals that Britons, on average, glean 60 per cent of their ancestry from Europe (including Ireland). The average Briton has just 60 per cent British ancestry. Pictured left is the ancestral genetic breakdown of the average UK resident, and pictured right is a map of the UK showing the variation of genetic ancestry by region in the UK. For example, the average Yorkshire resident has the least amount of European DNA (57.98%) compared to other UK regions

The DNA findings come from an analysis of the genetic ancestry of those living in Britain, based on data collected from the at-home AncestryDNA test.

AncestryDNA looked at the UK's ethnicity dating back 2,000 years and tracing ancestry from 150 global regions.

Commenting on the DNA findings, Russell James, a spokesperson for AncestryDNA, said: 'Our DNA service has enabled millions of people worldwide to find out more about their ancestral heritage and for many in Britain it has confirmed our strong cultural and genetic connections with other European countries.'

'At Ancestry, we believe our shared Europeanness is something we can all celebrate, regardless of how we voted in the referendum.'

These tests examine a person's entire genome at more than 700,000 different genetic locations.

The results reveal the ethnic make up of the 'typical' person living in the UK and the countries or regions they can trace their ancestry back to over the past 2,000 years.

HOW DOES EUROPEAN ANCESTRY VARY IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE UK? While the average UK residents' DNA is 60.56% European and 36.3 per cent Anglo-Saxon, breakdowns of the data reveal variations within the UK and regions of England. For example, Yorkshire stands out as being the most 'British' county, with 57.98 per cent European ancestry and 39.93 per cent Anglo-Saxon ancestry. The most European region of the UK was Scotland, with the average Scottish resident's DNA being 71.89 per cent European and 26.24 per cent Anglo-Saxon. The type of European ancestry also varies among different regions of the UK. For example, 2.56 per cent of the DNA of the average London resident hails from Italy and Greece (Southern Europe), while residents of the North-West of England only have 1.32 per cent Southern European ancestry. Yorkshire residents have more Scandinavian DNA than any other UK residents, at 10.36 per cent, while Welsh people have the least amount of Scandinavian ancestry (6.81 per cent). A table of the breakdown of European and global ancestry by region of the UK can be found below: HOW EUROPEAN ANCESTORY DIFFERS IN VARIOUS REGIONS OF THE UK North West London South East Scotland North East Wales South West Yorkshire Africa North 0.11% 0.19% 0.14% 0.09% 0.10% 0.11% 0.13% 0.11% Ivory Coast / Ghana 0.14% 0.79% 0.16% 0.08% 0.01% 0.08% 0.05% 0.10% Benin / Togo 0.09% 0.62% 0.12% 0.03% 0.03% 0.07% 0.06% 0.08% Cameroon / Congo 0.07% 0.47% 0.11% 0.02% 0.03% 0.06% 0.04% 0.07% Mali 0.06% 0.23% 0.06% 0.03% 0.02% 0.03% 0.06% 0.05% Nigeria 0.12% 0.73% 0.13% 0.03% 0.03% 0.10% 0.09% 0.12% Senegal 0.03% 0.16% 0.05% 0.01% 0.01% 0.05% 0.03% 0.03% Africa Southeast Bantu 0.05% 0.18% 0.06% 0.02% 0.03% 0.04% 0.04% 0.05% Africa South-Central Hunter-Gatherers 0.02% 0.06% 0.03% 0.01% 0.02% 0.03% 0.02% 0.02% Caucasus 0.45% 0.76% 0.55% 0.49% 0.43% 0.41% 0.45% 0.45% Middle East 0.17% 0.48% 0.21% 0.18% 0.19% 0.19% 0.20% 0.16% America 0.11% 0.16% 0.13% 0.10% 0.13% 0.10% 0.12% 0.11% Asia South 0.48% 1.15% 0.59% 0.38% 0.31% 0.29% 0.34% 0.43% Asia Central 0.10% 0.15% 0.13% 0.10% 0.09% 0.09% 0.12% 0.10% Asia East 0.18% 0.26% 0.20% 0.15% 0.09% 0.05% 0.19% 0.09% Polynesia 0.08% 0.11% 0.10% 0.08% 0.09% 0.07% 0.12% 0.07% Melanesia 0.08% 0.12% 0.08% 0.07% 0.07% 0.08% 0.08% 0.07% Great Britain 37.68% 32.98% 37.77% 26.24% 36.54% 36.90% 39.01% 39.93% Ireland 27.45% 19.93% 18.19% 44.75% 26.89% 29.99% 19.94% 19.28% Europe East 1.58% 1.70% 1.54% 1.67% 1.34% 1.76% 1.57% 1.79% Europe North 8.80% 8.48% 9.70% 6.82% 9.80% 6.81% 9.19% 10.36% Italy / Greece 1.32% 2.56% 2.04% 1.43% 1.51% 1.55% 1.86% 1.65% Europe West 16.31% 19.98% 22.46% 12.57% 17.97% 15.59% 21.26% 20.34% Iberian Peninsula 2.48% 3.31% 3.34% 2.39% 2.69% 3.32% 3.47% 2.73% European Jewish 1.04% 3.48% 1.15% 1.09% 0.46% 1.26% 0.64% 0.81% Finland / Northwest Russia 1.01% 0.97% 0.96% 1.16% 1.11% 0.99% 0.93% 1.03% European 59.99% 60.41% 59.37% 71.89% 61.78% 61.26% 58.85% 57.98% Source: Based on data from AncestryDNA customers born in the UK to November 2017 Advertisement

Aside fro the 36.6 per cent of the average person's genetic make up that is Great British, the vast majority of the remaining DNA (60 per cent) is European.

This includes 23.14 per cent Irish and 37.42 per cent continental European, covering north, east, west and southern Europe, the Iberian Peninsula and European Jewish ancestry.

Breakdowns of the data also reveal differences between residents of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and even within English regions.

For example, Newcastle and its surrounding areas (North East) most strongly represent the nations average Great British ethnicity with 36.54%, alongside London, whose residents exemplify our European connection with 60.41% European DNA.

By contrast, Yorkshire stands out from the crowd by officially being the most British county in the UK with 39.93 per cent of residents DNA originating from Great Britain.

Yorkshire is also the least European, with 57.98 per cent of its DNA hailing from Europe.

The type of European ancestry also varies among different regions of the UK.

For example, 2.56 per cent of the DNA of the average London resident hails from Italy and Greece (Southern Europe), while residents of the North-West of England only have 1.32 per cent Southern European ancestry.

Yorkshire residents have more Scandinavian DNA than any other UK residents, at 10.36 per cent, while Welsh people have the least amount of Scandinavian ancestry.

The AncestryDNA test uses advanced DNA technology, which extracts DNA from a saliva sample.

Analysis of the data provides a prediction of the locations of ancestors from over 150 global regions, connecting a network of six million people (6.81 per cent).

When combined with Ancestrys existing database of over 20 billion historic records and 80 million family trees, the results can give new perspective on the world we live in and fill in gaps for family historians.

Last week, a similar study about Irish DNA was released.

It found that the Irish are much more genetically diverse than previously believed and have Viking and Norman ancestry - just like the English, according to new research.

A comprehensive DNA map of the people of the Emerald Isle revealed lasting contributions from British, Scandinavian and French invasions.

Researchers discovered 23 genetic 'groups' in Ireland and 27 groups in England, Scotland and Wales.

Researchers have found 50 distinct genetic clusters (classified into broader groups) in Ireland and Britain as shown by the key, shown top left. They are separated by colour based on region. For instance the SEE cluster, labelled in red and in South East England, represents a genetic group with largely Anglo Saxon Ancestry. Groups with largely Celtic ancestry include NLU (shown in yellow) NSC (green) and NWA (pink). Top right: A map shows how the groups are split around Britain and Ireland. Bottom: Each cross on the plotted graph represents an individual whose genes were sequenced for the study, and they are colour coded according to which cluster they belong to. They are positioned based on where in the UK they are from, with the grey lines showing latitude (PC1) and longitude (PC4)

The findings are significant because they could be used in future studies to identify the genetics underlying various traits and diseases in specific regions.

An estimated 80 million people worldwide claim Irish descent - almost half of them Americans who regard it as their main ethnicity.

It has long been assumed this means the blood in their veins is Celtic - but geneticists now say the truth is much more complicated.

Each group shows evidence of different kinds of ancestry, and the strongest signals of Viking ancestry were traced in south and central Leinster, followed by Connacht and north Leinster/Ulster.

The researchers found evidence of a single-date, one-source mixing event overlapping with the historical period of the Viking invasion of Ireland in AD 795.The 'holy grail' of dinosaur fossils has been found in the Sahara desert.

Researchers have unearthed the remains of a long-necked, four-legged, school bus-sized titanosaur that lived roughly 80 million years ago.

The plant-eating Cretaceous Period dinosaur, named Mansourasaurus shahinae, was nearly 33 feet (10 metres) long and weighed 5.5 tons (5,000 kg).

Very few fossils have been unearthed from the last days of the dinosaurs in Africa, and the latest discovery sheds light on this missing history.

The find also reveals that at least some dinosaurs could move between Africa and Europe during the final days of the dinosaurs.

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A dinosaur as big as a bus that lumbered across what is now the Sahara Desert 80 million years ago offers insight into the end of the reptiles' reign (artist's impression)

The skeleton includes parts of the skull, the lower jaw (pictured), neck and back vertebrae, ribs, most of the shoulder and forelimb, part of the hind foot and pieces of the bony skin plates

Scientists say the dinosaur is an 'incredible discovery'.

The skeleton is the most complete ever unearthed on the continent from the end of the Cretaceous.

It includes parts of the skull, the lower jaw, neck and back vertebrae, ribs, most of the shoulder and forelimb, part of the hind foot and pieces of the bony skin plates.

Co-author Dr Matt Lamanna, of Carnegie Museum of Natural History in New York, said: 'When I first saw pictures of the fossils my jaw hit the floor.

'This was the Holy Grail - a well-preserved dinosaur from the end of the Age of Dinosaurs in Africa - that we palaeontologists had been searching for a long, long time.'

Co-author Dr Eric Gorscak, of the Field Museum in Chicago, said: 'Africa's last dinosaurs weren't completely isolated - contrary to what some have proposed in the past. There were still connections to Europe.'

Its long neck would have allowed it to reach the foliage of the once fertile grassland to satisfy its enormous appetite. The skeleton is the most complete ever unearthed on the continent from the end of the Cretaceous

African dinosaur fossils from the Late Cretaceous - 100 to 66 million years ago - are few and far between.

Dr Gorscak explained: 'Mansourasaurus shahinae is a key new dinosaur species - and a critical discovery for Egyptian and African palaeontology.

'Africa remains a giant question mark in terms of land-dwelling animals at the end of the Age of Dinosaurs.

'Mansourasaurus helps us address longstanding questions about Africa's fossil record and palaeobiology - what animals were living there and to what other species were these animals most closely related?'

Much of the land where their fossils might be found is covered in lush vegetation rather than the exposed rock of dinosaur treasure troves such as those in the Rocky Mountains, the Gobi Desert or Patagonia.

Expedition leader Dr Hesham Sallam (right), of Mansoura University in Egypt, said: 'The discovery and extraction of Mansourasaurus was such an amazing experience for the team'

The lack of a Late Cretaceous fossil record in Africa is frustrating for palaeontologists since the continents were undergoing massive geological and geographic changes at the time.

During the earlier years of the dinosaurs - in the Triassic and Jurassic periods - all the continents were joined together as the supercontinent of Pangaea.

But in the Cretaceous they began splitting apart - and shifting towards the configuration we see today.

It hasn't been clear how well-connected Africa was then to other Southern Hemisphere land masses and Europe - or to what degree its animals may have been cut off from their neighbours and evolving on their own separate course.

Mansourasaurus - as one of the few African dinosaurs known from this period - helps answer that question, reports Nature Ecology and Evolution.

KILLING OFF THE DINOSAURS: HOW A CITY-SIZED ASTEROID WIPED OUT 75 PER CENT OF ALL ANIMAL AND PLANT SPECIES Around 66 million years ago non-avian dinosaurs were wiped out and more than half the world's species were obliterated. This mass extinction paved the way for the rise of mammals and the appearance of humans. The Chicxulub asteroid is often cited as a potential cause of the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event. The asteroid slammed into a shallow sea in what is now the Gulf of Mexico. The collision released a huge dust and soot cloud that triggered global climate change, wiping out 75 per cent of all animal and plant species. Researchers claim that the soot necessary for such a global catastrophe could only have come from a direct impact on rocks in shallow water around Mexico, which are especially rich in hydrocarbons. Within 10 hours of the impact, a massive tsunami waved ripped through the Gulf coast, experts believe. Around 66 million years ago non-avian dinosaurs were wiped out and more than half the world's species were obliterated. The Chicxulub asteroid is often cited as a potential cause of the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event (stock image) This caused earthquakes and landslides in areas as far as Argentina. While investigating the event researchers found small particles of rock and other debris that was shot into the air when the asteroid crashed. Called spherules, these small particles covered the planet with a thick layer of soot. Experts explain that losing the light from the sun caused a complete collapse in the aquatic system. This is because the phytoplankton base of almost all aquatic food chains would have been eliminated. It's believed that the more than 180 million years of evolution that brought the world to the Cretaceous point was destroyed in less than the lifetime of a Tyrannosaurus rex, which is about 20 to 30 years. Advertisement

Dr Hesham Sallam, leader of the excavation team and head of Mansoura University c enter for vertebrate paleontology said: 'What's exciting is our team is just getting started.

'Now we have a group of well-trained vertebrate palaeontologists here in Egypt - with easy access to important fossil sites - we expect the pace of discovery to accelerate in the years to come.'

Titanosaurs are famous for including the largest land animals that ever roamed Earth - such as Argentinosaurus, Dreadnoughtus and Patagotitan.

But Mansourasaurus was moderate-sized for a titanosaur - roughly the weight of an African bull elephant.

Dr Hesham Sallam, head of Mansoura universitys Center for Vertebrate Paleontology, displays bones of a Cretaceous period dinosaur in Mansoura, Egypt

Dr Sallam, head of Mansoura universitys Center for Vertebrate Paleontology, displays a left dentary, which holds the teeth, of a Cretaceous period dinosaur in Mansoura, Egypt

Dr Dena Smith, a program director in the National Science Foundation's Division of Earth Sciences in the US which part-funded the research, said: 'The discovery of rare fossils like this sauropod dinosaur helps us understand how creatures moved across continents and gives us a greater understanding of the evolutionary history of organisms in this region.'

While Egypt has a long history of archaeology, paleontology has not enjoyed the same popularity, or had the same success.

In 1911, the German paleontologist Ernst Stromer led an exhibition to the oasis of Bahriya, also in Egypts Western Desert.

There, he discovered four species of dinosaurs, including a predatory type known as the Spinosaurus, all from the Cretaceous period.

But all of his findings were later lost in Allied bombing of the Munich Museum during World War II.

Researchers from Mansoura University, in Egypt's Nile Delta, say they dont know how Mansourasaurus lived and died, except for the fact that it was a plant eater.

Theres no indication whether it lived alone or in a herd.

In this photo, palaeontologist Mai el-Amir, who was involved in Mansoura universitys excavation of a Cretaceous period dinosaur, works on a bone at a laboratory in Mansoura, Egypt

A humerus or arm bone and a drawing of a Cretaceous period dinosaur are displayed in a lab at Mansoura university, in Mansoura, Egypt

The bones do bear resemblance to another dinosaur discovery in Egypt, that of the Paralititan Stromeri, excavated by an American team from the University of Pennsylvania, whose findings were published in 2001.

But only in so much as both were long-necked herbivores grazers.

The Paralititan Stromeri is believed to have been among the largest known animals, weighing in at 75 tons and over 30 metres (33 yards) long.

The Mansourasaurus smaller size is more typical of the Mesozoic era, when dinosaurs time was running out, geologically speaking, according to Dr Sallam.

Egypts Western Desert would have more closely resembled a coastal jungle during the dinosaurs lifetime, with half of what is the country today under water.

Though finding a dinosaur bone in a vast desert may seem akin to a needle in a haystack, it was also the product of back-breaking work.

The team had been scouring the area of the find more than 466 miles (750 km) southwest of the capital for five years before they found the partial skeleton of the Mansourasaurus in 2013.Boring Company founder Elon Musk has sold 7,000 flamethrowers in a little over 24 hours, just a month after posing the idea on Twitter.

In total, Musk has sold $4 million- (2.9 million) worth of his 'zombie-killing' flamethrowers, with the Boring Company receiving 1,000 orders in the first three hours.

The billionaire also posted a video to his Instagram account in which he is seen firing up one of the $600 (430) weapons and charging toward the person filming him.

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Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk has sold 7,000 flamethrowers (pictured) in a little over 24 hours, just a month after posing the idea on Twitter

Musk had claimed he would begin selling flamethrowers in December if his tunnel-digging firm the Boring Company sold 50,000 hats.

Sales for The Boring Company Flamethrower opened on Sunday, with the 46-year-old proceeding to post regular updates on how many he had sold.

Musk has said he is selling a total of 20,000 of the weapons, described on the firm's website at the 'world's safest flamethrower', with shipping expected in April.

The billionaire tweeted on Sunday: 'When the zombie apocalypse happens, youll be glad you bought a flamethrower.

'Works against hordes of the undead or your money back!'

The Boring Company, a firm Musk founded to dig tunnels under Los Angeles that could one day relieve traffic congestion, even offers a $30 (21) fire extinguisher.

Sales for the extinguishers are available through the 'flamethrower' section of the company's website.

The billionaire posted a video to his Instagram account in which he is seen firing up one of the $600 (430) weapons and charging toward the person filming him

The firm writes: 'Buy an overpriced Boring Company fire extinguisher! You can definitely buy one for less elsewhere, but this one comes with a cool sticker and the button is conveniently riiight above.'

Last month, Musk tweeted that the Boring Company would create the 'safest flamethrower ever' after selling 50,000 $20 (14) hats bearing the firm's name.

'I know it's a little off-brand, but kids love it,' Musk wrote.

Most people assumed that the South African entrepreneur was joking.

Musk has now sold over $4 million- (2.9 million) worth of flamethrowers, with the Boring Company receiving 1,000 orders in the first three hours

Musk has said he is selling a total of 20,000 of the weapons, described on the firm's website at the 'world's safest flamethrower', with shipping expected in April. A video posted to Musk's Instagram showed two Boring Company employees using the devices (pictured)

But as sales opened yesterday, orders flooded in, with Musk comically advising on Twitter that people shouldn't buy the devices.

'Obviously, a flamethrower is a super terrible idea. Definitely dont buy one. Unless you like fun,' he wrote on Sunday.

Rumours that the weapons would actually go on sale surfaced this week when fans of Musk discovered a secretive, password-protected webpage on the Boring Company's website advertising a flamethrower.

The page, which at one time was accessible using the password 'flame,' had an option to pre-order one of the devices and said the item will ship in April.

The Boring Company, a firm Musk founded to dig tunnels under Los Angeles that could one day relieve traffic congestion, even offers a $30 (21) fire extinguisher. Sales for the extinguishers are available through the 'flamethrower' section of the company's website

Pictured, a prototype of the Boring Company's $600 flamethrower. The device was discovered on a password protected page on the company's website last week

It also noted that the flamethrower pictured is a prototype.

'Final production flamethrower will be better,' it said.

While Musk faces production troubles with Tesla, his electric car company, the Boring Company has made significant progress in recent months.

Last week, the Boring Company presented plans to build a 6.5-mile (10.5 km) shaft under Culver City, California, at a council meeting.

According to the plans, the privately-funded tunnel would carry cars on 'electric skates' at 150 miles per hour (240 kph) to help with LA's 'soul-destroying' congestion.

The proposed route goes through West Los Angeles passing underneath Sepulveda Boulevard through Culver City.

The billionaire's tunnel-digging firm 'The Boring Company' has presented its plans to build a 6.5-mile (10.5 km) shaft under Culver City, California, at a council meeting. Pictured is an image shared by Musk in October of the firm's test tunnel in Los AngelesAdvertisement

Amazon has finally opened the doors on its new 'rainforest' campus in Seattle  that is, with a little help from Alexa.

At an unveiling event today, CEO Jeff Bezos took to the podium to introduce the firm's new office space, confined within three massive plant-lined glass domes dubbed The Spheres.

And, just as with Amazon's smart home speakers, the CEO demonstrated how summoning Alexa will light up a blue ring at the top of the dome, and the voice assistant will respond, in this case to 'open the Spheres.'

Amazon has finally opened the doors on its new 'rainforest' campus in Seattle  that is, with a little help from Alexa. Inside, there are more than 400 species of plants, and the firm is hoping the design will give employees more opportunity to reflect and have 'chance encounters' that could inspire new projects

'I brought a special friend with me today to help do the grand opening of the Spheres,' Bezos said at the event, which was attended by Seattle's mayor, Amazon employees, and the press, among others, according to GeekWire.

'And so if you would join me in directing your attention up above your heads for just a momentAlexa, open the Spheres.'

With that, and a response of 'OK, Jeff,' the misters turned on to water the plant-walls, hanging lights switched on, and the Spheres were open.

The new campus comes in stark contrast to Amazon's notoriously demanding work culture.

After seven years of planning and construction, Amazon finally cut the ribbon on the Spheres, which are designed to not only give employees an opportunity to relax (briefly) on the job but also reinforce the company's image as an innovative, think-outside-the-box corporation

The staff members who will work there will have the luxury of admiring more than 40,000 plants from 400 different species from the company's Woodinville greenhouse

And, just as with Amazon's smart home speakers, the CEO demonstrated how summoning Alexa will light up a blue ring at the top of the dome, and the voice assistant will respond, in this case to 'open the Spheres'

Inside, there are more than 400 species of plants, and the firm is hoping the design will give employees more opportunity to reflect and have 'chance encounters' that could inspire new projects.

'We wanted to create something really special, something iconic for our campus and for the city of Seattle,' John Schoettler, Amazon's vice president of global real estate and facilities, said at the opening event.

It officially opens for workers on Tuesday.

The company's hard-working employees will be able to take a break from the daily grind by walking along stone pathways, observing mini-waterfalls, and enjoying the plant life from exotic locales in South America.

At an unveiling event today, CEO Jeff Bezos took to the podium to introduce the firm's new office space, confined within three massive plant-lined glass domes dubbed The Spheres

Jeff Bezos, the CEO and founder of Amazon.com, took a walking tour of the Amazon Spheres after the unveiling ceremony, revealing the three plant-filed geodesic domes that serve as a work- and gathering place for Amazon employees

WHAT'S INSIDE AMAZON'S NEW 'SPHERES' CAMPUS? The three giant steel-framed, glass-enclosed domes in Seattle will house over 800 Amazon employees After seven years of planning and construction, Amazon finally cut the ribbon on the Spheres, which are designed to not only give employees an opportunity to relax (briefly) on the job but also reinforce the company's image as an innovative, think-outside-the-box corporation. The staff members who will work there will have the luxury of admiring more than 40,000 plants from 400 different species from the company's Woodinville greenhouse. The inside of the spheres will even feel like a rainforest. The climate will be controlled. The air temperature will be held at a constant 72 degrees while the humidity will be 60 percent. In some locations, the climate will vary, with temperatures that either rise or drop by as much as five degrees. There is even a ventilation system that simulates an outdoor breeze. Ventilation ducts pump in fresh air for the benefit of a five-story wall of plants. At the highest point of the spheres, workers and visitors can lounge in a hangout spot. There is also a meeting place for employees known as 'the bird's nest,' which looks more like a wooden treehouse suspended 30 feet in the air. Amazon even brought in a large, 55-foot-tall Ficus tree that was first planted in California in 1969. Today it weighs almost 36,000 pounds, requiring the company to hoist it by crane and drop it through a hole in the roof Advertisement

The massive project includes three office buildings in the shape of spheres  the tallest of which is 90 feet tall and 130 feet in diameter, Bloomberg News reported.

The structures were designed by NBBJ, the global architecture firm that also designed Amazon's HQ1, which is also in Seattle.

The three giant steel-framed, glass-enclosed domes at Sixth Avenue and Lenora Street in Seattle will house over 800 employees.

The new campus comes in stark contrast to Amazon's notoriously demanding work culture. It officially opens for workers on Tuesday

The three giant steel-framed, glass-enclosed domes at Sixth Avenue and Lenora Street in Seattle will house over 800 employees

The staff members who will work there will have the luxury of admiring more than 40,000 plants from 400 different species from the company's Woodinville greenhouse.

After seven years of planning and construction, Amazon finally cut the ribbon on the Spheres, which are designed to not only give employees an opportunity to relax (briefly) on the job but also reinforce the company's image as an innovative, think-outside-the-box corporation.

Amazon even brought in a large, 55-foot-tall Ficus tree that was first planted in California in 1969.

Today it weighs almost 36,000 pounds, requiring the company to hoist it by crane and drop it through a hole in the roof.

There is also a meeting place for employees known as 'the bird's nest,' which looks more like a wooden treehouse suspended 30 feet in the air

For the employees working inside, the company built a suspension bridge allowing them a view of the large tree

The image above shows a 50ft-tall wall adorned with exotic plants inside the the Three Spheres in downtown Seattle

Amazon's construction of the spheres generated 600 full-time jobs, ranging from design to actual building. The company even called on a horticulturalist to oversee the installation of plant life

The planners had to dismantle part of the sphere in order to make room for the tree and then put the sphere back together again.

For the employees working inside, the company built a suspension bridge allowing them a view of the tree.

The inside of the spheres will even feel like a rainforest.

The climate will be controlled. The air temperature will be held at a constant 72 degrees while the humidity will be 60 percent.

In some locations, the climate will vary, with temperatures that either rise or drop by as much as five degrees.

There is even a ventilation system that simulates an outdoor breeze.

Ventilation ducts pump in fresh air for the benefit of a five-story wall of plants, like those seen in the above picture

At the highest point of the spheres, workers and visitors can lounge in a hangout spot (as seen in the photo above)

Amazon's construction of the spheres generated 600 full-time jobs, ranging from design to actual building

Water mists from a wall of plants inside the spheres. The unveiling of its downtown Seattle campus comes in the midst of speculation as to which city Amazon will choose as the home of its planned $5billion second headquarters project

Ventilation ducts pump in fresh air for the benefit of a five-story wall of plants.

At the highest point of the spheres, workers and visitors can lounge in a hangout spot.

There is also a meeting place for employees known as 'the bird's nest,' which looks more like a wooden treehouse suspended 30 feet in the air.

'From the moment we started construction, people would stand on the street corners taking photographs,' said John Schoettler.

Schoettler runs Amazon's global real estate division.

'This structure is about thinking big and thinking long term.'

'This structure is about thinking big and thinking long term,' said John Schoettler, the head of Amazon's global real estate division

A visitor stands on the suspension bridge inside the facility

Ron Gagliardo, senior manager of horticultural services at Amazon (right), and John Schoettler, vice president of global real estate and facilities for Amazon, point out various species of plants inside the campus

Amazon's construction of the spheres generated 600 full-time jobs, ranging from design to actual building.

The company even called on a horticulturalist to oversee the installation of plant life.

The unveiling of its downtown Seattle campus comes in the midst of speculation as to which city Amazon will choose as the home of its planned $5billion second headquarters project.

The company has made a list of 20 finalists who are vying to host the HQ2 facility, which is expected to generate 50,000 new jobs.

Amazon will announce a winner later this year.Germans are well known for leaping out of bed on holiday and bagging the best pool sunloungers with a quick throw of the towel, but they may finally be thwarted  at least by the customers for one holiday firm in particular.

That's because Thomas Cook is launching a new service that allows customers to choose their sunbed before they leave home.

What's more, they will have plenty of time to pick their loungers  up to six days before departure - and they will have access to data that shows them when their chosen spot will get sun and shade.

The Sunprime Atlantic View in Las Palmas, pictured, is one of the hotels trialling the sunlounger booking system from the end of February

Thomas Cook said: 'Following the successful launch of Choose Your Room for Summer 2017, Choose Your Favourite Sunbed is part of our wider commitment to innovating today's package holiday and adapting to the needs of the modern traveller.'

The new initiative is being trialled in three Thomas Cook own-brand hotels, such as the Sunprime Atlantic View in Las Palmas, from the end of February and will be available in 30 own-brand hotels for summer 2018.

It is the first service of its kind to be offered by a package holiday company in the UK, claims Thomas Cook, and 'takes customers' ability to "unpack" and personalise their package holiday to a new level'.

This image is a mock-up of the pool plan Thomas Cook customers will have access to before they jet off

Choose Your Favourite Sunbed allows families and couples to pre-book sunbeds in their preferred location, helping them stay together, spend more time on their favourite activities, then returning to the pool when it suits them, safe in the knowledge their beds will be waiting, Thomas Cook said.

Customers will receive an email six days before departure asking if they would like to choose their sunbed in advance.

They will be able to choose their preferred location from a pool plan based on their personal preferences.

While some families may wish to secure their ideal spot by the kids' pool, others may prefer to be in a more secluded, restful spot. The pool plans will include a compass that indicates when loungers will be covered in shade.

Chris Mottershead, Thomas Cook's UK Managing Director, said: 'Traditional package holidays are a thing of the past. Holidaymakers today want to personalise their package, mixing and matching the elements that best fit their needs and lifestyle.

'Our recently launched services such as Choose Your Room, which has attracted more than 10,000 bookings during the trial phase, and Early Check In, are proving popular and we're excited about the opportunity with Choose your Favourite Sunbed, particularly among families that want to secure a number of beds together in a specific spot.'

Choose Your Favourite Sunbed will cost 25 per sunbed per stay. Around 10 to 20 per cent of each hotel's sunbeds will be bookable, so there are enough available for those who don't want to take up the service.

Choose Your Room will be available in 300 hotels by summer 2018 and costs 30 per room.

For more information, go to: www.thomascook.com/holidays/choose-your-sunbed.This incredible footage shows a breath-taking perspective as planes take off and land at one of the world's most dangerous airports.

The videos were captured by cameras attached to the undersides of two aircraft and show the dramatic approach and ascent from Lukla Airport in Nepal.

The dramatic clips were filmed from a Dornier 228, a twin-turboprop utility aircraft that is a common sight at the airstrip located high in the Himalayas.

A rare view from an aircraft shows a landing at the hazardous Lukla Airport in Nepal

The footage shows a Dornier 228, a twin-turboprop utility aircraft, coming into land at the Himalayan airport

The dramatic footage shows exactly why Lukla Airport has the dubious honour of being known as one of the world's most hazardous.

In the first clip an aircraft can be seen making its way through the clouds over the peaks of the Himalayas - then the tiny runway appears in the distance.

The small plane then hurtles towards the runway at great speed - managing to brake and slow down just before reaching the ravine at the end.

Meanwhile in the second clip, of the take off, a similar Dornier 228 can be seen becoming airborne within seconds.

As the plane makes its final approach, the small runway, which is much shorter and narrower than standard runways, becomes clear

The small plane has only a matter of seconds to come to a standstill on a runway that is over 3,000 metres shorter than Heathrow's longest runway

The cameras fixed to the undersides of the fuselages show breathtaking scenery.

But the take-off clip has an eerie dimension to it because according to Just Planes, who filmed and published the footage, the plane that features in it crashed not long afterwards.

Lukla Airport has developed its reputation as it is tiny - just 20 metres wide and 527 metres long (by comparison Heathrow's longest runway is 3,902 metres long) - and it sits at 9,500ft so the descent from the cruise is abrupt, with one of the steepest approach pathways in the world.

Footage was also taken from the underside of another aircraft taking off from the small airport

Lukla Airport has developed its reputation as it has an extremely steep approach path

The plane's landing gear begins to fold in after becoming airborne during take off

Pilots have to undergo special rigorous training to be able to land or take off from the airport

Pilots have to undergo special, rigorous training to be able to land or take off from the airport. For those looking to scale Mount Everest, it is the nerve-rattling start of the expedition.

Since the 1970's, Lukla airport has had an astonishing number of accidents, now into double figures.

The most severe accident to date was the October 2008 crash, where an aircraft plummeted on its final approach and caught fire, killing 18 passengers and crew.They've remained friendly since calling it quits more than two years ago.

And Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck reunited on Sunday morning for church with their children.

Affleck, 45, who recently flew back from visiting his girlfriend Lindsay Shookus in New York City, caught up with Garner, 45, and their children Seraphina, 9, and Samuel, 5, who arrived first in a minivan.

Sunday best: Jennifer Garner arrives early to church on Sunday with her children ahead of ex-husband Ben Affleck

Garner looked comfortable in a patterned skirt that hit below the knee, long sleeve black sweater and black flats.

The actress wore her hair in a low bun and Seraphina looked adorable with her hair in ponytails.

Samuel walked in bouncing a basketball.

The Batman star arrived separately, wearing an olive T-shirt, dark blue jeans and navy sneakers.

For the kids: Affleck joined Garner and the children after arriving shortly after

Having a blast: Five-year-old Samuel had fun ahead of mass bouncing a basketball

The pair have remained on good terms since they jointly filed for divorce in April 2017.

Their divorce has not yet been finalized.

Garner has also been busy working on the Pierre Morel-directed film Peppermint during January in Los Angeles.

Co-parenting: Ben and Jen have spent a lot of time together co-parenting their children

Like mother, like daughter: Seraphina wore adorable pigtails, a long coral and blue dress with leggings

The dramatic thriller tells the story of Riley, a young mother determined to get revenge after the murder of her husband and daughter. After training to be a killing machine, she seeks out all who are guilty including the gang, their lawyers and the corrupt cops.

It co-stars Richard Cabral, John Ortiz, John Gallagher Jr and rapper Method Man.

As of now, Affleck is still schedule to star and produce in the upcoming film The Batman.

He was also set to direct but he stepped down from that role saying he wanted to focus on acting instead.She has continuously fended off claims she is dating Gorka Marquez.

But Gemma Atkinson, 33, couldn't wipe the smile from her face as she headed to dinner with her rumoured flame after Manchester's Strictly live show on Saturday.

Joined by their fellow co-stars, the pair appeared in high spirits as they posed alongside each other in a group snap before sitting next to each other in the swanky restaurant.

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Thumbs up! Gemma Atkinson, 33, couldn't wipe the smile from her face as she headed to dinner with her rumoured flame, Gorka Marquez after of Manchester's Strictly live show on Saturday

Casually-clad in a cosy white polo neck and tight velvet leggings, Gemma slipped out of her glitzy ensembles for the outing.

The Emmerdale actress appeared in a jubilant mood as she stopped to give a thumbs up for the camera.

She slicked her long blonde tresses back in a neat bun and appeared to have wiped off the majority of her stage make-up.

Meanwhile, Gorka, 27, rocked a baker boy cap, ripped black jeans and a tight polo neck.

Successful show: Joined by their fellow co-stars, the pair appeared in high spirits as they posed alongside each other in a group snap before heading into the swanky restauran

Once inside the venue, the two sat together as Gemma took to Instagram to document the meal at Smokehouse.

Their appearance together comes as rumours are swirling that the pair are dating, with the two stars being spotted on a cosy lunch date earlier this week.

Gemma and Gorka have kept fans talking when it comes to their relationship after being spotted kissing each other goodbye and sharing cosy social media posts together.

However, the blonde beauty insisted she is single, despite their close bond.

Addressing the relationship rumours, she told The Sunday Mirror: 'I don't think anything of it.

'I know what's going on in my life so whatever everyone else wants to think I just let them think it because I know.'

Romance on the cards?Their appearance together comes as rumours are swirling that the pair are dating, with the two stars being spotted on a cosy lunch date earlier this week

Meanwhile, Strictly winner's Joe McFadden and Katya Jones beamed for the cameras after entertaining the crowds with their energetic Charleston.

Following a dance-filled weekend in Manchester, the dancers will head to Belfast before stopping off in Glasgow and Nottingham.

The Strictly stars will finish off their dancing parade in the British capital London with two performances at Wembley and finally the O2 Arena.

Happy: Meanwhile, Strictly winner's Joe McFadden and Katya Jones beamed for the cameras after entertaining the crowds with their energetic CharlestonIt received a jaw-dropping seven Oscar nominations last week.

And Sunday night seemed to predict more success for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri when the film swept the London Film Critics' Circle Awards 2018.

Winning a trio of awards, the crime drama was closely followed by family film Paddington 2, which won two awards - including Best Supporting Actor for Hugh Grant's role in the sequel.

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Success! Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri has swept the London Film Critics' Circle Awards 2018 with three awards

Three Billboards won Film Of The Year, Screenwriter Of The Year (Martin McDonagh) and Best Actress of the year, scooped by Frances McDormand.

The film follows the story of Mildred Hayes (played by Frances), on her path to solve her daughter's murder after police find no leads.

She paints three signs leading into her town with a controversial message directed at William Willoughby, the town's revered chief of police, leading to a tense battle.

Meanwhile 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).

Runner-up: The crime comedy was closely followed by Paddington 2, which won two awards- including Best Supporting Actor for Hugh Grant's role in the sequel

Still going strong! Hugh Grant won an award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Paddington 2

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).

Winners by numbers Three awards: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing; Missouri (Fox) Two awards: Paddington 2 (StudioCanal) One award: Beach Rats (Peccadillo); Blade Runner 2049 (Sony); Darkest Hour (Universal); Dunkirk (Warners); Elle (Trafalgar); The Florida Project (Altitude); Get Out (Universal); God's Own Country (Picturehouse); I Am Not Your Negro (Altitude); Maudie (Sony); Phantom Thread (Universal); The Shape of Water (Fox) Advertisement

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.

Meanwhile Timothee Chalamet won Best Actor for his role in Call Me By Your Name, and Lesley Manville scooped Best Supporting Actress for Phantom Thread.

Daniel Kaluuya landed British/ Irish actor of the year for his role in Get Out, while Harris Dickinson was awarded Young British/ Irish performer of the year for his role in Beach Rats.

Elle landed Foreign Language Film Of The Year while I Am Not Your Negro scooped Documentary of The Year.

And following its critically acclaimed success, Dunkirk landed British/ Irish Film of the Year: The Attenborough Award.

Sean Baker scooped Director Of The Year for The Florida Project, while Dionne Edwards of We Love Moses won British/ Irish Short Film Of The Year.

A hit! Three Billboards won Film Of The Year, Screenwriter Of The Year (Martin McDonagh) and Best Actress of the year, scooped by Frances McDormand (seen right)

Comical: Meanwhile Paddington 2 scooped British/ Irish Actress of The Year (Sally Hawkins for her role as Mary Brown) and Best Supporting actor (Hugh Grant- pictured)

Talent: Hugh scooped the awards for his role as Phoenix Buchanan, a faded and narcissistic actor

Continuing her long-standing reign, Kate Winslet won the award for Excellence in Film, while Dennis Gassner won the Technical Achievement Award for Blade Runner 2049.

A new entry was Francis Lee, winning the Breakthrough British/ Irish filmmaker award for God's Own Country.

At the event Hugh Grant was seen putting 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.

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

Putting on a suave display, Hugh slipped into crisp white shirt and a well-cut grey suit, completing his ensemble with a grey tie.

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.

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

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It's been billed as one of the most explosive seasons of My Kitchen Rules ever.

And as the Channel Seven cooking show kicked off on Monday, personality clashes were evident during the first Instant Restaurant.

As brothers Josh and Nic served up an Italian feast, blonde BFFs Jess and Emma came into conflict with Roula and Rachael almost immediately - and neither duo held back.

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'I'd pick you up out of the chair and throw you out': Feisty feud kicks off as MKR's Jess (left) and Emma (right) clash with Roula and Rachael during first Instant Restaurant on Monday night

Jess was upfront about the fact she and Emma often rub people up the wrong way: 'On first impression, people think that we're horrible stuck-up b*tches until they get to know us

'And they'll still think we're horrible stuck up b*tches.'

Meanwhile, Roula hinted that sh doesn't pack a meek personality, declaring: 'My family call me the psycho in the kitchen.'

So it's no surprise that it didn't take long for these teams - full of strong personalities - to come to blows.

Rachael got her claws out when it came to the blonde women, who she dubbed 'The Plastics' thanks to their apparent penchant for cosmetic enhancements and makeup.

'I think that Jess and Emma are meant to be on the Real Housewives of Sydney. Or maybe Botched,' Rachael offered to camera.

Meanwhile, on finding out that Rachael worked in real estate but was employed in lower position than her, Emma voiced her disdain for her competitor, stating: 'Oh admin? I'm a general manager. We don't have anything in common.'

Going head to head: Roula (left) and Rachael (right) look set to clash with their rivals this season on My Kitchen Rules

'I think that Jess and Emma are meant to be on the Real Housewives of Sydney. Or maybe Botched,' Rachael slung insults at the blonde sisters (pictured) from the very first episode

However, the knives really came out when Josh and Nic served the first dish of the night: an entree consisting of spinach and ricotta dumplings with gorgonzola sauce.

Explaining she doesn't eat fried food because she 'likes to look good', Roula refused to eat the entree.

She then declared to the rest of the guests and the judges: 'I just can't stomach that', despite several of the other guests praising the taste of the dish.

Plating up: Roula wasn't a fan of the dishes Josh and Nic served up, particularly the fried entree (pictured: Josh and Nic with the main course)

Taken aback by Roula's critique, Jess fired up at the feisty contestant.

'To say that you can't stomach something is pretty brutal,' Jess told her.

Jess then added that if it was her home: 'I'd pick you up out of the chair and throw you out'

Roula wasn't going down without a fight and snapped back: 'Sorry sister but if I don't like something I will return it and if I can't stomach it I will verbalise it. I could not stomach it.'

And it looks like the battle has just begun between the two teams with Roula later lamenting: 'Why do you want to start beef with us? Because you're jealous? Because you like this dress and I'm like you wish you could fit in it?'She's been consumed with a bitter court battle with her former flame and his family.

But Blac Chyna decided to have some fun in the sun with a relaxing family pool day on a warm Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles.

The 29-year-old social media starlet donned a tiny black bikini as she jumped into the water to show off some dance moves to her millions of followers on Snapchat.

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Beauty: Blac Chyna decided to have some fun in the sun with a relaxing family pool day on Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles

Blac - real name Angela Renee White - sported a black triangle top held together with golden chains above her chest.

Her matching bottoms hugged her slender waistline to reveal her perky posterior amid a host of gold belly chains.

She sported long curly brown hair which cascaded down her back just above her cheeky bottoms.

Wow! The 29-year-old social media starlet donned a tiny black bikini as she jumped into the water to show off some dance moves to her millions of followers on Snapchat

Sunny: She sported long curly brown hair which cascaded down her back just above her cheeky bottoms

The mother-of-two seemed to be nearly makeup free for the pool day with her children and friends.

Taking a break to express herself, Chyna perched herself on a step to show off her twerking skills.

Little Dream seemed to be having a great time as she sat in her mother's arms holding on to some snacks.

Her five-year-old son King Cairo with ex Tyga sported a blue and yellow safety vest to play in the water with his family.

Work it: Taking a break to express herself, Chyna perched herself on a step to show off her twerking skills

A lawyer for Blac Chyna claimed victory after a judge tentatively ruled last week on an attempt by Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner to be removed from a lawsuit.

Chyna sued the Kardashian family in October claiming the family sabotaged her E! reality show with ex-fiance Rob and ruined her brand.

The original lawsuit named the entire Kardashian clan as defendants, including Khloe, Kendall, Kylie and Kourtney, but it was amended to go after just Kris, Kim and Rob after she claimed the family killed a reality television show after she broke up with Rob.

Once Rob agreed to pay her $20,000 monthly in child support for their daughter Dream, Chyna dropped a restraining order; which shows she didn't really feel threatened, according to TMZ via a Kardashian source.

Cutie: Little Dream seemed to be having a great time as she sat in her mother's arms holding on to some snacksShe gave birth to her second daughter Willow Wendy Wood in October.

And now Snezana Markoski, 37, has spoken candidly about getting back into shape following her little girl's arrival.

In a refreshing conversation with New Weekly magazine, the brunette beauty said it was 'harder than she expected' and the process 'is not a race'.

'It was harder than I expected': Bachelor winner Snezana Markoski speaks candidly about getting back into shape following the birth of her daughter Willow

'My lack of strength, energy and endurance meant I got really tired, really fast,' she explained.

Despite exercising three times a week, the mother-of-two said she had to come to terms with the fact it wasn't a 'race' to regain her svelte figure.

'I got really tired, really fast': Despite exercising three times a week, the mother of two said she had to come to terms with the fact it wasn't a 'race' to regain her svelte figure. (Left) the TV star is pictured after the birth

Snezana also admitted it was harder to ping back into shape after the birth of her second daughter.

'I was 12 years younger when I had Eve, so I knew that it would be different this time around,' she said.

''I was 12 years younger when I had Eve, so I knew that it would be different this time': The brunette beauty said she had now switched-up her workouts to more high intensity programs ahead of her planned wedding to hunky fiance, Sam Wood

The brunette beauty said she had now switched-up her workouts to more high intensity programs ahead of her planned wedding to hunky fiance, Sam Wood.

Last week, Snezana and Sam were snapped taking in a game at the Australian Open.

Second child: The TV star has said getting back in shape was more difficult than she expected after he second child Willow was born last October

Game, set, love match! Last week, Snezana and Sam were snapped taking in a game at the Australian Open

The Macedonian beauty was glowing on the day, wearing a white and nude floral mini-dress with beige wedges.

On the date night, the pair were all smiles, with Sam even snapped giving his fiance a kiss on the head.

When sitting in their seats, the pair chatted with AFL star Jonathan Brown, former caption of the Brisbane Lions.

Having a laugh: When sitting in their seats, the pair chatted with AFL star Jonathan Brown, former caption of the Brisbane Lions

Family: Three months ago, Sam and Snezana welcomed their first child together, daughter Willow. Snezana also has older daughter Eve, 12, from a previous relationshipHe previously denied feud reports with fellow MKR judge Pete Evans, with the pair claiming they 'love each other' and have a 'deep relationship.'

But Manu Feildel, 43, has revealed the paleo chef did not attend his recent wedding to Clarissa Weerasena.

Speaking to 2DayFM's Em, Grant & Ed on Monday, the French hunk simply replied 'no' when asked if his co-star attended his big day.

Didn't make the cut? Manu Feildel (L), 43, has revealed fellow MKR judge Pete Evans (R) did not attend his recent wedding to Clarissa Weerasena

'There's going to be people who will be hearing about this wedding right now for the first time,' radio host Grant said with Em joking: 'Pete Evans has just started crying and he doesn't know why.'

Manu replied: 'Yeah well I'm sorry.'

It is unclear whether Pete, 44, was invited however, Manu told Sunrise this week that the wedding was an intimate affair.

Blunt: Speaking to 2DayFM's Em, Grant & Ed on Monday, the French hunk simply replied 'no' when asked if his co-star attended his big day

Was he invited? It is unclear whether Pete, 44, was invited however, Manu told Sunrise this week that the wedding was an intimate affair

'There were 20 of us. It was a small party. Parents from both sides, brothers, sisters and best mates. That was it,' he said.

Last year, Manu and Pete both denied persistent feud reports during a joint appearance on Sunrise.

'We do love each other apart from what some people will write about us,' Pete insisted live on-air, wrapping one arm around Manu's shoulder.

'We have a very deep relationship with each other.'

'I could not hold onto my feelings': Manu admitted to New Idea on Monday he cried when he married fiancee Clarissa Weerasena (right) in a secret ceremony

Allowing Pete to do the talking, Manu simply replied: 'Yes.'

Speaking to this week's New Idea, Manu admitted he teared up on his wedding day.

'Of course I cried but it was happiness, not nerves. I could not hold onto my feelings. I'm a big, soft bear!' Manu told the magazine.

The wedding, which featured Manu's 13-year-old son as a groomsman and the couple's three-year-old daughter Charlee as a flower girl, was a long time coming for the bride and groom.

Manu and Clarissa had become engaged back in November 2013, but it took four years for the couple to tie the knot.

'I cried but it was happiness, not nerves': Manu said he became emotional during the wedding

Family affair: The wedding featured Manu's 13-year-old son as a groomsman and the couple's three-year-old daughter Charlee as a flower girl

But Manu said the couple wasn't worried about how long it took them to walk down the aisle.

'It just happens when it happens, to be honest. There is a time for everything. Maybe we weren't ready a year or two ago. We are now!' he told the magazine.

And appearing on Sunrise on Monday, the celebrity chef continued: 'Finally the ring is here. We are happy. We finally have time to do it. That has been the problem over the last four years - having the time to do it.'

Manu also told the show it was an intimate ceremony with the couple's nearest and dearest.

'There were 20 of us. It was a small party. Parents from both sides, brothers, sisters and best mates. That was it,' he said.

'There were 20 of us. It was a small party': Speaking to Sunrise, the celebrity chef explained it was an intimate ceremony

Clarissa echoed the sentiment in the interview with New Idea, adding: 'Life happens when you are making plans! We had other things to do. For us, we were already married in spirit and in mind. It was more about being together with family and friends and doing it so our parents were there to witness.'

Despite Woman's Day reporting earlier in the week that the couple wed in Adelaide, Manu and Clarissa's reportedly actually took place in the exclusive Elandra Resort in Far North Queensland.

Blushing bride Clarissa walked down the aisle to John Legend's All Of Me, while wearing a full-length gown by Kyha from Melbourne's One Day Bridal.

The nuptials' colour scheme was green, and Clarissa carried a bouquet of white and green orchids, adding green tourmaline and diamond earrings to her ensemble.When BBC star Victoria Derbyshires fiance, Mark Sandell, was accused of bullying, sexual harassment and expenses fraud, he was sacked by the Corporation.

Although the senior BBC editor returned to work in 2015 after successfully appealing against his dismissal, he left at the end of last year after being headhunted by the commercial station Talkradio.

Now, however, I can reveal that Sandell, 56, has left his new job as Eamonn Holmess producer on Talkradio amid great mystery, just a few days after taking up the post.

Its the talk of the building, a broadcasting source tells me.

Mark Sandell (pictured right), 56, has left his new job as Eamonn Holmess producer on Talkradio amid great mystery

Eamonn Holmes said he wanted a heavyweight producer for his new drive-time show, so Mark was drafted in. But something happened and Mark left straight away.

A Talkradio spokesman declined to comment on Sandells sudden departure, but a close friend of his confirmed yesterday that he had left the station.

His departure from the BBC was one of its most notorious disciplinary cases. The Corporation decided to sack him after an employee raised a formal grievance.

However, he was cleared of the allegations by an internal appeal and instead given a final written warning for inappropriate management conduct.

Victoria Derbyshire (pictured), 49, proposed to Sandell, her boyfriend of 17 years, after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015

His supporters believed he was made a scapegoat and should not have lost his job.

Derbyshire, 49, proposed to Sandell, her boyfriend of 17 years, after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015.

Victoria, who has since been given the all-clear after undergoing a mastectomy followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, told him: I dont want you to marry me because you feel sorry for me.

She said last autumn that theyd agreed: One day, we will get married  Im not telling you when.

Sandell was married to broadcaster Fi Glover, 47, when he fell for Derbyshire, who was her fellow BBC Radio 5 Live presenter.

Sandell could not be reached for comment yesterday, but his friend insists: He was helping Talkradio with their launch and has moved on to other work.

EUGENIE'S GODMOTHER SHARES SEEDY SNAP WITH MALE STRIPPER

After the storm over the sleazy Presidents Club gala, comedian Jimmy Tarbuck said those looking for bad behaviour should scrutinise hen parties instead.

Where better to start than Princess Eugenies godmother, Lulu Hutley, who shared this smutty photograph with friends online this weekend?

Lulu, a close friend of Sarah, Duchess of York (inset), is pictured grinding her body into the rear of a male stripper.

About last night, she wrote next to the snap. Brunettes have more fun. Naughty Lu.

If this is anything to go by, Eugenies hen party should be a riot.

Princess Eugenies godmother, Lulu Hutley, a close friend of Sarah, Dutchess of York shared this smutty photograph of he dancing with a male stripper (left) with friends online this weekend

PIXIE'S HIPPY PARTY GOES WITH A SWING

Pixie Lott gave her 27th birthday an Austin Powers theme

Born in 1991, perky pop songstress Pixie Lott is far too young to remember the Sixties, but she is familiar with the Austin Powers films set in Swinging London.

So on Saturday she gave her 27th birthday party at Londons Cuckoo Club an Austin Powers theme.

Wearing orange John Lennon-style sunglasses, a colourful, psychedelic halter-neck dress and a hot pink marabou trim robe, Pixie (left) clutched a magnum of pink champagne.

Last night was radical, she gushed afterwards.

Yeah, baby, as the hard-partying spy would say.

Jamie Olivers seven-year-old son, Buddy, wants to take after his father and be a chef, but his youthful culinary efforts are causing chaos at home.

These potions he makes... hes putting baking flour, fish sauce and Marmite in there, Jamie says.

I caught the little b****** putting in saffron the other day, which costs a fortune!She vanished without a trace in 2013, when her abandoned Sydney home was sold by Commonwealth Bank.

And after rising to fame on a beloved Australian drama series, this personality appeared worlds away from her former self when she stepped out in Los Angeles, earlier this month.

Swapping her trademark mousy red hair for long peroxide blonde locks and wearing a racy outfit, do you recognise her?

Guess who! Seventies soap star is barely recognisable with peroxide blonde hair as she steps out in racy outfit and thigh high boots in Los Angeles

The personality in question is The Sullivans star Susan Hannaford.

Susan was known for playing Kitty on the drama back in the seventies and eighties.

Strolling around Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago, Susan looked barely recognisable, with her long hair out and straightened over her shoulders.

Recognise her? The personality in question is The Sullivans star, Susan Hannaford (seen R years ago)

Turning heads! She flaunted her trim figure, wearing tiny black bike shirts and a cropped singlet. She teamed the look with a black jacket tied around her waist and had on a pair of thigh-high black boots

She flaunted her trim figure during the outing, wearing tiny black bike shorts and a cropped singlet.

She teamed the look with a black jacket tied around her waist and had on a pair of thigh-high black boots.

Over her shoulder was a Louis Vuitton handbag.

She also appeared to have an outfit change at one point when she swapped her boots for platform sandals.

On the day, Susan was accompanied by two young children.

Back in the day: Susan was known for playing Kitty on the drama, back in the seventies and eighties

That LA life: Susan had previously been MIA since being evicted from her lavish waterfront home in Sydney, which was sold by her financiers in April 2013 for $3.15 million

Susan had previously been MIA since being evicted from her lavish waterfront home in Sydney, which was sold by her financiers in April 2013 for $3.15 million.

When quizzed by Woman's Day about what she'd be doing in the years since, Susan was coy with her response.

'It's a big story and I'm shortly going to break it,' she told the magazine.

The magazine reported that Susan now calls a multimillion-dollar Beverly Hills mansion home.

Under the radar: 'When quizzed by Woman's Day about what she'd be doing in the years since, Susan was coy with her response. It's a big story and I'm shortly going to break it,' she told the magazine

From acting to fashion: Susan tried her hand at fashion designing, with Susan claiming on her website that she had opened a boutique store in the exclusive suburb of Double Bay

She has also lived in Los Angeles and Las Vegas over the past few years, according the publication.

Susan had shot to fame at a young age, portraying 10-year-old Kitty on the show which also featured the likes of Michael Caton, Mel Gibson, Kylie Minogue, Sam Neill and Gary Sweet at various times.

After her stint on the hit soap, Susan tried her hand at fashion designing, with Susan claiming on her website that she had opened a boutique store in the exclusive suburb of Double Bay.

Susan also claimed to have worked on US soap The Bold and the Beautiful, stating she was 'written in to the show as a famous fashion designer'.Former Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote is reportedly 'struggling' after a split from boyfriend George Alsford, following 18 months together.

The 26-year-old and her now ex called it quits after repeated arguments, a source told The Sun newspaper.

The split came just days after Georgia left fans worried with a slew of downcast snaps and cryptic Instagram posts, hinting all was not well in her love life.

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Called it off: Georgia May Foote is believed to have split from her boyfriend George Alsford

The source said: 'They tried to make it work but called it quits after a series of arguments.

'Georgia has been left devastated, as she really thought he was The One. She's been struggling.'

A representative for Georgia has been contacted for comment.

The former Strictly Come Dancing left fans speculating whether her and George had called it quits earlier this week, after posting a series of cryptic snaps on social media.

Break-up? Fans have speculated Georgia May Foote and her boyfriend George Alsford may have broken up after the actress has appeared downcast in her latest Instagram posts

Fans first fuelled the speculation when Georgia posted a moody snap alongside a sad face emoji last week.

Failing to raise a smile, the former Coronation Street star looked close to tears as she covered up her gym-honed figure in a fluffy white dressing gown.

And the former Strictly star seemed in a reflective mood on Friday as she penned: 'I never thought my best memories would make me feel this way. Or that people could so easily forget. But here's to making more. More that i will never forget.'

Happier times: The 26-year-old actress hasn't uploaded a picture of herself with her beau since December, when they enjoyed a romantic holiday in Amsterdam

She posted the musing quote alongside a shot of her posing in front of an idyllic sea.

The model showcased her lithe limbs in a blue shirt dress and pink trainers and styled her brunette tresses in soft waves.

In other snaps, the star has uploaded a series of quotes including 'Lie Lie Land' and 'keep your head high and your middle finger higher'.

Thinly-veiled dig? The former Strictly champion seemed in a reflective mood on Friday as she penned: 'I never thought my best memories would make me feel this way. Or that people could so easily forget. But here's to making more. More that i will never forget.'

Pensive mood: She posted the musing quote alongside a shot of her posing in front of an idyllic sea

Fans of the couple took to social media to voice concerns about Georgia's low mood.

One follower wrote: 'Proud of you beautiful, here if you need anything or someone to talk to.'

Another fan added: 'Everything happens for a reason Porge keep ya chin up girl x'

While another penned: 'U ok Georgia have u and George split hope ya ok Hun xx thinking of you xx'

Concern: Fans of the couple took to social media to voice concerns about Georgia's low mood

Down in the dumps: In other snaps, the star has uploaded a series of quotes including 'Lie Lie Land' and 'Keep your head high and your middle finger higher

The former Strictly Come Dancing star has previously flooded Instagram with pictures of herself with her 26-year-old hunky boyfriend, who is signed to Select Model Management - the same agency she is signed to.

However, Georgia hasn't uploaded a picture of herself with the model since December.

The romance came after her split with Strictly professional Giovanni Pernice, who she began dating shortly after her relationship with her Coronation Street co-star Sean Ward.

Georgia made her name in Coronation Street, but her character left in 2015 after five years amid promises that the door was always open.She has enjoyed incredible success with her role in The Crown and has even scooped a coveted Golden Globe award.

And while shes a master of all trades when it comes to her acting skills, Claire Foy has revealed that filming sex scenes is one aspect of her job she doesnt enjoy.

Dishing all about the behind the scenes action, the British actress, 33, confessed to The Sun: If I never had to do a sex scene again, that would be the best thing in the world, because no one in their right mind would enjoy that.

'Please let this be over!' The Crown's Claire Foy, 33, has revealed that filming sex scenes is one aspect of her job she doesnt enjoy

Claire, who built her impressive acting CV in the likes of The Promise (2011) and Wolf Hall (2015) before hitting the big time, continued: Youre worried about what the crew are thinking, whether theyre really uncomfortable, whether youre uncomfortable.

Youre just thinking, God, let this be over! she continued.

In the candid interview, Claire also opened about her own fair share of trials and tribulations.

Brave: Claire - pictured with husband Stephen Campbell Moore - opened about her own fair share of trials and tribulations growing up after she was diagnosed with a benign eye tumour

The star was raised in Manchester by a single mother before working for five years as a cashier at Tesco.

Aged just 17 she battled her own health scare, battling a benign eye tumour for a year.

But the experience spurred her on to follow her dreams and enrol in drama school, admitting: 'It made me realise that I needed to grab the life I wanted'.

The actress has left The Crown ahead of her new role as the wife of Janet Shearon, the wife of the first man to walk the moon, Neil Armstrong played by Ryan Gosling.

She will also star as computer hacker Lisbeth Salander in The Girl in The Spider's Web.

Secret battle: The actress has left The Crown ahead of her new role as the wife of Janet Shearon, the wife of the first man to walk the moon, Neil Armstrong played by Ryan Gosling

Talent: The actress has been nominated again for a Golden Globe for her portrayal in The Crown

Last month, Claire won her second SAG Award in a row for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in the Netflix drama series The Crown.

The British actress won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for her performance.

Foy played Queen Elizabeth in the Crown over two seasons that detailed her marriage to Philip, her accession to the throne and her struggle to balance her constitutional role with being a wife and mother and a devoted sister to Princess Margaret.

Moving forward, though, as the series jumps several years, the role of Elizabeth is being taken over in season three by Olivia Coleman, from The Night Manager and Broadchurch.

Helena Bonham Carter is set to replace Vanessa Kirby as Margaret and while no-one has yet been officially cast as Philip, there are rumors that Paul Bettany is in talks for the role.Kelly Clarkson had a major fangirl moment on the Golden Globes red carpet two weeks ago when she caught sight of her idol Meryl Streep.

And on Sunday, E! red carpet host Ryan Seacrest surprised her with a permanent reminder of her meltdown.

He presented the country music star with a pillow that had an image of Clarkson first spotting Streep on one side, and on the other an image of the two together with the words 'Meryl & Kelly' written across the bottom.

Clarkson laughed and appeared thrilled with the gift.

'This is totally going on our bed. My husband wont care,' she told Seacrest, adding: 'I love her.'

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Special gift: Ryan Seacrest surprised Kelly Clarkson at the Grammys with a pillow showing her fangirl meltdown over Meryl streep at the Golden Globes two weeks ago

Thrilled: The pillow that had an image of Clarkson first spotting Streep on one side, and on the other an image of the two together with the words 'Meryl & Kelly' written across the bottom

On January 7, the 35-year-old songstress had just arrived on the red carpet at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles for the Golden Globes when she spotted Streep standing several feet in front of her.

Walking down some steps escorted by Seacrest, Clarkson suddenly stopped in her tracks, swung around and gasped: 'Oh my god, that's Meryl!'

Looking confused Ryan asked Kelly 'What happened?' thinking she'd just tripped on her dress, until he realized the American Idol alum was just having a serious fangirl moment.

Kelly then summoned the courage to turn back around and face Meryl, 68, and asked: 'Oh my god, can I meet you? Ive adored you since I was like 8,' before getting a hug kiss from the Devil Wears Prada star.

'Oh my god!': Clarkson had stunned Seacrest at the LA awards show January 7 when she suddenly went into a meltdown after spotting her idol Streep on the red carpet

Meeting an icon: The country music star finally summoned the courage to walk over and meet the Devil Wears Prada star

Dream come true: The two chatted away in a moment Clarkson will never forget

Fans of Clarkson took to social media to rave about the pillow and her reaction to getting it.

'kelly clarkson receiving a pillow on the red carpet with a picture of her meeting meryl on it is FABULOUS,' one twitter user wrote.

'@kelly_clarkson fangirling over the pillow is everything,' another tweeted.

Fans took to Twitter to give their reactions to the pillow

Twitter users generally approved of the gift

It was a standout moment at the 2018 Grammys

Kelly looked gorgeous in a black and gold Christian Siriano gown on the Grammys red carpet.

The designer was also her go-to choice for her Golden Globes outfit.

Clarkson's custom dress had an embroidered fringe and matching detailing on the neck and hem.

She added complementary gold earrings and kept her make-up low key with black mascara and pale pink lip color.

'I think what we decided on tonight is cool  rock and roll  but also still elegant and chic. Her album theme is black and gold so we decided to play off of that,' Siriano told Pret-a-Reporter.

'Its probably the seventh or eight gown we have created for Kelly and I cant wait to do more,' he added.

Custom made: Kelly looked gorgeous in a black and gold Christian Siriano gown on the Grammys red carpet

Date night: The songstress was accompanied to the awards show by her husband Brandon BlackstockNick Knowles' estranged wife Jessica Moor is now reportedly asking for more than 48,000 a year from him in light of their bitter divorce battle.

According to The Sun, Jessica who is currently receiving 4,000 a month as part of their settlement, is demanding an extra 2,000 a month in order to fund their three-year-old son Eddie's education.

'Nick is distraught that Jessica has made these claims. She already gets 4,000 a month from him and hes funded her life for years,' a source told the publication.

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Demands: Nick Knowles' estranged wife Jessica Moor (here in July 2013) is now reportedly asking for more than 48,000 a year from him in light of their bitter divorce battle

Nick, 55, is reportedly refusing to pay Jessica the money and has said that he will pay Eddie's school the required fee directly.

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Nick Knowles for further comment.

This comes after Jessica retaliated against her ex husband's response to her 'open letter about my divorce' posted on Twitter on Friday.

According to The Sun, Jessica who is currently receiving 4,000 a month as part of their settlement, is demanding an extra 2,000 a month in order to fund their three-year-old son Eddie's education

In the long diatribe, she alleged 'years of emotional cruelty, physical abuse' by her husband as well as reportedly withdrawing their son Eddie from private education.

However, sources close to the DIY SOS presenter denied the allegations - saying he 'only wants the best for his son'.

In a new statement on the micro-blogging site on Sunday, she denounced his denials of 'cruelty' and continued to suggest that he has withdrawn his financial support for their son.

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.

Hitting back: Jessica suggested that she had proof of the cruelty she had experienced

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.'He has been Home and Away's most beloved character for over 30 years.

But Alf Stewart, played by veteran actor Ray Meagher, 73, might finally meet his demise in one of the soap's trademark dramatic storylines.

According to TV WEEK, the cherished Summer Bay stalwart will face a potentially fatal accident in early episodes of the show's new season.

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Intense: Alf Stewart, played by veteran actor Ray Meagher, 73, might finally meet his demise in one of the soap's trademark dramatic storylines

Alf sees his life placed in serious danger 'after he falls into a sinkhole near the local high school', the magazine reported.

The elderly star is 'left unconscious from the fall' and finds himself in a critical condition after the building's foundations begin crumbling around him.

His co-stars reportedly have no idea he has 'run into trouble', which has added fuel to rumours the emotional scenes could be his last.

Dramatic: The elderly star is 'left unconscious from the fall' and finds himself in a critical condition after the building's foundations begin crumbling around him

Iconic: He has been Home and Away's most beloved character for over 30 years

Alf's character suffered a heart attack in 2016 and has previously faced everything from his wife dying to natural disasters and stints in jail.

Ray Meagher, who has played Alf for three decades, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia, or OAM, for his work in the performing arts last year.

'Obviously theres a lot of me in Alf,' he told The Daily Telegraph in 2017.

Turmoil: No stranger to tragedy, the character suffered a heart attack in 2016 and has previously faced everything from his wife dying to natural disasters and stints in jail

Veteran: Ray Meagher, who has played Alf for three decades, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia, or OAM, for his work in the performing arts last year

'Theres a lot of most people in the characters they play, but some actors put their fists to their foreheads and say, "Im an actor darling, I can play anything!"' he added.

The Gold Logie winner, who grew up on a Queensland cattle and sheep station, expressed surprise at his longevity as an actor.

'You think youre never going to get the first [job] and then when that finishes, youre pretty sure youre never going to work again,' he reflected.

Successful: The Gold Logie winner, who grew up on a Queensland cattle and sheep station, expressed surprise at his longevity as an actor



She is the successful PR maven who loves nothing but the best in life.

And on Sunday, mother-of-two Roxy Jacenko flaunted er luxe life during a boating trip on Sydney harbour.

Joined by her husband Oliver Curtis and friends, Roxy stunned in a $595 minidress.

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The luxe life! Roxy Jacenko flaunts her incredible figure in a $595 floral minidress as she and husband Oliver Curtis clutch champagne and go boating on Sydney Harbour

The Nicholas The Label frock - from rental site Glam Corner - featured a frill hem and spaghetti straps.

The blonde bombshell teamed the look with nude flats and carried a small woven bag.

She wore minimal makeup and had her blonde locks out and coiffed in tousled curls.

Glam! The Nicholas The Label frock - from rental site, Glam Corner, featured a frill hem and spaghetti strapsd

All dolled up: The blonde bombshell teamed the look with nude flats and carried a small woven bag (she's seen with husband Oliver)

Casual: Oliver meanwhile, looked relaxed in pink board shorts with a dark flowing beach shirt and a grey hat

Oliver meanwhile looked relaxed in pink board shorts with a dark flowing beach shirt and a grey hat.

The pair looked relaxed as they boarded the boat at Woolloomooloo Wharf, with Ollie clutching a bottle of Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial champagne.

During the trip, they were seen talking and laughing with their friends, including actress Jessica McNamee.

Ready for a good day: The pair looked relaxed as they boarded the boat at Woolloomooloo Wharf

In good spirits: They were seen talking and laughing with their friends, including actress Jessica McNamee, right

Opening up: This week, Roxy opened up to Daily Mail Australia about her tough 2017, which saw her diagnosed with breast cancer just three weeks after Oliver went to prison

This week, Roxy opened up to Daily Mail Australia about her tough 2017, which saw her diagnosed with breast cancer just three weeks after Oliver went to prison.

Roxy told Daily Mail Australia her weight plummeted to a dangerously low 49kg.

'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 said.

Struggles: Roxy told Daily Mail Australia her weight plummeted to a dangerously low 49kg

Health woes: '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' Roxy said

Honest: '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'

Sweet: 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

Yacht life: The group are seen on board this ship

'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, assess my life and future and make some decisions personally and professionally,' she said.

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.

Keeping an eye on her: Roxy said that Oliver only mentioned her weight when she began to look 'unhealthy'

Back to it: She added that the pair are back on track and better then ever, and she now has her weight under control

Does anything fit in that? During the day out, Roxy held her miniature bag up as she and Ollie laughed

Friends: Roxy was seen arriving and greeting her friends with kisses on the cheek

Roxy said her husband 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.

'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.'

A new year: '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,' Roxy saidKeira Maguire stepped out on Monday for a bite to eat with a friend amid reports she is 'terrified' of losing her boyfriend Jarrod Woodgate to Sophie Monk.

The 31-year-old flaunted her curves in a figure-hugging outfit and managed an awkward smile as she strolled through Brisbane.

The effervescent blonde donned a navy blue bodysuit tucked into skinny jeans with a pair of strappy clear heels.

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Stepping out: Keira Maguire headed out to lunch on Monday amid reports she is 'terrified' of losing her boyfriend Jarrod Woodgate to Sophie Monk

She wore her short locks slicked back with a middle part and had a blush pink lipstick shade on her cosmetically-enhanced pout.

The former Bachelor reject was accompanied by a female friend, who espoused a rock chic vibe in a Harley-Davidson t-shirt, black jeans and buckled boots.

Girl time: The former Bachelor reject was accompanied by a female friend, who espoused a rock chic vibe in a Harley-Davidson t-shirt, black jeans and buckled boots

On Monday, NW magazine claimed Keira was 'worried' her new boyfriend Jarrod might want to 'try his luck' with the newly single Sophie Monk.

Jarrod was a contestant for Sophie's heart on the latest season of The Bachelorette and he still has a 'soft spot' for her, a reported 'insider' told the publication.

'Jarrod thought he'd never get over Sophie until he met Keira, but deep down he still has a soft spot for Sophie,' the 'source' offered.

Concerned: On Monday, NW magazine claimed Keira was 'worried' her new boyfriend Jarrod might want to 'try his luck' with the newly single Sophie Monk

'He loved her so much, which Keira has always known,' they continued.

Keira and Jarrod struck up a romance during filming of the upcoming spin-off series, Bachelor In Paradise.

They have been spotted packing on the PDA since, most recently at the Portsea Polo in Melbourne.He's long known for using his family as inspiration for his comedy routines.

But this time Dave 'Hughsey' Huges may have gone a little too far, after accidentally Tweeting his wife's phone number to his more than 700,000 followers.

The 46-year-old comedian was sharing a hilarious text message sent from his wife, Holly, in which she recounted a conversation she had with their five-year-old daughter, Sadie.

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'Are you still alive?': Dave Hughes sets Twitter alight after accidentally posting his wife Holly's (seen) mobile number before deleting it after 'people started texting her'

Unfortunately he failed to realise the screen grab captured a missed call alert from Holly which clearly displayed her number.

Fans were quick to alert Hughsey to the error.

'You just posted your wife's number of Twitter,' one fan pointed out.

Another offered this piece of advice: 'That's either your number or Holly's, if I know the internet like I do I'd probably crop that out'.

It didn't take long for Hughsey to pick up on the mistake, with the funnyman deleting the tweet not long after.

Oops! The 46-year-old comedian was sharing a hilarious text message sent from his wife, Holly, in which she recounted a conversation she had with their five-year-old daughter, Sadie

Delete! 'You just posted your wife's number of Twitter,' one fan pointed out

Take that down! It didn't take long for Hughsey to pick up on the mistake, with the funnyman deleting the tweet not long after

Not long after, a concerned fan checked in on Hughsey asking him if he was 'still alive'.

'Yes,' he sheepishly replied. 'Wife not in throttling rage'.

He added that people had begun texting Holly before adding the hashtag #newfriends.

In the dog house? Not long after, a concerned fan checked in on Hughsey asking him if he was 'still alive'. 'Yes,' he sheepishly replied. 'Wife not in throttling rage'

It's not the first time Hughsey's copped a public serving from his wife.

Last year comedian revealed Holly was not impressed when it became public knowledge that he bought the winning Block couple's renovated home for $3.067 million.

In an interview with the Today Show at the time the funnyman was asked whether he got in trouble for his snap decision to buy the famed Elsternwick property, labeling it a 'smart investment.'

'I did but more for making it public,' he revealed.She endured a very public split from her husband,Karl Stefanovic.

But journalist Cassandra Thorburn, 46, is well and truly moving on.

The mother of three stripped off to a sizzling yellow cut-out one piece costume, appearing in her first swimsuit photoshoot for Woman's Day, on Monday.

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Showing him what he's missing? Karl Stefanovic's ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn, 46, flaunts her incredible figure in a cut-out one piece in her first swimsuit photo shoot since their split

Cassandra looks incredible in the spread, flaunting her trim size eight figure.

The brunette showcases a golden tan and has her locks pushed back off her face, as she beams and smiles for the camera.

In another image, Cassandra wears a blue one piece with ripped denim shorts.

Karl who? In an accompanying interview, Cassandra said she is looking forward to the next stage of her life and is in the best place

In an accompanying interview, Cassandra said she is looking forward to the next stage of her life and is in the best place.

'I'm unstoppable and I've never felt more empowered,' Cassandra told the publication.

'This is my second chance to have the life I truly deserve,' Cassandra said of her future sans Karl, 43.

Split: Cassandra made headlines in December 2016 when she announced she had split from husband of 21 years, Karl Stefanovic. The former couple share three children together, Jackson, 18, Ava, 12, and River, 11

She added: 'There's a light always at the end of some pretty dark tunnels - trust me, there really is!'

Cassandra made headlines in December 2016 when she announced 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.She's tipped to be Married At First Sight's next big star.

But it appears busty Brisbane socialite Davina Rankin has already had a number of brushes with fame.

On Monday, the Brisbane socialite revealed the famous names she's been linked to in an interview with NW magazine, ahead of the show's premiere.

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Busty Married At First Sight star Davina Rankin reveals she has been linked to several famous men... and you'll never guess who they are!

Perhaps the most serious was with Australian Ninja Warrior muscle hunk Ryan Solomon, who the bronzed babe coupled with in her early twenties.

'We were together for nearly four years but we just became mates,' she said.

The reality star, meanwhile, has also been linked to The Bachelorette's muscular star Apollo Jackson and UK Geordie Shore star, Gaz Beadle.

An 'insider' told NW, Davina was 'super keen' to get the hunky 24-year-old fellow Queenslander Apollo.

'We were together for nearly four years but we just became mates': Perhaps the most serious was with Australian Ninja Warrior muscle hunk Ryan Solomon, who the bronzed babe coupled with in her early twenties

Meanwhile on assignment for surf store City Beach, Davina sat down for a flirty chat with Geordie Shore star Gaz, where the pair engaged in some light flirting.

During the interview, the ripped English reality star said Australian women are 'a lot fitter' than women in the UK.

Appearing on Married At First Sight on Monday, Davina has made no secret of her struggle to find the right man and settle down.

Crush: The reality star has already been linked to The Bachelorette's Apollo Jackson, with an 'insider' telling NW magazine she was 'super keen' on her fellow Queenslander

In the past she's spoken about how she goes 'a million miles an hour' and that men struggle to keep up with her.

In her Married at First Sight trailer, Davina says: 'I have a clothing line, events business, personal training studio and 200,000 followers on Instagram.'

She continues: I want someone who wants me for me...I'm sick of dating boys.'

Muscle man: On assignment for surf store City Beach, the reality star flirted with Geordie Shore star Gaz Beadle

It comes as sparks are expected to fly between flamboyant Davina and Married At First Sight single, Tracey Jewel, 35.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, Tracey appeared she took a veiled swipe at single Davina.

'I certainly don't resonate with women who kind of put it all out there so to speak, it's not my cup of tea,' she said.

Married At First Sight starts on Channel Nine, January 29, 7.30pm.

'I have a clothing line, events business, personal training studio': The bronzed reality star has been open about her struggle trying to find a man and settle downJames Franco stepped out for a romantic dinner with his girlfriend Isabel Pakzad on Sunday amid the fallout from sexual misconduct allegations made against him.

The 39-year-old actor kept it casual for his visit to the exclusive Soho House in Malibu, California.

James wore a black T-shirt along with grey jeans and black sneakers.

Celebrity hotspot: James Franco and girlfriend Isabel Pakzad enjoyed dinner on Sunday at the exclusive Soho House in Malibu, California

He accessorized with a black Trejo's Tacos cap and had sunglasses danging from his tee.

The actor's 24-year-old girlfriend Isabel also opted for the relaxed look in a black sweater, blue shorts and black ankle boots.

Isabel, who was linked to James in November, smiled affectionately at him outside the club and wrapped an arm around him while giving him a kiss.

James and Isabel attended the SAG Awards together last week after the actor was accused of sexual misconduct by several women.

Casual outing: The 39-year-old actor and his 24-year-old girlfriend kept it casual

Tender moment: Isabel wrapped an arm around James while giving him a kiss

He was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his work in The Disaster Artist.

The SAG Award went to Gary Oldman for his performance in Darkest Hour.

James earlier this month won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for his portrayal of Tommy Wiseau.

Awards ceremony: James and Isabel last week attended the Screen Actors Guild Awards together at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles

He was accused of sexual misconduct on Twitter after his win and the Los Angeles Times a few days later reported that five women were accusing him of inappropriate or sexually exploitative behavior.

James was digitally removed from Vanity Fair's Hollywood Issue cover after the sexual misconduct allegations were made against him.

Vanity Fair confirmed on Thursday that he was deleted from the cover due to the sexual misconduct allegations.

The Oscars also snubbed James when nominations for the upcoming 90th Academy Awards were announced on Tuesday.Jacob Roloff is engaged to Isabel Rock.

The Little People, Big World star shared the happy news on Saturday via his Instagram account posting a sweet picture of the happy couple.

As the 21-year-old gave his bride-to-be a piggyback ride in an open meadow, he captioned the shot: 'we got ENGAGED! It happened in Iceland on the frozen pond, Tjornin, late on Christmas.'

Big news: Little People, Big World's Jacob Roloff announced his engagement to longtime beau Isabel Rock on Saturday

'So much love for this beautiful soul @izzysofia_ . Heres to many more Christmas, you n me,' he added.

The TLC star also shared pics of the moments surrounding the amazing proposal.

In a photograph of Isabel wiping away a tear with a background full of Christmas lit houses, he explained his excitement for the future.

'Excited for a lifetime filled with travel, growing together and trying new things with you @izzysofia.' he wrote.

Happy about future: In a photograph of Isabel wiping away a tear with a background full of Christmas lit houses, he explained his excitement for the betrothed's future

Isabel shared a photo taken in Oregon on her Instagram account as well celebrating the occasion.

'We are finally ready to share with everyone WE ARE ENGAGED!!! Thank you so much to @Moniqueserraphotography for the photos taken in the place we both grew up,' she wrote.

And Jacob's mom, Amy Roloff, joined in the festivities as she posted a congratulatory message with a sweet pic too.

Sharing the love: Isabel shared a photo taken in Oregon on her Instagram account as well celebrating the occasion

'And this happened! I couldnt be a happier mom! My youngest- Jacob and the beautiful Isabel are engaged. Love them both and excited to see where life will take them in their marriage!'

Premiering on TLC in 2006, Little People, Big World followed the lives of Amy and her ex-husband Matt who live with dwarfism on a farm in Oregon.

Their son Zach, 27, has dwarfism. Zachs fraternal twin, Jeremy, sister Molly, 24, and youngest brother, Jacob, are average height.She's currently recovering from her heartbreaking split from Channel Seven news presenter Ryan Phelan after she called him her 'soulmate'.

But if you thought former high-class escort Samantha X was at home feeling sorry for herself and downing ice cream you'd be mistaken, as the sizzling blonde was snapped sunning herself at Mahon pool in Sydney's Maroubra on Monday.

Water wasn't dripping from her eyes but it was sliding down her legs after she took a dip in the ocean during Sydney's heatwave-life temperatures.

Blue babe! Samantha X shows off her ample assets in a high cut one piece while swimming at Mahon pool in Sydney's Maroubra

Wearing a striking navy-coloured one piece, Samantha - whose real name is actually Amanda Goff - showed off the efforts of her workouts with celebrity trainer Jono Castano-Acero.

The high cut swimsuit seductively moulded around the 43-year-old's enhanced assets, catching the eye of a tattooed onlooker at the beachside haven.

It comes as the socialite spends more time outdoors than in since the split, catching up with her good friend and fellow escort Amanda Valentina and Sunrise's executive producer Michael Pell.

Double take! The high cut swimsuit moulded around the 43-year-old's enhanced assets seductively, catching the eye of a tattooed onlooker at the beachside haven

Minor adjustments: Water wasn't dripping from her eyes but it was sliding down her legs after she took a dip in the ocean during Sydney's heatwave-life temperatures

Golden tan! Wearing a navy-coloured one piece, Samantha - whose real name is Amanda Goff - showed off the efforts of her workouts with celebrity trainer Jono Castano-Acero

Sitting pretty: While she did look to be alone at the beach she by no means looked lonely on the rocks - despite previously admitting to being 'petrified' of the ocean

While she did look to be alone at the beach she by no means looked lonely on the rocks - despite previously admitting to being 'petrified' by the ocean.

And she didn't appear isolated on Sunday night when she hit the town clubbing with Amanda Valentina and hairdresser Remington Schulz by her side.

'Gay men are the best men! And good girlfriends,' she wrote alongside a picture of the trio.

The morning after: And she didn't appear isolated on Sunday night when she hit the town clubbing with Amanda Valentina and hairdresser Remington Schulz by her side

Moving on! 'Gay men are the best men! And good girlfriends,' she wrote alongside a picture of the trio

It's officially over: Samantha confirmed her split with ex Ryan Phelan, last week

Trouble: The high-profile couple were allegedly under constant scrutiny from Ryan's employer Channel Seven, sources told The Daily Telegraph

Stopping to think: Insiders claimed 'the pairing had raised more than a few eyebrows' at the network, where Ryan, 42, is a news reporter

Samantha confirmed her split with Ryan Phelan, last week.

The high-profile couple were allegedly under constant scrutiny from Ryan's employer Channel Seven, sources told The Daily Telegraph.

Insiders claimed 'the pairing had raised more than a few eyebrows' at the network, where Ryan, 42, is a news reporter.

Samantha announced she was quitting her lucrative escort career late last year for a 'brand new life' with her new beau.She's the AFL WAG and doting mother who's known for her glitzy lifestyle.

And on Monday, Nadia Bartel looked every inch the glamazon as she showed off her trim and toned body in a tiny bikini on a beach in Sorrento, Victoria.

With her two-year-old son Aston perched on her hip, the 33-year-old shared a picture of herself wearing her favourite red and white bikini.

'Yep in this bikini again!' AFL WAG Nadia Bartel flaunts her slender figure in her favourite red and white bikini as she perches her adorable two-year-old son Aston on her hip

Nadia has been spotted in the two piece, made up of a bandeau top and high-cut bottoms, a number of times.

Keeping sun safe, the glamazon completed her look with a trendy straw hat.

In the snap, likely captured by her husband Jimmy, the Melbourne socialite can be seen gazing adoringly at her little boy who looks out to the glistening shallow waters.

'Cracking day Sorrento  little man not loving the beach today, but we got him there in the end,' she wrote in the caption.

Socialite life: 'Cracking day Sorrento  little man not loving the beach today, but we got him there in the end,' she wrote in the caption of her post

Cutie! She also shared a snap of her Aston looking a very interested at fruit in front of him, which Nadia captioned: 'The king enjoying his fruit platter'

Nadia added: 'And yep in these bikinis again (they are soo comfy and good for tan lines, so soz you will prob see them on me again).'

Fans of the brunette beauty loved her look, including one who wrote: 'Dont be sorry for repeating swimwear.. its normal.'

The brunette beauty replied back to that follower saying: 'haha yep thought I would mention it before the negative comments come in.'

She also shared a snap of her Aston looking a very interested at fruit in front of him, which Nadia captioned: 'The king enjoying his fruit platter.'

VIPs: Rebecca Judd, Georgia Love and Nadia Bartel (pictured) showed off their glam squads on social media as they prepared for the city's annual Portsea Polo event on Saturday

Recently, the Chronicles Of Nadia blogger took to Instagram to show her legions of followers by showing off her glam squad while preparing for the annual Portsea Polo event.

She was up bright and early to have her hair and makeup done by celebrity stylists Marie Uva and Chantelle Baker prior to making her appearance at the glittering social affair.

She wore her dark blonde locks in waves with her signature middle part, opting for a smokey brown shadow on her eyes and a neutral lip colour.She is dating a 34-year-old father of three.

And while out with her boyfriend Sofia Richie appeared to take a sneaky sip from a wine glass on Sunday night.

The 19-year-old was on a double dinner date with her significantly older significant other Scott Disick at Tosconova restaurant in Calabasas.

Naughty girl! Sofia Richie appeared to sneak a sip of wine while on date with 34-year-old boyfriend Scott Disick on Sunday night

Despite there only being three people of legal drinking age at the table, the teenage rebel had a fourth wine glass in front of her, and naughtily quaffed mouthfuls of whatever liquid it was that filled them.

During the meal the two seemed to be having a great time chatting with their pals.

Scott, who was also drinking, wisely didn't add to his potential rap sheet and opted not to get behind the wheel of his Mercedes SUV afterwards, letting his bodyguard drive instead.

Despite there only being three people of legal drinking age at the table, the teenage rebel had a fourth wine glass in front of her, and naughtily quaffed mouthfuls of whatever liquid it was that filled them

The day before, Kendall Jenner  who is little half-sister to Scott's babymomma Kourtney Kardashian  threw some epic shade when Sofia was pictured out with Mason, Penelope and Reign for the first time.

'Awww Scott and his kids,' she commented on Instagram.He's the controversial TV chef who will debut the seventh season of My Kitchen Rules on Monday night.

But while his love of nature and the great outdoors isn't addressed on the show, according to Woman's Day Pete Evans' fascination with everything earthen is starting to be a cause for concern with fans.

The 44-year-old recently shared a snap of his reading material while on break in Bora Bora, which included a book called 'Mushroom Wisdom'.

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Lost the plot? Magazine claims Pete Evans bizarre behaviour has fans worried after he posed naked with his wife and spoke openly about the power of 'mushrooms'

The novel - which explains how the use of mushrooms can bring 'radical awareness of the self' - is certainly not on everyone's reading list.

The odd behaviour began last year when Pete and Nicola uploaded near-naked shots of themselves canoodling their horses.

Pictures of the pair with their eyes closed and embracing the stallions raised more than a few eyebrows online.

So did the revelation his daughters Chilli, 12, ad Indii, 11, eat a pricey dose of caviar each morning.

Hello horse! The odd behaviour began last year when Pete and Nicola uploaded near-naked shots of themselves canoodling their horses

In the nude! Pictures of the pair with their eyes closed and embracing the stallions raised more than a few eyebrows online

Just last week the Evans family returned from a lavish vacation which saw Pete attend a $15,000 'brain upgrade facility' in the United States with wife of one year, Nicola Robinson.

Once safely back at their Northern NSW homestead Pete uploaded a picture of Nicola in a strange yoga-type position.

Calling it 'The sweet art of surrender', Pete's photo showed a 'body magician' Bruce Scott using his feet to lift Nicola up while her head drooped down towards the ground.

That's different! Pete Evans reveals the VERY bizarre way wife Nicola Robinson like to unwind

'The sweet art of surrender!' Pete captioned the interesting photo.

'Our brother Bruce aka @thebodymagician surly does facilitate a magical, heart opening, Earth Suit aligning practice!

'This is my beautiful wife fulling letting go and allowing Bruce to innately feel into her flow and be guided as to what her body is ready to release,' he continued the lengthy post.

Letting go: 'This is my beautiful wife fulling letting go and allowing Bruce to innately feel into her flow and be guided as to what her body is ready to release,' he continued the lengthy post

New technique: The photo taken by Pete saw Bruce grasping her feet while Nicola arched her back and dropped her head down towards the floor

The photo showed Bruce lying on his back and lifting his legs to 90 degrees while holding up Nicola.

Grasping her feet, Nicola was seen arching her back and dropping her head down towards the floor.

The couple recently visited Seattle's 40 Years of Zen Training Centre.

Pete completed a strenuous pre-screening process and qualified for the $15,000 5-day 'brain upgrade' course.

The program is the brainchild of Albuquerque entrepreneur, 'Bulletproof Coffee' inventor and self-professed 'biohacker' Dave Asprey.

'The idea is simple. Your brain uses electricity. If you turn it into sounds and play them back to your brain, your brain gets new information about how its doing,' he explains on the program's website.They became proud parents for the first time when they welcomed baby Bodhi Soleil into the world in July 2017.

And Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder enjoyed a rare date night as they left their little girl at home and headed to upscale West Hollywood eatery Craig's on Sunday evening.

The Twilight star, 29, looked effortlessly chic in a pair of oversized cream belted trousers, teamed with a matching long-line jacket.

Date night: Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder left baby daughter Bodhi, six months, at home and headed to upscale West Hollywood eatery Craig's on Sunday evening

The actress teamed her stylish two-piece with a simple white vest, and accessorised with a tan belt and pointed leather heels.

Nikki wore her brunette locks teased into loose waves and opted for natural make-up to accentuate her pretty features.

Ian, 39, looked every inch the dapper dude in indigo jeans, a crisp white shirt and a black wool coat.

The actor accessorised with a black trilby, leather brogues and a silver silk scarf as he joined his wife for a night out on the town.

Style queen: The Twilight star, 29, looked effortlessly chic in a pair of oversized cream belted trousers, teamed with a matching long-line jacket

Cuddle time: The actress teamed her two-piece with a simple white vest, and accessorised with a tan belt and pointed leather heels as she packed on the PDA with her husband

The couple's outing came after Ian publicly gushed over his partner via his Instagram page, praising her for her dedication to yoga.

He wrote: 'So impressed with this woman getting up before the sun comes up to work on her favorite sport even with our little one keeping you up all night in our bed.

'I've never seen anything like it. The strength and endurance you have goes beyond what any man could ever understand. You amaze me my beautiful wife.

'Ps thanks for teaching me a few moves;). Ill be good enough to fly you soon... love, your husband.'

Out on the town: Nikki wore her brunette locks teased into loose waves and opted for natural make-up to accentuate her pretty features

Looking sharp: Ian, 39, looked every inch the dapper dude in indigo jeans, a crisp white shirt and a black wool coat

The couple tied the knot in April 2015 in Malibu, California, after one year of dating, and welcomed baby Bodhi on July 25 2017.

Controversy arose after the two appeared on a podcast in September and told the story of their decision to have a baby.

On Dr Berlin's Informed Pregnancy Podcast Nikki told a story about how the couple had been on vacation in Barcelona, Spain, when Ian went through her bag and threw out her birth control pills as she watched on.

'It was the beginning of the pack, so I had to pop all those suckers out,' he said, confessing he flushed them down the toilet.

Loved up: The actor accessorised with a black trilby, leather brogues and a silver silk scarf as he joined his wife for a night out on the town

Mr and Mrs: The couple tied the knot in April 2015 in Malibu, California, after one year of dating, and welcomed baby Bodhi on July 25 2017

'Actually, now thinking about it, I guess I kind of decided [to start a family].'

The 'goofy' story was picked up by Cosmopolitan magazine, sparking a heated debate about reproductive coercion.

The couple issued a joint apology assuring it was a mutual decision to start a family.

Nikki was previously married to American Idol star Paul McDonald, 33, from October 2011 to March 2014, with the couple splitting shortly before she met Ian.

Ian dated his Vampire Diaries co-star Nina Dobrev, 29, for three years from 2010 to 2013.

Controversial: Controversy arose after the two appeared on a podcast in September and told the story of their decision to have a babyNatasha Hamilton has sparked rumours among fans that she has split from fiance Charles Gay after sharing a cryptic Instagram post.

Taking to the photosharing site on Sunday evening, the 35-year-old mother-of-four shared an emotional post in which she discussed being given up on - leading to fans reaching out with concern over the state of her relationship.

The Atomic Kitten star proudly professed last year that she was set to marry the fashion brand director this summer following their whirlwind engagement yet her recent social media activity has sparked concern.

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Worrying: Natasha Hamilton has sparked rumours among fans that she has split from fiance Charles Gay after sharing a cryptic Instagram post

The couple, who were last pictured together on her Instagram on December 15, became engaged in November 2016, a matter of months into their relationship.

It was then claimed the songstress and her 31-year-old fiance they were looking to tie the knot in an 'intimate' 50,000 ceremony in Ibiza with no expense spared.

Natasha's post left fans questioning the state of her romance as she shared the post reading: 'Dont feel sad over someone who gave up on you, feel sorry for them because they gave up on someone who would have never given up on them.'

Some of her 94,000 followers wrote: 'Going through the same myself at the moment It's Horrible.. chin up girl.. Xx... Hope you're okay...break ups suck xxx...

Sad times: Natasha's post left fans questioning the state of her romance as she shared the post reading: 'Dont feel sad over someone who gave up on you, feel sorry for them because they gave up on someone who would have never given up on them'

Happier times: Taking to the photosharing site on Sunday evening, the 35-year-old mother-of-four shared an emotional post in which she discussed being given up on leading to fans reaching out with concern over the state of her relationship (pictured in January last year)

'Oh no heart does that mean it over... Ive been there Couldnt of said it better myself... What's happend?i hope this doesent mean your relationship is over you are perfect together... Oh no, not another relationship split?...

'This doesn't mean what I think it does does it?... Are you ok?... I can totally relate to this. Its so hard though... Love this my fella broke up with me after 15 years together and this quote is perfect... Nobody in their right mind should give up on you'.

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Natasha for comment.

In yet another hint at strife, Natasha shared a picture of a candle with the words: 'What's meant to be will always find a way' emblazoned on the back.

Upsetting: In yet another hint at strife, Natasha shared a picture of a candle with the words: 'What's meant to be will always find a way' emblazoned on the back

She captioned the image: 'This candle has been burning away in my living room for months - on one side it says Rituals, that is all Ive ever noticed.

'Ive just been moving bits about & noticed it says this on the other side! I cant begin to tell you how apt this is in my life right now - Whats meant to be will always find a way #lookforthesigns #keepthefaith'.

Following the proposal, Charles told OK! Magazine 'It was during a trip to Lake Como in October. We went for a walk around a lovely little village and stumbled across a beautiful spot by the water overlooking the mountains.

'It was such a romantic place and when I looked at Tash I realised she was the person I wanted to spend my life with.'

At the time it was reported Natasha was inviting just family members to the 'intimate' wedding, where all the guests would be 'spoiled rotten'.

Umming and ahhing: The couple were reportedly considering marrying in Sorrento in Italy, but are now looking at venues in Ibiza, after admitting the location 'means so much to them'

The couple were reportedly considering marrying in Sorrento in Italy, but went on to looking at venues in Ibiza, after admitting the location 'means so much to them'.

A source told The Sun in August: 'Natasha and Charles want everything to be perfect and they want their families to feel completely spoilt in the run up to the wedding. They know what they want and it won't be cheap but they know it'll be worth it.'

Natasha is mother to Josh, 15, Harry, 13, Alfie, seven, and two-year-old Ella, all with different partners, having recently split from Ella's father Ritchie Neville.

She does admit that she was wary of introducing a new father-figure into her eldest sons' lives.

Sad times: 'Ella and Alfie are still young,' she said. 'So being introduced to someone new didn't really faze them, but I wanted to be sensitive towards the older boys'

'Ella and Alfie are still young,' she said. 'So being introduced to someone new didn't really faze them, but I wanted to be sensitive towards the older boys.

'There's no handbook that tells you the best way to do these things, but I think we handled it well. They all get on brilliantly with Charlie, it's nice to see.'

She said at the time that she then considered herself 'calm and content', 'Natasha has even discussed starting a family with Charles in the near future, which will make it her fifth pregnancy.

Nastasha's sudden split with boyband member Ritchie came as quite a shock to many last March, just months after their engagement.A bench warrant is believed to have been issued against Tyga after the beleaguered rapper reportedly failed to attend a pre-scheduled court hearing as part of an ongoing $236,000 judgement.

TMZ claim the 28-year old, real name Michael Stevenson, has so far failed to pay the sum awarded to fan Shyanne Riekana, who suffered head injuries when light rigging fell on top of her during one of his concerts in 2015.

Despite a court ruling in Riekanas favour, the rappers company Tyga Music LLC has yet to pay out on the lawsuit  which is understood to have increased to more than $250,000 due to interest.

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Wanted man: A bench warrant is believed to have been issued against Tyga after the beleaguered rapper reportedly failed to attend a pre-scheduled court hearing as part of an ongoing $236,000 judgement

He is now wanted after failing to attend the hearing, during which he was reportedly expected to give a detailed account of his financial earnings.

Riekena had attended a Grand Rapids, Michigan concert when a light stand fell and hit her on the head during the show.

In 2017 her attorney filed court documents asking a judge to demand Tyga's music company to pay what it owes after unsuccessfully attempting to collect the money on two previous occasions.

Controversy: TMZ claim the 28-year old, real name Michael Stevenson, has so far failed to pay the sum awarded to fan Shyanne Riekana, who suffered head injuries when light rigging fell on top of her during one of his concerts in 2015

Tyga was also hauled into a hearing by celebrity jeweler Jason of Beverly Hills to discuss payments for a $200,000 judgment for a diamond encrusted watch and chain in August 2016.

The former fiance of Blac Chyna was apparently fine answering questions about his finances until the topic came to ex-girlfriend Kylie Jenner.

Tyga - which is an acronym for Thank You God Always - was accommodating and answered the attorney, despite flashing his middle finger and pretending to aim a gun towards cameras as he entered the building.

Hefty fee: Despite a court ruling in Riekanas favour, the rappers company Tyga Music LLC has yet to pay out on the lawsuit  which is understood to have increased to more than $250,000 due to interest

However, when he was asked how much he spends on gifts for his reality star girlfriend, Tyga claimed to feel ill and had lost his memory.

He had a complete meltdown and stopped proceedings during the hearing when questioned about money he splashes out on the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star including a $200,000 Mercedes-Maybach he purchased for her 19th birthday.

Tyga has since began making payments towards the judgement for Jason Arasheben.

MailOnline has contacted Tyga's representatives for further comment.She's been a staple of British pop culture since she graced the page three of tabloid newspapers in the mid 1990s.

And Katie Price, 39, shared how she's kept up her career momentum - comparing herself to Only Fools And Horses legend, market trader Del Boy Trotter, during a debate at Cambridge University on Thursday.

The TV personality argued about the pitfalls of celebrity culture with former Strictly star Reverend Richard Coles - declaring that she herself is 'Z-list'.

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'I'm shrewd like Del Boy': Katie Price discussed how 'easy it is to be a celeb for nothing' as she went head-to-head with Rev Richard Coles at the Cambridge Union debate on Thursday

Flaunting her slender physique, Katie opted for a conservative style for the evening, donning a black lace top with frilled sleeves.

With shoulder sheer cutouts, she was worlds away from her usual sartorial choices, but still got the chance to show off her enviable physique.

The mother-of-five's impressive pins were on full display as she poured herself into skin-tight black trousers and leather knee high boots.

Katie's long chocolate tresses fell almost almost to her hips as she stepped out of the car, looking slightly pensive, before the event.

Heated debate: The TV personality, 39, argued about the pitfalls of celebrity culture with former Strictly star Reverend Richard Coles - declaring that she herself is 'Z-list'

Wheeler dealer: The mother-of-five likened herself to the market trader made famous on popular comedy Only Fools And Horses

She heightened her cosmetically enhanced features with a bold pink lip and lashings of mascara.

Flanked by her friend, she carried her possessions in a shimmering gold bag, adding a touch of glamour to an otherwise toned-down look for the star.

During the Cambridge Union address, the star, who was reportedly 90 minutes late to the event, called out how 'easy' it is to be a 'celeb for nothing' before comparing her wily ways to that of Only Fools and Horses character Del Boy.

'It's so easy to be a celeb for nothing but it's about working social media. I'm shrewd - like Del Boy', she said.

Stunning: Flaunting her slender physique, Katie opted for a conservative style, donning a black lace top with frilled sleeves, skintight black trousers and leather knee high boots

Golden: Flanked by her friend, she carried her possessions in a shimmering gold bag, adding a touch of glamour to an otherwise toned-down look for the star

The former glamour model tried to tackle the sensitive subject of religion with the media savvy reverend, telling the audience: 'I think religion is a load of bulls***t.

'I never discuss politics or religion as you will never win,' she continued.

Katie was candid about her own celebrity status, and despite a 22-year career in modelling, fashion and music, she confessed she's 'Z-List'.

She said: 'I'm Z-list. Famous to me is worldwide - It's become like a religion.'

While discussing her extensive history of plastic surgeries, has been plagued with difficulties recently after going under the knife for a face lift.

Unapologetic: The former glamour model tried to tackle the sensitive subject of religion with the media savvy reverend, telling the audience: 'I think religion is a load of bulls***t

Celeb voice: Katie was candid about her own celebrity status, and despite a 22-year career in modelling, fashion and music, she confessed she's 'Z-List'

Topical: While discussing her extensive history of plastic surgeries, has been plagued with difficulties recently after going under the knife for a face lift

Katie told the audience she'll be back in the city on Wednesday to correct a face operation in 2017 that went horribly wrong.

'People have surgery to look like me even though my surgery went wrong and I'm getting it sorted on Wednesday.' she admitted.

'People have surgery to look like me when I am having surgery not to look like me.'

Turning to something more personal for Katie, the panel - which included Geordie Shore's Chloe Ferry - discussed her plans to 'have trolls arrested' following online bullying towards her son Harvey, 15, who suffers from Prader-Willi syndrome.

Nerve-wracking: Katie told the audience she'll be back in the city on Wednesday to correct a face operation in 2017 that went horribly wrong

Doting mum: Her petition for the government to tackle online bullying is set to be discussed in the House of Commons after she received 200,000 signatures

Her petition for the government to tackle online bullying is set to be discussed in the House of Commons after she received 200,000 signatures.

Declaring you should 'never underestimate Pricey', the Loose Women host said: 'I have had some of the trolls arrested... but there is nothing in place to charge them with. Being a celeb is a powerful thing 'cause you have a voice to let people hear.

'I did a petition last year to make online abuse a criminal offence. Now the House of Commons have come back to me and I am going there next week to make a new law - Harvery's Law.'

After the feisty debate concluded, Katie enjoyed some downtime in the student union, even taking time to pose with fans who attended.

It's not the first time Katie has been up against a fellow public figure in the name of celebrity - previously winning the Cambridge Union debate against former London Mayor Boris Johnson in 2012.

'Never underestimate Pricey': The panel discussed her plans to 'have trolls arrested' following online bullying towards her disabled son Harvey, 15

Strike a pose: After the feisty debate concluded, Katie enjoyed some downtime in the student union, even taking time to pose with fans who attendedShe was furious when she discovered her boyfriend was on dating app.

But Bella Thorne, 20, gave Mod Sun, 30, a taste of his own medicine when she created a very racy dating profile on Huggle after she exposed her beau on Badoo.

Via her Instagram stories on Sunday, the actress teased her sexy picture used on the app which flaunted her eye-popping cleavage thanks to a skimpy scarlet leotard.

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The Thorne in her side! Bella got revenge with a VERY racy dating profile picture but there's a catch after she exposed her beau Mod Sun on app

The Famous In Love star showed off her cheeky side as she poked her tongue out of her mouth in the raunchy picture.

Bella uploaded 10 pictures onto her dating profile and she captioned her about herself: 'Come and find me!' (sic)

However, the red-haired beauty claimed she was only looking for friends on the app with a winking emoji.



Are they (Famous) In Love? The Famous In Love actress was furious so she finally gave him a taste of his own medicine (pictured together in Los Angeles, October 2017)

On Wednesday afternoon, the actress was documenting her afternoon lounging around her apartment on Instagram, as a phone kept getting alerts in the backdrop.

Irritated, she proclaimed: 'Well, someones popular!'

In a separate story, she uploaded Mod Sun's phone with three notifications brazenly flashing up on the screen from dating app Badoo which has 370 million users on it.

Using the super zoom filter she captioned the snap: 'When your boyfriend still has a dating app on his phone'

'When your boyfriend has a dating app on his phone!' Bella has furiously outed her beau Mod for using a hook up site behind her back... and posts a topless selfie as revenge

Fuming: She uploaded Mod Sun's phone, with three notifications brazenly flashing up on the screen from dating app Badoo

With her ex-flame Scott Disick also spotted on the app around the time of their whirlwind romance, and now her current love interest having an account on the app, it would seem Bella isn't having a lot of luck in love.

Defiantly, the actress posted a VERY risque topless snap for her17 million Instagram followers to revel in, perhaps to show her boyfriend what he might be missing after the revelation.

She cryptically captioned this: 'I love you!'

Just a week ago, Bella and rapper Mod's relationship looked like it was going from strength-to-strength as he greeted her in Salt Lake City with a bouquet of red roses ahead of her appearance at the Sundance Film Festival on Saturday.

Playing away? They've shared and over-shared the details of their relationship on social media since igniting their spark on social media last October

The beauty - who is in Salt Lake City for her flick Assassination Nation -packed on the PDA with her other half moments after landing in Utah.

Currently on tour, Mod shared his excitement with being reunited with his other half and took to Insta Story to convey it.

He wrote: 'When u really find love it's not a feeling anymore. It takes a while to get to know how that s**t works but once u do, love becomes ur best personality trait + ur best quality. Trust will never arrive uninvited.

'Welcome that s**t into ur life with opens arms my hippy. Trust me I'm so happy + truly where I've longed to be. Thanks for this movie (sic).'

Sparks flew when Bella and Mod started dating back in October earlier this year, with the couple going from strength to strength ever since.

The couple have been putting on a number of amorous displays since they began their love story.

Prior to the rapper, Bella has been romantically linked to Keeping Up With The Kardashians' Scott Disick and Mod's pal Blackbear.He recently revealed he identifies as gender fluid and is known for overtly challenging social norms.

And Rodrigo Alves, often dubbed the Human Ken Doll, has gone to bold lengths to break the taboo about gender fluidity by posing for a very racy photo shoot.

The 34-year-old reality star has collaborated with visual artist Thomas Evans to capture a new photo series, Feminizing the Masculine Man, which shows Rodrigo clad in provocative attire.

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Pushing boundaries: Rodrigo Alves, often dubbed the Human Ken Doll, has gone to bold lengths to break the taboo about gender fluidity by posing for a very racy photo shoot

Attempting to redefine how society expects people to dress and behave based on their physical anatomy, a defiant Rodrigo poses in a bunny costume, complete with ears and a collar.

Replacing her usual short blonde locks is a long blonde wig, which is evocative of Jane Fonda's '70s, bombshell Barbarella hair look.

While Rodrigo is no stranger to wearing make-up, he swaps his typically neutral palette for a striking pink lipstick and bold smokey eyes.

Breaking the taboo: The 34-year-old reality star has collaborated with visual artist Thomas Evans to capture a new photo series, Feminizing the Masculine Man

Proving he's more than mastered the art of wearing a high heels, the Brazilian star works his angles for the camera in a pair of seriously high stilettos.

Explaining his motivation behind the shoot, he told MailOnline: 'People's physical gender defines how society expects then to dress and behave, as well as what they are supposed to be interested in.

'When I was a boy my long gone granddad used to buy me Barbie dolls to play with and I used to love wearing granny panties and dresses. People shouldn't be forced to identify as a particular gender.'

Candid: Rodrigo recently shared a poignant talk about bullying on his Instagram story

He added: 'They should be able to express themselves in ways that reject labels and gender stereotypes. I'm a huge supporter of gender equality and the new trend gender fluid - I regard myself as a gender fluid person.

'I wear make-up and a corset which are made for the female, but I would like to change that and launch a new trend for the man. Wearing a corset under a blazer looks very elegant and helps with one's posture.'

Rodrigo has teamed up with visual artist Thomas, who has been committed to exploring society's prescribed labels and challenging them, for the new photo series, titled Femme the Man.

The project will see him test participant's along with the viewer in a bid to have them reconsider their prescribed perceptions of gender and gender expression.

He has already unveiled a slew of his poignant images on Instagram.

Rodrigo's shoot will be shown on his upcoming TV documentary which will launch on German TV network RTL, then worldwide in two weeks' time.Kim Kardashian has faced furious backlash from fans, after showing off her new braided hairstyle on social media.

The 37-year-old took to Snapchat on Sunday to unveil her silver corn rows, which she called her 'Bo Derek braids' - in reference to the actress' appearance in 1979 film, 10.

However, the comment was immediately blasted by her followers, who branded her 'disrespectful' and accused of her cultural appropriation.

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Backlash: Kim Kardashian was accused of cultural appropriation on Sunday, for showing off her newly-braided hair on social media

The TV star was immediately slammed by her followers after revealing in the selfie video she was 'really into' her new look, inspired by the famous American actress.

One fan responded by writing: 'Im still a bit peeved on how @KimKardashian had the audacity to call these braids Bo Derrick braids' (sic)

While another added: 'Kim Kardashian on snap talking about some Bo Derek braids. Kim they are called CORN ROWS.'

Not happy: The 37-year-old infuriated fans by calling the style her 'Bo Derek braids' - in reference to the actress' appearance in 1979 film, 10 (above)

Further fans were more critical, writing: 'Kim K got braids like these. And gave credit to Bo Derek for the style. Am i wrong for being bothered. Because Im super bothered. Thats who tf you give credit for for that style !? Seriously.'

And: 'You should be ashamed of yourself for calling your Fulani braids, boderick braids....you are truly a culture vulture.'

Another added: 'Kim kardashian should have learned by now how to properly deal with black culture and considering she has three black kids this behavior is disturbing.'

While a further fan blasted: 'First of all, f*** you @KimKardashian for wearing cornrows and calling them "Boderrick braids". second of call f*** you again for crediting the creation of "boderrick braids" to a white woman who was culturally appropriating cornrows to begin with'

Disgruntled: The TV star was immediately slammed by her followers, after revealing in the selfie video she was 'really into' her new look, inspired by the famous American actress

However a selection of fans saw the more humorous side and joked of her comments with a variety of memes.

One wrote: 'Kim Kardashian really said Bo Derek braids knowing damn well what she was doing.'

While another added: 'Kim called corn rows bo Derek braids. This is why people dont like her lmao.'

Yet, a number of other followers rushed to defend her, and claimed fans were making a big deal out of a playful post.

Hilarious: However a selection of fans saw the more humorous side and made a number of jokes about her comments

Light-hearted: Yet, a number of other followers rushed to defend her, and claimed fans were making a big deal out of a playful post

One wrote: 'Whats the problem with Kim Kardashian having braids? Stop making nothing into something.'

While others chimed in: 'I actually like Kims braids lol' and 'You look so good with braids!!!! Haters gonna hate.'

MailOnline has contacted Kim's representatives for comment.

The 37-year-old first shared her newly-braided hair with her Snapchat followers on Sunday night.

Changing her look again: Kim Kardashian showed off her newly braided hair on Sunday in a series of selfies she shared via Snapchat

She posed for a number of selfies in silver-framed spectacles, as she revealed that her silver-dyed locks have been transformed into multiple braided strands with white beads on the ends.

It marked a radical new look for Kim who often likes to change it up - whether dyeing her real hair, or simply opting for a wig.

She posed with her mouth open, drawing attention to her thick false lashes and the pale pink colour on her lips.

Braided: The reality star, 37, posed wearing silver-framed spectacles as she revealed her dyed silver blonde locks have been tightly plaited with white beads at the bottoms

Feeling good: She admitted she was 'really into' the look - inspired by Bo Derek in the famous 1979 film (above)

It was the second time in a few hours that the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star shared snaps for her fans on social media.

Earlier on Sunday she shared a bathroom selfie wearing only Calvin Klein underwear, during a recent photo shoot for the brand.

Kim recently welcomed baby number three earlier this month but since she used a gestational carrier, she doesn't have to worry about losing any pregnancy weight.

She and Kanye welcomed daughter Chicago via surrogate, due to issues Kim had suffered during her pregnancies with daughter North, four, and son Saint, two.She is confident in her sex appeal, posing for naked social media photos and racy lingerie campaigns.

So it's no surprise Heidi Klum stripped off for two very intimate bedroom pictures which she shared with her 4,200,000 Instagram followers on Monday.

The supermodel, 44, clutched hold of her blossoming bosom as she struggled to contain her gravity-defying cleavage in her plunging teddy.

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Leggy lady: Heidi Klum, 44, struggled to contain her impressive cleavage and peachy posterior in a tiny corset as she posed for intimate bedroom pictures on Instagram on Monday

Heidi showcased her endless legs as she posed with her best assets in the air, which also displayed the full extent of her incredible figure in the lingerie.

In the second picture, the Germany's Next Top Model star flaunted her peachy derriere in the slinky bodysuit with a thong-style bottom as she led on her stomach.

The model exuded sex appeal as she slipped on a pair of sky-scraper heels to make her statuesque limbs appear even longer.

Stripping off: In the second picture, the Germany's Next Top Model star flaunted her peachy derriere in the slinky bodysuit with a thong-style bottom as she led on her stomach

'Good night NYC,' Heidi penned on the first social media snap. She then simply captioned the second picture, ' #cheeky.' (sic)

Heidi explained she has never had a problem with nudity because her parents took her to nude beaches in her childhood.

She told Ocean Drive magazine in December 2016: 'I grew up going to nude beaches with my parents, so Im a nudist.

'I have no problems with nudity at all. Im very free. When I go to the beach, its in a very remote place where there are not a lot of people, and I like to go topless.'

Sexy lady: The supermodel is confident in her sex appeal, posing for naked social media photos and racy lingerie campaign

Despite her very own racy naked snaps on Instagram, the supermodel revealed she doesn't want her children to post 'unwise pictures' on social media.

Heidi told Stylist magazine in September 2017: 'Im teaching my children its more important to be respected.

They want to post certain images on social media and they say to me, it would get so many more likes.

I explain to them that people can like you for wrong reasons and a picture is not important.

Mother-of-four Heidi shares three of her children with her ex-husband Seal including two sons Henry, 11, Johan, 10, as well as their daughter eight-year-old daughter Lou.

The former flames were married in a romantic ceremony in 2005 but the couple went their separate ways in 2014.

Double standards: Despite her very own racy naked snaps on Instagram, the supermodel revealed she doesn't want her children to post 'unwise pictures' on social media

It was Heidi's second marriage as she tied the knot with Stylist Ric Pipino back in 1997 but they were granted a divorce in 2002.

The supermodel also shares her eldest child Helene, 13, with her ex lover and Italian businessman Flavio Briatore.

Heidi and Flavio began dating in March 2003 but following their break-up she moved on swiftly with her second ex-husband Seal.

Unlucky in love, the model called it quits on her romance with Vito Schnabel after they spent three years together.

But Heidi is said to have rung in the New Year in Bali, Indonesia with the 31-year-old art curator according to a report in the latest issue of Star magazine.She recently returned to Bali with her family and newborn daughter.

And on Monday, Lindy Klim shared a beautiful black and white picture of herself cradling her baby daughter in her arms.

The photo by her best friend Anna Riches shows the 39-year-old gazing adoringly at her little bub.

'The look of love!' Lindy Klim has shared a beautifully captured black and white snap of herself with her newborn in her arms, on Monday

Meanwhile, the seven-week-old cherub stared just as lovingly at her mother.

Lindy captioned the photo: 'Afternoon chats with Goldie girl,' she also thanked her gal pal for the shot and added the hashtag #wewillmissyou.

Fans of the Balinese-based fashionista complimented her on the stunning photo, including one who wrote: 'The look of love.'

Happy family: Lindy, her kids Stella, 11, Rocco, nine, Frankie, six, baby Goldie, and Adam Ellis (pictured) returned to Bali last month

'Ridiculously beautiful of Goldie and her elegant Mumma,' another added.

Someone else commented: 'This is such a gorgeous photo I love the eye contact. So precious.'

Lindy, her kids Stella, 11, Rocco, nine, Frankie, six, Goldie, and fiance Adam Ellis returned to Bali last month.

'We finally made it home': She was back in Bali with adorable newborn daughter Goldie and fiance Adam Ellis this week. Lindy marked their return with a cute photo along with the caption: 'After 3 long months we finally made it home to Bali'

To mark their return, the brunette beauty shared a post with the caption: 'After 3 long months we finally made it home to Bali.'

Lindy looked radiant and in high spirits as she took a relaxed selfie with the smiling baby in a white onesie.

Goldie had a yellow frangipani resting behind her tiny ear, as her mother labelled her: 'Bali baby.'She's currently spending time Down Under with her 77-year-old mother Marilyn.

But Hollywood heavyweight Jessica Chastain did more than just show see the sights while promoting latest film Molly's Game, and instead delved into the #metoo campaign and its effects in the country.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday, the 40-year-old said: 'If someone feels they are timid in sharing their voice, know that it's going to be held up and amplified by so many others'.

Ravising in red! Jessica Chastain, 40, was the picture of elegance as she stepped out for a photo call in Sydney on Monday

'I've seen it - when one person comes forward and speaks up, if we support that person, which is what this movement is, then others feel the safety that they too can speak.

'It's become a collective, not just moment, but movement.'

The two-time Academy Award nominee stepped out in a red figure-hugging frock paired with nude pumps for a photocall in Sydney on Monday.

She wore dark shades, which added an element of mystery to the classy look and she accessorised with her diamond wedding ring.

Style: The two-time Academy award nominee stepped out in a red figure-hugging frock paired with nude pumps

Natural beauty: Jessica wore minimal makeup for the shoot, including light foundation, mascara and lipstick

The California-native, who tied the knot with fashion executive Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo last year, appears to be settling into married life.

She recently told Wall Street Journal magazine that she never wanted to get married until she met Gian.

'I never wanted to get married,' she told the upcoming February issue.

Beaming beauty: The California-native, who tied the knot with fashion executive Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo last year, appears to be settling into married life

'When I first met my husband, he knew that marriage wasn't something I was interested in.'

She continued: 'And then as we got to know each other, the idea of marriage shifted for me. There are some things worth celebrating  and he's worth celebrating.'

Jessica, who is featured in the Vanity Fair Hollywood issue this month, was recently hailed by fans, including fellow actress Jada Pinkett Smith, for fighting for pay equity in Hollywood.

High praise: Jessica, who is featured in the Vanity Fair Hollywood issue this month, was recently hailed by fans, including fellow actress Jada Pinkett Smith, for fighting for pay equity in Hollywood

Candid: 'When I first met my husband, he knew that marriage wasn't something I was interested in,' the actress revealed

The actress helped Octavia Spencer receive equal pay for an upcoming comedy they're doing together after learning that women of colour are not always paid fairly.

'Jessica stood up for Octavia and I want you to know because they stood together, they got three times what they were asking for as a unit,' Jada said at Sundance Film Festival last week.

Octavia recently commended Jessica for her efforts.

'Heres the thing, women of colour on that spectrum, we make far less than white women,' she told the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's 'Women Breaking Barriers' panel.

Kind words: 'Jessica stood up for Octavia and I want you to know because they stood together, they got three times what they were asking for as a unit,' Jada said at Sundance Film Festival last week

'So, if were gonna have that conversation about pay equity, we gotta bring the women of colour to the table.

She continued: 'And I told her my story, and we talked numbers, and she was quiet, and she said she had no idea that thats what it was like for women of colour.'

Jessica then helped Octavia receive more than fives times what she had asked for.She recently underwent surgery on her back after battling a spinal issue for almost a decade.

And Ruby Rose proved she was on the mend on Sunday as she made a glamorous arrival at a Grammy viewing party in LA, with her walking stick in hand.

Despite the aid, the actress, 31, maintained her usually glamorous appearance in a semi-sheer leotard and skinny jeans as she headed to the Inaugural Janie's Fund Gala, held at Red Studios.

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Staying strong: Ruby Rose made a glamorous arrival at a Grammy viewing party in LA on Sunday with her walking stick in hand - after undergoing surgery on her spine

Chic: Despite the aid, the actress, 31, maintained her usually glamorous appearance in a semi-sheer leotard and skinny jeans as she headed to the Inaugural Janie's Fund Gala

The Australian was casually chic in black skinny jeans and a semi-sheer leotard, adorned with cartoon logos and images all over.

While the top rose into a turtle neckline, the one-piece was formed entirely of thin nude mesh, to flash her braless frame underneath.

Keeping things demure, the model layered a sleek camel coat on top, but tied her look together with her trademark grungy lace-up boots.

Helping hand: While she appeared on the annual G'Day USA red carpet without any assistance, Ruby leaned on the support of her cane once again at the Grammy bash

Can(e) I help you with that? The actress appeared to be in better health than ever, and even proceeded to joke around with the walking stick as she headed inside

She swept her brunette bob to one side, and opted for minimal, glowing make-up to draw attention to her naturally striking features, as she chatted to a friend on her way inside.

While she appeared on the annual G'Day USA red carpet on Saturday without any assistance, Ruby leaned on the support of her cane once again at the glamorous Grammy bash.

However, the actress appeared to be in better health than ever, and even proceeded to joke around with the walking stick as she headed inside.

Saucy: The Australian was casually chic in black skinny jeans and a semi-sheer leotard

Effortless: Keeping things demure, the model layered a sleek camel coat on top

Trademark: She tied her look together with her trademark grungy lace-up boots

Model material: She swept her brunette bob to one side, and opted for minimal, glowing make-up to draw attention to her naturally striking features, as she chatted to a friend inside

The Pitch Perfect 3 star has spent the last few weeks recovering from a gruelling spinal operation.

Ruby first opened up about her decade-long battle with a 'spine issue' on Instagram last month.

Sharing a photo of herself sitting in a wheelchair, she said she'd decided to speak up about her condition before she was recognised out in public using the assistive transport device.

Recovering: The Pitch Perfect 3 star has spent the last few weeks recovering from a gruelling spinal operation, having revealed her decade-long battle with the issue on Twitter (above)

'So... for the past few years (decade) I've been dealing with a spine issue,' she wrote to her 1.34 million followers.

'I am now recovering from a back procedure, but I do need to stay active, so before I get seen with my cane and wheelchair in public, I'd rather put it out there that I'm fine and going to be fine.'

Last year, the brunette confessed her spinal issues stemmed from a car accident in her youth.

Responding to comments about her appearance at a film premiere, she wrote to a fan on Twitter: 'I have a tilted posterior (it's why I have abs but no butt) and spinal curvature from a bad car accident.'She is every inch the leading lady in ITV and Amazon joint adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray's most famous novel Vanity Fair.

And Olivia Cooke's character took control of her destiny as she shared a smooch with her on-screen lover Tom Bateman during steamy scenes, in London on Monday.

Clad in costume, the 24-year-old actress wrapped her hand tenderly around her on-star's neck as they locked lips in a lovers' embrace.

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Smooching scenes: Olivia Cooke and her on-screen lover Tom Bateman shared a passionate kiss for very steamy scenes during filming ITV's Vanity Fair adaptation, in London on Monday

With her other hand rested firmly on his chest in a familiar fashion, the Manchester born beauty put her all into the very passionate scenes.

The Limehouse Golem star transformed into her character in costume with her period burgundy gown, with a patterned shawl draped over her svelte figure.

Olivia takes on the role of strong-willed and cunning Becky Sharpe who is determined to make her way in society despite coming from poverty.

Moving up in the world! Olivia's social climbing character took control of her destiny as she shared a smooch with her co-star Tom who plays her rich husband

Convincing caresses: With her other hand rested firmly on his chest in a familiar fashion, the Manchester born beauty put her all into the very passionate scenes

A lover's touch: Clad in costume, the 24-year-old actress wrapped her hand tenderly around her on-star's neck as they went to lock lips in a lovers' embrace

Tom was equally convincing in his cavalry officer uniform as Becky's husband Rawdon Crawley in the seven-part mini series.

Vanity Fair follows social climber Becky's journey to the court of King George IV, via the Battle of Waterloo, breaking hearts and losing fortunes on her way to the top.

In between takes, the actress layered up with a biscuit coloured padded jacket to keep off the chill in the British capital as she chatted to her co-star.

Going strong: The duo put on a very convincing display when they smooched passionately during filming in the middle of London

Leading roles: Olivia takes on the role of strong-willed Becky Sharpe who is determined to make her way in society while Tom plays her husband Rawdon Crawley

Clad in costume: Tom was convincing in his cavalry officer uniform as Becky's husband Rawdon while Olivia transformed into Becky in her period gown and shawl

Filming for the latest production of the 1848 novel began in Budapest, just four months ago, in September 2017.

The cast have now returned to London where they are shooting scenes in the British capital. Michael Palin will take on the role of Thackeray, the Victorian author of the original book Vanity Fair.

The ITV adaptation has been written by Gwyneth Hughes, famed for her other projects Dark Angel and The Girl, against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars.

Down time: Olivia was seen wrapping up in a bulky padded beige coloured jacket in between takes

Line-up: Claudia Jessie is also part of the project and was seen on set

Role: The beauty is playing the part of Amelia Sedley

Loving life: The British actress proved to be in high spirits during her time on set

Chilling: The rising star was seen enjoying a cigarette and warm drink during her break

The classic tale has been adapted for screen more than once, including in 1998 on the BBC and a movie in 2004 starring the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Eileen Atkins, Bob Hoskins, Danielle Matty and Jim Broadbent.

Also joining the cast are musician and actor Johnny Fynn [Genius] as Dobbin, Martin Clunes [Doc Martin] as Sir Pitt Crawley and Frances de La Tour [Harry Potter] as Miss Matilda Crawley.

Vanity Fair will debut on ITV ahead of its U.S. premiere as an Amazon Prime Exclusive.Its produced by Julia Stannard [War And Peace] with James Strong, who has seen success with ITV's dramas Liar and Broadchurch, in the director's seat.

Closer than ever: In between takes, the actress layered up with a biscuit coloured padded jacket to keep off the chill in the British capital as she chatted to her co-star

Revealed: The ITV adaptation has been written by Gwyneth Hughes, famed for her other projects Dark Angel and The Girl, against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars

On the scene: The cast have now returned to London where they are shooting Vanity Fair adaptation in the British capitalShe's a doting mother of three.

And Kourtney Kardashian was in mommy mode as she stepped out Sunday with her daughter Penelope, five, and her friend Larsa Pippen's child, Sophia.

The reality star, 38, kept an eye on the girls as they all walked hand-in-hand through a farmers' market in Los Angeles.

Girls only! Kourtney Kardashian was in mommy mode as she stepped out Sunday with her daughter Penelope, five, and her friend Larsa Pippen's child, Sophia, in Los Angeles

Kourtney cut an effortlessly cool figure in her cropped maroon sweater, hip-hugging high-waist trousers, and black ankle boots with a pointed heel.

Raven black hair swept across her head, Kourtney stood out with her trendy illesteva sunglasses.

The doting mother stayed close beside the girls, protectively holding her daughter's hand as they enjoyed a relaxed outing in LA.

Kourtney has three children total with her ex-boyfriend, Scott Disick, 34: sons Mason, eight, Reign, three, and daughter Penelope.

She's a cool mom! Kourtney cut an effortlessly cool figure in her cropped maroon sweater, hip-hugging high-waist trousers, and black ankle boots with a pointed heel

The reality star has been going from strength to strength with her new boyfriend Younes Bendjima, 24, who she met over a year ago in Paris.

They recently returned from a sun-drenched getaway to Mexico.

Scott, meanwhile, is now dating Lionel Richie's daughter, Sofia, 19.Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan glowed on Sunday at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in NYC.

This comes after she had a very tough 2017.

Jeannie, a mother of five, survived a risky surgery to remove a brain tumor the size of an apple. Post op, she spent several months tackling aspiration pneumonia.

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Glowing: Comedian Jim Gaffigan and his wife Jeannie Gaffigan attended the 60th Annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday in New York City

The couple looked undeniably happy side-by-side at the awards ceremony.

Gaffigan's wife stunned in a white gown that gave her an ethereal quality.

The producer's off-shoulder dress was minimal but intricately decorated in white lace. The survivor wore a gorgeous bracelet, perfect curls, and held white flowers in her hand while walking the red carpet.

Meanwhile, her husband wore a simple black and white suit matched with worn-out black sneakers.

Going strong: The couple appeared to be in good spirits during their appearance together

In 2017, Jeannie talked to People about her difficult ordeal.

'I was a ticking time bomb, waiting to be paralyzed,' she said.

Her husband told the magazine that the operation was ultimately a success: 'We were prepped for the understanding that good news would be like, "We got 85 percent of it."

'But they removed all the tumor, and there was no damage to her 12 cranial nerves.'

On stage: Jim introduced musical group Little Big Town during the televised event

On Sunday at the Grammys, Jim was given a puppy as a consolation prize after the Best Comedy Album award went to Dave Chappelle.

When Jim was given the canine, Corden said: 'Who got Ruby? I think that was Jim Gaffigan. She isn't toilet trained - just so you know.'

Animal rights group PETA later condemned the use of puppies in a tweet: 'Very disappointed that the #GRAMMYs chose to gift puppies as a joke. Animals are not toys. #AdoptDontBuy.'

Still a winner! After Dave Chappelle was declared the winner of the Best Comedy Album category, Jim was handed a cute puppyThey forged an unlikely friendship in the jungle, with Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo confessing she has a 'thing for older politicians'.

And Toff gushed about Stanley Johnson when she shared an Instagram from her first lunch date with her former camp mate, in London on Monday.

The jungle queen, 23, cosied up to her number one crush and former Conservative MEP, 77, as they were reunited for the first time since leaving the jungle.

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'No snakes in sight': Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo, 23, cosied up to her number one crush Stanley Johnson, 77, on their first lunch date on Monday after leaving the jungle

It was as if no time had passed between the I'm A Celebrity duo when they posed up a storm for the cosy Instagram post.

Former Made In Chelsea beauty Toff showcased her incredibly petite figure in a slim-fit cream turtleneck, teamed with black jeans for an overall stylish look.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson's dad dressed to catch the eye in a teal green dinner jacket worn over his jumper.

Just the two of us: They forged an unlikely friendship in the jungle, with Georgia confessing she has a 'thing for older politicians'

They courted attention for their playful relationship in the jungle, so it's no surprise the I'm A Celebrity winner confessed Stanley was her 'favourite person'.

Reality star Toff gushed about how the pair had been 'laughing non stop' when they enjoyed their first 'proper long' catch up.

Toff penned on Instagram: 'Our first proper long lunch lunch after the jungle, first of many! Weve been laughing non stop haha favourite person  TOFFLEY IS BACK!!!! On home ground no snakes in sight.' (sic)

Good pals: The pair courted attention for their playful relationship in the jungle, so it's no surprise the I'm A Celebrity winner confessed Stanley was her 'favourite person'

In the jungle, the single blonde coyly admitted she has always had a soft spot for older politicians.

She confessed : 'I have always said I do have a thing for older politicians before I came in here... and can confirm that is still standing!'

Their lunch comes after Georgia's latest venture will see her reunite with her I'm A Celebrity co-star and politician Stanley.

The best fun! Reality star Toff gushed about how the pair had been 'laughing non stop' when they enjoyed their first 'proper long' catch up

Former Conservative MEP Stanley was delighted his close pal went onto win the show after winning the hearts of the nation with her kindness and bubbly spirit.

The politician explained ITV feel the good friends would be a 'natural duo' in an interview with The Sun.

He told the newspaper: 'I haven't seen Toff since we got out of the jungle but I've absolutely kept in touch with her.

'In fact, we're lined up to present a show together for ITV. They think we're a natural TV duo. I can't reveal too much about it, but I have a really good feeling about it.'She's expecting her first child.

And Kylie Jenner tapped into her maternal side as she gently cuddled a lamb in her arms, in a photo taken by her sister Kendall for Love Magazine.

The 20-year-old's baby bump, as usual, was strategically covered up as she snuggled the young animal.

Little lamb: Kylie Jenner cuddled a baby sheep in her arms as she gazed towards the camera, in an image taken by her sister Kendall Jenner for Love Magazine

The reality star wore a wide black hat and stylish jumpsuit that showed off a hint of skin.

Posing in an empty field, the starlet cut a cool figure as she wore her glossy black locks down.

In the photo's caption, posted by the publication, was an excerpt of Kylie's interview for Love Magazine conducted by her mother, Kris Jenner, who asked about her growing cosmetics empire.

'It's estimated that in the next few years you could have the biggest beauty brand in the world. How do you think that phenomenon happened?' Kris asks her daughter.

Cover girl: The last image Jenner posted online was of her Love Magazine cover

'I think truly, I put a lot of hard work into this,' she replies after some thought. 'Its not like Im doing this to make money. I dont even think about that part. This is just something authentic to me.'

Meanwhile, the fashionista - who is expecting her first child with rapper Travis Scott in February - is putting her birthing plans into action as she prepares for the impending arrival - taking on a discreet Lamaze class online.

TMZ reported that the elusive reality starlet has taken to the web to help with the soothing birthing techniques, with best friend Jordyn Woods as her partner.

Baby love: The fashionista is expecting her first child with rapper Travis Scott (pictured April 2017)

Sources told the site that Kylie has enlisted her best friend to help her through the process, buying up baby books to get them both get clued up.

The gossip website also suggested that Kylie wanted her lamaze to remain under the radar, so instead of taking part in a class, the fashionista will instead take lessons off the internet.

Lamaze is a birthing technique that includes breathing, stretching and changing positions throughout childbirth.

Kylie and BFF Jordyn made a rare appearance as she took a stroll at the construction site near her Hidden Hills, California home on Wednesday.

She showed off barely a hint of bump as she wore a black sweat suit leading many to believe she may have already had her baby.Advertisement

It's easy to see why Alessandra Ambrosio has been one of Victoria's Secret biggest stars.

The 36-year-old Brazilian model flaunted her gorgeous curves in flesh-coloured bathing suits during a beach outing in Malibu on Sunday.

The mother-of-two clearly enjoyed being spotted in her sexy bikinis as she was skipping, twirling, and pouting while posing on the sand.

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Hot lady! Alessandra Ambrosio strutted her stuff in Malibu on Sunday while wearing a sexy flesh-coloured two-piece bikini

Strike a pose: The confident Brazilian showed off different power stances on the warm sand

The former PINK spokeswoman donned two outfit changes during her time under the sun.

The first swimsuit ensemble consisted of a two-piece nude pinstriped bikini.

As the model paraded herself on the beach, she wore a white hat, peach-coloured sunglasses, and a necklace.

Ambrosio strutted her stuff with a confident attitude. She spread her arms wide open and twirled around while laughing and enjoying herself.

Hot buns: The model had no problem showing off her fit and toned glutes while sunbathing

Free-spirit: The former PINK spokesperson spread her arms wide on the sand and demonstrated her relaxed and free-spirited attitude

Tight straps: The model appeared to loosen the straps on her bottoms by stretching out the material

Say cheese: Ambrosio had no problem posing for on-lookers and fans who shot photos of her on their smartphones

Yoga moves: The Brazilian beauty often performed yoga-like moves by stretching her body into different positions

Red cup: The gorgeous brunette paused to sip a drink out of a red cup while on the beach

During her second outfit change, Ambrosio wore a one-piece nude coloured bathing suit that looked just as sexy.

The Daddy's Home actress pulled her swim suit up high to show off her toned glutes and flawless figure.

She also ran up to the water and happily skipped all over the sand.

Jump! Ambrosio looked lively as she jumped high in the air next to the water

High glutes! The L'Oreal model turned her backside to show off her glutes while she jumped around on the beach

Like a swan: The Daddy's Home 2 actress danced gracefully on her toes while parading herself next to the water

Happy girl: Ambrosio never failed to look like she was enjoying herself while she hung out in Malibu

Confident model: Despite retiring from the Victoria's Secret show, Ambrosio showed that she still has what it takes

In late 2017, the lingerie model announced her retirement from the famed Victoria's Secret Fashion Show after having walked with the company for nearly two decades.

She took to Instagram to give a statement about this: 'In my wildest dreams I would have never imagined doing 17 Victorias Secret Fashion Shows. Thank you Ed, and all my Victorias Secret family for making these memories unforgettable.

'Last night was so emotional to say goodbye to my angel sisters but we put on the biggest and best show ever. I could not have done this without all the love and support from my fans.'

More stretching: The Armani model looked focused as she stretched out her limbs on the sand

On the sand: Ambrosio pulled her hair up and sat on the beach to enjoy the warm sun

Ambrosio shared with British Vogue in 2016 that she keeps fit and maintains her sexy body with core workouts.

She said: 'I have been doing barre classes which I love. You'll see 20-year-old girls and 70-year-old women doing it, so it feels like something I'll stick with until I'm old.

'It's very feminine and you work all kinds of areas - it's really good, so that's my favourite right now. When I'm travelling I do yoga.'

Chilling out: The Brazilian beauty didn't spend her whole time just prancing around, as she did take time to lay down and chill out tooShe's been filming her new Marvel superhero movie, Venom, opposite Tom Hardy, in San Francisco and Atlanta.

So Michelle Williams may have been on her way to one of those locations when she was spotted at JFK Airport in New York City on Monday.

The 37-year-old actress stood by her wheely case in a terminal as she made a call on her cellphone.

Ready to fly: Michelle Williams was spotted on the phone at JFK airport in New York on Monday

The Greatest Showman co-star was dressed for the chilly weather in a tan trench coat with a red and black plaid scarf wrapped around her neck.

Peering through a pair of prescription glasses, she teamed the pieces with a cream sweater and cropped black pants plus tan ballet flats.

Michelle's blonde hair was cut in her trademark pixie style and she appeared to be wearing little in the way of make-up aside from some rose lipstick.

Earlier this month the four-time Oscar nominee publicly thanked Mark Wahlberg, 46, and his reps at WME for donating a combined $2 million to the Time's Up legal fund against sexual abuse and harassment.

Dressed for the chill: The 37-year-old was wrapped up warm in a tan trench coat with a red and black plaid scarf around her neck, a cream sweater and cropped black pants

Mark kicked in his $1.5 million fee for reshooting scenes for All All The Money In The World after learning that Michelle was only paid $800 for her work.

The reshoot was necessitated when director Ridley Scott replaced disgraced actor Kevin Spacey with Christopher Plummer.

Michelle wrote: 'Today is one of the most indelible days of my life because of Mark Wahlberg, WME and a community of women and men who share in this accomplishment.

Generous star: Michelle thanked her All The Money In The World co-star Mark Wahlberg for donating his $1.5m reshoot fees to Time's Up after learning she was paid $800 for her work

'If we truly envision an equal world, it takes equal effort and sacrifice.'

Michelle, who has a 12-year-old daughter Matilda with Heath Ledger, who died of an accidental drug overdose in 2008, can next be seen in comedy I Feel Pretty, due out June 29.

She also has four projects in pre-production: musical drama Annette; thriller All The Old Knives; crime drama Rio, and Janis, in which she plays the late rocker Janis Joplin.She skipped the Grammys red carpet on Sunday amid claims she wasn't offered a solo performance spot.

And Lorde, 21, appeared to throw shade at event organisers in a cryptic tweet on Monday.

The New Zealand songstress, who was nominated for Album of the Year, told fans that she's all too happy to prove her haters wrong on her upcoming Melodrama tour.

Cryptic tweet: Lorde appeared to throw shade at the Grammys in a cryptic tweet on Monday

Subtle shade: The 21-year-old told fans that she's all too happy to prove her haters wrong on her upcoming Melodrama tour

'IF YOU'RE DEBATING WHETHER OR NOT I CAN MURDER A STAGE... COME SEE IT FOR URSELF,' she tweeted along with a link to her website.

It comes after Recording Academy President Neil Portnow and Grammys executive producer Ken Elrich explained why the two-time Grammy winner was not offered a solo spot.

'I dont know if it was a mistake. These shows are always a matter of choices, and we know we have a box and the box gets full and filled up,' Ehrlich said, according to Billboard.

'She had a great album, album of the year is a big honor, but there's no way we can really deal with everybody. Sometimes people get left out that shouldn't, but on the other hand, we did the best we can to make sure that it's a representative and balanced show.'

A bit Melodrama-tic! On Sunday, TMZ reported Lorde, who was the only female nominated for Album of the Year, felt insulted after only being offered the option to perform as part of the late Tom Petty tribute - while all other nominees were invited to perform solo

Portnow added: '... Every year is different, we can't have a performance from every nomineewe have over 80 categories. '

On Sunday, TMZ reported Lorde, who was the only female nominated for Album of the Year, felt insulted after only being offered the option to perform as part of the late Tom Petty tribute.

The site also claimed all other nominees were offered the opportunity to perform solo.

Statement dress: Lorde wore a feminist poem on the back of her designer dress at the Grammys after refusing to perform because she wasn't offered a solo performance spot like her fellow male nominees

Three fellow nominees, Bruno Mars (who took home the gong), Childish Gambino and Kendrick Lamar are expected to hit the stage however, Jay-Z, declined the offer.

It comes after Lorde's mother Sonja Yelich took to Twitter to throw some shade at the Grammys over the suspicious snub.

And the winner is: Fellow Album of the Year nominee Bruno Mars won the award

A slap in the face? TMZ reports the two-time Grammy award winner, who's the only female nominated for Album of the Year, felt insulted after only being offered the option to perform as part of the late Tom Petty tribute

The 52-year-old tweeted out an article from the New York Times about the gender disparity between nominees, with the Times citing a report that claimed that out of the 899 people nominated at the last six Grammy Awards, only 9 percent were women.

The article also pointed out that Lorde was the only female artist nominated for Album of the Year this year, but isn't scheduled to perform.

Tweeting out the article to her thousands of followers, Sonja cryptically wrote: 'This says it all.'

Don't mess with mama bear! It comes after Lorde's mother Sonja Yelich took to Twitter to throw some shade at the Grammys over the suspicious snub

'This says it all!' The 52-year-old tweeted out an article from the New York Times about the gender disparity between Grammy nominees over the years, possibly implying that sexism could be behind Lorde's Grammy snub

A recent report in Variety claims that all the male artists in the Album of the Year category -Childish Gambino, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, and Bruno Mars - were offered solo performance slots.

Variety goes on to say that Lorde was offered to perform in a Tom Petty tribute but declined.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Sonja for comment.

Left out: A report in Variety this week claims that all the male artists in the Album of the Year category were offered solo performance slots, while Lorde was only offered a spot in a tribute performance to the late Tom Petty

Lorde previously performed at the 2014 Grammys, where she picked up Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo performance for her hit Royals.

The 60th Annual Grammy Awards are set to air on Sunday, January 28 (U.S. time).

Official performers at the show include Sting, U2, Pink, Kesha, Sam Smith, Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, SZA, Bruno Mars, Cardi B, Miley Cyrus, Little Big Town and Lady Gaga.Her acting work regularly generates critical acclaim and her sensational looks have made her one of Hollywood's most prominent beauty icons.

And Angelina Jolie continued to stun as she was spotted in a Guerlain store in Paris to film for the brand's latest perfume commercial on Monday.

The American actress, 42, oozed her usual glamour in a statement beige-coloured coat and neutral basics as she put her magic to work for the cameras.

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She nose a good time! Angelina Jolie, 42, continued to stun as she was spotted in a Guerlain store in Paris to film for the brand's latest perfume commercial on Monday

Chic: The American actress oozed her usual glamour in a statement beige-coloured coat and neutral basics as she enjoyed another day at work

Angelina commanded attention in her flawless ensemble which served to accentuate her slender figure and showcase her flair for fashion.

The mother-of-six braved the bitter January chill in the eye-catching outerwear and teamed it with a plunging nude-coloured bodysuit and matching loose-fitting flared harem pants.

Pulling the look together, Angelina teamed the look with a pair of nude heels which added inches to her frame.

Once the activist and humanitarian arrived at the Guerlain store, her naturally striking features where enhanced with a douse of red on her plump pout, as well as smokey shadow to bring out her eyes.

Eyes on her: Angelina commanded attention in her flawless ensemble which served to accentuate her slender figure and showcase her flair for fashion

Stylish: The mother-of-six braved the bitter January chill in the eye-catching outerwear and teamed it with a plunging nude-coloured bodysuit and matching loose-fitting harem pants

Wow: Once the humanitarian arrived at the Guerlain store, her features where enhanced with a douse of red on her plump pout, as well as smokey shadow to bring out her eyes

Completing the primped and preened look was a glossy blowdry, which effortlessly framed her face as she took a sniff of a perfume.

After the commercial shoot wrapped, Angelina was seen exiting the store having switched out her harem pants for a pair of longer grey trousers and she also pulled in her coat to keep the winter weather at bay.

Despite it being night time, the movie star was seen sporting black-tinted shades on her face as she sauntered out with a bright red handbag draped on one shoulder and a Guerlain bag full of goodies.

Given her a-list status, it was no surprise that Angelina was met with a wave of adoring fans and she ensured to take her time to mingle, sign autographs and take photographs.

Strut: Pulling the look together, Angelina teamed the look with a pair of nude heels which added inches to her frame

Mane attraction: Completing the primped and preened look was a glossy blowdry, which effortlessly framed her face

Switch: Angelina was seen exiting the store having switched out her harem pants for a pair of longer grey trousers and she also pulled in her coat to keep the winter weather at bay

A-lister: The movie star was seen sporting black-tinted shades on her face as she sauntered out with a bright red handbag draped on one shoulder and a Guerlain bag full of goodies

Show-stopper: Despite it being night time, the movie star was seen sporting black-tinted shades on her face as she sauntered out with a bright red handbag draped on one shoulder and a Guerlain bag full of goodies

Earlier on in the day, the beauty was seen arriving to the press junket for her movie, First They Killed My Father in New York City.

However, Angelina - who served as director for the Cambodian drama - was one of the several big contenders snubbed at the 90th Annual Academy Awards after nominations were announced last week.

Despite garnering critical acclaim, First They Killed My Father didn't make the list of nods in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

Jolie's passion-project for Netflix had been selected as the Cambodian entry and despite not being shortlisted for the category, fans were still hoping for a surprise after it was lauded by critics and received a Golden Globe nomination.

Given her a-list status: It was no surprise that Angelina was met with a wave of adoring fans

People pleaser: Angelina ensured to take her time to mingle, sign autographs and take photographs

Shock: This comes after Angelina's film First They Killed My Father was one of the several big contenders snubbed at the 90th Annual Academy Awards after nominations were announced last week

For the fans: The iconic film star stopped for a snap with an eager fan as she headed towards her car

Snub: Despite garnering critical acclaim, First They Killed My Father didn't make the list of nods in the Best Foreign Language Film category

Venture: Jolie's passion-project for Netflix had been selected as the Cambodian entry and despite not being shortlisted for the category, fans were still hoping for a surprise after it was lauded by critics and received a Golden Globe nomination

Meanwhile, Angelina has not dated anyone since splitting from Brad Pitt in 2016.

Now an Angelina insider is taking steps to squash rumours that she's seeing Cambodian filmmaker and lyricist PraCh Ly.

A source told People on Thursday that the rapper 'is a friend' and the actress 'respects his work.'

The source added: 'She isn't dating anyone and won't be for a very long time. She is focused on her children and their needs.'

Angelina met Ly, 38, through Loung Ung, a human rights activist and the author of the book behind her new Netflix movie, First They Killed My Father, according to Gossip Cop.

They attended events in Cambodia together, but nothing more, the website said.

Single: Angelina has not dated anyone since splitting from Brad Pitt in 2016She found fame on Australia's Dancing With The Stars before moving onto the US version of the popular reality TV series.

But Kym Johnson, 41, is returning to her roots, revealing plans to move to Australia after her twins are born.

The six months pregnant dancer told The Daily Telegraph she wants her children to attend school in Australia.

'I want my kids to know they're Australian': Dancing With The Stars' Kym Johnson reveals plans to move Down Under as she prepares to give birth to twins

Kym and her husband Robert Herjavec, 55, attended the G'Day USA Los Angeles Black Tie Gala on Saturday night.

Speaking to News Corp, the mum to be gushed about her pregnancy, revealing she felt very lucky to have conceived.

'There's two coming, it's a miracle and so exciting,' Kym said.

The blonde beauty explained that while she was based in the United States she was looking to move back to Australia in a few years time.

Kym and her husband Robert Herjavec, 55, attended the G'Day USA Los Angeles Black Tie Gala

'There's two coming, it's a miracle and so exciting': Speaking to News Corp, the mum to be gushed about her pregnancy, revealing she felt very lucky to have conceived

'I'm going to have my hands full. We were talking about possibly coming back [to Australia] when they start school,' she said. 'I want my kids to know they're Australian.'

Kym confirmed she was expecting in December, but has so far stayed mum on the sex of her 'miracle' twins.

The dancer and reality TV star has 'hung up my dance shoes for good now' but hasn't ruled out returning to the US version of Dancing With The Stars as a host.

Exciting news: Kym confirmed she was expecting in December, but has so far stayed mum on the sex of her 'miracle' twins.

'Obviously, I am going to have my hands fulldefinitely for the first three months or so,' she told E! News.

Kym appeared in the first three seasons of the Australia's Dancing With The Stars before leaving the show in 2005.

From 2006 she has appeared on 15 seasons of the US version of the hit reality show, meeting now-husband Robert when she was partnered with him in 2015.Kylie Jenner's due date has been guessed at for months now.

But on Monday People claimed that the 20-year-old reality TV star is expecting her first child with rapper Travis Scott in February, which means she has less than four weeks to go.

The same source added that the Lip Kit mogul, who is 'anxious' about expecting the child, wants a pain free birth and is ready to use medicine to make it easier.

Baby's arrival: Kylie Jenner is expecting her first child with rapper Travis Scott in February, which means she has less than four weeks to go, according to People; seen in September

Baby love: The same source added that the Lip Kit mogul, who is 'anxious' about expecting the child, wants a pain free birth and is ready to use medicine to make it easier (pictured April)

The due date is a bit of a shock as for months it was speculated that Kylie was due around the time that her half-sister Khloe Kardashian, 33, is due.

But Khloe is seven months along, putting her due date at late March.

Now the site has said she is due in February. And because February has only 28 days, that means as of Monday she is technically only weeks away.

As far as how the youngest Jenner feels about having a baby so young, the insider says that she is certainly apprehensive.

Still working: The siren cover her tummy when she appeared in a Calvin Klein ad with Khloe, Kim, Kourtney and Kendall but it is not known when the shoot took place

'She is nervous about the birth and anxious about pain,' noted the insider. 'She wants to have an easy birth and is open to pain medicine.'

It was also added that her nursery is for her little girl is 'pink, pink and pink.'

As far as Scott, 25, he is 'around and supportive' but he won't be popping the question anytime soon.

'They have no plans to get married, or even engaged. Kylie expects to rely mostly on her family for help and she seems fine with that,' said the source.

Now with a shirt on: And here Jenner was seen with a large blue shirt on as Khloe, Kim and Kendall wore bras

Kylie had not been spotted for months until she was seen with her mother Kris Jenner and best friend Jordyn Woods at a construction site in Hidden Hills, California last week.

She showed off barely a hint of bump as she wore a black sweat suit leading many to believe she may have already had her baby.

The siren also covered her tummy when she appeared in a Calvin Klein ad shared last week. She was with Khloe, Kim, Kourtney and Kendall but it is not known when the shoot took place.

The cover girl has also been seen in a Love Magazine shoot, which was done by sister Kendall.

Her mother did the interview and asked about her growing cosmetics empire.

'It's estimated that in the next few years you could have the biggest beauty brand in the world. How do you think that phenomenon happened?' Kris asks her daughter.

Little lamb: The star cuddled a baby sheep in her arms as she gazed towards the camera, in an image taken by her sister Kendall Jenner for Love Magazine

Cover girl: The last image Jenner posted online was of her Love Magazine cover

'I think truly, I put a lot of hard work into this,' she replies after some thought. 'Its not like Im doing this to make money. I dont even think about that part. This is just something authentic to me.'

Meanwhile, the fashionista is putting her birthing plans into action as she prepares for the impending arrival of her child by taking on a discreet Lamaze class online.

TMZ reported that the elusive reality starlet has taken to the web to help with the soothing birthing techniques, with Woods as her partner.

Sources told the site that Kylie has enlisted her best friend to help her through the process, buying up baby books to get them both get clued up.

The gossip website also suggested that Kylie wanted her lamaze to remain under the radar, so instead of taking part in a class, she will instead take lessons off the internet.

Lamaze is a birthing technique that includes breathing, stretching and changing positions throughout childbirth.He's been blasted online for his 'alpha male' comments.

And now Karl Stefanovic has jumped on the bandwagon, slamming Married At First Sight's Dean Wells for making comments about 'wife' Tracey Jewel's breasts.

The 44-year-old told a visibly annoyed Dean his comments were 'sexist at worst and offensive', asking the MAFS star whether he regretted any of his statements.

'It is old school language at best and sexist at worst, and offensive': Today's Karl Stefanovic BLASTS Married At First Sight's Dean Wells for making comments about 'wife' Tracey Jewel's breasts in VERY heated exchange

During Monday night's episode, Dean admitted he had been unable to stop staring at Tracey's surgically-enhanced breasts during their wedding vows, telling producers afterwards: 'I'm a man, it's just natural. '

He also previously came under fire when he revealed in a trailer that he 'was the man and that I'm in charge' when it came to relationships.

During an interview with Dean and Tracey on Today, Karl, who praised then-wife Cassanda Thorburn's 'arse' during his 2011 Gold Logies acceptance speech, quickly took Dean to task for his comments about Tracey's breasts.

'I wouldn't say I regret any of that, no I don't think Tracey was offended by any of that': A flushed and ruffled Dean defended his comments about Tracey's breasts

'You had others things to say ... which I guess is old school language at best and sexist at worst, and offensive,' Karl said.

Flushed and visibly ruffled, Dean hit back: 'You think it is offensive?'

'I think so,' Karl said, to which Dean asked: 'What specifically?'

Refusing to detail what Dean had said about Tracey's bust Karl answered: 'I'm not going to say it on breakfast television but ... do you regret any of those comments?'

'I wouldn't say I regret any of that, no I don't think Tracey was offended by any of that, so that's the main person I'm worried about,' he replied.

'The whole alpha male thing has been blown out of proportion': Dean also defended his comments about gender roles, telling Karl and host Georgie Gardner they had been over-exaggerated

Dean also defended his comments about gender roles, telling Karl and host Georgie Gardner they had been over-exaggerated.

'The whole alpha male thing has been blown out of proportion - I just want to take responsibility for my wife and my partner, and I don't think there is anything wrong with that,' he said.

Dean experienced his first social media backlash when he declared: 'I'm the man and I'm in charge' in a trailer for Married At First Sight.

Love at first sight? Monday's episode saw Dean's dreams come true when brunette beauty Tracey was revealed as his 'bride' to be

He insisted: 'It's hard to say without sounding sexist or something, but I like a girl that is a girl and is girly and knows that I'm the man and that I'm in charge.

'I also want someone that listens to me... and I want to be the alpha male and she needs to respect me as the man.'

Monday's episode saw Dean's dreams come true when brunette beauty Tracey was revealed as his 'bride' to be, but appeared less than impressed after finding out she had a daughter from a previous relationship.No sooner than Married At First Sight's Dean had tied the knot with brunette bombshell Tracey on Monday night's episode, the self-described alpha male's best mate Liam was on the scene.

After discovering his friend's new bride has a child from a previous relationship, Liam took it upon himself to pressure Tracey to spill the details to Dean at soonest possible interval.

But viewers of the popular Channel Nine dating show weren't impressed by Liam's interfering ways, and flooded to social media to take aim at the LA-based man.

'Youre a f**kwit': Incensed Married At First Sight fans SLAM 'alpha male' Deans interfering best mate Liam after he pressures Tracey into confessing to being a single mother

Numerous Twitter users relied on the 'c' word to describe Liam's personality, while one addressed him directly by writing: 'Hey Liam Ive heard whispers youre a f**kwit'.

'Deans mate Liam, is a dead set oxygen thief,' offered another Married At First Sight fan, who seemed to share a similar view.

Another lighted heartedly remarked Liam's behaviour was causing them to have violent urges, commenting: 'Every year in this show I want to slap someone. This year it's Liam.'

Not impressed! Viewers flooded social media with insults directed at Liam

Groom Dean had previously been painted as a 'villain' before the show aired thanks to his seemingly 'sexist' views.

But some thought his friend had taken things to the next level.

On Twitter, one viewer joked: 'No one could make Dean look good after that chauvinistic promo Liam: hold my beer'

Trouble in paradise already? Fans took aim at Liam for interferring with Tracey (left) and Dean's (right) new marriage

'No one could make Dean look good after that chauvinistic promo': Even though groom Dean had previously been painted as a 'villain', some thought Liam took it to a new level

Meanwhile, one social media user found a creative way to voice their disdain of the Married At First Sight wedding guest.

'Liam is seriously just a fart personified,' the fan Tweeted.

Another was more straightforward, writing: 'Just switched over to #MAFS and this Liam bloke needs to go away ASAP.'

Ouch! Some were more creative with their criticism than others

Fans also seemed to take issue with Liam trying to get Tracey to divulge personal information to her new husband before she was ready.

'Liam, what are you? The personal information police?' raged the viewer.

Another used a meme of Kim Kardashian hiding in the bushes to mock Liam's perceived over-investment in the couple's relationship.

They captioned the humourous post: 'The twist: Liam is hiding somewhere in Tracey + Dean's honeymoon suite..'Kim Kardashian posed topless for a new Twitter picture.

The 37-year-old stood holding a fur coat open to expose her body, wearing nothing but a skimpy pair of panties.

Before posting the image the reality star had blurred the nipple of her exposed breast.

She's not shy! Topless Kim Kardashian holds open a fur coat to expose her breasts as she poses in her panties

Splashing around: Kim is pictured taking a shower in her shirt in another image she posted on Instagram on Monday

Kim is no stranger to racy photoshoots, indeed the mother-of-three posed in a skimpy bikini on the beach for a shot posted earlier on Monday.

The image was inspired by Bo Derek's breakout 1979 10, and featured Kim lounging on the beach in Malibu wearing a bikini.

Like Bo's, her hair was braided in corn rows - prompting some to accuse her of cultural appropriation.

That didn't stop Kim, who also wore her hair in braids for the later fur coat image.

'BO WEST!' The KUWTK star sat on a bed to showcase her braids in her underwear in another Instagram shot

Looking booty-ful: Kim posed with her behind in the air in a second image

Posing time: The mother-of-three had posed in a skimpy bikini on the beach for a shot posted earlier on Monday

And the original: Bo Derek poses on the beach in her 1979 breakout movie 10

While posing for naked photos on a Monday morning may seem an unusual way to start the week, for Kim it's just her day job.

Last year she posed fully nude climbing a tree for an Instagram shot, and indeed she was lounging topless in her bed for yet another image posted just last week.

That throwback shot was one of many risque snaps from her June 2016 shoot with fashion photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott for GQ magazine.

But while Kim may be happy to lounge around naked, she is also busy tending to a newborn.

Earlier this month Kim and her husband Kanye West became parents for the third time when their surrogate mother gave birth to a baby girl, which they have named Chicago.

However Kim does not seem to be taking maternity leave, and has been hard at work promoting her new perfume range, which involves posing with oversized perfume bottles and plenty of updates on social media.

The busy working mother has also been filming the family show Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

Another shot: On Instagram stories Kim shared pictures of her new look

It has also been revealed that Kim is already speaking to the woman who carried Chicago about hiring her to carry another child for the pair, who are also parents to two-year-old son Saint and four-year-old daughter North.

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star and her husband announced the news of Chicagos birth on Kims website on January 16, the day after the tot was welcomed into the world.

The social media post read: 'We are incredibly grateful to our surrogate who made our dreams come true with the greatest gift one could give and to our wonderful doctors and nurses for their special care. North and Saint are especially thrilled to welcome their baby sister.'

Days later, the pair took to Kims website once again when they revealed their new arrivals unique moniker, which is thought to be named after the city in which Kanye was raised.

Backlash: Kim Kardashian was accused of cultural appropriation on Sunday, for showing off her newly-braided hair on social media

Bold look: Kim also shared this image of herself with braids in 2010, with Kanye West on the set of her music video for Jam! (Turn It Up)

Feeling herself: Kim was stunning as she reflected her derriere in the mirror

By myself: Kim was loving the wall with mirrors

Ring ring: Kim answered the phone during her impromptu photo sessionHe recently posed in an incredibly racy shoot to break the taboo of gender fluidity.

And Rodrigo Alves, famously known as the Human Ken Doll, was back to his suited and booted self as he headed out in New York City's Meatpacking District on Monday.

The TV personality, 34, continued to proudly flaunt the results of his sixty surgical procedures in a three-piece sky blue suit and dramatic fur coat.

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Is he fur real? Rodrigo Alves, famously known as the Human Ken Doll, was back to his suited and booted self as he headed out in New York City's Meatpacking District on Monday

Rodrigo, who identifies as gender fluid and is known for overtly challenging social norms, commanded attention as he sauntered down the street in the Big Apple.

Killing two birds with one stone, the Brazilian showed off his slimmer midriff - a result of having four ribs removed earlier this month - as well his flair of fashion.

The TV star, who went corset chopping on Sunday, opted for a tight white shirt and waistcoat, which was complemented with his royal blue tie.

A matching blazer and ankle-grazing trousers added to the sartorially savvy display, as did his funky multi-coloured loafers.

Work it! The TV personality, 34, continued to proudly flaunt the results of his sixty surgical procedures in a three-piece sky blue suit and dramatic fur coat

Rodrigo, who identifies as gender fluid and is known for overtly challenging social norms, commanded attention as he sauntered down the street in the Big Apple

Killing two birds with one stone: The Brazilian showed off his slimmer midriff - a result of having four ribs removed earlier this month - as well his flair of fashion

Embracing his fashionista status, Rodrigo draped his fur coat upon his shoulders in order to shield himself from the chillier climes.

As always, the trendsetter was primped and preened to perfection, with his blonde locks slicked to one side and his already enhanced features accentuated with a coat of glamorous make-up.

His sighting comes after he went to bold lengths to break the taboo about gender fluidity by posing for a saucy photo shoot.

The reality star has collaborated with visual artist Thomas Evans to capture a new photo series, Feminizing the Masculine Man, which shows Rodrigo clad in provocative attire.

Stylish: The TV star, who went corset chopping on Sunday, opted for a tight white shirt and waistcoat, which was complemented with his royal blue tie

Trendy: A matching blazer and ankle-grazing trousers added to the sartorially savvy display, as did his funky multi-coloured loafers

Embracing his fashionista status: Rodrigo draped his fur coat upon his shoulders in order to shield himself from the chillier climes

Strike a pose: The star struck a number of poses in his suit as he explored NYC later on

Say cheese! He later posed with the Bartman statue as he arrived at Fox Studios

Having a ball: He greeted his fans as he arrived at the studios by car

Attempting to redefine how society expects people to dress and behave based on their physical anatomy, a defiant Rodrigo poses in a bunny costume, complete with ears and a collar.

Replacing her usual short blonde locks is a long blonde wig, which is evocative of Jane Fonda's '70s, bombshell Barbarella hair look.

While Rodrigo is no stranger to wearing make-up, he swaps his typically neutral palette for a striking pink lipstick and bold smokey eyes.

Pushing boundaries: His sighting comes after he went to bold lengths to break the taboo about gender fluidity by posing for a saucy photo shoot

Breaking the taboo: The reality star has collaborated with visual artist Thomas Evans to capture a new photo series, Feminizing the Masculine Man

Proving he's more than mastered the art of wearing a high heels, the Brazilian star works his angles for the camera in a pair of seriously high stilettos.

Explaining his motivation behind the shoot, he told MailOnline: 'People's physical gender defines how society expects then to dress and behave, as well as what they are supposed to be interested in.

'When I was a boy my long gone granddad used to buy me Barbie dolls to play with and I used to love wearing granny panties and dresses. People shouldn't be forced to identify as a particular gender.'

Candid: Rodrigo recently shared a poignant talk about bullying on his Instagram story

He added: 'They should be able to express themselves in ways that reject labels and gender stereotypes. I'm a huge supporter of gender equality and the new trend gender fluid - I regard myself as a gender fluid person.

'I wear make-up and a corset which are made for the female, but I would like to change that and launch a new trend for the man. Wearing a corset under a blazer looks very elegant and helps with one's posture.'

Rodrigo has teamed up with visual artist Thomas, who has been committed to exploring society's prescribed labels and challenging them, for the new photo series, titled Femme the Man.

The project will see him test participant's along with the viewer in a bid to have them reconsider their prescribed perceptions of gender and gender expression.

He has already unveiled a slew of his poignant images on Instagram.

Rodrigo's shoot will be shown on his upcoming TV documentary which will launch on German TV network RTL, then worldwide in two weeks' time.Jacqui Lambie is holding out hope she may still be able to return to the Senate, depending on how the High Court rules on another dual citizen senator's case.

Ms Lambie was disqualified from parliament after it was discovered she held British citizenship at the time of the 2016 election.

Her likely replacement, Steve Martin, may also be disqualified because he is mayor of Devonport in Tasmania, although the High Court is yet to rule in his case.

But Ms Lambie says she's waiting to see the outcome of the case involving the Nick Xenophon Team's Skye Kakoschke-Moore, who is fighting to be allowed to retake her seat now she's renounced her British citizenship because the next person on their 2016 Senate ticket is no longer a party member.

"There's some really tricky stuff coming up (in the court cases) in the next few weeks," Ms Lambie told ABC radio on Monday.

"I'm just holding on to a little bit of hope still."

However, she ruled out contesting a potential by-election in the federal lower house seat of Braddon should Labor MP Justine Keay be knocked out in the ongoing dual citizenship chaos.

Nor will she personally contest any of the seats in the March 3 Tasmanian election, saying her ticket for the Braddon state electorate was already "chockablock full" at the time she left the Senate.

"If I've got people in state parliament, I'll be there to mentor them, I'll be there on the outside and I'll be readily available," she said.

"Other than that, I'll just have to sit it out until the next (federal) election.".A Sydney man who allegedly threatened his heavily-pregnant partner, a two-year-old boy and another man with a gun is facing a string of charges, including assault, possessing a loaded firearm and drug supply.

Police allege the man assaulted his 22-year-old partner at Chatswood about 7.30pm on Sunday, before pulling a gun and threatening her and the two others.

Police have seized three guns, ammunition and drugs and say a 27-year-old man will face 10 offences when he appears in Hornsby Local Court on Monday.Telstra customers in three north Brisbane suburbs will not be able to use their phones, even to call triple zero, for up to ten days.

Gaythorne, Michelton and Everton Park residents were informed by text they could lose service from 6am to 6pm weekdays as Telstra switches off its mobile base station while Brookside Shopping Centre carries out work on its roof.

"This means customers may have difficulty calling triple zero on a mobile device in the impacted areas, as customer's devices will not be able to access the other operators' mobile networks for triple zero calls," Telstra area general manager May Boisen said.Treasurer Scott Morrison is heading to the US this week to hold a series of meetings with business and state government leaders with the topics of tax reform, energy and innovation high on the agenda.

He will meet with high-level representatives of Google, Facebook and Amazon, as well as large firms with significant investments in Australia, including Boeing.

The treasurer will also travel to Texas to meet governor Greg Abbott, as well major energy companies including Exxon Mobil.

The visit comes after the Trump administration had its cut to the federal corporate tax rate from 35 per cent to 21 per cent passed by Congress last month and at a time the Turnbull government is pursuing a company tax rate cut for all businesses to 25 per cent from 30 per cent.

"I will explore the impact of US corporate tax changes on companies' operations, particularly employee wages, their investment and innovation decisions and hiring intentions," Mr Morrison said in a statement on Monday.Three prison officers have been injured at Western Australia's largest remand centre, in what their union says is the latest in a string of assaults.

The three officers were attempting to subdue a struggling prisoner at Hakea Prison when the attack happened on Wednesday, the Prison Officer's Union said on Monday.

The union's WA secretary John Welch says the incident comes after other "brutal assaults" against officers following heightened tension at the prison due to overcrowding.

"During summer, WA's overcrowded prisons are becoming more volatile, dangerous places, increasing the likelihood of further serious incidents," Mr Walsh said.

In one attack, he said an officer was stabbed in the face with a pen which could require facial reconstruction surgery.

Mr Walsh has urged the state government to deal with overcrowding and to ensure appropriate prison staff are on hand to safely manage the prison population.

"(The union is) concerned that any reduction to staffing will make the workplace more dangerous for prison officers and seriously reduce their capacity to manage the prison population," he said.Grassroots activist groups and small political parties fear donations will dry up under new laws designed to crack down on foreign money.

Under the draft laws, which are being examined by a parliamentary committee, donors who give a little as $4.80 a week to certain not-for-profit organisations will need to get a statutory declaration certifying they aren't a foreign donor.

Activist group GetUp said the laws would require organisations to monitor small donations in real time, and once the $250-a-year threshold was reached the donor would need to be notified to get a statutory declaration.

Failure to comply risks 10 years in jail or a $210,000 fine.

"This will have a major negative impact on the revenue of grassroots-funded civil society groups caught by the provision, as well as significantly impacting smaller political parties," GetUp said in its submission to the electoral matters committee.

The organisation is also concerned about the administrative burden of the new laws.

Groups will need to register with the electoral commission, appoint a financial controller, open separate bank accounts and meet complex record-keeping provisions.

Greens spokeswoman Lee Rhiannon said it was not reform, but "an attack on civil society".

The government said the laws were aimed at improving public confidence in the political system, which had been undermined by reports of foreign influence.

Comment was being sought from Special Minister of State Mathias Cormann.After 65 years, Australia and the US military are on the cusp of signing a deal that could potentially bring closure for some of the families of Australian soldiers missing in action in the Korean War.

Under the agreement, the two countries will exchange relevant information and records relating to the 43 lost Australian servicemen.

"We recognise the desire of families of servicemen missing in action in the Korean War that Australian and US authorities should continue full co-operation so that remains that may be Australian may be identified as expeditiously as possible," a draft of the agreement obtained by AAP says.

Ian Saunders, whose father Private John Phillip Saunders was one of the 43 Australians, has uncovered evidence from the Australian and US military records from 1950-1955 revealing the locations of 1700 unidentified remains.

The remains are located above and below ground on Hawaiian soil and at the United Nations Military Cemetery Busan, South Korea.

Mr Saunders blamed maladministration and a lack of communication between Australia and US military post-1953 to 2009, and said documented evidence had been ignored.

"The story is one word - closure. We have had closure for 146 men at Fromelles (France World War I) to date, six in Vietnam, thousands at New Guinea (World War II) but not a single soul from the Korean War," Mr Saunders told AAP.

"This is the first step forward in doing something in 65 years."

Among the missing Australians is Private Lionel John 'Bomber' Terry who served in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.

He was 22 when he went missing, according to the Australian War Memorial.

On the night of January 24-25, 1953, he was on a patrol with 18 Australians who went to the assistance of a neighbouring patrol encircled by the enemy.

During the ensuing firefight he was wounded but kept going.

He was last seen fighting a group of up to 20 Chinese soldiers and had charged them with grenades and gunfire, which stopped the enemy advance.The Turnbull government has back-pedalled on suggestions China is a threat to Australia's national security.

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis identified countering China's rapidly expanding military and an increasingly aggressive Russia as America's top national security priorities when he released a new strategy earlier in January.

Defence Minister Marise Payne, over the weekend, said Australia shared similar concerns.

On Monday, she clarified: "Australia doesn't see a threat in the region and we certainly don't see China as a threat."

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull backed that view.

"We don't see threats from our neighbours in the region, but, nonetheless, every country must always plan ahead and you need to build the capabilities to defend yourself, not just today, but in 10 years or 20 years, hence," he told reporters in Sydney as the government outlined its new defence industry exports plan.

"You may not feel that they will be firing a shot in anger today or in the foreseeable future, but things can change."Two naked men caught having sex on the sand 400 metres from a nudist beach in Byron Bay have been charged for offensive behaviour.

It comes as locals reported a recent rise in sexual attacks and perverts lurking around Tyagarah Beach, a clothes-optional beach north of Byron Bay, and illegal nude bathing.

Police put out a warning they were taking a "zero tolerance" approach to people caught without their clothes on outside nudist beaches.

"We've had people being attacked in those areas, there's been a number of sex assaults, so we believe this will reduce incidents of violence," Tweed-Byron Chief Inspector Luke Arthurs told the local paper The Northern Star.

The two men, aged 27 and 57, were handed criminal infringement notices on Friday for offensive behaviour, for being caught with no clothes on outside the signposted areas of the nudist beach.

Local police on Monday said the only legal nude bathing beach is Tyagarah beach, where the clothes optional area is clearly signposted.The number of Queensland pets being surrendered to the RSPCA has dropped by almost a quarter after the charity rolled out a new online tool for struggling owners.

Faced with a multimillion dollar bill for housing unwanted pets, the RSPCA last year launched an online portal that asks pet owners their animal type and what problem they are having, offering up other solutions before the person decides to surrender their pet.

RSPCA Queensland chief executive officer Mark Townend said it had decreased surrender rates by 22 per cent and saved over $800,000 in animal care costs.A cat that spent nearly a year on the run after becoming lost during flooding in northern NSW has been reunited with its owner after surrendering to police.

Officers at Lismore Police Station launched a social media appeal after the feline, "Leelo", was found prowling around their property on Wednesday but became trapped while jumping a fence bordering the station and the court building next door.

"The kitty has been given a feed and is resting," they wrote on Facebook.

"If this is your kitty please come and collect it."

Leelo's owner, Tahma Collopy, recognised her distinctive calico cat in the photos saying her "lil baby" had been missing since the floods in Lismore last March, when she was about eight months old.

"Thankyou to the strangers that fed her while she was running wild," she wrote on Facebook.

The two were reunited on Saturday after a friend of Ms Collopy picked up the cat while she was out of town.

Detective Chief Inspector Cameron Lindsay said staff were glad to see her returned home safely.

"We hope Lismore's finest cat burglar will now put her life of crime behind her and enjoy a new start with her owner," he said in a statement.Relief is on the way for industrial gas users with the price of gas slowly falling over the past six months, new government figures show.

The latest review of gas price trends says it looks like east coast prices peaked in 2016 and started easing from mid-2017, when more gas came into the market from Queensland.

But prices in the eastern states are now about 20 per cent higher than in 2015, the federal energy department report released on Monday shows.

In contrast, prices in Western Australia - where there is a separate market - have consistently trended downward, dropping 31 per cent.

The report says the easing in wholesale and industrial prices for the eastern market in 2017 appears partly due to relatively stable operations of new LNG plants in Queensland, compared to the "hyperactivity and disruptive uncertainty" in the lead-up to their commissioning.

Victoria had the highest average wholesale gas price in 2016 and 2017 - almost double what it was in 2015 when it was the nation's lowest.

However, it had the lowest residential prices in 2017.

On average, the cost to households rose just two per cent and actually dropped in the ACT, NSW and South Australia.

Changing government policy on electricity reliability and emissions is leading to a greater demand for gas and the report warns balancing supply and demand will be a critical and serious consideration for policy makers and regulators.

"The current outcome of relatively high gas prices and electricity prices is not sustainable and yet is likely to continue if gas becomes (the major fuel for electricity)," it states.

Ways to drop prices include building new transmission pipelines, maturing spot markets, the lowering cost of production for coal seam gas, floating LNG facilities in Sydney and Melbourne ports, and more exploration.

Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg has seized on that final point to repeat his attack on the Victorian state Labor government for its ban on gas exploration.

"(Report) shows Vic prices now highest in the country, it's time the Andrews Govt dropped their mindless bans and developed their 40 years' of reserves," he wrote on Twitter.The tiny Pacific island of Nauru is celebrating its 50th anniversary of becoming an independent republic.

Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and his wife will represent Australia at ceremonies on Wednesday.

Nauru is the world's smallest island nation with a population of less than 10,000 people.

The country has been embroiled in controversy as the host of one of Australia's offshore immigration detention centres and claims of human rights abuses against asylum seekers and refugees.

In the 1960s and 1970s the island enjoyed an economic boom of the back of phosphate mining resulting from bird excrement.

But most of the wealth was squandered on bad investments.

The detention centre is the biggest industry these days.

Sir Peter and Lady Cosgrove are expected to meet community leaders and Australians working in Nauru.

Nauru will host the Pacific Island Forum leaders summit later this year.Premier Daniel Andrews has been urged to "get his head out of the sand" over illicit pill testing as a teenager fights for life after a mass overdose at a Melbourne dance party.

An 18-year-old man is in a critical condition in hospital and 10 other people needed treatment after taking a drug at the I Am Hardstyle event at Festival Hall in West Melbourne on Friday.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale said Mr Andrews needed to acknowledge that young people would experiment with drugs after the premier refused to reconsider his position against pill testing.More than 800,000 students are expected to walk through school gates across NSW this week for the first time this year.

Among those will be 70,000 new kindergarten students.

The state government is working to build or redevelop 120 schools to accommodate Sydney's burgeoning population.

"We have a clear plan to provide more and more permanent education as the state continues to grow to make sure, in the case of Sydney, as the city gets bigger, it gets better," Education Minister Rob Stokes told reporters on Monday.

The government last week announced it had fast-tracked work on 13 school builds and upgrades in western Sydney, which were expected to offer another 3500 student places.

However, opposition leader Luke Foley said the state was in "crisis," with an additional 280,000 students needing classrooms over the next 15 years.

"We have to go much, much faster than this government's gone," Mr Foley told reporters.

"They've closed 22 more schools than they've opened in their seven years of government."

Meanwhile, some children will be returning to a new "pop-up" school in the inner Sydney suburb of Ultimo.

Students at Ultimo Public School will be taught in the pop-up campus, comprised of 30 classrooms, while their former school site is redeveloped.

"We really push ahead with our infrastructure plan for new schools and new classrooms but also we're thinking outside the box," Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

New syllabuses in English, mathematics, science and history will be taught for year 11 students in 2018.

Key differences in the new syllabus will be a focus on "depth" rather than "breadth" of topics covered and an interactive e-syllabus linking new courses to teaching and assessment resources.Malcolm Turnbull has praised Donald Trump as having delivered economic leadership, as the US president prepared to deliver his first State of the Union address.

Mr Trump is set to deliver the landmark speech to the US Congress at 1pm AEDT on Wednesday.

"Donald Trump is delivering on economic leadership, that's for sure," Mr Turnbull told News Corp's Miranda Devine Live program on Monday.

"I don't want to buy into US politics but ... you only have to look at the IMF to see they regard the American tax cuts as being very pro-growth."

Asked what he thought of Mr Trump's tendency to put down his critics, the prime minister said: "You get plenty of criticism in public life, I think you've got to expect it. I'm sure he expected it and he is getting on with the job as he sees best."

Mr Turnbull said he had read Michael Wolff's behind-the-scenes expose of the Trump White House, Fire and Fury, but declined to comment on the "sensational" book.

"These political memoirs - they come and go," he said.

Mr Turnbull said he and Mr Trump had a "very good relationship" and the US-Australian relationship was in good shape.A proposed luxurious glamping (glamour camping) resort in Sydney's Royal National Park looks set to be challenged in court amid concerns about its impact on the environment.

NSW Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton approved plans for a road to the Bundeena Coast Eco Lodge site, paving the way for the development.

It followed the partial approval by the Land and Environment Court last year through an appeal, which was dependent on road access being granted.

The latest move was slammed by the Spring Gully Protection Group, which is preparing to challenge the minister's decision.

Spokesman Mark Da Silva said the development would have "significant and irreversible" impacts on wildlife and flora.

"She (Ms Upton) has failed to properly consider and assess the environmental impacts," he told AAP on Monday.

The group claims more than 430 trees will be cleared to make way for the six luxury tents, accommodating up to 12 guests, to be built on private land between the park and the town of Bundeena.

The bushland houses a critically-endangered ecological community comprised of the eastern suburbs Banksia scrub and 17 threatened wildlife species, including the Eastern pygmy-possum, red-crowned toadlet, and grey-headed flying-fox.

"We'll see a lot of vegetation removal and any pollution to the red-crowned toadlet's waterways will lead to a local extinction," Mr Da Silva said.

The site is also bushfire prone and Mr Da Silva warned if a fire started in the gully, there would be no way out for visitors.

"We have tried to explain that this is an incredibly steep gully and it's incredibly bushfire-prone," he said.

The developers behind the proposal hope the sustainable, small-scale low impact glamping lodge will be an environmentally friendly tourist attraction, according to the Bundeena Coast Eco Lodge website.

A spokeswoman from Ms Upton's office told AAP it was not appropriate to comment because of the impending legal challenge.A pregnant woman should receive a full-time jail term for having sex with a teenage student when she taught at a prestigious Sydney school, a judge has been told.

Prosecutor Lara Gallagher submitted that the woman's pregnancy, the birth of her child and any specialised needs the baby may require after birth can be well handled in custody.

The 34-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual intercourse with a person under her care over three months in 2016 when she worked at Sydney Grammar School.

The woman, who met up with the 17-year-old victim at her home, a classroom and a school storage cupboard, previously told the NSW District Court she thought they were involved in a "very mutual love affair".

At the ex-teacher's resumed sentence hearing on Monday, Ms Gallagher said information from Justice Health indicated the pregnancy and birth can be well handled in a custodial setting.

Indeed, the mother's and child's needs could be handled just as well in jail as they could be in a non-custodial setting, she said.

But the ex-teacher's barrister David McCallum said while Justice Health may very well have that aim, the Crown's submission was "somewhat ambitious".

"It is simply not correct that Your Honour should not, therefore, take into account the circumstances of the offender's pregnancy," he told Judge Paul Lakatos.

Matters including the fact of her pregnancy together with new information that the child "has some condition that will require some kind of corrective treatment" at birth made it an exceptional case, he said.

Alternatively, he submitted that the case involved "special circumstances" which would allow the judge to significantly vary the standard ratio between any jail term and the non-parole period.

The Crown has submitted that the only appropriate sentence is full-time custody.

The court previously heard the then-teacher bombarded the student with text messages for months after he ended their sexual relationship, apologising, professing her love and referring to herself as a "f***ing monster".

She sent one text message on behalf of her dog, who "would like to say hello and ask how you are".

"He knows it's over between us, but he still cares about you. He hopes you won't stay angry too long and that maybe we can talk before school goes back," the message read.

She had already been the subject of several complaints and had been reprimanded over her conduct with other male students.

She will be sentenced on February 2.Malcolm Turnbull is confident his state and territory counterparts will sign up to his government's energy policy, despite his energy minister signalling minimal compromise in negotiations.

The federal government's national energy guarantee (NEG) will be back on the table at a Council of Australian Governments ministerial meeting in April.

"I believe we will get all the states to go along with that policy," the prime minister told News Corp's Miranda Devine Live program on Monday.

Mr Turnbull says the policy will ensure affordability and reliability in Australia's energy market while also meeting the country's international emissions reduction commitments.

It's an answer to previous policies which have been "bedevilled by ideology and idiocy", he says.

While South Australia and the ACT oppose the plan, Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg doesn't believe the government will need to soften its position to seal a deal.

Modelling of the NEG by the Energy Security Board shows $120 a year could come off household power bills between 2020 and 2030, while bigger users would see more substantial savings.

"Since the modelling you've had not only coalition states but also Labor states like Victoria say that this is the (only) game in town," Mr Frydenberg told Sky News.

SA Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said last week the policy will lead to a reduction in renewable energy and higher energy prices in his state.

"Our position is clear; we support a pro rata reduction in emissions out of the electricity sector consistent without Paris target," Mr Frydenberg said.Ben Folds is asking his audience to take aim at him.

Halfway through his set, the musician will watch as a sea of paper aeroplanes float through the concert hall and land on his stage.

It's risky, not least because of the potential paper cuts, but because each plane bears a song request which Folds is expected to play. In fact, the whole second half of his show, which kicks off in Australia this week, will be dictated by whatever song he sees written on these airborne suggestions.

"It's good and scary. I like to be scared," Folds told AAP in Sydney.

Scary because Folds is often expected to remember songs he hasn't even released.

"There are some of them that I wrote when I was 16 years old that come up. I guess they got out on the internet," he said.

However, being put on the spot like that seems to be something he relishes when he's alone on stage with his piano. His only concern when those teenage songs are requested is that he doesn't bore the audience.

However, that hasn't happened yet.

"By design it's always a success because it makes every show absolutely unique," he said.

"The prettiest part of that to me is the stage just littered with paper aeroplanes. There's something really interesting about it. It looks like a set design that somebody would have thought up."

Folds' last album release was the semi-orchestral So There in 2015 but he's not working on another record yet. His next project will be a book, a way to educate people about music through his own story.

"I'm writing a book that's basically sort of in memoir form but it's lessons. I'm working on that tightening it up and trying to make it a real book."

* Ben Folds kicks off his Australian tour in Sydney on Thursday February 1 at the Sydney Opera House, then heads to Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart and Melbourne.NSW public hospital patients have the shortest emergency department wait times in the country, with four in five patients being seen within the target time frame.

Nationally, 73 per cent of emergency department patients were seen during the clinically appropriate time in 2016/17, according to a Productivity Commission report released on Tuesday.

Victoria (73 per cent) and NSW (81 per cent) were the only states to meet the national average with Northern Territory (61 per cent) and the ACT (62 per cent) the worst-performing areas.

Patients in Western Australia and South Australia were seen within the target time 64 per cent of the time, while Tasmania was only slightly better at 65 per cent.

Nationally, 50 per cent of elective surgery patients were admitted within 38 days of being put on a waiting list and 90 per cent were admitted within 258 days.

NSW had the longest wait times, with 90 per cent of patients seen within an average of 327 days while Victoria was the shortest wait at 162 days.

However, the report cautioned against comparing jurisdictions due to differences in clinical practices and classification of patients across Australia.

NT hospitals had the highest rate of infections of hospital patients, followed by the ACT and Tasmania.

Meanwhile, a separate report by the commission shows the NT had the highest suicide rate in 2016 followed by Tasmania.

The ACT had the lowest rate, with Victoria and NSW next.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.

MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78.

Multicultural Mental Health Australia www.mmha.org.au.

Local Aboriginal Medical Service details available from www.bettertoknow.org.au/AMSThe Queensland government will set up an anti-bullying task-force as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk pushes for the issue to be dealt with at a federal level.

Ms Palaszczuk has confirmed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has agreed to put to issue on the agenda for the COAG meeting on February 9.

The premier made the announcement while meeting with stakeholders on Monday afternoon to discuss the best way to tackle the issue in the wake of "Dolly" Everett's death.

Ms Palaszczuk said her cabinet had already agreed to establish an anti-bullying taskforce, as well as granting child support group 'yourtown' $60,000.

The LNP opposition has offered bipartisan support on the issue,

State cabinet was also briefed on the establishment of a new dedicated Youth Advisory Council and a statewide survey of schoolchildren between March and June this year, to collect their stories and experiences of cyberbullying.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 or Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged 5 to 25).A new 400-bed prison will be opened in the NSW Hunter region to help ease pressure on the state's overcrowded corrections system.

The Hunter Correctional Centre, opening on Tuesday, will provide campus-style dormitory facilities, both minimum and maximum security, boasting state-of-the-art security and surveillance systems.

It was ordered as a rapid-build prison as part of the state government's $3.8 billion prison infrastructure program.

According to NSW Corrections, cubicles will have an interactive TV for inmates to "take greater control of their own administration".

There will be up to 15 hours of structured activity each day, the department's website says.

The Public Service Association last year referred to the state's prison system as being "grossly overcrowded" and said it was housing 13,000 inmates despite being designed to accommodate 11,000.

The current population is around 13,200, a NSW Corrections spokeswoman told AAP.

Corrections Minister David Elliot will open the jail on Tuesday morning.Hundreds of thousands of Victorian school students are heading back to class after a long, hot summer.

All up, 927,700 students will hit the books on Tuesday and 11 new schools, mostly in Melbourne, are opening this year.

"We are making sure that every student can make the most of school and get the best start in life, regardless of their background or circumstance," Education Minister James Merlino said in a statement.

BACK TO SCHOOL IN VICTORIA:

* Of Victoria's 972,700 students, more than 600,000 go to state schools.

* More than 80,200 prep students begin class from Tuesday.

* High school begins for 72,900 Year 7 students.

* 11 new schools open in 2018.An internal police investigation is continuing after an officer shot dead an armed robber at a Melbourne bottle shop.

The 48-year-old man was killed after pointing a sawn-off shotgun at the owner of the Park Orchards store in Melbourne's east on Sunday night.

Two other men, aged 49 and 50, were later arrested and remained in police custody on Monday night.

Bottle shop owner Xueqiang Wang said he felt like "a lucky man" after being saved from the robber.

"I thank Victoria Police ... I thank the policeman," Mr Wang told the Herald Sun.

The police officer who opened fire was traumatised and is being offered support.

"Any member that's been involved in a situation like this goes through a lot of trauma," Assistant Commissioner Steve Fontana told reporters on Monday.

"There's a lot of support being put around to make sure that his welfare is being looked after."

Premier Daniel Andrews said he had been briefed on the "nasty incident" and was supportive of police.

"I know that their judgment in a split second is as good, perhaps better than any police force in the world," he said.

"They're well trained, they're well equipped, they use lethal force only when they have to."

Victoria Police's Professional Standards Command was investigating the shooting while the man's death was referred to the coroner.Jason Day has broken his 20-month winless drought on the US PGA Tour, winning the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in a sudden-death play-off over Alex Noren.

Requiring a sixth extra hole on Monday morning, Day laid up on the par-5 18th and after a sublime wedge shot made a tap-in birdie while Swedish world No.19 Noren suffered a bogey after rinsing his second shot in the hazard.

The victory is Day's 11th on the PGA Tour and second at Torrey Pines after also winning a play-off at the 2015 event.

With five extra holes not enough to throw up a winner on Sunday , the Australian former world No.1 faced a nervous overnight wait and admitted he didn't get much sleep.

Day was the best performer in regulation, closing the final round with a two-under-par 70 to get in the clubhouse at 10 under before world No.19 and overnight leader Noren (73) and Palmer (72) joined him.

Next best of the Australians was Marc Leishman, who fell to six-under after a 73 but salvaged a tie for eighth.

Brisbane native Cameron Smith finished tied 20th at four-under courtesy of a closing 72, while Australian Open winner Cameron Davis plummeted down the leaderboard with an 80 to sit at three-over.

Tiger Woods made an even-par 72 to finish at three-under in his US PGA Tour comeback, and the 14-time major winner tied for 23rd.Incoming university students will be required to complete and pass a module that uses stick figures to illustrate sexual consent as part of their entry to universities across Australia, including the University of Sydney and University of South Australia.

The Sydney university's website says Epigeum's Consent Matters online education module , developed by academics in the UK and Australia, is designed to help students understand sexual consent.

"All commencing students need to complete the module," the University of Sydney website says, while media reports UniSA, Flinders and Adelaide university students also will be encouraged to complete the course.Prosecutors are due to open their case against a failed company accused of causing serious environmental damage on Queensland's Darling Downs.

Linc Energy is facing a criminal trial in the District Court in Brisbane. The company denies wilfully and unlawfully contaminating the site of its underground coal gasification plant at Chinchilla in the seven years to 2013.

Prosecutors are expected to make their opening address on Tuesday with jurors already warned to expect an unusual trial given Linc, which is now in liquidation, has been granted court approval not to have to defend itself.Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt insists up to 100 lives a year can be saved when codeine is taken off store shelves this week.

From Thursday codeine-based pain medication will no longer be available over the counter at pharmacies and shops.

Customers will have to get a prescription from their doctor under the publicly criticised changes decided by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Mr Hunt says codeine is addictive and dangerous and Australia's over-the-counter ban will match others in the US and UK.

"We know that there are over half a million Australians with some form of codeine addiction," he told ABC radio on Tuesday.

"It would be almost unthinkable for any responsible government to ignore the unanimous advice of medical authorities."

The minister pointed to a greater availability of paracetamol and ibuprofen combination medications and talked up the nation's high bulk billing rates when quizzed about the frustration and cost of having to see a doctor for a script.

In October, all state health ministers - bar South Australia - wrote to Mr Hunt urging him to rework the codeine reforms.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has warned people may try and get codeine from emergency departments instead.

"The problem with this decision is that GPs might not be available when people are in pain, or they may charge $70 to $80 more (by way of consultation fees) for something people used to be able to get over the counter for less than $10," he told The Australian on Tuesday.

A prescription is required for codeine products in some other European countries including Austria, Belgium, Germany and Italy, as well as Japan and the United Arab Emirates.

MEDICINE REQUIRING A PERSCRIPTION FROM THURSDAY:

* Codeine-containing painkillers, such as Panadeine, Nurofen Plus and Mersyndol.

* Codeine-containing cold and flu products, such as Codral and Demazin.Defence has played down the risk of fitness app Strava breaching the operational security of Australian soldiers.

Strava, a social network for runners and cyclists to track their workouts via satellite navigation, released a heat map last year showing the activity of its users worldwide.

The data can be cross-referenced with Google Maps and has shown jogging routes of soldiers at US military bases in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

The Australian Defence Force said on Tuesday it is aware of the possible risks of the collection of location data through personal electronic devices and applications.

"The circumstances of this application do not constitute a security breach," a spokesman said in a statement.

Defence says all personnel undergo annual mandatory security training which includes cyber safety awareness.

"On operations, the online presence of Australian Defence Force personnel and their use of electronic devices is managed in accordance with operational security requirements developed for each activity," the spokesman said.

"Many of these devices and activities are important to the quality of life of Defence staff."US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert, shown in this November 30, 2017 file photo, says Washington wants the "immediate and full release" of the Namazi family

Iranian authorities granted a four-day leave on humanitarian grounds Sunday to Baquer Namazi, the oldest of a group of American citizens known to be held in the Islamic Republic.

His lawyer Jared Genser said that Namazi, an 81-year-old former UNICEF official, cannot leave Iran and is prohibited from speaking to the media. His son, business consultant Siamak Namazi, is still in jail.

Both are dual Iranian-American citizens.

Namazi was rushed to a hospital on January 15 -- the fourth time in the last year -- after a "severe" drop in his blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, "serious" energy depletion and white coloring, Genser said.

In September, he underwent emergency heart surgery to install a pacemaker.

"We welcome the release of Baquer Namazi given his deteriorating health, but we note that his release is only temporary," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

"We call for the immediate and full release of the Namazi family, including his son Siamak, as well as other Americans unjustly held by the Iranian government."

The Namazis were given 10 years in prison for "espionage and collaboration with the American government" in October.

The elder Namazi's son Babak said "a return to prison would be life-threatening for him."

"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," he added.

Genser said returning to prison Thursday as ordered would amount to a "death sentence" for Namazi.

"On humanitarian grounds, his leave must be made permanent. And it is urgent that Siamak Namazi and the rest of the wrongfully imprisoned Americans also have their cases resolved," Genser said.

Xiyue Wang, a Chinese-American researcher from Princeton University, was also given a 10-year sentence for espionage.

Ex-FBI agent and CIA contractor Robert Levinson went missing in March 2007.

Washington and Tehran have had no diplomatic relations since April 1980 in the wake of the Islamic revolution, and tensions have sharpened under Trump after a brief warming under his predecessor, Barack Obama.

The two countries along with other major powers signed an accord July 14, 2015 aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program. Washington has continued to honor the accord, despite Trump's threats as a candidate last year to "rip it up."Visitors huddle around a miniature display of a crime scene featured in the exhibit "Murder is Her Hobby: Frances Glessner Lee and The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death" at the Renwick Gallery in Washington

A homicide detective trains on the job for years, but one woman's pioneering miniature crime-scene replicas are still used more than half a century after her death to teach police investigators from across the United States.

Starting in the 1940s, Frances Glessner Lee, known as the "mother of forensic science," subverted traditionally feminine crafts to make breakthroughs in a male-dominated field of criminal investigation that was then still in its infancy.

Her dollhouse-sized, three-dimensional creations, inspired by true crime scenes, formed the subject of an exhibition that closed Sunday at the Renwick Gallery across from the White House in Washington, the first time all 19 studies still known to exist have been shown to the public.

All but one, known as the "lost nutshell" and on loan from the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, were loaned from the Harvard Medical School via the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME).

The Glessner family donated a tree farm to the New Hampshire society in 1978.

Charming at first glance, the handmade dioramas are also undeniably macabre, featuring the bodies of people who met a variety of grisly fates.

They are meticulously detailed, featuring piles of newspapers or letters in Lilliputian print, an ashtray overflowing with hand-rolled tiny tobacco cigarettes whose ends Lee would burn for added realism, finely knit socks or working window and door locks.

Overturned chairs, blood-spattered sheets or a cake still sitting on an open oven rack next to a dead housewife hint of unspeakable violence frozen in time.

Lee, who died in 1962 and who was in her 60s when she began crafting her dioramas, deliberately chose to feature victims who would otherwise often be overlooked, such as women and the poor, in an effort to help trainees recognize and overcome biases.

Thanks to the hyperreal studies, budding criminal investigators have learned how to approach their trade scientifically, becoming better observers and taking into account all key evidence without mishandling it or tampering with crime scenes.

Lee's "Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death" are so effective that the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore still uses them today in training seminars.

- Strangling or hanging? -

Lee made inroads for women in the male-dominated field of forensic pathology

Lee, America's first female police captain, helped found the Department of Legal Medicine at Harvard University, the first of its kind.

The discoloration of the corpses, the angle of minuscule bullet holes and the blood-spatter patterns are just some of the details meant to give trainees clues to solve crimes and to determine whether a natural death, an accident, a suicide or a murder was at play.

The solution to each crime scene remains a secret, since they are still used for training, but visitors to the Renwick were encouraged to make their own findings, flashlight in hand.

Forbidden by her wealthy parents from attending college, Lee was made to marry at age 19 and had three children.

Only once her marriage had ended in divorce and Lee had obtained an inheritance was she finally able to pursue her interest in forensic pathology.

"Frances Glessner Lee was generous, forward-thinking, persistent, stubborn and innovative," said author and DeSales University forensic psychology professor Katherine Ramsland.

"A fan of Sherlock Holmes and true crime stories, she focused on what mattered to her rather than on what society (and her father) thought was proper."

In photographs from the time, Lee can be seen standing among several dozen police officers, looking stern with her hair gathered in a bun.

"Because she had the means to assist with wide-scale training on such things as the skills of observation, deduction and incident reconstruction, Lee was able to alert thousands of investigators, attorneys and reporters to the nuances of crime that they might not otherwise consider," said Ramsland.

"She also made inroads for women."Filipino farmer Jay Balindang says he has to tend to his herd even Mount Mayon erupts

As blistering lava spews from the seething volcano nearby, Philippine farmer Jay Balindang leads his buffalo through the ash-strewn paddy fields of the no-go zone, creeping closer to danger in a desperate bid to support his family.

Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from around the erupting Mayon volcano, as a white-hot cocktail of gas and volcanic debris streaks down its flanks, threatening local communities who rely on the fertile land at its base.

Fearing a significant eruption that could engulf whole swathes of the nearby land in burning rock and lava flows, authorities have cordoned-off a nine kilometre (six mile) danger zone around Mayon.

Burned trees and steaming pyroclastic deposits and lava are seen at the foot of the Mayon volcano

But that has not stopped defiant farmers like Balindang from tending to crops and livestock that are a crucial part of their livelihoods.

Each day the father-of-eight leaves his children at a government evacuation centre, sneaking past police as he returns to his small farm at the foot of the volcano to feed his precious "carabao" water buffalo.

"I am not afraid of the volcano. We are used to its activity," the 37-year-old told AFP, at the edge of his rain-lashed rice fields, a few kilometres inside the danger zone.

Farmers make up around 10,000 of the 84,000 people displaced by the eruption of Mayon in Albay province, some 330 kilometres southeast of Manila.

The lush region is famous for its chili peppers, as well as less fiery crops like rice, corn and vegetables.

Philippine volcano eruption

All are threatened by the volatile volcano, which has gushed molten lava and belched giant clouds of superheated ash since it began erupting two weeks ago.

Local authorities say that beyond the immediate damage to crops caused by the coating of smoldering embers, there are concerns that heavy rainfall could combine with ash and rock to form deadly, fast-moving mudflows that could sweep away entire settlements and block vital rivers.

"This is a new and daunting challenge to our agriculture workers who in the past had to cope with typhoons, landslides and floods," Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol said.

- Farming the 'Ring of Fire' -

Farmers are among the most vulnerable to the meteorological miseries that afflict the Philippines, which is hit by an average of 20 typhoons a year and is in the earthquake-prone volcanic belt around the Pacific known as the "Ring of Fire".

The 2,460-metre (8,070-foot) Mayon has been both a blessing and a curse to the farmers living near its slopes for generations.

This photo taken on January 28, 2018 shows Mayon volcano spewing lava ash from its crater, as seen in Daraga town, south of Manila in Albay province

Volcanic ash can kill vegetation immediately after an eruption, but as it seeps into the ground it can also enrich the soil with minerals that sustain future crops.

"If the ash is thin, it would become a fertiliser but if the ash is thick it would mean farmers who had spent money a lot of money to plant the vegetables lose everything," Renato Solidum, head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, told AFP.

Vegetable prices have already begun to soar in parts of Albay as the eruption hampers access to key crops.

"We are very famous for these dishes wherein the (taro) leaves are being grown just at the foot of Mount Mayon," Elsa Maranan, chief of the agriculture department's local breeding station, told AFP.

"If all this will be destroyed then the production of our delicacies and the income of our farmers will be very much affected."

- Dangerous dash -

In a bid to stop farmers from slipping back to tend their own fields, local authorities have set up communal areas, where farmers can graze livestock on ash-free grass.

"We appeal to them not to be stubborn because they are putting the lives of our responders in danger," Brigadier-General Arnulfo Matanguihan, head of a local task force for the eruption, told AFP.

But many still make a daily hazardous dash back to their own land.

Balindang said the choice was clear -- if he ensures that his pigs, carabaos and cows are fed, then his family will also be assured of something to eat.

"It's very difficult because I don't know if we will have any rice left to harvest. For now, we have nothing," he said.Afghanistan attack

Gunmen launched a pre-dawn raid on a military compound in Kabul on Monday, officials said, in an ongoing assault that has caused multiple casualties and is the third major attack in the city in recent days.

At least two soldiers have been killed and 10 wounded in a fierce gun battle with several attackers near the Marshal Fahim military academy, defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told AFP.

"An Afghan army battalion has come under attack this morning. The attackers wanted to breach the battalion," Waziri said.

"One bomber detonated himself and another bomber was detained by our forces. Three others were killed and one other is resisting our forces," he added.

Officials said the attack was on an army battalion near the academy where high-ranking officers are trained and which was initially identified as the target.

An Afghan security source said the gunmen had not managed to enter the heavily fortified compound, which is on the western outskirts of the city.

Witnesses told AFP they heard several explosions and gunfire at around 5:00 am (0030 GMT).

An AFP reporter at the scene said he could "hear explosions". Security forces have swarmed the area and blocked the road leading to the area where fighting is still ongoing.

An officer inside the training academy said he heard an explosion followed by an exchange of gunfire.

Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid confirmed to AFP there had been rocket and gunfire.

In October a Taliban suicide bomber killed 15 Afghan army trainees as they travelled home from the Marshal Fahim academy.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest raid, which comes days after a Taliban suicide attacker driving an explosives-packed ambulance blew up in a crowded area of the city, killing and wounding hundreds.

At least 103 people were killed and 235 wounded in Saturday's lunchtime attack -- one of the worst bombings in the city in recent years -- which was followed by a national day of mourning in the war-weary country.

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.

Monday's ambush came as both the insurgents and the Islamic State group have escalated their attacks on Kabul, turning it into one of the deadliest places in Afghanistan for civilians.

On January 20, Taliban insurgents stormed Kabul's landmark Intercontinental hotel and killed at least 25 people, the majority foreigners, in an ordeal lasting more than 12 hours.

But there is still confusion over the true toll from that attack with conflicting figures given by officials and Afghan media reporting higher numbers

Kabul remains on high alert as the city braces for further attacks. Security warnings sent to foreigners in recent days said IS militants were planning to attack supermarkets, hotels and shops frequented by foreigners.

Several foreign organisations, including humanitarian groups, are reassessing their operations after a particularly deadly week in the country.

IS fighters attacked Save the Children's office in Afghanistan's east on Wednesday that officials said killed five people and wounded another 26.Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act allows police to detain suspects for long periods without trial and was widely used during the decades-long civil war that ended in 2009

Sri Lanka's government is still using draconian anti-terror laws that give police sweeping powers to arrest and detain suspects despite promising to abolish them, Human Rights Watch said Monday.

The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) allows the detention of suspects for long periods without trial and was widely used during the decades-long civil war that ended in 2009.

The government of President Maithripala Sirisena promised to abolish the act after it was elected in 2015, but has so far failed to do so.

"The Sri Lankan government has been all talk and no action on repealing the reviled PTA," said HRW's Asia director Brad Adams as the rights group released a new report detailing alleged abuses under the act.

"Replacing this draconian counterterrorism law with one that meets international standards should be an urgent priority if the government is serious about protecting human rights."

Sri Lanka says more than 80 detainees are still being held under the act, although local rights activists believe the true number could be in the hundreds.

HRW said it found the PTA was a "significant contributing factor" toward the persistence of torture in Sri Lanka nearly a decade after the end of the civil war.

Its 46-page report documents abuses allegedly committed under the PTA, including torture and sexual abuse, forced confessions and systematic denials of due process.Best known for suing the Beijing government over the city's once chronic pollution, Yu has been a persistent voice for reform despite an increasingly severe crackdown on activism under President Xi Jinping

A prominent Chinese human rights attorney has been charged with "inciting subversion of state power" and will be held in isolation far from his home, his lawyer said Monday.

Yu Wensheng, 50, was initially charged with "disrupting a public service" after he was detained by a dozen police officers as he left his Beijing apartment to walk his son to school on January 19.

But on Saturday police in the eastern city of Xuzhou, Jiangsu province, added the more serious subversion accusation, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years, five times longer than the first charge, according to defence lawyer Huang Hanzhong.

Police also told his family members that Yu will be held under "residential surveillance at a designated place", Huang told AFP.

Best known for suing the Beijing government over the city's once chronic pollution, Yu has been a persistent voice for reform despite an increasingly severe crackdown on activism under President Xi Jinping.

Hours before his detention, he had circulated an open letter calling for five reforms to China's constitution, including the institution of multi-candidate presidential elections.

It is unclear why Xuzhou police became involved although in recent years, other rights lawyers' cases were handled by jurisdictions far from defendants' hometowns.

Under "residential surveillance" rules in cases concerning national security, suspects can be held for up to six months incommunicado in unofficial jails without access to lawyers.

The Xuzhou public security department could not be reached for comment on Monday.

"I don't know if Beijing police will remain involved. After Yu is transferred, I will go to Xuzhou to make a request with authorities to meet him," Huang said.

Patrick Poon, China researcher at Amnesty International, said Yu faces a "high risk of torture and other ill-treatment".

"The purpose of placing him under residential surveillance with the charge of 'inciting subversion' is to silence him for at least six months," Poon said, while noting that police often slap arbitrary charges on human rights defenders.

Yu had said that in 2014 authorities imprisoned and tortured him for 99 days for allegedly "disturbing public order".

Beijing has stepped up its crackdown on civil society since President Xi Jinping took power in 2012, tightening restrictions on freedom of speech and detaining hundreds of activists and lawyers.

For several days beginning on July 9, 2015, more than 200 Chinese human rights lawyers and activists were detained or questioned in a police sweep that rights groups called "unprecedented."

The "709 crackdown," as it was later dubbed, marked the largest clampdown on the legal profession in recent history.

Yu was not arrested during the sweep and had continued to express his opinions on legal issues.MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, machines use a powerful magnetic field to produce images of the body's organs. Metallic objects are pulled towards it and must not be carried into the room

An Indian man died after being sucked into an MRI machine while visiting a relative at a hospital in Mumbai, police said Monday.

Rajesh Maru, 32, was yanked towards the machine by its magnetic force after he entered the room carrying an oxygen cylinder, the city's police said in a statement.

"We have arrested a doctor and another junior staff member under section 304 of the Indian penal code for causing death due to negligence," Mumbai police spokesman Deepak Deoraj told AFP.

The incident occurred on Saturday night at the Indian financial capital's Nair Hospital.

Police said preliminary reports suggested that the man had died from inhaling liquid oxygen that leaked from the cylinder.

It is thought the cylinder was damaged after hitting the machine.

Ramesh Bharmal, the dean of the hospital, told AFP that an investigation had been launched to determine the exact cause of death, adding CCTV footage of the incident had been handed over to police.

The victim's uncle said Maru had been asked to carry the cylinder by the junior staff member who assured him the machine was switched off.

"The ward boy who was supposed to prevent such incidents told my family members to go inside when the machine was turned on. We are shocked and devastated," Jitendra Maru told AFP.

The state government of Maharashtra, of which Mumbai is the capital, announced compensation of 500,000 rupees ($7,870) for the victim's family.

MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, machines use a powerful magnetic field to produce images of the body's organs. Metallic objects are pulled towards it and must not be carried into the room.

In 2014 two hospital workers sustained injuries when they were pinned between an MRI machine and a metal oxygen tank for four hours at a hospital in New Delhi.

In 2001, a six-year-old boy undergoing an MRI scan in New York was killed when a metal oxygen tank flew towards the machine and crushed his skull.Fighters backing Yemen's southern separatist movement sit in the back of a pick-up truck in the country's second city of Aden on January 28, 2018

Separatists sent reinforcements to Yemen's southern city of Aden on Monday as fighting continued with government units, security and humanitarian sources said, a day after the secessionists seized government headquarters.

The separatist takeover on Sunday in the interim capital threw war-torn Yemen into further chaos, sparking warnings of a "coup" from the embattled government.

It further complicates years of conflict, in which the Saudi-backed government has been battling Iran-backed rebels controlling the capital Sanaa and much of the north of the country.

On Monday, the separatists, who have long demanded independence for the south, dispatched additional forces from the central province of Marib and southern province of Abyan, security sources said.

The forces from Abyan progressed towards Aden after clashes with government forces on the way, they said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross reported fighting overnight in Aden.

"All night shooting in Aden #Yemen, including heavy weapons," Alexandre Faite, the head of the ICRC delegation in the country based in Sanaa, said on Twitter.

"Those in southern part of city, including (ICRC staff) still unable to get out."

On Sunday, security sources said pro-separatist units trained and backed by the United Arab Emirates had taken over the government headquarters in Aden after clashes.

The fighting killed 15 people including three civilians, after separatist protesters were prevented from entering the city for a rally to demand the government's ouster from Aden.

The separatists accused the prime minister of ordering his troops to open fire at the protesters.

Sunday's rally was called by the Southern Transitional Council, an autonomous body not recognised by the government and aimed at overseeing self-governance in southern provinces.

Former Aden governor Aidarous al-Zoubeidi formed the council in May last year after the President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi fired him.

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.

More than 9,200 people have been killed in Yemen since a Saudi-led military coalition intervened to support Hadi's government in its fight against the rebels in 2015.The US president has called "Fire and Fury: Inside The Trump White House" a "Fake Book"

A Grammys skit poking fun at US President Donald Trump sparked a backlash on Twitter from Trump's eldest son and the ambassador to the United Nations.

In light-hearted political commentary during the music industry's biggest award night Sunday, host James Corden introduced a video of famous names reciting from the controversial book, "Fire and Fury: Inside The Trump White House."

Published early this month and written by Michael Wolff, the instant bestseller paints Trump as disengaged, ill-informed and unstable.

The Grammy video shows musicians John Legend, Cher, Snoop Dogg, Cardi B, and DJ Khaled reading short excerpts from the book, and sometimes interjecting their own comments.

"I definitely wasn't there," Snoop Dogg said after reading a passage about Trump's inauguration.

Cardi B quoted a line referring to Trump in bed with a cheeseburger.

"I can't believe this," she said.

Trump has called it a "Fake Book, written by a totally discredited author."

The Grammy video ends with Hillary Clinton, the Democratic challenger who lost to Trump in the bitter 2016 election, quoting the book as saying Trump liked to eat at McDonald's.

"The Grammy's in the bag," Clinton quips about her performance, which prompted Trump's son Donald Trump Jr to respond on Twitter: "Getting to read a #fakenews book excerpt at the Grammys seems like a great consolation prize for losing the presidency."

He added that the more Clinton appears on TV "the more the American people realize how awesome it is to have @realDonaldTrump in office."

Trump's UN ambassador, Nikki Haley, left Clinton alone but said the musicians had struck a sour note.

"I have always loved the Grammys but to have artists read the Fire and Fury book killed it," she said on Twitter.

"Don't ruin great music with trash. Some of us love music without the politics thrown in it."Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga wants to have himself sworn in as an alternative president

Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga is planning to have himself sworn in as an alternative president on Tuesday, seen as a final push to challenge Uhuru Kenyatta's election.

Odinga challenged the result of the original August vote winning an unprecedented annulment, but then boycotted the court-ordered re-run in October handing victory to Kenyatta who won 98 percent of the vote but with a turnout of just 39 percent.

On Tuesday the opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) which continues to claim fraud and wants another election to be held, intends to stage its own "swearing-in" ceremony in the capital Nairobi, hoping to pressure the government for talks.

The ceremony -- if it goes ahead -- will put the opposition on a collision course with police and the government, with attorney general Githu Muigai warning in December that any "swearing-in" would be treasonous raising the possibility of Odinga's arrest, a move that would heighten tensions.

Police have said the gathering, to be held at Nairobi's central Uhuru Park, is illegal with city police chief Japheth Koome saying Sunday "the grounds will be a no-go zone".

In recent months opposition rallies and marches have been violently broken up by officers using tear gas and bullets against rock-wielding protesters. A Kenyan rights group estimated that at least 92 people were killed, mostly by police, in election-related violence last year.

Odinga postponed a previous effort to swear himself in last month, but his party insists Tuesday's event will not be delayed.

Since boycotting the re-run poll, citing a lack of reform at the election commission, NASA's strategy has been to challenge Kenyatta's legitimacy by seeking to establish parallel government structures.

Opposition politicians have convened so-called "people's assemblies" in some counties and the inauguration of Odinga as "people's president" is seen as the culmination of this process.

But opposition voters who followed in their millions the boycott call, have shown less enthusiasm for the long drawn-out efforts to continue challenging Kenyatta's victory.

Rallies have rarely attracted more than a few hundred people and have been swiftly broken up by police.

Kenyatta's ruling Jubilee party has dismissed Odinga's swearing-in plan as "noise".The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party said that the leaders had signed the petition asking the top court to suspend President Abdulla Yameen

Opposition leaders in the Maldives including two former heads of state have asked the Supreme Court to remove the president and investigate corruption allegations against him.

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said Monday that the leaders had signed the petition asking the top court to suspend President Abdulla Yameen.

It was filed on Sunday after attempts to topple Yameen through a vote in parliament failed when the president deployed the military, before unleashing a fresh crackdown against dissidents.

Almost all key opposition leaders and a number of ruling party dissidents have either been jailed or gone into exile in the Maldives, denting the atoll nation's popular image as an upmarket holiday paradise.

"The joint opposition petitioned the Supreme Court as the parliament, which has the power to remove a president from office, has ceased to function since President Yameen ordered the military to storm the legislature (early last year)," the MDP said.

The signatories include the country's first democratically elected leader Mohamed Nasheed, who lives in exile since he was jailed on terrorism charges in a case widely seen as politically motivated.

Yameen's half brother and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who has joined key opposition figures ahead of general elections due later this year, also signed.

They accuse Yameen of "unprecedented corruption, including unjust enrichment from appropriation of state properties and funds for personal benefit, for the benefit of his family and political associates," according to the MPD statement.

It was not immediately clear whether the highest court would take up the petition.

Yameen took office in 2013 after winning a controversial run-off election against Nasheed.

The former president was jailed for 13 years in 2015, but granted prison leave in 2016 for medical treatment in London, where he secured political asylum.

A UN panel has ruled that his imprisonment was illegal and ordered the regime to pay him compensation.

The United States has said democracy is under threat in the strategically located archipelago, which sits on key international shipping lanes.Syria peace negotiator Steffan de Mistura arrived in Sochi on Monday.

Delegates on Monday arrived for the first Syria peace congress in Russia, but expectations for the dialogue were tempered after the war-torn country's main opposition group said it would boycott the event.

Regime-backer Moscow has invited 1,600 people to the talks in the Black Sea resort of Sochi as part of a broader push to consolidate its influence in the region and start hammering out a path to a political solution to end the bloody conflict.

Only a fraction of the invitees are set to participate in the event, however, according to a list of participants seen by AFP which has about 350 people on it.

The aim of the Tuesday congress is to bring Syria closer to creating a post-war constitution, after two days of separate UN-backed talks in Vienna last week closed without any sign the warring sides had met face-to-face to discuss the groundwork for the document.

The Kremlin has downplayed expectations of the event, with presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov telling journalists Monday that "breakthroughs in the task of political regulation in Syria are hardly possible."

He added however that under-representation will not "disrupt this congress or undermine its importance," calling the Sochi talks a "very important" step toward peace.

The Syrian Negotiation Commission (SNC), the country's main opposition group, said following the talks in Vienna on Thursday and Friday that it would not attend the Sochi congress.

The SNC accused President Bashar al-Assad's regime and its Russian backers of continuing to rely on military might -- and showing no willingness to enter into honest negotiations -- as the war in which more than 340,000 people have already died approaches its seventh year.

More than three dozen other Syrian rebel groups, including influential Islamists, previously said they would not come to Sochi.

And authorities from Syria's Kurdish autonomous region said Sunday they would not participate because of an ongoing offensive on the Kurdish enclave of Afrin by Turkey, which supports Syrian rebels and is co-sponsoring the congress along with regime-backer Iran.

- Suspicion from the West -

Moscow, which has spearheaded rounds of talks from the start of last year in Kazakhstan's Astana, initially hoped to convene the congress in Sochi last November but those efforts collapsed following a lack of agreement among co-sponsors.

Western powers have viewed the Russian peace initiative with suspicion, worrying that Moscow is seeking to undermine the UN-backed talks with a view to carving out a settlement that strengthens its ally Assad.

But a spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at the weekend he would send his Syria peace negotiator to Sochi after receiving assurances the conference would not seek to sideline the organisation's own talks.

Staffan de Mistura arrived in Sochi Monday, Russian agencies reported.

Russia has long sought UN participation in the Sochi congress to lend credibility to its diplomatic efforts, and is reportedly hoping to establish a committee to create a constitution with UN-backing.

Moscow's decision to launch a bombing campaign to support Assad in September 2015 -- Russia's first major military operation abroad since Soviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989 -- is widely seen as a turning point in the multi-front conflict that helped shore up the Syrian president.

After two years of military support for the Syrian regime, President Vladimir Putin announced in December last year the partial withdrawal of forces from the country, saying their task had been largely completed.

The Syrian war, which has seen millions displaced, began in 2011 as the regime crushed anti-government protests.

burs-tm/ma/wdbAgnes Chow and Edward Yiu during Sunday's protest

A Hong Kong pro-democracy candidate has been given last-minute clearance to stand for election after public anger at government meddling in vote nominations, as Beijing increases pressure on the city's activists.

The decision to approve the nomination of Edward Yiu on Monday, hours before the deadline, came two days after fellow pro-democracy candidate Agnes Chow, 21, was barred from standing because her party supports self-determination for Hong Kong.

Around 2,000 people gathered outside government headquarters Sunday night to protest at Chow's disqualification.

Yiu said his approval was "absolutely not worth rejoicing over" in light of the government's "evil acts".

"I'm really very, very angry because it reflects that the government has manipulated the whole system, trying to control the result of the by-election," Yiu told reporters.

He said that after submitting his nomination for a by-election in March he was asked a range of detailed questions by an electoral officer, including details of a trip to a political conference in Taiwan.

China sees self-ruling Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened military attack if it ever declares formal independence.

Beijing is also increasingly incensed at what it sees as threats to its sovereignty over semi-autonomous Hong Kong.

It has rights unseen on the mainland including freedom of speech and a partially elected legislature, but there are concerns liberties are being eroded. Since the mass Umbrella Movement rallies of 2014 failed to win political reform, some activists are demanding independence for Hong Kong.

Yiu has not backed independence.

Chow's party Demosisto also does not advocate independence outright but campaigns for self-determination, pushing for a referendum to allow citizens to choose how they are governed.

Yiu became a lawmaker in 2016 but was among six opposition legislators disqualified for inserting protests into their oaths of office.

Hong Kong's leading lawyers weighed in on the saga Monday, calling the move to ban Chow "unreasonable, unlawful and unconstitutional" in a joint statement signed by 30 attorneys.

"Disqualification of candidates with certain political opinion or affiliation frustrates the core purpose of an open and fair election, which is to guarantee the free expression of the will of the electors," it said.Mayon has been spewing lava and ash from its crater for the last two weeks

The number of Filipinos fleeing from the erupting Mayon volcano to safe zones has swelled to nearly 90,000, officials said Monday, worsening a sanitation crisis in the already stretched relief camps.

President Rodrigo Duterte flew to the central city of Legazpi on Monday to assess the disaster zone, some two weeks after the country's most active volcano began belching spectacular but potentially lethal ash columns, lava and rocks.

Authorities have thrown a nine kilometre (5.6 mile) no-go zone around the mountain with the vast majority of those living in its shadow now safely outside that radius.

But sanitary conditions in the safe-zones are far from ideal.

Al Francis Bichara, the governor of Albay province, said authorities expect the evacuees will need to stay at the camps for at least a month.

But he warned limited local government resources were being stretched, citing the lack of toilets at the shelters, where he said an average of 200 people now took turns using one.

"We lack 1,222 toilets," he said, adding the ideal was one toilet for every 50 evacuee (1,800 total).

After being briefed by officials Duterte said he was worried about the lack of toilets.

"One worry really is the sanitation," he told the officials, adding his government would try to send as many portable cabins as possible in the coming days.

Officials said they were confident the no-go zone radius was large enough to keep people safe from even a large explosive eruption.

"Even if that happens we think the people are already safe," state volcanology institute chief Renato Solidum said.

He stressed the eruption was not over despite a relatively quiet weekend, estimating some "50 million cubic metres" more debris had the potential to be ejected from the crater in the coming days and weeks.

If cooling lava blocks the crater gas pressure would build up and cause the magma inside to explode, producing eruption columns far taller than the five-kilometres-tall clouds seen in previous days, he said.

Officials have also told AFP farmers are also going back to the danger zone to tend to their crops and livestock, putting them within range of white-hot volcanic debris shooting down Mayon's flanks at great speed.

Solidum said local authorities were also making sure loose volcanic debris deposited on Mayon's flanks would not threaten lives and properties should they be dislodged by heavy rain and turn into mudslides.

The 2,460-metre (8,070-foot) Mayon, a perfect cone rising 330 kilometres southeast of Manila, is the country's most active volcano -- now on its 52nd eruption in four centuries.

It killed 1,200 people when it buried the town of Cagsawa in 1814.Bahraini Shiite clerics attend a protest against the revocation of the citizenship of Bahraini Shiite spiritual leader Sheikh Isa Qassim on June 20, 2016 near Qassim's house in the village of Diraz, west of Manama

Bahrain's supreme court on Monday upheld a one-year jail term for Shiite spiritual leader Sheikh Isa Qassim and confirmed a decision to revoke the cleric's citizenship, a legal source said.

Qassim, 76, who last month underwent surgery, was convicted by a criminal court in May of illegal fundraising and money laundering.

Authorities had accused him of abusing his position as a cleric to "serve foreign interests and promote... sectarianism and violence."

The supreme court, whose rulings are final, also confirmed the same verdict for two of the cleric's aides, Sheikh Hussein Mahrus and Mirza al-Obaidli, the source said.

Qassim was being briefly hospitalised last month for blood pressure and diabetes-related treatment.

He has been under de facto house arrest at his residence in the village of Diraz, outside Manama, since his citizenship was revoked two years ago.

The cleric, revered by the Shiite community, was a leader of 2011 protests in the Sunni-ruled kingdom.

In another ruling, the supreme court on Monday upheld the death sentence against a Bahraini Shiite for murdering a policeman in a bomb attack in february 2013.

The court also upheld life terms for six other defendants and confirmed jail terms of six years and five years for two other men involved in the attack.

Bahrain has been shaken by unrest since security forces crushed Shiite-led protests demanding a constitutional monarchy and an elected prime minister.

Despite repeated calls from their Western allies, Bahrain's rulers have made no concessions to the Shiite opposition and have intensified a crackdown on critics.

The strategic Gulf kingdom is a key regional ally of the United States and serves as home for its Fifth Fleet.There have been protests against curbs on media freedom

A notorious Ugandan tabloid made its much anticipated return to news stands Monday after a two-month shutdown prompted by a story that Kampala was allegedly plotting to topple President Paul Kagame of neighbouring Rwanda.

Some vendors in the centre of the capital Kampala said the Red Pepper sold out in minutes.

The newspaper, which specialises in sensational gossip and political scoops, was closed in November.

Eight of its editors and directors were charged with treason and defaming President Yoweri Museveni, his brother and the security minister.

But last week Museveni pardoned them, clearing the way for the paper's return to the streets.

The presidency said the pardon followed a promise from the paper's management to "become more professional".

Arinaitwe Rugyendo, a co-founder of the Red Pepper, told AFP: "We are going to polish our style but we will not self-censor."

He insisted the paper would continue to be "bolder than the rest".

Best known as a scandal sheet exposing the sex lives of local celebrities and businesspeople, the Red Pepper has also cultivated a reputation as a media pioneer willing to publish stories of state corruption.

The paper has attracted criticism outside Uganda for identifying alleged homosexuals in the conservative country where prejudice against sexual minorities has deep roots.

"The Red Pepper divides opinion. There are very many people who don't appreciate its style," said Peter Mwesige, executive director of the Kampala-based African Centre for Media Excellence.

- Flashy stories, serious impact -

A 2017 report by Reporters Without Borders ranked Uganda ranked 112 out of 180 countries for media freedom.

"Beyond the flashier stories Red Pepper has contributed by widening the horizons of what the media can publicly carry. There are lots of stories that have entered the public domain because Red Pepper has published them," said Mwesige.

"Stories on the military, the first family, and the ownership of property by public officials wouldn't have been exposed if not for Red Pepper."

Red Pepper has attracted criticism outside Uganda for identifying alleged homosexuals in the deeply conservative country

In central Kampala, people gathered round newsstands eager to read the front page editorial splash which declared "Our Story How Red Pepper 'Died' And Rose From The Grave After Two Months".

A total of nine pages were dedicated to describing the editors' experience, comparing the reopening to a Biblical resurrection.

"I'm happy it's back," said Patrick Higenyi, a 46-year-old civil servant. "I think they can talk the reality rather than deceiving the country."

Following the November shutdown some Ugandans celebrated on social media accusing the tabloid of ruining their lives with its scurrilous stories.

But, said Mwesige, "To think you can sacrifice the freedom of Red Pepper but maintain media freedom is misguided."

However, he was critical of the opaque, closed-door deal last week between Museveni and senior managers that paved the way for the Red Pepper's return.

"If there is ever a case of a chilling effect on the media, this is it," he warned.Destruction around the Udai hospital following airstrikes by government forces on the town of Saraqeb in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib

France's foreign minister said Monday he was sceptical of any breakthrough at upcoming talks hosted by Russia and aimed at ending Syria's bitter civil war.

Moscow, which has helped turn the war in favour of its ally Bashar al-Assad, has invited 1,600 people to the Black Sea resort of Sochi to begin hammering out a new constitution for post-war Syria, with talks set to start Tuesday.

The gathering comes after another round of UN-backed talks in Vienna ended in failure, with regime negotiators refusing to sit down with the rebel side unless they drop their demand for Assad to go.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Vienna's failure meant there was little hope for success in Russia, which the main Syrian opposition group has boycotted.

"I don't think there will be progress in Sochi primarily because an essential component (the opposition) will not be there, precisely because of the regime's refusal to negotiate in Vienna," he told reporters in Tokyo during a visit.

"If there was a failure in Vienna it was because the regime was not in the negotiations," he added.

The Sochi meeting is backed by Iran and Turkey, two key players in the complex and devastating near seven-year-old conflict.

But it is viewed with unease by the opposition and Western countries, who fear it will sideline the UN track and carve out a settlement in favour of Assad.

In a statement on Monday France's foreign ministry confirmed it would not take part in the Sochi talks while Le Drian said alternatives to the UN-backed talks were "not good".

Even the Kremlin has played down expectations for the event, with presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying Monday that "breakthroughs in the task of political regulation in Syria are hardly possible".

Only a fraction of the 1,600 invitees are set to participate in the event, according to a list of participants seen by AFP which has about 350 people on it.

Syria's civil war has killed some 340,000 and sent millions more fleeing overseas or to neighbouring countries.Palestinian women take part in a protest in Gaza City on January 29, 2018 against the US move to freeze funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees

Thousands of employees at the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees protested Monday in Gaza against US President Donald Trump's suspension of tens of millions of dollars in aid.

The United States suspended $65 million to the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) earlier this month, as well as a separate $45 million in food aid.

Thousands of teachers, medical professionals and other staff gathered in Gaza City to protest the cuts that UNRWA officials have warned could threaten the education of more than half a million children.

The agency provides support for more than three million Palestinians across the Middle East.

"By turning out in such huge numbers and peacefully you are giving a powerful message to the world," Matthias Schmale, UNRWA's director in Gaza, told the crowd.

Addressing the United States, he warned Trump of politicising humanitarian aid for millions of impoverished people.

"You have been our biggest partner for decades, the United States, and you have helped us build one of the most effective and results-orientated public service organisations in the world.

"Protect this investment -- all these people that are doing something good in the lives of refugees."

Trump has accused the Palestinians of refusing to engage in peace talks with Israel, saying last week they would suspend funding of aid until they returned to the table.

"We give them hundreds of millions of dollars in aid and support, tremendous numbers, numbers that nobody understands -- that money is on the table and that money is not going to them unless they sit down and negotiate peace," Trump said.

The Palestinian leadership froze ties with the Trump administration after his controversial recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, saying Washington could no longer be the main mediator in talks with Israel.

The Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.Airfares within Africa may be about to become cheaper

Africans have for years paid sky-high airfares when travelling within the continent but a major aviation trade agreement launched Monday by the African Union aims to change that.

Twenty-three African countries have signed on to the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), which is intended to drive down airfares by allowing the airlines of signatory countries to freely access each others' airports.

Speaking at the unveiling of a monument marking the SAATM's launch on the sidelines of the ongoing AU summit, Rwandan president and AU chairperson Paul Kagame said the market was important "for the overall development of the continent," where international air links between many cities are expensive or non-existent.

For years, air transport between African countries has been governed by a relatively small number of bilateral agreements, a legacy of the post-colonial era when carriers from newly independent African countries connected chiefly with their former colonial powers, according to a 2010 World Bank study.

"Many African countries restrict their air services markets to protect the share held by state-owned air carriers," the report said.

Signatories to the deal hope that greater competitiveness will bring down airfares and increase the number of direct air connections between African countries.

"From today, air companies from these countries can freely access all the countries included in the single market, they don't have to rely anymore on bilateral agreements, whether they exist or not, to access them," Tshepo Peege, South Africa's representative to the International Civil Aviation Organisation, told AFP.

Not all African countries have signed on. Only Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa Swaziland, Togo and Zimbabwe have thus far agreed to take part.

But that group hosts some of the continent's busiest airports, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Cairo, Lagos and Nairobi.

The market's establishment is a priority of the AU's Agenda 2063 blueprint for a peaceful and prosperous Africa.

Kagame added that work is underway for the implementation of two other planks of the agenda: the creation of an African free trade zone, and the implementation of an agreement for Africans to move freely within the continent via a single African passport.Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has declared a mourning period for the dozens killed in jihadist attacks

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita declared three days of mourning on Monday for the dozens of people killed over the last week in jihadist attacks and bombings.

Keita cancelled travel plans to an African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia over the weekend to visit central Mali, a once calm region whose security situation has rapidly deteriorated in the last few years.

The president declared a mourning period beginning on Monday "in tribute to all those who have lost their lives in the last few days in terrorist attacks," a statement published on his official Twitter account said.

Twenty-six civilians including mothers and infants were killed when their vehicle ran over a landmine in Boni, central Mali, last Thursday, while 18 soldiers were killed in a suicide bombing and a separate attack in the north over the weekend.

Keita said jihadists were increasingly aware of the "ferocious determination to stop them in their tracks" embodied by the recent deployment of a force drawn from the G5 group of Sahel countries.

"It's driving them mad," he added in a statement released on Saturday after the attacks at Boni and a military camp in Soumpi, Timbuktu.

Islamist 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.

Mali is one of a string of poor, fragile nations in the Sahel region that have been battered by terror attacks.

The country joined with Mauritania, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso to fight the jihadist groups, most of whom have Al-Qaeda links, forming the G5 Sahel force.

France's foreign ministry said it "continues to support efforts in Mali in the fight against terrorism and enemies of peace, supporting the Malian armed forces and the G5 Sahel force," in a statement sent to AFP on Monday.Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, is critical of the resurgence of Hindu nationalism under India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Seventy years ago, a 12-year-old boy seething with resentment over his treatment in apartheid South Africa was sent to his grandfather in rural India on an anger management course.

The boy, who grew up in an Indian ashram near the city of Durban, had been getting into a lot of fights. White children picked on him because he wasn't white; black children picked on him because he wasn't black.

He started lifting weights and fantasising about revenge -- but after two years at the feet of his illustrious "Bapuji", Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, was a teen transformed.

"What my grandfather taught me is that anger is like electricity, it's just as useful and powerful if we use it intelligently but it can be just as deadly and destructive if we abuse it," the US-based activist and author told AFP in an interview on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the assassination of the father of the Indian nation.

- Modi 'showmanship' -

Arun's arrival in India coincided with the culmination of India's struggle for independence from Britain with its blood-soaked partition into separate Hindu- and Muslim-majority states (India and Pakistan).

Gandhi, a champion of nonviolent resistance who was gunned down by a Hindu extremist on January 30, 1948, was devastated by the bloodshed.

Seven decades later he would be "most unhappy" about the resurgence of Hindu nationalism under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Arun says.

"It's a very vicious cycle there and it's made worse with a rightwing government in power."

The man revered in India as the Mahatma (Great Soul) would also take a dim view of Modi's attempt to cloak himself in his garb.

Last year, the premier was pictured in a government catalogue sitting Gandhi-style at a spinning wheel, producing cotton.

For Arun, who has recently written a book on Gandhi's teachings, "The Gift of Anger", "he is just trying to use Gandhi like everyone else... to gain acceptance by the people."

- Pumpkin soup and play -

In his book, 84-year-old Arun recalls being "intimidated" by his grandfather when he was shipped off to the Sevagram ashram in central India.

"Every morning when I got up I would find a few hundred people standing outside waiting to get a glimpse of him," he said.

But Gandhi was an attentive carer who made time in between negotiations with Indian leaders for pep talks and play with his young charge.

While asceticism was the order of the day -- and bland pumpkin soup a staple -- the Indian leader enjoyed tomfoolery, such as swinging off two people hoisting up him by the arms like a child.

A year after his return to South Africa the killing of his beloved "Bapuji" hit him hard.

"I was absolutely shocked. In the heat of the moment I told my parents I would have throttled the person who did this," the soft-spoken activist who dresses in a dark suit and tortoiseshell glasses recalls.

They encouraged him instead to be the proverbial change he wanted to see.

After 30 years as a journalist he moved to the US in 1987 and founded the MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence.

His "turn the other cheek" teachings have found fertile ground in an unusual place: a prison.

Six years after he began running a course in New York State's Groveland prison, violence is down 70 percent, he quotes the governor as telling him recently.

- 'Take the beating' -

World leaders might also benefit from a refresher course in "satyagraha", Gandhi's brand of nonviolent resistance.

Arun is critical of President Donald Trump, whom he accuses of erasing decades of gains for racial equality in the US.

But he also has reproving words for African-Americans who "aggressively demand respect" and for Arab Spring protestors, whom he calls "too angry".

Faced with repression, "you have to keep your hands by your sides and take the beating on the head," he insists -- a message Gandhi himself found a hard sell.

"The fact is that nobody really wants to follow these great people," Arun says. " The safest thing is to put them on a pedestal and worship them but not follow them."Palestinian farmers, allowed by Israel to tend their land in a buffer zone on the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip for the first time since 2006, plant seeds in a field on the outskirts of Rafah in Gaza on January 29, 2018

A group of Gazans were allowed to farm their land near the border with Israel for the first time since 2006 on Monday after a deal agreed with Israeli authorities.

The deal, brokered by the International Committee of the Red Cross, saw around a dozen farmers set foot on land they had not been able to access since Israel began imposing punitive measures on the Palestinian enclave more than a decade ago to isolate the strip's leaders Hamas.

It was part of a wider ICRC project that aims to see around 280 farmers return to their land between 100 and 300 metres (yards) from Israel's border fence.

Some parts of that territory still have to be cleared of munitions from conflicts between Israel and the Palestinians.

Farmer Anwar Dababi was scattering wheat on the ground near the border close to Rafah in southern Gaza, the first time he had accessed that part of his land since 2006.

"If I came here I was putting my life in danger, for example from being shot or a missile. There was no possibility of entering the place with the children to enjoy it," he said.

Guislain Defurne, head of the ICRC in Gaza, said the return was the result of lengthy negotiations.

"We helped farmers access to their land," he said.

"Forty-five percent of the agricultural land in Gaza is in the border areas so it makes a lot of sense."

In 2006, following the capture of a soldier by militants from Hamas, Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza which was tightened a year later after the Islamists ousted Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah.

Israel and Hamas have since fought three wars and the blockade remains in place.

It includes a buffer zone along the border in which farmers and others are not allowed to operate. Clashes between Gazans and Israeli forces regularly occur in some areas along the border fence.

Rights groups say the blockade amounts to collective punishment of the two million residents.

Farmer Anwar Adbari, 43, said that while he was happy to be back, he had fears the measures could only be temporary.

"We are sowing (the fields) with the help of the ICRC, but next time we don't know if we will be able to harvest them."US President Donald Trump says it may be "a long time" before any peace talks with the Taliban

US President Donald Trump on Monday ruled out quick talks with the Taliban, following a wave of bloody large-scale attacks in the Afghan capital Kabul.

"I don't think we are prepared to talk right now," Trump said, throwing into question Washington's strategy of pushing the group toward the negotiating table.

"We don't want to talk with the Taliban," Trump said. "They are killing people left and right, innocent people."

He added: "There may be a time but it's going to be a long time."

Kabul on Monday suffered its third major assault in recent days, as the Taliban and the Islamic State group escalate their offensives.

The militants have stepped up their attacks on beleaguered Afghan troops and police in recent months, sapping morale already hit by desertions and corruption.

A suicide attack on an Afghan army battalion Monday killed at least 11 soldiers and wounded 16, a defense ministry spokesman said.

Last Saturday a Taliban suicide attacker driving an explosives-packed ambulance blew it up in a crowded area of the capital, killing at least 103 people -- mainly civilians -- and wounding 235 in one of the worst bombings in the city in recent years.

And on January 20 Taliban fighters stormed Kabul's landmark Intercontinental hotel and killed at least 25 people, the majority of them foreigners, in an assault lasting more than 12 hours.

In August Trump concluded a months-long review of America's strategy to win the brutal war in Afghanistan, now entering its 17th year.

The strategy called for an increase in the tempo and intensity of strikes against the Taliban, as well as pressure from Pakistan to deny the group safe haven.

The aim is to persuade some Taliban factions to enter talks with the government in Kabul.

This month's spate of bombings and Trump's comments indicate that end game may further away than the White House would like.Syria's Eastern Ghouta still sees near-daily violence despite several failed rounds of peace talks

Delegates on Monday arrived in Russia for talks aimed at ending the Syrian conflict, but hopes of progress were dimmed after the main opposition group and the Kurds said they would boycott the event.

Regime-backer Moscow has invited 1,600 people to the talks in the Black Sea resort of Sochi as part of a broader push to consolidate its influence in the Middle East and start hammering out a path to a political solution to end the seven-year war.

The aim of the Tuesday congress is to bring Syria closer to creating a post-war constitution, after two days of separate UN-backed talks in Vienna last week closed with the warring sides not even meeting face to face to discuss the groundwork for the document.

Syrian regime air strikes hit a vegetable market in opposition-held town Saraqeb

The Kremlin has downplayed expectations of the event, with presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov telling journalists Monday that "breakthroughs in the task of political regulation in Syria are hardly possible".

He added, however, that under-representation will not "disrupt this congress or undermine its importance," calling the Sochi talks a "very important" step toward peace.

The Syrian Negotiation Commission (SNC), the country's main opposition group, said following the talks in Vienna on Thursday and Friday that it would not attend the Sochi congress.

While the government will not be represented as such at the congress, President Bashar al-Assad's ruling Baath Party and other allied movements are attending.

- Rebel boycott -

The SNC accused Assad and his Russian backers of continuing to rely on military might -- and showing no willingness to enter into honest negotiations -- as the war in which more than 340,000 people have already died approaches its seventh anniversary.

More than three dozen other Syrian rebel groups, including influential Islamists, had previously said they would not come to Sochi.

The US confirmed on Monday it would not attend, a spokesman saying: "The United States will not be attending the Sochi Congress as Observer.

"Our collective focus must remain on the UN-led political process in Geneva and we will remain engaged with the UN and other parties, including Russia, to encourage all possible efforts to advance the political track."

Authorities from Syria's Kurdish autonomous region said Sunday they would not participate because of an ongoing Turkish offensive on the Kurdish enclave of Afrin.

Turkey, which supports Syrian rebels vying for Assad's ouster, is co-sponsoring the congress along with regime-backer Iran.

Syria peace negotiator Steffan de Mistura arrived in Sochi on Monday

Despite the boycotts, the Kremlin's special envoy on the Syria peace process Alexander Lavrentiev told Russian news agencies that 1,500 out of 1,600 guests invited to the congress would be there.

He added that this included some Kurds and representatives of the Syrian opposition on an "individual basis."

An incomplete list of participants seen by AFP included around 350 regime-tolerated opposition representatives.

- Western suspicions -

Turkish-backed Syrian rebels and Turkish troops launched an offensive against Kurdish enclave Afrin on January 20

Moscow, which has spearheaded several rounds of talks from the start of last year in Kazakhstan's Astana, initially hoped to convene the congress in Sochi last November but those efforts collapsed following a lack of agreement among co-sponsors.

Western powers have viewed the Russian peace initiative with suspicion, worrying that Moscow is seeking to undermine the UN-backed talks with a view to carving out a settlement that strengthens its ally Assad.

But a spokesman for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at the weekend he would send his Syria peace negotiator to Sochi after receiving assurances the conference would not seek to sideline the UN's talks.

Staffan de Mistura arrived in Sochi Monday, Russian agencies reported.

Russia has long sought UN participation in the Sochi congress to lend credibility to its diplomatic efforts, and is reportedly hoping to establish a committee to create a constitution with UN-backing.

Moscow's decision to launch a bombing campaign to support Assad in September 2015 -- Russia's first major military operation abroad since Soviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989 -- is widely seen as a turning point in the multi-front conflict that helped shore up the Syrian president.

The Syrian opposition is boycotting the Sochi talks, blaming the regime's continuing reliance on military might

After two years of military support for the Syrian regime, President Vladimir Putin announced in December last year the partial withdrawal of forces from the country, saying their task had been largely completed.

The Syrian war, which has seen millions displaced, began in 2011 as the regime crushed anti-government protests.

burs-tm/oc/jeCanadian Foreign Affairs minister Chrystia Freeland (L) and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer at the close of the latest round of NAFTA negotiations in Montreal

Talks aimed at revamping the North American Free Trade Agreement have advanced slowly, a US trade official said Monday, while holding out hope for breakthroughs in the next round of talks.

Negotiators from Canada, the United States and Mexico bore down on key issues in weeklong talks in Montreal, averting a feared collapse of the bloc, which binds together nearly 500 million consumers.

With Washington accusing Canada of intransigence, Ottawa changed tack and presented new proposals on several key sticking points.

While Canada and the United States remain at odds over the amount of their trade imbalance, the Americans did not outright reject Canada's ideas on the auto sector, dispute settlement and a periodic NAFTA review in lieu of a sunset clause proposed by US President Donald Trump.

"We finally began to discuss some of the core issues. So, this round was a step forward. But we are progressing very slowly," US trade representative Robert Lighthizer told a news conference.

"We'll work hard between now and the beginning of the next round (in Mexico at the end of February) and we hope for major breakthroughs during that period," Lighthizer said.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said she was "pleased with the progress that has been achieved here this week."

"Canadians do not view trade as a zero sum game in which one side must lose in order for the other to win," she said.

"We've also said from the outset, last August, that we believe that NAFTA must be updated and improved and that the benefits of trade must flow more broadly to more people in order for that trade to be sustainable."

Mexico's secretary of the economy, Ildefonso Guajardo, meanwhile, said progress was made on anti-corruption, customs and trade facilitation, and information and communication technologies.

He also said the parties were close to wrapping up annexes on chemicals and pharmaceuticalsThe concentration of activity at a military base or along a patrol route could be used by insurgent groups to plan attacks on personnel

The US military is reviewing how troops use fitness trackers and other devices, the Pentagon said Monday after an exercise-logging company published a map revealing potentially sensitive information about US and allied forces in places including the Middle East.

The map, made by Strava Labs, shows the movements of its app users around the world, indicating the intensity of travel along a given path.

The company says it offers "a direct visualization of Strava's global network of athletes."

In large cities and well-known locations, the highlighted routes are hardly surprising, with dense urban areas lit up brightly compared to unpopulated areas or places without many app users.

In Iraq and Syria, much of the terrain is essentially dark, but viewers can easily spot beacons of activity in remote places where military bases are located, presumably indicating favorite jogging or walking routes.

Such activity in inaccessible desert compounds in the Middle East or around insurgent-held cities makes it clear the data are being gleaned from military users.

- 'Situational awareness' -

"We are going to take a look at the Department-wide policy to ensure that we have operational security and force protection," Colonel Rob Manning, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters.

"Recent data releases emphasize the need for situational awareness."

Strava's map highlights a series of well-known military bases in Iraq, in detail.

Similarly in Syria, areas that appear to be bases in the north -- where US troops are aiding local partners in the fight against the Islamic State group -- are lit up brightly against an otherwise dark background.

The concentration of activity at a base or along a patrol route could be used by insurgent groups to plan attacks on military personnel.

Manning said the review would look at the use of all wearable electronics and smartphones.

Commanders already have the tools at their disposal to ensure "force protection," he added.

"DoD personnel are advised to emplace strict privacy settings on wireless technologies and applications, and such technologies are forbidden at specific DoD sites and during specific activities," he said, referring to the Department of Defense.

Manning said he was not aware of any request to Strava to take down its map.

- 'Security nightmare' -

But the whole issue could have been fairly easily avoided.

According to Strava, "athletes with the Metro/heatmap opt-out privacy setting have all data excluded" from the mapping project.

Jeffrey Lewis, director of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies' East Asia Nonproliferation program, said the data revelations represent a "security nightmare" for governments around the world.

"Anyone with access to the data could make a pattern-of-life map for individual users, some of whom may be very interesting to foreign intelligence services," he wrote in a column on the Daily Beast news site.

If anyone were to hack Strava, he said, they might be able to connect a particular user with a particular route.

"That's charming when it's a celebrity uploading a run. But what about a soldier?" he added, noting that an adversary could track a soldier as he or she moved from one assignment to the next.

- Privacy tools -

Strava referred queries to its blog posting last year in which it said "nothing is more important" than the safety of its users.

"Whether you are concerned about someone knowing where you are, where you ran or where you live, we've got the tools to help you take control," the company said.

"We work hard to make it easy for athletes to have access to the information and tools they need to control their privacy, whether youre using our mobile app or a GPS device."

Ned Price, a former CIA official who was seconded as a national security adviser to former president Barack Obama, said that "capable adversaries" had almost certainly been harvesting such data for years.

"Imagine how many similar data sources are out there we're ignorant of (because) it's not posted online," he wrote on Twitter.A proposal being floated by US officials to nationalize 5G -- the fifth generation of wireless internet -- drew sharp rebukes from across the political sprectrum

US officials have launched a debate on a proposal to nationalize the newest generation of high-speed wireless internet networks in the name of national security, provoking sharp criticism from across the political spectrum.

One official familiar with the proposal but not authorized to speak publicly told AFP the idea "has been discussed over the past couple of weeks" at the request of US national security officials.

The proposal was first reported by the news website Axios, citing a memo proposing government control of the newest and fastest part of the nation's mobile network -- the fifth generation, or 5G -- to guard against China's growing online capabilities.

Axios cited a memo by a senior official as contending that the US need to quickly deploy 5G because China is in a top position with the technology and "is the dominant malicious actor" online.

But the proposal -- which would run counter to the longstanding US policy of relying on private telecom networks -- drew immediate rebukes from the industry and even from US regulatory officials.

The official familiar with the proposal noted that "it's not hard to find people who think it's a dumb idea."

Industry leaders pointed out that the private sector is already in the process of building and deploying 5G systems, which will be important for a range of connected devices from appliances to self-driving cars.

The federal government stepping in would "slam the brakes" on momentum to deploy 5G, argued Jonathan Spalter, chief of USTelecom trade association.

"The best way to future-proof the nation's communications networks is to continue to encourage and incentivize Americas broadband companies... in partnership with government, to continue do what we do best: invest, innovate, and lead," Spalter said in a statement.

Meredith Attwell Baker, president of the wireless industry group CTIA, added that while 5G is important, "the government should pursue the free market policies that enabled the US wireless industry to win the race to 4G."

Federal Communications Commission chairman Ajit Pai, whose agency regulates the telecom sector, also voiced strong opposition.

"Any federal effort to construct a nationalized 5G network would be a costly and counterproductive distraction from the policies we need to help the United States win the 5G future," Pai, a Republican, said.

Pai's Democratic colleague on the FCC, Mignon Clyburn, agreed, saying a network built by the federal government "does not leverage the best approach needed for our nation to win the 5G race."

Conservative advocacy group FreedomWorks also came out against the idea, arguing that the move would put the US on the same level as China in controlling online access.

FreedomWorks president Adam Brandon said, "We're not beating the Chinese if we sacrifice what makes our government so different from theirs."An elephant-sized dinosaur called Mansourasaurus sheds new light on Afro-European dinosaur ties, scientists said

A long-necked dinosaur unearthed in Egypt has yielded the first evidence of contact between African and European dinosaurs shortly before the creatures disappeared for good about 66 million years ago, scientists said Monday.

Given a dearth of dinosaur skeletons from Africa, palaeontologists have battled to reconstruct a map of how the animals spread across the world after the "supercontinent" Pangaea broke up into different land masses some 200 million years ago.

Many believed Africa's dinosaurs were completely isolated from cousins on other continents by the time their heyday was brought to an abrupt end, possibly by an asteroid strike.

The new specimen, an elephant-sized plant-eater given the name Mansourasaurus, sheds new light on Afro-European dinosaur ties, its discoverers said.

Looking at its physiology, the team concluded that Mansourasaurus was "more closely related to dinosaurs from Europe and Asia than it is to those found farther south in Africa or in South America," according to a statement from Ohio University.

"This, in turn, shows that at least some dinosaurs could move between Africa and Europe near the end of these animals' reign. Africa's last dinosaurs weren't completely isolated."

Very few dinosaur fossils from the late Cretaceous period, about 100 to 66 million years ago, have been unearthed on the African continent.

Much of the land where fossils may be found is today covered in lush vegetation, unlike the exposed rock in which bones are frequently found in Patagonia, for example.

Discovered in the Sahara Desert, Mansourasaurus is the most complete dinosaur skeleton from the late Cretaceous ever found in Africa.

The remains include scattered bits of the creature's vertebrae, skull, lower jaw, ribs, and leg bones.

Mansourasaurus is a titanosaur, a group which also included some of the biggest land animals ever to have lived, such as Argentinosaurus, Dreadnoughtus, and Patagotitan.

"When I first saw pics of the fossils, my jaw hit the floor," said study co-author Matt Lamanna of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

"This was the Holy Grail -- a well-preserved dinosaur from the end of the Age of Dinosaurs in Africa -- that we palaeontologists had been searching for for a long, long time."Andrew McCabe has stepped down as deputy director of the FBI after months of criticism by US President Donald Trump for alleged anti-Republican bias

The FBI's deputy director, Andrew McCabe, is stepping down after President Donald Trump accused him of being a Democratic partisan, a government source confirmed Monday.

McCabe is stopping work immediately but will remain on the FBI payroll until March to obtain retirement benefits, the source confirmed.

McCabe, 49, was expected to leave sometime early this year when he became fully eligible for a pension, after two decades in the bureau.

The New York Times reported that McCabe had hoped to stay active in his position up to his retirement, but was pressured to leave earlier by FBI Director Christopher Wray.

Wray, who was appointed by Trump in August, had not intended to include McCabe on his revamped management team, according to the report. McCabe was a career FBI official, not a political appointee.

The FBI had no official comment. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Trump had no role in the move.

"The president wasn't part of this decision-making process," Sanders said.

- Comey loyalist -

The early departure comes after McCabe endured months of tough criticism from Republicans for his loyalty to fired FBI director James Comey and alleged bias against Trump.

Comey himself praised McCabe's FBI service, saying he "stood tall over the last 8 months, when small people were trying to tear down an institution we all depend on."

"I wish Andy well. I also wish continued strength for the rest of the FBI. America needs you," Comey added in a tweet.

McCabe and Comey had key roles in the FBI's probe of Trump's rival Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election, which ultimately cleared the Democrat of criminal wrongdoing in her misuse of a personal email server while she was secretary of state.

The president has repeatedly assailed that decision as wrong, and recently released text messages between two investigators involved in the Clinton probe that showed them strongly opposed to Trump.

An FBI inspector general is currently investigating the handling of the Clinton case.

McCabe and Comey were also involved in the initial stages of an ongoing investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russians during the election, which Trump calls "fake news."

Angered by that investigation, Trump fired Comey on May 9.

CIA director Mike Pompeo told the BBC in an interview aired Monday that he expects Russia to try to meddle in the US congressional election in November of this year.

"I haven't seen a significant decrease in their activity," Pompeo said. "I have every expectation that they will continue to try and do that."

McCabe became acting FBI director and days later, in testimony to Congress, he rebutted Trump's claim that Comey had left the bureau "in turmoil" and had lost the confidence of the FBI staff.

Comey "enjoyed broad support within the FBI and still does," McCabe said.

- Sharp attack from Trump -

Accusations of bias also arose from McCabe's wife having run as a Democrat for local Virginia political office as a Democrat in 2015, receiving financial support from the party.

In July 2017, Trump questioned why Attorney General Jeff Sessions did not dismiss him.

"Why didn't A.G. Sessions replace Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, a Comey friend who was in charge of Clinton investigation but got big dollars ($700,000) for his wife's political run from Hillary Clinton and her representatives," he wrote on Twitter.

Trump named Wray the new FBI director in August, and kept up the pressure on McCabe. He tweeted again in December about McCabe's wife, and his role in the Clinton probe. He added a hint that McCabe was soon to depart, before it was publicly known.

"FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is racing the clock to retire with full benefits. 90 days to go?!!!" Trump wrote.

Republican legislator Matt Gaetz called McCabe's move "a step forward" for the FBI.

"The past several weeks and months have seen worrisome evidence of bias and wrongdoing at the FBI come to light," he said, referring to the investigators' anti-Trump text messages.

But McCabe retained strong support from within the Justice community, and Democrats have called Trump's pressure a part of a broader campaign to tarnish the bureau and weaken the Mueller collusion investigation.Cameroonian President Paul Biya has met secessionist agitation with a crackdown

The president of the anglophone separatist movement in Cameroon, Sisiku Ayuk Tabe, was extradited to Yaounde on Monday after being detained in Nigeria, the government said.

Ayuk Tabe, who had been held in Abuja since January 5, was sent to Cameroon with 46 of his supporters, Cameroonian government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary said in a statement.

"A group of 47 terrorists, which includes Mr Ayuk Tabe, has been in the hands of the Cameroonian justice system for a few hours," Tchiroma said.

"They will answer for their crimes" before the Cameroonian courts, he added, underlining the "determination" of Nigeria and Cameroon "never to tolerate that their territories serve as a base for destabilising activities directed against one or the other".

Prior to their extradition, Ayuk Tabe and nine others had been "held in secret" at a hotel in Abuja, according to their lawyer and Amnesty International.

It was not possible on Monday to establish when the other separatists extradited from Nigeria to Cameroon were arrested.

In mid-January, Amnesty International expressed concern about the separatists detained in Nigeria, saying they "could be threatened with torture and (given) an unfair trial" if they are extradited from Nigeria.

Over the past year, there has been mounting tension in Cameroon's Southwest and Northwest regions -- home to anglophones who account for about a fifth of the West African nation's population of 23 million.

English-speakers complain they have suffered decades of economic inequality and social injustice at the hands of the French-speaking majority.

Ayuk Tabe is campaigning for the two English-speaking regions of Cameroon to separate from the French-speaking part of the country.

On October 1 last year, the breakaway anglophone movement issued a symbolic declaration of independence for "Ambazonia", claiming autonomy over English-speaking regions.

Cameroon's President Paul Biya fiercely opposes secession and has met the agitation with a crackdown, including curfews, raids and restrictions on travel.

The country is preparing for general elections -- including the presidential vote -- at the end of 2018.

But observers say the ballot could be disrupted by the deep socio-political crisis in the English-speaking regions.President Donald Trump, flanked by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, told members of the UN Security Council at a White House luncheon on Monday that they should act to counter Iranian 'destabilization.'

President Donald Trump on Monday accused Iran of destabilizing the Middle East, as his United Nations ambassador sought to bolster that argument by showing fellow envoys what she said was debris from an Iranian missile fired at Saudi Arabia.

Meeting at the White House with members of the UN Security Council and his own national security team, Trump said the group had "much work" to do. He drew up a daunting list of objectives, including countering "Iran's destabilization activities," ending the Syrian conflict, combating terrorism and denuclearizing North Korea.

Earlier, UN Ambassador Nikki Haley took her fellow Security Council members to Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington to show them the missile debris.

"The evidence continues to grow that Iran is blatantly ignoring its international obligations," Haley said afterward. "Iran's aggression is a threat not just to its neighbors but to the entire world."

Haley is seeking to persuade the Security Council to take action against Iran, possibly by imposing sanctions, but will likely face opposition from Russia, which has friendly ties with Tehran.

- 'Fake news' -

US officials say the twisted metal fragments on display at the base come from an Iranian-made short-range ballistic missile provided to Houthi rebels in Yemen, who fired it in November at an international airport near the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

The missile was shot down and caused no casualties.

But Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif took to Twitter on Monday to dismiss the missile display as "fake news," calling it a "Trump & Co. attempt to create an Iranphobic narrative at the UN Security Council ... (using) fake 'evidence.'"

Iran has denied arming the Houthis.

US relations with Iran have deteriorated under Trump, who has threatened to leave the nuclear agreement with Tehran unless it is amended to permanently prevent Iran from building long-range missiles and nuclear weapons.

Trump has notably criticized Tehran for backing the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have been locked in a grinding conflict with Saudi-led forces supporting the Yemeni government.

Saudi Arabia is a close regional ally of the US.COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - An opposition alliance in the Maldives has petitioned the Supreme Court to temporarily remove the president and appoint investigators to look into allegations of corruption and misrule.

The petition submitted Sunday was signed by leaders of a four-party opposition coalition including two former presidents, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Mohamed Nasheed.

The petition asked the court to appoint a committee to investigate and report on the corruption allegations against President Yameen Abdul Gayoom. His office did not immediately comment Monday.

The opposition said it moved to the courts because the Parliament, which has the power to remove the president, is virtually dysfunctional after 12 lawmakers were removed from their positions when they announced support for an opposition move to oust the speaker.

The opposition released a statement late Sunday that accused Yameen of "unjust enrichment from appropriation of state properties and funds for personal benefit" and violating the rights and constitutional freedoms of the Maldivian people.

The Maldives, known for its luxury island resorts, became a multiparty democracy in 2008 after decades of autocratic rule. But it has lost many of its democratic gains since Gayoom was elected president in 2013.

Yameen has been accused of manipulating the judiciary and other state institutions to block opposition to his rule. Dozens of opposition politicians have been jailed, including a former vice president, a defense minister and a former presidential candidate, through trials criticized for a lack of due process.

However, his control over parliament has been threatened by the agreement between the two former presidents, his half brother, former strongman Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, and the nation's first democratically elected leader, Nasheed.The son of a police chief in Georgia has been charged with murder after allegedly whipping to death his three-year-old stepson with a belt.

Police responded to Joshua Richards' home at the Hickory Falls Apartments in Villa Rica, Georgia, at around 10am on Tuesday after receiving a report about an injured child.

The frantic 911 call that summoned the officers had been placed by three-year-old Brentley Gore's mother. Investigators believe the woman was asleep in another room during the attack on her son, which left him with multiple skull fractures.

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Stepdad charged: Joshua Richards, 21 (pictured left in mugshot) has been charged with murder in the beating death of his stepson, three-year-old Brentley Gore (pictured together last Stepember, right)

Frantic call: Richards' wife of just eight months (right) called police on January 23 to report that her son was injured and would not wake up

The mother contacted the authorities when she noticed injuries on her childs head and could not wake him up in the morning, reported Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Because of the severely of his injuries, Brentley was airlifted to a hospital in Atlanta for treatment.

According to a GoFundMe page set up to help the boys family with his medical expenses, Brentley underwent emergency surgery on Thursday to remove a portion of his fractured skull in hopes of relieving some of pressure from the swelling on his brain.

The toddler's stepfather was initially charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, first-degree cruelty to children and possession of marijuana.

Investigators believe Richards used a belt to beat the boy.

Savage: Police believe Richards used a belt to flog the toddler (pictured together)

Richards, seen in court left, is the son of Carrollton Police Chief Josh Richards (right)

Father and son: Joshua is pictured with his police chief dad, who has been on the force since 1992

On Sunday, the child succumbed to his injuries, leading to the upgraded charge of murder being filed against Richards.

The man made his initial court appearance on Wednesday and was denied bond, reported 11Alive. Photos taken in court showed the suspect with an anguished look on his face, and he was reportedly placed on suicide watch.

According to his Facebook page, Richards works for a home security company headquartered in Tennessee. He and Brentleys mother got married last June.

His final Facebook post, dated December 8, 2017, featured a family photo showing a smiling Brentley playing in the snow with his parents.

Richards is the son of Carrollton Police Chief Josh Richards, who has been on the force since 1992.MIAMI (AP) - School district officials in Florida said they followed standard protocol last week when a 7-year-old boy was placed in handcuffs and removed from his school - and they say it is the second time since the school year began that the first-grader had to be restrained after displaying aggressive behavior.

The latest episode happened Thursday, when a teacher at the Coral Way K-8 Center in Miami told the boy to stop playing with his food in the cafeteria. When the child refused to stop, he was taken from the cafeteria, according to an incident report from Miami-Dade County Public Schools police officer Munick Soriano.

The report said the boy hit the teacher repeatedly in the back when they were in a hallway outside the cafeteria. The child continued punching and kicking the teacher until they both fell on the ground, according to the report, which also said he grabbed her hair.

The boy was hospitalized briefly at Miami Children's Hospital under the Florida Mental Health Act, based on behavioral criteria that indicated he could pose a threat to himself or others, school district officials said. Authorities later said it was the second time officers had resorted to handcuffing the student under the same law.

The child's mother, Mercy Alvarez, said her son doesn't have a mental disorder. Instead, she called her son's treatment "police abuse."

"If my child wasn't aggressive anymore when we got there, like they were saying he was before, why take such extreme measures?" she said.

Alvarez said her child didn't show aggressive behavior at home until the school year started; she said in past years he had gotten good grades, participated in other activities and behaved well.

"This is too much for a boy that age to go through. It can't be a normal procedure," she said.

She recorded the incident of her son last week with her cellphone and shared it on Facebook, where it has been viewed nearly 3 million times.

In his report, Soriano wrote that another teacher and several students witnessed the incident, which was also captured on the school's surveillance camera. The boy's parents were notified and came to the school, the report said.

The child's father agreed with school officials that the child should be taken to a mental health facility, the report said. But the mother disagreed, telling officials nothing was wrong with her son. Alvarez said the officer was threatening to take the child to jail if they didn't agree to have him taken to a mental health facility for an evaluation.

The teacher told the officer her back was hurting after the incident but she didn't have any visible injuries. She told officials she intends to press charges, the report said.

School district spokeswoman Jaquelyn Calzadilla said in an email that the boy wasn't actually arrested but "restrained for transport."

Ian Moffett, the school district's police chief, said in a statement that it was "rare for students this young to be Baker Acted," referring to a Florida law that allows police and certain other officials to initiate an involuntary institutionalization for a psychological evaluation.

"However this action was warranted to prevent his erratic and violent behavior from bringing further harm to others or himself," the statement said.

Moffett said the officer followed standard operating procedures in taking the child to the hospital. However, the district's Professional Compliance Unit is investigating the incident.

Later Monday, school district officials released a report showing this was the second time the boy had been restrained at school and taken to the same hospital for an examination. According to the report, the student punched students and staff members on Nov. 30 and acted aggressively toward Soriano when he responded.

The district says the boy was allowed to ride with a parent to the hospital that time. Alvarez said neither she nor the child's father was allowed to accompany him, either in November or last week.

___

This story has been changed to clarify that while the minor child was placed in handcuffs he was not arrested but was restrained for transport, according to a school official.

___

Freida Frisaro in Miami contributed to this report.SYDNEY (AP) - A confessed militant who provided a revolver to a school boy who fatally shot a police accountant in Sydney in 2015 refused to stand Monday as a sign of respect for a judge during a court hearing.

Raban Alou, 20, is facing a hearing in the New South Wales state Supreme Court to determine his sentence after he pleaded guilty last year to aiding, abetting, counseling or procuring a terrorist act. The offense carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Alou admitted handing a handgun to a 15-year-old boy at a Sydney mosque on Oct. 2, 2015. Moments later, the boy killed the accountant outside the nearby state police headquarters and was then shot dead by police.

Alou's lawyer, Matthew Johnston, told the sentencing judge, Justice Peter Johnson, that his client did not stand at the beginning of the hearing for religious reasons.

The judge then cited the Australian National Imams Council's opinion that there is "no religious basis to prohibit either standing up for courts or bowing to judicial officers."

Alou remained seated, despite a warning from the judge that "there may be ramifications" for him. The judge did not elaborate.

Prosecutor Paul McGuire later asked for a long sentence, saying that Alou lacked remorse, had extremist views and poor prospects of rehabilitation.

Alou was recorded telling his mother in a telephone conservation last month that he had no regrets and would never apologize for his actions, McGuire told the court.

The hearing is scheduled to continue for four days.BEIJING (AP) - Prominent legal activist Yu Wensheng has been charged with inciting subversion of state power after writing a letter calling for democratic reforms, his lawyer said Monday.

Police informed Yu's wife of the charge on Saturday, lawyer Huang Hanzhong said. Inciting subversion is a vaguely worded charge often used to muzzle dissent.

Earlier this month, more than a dozen police officers grabbed Yu, a lawyer in Beijing, while he was waiting in his car to take his 13-year-old son to school. The seizure came a day after he posted a letter online calling on the ruling Communist Party to reform the Chinese Constitution and allow open presidential elections.

FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2017, file photo, prominent legal activist Yu Wensheng pauses during an interview at his office in Beijing. Yu has been charged with inciting subversion of state power after writing a letter calling for democratic reforms, his lawyer said Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

"The president, the head of state, is basically appointed without any meaningful election. It has no credibility for the country, for civil society and for countries across the world," Yu said in the letter.

Huang said police also took Yu's wife, Xu Yan, to the Shijingshan police station in Beijing on Saturday on the same charge, though they released her the next day.

Police searched Yu's home and office and seized computers, USB drives, cellphones and various files documenting cases that Yu had handled in recent years, Huang said.

Reached by phone, an official at the Shijingshan police station directed queries on Yu to its Xingucheng branch. An official at Xingucheng in turn referred questions back to the Shijingshan station.

Xu was told her husband's case would be handed over to a police bureau in the eastern city of Xuzhou in Jiangsu province for further investigation though no reason was provided, the lawyer said. Chinese authorities sometimes transfer politically sensitive cases to courts and prosecutors far from where the alleged offenses took place, moves activists say are intended to make it difficult for supporters to pressure the authorities.

Yu gained widespread attention after being detained for three months in 2014, during which he says he was tortured and questioned. He was detained again in 2015 but released after a day when his case received wide publicity.BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - Romania's first female prime minister was sworn in Wednesday as the country's third head of government in a year amid ongoing anti-corruption protests.

Viorica Dancila, 54, a European Parliament lawmaker before being elected premier, and her Cabinet took their oaths of office, which were administered by President Klaus Iohannis.

Dancila won 282-136 votes in Parliament, far more than the 233 votes she needed to lead Romania's current left-wing government, which the European Union has criticized over legislation that critics say will make it hard to prosecute high-level corruption.

Romanian Prime Minister designate Viorica Dancila waves before a joint parliament session that will vote on her and her cabinet's nomination in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. Viorica Dancila is expected to win parliamentary approval to become Romania's first female prime minister, and the third premier in a year as the left-wing government faces protests and criticism from the European Union over legislation it is passing that critics say will make it hard to prosecute high-level corruption.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Dancila has voiced support for the proposals, which have prompted public protests.

The legislation would ban the use of audio and video recordings in prosecutions. Other aspects include holding judges personally responsible for erroneous rulings, and making it possible to seek financial damages from them.

The previous two prime ministers were ousted because they were perceived as not toeing the ruling Social Democrat party line, and in particular not giving their full support to overhauling the justice system.

Iohannis had harsh words for the new government about the justice system and the economy, saying that there was a "red line" the government shouldn't cross.

"Affecting the independence of the justice system is inacceptable," he told ministers. "The ruling coalition shouldn't ignore the signal sent by hundreds of thousands of Romanians who continue to go on the streets to support the rule of law."

"People want prosperity in a country where politicians respect the citizens," adding recent government fiscal policy had "rattled the population and the business community."

He added: "Instead of simplifying things ... we are faced with uncertainty which risks degenerating into financial instability and major economic imbalances."

Dancila, a European Parliament lawmaker, was a relative unknown in domestic politics until this month. Speaking before the parliamentary vote, she promised to raise wages, reduce bureaucracy and build hundreds of kilometers (miles) of new highways and railway lines by 2020.

Dancila, who will head a Cabinet of 27 ministers, will likely act in the role of an administrator, with government policy decided by powerful Social Democrat chairman Liviu Dragnea, who can't be prime minister because of a conviction for vote-rigging.

A court froze Dragnea's assets in November over a charge of embezzling EU funds. He denies wrongdoing.

She was booed by a small group of protesters as she arrived at parliament Monday. But party members handed her a bouquet of red roses and greeted her with applause as she walked through the palace built by late Communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu, which now houses Parliament.

"The goal of my mandate is for Romania in 2020 to be in the top half of the EU's strongest economies so that young people no longer leave from Romania, and those that have left want to return," Dancila told lawmakers.

Mihai Tudose resigned as prime minister earlier this month after the party withdrew its support for him. He replaced Sorin Grindeanu, who was forced out of office in a no-confidence vote brought by his own party in June.

Romanian Prime Minister designate Viorica Dancila waits before a joint parliament session that will vote on her and her cabinet's nomination in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. Viorica Dancila is expected to win parliamentary approval to become Romania's first female prime minister, and the third premier in a year as the left-wing government faces protests and criticism from the European Union over legislation it is passing that critics say will make it hard to prosecute high-level corruption.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Liviu Dragnea, the leader of Romania's ruling Social Democratic party sits during a speech by Romanian Prime Minister designate Viorica Dancila during a joint parliament session that will vote on her and her cabinet's nomination in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018.Dancila is expected to win parliamentary approval to become Romania's first female prime minister, and the third premier in a year as the left-wing government faces protests and criticism from the European Union over legislation it is passing that critics say will make it hard to prosecute high-level corruption. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Romanian Prime Minister designate Viorica Dancila walks before a joint parliament session that will vote on her and her cabinet's nomination in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. Dancila is expected to win parliamentary approval to become Romania's first female prime minister, and the third premier in a year as the left-wing government faces protests and criticism from the European Union over legislation it is passing that critics say will make it hard to prosecute high-level corruption. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Romanian Prime Minister designate Viorica Dancila waits before a joint parliament session that will vote on her and her cabinet's nomination in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. Dancila is expected to win parliamentary approval to become Romania's first female prime minister, and the third premier in a year as the left-wing government faces protests and criticism from the European Union over legislation it is passing that critics say will make it hard to prosecute high-level corruption. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Romanian Prime Minister designate Viorica Dancila prepares to deliver a speech a joint parliament session that will vote on her and her cabinet's nomination in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. Viorica Dancila is expected to win parliamentary approval to become Romania's first female prime minister, and the third premier in a year as the left-wing government faces protests and criticism from the European Union over legislation it is passing that critics say will make it hard to prosecute high-level corruption.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Romanian Prime Minister designate Viorica Dancila speaks to media in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018. Romania's president Klaus Iohannis named Viorica Dancila, a member of the European Parliament and an ally of the ruling Social Democratic Party chairman Liviu Dragnea as the country's the next prime minister and potentially its first female leader. (AP Photo/Octav Ganea)BERLIN (AP) - Heinz Jakob "Coco" Schumann, a jazz guitarist who survived Nazi concentration camps to return to his musical career in Berlin after World War II, has died. He was 93.

The dpa news agency reported Monday his record label Trikont said Schumann died Sunday in Berlin.

Schumann made a name for himself as a young musician in Berlin's underground jazz and swing scene in the 1930s. He was arrested in 1943 after authorities learned his mother was Jewish, and deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp in German-occupied Czechoslovakia.

FILE - In this Aug. 16, 1997 file photo Jazz musician Coco Schumann is pictured in Berlin, Germany. Heinz Jakob "Coco" Schumann, a jazz guitarist who survived Nazi concentration camps to return to his musical career in Berlin after World War II has died at 93. (Florian_Frank/dpa via AP, file)

There, he played in a band known as the "Ghetto Swingers" before being transferred to Auschwitz in 1944, where he played music to entertain guards.

After the war he emigrated to Australia, before returning to Berlin in the mid-1950s and re-establishing his career.BEIRUT (AP) - The Latest on developments in Syria (all times local):

3:45 p.m.

Russia is calling on the Syrian government to allow a medical evacuation from a rebel-held suburb of the capital, Damascus.

Pro-Turkey Syrian fighters and Turkish troops secure the Bursayah hill, which separates the Kurdish-held enclave of Afrin from the Turkey-controlled town of Azaz, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Turkish troops and allied Syrian fighters captured the strategic hill in northwestern Syria after intense fighting on Sunday as their offensive to root out Kurdish fighters enters its second week, Turkey's military and Syrian war monitor reported. (AP Photo)

A cease-fire deal to halt the fighting in the besieged suburb of eastern Ghouta appeared to have crumbled over the weekend before it even began. The agreement was reached in Vienna between the Syrian opposition and Russia.

Russia's Defense Ministry on Monday called on the Syrian government to hold talks with the rebels in eastern Ghouta to arrange for the medical evacuation.

It said: "A cessation of hostilities is the only chance and the only condition for political settlement in eastern Ghouta and in Syria on the whole."

Russia is a key ally of President Bashar Assad, and has been waging a military campaign on behalf of his forces since 2015.

___

1 p.m.

Turkish officials say authorities have detained 311 people for allegedly engaging in "terrorist propaganda" through social media postings critical of Turkey's military offensive into the Syrian Kurdish enclave of Afrin.

An Interior Ministry statement on Monday says the suspects, who are accused of supporting the Syrian Kurdish militia, were detained in the past week. It didn't provide further details.

Turkey considers the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, an extension of its outlawed Kurdish rebels fighting within Turkey and has branded the Syrian group as a terrorist organization. Ankara launched a military operation codenamed Olive Branch on Jan. 20 to clear YPG fighters from Afrin.

The Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders has criticized the detentions as the Turkish government's "witch hunt against critics."

___

12:40 p.m.

Syria activists and rescue workers say at least 11 people have been killed and a hospital was badly damaged and rendered unusable in airstrikes on the opposition-held northern province of Idlib.

The local White Helmets rescuers say the airstrikes on Monday hit Idlib's largest vegetable market in the town of Saraqeb where 11 people were killed.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the attack and said a local hospital was also hit, putting it out of service. The activist Idlib Media center posted photographs of the exterior of the damaged building.

The violence has overshadowed a peace conference hosted by Russia between the Syrian government and the opposition, which is scheduled to open on Monday.

A day earlier, at least 17 civilians were killed in airstrikes in Idlib.

Pro-Turkey Syrian fighters pray after they secured the Bursayah hill, which separates the Kurdish-held enclave of Afrin from the Turkey-controlled town of Azaz, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Turkish troops and allied Syrian fighters captured the strategic hill in northwestern Syria after intense fighting on Sunday as their offensive to root out Kurdish fighters enters its second week, Turkey's military and Syrian war monitor reported. (AP Photo)

A pro-Turkey Syrian fighter waves on Bursayah hill, which separates the Kurdish-held enclave of Afrin from the Turkey-controlled town of Azaz, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Turkish troops and allied Syrian fighters captured the strategic hill in northwestern Syria after intense fighting on Sunday as their offensive to root out Kurdish fighters enters its second week, Turkey's military and Syrian war monitor reported. (AP Photo)

Turkish troops take control of Bursayah hill, which separates the Kurdish-held enclave of Afrin from the Turkey-controlled town of Azaz, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. Turkish troops and allied Syrian fighters captured the strategic hill in northwestern Syria after intense fighting on Sunday as their offensive to root out Kurdish fighters enters its second week, Turkey's military and Syrian war monitor reported. (DHA-Depo Photos via AP)KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani welcomed his counterpart from Indonesia, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who arrived in Kabul on Monday for an official visit to Afghanistan.

Ghani thanked the Indonesian leader for his visit and the condolences that Widodo expressed for the victims of the attack in Kabul earlier in the day when Islamic State militants attacked Afghan soldiers guarding a military academy, killing at least 11 troops and wounding 16.

Widodo held talks with Ghani and other high-level Afghan officials and discussed issues of bilateral interest, according to palace.

He is the first Indonesian president to visit Afghanistan since 1961.

Ghani said he hopes Afghanistan would be able to benefit from Indonesia's experience in the getting a united stand from the country's clerics and confronting extremism.

Widodo arrived in Afghanistan after visiting Pakistan, where he met with President Mamnoon Hussain.

Recenly, a delegation of the Afghan High Peace Council, which is tasked with promoting peace efforts with the Taliban and other insurgent groups, traveled to Indonesia where authorities reaffirmed their support to the Afghan peace process.LONDON (AP) - With the future of Jonny Evans still unclear, West Bromwich Albion moved to strengthen its defense by signing Egypt center back Ali Gabr on Monday to join international teammate Ahmed Hegazi at the Premier League team.

Gabr joined on loan from Zamalek FC until the end of the season, after which West Brom has the option to make the transfer permanent.

Gabr and Hegazi are central defensive partners for Egypt, which will play at the World Cup in Russia.

West Bromwich Albion's Jay Rodriguez celebrates after the final whistle of the English FA Cup, fourth round soccer match between Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion, at the Anfield stadium, Liverpool, England, Saturday Jan. 27, 2018. West Bromwich Albion defeated Liverpool 3-2. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

"He's a player that we first identified at the African Cup of Nations where he played alongside Ahmed," West Brom technical director Nick Hammond said.

West Brom manager Alan Pardew has acknowledged that Evans could leave in the January transfer window if the club receives a good enough offer. Evans has been heavily linked with Arsenal.

With three days left in the transfer window, West Ham sold Diafra Sakho to Rennes to end the striker's 3 1/2-year spell at the London club. Sakho is returning to France, having joined West Ham from Metz.

The Senegal striker had started only two Premier League matches since the start of last season.

Brighton was another team reshaping its attack, signing Leonardo Ulloa on loan from Leicester for a second stint at the club.

The Argentine striker scored 26 goals in 58 matches for Brighton in an 18-month spell following a move from Almeria in Spain in 2013. He moved to Leicester in a club-record deal the following year.BEIRUT (AP) - Germany's president said Monday that it was too early to repatriate Syrian refugees on a large scale and that the international community would have to continue to support the Middle Eastern nations that have hosted millions of them.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, speaking from Lebanon where he met with President Michel Aoun, said "conditions aren't right" in large parts of Syria to ensure the safe return of refugees.

Close to 1 million Syrian refugees are living in Lebanon, according to the U.N., amounting to over a fifth of the population. Lebanon's government says with Damascus in control of large sections of Syria it is time to repatriate refugees.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, center left, inspects groceries in a supermarket in the Azraq camp for Syrian refugees, 100 kilometers (62 mi) east of Amman, Jordan, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. German president says moving German troops from Turkey to Jordan as part of an international military campaign against Islamic State extremists was "the right choice." (AP Photo/Sam McNeil)

Syria's civil war still rages in parts of the country, including a large pocket just outside Damascus. Other parts of the country are stable, but suffered catastrophic damage from nearly seven years of fighting, and the country is struggling to attract funds for reconstruction.

"After many failed attempts at the international level.... we have not achieved a cease-fire" for Syria, Steinmeier said.

Earlier Monday, Steinmeier met with the German contingent of nearly 300 troops at an air base in northeastern Jordan. Germany carries out reconnaissance and refueling missions over Syria and Iraq, where IS once held large areas.

Steinmeier told soldiers that the battle against IS has been successful, but that their service is still needed to combat remnants of the extremist group and to keep them from resurrecting it.

He said soldiers told him they felt welcome and were working in good conditions.

"So the right choice was definitely made," he said, referring to a decision last year to move the troops from Turkey to Jordan. Germany relocated the troops after Turkey restricted access to the soldiers, including visits by parliamentarians.

Steinmeier also visited the nearby Azraq camp, home to about 36,000 Syrian refugees.

He singled out Germany's role supporting the refugees, saying a recent improvement in providing refugees with the essentials was partly due to significant aid from his country. Germany is the second largest donor country to Jordan, in terms of humanitarian and development aid, after the United States.

He also praised Jordan for hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees.

Asked about a series of restrictive Jordanian refugee policies, he said critics should keep in mind that the kingdom shoulders a disproportionately large burden.

"Yes, much can be improved," he said. "Much needs to be done through international aid. But I believe it's not justified to come with big complaints against Jordan."

Jordan sealed its border with Syria in 2016, after a cross-border car bomb attack. The closure left tens of thousands of displaced Syrians stranded in harsh conditions in a remote area of the desert, with only intermittent access to aid supplies. Rights groups have also said that Jordan has forcibly deported hundreds of refugees.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, left, and his wife, Elke Budenbender, speak to an aid worker in the Azraq camp for Syrian refugees, 100 kilometres (62 mi) east of Amman, Jordan, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. German president says moving German troops from Turkey to Jordan as part of an international military campaign against Islamic State extremists was "the right choice." (AP Photo/Sam McNeil)

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, center left, shakes hands with a cashier at a grocery store in the Azraq camp for Syrian refugees, 100 kilometers (62 mi) east of Amman, Jordan, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. German president says moving German troops from Turkey to Jordan as part of an international military campaign against Islamic State extremists was "the right choice." (AP Photo/Sam McNeil)ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) - The leaders of Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan met in Addis Ababa Monday to discuss contentious issues related to the dam that Ethiopia is building on the Nile River.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir met on the sidelines of the African Union summit. The meeting comes after the Ethiopian and Egyptian leaders met less than two weeks ago in Cairo.

"The leaders have instructed their foreign ministers and other relevant ministries to deliberate on outstanding issues and report to the head of states within one month," said the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry, adding the three leaders have agreed to meet again in a year. The leaders agreed to create a three-nation infrastructure fund to encourage cooperation.

Egypt fears the $4.8 billion dam could reduce its share of the Nile River waters while Ethiopia asserts it needs the dam for its development. Ethiopia is seeking to assure Cairo the dam on the border with Sudan will not significantly harm it. It appears the main issue is how quickly the reservoir behind the dam will be filled and if the filling will cause Egypt to get less Nile water.

The dam is designed to generate 6,400 megawatts, which is expected to more than double Ethiopia's current production of 4,000 megawatts, is now 63 percent completed and this East African nation hopes to become an energy hub in Africa upon its completion.

While Ethiopia has said the dam is a "matter of life or death" for its people, Egypt has said water is a "matter of life or death" for its people.AMMAN, Jordan (AP) - Jordan's king has assured the Palestinians he will defend their "legitimate rights" to independence and a capital in east Jerusalem in dealings with the international community.

Abdullah II met Monday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is pushing back against last month's U.S. recognition of contested Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Jerusalem forms the emotional centerpiece of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. President Donald Trump further infuriated the Palestinians last week when he declared Jerusalem now "off the table."

Jordan's royal court said after the Abbas meeting that the king "affirmed Jordan's continued efforts in all international forums to defend the Palestinian cause."

Saeb Erekat, an Abbas aide, said the two sides agreed to coordinate positions and that "great efforts are now being made to limit the damage" from the Trump policy pivot.BABYLON, N.Y. (AP) - A small plane has landed on a New York beach and flipped over, but there are no reports of serious injuries.

State parks official George Gorman says the emergency landing occurred Monday morning at Robert Moses State Park in Babylon, on Long Island.

A Newsday photo shows the plane belly-up with one wing at the edge of the surf, its wheels in the air and its tail in the sand.

WABC says a pilot and two teenage flight students were aboard the plane when it apparently developed mechanical problems.Amazon

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.NEW YORK (AP) - A notorious mobster from Philadelphia nicknamed Skinny Joey is on trial in New York on charges he returned to his life of crime after his release from prison.

Jury selection was completed Monday in the federal fraud case against Joseph Merlino. Opening statements are expected on Tuesday.

The 55-year-old Merlino has pleaded not guilty to charges he was part of a health care scheme to bill insurers for unnecessary and excessive prescriptions.

FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2014 file photo, Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino arrives at federal court in Philadelphia. The reputed Philadelphia mob boss known for beating murder raps and reinventing himself as a restaurateur is facing fraud charges in a federal trial in New York City. Opening statements are set for Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018 in Manhattan. (Yong Kim/Philadelphia Daily News via AP, File)

Merlino was among nearly four dozen reputed members of an East Coast crime syndicate arrested in a 2016 sweep. Most have pleaded guilty.

Merlino has repeatedly beaten murder charges in past cases but served nearly 12 years in prison for racketeering before being released in 2011. He has claimed he retired from the mob for good.WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump is dining with members of the U.N. Security Council, who are discussing evidence that Iran is arming rebels in Yemen.

Trump said before the lunch meeting Monday at the White House: "We're helping the world."

The guests include U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and more than a dozen foreign ambassadors. Haley organized the visit, which includes a trip to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum with national security adviser H.R. McMaster.

Among the attendees are ambassadors from China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom.

The attendees are expected to see missile remnants the U.S. says are proof that Iran has been arming rebels in Yemen. The Trump administration has pushed to punish Iran for funneling weapons to Houthi Shiite rebels in Yemen, which Tehran has emphatically denied.WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump told visiting members of the U.N. Security Council on Monday the U.S. would no longer talk with the Taliban following a recent string of deadly attacks in Afghanistan.

Trump railed against a series of "atrocities" in Afghanistan and said as a result the U.S. would not engage in any future talks with the Taliban as the administration seeks to end a stalemate in America's longest war.

"Innocent people are being killed left and right. Bombing, in the middle of children, in the middle of families, bombing, killing all over Afghanistan," Trump said. "So we don't want to talk with the Taliban. There may be a time but it's going to be a long time."

President Donald Trump, accompanied by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, left, and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, right, has lunch with the United Nations Security Council in the State Dining Room at the White House, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

The president's comments followed a deadly car bombing attack in Kabul, the Afghan capital, that killed at least 95 people and wounded 158 more. Earlier this month, Americans were killed and injured in the Taliban's 13-hour siege of a hotel in Kabul.

Trump's remarks at the diplomatic luncheon marked a shift in tone on Afghanistan. The U.S. has said previously that any peace talks with the Taliban need to be part of an Afghan-led process, but the U.S. has never precluded talking to the Taliban.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who sat next to the president at the luncheon, has said previously that after an effective military effort, a political settlement including some Taliban might be possible, echoing language from former President Barack Obama's administration. Tillerson had said the U.S. would support peace talks with the Taliban "without preconditions."

Earlier in the month, U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who helped organize Monday's luncheon, said the U.S. policy on Afghanistan was working and the parties were "closer to talks with the Taliban and the peace process than we've seen before."

Several attempts to hold peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban have failed. In 2013, hopes were raised when the Taliban opened an office in Qatar aimed at facilitating those talks, but a controversy over the Taliban's move to hoist the flag it used in Afghanistan during its five-year rule ultimately derailed the talks. Since then, efforts to lure the Taliban into talks have yielded little progress.

Trump has sought to change the course of the long-running conflict, sending thousands more U.S. troops to Afghanistan and moving away from a "time-based" approach to one that more explicitly links U.S. assistance to concrete results from the Afghan government.

There are now about 14,000 U.S. forces there, and more trainers and advisers are scheduled to deploy in the coming months.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis earlier this month said this will make it possible for U.S. advisers to serve with more of the Afghan units, strengthening them in the fight against the insurgents. The U.S.-led coalition has also increased targeting of Taliban opium operations, including narcotic processing facilities in Helmand Province in the south.

In more recent briefings, military leaders have said they believe the momentum is shifting. As the military operations escalate, Mattis said the next step would be to "really come on strong at the reconciliation effort because that's the way this is going to end."

The White House lunch was attended by representatives from the 15-member U.N. Security Council, including ambassadors from China, France, Russia and Britain. The discussions were expected to also focus on international hotspots such as Iran, North Korea and terrorism.

France's U.N. ambassador Francois Delattre called the discussion "very cordial" and told The Associated Press that a broad range of issues were discussed, including North Korea, Iran, Yemen, Syria and a new 5,000-troop African force to fight extremists in western Africa's vast Sahel region.

Earlier, attendees viewed missile remnants the U.S. says are proof that Iran has been arming rebels in Yemen. The Trump administration has pushed to punish Iran for funneling weapons to Houthi Shiite rebels in Yemen, which Tehran has emphatically denied.

The itinerary also included a trip to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum with national security adviser H.R. McMaster.

__

Associated Press writers Josh Lederman and Lolita Baldor in Washington and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump, third from right, accompanied by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, fourth from right, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, second from right, and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, right, speaks during a lunch with the United Nations Security Council in the State Dining Room at the White House, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

President Donald Trump, joined by from left, Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, United Kingdom Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Jonathan Allen, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, national security adviser H.R. McMaster, and, Bolivian Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Pedro Luis Inchauste Jordan, speaks during a lunch with the United Nations Security Council in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on the probe into contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia (all times local):

11 p.m.

Republicans on the House intelligence committee have voted to release a classified memo that purports to show improper use of surveillance by the FBI and Justice Department in the Russia investigation.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D- Calif., ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, speaking to members of the media, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Brushing aside opposition from the Department of Justice, Republicans on the House intelligence committee have voted to release a classified memo that purports to show improper use of surveillance by the FBI and Justice Department in the Russia investigation.(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

The memo has become a political flashpoint. President Donald Trump and many Republicans have been pushing for its release and suggesting that some in the Justice Department and FBI have conspired against the president.

How or when the memo will be released remains unclear.

The memo was written by Republicans on the committee, led by chairman Devin Nunes of California, a close Trump ally. Democrats have called it a selectively edited group of GOP talking points that attempt to distract from the committee's own investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

___

7:20 p.m.

Steve Bannon, former chief strategist to President Donald Trump, is scheduled to be interviewed Wednesday by a House panel investigating Russian election interference and any ties to the president's campaign.

That's according to Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. The interview will be behind closed doors.

Bannon was interviewed by the committee earlier this month but refused to answer questions about his time in the Trump administration at the direction of the White House counsel's office. Bannon served on Trump's campaign and was the chief strategist in the White House until he left in August.

__

6:25 p.m.

Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee have voted to release a classified memo they wrote that alleges that the FBI and the Justice Department improperly used government surveillance during the investigation into Russian election interference and contacts with President Donald Trump's campaign.

That's according to Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the ranking Democrat on the committee. Schiff says Democrats on the committee voted against releasing the memo.

The vote to release the memo comes after committee Republicans, led by chairman Rep. Devin Nunes, a California Republican, pushed for its disclosure. The memo addresses a dossier of allegations against Trump compiled by a former British spy, and questions over whether it was used to obtain surveillance warrants.

__

2:25 p.m.

The White House says President Donald Trump has not decided whether he'd authorize the release of a classified House Intelligence Committee memo, but says he favors "full transparency."

The House committee may vote as soon as Monday to release the memo that Republicans say alleges FBI misconduct.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Monday that "no one" at the White House has seen the memo, so the president was not prepared to make a decision.

A number of conservatives favor releasing the memo, which they believe could discredit the findings of the investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russian officials.

White House aides have previously said Trump favored releasing the document, which is in contrast to the stance of the Justice Department.

___

2:30 a.m.

Two Republican senators say President Donald Trump would be wise to keep a public silence on an independent investigation into his 2016 campaign's contacts with Russia.

That's in the wake of news reports that he sought to fire the special counsel.

The senators, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine, also urged special counsel Robert Mueller Sunday to review whether Trump tried to fire him last June, an accusation the president has labeled "fake news."

Graham, co-sponsor of legislation that would protect Mueller from being fired without a legal basis, said he would be "glad to pass it tomorrow." But he insisted that Mueller's job appeared to be in no immediate danger, pointing to the political costs if Trump did remove him.YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) - Cameroon's minister of communications says 47 suspected separatists and leaders of a group that declared the independence of English-speaking regions have been extradited from Nigeria.

Issa Tchiroma Bakary said those extradited arrived in Cameroon on Monday. He said among them were Julius Ayuk Tabe, who in October proclaimed himself the president of Ambazonia. Tabe and nine others were arrested in Abuja, Nigeria, in January.

Bakary said the others arrested in Nigeria and extradited were being trained to return to Cameroon and fight.

Cameroon has areas that were colonies of France and Britain until the early 1960s. The West African country's English-speaking population started protests in 2016 charging discrimination by the majority French-speaking population, and calling for greater autonomy of its northwest and southwest regions. Separatists later called for independence.LONDON (AP) - Manchester City was drawn against Wigan in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Monday, for a repeat of the 2013 final won surprisingly by the current third-tier leader.

The four biggest teams left in the draw - Man City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham - were kept apart in the last 16.

United will play away to Huddersfield or Birmingham, Chelsea will host Hull, and Tottenham will be away to Millwall or Rochdale if it gets past fourth-tier Newport in a fourth-round replay.

Manchester City players react after a goal by Bernardo Silva, 2nd right, was disallowed during the English FA Cup fourth round soccer match between Cardiff City and Manchester City at Cardiff City stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Wigan beat City 1-0 in the 2013 final for one of the biggest shocks in the competition in recent years. Wigan was relegated that season, too, and now plays in League One.

City leads the Premier League by 12 points.

___

Fifth-round draw:

Sheffield Wednesday vs. Notts County/Swansea

West Bromwich Albion vs. Southampton

Chelsea vs. Hull

Leicester vs. Sheffield United

Huddersfield/Birmingham vs. Manchester United

Millwall/Rochdale vs. Newport County/Tottenham

Brighton vs. Coventry

Wigan vs. Manchester CityNEW YORK (AP) - The television audience for Bruno Mars' dominating night at the Grammy Awards was a sparser one than music's big night has seen for nearly a decade, and a steep decline of 24 percent from the program a year earlier.

The Nielsen company estimated Monday that 19.8 million people watched the Grammys, compared to 26.1 million last year. It was the Grammys' smallest audience since 19 million watched in 2009.

This year's show suffered from a lack of star power, with big-selling artists Adele, Beyonce and Taylor Swift absent from the stage. It was billed going in as a big night for rap, and while that may be music's most popular style now, it may have been off-putting for some casual music fans.

Bruno Mars, front center, accepts the award for album of the year for "24K Magic" at the 60th annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

Rapper Kendrick Lamar opened with a medley that featured a portrayal of dancers being felled by bullets. Comic Dave Chappelle even offered an explanation for viewers who may have been uncomfortable: "The only thing more frightening than watching a black man be honest in America is a black man being honest in America," he said.

The show featured some political content, including a cameo of Hillary Clinton reading from Michael Wolff's best-seller on the Trump administration, "Fire and Fury," as well as commentaries on women's rights and gun violence.

It was a popular theory on Fox News Channel that an "anti-Trump diatribe" was responsible for some viewers staying away.

"I can imagine sets turning off when it gets that political," said Ainsley Earhardt, a host on "Fox & Friends," the president's favorite morning show.

The viewership decline was notable compared to other awards shows recently. The most recent Golden Globes and Oscars telecasts were down 4 percent from the previous year, while last September's Emmys viewership was roughly the same as the year before, Nielsen said.

Grammy viewership has generally been between 20 and 30 million this past decade, from a high of 39.9 million people who watched in 2012, when the awards took place shortly after Whitney Houston's death.CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - The moon is providing a rare triple treat this week.

On Wednesday, much of the world will get to see not only a blue moon and a supermoon, but also a total lunar eclipse, all rolled into one. There hasn't been a triple lineup like this since 1982 and the next won't occur until 2037.

The eclipse will be visible best in the western half of the U.S. and Canada before the moon sets early Wednesday morning, and across the Pacific into Asia as the moon rises Wednesday night into Thursday.

FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2007, file photo, the moon takes on different orange tones during a lunar eclipse seen from Mexico City. During a lunar eclipse, the moon's disk can take on a colorful appearance from bright orange to blood red to dark brown and, rarely, very dark gray. On Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018, a super moon, blue moon and a lunar eclipse will coincide for first time since 1982 and will not occur again until 2037. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte, File)

The U.S. East Coast will be out of luck; the moon will be setting just as the eclipse gets started. Europe and most of Africa and South America also will pretty much miss the show.

A blue moon is the second full moon in a month. A supermoon is a particularly close full or new moon, appearing somewhat brighter and bigger. A total lunar eclipse - or blood moon for its reddish tinge - has the moon completely bathed in Earth's shadow.

"I'm calling it the Super Bowl of moons," lunar scientist Noah Petro said Monday from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Others prefer "super blue blood moon."

Either way, it's guaranteed to impress, provided the skies are clear.

The moon will actually be closest to Earth on Tuesday - just over 223,000 miles (359,000 kilometers). That's about 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) farther than the supermoon on Jan. 1. Midway through Wednesday's eclipse, the moon will be even farther away - 223,820 miles (360,200 kilometers) - but still within unofficial supermoon guidelines.

While a supermoon is considered less serious and scientific than an eclipse, it represents a chance to encourage people to start looking at the moon, according to Petro.

"I'm a lunar scientist. I love the moon. I want to advocate for the moon," he said.

Throw in a blue moon, and "that's too good of an opportunity to pass," according to Petro.

As the sun lines up perfectly with the Earth and then moon for the eclipse, scientists will make observations from a telescope in Hawaii, while also collecting data from NASA's moon-circling Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, launched in 2009.

Just like the total solar eclipse in the U.S. last August cooled the Earth's surface, a lunar eclipse cools the moon's surface. It's this abrupt cooling - from the heat of direct sunlight to essentially a deep freeze - that researchers will be studying.

Totality will last more than an hour.

"The moon is one of the most amazing objects in our solar system," Petro said. "It really is the key to understanding the solar system, through interpreting the geology and surface of the moon."

NASA plans to provide a live stream of the moon from telescopes in California and Arizona, beginning at 5:30 a.m. EST.

___

Online:

NASA: https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/lunar.htmlMADISON, Wis. (AP) - Foxconn Technology Group wants to tap 7 million gallons of water a day from Lake Michigan to meet its needs.

The city of Racine asked the state Department of Natural Resources for permission Monday to divert water from the lake primarily to serve the planned display panel factory and campus.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the permission is needed under an interstate agreement that guides water use in eight states that border the Great Lakes.

Under the compact, all water shipped out must be returned to Lake Michigan minus what's lost to evaporation or what's incorporated into Foxconn's manufacturing process.

The Taiwanese company says it could invest up to $10 billion on the display panel factory that could employ up to 13,000 people.BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - President Mauricio Macri said Monday that government employees in Argentina won't receive pay raises this year as part of a string of measures aimed at cutting spending.

Macri also announced the elimination of 1,000 "political positions" and the firing of family members appointed as advisers by government ministers. The measure is expected to save the government about $75 million.

Macri came into office in December 2015 promising to revive Argentina's economy and fight entrenched corruption. Although he is credited with ending a longstanding dispute that returned Argentina to global credit markets after more than 14 years, he has struggled to attract badly needed foreign investment.

Mauricio Macri, President of Argentina and Chair of the G20, attends the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

At home, the government's austerity move comes just as Argentines are facing increases in fuel, utilities and transportation costs that have harmed Macri's popularity ratings. His government also faced violent protests in December over a pension overhaul bill that was ultimately approved by Congress.

"If Argentines chip in, all of us who are part of politics must make twice the effort and lead by example," Macri said at the presidential palace after returning from Europe, where he met with potential investors.

The pay freeze and other moves are expected to have a limited impact on the annual budget. But Macri said he hopes it can be followed by mayors and governors to reduce Argentina's high deficit.Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain.

Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred.

For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here.BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Monday suspended peace talks with the country's last remaining rebel group after a series of bombings over the weekend killed seven police officers.

The next round of the year-old talks between the government and National Liberation Army had been expected to begin in the coming days in Quito, Ecuador.

"My patience and the patience of the Colombian people have limits," Santos, winner of the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end Colombia's half-century conflict, said at an event near Bogota.

FILE - In this Jan. 10, 2018 file photo, Pablo Beltran, representative of the National Liberation Army, known by its Spanish acronym ELN, reads a statement at the end of a round of peace talks with the Colombian government in Quito, Ecuador. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018 suspended peace talks with the country's last remaining rebel group after a series of bombings over the weekend killed seven police officers. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa, File)

Five officers were killed and more than 40 injured when a homemade bomb exploded outside a police station in Barranquilla during a shift change early Saturday. A few hours later two more were killed and several injured by two separate bomb attacks on police targets near the coastal city.

An urban cell belonging to the ELN, as the group is known in Spanish, claimed responsibility for the first and deadliest of the three attacks, which the government initially attributed to a criminal gang operating in Barranquilla. Defense Minister Luis Carlos Villegas said a man suspected of planting the bomb and who had previously been arrested for having ties to the ELN was arrested shortly after the first attack.

In a statement Monday, the rebel group expressed its continued support for peace talks. But it said the re-establishment of a cease-fire that expired earlier this month depends on the government halting hostilities in areas under its influence.

"Until we reach another cease-fire, the military actions will continue taking place on each side," the group said.

Santos reached a peace agreement with what had been the nation's largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, in late 2016, ending Latin America's longest-running conflict. The end of that conflict has been hailed internationally, though it has also opened a new power struggle in remote areas previously controlled by FARC rebels and still occupied by ELN combatants.

The much-smaller ELN, whose ranks don't surpass 2,000 fighters, was started in the 1960s by Roman Catholic priests inspired by Fidel Castro's revolution in Cuba. Unlike the highly centralized FARC, the ELN's command structure is more diffuse, making it harder for top commanders in Ecuador to control the actions of its fighters.

The group is labeled a terrorist organization by the United States.DEMOTTE, Ind. (AP) - A northwest Indiana woman has honored her father's memory with a humorous obituary that recounts his fondness for his family and details how he left behind 32 jars of Miracle Whip, 17 boxes of Hamburger Helper and other items that could prove helpful in a zombie apocalypse.

The obituary for Terry Ward also says he "escaped this mortal realm" with a belief that "The Blues Brothers" was the best movie ever. It recounts how he drove one of his Illinois high school teachers to an early retirement, volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army and worked "39 years of begrudging service" for AT&T. It also includes a long list of things he loved - including "free beer" and "discussing who makes the best pizza" - and says he was known for doling out ice cream sandwiches to his grandchildren.

Jean Lahm said she wrote the obituary for her father with a bit of humor because he "lived to make other people laugh." She said she began writing the obituary Tuesday after the 71-year-old died from a massive stroke.

"I wrote it myself and I didn't tell anyone I was going to make it funny," said Lahm, who added that her family thought the obituary was perfect.

The obituary has gotten attention online and Lahm said she's read comments from others saying, "I wish I would have known him." She said she's just happy to have been able to "get his personality across."

"He cared about the things that truly mattered. A lot of people can relate to that. A lot of people have these great dads that are just like that. Good guys. That's what he was," Lahm said.WASHINGTON (AP) - Lawmakers spend their careers eying coveted committee chairmanships, angling for the chance at the perks and power that came with the top spot.

Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen is bowing out after one term.

Frelinghuysen's announcement Monday that he would not seek re-election, giving up the chairmanship of the House Appropriations Committee, punctuated the dwindling prestige and influence of the positions once consider an apex of power on Capitol Hill. Term limits, legislative dysfunction and gridlock-inducing polarization have gradually tarnished the very chairmanships that are so prized.

FILE - In this Sept. 14, 2017 file photo, Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, center, speaks at the Capitol in Washington. Frelinghuysen has announced he will not seek re-election. The New Jersey Republican was facing his first competitive re-election race in decades and joins a growing roster of GOP veterans who are heading for the exits. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

"Before the farm bill and my tenure as chairman, I had neither grey hair nor did I take hypertension medicine. I now have both for the rest of my life," said former House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla. "Right now you have to deal with a situation where you have the extreme demands of the left on one side of the room and the extreme demands of the right on the other side."

Frelinghuysen is the eighth House committee chair to head for the exits, and a striking case study for the dynamics at play.

The New Jersey Republican became chairman of the Appropriations Committee last year after serving for several years as chairman of its defense subcommittee.

But Frelinghuysen's year in charge of the panel has been frustrating. In theory, he manages the process of doling out one-third the federal budget. But he's had scant success on that front. Although he helped successfully negotiate a catchall spending bill last spring, the appropriations process for the ongoing budget year has been hamstrung by delays in the Senate and faces the very real danger of running aground completely amid an unrelated months-long battle over immigration.

"Serving as chairman of the Appropriations Committee is a difficult and sometimes thankless job," said Rep. Nita Lowey of New York, the panel's top Democrat.

There have been fewer thank-yous since a series of GOP reforms changed the rules. In a push to curb corruption in 2010, Republicans officially banned "earmarks," severally limiting lawmakers' capacity to direct tens or even hundreds of millions to one's district or state for "earmarked" pet projects. The earmarks were a prerogative of the chairman, both to bolster his political standing at home and to court votes with fellow lawmakers of either party.

House GOP rules mean chairmen cycle through six-year terms, which also counts time as ranking minority member. Chairmen are selected by a leadership panel that takes factors such as fundraising and conservative litmus tests into consideration.

Old-timers such as former Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., say the system centralizes legislative authority with party leaders, who are often less versed in the nuts and bolts of legislation and have little appreciation for the committee's bipartisan traditions.

"I often would laugh, express frustration together with Rosa DeLauro, who's as liberal as she can be," Kingston recalled of one of his Democratic counterparts on Appropriations until he left Congress in 2015. "We said if leadership of both parties would get the heck out of the way, we could get something done."

Other chairmen, such as Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, of Financial Services and Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., of Judiciary are leaving after being forced to yield their gavels next year under term limit rules. They were denied signature wins under President Barack Obama - but they have not managed such wins under President Donald Trump, at least so far. They'd rather leave Congress than return to the rank and file.

A moderate Republican in both his politics and temperament, Frelinghuysen was first elected in the 1994 GOP wave that put Republicans in control of both chambers. He hails from a New Jersey political dynasty that dates to the late 1700s. His father, Peter Frelinghuysen, served in the House for two decades.

Unlike several other GOP chairmen to announce their retirements after running up against GOP term limit rules for panel heads, Frelinghuysen had years to go as Appropriations chair - assuming Republicans retain control of the House in the 2018 midterm elections. But he angered some conservative lawmakers over votes against the GOP tax overhaul measure last year and his opposition to an initial version of the party's effort to repeal Obama's health care law.

Trump's sagging popularity is weighing on once-safe Republicans in educated, wealthier suburban districts such as Frelinghuysen's, where some residents could be negatively affected by provisions in the new tax law that went into effect this year.

Still, Frelinghuysen's vote against the GOP's tax law was highly unusual and was seen as a signal of his political vulnerability. And it was unheard of for such a high-ranking chairman to buck the leadership line on such a major vote.

Among the leading Democrats for Frelinghuysen's seat is former federal prosecutor and former Navy helicopter pilot Mikie Sherrill. She raised more than $1.2 million through Dec. 31 and has the backing of local party leaders.

Republican insiders say Frelinghuysen's decision wasn't entirely a surprise. They say several potential candidates could build viable campaigns quickly.

Among the possible GOP candidates are three state lawmakers: Assemblyman Jay Webber, Assemblyman Anthony M. Bucco and Sen. Joe Pennacchio. Another prominent name mentioned is attorney Rosemary Becchi.

Frelinghuysen's district had long leaned Republican but was carried only narrowly by Trump in 2016. Nonpartisan analysts say Democrats have a good chance to grab it in this year's midterms.

Frelinghuysen took the lead in the House in a difficult 2013 effort to provide about $60 billion to help New Jersey and other northeastern states recovery from Superstorm Sandy.

"Public service is an incredible way to turn your convictions into something that serves the greater good and to do it alongside people from every walk of life and background," Frelinghuysen said.

___

Associated Press reporter Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report.A Missouri man was charged Monday with three counts of first-degree murder and other crimes after a toddler and her parents were killed in rural southeast Missouri.

Authorities identified the victims as Samara Fontaine Kitts, 23, her 24-year-old boyfriend Harley Michael Million, and their 17-month-old daughter Willa Fontaine Million.

Drew Atchison, 24, of Williamsville, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, armed criminal action and child kidnapping. He is jailed and does not yet have a listed attorney.

Scroll down for video

Drew Atchison, 24 (pictured), has been accused of murdering a Wayne County, Missouri couple and their young daughter

The bodies of Samara Kitts, 23 (left); Harley Million, 24 (right); and their 17-month-old baby girl Willa (center) were found on Monday buried underneath blankets and trash

Atchison reportedly confessed to stabbing the couple to death at their home (pictured) on Thursday, and then fatally shooting the baby the following day

Courtesy of KFVS12

Court documents obtained by KFVS-TV said Atchison confessed to the killings. The documents listed no motive, but Facebook shows that Atchison and Million attended the same high school.

Deputies said in the court documents that Atchison fatally stabbed the adults Thursday at their home in Wayne County. He allegedly put the bodies in the back of Million's truck and left the child alone overnight, locking her in a room with dogs.

On Friday, according to court documents, Atchison returned to the home, destroyed evidence, then took the child as he drove Million's truck to neighboring Butler County. The documents said he threw the knife used in the killings in the woods.

Atchison fatally shot the child and buried her with her parents beneath blankets and trash, the court document said. He then hid the truck in a carport near his home.

Court documents do not reveal a motive behind the attack. The victims pictured left and right

Facebook shows that Atchison (pictured) and Million went to the same high school

The bodies were found Monday, a day after relatives alerted police that the family had not been seen for several days.

A relative of the victims said in a statement that Kitts and Million weren't married but had been together for eight years and were 'amazing parents to Willa.'

'They were a loving family and amazing parents to Willa. They weren't married, but they had been together for the last eight years, since high school. They both have large families who love them very much and a large circle of life-long friends,' the statement read.NEW YORK (AP) - Keurig is buying Dr Pepper Snapple Group, bringing together the make-at-home coffee brand with the company behind Dr Pepper soda, Mott's apple juice and Snapple iced tea.

The new company, Keurig Dr Pepper, plans to expand its bottled iced coffee offerings that are sold at supermarkets and convenience stores. The private company that controls Keurig already owns coffee brands like Stumptown and Peet's.

Keurig Dr Pepper will offer "hot and cold beverages to satisfy every consumer throughout the day," said Larry Young, chief executive of Dr Pepper Snapple.

FILE - This April 28, 2016, file photo shows bottles of Dr. Pepper on a store shelf at Quality Cash Market in Concord, N.H. Keurig is buying Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Inc. to create a beverage business with approximately $11 billion in annual sales, announced Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Jim Cole, File)

And the combined business will tap into each other's distribution network, bringing their brands to more stores and online retailers. The companies said they'll save $600 million a year starting in 2021 by combining their warehouse and delivery systems.

The new company will have about $11 billion in annual sales, which still makes it far smaller than soda makers PepsiCo Inc. and Coca-Cola Co., which had 2016 sales of $63 billion and $41 billion, respectively.

But Bernstein analyst Ali Dibadj said he expects more beverage companies to combine to save on distribution costs and get their products on the same delivery trucks.

"There will be more of these," Dibadj said.

Some Snapple flavors are already sold as Keurig pods, but there's a chance that more of Dr Pepper Snapple's brands will be turned into pods that are placed into Keurig's single-serve brewing machines to make drinks.

Keurig's pods, which are thrown out after they are used, have been criticized by environmental advocates as contributing to more waste. The company previously announced plans to make all its pods, called K-Cups, recyclable by 2020.

Keurig Green Mountain Inc. became a privately held company in 2016 when it was acquired by Europe's JAB Holding Co. in a partnership with snack company Mondelez International.

Keurig Dr Pepper plans to tap into JAB's other coffee brands. It wants to expand bottled iced coffees under the Krispy Kreme, Stumptown and Peet's names, all of which are owned by JAB. The holding company also owns the Panera Bread restaurant chain. And Keurig sells coffee pods under the Green Mountain and Donut Shop brands.

Keurig CEO Bob Gamgort, who will lead the new company, highlighted Dr Pepper Snapple's Bai brand as "driving significant growth" during a conference call with investors.

Bai, which makes fruity, low-calorie drinks and bottled water, was bought by Dr Pepper Snapple last year to add low-calorie drinks and flavored sparkling waters into its portfolio as more people avoid sugary sodas.

JAB will be the controlling shareholder of the combined company. Mondelez will hold a stake of about 13 percent to 14 percent.

Keurig said Dr Pepper Snapple shareholders will receive $103.75 per share in a special cash dividend and keep 13 percent of the combined company. Dr Pepper Snapple shareholders still must approve the deal.

Shares of Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. soared 22 percent to $117.07 on Monday.

Keurig Dr Pepper will trade publicly after the deal closes, which is expected to happen in the second quarter. A new ticker symbol hasn't been announced yet, the company said. Keurig will stay in its Waterbury, Vermont, headquarters, and Dr Pepper Snapple will remain in Plano, Texas.

_____

AP Business Writer Michelle Chapman in Newark, New Jersey, contributed to this report.

FILE - This Thursday, April 28, 2016, file photo shows bottles of Snapple in a cooler at Quality Cash Market in Concord, N.H. In a deal announced Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, Keurig will buy Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, creating a beverage giant with about $11 billion in annual sales. (AP Photo/Jim Cole, File)PITTSBURGH (AP) - Attorney General Jeff Sessions says the federal government is stepping up its fight against opioid-related crimes online.

Sessions announced the establishment of a new team to disrupt online opioid sales on Monday in Pittsburgh.

He says the goal of the Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement team is to shut down online marketplaces, and in turn reduce opioid addiction and overdoses.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks to a group of local law enforcement representatives about the opioid epidemic and violent crime, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

The team will more than double the FBI's investment in fighting online opioid trafficking.

Sessions says the FBI is dedicating dozens more staffers to the team so they can focus on the one issue.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks to a group of local law enforcement representatives about the opioid epidemic and violent crime, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks to a group of local law enforcement representatives about the opioid epidemic and violent crime, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)Theresa May was under mounting pressure over Brexit and her leadership as the European Union prepared to green-light negotiations on a transition period which has become a highly contentious issue in Westminster.

The Prime Minister is facing increasingly vocal complaints from Leavers that she is preparing to deliver a Brexit in name only because the UK will follow EU rules during the transition while several backbenchers broke cover over the weekend to criticise her lack of action on domestic issues.

Eurosceptic former Cabinet minister Theresa Villiers said she was worried about a dilution of Brexit while Remainer Heidi Allen told the PM to get a grip because the Tories are letting this country down, and former minister Rob Halfon appeared to liken Mrs May to a tortoise.

A weekend of bloodletting which raised fresh speculation about a potential leadership challenge threatened to get worse after the Telegraph obtained a WhatsApp message sent by energy minister Claire Perry in which she branded Brexiteers concerned about the 39 billion EU divorce bill as swivel-eyed elderly men with no mortgages or young children.

There were calls for Mrs May to sack Chancellor Philip Hammond, who enraged Brexiteers by saying trade relations with the EU would change only very modestly and that the UK should seek a middle way.

Intensifying Tory infighting will not go unnoticed in Brussels, where the EU General Affairs Council is expected on Monday to approve guidelines for chief negotiator Michel Barnier to follow during talks on a post-Brexit transition period.

The basic principles are likely to be that Britain must follow the whole of the EU acquis, or law, but no longer participate in the institutions and decision-making of the bloc, while complying with European Court of Justice (ECJ) rulings and paying into the budget.

The Government has already indicated it is willing to comply with most of the EUs demands to secure an implementation period of about two years after withdrawal in March 2019 to make life easier for businesses, but to the consternation of Brexiteers.

Countdown to Brexit: key events. (PA Graphics)

In a bid to allay Eurosceptic concerns over Britain being required to follow EU rules while having no say in drawing them up, Brexit Secretary David Davis has said he will seek the establishment of an appropriate process for the UK to object to any new laws introduced during transition.

Reports suggest, however, this could run into opposition from Brussels.

Mrs Mays de facto deputy, Cabinet Office minister David Lidington, sought to calm tensions on Sunday by urging warring Tories to come together in mutual respect.

He also tried to reassure Brexiteers by stressing Britain will have the option to diverge from EU rules once we have left the supranational legal structures of the EU and insisting Mr Hammond was fully on board with the approach the PM set out in speeches at Lancaster House and in Florence.

He could not stem the tide of complaints from both Brexiteers concerned at the Governments approach to negotiations and backbenchers bemoaning a lack of action on domestic issues.

Westminster will be closely watching Monday speeches on the future of the Conservatives by Mrs Mays former chief of staff Nick Timothy and backbencher Johnny Mercer, who has warned the Tories would pay the price if it does not deal with challenges at home such as the NHS.

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

On Sunday, Leaver Nadine Dorries said the disloyal Mr Hammond has to go, suggesting he was part of a Remainer plot to cause chaos by lobbing a hand grenade into the Brexit debate.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, who chairs the influential European Research Group of backbench Tory Brexiteers, said the Chancellors recent comments had caused real trouble for the Government and indicated he would not oppose his sacking.

Normally loyal backbencher Nigel Mills said the PM has not delivered on her early promises to tackle burning injustices and that MPs are concerned because we dont quite know what the direction is.

Mr Halfon said: 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.

Meanwhile, the Times reported that Cabinet ministers on a key Brexit sub-committee are to be shown economic analysis of different options for exiting the EU in one-to-one talks with officials this week.The Governments pledge to give 95% of the country access to superfast broadband has been met, the Culture Secretary has said.

Citing the latest figures from independent advice website thinkbroadband.com, Matt Hancock said millions more homes and businesses could get online at speeds of at least 24mbps.

Mr Hancock said the manifesto pledge to reach 95% of premises before the end of 2017 was achieved in December.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport estimated the 1.7 billion rollout had created 50,000 new jobs and generated an extra 8.9 billion in turnover in the economies of the areas which benefited between 2013 and 2016.

According to thinkbroadband.com, speeds of 24mbps or faster are available to around 27.5 million out of 28.9 million premises in the UK.

In England 95.5% of properties can get those speeds, while the figure dips to 94.2% in Wales, 93.4% in Scotland and 86.7% in Northern Ireland, the websites data shows.

ICYMI: Today we've confirmed everyone will have the legal right to high speed broadband by 2020. A big step forward in making Britain #fitforthefuture https://t.co/YaCpoitMTO  Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) December 20, 2017

Mr Hancock said: Over the last five years, the Governments rollout of superfast broadband has made superfast speeds a reality for more than 4.5 million homes and businesses who would otherwise have missed out.

Weve delivered on our commitment to reach 95% of homes and businesses in the UK, but theres still more to do in our work building a Britain thats fit for the future.

Were reaching thousands more premises every single week, and the next commitment is to making affordable, reliable, high speed broadband a legal right to everyone by 2020.

The DCMS said 2.25 million homes and businesses have taken up superfast broadband in areas covered by its Broadband Delivery UK projects.

BT Openreach, which looks after the countrys broadband network, aims to deliver broadband for every home and business which is fast enough to allow multiple video streams on one connection by 2020.

Openreach CEO Clive Selley vowed to address remaining `not-spots across the country (Steve Parsons/PA)

Clive Selley, Openreach chief executive, said: This is without doubt an extraordinary achievement and Id like to thank the thousands of Openreach engineers and the many more of our people supporting them, who have worked so tirelessly to make this happen.

We have come a long way in a short space of time, with one of the fastest broadband deployments in the world. This is an important milestone but were not stopping here. Were determined to get Britain, the whole of Britain, hooked up to decent broadband speeds.

The Governments universal service obligation will make high speed broadband a legal right and well be working with industry, Government and Ofcom to deliver this. In the meantime, well be continuing to expand our network to address the remaining not-spots through a combination of our own commercial programmes and our partnerships with local authorities and communities.Parliaments culture is arcane and the sooner it gets a huge big kick up the backside and a good shake up the better, according to the SNPs newest MP.

David Linden said he was determined to move some of the furniture about a wee bit after becoming MP for Glasgow East following Theresa Mays snap election in 2017.

He argued the Palace of Westminsters refurbishment offers a chance to move out of the Westminster bubble, with the current site turned into a museum and a new modest parliament developed in the Midlands.

The MP also voiced his frustration at the late sitting hours of the Commons, the knock on impact on staff and the tactic of filibustering which he claimed was just an absolute nonsensical way of running a legislature.

The 27-year-old told the Press Association: Ive never been in an institution where it is commonplace for folk to drink very late into the evening and hurl abuse at each other in a debating environment.

He added: I think you either settle into this place and just become part of the furniture or you try and move some of the furniture about a wee bit and I would prefer to do the latter.

The SNPs David Linden, MP for Glasgow East (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Mr Linden left school at 16 and did not go to university, later becoming a research assistant for fellow SNP MP Alison Thewliss.

On the restoration of Parliament, he said: I would be quite happy for the place to be turned into a museum, Id be quite happy for us to spend a lot less on building a modest new parliament somewhere in the Midlands.

Mr Linden added: You cant have absolutely everything just concentrated in this small corner of the UK. If youre truly going to be a kingdom of equals then start spreading some of the jobs and power about a wee bit.

Responding to the Pestminster revelations, he said: I very much hope that some of the stuff that weve seen reported will change, but if theres one thing that this building does not do well is adapt to change and change its culture.

Busy surgery at Baillieston Library this morning - casework to follow up includes Broomhouse bus services, asylum casework, disability support, council utility service provision and inadequate housing. pic.twitter.com/5bCOLCWWEB  David Linden MP (@DavidLinden) January 26, 2018

Mr Linden said he viewed his MPs role as an opportunity to stand up for folk, to be their voice and he was undeterred about unashamedly raising constituency cases in the Commons.

But he was candid about finding his constituency work emotionally quite draining and the impact of working an average 75-80 hours per week on his family and young son who are based 300 miles away in Scotland.

He said: I dont have any hesitation in saying that I broke down a bit (at one point last year) because my wife texted me to say that my son ran through to the bedroom on Thursday morning expecting that I would be in the bed because I got home on Wednesday night, I wasnt there and he started crying, saying wheres daddy.

Likewise he goes out to the park and hell point up to the sky when a plane goes by and say oh daddys on a plane because he just associates that thats where daddy goes, daddys on the plane all the time and daddy goes to London its rubbish.

He added: The public quite rightly dont have a lot of sympathy for MPs, I dont think they necessarily always think of that and lets be honest MPs are paid an absolute fortune.

Mr Linden said he did not want to be in London for very long, noting: I grew up in the shadow of a water tower on a housing estate and I now work in the shadow of Big Ben, so I feel like Ive already achieved way over and above what I expected.An 86-year-old veteran who walked 86 miles for charity has been recognised by the Prime Minister.

Jeffrey Long, from Bingley, West Yorkshire, raised more than 120,000 for The Royal British Legion in 2017 when his sponsored walk went viral.

The former paratroopers fundraising campaign was given a boost after comedian Jason Manford posted a link to his JustGiving page.

Hey, this will cheer you up. This fella Jeffrey Long MBE is 86 & is walking 86 Miles for Poppy Appeal. Hes raised 300. 1 of 2  Jason Manford (@JasonManford) October 31, 2017

The attention resulted in his total going from 300 to 75,000 within 24 hours, eventually reaching beyond 120,000.

Mr Long is the latest recipient of the Points of Light award, which recognises outstanding volunteers who are making a change in their community and inspiring others.

In a personal letter to Mr Long, Theresa May said: The story of your fundraising for The Royal British Legion has inspired millions of people online, and you should be incredibly proud of raising over 120,000 by walking 86 miles on your 86th birthday.

Mr Long is the latest recipient of the Points of Light award (JustGiving/PA)

Your long-serving support of armed forces charities is helping thousands of veterans across the country, and your latest efforts have encouraged new generations to remember those who have given their lives whilst serving our country.

Mr Long said: Im honoured to be chosen for this award and delighted that the Government is recognising the efforts of volunteers around the country.

Of course, there are many other people who support my fundraising and Im very grateful to them.

Im passionate about the causes I support, especially the military charities given my background with the Paras.

I dont intend to give up fundraising in the foreseeable future.

Jason Manford has congratulated Mr Long on his award. (Ian West/PA Wire)

Manford said: Congratulations to Jeffrey! I was chuffed to hear that hes being recognised like this.

I first shared Jeffreys story because its exactly the kind of thing Id like to see on my own newsfeed.

We need people like Jeffrey in the world to remind us all that were in this together. Hes a top man and an inspiration.

Mr Long finished the trek along the Thames path two weeks after his 86th birthday.

As well as raising funds for the Poppy Appeal, he also collected for Support our Para, a charity which supports his former regiment 12th Yorkshire Parachute Battalion.

Mr Long has an MBE for his charity work, which began more than 10 years ago with a 650-mile hike to Switzerland.

This was his third consecutive birthday walk, after he did 84 miles along Hadrians Wall for his 84th and 85 miles along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal for his 85th.The total raised by Sciafs annual Lent appeal is to be doubled this year under the UK Governments aid match scheme.

The campaign raises money for the charitys work in Africa, Asia and Latin America, tackling hunger, poverty, disease and natural disasters.

The 2018 appeal, to be launched on February 14, will tell the story of families living in one of the poorest provinces of rural Cambodia, who rely on fishing to survive.

Sciafs 2018 appeal will help fishermen and farmers in Cambodia (Colin Hattersley/SCIAF/PA)

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said: It is vital that we help the poorest people stand on their own two feet. Sciafs Wee Box appeal is doing just that by protecting the rights of fishermen and farmers in Cambodia and giving them the tools they need to boost their incomes and support their families.

Every donation made by the generous British public to Sciafs Wee Box appeal will once again be matched pound for pound by the UK Government, to help some of the most vulnerable people around the world lift themselves out of poverty.

Sciaf director Alistair Dutton said: This will help us give many more people the help they need so they can work their way out of poverty and have a better future.

I urge everyone to take advantage of this amazing offer and make sure your money goes twice as far.Business will assume there will be a disorderly Brexit unless there is clarity on transitional arrangements between Britain and the EU early this year, a leading lobby group has said.

TheCityUK spoke out ahead of what it dubbed a critical meeting of the EUs General Affairs Council in Brussels.

EU ministers will adopt a new set of negotiating directives for Brexit talks, in particular the details on the members states position regarding a transition period.

At Mondays meeting Michel Barnier, the EUs chief Brexit negotiator, will be given a mandate to start discussions with the UK on the transitional arrangements to be included in the withdrawal agreement.

Miles Celic, chief executive officer of TheCityUK, said: The outcome of todays meeting is critical.

Michel Barnier (Bryan Meade/PA)

It will ultimately give Michel Barnier his marching orders to negotiate the all-important transitional deal businesses have all been waiting for.

There is little time left. If we cant get clarity on transition early this year, business will have to assume a disorderly Brexit and accelerate contingency plans to protect their customers and clients.

TheCityUK, which promotes the financial and related professional services industry, has previously said clarity must be provided no later than quarter one in 2018.

Analysis by the group suggests that moving onto World Trade Organisation rules with no transitional arrangements in place after Brexit would put up to 75,000 jobs in the sector at risk.

Our industry has been very clear on what it wants and how the best outcome could be achieved, Mr Celic said.

We are yet to hear from the EU on what its objectives are and how they will ultimately benefit the European economy, European business and the financial costs facing ordinary consumers across the continent.

A Government spokesman said: We are engaging extensively with businesses and organisations across the country as we seek to secure a good deal with the EU that works for the whole of the UK.

We recognise the importance of providing certainty for businesses, which is why we want to reach agreement with the EU on an implementation period as soon as possible.

We have already made good progress, agreeing in December to move talks onto our future relationship. The EU has said they will offer their most ambitious free trade approach and we are confident of negotiating a deep and special economic partnership.Ministers have been criticised for a lack of talks with their US counterparts over the risks posed by climate change to a key military base.

Foreign Office minister Sir Alan Duncan confirmed the UK has not recently discussed the impact on the Chagos Islands, also known as the British Indian Overseas Territory (BIOT), with officials from Donald Trumps administration.

Such a situation is quite extraordinary given the threat of flooding posed to the territory housing a major base for one of the UKs closest allies, according to Labour MP Bridget Phillipson.

Labour MP Bridget Phillipson (Chris McAndrew/PA)

Chagossians were forced to leave the central Indian Ocean territory by 1973 to make way for the US military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands.

This agreement with the US secured a discount on the Polaris nuclear weapons system for the UK, with the lease extended in 2016 by a further 20 years.

The expulsions are regarded as one of the most shameful parts of Britains modern colonial history.

Ms Phillipson said the loss of coral reefs to global warming is a particular issue for the Chagos Islands, with Diego Garcia identified in 2012 as one of the top five most vulnerable military sites in the world.

She said: Research by British scientists, published in November, points out that on Diego Garcia most of the land lies within a metre of the high tide level, that healthy corals are required to maintain growth rates of reefs that can match rates of sea level rise and that in Diego Garcia the rate of (sea level) rise is higher than the oceanic average, and predicts that recurrences of mass (coral) mortalities will take place too frequently for any significant recovery of reef health in these atolls by the late 2020s.

Its now clear that without global action on climate change, an entire British overseas territory, housing a major base for one of our closest allies, is at risk of inundation, and yet we now know the Government hasnt spoken to the Americans about it recently.

This is quite extraordinary.

Foreign Office minister Sir Alan Duncan (PA Wire)

Sir Alan, replying to a written parliamentary question from Ms Phillipson, said an assessment of climate change and its likely impact on the overseas territories, including the Chagos Islands, was commissioned in 2015  with an inception report completed in October 2015.

He added: Sea level rise and coastal erosion are considered to be the most significant potential climate change risks to BIOT. Climate change is a global concern.

We will continue to closely monitor its effects on our overseas territories and take action where necessary. We have not recently discussed the effects of climate change on BIOT with US officials.Scottish and Welsh ministers are to brief peers on the need for key Brexit legislation to be amended.

Scotlands Brexit Minister Michael Russell and Welsh counterpart Mark Drakeford will be in London on Monday in a bid to impress upon the House of Lords their concerns about the impact of the EU Withdrawal Bill on the devolution settlement.

The joint event takes place ahead of the Bills second reading in the Lords on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Scottish and Welsh administrations have said they cannot recommend consent be given to the Bill in its current form, branding it a power grab.

Amendments to the legislation promised when it was before MPs in the Commons did not transpire, meaning that changes will have to be made in the Lords.

Mark Drakeford and Michael Russell at an earlier Joint Ministerial Council on Brexit (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Speaking ahead of meeting with peers at Westminster, Mr Russell said: Along with the Welsh Government, we have made clear we are unable to recommend consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill in its current form.

Thats because it disregards the devolution settlement by allowing the UK Government to take control of clearly devolved policy areas like farming and fishing.

The Scottish and Welsh Governments published amendments to the bill as far back as September to fix this issue.

Unfortunately, the UK Government chose not to accept those amendments or to meet their commitment to bring forward their own amendments in the House of Commons.

As the bill moves to the House of Lords, it is vital that peers are informed of our position and I look forward to explaining how devolution can be protected.

The Scottish Government is also still seeking a resolution of this issue with the UK Government, while making sensible preparations in case legislative consent is not given by the Scottish Parliament.

A UK Government spokesman said: We have been clear there will be a significant increase in decision-making powers for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland when we leave the EU.

The devolved administrations agree we will need common frameworks in some areas and we are in ongoing, detailed discussions with them about this.The Irish Government is to meet to hammer out final details on an anticipated referendum on the countrys restrictive abortion laws.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is expected to outline the Governments approach after the specially convened cabinet meeting in Government Buildings, Dublin on Monday evening.

Mr Varadkar, who says he will campaign to liberalise the law, has said while ministers are able to take different positions on the contentious matter, the cabinet will adopt a collective position.

Terminations are currently only allowed in the Irish Republic when the life of the mother is at risk and the maximum penalty for accessing an illegal abortion is 14 years in prison.

A referendum on the issue is expected in late May or early June.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he will campaign to liberalise Irelands abortion laws (Niall Carson/PA).

Last December, a report by a specially convened parliamentary committee found that the section of the states constitution that confers equal rights on the mother and unborn child  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.

The referendum will focus on the fate of the Eighth Amendment, not on the specifics on how the law would change if the constitution was altered.

However, the Government is expected to outline proposals for a potential law change that it would put before the Dail in the event of the Eighth Amendment being repealed.

Any draft legislation would only become law if the Dail voted for it, and that is not a foregone conclusion given the Fine Gael coalition is a minority administration and TDs will vote on conscience.

The outcome of the referendum could also prompt a Supreme Court challenge over whether the Constitution as a whole contains an implied fundamental right for the unborn, on top of the specific terms of the Eighth Amendment.Roger Federer has dismissed his chances of claiming the outright record for grand slam singles titles and insisted he would be happy to stick at 20.

The 36-year-old moved four clear of Rafael Nadal in the overall mens standings with a 6-2 6-7 (5/7) 6-3 3-6 6-1 victory over Marin Cilic in the Australian Open final on Sunday.

That took him to fourth on the all-time list behind Margaret Court, Serena Williams and Steffi Graf, who have 24, 23 and 22 respectively.

Federer has won three of the last five tournaments but said of his chances of reaching 24: I dont think so. I didnt think 20 was ever possible. I think its too far. I never thought about it to be honest but those numbers are surreal and theyre amazing. Im very happy if it stays at 20.

Only a few hours after finishing his media duties at Melbourne Park, Federer was back carrying the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup at a photoshoot at Government House.

A husky-voiced Federer said of his teams celebrations: I think we were all a little bit tired but it was nice spending time together. The celebration continues once I get back to Switzerland.

Roger Federer kisses the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup (Dita Alangkara/AP)

Im just very excited that I have nothing going on in the next couple of weeks. Its all quiet so I can just take time to celebrate. Number 20 is super special so well try to make the most of it. Its one of the great moments in my career.

Federer was unexpectedly emotional after his five-set victory and could not hold back the tears during his victory speech. Bookmakers made him the clear favourite ahead of the tournament but the man himself had a feeling this one was not going to go his way.

He said: Im still a little bit confused that its all over and that I was able to do it. Its just a lot trying to take it in. Last year it was more straightforward, just disbelief, this year it seems more surreal. I cant believe I was able to defend my title after all these years.

Im not sure how much I really felt like I could defend it. I just felt, like last year, something was going to come in its way, one guy was going to catch fire and I was not going to be able to stop him. Maybe next year when I do come back I might actually believe I can win it. But then I probably wont win it.

Roger took Norman on a trip to Government House pic.twitter.com/WUJXiRBFZP  Eleanor Crooks (@EleanorcrooksPA) January 29, 2018

Federer will now take time to decide on his schedule, with the most pressing issue being whether he will play in Dubai at the end of February.

His sixth title in Melbourne moved him to within 155 points of Rafael Nadal at the top of the rankings. With Federer defending titles in Indian Wells and Miami in March, it could be his best chance for a good while.

Should Federer overtake Nadal, he would be the oldest man ever to top the rankings, surpassing current record holder Andre Agassi by more than three years.

My first moment reunited with the family & team after last night #RF20 pic.twitter.com/ZAPQ4NmcnG  Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) January 29, 2018

Then there is the question of how much Federer will play on clay and whether he will miss the French Open for the third year in a row.

He said: We were in talks with them (Dubai) but then when the tournament started I said, If its OK, Id like to decide after the tournament. I also have to decide on the clay-court season, all these things are interlinked. Its possible Ill play something. The next week or so Ill make a decision.Militants attacked an Afghan army unit guarding a military academy in Kabul on Monday, killing at least five soldiers and wounding 10, officials said.

Hours later, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility.

The attack was the latest in a wave of relentless violence in the capital this month unleashed by the Taliban and rival Islamic State militants that has killed scores and left hundreds wounded.

Mondays attack started at around 4am, witnesses said, and fighting continued long after daybreak.

Afghan security personnel arrive at the site of the attack at the Marshal Fahim academy (Rahmat Gul/AP)

A suicide bomber first struck the military unit responsible for providing security for the academy, followed by a gun battle with the troops, said Dawlat Waziri, spokesman for the Afghan defence ministry.

At least five insurgents were involved in the morning assault, according to Mr Waziri. Two of the attackers were killed in the gun battle, two detonated their suicide vests and one was arrested by the troops, he said.

All roads leading to the military academy were blocked by police, which only allowed ambulances access to the site to transfer the wounded to hospitals.

After the gun battle ended, the security forces resumed control of the area. They also confiscated one suicide vest, an AK-47 and some ammunition, Mrt Waziri said.

The attack was against an army unit providing security for the academy and not the academy itself, he insisted.

An Afghan official and an eyewitness say blasts were heard and a gun battle took place (Rahmat Gul/AP)

Afzal Aman, commander of the citys military garrison, confirmed the attack in the area of the Marshal Fahim military academy.

Hashmat Faqeri, a resident near the site, told the Associated Press he heard sounds of explosions and a gun battle.

Hours later, the Islamic State groups affiliate in Afghanistan, known as Khorasan Province, posted its claim of responsibility on its media arm, the Aamaq news agency website, saying its fighters targeted the military academy in Kabul.

The military academy in Kabul was also attacked in October last year by a suicide bomber who killed 15 officers. The attacker was on foot and detonated his suicide vest as the on-duty officers were leaving the facility, heading home in the evening. That attack was claimed by the Taliban.

Afghan security personnel detain a suspect at the scene (Rahmat Gul/AP)

Both the Taliban and IS have stepped up attacks in recent months in Kabul and elsewhere across Afghanistan, including massive bombings staged by militants determined to inflict maximum casualties, instill terror in the population and undermine confidence in Afghan President Ashraf Ghanis government and the countrys security forces.

On Saturday, a Taliban attacker drove an ambulance filled with explosives into the heart of the city, killing at least 103 people and wounding as many as 235.

Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak said on Sunday that the investigation into the attack indicated that a second ambulance was also involved but had left the area, indicating that some would-be attackers may have escaped.

The Taliban claimed the ambulance attack, as well as an attack a week earlier in which militants stormed a hilltop hotel in Kabul, the Intercontinental, killing 22 people, including 14 foreigners, and setting off a 13-hour battle with security forces.

Masoom Stanekzai, the head of Afghanistans intelligence service, said five suspects have been arrested for their involvement in the hotel attack. A sixth suspect had fled the country, he said.

He also said that four people have been arrested in connection with Saturdays ambulance attack.

Afghan women leave the area of the attack (Rahmat Gul/AP)

The recent brutal attacks have underlined the weaknesses of Afghan security forces, more than 16 years after the US-led invasion toppled the Taliban, and raise questions about President Donald Trumps strategy for winning Americas longest war.

The Taliban have been waging an insurgency since they were driven from power by US and Afghan forces after the September 11 attacks. In recent years, they have seized districts across the country and carried out near-daily attacks, mainly targeting Afghan security forces and the US-backed government.

The Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan emerged in 2014, as the US and Nato were winding down their combat mission and around the time that IS declared its self-styled Islamic caliphate, headquartered in Syria and Iraq. Its followers have clashed with both Afghan forces and the Taliban.Eminem has announced that he will perform in the UK this year.

The rapper is heading out on his Revival Tour and will be at Twickenham Stadium on July 14 and 15.

The tour comes after the release of the stars global chart-topping album Revival, which went to number one in the UK.

Eminem (Yui Mok/PA)

The Twickenham shows will be the rappers first in the UK since his headline slot at Reading and Leeds Festivals last year.

Eminem has not toured in four years.

Tickets go on sale at 9am on February 2 at MetropolisMusic.com.There is a full midweek Premier League schedule, with three matches on Tuesday and seven on Wednesday.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at five talking points.

Transfer merry-go-round

Antonio Conte will hope to have a new addition to his squad (John Walton/PA)

Wednesdays winter transfer deadline of 11pm will be prominent in the minds of many players and managers, despite the midweek fixture list. The team selections could be indicative of potential moves being close to being finalised, particularly on Wednesday, when 14 teams are in action. Chelsea are among the clubs who could be active in the closing days and hours of the window.

Sanchezs Premier League debut

Alexis Sanchez made his debut against Yeovil in the FA Cup (Nick Potts/PA)

Surely the most high-profile deal of the January transfer window has already been completed, with Alexis Sanchez swapping Arsenal for Manchester United. The Chile forward made his debut in a 4-0 FA Cup win at Yeovil and is now poised for his Premier League bow against familiar opponents: Tottenham, at Wembley. Sanchez scored just his second goal in eight appearances against Spurs when Arsenal won 2-0 at Emirates Stadium in November.

Arsenals weekend off

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is set to make his Arsenal debut (Martin Rickett/PA)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who swapped Old Trafford for Arsenal in the Sanchez deal, could make his Gunners debut at Swansea on Tuesday night. The FA Cup holders were eliminated in the third round by Nottingham Forest, so had a rare weekend off after reaching the Carabao Cup final at the expense of Chelsea last Wednesday. They will be expected to return refreshed and ready to crush any hopes Swansea have of building on the victory over Liverpool.

Comeback from the cup

Liverpool were knocked out of the FA Cup (Peter Byrne/PA)

Many sides will be seeking responses from disappointing FA Cup results. Jurgen Klopp will certainly demand it of Liverpool. The Reds lost to West Brom and go to Huddersfield seeking to recover from successive losses. The Terriers, who beat Manchester United at home earlier this season, were held by Birmingham in a disappointing result of their own. West Ham were beaten by League One Wigan and play Crystal Palace at home, with David Moyes wanting more from his side. Spurs drew at Newport and face Sanchezs United.

It is tight at the bottom

It's getting really close at the bottom of the #PL... pic.twitter.com/SEv7mFqofx  Premier League (@premierleague) January 22, 2018

Manchester City may have a 12-point lead, and any race at the top of the standings may be for a top-four finish. But the lower half of the table is an altogether different story as 11 clubs  from 10th-placed Watford to Swansea in 20th  are separated by six points. Include ninth-placed Everton and the gap to the Swans at the bottom is eight points. The relegation race will run and run.Hundreds of hate-related crimes have been committed at or near schools and colleges in the last two years  and the numbers are rising.

A Press Association investigation has found that, in the last academic year alone, around five offences occurred for each day of the school year.

It also indicated a 62% hike in these types of crimes between 2015/16 and 2016/17.

(PA Graphics)

School leaders said it is disturbing to see an increase, but argued that it is still relatively rare for these offences to take place in schools and colleges.

Police chiefs said significant efforts have been made to improve recording systems, and to work with other agencies, and that this may largely account for the rise.

Police forces in England and Wales were asked through freedom of information requests how many-hate related offences had taken place in their area where the location of the crime included the words school or college.

In total, there were 1,487 crimes with a hate element at or near schools and colleges in the last two academic years, according to data provided by 29 forces.

Of these, 919 occurred between September 2016 and July 2017  around five for each day of the school year  and 568 for the same period of 2015/16.

This suggests that the number of hate-related offences has risen by nearly two-thirds during this timeframe, which covers the period before and after the Brexit vote.

In some cases, crimes may have taken place near schools and colleges, rather than on school property, such as walking home from school, or a crime may have been logged with an educational establishment as the nearest reference point, or as happening close by  such as opposite a school.

When recording crimes, police can flag an offence as being motivated by different categories  race and ethnicity, religion or beliefs, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity.

Forces were asked to give details of these flags. In some cases, crimes had more than one flag.

By far the most common flag attached to an offence was race and ethnicity, accounting for 71% of all flags recorded in the last two academic years (2015/16 and 2016/17).

Religion or belief flags accounted for 9% of all flags recorded, the same proportion as sexual orientation, while disability accounted for 10% and transgender identity, 1%.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: It is disturbing to see an increase in reported hate crimes in schools and colleges. We fear this reflects a wider problem in society beyond the school gates.

Over the past 18 months, school leaders have told us of a number of incidents in which pupils have been subjected to racial abuse by members of the public, away from school premises, as they go about their daily lives.

It is relatively rare for hate crimes to actually take place in schools and colleges. Indeed, schools and colleges are havens of good values, promoting tolerance and respect, and often serving diverse communities.

They put strong systems in place to ensure that staff are confident in addressing any type of discriminatory behaviour and that students are confident that they will be listened to in reporting any incidents. They educate young people about the importance of tolerance and respect, and consult with police over any serious incidents which occur.

At a time when it often seems that our society is worryingly divided, schools and colleges are doing a brilliant job in holding it together.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton, National Police Chiefs Council lead for hate crime, said: Hate crime, particularly among young people, undermines the diversity and tolerance that we should be celebrating.

All police forces take a robust approach to reporting crime and reassuring victims. Significant efforts have been made to improve our recording systems and to enhance our partnerships with educators and charities that support victims.

The Crime Survey of England and Wales has indicated that the significant increases that we have seen in recent years have largely been due to these efforts and more victims having the confidence to come forward and report this kind of abuse to police.One in five jobs in British cities is likely to be displaced by 2030 because of automation and globalisation, a new report predicts.

Retail, customer service and warehouse jobs are among those most at threat of being lost, said Centre for Cities.

The think tank said struggling cities in the North and Midlands were more exposed to job losses than wealthier cities in the South, compounding the North/South divide.

Jobs under threat from automation (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Cities including Mansfield, Sunderland and Wakefield could see two out of five jobs lost, while Oxford and Cambridge face losing 13%, the study found.

The report said the changes would lead to jobs being created as well as lost, but in Northern and Midlands cities they would largely be in low-skilled occupations.

Up to one in 10 jobs are in occupations predicted to grow, while new industries would bring positions which do not currently exist, it was predicted.

Andrew Carter, chief executive of Centre for Cities, said: Automation and globalisation will bring huge opportunities to increase prosperity and jobs, but there is also a real risk that many people and places will lose out.

National and local leaders need to ensure that people in cities across the North and Midlands can share in the benefits these changes could offer.

That means reforming the education system to give young people the cognitive and interpersonal skills they need to thrive in the future, and improving school standards, especially in places where jobs are most at risk.

We also need greater investment in lifelong learning and technical education to help adults adapt to the changing labour market, and better retraining for people who lose their jobs because of these changes.

The challenges and opportunities ahead for Blackburn are very different to those for Brighton.

The Government needs to give cities more powers and resources to tackle the issues that automation and globalisation will present, and to make the most of the benefits they will bring.The British Airways chief has urged the Government to follow through on its pledge to relax visa rules for Chinese businesses and tourists, warning that trade links with the Asian powerhouse will be vital in a post-Brexit world.

In a letter to the Home Secretary, Willie Walsh, the chief executive of British Airways owner IAG, urged Amber Rudd to introduce a new 10-year visa for Chinese visitors, fulfilling a promise the Tories made over two years ago.

It read: We need a step change on China. We make it hard for Chinese tourists to visit.

The USA charges 119 for a 10 year visa while Britain charges 767.

Making it easier for Chinese businesses and tourists to come to the UK is critical to boosting our economy and enhancing global trading links, especially post Brexit.

We continue to lose out on the new jobs that Chinese investment and affluent tourists bring.

His comments come days ahead of Theresa Mays visit to China and as the Prime Minister grapples with discontent over Brexit that threatens yet more rifts within the Conservative Party.

International Airlines Group (IAG) chief executive Willie Walsh is calling on the Government to honour its promise (Niall Carson/PA)

In 2016, the UK issued 480,000 visas to Chinese tourists while France, Germany, Italy and Spain together issued 1.5 million.

The Schengen visa costs 99 euro and offers free access to 26 countries, putting the UK at a competitive disadvantage, IAG pointed out.

The plea comes as Chinas burgeoning middle class are increasingly travelling abroad, with around 122 million Chinese making trips overseas in 2016, up 4.3% on the previous year.

Britain and China have also recently signed a bilateral agreement that raises the permitted number of weekly flights between both countries from 40 to 150.

IAG is also calling for the Government to implement two proposals from the UK China Visitor Alliance  that new biometric visas issued by Schengen countries be recognised by the UK and granting visas to the parents of Chinese students studying in the UK.Campaigner Gina Miller is threatening court action over payments to Northern Ireland under the 1 billion deal with the DUP to prop up the minority Conservative Government.

Lawyers acting for Ms Miller and the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain have issued a legal letter to the Government in relation to 50 million made available in this financial year to address immediate health and education pressures.

They argue that this breaches a previous assurance that cash support offered at the time of last years post-election agreement would not be spent until it has been approved by Parliament in a vote.

And they warned that if ministers do not provide assurances by February 2 that they intend to recover the money, they will take the issue to court.

Investment manager Ms Miller previously defeated the Government in a Supreme Court case to win MPs the right to vote on the Article 50 letter triggering Brexit.

Gina Miller speaking outside The Supreme Court in London after her victory in a legal case over Article 50 (Victoria Jones/PA)

She said: It beggars belief that this Government is once again putting itself above the law and seeking to undermine the normal constitutional and legal processes.

Spending public money requires proper parliamentary scrutiny and accountability  and the making of these payments is no different.

The Government excuse for making these payments without parliamentary approval is that the monies were to address immediate health and education pressures in Northern Ireland.

What about the immediate and pressing health and education needs in the rest of the United Kingdom? There is a demand for more social spending in all parts of the UK. This payment is more about keeping this Government in power.The locations of military bases and soldiers around the world have been inadvertently published by a fitness app.

A heatmap of GPS data recorded by Strava, a mobile app which allows users to track their jogging routes, shows activity in and around military bases, suggesting users are soldiers on active duty.

And people who create a free account can find other users who regularly use certain routes, potentially alerting terrorists or foreign powers to soldiers on active duty.

Potentially sensitive locations in the UK include the Sandhurst military academy, GCHQ and HMNB Clyde, where the navy stores its nuclear weapons.

The Strava app shows users at the Sandhurst military academy. Users identities have been censored. (Press Association)

A Strava spokesman said the heatmap excludes activities that have been marked as private and user-defined privacy zones.

We are committed to helping people better understand our settings to give them control over what they share, they added.

Anyone can create an account for free and find routes, or segments around military bases.

The app also shows which users have publicly recorded their times on certain routes and many people on Twitter have pointed out that anyone could use such information to find other social media profiles for soldiers.

Nathan Ruser, a student from Canberra in Australia, identified what he believed was a regular jogging route for soldiers in Afghanistan.

Hopefully its a learning experience for the different military communities and they can toe that line between convenience and security, he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Others identified a US base in Nigeria and app users at Bagram air base in Iraq.

How Europe looks on Stravas heatmap (Screenshot)

Writing for the website The Daily Beast, international security expert Jeffrey Lewis showed how anyone could identify users at a military base in Taiwan and potentially find other bases as a result.

If our user casually jogging by Taiwanese missiles day after day suddenly appears deployed to a new location, well thats very interesting if you are targeting missiles for Chinas Rocket Force, he wrote.

Users are able to make their data private, but Mr Lewis also raised concerns about whether data which has been set to private could be hacked.

Strava published a major update to the heatmap in November 2017, including six times more data than before, but investigators only spotted the security breach this weekend.

An MOD spokesman said: The MOD takes the security of its personnel and establishments very seriously and keeps them under constant review.

However, for obvious reasons we do not comment on our specific security arrangements or procedures.Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey announced she is joining the WWE by making a dramatic appearance at the pay-per-view Royal Rumble.

The mixed martial arts fighter surprised the crowd at the end of the first ever womens Royal Rumble, won by Asuka.

This is my life now, she told ESPN after appearing in the ring.

Ronda Rousey will return to pro-wrestling for WWEs WrestleMania (John Locher/AP)

First priority on my timeline for the next several years. This is not a smash-and-grab; this is not a publicity stunt.

There is little information on the deal between Rousey and the WWE, but reports suggest she has signed a full-time contract.

Rouseys switch to wrestling comes after she was defeated in her last two UFC bouts  Amanda Nunes knocked her out in just 48 seconds in 2016, and she lost to Holly Holm in 2015.

Welcome aboard @RondaRousey - I believe you will make Rowdy Roddy very proud!#RoyalRumble  Mick Foley (@RealMickFoley) January 29, 2018

A longtime fan of the WWE, Rowdy Ronda Rousey takes her nickname from WWE superstar Roddy Piper, who granted her permission to use the name.

She came out on Sunday night wearing the late Rowdy Roddys leather jacket, which was given to her by the Canadian pro-wrestlers son.

Im just so incredibly lucky, she told a WWE reporter, Im aware of it, Im very aware of it.

This has been a dream of mine since before I could talk.

Joining Royal Rumble winner Asuka, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss in the ring, the former UFC bantamweight champion said little to her fellow wrestlers before pointing at the WrestleMania sign above her, hinting at when she would make her WWE debut.

Performing in the WWE should not be too much of a stretch for Rousey, who had roles in The Expendables 3, Furious 7 and the Entourage film.

She began her career in judo, winning a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

At just 21 she retired from the sport and entered the world of mixed martial arts, becoming the first female fighter signed with the UFC in 2012.

She defended her bantamweight champion belt six times before her losses to Holm and then Nunes.Doctors have been told they can stop providing life-support treatment to a brain-damaged boy against his parents wishes.

Specialists at Kings College Hospital said giving further intensive care treatment to 11-month-old Isaiah Haastrup was futile, burdensome and not in his best interests.

They had asked a judge to give them the go-ahead to provide only palliative care.

Isaiahs mother, Takesha Thomas, and father Lanre Haastrup, who are both 36 and from Peckham, south-east London, wanted treatment to continue.

Mr Justice MacDonald on Monday ruled that doctors could stop providing life-support treatment.

Isaiah Haastrup with his aunt Dahlia Thomas (Irwin Mitchell/PA)

The judge, who had analysed evidence at a trial in the Family Division of the High Court in London earlier this month, said he had reached his decision with profound sadness.

Mr Haastrup said he and Miss Thomas were disappointed and would discuss the judges ruling with lawyers.

Barrister Fiona Paterson, who represented Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust at hearings, had told Mr Justice MacDonald how Isaiah was born at Kings College Hospital on February 18 2017 and was severely disabled

She said nobody could understand the pain and suffering Isaiahs parents had endured.

But she said overwhelming medical evidence showed that stopping treatment was in Isaiahs best interests.

Doctors told the judge that Isaiah suffered catastrophic brain damage due to being deprived of oxygen at birth.

They said Isaiah was in a low level of consciousness, could not move or breathe independently and was connected to a ventilator.

Doctors said Isaiah did not respond to stimulation.

Mr Justice MacDonald said, in a written ruling, that he had examined Isaiahs best interests from a broad perspective.

I am satisfied that it is not in his best interests for life-sustaining medical treatment to be continued, said the judge.

The court cannot imagine the emotional pain that the conclusion of the court will cause to the parents.

It is my hope that, in due course, the parents will be able to derive some small measure of comfort from the knowledge that they have done all they can for their much-loved and cherished son.

Mr Haastrup said: We will be speaking to the lawyers to see what they say.

Of course, one is disappointed.Skygazers can look forward to an unusual celestial event on Wednesday night when a Blue Moon rises in the sky for the first time since July 2015.

Blue Moons are defined as the second full moon in a calendar month.

And this one will also be a supermoon, meaning the Earths natural satellite will appear about 14% bigger and 30% brighter in the sky as it reaches its closest point to Earth.

But anyone in the British Isles hoping to see a lunar eclipse will have to jump on an aeroplane.

Dr Gregory Brown, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, said the moon will rise at about 5pm and will remain in the sky until 8am the following morning.

He said: It will be high in the sky from about 19:00 and will be at its highest, and thus best, time at around 00:40.

The moon will appear bigger and brighter in the sky (Peter Byrne/PA)

This coming full moon is unusual in that it is the second full moon of the month, when typically there is only one full moon per calendar month.

Also, the full moon will be slightly larger than normal given that this is also a supermoon, so astrophotography will be more spectacular than normal.

But those expecting to see a lunar eclipse will be disappointed as Dr Brown says it will definitely not be visible from the UK, not even a partial eclipse.

The eclipse, according to Nasa, will be extra special for those in the US and other parts of the world such as the Middle East, Asia, eastern Russia, Australia and New Zealand, where the Blue Moon will coincide with a total lunar eclipse.

Blue Moon is defined as the second full moon in a calendar month (Ben Birchall/PA)

Nasa said: While the Moon is in the Earths shadow it will take on a reddish tint, known as a blood moon.

With the total eclipse, itll be a royal spectacle indeed: a super blue blood Moon.

Wednesdays lunar phase fits the calendar definition of blue because there was another full moon on January 2.

The last Blue Moon occurred on July 31, 2015, and the next will be seen on March 31 this year.

Affelia Wibisono, also an astronomer at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich said: March is expected to have two full moons, which, by the modern definition, means there will be two Blue Moons this year.

Blue Moon.

To make things more complicated, Blue Moon has also been defined as the third of four full moons in one season  which astronomers say is the traditional definition of the lunar phase.

Going by this interpretation, Wednesdays full moon is not blue at all. In fact, the next seasonal blue moon is not due until May 18, 2019.

Ms Wibisono said: If we use the original meaning, then no, 2018 has no Blue Moons.

There are three full moons between the winter solstice and the spring equinox (Jan 2, Jan 31 and March 2).

For those keen to see a lunar eclipse in the British Isles, Dr Brown advises putting July 27 in the diary for a more spectacular view of the event.Rob Kearney is ready for his latest fight for Irelands full-back shirt, with fast-rising young gun Jordan Larmour.

The 78-cap Test star has admitted he expects a big tussle with 20-year-old rookie and Leinster team-mate Larmour for Irelands 15 berth in the NatWest 6 Nations.

Ireland start their Six Nations campaign against France in Paris on Saturday, with 31-year-old Kearney hoping he can make experience trump youth once more.

Rob Kearney (pictured) expects a big tussle with Leinster team-mate Jordan Larmour (Brian Lawless/PA)

So, Rob what about full-back sensation Jordan Larmour? pic.twitter.com/XHjRwQMuj8  Sinead Kissane (@sineadkissane) January 29, 2018

I just think hes a flat-out winger.if only, said Kearney, of Irelands uncapped new boy Larmour.

I suppose throughout my whole career Ive always been in some pretty heavy battles with a lot of 15s. I could list them: Felix Jones, Luke Fitzgerald, Geordan Murphy, Girvan Dempsey and then Simon Zebo

over the last few years.

Theres always been a lot of really good players vying for the jersey.

Ive been as impressed as anyone else at some of the stuff hes done over the last couple of months and its a good reward for him to be called into the squad.

Id noticed over the last couple of years, my body and how Im feeling determines a huge part of how Im playing. Touch wood.

Ive played eight of the last nine games on the bounce now, which is pretty unusual for me over the last few years.

When my bodys in a good place, mentally Im enjoying the rugby and then you can start putting a bit of form together.

And when youre in that position, if youve guys coming up behind you, its good and it definitely spurs you on and has done over the last couple of months.

A week from now we will have played the opening two match of the 2018 #NatWest6Nations!



Who do you think will win between:



 Wales v Scotland



 France v Ireland https://t.co/OQmTQQDu7f pic.twitter.com/tEkofxdmuK  Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) January 27, 2018

Ulster wing Jacob Stockdale has shaken off a knock to be fit for the Paris clash, though Munster prop Dave Kilcoyne has remained with his province as he rehabs a knee injury.

British and Irish Lions full-back Kearney knows he must start from scratch to cement his spot in Irelands line-up, but remains as excited by that challenge as ever.

Ive been lucky enough over the last 10 to 12 years that every year there is a young player who gets a huge amount of hype and I think it is almost par for the course a little bit at the start of the

season, said Kearney.

You always have one young guy who is playing superb rugby and they do get a lot of the headline inches. Thats something I am used to over the last few years.

So youve just got to be comfortable in your own skin, confident in your own game and just keep the head down and work hard.The pilot of a small plane that made a nighttime emergency landing on a Southern California road has described the moment the engine died, and he knew he would never make it to a nearby airport.

Israel Slod, who guided the single-engine Beech G33 onto State Route 55 in Costa Mesa on Sunday night, said: I saw an opening on the highway and I went for it right away.

Fire captain Chris Coates said it was a complete miracle that traffic was light and the plane did not hit any cars or cause a collision. No injuries were reported.

This image made from a video provided by Dora Noriega shows a plane that landed on a freeway south of Los Angeles (Dora Noriega/AP)

Fire officials described Mr Slod as an experienced pilot.

Passenger Daniel Gross said he and Mr Slod were over the ocean flying from San Diego to John Wayne Airport in Orange County when the engine suddenly stopped.

#CMFR on scene of a small aircraft that landed on the 55 Frwy. Occupants are out and no injuries reported. #breaking  Costa Mesa FD (@CMFD_PIO) January 29, 2018

I didnt think we were going to die, but I had no idea where we were going to end up, said Mr Gross.

We had about a minute and a half from when we lost power to when we were on the ground. It happened really quickly. You dont think about that when youre falling from the sky.

All northbound lanes were closed as crews towed the small aircraft off the road.

The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the incident, which occurred just a few miles from the fiery crash last summer of a small plane on Interstate 405. The pilot and his wife spent weeks in a hospital being treated for injuries that included spinal fractures. Nobody on the ground was hurt.

Mr Gross said he was still in a state of shock.

He said: Its crazy. I mean, we landed in the middle of the freeway. I dont want to do that ever again.The family of a woman who fell to her death from a Benidorm apartment block say they were shocked her clothes were destroyed after her autopsy.

Kirsty Maxwells husband Adam spoke about the familys heartbreak at losing the 27-year-old from Livingston, West Lothian, at a press conference on Monday.

The family, including her mum Denise and dad Brian, condemned the actions of Spanish authorities following her death on April 29.

Kirsty Maxwell, who died after falling from a balcony in Spain, with her husband Adam (Police Scotland/PA)

David Swindell, 63, a former policeman and independent reviewer said: Its nine months since Kirsty Maxwell sadly died.

The same questions have been asked by Kirstys family for the last nine months. And these questions have all been unanswered.

The clothing worn by Kirsty was not tested for DNA and was destroyed by the Spanish forensic pathology department.

That in itself indicates serious shortcomings in the investigation.

Mrs Maxwell, fell from the 10th floor of Apartmentos Payma hotel in Benidorm on 29 April.

Four British men who were in the hotel room on the night in question were questioned as part of the inquiry.

A fifth British man was arrested but was later released.

The Spanish authorities took no action against the men who were quizzed and they were allowed to come home to the UK.

Speaking at the conference on Monday, Adam Maxwell said: On Friday we got this shocking news about Kirstys clothing.

Its not the first instance when weve been shocked by something in regards to the case.

Its very sad for us as a family and shocking, this is another thing weve been let down by the Spanish authorities. For them to treat Kirstys death in this way we cannot accept it.

It does beg the question if Kirsty was to die in the UK would this be different and I think we are all in agreement that this would be the case.

The clothing was a massive one and to finally have that answer that we have is a complete let down.Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK Government must be held to solemn commitments to avoid a hard border in Northern Ireland after Brexit.

The Shadow Brexit Secretary made the comment after meeting business leaders and traders from both sides of the border during visits to Belfast and Londonderry on Monday.

Sir Keir Starmer at Parliament Buildings, Belfast where he met with political representatives involved in negotiations to save the devolved institutions. Lesley-Anne McKeown/PA Wire

Sir Keir said there must be no rowing back on the commitments made as the first round of Brexit negotiations opened last December.

He said: Obviously one of the main talking points has been how do we hold everybody to the really solemn commitments that were made in phase one to no hard border in Northern Ireland, meaning no infrastructure, no checks and no controls.

Even just looking at the border, as we were doing, it is hard to imagine how that could possibly change and the solemn commitment is, that it wont change.

I think it is really important that the Government is held to that.

Labour wants the UK to remain in the single market and the customs union during the transitional period.

Sir Keir added: No-one, but nobody wants anything by way of checks and infrastructure on the border, nor should they.

The only way that is going to be possible is if the Government accepts the red lines they set down, sweeping options such as single market and customs union off the table, have got to go.

Labour has been saying for some time now that we need transitional arrangements on the same basic terms as now and that means in a customs union in the single market.

The customs union should always have been a viable option, the Government should never have swept that off the table.

In December, it was agreed to protect north/south co-operations with no regulatory divergence between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland across a range of key industries.

Sir Keir said bitter divisions within the Conservative Party were now the biggest threat to securing a deal.

He said: Now the single biggest threat to a progressive, collaborative partnership with the EU is the in-fighting in the Government and so we have been here trying to have the conversations that are necessary to ensure that we, as the opposition, can offer a proper alternative to what the Government is doing.

In addition to travelling to the border, Sir Keir also met political representatives involved in the latest round of negotiations to save the devolved Stormont institutions.

Speaking before the meeting, SDLP MLA Claire Hanna said: I believe him that he doesnt want to see a hard border but clearly, so far down the line since the referendum, it is very clear that the only way to do that is to maintain full single market access for the entirety of the island.

SDLP MLA Claire Hanna at Stormonts Parliament Buildings where she met Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer. Lesley-Anne McKeown/PA Wire.

During a separate meeting, Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill MLA urged Sir Keir to help secure designated special status for Northern Ireland.

She said: I reiterated to Keir Starmer that Brexit will be an disaster for the entire island of Ireland, both socially and economically.

I made clear that as negotiations move on to phase two that we cannot withstand exclusion from the single market and customs union. Otherwise the reality is economic apartheid on this island as the result of a hard border.

I urged him to help ensure that the British Labour Party throws its weight behind the argument for special status for the North within the EU and to help secure it in the best interests of all citizens here.

Meanwhile, Ms Hanna also expressed frustration that round-table discussions involving all five of the main Stormont parties had not yet taken place.

She said: I think everybody is frustrated. It is over a year that we have been in this position. There is some hope if compromise was reached and was being talked about and compromise isnt always being seen as a dirty word.

We cant negotiate with one arm behind our back without having access to that information and we certainly believe that the public deserve to know what progress has or hasnt been made and what stretching of themselves people have or havent done.Britain is heading for a series of clashes with Brussels, after ministers from the 27 remaining member states agreed proposals which would require the UK to obey the EU rule-book in full for around two years after Brexit.

Downing Street acknowledged there were differences between London and Brussels over the nature of the transition period following the official date of Brexit in March 2019.

And horrified Brexiteers urged Theresa May to reject the ultimatum set out in the negotiating mandate detailing the deal chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier will seek in talks expected to last until March.

The document, agreed in a meeting lasting just two minutes in Brussels, includes proposals for:

 A transition period of 21 months, ending on December 31 2020, rather than the implementation period of around two years favoured by Mrs May;

 The cut-off date for EU citizens to enjoy full rights in the UK to be the end of the transition in December 2020, rather than March 2019 as suggested in the agreement on phase one of the Brexit talks last month;

 Britain to be required to obey all existing EU rules and regulations  including free movement of people  during transition, as well as any new laws agreed by the 27 after the UK has been removed from decision-making bodies;

 The UK to continue to comply with EU trade policy until the end of transition, meaning it cannot implement new trade deals.

Mandate received to begin negotiations with the UK on transitional arrangements:

No "cherry picking"

Existing EU regulatory instruments to apply

No representation in EU institutions/bodies

Transition period to be clearly defined#Brexit  https://t.co/L30op7XgBt pic.twitter.com/p1PNEp3dgb  European Commission  (@EU_Commission) January 29, 2018

Speaking in Brussels, Mr Barnier insisted the UK could not pick and choose the rules it will follow.

During transition the UK will continue to take part in the single market, to take part in the customs union, he said.

It will continue to have all the economic benefits, therefore it must also apply all the EU rules. The single market cannot be a la carte.

Downing Street said the new guidelines were well aligned with the UK position set out by Mrs May in her speech in Florence last year, though her official spokesman added: There will naturally be some distance in the detail of our starting positions.

"The EU position is very clear: the transition will last for 21 months until the 31st of December 2020. The whole EU acquis will continue to apply to the UK, as well as the jurisdiction of the EU Court of Justice". @MichelBarnier #Brexit https://t.co/L30op7XgBt pic.twitter.com/ydEqtX1VSc  European Commission  (@EU_Commission) January 29, 2018

Brexit Secretary David Davis predicted bust-ups over several aspects of the EUs stance.

There will be an argument about the right to negotiate free trade agreements, he told the House of Lords EU Committee.

There will be an argument, Im sure, about the issue of whether or not we can object to new laws that we havent had a say in.

There will be discussions about issues like representation on technical committee.

Mr Davis also suggested that final agreement on the withdrawal deal may continue as late as the end of 2018 in order to allow more time to iron out details of the future UK/EU trade relationship.

But Mr Barnier gave short shrift to the idea, saying the October deadline for the deal could not change by more than a week or so because time had to be allowed for ratification.

(PA Graphics)

In the House of Commons, Tory eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash urged the Government to reject any agreement which requires the UK to remain a part of EU frameworks after the date of Brexit.

Given that were leaving the EU and therefore the customs union, the single market and the provisions relating to freedom of movement, is the Government going to reject this new EU ultimatum  including that the EU court of justice will continue to apply to the UK? he asked.

And former minister John Redwood said Britain must be prepared to walk away without a deal.

Many of us want new borders, fishing and agriculture policies and the reduction of taxes the EU insists on where we do not agree, said Mr Redwood.

To get on with improving these we do not want a two-year so-called transitional period if that means we cant take control of our laws, borders and money.

Britain has fallen over backwards to please the EU. We now need to be tough and say 'do you want a trade deal or not?' #VictoriaLIVE My interview is available from 1:41:47: https://t.co/91ONYjVrlQ pic.twitter.com/K0j9Jx1Uol  John Redwood (@johnredwood) January 29, 2018

As Mrs May met her Brexit inner circle for a meeting in Downing Street, the chairman of the Commons Exiting the EU Committee, Hilary Benn, was scathing about ministers failure to provide a clear vision of the post-withdrawal end-state which they are seeking.

We are now 19 months on from the referendum and neither Parliament nor the rest of EU are any the wiser about what the Government actually wants from the Brexit negotiations, said Mr Benn. Extraordinary and unacceptable.

Downing Street declined to comment on reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had told reporters in a private meeting that whenever she asks Mrs May what she is seeking, the Prime Minister responds: Make me an offer.

We are now 19 months on from the referendum and neither Parliament nor the rest of EU are any the wiser about what the Government actually wants from the Brexit negotiations. Extraordinary and unacceptable.  Hilary Benn (@hilarybennmp) January 29, 2018

Brexit legislation will go before the House of Lords on Tuesday where it is set for a rocky ride.

Sir Vince Cable said he believes the Liberal Democrats can win enough support to get at least 10 amendments through, including junking the exit day from the legislation through an unholy alliance.Donald Trump has told visiting members of the UN Security Council the US will no longer talk with the Taliban following a recent string of deadly attacks in Afghanistan.

The US president railed against a series of atrocities in Afghanistan and said the US would not engage in any future talks with the Taliban as the administration seeks to end a stalemate in Americas longest war.

Innocent people are being killed left and right. Bombing, in the middle of children, in the middle of families, bombing, killing all over Afghanistan, Mr Trump said.

So we dont want to talk with the Taliban. There may be a time but its going to be a long time.

His comments followed a deadly car bombing attack in Kabul, the Afghan capital, that killed at least 95 people and wounded 158 more.

Security personnel at the site of an attack at the Marshal Fahim academy in Kabul (AP/Rahmat Gul)

Earlier this month, Americans were killed and injured in the Talibans 13-hour siege of a hotel in Kabul.

Mr Trumps remarks at the diplomatic luncheon marked a shift in tone on Afghanistan. The US has said previously that any peace talks with the Taliban need to be part of an Afghan-led process, but the US has never precluded talking to the Taliban.

Secretary of state Rex Tillerson, who sat next to the president at the luncheon, has said previously that after an effective military effort, a political settlement including some Taliban might be possible, echoing language from former president Barack Obamas administration.

Mr Tillerson had said the US would support peace talks with the Taliban without preconditions.

In January, UN ambassador Nikki Haley, who helped organise Mondays luncheon, said the US policy on Afghanistan was working and the parties were closer to talks with the Taliban and the peace process than weve seen before.

Several attempts to hold peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban have failed.

In 2013, hopes were raised when the Taliban opened an office in Qatar aimed at facilitating talks, but a controversy over the Talbans move to hoist the flag it used in Afghanistan during its five-year rule ultimately derailed the talks.

Since then, efforts to lure the Taliban into talks have yielded little progress.

Mr Trump has sought to change the course of the long-running conflict, sending thousands more US troops to Afghanistan and moving away from a time-based approach to one that more explicitly links US assistance to concrete results from the Afghan government.

The lunch was attended by representatives from the 15-member UN Security Council, including ambassadors to the US from China, France, Russia and Britain.League One leaders Wigan will hope history can repeat itself after landing an FA Cup rematch with Manchester City in the fifth round draw.

The DW Stadium clash will stir memories of the 2013 final when Wigan  then sliding out of the Premier League  snatched a stunning late winner through a Ben Watson header.

In the pick of the other ties, new Swansea boss Carlos Carvalhal will face a quick return to his former club Sheffield Wednesday provided the Swans beat League Two Notts County in a replay.

*Alternate Crop* Wigan Athletics Ben Watson (second left) scores the winning goal past Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart during the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London.

Manchester United will travel to either Huddersfield or Birmingham, who battled out a 1-1 draw at the weekend and face a replay at St Andrews.

Chelsea face Hull at Stamford Bridge while Millwall could face Tottenham in a repeat of last seasons quarter-final provided they win replays over Rochdale and Newport respectively.

West Brom and Southampton meet in an all-Premier League clash, Sheffield United travel to Leicester, while Brighton face 1987 winners Coventry.British jihadis returning from the conflict in Syria should not be subjected to Wild West justice, a former MI6 chief has warned.

Sir John Sawers said that while former fighters should face justice, it was important that they were dealt with within the framework of the law.

Appearing before the joint parliamentary National Security Strategy Committee, Sir John expressed concern about loose comments by politicians suggesting they should simply be killed.

Former MI6 chief Sir John Sawers says fighters returning from Syria should not face "Wild West justice (Lewis Whyld/PA) )

He said it was essential that members of the intelligence agencies or the armed forces were not put in a position where they were expected to break the law.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said last month that everything should be down to destroy and eliminate the threat from returning fighters, adding: A dead terrorist cant cause any harm to Britain.

Sir John told the committee: One or two loose things have been said about all those Brits who went out there should be killed. I think it is very important that politicians dont put members of the armed forces or the intelligence services in a position where they are expected to break the law.

There are very clear laws governing military action and so on. One of the essences of our system is that we operate within the framework of the law.

Yes, many of these people need to be brought to justice, but that doesnt mean a Wild West justice.

Former GCHQ director Robert Hannigan said that as Islamic State (IS)  also referred to as Daesh  lost territory on the ground, it was increasingly focusing its activities online.

As it is destroyed on the ground, the online caliphate becomes more and more important to it. We need to bear down on that, he told the committee.

The longer term worry is that we didnt really see Daesh coming. If you see Daesh as simply the latest iteration of Sunni extremism, we have to assume there will be another one and it may not look exactly like Daesh.

We need to try predict correctly where it comes from and what it will look like. That ought to be a major concern for the next five years.

Mr Hannigan also expressed concern about the use of cyber warfare tactics by countries like Russia and North Korea.

He said nation states were increasingly working with sophisticated criminal gangs, and warned that if they continued to take risks, there could be fatal consequences.

Against the backdrop of a sense of a disintegrating set of (international) rules, states have been prepared to take risks that are seriously dangerous, he said.

The danger of miscalculation in cyber is much greater than in other areas. In cyperspace it is extremely hard to know what the collateral damage will be and what the unintended consequences will be. Some countries are behaving quite recklessly with those weapons.

So far we have not seen anyone physically harmed or killed through cyber attack. But I do think it is just a matter of time.

If people do take reckless gambles inside power grids for example, it is almost inevitable that at some stage somebody will die as a result of cyber.Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama, in an interview with Daily mirror responds to the allegations about the scam and speaks about the importance of Free Trade Agreements to export growth and international trade. The excerpts of the interview:



QYou signed the Free Trade Agreement with Singapore. What is the next step?



As we promised, we will have countervailing duties and the trade related laws passed in Parliament when we meet in February. We have already debated the issue. It is now a matter of passing. The vote will be held when we meet in February. As far as the agreement is concerned, it is now up to the private sector to make use of this agreement. On the one hand, it is to improve trade. On the other hand, what we expect is the arrival of Singaporean investors to Sri Lanka.



QThere are allegations that the proper procedure was not followed in working out this FTA. In fact, some professional groups made this allegation. What is your view?



It is not true. We have been discussing this for over one and half years. We have consulted all the chambers and the professional associations.



In one of the professional associations, we found some adverse comments made. It is only a couple of individuals, not the association. It is not going to affect them.



QWhat are your plans to reduce the balance of trade between the two countries?



The FTA is not only for reducing the balance of trade. This is a very comprehensive FTA. You cannot reduce the balance of trade. It depends on what we import. We import from them petroleum products, lubricants and so on. These are high-value items. These are not covered by the FTA. Over 90 odd percent of imports from Singapore will not come within the FTA. It is the same with India. Most of the items, coming from India, fall outside the FTA. Those are things required for the country, be they petroleum products or motor vehicles.



QWhat are the tariff concessions we have received from Singapore?



Singapore is one of the most liberalized countries in the world. Their tariff is extremely low in any case. What we are looking at is how we can enter the markets in ASEAN. This is a high-quality agreement we have signed with one of the most liberalized economies in the world. We sent a clear message to the rest of the world that we are open for business.



QHow far have you progressed with regard to the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with India?



We have had seven or eight rounds of negotiations. At the next round, we are trying to see whether we can finalize this by July or August, this year.

In the FTA with Singapore, we have allowed corporate sector transfers. It is advantageous to us. For India, it should be investment-based. There will be certain standards they will have to make. People will be allowed to come only in areas where we do not have sufficient expertise. Only qualified people will be allowed to come



QHow are you going to open the service sector in this instance?



We are not opening the service sector at all. Yet, in the FTA with Singapore, we have allowed corporate sector transfers. It is advantageous to us. For India, it should be investment-based. There will be certain standards they will have to make. People will be allowed to come only in areas where we do not have sufficient expertise. Only qualified people will be allowed to come.



As for the FTA with China, we are waiting for some clarifications from them. Talks have been stalled for some time. Hopefully, we will recommence talks in March, this year.



In the long run, we have to be competitive. We have a small domestic market of 20 million people. We are looking at the world market. The only way we can be competitive is by restructuring our industries, bringing in new technological know-how. The whole world is changing. If you do not change, you will be left behind. You can see how countries like Vietnam and Thailand have progressed so fast. We have to get out of the island mentality.



QWhen you say island mentality, what does it mean?



We are only looking inwards. It makes us inefficient and uncompetitive. Last year, we had the highest export turnout of US $ 15.15 billion. We also had the highest ever Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of US $ 1.63 billion. This shows that our economic policies are correct. We are on the right track. We expect our exports to go up by another 15 percent, and the FDI to be over US $ .2.5 billon. We can keep this momentum. After three to four years, we will be able to overcome our problems.



QWhen attracting FDI, how can you compete with countries like Malaysia, Bangladesh and others in the region?



Along with FDI, there comes technological know-how. It is not only funds. They have to make sure that they make industries more competitive.



We have to think of upskilling as well. They will ensure that our skills are developed.



QThere is a shortage in our labour market. How are you going to address it?



There is a shortage in certain industries. We have to look at whether to bring in certain labourers as well. The construction industry is one where there is a shortage.

There is a shortage in the apparel industry.

Last year, we had the highest export turnout of US $ 15.15 billion. We also had the highest ever Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of US $ 1.63 billion. This shows that our economic policies are correct. We are on the right track.



QThe President said recently that the economy was run by the UNP for the last three years. He said he would take it over. What do you feel about it?



What people talk on election platforms should not be taken seriously.



QThis comes from the Head of State. How can you be-little it?



But, it comes from a political platform. I do not think anybody can find fault with how the UNP ran the economy. We can already see that investment has gone up. Exports have gone up. This is only the beginning.



Development work is going on. It may not be visible. We do not talk about it. There are a lot of activities going on. The freeway is being constructed from Kandy to Colombo. We just issued Request for proposals (RFP) for the Ratnapura expressway. A lot of rural roads are being constructed. A lot of water projects are being done. Power plants are being set up.



On the other hand, we have given relief to people. Drug prices have come down substantially. Whatever anyone might say, the cost of living, compared with 2014, has come down. Gas prices have come down. Consumer items have come down in prices. In spite of severe droughts for three to four seasons, we have ensured there is sufficient food for the people. Even rice is now available at a reasonable price.



QYou mean to say that the allegation about mismanagement of the economy does not hold water?



I do not think so. We have to make some difficult decisions in the interests of our future generations. It could not have been business as usual. If we had gone the same way, we would have been bankrupt by now. We had to take hard decisions. Results are beginning to show. By 2020, our country will be a different place.



QWhat about the plan for the development of the Mattala International Airport?



RFPs were called. No proper proposal had been received. Now, discussions are underway with the Indian Aviation Authority to set up a joint venture. It will be between the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka and the Indian Aviation Authority.

This is a high-quality agreement we have signed with one of the most liberalized economies in the world. We sent a clear message to the rest of the world that we are open for business.

This is a high-quality agreement we have signed with one of the most liberalized economies in the world. We sent a clear message to the rest of the world that we are open for business.



QIs that to develop it as an international airport?



Yes, it is for the development of it as an international airport. Viability is being studied. If the Indians are coming, they will ensure that it is viable. There is a lot of traffic from India.



QHow far have you progressed?



Officials are continuing the discussions. We should be able to complete it within the next three to four months.



QThe UNP MPs talk about the formation of a UNP government in the future. What is your view?



We have not discussed anything of this as yet. I think if you are to develop this country, both the parties have to work together not only until 2020 but even after that. As UNPers, we are only interested in developing our country and making it a better place for our people. Others, for political reasons, may be saying various things.



QNow, the two parties take on each other in a bitter way. How feasible is it to sustain the unity government?



The UNP has not criticized the President. One or two individuals may have criticized. The UNP, as a party, has maintained our discipline. The Prime Minister has not responded. The senior ministers have not responded. One or two people may have said various things.



QBut, the President took that criticism so seriously. He even staged a walkout from the Cabinet. We heard you approached the President and tried to pacify him. What is your view?



I do not like to discuss what happened in the Cabinet.

We have given relief to people. Drug prices have come down substantially. Whatever anyone might say, the cost of living, compared with 2014, has come down. Gas prices have come down. Consumer items have come down in prices.



QAgain, is it possible for the two parties to be together under these circumstances?



Well, from our point of view, we have no issue. If we are to develop this country, we have to be together. We have to accommodate other parties. If we are to have development, we cannot have divisive politics.



QThe UNP promised to establish a rule-based environment. But, the Central Bank bond scam took place under the UNP led government. How has it affected your image?



The Commissions report very clearly says that the UNP, as a party, is not involved. No one from the UNP is involved. We are for a rule-based structure. We are making a lot of changes as a result. We are making a lot of reforms in all fronts-on the monetary policy, fiscal policy, trade policy etc. All these will be done taking into account the best practices of the world.



QThe UNP is accused of attempts to cover up the scam. What is your response?



The UNP has never covered up anything. We have said that action should be taken against whoever is responsible. We are also making our own inquiry. The commission has requested the Attorney General to investigate. If there is anyone to be prosecuted after the Attorney Generals investigation, the party will certainly take action.



QBe it even an MP of the party?



It can be an MP, Minister or anyone.



QActually, one Minister of your party was stripped of his portfolio over the bond scam. What is your view?



You are talking about Ravi Karunanayake. In case of Ravi, he resigned. That is nothing to do with the bond issue. That is because of a private transaction he has had.



QLater, Mr. Karunanayake said there was backstabbing within. What is your view?



I do not think there is anything like that. The UNP is a very disciplined political party. We do not criticize for the sake of criticizing. At the same time, if any person is found guilty, action will be taken.



QYou said the two parties should stay together. Does it mean you will have a round of talks with the SLFP after the election for it?



Yes exactly. The policies of the two parties have been quite different. For years, we have been fighting each other. Some people are still having the same thinking. Thinking must change.



QYou were involved in politics for a long time. Yet, you entered Parliament for the first time this year. How do you feel?



It is not easy to get things done in politics. I am coming from the corporate sector. First, we have to change the mindset of the people. It is time to change the mindset of politicians. Most of the politicians are only looking at the next election. As far as the technocrats in Parliament are concerned, we are interested in doing something for the country.



QThere is an allegation that the UNP made a lot of money out of the bond scam. Former MP Rajiva Wijesinha even implicated your name. What have you got to say?



All these are baseless allegations. I do not think anyone should listen to Rajiva Wijesinha. The bond commission itself said nothing of that sort happened. Then, why should anyone take Rajiva Wijesinha so seriously?Salute You, a programme to support disabled war heroes organized by the Arrya Foundation was held at the Gemunu Regiment in Kuruwita, Ratnapura recently. Ashcharya Peiris, an award winning fashion designer who lost her eyesight due to the LTTE deadly bomb blast that took place in Rajagiriya in 2000 was seen inquiring the well being of a soldier who was in house at the Army Hospital. Sanitary ware worth Rs. 500,000 and walking aids were distributed during the programme. Arrya Foundation Executive Director former army commander General Shantha Kottegoda, Director Charith Kiriella, Fight Cancer President M.S.H. Mohamed, artistes, professionals and media personnel participated at the event.

Floral tributes were offerred in memory of fallen war heroes at the memorium of the Gemunu regiment. (Pix by Thilanka Kanakarathna)Handover of certificates to MRH Managing Director Mr. Jayantha Panabokke by CCC CEO Sanith de Silva Wijeyeratne with the Senior Management Teams of MRH, CCC and SFG in the background

Mahaweli Reach Hotel (MRH), reputed as the first hotel to achieve 5-star status in Kandy, recently marked another milestone in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry of Sri Lanka by becoming the first hotel to be certified as a CarbonConscious, WaterConscious and WasteConscious Hotel. The certifications were awarded to MRH by The Sustainable Future Group (SFG)  a leading sustainability validation, verification and certification services provider, as a result of the Hotel committing to a long-term programme of measuring, managing, and mitigating their overall environmental footprint.

The Conscious range is part of a proprietary, diverse range of certifications developed by SFG following internationally accepted standards and protocols to measure, manage and mitigate/enhance key environmental impact areas such as carbon, water, waste and biodiversity. In obtaining the certifications, MRH partnered with The Carbon Consulting Company (CCC) for expert assistance in first identifying specific areas the Hotel should focus on that would be directly alignedwith the businesss ustainability and corporate goals. Subsequently, in-depth audits were conducted to assess MRHs impact baseline, and relevant Environmental Data Recording and Monitoring Systems were also implemented. As part of the certification requirements, an internal Sustainability Team was formed to brainstorm ideas and to drive footprint mitigation initiatives whilst tracking progress through comprehensive management plans.

Commenting on their latest achievement, Mr. Jayantha Panabokke, Managing Director of Mahaweli Reach, said, The efforts of our staff and management team, with the help of The Carbon Consulting Company, have made our vision of becoming a sustainable business entity reality. We can now uphold our founders vision of providing an unforgettable Sri Lankan holiday experience to our guests, whilst at the same time mitigating our impact on the planet. Our commitment to provide excellence and quality is strengthened as we begin this journey of sustainability and bring Mahaweli Reach and the tourism industry of Sri Lanka into the 21st Century.

Sanith De Silva Wijeyeratne, CEO of CCC, stated, Were proud to have Mahaweli Reach join the esteemed ranks of sustainable hotels in Sri Lanka, showing that tradition and caring for the environment are not mutually exclusive. Marking a turning point for the tourism industry in Sri Lanka, this new milestone for thisprominent hotel is a testament to the openness ofits management to adapt to pressing global changes and requirements whilst maintaining theintrinsic values of the founders of the Hotel. Their commitment to the community and environment will go a long way in achieving sustainability in the country, bringing Sri Lanka one step closer to achieving a more sustainable future.

MRH is no stranger to sustainability however, with the Hotel organising several initiatives annually. Their activities are focused around five key themes  investing in people; providing additional support to members of staff; educating local youth; preserving the environment; and promoting well-being amongst the community. Special attention has been given to employing sustainable and ethical business practices within the Hotels operations as well. As a responsible corporate citizen engaged in the hospitality business for over forty years, and having realised the magnitude of influence this industry can have on our society, MRH has prioritised sustainability as a vital component of their business strategy.The Sri Lanka-Bangladesh Business Co-operation Council of the National Chamber of Commerce (NCC), will host Bangladesh High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Riaz Hamidullah as a special guest speaker on bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on Thursday, February 8, 2018, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the chamber, No: 450, D R Wijewardene Mawatha, Colombo 10.

The participants will get an opportunity to have a close dialogue with the high commissioner and officials and get information on trade with Bangladesh.



Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan), named in 1971, is one of the oldest civilizations dating back to 4000 years and is one of the most densely populated countries in the world with 166 million. The capital Dhakas population alone is 17 million, almost the whole population of Sri Lanka. According to the Asian Development Bank, Bangladeshs economy grew by 7.1 percent in 2016, the fastest expansion in 30 years and the countrys recent economic boom must rank as one of the worlds best economics. Garment exports are the backbone of Bangladeshs industrial sector, accounting for more than 80 percent of total exports.



The main industries are jute, cotton, garments, pharmaceuticals, drugs, fertilizer, iron and steel, cement, petroleum products, tobacco, fabricated metal products and natural gas, agriculture products, rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses and spices. Sri Lanka exports clothing apparel, rubber products, textiles, chemical products and tea to Bangladesh. Sri Lanka imports pharmaceutical products, apparel clothing, jute bags and vegetables from Bangladesh.



Those who wish to take part may contact the chamber for registration: TP 4741788 (Fouad/Nishanthi)/ pa@nationalchamber.lk, nishanthi@nationalchamber.lk.The International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL) welcomes Sri Lankas landmark modern and comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) between Sri Lanka and Singapore (SLSFTA), the first bilateral FTA to be signed after 20 years.



The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) works to champion evidence-based policies to shape the multilateral trade and investment agenda as a driver of growth, jobs and development.



The ICC is the leading business voice in the World Trade Organisation and other international forums  including the G20. The ICCSL is the local chapter of Paris-based ICC.



The FTA with Singapore, one of the most liberalized economies in the region, will open many opportunities for Sri Lankan companies to access other ASEAN markets. Furthermore, the ICC champions free trade and sees this agreement as a positive step toward trade liberalization by the government of Sri Lanka, said ICCSL Chairman Dinesh Weerakkody.



According to the release by the Development Strategies and International Trade Ministry, the FTA covers goods, services, investment, trade remedies and dispute settlement, customs co-operation and trade facilitation, economic and technological cooperation, government procurement, e-commerce and intellectual property rights to name a few.



In addition, the FTA is expected to drive in more foreign direct investments into the country. The FTA includes for Sri Lanka a window to participate in government procurement. This would allow Singapore companies to participate in government projects.



Currently, Singapore accounts for only 5 percent of FDI inflows during 2014-17 and is the seventh largest investor with over 119 Singaporean companies operating in Sri Lanka.



The ICCSL further notes that there is a need for greater engagement with the private sector to ensure the FTA delivers value to the country.Janai Brugger

Poetic treasures and rarefied airs

by arwulf arwulf

From the January, 2018 issue

On January 31, lyric soprano Janai Brugger will step away from her busy schedule as ascendant opera star to return to Ann Arbor for a lieder recital at Lydia Mendelssohn Theater, accompanied by our master of collaborative piano, Martin Katz. The concert will open with a bouquet of French melodies by Francis Poulenc. "Pastoral Air" with words by Jean Moreas will be followed by an ode to the "Queen of the Seagulls" and two satires on marriage by Marie Louise Leveque de Vilmorin, who was praised by Poulenc for her "sensitive impertinence."



Yet the real treasure in this part of the program will be Poulenc's poignant setting of a poem by surrealist French Resistance poet Louis Aragon, simply entitled "C." This refers to "Les Ponts-de-Ce," a group of bridges spanning the river Loire near Angers in western France. Traversing the bridges on foot in 1942, the poet was haunted by visions of the distant past while contemplating the wretched aftermath of the German invasion, grimly embodied by overturned automobiles. Poulenc's music and Aragon's words form an unforgettable lament for all who suffered and perished in Nazi-occupied France.



Franz Schubert composed "On the River" near the end of his brief life. The verses by Ludwig Rellstab paint a wistful picture of an individual seated in a boat embarking on a sombre journey from familiar surroundings to the gray and turbulent expanse of the open sea. Scored for voice, piano, and French horn, "On the River" is considered the sole counterpart to Schubert's very last song, "The Shepherd on the Rock," in which the horn is replaced by a clarinet. Brugger and Katz's realization of "On the River" will feature U-M horn professor Adam Unsworth.



The first half of the concert will close with five lieder by Richard Strauss, including two love songs that he gave to his wife as a wedding present in 1894. The gentle music that Strauss wove around "Caecilie," a poem written by

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essayist Heinrich Hart for his own wife, conveys a heady blend of amorous longing and contentment. Brugger's highly developed theatrical sensibilities are sure to enhance the Straussof 1919, adding Shakespeare to the evening's roster of lyricists.The second set will open in the rarefied atmosphere of Sergei Rachmaninoff's songs on verses by six Russian Symbolist poets, composed in 1916 and dedicated to Ukrainian soprano Nina Koshetz. These were the last of Rachmaninoff's songs, for, after relocating to the United States, he devoted himself almost exclusively to the piano. Brugger's richly varied program will close with American composer Lee Hoiby's settings of nature poems by e.e. cummings, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Blake, William Butler Yeats, and Emily Dickinson. [Originally published in January, 2018.]The government is discussing with the Indian Aviation Authority on forming a joint venture to develop the Mattala International Airport, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama said.

In an interview with Daily Mirror, he said it would be a joint venture between the Indian authorities and Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka for the development of an international airport. The minister said the airport could be made economically viable if the Indian authorities came into the partership.

He said the agreement could be finalised by August this year. (Kelum Bandara)IPM Sri Lanka - the nations leader in human resource management - paid tribute to its former President Lalith Wijetunge who was recently inducted as the President of the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA).



The event was held at the Members Lounge, IPM Head Office in the form of an evening networking session where IPM hosted OPA President Lalith Wijetunge, Management Committee Members of OPA, and at the same time felicitated the new heads of all the OPA member organisations in the presence of IPM Past Presidents, Council Members, Co-chairmen of the External Affairs Standing Committee and the Chief Operations Officer of IPM. The event was organised by the External Affairs Standing Committee of IPM Sri Lanka Co-Chaired by IPM Immediate Past President Rohitha Amarapala and Council Member Dhammika Fernando.



We are honoured to salute Lalith Wijetunge, a truly inspirational people leader who was inducted as the President of the OPA recently. We are inspired by the way he conducted the affairs of IPM while guiding us during his tenure of three years as President of IPM Sri Lanka and thereafter as well. Another great feat is that this is the first time in history that a former President of IPM was elected to the helm of the OPA. It is indeed a deep honour and privilege for us to have such a remarkable person leading the OPA, said IPM Sri Lanka President Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri in his prerecorded message.



On behalf of IPM President and IPM Council, Immediate Past President Rohitha Amarapala presented a memento to OPA President Lalith Wijetunga in honour of his immeasurable services to the world of HR in the presence of Dhammika Fernando, Secretary IPM Ken Vijaykumar, Treasurer Ajith Bopitiya, Past President Chris Obeyesekere and Council Member C. Hewapattini.



In his welcome address Dammika Fernando while paying tribute to the newly elected President of the OPA stressed upon the need to take advantage of the excellent synergistic relationship that exists between the OPA which is an influential professional body with 48 professional member associations representing 36 professions with over 60,000 professional members and IPM Sri Lanka, which is the leading professional body for human resource management.



This special relationship can be utilised in helping the country uplift its human resource capabilities and potential so that Sri Lanka as a country can drive growth to monumental levels and compete with our neighbors for foreign direct investment and in driving exports. A highly resilient, growth oriented human resource management strategy giving due consideration to industry requirements would help to overcome many of its challenges in the medium to long term, and IPM is well positioned to assist its fellow member associations in the OPA in many ways.



IPM produces over 700 market ready well rounded HR professionals on a yearly basis who pass out from the IPM Business School. The fully fledged IPM Business School having considered the future needs in the HR sector, will be offering recognised degrees in human resource management in the near future. IPM also has a Consultancy arm which offers consultancy services through a selected panel of experienced, multi-faceted highly qualified human resource professionals who are capable of advising companies and industries on human resource strategy.



In order to provide a significant amount of value addition to the industry from an HR perspective, IPM also set up a strong research arm under the guidance of eminent HR practitioners and academics. The objective of the IPM research arm is to encourage research into many new and existing HR policies and practices, advice companies and policy makers of the merits and demerits of any existing or proposed HR related activity.



IPM also has 12 standing committees which offer services to different areas of business while the well stocked HR library offers many benefits to its different stakeholders. IPM conducts career guidance programmes, workshops, evening guest lectures, networking events in order to raise awareness of while popularising human resource management and its importance to business and industry. IPM Sri Lanka has a faculty of over 200, a permanent workforce exceeding 65 and has established five branch offices and regional centers for the convenience of its members and students.



Dhammika Fernando also requested solidarity of all brother associations under the OPA for the upcoming HR World Congress-Colombo 2020 hosted by IPM Sri Lanka on behalf of the World Federation of People Management Association (WFPMA).Following is the speech made by National Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka President Sujeeve Samaraweera, at the 59th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Colombo recently.



I am taking over the Presidency of this Chamber at a very critical period for the world economy as well as the Sri Lanka economy.



As per the World Bank assessments, Sri Lankas economic performance remained broadly satisfactory in 2016 and early 2017 although recent floods and drought adversely affected macroeconomic performance.



The government is more focused on bringing fiscal reforms, improving public financial management, increasing public and private investments, addressing infrastructure constraints, and improving competitiveness which is admirable. New directions taken on green growth opportunities, environmental management, and women inclusion will lead the country to internationally accepted norms.



Sri Lanka being a lower middle-income country with 21.2 million population with per capita GDP in 2016 of US$3,835. The economy is transitioning from being predominantly rural-based to urbanized economy oriented around manufacturing and services.



The economy has been growing at a moderate phase of around 4 percent during the last three years, where the expectations of the business community are at higher levels.



It is worth mentioning that in 2016 Sri Lanka was hit with the worst drought in four decades that continued into 2017. In May 2017, Sri Lanka experienced one of the worst floods in 14 years, where agri and industry sectors facing more difficulties. As Sri Lanka aspires to become a higher middle-income country, it will need to adjust its development model and economic growth which will likely require continued structural changes towards greater diversification and productivity increases. Although Sri Lanka has excelled in overcoming human development challenges, typical to a low-income country, its service delivery systems in education, health and other areas must now adjust to face new and changing demands of a middle income country. To accommodate these increasing demands, the government needs to increase fiscal revenues in the medium term.



For the country to transits to a more robust, competitive, and globally integrated economy and create better-paying private-sector jobs, we need to distribute the benefits of the countrys growth to all citizens and increase female labor force participation through education. Boosting green growth, improving environmental management, and mitigating natural disasters and the effect of climate change are also priorities.



SME development



Just like in other economies, in Sri Lanka the main driving force of the economy is considered to be SMEs. Approximately 75 percent of the enterprises in the country can be classified as SMEs and they provide approximately 40 percent of the employment in the country in diversified sectors ensuring inclusive growth.

It is noted that many SMEs do not use latest technology and having limited access to finance due to collaterals not being available. Further, SMEs are not directly connected to markets especially in the case of exports.



Our chamber is very much involved in SME activities and carries out many programmes to assist the small and medium entrepreneurs to develop their business and skills and knowledge.



Small and Medium Enterprises play a significant part and contribution to most of the economies of the world. There are ample opportunities and exposure for large corporates in Sri Lanka and outside. They have the capital, technology and markets to survive and sustain.



It is a prime requirement today to support small and medium enterprises, and we must not forget startups and micro businesses, they will eventually grow bigger. Chambers together, with government development agencies and financial institutions should have a common development strategy for micro, small and medium entrepreneurs. We should continue to encourage entrepreneurship in this country.



SMEs are facing many difficulties and challenges in accessing international markets. It is an internationally-accepted norm that policy level corrections are needed to ensure SMEs enter and continue to be in international trade. SMEs find it difficult to deal with regulatory processes associated with trading goods across borders. Recent studies have confirmed that reduction of complex border procedures will encourage SMEs to partake in more and more export/import activities. Through the national budget proposals of the government is proposing to setup a Development Bank to support the financial needs of the SME Sector and a SME guarantee fund also to be established which is expected to expand borrowing capacity of SMEs.



The development projects proposed by the government for Kandy, Galle, Anuradhapura and Jaffna would bring in economic benefits for regions. It would provide much needed equal development opportunities for the regions and would help establish National Reconciliation in the country as well.Faster implementation of such proposals will bring benefits to the SMEs and economy at large, faster.



The National Chamber of Commerce is working hand in hand with provincial and District Chambers to address this situation. We conducted the Western Province Entrepreneurship Awards for the second time in 2017, on an invitation by the National Enterprise Development Authority under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.



We will pave the way for MSMEs to come to National Level and compete with larger business ventures, through our flagship event of the Chamber - National Business Excellence Awards to conquer the Business world.



It is a known fact that private sector is the growth engine of the development of any economy. It is through Public Private Partnership that we could accomplish far reaching economic goals. In this context we would like to urge the government, international development agencies and private sector to come together.



Export development



The export sector performance is very critical for an economy to progress.



Initial steps have been taken by the authorities to prepare the National Export Strategy (NES) for Sri Lanka as a joint effort of public and private sector consultative process under the patronage of Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.



Main theme of the NES is decided as Sri Lanka  An Export Hub driven by Innovation and Investment  with key focus sectors that have been identified as, ICT, wellness and tourism, spice, boat building, processed food & beverages, electronic electrical and machinery. It is of utmost importance that national export strategy should be implemented as early as possible. We also feel that it should be revived at regular intervals enabling to bring in timely changes.



Trade support functions were also identified in the said process such as, national quality infrastructure, innovation and R&D, logistics and trade promotion. Potential and mature export products will be benefitted under these trade support functions.



Under the Blue Economy programme of the government, the encouragement extended for deep sea fishing and infrastructure facilities development proposals for the fisheries sector is also appreciated.



Sri Lanka being an island and having one of the biggest sea areas of 517,000 square kilometers, and having fish export ban lifted by EU, we should be able to do much better on fish exports.Supporting the export industries by way of encouraging investments, offer them attractive terms to acquire latest technology, encourage them to invest in patents and branding in overseas markets, ensuring internationally accepted quality infrastructure and quality certification systems with in the country are vital for the developments of the sector. In an environment that we have regained GSP Plus, on behalf of the business community we request authorities, early implementation of the national export strategy, so the entire economy will be benefitted with a positive impact on employment generation and GDP and narrow the current account deficit.



We have seen the government is getting involved at very high levels on economic diplomacy in sorting out business issues, the recent tea export ban in Russia can be taken as an example, business community appreciate the same expect continuation of such efforts.



It is vital to keep the cost of production as low as possible so that our products would be competitive in the international market specially competing with Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Vietnam and Myanmar etc. It is a known fact that our utilities such as water electricity are higher in price in the region. India through their Foreign Trade Policy is supporting the export oriented manufacturing and services in an excessive magnitude and Malaysia is also doing the same to boost and encourage exports. We should look at these examples, analyze and should take constructive steps to improve our economy.



Shortages of skilled labour and unemployment



The report on labour demand survey done by Census and Statistics department reveals that 497,000 jobs are available but 380,000 are unemployed. 177,000 employees are needed by service sector, trading sector needs about 110,000, construction sector needs 20,000, for tourism 10,000, and plantation sector needs about 3,000.



Shortages of skilled labour continue to be a hindrance across many businesses in manufacturing and services in Sri Lanka. The National Chamber statistics also demonstrate that there is a shortfall in all the industries.



In the recent past the government paid considerable attention to the matter and it is essential that Sri Lankan government continues to focus on policies forming the much required skilled workforce for the industries, therefore it is vital for Sri Lanka to have policies aligned to increase skilled labor availability and to get these skilled labor employed on export related industries is also of paramount importance.



It is significant to understand that there should be a change of attitudes of young community to get in to skilled jobs, social acceptance for these jobs is at a minimum level. The government, private sector and media in this country at large have a great national responsibility to make this transformation happening.



Importance of trade facilitation



In simple terms, Trade facilitation can be recognized as, making it simpler and efficient for traders to move their goods across borders. Doing Business Index of World Bank is also taking Trading Across Borders as a significant evaluation criterion in ranking countries. Under this category, documentation and border compliance, cost of exports in compliance with documentation and border procedures, importation time and cost related to border procedures and documentation are taken for detailed evaluation. This confirms the importance of cross border trading at every level.



On 31 May 2016 Sri Lankan government ratified the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement where it came to effect in February 2017. In April 2016, Cabinet nod was given to establish the National Trade Facilitation Committee which is chaired by Director General of Sri Lanka Customs and Director General of Department of Commerce as the co-chair, the government sector and the private sector is well represented in this committee ensuring well bonded Public Private Partnership, in achieving the ultimate goal of implementing TFA in Sri Lanka



Additionally, Sri Lankan government requested, the support of World Bank Group for the development and implementation of web-based trade information portal, to develop the blueprint of the national single window operation.



It is with a positive note that we mention the movement has taken every possible step trade facilitating the business community greatly.



The National Chamber is working very closely with the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs functioning under the Prime Minister, in sorting out business issues faced by the business community, under the direction of Paskaralingam, Senior Advisor in the ministry. It is a very practical way of facilitating trade, hence we would like to encourage such great efforts.



Need for national trade policy



Since Sri Lanka is negotiating many preferential Free Trade Agreements at the moment with larger and stronger economies, such as India, China and Singapore, the Cabinet has granted approval to go ahead with the Singapore FTA.



The National Chamber is stressing the fact that it is an absolute necessity to have a National Trade Policy for Sri Lanka which will govern and provide directions to any trade agreements to be signed by Sri Lanka with any other country.



It is worth mentioning that India has well defined Foreign Trade Policy which is updated every five years where the current policy statement is applicable to the period of 2015 to 2020. This document provides framework agenda for exports and imports of India for the specified time period, keeping aligned with the vision of Made in India of the Indian government to support both manufacturing and services sectors.



Anti-dumping and countervailing measures



We have stressed in the recent years, with the background of Sri Lanka entering in to three Free Trade Agreements with very strong economies, in the near future, it is vital to implement anti-dumping regulations in Sri Lanka.



In other words, a common mechanism to protect our domestic industries from unfair trade practices is a absolute necessity. Most of the emerging economies like India, Brazil and China are already practicing anti-dumping measures with the view of protecting their local industries. Over the past decade, China and India have rapidly increased their use of antidumping laws, the worlds most dominant form of trade protectionism, against their trading partners.



Women and youth development



Gender equality and women empowerment plays a key role in 2030 agenda for sustainable development.



Positive signs are visible in number of women in decent employment and taking further steps to narrow these gaps are considered vital. Many women continue to work as family workers and informal workers with limited access to social protection mechanisms. We also appreciate the Government initiative of bringing 25 percent allocation for women participation in local government elections.



The National Chamber of Commerce firmly believes and committed to support women engagement in business and entrepreneurship. In fact the National Chamber had the First Lady President of a Chamber in Sri Lanka. Chamber is engaged in supporting women entrepreneurship development at national level as well as provincial and district level. It is our belief that women can seriously contribute to the economic development of this country much more than they contribute at present. We need to see more and more ladies in board rooms in this country contributing to the business development.



Youth entrepreneurship and leadership development is also much needed by our country at this juncture, we should train our younger generation to lead the businesses effectively. Creating next level business leaders and allowing them to take practical hands on experience in manufacturing, marketing, sales, financial aspects and entrepreneurship, will ensure the continuation of businesses in the long run.Minister Lakshman Kiriella said UNP supporters would teach political mud-slingers a good lesson on February 10.

Addressing a Local government election rally in Kandy, he said some people presumed they could defeat the UNP over the bond matter .

Our opponents should realise that the UNP is a political party with a strong foundation and a strong leadership. The Opposition requested a debate on the bond report and it was granted. Although Prime Minister wished to address the debate, the joint opposition and the JVP disturbed him. They argued how could they debate without having the bond report. At that point I asked them why they requested for a debate," the minister said.

He said the fullest support should be given to the Prime Minister at this decisive local government election by electing UNP candidates to the local bodies. "There is no doubt that we will be able to have a UNP president next time, if we win the local bodies at this election," the minister said.

He said the Central Expressway was launched and was now progressing. "We are sure it will be inaugurated in August 2020 and and when in operation will take only one hour to reach Colombo from Kandy. It is a given that the development of Kandy District depends on the Central Expressway.

The minister said a Free Trade Zone will be set up in Galagedera and that several such development projects would be launched in the Kandy District on the instructions of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.As part of its annual CSR project, the charitable foundation, My Friend, distributed school packs to students from eight schools around the country. Inspired by the idea - Proper education is the key to overcome any challenge in life, My Friend stepped forward to donate much-needed school packs to ensure children stay in school. On 30th December 2017, students from KandawalaNavodya M.V;Kothalawalapura M.V;Rathmalan Hindu College;Dehiwala Tamil M.V; Darmarama M.V; Aththadassi Vidyalaya; St. Anthonys School and ThelawalaRahula M.V joyously received school packs handed over by My Friend. The school packs consisted of School Bags, Shoe Vouchers, Exercise Books, Water Bottles and Lunch Boxes.



Commenting on the event,Fouzul Hameed  Founder of Myfriend foundation & Managing Director, Hameedia, said, There can be no doubt that only a proper education can help the nations youth overcome any challenge and My Friend has taken on the responsibility to keep children in school by donating essential school needs, just so that students do not drop out because they cannot afford these basic supplies. Now that My Friend has looked after these needs, students can now turn their focus on studies. Committed to Helping Kids Stay in School,My Friend currently works with many schools in helping needy children obtain a decent education to become responsible citizens of the future. The My Friend Project sponsors, supports and encourages children to learn and educate themselves.

My Friend is a project that solely focuses on providing an education to the underprivileged and marginalized children of our society, regardless of cast, creed or religion. The project is the brainchild of Sri Lankas premier menswear designer and mens fashion consultant, Fouzul Hameed, who takes his parents legacy of helping the needy one-step further with the My Friend project.

In the past, My Friend has funded thousands of less-fortunate schoolchildren, helping them overcome financial obstacles to pursue their schooling. It has also conducted many sustainability and environmental initiatives. It has also made positive contributions to schools, Ayurveda hospitals and elders homes to enhance the facilities for the residents. Its projects have helped to achieve social integration and infused new hope for the beneficiaries.My Friend Foundation has always been on the forefront of expanding its reach to less fortunate children, and will continuously do so in the future.The Spices & Allied Products Producers & Traders Association (SAPPTA) yesterday hailed President Maithripala Sirisenas decision to ban re-export of pepper.



The Spices & Allied Products Producers & Traders Association is very happy to learn from the media that President Sirisena has directed that the re-export of pepper from Sri Lanka would be banned from February 10, 2018, SAPPTA Chairman Vernon Abeyratne said in a brief note. `Sirisena speaking at a UPFA election rally on Sunday said re-export of imported tea and pepper would be stopped from February 10, 2018, the same day local government elections are scheduled to be held.



Sirisena went on to say that famers were losing money and the countrys image was getting tarnished with the exporters importing substandard tea and pepper to mix with the local produce and re-exporting them.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.A suicide bombing in central Kabul on Saturday claimed by Taliban militants has killed at least 95 people and injured 158 others, officials said.



Afghan Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahidullah Majroh said the number of casualties may rise, adding that a number of those injured are in critical condition.



The suicide bomber used an explosives-laden ambulance for the attack, which took place near the former Afghan Interior Ministry building complex, said Nasrat Rahimi, a spokesman for the ministry, adding that four suspects had been arrested in connection with the bombing. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a European Union mission official said the attack took place some 120 metres from their offices, adding that no international or Afghan colleagues were injured. All staff were put in safe rooms.



Dozens of those injured were transferred to a hospital run by an Italian non-governmental organization for war victims, according to its chief coordinator, Dejan Panic. Others were being treated outside.

Kabul (dpa),

28 Jan 2018 -Winner of the English category The Other One by Amanda Jay

The Fairway National Literary Award competition reached a successful conclusion on the 26th of January at the Fairway Galle Literary Festival. The award ceremony took place at 5.30 pm at the Fairway Pavilion in the Galle Fort. Present at the event as chief guest was the Honorable Minister of Finance and Media, Mr. Mangala Samaraweera. Several other Cabinet Ministers were also present as guests of honor.

The Fairway National Literary Award is the only competition of its kind that accommodates all three main languages of Sri Lanka. The panels of judges selected a total of 13 novels for the shortlists  five from the Sinhala language category and four each from the English and Tamil language categories. Each shortlisted novelist in each language category received a cash prize of Rs.100,000, while the eventual winner of each language category received a cash prize of Rs.500,000. The winner of the Sinhala category was Pandaka PuthraWasthuwa by Anurasiri Hettige, while Theniyaan the author of Ethanam claimed the prize in the Tamil category. The winning novel in the English category was The Other One authored by Amanda Jay.

The judges for the English language category are; Ranjani Obeyesekere  academic, literary critic and translator in the fields of literature, and theatre and performance, Jolly Somasundaram  retired civil servant, writer, playwright, and film and literary critic, and Arun Welandawe Prematilleke  actor, playwright, director and specialist in immersive theatre.

Winner of the Tamil category Ethanam by Theniyaan

The shortlisted novels in the English language category -

Dutugemunu: Prince of Destiny by Rukmani Samaranayake,

Song of the Sun God by Shankari Chandran,

Wrath of Kali: The Dark Side of God by Mario Perera

The Other One by Amanda Jay.

The panel of judges for the Sinhala language category comprises of Gamini Viyangoda  writer, translator, social activist and political columnist, Buddhadasa Galappaththi  poet, writer, award winning columnist and stage drama make-up artist, and Prabha Manuratne  academic and literary critic championing feminist theory, Marxism and psychoanalysis.

The novels that have been shortlisted were -

Handha Paluwa Thani Tharuwa by Nishshanka Wijemanna,

Yakada Silpara by Wimal Udaya Hapugodaarachchi,

Garunda Muhurthaya by Keerthi Welisarage,

Pandaka Puthra Wasthuwa by Anurasiri Hettige

Nikini Kaluwara by Deepthi Mangala Rajapaksha.

Winner of the Sinhala category Pandaka Puthra Wasthuwa by Anurasiri Hettige

The Tamil language categorys judging panel comprises of V. Maheswaran  academic and award-winning writer, Sumathy Sivamohan  academic, award winning film-maker, writer, performer, playwright and poet, and M. S. M. Anes  academic, writer and translator in the areas of philosophy, culture, music and folklore.

The four shortlisted novels were -

Thazhumbu by M. Balasingham,

Kulaimurisal by J. Wahabdeen,

Ethanam by Theniyaan

Neenthik Kadantha Nerupparu by N. Yohendranathan.

The primary purpose of the Fairway National Literary Award competition is to recognize, encourage and reward excellent creative writing in Sri Lanka. Organized, sponsored and presented by Fairway Holdings, the competition has become increasingly popular and the announcement of the winners for 2017 was eagerly awaited.

The Chief Guest Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Finance and Media

Imal Fonseka, Group CEO of Fairway Holdings

Ranjani Obeyesekere reading out the jury siting for the English category

V. Maheswaran reading out the jury siting for the Tamil category

Prabha Manuratne reading out the jury siting for the SInhala categoryThis rickshaw which has a historic importance had been found in the Gampaha main post office and is presently kept at the entrance of the main post office for exhibition to school children and the general public after painting. This rickshaw is one of the historically memorable items owned by the Postal Department.

The rickshaw travel was an ancient mode of transport used during the colonial period, before the introduction of motor vehicles to Sri Lanka by the British rulers. It has been used for travel of elite people, transport of goods, as well as transporting mail bags to various destinations in the past.



The rickshaw that had been used for the transport of mail bags since colonial times up to the year 1972, between the Gampaha railway station and the Gampaha post office which was situated close to the Gampaha Gal palliya (rock church) in those days, is kept for public exhibition at the Gampaha main post office.



It has been used for public service as well as for the transport of goods until recently from the time Sri Lanka gained independence and also during the colonial times.

It was the rickshaw puller who rendered the service of drawing the rickshaw with the travellers and their goods in those days. At that time, he was paid a mere pittance for that service. Specially, the elite people who lived in the city of Colombo used this vehicle for travelling. That was the pristine glory of rickshaw travelling.A group of diverse but like-minded individuals, the members of ARC have come together in their common desire to fight hatred, bigotry, intolerance and violence because of the harm these antisocial behaviors cause to our society. In that effort, we will not use or sanction the use of illegal actions (such as violence or intimidation) in pursuit of our desired aims and if we learn of anyone who does use these unethical methods we will report those individuals to the authorities. Instead, we will use the guarantees found in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that ensure freedom of legal speech and expression.Gothic Northern Exposure: Medieval Architecture & Painting in Norway.

It might seem strange to encounter medieval art in the cold climes of Norway, but Gothic art and architecture does play an unmistakeable part in its history. During a peaceful interlude in the countrys history, King Hakon Hakonson (1217-1263) was friendly with the English sovereign Henry III, thus an Anglo- Norwegian style evolved. Norways most famous saint, Olaf, enjoyed a cult in England; the Nidaros Cathedral,(above) at Trondheim, was built over his burial site. Standing in front of Nidaross west front, one could be standing at Wells or Lincoln because it is constructed in the Early English Gothic style; this takes us right back to the first slide since builders from Lincoln Cathedral were actually brought in from abroad to help the project. Generally, painting in 13th century Norway falls into three groups: frescoes on stone, of which only a few survive because there were relatively few stone churches, and in many of these the frescoes were whitewashed over; paintings on wood, mostly in the stave (wooden) churches; lastly, the altar frontals. Unlike Paris and Prague, hardly any book illuminated art has survived. It is difficult to isolate specific schools of painting in Norwegian art, though Bergen in the west produced much altar art; Trondhiem, the spiritual capital also had workshops containing sculptors and glassmakers. Trondheim and Bergen were also visited by the English artist, the Benedictine monk, Matthew Paris (1200-1259) in 1248; but other sources would have included manuscripts in France. As for paintings, some clues are provided by an extant Icelandic painting manual which recommends several techniques: overlaying silver and gold over a chalk base, or applying an oil-based glaze, to give the effect of gilding; but this constituency was not yet the oil made famous by the Van Eyck brothers.

The term is used by Martin Blindheim in his The Stave Church Paintings: Mediaeval Art from Norway (Italy, 1965), 6.Art & the Monasteries.

What does the art of the Middle Ages really owe to the monks? G.G. Coulton.

In attempting to answer his own question, Coulton fielded facts that undermined the romantic assumption that monks who worked in medieval monasteries were artists. This myth has been perpetuated by a number of medieval historians who wanted to believe that the men who worked, worshipped and lived in monastic buildings actually built them; that they also carved most of its sculpture and were responsible for its interior painted decoration. By careful scrutiny of statements made by later medievalists like Montamlebert and others, Coulton concluded that those responsible for building projects and temporal affairs were the lay-brethren amongst whom would be numbered carpenters, smiths, stone-hewers, and masons who would have been hired by the monks. Why did this romantic view of the Middle Ages prevail? It was mainly because of the historical interpretation of documents on art made by religious figures. One of the most famous was the Letter of St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090- 1153) in which he expressed the dangers of art which could seduce the monks from their work and devotions, like the above capital at Vezelay. Animadverting against the strange carved figures, monstrosities found on pillars and capitals in the cloisters of monasteries, Bernard was simply pointing up the power of art; but none of this powerful statement supports the contention of some scholars that Bernard was an artist himself despite knowledge of the subject. What seems to happened is that scholars like Montamlebert took a specific case and generalised from it thus distorting the true cultural picture.

The Art of the Reformation (Cambridge University Press), 1953, 26.

Ibid, 33.Ambassador Tigran Mkrtchyan (stationed in Vilnius), who is on a working trip to Latvia, held meetings with Members of Parliament of the country January 24- 25, the ministry of foreign affairs said.

January 29, 2018, 12:11 Armenian Ambassador briefs Latvian lawmakers on NK conflict developments

STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 29, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS:During the meetings the Ambassador addressed the newly signed Armenia-EU CEPA deal  calling on a soon ratification of the document by the Latvian Parliament.

During the meeting with the parliamentarians, the Ambassador presented the priorities of Armenias foreign policy.

The sides discussed steps for advancing parliamentary diplomacy between the two countries, and bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

The Ambassador also briefed the lawmakers about the latest developments of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.Police and air security officers on duty at Moscows Domodedovo Airport have detained a Russian national trying to smuggle diamonds worth eight million rubles (over $142,000) to Israel, Russian Interior Ministry Spokesperson Irina Volk said.

January 29, 2018, 16:50 Woman trying to smuggle diamonds worth $142,000 out of Russia detained at airport

STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 29, ARTSAKHPRESS:"On January 26, jointly with air security officers, a female passenger of the Moscow-Tel Aviv flight was detained in the international departures hall in possession of a batch of diamonds. An examination revealed that the seized gems were natural polished diamonds weighting over 437 carats," she said, adding that their value was estimated at above eight million rubles.

The detainee, a 53-year-old resident of the Moscow Region, is now facing charges of illegal trafficking in precious metals and natural gems and smuggling of strategically important goods, resources or objects of cultural value.(Agriculture) is an important industry to be supported in the county and community, Verrier said.

Martens Cos., which declined to comment for this story about its project, packages potatoes year-round under its own Old Erie label, as well as through other private labels for customers serving the Northeast market, according to the company website. For example, Martens is a licensed shipper, packer and re-distributor of Idaho Potatoes.

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Martens website also states that Martens Country Kitchen, established in 2001, directly supplies food service industries with potatoes pre-cut in popular varieties such as french fries, shredded, diced, etc. The same service is offered for onions, carrots, cabbage, zucchini, celery, peppers, and mushrooms, which are all also processed in the facility.

The impact of Martens new jobs and expansion of its market will have a ripple effect, officials said.

The project will allow local products to be sold in additional markets, expand their reach and multiplying the money that ultimately comes back to the county, Verrier explained. Even on a state level, she believes the state will see a return on the investment in payroll and jobs.Farmers have a number of concerns  the price they receive for their milk, utility costs, and fuel expenses. So anything that can be done to help them deal with the financial burdens they face, while improving farm safety, has my strong support. The ROPS Rebate Program, saves our farmers money, enhances safety, and helps keep the family farming tradition alive. I have consistently fought for funding for this program, along with the other ag-related initiatives, and will do so again this year.

The local assistance programs cut by the governor add up to $11.4 million. That is a significant number, but only a small fraction of a $68 billion budget. The funds go a long way to supporting an industry which really needs a boost to survive.

On a related note, you may recall that a piece of legislation creating a tax credit for farmers who donate to a food bank or other emergency food program was vetoed by the governor at the end of last year. I am pleased to let you know that the bill has been reintroduced.This item is available in full to subscribers.

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Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.Hongqi to unveil first BEV in October

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Recently, Dong Haiyang, assistant to the general manager of FAW Group, revealed that the group's luxury car marque, Hongqi, will roll out its first battery electric vehicle (BEV) in October, 2018. The vehicle is said to be 4.5 meters long and have a range of 310km.

The first BEV is likely to be H5 EV, according to some analysts. The electric version of H5 will resemble the gasoline version in exterior appearance, with a straight waterfall chrome grille and filled with Chinese aesthetics of symmetry.

On January 8, Xu Liuping, chairman of FAW Group released the all-new brand strategy of Hongqi. The automaker plans to shape the luxury marque as NO.1 luxury auto brand in China and one of the renowned brands across the world.

According to Hongqis plan, it will introduce the first electric vehicle in 2018 and it will run the fuel cell vehicle in batches in the following year. In 2020, its all-new FME platform will roll out series of electric vehicles, which can have a range of 600km. By 2025, Hongqi will launch a total of 15 electric vehicle models.

Apart from the electric vehicles, Hongqi will also step up efforts to promote the development of fuel cell vehicles. Xu Liuping said that fuel cell battery is also an important part of the companys strategy. Since fuel cell battery boasts many merits, Hongqi had better put more efforts in the development to gain advantages over other competitors.India has overtaken the US to become the world's third largest steel producer and the country is now looking to bag the second spot from Japan.

New Delhi: India's crude steel production grew by 6.2 per cent to 101.4 million tonnes (MT) in 2017 compared to 95.5 MT in the previous year, a report by World Steel Association said.

China remained the world leader by producing 831.7 MT in 2017, up 5.7 per cent from 786.9 MT in the year-ago period. Japan, the second largest global steel producer, witnessed a negative growth as steel output declined by 0.1 per cent to 104.7 MT in 2017 from 104.8 MT in 2016.

Global steel production reached 1,691.2 MT for the year 2017, up by 5.3 per cent compared to 2016 when the output was 1,606.3 MT.

"Crude steel production increased in all regions in 2017 except in the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), which has remained stable (subject to current estimates)," the report said.

India has overtaken the US to become the world's third largest steel producer and the country is now looking to bag the second spot from Japan.

Worldsteel is one of the largest industry associations in the world. Its members represent approximately 85 per cent of the world's steel production, including over 160 steel producers with 9 of the 10 largest steel companies, national and regional steel industry associations, and steel research institutes.The Economic Survey said over the medium term, three areas of policy focus stand out - employment (finding good jobs for the young and burgeoning workforce, especially women), education (creating an educated and healthy labour force) and agriculture (raising farm productivity while strengthening agricultural resilience).

New Delhi: The Economic Survey on Monday set the agenda for 2018-19  privatising Air India, the complete recapatilisation of PSU banks and stabilising GST implementation to remove uncertainty for exporters.

If these objectives are achieved, the world economy maintains its growth momentum, and oil prices do not persist at current levels, the Indian economy should resume converging towards its medium-term growth potential that previous Economic Surveys have estimated to exceed eight per cent," it said. India would then regain its status as the fastest growing major economy, the Survey added.

The government had announced last year that there would be disinvestment in Air India but the extent of it is yet to be decided. It had constituted an inter-ministerial group to chalk out strategy in this regard. The government owns 100 per cent of Air India.

The Economic Survey said over the medium term, three areas of policy focus stand out - employment (finding good jobs for the young and burgeoning workforce, especially women), education (creating an educated and healthy labour force) and agriculture (raising farm productivity while strengthening agricultural resilience).A Sanjay Leela Bhansali film is always a visual delight. His latest offering Padmaavat is magnificently mounted with mind-blowing performances and mesmerising costumes. No doubt the movie is worth a watch. But since this was based on a much-debated historical character, (the evidence on whether Rani Padmavati existed is still not confirmed) he could have paved the way for a radical climax as opposed to reinforcing conventional stereotypes. Thats what makes the climax disturbing for female members in the audience.

Women are raped, mutilated, killed over honour every passing day and then Bhansali goes ahead and makes a magnum opus visual splendour glorifying Jauhar? And now considering a lot of women have come out in the open, protesting against patriarchy and sexism, bravely standing up for gender equality, this is like going back to the caves. I wish Deepika had put her foot down. Even Ranveer for that matter, opines Kochi-based film critic Neelima Menon.

What makes this portrayal appaling is that Padmavati seeks her husbands permission to burn herself alive and he responds with a beatific smile. At a time when Indian women are fighting hard, waging daily battles against molestation and sexual abuse, such visuals negatively impact the fight. To reinforce the message that a woman is nothing (without a man to protect her) and must voluntarily opt for death in the face of rape, is disgusting.

Bengaluru-based advocate, High Court, Vaishali Hegde Rao admits, While I am willing to grant Sanjay Leela Bhansali the artistic license while depicting the regressive practice of Sati, I am however unable to reconcile to the fact that women in 21st century India still think that the act of committing jauhar is a matter of pride, honour and valour. How LITTLE they have progressed is a matter of anguish and the harsh reality as to why women are treated the way they are in present day India.

A power-hungry and obsessive Alauddin Khilji wages war and deceptively kills Maha Rawal Ratan Singh with the sole purpose of taking possession of his beautiful wife, Rani Padmavati. Nothing can stop him from riding furiously into her palace, alone, unarmed with evil in his eyes. The brave ladies, (with their backs literally against a wall) desperately hurl hot coal stones in a bid to stop him from entering their chambers and buying time to commit jauhar. Sandalwood actress Radhika Pandit feels, In ancient times, women chose to follow the ritual for whatever reasons that were relevant then. However, in todays time glorifying jauhar in any format is uncalled for. I am sure Bhansali sir doesnt intend to glorify the custom. However, a lot of care needs to be taken when one is representing such ideas on the big screen as cinema is a powerful medium and can influence the way one thinks.

The climax scene has the most potent impact on the audiences mind as it often stays with you long after the movie is over. It could have been Sanjay Leela Bhansalis (who has taken his mothers first name and prides himself on being a feminist) golden moment to tweak history and show the women stoning Khilji to death instead of walking into burning flames. There was no need to replay a gory and outdated practice, which visually showcases (yes, that is how it appears) colourfully dressed women (including a pregnant lady and a teenage girl) purposefully walking down the steps into a blazing fire.

Hamida Parkar, a Sydney-based editor of Cinemaspotter, also a self-confessed Bhansali fan, asserts, As a character, Padmavati is shown as fairly brave. But just before the decision to jauhar, she asks for her husbands permission. Not only that, there is no context or attempt to delve into the reason behind jauhar so the way it comes out is that death is the only way for a woman to save her honour.

It was Indian social reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy who played a path-breaking role in getting this ghastly act abolished in 1829. He surely must be turning in his grave at the prospect of a custom being glorified in the 20th century by Indias A-list star Deepika Padukone.

Amrita Singh, a student, comes out strongly against the depiction of this tradition I dont support this thinking that if you are forcefully touched by a man, you are dishonoured. I feel its a shame to the man who touches women without her wish, and not a shame to the woman. I believe that the jauhar pratha endorses the thinking of people that death is better than life for a woman who is raped. Getting raped in no way dishonours a woman. Its just an injustice done to her and committing suicide is not a solution to any injustice.

Nazia Erum, a feminist and author of Mothering a Muslim, raises the most pertinent question and hits the nail on the head when she points out, The film presented a misogynist interpretation of jauhar. My problem is with how Sanjay Leela Bhansali has depicted the jauhar scene. He could have shown what happens when women finally jump into the fire  It didnt tell us about the ugliness this process involved  womens bodies were being burnt in the engulfing fire. Instead showing the glowing image of women walking, it appeared that they were walking into heaven. There was no need to show a catwalk, as much as there was no need to show the little girl walking into the fire. As a director, it is his responsibility for what is shown on cinema. Sanjay refused to show the gory details. I think it was problematic at a psychological level.

 With inputs from Cris, Mohan and Nirtika PanditaSunday evenings are meant for reflection  Amitabh Bachchan will let you know that. The megastar, who was present at an event to distribute hearing aid kits to hundreds of hearing impaired people, got talking about a few of his own ailments. Only last month, Amitabh was down with a pain in the spine and unable to attend Dabboo Ratnanis calendar launch.

The actor adds that he doesnt desist from talking about his health anymore. He says, I dont have any fear or discomfort talking about them, although a lot of people ask me to keep mum about it.

It was in early 2000, when Big B resurrected his career with Kaun Banega Crorepati that he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He recalls, I had problem sitting on a chair because of the pain in the spine. It was later detected that I had tuberculosis which got cured later.

The actor also took the time to recall his near-fatal accident on the sets of Coolie. He says, I was admitted to Breach Candy in Mumbai and I needed a lot of blood. Around 200 people donate blood and I was given around 60 blood platelets. My life was saved, but one such donor suffered from Hepatitis B. It was not detected then and it went into my body. It is known as the Australian Antigen but it is a lethal virus. Not many people knew about it then. Even I didnt know it was in me.

It was in 2005 during a routine investigation that the virus appeared. They realised the virus was inside me and it had eaten up 75 per cent of my liver. I am alive only on 25 per cent of my liver, but I am told that 12 per cent of liver is good enough for someone to live. All this happened because of detection at the right time, he admits.

In the film Sharaabi, the actors left hand was almost always in his pocket, as he gesticulated with his right hand through out the film. The actor reveals his hand was injured when he burst a cracker in his hand. My hand was gone  there were no fingers, no blood. Doctors worked on it for a year and I got it back. I am a southpaw and I could not use my left hand. It was terrible. I could not wear clothes nothing. I was lucky I got my hand back, says the actor.New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a fresh plea for a direction to the producer of Hindi film Padmaavat for deletion of certain objectionable scenes which were not permitted by the court.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Kanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud, after hearing advocate M.L. Sharma dismissed the petition observing that once the Central Board of Film Certification has granted the certificate, no plea could be entertained for deletion of certain scenes.

The CJI made it clear to Mr Sharma that the portions ordered to be deleted from the petition filed by him in November last were applicable only to the petitioner and not to the producer of the film. The CJI pointed out at that time the producer had not obtained the certificate.

Thereafter the Censor board had examined the film and issued the certificate and hence the court could not consider the petitioners plea for deletion of certain scenes. On January 18, the Supreme Court revoked the ban on the film imposed by certain states.Researchers from the University of Edinburgh in the UK identified a key protein called HIF-1 that could explain why heavy bleeding occurs. (Photo: Pixabay)

Scientists have uncovered a cause of heavy menstrual bleeding - a finding that offers hope for a new treatment for women living with the painful condition.

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh in the UK identified a key protein called HIF-1 that could explain why heavy bleeding occurs.

They studied the womb lining, known as the endometrium. This is shed during menstruation, leaving behind a wound-like surface that must heal to limit blood loss.

The team discovered that lowered levels of oxygen - known as hypoxia - stimulates production of HIF-1, which drives repair of the womb lining.

Women with heavy periods had reduced levels of HIF-1 compared with those with normal blood loss, researchers said.

Tests on mice using a drug to boost levels of HIF-1 led to improved tissue repair and reduced blood loss. The results offer hope for therapies, they said.

"Our findings reveal for the first time that HIF-1 and reduced levels of oxygen in the womb are required during a period to optimise repair of the womb lining," said Jackie Maybin from the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh.

"Excitingly, increasing levels of the HIF-1 protein in mice shows real promise as a novel, non-hormonal medical treatment," said Maybin, lead author of the study published in the journal Nature Communications.

Heavy menstrual bleeding is one of the most common reasons for visiting the gynaecologist - about 20 to 30 per cent of pre-menopausal women deal with heavy bleeding, according to the researchers.

Diagnosing heavy menstrual bleeding can be subjective, but the medical community defines it as blood loss of more than 80 millilitres per menstrual cycle.

The condition can lead to severe anaemia - where there are not enough red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body.

It can lead to severe abdominal pain and disrupt daily life, as well as giving rise to other symptoms, such as bloating, unscheduled bleeding, and fatigue.

Current therapies to ease heavy bleeding are hormone- based and often prevent pregnancy.

The researchers say there is a "clear, unmet" need for treatment that does not tamper with hormones and fertility.

"This research lays the much needed groundwork to developing new treatment options for women grappling with this condition," said Neha Issar-Brown, Head of Population and Systems Medicine at the MRC.

"The fact that preliminary results suggest no interference with fertility makes it even more promising," she said.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.Villagers, who found the bodies in the field, caught Mallesh on Sunday and handed him over to the police.

Hyderabad: A land dispute led to the brutal murder of three members of a family. Sama Mallesh attacked his father Sama Bhaskaraiah, his younger brothers Srisailam, 18, and Ramaswamy, 16, with a boulder and killed them on Saturday night. Later, he informed his maternal uncle Venkataiah about the murders over phone on Sunday morning .

According to police, Bhaskaraiah and Lakshmamma, hailing from Mamillapalli village in Uppununthala mandal, own four acres of paddy. While Srisailam helped them in the fields, Ramaswamy was studying in Class X. Mallesh, an alcohol addict, had been fighting with his parents for his share of land.

As per the usual practice, Srisailam and Ramaswamy went to the field to keep guard at night on Saturday. Mallesh, who had been waiting in the field, attacked his brothers with a boulder and killed them. Later, he came home and woke up his father from sleep. He took Bhaskaraiah to the field and killed him too using a boulder.

Later, he left all three bodies in the field and went home. Villagers, who found the bodies in the field, caught Mallesh on Sunday and handed him over to the police.Visakhapatnam: ACB sleuths on Monday netted another big fish Additional Chief Urban Planner of Vuda Pasuparthi Pradeep Kumar for possessing disproportionate assets over and above his known sources of income.

The seized illegal assets, including cash, gold, land holdings, houses and a few others, would easily be in excess of Rs 50 crore as per the market rates.

The 53-year-old Pradeep Kumar, on deputation, assumed charge as Additional Chief Urban Planner of Vuda around two weeks ago and was said to have influenced few politicos to get the posting in Vizag city.

ACB Director-General R.P. Thakur said Pradeep had amassed illegal assets by indulging in corrupt practices. The raids were conducted simultaneously at 12 places, including Kumar's residence and office in Vizag city, houses of his parents, relatives and friends at Anantapur, Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Ongole. Of them, six were in Vizag city. The raids were conducted in the houses of Pradeep Kumars elder son, father, wife's sister, in-laws and friends.

We have seized documents of one house plot measuring 500 sqyd at Madhurwada, a flat at Kirlampudi Layout in Vizag city and another flat in Anantapur in the name of the accused Pradeep Kumar, said DSP of ACB, S.V.V.S. Prasad. Most of the illegal assets were in the name of Kumars wife and documents pertaining to two house sites measuring 311 sqyd each at Madhurawada and one measuring 166 sqyd at Devinagar in Vijayawada were seized.

We also seized agricultural land measuring 4.08 cents at Mydukuru area in Kadapa district, he said.Three person were killed when the car in which they were travelling rammed into a tree at Chevella on Sunday. (Representational Image)

Hyderabad: Three persons, including two employees of Genpact, were killed when the car in which they were travelling rammed into a tree at Chevella on Sunday. Another person, who sustained fractures, is undergoing treatment at a city hospital.

The victims were identified as K. Praveen Kumar and A. Arjun Kumar, Genpact employees, and B. David, a private sector employee. The injured was identified as Shravan, an employee of Genpact.

They were travelling from Hyderabad to Vikarabad. Praveen, who was driving the car, negotiated a steep curve at Mirzaguda village and later the vehicle slid off the road before ramming into a banyan tree. We suspect that the accident occurred due to overspeeding, said Mr G. Guruvaiah, inspector, Chevella. It is not clear at what time they started from the city. But David joined them at around 11.30 pm after attending a function at Basheerbagh, the police said. The police had to pull out the bodies from the vehicle.Hyderabad: Investment in start-ups is considered as income and because of this, a sizeable portion of the funds raised by start-ups have to be paid as angel tax. There is apparently no precedence anywhere in the world where an investment is treated as income and taxed in the hands of the company, except India.

Members of start-up ecosystem have started a petition Save Indian start-ups on change.org. Some start-ups in the city also reportedly received assessment notices in the past year to pay tax on the funds raised.

Mr Jay Krishnan, CEO of T-Hub, said, The big point is that everybody is hoping for the angel tax to go away and the Hyderabad ecosystem is no different. The problem is that in the hands of the investee, it is treated as income. Several announcements have been made about revising the angel tax. If that comes through, it will be great.

The government probably fears that if there are no checks and balances, black money will flow into start-ups massively. People will invest in start-ups at super high valuations just because they can pump much more money into a company and then use other means to turn it into white.

A serial entrepreneur who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, In this whole charade, start-ups have the most to lose, and investors have the most to fear and ultimately, the ecosystem is disrupted. The problem is that the government wants the start-ups to do the heavy lifting. A start-up founder is an entrepreneur with so much to do and doing IT level due diligence on an investor is neither in their interest or their area of expertise. Furthermore, no start-up founder would be courageous enough to ask a HNI (high net worth individual) for his source of funds or income tax details. An investor is already paying income tax and whatever is left after paying is what he invests in a start-up. In effect, the investor is being taxed twice, once on income, second on investment.

Srikanth Perepu of Hyderabad Angels said efforts are being made to help the government understand the repercussions of this. When investors are part of angels network, they are directed through the companys bank accounts. There is no way that any kind of cash component can influence and the colour of money can be traced. We should hear something favourable in the near future.

Some companies are setting up operations outside the country for taxation and other reasons. Says Saurabh Marda, co-founder of Freyr Energy: The range of investment instruments that international investors can use to fund start-ups in this country are currently very restricted, which has a negative impact on growth. Companies are left with no choice but to explore setting-up holding companies outside India. This creates tax complications at the time of investment rounds and exit/buyouts. Extending access to collateral free capital beyond Rs 2 crore would encourage the growth of start-ups.'We should think about the well-being of rural India, farmers, Dalits, tribal communities and labourers,' Modi said. (Photo: ANI/Twitter)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked all the political parties to help pass the triple talaq bill in the Budget session of Parliament as a New Year gift to Muslim women. Modi said, "we have to pass this bill and protect Muslim women".

The Prime Minister said the budget will add new vigour to India's development and will fulfil aspirations of people. "We should rise above politics and make most use of our healthy system of parliamentary committees and have proactive discussions," he said.

Modi also said, "We should make use of our system of parliamentary committees and discuss aspects of the Budget. We should think about the well-being of rural India, farmers, Dalits, tribal communities and labourers."

Terming the budget session important, the Prime Minister said, "The world is optimistic about India. Agencies like World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) have been giving an optimistic opinion of the country."

The last full budget before the 2019 general election will be presented on February 1.

At the all-party ahead of the Budget session, the Prime Minister on Sunday, said the Budget session is very important and the government takes very sincerely the suggestions given about it by opposition during discussion in all party meeting.

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.

The focus of the Union budget will be job creation, small businesses and rural schemes, reported news agency Reuters, quoting officials. "The budget is likely to offer incentives to the farm sector and small businesses," Reuters quoted an official as saying.Thanjavur: The MDMK general secretary, Mr. Vaiko, on Sunday came down heavily on both the state and central governments for what he alleged their failure to get the due share of Cauvery water from Karnataka to save the standing samba crop in the Cauvery delta.

Speaking to presspersons while participating in the rail roko agitation urging state and central governments to get the due share of water from Karnataka, Vaiko said that he condemned the state government led by Edappadi K.Palaniswami for not discharging its duty.

Samba crop is withering on lakhs of acres in the delta districts. At least two wettings are now required to save the crop in panicle initiation stage. But Karnataka is refusing to release water. Though it had to release 192 tmcft of water in a year as per the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, it had released not even 100 tmcft so far. If the present situation continued there will be no water for drinking. There will not be water for saving cattle, he said.Chennai: Despite a partial rollback of bus fares by the Tamil Nadu government on Sunday, the main opposition in the state DMK took to streets protesting against the hike in bus fare.

DMK Working President MK Stalin on Sunday described the downward cut in bus fares announced by the Tamil Nadu government as an "eyewash".

"We have demanded full roll back of increase in bus fares. Tomorrow (Monday) we will stage agitation pressing our demand," Stalin told reporters on Sunday.

Read Also: Cut in bus fares an 'eyewash': DMK holds statewide protest today

The Tamil Nadu government has been witnessing protests ever since the government hiked bus fares on January 19.

In its resolution passed on Sunday, DMK said that their next course of action would be based on the response from the ruling AIADMK on their agitations.

Under pressure from the public and the opposition, the Tamil Nadu government reduced the bus fares in selected services. According to an announcement made by the transport department, the fare revision would come into effect from Monday.

Read Also: Tamil Nadu government cuts bus fares by 4 per cent-20 per cent

With government transport corporations struggling to overcome losses and finding it difficult to pay even the dues to its employees, Tamil Nadu government on January 19 announced a steep hike in government and private bus fares ranging from 20 per cent to 55 per cent. The reason for the increase in fares was attributed to hike in fuel charges, maintenance cost and operational cost among others.

Read Also: After six years, Tamil Nadu hikes bus fares steeply

The move triggered protests from day one with the public taking to streets, shouting slogans and besieging transport offices. It also drew a lot of political flak from the opposition parties, who urged the state government to rollback the fare hike.The President said 2018 is important year for realising dream of new India. (Photo: ANI/Twitter)

New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind, on Monday, said he hopes the Parliament will soon pass the bill to ban instant triple talaq.

The President was addressing the joint sitting of two Houses of Parliament marking the start of the Budget session.

In his maiden address to the joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament, the President said 2018 is important year for realising dream of new India.

President Kovind said that the Government is keen on reducing economic disparity.

The President said the work has started to connect villages with Broadband connectivity. 2.5 lakh Panchayats have already been connected so far, President Kovind said.

Pitching for Swachh Bharat mission, the President said, It is our duty that when we celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary in 2019 we pay tribute to him by making our country completely clean.

Lauding the achievements of the Government, President Ram Nath Kovind said, Parliament has approved a bill granting working woman paid maternity leave of 26 weeks.

The President said, Empowerment not appeasement of minorities is our Governments mantra.

The President said that Aadhaar has helped in securing the rights of the poor by eliminating middlemen.

The President said that Aadhaar has helped in securing the rights of the poor by eliminating middlemen. With help of Aadhaar, facilities are reaching poor beneficiaries directly without involvement of middlemen. Digital transactions are being done for over 400 policies of present govt. This has saved over Rs 57,000 Crore from going into wrong hands, he said.

He said 2.70 lakh Common Service Centers have been set up across the nation which will provide digital service at low rates for various services even in the far off remote areas.

President Kovind said that the Government is committed to double the income of farmers by the year 2022.

The President said to bring everyone closer to development, work under 'Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojana' is being done speedily. In 2014 only 56 per cent villages were connected to roads, today more than 82 per cent villages have road connectivity with the majority being in remote areas, he said.

President Kovind said, Our nation is the youngest nation. My Government started Start Up India, Stand Up India, Skill India and Pradhanmantri Mudra Yojana to help the youth of the country to realise their dreams and make them self employed.

President Kovind said that the Government has increased minimum wage of labourers by more than 40 per cent.

The President said that the countrys fight against corruption is continuing. He said, In the past one year, registration of about 350,000 suspicious companies have been cancelled.

The President said after Independence while only 76 Airports were connected to Commercial flights, under 'Udaan' 56 Airports and 31 Helipads are being connected to commercial flights within 15 months only.

The President appreciated the soldiers and offered condolences to those who lost their lives in action. Jammu and Kashmir Police, defence and paramilitary forces are working together to fight terrorism in J&K, he said.

It's a matter of pride for us that UNESCO recognised Kumbh Mela as 'Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity'. UNESCO also designated Ahmedabad as 'Heritage City'. Chennai was included in the list of Creative Cities by UNESCO. President Ram Nath Kovind said.Coimbatore: After 38 years, the textile city hosted the bull-taming sport on Sunday near L&T bypass at Chettipalayam, which drew tens of thousands of spectators from far and near to make for a record crowd to affirm the cultural sport of the Tamils.

In his address to the gathering at the venue, Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration minister SP Velumani, after flagging off the event, thanked the Chief Minister, Mr. Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. O. Pannerselvam, for granting permission to organise the sport that is synonymous to the festival of harvest in our state.

A source from the district collectorate shared with DC that as many 500 bulls and 550 tamers participated in the jallikattu. Around 2,000 police personnel were posted on duty at the venue to ensure the event went off smoothly. The event brought traffic to a stand-still on the L&T bypass road on Sunday evening. Mr. S. P. Velumani personally gave away gold coins to winners. Almost 500 gold coins were given away. Said Tony Singh. Apart from the gold coins, other prizes including a car, cupboards and the like were given away.

Commenting on the medical arrangements in place, Mr. Tony Singh Anand said, a team of about 20 doctors and an equal number of ambulances were on stand-by at the venue. Minor injuries to the bulls were reported. However, no serious injury was caused to tamers or the bulls.The incident evoked anger throughout the Kashmir Valley where a shutdown was observed on Sunday to mourn and protest the killings. (Photo: ANI/File)

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday witnessed uproar over the recent killing of two youth in the Army firing in southern Shopian district with the opposition National Conference (NC) demanding the arrest of an Army Major and his unit involved in the incident.

However, the BJP argued that the FIR registered against the Major and his associates should be withdrawn and a fresh one must be filed without mentioning the names of Army personnel.

The Army Major and his personnel have been booked on charges of murder (Section 302), attempt to murder (Section 307) and endangering life (Section 336) in Saturdays shooting incident.

Also read: J&K: 2 killed, 9 hurt after Army opens fire at stone-pelting mob in Shopian

The PDP-BJP government has also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident and Kashmirs Divisional Commissioner Baseer Ahmed Khan has asked Deputy Commissioner of Shopian to ensure the inquiry is completed with 3 weeks.

BJP legislator RS Pathania questioned the registration of murder case against the Army. The criminal justice system doesnt work under pulls and pressures, he added.

But Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti snubbed her coalition partner and pledged that the investigations into the incident would be taken to their logical conclusion.

The investigation into the unfortunate Shopian killings would be taken to its logical end. The Army would not be demoralized by registration of single FIR, she said.

Later she reiterated it in a tweet: We will take the Shopian probe to its logical conclusion. Justice & peace are two sides of the same coin.

Two youth Javed Ahmed Bhat (20) and Suhail Javed Lone (24) were killed and nine other civilians injured in the Army firing on a stone-pelting mob in Shopians Ganowpora village on Saturday afternoon.

Also read: J&K: Strike over civilian deaths in Army firing, internet suspended in parts

The incident evoked anger throughout the Kashmir Valley where a shutdown was observed on Sunday to mourn and protest the killings.

The Army has said that its men had opened fire in self-defence only after a mob tried to lynch a Junior Commissioned Office (JCO) and snatch his service weapon.

It also said that seven soldiers were injured and 11 vehicles damaged in the mob attack.

While speaking in the assembly, the Mufti disclosed that the police had advised the Army to avoid Ganowpora route. According to the police sources, the advisory was issued in view of the tensions set off in the area following the killing of two Hizbul Mujahideen militants in a fire fight with the security forces in a neighbouring village last Wednesday. One of the slain men was a resident of Ganowpora.

Earlier, the NC demanded the arrest of Army personnel involved in the shooting incident.

The government should arrest all the Army personnel named in the FIR, NC legislator Ali Muhammad Sagar said.

He added, Im hopeful that the Chief Minister will announce the arrest of these personnel.

However, the Chief Minister during her brief speech in the House criticised the NC and its working president and former Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah.

The latter reacted by alleging that Mufti only knows playing politics over dead bodies.

Abdullah also said that his party was ready to extend its fullest cooperation and support to the incumbent government to end the cycle of bloodshed and violence in Kashmir.

Earlier, the opposition members from the NC, Congress and CPI (M), supported by PDP legislators from Shopian, Muhammad Yousuf Bhat and Sonawar (Srinagar) Muhammad Ashraf Bhat, were on their feet soon after the House assembled for the days business to protest over the Shopian killings.

They moved an adjournment motion to discuss the prevailing law and order situation and raised slogans in support of their demand.

The Speaker asked them to take their seats, assuring that a discussion would be held after the Question Hour, but the opposition did not budge from its demand prompting intervention by the Chief Minister.BENGALURU: In a serial accident involving the car of union minister Anant Kumar Hegde, vehicles escorting his car and a private car, three people travelling in the private car sustained injuries after it rammed into the escort vehicle when it slowed down.

The driver of the private car couldn't control the speed after minister's car came to a screeching halt prompting the drivers of escort vehicle to immediately reduce the speed. The incident occurred at around 5.30 pm on Sunday in Vishwanathapura police limits on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

All the four vehicles, including Mr Hegde's car and private vehicles, were damaged in the accident. According to the police, the escort vehicle moving in front of the VIP vehicle suddenly slowed down following which the driver of Mr. Hegde's car stopped the car. It resulted in other escort vehicles hitting the VIP vehicle and the private vehicle as well. Mr Hegde who was heading to the Kempegowda International Airport resumed his journey after informing the police to look into the issue as he had to catch a flight.

A case was registered against the private vehicle driver for hitting escort vehicle. According to police, two women and a man in the private vehicle were injured. They were rushed to a nearby hospital and were discharged after they were treated as outpatients.

The driver of the private car, Babu, has been booked for negligent driving.The Yogi Adityanath government, meanwhile, emphasised that none of the mischief mongers would be spared. (Photo: ANI/Twitter)

Lucknow: More then 80 persons were arrested while Rapid Action Force and Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel intensified vigil today 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 BSP and SP targeted the state government on the law and order front.

At least three shops, two private buses and a car were torched here 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.

Uttar Pradesh Police 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 OP 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.Earlier this month, the Ernakulam Rural police had arrested two persons in connection with the case. (Photo: Representational)

Kochi: The National Investigation Agency has taken over the probe into a case of alleged forcible conversion of a Kerala woman and attempts to take her to Syria after her marriage with a Muslim man to be sold off to Islamic State terrorists.

The central government made the submission in an affidavit filed before the Kerala High Court on Monday.

It said given the seriousness of the alleged offence, the government suo motu entrusted the investigation into the case with the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The Centre also informed the court that the NIA had filed an FIR before the NIA Special Court, Ernakulam against nine persons under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

They have also been charged under various IPC sections for offences including rape, forgery and forced religious conversion, it said.

Also read: 2 friends who helped Muslim man 'forcibly convert' Kerala woman held

The Centre filed the affidavit in response to a petition filed by the victim woman, hailing from Pathanamthitta district of Kerala and settled in Gujarat, seeking NIA probe into the alleged forceful religious conversion and attempt to traffick her to Syria after marriage.

Earlier this month, the Ernakulam Rural police had arrested two persons in connection with the case.

In her petition to the police, the woman had alleged that one Muhammed Riyaz from Thalassery in Kannur district pretended to be in love with her when she was studying in Bengaluru in 2014 and forced her to convert to Islam and married her.

Also read: Husband took me to Saudi as sex slave, planned to sell me: Kerala woman

The woman from Pathanamthitta was brought up in Gujarat.

She has also alleged that her marriage was registered using forged documents.The contempt petition has been filed by Tushar Gandhi, the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, saying the three states have not complied with the top court order of September 6, 2017. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday slapped contempt of court notice on the States of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana and UP for not implementing the order issued on September 6, 2017, to prevent cow vigilante groups from taking law into their hands.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Kanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud issued notice on the petition filed by journalist Tushar Gandhi and others to show cause why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them.

The bench after hearing senior counsel Indira Jaising for the petitioner said the presence of contemnors is not required for the present and directed the matter to be listed for further hearing on February 23. On that it will be enough if the States are represented through their counsel.

Acting on the petition filed by Gandhi, the court had come down heavily on cow vigilantism and directed all States (in particular the 5 contemnor States) to appoint nodal police officers in every district to prevent cow vigilante groups from resorting to violence and taking law into their hands.

It said that states should nominate a senior police officer, preferably of the rank of deputy superintendent of police, to ensure that vigilante groups don't "behave as if they are law unto themselves and to take prompt action and prosecute such people with promptitude.

The court gave the state governments one week to submit their reports on nomination of police officers and the instructions issued to them. Chief Secretaries and police chiefs of the states have been tasked with carrying out these directions.

Gandhi brought to the notice of the court 66 alleged incidents of mob lynching and assaults in the name of cow vigilantism after the central government's undertaking in the court.

The CJI had told the ASG Steps have to be taken to stop this. Some kind of planned action is required so that vigilantism does not grow. Efforts have to be made to stop such vigilantism. How will they (states) do it, is their business but this must stop.

The court had also directed the Centre to respond to a submission by senior advocate Indira Jaising for Gandhi that the Centre cannot wash their hands of its constitutional responsibility under Article 256 of the Constitution to instruct the States to take "necessary" steps in law to save innocent human lives from fury of the mobs.

The bench directed the Chief Secretaries and the Directors General of Police of States to consult each other and respond to the court on steps taken for highway patrolling to prevent such incidents.

The petitioners had sought criminal action against cow vigilante groups whose recent rampages and lynchings have seen communal tensions rise in the country. The petitions had also sought a direction to the central and state governments to pull down all the videos of violence uploaded by cow vigilante groups from social media sites.

The bench directed the contempt petition to be listed along with the main writ petition on February 23.A bench of Justices R K Agrawal and A M Sapre, issued notice on Col Purohits special leave petition challenging an order of the Bombay High Court refusing to quash the cognisance taken by the trial court in the Malegaon bomb blast case. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay at this stage the criminal trial against Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case.

A bench of Justices RK Agrawal and AM Sapre, issued notice on Col Purohits special leave petition challenging an order of the Bombay High Court refusing to quash the cognisance taken by the trial court in the Malegaon bomb blast case.

The Bench after hearing senior counsel R Basant, appearing for the petitioner issued notice on the main appeal as well as on the application seeking interim stay of the trial returnable in four weeks.

The court said the prayer for stay would be considered after four weeks after the National Investigation Agency and Maharashtra government filed their response.

In his appeal against the High Court order, Col Purohit said he had sought quashing of cognisance taken by the Special Court, National Investigation Agency at Greater Bombay, of the offences initiated against the petitioner under the provisions of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for want of valid sanction, mandated by S 45 (1) and (2) of the Act.

The High Court, while dismissing the petition, observed that the issue of sanction could be decided at the stage of trial. He said it is settled law that when a safeguard or a right is provided favouring the accused, compliance thereto has to be strictly construed and that absence of sanction prior to cognisance is not a mere technical defect.

Hence continuance of prosecution in the absence of a valid sanction shall be deemed to be non est in the eyes of law.

He said no purpose would be served by putting the accused through great stress and trauma of facing a trial without a sanction by the Competent Authority, in addition to the same being an abuse of process of law.

He pointed out that when the earlier sanction was issued, it was clear that there was no reviewing authority in existence neither on the date of sanction nor on the date of cognisance.

Thus, the sanction is not valid for want of compliance of mandatory provisions of S 45(2) r/w the rules of sanction for prosecution made thereunder.

Thus, in these circumstances, the Petitioner said he was challenging the judgment and order passed by the High Court dated December 18, 2017, dismissing his petition as well as the judgment and order dated December 27, 2017 passed by the Special Court (NIA), limited to the extent that it has refused to consider existence of a valid sanction or otherwise, prior to taking of cognisance of the offence. He also sought stay of the pending trial.Chennai: Under pressure from the public and the opposition, the Tamil Nadu government reduced the bus fares in selected services. According to an announcement made by the transport department, the fare revision would come into effect from Monday morning.

The city's Metropolitan Transportation Corporation (MTC) fares have been reduced by 20 per cent. The minimum fare has come down from Rs 5 to Rs 4 and the fare between each stage is also slashed by a rupee. Currently, the maximum and minimum fares stand at Rs 4 and Rs 22 respectively. Similar change is also applicable for town services where the fares now range between Rs 4 and Rs 18.

For mofussil buses, the fare revision has been made (maximum 9 per cent reduction) according to different categories of the buses including ordinary, express, deluxe, super deluxe and air-conditioned.

According to the new fares announced by the transport department on Sunday, the slab per kilometer is reduced from 60 paise to 58 paise for ordinary buses, 80 paise to 75 paise for express, 90 paise to 85 paise for deluxe, 110 paise to 100 paise for super deluxe and 140 paise to 130 paise for air-conditioned buses.

In the official press release, the transport department mentioned that they have been incurring a loss of Rs 2 crore per day after the fare hike and this revision would mean they would incur losses of Rs 4 crore per day.

With government transport corporations struggling to overcome losses and finding it difficult to pay even the dues to its employees, Tamil Nadu Government on January 19 announced a steep hike in government and private bus fares ranging from 20 per cent to 55 per cent. The reason for the increase in fares was attributed to hike in fuel charges, maintenance cost and operational cost among others.

The move triggered protests from day one with the public taking to streets, shouting slogans and besieging transport offices. It also drew a lot of political flak from the opposition parties, who urged the state government to rollback the fare hike.

The slab per kilometer is reduced from 60 paise to 58 paise for ordinary buses, 80 paise to 75 paise for express, 90 paise to 85 paise for deluxe, 110 paise to 100 paise for super deluxe and 140 paise to 130 paise for air-conditioned busesChennai: The opposition parties led by the DMK brought the traffic to a standstill on the first working day of the week when they took to streets demanding that the State government immediately withdraw the enhanced bus fares for the benefit of the commuters.

The smooth flow of traffic was affected in the arterial Anna Salai and several other parts of the city as the political parties took out rallies and staged road blockade at about 20 places in support of their demand. The traffic jams left office-goers and other road users in the lurch as they were forced to drive through the narrow spaces made available for traffic on crowded roads.

With DMK working president M. K. Stalin leading the agitation in Kolathur and MDMK chief Vaiko staging an agitation at Saidapet, the public travelling from these places to Mount road and other parts of the city were worst affected.

Mr Stalin warned that the agitations would be intensified if the State government did not reduce the fares. The DMK working president who was among those arrested, said shortly after his release later in the day, that the opposition parties would step up the agitation till justice is ensured for the people.

MDMK chief Vaiko and VCK founder Thol Thirumavalavan were detained with DMK workers at Saidapet here when they staged protests demanding the immediate rollback of the hike effected on January 19 when ticket prices of buses operated by transport corporations were raised by about 20 to 54.54 per cent.

The members from the Congress, Left parties, DMDK and VCK too participated.

Mr. Stalin was detained at Kolathur along with scores of party workers and other opposition party members.

Mr. Stalin said the governments move to marginally reduce the fares was a mere eye- wash. These protests will not end today... If the government does not withdraw the hike, our protests will intensify, he told reporters later. He also demanded the State government to convene an all political party meeting to resolve the crisis.The petitioner said he had filed the complaint regarding donations demanded by the Delhi Public School, Nacharam, amounting to Rs 75,000 after many parents approached him.

Hyderabad: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Delhi, has told the Hyderabad district collector to send a detailed report about the Delhi Public School, Nacharam, which has allegedly been charging very high fees in contravention of government orders.

The investigation report will also have to look into the Hyderabad and Rachakonda polices reluctance to take action against the school when parents of the children had complained.

Vijay Gopal, the petitioner before the commission, stated that he had filed the complaint with the state commission last year regarding donations demanded by the school amounting to Rs 75,000. The fee for admission should not be more than Rs 5,000, and refundable. Many schools in the city flout this rule. I filed a complaint against DPS because many parents approached me with concerns about the fees. Parents were also forced to buy books, uniforms and other stationery from the school, which was priced much higher.

Although most schools in the city flout the same rules, he complained about DPS because of the large number of parents who approached him.

Three branches of DPS in the city i.e. at Nacharam, Mahindra Hills and Nadergul, are run by the same trust. My complaint particularly mentioned Nacharam. I also hinted at other branches charging high fees.

Aravinda Jata, a member of the Hyderabad Public Schools Association, says when his child joined DPS Nacharam in Nursery, the fees was Rs 7,000 per term.

Within a span of eight years, I was being charged nearly Rs 25,000 per term, excluding other fees for extracurricular activities, he said.Bengaluru: Slain journalist Gauri Lankesh's brother Indrajit plans to approach the High Court demanding the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate his sister's murder, going against his family who would prefer the probe to continue under the SIT.

Speaking after paying his respects to the feisty editor of Lankesh Patrike at her grave in Chamarajpet on her 56th birth anniversary on Monday, he said it has been five months since the investigation by the SIT began and it had made no headway. It seems "one-sided," he said, adding he "has lost his faith in the SIT" and planned to contact his lawyers to approach the high court.

However, his sole surviving sister Kavitha Lankesh, announced that the family would like to continue with the SIT probe and are confident about its progress. She also said her brother had not spoken to SIT officers and could not judge what progress had been made. "Asking for a CBI probe is his own decision. We, the family want the SIT to continue with the investigation," she said, pointing out that "the CBI already has more than 13 unsolved cases in Karnataka," and that " the SIT has made so much progress with the probe, any move to hand it over to the CBI will mean restarting the investigation," only prolonging it further.Hyderabad: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Delhi, has told the Hyderabad district collector to send a detailed report about the Delhi Public School, Nacharam, which has allegedly been charging very high fees in contravention of government orders.

Another parent of a DPS, Nacharam, says though the government has ordered that not more than Rs 5,000 be charged for admission as per GO Ms No. 91 issued in 1991, I paid nearly Rs 40,000 for my ward to get admitted. An extra Rs 5,000 was paid as a caution deposit which was the only amount that was refundable.

The school has denied all these allegations and said it was not even aware of the complaint against it. DPS, Nacharam, principal Sunitha Rao says, The petitioner is not a parent of a student from our school.

Our school was inspected by Prof. Tirupathi Raos Committee who were pleased with the way our school was managed. At an affordable rate, we have an extended curriculum with over 15 extra-curricular activities. We offer so many scholarships and our hostel fees are also much less compared to most city schools.

The petitioner is not a parent of our school and therefore he cannot claim to know the working of the school, she said.Lucknow: UP Governor Ram Naik, on Monday, termed the violence in Kasganj as a blot on the government even as tension continues to prevail in the riot-hit town.

What happened in Kasganj is unfortunate and a blot. The government should hold a probe and take steps so that such incidents do not happen again, he said.

The state government removed SP Kasganj Sunil Singh for his failure to control the situation and replaced him with Piyush Srivastava.

This is the second time this month that the Yogi government has faced flak from leaders on the laws and order issue. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, while attending a programme, advised the Yogi government to improve the law and order situation. He even advised the government to revoke arms licences given to many people.Hyderabad: Telugu Desam leader Sujana Chowdary and leader of the party in the Lok Sabha Thota Narasimham will meet BJP national president Amit Shah on Tuesday to sort out the differences between the two parties in the state.

After the conclusion of the meeting of NDA partners in Delhi on Monday evening, Mr Chowdary and Mr Narasimham met Mr Shah and sought time to meet and sort out pending issues between the parties that are in alliance.

Mr Narasimham told newspersons that Tuesdays meeting will also decide the BJPs stand on the pending delimitation of Assembly constituencies in AP and Telangana.

The issue has been entrusted to Mr Shah by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to TD leaders. There are no major differences, only exchange of opinions on certain issues by both BJP and TD leaders. Anyway, it will be sorted out in tomorrows meeting. We are very much in favour of continuing the alliance with the BJP, Mr Narasimham said.New Delhi: The Opposition seems to be finally getting its act together with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi likely to call for a meeting of all anti-BJP parties on February 1 after a similar meet at the residence of Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Monday.

Mondays meeting called by Mr Pawar was also attended by Congress Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma, Farooq Abdullah of the National Conference, rebel JDU leader Sharad Yadav, CPM Rajya Sabha member T.K. Rangarajan and CPI leader D. Raja.

The Trinamul Congress, which is seen to be an important component of any Opposition platform, was interestingly conspicuous by its absence.

Sources said that the Mamata Banerjee-led party sent a message expressing its inability to attend the meeting on Monday.

It might be recalled that the TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had thrown her hat in the ring for the leader of any such Opposition platform.

However, sources hinted that Mrs Gandhi was said to be more in favour of Mr Pawar as the leader of any broad-based Opposition alliance.I did not follow protocol. I am a simple man with no baggage. I made friends the world over ... Thus spoke Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi, master of the diplomatic hug fest, in a recent TV interview where he expatiated on what constitutes Indias foreign policy, or at least his understanding of it. Every time I stand beside world leaders such as Vladimir Putin or Donald Trump, all I remember is that I am the representative of 1.15 crore citizens. They have given me the mandate to be there. Before 2014, the world didnt care about what India had to say. But after we came to power in 2014, the situation changed completely. For the first time in 30 years, India has a government with a full majority. This was noticed by the entire world. I witnessed it during the Saarc and G-20 meet. They accept us as a leader now.

Was that disingenuous or political hubris? With most of the neighbouring states even more hostile to India than they have traditionally been, Indias leadership even in its limited area of influence is under challenge. Indias domineering attitude and interference in their internal affairs, most markedly in the case of Nepal, has pushed them into Chinas arms, leaving Mr Modis neighbourhood first policy in tatters. Maldives is the latest to thumb its nose at Delhi by signing a comprehensive free trade agreement with Beijing. Saarc has not met after the 2016 summit was torpedoed in the wake of the terrorist attack on Uri. The neighbourhood was meant to be the centrepiece of the so-called Modi doctrine and initially it did appear that the BJP would be able to assuage the wounds inflicted by Congress governments.

Nepal is the star failure for Mr Modi. A series of follies on the part of Delhi has left Kathmandu bristling  Delhis opposition to its new secular constitution is unlikely to be forgotten soon  while the election of a new communist coalition led by former Prime Ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal and K.P. Sharma Oli is expected to push the country into a warmer embrace with China. Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka have also moved out of New Delhis orbit and gravitated towards Beijings lure of economic assistance. Besides, strategic analysts say there is a sense of predictability in Chinas policies that is missing in New Delhis capricious formulations. Pakistan continues to be kept at arms length although the recent disclosure that the national security advisers of India and Pakistan met secretly in Thailand end-December offers a ray of hope that talks would restart soon. New Delhi has not been able to respond to the events in Myanmar with any decisiveness.

Much of Modi doctrine is being conducted as a soap opera because the Prime Minister appears to think that state visits and hug fests are what constitute foreign policy. This is most apparent in the excessive bonhomie that marked the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who visited India recently. The relationship with Israel is politically and ideologically dear to the BJP regime because of the empathy between Hindutva and Zionism in their commonly shared Islamophobia. Hindu fundamentalist leaders have been great champions of the creation of Israel and the man whose philosophy guides the BJP, M.S. Golwalkar of the RSS, was an unabashed admirer of Jewish nationalism although, ironically, he also extolled the ethnic cleansing unleashed by Nazi Germany in which six million Jews were killed. Personal diplomacy devoid of a strategic foreign policy with clear objectives is unlikely to bring any benefits to India or raise its international profile although it would certainly increase the PMs list of friends. A hug, however warm, is no substitute for the realpolitik of international diplomacy

By arrangement with DawnChina wasnt mentioned as India showcased its military might, cultural heritage and demographic diversity with extra gusto this Republic Day for the benefit of its distinguished Asean guests but Xi Jinping must have hovered invisibly over the junketing like Banquos ghost at the banquet. President Xis interest would have been aroused for two reasons. First, the heads of the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations states represented Indochina, where India and China met centuries ago and have been in a competitive relationship ever since. Second, the far-seeing Lee Kuan Yew, whose son Lee Hsieng Loong is Singapores present Prime Minister, percipiently commented that while India alone or Asean alone might not be a significant global player, together they can look China in the eye.

No Indian ever thought in such sophisticated terms. If an Indian politician looks beyond New Delhi or considers anything save milking power for profit, it is to imagine that the world pays court to Indias greatness. Typical of the Indian attitude to Southeast Asia, a retired IAS officer in New Delhi maintains with a mix of ignorance and contempt that the Malacca in the Straits of Malacca between Malaysia and Sumatra is a corruption of the Sanskrit mleccha. If India and Asean are now celebrating 25 years of partnership, it is largely because Singapore  this years Asean chair  had convinced other Asean countries they needed India to establish a sense of regional balance. Being overwhelmingly Chinese, Singapore is acutely sensitive to Chinas past glory and future aspirations. The senior Lee, who took the lead in nudging an indifferent India into the region, therefore persuaded Indonesia, which had expected to dominate Southeast Asia once the Americans left, that there would be no Southeast Asia, only a Greater China, without India. The United States and Japan also agreed to a bigger Indian role once P.V. Narasimha Rao and Dr Manmohan Singh took over the government.

Narendra Modi may not be aware of this background. He may not even realise that his flamboyant Republic Day hospitality invoked Donald Trumps National Security Strategy, which sought to revive the Quadrilateral Initiative (India, Japan, Australia and the US) which alarmed Beijing in 2007. After expressing annoyance during the India-US-Japan naval exercises off the Japanese coast, the Chinese sent diplomatic memos to the Quad members, seeking an explanation of Malabar 07, the Indo-American naval exercises expanded to include Japan, Australia and Singapore. When a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman asked the Quad to be open and inclusive about its actions, Dr Singh, Prime Minister by then, announced he had assured Hu Jintao that theres no question of ganging up against China. The Quad wasnt a military alliance. But, of course, neither assurances nor Lees musings would have been necessary if the scope for tension were not inherent in geopolitics, and if China hadnt seen Indias rise as a possible cap on its own soaring aspirations. There is no other explanation for its obstructiveness over the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the UN Security Council.

Even China could have endorsed the Delhi Declaration issued at the Asean-India Commemorative Summits conclusion targeting terrorism  which is a live issue in several regional countries, especially the Philippines  and agreeing to uphold maritime freedom which is threatened by piracy. But the sour note that Chinas Global Times struck clearly showed that the message of the joint meeting had gone home. Dismissing both parties as beginners playing at geopolitics, the paper asserted that the Chinese people are not occupied by India. For people who are not occupied by India, the Chinese certainly keep close tabs on everything Indian. And why shouldnt they? It would be illogical if they didnt. Indeed, Indians too should as interested in China as in Asean. With 1.8 million people and a GDP of more than $4.5 trillion, the India-Asean combine can certainly aim high. Asean comprises the worlds seventh-largest economy and hosts more than 200 of the worlds largest companies. While Singapore is one of the main sources of investment in India, Vietnam holds the record for incoming foreign direct investment.

If New Delhis hopes of pioneering a huge new Asian trade bloc, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to include all 10 Asean nations, materialises, it would comprise almost 30 per cent of global GDP and facilitate Indias access to key supply chains as well as natural gas and oil. However, Act East is still little more than a counter-productive verbal attempt to upstage P.V. Narasimha Raos Look East. Six years after the Asean-India Free Trade Area came into existence, it boasted an annual turnover of only $58.4 billion, much of that being India-Singapore trade. Last year India accounted for only 2.6 per cent of Aseans foreign trade. India feels aggrieved about obstacles to selling textiles and agricultural and pharmaceutical products. The Asean members have parallel complaints. While even US President Donald Trump applauds Chinas One Belt One Road Initiative, the proposed 3,200-km highway from New Delhi to Ho Chi Minh City is three years behind schedule. As for pie-in-the-sky schemes to invest $77 million in manufacturing hubs in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, why cant a government that makes a mantra of Make in India develop domestic manufacturing first?

Prime Minister Modis invitation to Aseans 10 heads of state/government rolled into a single guest of honour certainly broke with precedent. So did the invitation to the leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation to attend his swearing-in ceremony in May 2014. The surprise visit to Lahore for Nawaz Sharifs birthday the following year was an even more dramatic departure from convention. But if these grand gestures achieved anything, we have yet to hear of it. It is to be hoped that the Asean invitation will not also be remembered as only playing to the gallery. We need less talk and more action.What a relief to be empty! Then God can live your life

Rumi

In the chaos that prevails around us, there is a growing feeling of desolation and misery. The pace of modern times has upset the rhythm of life and the music is slowly ebbing out. Living in a harsh world we have developed cynicism and hatred. Our inner life is marked by wrestling of competing forces. Love and jealousy, pleasure and pain, hope and fear, life and death, ideal and reality, dream and truth; they are all in a state of eternal conflict. The most authentic hope comes from mystics whose philosophy combines the virtuous message of formal religion with the transcendental values of love and harmony.

Sufism is the lodestar for all mystical schools. it enables an individual to purge his mind of all toxic emotions and helps restore balance and harmony. It is both therapeutic and transcendent and the most gentler and colorful form of mysticism. Unlike many cults, their lily white robed members are never phoney or self-deluded or cynical, a touchstone with which to judge the false. Sufism consists of a variety of mystical paths that are designed to ascertain the nature of humanity and of God and to facilitate the experience of the presence of divine love and wisdom in the world.

The personal spiritual life of Sufi masters is characterised by an untiring, almost spiritual, search for union with divinity. According to Sufi teachings, the path to experiencing the divine presence starts within. It is said that one who realises oneself realises the Lord. God is present, but individuals cannot see Him because curtains of ignorance veil their eyes and the sensual impressions encase their hearts. It is embedded in us whether we live in communities or in the cloistered silence of a monastery. A common individual is ego-centered. It is only when he has polished the heart and purified the self do the curtains lift, the dust of materialism fall, and the eyes attain the vision required to see God.

Sufism connects us to the deeper layers of the authentic self and helps us in exploring it to achieve harmony. As the acclaimed modern Sufi Inayat Khan says: The secret of life is balance and the absence of balance is lifes destruction. We all have a divine spark in us and we can experience glimpses of the divine when we transcend our inner barriers. Pursuing such experiences, and letting them grow deeper can lead us into the cosmic realm and enable us to celebrate celestial love. As the well-known Persian poet, Saadi says: Every soul is born with a certain purpose and the light of that purpose is kindled in his soul.

The Sufi ideal is to combine the inner and outer life to be active in the world, and at the same time to be inspired by attuning to the divine ideal. Sufism digs out that water-like life which has been buried by the impressions of this material life. The purity of the Sufi is due to his constant remembrance of God. The Sufis heart is like white snow because of its purity, which it has attained through the remembrance of God. It is only a cleansed heart that can perceive the true beauty and harmony of the universe.If it werent for the identity of the person making the statement, it would appear like a monstrous joke. When a sitting Central minister declared that Darwins theory of evolution was scientifically wrong because no one had seen an ape turned into a man, it wasnt just a ridiculous statement by a junior minister in the human resources development ministry of but a dangerous one  as it further confirmed that the current BJP government led by its RSS colleagues was once again trying to replace science and history with myth. In the over 150 years since Darwins masterwork was published, it first faced an infuriated clergy but has since become an accepted theory, the only refinement being on the exact nature of evolution. But from the time that this government was elected to office in 2014, a number of unsubstantiated and farcical claims have been made by senior leaders of the party, including the Prime Minister. Mr Narendra Modi had claimed in 2014 in Mumbai that ancient Indian surgeons had perfected the technique of sowing an elephants head on to a boys body, as shown in the Ganesh myth.

There have been several other ways in which BJP and RSS ideologues have tried to foist Indian myths as representing scientific achievement. The science and technology minis-try has set up a committee to conduct research on the medicinal qualities of a beverage made by blending, among other things, bovine faeces and urine. A BJP minister has even gone as far as to claim that cow dung can absorb radioactivity. A mythical flying chariot mentioned in the Ramayan is again given reality and a BJP minister proposed that Indian engineering students study this fantastic myth. Another BJP appointee to the Indian Council of Historical Research has claimed that there were atomic weapons in ancient India that were mentioned in the Mahabharat.

Another BJP appointee has gone a step further and even postulated that ancient India had nuclear weapons. Y. Sudershan Rao, the head of the Indian Council of Historical Research, proposed a literal reading of the Mahabharat and inferred that the weapons described in them were the result of atomic fission and/or fusion. He also claimed that advanced stem cell research was being done in Iron Age India. In 2016, a BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh had claimed in the Lok Sabha that contrary to common sense, a ritual burning of ghee and foodstuff in havans would bring better rains, as burning of ghee produces oxygen, and havan of agricultural produce produces hydrogen. The RSS has tried for a long time to change history to suit its ideology, notably by saying that the Aryans did not come from Central Asia but lived here from before the Indus Valley Civilisation, or by demonising Muslim rulers.

Science has to be challenged because it is a modern system of knowledge with well-defined rules for accepting or rejecting a claim and has been a fertile and powerful knowledge system. Though its beginnings were in China and India, the radical transformation in worldview based on science took place in Europe, and from its European home the universally applicable methods and theories of modern science spread around the world, often riding on the coattails of the colonial powers. Relying on the Vedic system for their worldview, the Hindutva mind could not conceive the rigour of the scientific method nor the different cosmology it led to. Meera Nanda, a historian of science, says: We want the science of the materialist upstarts from the West but cannot let go of our sense of spiritual superiority, which makes us think that we are entitled to the status of jagatguru. This lethal mixture of desire, envy and a sense of innate Aryan superiority has characterised Indias encounter with modern science and technology from the very start.

The early thinkers in modern India were not only of a Hindutva mind but encompassed a variety of people. They largely lost their influence during Jawaharlal Nehrus project of spreading the scientific spirit by the building of national laboratories and institutes of higher learning. While most people accepted the new mindset, a longing for the old beliefs persisted. The RSS, followed by the BJP, has tried to stoke peoples feelings toward ancient beliefs, however much they contradict modern scientific research. Its another way to build sectarian feelings of past superiority. That is why communal people resort to a distortion of science  it comforts the caste Hindu sense of past achievement by seeing and comparing mythological stories with modern science. Its not as if past achievements in mathematics and medicine were not impressive enough. But they were situated in their place and time and were comparable to what was done being elsewhere. In ancient times there was communication between civilisations, though not as rapid and pervasive as happens now. Ideas and discoveries did flow from one place to another. Even the discovery of the zero, the so-called wonder of Hindu mathematics, may have originated elsewhere. Meera Nanda argues that the concept of the zero came to India from Southeast Asia, where it may have come from China.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.Worlds largest ATM makers, Diebold Nixdorf Inc and NCR Corp, have warned that cybercriminals are targeting US cash machines with tools that force them to spit out cash in hacking schemes known as jackpotting. The makers did not identify any victims or say how much money had been lost, however.

The attacks were reported earlier on Saturday, January 27, by the security news website Krebs on Security, which said they had begun last year in Mexico.

An alert issued by NCR read, 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.

Diebold Nixdorf has also issued an 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. They also explained the way the criminals had used to compromise ATMs, which include  gaining physical access, replacing the hard drive and using an industrial endoscope to depress an internal button required to reset the device.

Russian cybersecurity firm Group IB has also reported that cybercriminals 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.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.In November, Netanyahu signalled that Israel would take military action in Syria when it sees fit as it seeks to ensure Iran-backed forces stay away from its territory. (Photo: File)

Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of wanting "to turn Lebanon into one giant missile site" and warned of the consequences as he left Monday for talks in Moscow.

Netanyahu has held a series of discussions with President Vladimir Putin in recent months on Iran's influence in war-torn Syria and in Lebanon.

The premier has sought to persuade Russia to limit Iran's presence near Israeli territory and to stop it from entrenching itself militarily in Syria.

Israel's military has also issued a series of warnings to Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militia backed by Iran.

Russia, Iran and Hezbollah are all backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country's civil war.

Netanyahu has previously accused Iran of building sites to produce "precision-guided missiles" in both Syria and Lebanon.

"I will discuss with President Putin Iran's relentless efforts to establish a military presence in Syria, which we strongly oppose and are also taking action against," Netanyahu said as he departed.

"We will also discuss Iran's effort to turn Lebanon into one giant missile site, a site for precision missiles against the state of Israel, which we will not tolerate."

Israel has sought to stay out of the Syrian conflict, but acknowledges carrying out dozens of air strikes to stop what it says are advanced arms deliveries to Hezbollah, with whom it fought a devastating 2006 war.

Iran is Israel's main enemy and Netanyahu has repeatedly warned against an entrenched Iranian military presence in the neighbouring country.

In November, Netanyahu signalled that Israel would take military action in Syria when it sees fit as it seeks to ensure Iran-backed forces stay away from its territory.

Russia and Israel have also established a hotline to avoid accidental clashes in Syria.The CPEC is a network of infrastructure projects that are currently under construction throughout Pakistan that will connect China's Xinjiang province with Gwadar port in Pakistan's Balochistan province. (Photo: AFP)

Beijing: China Monday said it is ready to hold talks with India to resolve their differences on the contentious USD 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that passes through PoK.

Asked about Indian Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale's interview to state-run Global Times in which he had said that differences on the CPEC should not be swept under the carpet, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China is willing to hold talks with India in this regard.

"I noted the relevant report. Regarding the CPEC, China has repeatedly reiterated our position. As to the differences between China and India, China stands ready to communicate and hold talks with India to seek a proper solution so that these differences will not affect our general national interests. This best serves the interests of the two countries," she said.

As to any differences arising between the two countries, they can be resolved with sincerity and mutual respect, she said, adding that the parties can seek proper solution for management of the differences.

"We should not ask one party alone to solve this problem. We are willing to work with India to work with dialogue and communication for a better solution," she said.

"CPEC is merely an economic cooperation project. It has not targeted any third party. We hope the Indian side can put this in perspective and we stand ready to strengthen cooperation with the Indian side," she said.

India has objected to the USD 50 billion CPEC as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The CPEC is a network of infrastructure projects that are currently under construction throughout Pakistan that will connect China's Xinjiang province with Gwadar port in Pakistan's Balochistan province.Congress has drawn up elaborate plans to checkmate attempts by the Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) to queer the pitch in the Karnataka Assembly elections by contesting 60 seats.

Congress strategists view the electoral forays by AIMIM, Arvind Kejriwal's AAP and some other smaller outfits as a ploy by the BJP to create a division in voters to fare well in the closely contested Assembly elections.

Congress is planning to deploy its Muslim leaders in Assembly seats where AIMIM would be in the fray to create awareness among the voters that a "vote for Owaisi is a vote for BJP".

"We had tasted success in the civic polls in Bengaluru as well as Nanded in Maharashtra where AIMIM is trying to gain a foothold," a senior Congress leader told DH. In the 2012 Maharashatra elections, AIMIM had won 11 seats, while it failed to open its account in the elections last year.

The AIMIM had managed to win a sizable number

of seats in Nanded and Aurangabad civic bodies in the previous civic polls that had put Congress leaders on an alert about its waning influence among the minorities.

During the civic elections last year, several Muslim leaders of the Congress from neighbouring Nizamabad in Telangana were pressed for campaign in Nanded, the home district of former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan.

"We expect AIMIM to put up candidates in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region, and northern Karnataka where the going may be tough for the BJP," the Congress leader said.

Even in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections in

2015, Congress leaders had trailed Owaisi with its Muslim leaders visiting wards where AIMIM had campaigned cautioning them of the BJP's plans.

Owaisi had fielded 30 candidates in Muslim-dominated wards during the BBMP elections apparently to eat into Congress votes.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 bodys 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.At least 36 people were killed after the bus carrying 65 passengers crashed through the railings of a bridge and plunged into a canal in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on Monday morning.



Soumik Hossain, the chairman of local Domkal Municipality, told DH over the phone that so far 36 bodies, including that of nine women and two children have been fished out from the accident spot near Daulatabad, around 220 km from Kolkata.

"We have tried to gather information from the survivors about the number of passengers in the bus at the time of the accident. According to a rough estimate, we think around 13 persons are still missing," said Hossain.

The incident happened when the driver of the bus on its way to Malda from Karimpur, lost control while crossing the Balirghat bridge on the Sonar Ratnakar canal. Eyewitnesses said the driver swerved wildly on the bridge and plunged around 70 feet into the canal waters after he lost control of the vehicle while trying to overtake another vehicle.

"There was dense fog in the morning and the bus was travelling very fast. It tried to overtake a vehicle on the bridge and suddenly came face-to-face with a truck. In his effort to avoid a collision, the driver lost control and crashed through the railings of the bridge, fell into the canal," said a senior police officer of Daulatabad.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Transport Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Karimpur MLA Mahua Maitra and Transport Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay rushed to the spot to coordinate rescue efforts.

"It is a very unfortunate and sad incident. The administration is closely monitoring the situation. All necessary steps have been taken. Initially, rescue efforts were hampered due to the deep waters of the canal, but all agencies are working in tandem to rescue the passengers," Mamata said, condoling the deaths.

The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh to the grievously injured and Rs 50,000 to other injured passengers.

Earlier in the day, local residents resorted to violent protests near the bridge alleging delay in response from the administration.The Islamic State group claimed a pre-dawn attack on a military compound in Kabul today that officials said has killed at least two soldiers and wounded 10 others.



"Islamic State fighters targeted the military academy in the city of Kabul in a suicide attack," IS said via its propaganda arm Amaq.A map showing paths taken by users of an exercise tracking app reveals potentially sensitive information about American and allied military personnel in places, including Iraq and Syria.



While some bases are well-known to groups that might want to attack them, the map also shows what appear to be routes taken by forces moving outside of bases - information that could be used in planning bombings or ambushes.

The map, made by Strava Labs, shows the movements of its app users around the world, indicating the intensity of travel along a given path - a "direct visualisation of Strava's global network of athletes," it says.

Routes are highlighted over large parts of some countries, but in others, specific locations stand out.

The map of Iraq is largely dark, indicating limited use of the Strava app, but a series of well-known military bases where American and allied forces have been deployed as part of their war against the Islamic State (IS) group are highlighted in detail.

These include Taji north of Baghdad, Qayyarah south of Mosul and Al-Asad in Anbar Province.

Smaller sites also appear on the map in northern and western Iraq, indicating the presence of other, lesser-known installations.

Stretches of road are also highlighted, indicating that Strava users kept their devices on while travelling, potentially providing details about commonly-taken routes.

In Afghanistan, Bagram Airfield north of Kabul is a hive of activity, as are several locations in the country's south and west.

Tobias Schneider, a security analyst who was among the group of people who highlighted the military bases shown on the map, noted that it shows military sites in Syria and Iraq as well as the Madama base used by French forces in Niger.

"In Syria, known Coalition (ie US) bases light up the night. Some light markers over known Russian positions, no notable coloring for Iranian bases," Schneider wrote on Twitter.

US troops are deployed in support of local forces battling IS in Syria as well as Iraq, while Russian and Iranian units are backing President Bashar al-Assad's Syria government in that country's civil war.

"A lot of people are going to have to sit thru lectures come Monday morning," Schneider wrote, referring to soldiers likely to be taken to task for inadvertently revealing sensitive information while trying to keep in shape.

"Bases are fixed & hard to conceal," he wrote, so the "biggest potential threat is to tracking movement."

The US Department of Defence said it is "reviewing" the situation.

"Recent data releases emphasise the need for situational awareness when members of the military share personal information," said Major Audricia Harris, a Pentagon spokeswoman.

"DoD takes matters like these very seriously and is reviewing the situation to determine if any additional training or guidance is required and if any additional policy must be developed to ensure the continued safety of DoD personnel at home and abroad," Harris said.

The Pentagon "recommends limiting public profiles on the internet, including personal social media accounts," she said.

The issue could have been fairly easily avoided.

According to Strava, "athletes with the Metro/heatmap opt-out privacy setting have all data excluded" from the mapping project.China on Monday said it is ready to hold talks with India to resolve their differences on the contentious $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that passes through PoK.



Asked about Indian Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale's interview to state-run "Global Times" in which he had said that differences on the CPEC should not be swept under the carpet, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China is willing to hold talks with India in this regard.

"I noted the relevant report. Regarding the CPEC, China has repeatedly reiterated our position. As to the differences between China and India, China stands ready to communicate and hold talks with India to seek a proper solution so that these differences will not affect our general national interests. This best serves the interests of the two countries," she said.

As to any differences arising between the two countries, they can be resolved with sincerity and mutual respect, she said, adding that the parties can seek proper solution for management of the differences.

"We should not ask one party alone to solve this problem. We are willing to work with India to work with dialogue and communication for a better solution," said Hua.

"CPEC is merely an economic cooperation project. It has not targeted any third party. We hope the Indian side can put this in perspective and we stand ready to strengthen cooperation with the Indian side," she said.

India has objected to the $50 billion CPEC as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The CPEC is a network of infrastructure projects that are currently under construction throughout Pakistan that will connect China's Xinjiang province with Gwadar port in Pakistan's Balochistan province.Uttar Pradesh Govenor Ram Naik on Monday termed the Kasganj communal clash a "blot" on the state and asked the government to initiate measures to ensure such incidents did not recur.



The governor noted that such an incident had occurred in the state for the first time in the last 9-10 months and described it as "shameful".

In Kasganj, where the situation is tense but under control, clashes between two communities had claimed one life.

At least three shops, two buses and a car were torched after a youth was killed in clashes following stone-pelting by a mob on a motorcycle rally taken out to celebrate Republic Day.

"Whatever happened in Kasganj was not good. The incident there is a 'kalank' (blot) for UP. The government is probing the incident. It should initiate effective measures to ensure that such incidents are not repeated," he told reporters here.

The Yogi Adityanath government, which stormed to power in Uttar Pradesh riding a saffron wave nearly a year ago, was recently advised by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu to tone up law and order in the state.

Naidu advised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take back firearms from people as they were main cause of crime.

"Those who have firearms should return weapons. I want to ask the chief minister that in UP a large number of people have firearms. This is main cause of crime incidents," Naidu had said at the first Uttar Pradesh Diwas event here last week.

He had said "law and order should be top priority".

On asked about the situation in Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh government spokesman and senior Cabinet minister Sidharth Nath Singh on Monday said he has seen reports that shops are opening now.

"The situation is returning to normal, which is a good sign," he added.

As many as 112 people were arrested and security forces personnel intensified vigil in the strife-torn Kasganj in western Uttar Pradesh.

The Uttar Pradesh Police said drone cameras had been deployed for aerial surveillance and described the situation as improving.

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 culprits.

Under the NSA, a person can be detained without bail or trial and authorities need not disclose grounds of detention if they believe the detainee can act in a way that poses a threat to the security of the state/country or the maintenance of public order.

The Yogi Adityanath-led government has stressed that the guilty would not be spared.India and China should look at their border differences, including over Dokalam, in a "calm way" and resolve them through existing mechanisms, the Chinese foreign ministry said today.



Reacting to Indian Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale's interview to Chinese daily the Global Times where he said the status quo should not be changed along the sensitive areas of the 3,488-km border, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said here that differences can be addressed through existing mechanisms.

"Indeed we have noted that the ambassador talked about it while addressing the issue," she said.

"I should say the two sides should look at border issues in a calm way and resolve relevant issues through the existing border-related mechanisms so that we can create conditions and enabling the environment to properly solve our differences," she said.

Besides a mechanism to discuss border tensions, India and China also have special representative-level border talks to resolve the differences over the disputed border.

About the new satellite imagery showing buildup by both sides, Hua reiterated that Dokalam, over which Bhutan also claims sovereignty, is Chinese territory and said China is building facilities in the area.

She referred to the 1890 treaty between UK and China and said: "the Sikkim section of the China-India boundary has been demarcated by historic treaty and treaty under effective jurisdiction of China".

"China has always upheld our sovereignty along the border area including (Dokalam) Donglang," she said.

About the satellite imagery, she said, "I should stress it (area) falls within China's sovereignty that we conduct facility building in Donglang area".

"Some Indian media have carried reports about the military buildup and infrastructure building in the area. They are very excited about it," she said.

India and China ended a tense 73-day standoff on August 28 last year at Dokalam area after the People's Liberation Army (PLA) stopped building a strategic road close to India's narrow Chicken's Neck area connecting the northeastern states. Bhutan also claims the Dokalam area to be its part.

About the local commanders' meeting held on Republic Day during which they exchanged pleasantries, Hua said, "the local military personnel and border troops of the two sides held a meeting on India's Republic Day".

"We think this is conducive to enhance mutual trust and upholding peace stability along the border areas. We are also willing to enhance our communication and cooperation to better safeguard the security there and to create a better environment in this regard," she said.

About the ambassador's comments that India and China are partners not rivals and both sides should carry out dialogue at all levels, she said: "the Chinese government's position remains consistent".

As two neighbours in Asia and major developing countries, the two sides should treat each other as an opportunity for development, she said.

"It is also a consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries. We will surely treat India as our cooperation partner and we hope to enhance people-to-people ties and friendship through such communication exchanges and to enhance our mutual trust so that we can lay a more solid foundation and public support for our bilateral relations. In this we can create better conditions to resolve our differences," she said.Setting a December deadline, the government is embarking on reviving 50 unserved and underserved airports and airstrips following a fast pace growth of the country's aviation market, but with a warning that it will be a demand-driven process.



With domestic air traffic on the rise and India registering a faster growth rate than the United States and China when it comes to number of fliers, according to the Economic Survey tabled in Parliament on Monday, the government has earmarked Rs 4,500 crore for revival of 50 unserved and underserved airports and airstrips.

However, it warned, "revival of airstrips/airports will be 'demand-driven', depending upon firm commitment from airline operators as well as from the state governments."

To add to growing number of passengers from Tier-II and Tier-III cities with the operationalisation of the regional connectivity scheme, the government has already granted "site clearance" for five greenfield airports, including one in Kothagudem in Telangana.

It has also granted in-principle approval for setting up 18 greenfield airports in the country with four of them - Bijapur, Kalaburgi, Hasan and Shimoga - in Karnataka.

Some among the others include Mopa in Goa, Durgapur in West Bengal, Dabra in Madhya Pradesh and Pakyong in Sikkim.

The Economic Survey paints a rosy picture of the growth rate in domestic aviation and said the country's market is far ahead of the United States and China when it comes to the growth in the number of domestic fliers.

"India is the 3rd largest and the fastest growing domestic aviation market in the world in terms of number of domestic tickets sold. In 2016-17, annual growth in domestic passenger departures was 23.5% as compared to 3.3% in the US and 10.7% in China," it said.

Domestic passenger traffic registered a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.89% during 2007-08 to 2016-17.

In 2017-18 (April - September), domestic airlines carried 57.5 million passengers, with a growth rate of 16% over the corresponding previous year period.

Scheduled Indian and foreign carriers carried 29.2 million passengers to and from India, and showed a growth rate of 9% in 2017-18 (April -September) over the corresponding period in the previous fiscal.Museums are repositories of art, culture and history. Nowadays, we find a lot of specialised museums. From wax to coffee and toy museums, we seem to have it all. That apart, advanced technology is used to improve the quality of the display in these museums.



One such effort is made by Gandhi Bhavan in the Manasagangotri campus of the University of Mysore. This is essentially a replica of the Gandhi Ashram in Sabarmati, Gujarat. Gandhi Bhavan was inaugurated here on January 31, 1966 in order to propagate Gandhian ideals among the students. It is the product of a joint initiative by Gandhi Smarak Nidhi and University Grants Commission, both based in New Delhi.

The ashram

The replica built here speaks volumes about the zeal of the Gandhi Bhavan in its attempt to promote Gandhian values of peace, love, non-violence, comradeship and Swaraj. The Gandhi Ashram in Sabarmati played an important role in the life of the Mahatma. It was his third ashram, the other two being the Phoenix Settlement and Tolstoy Farm in South Africa. The Sabarmati Ashram is from where he organised various satyagrahas, and meetings to fight issues such as poverty, untouchability and the struggle against colonialism.

Gandhi and his associates started out as a small community at Kochrab Ashram, Ahmedabad. This later developed into an organised community in Sabarmati. A cowshed, library, a spinning-shed, kitchen and living quarters were added later. Here, Mahatma Gandhi promoted small-scale rural industries that play a crucial role in the upliftment of villages. All of these details were considered while building the replica of Sabarmati Ashram in the university campus.

In order to recreate the ashram in Gandhi Bhavan, the team collaborated with Gandhi Smarak Nidhi and procured memorabilia connected with Gandhi. The replica of 'Hriday Kunj', Gandhi's home in the Sabarmati Ashram, stands out. In the Gandhi Room, one can find a display of rare and historical photographs.

There are photos of Gandhi with his mentor Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and other freedom fighters like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, J B Kripalani, Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Dr Rajendra Prasad and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on display.

These photographs throw light on the freedom movement in India and showcase the political life of Gandhi. That apart, Gandhi's personal belongings, again replicas, are on display in this room. His mattress, pillow, a pair of slippers, spectacles, a kerosene lamp, a stop clock, etc. are exhibited in an attempt to showcase his simple living. Through the exhibits, this ashram helps visitors learn more about Gandhian values in a time when they are diminishing.

Furthermore, Gandhi Bhavan has chalked out various programmes to reach out to more people and promote Gandhian ideals. It intends to involve students in its programmes. The team also intends to collaborate with Karnataka Shilpa Academy and build sculptures, to be placed in the exclusively created 'Gandhi Path'.The family of an 84-year-old farmer, who died after attempting suicide seeking adequate compensation for his land, today refused to take his body till their demands are accepted by the Maharashtra government.



While the BJP-led government promised that there would be a revaluation of the acquired land, the opposition Congress dubbed the death as a murder and blamed a nexus of agents and officials for farmers' plight.

Dharma Patil, hailing from Dhule district, consumed a poisonous substance at the Maharashtra secretariat on January 22 to protest the low compensation offered by the government when his land was acquired for a solar power plant.

He died at the J J Hospital here last night.

His son Narendra Patil today said, "I will not accept my father's body until the state government accepts our demands. I am not going to accept my father's body because we have been fighting against the injustice done to us."

Narendra had told reporters last week that his father got only Rs four lakh for his five acres of land. The octogenarian had been visiting the state administrative headquarters for the last three months to complain about the inadequate compensation but to no avail, he had said.

The Maharashtra government offered an assistance of Rs 15 lakh to the farmer after he consumed poison and was admitted to a hospital, but his son had refused to accept it.

"We were denied proper compensation by the state authorities for the land acquisition. Except us, everybody in our neighbourhood whose land had been acquired was given higher compensation. Why was there such a disparity?" Narendra Patil asked.

State Congress chief Ashok Chavan today said, "The government is solely responsible for this death. It should be booked under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code.

"Dharma Patil could have got justice if the state had intervened immediately. It shows how we value our people. The government has no control over the administration," he said.

Another Congress leader and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan demanded a judicial probe.

"As per my information, some land agents are involved in such land acquisition deals and local revenue officials are also a part of the nexus. The farmers who agreed with such agents received higher compensation," Chavan alleged.

"Dharma Patil's family had refused to be a part of such a nexus, hence they were given very low compensation. This is a serious matter and I demand a judicial inquiry," he said.

Chavan also said the land was first acquired for a thermal power plant, but its economics could not be worked out. The state then decided to construct a solar power plant.

The leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde (NCP) had said last night that only the government was to blame for the farmer's death.

The leader of Opposition in Assembly and Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil echoed him. Vikhe Patil also alleged today that a state minister had purchased land in the same area after the process of the acquisition began (so as to pocket hefty compensation).

As the death drew sharp reactions from Opposition, power minister Chandrashekhar Bavankule today assured the family that the government will reassess the land valuation.

In a letter to Narendra Patil, the minister said Dharma Patil had complained about low compensation for the land as well as for the fruit-bearing trees on it, and the value of both would be reassessed and the procedure would be completed in 30 days.

The Shiv Sena, a ruling ally, issued somewhat conflicting statements on the issue. While its senior leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut said that the "government should be booked for culpable homicide", party spokesperson Neelam Gorhe said that "ninety percent of the blame falls on the previous Congress-NCP government and ten percent on the current government."India will need about USD 4.5 trillion in the next 25 years for infrastructure development, of which it will be able to garner about USD 3.9 trillion, the Economic Survey said.



"The Global Infrastructure Outlook reflects that rising income levels and economic prosperity is likely to further drive demand for infrastructure investment in India over the next 25 years. Around USD 4.5 trillion worth of investments are required by India till 2040 to develop infrastructure to improve economic growth and community well being," the Survey tabled by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Parliament today said.

It said the current trend shows that India can meet around USD 3.9 trillion infrastructure investment out of USD 4.5 trillion.

"The cumulative figure for India's infrastructure investment gap would be around USD 526 billion by 2040," it said ... The Global infrastructure outlook shows that the gap between required infrastructure investment and the current trend of investment is expected to be widened over the year," it said.





The Survey stressed the need to fill the infrastructure investment gap by financing from private investment, institutions dedicated for infrastructure financing like National Infrastructure Investment Bank (NIIB) and also global institutions like Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and New Development Bank (erstwhile BRICS Bank).

Stating that there was massive underinvestment in the sector, it attributed the causes behind this to "collapse of Public Private Partnership (PPP) especially in power and telecom projects; stressed balance sheet of private companies; issues related to land & forest clearances."





Terming road transport as a dominant mode of transport in India which contributes significantly to the national economy, the Survey said measures to boost it resulted augmenting of the road length to 57.17 million km from 33.73 million km in 2001 while the vehicles grew by four times to 229 million during the period.

Also, it emphasised that India's road density at 1.66 km/sq km of area is higher than that of Japan, USA, China, Brazil and Russian Federation while surface road length was 61 percent of the total road lento, much lower than the UK, Korea, Russia and China.

It also highlighted that as on September 2017, out of the 1,263 total ongoing monitored projects across sectors, there are 482 projects in Road Transport and Highways with a cost of Rs 3,17,373.9 crore. Of these, 43 projects face cost overruns and 74 projects time overruns.

About railways sector, the Survey said that it is facing stiff competition from other modes of transportation and the government is initiating various transformative measures to keep railways on track.

About metro rail, it said there is 425 km of metro rail systems operating in the cities of Delhi, NOIDA, Gurugram, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow and Kochi and another about 684 km are under construction in various cities by December 2017.

About civil aviation, it said, "Provision of Rs 4,500 crore for revival of 50 unserved and underserved airports/airstrips has been taken up with budgetary support of government to be completed by December 2018."

On shipping, the Survey said, "In 2017-18, projects with an investment of around Rs 10,000 crore and a capacity addition of about 80 MMTPA are targeted for an award. Of these, 15 projects involving an investment of around Rs 3,159 crore and a capacity addition of 18 MTPA have already been awarded."

Listing Bharatmala and Sagarmala as important initiatives for highways and shipping sectors respectively, the Survey said under Sagarmala ports master plans have been finalised under which 131 port capacity expansion projects with a project cost of Rs 85,346 crore have been identified for implementation over next 20 years.

The Survey said all-India installed power generation capacity has increased substantially over the years and reached 330860.6 MW as on November 30, 2017.

About logistics sector, the Survey highlighted that "the Indian logistics market is expected to reach about USD 215 billion in 2020, growing at a CAGR of 10.5 percent".

For the telecom sector, it said under phase II of Bharat Net to connect 1.5 lakh gram panchayats with high-speed broadband is likely to be completed by March 2019.In 1996, when war broke out in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, just 31 northern white rhinos remained in Garamba National Park, the last stronghold of this endangered species. Armed militias reached the park less than a year later, and half of the park's elephants, two-thirds of its buffaloes and three-quarters of its hippos disappeared in three short months. Poaching of northern white rhinos also resumed, despite conservationists' best efforts. Today, after a succession of armed clashes, only three northern white rhinos survive - all transplants from a zoo in the Czech Republic, and all confined to a single Kenyan conservancy.



That the rhinos' habitat included a part of Africa plagued by human conflict was "desperately unfortunate," said Kes Hillman-Smith, a Nairobi-based conservationist and author of Garamba: Conservation in Peace and War. "The endless wars there have taken their toll on all the wildlife in the region." Many case studies have demonstrated that war can affect the survival of local populations, sometimes threatening entire species. But the research is mixed: in some cases, conflict actually seems to aid animals. Now, researchers have published a quantitative study of war's consequences for African animals - the first multi-decade, continent-wide analysis. The findings, published in

Nature, are both surprising and encouraging. Compared to all other measured factors, conflict is the most consistent predictor of species declines. Yet the northern white rhino is the exception.

War rarely leads to extinction, a finding that underscores the importance of post-conflict restoration efforts. "We show that war is bad, but not as bad as you might assume," said Robert Pringle, an ecologist at Princeton University, USA and an author of the new study. "There are really two alternative hypotheses you can imagine," he added. "One is that war is just a disaster for everything, including environments. And the other is that pretty much anything that causes people to clear out from an area can be beneficial for wildlife."

Teaming up with Robert, Joshua Daskin, a conservation ecologist at Yale University, USA, undertook a laborious search of 500 scientific studies, government white papers, non-profit reports and park management documents. He sought out comparable wildlife counts, irrespective of the presence of conflict, from 1946-2010. The researchers then calculated various animal population trajectories over time and compared them with known conflicts. Their final list encompassed 253 populations of 36 species of herbivorous mammals in 126 protected areas throughout Africa. The scientists found that it takes relatively little conflict - just one event every two to five decades - to push animal populations to lower levels.

For rapid intervention

Conflict frequency, in fact, was the most significant variable predicting wildlife trends among 10 other factors the researchers analysed, including drought, the number of people living near a protected area and the degree of corruption found in a country. The more frequent the conflict, the greater the impact. "This continent-wide assessment confirms what many case studies have hinted at - war is a major driver of wildlife population declines across Africa," said Kaitlyn Gaynor, a doctoral candidate at the University of California, Berkeley, who has studied armed conflict's influence on wildlife.

The losses are likely the result of a combination of factors, said Kes. In times of war, poached bush meat may feed troops, local people and refugees, while valuable assets like ivory may be used to fund the struggle. Arms and ammunition also tend to become more widely available, Kes said, and a general breakdown of law and order makes poaching easier. Conservation organisations, she added, also tend to pull out when the shooting starts. "The greatest losses in Garamba happened in the absence of international support and when active patrolling was stopped," she said.

Yet, all is not lost during war, even when conservationists are forced to flee. Animals sometimes become scarcer and more difficult for hunters to find, Joshua said, and the populations persist at lower levels. The finding suggests that rapid intervention by conservationists can be critical for ensuring the survival and recovery of remnant populations, he said. Indeed, in the 1980s, post-conflict conservation in Garamba doubled both the northern white rhino and elephant populations in just eight years.The Delhi High Court today expressed apprehension over the safety of people in their homes in the national capital, saying that an "arsonist is on the loose throwing firebombs and setting cars ablaze".



The remarks were made by the court during the hearing of a petition relating to a woman lawyer's assault by the police in a stalking case against her in connection with a property dispute.

There was high drama during the proceedings as some advocates beat up an unidentified man suspecting him to behind the recent attacks on lawyers.

Senior lawyers, who have been representing the woman, have been at the receiving end of arson attacks at their homes and the cars of two of them were set ablaze.

According to court staff, the bench of justices Siddharth Mridul and Deepa Sharma had risen for a five-minute break when some of the advocates present in the court beat up the man.

Lawyers said the man did not state how he entered the court premises and alleged his face resembled that of the arsonist who was caught on CCTV footage throwing a firebomb at one of the senior lawyers' home.

After returning from the break, the judges expressed serious concern over the incident and said that the courtroom cannot be turned into an "akhaada" (wrestling ground).

They also rapped the police for not maintaining law and order in the court as well as in the city in view of the arson attacks on lawyers, including president of the Delhi High Court Bar Association Kirti Uppal.

"If you (police) are unable to handle law and order, let us know. We cannot allow the court to turn into an 'akhaada'. We are not going to permit this," the bench said and questioned, "is anybody safe?"

"We are concerned that there is an arsonist on the loose in the national capital throwing firebombs and setting cars ablaze," the bench said.

It also asked the registrar general of the high court to look into how unauthorised people were entering court premises.

The court was also unhappy that no FIR had been lodged till date in connection with an assault on the woman lawyer by police officers on December 19 last year.

The court said it would continue with the hearing.

Earlier in the day, it termed the recent attacks on properties of three advocates as "startling" and sought an action taken a report from the Delhi Police on the issue.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar sought the report in two days, saying the incident warrants swift and necessary action.

The court' direction came while initiating the proceeding on its own after taking note of the fact that lawyers abstained from the work on January 25 in view of the attacks.

The high court bar association had on January 24 passed a resolution condemning the January 9 and 22 attacks on the properties and cars of senior advocates Vikas Pahwa and Kirti Uppal, who is also the president of the DHCBA, by using an inflammable substance.

A similar incident took place on January 4 when the two cars-- a Maruti Swift and a Honda Amaze-- parked in the east Delhi house of advocate Ravi Sharma were allegedly torched by unidentified persons.Rattled by the death of a youth who got sucked into an MRI machine at a hospital, the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday announced a probe into the death.



Besides, the BMC is also contemplating issuing guidelines to civic-run hospitals.

On Saturday evening, Rajesh Maru (32), a Lalbaug resident, who worked as a salesman and was the sole earning member of his family, got sucked into the MRI machine and died in a civic-run BYL Nair Charitable Hospital in Mumbai Central area.

The Agripada police station has registered a case and arrestred three persons, Dr Saurabh Lanjrekar (24), ward boy Vithal Chavan (35) and attendant Sunita Surve (35), and booked them under the IPC's section 304A (negligence causing death; a bailable offence).

"An FIR has been registered and investigations are in progress," Deputy Police commissioner (Zone III) Virendra Mishra said.

Meanwhile, taking note of the issue, Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta announed a probe headed by an official of the rank of deputy municipal commissioner.

On Sunday, after the relatives of the victim and members of the Maru community staged a sit-in, Nair Hospital's Dean Dr Ramesh Bharmal said, "It is a tragic incident and we will cooperate with police officials. We cannot make any comments on how the incident occurred as it is under investigation."

Maru, a resident of Lalbaug, had gone to see a relative who was undergoing treatment at the hospital.

"A ward boy had 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 present there to tell him that he should not carry an oxygen cylinder with him to MRI room," Maru's brother-in-law Harish Solanki said.

According to relatives, Maru's hand got trapped in the machine while opening of the oxygen cylinder snapped, and he was sucked into the MRI machine.

By the time he was pulled out, he had inhaled an excessive amount of oxygen that leaked from the cylinder and died.Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said the police FIR against an Army unit involved in the firing on protesters in Shopian that left two civilians dead will be taken to a "logical conclusion" even as the BJP demanded that the murder case be withdrawn.



Mufti made the assertion while defending the police action amid an uproar in the state Assembly over the firing incident and a demand by BJP MLA R S Pathania for immediate withdrawal of the FIR. Pathania, however, said his party supports the magisterial probe to allow law to take its own course.



The FIR was registered against the personnel of 10, Garhwal unit, of the Army under sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Ranbir Penal Code. A Major, who led the Army personnel at the time of the incident on Saturday, was also mentioned in the FIR, officials said yesterday.



Two civilians were killed when Army personnel fired at a stone-pelting mob in Ganovpora village in Shopian, prompting the chief minister to order an inquiry into the incident.



J and K Police chief S P Vaid said registration of FIR in the Shopian incident is just the beginning of the investigation and the Army's version would be taken into account as well.



Mufti said she did not believe the police action would have a demoralising effect on the army.



Terming the incident a "setback" to the political process, Mufti said she had spoken about it to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who asked her to take the required action in case there was "carelessness".



The state Assembly witnessed repeated interruptions by the opposition, which moved an adjournment motion over the Shopian incident.



"I do not accept that the Army gets demoralised by such actions. The Army is an institution and has done a wonderful job. But a black sheep can be anywhere... Among judges there can be black sheep, but we can't paint every one with the same brush," Mufti said.



She said if somebody commits a mistake, the person should be punished as such a course only brings laurels to the institution.



"If some Army officer has committed a mistake, an FIR has been lodged and it is the duty of the government to take it to a logical conclusion," Mufti said.



It is a "big issue", said Mufti, who leads a PDP-BJP coalition in the state.



Every now and then we have "unfortunate" incidents that should not have happened, she added.



"We are asking the Army and other security forces to maintain utmost restraint but it is also a fact that unlike in the past when villages used to get deserted if there was an encounter, or even a fake encounter, now hundreds indulge in stone pelting on security forces when an encounter breaks out," she said.



"I talked to the Union defence minister immediately after learning about the incident and she was positive in her response," Mufti told the House.



"She said if you feel there is carelessness (on the part of the Army), you take whatever action you want to take. Subsequently, we lodged an FIR and ordered a magisterial probe," the chief minister said.



Demanding that the FIR registered against the army personnel be withdrawn forthwith, Pathania said already a magisterial probe has been ordered into the incident and let the law take its own course.



"There is a consensus on the magisterial probe and criminal action should be taken against the guilty. But naming the Army personnel in the FIR (without completion of the inquiry) and levelling serious charges should not have been done," he told the Assembly.



Questioning ordering of a magisterial inquiry as well as registration of the FIR against Army personnel, National Conference working president Omar Abdullah said confusing signals are being sent out.



"On one hand, magisterial inquiry was ordered and simultaneously, an FIR was lodged against the Army in which a Major and some personnel were named," he said, adding if the FIR had been lodged against unknown persons, the importance of magisterial inquiry would have remained intact.



"If we know in advance the people involved and a case of murder and attempt to murder is registered, then what is the need for magisterial inquiry," Abdullah asked during a discussion on the Shopian incident in the Assembly.



Asked at a news conference whether the Army's version will be a part of the probe, DGP Vaid said, "The Army's version, eye-witness accounts and the statement of those who lost their near and dear ones would be included."



"We will go through all facts and the ground evidences of the case and the Army will also be questioned," Vaid said.



According to the police, the crowd hurled stones on a security force convoy passing through Ganovpora village in Shopian district following which the Army men fired a few rounds.



A defence spokesperson, however, had said the troops opened fire when a mob tried to lynch a junior commissioned officer and snatch his service weapon.The third of the Scorpene-class submarines - Karanj (Yard 11877) - will be launched on Wednesday.



Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba's wife Reena Lanba will launch the submarine at the Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd.

The first Scorpene-class submarine INS Kalvari, a diesel-electric attack submarine was commissioned on December 14, 2017, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai.

The second Scorpene-class submarine - Khanderi - was launched on January 12, 2017, and is expected to be commissioned later this year.

Six submarines (Scorpene-class or Kalvari-class) are being built at MDL in collaboration with M/s DCNS of France, as a part of Project 75 of the Indian Navy as part of Transfer of Technology.

The state-of-art features of the Scorpene include superior stealth and the ability to launch a crippling attack on the enemy, using precision-guided weapons.

An attack can be launched with torpedoes, as well as tube launched anti-ship missiles, whilst underwater or on surface. The stealth features give it invulnerability, unmatched by many submarines.

The Scorpene submarine is designed to operate in all theatres, including the tropics. All means and communications are provided to ensure interoperability with other components of a naval task force.Post demonetisation move, the government has claimed that there has been an increase of 1.8 million in individual income tax filers since November 2016.

According to the Economic Survey 2017-18 released on Monday, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has increased the number of unique indirect taxpayers by more than 50% -- a substantial 3.4 million.

Of their total turnover, business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions account for only 17% of the total GST filings. The bulk of transactions are business-to-business (B2B) and exports, which account for 30% and 34% respectively.

The survey said that traditionally, there was a 0.8% monthly increase in new tax filers a representing growth of 10% annually before GST and demonetisation.

"The level of tax filers by November 2017 was 31% greater than what this trend would suggest, a statistically significant difference. This translates roughly into about 1.8 million additional taxpayers due to demonetisation-cum-GST, representing 3% of existing taxpayers," the survey stated.

Further analysis in the Survey suggested that new filers reported an average income, in many cases, close to the income-tax threshold of Rs 250,000, limiting the early revenue impact to the Union government. "As income growth over time pushes many of the new tax filers over the threshold, the revenue dividends should increase robustly," it said.

The survey's analysis showed that 10 million new people filed tax returns between November 2016 and November 2017, compared with 6.2 million during the same period in the preceding six years.

Despite all this, the government has been battling to sustain the GST collections. After initially blaming it on the lowering of tax rates, the government blamed it on lack of e-way bill and expedited its implementation.

In a more recent development the government announced a crackdown on the 'small traders', as according to them there is a large chunk of traders evading taxes using the provisions of composition scheme.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today blamed the previous state government for the delay in construction of the Mahesra bridge on the Sonauli-Gorakhpur road here.



Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the bridge, the UP chief minister said the bridge would connect Gorakhpur and its adjoining districts to Nepal, and usher in development and employment to the districts of east UP.

"Mahesra Bridge was damaged in 2006 and since then we had launched several movements for the reconstruction of the bridge. In 2009, a foundation stone for the bridge was laid and the Centre allocated funds, but due to shortcomings on the part of the then state government and prevailing corruption, the work took so long. We, however, completed the work in just 10 months. The delay shows how even the smaller issues used to linger on during the previous governments," he said.

The chief minister said the government would soon launch a massive sanitation and an encephalitis vaccination programme for children up to the age of 15 years from April.

Adityanath asked public representatives to ensure cleanliness in all districts and villages in order to combat encephalitis and promised medical facilities would be made available at the CHC (community health centre) and the PHC (primary health centre) level.

"CHCs, PHCs and district hospitals will be equipped with medical facilities and a team of doctors will be deployed at district hospitals after their training at the BRD medical college. By July 2018, the OPD at the AIIMS in Gorakhpur will start," the chief minister added.



"I am coming to Karnataka in April to campaign for three weeks to make sure that the 30% of Dalits votes won't go to the BJP", Mewani said during his speech at Gauri Day programme at the Town Hall here on Monday.





"I know it is my duty to convince Dalits about the atrocities against the community, the pains of Radhika Vemula, the tortures of youths in Una and others done by the BJP and the Sangh Parivar outfits across the country", he added.





He further said that the Modi government has failed to provide employment to youth and asked the PM to retire. "Modi came to power by promising to generate lakhs of jobs in the country, but he has failed. He could better retire from politics. In coming months, we will come up with a formula to tackle unemployment", said Mevani.





Mevani also said that when Modi speaks at the Red Fort on August 15, he will simultaneously go for a Facebook Live session to address the real issues with the solutions.











The panel discussion on the topic of 'The future of India as Gauri had dreamt it', was moderated by Human Rights activist Teesta Setalvad with panellists Jignesh Mewani, Kanhaiya Kumar, Shehla Rashid, Umar Khalid, Richa Singh, Dr Vasu, Vikas Mourya and Kumar Buradikatti.

Newly elected Gujarat Legislative Assembly member, Jignesh Mevani is determined to prevent any Dalit vote for BJP by campaigning for three weeks in Karnataka.Even though India's information and communication technology (ICT) services export declined during 2006 to 2016, the Economic Survey on Monday stated that software services exports increased by 2.3% during the first half of fiscal 2018.



India's ICT share in total service export stood at 67% in 2016 and it was 68% in 2006.

The survey stated that FDI inflow in the computer software and hardware sector reached $3.7 billion during the fiscal 2017 and it touched $3.3 billion in the first half of fiscal 2018.

The sector attracted 7.8% of the total FDI and registered a decline of 38.2%. It registered a growth of 116% during the first half of the fiscal 2018.

"The share of ICT in total services exports for India declined marginally during the decade (2006-2016), while the ICT share in total services exports has increased in economies like China, Brazil, Russia, Philippines, Israel and Ukraine...," the survey said.

The emergence of other geographies are happening at a time when there is a shift in technology landscape with the advent of digital and artificial intelligence making inroads every where. ICT share in China's service exports grew from 22% to 40% between 2006 and 2016, while Brazil saw this contribution increase from 43% to 55%, during this period.

Notwithstanding the pricing pressure on traditional services and a challenging global business environment facing domestic software companies, the first half of the fiscal 2018 witnessed 2.3% growth in software services exports, a mild improvement over the previous period.

Citing RBI data, the Economic Survey said that software exports registered a growth of (-)0.7% in 2016-17.

Besides UK and European Union, the United States also accounts for 90% of India's ICT exports. "While there are new challenges surfacing in these traditional geographies, demand from APAC (Asia Pacific), Latin America and West Asia is growing and new opportunities are emerging for expanding in continental Europe, Japan, China and Africa," it said.

IT-BPM sector employed nearly 3.9 million people in fiscal 2017, adding about 1.73 lakh people over fiscal 2016. The industry comprises over 16,000 firms that offer complete range of services, and over 4,750 start-ups, it added.The Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA on Monday passed a resolution hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his speech in the World Economic Forum in Davos and the presence of 10 Asean leaders at Republic Day Parade.

At a meeting of the NDA's parliamentary wing, Modi again reiterated his call for building a consensus on the issue of simultaneous polls, saying the leaders could help create a positive atmosphere in its favour.

Modi's remarks came on a day when President Ram Nath Kovind pitched for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies in his maiden address to the joint session of Parliament on Monday ahead of the Budget Session.

Modi reiterated that a continuous cycle of elections across the country impeded the developmental works due to enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, besides incurring a huge cost.

The prime minister repeated his view that the agenda of simultaneous polls does not belong to him or the BJP but everyone must come together and brainstorm. He said political attacks happen during elections that damage federal structure and fabric due to the continuous cycle of polls in the country.

Shortly before the NDA met, BJP's parliamentary party executive saw the prime minister, as well as party chief Amit Shah, sending a clear message that they expected the party MPs in Parliament to be present in sufficient number through the session.The National Green Tribunal on Monday told the Karnataka government to start taking immediate action for rejuvenation of Bellandur, Agara and Varthul lakes in Bengaluru.



A bench presided over by Justice U D Salvi ordered the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to issue directions to all 99 apartment complexes, which are discharging sewage in the Bellandur and Varthur lakes, to establish modular sewage treatment plants within the available space without posing threat to the structural safety. The state authorities have given time till December 2018 for establishing such plants.

Hearing the suo motu matter arising out of the fire in the Bellandur lake, the tribunal asked the government to address the root cause of problems, leading to pollution of the city lakes.

"Environment justice requires immidiate steps for stopping the continuing pollution of Bellandur lake. This will also stop the growth of microfiles which nurture on these sewages. We therefore direct the state pollution control board to initiate action for issuing directions to the 99 apartment projects to install modular STPs which can be placed in the available free space particularly the basement and does pose any threat to the structure of the said project," the bench said.

The tribunal also directed for setting up an experts panel from Indian Institute of Science for making on the spot assessment of the lake, including undertaking a study of lifecycle of Macrophytes and its biological removal, eradication, desedimentation and taking follow up actions on the basis of their recommendations.

The NGT also directed the state authorities to remove the macrophytes, including dry floating grass, which emerged as one of the reasons for recent fire in the lake. The tribunal would again take up the matter for consideration on February 28.

After hearing Additional Advocate General Adtiya Sondhi and Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Mahendra Jain, the tribunal said we direct the state authorities to get an action plan ready and start working on rejuvenation of the three lakes within three weeks.

The bench also quizzed the state official as well as the counsel as what actions they took to prevent encroachment surrounding the lakes and their catchement areas. Jain submitted that as much as 19,000 metric tonnes of silt has been removed from Bellandur lake.

Advocate P Ram Prasad, appearing for original applicant Rajya Sabha MP Kupendra Reddy, contended that the tribunal's directions issued earlier have not been complied with as catchment areas and buffer zones remained encroached. He sought direction to ensure proper taking care of all water bodies in the city. Sondhi sought four months time to act on action prepared by the state authorities.

The tribunal, after directing for removal of checking discharge of all industrial effluents in the bodies, rued, "days were passing by in debate and discussion without any action on the ground".Slain journalist Gauri Lankesh's 56th birthday was marked by leaders like freedom fighter H S Doreswamy and Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mewani calling upon all parties to unite and ensure that the BJP did not come to power in Karnataka.

Speaking at the 'Gauri Day' function at Town Hall, Doreswamy, chairperson of Gauri Lankesh Trust, urged parties to unite against the common enemy and not give an opportunity for Modi and BJP in Karnataka. Doreswamy also urged the state government to keep an eye on Dakshina Kannada district for Gauri's killers.

Actor Prakash Rai said that when people like Gauri die, many more voices are born to create one big voice of protest.

"Fascist forces never last long. Now, they are there for five years and they will try, with difficulty, to be around for another five years. But the wounds they leave behind could last for 20 years. To prevent such wounds, we should not restrict ourselves to speaking at such platforms, we should go out on to the streets," Rai said.

The event was addressed by Mewani, former JNU students' union president Kanhaiya Kumar, former vice-president Shehla Rashid, JNU student Umar Khalid, and Richa Singh, first woman president of the Allahabad Central University students' union. All of them, referred to as 'Gauri's children,' spoke against right-wing forces.

"RSS is a terrorist organisation. They made the first terrorist attack in India by assassinating Gandhi. And I don't hesitate to say that they murdered Gauri. The Sanatan Sanstha, responsible for the Goa blasts, is roaming around free. The Karni Sena ran amok and attacked children. How are these terrorist organisations getting impunity," Shehla asked.

Irom Sharmila, known worldover for her 16-year hunger strike against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Manipur, also took part in the event.

Newspaper to be launched on Mar 8

The Trust announced that they would bring out a newspaper to continue Gauri's brand of journalism on March 8, the birth anniversary of her father P Lankesh and the date when 'Gauri Lankesh Patrike' had been launched in 2005.

Doddipalya Narasimhamurthy, president of the Trust, said that so far the Trust had collected about Rs 6 lakh and they need at least Rs 1 crore to launch the paper.Vijay Keshav Gokhale was involved with the management of India's relations with China for the best part of his diplomatic career.



And, as he took over as the new foreign secretary on Monday, bringing New Delhi's troubled ties with Beijing back on track will continue to be one of his priorities.

India's relations with the United States and Japan and its other neighbouring countries would also remain the key focus areas of the Ministry of External Affairs, now led by Gokhale.

Gokhale, an Indian Foreign Service officer of 1981 batch, succeeded S Jaishankar, who completed his three-year tenure on Sunday.

The new foreign secretary went to his office in South Block early in the morning on Monday. "An early morning start!..." tweeted the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Raveesh Kumar. He also tweeted a picture of Gokhale at the office of the foreign secretary.

Gokhale's early diplomatic assignments include postings in Hong Kong, Hanoi, Beijing and New York. He also served as deputy secretary (finance) and director (China and East Asia) during his stints at the headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs. He also headed the East Asia division, which oversees India-China relations, as joint secretary. He was the high commissioner of India to Malaysia from January 2010 to October 2013, ambassador of India to the Federal Republic of Germany from October 2013 to January 2016, and ambassador of India to China from January 2016 to October 2017. He has been serving as the secretary (economic relations) since October 2017.

The government announced Gokhale's appointment as Jaishankar's successor earlier this month.

Doklam face-off

Even as Gokhale assumed his new office early on Monday, the 2017 military face-off between India and China at Doklam Plateau in western Bhutan continued to haunt the relations between the two neighbours. The media reports about Chinese People's Liberation Army building new military infrastructure near the scene of the face-off in Doklam Plateau caused unease in New Delhi.

Gokhale, who played a key role in resolving the face-off at Doklam Plateau, is likely to lead New Delhi's efforts to mend its ties with Beijing, without lowering the guard against any misadventure by the communist country. The prime minister himself may attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's summit which Chinese President Xi Jinping will host in Qingdao on the east coast of China in June. The diplomats of India and China are in touch to schedule the engagements between the two leaders this year.The death of a person inside an MRI machine is more absurd than ignorance, say doctors in the city.



A 32-year-old man was killed after he was pinned by a leaking oxygen cylinder to an MRI machine in a hospital in Mumbai on Saturday evening.

Dr Balaji Pai, professor and HOD, neurosurgery, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, described the incident as "very strange".

"Even if the magnetic force was pulling the oxygen cylinder towards him, ideally the man should have let go. Instead, he held on firmly, which might have resulted in his death. Of course, it is total negligence and ignorance on the part of the staff at the hospital to allow a person to enter the room while the machine is switched on," said Pai, also the special officer at the trauma centre, Victoria Hospital.

Dr S D Madhu, associate professor, department of radiology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, said MRI machines are fitted with very powerful magnets that can even pull small metal objects towards them.The Manipal Hospitals on Monday launched a campaign to spread awareness about cancer ahead of World Cancer Day on February 4.



Lisa Ray, actor and model, launched the 'I Can Sir' campaign, which is aimed at educating people on timely medical intervention to detect and defeat the disease.

Lisa, who is said to have successfully battled myeloma (cancer), has been spreading awareness and championing the cause of the disease.

"Being a cancer survivor myself, I understand the struggles of those fighting the disease. I urge people to be more determined and positive in order to beat it," she said.

With an alarming rise of cancer-related incidences in India, it is unfortunate that ignorance and denial often lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment, said Dr Sudarshan Ballal, chairman, Manipal Hospitals.Save my User ID and Password

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Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site.Imhofs focus: workforce, open competition

Photo by Jon Silver [enlarge] Imco is rebuilding the road and sidewalk on Post Avenue in downtown Seattle. The surfaces were sinking due to a rotting 127-year-old timber-pile bridge below. Crews removed the bridge as part of the project.





Frank Imhof could have been a dairy farmer, like his father, but instead found a love for construction.

That was a good thing for the construction industry and the AGC, as Imhof has served on the association's board of trustees, has represented its Northern District, and has been active in government affairs at the local, state and federal levels.

Now Imhof is taking the reins of the AGC of Washington as its 2018 president.

Here's what Imhof, who founded Ferndale-based Imco General Construction 40 years ago with his wife, Patti, had to say:

Q: What are your priorities for the AGC this year?

A: Attracting and developing our workforce. We need to grow and support our future construction workforce. We have an aging workforce: according to AGC the average construction worker is 48.

As an industry, we must be better at telling our story to young people about the exciting and satisfying careers our industry offers. We need to come together to support trade programs, and provide more opportunities for students to explore construction. The same things that drew me over 40 years ago still apply: creativity, innovation, the best people, exciting opportunities, and our industry always offers new challenges.

Our high school students don't understand what a great career construction is. There are tremendous opportunities. Construction and journeymen craftworkers are earning $55 per hour as carpenters and equipment operators. Our students can finish high school, go into a construction apprenticeship program and be making 50 percent of journeyman wages while being trained.

Q: How about another priority?

A: Open and fair competition in public works contracting. We need open competition to keep our industry affordable. The expansion of government-mandated project labor agreements is excluding many qualified contractors, including qualified minority and small businesses, from participating in public projects. Eliminating competition and skilled workers is not good for our industry, our members, or our communities.

We need to keep our industry competitive so that taxpayers can invest in infrastructure. We need regulations that are practical and good for everyone; good for our communities, business (including our small and minority businesses), taxpayers, and our environment. PLAs are resulting in fewer competitors on projects and are increasing the cost of construction for the taxpayers. Open competition fuels innovation and efficiency, which are good for taxpayers.

Q: One more priority?

A: Small businesses should not be excluded from the public contracting market. Many local and state agencies are excluding minority and small businesses from competing on public contracts. We are looking for new and innovative ways to encourage and support small business enterprises. The future of our industry is dependent on growing a diverse workforce, and we need ways to truly support minority and small businesses.

Q: What influenced you to get into construction?

A: When I was young, I had every intention of becoming a dairy farmer, just like my dad. I started working construction as a landscape laborer when I was a 19. It turned out, I was working for my future father-in-law. I met my wife three years later, on a dance floor, and later found out that I had been working for her dad, who I have always admired.

When I got into construction in college I ended up loving the people. The workers doing the physical labor were my heroes. I loved the challenges and the creativity it took to build each project. I loved that it was always something new.

Q: What is something most people don't know about you?

A: I have worked nearly 50 years in the construction industry, and it's time for me to give back to the industry I love. I love construction people. I want to give back to our workers and to everything this industry has given to me.

I had over 40 different jobs before I finished at Washington State University, where I majored in agricultural economics, and believe it or not, I was never fired.

I love the outdoors, and I love nature. I believe in protecting our natural resources. I have spent most of my life outside enjoying nature.

Q: What was your first big break as a construction company owner?

A: That's a tough one. I guess it was Imco's second contract. It was big for us at the time, about $350,000 in 1979. It was a challenging lake restoration project for Kitsap County at Long Lake. We were cleaning and restoring the polluted lake. We were dredging the lake and building dikes out of sandbags to install a submarine pipeline and fish ladder to allow the fish to go from the lake into a creek.

My biggest break ever was meeting Patti (my wife) before we were in business. Sticking with her was the most important decision I ever made, and she helped me build Imco into the great company that it is.





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SEATTLE (AP)  State investigators probing the collapse of net pens at a salmon farm last summer are examining nets covered with mussels and other sea life as a cause.

The Seattle Times reports that photos it obtained show portions of nets at Cooke Aquaculture's operation off Cypress Island so heavy with mussel and other growth that the net was no longer visible. Net pens at that facility collapsed in August, releasing 160,000 non-native Atlantic salmon into the Salish Sea.





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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of ZimbabweSaudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed 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. Al-Waleed bin Talal Prince Alwaleed, dubbed the Warren Buffett of Saudi Arabia, was the most high-profile detainee among 350 suspects rounded up since 4 November, including business tycoons and ministers, who were held in Riyadh's luxury Ritz-Carlton Hotel. His release came hours after he told Reuters in an interview that he expected to be cleared of any wrongdoing and be freed within days. It also came soon 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. A senior Saudi official said Prince Alwaleed was freed after he reached a financial settlement with the attorney general. ''The attorney general has approved this morning the settlement that was reached with Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, and the prince returned home at 11:00 am (08:00 GMT),'' the official said, without giving details of the terms. The decision to free him, and the release of several other well-known tycoons on Friday, suggested the main part of the corruption probe was winding down after it sent shockwaves through Saudi Arabia's business and political establishment. In his first interview since being detained, conducted hours before his release, Prince Alwaleed told Reuters he maintained his innocence of any corruption in talks with the authorities. He said he expected to keep full control of his global investment firm Kingdom Holding Co without being required to hand assets to the state. He said he had been able to communicate with executives at his business while detained. Prince Alwaleed, who is in his early 60s, described his confinement as a ''misunderstanding'' and said he supported reform efforts by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. ''There are no charges. There are just some discussions between me and the government,'' he said. Prince Alwaleed had been confined at the Ritz-Carlton since early November, along with dozens of other senior officials and businessmen, part of the crown prince's plan to reform oil superpower Saudi Arabia and consolidate his position. The arrest of Alwaleed, one of the world's most prominent investors, had brought into sharp relief the power struggles, societal shifts and systemic changes taking place in Saudi Arabia under the leadership of the country's young crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. Alwaleed was among hundreds of people, including princes, tycoons and former cabinet members, who were detained in November as the authorities in Saudi Arabia embarked on what they said was a determined and overdue campaign to root out a deeply-entrenched system of graft in the kingdom. The arrest of so many influential Saudis was intended to send a message that no one was immune to prosecution and to signal to foreign investors that corruption would no longer be tolerated, Saudi officials said. It was part of a more ambitious and far-reaching effort to yank the moribund kingdom into the modern era, they asserted. But the precise nature of the accusations and even details of who exactly was arrested were shrouded in mystery. The government soon disclosed that it was hoping to reach financial settlements with the accused, rather than bring criminal charges, which fed suspicions of a government shakedown rather than an earnest attempt at reform. The detainees were not sent to police stations or prisons but to the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh, the Saudi capital - fuelling the perception of an elite feud, rather than a law enforcement action, and one that would be settled in private rather than a courtroom. The government has not officially disclosed how much it had received from the detainees in financial settlements. Rumours put the amount at upwards of $100 billion. Reports that the government had taken control of assets in media and construction companies as part of the settlements suggested that the Saudi leadership was looking to "concentrate power, but in fewer hands, observers said. The attorney general said earlier this week that 90 detainees had been released after their charges were dropped, while others traded cash, real estate and other assets for their freedom. The authorities were still holding 95 people, he said. Some are expected to be put on trial. After being released, Prince Alwaleed said, he would stay in Saudi Arabia and would return to the challenge of juggling his global business interests. ''I will not leave Saudi Arabia, for sure. This is my country.''







Despite US sanctions, tanker with Russian LNG arrives in the US

A tanker carrying liquefied natural gas from a sanctioned project in Russia's Arctic has arrived in Boston Harbour, where it will be offloaded for users in the US.

The giant tanker will deliver the first LNG exported by the Yamal facility, a $27-billion project with, the Russian company Novatek. Last evening the tanker was in the Mystic River at an LNG terminal, where the liquefied cargo will be turned back into gas form and distributed to gas companies and electric power utilities.

The treasury department issued sanctions against Russia to weaken the country's energy sector in July 2014, after Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Under the sanctions, financing for Novatek, Russia's largest independent project, is barred.

However, US treasury sanctions do not prohibit the purchase of natural gas from Yamal, according to experts on US sanctions who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak for the US government, The Washington Post reported.

According to commentators, a chill spell in New England coupled with the shortage of pipeline capacity from gas-rich Pennsylvania have created an appetite for natural gas imports even as the US has started exporting LNG from other terminals on the Gulf Coast.

''It is expected to be in the port over the weekend,'' Luke Pinneo, chief petty officer at the US Coast Guard in Boston, was quoted as telling the media.

He added that the delay in bringing the ship into the harbour ''is not unusual.''

Inspections could last for three days, depending on the time line for getting a Coast Guard boat with a boarding team to it and the specific safety concerns being addressed, he said.Greek media comments on Aegean Kardak islets: Erdogans victory

Greek Defence Minister who was blocked from approaching Aegean islets by Turkish soldiers, became an object of derision on Greeek media.

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.

Turkey's Interior Ministry had stated that the Turkish Coast Guard on Sunday blocked Greece's Defense Minister Panos Kammenos from approaching a pair of islets in the Aegean Sea. The Greek Defence Minister had been warned off by the Coast Guard officials, reported by Anadolu Agency.

The Greek Defence Minister was warned off by the Coast Guard officials WATCH

The coast guard units "did what was necessary" Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu had said, in a statement.

GREEK PRESS: ERDOGANS VICTORY

Defense Ministers try to approach Kardak islets had widespread media coverage on Greek media. The topic hit the headline on Elefteros Tipos newspaper.

It was said that approaching try was ended up President Erdogans victory.Mount Barsaya was cleaned from PKK/YPG terrorists

Turkish Armed Forces and Free Syrian Army on Sunday captured Mount Barsaya in Afrin, Syria.

Terrorist organizations PKK/ has used strategically important location near Syrias Afrin, Mount Barsaya, to target civilians in the center of Turkeys Kilis province and Syrias Azaz district through mortar shells, artillery, and missiles. Barsaya was secured during Operation Olive Branch.

PKK HAD BUILT CONCRETE BUNKERS

Due to strategic significance of the mountain, the terrorist organization PKK/YPG had built concrete bunkers on Mount Barsaya, which were interconnected by a reinforced tunnel system, turning it into a resistance center.

CIVILIANS WERE KILLED BY PKK ATTACK

Turkish Armed Forces and Free Syrian Army held examinations around the field after securing the mountain, where incomplete building structures were spotted. PKK/YPG is thought to cover the top of these buildings and make them endurable to air strikes and other assaults.

On Wednesday two civilians were killed by a PKK/YPG attack on a mosque in Kilis, and on Saturday at least three civilians, including a child, were injured by PKK/YPG terrorist attacks on Kilis and Hatay.

MOUNT BARSAYA WAS CAPTURED BY TURKISH ARMY

In line with these attacks, Mount Barsaya was captured by Turkish Armed Forces from on Sunday. Turkish soldiers hang a Turkish flag at Barsaya Mountain after Turkish military aircrafts hit PYD/PKK terror group targets and secured the mountain .Apparently, somebody doesn't love Chachi. Happy Days alum Scott Baio has been accused by actress Nicole Eggert of "inappropriate behavior" and sexual abuse. Eggert alleges that the abuse took place during their time on the sitcom, Charles in Charge, in which Baio was the lead actor, Charles.

Baio Goes Live

The actress made the accusation on her Twitter account when she responded to another user's post about Baio's support of President Donald Trump.

Ask @scottbaio what happened in his garage at his house when I was a minor. Creep. https://t.co/YrQydBKd0a  Nicole Eggert (@NicoleEggert) January 27, 2018

The Baywatch star continued with follow-up tweets stating that she was molested by him from the ages of 14 to 17, and even stated that the actor "fingered" her. Baio's wife, Renee Baio, first responded to Eggert's claims by stating that her husband's lawyers have served the actress two cease-and-desist letters. Baio himself responded to the allegations on his Twitter account.

I'm about to do a Facebook live to prove her claims are 100% lies! #NicoleEggert https://t.co/WcAsTmjhvD  Scott Baio (@ScottBaio) January 27, 2018

Baio did a live video on his Facebook page Sunday, Jan. 28, where he addressed Eggert's statements and gave his version of the story. Baio stated that Eggert has claimed since 2013 that he was physically involved with her while she was underage. The two did briefly date, however, Eggert stated in an interview with Wetpaint that Baio took her virginity at the age of 17.

"I don't know what else to put out there. She's my best friend in the world, then all of a sudden I'm the bogeyman. The problem with almost all he said/she said cases is they're he said/she said. Now, go prove it or disprove it...the real problem with this is people with legitimate claims aren't taken seriously, and that's too bad," Baio stated in the video. Eggert starred on Charles in Charge from 1987-1990 as the character Jamie Powell.

Baio's Rough Year

This isn't the first time the former '80s star made headlines. The actor was the subject of media scrutiny due to his undying support for Trump during the 2016 presidential election. Baio also told various liberal celebrities to "move to Canada" if they were unhappy with Trump being president.

Baio is one the latest male celebrities to be accused of sexual misconduct.Sofia Richie was majorly dissed by Kendall Jenner, the younger half-sister of Kourtney Kardashian, after an outing with Scott Disick over the weekend.

After paparazzi caught Richie, 19, and Disick, 34, out with his kids, Jenner shared a message in the comments section of a photo of the group.

Awww Scott and his kids, Kendall wrote, pointing out that Richie is much younger than Disick.

Sofia was really hurt by Kendalls bitchy commentthey used to be close friends, which makes it all the more upsetting, an insider explained to Hollywood Life.

Richie also reportedly feels that Jenner's comment about her relationship was completely hypocritical considering the romance between her older sister, Kourtney Kardashian, and her boyfriend Younes Bendjima, who is 14 years her junior and the relationship between Kris and her boyfriend Corey Gamble. As fans of Keeping Up With the Kardashians may know, Kris's boyfriend is a whopping 25 years younger than she is.

Sofia thinks it was totally out of line for Kendall to be shading her like that. You cant help who you fall in love with, and Sofia really is in love with Scott, she truly thinks shes found her soulmate, the source noted.

Richie and Disick began dating one another in early 2017 but didn't confirm their relationship publicly until this past summer. Around the same time, Kardashian and Bendjima, who has long been a friend to Richie, confirmed their own relationship after several months of rumors.

As for what sparked Jenner to shade Richie in such a public manner, another source claimed the model felt betrayed by Richie's romance with Disick due to their past friendship.

Kendall was really pissed when Scott started dating Sofia, she was a friend of hers and thought it was just wrong, a source close to the family told Hollywood Life.

Jenner is also upset with Disick and doesn't understand why he decided to start up a relationship with someone who has been a friend of the family in past years. The source also claimed the model felt Disick's behavior with Richie was creepy since he had been introduced to Richie when she was much younger and spending time with the Jenner sisters, Kendall and Kylie.

To see more of Kendall Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, and their family including Kylie and Kris Jenner, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, don't miss new episodes of Keeping Up With the Kardashians when the show returns to the E! Network on Feb. 11 at 9 p.m.2018-01-29

Maeci

On the sidelines of the Conference on the Responsibility of Countries, Public Institutions and Individuals in combatting anti-Semitism in the OSCE area today, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, met his Israeli counterpart, Tzachi Hanegbi, at the Farnesina.

Italy plays a leading role in combatting all forms of discrimination and intolerance. Since our country is chair of both the OSCE and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance this year, we have a perfect opportunity to relaunch the theme of combatting anti-Semitism, as this Conference today demonstrates, said Minister Alfano to his counterpart.

He then said that the Italian Government is carefully considering the adoption at national level of a definition of anti-Semitism. I proposed that the Council of Ministers should incorporate the definition of anti-Semitism adopted at the IHRA Plenary meetings in Bucharest in 2016, so that the next Parliament can transpose it into internal law, added the Minister.

Finally, with regard to negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, Alfano said that Italy and the EU are willing to help defend the two-state solution and reopen political dialogue on the peace process.The European Union firmly condemned the decision by the Venezuelan authorities to declare the Ambassador of Spain in Caracas as persona non grata. The EU expressed full solidarity with Spain and recalled that its decisions in the area of foreign policy were taken by unanimity. Brussels called for their decision to be reversed as it had a negative effect on relations between the EU and Venezuela.

EU authorities added that as regards the recent decision to organize presidential elections, the EU deeply regretted that it had been taken without appropriate national dialogue. Elections should be based on a viable electoral calendar, agreed in the context of national discourse including all relevant actors and political parties, all of whom should assume their responsibilities. Brussels reminded that the respect for equal and fair participation, including the lift of bans on political opponents as well as balanced composition of the National Electoral Council and the existence of sufficient guarantees with independent international observation were the only ways to rebuild confidence of the Venezuelan people in the electoral process.

In this context, the EU also condemned the Venezuelan Supreme Courts decision to exclude the MUD (the Democratic Unity Roundtable) from the presidential elections, which is another serious breach to the principle of fair elections. The MUD is a catch-all coalition of Venezuelan political parties created in January 2008 to unify the opposition to President Hugo Chavezs United Socialist Party of Venezuela in the 2010 parliamentary election.

Brussels called for the need for a negotiated and peaceful solution to the crisis in Venezuela based on credible elections, the recognition and respect of the role and independence of all democratically elected institutions and the release of political prisoners. The EU keeps on monitoring the situation in the country by taking appropriate measures to foster democratic solutions that can bring about political stability, and address he urgent needs of its population.Hello,



I have a question regarding the UK spouse visa - firstly, is the spouse visa a particular tier? When I google it, it comes up as part of family visas but I am wondering if family visas are part of like Tier 2 general for example?



My second question is regarding employment - will my future (hopefully lol) employer be aware that I am over in the UK on a spouse visa during the hiring process or will they simply know I have right to work in the UK? The reason I ask is because my partner and I still want our future wedding to occur without informing too many guests that we signed our papers legally in the U.S. I also wonder if my partner has to inform his workplace that we have married? From what I looked up online, you can inform HMRC online that you have married but I am guessing he might also have to inform his employer? Would appreciate any clarification. Thank youYou might try the attorneys listed on the US Consulate's list of "English speaking attorneys." Some of them are dual qualified, and some retain the (US?) custom of allowing a 15 or 20 minute initial appointment without charge to determine if they can help you or not.

Cheers,

BevPsst: Do you want to hear about a neat investing trick a family friend showed me? She started with $250. Through alchemical money magic  a mixture of time, compound interest and an important dash of neglect  she turned that $250 into an investment worth roughly $137,000 today.

She still owns it, so results may vary in the future, but her gains are amazing.

How did she do it? What financial wizardry did she employ? It was probably bitcoin, right? Or some lesser known cryptocurrency? Or a hot commodity tip?

I imagine youd like to learn her trick.

My friend didnt want to be identified, so we compromised and went with her mothers name, Ruth.

The story starts in 1965. Ruth was newly married. As much as possible, Ill let her tell it:

I lived in the state of Washington, and my grandmother used to buy stocks, even though she was a middle-class person. She thought it was good to buy local, and Seattle was dominated by Boeing Co.

At that time people thought you were supposed to buy 100 shares of everything. I didnt have enough to buy that amount, so I bought less than that initially.

I invested around $250 at the time. It was probably 20 shares, no more than 40. I remember the broker criticized me for not buying 100 shares.

OK, thats the beginning of Ruths story. Are you ready for the magical part? Then Ruth did nothing for 53 years. Thats it. Thats the whole magic.

The moral to this story: Never sell.

In 2018, her initial $250 investment in 20 or 40 shares of her local company Boeing has turned into 400 shares through stock splits and the reinvestment of dividends. With shares trading at more than $343 in late January, her initial investment is worth (at the time of this writing) around $137,232. Through Ruths benign neglect. The dividends alone on her shares pay around $2,700 per year  or more than 10 times her original investment.

At least three important lessons, and clarifications of the lessons, of Ruths story are necessary.

First, this is the story of a particular investment in Boeing that happened to be headquartered in Ruths home state, but you could substitute hundreds of successful companies from 1965 into that same story with similar results.

The point is not I wish Id bought Boeing in 1965, but rather I wish Id bought a tiny amount of shares of any number of successful companies, and then done nothing further for 53 years.

Second, I was kidding earlier about magic, just to get your attention.

This is actually the most normal thing in the world. Turning $250 into $137,232 over 53 years is not magical at all, but rather a mathematical result of time and compound returns. To be precise, Ruths initial investment through reinvestment of dividends, splits and stock price gains grew on average 12.6 percent per year for 53 years, from 1965 to 2018. And thats a good return. Its above average.

But its not ridiculous for a successful U.S. multinational company from that period to today. The annualized return from the S&P 500 since 1965, including reinvestment of dividends, was 9.87 percent. If it had been technically feasible to invest $250 in the S&P500 in 1965 (it wasnt technically feasible then) and then let it compound for 53 years, the stake would be worth $36,689. Thats not as cool as Ruths $137,232, but it aint nothing either.

Third, Ruth is no genius investor. Shes pretty typical. The really funny thing is that while she told me her story, she continuously bemoaned her lack of investment savvy.

I feel embarrassed talking about Boeing because I could tell you about a lot of mistakes, and even stocks that went to zero, she said. Which is charming, and no doubt true, but doesnt negate her success. Remember, she turned $250 into $137,232.

Psst: If you are still in your 20s, so could you. Start with $250. Then do absolutely nothing for 50 years or so. The doing nothing is actually the hard part.

Also, the part of the story I havent told you yet is that our whole conversation started because Ruth had initially described selling 500 shares of Boeing at the beginning of 2017.

Shed bought those particular 500 shares at some point in the 2008 crisis. She saw a market price of $175 per share in this past February and thought to herself: That cant go any higher. Nearly a year later, the price has almost doubled. Ruth was kicking herself in the initial part of our conversation for that sale a year ago.

I know Im doing it wrong when the price goes up and Ive already sold, and I could have sold at a higher price. Its not the first time its happened. Its hard to know how to time a sale, she said.

She wanted to know when was the right time to sell. She felt like she blew it as an investor.

Also, shed been tempted to sell a lot earlier. Sometime a few decades ago, my husband and I talked about selling our stake in Boeing, taking the money out and building a swimming pool. Our whole stake was worth $30,000 and we thought it couldnt go any higher.

How do I know when to sell, she asked me  probably four or five times in our conversation.

Never, I answered each time, or some variation on never. But still Ruth wanted to figure out how to properly time the market. Which is impossible. Ruth feels like she gets a lot of things wrong with her investing.

Of course, she will sell some stocks as she funds her retirement life, but that has nothing to do with timing the market.

Its better to be lucky than good, we always say on Wall Street, and of course, Ruth got lucky buying a small amount of the world-class stock from her hometown. But she was also good, in that she didnt sell that stock for more than 50 years.

Stock disclosure: I own zero Boeing stock, and zero individual stocks for that matter, preferring to invest in equity index mutual funds. And so should you, for that matter.

Michael Taylor is a columnist for the San Antonio Express-News and a former Goldman Sachs bond salesman. Twitter: @Michael_Taylor | michael@michaelthesmart money.comThis past week, the last standing Blockbuster Video in Texas closed for good after a heavily-attended liquidation sale.

The Edinburg, Texas store was a media sensation for years as one of the last places where film fans could enjoy the Blockbuster brand, which dominated the home video market for years.

The store was owned by licensee Alan Payne. According to ValleyCentral.com, hed owned the store since 2006. Payne still owns six Blockbuster stores in Alaska.

If you wouldve come into this store on a Friday night 15 years ago, you wouldve seen this many people in here and they wouldve been running, talking movies and having fun, Payne told the local outlet. But, the last several years, everybody knows the business has been in decline, to the point that this was the last store left in the entire state.

There is a listing of the last remaining stores across the country, including the six in Alaska and two more in Oregon. Road trip, anyone?

Renting films is largely a thing of the past as streaming services have taken hold of the market. Kiosks like Redbox still have a hold on a portion of the movie-loving population though in front of grocery and drug stores.

Corporate-owned Blockbuster Video storefronts were shuttered in early 2014. The company was taken over by Dish Network Corp. in 2011. Blockbuster tried to emulate Netflix with its own DVD-by-mail, but it was hard to adapt when it had so many leases on stores that were suffering from sharply declining sales.

Blockbuster opened its first store in Dallas in 1985, and at its peak had more than 9,000 locations.INGRAM  Reviving a festering dispute in this Kerr County hamlet, the city is prosecuting nine property owners for ignoring demands to decommission their septic tanks and instead use a municipal sewage system thats been installed incrementally here since 2010.

Some defendants accuse city leaders of selective code enforcement, overstepping their authority and gouging commercial utility customers with $5,000 in connection fees for businesses, levies established in a local ordinance adopted in 2013.

The citys only prior attempt to prosecute such a case, in 2014, resulted in an acquittal in municipal court for defendant John Sheffield, who runs Ole Ingram Grocery.

Sheffield, who lives outside the city, subsequently filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city; in that case, he received $17,500 last summer from the citys insurer under a settlement.

Sheffield was charged again Jan. 19, along with six other business owners and two residents.

Hes vowing to continue fighting the city over the $1,200 tap fee and the $3,800 access fee mandated by the city for non-residential properties.

There are other businesses that connected to the system and didnt pay. Lots of them, he said last week. You cant pick and choose.

Past city officials have acknowledged that some businesses avoided the costly fees by linking into early components of the sewer system before the city adopted the ordinance establishing the charges.

City Administrator Mark Bosma, hired in 2016, has heard the complaints but said he hasnt looked into the situation. Hes focused instead on obtaining compliance moving forward.

I couldnt tell you if they hooked up for free. There wasnt any reason for me to go back and look at it, he said, noting, I dont know that we can go back and charge people now if there was not an ordinance in place.

The property owners cited this month are holdouts from among about 40 notified since last spring of the code requirement that they tie into the still-expanding sewer system since it passes within 200 feet of their properties.

Violators of the code can be fined up to $500 per day.

Four defendants pleaded not guilty on Wednesday in municipal court and requested jury trials, Bosma said, and the other cases are docketed for next month.

These folks have known this ordinance is in place for years. We sent letters out  not once, but twice, Bosma said.

The sewer project is designed to protect the river  which supplies drinking water to many downstream communities  from being polluted with seepage from local septic tanks.

The sewage collected here is piped to Kerrvilles wastewater treatment plant under a contract with Ingram.

The city obtained grants and loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help fund the roughly $9 million system that currently reaches about 570 local properties. Pipes have yet to be laid to the remaining 130 parcels slated to get service.

Residential properties were allowed to tie into the sewer system at no charge, under the colonia grant program, but the city established a fee for commercial sites to recoup some of its costs.

Sheffield contends the city is not authorized to charge connection fees to link into sewers funded by the $5.9 million in grants from the USDA, which also administered $2 million in no/low interest loans obtained by Ingram.

But Ericka Archie, spokeswoman for the USDAs Rural Development Office in Temple, said the colonia grant only funded sewer connections to residential users at no charge.

Nonresidential and commercial businesses are handled by the borrowers differently than residential. The method for assessing fees is not determined by the agency, she said Thursday in an email.

The city also obtained three low interest loans through the Texas Water Development Board, said agency spokeswoman Kimberly Leggett.

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) does not prohibit a borrower from charging a tap fee to connect to a system constructed with funds from the program, she said.

The Texas Local Government Code expressly allows municipalities to require property owners to connect to a sewer system, according to the citys former attorney when Sheffield was charged the last time.

Dean Piver, a co-defendant and ally of Sheffield, says that even if the city fees are legal, they are exorbitant.

You cannot expect a business to pay $5,000, said Piver, a Houston resident who owns a metal building on Texas 27 that he says is used strictly for storage.

I barely use the restroom there, said Piver, who also claims he wasnt formally notified by the city of the requirement to connect to the sewers. They said Id even have to pay $5,000 if I turned the water off.

zeke@express-news.netTexas voters hoping to mail in ballots for the March 6 primaries may be surprised to learn they can no longer apply for those ballots by fax or email.

Technically, the fax and email options still exist, but they now must be accompanied by a mailed paper application with an original signature received by the countys early voting clerk after no more than four business days.

Republican lawmakers last year tightened the ballot application process with a provision in Senate Bill 5 that they called a common sense security measure against voter fraud. Many Democrats derided it as a needless hurdle that makes it harder for the sick and elderly to vote.

Critics say, at best, the added step defeats the purpose of using modern technology. At worst, they see it as a further attempt by Republicans to suppress minority voting in a state that is becoming more heavily Hispanic. To be eligible for the March primaries, applications to vote by mail must be received by Feb. 23.

State Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, who authored SB 5, said last July: Sadly, weve seen criminals make mail ballots a prime target for illegal voting and election fraudThis legislation makes significant strides toward protecting every Texans right to `one person, one vote.

Texas mail-in ballot process has been the weakest link in preventing election fraud, agreed St. Marys University political science professor Henry Flores, who has served as an expert witness in more than 50 federal voting and civil rights lawsuits.

But taken collectively, efforts by Republicans to cure a problem that doesnt really exist makes it appear that the diminution of Hispanic voting power is part of the Republican agenda, he said.

Those allowed to vote by mail-in ballot include Texans with disabilities (though no documentation is required), those 65 and older, and those who plan to be out of their home county during the election.

Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen said Thursday that in her 23 years at the county (13 in her current position) she knew of only one case, at least a decade ago, of suspected voter fraud that was sent to the state attorney general. It involved an elderly woman, said Callanen, who had used her deceased sisters ID to apply for a mail-in ballot and also social services.

Callanen said the 2016 presidential election drew a record 48,000 county voters requesting mail-in ballots, about 55 percent of which went to those claiming to be over 65. For the March primaries, her office has so far received about 6,000 requests.

Theyre manageable now, Callanen said. But under this new requirement, if they dont have an original signature - what we call a wet signature - then we have to send a reject letter.

That puts people closer to missing the Feb. 23 deadline for a voter to re-send the application and get the ballot back to us by mail, she said, stressing that the ballot must be in the county offices by Feb. 23, not merely postmarked by that date.

She knew of no election contests ever decided by mail-in ballots but said U.S. military ballots from abroad, which are valid if they arrive as many as six days after the election, could certainly sway results.

The push for SB 5 came during an investigation of mail-in ballot irregularities in Dallas, where some 700 suspicious ballots were sequestered after the countys district attorney received a large number of voter complaints. News reports said many voters, especially minority residents in West Dallas, said they received unsolicited mail-in ballots and feared someone else voted in their place.

No indictments have come from the Dallas investigation, and the Dallas Morning News reported that one of the central characters had previously pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft and filing a false police report.

The Republican-dominated Legislature has repeatedly focused on rare in-person election fraud by pressing for restrictive voter ID legislation that was challenged by numerous civil rights groups and eventually blocked in federal courts.

A study by Loyola Law School, in Los Angeles, found that in more than one billion votes cast in various elections from 2000 to 2014, there were only 31 credible claims of impersonation fraud at U.S. polling places.AUSTIN  As top office-holders madly raise funds before the March 6 primary, some are donating campaign dollars to a philanthropic cause  Hurricane Harvey relief.

After the powerful storm hit, Texas top Republicans Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus all pledged to give $100,000 to the Rebuild Texas fund.

Recent finance reports show all three followed through on the promise, though few other statewide and legislative campaigns gave to the charity launched by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and the OneStar Foundation after Harvey pummelled the Texas Gulf Coast, according to finance reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission.

Land Commissioner George P. Bush, who faces a primary challenge from his predecessor and fellow Republican Jerry Patterson, gave $25,000 from his campaign coffers to the fund.

The campaigns of Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick and Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, each gave $10,000 to the fund.

So far, the fund has distributed about $5.4 million of more than $92 million raised, according to the website.

More House member campaigns contributed than those for senators, finance reports show. Reps. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, and Four Price, R-Amarillo, each gave the fund $5,000 from their campaign coffers.

Meanwhile, Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, contributed $1,000 of campaign cash to the Rebuild Texas fund. And the campaign for Rep. Scott Sanford, R-McKinney, chipped in $100.

The campaign finance reports dont take into account any personal funds or time lawmakers may have contributed to recovery efforts. Other campaigns may have donated to different relief funds.

amorris@express-news.netThe San Antonio Light ceased publication Wednesday (Jan. 27, 1993), ending a colorful newspaper war that spanned 112 years.

The closing of the newspaper came shortly after the U.S. Justice Department announced it would not oppose the sale of the rival San Antonio Express-News by News Corp. to the Hearst Corp., owner of the Light.

The death of the Light leaves the Express-News as the only daily newspaper in the Alamo City, and brings to an end a 3 -month ordeal that began with the unusual announcement that Hearst would buy the Express-News and shut down its own paper if a buyer could not be found. Complimentary copy

A 14-page commemorative last edition published by the Light was to be delivered to Light subscribers Thursday (Jan. 28, 1993), with a complimentary Express-News inside.

Light Publisher George Irish told hastily assembled newsroom employees just before noon Wednesday that the paper was closed and that workers would have about a week to clean out their desks.

A Light editor found the fuse box and pulled the plug on the company's neon sign that faces Broadway about 7 p.m.

More Information Jan. 20, 1881: The Evening Light first publishes with former Express editor James Newcomb at the helm. Scheduled to begin publication on Jan.1, a delay in the delivery of the press pushed back its initial publication. The Express' response: "The Evening Light made its debut yesterday, and still the world goes on the same as ever." Sept. 4, 1918: Launches an afternoon paper, The Evening News, to combat the Light. The company had purchased the building next door for a newsroom and a building at Crockett and N. Presa Streets for advertising offices. June 1924: William Randolph Hearst purchases the Light. 1931: The Light moves into their new building at 420 Broadway, kitty-corner to the Express' property. Aug. 27, 1945: Ignoring the War Labor Board, members of the San Antonio Typographical Union go on strike, suspending normal publication of the Express, News and Light. The companies publish photo-engraved editions to get the paper out. The strike did not end until Oct. 12. Oct. 6, 1992: Hearst Corporation announces it is buying the Express-News and will sell or close the Light. Jan. 27, 1993: Unable to find a buyer, the Light closes. The next day, its final edition is delivered to subscribers - wrapped around a copy of the Express-News. See More Collapse

Hearst had been awaiting word from the Justice Department that it would not challenge under antitrust laws Hearst's purchase of the Express-News.

A statement issued by the Justice Department said: "The decision not to challenge Hearst's acquisition comes after an exhaustive investigation in which it concluded that the San Antonio Light met the stringent requirements of the failing firm defense under established antitrust case law and the department's 1992 Horizontal Merger Guidelines."

W. Lawrence Walker Jr., publisher and chief exeuctive officer of the Express-News, said: "The Express-News will be faced with new challenges, and I know our staff is up to meeting those challenges for San Antonio and South Texas.

"None of us like to see our colleagues out of work. It is regrettable the economy, combined with forces within the industry, is moving in the direction of single-newspaper cities.

"In San Antonio, we were more fortunate than most in that we were one of the last six cities in the United States with competitive newspapers."ezhejiang.gov.cn

Zhou Haijiang, an acupuncturist at the Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of TCM, checks a patient's tongue in Minsk, Belarus. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

A medical service center specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) recently opened in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, thanks to a cooperation program between the Eastern European country and East China's Zhejiang province.

The move came in response to a national call to promote TCM, which was proposed by the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Zhou Haijiang, an acupuncturist at the Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of TCM, said the popularity of acupuncture is beyond comprehension.

Zhou, along with two other TCM doctors, arrived in Minsk on Jan 16. They were awaited by a group of patients who had made appointments by telephone.

"Acupuncture was introduced to Belarus 30 years ago," Zhou said, adding that traditional Chinese methods of treatment like acupuncture and tuina (literally meaning "push-and-pinch"), are quite popular there.

The three doctors from Zhejiang brought some equipment for TCM treatment, such as cupping jars and moxa sticks for moxibustion therapy.

During their 16-day stay in Belarus, they will perform demonstrations of TCM therapy and promote knowledge of TCM. Acupuncture and tuina will be the focus of the training for local medical workers.

An official from Minsk's health department said TCM is neither conservative nor primitive. She changed her opinion on it when she inspected the Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of TCM and some other enterprises in the field last November.

The visit also helped spur on the cooperation project between Belarus and Zhejiang.Contributed / Contributed

BRIDGEPORT  All babies born at Bridgeport Hospital in February will get a swanky new accessory  a little red hat.

The scarlet chapeaux are part of the hospitals decision to partner with the American Heart Association for the Little Hats, Big Hearts program during American Heart Month in February. The goal is to help raise awareness of congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defect in the country. Every baby born at Bridgeport Hospital during February, estimated to be nearly 200, will receive a little red hat. Parents also receive heart health information for their family.Goal is to give those in the agriculture industry the tools and information they need to be the most productive and efficient in their businesses

Canadas Farm Progress show is pleased to announce a three-year partnership with Farms.com, a leading provider of innovative information products and services for the global agriculture and food industries.

As a premium partner, Farms.com will provide necessary support and funding for the following key areas at Canadas Farm Progress Show:

Exclusive producer and distributor of the Canadas Farm Progress Show Official Show Guide in print and online

Official Media sponsor of the Innovation Program and exclusive producer of the Innovation Guide

Presenting sponsor of the Official Canadas Farm Progress Show Opening Ceremonies Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Participating sponsor of Young Farmers Day Thursday, June 21, 2018

One of the core elements of Canadas Farm Progress Show is showcasing innovation that brings improvements and efficiency to agricultural production. The show brings in qualified buyers who attend every year specifically to see and learn about whats new in the industry. Aligning with Farms.com, which has a strong and well-established digital presence across several markets in North America and around the world is a natural fit.

We are thrilled to have Farms.com part of Canadas Farm Progress Show. This partnership will help elevate our brand and give us extensive print and digital exposure of our show across North America, said show manager Shirley Janeczko. Our goal is to give those in the agriculture industry the tools and information they need to be the most productive and efficient in their businesses. The wealth of relevant agricultural education that the Farms.com properties provide allows us to further assist producers with making informed decisions that enhance their business.

Farms.com has similar motivations behind its decision to grow its partnership with Canadas Farm Progress Show. Farms.com is pleased to partner with Canadas Farm Progress Show, as both organizations have consistently demonstrated their commitment to innovation in the agriculture industry.

Partnering with Canadas Farm Progress Show will give both organizations a deeper reach into the Western Canadian farming community; ultimately we want to provide farmers with information that enables them to make better decisions for their farming operation, and this partnership will do that, said Graham Dyer, Farms.com President and Chief Executive Officer.

In 2018, Farms.com is celebrating 20 years in business  and we have evolved to provide many innovative print and digital solutions. This partnership draws on the strengths of both companies to provide innovative solutions to western agribusinesses.India has the worlds largest bovine population at an estimated 304 million head (cattle and water buffalo) and has a strong presence in South-East Asia and the Middle East regions.

The cattle/water buffalo herd size, as well as production, is forecast to increase in the coming years.

This is mainly driven by the domestic growth in the dairy sector as private investment and government support increases.

Beef and Indian buffalo meat production is expected to reach 4.25 million tonnes cwt in 2017 and increase by 1.2 per cent in 2018, to 4.3mt cwt.

Indian buffalo meat shipments are expected to rise in 2018 driven by demand from the Middle East, Africa and South-East Asia, however, volumes are to forecast to remain below the 2014 peak.

The Indian beef and buffalo meat sector remains a volatile market and is highly vulnerable to domestic and international trade regulations.

The bovine industry has developed in India despite the fact that slaughtering cows and consuming beef/buffalo meat goes against most of Indias culture and Hindu religion.

Most Indian States restrict or prohibit the slaughter of cattle due to religious sensitivies, so Indias meat sector mainly depends on slaughter of unproductive water buffalo cows and bulls from the dairy sector.

As water buffalos account for about 45pc of the dairy herd in India, the growth in Indian buffalo meat production is largely driven by the expanding dairy industry.

Buffalo meat is Indias second most consumed animal protein after chicken (mostly due to affordability) and is mainly consumed by people of Muslim and Christian faiths.

India is the current leader of beef and buffalo meat global exports, with more than 40pc of its total production shipped to South-East Asia and the Middle East.

The primary export markets for Indian buffalo meat are Vietnam, Malaysia and Egypt, with frozen accounting for almost 100pc of shipments to these markets.

Shipments to Iraq, Indonesia, Russia and Turkmenistan increased considerably in 2017.

The entry of Indian buffalo meat into the Indonesian market in mid-2016, combined with high Australian cattle prices and the Indonesian government policies to achieve self-sufficiency, is considered to have impacted Australian live cattle and beef box shipments in 2017.

India is also growing its presence in the Middle East and competition is likely to increase in some of Australias exports markets, such as UAE and Saudi Arabia.

India is very price competitive on the global stage, being the largest and most affordable supplier of frozen commodity beef, which is supporting its growth in price sensitive markets.

However, India does not have Foot and Mouth disease-free status, limiting its presence in many markets, in particular access to Australias high value markets such as Japan, the US, Korea and the European Union.BLACKROCK Angus will offer 66 Angus bulls, including 10 yearling bulls, at its annual bull sale at Boyanup on Thursday, February 22, 2018.

The line-up of Blackrock bulls offers a mix of new and proven bloodlines that focus on moderate birthweight, good growth, carcase and docility.

Blackrock stud principal Ken MacLeay said a feature of this years sale would be the bulls by new sires Granite Ridge Thomas and Power Tool.

Granite Ridge Thomas is an Australian bred bull recommended to improve growth, increase fat cover, fertility and docility, Ken said.

This bull is well suited to grass-based production systems and we think progeny will do well in our WA conditions.

Power Tool is another new bull to Blackrocks breeding program even though he has been used widely overseas and has built a solid reputation for breeding efficient and functional females.

This sire will provide progeny with good growth while limiting the mature size of his females, Ken said.

Pathfinder Genesis is another new bull for the Blackrock herd after being used in 46 herds across Australia.

Pathfinder Genesis is a trait leader for growth, scrotal circumference and fertility measured in days to calving, with positive fat and in the top 10 per cent of the breed for docility.

Booroomooka Galileo is another new bull with progeny in this years sale.

Galileo is a bull with plenty of length, combining low birthweight and good temperament and was selected after excelling in the Angus Sire Benchmarking program.

Esslemont Lotto is another bull out of this program and is a Western Australian-bred bull derived from crossing two well-known sires Berkley and Regent.

Connealy Final Product is a bull to use to add fat and is well suited for finishing progeny off grass.

It has built a reputation as a sire of outstanding thickness and muscle shape and will produce females that grow quickly, but with a moderate frame for females retained for breeding.

Docility data is provided on all Blackrock sale bulls.

Ken said this highly heritable trait could provide big benefits to breeding herds.

Apart from ease of handling, cattle that dont stress have the potential to achieve higher growth and fertility, he said.

Blackrock have been collecting docility scores on all progeny for seven years.

More than 1800 docility scores have been submitted by the stud and form the basis of the score for each sale bull.

The Blackrock sale team average in the top 25pc of the breed for this important trait.

Blackrocks sale catalogue will include an Angus Breeding Index on each bull which places a comparative economic value.

This index takes into account all measured traits and presents a dollar difference expected on returns from progeny.

It is a valuable selection guide when comparing bulls within the breed against others from different environments,  Ken said.

All Blackrock bulls are vaccinated for Vibrio, Pestigard, 7in1 and passed a semen test.

Full catalogue details are available online at blackrockangus.com.auIN line with the cattle market, this years Landmark Great Southern Blue Ribbon Bull Sale saw a slight correction in prices compared to last year.

As the first bull sale of a new season, the results of the Blue Ribbon event are always keenly awaited as it tends to provide some gauge as to what to expect for the coming year.

Coming off the back of a record cattle market last year, this years sale was always going to be hard to compare to last years result and there was an easing in the market to some extent.

This year there were 62 bulls offered from six different breeds and 45 of those bulls sold under the hammer to an average of $5267.

Topping the sale this year was a Charolais bull offered by Doug and Dani Giles, Quicksilver Charolais stud, Newdegate.

The bull, Quicksilver Macca, sold for $8750 to Barry Panizza, Albany and was the first time the Quicksilver stud had topped the Blue Ribbon sale after many years of offering bulls at the fixture.

Macca was a May 2016 drop calf that was sired by Ascott Eldorado and out of Quicksilver E70.

Mr Panizza was a repeat buyer of Quicksilver bulls after buying from the stud at last years sale and said the bull appealed to him for its conformation and depth.

We run a predominantly Angus herd but have been using Charolais bulls for a fair while now to crossbreed, Mr Panizza said.

We use them over third and fourth calvers to get more weight into the calves and the cross produces very nice yearlings.

Macca recorded EBVs of +0.5 for birthweight, +14 for 200-day weight, +19 for 400-day weight and +24 for 600-day weight.

The bull had a +1 milk figure and was +2.6 for eye muscle area.

p Angus

The Angus breed kicked off sale proceedings this year with four studs offering 28 bulls in total.

Of the 28 bulls offered 19 sold under the hammer to average $5267.

Leading the charge for the Angus breed was Darren and Narelle Burrows Mason Valley stud, Youngs Siding, which offered 14 bulls in total.

Of these 11 sold to a top of $7500 twice at an average of $5795, which was the highest average of any stud offering bulls on the day.

One of their top price bulls, Mason Valley General M8 was bought by P & A Foulds, Hopetoun.

General was a March 2016 drop bull that was sired by Ayrvale General G18 and out of Mason Valley Penny K2.

It recorded a +3.2 birthweight, a +46 200-day weight, +82 400-day weight and +111 600-day weight.

Its milk figure was +16 and it recorded an Angus Breeding Index of +$124, a Domestic Index of +$111 and a Heavy Grain Fed Index of +$131.

Phillip Marshall, Torbay, took home the other Mason Valley top price bull when he had the final bid on Mason Valley General M39.

Another Ayrvale General son, this bull recorded a birthweight of +1.8, a 200-day weight of +37, a 400-day weight of +66 and a 600-day weight of +79.

It was +17 for milk and had an Angus Breeding Index of +$96 and a Domestic Index of +$100.

Mr Marshall said he chose the bull for its figures and it would be used in his herd of Angus and Charolais cows.

Other good prices in the Mason Valley catalogue included Mason Valley Genius M17, which sold for $7250 to Woodburn Grazing, Porongurup.

This son of Booroomooka Genius was +4.2 for birthweight, +44 for 200-day weight, +75 for 400-day weight and +102 for 600-day weight.

Geoff Jones, Kojonup, also paid $7250 for a Booroomooka Genius son, Mason Valley Genius M22.

This bull was a March 2016 drop and recorded a +50 200-day weight, +85 400-day weight and +113 600-day weight.

After paying the top price for breeders in the female sale preceding the bull sale, Arizona Farms, Lake Grace, boosted its sire battery with the purchase of Mason Valley Genius M12.

This bull recorded a +3.5 birthweight, +43 200-day weight, +77 400-day weight and +100 600-day weight.

DT Barker paid $5750 for another Mason Valley bull, while Landmark southern livestock manager Bob Pumphrey bid to $5000 to secure one on behalf of a client.

Last years sale topper, Ponderosa Angus stud, Albany, had the honour of kicking the sale off with its line-up of five bulls.

Solid demand for the offering saw Ponderosa experience a 100pc clearance of its five bulls to a top of $6750 and a $4700 average.

It was last years top price buyer, Wayne Matthews, Kangarabbi Farms, Narrikup, that again took a liking to the Ponderosa bulls by also taking home the studs top price bull paying $6750.

The bull, Ponderosa Alex the Great M24 was sired by New Generation Wilcoola and was out of Ponderosa Estella J20.

The bull recorded a +4.3 birthweight, +46 200-day weight, +83 400-day weight and +102 600-day weight.

Its eye muscle area was +6.8 and it had an Angus Breeding Index of +$105 and a Domestic Index of +$110.

The next best price for the Ponderosa stud was $4500 with this bull, Ponderosa Alex the Great M32, bought by Bob Pumphrey, while M & M Gorman, Wellstead, paid $4250 for a SAV Predominant son.

Others to buy out of the Ponderosa catalogue included AT & JI Watterson, Tenterden, who paid $4000 for the first bull of the sale, while MJ Blyth & Co, Manypeaks, also went to $4000 for a GAR Prophet son.

The Ballawinna Angus stud, Torbay, offered eight bulls in the sale but limited demand saw only two sell under the hammer.

The studs top price of $4500 was paid by GA & MB Clarke for a S Chisum son, Ballawinna Chisum M18.

This bull recorded a birthweight of +5.4 and was +49 for 200-day, +85 for 400-day and +104 for 600-day weights.

The other Ballawinna bull to sell under the hammer went for $3500 to the Gorman family, Wellstead.

Rounding out the Angus offering was Henry Stratings Superior Blacks stud with one bull, Superior Blacks Legend L14.

This son of Carabar Docklands D62 caught the eye of DJ & BE Bell, Redmond, who paid $5000.

The bull had a birthweight of +4.5, a 200-day weight of +44, a 400-day weight of +80 and a 600-day weight of +111. Its milk figure was +19 and it had an eye muscle area of +6.4.

p Red Angus

The Red Angus breed was again represented in the sale by Graeme and Trevely Smiths Kildarra stud, Albany.

Kildarra offered four bulls in total but only one sold under the hammer at $4500 to Bob Pumphrey.

The bull, Kildarra Magic Mike M5, was a son of Bolton Girls Grenade and out of Jutland Ella.

It had a +3.7 birthweight, a +27 200-day weight, a +46 400-day weight and a +66 600-day weight and was +9 for milk.

Magic Mike was +9 for milk and +$35 on the Supermarket Index and +$30 on the Vealer Index.

p Shorthorn

Like the Red Angus there was only one stud represented in the Shorthorn offering with the Tarlinca stud, Denmark, offering five bulls.

Of its offering the stud cleared two bulls under the hammer to a top of $5000.

The top price bull, Tarlinca Mirco was a January 2016 drop calf that was bought by RH & S Carter, Denmark.

Mirco was a lengthy son of Crathes Enias Denon and out of Neearra Judith and had a +2.8 birthweight, +28 200-day weight, +43 400-day weight and +58 600-day weight.

Its retail beef yield of +1.1 was impressive and it had a good IMF of +0.9.

IK & RN McCrea, Salmon Gums, bought the other Tarlinca bull, Tarlinca Major, for $4000.

p Charolais

As mentioned above, the Quicksilver Charolais stud had an excellent sale, topping the event for the first time in its history.

It also had one of the larger offerings of bulls with 10 on offer and pleasingly for the stud it only passed in one bull of those on offer under the hammer.

It also recorded the second highest average of the sale with its nine bulls sold averaging $5500.

In addition to its top price bull, the stud sold two bulls at $6500, with Graham Ayres Livestock, Bornholm, taking one and Phillip Marshall, Torbay, taking the other.

The bull bought by Graham Ayres, Quicksilver Mozzie, was a May 2016 drop bull that was sired by Quicksilver Gunsmoke and out of Quicksilver E60.

The bull was +1.6 for birthweight, +8 for 200-day weight, +20 for 400-day weight and +30 for 600-day weight.

The bull purchased by the Marshalls was also a Gunsmoke son and was a polled bull with a +1.2 birthweight, +4 200-day weight, +12 400-day weight and +19 600-day weight.

Other good prices for Quicksilver bulls included $6000 paid by J Fletcher & Co, $5250 paid by Graham Ayres and $4500 paid twice by Willyung Farms, Willyung and AK & BC Rogers, Albany.

p Simmental

Naracoopa Simmental stud, Denmark, also had one of the larger offerings of bulls in the sale with 10 and it also was one of only two studs to record a 100pc clearance under the hammer.

Its 10 bulls also posted one of the higher averages at $5450, while its top price hit $7250.

Les and Anna Wolfe, Youngs Siding, had the final bid at this price on a very quiet, nicely muscled son of Topweight Jack Frost, Naracoopa Mewell.

Mewell was a February 2016 drop bull that was +23, +35 and +49 for 200, 400 and 600-day weight respectively. It was also +3.1 for birthweight and +0.9 for eye muscle area.

Les Wolfe said they used Simmental bulls over Angus-Friesian cross cows and he liked Mewell for its softness which would suit the Friesian cross females.

Next best in the price stakes for the Naracoopa stud was $7000 paid by Wingalup Grazing, Boyup Brook, for Naracoopa Montgomery M10.

This long and beautifully muscled bull was used by the stud over some heifers and was described as an outstanding young sire.

It recorded a birthweight of +0.4, a 200-day weight of +14, a 400-day weight of +22 and a 600-day weight of +34.

Montgomery was sired by Willandra Figaro and out of Naracoopa Kath.

Two Naracoopa bulls sold for $6500, with Thornton Farms, Denmark, paying that for Naracoopa Middleton, while Martin & Flavel, King River, paid the same amount for Naracoopa Maveric.

HJ & MC Hann, Esperance, went to $6000 to secure Naracoopa Manolopy, while George Williams, Denmark, outlaid $5000 to take home Naracoopa Major.

The WA College of Agriculture, Denmarks Inlet Views stud offered four bulls in the sale and sold three of them under the hammer.

The colleges top price bull, Inlet Views Macbeth sold for $6250 to Les and Anna Wolfe.

Macbeth was an April 2016 drop calf sired by Bonnydale McLean and recorded EBVs of +3.3 for birthweight, +21 for 200-day weight, +34 for 400-day weight and +46 for 600-day weight.

G Bocuzzi & Co, Denmark, paid $4000 for Inlet Views Mount Blanc, while Martin & Flavel paid $3500 for Inlet Views Motana.

p Blonde d Aquitaine

The very first purebred black Blonde d Aquitaine bull to be offered for sale in Australia rounded out the offering when Henry Strating, Superior Blonde stud, offered Superior Black Power.

The polled, well-muscled bull with good fat cover certainly gained buyer attention and was in demand before eventually selling for $5500 to John Bignell, JD & RM Bignell, Bridgetown.

Black Power was sired by Superior Black Hummer and was out of Superior Georga.

It recorded a birthweight of +1.8, a 200-day weight of +8, a 400-day weight of +7 and a 600-day weight of +12.

Mr Bignell has been using Blonde genetics for 20 years now and said Black Power represented a change of bloodline for him.

He has great muscling but is very soft with it, he said.

He has good length and the fact that he is a purebred black was also a factor in my purchase.

The bull will be used over British Breed and Friesian cross cows.DESPITE ex-Tropical Cyclone Joyce making its presence felt on the day, the Landmark Mt Barker Blue Ribbon Breeders Sale was another roaring success with prices topping at $3020 for a line of PTIC Angus heifers.

Constant rain throughout the sale added an extra element for the Landmark selling team to deal with, but auctioneer Harry Carroll and his team handled it well, not breaking stride to post a terrific result.

Despite the downpour, buyers was more than happy to drag their hands out of their rain coats to bid up on a quality offering of females with 778 selling under the hammer for a $1786 average and a gross of $1.389 million.

When the first pen sold for $2980, those on hand knew that this sale would not be dampened by any amount of rain.

Shepwok Downs, Gibson, was the star of the sale with a draft of 48 Angus PTIC heifers bred on Kogody Angus stud bloodlines clearly outselling anything else in the line-up.

It was the first time that Shepwok Downs owner Michael Whiting had sold at the Blue Ribbon sale and it is fair to say he might be back again given the results.

The 48 pure Angus heifers offered by Shepwok averaged $2820.

Mr Whiting said he targeted the breeders sale because he wanted to value add the heifers and he certainly achieved this aim.

All but eight of the 48 Angus heifers offered sold to the Bairstow family, Arizona Farms, Lake Grace, who, to say the least, took a liking to the line-up.

They werent to be outdone when bidding on the heifers and in the process they paid the top price of the sale when a line of 10 made $3020.

Luke Bairstow said they were looking for a new bloodline to use within their significant Angus herd and were also looking to replace some older cows that had been sold.

We are mainly Coonamble blood and these heifers will complement what we are breeding nicely, Mr Bairstow said.

All the Angus heifers offered by Shepwok were 18-20-months-old and were due to calve from March 2 to May 1.

The remaining purchases by the Bairstows of Shepwok cattle included $2980 for a line of 10 and $2960 a head for 20, split into two pens of 10.

The other line of eight Angus heifers from the Whiting family sold for $2020 to RA Musulin.

p Mated Angus heifers

Regular vendors Warren and Glen Forbes, Dundeal Holdings, Narrikup, were back again with their usual quality draft of PTIC Angus heifers.

These heifers were mated to an Angus bull and are due to calve from March 1 to May 5.

The Dundeal heifers topped at $2520 when two lines of 10 were bought by the BJ Panizza Family Trust and SJ Panizza Family Trust, Albany, at that price.

Volume buyer DT Barker also took a liking to the Dundeal heifers paying $2320 for a line of 10, while CT Hambley went to $2180 for a line of 10.

Falcinella Bros, Pemberton, were also active on the Dundeal line-up, taking 10 heifers at $2100.

Local buyer Wallacup Farms was also keen on the Dundeal heifers buying a line of seven for $2200 and a line of 10 for $2040.

Another regular sale vendor, the Smith family, Baboo Pastoral Co, Green Range, returned this year to offer another top line of PTIC Angus heifers.

Bred on purely Coonamble bloodlines, the heifers attracted plenty of interest topping at $2320 for a line of 10, which were bought by DT Barker.

The Baboo heifers were all mated to low birthweight Coonamble bulls sired by well-known Coonamble sires, including Z3, Z6 and W31.

They are due to start calving on March 1 and finish on April 30 and the heifers come from a herd of 300 breeders run by Baboo and were vaccinated with Pestigard and for Bovilis and have had a 7in1 shot.

Another line of 10 Baboo heifers sold to $2120 and were bought by WA College of Agriculture, Denmark, while TS & KH Mier paid $1900 for a line of 10 from the Green Range property.

The Gatti Sawmill had a nice line-up of Angus heifers that were mated to an Angus bull and due to calve from March 1 to April 30.

These heifers topped at $2220 when bought by DT Barker, who also bought a second line of Gatti heifers for $1980.

MK Sounness & Son, Mt Barker, also had lines of Angus heifers on offer with these mated to an Angus bull from the Coonamble bloodline and due to calve March 16 to May 24.

Waroona outfit, Murray River Farms was a clear fan of the Sounness offering, taking two lines of nine each at prices of $2020 and $2000.

A line of 10 second cross PTIC Angus heifers offered by Trevelys Pty Ltd, Tingledale, sold for $1960 to TD Robinson.

These heifers were mated to a Lawsons Angus bull and due to calve from February 28 to April 30.

p Mated beef heifers (other breeds)

Other heifer lines to make over the $2000 mark included two Red Angus heifers offered by Shepwok Downs that sold for $2020 to Waters Avondale Grazing, while seven PTIC Murray Grey heifers offered by P & R Rosenthal sold for $2020 to AP Collins.

The two-year-old Rosenthal heifers were mated to a Limousin bull and due to calve from February 12 to May 11.

Another line of seven Murray Grey heifers from the Rosenthals sold for $1820 to Brett Harms, while a line of eight Murray Grey heifers offered by MI & DM Twentyman, Nanarup, sold for $1800 to AP Collins.

The Twentyman heifers were mated to a Murray Grey bull and due to calve from March 6 to April 21.

p Mated Angus-Friesian cross heifers

There were two vendors that offered first cross heifers and they included the Houden family, The Southden Trust, Redmond, who offered 37 in total.

These 22-26mo heifers were bucket reared and mated to Angus bulls and due to calve from March 1 to April 31.

These topped at $2400 when bought by the BJ Panizza Family Trust, who paid that amount for 10. The Panizzas then purchased another line of six for $2120, while RA Adam & Co and FV Hortin & Sons, Torbay, took the other lines for $2200 and $2080 respectively.

The remaining line of 11 Angus-Friesian heifers was offered by Dundeal Holdings and these were also snapped up by FV Hortin & Sons for $1800.

These heifers were bucket reared and mated to an Angus bull and due to calve from March 1 to May 3.

p Mated Angus cows

Again there was a large line-up of various age Angus cows with the top price here set at $2140 for a line of eight offered by the Blyth family, Manypeaks.

This line of second calvers was mated to an Angus bull and due to calve from April 12 to June 14 and was bought by Narribri Pty Ltd.

A line of three third calvers with the same calving date and also offered by the Blyths went to MC & AG Taylor for $1980.

Aside from the heifers offered earlier in the sale the Twentyman family also offered older Angus cows with a line of 10 selling for $2020 to Murray River Farms.

These were second calvers and mated to an Angus bull and due to calve from February 25 to May 7.

Another line of 11 second calvers from the Twentymans sold for $1760 to Merri Merri, while NR & LP Wilson purchased a line of 10 third calvers from the Blyths for $1880.

Willowbank Agistment, Benger, offered good numbers of PTIC Angus cows and these topped at $1860 when a line of nine fourth to fifth calvers made $1860 selling to Harbour Downs Pastoral.

p Mated beef cows (other breeds)

There was good values paid in this section of the sale, with a line of three Speckle Park-Angus cross PTIC second calvers topping the PTIC cow section overall selling for $2520 to Marlo Farms, Gnowangerup.

These cows were mated to a Limousin bull and were due to calve from February 20 to May 10.

Also selling well was a line of Lincoln Red cross cows that were PTIC and fifth calvers and mated to a Charolais bull with calves due on March 4 to June 6.

These cows were offered by R & HM Turner, Tone Bridge and sold to Waters Avondale Grazing for $2020.

A draft of five PTIC Murray Grey cross rising second calvers offered by P & R Rosenthal sold for $1800 to DJ & H Mostert.

These cows were mated to a Charolais bull and due to calve from February 12 to May 11.

Nine Red Angus second and third calvers that were mated to an Angus bull and due to calve from February 20 to April 10 were offered by Willowbank Agistment and sold for $1700 to Waters Avondale Grazing.

p Unmated first cross heifers

Several lines of unmated first cross heifers were offered and these topped at $1600 twice.

The first time that amount was paid was for a line of 11 Angus-Friesian cross bucket reared heifers offered by RG Woodward & Co, Narrikup.

These 12-18mo heifers were bought by Goodonga Farms, Manjimup.

The other line to make $1600 also came from the Woodwards and included 13 that were also bought by Goodonga Farms.

HD, AL & NJ Lindberg, Denbarker, offered a line of six 15mo Angus-Friesian cross heifers that sold for $1320 to GH, KL & DA Williams, Denmark, for $1320.

A further two lines of seven and four heifers respectively from the Lindbergs sold for $1280 to TD Robinson and $1280 to Timothy Robinson.The Australian government has tabled a series of new laws covering foreign bribery and other economic offenses. If these are passed into law, as we expect, they will make it much easier to prosecute companies for bribery offenses committed either at home or abroad.

Under the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Combatting Corporate Crime) Bill 2017 (available here in pdf), the government plans to introduce a new offense of failure to prevent bribery of foreign officials on the same lines as the UK Bribery Act. As with the UK law, companies may defend themselves if they can demonstrate that they have instituted adequate procedures to prevent bribery.

The draft law applies both to Australian company employees and to their associates, including agents, contractors and subsidiaries, whether the offense takes place in Australia or abroad.

As explained in our earlier article, prosecutors have found it difficult to mount successful prosecutions under existing laws because they need to demonstrate the alleged offenders intention to pay bribes. This can be difficult to prove in the absence of written evidence and if the bribe is paid via an intermediary.

The Australian government will issue guidance on adequate procedures: we expect it to be similar to the guidance already issued by the UK and U.S. authorities. Australian companies that are not already implementing such procedures need to review their policies urgently.

The proposed Criminal Code amendments also introduce a new deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) scheme for bribery and other economic crimes. Again, this draws on U.S. and UK models. The objective is to make it easier to resolve corporate corruption cases at less public cost but in a manner that is compatible with the public interest.

As the government explains in its accompanying memorandum, a company that takes the initiative to report bribery offences may be able to negotiate an agreement to avoid criminal prosecution. This will happen only if the company cooperates in any subsequent investigations and if the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) decides that the DPA is indeed in the public interest. The company may be required to make reparations, for example by disgorging profits, paying compensation and introducing an enhanced compliance program. DPAs will be subject to the approval of a retired judge.

In a separate piece of draft legislation, the government proposes a sweeping review of existing laws to protect the rights of whistleblowers. The amendments will require public companies to introduce policies that explain how individuals may make a disclosure; how investigations will proceed; and how the company will ensure fair treatment of employees who are mentioned in whistleblower disclosures.

The impact of existing and future legislation will depend on how effectively it is enforced. To date, Australia has lagged behind its international peers, but the pace of enforcement is picking up.

In December, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) issued its Phase 4 review of Australias implementation of the OECD Anti-corruption Convention. The report noted that Australia had made substantial steps to improve its detection and investigation of foreign bribery cases.

As at August 2017, when the OECD conducted its site visit, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) had received a total of 87 foreign bribery allegations. By December 2017, two cases had resulted in seven foreign bribery convictions and one false accounting conviction. The Australian Federal Police had referred a further three cases to the CDPP, had 19 active investigations, and 13 allegations under evaluation.

In the next few months there will be several key indicators of the pace and direction of Australias anti-bribery enforcement:

The most important indicator will be the outcome of the new legislative proposals: we anticipate them being passed into law this year.

On 7 February the Senate Economics References Committee is due to issue a long-awaited report on its inquiry into foreign bribery. At this stage the overall direction of Australian policy appears to be set, but the report may influence the tone and intensity of policy implementation.

A number of former executives of Note Printing Australia and Securency are due to face trial in Melbourne in connection with foreign bribery-related charges that first emerged in 2011. The timing of this trial perhaps illustrates some of the difficulties of bringing a successful prosecution under the existing law. The charges relate to bribes allegedly paid in relation to a banknote-printing contract in Malaysia. A conviction would send a strong signal that Australia is becoming more serious about enforcement.

_____

Mark Pulvirenti, pictured above left, is a Control Risks Partner based in Sydney. He leads Control Risks Compliance, Forensics and Intelligence practice for the Australia Pacific region.

John Bray, right, is a Director at Control Risks Singapore office.Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will visit Princess Diana's grave before they get married later this year.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

The 33-year-old royal is set to marry the American actress in May this year, but before they tie the knot, they are believed to planning one last trip to his mother's childhood home in Althorp, where she was buried after tragically losing her life in a car crash in 1997.

Harry and Meghan, 36, previously visited Althorp in November, where sources suggest Harry "quietly" asked his late mother for permission to pop the question to Meghan later that month.

A source told the Daily Star newspaper: "Harry has already taken Meghan to Althorp to see his mum, but they will go back before the big day. Harry wanted to take Meghan to see and speak to her ... it was very personal for Harry. I think he quietly asked his mum for her blessing to marry Meghan, too."

It comes after the flame-haired Prince admitted he believes the former 'Suits' actress and his mother would have been "thick as thieves" if Diana were still alive to witness him tie the knot with the beauty.

He said: "Oh they'd be thick as thieves, without question, I think she would be over the moon, jumping up and down, you know so excited for me. You know it is days like today when I really miss having her around and miss being able to share the happy news.

"But you know with the ring and with everything else that's going on I'm sure she's ... I'm sure she's with us yeah, you know, jumping up and down somewhere else."

Harry and Meghan are set to tie the knot at St George's Chapel inside Windsor Castle on May 19.

A reception for the couple will take place St George's Hall, after the pair originally wanted to host it at Frogmore House - where their engagement photos were taken - but were advised against it.

A senior royal source said: "They would have loved Frogmore for the party, particularly Meghan, who has called it 'dreamy', but they have been told St George's Hall is far more practical."Tuesday gets busier in terms of macroeconomic data, especially in the eurozone, while in the Brexit debate escalates from the transition-period tussle at the start of the week into a formal face-off between the House of Lords' ermine-caped crusaders. In UK corporate news, there are updates scheduled from PZ Cussons, Domino's Pizza, ZPG and CYBG, plus consumer lending and credit numbers from the Bank of England, while Governor Mark Carney will also be lightly grilled in a parliamentary hearing. ...

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.SPRING HOPE, N.C., 2018-01-29 21:01 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hemp, Inc. (OTC PINK:HEMP), a global leader in the industrial hemp industry with the largest hemp mill in the western hemisphere, announced today that the Company has fulfilled its first purchase order for Spill-Be-Gone, part of Hemp, Inc.'s spill-absorbent family of products, for a company in Georgia. Hemp, Inc. announced on Jan. 4 that the Company was shipping its first purchase orders of loss-circulation material DrillWall and Kenaf fiber, making Spill-Be-Gone the third natural plant product the Company has begun selling this year. Spill-Be-Gone is made from the core particles and powder of the kenaf plant, which is one of the world's most absorbent natural materials. This product can be used for the cleanup of oil, diesel fuel, hydraulic fluid, solvents, water and most other liquid spills, and can be formulated to be fire retardant as well. Notably, Spill-Be-Gone was one of the products used to help clean up wildlife during the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. "We are proud to announce that we have now produced, manufactured and sold three different products as a result of our operation in North Carolina," said David Schmitt, COO of Hemp, Inc.'s wholly owned subsidiary, Industrial Hemp Manufacturing, LLC. "With the largest fiber decortication plant and industrial hemp mill in North America, we are committed to providing an environmentally friendly, non-toxic solution to cleaning up spills and absorbing various materials." "Hemp, Inc. has officially transitioned from a startup company to an operational industrial hemp powerhouse that is on the frontlines of America's hemp revolution," said Hemp, Inc. CEO Bruce Perlowin. "Providing 'green' solutions to industries that have a direct impact on the wellbeing of our planet - such as the oil, gas, and automotive industries - while supporting the local family farm creates a 'win, win' scenario for our Company as we continue to identify new opportunities to expand Hemp, Inc.'s footprint in 2018." For Investor Relations, please send correspondence to: ir@hempinc.com To read the full press release, click here. Contact: Hemp, Inc. (855) HEMP-OUT info@hempinc.com http://www.hempinc.comDeal brings dynamic creative scale and experience under one roof, meets advertisers' imperative for data driven creative expertise, full ad management and impartial analytics New York -- Flashtalking, the leading global independent platform for ad management, data activation and unified insights, and top personalised creative company Spongecell, today announced a merger of the two companies, creating a new market leader in data driven dynamic creative. Coming together under the Flashtalking brand, the combined company will provide brands and agencies with the vital knowledge, technology and scale to operate data driven creative in a programmatic world. "The market leaders coming together is a response to a very real demand we see from brands and agencies," said Flashtalking CEO John Nardone. "Increasingly they're recognising data driven creative is essential to connect with today's consumer and have been asking us both to assist with our expertise, technology and processes to deliver better more impactful advertising." Nardone continued, "Spongecell has great, knowledgeable people and has built innovative tech that naturally complements our broader dynamic creative capabilities. Together we now deliver the market-leading DCO solution within the context of a complete buy-side ad serving solution: a truly independent technology and analytics partner without media buying conflict or bias, representing a clear and viable alternative to DoubleClick." Investing in Leadership The companies' combined capabilities will provide advertisers across all verticals with market-leading dynamic creative expertise, products and services-enabling efficient personalised and data-enabled creative messaging across all forms of display, video, social, and native advertising. But just as important, the combined company provides the scale to continue to invest in the people, product innovation and industry education that large clients and agencies need to advance their own capabilities and expertise in data driven creative. "Our companies share the view that personalised creative is no longer optional. It is essential for connecting with today's distracted consumer, and for digital marketing success," said Spongecell CEO, Ben Kartzman, who will take on the role of COO in the combined company. "Flashtalking and Spongecell uniting is a natural move for both of us, as advertisers seek scaled solutions from financially stable partners. Clients of both companies can expect increasing investment in both technology and people to drive better outcomes. With this deal, technological wherewithal and market scale meet unrivaled dynamic creative and attribution analytics capability." Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Needham & Company acted as strategic advisor to Spongecell. About Flashtalking Flashtalking equips advertisers and their agencies to create, activate and measure data-driven advertising across digital channels and formats. Our programmatic creative and analytics platform unifies audience, media and creative to deliver personalised messaging while optimising performance of media and creative. With cookie-less tracking, connected log-file and algorithmic attribution, we can coordinate, augment and analyse data signals to support our clients at the crossroads where data, relevant creative, and unbiased measurement intersect with expertise, service and a deep partner ecosystem. Born in the U.K., headquartered in New York, Flashtalking spans the globe with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Leeds, Cologne, Hamburg, Amsterdam, and Sydney. For more information visit www.flashtalking.com. About Spongecell Spongecell is a dynamic creative technology company focused on making data-driven creative simple, effective and scalable by integrating data, machine learning and automation in the creative process. We enable marketers to efficiently deliver the most beautiful, relevant and engaging brand content to prospects and customers across all devices and formats. Spongecell is headquartered in New York City and has offices across the United States and Europe. For more information, visit www.spongecell.com. Contact: Kendall Allen WIT Strategy for Flashtalking kallen@witstrategy.comVancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2018) - Millennial Lithium Corp. (TSXV: ML) (FSE: A3N2) (OTCQB: MLNLF) ("Millennial" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of its Annual General Meeting of shareholders ("AGM") held Thursday, January 25, 2018 in Vancouver, Canada. Shareholders voted in favour of all items put forward by the Board of Directors and management. All six of the individuals nominated for the board of directors were elected and the directors for the ensuing year, with the number of directors fixed at six (6) are: Farhad Abasov, Andrew Bowering, Graham Harris, Richard Lacroix, Kyle Stevenson and Charles Yeung.

The shareholders also voted in favour of (i) appointing Davidson & Company LLP, as auditors of the Company for the ensuing year and authorizing directors to fix the auditors' remuneration; (ii) approving and granting annual approval to the Company's incentive stock option plan; and (iii) approving both the Company's restricted share unit plan (the "RSU Plan") and those restricted share units already granted under it.

To find out more about Millennial Lithium Corp. please contact Investor Relations at (604) 662-8184 or email info@millenniallithium.com.

MILLENNIAL LITHIUM CORP.

"Farhad Abasov"

President, CEO and Director

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "intend", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to future prices of lithium, commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals including approvals of title and mining rights or licenses, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, currency risks including the exchange rate of USD$ for Cdn$, fluctuations in the market for lithium, changes in exploration costs and government royalties or taxes in Argentina and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Noble Energy, Inc. (NBL) announced a definitive agreement to divest a 7.5 percent working interest in the Tamar field, offshore Israel, to Tamar Petroleum Ltd. for cash proceeds of approximately $560 million and 38.5 million shares of Tamar Petroleum. The total consideration of the transaction is approximately $800 million. The company said the cash proceeds from the transaction will be utilized to support the capital investment in its Leviathan development. Noble Energy operates the Tamar field with a 32.5 percent working interest. Following closing of the transaction, the company will retain a 25 percent working interest and will remain the operator. The company intends to divest shares held in Tamar Petroleum over the next several years. As a shareholder of Tamar Petroleum, Noble Energy anticipates receiving dividend income. 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.HONG KONG, Jan. 29,2018 /PRNewswire/ --Cohen & Steers, Inc. (NYSE: CNS) has earned three awards for leadership and investment performance from the Asia Asset Management "2018 Best of the Best Performance Awards." The accolades include Best Real Assets House, as well as Performance Awards - Global REITs (3 Years) and Global REITs (10 Years).

These honors are the latest to recognize Cohen & Steers' leadership in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and other real assets. For more than 30 years, the company has been dedicated to providing clients with liquid alternative investment solutions that offer the potential for attractive total returns and stable income, while delivering portfolio diversification benefits.

"We're pleased Asia Asset Management has acknowledged Cohen&Steers' best-in-class expertise in real assets for the seventh consecutive year," said Stephen Kenneally, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer - Asia. "We remain committed to providing clients globally with unique investment strategies to help navigate through full market cycles."

Founded in 1986, the firm was the first dedicated asset manager of listed property securities. Since its inception, Cohen & Steers has grown into a global manager of differentiated strategies-uniquely focused on liquid real assets and alternative income solutions including real estate securities, listed infrastructure, commodities, natural resource equities, midstream energy and preferred securities.

Today, Cohen & Steers is one of the world's largest investors in global real estate securities and manages one of the world's largest mutual funds dedicated to preferred securities. In total, Cohen&Steers has $62.1 billion of assets under management, as of 31 December 2017.

The annual Asia Asset Management Best of the Best Awards have been recognizing the most outstanding asset managers in Asia for 15 years. Cohen & Steers has been a frequent Award recipient, having won the Performance Awards - Global REITs (3 and 10 years) in 2016; Performance Awards - Global REITs (3 Years), Global Infrastructure (10 Years) and US REITs (20 years) in 2015; Performance Awards - Global Infrastructure (10 Years) in 2014; Performance Awards - Global Infrastructure (3 Years) in 2013; and Performance Awards - Global Infrastructure (5 Years) in 2012 and 2011.

Symbol: (NYSE: CNS)

About Cohen & Steers. Cohen & Steers is a global investment manager specializing in liquid real assets, including real estate securities, listed infrastructure, commodities and natural resource equities, as well as preferred securities and other income solutions. Founded in 1986, the firm is headquartered in New York City, with offices in London, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seattle.

About Asia Asset Management's Awards. AAM's Best Real Assets House Award is one of several Regional awards designed to identify Asia's finest performers from financial services companies and institutional investors to service providers, whose influence and excellence expands beyond borders. These are firms that have boldly led the way in terms of innovation, service to clients, best practices and overall expertise in their field. Best of the Best Performance Awards are dedicated to measuring the accomplishments of companies based on the performance statistics of funds being managed. The top performers in various categories among the submissions received are awarded.

Since inception,AAMhas referred to the Best of the Best Awardsby the year for which they were being recognised, meaning that if this sequence were followed, this year's would be the 2017 Best of the Best Awards. However, this year, AAM decided to change its policy and refer to the awards by the year in which they are awarded.Centbee, a Johannesburg, South Africa-based Bitcoin wallet and merchant payment ecosystem, raised an equity funding from nChain, a blockchain research and development firm.

The investment  whose amount was not disclosed  was made through the nChain Groups investment entity, nChain Reaction Ltd., which financially backs products and applications that make Bitcoin Cash more globally useable as peer-to-peer electronic cash.

Co-founded by co-CEOs Lorien Gamaroff and Angus Brown, Centbee provides a Bitcoin wallet that allows global consumers to acquire, hold and spend Bitcoin with retailers and other merchants. The wallet becomes available in the Apple and Google Play stores in 2018.

Gamaroff is an expert in blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies. He has consulted and advised regulators and corporates internationally and is highly regarded globally as an educator and presenter.

Brown has 20 years experience in payments and banking including holding the role of CEO of eBucks, a world first bank-backed digital currency created in 2000.

FinSMEs

29/01/2018Ezbob, a London, UK-based E-lending company, raised 15M in funding.

Da Vinci Capital Management Ltd. reportedly made the investment at a post money valuation of 100m.

The company will use the funds to continue to expand its operations.

Led by CEO Tomer Guriel, Ezbob offers small businesses online loans approved quickly via its website. Owners can get up to 120k unsecured loans in 30 minutes.

In addition to the EZbob brand, the company also offers loans under Everline, which it acquired in 2015.

It has offices in London and in Herzliya, Israel.

FinSMEs

29/01/2018Italian venture capital firm Innogest Capital named Giovanni Leo as partner.

A serial entrepreneur and successful innovator in the global medtech space, Leo joined Innogest in 2017 as venture partner.

His role now scales into the investment team, strengthening the healthcare practice toward international excellence.

Prior to Innogest, Leo was Vice President of Research & Development at St Jude Medical since the acquisition (330M) in 2013 of Endosense, the company he co-founded to develop a novel technology for the catheter ablation treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.

Formerly, he was the director of the Geneva offices for Acrostak Corp., a Boston-Scientific funded medical device company that developed the only European system for vascular brachytherapy.

Leo was also co-founder of Isotopes and Metals Ltd., a medical device company focused on technology for prostate and gynecological brachytherapy.

He previously held a software quality manager position at LeCroy Corp. as well as a CERN fellowship to carry out development activity for the control system of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

Led by Claudio Giuliano, partner and founder, Innogest is a venture capital firm based in Turin, Milan, Geneva and San Francisco.

It currently manages about 200 million of capital, investing in Digital and Life sciences innovative companies.

FinSMEs

29/01/2018OpenDoor Securities LLC, a Jersey City, NJ-based marketplace for illiquid US Treasuries, completed a $10m third investment round.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate business expansion by hiring additional experienced sales and marketing executives and introducing a series of major enhancements to the award-winning platform.

Led by Susan Estes, CEO, President and Co-Founder, OpenDoor is a financial technology company providing institutional investors with tools to improve their execution quality in the most illiquid segments of the U.S. Treasury market: Off-the-run Treasuries and TIPS.

The company provides SuperGrid, a flexible interface that gives traders complete control over the issues, orders and trades they wish to see, selecting from the full set of off-the-runs (OFTRs) and TIPS for each matching session, and ClearView, an enhanced real-time indicative pricing curve which leverages its internal pricing models that track overall curve moves as well as on-the-run premia. Combined with its dealer and 3rd party feeds (representing over 15 independent pricing sources), ClearView gives clients a pre-trade insight into the true price drivers across the markets.

Opendoor has a client base that consists of central banks, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, primary dealers, asset managers, hedge funds and trading firms.

FinSMEs

29/01/2018Saagie, a Petit Quevilly, France-based provider of a smart big data processing platform, raised 5M in Series A+ funding.

Backers included:

 C.Entrepreneurs, the venture capital fund managed by Cathay Innovation,

 CapHorn Invest,

 BNP Paribas Developpement, and

 the Matmut group.

The company intends to use the funds to continue to improve the product and expand its business reach internationally.

Founder in 2013 by CEO Arnaud Muller, Saagie leverages AI technologies to provide a SaaS and on premise platform enables users to speed up the development of business applications.

The platform, which provides pre-integrated open source blocks for collecting, analyzing and processing large enterprise data, is massivelyused in the Bank & Insurance industry.

The company, which also has offices Paris, France and San Francisco, CA, aims to open in NYC.

FinSMEs

29/01/2018Perhaps, there is an opportunity for the Narendra Modi government to use this Budget to offer clarity on the job scenario in the country with official data-backed presentation.

Quality data on job creation is disappointingly scarce in India. The labour bureau numbers comes with a major lag and the output leaves too many questions. Private surveyors are there, but their findings are always taken with a pinch of salt for want of a good sample, so are the theoretical findings of private economists who make a case for newer methods (such as EPFO-numbers based job data study as pitched by SBI economist Soumya Kanti Ghosh). Purists debate the relevance of these methods citing chances of duplication and incorrect methodology often resulting in convoluted, misleading findings.

For instance, a study (read a report here ) done jointly by Pulak Ghosh of IIM Bangalore and Soumya Kanti Ghosh of State Bank of India on the number of new jobs created in India based on data from the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), General Provident Fund and National Pension System (NPS) claimed that 3.68 million jobs were generated till November of fiscal year 2018, which would imply 5.5 million in the entire year. This is a significant break from what we already know so far. But, these numbers were countered by Mahesh Vyas, Managing Director and CEO of Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy Pvt Ltd in his column, where Vyas argued that this methodology to assess jobs is flawed.

Using EPFO data to estimate employment was always fraught with danger. EPFOs 2015-16 Annual Report shows there were 171.4 million members. And, it can be inferred from past reports that EPFO membership grew by 41 million in 2014-15 and by 13 million in 2015-16. This would be an unbelievable metric for measuring employment, Vyas said in his piece, raising questions on those who advocate the EPFO-based job data assessment. CMIE is a respected name in economy analysis and the points it has raised deserves attention.

According to governments own data, in the three years of Narendra Modi rule, unemployment has actually gone up  in 2015-16 to 5 percent from 4.9 percent in 2013-14, the year before the BJP assumed power. Going by this, the renewed focus on reforms never translated into job creation. Clearly, the EPFO-based study contradicts this.

As this writer pointed out in an earlier piece, there are two key problems with the EPFO-based job study. One, it doesnt capture data in the informal sector given that EPFO doesnt cover them. The informal sector is where maximum number of Indians is employed at, majority of them unskilled laborers. This is also the segment where demonetisation played havoc in late 2016 sucking out cash overnight and paralyzing the system for a good six months.

The large-scale drift from factory jobs to daily wage jobs under the governments employment guarantee scheme too signaled that the informal sector is having its own share of problems in the aftermath of the note ban. What can we do to map employment trends in real-time in this segment? The government needs to think deeply on this.

Two, there is a seeming disconnect with the key macro-economic numbers and what the Ghosh duo employment study shows. This disconnect is also evident in the consumption, investment trends over the period under consideration. Why would an economy send out differing, contradicting signals?

In short, as of now, we do not have a clear picture regarding job creation beyond claims and counter claims. The government and its supporters claim job scenario has actually improved citing success of government schemes such as Mudra Yojana, Stand up India and Start up India but the Opposition is not buying into these claims.

Just yesterday (Sunday), Congress leader and former union finance minister P Chidambaram targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his comment that selling pakodas outside an office was also a job, and said that by that standard even "begging" would be called a job . Chidambaram said job and self-employment were two different matter and the two needs to be differentiated when the government talks about new jobs. "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 said in a 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

Below-the-belt political barbs and mud-slinging do not take the debate on job data any far. Both the Congress and BJP need to stay away from below-the-belt personal attacks and focus on constructive debates. Perhaps, there is an opportunity for the Narendra Modi government to use this Budget to offer clarity on the job scenario in the country with official data-backed presentation. Perhaps, the government should unveil the lay out a new roadmap to overhaul the process of assessing new job creations which is important for an aspiring economy like India. Job data is a subject in a vast economy like India that needs much more serious discussion beyond pakoda seller vs beggar attacks.Consumer durables and home appliances makers like Godrej Appliances, Panasonic, Philips Lighting and Intex want the government to lower taxes, give incentives to local manufacturing and increase customs duty on imports

New Delhi: Consumer durables and home appliances makers like Godrej Appliances, Panasonic, Philips Lighting and Intex want the government to lower taxes, give incentives to local manufacturing and increase customs duty on imports.

Besides, the ACE (Appliances & Consumer Electronics) industry also wants the government to encourage manufacturing of energy-efficient products.

"Consumer appliances as refrigerators, washing machines and ACs are no longer considered luxury items. Such consumer appliances need to be made more affordable to the consumers and be put in a lower tax bracket from 28 percent to 18 percent," said Godrej Appliances Business Head & EVP Kamal Nandi.

The makers are also expecting tax reduction on the energy efficient 5 star and 4 star products to increase adoption by the consumers.

"There should also be incentives for manufacturers to produce energy-efficient products which will be in line with the government's focus on sustainability as well as its Make in India initiative," Nandi added.

While, Panasonic is looking for a hike in the customs duty for ACE products category such as washing machines and refrigerators to encourage local manufacturing.

"With the BCD hiked on items such as smartphones, TV's microwaves and LED lamps, we expect the union government to take similar steps on other durable items as washing machines, and refrigerators to further encourage localised indigenous manufacturing," said Panasonic India and South Asia President and CEO Manish Sharma.

Expressing similar views, Philips Lighting India said custom duty on all finished lighting products and luminaries should be raised as the government had done on import of LED bulbs.

"We also welcome the recent increase in customs duty for finished LED bulbs from 10 to 20 percent and hope that the government will extend it to all finished lighting products and Luminaires," said Philips Lighting India Vice Chairman and Managing Director Sumit Joshi.

While, Intex has asked for reduction of GST rates on parts and subparts as battery, shield used in manufacturing of mobile phones to 12 percent from the present 28 percent.

"All parts and subparts which are used in manufacturing of mobile phones should be taxed at 12 percent as similar to GST rates of mobile phone as higher GST rates increases the cost of mobile phones hampering the manufacturing of phones in India," said Intex CFO Rajeev Jain.

He further said that the GST rates for power banks, television tuner cards and webcams should also be reduced to 18 percent.

Click here for full coverage of Union Budget 2018.The government will want to bring fiscal deficit under control, so in that case limited budget will be allocated to defence.

The defence Budget for the year 2017- 18 was Rs 2.74 lakh crore, which amounts to 1.56 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to defence experts, this was the lowest-ever Budget allocated to defence forces in terms of percentage.

Speaking to Firstpost, defence expert Air Marshal (Retd.) Kapil Kak said with regard to Budget 2017, This financial years Budget was the lowest since 1956-57. At the time of China war in 1962, we were going at 1.59 percent and for the next 30 years after the war we maintained the average of three percent of the GDP. From 1992 onwards there is a steep downfall in the defence Budget.

Defence Budget is utilised to meet revenue expenditure and capital expenditure. India is a growing superpower which is surrounded by arch rivals Pakistan in the west and China in the north. In addition to this, India has to fighter terrorism and insurgency, so defence Budget must fulfill all the needs of our defence forces.

Now let us look at the needs of our Defence Forces. If we talk about the Army, Indian Small Arms System Rifles (INSAS) needs to be replaced with modern assault rifles. Currently army is using AK  47s and INSAS. The personal kit of an Indian soldier, which includes bullet proof jackets, helmets and shoes needs to be replaced with lighter kit.

Defence analyst Mandeep Singh Bajwa said, "The army doesnt have modern assault rifles, steel helmets and bullet proof jackets. In addition to this, we also need to strengthen our Mountain Strike Core. The Indian army rely mostly on Russian built T-72 and T-90 tanks . The army needs indigenous built tanks to fulfill the gap. Indigenous built Arjun Mark II is still in trial phase, though this main battle tank has more fire power as compared to Russian tanks. We need artillery guns as our main artillery gun Bofors has become outdated."

Defence experts Maj. Gen. (Retd.) GD Bakshi said, "We need to plug the gap in the artillery. We havent had a gun since last 30 years ever since the Bofors scandal hit us.

If we talk about the Air Force, the picture is not too bright either. There is a major shortage of fighter jets. Currently we have 33 squadrons of fighter jets, whereas IAF need to have at least 42 fighter squadrons.This figure will reduce further as Mig fighter jets will be decommissioned over the coming years.

The government has signed deal to procure 126 French fighter jets, Rafale, 36 of these fighter jets will be delivered by 2019 in the ready to fly and rest 90 of them will be manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautical Ltd. The induction of indigenous built Tejas will also narrow the gap, but this aircraft needs improvement to match the requirements of IAF.

IAF is also thinking of buying American fighter jets F-16 or Swedens Gripen to increase its strength.

There is a tremendous shortage in the allocation of capital expenditure to the Airforce. Even if we induct more aircrafts, we dont have proper infrastructure to keep them. According to anonymous defence sources, Runway resurfacing needs to be done, aircraft hangers needs to be build, which requires a lot of funds. The work is getting stalled due to the lack of funds. Minimum RS 700-800 crore is needed to build proper infrastructure. We have bigger carry over liability in year 2018-2019, so the works are going to be stalled.

According to Air Marshal (Retd.) Kak, in the financial year 2016-17 only 12 percent of the capital expenditure was used for the modernisation which went into new schemes, rest 88 percent of the capital expenditure was used to payback old liabilities.

The picture is also gloomy in the Indian navy. There is a shortage of submarines. We have currently 14 submarines in operation; half of them have completed their 75 percent of the service. INS Kalvari has been commissioned into the navy under project-75 and five more submarines will be inducted under the same projection the coming years.

Retired commander GJ Singh said,We need to have at least 24 submarines. Currently we have only one aircraft carrier along the western coast, but we need another air craft carrier along the eastern coast also. If we want our navy to be a Blue water Nay, attention needs to be paid on the modernisation of the navy, he said.

Construction of 12 mine countermeasures vessels are also pending at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL). There is delay in importing 16 medium multirole helicopters of 12 tonne each. Our navy requires a replacement of obsolete cheetah helicopters.

These are some of the major requirement by the three wings of our defence forces.

Defence Budget in 2016-17 was Rs 2.58 lakh crore which amounted to 1.71 percent to the GDP. The important thing to note is that, almost Rs 6,000 crore was surrendered to the government.

The defence Budget of the financial year 2017-18 was hiked by 6 percent from that of the previous one. If we talk about the coming Budget of 2018-19, defence experts are of the opinion that it should be around three to four percent of the GDP. Defence analyst Bajwa said,Defence Budget should be four percent of the GDP to cater to the capital expenditure in terms of buying new weapons and equipment which at the moment is very very discouraging. Air Marshal (Retd.) Kak estimated the Budget to be minimum three percent of the GDP.

While speaking to Firstpost, Bhartaiya Janata Partys (BJP) national spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao said,There must be a possible rise of two percent i.e. eight percent hike on the previous years (2017  18 ) Budget allocation. This is only an anticipation. Rao further added,The increase of eight percent in the Budget outlay can also be enhanced as multiple defence panel recommending that it should be around 2.5 percent of the GDP.

Talking on the issue of underutilisation of the capital expenditure Rao said,There is an issue in terms of modernisation expense. This expense is not fully consumed year after year. Almost Rs 6000 crore was not spent in the financial year 216-17. This year we are focusing on full utilization of the modernization expenses. The BJP spokesperson also signals that large scale acquisition of fighter jets and submarines are in the pipeline.

According to defence experts, this year the government will be under pressure. This will be the last full Budget as elections are approaching in 2019. There are chances that the government will spend more money in social sector. The government will want to bring fiscal deficit under control, so in that case limited Budget will be allocated to defence.

It will be interesting to see how the government gives priority to modernise the defence forces in the Budget or will appease the voters?

Click here for full coverage of Union Budget 2018Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Sunday sought the cooperation of various parties for the smooth functioning of the budget session of Parliament.

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Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the House would have eight sittings in the first part of the budget session starting Monday, during which 19 out of a total of 36 hours would be devoted on the discussion on the vote of thanks to the President's address and the Union Budget for 2018-19.

The first leg of the session will be between 29 January and 9 February during which the government will present the economic survey on 29 January, followed by the Union Budget on 1 February.

Following a recess after 9 February, Parliament will meet again from 5 March to 6 April. After the recess, she said, there would be 23 sittings and 82 hours when more discussions on the functioning of various ministries were expected.

The Budget Session of the Parliament will kick-off with President Ram Nath Kovind addressing a joint sitting of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. Kovind's address will be broadcast live on television as well as on Facebook.

Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian will present highlights of the Economic Survey 2018 around 1.30 pm today at a press conference at the National Media Centre in the national capital.

The prime minister also said that all parties should come together and support the Union Budget 2018. "The country is above the party," Modi said asking all parties to come together and discuss ways to how to extend the benefits of the budget to the people.

Speaking to the press outside the Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the current budget will fufill everyone's aspirations.

He also said that India should pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary by making India completely clean.

During his joint address to both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Kovind highlighted the achievements of the NDA government. He said that the govt approved a bill granting working woman paid maternity leave of 26 weeks.

Addressing a joint sitting of both Houses of the Parliament, President Ram Nath Kovind said that the govt is committed to double the farmers' income by 2022.

Kovind said, "A sustained debate is required on the subject of simultaneous elections and all political parties need to arrive at a consensus on this issue."

President Kovind ended his joint address highlighting the importance of all parties to work together and the govt's fight against corruption.

In his short address to a joint sititng of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu said that the dream of India doesn't belong to one particular party or organisation, and that all parties must work together.

In the meanwhile, the BJP Parliamentary Party Executive meeting will take place today at 2.30 pm and another meeting of NDA allies at 3.30 pm, ANI reported

I dont expect anything from the Economic Survey. We get all the information from government and other sources. The Economic Survey is keeping it all together The Central Statistics Office (CSO) had said GDP of 6.5 percent is expected for the current year. The Survey will maintain that figure and not make any changes to it. We wont know anything about the future of the economy from the Survey.

The second part of the Survey is the ideology of the Chief Economic Advisor, Arvind Subramanian. He will give his own view on how he looks at the economy and what should be done. It is prescriptive in nature and may not be followed by government at all. Subramanian may say fiscal prudence should be 3 percent. However, the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley may not take that into account while announcing the Budget. What Subramanian is saying is a theoretical point of view that is provided.

The Economic Survey is nothing but a roundup of everything that has happened in the economy, says Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist, CARE Ratings. However, the report is gathered at high frequency when it comes out on a quarterly basis. The Economic Survey is a comprehensive document that gives you economic data up to date but this is already known to the public.

It was trading at 36,370.92 at 1300 hours, up 320.48 points, or 0.89 percent, after the Economic Survey was tabled in Parliament, the news agency said.

The 30-share barometer, after scaling a new peak of 36,410.60 points in late morning trade on optimistic buying, succumbed to profit-booking at record levels and gave up a part of the gains.

According to PTI, the benchmark Sensex maintained its early upward trend and was trading over 320 points higher after the Economic Survey said India is likely to clock 7-7.5 percent growth in 2018-19, up from 6.75 percent in the current fiscal.

Govt need not take any radical steps, just finish what started, says Arvind Subramanian

It was trading at 36,370.92 at 1300 hours, up 320.48 points, or 0.89 percent, after the Economic Survey was tabled in Parliament, the news agency said.

The 30-share barometer, after scaling a new peak of 36,410.60 points in late morning trade on optimistic buying, succumbed to profit-booking at record levels and gave up a part of the gains.

According to PTI, the benchmark Sensex maintained its early upward trend and was trading over 320 points higher after the Economic Survey said India is likely to clock 7-7.5 percent growth in 2018-19, up from 6.75 percent in the current fiscal.

Indian exports are much less concentrated by firms: Top 1% of Indian exporters account for 38 percent of exports. Share much greater in other countries: 72, 68, 67, and 55 % in Brazil, Germany, Mexico, & USA, respectively #economicsurvey18 https://t.co/5qf2Hu6Lfx pic.twitter.com/8L2QWv0EGX

This year oil prices went up that affected consumption and govt finances and also held back real economic activity: Chief Economic Adviser Dr Arvind Subramanian pic.twitter.com/Nc71QBdeUa

From the very 1st survey onwards we've spoken about the twin balance sheet challenges, under capitalised banks which held back growth for a very long time. This year a series of very important steps are being taken: Arvind Subramanian, Chief Economic Adviser #EconomicSurvey2018 pic.twitter.com/fBnzrB6D2G

Government does not have to do anything radical; just finishing what it has started already would be a very ambitious and fantastic agenda to complete: Arvind Subramanian, Chief Economic Adviser #EconomicSurvey2018 pic.twitter.com/3R14t1CZL6

Govt need not take any radical steps, just finish what started, says Arvind Subramanian

They were protesting against a sealing drive in Delhi, the Central government's decision of allowing FDI in single-brand retail and the Election Commission's decision to disqualify 20 Delhi AAP MLAs, it added.

According to the news agency, Aam Aadmi Party Lok Sabha members Sadhu Singh, Bhagwant Mann and Rajya Sabha members Sanjay Singh, Sushil Gupta and N.D. Gupta raised slogans near a Gandhi statue in the Parliament premises, holding placards.

AAP MPs on Monday boycotted President Ram Nath Kovind's address to a joint sitting of the Parliament on the first day of the Budget Session, as a protest against the disqualification of 20 party MLAs, IANS reported.

Policy agenda for the year ahead-support agriculture, stabalise GST, complete TBS actions with reforms, privatise Air-India and head-off macro economic pressures and possibility of a 'sudden stall' from rising oil prices and sharp correction in stock prices:Chief Economic Adviser pic.twitter.com/xYjSl1msUV

GST brings out new findings on the Indian economy that says reforms has increased tax rolls, formal sector is much bigger than believed, firm structure of exports highly diversified and states are big traders: Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian pic.twitter.com/IsFKLkaAYu

India is expected to regain the world's fastest-growing major economy tag as it is likely to clock 7-7.5 percent growth rate in 2018-19, up from 6.75 percent in the current fiscal, the Economic Survey said on Monday. The economy, said the survey for 2017-18, will grow on the back of major reforms which would be strengthened further in the next financial year. The survey was tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

"A series of major reforms undertaken over the past year will allow real GDP growth to reach 6.75 percent this fiscal and will rise to 7 to 7.5 percent in 2018-19, thereby re-instating India as the world's fastest-growing major economy," it said.

The reform measures undertaken in 2017-18 can be strengthened further in 2018-19, it said. The survey points out that India can be rated as among the best performing economies in the world as the average growth during last three years is around 4 percentage points higher than global growth and nearly 3 percentage points higher than that of emerging market and developing economies.

It said that the GDP growth has averaged 7.3 per cent from 2014-15 to 2017-18, which is the highest among the major economies of the world. "That this growth has been achieved in a milieu of lower inflation, improved current account balance and notable reduction in the fiscal deficit to GDP ratio makes it all the more creditable," it said.

The Economic Survey is an annual publication of the Finance Ministry which reviews the nations growth over the last 12 months. It is presented to both houses of the Parliament during the Budget Session and serves as a preview of the policy recommendations that could find a place in the Union Budget that follows it.

The survey reviews all the government schemes, plans, and measures undertaken during the financial year (which is about to end) by various departments of the government, goals achieved, not achieved, as well what should be expected and focussed at in the next financial year.

Kovind highlights achievements of govt in joint address to both Houses of Parliament

President Ram Nath Kovind kicked off the Budget Session of the Parliament on Monday, while addressing both Houses of the Parliament in a joint sitting, highlighted several accomplishments of the government while also championing its welfare schemes and fight against corruption. Kovind also said that he was hopeful that the Triple Talaq Bill would be passed in the Budget Session of Parliament.

"My government has brought the Triple Talaq Bill to safeguard the rights of the Muslim women. And I am hopeful that Parliament will pass the Bill," Kovind said in his address to the joint sitting of the both Houses.

He also said that the government has extended its 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' scheme from 161 districts to 640 districts in the country.

"The government has now amended the Maternity Bill by which the women can get 'paid leave' of up to 26 weeks instead of 12 weeks. Now the women can spend more time with their newborn babies," he added.

Kovind also referred to contributions of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and said: "Babasaheb Ambedkar used to say that without economic and social democracy, political democracy is unstable."

Click here for full coverage of Union Budget 2018According to the survey, 58 percent of the respondent banks reported a rise in NPAs, significantly lower than 80 percent in the previous round.

New Delhi: The percentage of banks reporting a rise in non performing assets (NPAs) in July-December last year has reduced significantly, indicating stability in credit environment, according to a report.

The latest round of the Ficci-IBA survey drew responses from 19 public sector, private and foreign banks representing 59 percent of the banking industry by asset size.

According to the survey, 58 percent of the respondent banks reported a rise in NPAs, significantly lower than 80 percent in the previous round. Infrastructure, metals and engineering goods were key contributors to the bad debt.

However, only 28 percent banks reported a rise in the number of requests for restructuring of loans as compared to 40 percent in the previous round.

For the forthcoming Union Budget, the banks demanded full tax deduction on the NPA provisioning; reduction in corporate tax rate; and accelerated investments in infrastructure sector.

"Most of the responding banks have suggested reduction in corporate tax rate from 30 percent to 25 percent, lowering of MAT rate to 15 percent and enhancing tax deductions and exemptions for individuals. This should boost credit demand at both corporate and retail level," said Ficci on the report.

The survey was carried out for the period July to December 2017.

The number of banks reporting increase in share of CASA deposits has been lower in the current round of survey, with 48 percent indicating an increase as against 58 percent in the previous round. Around 35 percent of the respondents have also cited a moderate decline in CASA deposits.

"Withdrawal of deposits made earlier during demonetisation, slow growth in current account deposits and withdrawals for agricultural activity have been cited as key reasons for such decline," said the report.

CASA (current account savings account) is mobilised at a very low rate and subsequently deployed for lending at a much higher rate resulting in higher margin for banks.

To facilitate credit growth and investment pick-up in the economy, bankers recommended accelerated investments in infrastructure sector as well as interest subvention for investments in long gestation infrastructure projects.

The respondent banks have suggested that government should allow full tax deduction on the NPA provisioning as against the cap of 5 percent of taxable income, in the

Budget.

They also suggested more incentives for promoting digital transactions for merchants and users and creation of dedicated fund for digital payments infrastructure in the Budget.

A majority of the respondent banks witnessed significant progress in digital transactions over the last one year, as volumes and the value of digital transactions increased manifold. The banks also reported significant rise in digital payments across all channels (cards, UPI, Aadhaar Pay, etc).

Moreover, the first time users of digital payments have gone up in the last one year. To enhance digital transactions, in addition to the incentives, banks have suggested improvement in data security infrastructure and widening the reach of digital platforms to all strata of the society.

Lenders have welcomed the recapitalisation plan of Rs 2.11 trillion for public sector banks and believe that it will help in boosting credit growth and subsequently growth recovery of the economy.

Banks have suggested that reforms for the sector should go hand in hand with recapitalisation plan and there should be improvement in processes and policies in the public sector banks to avoid further erosion of capital.

Additionally, some of the respondents were of the view that the amount of recapitalisation will not be adequate and banks would need to consider raising additional capital through QIP route or through monetisation of non-core assets.

The survey revealed that banking sector performance during JulyDecember remained more or less similar to the previous six months on the parameters studied. Nearly 67 percent of the respondents have maintained their credit standards for large as well as small enterprises.Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday tabled the Economic Survey 2017-18 in the Lok Sabha soon after President Pram Nath Kovind's address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.

New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday tabled the Economic Survey 2017-18 in the Lok Sabha soon after President Pram Nath Kovind's address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.

As soon as the House met for the first day of the Budget session, Secretary General Snehlata Shrivastava laid a copy of the President's address.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan then directed the finance minister to table a copy of the Hindi and and English versions of the Economic Survey 2017-18.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers, Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, opposition leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Sudip Bandopadhyay and Farooq Abdullah were among others present in the House.

Thereafter, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day. The House will meet on 1 February when the general budget for 2018-19 will be presented by the finance minister.

Before the House was assembled, the prime Minister, accompanied by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar, went to the opposition benches and greeted the leaders,

including Kharge, Yadav, Bandopadhyay and Abdullah.

Modi also greeted the members of the treasury benches before the House assembled as well as after it was adjourned for the day.Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan sought the cooperation of various parties for the smooth functioning of the Budget Session of Parliament.

New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan sought the cooperation of various parties for the smooth functioning of the Budget Session of Parliament.

Mahajan made the appeal to leaders of various parties at a dinner hosted by her, a day before the start of the budget session. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders of various parties attended the dinner at Parliament House Library.

"We hope that the Budget Session of Parliament will function smoothly. Leaders of various parties have assured of their cooperation and smooth functioning of the House," she told reporters after the dinner meeting.

She said the House would have eight sittings in the first part of the Budget Session starting Monday, during which 19 out of a total of 36 hours would be devoted on the discussion on the vote of thanks to the President's address and the Union Budget for 2018-19.

The first leg of the session will be between 29 January and 9 February during which the government will present the economic survey on 29 January, followed by the Union Budget on 1 February.

Following a recess after 9 February, Parliament will meet again from 5 March to 6 April.

After the recess, she said, there would be 23 sittings and 82 hours when more discussions on the functioning of various ministries were expected.

She also said that from this session, the lists of papers to be laid and those for discussion would be of different colours to help members distinguish between the two.The government on Sunday said it would 'leave no stone unturned' to ensure the passage of the triple talaq bill in the Budget session of Parliament starting tomorrow, and asserted that it would talk to various parties for a consensus on the issue.

New Delhi: The government on Sunday said it would "leave no stone unturned" to ensure the passage of the triple talaq bill in the Budget session of Parliament starting on Sunday, and asserted that 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 on Sunday and also sought their cooperation in ensuring the success of the crucial session during which the Union Budget would be presented.

The all-party meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and Ananth Kumar, besides leaders of opposition and other parties.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan also held a dinner meeting with party leaders for the session's smooth functioning and said the leaders had assured her of their cooperation.

Addressing the floor leaders of the various parties in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Modi said the government accords importance to issues raised by the parties and urged their leaders to create a "constructive atmosphere for the national good".

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 and persuade and request all political parties so that the bill is passed in the Rajya Sabha, as it has been in the Lok Sabha," he said when asked about the triple talaq bill after the meeting.

"We are very hopeful that the bill which is going to negate 'Talaq-e-Biddat' and pave the way for empowering Muslim women will be passed in the Rajya Sabha, too," he said.

Kumar said that he, along with Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel and Arjun Ram Meghwal, will approach various political parties to evolve a consensus for its passage.

"Like the way parties passed the GST unanimously, we are requesting them to pass this bill which is going to ban the practice of instant triple talaq (Talaq-e-Biddat) among Muslims," he said.

On the forthcoming session, he said, "We feel the budget session will be very successful and fruitful".

He said the session was important as the government took seriously suggestions made by various parties during the all- party meeting.

Kumar said the prime minister stressed the need to strengthen the system of Parliamentary Committees, where members spoke freely in the absence of the media and deliberated on issues of national interest.

Modi urged all political parties to avoid "tokenism" in the Standing Committees of Parliament and asked them to give concrete solutions to issues of national importance.

Kumar said the prime minister told leaders of various parties to make the system of committees a role model of participative democracy that could be adopted by state legislatures across the country.

In a lighter vein, he added that Modi, who spoke after the CPI's D Raja, told the meeting, "After Raja, Praja (referring to himself) will speak".

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.

"The matter is before Rajya Sabha. Till the deliberations are going on...It is for the House to decide," Kumar said.

Asked if the bill would come up during the first part of the session, he replied in the affirmative, adding that it was listed in the business of the House.

While the government wants to push the passage of the triple talaq bill during the session, it will present the Economic Survey tomorrow after a joint address by the president. The Union Budget will be presented by the finance minister on 1 February.

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 tomorrow to push for unity and discuss ways to together corner the government on disparate issues.

The BJP Parliamentary Party executive will also hold a meeting tomorrow, which will be followed by one of NDA constituents, who will also deliberate on their strategy.

"These issues 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 said the opposition wanted the government to speak in Parliament on issues of public importance such as communal and gender violence.

The session is likely to conclude on 6 April, with 31 sittings spread over 68 days. Parliament will be adjourned for a recess on February 9 and reassemble on March 5.

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).The Jammu and Kashmir police on Monday filed a chargesheet against Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and eight accused in the Amarnath Yatra terror attack that took place in July 2017.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday filed a chargesheet against the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and eight accused in the Amarnath Yatra terror attack that took place in July 2017.

Seven Amarnath pilgrims were killed and twelve, including three policemen, were injured after militants attacked a tourist bus and a police party in Anantnag along the Jammu-Srinagar Highway in south Kashmir on 10 July, 2017.

Jammu & Kashmir police files charge-sheet against Lashkar-e-Taiba- (LeT) and 8 accused in Amaranth Yatra bus attack that took place in July last year.  ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2018

On 14 July, the Jammu and Kashmir police had constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by a DIG-rank officer to probe the 10 July terror attack on a bus carrying Amarnath Yatra pilgrims in south Kashmir. It was decided that other members including, Anantnag senior superintendent of police Altaf Ahmad Khan, a deputy superintendent of police, and other officers would assist in the probe.

Soon after the attack, the Kashmir IGP Munir Ahmad Khan had said that the Lashkar-e-Taiba was behind the attack. "Initial investigation reveals it is a group of Lashkar militants headed by Abu Ismail of Pakistan, who carried out the attack," the IGP had said.

The alleged mastermind of the attack, LeT Kashmir chief Abu Ismail, was gunned down in an encounter by Jammu and Kashmir police in September. In December, three LeT militants, including two Pakistanis, allegedly responsible for carrying out the attack on Amarnath pilgrims, were killed in an encounter in South Kashmir, PTI had reported.

One militant, who had managed to flee from the encounter site, was also arrested by the police from a maternity hospital of Anantnag district of South Kashmir, police said.

With inputs from agenciesTerritorial integrity of Assam and other northeastern states will not be compromised when the final Naga peace accord is inked, Rajnath Singh assured CM Sarbananda Sonowal

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 8 December, 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.A court in Delhi remanded the owner of a firecracker storage unit in Bawana industrial area where 17 people were killed in a massive blaze, to police custody for two more days after it was informed that he was not cooperating with the probe

New Delhi: A court in Delhi on Monday remanded the owner of a firecracker storage unit in Bawana industrial area where 17 people were killed in a massive blaze, to police custody for two more days after it was informed that he was not cooperating with the probe.

Metropolitan Magistrate Vikram extended the police custody of Manoj Jain, who was produced before the court on expiry of his five-day remand, till 31 January.

The other accused and co-owner of the firecracker unit, Lalit Goyal, would also be produced before the court on the same day.

Jain was arrested on 21 January, while Goyal was arrested on 27 January and sent to four days police custody.

While seeking Jain's two-day custody, the investigating officer submitted that the accused was not cooperating in the interrogation and pretended to be ill frequently.

It further submitted that a detailed investigation could not be conducted due to a shortage of staff as the force was busy in arrangements of Republic Day parade.

The court, while allowing the police's plea, directed it to conduct the accused's medical examination every 24 hours till he was in custody.

Meanwhile, advocate Rishipal Singh, representing few victims of the tragedy, moved an application seeking an independent probe into the matter by agencies like the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).

The plea sought transfer of the probe from Delhi Police Crime Branch, alleging that "no fruitful investigation" had been made so far.

"Till date, no investigation has been carried out despite the lapse of more than eight days from the date of registration of FIR," the plea said.

It alleged that statements of the victims have also not been recorded so far.

A fire had broken out in the storage unit on the ground floor of the two-storey building in Bawana on 20 January and ripped through the structure. Of the 17 killed, 10 were women. A man and woman were injured in the incident.

The court had last week dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Goyal saying the allegations against him were "serious".

It was earlier informed that both the accused were running the factory without any licence and the explosive materials were procured from outside Delhi.

The probe agency had claimed that the explosive materials were brought to the city without any permission or checking, and sought the custody of the accused to verify whether he was running any other such illegal enterprises.

An FIR was registered under various provisions of the IPC relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible material.

The maximum punishment for the offences is 10 years.A group of vegetarian students near Alappuzha have complained to the district authorities that they were made to eat beef cutlets served as a vegetable dish

Alappuzha: A group of vegetarian students of College of Engineering campus of CUSAT near Alappuzha have complained to the district authorities that they were made to eat beef cutlets served as a vegetable dish.

The incident took place when food was served in connection with a seminar held at the college at Pulincunnoo on 25 January, some of the students from Bihar told reporters on Saturday.

The campus is functioning under the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) headquartered in Kochi.

Angithkumar and Himashukumzar alleged the college authorities told them that it was vegetable cutlets when repeatedly asked whether it was beef or veg, which was when they proceeded to eat them.

"Only after consuming it, we came to know that these were beef cutlets," Angithkumar said.

The students said they have lodged a complaint with the District Collector in this regard.

They alleged that it was done with the knowledge of the college principal.

The students said they felt depressed on coming to know that they ate beef as it was a matter related their faith and religion.

College authorities could not be reached for their statement.China on Monday said it is ready to hold talks with India to resolve their differences on the contentious $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that passes through Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.

Beijing: China on Monday said it is ready to hold talks with India to resolve their differences on the contentious $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that passes through Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.

Asked about Indian Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale's interview to state-run Global Times in which he had said that differences on the CPEC should not be swept under the carpet, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China is willing to hold talks with India in this regard.

"I noted the relevant report. Regarding the CPEC, China has repeatedly reiterated our position. As to the differences between China and India, China stands ready to communicate and hold talks with India to seek a proper solution so that these differences will not affect our general national interests. This best serves the interests of the two countries," she said.

As to any differences arising between the two countries, they can be resolved with sincerity and mutual respect, she said, adding that the parties can seek proper solution for management of the differences.

"We should not ask one party alone to solve this problem. We are willing to work with India to work with dialogue and communication for a better solution," she said.

"CPEC is merely an economic cooperation project. It has not targeted any third party. We hope the Indian side can put this in perspective and we stand ready to strengthen cooperation with the Indian side," she said.

India has objected to the $50 billion CPEC as it passes through Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.

The CPEC is a network of infrastructure projects that are currently under construction throughout Pakistan that will connect China's Xinjiang province with Gwadar port in Pakistan's Balochistan province.Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Monday wrote back to AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj over the ongoing sealing drives in the city, saying all possible solutions are being explored to overcome the 'crisis'

New Delhi: Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Monday wrote back to AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj over the ongoing sealing drives in the city, saying all possible solutions are being explored to overcome the "crisis".

Last week, the Greater Kailash legislator had written to Baijal seeking an appointment of AAP MLAs with him to discuss the sealing drives being carried out by the municipal corporations since last month against properties for alleged violations of civic norms.

The L-G in his letter to Bharadwaj said sealing is a complex matter and the MLAs can communicate their suggestions

through Delhi urban development minister whose department is responsible for processing some of the possible solutions like notification for mixed land use of streets.

"All possible solutions are being explored to overcome the crisis, keeping in view the judicial pronouncements on the subject and extant laws," the L-G office said in a statement.

It stated that this is a very serious matter and concerns the livelihood of lakhs of people and also planned development of Delhi. "While Lt Governor appreciated the concern of MLAs and welcomed any constructive suggestions, he strongly advised against any attempt to trivialise the matter," the L-G office said.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party alleged that its leaders Ashutosh, Dilip Pandey and other MLAs were detained by the police during its march to Parliament against the sealing drive and FDI in retail sector. The protesters had gathered near the Parliament Police station on Sansad Marg for the march, but, the police did not allow them to proceed.

Later, Bharadwaj said those AAP MLAs who have not been detained by police will reach the L-G house and demand immediate changes in Master Plan 2021 by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to stop sealing in Delhi.

The Lt Governor is the chairman of DDA.Three men, including a Delhi University graduate, were arrested for allegedly running a pan-India fake degree racket under which they sold about 50,000 forged certificates of universities and school boards

New Delhi: Three men, including a Delhi University graduate, were arrested for allegedly running a pan-India fake degree racket under which they sold about 50,000 forged certificates of universities and school boards, police said on Monday.

The three accused, Pankaj Arora, 35, Pawiter Singh alias Sonu, 40, and Gopal Krishna alias Pali, 40, were arrested between 5 January and 25 January, they said.

The accused, during interrogation, revealed that they had sold at least 50,000 fake degrees and mark sheets of various universities and school boards.

They used to give advertisements in newspapers, promising students to provide all sorts of certificates and degrees, said Vijay Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West).

In order to convince their clients, they had also set up fake websites of the universities and school boards on which the victims verified the authenticity of these documents.

The websites were so convincing that victims could not tell the difference between genuine and fake, the senior police official said.

Thousands of people have secured jobs through these forged certificates, he said.

Universities whose fake websites they had created, included Sambalpur University, Odisha, University of Allahabad, Sikkim University, Karnataka State Open University, and Nava Nalanda Mahavihara.

On 3 January, Vijay Kumar, a resident of Sikar, Rajasthan, filed a complaint at the Hari Nagar police station.

He told police that after seeing an advertisement in a local newspaper in Rajasthan, he had contacted the office of "SRKM Education and Welfare Society" in Hari Nagar for getting admission in 10th standard and obtaining certificates.

Arora, a Delhi University graduate and the owner of the institute, convinced Kumar to pay Rs 1.30 lakh towards admission and examination fees for six of his friends and himself.

After some days, Vijay Kumar received 10th standard mark sheets, migration certificates and transfer certificates of Board of Secondary Education, Andhra Pradesh, through the post, police said.

He was shocked since neither he nor his friends had appeared for the examination of the Andhra Pradesh board and had not even visited Andhra Pradesh. When Kumar contacted Arora, he told him that the certificates were genuine.

When the complainant applied for a passport in Sikar, Rajasthan, he was told that the 10th standard certificate was not genuine. Subsequently, a case was registered.

The police team went to the office of SRKM Education and Welfare Society, but it was closed. On the basis of technical surveillance, Arora was nabbed from Hari Nagar on 5 January.

He led the police to Singh and Krishan who were involved in preparing and sending the forged certificates to him, said the Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Subsequently, Singh was nabbed from Karkari Road near Karkardooma Court on 19 January. A sample forged certificate and a mobile phone being used in maintaining all the fake websites were recovered from him, the senior police official said.

Arora led the team to Ludhiana, Punjab, from where Krishan was nabbed on 25 January.

He was running a printing press where he used to print forged mark sheets.

The accused have been running this racket since 2001-2002 and have made crores of rupees, police said.

They used to charge anything between Rs 1,500 to Rs 2 lakh for providing fake certificates.

Police found Rs 20 lakh in many bank accounts in Goraya, Punjab, and they have been frozen.

Police have also seized blank sheets and other documents of Karnataka State Open University, Delhi Board of Secondary Education, Andhra Pradesh, etc.

Last month, six men were arrested for allegedly running a fake school education board that ran an elaborate pan-India network since 2012 and duped more than 20,000 people by issuing forged mark sheets and certificates.Whenever India has annoyed China or there has been a border-related issue between the two countries, it (China) has aided insurgents in the North East, Mukherjee told newspersons in Kolkata commenting on the possible fallout of the 74-day stand-off with the Chinese at Doka La in the Sikkim sector

Kolkata: Insurgency is likely to increase in the North East after the Doka La stand-off with China and there are already signs of it in the region, former general officer commanding-in-chief, Eastern Command, lieutenant general JR Mukherjee said in Kolkata on Monday.

Whenever India has annoyed China or there has been a border-related issue between the two countries, it (China) has aided insurgents in the North East, Mukherjee told newspersons in Kolkata commenting on the possible fallout of the 74-day stand-off with the Chinese at Doka La in the Sikkim sector.

"Consequent to Doka La, the insurgency will increase in the North East and signs of these are already evident," the retired lieutenant general, who is the vice-president (operations) of strategic thinktank CENERS-K, said.

Mukherjee said that Doka La is neither the first time nor the last that China has made such an attempt. Its army will keep coming and camp at places of that country's strategic interest.

"In Doka La, they (China) will eventually try to twist the Bhutanese state to get what they want," he said and claimed that the Chinese have not left Doka La but have only stepped back a little.

Centre for East and North-East Regional Studies (CENERS), Kolkata, which has as its patron former Army chief general Shankar Roy Chowdhury and advisor former air chief Marshal Arup Raha, is organising a two-day dialogue on Indo-China issues and relations between the two Asian giants.

The seminar, to be held on 2 and 3 February, is scheduled to be attended by Minister of State for External Affairs Gen (retired) VK Singh and will delve on issues ranging from political, economic and military capabilities to problems and prospects relating to bilateral investments.

Professor Guo Xetang, director of Institute of International Strategy and Policy Analysis, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, will be the lone Chinese speaker at the event, which is also scheduled to be attended by US and Japanese diplomats.Uttar Pradesh govenor Ram Naik termed the Kasganj communal clash as a 'blot' on the state and asked the government to initiate measures to ensure such incidents did not recur.

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik termed the Kasganj communal clash as a "blot" on the state and asked the government to initiate measures to ensure such incidents did not recur.

The governor noted that such an incident had occurred in the state for the first time in the last 9-10 months and described it as "shameful". In Kasganj, where the situation is tense but under control, clashes between two communities had claimed one life.

At least three shops, two buses and a car were torched after a youth was killed in clashes following stone-pelting by a mob on a motorcycle rally taken out to celebrate Republic Day.

"Whatever happened in Kasganj was not good. The incident there is a 'kalank' (blot) for UP. The government is probing the incident. It should initiate effective measures to ensure that such incidents are not repeated," he told reporters.

The Yogi Adityanath government, which stormed to power in Uttar Pradesh riding a saffron wave nearly a year ago, was recently advised by Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu to tone up law and order in the state. Naidu advised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take back firearms from people as they were main cause of crime.

"Those who have firearms should return weapons. I want to ask the chief minister t in Uttar Pradesh a large number of people have firearms. This is main cause of crime incidents," Naidu had said at the first Uttar Pradesh Diwas event last week. He had said "law and order should be top priority".

On asked about the situation in Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh government spokesman and senior cabinet minister Sidharth Nath Singh said he has seen reports that shops are opening now. "The situation is returning to normal, which is a good sign," he added.

As many as 112 people were arrested and security forces personnel intensified vigil in the strife-torn Kasganj in western Uttar Pradesh. The Uttar Pradesh Police said drone cameras had been deployed for aerial surveillance and described the situation as improving.

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 culprits.

Under the NSA, a person can be detained without bail or trial and authorities need not disclose grounds of detention if they believe the detainee can act in a way that poses a threat to the security of the state/country or the maintenance of public order. The Yogi Adityanath-led government has stressed that the guilty would not be spared.The Indian healthcare system is facing a number of challenges, the largest being a loss of credibility. Many experts, waxing eloquent across print and electronic media and finding faults with the system often put the onus on the government to do something. However, this farrago of criticism not only fails to bring out real solutions, it builds pressure on policymakers which leads to knee-jerk reactions which further distract from real solutions.

The Indian healthcare system is facing a number of challenges, the largest being a loss of credibility. Many experts, waxing eloquent across print and electronic media and finding faults with the system often put the onus on the government to do something. However, this farrago of criticism not only fails to bring out real solutions, it builds pressure on policymakers which leads to knee-jerk reactions which further distract from real solutions.

Healthcare is far too important to be treated in such a manner. On one hand, the policymakers need to have the will and capacity to get to the root of the problem and on the other hand, medical professionals also need to shun victimhood and self-regulate.

India has a perennial shortage of doctors: More so in rural and semi-urban areas. The governments of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have passed laws to ensure medical graduates practise in rural areas. States such as Karnataka and West Bengal plan to follow their lead. However, this is nothing short of coercion.

Such regulations will only end up being self-defeating. Bright youngsters will be more inclined to choose careers in non-regulated fields such as engineering, finance and management, where fancy jobs and lucrative salaries await them, and shun the medical field.

The right approach will be to incentivise young doctors to work in rural areas with better amenities, better salaries and perquisites such as preferential school admissions for their kids. Private institutions can be motivated through tax incentives or corporate social responsibility provisions. If offered stability and dignity, doctors will willingly work in rural areas.

An acute shortage of qualified people to work as full-time teachers in medical colleges is another problem. To circumvent this, the managements of the medical colleges undertake all sorts of malpractices that range from the ludicrous to the laughable (for which the Medical Council of India must take a fair share of blame).

A solution: Making better use of visiting faculty, a concept which has been well embraced by management institutes across the country. The permanent staff of a medical college can look after administration and maintain a panel of visiting teachers from the vast pool of practising doctors in various fields. Lectures can be uploaded to the college website.

Such arrangement would appeal to many eminent practising doctors and incentivise them to share their knowledge and experience to the would-be doctors. This way, the practising doctors will get a sense of fulfillment, students will get better educated, and the colleges will save money. These external experts can be remunerated based on number of lectures, hospital rounds, or surgeries performed. Likewise, the system of deciding experience of pilots based on flying hours can be used to measure experience of teachers in the medical profession.

Medical negligence is another menace on the rise. However, one cannot ascertain the magnitude of the problem going by the coverage in the print and electronic media. They appear only too eager to create the impression that doctors and hospitals are out to kill or loot hapless patients.

Medical negligence is an over-simplified term used to blame for any adverse outcome. In the medical world, certain risks are universally known and accepted: Errors due to a lapse in judgment, adverse unintended reactions or sub-optimal results to the best line of treatment. They mean an adverse outcome could still be possible despite the best and honest efforts of the medical team.

A recent World Health Organisation survey found one in ten hospital admissions results in an adverse outcome, while 1 in 300 hospital admissions led to unexpected death. It concluded that unintended medical error was among the top ten killers globally.

An American study published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2000 claimed that 225,000 deaths occurred in the US every year as a result of unintended medical error. However, the people as well as the US media are careful to distinguish unintended medical error from medical negligence.

The complexity of human body is such that a disease and outcome of its treatment is never a mathematical equation. The treatment which cures patient A, may have an altogether different and unintended outcome when administered to patient B. For example, a majority of dengue fever are treated as out-patients, but a few need extreme ICU care with blood transfusions, platelet infusions, and even ventilator support. For such a patient, the hospital bill will run into lakhs, and in the end, the patient may not even survive. If the treating doctors are accused of being negligent in such cases, it is a tragedy of monumental proportions.

Overuse of the term medical negligence can not only ruin a doctor or an institutions future, but will create a trust deficit between patients and doctors which has wider ramifications. Decisions will be delayed and it is the patient that will suffer. Hence, one must refrain from using the term medical negligence, unless it is abundantly clear that there indeed was negligence. A doctors hard work, and the fact that no doctor wants his patient dead, should be given due regard.

In all this chaos, governments of Karnataka and West Bengal are charting a potentially disastrous course. Instead of improving the public healthcare system, they are trying to regulate the private sector: Private hospitals, nursing homes and individual private practitioners.

Given that the private sector has ably shouldered the responsibility of the nations healthcare when the public sector is woefully short of talent, infrastructure and willpower, the policymakers desire to dictate terms  whom to treat, how to treat and how much to charge  is unfortunate. Clearly, there is neither any homework nor any long-term plan behind it. Over-regulation will only scare away the talent and stifle the healthcare sectors growth. That will be a tragedy of Himalayan proportions.

It is not that Indias healthcare system only has problems. In fact, getting proper medical care in India is much easier, quicker and cheaper than in the United States or United Kingdom, even though the doctor-to-population ratio is below par.

For ordinary illnesses like the common cold, it takes nearly two weeks in the United States to get an appointment with the doctor. Compare that to India, where a patient can simply walk into any general practitioner's clinic. Similarly, the cost of hospitalisation, on which such a hue and cry is made, remains merely a fraction of what it costs in the US.

If India wants doctors and desires quality healthcare at an affordable price, young talent must be incentivised and motivated rather than punished. At a time when the government is repealing archaic laws and reducing compliance burden to improve ease of doing business in India, a similar liberal approach is needed from the policymakers when regulating healthcare.

Instead of scaring away the best of talent, the government ought to better equip the public sector healthcare and make it attractive. Let the policymakers not waste the tax payers money and the demographic dividend our prime minister talks about with such passion.

Dr Gurunath Parale, (MD, DM, FACC), is Professor Medicine & Interventional Cardiologist with over 25 years of experience and Head of the Cardiology Department at Ashwini Co-operative Hospital, Solapur (http://www.drgurunathparale.com/) Dr Virupaksha Joshi, is Head of Radiology Department, Ashwini Co-operative Hospital, SolapurThe Kasganj superintendent of Police Sunil Kumar Singh has been transferred to Meerut and a magisterial probe has been ordered to investigate the violence the occurred in Kasganj

Following violence between two communities in Kasganj, superintendent of police Sunil Kumar Singh has been transferred to Meerut and a magisterial probe has been ordered to investigate the clashes, media reports said.

According to ANI, Piyush Srivastava will be the new Kasganj SP after this transfer. India Today reports that the Kasganj police has ordered a magisterial probe to scrutinise whether an administrative lapse was responsible for the escalation of violence in the strife-torn city. The report adds that an SIT team has also been formed to analyse the sequence of events that lead to the violence.

At least three shops, two buses and a car were torched after a youth, Chandan Gupta, was killed in clashes following stone-pelting by a mob on a motorcycle rally which was taken out to celebrate Republic Day. Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik called the communal clashes a "blot" on the state and asked the government to initiate measures to ensure such incidents did not recur.

So far, as many as 112 people have also been arrested and security forces personnel have intensified vigil in Kasganj city in Uttar Pradesh. The situation in the area remained tense but peaceful on Monday, two days after clashes between two communities claimed Gupta's life.

According to India Today, a bullet has been recovered from Gupta's body and has been sent to Agra for a ballistics report. CCTV footage has also been taken by the police for their probe into the matter. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC also continue to be in place in the restive area. The Uttar Pradesh police have deployed drone cameras for aerial surveillance in the area as well.

Police also state that they are monitoring social media to avoid any plans devised to cause fresh violence. They recently slammed rumours of another death that occurred during the clashes on 26 January.

Contrary to rumours spread on social media, Rahul Upadhyay is alive. We have arrested 4 people for spreading false rumours : Sanjeev Gupta, IG Aligarh Range #KasganjClashes pic.twitter.com/dP6rxkfzDt  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 29, 2018

"Contrary to rumours spread on social media, Rahul Upadhyay is alive. We have arrested four people for spreading false rumours," Sanjeev Gupta, Inspector-General, Aligarh Range said to ANI.

Mother of #ChandanGupta says they have refused monetary compensation from state govt, demands 'Shaheed' status for her son.#KasganjClashes pic.twitter.com/zH2cGNniav  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 29, 2018

The kin of Chandan Gupta, who was killed in the violence, has refused monetary compensation from state government. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath had announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for Gupta's parents on Sunday. While declining this compensation, Gupta's mother also demanded that her son should be given 'shaheed' status.

The Yogi Adityanath-led government has stressed that the guilty would not be spared. After explosives were found during house-to-house searches, the state police chief said the stringent National Security Act (NSA) would be invoked against the culprits. Under the NSA, a person can be detained without bail or trial and authorities need not disclose grounds of detention if they believe the detainee can act in a way that poses a threat to the security of the state/country or the maintenance of public order.

Meanwhile, Congress Rajya Sabha member Pramod Tiwari has demanded a high-level probe by sitting high court judge into this matter. "It's certainly a failure of the state government. There should be a high-level probe by a sitting high court judge in this matter," Tiwari said.

With inputs from agenciesA woman facing death threats for leading the Friday prayers last week says she will not be cowed down by the intimidation and will continue to lead the 'Jumu'ah' congregation.

Malappuram: A woman facing death threats for leading the Friday prayers last week says she will not be cowed down by the intimidation and will continue to lead the 'Jumu'ah' congregation.

Jamitha, 34, general secretary of the Quran Sunnat Society, had conducted the Jumu'ah, the Muslim Friday prayer service, at the Society's office in Malappuram district's Wandoor village last Friday.

Jumu'ah prayers, held every Friday, are usually led by men.

"Comments and threats have been posted on social media saying I should not be allowed to live... that I should be burnt alive as I am destroying Islam," Jamitha told PTI.

The woman, who broke gender stereotypes when she led the prayers, said she had been receiving death threats on WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube but was not afraid.

She said she would not be cowed down by the threats and would continue to lead the prayers.

"Those who are attacking me through social media are cowards," she said, adding that she had not filed a police complaint.

Popularly known as 'Jamitha teacher' in the area, she said the Quran does not discriminate between men and women and Islam doesn't stop women from becoming imams.

About 80 people, including women, had attended the prayers, led by the woman 'Imam', Society sources had said.

The Quran Sunnat Society is associated with Chekkannur Maulavi, a progressive Islamic cleric from Edapal in the Muslim dominated district, who went missing after being abducted in 1993.

The CBI, which probed his disappearance, concluded that he had been murdered and his body disposed of in a mysterious manner.

Jamitha's radical move has kicked up a wide debate on social media.Irrespective of Islamic doctrinal positions on this issue, Jamida's action shows us that cause of liberty is itself a goal of civilisation in modern times.

Any act that enables women to walk into public spheres of life controlled by men is a revolutionary step in the advancement of human civilisation. On 26 January a Friday, which is important for the weekly prayer in Islam  a Muslim woman named Jamida led an all-male prayer in a mosque at Cherukode, near Wandoor in Malappuram district of Kerala.

In Islam, an imam (prayer leader) can be any person from among the worshippers present at the time of the prayer. Such a person should ideally be a pious person who commands respect among the worshippers.

In upholding religious tenets, Islam can be described as the most flexible religion, even permitting Muslims under certain circumstances of duress to eat pork. It also means that if a group of thieves decides to offer prayers, one from among them can act as imam. Also, mixing of men and women for prayer in mosques has been continuing from the earliest days of Islam.

Even now, in major mosques in India, such as the Jama Masjid of Delhi, women do join in prayers, but in such cases, only a male Islamic cleric leads the prayer. Female worshippers either maintain some distance from men or stand in the back rows. There is gender segregation.

To break this gender segregation in Islamic prayers, US-based professor Dr Amina Wadud led a mixed prayer of men and women in 2005 in New York, where female worshippers deliberately lined up in the first rows. Jamida is the first Indian woman to do so.

Jamida's act, even if symbolic, is ground-breaking because she led a prayer of men. In a video that surfaced of the Friday prayer led by her, all worshippers seen are men. Her act becomes revolutionary also for the fact that Muslim men  especially in the orthodox region of Malappuram  are willing to join a prayer led by a woman.

However, the common practice throughout the Islamic world remains that women do lead prayers when the worshippers are women. Shaista Amber  the president of All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board, an organisation working for Muslim women's rights  notes that many women in the family of Prophet Muhammad were great Islamic scholars and some even fought wars, but there are no instances of them leading daily prayers of men or funeral prayers. In an interview with Firstpost, Amber expressed the view that we must campaign for equal rights for women, but religious practices should not be made a mazaaq (joke).

In Islam, Sunni Muslims follow the principle of taqleed, which requires them to belong to follow one of the four schools of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) led by noted jurists Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Shafi'i, Imam Malik and Imam Hanbal. Even Shia Muslims follow this principle of taqleed, but to their own separate line of jurists based in Iran and Iraq.

Jamida is the general secretary of the Quran Sunnat Society, a religious organisation of the Ahle Hadith sect of Islam. This sect is unique in that it believes in the Quran and in only those hadiths (sayings and deeds of Prophet Muhammad) which concur with Quranic teachings. This sect also does not follow taqleed.

Amber notes that Imam Abu Hanifa had decreed that women could lead prayers, but we find no example by name where a woman led a prayer. Sultan Shahin, the editor of the reformist website Newageislam.com, told Firstpost: "As far as I know, there is no ban in Islam on women in leading prayers. I haven't seen any Islamic text that says women can't lead prayers." Since Islamic history is written by men, he says, it is possible that instances of women leading prayers might not have been recorded.

Shahin says that if some men from orthodox backgrounds feel sexual tension, they should not pray behind a female imam, but there is no harm in a woman leading a prayer if there are men willing to pray behind her.

Fundamentalists have, however, not taken well to Jamida's actions, and have since threatened to eliminate her for she "defiled the religion".

Irrespective of the Islamic doctrinal positions on this issue, the cause of liberty is itself a goal of civilisation in modern times.

When a woman wears jeans and skirts, she unsettles the orthodox mindset that does not want her to wear it; she strikes at the notions of power that push women to the back rows of life. When a girl uses a mobile phone, she challenges the control of men. When a Muslim woman becomes a qazi (jurist), she challenges the idea that only men can be learned. When a Muslim woman throws off her burqa, she claims her liberty.

Similarly, when Jamida leads an Islamic prayer, she proclaims gender equality, a necessary tenet of modern civilisation. In this debate, only Jamida's liberty matters; any argument that curbs her path to liberty must be rejected.

Tufail Ahmad is a senior fellow for Islamism and counter-radicalisation initiative at the Middle East Media Research Institute, Washington DC. He tweets @tufailelifJammu and Kashmir government may have ordered a magisterial enquiry into the killings of two youngsters in Shopian district on Saturday but everyone, including the government, knows such probes are merely an 'eyewash' meant to prolong the agony of victims and their families by setting up obstacles in their pursuit of justice.

A genius of our times, Albert Einstein astutely defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results." Jammu and Kashmir government may have ordered a magisterial enquiry into the killings of two youngsters in Shopian district on Saturday but everyone, including the government, knows such probes are merely an "eyewash" meant to prolong the agony of victims and their families by setting up obstacles in their pursuit of justice.

"There is nothing like magisterial enquiry. Our army enjoys impunity under AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir. They (army) have their own court lodge as many FIRs as you want police FIRs don't work (against army)," Ravinder Raina, a ruling BJP legislator told reporters on the sidelines of an army function in Nowshera."What army did was an act of self-defence, for the security of the nation and as per law it was extremely important and much needed army did the right thing," he added.

According to a senior official from Jammu and Kashmir government's home department, more than 400 judicial probes have been ordered by different state governments since the insurgency broke out in the region in early nineties. "These include cases where large number of people were killed in a single instance, like the 1993 Bijbehara killings," he said referring to the incident which fanned flames of secession in Kashmir.

On the afternoon of 22 October, 1993, soldiers of the Border Security Force (BSF) opened fire on protesters who had gathered in a public park in Bijbehara town to protest against the military siege of Hazratbal shrine. At least, 43 civilians were killed that day. The magisterial enquiry found the BSF personnel "committed offence out of vengeance and their barbarous act was deliberate and well planned", the report said, terming the firing as "unprovoked".

After a protracted legal battle which went all the way up to the Supreme Court, the case got a quiet burial. When the National Human Rights Commission recommended a parallel criminal prosecution based on the magisterial inquiry, the BSF set up roadblocks and the Centre finally turned down the NHRC plea in the apex court to provide information on the alleged court martial proceedings of the accused, in the name of national interest.

"All these probes are a farce and are announced only to pacify public anger and not to provide justice. In most cases, the government itself, instead of facilitating justice, becomes a roadblock, which puts a question mark on the credibility of government as well as the judicial system," Khurram Pervez, a prominent rights activist based in Srinagar, told Firstpost.

Khurram is also the convener of Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society. According to JKCCS, since 2003 close to 180 investigations have been ordered by the Jammu and Kashmir government with little or no justice for victims. "The enquiries serves the purpose of an official cover up. The outcome doesnt lead to prosecution of accused. Blaming the slain persons for their murder is the standard operating procedure of the government which leads to denial of justice," Khurram told Firstpost.

Civilian killings is not a new phenomenon in Kashmir. The worst year for the civilian population in Kashmir over these years of political turmoil has been 2002 when 1,008 deaths, almost three civilian killings per day, were recorded. Besides 1,707 militants, 453 security personnel were also killed in that year. Though not all killings have been probed via a magisterial inquiry, the result is nearly similar in both ways  denial of justice.

Given the dubious nature of such probes, it is highly unlikely that the two youngsters, who were shot dead by the Army's Garhwal unit in Shopian, will ever get justice. At most, they will become part of the statistics that inform the blood-soaked history of Kashmir.

When the rage of the 2010 uprising had not even subsided, Mehbooba Mufti, then the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, had taken out out a march from her party headquarters in Srinagar to the civil secretariat, "Kashmir has become a killing field, where every day bullets are fired and innocent people get killed. But there is no accountability in the government, nobody is being held responsible or punished for these incidents and only commissions are being ordered with no results till date," Mufti had said.

Today, as chief minister of the state who had promised to deliver justice for the victims of state high-handedness, Mehbooba is employing the same, worn-out measures, and, perhaps, expecting them to deliver different results. The least this government can do as a remedial measure is to stop mocking itself and the victims, do away with the practice of announcing 'magisterial probes' and save itself from further embarrassment. Wheres the Coverage? Arab Enrollment in Israeli Universities Grows 78% | Main | President of Bethlehem Bible College Expresses Thanks for Antisemitic Comment 

January 29, 2018

Civilian Bounties, Quartz, Haaretz & Lousy Translations

Quartz, which describes itself as "a digitally native news outlet, born in 2012, for business people in the new global economy. We publish bracingly creative and intelligent journalism with a broad worldview," today took heat on Twitter for inaccurate headline about a new recruitment plan for the inspectors at Israel's Population and Immigration Authority.

The erroneous Jan. 27 headline in question reads: "Israel will pay civilians $9000 to capture African immigrants."

But as Yair Rosenberg, a senior writer at Tablet, tweeted:

This is completely false. The Hebrew advertisement used as the source for this report is for hiring immigration and customs enforcement officers. Nothing to do with bounties for civilians. I guess the author of this can't read Hebrew, or is relying on readers not being able to.

Perhaps Quartz, with its broad worldview and apparent lack of Hebrew skills, relied on Haaretz's English edition for the story. Haaretz's English edition, whose masthead boasts that it is "Israel's leading daily newspaper," originally ran the following erroneous headline: "Israel to Pay $9,000 to Any Civilian Willing to Help Deport Asylum Seekers by Force" (Jan. 12).

Notably, the original headline in Haaretz's Hebrew edition was accurate. It did not falsely allege that civilians would be receiving bounties for rounding up asylum seekers. It states (CAMERA's translation): "The state recruits inspectors for the deportation of asylum seekers, offers 30,000 shekel bonus." (For more examples of "Haaretz, Lost in Translation," or instances when misinformation about Israel appears in Haaretz's English edition, but not the Hebrew edition, see here.)

The English edition's false headline remained in place until January 28, at which point editors commendably corrected it. The amended Haaretz headline now states: "Israel Recruiting Inspectors to Deport Asylum Seekers by Force, Promising $9,000 Bonus."

Haaretz editors commendably appended the following note to the bottom of the article alerting readers to the change:

Now will Quartz exercise its intelligent journalism to likewise correct its headline?



Last updated, 12:30 pm EST: Jerusalem Post , Quartz Correct False Headline About Bounty for Civilians Who Catch Asylum Seekers

Posted by TS at January 29, 2018 04:06 AM

Guidelines for posting

This is a moderated blog. We will not post comments that include racism, bigotry, threats, or factually inaccurate material.

Post a commentAccusing Karnataka of diverting the water of a Mahadayi tributary into the Malaprabha river basin, Goa Assembly's deputy Speaker Michael Lobo has said a resolution against it is likely during the Budget session

Panaji: Accusing Karnataka of diverting the water of a Mahadayi tributary into the Malaprabha river basin, Goa Assembly's deputy Speaker Michael Lobo has said a resolution against it is likely during the Budget session.

Lobo was speaking to reporters after visiting Kanakumbi in Karnataka with Speaker Pramod Sawant and two other Goa legislators on Sunday.

"There is a total diversion of water from Mahadayi tributary at Kanakumbi by Karnataka government by constructing underwater canals. Whatever water is flowing down to Goa from there is just seepage," the deputy speaker said, adding if the diversion was not stopped, the Mahadayi in Goa will run dry.

"We have to move a resolution in the coming Assembly session, opposing the diversion by Karnataka," he said, adding he would move the resolution after consulting the ruling BJP.

The Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal, which is hearing the dispute between Goa and Karnataka over the sharing of the river water, should be asked to inspect the site at Kanakumbi so that it knows the reality, he said.

The dam at Kanakumbi is one of the projects proposed by Karnataka and opposed by Goa. Lobo said the dispute cannot be resolved through dialogue. "Only the tribunal can provide solution. Whatever has played out in public is just politics," he said, referring to Karnataka's request for bilateral talksThe farmer, who had consumed poison at Maharashtra secretariat in Mumbai seeking adequate compensation for land, died at the JJ Hospital on Sunday night

Mumbai: The 84-year-old farmer, who had consumed a poisonous chemical at the Maharashtra secretariat in Mumbai on 22 January seeking adequate compensation for land, died at the JJ Hospital on Sunday night, police said.

The farmer, Dharma Patil, had consumed the chemical to protest low returns offered by state government while acquiring his land for a solar power plant.

He hailed from North Maharashtra.

"Patil's postmortem was conducted at the JJ Hospital. His body will be handed over to his family later," officials said.

Patil was rushed to a government hospital in south Mumbai after the suicide bid.

The farmer's family had claimed that he took the extreme step after several attempts to get appropriate compensation for his land did not yield any results.

The farmer's son Narendra Patil had told reporters that his father got only Rs four lakh compensation for his five acres of land.

The octogenarian had been visiting the state administrative headquarters for the last three months to complain about the inadequate compensation for his land, his son had said.

The Maharashtra government had offered an assistance of Rs 15 lakh to the farmer, but his son refused to accept it.

Meanwhile, Narendra Patil told reporters that the family members will not accept the body until the state government gives a written assurance granting a "martyred status" to the deceased and proper compensation for the five acre land.

Following the incident, the opposition Congress and NCP have blamed the government.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde said despite the farmer killing himself in Mantralaya, "the government did not feel like giving him

justice".

"Only this government is to be blamed for the farmer's death," the NCP leader said.

Munde's counterpart in the Assembly and Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said the farmer died due to "the government apathy and the anti-farmer policies".

"The government is yet to wake up even after thousands of farmers have ended their lives," Vikhe Patil said.The Mumbai civic body has set up a committee to inquire into the death of Rajesh Maru, a man who he allegedly got sucked into an MRI machine at a hospital.

Mumbai: The Mumbai civic body has set up a committee to inquire into the death of a man after he allegedly got sucked into an MRI machine and inhaled the liquid oxygen that leaked out of a cylinder he was carrying.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is also planning to issue stricter guidelines to all civic-run hospitals in view of the incident, an official said.

Authorities at the Nair Hospital, where the incident occurred, said they were cooperating with the police in its investigation.

Rajesh Maru (32) was killed on Saturday evening when he was yanked into the jaws of the MRI machine and inhaled the gas that leaked out of the container, his family said. Maru was carrying an oxygen cylinder when he went into the MRI room.

The police, however, said Maru was killed when he inhaled excessive oxygen that oozed out of the cylinder when he entered the MRI room with a relative, who was there to undergo the scan.

A senior official of the civic-run Nair Hospital in Central Mumbai on Monday said the BMC has set up a panel to inquire into the incident. "The BMC administration has set up a committee, headed by deputy municipal commissioner. The inquiry report is expected by next Monday," the official said.

He said the BMC will issue stricter orders for hospital staff for handling MRI machines.

Nair Hospital's dean, Dr Ramesh Bharmal, said, "It is a tragic incident and we will cooperate with police officials. We cannot make any comments on how the incident occurred as it is under investigation."

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners use strong magnetic fields, electric field gradients, and radio waves to generate images of organs in the body. Metallic objects are not allowed in MRI rooms.

As regards the Nair Hospital incident, the patient's family members said they were made to remove all such items, including mobile phone handsets, before going inside. They claimed the ward boy said the oxygen cylinder could be carried in the room as the machine was not switched on.

A relative of the victim said 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.

However, a police official said the victim, as directed by the doctor, took the patient to the MRI room for the scan. There, an oxygen cylinder leaked.

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.

The police booked three staffers of Nair Hospital for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and arrested a doctor and a ward boy.Questioning ordering of a magisterial inquiry as well as registration of an FIR against army personnel in the Shopian incident, Abdullah said confusing signals are being sent out.

Jammu: National Conference working president Omar Abdullah on Monday assured his party's full support to the PDP-BJP government in putting an end to violence and bloodshed in Jammu and Kashmir and suggested an all-party meet to discuss the prevailing law-and-order situation.

At a discussion in the Assembly over death of two civilians in an alleged firing by security forces in Shopian district on Saturday, he said, "We have to come together in this House so that a strong message is sent outside that there is enough of bloodshed and we have to stop it."

"Make an attempt, because you (CM Mehbooba Mufti) are the leader of the House. I assure you that whatever you require in terms of support from us that we are able to end this cycle of bloodshed and violence, the NC will support any step you take so that we can put an end to having to intervene like this," Abdullah said.

Suggesting an all-party meeting to discuss the prevailing law-and-order situation, the NC legislative party leader said, "Either you sit somewhere (with your coalition partner) or call us as well... we have to stop this cycle (of bloodshed and violence)."

"I want to convey my assurance on behalf of my party and if you have any step in your mind, we are ready to join you and walk with you with a purpose that killing of innocents is put to an end," Abdullah said.

He said, "Today's discussion is not meant to point fingers at each other... politics is not from our side but politics is being played within the coalition. Please leave such politics as we do not want to play politics and you should not do it as well."

Questioning ordering of a magisterial inquiry as well as registration of an FIR against army personnel in the Shopian incident, Abdullah said confusing signals are being sent out.

"On one hand, magisterial inquiry was ordered and simultaneously, an FIR was lodged against the army in which a Major and some personnel were named," he said, adding if the FIR had been lodged against unknown persons, the importance of magisterial inquiry would have remained intact.

"If we know in advance the people involved and a case of murder and attempt to murder is registered, then what is the need for magisterial inquiry," Abdullah asked.

If the government is sure about the personnel, then let the police take a call as the FIR becomes the primary document, he said and asserted that two precious lives have been lost and they must be given justice.

"Today, there is no weakness in the central government. Your government has no problem. I have held this (CM's) chair as well and probably, you have much more regret over such killings than us," he said, adding, "We need to take such steps which will ensure an end to such things."

Referring to the Machil incident, the former chief minister said, "Accountability, which we want to bring in the process, was being reversed slowly."

In July last year, an armed forces tribunal suspended the life sentence given to five army personnel by a court martial for allegedly staging the killing of three Kashmiri men on the intervening night of 29 and 30 April in 2010 in Macchil sector in Jammu and Kashmir had triggered wide-spread outrage and violence in the state.

"Take the example of Machil, the court martial awarded sentence to the guilty after legally recognised process and later it was given a reverse gear," he said.

This has led to a sense of impunity that "whatever we do, if found guilty, we will not be punished," the NC working president alleged.

"Those who were killed (in Shopian) were not hit in the leg and died of excessive bleedings, they were shot in the upper parts and there was no attempt to stop people," he alleged.P Chidambaram's comments were in poor taste He ought to withdraw them immediately, and without reservation.

"Even selling pakodas is a 'job' said prime minister. 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," tweeted former Union minister P Chidambaram on Sunday.

When he was called out on it, Chidambaram clarified his remarks thus:

1. A young man who sells pakodas is honourably self-employed, but poor and aspirational. Ask him and he will tell you that he aspires for a regular and secure job. I empathise with him.  P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 29, 2018

What is a "regular and secure job"? Why has that been the gold standard for India over the past 70 odd years? Comparing a self-employed individual to a beggar and then saying that person ought to aspire for "regular and secure" employment betrays a sense of classism which comes with being a part of the Indian middle class. And it implies that being self-employed isn't something worth aspiring to.

A vendor who sells pakodas and makes Rs 200 a day earns around what someone would make under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

In fact, that's more than what some people employed under MGNREGA make in some states. If those people can be considered employed, then why not the pakoda vendor?

And why did it even occur to the former finance minister to compare such an individual to a beggar? Such a person is providing a service to society, making an honest living and not asking for a handout from a welfare scheme.

On the contrary, this question must be considered: Why is there no social security net for him and millions of others like him? There is no Provident Fund for the self-employed, nor is there a state insurance corporation. Most labour welfare legislation of the past 70 years has been implemented for people with "regular and secure" jobs.

Which is a problem because this country was built on the back of self-employed people like the pakoda vendor, who the former finance minister callously dismissed. Indian society doesn't value small business and doesn't give it the respect it deserves. Society is more than happy to encourage people to work for business, but not to start one. The pakoda vendor is exactly that: A small business owner. The focus should not be on stopping him from selling pakodas, but helping him grow. Helping him expand.

India is a nation of more than a billion people. It cannot grow simply by having a large salaried class. Its growth needs to be driven by the self-employed. Think of it this way: A newly-minted MBA graduate is employed by an fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) manufacturer tomorrow. The new MBA's paycheque is ultimately supported by the shopkeeper who risks stocking the product of that company. If manufacturing jobs are created, they will depend on small dealerships who risk selling the manufactured products. If India is to build a service economy, its foundation will be independent marketing agents who provide these services on commission.

Taxi drivers, shop keepers, plumbers, masons, carpenters, electricians, traders, vegetable vendors and other small business owners are the backbone of the economy. They are the last mile for businesses which manage to keep so much of the middle classes in so-called "regular and secure" employment. If it weren't for people like the pakoda vendor who go out and take a risk, India's economy would collapse.

But, for the middle and upper class  which the former Union minister belongs to  the idea that a pakoda vendor or even a chaiwalla can have the same dignity as someone in "regular and secure" employment remains unfathomable. The fact that someone who doesn't wear a collar to work can say that they are also an employed person and live without a government handout is an alien concept. This is because the idea of a great society is utterly lost on them.

A great society is not one where a pakoda vendor stops selling pakodas, but one where he makes enough money to send his children to the same school as someone working in an IT company. Where he can live in the same building and dine at the same hotels and restaurants. That's the society India needs to be working towards. Not one which claims the poor want to be tied to the welfare pipe of the government or private enterprise.

The poor also have the right to an independent livelihood. To be free to set their own work hours and cut an honest living. The focus should be on providing the pakoda vendor support to grow, providing a safety net in case things go wrong, making healthcare available and affordable and a pension for old age. Bridging the gap in welfare legislation between those employed in "regular" jobs and the self-employed.

The small business owner also has the right to be treated with the same dignity as someone who works in a big office building. The big office building would not exist without small business owners. The taxi aggregators would not exist without drivers. Food delivery companies would go by the wayside without delivery personnel. Start-ups wouldn't exist without risk-taking entrepreneurs.

The pakoda vendor is not a beggar. Not even close. He doesn't live on a handout, nor does he seek one. He's a man making an honest living. People need to eat. He provides them with food in exchange for money. He is the salt of the earth. To compare him to a beggar and state that those with "regular" jobs are qualitatively better than him grossly undervalues the contribution small business owners like him make to India day in and day out and betrays the classism inherent in the socialist approach to the economy.

P Chidambaram's comments were in poor taste He ought to withdraw them immediately, and without reservation.The Delhi High Court on Monday sought to know from the AAP government and the police measures they have taken on a plea seeking a ban on loudspeakers atop religious structures in the national capital.

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday sought to know from the AAP government and the police measures they have taken on a plea seeking a ban on loudspeakers atop religious structures in the national capital.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar also directed the Delhi Police to place before it the standing order, that they have claimed to have issued, with regard to usage of loudspeaker at religious places.

It further directed the state government and the police to positively file an affidavit before it on the next date of hearing, 18 April, explaining steps they have taken to publicise the order.

The bench further said publicity is important as people have to know norms and consequences in case of violation.

The court was hearing a PIL, filed by an activist Sanjjiiv Kkumaar, which said banning of loudspeakers will not violate Article 25 or 26 (Articles on Freedom of Religion) of the Constitution.

The plea said loudspeakers were never part of any religion as the instrument came into existence only in 1924.

He also claimed in his plea that loudspeakers were never part of any religion whether Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism or Zoroastrianism.

The petition also said the use of loudspeakers takes away the right of the citizens to speak with others, their right to read or think or the right to sleep.

The plea has sought directions to the authorities to remove loudspeakers atop any religious structures, saying they violated citizens' rights including those of minors and elderly people.A 50-year-old deputy superintendent of police (DSP) in Punjab committed suicide by allegedly shooting himself with his licensed weapon during a students' protest at Jaitu in Faridkot

Faridkot: A 50-year-old DSP in Punjab on Monday allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service revolver during a students' protest, with police claiming that he took the extreme step as he was "hurt" over the agitators questioning his integrity.

The bullet, which pierced through Baljinder Singh Sandhu's head, hit his gunman in the eye, injuring him critically, Faridkot SSP Nanak Singh said.

The incident occurred when a group of students were staging a 'dharna' at a college campus, protesting against the alleged thrashing of a couple of students a few days back and "police strictness" in the area.

They were also demanding action against the SHO.

When the DSP reached at the spot to pacify the protesters, some of them questioned the "integrity" of the officer, alleging that he was "favouring" the other group of students who were not in favour of the protest, the SSP said.

"A group of protesting students questioned the integrity of the DSP. He took it upon himself and pointed his weapon towards his head and fired a shot," he said.

A purported video clip of the entire incident has also gone viral.

Sandhu was rushed to Guru Gobind Singh Medical Hospital in Faridkot where he was declared brought dead. The SSP said a case of suicide was registered.

The DSP, who belonged to Patiala, is survived by his wife and 21-year-old son.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh termed the incident as unfortunate and assured that a thorough probe will be carried out.Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has asked the Modi government to take the nation into confidence over relations with China and Pakistan, saying 'major differences' existed between the opposition and the ruling dispensation on foreign policy issues

Jaipur: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has asked the Modi government to take the nation into confidence over relations with China and Pakistan, saying "major differences" existed between the opposition and the ruling dispensation on foreign policy issues.

The 61-year-old MP from Thiruvananthapuram said the government was not being honest to the people about India's relations with China.

"We are increasingly convinced that the government is not telling the truth to the people. Doka La has been spun by the government as a diplomatic victory and from the information that is available in the public domain, it does seem a matter of concern," he said at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival on Sunday.

"We are seeing evidence of reinforced Chinese positions 200 metres from where they had disengaged," Tharoor said.

Indian and Chinese troops had been locked in a stand-off for over two months last year in the Doka La area near Sikkim before "disengaging" on 28 August last year.

"Tell us what is going on. We are asking to give us a coherent approach. We are united with you in national interests. Take us along, Take us into confidence. Don't play a game of smoke and mirrors with the nation," the former Union minister said.

He also accused the government of having an incoherent foreign policy with respect to Pakistan.

Tharoor slammed the government for going back and forth on its policy on Pakistan.

"You can't have a saree-shawl diplomacy one day, artillery diplomacy next, then ignoring each other in Kathmandu the third day. Calling talks in Delhi and then cancelling them, then having talks in Bangkok, then meeting in Ufah and issuing a circular," Tharoor said.

"They should take (the) nation into confidence," Tharoor said, adding that the government should make its stand clear.

Tharoor said there was more consensus on foreign policy-related issues in the past between the government and the opposition, but now there were major differences.

"On foreign policy there always was much more consensus in the past. The nature of that consensus was that we have our political difference but they stop at the water's edge. We don't take them abroad," he said.

"There was very much peace with the idea that we are one when it comes to talking to the outside world and on national issues, there are no political differences."

"Today there are major differences. On most foreign policy issues we try to have a united front. On Pakistan issue, for example, we are extremely concerned at the lack of coherence in the policy," he said.

Tharoor said that earlier the opposition knew about what the prime minister was saying and doing and chalked out a strategy based on that, but now the parties are not taken into confidence.

"Whether you like it or not, you knew what Manmohan Singh was doing and saying...Suddenly, we have a prime minister who seems to have gone back on...when he was in opposition. This is one area where there is a huge difference. Their policy keeps changing," he said.The National Conference (NC) on Monday demanded the arrest of soldiers named in an FIR in the killing of two civilians in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, while the ruling BJP demanded withdrawal of the FIR.

Jammu: The National Conference (NC) on Monday demanded the arrest of soldiers named in an FIR in the killing of two civilians in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, while the ruling BJP demanded withdrawal of the FIR.

"Politics apart, this cycle of killings must end. We all have to end this bloodshed," former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said in the state Assembly.

"As per news reports soldiers, including a Major, have been named in the FIR.

"Bullets have been fired at chest height, which means the forces were not controlling the situation, but only firing," he said, and added, "What was the purpose of ordering a magisterial probe if the police have already lodged an FIR into the incident."

Earlier, senior National Conference leader, Ali Muhammad Sagar demanded the arrest of the soldiers named in the FIR lodged in the killing of two civilians, Javaid Ahmad and Suhail Ahmad, in Ganowpora village on Saturday.

The incident had occurred when a stone pelting mob had attacked an administrative convoy of the army.

On the other hand, ruling BJP legislator, RS Pathania demanded withdrawal of the FIR lodged against the army personnel.

Pathania demanded that a fresh FIR be lodged in the incident without naming any army personnel.

The BJP legislator said "serious charges" had been levelled against the army in the FIR which appeared that it had been "done under pressure".The Bombay High Court on Monday asked the CBI to submit a chart giving names of police officers whose discharge from the Sohrabuddin Shaikh encounter case has been challenged, and the roles ascribed to them in the charge sheet.

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday asked the CBI to submit a chart giving names of police officers whose discharge from the Sohrabuddin Shaikh encounter case has been challenged, and the roles ascribed to them in the charge sheet.

Justice Revati Mohite-Dere also said that she would hear the petitions filed by Shaikh's brother Rubabuddin Shaikh and the Central Bureau of Investigation challenging the discharge of some of the accused on a daily basis.

"Give a chart...containing the names of those whose discharge has been challenged, the charges and sections imposed by the CBI (against them) in the charge sheet," the judge said.

The hearing will begin from 9 February.

Rubabuddin has filed revision applications challenging the trial court orders between August 2016 and August 2017 discharging IPS officers DG Vanzara (retired), Rajkumar Pandiyan, and Dinesh MN from the case.

The trial court discharged 15 of the 38 people named by the CBI in its charge sheet during this period. Those discharged also included IPS officer NK Amin, several Gujarat police officials and BJP president Amit Shah.

The central agency has, however, only challenged the discharge of Amin and police constable Dalpat Singh Rathod. The special CBI court in Mumbai had discharged the police officials on the ground that the CBI failed to get a prior sanction to prosecute them.

At an earlier hearing, the high court had asked whether the mere lack of prior sanction was enough to discharge them.

Justice Mohite-Dere had also asked why the CBI did not challenge the discharge of senior IPS officials in the case. Today, as the CBI lawyer sought adjournment for three weeks, the high court asked why the agency was not keen on expeditious hearing, as the trial has already started.

Shaikh's lawyer also informed the court that several witnesses have turned hostile. "The trial began on 28 November, so shouldn't you be more anxious to ensure that the discharge pleas are heard soon? Why are you not more anxious?" Justice Mohite-Dere asked.

Sohrabuddin Shaikh, a gangster with alleged terror links, and his wife Kausar Bi were allegedly abducted by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). Shaikh was killed in an alleged fake encounter near Gandhinagar in November 2005, after which his wife disappeared.

Tulsiram Prajapati, Shaikh's aide and an eyewitness to the 'fake' encounter, was allegedly killed by Gujarat police in December 2006.

Vanzara, who was heading the ATS then, and some other senior police officials were charged by the CBI for conspiring to kill Shaikh and others in fake encounters.

Of the 40 witnesses examined by the special court in Mumbai, 32 have turned hostile.The DMK-led Opposition on Monday held protests across Tamil Nadu to demand a full rollback of the recent bus fare hike, with police detaining DMK's MK Stalin and MDMK's Vaiko for blocking roads in the capital.

Chennai: The DMK-led Opposition on Monday held protests across Tamil Nadu to demand a full rollback of the recent bus fare hike, with police detaining DMK's MK Stalin and MDMK's Vaiko for blocking roads in the capital.

Those that participated in the protests included the Congress, the Left parties, DMDK and VCK.

Stalin, DMK working president and leader of Opposition in the Assembly, was detained at Kolathur along with scores of party workers and other Opposition party members, including from the Congress, police said.

MDMK founder Vaiko and VCK founder Thol Thirumavalavan were detained with DMK workers at Saidapet when they staged protests demanding immediate rollback of the hike effected on 19 January.

Warning of protests intensifying, Stalin said the government's move to marginally reduce the fares was an "eye wash".

"These protests will not end today... If the government does not withdraw the hike, our protests will intensify," he told reporters later.

The Tamil Nadu government had on Sunday revised bus fares marginally, following protests by Opposition parties and the public, especially students, over the recent "steep" hike.

The reduction of fares was between two paise to 10 paise per kilometre for various categories of buses and routes such as city, districts, express and ordinary services, a government release said.

In Chennai city, bus fares have been cut by Re 1 across various stages. The minimum fare would now be Rs 4 and the maximum Rs 18.

The revision will come into effect from today. The state government had on 19 January hiked ticket prices of buses operated by transport corporations by about 20 to 54.54 percent, drawing criticism from all.

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 4 January after talks with the state government on wage revision failed.

While the unions demanded that salaries be hiked 2.57 times, the government offered only 2.44, resulting in a stalemate.

The workers had withdrawn their eight-day strike on 11 January after the Madras High Court appointed an arbitrator to settle their wage-related dispute with the government.More than 7,000 workers of various political parties, led by the DMK, were taken into custody on Monday for attempting to stage road roko on Monday.

Coimbatore/Erode: More than 7,000 workers of various political parties, led by the DMK, were taken into custody on Monday for attempting to stage road roko in various districts, demanding a rollback of the recent bus fare hike.

Besides DMK, activists of the Congress, the Left parties, DMDK and VCK, staged protests in Erode, Cuddalore Erode, Thanjavur, Coimbatore, Tirupur and Nilgiris districts.

In Coimbatore, DMK MLA N Karthik, former minister Pongalur N Palanisamy and district leaders of CPI, VCK, MDMK Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi participated in the protests.

As the workers attempted to squat in the middle of the road, police arrested over 1,000 persons, it said. Similarly, over 1,000 workers were arrested in nearby Tirupur and around 500 in the Nilgiris districts.

Over 5,000 activists were taken into custody in various parts of Erode district when they attempted to stag road roko. Buses were plying normally, the police said.

Former union ministers TR Baalu an SS Palanimanikkam participated in the protests at Thanjavur, where 192 activists were taken into custody.

More than 450 workers of various parties were taken into custody at Cuddalore.A severed head of a man was found in Telangana's Nalgonda town on Monday, police said.

Hyderabad: A severed head of a man was found in Telangana's Nalgonda town on Monday, police said.

The decapitated head was kept on the wall of a roadside religious structure in Bottuguda area of the town. Shocked residents informed police after spotting the head.

Police identified the man as 25-year-old P Ramesh and launched a hunt for the torso. Sniffer dogs were also pressed into service to identify the killers.

Ramesh, a tractor driver, was brutally murdered by unidentified persons after he left his home on Sunday night to buy medicines.

A police officer said they were probing the case from all angles. The owner of the tractor was also being questioned.

This is the second murder in the town in less than a week.

B Srinivas, the husband of Nalgonda municipal chairperson B Lakshmi, was murdered with boulders by few people during a quarrel on the night of 24 January.

Police have arrested eight persons in connection with the murder.British prime minister Theresa May on Monday convened what is being branded a 'war cabinet' meeting as a fresh round of infighting within the ruling Conservative party over Brexit threatened to escalate into a full-blown rebellion.

London: British prime minister Theresa May on Monday convened what is being branded a "war cabinet" meeting as a fresh round of infighting within the ruling Conservative party over Brexit threatened to escalate into a full-blown rebellion.

Tories are believed to be preparing to sign letters demanding a vote of no confidence in May's authority, to try and take the total closer to the 48 MPs required to trigger a leadership contest. The prime minister is hoping to impose order at the meeting of the Brexit sub-committee, charged with mapping out the way forward in negotiations with the European Union (EU).

MPs on either side of the divide over a so-called hard Brexit, which foresees the UK leaving the EU by breaking all past links with the economic bloc, have been clashing against each other on May's leadership.

Former education secretary Nicky Morgan said the Cabinet had a "duty" to seize control of the debate if the British prime minister fails to provide "big and bold" vision for leaving the EU. While another former minister, Justine Greeningwho May sacked as education secretary earlier this monthspoke out in her defence.

"I remain a strong backer of the prime minister. I've been very disappointed to see the soundings off. I think they need to stop and I think people need to get behind her," she said.

Downing Street was also forced to respond to critics, claiming that May was "grasping the many opportunities" of Brexit well.

Earlier on Monday, Conservative MP Johnny Mercer claimed the "window is closing" for May to meet the challenges of leadership.

"How long has the prime minister got? I am of the view that any sort of change in leadership is not helpful at the moment and I dont support that, but I do think the window is closing because politics can be quite a brutal game," he said.

The infighting has intensified as more and more pro-Brexit MPs want UK Chancellor Philip Hammond to be sacked by the prime minister over his call for an ultra-soft Brexit.

Downing Street has dismissed calls for his sacking, as the Brexit debate gets focused on the so-called transition period planned for immediately after March 29, 2019  the official date of Britains exit from the union.

Eurosceptics MPs in the Conservative party warn that the UK will stay in the EU "in all but name" during this transition period.A businessman, kidnapped from the Patel Nagar area in Ghaziabad, was rescued by police from the clutches of his kidnappers, one of whom claimed himself to be an IAF personnel, an official said on Sunday.

Ghaziabad: A businessman, kidnapped from the Patel Nagar area in Ghaziabad, was rescued by police from the clutches of his kidnappers, one of whom claimed himself to be an IAF personnel, an official said on Sunday.

The accused were arrested from Haridwar following an encounter on Saturday, the official said.

Anil Arora was kidnapped on Thursday evening when he was returning home from his factory. A ransom call demanding Rs 2 crore was made to his family, police said.

The accused were identified as Mohsin, from Masuri town of Ghaziabad, Rashid, from Meerut, and Pradeep, from Jind.

Pradeep told police that he was working with the Indian Air Force and had a lot of debt which was the reason why the kidnap was planned, officials said.

The accused, one of whom was an acquaintance of Arora, would be brought here once the police gets their transit remand, Senior Superintendent of Police HN Singh said.

Arora said in his complaint that he was kidnapped at gunpoint, shoved in a car and sedated by the accused, he said.

Acting upon the ransom call details, four police teams reached Jawalapur town of Haridwar, tracked down the car using electronic surveillance and tried to intercept the vehicle on the Delhi-Haridwar highway, near Jawalapur, Singh added.

However, instead of giving up, the kidnappers drove into the city and were finally cordoned off by the police at about 5pm, he said, adding that the accused then opened fire on the police party, who returned fire.

Two of the accused sustained bullet injuries in their legs in the encounter, the SSP said.

There kidnappers targeted Arora as they saw him as a soft target and affluent enough to pay the ransom, the officer said, adding weapons and the vehicle used in the crime were recovered.As many as 112 people were arrested and security forces personnel intensified vigil in the strife-torn Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh where the situation remained tense

Kasganj (Uttar Pradesh): As many as 112 people were arrested and security forces personnel intensified vigil in the 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.

In the evening, the Uttar Pradesh Police said the situation was headed towards normalcy. They also said 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 the Uttar Pradesh 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 DG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar told PTI.

"The Inspector-General, Aligarh has ordered the setting up of a special investigation team which will go through all evidence and objectively probe the case," the ADG (Law and Order) said.

Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar also said that normalcy was being restored in the city.

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.

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.

"26 January 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 (Sunday), there was no worrisome incident," he said.

The DGP said stringent action would be taken against the guilty.

"So far more than 80 people have been arrested. House-to-house searches are going on. During the searches explosives were found. The National Security Act (NSA) will be slapped on criminals for vitiating the atmosphere," he said earlier in the day.

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.

Divisional Commissioner, Aligarh, 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 who indulge in these acts will be punished and along with their conspirators," he said.

Meanwhile, the opposition BSP and Samajwadi Party 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 Uttar Pradesh, 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 Uttar Pradesh, there's 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.After S Jaishankar's retirement, Vijay Gokhale on Monday took office as the new Foreign Secretary of India.

After S Jaishankar's retirement, Vijay Gokhale on Monday took office as the new Foreign Secretary of India. Gokhale, 1981-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, who was Secretary (Economic Relations) is currently the senior-most officer in the diplomatic service. Gokhale will serve a two-year tenure until January 2020.

An early morning start! Shri Vijay Gokhale, an Indian Foreign Service Officer of the 1981 batch, took over as Foreign Secretary of India today morning. He was Secretary (ER) at the Ministry before taking up his present assignment. Profile at https://t.co/WRXKcIYJKj pic.twitter.com/Alox9OvQEp  Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 29, 2018

The 1981-batch IFS officer, considered an expert on China, had played a key role in negotiations to resolve the 73-day-long standoff at Doka La between Indian and Chinese armies in 2017.

As the next head of India's diplomatic corp, Gokhale has his own set of challenges to deal with.

According to a Livemint report, Gokhale's first assignment as foreign secretary will be to prepare the ground for the visit of King Abdullah II of Jordan as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's path-breaking trip to Palestine, Oman and the UAE.

Handling China

Gokhale, who has served as the Joint Secretary and Director of East Asia and China division, is expected to deal with a rising China. Moreover, Gokhale along with the Indian Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale, are in the forefront of bringing a fundamental change in India's policy towards its eastern neighbour.

News18 noted that Gokhale, as a veteran diplomat, understands that Doka La won't be an "isolated incident."

However, he would have to take India's ties with China further despite the border dispute and the conflicting interests at the world stage.

According to a report in The Hindu, Gokhale will also have to repair the perception that India is losing out to China in terms of political influence in South Asia.

South China Sea and ASEAN

Like the Doka La standoff, China's military buildup in the strategically crucial South China Sea threatens countries in the region  most of whom are ASEAN members.

With an eye to keep China in check, Gokhale, with his expertise in East Asia, would also have to boost ties with Japan, which is already a part of an anti-China Quad.

India's relationship with ASEAN countries, whose leaders were recently part of the Republic Day celebrations in India, will be of paramount importance in the coming two years.

As noted by this Firstpost article, ASEAN is also emerging as India's answer to tackling China.

"ASEAN countries are increasingly looking to India to help ensure smooth access to vital sea routes while degrading the vulnerability quotient inherent in the face of Chinas aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea. As Vietnam and Philippines are grappling to secure some disputed areas from Chinas encroachment, ASEAN would like India to focus more on enhancing connectivity and development of sea lanes," the article noted.

Pakistan remains a sore point

Pakistan will continue to be a major problem area for the new foreign secretary, say media reports. The reasons for it are many  like India's lack of high-level engagement with Pakistan since 2016, owing to a trust deficit to Donald Trump's tweet condemning the continued sanctuary to terrorism.

According to News18, if Pakistan continues to back Taliban in the aftermath of the 1 January tweet, it would be a major security nightmare for India and the neighbourhood.

Neighbourhood is in a mess

As noted by this Hindustan Times report, Modi's neighbourhood policy has been in a state of flux. This is despite the government's policy of "neighbourhood first."

While the report noted that ties with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are stale while the Maldives  which Modi has not yet visited  and Nepal have been badly affected due to the rising Chinese influence. Moreover, SAARC has been in suspended animation ever since India conducted surgical strikes against terror launchpads across the LoC.

With inputs from PTISeasoned diplomat Vijay Keshav Gokhale, who played a key role in resolving the Doka La standoff with China, will take charge as the next foreign secretary on Monday

New Delhi: Seasoned diplomat Vijay Keshav Gokhale, who played a key role in resolving the Doka La standoff with China, will take charge as the next foreign secretary on Monday, 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 on Monday, a senior MEA official said.

Gokhale, considered an expert on China, had played a key role in negotiations to resolve the 73-day-long Doka La standoff between Indian and Chinese armies in 2017.

He was India's Ambassador to China from 20 January, 2016 to 21 October, 2017, before moving back to the MEA headquarters in New Delhi.

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 earlier.

He has held the posts of director (China and East Asia) and then joint secretary (East Asia) in the MEA.

Earlier in January, 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 2017.At least 32 persons were killed and seven others injured in West Bengal when a bus plunged into the Ghogra Canal after breaking the railing of a bridge in Murshidabad district

Baharampur (West Bengal): At least 32 persons were killed and seven others injured when a bus plunged into the Ghogra Canal after breaking the railing of a bridge in Murshidabad district on Monday, police said.

The incident triggered protests with locals alleging delay in the arrival of police and attacking the force. They also torched a police vehicle.

Locals also damaged a fire tender when the fire brigade personnel reached the spot to douse the fire in the police vehicle. Police used batons to disperse the mob.

Giving details of the accident, police said, two bodies including that of a woman were found floating in the canal while two others succumbed in the hospital.

Seven injured persons were rescued and admitted to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital in Baharampur.

The accident occurred at Balirghat under Daulatabad Police Station area at around 6 am.

The bus was going from Shikarpur in Nadia district to Malda.

Locals claimed that around 50-60 passengers were in the bus. There was, however, no official confirmation of the number of passengers travelling in the bus.

The bus was found deep inside the canal at around noon and efforts are on to pull it out, official sources said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in Kolkata that she was rushing to the accident site.

Banerjee said all efforts were being made to rescue passengers.

She announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the family of those killed in the accident, while Rs one lakh would be provided to those seriously injured.

Rs 50,000 would be given to the other injured persons, she said.

The district magistrate, senior police officers including the superintendent of police were at the spot to oversee the rescue operation.Day 4 of the Jaipur Literature Festival had an insightful session about sea-birds, an impromptu session by Mallika Dua and Shashi Tharoor speaking in Hindi | #FirstCulture

Day four of the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival 2018 began with a rather generic, but at times a passive-aggressive conversation between Arun Maira, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Surjit S Bhalla and John Elliott (who was moderating). The topics of discussion revolved mostly around wealth creation, education, women empowerment and the practicality of data-driven reports in a country like India.

Bhalla, the author of The New Wealth of Nations, argued that developing countries have seen incredible growth in the past few decades (in terms of wealth generation, poverty reduction, women empowerment, among other things), all thanks to a boost to education.

Mazumdar-Shaw, on the other hand, asserted that education in isolation does not create growth. She argued that real education promotes innovations and research, and India is one of the worst performers among the developing or developed countries, if it is assessed from that perspective. She also talked about what she considers a flawed concept: of taking grants away from established centres of learning (like Bangalore, Pune or Hyderabad) by the government and investing in establishing newer institutions, leaving the already progressing centres to the mercy of private investmentors.

She also spoke about the need for a revamped education system in the country, driven by the Internet and technology at poor peoples disposal. Talking about women empowerment, she said there is a need for more women in the mainstream, which can be achieved not just by education, but with a change in societal outlook.

Bhalla responded by saying that students not learning much despite going to school is a natural phenomenon in development  a stage of evolution. Part of the problem, he claimed, is reservation or the quota system in the country. He insisted that all his opinions were backed by data, and the message that his book delivers is not elitist, that there has been a rise of a new elite in India, as a result of education.

Meanwhile, Maira said that one cannot just rely on numbers or draw conclusions. He was also of the view that many students have been enrolled into schools but are not learning much of value; that the focus should shift from quantity to quality, and the way to do this is that people must demand change. He said he believed that we have indeed opened up to the idea of education, but many people, especially women, are not yet receiving any benefits.

After some meandering across the venue during the lunch, I decided to attend Adam Nicolsons The Seabird's Cry session, which was about to start in about half an hour. It was to be an impromptu session, replacing Prasoon Joshis Main aur Woh: Conversations with Myself, after the lyricist, screenwriter, poet, marketer, but most importantly in this context, the Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification, pulled out of the festival following threats of vandalism from the Karni Sena. Its sad that we are not relying on genuine, peaceful dialogue, he had said earlier in a statement about his decision to skip the festival.

As I said, there was still some time for the session to start, but as I got to the venue  Front Lawns, which was a disaster-waiting-to-happen  Shashi Tharoor was having a lunch session in front of a sea of bodies, all crammed together there after a change in the venue. The crowd was even more rapturous than usual, the reason  Tharoor was bashing the British in Hindi. It was difficult to hear everything from so far back, but whatever he was saying drew an ecstatic response. Utter madness.

Multitasking, I was also working on taking in the atmosphere immediately around me. Someone talking on the phone said, Mahaul achha hai. Dost log hai. Tu bhi aaja, (The atmosphere is great. Friends are here. You too, should drop by) which pretty much summed up the festival for at least a decent percentage of the weekend crowd. And there was this other guy, on the phone with his father, screaming that he had passed some examination and demanding that the father pass on the phone to his mother. All this while a girl fanatically and embarrassingly tried to calm him down, not that his reactions were in any way out of place here. Not entirely sure what was up with that dad though, took him a good ten minutes and dozens of requests from the boy to finally pass on the phone. But I get sidetracked, back to the festival.

The Tharoor session got over and the bodies left the venue, leaving behind, literally, a cloud of dust. Once seated (only the third time in four days), there were constant announcements regarding the Joshi session being cancelled and the new session one taking its place. But people wouldnt budge. Either no one paid any attention to all the announcements or just really didn't care (although I should mention here that the announcements were only made in English).

Once the session began though, a large number of people left, only to be replaced by people waiting there for the next session featuring Mallika Dua. I wonder how the goings-on looked from Nicolsons perspective on the stage.

But he did look like a decent chap (his book, Sea Room: An Island Life in the Hebrides, had caught my eye early on) and indeed captured most of the crowds attention with his fascinating talk (accompanied with some incredible photographs, videos and narrative) on seabirds and their catastrophic decline.

He touched upon how birds play a role in our imagination with their sense of otherness, emblematic of a fuller, stranger part of our minds. But perhaps, most importantly, because they can fly.

Nicolson talked about first becoming familiar with the birds on the Hebrides (let Ewan McGregor introduce you to the islands here), where his dad bought an island for 1200 back in the day. Although populated and visited by a number of species, perhaps the most famous and photogenic are the puffins (Porgs, the Star Wars creatures, exist because of them)  small, with a gentleman-like gait and a dangerously undying love for the colour orange.

The author also talked about a few more species, including the impressive albatross, and discussed some research aimed at understanding their traits and behaviours. Coming back to the topic of endangerment to the lives of the seabirds, Nicolson explained how plastic, dumped into the oceans, is one of the biggest contributing factors in the massive decline of birds over the past decade or so. The need for a change, it seemed, is more urgent than most realise.

The next hour was spent standing as a backup (in case something went wrong) and being of no use for an interview featuring Soha Ali Khan and Sharmila Tagore. Although, as someone would point out later, Tagore was as rude as feared behind the scenes.

The final session I attended was The Feminine Gaze: Women Writing Memoir, featuring a pretty incredible lineup of Abeer Y Hoque, Alia Malek, Amy Tan and Juliet Nicolson, in conversation with Keggie Carew.

The session kicked off with a little disagreement over its title but soon evolved into an insightful interrogation of some of the most personal and, at times, troubling moments in ones life.

Malek talked about her book, The Home That Was Our Country: A Memoir of Syria, and how it's not a conventional memoir, but an investigation into the history of the country, often intertwined with the story of her own family. She also talked about how the difference between a memoir written by a man and a woman is not necessarily that of perspective, but more of where one rests in the power dynamics of a society. Growing up in the United States, the author felt a loss of individuality as her community was often grouped as one, while back in Syria, she once again felt she was held accountable for the deeds of George W Bush. With the book, she says, the goal is to humanise a story of a war-torn country and tell things that havent been told.

With a life spanning across the United States, Nigeria and Bangladesh, Hoque recounts her life in, Olive Witch: A Memoir. The author talked about the difficulty of writing about places and balancing the expectations of people (publishers, more prominently in this case) from different parts of the world. She also talked about her struggles with depression, being confined to a psychiatric ward and how this phase showed her how much mental illness can become part of ones life. Hoque also touched upon how the support of her family was crucial to her work and the useful thing to do to help people with mental illness is to keep talking about it.

Nicolson, the author of A House Full of Daughters, talked about the power of a place while discussing her home, and how the house  the brick and mortar  is always there for her even on occasions when people in her life let her down. She spoke about how it gives one strength and continuity, and how she highly recommends having such a place in life. Reaching back to some of the darkest moments of her life, she recounted how alcoholism had been a ongoing issue among women of her family across generations, her own struggle with it over the years (as luck would have it, it was also the 20th anniversary of the day since she gave up alcohol after reaching a point where only about 10 percent of her liver was functional) and how telling the truth helps one rethink their own life.

Amy Tan spoke about growing up Chinese in the United States and the feeling of being an American while visiting China. She talked about how her mother, a strong and honest woman who had a difficult life but refused to be victimised, and how she had been one of the most influential people in her life. She also discussed the heartbreak of realising, while working on a memoir, how one has been raised on lies and secrets. Finally, commenting on the current state of things, Tan talked about how people like Donald Trump and nationalists are making communities like hers feel threatened, and how a writer needs to stay determined in such times.

And with that, it was time to give my back and right leg a little rest before the final day of the Jaipur Literature Festival.GULFPORT, Miss. -- A Moss Point man pled guilty on Friday to being a supplier of cocaine to "The Hill", an area located behind Martin Luther King Park north of Vancleave High School."

Michael Todd Ward, known as Chicken, 51, of Moss Point, supplied Terry Reddix and his associates with cocaine and other narcotics to The Hill, a Department of Justice news release said.

Ward and eight others have been charged and indicted based on their activities on The Hill.

The Hill had grown notorious as a site where drug and gang activity had become rampant, according to Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell.

In an operation executed in July 2017, Ezell along with U.S. Marshals and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze rounded up multiple individuals for their roles in drug activity in The Hill.

Ward pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and could face up to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine.

Ward will learn his fate in April as U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola Jr. will sentence him April 25 in a case prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Meynardie.The AAP MPs were protesting against a sealing drive in Delhi, the Central government's decision of allowing FDI in single-brand retail and the Election Commission's decision to disqualify 20 Delhi AAP MLAs

New Delhi: AAP MPs on Monday boycotted President Ram Nath Kovind's address to a joint sitting of the Parliament on the first day of the Budget Session, as a protest against the disqualification of 20 party MLAs.

Aam Aadmi Party Lok Sabha members Sadhu Singh, Bhagwant Mann and Rajya Sabha members Sanjay Singh, Sushil Gupta and ND Gupta raised slogans near a Gandhi statue in the Parliament premises, holding placards.

They were protesting against a sealing drive in Delhi, the Central government's decision of allowing FDI in single-brand retail and the Election Commission's decision to disqualify 20 Delhi AAP MLAs.

The Members of Parliament (MPs) shouted: "will not allow dictatorship in democracy".

Referring to the disqualification of MLAs, Sanjay Singh told reporters "there cannot be two laws in the country".

The AAP leader said in other states when the high court cancelled the appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries, their MLA membership was not cancelled.

Earlier this month, the EC recommended to the president to disqualify 20 MLAs for holding the office-of-profit as Parliamentary Secretaries in Delhi and it was later approved.

The three AAP Rajya Sabha MPs took oath earlier in the day.The Congress on Monday questioned the government's sincerity in fighting corruption and asked why it has not appointed a Lokpal yet despite Parliament giving nod to the Bill in 2013.

New Delhi: The Congress on Monday questioned the government's sincerity in fighting corruption and asked why it has not appointed a Lokpal yet despite Parliament giving nod to the Bill in 2013.

"Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and the government also through the President's address has spoken about the fight against corruption. Our question is and a charge against the government - that they are not sincere over the issue of corruption," Congress leader Anand Sharma told media.

"Why have they not appointed the Lokpal? The law is there, what has prevented Narendra Modi and his government from appointing a Lokpal in the almost last four years?" Sharma, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, asked.

Under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, ombudsmen are to be appointed at the Centre and in states for inquiring into allegations of corruption against public functionaries.

The Lokpal Bill was passed by Parliament in 2013, but the appointment of the anti-corruption ombudsman is stuck in procedural wranglings for the last four years.Gujarat's Dalit leader and newly elected MLA Jignesh Mevani on Monday urged the Karnataka electorate to not vote for the BJP in coming Assembly polls and said he will campaign against that party in the southern state.

Bengaluru: Gujarat's Dalit leader and newly elected MLA Jignesh Mevani on Monday urged the Karnataka electorate to not vote for the BJP in coming Assembly polls and said he will campaign against that party in the southern state.

"I'm ready to compromise with my ideologies to save our Constitution and to keep the BJP from winning the Karnataka elections," Mevani said, speaking at a commemoration event held here on the birth anniversary of slain journalist Gauri Lankesh.

He also said that mainstream political parties from Karnataka should form an alliance to defeat the BJP.

Mevani, MLA from Vadgam in Gujarat, said he will campaign against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for three weeks in April. The elections are likely to be held in April-May in Karnataka.

The elections to the current 224-member Karnataka Assembly were held in May 2013.

"I will speak to the Dalits (in Karnataka) and tell them their vote shouldn't go to the BJP," he said.

He claimed the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not kept their promises of providing two crore jobs every year, made ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

"The government hasn't paid much attention to jobs or farmer suicides but only focused on issues like love jihad," he said.National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) and six Naga political groups have decided to boycott the 27 February Assembly polls demanding 'solution, not election' for Nagas in an all-party meeting held in Kohima on Monday.

National Socialist Council of Nagaland Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) and six Naga political groups issued a joint declaration announcing their decision to boycott the 27 February Assembly polls demanding 'solution, not election' for Nagas in Kohima on Monday. The decision was taken at an all-party meeting where they also cautioned people against filing nominations for the upcoming Assembly polls, NDTV reported.

On Saturday, the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTCHOC) had appealed to the Election Commission (EC) to defer 27 February Assembly elections in favour of an 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 afford to distract the focus on the process at any cost," the core committee said in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat.

On Republic Day, Nagaland Governor PB Acharya said the state stands on the cusp of history with the Assembly election being held next month and the people being eager for a final settlement of the Naga political issue.

Earlier on 21 January, the Naga Hoho, an apex Naga tribal body, objected to the holding of elections in Nagaland before the insurgency issue in the state was resolved and indicated that it may ask political parties to boycott the polls. A delegation of the Naga Hoho, which has been camping in the national capital for the last few days, met several leaders, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh and voiced their opposition to the polls before a peace pact between the Centre and the Naga rebel group NSCN-IM is finalised, PTI reported.

With inputs from agenciesThe degree of vitriol that is spewed at each other by members of the government and Opposition overseas can be linked to another phenomenon: Elections.

January 2018 has seen the emergence of a new Congress strategy.

Alright, so it's not really a new Congress strategy per se, but a new approach to internet-based political messaging from India's Grand Old Party. On Sunday, the party's social media channel put out a third video  in as many weeks, this time mocking the BJP about its wavering stand on beef across the country. Aside from the funny video approach ahead of eight Assembly elections this year, it appears party president Rahul Gandhi is also reading from a sharper social media playbook, evident in his tweets (see here and here) that nearly bookended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Davos visit.

Instead of examining the validity of Gandhi's tweets  something that has been and will continue to be done ad nauseum, it's important to look at the message being sent out when members of the Indian government and Opposition take domestic politics out onto the international stage. The debate about propriety when making statements overseas came to a head in April-May 2015 when Modi addressed members of the Indian diaspora in Toronto, Shanghai and Seoul.

In Toronto, Modi had claimed that he would "clean the dirt" of the past 60 years.

Then in Shanghai, he said, "Indians were feeling pessimistic about their own country till recently but my government has tried its best during its first year in office to change that."

Meanwhile, in Seoul, he said, "There was a time when people used to ask what sin they committed in their past lives that resulted in them taking birth in India: Is this what you call a country and a government, is this how the people are? Let's leave it and go somewhere else, and people did leave."

At the time, the Opposition  a chunk of which formed the UPA governments being targeted by the speeches  was up in arms and claimed that the prime minister was "lowering the dignity" of the country with his remarks. Over the next few years, it would be the Opposition, and Rahul in particular, that would take it upon itself to go abroad and criticise the BJP government at the Centre. Two cases in point are the Congress president's address at the University of California, Berkeley in September last year and his speech in Bahrain at the start of 2018.

Where does all of this leave us?

For starters, it leaves us with elected representatives who choose very international stages to criticise each other and if they're not overseas, they take to social media to attack their fellow elected representatives who happen to be abroad. And the message this sends out to the world at large is quite simply that we are a country of people who simply must air dirty laundry in as public a manner as possible.

So, what now?

While there are guidelines and rules issued to MPs and MLAs about conduct expected of them, these relate to such topics as the appropriateness of accepting gifts, ownership of property, conflicts of interest. There isn't a word about what topics may or may not be discussed. In fact, as Union Minister of Finance Arun Jaitley pointed out after the Opposition fumed over Modi's remarks in Toronto, "There is no gag order (on Modi) and the prime minister is perfectly entitled to say that what happened in the last 60 years."

He went on to add that statements, much like policy, can no longer be contained within a geographical space. In other words, a remark delivered by the member of a political party in a far-flung village in an obscure part of the country swiftly finds its way onto social media, and therefore, turns global.

Nevertheless, there is a need to see this phenomenon of 'saying anything anywhere' within the context of propriety. Let's be honest, it's not the greatest thing in the world to see your leaders going abroad and indulging in campaign trail politics.

This is particularly so at a time when the internal politics of several 20th Century world leaders have seen them fall somewhat to the wayside and India is seen globally as a country on the rise and vying to become a leader.

In order to get a better handle on the issue, it's instructive to look at how the Ministry of External Affairs  one of the most vital functions of which is to send Indians abroad to further global relations  views the matter. According to a source in the MEA, "There is no protocol document, or for that matter, anything written about the topic. However, unwritten conventions vary from one context to another."

A former diplomat, who chose not to be named, confirmed to Firstpost, "There is protocol, and associated documentation, that deals with accepting gifts, allowances etc, but nothing that talks about conduct, in terms of what should not be said." Sure enough, the MEA handbook tackles a variety of topics ranging from increments, foreign allowance, grants and children's education allowance all the way to leave, language-learning rewards and evacuation in case of emergency. Suffice it to say, the near-500-page-long handbook doesn't contain a single word on statements, speeches and such-like.

"There is, of course, an unwritten and unspoken convention when diplomats go to another country that they mustn't speak ill of a third country in a public setting because it only serves to embarrass the host country, but not much beyond that," the former diplomat added.

It's worth noting that in the quest to find out if a code of conduct, set of rules or written convention exists for MEA officials, one idea kept popping up: That instances of elected officials going overseas and publicly criticising their opponents (whether those in the Opposition or government) or staying at home and criticising opponents who happen to be on a foreign visit at the time, have increased greatly in the past two or three years. And this isn't to do with the Modi government or anything. It is believed that Modi's remarks in Shanghai and Seoul  referred to as the prime minister's "ashamed to be Indian" comments  were the trigger that made it 'fair game' to attack each other on a global stage. As a matter of fact, as recently as 2013, you actually had members of the Opposition banding around and defending the Prime Minister of India when he came under fire from foreign entities.

It was widely reported that Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif had called then Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh a dehaati aurat. At a rally in the buildup to the 2014 Lok Sabha election, Modi said, "How dare you (Sharif) address my nation's prime minister as a dehati aurat? There cannot be a bigger insult of the Indian prime minister. We can fight with him on policies but this we will not tolerate. This nation of 1.2 billion will not tolerate its prime minister's insult." That Modi meant it as the starting point of a larger jibe at the Congress notwithstanding, this sort of spirit is almost entirely missing from the vitiated politics of today.

And the degree of vitriol that is spewed at each other by members of the government and Opposition can be linked to another phenomenon: Elections.

The year 2014 saw Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Sikkim and Telangana go to the polls (aside, of course, from the General Election that saw all of India go out and vote). In 2015, it was Bihar and Delhi's turn. In 2016, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal went to the polls. It was Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in 2017. This year is set to see eight further Assembly elections, before 2019 (a General Election year) rolls around. With elections always just around the corner, it's somewhat unsurprising politicians are constantly at each others' throats  quite often on international stages  to grab that little bit of pre-poll advantage.

So what's the answer?

Drafting a written-in-stone code of conduct certainly doesn't appear to be the answer. After all, we need only look as far as the Election Commission of India's Model Code of Conduct to see how frequently and wantonly it is violated. Is the answer then to hold all elections at the same time, so that India, its politicians and denizens can at least get three-or-so years of peace from bitter electoral politics? Perhaps it is, but mobilising something as massive as that is a whole different issue, and with populations growing, it's an issue that's getting trickier with every passing year. For now, unless our elected representatives show some restraint, it looks like we're just going to have to live with this sort of global airing of dirty laundry.Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on Sunday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his speech at the World Economic Forum summit in Davos, alleging that 'you have become an agent of foreign companies'.

New Delhi: Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on Sunday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his speech at the World Economic Forum summit in Davos, alleging that "you have become an agent of foreign companies".

Dikshit, a former Lok Sabha MP from Delhi, also alleged that "Modi is the new viceroy of foreign companies". He is the son of former Delhi chief minister Shiela Dikshit.

His seemingly controversial comments were made in a video post on social media sites, a day before the budget session of Parliament begins.

"The way your are selling the country before capitalists, you have become an agent of foreign companies. Narendra Modi is the new viceroy of foreign companies," he said in the post, titled "Kaam ki Baat", in response to Modi's radio address "Mann ki Baat".

He said Davos is nothing but a club of big industrialists who brainstorm on where to invest and make money.

"While you present the country before foreign companies and when an Indian asks you for jobs, you tell him to sell 'pakodas'. This will not go on," he said, as Dikshit reminded the prime minister of Mahatma Gandhi's ideals.

He also accused the prime minister and the BJP of trying to divide society on communal lines and spread violence to promote their own politics.

This is not the first time that Dikshit made such strong comments. In July 2017, Dikshit had compared Army chief General Bipin Rawat to a "sadak ka goonda" or a "street goon". His comments prompted the BJP to demand an apology from him while the Congress distanced itself from his remarks.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi has appealed to party workers to do "politics of love" to counter what he called the BJP's "politics of hate".Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and his four cabinet colleagues filed their nominations on Monday for the upcoming Tripura Assembly elections.

Agartala: Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and his four cabinet colleagues filed their nominations on Monday for the ensuing Assembly elections.

Tripura is set to go to polls on 18 February and the results for all 60 Assembly constituencies of the state will be announced on 3 March.

Sarkar will contest the election from his home turf Dhanpur in Sipahijala district. He has been in office since 1998, having won the election from this constituency for four consecutive terms.

"This time, we will win the elections by a wider margin and set an example in the country," Sarkar told reporters after filing the nominations.

The Left Front has been in power in Tripura since 1993.

Sports minister Shahid Chowdhury also filed his nomination from Boxanagar constituency of the same district.

State forest minister Naresh Jamatiya and drinking water supply minister Ratan Bhaumick submitted their papers from Bagma (ST) and Kakrabon seats of the Gomati district.

Tripura education minister Tapan Chakraborty filed his documents from Chandipur constituency in North Tripura district.

Besides Sarkar and his cabinet ministers, at least 20 MLAs of the ruling Left Front filed their nominations today from different parts of the state.

Earlier, on Thursday, PWD Minister Badal Chowdhury had submitted his papers from Hrishyamukh constituency in South Tripura district.

The last date for filing nominations in the state is 31 January.The women's wing of the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura has decided to nominate women candidates in all 20 constituencies reserved for Scheduled Tribes in the state

Agartala: The women's wing of the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura has decided to nominate women candidates in all 20 constituencies reserved for Scheduled Tribes in the state to protest against its parent body's move to field only male nominees.

The BJP and IPFT have forged an alliance for elections to the 60-member House in Tripura to be held on 18 February.

According to the terms of the alliance, the IPFT would contest nine seats reserved for tribals and the BJP would field candidates in the remaining 51 seats.

"As an ally of the BJP, the IPFT is fielding nine candidates and we had sought only one seat for a woman candidate. When party president NC Debbarma turned down our request, we took this decision," Indigenous Womens Front of Tripura (IWFT) president Sandhyarani Debbarma told reporters.

When contacted, Mewar Jamatiya, the IPFT general secretary said, the party has fielded candidates who have winning prospects.

The decision to field women candidates was taken by three "belligerent leaders" of the women's wing and they have been requested to review their decision, the IPFT general secretary said.

A meeting of the 90-member Executive Committee would be held on Monday and the body would take a decision about three women leaders if they did not reconsider their decision, Jamatiya said.PTI

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.tech2 News Staff

The sketch of Nokia's penta-lens camera smartphone has leaked online. The leaked images show that the company is expected to bring out a uniquely designed camera on its upcoming flagship.

The sketch of the camera, reported by Nokia Power User, depicts a dual-lens camera placed inside a circular frame on the rear side of the smartphone (expected to be Nokia 10). The other lenses are expected to be hidden inside the module. According to the image, a microphone and a flash sit on each side of the vertically aligned camera module. The fingerprint scanner is placed below the camera on the rear side of the smartphone.

Zeiss, the company making the lenses, recently patented a "Miniature zoom camera". The camera patented by the company has multiple lenses arranged in a circular manner that rotates to become the main lens. The camera shown in the image doesn't show other lenses placed on the device but the report suggests that the lenses might be hidden inside the camera module. The user can change the focal length of the camera by rotating and aligning the multiple sensors with the main camera.

The report also mentions that the Nokia 10 will come with a similar design as the Nokia 9. It will feature double-glass (front and back) on the smartphone and will be powered by Snapdragon 845.

Nokia's CPO tweeted saying that 'MWC 2018 will be 'awesome''.

The company is expected to launch Nokia 9 at the event. The Nokia 6 and Nokia 7 are also expected to be launched globally during the event. Nokia 9 is expected to come with a dual-camera setup and an 18:9 aspect ratio display.The New England Patriots have touched down in Minnesota, and the lead up to Super Bowl LII has officially begun.

The Patriots arrived aboard one of their privately owned team planes (AKA "Air Kraft") Monday afternoon at a Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport hangar to a small media throng. The welcome was a far cry from the celebratory send-off the team received at Patriot Place (where Tom Brady dropped the mic).

The team before headed down to T.F. Green Airport in Providence before making the flight out to Minnesota and hopping on another bus to the team hotel. Their opponents, the Philadelphia Eagles, made the trip out to Minnesota on Sunday.

The Patriots will be staying at the JW Marriott attached right to Mall of America in Bloomington.

From their, the team is set to head to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, where they'll be taking part in Opening Night.IANS

Chinese smartphone maker Oppo on Monday announced a partnership with global chipmaker Qualcomm Technologies where Qualcomm will support Oppo to make 5G-ready mobile phones.

As part of the "5G Pioneer Initiative", Qualcomm will provide comprehensive solutions such as the radio frequency front-end field to Oppo, it was announced at the "2018 Qualcomm Technology Day" in China.

"In the future, Oppo will continue to invest in groundbreaking technologies such as 5G and Artificial Intelligence, and apply these to product scenarios based on the core needs of users," Tony Chen, Oppo CEO, said during a panel discussion.

Oppo plans to launch 5G mobile phones in 2019.

"In 2018, Oppo will speed up entry into global markets, and specifically enter more developed countries like Japan, to provide smartphones featuring advanced technologies and artistic design to more users in the world," Chen added.

Earlier this month, IMT-2020 (5G) Promotion Group, the key promotion organisation established by three official ministries in China, released the 5G technology R&D trial phase III specifications in Beijing.

Oppo has participated as the only smartphone manufacturer and made contributions to the 5G-standard formulation.

"The upcoming 5G era is unprecedented for the mobile phone industry, and Oppo will work together with our partners in the industry to grasp opportunities in this field," said Alen Wu, Vice President of Oppo.

"Qualcomm Technologies has always been a key strategic partner and Oppo will continue to deepen cooperation with Qualcomm to facilitate the healthy development of the industry," Wu added.Reuters

A Thai pro-democracy activist said on Sunday she had fled Thailand after learning she would be prosecuted for defaming the monarchy for sharing on Facebook a 2016 BBC article deemed offensive to Thailands king.

Chanoknan Ruamsap said in a post on her Facebook account on Sunday that she received a summons earlier this month to hear a royal insult charge under Article 112 for posting a profile of the king from the BBCs Thai-language service, which some deemed offensive.

Reuters could not immediately reach the Thai authorities or the BBC for comment.

It appears that I had been charged with 112 for sharing the BBC article in December 2016, Chanoknan said.

I had less than 30 minutes to decide whether to stay or leave. It was a hard decision because this time I wouldnt be able to come back.

The BBC article was published shortly after King Maha Vajiralongkorn ascended the throne in December 2016 following the death of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died that October aged 88.

Thailand has the worlds toughest lese-majeste law, known as Article 112. The law sets a sentence of up to 15 years in prison for each offense of royal insult committed.

Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, an activist who has staged several anti-junta protests, was arrested in 2016 and was sentenced last year to two and a half years in prison for posting the same BBC article.

Prosecutions under both the Computer Crime Act and the royal defamation law have increased sharply since a military junta took power in a 2014 coup. Since the coup, at least 94 people have been prosecuted for lese majeste. As many as 43 people have been sentenced, the iLaw group that monitors royal insult cases said earlier this month.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who heads the junta, has repeatedly vowed to stamp out critics of the monarchy and has also called for stronger prosecution of lese-majeste cases since the coup.

Critics of the junta say the law has been used to silence its opponents while international rights groups and some Bangkok-based Western diplomats have decried Thailands harsh sentences for lese-majeste convictions.Afghanistan was a major topic of discussion at the recently-concluded Raisina Dialogue 2018 in New Delhi. And rightfully so.

Things changed forever for Afghanistan in 1979 when the first Soviet troops entered through the then Tajik SSR (now Tajikistan). For the next decade, Afghanistan became the battleground for a proxy war between the Soviet Union and the United States. In the end, the Soviets experienced their Vietnam, but not before the Cold War rivalry ravaged millions of lives.

But for the men and women of Afghanistan, the misery didn't end. With a weak central government, anarchy ruled the mid-90s until the Taliban took power in 1996. It took another invasion, this time by the US-led NATO forces, in the aftermath of the 9/11, to overthrow them. But, fast forward to 2018: Suicide attacks and car bombings haunt the country.

Afghanistan was a major topic of discussion at the recently-concluded Raisina Dialogue 2018 in New Delhi. And rightfully so. Strategically located at the crossroads of South and Central Asia, Afghanistans stability is of paramount importance for all players involved in the region: US, India, Pakistan, Russia, Iran and China.

The problem of terrorism

Kabul has recently been rocked by multiple attacks. The recent uptick in such incidents, especially in urban centres, is alarming. Speaking with Firstpost on the condition of anonymity, a member of the Afghan administration said: The Taliban is still prominent. The attacks are only rising as they have realised that the NATO troops will increase, and that the coalition may not leave Afghanistan.

In August 2017, US president Donald Trump announced a troop increase in Afghanistan. That process was completed in November. While Taliban remains the obvious threat, the rise of the Islamic State is a worrying trend. For a country already facing religious extremism, this added another dimension to the ongoing War on Terror.

The official added, We are not studying the Islamic State. We are not focusing on how we can get rid of them. We have been relying on US military to eliminate them.

US vital to Afghanistans stability

While the unnamed official was supportive of the United States' presence in Afghanistan, former president Hamid Karzai, a panelist for one of the Raisina sessions, criticised the US for failing to stop the rise of the Islamic State.

But Karzais rather mild rap betrayed the fact that any debate on Afghanistans present or future was incomplete without accounting for the United States. Speaking at the dialogue, Karzai urged the Americans to continue helping to rebuild Afghanistan.

However, the relationship between Kabul and Washington is at best complex, thanks to the US historic ties with Pakistan (an adversary of Afghanistan). Karzai narrated an interesting story to describe the Afghan-Pakistan-US quandary,

As the president, I once met several US senators and informed them about the terror sanctuaries in Pakistan. Then suddenly, one of them told me that Pakistan is 50 times more important to the US than Afghanistan.

However, speaking to Firstpost, veteran diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad, who served as US envoy to Afghanistan between 2003 and 2005, said the US will continue to thwart Pakistan's designs on Afghanistan.

Since 9/11, we have been fighting against Pakistans plans for the Afghans. Apart from a military strategy, we have also used positive incentives to discourage Pakistan from targeting Afghanistan. We also brought Karzai and (Pervez) Musharraf to the table, he said.

The Pakistani plans that Khalilzad alluded to may be Islamabads policy of strategic depth, which sought to make Afghanistan a client state.

Pakistan has also been successful in playing a double game by supporting the Taliban through the Haqqani Network.

But does Trumps New Years Day tweet, which condemned Pakistan for providing sanctuary to terrorists and warned of cutting aid, offer new hope to 34 million Afghans?

The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2018

While Trump's tweet might have given some hope to Afghan watchers, past precedent of Pakistani involvement in terrorism (Read sheltering Osama bin Laden) has not deterred Washington from continuing its partnership with Islamabad.

We have been deceived by Pakistan in the past. This must change. We need to convince them to change. If that does not happen, there are a number of steps we can take including freezing of security assistance, said Khalilzad.

While Karzai complained about nuances of American policy, he was vocal in backing the US-led West to stay in Afghanistan.

I am a pro-American person. We invited the US-led NATO because we believed in their ideology of freedom and democracy. We definitely need the US to stay in Afghanistan as our 'strategic partner.'

'India is like a friend to Afghanistan'

India has pumped in more than $3.1 billion since the fall of the Taliban regime. Several Indian companies have showed interest in the untapped sectors of the Afghan economy, while the two air corridors connecting Kabul to Delhi and Mumbai as well as the opening of the Chabahar Port will boost bilateral trade.

Indias involvement with Afghanistan strengthened in September 2017, when it agreed to jointly work on 116 new "high impact" development projects in 31 provinces of Afghanistan.

In terms of optics, India has ticked all the right boxes. The inauguration of the Salma Dam and the Afghan Parliament, both built with Indian funds, as well as several showcases of soft power have created goodwill for India.

India is like a friend to Afghanistan, said the unnamed Afghan official when asked if Afghans perceived New Delhi acting like big brother. A brother will dictate you dont do this and that, which is not the case with India.

China, Indias geo-political rival, is another notable player. Chinas humanitarian contribution may well be below that of India. But Beijing, betting on Kabuls strategic location and untapped market and emerged as the biggest foreign investor after 2014. One cannot deny the fact that China is a huge reality in Afghanistan and it is here to stay, Karzai said. 

The biggest player in Afghanistan is undoubtedly the United States, which along with its NATO and non-NATO allies, contributes the largest chunk to the global humanitarian aid, and therefore holds considerable influence. With reports of over $3 trillion worth of untapped mineral resources lying under the Afghan land  a discovery attributed to the United States  Washington isn't going anywhere, at least in the near future.

The economic opening up of Afghanistan may turn out to be the much-needed boost to fight terrorism and instability. Better economic integration may help Afghanistan shed the unwanted tag of being the biggest producer of opium and contribute positively to the global economy.

As External Affairs Minister VK Singh noted, Afghanistan will be in trouble till the time there is no free flow of goods and services. This will improve the economy and integrate it to the rest of the world.

Will history repeat itself?

History bears witness to Afghanistans strategic advantage being exploited by global powers even as it repeatedly falls prey to geo-political machinations.

In the 21st Century, the story of Afghanistan may lie somewhere between the larger tale of US decline and Chinas ascendance as a dominant power in international affairs.

China, for its part, is outlining its global agenda through the One Belt One Road initiative (OBOR) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). While Afghanistan is still not officially involved in the two projects, media reports claim that the Afghan government is willing to participate.

Afghanistans unexplored resources may quench Chinas growing energy needs and its location can help it transform into a transport hub connecting South and Central Asia. However, that's easier said than done.

Chinas rise clashes with Trumps new policy for Afghanistan, which envisions a greater role for India. Which could result in two scenarios: China, the US, India and to an extent Russia, cooperating in the interest of Afghanistans long-term stability. Or another superpower rivalry in our backyard, not necessarily involving guns, but yet again undermining Afghanistans sovereignty.Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of wanting 'to turn Lebanon into one giant missile site' and warned of the consequences as he left Monday for talks in Moscow.

Jerusalem: Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of wanting "to turn Lebanon into one giant missile site" and warned of the consequences as he left Monday for talks in Moscow.

Netanyahu has held a series of discussions with President Vladimir Putin in recent months on Iran's influence in war-torn Syria and in Lebanon.

The premier has sought to persuade Russia to limit Iran's presence near Israeli territory and to stop it from entrenching itself militarily in Syria.

Israel's military has also issued a series of warnings to Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militia backed by Iran.

Russia, Iran and Hezbollah are all backing Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in his country's civil war.

Netanyahu has previously accused Iran of building sites to produce "precision-guided missiles" in both Syria and Lebanon.

"I will discuss with President Putin Iran's relentless efforts to establish a military presence in Syria, which we strongly oppose and are also taking action against," Netanyahu said as he departed.

"We will also discuss Iran's effort to turn Lebanon into one giant missile site, a site for precision missiles against the state of Israel, which we will not tolerate."

Israel has sought to stay out of the Syrian conflict, but acknowledges carrying out dozens of air strikes to stop what it says are advanced arms deliveries to Hezbollah, with whom it fought a devastating 2006 war.

Iran is Israel's main enemy and Netanyahu has repeatedly warned against an entrenched Iranian military presence in the neighbouring country.

In November, Netanyahu signalled that Israel would take military action in Syria when it sees fit as it seeks to ensure Iran-backed forces stay away from its territory.

Russia and Israel have also established a hotline to avoid accidental clashes in Syria.The Urban Warfare Front of Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas on Sunday claimed responsibility for the bombing of a police station that killed five police officers and wounded 41

Bogota: The Urban Warfare Front of Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas on Sunday claimed responsibility for the bombing of a police station that killed five police officers and wounded 41.

"The ELN, in legitimate exercise of the right to rebellion, carried out the military action. Police forces at the San Jose station, in southern Barranquilla, were attacked," said the group in a communique, the authenticity of which has not yet been verified.

The group added that it carried out the Saturday attack in the city of Barranquilla because it feels that the government "is refusing to give answers to the needs of the people, is inventing excuses for not guaranteeing their rights and is using the public (security) forces to repress the people", Efe reported.

The government and the ELN last year launched peace talks in Quito, but the dialogue has been suspended since 10 January due to a wave of attacks by the rebel group after a bilateral cease-fire that had been in effect for 100 days ended.

A 31-year-old man identified as Cristian Camilo Bellon Galindo was arrested in Barranquilla in connection with the attack and will be charged with five counts of homocide, along with 42 counts of attempted murder, aggravated terrorism and the use of explosives, according to Attorney General Nestor Humberto Martinez.

Two other attacks were perpetrated on Sunday in Colombia's Caribbean zone, the first in the Barranquilla metro area town of Soledad against an Immediate Action Command post injuring four police officers and a passerby and the second against a police station in Santa Rosa, in Bolivar province, in which two police officers were killed and two others wounded.

"The violent ones have attacked again. Infamous and vile attack on our police in Santa Rosa del Sur. Bolivar mourns the deaths of two heroic policemen. We demand justice and the quick capture of these miserable bandits," Bolivar Governor Dumek Turbay said in a Twitter post.

Investigators are trying to determine whether the attacks are related.Incumbent Nicos Anastasiades will face Leftist-backed candidate Stavros Malas in a presidential runoff on 4 February, election results suggested on Sunday

Athens: Incumbent Nicos Anastasiades will face Leftist-backed candidate Stavros Malas in a presidential runoff on 4 February, election results suggested on Sunday, in a race which could define whether peace talks with Turkish Cypriots can resume this year.

With around 85 percent of ballots counted, Anastasiades, 71, led Malas, 50, with centrist Nikolas Papadopoulos in third.

The top two candidates will have a week to try and win over the runners up, who have taken a harder line negotiating a peace deal to end a conflict which has outlived the Cold War and strained relations between NATO allies Greece and Turkey.

Campaigns are typically dominated by the division of Cyprus in 1974 between its Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot population following a Turkish invasion triggered by a brief coup engineered by Greece.

Cypruss president typically 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 jumpstart 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.

However, the campaigns tone has been particularly bitter. Third-placed Papadopoulos has accused Anastasiades of making too many concessions to Turkish Cypriots and Malas of being too malleable in seeking to resume talks as soon as possible.

Although both 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, Cypruss two main ethnic groups are separated by a United Nations peacekeeping force, one of the oldest in the world. Many worry the present status quo is not sustainable.

Things might look stable, but things are not static, said Sozen.

A Turkish Cypriot community generally not prone to angry demonstrations, the north was rattled last week by an attack by individuals on a Turkish Cypriot newspaper critical of Turkeys campaign in northern Syria.

Separately, up to 5,000 Turkish Cypriots demonstrated in freezing rain on Friday to protest Mondays protest and perceived Turkish interference in their affairs.European Union trades with America 'very unfairly', Donald Trump said, warning that his many problems with Brussels 'may morph into something very big'.

London: The European Union trades with America "very unfairly", President Donald Trump 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

on Sunday.

"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 percent 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 on Sunday, 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.Donald Trump says he would take a 'tougher' attitude toward Brexit negotiations than the approach now being used by British prime minister Theresa May.

London: US 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 19 May 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 favourable 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 19 May 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 US president Barack Obama as a wedding guest. The prince and Obama have met on several occasions, and Obama gave Harry a rare interview in 2017 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.Finland re-elects their popular and pragmatic president Sauli Niinisto, credited for maintaining a balanced relationship with the nation's powerful neighbour Russia

Helsinki: Finns have re-elected their popular and pragmatic president Sauli Niinisto, who is credited for maintaining a balanced relationship with the nation's powerful neighbour Russia at a time of simmering relations between Moscow the West.

"I am surprised and touched by this big support," Niinisto told reporters in Helsinki, who secured over 62 percent of the vote with nearly all the ballots counted.

Niinisto, 69, avoided the need for a second-round of voting and won outright on Sunday, a first since Finland introduced a two-round presidential election by popular vote in 1994.

The politician who campaigned as an independent, has skilfully shifted the EU member state closer to NATO without antagonising Russia, with whom the Nordic nation shares the longest border in the bloc.

During his first term, Niinisto diligently cultivated ties with Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has been at odds with the West, particularly since Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Niinisto's main rival Pekka Haavisto of the Green party won just 12 percent of the votes.

Conceding defeat, he told reporters in Helsinki: "I admit that Saulu Niinisto clearly won, warm congratulations to him."

Born into a working-class family in the southwestern Finnish town of Salo in August 1948, Niinisto  the youngest of four children  became a lawyer before entering politics as a member of the conservative National Coalition Party.

An advocate of budgetary discipline, Niinisto helped pull Finland out of a deep recession in the 1990s and into the eurozone.The Seine river, which runs through Paris, kept rising on Sunday and led to the evacuation of about 1,500 people, police said.

Paris: The Seine river, which runs through Paris, kept rising on Sunday and led to the evacuation of about 1,500 people, police said.

Water level remained at a high level in the Paris region where 240 communes remained on alert of flooding.

About 1,500 citizens were called to leave their homes in Ile-de-France region including the French capital and surrounding zones, Xinhua quoted Michel Delpuech, chief of the Paris police body, as saying.

"The waters will only go away slowly," Delpuech said, stressing that "everyone knows what he must do."

"A maximum level, slightly lower than that reached during the flood of June 2016, is expected," government-run agency vigicrues predicted.

In 2016, torrential rains had triggered heavy flooding, plunging parts of France's central regions and Paris' vibrant venues into chaos where the Seine rose to 6.1 meters. Six people had been reported dead due to floods.

A non-stop rainfall caused flooding notably in the Paris region where high water level submerged the river's walkways and forced the Louvre museum to close the lower level of the Department of Islamic Art to the public till 29 January.

The rail operator SNCF also closed the RER C commuter line that runs along the river and is used by tourists to reach the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral and Versailles.

French weather agency Meteo France placed eight districts on orange alert till Monday afternoon due to persistent high flooding risks.Information recently leaked about a plan for a national 5G network run by the U.S. government and perhaps leased out to carriers. In another article, it was stated that the government has backed away from saying they will run the network.

This is not surprising to us. We doubt the government would run the network in any major capacity. Why? A president who boasts about his deregulatory successes and won an election by promising to undo a government takeover of healthcare doesnt take over the telecom industry.

In fact, it cant.

In the leaked presentation, the authors talk about a race to 5G, one, China is winning. There is no one in our government or the private sector who thinks the feds can do anything better than independent companies and certainly not faster.

The presentation is fascinating as it shows the government really gets telecom. It acknowledges the close ties between Huawei and the Chinese government, including a $100 billion line of credit.

These are all the points you should know from the document:

Huawei and ZTE get 70% of Chinese government telecom spending

Europe led 3G, the US, 4G , China is poised to lead 5G

The leader in 5G will likely also lead in Masive IoT, machine learning and AI

The government can set network standards for 5G

$200B will be required for 5G fiber deployment

The goal is to build a secure 5G network in three years

The $700B defense budget does little for people in terms of IT

Even the DoD is unprepared for the information age

The 5G revolution is more like the invention of the Gutenberg press than a move from 3G to 4G

We have the ability to secure a 5G network but added assurance can be gained by creating an IT and telecom manufacturing base

We must be sure the digital future protects our citizens  similar to the way the oceans help us with our physical security

We must then share this technology with our allies to secure the free world

An attack on our people or companies should be met with a fierce response. It must identify and and respond to the attack

A secured, resilient, layered 5G network will transform how the Joint Force operates

Cost dictates that the military and government utilizes these networks instead of building its own

Chinas most recent 5 year plan will help it win the AI arms race meaning they will dominate in 10 critical US industries such as robotics, fintech and commercial aviation

Google building an AI research center in China is a concern relating to Chinas dominance in this field

A secure, high performance, world leading network needs to be completed by the first term

We must work with our allies and in doing so, we will ensure the US is able to grow at 3%, creating millions of new jobs along the way

In short, even if the U.S. isnt building the network itself, this document shows the government is extremely concerned about not being beaten by China. The country and its allies need to act fast to become the leader in 5G and the associated technologies that rely on it.

While the U.S. will not build a network on its own, what it will do is work with industry via funding and tax breaks to boost spending on R&D and deployment of 5G networks. In addition, it will work with states and its own assets to provide rights of way and other items needed to get more fiber in the ground quickly.

Companies like Cisco and Ericsson will get government access at the highest level to pull this off quickly. Israeli companies  existing and new will benefit handsomely from this deployment.

Trump may mention this in his State of the Union speech along with his overall discussion of rebuilding U.S. infrastructure. Expect him to unveil a massive budget to pull all of this off.Members of the French government have rallied around Budget Minister Gerald Darmanin, who has been accused of rape in a case dating back nearly a decade.

Paris: Members of the French government have rallied around Budget Minister Gerald Darmanin, a rising star in President Emmanuel Macron's team who has been accused of rape in a case dating back nearly a decade.

On Saturday, the Paris prosecutor's office confirmed that it had reopened an investigation into allegations Darmanin, 35, pressured a woman into sex in return for promising to help clear her name in a legal dispute. The case comes in the midst of a global outpouring of accounts of sexual harassment and rape unleashed by the Harvey Weinstein affair.

Sophie Spatz, a 46-year-old former call girl, made a first complaint against Darmanin in mid-2017 but the investigation was closed soon after when she failed to attend questioning by the police. In mid-January she renewed her complaint, triggering a new preliminary probe.

Darmanin's lawyers have accused her of a "crude attempt to harm" the minister's reputation and said he was suiting her for slander.

On Sunday, Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet rejected suggestions that he should resign, noting that he had not been charged with any crime. Agriculture Minister Stephane Travert also took up Darmanin's defence, saying the principle of innocent until proven guilty should apply to his cabinet colleague, "like any other citizen".

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said Saturday that Darmanin still had his "full confidence".

Darmanin, a former right-wing MP who jumped ship to Macron's centrist Republic on the Move party in 2017, is one of the best performers in the president's largely inexperienced team.

Spatz approached him in 2009 to seek his help in trying to have a suspended sentence lifted for blackmail involving a former boyfriend. Le Monde quoted her as telling police that when she approached Darmanin for help he placed a hand on hers and told her: "You too must help me" and that she felt pressured into sex.

In an interview with France Info radio on 15 January, Darmanin denied the allegations, saying he was "a nobody" at the time of the alleged rape and that it was "all false". He admitted however to having a reputation for being an insistent flirt and to "sending a few persistent SMSes".

Socialist senator and former minister for families Laurence Rossignol was one of the few opposition politicians to comment on the affair. "We must keep two things in mind: the respect for presumption of innocence on the one hand and respect for the word of the complainant on the other," she said.

Four feminists on Sunday launched a petition calling on the prime minister to sack Darmanin.Seeking to move past the shadow of the Russia probe, Donald Trump intends to use his first State of the Union address to cite economic progress under his watch.

Washington: 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 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.

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 US 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 realise 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 Republican Senator Susan Collins. "But I think the president is also right about border security, that we do need to beef up our border security."

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin 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 authorised 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 gruelling mid-term 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."A Polish climber was presumed dead after rescuers called off efforts to recover him from Pakistan's killer mountain

Islamabad: 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 on Sunday.

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 on Saturday 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The recent string of terror attacks in Afghanistan highlight the importance of building the nation's capability to defend itself.

At a time when Kabul and much of Afghanistan is desperately trying to heal its wounded after a trail of terrorist attacks, the suicide bombing by the Taliban using an explosive-laden ambulance seems particularly vile. Ambulances with their sirens screaming are usually waved through security barriers, and the Taliban simply took advantage of it.

The target was the Interior Ministry, and the Taliban website gleefully if inaccurately reported that its martyrs had killed 246 civilian and military personnel at a time when most were strolling outside during lunch hour. Kabul reported about 95 killed, which is bad enough to make it one of the worst attacks in recent times.

Through 2017, the Taliban has focused their attacks on the security forces  particularly the Afghan National Police  in an effort directed at crippling the government's ability to govern or enforce its authority. These concentrated 'wave' attacks seem to have begun  in recent times  in October 2017, when in three days, simultaneous attacks were launched in Kabul, and five provinces, killing more than 200. These attacks primarily targeted the police, including a training centre in Gardez that killed 41. Those attacks used explosive-laden Humvees  American made vehicles captured from the Afghan forces, in a cruel irony that was not lost on anyone.

Cut to the present wave of attacks, where a prominent hotel was laid under siege, an NGO involved with children was attacked, the horrific attack against the Interior Ministry, and yet another attack on the Marshal Fahim Military Academy on the outskirts of Kabul. The academy has been the focus of earlier attacks as well, with the last one in October which killed at least 15 cadets.

Some careful disaggregation is required to reach a satisfactory analysis of the situation. First, one of the attacks  the 24 January one on the NGO 'Save the Children'  was claimed by the Islamic State (IS) through its website Amaq. The IS in Afghanistan is a curious creature, with no perceptible leadership, and a penchant for attacking Shias, the Hazaras, and Iranian interests in Afghanistan. At times, it has been reported to have joined forces with sections of the Taliban.

Recently, an Afghan ministry official said that many of its large attacks were actually being conducted by the Haqqani network, and not the IS at all. Given the western horror of the IS, it is highly likely that it is being pushed forward with the intention of showing the Taliban in a better light. This strategy seems to have succeeded to some extent, given the multiple attacks by US forces on so-called IS positions.

Second, while the worst attack on the Interior Ministry has been claimed by the Taliban, Afghan officials have confirmed that the actual agency involved was the Haqqanis. The Haqqanis are now far more in control of the insurgency than ever before. Taliban Emir-al-Momineen Haibatullah Akhundzada is known more for his scholarly attributes  including an ability for harsh justice  rather than warfighting. That role is done by his deputy, Sirajuddin Haqqani, who heads the most organised and violent group known as the Haqqani network. He is also the fighter who is closest to Pakistan's intelligence.

To put Haqqani in a post of influence in the Afghan administration has always been a top agenda point for the Pakistan Army, though it likes to declare otherwise. The group has become the focus of US attacks, with a recent drone strike successfully targeting one of its leaders in Kurram Agency in Pakistan. Drone attacks on Kurram, which is the home ground of the Haqqanis, have increased over the last two years, counting up five of 12 such attacks.

The US focus on Haqqani has to do with far more than just Afghanistan. Details provided in the terrorist designations list shows incontestably, that the group had extended its activities to Syria. Disquieting aspects include links with foreign nationals including Germans in Pakistan, apart from smuggling persons to Europe from Afghanistan.

This is a group that has grown in power and contacts across the terrorist world. If it manages to consolidate itself in Afghanistan, the country will again become a shelter for international terrorists of all hues. Meanwhile, it is attacking with all its got, using its impressive armoury of suicide bombers as a retaliation against the drone and ground war being unleashed on it.

Third, it is now more than evident that the present wave of attacks is a riposte to the US-Afghan strategy and the increase in US troops. The strategy had done away with timelines for US troops in the country, and most importantly had taken a far harsher stance on Pakistan than ever before, followed by President Donald Trump's tweet on Pakistan, calling it out for its "lies and deceit".

As the pitiful history of Afghanistan has shown, the Pakistani intelligence reacts violently to such language. The Pakistani role was recently underlined in the details provided by the US Department of Treasury in its newest terrorist designations. The most vital part of this is the banking of money from foreign funding sources, as well as millions paid in ransom into Pakistani banks. Afghanistan itself has few banking facilities to speak of, and the Taliban are hardly credulous enough to park its funds in the corruption-ridden banks in Afghanistan.

The data doesn't include the millions that flow into Pakistan from the narcotics trade. The one factor often missed by analysts in terms of ending the Afghan war is that the violence is more and more about money. In short, the Afghan war is very profitable for many in Pakistan, including the Pakistani army and intelligence. The profit motive may not be an institutional one, but it is certainly one that permeates at the ground level.

In the final analysis, the core of the Pakistan-Taliban military strategy is simple. To win, the Taliban have to erode and destroy the ability of the Afghan forces to defend the people.

This is the fundamental aspect of a contract between a 'government' and its people, which forms the basis of a state. Building up Afghanistan's capability to defend itself is also equally the focus of US assistance.

As a report from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction noted, the US has spent about $70 billion so far on revitalising the Afghan security sector, which constitutes 60 percent of total reconstruction funding. The ANSF is getting on its feet and has been able to deny ground to the Taliban and its henchmen. The main factor eating into an eventual stand-alone capability is the unsustainable casualty rates.

The Taliban in other words, try to kill off more numbers than can realistically be expected to be trained in a year. The 'kill rate' is vital, which is why the Pentagon has decided recently to keep such data out of the public sphere. Its ugly, but that's the math operating here. Unless some way can be found to deliver training quickly and efficiently, this is how it will be.

This is where India comes in. Our ability to provide efficient training is considerable, particularly since it is grounded on Asian realities.

The Indian Army is already involved in providing training to troops as well as officers in the Indian Military Academy. Much of the skilling at the ground level involves inculcating not just discipline, but pride in their uniform. This is a vital requirement in a situation where the Afghan Army still has to identify with their country, rather than a tribe or an ethnic group.

With Trump expecting allies, as well as friends to take on more responsibility, it is in our interest to significantly increase our training capabilities, setting aside other countries' training for the moment. This is a battle where numbers count, and the boots on the ground have to be Afghan. Keeping foreign troops indefinitely in Afghanistan is not good for anyone in the vicinity. Its certainly killing the Afghan people. It just might kill ours.Russian Opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been freed after a brief spell in police detention in Moscow as thousands rallied against a March election expected to extend Vladimir Putin's Kremlin term

Moscow: Russian Opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been freed after a brief spell in police detention in Moscow as thousands rallied against a March election expected to extend Vladimir Putin's Kremlin term.

"I'm free," Navalny said on Twitter late on Sunday, adding: "Today has been an important day... Thanks to all those who were not afraid to fight for their rights."

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 on Sunday 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 earlier 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. 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.

Sunday'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 in 2017.A Pakistani UN peacekeeper was killed by 'members of an armed group' in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday, a United Nations spokesman said.

Kinshasa: A Pakistani UN peacekeeper was killed by "members of an armed group" in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday, 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 United Nations' 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, Democratic Republic of the 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.hese men and women we spoke to represent a random microcosm of the H1B-H4 community. At one level, all their stories can be lumped together and dismissed in one stroke - a community not allowed to work from the early 90s till 2015 has sampled life with the same freedoms that the H1B workers enjoy and is now fighting to retain that toehold in a foreign land that has become a second home. But to do (only) that is to miss the story of many generations of H4 holders who have clutched at straws, raised children, watched their financial independence and their closest relationships erode or sometimes slip away.

No, I would not have come here if I could not work on an H4, New Jersey resident Dhaval Doshy tells us, without a moments hesitation. Its a cold day in January, damp and grey with an overcast sky which matches the current mood on the H4 beat. An Obama era regulation which opened the floodgates for H4 dependents of H1B workers to get work authorizations is on cliff edge now. All indications are that the Trump administration wants to do more than just signal its displeasure against these work permits. February is crucial for the H4 community - they are bracing for a proposed rule change that could possibly put their (re-launched) careers in jeopardy.

Framed against the larger story of the H4 visa in the USA, what Doshy just said stands in stark contrast to the patterns of lives lived on this dependent visa.

Doshys wife is on an H1B visa, hes doing his bit as a stay-at-home dad after getting his work permit (technically called EAD) about six months ago. But I cant do this for long...." he trails off.

People like me are exceptions, says Doshy.

Hes absolutely right. What he's pointing to are the long shadows of the H1B edifice in the USA. Because of a variety of social factors, women have rarely questioned the fait accompli of an H4 visa or questioned it only post-facto, in the hope that somehow, something may work out once they cross the Atlantic. In the 27 years that the H4 visa has existed, its only in summer of 2015 that a certain subset of H4 visa holders ( whose H1B spouses had applied for green cards) were allowed permission to pursue paid work in the US. For everybody else on an H4 visa before 2015, paid work was out of question. Yet, waves upon waves of H1B workers came to the US since 1991 and their spouses and dependents on H4 visas stayed home, their work lives on hold 10,000 miles away from India, hamstrung by the visa caste system in the US.

Standing around Doshy in the video conversation embedded above are the non-exceptions - Kalyani Kelkar, Neha Mahajan, Poonam Ghelani, some of whove followed their husbands on an H4 with no clarity on how many years they would stay outside the formal economy. These men and women we spoke to represent a random microcosm of the H1B-H4 community. At one level, all their stories can be lumped together and dismissed in one stroke - a community not allowed to work from the early 90s till 2015 has sampled life with the same freedoms that the H1B workers enjoy and is now fighting to retain that toehold in a foreign land that has become a second home.

But to do (only) that is to miss the story of many generations of H4 holders who have clutched at straws, raised children, watched their financial independence and their closest relationships erode or sometimes slip away.

We didnt know it was going to be like this is a common thread that runs deep in the H4 community.

That figures. Even H1B workers who know every downside of the H4 visa push back against the idea of the harassed H4 visa dependent.

All they have to do is get someone to sponsor their H1B, is a breezy response by some H1B folks to the lock step that the H4 finds itself in. The H1B worker knows better than to believe this is true or possible. The last 12 months in the H1Bs history alone should be proof enough.

As on date, 104,750 H4 visa holders have an EAD according to latest figures from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services for FY 2015-2017 updated till last June.

Compare that with these numbers: In the 10 year period from 2007 to 2017, a total of 2,237,478 H1B petitions have been approved for Indians. Straightaway, the gap between the universe of approved H1B petitions and extensions minus the total number of H4 EADs is an entire generation of H4 visa holders which falls between the cracks.

When the floodgates finally opened for H4 visa holders to work in the US, how many were able to find work? If one question can be answered by another, it is this: How many years outside the work loop does it take for your resume to be considered dead on arrival?

Chart the careers of H1B visa workers and their H4 visa dependents on a graph and the result you will see is how two mismatched categories of entry into a foreign land can cleave the modern nuclear family onto divergent paths - one going north or at least plateuing and the other with no option but downhill. The H4 community gets slammed by two forces - the limitations that flow from the nature of a dependent visa and the interminable Green Card backlog. The H4 exists because of the H1B and its pressures stem from the H1B led GC backlog. As long as the H1B worker remains in the GC queue, the H4 recipient's career hangs in balance, bending to the whim of policy and political climate.

Take, for instance, Rashi Bhatnagar's story. Her Facebook page 'H4 visa, a curse' has been a leading force in galvanizing the H4 community over the last seven years around the fine print of this beleaguered visa. But what about Rashi herself? On paper, she has an EAD but caring for her young child fills her days. By the time her son is in full time school and Rashi is ready to enter an 8-hour day workforce, will the H4 EAD still exist? Would her husband's green card have come through? "I'm a veteran now...," she shrugs, the weight of relentless record keeping seeping into her voice over the phone line.

Here below, we begin chroniciling the personal histories of H4 visa holders in America. If youd like to share your story with your real name and picture, send us a line on Twitter | @byniknat

An M.Tech from IIT, Madras speaks on the GC backlog

Harshit Chatur, Houston, Texas

"I came to the US on an F1 student visa in 2006 after my M Tech from IIT, Madras. After an MBA from Rice University from 2006-2008, I was taken on board by a local energy company on an H1B and have stayed on in Houston ever since. My wife has an MBA from Melbourne, Australia. She came here on an H4, moved to an H1B, got laid off and now shes on an H4 EAD and works as a business analyst. Between just two of us, we represent a typical sample of a high skilled family unit in the US hard done by the green card backlog. My company filed for my GC in the summer of 2012 and the wait is still on. The H4 issue ties into this - if the GC backlog isn't the way it is, the pressures on the H4 community will be far less."

A high skilled double Masters degree holder goes through the wringer of the H1B visa caste system

Poonam Ghelani | @poonammg

"I came to US as a MS student in 2005. My H1B visa was filed in 2007 which got rejected in the first ever lottery in the history of H1B visa, so I enrolled for further studies. In 2008, the year of the worst financial crash in Americas modern history, I got married to an H1B visa holder. The recession hit home, I continued studyingwaiting. Finally in 2013, my H1B wait ended and that project went on till 2015. The flexibility of the H4 EAD was a boon for me that year. For all practical purposes, I represent the archetypal high skilled worker and I feel strongly about the risks of a possible H4 EAD cancellation. I hope the administration takes a call based on the same merit criteria for this decision too. The H4 EAD must not be revoked."

"If the EAD gets revoked, I'll go back..."

Jansi Kumar, California

"When I got married in March 2016, I lived and worked in Mumbai with a prestigious MNC in their HR division. I have an MBA from Mumbai University. My husband has been on an H1B in the US and has done his Masters in the US too. Since I was in HR, I did know about the H4 issue but when you live in a different country, it's tough to know all the intricate details. For example, the H4 EAD rule had come into force by the time I got to the US but I had no clue about the legal case that Save Jobs USA had filed. These are things you get to know when you're local and in the thick of things. On the upside, I got a job within 2 days of getting my EAD in June 2017 after a 10 month wait for my husband's I-140 and my EAD. My husband filed for his green card in 2016. The queue is so impossibly backlogged that it's going to take forever for that GC to come through. If this EAD issue goes downhill and work options are closed for me, I'll probably up and go to Canada or just go back home. Thankfully, my husband is very supportive. But if we do end up moving out, there's this guilt on my mind that he did it for me. But I can't even fathom a life being dependent on my husband for my basic expenses. Our stats say that H4 EAD holders barely impact the job market in a negative way. Why are we being targeted then?"

Without an SSN and earning capacity, what's an American life reduced to?

Sharmistha Mohapatra | @sharmi.mohaps

I have a Masters degree in Computer Applications. I came to the US in 2010 on an H4. From 2010 till 2015 when the H4 EAD rule came, I had no choice but to stay home and that drove me into depression. I have an autistic son who needs therapy and this comes at a high cost. On a single income, it is really tough. Before the EAD, I did not have an SSN. For everything - from opening a library account to applying for a drivers license, I needed my husbands approval. When my son was diagnosed with autism, I was not on an EAD and could not earn, so it was very tough to negotiate with my husband to enroll the child for therapy which is expensive here. All that changed after the EAD - I started saving for my kids, could enroll them in classes with the extra money and I could spend on myself without feeling guilty.

Bachelor's, Master's in Engineering, another Master's almost done and yet no job in the US

Swati, California

"I moved to US 5 years ago. I hold a Bachelors and Masters degree in Engineering. I had a well paying job in India, which I decided to leave to live with my husband because he came to the US on an H1B. I did not want to leave India but you can imagine the family pressures. I had a baby and I focussed on raising my daughter as I did not have any work permit. I enrolled for my second Masters and did a change of Status to F1. I found an internship and was finally relieved. I went to India last month and I had to go for stamping. Unfortunately, my F1 visa was denied. I am back to US on H4 and still studying. With the chances of H4 EAD getting revoked, I will not have any option to work in the future. My husband is willing to move back to India because we don't see any point in living like this anymore....With a Masters degree in Engineering and another Masters almost done, I have been out of a paid job for five years now. I don't want to look back at age 40 and realize that I spent 10 years just doing the dishes."

"I have been having panic attacks"

Mouneesha Chowdary, Salt Lake City, Utah

The only reason I agreed to come to the USA on an H4 is because I was assured I could get my EAD soon and I could work. I did my engineering in biotechnology and was also a software engineer back home in Hyderabad . After my EAD came through, I got signed on by a modeling agency and began work with local stores and designers. I have been planning to buy a house - thats when I heard about the recent news on the H4 EAD and I have been having panic attacks. I am not able to digest the fact that our lives are going to change drastically if the EAD is revoked.

"Recruiters backed off when they saw the gap on my resume..."

Shyamal Punekar, Portland, Oregon

I have a Bachelors degree in Electronics & Telecommunication. I began my career as a software developer and have worked for 8+ years in automation and manual testing. I got married to an H1B worker in 2013 and came to the US. My husband filed an H1B for me and while we waited for that to work out, the H4 EAD ruling came. Already, there was a nearly 2 year gap on my resume and tech recruiters backed off. I changed track and trained on Android/Java. Just when Im ready to apply for jobs, if H4 EAD gets revoked, we are back to where we started. This will affect my career and my family life deeply.

From H4 to F1 and back to H4

Kanupriya Dhiman | @kanudhiman

"I came to United States after my MBA. I was hoping to find a sponsor who would file my H1B visa but I found that next to impossible if you do not have US working experience and you're from a non-STEM background. Without a social security number, I ended up depending on my husband for a bank account, for getting around....it's a very alienating experience. After thinking a great deal about the financial implications, I took a loan and sank money into another Masters degree. I transferred my visa status from H4 to F1 and after several hoops, I was able to join the workforce again. After the H4EAD rule in 2015, I shifted to H4 which seemed a more flexible and stable choice. Here we are again now, with this policy under threat. I have invested tremendous amounts of time, money, physical and emotional energy to regain financial independence. I request the Trump administration not to revoke the H4 EAD rule. This is not just about economic independence, it is about dignity."

Do we stand a chance in the H1B lottery?

Anindita Rath | @Anindit79785814

I left my job as a finance analyst with a reputed bank to join my husband in the US after marriage. That was 2011. This is after my BTech in Computer Science and MBA in finance. I went back to school in 2012 and completed my second Masters degree yet an H1B continues to elude me because I am one among thousands in the lottery. I continue to live in constant fear of losing employability. Meanwhile, we bought a house in San Jose and the pressures of the mortgage are immense if we get redueced to a single income family.

A US road trip before the coming shocker?

Karunya Rao | @jkarurao

I came to the US in June 2015 after getting married to the boy I loved madly but it was really hard being a nobody in a brand new country. I got my EAD in December 2016 and I still havent found a job but at least I have the elbow room to keep trying. Now, with this news of a possible EAD cancellation, we are just hoping to travel as much as we can before we are forced to move!

"If I knew all that I do today, I would have made a better choice"

Neha Mahajan, New Jersey | @nehamaha

There's really nothing you can do in the formal economy on an H4 without an EAD. Youve probably heard this from many others but its worth repeating - you cannot even open a bank account! In a foreign land, nothing is a black and white choice, it took us 5 years to decide whether we wanted to stay here at all. Kids were growing up, we could not be constantly moving across geographies. Thats when we decided to jump into the green card queue. Thestory about getting a H1B sponsorship is just a pipe dream - ask anyone on an H4 and they will second this. For about 8 years, I volunteered at non-profits before the EAD rule came. It took me 8 months to find work in an IT product and services firm. Last December, I lost my job and now with the threat of the EAD being revoked, I'll be back to where I began in 2008. When I look back, 10 years of my prime working life have gone in just waiting for a work permit and within 3 years of getting it, it might all slip away again. Living on a single salary with two little children is very tough in the US. Taxes are high, tickets to go back home are expensive and can eat into an entire year's savings. We haven't been to India in about 4 years. I know of people who haven't gone back in a decade! Five years later, will I still be on an H4 and with no paid work...? I think it's important for the new folks coming to the US to understand the struggles of being on a dependent vusa. If I knew all that I know today, I would have made a better choice.

More stories will be updated below on this same thread.His moment in the global sun was shadowed to an extent by a New York Times report that he had tried to fire the special counsel investigating his campaign ties to Russia and backed off only when the White House counsel threatened to resign. Mr. Trump dismissed the report as fake news, even though other news outlets confirmed it, and he otherwise tried to ignore it publicly.

But his unlikely visit to Davos was meant to be a shift in tone from his populist, protectionist rhetoric. He went so far as to say that he would be willing to re-enter the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Asian trade agreement he abandoned last year, if it was renegotiated on better terms. That offer came just days after the other 11 members opted to form their own bloc without the United States.

We would consider negotiating with the rest, either individually, or perhaps as a group, if it is in the interests of all, Mr. Trump said, despite his oft-stated insistence on one-on-one trade deals rather than multinational pacts.

Mr. Trump was largely well received by the billionaire investors, corporate executives and heads of state who a year ago were fretting that his election would mean the demise of the global order they had built, but today were celebrating his tax cuts and regulatory rollback.

The economy has improved since Trump came in, said Kanika Dewan, president of Bramco, a company that builds airports around the globe from headquarters in New Delhi and Bahrain. His offensive comments are mostly about capturing media attention. At the end of the day, hes not going to do anything to destroy his legacy.

Brian Mikkelsen, Denmarks minister of industry, business and financial affairs, welcomed Mr. Trumps legislation slashing corporate tax rates. Im quite sure, talking to Danish business leaders, that they will invest more in the States because of these tax cuts, he said.

But like others, Mr. Mikkelsen emerged somewhat uncertain about which Mr. Trump to expect in the months ahead. It was impossible to guess what direction he will take on trade, he said.

Mr. Trump used the overnight visit to salve other wounds. He expressed regret for sharing anti-Muslim videos posted by an ultranationalist British fringe group, which offended Prime Minister Theresa May. If you are telling me theyre horrible people, horrible, racist people, I would certainly apologize, if youd like me to do that, Mr. Trump told Britains ITV.

For Mr. Trump, whose rule is never apologize, that was an unusual concession. But he offered no public apology for recent offensive commentsabout African countries when he met on Friday with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, the chairman of the African Union. The union demanded a retraction and apology at the time of the remarks, but neither Mr. Trump nor Mr. Kagame mentioned the incident on camera on Friday.

Beyond those meetings, Mr. Trumps visit focused to a striking degree on business. His speech mentioned priorities like terrorism, Iran and North Korea in passing, but included nothing about China, Russia, Europe, climate change, global health or other priorities. He related to the audience as a fellow capitalist, asserting, incorrectly, that he was the only businessman to have served as president.

Declaring that America is roaring back, he promoted a story of economic rebirth. The world is witnessing the resurgence of a strong and prosperous America, he said. Im here to deliver a simple message: There has never been a better time to hire, to build, to invest and to grow in the United States. America is open for business, and we are competitive once again.

His comeback message, however, was tempered by a report that came out while he was on stage. The American economy grew by 2.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017, healthy but lower than the 3 percent or 4 percent or higher that he has aspired to. Over all, the economy grew 2.3 percent in 2017, Mr. Trumps first year in office, up from 1.5 percent in 2016, PresidentBarack Obamas last year, but lower than in either 2014 or 2015.

As he often does, Mr. Trump presented a selective version of the last year. He boasted that African-American unemployment was at a new low, but did not mention that it began falling in 2011, and that the decline this year simply continued the progress that started under Mr. Obama.

He claimed credit for creating 2.4 million jobs since his election, but the number of new jobs in 2017 was no higher than in any of the last six years of Mr. Obamas tenure.

Still, he was right that stock markets have soared to remarkable heights on his watch and that the American business community had responded to his tax cuts and regulatory rollback with enthusiasm. His surprisingly warm reception here, despite the schism over trade and global affairs, underscored the optimism of many corporate leaders.

Klaus Schwab, who founded the World Economic Forum in 1971, not only praised Mr. Trump on stage, but also seemed to exonerate the myriad incendiary actions that have troubled many in the corporate community. Im aware that your strong leadership is open to misconceptions and biased interpretations, Mr. Schwab said. Some in the audience felt that went too far, and booed.

Mr. Trumps speech was largely written by Gary D. Cohn, the presidents national economic adviser and a former Goldman Sachs banker, and Robert Porter, the White House staff secretary. Stephen Miller, the immigration hard-liner who often crafts the presidents more provocative speeches, was busy working on next weeks State of the Union address.

In conversations over the last few days, Mr. Trump agreed to offer a more optimistic, less strident tone to show flexibility without making any substantive compromise. He stuck closely to the script on the teleprompter. Even during a later 10-minute session of questions and answers with Mr. Schwab, Mr. Trump generally stuck to the talking points, although he could not resist a jab at the fake media and noted that many in the room supported his Democratic opponent in 2016.

He was the marketer-in-chief, said Daniel Yergin, vice chairman of IHS Markit, a research and information company focused on energy and other sectors. He was selling America, he was selling the economic story and he was selling himself to an international business community who expected something else.Working from home? Switch to the DIGITAL edition of CLICK HERE to signup now!Nokia today has unveiled the new ReefShark chipsets which are aimed to take leverage of the in-house silicon expertise and reduce the size, cost and power consumption of operators networks and meet the radio requirements of 5G. The company has also outlined its implementation of Future X network architecture for 5G. The chipsets also incorporate the Nokias artificial intelligence (AI) and nanometer chip technology.

The ReefShark chipsets also leverage on the companys capabilities in antenna development for mobile devices and base stations. The chipsets for RF (radio frequency) are also said to significantly improve the radio performance and also results in reducing the size of massive MIMO antennas. ReefShark chipsets also reduce power consumption in baseband units by 64%, compared to such units in use today.

The ReefShark chipsets for compute capacity are delivered as plug-in units for the commercially available Nokia AirScale baseband module which is a software upgradeable to full 5G functionality. These plug-in units also results in triple throughput with upto 28GBps to 84 Gbps per module

AI in 5G networks enables real-time radio monitoring and optimization and brings in the ability to apply techniques such as network slicing to meet the service level demands of new business cases. The company is working on common toolkits and interfaces for service providers to quickly adopt and implement machine learning technology in their networks.

Nokia mentioned that it is currently working with 30 network operators using ReefShark and is aiming to ramp up the field deployments during the Q3 2018. On the other hand, the Future X combines high-capacity 5G New Radio, core, and SDN controlled Anyhaul transport to provide network capabilities for the commercial 5G network. The Nokia 5G New Radio is based on 3GPP 5G New Radio Release 15 standard and the AirScale Radio Access is a modular way of building radio access networks delivering services with virtually unlimited capacity, scaling and market-leading latency and connectivity.

The Nokia 5G Future X portfolio outlined functions include Nokias 5G AirScale active antennas, Nokia 5G Anyhaul, Nokias 5G Small Cells, Nokia 5G Core, Nokia Massive Scale Access, 5G Acceleration Services. The company mentioned that it will further detail the Future X architecture for 5G at the MWC 2018 next month.

Henri Tervonen, CTO of Nokia Mobile Networks and head of R&D Foundation said:

With ReefShark, Nokia has created a clear competitive advantage. Its combination of power, intelligence and efficiency make it ideally suited to be at the heart of fast arriving 5G networks.

Marc Rouanne, president of Mobile Networks at Nokia, said:

With our 5G Future X portfolio we are opening up network data and network intelligence to our customers to jointly program and tailor machine learning and automation that runs on our new silicon. The Future X architecture invented by our Nokia Bell Labs research has made it possible to mix the knowledge across Nokia, between IP, Optics, RF, software and innovative in-house silicon. We now expect to be able to deliver unprecedented capabilities and efficiencies that will allow our customers to transform their service offering for 5G.

Source 1, 2The objectives here are to provide a systematic review of the current evidence concerning the use of Chinese herbs in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to understand their mechanisms of action with respect to the pathophysiology of the disease. AD, characterized microscopically by deposition of amyloid plaques and formation of neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, has become the most common cause of senile dementia. The limitations of western medications have led us to explore herbal medicine. In particular, many Chinese herbs have demonstrated some interesting therapeutic properties. The following databases were searched from their inception: MEDLINE (PUBMED), ALT HEALTH WATCH (EBSCO), CINAH and Cochrane Central. Only single Chinese herbs are included. Two reviewers independently extracted the data and performed quality assessment. The quality assessment of a clinical trial is based on the Jadadcriteria. Seven Chinese herbs and six randomized controlled clinical trials were identified under the predefined criteria. Ginkgo biloba, Huperzine A (Lycopodium serratum) and Ginseng have been assessed for their clinical efficacy with limited favorable evidence. No serious adverse events were reported. Chinese herbs show promise in the treatment of AD in terms of their cognitive benefits and more importantly, their mechanisms of action that deal with the fundamental pathophysiology of the disease. However, the current evidence in support of their use is inconclusive or inadequate. Future research should place emphasis on herbs that can treat the root of the disease.

We have identified two systematic reviews in the literature concerning the efficacy of herbal medicine for AD [ 11 , 12 ]. The first systematic review included four clinical studies, among which western herbs were examined in two studies and Chinese herbs in the other two. The second systematic review published in 2008 included 16 clinical studies, among which western herbs were examined in two studies, Japanese herbs in one study and Chinese herbs in the rest of studies (13 studies). The results suggest that Chinese herbal medicine represents a promising area in the future treatment of AD. Unfortunately, Chinese herbal remedies that have undergone clinical trials are mostly in the form of herbal formulas rather than single herbs. It would be difficult to identify and validate the effective ingredients in an herbal formula that demonstrates clinical efficacy. Thus our systematic review is focused on single Chinese herbs that have effects on the development and progression of AD according to experimental and clinical evidence. This review excludes western herbs such as Salvia officinalisand Melissa officinalis that have demonstrated clinical benefits to AD patients.

The short-term memory dysfunction in AD has been related to reduction in the activity of the cholinergic neurons [ 8 ]. Among the four medications currently approved by the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for treating the cognitive deficiency of AD, three are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmine), which increase cholinergic activity. However, the efficacy of cholinesterase inhibitors for the treatment of AD is not supported by a high-quality large-scale randomized double-blind clinical trial [ 9 ]. Approaches based on the use of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamin E and estrogen remain controversial [ 10 ].

Microscopically, AD is characterized by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles [ 4 ]. Amyloid plaques are dense deposits of amyloid-beta (A) protein. Accumulation of aggregated amyloid fibrils, which are believed to be neuro-toxic, causes loss of neurons and synapses in the cerebral cortex and certain subcortical regions and results in gross atrophy of the affected areas [ 5 ]. However, deposition of amyloid plaques does not correlate well with neuron loss [ 6 ]. In a recent clinical trial, an experimental vaccine was found to clear the amyloid plaques, but it did not have any significant effect on dementia [ 7 ], suggesting that neurofibrillary tangles could play a more important role than amyloid plaques in the pathophysiology of AD.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), first described by German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer in 1906, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive deterioration together with behavioral disturbances and declining activities of daily living [ 1 ]. AD is the most common cause of senile dementia [ 2 ] with a prevalence estimated to be 1.6% in the USA [ 3 ]. The rate is expected to increase over time as the aging population grows inasmuch as more than 80% of AD patients are 65 years or older.

Each study included in this review satisfied the following criteria: (i) the disease studied was AD and (ii) the herb studied was a Chinese herb. The exclusion criteria consisted of (i) the study was a clinical trial but it was not a randomized controlled trial (RCT), (ii) the herb studied was an herbal formula (i.e., neither a single herb nor a single herbal compound), (iii) the diseased population studied included the dementia of non-AD type (e.g., dementia due to brain ischemia or infarct) and (iv) the herb concerned was not a Chinese herb. Two reviewers independently extracted the data and performed quality assessment. The quality assessment in this review is based on the validated Jadad criteria, which was devised for grading the quality of RCTs [ 13 ].

The following computerized databases were searched from their inception to December 2008: MEDLINE (PUBMED), ALT HEALTH WATCH (EBSCO), CINAHL and Cochrane Central. Text word search of titles and abstracts was conducted using the following entries in various conjunction or disjunction:Alzheimer's Disease, Chinese, herbs, and herbal medicine. Only articles originally written in English or translated into English were considered.

3. Results

Our review has identified seven Chinese herbs that have been studied for their potential benefits in AD treatment. Out of these seven herbs, Ginkgo biloba, Huperzine A and Ginseng have been assessed for clinical efficacy separately in six RCTs ( ). The mechanisms of action of each herb are shown in . The pathological stages of AD are drawn in and the pathophysiological target site of each Chinese herb is shown in .

Neuronal changes in the Alzheimer's brain. In the early stage (a), there are amyloidal deposits surrounding neurons and formation of neurofibrillary tangles in the neuron. In the next stage (b), amyloidal deposits cause inflammation and damage due to ...

The blocking sites of herbs on the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Ginkgo biloba: B, DG; Huperzine A: B, D, F, G; Uncaria rhynchophylla: B, E; Ginseng: B, F, G; Tenuigenin (Polygala tenuifolta): B; Berberine (Coptidis rhizoma): B, C, G; ...

Table 1 Study Design Herb name Quality Rx N Cx N Outcome measures a Side effects Results Maurer et al. [14] Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel G. biloba(EGb761) 80 mg tid for 3 months 3 10 10 SKT No adverse events Rx> Placebo (SKT) (P < .05) Schneider et al. [15] Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel, multi-center G. biloba(EGb761) 120 mg or 240 mg per day for 26 weeks 4 169 (120 mg) 170 (240 mg) 174 ADAS-cog, ADCS-CGIC Related serious adverse events (1% in 120 mg Gp and 2% in 240 mg Gp) Rx = Placebo Mazza et al. [16] Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel G. biloba(EGb761) 160 mg per day for 24 weeks 5 25 25 b , 26 c SKT MMSE CGI No adverse events (1) Rx = Donepezil(2)Rx> Placebo (SKT, CGI) (P < .001)(3)Rx = Placebo (MMSE) Xu et al. [17] Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel, multi-center Huperzine A 0.2 mg b.i.d. for 8 weeks 3 50 53 Wechsler, Hasegawa, MMSE No severe side effects Rx> Placebo (P < .05) Zhang et al. [18] Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel, multi-center Huperzine A 0.4 mg per day for 12 weeks 4 100 102 ADAS MMSE Ankle edema, insomnia (3%) Rx> Placebo (P < .001) Heo et al. [19] Randomized, non-blinding, controlled, parallel Ginseng 4.5 g or 9.0 g per day for 12 weeks 1 15 (9 g)15 (4.5 g), 31 ADAS, MMSE, CDR Nausea, fever (13%) (1) Rx (9 g) >Cx (ADAS-cog, CDR) (P< .05)(2) Rx =Cx (MMSE)

Herb Mechanisms of actions (i) Increase in cholinergic neuron function, (ii) Protection against the A protein induced oxidative damages (degrading hydrogen peroxide, preventing lipid from oxidation and trapping reactive oxygen species), G. biloba [20] (iii) Prevention of A protein induced fibrillogenesis as well as the formation ADDLs, (iv) Inhibition of cholesterol-induced overproduction of APP, (v) Anti-apoptosis (opposing mitochondria-initiated apoptosis, downgrading caspase-12, upgrading BCL 2 ), (vi) Regulation of gene expression (i) Protection against the A protein and hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative damages (ii) Anti-apoptosis (regulating gene expression: Bcl-2, Bax, P53 and caspase-3), (iii) Modulating secretary APP and protein kinase C-, Huperzine A [21,22] (iv) Protection against hypoxia, ischemia and glutamate induced brain injury and cytotoxiicity, (v) Antagonizing effects on NMDA (N-methyl- D -aspartate) receptors, (vi) Regulation of the expression and secretion of nerve growth factor and its signaling Uncaria rhynchophylla[23] (i) Inhibition of aggregation of A protein, (ii) Destabilization of preformed A neurofibrills (i) Increase in the uptake of choline in central nervous system, (ii) Release of acetylcholine from hippocampus, Ginseng [19] (iii) Increase in choline acetyltransferase, (iv) Protection against the A protein induced neurotoxic effects, (v) Repair of A-damaged neuron networks, (vi) Reducing the level of A Tenuigenin (P. tenuifolta) [24] (i) Decrease of the secretion of A protein via BACE1 (-secretase) inhibition (i) Alteration of the processing of amyloidal precursor protein, Berberine (C. rhizoma) [25,26] (ii) Decrease of the secretion of A protein, (iii) Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity Indirubins [27] (i) Inhibition of abnormal tau phosphorylation by inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta and CDK5/p25 The mechanisms of action of single Chinese herbs in the treatment of AD.

3.1. Ginkgo biloba Ginkgo biloba has been used as Chinese herbal medicine to treat a variety of health disorders for centuries. Ginkgo seed is used as an astringent for problems like asthma, chronic bronchitis, spermatorrhea and leukorrhea. Ginkgo leaf is used for vascular insufficiency such as coronary heart disease. G. biloba exhibits several interesting properties that make it a promising herbal candidate for the treatment of AD [20]. The herb is a well-known anti-oxidant and can protect the brain from A-induced oxidative damage. In addition, G. biloba can inhibit the A fibril formation, the toxicity of A-derived neurotoxins known as Amyloid-beta derived diffusible ligands (ADDLs), and A-induced apoptosis. The herb also shifts the metabolism of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in favor of the non-amyloidogenic pathway. Furthermore, the herb can modulate brain cholinergic transmission, increase brain cholinergic activity, and normalize the acetylcholine receptors in the hippocampus area [10]. The G. biloba extract EGb 761 used in the clinical trials contained 22%27% of flavonoids, 5%7% terpene lactones and no more than 5 ppm alkylphenols [15]. The clinical efficacy of G. biloba extract EGb 761 was assessed in a clinical study conducted by Maurer et al. [14]. This study is a double-blind RCT. Twenty AD patients aged 5080 with mild to moderate dementia were recruited. After excluding two patients, the remaining 18 patients were randomly divided into the treatment and control groups. Over a 3-month period, the treatment group received an oral daily dose of 240 mg EGb 761, whereas the control group received a placebo. The primary outcome measure was SKT (Syndrom-Kurz Test), which is a short cognitive performance test for assessing memory and attention. Secondary measures such as AD assessment scale (ADAS) and EEG were analyzed qualitatively. The study confirmed the efficacy of EGb 761, as measured by SKT, for the treatment of mildly to moderately severe AD. In addition, EEG showed some improvement in brain activity. However, the results based on the ADAS were not statistically significant, possibly due to the small sample size. The quality of this study is fair. No sufficient details were reported with respect to the procedures of randomization and blinding as well as the tracking of dropouts in the process. The validity of the study would also be weakened by the small sample size. Schneider et al. [15] conducted a large-scale double-blind, multicenter RCT for determining the clinical efficacy of G. biloba extract EGb 761 in AD. Patients aged 60 years or older with mild to moderate dementia of the AD type for at least 6 months were recruited. Patients were excluded from the trial if they had any other type of dementia or central nerve system disorder or if they had taken anti-dementia medications including cholinesterase inhibitors within 6 weeks of study entry. A CT or MRI scan performed within one-year of study entry and being consistent with the diagnosis of AD was required at inclusion After initial screening, 513 patients participated in the study and they were randomly divided into three groups. Over a 26-week period, 169 patients received an oral daily dose of 120 mg, 170 patients an oral dose of 240 mg and 174 patients took a placebo. The primary outcome measures are ADAS-cog and ADCS-CGIC. The results showed no statistically significant differences between the treatment and control groups, and the efficacy of G. biloba on AD remained inconclusive. The high quality of this study is reflected by its large sample size, the use of strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, sound randomization and blinding techniques, and a detailed dropout report. Therefore, this study would reasonably carry more weight in its conclusion when compared with other studies. A double-blind RCT conducted by Mazza et al. was aimed to compare G. bilobaextract EGb 761 and a second-generation cholinesterase inhibitor, donepezil, for their efficacy in the treatment of AD [16]. Patients aged 5080 years with a mild to moderate degree of AD dementia were recruited but patients with dementia of other etiologies were excluded. Medications with cognitive effects were prohibited. In the study, 76 patients were randomized into three groups. Over a 24-week period, 25 patients received an oral daily dose of 160 mg EGb 761; 25 patients received an oral daily dose of donepezil 5 mg; and remaining 26 patients took a placebo. The primary outcome measures were MMSE (mini-mental state examination), SKT and Clinical Global Impression (CGI). The study found that both G. biloba and donepezil were more effective than the placebo for improving the cognitive function in patients with mild to moderate AD according to the measures of SKT and CGI (but not of MMSE), and the differences were statistically significant; however, there was no statistical difference between G. biloba and donepezil based on all three measures. In addition, there were no major side effects reported. Thus, this study concluded that G. biloba could be a valuable alternative to cholinesterase inhibitors for the treatment of AD. The quality of the study was rated high with sound randomization and blinding procedures and a detailed dropout follow-up. The only concern is its small sample size, which may limit its external validity (i.e., generalization to other clinical settings).

3.2. Ginseng Ginseng grows in Northeastern Asia. Ginseng root has been used in folk medicine in countries like China and Korea for boosting Qi (energy). It is used as an adaptogen or aphrodisiac, and can be applied to patients with low energy, immune weakness and sexual dysfunction. Research has suggested that ginseng is able to enhance psychomotor and cognitive performance, and can benefit AD by improving brain cholinergic function, reducing the level of A, and repairing damaged neuronal networks [19, 28]. Ginseng as an adjuvant treatment in patients with AD was analyzed in a clinical study conducted by Heo et al. [19]. Korean Ginseng used in the study is in principle similar to Chinese ginseng. The study recruited patients aged 50 years or older with mild to moderate AD dementia, but patients with a history of psychiatric or neurological disorders were excluded. All patients included in the study had been treated with western medications used for AD for at least six months. The study design was an open-label RCT. Sixty-one patients were randomized into three groups. Fifteen patients received an oral daily dose of 9 g ginseng, 15 patients received an oral daily dose of 4.5 g ginseng and 31 patients took a placebo. The active constituents of ginseng used in this study are ginsenosides composed of Rb1 (1.96%), Rb2 (2.18%), Rc (1.47%), Rd (0.72%), Re (1.11%), Rf (0.24%), Rg1 (0.49%), Rg2 (0.13%), Rg3 (0.12%), Rh1 (0.12%) and Rh2 (0.003%). During the 12-week study period, anti-dementia medications used before the study were continued. The primary outcome measures were ADAS, Korean version of MMSE, and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR). The high-dose ginseng group showed statistically significant improvement on the ADAS and CDR (but not MMSE) at the end of the study, when compared with the control group. However, such improvement was not observed in the low-dose ginseng group. This study was poorly designed with an insufficient description of randomization and without blinding. Furthermore, the sample size was small, and there was also the confounding effect due to concurrently administered western medications.

3.3. Huperzine A Huperzine A is an alkaloid extracted from the Chinese herb Lycopodium serratum and used in Chinese folk medicine for the treatment of trauma, strains, swelling, schizophrenia, and so forth. [21]. The herb is a potent, reversible and selective inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, which activity is even stronger than galantamine [12], an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of mild to moderate AD and other memory disorders. As the decline in brain cholinergic function is a major factor responsible for the memory deficit in AD, Huperzine A has emerged as a promising candidate for the treatment of AD patients. Other potentially beneficial effects, as far as AD is concerned, include modification of APP processing, protection against A-induced oxidative injury and neuronal apoptosis, regulation of nerve growth factor and reduction in glutamate-induced toxicity [21, 22]. Huperzine A has shown promise for AD, as indicated by in vitro experiments and animal models. Clinical trials have been conducted in China to determine its efficacy on the disease, but only two studies were published in the English literature [17, 18]. On the basis of the evidence presented in the six trials conducted in China and published in the Chinese literature, a systematic review found that Huperzine A had some beneficial effects and no serious adverse effects for patients with AD [29]. Among the four trials considered in one analysis based on the measure of MMSE, two trials produced statistically significant results in favor of Huperzine A over placebo, two showed no statistical difference between the herb and placebo, but combining evidence quantitatively yielded a positive result. In terms of the measure of ADAS-cog, a single trials with more than 200 patients found that Huperzine A was superior to placebo statistically. Taken together, only one study [18] was of adequate quality and sample size, and the overall evidence was inadequate to support its clinical use at present. More high-quality large-scale RCTs are needed for further determination of its efficacy.Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE:DPS) shares soared 24% after K-cup maker Keurig Green Mountain announced plans to buy the soft-drink company in a deal that will create an $11 billion beverage giant.

Keurig, which was acquired by Austrian investment firm JAB Holding in 2016, is part of the firms continued effort to build a food-and-beverage empire to compete with the likes of Pepsi (NASDAQ:PEP) and Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO).

JAB, which already owns Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and Caribou Coffee, agreed to pay $18.7 billion in cash to Dr Pepper Snapple shareholders to pick up such iconic soda brands as Dr Pepper, 7UP and Canada Dry. The new company will now be known as Keurig Dr Pepper, the companies said.

But many analysts said the news of the merger came as a big surprise to beverage industry insiders.

More on this... Dr Pepper Snapple and Keurig Green Mountain to merge

We have argued for consolidation in beverages for a long time, now, but we wouldnt have predicted this one is at the top of the list, Ali Dibadj, senior vice president and senior analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein, told FOX Business.

Dibadj adds that the merger is a smart cost-saving move because it puts different beverages on the same distribution truck.

It makes all the sense in the world given volumes are pressured and those trucks are fixed costs, he added. We think beer and soft drinks should be together, but coffee and soft drinks works too, he added.

Duane Stanford, executive editor of Beverage-Digest, said he was surprised by the news.

Ready-to-drink coffee is fast-growing and right in the consumer sweet spot, Stanford told FOX Business. While soda is still a massive category that is growing on a dollar basis, consumers have been taken with new afternoon pick-me-ups like bottled and canned coffee. Keurig apparently wants to capture the scale and distribution channels of soda and the velocity of categories such as ready-to-drink coffee.The conservative Koch network spent its annual donor conference celebrating policy victories under President Trump such as the tax overhaul, but the elation was tinged with anxiety over Novembers congressional elections that could pose a risk to its agenda.

To that end, the network plans to spend what would be unprecedented sums for the Kochs to maintain Republican majorities in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, while trying to sell voters on the benefits of the newly passed tax package, according to network officials who briefed reporters on their strategy during the conference this weekend in Indian Wells, California.

Historically, the party in power loses seats in congressional elections after a new president's election. This year, Republican angst is compounded by Trump, whose tumultuous presidency helped galvanize Democratic and independent voters to go to the polls in special and state elections last year.

Its going to be a very challenging environment, said Tim Phillips, president of Americans for Prosperity, a grassroots political group that is part of the Koch network. The left is energized. Theres no question about that.

The network is prepared to spend up to $400 million on the congressional races - a 60 percent increase from its investment in the 2016 election, officials said.

Energy magnates Charles and David Koch have long been outsized players in Republican politics, but they never warmed to Trump during the 2016 campaign.

With Trump in the White House, however, they have seen several policy goals realized, including the tax legislation and cutting federal regulations.

But the Koch network still diverges from the Republican president on issues such as immigration and trade. The Kochs strongly support legislation that would protect Dreamers - people brought illegally to the United States as children - from deportation.

Two Koch operatives, Daniel Garza and Jorge Lima, were at the White House on Friday to try to help broker a deal with Congress over the Dreamers. The network issued a statement on Friday disagreeing with a proposal in Trump's immigration blueprint that would set new limits on legal immigration.

On trade, Phillips and other Koch operatives are deeply concerned about the administrations moves to impose tariffs on some imports and ardently support the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico, which is being renegotiated and that Trump has threatened to abandon.

'GET OUT AND DEFINE YOURSELF'

Senator John Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, was an attendee at the Koch event, a measure of the networks deep ties to conservatives in Congress and an example of the leverage it would lose should Democrats take control next year.

Of the $400 million the network is looking to spend, $20 million will go toward promoting the tax law, which passed Congress in December and included big cuts in corporate tax rates along with tax reductions for many individuals.

Polls at the time of passage showed Americans divided about the bill's merits, but Phillips said he believed that would change as voters see increased paychecks. Democrats condemned the tax measure as favoring corporations and the rich.

Americans for Prosperity is positioned to be a ground-level force in the congressional elections. Its largest presence is in Florida, where Democratic Senator Bill Nelson may face a fight from Republican Governor Rick Scott. The group also has offices in Arizona, Nevada, and Wisconsin, among other states, all of which are expected to see highly competitive Senate races.

Phillips said his group would likely stay out of Republican primaries.

One variable hanging over the Kochs effort is Trump. Republican losses in a special U.S. Senate election in Alabama last month and a governors race in Virginia in November were attributed in part to discontent with the president.

In 2010, Republicans seized on voter worries about Democratic President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law, known as Obamacare, to capture the House and thwart Obamas policy goals.

For the Koch network, the challenge will be to avoid having every local race become a referendum on the president, which could propel a Democratic wave.

James Davis, vice president of Freedom Partners, another Koch-backed policy group, said strong candidates should be able to differentiate themselves from Trump.

Get out there and define yourself and where you stand on the issues, Davis said.

During one event, a donor from Nebraska, Gail Werner-Robertson, stood up and addressed Charles Koch directly, urging attendees to contribute more to the midterm effort.

We cant lose the progress you all have fought so hard for, she said.

(Reporting by James Oliphant; Editing by Caren Bohan and Peter Cooney)When it comes to saving for retirement, it's easy to put it off for another day -- a day when you'll have more money, fewer bills, and a greater willingness to save.

The problem is that those days are few, which is why it's so hard for most people to even begin saving. In fact, 46% of baby boomers nearing retirement age have nothing at all saved for retirement, according to a study from the Insured Retirement Institute.

One reason it's so difficult to start saving may be the fact that investing for retirement seems like a daunting task. The average retiree will need over $738,000 during retirement, and the idea of saving nearly three-quarters of a million dollars can be overwhelming.

Fortunately, it's easier than it seems thanks to the power of compound interest -- as long as you start early. The earlier you start saving, the more compound interest can work its magic, exponentially growing your savings. And as you'll see below, waiting even one year to start investing can set you back more than you might imagine.

Compound interest in action

Compound interest is essentially earning interest on your interest. As your savings grow, so do your returns. For example, if you invest $1,000 in a portfolio that gains 5% per year, then in the first year you'll gain $50, bringing the balance to $1,050. The next year, you'll gain 5% of $1,050, or $52.50. In year 10, you'll gain $78, which means your annual returns will have increased by 56% without any additional investment or work on your part.

Let's say you start saving at age 25 and contribute $200 per month, earning a 7% annual rate of return on your investments. If you continue saving at this rate, you'll have around $497,000 by the time you turn 65.

But if you were to start saving at age 26 and all other factors remained the same, your total savings by age 65 would drop to $462,000. In other words, the $2,400 you saved between age 25 and 26 could have turned into about $35,000 by the time you retired, thanks to compound interest.

The results are even more dramatic if you wait longer than a year to start saving. In this scenario, waiting until age 35 would have reduced your savings to $235,000 at age 65. Wait until 45, and you'd end up with just $102,000.

It's also increasingly challenging to catch up on your savings if you wait too long. When you're younger, time is on your side, which means compound interest is, too. But as time goes by, you can't simply contribute a little extra cash each month and expect to catch up.

For instance, say you want to retire at age 65 and have determined that you'll need around $750,000 saved to retire comfortably. Assuming your investments are earning an annual return of 7%, here's how much you'd have to save each month if you started saving at age 25, 35, and 45:

Age Monthly Contributions Total Amount Saved 25 $305 $758,083 35 $640 $752,682 45 $1,470 $750,297

By postponing saving for retirement until your mid-40s, you'd need to save nearly five times as much per month than you would if you'd started in your 20s.

How to take advantage of compound interest

To get compound interest working for you, start saving now. Even if you don't have much to contribute, small amounts can grow into big savings over time. And if you're already behind on your savings, you'll need to work harder to maximize your retirement contributions.

If your employer matches 401(k) contributions, contribute at least enough to get the full match. If you can, try to cut back in other areas of your budget to put more money toward your retirement. It's worth repeating that small contributions can add up quickly, so don't discount the power of a few extra dollars here and there.

For instance, say you're currently 45, you're earning $50,000 per year, you have $50,000 saved, and you're contributing $100 per month to your 401(k). Let's also assume your employer matches 100% on contributions of up to 3% of your salary, or $1,500 per year ($125 per month).

Right now, you're just $25 per month short of earning your full employer match. Here's what your savings would look like after 20 years if you continued saving $100 per month (plus $100 per month from your employer) or if you boosted your savings to $125 per month (plus $125 from your employer):

Age Contributing $200/Month Contributing $250/Month 45 (today) $50,000 $50,000 55 $132,761 $141,362 65 $295,566 $321,086

In other words, saving an extra $25 per month to reach your full employer match could net you an additional $25,520 over 20 years.

There's no denying that saving for retirement is hard, no matter when you start investing. But starting earlier can make it much easier, because compound interest will do most of the work for you.

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.

The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) said Monday it will invest $50 billion in the U.S. over the next five years, citing the historic tax reform bill signed into law in December.

The worlds largest publicly traded oil company continues to evaluate tax reforms impact and whether lower rates will allow Exxon to further expand facilities along the Gulf Coast, according to CEO Darren Woods.

Woods, who made the announcement on an Exxon blog, said its good to see sound policy laying the groundwork for Americas future economic success.

The recent changes to the U.S. corporate tax rate coupled with smarter regulation create an environment for future capital investments and will further enhance ExxonMobils competitiveness around the world, Woods wrote.

An Exxon spokesperson said more than $35 billion of the $50 billion plan will be spent on projects that werent previously announced.

Exxon will invest billions of dollars to boost oil production in the Permian Basin, an oil-rich shale play in Texas and New Mexico, Woods noted. Exxon also plans to build new manufacturing sites and improve infrastructure. The moves are expected to create thousands of jobs in the U.S.

Woods said tax cuts enhanced Exxons investment plan, adding that they will complement the substantial capital spending in the United States that ExxonMobil has teed up in the coming years.In initial disclosures about critical security flaws discovered in its processors, Intel notified a small group of customers, including Chinese technology companies, but left out the U.S. government, according to people familiar with the matter and some of the companies involved.

The decision raises concerns, security researchers said, as it potentially could have allowed information about the chip flaws, dubbed Spectre and Meltdown, to fall into the hands of the Chinese government before being publicly divulged. There is no evidence any information was misused, the researchers said.

Weeks after word of the flaws first surfaced, Intel's choices about whom would receive advance warning continue to ripple through the security and tech industries.

The flaws were first identified in June by a member of Google's Project Zero security team. Intel had planned to make the discovery public on Jan. 9 -- people working to protect systems from hacks often hold off on announcements while fixes are devised -- but sped up its timetable when the news became widely known on Jan. 3, a day after U.K. website the Register wrote about the flaws.

Because the flaws can be leveraged to sneak sensitive data out of the cloud, information about them would be of great interest to any intelligence-gathering agency, said Jake Williams, president of the security company Rendition Infosec LLC and a former National Security Agency employee. In the past, Chinese state-linked hackers have exploited software vulnerabilities to get leverage on their targets or expand surveillance.

It is a "near certainty" Beijing was aware of the conversations between Intel and its Chinese tech partners, because authorities there routinely monitor all such communications, Mr. Williams said.

Representatives from China's ministry in charge of information technology didn't respond to requests for comment. The country's foreign ministry has in the past said it is "resolutely opposed" to cyberhacking in any form.

An Intel spokesman declined to identify the companies it briefed before the scheduled Jan. 9 announcement. The company wasn't able to tell everyone it had planned to, including the U.S. government, because the news was made public earlier than expected, he said.

Intel's tricky path -- inform enough big customers to head off significant damage while keeping the information as contained as possible to limit potential leaks -- continues to weigh on smaller companies that weren't given an early nod.

Joyent Inc., a U.S.-based cloud-services provider owned by Samsung Electronics Co., is still playing catch-up, said Bryan Cantrill, the company's chief technology officer.

"Other folks had a six-month head start," he said. "We're scrambling."

In the months before the flaws were publicly disclosed, Intel worked on fixes with Alphabet Inc.'s Google unit as well as "key" computer makers and cloud-computing companies, Intel said in an emailed statement to The Wall Street Journal.

An official at the Department of Homeland Security said staffers learned of the chip flaws from the Jan. 3 news reports. The department is often informed of bug discoveries in advance of the public, and it acts as an authoritative source for information on how to address them.

"We certainly would have liked to have been notified of this," the official said.

The NSA was similarly in the dark, according to Rob Joyce, the White House's top cybersecurity official. In a message posted Jan. 13 to Twitter, he said the NSA "did not know about these flaws." A White House spokesman declined to comment further, referring instead to the tweet.

Chinese computer maker Lenovo Group Ltd. was among the large tech companies, including Microsoft, Amazon.com and ARM Holdings in the U.K., that were notified of the flaws beforehand.

Lenovo was able to issue a statement Jan. 3 advising customers on the flaws because of "the work we'd done ahead of that date with industry processor and operating system partners," a spokeswoman said in an email.

Alibaba Group Holding, China's top seller of cloud-computing services, also was notified ahead of time, according to a person familiar with the company.

A spokeswoman for Alibaba's cloud unit declined to comment on when the company was informed. She said any idea that the company might have shared information with Chinese authorities was "speculative and baseless."

A Lenovo spokeswoman said Intel's information was protected by a nondisclosure agreement.

Despite the security concerns, an early heads up to a select number of large global companies made sense, said Dave Aitel, chief executive of Immunity Inc., a company that sells security services. "They're going to tell as few people as possible" to contain possible leaks, he said.

Because they had early warning, Microsoft, Google and Amazon were able to release statements soon after news of the flaws leaked out saying their cloud-computing customers were largely protected.

Smaller competitors, though, continue to struggle. DigitalOcean Inc., a cloud-services seller, said Jan. 19 it was still testing a fix for its customers. Rackspace Inc. said last Wednesday it has several teams working on a fix. The cloud company earlier in January told customers it understood the situation "can be frustrating."

The DHS also stumbled with its initial guidance. The agency's Computer Emergency Response Team first linked to an advisory stating the only way to "fully remove" the flaws was by replacing the chip. CERT now advises users instead to patch their systems.

The DHS should have been looped in early on to help coordinate the flaws' disclosure, Joyent's Mr. Cantrill said. "I don't understand why CERT would not be your first stop," he said.

Write to Robert McMillan at Robert.Mcmillan@wsj.com and Liza Lin at Liza.Lin@wsj.comThe United States and Qatar on Tuesday inked a deal to resolve a years-old quarrel over alleged airline subsidies, as Qatar's government works to defuse tensions with the Trump administration.

A formal announcement came Tuesday, as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis hosted the inaugural round of the U.S.-Qatar strategic dialogue. Agreements, on security and counter-terrorism cooperation and combatting human trafficking, were also signed.

"Qatar is a strong partner and long-time friend of the United States," Tillerson said, welcoming the agreements. Tuesday's meeting follows harsh criticism of Qatar from President Donald Trump. He denounced the country last year for allegedly funding terrorism amid a row between the country and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, who have imposed a land, sea and air blockade on it.

Tillerson and Mattis said the U.S. remains deeply concerned about the situation as it nears its eight-month mark, including hostile "rhetoric and propaganda" being employed. They called on all parties to the dispute to renew efforts to end it.

Qatar is home to a major U.S. military base that is key to the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and Mattis said that "a united GCC bolsters our effectiveness on many fronts."

The aviation agreement will see state-owned Qatar Airways agree voluntarily to open up its accounting books. U.S. airlines say the company receives billions of dollars in government payments that leave them at a competitive disadvantage. Qatar also made a loose commitment that the flag carrier won't launch flights to the United States from Europe or other non-Qatari cities, creating yet more competition for the U.S. airlines.

Both sides of the dispute can claim the agreement as a victory  for very different reasons.

The U.S. airline industry can claim the increased transparency will create a powerful disincentive to unfair subsidies, as Qatar will no longer be able to mask such payments through creative accounting. The three major U.S. carriers  Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines  have spent huge sums over the last three years pressing the Obama administration and Trump administration for tough action. They're eager to show a win.

Yet for Qatar, the agreement averts the more serious step U.S. airlines wanted: re-opening the so-called open-skies treaties that could lead to less favorable conditions for Persian Gulf airlines. And, it means that Qatar can also show it's cooperating closely and productively with U.S. regulators.

That could help the tiny gas-rich kingdom draw a contrast with the United Arab Emirates, whose two airlines are also accused of improper subsidies but have yet to reach an agreement with Washington.

"Everybody gets to claim victory in this," said Helane Becker, an airline analyst for Cowen and Co.

Indeed, even before the announcement, American, the world's biggest airline by passenger traffic, praised the deal as a way to "thoughtfully address" Qatari subsidies. And United CEO Oscar Munoz applauded the agreement while thanking Trump's administration for "effectively representing the interests of the American aviation industry."

Though on the same side of the airline dispute, Qatar and the UAE oppose each other in a bitter, unrelated standoff. Last year, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations blockaded Qatar after accusing it of supporting extremism and fomenting dissent throughout the region. Qatar hopes to change that narrative by enhancing counterterrorism cooperation and allowing greater U.S. visibility into its finances and banking practices.

In an eight-paragraph document laying out "understandings" between Qatar and the U.S., the Gulf nation commited within one year to releasing audited financial statements for Qatar Airlines "in accordance with internationally-recognized accounting standards." Within two years, Qatar Airways is to disclose any transactions with other state-owned entities, such as caterers or other companies that support airline operations, closing what the U.S. airlines have claimed is a backdoor used by Gulf nations to hide illicit subsidies.

A side-letter to the agreement stated that Qatar's civilian aviation authority is unaware of any plans by Qatar Airlines to start so-called "Fifth Freedoms" flights  routes from third countries to the United States. Under the scenario U.S. airlines fear, Qatar Airways could offer flights from its Doha hub to, say, Paris or London, stop to pick up more passengers, then fly on to New York.

The side-letter only says there are no current plans to operate such service. That's short of a binding guarantee. There's also no commitment Qatar Airways won't expand its offering of Qatar-U.S. flights.

"This appears to be the administration essentially throwing a meatless bone to the three U.S. carriers to put an end to their rants against the Gulf carriers," said John Byerly, who was the chief open skies negotiator in the Obama administration and has also consulted for Emirates Airline and UPS.

The two UAE airlines  Dubai-based Emirates and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways  aren't a party to the U.S.-Qatar agreement. Emirates Airline currently offers "Fifth Freedom" flights in which passengers can fly from New York-area airports to Milan, Italy or Athens without ever setting foot in the UAE.

All three Gulf airlines have long denied receiving unfair government subsidies. There was no immediate reaction from either Emirates or Etihad.

___

AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee, AP Airlines Writer David Koenig in Dallas and AP writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.

___

Reach Josh Lederman on Twitter at http://twitter.com/joshledermanAPMONTREAL (Reuters) - U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is hopeful about talks to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement but realizes a great deal of work remains, Republican U.S. Congressman Dave Reichert said on Sunday after a briefing.

Officials from the United States, Canada and Mexico will wrap up the sixth of seven planned rounds of talks on NAFTA in Montreal on Monday, with little sign of agreement on U.S. proposals to overhaul the $1.2 trillion pact.

The United States is open to the idea of extending the NAFTA talks, Reichert indicated after a briefing from Lighthizer in Montreal. The negotiations are supposed to wrap up by the end of March.

"From trying to evaluate his words today, I would say he (Lighthizer) recognizes there's a great deal of work to be done, but he's hopeful," said Reichert, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee's subcommittee on trade.

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 unless major changes are made. Markets have been nervous about the potential economic turmoil.

With the slow progress so far, Lighthizer, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland and Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo will meet in Montreal on Monday to review what has been achieved.

Speaking separately, Democratic Congressman Sander Levin told reporters in Montreal he was sure the United States would stay in the talks.

Lighthizer could not be reached after the lawmakers' comments.

Officials say that 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.

"We believe it's more important to get a quality agreement than to tailor the negotiations to a strict timeline," said Reichert.

A senior source close to the talks told reporters late Saturday that "the United States needs to show flexibility" when it comes to its major proposed reforms to NAFTA.

"Do we feel optimistic? I would say cautiously so," added the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Chief negotiators had the day off on Sunday.

(With additional reporting by Anthony Esposito in Montreal; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Jeffrey Benkoe)Y Niall Ferguson 03/19/2017

Only in China could there already be a museum of internet finance. Though most Britons have barely adopted the term fintech, online banking is old hat in Beijing. On Thursday I toured the museum with its founder, Wang Wei, who delighted in showing me exhibits such as a bitcoin cash machine. The cryptocurrency is eight years old; in todays China thats ancient enough to belong in a glass display case.

Some time soon, Europe needs a similarly designed museum of political idiocy. In its glass cases I would like to exhibit stuffed specimens of politicians who have so hopelessly failed to understand the the information technology revolution that began in California in the 1970s and has now almost completely taken over the world.

Prime candidates for the taxidermists knife are the members of the Commons home affairs committee. On Tuesday they laid into Google, Facebook and Twitter for not doing enough to censor the web on their behalf. Yvette Cooper, their chairwoman, complained that Facebook had failed to take down a page with the title Ban Islam. As she put it: We need you to do more and to have more social responsibility to protect people.

Another possible exhibit in the museum of political idiocy is Germanys justice minister, Heiko Maas, who unveiled a draft law last week that would impose fines of up to 50m (43m) on social networks that failed to delete hate speech or fake news. He said: Too little illegal content is being deleted and its not being deleted sufficiently quickly.

If these people want censorship, let them get on with it  I know some people in China who can help  but arguing that Google and Facebook should do the censoring is nuts. As if these companies were not already mighty enough, European politicians want to give them the power to limit free expression.

Best of all is the revelation that government advertising has ended up on jihadist and white supremacist websites. The news that the Department for International Development and the Metropolitan police have been spending taxpayers money in this undiscriminating way just strikes me as more evidence of European naivety.

There are three essential points to understand about the IT revolution. First, it was almost entirely a US-based achievement, albeit with contributions from computer scientists who came to Silicon Valley from all over the world and Asian manufacturers who drove down the costs of hardware.

Most of the big breakthroughs in software that made mass personal computing possible were made in America  think Microsoft and Apple. The internet, too, was made in America. Online retail was made by Amazon, founded in 1994 in Seattle. Online search based on the PageRank algorithm: made by Google, founded in 1996, its first office a garage in Menlo Park, California. Online social networking for one and all: made by Facebook, founded in 2004 at Harvard. YouTube (2005), Twitter (2006), the iPhone (2007), Uber (2009), Snapchat (2011) . . . You get the idea.

Point two: the most important of these companies are now mind-blowingly dominant. In Facebooks little red book, written to indoctrinate (sorry, train) employees, it is written: The quick shall inherit the earth. Mark Zuckerberg has certainly inherited quite a chunk of this planet. His social network now has 1.23bn active daily users.

Google and Facebook are predicted to increase their combined share of all digital advertising this year to 60%. Google has 78% of US search advertising. Facebook has 39% of online display advertising. Yes, there really are a lot of credulous people managing ad budgets these days. But, Mr Google, my ad ended up on a pro-Isis website! Bummer, dude.

Third point: this dominance translates into crazy money. Facebook will make $16bn (13bn) from display advertising this year. The business is valued today at about $400bn, including a $30bn cash pile. That equips Zuckerberg to buy up pretty much whatever comes along that he likes the look of  as he did with Instagram, for example.

It is an amazing state of affairs. Consider the functions these companies perform. Google is essentially a vast global library; its where we go to look things up. Amazon is a vast global bazaar, where more and more of us go to shop. And Facebook is a vast global club. The various networking functions these companies perform are not new; its just that technology has made the networks both enormous and very fast. The more interesting difference, however, is that in the past libraries and social clubs did not make money from advertising. They were funded out of donations or subscriptions or taxes.

In other words, the truly revolutionary fact is that our global library and our global club are both making money from advertising, and that the more we tell them about ourselves, the more effective the advertising becomes, sending us off to Jeff Bezoss bazaar with increasing frequency. Not for nothing is Fang the investors acronym for Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google. These guys really have got their teeth into us.

Confronted with this American network revolution, the rest of the world had two options: capitulate or compete. The Europeans chose the former. You will look in vain for a European search engine, giant online retailer or social network. The US Fang has been well and truly sunk into the EU.

The Chinese, by contrast, opted to compete. By fair means and foul, they made life difficult for the Americans. And they encouraged their own entrepreneurs to build businesses that rival the giants of Silicon Valley. The acronym of the moment in Beijing is Bat: Baidu (the biggest search engine), Alibaba (Jack Mas answer to Amazon) and Tencent (which is the nearest thing to Facebook). These companies are much more than clones of their US counterparts; each has been innovative in its own right. A good example is Tencents ubiquitous messaging app WeChat, which, by using QR codes to allow users to exchange contact details, is fast destroying the business card.

Needless to say, Silicon Valley gnashes its fangs at being shut out of the vast Chinese market. Zuckerberg has not yet given up hope, doing interviews in Mandarin and even jogging through the smog of Tiananmen Square. The recent experience of Uber cannot encourage him. Last year it ran up the white flag in China, accepting that it could not beat the homegrown ride-sharing business Didi Chuxing. Cue more gnashing.

I have to say I admire how China took on Silicon Valley and won. It was not only smart economically but smart politically too. In Beijing, Big Brother now has the big data he needs to keep very close tabs on Chinese netizens. And good luck to the US National Security Agency as it tries to get through the Great Firewall of China.

Museums are where historys victors display their trophies. What I learnt last week is that China may be winning the latest battle in the IT wars: to take not just banking but money itself online. And if you dont believe me, Ill bet you one bitcoin  or 840 if you only accept old money.The Brothers Osborne, from left, Maren Morris and Eric Church perform at the 60th annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, in New York.

Following the announcement of Chris Stapleton as the winner of Best Country Album, things took a somber turn at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.

Erich Church, Maren Morris and Brothers Osbourne sang a song in honor of the victims of the tragic shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas as well as the bombing at an Arianna Grande concert in Manchester, England.

Church opened the dialogue with a few words about the healing power of music followed by a touching, albeit hard-to-hear, tribute from Morris before the trio sang Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven."

"A few months earlier and a continent away the same was true in Manchester, England. The painful truth is that this year in just those two events, 81 music lovers, just like us, went out to a night of music and never came home, she said through some audio technical difficulties. "So, tonight, to honor those we lost, Eric, Brothers Osbourne and I, who all performed in Las Vegas that tragic weekend, want to come together and honor the memory of those music-loving souls so cruelly taken from us."

All four acts performed at the Route 91 Harvest Festival.Kendrick Lamar, Janelle Monea and Trevor Noah got political at the 2018 Grammy Awards.

At the 60th annual Grammy Awards the stars took the opportunity to voice their opinions on everything from President Trump to DACA to gender equality.

Famous faces like Kendrick Lamar, Camilla Cabello, Bono, Trevor Noah and even Hillary Clinton turned up to talk politics, with host James Corden poking fun at Trump.

In the midst of all the political chatter, Bruno Mars came out a big winner for the night winnign both Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Record of the Year for his album "24K Magic."

Cabello had one of the more politically charged moments of the night when she took the stage to make a plea in favor of Dreamers, referencing the debate happening in Washington D.C. over the repeal of DACA.

2018 GRAMMYS RED CARPET FASHION

"I'm here on this stage tonight because, just like the Dreamers, my parents brought me to this country with nothing in their pockets but hope. They showed me what it means to work twice as hard and never give up. And, honestly, no part of my journey is any different from theirs. I'm a proud Cuban-Mexican immigrant, born in Eastern Havana, standing in front of you on the Grammys stage in New York City," she said to applause from the crowd. "And all I know is, just like dreams, these kids can't be forgotten and are worth fighting for."

The star then introduced U2, who appeared underneath the Statue of Liberty to perform their song "Get Out Of Your Own Way."

It was U2's second performance of the night after opening the show with Kendrick Lamar, who took the stage backed by a waving American flag flanked by a cadre of dancers dressed in military-like clothing. He performed his lightening-quick rap XXX, which contains some political lyrics.

Kendrick Lamar (left, rear, in white shirt) performs a medley in front of an American flag at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards on Jan. 28, 2018.

He was then joined by U2 for their collaboration American Soul, which begins with the lyrics, Its not a place/This country is to me a sound.

Their performances featured a planned interruption from comedian Dave Chappelle, who later won the award for Best Comedy Album for The Age of Spin & Deep In The Heart of Texas.

"I just wanted to remind the audience that the only thing more frightening than watching a black man be honest in America is being an honest black man in America," Chappelle said before kicking things back to the stage.

James Corden featured a comedy bit that involved Hillary Clinton at the 2018 Grammy Awards.

The Edge took the stage with Lamar as well. From there, more political imagery took center-stage when Lamars chorus of backup dancers, now dressed in red, began falling to the floor as the sound of gunshots and flares rang out on stage.

Another hyper-political moment happened during a bit from Corden when he suggested that next year's award for Best Spoken Word Album could invovle President Trump.

From there, the show cut to a pre-taped segment in which John Legend, Cher, Snoop Dog, Cardi B and DJ Khaled reading excerpts from Michael Wolff's controversial book "Fire and Fury." The bit finished with a surprise appearance by Clinton, who showed up to read an excerpt to great applause from the live crowd.

HILLARY CLINTON TURNS UP THE GRAMMYS TO MOCK TRUMP

Kendrick Lamar took home a Grammy for Best Rap Album at the 2018 show.

Comedian Sarah Silverman, who was also nominated for Best Comedy Album, took a swipe at the current climate while introducing Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's "Despacito." She took the stage with Victor Cruz, joking that they were there to encourage everyone to vote.

"That's not true at all," Cruz said.

"Do what you want to do, the world is basically over anyway," she said.

Sting and Shaggy sang a politically charged song at the 2018 Grammys.

Later in the evening, Lamar took home yet another award for Best Rap Album for "DAMN." In his speech, he thanked those who came before him and dedicated the win to hip-hop in general. Before leaving the stage, he declared "Jay for president," referencing Jay-Z, who was recently called out by Trump on Twitter.

The host of The Daily Show, Trevor Noah, came out to present Chappelle as the winner of Best Comedy Album. First, however, he had to showcase his trademark political humor.

I love that song, he said. It takes me back, way back, to when Trump wasnt president.

Sting and Shaggy captured the audiences attention with Sting opening the performance with his song, Englishman in New York. The song contains a lot of lyrics with regards to immigration including Im an alien/ Im a legal alien/ Im an Englishman in New York.

Musicians paid tribute to the victims of the Las Vegas shooting and the Manchester, England bombing.

Shaggy seemed to adlib a line about being a legal Jamaican in New York as well.

2018 GRAMMYS WINNERS LIST

Following the announcement of Chris Stapleton as the winner of Best Country Album, things took a somber turn. Brothers Osbourne, Eric Church and Maren Morris took the stage to sing a song in honor of the victims of the tragic shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas as well as the bombing at an Arianna Grande concert in Manchester, England.

Kesha led a group of women in a tribute to victims of sexual assault at the 2018 Grammys.

Church opened the dialogue with a few words about the healing power of music followed by a touching, albeit hard-to-hear, tribute from Morris.

A few months earlier and a continent away the same was true in Manchester, England. The painful truth is that this year in just those two events, 81 music lovers, just like us, went out to a night of music and never came home, she said through some audio technical difficulties. So, tonight, to honor those we lost, Eric, Brothers Osbourne and I, who all performed in Las Vegas that tragic weekend, want to come together and honor the memory of those music-loving souls so cruelly taken from us.

Things didn't let up from there as Janelle Monae took the stage to give an impassioned introduction to a performance of "Praying" from Kesha, Cyndi Lauper, Cabello, Julia Michaels, Bebe Rexha and Andra Day.

Kesha, who earned her first pair of Grammy nominations for an album reflecting her legal battle with former producer and mentor Dr. Luke, paid tribute to victims of sexual assault and highlighted the #MeToo and Time's Up movements, which many in attendance were publicly supporting as well.

"We say time's up for pay equality... times' up for harassment of any kind. It's not just going on in Hollywood, its not just going on in Washington. It's going on right here in our industry," Monae said. "We have the power to undo the culture that does not serve us well. So, let's work togther women and men as a united music industry committed to creating more safe work environemts, equal pay and access for all woman."

JOY VILLA MAKES POLITICAL STATEMENT WITH GRAMMYS DRESS

In the final performance of the night, rapper Logic capped things off with an impassioned speech that touched on both gender equality and immigration.

"And lastly, on behalf of those who fight for equality in a world thats not equal, not just and not ready for the change we are here to bring, I say onto you, bring us your tired, poor and any immigrant who seeks refuge - for together, we can build not just a better country, but a world that is destined to be united."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Hillary Clinton's surprise Trump-bashing cameo during the 60th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night caused at least a couple of viewers to switch channels, namely the president's U.N. ambassador, and Trump's oldest son. But the producer of the Grammys said the telecast stands by the controversial cameo.

Grammys host James Corden set up a pre-taped bit about who might take home next year's spoken word award.

"We know that our current president does love winning awards and the good news is he may just be the subject of next year's winner [for Best Spoken Word Album]," Corden announced. "The question I've got is, who'll be the narrator?"

Outspoken anti-Trump stars John Legend and Cher then auditioned to be the narrator for Michael Wolff's book "Fire and Fury" about Trump's White House.

Snoop Dogg, DJ Khaled and Cardi B also read excerpts from the book during the fake auditions.

Finally, Clinton read from the book and Corden declared, "That's it! We've got it!"

Clinton said, "You think so? The Grammy's in the bag?"

Corden replied, "In the bag!"

The segment resulted in wild applause from the star-studded crowd. But not all were pleased. United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley slammed the bit. However, the harshest words came from Donald Trump Jr.

After the show, Grammys Executive Producer Ken Ehrlich said getting Clinton to appear in the skit wasn't tough. However, he credited Corden with sealing the deal.

"She kind of took a couple of days to say 'yes,' but ultimately she saw the script, she knew what we were doing and she liked it."

Clinton recorded the segment near her home on Friday, the Grammys producer added.

Ehrlich said he was aware the bit was getting some backlash, but he told reporters backstage, "We stand by what we did."

Fox News' Leora Arnowitz contributed to this report.NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 27: Katie Holmes and Jamie Foxx attend the Clive Davis and Recording Academy Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Jay-Z on January 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for NARAS)

Music mogul Clive Davis poked fun at Katie Holmes and Jamie Foxxs coy attempts to hide their relationship at his starry Pre-Grammy Awards Gala.

Foxx and Holmes have been dating for years, but have rarely appeared in public together, nor have they ever confirmed their relationship  but on Saturday night they finally cozied up in public.

Holmes, 39, arrived in a red gown with her hair in a sleek bob, with producer and Tribeca Productions honcho Jane Rosenthal at Saturday nights bash at the Sheraton in Manhattan,

Foxx rolled in later, and sat at the next table to Holmes, exchanging smiles and jokes. But Katie not-so-subtly left the room as Davis  who traditionally announces his big name guests at the event  was about to give a shout out to them both.

KATIE HOLMES LOOKS SMITTEN WITH JAMIE FOXX IN RARE PUBLIC APPEARANCE

But when she returned, Davis called her out, saying, This lady left the room right when I was going to introduce her, she was sitting at that table right with Jamie Foxx and everyone else.

If youre going to sit together what better night than tonight, Davis added to laughs from the audience, which included Jay Z, Beyonce, Pink, John Legend and Chrissy Tiegen, Cardi B, Sting, DJ Khaled and a host of top music execs.

A camera showed Foxx, 50, still sitting at the next table, cracking up into laughter while Holmes gave an embarrassed smile.

But later in the night, Foxx finally moved into the seat next to Holmes, where he was seen whispering in her ear. Then when Logic and Khaled performed, they got up onto their feet and danced with other partygoers.

The pair was first linked in 2013, but have kept their relationship low-key. They have been spotted visiting each other in LA, in Paris together last spring, and there were photographed strolling on a Malibu beach in September.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post.From l-r: Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Kimberly Schlapman and Phillip Sweet of Little Big Town.

Little Big Town walked the red carpet at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, and they said though there are plenty of country music artists at the show, they don't see each other as competition.

"That's what is great about the Nashville community I want to say... We don't view it as a competition," Karen Fairchild told Fox News.

She said country artists "inspire each other."

The band said they appreciate all types of music, and right now they can't stop listening to Harry Styles and John Mayer.

Her bandmate Jimi Westbrook added, "We're fans of music. It's all about celebrating people and their talent and their art."

The band is nominated for best country album and Taylor Swift is nominated for writing their tune "Better Man."

Fairchild said they have been in touch with the pop superstar in recent days.

"We texted back and forth yesterday, and she sent us the most insanely gorgeous flowers with just a note that said 'Can you believe we took this song all the way to the Grammys?'.... We're just anxious to get together when we can all be in the same city."

The band said they are looking forward to toasting with Swift in the near future over their recent success.

Phillip Sweet said the Grammys are different from other awards shows.

"It's very special. It's a unique show."

Westbrook added, "U2 doesn't usually come to our shows. The audience that is sitting and staring back at you when you're performing at the Grammys is a little overwhelming."Activist chef Jose Andres falsely blamed First Daughter Ivanka Trump when he wasnt on exclusive events guest list.

Activist chef Jose Andres proved how easily an anti-Trump claim can get magnified in the fact-free environment of fake news and misleading social media posts.

Andres, a staunch advocate for Puerto Ricos hurricane relief efforts, falsely speculated on Twitter Saturday night that he was denied entry to Washington D.C.s prestigious Cafe Milano because First Daughter Ivanka Trump didnt want him to join the elite crowd gathered inside for the 105th Alfalfa Club dinners exclusive after party.

Andres has been an outspoken critic of President Trump - they were once involved in a legal dispute  but the chef briefly chatted with Ivanka at the event before the party, according to the Washington Post. Andres was not on the list of invited guests, but assumed he had the clout to enter Cafe Milano regardless. He was wrong and took to Twitter once denied entry, blaming Ivanka while calling out Cafe Milano owner Franco Nuschese and tagging the Washington Post.

Thank you @CafeMilanoDC Franco Nuschese! Andres wrote. I was a guest of the #alfalfaclubdinner2018 everyone welcome 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

The tweet was retweeted over 12,000 times and liked by over 28,000 users. Many people responded by mocking the First Daughter and suggesting that Cafe Milano should be boycotted.

Andres assumption resulted in a variety of headlines that depicted Ivanka as an insensitive monster, such as Puerto Rico hero allegedly banned from party at Ivanka Trumps behest and Outspoken pro-immigrant chef asks if Ivanka Trump got him banned from party.

Thats hardly surprising, as Donald Trumps response to the devastating hurricane in Puerto Rico continues to be nothing but a rolling disaster, liberal commentator Tommy Christopher wrote. If Ivanka truly had Andres kicked out of the party despite his heroic efforts to help the Puerto Rican people, it would further prove that she is right at home in her fathers administration.

Anti-Trump CNN star Anthony Bourdain took the unconfirmed theory as gospel, calling Andres being denied entry loathsome and a grotesque betrayal of a true patriot and hero."

It turns out that Andres rejection was not ordered by Ivanka, who even reached out to the chef to explain that she had nothing to do with the situation. Nuschese also reached out and apologized, calling the situation a misunderstanding.

Andres had his itty bitty ego hurt by being excluded from and an after party. So he threw a tantrum and media treated it like it's legitimate news.  Media Research Center Vice President Dan Gainor

Media Research Center Vice President Dan Gainor said mainstream media is hysterical but not in a funny way and pointed to the chefs initial reaction as an example.

They are running around like Chicken Little screaming, The sky is falling. Except the only thing that is falling is their believability, Gainor told Fox News. This story is a mix of media and typical D.C. ego. Andres had his itty bitty ego hurt by being excluded from an after party. So he threw a tantrum and media treated it like it's legitimate news.

Meanwhile, Andres took to Twitter again to thank the First Daughter and Cafe Milanos owner for contacting him, but the chef was still harping on the situation Monday morning despite already admitting it wasnt Ivanka's fault.

Someone with connections to [Ivanka Trump] made the call to not let me in, he tweeted. Could be she didnt know, but it did happen and this is not the Washington we know.

Andres missed out on a lavish party and the mainstream media turned it into a news-making scandal as if it actually impacted the American people. It turns out that any Trump critic with a verified Twitter account can manufacture a story to make the administration look corrupt, immoral or simply rude to fit an anti-Trump agenda.

Sadly, I now assume all such stories are bogus until I am proven wrong, Gainor said.Kate Winslet said on Sunday she has "bitter regrets" working with certain people in Hollywood.

Kate Winslet revealed on Sunday she has bitter regrets working with powerful figures in Hollywood following allegations of sexual misconduct against producers and directors in recent months.

During her acceptance speech at the London Critics Circle Film Awards, Winslet said she almost feels uncomfortable receiving the Dilys Powell Award for Excellence knowing she has made poor decisions to work with people she later regretted collaborating with, Sky News reported.

"It almost feels uncomfortable to receive an award at such a time, but being up here does give me the opportunity to say some things that matter to me, the 42-year-old actress said. As women around the world and from all walks of life marched last weekend, I realized that I wouldnt be able to stand here this evening and keep to myself some bitter regrets that I have about poor decisions to work with individuals with whom I wish I had not.

TIMOTHEE CHALAMET'S SALARY FROM WOODY ALLEN FILM TO BE DONATED TO TIME'S UP MOVEMENT, OTHER CHARITIES

Winslet did not specifically name anyone, but said there were directors, producers and men of power who have been celebrated for decades and applauded for their highly regarded work, both within this industry and by movie-goers alike.

It has become clear to me that by not saying anything, I might be adding to the anguish of many courageous women and men, Winslet added.

Kate Winslet worked with Woody Allen in the film "Wonder Wheel."

Winslet may have been referring to Woody Allen, who she recently worked with in the new film Wonder Wheel. The actress received backlash after she reportedly came to Allens defense during the press tour for the film, according to Sky News.

Several actors, including Greta Gerwig and Mira Sorvino, recently spoke out against Allen, who is accused of sexually abusing his daughter Dylan Farrow in 1993. Allen has denied these allegations, but Farrow has stood by her claim.

WOODY ALLEN ACCUSATIONS HAVE ACTRESS REGRETTING ROLE IN HIS NEW FILM

On Sunday, Winslet said she hopes the #MeToo and Time's Up movements will focus on the victims of sexual assault and harassment rather than the alleged abusers.

"Let us please not make this about which people express public regret and those who chose not to, but instead keep the focus on the terrible, secret crimes of abuse against vulnerable children, girls, women, and indeed boys and men too, she said.

She also said she hopes the movement will change generations to come for the better.

"Years ago, those women [speaking out at the Womens March] would likely have been locked away. How times have changed - let's keep them changing."A Florida teenager with terminal cancer fulfilled his dying wish on Sunday and married his high school sweetheart after the local community rallied together to put together the special day.

Dustin Snyder, 19, of Valrico, Fla., who has been battling a rare cancer called synovial sarcoma since he was 18, married his girlfriend Sierra Siverio on Sunday. The ceremony at Big Red Barn in Plant City was organized within days after donations poured in from people nationwide, FOX13 reported.

[All I want to do is say] 'I do' and [be] forever in love with Sierra and [be] with her for the rest of, as long as I have, Snyder said.

Snyder and Siverio first met in middle school and reunited in high school. Snyder was diagnosed with cancer a day before his 18th birthday. He was initially told he was cancer-free following surgery and chemotherapy, but just three weeks ago he experienced pain and was rushed to the hospital, where he was told the cancer had returned.

TEENS EATING MORE TIDE PODS THAN EVER, DESPITE EFFORTS TO STOP TREND

Snyder was given just weeks to live, according to FOX13.

"The only treatment for this is removal and they cant remove this," Cassandra Fondahn, Snyders mother, told FOX 13. Its been a rough road.

Siverio stayed by Snyders side through his sickness.

After my first surgery when she was there for me in the hospital for 10 days straight, didnt ever leave. Thats when I knew she was the one, Snyder said.

That means everything to me, Siverio told FOX 13. I'm going to be there for him no matter what and I'm really excited for this opportunity.

People donated everything from the rings to the wedding gown and venue.

FLU TAKES ALABAMA BRIDE-TO-BE ON WEEK AFTER DIAGNOSIS

LifePath Hospice worked to get the flowers and bridesmaids dresses, along with someone to provide drinks and a bar service.A GoFundMe page was set up to help pay for the couples wedding. By Sunday, the campaign almost reach its $40,000 goal, with $39,567.

I cant believe the amount of people that have reached out to help, Fondahn previously told WTSP. Its a lot of good and compassionate people.

Siverio said she and Dustin would be together no matter what, forever, in both of our hearts.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

We are only a few weeks into the New Year, but one thing is undeniably clear  2018 is the Year of the Woman. The #MeToo and #TimesUp movements have awakened and empowered a generation of women who for too long felt intimidated and silenced.

Across corporate offices, newsrooms, TV and movie studios, the halls of Congress, and state capitols, we have seen women speak up and challenge the status quo. As Oprah Winfrey said during her Golden Globes speech earlier this month: I want all the girls watching here now to know that a new day is on the horizon!

I made sure Oprahs speech was required viewing for my daughter. As women, its our responsibility to empower each other to lead and speak out.

Building on a movement with a nationwide impact, thousands of women have registered to run for public office in the last year. After the 2016 election cycle and last years special elections, the number of female members of Congress is at an all-time high. But this all-time high is still far too low.

The obvious gender gap we see in Washington led me to start the Women2Women Conversations Tour. Women make up more than 50 percent of our countrys population but less than 20 percent of Congress. Only 84 women serve in the House and 22 serve in the Senate.

Strengthening our economy; ensuring that small businesses can thrive and create jobs; keeping our country safe from terrorism; and building better roads, bridges and transportation systems are womens issues.

The situation is even more acute for Republicans: GOP congressmen outnumber GOP congresswomen by a more than 11-to-1 ratio.

We need to engage women in the political discourse and encourage more women to run for office. For more women and girls to feel like their voice is being heard, we need a Congress that is reflective of the population it represents.

The number of female voters has exceeded the number of male voters in every election since 1964. We are the majority makers, but for decades the womens vote has been targeted as a block of votes to be won or lost based on a narrow scope of issues.

Women cannot and should not be treated as single issue voters. The Women2Women tour has heard from women in Las Vegas, Charlotte, Minneapolis, Orange County in California, Corning in New York, and Cleveland.

Joined by five Republican women in Congress  Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Rep. Mimi Walters of California, Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, Rep. Susan Brooks of Indiana, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida  we spoke directly with women about the issues that matter most to them.

These women are moms, doctors, teachers, business owners, local elected officials and more. Though the topics and audiences at each stop varied, one thing was strikingly clear  every issue is a womens issue.

Strengthening our economy; ensuring that small businesses can thrive and create jobs; keeping our country safe from terrorism; and building better roads, bridges and transportation systems are womens issues.

Training and equipping the next generation of workers, improving access to health care and making sure every child has access to better education are womens issues.

During tour stops, we have made it our goal to take the lessons learned back to Washington and work together on solutions to improve the lives of women and their families nationwide.

In 2018 we are thrilled to be partnering with some of our nations best businesses and local organizations to build on this momentum of change.

We are committed to engaging women and encouraging them to stand up and speak out. Our voices have always mattered, but our platform is now larger than ever.

In just a few years, the Women2Women tour has helped produce action on legislation to provide better mental health care, combat the opioid epidemic, and end human trafficking in the United States. And we are just getting started.Syrian residents watch as smoke rises from Harasta area, as seen from Douma, in the eastern Damascus suburb of Ghouta, Syria November 14, 2017. REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh - RC1B753E7E30

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The Trump administration inherited a bad situation in Syria, but it has managed to make matters even worse. There is no better illustration of the problem than the fact that Turkey, a NATO ally, sought permission from NATOs chief adversary, Russia, to attack Americas local partner in Syria despite U.S. pressure not to do so.

It's time to do more than try to manage this particular crisis. It's time to rethink the fundamental policies that got us here.

The Trump administration has good big ideas. It rightly seeks, for example, to pivot way from Obamas single-minded focus on ISIS, and refusal to recognize the Iranian threat in Syria.

The Trump White House identifies Iran as a primary threat. It has verbally committed to the departure from power of Bashar al Assad. It claims to prioritize repairing relations with Turkey; seeks to destroy al Qaeda; and wants to refocus the U.S. on Syrias humanitarian catastrophe.

These are the correct goals for which American policy should strive. In fact they are the minimum essential goals the U.S. must achieve to secure its vital national interests in the Middle East and as part of a global strategy.

The U.S. must recognize the threat Russia poses. It must acknowledge the limits of its current partners on the ground. It cannot put faith in a diplomatic charade. It must implement a real strategy against al Qaeda and Iran. And it must recognize the value of American action over American rhetoric.

The problem is that the strategy Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has outlined will not accomplish these goals. The U.S. must rapidly change how it is executing policy in five key areas.

? Russian military bases. The administration has tacitly surrendered to Vladimir Putin the most important thing he has ever sought in Syriapermanent Russian air and naval bases on the eastern Mediterranean. Those bases force NATO to develop new plans for scenarios that include a Russian move to deny access to key maritime routes and the airspace over the Middle East. The U.S. and its allies will need air and naval forces prepared to defend the eastern Mediterranean, which has been a NATO lake for more than 25 years. Contesting these bases may not be an appropriate near term goal, but the administration's refusal to say they are unacceptable is tacit acceptance of one of the most significant geostrategic reversals since the end of the Cold War.

? Acceptance of Bashar al-Assad. American policy in Syria is to accept Assad and his regime de facto, regardless of any tough administration statements. Tillerson argues that the sustained deployment of American forces to areas held by the opposition Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) puts the U.S. on a path toward Assads departure. The opposite is true. The Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG), which dominates the SDF, controls territory only in northern and eastern Syria, generally far away from the Syrian heartland that matters most to the regime and the opposition. It never meaningfully fought the regime and did not intend to depose Assad even before Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan set about taking it apart by force.

? Syrian de-escalation. The de-escalation agreement that President Trump signed in November 2017 with Russia is a surrender not only to Russia, but also to Iran. It heavily favors Assad. In that deal, Russia promised to compel Iran to withdraw its forces from southern Syria. It never happened. Pro-regime forces violate the de-escalation zone with impunity.

? The peace process. The diplomatic process in Syria has been a farce since at least 2015. Assad has never intended to grant serious concessions to his opposition and the U.S. has done nothing to compel him to do so. Russia has coopted the diplomatic track to keep Assad in power with limited U.S. resistance. The American goal appears to be an election. Assad will win: Putin will make sure of it.

? Iran and al Qaeda. Tillerson uses vague terms like deny their dreams to describe our strategy against Iran in Syria. He identifies no clear goal against which the U.S. can measure success. He states that the U.S. must deliver an enduring defeat to al Qaedaand we certainly must. Yet the U.S. Defense Department has offered no vision of how to do that. The strategy Tillerson outlinesand that the U.S. is pursuing--amounts to outsourcing the problem to Turkey, which is actually working with al Qaeda in Syria.

The good news is that when the U.S. acts in accord with reality, it achieves results. The President conducted a proportional strike in response to the Assad regimes use of sarin gas against civilians in April 2017. There have been no more sarin attacks. Even this success is qualified, however. The Assad regime still routinely uses chemicals against his population that are not strictly covered in the Geneva Conventions.

The U.S. must face reality in Syria. It must recognize the threat Russia poses. It must acknowledge the limits of its current partners on the ground. It cannot put faith in a diplomatic charade. It must implement a real strategy against al Qaeda and Iran. And it must recognize the value of American action over American rhetoric.

Two administrations have sought to substitute rhetoric for action and to outsource American interests to local partners. The U.S. must abandon this approach and recognize Syrias importance to American security.

It will take a long time and a hard struggle to achieve any outcome in Syria that the U.S. should be willing to live with. It is time to focus on it, devote resources to it, and prepare to do so for a long time.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Part of what makes the United States the greatest country on the face of the planet is our ability to be self-critical and self-correcting. We are different here. As a nation, we are willing to speak truth to power. We understand the need to limit the power of the federal government.

Keeping a vigilant eye on the intrusive powers granted in law enforcement and the intelligence communities is in everyones best interest - no matter the administration. Allegations of abuse of the power to spy without cause or to weaponize the vast authority of government for political purposes should concern every American.

A good investigation follows the facts, not political whims. We dont know exactly what is in the four-page classified summary presented by House Republicans on the Intel Committee, but based on the reaction of the visibly shaken members of Congress who have read the memo, there is cause for great concern  and that is likely an understatement.

We do know this: there is a four-page classified summary of findings by the majority on the Select Committee on Intelligence. It names names and makes very serious allegations. So what are the options for the committee?

Massive numbers of people on social media are demanding the committee release the memo. How does that work? Is releasing a classified memo the right way to approach this issue? Fortunately, the committee has multiple options. They dont need to choose just one.

The first option is for Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., to have a vote in committee to publicly release the memo. This is set to happen at 5pm ET Monday. This option is complicated by the classified nature of the material. As a rule, the Intelligence Committee does not release documents that expose sources and methods regarding the collection of the material.

Chairman Nunes has good options, but we should all strive to make sure they achieve truth, transparency, and ultimately justice.

There are legitimate reasons for this policy. These are tactics our government holds as close as possible so our enemies are left in the dark about how we do collect intelligence. For good reason, select few know what those methods and who those sources are, how we deploy them, or what they yield.

The second option is to release the material with some of the content redacted. Unfortunately, executive branch agencies have long abused this power, undermining public trust. All too often they redact material because it is embarrassing, but not because it exposes secret information, sources or methods. With the public demanding to see the memo, redactions should be used sparingly. If the committee chooses to release an unclassified version, that version should be as complete as possible, including names and other information the DOJ may find embarrassing, but not compromising of our intelligence gathering process.

The Chairman also has the option of sharing his findings with the Attorney General (AG), making a referral to the Department of Justice (DOJ) that may be criminal in nature.

In my experience, referring wrongdoing to the DOJ for criminal prosecution was a pointless exercise under the Obama administration as they by default chose not to prosecute themselves. President Trump may be more motivated to see justice served.

Finally, the committee can choose to share its findings with the Inspector General (IG) for the Intelligence Community (IC) and the IG for the DOJ.

The DOJ IG, Michael Horowitz, and his staff of nearly 450 have already been working on this investigation. Mr. Horowitz and his staff will likely share their findings on several topics in a pivotal hearing before the Oversight & Government Reform Committee in March, plus or minus a few weeks. This will be the most comprehensive investigation with the most credibility.

Chairman Nunes has good options, but we should all strive to make sure they achieve truth, transparency, and ultimately justice.A nail salon in Russia is creating the most over-the-top holiday look, and people are split about it.

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In Maryland, if youre behind in paying your state taxes you face a perverse situation. You need money to clear yourself of the debt, but anyone with unpaid taxes is automatically prohibited from obtaining or renewing an occupational license. That makes it difficult to find a job, because you cant work as a barber, manicurist, masseuse, chauffeur, taxidermist, physical trainer, upholsterer, unarmed security guard, or in many other professions without a government issued license.

Its a cruel twist in the already sordid saga of occupational licensing. States are simply licensing entrepreneurs out of work. In some states you need a license to decorate homes or to apply make-up. In 37 states, you need a license to shampooand on average it takes 248 calendar days of training and experience to get it. Thats a lot of time for a license to wash hairsomething that most people do at home on a regular basis without inflicting mass harm. In fact, its seven times the amount of training needed to get a license to be an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

One Maryland resident, a dentist who was denied his professional license because he was behind paying taxes, challenged the unpaid taxes law in 2005correctly arguing that the state may only burden a persons ability to enter a trade for reasons related to their fitness to work. As the Supreme Court has said, the state can impose licensing requirements to protect health and safety, like requiring doctors to have training in medicine. But it cannot impose burdens unrelated to a persons qualifications, like banning people from practicing as lawyers because of their political beliefs. Nevertheless, a state court upheld Marylands unpaid taxes law on the theory that paying taxes is related to a persons fitness to work as a dentist.

Thats puzzling. While the policy might make sense in an industry where financial savviness is important, like accounting, it makes zero sense in industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, dentistry, and the several other occupations licensed in the state. People who cant afford their taxes are no less capable of filling cavities than those who can.

States, of course, have an interest in passing laws that help them to collect taxes or fines. But they cannot constitutionally deprive people of their right to earn a living while doing so.

Marylanders are clearly unhappy. The Maryland Board of Nursing has a webpage devoted to the issue. The FAQ page reads:

I received a letter from the board stating my license will be put on hold due to a tax payment issue. How could this be possible? This is unfair and just wrong! How can I pay my taxes if you are going to take away my license (or certificate)? This is my livelihood! Who can I talk to about this?

No need for me to editorialize. The Boards phrasing says it all.

Maryland is not alone in its misguided policy. Twenty other states have a similarly despicable policy of preventing people from renewing their professional licenses when theyre behind in repaying their student loans. Forty-three states prohibit people from renewing their drivers license when they have unpaid court fees, which deprives many of their means of getting to work. These policies are absurd. The only way for people to afford their loan payments, court fees, or taxes is to hold a job. Keeping people out work for failing to pay is not only counterproductive, its heartless. Without professional or drivers licenses, many will turn to working or driving without onesubjecting them to further fines and an endless cycle of poverty and punishment.

Two Detroiters, Adrian Fowler and Kitia Harris, recently scored a preliminary legal victory in Michigan when a federal judge ruled that the state could not deny drivers licenses to people with unpaid traffic fines or court fees. Fowlers license was suspended after she accumulated about $2,000 in unpaid traffic finesincluding a speeding ticket she received for rushing her fevered baby to the hospital. While the case still has to proceed to the merits, for now the state cannot enforce its so-called wealth-based license suspensions.

Fortunately, theres plenty of potential for reform. States can start by reducing licensure. This month Oklahoma released a report suggesting that the state reevaluate the need for licensing laws, expand reciprocity among states, and examine bans on licenses to people with criminal records. The Federalist Societys Regulatory Transparency Project, which raises awareness about overregulation, urges states to consider less restrictive regulations before turning to occupational licensing. Registration, mandatory bonding and insurance, or private certification may present effective but less onerous alternatives to licensure. In addition, states should reconsider ancillary policies like Marylands unpaid taxes law, which compound occupational licensing problems.

States, of course, have an interest in passing laws that help them to collect taxes or fines. But they cannot constitutionally deprive people of their right to earn a living while doing so. And as a policy matter, its cruel and counterproductive to try.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

A high school history teacher in Southern California was secretly filmed calling members of the military dumb s**** and berating pro-military students for wearing Marine Corps sweatshirts.

The teacher at El Rancho High School was identified as Gregory Salcido. He also happens to be a member of the city council in the town of Pico Rivera.

Click here for a free subscription to Todds weekly newsletter: a must-read for Conservatives!

A 17-year-old student in the classroom secretly videoed Salcido as he launched into a profane tirade against the military and two students who were wearing Marine Corps shirts.

Think about the people you know who are over there, Salcido said. Your freaking stupid Uncle Louie or whatever. Theyre dumb s****. Theyre not high-level bankers. Theyre not academic people. Theyre not intellectual people.

Theyre the freaking lowest of our low, he ranted.

The brave and patriotic student who filmed the video spoke exclusively to the Todd Starnes Radio Show on Monday. His parents asked that we not identify the young man by name.

I was so angry, the student told Starnes. He has a history of being anti-military. Everyones entitled to their own opinion but at the same time they shouldnt be disrespecting the veterans who have fought for our rights, who give up their lives and do stuff that other people are not willing to do.

The student told the Todd Starnes Radio Show the teacher was triggered by his Marine Corps sweatshirt. Click here to listen to the full interview.

He called me out in front of the whole class, the young man said. He wanted to ask why I wanted to join the military.

I told him its a family tradition; its something Ive been wanting to do as a kid, the student said. And he ended up saying, So if it was a family tradition to beat women, would you continue it?

Instead of back-talking the teacher, the young man said he sat down in his seat and started filming the teacher.

This wasnt meant to go viral. It was just meant for my mom and dad to see, he said.

The student said he wants to join the Marine Corps after graduation  just like his dad and uncle.

My dad  hes a veteran  he went to Afghanistan, he said. I have an uncle who was in Desert Storm, another uncle that was in the Vietnam War.

The school district released a statement vowing to investigate the incident and take appropriate action.

They acknowledged the video shows one of their teachers appearing to disrespect the family values of our students and families in the classroom.

Our classrooms are not the appropriate place for one-sided discussions that undermine the values our families hold dear, the statement read.

Sadly, many public schools across the fruited plain have been overrun by America-hating leftists who are hell bent on indoctrinating innocent children.

Instead of teaching the next generation how to read and write, many taxpayer-funded schools are teaching children how to hate America.

I salute this 17-year-old young man who boldly took a stand in his classroom by exposing his foul-mouthed, military-hating teacher. May God bless this great American patriot.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Over the weekend President Trump told Piers Morgan he's not a feminist . 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, Im for everyone.

How utterly refreshing to have a president who not only rejects the feminist label but who implies that feminism is a divisive movement that has little regard for men.

He's right, of course. But he's the only commander-in-chief to admit it. He may even be the only commander-in-chief to understand it.

Barack Obama, our former president proudly declared himself a feminist.

How utterly refreshing to have a president who not only rejects the feminist label but who implies that feminism is a divisive movement that has little regard for men.

George W. Bush didn't say anything one way or the other, but like all presidents he had to contend with the pressures of the feminist elite. The feminist elitewho reside in Hollywood, in publishing, on campuses, in politics and in the mediahave a lot of clout, and they stop at nothing to get what they want.

That means when a Democrat is in office, feminists are on fire. Obama, for instance, made a powerful ally. But when a Republican is in office, the pressure to conform to feminist edicts is intense. And most presidents cave.

That's what makes President Trump a breath of fresh air. Clearly, he knows feminism has nothing to do with equality between the sexes.

Clearly, he knows feminists sell the notion that American women are victimsof both men and society. This message is fierce and powerful, and it is sold to Americans every day via newspapers and magazines, and via our television, movie and computer screens. It doesn't matter what the topic issex, work, marriage or parenthoodthe result is always the same: women are oppressed. And men are the oppressors.

Womens magazines, a nearly $7 billion-a-year business, are based on telling women their lives are too tough for them to handle and they should feel very sorry for themselves. This distorted vision of your life is absolutely crazy," writes Myrna Blyth in her book, Spin Sisters.

Indeed, and it's no different with film and television. The feminist elite want Americans to believe women are screwed left, right and center.

So I, for one, am grateful to have a president who knows that oppression and victimhood, along with an anti-male, anti-marriage agenda, are the underpinnings of modern feminism. It means that unlike past presidents, Democratic and Republican, Trump will not cave to feminist demands.

Naturally, the left will seize on Trump's disassociation with feminism; but he won't be deterred. The one thing that makes this president unlike any other is his refusal to be bullied. And that's precisely what feminists are: bullies.

I think they've finally met their match.

This column was first published in the author's newsletter. Click here for more.Allentown, Pa., Mayor Ed Pawlowski walking to court last November.

The Democratic mayor of Pennsylvanias third-largest city is standing trial for allegedly trading city contracts for cash to fuel his political ambitions  and his fate may depend on meatballs, according to reports.

Specifically, whether or not his aides used the word meatballs literally.

Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, 51, who began a fourth term this month, faces an indictment that includes dozens of accusations of fraud, bribery, attempted extortion and lying to the FBI. The most serious charges carry a maximum prison term of 20 years each.

Prosecutors said Pawlowski rigged a series of contracts to go to law firms and businesses that supported his campaigns for governor and U.S. Senate, retaliated against vendors that refused to play along or didnt give sufficiently and tried to hide his tracks.

Pawlowskis defense has argued that it was the mayors advisers and others, including Fleck, who behaved improperly, not the mayor himself, according to The New York Times. The prosecution, which has relied on the cooperation of those advisers, has sought to direct scrutiny away from them and toward the mayor, claiming he rigged millions of dollars in contracts for legal, engineering, technology and construction work.

Pawlowskis political consultants, Mike Fleck and Sam Ruchlewicz, cooperated with the government and secretly recorded conversations with the mayor.

The question in court is: in taped recordings between Fleck and Allentowns former finance director Garret H. Strathearn, were the men really discussing literal meatballs? Or, were they taking a cue from shady deals of yore and using meatballs as a metaphor for a payoff?

So, this is not code for a bribe? Did you actually go to Mike Flecks to pick up meatballs? Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Morgan asked Strathearn, who responded with a yes, according to The Morning Call, of Allentown.

Did you actually get meatballs? Morgan asked.

How many did you get? Morgan asked.

Four, Strathearn replied.

Pawlowskis lawyer, Jack McMahon, according to The Times, seemed to view meatballs as something more in line with clams, dough and cheddar.

You want these people to believe its really meatballs? McMahon yelled. Its a payoff, Mr. Strathearn. You know, I know and everybody knows.

The meatballs were the meatballs were the meatballs. There was nothing else involved, counselor, Strathearn responded.

Judge Juan R. Sanchez later told the jury to ignore that exchange, according to The Morning Call.

The Associated Press contribued to this report.When it comes to preparing prisoners for their return to society, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin says his state and many others have failed.

Weve created an entire subset of our population. Weve created an entire third class of citizens, Bevin, a Republican, says with regret about the more than 2 million Americans who are behind bars, most of whom will be released back into society.

Bevin offers a simple explanation for his passion on criminal justice reform, saying, It matters.

Bevin was a featured speaker at this weekends Freedom Partners event for more than 500 donors of the influential Koch network of non-profit organizations. The broad message from Bevin and others was that get-tough-on-criminals policies of the past did not serve the country well.

The goal of our criminal justice system at all times is to keep us safer and give us second chances, Koch Industries Mark Holden told reporters. I think our system has miserably failed us in the last 30-40 years.

Holden points to several data points demonstrating that everything is out of whack. He says the number of Americans with criminal records outnumbers those with college degrees -- and that governments spend several times more on incarcerations than grade school education.

Reentry begins day one of incarceration, Holden argues. What we want to do is change the mindset of the people who are incarcerated in prisons and the people who run prisons -- that prison is not the end of the line.

Its an issue that has drawn bipartisan interest in Washington in recent years, with optimism from federal lawmakers who think a prison-reform law can pass in the months ahead. However, the GOP-led Congresss efforts to reform the countrys health-care system and tax code and now perhaps fix its aging infrastructure has made criminal-justice reform a lesser priority.

And whether President Trump would sign such legislation into law seems uncertain, considering he won the White House as a law-and-order candidate who sounded unsympathetic to drug dealers and those who perpetuate violence the countys crime-plagued cities. Moreover, Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently signaled that the federal government will return to a more strict enforcement of marijuana laws.

Bevin highlighted the reforms in Kentucky including the elimination of a line item on state employment forms requiring notice of a criminal record. And he pointed to efforts to relax or eliminate restraints on ex-cons from getting business licenses, vote and otherwise fully participate in society.

Likewise, Georgia Supreme Court Justice Mike Boggs cited recent changes in his state as signs of progress, specifically steering non-violent offenders away from hard time in prison and toward accountability courts that emphasize addiction treatment and targeted help for mentally ill defendants.

He says addicts couldnt be threatened or scared into better behavior to keep them out of trouble.

Judges are very, very disappointed that often times prison and probation are the only the only two options that most trial judges have and they simply dont work, Boggs says.

With the states new emphasis on moving drug-fueled criminals away from prison and toward treatment, Georgia is at a 15-year low for new prison sentences. Its a huge shift in sentencing priorities from just a few years ago.

Also highlighted this weekend is a new academic study by a Florida State University professor called Safe Streets and Second Chances. The trial program will work in four states this year to better prepare more than 1,000 prisoners for life on the outside.

The trial, underwritten with a $1 million grant from the Charles Koch Foundation, aims to remove barriers to success for those reentering society by helping them make the transition and address substance abuse issues. The trial program also will offer career training and help on forming positive societal relationships -- with the goal of making sure that people leaving prison dont return.President Trump defended his treatment of women in an interview that aired on British television Sunday, explaining why he did not consider himself a feminist.

"I think that would be maybe going too far," the president told ITV's Piers Morgan. "Im for women, Im for men, Im for everyone. I think people have to go out ... and they have to win. And women are doing great and Im happy about that."

Trump's response came after Morgan asked him a series of questions about the Women's March and the #MeToo and "Time's Up" movements meant to spread awareness of sexual harassment and assault in the wake of misconduct accusations against powerful men.

"What message could you give these women who are marching that you are for them and not the problem?" Morgan asked.

"Well, I am for them and I think a lot of them understand that. I won many categories of women and the women vote in the election and people were shocked to see it," Trump answered, later adding that "women have the best unemployment number that theyve had in 17 years and theyre doing tremendously in business, theyre doing tremendously in so many ways and people are starting to see that."

The interview with Morgan was recorded Thursday during Trump's brief visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. It touched on topics such as Brexit, trade policy and whether or not the president would attend the wedding of Britain's Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle.

The president said he did not know whether he'd been invited to the May 19 nuptials, but said the pair look like a "lovely couple."

Told by Morgan that Markle had called him a "divisive misogynist," the president struck a friendly note, saying "Well, I still hope they're happy."

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 media have been filled with speculation that Harry and Markle might snub Trump and invite former 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.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Joe Manchin is seeking a second six-year term in the Senate this November.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said Sunday that President Trump's reported order to dismiss special counsel Robert Mueller was "New York talk" not to be taken literally.

"I look at it strictly as the New York language that they have which is different than most other people," Manchin, who in the past has bucked his party to back the president on certain issues, told NBC's "Meet The Press."

The New York Times reported late Thursday that Trump ordered Mueller fired this past June, a month after the former FBI Director was appointed to oversee the investigation into alleged collusion between Trump's campaign and Russian officials.

The paper reported that Trump backed off his directive after White House counsel Don McGahn threatened to resign. Other organizations, including Fox News, have reported that Trump discussed firing Mueller, but was talked out of doing so by McGahn and other officials.

When asked to explain his comments, Manchin said Trump had "been able basically to either do things incentive-wise through checks, bonuses, money or organization or organization changes, things of this sort. Hes had total control.

"Now all of a sudden hes understanding theres equal branches and theres equal powers. But also theres checks and balances. Hes having a hard time with that."

Manchin, who is running for re-election in a state Trump won by 42 percentage points in 2016, has shown more restraint than his fellow Democrats in criticizing the president. Last week, he described the White House's immigration proposal as "a good starting point."FILE: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi addresses the media last week. She has been criticized over her recent comment on immigration.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is under friendly fire from a fellow Democrat for her response to President Trumps immigration plan that she called a blue print to make America white again.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., who was on CNNs State of the Union, said we dont need that type of rhetoric on either side, from Nancy, (Speaker) Paul Ryan or anybody else.

Trumps proposal would offer a path to citizenship for 1.8 million so-called Dreamers. He would insist on $25 billion in funding for a border wall and security. The proposal also called for a crackdown on chain migration and the diversity visa lottery program.

Pelosi wrote in a statement on Friday that the 50 percent cut to legal immigration and the recent announcements to end Temporary Protected Status for Central Americans and Haitians are both part of the same cruel agenda. They are part of the Trump administrations unmistakable campaign to make America white again.

She tweeted the comment.

Reuters reported that Manchin is a leader of a bipartisan Senate group that is working on an immigration solution.

The Senate's top Democrat, Chuck Schumer of New York, dismissed Trumps plan Friday as a "wish list" for hard-liners. He acknowledged the bipartisan common ground on protections for the immigrants now shielded by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA.

But he accused Trump of using them as "a tool to tear apart our legal immigration system and adopt the wish list that anti-immigration hardliners have advocated for years."

The Associated Press contributed to this reportIt may have been President Trumps first State of the Union address -- but not all lawmakers attended.



Some Democrats protested the event; some wore black in honor of the #MeToo movement, while others donned kente cloth in response to Trump's reported remark about "sh-thole" countries.

And others -- see those listed below -- boycotted the speech entirely.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer

Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., said he would stay home during the State of the Union  just like he did during Trumps inauguration.

Hearing from Oregonians and working together to protect our values and advance policies that actually strengthen our communities is a more productive use of my time, Blumenauer said in a statement.

Rep. Yvette Clarke

A few hours before the State of the Union, Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., said she would skip Trump's remarks in protest.

Clarke said Trump is "wrong" on the travel ban, DACA and tax reform. She added that citizens in her district, which includes parts of Brooklyn, have been "highly insulted" and "disrespected" by the president.

Rep. Steve Cohen

Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., said he would also boycott the speech.

"The president is unworthy of the podium, the position & the power," he said.

Rep. Danny Davis

I cannot in good conscience stand silently by and watch generations of struggle for equal rights, for civil, human and voting rights, for the rights of women, for social and economic justice be undone from the highest office in the land, Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., said in a statement.

Davis said that during the address he will be in Chicago meeting with constituents from the 7th Congressional District to explore the Peoples State of the Union.

Rep. Al Green

Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, said he would boycott "to send a message of disapproval to an unfit president."

Tonight, I will do something that is as old as the Boston Tea Party, righteous as the Civil Rights movement, honorable as the Women's Suffrage movement, and as necessary as the LGBTQ rights movement," Green said in a statement.

The congressman has pressed the case to impeach Trump multiple times.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal

In a Twitter video, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., announced on Martin Luther King Jr. Day that she will not attend the State of the Union. Instead, Jayapal said, those boycotting the remarks will hold their own State of the Union.

I think it is absolutely unacceptable to see the racism and hatred coming out of the White House, the way in which this president is fueling the flames of divisiveness across the country, she said.

Rep. Barbara Lee

Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., said she would not be attending the State of the Union.

"I will not attend the #SOTU tonight and listen to President Trumps hateful agenda," Lee wrote on Instagram Tuesday. "Instead, I will be joining my fellow warrior women at the #StateOfOURUnion. We will organize, we will uplift & we will empower."

Rep. John Lewis

Citing Trumps reported comments about s--thole" countries, Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., said he would not go to the State of the Union.

I cannot in all good conscience be in a room with what he has said about so many Americans. I just cannot do it. I wouldnt be honest with myself, he told MSNBC. I dont appreciate him, and I wouldnt waste my time sitting in that House listening to what he has to say.

Rep. Gregory Meeks

Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., said Trump "does not respect [him]." Therefore, he will also skip the State of the Union.

At every opportunity, hes disrespected me and individuals who look like me. I cannot respect him, Meeks told MSNBC.

Rep. Bobby Rush

This has been the most chaotic, divisive, and incompetent first year of any administration and I will not sit and watch as Trump pretends that hes off to a successful start, Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., said in a statement.

The congressman said that the president does not respect the office, our longstanding institutions, traditions, and many of our citizens, who he has repeatedly insulted.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky

Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., said she would also boycott the address.

"I refuse to normalize President Donald Trump and his loathsome language and actions," Schakowsky said in a statement. "The American people have been subjected to a year of racist, erratic, and divisive behavior from their Commander in Chief, and I refuse to accept that as the new normal."

This isn't the first Trump event Schakowsky has chosen not to attend. The congresswoman also skipped Trump's inauguration, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Rep. Albio Sires

Rep. Albio Sires, D-N.J., was not at the State of the Union, either.

"The congressman is not attending the State of the Union because many of his constituents are offended by the president's rhetoric and behavior," Sires' spokeswoman told NJ.com.

Rep. Juan Vargas

Rep. Juan Vargas, D-Calif., tweeted about his decision to skip the State of the Union, saying that he "stand[s] in solidarity with all the people [Trump] has and continues to disrespect."

"I don't want to pretend in any way that I support this president," Vargas told KPBS-TV. "I don't want to be two-faced. I'd like to, if he started acting presidential. I'd be happy to go again, but I'm not going to do that until he starts acting presidential, respecting women, respecting people of color and immigrants."

Rep. Maxine Waters

Calling Trump a liar, Waters, D-Calif., said the president does not deserve [her] attention, and she would not attend the speech.

What does he have to say that I would be interested in? Waters asked during an interview with MSNBC.

Rep. Frederica Wilson

Trumps State of the Union address is the first Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., did not attend as a congresswoman, she said in a statement.

I have no doubt that instead of delivering a message of inclusivity and an agenda that benefits all Americans, President Trumps address will be full of innuendo, empty promises, and lies, Wilson said.

It would be an embarrassment to be seen with him at a forum that under any other president would be an honor to attend, she added.

Wilson and the president got into a notable feud last fall.The Department of Homeland Security said Monday it is again rolling out enhanced vetting procedures for refugees seeking to come to the United States from 11 "high-risk" countries.

Its critically important that we know who is entering the United States, Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen said in a statement. These additional security measures will make it harder for bad actors to exploit our refugee program, and they will ensure we take a more risk-based approach to protecting the homeland.

DHS did not name the 11 countries, but said it will continue to conduct a periodic review of the refugee high-risk country list.

Officials said the new enhanced vetting techniques for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program include "additional screening.

The department also said it will administer the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in a more risk-based manner when considering the refugee admissions ceiling, regional allocations and the groups considered for resettlement.

REFUGEE ADMISSIONS TUMBLE AFTER TRUMP LIFTS BAN

The changes follow a 90-day review during which the secretary determined if safeguards were needed to ensure that the admission of nationals from 11 high-risk countries does not pose a threat to the security and welfare of the United States.

During the presidential campaign, President Trump famously called for extreme vetting of immigrants coming to the United States.

After taking office, Trump ordered a 120-day pause of refugee admissions. Once the program resumed, he ordered enhanced procedures. That order mandated that the Secretary of Homeland Security review those procedures and determine whether they were still necessary.Top FBI official Andrew McCabe has been "removed" from his post as deputy director, Fox News is told, leaving the bureau after months of conflict-of-interest complaints from Republicans including President Trump.

A source confirmed to Fox News that McCabe is taking terminal leave  effectively taking vacation until he reaches his planned retirement in a matter of weeks. As such, he will not be reporting to work at the FBI anymore.

The move was first reported by NBC News.

McCabe has long been a controversial figure at the bureau.

Republicans have questioned McCabes ties to the Democratic Party, considering his wife ran as a Democrat for a Virginia Senate seat in 2015 and got financial help from a group tied to Clinton family ally Terry McAuliffe.

McCabe was former FBI Director James Comey's right-hand man

Trump himself tweeted in December: How can FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, the man in charge, along with leakin James Comey, of the Phony Hillary Clinton investigation (including her 33,000 illegally deleted emails) be given $700,000 for wifes campaign by Clinton Puppets during investigation?

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said during Mondays press briefing that Trump stands by his previous criticism of McCabe but was not involved in the departure.

The president wasn't part of the decision-making process, Sanders said.

On Monday, Democrats defended McCabe after news of his retirement broke.

Controversy erupted when a PAC tied to then-Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliff, an associate of the Clintons, donated money to McCabe's wife's state legislative campaign- even as McCabe investigated Clinton

FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is, and has been, a dedicated public servant who has served this country well, tweeted former Attorney General Eric Holder, who worked in the Obama administration and has become a frequent Trump critic.

Added Holder: Bogus attacks on the FBI and DOJ to distract attention from a legitimate criminal inquiry does long term, unnecessary damage to these foundations of our government.

McCabes departure certainly does not mean that we are done rooting out the problems at the FBI, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., reacted. The only way to ensure the FBI remains the premier law enforcement agency in the world is to ensure that the leadership at the Bureau holds the trust of the American people. This change in leadership at the FBI is a good first step in repairing the damage to their reputation.

McCabes exit follows recent news of other changes in top FBI roles, as Trump has taken aim at other senior FBI officials who worked under the former director, James Comey.

FBI DIRECTOR REPLACES COMEY-ERA CHIEF OF STAFF

FBI Director Christopher Wray said last week that his chief of staff, James Rybicki, was leaving the bureau. Department of Justice officials also told Fox News that Dana Boente, the U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia who is also the acting head of the DOJs National Security division, has been selected to step in as the FBIs next general counsel. James Baker, who had served as general counsel, was reassigned late last year.

McCabe's name has surfaced in connection with several other controversies.

The Daily Beast reported that a GOP memo alleging government surveillance abuse named McCabe, along with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and ex-FBI boss James Comey.

Incidentally, the McCabe removal comes after Wray viewed the memo Sunday on Capitol Hill, as reported by Fox News Catherine Herridge. The removal also comes ahead of a DOJ inspector general report regarding the handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe.

I want to believe the path you threw out for consideration in Andys office - that theres no way he gets elected - but Im afraid we cant take that risk, FBI official Peter Strzok texted on Aug. 15, 2016. Its like an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before youre 40.

Several Republicans also want to know what McCabe knew about anti-Trump text messages between two bureau officials, including one that seemed to reference an insurance policy against Trump winning the 2016 election.

I want to believe the path you threw out for consideration in Andys office - that theres no way he gets elected - but Im afraid we cant take that risk, Peter Strzok texted on Aug. 15, 2016. Its like an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before youre 40.

Some lawmakers think "Andy" was a reference to McCabe.

Late last year, Trump drew attention to news stories about McCabe's rumored agency exit.

FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is racing the clock to retire with full benefits, Trump tweeted.

The Washington Post last week reported that Trump, during an Oval Office meeting last spring, pressed McCabe, who was then acting FBI director, about whom he voted for in the 2016 election. McCabe, according to the outlet, told the president he didnt vote.

Fox News' Alex Pappas and Chad Pergram contributed to this report.Andrew McCabe has long been under fire, specifically by Republicans who have voiced conflict-of-interest complaints over McCabe's ties to the Democratic Party. Now, a bombshell report released by the Justice Department, reveals the former FBI director misled investigators multiple times about his role in a news media leak, though McCabe denies the allegations.

"DOJ just issued the McCabe report - which is a total disaster," Trump said in an April 13 tweet. "He LIED! LIED! LIED! McCabe was totally controlled by Comey - McCabe is Comey!! No collusion, all made up by this den of thieves and lowlifes!"

McCabe says that when he believed his answers to the inspector general were misunderstood, he went back and tried to correct them. His lawyer says the inspector general unfairly tried to conclude its work before McCabe could retire with a full pension.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired McCabe on March 16 -- two days short of his retirement and receiving a full pension. The firing was followed by reports that McCabe kept personal memos detailing interactions with President Trump.

Spent very little time with Andrew McCabe, but he never took notes when he was with me, Trump tweeted on March 18. I dont believe he made memos except to help his own agenda, probably at a later date. Same with lying James Comey. Can we call them Fake Memos?

"[W]e concluded that McCabes decision to confirm the existence of the CF Investigation through an anonymously sourced quote, recounting the content of a phone call with a senior Department official in a manner designed to advance his personal interests at the expense of Department leadership, was clearly not within the public interest exception," the report says.

Here's what you need to know about McCabe's FBI career and the controversies -- including his wife's having received donations for a failed 2015 Senate run from a group tied to former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe -- that have followed.

What should I know about McCabes FBI career?

McCabe started at the FBI in 1996 as a special agent and has held leadership positions in the Counterterrorism Division, the National Security Branch and the Washington Field Office, the FBI said.

In July 2015, a press release announced that then-FBI Director James Comey had appointed McCabe associate deputy director. Comey named McCabe the bureaus deputy director in January 2016.

Andys 19 years of experience, combined with his vision, judgment and ability to communicate, make him a perfect fit for this job, Comey said in a statement at the time.

After Trump fired Comey, McCabe was acting director of the FBI from May 9, 2017, until Aug. 2, 2017. Trumps pick to replace Comey, Christopher Wray, was sworn in the same day.

What about his handling of the Clinton email probe?

The inspector general's office, which for more than a year investigated the FBI's handling of the Clinton email investigation, concluded that McCabe authorized FBI officials to speak with a journalist for an October 2016 story in The Wall Street Journal, according to The New York Times.

Though Trump has called McCabe biased, the story in question suggested that FBI officials wanted to more actively probe the Clinton Foundation but were discouraged from more aggressive steps by the Obama Justice Department.

The DOJ's April report found that McCabe authorized a leak to a Wall Street Journal reporter about the contents of a telephone call in August 2016.

"Among the purposes of the disclosure was to rebut a narrative that had been developing following a story in the WSJ on October 23, 2016, that questioned McCabes impartiality in overseeing FBI investigations involving [Clinton], and claimed that McCabe had ordered the termination of the [FBI's Clinton Foundation investigation] due to Department of Justice pressure," the report says.

In January, The Journal reported that McCabe knew of thousands of emails related to the Clinton investigation for at least a month before Comey told Congress about them.

The day he was fired, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement that "the FBI expects every employee to adhere to the highest standards of honesty, integrity, and accountability."

In response, McCabe said that his firing was a part of the Trump administration's "war on the FBI," adding that he was being singled out because of the "role I played, the actions I took, and the events I witnessed in the aftermath of the firing of James Comey."

What is the Andy text message?

FBI agent Peter Strzok was dismissed from Muellers Russia probe after being linked to a number of anti-Trump text messages, including those calling Trump a menace and a loathsome human.

An Aug. 15, 2016, text message Strzok sent to FBI lawyer Lisa Page apparently references an insurance policy against Trump winning the 2016 election.

I want to believe the path you threw out for consideration in Andys office - that theres no way he gets elected - but Im afraid we cant take that risk, Strzok said in the text message. Its like an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before youre 40.

The Andy mentioned in the text was possibly a reference to McCabe.

What about his wifes State Senate campaign?

McCabes wife, Dr. Jill McCabe, ran for a Virginia State Senate seat in 2015. The political action committee for then-Virginia Governor McAuliffe, a Democrat and Clinton ally, donated $467,500 to her campaign, while the Virginia Democratic party gave $207,788, The Journal reported. Andrew McCabe was associate deputy director of the FBI at the time.

McCabe played no role, attended no events, and did not participate in fundraising or support of any kind, the FBI told The Journal in a statement. Months after the completion of her campaign, then-Associate Deputy Director McCabe was promoted to Deputy, where, in that position, he assumed for the first time, an oversight role in the investigation into Secretary Clintons emails.

Trump has been critical of the donations.

Dr. McCabe later lost the race to her Republican opponent, incumbent Dick Black.

Fox News Jake Gibson, Barnini Chakraborty, Madeline Farber, Lukas Mikelionis, Joseph Weber and The Associated Press contributed to this report.Andrew McCabe, who is abruptly stepping down today as the FBI's deputy director, has been the target of criticism by President Trump. But he was also involved in an incident with the White House early last year that raised questions about whether he and the bureau were trying to damage the president.

In an excerpt from my new book "Media Madness: Donald Trump, The Press and the War Over the Truth," I describe events that unfolded last year, beginning with a conversation between McCabe and the then-White House chief of staff:

Reince Priebus was chairing a 7:30 a.m. intelligence meeting when one of the participants, Andrew McCabe, asked to speak to him privately.

McCabe, the deputy FBI director, closed the door and told Priebus: We want you to know that everything in this New York Times story is bull--.

The Times had quoted unnamed sources in reporting that Trump campaign aides and associates had repeated contacts with senior Russian intelligence officials. CNN had carried a similar report.

Priebus pointed to the three televisions on his office wall: Heres my problem, theyre going 24/7. Can the FBI say what you just told me?

McCabe said he would have to check. Priebus thought he might come out of this a freaking hero.

A few hours later, McCabe told him the bureau couldnt start the practice of commenting on newspaper stories or it would never end.

Give me a break, Priebus said. Im getting crushed all over the place, and you wont say publicly what you told me privately?

James Comey called later. We really cant do anything about it, the FBI director told him. But Comey said hed be willing to tell the Senate Intelligence Committee that the charges were bogus; he was sure its members would repeat that for the cameras.

Now, a week later, CNN was airing a breaking news story naming Priebus. According to multiple U.S. officials, the network said, the FBI rejected a White House request to publicly knock down media reports about communications between Donald Trumps associates and Russians known to U.S. intelligence.

Priebus was stunned by the implication that he was pressuring law enforcement. Had he been set up? Why was the FBI leaking this information when one of its top officials had initiated the conversation?

Comey assured Priebus that afternoon that he hadnt done anything wrong, but the story reverberated for days. Is Reince Priebus Lying About the FBI? Slate asked. Reince Priebus Should Resign, a Boston Globe columnist demanded. The damage was done.Hillary Clintons latest return to the spotlight is being met with criticism.

While the 2016 Democratic presidential candidate took some ribbing for her cameo Sunday at the Grammys, theres even more fury over her response to the bombshell report that she helped protect a senior adviser to her 2008 campaign amid accusations he sexually harassed a subordinate. Without apologizing, she said simply that women should be heard  and meanwhile showed up in a Twitter clip giving a shout-out to activist b----es the same day that report was published.

The New York Times first revealed the 2008 incident Friday, reporting that Clinton intervened to help keep her faith adviser, Burns Strider, on board. She effectively overruled then-campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle, who wanted to fire Strider.

Strider was sent to counseling and lost several weeks of pay, but remained on staff while the younger woman was moved to a new role.

HILLARY CLINTON PROTECTED '08 CAMPAIGN ADVISER ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT: REPORT

Clinton responded to the report late Friday on Twitter, but fell short of issuing an apology.

Hillary Clinton is taking heat for her response to a story about harassment on her 2008 campaign.

A story appeared today about something that happened in 2008. I was dismayed when it occurred, but was heartened the young woman came forward, was heard, and had her concerns taken seriously and addressed, Clinton tweeted.

She added: I called her today to tell her how proud I am of her and to make sure she knows what all women should: we deserve to be heard.

Clintons response drew bipartisan criticism over the weekend, including from a liberal-leaning member of the Washington Post editorial board.

HILLARY CLINTON MAKES GRAMMY'S CAMEO TO MOCK TRUMP BY READING 'FIRE AND FURY'

Classically, infuriatingly, this episode and its aftermath exposes, once again, the trademark Clinton failure to take personal responsibility; the allergy to owning up to error; the refusal to cede any ground, no less apologize; the incessant double-standarding with different, more forgiving rules for the Clintons and their loyalists, the Post's Ruth Marcus wrote in a column over the weekend titled, Hillary Clinton: #MeToo, meet #SoWhat.

Marcus laid out an alternative, perhaps more appropriate response for Clinton in her column, daring readers to imagine a Hillary Clinton who apologized for her lapse in judgment during the time of the incident.

Imagine that Hillary Clinton. She doesnt exist, Marcus wrote.

Other pundits and journalists slammed Clintons response on Twitter throughout the weekend.

Everything Clinton says or does is seen through its own unique polarized prism, but by no measure would this employers response be described as appropriate or responsible in any of the other harassment stories that have come to light in recent months, NPRs Susan Davis tweeted Saturday.

Daily Caller reporter Chuck Ross tweeted: Women deserve to be heard, unless they have an NDA or something.

The woman in question and other Clinton campaign staffers reportedly were required to sign a nondisclosure agreement barring campaign aides from publicly discussing inner workings of the Clinton team.

The woman reportedly had accused Strider of rubbing her shoulders inappropriately, kissing her on the forehead and sending suggestive emails.

Prior to Clintons response, a Clinton spokesman gave Fox News a statement from the law firm that represented the 2008 campaign:

To ensure a safe working environment, the campaign had a process to address complaints of misconduct and harassment, the statement from Urecht, Kleinfeld, Fiori, Partners said. When matters arose, they were reviewed in accordance with these policies, and appropriate action was taken. This complaint was no exception.

Clinton has seemingly remained in close contact with Strider, with photos taken as recently as October 2017 that show them together.

Strider later was hired to lead an independent group that supported Clintons 2016 presidential run, Correct the Record, which was launched by Clinton ally David Brock. But he reportedly was fired from Brocks firm months later for workplace issues, including accusations that he, again, sexually harassed a young female aide.

Strider did not respond to Fox News request for comment.

Amid the fallout from the Times report, Clinton also appeared in an unusual video on Twitter voicing support for "activist b----es."

Hey everyone, I just wanted to say thanks, Clinton said, sitting at a booth. Thanks for your feminism, for your activism, and all I can hope is you keep up the really important, good work.

She added with a laugh: And let me just say, this is directed to the activist b----es, supporting b----es. So lets go.

Clinton wrapped up the weekend with her cameo at the Grammy Awards, where she read excerpts from Michael Wolff's "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House."Could not establish database connection.

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The administrator has been notified and will resolve the problem ASAP.House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen is retiring.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen on Monday announced plans to retire from Congress, becoming the latest high-profile Republican to opt against a competitive re-election effort.

Today as I announce my retirement at the end of this session of Congress, I want to use the opportunity to strongly encourage the many young people I meet to consider public service, the New Jersey lawmaker said in a statement obtained by Fox News. Public service is an incredible way to turn your convictions into something that serves the greater good and to do it alongside people from every walk of life and background.

He joins a parade of committee chairs who are leaving at the end of the year.

They include: Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith of Texas; Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce of California; Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte of Virginia; Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania; Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling of Texas; House Administration Chairman Gregg Harper of Mississippi and House Budget Committee Chairman Diane Black of Tennessee.

In the House, more than 30 Republicans are retiring, resigning or running for another office as anti-Trump sentiment spreads in swing districts. Thats in comparison to just 14 Democrats leaving the House.

The Republican exodus is the largest number of retirements since the 1994 congressional elections, when the GOP  aided in part by a slew of Democratic retirements  took back control of the House during former Democratic President Bill Clinton's first term.

Democrats need to flip 24 seats to take back the House this year.

The 71-year-old Frelinghuysen was first elected to the House in 1994.

Frelinghuysen won by almost 20 points in 2016, but he was viewed to be vulnerable this cycle.

Republicans on Monday expressed optimism that they would still hold Frelinghuysens seat.

"This district has been held by a Republican since the 1980s, and we plan to keep it that way in November, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Steve Stivers said

Multiple Frelinghuysens have served in Congress, dating nearly to the founding of the republic.

Fox News Chad Pergram and Jason Donner contributed to this report.A key House committee is set to vote as early as Monday evening on whether to make public a classified memo that top congressional Republicans say details government surveillance abuses -- and has emerged at the center of a power struggle in Washington.

Those who have seen the document suggest it reveals what role the unverified anti-Trump "dossier" played in the application for a surveillance warrant on at least one President Trump associate.

While the White House seems to favor the memo's release, the Justice Department has pushed back hard. Sources told Fox News' Catherine Herridge that FBI Director Christopher Wray went to the Capitol on Sunday to view the four-page memo.

According to one source, Wray was asked to point out inaccuracies or other issues with the wording -- and said he would need his people to take a look at it. The source said the review is ongoing.

But South Carolina GOP Rep. Trey Gowdy, who helped write the four-page memo, said Sunday he wants it made public.

He also suggested the memo indeed addresses whether the FBI relied at least in part on the dossier -- paid for partially by Democrats and the Clinton campaign during the 2016 presidential election -- to apply to a secret federal court to get a surveillance warrant, purportedly on then-Trump adviser Carter Page.

If you  want to know whether or not the dossier was used in court proceedings, whether or not it was vetted before it was used.  If you are interested in who paid for the dossier  then, yes, you'll want the memo to come out, Gowdy told Fox News Sunday.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes is likely to pursue the release of a controversial surveillance memo.

The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence convened Monday evening and is expected to take a vote on whether to release the memo. The president then would decide whether he has any objections.

The committee, with 13 Republican and nine Democratic members, is expected to vote yes. And Trump seems to want to declassify the memo for Americans to see, over objections from the Justice Department.

We dont know whats in the memo. But I think the president generally sides on the side of transparency, Marc Short, the White House legislative affairs director, told Fox News on Sunday. Im sure hes very concerned about some of the appearances of conflict of interest at the top of the agency.

The Washington Post published a story earlier in the day stating Trump, who claims Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation continues with no evidence of collusion with Russia, wants the memo released. The DOJ has warned that releasing the memo without a proper review would be "reckless."

The dossier was compiled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele and contained opposition research on Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign. Steele was hired by the U.S. firm Fusion GPS, which commissioned the research with funding from the Democratic National Committee and the campaign of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. At the same time, the firm was allegedly doing work to help the Russian government fight sanctions.

Having read this memo, I think it would be appropriate that the public has full view, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press.

Rep. Adam Schiff says Democrats will have their own surveillance memo.

California Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House intelligence committee, said last week that committee Democrats will release their own memo, claiming the Republicans document represents another effort to distract from the Russia probe and  seeks to selectively and misleadingly characterize classified information in an effort to protect the president at any cost.

Requests for surveillance warrants are made through the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, also known as the FISA court, and target suspected foreign spies inside the United States.

Gowdy, chairman of the House oversight committee, also said Sunday that he advised House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., to have the FBI review the memo before its release. But he declined to say whether there was indeed a FISA warrant on Page, citing classified information.



However, he asked: Do you want to know whether or not the primary source in these court proceedings had a bias against one [presidential] candidate?

Fox News' Catherine Herridge and Chad Pergram contributed to this report.As Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian influence in the 2016 election continues, two former members of his team are under scrutiny for text messages they exchanged about President Trump and the probe.

In the messages, Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, who were romantically involved, bashed Trump and discussed concerns about being too tough on Hillary Clinton during an investigation into the use of her private email server.

Overall, the pair exchanged some 50,000 text messages throughout the presidential election and first year of the Trump administration, many of them with anti-Trump sentiments.

In one particular message, when Page asked if Trump would ever become president, Strzok reportedly replied, No. No he won't. We'll stop it.

Other text messages showed an allegiance for fired FBI Director James Comey.

The messages have not gone unnoticed by GOP lawmakers or Trump. Republicans have argued that their messages color the outcome of the Clinton email investigation and undercut the FBIs ongoing investigation into Russian election interference. The president has often tweeted personal attacks at Page and Strzok and called the texts hate filled and biased.

The Justice Department's inspector general has criticized Strzok and Page for creating the appearance of impropriety through the texts. But the report said it found no evidence of political bias in the FBI's decision to not pursue criminal charges against Clinton.

Heres a look at who exchanged the text messages  and who would eventually leave the FBI.

Peter Strzok

Peter Strzok exchanged anti-Trump text messages with Lisa Page.

A veteran counterintelligence agent, Peter Strzok was assigned to both the investigation into Clintons personal email server and the special counsels probe into potential collusion between Trump officials and Russia during the election.

Strzok was removed from the Russia investigation after it was revealed that he exchanged anti-Trump text messages with Page, then a senior FBI lawyer.

Months later, in August 2018, Strzok was fired from the FBI, his attorney said.

According to the text messages, Strzok was hesitant to join Muellers investigation because of his gut sense that there was no big there there.

MUELLER PROBE ONE YEAR LATER: HOW THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION BECAME DCS BIGGEST POLITICAL FOOTBALL

Strzok previously worked on investigations pertaining to Chinese and Russian espionage, according to The New York Times. ABC first reported that Strzok left the probe and was reassigned to the human resources division in August 2017.

After he was fired, Trump said "finally" and again criticized the legitimacy of the Russia investigation.

Lisa Page

Lisa Page was only briefly on Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team.

A lawyer for the FBI, Lisa Page was only temporarily on Muellers team, but she discussed the investigation with Strzok.

Page warned Strzok via text about the FBIs investigation into Clintons use of a private email server during her tenure as secretary of state, saying in February 2016 that she might be our next president.

The last thing you need [is] going in there loaded for bear, Page continued. You think shes going to remember or care that it was more [DOJ] than [FBI]?

Page, who has "deep experience [in] money laundering and organized crime cases," was removed from the investigation in September 2017. She left the FBI in May.

House lawmakers subpoenaed her to appear for a private interview in July. They said she was "cooperative" and "credible" in her closed-door interview that lasted for hours.

Andrew McCabe

A controversial figure at the FBI, deputy director Andrew McCabe was seemingly referenced by Page and Strzok in their text messages.

I want to believe the path you threw out for consideration in Andys office - that theres no way he gets elected - but Im afraid we cant take that risk, Strzok texted in August 2016. Its like an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before youre 40.

US MARSHALS SERVED SUBPOENA ON FBI LAWYER LISA PAGE, LAWMAKER SAYS

Some lawmakers believed Andy to be a reference to McCabe.

In another text that same month, Strzok told Page that McCabe was concerned with information control about the investigation into Trumps campaign.

McCabe, whose wife ran as a Democrat for a Virginia Senate seat with financial assistance from a group tied to Clinton, repeatedly faced criticism from Trump.

How can FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, the man in charge, along with leakin' James Comey, of the Phony Hillary Clinton investigation (including her 33,000 illegally deleted emails) be given $700,000 for wife's campaign by Clinton Puppets during investigation? Trump asked in a December 2017 tweet.

In January, McCabe was removed from his post, taking terminal leave until his planned retirement in March. However, he was ultimately fired before he was set to leave his post.

Robert Mueller

Special Counsel Robert Mueller departs after a closed-door meeting with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee about Russian meddling in the election.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller was tasked with overseeing the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election after Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself.

A LOOK AT TRUMPS LAWYERS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION

Mueller led the FBI through the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and served under presidential administrations of both parties.

His Russia probe has led to charges for four former Trump campaign officials, although none of the charges directly stem from misconduct during the election.

Fox News Brooke Singman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.It may pale in comparison to the size of his campaign rallies, but President Trump is still anticipating a full house when he delivers his first State of the Union (SOTU) address.

Trump will see a number of familiar faces as he pans the room from his podium Tuesday.

Several guests handpicked by the president will join first lady Melania Trump in the gallery. Its a tradition that was started by former President Ronald Reagan in 1982.

"I will be joined tonight by an honorable group of Americans," Mrs. Trump tweeted Tuesday afternoon. "Sitting with me are heroes who have served our nation in times of need, families who have suffered at the hands of evil, and citizens who have embraced the American dream."

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders revealed a list of special guests for Tuesday's speech during a press briefing Monday afternoon.

These individuals usually have performed an act of heroism or achieved an impressive milestone that illustrates an important theme in the presidents speech, according to the Congressional Research Service. At the appropriate time, the president acknowledges the guests seated adjacent to the first lady and identifies their particular contribution.

These are the 15 special guests who will be siting with the first lady at the State of the Union Tuesday night.

Evelyn Rodriguez and Freddy Cuevas

Evelyn Rodriguez, whose 16-year-old daughter Kayla Cuevas was found beaten and stabbed by members of the MS-13, will attend the State of the Union.

Evelyn Rodriguez and Freddy Cuevas' 16-year-old daughter, Kayla, was beaten and stabbed to death by MS-13 gang members in 2016.

The parents from Brentwood, New York, will attend the SOTU Tuesday as White House guests.

I just want whats right to be done, Rodriguez told The New York Times on Sunday. Everybody should put their political agenda aside and think about whats going on in our country.

Rodriguez has praised Trump's past efforts to address the nation's gang problems, specifically MS-13. She attended an event he held on Long Island in July to discuss the issue.

"I appreciate him acknowleding that we have a serious problem here on Long Island," Rodriguez said during an interview on Fox News following the July event. "He said, 'This cannot be tolerated anymore. We cannot accept this behavior.' That made us think, 'Hey, someone's listening to us.'"

Elizabeth Alvarado and Robert Mickens

The beaten body of 15-year-old Nisa Mickens was found on a tree-lined street in Brentwood, New York, on Sept. 13, 2016 -- a day before her 16th birthday.

The body of her friend, Kayla Cuevas, was found the next day. Like Cuevas, Mickens was also a victim of the MS-13 gang.

Mickens' parents, Elizabeth Alvarado and Robert Mickens, will join the parents of Kayla Cuevas at the SOTU.

Cpl. Matthew Bradford

Cpl. Matthew Bradford, the first blind double amputee to re-enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps, will also attend the SOTU as a guest of the president.

He lost his legs and eyesight after stepping on an IED while deployed in Iraq in January 2007.

"I'm paving the road for the rest of them who want to stay in but think they can't," Bradford told the San Antonio Express-News when he made the decision to return to the Marines in April 2010.

Corey Adams

Corey Adams is a welder at Staub Manufacturing Solutions in Dayton, Ohio.

Last year, Adams and his wife bought their first home, and they plan to invest their extra money from the Trump tax cuts into their two daughters' education savings, Sanders said.

A volunteer with the Cajun Navy takes a break between clearing debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma on Chokoloskee Island, Florida, U.S. Sept. 12, 2017.

John Bridgers

In 2016, John Bridgers started a group called the Cajun Navy, a nonproft rescue and recovery organization, to assist flood victims in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

In the summer of 2017, Bridgers and the Cajun Navy traveled to Houston to help victims of Hurricane Harvey.

"He and his team have helped thousands of people across the south," Sanders said.

David Dahlberg

David Dahlberg, a fire technician with the U.S. Forest Service, saved 62 children and staff members from a raging wildfire that encircled Circle V Ranch Camp in Santa Barbara, California.

Officer Ryan Holets

Albuquerque police officer Ryan Holets has been shot twice since he joined the force six years ago. But that hasn't discouraged the cop from continuing his work.

In fact, he wouldn't be the father to a special little girl if he wasn't an officer.

In September 2017, Holets was responding to reports of a robbery when he discovered a pregnant homeless woman behind the building getting ready to inject heroin. Without giving it a second thought, Holets agreed to the woman's plea for him to adopt her child.

The 35-year-old woman has since referred to Holets as her "guardian angel."

Ashlee Leppert

Ashlee Leppert serves as an aviation electronics technician in the U.S. Coast Guard.

"Last year, she rescued dozens of Americans imperiled during the devastating hurricane season," Sanders said.

Agent Celestino CJ Martinez

CJ Martinez is a veteran and supervisory special agent for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations unit.

His investigations have led to more than 100 arrests of MS-13 gang members, Sanders said.

Staff Sergeant Justin Peck

Staff Sergeant Justin Peck has served in the U.S. Army for eight years. During a mission in Raqqa, Syria, in November 2017, Peck heard an IED blast go off. He ran to the second floor of a hospital to find Chief Petty Officer Stacy severly wounded.

He rushed to Stacy's side, made a tourniquet to stop the bleeding and started CPR. His heroic actions saved Stacy's life.

Preston Sharp:

Preston Sharp is responsible for starting the Flag and Flower Challenge (#FandFChallenge), a 50-state challenge to honor every veteran in the U.S.

The idea came to him when he visited his grandfather's grave at the McDonald cemetery in Redding, California in 2015. He wanted to make sure every veteran would be honored with a flag or flower.

Today, the 11-year-old boy has helped facilitate the placement of more than 40,000 American flags and flowers on veterans' graves, Sanders said.

Steve Staub and Sandy Keplinger:

Steve Staub and Sandy Kepingler, who started Staub Manufacturing Solutions 20 years ago, say they've seen a "Trump bump" in their business, Sanders explained.

Thanks to Trump's tax cuts, business has been booming -- with their team growing from 23 to 37 employees within the past year.

Plus, thanks to tax cuts and reform legislation, they were also "able to give all their employees larger than expected Christmas bonuses," Sanders added.FILE: A visitors walks past a 5G sign during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last year. The technology is seen as a "key area of competition" internationally.

Some White House officials view next-generation 5G wireless service as a key area of competition, and they say that the threat from China, in particular, justifies a moonshot government effort like the construction of the interstate highway system, an internal memo shows.

The memoproduced by officials at the National Security Councilurges the Trump administration to consider extraordinary efforts to clear the way for the new technology or even to help build it in order to counter the growing economic and political threat from Chinas aggressive efforts to develop 5G.

It is necessary and possible to build a secure, high-performance, world-leading 5G network platform by the end of the first term, the memo says. The memo was first reported by news website Axios. Such an effort could secure the U.S. position as the world leader in internet technology and encourage a renaissance of U.S. telecommunications manufacturing, the memo suggests.

The ambitious goals outlined in the memo, however, were greeted with skepticism by some telecommunications experts, who said the proposed efforts rapid timetable was likely unrealistic, particularly given the huge costs associated with building a nationwide 5G network. They also predicted widespread industry opposition, as did the memo itself.

Still, the memo underscores the growing significance of 5G as a policy and political debate for the administration. The anticipated 5G service would offer significantly faster speeds and expanded capacity that could accommodate emerging technologies such as self-driving vehicles and the internet of things.

It relies in part on employing parts of the airwaves that havent previously been viewed as useful for wireless service.

Some experts have predicted in recent days that President Donald Trump might even seek to draw attention to the need to accelerate 5G efforts in his State of the Union address. Industry officials have been invited to the White House Monday for a round-table discussion of infrastructure efforts that could touch on 5G deployment.

AT&T Inc. said in a statement that it couldnt comment on a memo it hadnt seen. But, more broadly, it said, thanks to multi-billion dollar investments made by American companies, the work to launch 5G service in the United States is already well down the road....We have no doubt that America will lead the 5G revolution.

Click for more from WSJ.comAlex Azar officially became the new secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in January.

Azar, who was confirmed by the Senate in a 55-43 vote that was largely along party lines and sworn in on Jan. 29, replaced Tom Price, the department's former secretary.

Price resigned in September 2017 after he was criticized for using private charter planes for official travel. President Trump later tapped Azar to take over the role.

Heres what you need to know about Azar.

Who is Alex Azar?

Alex Azar replaced Tom Price as the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Azar, 50, Azar is married with two children. Prior to becoming the Health Department's new secretary, he lived in Indiana with his family for about a decade, according to his Health and Human Services Department biography.

The Yale-educated lawyer also attended Dartmouth College, where he received a bachelor's degree in economics. He also graduated summa cum laude from Dartmouth, according to the same biography.

Azar, who once clerked for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, has spent a large chunk of his career in the healthcare industry -- an industry he entered "largely by accident," he once wrote.

For a decade, Azar served as a senior executive of drugmaker Eli Lilly, which has been criticized for raising the price of insulin and other widely used medications. Though he resigned from the Indianapolis-based company last year, he built a financial portfolio thats now worth between $9.5 million and $20.6 million, according to disclosure records filed with the Office of Government Ethics, as reported by The Associated Press.

Azar also served as General Counsel of HHS and later as deputy secretary of HHS under former President George W. Bush.

During his time as deputy secretary, Azar "was involved in improving the departments operations; advancing its emergency preparedness and response capabilities as well as its global health affairs activities; and helping oversee the rollout of the Medicare Part D prescription drug program," according to his Health and Human Services Department biography.

As HHS secretary, Azar says he has four main priorities: to help curb the high cost of prescription drugs, make health insurance more affordable and available, continue bipartisan efforts to focus Medicare payments on quality and confront the growing opioid addiction epidemic.

Why did Tom Price resign?

Price, Trumps former HHS secretary, resigned in September after he was widely criticized for using private charter planes for official travel. Price reportedly flew to community health centers in New Hampshire and Pennsylvania in a costly private charter aircraft.

In August, he also reportedly took a government-funded private plane to St. Simons Island. Price owns land on the island, which is just off the Georgia coast. He reportedly flew there before attending a medical conference.

And during official trips to Africa, Europe and beyond, Price took a military aircraft -- a move that cost taxpayers more than $500,000, according to reports.

After Price resigned, President Trump tapped Don J. Wright as acting secretary. Wright worked as the deputy assistant secretary for health and director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion before he became the department's acting secretary.

What does the Department of Health and Human Services do?

The department is responsible for health insurance programs covering more than 130 million people, drug and food safety, disease detection and prevention and advanced medical research.

The trillion-dollar department also plays a major role in the economy and accounts for about one-fourth of the federal budget.

Fox News Alex Pappas and The Associated Press contributed to this report.The push to impeach President Donald Trump now has some competition from a campaign with unknown financial backers that wants to censure the president instead.

On Wednesday, a group that opposes Trump took out a full-page advertisement in the major news section of the New York Times to publicize a petition listing 34 actions by the president that they believe warrant censure by Congress.

The 34 points range from the firing of former FBI Director James Comey to "encouraging police discrimination," and even "publishing false and inflammatory right-wing British videos"a reference to the president retweeting videos on Twitter.

"While some of Trump's actions may be sufficient to support his impeachment, we believe that at a minimum they require his immediate censure by Congress," the group wrote.

Censure is a formal process by which both houses of Congress vote to formally condemn an individual for conduct construed to be unbecoming. Censure is not the same as impeachment, which occurs when legislative bodies vote to bring direct charges of misconduct against an individual. Neither impeachment nor censure results in the immediate removal from office, though individuals who are impeached are eligible to be removed upon conviction of the crimes they are charged with. Individuals who are censured by Congress are not eligible to be removed from office.

The organization behind the petition is shrouded in mystery. The campaign's website does not list an address, information about the group's leadership, or the financiers who paid for the New York Timesad. It is also unclear why the ad was taken out on Wednesday, almost six months after the petition first appeared in August 2017.

Click for more from The Washington Free Beacon.next Image 1 of 3

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Planning a dream kitchen and facing reality can be two different things. In a perfect world we could have endless pantry storage at our fingertips, but sometimes fitting a pantry into the kitchen (or elsewhere in the home) takes some compromising  or at least a little creativity. Heres a wide range of ideas for where you might best fit a pantry into your home, so you can find an option that works best for you.

At One End of a Galley Kitchen

Whether you have a wide kitchen with a bit of space to spare or a compact kitchen with nowhere else for the pantry to go, using a tall cabinet at one end of the kitchen can be a beautiful solution. This sort of layout creates an appealing symmetry with a tall cabinet at the other end for a fridge or other appliances.

One downside of this solution that should be noted is the loss of some counter space, compared to using standard upper and lower cabinets with a stretch of counter between.

However, using a tall full-depth cabinet provides a great deal more storage capacity and gives the kitchen a weighty and mature air. Plus, it gives you more surface area to paint in a rich hue if you so choose.

If you have a nearby island to act as prep space, losing a little counter may be well worth the trade-off.

In a Standalone Cabinet

Rather than adding a full set of cabinets to a wall, consider using a single cabinet (either a built-in or a standalone unit safely anchored to the wall) to create a pantry without filling in a whole wall.

This can create a beautiful accent in the room, contrasting other cabinets a bit and becoming a focal point rather than just a functional piece of storage.

Plus, if you use a sturdy cabinet, it can later be moved to a new home more easily than a true built-in. Just be sure to anchor it carefully.

In a Former Closet Space

Sometimes planning the storage in your home can be a matter of prioritizing. A space used for a closet near the kitchen can be handy for storing coats and boots or cleaning supplies, but converting this space into a pantry with many shelves and drawers may be the better option for your needs.

For a more traditional look, a relatively small bit of construction can convert a typical doored closet into a niche for a pantry cabinet  either a custom-sized unit or a few prefab cabinets with slim filler panels on the ends to give a seamless look.

Consider giving this pantry cabinet its own finish to act as an accent. This is also a clever way to avoid having to match a newly added pantry to existing cabinets.

Rather than adding an actual cabinet, you can convert a closet into a pantry by adding a variety of shelves or drawers to allow for storage of smaller items.

Baskets are useful for storing some items, but for frequently accessed goods and tools, investing in a few proper drawers will give better functionality.

In a Converted Adjacent Room

Looking to make some bold changes during a renovation? Converting an extra room off a kitchen into a pantry may be a better use of space than, say, a rarely used breakfast nook or den, especially if you realistically find yourself spending more time in the kitchen itself.

If the converted space is large enough  and especially if you can route in water lines for a sink  the new pantry can also work as a prep station for a second chef.

If this is your goal, use separate uppers and lowers for at least one wall to allow for some useable counter space.

You can also consider using some open cabinets without doors to put everything within immediate reach.

On One End of the Main Cabinets

When using stock prefabricated cabinetry in a kitchen, oftentimes the available cabinet sizes wont add up to perfectly fill a wall 100 percent.

Rather than leaving these last precious inches unused, consider having a small, shallow custom cabinet added to one end (on the side of another cabinet) to act as a compact pantry.

Shelves only a few inches deep may not have many uses outside the kitchen or bathroom, but here theyre great for storing spices, bottles, jars and other petite containers, all within easy reach.

In the Laundry Room

A dream laundry room is big and breezy enough to have ample space to work in and alleviate some of the drudgery of washing and folding with a little natural light or fresh air. However, even the most covetable laundry rooms only need so much storage for laundry supplies.

Double up on functionality by adding pantry storage. It makes for a good use of space and gives you a great excuse to make your laundry room bigger than the bare minimum.

In a Niche

Stealing a slim storage space from where it otherwise would be wasted can be a great way to store small kitchen essentials.

If you check in with a good contractor during construction, you may be able to find some empty wall-cavity spaces to turn into smart storage niches.

This sort of niche can be left uncovered for modern-style open shelving or given its own set of doors like a typical cabinet to suit any style of decor.

Under the Stairs

I love seeing creative uses for those odd angular spaces under the stairs, and pull-out pantry cabinets are a genius option if you happen to have a staircase near the kitchen.

So often the cavity under a staircase goes unused, and with its odd shape it can be hard to access.

Slim and tall pull-out drawers allow you to access the storage without having to crouch and root around inside a crawl space.

This sort of storage works for small containers, so a pantry is a natural fit.

For a simpler solution, a standard shelf cabinet will provide lots of storage, especially for bulky pieces like small kitchen appliances or seasonal serveware, which arent accessed as often. Moving these out of the main kitchen cabinets will give you more room for small pantry goods right in the main space.

Keep in mind that you will have to have doors custom-fitted and stagger the heights of the cabinets (or have them custom-built), which makes this type of cabinet more of an investment than a standard cabinet installation. But the ample storage makes it an idea worth considering.

In the Corner of an L-Shaped Kitchen

Skipping the upper cabinets in exchange for having a more open-looking kitchen is a popular trend, but obviously this eliminates some storage.

Balance the two priorities by using a full-height cabinet at the end of an L-shaped layout to get a little extra storage (as a doored pantry, open cabinet or both) without drastically shrinking the room.

In a Home Office

Sometimes spaces in the home have to serve double duty, and one such space is often the home office, especially when such a room is only used occasionally rather than for a work-from-home career.

For those who arent driven to distraction by a bit of clutter, the office can double as storage space without physically interfering with your work. Perhaps its better to think of it as a luxe walk-in pantry that also has space for a computer.

In a Mudroom or Back Entry

Putting the pantry near, or in, the entryway doesnt always place it immediately adjacent to the kitchen (depending on your layout), but as a trade-off it adds the convenience of being able to load items directly into storage without having to carry them all the way through the home.

If you dream of being able to drop a few grocery bags and put them away right then and there, putting your pantry in the entryway will save you some heavy lifting.

On Open Shelving in a Hallway or Passage

The open-shelving life isnt for everyone. Keeping household goods on display takes some planning and some maintenance to keep from looking cluttered. But this style of pantry storage can create a beautiful feature when used to display attractive pieces like glass bottles, baskets of snacks or anything else you like the look of, especially when stashed in multiples.

The major advantage here, besides items being easy to grab, is that eliminating doors also eliminates the need for swing-space for them to open, allowing some storage to fit into a tighter passageway.

In a Door

This fun final idea isnt commonly seen, but it certainly adds a unique twist to a home and makes smart use of space too.

Instead of a typical door, a deeper door with built-in shelving steals a little extra storage from a completely unexpected place and disguises a hidden passage to a top-secret room for a little sense of intrigue.5-month-old Brownee has been rescued and is resting comfortably. (Credit: Broward Countys Port Everglades)

A 5-month-old manatee has been rescued near Port Everglades and given a new name and a chance to live out a happy life as he recovers at the Miami Seaquarium on Key Biscayne, the Sun Sentinel reports.

Formerly known as Mr. Bubble, Brownee, a 5-month-old calf was spotted in distress near Port Everglades on Friday when he was rescued from the water and taken to the Seaquarium to be evaluated.

On Monday, he was relaxing, being given antibiotics and eating a delicious lunch of romaine lettuce and bananas, while swimming in a fresh water pool.

PEOPLE FLEE PARIS ZOO AS BABOONS RUN WILD

Brownee received the new name because Miami Seaquarium didn't actually know his name and is using desserts as a naming theme for animals this year because they are so sweet, Dr. Magdalena Rodriguez told the Sun Sentinel.

Brownee is approximately 200 pounds and slightly more than 5-feet in length, but workers at Seaquarium were concerned when they retrieved him, as initial tests showed he hadn't nursed in a week and had lesions on his body, which may have been the result of running into a boat, Dr. Rodriguez noted.

For now, he's in a protective shadow  similar to one that his mother would cast, eating well and may be released next winter.

Were cautiously optimistic because we are seeing an improvement, Rodriguez said.

Brownee may also get a new companion, as on Monday, the Miami Seaquarium was en route to another potential manatee rescue in Naples, approximately 2 hours away.Hackers targeting ATMs are usually relatively subtle. Sometimes they install a skimmer that collects hundreds of customer PINs that can be used to drain accounts remotely, or fraudulent cards that bypass security measures and dispense hundreds of dollars, even when theres no money in the account.

But what if you could make an ATM simply spew out all the cash it had in a matter of seconds?

These types of attacks are known as Jackpotting, and government officials are quietly warning ATM manufacturers and financial institutions that jackpotting hackers have been spotted targeting cash machines here in the U.S.

According to a Secret Service memo obtained by Krebs on Security, the agency has received information that cybercriminals are planning to use cash-out crews to target ATMs manufactured by Diebold Nixdorf. They cite a series of thefts over the past ten days and warn of possible upcoming attacks across the country.

The targeted stand-alone ATMs are routinely located in pharmacies, big box retailers, and drive-thru ATMs, stated the alert. During previous attacks, fraudsters dressed as ATM technicians and attached a laptop computer with a mirror image of the ATMs operating system along with a mobile device to the targeted ATM.

The Secret Service alert says that criminals can use an endoscope  a device usually inserted into the human body during medical procedures  to look inside the ATM and find a place to connect their laptop to the internal mechanism.

Once connected, the criminals use a jackpotting malware program called Plotus.D to remotely control the machine. In previous Ploutus.D attacks, the ATM continuously dispensed at a rate of 40 bills every 23 seconds, said the memo. The ATM is then emptied of cash in a matter of minutes.

The security firm FireEye first reported on Plotus attacks back in 2013 in Mexico, calling it a technique that had never been seen before.

If confirmed, these would be the first jackpotting attacks in the U.S. The Russian cyber firm Group IB previously reported similar attacks in Europe in 2016, as well as ATMs targeted in Thailand and Taiwan.

The ATM manufacturer confirmed to Reuters that it also issued a warning to banks and financial firms, but a Diebold Nixdorf spokesman declined to comment further or go into any detail about specific banks that had been targeted or how much cash had been lost.Data from fitness trackers that clearly show the movement of personnel at U.S. military bases is sparking major concerns, with experts citing potential dangers to base security.

The data, collected by a host of fitness devices, has been shared by users with fitness tracker app Strava. However, a global "heatmap" of fitness data published by Strava has fueled worries that service members are sharing data about their movements, particularly in dangerous locations such as Afghanistan and Syria.

Movements around the sprawling Kandahar Airfield in Southern Afghanistan, for example, are clearly documented on the map. Stateside bases also show up on the map.

MILITARY BASE ISSUES 'POKEMON GO' WARNING

DoD takes matters like these very seriously and is reviewing the situation to determine if any additional training or guidance is required, and if any additional policy must be developed to ensure the continued safety of DoD personnel at home and abroad, a Department of Defense spokesperson said in a statement emailed to Fox News.

A screenshot of Strava's heatmap (labs.strava.com)

The U.S. military conducts regular training for service members on data security, although the heatmap suggests that more attention needs to be paid to information privacy.

Annual training for all DoD personnel recommends limiting public profiles on the Internet, including personal social media accounts, explained the spokesperson. Furthermore, operational security requirements provide further guidance for military personnel supporting operations around the world. Recent data releases emphasize the need for situational awareness when members of the military share personal information.

MILITARY PERSONNEL DATA LEAKED IN DUN & BRADSTREET DATABASE

The global heatmap, which was published in November 2017, tracked 1 billion activities from September 2017, according to Strava. The map is compiled from 3 trillion latitude and longitude points and reflects a total distance traveled of 17 billion miles.

First noticed by Nathan Ruser, a member of the Institute for United Conflict Analysts (IUCA), the map has shone a light on data privacy and its impact on operational security. It looks very pretty, but not amazing for Op-Sec. US Bases are clearly identifiable and mappable, tweeted Ruser.

U.S. bases in Syria also show up on the map, according to defense analyst Tobias Schneider, as does the Hmeimim airbase, which is being used by Russian forces in the country. The map, he tweeted, is excellent for locating military bases.

GERMAN NAVY'S NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART WARSHIP SAILS INTO TECH TROUBLE

Strava does give users the option not to share their data. Our global heatmap represents an aggregated and anonymized view of over a billion activities uploaded to our platform, explained Strava, in a statement emailed to Fox News. It excludes activities that have been marked as private and user-defined privacy zones. We are committed to helping people better understand our settings to give them control over what they share.

Strava is one of a number of companies that lets users share details of their atheltic endeavors on social media - others include fitness tech giant Fitbit and running app Runkeeper.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogersInstagram fitness model Jen Selter was removed from a New York-bound American Airlines flight on Saturday after she got into an argument with a flight attendant.

Instagram fitness model Jen Selter was kicked off a New York-bound American Airlines flight on Saturday after she got into an argument with a flight attendant  and showed video footage of her experience online.

Selter, known for posting photos of her toned body on social media, told the New York Post that after sitting in Miami on a delayed flight for more than two hours, she got up from her seat to stretch and put her coat away.

The 24-year-old claimed the flight attendant told her she needed to sit down, and an argument ensued.

The plane wasnt taking off. I told him to relax. But he had something against me, Selter said. He was so nasty.

Selter said the flight attendant asked her if she wanted to get off the plane, and she said yeah, which she claimed in a video posted to Twitter was obviously sarcasm.

The flight attendant spoke to the pilot, who called airport security.

American Airlines calls the shots. They dont want you to fly on their plane today, one of the officers was heard telling Selter on video.

In one of the multiple videos of the incident that Selter posted online, a passenger was heard telling the flight attendant: I dont understand this, you harassing her. You harassing her. You came from all the way over there.  Why you being aggressive?

A female passenger, who Selter claimed left the flight because of how the model was treated, said Selter was just standing because [Selters sister] and the other passenger went to the bathroom. And then one of the crew members, he just came and started shouting at her, harassing her, it was really bad.

It was humiliating, Selter told the Post. They made me feel like a terrible person, and I did nothing wrong.

A spokesperson for American Airlines told the newspaper that the model was asked to leave the aircraft after a disagreement occurred. The rep added the airline offered her hotel accommodations and transportation, which [Selter] declined.

Selter said she and her sister flew to La Guardia Airport on another American Airlines flight because it was too inconvenient to book with another airline, but stated she will never ever fly American Airlines again.Eddie Zytner, left, and Katie Stephens, right, contracted hookworms after walking barefoot on a beach at a resort in the Dominican Republic.

A young Canadian couple who recently returned from the Dominican Republic is warning those who are planning to travel somewhere tropical about the risks of walking barefoot in the sand after coming home with incredibly itchy feet  which turned out to be parasites.

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW

Katie Stephens, 22, of Ontario, told CTV News that while staying at the IFA Villas Bavaro Resort in Punta Cana, she and her boyfriend, 25-year-old Eddie Zytner, found that we were scratching our feet quite a bit.

She told the news station the two had heard about sand fleas and kind of assumed it was that at first.

After returning home on Jan. 18, Zytner noticed his feet had become very swollen and small bumps had developed on his toes.

Stephens wrote on Facebook that the couple simply thought it was just bug bites and it became worse as each day passed.

Two doctors were stumped by what was causing the swelling, but Zytner said a third doctor recognized the condition, as he had recently seen a similar case from a tourist who traveled to Thailand.

MAN CLAIMS HE CONTRACTED EYE-EATING PARASITE FROM AMUSEMENT PARK WATER RIDE

The couple, according to Stephens Facebook post, contracted larva migrans, known in laymans terms as hookworms. She said she likely came into contact with the parasites while walking on the sandy beaches of their resort in Punta Cana.

A doctor prescribed the two ivermectin  a medicine used to kill worms developing in the body.

However, Stephens said Canadas national public health department, Health Canada, denied their request for the medication because its not licensed in Canada  so her mother had to drive to Detroit, Michigan, to get the medicine.

Stephens added that she shared their story on Facebook to warn people who travel to tropical areas, and Zytner said he wanted doctors to become more aware of the condition.

'ENORMOUS NUMBER' OF PARASITES IN NORTH KOREAN DEFECTOR'S BODY, DOCTORS SAY

We want to make it known to more doctors what it is, what to look for and stuff because it took us a few trips to the hospital to find out what it was, Zytner told CTV News.

Zytner said that his feet are progressively getting better each day, and the couples next step is to see a specialist to determine what treatment they need for the skin damage on their feet.

The resort could not be reached for comment.A few airlines have instituted no-children-allowed policies in certain areas of the plane.

Last month, George and Amal Clooney took their six-month-old twins on a flight to London. When they showed up, they came prepared with noise-canceling headphones for everybody in first class, along with a note apologizing in advance for any noise their children would make during the flight.

However not all experiences flying with children in first class go so smoothly. Earlier last year, fashion blogger Arielle Noa wrote on Instagram that a Delta flight attendant asked Noa to move to the back of the plane after receiving complaints about her babys crying from other first class passengers.

The issue of children in first class is a prickly one. Often, parents buy first class tickets to have more room with their child. However, other first class passengers are often paying premium to avoid the trials of the economy cabin, like sitting next to crying children.

Related: Doctor Delivers Baby Boy in First Class on Flight From Paris to New York

While not everybody may be able to afford noise-canceling headphones for the rest of the cabin a la Clooney, handing out earplugs is a thoughtful, proactive gesture that could eliminate frustrations later in the flight. Parents should be well-prepared for flying with children, no matter in which class they fly.

Most airlines dont have specific, written rules about an infant or child policy in first class. (Except Malaysia Air, which has banned infants from its first class.) However some airlines are experimenting with unique ways to make flying with children better  for everybody in the plane.

Etihad offers a Flying Nanny service on its long-haul flights. The nannies have been approved by a childcare training college in the UK and are on hand to assist parents and entertain children during flight. They can get a child ready to sleep and pass the time with crafts, hand puppets, art, face painting, and magic tricks.

Indian airline IndiGo created a quiet zone in its cabins where children under the age of 12 are not allowed.

Richard Branson once said that he would like to introduce a kids class onboard his Virgin aircraft. "It would be a separate cabin for kids with nannies to look after them, he said, according to Forbes. Weve had an issue with the Civil Aviation Authority. They worry in an emergency kids would be running in one direction and their parents would be running in the other. So we havent got it through yet.Imagine youre an international tourist visiting Los Angeles for the first time and you want to see the iconic Hollywood sign.

Would you settle for visiting a replica instead?

That is just one of a number of solutions a report commissioned by the Los Angeles City Council is proposing to help alleviate droves of tourist traffic in the Hollywood Hills.

The report, released earlier this month, suggested building another Hollywood sign entirely on the opposite side the same slope, among other ideas.

The Dixon Report, commissioned by the LA City Council, suggested building a replica sign on the north side of the slope to stem the influx of tourists.

When I got the report back and I saw the initial draft, I saw some ideas that were from left field, said L.A. City Council member David Ryu. "I thought it was important to include every single idea because it needed to be comprehensive."

PILOT MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING ON CALIFORNIA FREEWAY

The idea has been met with ridicule from some tourists who said they would never visit another sign.

"For a new sign, thats for sure not a good solution. I dont think people would come," said Ksenija Pecaric, a tourist visiting the area from New Jersey.

Some visitors were open to the proposal, however, and did not immediately dismiss the idea.

"The first one is always the original, is always good, but when you think about Vegas  the Eiffel Tower  people go there and pretend its the real one anyways," said Jason Chan, a visitor from Toronto.

Locals said the problem began after GPS systems made it easier to navigate up to the sign.

Meanwhile, residents living near the sign have been complaining about the volume of tourists for years, and say the traffic is only getting worse.

LAS VEGAS MAIDS WANT TO INSTALL 'PANIC BUTTONS' FOR WORKPLACE SAFETY

[The issue] started really when GPS entered your mobile phone and it made it that much easier to find our area  Unfortunately its been close to a decade-long problem, said Sheila Irani, a board member with the Hollywood United Neighborhood Council.

The L.A. City Council's report also offered a number of alternate solutions, including experimenting with paid parking and permit parking, and developing a visitors' center. In previous years, construction of a gondola giving rides up to the sign had been considered, as well as bus-shuttle transfers through the hills.

The report acknowledges the cultural side effects of a replica, saying, One downside of this strategy is that it would take away from the history of the original Hollywood Sign and Hollywoodland. For educational and historical purposes, it may make the most sense to maintain only the original sign.

Modest improvements to stem the flow of tourists have been implemented in recent years, along with smoking bans to prevent the threat of wildfires in the area. Weight limits were also instituted to reduce the impact of cars on the neighborhood's narrow streets.

Even though a second sign was proposed, the L.A. City Council's report concedes that a replica would "take away from the history" of the original.

But Irani said tourists become awestruck upon seeing the sign, rendering them incapable of following basic traffic rules. Some stop in the middle of the street to take pictures and cause huge traffic delays.

You have drones now, youve got people honking at one another, sometimes you still get a tour van that gets on their loudspeaker that announces that this persons house is this celebrity  these all are the types of things you didnt expect when you moved here 20 years ago,  said Irani.

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The report is meant to offer comprehensive ideas for mitigating the problem, but no plans are currently in the works to start building another sign.

Both the Hollywood Sign and our Griffith Park are being loved to death and we have to come up with a solution to help make them accessible, because it is a public park,  said Ryu.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has made it a priority to attract more tourists to the city, especially in the wake of the announcement it will host the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Currently around 45 million tourists visit L.A. each year.Airlines have always had loose regulations for those special needs passengers who need emotional support animals to fly.

But then airplanes sort of started turning into mini-zoos.

Turkeys, spiders, possums and even a miniature horse  all types of furry creatures, feathered friends and creepy crawlies have been used by passengers claiming the animals provide comfort while flying.

Now Delta Air Lines is saying no more.

The Atlanta-based airline announced earlier this month that it would put additional restrictions in place on people traveling with emotional support and service animals.

The new policy is aimed at curbing animal behavior such as urinating, defecating and biting while on board planes. All of those incidents have happened during flights, to the chagrin of passengers forced to sit next to someone carrying a wild or ill-trained animal.

The rise in serious incidents involving animals in flight leads us to believe that the lack of regulation in both health and training screening for these animals is creating unsafe conditions across U.S. air travel, said John Laughter, Deltas Senior Vice President for Corporate Safety, Security and Compliance in a press release. As a leader in safety, we worked with our Advisory Board on Disability to find a solution that supports those customers with a legitimate need for these animals, while prioritizing a safe and consistent travel experience.

Joseph Worley, a former Navy corpsman who lost part of his left leg while stationed in Iraq, poses for a photo at his Georgia home with his service dog Galaxi. Worley says he supports Delta's new policy on service and emotional support animals but he's concerned about the 48-hour notification period before travel.

Other airlines may follow suit. Officials from American, United and Southwest Airlines said they say they are evaluating their current support animal policies. A spokesperson for American Airlines went even further, saying we agree with Deltas efforts.

Deltas new policy, which goes into effect March 1, would require those seeking to fly with service animals to give the airline 48-hour notice along with a veterinarian health form and immunization record. Passengers who want to board a flight with an emotional support or psychiatric service animal will have to provide a signed veterinarian health form, a doctors note and provide proof of animal training.

But while some are championing the changes, others wonder whether it goes too far. Those who need service animals to see or get around say they are being punished because of a few who took advantage of existing rules.

Joseph Worley, a former Navy corpsman who lost part of his left leg while serving in Iraq, said he supports the new policy but is concerned about the 48-hour notification period. Worley often flies on short notice with his service dog, Galaxi.

During an emergency travel of some kind I do need to travel with my dog and its not just something that I do because I can, Worley told Fox News. When Im in my wheelchair I need help.I need help with doors and when I drop things If somebody needs me, I may not have 48-hours to travel.

Worley says he believes many people are taking advantage of the system and making it harder for people like him to travel with service animals.

Delta says since 2016, there has been an 84 percent increase in people flying with animals in the cabin. In the same time period, there were people attempting to fly with emotional comfort turkeys, spiders, snakes and other wild animals. The airline also noted a 2017 incident where an emotional support dog bit a passenger, causing severe face injuries. The airline said it transports 700 animals per day and nearly 250,000 per year, compared to 180 million passengers a year.

The National Federation of the Blind calls Deltas new rules unnecessary and unlawful.

We are particularly troubled by the requirement that guide dog users submit paperwork to Delta 48 hours before flying. Travelers without guide dogs are not required to plan their travel 48 hours in advance, the organization said in a statement. Furthermore, guide dog users will no longer be able to fly Delta in family, medical, or other emergencies.

A U.S. Department of Transportation spokesperson said the agency is monitoring the airlines new policy to ensure that it respects the rights of people with disabilities who need service animals to travel.

Jessica Rock, an animal welfare attorney and co-founder of Animal Law Source, said Deltas change in policy is primarily aimed at passenger safety.

You are seeing a major increase in not only the abuse of people passing off animals of this nature when theyre not in fact service animals or emotional support animals, Rock Said. Youre also seeing an increase in the amount of incidents that are taking place on airplanes.

Fox News also reached out to several service dog trainers and advocates who expressed similar thoughts. Many of them say they are supportive of the new policy.

At least 19 states have laws against fake service dogs. With a quick search online, people can either purchase a service dog vest or an emotional support animal letter without even being seen by a therapist. Advocates say more needs to be done to stop people from taking advantage of the system.

Under the Air Carrier Access Act, airlines must allow support animals to accompany passengers with a disability and airlines do not charge a fee for this service. Delta says it is adhering to current law and other airlines may follow its lead. United and American Airlines both require a 48-hour notification and a doctors note for people traveling with emotional or psychiatric support animals. Neither airline has a 48-hour notification requirement for people with service animals.

Beginning March, Delta will no longer allow people to fly with exotic emotional support animals such as ferrets, insects, spiders, goats or animals with tusks or hooves.A small plane headed for Van Nuys, Calif., made an emergency landing on a freeway in Costa Mesa after experiencing engine trouble on Sunday night.

The pilot, identified as 24-year-old Izzy Slod by KNBC, has stated that he and a friend had taken off from San Diego in a Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft when the engine lost power mid-flight. He then informed air traffic controllers that he would be attempting to land on the 55 Freeway near the Orange County Fairgrounds.

The flight touched down shortly before 8 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. No injuries were reported.

'SERIAL STOWAWAY' ARRESTED AGAIN, JUST DAYS AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM JAIL

"You don't have a choice, you have a minute, maybe two minutes max to figure something out," Slod told KNBC. "I went with my gut on the freeway. I didn't know if I was going to make it."

Slod added to KTLA that he considered trying to land at the John Wayne International Airport in Santa Ana, but soon realized that wasnt feasible. The station further reports that Slod flew under an overpass before touching down.

"I had to make a last-minute, last-second judgment on whether or not we could make it over, and we didnt have the airspeed to make it over, so I went under it, he told the station.

AIRASIA EMPLOYEE DIES DURING FLIGHT FROM MALAYSIA TO INDONESIA

Officials at the California Highway Patrol say the plane landed shortly before 8 p.m., and the Costa Mesa Fire Department confirmed that Slod and his passenger were uninjured.

The aircraft itself was also intact, according to footage of the incident shared by Twitter users.

Chris Coatez, the captain of the Costa Mesa Fire Department, added that the department initially received a call that the plane crashed at the fairgrounds, but soon learned that the plane landed safely on the freeway, reports KTLA.

He also added that it was a complete miracle that there was no traffic when Slod needed to land his plane.

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The Federal Aviation Administration is said to be investigating the incident, a spokesman for the FAA tells the Los Angeles Times.A woman was caught on video doing yoga in an airplane aisle, but some people had a problem with it.

Long flights can be rough on the body, so its not uncommon to see people walking around the plane to stretch their legs. However one woman took it even farther by performing a yoga flow in the middle of the aisle.

Kate Kay, a yoga teacher who was traveling for training, was captured on a now viral video by another passenger, showing her performing leg stretches, camel pose and a forward fold.

PILOT MAKES AMAZING EMERGENCY LANDING ON CALIFORNIA FREEWAY: 'I WENT WITH MY GUT'

Dressed for the occasion in patterned yoga pants and wearing headphones, Kay seems unaffected by those around her as she goes through the moves.

Several commenters who spotted the video on Facebook and YouTube quickly denounced her actions, saying that they would not want to see this happening in a public space, reports The Sun.

"No. There should be rules against this stuff, one person commented. "Nobody needs to see people flailing about on planes, this is not ur living room."

"I'm torn, because on one hand this feels obnoxious and attention seeking, but on the other hand I totally get the need to stretch because flights are stupidly cramped," added another.

Kay told Fox News her last intention was to offend anyone by her stretches, but after getting to the airport for an early morning flight with little sleep, stretching is what her body needed.

"We should all listen to our intuition and allow our health to take prescedence over our need for validation through others," she said.

The majority of YouTube commenters, however, said they dont see a problem with the woman's actions, so long as she moved out of the way when necessary.

I could understand frustration if she refuses to move for people, but I'm not seeing evidence of that, one person wrote.

There's literally nothing wrong with this. Stretching on long flights is important and recommended by health professionals, another commented.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

Meanwhile, Kay's actions  whether people approved or not  are more in accordance with what physicians recommend for flyers. Doctors actually suggest that passengers stand up and stretch muscles at least once an hour in order to lower the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can occur when stagnant blood pools in your legs and can potentially cause a blood clot, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Kay told Fox News she would be flying again on Wednesday and if she needs to, she'll be doing more stretches in the aisle.A man accused of plotting an attack on a federal medical facility in Texas asked a judge in December to deport him instead of sending him to prison, saying he didn't deserve to spend time behind bars, records show.

Abdirahman Sheik Mohamud told federal Judge Michael Watson that he didn't want to leave his family but called his proposal "completely fair and just."

"I truly don't believe I deserve prison at all," Mohamud said in the Dec. 12 letter, filed in the official court record on Thursday.

He added: "So if the concern is risk assessment then deportation would set everyone's hearts at ease."

Mohamud, who was born in Somalia and came to the U.S. at 2 years old, may eventually get his wish.

After Mohamud was sentenced to 22 years in prison last week, the local Homeland Security Investigations office said it would seek to strip him of his citizenship and deport him to Somalia.

At sentencing on Jan. 22, Mohamud told Watson that he knew what he'd done was wrong and that he'd fallen into the trap of radicalization while abroad.

Mohamud, 26, tried to fire his attorney in a second letter dated Dec. 15, saying they weren't communicating well. A handwritten note on the letter says Mohamud's request was withdrawn Jan. 9 in court.

His attorney, veteran Columbus defense lawyer Sam Shamansky, declined to comment.

Mohamud planned to fly to Texas and attack the Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth in an attempt to free Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani scientist convicted of shooting at two U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, Watson said as he outlined the allegations against Mohamud.

According to the government, Mohamud applied for a passport to travel abroad only a week after he became a U.S. citizen in 2014.

He bought a ticket to Greece with a stop in Turkey, where he disembarked before going to Syria, prosecutors said in court documents. They said he never intended to go to Greece.

Mohamud trained with al-Nusra Front, an extremist organization affiliated with al-Qaeda, prosecutors said.

Mohamud was arrested in 2015 and pleaded guilty a few months later. The attacks were never carried out.

Shamansky asked for leniency, saying Mohamud didn't have his father around when he was growing up, was brainwashed while abroad "by professional head twisters" but later realized his error and abandoned his plot.

Prosecutors noted Mohamud contacted others from jail after his arrest and told them not to say anything.

___

Andrew Welsh-Huggins can be reached on Twitter at https://twitter.com/awhcolumbus.The community college student with a page-boy haircut was quiet, never drew attention to himself and earned A's semester after semester.

Despite ample opportunities, he apparently never divulged the sickening truth that his home was a veritable torture chamber.

Authorities say the student, now about 26, was the eldest male among 13 siblings who were held captive in their California home by their parents, David and Louise Turpin.

The couple starved all but their 2-year-old daughter for years and sometimes chained their children to beds for months at a time without letting them use the toilet, prosecutors said.

However, Louise Turpin regularly drove her oldest son to classes at the nearby Menifee campus of Mt. San Jacinto College and waited outside the classroom for him.

He was on the president's honor roll in fall 2015 and spring 2016, college spokeswoman Karin Marriott said.

A transcript obtained by ABC News showed he attended classes from 2014 until at least 2016 and took up to 15 credits a semester. He earned A's in many classes, including algebra, guitar, public speaking, English fundamentals and freshman composition.

A classmate, Marci Duncker, said he was "always quiet and alone" when they attended classes. She tried to say hello to him a few times but he just looked at her and never responded.

"It was one of the most sad faces I'd seen in years," Duncker said.

The boy was usually one of the last people to leave class, she said.

None of the names of the abused siblings have been released by authorities and all were taken to hospitals when they were freed two weeks ago from the home in Perris, about 70 miles (113 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles.

Authorities say the abuse was so long-running their growth was stunted.

Despite near-daily interactions with others outside the home, there's no indication the oldest son ever sought to draw attention to what was happening at home. Gale Kelley, a trainer for the International Association of Trauma Professionals, said that reluctance is understandable.

"They were born into this. This was normal for them. Some of them may not even realize they've been abused," she said. "These children have been living in isolation so they only know what they know."

Abusers often tell children they shouldn't talk about what happens at home or that they deserve to be treated that way, and that may have made it difficult for them to escape, she said.

"We don't know what kind of duress they were under as far as threats," Kelley said. "They're still seeing the world through the eyes of a scared little kid who is in constant danger."

The case has drawn international attention and compassion for the children.

The younger ones were home-schooled and there's no evidence the other older children were educated outside the home, except for the oldest girl  now 29  who had attended kindergarten to third grade in a public school in Texas.

Sheriff's deputies rescued the children on Jan. 14 after the Turpins' 17-year-old daughter climbed out a window and called 911.

The house reeked of human waste and evidence of starvation was obvious, with the oldest sibling weighing only 82 pounds, Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said.

The parents were arrested and pleaded not guilty to torture and other charges.

The siblings, seven adults and six children, will likely need years of therapy, psychological experts said, adding that if possible it would be best to keep them together for now.

"They're going to have some developmental delays, no question," said Russell Rice, a family therapist and executive director of a California residential treatment program for teenagers in Redlands. "Their brains are going to be as stunted if not more than their physical development."

Rice said more independent options exist, for example, a residential complex with a case manager on site to assist with money management or other programs. But he said that could be overwhelming for people who have been sheltered from the outside world.

"They don't even know how to shop, probably, and the concept of money," he said. "They won't be living on their own. They'll be highly supervised for quite some time."

The repeated exposure to traumatic events could make them skittish when they are out in public.

"The children have been in constant crisis mode, constant danger, and so that switch gets turned and it is always on," Kelley said. "They're expecting to see trauma everywhere and in everybody."

___

Balsamo reported from Los Angeles.White people who do a downward-facing dog are contributing to a system of power, privilege, and oppression, according to a Michigan State University professor.

Shreena Gandhi, a religious studies professor at Michigan State, claims in an article she recently co-authored that Americans who practice yoga are contributing to white supremacy and promote the yoga industrial complex.

White Americans should learn yogas history, acknowledge the cultural appropriation they engage in and possibly reduce the cost of yoga classes for poor people, a group that often includes people of color and recent immigrants, such as Indian women to whom this practice rightfully belongs, Gandhi argued.

WHITE RACISM COURSE AT FLORIDA UNIVERSITY TEACHES THAT AMERICA IS WHITE SUPREMACIST SOCIETY

She co-authored the piece titled Yoga and the Roots of Cultural Appropriation, with Lillie Wolff, a self-described anti-racist white Jewish organizer, facilitator, and healer, who has called for decolonizing yoga, the College Fix reported.

The two argued the explosion of yoga studios, yoga video, apps, yoga pants, and other yoga swag over the last two decades is evidence of the (mis)appropriation of yoga that is part of systemic racism built on the labor of black people and people of the global south.

We would argue one of the goals of white supremacy is to buffer white people from the pain that comes from the process of exchanging cultural grounding for the unearned power and privilege of whiteness, they wrote. ...this modern-day trend of cultural appropriation of yoga is a continuation of white supremacy and colonialism, maintaining the pattern of white people consuming the stuff of culture that is convenient and portable, while ignoring the well-being and liberation of Indian people.

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE TO HOST WHATS UP WITH WHITE PEOPLE? EVENT

Gandhi and the Religious Studies Department at MSU did not respond to Fox News request for comment.

Gandhi said few white people make the connection between their attraction to yoga and the cultural loss their ancestors and relatives experienced when they bought into white dominant culture in order to access resources, Gandhi wrote.

But white people who twist their bodies in different yoga positions can do something about it, according to Gandhi.

Given a deeper analysis of yoga, white yoga practitioners and teachers can engage in yoga in a decolonizing way that reduces harm and seeks greater cultural accountability, she wrote.

Especially during this time when the underbelly of capitalism  white supremacy, cisheteropatriarchy, and xenophobia  is being exposed, it is imperative that everyone, especially those who have access to spiritual practices like yoga, ask difficult questions of ourselves and one another, the two concluded. We must ask, in what ways are we complicit in a system that harms people of color, queer and trans people, poor people, people with disabilities, and immigrants?A Colorado coroner has finally identified remains found last July in the Arkansas River in Colorado as missing treasure hunter Eric Ashby.

The remains of a risk-taking treasure hunter who vanished in June searching for $2 million in buried gold have been identified, authorities said.

Eric Ashby was presumed to have drowned in a rafting accident on the Arkansas River in Colorado last June, Fox 21 Colorado Springs reported. A month later a body was found downstream. Last week, a local coroner announced that the body had been positively identified as Ashbys through DNA.

Friends said Ashby, 31, of Colorado Springs, died searching for author Forrest Fenn's hidden treasure.

Thousands of adventurers have taken up the challenge of trying to find the treasure that Fenn claims he buried somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. He says the clues to its whereabouts are contained in a cryptic poem in his memoir, The Thrill of the Chase.

HUNT FOR AUTHOR'S TREASURE CHEST 'OUT OF CONTROL'

Ashby friend Bridget Dandaraw-Seritt told KRDO-TV in August that the day of the accident Ashby and four others went out specifically to retrieve the treasure. Ashby believed he knew where it was buried.

They were going to bring it home that day," she said.

Two other Coloradans have died searching for the treasure.

In 2016 searchers spent weeks looking for 54-year-old Randy Bilyea, of Broomfield, who disappeared in New Mexicos rugged backcountry while hunting for the gold. His remains were eventually found months later.

Last June, Paris Wallace, a 52-year-old pastor from Grand Junction, disappeared while also searching for the treasure in New Mexico. His body was found days later.

A week later Ashby would disappear.

After Wallace vanished, New Mexicos top cop urged the 86-year-old Fenn to end the treasure hunt, saying that the qet-rich quest was putting lives at risk.

That is an option, but I have not made a decision yet," Fenn, of Santa Fe, N.M., said at the time when contacted by Fox News. Today I have received over 200 emails urging me to not call off the hunt, and two that think I should.

BURIED TREASURE IN NEW MEXICO MAY HAVE CLAIMED 2ND LIFE; FOUNDER RETHINKS STUNT

Fox 21 reported that three others in the raft also fell into the river, but they made it out safely, while Ashby was swept away in the current.

Two of the rafters told Ashbys friends they saw him alive, hanging on a rock. They said they panicked, and left without trying to help or call authorities. They weren't notified for more than a week.

The Ashby family is now pushing for a "duty to report" law in the Colorado Legislature that would require anyone to call 911 if someone is in trouble.

Ashby's father expressed relief that his sons body had been identified in an interview KRDO aired Saturday.

Nobody deserves not to know and when it came back positive for Eric, of course I was shattered. He's been my lifeline," Paul Ashby said.



"It takes a load off of me. It puts something back in my heart that was lost when you figure you may never know, he added.Fire officials in Massachusetts have rescued three people from freezing waters off of Breakwater Beach.

The Cape Cod Times reports that a dive team responded to an emergency call in Brewster around 6:40 p.m. Sunday. Brewster Fire Chief Robert Moran says two staff members at the Latham School went after a female student who had swam away from shore.

Moran says the dive team and firefighters worked together to rescue all three individuals. They were all taken to Cape Cod Hospital with unspecified injuries.

The Latham School treats children and young adults with developmental disorders.

___

Information from: Cape Cod (Mass.) Times, http://www.capecodtimes.comPolice in a small Pennsylvania city haven't identified any suspects in a quadruple homicide that's believed to be among the deadliest shootings in the area in recent history, officials said Monday.

The victims, all men, were shot several times, and their bodies were found Sunday evening in the first-floor apartment of a row home, said James Marasco Jr., deputy chief of the Reading Police Department. The department does not believe the killings were random, he said.

"We cannot remember any time in recent history when this many people were shot at one time," Marasco said.

Three of the victims have been identified: Jarlyn Lantigua-Tejada, 20; Juan Rodriguez, 23, and Joshua Santos, 20. The fourth man has not yet been named, though he is believed to be in his early 20s.

About a dozen mourners gathered in front of the apartment around noon Monday. They lit white prayer candles near the doorway of the building and released white, star-shaped balloons as music played and police shuffled in and out of the home.

One woman struggled to stand after falling to her knees on the sidewalk in a fit of tears. She screamed, "Why?" The crowd grew visibly angry with the throng of news crews at the scene, cursing at reporters and pushing camera lenses away.

Anabell Dealba, 34, said she knew one of the men through her husband and went to the home Monday with her two children so they could pay their respects. She said people in the neighborhood called one of the men "King Spaz."

"I can't believe this really happened," she said as one of her sons stood at the front door of the building and peered inside at police. "The kids are really hurt by the whole thing. It puts you in a bad place as a mom."

One of her sons, Jose Santiago, said he was stunned when his father called him last night to tell him his friend was dead.

"He's a little too smart to be in this situation," said Santiago, 19, tears welling up in his eyes.

Neighbors described a chaotic scene Sunday night as police cruisers descended on the home and officers canvassed the area, knocking on doors to see if residents knew anything about what happened. A woman who didn't want to give her name said officers pulled three body bags from the house around 3 a.m.

Officials are urging people to contact authorities with any information about the shooting.

It was the second quadruple shooting in the state on Sunday. In the western Pennsylvania community of Melcroft, a gunman killed four people and injured a fifth person at a car wash. Family members say the shooter was a jealous ex-boyfriend of one of the victims.

Reading has a population of about 88,000 people and is roughly 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia.A Pennsylvania man accused of opening fire at a car wash early Sunday morning and murdering four people  including his ex-girlfriend and the married man she was allegedly having an affair with  was driven by jealously and rage stemming from a recent breakup, family members said.

Timothy Smith, 28, is accused of going to Eds Car Wash in Melcroft, about 55 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, around 3 a.m. and shooting at a group of people, killing his ex-girlfriend Chelsie Cline, 25; William Porterfield, 27; Courtney Snyder, 23; and Seth Cline, 21, police said.

Another woman, said to be in her 20s, was injured by broken glass when she took cover in a vehicle as shots rang out.

Timothy Smith is accused of gunning down four people at a Pennsylvania car wash early Sunday morning.

Police on Monday were still investigating a possible motive, but family members of the victims said Smith was an ex-boyfriend of Chelsie Cline and the couple had broken up about two days before Sundays shooting. Sierra Kolarik, 24, Clines half-sister, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that Smith developed an obsession about Cline.

"I don't understand," Kolarik told the newspaper. "I still don't believe it."

PENNSYLVANIA CAR WASH SHOOTING LEAVES 4 DEAD, POLICE SAY

Just last week, Cline also shared a meme on her Facebook page that read: "After this week, I rlly (sic) need to get taken out ... on a date or by a sniper either one is fine w me at this point."

A Facebook friend of hers named Tim Smith replied, "I could do both."

Jenna Porterfield, the pregnant wife of William Porterfield, also told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that a state police investigator told her Smith and Cline had dated and the alleged shooter was jealous. Police said Cline was her late husbands companion," according to the newspaper.

I was told my husband was cheating on me with [one of the victims], and that she had broken up with her previous boyfriend two days ago, and he went crazy and shot them all, she said, though it was unclear if police had told her that information.

Chelsie Cline was said to be the ex-girlfriend of Timothy Smith. The two reportedly broke up two days before the deadly shooting.

She admitted she and Porterfield were having some troubles this month. She was also told by other family members that Cline and her husband had been spending time with each other the last two days, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Im not holding that against Will. We werent fighting. We were fixing, she said. And if he was with someone else while we were having problems, honestly, I dont care what he did. Im not going to hold that against him. Id give anything to have him back.

Smith was wearing a body armor carrier without the ballistic panels inserted and was armed with a semi-automatic rifle, a .308-caliber rifle and a handgun when he first arrived at the car wash, police said. He then shot Porterfield and Cline when the duo arrived later and got out of their vehicle.

Snyder and Seth Cline, Chelsie Clines half-sister, arrived in a pickup truck at the same time and were both shot and killed in their vehicle, state police said.

Family members said the alleged gunman was an ex-boyfriend who was fueled with jealousy and rage.

Smith is not expected to survive after suffering a gunshot wound that was possibly self-inflicted, officials said. He remained on life support Sunday.

Its still unclear why the group was gathered at the car wash at the time. A man who lives nearby said that he heard about 30 gunshots during a span of several minutes.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.The Pentagon fired back Monday at a Southern California high school teacher who was recorded apparently ranting to students that members of the military were "dumb s---s" and "not intellectual people."

Pentagon spokeswoman Amber Smith said the remarks by Gregory Salcido, the El Rancho High teacher who's also a Pico Rivera city councilman and former mayor, were "very uninformed."

According to the recording from a student at the Pico Rivera school earlier this month, Salcido referred to service members as failed students who had no other option but to join up.

CALIFORNIA TEACHER SLAMS MILITARY MEMBERS AS 'LOWEST OF OUR LOW' IN CLASSROOM RANT CAUGHT ON VIDEO

"Think about the people you know who are over there, Salcido said. "Your freakin' stupid Uncle Louie or whatever ... They're not high-level bankers. They're not academic people ... Theyre the freakin lowest of our low."

Salcido also questioned why military recruiters were permitted to visit the school, comparing them to pimps.

The unidentified student who recorded Salcido's comments told the Orange County Register that his father and two of his uncles were Marines who fought in Vietnam, the Gulf War and Afghanistan.

"I think that [Salcido] should apologize not only to me, but to all the veterans who fought for our freedom [and] the veterans who sacrificed their lives," he said in a voice message to Fox News.

El Rancho Unified School District Superintendent Karling Aguilera-Fort told the Register Salcido would be disciplined for the comments.

Fox News' Jonathan Hunt and Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.A small plane made an emergency landing on a New York beach Monday morning, flipping over when its landing gear reportedly became stuck in the sand.

The Cessna 172, with two teen students and an instructor aboard, began experiencing mechanical issues shortly after takeoff from Republic Airport, NBC New York reported. One of the junior pilots had been at the controls, but the instructor took over for the rough landing on Field 2 of Long Island's Robert Moses State Park beach. State Park Police said they were alerted to the incident around 9:30 a.m., according to Newsday.

Both students were taken to a hospital for evaluation, and the instructor remained at the scene to talk to investigators, NBCNewYork reported. No injuries were initially reported.Terrorism was being eyed as a possible motive after a man in a black Honda hit a pedestrian Monday morning in Philadelphia, seriously injuring one person before being shot in the head by an off-duty cop, officials said.

The 31-year-old driver, who wasnt immediately identified, was prounced dead at 10:15 a.m. at a hospital, police said. The driver was initially in extremely critical condition after the incident.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross Jr. said at a news conference Monday evening that while initial reports said the driver attempted to hit multiple people with his car, police have been "unable to confirm that he was trying to strike several people."

Ross said he doesn't believe the driver was armed.

Anytime someone is trying to run people over we got to look at that angle and see what the investigation leads us, a police spokesman earlier said. Authorities said they were reviewing videos of the incident and looking for more witnesses for additional information.

9/11 MUSEUM MARKS 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF 1993 WTC BOMBING

The police officer, a detective who hasn't been named, will be placed on administrative duties pending an investigation, the commissioner said. The officer suffered minor injuries in the incident and has since been released from the hospital

Police were alerted about 7:30 a.m. to a reckless driver. The driver struck one person, who then flipped onto the hood of his car.

Ross said he was concerned with the number of shots the detective fired.

Witness Marc DiBattista told KYW-TV he "heard Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, and knew something was going down."

The off-duty officer happened to be in the area when the commotion happened and intervened. The driver "immediately gets aggressive against the off-duty officer" which prompted the cop to fire his service weapon, Philadelphia Police Captain Sekou Kinebrew said.

DETROIT OFFICER SHOT IN THE HEAD LAST WEEK DIES

The off-duty officer reportedly made a verbal warning before firing his gun, according to Fox 29.

The 40-year-old pedestrian who was struck was taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Fox News' Shira Bush and Nicole Darrah contributed to this report.Lee Goggin, of Texas, died Tuesday after he was buried underneath a sand dune which collapsed on him Sunday afternoon in St. Augustine, Florida.

A Texas man on vacation in Florida was in critical condition after he was briefly buried alive Sunday when a sand dune collapsed on top of him.

Lee Goggin, 35, of the Dallas area, was inside a sand tunnel at Crescent Beach near St. Augustine after 1 p.m. when officials said the whole thing collapsed on him. His sister called it a freak accident.

The patient was in a sand tunnel/hole parallel to a dune when he became buried under a sand collapse, the St. Johns County Fire Rescue wrote on Facebook.

Goggin was buried under 2 to 3 feet of sand before the countrys fire rescue team freed him and rushed him to Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine in critical condition.

Nobody else was involved or injured in the incident, officials said.

The mans sister, Rachel Goggin Burt, told officers he was digging through the sand for a while as his wife, Courtney, was capturing it on video, the Miami Herald reported.

He essentially dug a tunnel by hand, Jeremy Robshaw, spokesman for St. Johns County Fire Rescue, told the newspaper. He was digging alongside the dunes, which are about three to five feet high. Apparently, the sand collapsed on him and the individual was trapped.

Goggin reportedly was unconscious and in cardiac arrest when authorities arrived, and Burt wrote on a GoFundMe page that he has a heartbeat but he is not breathing on his own.

Burt wrote that Goggin and his family, who had just started their vacation, stopped at Crescent Beach to let the kids burn some energy. She wrote on Facebook that Lee is her best friend, and their loved ones continue to pray for his strength and that he will come back to us very soon.

A reboot process which will begin to warm his body was scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Monday, Burt said.A Kentucky man has been fatally shot by deputies after authorities said he fired first at the officers.

Kentucky trooper Lloyd Cochran tells news outlets that Laurel County sheriff's deputies were called to a home Sunday afternoon on reports of a man shooting a gun outside.

Responding deputies told 45-year-old Anthony S. McDaniel to drop his weapon. Cochran says McDaniel refused, and shot at the officers, hitting a police cruiser. The deputies then opened fire and McDaniel was pronounced dead at the scene.

All the deputies involved have been placed on administrative leave while Kentucky State Police investigate. Additional details haven't been released.Bruno Mars went six for six at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, winning every single category he was nominated in, including Record, Album and Song of the Year for his song "That's What I Like" and his album 24K Magic. Accepting his award, Bruno paid respect to the other nominees in the category, including JAY-Z and Kendrick Lamar, and also dedicated the win to the songwriters of the '90s who'd inspired his album: Teddy Riley, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Babyface.

As for Jay, he went into the ceremony with the most nominations -- eight -- but was shut out of every single category. Kendrick won four of the seven Grammys he was up for, and swept the rap categories. Accepting Best Rap Album for DAMN., the Compton native thanked hip-hop itself for showing him "the true definition of what an artist was."

From the jump, I thought it was about the accolades and the cars and the clothes," he said. "But its really about expressing yourself, putting that paint on the canvas for the world to evolve for the next listener, the next generation after that. Lamar also paid tribute to his heroes Jay, Nas and Puff Daddy, and ended by saying "Jay for president!"

Kendrick also took part in the show's politically-charged opening, in which he performed his song "XXX." with some help from U2's Bono and the Edge and a huge crowd of soldiers in fatigues, backed by images of the American flag. The words "This is a satire by Kendrick Lamar" were flashed on screen, and then comedian Dave Chappelle interjected, "The only thing more frightening than watching a black man be honest in America is being an honest black man in America.

Kendrick then performed "DNA." surrounded by men in pink hoodies who were "gunned down" one by one as images of the Statue of Liberty were projected in the background.

After commenting on race relations, the show also tackled immigration. Camila Cabello took the stage and gave a speech in support of D.A.C.A., aka "Dreamers."

"Im a proud, Cuban-Mexican immigrant, born in eastern Havana, standing in front of you on the Grammy stage in New York City," said the chart-topping star. "And all I know is that just like dreams, these kids cant be forgotten and are worth fighting for.

Later in the show, U2 were shown performing their song "Get Out of Your Own Way" from a barge in the New York's Hudson River, with Lady Liberty in the background. During the performance, which was pre-taped Friday night, Bono reportedly said, "Blessed are the s***hole countries, for they gave us the American Dream.

After his performance of his nominated "1-800-273-8255," rapper Logic said, To all the beautiful countries filled with culture, diversity and thousands of years of history. You are not a s***hole. You are beautiful." Logic performed the song with Khalid and Alessia Cara; Alessia was named Best New Artist earlier in the evening. In her speech, she said, "I want to encourage people to support real music and real artists because everyone deserves the same shot."



The show also tackled the #MeToo and Time's Up movements in a big way. Many of the presenters and performers -- both male and female -- wore or carried white roses in solidarity with Time's Up. Then Janelle Monae took the stage and gave an impassioned speech. "We come in peace but we mean business. And to those who would dare try to silence us, we offer two words: Times up. We say times up for pay inequality. Times up for discrimination. Times up for harassment of any kind."

"Times up for the abuse of power," she continued. "Because...its not just going on in Hollywood, its not just going on in Washington, its right here in our industry. And just as we have the power to shape culture, we also have the power to undo the culture that doesnt serve us well. So lets work together...Women and men as a united music industry, committed to creating safe work environments, equal pay and access for all women."

Monae then introduced Kesha, who's spent three years in a legal battle with her producer Dr. Luke, who she has accused of emotionally and sexually abusing her; he has denied the charges. She documented her journey in her nominated album Rainbow, and performed her powerful nominated single, "Praying," with help from Camila Cabello, Andra Day, Cyndi Lauper, Bebe Rexha and Julia Michaels, all of whom were wearing white.

Ironically, Kesha, Pink, Kelly Clarkson and Lady Gaga, all of whom are among pop music's most powerful voices, were bested in the Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Solo Performance categories by a man: Ed Sheeran, who wasn't present.

Another powerful emotional moment came when Maren Morris, Eric Church and Brothers Osborne, who'd all performed at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas that ended in a massacre of nearly 60 people, sang Eric Clapton's "Tears In Heaven." It was a tribute to those victims, as well as the victims of the bombing at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England. The victims' names were displayed behind the artists.

And while President Trump escaped any truly overt criticism, one of the best-received segments of the night was a mock-audition for celebrities recording the audio book version of Michael Wolff's scandalous Trump book, Fire and Fury. Among the auditioners: John Legend, Cher, Snoop Dogg, Cardi B, DJ Khaled and, finally, Hillary Clinton, who got a massive cheer.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.



At least 11 Afghan soldiers were killed and 16 others were wounded after an army unit guarding a military academy came under attack early Monday, officials said.

A suicide bomber first attacked the unit guarding the Marshal Fahim National Defense University in Kabul, and the attack was followed by a gun battle in which the two soldiers were killed, Afghan defense ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said.

Waziri said five militants led the attack and at least two of them blew themselves up and two others were killed in a gun fight, while one was arrested alive by soldiers.

Explosions and gunfire were heard at a military university in Afghanistan early Monday, as reports emerged that the school was under attack.

The Afghan National Army is the countrys defense force and makes sacrifices for the security and well-being of the people, Defense Ministry officials said.

Mohammed Ehsan, of Kabul, told Reuters that he heard explosions outside the academy at around 5 a.m., and the attack continued for at least an hour. Smaller blasts could reportedly still be heard after, but at less frequent intervals.

The same academy was also attacked in October last year by a suicide bomber who killed 15 officers. The attacker was on foot and detonated his suicide vest as the on-duty officers were leaving the facility, heading home in the evening. That attack was claimed by the Taliban.

At least two Afghan soldiers were killed in the assault.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for Mondays attack, Reuters reported, citing the terror groups propaganda agency. ISIS terrorists and Taliban militants have ramped up attacks against Afghan security force over the last month.

Mondays assault followed a suicide bombing in Kabul on Saturday, which killed at least 103 people, and a Jan. 20 attack at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, which left more than 20 people  including multiple American citizens  dead.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.A Chinese lawyer says prominent legal activist Yu Wensheng has been charged with inciting subversion of state power after writing a letter calling for democratic reforms.

Yu's lawyer, Huang Hanzhong, said Monday that police informed Yu's wife of the charge on Saturday.

Earlier this month, more than a dozen police officers grabbed Yu, a lawyer in Beijing, while he was waiting in his car to take his 13-year-old son to school.

Huang said police also took Yu's wife, Xu Yan, to a police station on Saturday on the same charge, though they released her the next day.

He said police also searched Yu's home and office and seized computers, USB drives, cellphones and various files documenting cases that Yu had handled in recent years.The Latest on Brexit negotiations (all times local):

3:20 p.m.

The European Union has adopted new orders for its Brexit negotiator laying out the terms of a transition period to help ease Britain out of the bloc after it officially leaves next year.

Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said Monday that EU ministers gave "a clear mandate" on their requirements for the transition period, to run from March 30, 2019 to Dec. 31, 2020.

She said that EU law would be applied in Britain during the transition, while the country would have "no participation in the EU institutions and decision-making."

The guidelines were adopted less than an hour into a meeting of European affairs ministers, and Zaharieva said "we hope an agreement on this with the U.K. can also be closed swiftly."

___

2:30 p.m.

European Union government ministers are meeting to endorse a new set of orders for their Brexit negotiator, focused on ways to ease Britain out of the EU from next year and lay the foundations for their future ties.

The negotiating guidelines set out the terms of a "transition period" that the Europeans want to run from the end of March next year until December 31, 2020.

In a draft of the guidelines, seen by The Associated Press, the EU insists that Britain should have no decision-making powers during the transition, while still abiding by all the bloc's rules, including any new ones.

Ireland's European Affairs Minister Helen McEntee said Monday that "When the U.K. leave the European Union they will not be a voice around the table."The military defeat of ISIS could be just 'weeks' away, a top U.S. military official said Monday -- a stunning development given the terror group once boasted the infrastructure to control an expanse of territory in Syria and Iraq where 10 million people lived.

U.S. Central Command General Joseph Votel made the comment during a speech to Jordans National Defense School on Monday, according to a tweet posted by Defense One.

The timeline for the military defeat of ISIS can now be measured in weeks, Votel said, though he cautioned there is still very tough fighting going on in the Middle Euphrates River Valley.

As Fox News reported, the terrorist group has lost 98 percent of the land it once held -- with half of ISIS' so-called caliphate having been recaptured since President Trump took office.

The gains that led to Votel's rosy assessment came after changes in the rules of engagement, instituted over the last year.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 fuels up before a mission to support Operation Inherent Resolve over Iraq and Syria air space.

The rules of engagement under the Obama administration were onerous. I mean what are we doing having individual target determination being conducted in the White House, which in some cases adds weeks and weeks, retired Air Force Lt. Gen. David Deptula, the former head of U.S. Air Force intelligence, told Fox News. The limitations that were put on actually resulted in greater civilian casualties.

What comes after ISIS has been wiped out is another story, and whether a wide-ranging Syria peace deal can happen soon in Geneva is no sure thing. Votel noted some of the countrys woes predate ISISs reign of terror.

I think we are probably a ways away from this, Votel said at the event in Jordan. As we defeat ISIS, many of the underlying tensions that have always existed in Syria are coming back to the forefront...makes pursuit of political solution not impossible but...complicated.

Although ISIS has been mostly defeated in Iraq and Syria, it continues to harness the power of social media to call on followers around the world to conduct terror attacks in its name against U.S. and Western targets.

American officials have warned previously that a complete defeat of ISIS worldwide wont happen anytime soon.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Monday in Moscow to discuss remnants of the Holocaust and the future of Syria. (Israeli Prime Minister Office)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin met Monday in Moscow.

The two leaders were meeting at the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center in Moscow, where together they toured a new exhibit on the Sobibor extermination camp.

As they headed into their meeting, Netanyahu said: I think that the main lesson of the rise of the Nazis and then the defeat of the Nazis is that we have to face murderous ideologies in time and with power.

For his part, in welcoming his Israeli counterpart, Putin also remembered the Holocaust and the sacrifices made by Russian Jews in taking down the Nazi regime. As you know, in our country, there were many victims in almost every family. Among the Jews murdered by the Nazis, there were many citizens of the Soviet Union [and] Russia. They were the ones who made a big sacrifice for victory over the Nazis.

Putin called the meeting very symbolic, because these days the entire world is remembering the victims of the Holocaust.

We will take this opportunity to talk about our bilateral relations and to discuss the situation in the region, Putin said.

This is the seventh meeting between the two leaders since Russian forces have been involved in Syrias civil war.

Netanyahu said that Iran was trying to turn Lebanon into one big missile site, a site for manufacturing precision missiles against the State of Israel. This is something we are not prepared to tolerate.

Netanyahu was accompanied by Minister Zeev Elkin, a member of the security cabinet who is considered to have close ties with Russian officials as well as National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat and outgoing Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Herzl Halevi.

Israeli officials have expressed once again, as they have done in the past, that they retain the right to operate to prevent the smuggling of advanced weaponry to Hezbollah in Lebanon through Syrian territory.

The Israeli delegation also have inquired how Russia envisions its future involvement in the region, and to gauge how strongly it opposes the American effort to reopen the nuclear deal with Iran.A Pakistani court has convicted two Chinese nationals for tampering with an ATM machine, sentencing each of them to a year in prison and a fine of around $400.

Akbar Khan, a cybercrimes investigator, said Monday that Zhong Xiaming and Zhong Xianquan were arrested a year ago while attaching a skimming device to an ATM in Karachi. The devices are placed over ATM slots and scan the magnetic strips of cards when customers insert them. They are often used in conjunction with hidden cameras that can film PIN numbers.

Khan says cybercrimes investigators have arrested another six Chinese nationals in recent months who are alleged to have used skimming devices. Similar incidents were reported in other Pakistani cities.A Russian fighter jet buzzed a U.S. Navy spy plane in the Black Sea on Monday, the first incident of its kind since a close encounter nearby in November.

The Navy EP-3 reconnaissance plane was flying in international airspace at the time, according to the Pentagon.

A Russian Su-27 jet came within five feet of the U.S. military plane crossing directly through the EP-3s flight path and causing the Navy jet to fly through the Russian jet's wash.

The interaction lasted approximately two hours and 40 minutes, according to a statement from the Navys 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy. A spokesman for the U.S. Navy did not know how long the unsafe portion of the intercept lasted. American and Russian jets routinely fly close to one another in the Black and Baltic Seas, but in a professional manner according to the Pentagon.

It's the first unsafe incident between the Russian and American jets since November. That incident also unfolded over the Black Sea.

Unsafe actions increase the risk of miscalculation and midair collisions, the statement said. The U.S. aircraft was operating in accordance with international law and did not provoke this Russian activity.

The Pentagon has stepped up its reconnaissance flights in the Black Sea since 2014 when Russia took over Crimea under the guise of a military training exercise. The U.S. Navy also has sent more warships to the region.

Last February, Russian jets buzzed a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Black Sea. Weeks later, that same warship -- USS Porter -- launched cruise missiles into Syria from the Mediterranean.Isaiah Haastrup with his aunt Dahlia Thomas at King's College Hospital in London. A judge ruled that the 11-month-boy could be taken off life support despite the parents' objection.

An 11-month-old suffering from severe brain damage may have his life support turned off after a British judge ruled Monday in favor of doctors arguing to terminate his care and against the boy's parents.

Justice MacDonald of the High Court on Monday said further treatment on Isaiah Haastrup, who doctors said suffered catastrophic brain damage after being deprived of oxygen when he was born, was not in [the babys] best interest, the BBC reported.

Examining Isaiahs best interests from a broad perspective...I am satisfied that it is not in his best interests for life-sustaining medical treatment to be continued. That, with profound sadness, is my judgment, the judge said during his ruling.

The childs parents, Takesha Thomas and Lanre Haastrup, 36, argued for continued treatment on their son with only palliative care. The father told the BBC he was disappointed in the judges ruling.

"We will be speaking to the lawyers to see what they say, Haastrup added.

Doctors at Londons Kings College Hospital said Isaiah has a low level of consciousness due to the brain damage. The baby also couldnt move or breathe on his own and was connected to a ventilator at all times.

But the grieving Thomas argued her son was in fact responsive.

"When I speak to him he will respond, slowly, by opening one eye, she told MacDonald. "I see a child who is injured. He needs love. He needs care. I have it. I can give it.

She added: "To say it is so poor, it is not worth living, that is not right. It is not their decision to make."

Fiona Paterson, a lawyer representing King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said there was overwhelming evidence that stopping Isaiahs treatment was the best option.

Monday's decision renewed the contentious debate about who should make life-and-death healthcare decisions for children after a similar saga gripped Britain during the summer.

Charlie Gard, who suffered from a rare genetic disorder called mitochondrial depletion syndrome, was embroiled in a publicized court battle until his death in late July. Gards parents wanted to bring their son to the United States for an experimental treatment they believed could help him.

But the doctors at the Great Ormond Street Hospital argued the treatment wouldnt help and would only cause more suffering.

British courts and the European Court of Human Rights all sided with the hospital in its bid to remove life support and allow Charlie to die naturally.The Sisters Who Brought Down Rafael Trujillo's Dictatorship

Notorious dick Trujillo  Im not even going to pretend to be unbiased on this one.

Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa

Rafael Trujillo was a dick. He ruled as dictator of the Dominican Republic for over 30 years. Following a rebellion, Trujillo was voted into power with 99% of the vote in 1930 with essentially no opposition (after his opponents were subject to military threats). Now the Commander in Chief of the army, Trujillo wielded ultimate power. Of course, he did have his supporters, and under his control, the Dominican Relublic became a founding member of The United Nations, enjoyed a great deal of economic stability, and even saw its first national park. But the cost of this was incredibly high  human rights violations were a daily occurrence, torture and assassinations were routine, and order was maintened through fear and brute force. It is thought that Trujillo was responsible for at least 50,000 deaths (his mum must have been proud). His bloody reign seemed unstoppable.Enter the Mirabal sisters. Patria, Dede, Minerva and Maria Teresa Mirabal all came of age under Trujillos rule. The sisters came from a well-connected middle class family, and they were all feisty and well-educated. With the exception of Dede, all the sisters made the unusual (for the time) step of attending higher education institutions.



While attending law school, Minerva started to learn about her new friends' family members who had been killed (or simply vanished) under the dictator. This, paired with a blossoming knowledge of her uncle;s involvement in the resistance, started to spark something in Minerva.

Shortly after this, Minerva came face to face with Trujillo. In 1949, the family was asked to attend a party Truillo was hosting (I say asked, I mean forced Trujillo liked to ensure his parties had a high percentage of pretty young women). During the party Trujillos men separated Minerva from the family, seating her at his table. Accounts from here seem to vary and are a little fuzzy, but what we do know is that Trujillo made a move on Minerva and she rejected him. The family then swiftly left the party. This was was a risky move.



Minerva Mirabal

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Unsurprisingly, Trujillo was not often told no and did not respond well to Minerva rebuffing his sexual advances or to the family leaving the party before he did (a big no-no, as it suggested disrespect towards the dictator). And so he ordered the entire Mirabal family's imprisonment.

Cool, sounds perfectly reasonable

The family was eventually released from prison. However, Trujillo blocked Minerva from continuing her legal education and maintained a constant ebb of harassment towards her (again  his mum must be proud).

The family's every move was now being monitored. Minerva was reported to Trujillos forces several times for crimes including not toasting Trujillo at dinner. Soon, Minerva started to become more active in resisting Trujillo. Her youngest sister, Maria Teresa, quickly jumped on board, outraged at the intimidation and human rights abuse that had seeped not only into the Mirabal household but the entire country.

Then on June 14, 1959, Patria witnessed the Luperion Invasion, an attempt by ousted Dominicans to topple Trujillos government. The rebels were quickly and brutally crushed, but rather than being warned of the consequences of fighting Trujillo, Patria was inspired by the rebels. This is perhaps not that surprising, because Trujillos years of continued pressure on the family had only ever served to encourage them to fight back.

Patria went home and joined forces with Minerva and Maria Teresa. Round their kitchen table, the sisters hatched a plan to continue the rebels' fight and put an end to Trujillos reign of terror.

The group called themselves the Movement of the Fourteenth of June, named after the slain rebels. With the help of their husbands, the three sisters started to distribute leaflets and pamphlets detailing Trujillos crimes, the people he had killed, and the resistance's work. The sisters started to become known under the moniker Las Mariposas, or The Buttleflies.

In addition to their written work, the group slowly started to weaponize. Once more the sisters sat around their kitchen table, this time making bombs from fireworks. They also gathered weapons, learned how to use them, and began to talk about taking a much more radical step  assassination.

Their attempted assassination of Trujillo in 1960 failed, and Minerva, Marie Teresa, and their husbands were thrown in jail. But although Trujillo had survived, the sisters' attempt on his life meant his political career was heading towards its demise. An assassination attempt of his own (on the Venezuelan president) had failed. He had lost the support of the Catholic Church, his former powerful allies, America, and even the top tiers of Dominican society. And now, the work of the Mirabal sisters and others like them was starting to threaten his already weakening grasp on power.

Trujillo did what he did best: he tortured and executed many of the captured rebels, but it didnt quell the murmurings of discontent that were now becoming ever louder. To make matters worse, in 1960, growing international pressure forced Trujillo to release the incarcerated Mirabal sisters. The butterflies were once again free.

But Trujillo became fixated on the idea that the root of his problem was Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa Mirabal.

Warning  This next bit is rough.

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On November 25, 1960, the sisters were driving home after visiting their husbands in prison. Their jeep was stopped by secret police, who included Trujillos right hand man, Victor Alicinio Pena Rivera. The sisters and their driver were made to get out the car. They were taken to a sugarcane field and separated, then secret police beat and strangled each of the sisters. Their bodies were taken back to the jeep, which was then pushed off a cliff, in an effort to make their deaths look like an accident.

But this isnt the end of the Mirabal sisters' story.

Youll be pleased to know that the cover-up didnt work. The public soon realised that Patria, Minerva and Maria Teresa had been assassinated. The people were angry and the tide turned against Trujillo in almost an instant.

People were inspired by the sisters and keen to pick up where they had left off, as the Mirabal sisters had done for the Luperion Invasion rebels. Less then six months after thier deaths, in May 1961, Trujillos own car was ambushed and he was shot in an assination carried out by Dominican rebels with American backing.

The sisters became known as national heroes, and their sister Dede opened a museum that told their story. The Mirabal family also continued their legacy: Minervas daughter went on to become the Dominican Republic's Under-Secretary of Foreign Relations and Dedes son the Vice President.

This post originally appeared on F Yeah History and is reprinted with permission.

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Written by Natasha Tidd, Sara Westrop, and Helen Antrobus, F Yeah History is dedicated to unearthing history that's just too good for history class. From historic hangover cures to unsung historic heroes, all told with a healthy does of gifs and somewhat terrible jokes, it's history...just not as you know it. Follow F Yeah History on FYeahHistory.com and on Twitter @F_yeah_history.Living in a culture of instant gratification, many of us march to the mindset, Gotta have it  and gotta have it now! There are advantages to this; Walking into a fast-food restaurant and not having to wait; being able to quickly find virtually anything on the Internet; being able to communicate to others without delay, whether by phone, text or instant message.

But as with many advantages in life, instant living has drawbacks. One of them is the increasing inability to distinguish the urgent from the truly important.



Years ago, Charles E. Hummel wrote an engaging little booklet, The Tyranny of the Urgent. He stated, Your greatest danger is letting the urgent things crowd out the important. This seemed cryptic the first time I read it. Arent urgent things always important?



For instance, if you get a call from your boss instructing you to do something immediately, isnt that important? If your smartphone rings during while youre with loved ones or close friends, shouldnt you check to see whos calling?



As I pondered Hummels statement, however, I began to realize that indeed, urgent things are not always important  and important things arent always urgent. The challenge is learning to distinguish between the two, and then responding appropriately.



Another Hummel observation provided clarification: There is an insidious tendency to neglect important tasks that do not have to be done today  or even this week. At first glance this seems a tad confusing. If things dont have to be done today, or this week, doesnt that indicate theyre not all that important?



Once again, after a bit of thought, we start to understand what he meant. Sometimes urgent things also are important  if someones having a heart attack, they need immediate treatment. If theres a fire, we must try to put it out. Or call 911. But if a friend asks us for a favor, that doesnt mean we must drop everything to comply right then.



Many childrens trust has been shattered by promises repeatedly broken by parents because something urgent always seems to arise at the last minute. Or intended meetings with friends never happen because the urgent keeps snatching time from our schedules.



Having spent much of my working career reacting to deadlines, I know how easily the urgent can crowd out the important. Even now, I wrestle with the conflict between longer-term writing projects and more immediate, short-term tasks that need to be completed first.



In the Scriptures, we see an example of urgent vs. important in the lives of sisters Mary and Martha. The gospel of Luke gives a quick synopsis:



As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lords feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, Lord, dont you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!

Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed  or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her (Luke 10:38-41).

At first glance, its easy to side with Martha. Theres a meal to prepare. Things to be done. Martha was slaving away, while her sister was chilling, listening to what Jesus had to say. But as He often did, Jesus was using this for a teachable moment. The preparations preoccupying Marthas attention could wait a few minutes. Time with Jesus, however, was a priceless moment that couldnt be recaptured later.



Seems to me this tyranny of the urgent impedes our ability to establish and maintain a close, intimate walk with God. Hummel also wrote about this in his booklet: But the root of all sin is self-sufficiency  independence from the rule of God. When we fail to wait prayerfully for Gods guidance and strength, we are saying with our actions, if not with our words, that we do not need him. How much of our service is actually a going it alone?



Psalm 37:7 admonishes, Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. This resting and waiting run counter to the instincts of our instant world, worshiping at the altar of the urgent. But if were to truly become all the Lord intends for us to be, weve got to discover how not to sacrifice the important on that altar.



Like Mary and Martha, we need to discern whats really needed  the better of two or more options. Is it really important, or is it just urgent?



----Average retail gasoline prices in Chattanooga have risen 10.3 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.36 per gallon on Sunday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 170 gas outlets in Chattanooga. This compares with the national average that has increased 3.0 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.57 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Chattanooga during the past week, prices on Sunday were 35.3 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 19.7 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 8.8 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 30.7 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago. The national average has increased 8.8 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 30.7 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

According to GasBuddy historical data, gasoline prices on Jan. 29, in Chattanooga have ranged widely over the last five years:

$2.00 per gallon in 2017, $1.53 in 2016, $1.91 in 2015, $3.04 in 2014 and $3.15 in 2013.

Areas near Chattanooga and their current gas price climate:

Knoxville- $2.38, up 3.5 cents per gallon from last week's $2.35.

State of Tennessee- $2.39, up 3.4 cents per gallon from last week's $2.36.

Huntsville- $2.35, up 4.3 cents per gallon from last week's $2.31.

"With oil maintaining strength, gasoline prices have continued to climb in many places, rising to their highest level since Hurricane Harvey dealt a blow to Texas and a significant portion of U.S. refining capacity," said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. "This time around, oil prices have been the culprit for gasoline prices rising to their highest level in over 130 days, and with U.S. crude oil inventories plummeting for 10 straight weeks, I see diminishing chances of the traditional winter relief that accompanies the year's coldest months. Without gas prices falling, the current price environment may be the floor for what could become a more expensive year than anticipated, barring any change to OPEC policy that has led to today's climate of lower supply and higher prices."Free Freightnet Membership

List your company in the Freightnet directory. It's Free, it's Easy and your company can be displayed in front of potential freight buyers within 24 hours.Colonial Dames Seventeenth Centurys Prudhomme Fort Chapter held its mid-winter meeting at The Tea Cottage.

The year in review included the recent historical dedication of Jackson Chapel Cemetery, at the entrance to Chester Frost Park in Hamilton County, attended by Chattanooga city and Hamilton County officials. The oldest known date in the cemetery is 1810; however, history records show that over 400 graves to this property lie underneath the waters of Chickamauga Lake, with history reflecting thousands of years of ownership.

Support to the national James Elwyn and Mary S. Johnston Scholarship was featured, with it being noted that this scholarship is available to a High School Senior with a G.P.A of 3.9 (or higher).

The annual Chapter Dame of the Year was awarded to member, Janet Cantrell, of Athens, Tn., by Joan Hanks of Signal Mountain, Chapter Awards chairman. Ms. Cantrell is the current CDXVIIC State Museum Chairman; a featured speaker; and is a historian and writer, having published a book entitled: The Mountain Lion & The Vail Ranch Mice - An Aesop Fable Retold, Western Style.

Prudhomme Fort Chapter is active locally and nationally, promoting goals: (1)Preserving records and historic sites of the country; (2) foster interest in Colonial research; (3) aiding in the education of the youth of the country; (4) to maintain zealously those high principles of courage and patriotism that led to the independence of the Colonies  and the establishment of The United States of America; (5) to maintain a library of heraldry and to preserve the lineage and coats of arms of armorial ancestors furnishing local and national libraries with American Colonial records and other data; and (6) active support of veterans activities and programs. For more information, please call 842-7774.

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Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.Cleveland High School Patagonia Team invites everyone to the Dos Bros Spirit Day on Tuesday . A group of engineering, broadcasting, and Spanish students will travel to Argentina to do humanitarian work during Spring Break. Dos Bros will donate 10% of their sales that day to this team of students going to Argentina. Please show your support by bringing your family and friends to Dos Bros on Tuesday and let them know you are supporting the Patagonia team!

Parent Advisory Council meets on Tuesday , at 4:30 p.m. at the Administrative Office Building. Cleveland City Schoolsmeets, atat the Administrative Office Building. Members of the Board of Education and parent representatives from each school will meet to review science standards and more. For more information contact Andrea Byerly, 423-472-9571. Members of the Board of Education and parent representatives from each school will meet to review science standards and more. For more information contact Andrea Byerly, abyerly@clevelandschools.org

100th Day of School on Friday . Staff and students will dress like they are 100 years old. For more information contact Richelle Shelton, rshelton@clevelandschools.org. George R. Stuart will celebrate the. Staff and students will dress like they are 100 years old. For more information contact Richelle Shelton, 423-476-8246

Student of the Month Sundae Party on Friday . This month Ross' focus habit is "Synergize." Students that best exemplify this habit will be treated to an Ice Cream Sundae party on Friday . For more information contact Lisa Earby, learby@clevelandschools.org. E.L. Ross Elementary hosts the. This month Ross' focus habit is "Synergize." Students that best exemplify this habit will be treated to an Ice Cream Sundae party. For more information contact Lisa Earby, 423-479-7274

PTO Meetings

E.L. Ross - Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.The Chattanooga Hiking Club will be hosting a free event in the Tennessee Aquarium IMAX Theater on Monday, Feb. 5, at 6:30 p.m.

Ben Friberg, founder of Chattajack, will deliver a presentation about his adventures in Papua New Guinea while exploring the Sepik River.

Mr.

Friberg and his wife Kim headed to New Guinea with intentions of exploring the Sepik River as far upstream as circumstances would allow. The Sepik River is the longest river on the island of New Guinea at just under 700 miles. (Compared to the 652-mile length of the Tennessee River.) Papua New Guinea is one of the most remote and culturally diverse destinations in the world. More than 800 languages are spoken there, 200 along the Sepik River alone. Hunter gatherer societies still exist, and many aspects of life still connect to the Stone Age. Friberg will discuss how he and Kim explored the lesser known Upper Sepik region via dugout canoe.

No pre-registration is required for this free event.

Mr. Friberg grew up in Chattanooga and started exploring all of the areas rivers and creeks by kayak beginning in the ninth grade. About eight years ago, he began standup paddle boarding on the Ocoee River, and later he began to explore endurance paddling events.

In 2012, he set the world record for farthest distance paddled in a 24-hour period. He accomplished this on the Yukon River, paddling 238 miles in 24 hours. One year later, he became the first (and still only) person to standup paddle from Cuba to the United States in slightly more than 27 hours. And in 2014, he and his wife were the first paddle boarders to participate in the worlds longest paddle race, the Yukon 1000, a 1,000-mile race on the Yukon River.Winxnet, Inc., an IT outsourcing and consulting firm, announced its strategic alliance with K&R Network Solutions, Inc., a San Diego-based managed services provider with expertise in automation and technical integration. This alliance aligns two of the strongest and fastest growing MSPs in North America, combining deep technical experience and broad reach with local expertise, said officials.

Named to the 2017 Best Places to Work in Maine and the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies lists, Winxnet has become a provider of managed IT services throughout New England and the Eastern United States, with offices in Portland, Me., Methuen, Ma. and Chattanooga.

"Winxnet has been fortunate to experience growth and success in a very competitive and fast-paced industry, said Chris Claudio, CEO and co-founder of Winxnet. We have a responsibility to our clients and staff to continue growth and innovation strategies that will keep pace with technology changes. The automation and technical integration expertise that K&R brings to our portfolio enables us to elevate and streamline our support. We are thrilled with this partnership and what it means to our clients.

The immediate focus of this alliance will be to combine the network operations centers of each organization and utilize custom applications and tools to increase proactive monitoring and resolution capabilities. While this increased innovation and access to a deeper bench of technical experts will be an immediate benefit to Winxnet and K&R clients, the scalability and combined purchasing power will also ensure both Winxnet and K&R remain competitive in the industry, said officials.

"Every decision we make is focused on increasing the service quality of our products," said Mr. Claudio. "Throughout 2017 we executed this vision by adding Managed Security Services to our Managed Services offer. To start 2018, we knew we wanted to focus on increasing our use of automation in service delivery while enhancing the depth and strength of our technical teams, without impacting the culture of client care that each company has cultivated."

Established in 2001, K&R Networks is an IT advisor providing managed IT services and was voted one the Best Places to work in San Diego. The 50+ team supports a base of clientele with expertise in the life sciences, financial, medical and legal industries. Commitment to service, proactive monitoring and true end to end support model have set them apart from other providers, said officials.

Like Winxnet, K&R was founded by engineers who knew day to day IT support could be better," said K&R Co-Founder and CTO Jeremy Kurth. "For 17 years we have worked tirelessly on our automation tools to not only enhance resolution times but to also ensure top performance, consistency and scalability of our managed service deliverables. We have successfully collaborated with Winxnet for many years through, HTG, our industry peer group. We share common core values and are extremely excited to be taking this next step in joining teams and strengths.

Although each organizations NOC departments will be combining there will be no change in how clients access their systems or support and they will notice no changes in their computing environments, services or other scheduled events. The core staff of each company, including leadership teams, will remain intact and there are no plans to reduce staffing in any location. There are also no immediate plans to change names of either company.



Its important that as we implement our custom automation solution sets that client experience and service is impacted as little as possible," said Mr. Kurth. "The plan is designed specifically with the clients in mind to increase our service quality while doing it quietly, something we have the expertise and proven track history to do."EFCC Exposes How Patience Jonathan Got N300m Contract Through Three Unregistered Firms

kacylee at 29-01-2018 08:12 AM (3 years ago) (f)

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is currently investigating how former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan got N300 million contract from some government agencies through three unregistered companies.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is currently investigating how former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan got N300 million contract from some government agencies through three unregistered companies.

According to The Nation, the unregistered companies are Euroricia Concept Limited, Pasturage Vert and Mabelt Construction Limited.



Mrs Jonathan is believed to have used one of the firms to obtain contracts of over N300 million from the Nigerian Prison Service (NPS), including the fencing of Kuje Prison and supply of beddings.



The paper quoted an EFCC source as saying, Contracts were given to companies owned by her but not registered.



Our detectives went to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), searched the database and discovered that these companies were unregistered.



The companies are Euroricia Concept Limited, Pasturage Vert and Mabelt Construction Limited. Funds were diverted into these companies from some government agencies, including the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the Nigerian Prison Service (NPS) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). According to The Nation, the unregistered companies are Euroricia Concept Limited, Pasturage Vert and Mabelt Construction Limited.Mrs Jonathan is believed to have used one of the firms to obtain contracts of over N300 million from the Nigerian Prison Service (NPS), including the fencing of Kuje Prison and supply of beddings.The paper quoted an EFCC source as saying, Contracts were given to companies owned by her but not registered.Our detectives went to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), searched the database and discovered that these companies were unregistered.The companies are Euroricia Concept Limited, Pasturage Vert and Mabelt Construction Limited. Funds were diverted into these companies from some government agencies, including the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the Nigerian Prison Service (NPS) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

Post Reply I have been reporting for several years now and I am very interested in visual news reportage with strong inclusion of photos and video multimedia. Posted: at 29-01-2018 08:12 AM (3 years ago) | Addicted Hero

fancy315 at 29-01-2018 08:22 AM (3 years ago)

(f) Shame on all the leaders of Nigeria!!!! These leasers and their families are so freaking greedy; stealing from your citizens and your country for personal gain. It shall not be well with them. God help & bless Nigeria!! Posted: at 29-01-2018 08:22 AM (3 years ago) | Newbie Shame on all the leaders of Nigeria!!!! These leasers and their families are so freaking greedy; stealing from your citizens and your country for personal gain. It shall not be well with them. God help & bless Nigeria!! Reply

slimber at 29-01-2018 09:35 AM (3 years ago)

(f) Hmmm.mm whose bizness Posted: at 29-01-2018 09:35 AM (3 years ago) | Hero Hmmm.mm whose bizness Reply

xspraise at 29-01-2018 10:06 AM (3 years ago)

(m) why telling us now I am Victor, I write reportage on sport news and latest metro happenings in Nigeria. Posted: at 29-01-2018 10:06 AM (3 years ago) | Hero why telling us now Reply

ruthie at 29-01-2018 10:19 AM (3 years ago)

(f) this woman is a thief and should be behind bars... Posted: at 29-01-2018 10:19 AM (3 years ago) | Hero this woman is a thief and should be behind bars... Reply

Mykie010 at 29-01-2018 10:52 AM (3 years ago)

(m) Quote from: ruthie on 29-01-2018 10:19 AM this woman is a thief and should be behind bars...

are u not tired of hearing cock and bull stories about this woman, if she has stolen, let them bring a good case against her and try her, I don't poke media trial Posted: at 29-01-2018 10:52 AM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac are u not tired of hearing cock and bull stories about this woman, if she has stolen, let them bring a good case against her and try her, I don't poke media trial Reply

ruthie at 29-01-2018 11:27 AM (3 years ago)

(f) Quote from: Mykie010 on 29-01-2018 10:52 AM are u not tired of hearing cock and bull stories about this woman, if she has stolen, let them bring a good case against her and try her, I don't poke media trial

oga they are building a strong case....relax.. Posted: at 29-01-2018 11:27 AM (3 years ago) | Hero oga they are building a strong case....relax.. ReplyThe members of the Sankofa Fund for Civic Engagement, an African American Giving Circle, are partnering with the Proud Voter Campaign to "empower and encourage more African Americans in Chattanooga to register to vote, help fellow citizens restore their voting rights, and get significant numbers of people to the polls on election day." The Sankofa Fund is awarding a $500 grant to the organization or group proposes the best project to get local African Americans to the polls.

The Proud Voter Campaign is a nonpartisan statewide initiative that seeks to increase voter registration and turnout among underrepresented demographics in Tennessee. They partner with organizations to pursue the nearly 750,000 unregistered minority, single women, and under 30 year olds who are not voting. For more information about the Proud Voter Campaign, visit www.proudvoter.org.

The Sankofa Fund for Civic Engagement will award $500 to fund the best project to get local African Americans to the polls. To apply, please visit www.sankofacha.com and click on Apply for Voter Challenge. The deadline to apply is Feb. 16.

The Sankofa Fund for Civic Engagement is a membership organization committed to funding and supporting organizations, projects and efforts which improve Chattanooga's communities of color. Sankofa literally means to go back and get what was taken. After the term made its way to the United States, African-American scholars coined the term to mean remembering the past, to protect the future.

The fund is housed at the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga. Members commit to making an annual gift to the fund, using their social networks to empower local African America communities, and collectively making funding decisions.

To apply for funding from the Sankofa Fund for Civic Engagement or to make a contribution, visit www.sankofacha.com.The content you are looking for has either been removed or requires you to login to view

Please login below or register for an account With Naijapals.comA vessel of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy rescued two drowning crew members from a sinking Mongolian cargo ship in waters off Wenzhou in east China's Zhejiang Province around midnight Sunday.

The vessel of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy. [File photo: China National Radio]

The Eastern Theater Command said in a statement that its command center sent the naval vessel Jinan for rescue after receiving report that the cargo ship was sinking around 11 p.m. Sunday.

One of the two rescued is Chinese (from Taiwan Province), and the other is Indonesian. Their lives are not in danger.

Altogether 11 people were on the Mongolian ship, which was shipping white sugar from Taichung in Taiwan, to the Republic of Korea.

The statement said the vessel Jinan would continue its search and rescue and had not found other crew members so far, though it had seen several floating life jackets.For the election-obsessed among us, the two months of turbulence that followed last November's elections for Virginia's House of Delegates would be hard to top for its riveting back-and-forth legal drama and fingernail-biting suspense.Now, as the nation heads into midterm elections on which might hinge party control not only of several state legislatures but also of both houses of Congress, it's not implausible to imagine similar dramas playing out across the country. Virginia's experience holds some key lessons that policymakers and election administrators in other states should be moving quickly to follow.Resolution finally arrived for Virginia on Jan. 10 when a federal appeals court declined to order a new election in House District 28, where Republican Bob Thomas' 73-vote victory had been challenged after 147 voters had been issued incorrect ballots. The previous week, before a live-stream national audience , a slip of paper pulled from a bowl broke an 11,608-to-11,608-vote tie between Republican David Yancey and Democrat Shelly Simonds in District 94. After the first count left Simonds 10 votes behind, an official recount board gave her a one-vote lead, which then evaporated to a tie (and Yancey's eventual victory) after a three-judge panel re-interpreted a previously rejected ballot Close races -- even an occasional deadlock -- aren't unprecedented among the nearly 6,500 federal and state legislative races held every two years across the country. But Virginia's election officials found themselves in the national spotlight largely due to an outcome that few if any political observers saw coming: Democrats flipped a remarkable 15 House seats on Nov. 7, 12 of them by defeating incumbents. Only by ultimately prevailing in both the District 28 and District 94 contests were Republicans able to cling to a 51-49 majority.Not surprisingly, many journalists couldn't resist the analogy to another close election that involved razor-thin margins and disputed ballots. As aheadline put it in late December, "Virginia Voting Mess Was Never Supposed to Happen After Bush v. Gore." But Virginia election officials are hardly deserving of Florida 2000-like scorn.Their administration of last November's voting certainly wasn't perfect; the mis-assignment of District 28 voters, for example, was a non-trivial mistake. Still, it's important to understand some key things Virginia election officials didthat allowed them to dodge what might have been a far-worse catastrophe. The most important step Virginia took -- and just in the nick of time -- was to revert to paper ballots and ditch its high-tech, ATM-like voting machines.A little history is instructive here. In the wake of the Florida 2000 debacle, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act, appropriating several billion dollars to help states jettison the widely derided punch-card ballots that had made "hanging chads" a permanent part of the American political lexicon. Like many states, Virginia used the money to abandon paper-based ballots altogether in favor of software-enabled voting machines known in the parlance as "Direct Recording Election" (DRE) devices. But in 2013, Virginia election officials realized that about 3,000 of these DREs, then being used by about 20 percent of the state's voters, were especially vulnerable to software hacks.Virginia's Board of Elections issued an emergency order to local election officials to de-commission these machines prior to the 2015 gubernatorial election. Then, last July at the annual DEF CON hackers' conference in Las Vegas, many of the state's remaining DRE machines were shown to be vulnerable. Rather than hold fast to its original plan -- to phase out and replace these machines by 2020 -- the elections board forced local officials in 22 jurisdictions to move to paper-ballot systems in time for last November's election.This bold move became unexpectedly important -- even prescient -- when the results were so close in four legislative races that recounts were required. These recounts could now be based entirely on paper ballots marked directly by voters.Today, tens of millions of voters in more than two dozen states and the District of Columbia still cast their ballots on DRE machines. Nearly half of these states rely wholly or partly on older and especially vulnerable machines that don't generate a paper trail. When a recount is needed, election officials can do little more than re-run the software program -- hardly a reassuring move if there are suspicions of hacking.Some of those states have made or are contemplating massive investments in newer machines capable of generating what's known as a "Verified Voter Paper Audit Trail." Ohio alone may shell out $118 million for such an upgrade. But recounts using those newer machines still would rely heavily on software code. "There's simply no way to do a meaningful recount on any DRE machine," says Marian Schneider, president of the nonprofit advocacy group Verified Voting.Paper ballots do present their own challenges, foremost among them how to adjudicate voter intent when ballots are marked in strange ways. But here again, Virginia election officials deserve kudos. Over the years, they have worked with leaders in both parties to develop and refine an official manual on how to discern voter intent when hand-counting ballots. More than a hundred examples of actual ballots can be found among the manual's 15 pages, and doubtless more will be added as a result of the 2017 recounts. The document's thoroughness -- the result of painstaking work largely done during the quiet times between elections -- gave the 2017 recounts credibility, illustrated by the praise even Republican officials gave to the process after Democrat Simonds emerged with a one-vote lead in the District 94 race.There was, however, one glaring flaw in Virginia's system that deserves redress, though it had nothing to do with any shortcomings on the part of election officials. It left a cloud that Virginia lawmakers should move to immediately fix and which other states should ponder as well.It's a long-standing principle of American jurisprudence that while appellate courts can review whether the law was correctly applied, they cannot substitute their own judgment when it comes to determining theof a case. But with the District 94 recount, that's exactly what the three-judge panel did in agreeing to re-litigate the facts of a disputed ballot. They then compounded their judicial over-reach by not allowing other questionable ballots to be brought forward.So (at least) two cheers, Virginia elections officials, for a job remarkably well done under difficult circumstances. Let's hope others will take the necessary steps to do even better when it's their turn in the hot glare of the election-administration spotlight.In an ironic twist, the Trump administration's embrace of work requirements for low-income people on Medicaid is prompting lawmakers in some conservative states to resurrect plans to expand health care for the poor.Trump's move has been widely criticized as threatening the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion. But if states follow through, more Americans could get coverage."I think it gives us a chance," said Kansas state Rep. Susan Concannon, a moderate Republican who pushed unsuccessfully for Medicaid expansion last year in her state.In Utah, the office of Republican Gov. Gary Herbert said the Trump administration's willingness to approve work requirements is one of several concessions the state would demand to cover more poor residents through Medicaid."Is it a big deal?" said Herbert spokesman Paul Edwards. "Yeah, I think it's a big deal."Utah state Rep. Robert Spendlove, a Republican working on legislation to partially expand Medicaid, said the Trump administration has sent a positive sign. "I have a lot of confidence that they will be willing to work with us and approve this," Spendlove said.San Francisco Leads the Way

Paper or Plastic?

Bisbee, a city of 5,200 tucked into the mountains of southeastern Arizona, has been a haven for artists and left-leaning types since the 1970s. The old mining town has art galleries, live music venues, and stories  many of them revolving around the supposedly haunted Copper Queen Hotel  in abundance.Until a few years ago, Bisbee also had plenty of something it didnt want: plastic bags. They sullied the streets, helicoptered through the air and draped the cactuses, according to Mayor David M. Smith. The problem grew so dire that in 2012, the town barred retailers from providing plastic bags to customers.Some local businesses opposed the ban, but most residents were thrilled, according to Smith. It made a huge difference, said the mayor, who voted for the ordinance as a member of the city council. After, they were all gone.But that was just the beginning of Bisbees bag battle. The Arizona Food Marketing Alliance, which represents the states grocers and food suppliers, lobbied the Legislature for legislation that would quash Bisbees ban and prevent other cities and towns in Arizona from following its lead. In 2015, they succeeded.Republican lawmakers typically tout the benefits of local control. But in states across the country, they have taken action to rein in cities that want to enact progressive measures such as gun control laws and minimum wage hikes. Now plastic bags have become an unlikely flashpoint in the conflict between blue cities and their red state legislatures.In recent years a handful of states  Arizona and Missouri in 2015, Idaho, Michigan and Wisconsin in 2016, Minnesota in 2017  have enacted bans on bans, joining a group that already included Florida, Indiana and Iowa.State Sen. Warren Petersen, the Republican who led the push for Arizonas law, said it is intended to protect individual rights. In addition to prohibiting plastic bag bans, the measure prohibits local governments from regulating the use of boxes, bottles and containers used for transporting merchandise to or from a business.Its not the governments job to tell you whether or not you should use a plastic bag, Petersen said. Are we going to micromanage every decision of every consumer?The issue also has attracted national players. The American Progressive Bag Alliance, an offshoot of the Plastics Industry Association, has spent millions of dollars to defeat the local bans and support legislation that preempts local governments from implementing them. And the American City County Exchange, an offshoot of the conservative advocacy group the American Legislative Exchange Council  better known as ALEC  has drafted model legislative language for prohibitions on bag bans.A patchwork of bag laws is never good for the consumer and never good for businesses, said Matt Seaholm, executive director of the American Progressive Bag Alliance. It should be done at the state level if its that important of an issue.In Arizona, Bisbee refused to repeal its bag ban  until last fall, when the threat of losing nearly $2 million in state aid finally forced it to relent.The state was basically extorting us, saying that we either had to repeal this ordinance or lose our state sharing revenues, Smith said. That would have literally bankrupted the city.San Francisco in 2007 became the first city in the United States to impose a ban on single-use plastic bags. Roughly 150 municipalities in California, including San Jose, Malibu and Santa Monica, eventually followed suit.After a series of battles in the lower state courts, the California Supreme Court in 2011 upheld the rights of cities to ban single-use plastic bags and ruled they did not have to complete an environmental impact analysis before adopting such bans.Buoyed by victory, supporters pushed for a statewide ban, which Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law in 2014.But bag proponents werent through. In the last three months of 2014, the Progressive Bag Alliance spent over $3 million to collect enough signatures to put a reversal of the ban on the 2016 ballot. (Hilex Poly, a leading plastic bag manufacturer, contributed $1.7 million, Superbag Corporation gave $500,000, and Formosa Plastics contributed $400,000 in the successful effort.)Then, to attract voter support for the ballot measure, the alliance spent another $2.6 million.Still, Californians upheld the statewide ban, with 53 percent voting in favor. The ban allows stores to offer paper or reusable plastic bags for a 10 cent minimum fee, and certain businesses  like restaurants and department stores  are exempt.Environmentalists say discarded plastic bags, in addition to being unsightly, are often eaten by animals such as fish and eventually end up in human food, which can make people sick. Citing data collected by the California Coastal Commission, a state agency, environmentalists say bag bans can go a long way toward minimizing those risks.In 2010, volunteers picked up about 65,000 plastic bags littered along state beaches and rivers during the Coastal Commissions annual cleanup day. Plastic bags accounted for 7.4 percent of all the items of trash collected throughout the day  the third most common item after cigarette butts and food wrappers.In 2016, according to the commission, the number of littered plastic bags collected dropped by 63 percent compared to 2010. Plastic bags accounted for only 3.4 percent of the items picked up during the cleanup. In 2017, the number of plastic bags collected continued to drop, down to 3.1 percent of items picked up.This is a big win for the coast of California and the state in general, said Mark Vargas, a commissioner on the Coastal Commission. And it is proof that [these bans] work.But opponents of plastic bag bans maintain that they do little to protect the environment  and may even harm humans.Minnesota state Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, a Republican who successfully pushed a measure prohibiting local bag bans in his state, pointed out that single-use plastic bags can be reused or recycled at many grocery stores. He also argued that single-use plastic bags are more sanitary than reusable bags, and that manufacturing single-use plastic bags creates a smaller carbon footprint than the production of single-use paper bags.Other bag-ban opponents argue that reusable bags pose sanitary risks. Many cite a 2013 study that found that reusable grocery bags, a common substitute for plastic bags, contain potentially harmful bacteria. The researchers found that emergency room admissions related to these bacteria spiked in San Francisco after it adopted its ban in 2007.In Minnesota, state lawmakers acted quickly to preempt a bag ban that Minneapolis approved in spring 2016. Days before the citys ban was slated to go into effect, state lawmakers in 2017 enacted a statewide prohibition on cities imposing bans on any type of bag in stores.In 2016, the Progressive Bag Alliance spent $20,000 on lobbying at the state level in Minnesota, and the American Chemistry Council  an organization that helped found the Progressive Bag Alliance  spent $270,000.City councilman Cam Gordon, a member of the Green Party who introduced the Minneapolis ordinance, said he and other proponents of the measure met with business groups and adjusted the ban to address retailers concerns. He said state lawmakers were trampling on the will of the City Council and residents of Minneapolis.I felt disrespected by the Legislature, Gordon said. It was not very good democracy.Delaware Gov. John Carney signed a bill late last week that places the state among a small group that has moved away from cash bail.You have poor people who pose no risk of flight or no risk to the community incarcerated on a full-time basis before trial, says Delaware state Sen. Bryan Townsend, a co-sponsor of the bill . Thats not at all what the criminal justice system is supposed to be about.On any given day, jails across the country house some 700,000 people -- many of whom are there because they cant afford to pay bail. In Delaware, officials say about 25 percent of the prison population is made up of people awaiting court dates.The problem with cash bail, says Insha Rahman, an expert on bail reform at the Vera Institute of Justice, a research and advocacy organization, is that it isnt an effective or fair sorting mechanism for who should be detained and who shouldnt.Money doesnt guarantee that people won't engage in new criminal activity," she says, "and it doesnt guarantee that people will come back to court.Other states that have moved away from cash bail include Arizona, New Mexico, Maryland, New Jersey and the District of Columbia. But that number is likely to grow: More than 40 states have task forces or commissions considering changes to bail and pretrial detention, according to the Laura and John Arnold Foundation.Were at a moment where people are in agreement -- and state governments are in agreement -- that our current framing of bail doesnt work, says Rahman.The new law in Delaware does not eliminate cash bail but encourages judges to first use other pretrial release conditions, such as an ankle monitor, mandatory check-ins with court officers and restrictions on travel, alcohol consumption and contact with victims. The law also instructs judges to use an evidence-based risk assessment tool that gauges how likely the defendant is to show up for trial or commit a crime.Until now, state law required judges to set a monetary bail amount. In some cases, low-risk defendants could not afford even the lowest bail conditions.A broad coalition of criminal justice officials in the state supported the measure, from state police to the chief justice of the State Supreme Court and the Department of Corrections. The bill received bipartisan support in both chambers, but some Republican senators voted no after expressing skepticism that it would generate the predicted cost savings from a reduction in the jail population.The new law is likely a precursor to more changes.According to Townsend, a lead senate sponsor of the new law, bail reform advocates are working with some legislators to introduce a constitutional amendment in March that would ensure individuals who are judged to be at high risk of fleeing or committing a crime cannot buy their way out of detention.Together, the new law and the proposed amendment would guarantee that a person's ability to pay is not the reason low-risk defendants stay in jail or high-risk defendants get out.In response to a deadly school shooting in western Kentucky this week, some state lawmakers are pushing to pass a bill that would allow school districts to appoint campus staff members to become armed guards.On Tuesday, authorities said a 15-year-old boy shot and killed two students and wounded 18 others at Marshall County High School in Benton, about 20 miles southeast of Paducah.The attack started at 7:57 a.m. and ended when sheriff's deputies arrested the boy at 8:06 a.m., authorities said. For a rural school district, a police response time of nine minutes is not bad. But it was not quick enough to thwart the shooting before many students were harmed.So shortly after the shooting, Republican state Sen. Stephen West introduced Senate Bill 103, which would allow schools to appoint "an employee in good standing of a local public school district or private or parochial school" with a concealed-carry license to become an armed "marshal" at the school.State Sen. Ralph Alvarado, a Republican who co-sponsored the bill, said the legislation would loosen state restrictions for guns on school property.The bill would apply to all schools, he said, but rural school districts might find it especially useful. Kentucky has 264 police officers who serve as school resource officers at schools in half of the state's counties, "but for some of our rural counties, which are small, they can't afford it," Alvarado said."People from rural communities are saying, 'Thank you,'" Alvarado said of reaction to his bill. "People from urban communities are upset. They don't like it. Well, you don't have to do it." Alvarado added that city school districts were likely to have more money to pay for armed guards.After the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., school districts and lawmakers have looked for ways to prevent shootings. National Rifle Association President Wayne LaPierre, in a speech shortly after that shooting, called for Congress to "act immediately, to appropriate whatever is necessary to put armed police officers in every school."That hasn't happened, and nor have liberal lawmakers' hopes for universal background checks and other restrictions.Paying police or professional security officers to be stationed at schools is often cost-prohibitive."OK, what does it actually take to cover a school from the time it starts in the morning until activities are concluded at night?" said Ronald Stephens, executive director of the National School Safety Center, a group that was created by a presidential directive in 1984."You start looking at the number of hours in a day, and number of hours in a week, and it may require more than a single marshal or officer," and the estimated costs start to mount, Stephens said."It's usually budget," said LeeAnne Morrison, a justice specialist at the Kentucky Center for School Safety, a state agency, explaining why school districts might not have school resource officers, who are certified and trained law enforcement officials.Those officers cost the same amount of money they would be making on regular duty for their local police departments, and costs are sometimes split between the school and the agency, Morrison said.When budgets have to trim, schools with school resource officers will sometimes cut down on the number of officers they keep on campuses, Morrison said.Since the Newtown massacre, school districts across the nation have decided to bring in armed guards or officers, even at elementary schools.But even then, the plans and requirements can vary by state or by school district, and some gun control advocates draw a sharp line at proposals like those sponsored in Kentucky."Arming teachers and janitors and others to take on potential mass shooters _ it's absolutely ridiculous," said Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action, a gun control advocacy group, who said guns do not belong in K-12 schools unless they are carried by trained law enforcement officials."We do not support any legislation that forces guns into schools and attempts to turn volunteers into sharpshooters," Watts said. She said lawmakers should instead aim to keep guns "out of the hands of children and dangerous people, and there is a solution to that. Arming teachers and janitors is not one of them."West had previously introduced his bill in the Legislature, with no success. The measure would also require local school boards to work with law enforcement officials to draw up plans for how their armed marshals would function.On Wednesday, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Ray Jones reportedly gave a floor speech that called for the Legislature "to commit public money to every public school in Kentucky and have an armed officer," appearing to stop short of calling for volunteer armed officials. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The Governors Official Program is comprised of a wide range of constitutional and legal duties and ceremonial and community engagements. Each year, the Governor hosts thousands of visitors to Government House to take part in investiture and award ceremonies, Open Days, receptions and meetings, and travels widely throughout Queensland to support the activities of Patron groups. View a chronological record of the Governors daily program below.

On Thursday, in the morning, at 1 William St, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC presided at a meeting of Executive Council.

In the afternoon, the Governor and Mrs Kaye de Jersey departed Brisbane for official travel to Townsville.Description

GIS - 29 January, 2018: Government has agreed to Mauritius ratifying the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption. The Convention aims to promote and strengthen the development in Africa by each State Party, of mechanisms required to prevent, de Government has agreed to Mauritius ratifying the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption. The Convention aims to promote and strengthen the development in Africa by each State Party, of mechanisms required to prevent, de tect, punish and eradicate corruption and related offences in the public and private sectors.

Another objective of the Convention is to coordinate and harmonise the policies and legislation between State Parties for the purposes of prevention, detection, punishment and eradication of corruption on the continent.

Moreover, the Convention aims at establishing the necessary conditions to foster transparency and accountability in the management of public affairs.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption would be designated as the national agency of Mauritius for the purpose of the Convention.Description

GIS  29 January, 2018 : The Commanding Officer of the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sarvekshak handed over the Navigational Chart Approaches to Grand-Port to the Government of Mauritius in the presence of the Minister of Housing and Lands, Mr Purmanund Jhugroo and the High Commissioner of India to Mauritius Mr Abhay Thakur as well as other eminent personalities. The ceremony was held onboard the vessel on 26 January 2018 and coincided with the celebration of the 69th Republic Day of India. INS Sarvekshak prepared the navigational chart after completing its one month deployment in Mauritian waters.

In his address, the Minister of Housing and Lands highlighted the cultural affinities and long historical ties between India and Mauritius that have contributed to a strong and cordial relationship. He recalled that in 2005 Mauritius signed a Memorandum of Understanding with India, which has since been renewed, to promote hydrography and to enhance capacity building. Speaking on the various projects being implemented jointly by the two Republics, Mr Jhugroo underlined the strong commercial and economic ties which have been reinforced with the signature of the Comprehensive Economic Co-operation and Partnership Agreement at the end of the third round of talks held from 22 to 24 January 2018 in Mauritius.

The vital role of hydrography for a maritime state like Mauritius with its 2.3 million km2 Exclusive Economic Zone was also underlined by the Minister. He pointed out that hydrographic services and navigational charts are the primary tools for ensuring safety of navigation and sea borne trade in Mauritian waters. For the exploration and exploitation of the potential marine resources, it is imperative that systematic data be collected in the surrounding oceans, he added.

While commending the Indian Government for its assistance, Mr Jhugroo expressed gratitude to the Commanding Officer of INS Sarvekshak, Captain Peush Pawsey, and his crew for a job, he deemed well done. The Minister was appreciative that the Indian vessel pursued its mission in the Mauritian waters undeterred, regardless that tropical cyclone Berguitta passed near the shores of the island at that time. I would like to make a special mention that despite the inclement weather and the rough seas, the ship successfully completed the scheduled tasks, and the results are here for us to see, he stated.

For his part, Captain Peush Pawsey reported that the hydrographic surveys were successfully completed in all respects and that the navigational chart of the region would soon be published by the Chief Hydrographer to the Government of India. Concerning the data collection on the South Eastern part of Mauritius, Captain Pawsey announced that several new features were found and were accurately charted using the high end survey equipment of the Indian vessel. Acknowledging the support and participation of personnel from Mauritius throughout the mission, the Captain thanked the country for the warm hospitality extended.

INS Sarvekshak in Mauritian waters

INS Sarvekshak, in its sixth visit to Mauritius, arrived on 30 December 2017 to undertake the joint hydrographic survey of Grand Port as well as collect data in the South Eastern part of the island for scientific research, and to provide training to local officers.

INS Sarvekshak also handed a fully operational survey motor boat to the Ministry of Housing and Lands to replace the Inshore Survey Vessel (ISV) Pathfinder, gifted by the Indian Government in 2013 and which recently developed defects. The defective boat will be returned to Mauritius following repairs to be carried out in India.

The crew of INS Sarvekshak moreover offered relief material consisting of provisions, clothes, medicines and other items as token of solidarity and friendship, following the passage of cyclone Berguitta.Description

GIS - 29 January, 2018: The sum donate Cheques to the tune of Rs 1 million each were offered to the Prime Ministers Cyclone Relief Fund by Mont Choisy Ltd and Air Mauritius Ltd in the aftermath of cyclone Berguitta.The sum donate d will help to assist Mauritians - refugees/victims - whose lives were seriously impacted by the cyclone.

Mont Choisy Ltds chairperson, Mr Vincent Rogers and the companys CEO, Mrs Jyoti Jeetun, as well as Air Mauritius Ltds chairman, Dr Arjoon Suddhoo, and its CEO, Mr Somas Appavoo, met the Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, on Friday 26 January 2018 at the New Treasury Building, Port Louis, to present the cheques.

In a statement, Mr Rogers remarked that each time Mauritius has had to face difficult moments, especially following a cyclone or floods, both Government and the private sector, have always come together in solidarity to ensure that the country continues to develop. We are after all in the same team and have to work collaboratively over the long run, he added.

For his part, Mr Suddhoo expressed solidarity on behalf of the Board of Air Mauritius and all its employees to the population of Mauritius. Without the people and Government, Air Mauritius would be unable to operate as an airline, and the contribution to the Fund demonstrates our gratitude to the nation, he pointed out.

The CEO of Air Mauritius, Mr S. Appavoo recalled that the company is extending its support to the people by ensuring the provision of agricultural products, in particular vegetables, which are being brought from South Africa, and eventually from India, as this period has badly affected Mauritiuss crops.

Likewise, several actions geared to alleviate those who are affected by natural calamities will be financed by the Prime Ministers Cyclone Relief Fund.

The aim of the Prime Ministers Cyclone Relief Fund is to offer financial assistance to victims affected by cyclones and other calamities to repair their damaged houses and improve related infrastructures. Contributions can be issued by cheque to the Fund, or via bank transfer on the following Account number: State Bank of Mauritius - Savings Account No. 61031200000107.Description

GIS - 29 January, 2018: The Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, shared his vision of economic development for the country where not only high and sustained economic growth rates should be achieved but also to ensure that every citizen reap the benefits of economic prosperity. The Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, shared his vision of economic development for the country where not only high and sustained economic growth rates should be achieved but also to ensure that every citizen reap the benefits of economic prosperity.

He was speaking at the launching of the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) Corporate Plan 2018-2020 in the context of the International Customs Day 2018 on 26 January at the Custom House, Mer Rouge. The theme chosen by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) this year is: A secure business environment for economic development which recognises the important role of customs officials in the society.

Prime Minister Jugnauth paid tribute to the customs officers who on a 24/7 basis ensure that borders are secured and that the society is shielded from illicit entry of harmful substances and that trade is conducted in a safe and fair environment. He also emphasised the importance of security to attain a secured business environment. On this score, he enumerated a series of measures and projects put in place with the use of the latest technology to fight drug trafficking and smuggling. Among them, the setting up of the National Drug Council and the use of drones by the Customs Department to reinforce security of our borders.

He further expressed optimism that over time we can win the battle against drug trafficking and get rid of drug barons and drug proliferation with the help to each and everyone in this endeavour. Regarding the business community, the Prime Minister reiterated the significant role of businessmen in the strategy for sustainable economic development and highlighted that several administrative reforms have been introduced to further facilitate the ease of doing business procedures particularly the process for clearance of goods. The Prime Minister also called for a concerted effort on behalf of the public and private sectors to help the country attain the status of a high-income country.

For his part the Director General of the MRA, Mr Sudhamo Lal, highlighted the crucial and dynamic role of customs in protecting borders, facilitating trade and in collecting revenue which he said is being made possible with the continuous reforms and modernisation being brought at the MRA. He also spoke of the importance of the Corporate Plan which he underlined elaborates on the strategic initiatives and projects to be undertaken by the MRA and which covers 107 projects over a three year period.

The Director of Customs, Mr V. Ramburun, recalled the constant pressure on customs authorities with globalisation and reiterated the various initiatives taken by the Customs Department to help customs officers deliver their duties with due diligence and efficiently. He listed out the various measures implemented to help MRA intensify its fight against drug trafficking, money laundering and in reinforcing surveillance at sea and inland whereby he announced that the value of drug seized for 2017 amounted to Rs 3 billion.

To mark the International Customs Day 2018, the MRA organised a series of activities namely: the launching of MRA drone; exhibition of drug detection equipment; launch of mobile app ( Customs@MU ) and MRA Corporate Plan 2018-2020 as well as the award of WCO certificates to Customs officers who have excelled in their respective spheres.Cloud technologies have definitely proven their value to the public sector over the last 18 months. Agile and powerful, the cloud offers governments the ability to innovate at scale while leveraging existing infrastructure to affordably modernize government IT. But things are just heating up for the future of cloud. As current cloud strategies become proven, theyll need to evolve into something new  a Future Cloud approach.(TNS)  As Louisiana politicians try to find solutions for the state's seemingly never-ending financial struggles, a website that sheds light on another state's budget could play a key role in forging a plan.You may not have visited OhioCheckbook.com yet, but you're probably about to hear a lot about it if you haven't already.It's quickly becoming one of the key budget reform efforts that is being pushed to counterbalance the need for revenue that's needed to close a looming $1 billion budget shortfall, even though creating something similar here would not provide any immediate savings to the state and would likely cost thousands upfront to build.Supporters of the initiative say it would be worth it because it would instill confidence in the state budget after years of doom-and-gloom discussions and temporary repairs.Gov. John Bel Edwards unveiled a doomsday budget scenario last week with nearly $1 billion in cuts that would be needed if lawmakers don't reach an agreement to increase revenue when temporary tax measures expire June 30. Under that scenario, the popular Taylor Opportunity Program for Students would lose all state funding, health care programs would be deeply slashed and funding for local governments would be pared back in many areas, among other cuts.Edwards said he doesn't support those cuts and instead wants lawmakers to increase some taxes and eliminate some deductions. So far, no agreement has been reached.That's where the Ohio budget transparency site comes into play. OhioCheckbook.com is the brainchild of Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, a Republican who took office in 2011. It debuted in December 2014."I believe the people of Ohio have a right to know how their tax money is being spent," Mandel said in a statement to The Advocate. "By posting local government spending online, we are empowering taxpayers across Ohio to hold public officials accountable."The goal behind it is to save state money by forcing politicians and bureaucrats to consider waste when they spend taxpayer money."Treasurer Mandel launched OhioCheckbook.com because he believes that taxpayers have a right to follow their money," Mandel's press secretary, Mandi Merritt, said. "By shining sunlight on state spending and decisions made deep in the bureaucracy, OhioCheckbook.com enables taxpayers to help root out waste, fraud and abuse."The website is sleek and clean, with colorful pie charts and interactive tools to take users deeper into each spending line until they reach an illustration of a check for each expenditure.If users come across interesting bits of information, they can click on a tab that lets them automatically share via Facebook, Twitter or other popular social media apps, or they can press another button to save an electronic copy to print.Users can search specific data, browse the site's most popular searches and compare across agencies or expenditure items with ease.There are separate sections of the site that similarly track employee salaries, tax credits and workforce development efforts.The site has tracked more than $644 billion in total spending over the past decade."Everything from $2 for a pack of pencils to millions of dollars in road contracts, and everything in between," Merritt said.It has clocked nearly 900,000 searches since it launched, according to the Ohio treasurer's office.And it's getting attention nationally.The U.S. Public Interest Research Group , a nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest advocacy group, ranked Ohio No. 1 with an A+ in budget transparency because of the site in 2016, the most recent report released."Top-flight transparency web portals can save money for taxpayers, while also restoring public confidence in government and preventing misspending and pay-to-play contracts, PIRG said.Beyond the accountability element, the PIRG report notes the state benefiting from competition that spawned from Ohio's site when companies used Ohio Checkbook to determine they could offer the state a better value on products compared to existing vendors.In a recent interview with The Advocate editorial board, Gov. Edwards said he has been approached about the idea during budget negotiations, but he still needs more information about the program and expressed reservations about the upfront costs that it could pose."There's nothing about that proposal that causes me issues," he said. "We can't get it done until we invest the money to consolidate the computers of various agencies.""Transparency is not a problem for me," he added. OhioCheckbook.com costs the state about $814,000, which the treasurer's office says was fully funded by the office's existing operating budget. Merritt said the treasurer has voluntarily cut his budget throughout his administration and used a portion of the savings to pay for the initiative.It was built in-house by the treasurers office and took about two years to create. Because the Louisiana treasurer serves a different role, such a website would likely fall under the Division of Administration here, rather than the treasurer's office.The creation of such a website could become one of the big issues ahead as state lawmakers look to permanently shore up the state's finances.The push has the support of a broad coalition of influential groups, including fiscally conservative Republican legislators, the Louisiana Association for Business and Industry, the Pelican Institute and Americans for Prosperity's Louisiana arm, among others.LABI President Stephen Waguespack said such a site can help restore the public's faith in government after a long period of dire budget discussions and give people a better picture of where the state is spending about $28 billion each year."There is so much broken trust with government right now," he said.AFP is launching a campaign to promote the idea. A petition is already being circulated online, and the group plans a significant social media push and Google ad buy."I think it's an issue that has an appeal to both sides of the aisle," said John Kay, Louisiana state director for Americans for Prosperity.Louisiana has been stuck in a cycle of constant budget issues that have prompted reviews of potential tax hikes. In 2016, state lawmakers shored up a $2 billion budget shortfall largely by temporarily raising the state's sales tax by a penny, solidifying Louisiana in its position as having the highest average combined state and local sales tax rate in the country.With those tax measures set to expire on June 30, Edwards has urged lawmakers to come up with a more long-term solution for raising revenue through proposals that call for removing some tax exemptions and increasing other taxes, while letting the sales tax hike roll off.Some legislators have suggested that continuing all or part of the sales tax hike may be a more preferable option, which Edwards opposes as a permanent solution."It's every year now, it seems, that the Legislature and the governor are sparring over the budget and tax increases," Kay said. "The thing that gets lost is the accountability to the people. They don't really know where their money is going."He said even if it doesn't produce immediate budget savings, it shows that state officials care what their constituents think and how taxpayer money is spent."If the Legislature and the governor decide this is the right way for Louisiana to head, (a transparency website) is the biggest step that they can take to restore some faith in state government and where the money is going," Kay said. "It's a good gesture and the right thing to do by the people."Kay said he understands that it will take time, but ultimately the good faith gesture is worth it."I think it will take a little bit of time, but the sooner the better," he said.Louisiana has a website with budget data that is updated on a monthly basis  the Louisiana Transparency and Accountability portal, commonly called LaTrac.The site earned Louisiana an A rating and Top 10 ranking in PIRG's 2016 transparency report  the same analysis that gave Ohio an A+.But it doesn't give users access to nearly as much information as Ohio Checkbook and is far less user-friendly. Users can see how much each state agency paid to vendors, but it doesn't identify individual sources of funding or individual payouts in the way that Ohio's website does.Even the website address, the clunky https://wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana.gov/latrac/home.cfm , is less attractive than the more simple OhioCheckbook.com "It is a huge time investment to try to determine where money is going in state government," Kay said. "We know in general who it's being appropriated to, but once it's appropriated, what is it being spent on? Just let folks know."(TNS) - The 2017 storm season tormented the U.S. with four hurricane landfalls and scores of deaths, but a preliminary review shows no one succumbed to the most lethal force in a tropical cyclones arsenal  storm surge.In a National Hurricane Center report released last week on Hurricane Harvey, which hit Texas in August as a Category 4 storm, officials lament the 65 lives lost to freshwater flooding but tout the lack of storm surge deaths even as up to 10 feet of hurricane-driven saltwater charged ashore.But it wasnt just Harvey. Hurricane center officials said no storm surge deaths are believed to have occurred in hurricanes Irma or Maria  both Category 4s  or Category 1 Hurricane Nate, which landed near Biloxi, Miss. on Oct. 8.The lack of storm surge deaths is being attributed by the NHC to its new storm surge watch and warning system, which debuted operationally with Harvey. While the system is not yet used in Puerto Rico, emergency managers had hurricane center-provided maps in order to make evacuation decisions based on storm surge.We can argue that what caused it was luck, chance, geography, but you would be hard pressed to convince me it happened by itself, said NHC storm surge specialist Jamie Rhome about the absence of storm surge deaths. Somewhere along the way, this 10-year effort moved the needle.Although storm surge forecasts are not new, there was not a succinct way to communicate the threat until the 2017 storm season. A storm surge watch is issued when life-threatening surge is possible within 48 hours. The warning is issued when life-threatening surge is possible within 36 hours.Rhome, who spoke during an American Meteorological Society conference this month, pointed to the 41 storm surge deaths in 2012s Super Storm Sandy as evidence of the new systems effectiveness. Sandys peak inundation was 9 feet. Both Irma and Harvey had estimated peaks of 10 feet.I recall it very specifically, said Fort Myers Beach resident Johnette Nelms, who used the storm surge watch and warning system when deciding to evacuate for Hurricane Irma. We got out of Dodge because we are right on the beach.Still, some emergency managers arent convinced of a direct correlation between the surge watches and warnings and peoples decisions to evacuate during the 2017 storms.Bill Johnson, Palm Beach Countys emergency management director, said the storm surge information helped him make decisions that led to fewer zones being evacuated  a key component in reducing traffic congestion.But other factors, such as the longevity of Hurricane Irma, wall-to-wall media coverage, and fresh memories of Hurricane Harvey also contributed to residents decisions on whether to leave, he said. Palm Beach County was under a storm surge warning for two days during Irma from Sept. 7-9.There is so much overload, the surge modeling for the general public is a small snippet, Johnson said. The decision to evacuate is clearly a complex decision that people have to make and Im not convinced this year that surge watches and warnings had that major of an impact.Juno Beach Town Manager Jo LoBello said his impression from talking to residents is that they were listening more to emergency officials than trying to evaluate the hurricane center information on their own.I think theyre taking it all in, but a lot of people said they waited for our decision, LoBello said.Storm surge caused nearly 50 percent of the estimated 2,544 deaths directly related to a tropical cyclone between 1963 and 2012, according to a 2014 study by National Hurricane Center Acting Director Ed Rappaport.The push to come up with a way to warn people of storm surge threats began more than a decade ago when storm surge was still included in the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Officials realized the size of a storm, the angle it approaches, and its forward speed were important factors in judging storm surge that werent included in the scale, which focused mostly on wind speed and barometric pressure. Storm surge was taken out of the scale in 2010.Storm surge, thats what we were watching, said Port Aransas, Texas-resident Patty Briscoe about the new watches and warnings. I do think it helped because the average person is thinking about wind not the surge, and this made them aware of that.Up to 7 feet of storm surge occurred during Harvey in Port Aransas, which has a population of about 4,000.Hurricane Harvey was the first major hurricane of Category 3 or higher to hit the U.S. since Wilma in 2005. It was the first Category 4 hurricane to hit since 2004s Charley. No storm surge deaths occurred in Wilma or Charley, but Wilma came ashore near a sparsely populated area in Cape Romano, Fla., and Charleys rapid intensification near the Lee County coast may have reduced its storm surge threat.These werent hugely populated areas in Harvey, so absolutely the lower population helped (with the lack of surge deaths), but the warnings did as well, said Bob Henson, a meteorologist and writer for Weather Undergrounds Cat 6 blog. A lot of times, good and bad outcomes happen for multiple reasons.2018 The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Fla.)Visit The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Fla.) at www.palmbeachpost.comSanitation workers in Baltimore worried about overflowing garbage cans can rest a little easier. Soon, the cans will let them know if they are need of emptying.Baltimore is moving forward on a $15 million project to deploy some 4,000 smart trash receptacles across the city, starting with 150 bins in the South Baltimore Gateway/Casino area.The cans come with Wi-Fi; we will utilize this capability to allow the can to transmit information including how full it is so we can offer as-needed servicing of the cans, said Jeffrey Raymond, chief communications spokesman for the Baltimore Department of Public Works.The solar-powered trash receptacles are being manufactured by Ecube Labs , which has offices in Los Angeles and South Korea. The company will install its CleanCUBE bins across Baltimore in three stages.In subsequent phases, we would deploy cans in the city's business districts and at bus stops, said Raymond.We strongly believe that Ecube Labs technology will increase the citys waste collection efficiency tremendously, as one CleanCUBE is just as effective as six traditional trash receptacles that are already out on Baltimores streets, said Michael Son, chief financial officer of Ecube Labs, in a statement.The city is also exploring other approaches at tidying up Baltimore and is exploring the installation of a trash wheel, a device designed to capture garbage from streams before it can enter the water south of downtown, said Raymond.The smart trash can project in Baltimore is not unlike other smart city public works projects taken on by other cities. Boston has its BigBelly Solar trash receptacles and Santa Clarita, Calif. , has similar solar-powered self-compacting bins.Last year, Baltimore introduced smart water meters , in a move to reduce the number of disputed water bills. The meters are wirelessly connected and closely monitor a homes use and serve as an early warning indicator of leaks or other swings in water consumption.Baltimore was also the recipient of a $40,000 Environmental Protection Agency grant in 2016 to deploy about 250 air monitors across the city, in a project being led by Johns Hopkins University, known as Open Air Baltimore . The wirelessly connected sensors offer a window into air-quality at small neighborhood levels.When big-city mayors met in Washington last week, one of their primary messages regarding infrastructure was that the federal government should send new money directly to cities, rather than through states. The Trump administration seems open to the idea.The folks in this room turn dirt faster than anybody in America, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said at a meeting on infrastructure at the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting last week. We think that cities are the place where a lot of this [federal infrastructure] money ought to land.D.J. Gribbin, a special assistant to President Trump on infrastructure, told the packed ballroom of mayors that cities  or any other unit of government  would have an opportunity to apply for money directly from the federal government, under a plan being drafted by the White House. But anyone looking for federal help would have to raise their own money first.Gribbin came to the mayors conference the day after many of the city leaders had decided not to attend a White House meeting on infrastructure. Prominent mayors including Bill de Blasio of New York, Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles and Landrieu, the groups president, skipped the meeting with Trump after his administration threatened to subpoena 23 states, cities and counties over their immigration policies.But during the meeting with Gribbin at a downtown hotel the next day, the conversation stuck to infrastructure.This is our week. This is our month. This should be our year. We finally got Washingtons attention. I think Washington is focused, at long last, on infrastructure, said Garcetti, the Los Angeles mayor, who heads the infrastructure committee for the mayors group.The broad outlines of Trumps infrastructure proposal are well known by now, but the city leaders were concerned about many of the details that are not yet public.Gribbin said the White House would release a detailed set of principles a week or two after the State of the Union speech on Tuesday, although the administration has missed several self-imposed deadlines so far.The administrations two main goals are to increase spending on government-owned infrastructure by $1 billion and to reduce the time it takes to get federal approval for major projects to two years. The plan wont include any new revenue, but Gribbin said Trump would not stand in the way of a gas tax hike.The Trump administration wants to use $200 billion in federal money to attract another $800 billion in additional infrastructure spending from states, localities and private entities.That money would not be taken directly from the Highway Trust Fund  the main funding source for surface transportation  or from state revolving funds that help finance water infrastructure projects. For the most part, we keep existing programs in place, Gribbin said. But when we add new dollars on top of those existing dollars, we want to use those dollars differently.Of course, current revenues from the federal gas tax are not even enough to cover the cost of existing programs. Congress has had to raid funds from other programs to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent, but the most recent influx of money will only cover anticipated spending through 2020.To pay for Trumps infrastructure push, Gribbin said the administration would try to redirect money that helps support Amtrak and build new transit projects. That money would help cover the costs of the federal match for the infrastructure plan. The White House proposed making similar cuts in the skinny budget it proposed last year, but Congress opted not to follow those recommendations.Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said he was pretty skeptical of the administrations infrastructure package, because he feared that cities would lose more money in federal grants that would be cut than they would gain from the new infrastructure spending.This isnt supposed to be a net loss for cities, Gribbin told him. Thats not the goal.Other mayors wondered why cities were being asked to raise more money for the infrastructure package than the federal government would.Cities are being strong and bold, while were seeing an administration and congressional leadership that is timid and weak, said Garcetti at an earlier event The White House plan relies on states and localities either raising money themselves or bringing in private money to help fund infrastructure improvements.Thats not Washington leadership, Garcetti said. Giving us a nickel or a dime for every 95 cents or 90 cents we put in doesnt allow you to countdollars asinfrastructure package.Austin Mayor Steve Adler said the new funding schemes could affect all cities, particularly ones that are already economically distressed. The Trump plan would require local governments to come up with 80 percent of the costs to get a 20 percent match from the federal government. Thats a big change from current federal highway funding, for example, which requires only a 20 percent local match.Theres going to be many jurisdictions across the country that are desperately in need of infrastructure repair and new infrastructure that have difficulty coming up with the 20 percent match, much less the 80 percent match, Adler said.Despite the reservations, the mayors did push for cities to be eligible to get federal funding directly, rather than having it channeled through the states. City officials have pushed for that change for years, with little success.The U.S. Conference of Mayors says that under the Obama-era stimulus package of $800 billion, only 0.86 percent of it went directly to cities. Under the current highway bill, which was passed in 2015, 93 percent of highway spending is channeled through the states.In May, the mayor's group issued a report calling on the Trump administration in its infrastructure proposal to move federal dollars directly to the local level, avoiding inefficient and slow state bureaucracies. The report citied dozens of city-led projects that were on task, on time [and] on budget.Mayors pressed that message in Washington last week.It should go to mayors, Garcetti said. When you give it to governors, its counted as spent in Washington, but it takes another four or five years [to actually get spent on the ground]. Trust me, we can spend it, like, tomorrow.Douglas Athas, the Republican mayor of Garland, Texas, offered an example of how he said state officials can obstruct infrastructure projects cities want to build. Local leaders in the Dallas area, he said, had done exactly the kind of thing Trump has called for, by lining up a proposal to use private money to widen the LBJ Freeway (Interstate 635-E) and add tolled, managed lanes. But state officials, including Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, blocked the project because they objected to tolls.Weve got 2,000 elected officials in north Texas represented by our [metropolitan planning organization] that have all made the decision on how to do this. Weve got two or three politicians in the way, he told Gribbin. Is there a way we can have, in the infrastructure bill, enough leeway for local officials to make the decisions and send the money directly to them?We actually dont need money," he added. "We can do this. We just need permission to do this right.Gribbin told him that, under Trumps plan, the cities could get the infrastructure money directly.But a spokesman for the Texas Transportation Commission, the agency that has blocked the toll road so far, toldthat the agency would still have to give the cities permission to widen the interstate.(TNS)  When Jessica Pasion became executive director of the Burlington Downtown Corp. in 2017, she said that one of her main goals was to get high-speed Internet access for all downtown businesses.We understand the urgency, Pasion recently told the Times-News, adding that she and others continue to talk with companies such as Spectrum and AT&T to connect downtown businesses to high-speed fiber-optic networks.For business customers, we deliver speeds up to the multiple gigabits via custom fiber solutions over our fiber-rich network, and have a wide variety of speeds, features, and options based on the diverse needs of business customers, said Scott Pryzwansky of Charter Communications, which owns Spectrum.But those businesses don't include those such as Plageman Architecture on South Spring Street. And founder John Plageman said that the lack of fiber optic Internet is causing problems.There's a certain point where it is not financially feasible to stay downtown because I cannot grow, he said.When he sends a client a typical file, it can take up take six minutes, when it really should take about a second, he said.Even as AT&T continues to expand its fiber optic network to condominium and apartment complexes in Burlington  AT&T says that at least 10 condominium and apartment complexes are connected to its fiber optic network  most city residents and businesses don't have access to fiber optic Internet. Instead, they get their Internet service through slower cable or DSL lines.The average speed is 41.4 megabits per second, according to Broadband Now, a nonprofit company that tracks Internet access in cities around the country.Fiber optic cable can provide speeds as fast as 1,000 megabits per second.Government buildings will frequently have fiber connected directly to their buildings, said Jameson Zimmer, Broadband Nows director of content. Burlington is connected, but is not allowed to provide the Internet as a utility, so it cannot share its network with businesses."Fiber is the new kid on the block, and the reason it's been slow to build out is because it is super expensive to build it out," Jameson said.Indeed, the issue of bringing a fiber optic network to all of downtown comes down to the cost of installing it underground, and whether Internet providers will get a return on their investment, said Nolan Kirkman, Burlingtons director of development and technical Services.Jameson cited a recent project in California, where it cost $200,000 just to lay fiber optic line across a freeway.In 2015, Burlington joined the Triad Gigabit Initiative, a group of municipalities and universities whose mission is to bring high-speed Internet to everyone in the Triad. The group has selected North State Communications to expand its fiber-optic network.In the meantime, Plageman doesnt like the prospect of moving his business out of the building that he bought in 2010.It breaks my heart." he said. "I have the space to grow, but I dont have the infrastructure to grow."A mistake costs. It costs confidence, pride, reputation and opportunity. There are consequences for the people involved, for those around them, and for the situation at hand.

Everyone makes mistakes; an impulsive word, a delayed diagnosis, a broken relationship. The Bible is full of those who made mistakes; decisions which led to lies, adultery, even murder.

Working in the medical field, I have made my own mistakes, and have also seen the aftermath of some big mistakes that I never want to make myself. Reading through the coroners reports, I often wonder how the people involved are coping. Do they blame themselves? Are they able to continue working, and living with the same confidence as before?

As I reflect on all this, I find my own perception of mistakes and their impact has changed a little. Here are some thoughts.

1. Redefining our mistakes

Sometimes in life, things just happen.

We could do everything as per protocol, and a patient might still die. Decisions need to be made all the time, and every decision has a consequence. Sometimes we know we have made the wrong decision, sometimes it is the right decision despite a tragic outcome, and sometimes we just dont know if our decision was right or wrong.

Ultimately, it is God who knows what is right and what is wrong, God who knows our heart, and God who will judge us at the end of time.

When we make a mistake, we might think we have failed, done something wrong, made someone unhappy. Yet, the Holy Spirit transforms our thinking in the revelation of God's grace. His grace in our mistakes means we can step above regret, tragedy, brokenness, and sin; we can draw closer to God even despite these things.

When we make a mistake, we are likely to feel down. However, our mistakes and our sin do not define us. They are not our identity. God redefines our mistakes when He shows us our identity; we are loved and redeemed by Him. With this knowledge, the negativity of a mistake becomes overshadowed by the peace of Gods loving-kindness:

" but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans chapter 5, verse 8).

2. When Gods grace meets our mistakes

When I first started working, I reviewed my decisions often. I felt my work was a necessary testimony and, if I was not a good doctor, how could I effectively share the gospel with others?

It is important to have a testimony of excellence and integrity in our lives, but at the same time, God can work through our mistakes. He is God in our failures, just as He is God in our victories. He is God in our weaknesses, even as He is God in our strengths; sometimes we build a testimony in the way we respond to our mistakes.

King David, when rebuked by the prophet Nathan for adultery and murder, acknowledged his sin saying, "I have sinned against the Lord." (2 Samuel chapter 12, verse 13). The consequence of this sin was the death of David and Bathshebas son. Despite the pain of this consequence, David resolved to worship God. He knew both Gods grace and His authority.

We see David become a man after God's own heart, and we see it written that God loved David. King David's response to his mistake was to acknowledge it, confess it, repent and seek God. In his story, we see how God can work even despite our mistakes. He is a merciful God and when we turn to Him, we find the hope in His grace.

3. Grace on the mistakes around us

It is not just our own mistakes that can cause our soul to become downcast; the mistakes of others can also affect us. A discouraging word perhaps, a stolen birthright, a betrayal of friendship; the Bible shows us stories of people sold into slavery (Joseph), sent into exile (Ishmael) and killed in battle (Uriah) because of the mistakes of others.

When someone makes a mistake that affects us, we can become angry and judgemental. It can be hard to have grace on that mistake. Joseph gives us an example of forgiveness when he speaks to the brothers who sold him into slavery. He says,

 Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good (Genesis 50:19-20).

Knowing that God is in control, and that His purposes are good, helps us to forgive. Recognising that God forgives us time and time again when we sin against Him, also helps us to forgive others. When we forgive, we allow our heart to heal. If we refuse to forgive, the grudge and resentment that grows within us can destroy us.

Our mistakes are not our identity, but an opportunity to see a transformation of character, of heart, and of hope in God. They are an opportunity to grow, an opportunity to forgive and an opportunity for testimony. So in our weaknesses, let us turn to God and hope in Him.

Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him

For the help of His countenance.

(Psalm chapter 42, verse 5)

Kristen is a family doctor, and author of the e-book An Internship with Jesus. She lives with her husband in Adelaide and writes a weekly blog (lostnowfoundk) on life with God. Her second blog, Lily of the Valleys, aims to share her love for Jesus through music and art.Greenwich-based private equity firm Brynwood Partners has recently closed fundraising for its largest fund yet, amounting to nearly $650 million.

Our two-month, oversubscribed fundraising process is the fastest in Brynwood Partners history, said the firms chairman and CEO Henk Hartong in the companys announcement about closing Brynwood VIII.

In particular, a slew of lucrative divestitures within the last several years contributed to the notable fundraising process, Hartong said in an interview. The last two years at Brynwood Partners have been very eventful, he said, referencing Brynwoods 2016 sale of High Ridge Brands for $415 million, and 2017 sales of Lightlife Foods for $140 million and Back to Nature Foods for $162 million.

Since taking over the firm as chief executive, Hartong has oriented it toward investing mostly in consumer products, including snack and food brands as well as personal care products.

With fund Brynwood VI, the private equity firm formed High Ridge Brands as the parent company of personal care brands such as Alberto VO5, Rave and Zest. Also with its Brynwood VI fund, the firm acquired Lightlife Foods, which encompasses plant-based proteins, such as vegetarian and vegan burgers and hot dogs. After acquiring Lightlife from Conagra Foods in 2013, Brynwood developed new products for the company, updated its website and marketing and introduced it to large-scale food servers.

Under Conagra, the brand had faltered due, in part, to not fitting in with its parent companys portfolio, Hartong said in an interview last year. Brynwoods ability to add value and find a buyer for the brand showcased its position as the leading lower middle market buyout firm for corporate carve-outs, Hartong said at the time.

Back to Nature represented another Brynwood VI divestiture. In 2012, Brynwood bought the Florida-based snack business from Nabisco in a joint venture with Kraft Foods spin-off Mondelez International, which later added SnackWell to the collaboration.

Brynwood took over Back to Natures business operations, expanded its snack offerings and ultimately lured numerous interested buyers, Hartong said in an interview last year. Last August, it sold the company to New Jersey-based B&G Foods.

Weve had a really consistent portfolio, Hartong told Hearst Connecticut Media recently. This bigger fund will allow us to make more concentrated investments.

Given Brynwoods track record working with lower middle-market businesses, especially ones orphaned by corporate parent companies, Hartong said, the firm will continue to focus on these sorts of investments.

Well look at the space where we have an advantage and do more deals there, he said. We want to know the segment were working in. Its allowed us to have more consistent returns and make fewer mistakes.

Contact the writer at mbennett@greenwichtime.com; Twitter @Macaela_All three of the tri-state governors threatening a lawsuit against the federal government are using military language to describe the newly forming legal dispute over whether the 2017 federal tax reform violates the U.S. Constitution.

Thats not by happenstance. Its a turf war with a moral component, in some ways like the biggest human and states rights battles in American history: slavery, segregation, gun control, abortion, voting rights, gay marriage, Obamacare, environmental regulation and even the federal income tax itself.

Can we actually compare the rule setting a $10,000 limit on federal income tax deductions for state and local tax payments to, say, a state law limiting womens access to abortion clinics?

The answer is yes, according to Govs. Dannel P. Malloy, Andrew Cuomo, of New York, and the just-elected Phil Murphy, of New Jersey  all Democrats. To them, the tax bill represents the same sorts of federal encroachment against states rights, and the same sorts of denial of citizens equal treatment, that have led to violent uprisings in the past.

And thus, the military language. Cuomo calls the tax law, enacted exclusively by Republicans and signed by President Donald Trump, an economic missile aimed at a small handful of high-cost states that rely on state income taxes and local property taxes.

Its headed your way. You have two options. Stand where you are or fight for your life, Cuomo said Friday after a joint conference call with Malloy and Murphy. If we dont get out of the way of the missile...this changes the entire equation for the 12 states that are targeted.

What is happening here is a frontal attack, Malloy said, citing $10 billion in lost deductions in Connecticut alone.

This is one battle in a broader war, Murphy said.

Like the broader war, this battle is a steep challenge for three states, which are also in discussions with California and Maryland to bring a lawsuit in federal court.

What we have here is a political battle looking for a legal argument  meaning its not strictly about what written law says, but rather, the changing will of a very unwieldy nation. Republicans are already ridiculing the idea.

But all the big social-legal battles that tested the Constitution were, by definition, political.

One huge difference: Those landmark cases  Brown v Board of Education, Roe v Wade, District of Columbia v Heller on gun rights, for example  were about who gets to broaden or limit individual liberties (the states or the federal government); and which of those liberties the Constitution protects.

This tax battle, by contrast, is about whether the federal government is attacking whole states unfairly for political reasons.

Consider equal treatment, a key issue here. All taxpayers across the nation are treated equally under the new tax law. But vast numbers of those who are hurt by it live in a few states that all happen to have voted for Hillary Clinton over Trump in the 2016 election.

How did they pick these 12 states? Cuomo asked Friday. Do you really think its a coincidence?

New ground

When this case is filed, it will talk about states, rather than people, having constitutional rights. That makes it a head-scratcher, just as the Citizens United case, giving corporations rights to free expression in political donations, created a conundrum.

There are due process and equal protection issues as well as 16th Amendment issues that states can raise, said Kevin B. Sullivan, Connecticuts tax commissioner, referring to the constitutional measure allowing the federal government to impose an income tax without apportionment among the several states.

But Sullivan said, Whatever legal challenge we pose, it will probably be novel.

For now, the three metro-area states, and the two other high-tax states, are working together to develop a case. It will happen fast and you can bet two of the hardest-headed lawyer-politicians in the country  Cuomo and Malloy  wont back down.

Among the 12 hard-hit states, there is not one Republican in the U.S. Senate, and it was Senate Republicans who concocted the $10,000 limit. Together, the hard-hit states account for more than 40 percent of the U.S. economy and a high percentage of the estimated $60 billion a year the federal government will save be capping deductions on state and local taxes, known as SALT.

Cuomo snapped back at a New York journalist who suggested there is precedent for Washington, DC to limit federal income tax deductions derived SALT, in Supreme Court cases in the 1930s and again in the 80s. Its not about the legality of limiting deductions, he said. Its about targeting political enemies.

Discovery is key. In discovery, youre going to seek emails, Cuomo said. All you need is one email. Now you have targeting for political reasons and now youre off to the races.

Tough case

Sounds simple, right? There might even be a public record of a Republican senator admitting the $10,000 limit would target blue states.

It isnt simple. Just getting to the point where a judge lets you look in your opponents shorts  discovery  is a years-long process. First of all, the federal government will argue the states have no established precedent for a cause of action, said Michael Koskoff, a Bridgeport lawyer and veteran of many politically charged cases, including the Black Panthers in New Haven in the 70s.

Its not like you can just file a lawsuit and get to discovery, said Koskoff, of Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder.

He compares a possible federal tax case to the case before the state Supreme Court now, in which families in the Sandy Hook massacre are charging wrongdoing by the gunmaker, Remington, for targeted advertising. His son and law partner, Josh Koskoff, is the families lead lawyer  and the big issue, years later, is whether the plaintiffs have a right to move forward with discovery.

It is a cause of action that is plowing new ground, Michael Koskoff said of both issues.

And new ground, by definition, is a political battle. Thats why were seeing Republicans such as Sen. Len Fasano, R-North Haven, the GOP senate leader, slamming Malloy over this multi-state tax case.

One political point: The dispute sheds light on the hypocrisy Republicans needed to show in order to pass a law that imposes a double tax. That is, a tax on earnings that has already been taxed. For decades, Republicans have decried corporate and estate taxes exactly because they tax income thats already been taxed.

Now we have a law that will drain billions of dollars, and over time, thousands of well paid residents, from states that all happen to lean the same way politically  robbing their ability to pay for basic services.

As a legal case, its a longshot. But as Malloy said, This is anathema to us as a nation.

dhaar@hearstmediact.com"No, I wouldn't say I am a feminist".

Trump told May: "We love your country".

Piers Morgan has been widely praised after interviewing Donald Trump, with some even claiming the presenter is keeping the "special relationship" between Britain and America alive. And I think you know that very well because you know me because you've spent a long period of time with me.

He wrote: "The moment I invite President Trump to be Arsenal's new manager - because he'd build a strong defensive wall, have an attacking philosophy & want to win big trophies at all costs".

Piers Morgan offered the Arsenal job to Donald Trump - and the internet didn't like it.

When asked what he felt about women who think of him as a misogynist and sexist, Trump replied: "Well, I am for them and I think a lot of them understand that".

"But I am a tremendous supporter of the UK". I am for women, I am for men, I am for everyone. "I hope that women stand up and speak out against it". "I get a lot of fake news, a lot of news that is very false or made up".

"I do, I do", Trump said when asked if he is the one who actually sends the tweets out from his phone.

"If you're telling me they're awful racist people".

According to Morgan, Trump said, "I think that would be, maybe, going too far. If we don't evolve, there's something missing", before professing that he has "tremendous respect for women".

The comments come after Trump was accused of sexual misconduct by more than a dozen women with a number of his accusers calling for the U.S. Congress to investigate the claims a year ago.

"And they're doing tremendously in business, they're doing tremendously in so many ways".

Trump's full interview with Morgan will air on Sunday. Next story: matches cause fires'.

Mr Trump also suggested he predicted Brexit.

Trump's critics have called him a misogynist since before he became President, especially after the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape revealed him discussing grabbing women by the genitals in 2005. Ever since, his views regarding women have been subject to a robust public debate.

Donald Trump is in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum.

January 20 marked the one-year anniversary of Trump's inauguration.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

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 that 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 nonstory 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 that 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.Way back in 2012, somebody probably emailed you the viral chicken-potpie ad in which two elderly diehard Maine restaurant fans tried for minutes to say, Baked in a buttery, flaky crust. The diner was Dysarts, and the couple was Jack and Sonja Palmer  Sonja dismisses Jack as hopeless after he calls the crust crispy a bazillion times. Then she tries, and Baked in a buttery crispy flake comes out. In the history of viral videos, its a good one.

This weekend, Saturday Night Lives Kate McKinnon and host Will Ferrell paid very belated homage to the worlds most unintentionally hilarious diner blooper reel with a skit where they try their hand as spokespersons for a local diners chicken potpie that Ferrell says he eats five times a week. By the end, hes hopelessly raving about the flaky bacon bag and the christy crusty turf.

You cant exactly label the Palmers as regular SNL watchers, but they learned about the skit on Sunday morning, and luckily for us all, Bangors local news station made sure to get their reaction:Wok lobster. Photo: Melissa Hom

Like the last volume of a madcap fantasy series, or a trio of glitzy, newly revived operas, the Lobster Club, which opened a few months ago in midtown, represents the third and final installment of what future restaurant historians may well call the Seagram Saga. As anyone whos followed the Major Food Groups rapid-fire launching of the Grill (last spring) and the Pool (last summer) in the former Four Seasons space in the Seagram Building knows, the saga has been filled with endless drama (the tossing to the curb of the old regime by the buildings landlord, Aby Rosen) and pageantry (those $2,000 tuxedos at the Grill). The cost has been insane ($32 million and counting), the cast of thousands entertaining (at one point, even Picasso was involved), and like lots of grandiose, ambitiously creative projects, no matter what you think of the end result, it seems like a bit of a miracle that it ever happened at all.

The Lobster Club is the most expensive of the three projects, and like many operatic grand finales, it has a colorful, helter-skelter quality that feels by turns exciting and also a little unhinged. The venerable Grill and Pool rooms upstairs are city landmarks, which limited their redesign, but in this unregulated, subterranean space (formerly home to Brasserie), Rosen and his partners have clearly let their imaginations run wild. Architect to the stars Peter Marino has covered the floor in tiles decorated with a Jackson Pollockinspired splatter design. The pink and green designer chairs in the bar area look like theyve been heisted from the set of a vintage Bond film. The glimmering, supersize bar is as long as a fashion runway, and the wall behind it is tastefully decorated with porcelain plates painted by Picasso.

The Lobster Clubs design doesnt lack for color. Photo: Jemma Hinkly/New York Magazine

The improbable captain of this operation is the former Sushi Azabu chef Tasuku Murakami. As anyone whos visited that discreetly tiny Tribeca establishment knows, hiring Murakami is a little like tapping a refined, semi-obscure indie aesthete to direct your sprawling studio film. The Lobster Club is described as a Japanese brasserie, but the template has clearly been lifted from Asian-fusion megahits like Nobu and Tao, which are the equivalent of bankable, big-money action movies in the upper realms of restaurant land these days. There are lobster-stuffed dumplings on the menu, and Nobu-esque helpings of crispy rock shrimp flecked with coconut. The house sushi rolls have names like Scallop Dragon and Tuna Rossini, and if the $185 teppanyaki porterhouse isnt enough steak for the table, you can order slabs of massaged, beer-fed Japanese beef upon request.

Im not a big fan of this kind of formulaic, genre-mixing, high-roller dining, but like the chefs at the restaurants upstairs, Murakami has the finest ingredients money can buy at his disposal, and he and his cooks do a decent job of holding your attention, especially early in the meal. There were sticky segments of tender, wok-fried lobster tail in our first wave of dishes, and a crowd-pleasing version of curry-dusted chicken wings that was so good I ended up ordering it twice. Instead of the usual tired tuna-avocado combination, Murakamis dragon roll turned out to be a subtle disquisition on the textural similarities between scallops and avocado, and although I wouldve preferred to enjoy the rest of the expertly sourced sushi in less hectic surroundings, nothing we tasted  hamachi belly, fresh uni from Hokkaido, esoteric pressed herring roe  would have been out of place in one of the citys smaller, more effete omakase joints.

Sushi. Photo: Melissa Hom

Sea bass with Brussels sprouts. Photo: Melissa Hom

Teppanyaki dishes (branzino and porterhouse, pictured) come with sauces and king mushrooms, at left. At right, wok lobster. Photo: Melissa Hom

The teppanyaki portion of the Lobster Club menu has clearly been designed with a more populist, surf-and-turf audience in mind, although like all the new dining options onboard the good ship Seagram, youll probably enjoy it more if someone else is paying. Unlike classic Japanese teppanyaki, the trophy-size steaks and lobster tails are sizzled in the kitchen before being portaged out to the tables, and most of the proteins are finished with gouts of yuzu butter and a uniform speckling of sesame seeds. The aforementioned porterhouse was an impressive cut of meat, but if youre on a relative budget, call for the Wagyu skirt, which is a comparative bargain at $44. The market-price whole lobster was mostly shells (and $68) on the evening I grappled with it, but the diver scallops cost a relatively modest $11 each and are big enough to nibble on politely until its time for dessert.

Not that the hordes of gossip girls and middle-aged finance swingers who were roiling around the Lobster Club on the evenings I dropped in seemed overly concerned with the quality of their scallops or what they would be ordering for dessert. Volume, variety, and glitz are the foundations of the Asian-fusion megahit experience, after all, and although Murakami executes this time-honored formula in a dutiful, even inspired way, you get the nagging feeling that, over time, his talents will be lost on this midtown party crowd. That sobering thought didnt prevent us from enjoying our desserts, mind you, which arrived after the blizzard of half-empty platters had been cleared away. These included a dense little wheel of sticky-toffee pudding and a delicious, arrestingly photogenic version of one of the most Instagrammed Japanese dishes of all, shaved-ice kakigori, which here is a vivid ruby pink, thanks to an infusion of blood orange, and crowned with a candied slice of that fruit.

Rating: 2 stars

The Lobster Club

98 E. 53rd St., nr. Park Ave.; 212-375-9001; thelobsterclub.com

Open: Dinner, Monday to Saturday.

Prices: Sushi, sashimi, and appetizers, $6 to $36; entrees, $31 to $79.

Ideal Meal: Sushi, Wagyu skirt steak with garlic or shiso fried rice, blood-orange kakigori.

Note: I confess, a little sheepishly, to enjoying my Soba Rob Roy, made with Japanese whiskey, Grand Marnier, and a dash of buckwheat-soba water.

Scratchpad: Three stars for the steak, sushi, and the space. Minus a star for the prices and the vibe.

*This article appears in the February 5, 2018, issue of New York Magazine.(CNN)  In just one year, U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S.' 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. ally in recent years.

In 2017, Vietnam built a closer defense and security relationship with the U.S. while standing as perhaps the last major opposition to China in the neighboring sea. A U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. has to make to project its power," he said.

It isn't just the impotence of the U.S. 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 U.S. ally, Park said.

"The pillar of the decades-old assurance that the U.S. 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 U.S. carefully and any rash conflict sparked by Washington will be laid straight at the White House's door. "The credibility of U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S.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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Asia under Trump: How the US is losing the region to China."



Haiti - News : Zapping...





Leadership Award for Ambassador Altidor

Ambassador Altidor receiving the Leadership Award from Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jean Monestime Saturday evening during the National Haitian American Elected Officials Network's 2018 Leadership Awards Dinner.



310 DPC agents for pre-carnival activities

No less than 310 agents and volunteer brigadiers of the Directorate of Civil Protection [departmental, communal, local and community structures] were deployed in Port-au-Prince to accompany Sunday, January 28, the population during pre-carnival activities.



Moise met the Haitian community in Italy

Last Friday in Italy, President Moise met the Haitian community and was surprised to see how Haitians living in Italy were well aware of what was happening in Haiti.



New Regional Director of Tourism

Friday Colombe Emilie Jessy Menos, the Minister of Tourism, accompanied by her Director General Andy Durosier, proceeded in the premises of the Northern Regional Office of Tourism, in Cap-Haitien, to the installation of Mrs. Marie Lourdes Trott as Regional Director of Northern tourism.



Cap-Haitien : Casting Queens and Kings

The Carnival Committee of Cap Haitien has cast more than 200 young people to participate as Queens and Kings. In the end, the Committee decided to retain everyone because the involvement of youth in the carnival of students this year is a priority of the City Council.



School genius broadcast on TV

Recall that the second edition of the School genius on reducing disaster risk in the North, launched last January 26 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23386-haiti-education-launch-of-school-engineering-contest-on-risk-reduction.html will be broadcast each evening on Tele Zenith, channel 26, which covers the entire North department.



HL/ HaitiLibre

















Louis Roederer shows its modern face at MMD tasting

By Jo Gilbert

Things sometimes move at a glacial pace in the world of fine wine, but even Grande Marque producer Louis Roederer showed it is up for moving with the times at its most recent tasting, showcasing zero dosage and experimentation with organic and biodynamic wines.

At last weeks portfolio presentation, Maisons Marques et Domaines (MMD)  the UK arm of the Cristal producer, created in 1986 to represent its Champagnes and growing number of still and sparkling wine brands in the UK  showed a range encompassing classic NV and vintage Champagnes, from 240 ha spread across the Montagne de Reims and Vallee de la Marne (55% of which is Grand Cru).

This is a company whose prestige cuvee is its Cristal, created in 1876 for the Russian Tsar at the time, and whose continued success has made it the go-to for everyone from celebrities (sometimes a sore point for the house) to government officials.

Given its long history, it is, in relevant terms, perhaps not that surprising that until three years ago its most recent release was in 1975, when the house released its Cristal Rose.

However, in 2015 the house revealed a fresh product and a fresh new look with its Brut Nature 2006, which was not only the Grande Marque houses newest product in 40 years, it was also biodynamic  and boasted a modern label from designer Philippe Starck that took a marked step away from the traditional designs of old.

But according to export manager Thierry Wallaert, the houses newest baby - its first zero dosage  wasnt entirely motivated by the market, but typically, a careful exploration of its vineyards.

Its trendy to have a zero dosage, Wallaert acknowledged. But it also came about because we have a great vineyard which doesnt need any additional sugar. The wine uses grapes primarily from a specific parcel in Grand Cru village Cumieres in the Vallee de la Marne, keeping the brands signature fresh and elegant style while bringing a unique sense of terroir.

MMD is more than just Louis Roederer, however.

As well as showing the 2009 follow-up to the first Brut Nature zero dosage release, MMD also presented wines from its other brands, including the Douros Ramos Pinto, producer of Port and still wine which came on board in the 1990s, Domaines OTT in Provence, Burgundys Domaine Faiveley and Rioja producer Marques de Murrieta.

Any expansion would proceed with a characteristically careful pace, but Christine Allen, head of brand management talked to Harpers about the potential of plugging a gap in the companys New World Portfolio  Australia and South America.

Possibly Barossa Valley or Margaret River, she said. The quality with Australian wine has always been there, but during the financial crash in 2009, a lot of Australian wineries pulled out of the UK, which gave many producers an opportunity to revaluate. Chile Sauvignon Blanc took their position at the low end, leading a lot of producers to think about what they could do with premium.

Argentina is also producing some great high altitude Malbecs, and also Chilean winemakers like Eduardo Chadwick are also setting the bar high.

While the New World offers opportunities for expansion, MMDs managing director Richard Billett reiterated the companys careful strategising and criteria for established, top quality wines producers which  in keeping with Louis Roederers place as one of the last family owned Grandes Marques  must be family owned.

In terms of the fine wine market as a whole, he said: If you consider Liv-Ex data, it would suggest that the market is in good health with Burgundy performing well, growing interest in categories such as Champagne and Italy compensating for a slightly more volatile level of trading on Bordeaux.

As for the prestige on-trade and independent retail sectors, which are our key areas of focus, we have seen sustained interest in the premium and fine wine offering from our portfolio.

Our plans for 2018 are very much to build on and consolidate what was a very strong performance in 2017, particularly in the context of the challenges last year presented and those we anticipate in the year ahead.





(Photo shows Louis Roederer export manager Thierry Wallaert.)







Burgundy winemakers elect duo of presidents

By Rob Brown

Two stalwarts of the French wine industry have been elected as co-presidents of the BVIB, the Burgundy Wine Board.

Organic winemaker Francois Labet and Louis-Fabrice Latour, both from families with centuries of winemaking history between them, will oversee the promotion of the regions wines and the development of key infrastructure projects over the next four years.

The BVIB will focus its communications on the lesser known Regionale and Village appellations in the coming year, said Labet, who will serve as president for the next two years before Latour takes over. The value of our wines must profit the two components of the industry, within the heart of a united Bourgogne, he said.

In the coming year architects and scenographers will be selected for the City of Wines tourism project, which will see three attractions open across the region in 2021.

The new incumbents will also oversee moves to encourage greater participation from the regions growers and winemakers and the promotion of sustainable means of production, as well as the development of a digital database logging the regions output.

Labet is also an advisor on external trade to the French Prime Minister, with a remit for helping to grow French wine exports around the world. His family has been making wine since 1492 and the business includes Domaine du Chateau de la Tour and the Domaine Pierre Labet. He converted his entire estate to organic production in 1992.

Latour heads up the Louis Latour Negoce business, which was founded in 1798. He graduated from Sciences Po in Paris in 1985 and joined the family business in 1989, and took over the running of the company from his father in 1999.







Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 29) - Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang has been suspended for supposedly spreading false information on President Rodrigo Duterte's bank accounts, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Monday.

Roque said the Office of Executive Secretary formally charged Carandang with grave misconduct and grave dishonesty for misuse of confidential information and disclosing false information.

He was also slapped with a 90-day suspension. He was given 10 days to respond on why he should not be suspended.

The action of the Office of the Executive Secretary was pursuant to the complaint of Manuel Luna and Eligio Mallari filed in October 2017.

Carandang previously said he received a report from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) stating that President Rodrigo Duterte's bank account has amounted to over P1 billion. He also said it contains more or less the same details as the report submitted by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

The AMLC denied it provided any report to the Office of the Ombudsman on Duterte's bank transactions. While it did receive Carandang's request to look into Duterte's bank records, it has yet to evaluate the request.

Senator: Suspension an impeachable offense

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Duterte, who is resorting to bullying, could be impeached for ordering the suspension of Carandang.

"This is an impeachable offense as it violated Section 5 of Article XI of the 1987 Constitution, which clearly states the independence of the Office of the Ombudsman and its Deputies," he said in a statement.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the Office of the Ombudsman is an independent body.

Roque, however, insisted the Office of the President has jurisdiction over deputy ombudsmen, citing a 2012 Supreme Court decision which was later on reversed by the high court.

"I'd like to complete the citation of the case: Emilio A. Gonzales III versus Office of the President G. R. No. 196231, 4 September 2012 recognizes that Deputy Ombudsmen are subject to removal by the President," he said.

But in January 2014, the Supreme Court, reversing the 2012 ruling, denied the President disciplinary jurisdiction over a deputy ombudsman as it was unconstitutional.

In February 2017, Trillanes said Duterte and his family had 2 billion in undeclared wealth in their bank accounts from 2006 to 2015.

In September 2017, the Ombudsman announced it opened the probe on Duterte's bank records, in response to the plunder case filed by Trillanes. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales tasked Carandang to look into allegations on Duterte's wealth, after she inhibited due to her connection to the Duterte family.

Carpio is the aunt of Manases Carpio, husband of presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.by Andrew Walden

OHA Trustees are having a hard time obtaining the cooperation of their own LLCs.

On the agenda of the OHA Trustees Committee on Resource Management meeting at Na Lama Kukui, Wednesday, January 31, 2018 9:00AM :

RM 18-02: Authorization to Compel LLC Managers to Submit Necessary LLC Documents to the Resource Committee Chair for the Purpose of the Audit Authorized by the Board of Trustees A.l. RM 17-02.

Akamai readers will remember, Hawaii Free Press has been attempting to obtain the OHA LLCs check registers since 2016. We reported on the result in January, 2017:

Honolulu attorney Kimberly Greeley, represent(ing) Hiilei Aloha, LLC, Hookele Pono, LLC, and Hiipaka LLC in a January 9 response to an open records request from Hawaii Free Press claims:

Sole title to the land comprising Waimea Valley was transferred to Hiipaka LLC (by OHA) in 2007. The State does not own the valley nor any of Hiipakas other assets. Nor is Hiipaka operated or managed by the State. In sum, the State does not control or direct any of the Companies activities or business affairs and does not provide any funding for the Companies. The Companies activities are not a required function of any government agency. The Companies are not, therefore subject to the provisions of the UIPA.

Of course all of this is nonsense. Waimea Valley and all of the LLCs are still 100% owned by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The LLCs are State property and therefore completely subject to UIPA. OHA owns a total of six LLCs and OHAs ownership is completely documented with the DCCA BREG at the links below:

Falsely pleading her clients guilty to multiple counts of grand theft aina is an act of desperation if their ever was one. It might also be professional misconduct . What is Greeley trying to hide? What might be found if the LLCs are obligated to hand over their compete check registers to Hawaii Free Press?

Office of Hawaiian Affairs financial statements record $13M in expenses attributed to Hiilei Aloha and Hiipaka since 2009. The partial record from IRS form 990s filed by some of the LLCs show extensive money transfers between the LLCs and fat salaries paid out to OHA insiders.

Immediately after the RM committee meets, the full OHA Board of Trustees is set for 930AM with an executive session agenda including this juicy tidbit:

Consultation with Robert G. Klein, Esq. re: questions and issues pertaining to the Boards powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities regarding the State Auditors Draft Audit Report. Pursuant to HR$  92-5(a)(4) 

The word from sources inside OHA is the State Auditors report on OHA is accurate and honest and therefore very damaging to OHA cronies who have been desperately delaying the release for several months now. Under HRS 10-14-55 the State Auditor is expected to report on OHA once ever four years. The last OHA Audit was 2013.

Meanwhile state legislators are considering SB3090 which would transfer 10,000 acres at the top of Mauna Kea from the University of Hawaii to a Mauna Kea Management Authority.

Transferring the Mauna directly to OHA is a non-starter because even Hawaii legislators cannot stomach the likelihood that OHA would allow the Mauna to be stolen by private LLCs as lawyer Greeley asserts Waimea Valley has been. OHAs corruption is the primary obstacle preventing OHA from gaining more control of--and revenue from--ceded lands.

---30---Chin to Take Lt Gov Sinecure While Running for Congress

HNN Feb 2, 2018: Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin will take over as lieutenant governor after Shan Tsutsui abruptly resigned from the post on Wednesday.

Chin made the official announcement Friday morning on Hawaii News Now Sunrise, saying, Ive always considered public service to be a privilege, and this is a call to serve, and its the right thing to do.

Meanwhile, Chin said will continue to campaign for Congress. Hes vying to replace U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, whos stepping down to run for governor.

Chin had already planned to step down from the Attorney Generals office in March to for Congress.

Now that Chin will become lieutenant governor, First Deputy Attorney General Russell Suzuki has been appointed to serve as acting attorney general. 

PDF: News Release from AGs Office

read  Lt Governor

Tsutsui Lobbying Firm Not in Good Standing

IM Feb 2, 2018: Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui resigned to join the communications and government relations firm of Strategies 360, a foreign for profit firm not in good standing with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Business Registration Division. 

read  Chilling Aloha

* * * * *

Tsutsui resigning as lieutenant governor to join private sector

SA Jan 29, 2018: Tsutsui said he is returning to Maui and opted to resign now because a private sector job opened up with the Hawaii branch of the communications and government relations firm of Strategies 360.

(Translation: Offered a cush lobbyist gig, I dumped this LG thingy with two days notice.)

The lieutenant governors post will now pass to state Senate President Ron Kouchi. If Kouchi declines, it would be offered to House Speaker Scott Saiki. If Saiki declines the job, it would then be offered to state Attorney General Doug Chin, who is running for U.S. Congress.

If all of those political figures were to decline the job, it would be offered to the state director of finance, and then to other cabinet members.

read  Who wants to be LG?

* * * * *

STATEMENT BY GOV. DAVID Y. IGE ON RESIGNATION OF LT. GOV. SHAN TSUTSUI

News Release from Office of the Governor, Jan 29, 2018

It is with a mixture of sadness and gratitude that I learned of Shans decision to step down from his position as lieutenant governor. He has dedicated the last 15 years to serving the people of Hawaii. As lieutenant governor he has worked tirelessly on Aloha Stadium and the Farm to School Initiative in our effort to boost local food production in our state. I also applaud Shans effort to support after-school programs in our public schools. I wish Shan and his family the very best always.

KOUCHI Says NO to LG Position

While it was known that Lieutenant Governor Shan Tsutsui would not be seeking re-election to his current office, being informed that the effective date of his resignation is in two days leaves me with mixed emotions. While I am personally happy that Shan is able to spend more time with his family, who has sacrificed in order for Shan to serve Maui, the State Senate, and the State of Hawaii, I am professionally saddened because Shans resignation leaves a gaping hole in our current political fabric.

"With regard to the soon to be vacant Office of the Lieutenant Governor, I am not interested in becoming the next Lieutenant Governor of the State of Hawaii.  Senate President Ron Kouchi Monday Jan 29, 2018

KGI Jan 31, 2018 Kouchi Explains Political Calculations :

My term expires in 2020, so had I accepted the position of lieutenant governor, then I had at least three options I could see, Kouchi said.

One is that I would have to run in 2018 in a special election for Senate District 8 to regain my Senate seat when my time as lieutenant governor ended.

The second would be that I would run for lieutenant governor.

And the third would be that I would serve the term as lieutenant governor and then simply retire from elected politics.

We have three of my Senate colleagues here that have already been carrying on vigorous campaigns for the office of lieutenant governor, he said.

Next in Line  House Speaker Scott Saiki says 'NO'

SA: Jan 30, 2018: "State House leader has no desire to be next lieutenant governor"

If not Saiki, who?

With Saiki rejecting the LG position, it is next offered to Attorney General Doug Chin, who is resigning March 15 to run for Congress and has already indicated he would not be interested in becoming LG.

UPDATE HNN Jan 30, 2018 : "I will talk it over with my family and announce my decision on Friday," Chin said, in a brief statement Tuesday.

After Chin, the position would normally be offered to:

Acting State Director of Finance Laurel Johnston, State Comptroller Rod Becker, Interim State Director of Taxation Linda Chu Takayama, and Interim State Director of Human Resources Development Ryker Wada.

But -- of those, only Rod Becker is immnediately eligible barring sudden action by the State Senate. HRS 26-2-g reads: "No officer other than a legislative officer shall act as governor or lieutenant governor under this section unless the officer has been appointed and confirmed prior to the time the powers and duties of the office of governor or of lieutenant governor devolve upon the officer."

Chin's delay gives the Senate until Friday to act on Iges interim cabinet nominees, thus making them eligible to become LG if State Comptroller Rod Becker doesn't want it.

RELATED:

* * * * *

Lt Gov Shan Tsutsui statement Jan 29, 2018:

With a grateful, yet heavy heart I am announcing today that I will be resigning as the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Hawaii, effective January 31, 2018. Over the past 15 years, it has been my honor and privilege to have served the people of Hawaii, first as a State Senator from Maui and Senate President, and currently as your Lieutenant Governor. Throughout that time, I have always been mindful of the tremendous responsibility that comes with public office. I have greatly appreciated the trust and confidence that was bestowed upon me and have done my best to build a better Hawaii through collaboration and hard work, while honoring our shared core values of honesty, integrity and respect.

As Senate President, I was fortunate to draw upon my many years in the Senate and the relationships that I had established to exhibit a collaborative style of leadership, and I did my best to ensure that all Senators were respected and heard. As your Lieutenant Governor, I have continued to work cooperatively with leaders in the public and private sectors, as well as members of the public, with that same level of respect and attention. During this time, I am proud to have established the Resources for Enrichment, Athletics, Culture and Health (R.E.A.C.H.) initiative to support after-school programs for middle and intermediate public school students. As a father, I was especially concerned with ensuring that middle school students engage in positive activities and relationships during hours when many are left unsupervised because their parents are working. Since 2013, R.E.A.C.H. has invested approximately $2.75M in more than 40 public middle and intermediate schools, including charter schools, statewide, reaching thousands of students. Funds have helped to provide robotics programs; hula, ukulele, music and other dance lessons; basketball, soccer, wrestling and other sports; cooking, fishing, art, and hydroponics; and many other clubs and programs. Participating students have shown improved attendance, attitude, behavior and even grades.

Additionally, I was excited to have taken the reigns of the Farm to School Initiative, which we have developed into the Aina Pono: Hawaiis Farm to Cafeteria Initiative, to increase the purchase and consumption of local food in our school cafeterias. With an enthusiastic team of advisors and doers, along with support from the Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, private partners such as The Kohala Center, and many other generous donors, a burgeoning pilot project was launched to infuse local foods and flavors into our school menus, while providing healthier options for our keiki. As the project continues to grow and expand throughout the State, the effects will have a lasting impact on our keiki, the agriculture industry, and the states procurement processes.

Throughout my time in office, it has been an absolute pleasure to have had the opportunity to meet so many talented and inspiring individuals. I have witnessed firsthand the many hardworking families who fight traffic in their daily commutes, while holding down multiple jobs to provide a better life for their keiki; the bright, dedicated students who not only excel in Hawaii but can also compete with their counterparts nationally; and the small businesses and farms using innovative and entrepreneurial ideas to revitalize family businesses. You have all inspired me and helped to make me a better person and leader. I will cherish these experiences and lessons and carry them with me throughout my life.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the people of Hawaii for the opportunity to have served you all these years. Truly, I have been blessed with the support of so many individuals, family and friends. I especially thank my incredible familymy wife, children, parents and extended ohana for their tremendous love, support and many sacrifices over the years. I would like to thank Governor Ige for the privilege of serving in his Administration. To Neil and Nancy, Lyndelle and I thank you for your friendship and kindness and the love you have shared with our daughters. I also send my aloha to my former colleagues in the Legislature and the tens of thousands of public employees throughout the State for their hard work and dedication to the people of Hawaii. Finally, a big mahalo to my staff and security for your unwavering devotion and enduring commitment to the office and to helping me best serve the people of the State. Your hard work did not go unnoticed, and I will be forever grateful to each of you.

In his remarks commemorating the 75th Pearl Harbor anniversary, President Barack Obama noted, we cannot choose the history that we inherit. But we can choose what lessons to draw from it, and use those lessons to chart our own futures. Accordingly, its my hope that we will continue to acknowledge the rich history of our State, and remain grateful for the contributions and sacrifices of generations past; that we will explore new ways to invest in our residents, businesses, and communities to make them more sustainable, competitive, and economically robust. And as I leave public service, I look forward to continuing to be a part of Hawaiis future and helping to forge a new path that honors our shared beliefs and my continued commitment to improving the lives of the people of Hawaii.OSHA fines Anadarko and three other companies for fatal Colorado tank blast

Anadarko Petroleum Corp., Energes Services LLC, Dominguez Welding LLC and Unlimited Services LLC face $70,711 in proposed penalties after the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) judged that they had exposed employees to health and safety hazards in the fatal explosion of a storage tank in May 2017 in Mead, Colorado.

One employee was killed and three others suffered third-degree burns in the May 25, 2017 incident. OSHA said the workers were merging two storage tank batteries into a single tank that was operated by Anadarko when the explosion and fire occurred.



OSHA inspectors said the companies were cited for introducing potential ignition sources into work areas containing flammable gases or vapours; not isolating flammable gases or vapours from welding activity; and not adequately inspecting the worksite and addressing safety hazards.



Oil and gas industry employers must take proper precautions for hot work in the presence of flammable hydrocarbon vapours, said Denver-based OSHA Area Director Herb Gibson, in the statement.



OSHA and the industry have issued guidance for employers on the hazards of flammable materials and appropriate protective measures, Gibson.



Anadarko spokeswoman Jennifer Brice said in a statement that the company, one of Colorados largest oil and gas companies, appreciates OSHAs comprehensive review of this tragic accident, and we take the findings very seriously.



Since the accident, we have been reviewing our processes and procedures as part our commitment for continual improvement around safety and will continue to work with OSHA on any additional steps it may recommend, Brice said.



The accident in Mead occurred weeks after a home in Firestone exploded due to a buildup of raw natural gas that leaked into the structure from an old well owned by Anadarko.



Two men were killed in that accident and a woman was severely injured.



More information...

Contact Details and Archive...(Bloomberg) Truston Asset Management Co., a South Korean investment firm that managed $8.5 billion as of August, is closing its office in Singapore and a hedge fund based in the city. The Truston Falcon Asia Fund had bet on rising and falling stocks in South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and China, reporting a 6 percent decline in the year through July 2017. That return lagged behind the the MSCI AC Asia Index by 25 percentage points, according to Trustons website, which didnt give more recent figures. Still, Truston said the closure of the Singapore office wasnt related to the hedge funds performance and cited the companys desire to consolidate operations in Seoul. Founded in 1998 by Sung Taek Hwang, the investment firm specializes in Korean equities and manages money for investors including pension funds, insurance companies and state funds, according to its website.

To read this article:(Bloomberg) A London quant analyst convicted of stealing millions of pounds worth of secret algorithmic trading strategies has been stopped by his former employer, Trenchant Ltd., from being deported to China.

Judge Antony Zacaroli ruled that Ke Xu must surrender his passport until he discloses what he has done with the stolen information. The U.K. Home Office wants to deport Xu, who is being held at a facility near Heathrow Airport, as soon as possible.

To read this article:The 24-hour strike is scheduled to begin at 6am on Friday, 2 February. It will coincide not only with strikes announced by the Finnish Transport Workers Union (AKT) and Construction Trade Union but also with a demonstration organised by the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) .

The Finnish Industrial Union will stage a strike in an attempt to compel the government to scrap the much-criticised activation model for unemployment security, reports Talouselama .

The Industrial Union has estimated that up to 140,000 employees could participate in the strike.

We want to use this rare action to express our views explicitly not only about the activation model itself but also about the ways of working of the right-wing government of [Prime Minister] Juha Sipila (Centre), said Riku Aalto, the chairman of the Finnish Industrial Union.

The government managed to push through its objectives with the competitiveness pact. It then viewed that it no longer has to adhere to the pact but continues to require that others do.

Introduced at the beginning of the year, the activation model for unemployment security stipulates that job seekers will lose a share of their unemployment benefits if they fail to satisfy a set of activity criteria ever three months. A citizens initiative launched to counter the activation model has received over 130,000 statements of support.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Jussi Nukari  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi SuomiMetro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 29)  Motorists looking forward to their license plates should not troop to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) just yet.

About 333,000 license plates are targeted for release on the second week of February, LTO Chief Edgar Galvante told CNN Philippines' The Source on Monday.

He advised motorists to wait on further announcements from the LTO, as the office had yet to study the Supreme Court decision that permitted the license plate distribution. He also said that the LTO will also contact and inform license plate owners whose details they already have.

"We really want to be sure  we might be going over what has been allowed," said Galvante.

"Even without a copy [of the Supreme Court decision], we are already planning how we can notify the owners of these plates so as soon as the... order is received, magawa na namin yung [we can do the] distribution," he added.

The Supreme Court on January 23 lifted a temporary restraining order that stopped the release of 700,000 license plates. They came into the possession of the LTO after the plate supplier, Power Plates Development Concepts, Inc and J. Knieriem B.V. Goes, failed to pay the necessary taxes to the Bureau of Customs.

Related: License plates to be released to motorists soon

According to Galvante, about half of the plates were already distributed prior to the release of the TRO in 2016.

This comes on top of a backlog of between six to seven million plates after the Commission on Audit (COA) disallowed the motor vehicle license plate standardization program in 2013.

"We were told (COA) will wait for the decision of the Supreme Court. Probably with the decision... meron medyo malinaw-linaw [things will clear up]," said Galvante.

LTO needs COA's go signal to pay for the manufacturing of the plates in its backlog. The first batch, set for production in March, will cover vehicles registered from July 2016 to December 2017.

"We hope to finish delivery, the installation, and the test run by first quarter of this year  and probably April, we'll start distributing," he said.

Production of new plates for motorcycles might be placed on hold due to pending House proposals mandating larger plates for two-wheeled vehicles. The measure was approved by the Senate in July 2017.

The LTO is also in the middle of consultations regarding car tint regulations. It is hoping to submit its recommendations on the proposed policy by the first quarter of the year.

Related: Gov't proposal restricts car tint on public, private vehicles

CNN Philippines Correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.Finland is sending a clear message to the rest of the world that our populists gained hardly any foothold in the elections, he commented to Uusi Suomi during the election night event of President Sauli Niinisto at the Old Student House in Helsinki on Sunday.

The results of yesterdays presidential elections are an indication of waning support for populism in Finland, views Antti Hakkanen (NCP), the Minister of Justice.

Hakkanen refers especially to Laura Huhtasaari (PS) and Paavo Vayrynen (ind.), who according to him campaigned on issues such as withdrawal from the European Union and re-alignment away from the West towards Russia.

This approach got no support from the public, he said.

Finland, he asserted, is a Western democracy that is firmly committed to human rights, election rights and the market economy, but also to maintaining good relations to Russia.

Theres no support for a Russia-oriented policy that would take us into a grey area in terms of our international position. And theres no support for populism in Finland. This is an important message, enthused Hakkanen.

Niinisto secured his second term in office in an overwhelming fashion, by winning 67.2 per cent of the 2.9 million votes cast in the presidential elections held on Sunday. Huhtasaari and Vayrynen, by contrast, won 6.9 and 6.2 per cent of the vote respectively.

Hakkanen, who admitted to being slightly surprised by the emphatic nature of the victory, estimated that the election results are also an indication of widespread public approval of the personality, leadership and policy approach of Niinisto.

His assessment was echoed on Sunday by Jan Vapaavuori (NCP), the Mayor of Helsinki.

Vapaavuori, however, reminded that already previous elections have indicated that the resurgence of populism is not quite as evident in Finland as elsewhere in Europe. The Finns Party did terribly well in the parliamentary elections three years ago, but they havent gotten a single good election result since then. Luckily weve been moving in this direction, he said.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Markku Ulander  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi SuomiDOZENS of parking fines issued to patients at Townlands Memorial Hospital in Henley were caused by a faulty camera system.

NHS Property Services says an algorithm used to monitor how long cars were staying in the car park at the hospital off York Road incorrectly reset itself each week, meaning some patients were given fines incorrectly.

However, health chiefs say they will stick with enforcement company Smart Parking as it is delivering what its supposed to.

The company was employed in April to monitor the hospital car park as well as the one for the neighbouring Bell and Hart Surgeries and Chilterns Court Care Centre.

The company uses automatic number plate recognition cameras to log cars entering and leaving.

Patients can enter their registration details on a keypad at reception to receive free parking and there is meant to be a 20-minute grace period for those passing through or dropping off patients.

Dozens of patients have complained about being given fines of 60, which go up to 100 if not paid within 14 days, despite following the rules.

In November, the surgeries ended their contract with Smart Parking due to repeated complaints.

Chris Hill, service delivery manager for NHS Property Services, revealed the camera fault at a meeting of the Townlands stakeholder reference group on Tuesday.

He said the problem meant patients were not being given the full 20-minute grace period but it had now been resolved and Smart Parking had agreed to revoke any fines if provided with evidence of appointments.

He said: Every Sunday the system was resetting itself and going back to the 10-minute algorithm but now it stays at 20 minutes.

Smart Parking have also been told in very clear terms that they have to adhere to any evidence they are sent and if they have a query to come to us.

We have experienced some heartfelt stories. People dont want to be in hospital in the first place and are then hit with this on top. Smart Parking is committed to dealing with this more positively.

Mr Hill said Smart Parking would be sending letters to people whose fines it had revoked.

However, he continued: We are still getting what we wanted originally, which is a lot of space for clinical services. There are regular meetings going on between us and the Smart Parking directors.

They are responding very positively to comments and getting back to us.

Its regrettable that people are being affected by being told they are getting fined and chased by credit collectors but all this feedback is going back in and they are addressing the issue.

We are continuing to review Smart Parking, not just in Henley but nationally, to see if there are any alternatives. Its delivering what its supposed to deliver, which is car parking space.

Stephanie Greenwood, the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust Townlands service manager, said she knew some fines had resulted from patients mixing up letters on the keyboard or failing to confirm their details at the end, which meant they werent processed properly.

She said: We are doing what we can to help patients. The number of fines coming through compared to people in the building has reduced.

My team and I have dealt with thousands  it has taken over my day job.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 29)  President Rodrigo Duterte gave help to around 84,000 Mayon evacuees by way of a 20-million check.

The President handed it over to Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara during a briefing Monday, as he visited affected residents in the province.

"I'll give you initially today 20 million and I will augment it tomorrow by sending you about 50 (million). For the operation, lahat na, for pagkain [for food]," the President said.

Duterte said he was also concerned about the sanitation and hygiene in evacuation centers, saying there should be facilities for such.

He raised the idea of setting up portable toilets to evacuation centers and stressed the importance of keeping them clean.

He added health, sanitation, and food are the most pressing concerns of evacuees.

Health officials, the President said, must monitor the health situation of evacuees as children are vulnerable to illnesses.

As of Friday, authorities said more than a thousand evacuees were suffering from coughs and colds, while a number of children were stricken with diarrhea.

Officials also said children, persons with disability, and senior citizens have become the most susceptible to illnesses.

RELATED: Officials: More Mayon evacuees getting sick

The President also said Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol and Undersecretary Berna Romulo-Puyat are ready to distribute funds for agriculture, as farms have been affected by the eruption.

"If there's a shortfall or something, so let me know so that I can bring the matter to my office, so that somebody can move," he said.

On January 25, Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara expressed concern that funds meant for Albay were quickly running out, and asked for help from the national government.

READ: Albay gov't: Funds for evacuees of Mayon unrest running out

Days later, Duterte assured Bichara that funds had been sent.

DSWD: 4Ps recipients will continue to get benefits

During the event, Social Welfare Officer-in-Charge Emmanuel Leyco also said families may avail of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

"We have already met with officials of our regional office in the Bicol Region and we decided that we will call for the suspension of the conditionalities for 4Ps so that our beneficiaries can receive their cash grants without having to meet the conditions for the program," she said.

According to the Social Welfare Development, the 4Ps is a program that invests in the health and education of poor households, particularly children aged 0-18 years old.

Families who are under this program must meet conditions set by the program for them to receive the grants. Among these conditions are sending children to school and making sure they have check-ups at health centers.

The DSWD in Region V reported that 6,114 households who are beneficiaries have been affected by Mayon's eruption. Of this, a total of 5,479 households are staying in evacuation centers.

Leyco also said they will implement its cash-for-work program to help residents staying in evacuation centers.

Mayon's unrest

Mt. Mayon began showing activity on January 13, prompting the provincial government to declare a state of calamity.

READ: TIMELINE: The Mayon eruption

The volcano remains under alert level 4, with state volcanologists warning of an imminent hazardous eruption.

On Sunday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology confirmed it spotted lahar or volcanic mudflows in Mi-isi and Budiao channel traversing two towns in Albay.

READ: PHIVOLCS confirms lahar near Mayon amid heavy rains

CNN Philippines correspondents AC Nicholls and Makoi Popioco contributed to this report.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 29)  President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to visit Albay on Monday afternoon amid the unpredictable weather and the unrest of Mayon Volcano.

Drizzle welcomed Monday morning in Legazpi City but the skies eventually cleared few hours after.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Sunday reported lahar deposits in a river channel in Brgy. Budiao in Daraga town, inside the 6-km danger zone after intermittent rains in Albay in the past couple of days.

Still, authorities said these deposits do not pose any threat to residents as most people have been evacuated away from the 8-km extended danger zone.

READ: PHIVOLCS confirms lahar near Mayon amid heavy rains

According to PHIVOLCS, the gray matter which coat rocks and edges of narrow canals are lahar debris, while the brownish top layer could either be sediments or a diluted form of lahar.

It is still unclear how much lahar deposits have been found there.

PHIVOLCS recorded five lava eruptions on Sunday.

Mayon remains on alert level four, which means the threat of a violent eruption is still high.

Classes resume in Daraga, Camalig, and Guinobatan except in schools occupied by evacuees, and those located in the 8-km danger zone. Classes in the entire town of Sto. Domingo also remain suspended.

CNN Philippines' Makoi Popioco contributed to this report.1 / 2 In this Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, photo, President Donald Trump speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Trumps loyalists are lashing out against his proposal to give path to citizenship for nearly 2 million Dreamer immigrants. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Evan Vucci, Associated Press 2 / 2 Linda Chavez  

If you want to know what is in the presidents heart when it comes to dreamers, you need look no further than the ugly ads his campaign put out last week during the short government shutdown. Im Donald Trump, and I approved this message, the ad concluded after claims that Democrats would be complicit in every murder committed by an undocumented immigrant going forward. Most Americans  70 to 80 percent, according to recent polls  look at dreamers, whose parents brought them here illegally when they were children, and see students, workers, members of the military, taxpayers, indeed fellow Americans except for the unfortunate circumstances of their arrival. Trump looks at them and sees an opportunity to beat up on immigrants, as he has been doing since the day he announced his presidential run with talk of Mexican rapists and criminals bringing drugs across the border. Never mind that immigrants  those here legally and those here illegally  commit crimes at far lower rates than the native-born.

Forget about Trumps big heart. Forget about looking for a Trump-led legislative compromise. If the dreamers gain permanent legal status under a Trump plan, he will take his pound of flesh from their parents and from those from Latin America, Asia and Africa who want to come here in the future legally. Trumps price for allowing some 800,000 dreamers to stay will be to slam the door shut on most everyone else who lacks an advanced degree or doesnt have enough money to invest in a Kushner family business scheme. Ill take the heat off both the Democrats and the Republicans, Trump said barely more than two weeks ago in a meeting with a bipartisan group of legislators, which millions of Americans watched on live TV. But with Breitbart calling him Amnesty Don for having the temerity to suggest that dreamers shouldnt be on the next bus to Mexico, Trump is looking for a way to show hes as anti-immigrant as ever, and what better way to demonstrate his bona fides than to run ads of rabid cop-killers? With only about a third of Americans still in Trumps camp, hes afraid of losing a single immigration hard-liner.

But Trumps craven politics on this issue dont excuse Congress from doing its duty. There are ample votes in both houses to get a bill passed that would put dreamers on a path to citizenship. There is no reason in the world that Congress needs to tackle comprehensive reform at the same time. Immigration reform is complicated and deserves to be taken up with hearings and under normal order in both houses. There are a variety of issues to be decided: Should immigration be primarily skills-based? If so, what skills should qualify a would-be immigrant, and who should decide, government or employers? Should current immigrants and citizens be allowed to sponsor family members, and if so, which ones, spouses, children, parents, siblings? Would Americans be happier to admit immigrants if family members already here guaranteed them financial support for at least 10 years? Should immigrants who have learned English before applying be given priority on the grounds that they would be likelier to find jobs quickly and assimilate? What about Americas generous tradition of accepting refugees? Trump has already cut the number admitted by half, but what if refugees were sponsored by churches, synagogues or families so that they wouldnt become public burdens, even for a short time, and would transition to their new lives more quickly? And what about those Central Americans and Haitians who received temporary protective status and built lives here, bought homes, paid taxes, started businesses and gave birth to American-citizen children? Do we really want to kick more than a quarter-million of them out now and send them back to nations still reeling from the effects of natural disasters and wars, including Americas drug war?

Dont look to Trump for answers to these questions. He doesnt know what he wants beyond a wall along the Mexican border. If the wall is the price of legal status for the dreamers and other recipients of temporary protected status, it may be worth it. But given that illegal immigration is at a historically low point already  the most recent time illegal border crossings were as low as they are now, Richard Nixon was president  a wall seems an expensive way to soothe Trumps fragile ego. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan need to take the reins from the president and get a dreamer bill passed, with funding for a wall if necessary. If they put a bill on the presidents desk, hell sign it  and try to convince everybody he was for it all along.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 29) - The Sandiganbayan has ordered the arrest of former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes for committing graft in connection with the granting of mining permit in the province in 2006.

Reyes was on bail in the graft case, where he was convicted on August 29, 2017 and was sentenced to eight years in prison. However, Reyes was detained for the 2012 murder of broadcast journalist and environmentalist Gerry Ortega.

The former governor was released earlier this month on orders of the Court of Appeals, which dismissed the murder case and stopped the trial for lack of evidence on the murder.

Prosecutors in the graft case filed an urgent motion for the cancellation of the bail, saying that circumstances had changed with the release of Reyes.

They stressed that Reyes was a flight risk, citing the former governor's history of going into hiding. In 2012, Reyes and his brother Mario went into hiding as they were facing charges for the Ortega murder. They were arrested in Phuket, Thailand in 2015.

Related: State prosecutors want ex-Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes back in jail

The Sandiganbayan Third Division granted the motion.

"The grant of bail to accused Joel T. Reyes is hereby revoked... Let a warrant of arrest be issued against accused," the Sandiganbayan said.

Reyes' legal counsel Demi Custodio said they will file a motion for reconsideration for the Sandiganbayan order and bring his conviction in the graft case to the Supreme Court.

Solicitor General Jose Calida has also filed an appeal with the appeals court to reverse its decision clearing Reyes of murder charges.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 29)  Former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon named two senators who asked him for an "illegal request" when he was still Customs chief.

During the resumption of the Senate hearing on corruption at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Monday, Faeldon said he denied the requests of Senator Franklin Drilon and Senate Majority Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto.

"As early as 2016, he (Drilon) has requested me to meet with him here in the Senate twice, and asked me to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the BOC and the office of Ms. Maria Serena Diokno, the chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP)," Faeldon said.

He said according to the MOA, the Customs house in Iloilo will be renovated for the NHCP and converted into a museum, leaving only the third floor as the BOC office.

Faeldon said he refused to sign the MOA as the same situation happened during the Arroyo administration when employees of the BOC office in Cebu were placed in a "condemned building."

As for Sotto, he said it was about appointing an official as a favor.

"Twice, personally here, he asked me to appoint one official of the Bureau of Customs as the director of intelligence," Faeldon said. "I said, 'Sir, titignan natin,' then I interviewed the official."

He then named the official as senior intelligence officer Eric Albano, who Faeldon said has not caught any corrupt employee in his 42 years in service.

Gordon said there was nothing questionable with the requests of Drilon, who merely wanted to preserve a historical site, and Sotto who recommended a person for public office in the course of his role as senator.

This was the first time Faeldon attended the Senate hearing on the P6.4-billion shabu shipment and corruption in the BOC.

He was detained in the Senate on September 10 after refusing a summons to appear at the inquiry. He remains under Senate custody even after President Rodrigo Duterte appointed him deputy administrator for operations at the Office of Civil Defense on December 22.

READ: Senate grants furlough to Faeldon

During the hearing, Faeldon also had a heated exchange with Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair Richard Gordon over his detention, as the senator threatened to again cite Faeldon in contempt over his demeanor and remarks.

Gordon said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has unanimously decided to transfer Faeldon to the Pasay City Jail over his behavior.

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapena was also present at the inquiry.

Lapena revealed that since he took office in August 2017, he implemented reforms to stop corruption in the BOC, including the abolition of the Command Center, which centralizes coordination and monitoring of imports and exports; the removal of the green lanes so all shipments would undergo X-ray inspection; and the regulation and review of licensed brokers.

He added while the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service identified nine private individuals in the alleged payoff or "tara" system, there were no Customs officials or employees on the list.

The hearing will resume on February 8.A Soulful, Emotional Close to TradFest 2018. Report: Pat Carty

Now in its thirteenth year, (Temple Bar) Tradfest reaches far beyond the bodhrans and bad jumpers its name might suggest, encompassing all manner of roots music - everything really, apart from electronic music, although Kraftwerk would probably get a gig too, were they to show up. The boutique festival has always been a welcome addition to the city calendar, chasing away that daft notion of a dry January  the universe only grants you so many months, why spend any of them hiding?  and ushering us on to a new spring.

The Printworks in Dublin Castle is a bit soulless, no surprise perhaps given its day job as a conference room, and theres no bar either, which doesnt help with my dry January problem. It does lend itself to the filming of the show though, TG4 are in, and the sound is great, which is probably the point. I cant help feeling that atmosphere is slightly subdued all the same.

Tonights triple treat has a distinctly American(a) flavour. True, openers I Draw Slow are from up the road, and guitarist extraordinaire Martin Harley grew up in Woking of all places - he remembers John Cooper Clarke describing it to him as a place where people still point up at aeroplanes  but you wouldnt be able to tell that from the music theyre peddling.

Introduced by friend of this parish, Stephen Averill - tonight wearing his lonesomehighway.com (ten gallon) hat, as opposed to the Trouble Pilgrims one he wore last Friday in The Underground - the man has a lot of hats - I Draw Slow, led by sister and brother Louise and Dave Holden, have got that roots sound down pat. Indeed, as our own Colm OHare said when reviewing their Turn Your Face To The Sun album last year, the surprise on hearing them first is that they arent from the southern states of the USA. That being said, this is no affectation. When the musicians  banjo, fiddle, double bass, acoustic guitar - gather in a circle to play to each other, its the real thing. The highlights of a spirited set include Goldmine about a working girl who falls for a musician and offers to keep working so he can avoid a life in the mines, a song with more than a hint of Alison Krauss to it, and Twin Sisters, a murder ballad adapted from an old Appalachian traditional air, as well as the lovely Hide And Seek about how quickly your children grow up. Its suddenly very dusty in here, there seems to be something in my eye. The band is in Whelans next month, I recommend you go.

Martin Harley and Daniel Kimbro add a deeper blues to the mix. Harleys mastery should have other guitar players throwing their instruments in the fire and weeping. He veers from country picking and Ry Cooder style resonating slide, to moments where his playing combines with Kimbros double bass to call up the glory days of John Martyns work with Danny Thompson. Theyve a nice line of patter too, although they dont win many friends by comically taunting us with the drinks they have as opposed to the drinks we dont. Harleys own songs are more than pleasant but the highlight is a pull out the stops go at Nobodys Fault But Mine, which stretches all the way back to Blind Willie Johnsons 1927 version. Harley conjures up that lonesome Paris, Texas sound, before the song goes into an almost Jazz-like breakdown, is Kimbro briefly quoting A Love Supreme on the bass, or am I just imaging it? Its a virtuoso display that brings the crowd to their feet.

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Sisters Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer are so Alabama, it wouldnt be a surprise if someone told you they were the kids who saved Atticus Finch from the mob outside the jailhouse, and if youre gonna play Alabaman music then you may as well start with the Louvin Brothers. Every Time You Leave is probably on page one when you Google Country heartbreaker and its lifted here by a glorious added key change. Were then brought back to the present day with their roots reimagining of The Killers My List, complete with George Harrison style slide guitar solo. The reason theyre touring together, apart from their obvious joy in it, is last years duets album, Not Dark Yet  a beautiful, slow burning thing that finished deservedly high on Hot Press end of year list. Moorer sits at the keyboard for the Dylan penned title track, which acts as a showcase for the marvellously sympathetic three-piece backing of Joe McMahan on guitar, Jason Weinheimer on bass, and Rick Reed on drums. At times they sound like a Daniel Lanois house band, and I mean that as a large compliment. Its the drummers turn for Merle Haggards Silver Wings, the ride cymbal rhythm driving the song along under Lynnes voice; just slightly rougher and more lived in than her sisters.

In Dylan and Haggard, theyre taking on two of the greatest, if not the greatest, American songwriters of the 20th century, and they then throw in a beautiful reading of Nick Caves Into My Arms, bringing out the hymn within, so it takes ball to then continue with their only self-penned song from the album, Is It Too Much. The confidence isnt misplaced, its a beautiful song. They go back home for Moorers Alabama Song, complete with arm hair-raising harmonious hollering in the middle eight, and Lynnes Where Im From, taken from here 1999 country soul masterpiece, I Am Shelby Lynne, which mentions Margaret Mitchell in its opening line, lest there be any confusion about where the sisters are coming from.

After Moorers Thunderstorm/Hurricane, which, if youll allow the unfortunate pun, is a bit overblown, Lynne pauses to explain why they made this record, and how strong the bond between the sisters is. She begins to talk about how much music meant to them, and the huge part their mother played instilling that love, but breaks down in tears before she can finish the story. These arent reality show crocodile tears as she explains their journey either, but genuine emotion. Lynne and Moorer experienced a childhood trauma that most of us could not even begin to believe, and it feels like were stumbling into something very private here. Moorer encourages her sister to just sing, to let the music express the emotion. Theres a line in the Dylan song from earlier behind every beautiful thing, theres been some kind of pain which perfectly sums up whats going on. Lynne struggles into her own Ill Hold Your Head, a song remembering the good parts of growing up, her sister offering a metaphorical, and literal, shoulder to lean on. The crowd are hushed, almost shocked by this moment of genuine, naked emotion. Let there be no question that this is soul music. Its a moving end to a great night of music. The pure drop that is surely the aim of this festival, which the city is lucky to have.Hiring managers across Bank of America will soon be prohibited from asking a question most job candidates love to hate: How much were you paid in your last job?

The banking giant said last week in a memo to employees that starting

in March, it would restrict "how we solicit compensation information from candidates," adopting a policy that has been in place in certain markets where it was required. The change was part of an announcement Bank of America made in response to a shareholder proposal about its gender pay gap, in which it said female workers with similar experience and in similar job categories made 99 percent of their male colleagues' salaries. It called the ban on salary history "another step" to bridging any gaps.



Yet it is also another sign that workplace laws enacted in a growing number of states - and at the global level - are beginning to have a broader impact. According to the National Women's Law Center, 12 states, cities or U.S. territories have passed regulations prohibiting employers from relying on salary history when hiring - whether for all employers or just public-sector agencies - including Massachusetts, California, New York City and San Francisco. Several more are considering them, including Rhode Island, Florida and Mississippi.



As a result, a growing number of employers are recognizing that it may be more fair to employees - as well as administratively much simpler - to just adopt such policies nationwide, giving the local laws impact well beyond their state or municipal borders. Companies like Wells Fargo and Amazon.

More for you New York City just banned bosses from asking about past salaries



Companies "don't want to have to keep up with what's happening, quite literally, on a day-to-day basis," said Cheryl Pinarchick, who co-chairs the pay equity practice at the law firm Fisher Phillips. "It gets very cumbersome because these laws are so new."



She said her firm is advising employers to adopt the policies more widely and that many clients are making the shift. "Unless you have a team of people who can be tracking this, even on a daily basis, you could find yourself violating a law where you didn't even know a law existed," she said. "It's best practice going forward."



She said banning questions about what candidates were paid in their last job is also a simple way for companies to do something about pay equity. The thinking behind such laws is that if women are paid less early in their careers, asking about past salaries can perpetuate that cycle, because a new job's pay may be set off that past amount.



"I'm finding a shift in thinking on the employer side to get behind this movement," Pinarchick said. "This is an easy way to help address inequities going forward."



In a survey released in November, the executive search firm Korn Ferry found that more employers (46 percent) said they would comply with the laws in the most stringent location where they operate than employers that said they would comply only to the level of local laws (32 percent). That's happening even though two-thirds of employers who responded said they didn't think the regulations would have much effect.



"There will be a tipping point, if it's not there already, where this will become the de facto way of handling this in this country," Korn Ferry senior partner Tom McMullen said in an interview in November.



Bank of America spokesman Andy Aldridge said that while administrative ease might have played a role, the company expanded the policy as part of an effort to create a "culture of fairness and respect" and to help address pay equity. In the memo, the bank's global head of human resources, Sheri Bronstein, said the policy expansion would "help ensure we consider new hires for individual qualifications, roles and performance, rather than how they may have been compensated in the past." Questions about a candidate's salary expectations would still occur, Aldridge said.



State laws on other workplace issues also appear to be having a broader impact. Starbucks said Wednesday that it would adopt a paid sick leave benefit for all of its workers, a perk that had only been available to workers in locations where laws required it. The move came after employee requests for paid sick leave - as well as changes in the tax law, which, the company said, "accelerated" its ability to fund it.



Forty-one states and localities now mandate paid sick leave, according to the president of the advocacy group National Partnership for Women & Families. Its president, Debra Ness, said in a statement after the Starbucks announcement that "the move demonstrated that multi-state employers can easily navigate state and local paid sick days laws by establishing generous, uniform policies of their own."



Another factor in companies' thinking, said Natasha Lamb, the activist shareholder who has filed pay gap proposals at five major banks including Bank of America, could be new regulations in Britain. This year, firms with more than 250 employees in Britain will have to begin reporting the median pay gap between male and female employees - an overall number that is not split by job title. As a result, the British figures are likely to show much bigger gaps, because women frequently hold fewer high-ranking or high-paying jobs overall.



Sharing numbers from the more fine-tuned analysis now - and talking about new policies to help bridge the gap - could help companies get ahead of negative headlines. That way, she said, companies will be able to say, "Yes, the median number shows a structural pay gap, but we're working on that through our policies."



Lamb said the ban on salary questions has come up behind the scenes in many of her discussions with the 25 companies where she's filed proposals.



"Despite the fact that the federal government has been moving so slowly - or shooting down regulations - states are moving forward proactively," she said. "Companies are responding by changing their own practices. That's not only smart, it's necessary, because this issue isn't going away anytime soon."



What do New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia have in common with Houston?

They are among the five most-populous U.S. cities.

What do they have in common that Houston doesn't?

They all made Amazon's Final 20 list for potential locations for Amazon's second headquarters, HQ2.

Many Houstonians breathed a sigh of relief when Amazon snubbed the Bayou City. I, for one, never thought Houston had a chance. But every Houstonian should ponder for a moment why one of the world's largest companies considers our home second rate.

RELATED: Houston, other cities, shouldn't bribe Amazon for HQ

Let's reconsider Amazon's request for proposals.

Amazon plans to occupy 8.1 million square feet of office space to employ 50,000 people. The company wants to locate within 30 miles of a metropolitan area with more than 1 million people and near an international airport with nonstop flights to Seattle, New York, Washington and San Francisco.

So far, so good. Houston certainly has plenty of empty office space, as well as the flights.

Amazon is looking for "elected officials eager and willing" to work with them to sustain a business-friendly environment. Of particular interest are incentives "to offset initial capital outlay and ongoing operational costs," Amazon said.

If there is one thing Texas has, it is politicians willing to give away the farm to attract an out-of-state company. Crony capitalism is practically a religion here.

The building site also needs to have easy access to major highways and excellent public transportation. The office location should support heavy duty utilities, optical fiber connectivity and excellent mobile phone coverage.

Well, we have some of that. As long as you don't mind that the major highways are backed up much of the time, and you count an occasional decrepit bus as excellent public transportation.

RELATED: Amazon received $241M in subsidies for warehouses

The company, whose mission is to be your source for everything, also wants an energy-efficient facility, preferably made from recycled and reused materials. The electricity should come from wind power and solar energy.

Recycled materials? Other than old newspapers? Not sure what you mean. But hey, we do have plenty of wind energy at night. We also have some "clean burning natural gas" we'd love to sell!

The winning city must also be culturally compatible with Amazon's values, with a diverse population. Amazon needs a highly educated workforce, excellent public schools and top-ranked universities.

"We want to invest in a community where our employees will enjoy living, recreational opportunities, educational opportunities and an overall high quality of life," Amazon said.

Mmmm. Well ... Errrrr.

Did we mention that Texas' political leaders will gladly slash education, health and social spending to encourage corporate relocations?

What Amazon wants is a Utopia for business, where they don't need a 50,000-space parking lot, and the trains run on time to an urban oasis where millennial engineers can eat and drink at a craft beer gastro-pub on the first story of their luxury condo building. Where the schools and universities serve as a pipeline of world-class talent flowing straight into a global corporation that doesn't have to pay state and local taxes.

Such a city is a corporate fantasy, but it is especially far from Houston's reality.

Our public transportation system pales in comparison to Dallas, where clever young people can live on light rail and ride-sharing alone. That's not to say Dallas will get HQ2, but it is one reason Dallas made the list and Houston didn't.

Since the 1980s, the University of Texas at Austin has grown our fair capital into a major technology hub where millennials want to live because of the city's reputation as a creative center. Austin won't get HQ2 because traffic there is a mess, there's no housing and unemployment is too low, but it outlasted Houston.

In fact, I don't think any city in Texas has a chance at Amazon's HQ2. Mostly because our regressive, anti-woman, anti-immigrant, anti-LGBT state leadership has given the state a horrendous reputation on the coasts that only a political revolution will overcome.

For example, Apple CEO Tim Cook said his company won't consider any place in Texas for its second headquarters, despite a major presence already in Austin.

Yet Houston shouldn't shake off the snub too quickly. Our poor showing should be a wake-up call to consider our city's shortcomings, and how we need to diversify before the slow decline of the oil and gas industry turns us into Detroit.

RELATED: New area factory needs fair trade, immigration to expand

Imagine if the Houston Independent School District had some of the best public schools in the country? Imagine if the University of Texas had built the world's premier data research institute here? Imagine if the University of Houston ranked among the Top 10 public research institutions?

Houston has so much going for it, from a low cost of living to a vibrant, diverse population. Houstonians have always been strivers, wanting better for themselves and their family. Now we need to improve our city.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28)  The Philippine National Police (PNP) resumes on Monday its anti-illegal drug campaign that under the new guideline requires strict observation of human rights.

"Rule of law shall always prevail during the conduct of all anti-illegal drugs operations," the new operational guidelines read, "Respect for human rights shall always be strictly observed at all times."

Police operations will now require the presence of a human rights officer or advocate.

President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war has been criticized by the opposition lawmakers, the United Nations, as well as local and international human rights groups for alleged extrajudicial killings supposedly committed by police officers.

The police's previous anti-illegal drugs initiative was called Oplan Tokhang, which comes from the Cebuano words "Toktok" and "Hangyo" meaning "knock" and "plead."

Official records show that less than 4,000 drug suspects were killed in legitimate police operations: 34 by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents and 3,933 by the police.

These allegedly included the killing of teenagers Kian Delos Santos, Carl Arnaiz, and Reynaldo de Guzman.

President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier ordered the PDEA to take over the drug war, but eventually allowed the police to once again conduct operations.

The new guidelines released on January 19, which form part of the PNP's efforts to enforce a bloodless drug war, ban operations on nighttime and weekends.

The guidelines also include provisions on the accountability and command responsibility of the team leaders, supervisors, and unit commanders.

A "one strike policy" will also be implemented, which means the chief of police, provincial director, or the regional director will be relieved when their subordinates fail to adhere to the guidelines or are charged with involvement in illegal drugs.

The guidelines also encourage police to use body cameras during operations when available, and enjoin them to possess a tickler containing the unit and individual's functions and daily evaluation.

Families of drug war victims, however, called on the government to stop Oplan Tokhang altogether, and implement a bloodless, peaceful drug campaign instead.

Police to focus on high value targets

The new guidelines also cover provisions on prioritizing High Value Targets (HVTs) nationwide.

"PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) shall conduct anti-illegal drug operations focusing on national and international HVTs, and across regional borders," the guidelines read.

The regional units, including the National Capital Region, and other provincial units must also concentrate on HVTs.

The drug enforcement units under district and city police offices will conduct operations against street-level drug personalities.

CNN Philippines' Ver Marcelo contributed to this report.The first time was the charm, even if that first time took decades to arrive.

Late last year the Houston Symphony earned its first ever Grammy Award nomination for best opera recording with "Berg: Wozzeck." Surprising almost everyone involved, the recording won the Grammy Sunday evening in New York.

"I'm rather quiet in these matters, but it's a huge, huge rewarding thing," said Hans Graf, the Houston Symphony's former music director and conductor, who planned two nights of performances of Alban Berg's "Wozzeck" as his farewell from the symphony in 2013. "And I'm so happy that it was a piece from off the beaten path. And that the Houston Symphony allowed it to happen and supported it."

Co-producer Brad Sayles, who engineered the recording, was in New York with Graf to receive the award.

"This feels very exciting right now," Sayles said, "especially with the city still recovering and rebuilding after the hurricane. First a World Series, and now a Grammy."

RELATED: Symphony recording engineer knew "Wozzeck" was a rare moment

Few involved with "Berg: Wozzeck" had high expectations for the recording at the Grammys. For starters, the symphony had not received a nomination since the awards were started in 1959. And Berg's opera - while celebrated upon its release in the 1920s - is a challenging piece of music that doesn't necessarily appeal to the widest swath of potential voters.

The recording extended beyond the symphony, too. The 2013 production of composer Alban Berg's now canonized opera required the work of a village of creative types from across Houston. The album was pulled from two performances in early 2013, part of the farewell for conductor Hans Graf, after a dozen years with the Houston Symphony.

"I was sure then it would be one of my most important contributions of 12 years," Graf said.

Now Playing: Houston Symphony took home its first Grammy award Sunday, January 28, 2018. Video: Houston Symphony

But even then he didn't necessarily see it as a well-baited hook for industry awards. "This piece isn't like Mozart, where you see it done more often," he said. "It was out of the ordinary. So the success and the response has been extraordinary in every sense of the word."

The Grammy was preceded by another huge honor for the symphony; it received the prestigious ECHO Klassik award last fall in Germany.

Graf was also credited as producer for the album along with Sayles, who heard something special during rehearsals and rented additional equipment to make a better recording.

READ MORE: Beyonce wasn't the only local musician up for an award

In addition to the Houston Symphony, soloists Anne Schwanewilms and Roman Trekel, the chorus of students and alumni at Rice University's Shepherd School Of Music and the Houston Grand Opera Children's Chorus were cited.

"Of course I wasn't thinking about any award when we did this," Graf said. "I thought about doing a good thing with this wonderful piece of music, with the maximum knowledge and enthusiasm."

But Sayles, who has recorded every Houston Symphony performance for more than a decade for archival purposes, thought the artists involved were doing something special.

"Hans was so busy with the music, studying it, with all these years of work and preparation, he couldn't think about recording it," he said. "So that was my job. I wanted to make sure I captured it the best I could."

So more than 100 years after the Houston Symphony was founded, nearly a century after "Wozzeck" was written, about 60 years after the Grammy Awards were started and five years after the symphony struck an enduring version of Berg's opera, this ageless meditation on society and violence performed by a Texas symphony orchestra with other artists from the region won the top industry honor.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.Fluff Bake Bar open once again

After closing her shop for months due to water damage, pastry chef Rebecca Masson has reopened Fluff Bake Bar, 314 Gray, in Midtown. The bakery is offering its familiar lineup of sweets (cookies, cake cups, cakes, bar cookies, pies, tarts, seasonal plated desserts) as well as its popular Saturday Morning Bake Sale featuring products from 44 Farms such as a prime rib Benedict sandwich, fajita tostada with fried egg, and brisket and pimento cheese on a pretzel roll. Fluff Bake Bar's kitchen space has been expanded and a long bar counter with 16 stools has replaced the row of tables and chairs.

Date set for Karbach Cookoff

The fourth annual 2018 Karbach Cookoff will take place noon-10:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at 801 St. Emanuel in EaDo. The music festival and chili cook-off - chicken and "open dish" are optional entries - is a fundraiser for the Houston Fire Department. Performers include Big and Rich, Cowboy Troy, Cam, Frankie Ballard, Sundance Head and Brooke Eden. Tickets range from $50 (general concert admission with three Karbach beers) to VIP access for $200, including unlimited food, up-close concert viewing, lounge access and more; karbachcookoff.com.

Calling all budding 'Top Chefs'

"Top Chef" producers are looking for chefs to compete in season 16 of the Bravo show and will host a casting call 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 7 at Sparrow Cook Shop, 3701 Travis. Houston chef Monica Pope, featured on the second season of "Top Chef Masters," will be on hand. Interested chefs should email topchefcasting@magicalelves.com to make an appointment or go to bravotv.com/topchefcasting for information.

Agu Ramen bounds into Katy

Restaurateur Hisashi Uehara has opened an outpost of his Hawaii-born Agu Ramen Bistro at 514 S. Mason, with a second Katy-area location in the LaCenterra development coming soon (23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd.). Agu Ramen, known for its labor-intensive bone broth, entered the Houston market in 2016 and already has four other local stores at 9310 Westheimer; 7340 Washington; 1360 NASA Parkway; and 2130 Lone Star in Sugar Land.